On the bank of the river was a small beach, abondoned at night but this beach showed evidence for fun and play. Spotted about was large white Umbrellas striped in blue. These umbrellas were large enough they could overcast several wooden beach chairs into a shadow of protection, Blocking burning rays from the hot Sun off the soft delicate skin of the daily visitors.
At this time of the night the umbrellas and chairs were not needed and just sat in their appointed spots awaiting the Sun to bring their purpose back.
In the daytime the river was full of people playing in and about the waters edge The light of day would break away the darkness and the people would come out just as you would expect a flower to bloom open,a morning ritual greeting to the new Sun, they would come out and fill this beach. From a distance the people speckled the beach like four shakes of pepper in a bowl of hot soup A lot of people would rent wave runners, a motorcycle in the water most thought. They would ride them the same way a dirt biker would ride his bike looking for jumps to catch air and to do spin outs. Spraying water called rooster tails high into the air.
At just the right angle one could see rainbows through the fan of water being shot up forming a roosters tail from the back of the wave runner. Just like a dirt bike in dirt except they were doing this all on the river.
This river flowed behind the Casino's. These luxury buildings of gambling lined up one after another down the main street like a series of domino's in the City of Chance. At night the river would reflect all the lights from the Casino's. Reds, yellows, blues, whites and all the flashing lights in between.
The river quickly traveling towards the end of it's journey that started many days ago as melting snow found high in the mountains. This racing movement caused the reflected lights to dance about. Almost a hypnotic view to take in. Soothing to most.
The only person on this beach was Joey,walking with his head down. Kicking at the sand every third step. Thats why this walk was needed. To help soothe his soul. Joey had a hard time at the tables. A bit of bad luck. Being attacked by wolves after working all day in a beef house would be luckier than what had happen to Joey this day. Usually Joey would at least break even but not tonight.
He had bet it all on a long shot. One roll of the dice, just one roll and all was lost. They didnt roll out as winning dice as he had hoped. He couldn't go home, no one was there anyway, his wife left him 3 years ago taking everything she could haul off in the SUV. Along with the three kids that had become almost like little strangers in his life. He was always looking for that one big break something that would bring the house down.
As his thoughts were jumping about he stubbed his toe on something half sticking out of the sand just at the edge of the water that was lapping onto the beach.
He stumbled and cussed while hopping on one foot and holding his other foot in two hands. Looking back to see what had caused him to stumble and almost fall. It was just a greenish neck of some thrown away bottle. Tossed aside mostl likley by another loser from the tables that had walked the beach.
Digging it out of the sand. He held it up in the moonlight wiping away the sand. It had strange markings on one side. As he rubbed the sand off the markings on the bottle it started to glow. Breaking the darkness of the night in a ten foot radius. The light coming from the bottle cause everything it touched to be a yellowish green glow upon it.
A smokey mist started to ease out of the top until it formed a translucent Arabian looking Genie. Around the Genie's head was a wrapped cloth. A Purple Jewel in the center above his forehead pinned down some small elegant feather. The Sword at his side widen as it got to the end and then swooped down to a sharp tip. Fine workmanship on the handle was done in gold and jewels. The Genie was broad in the shoulders, his stance full of confidence and slowly his misty body got thinner to the size of the bottle opening. Glitter of all colors were popping on and off all around the Genie like the fireflys Joey use to chase and catch as a small child.
"A THOUSAND YEARS BY 20 I HAVE BEEN IN THAT PRISON OF A BOTTLE. WHOM DARETH SUMMONS ME OUT FROM MY CURSE?" bellowed the Genie with his large muscled arms crossed over each other while he stared straight down into the fearful and mixed excitement eyes of Joey.
Joey stepped forward and studdered out the words as loud as he could. "MY NAME IS JOEY." Which for the most part wasn't very loud at all.
"WHOM?" questioned the Genie as his face quickly went down lining up nose to nose, with his yellow glaring eyes the Genie stared directly into Joey's bloodshot eyes. Bloodshot from 24 hours of drinking and gambling. The Genies face came so close to Joey it caused him to turn his head slightly.
Joey cleared his throat and bellowed out in a much louder and stronger voice of ensurement. "AHEM ... I DO...JOEY!!" the words flowed out of his mouth causing the Genie to rear back with somewhat astondishment and a little bit impressed of Joey's new attitude.
Both faced each other. No one moved for several minutes.Silence was stealing the night noise. It was as if the Genie and Joey were stopped in time gazing upon the other, resizing up the situation.
Finally the Genie respoke. "SOOOOoooooooooooo, JOEY, IS IT??-THE BY-LAWS OF THE GENIE CODE REQUIRE ME TO GRANT THREE WISHES TO THE PERSON THAT SETS ME FREE FROM THE BOTTLE THAT YOU NOW HOLD IN YOUR HAND. WHAT WILL BE YOUR FIRST WISH JOEY AND PLEASE THINK CAREFULLY OF EACH WISH THAT YOU DESIRE, CAREFUL JOEY CAREFUL."
Joeys eyes lite up with all the possibilities that could now be his,but he needed to give some serious thought of this new opportunity.
What would Joey's wish be on his first wish of three
