by Ahmet Zappa
Libby’s eyes lit up as she grasped the book in her hands. She flipped through the pages, marveling at the thinness of the paper and the way it was printed on both sides. She hugged the book to her chest.
The girl in the seat in front of her turned around. “Wow,” she said. “I’ve never seen anyone so excited about math homework before!”
Ava leaned on Libby’s desk and zipped up her silvery backpack. “Homework will be the death of me,” she groaned, making a gruesome face. “I wish we didn’t have any tonight.”
Libby pricked up her ears when she heard the word wish. She really wanted her Wisher to be happy. Surely that meant helping her with any extra little wishes that came up when Libby was around. It couldn’t hurt to have a happy Wisher; she was sure of it.
This was going to be easy. Libby placed the book on her desk and sidled up to Ms. Blackstone. She peered up into her eyes. “Maybe we shouldn’t have any homework tonight,” she said in a low voice.
“I’m sorry, Libby, did you say something?” Ms. Blackstone asked distractedly.
Libby glanced around to make sure the other students couldn’t overhear. “Maybe we shouldn’t have any homework tonight,” she repeated, more intently this time.
Ms. Blackstone nodded. “Maybe we shouldn’t have any homework tonight,” she said loudly.
The class cheered and happily returned their textbooks to their desks.
“Wow,” Libby heard Ava say. “Sometimes wishes do come true. Just like that!”
“Yeah,” Libby said to herself with a laugh. “Just like that!”
The bell signaling the end of the day rang, and the students streamed out of the classroom, still cheering. Libby followed along as they merged with other kids in the hallway and marched down the stairs, past the auditorium, and out the door into the yard. She lost sight of Ava and wandered around the schoolyard in search of her, dodging flying balls and running kids. She finally found her and Waverly chatting in the corner of the yard. She couldn’t help noticing that Waverly had a look on her face that Libby was beginning to recognize: one of irritation.
“I’m just not sure you’re taking this election seriously enough,” Libby heard Waverly say. “We missed a whole day of campaigning!” She shook her head. “Did you notice that while we were away, Kristie hung up some new posters? She’s got a lot more posters up than us now.”
“She did?” said Ava, looking interested. “I must have missed them.”
Libby nodded. She had spotted one by the auditorium on her way out. It featured a huge blown-up photo of a young female Wishling with long, straight black hair on a bright green background. She was blowing a big pink bubble—only the bubble was actually a pink balloon that was glued to the poster board. The copy read DON’T BLOW IT, VOTE FOR KRISTIE. Libby joined in the conversation and described the poster to Ava.
Ava laughed out loud. “What a funny idea!” she said. “Kristie always has such—”
“Correction,” said Waverly exasperatedly. “It’s a lame idea. She’s making a joke out of the election. I didn’t like them at all. Plus, now she’s handing out bubble gum to everyone.” She pointed to a boy who was walking by, chomping away, his cheeks stuffed with bubble gum.
“Everyone knows you’re not allowed to chew gum on school grounds.” She pursed her lips. “She’s not following school rules. Maybe I should report her to the—”
“Don’t do that,” said Ava quickly. “Hey, I have an idea. Let’s make some cool posters of our own. I’ve got all those art supplies at home still.”
Yes! That was exactly what Libby was hoping for. She was excited to see Ava working to make her own wish come true. “I’ll help!” she offered.
But the two girls were staring at her expectantly.
“What?” said Libby, shrugging.
“Don’t you have to ask your mom first?” Ava asked.
Libby nodded. “Of course!” she said. She opened her Star-Zap and randomly punched in some numbers. To her surprise, it began to ring. She made a hasty observation: Mission 2, Wishworld Observation #5: Star-Zaps work as actual phones on Wishworld.
“Hello,” said a voice.
Ava and Waverly were watching, so Libby decided to wing it. “Hi, Mom,” she said. “Can I go to my new friend’s house after school?”
“Sorry, I think you have the wrong number,” said the voice on the other end.
Libby had an idea. “Oh, you have a work dinner tonight?” she said. She paused. “Okay, I’ll ask.”
“Listen, kid, you have the wrong number,” the person repeated.
She held her hand over the Star-Zap. “My mom’s got a big work dinner tonight that’s going to go late, and she was wondering if I could sleep over at your house tonight.”
Ava shrugged. “Sure. My mom won’t mind.”
“Okay, so it’s a plan,” said Libby. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You do realize that you have the wrong number and that I’m not your mother,” said the voice. “Actually, I’m not anyone’s mother. Because I’m a father!”
Libby almost burst out laughing. “I love you, too, Mom,” she answered.
And so it was settled. Libby mentally patted herself on the back the whole walk to Ava’s. Everything was going startastically on her mission so far. She’d be collecting wish energy in no time.
“Mom! I’m home!” Ava yelled. No answer. “She must be in her office,” she said. “She can never hear me when she’s in there.” She slipped off her shoes and lined them up by the door. Libby and Waverly did the same. Libby wiggled her bare toes, with their bright pink polish. Obviously Wishling shoes were not made of materials that repelled dirt. And she remembered learning that their homes were not self-cleaning. Poor Wishlings.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows. The three girls spread out their materials on the rough-hewn dining room table.
Ava headed to a big silver box in the kitchen and pulled open the door. The lighted interior revealed shelves filled with different foods and drinks.
“Can I get you anything?” she asked. Both Libby and Waverly asked for water.
Mission 2, Wishworld Observation #6: Wishling food apparently does not keep constant optimal temperature and needs to be stored in large cooling devices.
As soon as they were settled, Waverly produced a notebook and a pen from her backpack. “Let’s come up with some new slogans,” she said.
“I have an idea,” Ava said softly. She looked excited to share it. “Hey, remember last Halloween when Kristie and I went as prisoners in those striped costumes? We could take that picture of me and draw bars in front of my face, and the message could be ‘Wanted: Ava for President.’” She smiled at Waverly expectantly.
“No way,” said Waverly. “Too gimmicky. How is anyone going to take you seriously as a candidate?”
Ava’s face fell.
Libby thought fast. “Well, then, how about a picture of Ava with a caption?” she suggested. “Something fun and memorable. Like ‘Vote for Ava, she’s…’” Her voice trailed off. “What rhymes with Ava?”
“How about favor?” suggested Ava. “‘Do me a favor and vote for Ava’?” She pronounced it “favah.”
“That’s cute!” said Libby.
Waverly made a face. “That’s terrible,” she said.
Ava bit her lip and tried again. “‘Vote for Ava, she’s got flava’?”
“Oh, that’s good,” said Libby. “Very catchy.”
Waverly wadded up a napkin and threw it at Libby’s head. “No offense, guys, but those really stink.”
Ava didn’t look so sure. “I think kids like fun stuff,” she said. “It makes them laugh. It’s memorable.” She looked away. “I know I do. And so does Kristie,” she muttered.
“This is no time for jokes. We need to let the students know that you are serious about the job!”
Ava looked down at the table. “Okay,” she said.
Waverly stood up. “Can I go to your room to get the supplies?” she aske
d.
“Sure,” said Ava.
Libby put her hand on Ava’s arm as soon as Waverly left the room. “I thought those ideas were great,” she said. “We should just tell Waverly you want to do something fun. It’s your campaign.”
Ava shook her head. “No, I guess she’s right,” she said. “Elections should be serious.” She sighed. “Nothing really rhymes with Ava anyway.”
“I’ve got it,” Waverly said, returning with a stack of poster board. “No gimmicks, no rhymes, and certainly no costumes. We’ll take a picture of you, looking responsible. We’ll print it in black and white with the words ‘Vote for Ava.’ Simple. Classic. Effective. Trust me, it’s the best way to go.”
Ava thought for a moment. “Okay,” she finally said.
“Are you sure?” Libby asked worriedly.
“You guys have to trust me,” Waverly repeated. “I know what I’m doing.”
Libby sighed. She hoped that Waverly was right.
After taking fifty-three photos of Ava with her phone (Libby counted), Waverly was finally convinced they had the right one. It was “the perfect combination of serious and approachable” per Waverly, although they all looked pretty much the same to Libby, save the one she liked best, in which Ava was crossing her eyes and making a goofy face. Libby had overheard Ava muttering, “I wish this was over,” under her breath, so she had concentrated on making sure that the fifty-third photo was indeed perfect. They printed twenty copies in black and white (“Classic and classy,” Waverly had proclaimed) and glued them onto the poster boards with the word VOTE on top of the photo and FOR AVA underneath.
Libby turned to Ava. “What do you think?” she asked.
Ava opened up her mouth as if to say something and then shrugged. “They’re fine,” she said.
Waverly looked down at the posters. “You know,” she said. “I think I love them.”
“Love what?” someone said.
“Oh, hey, Mom,” said Ava. “Waverly was just saying that she loves the campaign posters we made.”
Libby looked up. Ava’s mom wore black-rimmed glasses and had short red hair, which she pushed behind her ears. She was wearing jeans and a faded red hoodie. She looked at the posters and smiled. “Very nice, girls. A little serious but I guess that’s the point. Are you hungry?” She inhaled deeply. “Hey, anyone smell spice cake?” She sniffed again. “With…cream cheese frosting?”
Ava gave her mother a funny look. “This is Libby, the new girl at school. She’s helping out with the campaign. She’s going to sleep over tonight.”
Ava’s mom smiled. “Sounds good.”
Then she stole a glance at the large timepiece that hung on the wall. “Yikes!” she said. “Sorry, I was busy working and didn’t realize how late it was. You all want pizza for dinner?”
“Yes!” Ava and Waverly shouted.
Ava’s mom picked up her phone, then turned to Libby. “Good with you, too?” she asked. “You’re not gluten-free, vegan, paleo, or lactose intolerant, are you?”
Libby stared at her. What in the world was she talking about? “No,” she finally answered. “Pizza sounds good.”
And it was. Very good. Extremely good. “More, please!” she said after she had gobbled up her first slice. She ate four pieces in all. It was crispy, saucy, cheesy deliciousness. It was deceptively simple-looking, but it was the perfect combination of comforting flavors. Mission 2, Wishworld Observation #7: Everyone must try pizza!
Ava’s mom was reaching for another slice when she gasped. She looked at her watch. “Oops, time to go pick up Jasper!” she cried. “Be back soon, girls!”
Libby looked at Ava.
“My annoying little brother,” she explained.
The girls had finished cleaning up and Ava was turning on the dishwasher (another odd Wishling invention) when a male Wishling about a year or two younger than Ava swaggered into the kitchen. He had red hair and a smirk on his freckled face. Libby eyed him warily. He flipped open the lid of the pizza box and grabbed a slice. “Good thing you saved me some, Ava,” he said.
“Can’t you say hello, Jasper?” Ava asked.
“Hello, Jasper,” he said with a smirk.
Ava rolled her eyes. “Brothers,” she said.
Waverly placed a sheaf of papers in front of Ava. “So,” she said, “I took the liberty of jotting down some ideas for you.”
Ava looked at her quizzically. “You…um…wrote my speech for me?” she asked.
“Just as a jumping-off point, of course,” said Waverly, raising a hand as if to deflect criticism.
Ava picked up the papers and studied them. She looked up. “It looks like you wrote the whole thing.”
“It’s just some ideas,” Waverly protested.
Ava cleared her throat and began. “‘Good afternoon, Principal Lefkon, Vice Principal Bergen, faculty, fellow classmates,’” she read. “‘My name is Ava Cunningham, and I am running for class president. This is a challenge that I accept both solemnly and wholeheartedly. There are some who think that the school government is a laughing matter.’” There Ava frowned. “‘Well, I assure you…’” She lost her place for a moment. “‘I assure you,’” she repeated, “‘that I am ready to accept this responsibility with the gravity that it commands. I intend to lead my fellow students in a manner becoming of a…’”
“It’s good,” interrupted Jasper.
Waverly put her hands on her hips and smiled.
“It is?” said Libby. She wasn’t so sure about that.
“Yeah,” answered Jasper. “It’s good if you want your audience to die of boredom!”
Libby let out a strangled laugh. She had to agree.
“Jasper!” said Waverly huffily. “Mind your own business!”
“Here’s what you should say,” said Jasper. He climbed up on a kitchen stool, put one hand over his heart, and pointed a finger in the air. “I am Ava Cunningham,” he said in a high, squeaky voice that sounded nothing at all like Ava’s low, pleasant voice. “And you should vote for me for president because I am so kind and generous. In fact, I am so very generous that when I was eight years old, I once shared something very special with my amazing little brother. I gave him a terrible case of the itchiest…”
Ava’s eyes opened wide. She obviously knew exactly what was coming next. The look on her face was one of pure panic. “I wish you would stop talking!” she shouted, lunging at her brother.
Another wish from her Wisher! Libby immediately hopped into action. Shut up, shut up, shut up, she chanted in her head, staring at Jasper.
“…scratchiest case of head li—”
All of a sudden Jasper fell silent. His mouth opened and closed but nothing came out. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
Ava looked relieved. “Very funny, Jasper,” she said. “Now get out of here, please.”
Jasper ran out of the room, panic-stricken. And Libby probably waited a little longer than she should have to reverse the wish. But she eventually did.
Libby yawned loudly. She was exhausted.
“Keeping you up, I see,” said Waverly. “Now let’s get back to the speech.”
Ava gathered up the notes and took a deep breath. She looked at Waverly. “So I was thinking of maybe starting with a joke, to loosen up the audience. Have you ever heard this one?” She smiled. “What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?”
“What?” asked Libby.
“Nacho cheese!” said Ava. “Get it?”
Libby laughed as if she understood, though she really didn’t.
Ava smiled. “Then I could go into my campaign promise about improving the school lunch menu selections. What do you think?”
Waverly, looking slightly annoyed, shook her head. “Stick to your message, Ava,” she said. “You are the serious candidate. Leave the jokes to bubble gum girl.”
“Don’t you mean your message?” Libby thought she heard Ava mutter. But she wasn’t exactly sure, and then Ava shrugged and said, “Whatever you think i
s best,” so Libby let it go.
Several hours and one serious election speech later, the girls were lying in Ava’s room. Ava was on the floor in a sleeping bag, as she had graciously given her guests her large bed to sleep in. Ava had recited the speech several times, until Waverly was satisfied. Libby was feeling confident that everything was under control.
“Are you sure I shouldn’t start with a joke?” Ava asked. “It just feels right, like it’s going to get their attention.”
Waverly yawned. “You’re not running to be class clown,” she said. “You’re running to be class president.”
Ava rolled over. “Fine,” she said. She stared at Libby for a moment. “I love your hair, Libby. That pink streak is so cool.” She smiled sleepily. “I wish I had pink hair. Well, good night.”
Libby’s eyes opened wide. Pink hair! How many wishes could one Wisher make! This was getting ridiculous. Still, she closed her eyes and concentrated. But she was so very tired….
Starf! Libby sat up suddenly as a blaring ringing noise shocked her out of a deep sleep. It took a starmin to identify the obnoxious sound. Wishworld alarms were loud and annoying. Libby much preferred the gentle Starland alarm: your bed was gently vibrated until you got out of it. It was a very pleasant way to wake up. This, not so much. What a jarring way to start your day. Plus, they were getting up extra early to hang up the new posters. The election was the next day.
Ava was the first to get up. She unzipped her sleeping bag, stood up, and stumbled to the bathroom. Libby heard the click as the light was switched on. And then the scream.
Libby and Waverly ran to the bathroom. Libby threw open the door. Ava was staring at herself in the mirror. Her hair was half brown, half pink. Libby realized she must have fallen asleep in the middle of her wish. Oops.
Waverly shook her head. “No, no, no, no, no,” she said. “No,” she added for good measure.
Ava smiled at her reflection. “It’s actually pretty cool,” she said. “But how in the world…”
“We have to fix this before the election!” said Waverly frantically. “This is not the hair of a serious presidential candidate!”
