The Wish
My daughter and I decided to go to a local fair. It was so much fun; we enjoyed eating the different foods, seeing familiar faces, and exchanging pleasantries. Just taking it all in. Then my daughter announced, “Oh look, mom, there’s a wishing booth!” We walked closer. Simple rules, purchase darts and pop a balloon. If you pop a balloon, you can make a wish. My daughter said, “Come on, mom, let’s try. Please?”
I handed her a few dollar bills. She squeezed the money tightly, squealed with joy, and leaped up and down, “Thank you! Thank you!” Her genuine excitement fills the air causing passersby to smile. With great enthusiasm, she announces her possible wishes, “A pony? No, no, a unicorn! Maybe a trip to the moon or Disneyland?” The carnie leaned to her, “Wishes that are said out loud don’t come true. A wish is like a secret. It would be best if you always kept it to yourself. Now, young lady, each dart is a dollar, and each popped balloon is a wish. Are you ready?”
With determination, my daughter threw the first dart. The first and second darts bounced off from the shiny red balloons. My daughter’s eyes filled with tears of great defeat, “I can’t do this!”
I turned to her, “Kimmy, concentrate — you got this.” I rested my hand on her shoulder, “Believe in yourself and throw the dart.”
She took a deep breath, shook off the discouragement, and aimed; the dart popped the balloon. The carnie came over and said, “Lucky lady, what is your wish? Ah, remember, don’t say it out loud. Close your eyes, make the wish in your heart.” The man informed her that her wish would come true in three days. With that, my daughter, filled with glee, and I walked away.
My daughter quickly stepped in front of me, “Mom, do you believe my wish will come true?” Without taking a breath, “Do you? Mom, will it come true?” I shrugged, “I don’t know, kid; we will find out in three days.”
I want to know what her wish was. I tried to be sly, “Hey, what did you wish for?”
“Mom! Are you kidding? You heard the man. I cannot tell you or anyone my wish. It is a secret. Geez.”
We marked the three days on the calendar. These were the longest three days I have experienced since waiting for Kimmy to be born. Finally, days one and two are over. Day three started extra early. My daughter bounced on my bed at exactly midnight. I swear this child has an inner alarm clock. She was more excited than Christmas morning, “It is the wish day!” Ugh, damned dart!
My daughter, filled with energetic anticipation throughout the day, repeatedly asked, “Mom, is anything going to happen?” Feeling so bad for this kid, all I could say was, “Honey, I don’t know.” At that moment, the doorbell rang, and together we answered. There was no one, only a huge package on the porch. We looked at the gigantic box for a return address, but nothing. Nowhere on the box was who it was from or anything giving a hint. We couldn’t move the box; it was heavy. What could it be?
The box moved. Please, God, don’t be a pony. “Mom! Do you see it? The box? It’s moving. I hope it’s what I wished for; I know it will make you happy too!” The box tipped over at our feet. Something was trying to get out. Not a unicorn either, Kimmy squealed with delight. I couldn’t move, my heart raced, and I felt tears welling up. He put his arms around us, “My beautiful girls. I have missed you so much.” My husband squeezed us even tighter, “I am finally home. The Army can no longer keep us apart.”
“Mom, see, wishes do come true.”
“Yes, my sweet, they do.”
THE END
Maryann Lindquist & Mojha R. MacDowell
2021
