YOU'RE A LITTLE KID WITH A BIG HEART

Like lots of seven-year-olds, Octavia Blisswink wishes that she were ""old enough to decide for myself what I want to do--or not do."" But Octavia happens to be talking to a wish-granting kite, and so unlike other seven-year-olds she immediately finds herself 37. Happy at first (unlimited snacks, the late late late show), Octavia is soon saddened by the loss of her friends (best friend Hermie now calls her ""ma'am"") and discouraged when her skills don't suit anyone's employment needs. (""I can spell. I can do all kinds of puzzles, the harder the better."") Dejected, Octavia sits on the playground swing at night ""longing, longing, longing for her lost childhood."" Needless to say, Octavia gets another crack at the magic kite; meanwhile, other (five-to-) seven-year-olds will experience with her one of the more effective funny-scary-poig-nant variations on the age-old unwelcome wish theme.