Page 24 of A Wish For Jo
Aaliyah gathered up the towel and its unpleasant contents. 'There are ways to make things happen in an alternate world. I can grant the wish, but only you would know it is happening. It will be real inyoureyes, and those of the people around you at the time, but only you will retain the memory.'
Jo's mind boggled at Aaliyah's words.All Risereturned to TV very soon. She had the date noted on her calendar: how sad was that? But if she wished to be on it now, what did that mean? Would she be an early participant? One of the first twelve, sweating into their cake mix and praying to the gods of baking to make it to the next stage. Or one of the three finalists, all bonhomie and backslapping, when everyone knew they'd flail their opponents with a sharpened spatula if it meant victory?
'Jo, my patience is wearing thin. Do you want to be on the show or not?' Aaliyah stomped into the kitchen, the sound of the pedal bin signalling the disposal of the dead skin collection.
Do I?Jo sat down and attempted to gather her muddled thoughts. If only she knew it had happened, did that make it less worthwhile?If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?Stuff like that made Jo's brain hurt. Thinking about Harvey made her brain hurt. Having a genie lodger with an attitude problem definitely caused cerebral pain. But … it was only a wish. An inconsequential droplet in an ocean of much bigger things. What did she have to lose? Apart from the covetedAll Risetrophy, of course.
'Aaliyah. I'm done with procrastinating. Let's get this show on the road.'
Aaliyah reappeared, stuffing a chocolate digestive in her mouth. 'Reet, pet. I believe syrup of figs get things moving. Do you need a minute?’
Yet again, Jo wondered how Aaliyah was so savvy with words sometimes, then came unstuck. 'My bowel movements are fine, thank you. I meant that I'm ready to make the wish. To appear onAll Rise. Wait…' As Aaliyah scrabbled in her crop top for her WIFI, Jo made a time-out sign with her hands.
'What are you doing? Is that some silly dance move like those guys I saw on the telly?’ Aaliyah performed a speedy rendition of 'Y.M.C.A.' her pigtail bouncing as she flexed and stretched.
'No. I just need to understand how this works. I can't miss work at the café and I've got a date … a get-together … a rendezvous with Harvey coming up.' Jo's cheeks flamed. She'd slipped up and mentioned a date and now Aaliyah would—
'It will be fine.' Aaliyah crouched in front of Jo, her eyes filled with concern. 'I know I'm a gobby mare, but I promise this will be a blast. And you won't miss a thing in the real world. Like I said, it's in a parallel universe, where time has no meaning. Just enjoy it. Do you trust me?'
Jo swallowed.Do I? Her first wish had helped heal her aching heart. Perhaps her second could inject some much-needed excitement into her life. What did she have to lose?
'OK. Go for it.'
CHAPTER26
'Ladies and gentlemen,let's be upstanding for the terrific trio ready to bake up a storm tonight. We've got eggs, we've got flour, we've got ingredients I've never even heard of, but most importantly, we have you! So make some noise andall risefor our fabulous finalists.'
Thunderous applause rang in Jo's ears. The heat and glare of the studio lights assaulted her senses, as did the familiar surroundings. Familiar in the sense of seeing them on TV, but definitely unfamiliar in every other way.
She fingered the iconic apron, trying to ignore the beads of sweat gathering on her brow and in her armpits. Her fellow contestants looked more relaxed. One, a woman she reckoned to be in her early twenties, beamed at the audience. Easy to beam when you had youth on your side and a sheen of sweat made you glow, rather than look like you'd been dipped in a vat of oil. The other, a man possibly in his late fifties, seemed a little more nervous. His smile was pasted on, and he exuded a twitchiness that suggested either fear of being on camera or a desperate urge to pee.
The host ofAll Rise, Kelvin Brady, signalled for quiet. The audience obeyed, resuming their seats, and a hush fell over the studio.
'And now, without further ado, please welcome the three people whose job it is to sort the wheat from the chaff. Or rather, the baking flops from the magnificent masterpieces. Give it up for … the judges!'
The trio of judges descended the sparkly staircase and the applause started again. Unchanged sinceAll Risebegan, they comprised comedian Lee Russell, author and broadcaster Katie Nkosi, and cookery writer and owner of the highly successful Sweet Nothings chain of cake shops, Lily Mancini.
'Looking gorgeous as always!' cooed the host, oozing his trademark charm with a side order of smarm. 'That's Katie and Lily, of course. Lee, did the cat have his work cut out today?'
The audience roared with laughter. It took Jo a few seconds to make the 'look what the cat dragged in' connection.
'Better than looking like an oven-ready turkey,' retorted Lee, nodding at Kelvin's shiny silver suit.
'Ooh, the cat's got claws! Just kidding, my darling. Boho chic is just another way of saying vampish vagrant, right?’
The banter over for now, Kelvin moved on to introducing the contestants. 'Our finalists are raring to get mixing and fixing. Only three rounds stand between them and victory. There's everything to play for. So, before battle commences, let's meet the team chasing the dream!'
Kelvin urged them forward, one by one. First, he thrust his microphone under the nose of the younger woman. 'Becky, tell us a little about yourself, just as a reminder to those with the memory of a goldfish.'
Becky giggled and blushed. 'OK, I'm Becky from Beaconsfield, I'm twenty-four and I work as a midwife. I've loved baking since I was little, and winningAll Risewould mean the absolute world to me. I'm engaged to the wonderful Dean and I can't wait till we get married. And of course, I will be making our wedding cake!'
Kelvin faux-wiped a tear from his eye and Jo fought back a wave of nausea. What on earth was she going to say when put in the spotlight?I'm Jo Milligan from Cranley near Edinburgh. I'm only here because a genie granted a wish, and even if I win, it won't be for real. None of this is real, but I want it so badly.
Luckily, Kelvin turned his attention to the fifty-something man, still fidgeting and tugging at his trousers. His face was redder than a ripe tomato and he looked on the verge of galloping off the set. 'Let's hear from our second finalist, folks. Marvin, tell us a little about yourself.'
Kelvin waited as Marvin composed himself. Jo's heart went out to him, though she wondered why he'd chosen to be on a live television show. Or had he? How did this work, if Jo's participation was all down to Aaliyah's mystical powers?
'Erm … my name's Marvin. I live in Manchester with my partner, Giovanni, and we have a poodle called Noodle.'
