Another Lovely Day in the Neighbourhood

Flash took a step then looked back. His friends looked at him with a mix of exasperation and support.

“Do I have to?” Flash asked.

“It grants wishes, Flash!” Trixie retorted. “Don’t you want your wish granted?”

“But what if—”

“Oh, come on!” Trixie threw her hands up. “How can you not be jumping all over this?!”

“It’s important to know for scientific purposes.” Moondancer adjusted her too big glasses.

“And for the supernatural phenomenon!” Lyra exclaimed.

“Don’t be a wuss!” Bon Bon added.

“Yeah!” Bulk cried out.

Vinyl gave him a thumbs up.

He looked at Timber. He kicked at a few pebbles on the cracked road.

“What do you think I should do?” Flash asked.

Timber scowled.

“A bunch of us already made wishes.” He jerked his thumb toward the others. “Only fair that we keep going. Besides, who wouldn’t want their wish granted?”

Flash nodded, still reluctant. He returned his attention to the wishing shrine.

A small wood structure worn down by time and weather found deep within the Everfree protected by a cracked stone ceiling and tall trees. A box with a slot whose once bright colours had faded into nearly nothing. Mounted on the back wall above it was the twisted face of a monkey surrounded by hundreds of carved wooden hands arranged in a perfect circle.

He glanced at his slip of paper.

‘I wish for someone to love me.’

He gulped. It was something he’d always wanted. A girlfriend since that was what dad had said he should have between drinks. There weren’t any other proposed options— He glanced at Timber out of the corner of his eye —and he didn’t want to go through high school without a partner to love him.

“Today, Flash!”

Taking the last few steps, he approached the shrine, dread building up inside of him. He could feel the mask boring into him, watching his every move. The natural sound of the woods made it almost feel like the decoration was breathing heavily at him in anticipation.

Flash folded the slip neatly in half and slid it into the slot.

He waited.

Nothing happened.

“Did you do it?!”

“Yeah!” He called back.

“Awesome! Now, come on! Let’s go play by the lake then tomorrow we’ll come back to make more.

“This shrine is the best thing ever!”