The day finally landed… Mother and daughter day. Since this day was planned, Casey hasn't liked the idea of being girly and dressing up. She follows it for her mother's sake. Casey headed into the living room where Sally was sat waiting excitedly with her friends and daughters. As Casey entered the room, Rob her father pulled her aside.
"I don't understand your mindset but just be a normal girl today. No tomboy ok?" Rob pushed as Casey looked to the floor.
"Sure dad…" Casey mumbled as she pushed past him.
As Casey approached everyone sat in the living room they immediately looked to her like she was some sort of alien. Casey looked around to everyone then looked to the floor, she began to feel out of place.
"Casey, sweetie… let's go upstairs." Sally said as she stood from the chair.
Sally placed her hand onto Casey's back, slowly guiding her towards the stairs. As they left, Casey couldn't help but look at everyone sat in the living room behind her. They began to whisper and talk quietly.
As Casey and Sally reached the top of the stairs, Sally headed straight to hers and Rob's bedroom. Casey stood outside the door, she waited to see what her mother was up to. It didn't take Sally long to get Casey from outside the bedroom.
"Case? Come on in." Sally said as she propped the door open.
Casey hesitantly entered the bedroom. As she stepped in Sally closed the door quietly. She wandered past Casey towards the bed where laid two outfits. Not what Casey would usually wear. Casey just stared at the outfits before her. Sally picked up the first outfit which was a fitted pastel blue dress. Casey scrunched her face up in disgust.
"You have to pick one Case," Sally started as she picked up the other outfit. The other outfit was a more skater type dress, black with long lace sleeves.
"Neither." Casey spluttered as she turned to sit onto the bed.
Sally placed the black dress onto the bed and walked over to stand in front of Casey. She lifted the pastel blue dress up before her. Casey narrowed her eyes and folded her arms as she looked at the dress.
"Ok, you're wearing this one then." Sally said as she held the dress out to Casey. "The shoes are the white thick heels on the floor next to the bed." She continued as Casey carefully pulled it from her grip.
Sally headed out the bedroom and closed the door behind her. Casey lifted the dress and sighed. Next to the other dress on the bed was a white lace short top and black wet look high waist leggings. Casey looked at them then back to the dress. She immediately threw the dress onto the bed and began to get changed into the top and leggings.
Meanwhile whilst Casey was getting ready Sally stood in the living room with everyone. Leonie the daughter of Sally's best friend Beth stood from the couch.
"I'll head up and see if Case needs any help." She said as she made her way to the door.
Casey stood and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She began to feel embarrassed, out of place. This isn't what she likes to dress in. Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"Case, it's Leonie." Leonie said from outside the door.
"Come in…" Casey replied as she continued to look at herself in the mirror.
Leonie walked in and looked to Casey. She could see that she wasn't comfortable. She wandered over to her and placed her hand upon Casey's shoulder.
"I don't understand what's going on but you look amazing…" Leonie whispered with a smile as she looked into the mirror with Casey.
"Can you help me?" Casey asked as she turned to look at Leonie. Leonie smiled.
"Sure."
Half an hour later Leonie opened the living room door with a huge grin upon her face. Everyone stood and looked at her. Then, behind her came Casey. She looked unrecognizable her long blonde hair was curled, full makeup and eyelashes. Everyone looked at her in shock.
"Casey… you look… beautiful…" Sally stuttered as she looked in amazement.
"Thanks, mom…" Casey replied as she looked to the floor.
Everyone grabbed their purses and stood up. All Casey could think about was that her mother called her beautiful, she had never heard her mother say them very words before. Outside waiting for the group was a party bus. It seemed the more the day went on the more Casey had enough of pretending. They all climbed onto the party bus one by one. Each one of them smiling and laughing. Casey was the last to get on board the bus. Suddenly, Sally pulled Casey aside.
"Try and enjoy yourself… smile… it won't kill you." Sally said as she let go of Casey's arm.
As Sally walked away to join the others Casey pulled a drink from the bag.
They arrived at the venue. One by one everyone climbed from the party bus. Again, Casey was the last to get off. She tried her hardest to concentrate on walking in the heels she was in. Everyone made their way to the main bar to order a drink. As Casey slowly approached her mother turned to her and handed her what looked like a small glass of cola. Casey took the drink and made her way outside.
"I really don't want to be here…" Casey huffed as she sat down on a picnic table whilst stirring her drink with her straw.
A lady appeared behind her. She seemed friendly and was smiling as she sat on the bench with Casey.
"What is a pretty lady like yourself doing out here alone?" She asked as she rested her elbows onto the table facing Casey.
Casey looked up and smiled a little. She then looked back down to her drink and continued to stir it.
"I'm not a party person…" She replied bluntly. The lady smiled and leaned towards Casey.
"If you could have one wish…, what would it be?" The lady asked.
Casey laughed and pushed her drink aside. She looked up to the lady sat before her. The lady seemed like she was a staff member from the hotel they're at.
"One wish… to be male. I hate my body, I hate dressing girly, I hate everything about myself." Casey exploded.
The lady smiled a little. "But you're such a beautiful girl…"
"I hate hearing that!" Casey cried as she stood from the table.
Behind her, Leonie was approaching her. When she looked where the lady was, she was gone.
"Are you coming inside?" Leonie asked as she stood next to Casey.
Casey began to look around her trying to figure out where the lady had disappeared to. But there was no sign of her.
"Casey!"
Casey turned to Leonie. "I'll be inside in a minute."
Leonie left and Casey took a final look around before noticing a note on the bench. The note was folded in half and had Casey's name at the front. Casey gently picked it up and opened it. The note read:
"Wishing hard would work for that wish of yours. You need to picture it being possible in your mind, if you can think of what you want to change… it will happen."
Casey narrowed her eyes at the note then folded it in half again. She slipped it into her purse and headed back into the hotel.
With her head down and walking quickly inside, Casey didn't notice the hotel lady holding a tray of plates and cutlery. Suddenly, they collided into each other causing the tray to fall onto the floor.
"Oh my God!" Casey panicked as she crouched to the floor quickly helping pick up the broken plates.
"Its ok darling, I've got it." The lady said as she crouched down to help.
Casey looked up and noticed it was the lady who left the note outside for her. She continued to put everything into a pile on the tray between them. The lady then picked up the tray and smiled to Casey.
"I heard if you see a shooting star and make a wish it will come true." The lady said as she turned to walk away.
Casey watched the lady as she left.