cutbacks and Dad would have to fire several of the staff. These had been his friends for a long time,
Dad answered. How could he tell them to leave when they had mortgages to pay and children to
feed? “Sorry,” explained Dad’s boss, “It has to be done.” Even before Michelle had hung up the phone
she was wishing she were no longer Dad. So she said, “Wishus Fulfilus Michelle.”
She just wanted to be herself, and with that wish she was. She was back in her classroom at school
among her friends, looking at books that she at least understood to some degree. Her teacher could
be a bit bossy at times, but to Michelle, she didn’t seem all that bad now. In fact, it didn’t feel all that
bad when Michelle got home from school that night and walked into her own room. Things looked
a little different from what they were before. Not that the room had changed, but maybe Michelle
had changed a bit. Knowing how it felt to be in Tessa’s and Marie’s place, she didn’t whine around
them so much. She also felt it would be nice to take a bit more responsibility like Tessa and Marie.
It might help her feel a bit more grown-up and give Marie more time to cope with all that difficult
homework. Knowing all the things that Mom had to do made her a bit more understanding when
Mom got bossy at times, and she also had a better understanding of what had been happening in Dad’s
day when he came home grumpy from work.
When next she opened her spell book again, it wasn’t with the thought of changing things for
herself. In fact, it now felt pretty good just being who she was. With her magical wish-fulfilling spell
she was now sending good wishes to Tessa, Marie, Mom, and Dad.
STORY 40
MAKING AND KEEPING FRIENDSTherapeutic Characteristics
Problems Addressed
■ Loneliness
■ Lack of friends
■ Lack of social skillsResources Developed
■ Openness to doing something different
■ Willingness to explore new relationships
■ Learning what works and what does not
■ Giving compliments
■ Accepting compliments
■ Helping others
■ Contributing from your unique abilitiesOutcomes Offered
■ Mutual friendship
■ Enhanced social skills
■ The benefits of cooperation118 Healing Stories, Teaching Stories