EPILOGUE

"And from that day forward," the Professor finished, "Dorothy and the Wizard, not to mention Jack, Ray, and Bert, became the very best of friends."

"Wow!" Karen cheered. "That was a great story, Mr. Marvelo!"

"Why, thank you kindly, young lady," the Professor chuckled. "And what about you, young man? Did you enjoy it after all? Or was it nothing but the rambling of an old loony?"

Chris chuckled as well, against his better judgment. "Well...You may be a bad magician," he said, "But you're sure a good storyteller, I'll give you that."

"If you say so," the Professor said with a smirk, as he got up from his chair.

"I'm wondering, though," Chris said. "You...You're not really the...The Wizard...Are you? Not...THAT Wizard? And those shoes? They're not...The REAL ones? Are they?" Those shoes certainly looked fake before. But now, Chris wasn't so sure. Was he falling for the Professor's tricks himself?

"Maybe, maybe not," the Professor said. He showed Chris, Karen, and the other children the ruby shoes one last time. "It depends on your levels of belief and skepticism. Just remember...Your belief in yourself may be just the key to making your biggest wishes...Come true." He carefully put the shoes back into their box.

Just then, a female voice called from the other side of the curtain. "Mr. Marvelo!"

"Ah! I've been expecting her," the Professor said. "Excuse me, children." He took the box in his hands and walked back out onto the stage. Chris, Karen, and the others followed him.

Standing in front of the stage was a young woman, possibly in her early 20s, wearing a white skirt and a blue jean jacket. Standing with her was a trio of young men, one lanky, one with a funnel-like cap, and one bulky. "I'm here to pick up my shoes," the woman said.

"Yes, of course," the Professor said. He bent down and handed the box over to her. "Here you are, Ms. Gale."

The faces of Karen and her friends lit up, as they imagined who this woman could be. Chris looked at her curiously, then back at his sister in disbelief. It couldn't really be HER, could it?

The Professor then stepped off of the stage and left with the woman and the three men. "Thank you, children," he said gratefully with a hearty wave, "And may you have a wondrous rest of your day here at the carnival! Be sure to visit Professor Marvelo again!"

Karen grinned and giggled happily. Chris shrugged and grinned as well.

"Now do you believe in all this, Chris?" Karen asked.

"I'll let you know after we get home," Chris chuckled. "But I have to say...Wouldn't mind doing this again sometime."

The two of them, and the rest of the children, exited the tent as well.

Backstage, and up in the rafters above, the seven Care Bears, as well as Hugs and Tugs, laughed happily together. It was obvious that they had as much fun listening to the Professor's story as the Professor himself had telling it.