My name is Ali. I’m from Punjab, India, but my family and I live in Milwaukee—a city in Wisconsin. I know what you’re thinking: Yeah, it’s cold here.

Question

We’re Sikh. That’s our faith. We have a lovely temple south of Milwaukee that looks a little like an office building from the outside. Anyway, today I’m helping my mother and aunts in the kitchen for an event. When I take out the trash, I find an antique lamp. It’s rusted and battered, but magnificent. I like to collect items others throw away and make art from them.

Paintings on scraps of discarded wood. Sculptures from empty soda cans and cardboard. Models from twine and sticks. You get the idea.

I like to give my art away to those I love, which is mainly my family. I’m too young to be a Romeo or Juliet. Anyway, back to the lamp. I pick it up and use my fingernail to scrape at a spot of what looks like tar.

Steam escapes from the top, where the light bulb usually goes. I almost drop the lamp because the mist takes shape and settles on the asphalt in front of me, next to the dumpster, at the very back of the Sikh temple.

It’s a creature—part fox, part lion, but more the size of a medium range dog. It sits back on its hind legs and grins, which could be mistaken for baring pointy teeth. I grip the lamp tighter, ready to strike if needed. But I don’t have to—the creature speaks eloquently. Yeah, that’s right. It speaks.

“Thank you for bringing me through the portal. Now I would like to share gifts with you. Tell me: What do you wish for? I will grant you three. . .”

Answer 1

I felt my heart race at the creature's words, a mix of excitement and disbelief washing over me. Could this really be happening? I'd always loved stories about magical beings and mystical adventures, but standing here in the chilly Milwaukee air with this hybrid creature was beyond anything I had ever imagined.

"Um… I—I wish for—" My mind raced with possibilities. I could ask for riches, fame, or even a high-tech art studio, but that didn’t sit right with me. My eyes flicked back to the temple, where my family was preparing for the event, their laughter and chatter drifting through the air. Connection, love, and community—those were the things I truly cherished.

"I wish for my family to always be happy and healthy," I said, feeling like my humble request filled the chilly air with warmth.

The creature tilted its head, and a sparkling light flickered around its form, almost as if it were considering my wish. "A noble wish," it said, its voice smooth and gentle. "You shall have it."

Suddenly, I felt a surge of warmth spreading through my chest, and I knew that my family would experience joy and well-being in the days ahead.

Before I could even register my first wish, I realized I needed to formulate the next one. "I—I wish that I can find a way to inspire others through my art," I said, thinking of how much I loved sharing my creations with those around me. "I want people to feel joy and think differently through the things I make."

The creature smirked, an almost proud expression flashing across its face. "An artist’s wish. Done." It clapped its front paws together, and I felt a small wave of inspiration flood my mind with ideas—colors, shapes, and themes swirling in visions before my eyes.

I blinked, momentarily stunned by the cascade of thoughts. But I couldn't hesitate; I had one wish left. This was my moment to ask for something big, and at that instant, I realized what it needed to be.

"I wish for the courage to follow my dreams," I declared, my heart pounding. "To not be afraid of what others think and to create without boundaries."

The creature nodded, its golden eyes sparkling. "Courage is perhaps the greatest gift of all," it said. "Your wish is granted."

In an instant, the warm feeling enveloped me again, and I felt a surge of energy and confidence course through my very being. My heart glowed with the possibilities that lay ahead of me.

The creature gave a profound smile, and its form began to shimmer. "Remember, young one, your true power comes from within. Create, share, and love freely. You have what it takes to make a mark on the world."

With those words, the mist began to swirl again, wrapping around the creature until it vanished into the air, leaving only the old lamp in my hands.

I stood there for a moment, the weight of the lamp in one hand and my dreams unfurling like petals blooming in the spring. With a renewed spirit, I turned and headed back inside the temple, ready to share my heart, my art, and my newfound courage with my family.