for Animas High School
One starry night, a star named Cleon shone brightly. Cleon was a small
star in our universe. He had close neighboring stars, but most of them
lived many light years away. Cleon would often gaze wistfully at the pretty
planet far in the distance. It was green and blue and in the darkness clusters of lights would shine from the cities down below. Cleon would dream about what it was like on this planet. Who lives down there? What do they do? Do they talk to each other? Do they live close together? Are they happy? I wish I could go there and find out for myself.
As Cleon was asking all these questions about this beautiful little planet, there was a girl, Zoe, living on the planet called Earth. She was sitting out on her lawn, star gazing. Her green eyes were big and full of wonder. Zoe was asking questions of her own about the stars, wondering to herself. How many stars are there millions? Billions? Trillions? Does anyone live there? Could I touch one? Do wishes actually come true when you wish upon a star?
Zoe closed her eyes and made a wish, “I wish everyone on Earth was happy.”
Cleon heard Zoe’s wish.
“I am going to that planet,” said Cleon. “I’ll find a way.”
Zoe’s favorite thing to do was to wait for bedtime and stargaze. Once her parents said good night, she would sneak over to her window to watch the stars twinkle and shine. For some reason, she felt that only the stars could understand her, that they knew her better than anyone. Zoe couldn’t explain how she knew this was true, she just knew. One dark night while Zoe was watching the stars, she noticed a bright light getting brighter. It was coming closer!
Cleon decided that tonight would be the night he gets a better look at this planet and go there. He began shaking and spinning and soon shot himself down towards the earth. He could feel his light trailing behind him. He was finally going to Earth! As Cleon rocketed through space, he watched as Earth slowly grew larger the closer he came to the beautiful planet.
Zoe continued to watch the light grow brighter. It came closer and closer, until the light completely illuminated everything in sight and blinded Zoe for a few long seconds. Blinking, she waited until her eyesight returned and looked for the light, but couldn’t see anything from where she stood at the window. She needed to get a better look.
Zoe ran to her closet and picked out an outfit for an adventure (she wanted to be dressed for the occasion!) grabbed a flashlight, a pair of binoculars and her journal--just in case she needed to write anything down--and slipped out of her room. Quietly Zoe made her way past her parents bedroom, tiptoed down the stairs and crept out the back door. Then she made a mad dash for the woods.
Cleon had made it! Momentarily stunned by the impact of his earth landing, he found himself pressed into the dirt in a big crater. Cleon laid still for awhile, long enough to gather his wits about him. When Cleon looked up and saw the night sky above the treetops he gasped in awe. So this is what they see from Earth! There are so many of stars, he thought. Why did she wish upon me, of all stars?
As Cleon laid there taking in the wonder of it all, he heard a rumbling in the bushes. What could that be? He thought.
Zoe yelled into the woods, “Hello! Is anyone out there?” She couldn’t see anything but a faint glow.
No response. She yelled louder, “HELLO!?” Again, no response.
Zoe started walking toward the glow.
Zoe kept walking until the glow became a bright light shining through the trees and bushes.
She turned off her flashlight and slowly walked towards the light. As she peered over the edge of the crater she saw a bright light embedded right in the center. She slid down into the hole and looked at the star in amazement.
“Hi!” Cleon said.
Zoe jumped back, surprised that the star was able to talk.
“Hi” Zoe said nervously.
Zoe stared at Cleon and after a few seconds she snapped out of her daze.
“Who are you?” Zoe asked.
“I’m Cleon! I fell from the sky to grant you a wish. What’s your name?”
“My name is Zoe. What wish?” Zoe had forgotten she had wished upon a star.
“The one about Earth, and everyone who lives here being happy.” Cleon explained.
Zoe had not considered that her wish had actually been heard and was excited that Cleon knew about it. Cleon was extremely excited to tell Zoe about his adventure to Earth and why he was here.
“Let’s go back 4 billion years.” Cleon began. Zoe sat beside Cleon and listened to the story of his creation.
“I was new to this universe and when I appeared the first thing I saw was your planet. A beautiful jewel of a place in the middle of space. I observed Earth over eons, and noticed a disturbing change. As the human race evolved, the Earth began to darken. It looked as though Earth was growing sad. Even now it looks that way to me. I often wondered how I could help your little planet and its inhabitants. That’s why I’m here. I responded to your call. I want to ask some questions about your Earth and how it has become so sad, and why you want people to be happy.”
Zoe sat and pondered all that Cleon had said, and then she began to speak of what she knew about the relationship of humans to the Earth.
“We are part of Earth and Earth is part of us. Just like you are part of the galaxy and the galaxy is part of you. We breath the Earth’s air, drink its water, use its fire, eat its plants and animals, and move over its land, taking whatever we need for our survival and sustenance. I look up at the sky each night, a sky filled with an infinity of stars and galaxies, and wonder how something so beautiful could exist. But then I remind myself that our planet has a beauty all its own.
Over thousands of years we humans have adapted and evolved, and yes we have our bad elements too. The Earth is suffering and parts of Earth have become sick because of the way we mistreat it. There are parts of the Earth that are thriving, and these I want to save. Still, people are sad and I want them to see the beauty I see and feel the hope I feel.”
“I never thought of it that way.” Said Cleon.
“Well look at it this way,” Zoe stood and picked up Cleon and began walking back towards her house, “I was born on this Earth and you were born to the sky. I am happy to live here because I feel like there is a reason for me to be here. Do you feel like you’re meant to be a star, for a reason, a purpose? Zoe asked, nearly reaching her house.
“Actually now that I think about it, there is a reason for me to be in the sky. We both get different perspectives of life.”
Zoe and Cleon finally reached her house. She quietly carried Cleon up the stairs and into her bedroom. Zoe put Cleon on the bed and sat next to him.
“What else can I learn from you? Stars have been around much longer than we have and you probably have a deeper understanding of the universe.”
Cleon smiled, he did have an understanding of the universe, and of Earth, even though it was from an outsider's perspective. Cleon wondered if Zoe was ready to hear what he had to say.
“Well Zoe, I’m glad you realize that you belong on Earth, because without a sense of place you have no purpose. Our sense of belonging defines us--it’s what makes you, you, and me, me. Over thousands of years I have watched humans destroy. They destroy themselves because they are not connected to the earth and sky. They have failed to be grateful for the very nature that supports them. They have lost their way.
If I was to teach you one thing it would be to begin understanding and appreciating the Earth around you. Be deeply grateful for all that it provides. See the world! Experience travel and adventure. Learn all you can about your home planet. See the wonder and the beauty of the world and the world will see you. Connect to the Earth and each other. Then you will know what it means to belong, and from that you will create your happiness.”
Zoe listened to Cleon talk about the magnificence of our planet and all that he saw from his perspective. As Cleon spun one tale after another, Zoe began to doze off.
When Zoe awoke there was no sign of Cleon. She searched her room and he was nowhere to be found. It upset Zoe greatly to have her new friend leave so soon. She still had so many questions. Zoe practically flew down the stairs and ran outside to the place where she found Cleon. There was no trace of him, no hole in the ground, nothing. It was as if he had never been here.
Zoe sat down right where she knew the crater had been and gazed through the trees into the sky. Was it all a dream? The trees canopied over her and she suddenly felt connected--to the trees, to the earth, to the world around her. Zoe stood and decided to go about her day with gratitude. She played in the woods enjoying her connection to nature and appreciating Earth’s many wonders.
When night time came, Zoe looked out her window and saw the biggest, brightest star shining right where Cleon would have been and she knew it was him.
As Zoe was getting ready for bed, she found a speck of gold dust on her pillow. Zoe picked it up and put it in a safe place. She knew it was a gift from Cleon. Zoe smiled to herself and went to bed.
Cleon continued to shine his bright light toward Earth. He granted Zoe’s wish, making everyone on Earth happy. Although Zoe’s wish will take a long time to be fully realized, it will be worth the wait.
The End
About the Author:
Brianna is a junior at Animas High School. She has written this book for a project in her Humanities class about personal philosophy and what they believe as humans is right and feels real to them. Finding purpose on Earth is very important to Brianna, she plans to continue her journey through traveling and experiencing more of the world.
To hear more about Brianna and her life, go to http://bmgarcia.weebly.com/
for Animas High School
One starry night, a star named Cleon shone brightly. Cleon was a small
star in our universe. He had close neighboring stars, but most of them
lived many light years away. Cleon would often gaze wistfully at the pretty
planet far in the distance. It was green and blue and in the darkness clusters of lights would shine from the cities down below. Cleon would dream about what it was like on this planet. Who lives down there? What do they do? Do they talk to each other? Do they live close together? Are they happy? I wish I could go there and find out for myself.
As Cleon was asking all these questions about this beautiful little planet, there was a girl, Zoe, living on the planet called Earth. She was sitting out on her lawn, star gazing. Her green eyes were big and full of wonder. Zoe was asking questions of her own about the stars, wondering to herself. How many stars are there millions? Billions? Trillions? Does anyone live there? Could I touch one? Do wishes actually come true when you wish upon a star?
Zoe closed her eyes and made a wish, “I wish everyone on Earth was happy.”
Cleon heard Zoe’s wish.
“I am going to that planet,” said Cleon. “I’ll find a way.”
- < BEGINNING
- END >
-
DOWNLOAD
-
LIKE
-
COMMENT()
-
SHARE
-
BUY THIS BOOK
(from $6.19+) -
BUY THIS BOOK
(from $6.19+) - DOWNLOAD
- LIKE
- COMMENT ()
- SHARE
- Report
-
BUY
-
LIKE
-
COMMENT()
-
SHARE
- Excessive Violence
- Harassment
- Offensive Pictures
- Spelling & Grammar Errors
- Unfinished
- Other Problem
COMMENTS
Click 'X' to report any negative comments. Thanks!