Mark Wilson is a very nice man. He is the husband of his wonderful wife, Linda Wilson. He is also the dad of an adorable little three years old girl, Rosie Wilson (who looks just like her mother: blond hair and big blue eyes), and of such a cute nine years old boy, Tommy Wilson (who looks just like his father: curly brown hair and brown eyes). This little family is the owner of three dogs and a cat.

They all live a very happy life, the only problem is the money. They have never been very rich, but now that Linda can't work anymore because of a broken leg and a very bad illness, Mark is the only one who can work. It's been like that for six months.

Everyday, Mark goes to work. He cleans the floor in a supermarket. He gets just enough money to buy bread for breakfast and a few vegetables or fruits for dinner. They never have lunch. When he is lucky, he finds little coins on the floor and after a few days of collecting them, he can buy chicken instead of the vegetables. The food is shared fairly, everyone gets the same amount of it. The dogs and the cat find their food on their own in the streets, they search in the garbage for leftovers, except if Mark brings some chicken back, then they can get the bones when the family has finished to eat.

This Sunday morning, just like every other day, Mark has to wake up and go to work. The supermarket opens at 9:00 am and he has to be there as soon as it opens.

Mark opened his eyes and saw everything that was happening in his house because there is only one room in it. One single room that is the parents' bedroom, the kids' bedroom, the living room, the kitchen and the laundry. (Mark had built their house with whatever he could find, on an abandoned land not very far from the center of the city. The owner of the land knows how less money the family has, so he doesn't complain about them staying there.)

He saw his son already having a bath in the little bucket that they use to wash themselves and to wash their clothes. The children don't go to school, they stay at home with their mum.

-Oh! Hi Tommy! You are already awake? Mark asked his son.

-Yeah! I want to go to work too! So we'll have more money and we'll be able to buy more food for everyone!

Mark patted Tommy's head and answered:

-But you can't work yet... You are too young!

-No I am not! I'm already nine! I'm not useful at home, I have to go to work with you.

Mark laughed.

-You're very useful at home! Who would take care care of mum and Rosie if you didn't?

Tommy looked to the mattresses on the floor where his mum and sister were still asleep. He went closer to them then smiled.

-Yeah... True...

Mark walked to the door and said:

-See you later!

-We don't get any breakfast today? Tommy asked.

-No, but don't worry, you'll have a big dinner tonight.

Mark had actually decided not to go to work today. His family and himself could not survive much longer like this. Today, Mark hated the thought of it but he was going to steal. He would get into a house and steal whatever he could find in their fridge.

Mark had already found his victim. An old man always singing weird songs in his old house. One day, he came out shouting that the end would come soon, he went to everyone and told them that they would die a horrible death. Since that day, no one really goes near his house, people think that he is crazy and he could come out to kill everyone at any time.

But crazy or not, that man had food, Mark was sure about it.

He went out in the streets. He started walking to the old man's house. On his way there, people were all walking with their heads down. Guess what they were looking at? Mark sighed. People were wasting their money on very expensive phones and tablets and IPods and headphones while he didn't even have enough money to feed his own family...

After a while, he arrived at the old man's house. There was no one in the streets. He discreetly looked inside by the window, which was opened. There was no one in the living room, but a big chicken was on the table, probably already ready for lunch.

Mark quickly got in by the window and looked around. Still no one. He went to the chicken, took it and was starting to go toward the fridge when he heard the man coming down the stairs. He was singing a kind of incantation:

-Oh! Chicken, you may not live anymore! Chicken, you have lived before! Chicken! Oh! Chicken! Now with this spell, you may-...

The old man stopped when he saw Mark in his living room. Mark hadn't had time to escape before the man came back, but he quickly ran to the window and got out. He heard the old man yelling:

-You little thief!!! You wanted my enchanted chicken?!! Well, now you have it and you'll be punished!

Mark thought the old man was just crazy. He passed the rest of the day looking for some interesting garbage. He found a few things for his kids, like old toys, and an old book, he thought his wife might like to read it, even if a few pages were missing.

He went back home at the same time as usually. He didn't want to tell his family that he went stealing.

Linda looked so happy when he got home with some chicken.

-Ah honey! I'm so hungry. We haven't had any food yet today...

-I know sweetie... But I didn't have any money this morning... So I went to work and look at what I brought back! Chicken!

Linda smiled.

-I also got you a book and a few toys for the kids.

The little family started eating. The pets came back just in time when the family finished, so they ate the bones. Everyone went to sleep.

Everyone usually sleeps well after they've had chicken, but tonight, no one did. Rosie and Tommy had nightmares about chickens trying to eat them... Linda dreamt that she was feeling better and went to work, but then a tiny chicken came on her head and started pooping all over her. Mark had a very bad tummy ache and dreamt about himself getting arrested by a chicken dressed in a policeman suit.

In the morning, Mark left very early so that no one would see him leaving. He went back to the old man's house. He was amazed that the window was still opened. Mark quietly got in and looked at the table. There was a big steak on it. It looked like it was waiting for him.

Mark wondered why was the steak already on the table, but he didn't hesitate, he grabbed it and walked back to the window. He got out and ran back home.

Everyone was still asleep. Mark hid the steak somewhere so that his family wouldn't see it and went to work.

After work, on his way back home, he bought some bread for breakfast the next day.

-Mark, it's the second time that we don't get breakfast... Linda said when Mark got home.

-Don't worry sweetie, it won't happen again. Look, I've got some bread for tomorrow.

-And for tonight? Rosie asked.

-Aha! I have a surprise!

Mark went to the place where the steak was hidden and got it out.

-Steak???! Linda and Tommy said at the same time.

-I don't like steak. Rosie said.

-You might not, but it's good for you. Linda answered. How did you get enough money to buy this?

Mark didn't answer immediately, then said:

-Well, I found a lot of coins today.

The four of them ate and went to sleep.

New nightmares came for everybody. Mark's dream continued, he was in jail and his lawyer, a cow, came to talk to him.

The next day, Mark woke up early again and wondered if his nightmares were just a coincidence. But he went stealing again. When he came in by the window, he saw a fish on the table, already cooked and ready to be eaten. There was a little note next to it:

I don't like your attitude with your family. You should tell them the truth. I'm warning you, those nightmares will always come.

Mark read the note and looked at the fish. "So it wasn't a coincidence?" he wondered. But he still grabbed it and ran home.

Everyday, Mark went back to the old mans' house and stole food.
Everyday, there was a new note with it.

Why don't you just tell them?

Stop stealing in secret from your own family!

Mark Wilson, I'm asking you to stop stealing my food now.

Mark ignored the notes everyday. There was always food on the table, and he took it. He had nightmares about the food he stole, but he didn't mind about it anymore.

Sadly after this last note, there was no more food. Mark stared at the empty table for several minits then went to the fridge. Empty. He looked around, then, he had an idea.

The old mans' house was full of very valuable objects. Mark spotted a small old golden globe and stole it. He was going to sale it away for a good price and he would be able to buy food for the next few days.

Satisfied, he went away. He went to the market and sold the golden globe.

He sold it very easily. A man he knew came and asked him:

-Hi Mark! Is it real gold?

-Hi! Yes, it is. Mark answered, although he had no idea about it.

-Where did you get it??

-It's my boss'. He asked me to sale it for him.

-Ahh... How much is it?

-100 $.

-I'm buying it. My kid will love it.

So, Mark earned 100 $ very easily. Just by selling this old globe.

He bought the food he needed for tonight and went home.

But during the night, he had a horrible nightmare. The globe he sold to this random guy was actually a magic globe. You could control the weather with it. And it was now in a little boy's hands. He was pouring water onto it. He also threw rocks at it. And outside, it was raining water and rocks. Everyone was hurt by the stones falling from the sky... The kid dropped the globe and the world exploded.

Mark woke up in shock in the middle of the night. It was dark outside and it was raining. He walked to the door and stopped in when he saw a note on it.

I hate you.
Bring this globe back to me or you and your family will suffer.
Actually, the whole world will suffer...

As soon as mark had finished reading the note, it started raining rocks!

Mark had only thought: get the globe back.

He knew the man he had sold it to, he knew where he lived, he was going to go there right now and get the globe back.

Mark went outside and started running. Rocks were hurting him, they were falling on his head and face and arms... People were looking out their windows to see the raining rocks... He kept on running until he arrived to the guy's house. He gave a strong kick in the front door and it slammed open. He got in and ran to the kid's bedroom.

When he arrived there, he had to stare for a little while before reacting.

The kid was there, pouring water on the globe and throwing rocks at it. He stopped when he saw the stranger in his room and it stopped raining. The kid prepared himself to scream and dropped the globe.

But Mark quickly grabbed it before it hit the ground and ran away, leaving the screaming kid there and the front door broken. He ran to the old man's house and got in by the window. He shouted:

-Hello! Anyone here?! Hello!! I know you're here!

No one answered. Mark kept on yelling:

-I brought the globe back!!! I'm so sorry!! I've been so stupid!

Before getting out, Mark put the globe on the table and shouted one last thing:

-And I'm sorry about stealing your food too...

He got out by the window and went home slowly, in the dark, ashamed. On his way home, people were still looking out by their windows to check what was happening.

When Mark arrived home, Linda, Tommy and Rosie were all awake. Linda asked Mark:

-What happened? Why was it raining rocks?! And why did you go out while it was raining in the middle of the night??!

Mark sighed and answered:

-I'm so sorry... I didn't want to tell you. I thought that if we kept on trying to live like this, we would have serious health problems, so I went stealing.

No one answered. He continued:

-I stole food from an old man. He always had some on his table, at any time of the day, I have no idea why...

-So that's where the steak and all the rest came from... Linda said quietly.

-Yeah... There was always food and a note. I read it the first few days but then I stopped. Today, when I went there, there was nothing. So I stole a small globe and sold it at the market. I-...

Mark was cut off by the sound of their only door breaking into pieces. An old man came in.

Mark stared at him and immediately said:

-I'm so sorry! I know I shouldn't have kept on stealing! I know I shouldn't have stole that globe! But I didn't know what it was! I just took it and sold it so that I could buy some food!

The old man looked at him with anger in his eyes. Then suddenly, his expression changed and he said:

-Don't worry. I knew that you needed food. You didn't steal from me because I agreed that you took it. But you did steal the globe.

Mark looked down. The man continued:

-And I wasn't happy at all. So I decided to scare you by giving that globe a magical power: if you poured water at it, it started raining. If you put bright light on it, the sun came back. If you dropped it... It didn't explode, but I added it to your dream to scare you even more.

The old man laughed. Linda said slowly:

-Just one question... Who are you?

The man laughed even more.

-Hahaha!!! Well, you'll never know who I am. But as you might have noticed, I have the ability to create dreams. And to actually make them happen.

-So, you're a wizard! Rosie said happily.

-Yes little girl, a kind of. And I can see that you have serious money problems... This is why I am going to help you.

Mark and Linda felt hope rising in them.

-Those kids look thinner than my little finger! Just let me do some things for you...

Without waiting for an answer, the old man took a piece of flash green paper out of his pocket and wrote something on it. When he had finished, he ripped it into pieces and let them fall on the floor. The pieces vanished as soon as they touched the ground. Rosie clapped.

-Yay! Yay! Yay! A real wizard!

The old man laughed again then said:

-Okay, it's done. Everything is going to change now.

He started to walk toward the exit. When he reached it, he turned around and said:

-Oh yes! By the way, I fixed the front door of the house over there... You are welcome!

Then he disappeared. No one had had time to react, he was gone. Mark whispered:

-Thank you...

-Which front door did he fix? Linda asked.

-The one I broke... Mark simply answered.

Within the next days, everything got better for the Wilson family. Linda finally recovered from her broken leg and illness, she went back to work. Mark found a better job: baker. Tommy went back to school. Rosie got a bit fatter because of the food her parents were able to buy with the money they got. The dogs and the cat had food everyday, Mark and Linda had enough money to buy some croquettes for them. After a few months, Mark and Linda were able to buy a new house, very small but way bigger than the one they had before. They never saw the old man again. He had just disappeared from the world.

One day, when Mark came back from work, he found a piece of flash green paper on the floor. It seemed very familiar... He picked it up and read what was written on it.

When you will find this paper, I will be gone since a long time. But it doesn't matter. I helped you because I knew that you would steal from someone else if it was too hard to steal from me. And you would have gotten arrested. I didn't want it to happen because you have kids.

I was wrong saying that I hated you, I'm sorry.

Mark raised his eyebrows. Linda saw him and asked:

-What's wrong honey?

-Oh um. Nothing, nothing. Mark answered. That guy just really was a wizard...