It never bothered him that he never had a talent. If someone had a task he could do, he’d do it so he just took over for his grandfather at the kiosk when he retired and that was that. Still, everyone did wonder about him.

Frank, his Meepit, would be waiting at home to give him a sympathetic ear over a nice meal. He hoped it was Roast Tentacle with a helping of Pumpkin Pie! Once he arrived at home, however, there was a huge wad of letters heaped into his mail box. He opened one and read:

“Congratulations! Your poem has been chosen as a winner...”

The next read:

“Congratulations! Your gallery has been chosen as a winner...”

And another:

“Congratulations! Your story has been chosen as a winner...”

Sidney didn’t recall entering any spotlights. As he scanned the letters further, he saw Frank’s name listed at the bottom. He stormed inside to find the Petpet setting the table for two.

“Ssssseriously?” he asked, waving the letters in his general direction. It wasn’t until now that he had noticed the small writing desk in the corner next to his tiny bed. “Am I doomed to be the only untalented person in the family?...”

Sidney waited patiently for a reaction as Frank stood unmoving, his bug-like eyes bulging out of their sockets in a perpetual state of shock. It always took the Petpet an extra moment or two to register his words. Sidney used to think he just didn’t quite understand the Neopian language, but now he was beginning to feel that perhaps this was just how the talented operated.

Finally Frank blinked, seeming to have finally grasped what Sidney said. He ambled across the table top and patted Sidney’s arm with a small paw. ‘There there’ was what the gesture said.

“Thanksssss buddy,” Sidney patted the Meepit on his hairless little head. As Sidney was about to lift his hand away, Frank grabbed a finger and yanked it towards the pile of congratulatory letters.

“Whoa there, do you want me to open all of thesssse for you?” Sidney asked.

But Frank wasn’t directing his attention to the rest of the unopened mail. Instead, he was fixed on an opened one, tapping at a flyer tucked in together with the letter that read...

Do you wake up feeling Grey? Does the future seem dour? The Fortune-teller will tell you what's in store - and perhaps how to change your fate if you don't like what you hear... 800 NP per fortune - half off at the Grand Opening!"

Sidney's curiosity was piqued by this. Most fortune-tellers only peddled people's futures as an unchangeable prophecy, and he'd already been told by several visiting ones that he'd best not quit his day job anytime soon. But... if there was a chance, even a small one, that he could at least change his life a little bit towards what he wanted, then perhaps it was worth one more go.

"What do you think, Frank? Sssshould I ssssee what this Fortune-teller has to offer?" he asked, gesturing at his Meepit friend with the flyer. The robed Zafara pictured on the flyer had a mysterious look about her, but her one visible eye had an almost friendly glint to it, as though inviting him personally to come have a cup of tea with him. Frank took a long look at the flyer, then gave a small jump of what Sidney interpreted as approval. "Alright then."

He needed to scrounge up the money, though. Most of his earnings went directly to feeding him and Frank, and the occasional patch to fix his clothes if they ripped. Checking his stash under the mattress, he was still a good 260 NP short, even with the half-off discount for the Grand Opening in three days. He'd have to head out in the morning and see if he couldn't earn a few Neopoints in time...

The thoughts of new prospects as a possible promise from the fortune teller kept him lying awake all night, staring at the ceiling. Would he find a hidden talent left untouched within himself? Would he stumble upon great fortune that would open doors for him? Sidney wasn’t quite sure. All he knew was that he needed to come up with the 260 NP in a day’s time before the Grand Opening on Friday.

He pulled on his striped fuchsia and maroon pants and headed out the door before his shift at the kiosk began.

“Hmmm, ssssshould I tempt luck and chance or go for sssssomething more ssssssurefire?” he asked himself aloud.

As per usual, he went with the former and stopped at his good friend Leeroy’s Coconut Shy.

“Welcome, Sidney! What can I do ya for, today?” the Quiggle asked enthusiastically, his eyes bulging out of their sockets, reminiscent of Frank’s.

“You can give me sssssome good luck, friend. I’m here to double my money!” the Nimmo said with a toothy grin.

“You know I can’t make any promises,” Leeroy chuckled with a wink. “Hand over your 100 NP and test your luck!”

Sidney did as he was told, wound up, and took a deep breath before letting his ball fly. It curved with precision and struck a coconut right in the centre!… However, it wasn’t enough to knock it down.

“Great shot!” Leeroy said, handing his friend 300 NP in return.

“All I need issss 60 more…” Sidney thought to himself excitedly. He handed 100 NP back to Leeroy.

“Let’ssss go again!” the Nimmo squealed, taking a second ball in his spindly-fingered hands.

Sidney wound up for his second attempt with a fire in his eyes.

He released the ball and…

The ball hit the same coconut at an odd angle and ricocheted right back at Sidney, who ducked just in time to avoid it. Leeroy let out the smallest giggle before clamping his mouth shut, eyes tracking the ball as it rolled away.

"Sorry, reflex," said the Quiggle, his eyes shining with unspent laughter. "The coconut hardly moved, but that ball's still moving! I'll give you 50 Neopoints for that throw, but that'll be your last one until I can get that ball back."

Sidney sighed. He was so close he could taste it, but it seemed his luck just didn't want to turn.

"That'ssssss ok, I should get to work. Thanksssss anyway, Leeroy."

"Any time!" yelled the Quiggle, who had already started after the ball Sidney had thrown.

The Nimmo made his way to the Fairgrounds Kiosk, where he spent his hours peddling scratchcards. The season had been slow, and without many visitors to break the boredom, the day stretched endlessly on. Not all of the cards he sold were losers, and while he was thrilled for any customer who got a winning card, it still stung to pay them out. Every whoop of joy was genuine, but as the winner walked away richer, his smile would falter when he thought of the empty till in front of him.

When would he be so lucky? When would it be his turn?

The moon crested the top of the trees in the Haunted Woods and Sidney hung up his hat for the night. Gathering the few coins he'd made that day, he started the walk back to his house. With today's meagre profits, he was still 80 NP short of the fortune-teller's fee. He had two days left to make up the difference, but he had one last idea for today.

He stopped by the Bagatelle stand, smiling at Harker behind the counter. As they exchanged pleasantries Sidney dug into his pockets and came up with a fistful of Neopoints, sliding them to his friend. The Lupe quickly swept the coins away and stepped over to the board. A Mootix shivered in his palm.

"Let'sssss hope he'ssss feeling good tonight!" said Sidney, watching as his friend tossed the Petpetpet into the air. He could only afford this one game, he told himself. He was watching the Mootix bounce off the board's pegs, waiting to see where the little guy would land, heart in his throat...

"Oooooh," said Harker, with practiced, mock sympathy. "So close." Never mind that it wasn't close at all.

"Nooooooo!" Sidney stamped his foot and groaned. That was 250 NP down the drain, setting him back yet again. All he wanted was answers, and those answers did not come cheap. He patted his pockets; he probably had enough for another go, but...

"Hey, what's wrong? You sounded really worked up there."

Harker's words gave Sidney pause. The Lupe frowned in concern as he retrieved the twitching little Mootix.

"You know you can tell your old buddy Harker anything," he added. Never mind that there were in fact, a few things no one could ever tell Harker, such as asking him to not rig his game because clearly, Bagatelle wasn't rigged, not like certain other games on the fairground.

Sidney hesitated, and sighed, pulling out the flier with the robed Zafara.

"I needed enough Neopointsssss to ssssssee thissss fortune teller. There'sssss sssssomething I have to asssssk her," he said carefully, not wanting to reveal his true intentions. He and Harker may be on good terms, but he really didn't want to reveal his perceived lack of talent to any more Neopians.

"Business slow today?"

Sidney nodded.

"Hmmm." Harker stroked his chin and said, "If you want to see the Fortune-Teller during her grand opening, here's what you can do..."

“But what if she doessssn’t actually help?”

“Well you of all folks here should know how to advertise something whether it works or not. After all, you have a rigged game and folks still come to play it.”

“My game issss NOT rigged. It’sssss jusssst sssssome ssssspecial math.”

Harker rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to admit to it, it’s just a fact. Anyways, the Fortune-Teller has had a hard time getting folks to get their fortune told lately. With all of this Void and grey, few dare to seek out what the future may bring. So she needs glowing reviews to help others feel comfortable about it again.”

Sidney looked skeptical about the idea. “Can’t she jussst make up reviewsss herssself?”

“It would look much better if she could cite a real review.”

“Fiiine, thankssss…” Sidney replied.

He was beginning to doubt whether the Fortune-Teller would help him given that she needed folks to embellish the truth for her. However, he saw no other choice for his predicament so he made his way to the Fortune-Telling booth that was under preparation. As he peeked inside though, the Fortune Teller did not appear to be there. Instead, he found a folded up piece of paper on the table. He unfolded it to reveal…

Dearest Fortune Teller, Sidney read... I must thank you. You said the thing I had been dreading would soon come to pass and though I doubted you, all is well. You have my deepest gratitude.

It was signed, -grateful Neopian.

Sidney’s eyes widened, his heart giving a hopeful leap. “Maybe ssshe isss the real deal!”

“Well, I certainly hope so,” came a female voice.

Sidney yelped, spinning around to find the robed Zafara standing quietly observing him from her doorway, her single visible eye upon him.

“Ssssorry,” Sidney said. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I wassss jusssst-“

“I am not open just yet,” she said kindly. “I’m assuming you came for a fortune.”

“Right, of courssse,” Sidney said, scratching the back of his head. He hesitated, but then blurted out, “Would you do a reading for a disssscount? If I promised to leave a very good review with every cussstomer who visits my ssscratchcard ssshop?”

The Zafara studied him. “What sort of discount are we talking?”

“450 NPs?” Sidney offered. He wanted to save a few coins to buy Frank a snack on the way home.

Her expression softened. “You are a kind soul. I can tell. Come. Let’s share a cup of tea.”

Sidney sat, watching her prepare the drink. It was his earlier vision coming true. Soon, they both had warm cups in their hands and were sipping contently. But as soon as he felt truly relaxed, the Fortune-Teller snatched at his cup, peering intently at the leaves gathered at the bottom.

Then she looked up suddenly, wide-eyed. “The leaves are telling me…”

Sidney hung his head, feeling the warmth from the teacup slowly fade from his hands. It'sss complicated! he wanted to shout.

The Zafara was watching Sidney patiently, the gentle smile returning. Sidney could tell she had more to say, but was waiting for him to speak first.

"My Petpet... Frank... has found successsss in all sortssss of waysss. Everyone around me sssseems to have a talent, a purposssse, but I... I..." Sidney's voice choked. "I just sssell ssscratchcards." He shrugged.

"Just?" the Zafara asked. But then: "You don't find it meaningful." A statement, not a question.

"It paysss the billsss, that'sss all. I'm hardly changing livesss."

The Zafara was swirling Sidney's cup again. "Your tea tells me otherwise."

Sidney leaned forward to look, but all he could make out in the wet dregs was... a Doglefox? A Tigerfruit? Well, at least now he could now add "tea reading" to his list of non-talents.

"Tell me..." the Fortune-Teller probed. "Do you remember a Yellow Gnorbu?"

Sidney searched his memory. Last Thursday, perhaps? The fellow had been in a rush, eager to get home to his children after a long day in the Haunted Woods.

"You did him a kindness."

"He wassss nice to me and only a few Neopointssss sssshort. It didn't feel right to not sssell him a ssscratchcard." Sidney recalled, the interaction paging back into his brain.

"You changed his life," the Zafara revealed in a most undramatic fashion, as if she were simply remarking the weather. "You see, when that Gnorbu left your stall..."

How will this story end?

Sidney’s eyes widened in disbelief, his smile stretching from cheek to cheek. The Gnorbu was a hard worker in the Haunted Woods, always just scraping by. The thought of what that kind of win would mean for the Gnorbu filled Sidney with joy.

“Now he will be able to fulfil his dream of taking his family on a holiday to the Lost Desert,” the Zafara continued warmly. As she dipped a finger into the teacup, the leaves swirled again, gathering into a new shape that vaguely resembled the face of a Bori.

Sidney leaned forward, squinting. “A Bori?”

“Precisely. The Blue Bori who bought your scratchcard just yesterday won a Mutant Bori Plushie, which they happily gifted to their partner.” She paused, letting the thought settle. “All while you were mulling over your lack of talent that same night.”

Sidney sank back into his chair as the realisation dawned on him. “…I brought thesssse petssss… happinesssss.”

“Yes, young Nimmo.” The Zafara’s voice softened as she traced the surface of the tea once more. A faint glow shimmered from the cup, the leaves shifting and scattering into fleeting shapes of familiar Neopian figures, one after another. “Every living being in Neopia serves their role. From the honourable Queen Fyora to the humble Rubbish Dump Charlie, each fits together like pieces of a puzzle. Each is significant. Each is necessary. Without them, without you, the world would not flourish as it does.”

Sidney watched, mesmerised, as the shapes flickered and faded. The glow vanished in an instant as the Fortune Teller brought her hands together with a soft clap. “Alrighty then,” she said plainly, extending her hand. “That’ll be all your Neopoints, please.”

********* Sidney burst through the door of his home energetically, startling Frank where he stood. The Nimmo beamed to his friend, “I bring petssss joy and hope - that is my talent!”

Frank blinked, then broke into delighted applause, as though he had known it all along.

“I can’t wait to get back to work tomorrow and ssssell more sssscratchcardssss,” Sidney continued excitedly. Then he paused, turning to his friend suddenly. “But firsssst, Frank, help me write a positive review.”

The End