Chapter Two: The Wishing Star
Rogue snuck into the unlocked door and looked around. She was in a gray cloak and wore a yellow full-body leotard with green trim underneath as she had run away during a stupid ballet class. She looked around and saw the prettiest clocks she had ever seen with several interesting designs and a large one that looked very life sized and high up enough that she could climb under it. When she saw that no one was there, she made herself at home and looked around. She saw several music boxes and shelf after shelf of the best toys she'd ever seen. She then turned and saw one of the most beautiful wood carvings she'd ever seen. A puppet boy that looked like he was supposed to be five, Rogue's own age, and he was wearing a white shirt with a brown jacket, black gloves and tiny blue jeans. She also saw that he was a marionette with several strings and wires attached to various parts of his body with a puppet controller.
"He looks cool." Rogue said aloud as she walked up to him and tapped his head. "And the wood's good too."
"Well now," a voice said, and Rogue hid underneath the very large music box and saw all the gears and such that worked it underneath.
She then poked her head out to see a man and a woman come down. Both had black hair, and the man wore an outfit similar to the puppet's except it was worn in places as if he'd had it for several years and the woman wore a modest white dress, also worn.
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"It won't take much longer." Logan said as he grabbed a paint brush. "Just a little more paint, and he's all finished."
"It's about time." Kayla said with a smile. This little puppet her husband and she had been working on together was probably the closest thing they'd ever have to a son due to Kayla being unable to have children. Howler came up and panted as he looked at Logan and Kayla.
"I'll think he'll be alright." Logan said as he grabbed a canister of black paint. "Don't you think so, Howler?"
Howler barked happily, and Kayla smiled. Logan hummed as he drew eyebrows on the boy's head along with a smile across his face. It made him look like he was almost alive, and for a second, the fire light shining on his already dried eyes made Kayla believe he was real until she sighed.
()()()()()
"Cool." Rogue whispered as she poked her head out and looked at the puppet. He looked like he was smiling about the fact that he was finished, the same way everyone else smiled.
()()()()()
"I have just the name for him." Logan said. "Jimmy. What do you think dear?"
"Eh." Kayla said. It seemed to fit, but it wasn't one that she'd have chosen. She'd have gone with Peter or Richard.
"Well you like it, don't you Howler?" Logan asked, and Howler shook his head.
"Well I guess it's up to Jimmy to decide." Logan said with a wry smile. "Do you like it, Jimmy?"
Logan tugged gently on the string connected to the puppet's head, and it nodded.
"Oh, you silly boy." Kayla said with a laugh. "Jimmy will probably grow on me, but to avoid confusion, what say we call him Jimmy?"
"Sounds good." Logan agreed.
Kayla picked Jimmy up and looked at him. She and Logan both wished that he was real. She sighed and took him to the fire place to dry the new paint out before Howler started sniffing Jimmy's face.
()()()()()
After Jimmy was dried, Logan walked over to the music box Rogue was hiding under.
"I think it's time for a little music." Logan said, and he pushed a button, and a nice song played as Logan used the puppet control to move Jimmy around.
Rogue however couldn't focus on that as the gears and stuff were coming down on her, particularly on her bottom, and she tried hard not to cry out and felt like she was being spanked back at the orphanage. She eventually came out, rubbing her rear and groaning as she decided to hide behind the music box and listened to what was happening.
()()()()()
Logan was moving Jimmy around as Kayla laughed and followed with Howler looking around Jimmy and sniffing all over.
Young Jimmy Howlett,
Go play your part.
Bring a little joy
To every heart.
Little do you know,
And yes it's true,
That I'm mighty
Proud of you.
Little wooden feat,
And best of all,
Little wooden seat,
In case you fall.
Logan then lifted Jimmy up a little and set him back down to make it look like he fell.
"Oh, what a graceful fall." Kayla said as she straightened Jimmy up.
Our young Jimmy Howlett.
()()()()()
Rogue had watched this and liked the song and thought the fall was funny but wondered why they were talking to Jimmy like he was real. It wasn't like wanting him to come to life would make him do that. She then busied herself with looking at the music box she had been under. A conductor was leading an orchestra with one man playing a violin and another playing the accordion. The one in the middle was literally whistling the tune that was playing which was what really impressed Rogue.
When she saw Logan and Kayla turning around, she jumped on a small spot and did robotic versions of the simpler dances she'd learned at the orphanage, it worked and they passed her by. She then got off and went back to watching them, which she figured would be where she should really look in case something happened.
()()()()()
Logan then had Jimmy walk up to Kayla and wave his hand.
"Jimmy, say hi to your mom." Logan said with a smile before saying in a higher voice, "'Hi Mom.'"
"Oh, hello there." Kayla said as she joined in with the pretending, and picked him up. "You are so cute and sweet. Oh, go say hi to Howler. Go on."
Logan then took Jimmy to Howler and had him pet Howler as he became nervous when he liked how Jimmy's gloved hand felt on his back and stood up and panted, easily beating Jimmy in height without needing to extend his hind legs, and Logan had Jimmy push Howler down, so that he fell.
"Up to mischief already." Logan said with a small chuckle as Howler whimpered.
"Now you see what happens when you're mean?" Logan asked. He then had Jimmy pet Howler again, and he rubbed his head next to him as a sign of forgiveness.
"Up we go." Logan said as he lifted Jimmy up and looked at the little wooden boy he'd carved. "You're a cute little fellow."
"And we'd never trade you for anything in the whole world." Kayla added as she looked as well.
Howler put his fore paws on Logan's leg as he barked.
"Oh, you like him too, huh?" Logan asked. "Well it's nice to agree on something like this."
Suddenly, all the clocks in the store went off, and each had an interesting motive from ducks quaking in a pond to children giggling.
"Gee, I wonder what time it is." Kayla asked with a sarcastic smile.
"It's nine already?" Logan asked. "We better get ready for bed."
Logan and Kayla walked up with Howler as Jimmy was set down on the table.
"Good night, Jimmy." Logan said with a yawn.
"Good night, Jimmy." Kayla said as she took Jimmy's nose and shook it gently. "You little mischief maker."
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From her hiding place, Rogue yawned too, and as they went up stairs, she followed and listened to what they said.
"Good night, boy." Mr. Howlett said as he got into bed.
"Good night, Howler." Mrs. Howlett said as Howler panted happily.
"Good night, dear." Mr. Howlett said with a yawn.
"Good night, honey." Mrs. Howlett said with a smile in her voice, and Rogue sighed as she pulled her mask off.
Rogue then yawned and stretched out on a small sofa down stairs, which was close enough that she could still hear what Mr. and Mrs. Howlett said.
"Dear, you outdid yourself with Jimmy." Mrs. Howlett said. "He almost looked as if he was really alive."
"Yeah." Mr. Howlett said with a sigh. "Wouldn't it be nice if he really was alive?"
"Yeah." Mrs. Howlett said wishfully. "Well, enough dreams. I'd say it's time for bed."
"Right." Mr. Howlett said.
"Dear, you forgot to open the window." Mrs. Howlett said after a few minutes.
"Oh, right." Mr. Howlett replied, and Rogue was about to go to sleep when a shout from Mr. Howlett made her jump out of the couch and land on her already sore behind.
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"Look, Kayla!" Logan said with a smile. "The wishing star!"
"I think you know the drill." Kayla said with a smile of her own.
"Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I Kayla, I wish I might, have the wish I make tonight." Logan said. "I wish Jimmy was a real boy."
"I do too." Kayla said with a sad smile as she kissed Logan on the cheek. "Let's go to bed, Logan."
They went to sleep, their dreams filled with the laughter of a living Jimmy Howlett.
()()()()()
"That's a nice thought." Rogue said as she got ready to sleep again. "Even if it's impossible."
Rogue was about to go to sleep when the ticking of the clocks, and the dripping of the fountain started, and she couldn't get herself to shut the noise out due to its continuous beat.
"QUIET!" Rogue shouted, and everything was silent, and Rogue sighed. "Finally. A girl can only take so much in one night."
Suddenly, a bright light came from up stairs and was coming down.
"Oh, what now?" Rogue asked as she covered herself up and hoped that the Howletts' didn't notice a large child-shaped lump on their sofa. When the light got brighter, Rogue took her head out of the covers and shouted. "What's going on here?!"
Suddenly, a woman walked down with a long straight sword in her hand. She didn't carry a light, but light was coming from her, and it was reflected by the sword. She had long brown hair and blue eyes. She was one of the most beautiful grown-up women Rogue ever saw, and she also saw that she was dressed in a long red dress that went down to her feet, and matching gloves. She looked up the stairs.
"Holy cow." Rogue whispered.
"Logan and Kayla Howlett, you two have given so much happiness to others through all the trinkets you give, that you deserve to have your wish come true." The, there was no other word for it, angel walked from the stairs to Jimmy and starred at him like an aunt. "Little puppet made of pine, awake. This gift of life is thine."
Then, to Rogue's amazement, the puppet moved! He blinked a few times and moved his arms around, with the strings seeming to have disappeared.
"Wow." Rogue said. "What people can't do these days?"
"I can move." Jimmy said before putting his hand to his mouth in shock and surprise. "I can talk!" The angel laughed kindly as Jimmy stood up and was about to walk when he fell down.
"Yes Jimmy." The angel said with a smile. "I gave you life."
"Why?" Jimmy asked.
"Because tonight, Logan and Kayla wished for a real boy." The angel said.
"Am I a real boy?" Jimmy asked.
"Not yet Jimmy." The angel said. "To make your parents' wish to completely come true will be entirely up to you."
"Huh?" Jimmy asked.
"Prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish, and someday you will be a real boy." The angel said.
"Hooray!" Jimmy said.
"That's not gonna be easy." Rogue whispered.
"Who are you?" Jimmy asked.
"I'm Wanda." Wanda said. "Now to be a real boy, you'll have to choose between right and wrong."
"Right and wrong?" Jimmy asked. "But how will I know."
"Sounds like a real boy already." Rogue grumbled. "So dumb he doesn't know what right and wrong is."
"Your conscience will tell you." Wanda explained patiently.
"What's a conscience?" Jimmy asked.
"What's a conscience?!" Rogue asked as she ran up. "I'll tell you! A conscience is the voice that tells people right from wrong, and that's why people can be so mean because they don't listen to it."
"Are you my conscience?" Jimmy asked.
"No, I'm a girl." Rogue said.
"What's a girl?" Jimmy asked.
"The opposite of a boy." Rogue said.
"Well would you like to be Jimmy's conscience?" Wanda asked.
"Um…" Rogue said. "Well…"
"Of course it is a job for a big girl." Wanda said with a smile.
"I am a big girl!" Rogue protested. "I'm five years old!"
"Alright then." Wanda said with a smile. "What's your name?"
"I'm Rogue." Rogue said.
"Kneel Rogue." Wanda said.
"Okay." Rogue said as she knelt down. "Now what?"
"Now, I dub you, Jimmy Parker's conscience. Lady High Keeper of the Knowledge of Right and Wrong, Chief Councilor in the Face of Temptation, and Guide along the Straight and Narrow Path."
With those words, Wanda touched both of Rogue's shoulders with the flat of the sword she held, and suddenly, Rogue's entire outfit turned the purest white.
"Cool!" Rogue said. "Can I have a badge too?"
"Maybe someday." Wanda said with a smile.
"Can it have really cool letters like in story books?" Rogue asked again.
"We'll see." Wanda said.
"Can it be gold?" Rogue asked.
"We'll see." Wanda said again. She then turned to Jimmy. "Now remember Jimmy, be a good boy, and always let your conscience be your guide."
With that, Wanda disappeared in a slow and soft flash of light.
"Wow." The two children said.
Well… That was interesting.
Rogue: I said be quiet, Doug! Don't make me ask Wanda to turn you into my next child!
Penny: Yay! Do it, Mommy! I want a little brother!