One night, in the midst of a warm autumn evening, I found my father gazing into the night sky. In the castle we called home, I was nearly 18, approaching the time I would be named prince with my coming of age. My father, a king at the age of 52, was a wise and defined man. Our kingdom knew little war or strife. Our castle, situated at the highest point in the keep had a large area, an oversized balcony of sorts. My father liked to look at the starts at night. He did this nearly every evening of the year, even when the stars weren't out. I never asked him why he did on those nights, even when he'd shuffle back inside nearly frostbitten with ice clinging to his graying hair. He was a taller man, which I didn't inherit all of. Lean, slender face, a small beard of gray hair spread across his jawline. He looked like a wise, old king from the fairytales.
"Father," I spoke cautiously and approached, as to not startle the old man. "What do you do out here on these nights? I know you've done it ever since I could remember, but…. Why?"
"I am waiting for my wish, my son." He spoke, keeping his gaze to the sky.
"What wish?" I asked, moving to stand beside him, my hand resting on the cold, white marble railing, raising my head to the sky.
"My father once told me, to wish upon a star, and wait for them to come."
"Them?" I turned my head to look at my father's, who hadn't moved.
"The Seven Sisters." He replied, blinking slowly, looking into the sky with amazement.
"The Seven Sisters? You see women up there, father?"
"No, the stars will fall to earth to grant the dreams of the children who wished upon them. However, you must wish upon the right seven stars. Imagine how many stars are up there to wish on, my son."
"Millions?" I guessed, expecting my father to reply with an exact number, as he did tend to be a smart-ass at times.
"There are many more than that, so now I wish every night and wait for them to come true." My father seemed so hopeful about his wish coming true. It's the only real free-spirited part of my father.
"But you've been wishing for years… Only you can make your wishes come true, by working for them…you are going to waste your life waiting for wishes to come true."
"Wasting my life?!" My father's head turned to look at mine with aggravation strewn across his aged face. I turned my head to face him with surprised eyes. "Son, those wishes could bring about anything your heart desires. It is not silly should those wishes come true."
"But father…" I began.
"No! My son, you need to wish too. Make your own desires come true." My father turned and to walk back inside. I turned my head to look back into the stars.
"What do I wish for?" I spoke, hoping he heard me.
"Whatever it is you want to see happen." He spoke approaching the door. " Wish upon a star…"
"… And spend your life waiting." I raised my head to the sky and made a wish.
My wish may be one of fairytale or legend. You decide which…
