Amy Izzo tried to smile. The song had started out strong, but most of the voices had started to fade by the last "Happy Birthday." Not Aunt Irene's voice, of course. She got louder and louder as the song went on, and sang the last "you" in as high, rich voice, like an opera singer.

Amy leaned over the lopsided chocolate cake to blow out the candles. Twelve pink candles fickered in a circle around the cake, with a white one in the middle --- for luck.

Not so fast, Amy, Aunt Irene said. You have to make a birthday wish.

Amy sighed. Everybody knew that birthday wishes never came true. What was the point?

Sure, she could make a wish. She could wish to be popular, with lots of friends, so she could have her twelfth birthday party at the movie theater like other kids did, instead of in her boring old kitchen with just her family. She could wish for friends to have sleep over parties with or do homework with.

Amy got lost in the daydream for a bit, then snapped back to reality. Wishing for friends was dumb. If you had friends, you had to think of things to say to them, and laugh at their jokes, and whisper to them when the teacher wasn't looking. Amy wan't good at any of those things. She was much too shy. No, wishing for friends was useless.

Maybe I should wish for everyone to leave me alone, Amy thought. Now that's a useful wish

Amy leaned over once more to blow out the candles. But her little brother, Mikey, climbed on top of the table before she could do it.

Mikey's cake! Mikey cried. Then he blew out the candles. Tiny drops of toddler drool rained over the chocolate icing.

Oh, isn't that cute, Mrs. Izzo said. Mikey thinks it's his birthday!

Amy sighed again and slumped back onto her seat. Her mom thought everything Mikey did was cute.

That's okay, Amy grumbled. I didn't need a wish, anyway.

Amy looked around the table. No one seemed to notice her misery. Mikey sat in her mom's lap, shoving cake into his mouth by the handful while her mom wiped icing off of his face. Amy's dad was reading a book that rested on his lap, under the table --- but that was normal. Frank Izzo was always reading a book. And Aunt Irene was bustling around the kitchen, pulling plates and forks out of the avocado-green kitchen cabinets.

Aunt Irene cut slices of cake for everone. Amy's had a Mikey-sized handprint on top. The kitchen was silent while everyone ate their cake. Then Aunt Irene put her fork down with a clatter and beamed at Amy.

Isn't it about time Amy opened her presents? she asked.

Now, usually an eleven-year-old girl who has just turned twelve would be very excited about opening presents. But not Amy. She already knew what she would get. Her dad always got her a book. Her mom always got her a new cardigan sweater to replace the one from last year. And Aunt Irene --- well, that was another story.

Aunt Irene was everything that Amy wasn't. Aunt Irene had frizzy red hair, while Amy's was a dull mousy brown and very straight. And Aunt Irene was always loud. When she walked into a room, she got everyone's attention. But Amy was as quiet as a mouse, and no one ever noticed her.

The problem with Aunt Irene's presents is that whe was always giving Amy things that were very Aunt Irene-like instead of Amy-like. Last year it was a hot pink dress with feathers around the collar. Amy could only imagine what this year's gift would be.

Amy opened up ber book and her sweater. Then Aunt Irene handed her a small box wrapped in shiny purple paper. Amuy had never received anything small from Aunt Irene before.

Thank you, Amy said, just a little curious. She tore off the paper and opened the box.

Inside was smaller box covered in black velvet. Amuy lifted the lid.

A necklasce rested on a cushion of white silk. Amy had never seen anything like it. A milky-white stone was set in the middle of a silver circle. Strange-looking symbols were engreaved all around the circle. The pendant dangled from a thin silver chain.

To her surprise, Amy found that she liked it.

Thanks, Aunt Irene,She said. Where did you find it?

It's a funny story. her saunt replied. I was strolling around town one day and came across a little shop --- Sebastian Cream's Junk Shop. Have you ever been there?

No, Amy replied. She didn't ever know it existed.

Well, I told the shop owner I was looking for a present for my niece, her aunt continued. I described you to him and he said the necklace would be perfect. It's not my style, but I thought you might like it.

I do, Amy said, giving her aunt a hug.

Later that night, Amy sat on her bed, examining the necklace.

I bet Keesha would like it, too.

Amy sighed again. Keesha has once been Amy's friend. They were in class together from kindergarten to second grade. But they hadn't been in the same class for years, and for all that time they hardly spoke to each other. Now they were in the same sixth-grade class, but Amy barely had the courage to say hello to her.

Amy stood up. Who knows? Maybe I will show Keesha, she said aloud. She took the necklace out of its box and walked to the mirror on her closet door.

Or maybe she'll notice it on her own, Amy said. After all, it is pertty unusual.

Amy put the chain around her neck. She fastened the clasp.

And then she vanished.

Amy stared into the mirror. Her reflection has completly disappeared!

There must be something wrong with the mirror! Amy thought.

Amy took a deep breath. She looked down at her body.

She couldn't see a thing. Her legs, her arms --- they were gone.

No, that couldn't be. People just didn't become invisible. It had to have something to do with the necklace. Some kind of trick. Like a hologram or something.

Amy took off the necklace. Immediately, her refection reappeared in the mirror. The necklace was definitely responsible. But how?

Trembling, Amy sat back down on her bed. She turned the necklace over and over, searching for some kind of answer. She found nothing.

Amy dropped the necklace on her night table and climbed under the covers.

It must be my imagination, she thought. I'll put it on again in the morning, when I'm not so tired.

But Amy didn't sleep well at all, and woke as soon as the first rays of morning sun shone in her room. She quickly sat up. The white stone of the necklace seemed to be staring at her from the night table, like some kind of eye

Had it all been a dream? There was only one way to find out.

Amy carefully picked up the necklace and walked to the mirror. She put the necklace on --- and once again became invivible.

Amy took off the necklace and stared at it, her heart beating fast. She had read enough fantasy books to know that some kinds of jewels were supposed to have magic powers. Could this really be a magic necklace?

Amy! Time to wake up! her mother called.

Amy scanned her room for a hiding place. If this really was a magic necklace, she needed to find out more about it. She'd keep it somewhere safe until she got home from school.

Then another thought crept into Amy's mind. A necklace that made you invisible could come in handy at school. She could bring it with her in case of ... energency. Like, if it were dodgeball day in gym class. She could put the necklace on, and no more dodge ball ... just like that!

Amy turned the necklace over in her hand. Did she really have the guts to use it?