Little Wishes

Little boys are rough and wily little creatures - always onto the next adventure and trouble they can find. Little else seems important besides playing ball, superheroes, getting dirty, and rough-housing. But, sometimes, if I look and listen closely, my boys surprise me.

Today, at El Charro, I witnessed a sweet and tender exchange between Cal and Max.

On our way out, the boys stopped at the fountain and asked me for some pennies to drop in. I handed them each one penny and proceded to pay the cashier.

The two of them walked back to the fountain. Max paused and began reading the sign hanging directly across from him, "All donations given to the American Cancer Society to help fight cancer." Cal asked what it said and Max read it again, this time aloud. The two of them each looked at their pennies, then at each other. Max leaned over and whispered in Cal's ear. Then, both of them closed their eyes, and at the same time, dropped their pennies in the fountain.

As I followed them back to the car, I wondered what they wished for. They were unusually quiet as I began to drive out of the parking lot. Then, Cal turned to Max and said, "Maxy, that wish was a great idea. Our pennies will beat the cancer and Grandma can come back to us." There was such excitement and conviction in his little voice as if he was absolutely sure this would happen. Needless to say, it was a tearful drive home for all of us. I often get lost in my own sadness over losing my mom and easily forget that my children lost the grandma they adored. Today, they reminded me how much they miss her!