"The Boy and the Star," by Kaitlyn McNamee

Leo ran quickly across the vast field behind his parents’ house, propelling his small limbs  forward as fast as he could, determined to get to the proper spot before nightfall. He had been  tracking it for days and hoped tonight would finally be the night that his equipment was placed  accurately. Ever since his mother read him the tales of the ancient stars, he has been determined  to meet one for himself. Since the night Leo first spotted one, he would trace the living star’s movement as it floated languidly, bouncing and twirling through the viscous sky. He would often  get caught up in the night’s painting, which is why his calculations have been off (and his knees  scabby). 

Tonight, his destination was a small clearing in the woods across the field. He had set up  his catapult there earlier that day on the bank of the small pond in the center of the clearing. As  Leo approached his destination, he took in his surroundings and skipped toward his catapult, ensuring his equipment was prepared properly. His father had helped him build it as he always  embraced the boy’s adventures with enthusiasm. Looking back toward the sky, Leo observed the  placement of the star he had been tracking and praised his luck; it was almost directly in front of  his catapult’s path! Excitedly, Leo picked up his weighted net from the ground near the base of  the catapult and loaded it into the catapult’s bucket before using his own weight to pull back the  arm of the device, crouching as he aimed. As he adjusted his aim, the star’s clear blue center pulsed while it danced directly into his desired path, its yellow edges radiating around it. In an  attempt to set his mind at ease, Leo inhaled deeply before steeling himself as he exhaled and  launched the weighted net into the air, releasing all the tension in the catapult and in his body simultaneously. He felt his heart race in anticipation as he observed the net’s journey toward the  star, racing forward himself as the net got closer and closer to his target. As he watched the net  make direct contact with the living star, he stumbled, falling quickly without hesitation.

Picking himself back up, he watched the star fall straight down, encapsulated by the net. It landed directly in front of the boy, stopping him suddenly in his tracks. The star continued  to bounce around softly despite being tangled in the net, and Leo slowly approached it. As he  gazed down at the star, he felt himself become warm; the star’s aura surrounding him. Feeling  torn, he quickly squatted down and tore away at the black tendrils in front of him, freeing the star from the netting. 

The star leapt a few feet into the air before circling the boy in excitement, twirling and  bouncing around him, as if it were thanking him. Leo was filled with a sense of amusement and  reached out to the star gently as it prodded him similarly to his household cat rubbing herself on  his legs. Each touch would bring a new positive emotion, and Leo’s mind began to fill with  scenes and experiences from centuries of humans before him, ranging from weddings and feasts to a simple embrace in a time of loss. A few minutes later, the star stopped its embrace in favor  of floating idly in front of the boy, allowing him to process what he saw and what he felt. The  boy’s eyes gleamed with the newfound knowledge and a newfound determination.  

Knowing the boy needed her no further, the living star led the boy back to the pond  where his catapult was, giving Leo one final embrace before returning back to her place in the night sky. Upon his arrival home, Leo was pulled excitedly into the den by his parents who had  already prepared hot cocoa for his arrival and were ready to hear about his adventure. For the next hour or so, Leo eagerly recounted his journey and told his parents all about what the star  showed him and what he had both felt and learned. As he wrapped up his story, his speech  slowed down more and more until it flattened out into rhythmic, restful breathing.