"What is it that you want more than anything in the world?" Peter asked his sister softly, his blue eyes riveted on the moon as it sat in the summer sky, a king surrounded by a court of stars.
Penny smiled at him.
"That's a funny question." She replied, for she was a very sensible girl. "What makes you ask it?"
"Because," Said Peter, turning away from the window. "I love you."
Even Penny wasn't so sensible that such a genuine expression of love could be lost on her, and she bit her lip, smiling through the tight sensation in her throat.
"That's a good reason." She said.
"I know," Replied Peter.
"Well, what do I want?" Penny tapped her finger against her chin, thinking. She turned towards the moon herself. Somehow moon-gazing is almost always helpful in ascertaining what it is one wants more than anything. Penny found that in this case it helped a great deal. "What I want," She said, as her own blue eyes roved across the twinkling lights above, "Is to see a star up close."
"That's a big wish." Said Peter.
"I know." She answered.
For a moment neither of them said anything. They just sat there by the window together, thinking their thoughts, and each secretly wondering what it would be like to see a star up close.
"I'll get you the star, Penny," Said Peter decidedly, his eyebrows narrowing. There was fierce determination in his eyes. Penny smiled.
"For now Peter, I think it's bedtime. And we must not be caught whispering so late, or they'll hear us downstairs." She said. After all, she was a very sensible girl. In fact, Peter was very surprised that someone like Penny could make such a wish.
Sometimes he thought that the reason he loved her was that Penny could be insensible, and simply chose not to be. Now, some people were hopelessly sensible. He was glad Penny wasn't, especially on nights when it wasn't sensible to drink hot chocolate, for Penny never minded it.
She blew out the candle and Peter turned to take one last look into the night sky. A very bright star blinked back at him.
"Penny's star." He whispered. In a few moments, he was asleep.
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