Luck of the 5-Year-Old
Our daughter commands outcomes.
By Juyun
My 5-year-old is incredibly lucky.
She’ll win 5 out of 8 poker hands with Grandpa, routinely.
And when I let her scratch off my Scratcher game, she won a free ticket. And from that ticket, won $30 - both the main game on the front and the bonus game on the back.
“Man,” said the tattooed gas station attendant. “I’ve never seen someone win both the main and bonus game. Most I ever won is like $7.”
Later, at home:
“Sweetheart, can you win Mommy and Daddy the Lottery?” I say, mostly joking but I’d be lying if it was 100% in jest.
“Ok! I’ll tell my magic doggie. He makes magic Mama!”
She whispers to her rainbow stuffed animal she got from camp and smiles to herself before turning to me.
“I can’t tell you what I said because then it won’t come true!”
I nod.
Just a few weeks ago, a girl offered her a toy she didn’t want from an arcade game.
And before that she's routinely noticed as a “beautiful” or “charming” girl by strangers not so much because of her good genes (ahem) but because of the confidence she exudes. Life is easy. Life is fun. And filled with wonder and magic and possibility.
Goodness seems to find my daughter. And luck is permanently at her disposal.
Recently, we brought up the prospect of moving.
“Can you tell your magic doggie to let us get that new house?”
She looked at me solemnly, as if caught between her own desires (she has a crush on one of the neighbors’ sons), and her desire for my happiness, and said:
“Ok if you really want to.”
Turning to her doggo, she stroked his head and whispered something to him.
And I wondered what happens when you wish for something you don’t really want, something that in fact goes against one of the facets of your day-to-day that brings you joy.
Either her luck will run out, or mine will.
And I guess I’d be ok with the latter if she’s allowed to keep hers.