Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps (20 page)

“G
inny, it's great to see you! Come in!”

“More wine, David?”

“Mum! Come over here. Colette's mum wants to meet you.”

“Emily! Hi! Come and look at the horse books with me!”

“Yo, Ben!”

The Worthingtons' voices rose above the buzz of chatter in the bookshop. The grand opening had started at two o'clock. It was now an hour later and the shop was full of people. They were chatting and drinking wine and orange juice, eating crisps and browsing the bookshelves.

“I can't believe there are so many people here,” Ann said as she rang up a purchase at the till and smiled at the customer. “Thanks very much.”

“Mum!” Jess said for about the third time. “Colette's mum really wants to say hi!”

“Okay, okay, I'm coming!” Ann said. “Mark, can you
take over on the till?”

Leaving Michael to pour out drinks, Mark took his wife's place at the cash desk. “This is turning out better than I ever expected,” he said to Jason, who was straightening the little comedy books by the till point.

“Look, there's Sarah Sellick.” Jason pointed as the journalist came into the shop.

“Hi, guys,” she said, walking over. “Just thought I'd call in and see how it's going.” She brandished a camera. “Do you mind if I take a few photos for the paper? I'll run a short piece on the opening.”

“Great!” Mark said, looking delighted. “Snap away.” He looked around at the crowd of people and sighed happily. “This is a dream come true for me, Jason, mate. I'm so glad we moved here.”

“So are we,” said Jason.

“Good.” Mark turned to greet another customer, a contented smile sitting easily on his face.

Jason saw Milly over by the refreshments table and joined her. “It's going really well, isn't it?”

She nodded. “I hope Skribble's okay with all the noise.” They looked over to the shelf they had left the lamp on in the nonfiction section. “Maybe we should check?”

They both went over. Ginny was looking at a book there.

“Oh, no, no, no!” a familiar voice was muttering. “You'd do much better choosing a book about something sensible.”

Ginny frowned slightly and then rubbed her head as if it was hurting. She put down a book about soap operas and picked up the one next to it:
Magic in the Entertainment Industry
.

“Much better,” the voice said approvingly.

Looking bemused and slightly dazed, Ginny headed off for the till.

“Skribble!” Milly hissed, going over to the lamp. “You mustn't talk to the customers!”

Jason caught sight of the worm's head at the top of the lamp's spout. “Milly's right. People will find out about you!”

“Foolish boy!” Skribble snapped. “You know a person must believe in magic before he or she can hear my voice properly. Have you learned nothing over the course of your training?” He gave a loud, indignant sniff. “Really!”

Milly giggled. It sounded like Skribble was back to his old self! “You're feeling better, then?”

“I am very much recovered, thank you, Milly.” Skribble sighed. “Soon, I will leave you.”

“Not yet!” Milly blurted out. “You can't!” Several people turned to look at her in surprise. She fixed a grin
on her face. “I mean, you
can't
get more orange juice out yet, Jason!”

The people turned away again, and Milly and Jason looked back at Skribble.

“I'm afraid I
must
go, my dear Milly.” Skribble's voice was softer now. “My work here is done, and my punishment at an end. It is time to move on.”

“Please, Skribble,” Milly begged. “Stay just a little while longer, until everyone goes and we can say good-bye properly.”

“Very well.” The line of the bookworm's mouth slid into a smile. “I will delay my parting for a short while.” He crawled back into the lamp, a happy look in his eyes.

“I don't want him to go,” sighed Milly.

“Me neither,” Jason said. “But I guess he has to.”

Milly nodded slowly. And then she noticed a man, quite old, dressed in a corduroy jacket with a black polo neck underneath. He had graying hair and a wise, lined face, and was browsing the shelves in the secondhand art section. Milly noticed his eyes settle on the book that Sabik and Vega had left before parting. He picked it off the shelf, and as he read the title he blinked.

He turned the volume over in his hands, opened up the cover.

“I forgot about that thing,” Jason whispered. “Do you
think he's going to buy it?”

Before Milly could speak, the man gave a quick, sharp gasp. He looked through the pages of the book and started shaking his head. “Definitely post-medieval parchment, quires of eight leaves…No! Surely, it can't be…”

“What's wrong with it?” Milly whispered. “Why's he looking like that? Is it magic? A genie trick?”

Jason gulped. “We should never have left it on the shelves! We should have hidden it. Oh, Milly—”

Mark was passing by and overheard the man's mutterings. “Hello,” he said. “I'm Mark Worthington. I co-own this shop. Is there a problem?”

“Not a problem.” The man took the book in both hands and looked wonderingly at the cover. “Just a miracle. This book—
The Book of Hours, for Use in Rouen-de-Lys
. Where did you find it?”

“That's from…” Mark looked at the cover of the book and frowned. “Actually, I…I don't quite recognize it. How terrible. I picked some boxes of books up from a house clearance last weekend; I imagine it was one of those. What is it?”

“What
is
it?” The other man stared at him. “It's an illuminated manuscript—early eighteenth century, I should say. It contains religious texts and calendars and prayers and…it's in such amazing condition! I've never
seen anything like it!”

Milly didn't have a clue what he was going on about. But her dad looked totally shocked.

“Then…” Mark swallowed. “Surely that must be quite rare.”

“It's
exceedingly
rare, my friend!” The man grinned, looking equally astonished. He pulled a card out of his top pocket. “I happen to be an expert on books of this era. My name is John Underwood.”

“A professor of history,” Mark said, reading the card. “Lucky you came along when you did!”

Jason whispered to Milly: “Luck had nothing to do with it—but I bet Sabik and Vega did!”

The man nodded. “I must tell you, Mr. Worthington, this book is of immense value. At auction you might expect it to fetch a six-figure sum.”

“For one book?” Mark went pale. “Goodness, that's very honest of you…. You could have bought it for next to nothing and I wouldn't have known any better!”

The professor just smiled. “If you wish to sell it, Mr. Worthington, I can put you in touch with some people and organizations who would give you a fair price….”

“Well…I…yes! Yes, please!” Mark babbled. “Ann! Ann!”

Ann hurried over. “What's up?”

As Mark explained, Jess and Michael joined Jason and Milly. “What
is
up?” Jess wondered.

Milly was bouncing up and down with excitement. “That book the genies left is worth loads of money!”

The news of the valuable book spread around the shop like wildfire. Everyone crowded around.

Sarah squeezed her way to the front, camera in hand, and marched up to Professor Underwood. “What a great story!” she exclaimed. “I'm Sarah Sellick from the
Moreways Gazette
. So, this really is a rare book? You think collectors might buy it?”

“Collectors will most
definitely
want to buy it!” Professor Underwood announced.

Ann gave Mark a delighted look. “Think of the debts we can pay off!”

“I could get in the
national
press with this,” said Sarah, whisking out her tape recorder. “Could you give me a quick interview, Professor?”

“Certainly,” the professor replied. “It would seem that this is a very special day!”

Mark turned to Ann. “You can say that again.”

“It's amazing!” Ann said. “And it's not just the money. Think of all the publicity we'll get!”

“And
then
think of the money!” Michael grinned. “Can I have a Megaplay Ultra then, Dad?”

“And a really big TV for us to play it on,” said Jason.

Mark laughed. “If you're lucky!”

“And I'd love to go shopping in London with Colette one day,” said Jess.

Ann grinned. “I don't see why not.”

“Can I have a pony?” begged Milly.

“No!” Ann said firmly. “But you
can
have riding lessons.”

“I can go with Emily, and maybe ride Pepper!” Milly's eyes grew as wide as saucers. “Oh, wow,” she breathed. “Oh…oh…
wow
!”

Just then Sarah came over. “Can I have a picture of you all together?” She started arranging them in a group. “There we are.”

Milly's eyes fell on the lamp that Skribble was in. It was still on the shelf. “Wait!” she cried, dashing across the room. “Can this be in the picture?”

“Hey, I had a lamp that looked a bit like that.” Ann looked around in surprise. “But I can't seem to find it….”

“Never mind, eh?” said Michael quickly.

“We bought this one at the junk shop.” Milly opened her eyes wide and gave Ann her sweetest smile. “I thought it looked like it might have a genie inside….”

Ann smiled back. “You have such a vivid imagination,
Milly. Well, I don't see why it can't be in the picture, too.” She turned to put her arm around Mark's waist. He rested his cheek happily against her hair.

“Okay. All ready?” said Sarah. “Say cheese—” She broke off as she looked at the lamp. “No, I know. Say ‘genie' instead!”

Michael, Jess, Jason, and Milly exchanged grins.

“Your wish is our command,” said Michael.

“After three, then,” Sarah said. “One…two…
three
!”

“Genie!” everyone yelled. And just as the camera flashed, Milly was sure she saw a worm's head—unseen by grown-up eyes—poke out from the spout of the lamp, its tiny line of a mouth stretched into a proud smile.

“A
bath and a night watching telly for me,” Ann said as they locked up the shop after their final customers. “I'm shattered.”

“Me too!” Mark yawned. “How about you kids?”

Milly touched the lamp in her bag.

“We've got some stuff to do,” said Jess, glancing at the others.

Michael nodded. “A game to finish playing.”

When they got back to the house, the four of them went into the den. Milly placed the lamp in the middle of the floor. She could hardly believe it was time to say good-bye to Skribble.

“So this is it?” Jess said softly, looking at the lamp.

“How do we get him out?” wondered Michael.

“Get him out? Get him out! Of all the nerve!” Skribble exclaimed from inside the lamp. “Would you squeeze a butterfly from its cocoon before it is properly prepared? I am Skribbaleum El Lazeez Ekir! I will emerge when I am
ready!” There was a moment's pause and then the bookworm's little head popped out from the spout. “Well, here I am,” he announced, staring around at them all.

For a few seconds no one seemed to know what to say.

“Good-bye,” said Skribble abruptly.

Jess swallowed. “Good-bye.”

“Yeah, see you, Worm,” said Michael awkwardly.

Jason nodded. “Bye, Skribble.”

Milly looked at the little bookworm's gruff face and a sob suddenly burst from her. “Oh, Skribble,” she said, dropping to her knees. “I don't want you to go. I don't want to say good-bye.”

Skribble's expression softened. “I do not wish it either. But I
must
leave. My magic is restored and I can now transform into my true genie form.”

“But can't you do that and still stay with us?” Milly pleaded. “You could live in the lamp and grant us wishes and—”

“No,” Skribble broke in gently. “It is not possible, dear Milly.”

“Why not?”

“If I were to give you wish after wish, you would have nothing to strive for. It would not lead to happiness for either you or those around you. You would grow lazy and arrogant….” He sighed. “Just as I did.”

“All right, forget the wishes,” said Milly. “I don't care about them. But please stay!”

“I cannot,” Skribble told her. “My work in the human world is not yet done. If I am to make amends for my laziness in the past, I must impress the Genie High Council with my verve and my wit and my extraordinary magical talents.” He cleared his throat and smiled. “Therefore, I intend to stay awhile in the human world. And with your permission, I would like to use this lamp as my vessel.”

“Of course,” Jess said, and the others all nodded.

Tears prickled Milly's eyes. “But…will we ever see you again?”

Skribble puffed out his cheeks. “Time will tell…yes, time will tell.” He nodded sagely to himself. “Our paths have crossed, and all our lives are the better for it. But now we must take different roads. That is the way it is, and the way it should be. It is written in the…”

“Small print?” said Michael with a sigh.

Skribble shook his head. “No. In the stars.”

The lump in Milly's throat was too big to swallow back any longer. As she reached out and gently touched the side of Skribble's face, tears rolled down her cheeks. “I'll miss you,” she whispered. “I'll really, really miss you.”

“And I will miss you, too,” he told her as Jess sniffed and Jason chewed his lower lip. “All of you. Wise Jason…
brave Jess…clever, kindhearted Milly, and…” He paused and fixed Michael with a look. “Yes, even you, the older boy. Impertinent, incorrigible—and ingenious Michael.”

Michael took a deep breath and rubbed crossly at his eye. “Yeah, well. As worms go, you're the coolest I've ever met, okay?”

Skribble inclined his head. “I believe that is a compliment in the ridiculous modern language you use. Thank you.” Then the old, imperious tone crept back into his voice. “Now, before I leave, I must ask one favor of you. When I change myself into my genie form, will one of you kindly summon me and make a wish—wish that the lamp would return to the shop in which you found it? Perhaps then, one day, someone worthy”—a small smile played across his face—“or someone
unworthy
, will find it. And then my work can begin.”

“Okay,” said Michael. “But as last wishes go, it's a bit boring!”

“Do this for me, children,” said Skribble, “and I will grant you an extra wish of your own as a parting gift.”

Milly wiped her eyes and grinned. “Thank you, lovely Skribble!”

The bookworm crawled out of the spout and dropped to the carpet in a tight ball. “And now there is but one thing left to do.” Uncurling, he smiled at each of them in
turn. “One set of adventures is over. Another is beginning. And as the saying goes…
Genie me!
”

There was a bright gold flash. The next instant, Skribble had gone. Only the lamp still stood there.

They all stared at it. It looked so old and ordinary.

“He's inside,” whispered Jason. “As a
genie
.”

“I wonder what he'll look like?” said Milly.

Michael shrugged. “Let's rub the lamp and find out.”

“Milly should do it,” suggested Jess.

“Oh, yes, can I?” Milly said excitedly.

Jason and Michael nodded.

“But you have to wish for something that we
all
want,” Michael told her. “No wishing for a pony or something dumb like that.”

Milly thought for a moment and then smiled. “Okay.” She picked up the lamp and, holding it on her knee, rubbed her fingers across its engraved sides.

A glare of white light and a cloud of sparkling smoke burst out of its spout. As the light faded and the smoke cleared, a figure appeared in the air before her, floating on a cloud.

Everyone stared, speechless in amazement.

Skribble had come back to them in the guise of…a bookworm!

He had not changed at all—except that now he was
wearing a tiny turquoise turban and a blue silk cape, with a thin black moustache drooping down from his top lip.

“Do not be afraid,” said Skribble, bobbing about on his cloud. “It is only me.”

“Duh! Of course it's you!” Michael spluttered.

“You look exactly the same!” exclaimed Jess.

“Don't be ridiculous!” Skribble scowled. “My disguise is impenetrable!”

“But, Skribble,” said Jason meekly, “why haven't you come back in your true form?”

“My true form was that of a falsehearted man,” Skribble replied. “And so, until my work is done, a humble bookworm I shall remain.” He lowered his voice and spoke confidentially. “I rather think the Genie High Council will like that little touch!”

Michael grinned. “You old faker.”

“Maybe he is,” said Milly fondly. “But he's brilliant.”

“Now,” Skribble boomed. “What is your wish, child?”

“I wish that the lamp was back on display in Junk and Disorderly with you safely inside it,” said Milly. “And…and I wish…” Her voice wavered.

Jess squeezed Milly's fingers and nodded encouragement.

“I wish that none of us shall ever forget a single moment
of this whole adventure,” Milly whispered. “That the memories stay bright and clear forever and ever, even when we're old and gray.”

Skribble's beady black eyes looked deep into her own. “You will never forget,” he murmured with a smile. “And neither shall I.” Then he raised his voice and his eyes to the heavens.
“As you wish it, so shall it be!”

A cloud of silver and gold sparkles exploded from the lamp's spout like fireworks. They shot into the air and then surrounded Skribble like a sparkling, glittering tornado. For a brief second, the bookworm's shape was still visible, floating on his cloud. He winked at the children and then he—and the sparkles—scattered into a million points of light, leaving just a faint trail of smoke in their wake.

“He's gone,” Jason said, staring at the space where the bookworm had been.

“Happy travels, Worm.” Michael swallowed hard. “And the best of luck to whoever rubs that lamp!”

“I wish it could be me.” Milly turned to Jess and flung her arms around her.

Jess hugged her back. “Hey,” she whispered. “It's okay.”

Milly sniffed and nodded. “We'll see him again. I
know
we will.”

“In the meantime, that was a pretty cool exit.” Jason smiled.

“Cool and clever,” agreed Jess.

“Clever?” Michael watched the last of the smoke drift away to nothing and grinned at the others. “That's not clever. That's
genie-us
!”