Sisters Reunited (Part 1)
Sisters Reunited

by: Shirley Ann Burton

Part 1


At the Ring Theatre in Electro City, Ace Cooper, the world's greatest magician, watched in amazement as another person on stage levitated his panther Zina more than 15 feet high.
A young woman with light-brown hair had her green eyes closed while she had her arms fully extended to the sides. Angela Jacobs kept her focus as she literally felt the magical power she had within her heart flowing through her.
Being with the Magician for nine months since moving to Electro City, her magic continued to grow stronger with regular practice and daily meditation. The most basic tricks were simple to her by this point, and it was she who came up with the idea of doing a special levitation trick with Zina.
Ace was more than willing to give Angie a chance to shine in the spotlight, since he valued the friendship between them over showmanship. He was happy to see his friend performing so well after only a short time. He admired her spirit, as well as the fact she loved to learn something new at every opportunity.
However, deep within his mind, he sensed sadness in her heart. "It's been so long since Angie has seen her best friend Ashley Brighton," he thought. "They grew up together like sisters, trusting each other with their secrets and never allowing anything to come between them. Angie told her about the magical secret and called her the night her parents died in the accident.
"I know she's been sneaking into the computer room to check her e-mail, in the hope of getting some message from Ashley. She's very worried something may have happened to her. I wish I could do something to ease that worry, but all efforts to find Ashley have turned up nothing. I just hope Angie's going to be all right."
Angie returned Zina safely to the ground. She opened her eyes and smiled as the audience applauded her solo part of the show.
Ace joined her on stage and took a bow with her and Zina to end another spectacular performance.

Later that night, at the Magic Express, someone quietly tiptoed through the hallway and into the main computer room. Angel's sensors had picked up the person but did not activate the alarm because it was someone within Ace Cooper's home.
Trying not to tap too loudly on the keyboard, the mysterious person tried to stay awake long enough to get some information. "I hope there's something here," the person whispered. "Where could she be?"
"She's out there somewhere," a male voice said.
The person gasped in fear as he turned on the lights. "Ace, it's you."
"Sorry I scared you, Angie. I know you were sneaking in here to see if somehow Ashley sent a message."
Angie felt ashamed for going behind the Magician's back in this personal trouble. "I can't help it. It's been nearly six years since I last saw Ashley. Ever since I lost contact with her, I've felt I've had this hole in my heart." Tears started coming from her eyes. "I just hope nothing has happened to her."
Ace gave his friend a comforting hug. "As long as you don't give up hope, you'll see her again. I know it."
"Do you think so?"
"You be I do. Somehow, some way, you and your best friend will reunite. Just think positive."
Angie dried her eyes and faced him with a smile. "Ace, thank you for being a great friend to me. You're always there when I've got a problem."
"In a way, I have to thank you, too."
"For what?"
"For giving me a reason to believe I can use my magic not only for performing and crimefighting, but also to try to make a positive difference in people's lives."
"That's exactly what you've done for me. I'm no longer alone, I have wonderful friends, and I don't think of my own magical powers as a curse like I used to. Most people may see you as just a celebrity. On the other hand, I see you as one of the best friends I've ever had."
"Just remember, you're free to use the computer whenever you want. You don't have to sneak in here in the middle of the night."
"I'm sorry, Ace, but I just didn't want to interrupt you when you were using it."
Ace then came up with an idea. "Why don't you let Angel tell you if there's something from Ashley?"
With a disgusted look on her face, Angie said, "Oh, brother. Why didn't I think of that before?"
"Don't worry about it. After all, how many super computers have you seen in your lifetime?"
"Good point." After a long yawn, she groggily said, "I must be more tired than I thought."
Ace put his hand in front of her face. Lowering the hand made her eyes close, causing her to fall asleep.
He then carried her back to her room, where he lay her on the bed. Tucking her in like a little girl, he quietly said, "Good night, Angie."
After he left the room, he could not help thinking about a friend whom he thought was dead. "I still remember Gus. For 15 years I considered him dead and thought nothing of it until he came back and caused a lot of trouble. In Angie's case, though, she and Ashley both grew up honestly and as very close friends. They deserve to be back together."

During the early morning hours, Angie had a really strange dream which involved her and Ashley. "Ashley, where are you?" In her mind she saw herself back in high school in Mason City, Iowa.

About three weeks before spring break vacation, Ashley spoke to Angie in terms of going to Colorado together.
"My parents won't know you're coming with me," Ashley said happily. "After all, they've tried to end our friendship for quite a long time."
"I don't know if I should go with you," said a worried Angie. "A lot of people really don't approve of our friendship."
"I don't care what other people think. My friendship with you means more to me than all the money and popularity in the world. I want you to go with me out of friendship, not wealth or power."
Angie thought about her friend's offer. After a few seconds she said, "Let me talk it over with Mom and Dad, and I'll let you know by Friday."
"Okay. There's plenty of time this week, but I do hope you'll say yes."
Angie smiled and walked toward her class when a boy grabbed her hair from behind!
She screamed loudly as the boy yelled, "No loser's going with Ashley! I'm going with her to Colorado!"
He then punched her in the stomach and backhanded a slap across her face.
Ashley quickly came to her friend's rescue. "Stop it, Bobby! Leave her alone!"
Bobby turned to Ashley while holding Angie by her hair. "I'll let her go if you drop this loser as your friend."
The principal came up behind him and shouted, "Let Miss Jacobs go, or I'll have you arrested!"
Bobby let go of Angie by throwing her on the ground, face first. "Ashley, how can you be friends with a total loser like Angie?"
"She doesn't have to answer to you," the principal said in anger. "You wait in my office. Ashley, get Angie to the nurse right away."
A few minutes later, Angie lay on the bed with Ashley at her side.
"Angie, I'm so sorry," Ashley said in tears. "Why did I have to become wealthy and popular? All this is doing is hurting my best friend." Growing angrier she asked, "Why are there still stupid stereotypes and cliques? This is the 21st century; this should NOT be happening!"
Angie held her best friend's hand. "It's not your fault," she said calmly. "Even in this day and age, there's still such a thing as cliques. I've lived with it for a long time, being picked on for so many years."
"Yeah, but you've never tried to get back at any of them."
"I don't believe I have anything to prove to them. They can pick at me, beat me up, and call me a loser, but I know I've already beaten them in mind and in heart. As long as I don't think of myself as a loser, I don't have to resort to violence like some teens did in the late 1990s."
Ashley smiled and said, "Now I know why we're sisters in heart and spirit. We may be totally different when it comes to money and power, but we've been friends way too long to let them stand between us. We'll be sisters forever--"
"--and always," Angie finished happily.

"Sisters forever and always," Angie whispered in her sleep.
Sleeping soundly for the remainder of the night, she thought about the great times she shared with Ashley. Keeping Ashley in her heart boosted her confidence in knowing she was out there . . . somewhere.

The next morning, Ace and Cosmo sat in the kitchen eating cereal.
"So," started Cosmo, "Angie's still asleep?"
"Yes. Last night she dreamt about her best friend."
"Did you see it in her mind?"
"Of course. Angie was constantly being teased for her love of learning, yet she never seeked revenge against anyone because she didn't want to sink to their level."
"That's good. She probably told her parents about the problem instead of keeping it to herself."
"Right. In those tragic school shootings of the late 20th century, many of the shooters never told their parents about school-related problems, which sadly lead to their lashing out through violence. That kind of problem still exists today, in the 21st century."
"Yeah," agreed Cosmo, since he himself had a similar situation, although it was not school-related. "Angie looks kinda desperate to find her best friend lately."
"That's because Ashley's the missing piece in her puzzle. I finally caught Angie in the computer room last night, but all she wanted to know was if her friend sent any message."
"You finally caught her last night? How long has she been doing this?"
"For the last two months, in the middle of the night. That's why Angel didn't sound the alarm in the security system. However, as long as Angie thinks positive about the situation, she'll find Ashley." Ace closed his eyes and added, "She's got a renewed sence of confidence, and she knows her friend is somewhere out in the world."

About 1500 miles away, at an elementary school, a teacher looked at the local newspaper. Upon looking at the entertainment section, she started reading a story about Ace Cooper. However, when she saw the photo of him and and a young lady, she gasped in shock at the young lady standing with him. "I don't believe it!" she exclaimed. "It couldn't be her!"
A first-grade boy came up to her. "Are you okay, Miss Brighton?"
"I'm not sure, Danny. I want to show you this picture." She turned the paper to let him see the picture of Ace and the young lady. "Do you know who the girl in the picture is?"
Danny looked carefully and showed a big smile. "Yeah, that's Angie Jacobs. She's a training magician under that guy, Ace Cooper."
"It says here they performed last night, but I didn't get to see the show on TV because I was grading papers."
"Don't worry. Mommy taped the show. Do you want to see it?"
"If your mom could make a copy for me, I'd appreciate it."
"Sure, but why do you want to see it?"
"It's just to confirm something for myself . . . something out of the past."
Later that evening, hours after school had ended for the day, Ms. Brighton looked at the video disk. Noticing the young lady doing her levitation of a black panther, she examined her very carefully. When Ms. Brighton saw the young lady open her green eyes, she shouted, "That clinched it! It is her! The only question now is, does she still have the same e-mail address? It's been almost three years since I sent her any type of message. I better use the video e-mail option, and I just hope she remembers me."
Within an hour, Ms. Brighton sent her mail off and prayed her best friend had not forgotten about her.

The next morning at the Magic Express, Angie was in her room reading the latest issue of Smile magazine when Angel appeared. "Oh, hi, Angel. What's going on?"
"Angie, your email address is acjak@yahoo.com, right?"
"Yes, it is," she replied strangely. "Why do you ask?"
"Someone has sent you a video e-mail message. The address is ashbright@yahoo.com."
Angie was very surprised by the address. "Oh, my God! That's Ashley Brighton's e-mail address! I need to see to this right away!"
She quickly ran to the computer room and got to work on the keyboard. Going to the inbox folder, she saw the subject "Long time no see, little sister."
Clicking on the video message, she noticed a building video with the first frame being a picture of a woman with auburn hair an hazel eyes. When the downloading was done, Angie clicked on the "Play" button.
As it started, the woman said, "Angie, I don't know if you still remember me, but it's Ashley. I haven't seen you in almost six years, and I lost contact with you for nearly three years. Then, yesterday, I read the paper and noticed a picture of you . . . with Ace Cooper, the greatest magician in the world! I thought something wasn't right, but I got the chance to see the Magician's show from the previous night, via the vid disk, just to make sure I wasn't going crazy. The moment I saw you levitating a black panther, I knew it was you. Looks like you finally let that cat out of your bag.
"I'm so glad you told your secret to someone else, but I never expected you to reveal your magical powers to the Magician himself! Seriously, though, I was so worried about you because you told me the truth after you saved my life. I wanted you to tell your parents, but then they had their fatal accident. I knew you became even more scared about your gift, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if you had very few friends during your college days at Iowa State.
"It's been so long, but now I know where you are. If you're curious about what I'm doing now, I'm a first-grade teacher at Learnier Elementary School back in Mason City. You know I wanted a career where I could make a difference, and I got exactly what I desired.
"If you haven't forgotten about me, please reply to this message. If it is you, I will start making my plans to visit you in Electro City in three weeks, since Spring Break will be then. I just want to make sure it's really you and not someone else. I hope you understand; it's just a precaution."
When the video ended, Angie was overcome with emotion. "I can't believe it," she said with tears of joy. "My sister has found me."
"I told you there would be a way to find her," said Ace, entering the room, "but it sure wasn't the way I had pictured it."
"Oh?" she asked as she dried her eyes.
"I was thinking more of her just coming out here on a gambling trip. No, seriously, I figured she would come out here right away. What surprises me is how cautious she is."
"I can't blame her for that. She just wants to make sure it's really me and not a different Angela Jacobs."
"So, what are you going to do now?"
"I'll reply right away by video e-mail."
"I've got a fun idea. How about I help you with this."
"Yeah, how?"
"With a couple of other people, say Cosmo and Mona, you'll have the perfect message for your friend."
Angie gave the Magician a happy hug, knowing she was a major step closer to reuniting with her best friend.

In Mason City, Ashley was entering her mansion after a hectic day of keeping her first-graders out of trouble.
Although Ashley was a teacher, she inherited a large mansion from her late grandparents, who entrusted her with their fortune because she had a pure heart of gold.
The grandparents would not give to the other family members because most of them had become greedy and selfish. Ashley, on the other hand, never turned away from people who needed help.
All the time she gave a part of herself to aiding others, which made her feel good. Her greatest reward was the time she and her best friend were able to assist people during a hard heat wave.
Together, Ashley and Angela Jacobs both won the Mayor's Community Service Award for converting Angela's house into a special cooling shelter for those who could not afford air conditioning and senior citizens.
Ashley's grandparents rewarded her generosity and spirit by naming her heiress to their fortune in their will.
When they passed away, Ashley promised to continue the tradition of helping others.
Reaching the living room, she was greeted by a gentleman wearing a butler's uniform. "A long day for you, Ashley?"
"Sure was, George. It's amazing how much energy first-graders really have." Giving him her coat, she added, "I'm going to check the e-mail."
"You've been anxious about this. Why?"
"Do you remember Angie?"
"Angela Jacobs? Of course. She was always nice to you and me, especially when it came to those times your parents would not allow her to come to your parties."
"Right. Mom and Dad would almost always tear up the invitation for her. They could never understand that my friendship with Angie had more value than all the money in the world. When I inherited this mansion, I still didn't want to be stuck up. I'm glad you came with me."
"I would rather lend my services to someone who is kind and sweet, as well as helpful towards others. I basically could not stand working with your parents."
"I'm not going to worry about them anymore, since they're still selfish and self-centered."
She then went to her computer to check her e-mail. The only message in the inbox folder had the subject "Re: Long time, no see, little sister."
As the one she sent was, the e-mail was in a video format, so she clicked on the subject.
As the video formed on the screen, the first thing she saw was a woman with green eyes and light-brown hair. "Angie," she said, "is that you?" She then clicked on "play."
"Ashley, I got your message this morning, and I don't blame you for being cautious whether it really was me, but I know this will convince you. Remember this?


We may be different, but we don't care,
For we are sisters, anytime, anywhere.
Through good and bad, thick and thin,
It's our friendship that will always win."

Ashley then joined her friend in completing the poem:


We do our best; we always try,
In times we're happy and times we cry.
No matter what happens, we'll stick together,
For we're sisters now, always, and forever."

Ashley cried in joy as Angie continued. "That's our secret poem from the sixth grade. Only we knew this poem, but now, so do three other people."
Ace then came into the screen. "Hello, Ashley. I'm Ace Cooper. Angie's told me so much about you, and it's all been positive. You were such a special friend to her at the most difficult times, especially after the death of her parents. She's been sneaking into the computer room for the past two months, wondering if you were okay. Now that we do know, we'd love for you to come here to Electro City for a visit."
"Yeah," said Cosmo, entering the picture. "I'm Cosmo, and I was the first person to experience Angie's awesome cooking when I was sick. You've probably had a lot of Angie's or her mother's cooking. She can definitely cook up a storm in the kitchen, and she doesn't have to use her magical powers. I can't wait to meet ya, Ashley."
Mona then took over. "Neither can I. I'm Mona Malone, a friend of Angie's here in Electro City. Ace, Cosmo, and I are looking forward to meeting you." Hearing a growl in the background, she added, "I guess Zina can't wait, either. The hardest thing about this is having to wait three weeks because you are a teacher. Luckily, I know it's a rewarding career, as you help kids take that first step to a sucessful life. When you get here, we'll all be ready and waiting for you."
Angie then returned. "Well, we gotta go for now. Mona's performing tonight, and Ace, Cosmo, and I have to practice for our new show in two weeks."
They all got into the screen together and said, "We'll see you at Spring Break."
The message ended, and Ashley shook her head in disbelief. "It's her all right. Time to start making my plans."

She then went to the phone and dialed the Sunset Travel Agency. "Hello? Yes, I would like to book a flight to Electro City for Spring Break."