Excerpt for Shine Like a Million Stars by Amy Laine , available in its entirety at Smashwords
Shine Like a Million Stars
By: Lucianne Schwarz
When I blew out my candles on my plain vanilla ice cream I didn't know what I wanted to wish for. So I wished for what I always did when I didn't know exactly what I wanted. Today I was responsible. Today I was eleven. Not a ten, a low lowly ten,but eleven. A second year of double-digits. Except this year I wanted things to be different. Not plain vanilla like my ice cream which I have every year on my birthday. More of a caramel sundae with extra whip cream, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate drizzling down the side with a cherry on top. Oh and a silver cup to hold it in with little dancing monkeys all over it. Yep.
Except when I did blow my candles out I didn't know if that was what I really wanted. I like the way life is going, but to me it might be a little slow. But a lazy life was good right? Or did I want to speed things up? I didn't know so I wished for an iTouch.
Not that I would ever get one from my parents. But maybe wishing for an iTouch means I will save enough money to buy one myself!
“What did you wish for?” My older sister Gail asked me. She's fourteen. Three years older then me.
“I'm not tellin'!” I giggle. Gail leans over and pinches me on the cheek.
“OW!” I dramatically fall to the floor and squeal in pretend horror. “Someone seize this ruffian that put it's.....hand on my face!” I shriek in my best London accent.
“Oh woe is me....or you because I touched you.” Gail rolled her eyes but I heard the playfulness in her voice.
“You betcha you touched me and you will suffer the consequences!” I scrambled up and picked up my napkin. “ARGHHH!” I threw it at my older sister who ducked and tossed hers at me as well.
“Girls, settle down.” Mom said and daintily wiped her mouth with her own napkin. “Especially you,” Mom eyed me hard but the twinkle in her eye said otherwise. “Your party is going to start in an hour so I want you in the shower.”
“Aww....” I patted my egg down with my fork. “Do I have to? Can I finish breakfast first?”
“Not if you keep playing with your food.”Mom said noticing me playing with my egg. I stopped and sat there like a good daughter should. Except I think I fidgeted but how could I not when I was sure there was something crawling up my leg? It tickled so I laughed out loud and glanced down to see if it was there.
Nothing.
“Hyper...” Gail whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
“Am not!” I shot back.
“GIRLS!” Mom cried exasperated.
Gail and I kept going not noticing Mom until Dad slammed down his fork and said in a low impatient voice, “enough.”
Gail instantly sat still and started to eat her breakfast burrito. I don't like burrito's so I am having eggs- my favorite. Nothing but the finest for the Birthday girl! :D
I started to roll my egg around on the plate, I liked watching it roll. When a egg rolls it looks really cool! Then I remember- I need to be an eleven year old. Rolling eggs on your plate was for ten year olds.
I sit up straight grab a fresh new napkin and place it in my lap. Dad watches me with a curious eye.
“Only ten year olds roll an egg on their plate.” I explain and neatly dab my mouth after a dainty sip of orange juice. “I see.” Dad has a funny look on his face but he doesn't say anything.
“Please pass the toast.” I say in my best educated voice with out a hint of a slur in it because Momma hates it when I slur my words together. Besides talking like this makes me feel grown up. Which I am. Your eleven now. I tell myself. This is silly. I really don't like having to watch my back in case I do something a eleven year old girl shouldn't do.
Gail turns to me and says in her most 'I'm older so I'm so much-better' voice, “Cassie Lee dear, haven't you better bathe before your guests arrive?”
I stick out my tongue. “None of your business.”
Gail turns to my parents. “Not now sweetie let the grown ups talk.”
My face reddens and I hear myself shout, “I AM A GROWNUP!” Then I feel my foot slam to the floor. They keep doing that making me feel like a baby.
“Children what can you say?” Gail shakes her head sadly watching me scream.
Mom gets up. “Cassie, shower now.” Mom turns to Gail. “And you, I want you to go to your room and clean it up spotless before Cassie's party guests arrive.”
Dad starts to inch away but it is too late. Mom is on to him too. “And you Charles. Your a mess. Throw on some decent clothes....some I approve of. After that there is hot dogs to cook over the barbecue. Then you can help put the streamers in the house.”
Everyone steps too it trying not to get Mom any madder.
As I get into the shower I know what I want this year. For something big to happen. Not like getting a goldfish but like...I don't know. Maybe a lot of little things leading up to one big thing?