off the cuff

At the dinner table my teenage son suddenly came out with “I wish I had three wishes.”

Jumping at the opportunity to examine his psyche a little further I asked him the obvious question “What would you wish for?”

His face seemed lost in thought for a few moments and then came his first wish; “I would ask to be the smartest man in the world. That has ever lived.”

I inquired if he had considered some of the negatives that could come with that title but he seemed firm on the wish.

“Next I would wish to be the most athletic person in the world.”

I thought, given the multitude of other possible wishes that were available that wanting to use one on his physical being might be a bit superficial but he was having none of it.

I asked him what he would wish for last.

“I would want a trillion dollars.”

Wow, so much for world peace or a cure for all diseases. My son wanted the big bucks.

After sitting back and reviewing his choices I asked him if he was happy with his choices. He nodded that he was. I asked him why.

“Because if you’re smart, built and rich nobody can mess with you.”

I laughed and told him there would always be someone. He didn’t understand at first so I simply said “A girl.”

“No. I meant nobody could hurt me.”

I repeated “A girl” and hoped he would never have to find out how right I was.