NOTE: This series chronicles the wishes Tina writes in the Wish Journal she received from her aunt when she turned 13. To better understand Tina's character, be sure to read her other wishes in chronological order. During graduation Tina was surprised at how many of her classmates had solid plans for the fall: Fiona was going to Montana State in Bozeman with Kevin, Paula had just got engaged to Luke, and Carol was accepted to Columbia--way on the other side of the country! Not to mention Quinn had been an apprentice in the plumber's union and Kylie was already offered a full-time position at Banger's Clothing Depot! Tina's lack of a plan depressed her. Each day she eagerly waited for the mailman to bring good news. Today was the day Tina got envelopes from two of the schools she applied to and, surprise-surprise, was not accepted to either. They were long shots anyway. There was only one school left to hear back from and Tina didn't have a back-up plan. As she sat at her desk in front of the "We are sorry to inform you..." letters, she bit her fingers raw in worry. Desperate for a miracle, she once again reached for Aunt Gemma's Wish Journal. Wish #7: To get into Idaho State I wish I wasn't always one step behind everyone else. I wish, for once, I had everything together in neat compartments of my life. I want to go to college. I know I was bad in math and was so horribly average, but that's who I am. I wish some college wants me. That some college wants someone so extraordinarily ordinary.
I wish that the next piece of mail addressed to Miss Tina K. Harold was an acceptance letter from Idaho State University. I wish they were pleased to offer me admittance into their school and could offer me financial aid. I know it's not my first choice school, but it's only an hour away by bus; it is close enough to be there for Carly. I wish the plans I had for life would materialize. I wish for a better life.
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NOTE: This series chronicles the wishes Tina writes in the Wish Journal she received from her aunt when she turned 13. To better understand Tina's character, be sure to read her other wishes in chronological order. Tina found herself up early that warm, sticky early June morning. Hanging over the door was the dark blue cap and gown she had worked hard the past four years to earn. It was still wrinkled in places and needed to be ironed, but there was still time. The world was still quiet yet. Once in a while a passing car on the street would interrupt the morning birds' song. Tina had trouble sleeping. She was excited, yes, but couldn't help feeling a blanket of sadness that grew heavy on her shoulders. Still sitting on her bed, her covers bunched up beneath her bare feet, she longed for the perfect companion on this momentous day. With a sigh, her eyes stared straight ahead at the picture frame beside her bedroom door. The four happy, smiling people were familiar, yet so foreign. Pushing away the tears that wanted to fall, Tina decided to do something about it. Of course it was impossible and would never work, but still... her soul needed to say it. Wish #6: For both of my parents to be at my graduation I wish Dad could be here for my high school graduation. I wish he would pop into the gymnasium as my name was being called and as I walked across the stage I would see his bright smile and he would wave in celebration. He would even whistle that loud piercing whistle that drove Mom crazy. Then I would run into his arms, with my diploma, and he would scoop me up and say, "Congratulations, Scooter!" I miss that nickname. No one ever calls me Scooter anymore.
I wish he didn't have to die when I was only ten years old. I wish that he had been smart enough not to stop the car on the train tracks that morning. I wish Mom didn't have to work so much... I wish she could be the Mom she was before Dad died and she had to go back to work. I wish we were a happy family again. I wish I didn't miss him that much. I wish the pain of missing him wasn't so crippling. |
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January 2022
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