Anything

“Anything in the world?”

“Anything in the world,” I agree, looking over at her.

It’s dark out, even though it’s almost 1pm, but I can see her face just fine. It’s twisted into a smile, a thinking smile. We’re sitting on top of a picnic table, and she’s staring at the sky. Dark clouds hover overhead.

“I’d want... um...” She laughs sharply, and looks over at me. “I don’t know, Baylee. You go first.”

I shake my head, finally cracking a smile. “I asked. You answer.” I look up at the sky, and we both watch the rainclouds moving towards us, but we make no attempt to head inside.

“Does it have to be tangible?” Ali asks. “Can I say happiness?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course not! That’s such a boring answer. Let’s say it’s tangible.”

Ali laughs and throws up her hands in defense. “Ok, ok! No happiness.” She goes silent, thinking again, and we can hear thunder rumbling above us.

We don’t move.

“A dog?”

“That’s alive, and I feel like that’s cheating,” I say matter-of-factly. More thunder punctuates my statement.

She stomps her feet against the picnic table in mock frustration. “I didn’t know there would be so many rules!”

“How about...” Ali sighs and looks at the sky again. I pick at a splinter of wood sticking out of the table.

“I’d want a book. One that keeps quotes of things people say, like, on its own. So, a magic book.” Ali looks over at me, eyes raised.

I make a face. “That’s it?”

A smile jumps to her face. “You’re letting me chose a magic book? That’s allowed?”

I shrug, chuckling. “Sure it is.”

“In that case,” she says, “Yes. It’s not just any quotes; it’s good quotes, thought-provoking ones. And when you open the book, it’ll give you one. Just what you need to read to make your day better.”

I nod thoughtfully. “Wouldn’t that be nice.”

“And you, what would you wish for?” Ali blinks as a raindrop hits her nose.

I look down, and thunder rumbles again. Rain begins to fall in fat droplets. “I guess you’ll have to find out later,” I say, holding a hand above my head. The rain had started suddenly, and has already turned Ali’s hair into shiny, wet ropes.

“You’re not going to tell me?!” Ali yells over the rain. It's coming down hard now.

“Not today,” I say, hopping off of the picnic bench. For now, it's time to go inside.