Ella, age 15, responds to Deanne Wortman

                                                           Shop Windows

I wish Mr. O’Reilly would turn me on. I want to see the little kids run up on their way to school just to watch the cartoons I display. I want to make the adults, always rushing, stop for a second when they see what happened in Washington DC today. I want the elderly lady to see the perfect present for her grandchild who never visits anymore, something only the TV shopping network could give her.

I hope that little kid takes good care of me. I hope he feeds me the good expensive food that I never get. I hope he loves me more than his last fish. I hope I live longer than the last fish too. I hope he gives me toys and can never sit still in his last class until the bell rings and he comes home to me.

Wait.

I changed my mind.

I hope the bag breaks right over the gutter, and I also hope I swim through the sewers and into the real water, all the way home.     

 (Purple Angel Fish 10$ at West Pet Store)

I can’t wait to see my first house. I’ve always wondered what it feels like to be placed down, and stay still without getting moved every month. I can’t wait for the newlyweds to come in, pass the other sofas and see me. I can’t wait to see their eyes light up, and their hands feel how soft I am. I can’t wait to ride in a truck with tables and chairs and lamps. I can’t wait to be part of a home forever.

Why doesn’t anyone notice me? I am very bland, and small, but nobody bothers to come in. Nobody knows. Nobody knows how yummy my dumplings and stir fry are. Nobody knows how hard Mrs. Li works to make the food every day. Nobody knows that the food they don’t buy prevents their kids from playing the violin and getting presents at Christmas. Sometimes I wish Mr. Li would just close me and get an office job. But in the mean time I’ll try to get people to come in.