I got to Erin’s house a few minutes later. I knocked on the door and was greeted by Erin, already in her
pajamas. “Hey, come on in.”
Walking inside, I said, “Where’s your folks?”
“They’re picking Mike up from a friend’s house.” Closing the door, Erin said, “They’ll be home later.”
Mike was Erin’s 14-year-old brother; he’d gotten on my nerves sometimes when I was a guy, so I wondered how
he’d be now that I was a girl.
“So.” Sighing, I said, “I guess you’ll want to make a wish?”
“I have some good news, Carly.” Smiling, Erin said, “I wish you’d relax a bit.”
“Granted.” Snapping my fingers, I said, “So what’s the good news, I could definitely use some.”
Leading me upstairs to her room, Erin showed me the rulebook. “It seems that there’s more than one type of
genie.”
My curiosity peaked, I sat down on the bed and said, “What’s that supposed to me?”
“Well the typical genie grants only 3 wishes; until someone else rubs the lamp. They’re called eternals,
because they’re cursed to grant wishes for all eternity. But,” smiling, Erin said, “That’s now you.”
“So what kind of genie am I?”
“Have some patience, Carly.” Sitting next to me, Erin said, “There’s also the genie who wanders the Earth;
granting wishes for those he or she deems worthy.”
“What are they called?”
“They’re called limbos, but that’s not you either.”
I was starting to get impatient. “Erin, get to the point.”
“You’re called a reluctant genie, someone who’s forced to take the place of an eternal; who then became a
limbo.”
“So Jamil…Jamie is now a limbo?”
“Correct.” Pausing, Erin said, “She’s still immortal, but has only limited powers.”
“Is there any way she can become mortal again?”
“Yes, there is. But,” looking at me, Erin said, “Only you can do that for her; even then only if I wish for
it.”
“Okay.” Taking a breath, I said, “So what can you tell me about genies like me?”
“Well, you’re bound to the lamp but you’re not bound to grant wishes if they go against your core beliefs.”
Smiling, I said, “Really?”
“Yeah, you’re more like a guardian than anything else.” Pausing, Erin said, “You’ll only become a true genie
if you allow it to happen.”
“Well, that makes me feel better.”
“But you still need to learn how to be a girl.” Chuckling, Erin said, “Just wishing for it wouldn't be a good
idea.”
“What? Why not?”
“Hey,” Giggling, Erin said, “I deserve to have some fun.”