It was time to cut the cake. John and Wendy stepped closer and held hands around the knife. I wondered if my brother and his new wife would make a wish first. But there were no candles to blow out today.

I felt like making my own wish. I’d wish that John and Wendy weren’t married. The wedding was fine, but I didn’t want John to move away.  I was going to miss spending time with him. When would we play basketball together? How would he help me with my homework?

Mom said to think of it in a different way. She said I was gaining a sister, not losing a brother. But I already had a sister. She was younger than me. She didn’t play basketball or help with homework. I didn’t need another one of those.

I really liked Wendy. She asked me to be a bridesmaid and she even let me pick out my dress. It was purple with a little bow in the back. It had matching shoes and a matching headband too.

John and Wendy took me along when they tasted cakes. That was pretty cool. I liked the chocolate chip cake. But they picked the almond one.

I saved my allowance for months to buy a present for John and Wendy. I wanted to buy a new basketball, but Mom said towels would be better. We compromised on a croquet set for their new yard.

Now that the cake was done, it was time for John and Wendy to leave in their convertible. Their friends had decorated it with streamers and painted hearts on the windows. I started to walk out to say goodbye when John came back and pulled me to the side.

“After we leave, check under the cake table,” he said. “We left you something there.”

I waved goodbye as they drove away and then ran to the table to look. Underneath there was a basketball from John. There was a homemade coupon book from Wendy. The coupons were for time with John whenever I needed it. I decided I’d better change my wish. I was glad John and Wendy were married after all.