Be Careful What You Wish For
By: Abigail Sileshi
Ryan briskly walked home. The winter air was frigid, and he just wanted to get someplace warm. Small white snowflakes drifted around him, making the world look almost like a dream. He finally made into his house and hurried inside. He was greeted by Betsy, the family’s one-year old lemon Beagle. She barked happily and pounced on Ryan. He giggled slightly and patted her head. He plopped his backpack in its usual spot and walked into the kitchen. His mom was dicing tomatoes and his little brother, Tim, was plopped on the couch finishing his homework.
“Hi Ryan.” His mother said, not looking up from her tomatoes. He walked over to her and gave her a side hug. “Can you pull out the lettuce please? I would myself, but these tomatoes won’t cut themselves.” He sighed and pulled open the fridge. He found the lettuce and placed it on the island next to her. He then pulled his books out of his backpack and sauntered upstairs. He plopped on his bed and started to do his homework.
A few hours later, he heard the front door open. He was about to go downstairs to see who it was, but he decided not to. He was almost done with his homework and he didn’t want to get up. He heard his father’s booming voice and Tim’s little one ratting on about how he saw a rat today.
“Ryan, your father is here.” He heard his mother call. He didn’t answer to her. “Ryan?” she called again. There was a long silence. Suddenly Ryan heard footsteps coming from the stairs. He huffed and stood up. He was about to get a long lecture. Before he could prepare himself, his bedroom door flung wide open. There in the doorway was his mother, and by the way her eyes burned with rage, he knew he was in big trouble.
“Am I not being clear?” she said through gritted teeth. “I said go downstairs and say hello to your father.”
“Why?” Ryan retorted. “I see him every day. Why is today important?” He flopped back on his bed and opened a magazine.
She walked over to his bed and grabbed his arm. “One day you’re gonna wake up and none of us will be here to help you with your problems in life, and you will be more than sorry that we aren’t there to help you.”
“Oh really?” Ryan started to yell. “I wish I never had any parents! I wish that you all would just disappear from my life! Why can’t you just leave me alone?!”
His mother let go of his arm and gasped. Her face suddenly turned hard. “Be careful what you wish for, Ryan.” She said softly. “It might just come true.” She left the room and silently closed the door.
Ryan dug his head into a pillow and yelled into it. He quickly changed his clothes and hopped in bed. “I wish that they would just disappear.” He said silently. He drifted off to sleep and dreamt wild dreams.
He woke up to the sound of his alarm clock screaming at him. He groggily turned it off and put his feet on the floor. Usually Betsy would wake him up every morning. “Huh,” he thought, “that’s weird.” He shrugged and stood up. He had slept really well last night, despite the large dilemma, and he wasn’t ready to get up. He threw on a gray sweatshirt and jeans and walked out of his room. There was a strange silence that was very nerve-wracking for Ryan. His mom should be up by now. Did he wake up early? He walked back into his room and looked at his clock. It stated that it was 7:00 AM. He had woken up later than usual.
“Where is everyone?” he thought to himself. He sauntered downstairs and searched for them. The house was dangerously silent, and the only thing that Ryan could hear was the old grandfather clock ticking in the living room. He started to panic. “Mom?” he started to call. “Dad? Tim? Betsy?” There was no answer.
He sat down on the couch slowly, frightened and worried. Where was everyone? What could have happened to them? Suddenly, in realization, he said,“I guess wishes really do come true.”
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