A very confused and disoriented James watched the drama playing out dozens of feet below him without knowing how to intervene. A clearly distressed and angry Nicola was currently rifling through a pile of what looked like his clothes and calling out for him. However, when he had tried to answer he had only been able to make a series of cooing noises which his friend hadn't even noticed. That was his first clue as to how his "wish" had been interpreted.
James was generally ok with heights but suddenly finding himself placed on the edge of one of the many large nearby buildings was as frightening as it was inexplicable. It was also impossible not to notice the birds around him was as big as he was. So either they were now human sized or..
Beginning to panic James took a step back and peered into a large puddle. Staring back at him was a rather ordinary looking pigeon. James bobbed his head back and forward and the bird in the puddle did so in unison confirming that it was him. Just about managing not to pass out from shock, James attempted to assess his situation rationally and decide how to fix it.
The last thing he remembered before being transported to the roof was making some offhand comment about not having to work. So that had been corrupted and turned him into a pigeon? Well, the first thing he needed to do was get to ground level and make Nicola aware of what had happened to him. In theory he could fly, but that would be a pretty brave move having obviously never done it before. On the other hand he couldn't just hang out on the roof with the other birds for the rest of his life.
Moving cautiously back to the edge of the building James could see Nicola stomping angrily back in the direction of the magic shop holding a pile of his clothes as evidence. He hoped she didn't lose her temper when she got there and make things any worse.
---
"What the fuck have you done to him?" Nicola yelled at Meredith as she slammed James' discarded clothes on the counter in front of her.
"Such language!" the old woman tutted "and for the record I haven't done anything to anyone."
"Don't play dumb with me" Nicola seethed "James said he didn't want to work and then he vanished. Where is he?"
"I don't know" Meredith shrugged "but it sounds like his wish has been granted. He should be more careful in future. And for the record, this isn't like some fairy tale where you have to literally wish out loud for something. Anything you ask for or consciously desire could potentialy be interpreted as a wish. Until you pay me my money, of course."
"Well that's never going to happen!" Nicola folded her arms in defiance as she tried to figure out what to do next.