Deserving

This story is by S.L.I.P. Parker and was part of our 2024 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

“I don’t know.” I said in a hushed voice.

The lady looked at me with a confused face, “You don’t know?”

“Well,” I tried fumbling my way to an answer, but it came out like this: “Well, I- you know, it’s- this isn’t- one? I mean- grateful! It’s just-”

“This is the first time you’ve ever heard the offer for real?” she said with a slight smile.

I relaxed my hands, which were rambling as much as I had was.

“Yes.” I said.

She chuckled, rearranging all the wrinkles on her face. I examined her from head to toe – she looked more like a witch than a fairy. Her dark clothes draped over her shoulders, with enough layers it became impossible to count. Her speckled pixie and eyeliner gave her an assertive tone – one I hope to match when I am old, but probably won’t. Ever.

“Did you hear me?” she said.

I snapped out of my thought cloud, “What?”

“I said, that’d be a first.” she repeated.

Huh. I knew the stereotype of wishing for money or something, but I’d think at least one person didn’t know immediately.

“Really?” I  asked.

“Yes,” She sounded annoyed, as if this is something she has to deal with on a day-to-day, “People always wish for the same thing,” she said, “Fame, Power, Glory, Money, an unhealthy romance that won’t last another week… it all falls under the same category.”

She paused, as if she wanted me to answer.

“Idiotic?” I guessed.

The confused look came back. Turns out the pause was for dramatic effect and not for me to answer.

She shrugged. “I was going to say greed, but that works too.”

That made me laugh. 

“But child, you can always wish something for yourself, wanting something does not always equal greediness.”

“Doesn’t it though?” I flatly stated.

She let out an exasperated sigh paired with a puzzled look.

“I mean,” I continued, “shouldn’t we be punished for wanting anything?”

The lady, whose name I still didn’t know, put her hands on her hips, and said, “Wherever did you get that idea from?”.

I didn’t think it was an idea – more of a concept that was drilled into me from a young age. One that I’d heard so many times that it must be true, right?

“You know,” I replied, “We have what we have, and if you ask for more of anything, then you’re a spoiled brat that needs to be put right.”

“That,” she started, “can sometimes be true-”

“See!” I responded.

“But very rarely!” she exclaimed, “People always want more, it’s a natural part of being human. The only time it’s punishable is when a little 9-year-old whining about not getting the newest iPhone”.

“No,” I said, “it’s punishable when you make your mom and dad angry, because you asked for more syrup than necessary.”

“What?” She asked.

“Like,” I tried to pull out an example from my life, something common, “when you get home, and you turn on the TV, because it’s been a long day. But you forgot that it’s expensive and get punished for ‘not deserving such a thing’”

She looked puzzled, “That’s not a bad thing.”

“Yeah,” I uttered, “I needed to be punished. I deserved punishment.”

She stood there momentarily, thinking. “What’s another example of this?” she asked

I thought back to some of the worst days. Clearly she doesn’t know what’s good or bad in a household. Does she even have kids? I wondered.

“Well,” I started, “there was this one day, I didn’t have enough money to eat lunch at school, so when I came home, I was hungry.” She nodded along as I told the story, so I continued “And I asked my mom what was for dinner that night, and I got punished.”

She rested her head in the palm of her hand. “That is also not a punishable offense.” she explained.

She bent down so she was at eye level with me, “Child,” she stated, “what would they punish you with?”

She had tried to reach over and touch my shoulder, but I flinched away, “Nothing unusual.” I said.

“Sweetie, what was the usual?” she asked.

“You know!” I yelled, grasping at my arms, “Let them beat me just enough so I can still fly under the radar and not bring any attention.”

She gave an unappreciated look, “That is not okay.” she said sternly.

“What else would it be?! Would you allow your kid to eat whenever they are hungry? O-Or buy new shoes when they grew out of the old ones? Or not have them steal things that the parents want, but don’t really need?! Would you not do that?!”

“Yes.” she stated simply.

My breathing was labored now- I couldn’t understand, “Why?!” I pressed.

“Because that’s how you raise a kid.” she said point blank, “You don’t spoil them, but you also don’t starve or deprive them of things they need.”

The word need rang through my head. I didn’t need the things I had wanted – I had lived without them for so long. I can continue without them.

She reached out her hand, “My name’s Lianda, I’ve been on this earth a long time. And now I’m doing something for you that I’ve never done before.”

“Stewart,” she paused on my name. I never told her my name. It’s the name that echoed throughout my house when I was in trouble. It’s the name I heard when I felt guilt. I’ve never liked hearing it and I wished she’d never said it. I hated the sound of it.

Lianda furrowed her brows and spoke again, “No, Stewart doesn’t fit you,” Can she read my mind? “Cameron,” she suggested, “or Cam, that fits you.”

 Little did she know that was my favorite name.

“I’m gonna give you two wishes,” she articulated as she held up her index and middle finger, as if I don’t know what two means.

“One wish, same as before – no rules. You can wish for anything. Second, you will wish for a better home.”

“A better home? My house is fine-”

“Home does not mean your house itself. It can be wishing for a better situation, or better role models- it becomes what’s needed”

The dirt looks lovely. I lowered my eyes to it. “What will it do?” I asked.

“Whatever helps you in the best way – whether that’s giving you a different home, adapting your parent’s behaviors, or whatever else exists.”

“My home is fine!” I shout defensively.

“Wish it.” She commanded sternly.

Water filled my eyes as I screamed, “I DON’T NEED HELP!”

“WISH.”

“DON’T-”

“WISH!”

“FINE!” I gasped, wanting her to stop, “I WISH FOR A BETTER HOME!”

When I spoke those words, the world spun around me – all the colors blended together, Lianda swirled out of existence. My eyes spiraled into dizziness. I shut them tight and hoped to stay alive.

When I opened my eyes again, I was no longer on the forest path. I was in someone’s house. One I didn’t recognize.

I was standing in a living room. There was a small brown couch to my right with a recliner next to it.

All over the walls were posters of various bands.

“Metallica,” I noted, “Smashing Pumpkins, White Stripes.” And that was barely the beginning. Mixed in with the posters were scattered pages with what looked like spells, charms, and whatnot. 

I heard a door open – followed by the sound of keys dropped in a bowl and a sigh.

I recognized the sigh.

Trudging into the room came Lianda, the fairy/witch.

She looked as confused as I felt.

I watched her mouth ‘What the…’ trailed off by something unnecessary.

“What am I doing here?!” I demanded.

She scanned the room, thinking for a moment. “I have a suspicion.” she ended up saying.

She’d taken off her many jackets and cardigans all the way down to a loose Metallica shirt tucked into black jeans, with a single chain hanging from the loops.

The main thing that caught my attention was the bandages – they covered all of her arms. Little bits of stained red and black seeping through.

“Are you okay?” I asked sheepishly.

She looked her arms up and down, “You ain’t the only one who’s been punished unfairly before. But since you are younger and still malleable, you have a chance to not follow in my footsteps.

I wanted to ask a million questions – but one kept ringing through my mind.

“Why am I here?” I asked inquisitorialy.

She rested her gaze on mine, “I think the wish chose your new home.”

I looked around the room, taking it all in. “Here?” I clarified.

She nodded.

“Your house?” I inquired.

She gestured around the room, “Yes.”

I nodded understandingly, “Okay,”

“I only have one question for you.” She said.

“Yeah?”

“What do you wish for?” she grinned.

I sighed, which morphed into a laugh and said, “I don’t think I’m gonna need it anymore.”