Today everyone is at the beach celebrating the Manoban's wedding anniversary. In the distant sparkle of the sun on the wave tops Mr. and Mrs. Manoban are walking up the shoreline. This is the first time since their honeymoon they have returned to the ocean.
Lisa is watching from her beach chair with Snowball asleep in the picnic basket at her feet. Mrs. Kim gathers sea shells that have washed ashore and Kai is up to his waist in the surf, shark bait Lisa figures.
Nearby Jennie is holding Joo by both arms over her head, walking at the edge of the surf. Joo likes to kick the water. Joo loves the beach and is fascinated by her growing world.
Jennie looks up through her over-sized sunglasses and waves to Lisa. If there is a place beyond joy, Jennie is there.
An impossible love has formed between generous souls. Lisa and Jennie have shown that nothing is impossible.
Lisa falls asleep in her chair under the shade of her wide-brimmed straw hat. The warm, salty air carries her away and she starts to dream...
...Lisa is walking in the sand between the ocean to her left and the boardwalk to her right. People are scattered everywhere enjoying a perfect South Korean day. If she looks back she can see her penthouse building growing smaller in the background.
This is the farthest she has walked before turning back home. She stops to rest on the bench facing the water. People pass by in both directions on the boardwalk behind her, walking, jogging, skating and biking. Lisa is lost in her own thoughts.
Lisa is looking forward to her 10th birthday party in two days, this Saturday night. Her parents will spoil her with an extravagant party with many presents. They love their only child completely and spoil her endlessly.
Lisa loves them and loves life, she does not care about stuff. She likes to dance and at her party the band will play all her favorite songs. Lisa is smiling to herself with anticipation.
A girl's voice behind her makes her turn around, the girl asks, "Do you mind if I stop here? I'm Jennie."
"I'm Lisa. Of course you can rest here."
Jennie leans her bicycle against the back of the bench. "I need to give water to Kai and Kumo." On her front handlebar there is a wicker basket with two Pomeranian dogs with bows on their heads. They are perky and extra-fluffy white haired.
"I think I dropped my water bottle back there somewhere." She has three cold water bottles in her bag.
"Here, I have some water," Lisa steps up to Jennie, "Hold this cup here." Lisa pours from her water bottle to fill the paper cup. She holds Jennie's hand to steady it. Jennie looks up into Lisa's eyes, her gaze is unwavering. Lisa looks deep into Jennie's eyes. She realizes that someday she will marry this girl.
"Will you sit with me?" Lisa invites her. "We can go get ice cream cones in a minute."
"Thanks." Jennie looks at Lisa with longing, "You are very pretty."
Lisa is melting inside. She realizes Jennie and her two dogs have matching outfits. "You are so cute."
"This is my favorite hobby, to ride my bicycle everywhere."
"Which way do you live?" Lisa wonders.
Jennie points south down the coast, "Way down there by the river, in the fishing village. I usually turn around sooner than this, I've come very far."
"Me too. I am so fat. I get very tired very fast. My parents feed me too much, or maybe I eat too much," Lisa frowns.
Jennie gives Lisa a gentle bump, "You can bicycle with me. We are good friends now," Jennie beams.
"You should come to my 10th birthday party. Would you like to be my date?"
"Yes Lisa," Jennie looks downward, she is shy now.
"I have a car," Lisa says. "I can pick you up."
"You do?" Jennie is bug-eyed.
Lisa corrects herself, "My dad has drivers."
"Really? Why?" Jennie can't imagine.
"I don't know," Lisa shrugs her shoulders.
"Are you ready for ice cream?" Jennie asks.
"Sure." Lisa and Jennie both stand.
Lisa looks at Jennie and steps up to her. "How come your skin is burned? Your arms and face and even your head, some places are patchy and you are missing some hair." Lisa is concerned, "Does it hurt?"
"No, it happened when I was seven. I am fine now." Jennie steps up closer into Lisa's shadow. "There was an accident on the boat, the oil can fell and got hot and there was a flash fire. My Dad saved my life."
"I think we should kiss if we are going to be girlfriends," Lisa says wisely.
Without hesitation Jennie stands on her tip-toes and kisses Lisa on the lips. "We must practice often." Jen is also wise. "Deal?" She offers her curled pinky.
"Deal!" Lisa matches her curled pinky.
Pinkie swear and Lisa...
..."Lisa! Lisa, wake up! Are you dreaming? We are ready to go." Everyone is gathered around her.
Lisa grins at her little family, she thinks of all they must do to provide for Joo, now and in the future. She laughs in her head about how foolish she was before, so selfish. Now Lisa lives her life for others, to make sure their lives are only better.
All her life Lisa knew she had only one wish, to find a woman to love. And it came true, the wish was granted, but then the girl was gone. Lisa could see no sense in this, and over time she lost all faith. Her hope and belief in love washed away as in a rainstorm.
Ten years later to the day Lisa reached out to a girl in the rain and it was the same girl. And then in her heart, mind and soul Lisa knew that her one wish was twice granted.
THE END.
YOU ARE READING
One Wish. Twice Granted.
Romance''You are quite the salesman, I think you could sell South Korean eggs to North Korean chickens. With all due respect, I must ask, why do you do this? You do not know me from a box turtle'' Mr. Manoban laughs heartily and even Jennie has to grin at...
