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tesswasaprecociouseight-year-oldwhensheheardhermomanddadtalkingaboutherlittlebrother,andrew.allsheknewwasthathewasverysickandtheywerecompletelyoutofmoney.theyweremovingtoanapartmentcomplexnextmonthbecausedaddydidn’thavethemoneyforthedoctor’sbillsandourhouse.onlyaverycostlysurgerycouldsavehimnowanditwaslookingliketherewasno-onetoloanthemthemoney.shehearddaddysaytohertearfulmotherwithwhispereddesperation,“onlyamiraclecansavehimnow.”
tesswenttoherbedroomandpulledaglassjellyjarfromitshidingplaceinthecloset.shepouredallthechangeoutonthefloorandcounteditcarefully.threetimes,even.thetotalhadtobeabsolutelyexact.nochancehereformistakes.carefullyplacingthecoinsbackinthejarandtwistingonthecap,sheslippedoutthebackdoorandmadeherwaysixblockstothepharmacywiththebigredindianchiefsignabovethedoor.shewaitedpatientlyforthepharmacisttogivehersomeattentionbuthewastoobusyatthismoment.tesstwistedherfeettomakeascuffingnoise.nothing.sheclearedherthroatwiththemostdisgustingsoundshecouldmuster.nogood.finallyshetookaquarterfromherjarandbangeditontheglasscounter.thatdidit!“andwhatdoyouwant?”thepharmacistaskedinanannoyedtoneofvoice.“i’mtalkingtomybrotherfromchicagowhomihaven’tseeninages,”hesaidwithoutwaitingforareplytohisquestion.
“well,iwanttotalktoyouaboutmybrother,”tessansweredbackinthesameannoyedtone.“he’sreally,reallysick…andiwanttobuyamiracle.”
“ibegyourpardon?”saidthepharmacist.
“hisnameisandrewandhehassomethingbadgrowinginsidehisheadandmydaddysaysonlyamiraclecansavehimnow.sohowmuchdoesamiraclecost?”
“wedon’tsellmiracleshere,littlegirl.i’msorrybutican’thelpyou,”thepharmacistsaid,softeningalittle.
“listen,ihavethemoneytopayforit.ifitisn’tenough,iwillgettherest.justtellmehowmuchitcosts.”
thepharmacist’sbrotherwasawelldressedman.hestoopeddownandaskedthelittlegirl,“whatkindofamiracledoesyourbrotherneed?”
“idon’tknow,”tessrepliedwithhereyeswellingup.“ijustknowhe’sreallysickandmommysaysheneedsanoperation.butmydaddycan’tpayforit,soiwanttousemymoney.”
“howmuchdoyouhave?”askedthemanfromchicago.“onedollarandelevencents,”tessansweredbarelyaudibly.“andit’sallthemoneyihave,buticangetsomemoreifineedto.”
“well,whatacoincidence,”smiledtheman.“adollarandelevencents