WISH

                                                                  by

                                               Deby Adair

**

                                          'Listen carefully, for I know a tale. I                                            heard it from a traveller when I was                                            still a child. 
 
                                           Her face was shadowed by a plain                                            brown hood and her cloak rubbed                                            well-worn shoes. Gazing from                                            wonderful, eerie eyes, there strode a                                            dog by her side.
   
                                           They appeared one morning in our                                            village street, and with that instant                                            attraction of something new, like bees                                            drawn to honey we ran to their sides                                            as the huge beast let us pat his grey                                            nose.
   
                                           ''Who are you? Who are you?'' we                                            boldly called.
   
                                           "I'm a traveller,'' she announced in                                            such a way that we knew we couldn't                                            let her go. The dog looked up at her as                                            if understanding every word.
   
                                           ''Where are you from?'' we called.                                            ''Where are you going?''
   
                                           ''Would you like to hear a story?'' she                                            whispered, and we cheered as children                                            do, then we jostled and gathered at

                                           her feet and waited breathlessly for                                            her tale to unfold.
   
                                           ''Im going to tell you about a unicorn,''                                            she began....... '
 
                                                                        ***