MY STORY

Hi! I'm Austin! I don't know how to begin a story like this. You're probably wondering who I am! WELL I CAN PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE IM WONDERING A WHOLE LOT MORE WHO YOU ARE! I know who I am! I'm Austin! I'm me! I really like peanut butter and jelly! I really like string cheese! There's a whole lot of things that make me Austiny. First of all I really like rainbows. I really like writing. I think the most thing in the world that would be the most exciting is if we had world peace. Now that would be amazing. If we had world peace then I could eat ice cream all day. I would never have to get bullied and when I came home and turned on the TV my Dad wouldn't have to switch the channel, because it's not appropriate, and my Mommy wouldn't have to say I have to eat carrots and broccoli because if I was the king and I could have it my way I would have world peace every day. That means I get to eats lots of pizza. 

"Another piece, please!"

I would have lots of pizza and then when Iw as finished we would go to Chuck E Cheese and I'd play lots of video games. I'd invite my friend JJ. JJ is my favorite friend. We like to laugh and run play together. I get butterflies when I look at him. I think it's because we have the same eyes and the same hair and the same lips and the same nose. I think we also have the same thighs when we have drumsticks. My Mommy says you're supposed to take the bone in the middle and pull it apart and make a wish. It doesn't matter who gets the shorter end of the stick. All that matters is you close your eyes. You say "I believe" and it doesn't matter if you have a chicken breast or wings or thighs if you pretend you're a butterfly eventually you'll win. I'm going to bed I'm hungry I hope my dream comes true. 

2

Daddy's been watching me. He wants to know why I can't sleep. I said it's because I was staying up late watching cartoons and I can't wait for Beauty & the Beast. I like to think of Gaston and Belle. 

"Little town...it's a quiet village, little town..."

It reminds me of Mommy singing and I wished she'd come in so she could help me fall asleep. She knows all the best nursery rhymes like Little Bo Peep. I don't make a peep when I write in my diary so Mommy doesn't see me. I bet you were wondering how I was talking to you! Well it's because I just got my diary. :)

3

My diary is the best thing in the whole wide world. I think it's even better than Toucan Sam. I know that seems pretty unlikely even impossible even but it's actually true! I didn't believe it either! My Mommy and Daddy gave me my diary when I was only 2. At least I think so because I don't remember how old I was when I was a baby. I think I was 23. 23 weeks, I mean! 23 weeks is a long time. It's enough time to make you forget all the time what I was saying and also what I was thinking I wish there was a way to go back in time. :(

4

Daddy says there is a way to go back in time. Mommy says that IS pretty unlikely. Unless it's BAKIN time. ("Hey! That's my joke!") Dad says. "Unless it's BACON time."

"Well maybe it's both," Mom says.

She smiles.

She looks at me.

"Do you promise to keep your diary? Do you promise to tell us anything, and everything, you've ever wanted?"

I wish for world peace.

I smile.

"Okey-dokey!"

"Fingers crossed?"

"Fingers crossed?"

Daddy sees me. 

"Don't leave me!"

"It's OK. I'll have Lucky." My parents got him for me. Lucky is a sheep.

"Do you pinky swear?"

"I do."

"Just remember I'll never leave you."

"Wherever you go, wherever you are...we'll be there."

"So how is gonna get there?"

"I think you know."

Mommy reaches into her pocket and takes out a vanilla envelope. 

5

It says:

a proposal

"Who's getting married?" Dad says.

for -the boy who saved the world-

running on:

dream fuel

"Go on and tell them, honey, what you're going to do."

OVERVIEW

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right. But I think I would be very lucky to have you. I love your books. My books going to be about all of them. I'm going to have lots and lots of books. It's going to be the best book I ever written. It's going to win the Nobel Peace Prize and all the prizes and I'm going to have a movie and a play on Broadway and after the world is saved we're going to all go eat ice cream and run through rainbows and jump through sprinklers

"Whoa there, cowboy!" Daddy says. "Don't get ahead of yourself. 

But keep on dreaming.

He throws me a lasso. He also throws me a key. "This," he says, "will be the key to your diary. Hold it close to your chest."

And Mommy and Daddy both look at me and say,

"Don't forget about me."