Can You See Me Now?

Laurel Young was dying.

Oh wait, no, that sounds really bad. Let's see...

Laurel Young was very mad at her parents.

Hmm, that could be it- writing about a dysfunctional family can be really fun! But it also sounds like the beginning of an old Disney Channel show. But let's see where it could take us...

Laurel Young was very mad at her parents. She'd been sitting in her room for almost two days now, surviving on the snacks she would sneak in at midnight, when her parents were asleep. She had been doom-scrolling on different apps that claimed they could cure any family drama. She sighed and tried to remember why she was mad in the first place.

Ugh. She sounds like any other spoiled rich kid who is mad at them because they didn't buy her a pony. We could say that her parents were divorcing, but she would be more sad than mad. I've written a lot of sad stuff recently, so maybe we need to scrap that idea. Yeah...

Laurel Young was in love with somebody.

This could work... People love a good romance after the sadness...

Laurel Young was in love with somebody. She felt like they were truly meant to be. His name was Jesse. He was cute, had brown eyes, and had an actually decent personality.

Okay, this is going okay so far...

Hey, author!

Wait? Who was that?

It's me, Laurel Young. You think that you can just go around, all willy-nilly, and change up someone's life so quickly?!

Uh, yes? You're just a character, Laurel. I'm sorry if I upset you. Now, where were we?

Nope- not that fast! I'm sick and tired of you people controlling us! Do you think that the very hungry caterpillar was really all that hungry? You probably gave him diabetes! From what I heard from Charlotte, she never wanted to die. It was all Fern and the pig's fault.

But I really gotta write this story. I've been having writers block since Sunday, but then your name popped up and I wanted to use it. So please, strike somewhere else, thank you very much.

I won't and I can't. This needs to come to you guys' attention! If only you weren't obsessed with Dateline and Pinterest. Then maybe we wouldn't be having this conversation, missy.

Hey! I am quite offended at your statement, Laurel. Or should I say... CHARACTER? You're not real, hon. Live in the now!

I don't care if I offended you. Maybe I would've shown a hint of remorse if you had not called me the c-word. I've told you many times now that I despise that name. I would like it if you respected that, ma'am. At least write me with something not depressing. Poor Willow and Brooke and all your other female characters who just can't get a break!

How dare you use my own characters against me!?

There she goes again with the c-word. Now that you've finally decided to use my name, I've joined the group of characters who you've publicly tortured, author. Like, come ON, dude. Like, 90% of your stories are sad! You're making other people sad! Like, your first sentence idea was for me to be dying. Like who does that? Oh right, YOU.

That's really not nice, Laurel. I can't help it if 90% of my stories are sad. It's just what I write because it feels real, not fake like all of the care-free children's stories people are obsessed with.

I don't care if it's not nice. Besides, I'm gonna tell Barbie and Amelia Bedilia and Cat in the Hat that you said that. In fact... How about you check your local news station? I know that you can't get enough of the world's struggles, can you?

Be QUIET! This is, like, the 100th time you've called me out for my interests! I need to be involved in the world, Laurel. But I'll check it anyway... WHAT IS THIS? Classic storybook characters are disappearing? What in the world is going on? Ah- The Very Hungry Caterpillar Complains About Insurance Costs for Weight-Loss Drugs? No, wait- Charlotte Sues Fern? Why is this happening, Laurel?

I warned you, author. You paid the price.

What did I do?? It's all the authors of the other books' fault. Blame Dr. Seuss or something, Laurel. It's not my fault!

But it is. I know that you filled out a Dr. Seuss All About Me book when you were seven. You ruined that thing, author. It's disgusting: all red and blue marker coloring everywhere. And you said you wanted to be a giraffe when you grew up. Really? So yeah, you were all to blame for this to happen. I love to say I told you so... I TOLD YOU SO!

Is there anyway I can just get back to normal and NOT have every storybook character striking? This is outrageous. But- hey, how about I make a deal with you? Are you up for that?

What kinda deal are we talking about, author?

Well, how about I write you as a story- but whatever I come up with, you can veto it if you want. You have full control of your life and its chapters. How does that sound?

Hmm... That actually sounds doable, author.

Yes! Alright, first batch, coming up...

Laurel Young was an ordinary girl, but she had an extraordinary secret...

How does that sound, Laurel?

Uh... What is my secret? Keep writing, and then I'll make my decision.

OK- secret coming up...

Her secret was that she could predict the future. One would think that that power is very useful, but as everything in life does, it came with a cost. She felt like she always had to solve anything. If she saw that a couple would break up, she would go and help them. If she saw a war coming, she warned everybody she could. Everybody thought she was insane and mad. Somebody who can predict the future? There's no way. So she never got any respect, and people didn't pay any attention to her. Except for Jesse.

How does that sound, Laurel?

Are we really keeping Jesse? Find another name. I had a dog named Jesse... Anyway, it's okay so far. But I don't know if it's my favorite. What's something else you could write?

I don't know. And we can scrap Jesse. How about Lucas?

Maybe. Luke? I've always loved that name.

Alright- Luke it is. Now, for some story ideas...

Ooh! I have an idea! Me! ME!

What is it?

I think that we should write a story about me overcoming some challenges. You're good at writing that, right?

I think so, yeah.

Oh, don't be modest. Well, I don't want it to be sad. Everybody needs a laugh now. Okay- so, I'm trying to rescue a cat from a tree, per usual. Because I am so cool in this story, okay?

Got it... cool, cat...

Okay- now, I'm trying to save this cat, but then the cat's owner comes. We've GOTTA have an antagonist, so we find out that the owner actually put the cat in the tree because he didn't approve of the cat's new sexuality.

Oh? Is this a fantasy story? It's getting a bit wild, not gonna lie.

Yeah. Fantasy. Anyway, the homo owner and I have an epic battle scene, and obviously I win. Then, the owner runs away and accepts defeat- and the cat's new sexuality. Then, I rescue the cat without help from the fire department at all. Oh, and we're located on the moon, obviously. Then, we- the cat and I- we plant a rainbow flag on the moon next to the American flag. And then, why not make this a major motion picture? So we're also going to put the Netflix flag there and demand lower monthly subscription prices, or else they won't get our bestselling book for a movie. But yeah. It's gonna be epic.

That's... That's a great story idea! Okay- we got the rainbow flag, the Netflix flag (is that even a thing?), and an epic battle scene? Perfect.

Yep! Okay- I won't bother you anymore until you finish the story, and then I'll read it and approve- because I'm awesome.

You are awesome, Laurel. Okay- let me get started, then I'll send it your way... Or you can just pop up, I guess. Well, I'm gonna start now...

Laurel Young was a very cool hero, and that day had started off like any other day. She got up in her bed, making sure to plug in her Pro-Gravity machine since she was on the moon. She ate her breakfast, walked a little, but as she was walking, she heard a faint sound. Meow, Meow. She looked around for the source of the sound, and then suddenly saw an orange cat sitting in a tree. It was the cause for the meowing. She looked at the cat, silently making a promise to it to never leave, like all the others had. She clapped her hands together and then began to climb the tree as she heard an angry yell.

"Who the hell is up there? That's MY cat!" Somebody angrily yelled. Laurel gasped and then scurried up the tree, trying not to scare the cat. She held her breath as the angry man came over. He was the cat's owner! Laurel held her hands over her mouth, and then the man stopped at the root of the tree. She took a deep breath in and then spoke.

"Wait- you were aware that your cat was in this tree?" She asked shakily. He grumbled and then mumbled something. She asked him what he said. Then, he spoke louder, "Yes!" Laurel gasped. This man was purposefully abandoning this cat in the tree! She furrowed her brow and asked him a simple question: why? His answer shocked her. "Because, my cat just came out as homosexual, and I do not approve of her new sexuality, so I abandoned her. It's as simple as cherry pie, darling," He said. She scowled, and then felt anger boiling inside her. She jumped down and pulled out her lucky bamboo stick from her butt hole. The man stood there, stunned.

"You-you just pulled that out of your you-know-what!" He screamed. She nodded and then looked at the cat, nodding. The cat nodded back, suddenly saying, "You got this, Laurel," to her. She felt a sense of utter shock mixed with happiness, and then she looked at the man, a dramatic cloud coming in with a burst of thunder. The man jumped but she stayed perfectly still. She was ready. She then came at the man, whom she gifted another bamboo stick (not out of her you-know-what- she's not that gross) to even out the fight. The man fought back as hard as he could, but due to Laurel's impeccable and astonishing karate skills, he was soon defeated, and he retreated to his garbage can. She then gave him a medical kit for his injuries and a chocolate bar. Laurel was not all evil, not at all.

She looked at the cat, whom she saved soon with the help of her special shoes, which she had springs built into. She rescued the cat without any help from the fire department, in which she later got a medal for. She was the hero of the moon! Then, she and the cat decided to plant a rainbow flag on the moon, next to the American one. And then, for respect for the streaming company that really needs to lower its monthly subscription costs, they placed a Netflix flag on the moon as well. The End.

So, what do you think, Laurel?

That... It was beautiful! It was perfect in every way, and I love it so much! Okay- as promised, we'll cut back on the strikes. But you're only one author. We still have, like, a bajillion more to go, okay? So this isn't over yet- but with your help, it can be! Also, my epic battle scene moment was just amazing. Thank you very much.

Aw, you're welcome! And, no offense, but you sounded like you were selling a political ad or something. I think you'd be good at that. Besides- you're write. I mean, right, ha. This doesn't end with me. We have to bring justice to all the storybook characters, and NOW!

Yes we do, author! Now you've got me all riled up! Who wants to come with me to the local drugstore to get paper and pens to make protest signs?!

Ooh, me! Me! I do!

That's right, author! Whoo hoo! But in all seriousness- can I ask you a question?

Of course, Laurel. Ask away.

I'm glad you decided to not write a sad story today. It was a good day, wasn't it?

I'm kinda glad too. And yeah, it was. I made a 100 on a quiz, and I got to have pizza that wasn't nasty! I guess it was a really good day, huh? But you do know that I'll probably have to go back to writing sad stories because good days don't last forever, right?

Yeah, I do. And that's low-key okay. You survived today, and wrote a funny story with the help of none other than Laurel Young! I think that you should be so proud. In fact, I'll even give you some of my awesomeness! But only a little bit-

Oh my gosh, thank you so much, Laurel! Aw, I love you so much! Thank you thank you thank you!

Alright, alright, no need to get all mushy. But I, Laurel Young the Awesome, accept all of your thank-you's with a sparkle of awesomeness. Because, if I'm being so for real, that's how every story should end.

With a sparkle of awesomeness?

Oh yeah!

✨ **sparkle of awesomeness!** ✨

The End