Chapter Six

"It was nice to see you again, General Patterson," said Jeannie.

"Peterson," he corrected. Jeannie reminded him of a highly efficient secretary that had briefly worked for him many years before.

"I didn't see your son here. Dr. Bellows told me he would be a great asset to the space program."

"He would sir, he would," said Colonel Nelson jumping in.

"Didn't see him here tonight. Dr. Bellows?"

"Yes, general."

"You know I've come out of retirement to run NASA until a suitable replacement was found. And you know, in spite of you mental breakdown about twenty years ago, you're the frontrunner to replace me and General Shafer."

"Yes, general."

"You know I consider you well qualified."

"No, I didn't sir," said Dr. Bellows.

"Well you do now, doctor. And you, Colonel Nelson, know I think a lot of you and your son."

"Yes, Tony Junior is very popular," said Jeannie.

"Thank you Jeannie," he told her. "But," he said to Colonel Nelson, "When I come intending to tell someone I'm going to support them 100, they had better be there. If your son doesn't get his priorities straight, he's gonna have a difficult time in the service.

With that, the Petersons left.

"And another thing, Colonel," said Amanda Bellows. "What business does your son have jilting Trudy." Trudy, a good-looking brunette, stood quietly behind her parents.

"I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation," said Dr. Bellows.

"Yes, he's abandoned my poor baby," said Amanda marching out to their car.

"Now Amanda," said Dr. Bellows following her, "If you carry on like this, Trudy will have an jejune complex."

"Trudy," said Jeannie kindly. "I am sure it is not what you think. I know my son very well"

"I believe you Mrs. Nelson," said Trudy quietly, as she left.

"Great evening," said Colonel Healey. "Jeannie, have you heard of that sunken treasure . . ."

"Good night Rog," said Colonel Nelson.

"Good evening, Colonel, Mrs. Healey." said Jeannie distracted.

"Goodbye Jeannie, Tony," said Mrs. Healey

"I had a great time," said Roger Healey Jr. He was accompanied by the blond. "Mrs. Nelson, that is a sure a nice dress."

"Great isn't he," asked Roger, Sr..

"Where did he pick her up?" asked Colonel Nelson.

"Oh, ah, me and, a, Tony were hanging out. She picked me out of the crowd, and the rest is history."

"She picked you out of the crowd?"

"That's my son for you," said Roger, Sr, proudly.

"When's the last time you saw Tony?" Jeannie asked.

"Um . . . truthfully, not since I met Linda over here." With that, the Healeys left.

"Where do you think he is?" Jeannie asked.

"I don't know, but wherever he is, he's in trouble," said Colonel Nelson. "You couldn't of gotten me into bigger trouble with the Bellows and General Peterson even if you deliberately tried."

They both waited for Tony Jr. to come home.

Finally at about three o'clock, Colonel Nelson asked Jeannie "Can you look into a crystal ball or something, and find out where he is?"

"No, but I can blink us to him, or blink him over here. But I dare not do it, Anthony dear, because then he would know that I am a genie."

They waited another half hour. "Jeannie," started Colonel Nelson.

"I had better do it," said Jeannie.

"Wait," said Colonel Nelson. "You better blink him on the sofa, so if realizes what happens we can tell him it's a dream of his."

"Oh Anthony, darling, you are brilliant. But had not we better blink him in his room, in his bed, then he would know he was dreaming for sure."

"That's great Jeannie," said Colonel Nelson. Jeannie crossed her arms, nodded, and blinked. They were upstairs in Tony Jr's bedroom. She did it again, it didn't work. She tried ten or twenty times.

"What happened Jeannie? Did you lose your powers? Is it the day of the Ram again? Is something the matter?" Colonel Nelson panicked.

"It is worse, Anthony. It is only Tony that I can not make appear." To prove this she blinked on the lights. It can only mean one thing, it can only mean one thing if you cannot make someone appear." Jeannie started sobbing.

"What's that Jeannie? Jeannie are you alright?'

"It is not me master, but Anthony. A genie can make any live person appear, but if the person is, if the person is . . . there is no way to find them." She couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Don't tell me, Jeannie," said Colonel Nelson nervously, sitting down. "Maybe . . . we'll call the police. It could be . . . something else."

"No master," sobbed Jeannie, "it does not seem as if it could be anything else."