A Boy's Wish
T H E W I S H
Peacefully, a dove soared into the
heavens. An old rocking chair, worn
from years of neglect, sat in the
shadows of a dusty porch. A curious
young boy rushed onto the porch,
banging loudly upon the weather-beaten
door.
“Grandma! Grandma!” A rustling
could be heard in the background.
Slowly, the door opened.
“Child, you coulda sent me to my
grave. No need to make such a
fuss.”
“Come out, Grandma.”
“I am, dear.” With ancient bones, the
woman trudged to her rocker, the boy
helping her sit.
“Isn’t it a beautiful day, Grandma?”
“ Yes, “she said, smugly smiling to
herself and rocking in her chair.
“Beautiful.” The boy sat on the floor in
front of her, peering into her wrinkled
face. Gazing into the distance, she
pulled her shawl tighter around herself.
“Grandma?” the boy questioned,
worried.
“Yes, dear.”
“I love you.” She lovingly looked down
into his tender face.
“I love you too, honey.”
“Grandma, whatcha thinking’ ‘bout?”
“Oh, about my husband.” She
paused, looking deeper into the distance.
“ I was once beautiful a long time ago.”
“I think you’re beautiful, now,
Grandma. The beautifulest lady I know
next to Ma, of course.” She chuckled in
amusement.
“Thank you very much, honey.” she
said.
“Grandma, I never saw your
husband. You think you could tell me
‘bout him?”
“Honey, I don’t think--”
“It’s okay, I won’t tell no one. It’ll be
our secret.”
“Honey, I--”
“Please?” he begged. Smiling, she
gave in to the boy. The boy listened
carefully.
“Oh, all right.” She swallowed. “My
husband was a great, strong man,” she
said, a reflective look in her eyes. “We
were young when we were married. He
told me that he’d be there forever. Forever.
We weren’t rich but he always made
sure we were never in want of anything.
The kids always came first no matter
what. He was my knight, my hero.
“One day, he left us. He said he had
joined the Marines and that he’d return
for me. Years passed and I had to raise
the kids all by myself. I loved him. In
fact, I still do. My heart broke when I
heard he had died in action. Now, he’d
never come back. He was a good man.
A very good man.” She held tears in her
eyes.
“Grandma, today I’m gonna wish that
he comes back to you.”
“That’s not possible, honey.”
“But Ma says anything’s possible if
you believe so I’m gonna wish so hard
and believe so it can come true.”
“But, hon--”
“Bye, Grandma.” the boy said,
quickly kissing her cheek and racing
from the porch.”
“Oh, that boy.” she said, leaning back
into her rocker. Shortly, she drifted into
a deep sleep.
* * * * *
“Darling,” a male voice called.
Instantly, the woman awakened.
“Darling, I’ve come back for you.” She
couldn’t speak. A man stepped onto the
porch, his face clearly visible in the
evening light. He laughed.
“Always played hard to get.” he
joked. Afraid of thinking it all a dream,
the woman tried to stand but fell back
into her rocker.
“It’s all right, “ he said, holding her
hands and lifting her to her feet. “I told
you I’d always be there for you.”
“My husband.” the woman
whispered, falling into his warm,
comforting arms.
