And The Wish...

And the Wish is Starting

"Mrs. Johnson!" I exclaim, running down the stairs to the tailor shop. "Mrs. Johnson! Mrs. Johnson!" I end up skipping three steps so I thump down the rest of the way. And just my luck that there was a mannequin in my way. With needles too sticking out too, how lovely.

"Oh dear!" Mrs. Johnson gasps at the sight of a new human-porcupine species known as me toppled over one of her customer's order. "Dumpling are you alright?"

Dumpling is actually the new nickname the villagers have been calling me for the past week. Apparently I'm 'sweet' and 'caring' and 'thoughtful' as well as 'friendly' and 'adorable' and for some reason everyone in Bowerstone claims to like me as a friend or a potential wife. I actually was tempted to ask Lord Earl what he said, but then I starting doing my doubting thing again and was too afraid of the answer that I avoided him for the last five days. But what's really weird is that first I'm nicknamed after a bird, then food, when it should be like a plant or personality trait. What's next? An insect? Please tell me it won't be that.

I slowly make my way up, yanking out some needles in my hands before grabbing hold of Mrs. J's outstretched arm. "Yeah, Mrs. J, I'm going to be fine." I glance down at the mangled dress and broken mannequin and heave a large sigh. "However your dress may not. I'll fix it, and the mannequin too, you have my word."

Mrs. Johnson shakes her head. "No, it's fine dear, I know you've been up all day and night sewing." She touches the large bags under my eyes and pauses. "How is it going along? Maybe I shouldn't have pushed you so far...."

"No!" I quickly counter in a loud voice. Damn it! Why am I so stupid! I can't just yell in front of her! I seriously have no manners whatsoever. I clamp my mouth shut with my hand and talk through it. "I mean, no worries, Mrs. J. Actually I came crashing down here just to tell you that I finished. One hundred outfits for the fourteen designs. Just now actually."

Mrs. Johnson smiles sweetly at me. "Then would it be alright if I told you to get some rest? You should sleep for a week, darling, you look dreadful."

I shake my head firmly. "I can't let you work all by yourself and I also need the money. Plus I'm totally fine, I don't feel tired at all."

She sighs softly to herself. "At least make let me make you some tea."

"Sure, Mrs. J. Thanks."

"Rest on the sofa while I prepare it. And I mean rest, don't just sit and wait," she commands.

"You're too worried, Mrs. J," I say exasperated, plunking down on her pink sofa nearby the window. Unfortunately I was lying earlier when I said I was fine and my body still stung from all the needles, which made my skin turn pink since my stupid fall and I groan as I make contact with the pillows.

And I was also lying when I said that I wasn't tired.

And I ended up sleeping.

For a day.

DAMN IT!

And you know what Mrs. J told me when I woke up? That I was actually paid for sleeping since it was my temporary job. If sleeping were a job, I'd never wake up until payday. But anyways, I can't accept her gold for my own slacking. I tell her this and she just giggles, rhetorically asking if I haven't been working enough after hours. She eventually persuades me to accept the gold.

"Oh yeah!" Mrs. Johnson pipes up, her eyes wide as if she had forgotten something. "When you were dead for a day I set up the shop with your designs."

I instantly sit up, not caring that my body still stung. Mrs. Johnson was considerate enough to go out and buy some bandages, which even though she refused, I paid her back (by stuffing it in the cash register).

"And what did they think about it?"

Mrs. Johnson doesn't respond, she just takes out a sack and grins as she sees my awe-struck face.

"They bought it all!" she squeals, joining me on the couch.

"They bought it all?" I question with doubt.

"It all! And they even ordered more! You took the town by storm! You should've seen them! Like flies to honey they were! Moths to a flame! That was the most I've sold ever since I opened up the place! You're a bloody genius, you are!" Mrs. J calms down while I still have this goofy toothy grin on my face. She places the sack of coins in my hand. "This is you're first sale, you should keep it," she says with a small smile.

I open up the bag and my mouth drops to the floor, well, if it could at least.  My eyes wide as I look at her and the coins in front of me. This is crazy!

'Sparrow, I just know we'll be rich someday! We'll live in a castle of our own someday! And then we could help everyone who were just like us! Isn't that fantastic?'

Rose. I miss her so much. Every night my dreams are laced with that nightmare. Ever since she left...I don't know, I've just been different. She used to show me the way, what to do, what to say, when to do what you're told to and when not. What choices to make. How to realize that you're in love and learn how to never let them out of your sight.

I miss her.

"Dumpling?" Mrs. Johnson waves her hand over my eyes. "You okay sweetie?"

I look up at her and smile. "Of course. This is just so amazing." I hug her. "I just love it so much."

"I'm glad for you."

I let go and take out two large handfuls of gold and put it on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

"Dumpling?"

"That's yours. I can't have all of this. I wouldn't know what to do with it. And if it weren't for you and your popularity and your generousity, I wouldn't have this. Also you paid for the fabric so I hope this covers it all."

Mrs. Johnson pulls me into another hug. "This is why your the world's Dumpling."