I would like to have more books to replace the onces I have already read and studied Alex answered without hesitation.
Mick and Josh laughed shook their heads and said will you ever learn to be smart ?
The bowl granted all three wishes . Mick and. Josh were pleased with their new life arrangements as for Alex he continued to read ,study and work as hard as he had done before. He acquired a job as a teacher . He also married the daughter of a store owner . It was time for the boys (or rather young men) to make their fourth wishes. By this time mick and Josh each had two sons .
Wish wisely advised Alex. I wish to keep the bowl to myself. It shall grant wishes only to me! Mick hurried to Josh hurried to reply .
No! It shall grant wishes only to me! Mick shouted ,then he quickly reached out and grabbed the bowl .
I wished for it first! Mick argued , struggling with Josh , fighting for the bowl K_L_I_N_K! The bowl fell to the floor where it shattered into many pieces.
What have you done ? Alex yelled , then he cried out I cannot see! I cannot see! The bowl had taken Alex's eyesight away, as quickly as it had granted it to him...... Nine years ago. All the books vanished as well mick and Josh rushed off to check on their own passions .when they reached the lots where their mansions should have been, they found only miles and miles of weeds and wild flowers. Their devoted and beautiful wives and children were also now here to be seen there was not one piece of gold left any where either.
The real nightmare came when mick and Josh discovered that they had lost their positions. Instead of the well known and successful governor and merchant,they were nobody . In fact, they were no longer able to read or write , or do simple arithmetic.
When mick and Josh heard that Alex had managed to keep his teaching job, they went to see him . How is it that you have lost your eyesight and all the books but you are still able to read and write questioned mick.and you haven't lost your wife Josh puzzled
My eyesight was granted by the bowl, thus it was it's to claim. However, what I have seen with my eyes it can never deprived me of . The books were given to me by the rice bowl , so they were it's to take away. But what I have read and leraned is mine to keep. The knowledge I have acquired , the rice bowl has no power to claim . The same goes for my wife. I did not ask the bowl for her . She is every bit as real as you and i.
Mick and Josh learned of their stupidity and selfishness they were very sorry and learned that life was what they chose to make of it. They no longer wished to waste another precious moment.
Master Alex was recognized as one of the wisest and the most caring teachers ever to teach . There on his desk always sat an ordinary bowl, which obviously had broken had been glued back together from many broken pieces.😃
