Chapter 2

Blinking her eyelids, her sight came clearer and clearer until she met the cracks in a spiderweb patterns hanging in the ceiling with missing shingles. The girl groaned.

"No, no!" She cried, her face screwed up as of she wanted to cry. "No!" She kicked her legs aimlessly in the air.

"I made it clear to you to wake up before 'leven," a male voice resounded. "Because you tend to have imaginative thoughts at sunrise."

Sheila got up straighter from the tattered bed, her face contorted in frustration. Her ginger medium hair disheveled and shadowing her shaggy ginger brows. Crossing her arms over her chest, she tugged her hair away from her face. "I dreamt of a certain servant 'bout to give me a crown," Sheila said.

Michael Lovatta raised his brows, grabbing a dirty old fashioned traveling bag. "What crown?"

She shrugged angrily. "I don't know exactly. I was in a place, a very nice lookin' place that could be mistaken with paradise, I think. I was so close into wearin' that crown, only to find myself back 'ere, in this ugly---" she roamed her eyes around the cold and unwelcome old barn. "---shady and homeless cabin."

Michael slung his bag over his shoulder, sighing.  "It is a manipulative dream. Don't think too much of it."

Sheila narrowed her shaggy ginger eyebrows. "A manipulative dream? Ye think I wasn't dreamin'!"

Michael ignored her words and walked to the door. "I will be out. Just make sure you don't go out to the city."

She rolled her eyes, getting off the bed. "Where're ye goin'?"

"To get us food to eat. Remember, no hustle, no food."

Sheila cracked into a grin.

Throwing the door open, he looked at her sideways. He knew what her little sister's smile meant. "I mean it, Sheila. When I come back, I hope to find you in here, and don't be gallivantin' around the city. Take care of yourself." The door shut close.

There was a pause. Sheila staring at nothing but the door. After a few seconds, she stamped her feet. "Stay alone in this cabin, do nothin'?" She whined. "I rather go to the city!"

Inside the cabin was nothing to admire. It was filled with a wooden chair that looked like it was about to break down at any minute, and a table set beside a glass window and in the centre of the room set a bedstead with white old ragged bedclothes. No kitchen or other house equipment seen in the room but a lantern planted on the table top to give light.

Sheila pulled open a drawer, and took up a watch to check the time. She gasped. "It's 'leven o'clock!"

She hastily put on her flat shoes, put on her newsboy hat on her disheveled hair, and took up her satchel bag running out of the cabin. Striding out of the woods, a narrow street of Lowtown came to view. A sort of dust covered the town.

The sun seen through was without rays. Under this half daylight women were outside, cleaning their tarnished dishes with a cloth, men polished their shoes, children playing in dirt. They lived in decaying barns. The gaps between the rows of barns were narrow and damp. Their streets were dumped with rubbishes, the whole of Lowtown were very dirty and inhabited exclusively by proletarians.

Under her springy feet, Sheila strode through a narrowed-covered passage way, that was known as the Lowtown's gateway to Wicklow.

Sheila was a young beautiful girl with determination and a dreamer of immensity. She loved exploring Parkfields, the main square of the Wicklow city, and adored the smell of aroma in a spicy honey sweet fragrance coming from the colored blossoms of nature, and worshiped the smell of food from the bakery stores which she has never detested. 

Walking through the sideways of Wicklow, the smell of delicate perfumes and of blue white flowering trees filled the nostrils of the passers-by.

Arriving at the Holypark, she sat down on a green bench, smiling as the trees swayed in sync with the wind. She shut her eyes exhaling and inhaling, a peaceful sensation running down her spine.

"Can one look or wait for someone with their eyes closed?" Came a disembodied female voice.

Sheila fluttered her eyes open and there stood a full-length featured girl, with anthracite black hair pulled into a low ponytail. Her name was Louisa Lyndon, the senator's daughter.

Sometimes, Sheila wandered how she became friends with Louisa, because Elites were not allowed to befriend people from lower-class, or neither have any relationship with them. The Elites were taught to look down on others, and they believed that the poor were not given names, but instead they call them names such as dregs, scums, proletarians or the plebs.

"How long have you been waiting?" Louisa asked, crossing her arms over her bosoms, grinning.

"Long enough to stop breathin'," Sheila replied, smiling. Her eyes scanned Louisa's outfit. She was fully dressed in a black loose polo shirt with short sleeves, and a short purple pleated skirt and a haversack slung on her shoulder. "Are ye from netball practice?" She asked, elevating her brows in curiosity.

"No. I made my mother believe there's practice. If I did not do that, I swear you would have kept on waiting for me the whole day," Louisa answered.

"Ye like lyin' to yer Mama."

"It's not lying, it simply been too smart to escape her hold."

Sheila chuckled. "So, where're we goin' today? The mall, Parkfields, Erile Museum, Theatre, the art gallery, an exhib----"

"We're heading to the library."

Sheila frowned. "Library? But-but I thought we're goin' to the mall, or to the museum. I can't miss what this day has readied for me."

"Of course you won't!" Louisa twitched her crimson lips into a thought. She knew about Sheila's obduracy and the only thing to oblige her was to come up with words of persuasion. "I am sure there are things you wish you could have, right?" She asked, pouting.

"Uh, what does that 'ave to do with us goin' to the library?'

"There's a book I'd like you and I to read," Louisa said in anticipation. "This book could predict your destiny, or make your wishes come true. It could even give you a glimpse of what your future holds. We need to find it before anyone does."

Sheila stood up from a green bench, and adjusted her brown newsboys' hat over her head. "A book can make wishes come true?" Her blue eyes widened in amazement.

"Didn't I just say that?" Louisa wiggled her brows mischievously.

Sheila pouted. "What kind of a book is that?"

"Magical book, like the kind you see in fantasy movies." She snaked her hand around Sheila's neck and spoke in an undertone, "This is the moment where you will see your dreams colliding with reality."

Sheila curled her lips in a wide grin. The dream she had about the crown came rushing into her head. "Then, what 're we waitin' for? Let's go!"

They marched directly to Greenfalls street that led to the library, singing to their favorite tune. The passers-by and the bystanders glanced at the twosome in amusement, and they took pleasure at their pleasant gawks.

They stood in front of a large brick wall building with an inscription of Kateworm library. The library was a third illustrious and recognizable library in Wicklow for encompassing historical quixotic and idealistic fictions.

They pushed the heavy doors open and entered into the reception area inhaling the smell of old books.

"Hello, Ms Kate!" Louisa and Sheila greeted a middle-aged woman, sitting behind her desk reading a book.

Ms Kate Long was a frumpy woman, and she was fanatical about books, and had always said; 'There's no-one like her who adored books like a possessive demon.' She was divorced without having children, and she thought of books as her family.

Ms Kate never wished to bore her own kids, afraid that they will live the story of this unsympathetic world that brought division between the Elites, the second-rates and the lower-class. She only had time to read the unfulfilled utopia ideas of fictions, but she never believed in true love.

Ms Kate gazed up from her book and groaned annoyingly. "Didn't you girls say you won't come here again?"

"Ye should be glad that we're 'ere. It has always been a grace." Sheila smiled mischievously, her dimples teasing her cheeks.

"I expect the both of you to keep silent. There are students studying."

Louisa and Sheila peered around the library and saw seven or ten student sitting at tables reading or working unobtrusively. Sheila spotted a juvenile gentleman sitting at a far corner beside a section of literary books with earphones on. She turned her gaze on Ms Kate with a playful smile.

"I mean it, Sheila," Ms Kate implored, observing her. "There's no singing in the library like last time. I've lost three students so far, and they don't want to come anymore because of your nuisances. "

"There will be no sound coming from us, Ms Kate," Louisa re-joined. "I will make sure of that."

"Thank you, Louisa, I trust you. Enjoy your reading." She smiled at her approvingly.

Louisa walked ahead, leaving Sheila with Ms Kate.

"What is it now, Sheila?"

"How does it feel to be single again?"

Ms Kate threw a glare at her. "Mind your your business child."

"Sheila, come over here!" Louisa shouted, interrupting the silence in the library with her penetrating voice.

Ms Kate threw Louisa a glare from a distance. Sheila smirked before following her friend towards labyrinth of bookshelves.

"Did ye find the book?" Sheila whispered, as soon as she stood beside her friend rummaging through the row of books.

"I'm still searching," she replied, pulling out a book titled the great expectation by Charles Dickens.

"What's the title?"

Louisa shoved the book to its stance and pulled out another book, but the title was far from what she expected. She groaned in disappointment. What if someone else took it?

"I looked up in the internet for a book with irresistible and magical content, it gave me a title of 'Finding your magic star by the Unknown'," Louisa whispered, as she pulled a book out.

Sheila gasped in awe. "My magic star?"

"Looking for this?"

Sheila and Louisa turned their gaze at the young man standing in front of them, with a book in his hand. He has a melancholic look on his waxen face.

"Finding my magic star? The title is very interesting, don't you think?" the lad said in boredom, his eyes is fixed on the front page of the book. "But nothing in it can help you find your magic star. The book is full of nonsensical shitty metaphors!" He gazed up at the girls, and continued, "It doesn't even show you who the author is, there is no preface, not even contents. Don't believe in anything that has 'magic' in it dears."

"Hey!" Louisa interrupted, scowling at the stranger. "It doesn't mean if you didn't understand a thing, you should say bad things about the book. Give me that!"

Louisa grabbed the book from the man's hands, grinning from ear to ear.

"Ahem..." He cleared his throat. " Good luck with that, I hope you find your magic star, which I doubt you will anyway." He walked away from them.

"What's with him?" Sheila asked annoyed.

Louisa shrugged her shoulder. "We pay no attention to him. We are reading this book."

Sheila frowned. "We should 'ave went to the museum. I've always wanted to go see the Erile museum."

"It will cost us €10 ." Louisa pulled her to a nearby table. They leisurely took their seat on comfortable leather chairs, sitting opposite each other.

"But that is too cheap for ye."

"You won't be allowed into the museum, Sheila. You should know that already."

"Ye can pay for me."

"Of course I can and would have at this very moment, but if they find out what I did, you know that I will be arrested."

Sheila hunched her shoulder. "I'm sorry to bother ye."

Louisa smiled assuredly. "You never bother me Sheila, and don't you think you do."

Sheila smiled.

"Now, it's time for the book," she flipped the book open, revealing the title in bold.

"Whoa---" they cried in unison, as the title 'Finding Your Magic Star' glowed brightly with grandiloquent light blinding their vision.

"Gracious Jeepers. I can't believe I am reading this book," Louisa stated, her eyes sparkled in disbelief. "I have been waiting for a thousand years to find my magic star. Mercy has found me indeed!" She flipped to the first empty page. "This is where we make our wishes."

"What?"

"Bring your hand," Louisa said, stretching her palms open. Sheila planted her hands on hers. "Now, close your eyes."

They both shut their eyes closed.

"The empty page in this book," said Louisa, "is for making a wish. A wish for your magic star."

"How do ye know so much?" Sheila asked.

"Shh..." she hushed her. "Be quiet and let's both make a wish that will come true. Are you ready?"

Sheila nodded. "Are ye sure this will work?"

"Doubting can make you miss your magic star, Sheila. That's one of the reasons why things don't work out for some people. Do you want to be one of them?"

"No, not at all," Sheila shook her head, her eyes still closed. "How many wishes are we allow to make?"

"Only one wish, which means think of a wish that will change your life forever, even if it seems impossible," Louisa replied. "Now, let's clear our minds by tossing all the negativities into the water, and let the water drown away our fears and all our doubts. And let's now find our magic star in with a peaceful mind."

Shutting their eyes and their hands intertwining with each other, they silently made her wish to themselves. After a moment, Louisa broke the silence. "Are you done?"

Sheila shook her head. "No, not yet."

Louisa opened one eye, but closed it again. "Don't break the rules, Sheila. Only one wish."

"Done!"

They flicked their eyes open, smiling widely.

"How do you feel?" Louisa asked.

Sheila shrugged, smiling. "Great! What did ye wish for?"

"We are not allow to tell our wishes to anyone, or else our magic star will go into the unknown. And once that happens, the wish we made will return as a curse to us."

Sheila pressed her lips in a thin line. "Oh, then I'll not say a word to anyone."

"Keep it that way. Now let's get into the book." She flicked the first chapter open and begun to read it loud with Sheila reading along with her.

"Here you are...the book you've been looking for!" They both read. Louisa cracked into a wide grin, and continued. "Within these pages you will find answers life's most important questions: 'What on earth am I doing here?' or, 'What's in my star?'. This book reveals that by nature you are seperated from reality, but your star offers you a way back to reality. This solution ensures that you will not be seperated from your star eternally. Faith is the key to living your reality from a dream..."

"What does this mean?" Sheila asked her friend, for it was easy for her to read but to understand the language in a sentence was difficult.

"It entails that our stars, which is our wishes, will show us a way to reality."

"Oh." Sheila creased her brows in confusion, but pretended to decipher what her friend had just said.

After what seemed half an hour of the mid-afternoon, they were already on the tenth chapter. When they bleeped through the next chapter, Louisa's phone dinged, notifying a message. She pulled out her phone and read a message from her mother.

'I wander what u up to now Lou, ur college coach mentioned

there's no netball practice today, I want u home ryt now!'

Louisa heaved a sigh. She lied to her mother that there was practice, so she can perchance be at the library but since her mother was so keened at reconnoitering, she ended up discovering the truth.

"My mom is asking for me. We should depart from here."

"What 'bout the book?" Sheila frowned.

"We'll borrow it." They stood up from their chairs. Louisa slung her haversack over her shoulder. They strolled toward Ms Kate's desk; she was reading another book titled Sex tips.

The two girls looked at each other, their eyes twitched in amusement. Sheila cleared a throat, causing Ms Kate to jolt. She shut the book instantly and flipped it from behind, hiding the title.

Her face light up and a remorse smile appeared on her face, "What is it?"

Louisa and Sheila glanced at each other smiling and then turn to face Ms Kate. "We're leaving, and I'd like to borrow this book," Louisa stated, plonking the book on the desk.

Ms Kate adjusted her spectacles and read the title. After a moment, she shook her head vigorously. "No, no! I am sorry you can't take this book home girls," she said.

"But why?" asked Louisa, narrowing her brows in confusion.

"This book cannot be taken home by anyone."

"I've always wanted to read this book, and today is a fortune. I am asking if I could borrow it for two or three days. I promise I'll bring it back," Louisa stated pleadingly.

"Everyone says that and they end up not bringing it back, and this is the one copy left. I am really sorry, Louisa, I can't let this book out of the library. I have refused to borrow it to anyone, trust me you're not the only one who asked for it. So, the only chance I'd give is when you come here to read it.".

Louisa uttered an expression of disgust, preventing her tears from plopping to the floor. She clenched her jaw in frustration. "I can pay to borrow it."

"I am not going to take your money. This book remains here. Can you at least try to understand that?"

Sheila leaned toward Ms Kate with a scowl. "Is it 'cause of me that ye don't want borrow 'er?"

Ms Kate heaved a sigh in exasperation. "No, Sheila, I am not one of those elites who look down on dregs. These are my rules, nobody takes this book at home and that's it."

"Ms Kate, Louisa's mom has a problem with 'er comin' to the library everyday."

"Well, that's not my problem, ladies." She took the book and placed it on top of her bookcase behind her.

"You know what Ms Kate?" Louisa stated, glaring.

"What?"

"You suck, that's why you're reading sex tips. Did you just find out you're not good on bed, and is it the reason why you are divorced with no children?"

Ms Kate gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "How dare you, imbeciles! Get out my library."

"Come on, Louisa. Let's go," Sheila dragged her out of the library.