The Boy’s Wish

‘Wish Star, Wish Star,

Brightly shine

Grant tonight

This wish of mine

So my joy will never end

Bring me now my longed for friend.’

The boy was sitting by the hearth when he heard his father at the door with their Christmas tree. He had finished wrapping the presents and had been amusing his sister with stories from her favourite story book while his mother finished off some chores for the next day. They were wrapped in warm blankets by the fire, with chestnuts roasting in the...