The wish plot: 9/11/95

​The Wish plot. 9/11/95.
You go along your life⠀
for a year,⠀
doing ‘what the living do’⠀
⠀
Until ONE DAY⠀
it is your birthday.⠀
⠀
And on that day people celebrate life by putting it into a cake⠀
⠀
With candles on top.⠀
⠀
The candles signify your years – each being lit, one by one, offering light, little generous lamps seeming to say, “You made it this far and look at all that you can see now? Let’s try to keep going.”⠀
⠀
So one by one they are lit⠀
and your little birthday face starts to glow from the amber fire – and, as rituals often go,⠀
people begin to sing.⠀
Song is what happens when a moment deserves to transcend.⠀
Tradition.⠀
Memorials.⠀
Celebrations.⠀
Sundays.⠀
Funerals.⠀
Weddings.⠀
Drunken serenades –(I’ve done a few, okay????)⠀
⠀
Your little glowing face knows that once this song is over, you must make a WISH.⠀
So you don’t have a lot of time,⠀
but the song being sung⠀
by those with love in their voices for you⠀
is ushering you to the moment of decision – the brave act that must occur.⠀
⠀
You let the song transfix you as you gaze into those years of candles: what shall I wish for?⠀
More time?⠀
For my mama to feel better?⠀
To be able to sing like Mariah Carey when I grow up?⠀
For more Barbie’s?⠀
To be able to make people LAUGH REALLY HARD?⠀
For my brother to think I am cooler?⠀
For me to be able to never forget your face?⠀
⠀
You decide on your wish,⠀
the song is coming to a close,⠀
you hear your mama say “Okay make a wish, Bonnie Brown!”⠀
You close your eyes tight,⠀
ready to gear up all that you can muster for this wish, breathe in big, and blow them all out.⠀
⠀
Opening your eyes now, all you see is just a little ringlet of smoke⠀
⠀
and the house you grew up in has a different table ⠀
⠀
and the lemon tree outside has died.⠀
⠀
25 years have gone by.⠀
⠀
You have made a few people laugh. You have tried your damnedest to sing like Mariah Carey. You had a few Barbie’s. You have made your mama feel better… but not always. Your brother has at least once or maybe even*twice*thought that you were cool. And there are so many faces that you will never forget.⠀
⠀
But I want more time. I want to eat so much more cake.