The Gift of Magic (short story)

One day there was three boys that found themselves walking a certain path and found a wishing well. Jokingly one said man I wish I had the opportunity to be a better be while throwing a pebble into the well. The other said man I just want to get rich because I’m tired of being broke and I need some money as he threw a pebble into the well. The last boy said man I don’t know what I want, but a genie would be nice as he also threw a pebble into the well. They walked off and forgot about the things they said at the well.

When the night fall came a genie appeared in all their dreams and said I heard you at the well meet me tomorrow at the same time. The boys jumped up and said did you have the same dream I had, and they all replied by saying yes, I heard it too. Too frightened to go back to sleep like little kids they stayed up all night making what if statements while at the same time doubting the genie’s ability to be able to make their dreams come true. The only person who threw a little doubt every now and again was the first boy who said I wish I had the opportunity to be a better person. He was confused because he wondered how the genie heard him because the well showed no evidence of being a wish maker.

Everybody has a heard of a wishing well, but you also have to be willing to believe when you are throwing your pennies into a water well. The morning came and everybody was getting ready to head on down to wishing well to see if they heard what the genie had said. When they arrived the first boy started to look around for holes, microphones, or cameras because he thought to himself maybe this a prank. The second boy, to hide his insecurities he talked so big like he was jolly green giant caused him to put his foot in his mouth. The last boy while rubbing his hands said if this genie is real, I know what it is I’m going to ask for. A voice came from the back of them with a creepy smooth voice saying well is it that you would wish for?

Confused and startled they all stared at this being as if it was something foreign to eye because it looked human while also giving off evil vibes. He said don’t be scared now to the second boy, YOU JUST HAD THE HEART OF A LION! WHERE, did it go little boy? Confused and not wanting to speak up he went to first boy and said I see you are skeptic what is it that I need to show you. So, he snapped his fingers and showed them a vision of them doing exactly what they wanted. The third boy said I’m ready, I already told you that I wanted a genie, I believe you. The man replied I am here, but I shall not be your genie. The third boy sighed and said well how do I get my three wishes? He replied do you desire to wish for something else?

He asked a question again do I get a lamp or something or do I have to constantly come to the well to get what it is that I need? He laughed and called him inquisitive because he said nobody never ask, they always take. So, he circled back to the first two boys and said are you ready for your wishes to come true. They paused and said but I haven’t made a wish and he replied yes you have. The boys sitting in confusion because they just seen their friend, boy number three get asked to make another wish. The first boy said I’m out if I can’t make another wish then I guess it isn’t meant to be. He said that’s fine, and he laughed so hard the ground started to shake. You’ll be back they always come back. As he shouted. But little did he know that little boy never came back.

The second boy said if I take my wish now how do I know I will be rich he gave him a 20,000 worth of 20’s and said there is more where this comes from. He said sold I’m in and took the money and didn’t ask a question, but the man said the money always come with a price. He said yeah, yeah, yeah I hear you nigga I’m rich. He ran off to catch up with his friend. The third boy who is still behind asking for a genie he told him I’ll grant you an extra wish before I give you a genie if you can tell me what is that you want right now. He said a house, the man said a house that’s it. Yeap, said boy number three and house it shall be. He gave him keys and a lamp and said be careful what it is that you ask for.

He ran to catch up to his friends and said man look he gave me a house and a lamp the second boy slightly jealous and said nigga I’m rich I can buy my own house. Again, arrogance never worked for him. The third boy replied no man you can stay with me, we’ll never have to sleep in my mama basement again. The second boy said aight, but I don’t plan on staying there long because I have to get this money. The first boy said why did he give you the four wishes? I don’t think that man is wrapped to tight something is wrong, you guys don’t see nothing wrong with all of this. They laughed and he just shook his head in dismay.

Meanwhile the genie is still following them and causes the first boy to fall and break his leg. Aahhh as he shouted, my leg I think its broke. His friends laughing said man get up you’ll be alright, not this time as they tired to help him get up. To hospital they go now granted he didn’t have any insurance, so he had to pay a fee and the job down at the burger joint wasn’t going to cut it. His friend who is so arrogantly with money said man damn I just got this money. They can’t bill you with it and you make payments, the nurse came back and said the bill has to be paid today. So, out of 20,000 dollars he had to pay 7,000 for a friend’s injury and boy was he pissed.

He complained the whole way home about to the point the third boy grabbed the lamp and said I wish I had steady income coming in. The genie replied your wish is my command and like that the money hit his account. He told the third boy I’ll give you your money back if it gets you to SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT IT! So, when they arrived at the house the third boy said you sure you want to come in my house Mr. Rich Nigga? The second boy who loves to dish things out but can’t take it said fine I’ll leave and payment of 500,000 hit his account.

The first boy said thank you, I’ll pay you your money back when I get the chance and the third boy replied no man that’s what friends are for. As the times rolled on the first boy grew unhappy after the injury and seeing his friends always having to take care of him. The second boy was caught up into a lifestyle of clothes, shoes, jewelry and blatantly arrogance. That they always argued because they couldn’t have a decent conversation without him bragging about what everything he got. The third boy started to date and attract women into their lifestyle and not having time for his friend like he used to so, the first boy felt all alone.

So, he decided that one day he was going to move out and make better decisions for him. The third boy said no you don’t have to leave I would never make you feel like you aren’t good enough. What is mines is yours, you should never feel like you’re without. He just didn’t understand that he was hurt and disgusted by his friends and his life, well really boy number two. But, when he left that didn’t stop the bad luck from raining down on him, not once did he think to call upon the genie. Cause deep down in the back of his mind he new the Genie was the cause of the bad luck he was experiencing. So, unlike them he vowed to find a way to banish this Genie and he didn’t care if came at the expense of his friends well being.

So, the first boy moved out of town, found a girl, fell in love, and had kids. He always wanted to be a business owner, so he finally opened a real estate company. The real estate company was actually doing good he was living good and didn’t let the money cloud his judgment of self and people. Years, went by and like always boy number three still single living the life of the bachelor and had one wish left that he never told nobody.

Boy number two and him never got close again because he got tired of having the pissing contest about who has more money than him. And no matter how hard he tried to show him he could hang with him financially or materialistically. Boy number two didn’t have no respect for him at all. The chasm between them grew deeper and deeper all the while the Genie who followed them, laughed at his expense until he couldn’t no more.

One day boy number one gets a call saying boy number two was in the hospital and they didn’t know if he was going to make it or not. He thought to himself I really could care less I mean he wouldn’t even want me there. Little did he know he did. So, he told his wife that he had to take a trip to go see boy number two and boy was she in shock. She kept asking him and feeling him up with worry that she needed to go with him, and he said I got this I can handle this alone. When he arrived at the hospital, he seen boy number three in the waiting room and said to him hey man how is he? A minute from breaking down he told him to go look for himself.

He was all beaten up and bruised in the bed that he didn’t even look like himself. He asked where is his family, where is his girlfriend, or friends. He said he pushed everybody away when he got money, the girls only came around because of it. He was a shitless father, horrible husband, and an awful boyfriend who did you think was really going to come to the rescue? The only response he had was lets us pray. Pray, as boy number three shouted. God can’t help us now, we took wishes from a Genie that ruined our lives you are the only one whose life turned out alright.

He paused in silence because for years he thought he wasn’t anything because he had a heap of bad luck following him like a dark cloud. Little did he know that was all the Genie doing. So, boy number three said you know what I’m going to end this shit once and for all while pulling the lamp out of his pocket.

The first boy in confusion said I thought you used up all your wishes? He said no I was holding onto this because I thought that one day, I could make you too friends again. He walks off and say and I’m going to end this shit once and for all. He goes into the bathroom and summon the Genie and asked him to heal his friend in exchange for the ending of his and the genie relationship. The Genie was hurt and said you would choose them over me? I have been apart of your greatest conquest. I have giving you more than any person I have ever meet in my life and you chose to do this to me. Yes, he replied I have to I need my friends.

So, Genie said okay, but you have to tell them that I told you everything that I did to their paths. You have to confess that you knew every single thing that was done, then I’ll let you go. The catch is until you tell them your friend want be healed and time is almost running out. I’ll know which road you took when I don’t hear from you, but a little tip from me your friend really was an asshole.

So, he walks out the bathroom like he seen a ghost and told his friend everything because if he had to lose them. He would’ve rather lost them by his own actions than at the hands of someone else.

Moral of the story is to be careful what you ask for! We now live in a day and age where magic is glorified, and illusions can become someone else’s reality. Everything that glitters is not gold and even if it is gold, did you mine for it?

CIAO