Tony came bounding in the wardroom, where Les Wingate and Roger Healey was watching TV.

"Look what Jeannie did now!" Tony exploded.

"Wait, Tony, you might want to see this," Les said, indicating the delayed broadcast of an episode of Saturday Night Live the ship's closed circuit TV system was showing. In the sketch, Dan Akroyd was portraying Jimmy Carter debating Bill Murray, who was in a space suit that clearly said "Nelson."

"What was it that your wife did, Tony?" Les asked during a commercial.

Tony said, "She bounced a check again." Les wasn't in on the fact that Jeannie was a Jeannie.

When Tony and Roger were alone, Roger said, "Buddy you are in real trouble now, you can't run for President. Definitely puts an end to the secret missions."

Tony exasperated said, "Its not my idea, its Jeannie. She was up with us in Skylab, and I said we were doing the President's bidding."

Roger whistled, and asked "are you sure it was Jeannie?"

Tony answered, "Who else would it be?"

Tony went on, "General Schaffer said President Ford is livid. He wants my head on a pike."

"Schaffer or Ford?" asked Healey.

"Both," answered Nelson.

"Ouch, when do we get off this ship?" Healey asked, knowing Tony is not very popular with the military right now.

Tony answered, "Soon, the Captain wants us off ASAP"

It was a very quiet flight back to Hawaii. While Tony was in orbit, the Air Force moved Jeannie back to Cocoa Beach. Les Wingate stayed in Honolulu for the surf and the beach bunnies. He also wanted to be a safe distance away from Tony Nelson.

Tony and Roger flew back to Cocoa Beach. When they got to Tony's house, it was a regular campaign headquarters with "Welcome Home" banners strewn about.

"Welcome Home Anthony," Jeannie shouted, "I would have came and greeted you, but as you can see we are very busy!"

"Jeannie, can I see you alone," Tony said tightly. Roger was already chatting up a shapely campaign worker with a Nelson for President button."

When they were in the kitchen Tony bellowed, "Jeannie, how could you?"

Jeannie looked puzzled, "how could I what?"

Tony really got upset, "make me a candidate for President!"

"I thought that was what you desired, Anthony" Jeannie said quietly.

Tony got very red and said, "Where in the world would you get an idiotic idea like that?"

Jeannie got defensive and replied, "Where do you think, and I am no idiot."

Tony without thinking said, "Well you could have fooled me." Immediately he regretted his words.

Jeannie simply said, "Well, you're an ass." And left the room. Instantly, Tony turned into a donkey.

Seeing Jeannie leave the kitchen crying, Roger went in to check on Tony. When he saw the donkey in the kitchen, it didn't take him too long to figure out who the furry guy with the big ears was.

Roger went back out in the living room, shouting, "Private strategy session, everybody has to leave, NOW."

Once the room was cleared, Roger said to Tony, "oh boy, you really did it now." Tony brayed in protest.

Roger was shouting, "Jeannie! Jeannie!" to no avail. Then he added to Tony, "I don't know what you said, but you must have really upset her.

The phones were ringing off the hook. Roger didn't even bother picking them up.

Finally Jeannie reappeared, in her traditional pink attire.

She said coolly, "I didn't mean to turn my master into an animal. It was an accident, I was crying, and I blinked while uttering an excited phrase."

On that, Tony Nelson was once again a human Air Force officer.

"Jeannie," he started apologizing, "I know you are no idiot, forgive me"

Jeannie replied coolly "As you wish master."

Tony thought she is really upset, going back into genie mode.

Nelson knew there was one thing he needed to fix, "Jeannie," he ordered, "un-do what you did on my presidential campaign."

"As you wish, Master," Jeannie complied, and all the campaign material in the house vanished.

"Umm Tony," Roger said while pointing to the campaign poster Tony got from General Schaffer.

"Jeannie," Tony started, almost afraid to ask, "why didn't that poster disappear?"

"Because, Master," Jeannie replied coolly, "I had nothing to do with that poster, or the announcement that you were running. I figured it was what you wanted, so I set all of this up for you while you were in space."

I guess I am a jackass, Tony thought, now I not only have to find out who is behind this, I have to redeem myself in the eyes of the Jeanie I love.