Cassie Comes Through by Ahmet Zappa Read Free Book Online

grinned as she recalled another Wishling expression one of the Star Darlings had shared with her.
I’m going to knock their clocks off when it’s my turn to go down to Wishworld,
she thought. Her words were brave but her stomach flipped at the very thought.

    Cassie took a deep breath and knocked on Astra and Clover’s door. Her mind was a complete blank and she noticed that her hands were trembling a bit out of sheer nervousness. She pulled a piece of boingtree gum out of her pocket. She found its mellow taste soothed her nerves. Then she unwrapped another for good measure and shoved it into her mouth. A vanishing garbage can stood nearby and Cassie tossed her wrappers into it. She wondered how she was going to connect with Astra. The Starling was a total sports fanatic and Cassie didn’t know a star ball from a star…a star something.
    She was chomping away, still hoping for some stellar inspiration, when the door slid open. Cassie’s head snapped up. Astra stood there, a star ball tucked under her arm.
    â€œCassie!” said Astra. “I have the star ball game on. But I thought I heard something.”
    â€œUm, do you mind if I come in?”
    â€œOf course not,” said Astra, stepping aside. She slid the door closed behind them.
    Cassie was so keyed up she was practically vibrating with nervous energy. She was certain that Astra would notice and get suspicious. But the girl turned back to her star ball game without another glance. Cassie looked around the room, which was both sporty and sleek, reflecting the personalities of the two roommates. It was her first visit to their room, and her eyes took in Astra’s side, with its star ball court and shelves lined with sporting equipment and startrophies of all shapes and sizes. The star ball game Astra was watching was playing on a screen that took up an entire wall. Clover’s side had an extra-high ceiling and was filled with musical instruments and some technical-looking machines. Cassie noted with interest a terrarium, lush and green, built right into the floor.
    â€œThat’s Stellar School playing Comet Prep a couple of weeks ago,” said Astra, her eyes never leaving the screen. “We’re playing Stellar on Bopday. They’re really good, so I’m watching a holo-vid of their last couple of games to get some pointers on how to approach the game.”
    Cassie nodded. Sounded good.
    â€œJust let me watch this last play and I’m all yours,” said Astra.
    â€œVALENCIA DODGES THE ONCOMING CENTER AND PIVOTS. SHE JUMPS! SHE SHOOTS! SHE SCORES!” the announcer shouted. The crowd went wild. Astra turned back to Cassie. “This game is over,” she said, even though Comet Prep now had the ball. “It’s all over but the sparkling.”
    â€œOh,” said Cassie, not understanding.
    â€œThere’s not enough time left for them to tie,” Astra explained. “So how can I help you?” she asked, cradling the star ball in the crook of her arm as if it was a baby.
    Cassie wandered to the vase of glittery flowers, which never faded or lost their bloom, sitting on a table right between the two girls’ sides of the room. She thought she’d try the direct approach one more time. “You know we all got these flowers, right?” she began.
    Astra nodded distractedly.
    â€œWell, Vega and I took one of the bouquets to the botany lab and found out that they are full of negative energy. Like off the charts. They were grown on the Isle of Misera. Everyone has gotten rid of their flowers but you. We think they are causing you and Clover to fight all the time.” She paused to gauge Astra’s reaction.
    â€œThat’s ridiculous,” Astra laughed. “They’re so beautiful. And they smell so amazing. Like florafierces.” She laughed again. “Though that crazy roommate of mine thinks they smell just like purple piphanies.”
    Cassie sighed. The