Jim's Jinn
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Transcript of Jim's Jinn
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Name: Matthew Cook E-mail: [email protected]
Jim's JinnWordcount: 5,894
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There is an area in southern Ontario called the Niagara fruit belt. It is made up of
farmland that stretches from the great Niagara River to the tip of Lake Ontario. A visitor
would be advised to travel there in August, as the peaches grown in late August are
among the best on the planet. In this fruit belt there are vast orchards and vineyards,
beautiful waterfalls and valleys and forests. Because of its great beauty a few biblical
scholars have suggested that the Niagara fruit belt is the location of the original Garden
of Eden. Some further speculate that the fruit eaten that set the human race on its present
course of sin and sufferings was, in fact, a peach. Most agree that if said peach had been
eaten in late August, Adam and Eve made a wise choice. A large escarpment runsthrough the fruit belt, parallel to the shore of Lake Ontario. It is a favorite spot for people
who like leisurely strolls while eating peaches.
Jim Marcy lived in a large white duplex with his family on Murray Street in a
little town called Grimsby, just a ten minute walk from the escarpment. Growing up his
father took him for many walks through the well-worn trails that slithered through the
forest garnishing the escarpment. Jim continued the habit of exploring the bush into his
early twenties, even after his father could no longer join him. One particular Saturday
morning in late August Jim decided to enter the forest for another relaxing walk. He
waved farewell to his family, grabbed a delectable peach and bounced down the front
steps and walked towards the bush. The trail that Jim usually followed on his walks was
called the Bruce Trail, though Jim didnt know that. The Bruce Trail began down near
Jims house and ran west and north for hundreds of miles, one of longest trails in Ontario.
But Jim didnt know that either. But he didnt really care that he didnt know. Why care
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about those things that you dont know about anyway? If you dont know about it, it
must not be important.
Jim entered the forest and slowed his pace to breathe in the fresh, foresty air. He
looked around at the trees and rocks with delight. On his left a small creek trickled in the
bottom of a small ravine.
What a lovely place, so untouched by human civilization. He thought as he past
by a large steel garbage can filled with broken beer bottles. He almost skipped through
the forest, examining the trees with an eye he assumed was trained. He glanced at a
mighty oak off to the right of the trail.What a lovely maple. He said to himself. A little further he eyed a birch.
Hmm, he thought, examining it, no apples this time of year, I suppose. And
so he continued for a while, examining and renaming things as he went. Eventually he
came to a part of his walk that he had come to many times before. The long stairway up
the escarpment itself. On most days he took the stairway up and enjoyed a magnificent
view of his entire town and Lake Ontario. Today he hesitated. He looked at the stairs
climbing to his right, and then he looked at the creek in the ravine, trickling to his left.
I wonder what lies down that way. He had never strayed from the path before.
All his life he had continued down the same road that everyone else had made. Of
course, that meant that he had never seen anything that a thousand people had not seen a
thousand times before.
Here is a chance for a grand adventure! He thought as he turned to the left and
began tripping down the edge of the ravine. Who knows what Ill find! Maybe a rare
animal, or some old bones, or something wonderful! Unfortunately, Jim was thinking
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far too hard and getting far too excited at this point. His brain momentarily stopped
communicating with his feet and he slipped and fell the rest of the way down, landing on
his posterior in a cold pool of water at the edge of the creek. Jim was, of course,
undaunted. This was merely adversity, and adversity was to be expected because he was
a brave explorer searching out strange new lands. He picked himself off and headed off
up the creek, wondering what oddities he might find. He past some things of minor
interest. He found an old license plate that he was sure must have belonged to a crime
lord of the past. There was a rusty shopping cart half buried in the creek, perhaps
dropped from the plane that delivers shopping carts to the area. He even found an olddoll covered in mud on the right shore of the creek. He left that alone, wondering if it
was cursed or diseased. At one point the shore disappeared and was replaced by sheer
walls of mud outlining the creek on both sides. Jim was forced to hop from rock to rock
in order to continue his quest. And so he did, with great joy at first. He found that he
was rather good at the rock jumping. He began to feel rather proud of himself for being
so skilled. Very shortly thereafter he was reminded of what naturally follows pride. He
didnt notice one rock covered with a green, slimy blanket. As soon as his foot touched it
he found himself falling backwards into the creek. His head struck a rock and he was
struck unconscious.
Three seconds later he awoke with a rather unpleasant headache.
Look at the sky! He thought, Its gotten so dark. Why, I must have been
unconscious for hours, even days for all I know. What a grand adventure! Jim sat in his
place in the water for a moment, wondering what to do. Should continue his journey, or
should he turn back and let the rescue teams know that he still lived? As he was
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contemplating this he noticed a strange-looking boulder sitting up against the wall of the
creek on the left side. He couldnt tell you why it looked strange, only that it did. He got
up to investigate this rather suspicious rock. The boulder was leaning up against the wall
in a very unnatural way. Upon a closer inspection he saw that it was actually covering a
small hole.
A cave! Jim said aloud. Who knows what would be inside? He grasped the
bolder with both hands and pulled with all his might. Gradually the bolder moved and
fell into the creek with a loud noise and a small splash. Jim gazed into the newly-
discovered portal with wonder. Having no fear of rats or snakes or any of the other horridthings that dwell in such holes he ducked in and looked around.
How big might it be? He asked himself. It could go on for miles under the
city. It might lead to the lake or to America even! What luck I found it! Suddenly he
walked into a wall. He took a step back and took his lighter out of his pocket. Lighting it
he saw that the cave was disappointingly small. Perhaps five feet high and twenty feet
square. He was almost depressed at this until he saw some writing on one of the walls.
Perhaps there are some ancient hieroglyphics or cave paintings! He got close
and examined the writing on the wall. Frank wuz here . He read it again. And again.
Rather disappointed he sat on the ground with his back to the wall. As he sat he noticed
cigarette butts strewn about the floor. Obviously this was no ancient cave. It was just a
crummy hideout for kids to smoke without their parents finding out. What a stupid place!
What a dumb quest! This certainly wasnt what Jim had expected when he set out. He
sat and stared into nothing for a while.
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Oh well, he said, I suppose I should get going home. I should let the police
know they dont have to look for me anymore. As he stood to go he noticed something
on the floor that had evaded his glance up to this point. A small, yellow, plastic sandwich
container. Jim found it very odd that he didnt see it earlier. He wondered what was in it.
Perhaps a sandwich! That would make his failed quest a little less of a failure, now
wouldnt it? He crawled over to it and picked it up. It was heavier than it looked. That
was a good sign. Something must be inside! He stood and began to lift the corner of the
lid.
BANG!There was a loud noise that startled Jim so much that he dropped the container
and fell back to the floor by the wall. He looked at the upside-down lidless container on
the ground. Nothing happened. He eyed it suspiciously and slowly made his way toward
it, sad that whatever sandwich might be inside was now on the ground. Suddenly the
container twitched a little. He heard a grunt and a trickle of green smoke began to flow
from under the container.
The sandwich is obviously older than I thought. He said. Green smoke
continued to trickle until it covered the floor of the cave. Fear began to attack Jim. What
on earth was going on? Suddenly Jim heard a tired and cranky voice coming from the
plastic box.
Oh, for crying out loud! It said. With disbelieving eyes Jim saw the container
lift off the ground, pushed up by some green shape wreathed in green smoke. The box
lifted up to the top of the cave, and there it stayed, the shape under it still clothed in
smoke. Jim heard coughing coming from within the smoky pillar and the smoke began to
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fade away, out the small door. As the smoke cleared Jim saw that a man was standing in
the center of the room, perfectly level with the ceiling and wearing the plastic container
as a hat. He was short and a little chubby. His face was covered with the sort of stubble
a man gets when he hasnt shaved for a day and he was completely naked, except for his
Tupperware hat. He was also green, though that didnt seem too odd to Jim when he
considered that he appeared out of a sandwich container. Jim stared at the green man in
front of him, vainly trying to put logic on recent events. Meanwhile the green man began
to pick his teeth and look around the cave.
Ya got a smoke? He gruffly asked Jim. Not knowing the rules of etiquette in asituation like this Jim simply nodded and tossed a pack of cigarettes at the green man.
Thanks. The green man took two out of the package and began to chew on
them nonchalantly. The rest he returned to Jim. Hmm, this place seems a lot bigger
than it was last time I was here. For a few moments nothing was said and nothing was
done. The green man continued to chew on his cigarettes and Jim continued to stare in
awe and disbelief. Eventually awe gave way to slight boredom.
Um, Jim began hesitantly, I hope you dont mind me asking, but what are
you?
The green man looked at him blankly for a moment. Frank. He said.
Frank?
Yeah. Frank. Thats my name.
Well, my name is Jim. Jim said as he stood. He held out his hand toward the
green man Frank, mainly because he didnt know what else to do.
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I know your name, Jim Marcy. Frank said as he shook his hand. How ya
doing?
Im okay. He said. He found it very odd to be shaking hands with a naked
green man named Frank that seemed to live inside a small sandwich container. What are
you? He asked.
Me? Frank said very casually. I am jinn, created by the Great Power
millennia ago from the smokeless fires of Jannat. I have beheld with my eyes that which
no man can see and live. I have contemplated truths that would drive the wisest of men
to insanity. I have felt the undying bliss and the never ending sorrow of omniscience. Iam jinn. He yawned.
Jinn? Like genie?
Same thing, pretty much.
So I get three wishes? Jim asked, his astonishment giving way to excitement
and greed.
"No."
"What do you mean no?"
I think youve been reading the wrong genie legends. Most genies dont actually
give three wishes. Some are pretty bad-tempered, actually, and would kill a guy for
opening their container without permission. Youre pretty lucky Im easy going.
So I dont get any wishes?
You might. Frank said as he swallowed his chewed-up cigarettes.
Might?
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Yeah. I might do a few things for you if you give me the rest of your cigarettes.
Jim quickly handed his pack over. Frank took them out and stuffed all but one into his
Tupperware cap. The other one he placed in his mouth and began to chew, smiling.
So Jim said after a few seconds.
So?
So do I get some wishes?
Sure. The green jinn said. What do ya want?
I wanna be the richest man in the world! Jim said excitedly.
Sorry. No can do. Frank said shrugging.What do you mean? You said I could get some wishes!
Yeah, but there are some things I cant do for you.
But its so easy; just give me a bunch of money. Do you need my bank account
number or something?
It really doesnt work that way. Listen, how much money do you want?
I dunno, just a few billion.
Okay, do you have any idea what a few billion dollars appearing out of nowhere
would do to the economy? Youve already got a nasty problem with inflation; injecting a
billion dollars into circulation would just make it worse. On top of that, how would you
ever explain such a massive bank account to the government? Do you think the income
tax guys are gonna believe that a green genie just gave you the money? Youd probably
be audited and the taxes on a billion dollars are more than you can imagine! Trust me,
kid, its not worth the hassle, youd regret it later on.
Oh, I never thought about it that way.
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Few people do.
Hmm. Jim thought for a moment. Okay, I got an idea. Why dont you make
me a super-famous actor or something? That way I can get the money myself and have a
really easy job too!
I should probably tell you something right off the bat; genies are not nearly as
powerful as your movies make us out to be. We all have our special talents, and if you
get us all together you could probably get whatever you want, but every jinn is pretty
specialized. There are only a few super-cool things we can do.
So what can you do for me? What kind of genie are you?Im what you might call an anthropological genie. I know pretty much all there
is to know about every country, people group, culture, race and individual on the planet.
I can tell you all about folks if you want.
Thats it?
Hey! Frank said, looking defensive. I think that having anthropological
omniscience is pretty impressive, boy!
Sorry. I just thought Id be able to get something out of this. Jim wanted his
cigarettes back.
Dude, you can get something out of this. You know, I can introduce you to
anyone on the planet. I can take you anywhere on the earth and you can visit the most
unusual people there are. I think its a pretty good deal. Is there anyone you want to
meet or see? Frank swallowed his cigarette and pulled another one out of his hat. Jim
thought for a moment. Maybe this wouldnt be a total loss.
Okay. Jim said. There is one person that Ive always wanted to meet.
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Who?
Uh, I cant remember his name. Jim snapped his fingers, as if that would help
him to recall. I dont know his name, but hes the smartest man in the world. Hes in a
wheelchair and he cant talk.
Oh. You mean that Steven Hawking guy?
Thats it! Steven Hawking. Id love to meet him!
Sure thing. Frank said, pulling a pair of red boxer shorts with yellow smiley
faces out of his hat. But are you sure you want to see him? Hes not really the smartest
guy in the world.Hes not?
Hell no. Hes not even in the top ten. I could take you to the real smartest
person in the world. Frank but his boxers on, much to Jims relief.
Sure, yeah, take me to the smartest guy in the world. Id love to meet him and
talk to him.
Giddiup, on we go! Frank said with a wicked smile. Smoke poured out from
under his hat and in a minute the cave was full of smoke. Jim noticed the temperature
suddenly rise. When the smoke began to clear he found himself standing in a sandy
desert. Beside him Frank was hopping from foot to foot, cursing the hot sand.
Where on earth are we? Jim asked.
Rajasthan. Frank said as he pulled a pair of Rebook Pumps out of his cap. Its
a neat little province on the western border of India. Lots of lovely folks live here, but
the weather sucks if you ask me.
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Oh, I get it! Jim said. So the smartest man in the world is like some scientist
or something studying stuff out here, right?
No, but come on, theyre about to serve up some tea. Jim turned around and
saw a small group of buildings about a hundred meters off. Just simple little stick huts
with a few goats and chickens running around. He followed Frank toward the village.
Brightly dressed women walked around the buildings, attending to various daily chores.
A few old men relaxed on straw mats on the ground, leisurely talking to each other. It
seemed like a rather odd place to meet the most intelligent man on the planet. Frank
approached one of the men and began talking in a language Jim didnt understand. Themen stood and welcomed Jim and his green companion into the largest hut of the village.
They either didnt notice or didnt care that Frank was green and mostly naked. As they
sat down on the floor a woman wearing every color imaginable scurried in with a tray of
clay bowls filled with hot, creamy tea.
This stuff is great. Frank said to Jim. Drink up. Jim took a bowl and drank.
It was indeed good, but he was wondering where this super-intelligent person was.
Shes coming. Said Frank, hearing Jims thoughts. Shes killing a chicken at
the moment and shell come in once thats done.
Shes killing a chicken?
Would you rather eat a live one? Shut up and drink your tea. Frank resumed
his chatting with the bearded men. Jim couldnt understand what was going on. What
was the smartest person in the world killing a chicken for?
For lunch, dumbass. Frank said, interrupting Jims thoughts again.
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I dont think I like you poking into my brain whenever you feel like it. Jim
said.
Im not poking, I have limited omniscience. I simply know all there is to know
about all people. Its impossible for me not to look at whats going on in that puny brain
of yours.
Jim was trying to think of a witty comeback when a small, dirty woman in her
early twenties appeared at the doorway. She was brightly dressed like all the other
women of the village with five or six pounds of bracelets hugging her arms and a nose-
ring the size of Texas hanging from her left nostril. She was wiping chicken remainsfrom her hands. Frank stood immediately when she entered the room and said many
flowery-sounding things to her. He placed his hand on her head and she smiled shyly.
James, Frank said, Id like you to come meet my friend, Ajoti, the most
intelligent human being on the planet.
Had Frank said that Ajoti was an alien from Jupiter doing reconnaissance work
among the tribal people of Rajasthan, Jim would not have been more confused. He gave
Frank the Jinn a sideways look. He tried to understand what Frank was saying.
You mean, one day she will become the most intelligent person in the world?
No, she is already. There is no-one alive today that has a better brain than my
little friend here. Frank said, putting his arm around Ajoti.
Im quite confused. Jim said with a not-so-bright look on his face.
I know you are. Said Frank. And let me tell you why. Youre confused
because you assumed that the most intelligent person alive would be some sort of doctor
or mathematician or something. You cant understand how this simple-looking girl at my
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side, who is at present picking her nose with chicken-soiled fingers, could possibly have
an intellect greater than all those scientists you see on TV. In fact, she strikes you as
rather dumb, doesnt she?
Well, she is picking her nose.
Ill tell you what makes Ajoti special. Ajoti has the finest working brain of any
person alive today. In fact, its the best brain thats come around for a few hundred years.
She really is quite special. However, Ajoti will never become famous. She will never
even learn how to write her own name. In fact she will never leave this little village or go
to any school, even though if she did she would shock and amaze the world with her staggering intellect. If she studied mathematics, Pythagoras would be quickly forgotten.
If she studied theology, she would be able to teach St. Paul a thing or two. If she played
chess, Bobby Fisher wouldnt stand a chance. As it is she studies cooking and cleaning,
and I promise you that you have never had chicken like the chicken youre gonna get in
half an hour. At this Frank said a few quick words to Ajoti and she left shyly.
I still dont get it. If shes so smart why doesnt she go to school or try to make
this village better?
Do you remember what you learned in elementary school?
I remember I got beat up a lot.
But do you remember what the classes were about? Or even in high school, can
you remember the facts and figures you learned?
Not really, but no one does, which is why I think it was a waste of time.
Ah, but it wasnt actually a waste of time. You know, the brain is like a car.
Everybody has a different kind of car for a brain. Ajoti was given a Lamborghini Diablo,
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your brain is more like a Volkswagen. The thing is that Ajotis Diablo has never had a
tune up. It never went through the testing and tuning that you got with a basic education.
As a result of that it doesnt run as well as it could. It runs fine, to be sure. Shes quite
bright on he own even without education, but it could run so much better. Your education
wasnt actually designed to make you remember facts; it was designed to give your brain
a workout. And as a result of that workout in some areas you brain runs just as good as
Ajotis Lamborghini.
Wow. Said Jim after the minute of silence it took for him to understand. I
guess its pretty tragic that shes stuck in this village.Maybe. But she doesnt think so. Shes quite happy here.
Eventually food was served and indeed it exceeded Franks predictions. After
eating, drinking, eating a little more and having one more cup of tea the two travelers
were getting ready to depart. They bid farewell to Ajoti and the tribe and began to walk
back into the desert.
It really doesnt seem right. Jim said after they had walked a ways.
I know. Its far too hot here. But I dont think theres anything we can do about
it.
I mean about that girl. It seemsevil to let her float along without reaching her
full potential. The leaders of whatever country were in must be totally corrupt.
Frank laughed. First, tell me, what makes you think she hasn't reached her full
potential? She's attained a level of happiness higher than most folks. Secondly, lemme
tell you, if the most upright, ethical person in the world was running this country, this
would not be much different. Its not always morals that hinder governments from
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making good changes in their countries. Sometimes its just manpower. Were out in the
desert. Theres about five more little villages like that one within twenty miles of this
place, how could you build a school here? Its pretty tough.
I bet a good man could figure it out.
Dude, trust me, I know who the goodest man is, and he really couldnt do much
thats not already being done.
Who is the goodest man? Could I meet him next?
Frank paused for a moment. What? He said with what might have been
interpreted as fear in his voice.Yeah, that would be pretty interesting. Jim said. Lets go meet the most good
person in the world next.
Frank looked at Jim thoughtfully and took a cigarette out of his hat. He chewed it
slowly and finally said, No.
Hey man. Jim said crossly, I gave up my last pack of smokes and you
promised me three wishes. You better deliver!
Frank spat out his cigarette indignantly. First, he said, I did not promise you
any wishes. I only said that I could do a few things for you. Second, I have already
taken you around the world to a place that no Canadian has even seen, I think that makes
up for the half-pack of smokes you gave up. Third, I am a powerful Jinn from a higher
plane and am accountable to no man, who are you gonna tell even if I did break some sort
of deal? I will not take you to the best man alive. I cant do it.
Why not? I thought you could do anything in regards to people and stuff.
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It is within my ability to take you to him, but not within my will . I dont want to
do it, therefore I cant.
But why not?
Frank thought for a moment and said, You wouldnt like him much. You
wouldnt appreciate him. It would be a waste of time.
Jim paused to take that in. Frank changed the subject before he could think about
it too much. Now, I could take you to the most evil man alive. I think youd understand
that guy a little better.
"Why would I understand him better?""You'll be able to relate better."
Before Jim could object green smoke began pouring out of Franks shoes. It soon
enveloped them completely and Jim noticed the temperature drastically change again as
the smoke blinded him. The smoke faded and Jim's ears were bombarded with a voice
over a loudspeaker speaking what he thought was German. It later turned out to be
French.
"Where are we now?" Jim asked, looking around for Frank, who seemed to have
disappeared. Jim examined his surroundings and found himself in a desolate subway
station. He wandered around a little, wondering if Frank had gotten lost on the way. He
heard a train approaching. Above the sound of the train he could hear Frank's voice
approaching in the form of a gleeful scream. The train pulled into the station and Jim
saw Frank hanging off the front with a wild grin on his face. He had added a white golf
shirt to his wardrobe and was evidently enjoying himself. As the train slowed Frank leapt
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off like a jungle cat and strolled over to Jim as if he was walking out of a convenience
store.
"Hey there." He said, doing up the buttons around his collar.
"What are we doing in Germany?"
"Switzerland." Frank corrected. "And we're waiting for the most evil man in the
world to step off the train."
"He's on that train?!"
"Not anymore." The train door opened and scores of people poured out. Jim's
jinn took Jim by the hand and pulled him roughly toward the crowd. Frank must have pulled rather hard because Jim noticed his feet lifting off the ground. Soon he noticed
that his feet couldn't touch the ground at all. By the time Jim realized that he and Frank
were shrinking they were perched on the right shoulder of a man in a business suit. Jim
was about to scream in uncontrollable fear when Frank slapped him in the face with such
a force as to throw him against their transportation's neck.
"What did you do that for?!"
"I thought you were about to scream out in uncontrollable fear."
"I was not." Jim said, rubbing his cheek. "What's going on? Where are we?"
"Well, I thought that this would be the best way to get to know the most evil man
in the world. I personally don't want to talk to the guy; from here he can't hear or see us.
We'll just watch him for a while."
And so they did. For hours they stayed in their invisible perch atop their host's
shoulder. They watched as he went to work. They watched as he ate his lunch. They
watched as he talked with friends, clients and other people he bumped into. Jim was
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anxiously waiting for him to flip out in crazy evilness or something. But it never
happened. Five hours from the time the jinn slapped his human companion Frank
decided they had seen enough.
"What the crap was that?" Jim asked in the coffee shop they retired to after their
long day of observations.
"No kidding." The jinn said. "Can you believe the nerve of that guy? I'm
surprised God lets that one walk around breathing!"
Jim was confused. "What? He didn't do anything bad. He was just acting like a
normal guy. What was so evil about him?""I keep forgetting that your brain is far too small to pick up the thoughts and
attitudes of others." Frank said this while gulping down a steaming mocha and chewing
on the last of his cigarettes. "You should have heard what was going on in his head."
"What?"
"Hate. Just pure hate. With everyone he talked to he was pulsating with hate. He
actually longs for the pain and sorrow of pretty much everyone he meets."
"How could that be? He was friendly with all those people."
"Only because society dictates that he must be friendly. You need to realize that
evil is not what you've thought it was. Evil starts in the heart. Sometimes it is allowed to
grow and exert its power outside through the body. Hitler wasn't the most evil man to
ever live, but his hate was given a lot more freedom than most. I tell you the truth, if that
man on whom we sat was ever given the same power that Hitler had there would be a
conflict far bloodier than WWII. I feel dirty just having listened to his hate-rants for the
last five hours. Evil, evil, evil."
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"But I saw him give money to the beggar."
"Yet you didn't hear what he was thinking at the time. He hated that beggar. He
actually had imagined how it would feel to strangle him to death with his bare hands!"
"I don't understand how he would be considered so evil if he didn't do any evil."
"He did do evil. The evil dwelling in his heart was enough to convict him. Evil,
evil, evil."
Jim computed this in silence over the next five minutes while Frank drank two
more caffeinated drinks. Frank stood, took out a few gold coins from his Tupperware hat
and tossed them on the table."Well, I'm outta here." He said, pulling a motorcycle out of his hat.
"What? You're leaving?"
"Yeah." Frank pulled his hat at the corners. It elongated and formed a helmet of
sorts. "I'm done. I have a few buddies I haven't seen in a couple hundred years. Lots of
catching up to do."
"But I only got two wishes!"
"And that's two more than you deserve. Don't worry. I'll drop you off at your
home on my way." Frank started up the bike. Green smoke poured out of the tailpipe.
As the smoke blinded Jim he felt something like a fist plunging into his gut. He fell
backward against a cold, dirt wall and slumped to the ground. He was back in the cave in
which he started.
"Whoa." Frank was nowhere to be seen. Jim picked himself up and walked out
of the cave. The weather was unchanged from when he entered. He was mildly
disappointed with his adventure and mused about that on the slow way home.
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"Why are you disappointed?" Said a voice beside him.
Jim jumped and turned to see Frank, standing gloriously beside him wearing
flowing silken robes and a great gold and red turban. "Holy crap!"
"Not at all. No crap is holy."
"What are you doing here?"
"I finished catching up and I decided to grant one more wish."
"How did you"
"Shut up and listen." Frank said gently. "You got something great and you
shouldn't feel bad if it turned out differently than you thought it would. You'll find mostthings that turn out for the best are way outside our best laid plans. You've got to realize
that the things you see and feel only represent a tiny percentage of what is reality. If you
don't grasp this you'll never be happy, holy or wise. Unless you're insanely brilliant you'll
never be able to judge things by their appearances. Remember these things because they
are very important: The things you desire most in life will often kill you. The things that
hurt you most are often the most helpful. Also remember that you and everyone else are
very sinful. The difference between you and Adolf Hitler is negligible compared to the
different between you and God. Lastly, only he can give you any amount of joy in this
life. Find him and don't let go. Trust me." With his last two words he started to sink into
the earth.
"Wait! Why did you tell me all this? What does that even mean?"
"I just granted your third wish." The path was at his waist now.
"I didn't even make it yet!"
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8/14/2019 Jim's Jinn
22/22
"I granted the wish that you would have made forty years from now had I not
talked to you. Bye bye!" He disappeared in the path, leaving a peach in the place he had
stood. Jim picked up the peach. He looked up at the sky and back at the peach. He
dusted it off, took a bite and started walking hope. Yep, he thought to himself, August is
the best time for peaches.