Seamus' crunching footsteps faded away.  I sat and stared at the "bird bones" resting in the palm of my hand inches from my face.  I intently examined the bones and could not find a bill.  If the bones were those of a bird, there'd be a bill.  There wasn't.  "Seamus' don' know ****," I whispered to the wind.

     Suddenly, almost from nowhere the tears started.  Sobs racked my body and I was dimly aware that my tears were running down my cheeks to drip of my chin and fall onto the bones in my hand.

     The bones moved.  I thought they did, anyway.  I wiped my eyes with my free hand, but everything remained blurry.  I felt the bones move again.  Frantically, I brushed the hair out of my eyes.  I pulled my dress up and wiped my eyes again and again.  The bones quivered and shook in my palm the entire time.

     The voice was tinny and seemed far away.  I could barely hear it over the wind, but my eyes had cleared and I pulled my hand even closer.  The fairy was a she and she was beautiful.

    My tears stopped instantly and I must have smiled because she smiled at me.  She motioned me closer and with my face a mere inch away I could hear her clearly.

    "Thankyou, thankyou.  Your tears have given me new life and now, I will grant your dearest wish."

     My "dearest wish"?  Oh, my, whatever could that be.  What should I wish for?