Aatmik

by Lisa Green

Any three wishes.  I used to dream about stuff like that.  Turns out, reality stranger than my imagination.  For starters, I didn't fall into a cave and find a dusty old lamp.  No, it was a garage sale at the house down the street.

Nasty old Mr. Simmons with his face stuck in a permanent sour scowl was trying to get rid of his wife's yellowing doilies and his kids' old comic books.  I didn't get too excited at the sight of them since, if I knew Mr. Simmons, he had already gone through and made sure none of them were worth much.  Still, I figured I'd take a look around just in case his old eyes had missed something valuable. 

If it was possible, when he saw me coming, he glowered even more.  He told my dad once that he figured all boys over the age of eleven are "hooligans."  Whatever that means, I'm pretty sure it isn't good and according to him, I'd been one for over a year.  His flinty eyes narrowed as I perused the comic book section.  I smiled and waved.

An older woman tapped him and started asking about a tea set she'd found so I slipped to the rear of the driveway.  I thought I'd spotted something stuck between stacks of magazines.  It was an old cigar box, worn at the edges with faded red letters.  When I picked it up my fingers began to tingle and I could just make out a picture of a genie on the box. 

"How much?" I asked, interrupting his conversation.

"I'm busy," he said, waving me away with a hand.

"I'll give you fifty cents," I said.

"A dollar."  I handed it to him and retreated to my house where I shut myself in my room. 

I turned the old box over in my hands and rubbed at the surface with my sleeve in hopes of being able to make out more of the words or the picture.  That was when it started rattling.  I dropped it on my bed and backed up several feet, sure the old man had stuck a rattlesnake in it.  Then the whole thing just started to shake and pop.  Before I could do anything the lid popped open, a huge wind blowing across my face.  I shut my eyes and when I opened them, He was standing there.

He was pretty tall, well over six-feet.  His dark-brown skin shined like polished leather and his clothes were definitely not this century.  I would have laughed except it was kind of scary.

"Um, hi," I squeaked out after we both stood there for a while. 

"Greetings."  His voice was deep and smooth with just the hint of an accent.

“Who are you?"

"I am Aatmik Master."

"You're Aatmik Master?"

"No.  I am Aatmik.  You are Master."

"Whoa."  I stepped back into the wall and slid to the floor.

"You have summoned Aatmik.  Aatmik is at your service.  You have three wishes."

"You're a… you're a…you're a…" I sound really intelligent when I'm flustered, don't I?

"Aatmik is a Jinn."

"Oh.  I thought you were a genie."

"Aatmik is a genie.  Also known as jinn."

"Whoa," I said again.

"Aatmik is not a horse."  I considered him for a moment.  He showed not the slightest sign that he was trying to be funny.  I decided it was safest not to respond.

"What is your bidding?" he prompted after a moment.

"Three wishes?" I asked, standing up.  He nodded.  "Can I wish for-"

"More wishes?  No.  That is forbidden."  Aatmik continued to wait.

"Any other rules?" 

"None."

"I wish we were super rich."  I know, it's completely cliché, but it's cliché for a reason.

"That never ends well."  Aatmik raised his arms in preparation and I panicked.

"Wait!" I yelled.  "What do you mean it never ends well?"

Aatmik stopped.  He lowered his arms to his sides and regarded me intently.  The guy really freaked me out.

"Aatmik means, Master, that many have wished this before each time, the wisher ends up miserable and poor.  Sometimes it takes many years, sometimes only days, but it has never… worked out."

"OK," I said, "I change my mind.  I can do that right?" 

"Aatmik assumes you are capable of it."  I studied him; still no sign of intentional humor.

"So, what else is a bad idea?"

"Asking for riches or power."

Great, I thought, there goes my next request for super powers.

"Or love," he continued.  "These things are better off left to the fates.  The universe strives for balance.  Do you understand young Master?"  I didn't, but I nodded anyway.

"So, what has worked?" I asked.

"Once there was a woman.  Her hair was black as midnight; her eyes sparkled like the stars-"

"Yeah, I get it, she was pretty."

"This woman found Aatmik in a golden locket.  She wished…" his voice trailed off wistfully.

"What?  What did she wish for?"  I asked, forgetting for a moment how freaked out I was.

"She wished to be Aatmik's friend." 

I had no response to that.  I mean what was I supposed to do?  Ask him to be my buddy?  Offer him my condolences? 

"Um," I said after a minute or so, "what else did she wish for?"

"She wished Aatmik would no longer be bothered by Masters full of spite or lust."

"Oh."

"Aatmik has had only one master since.  He was a simple man.  He wished to always stay warm.  To always have enough food.  He wished to live a long healthy life."

I was thoroughly confused now.  It seemed I wasn't supposed to ask for anything too big.  But, man, three wishes, I mean come on.  Now, if I'd really been smart I would have probably decided to think about it for a while.  But, you try finding a genie and not acting on it.  Easier said than done. 

"I guess I could wish for world peace," I said. 

"Mmm," Aatmik grunted.

"No good?" I asked.

"Aatmik suspects that would precipitate a devastating world-wide natural disaster or alien invasion."

"So no matter what I ask for something will come and ruin it?"

"Master is a clever boy.  Aatmik has seen much and it seems only smaller wishes will escape the universe's attention."

"I wish," I said, squeezing my eyes shut tight.  "I wish I had no more homework?"

"Is Master asking Aatmik or telling Aatmik?"

"If I were asking…"

"Aatmik would tell you he sees no harm."

"Then I'm telling," I said more confidently.

Aatmik raised his arms above his head and brought them down with a whoosh.  I felt a breeze blow by my face, but other than that nothing else really happened.

"Is that all?" I asked.

"It is done."

"OK.  Cool.  Let's see, how about wishing my parents would lay off and never ground me again no matter how bad I was?"

"Aatmik would say you learn from parental restriction."

"Great, a responsible genie."

"Aatmik is-"

"I wish you'd stop referring to yourself in the third person.  It's really annoying."

"Master wishes?"

"Couldn't you just stop because you want to be nice and not because I wish it?" 

Aatmik considered this.

"Aat- uh, I- will try."

"Good," I said, relieved.  "I wish I was popular."

"Very well Master," Aatmik raised his hands and I felt a second gust of wind. 

That's when my cell phone rang.  It was Hannah Carson.  My palms started sweating.

"Hel…hello?" my voice cracked and I cleared my throat.

"Oh!  Hi Mike.  A bunch of us are going to a movie later, wanna come?"  I could hear giggling in the background.

 "I'm getting another call, can you hang on a sec?"

"Sure." More giggling.

"Hello?"

"Is this Michael Bloom?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Bloom this is Mr. Julian from the skateboard shop.  We were wondering if you'd be willing to try out our newest model - for free of course- and then give us an endorsement."

"A what?"

"If someone like you says he likes our store and our products then lots of other kids will want to buy from us."

"Can I call you back?"  It wasn't that I didn't want the free skateboard.  It was just that in the time I'd been on the phone, I'd already received fifteen texts.  Including one from Hannah with a little heart that said she'd meet me at the theater around 7.  I turned off my phone and looked up at Aatmik with wide eyes.

"Master is pleased?"

"Uh, I don't know." 

"Being popular can be demanding," he said thoughtfully.

"Maybe you could make me slightly less popular?  I mean the Hannah thing is good, but maybe not the other girls and all…"

"Does Master want to use his last wish?"  Aatmik raised his eyebrows.  I guessed there was a no return policy on wishes.  I shook my head and sat down on my bed to think. 

I could go the safe route and be like the last Master.  I could ask for a long and healthy life.  It just sounded like something my parents would do.  That's when I heard the ambulance.  Without thinking I grabbed the cigar box and headed outside. 

I was halfway down the street when I realized Aatmik was right behind me.

"Someone will see you!" I said, gesturing for him to get back in the box.

"No one can see Aat- me except for Master."

"Oh," I said, but I was distracted.  Two medics were loading Mr. Simmons onto a gurney.  He had a big mask over his face and his eyes were closed.  I may not like him much, but I didn't want the old guy to die.

"What happened?" I asked a lady who had been holding a vase from the garage sale.

"He just collapsed.  They said it was his heart."

"Is he going to be okay?"  She just smiled sadly and put a hand on my shoulder.  I shrugged away from her and ran around the side of the house.

"Aatmik!  I wish Mr. Simmons would be okay!"

"Is Master sure?  That is his last wish…"

"Just do it.  Okay?"

Aatmik brought down his hands and the wind passed by again.  I ran to the front.  Mr. Simmons was on his feet with his arms held triumphantly in the air.

"Alright, alright that's enough.  Everybody out now, unless you're buying something," he said.  The crowd dispersed until he and I and Aatmik were the only ones left standing. 

"What're you looking at Bloom?" he said.

"Um, nothing Mr. Simmons."

"And you?" he asked, turning toward Aatmik.

"Your wish for healthy, long life continues Old Master."

"So it does."  Mr. Simmons sounded softer than I'd ever heard him.

"But-" I started.

"The universe works in mysterious ways," said Aatmik with a satisfied nod.

A loud giggle came from behind.  I turned to find a gaggle of girls led by Hannah Carson.  I clutched the cigar box a little tighter.

"I suppose," said Aatmik, "I did overdo it a little.  Since you have proven so selfless, Master."  Wind gushed over our heads, messing up Hannah's hair.  The other girls around her continued on as though they'd meant to walk down the street all along and she was left standing there.

"I wasn't sure if you got my text," she said.  She kind of blushed and looked down at her fingernails. 

"Uh, yeah.  Sorry.  My phone isn't working quite right."

"So, you still want to go to the movies later?  Is seven alright?"

"Sure."  She smiled and waved before taking off after her friends.  I turned to Aatmik and Mr. Simmons.  "Thanks," I said to both of them, handing Mr. Simmons back the cigar box.  He looked a little surprised.

"I let you buy this 'cause I figured you needed some straightening out Bloom.  It's yours," he said trying to thrust it back in my hands.

"No thanks," I said smiling.  "I already used it.  Besides, I totally got my dollars worth."

***************

About the Author: Lisa Green is not a demon, ghost, vampire, fairy or shape-shifter*.  She has, however, enjoyed reading and writing about them since the age of 7. When her husband the rocket scientist pointed out her tendency to pick out books intended for young adults and children, much to her credit, he was not devoured.  Instead, Lisa realized her calling and began writing for a younger audience.

*Please note that the exclusion of werewolves above is strictly coincidental.

About the Art: Yard Sale 4 by j m griffin of AUBURN, ALABAMA, United States