# Make A Wish.....

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-wish/37244>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 17, 2000, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-wish/37244 "2000-10-17T12:09:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Oicu812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f475e1/32.png) [@Oicu812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oicu812)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-wish/37244/1 "2000-10-17T12:09:50Z")

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As you guys know, I am an SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) member, who re-enacts history up to 1650AD.

This story touched my heart, and made me teary eyed and proud all at once.

_sniffles at his desk_

* * *

There was a contest on the SCA-West list to come  
up with the most positive stories and posts. This  
was the first.

-------- Original Message --------  
Subject: Re: [SCA-West] Dare To have a Good Story  
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 07:25:30 PDT  
From: “Margarette Rose” \<[lostrose10@hotmail.com](mailto:lostrose10@hotmail.com)\>  
Reply-To: [sca-west@rogues.net](mailto:sca-west@rogues.net)  
To: [sca-west@rogues.net](mailto:sca-west@rogues.net)

My Lord,  
I shall take your challenge, but if grace should  
shine, not the prize (I hate fish).

Make-a-Wish  
(A day of Magic)

Long ago in a kingdom on the West Coast, there was  
a small tourney. This tourney was the first  
“Make-a-wish” tourney that I ever attended. The  
foundation had brought a, small eight year old boy  
in a wheel chair, to the event. It was his “hearts desire” that he should be “King for a Day.” As with all who qualify for  
this foundation, he was dying. He had cancer of  
the brain and the doctors had given him, 2-3 months more to live.  
He was wheelchair bound, and on medication, but  
much more alert than most expected. His cute brown  
hair and big eyes seemed to eat up everything he  
saw!

The day was beautiful, not overly hot, and the  
skies were clear. The populace had crafted a crown, a scepter, and a cloak for “His Majesty”. As we stood and bowed as  
he was brought down the center isle for opening  
court, the wind picked up and sent the banners  
snapping in the breeze. Two knights, attended His  
Majesty, as well as his Mother, who walked  
behind. Her eyes were misty as she watched total  
strangers giving her son his dying wish.

During opening court,the combatants for the day  
came forward and pledged their fights to His Majesty’s honor. Without prompting, He smiled, thanked  
them, and wished them well. He was so grown up in  
his manners and speech. Everyone’s heart caught in their throats.

Towards the end of the day, “His Majesties”  
attendants requested an audience with the Knights  
council and the King (ours). At the council  
meeting, one of the knights requested, that as  
this small child had through out the day shown  
bravery, honor, chivalry, and courtesy, he should  
be knighted, by our King for real. This knight  
offered his own belt for the lad, another came  
forward and offered his chain, still another  
offered his spurs and finally the last knight who  
came forward offered his “dagger” to serve as a  
sword for the new knight. There was one of the  
older knights who objected, saying that “they  
couldn’t possibly knight this boy, who first was  
not a member of the society and who secondly  
wasn’t even a fighter!” But as Our King pointed  
out, the child was dying and wouldn’t live to gown  
up to be a fighter, but that he had been fighting  
this disease all of his life and had been able to  
be courteous through it all! The older knight,  
sat down. Also the King continued, saying, that  
he himself, had also watched the lad and indeed he  
could attest to his bravery, for he never should  
any discomfort, to anyone.

At closing court His Majesty was knighted! Those  
attending court cried, those knights who gave up their own items cried and the day ended.

But this is not the end of the story. Nine or ten  
months later, his Mother came to an event. She  
wanted first to “thank us.”, for making her sons  
last days so happy and to let us know that the  
doctors had credited the Society and its actions  
with prolonging the childs life. She also said  
that when things got really bad, he never cried,  
because, he said, “Real, knights had to be brave  
and since he was a real knight now, he had to be  
brave too.” Also she wanted us to know that, he  
died with his belt, chain, and spurs on, holding  
his sword. She had buried him with the sword,  
belt and chain, but wanted to return the spurs to  
the Knight who had donated them. The knight in  
question, rose, and knelt before this lady, “It  
was an honor, My Lady, to count your son, as one  
of us.” He told her. “Your son has taught us all  
the true meaning of bravery. Please keep the  
spurs as a remembrance of him and the honor he did  
us all.”

Many years have come and gone since this  
Make-a-wish tourney, but I still  
remember the generosity of the SCA and its ability  
to touch the every day world.

I hope this qualifies for a positive story. It  
has certainly touched my life and inspired me.  
I hope it does you too.  
Mags

* * *

O

* * *

Got Filk?

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**Author:** ![Sn-man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sn-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sn-man)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-wish/37244/2 "2000-10-17T12:18:37Z")

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Truly touching. I think the “Make A Wish” foundation is great. My wish…is that it could reach more people.
