STORIES
285 - A Regular Bloke
2021
Quinn Io Lu Daprima
Thursday in the living room …
QUINN:
… And all ya do is match three of the same color. Aye, like that.
IO:
But Quinn, it’s not as pretty as my book.
QUINN:
It’s not supposed to be pretty. The thing is it’s just for fun and
when you win - it celebrates for ya. See like that. Init gr-date?
IO:
Oh, the genie liked that, and it does have nice colors.
QUINN:
Aye, right. So Io, what do ya think of becoming free?
IO:
Free?
QUINN:
Aye. Ya do know that Daprima wants to free ya from yer lamp?
IO:
Yes, but - then what will the genie be?
QUINN:
Donnae. I guess you’ll just be a regular bloke.
IO:
But Quinn, Io doesn’t know how to be a regular … bloke.
QUINN:
Sure ya do. Look at ya now, playing on me cell.
That’s what we regular blokes do.
In the hallway …
LU:
… Daprima, is it true that you’re working on a wish to free Io?
DAPRIMA:
Uh-huh.
LU:
Genie are rare. Io is the first one I’ve ever met, the first my
father ever met as well, and he’s over 300 years old.
DAPRIMA:
Are you going somewhere with this?
LU:
Yes - I know of no one who has ever met an ex-genie.
Furthermore, I have yet to find a record of any in
the library at Magick School.
DAPRIMA:
So you’re saying I’m the first person to actually free one?
LU:
I certainly hope not. I am however, concerned that it’s possible
one has never survived the transformation.
DAPRIMA:
Oh …
DAPRIMA:
… but Lu, I saw Io alive and free in
one of my premonitions.
LU:
Did you? Well that changes everything. Give me some time to
research the matter further. Odds are, I’ll find
something to help you with the wording.
DAPRIMA:
Thanks and in the meantime, I’ll be working on that wish.