Writer's Note:
This is the beginning of a fantasy. It does start slow, at least sexually. I hope that the reader will find a nice pay-off at the end. If I get enough comments, I will continue the story. It has many possibilities!
Chapter 1
It was a Saturday morning. I found myself browsing through a pawn shop. I wasn't there because I was interested in buying somebody else's junk. I was there because the girl behind the counter was beautiful. She was about 5'2", between ninety-five and a hundred pounds, blonde, blue eyes, and a smile that was so bright it put the sun to shame.
I met her at a party the weekend before. We hadn't talked much because frankly before the events of that day I was a shy, slightly pudgy, less than average middle aged guy with a pencil dick. She was in her early twenties and had at least three guys hitting on her at any one time the whole evening. I just lurked in the corners following her into whatever part of the room she happened to be in. I know, that makes me just a creepy loser. But that's who I was, a constantly horny, oversexed, creepy loser.
She came over to me. I thought I would pass out when she got close. Of course, she did not recognize me. Just doing her job, she asked, "Can I help you find something?"
Her voice was sweet, cute, and sexy. I swallowed like I had not had anything to drink in days and muttered something like, "Uh, no, uh, just looking." That was true; I was just looking at Candace.
"Let me know if I can help you with anything." And she walked over to another customer.
When I was able to start breathing again I decided I better actually look at some of the merchandise so it wouldn't be so obvious that I was a creepy stalker. I went over to an area of the store marked "Estate Sale." The goods in this corner apparently all came from some rich guy's estate. He had died suddenly with no real family. The pawn shop owner had gone to the estate sale and bought some of the smaller pieces. He had bought the whole lot pretty cheap hoping to make a profit by selling them an item at a time.
There were a few little statues, some old ash trays, some small paintings and lithographs, two Tiffany style lamps, and various other decorative items. However, there was one piece that caught my eye. It was a little oil lamp. It reminded me of something you would see in an Arabian Nights movie. It desperately needed cleaning and polishing, but I could tell it was probably the oldest item in the lot. It intrigued me, so I decided to buy it.
None of the merchandise from the estate sale was priced, so I had to summon up the courage to ask Candace. "Uh, Miss? I need some help." Boy, did I need help.
She came over and once again disarmed me with her sweet smile. "Sure! How can I help?"
I wanted to blurt out, "Please marry me and make me the happiest man in town!" Instead I said, "How much is this old oil lamp?"
"Well, the owner hasn't really priced this stuff yet. Did you have a price in mind?"
How was I supposed to know the value of something like this? "I didn't really have anything in mind. It looks like it might be worth something. How about $100?"
She smiled and replied, "Oh, sir I don't think the owner would part with this piece for $100. How about $500?"
Now you have to know that I was a low-level accountant at a small box factory. I did not make much money and spent all I did make. Five-hundred dollars was a lot of money to me. However, I did not want to appear cheap to this goddess, so I countered with a four-hundred dollar offer. She countered with four-hundred and fifty dollars, and we had a deal. I took out my credit card, maxed it out with the purchase, and left the store to go home.
All the way home I was beating myself up about buying that old lamp. What the hell did I need an oil lamp for? Why would I spend so much on an old piece of junk? Was Candace laughing at me because I was snookered into buying a piece of worthless garbage? Yes, I know, these were the mental ramblings of an insecure loser.
Before going home I stopped by the hardware store and bought some brass cleaner. I thought since I had the thing, it might as well look good. After eating a quick sandwich, I decided to see if I could do with it. My wife had left me about five years ago, so my apartment looked like a bachelor's pad. I thought maybe this would be the start to adding some spice to the dΓ©cor.
I started by taking a wet rag and washing off the surface dirt, and there was a lot of it. This lamp had not been touched in years. I then squeezed some of the cleaner onto another rag and started rubbing it onto the surface. As I rubbed the compound onto the lamp I could not believe my eyes. The surface under all of the grime was absolutely gorgeous. It shined up brilliantly. My buffing uncovered a luster like I had never seen in my life. It was so beautiful it was mesmerizing. When I finished polishing the last section, my life changed forever.
Now I know you're expecting something clichΓ©. However, you need to know that there was no smoke; a fat, blue-skinned man in a turban did not magically appear in my room; and Barbara Eden did not magically appear wearing a belly dancer's outfit mysteriously covering her navel. However, I suddenly felt that my mind was being transported to some other dimension. My body was still in my living room, but my mind was in another place, maybe even another time. I really could not see anything, but I just knew I was in a separate space.
I could not see anything, but my mind perceived everything. I could hear birds chirping. I could hear voices talking. I tried to look around but nothing was clear to my sight. Suddenly a voice talked directly to me. "Hello Kyle."
The voice made my heart jump a beat. It was a deep, booming voice filled with a power I had never experienced. I could not figure out why I was not scared out of my mind, but I was not afraid in the least.
The voice spoke again. "Kyle, I am Haji Ben al Sib [at least that's how I remember the name]. I am known in your language as a genie. I am aware of the legends, and you need to know that none of what you have read is strictly accurate. I am not here to grant you three wishes. However, I am here to change your life. I am here to grant you any fantasy you can dream of."
I was dreaming, surely, but I was still aware of my earthly surroundings. I was still aware of my body. But my mind was definitely hearing this voice. It was real. I could hear, but I was so confused, I could barely speak.
"Kyle," he continued, "I know you have many questions, and I will answer them in good time. However, let me tell you the stipulations for granting these changes, and then we will see if you want to continue."
I managed to let out an "Ok, sure."
"Rather than three wishes, I will spend one week with you tailoring your new life. You must make all of the choices. I cannot make any suggestions nor offer advice. I will grant you everything you desire with a few exceptions. I cannot make something appear out of nothing. I can only reshape or influence what is already there. I cannot change the past. What is done is done. I cannot give you eternal life. That privilege is out of my hands. Once the week is done and my job is finished, you will never return to my abode and never hear from me again.
And Kyle, this is the most important stipulation; everything I put into motion will be permanent. Your life can never return to the way it was. So you must choose your changes wisely."
My body swallowed hard, and my mind began swimming with possibilities. I did not know if he could read my thoughts, but he interrupted my imagination by saying, "And Kyle, you may never tell anyone about me. If you do, one of my associates will visit you and terminate our contract permanently. Also, my lamp only works once every fifty years, so it would be useless to give it to anyone else. The lamp will choose my next human at the appointed time. You have until tomorrow to decide if you want to proceed. If you do, simply pick up the lamp and you will return to me."
After that instruction, I found my mind back in my living room. My body was shaking. My knees were weak. Was I dreaming? I looked down at the lamp in my hand. I could see my reflection in the now shimmering metal. I looked like I had seen a ghost. Genies are not real. But God did that feel real.
I did not sleep at all that night. I kept waffling between convincing myself it was an afternoon dream and considering all of the wonderful things that I could wish for (if it were real). My alarm unnecessarily went off at 6:00. I had decided that I would check out the lamp's reality bright and early so I could get on with my day when it all turned out to be a figment of my imagination.
I took a shower so I could relax a bit. I put on my robe and walked into the living room. I stared at the lamp for a few minutes trying to work up the courage to pick it up. Why was I so worried about a dream? I kept asking myself, "Was it a dream?" There was only one way to find out.
Chapter 2
I nervously picked up the shiny lamp. I was immediately back in the other dimension hearing my new friend Haji say, "Hello again Kyle."
"Hello Haji" is all I could muster.
"So you are ready to proceed?"
"Yes, I think so."
"There is no think Kyle. You must decide yes or no. Remember, I can give no advice, so you must be sure of each request. Every alteration I make has many ripple effects. So I ask again, are you ready?"
I thought for a moment, but my lust and greed took over and I said, "Absolutely, I am ready."