The Wish

 It was a grey miserable day. The clouds were dark and thick in the sky, heavy with water. The air was cold and wet making everyone caught inside it freeze. It was about to pour you could tell and I decided I would go into an antique shop to avoid the rain. 

I was just in time I walked into the shop as the heavens opened and rain slammed down hard on the floor. Splatters specked the window and lightning was followed by thunder as the wind began to howl. I was glad I’d made it to shelter and decided I should browse the shops wares while I waited out the storm. The news had said they would be brief showers so I wasn’t expecting to stay long in the shop. 

I turned away from the door and was amazed by the sight of hundreds of knickknacks and antiques stored within the vault of the shop. My eyes gazed over the piles and I thought to myself would any of these items really sell as it seemed to be a lot of outdated stock and less antique. It in my words was junk but something caught my eye. It was a beautiful gold lamp laying on a shelf disregarded like the rest of the items.

It was a plain beauty but the markings etched on it were beautifully carved in and it looked like the kind of lamp you’d  expect a genie to appear from. 

I walked over to it and looked closer it was more beautiful up close and sparkled in the shops light. I reached out to touch it and felt the air buzz with excitement. As my hand touched the smooth cold lamp handle to lift it for inspection a sense of wonder coursed through me. I wanted to pretend I was Aladdin as it took me back to my youth and so I rubbed it. Seconds later a genie appeared and I nearly fainted. I must be delusional I thought but I reached out to touch him and he was real.

“Hello Master!” He said in a deep voice. “How May I serve you?”

I was shocked to silence not knowing what to say. I just gawped at him as he waited for my response. 

After a few more seconds I said, “is this real? Are you a real genie?”

To which he replied, “Yes!” 

I sat there flummoxed and said I needed more time at which he disappeared back into the lamp. I grabbed it and took it to the counter and inquired how much was it and the shop attendant told me it was £100 for the lamp. I bought it and went to the door forgetting the storm but as I reached it the sky brightened and rain stopped. ‘It must be my lucky day’ I thought. 

That night I sat thinking what wish I should make and trying to justify it to myself. I didn’t know whether it would work or not but I decided on the wish I wanted to go with. 

I rubbed the lamp and out came the genie.

“Yes Master!” It said to me. 

“I wish that all my friends and family including myself will always have lots of money to live on and that we can use this to help fund charities and organisations to help people living in hardship.” I replied.

“Yes Master! Your wish is granted. You have two more wishes remaining and that was a very detailed wish.” He uttered. 

This I knew as I’d heard genies could be devious with wishes and wanted it to be clear and specific with no leeway for mischief. I knew I had to think carefully about what I wanted to wish for and make sure they were trickster proof.

“Yes I wanted to be as precise as I could to ensure my wish came true and would benefit everyone.” 

What I didn’t think about was what my friends and family would say when they found the large sum of money in their account or what the fraud team at the banks would do. I had managed to mess up my first wish without thinking I had. This I would find out later when I had calls from family and the bank about this issue. 

I was happy with my wish at that moment knowing I’d looked after friends and family and charities. I was beaming and I thanked the genie who disappeared again. 

As I went about my business I had no idea the trouble I’d got everyone into not to mention the fact the charities had received huge payments too as part of the wish. I was oblivious until I checked my bank and saw I was now a millionaire “Whoopy!” I screamed and people stared at me as I did. I withdrew £100 and went to treat myself to a MacDonalds. As I did, I walked past a homeless man and thought I’d give him £20 as I had the money now to do so. 

I felt amazing and enjoyed my breakfast. That’s where it started to go wrong. My sister called me which was unusual at this time she normally called in the evening. 

“I don’t know what to do,” she said in fear.

“Why? What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I have loads of money in my account and I don’t know where it’s from. The bank don’t either and the fraud squat have had to contact the police to look in to it.” She told me.

How stupid I was not to think about how the money got there. What an idiot! I didn’t know what to say but if it happened to her the same would probably happen to me so I’d need to correct it with the genie after the call.

“Don’t worry I’m sure there’s a good explanation. Perhaps you have won a lottery or received a bank payment in your favour like monopoly.” I said in jest.

“I’m worried the police will think I’ve stolen or embezzled it from work. I don’t know where it’s came from I swear but it’s going to cause a lot of problems.” She told me.

“Just wait and see what happens I’m sure it'll be fine.” I replied.

“I hope so!” She said. 

She hung up and I ran back to the house to change the wish.