Page 72 of A Wish For Wilma
Sam raised an eyebrow. ‘Relegated again. First from Djinn to demi-Djinn, and now I’m second best to a baby. Still, I’ll take it. Now, can I pop the ring on your finger? My leg’s cramping like crazy.’
Jinnie removed her plain silver band and Sam eased the pale-blue gemstone onto her finger. It fitted perfectly.
The whole room cheered as Jinnie threw her arms around Sam and kissed him. Wilma nodded approvingly. ‘A wonderful choice, Sam. Both my granddaughter and the ring. Aquamarine is her birthstone and it’s said to enhance the happiness of a marriage. And it also happens to be the colour of Gus’s eyes. Just saying.’
Remarkably, Dahlia remained asleep throughout the hullabaloo. Everyone hugged everyone: even Aaliyah, who clung to Dhassim and DJ as if her life depended upon it. Which considering what came next, might well be the case.
‘Settle down, settle down,’ called DJ. ‘We are honoured to have witnessed this moment, and—’
‘Can’t we stay for the wedding?’ wheedled Dhassim. ‘You said earlier that I’d be good at it.’
‘You are not an ordained man of the kirk, and no, you can’t stay,’ said Jinnie.
The moment had arrived. The cheers subsided and Dhassim, Aaliyah, and DJ arranged their WIFIs in a triangle: DJ’s at the pinnacle, the other two in the corners. The three lamps occupied centre stage, perched on Wilma’s favourite brocade cushion.
‘It’s all about synchronicity now,’ said DJ. ‘With the tweaks and hacks I’ve put in place, we should be able to bypass the regulations and create a new energy that uses Sam as a conduit and enables Wilma to wish us away. We are breaking the rules, but sometimes rules need to be broken.’
‘Are you going to mention CHUG or the FBI again?’ Jinnie half-laughed, half-cried. ‘Dhassim, I remember when you bounced into my world and flipped it over like a pancake. You were so good at pancakes. And cleaning. And flying me into the night sky. You’ve given me memories, so many memories. And amazing hair. Which actually trounces gazing down at Edinburgh from an IKEA rug.’
DJ pushed some buttons and Dhassim and Aaliyah followed his lead. A steady thrum filled the air, charging the atmosphere. Jinnie’s hair stood on end, Sam’s cropped cut twitched and Wilma’s hairsprayed waves stayed steadfastly in place.
‘If my calculations are correct,’ said DJ, ‘then in approximately four minutes the hyperbolic interceptors I installed, along with the diversionary tracking code, will tessellate to create an invisible force field, deflecting any possible detection and ensuring a smooth trajectory.’
‘Jeez, it’s like a blinking episode ofStar Trek,’ said Wilma.
‘Should I say something about beaming you up?’ added Sam. Despite the gravity of the situation, Jinnie giggled and earned a stern look from DJ.
‘Sam, you have no need to speak. Not on this occasion. Wilma, the words must come from you.’
‘No pressure there, then.’
Everyone waited. The lights flickered and the temperature dropped. Jinnie shivered and picked up Dahlia.
‘This is it.’ DJ nodded to his parents, and they each picked up their WIFI and held it aloft.
Wilma looked beseechingly at DJ. ‘I dinnae know what to say.’
‘I had the same problem,’ said Sam.
‘This is very different.’ DJ raised his WIFI higher. Shards of luminescence ricocheted between the devices like a three-way light sabre battle. ‘You commanded Mama and Papa to return to their lamps. Their business here was done, so even as a demi-Djinn, you had the power. Wilma, only you can wish for us all to return, and the window to do so will soon close forever.’
Dhassim and Aaliyah also raised their WIFIs, and the lights went out.
In the eerie glow of the undulating beams, Wilma cleared her throat. A solitary tear trickled down her cheek. ‘Wherever you end up, I wish you well. Bon voyage.’
‘Goodbye, Dhassim,’ said Jinnie. ‘Goodbye, Aaliyah. And you, DJ.’ She sniffed and clasped Dahlia to her chest.
Wilma drew herself up. ‘I wish… I wish for you all to return to where you came from.’
The beams arced and exploded like a fireworks display, and a sulphurous smell filled the room. Then everything went dark.
Seconds passed before Sam spoke. ‘I can’t see a damn thing. Is everyone OK?’
‘I’m fine,’ squeaked Jinnie, as the lights came back on.
‘A bit shook up, but nothing a strong drink wouldnae fix,’ added Wilma.
In the glare of the overhead light, they surveyed the scene. The genies had gone, along with their lamps. Dahlia mewled, and Sam took her from Jinnie’s trembling arms.
