Box of
Dreams
“No! Dad! Please! We are not moving.”
“I
don’t know about you, but I’m moving,” said my dad. “We
have a big house, I have a good job, and you are already enrolled in the local
school. Soph, this is too good an opportunity to pass up.” I stuck out my
tongue at the back of his head. I knew this argument was over, and I had lost.
I was quiet the rest of the ride from Vermont to Maine.
Let me tell you about myself. My name is Sophie
Hannigan, and I live in Vermont Maine. I don’t have a mom, just a
dad. My dad says she walked out on us when I was a baby, and she didn’t
want to leave me, but my dad loved me so much he kept me. But I think that one
day she will come back. I am quiet, and don’t make friends that easily. I
love to write poetry, and this is my journal that you are currently reading. I
am twelve years old, and in seventh grade. I have black hair, green eyes, and
freckles. I must have gotten them from my mother, because my father has blond
hair and brown eyes.
On my first day of school, I walked into my
classroom fine, and the teacher introduced me. The only people that I remember
are this quiet girl named Janelle and these two friends named Lily and Leah. I
transferred schools in the middle of a poetry unit, and all the other kids
thought it was dumb, but I really like it. I also like my teacher, Ms.
Williams. She has black hair, green eyes, and freckles. She saw my writing and
told me I should enter in the talent show next week. I didn’t have the
heart to tell her I’m not good with crowds, so she’s enrolling me.
Whoopee. I’ll probably barf onstage, like I did in first grade.
But I’m kind of becoming friends with
Janelle. She’s really nice and she plays guitar. When we were eating
lunch, Leah and Lily came up to us. Janelle saw them coming and said she had to
go to the bathroom, so that left me alone with them.
“So… Sophie,” they said in a mocking tone. “We
heard you were in the talent show.”
I
nodded meekly. “I’m going to recite poetry.” They smirked at
each other.
“Just so you know, that show is ours. We win it every year. Sorry to crush your
hopes.” They walked away. Wow. They are menacing.
The next week, it was the talent show. I went to
talk to Ms. Williams about it.
“Sophie, will you
tell me your birthday?” She asked.
“Um, okay,”
I said. “March 23rd.” She turned pale.
“What’s
wrong?” I asked. She shook her head and stared at me. I said goodbye and
left to go practice for the talent show tomorrow, and wonder why Ms. Williams
was being so creepy. But she was still a great teacher, and I liked her a lot
in a motherly way.
The next day, it was my
turn in the talent show. I was so nervous, I couldn’t breathe.
“And Sophie
Hannigan, presenting her poem ‘Box of Dreams.’” Applause. I
couldn’t do it. “Sophie?” the announcer asked. “SOPHIE?”
Finally one of the stagehands pushed me onstage. I started and tried not to
think about it.
“Box of dreams,” I stated. By Sophie
Hannigan.”
“I reach into my box of dreams
And pull out my favorite one
Because when I enter my lovely dream
The cutting coldness of the world
Just fades away to none.” I was starting to
get into it, moving and saying with feeling.
“When I take out my favorite dream
And I can hardly breathe
I know that I must have some hope
And some patience too,
I smile and tell myself, Yes, I believe.”
People were actually listening to me and on their feet. Was that- my dad? He
was smiling encouragingly, because I paused to stare at him.
“My dream is oh so beautiful
And secret as can be
And when I cry alone at night
I have to think about my dream
And how special it is to me.” I bowed and
the crowd hooted and whistled. I ran offstage, embarrassed. Janelle
congratulated me, and she was next. I gave her a hug for good luck. She was
finally coming out of her shell. I was so proud. I told her that and she
laughed, and she went onstage and played a song that she wrote, and sang along.
She is a very good singer. The audience went wild for her. She was fabulous!
Leah and Lily were next, and they shot me a mean look. Janelle shot one right
back. They did a dance to a hip-hop song and it was good, I have to admit, but
Janelle and I were so much better. (Not to brag, but I was!!)
Finally, after a few more acts from random sixth
graders, thee announcer exclaimed, “Who wants to know the WINNER of the
show??!!” Leah and Lily smiled evilly.
“And
the winner is… drum roll please,” the audience held their breath.
“JANELLE
FOXX!!!” We jumped up and down and screamed. Janelle got a trophy that
she really deserved.
Ms. Williams came up to
me, misty-eyed. “Sophie,” she said. “Sophie,” she said
again. I looked at her. “Sophie, I’m your mother.”
“What?” I
shrieked. Dad appeared behind her and nodded. As if on cue, we all started
crying. I gave Ms. Williams Mom a big hug.
“Mom,” I
whispered. “I’ve missed you so much.” She kissed me on top of
my head.
“I missed you
too,” she said. “I missed you too.”
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