Issue 6:
Wish
S. Douglas Larsen
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Frustration
The dust covered lamp sat among empty jars on the warped shelf. Years had passed since anyone had entered the dark basement, so it was ecstatic when the door at the top of the stairs opened and two young men descended with flashlights into the dismal room.
Unlike the genie it contained, the lamp felt the passage of time. It couldn't remember when, due to its magical contents, it had gained consciousness and self awareness, that had been many centuries ago.
It spent long years waiting to be polished, watched the new master fumble unsuccessfully through the obligatory three wishes, and then waited again. It had seen all there was to see in wish making. It knew
all the mistakes and how to avoid them.
"What are you going to do with all this stuff?"
"Oh, I don't know, haul it all to the dump I guess." The young man picked up the lamp and blew off a bit of dust then flung it back among the dirty bottles. "Yea, let's just bag it up and send it to the landfill. Grandpa has this place full of junk."
The lamp was horrified, if only it could make a wish.
~S. Douglas Larsen
S. Douglas Larsen lives with his wife and small son in Bilbao, Spain. He teaches at a private university there, and writes as a hobby. Email.
© 2001 by S. Douglas Larsen. All Rights Reserved.
© 2000-2002 by Cayuse Press. All Rights Reserved.
This page updated April 24, 2002.