My Candles Would Not Go Out

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Every word, start to finish. The pictures come next — painted around your child, from one photo.

1. For Theo, who took his time deciding.

   For Amara, who took her time deciding.

   For Otto, who took his time deciding.

   Dedication

2. Everyone leaned in. Everyone went quiet. The room went orange with little flames. One wish, once a year: that is the whole rule, and it has to last until the next birthday. Theo had not decided yet.

   Everyone leaned in. Everyone went quiet. The room went orange with little flames. One wish, once a year: that is the whole rule, and it has to last until the next birthday. Amara had not decided yet.

   Everyone leaned in. Everyone went quiet. The room went orange with little flames. One wish, once a year: that is the whole rule, and it has to last until the next birthday. Otto had not decided yet.

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3. Theo blew anyway, to buy time. The candles leaned over politely, like small people in wind, and came straight back up. All of them. Still burning. A little taller, if anything.

   Amara blew anyway, to buy time. The candles leaned over politely, like small people in wind, and came straight back up. All of them. Still burning. A little taller, if anything.

   Otto blew anyway, to buy time. The candles leaned over politely, like small people in wind, and came straight back up. All of them. Still burning. A little taller, if anything.

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4. So Theo took the biggest breath of his entire life, from the floor up, until his ears creaked and the guests moved their drinks.

   So Amara took the biggest breath of her entire life, from the floor up, until her ears creaked and the guests moved their drinks.

   So Otto took the biggest breath of his entire life, from the floor up, until his ears creaked and the guests moved their drinks.

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5. Three hats and a napkin left the room. A card fell over on the mantel. Somebody's lemonade developed waves. The candles did not so much as flicker. Somebody said, hm.

   Three hats and a napkin left the room. A card fell over on the mantel. Somebody's lemonade developed waves. The candles did not so much as flicker. Somebody said, hm.

   Three hats and a napkin left the room. A card fell over on the mantel. Somebody's lemonade developed waves. The candles did not so much as flicker. Somebody said, hm.

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6. Next came the fan, on its highest setting. Then the hairdryer. Then a rolled-up magazine, swung by the tallest guest available. The candles found all of it refreshing.

   Next came the fan, on its highest setting. Then the hairdryer. Then a rolled-up magazine, swung by the tallest guest available. The candles found all of it refreshing.

   Next came the fan, on its highest setting. Then the hairdryer. Then a rolled-up magazine, swung by the tallest guest available. The candles found all of it refreshing.

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7. The room was a gale. The cake was a lighthouse. The party had been going for two days, and the guests had started sleeping in shifts. A birthday cannot end until its candles do. Everybody knows that.

   The room was a gale. The cake was a lighthouse. The party had been going for two days, and the guests had started sleeping in shifts. A birthday cannot end until its candles do. Everybody knows that.

   The room was a gale. The cake was a lighthouse. The party had been going for two days, and the guests had started sleeping in shifts. A birthday cannot end until its candles do. Everybody knows that.

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8. By Thursday everyone had fallen asleep in their chairs, party hats over their eyes. The house was quiet except for thirteen small flames. Theo sat alone with the little fire and, at last, thought properly.

   By Thursday everyone had fallen asleep in their chairs, party hats over their eyes. The house was quiet except for thirteen small flames. Amara sat alone with the little fire and, at last, thought properly.

   By Thursday everyone had fallen asleep in their chairs, party hats over their eyes. The house was quiet except for thirteen small flames. Otto sat alone with the little fire and, at last, thought properly.

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9. All week Theo had hunted a wish big enough to be worth a year: fame, or flight, or a horse. That was the mistake. The right one was not big at all. It was small, and true, and nearby.

   All week Amara had hunted a wish big enough to be worth a year: fame, or flight, or a horse. That was the mistake. The right one was not big at all. It was small, and true, and nearby.

   All week Otto had hunted a wish big enough to be worth a year: fame, or flight, or a horse. That was the mistake. The right one was not big at all. It was small, and true, and nearby.

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10. So Theo leaned right in, close enough to feel the warmth on his chin, and said it out loud, which you are absolutely not supposed to do. The sleeping party slept on. The candles heard.

    So Amara leaned right in, close enough to feel the warmth on her chin, and said it out loud, which you are absolutely not supposed to do. The sleeping party slept on. The candles heard.

    So Otto leaned right in, close enough to feel the warmth on his chin, and said it out loud, which you are absolutely not supposed to do. The sleeping party slept on. The candles heard.

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11. The flames all leaned towards him at once, listening, the way people do when somebody finally says a thing worth hearing. For a moment nothing in the room moved, not even the smoke.

    The flames all leaned towards her at once, listening, the way people do when somebody finally says a thing worth hearing. For a moment nothing in the room moved, not even the smoke.

    The flames all leaned towards him at once, listening, the way people do when somebody finally says a thing worth hearing. For a moment nothing in the room moved, not even the smoke.

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12. Then every candle went out at once, without being blown at, the way a theater goes dark. The whole house woke up in the sudden night and cheered. Thursday ended, finally, mid-cheer.

    Then every candle went out at once, without being blown at, the way a theater goes dark. The whole house woke up in the sudden night and cheered. Thursday ended, finally, mid-cheer.

    Then every candle went out at once, without being blown at, the way a theater goes dark. The whole house woke up in the sudden night and cheered. Thursday ended, finally, mid-cheer.

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13. What was wished stays between Theo and the candles. But he kept one back, unlit, in the sock drawer, where important things live. Some wishes want saying twice.

    What was wished stays between Amara and the candles. But she kept one back, unlit, in the sock drawer, where important things live. Some wishes want saying twice.

    What was wished stays between Otto and the candles. But he kept one back, unlit, in the sock drawer, where important things live. Some wishes want saying twice.

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