"Make a Wish," Senia Mae said as she blew the billowy, white seeds of the blossoming dandelion in my face.

"My wish is...," but before I can finish my words are abruptly cut off.

"Mama," Senia Mae said in a gentle yet scolding tone, "everybody knows your wish has to stay a secret. If anyone else knows it won't come true."

"Oh," I said. "I guess you'll never know what it is." I've never really believed that your wish has to be kept a secret because if it is never heard than how can anyone make sure it happens? This opinion I kept hidden from my daughter although I'm sure she knows my wish for the last 10 years has been for my manuscript to be picked up by a traditional publisher.

This morning, though, I believe a subconscious wish of mine may have come true... getting Senia Mae out the door on time. After a summer of struggling to get our bodies over the threshold before 8:25 a.m., I thought today, the first day of school, would be one more dreadful morning of the wrestling of wills. Imagining that I would have to drag myself to her room several times, pleading with her to climb out of bed and not make me late, I was pleasantly surprised when she crept into my room before the alarm went off at 6. Who's kid is this and what did you do with mine?

"Mama, it's the first day of school. Time to get up!" she said. The rest of the morning was nearly effortless.

"You must be really excited."

"I am," she said. "Now, please don't make me late." I laughed when I realized my own words were being tossed back at me.