Chapter Twelve
Tony Nelson Jr waited for Trudy and Doctor Bellows to return. He wondered how his life could have been destroyed so quickly. Once he tried to call home. But whenever he picked up the phone it hung itself up. "It could still be worse," he thought. "I could still be under Roger's control."
As if on cue, Roger Healey Junior came into Dr. Bellows office. "The bottle's here. And you're here. And my trip to Europe is on again."
"No, it isn't."
"Yes it is. I am your master. You owe me whatever I want, out of gratitude."
"Why, you decided you want to me to move from the bottle into a clock or something?"
"No, because I'm your master."
"No your not. Trudy has the bottle now."
"Then I'll just get it back." Tony and Roger both rushed to the bottle. Tony got there first.
"Hey, I can pick it up," he said. "Looks like your out of luck."
"Oh yeah," said Roger. He tried slugging Tony, and bruised his hand.
"Well I guess your right, Tony." said Roger humbly. "Even if you are a genie now, you're my best friend. I can't keep you in a bottle and make you grant wishes."
"Thank's Roger. I knew you'd come round," said Tony, "eventually. Better late than never."
"Your folks know where you are," said Roger.
"No, I was going to call them, but I can't. I have to wait here."
"I'll dial the number for you," said Roger, dialing a number.
"Thanks," said Tony, getting the receiver from him. He put down the bottle as he picked up the phone.
"Cocoa Beach All Night Pizza Palace," said the woman on the other end.
"Hey that's not . . ." Tony Nelson started. He realized he'd been tricked, but it was too late, Roger Healey had the bottle. "For my first wish, I wish you couldn't touch the bottle."
He blinked, reluctantly.
"Now get me out of here, and get the stuff I wanted for my European vacation."
"How do I do that?"
"I don't know. You're the genie. I command you to."
With another grimace he blinked them out, just before the Bellows and General Peterson came back into the room.
"Where is Tony Junior, and where is this green bottle," asked the general.
"I don't know. He was here when we left."
"Doctor, I want to see you in my office immediately. I don't need to say, your risking your promotion to general by making more of these crazy allegations about the Nelsons.
"Yes, general." General Peterson left.
"What happened?" Trudy asked.
"He's done it to me again," said Doctor Bellows. "Or rather his son has done it to me." Either that, or our concern over Tony's fate led us to hallucinate his appearance. Whatever the case, I suggest you stay here, dear. You need psychoanalysis. I don't recommend pharmaceutics for these cases, but we ought to spend the evening coming to the root of this psychosis."
"Yes, dad,' said Trudy, lying down on the couch as Dr. Bellows left to see the general.