The World Where Wishes Worked
This first appeared in PROTOSTARS, 1971. It’s been adapted into, of all things, a playlet performed at elementary schools.
The advice “Be careful what you wish for…” has been used so often of late that I wouldn’t dream of repeating it here.
There once was a world where wishes worked.
It was a pleasant enough place, I suppose, and the people were certainly happy. There was no hunger in this world, for a man had only to wish for food to have it appear before him. Clothing and shelter were equally easy to obtain. Envy was unknown there—if another person had something that seemed interesting, it was only a wish away from anyone else. There was neither age nor need. The people lived simple lives devoted to beauty and the gentle sciences. The days were a pleasan
