Piper's Perfect Dream by Ahmet Zappa

them when her outfit changed in space?
    She reached into one dress pocket and removed the sleep masks. But the other pocket was empty. She’d forgotten the stone. In her mind, she could see it, still resting on a pillow in her room.
Starf!
    By then a wrangler had caught a star and was holding it steady, waiting. Vega hurried over to take both of Piper’s hands and say, “You’ll be good, you’ll be great. You’ll tell me about it later; can’t wait.”
    Clover hugged her tightly, then hugged Lady Cordial, standing next to her. “Well,” said Lady Cordial, backing away slightly, “that was s-s-s-sweet.”
    Everyone else said good-bye quickly, and before Piper knew it, she was rushing through space, starlight flashing, colors flying.
    The ride was not smooth. In fact, it was much rougher than Piper had expected. She tried not to worry. But it was frightening to think she was out there in the universe, traveling alone.
    â€œStop that, Piper!” she told herself. “No negative emotions.” Of course, there was always her Mirror Mantra. Even without a mirror, it could provide reassurance. But Piper needed a different phrase, one rooted in the here and now.
    Even bumpy journeys could end with smooth landings, she knew. “Bumpy journey, smooth landing. Bumpy journey, smooth landing,” she repeated to herself again and again until she believed it.
    Piper kept saying the phrase even as she accessed her Wishworld Outfit Selector. But soon she had to stop to recite, “Star light, star bright, the first star I see tonight: I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight,” to transform her skin and hair to Wishworld plain.
    Then, just as her Star-Zap flashed PREPARE FOR LANDING , she saw Wishworld hurtling closer. She closed her eyes tight. “Bumpy journey, smooth landing.”
    And her feet touched the ground with barely a bounce.

    Piper opened her eyes. She was facing a brown wall made, it seemed, out of logs. She turned to her right. There was another wall of logs. She turned to her left and saw another wall and still another. Clearly, she was in some sort of room—an empty room, with no ceiling. Clouds and sky were visible overhead. Piper’s heart thudded at the strangeness of it all. Then she heard voices.
    â€œOkay, we’re just about set to put the roof on.”
    â€œThis is going to be one amazing playhouse.”
    Then there was a much younger voice: “Did you see that bright light, Mommy?”
    Suddenly, Piper heard
vrooom
sounds and chains clanking. A pointy roof came down atop the walls, leaving the room in darkness.
    Piper’s heart beat even faster. Without her serenity stone, Piper rubbed her Wish Pendant bracelets, hoping the smooth jewels would help keep her calm.
    With nowhere else to look, Piper gazed at the walls. Then, amazingly, she was gazing
through
the walls! She could see outside! She had sunray vision! That must be her special talent, the ability to see through walls, logs, and who knew what else! She’d discovered it so quickly, without even trying. Surely that was a sign of good things to come.
    Piper saw a group of Wishlings, young and old, smiling delightedly outside the walls.
    â€œThis is just what this playground needs!” said one female Wishling, holding the hand of a toddler. “Won’t this be fun, Sophie?”
    A playhouse for little Wishlings! Nothing to be scared of at all. But still, Piper needed to get out. She folded up her star and placed it in the backpack’s front pocket just as the door opened and light streamed into the room.
    A man stood across from Piper, staring at her in surprise.
    â€œWhy, there’s a girl in here!” he exclaimed.
    â€œHello!” Piper said pleasantly. “I was actually just leaving.” Before anyone could say anything else, she slipped outside, past the Wishlings’ astonished faces, and briskly walked away.
    The