Three Wishes

His finger trembled as he held it over the large, red button… - David Kusnierz

The prizes in the vending machine beckoned. Eddie had fed all his Skee-Ball tickets into it and now it was decision time. He had enough for the fan-powered floating fish, the LED head lamp, or the mysterious metal oil lamp. He paused and chose the lamp.

The ornate lamp clunked into the delivery slog. Eddie snatched it up and examined his prize. It looked like it could use a bit of a polish. He stuck it in his backpack and went to retrieve his bike from the rack. Eddie pedaled off into the damp morning, autumn leaves a carpet on the lawns.

He didn't pull an all-night Skee-Ball session often, but he had to get out of the apartment. His roommates had recently decided that they liked each other more than friends. Eddie was definitely the third wheel but finding affordable places in Seattle was nigh impossible. His work as a sound engineer was finally getting noticed. If he hung in there a little longer, maybe he could finally land a permanent gig. Eddie panted up the steep hill to the loft. Tyson and Bella should be at work by now.

Eddie slung his backpack on the kitchen peninsula and tossed his keys into the bowl. Silence, blessed silence greeted him. His shoulders relaxed and he took a long, slow breath. Maybe today he could get more progress in on his latest side project. He'd recorded the last concert at the Boys and Girls Club and needed to clean it up before handing it to the director. He dug the lamp out of his backpack. Eddie still wasn't sure why he'd chosen it. It was a funny old thing. Not particularly large, wrought brass looped around the base like filigree. He was pretty sure there wasn't polish in the loft. Maybe just some soap and water to start.

As he was rubbing the lamp dry, Eddie felt it vibrate and then shake so violently he dropped on the chipped tiles of the kitchen floor. The lamp danced around for a few seconds before landing squarely on its base. Blue smoke poured out of the end, engulfing the tiny space. Eddie froze in fear. He knew the story. Everyone knew the story. But it was just that - a myth, a legend, a fairy tale. Eddie shoved up against the sink and held on with both hands as the smoke quickly dissipated. Before him stood a girl in dark makeup, flannel, and ripped jeans. She looked like she'd stepped off of a grunge album cover. Her long brown hair fell straight to her waist and her brown eyes widened in surprise as she looked around the kitchen and, finally, at Eddie.

She smiled at him.
"Hi, there!" she said.
Eddie cleared his throat, "Er, hi."
"What year is this?"
"2017"
She shrugged off the flannel shirt. "I suppose this isn't the fashion anymore, then. It was the last time I was out."
"Er, no," replied Eddie quietly.
"I suppose you know the story? Because it seems everyone knows the story."
"Um, yes?" Eddie squeaked. He took a deep breath. "Something about wishes?"

"That'd be the one," she replied. "But there are rules." She raised a slim brown finger. "No making people fall in love with you. No destroying another country or city. And no killing people."
She cocked her head, studying him.
"You can probably release the sink. I don't bite."

Eddie let go and realized his hands were aching from gripping too tightly. His mind was racing.

The girl smiled again. "Usually, it's fame and riches, but I appreciate creativity."

Eddie's mind was a blank. Riches would be nice, but he suspected any wish he made came with dire consequences. Karma had that way of winning out. He was desperately curious about her.
"Do you have a name?" he asked. "I'm Eddie.

She seemed startled. "Yes, I have a name. Or at least I did have a name, somewhere. Hmmmm. Let's go with Courtney. I liked her band the last time I was out. Yep. Courtney."

"OK, Courtney. Why don't we discuss it in the living room?" Eddie surreptitiously surveyed the dirty dishes on the counter. They might as well be civilized. One didn't get life changing wishes every day.

Eddie led Courtney to the worn leather couch. He still couldn't think of anything to wish for. Other than the roommate thing, life was pretty good. He loved his work, he could come and go at all hours and occasionally could get some volunteer work in. A girlfriend might be nice, but love wasn't part of the wish deal. He studied Courtney as she made herself comfortable and looked around with bright eyes. He was mostly curious about her.

"So," she chirped, "Let's get to it. You get three wishes. What would you like?"
"I, I don't know." muttered Eddie. "I mean, other than my roommates, things are pretty great right now."
"No killing people, remember."
"Oh, gosh! I wouldn't want that. No no no!" Eddie spread his hands in dismay. "They're good people. Just very together right now." He thought hard for a minute and then decided.
"OK, first wish. I wish that Tyson and Bella, my roommates, will be awarded a," Eddie paused, trying to think of an amount that wouldn't be outrageous, but still generous. "A $5,000 bonus each and a three percent raise."

Courtney raised her eyebrows. "Really? OK. Your wish." She twisted her fingers and made a sort of flinging gesture. "Done." Courtney ran her hand through her hair. "I don't normally ask this, but why that?"

Eddie cocked an eyebrow. "Well, it's enough for a security deposit on a new place and a boost so they can afford something a little nicer, but not palatial. Think of it as a hand up, not a hand out." Clearly volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club had gotten its grip on his psyche. Eddie turned that thought over a few times. Yes, a hand up. That sounded right. Two more wishes to go.

Eddie thought about all the people that needed help in his adopted city, the whole country, really. Under Courtney's quiet study, he thought about what was important to people. Eddie felt like this wish should be a big one. A big hand up. Then he knew.

"Second wish. I wish that Congress would pass single-payer universal healthcare so no one in the United States or its territories ever had to pay for healthcare again."

Courtney's mouth dropped open. "Seriously? You don't want to win the lottery or have a new TV? Something easy?"

Eddie shook his head.

Courtney sighed. "Well, here goes nothing." She rose gracefully from the couch, tossing the flannel across the arm. She stretched and rolled her shoulders. Eddie watched, fascinated by her lithe figure. Shaking her hair back, Courtney began elaborately twisting her fingers and wrists. Soon, she added a couple of twirls of the ankle and a dip of the hip. It almost seemed like an intricate dance. Eddie could tell she was working hard as sweat bloomed across her forehead. In one seamless motion, Courtney gathered herself and flung her arms skyward, holding the pose for a few seconds. At last, she pulled herself together and regarded Eddie from across the room. "It's not going to be instant, I’m afraid. Too many variables."

Eddie shrugged. "As long as it gets done."

"Oh, it will by year's end and it'll be messy, but I tried to cover as many nuances as I could think of."
"I appreciate that."
"So, wish number three?" she asked.

"I honestly don't know," said Eddie. "How did you get into the wish business anyway?"

Courtney plunked herself down on the sofa again. "Trapped. One doesn't willingly get stuffed in a lamp for millennia. It was a good trap and I was young and foolish." She sighed and tucked her feet up underneath a stray cushion. "I mean, granting wishes is pretty fun. And I've seen a little bit of the world. I'd love to see more of it, but usually I'm only out of the lamp for an hour. Sometimes, I've been out for a few days, but that's rare. People generally know what they truly long for."
"What do you do when you're in there?"
"It's sort of a trance-like state. Otherwise, I'd be completely mad by now. I'm only a little crazy." She winked at him.
Eddie knew what he wanted to wish for, but he had to be sure. "Would you ever want to be free of it?"

Courtney laughed quietly. "Freedom? I've heard that before and yet no one has ever followed through. It's too easy to keep all the wishes to themselves. As much as never-ending youth has been enjoyable, I think I'd like to really taste life."

"Done," stated Eddie. "Wish three: I wish you, Courtney, genie of the lamp, were free from your bonds to do whatever you wished."
Four slim gold bracelets fell from her wrists and ankles. Courtney was astonished.

"You did it. You actually did it." She dove across the sofa and planted a huge kiss on Eddie. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him off the couch. "Let's go exploring!"

Eddie chuckled at her enthusiasm and grabbed his keys.

"Where are we anyway?" Courtney asked as they walked out the door.
"Seattle," replied Eddie.
"I think I'll like it here," murmured Courtney as she practically skipped down the hall.