Little things that make us smile

Edith is up reading under the covers every night. Last night she finished two chapter books in the British Sophie series, and this morning she finished a third before getting out of bed. Now she's in there gobbling up the fourth, after a few pages of The Hobbit. Nerd that I am, I can't make myself stop her.

***

Alice sees coins in a fountain, and after asking about them, wants to make a wish herself. I give her a penny.

"Now think of a wish, then throw in the penny. But don't say the wish out loud or it won't come true," I instruct.

Alice throws in the penny and turns around. "I wished to be a lion cub."

"Alice!" Edith protests. "You said it out loud! Now it won't come true."