Leona''s Unlucky Mission by Ahmet Zappa, Shana Muldoon Zappa & Ahmet Zappa

once—no, maybe twice—passing by the music room where Lily rehearsed. The dance studio the group used was in the same building, so it made sense, she supposed.
    â€œYou know she’s singing that song, right?” said Leona. “In the talent show tonight?”
    â€œOh, we know. We’ve heard her singing it,” said Talia.
    Her friends nodded.
    No one smiled.
    â€œGood song, right?” Leona said brightly.
    Talia made a sour face, which she shared with Kasey. Adeline still seemed like she didn’t agree with them. “Yeah. Great song.” Talia snickered. “If you’re, like, in kindergarten, I guess.”
    Leona looked at Lily, whose face had turned a painful red.
    Leona bristled. “So then why are you humming it?” she said to Talia, who shrugged.
    â€œIt’s just one of those songs—like all those baby songs—that gets stuck in your head, I guess. I
wish
I could stop,” Talia groaned. Then she started to sing it herself—
horribly
, on purpose—and soon the whole breakfast line was laughing.
    â€œOh, just ignore her,” Leona said, turning back to Lily. “Oh, no, please don’t cry!” she said. Lily’s chin was quivering dangerously. “I’m really not good around tears!”
    Leona was relieved, therefore, to see Lily’s older sister striding up from the end of the line. Leona sighed and stepped back, making room for the older girl to swoop in and comfort Lily.
    Lily looked up, too, hopefully. She sniffed and even smiled. Her sister, though, maintained a straight, stern mouth and hard, disappointed eyes.
    â€œReally, Lily? You’re going to
cry
now? You’re in high school. Act like it.” She shook her head and turned away, grumbling, “When are you going to grow up?”
    Lily stood there, biting her lip to hold back a fresh reservoir of tears. But it only worked for a starmin. Then the dam broke and they started to spill. Lily was out of the line and through the door before Leona could say “bless my stars.”
    Leona cast a longing look at the warm platter of French toast waiting to be served. It might be the last chance she had to get some on Wishworld…but that was how wish granting worked.
    Leona found Lily in the quad sitting huddled on a bench.
    â€œSo, as I was saying, don’t listen to those girls.” Leona slid in next to Lily and gently nudged her, hoping to get her to look up. “They’re just jealous and trying to psych you out because they know how good you are.”
    â€œWell, it worked, ’cause I’m out,” Lily said softly. She kept her head down as she spoke.
    â€œJust wait till tonight, when they watch you win first place. I’ve got to take a holo-p—I mean picture—of that Talia’s face! Wait.
What?
” Leona’s head whipped around. “You’re quitting? But you can’t! It’s your wish!” She didn’t say,
I can’t fail on my first Wish Mission.
But in her head, she was screaming it.
    â€œI can’t get up there. You heard my sister. I’m a baby,” Lily said.
    â€œShe didn’t say that….”
    â€œShe didn’t have to. That’s what she meant. Just once, I wish she’d take my side, like you do. But she never will.”
    â€œSo show her she’s wrong!” said Leona. “Show those Fake-a-Moves, too!”
    â€œI want to,” said Lily, “but I can’t. Not all by myself. I thought I could do it….I mean, you’ve helped me so much….And it’s funny, I’ve never had a problem singing in a group, in the chorus. But it’s just too…too scary to think of singing up onstage, in front of people, all alone.”
    Leona threw her head back. She didn’t know how to reply. How could she change Lily’s mind when what she was saying made no sense? Leona had always loved singing—
alone
. She was drawn to