Shack and I went up to the middle school just after dark today to wait for the Understudy to return from her field hockey game in the wilds of Montpelier. It is cold here in northern Vermont tonight and very clear. The taxpayers of the school district object to seeing lights on in or about the school at night with the result that it was very dark as we waited for the team bus. The stars were twinkling over the parking lot.
"Make a wish," I said to Shackleton. (He's nine now).
He did, and I did. Then he asked me what I had wished for. I said I couldn't tell him or it wouldn't come true.
"Did any of your wishes ever come true?" he asked.
I told him I couldn't exactly remember, but I thought so.
"Cool." He said. "It's like a lottery ticket, but it's free and it's in the sky."
