Do you believe in pixies?
Charlotte: Yes.
I think people who believe in pixies are silly. What do you think, Owen?
Owen: So do I.
Yes, Charlotte is silly, isn't she. But I think fairies are true, don't you?
Owen: Um...
A famous person once said "... every time a child says `I don't believe in fairies', there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead." [Peter Pan said this. See Peter Pan, chapter 3.]
Of course I believe in fairies. Everybody does. And goblins. But not elves or pixies. I believe in witches though. And leprechauns. But not wizards. What do you think?
Charlotte: Yes.
Owen: Yes.
Some people think that if you believe in something strongly enough, it will happen. Do you think that would be right?
Owen: It's hard to make yourself believe in something if you don't really think it's true.
That's right. It's easy to say that things you believe in strongly enough will come true, but hard to test whether this rule works.
I think I've changed my mind about fairies. They're too hard to believe in. What do you think?
Charlotte: Yes.
Owen: Yes.