copyright 2000

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copyright 1999, Gripper Products

The Best Wish
by Riddles the Magician

Up in Gram’s attic, behind the old chest
Hid the dusty old lamp that Gram loved the best.
The lamp was brass. The lamp was skinny.
And in it, Gram said, there lived a jinni.

The jinni’s dress sparkled as she danced on the chest
She chanted her song, as she made her request.
“Just one wish. The best wish. It’s all that you’ll need
Just one wish. The best wish. The finest indeed!”

The jinni’s voice twinkled whenever she spoke.
She laughed with the sound of a star just awoke.
“Just one wish. The best wish. It’s all that I give.
You’ll never need more as long as you live.”

Lucinda asked Gram, “What does jinni mean?
What’s the best wish that you’ve ever seen?”
Said Gram, “There’s so many. I could never choose one.”
“But you try it,” said Gram. “You might have some fun.”

Lucinda ran to the attic, holding onto the ramp
She found the old chest, then the dusty old lamp.
The lamp had a wick, but no fuel to light.
She grabbed an old rag and polished it bright.

How could she make dancing jinni come out?
She tipped the old lamp and looked down the spout
At first she saw nothing but darkness inside.
The perfect place for a jinni to hide.

Then up from the spout, smoke twirled and tumbled.
Lucinda stepped back. She gasped and she stumbled.
Then there on the chest, jin spread her green skirt.
She smiled at Lucinda. “I hope you’re not hurt.”

Lucinda shook her head, then said, “You’re so small.”
Jinni spun twinkling. “Don’t think I’m a doll!”
Lucinda sat down and asked, “Is it true?
Do you really grant wishes? I’ve got quite a few!”

The jinni’s dress sparkled as she danced on the chest
She chanted her song, as she made her request.
“Just one wish. The best wish. It’s all that you’ll need
Just one wish. The best wish. The finest indeed!”

“I want dolls and a bike, a new dress, and a cake
I’ve homework to do and a test to take.
And those are just my wishes for me.
I’ve got wishes for all the people I see.”

“My brother’s in a wheelchair. He can’t run or skip.
Gram’s old joints ache, she’s got pain in her hip.
One wish’s not enough. Even two won’t do!
Then jinni smiled. “I’ll give you a clue.”

“As you go through your day, listening to wishes
You’ll see they grow back like legs on starfishes.
As soon as one’s granted, another appears
There’s a common theme here -- just perk up your ears.”

Jinni danced and twirled on top of the chest
She spun and she sang, “Just one wish. The best!”
She climbed up the spout and slid out of sight.
“Granting that one wish will be my delight!”

Lucinda stared at the lamp. “You’ve got to be kidding.
What kind of a jinni has you do her bidding?
She says she grants wishes, but just the right one
I’ll find it, I will! I won’t quit ’til I’m done.”

She went down the stairs feeling hopeful, but sad.
How could she find one wish to make everyone glad?
Just one wish. The best wish. That’s all jin will give.
“You’ll never need more as long as you live.”

Gram in the kitchen, was baking a cake.
“I heard you tell Jinni the wishes you make.”
“I have too many wishes. They keep growing like weeds.”
“I keep making wishes for what everyone needs.”

“You know what I wish?” asked Gram as she poured.
“I wish for world peace -- mankind in accord.
“And food for all. And good health, too.
And success for everyone in all that they do.”


“Those all are great wishes,” said Lucinda, quite plain.
“But that’s more than one wish. We must try again.
And if we had all your wishes, still we’d want more.
Wishes are like candy in a glass candy store.”

“That’s true,” said Gram, smoothing the batter.
“Everyone alive has wishes that matter.
There must be something we all want together.
Something nicer than peace and better than weather.”

Lucinda decided that Gram couldn’t choose.
She went to her closet and put on her shoes.
Then she walked next door to her best friend Sue’s.
Said Sue, “Let’s be pretty with brand new hair-do’s.”

They brushed and they combed. They tied ribbons and bows.
They put bright pink polish on their fingers and toes.
Said Sue, “I wish I were pretty and famous and rich.
I want to be President or astronaut. I don’t know which.”

Then Lucinda asked the question she’d come to Sue’s for.
“If you could have one wish. Just one and not more!
Could you choose one wish for ever and ever
One wish for the world that’s totally clever?”


Sue twisted her pigtail, and chewed on the end.
“I don’t really need wishes. I’m just glad you’re my friend.”
Then she thought some more, and stood on one leg.
“You should ask our best teacher, Ms. Mumbletypeg.”


Lucinda hopped the bus and rode across town
To visit this teacher of great skill and renown.
Ms. Mumbletypeg was never bossy or mean.
She saved her strength for her walled trampoline.


When Lucinda arrived, her teacher was jumping
Lucinda joined her -- bumping and thumping
When they’d bounced long enough, the wish question came:
Lucinda said, “Tell me the very best wish you can name.”

Ms. Mumbletypeg didn’t pause for a wink
She said, “Two questions I have to help you to think.
`Why do you want the things you wish for?
`And why when you get them, do you always want more?”’

Lucinda stood and she thought, and she thought as she stood.
“War is wrong. Peace is good. I just want what I should.”
“Think harder,” said her teacher. “Come bounce on my wall.”
“Bounce while you think. The answer will call.”

“Gram has her aches. My brother can’t run.
I want a bike. And Sue thinks moonwalking is fun.”
Lucinda bounced on the wall, and landed on her feet.
“We want what we want ’cause it’s happy and neat!”

Ms. Mumbletypeg crossed the yard to her upsidedown swing.
“You need another way to look at this thing.”
Lucinda climbed in. Her teacher gave a push.
Suddenly her ideas came with a whoosh!


Before I came here, Gram was baking a cake.
She heard me tell jinni the wishes I make.
The cake made me happy, but I wanted more.
There are so many wishes I want to explore!

When I get what I wished -- I’m happy but then
My joy goes away and I’m wishing again.
So, it isn’t the bike or the cake or the hair
I want happiness for always and everywhere!

“I’ve got it!” she said. “It’s so simple. So fine!
I know the best wish -- the finest design!
I’ve been wishing for things to give me joy.
When it’s happiness I want -- not the toy!”

“If everyone were happy, there’d never be war
Happiness is what all wishes are for!
“It’s not the things that we want, but the happiness true”
She jumped from the swing. She knew what to do.

She thanked her teacher and ran home to jinni.
Who was sitting there waiting on that lamp, bright and skinny.
Lucinda told her, “I don’t have to choose.
When I make my one wish, no one can lose.”

Jinni’s voice twinkled. She smiled when she spoke.
She laughed with the sound of a star just awoke.
“Just one wish. The best wish. It’s all that I give.
You’ll never need more as long as you live.”

Lucinda danced with her. They sang the song twice.
When making a wish, you must be precise!
Lucinda found the best wish under the sun.
“I wish for happiness for everyone.”

Jinni’s dress sparkled as she danced on the chest
She chanted her song, as she gave the request.
“Just one wish. The best wish. It’s all that you’ll need
Just one wish. The best wish. The finest indeed!”

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