The granite was rough and hot under her bare feet. She squatted by the tidal pool, peering at the life teeming beneath her.
Kelp crowded in the center, tiny multicolored crabs parting its fronds with their dominant claw, blowing bubbles in irritation at being observed. Near the edge, barnacles glinted under the same sun that sizzled her shoulders and tightened her skin.
Soon they’d board the plane, back to Winter-socked home.
There! Behind that collection of miniature mussels! She gently grabbed a perfect star, stood and flipped him seawards, an exchange—a wish.
She smiled, knowing she’d be back.
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2017)
Carrot Ranch Prompt (12/28/2017): In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a wishing star. It can be central to the story or used in a different way. You can have a character interact or not. Go where the prompt leads.
Valley of the Trolls 
Thank you for writing. I enjoyed picturing it all, especially the heat in this cold! 🙂
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We all have to huddle together to wait out the storms, yes?
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My eyes are closed, I’m pretending to be there…pretending because if it were real I’d have to go outside in the 96 inches of snow and single digit temps to board a frozen plane. Yes, it’s too fekkin’ cold! Good instincts to write of wishing on a warm star.
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Wonderful take on the prompt, Liz. I love the way you capture lush details and visuals in your writing. Beautiful. ❤
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Thank you…with the weather we’ve been having (and not just in my home state!), it’s a survival skill. Lol!
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What great imagery Liz. I sizzled in the heat and even though we are not in winter the thought of going back to the cold didn’t appeal. A star fish to wish on. Beautiful.
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Thank you, Irene. Stay warm and happy!
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We are trying to get cool. It is very hot here.
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Ah! Australia?
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Yes.
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Boy, can I relate! If I found that star, I’d wish I didn’t have to leave in the first place. Happy new year!
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Happy New Year to you, too!
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You’ve taken me back to Maui… water warm enough to be up to my chin at 8 am… with fishes swimming at my feet… ahh… much better than the 15F of this morning – Happy New Year!
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May 2018 be warmer and kinder!
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Winter just started… but I can still look forward to spring. 🙂
Kindness is like the ‘right of way’ in driving. Something one gives first. Especially when traversing a one lane road 😉
Be well!
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Hello! I’m swimming around your site from my own Winter-socked home and I love what I’m finding beneath the rocks. Gems of writing, Liz. You are the star here. I was right with you on that granite, letting the sun sizzle my shoulders too. Fab! 🌞
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So happy to share!
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