Author's Note: Sorry for the inconvenience, guys, I don't know how it got cut out. But I really love this part and it's totally essential.
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Recap:
"Amanda! Where were you?! We were worried sick!"
"Sorry, mom, I-"
"Sorry isn't going to cut it, young lady," her father said darkly.
"Where were you?!" her mother repeated.
"I was... walking."
"You were walking? All night?!"
"Um... yeah."
"Well, you can walk right up to your room. You're grounded!"
Pt. 9.5 - The Lost Chapter
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Amanda slumped down on her bed in defeat. Staring up at the ceiling, she grumbled half-mindedly, half asleep, "sometimes I just wish I could go on a vacation..."
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Norm was kicking back in his lamp, half asleep on a plush, pillow-covered sofa. In his normal, genie form once again, his hands were folded behind his head, and though he seemed at peace with his eyes closed behind his unnecessary but stylish sunglasses, he was actually deep in thought.
Yesterday had been an interesting day. He'd made sure to promise the girls a date, and he was sure he could make it. They were right- his current master was a pushover. He could be out of here in no time.
The girls had been free for centuries. It was easy enough to assume that as beautiful women, they could enchant any man, and just as easily use their feminine charm to wriggle their way out of their masters' hands and out of their bonds as genies.
Norm had had a much worse string of luck, being utilized over and over to grant men their selfish whims, unable to trick his way out of servitude. Now, however, with this young, naïve girl practically in the palm of his hand, freedom seemed an arm's length away.
Stirring and laying an arm over his eyes to block out the light, he shoved a twinge of guilt to the back of his mind. Sure, she was a good, kind kid who was the first human to care about his feelings; that would hardly matter when he was free from humans forever. Wasn't it his turn to get a wish? He'd stepped on others to get what he wanted, and she would be no different once he was gone and never had to see her again, never had to hear her apologize, never had to see her cry...
He suddenly lifted his arm and opened opened his eyes as he heard an echoing voice. She was making a wish.
'Sometimes I just wish I could go on a vacation...'
He was still and silent for a moment, his arm resting on his forehead and his eyes staring forward. He smiled, then laughed, shaking his head disbeleivingly. ...it could wait.
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