The Luna Choosing Game

Charlotte and I scoured through some magazines, looking at design ideas for new gowns for the Second

Ball.

Since us candidates needed to conceal our true identities as part of the challenge, Elva and I couldn’t match this time. Therefore, every time we saw a cute kids‘ costume, I showed Elva to see if she cared for

We passed by several options. An owl with lots of feathers. A baby seal with pearly white fur trim. A

chameleon with shimmering fabric that changed colors in different lighting.

Finally, halfway through the third magazine, I stopped at a particular striking gown. It was a butterfly

design, bold and beautiful with wings and an assortment of colors.

“Look at this one.” I turned the magazine to Charlotte, who immediately perked upon seeing it.

“Wow! That’s gorgeous!”

With a butterfly, I liked the theme of rebirth. It felt fitting somehow, to go from my old life as a lowly

caterpillar to someone who could dare to dream of flying among the star–like princes.

Someday soon, I would have to transition again back into a butterfly. But for now, I could don my 1

and fly. 1

wings

said, pointing to the many seams of the gown.

of smaller fabric swatches, all sewn together like a stain–glass–mirror

done well on the previous gowns we’ve made. Plus we have

The only thing we would need is some wire for the wings, but I’m sure

some from around her

I earmarked the page and we set that magazine aside. Instead, we began to more adamantly search for Elva’s design. So far, she

of the cat costume, she sighed. “Why would I be a cat, Mommy? I

Then we poured through the

faux–fur trimmed dress with a mask in the

face.

She grabbed the magazine from my hands and held it

This one,

magazine again,

and the patterns,

fur,” Charlotte said.

covered in all our remnants. “We’d have to

and with my luck, I wasn’t sure we would

I said, tapping my

where Mark was diligently

the matter, Piper?”

just wondering if I could go shopping. We need some