A young boy writes down his wishes for the coming New Year's.
Hi. It's me, Johnny. I just turned 11 last Friday, only five days ago. I have some New Year's wishes that I would like to share with you.
First of all, I would like 2004 be full of peace and hope, and I would like to see the threat of terrorism go away. Terrorism is evil, and it is something that needs to be dealt with and STOPPED. (I lost a friend in the terror attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001, and I still have nightmares because of it.)
Secondly, I would like to see people learn to get along, no matter what they may believe in or where they live. There is too much in the way of hatred and killing and wars going on, and this world is getting to be an awfully scary place, especially to a kid like me.
Thirdly, I would love to have just ONE day where I don't have to worry about my health. Every single day, I am reminded of my muscular dystrophy, and it is getting harder and harder for me to do things; and right now, I feel sad because next year I will be 12 years old, and that only means it will be that much closer before I die. The doctors don't think I will live to become a teenager, and frankly, I am sad because I am not ready to die yet, and it looks like the end is coming, and I don't WANT to go just yet! I am just a little kid, and I have so much in the way of living to do! I would love it if they could find a cure for my muscular dystrophy or ALL neuromuscular diseases, or diseases like cancer, diabetes, or even AIDS. There are too many people in the world who are suffering, and they need our help while they are still living!
Fourth of all, I would love to see my family be happy. Mommy worries too much about us kids, and she also has to work so she can pay the bills; and daddy works hard too; and that makes me sad because they aren't healthy themselves, and I don't know what I would do if they should happen to get sick or have a heart attack or something. I am scared to think what would happen to us kids if our parents were to die on us; would we end up being separated or end up in orphanages or in foster care?? I would love to see my mommy or daddy win the lottery; that way, if they won, they would have money, and they wouldn't have to worry about things like bills or getting us medical care that they can afford!
Another thing I would love to see happen in 2004 is for my school work to continue to improve. I used to have a lot of trouble in school, and at times school is STILL tough, and it is frustrating when the kids in my class learn faster than me, and then I have to fight like hell to try to keep up! I also hate it when the kids tease me and laugh at me if I accidentally give out the wrong answer or have a seizure in class. That is so humiliating when kids in my class call me "Jerky Johnny" or "Seizure Boy"; I bet they wouldn't like it if they had to go through what I do and then I tease THEM! That isn't right! I don't tease them; WHY, then, should they always tease ME??
For New Year's Eve I will probably just go to bed; I always do. There's not much on television on New Year's Eve that is for kids, and besides, I usually end up falling asleep long before midnight. I have never seen the New Year come in, and I don't think I ever will. (What exactly DOES happen when the New Year DOES come?? Does the sky light up or something, or is there a big booming noise, or WHAT? Does the lights go out momentarily, or does the sky rain confetti and everyone blows on their noisemakers to welcome the New Year?? Does the New Year come in on a sleigh like Santa Claus, or does the New Year come in looking like a giant baby or something??)
On that note, before I go, I want to wish all my family and my friends a very happy New Year's; and I hope it's your best year EVER! (I gotta' go clean my room; it's a mess; and mom doesn't want a dirty house for the New Year. She says if the house is dirty on New Year's, then it will be dirty all year, and I don't want that!)
Nice story Karen, the last paragraph really hit home because my wife and I haven't cleaned a thing but the kitchen and dining room. Looks like curtains for the rest of the year. love and peace G
Christmas - only days away; plastic snowmen and glowing reindeer adorn the lawns of neighborhoods all across America. All is calm, all is bright, and yet there is something tragically wrong about this Christmas night.
With swift passage thr
