The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond Read Online Free

head and was about to leave when I asked her, “Where do dreams come from?”
    â€œSometimes a secret wish or the inner mind’s way of working out something from the subconscious,” she replied.
    â€œDeeper than our real thoughts?”
    â€œYes. Are you having bad dreams, V?” Mom asked.
    â€œNo, but I had a very cool one.” The look she gave me told me she wanted me to keep on talking, so I did. “We were on vacation . . . me, you, Daisy . . .” I hesitated. “And my dad. In the dream, he hugged me. We were a real family. So I suppose my inner mind knows my wishes.”
    â€œA real family?” she asked.
    â€œWith a dad and a mom. Like Yaz and Athena have.”
    â€œReal families come in many shapes, Violet, you know that.”
    â€œI know. I just wish he didn’t die.”
    Mom’s face turned sad. “I wish that, too, Violet.”
    â€œBut it wasn’t a sad dream. It was the best dream I ever had. I even wrote it down in my word and wish journal under a new section.”
    â€œIt’s important for you to understand that some wishes can’t come true, Violet, no matter what,” she told me.
    â€œI know.”
    â€œAnd others can. Like Hazel,” she said as she stroked the kitten. “And sometimes, a wish combined with hard work can make it a reality. Like when I was a girl, I wished I could be a doctor, but then I worked hard to make that wish come true. You understand?”
    â€œI really do.”
    â€œI’m glad. Love you. Good night,” she said. But before she closed my door, she added, “I have the two best daughters in the world . . . wouldn’t change either of you for anything. Don’t stay up too late.”
    â€œI won’t,” I promised.
    I showered, climbed into bed, and snuggled Hazel. “I finally got a wish,” I said to the sky.

6
A BEGINNING
    T he day I found Hazel was the day I began to believe that some wishes can come true.
    Now, I still make wishes, but only for things that I figure are possible, because I don’t ever want to go back to thinking that wishing is a waste of time. But like Mom says, sometimes you have to work to make your wishes come true.
    Like wishing I could do a perfect Axel at the ice skating rink, and I practiced over and over again until finally one day I did.
    â€œNow try a double,” my friend Yaz encouraged me.
    Yaz has light brown skin, braided hair, and six freckles on each cheek. I know because I counted them. Yaz is constantly giving me skin and hair care advice. Stuff my mom spent a lot of online time trying to help me with, but until I told her about Yaz’s recommendations, I hadn’t been successful. Now, thanks to Yaz, instead of tangles and frizz, my curls are soft and bouncy and my skin is never ashy.
    We really don’t look alike, but because we’re both black, when people see us together, they assume we’re sisters. But by now, just like no one thinking Daisy is my sister, I’m used to most people thinking Yaz is. And sometimes when I’m with her and her mom, dad, brother, and sister, people think I belong to them. I would never tell anyone, but I have to admit, sometimes that feels nice.
    Yaz plans to be the first African American female to get an ice skating gold medal at the Olympics, and ice skating is her world. For me, ice skating is fun—a small piece of my pie-of-life. Plus, I like to be warm and cozy a little too much to hang out at the rink every day.
    â€œI can’t do a double.”
    â€œWatch me, it’s easy,” she said.
    My eyes followed Yaz as she glided on the ice, vaulted over the toe pick of her left skate, and stepped up into the jump with her right leg. Once Yaz starts, she’s unstoppable. She uncrossed her legs on the perfect landing, grinned, and skated toward me.
    â€œYou can do it, V, just try once.”
    â€œI’m proud of the