Boxes towered everywhere. Flynn was looking for his football with his friend, Sammy. The garage was full of his father’s tools, his granddad’s model train set, skis and tents, containers of Christmas decorations and cardboard boxes stuffed with old toys. As he poked and prodded, Flynn spied a tall glass bottle, high on the top shelf. It had a long thin neck and was the colour of rubies. Flynn stretched up on tip-toes and cradled it in his hands. The bottle felt heavy and deliciously cool.
"It looks just like a bottle a genie would hide in," said Sammy.
"A genie!" said Flynn. His eyes widened. "Let’s give it a rub and see."
"Wait!" said Sammy. "First, you need to think of three wishes."
Flynn thought hard. He would wish for a mountain of gold coins to spend on whatever he liked. He would wish for a toy shop where he could choose a new toy whenever he wanted. He would wish for a waterslide that went all around his house so that he could ride it whenever he felt like it.
Flynn was ready. He placed a hand on the ruby red bottle and gave it a rub. A puff of blue smoke rattled the glass stopper. It popped off as a thin trail of smoke twisted in the air. It swirled and twirled around Flynn and Sammy like a thick ribbon. It snaked like a thick fog. Then, in the blink of an eye, the smoke formed a huge genie. He was blue from his head to his feet. Gold earrings swayed from his ears, and heavy chains glinted around his neck. His hair was tied in a tall bun, emeralds and sapphires glistening as it swayed from side to side. He towered over Flynn and Sammy.
"Hot diggety-dog!" hooted the genie. "Thank you! I was feeling a bit squashed in there. It’s been a long time since someone rubbed me out." He put his enormous arms in the air and stretched, his gold bracelets tinkling. "My name is Gene, but you can call me Gee." He winked at Flynn and Sammy who stood speechless, grinning from ear to ear.
"Well now," said Gee. "Let’s get on with the wishes." Flynn could not wait. "Oh!" Gee put a hand up in the air. "There is one thing I should tell you. It is ‘Thank Your Genie Week’. This is when you thank genies for all the work they do granting your wishes. Before I can give you three wishes, you must grant three of mine."
Flynn frowned. How could he grant three wishes for a genie when he did not have any magic? But if he said no, then he would lose his three wishes. What could he do? "OK," sighed Flynn. "What are your wishes?" Gee beamed at Flynn. "My first wish," said Gee, "is to be able to eat a feast like a real boy can. Flynn couldn’t believe it! That would be easy.
Flynn and Sammy got to work. They made sandwiches and hamburgers. They made pancakes and waffles. They made milkshakes and pizzas. Gee ate and ate. Flynn and Sammy laughed as he squeezed chocolate sauce on everything.
A pile of dirty plates crowded the kitchen. Gee rubbed his stomach and did a huge burp. Flynn and Sammy giggled. "For my second wish," said Gee, "I want to go to the swimming pools like a real boy can." Flynn couldn’t believe it! That would be easy.
Gee did a jump from the high diving board. "Yippee!" he cheered, as he flipped through the air. He popped a manu that splashed water all over the children watching. He slid down the water slide, his shouts of "Woo hoo!" echoing all the way down. He zipped down again and again. Flynn and Sammy laughed as the water sloshed around them. Gee made the pool choppy with waves.
"For my third wish," said Gee, "I want to play a game of football like a real boy can." Flynn couldn’t believe it! That would be easy.
Gee zigged and zagged around the field like a lightning bolt. He dribbled the ball from one end to the other. He charged past the other players. Flynn and Sammy laughed as Gee headed the ball into the goal. Their team had won! Gee carried Flynn and Sammy on his shoulders as the children cheered around him.
Back at Flynn’s house, Gee could not stop smiling. "This has been the best ‘Thank Your Genie Week’ ever," said Gee. He high-fived Flynn, his bangles tinkling and clinking. "Now, it is time for your wishes, Flynn."
Flynn was excited. He had his wishes all ready.
"I wish," said Flynn, "for three more days with Gee!"
