Little Mari, a year younger than five-year-old Zooey Davidson, took her by the hand as they ran toward the wishing tree. In their free hands, they each held a colorful cloth provided by Tala, who looked like she could be Mari’s teenage sister but wasn’t.

“Danilo helped me put my first one up. Now I’ll help you.”

“Did your brother tell you what it is?”

“Of course. It’s a wishing tree.”

“What do you wish for?”

“Anything you want.”

“Can I wish to go home?”

“I don’t know. A lot of the kids don’t want to go home.”

“Don’t you want to see your Mom and Dad again? I do.” Zooey had been looking up a the tree which seemed to be decorated with hundreds of bright, cheerful flags. Then she realized the four-year old had stopped talking.

“What’s wrong?” Zooey took the other girl’s shoulder and then hugged her because she was crying.

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(and to read the Epilogue to James’story of the Davidson children, just click HERE)