The Wish

By Nicolette Elisabeth Harris

One day, when I was in kindergarten it was naptime and I couldn’t sleep. Maybe I was hyped up on apple juice or something. I couldn’t stop thinking about having a sister. I rolled over to my friend and said, "Hey Sierra, can you sleep?"

"Not really," she responded.

"Oh," I said.

Then suddenly the magical words came out of me, "I wish I had a sister!"

"Why? Don’t you enjoy being an only child?"

"Not really," I said. "Because where I live there are no kids to play with."

Well that's too bad. Now let's try to sleep!"

"Okay," I said. I rolled over and tried to sleep. My parents had been separated for as far back as I can remember. I didn't really mind what she might look like, or where she would come from, or even what language she spoke. I just really wanted a sister.

The years went by very slowly. I’d go back and forth to my mom’s and then my dad’s. It’s really not all that bad because I got to go to my dad’s room at the base (My dad’s a Marine). I think that’s cool because we get the inside scoop sometimes.

My mom’s job is cool too, she’s a teacher. She used to teach at Deprotola, but now she teaches at Mission Bay High School. I love my mom and dad very much. Sometimes I don’t want to do what they tell me to do, but I love them anyway.

The days went by slowly. I think my dad was feeling lonely. He looked kind of sad. But his roommate kept him company. His roommate is nice. He even gave me a toy ball that was soft and shaped like a globe. I forgot his name though. I felt good that someone could keep my dad company when I was at my mom's.

Then one day when I was six, my dad found a girlfriend. He dated her for a week and then he told me I would meet her soon. "Does she have any kids?" I asked.

"Yes," he said.

We met over donuts and chocolate milk. Michelle was really nice. I met her kids later on. Michelle has three kids. The girl was 10, and the two boys were 13 and 14 years old.

The first time I met them at an apartment we were going to move into, I thought they were really tall. Would this be the start of a fun and exiting sisterhood? Yep.

Ever since that day, my dad and Michelle have been together, happily. They got married on New Year's Eve when I was seven. I have a sister! I really love her, but we still argue a lot. This story goes to show you, wishes can come true.