CHAPTER THREE
A/N: When we last left our characters, Hadji had given Jeannie to a new Master in Ancient Baghdad. Tony was feeling depressed about Jeannie's departure; however, both the Astronaut and his Former Genie have decided to go about their daily lives, determined to forget each other. Will that come to pass? Let's find out!
"Hello, Master," she said in a musical voice. "How may I serve you?"
Mahrouf could hardly speak. He had prayed for delivery out of his predicament, but he had never expected this! Of course, he had heard stories of others claiming to have found genies, but he never thought in his most fantastic dreams that he would meet one, and such a beautiful one.
"I…" he said, and then he swallowed nervously. "Did you say you were my Genie?" He came closer, pinching himself to be sure he wasn't dreaming.
"Yes," Jeannie replied, adding, "my name is Jeannie."
"My name is Mahrouf," Mahrouf greeted, bowing. "May Allah bless you, for you are an answer to a prayer!"
"What is your first wish, oh Master?" Jeannie asked, all business now. Mahrouf stared at her, seeing that although she seemed content, her eyes looked sad, as if a great weight were upon her shoulders. He felt a twinge of sympathy for the magic girl, but he decided that it would be best if he didn't get involved.
"Do I receive only three wishes?" Mahrouf said, remembering the stories he had been told as a child.
"Oh, no, Master!" Jeannie assured him. "I am yours until you free me, or send me back to Hadji, or until someone else commands my bottle!"
"Hadji?" Mahrouf asked. "Who is he?"
"He is the Master of all the Genies," Jeannie replied. "He sent me here."
Mahrouf considered a moment. He had sometimes wanted a genie of his very own, especially when Fatima was very abusive to him. Now that he had one, though, and one who could grant an endless supply of wishes, he could not make up his mind. The former cobbler decided that it would probably be best to start with something small.
"I am very hungry," he said. "Could I have some melon, and something to drink?"
Jeannie blinked, and a honeydew melon appeared in one hand, along with a chalice of water in the other. Mahrouf bit into the ripe, succulent melon, rolling his eyes in appreciation. He drank the crystal clear, cool water and was doubly pleased.
"Thank you, Jeannie," he replied. "Will you join me?"
Jeannie blinked up her own melon and water, then ate and drank. When they had both finished, she blinked again, and everything disappeared. He smiled at her, and for the first time, Jeannie allowed herself a sliver of happiness. She grinned at him, glancing at his clothes. They were way too big for her new Master, she decided. Without waiting for his command, she blinked, and a new vest, a tall hat, and harem pants appeared on Mahrouf. He looked down in amazement, admiring the green jacket with swirls on it, and his pants. Jeannie had even given him new shoes, and, he discovered upon feeling his beard, a trim.
"Again, thank you," Mahrouf said humbly.
Jeannie basked in the praise and humility coming from him. She considered Tony's reaction whenever she even tried to give something to him. Sometimes, her former master would be angry; sometimes, he would look at her with such censure that she subconsciously felt guilty about trying to help him. Oh, she kept on trying, but there were times when she felt so frustrated that she considered going back to Hadji herself to be released from Tony Nelson. She knew that she got him into trouble sometimes, with her arrogance, but was it so bad that a human should live in comfort and peace, with his every wish granted? Was it a crime that she, who really was the best woman for him, shouldn't be married to him?
Jeannie shook her thoughts away as she firmly told herself she had a new life now, and with a master who appreciated her. She could and would get used to her new existence. For a brief moment, however, Jeannie wondered if Tony Nelson thought about her as much as she was thinking about him.
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In the future, in Cocoa Beach, Major Anthony Nelson and Major Roger Healey prepared to eat the sumptuous meal the waiter served to them in the Italian restaurant they went to with Miss Galaxy and Miss Atom Bomb. Roger and Miss Atom Bomb, now Jacqueline to him, were dipping their bread in the olive oil plate, and making goo-goo eyes at each other; Tony was picking at his lasagna, barely noticing the beautiful blue gown Miss Galaxy was wearing. She leaned over and whispered something seductive in Tony's ear. Tony still picked at the lasagna, murmuring absentmindedly, "Yes, Jeannie?"
Roger shook his head in dismay, Miss Atom Bomb looked at Major Nelson in annoyance that he didn't use her friend's name, and Anne was totally livid as she shrieked, "Jeannie?! I'm Anne! Who is this Jeannie, Tony?"
Before Major Nelson could rectify the situation, Miss Galaxy took her spaghetti and meat balls and upended it all over his head, earning laughter and shrieks of protest or disbelief from some patrons who had caught the show.
For his part, Tony looked up from the table, saying, "Why'd you do that?"
"Next time you want to go out with me, Tony, make sure Jeannie says it's okay," Anne snarled, throwing down her napkin and leaving. Jacqueline followed her friend out of the restaurant, leaving an angry Roger and a confused Tony behind. Both astronauts paid the check and went into the men's room. As Tony washed off his tuxedo, Roger shook his head over and over again.
"I thought you were going to forget Jeannie!" he shouted. "Now I've gotta get another girl!"
Tony ignored Roger; he put some cold water on a towel and began scrubbing the jacket, saying, "I've got to get her back! There's no other way I'll be happy!"
Roger nodded, saying sarcastically, "Oh, surrree! You can look up 'genies' in the phone book, and dial her number! I'm sure she'll be here yesterday!"
Tony gave him a look, saying, "I just have to call her. She'll come, I know it!" He finished trying to clean his tuxedo in vain, and then called for Jeannie. She didn't come. Tony ran outside, Roger hot on his heels.
"Jeannie!" Tony shouted. "I didn't mean it! You know I didn't! I was angry, and I said some things that I'm really sorry for! I just…I just want to live my life, you know that, but I don't mind the things you do, honestly! It's just that you get me into trouble, and I don't always know how to get out of it!" He looked around, but still there was no Jeannie.
"C'mon, quit horsing around!" Tony ordered. When Jeannie still didn't come, Tony walked home, not bothering to pick up his car from the valet. Roger stared after him, picked up his car and drove home, his anger subsiding. He hoped that Tony would find Jeannie soon. When he reached his apartment he got out his little black book, checking to see if, maybe, one of the girls he had in it would go out with him the next night.