EVOLUTION

PEANUT DREAMS

Finish this sentence: As a writer, I will consider myself successful when...

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As a writer, Dusk had always dreamed of making a difference. She knew that words had the power to change the world, and she was determined to use that power to create a brighter future for children everywhere. Her latest project, a children's book about an eight-year-old Caribbean Island girl named Peanut, was her greatest achievement yet.

Dusk poured her heart and soul into the book, spending countless hours crafting the story, creating illustrations, and perfecting every last detail. When it was finally published, she held her breath, hoping that children would connect with the character she had created.

The response was overwhelming. Parents and children alike fell in love with Peanut, and the book quickly became a bestseller. Dusk was thrilled, but she knew that success was about more than just sales.

She had always said that she would consider herself successful when every child knew Peanut, and now she was determined to make that happen. She embarked on an island wide tour, visiting schools and libraries, and sharing her book with children from all walks of life.

One day, Dusk found herself in a community on the outskirts of the city. She was scheduled to speak at a local primary school, but when she arrived, she found that the turnout was disappointingly small. Only a handful of children had shown up, and Dusk couldn't help but feel discouraged.

But as she began to read from her book, she watched as the children's faces lit up with joy. They laughed and gasped in all the right places, hanging on every word as Dusk brought Peanut to life before their eyes.

When she finished, the children crowded around her, eager to meet the author who had created their new favorite character. Dusk was delighted, but as she chatted with the children, she realized that not all of them had access to books of their own.

Determined to change that, Dusk worked with various schools to set up a book donation program. She called it the Peanut Pledge*. Parents and community members were encouraged to donate books to school libraries, and Dusk herself donated dozens of copies of her own book.

Over the next few years, Dusk watched as the program took off. Children who had never had access to books of their own were now reading voraciously, and Peanut had become a household name in the country.

One day, Dusk received a letter in the mail from a little girl named Lily. The letter was written in childish scrawl, but the message was clear: Lily loved Peanut, and she wanted to thank Dusk for creating such a wonderful character.

Dusk smiled as she read the letter, knowing that it was moments like these that made all the hard work worth it. She wrote back to Lily, sending her a signed copy of the book and encouraging her to keep reading. She framed the letter and hung it on the wall next to her other certificates. To Dusk it was the most important item on the wall.

As the years went by, Dusk continued to work tirelessly to spread the joy of reading to children everywhere. She wrote more books, created more characters, and traveled the world to share her message of hope and inspiration.

And all the while, Peanut remained a beloved figure in the hearts and minds of children everywhere. Dusk knew that she had accomplished what she had set out to do - every child knew Peanut, and her impact on the world would last for generations to come.

14 April 2023

* The Peanut Pledge is a real book donation drive and the details for the year 2023 may be viewed at -- https://allpoetry.com/16925891