The Genie spied a young man looking through a rack of DVDs in the video store across the way. Genie finished her drink and walked into the store, tossing the cup in a trash can along the way.
She walked up to the young man, no older than fifteen. She spied that he was looking at a DVD of the classic Disney film, The Shaggy D.A. She smiled, knowing the film all too well, having watched it with her master's son many times. The son had even wished for a ring of his own, which the master allowed her to grant. He had enjoyed his time with the ring and his transformations, but as he grew older he stopped using it and put it away. Remembering this, Genie couldn't help but wonder if this young man would enjoy it.
"Hello," said Genie. "Is that a good movie?"
"I think so. I used to watch it all the time as a kid," replied the young man.
"What's it about?"
"It's about this man who turns into a big dog every time someone reads a spell on an old ring," replied the young man.
"Cool," said Genie. "I'm Genie by the way and you're..."
"I'm Nate," he replied.
"Pleased to meet you. So why was this movie a favorite of yours?"
"Well, because I always wished I had a ring like in the movie that would change me into a big shaggy dog."
"Really?" Genie reached into her pocket. She felt the ring materialize in her hand and pulled it out again. "A ring like this one?"
Nate stood there, stunned. It was an exact replica of the ring from the movie, right down to the glowing scarab on the front.
"Go ahead, take it. It's yours if you want it," said Genie.
Nate reached out with a trembling hand and took it from her. He turned the ring over in his hands, looking on the inside band and sure enough, clearly printed were the magic words, "In Canis Corpore Transmuto."
"I don't understand, why would you have this?" asked Nate.
"Well, it was your wish, wasn't it? Go ahead and read the spell."
Nate hesitated. What if it worked? Did he really want to turn into a dog in the middle of the mall? Granted, the store was deserted, aside from Genie and a disinterested clerk. He really wanted to try it out, but thought maybe he should wait until he got home. On the other hand, where would the fun be in that?