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With a slight sense of disappointment, I snuck back down the stairs again. When I arrived on the second floor, I resumed my position next to Dooley. He gave me a questioning look.

“I thought I heard something,” I whispered.

“You didn’t miss much,” he whispered back. “He keeps going on and on about his soul. But I don’t think he means soul as in soul music. But then what soul is he talking about?”

“I’ll tell you all about it later,” I said.

Harriet was scowling again. She seemed to have taken it upon herself to act as Master Sharif’s enforcer, making sure all the participants were quiet and listening intently.

So we shut up and listened—though not nearly as intently as Harriet would have wished.

It was tough, as Sharif kept repeating the same message over and over again, using different words: basically that there was more to life than kibble. I suppose he had a point. There is more to life than kibble. Wet food, for instance, or a nice slice of raw liver.

But somehow I got the impression that wasn’t what he meant.

Chapter 14

The evening was winding down, and still Master Omar hadn’t said all that much. A few words addressing a topic that seemed near and dear to him: the importance of spending time getting to know one’s soul.

“Imagine going on a leisurely stroll with your best friend,” he said as everyone present hung on the man’s every word. “You shoot the breeze, you have a great time, spending time with a person who gets you—who’s always there for you. It’s a great feeling, right?”

Murmurs of assent echoed through the room and Odelia stifled a yawn.

“You spend the day together, going for a walk along the beach, taking in some of that fresh ocean air, and when you arrive home you feel refreshed and invigorated, true?”

More murmurs of agreement and another yawn from Odelia followed by one from Chase. Then, in close order, Odelia’s mom, dad, gran and uncle yawned, too.

She smiled. Apparently she’d started a yawn wave.

“Well, now imagine the same day, but minus the best friend. Just you walking along that same stretch of beach. Only you’re not alone, are you? You’re in the company of your soul, and it’s actually your soul that’s your best friend. Your soul that has your back, and will never let you down. Your soul is your buddy, people, and don’t you forget it. Now please repeat after me. All together now. My soul is my buddy.”

“My soul is my buddy,” all those present chanted.

“When you’re feeling blue, just say ‘My soul is my buddy.’”

“My soul is my buddy,” said the chorus.

“When you’re down and out?”

“My soul is my buddy.”

“When life kicks you in the teeth?”

“My soul is my buddy!”

“Say it like you mean it!”

“MY SOUL IS MY BUDDY!”

“That’s it! Now remember that!”

“Wow,” said Gran. “That’s really deep.”

Odelia didn’t think it was all that deep, but still murmured her approval of the master’s words when he glanced in her direction.

“And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” said Omar. “The announcement of this week’s top recruiter. Drum roll, please.”

Jaqlyn Jones made a drum roll sound, eliciting a groan from Odelia’s dad, and Gran was already getting up, when Omar suddenly said, “Scarlett Canyon! Please join me at my table, Scarlett!”

“No way!” cried Gran, but her heart’s cry was drowned out by the applause that rang out as Scarlett Canyon got up and sashayed from her seat on the opposite side of the room toward her master. Her flaming red hair was even more glossy than usual, under the bright lights that lit up the room, and her impressive bust more pronounced. Several men present momentarily forgot all about their souls and goggled as she walked past.

“Thank you, Omar,” she purred as someone placed an extra chair and she took a seat.

“I want to file a complaint!” Gran said, her voice cutting through the noise.

All eyes turned to her, and Uncle Alec muttered,“And here we go.”

“Oh, hi, Vesta,” said Scarlett with a pinkie wave. “Hadn’t seen you hiding back there.”

“No way you’re the top recruiter,” said Vesta, her voice clear as a bell and her cheeks flushed with righteous indignation. “I’m the top recruiter. Omar said so himself at the beginning of the meeting.”

“Master Omar praised you for bringing in your entire family,” said Jaqlyn, speaking for his master. “He didn’t mention anything about you being our top recruiter. Though your efforts are much appreciated, of course,” he quickly added when Omar gave him a quick glance. “And we do hope you’ll continue to bring in fresh recruits on a daily basis.”

“I guess you’ll just have to do better, Vesta,” said Scarlett with a shrug.

“How can you tell people about the importance of the soul when you have no soul?!” Vesta demanded heatedly.

“We all have a soul, Vesta,” said Omar. “And I have to say I admire your passion—your zeal! Now use that same zeal and passion to go out there tomorrow and bring many more people to Soul Science, and maybe next week you’ll be the one sitting at my table.”