The first thought I had as I sat down on the couch was one of anger. I was really mad that my world peace
wish did not work. What happened to Rachel was just the kind of thing that would be prevented if my wish had
been accepted. I decided it best to leave those feelings aside for now. I had to do something to help
Rachel.
I felt it was necessary for me to try and act as a protector for her. But she had a point in that I couldn't
just stop showing up to work without consequences. I determined it was time for another test of the ring. I
wished that I was on a paid vacation from my job until further notice.
As soon as I finished my wish, my phone rang. I jumped off the couch to answer it as quick as I could.
"Hello?" I said.
"Joe, glad I caught you. It's Craig, how are you?" the voice asked.
Craig was my boss at my job. He was a good guy, easy to get along with and someone who would go to bat for
you when needed. "Good, how about you?" I asked back.
"Great," he said. "I've got greater news for you. Your vacation request was approved, and it's effective
immediately, so I wanted to call you tonight to make sure you didn't bother coming in tomorrow."
"Oh, that is great," I said.
"Yea, it is," Craig laughed. "I don't know how the hell you got them to OK this, but I'm not gonna question
them. We'll miss you till you get back, but you just enjoy the time off, OK, buddy?"
"I sure will, Craig, thanks for the call. Bye!" I said.
Well, I thought to myself. That was certainly a good wish. Now I had unlimited free time on my hands. I
wouldn't have to worry about leaving Rachel alone. Now I needed to provide Rachel a place to stay. I had a
spare room in my apartment, but it was pretty much useless as a bedroom. For starters, there wasn't a bed in
it. I went into my own bedroom and found it to be just as messy as the bathroom had been. But since I was
able to wish the bathroom into a clean, orderly fashion, I decided to do the same with the bedroom. My bed
was made, my clothes were put away and everything looked perfectly presentable. Rachel could stay here for
now, and I could make do on the couch. I supposed I could wish for a bed in the spare room, but I'd have to
rearrange things too much, so it wasn't doable right now.
When I returned to the living room, I was startled to find Rachel, clad only in a towel. She had come to
retrieve the other clothes she brought with her. "Oh, shoot, sorry," I said as I averted my eyes. "Didn't
know you were done."
Before I averted my eyes I could see Rachel jump a little. She must have still been on edge and I probably
startled her more. "Sorry, I forgot to get my clothes," she said. "It's OK, Joe, I'm covered up."
I resumed looking at her and confirmed this. She did make quite an impression in that towel. Even with her
bruises she was still a beautiful woman. "So, you can stay in my room since that's the only bed I have," I
said. I could see she was about to protest but I said, "I insist, Rachel. I'll be fine on the couch."
"You're so kind," said Rachel. She walked past me into my room and I returned to the couch. A few minutes
later she emerged fully clothed. The towel was now wrapped around her hair. "Damn, I don't have my hair
dryer. Do you have one?" she asked.
"No," I said. "Do you want me to go get yours?"
"No!" she shouted. "Sorry," she said at a normal level. "That's OK. I...I don't really want anyone to go in
there right now." I could only assume her reasons as to why. Perhaps it was in total disarray. Perhaps the
police advised her not to go back for a certain period of time. "This is the bad part of having long hair,"
she said as she unwrapped the towel. "Takes forever to get dry on its own."
Without thinking I said, "I wish it was dry so you didn't have to worry."
As I realized what I said I could see that my wish came true. Her hair instantly returned to its normal, dry
state, showing no signs of having been wet. "What the heck?" asked Rachel. She looked at me in shock.