When Nick and Brian got back to the venue, Nick went to the dressing room and Brian went to the bus to sleep.
In the dressing room, Nick examined his purchase. There were multiple designs all over it. On the top, there was an inscription in a language he didn't know. Ignoring it, he lifted the top off. As he did, a gust of air came out of the lamp.
Nick ignored it and returned to inspecting the lamp. Then, there was the sound of someone tapping their foot somewhere in the room.
"What?" Nick asked without looking up.
"Man, you what do you mean, what? There's some stuff I have to tell you so you don't screw up your wishes."
"Who are you?" Nick asked, looking up. "What are you talking about? What wishes?"
I am Hathor, your genie. And no, I am not named after the goddess, she is named after me. I grant you three wishes as long as they don't involve-
a) bringing someone back from the dead
b) making someone fall in love
c) killing one or multiple persons. Other than that, I'm pretty open to what ever you want."
"You're a genie?" Nick asked, astonished. "Then why are you dressed like that? Don't genies wear little outfits with sequins and stuff?"
"No."
Hathor's outfit was not tiny. She was wearing bell-bottom jeans and a shirt with wide sleeves. It looked very sixties.
"Why are you dressed like a hippie? Some of that stuff might be coming but not all of it."
"What do you mean 'coming back'? What year is it?"
"1999."
"What?" Hathor asked, shocked. She sat down on the couch. "I can't believe it. I was in there so long. What's happened?" she asked Nick. "Are the Beatles still together? They used to be my friends."
"The Beatles broke up and then John Lennon got shot and killed."
"Shot?" she cried hysterically. "They killed John?!" She started to sob.
Nick didn't know what to do. Should he comfort her? Gently, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug. She wrapped her arms around him. That's when he noticed that her blond hair was now black.
"Whoa," he said. "What happened to your hair?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice muffled. "If I'm said, my hair turns dark."
"Oh," was all he could think of to say.
Hathor cried for a few more minutes and the pulled away.
"Thanks," she said, wiping her eyes. She sniffed and then looked at him, as her hair started to turn back. Now, it was strawberry blonde. "So, do you have any wishes?"
"I can have anything?"
"Except the stuff I mentioned, yeah."
"Hmmm. Can I think about it?"
"Sure. I stick around as long as it takes. And then…" she gestured at the bottle.
"Then you have to go back in the bottle?"
"Yeah. Until someone else comes along, opens it up, and then I get to come out for three more wishes. That's the story of my existence."
"That's all you do?"
"Basically, yeah. Sometimes, the person lets me do my own stuff."
Then the door opened.
"Nick, meet and greet in ten minutes," AJ said gruffly. "You're supposed to get ready."
"Kay," Nick said, getting up. "This is," he said, pointing at Hathor.
"No," she said. "He can't see me."
Nick's eyebrows shot up in shock.
"Nick, who are you talking about?" AJ asked. "We're the only ones in the room. Unless you have an invisible friend," he said in a teasing tone.
"Ha ha. Very funny."
"Thanks. Ten minutes."
"I know." With that, AJ closed the door and left the room.
"Why can't he see you?" Nick asked.
"Other can see me only if you want them to," she explained as she stretched out on the couch. "Nice couch."
"How can I want them to see you?"
"You think that you want them to see me," she explained, rolling her eyes. "Nineties men might be better looking but they sure ain't smarter."
"Hey!"
"Sorry. But that's me. I forgot to tell you. I don't lie. I say what's on my mind. No go do your meet and greet thing so I can get some sleep."
"I though you were supposed to take orders from me, not the other way around."
"Yeah, well right now, I say you get out." Hathor closed her eyes and the conversation was over. Nick left the room.
Chapter 3
Table of Contents
Home
