Never Grow Up

a bouquet of balloons and a parrot sat perched on his shoulder. And he had a mustache and glasses.
She was still thinking about that silly picture the next day at gymnastics, as she stood in line for the balance beam.
“Ashley. You’re up!” Coach Beth called out.
“Oh… sorry.” She stepped forward and took a deep breath. The balance beam stretched out in front of her. It was the only thing in gymnastics she hadn’t quite conquered. She could do a cartwheel, and somersaults, and the bear crawl and the splits. But every time she stepped up to the balance beam, she got nervous. Or she got more excited about the foam pit.
But not today.
Ashley knew that she needed to get across. That she would get across. She stepped onto the beam and felt her ankles wiggle. She closed her eyes and exhaled. She took one step, and then another.
“Good girl, Ash. Keep going,” Coach Beth yelled from the other side.
Suddenly the balance beam felt like life itself. With every step, she could feel herself getting older. Just grow up, people kept saying. Act your age. Ashley took another step and she could see herself finishing elementary school. Step. Step. She was figuring out middle school and then navigating high school.
Another step.
Here she was, growing up too fast. She needed to find a way to Neverland. Help, she called out inside herself. I don’t want to grow up this fast. Someone stop the clock!
She stopped midbeam. She looked one way, then the other. A wobble started, but this time she caught herself. She wasn’t getting older with every step. That wasn’t true. She was a fifth-grade girl trying to cross the balance beam without falling.
An idea came to her! Suddenly the pit wasn’t foam pieces. It was choppy, windy ocean water! And the balance beam was Captain Hook’s plank! Of course it was, because she was Wendy! And maybe if she made it all the way across she would be in Neverland!
Maybe this was the way there!
You can do this, she told herself. She had walked the plank every day in Mr. Garrett’s class during play rehearsal. This was no different. Ashley bent her knees and took another step. And another. One step at a time… until…
She jumped off the beam to the floor on the other side and raised both hands. She had done it! She had crossed the balance beam without falling.
“Hooray! You did it!” Marsha, her neighbor friend, greeted Ashley on the other side. She clapped and cheered along with the others on Ashley’s team.
Ashley had conquered the balance beam and it was the best feeling ever. She jumped around with Marsha and walked it three more times before gymnastics was over. And no one ever knew that every time she crossed it, she wasn’t walking the balance beam at all. No. She was walking Captain Hook’s plank.
There was only one problem.
She still hadn’t found a way to Neverland.

17
Under the Sea
KARI
Ms. Nan’s entire class was buzzing for one reason.
Today the outlines for their essays were due. Kari couldn’t believe how happy her classmates were. Even Mandy and Liza. Apparently everyone knew what they wanted to be when they grew up.
Everyone but her.
Kari listened to Ms. Nan once more explain the format of an outline: introduction, three supporting points, and a closing. “We’ve been talking about this for more than a month.” She glanced around the class. “I’m sure most of you have your outline completed by now. In case you don’t, I’ll give you the next hour to get something on paper.”
Ms. Nan had to approve their outlines before they could move on to writing. Kari sat back hard in her seat. The blankest piece of paper in all the world sat on her desk. She used the first ten minutes to write in her journal instead.
Dear God,
I need a lot of help down here. I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up, but the outline is due today! In 55 minutes! I knew that, of course. And still… nothing! This assignment has been stress in my head ever since Ms. Nan brought it up. What I’m saying is, please, could You help me?
Thanks!
Love, KB
P.S. Four days till the meteor shower!
They were allowed to walk around and chat with their neighbors during the outline time. “Sharing ideas creates more ideas,” Ms. Nan always said.
Just then Kari felt a tap on her shoulder.
“Hey.” Liza leaned over. “Your paper is empty.” She grinned. “Being nothing might sound fun, but I don’t think it’s an option.”
“Thanks, Liza.” Kari tapped her pencil on her desk. “I actually think you might be onto something.” She laughed and some of her stress melted away. “Being nothing could probably be my answer. I’d be good at it, I believe.”
“You could try.” Liza giggled. Then she looked at Kari’s blank page again. “You really can’t think of anything?”
Kari shook her head. “Nope.” She blew a piece of hair out of her face. “Going to my dad’s work didn’t even help.”
“Yeah.” Liza sighed. “Me either. My mom is a banker… boring!” She gave a thumbs-down.
“So what did you put?” Kari rested her cheek on the desk.
“Law school.” Liza looked proud of herself. “My dad says I’m smart enough.” She stood and paced the aisle between their desks. “I can already see myself giving closing arguments.”
“Arguments?” Kari didn’t understand. “You’re going to argue for a living?”
Liza laughed. “Something like that.”
That didn’t sound fun at all. Kari’s shoulders slumped.
“Oh, Kari.” Liza shrugged. “It’s okay. You’re good at lots of things.”
Mandy skipped over. “What are we talking about?”
“Our friend here doesn’t know what she wants to do when she grows up.” Liza stood at Kari’s side and patted her head.
“I’m definitely considering being nothing.” Kari didn’t break a smile this time.
“It’s okay not to know, Kari.” Mandy nodded. “That’s why we try new things.”
“But I have to know now.” Time was running out. Kari could feel tears