Angela woke, upset. The whole night has been restless and hot. No matter what she did, she couldn’t sleep. Finally she had drifted, only to have the sun wake her. Why must the sunlight always ruin moments like these?
Silently she fumbled out of her makeshift bed and padded to the kitchen. She could see her mother had already risen and was reheating the previous night’s dinner. It was their breakfast and they felt lucky to actually be able to eat it. Wasn’t exactly every day that breakfast was served.
After Angela’s father had passed on, taking all their money with him, the two had to live alone. Their money was gone, so they had to live in a shack just outside of Atlantic City. After their old house had been repossessed and their luxuries taken away, Angela’s mother paid what she could to keep Angela’s CDs and CD player. It brought the small family joy, even though Angela often bombarded it with Hanson songs.
You and your Hanson, Angela's mother had said. But that was before, before that was all they had to listen to. Now, well now her mother had learned to love them.
"Good morning," her mother commented, impulsively. The routine was rather old, but it was routine. "I heard you shifting around last night. What was it? Couldn’t sleep?" Angela grabbed an apple, realizing she didn’t have the time to eat what her mother was making.
"Yeah. I guess I was hot and I was uncomfortable. I’ll be late for school, see you later." Angela gave a kiss to her mother and headed out the door, to her bus stop. After her father had passed, she had to switch from private tutors to a cheap public school with a gang problem. She hated it. No one liked her, no one wanted to be near her. It was as if her life wasn’t as important as it had been.
As she stepped onto the bus, it immediately started. "Freak girl!" the students yelled. "Witch!" If she was really a witch then they’d all been zapped to bits the first day. That would show them.
Angela had been born different. No one understood, so she was considered a freak. She’d been born with visions and thoughts unknown to the average person. They’d never understand, so she kept to herself. Her parents never knew and they still don’t now. She never trusted them, and doesn’t trust anyone anymore. She’d made the mistake of telling someone she was different. Soon the whole entire school knew, and the whole school poked fun at her. Now life was hard.
Angela took her secluded seat at the back corner of bus 4791, at the brink of tears. When she looked out to the students, someone new sat across from her. Nobody sat there. But this boy seemed different than the others. He didn’t point or taunt or even stare. He seemed rather distant.
Figuring he was new, she turned to the window. As the familiar scenery passed, she felt his eyes on her. "Excuse me," he said. "Are you Angela Kennedy?" She had been surprised from how soft his tone was, how gently he spoke to her. He spoke like a cool breeze, light and airy. She could sense the autumn air running through him. It fit him nicely. Even though it was spring, he was speaking with autumn. Perhaps he’d been born in October.
"Yes, that’s me," Angela said, turning to him. "Would you mind letting me know who you are?" He smiled. It was an autumn smile, and from the way the right side was higher than the left, it was in a late part of the month.
"I am the Maker of Dreams, the Man of the Wheel, the Master of the Stars. I can make your wish come true, but only if your promise is you."
Angela held her gasp. The Maker of Dreams, right before her. In response to his statement, she nodded. Only if your promise is you. She knew exactly what he meant. Soon, only soon. He held out to her a silver chain, with a small crystal ball. "Take your fate, my dear. All will unfold in time." Angela took the chain and slipped it around her neck. With a devilish laugh, he vanished.
The bus stopped, arriving at the school.