Rising Shards

A girl stood on stage, legs shaking. Next to her was another girl with a trombone.

“And then, I-I think…” the shaking girl said. “I’m gonna do a big…big ol’ somersault.”

She leaned forward, not rolling at all, instead diving headfirst at the ground. Her companion made a low note with her trombone.

“I-I’m OK!” The somersault attempting girl said as she quickly got up, clutching her forehead. She whipped back to her friend. “You were supposed to play that after I landed the flip! OK, here goes again.”

Kitty rolled her eyes. She wasn’t expecting much from this talent show, but it had been even worse than she’d imagined.

”That one was pretty good,” Corinani whispered as she ate another handful of caramel-cheese popcorn. Somehow, her fellow teacher Alix Corinani had a seat right beside Kitty, instead of her rightful place groveling at Kitty’s feet.

”Tch,” Kitty could barely dignify that with a response.

What would really spice this show up would be an impromptu performance from an amazingly famous and dazzling singing sensation. The only ones that would try to stop that would be Berin and Penteldtam, and Kitty knew how to get her way when her brothers were around, as they were incredible pushovers when she put even an ounce of extrovert energy their way.

With trombone girl and her somersault friend finally getting off stage and Kitty got her boos in, she thought it was a perfect time to save this event.

Just as she stood, her phone rang, a ringtone of one of her own songs blaring. She let it play for a bit, enjoying the sound of her own voice before she finally answered.

”Yeah?” Kitty said.

”Maybe keep it down a bit, yeesh,” Corinani said, sounding like a bad sitcom character.

Kitty kicked at Corinani’s feet. ”Shut up. What? Oh, no, not you. Actually, who is this?”

It took Kitty a few moments to realize who exactly she was speaking to. She didn’t have their number saved in her phone.

“Oh? You don’t say?” Kitty said. ”How very interesting.”

It was unexpected news, to be sure. But she felt like this could be a sign the doldrums she found herself stuck in could be ending.

”What do you need me to do? Can I say it right now? Uh huh...uh huh...” She giggled. ”That sounds oh so fabulous. Mhm. You know it, girlie. Kay, toodles.”

Kitty crossed her arms after the call ended, processing the info she’d just gotten. Corinani tugged at her sleeve.

”Get the hell off me,” Kitty said, swatting her away. ”Do you know how much this shirt is worth? And you’re getting your cheese encrusted fingers all over it? I could sue you, you know.”

“Who was that? Was it for me?” Corinani asked.

”Why would it be for you if they called me?” Kitty asked.

”Because we’re pretty inseparable, kinda besties if you ask me—” Corinani started.

”Barf, don’t ever suggest that we’re even acquaintances to me again,” Kitty said.

”So was it for me?” Corinani asked. “Am I fired?”

“No, ugh, I wish,” Kitty said.

”Then what was it?” Corinani asked.

Kitty decided that her little minion could get a morsel. ”I think these Recreant Protocol games are about to take a turn,” she said. ”A turn in my favor.”