The Wonderball rumbled as if in response. Dana’s eyes scanned the room frantically, and Emily was torn between fleeing for her life and at least meeting her friend’s eyes. She edged towards the bed to put herself in her friend’s view.

Dana’s eyes found the Wonderball first. They shot wide open, bloodshot streaks seemed to appear instantaneously. Quick movements of her eyes tried to tell Emily something. Eyelids flew open and shut, some sort of pigeon Morse code.

“What is it, Dana? What happened?” Unable to speak, Dana just kept looking at the ball, now rumbling steadily in Emily’s hands, becoming warm to the touch. A funny ringing seemed to fill the room.

Finally, the two friends’ eyes met, and Emily understood. It wasn’t much, but there it was. Wonderball bad. Slowly, as afraid to look as she was to not, Emily forced her eyes to the swirling window through which the ball might speak. The cube clacked once, twice, and a third time before presenting another message.

Who’s…a…toy…now?