Week 2 Story: The Wishfully Average Girl

There was once a young girl who was particularly average. She was bored of her average and mundane life and longed for more. Not that her life was bad, she had friends, but not too many. She talked, but never in a bubbly excited way. She was normal, not too much, but not too little. All day and all night she would spend wishing to be more approachable. One day as she was walking on the pier after school she decided to approach the Zoltar game. She placed her quarters in and the machine whirred. 

Bing. Out popped a card. The back read "Your wish has been granted." She shrugged and continued on her way home. As she walked people began to approach her and smile and waved. People were usually friendly, but never this friendly. Kids from her school began to crowd around her making it harder for her to walk and get fresh air. Her arms were being pulled each different way with students wanting to talk, play games, and invite her to parties. She ran back to the machine, placing in another couple quarters. I want to be unapproachable she wished. 

Bing. A card popped out again. "Your wish is my command" it said. With that she placed it in her pocket and began her journey home again. She was not bombarded this time round, however, she was met with a sense of fear all around. She looked a group of kids from school and when she smiled at them they shuddered and spoke in hushed tones. Small children seemed to cry as she walked past. She thought about her wish of unapproachability.. maybe that was the wrong phrase. 

However, her mind was frazzled and she began to get angry at people for running in fear of her and for crowding her. The only thought she had was to be invisible. To be gone and avoid the stares and whispers she was receiving on the pier. She ran back to Zoltar. 

Bing. "Enjoy." a bit more ominous this time.. she exited the arcade and walked home. Walking this time around was pleasant. No stares, no crowding, she was at peace, except for the occasional bump of a stranger. But the bumps began to pick up, almost like she was... invisible. Maybe they were just preoccupied she thought and continued on. At the end of the boardwalk she spotted a friend paying for a drink. Uneasily she approached. 

"Megan?" she asked, but no reply. 

"Megan, what are you doing the rest of the day?", but nothing. She was unseen and unheard by her friend. 

She sprinted back to Zoltar, back to wishing she was just average again, back to her life before that dumb game. She fumbled for the quarters, tears welling in her eyes. As she reached the arcade, a sign was plastered on the front of the glass of Zoltar. "OUT OF ORDER". The tears turned into sobs as she trudged home, invisible. 

Author's note: I retold the story: The Man in the Moon, and different way using thoughts that I know several people have. I drew inspiration from the film Big with a girl who wants to change who she is and her personality at the center of the message. Instead of her changing beings, she changed personalities and the way others view her. She takes her average life for granted and eventually ends up in isolation from others and cannot return to when she was at her happiest, average. 

The moon (Imaggeo)

This story comes from Laos in Southeast Asia. Story source: Laos Folk-Lore by Katherine Neville Fleeson (1899).