My son asked me yesterday if there was something I really wanted as a gift but never got. Since I’m not a complete tool, I knew that his nostalgic-laced question was meant ultimately to help him obtain the latest Final Fantasy game for his DS that he has asked for repeatedly.

“Nothing I can think of at the moment. Except a horse. I wanted a horse when I was about eleven or twelve. See, I started reading the Trixie Belden series about a young girl and her friend, Honey, who would solve mysteries in their small town. Honey was super rich and provided the glam of the book while Trixie was wily and loved horses and…”

Sam’s eyes were glazed over. He could so not care any less about the Trixie Belden mysteries.

“I was talking about fun stuff, mom. Like video games,” he stated.

“Oh, well there weren’t any video games back then except Atari. Our game world was always outside. That’s where my mom and dad told us to go play when we claimed we were bored,” I replied.

“But didn’t Grandma and Grandpa give you everything you wanted?”

“In your dreams, kid. If we wanted something, we had to either work for it and save up our allowance, or, work for it by doing extra chores, or, work for it by going around the neighborhood mowing lawns…”

Sam sighed. He knew this conversation was not leaning in his favor. In his thirteen year old eyes, I could see the realization dawning that he was going to have to put off instant gratification and find a way to earn some pocket money for the new game. He started to trudge out of the living room with his mind whirling with ideas about work opportunities for a young teen.

“WAIT!” I cried. Sam turned around quickly, hopeful that I was going to rush up to him with every kids dream come true speech about how they should have absolutely everything they ever wanted and how could I have thought to refuse him a measly video game.

“Sea Monkeys!” I exclaimed. Sam gave me that whatever look that teens today seem to have perfected.

“Yes, sea monkeys. I always wanted but never got sea monkeys. Every time I bought a two-cent piece of Bazooka gum, the sea monkeys were advertised on the back of the Bazooka Joe comic that came with the gum. The drawings of them were amazing, too. King Sea Monkey and Queen Sea Monkey with actual crowns and tridents living on the sea floor with their sea monkey children. Oh man, I wanted those monkeys so bad. “

I quickly googled the image to show Sam my generation’s version of a coveted Final Fantasy game.

“Those are cool! I think I want sea monkeys now too even though they’re just brine shrimp,” he said.

“Hey, don’t ruin the sea monkey fantasy for me!” I retorted. “Go outside and shoot some hoops or something if you're bored.”

Sam grabbed his basketball and started out the back door. “I’m sorry you never got your sea monkeys, mom,” Sam said quietly.

“Oh, I’ll get them some day. Just like you’ll get your Final Fantasy game I’m sure.”

Sea Monkeys ™ are a trademarked product. See official sea monkey website here