Three Wishes: This didn't go as planned!

Young Again

Jeanie followed me into the basement.  I ignored her, bending to finish going through the antique dolls.  Most of them would have to be sold.  

"This branch of your family handles emotion funny."  Jeanie sat on a nearby box.

"What do you mean?"  I picked out the most damaged ones for Kate to fix.  

"I mean, your ancestor didn't act this way.  If he was happy, he would have just been happy."

"I'm not happy."  I said, to my own surprise.

"You're not?" 

I moved on to the box she was sitting on.  She ignored my attempts to open the lid.  I sighed, face towards the dust streaked floor.  It didn't take any effort, sighing.  Despite the dust I was breathing clearer than I ever had.  I looked up at her and smiled. 

"I'm relieved."  I said. 

She must have read the other emotions there, too, because she lifted a hand to pat my head.  "This is how you express affection in your family, no?"

I grinned.  "No."

"Really?"  She paused.

I pushed her off the box, laughing. 

"Oh, is that how it is?"  She sat up, dust coated all over. 

I laughed harder and  nodded. 

"In that case--"  She tackled me and rubbed dirt in my face, chuckling. 

We both lay back on the cement floor, cracking up.

"Ah."  She said as we quieted.  "It's nice to be out.  It's almost like being young again."

I sat up on my elbow.  "Young again."

"Yes."  She got up.  "Now, it has been at least a millennia since I've engaged in hard labor, so I'm willing to help you until I remember how horrible it is."

I rose as well.  "As long as you don't go sitting on boxes."

"There's no crime in that."

I grinned and opened the box she'd sat on.