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A Star Flows into a River

Yu-Shan Wang A NOVEL

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Words Checked: 5798

Words in Oxford 3000: 95%

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YU-SHAN WANG

A Star Flows into a River

A NOVEL

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A Star

Flows

into a River “…human beings needn’t to have a rich family, but she strongly asked me …to have a rich mind…said that’s the treasure which no one could take it away. It will be existed in our whole lives.” Trista is a fourteen-year-old girl. The future as a human who open his hands welcomes Trista. However, Trista has many doubts about what love, friendships and the future are. She has to find the answers, but she definitely needs a counselor. Would she find the answer? This story by Yu-Shan Wang, that a person of many high coordination thoughts, tells people what teenagers might be and what teenagers would think about. This book is for teenagers and people who have been teenagers.

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Yu-Shan Wang is the Arthur of A Star Flows into

a River. This novel is her first manuscript about

family, friends and love. In the novel, she doesn’t

only talk about love but also family and friends. The

teenagers may receive something from this book.

The Arthur’s interests are reading and writing novels.

Now she lives in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan, R.O.C.

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This book is dedicated to Chris,

my best friend.

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A Star

Flows into a River

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Contents

Ⅰ. Every rule was too new to follow. 9

Ⅱ. Good and bad news 15

Ⅲ. It just happened. 23

Ⅳ. Everything was so clear. 32

Ⅴ. The choice was hard to make. 43

Ⅵ. Stars never disappear 59

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A Star Flows into a River

Chapter 1: Every rule was too new to follow.

After winter vacation, spring was coming. It’s 6 p.m.

Trista’s sitting in the library and writing a letter to her

friend, Harriet, who lives in England, and has a baby

now. They have been friends for thirteen years.

When Trista was thinking about inviting Harriet and

her husband to attend her and Adolph’s wedding, she

saw a man coming into the library smiling at her.

“It’s about time for us to have dinner,” the man said.

“I am going to finish this letter. Could you wait for me,

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Adolph?”

Trista kept writing her letter.

“All right. I will meet you at the Durlov Café,”

Adolph said.

He has no choice, but he just likes the way Trista is.

She is always conscientious with everything.

“O.K.” Trista gave him a smile.

Adolph is her fiancé. They are going to marry three

months later. The wedding will be held in St. Ralph

church in June. Her first novel will be published in

June as well. Those events don’t only

come from luck but also the motivations from her teen

age’s years.

She recalls all her memories of aging fourteen……

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＊

Junior high school was a hard time for Trista. It all

started when she was 14-year-old girl. Trista was an

innocent girl in Cashy Miller Junior High School.

When the second semester brought, she was very

excited because she has got used to every course in

school, and she expected to learn more knowledge

during this semester. The night before the ceremony

was held to signal the beginning of a school semester,

Trista habitually looked outside the window and saw

many stars circling the moon, and she made a wish.

She talked to the stars in whispers. It was a secret

between she and the stars.

After the ceremony, she was sitting in her new

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classroom and listening to her teacher, Dr. Blake,

talking about the courses and the rules in school. Dr.

Blake taught mathematics. He was a very serious

teacher and always gave students a lot of homework.

Trista had learned that from last semester.

“I’m very glad to be your teacher, class,” said Dr.

Blake happily.

“Well, now let’s talk about our new rules. First, no

food and drink in class. Secondly, don’t chat in class.

Third...” Dr. Blake couldn’t stop telling the rules, but

Trista thought they were boring. She was waiting for

art class. She liked painting and writing. She

received many awards in writing, so she prepared to

become a female novelist in the future. Trista was so

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artistic and most classmates liked to read the novels

she wrote; except for one classmate, Patricia, who

grew up in a rich family. Patricia was outgoing and

elegant but very proud. That was why Trista hardly

even talked with her, but Trista didn’t know that

Patricia thought Trista was better than her. She

didn’t like to be defeated. Both of them had many

friends, but Trista sometimes liked to be free and

alone because she liked to write down everything she

saw when she was alone. Writing took a lot of time.

Of course, Patricia had more friends than Trista

because she loved to excel everybody. When Trista

tried to make friends with her every time, Patricia

always looked at her very coldly.

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“What do you want, Trista?” Patricia said

impolitely.

“Hmm… I’d like to ask you if you could play with us

this Sunday. Harriet and I would like to invite you to

join the dressing-gown party on Sunday,” Trista said

hesitantly.

“Are you kidding? Do you really think I have time

to play with you? You two must be joking, right?”

Patricia started to laugh at them loudly. Trista was

so embarrassed and walked away. After that, they

didn’t talk anymore.

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Chapter 2: Good and bad news

Mom was sick during winter vacation because the

temperature decreased rapidly. It never occurred that

Trista that Mom would be sick. Her Mom liked to

work and so did her Dad. Both of them were

workaholics, but they did give Trista and her sister a

good education and appropriate attitudes to act parents.

When Trista was not happy or stuck on something,

Mom usually gave her a useful suggestion. Then,

Trista would know how to do then. Mom was in the

hospital, and Dad was taking care of Mom with her

sister.

“May I go with you?” she asked her Dad and sister.

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She wanted to take care of Mom as well.

“No, Trista. You have to stay home to arrange your

scholastic routines and do the housework,” Dad said.

“Don’t worry, Trista. Mom will be O.K.” her sister

said.

Trista was still worried about Mom, but she couldn’t

do anything.

She decided to stay home and did what her father told

her. Trista was sad, so she made a phone call to her

best friend, Harriet. Harriet was a single child who

was in a single-parent family. She was a precocious

and studious girl. Both of them lived near school.

When Harriet picked up the phone, she heard Trista’s

sounds.

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“This is Trista. Harriet, what am I going to do?

My Mom is sick now, and I can’t do anything for her,”

Trista sobbed.

“Oh! Please don’t be sad. I am so sorry to hear

that, but you must calm down and take care of

yourself during this hard time. That is the best thing

you can do. Don’t make your Mom worry about you.

Okay?” Harriet replied.

Trista thought what Harriet said was right and that

was the only thing she could do for her Mom.

“Yes. I know what to do now. I won’t let my mom

worry about me. Thank you, Harriet.” Trista’s

sounds become calmer and then they began talking

about some news at school.

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“Trista, do you know there will be a new student in

our class? His name is Adolph,” said Harriet.

“Really? Do you see him?” Trista asked.

“ No, but I think he is a rich guy because Dr. Blake

told me I have to take care of him when he becomes

our classmates. I am sure what Dr. Blake told me is

not only because I’m the class leader but also this

guy’s background,” Harriet told her in a bizarre

voice.”

Trista was curious about Adolph and when he would

become their classmate.

“Tomorrow he will attend Dr. Blake’s class,” Harriet

replied.

It sounded as if Harriet as disliked Adolph.

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“It’s all right,” Trista thought.

“Maybe he is a creep.”

After some appropriate conversation, they hung up.

Trista went to the bed and read a book ‘Tomorrow

will be better’, and slept after she wrote in the diary

which her grandmother had given her as a birthday

present.

＊

“It’s 7:30 now! I’m going to be late for Dr. Blake’s

class. God help me!” Trista was very nervous

because she was afraid of 8:10 class—Dr. Blake’s

math class. When she entered the classroom, she

saw everyone’s eyes fixed on her. Trista did never

ever felt like being a fool at that moment. “Sorry,

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I’m late, Dr. Blake,” Trista said. “It’s O.K. Go and

take your seat,” he replied peacefully.

That surprised Trista very much. Dr. Blake usually

punished students who were late for his class. There

was always ‘little’ punishment like cleaning the

classroom, memorizing equations or taking a test right

away.

“Now, class. Turn to page 70. We’ll look at

proportions.” Dr. Blake was so delighted.

“What happened to him?” Trista was trying to figure

out what was wrong with Dr. Blake while she walked

toward her seat. Suddenly, she felt someone gazing

at her. Who? Trista was confused, but she was

sure there must be someone looking at her. Trista

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wanted to find out who he or she was, the sight

disappeared.

“Today everything is strange,” Trista thought.

After class, Harriet came to Trista and asked, “Hey,

Trista. Why are you late for school? Did you

oversleep?”

“No, I’m just……” Trista tried to answer Harriet’s

question.

“Is that true? I’ve heard that Trista is late for Dr.

Black’s class.

Trista is never late for class, right?” Trista didn’t

know when Patricia approached her and said those

sharp words.

“How could you say that?” Harriet replied quickly.

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She stared at Patricia with anger.

“Never mind. I’m just kidding.” Patricia shrugged

her shoulders and walked away with her followers.

“Harriet, I don’t mind what she has said. Patricia is

just kidding.” Trista said.

“You are always kind to everyone! By the way, do

you know the new student, Adolph, now is in our

class?”

“Really? Where is he? Maybe we can hold a party

for him. Let’s welcome him to join our class.”

“Trista, I think what you said is nonsense. Look

over there.” Harriet said. She pointed her finger to the

corner of the classroom. Trista followed her sight

and saw Patricia talking to a good-looking guy.

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“Is that Adolph?” Trista asked.

“Definitely. Now you see that. There are many

girls who want to ‘take care’ of our new classmate.

He doesn’t need us at all,” Harriet said.

“Well, I think you’re right,” Trista said desperately.

She hung down her hand continuing to focus on her

math assignments. Trista didn’t notice there have

been eyes fixed on her from the corner of the

classroom.

Chapter 3: It just happened.

“Mom got a fever?” Trista couldn’t’ believe that her

Mom still hasn’t recovered and was almost getting

worse. Trista kept asking her sister, “When will

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Mom be better?”

“I don’t know but I’ve heard Dr. Schuh say Mom

would be better in two days because of his cure.

Take care of yourself, Trista. I’ll call you in two

days,” her sister replied. Trista hung up. She was

very worried about her Mom. She decided to write

down her feelings in her diary. The front cover of

her diary had a photograph of her grandma a sixteen

years old standing in the middle of the farm. Her

beautiful grandma wore a straw hat decorated with a

big yellow sunflower. Trista thought her grandma

was so happy because her smile was like the sunshine.

However, she got very curious the first time her

grandma gave this diary to her as there was a

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handsome guy standing next to her in the photo.

“Grandma, who is he? It is not grandpa, right?”

“Grandma, who is he? It is not grandpa, right?”

Trista asked.

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Trista asked.

“Little Candy, he is Mr. White, and he is one of my

best friends.”

Trista remembered every word which her

grandmother had told her. Afterwards, her grandma

passed away because of cancers. It became a secret

so Trista wrote down all her secrets in the diary.

This book took her into a mysterious world that she

always wanted to go and perhaps she would find out

what Mr. White was one day in her life.

＊

Trista wrote a novel called “Little Josephine’s Cake”

and she sent it to a publishing firm today. This novel

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talked about a girl, Josephine, who hated to eat cake

everyday but one day she accidentally went into a

handmade-cakes factory, and the cakes could move,

talk and play with her. At the end of the story, she

liked to eat cake and suddenly she woke up. Were

all these events true or untrue? She couldn’t answer

the question. After Mr. Pica’s art class, Trista talked

to Harriet in school about what she has done about her

novel.

“Harriet, don’t you think it’s perfect that I will

become a writer?”

“Well, I don’t think so. Although it’s so interesting,

your novel is not vivid enough,” Harriet replied.

“No! How dare you! I don’t agree with what you

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have said that my novel isn’t good enough. I work

on it every day, you know that, right?”

Trista lost her temper and began to shout, “don’t you

think you’re always the best one, Harriet?”

There was a silence between them. Harriet didn’t

say anything. She walked away. Trista was very

angry then. They didn’t talk anymore, didn’t go to

class nor play together. They were strangers at that

time. They didn’t know when they would be friends

again. Trista knew that she was wrong when she got

her manuscript work returned. The editor enclosed a

small note which told her to improve her writing skill

just like Harriet said. However, it was too late,

Trista thought. Harriet couldn’t forgive her. Trista

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cried and cried not only because the novel was

returned but also because she lost such a good friend,

Harriet.

Maybe Trista was too sad to find her math homework

for Dr. Blake’s class.

“Trista, you forget to bring math assignments? I

think you remember our twelfth rule, so you should

write three more copies of your homework, O.K.?”

“Yes…” Trista said.

Trista felt sad and wanted to cry, but she didn’t. She

gazed at Harriet and Adolph, and she wanted to know

what they would think about her, “Trista deserved it!”

or “Trista is a bad girl!” or “She is a lazy girl?”

Trista couldn’t imagine that. Wait a minute! Why

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did I care them so much with? Did I like him? I

never even talked to him before. He was Patricia’s

best friend and everybody knew that Patricia liked

Adolph very much. These voices went around

Trista’s mind and couldn’t stop them. Trista gazed at

Adolph again and then looked at the blackboard. Dr.

Blake was talking about ‘Parallel lines’. They are

two lines which won’t ever touch each other.

“Are they just like Adolph and me?”

Trista decided not to think about that anymore.

Nevertheless, Trista recalled everything which had

happened to her these days: Mom, Harriet and Adolph?

God! Trista thought she couldn’t endure anymore

unlucky things.

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“Why didn’t anyone care about me? Why?” Trista

shouted up to the white walls of this empty house.

Trista knew what she could do was to write. Writing

was her habit to help clear bad thoughts. Trista

hoped to find the answer of everything in this way.

＊

Trista became afraid to go to school. She got up

early at 6:00 and sat on her bed. She started to

consider what her next step was. When she

discovered that she couldn’t come up with anything,

she has just cried until 7:00. Then, she washed and

got dressed. At 8:00, she came to class on time.

She didn’t let anyone know her behaviors of every

morning in school, so most classmates didn’t find out

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what was wrong with her. Trista was very

suspicious of eyes. No matter what had appeared

around her, even if there had been a dog or a cat

playing next to her. She hated them because she

thought that even dogs or cats were doing something

bad behind her! Trista knew she was becoming

oversensitive, and she would get sick if she didn’t stop

thinking about those bad things. Two weeks later,

she made a decision: She needed to take a rest.

Chapter 4: Everything was so clear.

When Trista called her father and told him that she

would like to take an approved temporary suspension

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for schooling, she got a voice-message from her

Dad.

His voice sounded very excited, “Trista, Mom is fine

now! Dr. Schuh told me Mom can come home in

two days!”

Suddenly, Trista forgot what she wanted to say. She

was very happy and excited. Her Mom could come

home! She could eat hot and delicious dishes which

Mom cooked. There was no micro- waved food

anymore. What a wonderful world! Her Mom has

recovered, and that reminded her of one thing:

There were still hopes in the universe.

Trista began to reflect on herself, “Maybe I should not

give up my dream.”

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Trista decided to create a new story about Mom and

her. She wrote down the interesting conversations

between her Mom and her.

“Trista, you do a great job!” her Mom always said

when Trista finished some works.

“Thank you, M.I.MA.” Trista always replied like

that.

“M.I.M.A.? What is that?”

“M.I.M.A…, M.I.M.A. is that…, Mom Is My All!”

Trista suddenly shouted.

“You’re a imp, Trista!” her Mom said happily.

Trista finished this book in two days and sent it to

Mom as a present celebrating her Mom leaving the

hospital.

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After her Mom came home, Trista knew she

couldn’t let her Mom worry about her and Harriet’s

friendship. As a result, she picked up the phone and

called Harriet. “Harriet, I need to apologize to you.

I’m stupid and too proud of my writing skill to know

how poor my novel I wrote. I didn’t even know

there has been a good friend standing in front of me

and has given me some advice.”

“Trista, I don’t mind what you’ve said. What I mind

is your attitude towards me about what I said. I am

very glad that you called me and has talked to me.

Thank you, Trista,” Harriet replied happily.

“Thank you, Harriet.” Trista felt she would never ever

be as happy as these words at this moment.

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She also sent her book to a publishing firm which

Mom encouraged her to do, and soon she received a

message that her book has been accepted! Her

dream would become true!

＊

They were talking about the annual-class-trip. Trista

liked to go to travel with her friends. Most of her

classmates chose North Country as the main scenic

spot. Trista was excited because that was the place

where her grandma was born. Trista hasn’t been

there before. It was too far away for her, but

somehow she always wanted to travel in North

Country. She saw pictures in magazines. The

sunshine, stones, and blockhouses impressed her.

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Trista looked forward to traveling there. They

decided to set out after final examinations.

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er.

ext to Harriet, and they

to hurt

not only

out

I

The sunshine, stones, and blockhouses impressed h

When they got on the bus, some of her classmates

started to chat and some sang popular songs. They

were so excited. Trista sat n

talked to each other happily.

“Well, Trista, look over there. I don’t mean

you, but I have to say they must be

‘friends,’” Harriet said directly.

“Please. Oh, please, Harriet. What I told you is

just a secret between you and me. Don’t talk ab

them. I know you didn’t mean it, but I… but

just…” Trista couldn’t say any other words.

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t talk about them

er

im very

et

always

“Sorry. I’m sorry. I won’

anymore, I promise!”

“Thank you, Harriet,” Trista said happily.

All the time, Trista didn’t have any thought about h

and Adolph although she knew she liked h

much. Adolph had been well-known in

Cashy-Miller school because he was very talkative

and handsome. He had never even talked to Trista.

That was a strange thing which Trista has never

thought about. They were in the same class and m

everyday but there was no talk between them. In

Trista’s opinion, Adolph was a boy who liked to be

successful. The topics he talked about were

the assignments and current affairs. Trista

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in

t

,

her.

a as no one

recognized that maybe he wanted to hide what he

really thought about by his talkative appearance.

However, Trista’s opinions about him were a secret

her mind. Trista always told herself, “They were

like parallel lines.” It would remind her not to play

games of love. Besides, there was a more important

goal waiting for her to arrive: a female writer. Tha

was the target she has wanted to reach because she

had been chasing it for seven years. She couldn’t

give up and never stopped going after it. However

there was one thing that Trista couldn’t understand

about why Dr. Teresa knew she was sick and cured

Who was the person that told Dr. Teres

knew she was uncomfortable then?

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n’t

d helped Trista. Trista kept

side.

ista

Trista asked Harriet, but she didn’t know Trista was

sick at that time, and so she felt sorry that she had

paid attention to her. Harriet would also like to

thank the person who ha

looking for her savior.

Three hours later, they were at North Country.

“Wow! Mountains and rivers are so beautiful!”

Trista cried out. She thought her grandma was so

lucky to grow up in this wonderful place. Trista and

her classmates had been going around the country

The view made them feel they were probably in

paradise. It was totally different from urban areas.

The first night, Trista lived in Blockhouse 9. Tr

felt everything was plain sailing. This was her

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and shouted, “Who are you? What do

h.” Adolph appeared from the purple

Adolph seemed to say something,

to her about.

grandma’s hometown and she could visit it now.

After dinner, she decided to take a walk. Walking

alone the path, she felt someone was staring at her.

She stopped

you want?”

“I am Adolp

moonlight.

Trista was surprised that Adolph would talk to her.

“Hello, Adolph.” Trista didn’t know what to say.

“Hello, Trista.”

but he couldn’t.

“Take it easy, Adolph.” Trista was curious what was

so mysterious that Adolph wanted to talk

“Trista, I like you!” Adolph cried out.

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ista was

u since the

rst time I saw you in Dr. Blake’s class!”

hapter 5: The choice was hard to make.

ediately liked you

“What? What did you say, Adolph?” Tr

too shocked to hear what Adolph has said.

“I said I like you! I’ve had a crush on yo

fi

C

“I…I… I’m a little bit surprised about what’ve you

said. Do you really mean it?” Trista was flushed,

and she felt there was something stuck in her throat

and had to drink water to make it slide to her stomach.

“I meant it. Don’t doubt. I imm

when you first came in the class.

I saw you were nervous being late for class; but on the

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ike you. Would you give me a chance to be

lieve that Adolph could like her if

other hand, you looked very calm because you

walked to your seat slowly. That is why I admired

you. You do one thing with full of your energy.

When you talk, you talk. When you write, you write.

You do things completely. That is the second reason

why I l

with you?”

Trista was almost getting crazy because what Adolph

has said she never thinks about before. Did Adolph

truly like me or is it a trick which he and Patricia had

planned? “What is this? Is this God’s joke? Is it

possible that Adolph likes her?” Trista thought.

She would never be

he hadn’t told her.

45

, but I am

ould you

ou

swer, I will write you a letter,” Trista said to

went away and disappeared in

her

“It is so hard for me to express my feelings

sure that I like you,” Adolph stated again.

“But we are only fourteen years old. How c

be so sure that you like me?” Trista asked.

“Maybe its God’s decision,” Adolph replied.

“Adolph, I have to think about this. When I give y

the an

him.

“No problem. I hope I can receive a ‘Yes’ letter,”

Adolph replied. He

the silver moonlight.

“What should I do?” Trista knew she liked Adolph

but she couldn’t have a boyfriend because she had

dream. She wanted to become a female writer!

46

boyfriend. She had to choose which way

e

n

.

hs

She needed to advance to a higher school. She

knew she wouldn’t have been good at her studies if

she had a

she went.

The next day, Dr. Blake took the class to visit th

owner of the famous White House. Dr. Blake

introduced that owner and Trista discovered he was a

old man who was in his late seventies. “Class, we

are in the White House. There are many sculptures.

The owner is a wise gentleman, Mr. White. He grew

up in this old town, but once he went away because of

World War П. He came back in 1960 and made this

town very well-known in the world to his photographs

We can see the paintings, sculptures and photograp

47

ed

ho wore a straw hat

e as the photo of my diary!” Trista

everywhere. You could take a walk to see these

works. We go to lunch at twelve o’clock.” Dr.

Blake said and turned to talk to Mr. White. Trista

kept thinking about Adolph’s words. She cleared

everything now including those eyes. She expect

to see Adolph but she also wanted to avoid him.

That was the unknown feeling as Adolph said.

However, she had to make a decision. Trista and

Harriet were walking through the gallery. Suddenly,

she saw a painting of a woman w

decorated with a big sunflower.

“It is the sam

whispered.

“What did you say?” Harriet asked.

48

hing. I mean this picture is nice,” Trista

Tr

“Oh, not

replied.

ista stared at the man whom Dr. Blake was talking

49

who wore a straw hat

ted with a big sunflower.

at telling her, “Little candy, the

ong

y and said, “Hello, Mr. White. Nice to meet

meet you, too, little girl,” Mr. White said

She saw a painting of a woman

decora

with.

There was a voice th

man is Mr. White.”

By the skin of Mr. Blake’s teeth, he finished his l

talk and walked away. She came to Mr. White

directl

you.”

“Nice to

kindly.

“May I ask you a question?” Trista asked.

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te replied quickly.

White gave this picture to

t Trista’s words, “Are

lock.

“Yes, sure you may,” Mr. Whi

“Are you really Mr. White?”

“Of course. I am the only Mr. White in this town.”

Mr. White laughed and said, “Why did you ask this?”

Trista looked at him and walked near the painting and

said, “I got the same picture from my grandma. She

said that a man named Mr.

her as a birthday present.”

Mr. White was astonished abou

you Susan’s granddaughter?”

“My grandma’s name is Susan. I am Trista. You

are really Mr. White.” Trista was surprised that she

has found Mr. White. He seemed to have a lot to talk

about with Trista. However, she looked at the c

51

had to leave with her

House by

at the door.

heard the sound of steps coming from far to

saw there were

not bad.”

ll?” Trista asked.

It was about 12:00. She

classmates for lunch.

“Could you come over here tonight?”

“Yes, I think so.”

That night, Trista walked to the White

herself. She knocked

“Trista, is that you?”

Trista

near.

“Yes, it’s me.”

Trista went into the White House and

some desserts on the wooden-table.

“Trista, take some yourself. They are

“You made these a

52

chair and started to pick up a teddy bear

good. Mr. White, you are a cook

y when they were children.”

en and four grandchildren.

he way

“Yes. Try some.”

Trista was shocked but she sat down along on the

wooden

cookie.

“Wow! It tastes

as well.”

“I cooked for my famil

“You have children?”

“Yes, I have two childr

They are all perfect.”

“Why don’t you live with them?”

“My son had asked me about that, but I was not

accustomed to the living styles in the city. So, I

decided to live here by myself. That is t

53

ybe I will do the same as

ista. May I call you Trista?” Mr.

is your grandma? Does she live with

id live with us but she passed away three years

which I will live for the rest of my life.”

“It doesn’t sound bad. Ma

you when I am your age.”

“HaHaHah, Tr

White asked.

“Yes. Mr. White.”

“Trista, how

you now?”

“She d

ago.”

“I am sorry, Trista,” Mr. White said sadly.

“Was Susan happy when she was alive?”

“She has told me she was so happy to see her child

and grandchildren healthy. She also told me that she

54

a

randma

hite replied.

very boy in North

o

thought human beings needn’t to have a rich family,

but she strongly asked me and other cousins to have

rich mind. My grandma said that’s the treasure

which no one could take it away. It will be existed in

our whole lives. By the way, were you and g

friends when you were young?” Trista asked.

“Yes, we’ve been good friends,” Mr. W

“How long have you been friends?”

“Since we were born. We were neighbors. Your

grandma was a pretty girl, and e

Country was crazy about her.”

“Including you?” Trista asked.

“Yes, I would like to but Susan said she didn’t want t

have a boyfriend then. She said that she wanted to

55

her, Trista,” Mr.

could

re not unhappy when you

was shocked.

mething distracting

e?”

have her career. She was unusual for that

generation. She had her own opinions about

everything. You are probably like

White said.

“Me?” Trista showed surprised.

“Yes. Is there something distracting you? I

see it because you we

entered even that you would like to cover it.”

Trista

“Yes. Mr. White. There is so

me.”

“Would you like to tell m

“Sure,” Trista told Mr. White she was stuck between

Adolph and her future.

56

.

a

my opportunity to become a successful

y for a

In fact, I lost all my money, and

bank.”

“Trista, I’m glad you shared this with me, but I

won’t tell you what to do. I will tell you a story

As I told you, I grew up in North Country. It was a

poor aspect which no young man had wanted to stay

including me. And then I decided to travel around

big city to find

businessman. I didn’t know I was not read

business yet.”

“What happened next? Did you be rich?”

“No, of course not.

I was in debt. I’ve paid back over twenty thousand

dollars to the

“What did you do next?” Trista asked with

curiousness.

57

be rich. It seems that you

’s break up. You can

he marry another man?”

away when I went to the

ed,

“I came back to this country. Everyone looked

down on me even my girlfriend. I thought that she

was the one who would never distain me. But she

did. When I went to the big city, I broke up with her.

She didn’t want to go there and maybe she had

already known I wasn’t a good businessman. But I

told her, ‘I am going to

don’t want to support me. Let

find your dream and so can I.”

“Did s

“She married a man right

city.”

“Do you still love her?”

“She is my life. When I found out she was marri

58

War П. She moved to another

and

to make your hope come true.

action?” Trista enjoyed the story.

I was brokenhearted. And soon I was called to be

a soldier in World

country when I came back. We’ve never seen each

other since then.”

“Would you tell her that you still love her if she were

here now?” asked Trista.

“I remembered she and I always went to the forest

there was a river called ‘wish.’ But she didn’t like

the name. She liked ‘hope’. She believed that

every star had magic

So she said, ‘I changed the name of this river. Now

it is called ‘hope.’”

“What’s your re

“I told her, ‘Every star must flow down in a river

59

e.’”

.

. Mr. White, you are like my friend and

hite

r.

named hop

“Every star must flow down in a river named hope. I

like this!”

“It is also the advice I would like to give you. Never

give up, Trista.”

“I won’t, Mr. White. Oh, no, it is almost 8 p.m. now

I must go back or Dr. Blake will punish me if he

checks the room and discovers I am not there.”

“Okay, Trista. I hope I can talk to you in the future.”

“Me, too

have given me good advice. Thank you!” Trista said

happily.

Mr. White walked with Trista to the gate of the W

House. Meanwhile, Trista recalled something, “M

60

She kept the hat you sent her until she

said nothing.

e looked up at the stars, and he had no chance to see

.

d wrote Adolph a letter after

e class went back to school. On the next day, the

summer vacation began.

White, you and grandma were the best friends, I

suppose.

passed away. She asked us to put this hat in her

coffin.”

Mr. White looked at Trista leaving and

H

the stars flow down into a river again

Chapter 6: Stars never disappear

Trista made a decision an

th

61

Dear Adolph, Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I knew you told Dr. Teresa that I was sick. (Don’t blame Michael.) I was very happy when you told me you liked me because we like each other. However, we need to have higher education. Maybe we could be just normal friends now. What do you think? Do you agree with me? Best wishes,

gÜ|áàt `tá{É

One week later, she received a letter from Adolph.

62

Dear Trista, Thank you for your letter. I was glad to see your response. (I won’t blame anyone.) I totally agree with what you have said. You are right. We have to chase our target now, but I will wait for you. I want to be along with you. I really hope so. Time will give us the answer, I believe. Yours sincerely,

TwÉÄÑ{ jâàtÇ

＊

Time flied so fast. Now Trista and Adolph are

engaged. They have been together for seven years

since they graduated from universities. They are

going to get married in three months. Trista believes

she has already received all the answers. Adolph is a

63

doctor, and she is a writer now. Both of them

reached their goals. Trista had invited Mr. White to

her wedding, but he passed away three years ago.

She received a painting from Mr. White, and he

enclosed a letter. He told her that she was capable of

writing, and he was the reader of her books during

these years, and he was happy for her. She missed

him very much and would never forget Mr. White.

She also decided to move that painting to Adolph and

her new apartment. She remembered the advice he

had said. She looked at her watch. It is 7:50 p.m.

now. Trista is going to be late. Adolph is waiting

in Durlov Café. She put her letter in her handbag

and stepped out of the library.

64

A Star

Flows

into a River “…human beings needn’t to have a rich family, but she strongly asked me …to have a rich mind…said that’s the treasure which no one could take it away. It will be existed in our whole lives.” Trista is a fourteen-year-old girl. The future as a human who open his hands welcomes Trista. However, Trista has many doubts about what love, friendships and the future are. She has to find the answers, but she definitely needs a counselor. Would she find the answer? This story by Yu-Shan Wang, that a person of many high coordination thoughts, tells people what teenagers might be and what teenagers would think about. This book is for teenagers and people who have been teenagers.