Wishing Day Read Free

silently.
    She opened her eyes and pulled her hands away from the willow. Her cheeks were numb, and she wanted to lick her chapped lips, but she didn’t. She knew it would only make them worse.
    â€œNatasha?” she heard. It was Aunt Elena.
    â€œNa ta sha!” Aunt Vera called.
    Other noises broke into her awareness. Branches rustled. Wood creaked. Somewhere, a dog barked and barked.
    Natasha blinked herself back into focus. She studied the trunk of the willow tree, which was lined with infinite cracks and furrows. She tilted her head upward and gazed at the star-slung sky, visible in bits and snatches through the tree’s silver branches.
    She felt the magic drain away. The willow was just a willow, and Natasha was just Natasha. She felt idiotic.
    She pushed through the willow’s canopy and stepped into the clearing.
    It was done.

CHAPTER TWO
    N atasha woke to the sight of her youngest sister, Ava, standing above her and munching wasabi almonds. She shrieked and jerked upright.
    â€œAva!” she cried. “You can’t do that. You’re not Boo Radley. It is creepy to wake up and see someone staring at you!”
    Ava grinned. She had on one of Papa’s flannel shirts, which swallowed her whole, and a pair of raggedy jeans that she’d rolled up to the middle of her shins.
    â€œI like being Boo Radley,” she said.
    â€œNo, you don’t, and anyway, you’re not allowed to until you read the book,” Natasha answered. Boo Radley was a gaunt and hovering character in To Kill a Mockingbird , which Natasha knew Ava would love if she gave it half a chance.
    But Ava wasn’t as much of a reader as Natasha. Neither was their middle sister, Darya. Natasha couldn’t wrap her head around it. She would die if she didn’t have books. She loved them so much, she wanted to marry them; that’s what Darya said.
    Ava plopped down on Natasha’s bed and drew her legs beneath her, criss-cross applesauce. “So?” she said, bouncing. “What did you wish for? Did any magic happen? What was it like?!”
    â€œAva. Be still. And also, you have wasabi breath.”
    Ava leaned forward and huffed on her. Natasha grimaced.
    â€œThe moon was so pretty last night,” Ava said. “So were the stars. I made a wish too, the ‘Star light, star bright’ kind. Want to know what I wished? For your wishes to come true!”
    Natasha felt a stab of love. Ava was so . . . Ava . She was sweet and kind and full of joy. She didn’t guard her feelings like Natasha, or act loftily amused like Darya.
    â€œThat was nice,” Natasha said. “Thanks.”
    Ava popped more almonds into her mouth. “So? Tell me!”
    â€œDid I miss the wish-fest?” Darya said from the door. She strolled to Natasha’s bed and perched beside Ava. She smelled good, and her lips were shiny, because Darya was a big fan of lip gloss. She was a fan of makeup in general. She even used an eyelash curler.
    Natasha knew that if she tried using an eyelash curler—not that she would; not interested, thanks very much—she’d surely rip out her eyelashes.
    What would a person look like without eyelashes? she wondered. A mole? Moles had such a naked look to them, Natasha thought. Same for those wrinkly hairless cats. Sphynxes , that’s what they were called. Or maybe just sphynx ? What was the plural for sphynx?
    â€œThrow an almond at her,” Darya suggested to Ava. “She’s gone into one of her trances.”
    â€œI have not,” Natasha said. She flinched as an almond pinged her cheek. “Ava, quit.”
    â€œShe’s back! Yay!” Darya said. She took Natasha’s hands and widened her eyes with fake earnestness. “Natasha, last night was a big night for you, and we, your sisters, are here to offer our total support. Unless you wished for fake boobs or orange marmalade. Inthat case, our support will have to be