I woke up the next morning to a soft knocking on my door. I got up and dressed and was thrilled to see Monique standing there in her nightgown.
“’Ello, Zhoey,” she said with a warm smile. “Would you like to come to ze modeling agency with me today.”
“Absolu-moh,” I agreed. “Let me make the necessary wishes.” I walked over to my dresser and retrieved the ring. “I wish Monique would be considered beautiful by everyone who saw her – and the she would get every job she applied for.”
“I like that wish Zhoey. But you know, your French needs a little work. It’s ‘absolument,’ not…what you said.” She put her soft arms around me. “After all you’ve done for me, I shall be happy to teach you if you want to learn. I think…yes…that is one of the reasons your mother invited me.”
I raised a finger. “I wish that I spoke perfect French.”
“Oh you bad boy. But why stop with French? You should wish to speak EVERY language. A good translator makes very good money.” She kissed me and whispered, “Je t'aime, Joey, je t'aime.”
“What?”
Her brow furrowed. “Faites-vous pour ne pas me comprendre. Je t'aime, j'ai dit.”
No.
“Do you not understand me? I said I love you.” I shook my head. “It didn’t work, Monique.”
Monique shrugged. “Perhaps there are things that we must work to achieve, yes? I will take a shower.”
After she finished, Monique and I went to the same modeling agency that had rejected her last month. The manager came out to meet us in the lobby.
“Miss Gendreux, this is an odd coincidence. I had been looking over your portfolio, and I had considered giving you a call – but the number you gave us was incorrect.”
Whoops.
He continued. “I don’t know what I was thinking before, I believe you would be perfect for a new line of bathing suits that are coming out in a couple of months. If you could come in next week, we could start you off at $300 per hour.”
Monique’s eyes widened, then narrowed. “Four hundred.”
“Four hundred dollars an hour then. Be here next Monday at nine.”
“Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Fernandez, I shall see you then.”
As we left the building, Monique squealed with happiness, and hugged me tightly. “Oh thank you, thank you Joey!!”
I hugged her back. “I’m glad that wish worked at least.” Monique became thoughtful. “Yes, why didn’t the wish to speak French not work? Try it again.”
I did. It didn’t.
“I wish Monique was a half inch taller.” No effect.
“I guess,” I said dully, “I guess there were only so many wishes it would fulfill.”
She put a comforting arm around me. “Don’t worry Joey, tonight, we will be together as close as we can be.” So that was some consolation.
As we drove back home, Monique gasped suddenly, she turned to me with a worried expression on her face. “Joey, what was ze wish you made last night? How did you change me?”
“I said…’I wish that Monique was a werewolf, and that I could be a werewolf for one night.’”
“Uh huh…and when did you wish it away?”
Oh my God…”Monique…I didn’t.”