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Wishes

December 8, 060

Dear Santa Clam,

I'm not sure I believe in you anymore, but I don't knoho else to ask, so I hope you're not just imajinary like daddy says I'm in the hospital, but don't worry, I don't want you to use up yourand said I'd walk again You know the Psy don't have feelings I think thatnurse—the one that can shapeshift into a deer—she told me with rebuilt rehab, I'd be o k

The reason I' to you is because I'm lonely Don't tell my mom, ok ? She comes to see me but she's always so sad She looks at irl anymore And my daddy doesn't visit me He never paid any utenl attention to me anyways, but it still makes my heart hurt

I know you can't , since you're majick, do you think you could send me a friend? Someone fun anted to be with led up The kids here are nice, but they all go home after a little while It would be wonderful to have someone as mine, someone who didn't have to leave

My friend can be hu I won't mind Maybe you could find soether? I pros, and I'll let her (or even a boy) choose the games we play

I think that's all Thanks for lisening

Annie

ps I don't ive me any other presents at all

pps I'really hard to catch up with the hospital's computer tutor

Chapter 1

Annie looked up andat the child-sized desk in front of her own, arlared at her, the fury of his leopard apparent in every line of his body Annie was used to teaching changeling children—a lot of DarkRiver kids came to this school, close as it was to their territory She was used to their affectionate natures, their occasional accidental shifts into leopard form, and even their shorter tempers when compared with those of human children What she was not used to was such blatant disobedience

"Bryan," she began, intending, once again, to try to get to the bottom of this

He shook his head, stuck out his chin "I' to anyone but Uncle Zach"