Meghan's Wish

by

Anna McDonald

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Hand in hand, Meghan walked with her mother to the town's market square. Soon Meghan was skipping on ahead. Her curly auburn hair bounced up and down. How it sparkled in the morning sun. Her ankle-length dress with flounces and sash couldn't conceal the joyous energy of this smiling dimple-cheeked five-year-old.

As they came to the square, they could hear the voices of the vendors and buyers. The stalls were full. People were everywhere. The market gardeners had brought in fresh produce. The dairy farmer's stall was laden with eggs and cheeses. Meghan's mother stopped at the notions. There it was that Meghan, out of the corner of her eye, spotted Will in his torn shirt, frayed pants and bare feet already covered with mud.

"Hello, Will", cried Meghan as she ran to meet him. "Let's play tag." In and out, under the market stalls they crawled. In no time they found themselves in front of Too's Chinese Laundry. Here they joined the Chinese twins.

All four squatted on the ground to play a game of jacks. First they searched the ground for seven small stones. Each took a turn at tossing one stone in the air, while scooping up as many of the six remaining stones as they could. By the time the game ended, their hands had turned the colour of Meghan's black patent slippers. It was then that Mrs. Too came out of the laundry, marched the four inside, and scrubbed them clean. All were now ready to play some more.

As they were going out, they saw Bob, the six-year-old son of Jim Harrison, the town's noted golfer. "Oh, yes, this is perfect weather for golfing. In fact, I plan to take my son, Bob, with me this afternoon. Never too young to learn, you know," said Jim to Mr. Too. As the men continued their discussion, out the door went the two Too's, Will, Bob, and Meghan bringing up the rear. It was fun playing "Follow the leader". Bob especially knew so many tricks

Meghan seemed to display a sixth sense as to when playtime was over. Off she scampered to meet her mother at the pastry stall. Her parting farewell to her four friends was always, "See you Tuesday" or "See you Friday."

One Friday as she walked over to see Will, his first words were, "Meghan, what's the matter? Where's your big smile today?"

"I don't know what it's all about. But this I know for sure, we are moving - far away - out into the country. No stores, no neighbours for miles around. Oh, just think, I won't be able to come and play with you. Let's go and tell the twins and Bob." Hand in hand they walked over to the Too's. Meghan's eyes filled with tears but she wiped them away quickly.

That afternoon was different. They played but talked more. How could they prevent Meghan's leaving? Hide her somewhere? There was no solution. Children must obey their parents. Today would be 'Goodbye to Meghan Day'. In unison four small voices cried, "Meghan, you are the best friend we ever had." Meghan replied, "You are my best friends. How will I get along without you?" This time the tears did trickle down Meghan's face, leaving two clean streaks on her dusty cheeks.

The next day the movers came to Meghan's house. It was moving day. By evening the family arrived at their country home. No other buildings could be seen for miles around. The spacious fields were dotted with clumps of trees. Trees also lined all the roadways to and from the house.

Meghan was unusually silent that evening. Bedtime came. "Come, Meghan," her mother called. "Let us have our quiet time. We are in a new and strange place. Yes, but the sun and the moon and the stars are the same sun, moon and stars we saw in the city."

Together, mother and daughter quietly looked out the window up into the night sky. Meghan broke the silence with a quiet shout, "There's a star!" Mother and daughter whispered in unison:

Star light. Star bright.
The first star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Get the wish I wish tonight.

With eyes tightly closed, Meghan wished really hard. The silence was broken by her mother's voice, "What is it you wished for, my dear?"

"Oh, mummy, you know I must not tell you my wish. Why, then my wish won't come true." After her mother's good-night kiss, Meghan lay safely tucked under the covers, half awake, half asleep. As the soft late summer breeze wafted in through the open window, it seemed as though the star's light took her by the hand like an evening zephyr and led her out the open door to the front porch. As she stood there, a call came from the maple tree: "Whip-poor-Will. Whip-poor-Will." "Oh, no. No one can do that to my poor Will." Off through the dewy grass flew Meghan. There was Will huddled under a tree. He was scared, almost in tears.

"Never mind, Will, no one will hurt you." Meghan's small arms encircled her friend. As they were locked in silent embrace, a call came from over the meadow. "Bob-o-link. Bob-o-link."

"Listen, Will, it's Bob. He's come to have a game of golf with us. "Together they hurried across the open field. There stood Bob with golf club and ball in hand. Will had forgotten to be scared.

In the next instant, the silence was broken by a call from the old oak tree at the edge of the meadow. "Too-Whit, Too-Whoo. Too-Whit, Too-Whoo." Down from the oak tree slid the Chinese twins. What a surprise! What fun! The moon and the stars shone down on four little boys and one little girl romping in a moonlit meadow. Time was forgotten. Games children play were played that night.

Tired, Meghan drifted down under the coverlet, tucking it tightly under her chin. A smile crept over her face. It grew ever sweeter.

Meghan's wish had been granted.

(Even today, at the time of the first evening star, you too may hear the calls Meghan heard: "Whip-poor-Will", "Bob-o-link", and "Too-Whit, Too-Whoo.")