Wishful Adventures | An Original Story

(Ch 1) New Home, New Friend

"Thanks for your help guys," Josh told the movers once they were finished.

"No worries, Mr. Blofis," one said. "Here to help!"

With that, the movers hopped back into the truck, and drove off. Josh stepped back into his new house. Wow, he thought, he was almost done completely moving in. He would finally gain some independence, which would be great! However, he knew he'd miss his good ol' fam.

His big brother, Beira, who'd changed for the better when the two were teens, his little sister, Tricia, who always had his back, and of course, his loving mom and dad. They were just about the best titans/people in all of Faywyn. He'd miss them all, but at least they would all keep in touch, especially around the holidays.

Josh looked around, and sighed. There were about five stacks of boxes, of three or four boxes each, full to the brim with his things.

"Got my work cut out today," he said to himself. "Might as well get started."

And that he did. He didn't hesitate to grab a box from the top of the nearest stack, and open it to remind himself what was in it, and where to put it. He spent the next few hours unpacking all the boxes, and it didn't take him as long as he thought. Being autistic, big tasks like these daunted him sometimes, but it didn't end up being too bad.

Before Josh knew it, the only box left was for the living room, and the box didn't seem very full. He picked it up, and walked right in. Most of what was in that box was decorations for the mantle above the fireplace. Josh thought it a bit silly that this house had one; this was one of the warmer parts of Faywyn, as Josh and his family had learned the hard way. Josh didn't really mind the fireplace though, he thought it looked nice.

Regardless, he began unpacking and putting everything in its place. He'd made sure to have his family photo, and hung it above the mantle right in the center. Once he did, he stood back with a proud smile.

"Last box unpacked," he said. "Now I'm officially moved in!"

He went back to the box to put it in the garage with the others, but instead, he got a big surprise.

"Whoa, what?"

There was one last thing in the box! Josh was as surprised as anyone, especially when he saw what it was. It was a bronze oil lamp, smudged with black dust, but somehow still good-looking. Josh picked it up with wonder.

"This is Mom and Dad's old oil lamp they had in their room," he said aloud. "What's it doing in here?"

As far as Josh could remember, he hadn't put it there. Had his parents done it without him knowing? Why'd they wait to do it with him, and not his brother, who'd moved out first? Josh wasn't sure he'd get an answer to any of these questions, as his parents could be pretty mysterious sometimes, but he couldn't help thinking about it.

"Well, I have it," he said, "might as well put it somewhere."

He looked right at the mantle, below the family photo, then back at the lamp.

"Looks pretty dusty, though. Could do with a good clean."

Josh sat on the couch, pulling the box of cleaning supplies toward him. He'd been cleaning some spots in the house all day. He picked up a rag, sprayed it with aerosol cleaning solvent, and began to rub the lamp. And rub it, and rub it....

Not many rubs in, the still dusty lamp began to tremble and shake in Josh's hands. At once, he stopped, and his eyes widened in surprise. The shaking lamp began to rise from his hands, fuchsia colored steam swirling around it, until a thick cloud of it shot from its spout as the lamp tilted to pour it! The steam quickly formed a humanoid shape, whose features became more distinct every second, until the steam disappeared, the lamp slowly floating back down to a shocked Josh's hands, revealing a fuchsia skinned, pointy eared genie.

They joyously laughed as they stayed aloft in the air, doing an aerial backflip.

"Whew!" they exclaimed. "Half a millennia in there really gives ya a crank in the neck!"

They tilted their head to each side, a cracking noise issuing from it. Then the genie put their hands on either side of their head, and popped it off their neck! Josh made a small exclamation of shock. The genie's eyes landed on Josh at that, and they put their head back on their neck, smiling eagerly, and bowing reverently.

"Why hello there, Master," they said.