âSo, what do you think they are Sam?â
Mannyâs voice tore Sam away from her ice cream, raising a brow at the sudden question. It was a pretty slow day, so a group of them decided to stop by the Candy Bar. It was supposed to be her, Jenny, and Patrick, but Manny wouldnât take no for an answer, and Mr. Blik insisted she pay for his also.
She probably cared more than her goth style should let her, but she refused to admit it out loud, âUh... and who are they, exactly?â
âYou know,â He waved his spoon around like it was a sword, nearly knocking over the napkins and bowls as he stepped on the table, âThose two little floaty guys Timmy hangs out with! Cosma and Wando!â
âCosmo and Wanda,â Sam corrected.
âYeah them! Like, theyâre no way theyâre actually fairies! Magic is for little kids!â Manny laughed at the idea, âThey gotta be like... some kinda superheroes or something!â
âYou really think so?â Jenny had a can of Jimmyâs Fun Fuel in her hand. Sam only figured it was like juice to her, since oil she guessed as like soda. At least she wasnât a gas guzzler like one of those horrible SUVs.
âI know so! Mira, how else do they do all that stuff they do! The wands are their mystical objects of power! Like my belt!â Manny crossed his arms and smugly nodded as Jenny soaked in his words like SpongeBob at a pool party.
âGolly, I had no idea! To be honest, I didnât know what they were,â She looked at Sam, concern etched on her metallic face, âI figured they were computer programs like Jimmy said. If I had to think about it...â
âDonât be a sap!â Sam glared at Mr. Blik, the cat hoisted up on two pillows so he could sit at level with the others. It amazed the goth how the only one with more money than he knew what to do with, had every topping possible...
And still expected Sam to pay. Honestly...
âYou think the kid made those things?â He gave her a tired look, âNo, nonono... he BOUGHT âEM!â His sudden outburst made Patrick jump but he continued, âThe best things in life are to be bought, baby! He bought âem, he calls the shots, done deal! They work so hard so he doesnât trade them in for a better set!â
âCosmo and Wanda are living creatures, cat!â Sam started to raise her voice. She liked cats, black cats especially, but Blik got her angry sometimes when it came to Timmy. The kid didnât have much of a ray of light to look into... as opposed to Sam who had the whole dang sun in the form of her parents, but preferred to stay in the dark.
âYou canât just buy someone and... trade them in!â
âWe buy Hovis,â Mr. Blik replied odd handed, not getting why Sam was upset from his expression, âAll the time. There are two kinds of people out there, Samantha. Those who buy, and those who are bought.â
Oh he did not just use her full name.
âMaybe itâs not about what they are... but that... theyâre there for Timmy when he needs them?â
Samâs rage subsided, eyes wide as the entire table looked over to the pink starfish with chocolate smeared around his mouth. In response, Patrick shrugged, âT... thatâs what I think. I mean, chocolate is awesome! And tasty and sweet... I donât care where it comes from, but itâs there for me when Iâm hungry and wanna eat it, and...â
He looked down to his empty bowl, lip pouting in sadness. Sam offered him the rest of her ice cream. She couldnât help but add a little smile, seeing the starâs excited face as he stuffed it into his maw.
âI guess that makes sense,â Manny sounded disappointed, but he agreed.
âFriends help friends no matter what. Thatâs why I never questioned it before,â Jenny smiled, âCuz no matter what, theyâre like his family.â
âWow Patrick, that was really deep,â Sam complimented her pink friend, âLooks like you got a little philosopher in you.â
âI do?!â Black eyes widened as the star looked at his stomach in fear, âGet it out! Do you see it?!â
Sam loved karma, as Patrick shoved Blik into his mouth to find the âphilosopherâ. She didnât care if she snickered, Mannyâs howls of laughter probably drowned her out.
âCâmon,â She urged the sea star, a smile on her violet lips, âLetâs go.Â
And spit Blik out, you donât know where his hair products came from.â