The Third Wish (Hardcover)

Chapter One

Wishes

"I wish I could go to the pool today," sighed Jessie, looking out the Blue Moon kitchen window at the fierce blue sky.

Her mother didn't answer, so Jessie tried again, raising her voice over the sound of the early morning news droning from the radio.

"It's going to be really hot again today," she said. "I wish you didn't have to go to work, Mum. Then you could take me swimming."

She looked sideways at her mother. But Rosemary still didn't answer. She didn't even seem to be listening. She switched off the radio and started rushing around with a piece of toast in one hand and her car keys in the other, the belt of her nurses' uniform dangling behind her.

Jessie edged toward her. "I wish it wasn't so hot," she complained. "I didn't think it ever got

as hot as this in the Mountains. I wish we were somewhere cooler. I wish Granny's car was fixed so she could take me to the pool. I wish—"

"I wish I could find my sunglasses!" snapped Rosemary. "And I wish you'd stop complaining and being so selfish, Jessie! Think what other people are going through. These terrible fires . . ." She bit her lip and turned away.

Jessie went back to the window and frowned at the sky. There wasn't a cloud to be seen. Just haze from the smoke of burning bushland. And the sun, rising higher, beating down on the house, making everything hot, hot, hot.

The clock ticked in the silence of the kitchen.

"At least you don't have to go to school in this heat, Jess," Rosemary said more brightly. "Think yourself lucky you're on holidays."

"Some holiday," grumbled Jessie. "Everyone else will be at the pool today, while I'll be stuck here, bored and boiling and—"

"Jessie, that's enough!" Rosemary exploded.

Jessie jumped, then stuck out her bottom lip and sulked. Her mother hardly ever shouted at her, and she didn't like it.

Granny came into the room with her big ginger cat, Flynn, at her heels. She was frowning, and her green eyes looked worried.

"I met Hazel Bright on my walk," she said. "She says that another big fire broke out early this morning—just outside Silvervale."

"So I just heard on the news," Rosemary answered, as she struggled to fasten her belt. "They're fighting it with everything they've got. But people are starting to panic. It's panic that's the real killer, you know. People forget to think when they panic."

She shook her head. "It's going to be a bad day. It's so dry, Mum. Everything's so dry. And this heat—and the wind . . ."

"Dreadful," nodded Granny. "If only it would rain." She sighed. Flynn twined around her legs.

Rosemary shrugged. "If only," she said. "But wishing won't make it happen, will it?"

She found her sunglasses behind the teapot, put them on, and hurriedly ate the last of her toast. "Well, I'm late," she said. "I'll have to go." She looked seriously at Granny. "Now, Mum, ring me if you're worried about anything, won't you?" she murmured. "I don't like leaving you and Jessie here without the car."

"Don't worry, dear," Granny said. "I know what to do. All will be well."

"I hope so." Rosemary picked up her handbag. "You be good for Granny, now, Jessie," she warned. "Do everything she says. And no more carrying on about the pool. Go and paddle in the fish pond or something."

"Yes, Mum," said Jessie. She hunched her shoulders and turned away to look out the window again. "I wish I was a fish," she muttered.

She heard her mother click her tongue crossly, but didn't look around.

Granny didn't say anything until Rosemary had gone. Then she walked over to Jessie, her eyes twinkling, and tickled the back of her neck. The charm bracelet on her wrist jingled like tiny bells.

"Don't be crabby, Jessie," she teased.

"Mum's the crabby one," said Jessie shortly. "She's been crabby for days."

"She's hot, she's tired and she's worried about the fires," Granny said. "At the hospital they're treating lots of people who've been injured trying to save their homes. It must be very hard for Rosemary—for all the doctors and nurses. Most of them are probably worried about their own houses and families too."

"Mum doesn't have to worry about that, though, does she?" Jessie demanded. "So . . ."She broke off as she caught sight of Granny's grave face.

"She's not worried about it, is she?" she squeaked. "I mean, there's no danger Blue Moon could get burned, is there?"

Flynn meowed loudly. Granny bent to stroke his head. "Nothing's safe in this part of the Mountains at the moment, Jessie," she said gently. "Not even Blue Moon."

Jessie stared at her, open-mouthed. She could hardly take it in. It seemed impossible that the old home she loved so much could be in danger.

"The fires are moving closer to us all the time," Granny went on. "Didn't you hear what we said about Silvervale? That's not far from here at all. And they're fighting to save houses there right now."

Jessie's heart thudded. "I didn't think," she whispered. "I didn't know. Why didn't Mum tell me before?"

"Rosemary didn't want you to be frightened," said Granny calmly. "But I think it's time you understood how things are. You and I both know that you can be very brave if you try. The charms on your bracelet are proof of that."Jessie glanced at the charm bracelet on her wrist, took a deep breath, and nodded.

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Excerpted from Fairy Realm #3 by Rodda, Emily Copyright © 2004 by Emily Rodda. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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