Wishing Too

Wishing Too



A single star floats in the cold night sky. She twinkles; is she blinking back tears? Could she be afraid, alone in the black infinity of night? No other stars shine nearby to give her light. A flock of clouds drifts by, drenching her with contemptuous droplets. Does she tremble with the chill they have caused? Or is she shuddering with quiet, starry sobs?

Far, far below, in a street on Earth, several girls are flurrying by, laughing and chattering. Their flashlights form a constellation. One glances up and a hush falls. Solemnly they chant a well-known verse, then send their wishes up to the lonely little star. But they don’t know that the star is watching them hungrily, and she is wishing too.