Have you ever tossed a penny into a fountain and made a wish? Did your wish come true? Sometimes I have seen even quarters or half-dollars in a fountain. Perhaps someone sacrificed a half-dollar on a sincere desire.

Ten-year-old Nate, my son, threw a penny into the creek and made a wish. His friend, Jamal (not his real name), who was being raised by a single mother, asked if he could borrow a penny to make a wish as well. Nate gave him one. Following Nate’s lead, Jamal tossed his penny into the water and wished.

Later during dinner, Leon, my husband, asked our two youngest sons his routine question: “What was the favorite part of your day?”

Almost every night our two sons give the usual response: “gym class and recess.”

But on this night, Nate gave a different answer. He told us about what had happened down at the creek with Jamal. After listening to Nate, Leon asked him what he wished.

51 Pennies

Nate said, “That Brendon would be in my class at school.”

Leon smiled at me. We both understood Nate’s earnest desire to be in the same class as Brendon—his best friend from school and his baseball team. Later Nate confessed that he had used a lump sum of 51 pennies on that single wish.

A Young Boy’s Dream

A few days later on our walk, Leon and I talked about Jamal’s wish. Jamal’s wish had brought tears to my eyes. Leon said, “It’s interesting that Jamal didn’t wish for a new bike or more toys.” (And he didn’t wish for a Wii.)

At the dinner table when Leon had asked what Jamal had wished, Nate answered, “That he could see his dad.”