I'll try to communicate, Taylor said. She spoke slowly and deliberately. Hello! We need help. Is your village close? My village is Denver. And I think it's a long way from here. I'm Nicole Ade. Miss Colorado. We have a Colorado where we're from too! Tiara said. She swiveled her hips, spread her arms wide, then brought her hands together prayer-style and bowed. Kipa aloha. Nicole stared. I speak English. I'm American. Also, did you learn those moves from Barbie's Hawaiian Vacation DVD? Ohmigosh, yes! Do your people have that, too?

But the past cannot be changed, and we carry our choices with us, forward, into the unknown. We can only move on.

Because you can't keep up the illusion forever," I say. "No one has that much magic.

People aren't always what you want them to be

Mawah meenon ne le plus poohlala," I say with an affected bow.

Who the heck is Don Quick-oats?

I am dying a thousand cruel and unusual deaths as fifty pairs of eyes take me in, size me up like something that should be hanging over a fireplace in a gentleman's den.