When You Wish Upon a Star
Have you ever felt like that everyone is out to get you? That everyone has made it their mission to ruin your life? I am Derek Venturi and I can definitely say I have. I've had my day go from amazing to nightmarish within seconds. And it's all because of three little words…
"I'm getting married."
…When my dad said those three words my life came crashing down. But I thought the worst was over, but how wrong I was the worst had yet to come. He looked at me, my brother, and my sister and continued.
"She has two daughters and their moving in with us."
I exploded at this. I jumped up and stormed upstairs my mind racing. 'How could he do this? It's bad enough he's forcing his soon-to-be wife on us, but her daughters too? I won't stand for this!' Finally I lashed out kicking the side of my dresser, leaving a huge scratch.
This was six months ago, four since they had moved in. Nothing was ever the same. Me and Casey fought constantly, my dad starting cracking down on me, and I am losing control of my life. Slowly but surely she was taking over my life, my thoughts, and my heart.
------------------------------------
"DEREK!" I heard her scream from the other side of my bedroom door, as I groggily opened my eyes.
Grumbling I got up from my bed, clad only in my boxers, and unlocked my door before opening it. When I did I came face to face with a red-faced Casey holding a handful of CD's in front of my face. I stared blankly at her before she screamed,
"HOW COULD YOU! THESE WERE MY WORKOUT CDS! IT TOK ME FOREVER TO MAKE THEM AND…"
"Casey this is all very interesting but what did I do again?" I asked, bored.
"YOU RECORDED OVER MY CDS! WAIT UNTIL MOM AND GEORGE GET HOME…" She stalked off muttering to herself, and I laughed tiredly, before throwing on a shirt and some jeans and heading downstairs.
I was the only one left in the house, so I checked the clock. 8:05…late again. I grabbed the keys off of the table, and walked out to the garage and too my dad's car out. 'He won't miss it.'
At school I walked into the empty hall and to my first class. I walked in, and the teacher didn't look up from her paper as she said,
"Go to the office Derek." I nodded, turned around, and headed out the door.
Slowly I walked down the hall, and headed to the principle's office. When I got there I walked in and sat in the chair that should've had my imprint by now, I was in it at least three times a week. Not a minute after I sat down the principle came in and sat at his desk,
"Derek Venturi, why am I not surprised." He said getting a huge folder from his filing cabinet. "It says here that you are still falling behind in all of your classes. Well luckily for you Derek I have a solution to this…I talked to your sister and though reluctantly she agreed to tutor you."
"What?" Derek asked, standing up.
"Sit down Mr. Venturi if you don't bring your grades up you will be in summer school or have to repeat this grade."
'Man my dad would kill me if I had to go to summer school, and I've already had to repeat the 1st grade so…'
"Fine, sir." I said, and he nodded before motioning for me to leave.
It was in between classes when I got out, so I began to walk to my locker when I saw Casey. My eyes flared up, and I walked over to her, and dragged her into an empty classroom,
"What do you want Derek?" She asked.
"You just love making my life miserable don't you?"
"Me! YOU make MY life miserable!"
"Whatever…" I said before walking out of the classroom and slamming the door behind me.
The rest of the day dragged on, I didn't even see Sam. He was sick today. Finally the last bell rang and I ran from my seat and to the parking lot where I started up my dad's car and drove it home, hoping I'd get there before him. Unfortunately I wasn't that lucky, when I pulled into the driveway I saw Nora's car sitting there and I knew my dad wouldn't be happy. Getting ready to face the inevitable, I walked into the house, where I found Nora and dad sitting in the kitchen.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" My dad yelled, and I gulped, he only yelled when he was really angry.
"I…uh…needed a way to get to school." I said.
"THAT IS NO REASON TO TAKE MY CAR WITHOUT PERMISSION! AND THEN I HEAR FROM CASEY THAT YOU ARE SO BEHIND IN YOUR CLASSES THAT SHE WILL HAVE TO TUTOR YOU. THEN YOU HAVE NO REPSECT FOR PEOPLE'S PROPERTY! CASEY'S CD'S, AN I'M STILL WEARING PINK UNDERWEAR!" My dad screamed at me. "YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU ARE GROUNDED, YOU WILL STAY IN YOUR ROOM AND ONLY COME OUT FOR FOOD, BATHROOM, TUTORING, AND SCHOOL! NOW GO!"
I sighed, annoyed, and walked up to my room, where I saw Casey standing in the hallway, laughing. I glared at her and she said,
"Aw Derek that's all you've got? Has the great Derek finally lost his edge?"
"Just shut up Casey." I muttered, before walking into my room and slamming the door.
That's when all hell broke loose. I began throwing stuff all around, and yelling out in rage. Finally I cooled off a bit, and went over to my window and looked out. It wasn't that dark out yet, but when I looked up into the sky I saw one star. I sighed but then remembered what my mother told me once when I was three years old back before she died.
I was seven years old, and I was sitting on my mother's lap outside on our porch. Suddenly she pointed to the sky and said,
"Look Derek! A star, the first one of the night!"
"So?" I asked her.
"Derek when you wish upon a star your wish will come true." She said, and I looked at her in awe,
"So all I gotta do is wish?"
"Uh huh…so repeat after me and concentrate on your wish really hard.
Starlight, star bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may
I wish I might
Have this wish, I wish tonight…"
Derek continued to stare at the star, and heard himself say,
"Starlight, Star bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may
I wish I might
Have this wish, I wish tonight…" All the while thinking, 'I wish dad never met Nora, I wish dad never met Nora…'
I knew it wouldn't work, but it was all I had. I pulled myself away form the window, and collapsed on my bed, drifting off to sleep. But you know what they, be careful what you wish for it might come true.