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The two girls gathered around the small watch and peered at it closely.
‘It is the wish watch,’ Wanda explained. The single pointer was now halfway between CAKE and SLEEP.
‘Your wish will last as long as it takes for the pointer to reach SLEEP. That’s bedtime tonight,’ Mirella told them.
‘I can’t leave the poor pony here that long,’ Amanda said. Pinky was trying to stand still but barely had any room at all. The girls had to climb over the fence and look at her from the other side.
‘Then you can choose to wind back the wish watch - but your wish will be over,’ Wanda said.
‘No more pony?’ Amanda said with a sigh.
Wanda shook her head. She felt a drop of water on her head and looked up. Big clouds had gathered in the sky and another big drop of water splashed on her, drenching her completely.
‘You two will remember everything that happened but the adults won’t remember anything.’ Mirella added.
‘Okay,’ Amanda said. ‘Pinky doesn’t like water. Can I go back to the CAKE time?’
Wanda shook the rain off the wish watch and carefully turned the dial so that the pointer moved backwards. She kept turning until it reached CAKE.
‘Now what happens?’ Amanda asked.
A bright rainbow appeared out of the sky as the sun peered through the clouds. It drenched them all in bright colours that danced around them all. Pinky gave a loud whinny and the air was filled with sprinkles of fairy dust that exploded with bright lights and popping sounds.
As the light faded away they were no longer in the garden. Instead they were all standing around the kitchen table with the cake in the middle.
‘I’ve left your present outside,’ Grandma said, giving Amanda a hug. ‘You can come and get it after you blow out your candles.’
Amanda looked around the room. They were right back to lunchtime. The candles on the cake were still lit and the pink pony was still on the cake. Her purple mane was still platted and her hooves were still painted red.
‘Blow out your candles, Amanda,’ Dad said.
‘Make a wish!’ added Mum.
Wanda fluttered down to stand next to the pony. Her feet sunk into the chocolate again. There was no sign of Mirella.
Amanda’s mother looked at the cake and then at Amanda. ‘Aren’t you going to blow out the candles and make a wish?’
‘I’ve already had my wish,’ Amanda replied.
Her mother looked confused but didn’t say anything.
‘Blow out the candles,’ Wanda told her. ‘I can‘t help, but maybe it will come true anyway.’
‘Thanks for the pony,’ Amanda said to Wanda with a grin. ‘It was fun. But I don’t want another pony.’
‘What pony?’ Mum asked.
‘The one on the cake,’ Amanda replied.
‘Oh,’ Mum said. ‘It’s not new. I got it from your room.’
Amanda closed her eyes and blew. Wanda was blown right off the cake. When she looked back at the cake the pony had gone!