Cassie Comes Through

by Ahmet Zappa

  There was just one problem with the plan—Annabel. Cassie knew that they only had six hours left to make Lila’s wish come true and the girl thwarted them at every turn. When Lila patiently raised her hand to answer a difficult math problem, Annabel shouted out the answer. When Ms. Olds walked into the classroom with a big stack of books in her arms, and Lila raced to the front of the room to help her, Annabel leaned over and give Lila a little push so she accidentally knocked the books to the floor. Annabel then made a big show out of helping the teacher pick them up. And Cassie stewed when Ms. Olds gave Annabel a grateful smile.

  “Class, please pass your homework forward,” Ms. Olds said. Everyone reached into their folders and handed their work to the person in front of them. Ms. Olds collected the sheets from the first person in each row and stacked them together. She flipped through the pages at her desk. “Lila, I don’t see yours, did you forget to hand it in?” she asked.

  Lila looked up, confused. “No,” she said. “I handed it in.”

  Ms. Olds looked again. “I don’t see it here,” she said.

  Lila looked at Cassie nervously. Then instinct must have kicked in. To Cassie’s dismay she started to say, “Hey, Ms. Olds, would you get mad if…”

  Cassie knew what was coming next. She shook her head at Lila. No jokes! she thought. Not realizing exactly what she was doing, she willed Lila’s voice to lower in volume. And that’s exactly what happened. Lila’s mouth was moving, but no sound was coming out.

  Wow, thought Cassie. I guess I found my secret talent. She practiced on the next student who raised her hand.

  “Ms. Olds, may I please be excused?” the girl said, her voice increasing in volume with each word. She looked surprised.

  Cassie stared daggers at Annabel, who was sitting primly at her desk, her hands clasped together. She knew the girl had to be the one who took Lila’s homework. She pretended to be one thing, but was actually quite just the opposite. And she had all the grown-ups fooled.

  The bell rang for lunch. Lila shook her head as she walked out of the classroom with Cassie. “Well, that didn’t go so well,” she said. “And what do you think happened to my homework?”

  But then Lila caught a look at Cassie’s disappointed face. “Come on,” she said, trying to cheer Cassie up. “No need to look so upset. It’s no big deal.”

  Cassie’s Countdown Clock told her differently. She was running out of time. It really was a big deal. Cassie waved Lila off. “I’ll see you in the cafeteria,” she said. She looked around grumpily. Where was Ms. Olds now to see how sweet and understanding Lila was? But the hallway was empty. She looked again. Oh, no, it wasn’t. There, across the hall, staring back at her, was Scarlet. She was still sparkly (at least to Cassie) but she was wearing leggings and a large black sweater that looked like it had been eaten by moonmoths over a bright pink shirt that peeked through all the holes. Her hair was almost entirely black (with pink bangs). But it was Scarlet just the same. And Cassie knew exactly what that meant.

  “I know, I know,” said Cassie, shaking her head. “My wish is in serious trouble.”

  “So what’s going on?” asked Scarlet. “Lady Stella is really worried. You know you’re running out of time on the Countdown Clock, right?”

  Cassie told Scarlet the whole story.

  “Oh, that Annabel sounds awful,” said Scarlet. “So what are we going to do?”

  “We have to figure out a way to help Lila look good in front of Ms. Olds,” said Cassie. “Before the end of the school day, which is when the Countdown Clock will run out.”

  “Well, you’d better figure it out fast,” said Scarlet.

  Cassie thought for a moment. “Can you go down to the principal’s office and tell her you’re the new girl in class 261?”

  Scarlet nodded. “And then what?”

  Cassie shrugged. “And then she’ll bring you upstairs and then…” her voice trailed off. “And then we’ll figure something out.”

  “Okay,” said Scarlet. She skipped down the hallway, then stopped and looked back. “I hope you know what you are doing,” she said.

  Cassie smiled and waved. She’d figure it out. She was sure of it.

  “You never came to lunch,” said Lila, when she found Cassie standing in the hallway outside of the classroom. “You must be hungry. I brought you a snack.” She handed Cassie a bag of some odd-looking twisty brown things. “Thank you,” said Cassie eagerly, tearing open the bag. She was hungry. “So can you continue to not tell jokes in class?” she asked.

  Lila stared at the floor. “It’s hard,” she said.

  “Tell me a joke,” said Cassie. “Get it out of your system!”

  Lila looked up. “Why was the math book sad?” she asked.

  “I don’t know,” said Cassie “Why?”

  Lila grinned. “Because it had so many problems,” she said.

  The two girls laughed. Then Lila grew serious. “Cassie, I don’t know if this is going to work. I don’t think Ms. Olds is ever going to take me seriously as a student.”

  “Hey, would you humor me for a minute?’ asked Cassie.

  Lila nodded.

  Cassie grabbed her hand. “Sometimes when I need strength and reassurance, I say these words out loud. It just makes me feel better and gives me focus.” And then, even though she was not particularly fond of her mantra, she said it out loud: “Listen to your feelings. Let your inner light sparkle.” A tingle ran through Cassie. Lila must have felt it, too, because her eyes widened. “Wow,” she said. “I do feel better.”

  Annabel came bustling over to them. “No eating in the hallway,” she said. She grabbed the pretzels from Cassie’s hand and tossed them into the trash.

  “I was hungry,” said Cassie. “And that was mean. I’m…I’m going to tell Ms. Olds.”

  “Like she’s really going to believe you over me, three-time Student of the Month?” Annabel scoffed. She turned to Lila and gave her a cruel smile. “What ever happened to your homework?” she asked.

  “I bet I can guess,” said Lila.

  “You’ll never prove it,” answered Annabel.

  With a sigh, Cassie and Lila headed into the classroom. Cassie had no idea what she was going to do when Scarlet arrived. But still, she was certain it was going to be good.

  Scarlet stood in front of the class, doing her best to look like a new Wishling student. She looked at her feet and smiled shyly when the principal introduced her to Ms. Olds, who remarked (again) that she smelled deep-dish blueberry pie. Scarlet gave Cassie a look which plainly said “So, what do we do now?” Cassie was still not sure, so she shrugged. They’d have to play it by year, a new Wishling expression she had picked up on her mission. She assumed that meant they would make it up as they went along.

  “Ms. Olds,” said Principal McIlhenney, “will you join me outside for a moment?”

  “Certainly,” said Ms. Olds. “Scarlet, please take the seat next to Annabel for today.” She smiled. “Annabel, I’m sure you’ll do your best to make our newest student feel welcome.”

  As soon as the adults stepped into the hallway, Scarlet skipped across the room to her seat. Cassie watched as Annabel’s eyes lit up. Annabel turned to Scarlet, a mocking look on her face. Suddenly, Cassie knew exactly what to do. She concentrated, dialing up the volume. She just hoped it would be loud enough for the adults to hear.

  “Did you just skip?” Annabel said mockingly. “What, are we in preschool?” Her amplified voice echoed in the classroom, but her eyes were flashing and she didn’t seem to notice.

  Scarlet stopped in her tracks. “Are you talking to me?” she said.

  “Yes, I’m talking to you,” Annabel replied. “Skipping like a baby.”

  Scarlet honestly looked confused. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I would never skip,” she said hotly. “I was hurrying.”

  Annabel laughed. “Oh, yes you were. And those clothes. Did you get that sweater at a garage sale or something? I mean, really.”

 
Scarlet was staring daggers at Annabel, looking like she was about to start yelling at her. Then someone spoke up. It was Lila.

  “Enough,” she said, standing and walking up the aisle. “Leave the poor girl alone.”

  “Poor girl?” said Scarlet, clearly puzzled.

  “Ms. Olds asked you to welcome Scarlet into our classroom,” she said, two spots of pink in her cheeks. Noticing her voice was extra loud, she tried to lower it. But Cassie turned up the volume as loud as she could. “We are supposed to treat our classmates with respect. Be kind to them. And you did neither. You were just plain mean.” She turned to Scarlet. “Welcome to our class, Scarlet. We’re not all like Annabel,” she said. “Actually, we’re all pretty nice. I think you’re going to like it here.”

  Just then there was the sound of clapping. Cassie spun around to look at the doorway. And there she saw Ms. Olds and Principal McIlhenney, applauding Lila.

  “Nicely done, Lila,” said Ms. Olds. “You are a wonderful example of a good citizen and supportive classmate.” She turned to Annabel and shook her head. “And Annabel, I am shocked, simply shocked, by your behavior toward our newest student. It is simply unacceptable.”

  Annabel stared down at her desk in a furious silence. Cassie got the idea that her mean girl days were over.

  The principal was beaming. “Lila, your behavior was a great example for the rest of the students. Exactly the way our new Student of the Month should act.”

  Lila nodded and smiled. “Lila,” said Cassie. “Principal McIlhenney just said that you’re the Student of the Month!”

  “What?” said Lila with a gasp. “Are you serious? Me?”

  The principal nodded. “Congratulations!”

  The class, everyone except for Annabel that is, cheered.

  “Student of the Month,” Lila said to herself. “I can’t believe it.” Everyone could see the joy on her face, but only Cassie and Scarlet could see the glimmering rainbow waves of pure wish energy that arced through the air. Cassie almost ducked when they flew right at her face, but then she stood still as they were absorbed by her star-shaped glasses. She closed her eyes and felt the warmth and positive feelings flow through her.

  When the bell rang for the end of the day, Lila rushed up to Cassie and hugged her so tightly she lifted her off the ground. “Thank you, Cassie!” she said, her eyes shining. Cassie hugged her back, which she knew would erase Lila’s—and everyone’s—memory of her visit.

  When they broke apart, Lila had a strange, distant look on her face. She blinked and then walked out of the classroom, not turning back. They hadn’t even had a chance to say good-bye. And Cassie, with a large lump in her throat, thought it was better that way.

  “Star salutations,” said Cassie as she walked into Lady Stella’s office and was immediately surrounded by her fellow Star Darlings, all eager to congratulate her. “It wasn’t easy, but I ended up doing a startacular job, if I do say so myself,” she said.

  Scarlet cleared her throat. “And?”

  Cassie clapped Scarlet on the back, hoping she looked modest and generous as she did so. “Oh, yes, and of course Scarlet was really just so helpful to me. Star salutations, Scarlet.”

  Scarlet nodded. “You’re welcome,” she said. Then she smiled. “That was a pretty crazy mission. Why that girl accused me of skipping, I’ll never know.”

  Everyone took their seats around Lady Stella’s silver table, but Cassie stayed standing, knowing what was about to happen. Lady Stella handed the Wish Orb to Cassie. Cassie felt a lump in her throat as she stared at the beautiful glowing ball of light. Then she gasped as it began to transform into a silverbella, its round blossom a cluster of tiny stars shining with moonglow. She stared at it for a moment, transfixed. Then the stars parted to reveal a stunning cluster of pale pink jewels—a lunalite, Cassie’s Power Crystal.

  “Oh,” she breathed. “It’s the most beautiful Power Crystal of them all.”

  “It is lovely,” said Lady Stella. “But they’re all beautiful, Cassie.”

  Cassie looked up and gave the headmistress a wink. As if! She turned to her fellow Star Darlings, who, she felt, all seemed to be waiting for her to say a few words. “My fellow Star Darlings,” she began. “Although my mission was most probably the best one of all so far—no offense to the rest of you—I want to tell you that success did not come as easily to me as you may imagine. I think I can be a shining example to you all as I persevered—”

  “Star salutations, Cassie,” interrupted Lady Stella. “But I think we’re done here.” She was staring at her, Cassie imagined, with great admiration. After all, Cassie had taken the headmistress’s words to heart. She had turned her fear into total confidence. And just in time for her mission, too.

  Cassie stayed behind to chat a bit with Lady Stella, who kept asking her if she was okay. She was fine, she said. She was startastic. What was the problem?

  When she got back to her room, she placed her hand on the palm scanner. “Welcome back, Cassie,” said the Bot-Bot voice. “And good job!”

  “Star salutations,” she said distractedly.

  Her room was filled with Star Darlings. Astra was bouncing her star ball against the wall. Tessa was braiding Gemma’s hair. Adora was browsing through Cassie’s huge collection of holo-books. Libby was sleeping on her window seat.

  “Star greetings, everyone,” said Cassie. “And star salutations for coming here today. I have some important things to discuss with you, my fellow Star Darlings. As you know, I am a very sensitive and thoughtful individual. I often see things that many of you might miss. As a matter of fact…”

  “Get to the point!” someone called out.

  “Fine,” said Cassie. “I called you all here because something weird is going on at Starling Academy. And it involves us, the Star Darlings. I told Vega I would wait until I had proof, and now I think I do.”

  “What is it?” asked Leona. “Does it have to do with my messed-up mission?”

  “And Scarlet being kicked out of the Star Darlings?” asked Astra.

  “Yes,” said Cassie. “There are a lot of weird things going on around campus, and I think the clues all lead to one individual.”

  “Who?” said Leona.

  “Yes, tell us!” Astra shouted.

  “Ophelia,” said Cassie.

  “I knew it!” Scarlet shouted.

  “Something just isn’t right,” said Cassie. “She talks about her mom in the present tense. She’s an orphan but she gets care packages. How could she have been admitted to Starling Academy if she was so clueless? Something is off with her. I don’t think she’s an orphan and I don’t think she’s clueless at all. I didn’t put it all together until my Wish Mission. I met a girl who was pretending to be something she wasn’t. I think Ophelia is doing the same thing.”

  “Well, I don’t believe it,” said Leona stubbornly. “I think you are being unfair. I’m going to her room right now to straighten this out once and for all.”

  “I’m coming with you,” said Scarlet, scrambling to her feet.

  But Leona continued to sit on the bed. After a few moments, Scarlet grabbed her hand and dragged her out the door. The rest of the Star Darlings (save the still napping Libby) were close behind.

  They hopped on the Cosmic Transporter, everyone tensely silent, and made their way to Ophelia’s new room. Leona knocked and knocked on the door. There was no answer.

  “Ophelia!” she called. “It’s Leona.” She turned to Cassie, her face flushed golden. “I asked you to look out for her, not investigate her!”

  There was no answer. Finally, Scarlet skipped off to get a Bot-Bot guard. When they told it that they were worried about Ophelia, it finally relented and opened the door for them.

  Leona barged into the room first and let out a gasp.

  “What’s wrong?” Cassie shouted, pushing her way inside. She looked around, bewildered. Ophelia was gone. The room was empty. There was not a thing in it. It was as if no one had ever lived there.
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  But on the wall, in hastily scribbled yellow letters, were the words I’M SORRY.

  “This is terrible,” Gemma said.

  “You can say that again,” said Cassie.

  “This is terrible,” Gemma repeated.

  And then nobody said anything else, because they were plunged into a sudden and total darkness. For the first time in Starland history, the lights had gone out.

  Aeropuff: A Starland dessert.

  Afterglow: The Starling afterlife. When Starlings die, it is said that they have “begun their afterglow.”

  Age of Fulfillment: The age when a Starling is considered mature enough to begin to study wish granting.

  Bad Wish Orbs: Orbs that are the result of bad or selfish wishes made on Wishworld. These grow dark and warped and are quickly sent to the Negative Energy Facility.

  Ballum blossom tree: A Starland tree with cherry blossom–like flowers that light up at night.

  Big Dipper Dormitory: Where third- and fourth-year students live.

  Boingtree gum: Starland chewing gum.

  Bot-Bot: A Starland robot. There are Bot-Bot guards, waiters, deliverers, and guides on Starland.

  Bright Day: The date a Starling is born, celebrated each year like a Wishling birthday.

  Celestial Café: Starling Academy’s outstanding cafeteria.

  Cloudcandy: Name for various Starland confections.

  Cocomoon: A sweet and creamy fruit with an iridescent glow.

  Comet Prep: A rival of Starling Academy in star ball.

  Cosmic Transporter: The moving sidewalk system that transports students through dorms and across the Starling Academy campus.

  Countdown Clock: A timing device on a Starling’s Star-Zap. It lets them know how much time is left on a Wish Mission, which coincides with when the Wish Orb will fade.