I was tempted to try and run back after Carrie, but I decided against it. I began to wander aimlessly from street to street. A thousand thoughts and ideas raced through my head. I wanted to know just how powerful this ring really was. But I was also very worried about the consequences of any wish I might make. I wanted to wish for an end to war and for there to be global world peace, but I was worried that there might be some unforeseen, Monkey's Paw-like consequences. I felt that for right now I should stick to making wishes for which I could see the results.
I walked for about an hour and found myself away from the busier parts of town. I looked up at the street signs and saw that I was now approaching Wooten Street. Suddenly an idea sprang into my head and I turned left onto the street. Toward the end of this road was an incredibly large mansion that was owned by a man named Chester Wooten. He was an old philanthropist of some kind and had recently passed away. This was fairly big news, even more so in that he apparently left no will and had no living heirs. His wife had died some years ago, and he had no siblings, children or even once-removed relations. The company that was in charge of his estate had set a deadline for a will to be found, after which they stated that the staff of the house would be dismissed, and the mansion and surrounding land turned over to them. They weren't sure what they were going to do with it, but they knew no one would live there.
The entrance to this opulent mansion was about a mile down the road. The House became only somewhat visible as you approached, as there was a large gate and stone wall on the outside, as well as a great deal of large trees and hedges. Clearly Chester Wooten valued privacy. For the ideas that I had and now intended to act upon, I would value it as well.
Just before I reached the gate, I wished that I was the sole legal heir to Chester Wooten's entire estate, including this mansion. I waited a moment for the effects to sink in. I walked closer to the gate and saw a long limousine parked just behind it. A man in a chauffeur's attire stood next to the car. When he spotted me, he approached the gate and asked, "Are you Joseph Williams?"