The Second Wish
Just before dawn, a comet swept across the sky. Its long, glowing tail reminded Erich of someone who was, at that very moment, curled up asleep on the couch.
The sunbeams once again failed to break through the heavy blanket of clouds above—just as they had every other day—and that, more than anything, annoyed Erich.
He was locked in a desperate battle with his alarm clock, and losing badly. His groggy complaints were drowned out by its relentless ringing. And then, as if to make things worse, Pobbi leapt onto the bed and began padding around on his feet with soft, insistent paws.
"Okay, okay, I get it. You've all turned against me and want me to be the smartest kid alive. I'm up, I'm going, I'm learning," he mumbled, dragging himself out of his pajamas and into school clothes without even looking. Then came the routine he knew better than any poem: washing up, brushing teeth, all the boring daily stuff.
"Wait!" He nearly smacked his forehead. "Today isn't just a regular day. It's practically a holiday! Nibi's walking me to school! That means today won't be boring at all."
A brilliant plan immediately formed in his head: skip the main road where the school bus picked him up and walk to town instead. It would take longer, sure—he might even miss the first class—but so what? How often do you get to crunch through autumn leaves with a guest from the sky?
And Nibi? She didn't seem to notice the gloomy sky, the thick clouds, or the rude, biting wind. Instead, she raced through the leaves, kicking them into heaps and showering herself in her own handmade "rose petals."
Eventually, Erich couldn't resist. He hurled himself into the giant pile she'd built, landing right beside her.
They lay there together, staring up at herds of dark clouds galloping across the heavens, rumbling faintly as they went. The fallen leaves gave off a spicy, heady scent that tickled Erich's nose and made him sneeze several times. But overall, the smell was wonderful, and lying there felt even better—except it was cold. He shivered, pulling his shoulders up, and glanced at carefree Nibi in bewilderment.
She didn't feel the chill at all. Dressed in a gray vest, dark pants like ordinary jeans, and platform boots, she looked perfectly at ease. Erich thought to himself he'd wear boots like that too—if only he knew where to buy them.
Two little birds hopped past them. They had decided not to migrate south, choosing instead to stay home rather than trade it for the long road of wandering. Erich sighed, thinking of Pobbi, who had to stay behind as always. No one had invented math lessons for dogs yet. But someone really should.
"What are you thinking about?" he finally asked, breaking the long silence. Maybe he shouldn't have. Maybe it was enough just to lie there in wordless comfort, looking at the familiar world that suddenly seemed so different—mysterious, incomprehensible, and therefore twice as enchanting.
The valley where his house stood no longer seemed like just a place by the forest. It felt like a hidden continent, cut off from the world, where lived not heroes, but—
"Eternal wanderers," whispered Nibi. "No, I didn't read your thoughts. I understood you anyway. Only I fly with my body, and you—your dreams chase after me, sometimes even racing ahead."
"So where are you from, really, Nibi?" the boy tried once more.
"From here. Right here." She patted the solid ground, then sprang to her feet, bouncing lightly on her platform boots. "Enough lying around. The customs of your world demand knowledge through schools, institutes, things like that. You could live without them, but around here—they're part of your human community. And without that, you'd struggle."
"How do you get by without any of it?" Erich blurted, awkward and instantly regretting the question. Nibi's face darkened for a moment, and she answered reluctantly.
"Lats isn't my only companion. There's always another beside me…"
"Me?" the boy asked hopefully.
"Loneliness." Was it the wind rustling through the yellow leaves, or was it truly Nibi's voice, suddenly heavy with sadness?
The conversation fizzled out after that, and they walked the rest of the way in silence. Picking up their pace, they nearly ran to their destination. The school sat at the very edge of town, which meant they didn't have to race through all the little streets to get there.
The building itself didn't tower over the others or look special. It blended in, like a cousin to all the other squat houses around. There weren't many people in town, and so there weren't many kids who needed schooling, either.
Adjusting his backpack, Erich suddenly remembered he'd forgotten to grab the lunch his mom had packed. Too late now. More important was giving Nibi a grand tour inside. He was already rehearsing how he'd point out the lobby, the honor roll board (where he was absolutely sure his picture would be one day!) when he heard a whistle from around the corner.
Four kids were waiting there—and trouble usually followed them. Erich hated admitting it, but he never knew how to answer back when they teased him. Especially since they were older, bigger, and stronger. They were already in the final grade, but still never missed a chance to needle "Big Er."
That was the nickname they'd slapped on him, mocking his scrawny frame. The worst part? It stuck. In a small town, nicknames spread fast… even his own mom sometimes called him that now! He hated it, but didn't know how to shake it.
And yet, as always, his legs carried him straight toward the group. Judging by the smirk on Maris's face—and his sister Mary's too—they were already cooking up trouble.
Maris opened his famous mouth, the one with a missing tooth. He bragged it had been knocked out in a brawl with nearly the whole neighboring town. Erich, though, was pretty sure it had just rotted away from not brushing. Either way, Maris wore it like a badge of honor, even using the gap to whistle louder.
Mary had two huge moles on her cheeks. Erich actually liked them—they softened her scowling face and made her look almost kind. The other two kids, a boy and a girl, didn't matter much. He didn't even know their names; they just laughed at whatever Maris and Mary said.
"Do I need to get ready?" Nibi asked quietly as they drew near.
"Yeah… but don't worry. They're not really mean. They just don't see the sky the way we do. And you—you can actually fly in it. That makes you three times happier than all of them put together."
"What are you mumbling about, Big Er?" Maris sneered, then snorted with laughter. "Let me guess—you're rambling about tree branches again, or which bug is prettier. You're such a dork!"
The whole crew burst into laughter. Mary added her spice:
"Look who he's got with him! Usually it's just his dumb, flea-bitten dog, but now he's swapped it out for this… What, did even your mutt get tired of you?"
"No, no!" her brother cut in, twirling a finger at his temple. "That is his dog! He just turned it into a person. Look—same weird look on her face."
"You're right—spitting image! Even the tail sticks out. Turns out Big Er's a wizard, only with the lamest magic ever!"
All eyes locked on Nibi. She was hurriedly tucking her lats back into her jeans, but instead of blushing, her skin shimmered brighter, shifting colors like quicksilver. That had to mean she was embarrassed. She fixed her gaze on the brother and sister and asked sharply:
"Want me to turn back into a dog and bite your fingers?"
The four bullies blanched and staggered back a step. Nibi spun on her heel and strode off into the little park beside the school.
And Erich? He was frozen in place, throwing helpless glances between the suddenly silent bullies and the girl storming away.
What do I do? Why can't I say anything? I'm supposed to stand up for her. She's my guest!
The spell finally broke, and Erich bolted forward under the jeering cries of the bullies who had recovered and decided to get revenge for their scare. He ignored their nonsense, poured every ounce of himself into running, and sprinted faster than he ever had before.
But Nibi was gone.
His eyes darted wildly, scanning every detail around him. Then he spotted a figure behind a tangle of scraggly bushes and dying plants. Rushing over, he found Nibi sitting right on the bare ground, legs stretched out in front of her.
Suddenly, she laughed. A bright, ringing laugh. Erich flinched in surprise.
"Whoa! What's so funny?" he asked, baffled.
She explained, still smiling:
"I haven't figured out your emotions yet. I don't really know what to do when I'm sad. So far, I've only learned laughter. And honestly? I like it much better than tears."
That answer set Erich off. He doubled over, shaking with laughter.
"Ha-ha! You're right! Laughing really is way better than being sad. I should try your method sometime."
Nibi studied him thoughtfully and asked quietly:
"Why did they make fun of you… and me? Are we worse than they are?"
Without thinking, Erich answered straight from the heart:
"No. It's just… while they waste time messing around and hurting people, we'd rather sit on the cold ground and watch tree branches sway in the wind. They judge us by our clothes, but we judge the air—how cool and fresh it feels."
She lifted both hands, like she was trying to touch the air itself, and nodded.
"It really is… invigorating."
"And this rock poking into my back? Ice cold and sharp. I don't like that one nearly as much," he complained sincerely, then burst out laughing again. His co-laugher couldn't help but join in.
"You know what…" He suddenly jumped to his feet, puffing out his chest. "Mom's totally gonna scold me, but let's skip school today! I mean, I'll skip it—you don't need it in space anyway. Let's go to the place I always visit when I'm sad and want to be with someone who understands me."
"Interesting! Let's do it," Nibi agreed. And so they set off once more on foot, the day's walking already starting to feel natural. Somehow their legs never got tired. Digging in his backpack, Erich discovered two bananas, already a little browned.
They shared a quick snack. Nibi loved it and admitted honestly that instead of turning into Pobbi, she'd much rather transform into a banana tree.
Their walk didn't last long—hardly anything in this little town was far away. Erich thought to himself: A small town with Big (though still small) Er and the cosmic Nibi.
They stepped onto a dirt road, pressed flat by the tracks of passing cars. On both sides stretched endless empty fields, not yet ready to grow anything. And in that wide expanse stood a single dry little tree, with a small portrait tied to its trunk.
The picture showed a man with thick eyebrows, messy hair, and mischievous eyes.
"His smile looks a lot like yours," Nibi observed.
"That's because it is my father. But you knew that already, didn't you? You always seem to know everything," Erich confirmed. He stepped closer, gently wiped the dust off the picture with his sleeve, then smiled just like his father—so the picture would smile back.
"I don't fully understand why he matters so much to you," Nibi said thoughtfully. "But I do understand that he—and your mom (that's her name, isn't it?)—are very close to you."
"The closest! The closest of all!" Erich burst out, embarrassed by how intense his own voice sounded. "You don't even know… it was right here, in this spot—he fell. The doctors said it was an aneurysm. I don't know what that is, and I don't even want to think about it.
"What matters to me is this: there's the place where he's buried (but I never go there, because he just lies there, and I want him walking with me—even if only in my thoughts), and then there's this place. Mom and I honor it, bringing flowers here every time."
"So why aren't there any flowers now?" Nibi asked, surprised.
"Because it's fall. I'd pick some if there were any growing, but you can see—nothing. Mom and I will go to the flower shop soon and get a fresh bouquet." Erich pulled an orange bead from his pocket and set it down at the edge of the little shrine. It was his father's favorite color. The bead rested there, swaying slightly, like a lone tear trembling at the edge of his eyelid.
Maybe Nibi hadn't learned human delicacy yet, because she shook him by the shoulders.
"Why are you sad? He's not here! His journey goes on. Just not here, and not with you."
"Really?!" At first, Erich felt like snapping at her, but instead hope leapt out of him. "Are you sure?!"
"Of course! Don't be silly. Everyone has their own path. Yours is short right now—from school to home. His? A huge adventure ahead."
Turning away, Erich wiped at his cheek in secret.
Enough. I've embarrassed myself enough already—frozen stiff while we were bullied, and now crying here, when I said this place calms me down.
Anger at himself bubbled up, and he blurted out:
"You know what? I shouldn't have brought you here. This was a mistake… let's just go home."
But Nibi didn't seem to hear. She leaned back against the trunk and softly began to sing.
He caught only one word—lats—and it jolted him like electricity.
"Wait! Your jeans aren't bulging anymore. Where's your… your lats?"
In her usual mysterious way, she answered:
"When I get very sad, it falls off. It's alive too, and it feels my pain. Back in the schoolyard, I felt sorrow, and it couldn't handle it—it detached. Lats knew it was powerless to help me. See? You're not the only one who feels things deeply. We're a lot alike."
"Maybe…" Erich muttered. "So… are we leaving?"
"Can I stay here a while? I want to sing. I like this part of human culture. I want to taste it the way I did tea and muffins."
"Okay. You remember how to get back?"
"I know how to get back up there—what you call the Cosmos—and I know how to get to your house." She spoke with steady seriousness. "I plan everything ahead."
Erich didn't know what to say. He just nodded awkwardly, shoved his hands in his pockets (why? it looked so dumb), and hurried off, leaving this newly minted singer behind.
Even though it was only two in the afternoon, a bright streak lit the sky, like a comet. But the boy, lost in thought, didn't even notice.