Three Wishes

Write about a character who has been granted three wishes.

Three Wishes

You know, it was a funny feeling I had that day, as I gazed out over the lake. I had never felt like this before but I was really down in the dumps. I didn’t know what to do.

Here I was, without a job, ready to lose my home, car and everything. I guess I better go into the house and start packing, nothing was going to get done out here looking at the lake.

Just as I turned around, I saw something jump out of the water. I turned quickly back to the lake and waited for it to show itself again. I didn’t have long to wait until a ‘fish’ stood on its tail and said, “I will give you three wishes.”

Wonders never cease, so I said, “Oh, if only you could.”

The fish said, “Go ahead, ask me for anything.”

I thought for a minute and then said, “I wish my house and car were all paid for.”

The fish just sank into the water and disappeared. I laughed at myself for even thinking this had been a real thing. A fish granting me a wish. I hurried to the house but there was a car pulling up into the driveway. I waited and Mr. Plum got out, “Well, I have all the paperwork ready for you to sign, Miss Angus.”

“You have the paperwork for me to sign?” I asked.

“Yes, it didn’t take me long, once I had everything ready. Shall we go into the house? You can fill out the papers and the home shall be yours.”

I really didn’t know what he was talking about but I thought I would humor him, so I said, “Yes, please come in.”

He came in, opened his briefcase, and took out the papers for my house. I really couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I read over the papers and saw they were real, deeding the house, land, and everything to me. I asked him where to sign and then signed in a hurry before he changed his mind. I thanked him for doing business with me and he drove away smiling like he knew a secret. I went to bed that night feeling very happy and wondering what that fish had to do with it.

I knew my second wish would be for a lot of money, how much, I didn’t know. But I had to be safe and ask for a lot of it. So the next evening, I ventured down to the lake again. I stood on shore and wondered if, perhaps, I had been only dreaming, but no there he was again.

“Are you satisfied with your home? Now you can make your

second wish. Are you ready?” the fish asked.

I said I was, sort of, but I didn’t know how to put it. He made a funny sort of laugh and said I had to say it out loud before he could do anything about it.

I said, “Well, you know that I don’t have a job and I thought about a million dollars would see me though everything and keep me going.”

He said, “Your wish is granted,” and he sunk again out of sight, even though I tried to call him to come back.

I sort of wondered how he could give me that much money and still not have people talk. Oh, well, I guess I had better get to bed and I could think about that tomorrow. But when I entered the house, there was money lying all over, in neat little stacks. I didn’t know what to do. I just sat down and cried, thanking the fish for the money. I quickly put it all in a drawer, thinking, I didn’t want anyone to see all this money and I went to bed. I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned for most of the night, thinking about the fish and the wishes. How could he be making it happen?

I fell into a fitful sleep, not knowing what to wish for my last time. I thought of fishing for a trip, otherwise for things to go just the way I wanted them, too, and many other things I knew I needed.

I awoke with a start the next morning and jumped out of bed. Yes, that is exactly what I’d wish for. I could hardly wait until that evening when I’d see my fish again. Suddenly I heard a car coming up the drive and I hurried outside. “Good morning, Miss Angus. How are you today?” said Mr. Belt.

“I am fine, Mr. Belt. How about you?” I asked.

Mr. Belt got out of his car and with his hands full of papers, he advanced towards me.

“Glad I caught you at home,” said Mr. Belt. “I just brought over these papers for you to sign; papers for your car.”

I asked him inside and read through the paperwork and it really looked real, so I signed and thanked him for his trouble. After he had left, I put the paper away and once more I was wishing it was time to put my last wish to the fish, if only he could take it as a compliment.

I waited until that evening and sauntered down to the lake. I didn’t know what he would think of my last wish but I had to find out. I waited for about half an hour before he showed up and he was closer this time. Did he suspect what I was going to ask for?

“Good evening, Fish. How are you tonight?” I asked.

“I am good, but this is the last time you will see me. Now tell me your last wish,” said the fish.

“You’ll laugh at me,” I said.

“This is no laughing matter. Now for your third wish. What is it?” the fish asked.

Not knowing how to start, I stumbled over my words until I really had to rush them out. I said, “My dear Fish, I have gotten some very nice presents from you and need only one more to make it complete. I wish you could turn into the man of my dreams and be waiting here for me.”

The fish sank back into the water and I didn’t see him again. I said, “Oh, well, I guess it was too much to want, anyway,” and I turned around and started walking towards the house when I heard a noise. I turned around and there he was, just as beautiful as I dreamed he would be. I could hardly believe my luck and said, “Are you really the fish that gave me so much?”

“Yes, I am,” said the man as he came towards me.

I really don’t know what I said in return, but he was kissing me and asked me if I really knew how much this meant to him.

I said I didn’t know what it meant to him but I was sure it would make us both happy. We were married a week later and soon settled into a routine of house and yard work and swimming in the lake. He was an excellent swimmer and I had a hard time keeping up with him, but he laughed and encouraged me, so I kept up to him.

Yes, it was hard getting used to having a man around all the time but I knew I could get used to it.