"Dang
it! I told you to stop tinkering with the formula. The full extent of the
interaction implications may never be known."
A wavering sphere hung
in the air between us, partially obscuring Charlie's face, yet I could see
enough to recognize his irritation at being interrupted.
"Seriously
Charlie. I know mom left you in charge, but you just can't go about creating
concoctions for blips and giggles."
Charlie walked around
the manifestation until we were nearly nose to nose.
"Charlene,"
he hissed at me. "You are such a bossy britches. You're just jealous
because I have more talent in my little finger than you have in your own body.
"Me jealous?"
I laughed. He may be my brother, older by 3 minutes, but any similarities
between us ended at unruly brown hair and an aptitude for the arcane. Mom
should really have named us night and day, or dark and light, or sane and
insane. Now that would have been fitting.
The wavering blob moved
closer to Charlie and hovered over his shoulder.
"Charlene, what I
did isn't a mistake. I meant to create this. It is my life's greatest
achievement. "
With that, he turned
and dove into the blob, disappearing. The blob belched before gliding out the
open door.
Mom was going to be so
mad.
