David John Steel - Destinys Dream: A Young Girls Coming of Age

Copyright 2015
The moral right of David Steel to be identified as the Author of the work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Creator: Steel David John, author.
Title: Destinys dream : a young girls comming of age / David Steel;
illustrated by Christopher Brunton.

ISBN: 978-0-9944086-0-0 (Paperback)
ISBN: 978-0-9944086-1-7 (ebook)
ISBN: 978-0-9944086-2-4 (Hard cover)
Target Audience: For secondary school age.
Subjects:. Bildungsromans.
Other Creators/Contributors: Brunton, Christopher, illustrator.
Dewey Number:.A823.4
Book Cover Design: by Christopher Brunton
Interior Design: Pickawoowoo Publishing Group
Publishers: Pickawoowoo Publishing Group
Printed & Channel Distribution
Lightning Source | Ingram (USA/UK/EUROPE/AUS)

For Destiny

Buttondrop the Maptoodoo came to earth astride a flaming comet on the eve of All Saints Day.

His mission: to help a 12-year-old girl named Destiny Drummond find her real family.

This time of year always seemed to be an important time for young people to seek their dreams. Perhaps it was the alignment of the planets, or the way the stars positioned themselves in the universe, or the special occasions families always celebrated, but each year there seemed to be a lot of activity in the dream world. And this event seemed so new every time Buttondrop visited.

Alighting easily from the celestial body, he straightened his coat and smiled. He wore a plain white, long-sleeved shirt and coat with full-length trousers, and on his face was a simple pair of circular spectacles. His head was adorned with a fine top hat. There was no fanfare on his arrival, no welcoming committee or brass band and speeches just himself, a staff and a small satchel he took with him everywhere, containing his reading glasses case, a small bottle of eucalyptus oil, a handkerchief, notebook, pen and two green apples. These few possessions served him well in all the missions he undertook, the apples in particular providing a handy snack or reward for the young people with whom he dealt. Each Wish-Master had his own personal items in a small carry-bag or pouch proving useful for all kinds of purposes.

Feeling his feet on solid ground, Buttondrop surveyed his surroundings ah yes, Hilltopia country, its undulating landscape was most familiar. Brushing off his coat, he positioned his carry case to one side and set forth along a path he was sure would take him to the town.

A brisk breeze snarled around Buttondrops legs as he strode purposefully along. Mmmmm. Destiny. Interesting name for a young girl, he thought. He had helped so many children in his long career, helped so many wishes come true. Being a Wish-Master had long been his calling, and he felt great joy in bringing smiles to young faces. Buttondrop was one of the Maptoodoo folk who lived on the planet Zenoth which was ruled by a High Council. Their sole purpose was working with dreams and providing guides for all types of people who were searching in their dreams for something important in their lives.

Buttondrop was a special emissary from his planet where many wonderful and varied beings lived. It enjoyed seasons like most other planets, a cycle of constant change in weather to which the Zenothians had adapted after eons of habitation there. Buttondrop himself was by nature a loner, and carried out his many missions alone, with the occasional help of friends and colleagues. The nature of his dream work was monitored closely by the High Council, and the many records and archives formed part of their great library, where stories of adventures and missions were recorded for future reference.

This mission seemed a little different, though.

From all initial accounts, Destinys arrival in Hilltopia had caused quite a stir among the locals. They were used to visitors coming in search of their dreams, of course, but it seemed this young girl had attracted the interest of many magical creatures and exotic personages.

What was all the fuss about, Buttondrop wondered?

The path soon flowed into a main road. Looking up, he marvelled at the canopy of stars sweeping across the sky. A waxing moon lit the way and the night air was filled with the sound of crickets and other scurrying nocturnal creatures.

Pausing to take a deep breath, Buttondrop refamiliarised himself with the lay of the land, and finding a roadside marker, set off in the direction of Hilloptia town. The marker was a simple granite slab with Hilltopia 5 miles etched into the stone.

No. No, I wont. You cant make me. Youre not my mother, Destiny yelled. Snatching a cup from the table, she hurled it against the wall, sending shards skipping across the kitchen floor.

Anita Hargreaves hurriedly grabbed a broom to clean up the mess, trying to calm the petulant young girl. We go through this every morning, Destiny. You have to go to school, thats what children do. Theres no point in making such a drama about it, the exasperated woman pleaded. And Im running out of things you can smash. Do you want to count how many cups I have left?

I dont like school. I dont like the other children. They tease me and call me names behind my back. I hate them.

Do you want me to talk to the teacher about this? Anita offered.

No. I wont go. I wont. With this Destiny drew up her hands to wipe tears from her eyes.

The two locked stares, but were interrupted by a knock at the door.

Morning, how are we today? Anne Hargreaves, Anitas mother, greeted the two cheerily. Each morning it was Anne who took Destiny to her school nearby.

My, what has been going on here?

Destiny is putting on quite a performance, I can tell you, Anita said, searching for some support from the visitor.

OK, whats going on, Anne demanded.

Destiny pouted and folded her arms, refusing to speak.

You know how it goes, Destiny, children go to school, thats their job. Theres no point quibbling about it. Now, come on, or well be late. Wheres her schoolbag?

Ive managed to get her to at least eat something. Over to you, Anita sighed.

Resigning herself to the situation, Destiny wheeled herself to the front door without saying goodbye.

Anita pulled her mother aside, out of earshot of Destiny.

She keeps telling me we are not her real family. I dont know where shes getting this from, maybe from school. Im at a loss what to do.