At three Daniel was still just a little tyke. Shaggy, sun washed hair drifted across his round, pink cheeked face partially obscuring his big blue eyes so full of intelligence and imagination. He might be small in stature but he was BIG, REALLY BIG when it came to holding his own and making his own mark as the "baby" in the family. 
Right now, his biggest desire was to have his own bike. A real bike, with two wheels, and NEW. He was tired of the three wheeled plastic hand-me-down hot wheels he'd been riding for the past year. At 3 and almost a half he was totally ready for the two wheeled bike his older brothers and sister had. How did he get one of those? That was the big question. Kevin and Emma told him that a NEW bike cost lots of money. How much did he have anyway? Daniel started digging in his pockets. Out came a small red fire truck, 2 marbles, something squishy that had a vague smell of peanut butter, a really cool rock he planned to give his mom and OH YES! 2 pennies, 1 nickel and a washer – he was rich beyond his imaginings. Kevin and Emma scoffed, rolled their eyes and wished him "Good luck with that" in really mean sounding big kid voices. Ryder at 5 and in kindergarten watched and listened. HE knew that magic lived in the world. But still you had to believe, really believe and be willing to go out on a limb to help bring it along. "Don't worry Daniel. I know we'll find a way to get you a bike. And not just any bike. We'll get you one with red and yellow streamers and clickety things in the spokes to make your bike sing! You'll be the fastest, most daring rider around." 
That weekend, the whole family visited the Great Aunts and Uncle that lived in the country. Auntie Mae was planting a garden and had yet to decide what kind of tree to plant as her most magnificent, most marvelous, most magical tree yet. Upon arrival the kids played in the dirt and bushes and among the early blooms of poppies, lupine, tulips and smiley faced daffodils. They were careful not to trample, but kids being kids they were soon relegated to the grassy yard out back. Ryder took that opportunity to rise up on tippy toes, tug on Great Aunt Mae's arm and bring her down to his level to whisper in her ear. He trusted her with his secrets and her magical can do, will do attitude. He told her about Daniel's deepest desire. "A bike! With yellow and red streamers and clickety things in the spokes so that his bike could sing. Could she help make his wish come true?" 
Of course she could. In fact she had just the seed they needed tucked away in the garage, in the corner called, "All things bike!" A magical tree from a magical seed that had been waiting for just the right occasion. All that was required was already present. Two small boys (who hadn't outgrown magic), a couple of metal spoons (tablespoons secreted away from the kitchen), a red watering can (metal is best) and a little glitter any color (best if it was left over from a fun craft project). Auntie, herself, would direct the boys. Next step would be to have the boys decide on what this tree would produce.  
"My BIKE" beamed Daniel. 
"Red and yellow streamers" shouted Ryder bouncing with excitement. 
"Clickety things, so the bike can sing" proclaimed Great Aunt Mae. 
They all three held hands and danced round and round the seed (which looked suspiciously like a link from one of Aunties' old bike chains). 
Just then Emma and Kevin came to the garden to see what all of the fuss was about. "Hey, what's that? Looks like a link from one of Auntie's old bike chains!" Kevin took his pokey stick and tapped the seed and maybe shoved it just a little. Daniel and Ryder were immediately ready to fight for their tree but Auntie make shooing motions at the bigger kids and said "You are messing with the magic the boys and I are making. Now, go play in the backyard." "Yeah, that's right," the smaller boys cried out and gave their brother and sister the stink eye. Emma and Kevin retreated and the other three got seriously into the magic of a bike tree, muttering words that sounded like streamers, clickety and sing.  First they dug a hole with their purloined tablespoons and then they buried their seed with just a pinch of glitter and added magic from the red watering can.  
"OK everybody, time to head for home." The four kids, with dirty faces and arms, their little legs streaked with mud and grass stains piled into the van. All of the tired children waved goodbye and Auntie Mae blew kisses and reminded them to come back in 3 days to see what Mother Nature was up to. 
Three days of endless questions followed.  When can we go see our tree?   Do you think it's growing?  Did Auntie put love and magic into the watering can?  Will this be the bike Daniel and Ryder have been wishing for? And so many, many more. Emma and Kevin were more interested in the hows – How do you actually grow a bike?  How big will it get? Can anyone just plant a chain link and expect to grow a bike?  Mom did her best to answer all of the questions and just finally had to resort to "We'll just have to wait and see in 3 days, 2 days and then finally 1 day.  Each child was quiet on the drive to Great Aunt Mae's as everyone was dreaming of possibilities.  When they arrived there was a mass exodus from the van but an orderly procession to the garden to check on THE BIKE TREE. 
First to arrive was Daniel.  He squatted down on his chubby legs, hands on his knees, nose almost touching the dirt where there was, quite impossibly, a bike seat quite close to the ground that had just the barest hint of glitter on it.  Ryder, next in line gently ran a fingertip along the top of what were surely handlebars. "Ohh..." they breathed together.  Emma spotted red and yellow streamers just starting to emerge from the ends of the handlebars.  She was, for a change, speechless, awestruck.  Finally, Kevin, not at all impressed, tapped the bars lightly with his pokey stick and said "Eh, no music, no clickety sounds, no tiny bell and no helmet."  The other three turned on him and he quickly hid behind Mom.  Great Aunt Mae suggested a break from all of the magic and pointed them in the direction of the back porch where apple slices and fresh chocolate chip cookies awaited true believers.  "NONE FOR YOU KEVIN" they shouted and off they trounced hoping that Auntie still had just a bit of magic left. 
Auntie picked up the red metal watering can and peeked inside and sure enough she spotted exactly what she hoped to see.  There just along the bottom edge a trace of glitter and a spot of chain lube.  Oh yes! Just enough to finish the bike and a helmet and tiny bell too. The final touches.  She upended the can over the mostly completed bike for Daniel. Then she went to join the kids for snacks, encouraging the younger ones to include Kevin, reminding them that sometimes we all need to help each other believe in magical good things.  Finally, after a half an hour of snacks and calming quiet time they trouped off to the garden again and THERE in all its glory was THE BIKE - STANDING PROUD IN THE GARDEN – IT HAD RED AND YELLOW STREAMERS WITH CLICKETY THINGS IN THE SPOKES SO THAT DANIEL'S BIKE COULD SING.  DANIEL WOULD BE THE FASTEST, MOST DARING RIDER AROUND!