The Goldfish's Magical Wish

Lily stared at her small orange goldfish swimming in circles in his bowl on her nightstand. She named him Finny, and he was her best friend in the whole world.

One sunny Saturday, Lily was in her bedroom playing a baseball video game on her iphone when she noticed something strange. Finny wasn't just swimming anymore — he was floating in the middle of his bowl, staring right at her with his big round eyes.

"Lily," Finny said in a tiny bubbly voice.

Lily almost dropped her iphone! "You can talk?"

"I've always been able to talk," Finny said. "But today is special. It's the Magic Water Festival, and for one hour only, I can make three wishes come true for my truest friend."

Lily's eyes grew wide. "Really? Like, any wishes?"

"Yes! But we must hurry. The magic only lasts until the water stops shimmering." Indeed, the water in Finny's bowl was glowing with tiny sparkles.

Lily thought about wishing for more video games, or a room full of toys, or even a million dollars. But then she looked at Finny, swimming happily in his small bowl.

"For my first wish," Lily said, "I wish Finny could have the biggest, most beautiful aquarium in the world, with plants and caves and friends to swim with!"

POOF! The bedroom filled with sparkling water, and suddenly Lily's room transformed into an incredible underwater world. Fish of every color swam around her, and she could breathe underwater like a mermaid!

"My second wish," Lily laughed as she chased colorful fish, "is that my whole family could see this magical place too!"

Her mom and dad appeared, looking amazed as they swam through the underwater wonderland. They played a magical game of underwater baseball with a seaweed ball, hitting it into coral caves.

"For my last wish," Lily said, looking at her happy fish friend, "I wish that every child could have a wonderful friend like Finny, and that everyone could share magical moments together."

The water sparkled brighter than ever, and suddenly the magic filled the whole neighborhood. Children everywhere were laughing and playing with their own magical friends.

When the sparkles faded, Lily was back in her room. Finny was swimming in a beautiful new aquarium, and beside him were three new fish friends.

"Thank you, Lily," Finny bubbled. "You made the best wishes a friend could ever make."

Lily smiled, realizing that the best magic wasn't in the wishes at all — it was in thinking of others first. She picked up her iphone and took a picture of Finny and his new friends, knowing she would never forget this magical day.

"You're my best friend, Finny," she whispered.

"And you're mine," the little goldfish answered, before blowing a perfect bubble that floated up and popped like a tiny kiss.