by Ahmet Zappa
Astra, Emma, and Libby raced to the registration table (well, as quickly as three girls carrying a very heavy sculpture could race), arriving just in time.
“A minute longer and you wouldn’t have made it,” said the judge.
Afterward, Emma placed her sculpture on a folding table. A crowd began to gather around it. But Emma didn’t notice.
She scanned the room excitedly. “Where is my dad?” she asked. Astra looked around but couldn’t find him. Emma’s shoulders sagged. “He forgot,” she said. “He only cares about gymnastics.”
Emma moped in the corner while Astra and Libby examined the rest of the entries. The judges roamed the room, taking notes and consulting each other. Astra tried to eavesdrop and briefly wished that her special talent was super hearing.
There were many visitors to the art show. But Emma’s family was nowhere to be found.
Astra sighed.
“We tried. We couldn’t have tried harder,” Libby assured her.
A crowd began to gather around the judges’ table. One of the judges stepped up to the microphone. She gave a speech about art and creativity and effort, which Astra didn’t really listen to. She was too upset. Emma reached out and squeezed her hand. “Thanks for everything,” she said.
“And the winner is…” The judge paused, holding up a shiny gold medal on a bright red ribbon.
“Emma Prendergast!”
Despite the fact that her Wish Mission was foiled, Astra squealed and jumped up and down with joy. Emma threw her arms around Astra and Libby.
“You won!” shouted Astra. “You did it!”
“We did it,” said Emma, her eyes shining. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Go up and get your medal!” Libby shouted.
Emma looked around the room and her face fell. “What’s the point?” she said bitterly. “My family didn’t come. All they care about is gymnastics. They just don’t care about anything else.”
“Emma! Emma!” someone called. Emma and Astra spun around. Emma’s father was trying to fight his way through the crowd to his daughter. “That’s my girl!” he shouted.
Emma’s face broke into a huge grin. Her dad made his way to her side and scooped her up in a big hug. Suddenly, the rest of her family was there, too, hugging and kissing her.
“I had no idea how important this was to you,” he said. “All I could ever think about was gymnastics.”
“It’s okay, Daddy,” Emma said.
“No, it isn’t,” he said. “It wasn’t fair to you at all.” He took a deep breath. “Your mother and I were talking on the way here. Now that we know what is really important to you, if you want to quit gymnastics, that’s fine with us.”
“I’ll never quit gymnastics,” said Emma. “I like it. Just not as much as the rest of you. But maybe I’ll cut back a bit so I can go to art club, too.”
He tousled her hair. “I’m really proud of you, sweetheart. Really proud.”
Astra and Libby both watched, openmouthed, as the rainbow arc of pure wish energy danced around the room joyously before being absorbed into Astra’s wristbands.
Libby smiled gently at Astra. “Great job,” she said. “But you know what happens now. We have to go.”
Astra sighed. “I know,” she said sadly. She had heard from other Star Darlings that it can be very difficult to leave once you get to know your Wisher so well. But it felt even worse than she expected it to.
Emma bounded over. “I got my wish!” she said. “My dad is so proud of me. For my art! I’ve never been so happy in my life. Thank you so much!”
“I’m so glad for you,” said Astra. “I’m just sorry that it took me so long to figure out what you wanted. I was telling you to be a gymnast when you really wanted to be an artist. I’m sorry I wasn’t more helpful.”
“Don’t be crazy,” said Emma. “You told me to believe in myself. And to focus on what was most important to me and not be distracted by the things that were not important. I couldn’t have done this without you. You helped me more than you’ll ever know. How can I repay you?”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” said Astra.
Libby poked her in the back and pointed to her fingernails.
“Well, now that you mention it,” said Astra, “could you give me some polish of removal? About nine bottles should do it.”
Astra stood in the starmarble hallway, waiting to be summoned into Lady Stella’s office. She knew she was mere starmins away from getting her very own Power Crystal, which—she had seen firsthand—had some pretty startastic powers. But why did she feel so nervous?
Only one thing would make her feel better. She flipped open her Star-Zap and placed a holo-call. Instantly, a holo-picture appeared in front of her.
“Astra!” her mother cried happily. “We were just talking about you. It’s just not the same without you here.”
“Hi, Mom,” Astra said, her voice nearly breaking. “Hey, everyone.”
Her family was sitting in the gathering room. Her brother and sister were playing a game of Aughts and Naughts. They all paused what they were doing to wave to her.
“We really do miss you,” said Asia. “And I was just kidding. I’m going to keep our room just the way you left it.”
“So how is school?” asked her father. “Anything new and exciting?”
Astra smiled. “School is good. I’ll tell you all about it. Someday.”
Lady Stella’s door slid open and the headmistress stood there, smiling kindly at Astra. “We’re ready for you,” she said.
“Who’s that?” asked her brother. “Are you in trouble?”
“I’m not in trouble, don’t worry,” said Astra. “I’ve just got to go.”
“Bye!” they shouted.
“Bye, everyone,” she said. She suddenly felt glad that she wasn’t an only child (today, at least), and even though her family didn’t quite get her drive and ambition, she felt loved and appreciated. That was what really mattered anyway. She snapped her Star-Zap shut and followed Lady Stella through the door.
Astra walked to the Lightning Lounge with Piper, admiring her newly acquired Power Crystal, a quarrelite. It glowed with a red-hot intensity, and sparks of energy raced across the asteroid-shaped stone. She was starprised at how much she was enthralled by her jewel. Accessories were always just distractions before, things to get in the way, or possibly get lost, while she played her beloved sports. But this was different. The Power Crystal was breathtakingly beautiful, of course, but it was mostly, she thought, because she had earned it herself and because there was deep meaning behind it—an obstacle faced and overcome, a job well done.
Piper understood. “It’s starmazing, isn’t it?” she said simply. Astra nodded.
They stepped up to the door of a private room and slid it open. As soon as Astra stepped into the room the Star Darlings swarmed her. Everyone was desperate to take off the polish. Astra started handing out bottles.
“It smells terrible!” said Cassie as she unscrewed the top from the bottle of nail polish remover.
“It’s so weirdly cold!” said Adora.
After a few minutes of rubbing and scrubbing…
“I feel so much better,” said Adora.
“Me too,” said Clover.
“You can hear me!” Adora cried.
“I’ll never skip again,” said Scarlet with a shudder. “How humiliating.”
“Hey, where’s Leona?” Tessa asked. She reached into the bowl of star snacks and pulled out a mooncheese crisp. She popped it into her mouth. “Mmmm, delicious,” she said. “If I never eat another Moonberry, I’ll be startastically content!”
“I have no idea,” said Cassie. “Was she at the ceremony?”
Vega rewound her holo-vid and shook her head.
“Say something, Vega,” Piper begged.
“What do you want me to say? I have no words upon this day,” Vega said.
Piper’s face fell.
“Just kidding!” Vega said. “
Oh my stars, you should have seen your face! Was it really as bad as all that?”
“Worse,” said Piper.
The door slid open forcefully and Leona ran inside, her golden curls wilder than ever. She had a broad smile on her face.
“I have terrible news!” she said. “We tracked down Ophelia while you were gone!”
“And this is terrible…how?” asked Cassie.
Astra glanced down at Leona’s golden fingernails. Of course! She grabbed the girl’s hands and scrubbed until her nails were bare.
Leona nodded and smiled. “Great news, huh?”
“How did you find her?” Cassie wanted to know. “And is she an orphan?”
Piper spoke up. “I remembered you had said that Lady Stella thought that the orphanage had a different name. So we went to Vega…”
Vega took up the story. “And I had holo-vidded the conversation, of course, so I rewound it and we got the name.”
“Turns out it’s a real school in Starland City,” Leona broke in. “So we went there. We couldn’t find Ophelia, but we left her a message. And she just sent me a holo-text saying that she’s going to call any starmin now!”
Leona’s Star-Zap began to flicker and chime. “It’s her!” she cried, accepting the call. Ophelia’s tiny self, with her ocher eyes huge and serious, appeared in the air.
“Hi, everyone!” she said.
Everyone waved to her as they clustered around Leona.
“I just wanted to say I am sorry,” said Ophelia. “For misleading you and for pretending to be someone I wasn’t.”
“I knew it!” said Cassie and Scarlet at the same time.
“But why did you lie, Ophelia?” said Leona. “I thought we were friends.”
“I had to,” said Ophelia. “I had my stars set on going to Starling Academy. But my grades weren’t so stellar.”
“I’ll say,” said Scarlet.
“And I bombed the entrance exam. I somehow managed to get an interview, but that didn’t go so well, either. I was devastated.”
Ophelia continued. “Then I got a holo-communication from Starling Academy. There was a spot open. But I was told that it was intended for a special student, an orphan. But they couldn’t find one. So I just needed to pretend I was an orphan if I wanted to go there. I thought it was strange, but I just did as I was told.”
She took a deep breath. “Once I arrived at Starling Academy I got a message every morning that told me what to do. Act like a sad orphan. Report back on everything you all said and did. Make friends with Leona.” She had the good grace to look ashamed. “Sorry, Leona,” she said. “I really did like you as a roommate. You were very entertaining!”
Leona snorted. “Glad I could amuse you, Ophelia.” She shook her head. “But I really liked you.”
“You mean you felt sorry for me,” said Ophelia. “And I can’t blame you. I was told to act pathetic so everyone would feel bad for me and open up to me.” She smiled. “I’m a really good actress, huh?”
Scarlet sneered. “A regular Rancora,” she said.
“Who?” asked Adora loudly. Clearly she had missed the sound of her own voice.
“My old roommate, Mira, told me all about her,” Scarlet explained. “She was a Starling Academy student and apparently quite the actress back in the day.”
“Are you serious, guys?” said Cassie. “We’re discussing this now?” She addressed Ophelia. “Here’s what I want to know. Who did the holo-communications come from?”
The room grew silent. Everyone leaned forward.
Ophelia gave a sharp laugh. “They came from Lady Stella, of course.”
Afterglow: The Starling afterlife. When Starlings die, it is said that they have “begun their afterglow.”
Age of Fulfillment: The age at which 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.
Big Dipper Dormitory: Where third- and fourth-year students live.
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.
Cocomoon: A sweet and creamy fruit with an iridescent glow.
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.
Crystal Mountains: The most beautiful mountains on Starland. They are located across the lake from Starling Academy.
Cycle of Life: A Starling’s life span. When Starlings die, they are said to have “completed their Cycle of Life.”
Eternium wool: Fine strands of a strong, hard thread matted into a ball and used to scrub things clean. A bit like Wishworld steel wool.
Floozel: A Starland unit of distance similar to a Wishworld mile.
Glion: A gentle Starland creature similar in appearance to a Wishworld lion but with a multicolored glowing mane.
Good Wish Orbs: Orbs that are the result of positive wishes made on Wishworld. They are planted in Wish-Houses.
Halo Hall: The building where Starling Academy classes are held.
Holo-text: A message received on a Star-Zap and projected into the air. There are also holo-albums, holo-billboards, holo-books, holo-cards, holo-communications, holo-diaries, holo-flyers, holo-letters, holo-papers, holo-pictures, and holo–place cards. Anything that would be made of paper or contain writing or images on Wishworld is a hologram on Starland.
Hydrong: The equivalent of a Wishworld hundred.
Illumination Library: The impressive library at Starling Academy.
Impossible Wish Orbs: Orbs that are the result of wishes made on Wishworld that are beyond the power of Starlings to grant.
Lightning Lounge: A place on the Starling Academy campus where students relax and socialize.
Little Dipper Dormitory: Where first- and second-year students live.
Lolofruit: A large round fruit with a thick skin and juicy, aromatic flesh.
Luminous Lake: A serene and lovely lake next to the Starling Academy campus.
Mirror Mantra: A saying specific to each Star Darling that when recited gives her (and her Wisher) reassurance and strength. When a Starling recites her Mirror Mantra while looking in a mirror, she will see her true appearance reflected.
Moonberry: A fruit that is a lot like a blueberry, but with a more intense flavor.
Mooncheese crisp: A crunchy, savory Starland snack.
Moonium: An amount similar to a Wishworld million.
Old Prism: A medium-sized historical city about an hour from Starling Academy.
Power Crystal: The powerful stone that each Star Darling receives once she has granted her first wish.
Prickly buds: Buds from a Starland plant that are covered in a rough, prickly casing before they open.
Ruffruff tree: A Starland tree with rough, scratchy leaves.
Serenity Islands: A Starland recreation area. Starlings sometimes take paddleboat rides around it.
Shooting stars: Speeding stars that Starlings can latch on to and ride to Wishworld.
Silver Blossom: The final manifestation of a Good Wish Orb. This glimmering metallic bloom is placed in the Hall of Granted Wishes.
Sparkle shower: An energy shower Starlings take every day to get clean and refresh their sparkling glow.
Star ball: An intramural sport that shares similarities with soccer on Wishworld. Star ball players use energy manipulation to control the ball.
Starcar: The primary mode of transportation for most Starlings. These ultrasafe vehicles drive themselves on cushions of wish energy.
&nbs
p; Star Caves: The caverns underneath Starling Academy where the Star Darlings’ secret Wish-Cavern is located.
Stardominoes: Starland rectangular holo–game pieces that can be set up for a chain reaction in which they all knock each other over when one stardomino is knocked over.
Starf!: A Starling expression of dismay.
Star flash: News bulletin, often used sarcastically.
Star Kindness Day: A special Starland holiday that celebrates spreading kindness, compliments, and good cheer.
Starland City: The largest city on Starland, also its capital.
Starlicious: Tasty, delicious.
Starlings: The glowing beings with sparkly skin who live on Starland.
Starmarble: A very hard, glimmering Starland stone that is used as a building material.
Star Quad: The center of the Starling Academy campus. The dancing fountain, band shell, and hedge maze are located here.
Star salutations: The Starling way to say “thank you.”
Starshoot: A Starland sport similar to Wishworld baseball, but players make use of energy manipulation techniques to move the ball.
Starweek: The Starland week, which is made up of eight stardays. The stardays in order are Sweetday, Shineday, Dododay, Yumday, Lunaday, Bopday, Reliquaday, and Babsday.
Staryear: The equivalent of a Wishworld year.
Star-Zap: The ultimate smartphone that Starlings use for all communications. It has myriad features.
Stellation: The point of a star. Halo Hall has five stellations, each housing a different department.
Supernova: A stellar explosion. Also used colloquially, meaning “really angry,” as in “She went supernova when she found out the bad news.”
Time of Letting Go: One of the four seasons on Starland. It falls between the warmest season and the coldest, similar to fall on Wishworld.
Time of Lumiere: The warmest season on Starland, similar to summer on Wishworld.
Time of New Beginnings: Similar to spring on Wishworld, this is the season that follows the coldest time of year; it’s when plants and trees come into bloom.
Time of Shadows: The coldest season of the year on Starland, similar to winter on Wishworld.
