The Best Wish

The candle blew out on her birthday cake with one quick breath. Olivia watched as sparks whirled from the candle and went up in the air. It was almost as if the wish itself were being carried up and away. Olivia wished it really were something special happening. Her wish had not been a selfish one. She had wished her grandmother would be well enough to come home from the hospital and be with their family again. She had lived with them for the past three years, and Olivia missed her so much.

Olivia’s mother cut the cake into several slices and began placing each piece on a small dessert plate. Her father put ice cream beside each piece and then helped to pass out plates to all the guests. Olivia took the first bite of cake. The chocolate cake was delicious. She was just about to take a second bite when the phone rang. Olivia watched her mother answer the phone. She couldn’t hear the conversation, but she could tell by the smile on her mother’s face that something good had happened. When her mother hung up the phone, she told everyone she had some good news. The hospital had just called, and Olivia’s grandmother had made a sudden and remarkable improvement. She was so good, in fact, that she could be dismissed from the hospital the minute they could get there to sign the papers.

Everyone burst into instant chatter at the good news. Olivia hugged her mother, and the guests all agreed that they should go immediately to bring her back home. Olivia’s mother looked at her right before she was ready to leave and then said, “Olivia, you don’t look as surprised as everyone else about the news. Did you know something the rest of us didn’t know?”

“Mom, I know this sounds crazy, but when I made my birthday wish, it felt like something magical happened. I wished for grandmother to get better and for her to come home. I think the wish really worked.”

“You know what, Olivia,” her mother said as she gave her one last hug, “I think you’re right, and I think you just got the very best present of all!”