In which there aren't three wishes, and the challenge is to make one suffice

Only One Wish  (Ireland)

Long ago a man and a woman lived by the sea.  The man’s parents lived with them.  They had known much sorrow and were very poor, and there were no children in the house at all.

 

Despite all the hardships, they made a living by fishing until one day a storm rose up and smashed the fishing boat and nearly took the lives of those aboard as well.

 

The next day, the man went walking by the shore.  The only boat to have survived the storm belonged to a rich man–a cruel, and selfish rich man.

 

“I will take the boat out,” said the man to himself.  “For if I am arrested I will hang, but if I am not caught I can catch enough food for my family.”

 

Out he went, and cast out the nets three times, but only brought aboard a small silver fish.  He made to kill the fish, though it would make poor food, when it spoke to him.  

 

“Let me live!” cried the fish.  “For I can grant you a wish!”

 

“Only one wish?” asked the fisherman.  “Not three?”

 

“One wish is better than no wishes,” said the fish.  “Let me go now and return the boat to the shore.  Tomorrow I will come to you and ask for your wish.”

 

So the man let the small silver fish go, and took the boat back to shore.

 

When he returned home, he told his family about the small silver fish.

 

“But I only get one wish!” he cried.  

 

“Wish for gold,” said his mother, “for gold will solve all our problems.

 

“You should wish to restore my eyesight,” said his old father, “for I am blind.”

 

“Wish for a child,” said his wife, “for surely a child is the most precious gift of all!”

 

The man could not decide.  He tossed and turned all night.  Only one wish, only one wish.  What could he choose with only one wish?

 

As the sun rose, he went to the shore and called to the small silver fish.

 

“Well,” said the fish, “have you decided upon a wish?”

 

“I have,” said the man.  “I wish that my father could see my wife rocking our child in a golden cradle.”

 

And his one wish was granted, and the family lived in comfort and happiness for many years.