"Students, please take your seats. When I call out your number, I want you to come forth with the number of the group you picked. In exchange, I’ll give you the corresponding wishes of the members you have selected."

The students took their seats hurriedly. There were a few nervous protests about the disclosure of their hidden wishes.

"Mr. Woods," Jan spoke up, "Can I please change my wishes?" A few others nervously echoed her sentiments. For many, this was too personal to become an open forum of humanitarian "good will." The way they many saw it, it was potential source of ridicule and deep embarrassment.

Mr. Woods ignored the pleas as he arranged the wishes on his desk. "Class, you should never be ashamed of your wishes. Your wishes are an instinctive guide as to who you are, what you want, and what is really important to you. I understand this may be an uncomfortable for some of you, heck, maybe all of you. But in a way, this is a very important life lesson. It’s a way of facing the truth within your heart, and accepting the impact of the decisions you chose to make, or not make regarding that truth. More importantly, this project is about learning to reach out to others to acknowledge their desires and to accept help."

Jan tapped her foot impatiently, "That’s nice Mr. Woods, very inspirational. But I still want to change my wishes. Well, at least one of them."

Mr. Woods looked up, "Miss Spears, take your seat and wait until you are called up. There will be no changes to the wishes."

The class fell silent as they contemplated the ramifications of their truth telling. Some displayed a mixture of giddiness, some slight unease, and others complete horror.

"Still, if we would have known Mr. Woods. I consider this an invasion of privacy," a voice mumbled from the back of the classroom.

"Enough!" Mr. Woods interjected curtly, raising his hand. Once he completed his pile, he called up each group in sequence. "Group number one, please."

Kevin and Mimi stood up and went to the center of the class. Before Mr. Woods handed him the wishes, he gave the class further instruction. "Given the obvious personal vested interest in privacy, I suggest all groups keep the wishes between themselves and the members they are helping. The outcome of this project will be a done in a class forum, however, it will be done discreetly by each wish grantee." With that said, he handed Kevin and Mimi the wishes for group number 5.

They returned to their seats and faced each other as they opened the wishes fate handed them to help grant. The class stared in curious wonder as Mimi’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. Kevin wrinkled his nose indifferently as he looked over his shoulder to search for the grantee.

"Who did you get?" the class chimed in chorus. Kevin quickly snatched both of the wishes and folded them protectively as he matter-of-factly relayed, "None of your business."

Mr. Woods interrupted the class again, "Students, please do not harass each group. You will all find out in good time. In the mean time, lets complete this in a quiet, orderly fashion with no interruptions."

The class fell in an anxious hush as each group was called forth. Five minutes later, a hum filled the class as each group discovered the depth and nature of the oh-so-controversial project. After all wishes were handed out, Mr. Woods stood up.

"Class, may I have your attention, please. As you know, all the wishes have been handed out. Right now, you can take this time to discuss how you think you should go about assisting with the wish granting with your partner. Tomorrow, we will spend the class time meeting with your respective wish grantees and grantors." He handed the wishes to Susan and excused himself. "Class, I have a phone call to make. I’ll leave you alone for now, I should be back within five minutes. Please keep your volume down, and to discuss this among your partner only for today. I don’t want a flood of phone calls tonight of endless protesting."

As soon as Mr. Woods exited the room, the classroom echoed with the music of gossip as they ignored his instruction.
**************
Jason and Jan sat in stunned silence until Jason finally uttered, "You have GOT to be kidding me." Jan shook her head, "No my handsome darling, my eyes are not deceiving me. See for your self," she said as she handed Mr. Woods and Susan’s wishes to him. Jason took them reluctantly and slumped back in his seat. He read over the wishes several times, rolling his eyes and smirking.

He looked up and sniffed, "I can’t believe this. I CANNOT believe this."
Jan leaned forward, "Oh you better better believe it, pal. Your grade in this class depends on this stupid project. Unlike you, I’m not hanging on by a thread."
Jason folded the wishes, "I don’t care Jan. I’ll take an F. I refuse to give advice to Susan on how to ‘"Be thin, pretty, and not be teased.’ Please! Even if the girl lost a hundred and fifty pounds, the chances of her wishes coming true would still be nil."
Jan leaned back in her chair and lowered her voice, "Whatever Jason. It doesn’t matter whether our advice works, it’s that we showed we TRIED, or whatever. I think we can pull it off. Personally, I could care less…"
"Hell no, Jan. This is impossible. I won’t do it."
Jan leaned forward. "Do you want to call cadence all summer, huh?" she hissed under her breath. "Cuz if that’s what you want, that’s what you’ll get if you can’t pull off something so simple as advice."
Jason shook his head in defeat. "This sucks."
"Well we don’t have a choice," Jan confirmed gloomily as she looked around nervously. She could care less about the wishes in front of her. Right now, her main concern was to know who had HER wishes.

Jason opened Mr. Woods wishes inscribed so neat and concisely:
1.        My mother’s health restored.
2.        More tolerance and acceptance of differences amongst the student body.
3.        Successful salary negotiations with the DOE to avoid teacher strike.

"Why doesn’t he just wish for world peace," Jason muttered. Jan rolled her eyes and attempted to eavesdrop. She studied each classmate carefully, tuning in to any indication that would signal her wish grantor. God, pleeeeeease say it wasn’t Kevin. Please. She would be mortified beyond relief.

Jan froze when she noticed something peculiar. Philip was stretched out, cocky as ever, donning a knowing smirk. Jan averted her gaze and returned when she noticed Chloe looking over her shoulder to her with the same smug look. Philip chuckled openly when Jan suspicions rose. Her heart fell when Philip and Chloe’s gaze darted back and forth between Kevin and Jan.

Jan looked away nervously when she heard Chloe laugh. Even though this was better than Kevin and Mimi seeing her wish, this came in as a close second on the humiliation scale. In fact, it probably tied. Now she had the deal with the misfortunate of having Jason know her wish. That is unless she could stop Philip and Chloe from telling him…. She had to make some kind of arrangement where she could change her wish without Kevin or Jason knowing. But what guarantee did she have that Philip and Chloe wouldn’t tell either one of them against her wishes anyway? Probably none.

This sucked! Luckily, Jason was still whining about Mr. Woods and Susan to be too concerned with who had his wishes. Jan folded her arms defensively and cursed the wretched project.
*******************
Philip laughed under his breath again. All of this was just too funny. He didn’t know what was more amusing: the fact that Jason openly stated how he wished he had as much money as him, or Jan’s interesting little nugget about wishing Kevin was "cooler."

Chloe seemed equally entertained. "No wonder she was so paranoid Philip. She doesn’t want anyone to know what she really thinks of Kevin."
Philip stroked his chin absently, "I mean, why else would she want him to be cooler? What’s it to her?"
Chloe glared him, "I think you know why Philip. Especially you."
He flashed her his dimples, "Oh, I do, I do. It’s just hilarious. It’s like total payback, you know? After constantly harassing you for over a year, she goes and falls for the nerdiest guy in school. Ah man, she would never hear the end of it from Jason. Or me, or anyone else. I’ll make sure of it."

Chloe raised her eyebrow in agreement and looked at the other wishes between Jan and Jason. She had mixed thoughts on the entries. She found Jan’s other wishes interesting to say the least, and Jason’s, well, just plain narcissistic and somewhat pathetic. Either way, Jan was obviously unhappy at home, and in her personal life. And apparently she was torn at school as well, given her secret crush on Kevin.

Jan was not all that she cracked up to be- and her list proved it.

After they got over the initial shock of the two lists before them, they discussed possible, ahem, solutions for grantees. "Uh, win the lottery?" Philip quipped, referring to Jason’s monetary desires.
Chloe shook her head at Jason’s ego satisfaction wish. "I think he’s going to have to get with Jan’s crush and beg for a love potion to entice women."
"Wait, only attractive woman," Phillip corrected.
Chloe smiled, "That’s right. It will have to be a very selective love potion. But if anyone could pull it off, it’s Kevin. He’s a scientific genius."
Philip sat up with interest, "Hey, do you suppose…" he broke down with a case of dimples.
Chloe raised her eyebrow, "What’s going through that brain of yours?"
"Now you got me thinking. Maybe Kevin already made such a selective love potion. Which would explain why he’s got such a spell on Miss Spears."
Chloe giggled, "Could be, could be."

When she they composed themselves, she forced them to re-focus. She handed him Jan’s slip, "What about the other two?"
Chloe pointed to the second wish, "This one we can work with. All you have to do is have him attend the Philip Kiriakis School of Charm, and he’s set."
"If he’s willing to enroll," Philip added feebly.
"From the looks of it, he has a vested interest in his grade, so I think he’ll cooperate. Besides, from what I see, she could handle the tutorial as well. She isn’t always Miss Congeniality either."
"True, but I don’t want to waste our efforts on her amorous skills," Philip sighed.
" Because," Chloe interrupted, "We have her home life to contend with."

Philip’s face fell solemnly when he realized how much that hit home. He wasn’t the only one suffering in the hands of parental discord.
*********************
Kevin and Mimi mulled in silent disbelief over the last entry on Philip Kiriakis’ list. The most popular and seemingly solid couple in Salem High School actually fought? Over what? And who were they to extend advice about a lover’s cease-fire when they didn’t even have a significant squeeze? What kind of challenges did two perfect people like Philip and Chloe face?

From Kevin and Mimi’s position, the famous couple had it made. They were completely stumped. Kevin shrugged when he realized Mimi read his thoughts, "You got me. I haven’t the slightest idea. We’ll have to consult the experts on this one. You have a Salem Public Library card don’t you?"
"Huh?" Mimi murmured.
"I’m a fast reader. But as far as which book to choose, I’d be at an impasse. Perhaps you should chose."
"Choose what?" Mimi asked.
"A book on relationships, like that one, Men are from Jupiter, Woman are from…"
"Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus," Mimi mumbled.

Kevin blushed, "Exactly. Clearly you and I share inexperience in such communication endevours with, um, lovers. But that isn’t the point. Mr. Woods wants us to help the others, he doesn’t care how we help, as long as it’s effective. Which is why we should consult the experts."
"Right," Mimi said slowly, "I’ll get right on that Kevin."
"I think that will be our easiest challenge. If we can solve their communication problems, then maybe that will fall in line with Chloe’s third wish, to fall in love and spend the rest of her life with. You know," Kevin said academically, as if it were so simple.
"And the opera star thing?" Mimi added.
"I hear she has a real talent," Kevin said.
"Yes, she does. And an attitude to match," Mimi mumbled.
Kevin gave a small smile, "Can’t argue with you there. She’s not the most approachable person at times. She’s very…independent."
Mimi snorted, "That’s putting it mild."
"I’m sure she’s already considering Julliard. If so, she can write her ticket."

"And dream until her dreams come true," Mimi said, barely audible. She was growing more depressed by the minute. She looked at her other wish. Chloe wanted to find her biological father. Knowing Chloe’s luck, he was probably rich, famous, AND had opera connections. Chloe disgusted her.

On the other hand, Philip’s wishes were surprisingly selfless. She was impressed. While Kevin’s wheels turned racking the possibilities for Chloe, she considered Philip’s dilemma. At least her parents got along. Their financial hardships brought them closer together while Mr. and Mrs. Kiriakis surplus seemed to drive them apart. Well, until the fire, which lead to his brother’s unfortunate condition.

Philip Kiriakis, torn between an unappreciative girlfriend, fueding parents, and an ailing brother. His wished made hers seem so shallow. Which made her wonder-who in the world had hers and Kevin’s?
****************
"Shawn," Belle nearly wailed.
He looked up thoughtfully, "What?"
"Mimi is miserable," Belle said in a near whisper.
"She’s not miserable," he assured her. "She just wants to be more normal I guess."
Belle leaned across the desk. "She’s lonely."
"She has friends, Belle."
"Yes, but she wants to be more popular, and she wants to be more like, like me," Belle said, almost shamefully.

Shawn leaned into Belle so he was only inches away from her. "Mimi should be less concerned with popularity, and more concerned about finding TRUE friends. Quality, not quanity."
Belle batted her eyelashes wildly, holding her gaze firmly, "She wants her parents to have more money."
"I want my parents to have more money. So does every other kid in the world."
Belle absorbed his last remark. "Okay… so that’s normal. But."
"But what?" he asked.
"She wants a boyfriend too. She’s lonely. She yearns for companionship."
"Belle you are the most ‘popular’ girl in school and you don’t have a boyfriend. It doesn’t seem to bother you."

Belle gaped in awe, speechless.
"Or does it?" he asked, second guessing out loud.
Belle closed her mouth and swallowed. "What makes you say that?"
"Oh come on Belle. You have guys hitting on you left and right. Yet you always turn them down. There’s got to be some reason for that. So what gives?" he asked, with a twinkle in his eye.

Belle looked away and rubbed her chin with her shoulder. She hesitated to explain, but finally came up with a legit answer, open to interpretation. Which he’d take as a hint if he had half a brain. "Maybe I’m waiting for the right person. Maybe I’m waiting for someone in particular."
"Oh," Shawn said simply, not taking the cue.
Belle sighed and waited as she pretended interest in Kevin’s somewhat predictable desires.
Shawn surprised her by speaking up again, "So Belle. Do you have a certain ‘right guy’ in mind?"
"Maybe," she quipped.
"What’s he like? Describe him. I’m curious," he said, throwing the ball in her court.
Belle continued to avoid eye contact with him, "Forget it Shawn. Just drop it."
"Why?" he asked, clearly amused. He pulled Kevin’s list away to divert her attention to the question at hand.
Belle met his eyes again and angrily said, "Because KEVIN wants a girlfriend. And we need to focus on Kevin."
Shawn smiled, "Gee that’s ironic. Mimi wants a boyfriend too. How convenient."
***************
The class barely even noticed when Mr. Woods re-entered ten minutes later. He sat down in an empty desk next to Susan. "Sorry I took so long. I have a family emergency going on at home. My mother is very ill. Her remission has lapsed."

Susan frowned, "I’m so sorry Mr. Woods. What exactly is wrong with her?"
Mr. Woods looked around the classroom before answering, "I don’t like to talk about it too much, because I personally feel it is bad karma, but in this case, I’m going to have to divulge to a few people."
Susan nodded in understanding, "Your secret is fine with me."
Mr. Woods corrected her, "It’s not so much a secret as it is something personal that I don’t want to cause a distraction to interfere with my work as a teacher. When the time is right, I will inform my students. But until then, it’s just you, me, and our ‘wish grantors’."
Susan nodded again and waited.
"My mother has lung cancer."
Susan apologized and relayed her most sincere wishes for her health.
"It doesn’t look good this time," he continued. My mother is also diabetic and has high blood pressure. Her health has always been excellent until the last five years. She used to be strong as an ox. I always told her to quit, but she never would. Until now when her life depends on it. But it might be to late."

Susan didn’t know what to say. "I’ll pray for her," was the best she could come up with, suddenly acutely aware of her own health.

Mr. Woods smiled and thanked her for her sincerity. He turned his attention to the folded pieces of paper in front of her. "What do have here?"

Susan handed him the folded slips, "Belle Black and Shawn Brady."