One day at work, I observed a class, in which the woman was teaching the kids about tarantulas. She described how the tarantula can scuff off its tiny hairs in the face of a predator, such as a fox.

"It's kind of like a dandelion. You all know what dandelions are, right? They're the plants where you blow on the little fuzzy seeds, and they fly away."

"And you make a wish," a little boy piped up.

"Oh, you do? That's nice, I'll have to remember to try that," she said.

He replied matter of factly, "It doesn't work."

Everyone giggled, and he said, "Well, it doesn't! I tried it!"

"Well," the teacher said, "Sometimes wishes don't come true overnight. You have to be patient with wishes."

I hope someday soon that kid's wishes come true. First grade is too young to give up hope.