tess was a precocious eight-year-old when she heard her mom and dad talking about her little brother, andrew. all she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. they were moving to an apartment complex next month because daddy didn't have the money for the doctor's bills and our house. only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no-one to loan them the money. she heard daddy say to her tearful mother with whispered desperation, "only a miracle can save him now."

　　tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. she poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. three times, even. the total had to be absolutely exact. no chance here for mistakes. carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to the pharmacy with the big red indian chief sign above the door.she waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. nothing. she cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. no good.finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. that did it! "and what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "i'm talking to my brother from chicago whom i haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

　　"well, i want to talk to you about my brother," tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "he's really, really sick... and i want to buy a miracle."

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