A Small Fiction

Most wished on shooting stars, but he liked to wish on the falling leaves. On long walks, on cold mornings. The wishes drifting down around him.

Each year, the townsfolk selected one child to give to the woods. The woods gave one in return. So far, the dryad student exchange program had been a wonderful success.

"You were my only visitor tonight! This is for you," the witch said. "This isn't candy," she said, inspecting the wand. It was heavy. Weighted by spells unspoken, perhaps. By potential. "No. But I think you'll find it's a treat."

How could she be content just to move forward in life? She had to build up speed. Every instinct told her there was a chasm ahead. And she was going to jump it.

The cat pawed at the surface of the water. Her people scolded her for spilling, but she knew she must. Anything to dispel the dark portents she divined within.

The wizard collected all the things that never were: Replies to unsent letters. The names of shooting stars. Movies greater than "Harry and the Hendersons."

The wizard collected all the things that never were: Replies to unsent letters. The names of shooting stars. Reasons not to be better.

She wasn't sure what the key was for. It had been on her ring for ages. Lots of people have a key like that, she figured. It didn't occur to her that they were all the same key. And that one day, they'd all meet at the door.

He arranged the rocks into huge letters, spelling out: HELP. He wasn't sure what good it'd do on his back lawn. But it was worth a shot.

"I need a volunteer from the audience," the magician said. No one raised a hand. "Oh no," he thought. He'd made them disappear too early.

"Blow out the candles! Make a wish!" she said. "One more birthday," he thought, and blew. Just like every year. So far, so good.

"I have a special power. I can leap forward in time to avoid problems," he said. "Nice try Sir," said the officer, "you're under arrest." But he was already asleep.

She wasn't sure what came next now that she was born. But she'd already gone from oblivion to existing. How much harder could the rest be?

Her ship's engine ran on boredom. She saw the stars in fits and starts, stranded when a wonder caught her attention. But when it wandered, so did she.

"How's the time machine? Sightseeing in the distant past?" "No. I mostly just take short hops back." "What? Why?" "To re-do conversations I mess up. It can take a lot of tries." "That's... kinda weird." "Oh. Ha, just kidding. Well, I'd better be going. Talk to you soon, OK?"