We’re driving down Route 36 to drop Ty off at Mountain View preschool. As we come over the ridge, the expansive view unfolds, surrounding us with Colorado’s beautiful peaks in panoramic style.

The air is clean and thin, and because of that, the sky is actually bluer than in other parts of the country. We leave the windows down and take deep breaths of appreciation.

“So, Ty,” I ask, smiling. “What do you want for your big fourth birthday?”

“A gun,” he states.

“You’re not getting a gun,” I respond.

“No–a toy gun.”

“You’re not getting any kind of gun. Choose something else.”

“A real car.”

“What else?”

“A real motorcycle.”

“What else?”

“A real fence built around my room so the dogs can’t get in.”

“What else?”

“A Red Sox championship coin.”

“But you already have one.”

“But I can’t find it.”

“What else?”

“A C.U. Buff’s coin.”

“But you already have one of those, too.”

“But I don’t know where it is.”

“Well, you should look for it,” I said impatiently.

He thought for a few moments, “Hmmm.”

“Think about toys, Ty.”

“Those are toys.”

I’m quiet for the rest of the ride.

I drop Ty off at school and my daughter and I get our errands done before we pick her brothers up from school.

Dinner and baths go smoothly, and by bedtime everyone is quieting down. Rubbing Ty’s back in his bed, he speaks softly, “Mom?”

“Yes, Ty?”

“I know what I want for my birthday.”

“What is it?”

“A chick.”

“A chick?”

“Yeah. A chick.”

“What kind of chick?”

“You know…a baby chick.”

“The kind that grows up to be a chicken?”

“No.”

“But all chicks grow up to be chickens, Ty.”

“It’s a magical chick and it never dies.”

“Does it have a name?”

“Peter.”

“Peter the magical chick?”

“Yes.”

“Does he have any friends?”

“Yes, Ake and Nake.”

Silence.

“Actually, mom, you know what I want for my birthday?” he continues.

“What, Ty?”

“A real bus.”

“A bus?”

Yeah–you know–a real school bus.”

“Hmmm,” I said at a loss.

“And a real American flag.”

Relieved, I said happily, “A flag? We can get you that!”

Silence.

“Actually, I don’t want a flag.”

“Go to sleep, Ty.”

“I love you, mommy.”

“I love you too, Ty.”