Page 56 of A Wish For Jo
Jo smiled wryly as the couple rubbed each other’s bruised bonces. That was how it had all begun, really. A rub of an innocuous object, bringing forth beings who defied rational explanation. Beings currently squabbling in the back room, judging by their raised voices.
‘Jinnie. I knew there was something strange going on, but this is entering the realm of stark raving bonkers. Why didn’t you say anything before?’
‘Because you’d have thought I was stark raving bonkers and run a mile.’ Jinnie looked at Jo for affirmation.
Jo shrugged and smiled at Sam. ‘I had three wishes. To spend time with my parents again, and to win a TV baking show. As for my third…’
‘Yours are so much worthier than mine!’ Jinnie flipped her immaculate locks away from her face. ‘I got perfect hair, a fancy-schmancy TV, incredible cocktail-making skills and a magic-carpet ride. Oh, and something else.’ Jinnie halted, colour flaming in her cheeks. ‘A wish I didn’t need because it had already come true.’
‘To meet the love of your life and live happily ever after?’ Sam’s tight features softened. ‘You didn’t need magic to make me fall in love with you. Not that I’m suggesting that’s what you wished for, but— Hang on, doesn’t that make five wishes?’
Enter Dhassim stage left, closely followed by Aaliyah. He gave a dramatic bow, while Aaliyah chomped on a piece of gum and glowered at the cafe’s occupants. ‘Ah, Sam the man! My beautiful lady and I disagree on the wish-giving front. It all comes down to our WIFIs—’
‘Wish Instigating Finder Instruments, in case you’re not up to speed with genie parlance,’ added Aaliyah, blowing an extravagant bubble.
‘Jinnie had some bonus wishes, that is all. Jo had three, but I will let her explain.’
Jo blushed, and Jinnie nudged her with a broad grin. Jo had already filled her in about Harvey, who was currently battering away at his screenplay with glee.
‘Sam is the ultimate master of our fates. He dictates when we return to our lamps and who will be the next lucky recipients. We thought—’ Dhassim glanced at Aaliyah, who made a ‘get on with it’ gesture. ‘We thought Sam might be the embodiment of evil, but we now know he’s a pussycat. With awesome powers.’
‘OK, Dhassim,’ said Sam. ‘I get the picture, though it’s beyond mind-boggling. And pardon my scant knowledge of genie mythology, but aren’t Djinns usually evil, or in animal form?’
‘Ooh, I can just imagine you as a wily old fox, you silver-streaked rascal!’ Dhassim slapped his thigh like an excitable pantomime hero. ‘Of course you’re not evil. Is he, my saucy soulmate?’
Aaliyah picked at a corner of chipped nail polish. ‘We had our doubts for a while, but by pairing our WIFIs and tuning into the FBI—’
‘I assume you don’t mean the Federal Bureau of Investigation?’ Sam raised a bemused eyebrow. ‘Don’t tell me I’m on the Most Wanted list for crimes against lamp dwellers.’
‘No, silly. It stands for the Federation of Benign Intelligent Beings.’ Dhassim slapped his thigh again. Jo prayed for the bell to signal the arrival of a customer.
‘Erm, that’s FBIB,’ said Jinnie. ‘Not to be nit-picky or anything.’
‘Whatever.’ Aaliyah yawned, revealing a well-masticated wad of gum. ‘Anyway, the FBIB’ — she put extra emphasis on the final ‘B’ — ‘confirmed that your man is totes legit, pet. A proper, bona fide Djinn, even if he looks like an accountant with starch in his knickers.’
‘I’ll try not to take offence at that,’ said Sam. ‘Jinnie, how exactly did you discover that I was a Djinn? I’m assuming Laurel and Hardy here didn’t enlighten you right away.’
Bang on cue, Dhassim scratched his head and Aaliyah huffed out an irritated breath. ‘For your information, we had you sussed for a while, even if we didn’t know if you were a goodie or a baddie.’
‘Oh, he’s definitely a goodie,’ cooed Jinnie. ‘I can vouch for that.’
The look of exquisite tenderness that Sam gave Jinnie made Jo’s insides skitter around. Once upon a time, she could only have dreamt of a man looking at her like that. Now… She wrapped her arms around herself, imagining Harvey’s warm embrace and kisses that transported her to heaven.
‘Jo, stop fondling yourself and get with the programme!’ Aaliyah pointed at the two lamps, now resting on a table.
‘So, what happens next?’ Jinnie asked Sam, who shrugged, blank-faced.
Dhassim stepped forward. ‘In order for us to return to our vessels, Sam must incant the ancient words as laid down in the Charter For Harmonious Upstanding Genies. CHUG, for short.’
Everyone looked at Sam, whose expression remained baffled with a side order of bewilderment. ‘Forgive me for not incanting right away, but I have absolutely no idea what I’m supposed to say.’
‘Close your eyes and focus, and the words will come,’ urged Dhassim.
‘Get on with it!’ grouched Aaliyah. ‘If I have to sift any more flour or assemble another sodding Battenberg cake, I’ll scream my head off.’
‘You’ll miss me, really,’ said Jo.
‘Ha! As if! Well, maybe a teeny tiny bit.’ Aaliyah stared at Jo, and Jo stared back. To her amazement, something that might just be a tear glistened in Aaliyah’s eye. She swiped at it, mumbling something about a stray eyelash.
