Here's my attempt at the homework. I'd be interested in what you think. (and please don't hold back :o) )
A Modern Genie Tale
The acrid smoke slowly
cleared.
“Good afternoon Sir.”
“Who the hell are
you? Was it you who booby trapped that
lamp with a smoke bomb?”
“Apologies about the
smoke, Sir, I’ve been meaning to get that fixed for the last millennia. I’m the Genie, Sir. “
“Yeah, right! So, Genies are coming in pin striped suits
now are they?”
The Genie flicked an
imaginary speck of dust of his crisp, well pressed jacket. “Yes, Sir.
Modern times and all that.”
“Next you’ll be telling
me that I get three wishes.”
“Naturally, Sir. It’s what we Genies do.”
“OK. For argument’s sake, say I believe you. I’m guessing that there are limitations. You know the drill.” Jon waved his hand distractedly, “No wishing
for extra wishes, wanting people back from the dead, and stuff.”
“No, Sir.”
“No? And can you please stop calling me ‘Sir’.”
“As you wish, Sir.”
“Hey! Don’t try that one. I didn’t wish it. It was a request.”
“I know, Sir.” He shrugged.
“Figure of speech.”
“So, no limitations
then?”
“No, Sir. We decided that, in these tough economic
times, that there should be a price for each wish. It made the Wishee more accountable for their
usage.”
“I see. So, what’s the going rate for a wish? A ton?”
“I think that Sir may
have misunderstood. It’s not a monetary
value. It’s the life of a family
member.”
“You what?” He pointed at the discarded lamp. “You can sod off back into your lamp mate if
you think I’m going to go killing off my family.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Genie slowly picked up
the lamp, flipped the lid back on its hinges.
He peered inside, and screwed his eyes shut.
“Hold on a sec.”
Genie looked at Jon and
raised an eye brow. “Sir?”
“Do I get to choose
who?”
“If it make is easier
for you, then yes, Sir.”
“In that case, I’d like
it to be my Uncle Ned. I’ve never liked
him.” Jon shuddered involuntarily. “In
fact, I’m sure he’s a perv, or something worse.”
Genie smiled. “Your Uncle Ned will do nicely.”
Jon hesitated.
There was no humour in Genie’s smile.
In fact, it was so cold, it was virtually frozen in place.
“If you would care to
make your wish now, Sir.”
“My wish. Yeah.”
He frowned, and ran a hand through his foppish hair. “But it’s still a life being taken.”
“As you said, Sir, he’s
probably a pervert. Or worse.”
“And if he isn’t, it’d
serve him right for being so creepy. OK,
I’ll do it.”
“Glad to hear it sir.” He fixed Jon in his cold gaze, and leaned
forward slightly, stroking his neatly trimmed goatee.
“Right then. “ His brow
creased, and he paced back and forth. “I
wish... I wish...”
The world wobbled before
his eyes as a ripple spread out from Genie.
“Woah! What was that?”
“Your wish, Sir. One of the easiest ones I’ve done in a
while.” Jon gave him a blank look. “You wished you could wish, Sir. Simple.”
“You utter
bastard.” He snatched the lamp from
Genie’s grasp, hurled it to the floor and drove the heel of his boot into the
pliable metal. “Try getting into your
house now!”
Genie took half step a
backwards, holding up his hands. “Please
calm down, Sir. If I could just direct
your attention to ---“
“No you bloody well
can’t.” He took a step towards Genie, clenching
his fists. “And I hope you can do wishes
on yourself, ‘cos you’re gonna wish you never messed with me.”
Genie dropped to the
floor, holding his hands over his head.
“If you’d just look at that van over there, you’ll see the hidden camera
crew! You’re on ‘You’ve been framed’.”
