wishing tree

granny: would u like to this lady to write a wish for u to hang on the wishing tree?
little boy: yes - i would like to wish for a machine gun.
me: (confused face)
granny: u can't wish for that really…isn't there anything else u would like to wish for?
little boy: no, i really want a machine gun. a machine gun to shoot down all the robbers!
granny: how about wishing that your daddy will get better?
little boy: yes i would like to wish for that i suppose and i wish that granddad oliver was still alive…
granny : (gives little boy a big hug and kiss and starts crying) thankyou, that was a lovely thing to say…thankyou….he died this week :-(

...i was also fascinated by the girl who wished for worms…other things wished for included a horse, a puppy, a new leg(!), a cruise and a trumpet, black shoes, warm snow (so u wouldn't get cold fingers!) and school to be made of sweets… i was happy when the day was over.