Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	Waifs and Strays
	Author:	DeLint, Charles
	Date Published:	2002
	Genre:	Fantasy
	Grade Level:	7 - 9
	Booktalker:	Sam Marsh

Notes:
Short Stories

Booktalk:
Marguerite kept her wish in the brass egg she had bought for two dollars at Miller's antique shop. Its name, the wish's name, was Arnold. Arnold was a carving that looked more or less like a lump of black clay with what might be mistaken for a beak on him. She didn't know Arnold was a wish...or anything but a lump of clay...when she bought him and the egg. It wasn't until he talked to her that she found out he was a wish. It was confusing hearing this low buzzing voice tickling inside her head. Arnold was a small wish, but could grant any one thing that she wanted...within reasonable limits. Like a genie in a lamp, but not quite. Because he could only grant one small wish, not three. Arnold didn't know where he came from, but sounded so sad that Marguerite didn't pursue that line of questioning. She was a kind, thoughtful type of girl, so she didn't just rush off and wish for something fancy and expensive. She took her time and thought about it. When she asked Arnold what happened to him after she made her wish, he said he'd go away...to be someone else's wish. And after their wish, he'd got to the next, and the next... Had he always been a wish? No, he could remember being something else . . . a long time ago. They became good friends, the summer progressed, and Marguerite started carrying Arnold and his egg with her in a small quilted bag she could sling over her shoulder. Arnold knew a lot of current happenings that she didn't thing a genie would know. Soon Marguerite almost forgot Arnold was a wish. He was more just a good friend. Then one day she forgot to pick up her quilted bag when she left a restaurant. She was panic-stricken. By the time her mother took her back to the restaurant, the bag, the egg, and Arnold were gone. She was miserable and moped around for days. Sure, she had missed having her wish, but most of all, she missed Arnold and their talks and his companionable presence. One night in bed she muttered "I wish I . . . I wish . . . ." She felt the familiar tickle in her head...Did you finally decide on your wish? Arnold asked. "Arnold? Are you here?" Well, not exactly here, as it were, but I can hear you. "Where have you been?" Waiting for you to make your wish." He couldn't get back, he couldn't initiate the contact, and couldn't stay unless she was ready to make her wish. And, then he'd be gone. For good. She stalled. Then she got that feeling that he was going away. What should she wish for? What would you wish for? "Wait," She said. "I haven't made my wish yet." She hadn't, but then she realized there was only one wish she could really make. "I wish you were free." You what? . . .wouldn't you rather have something . . . for yourself? "This is for myself...you're my friend and I don't want you to be trapped anymore." Swish . . . Swirl . . . Zing . . . Free! Free free free! The egg was suddenly in Marguerite's hand, the clay crow rose up, flew away out the window and was gone. In September, a new family moved in next door. Marguerite became best friends with their son, and one day showed him the egg. As he stroked the black feather that was all she still had of her old friend, the boy, Arnold smiled at her and said, "I had a wish once. . . ."