INSTEAD OF THREE WISHES

An utterly delightful collection of short stories about enchantment in everyday life. They include ``The Nightmare,'' in which a hooligan is forced to see himself through other people's eyes; ``Aunt Charlotte and the NGA Portraits,'' about the search for treasure in a painting come to life; and the title story, about a girl who isn't interested in the wishes she is granted by an elf prince in a business suit. Each story is a perfectly crafted, captivating little gem; most demonstrate a dry sense of humor, and all have a dose of irony running through the author's fluid prose. Nothing is overdone and not a word is out of place in this auspicious debut. (Short stories. 12+)