The Wishing Stars

Chapter 2

The harsh coldness of the school touched my arms and caused her to shiver. Kids, older and her age, walked about happily chatting amongst one another. Eri heaved a sigh, and walked alone to her locker. Locker 1001 stuck out like a rainbow in the gray sky. The navy blue like color stuck out in the sea of reddish-maroon. She silently opened her locker, occasionally getting bumped by students. Inside the locker, she grasped for a see-through jar. A jar filled with tiny paper stars and note cards. Just a few more stars and you'll be done. You'll be able to make your wish.

          Hours later, Eri calmly walked into her math class, actually excited for once. Math was the last class she had, and she had 999 stars. She eagerly sat down in her chair and did her paperwork that was handed to her. Mrs. Ayana, the meanest teacher in the school, seemed to see through her coat. "Eri, what do you have in your coat?"
"N-Nothing madam."
"Coat off. Now."
Little Eri slowly stood up, and took off her coat. Kids snickered. Girls whispered to and fro. And there in her little coat, was her jar filled with stars. Mrs. Ayana snatched the jar away, and sneered "You'll get it back after class." She placed the jar on her desk, and continued teaching like nothing ever happened. Eri sat back down, the cold wet tears pouring down her face. Her hand trembled. No words formed in her mouth. She just sat there, wishing upon one of those little white stars, to disappear into the wind, never to be seen again.

...

The bell rang, and immediately Eri took back her stars and stormed out of the room. Her shoes went click clack as she walked down the hall. A few heads turned to stare at her wet face. Girls gossiped. Boys rough housing up and down the halls. Completely normal. But not to Eri, who clung to her stars as if her life depended on it. She quickly grabbed her things then raced out of the building. Thank goodness it was already the weekend, so she could make her last star and stay up late. Her gray eyes were filled with excitement, worry, and a little hint of fear as she walked down the long road.
...

It was night when she decided to create her last star. After her father told her and Hisashi the overly told story about Totoro. After he had kisses them both on the head goodnight and left them each in their own room. Eri shot out of bed like a rocket and raced to a slip of paper. She worked, she wanted the last star to be perfect. Absolutely perfect.
    "And the little girl that lived near the creek, made a wish"
"Really mommy? With only a thousand stars?"
"Yes, and do you know what she wished for?"
"No, tell me tell me!"
"She wished for the skies to be painted with stars every night. She loved stars so much, just like me and you."
"If I made a thousand stars, I'd wish for our family to stay together, forever and ever!"
"I would too, Eri. I would too.."
She snapped out of her thoughts, realizing she was crying. And finally, with triumph, her last star was created.