Can you write a fairy tale or do you just write a short, whimsical, story and hope it ages into a fairy tale with time? It’s just that I haven’t met a lot of kids who are talking about this cool new fairy tale they just read. You might, at first, think that this phenomenon is due to my not knowing many kids. I assure you that that is not the case. I volunteer at various area summer camps for this very reason; also for the free bug juice.

Your second thought is probably that children just aren’t reading like they used to. In defense of this I submit to you J. K. Rowling’s bank account. Figuratively. I don’t have access to it, but believe me when I tell you that it’s huge.

The third and final defense, and the one that I believe is true, is that fairy tales cannot be written; they can only be. The author or orator of Cinderella likely never sat down to pitch a new ‘fairy tale’ to the big Gutenberg press executive in town. He or she probably just saw a glass slipper and thought up a fun story to share.

In conclusion, Billy, I don’t think you’ll ever be a fairy tale writer when you grow up. I don’t care if your mom thinks you can do anything you set your mind to. Now go enjoy the rest of summer camp.