The Wishing Game

by Meg Shaffer

Places were times. Times were places. Confusing at first. Then charming.

Several of the kids hugged her on their way out the door. Lucy always relished these quick squishes, as they called them.

“Is that what being a mother is?” Lucy asked. “Pulling a long con on your kids?” “Pretty much,” Theresa said.

‘The only wishes ever granted—’” “‘—are the wishes of brave children who keep on wishing even when it seems no one’s listening because someone somewhere always is,’”

“Oh, he’s Albus Dumbledore, Willy Wonka, and Jesus Christ all rolled into one.” If Dumbledore, Wonka, and Christ had depression and drank too much.

“But I wanted Christopher to have…I don’t know. Hope?” “Did you give him hope?” Mrs. Costa asked. “Or did you just get his hopes up?”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. I’ll just kill myself later.”

There is nothing braver than a child asking for help. And bravery like that deserves rewarding.”

“Because I’m like a father to you. You know how I know that?” He straightened the clock on its hook. “Because I’ve said it?” “Because you resent me. Just like a son would.”

I’m a big believer in cutting my losses. Except now, here you are,” he continued, “twenty-six years old. The kids you went to school with are getting married and having babies. Meanwhile, you’re so poor you can’t pay attention.”

“When I was a kid,” Melanie said as she walked away, “I never understood why Dorothy wanted to leave Oz and go home to Kansas. Now I get it.”

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.’

you can’t understand the beginning until you’ve read the end.

“I’m only giving you what you kids wanted back then—to make a wish and play a game and win the prize.”

I might owe her an apology.” He tapped his chin. “She won’t get it, but I do owe her one.”

“You can’t win until you face your fears. Until you face your fears, your fears are winning.”

she tucked her feet under her legs, making herself smaller.

when you feel wanted for the first time in your life, you realize how much you’ve been starving for it.”

“People think I put myself into my own books, that I’m the Mastermind. I’m not. Not really. I’m always the child, forever the child, scared but hopeful, dreaming someone will be able to grant my wish someday.”

the thing we want most in the world is the thing we’re most afraid of. And the thing we’re most afraid of is often the thing we most want.