wizard-of-the-pigeons

changed to one of doubt, and then wonder. Euripides’s earnestness had taken its
effect.
By the time he finished, there was belief and awe in her face. The crumpled
dollar bill seemed a paltry thing indeed compared to what she had been given.
“He’s given me a wish. Mommy,” she exclaimed excitedly as she turned to
her mother.
“So I heard.” Mommy was not completely sold on the wish idea, but she did
not look as annoyed as she had a few moments ago.
“One more thing!” Euripides’s rusty voice stopped them as they turned away.
He focused himself on the child. “A wish takes belief and heart. You have to
believe you’ll get your wish. That means being prepared for it, and working to
help it grow. The wish is like a seed. I can give you a seed and tell you there’s a
tree inside it. But it won’t come out unless you believe it, too, and believe it
enough to plant it and water it and keep weeds and bugs away. So care for your
wish.”
“I will,” she promised, eyes shining.
“Sarah,” her mother prodded gently.
They left. Wizard moved closer to Euripides. “What was it?” he asked softly.
“Leukemia,” he sighed. “I just hopes she remembers the wish. They don’t
know, yet. And when the chemo-therapy has taken away all your pretty curls, it’s
hard to remember a ragged old fiddler in Pike Place Market.”
“Maybe you should have given it to her mother, to hold for her.”
“Naw. She wouldn’t… couldn’t believe in it. She would have thrown it away,
or forgotten it.” He cleared his throat huskily. “You know. Wizard, that was the
last one I had, too. God only knows when I’ll be given more. I hate to think it
might be wasted.”
“She’ll remember it.” Wizard said comfortingly. “Kids remember the oddest
things.”
“Do you Know that?” Euripides demanded of him, eyeing Wizard keenly.
“Or are you just talking?”
Wizard couldn’t meet his eyes. “Just talking, this time. The Knowings are
like your wishes, fiddler. When you’ve got a wish to give away, you feel it. And
when I Know, I just know it. But not this time. I do hope it, though.”
“Me, too.”