Last Wish                            by: Paul G. Jutras                                PAULJUTRAS@PRODIGY.net

 

It was Jan 1^st 2000 and the sea cruise was on its New Year voyage. On board, Tom and Hank toasted to the year of their success at the gambling tables.

"To wealth." Tom announced.

"To wealth!"

Once pass the three mile limit, the casino was open. Tom took the table while Hank took the slot machines.

"C'mon make me rich!" They cried.

"Thirty- Two! Let it ride on Thirty Two!" Tom cried. "I'm going to break this floating bank. At the same time, Hank watched two jackpots and a lemon.

"No! Just let me be a winner once!"

"House wins!: the chips were racked in. "No more bets!"

Frustrated, the brothers went out to the deck. They noticed the stormy skies but didn't care. Hank looked over the rail at the choppy sea.

"Thought we'd start this new year on easy street." Tom sighed.

"What will it take to make something out of ourselves?"

"So what's the next plan?"

"Something will hit me?"

Before they knew what happened a wave had washed them over board and they found themselves treading water and trying to stay a float. Then another wave hit them and they went under again. At early dawn the two washed upon shore. Choking on sea water, they gasped for air.

"Where are we?"

"How should I know?"

"You're the one with the bright ideas."

"Yeah, Hank." Tom said shaking his hand in an uncaring manner.

"Hey!" Tom's eyes spotted a gleam in the beach and ran up to it. "Help me."

"Oh, okay," Hank sighed feeling that his brother was going to make matters go from bed to worst.

"What now?"

Dropping to his knees he joined his brother and helped him dig in the sand. "I can't believe I'm going this," he said as they rubbed a bottle at the same time.

"What the--?" They watched as smoke formed into a woman. She was a blonde dressed in a white blouse, green vest and skirt. She wore tan nylons and black high heels.

"Since when do genies dress like that?"

"Get with the times," She cross her legs high on the thigh. "Its the start of the 21^st century." She pulled out a pair of glasses and a contract from the bottle. "I'm only allowed one master, but I'll bend the rules and give you each two wishes."

"I can only recycle the atoms of matter, not make things appear out of thin air."

"I'll go first." Tom cried. "I wish for this island was a resort that my brother and I own."

"Granted."

The jungle was suddenly replaced with a grand resort staffed with people who had been homeless and unemployed around the world. The two brothers found themselves standing in an office.

"Not bad huh, Hank." Tom smiled greedy. "Not good enough."

"For my second wish, I want this resort to be in a deal that will bring in big bucks."

Suddenly a sheik busted into the office. "She's perfect!" he declared. Hank found himself standing beside a brunette girl in a orange harem outfit, which matched her nail polish. He handed Hank a wad of bills as she bounded her.

"Janet is a good girl." Hank smiled as he counted the money. "I wish for her to serve you well."

With that, Tom's mind dimmed and all memories of ever being male was gone. The new Janet now only lived to serve her master as a beautiful slave girl.

Months had passed and Hank hadn't used his second wish. He had to run the resort without his brother and hated paying all the bills on his own. "Tom and his wishes!" Hank complained. "I should of gone first. I'd of wished for a beautiful girl on that deserted island."

"Granted!"

Hank had shut his blurry eyes. When he opened them, he was back on the beach. The resort was gone and the jungle was back. He quickly looked around for the girl, but felt the heavy weight on his chest. He collapsed to his knees when he looked at himself.

"I wanted to be alone with a beautiful girl on the beach!" Harriet cried. "Not be the girl alone on the beach."

Fin.

 

© 2000
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