Three Evil Wishes Read Online Free PDF Page A

angry,” I whispered. “We don’t need any more of his hot air.”
    I cleared my throat and turned to Gene. “What Jesse means is that you would be kind of tough to explain to our parents. You see, we don’t often meet genies.”
    â€œWe never meet genies,” Jesse backed me up. “So you’ll just have to get back in the bottle.”
    â€œAre you deaf?” the old genie rasped. “Maybe your second wish should be for a hearing aid. I am going to live outside my bottle—with you—until you have made all of your wishes.”
    â€œBut my parents—” I started to say.
    He raised a hand to silence me. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve,” he said. “Watch.”
    The old genie closed his eyes. A wisp of purple smoke rose up around him.
    Panic made me cry out. What did he plan to do? Something horrible?
    I squeezed my eyes shut. “No! Don’t!” I yelled.
    But there was no heat. No boiling lake. I opened one eye. Then the other.
    Gene had disappeared. A boy our age stood in his place. A stocky boy with blue eyes and curly brown hair. He wore black velvet shorts, a ruffled shirt, and shoes that buttoned on the side.
    â€œGene? Is that you?” I cried.
    He nodded. “Hoo. Is this a thrill? Now I’m a kid again! My heart is going pitty-pat. I may dance a jig.”
    â€œWhoa! That’s awesome,” Jesse shouted. “But, Gene, what are you wearing? You look like—a girl.”
    Gene fluffed the ruffle on his shirt. “I do not look like a girl. These clothes are very fashionable,” he insisted.
    â€œMaybe a hundred years ago,” I told him, shaking my head. “Gene, this is never going to work.”
    â€œIt must work,” he replied. “It is the only way you will receive the rest of your wishes.”
    Jesse shrugged and carefully picked up his muddy backpack. “I guess he’s right. It’ll have to work,” he told me.
    â€œHave you lost your mind? What are we going to tell Mom and Dad?” I asked.
    Jesse slipped the bottle into my backpack and then handed the pack to me. “We’ll think of something,” he said cheerfully. “Besides, we have two wishes left! We can’t just forget about them!”
    â€œYeah, well, the first wish didn’t turn out so great,” I reminded him.
    â€œSo we’ll be a little more careful next time. We’ll get our wishes, and then—poof!—Gene will be on his way. Right, Gene?”
    â€œWhatever,” the genie muttered. “If I’m a kid, how come I’ve still got such heartburn?”
    â€œWell . . . all right,” I gave in. “I guess Gene can come with us.”
    But as we made our way home, my mind filled with dread.
    How could we just bring a new kid home to live?
    How could we ever explain this to Mom and Dad?
    And what if the genie wasn’t as nice as he seemed?
    What if this was some kind of trick? What if he really was evil?

10

    â€œT his is Gene,” I told my parents.
    Gene gave them a little bow.
    We made Gene change into modern clothes before we reached the house. He looked pretty good. But his skin was still a little purple. I hoped my parents wouldn’t notice.
    â€œHow are you, Gene?” Dad shook his hand.
    â€œActually, I’ve got pretty bad heartburn,” Gene complained, pounding his chest. “Hoo. Have I got heartburn.”
    â€œHeartburn?” Dad narrowed his eyes at our guest. “A boy your age?”
    â€œHave you got any seltzer?” Gene asked. “I’ve really got to burp. I think it will help a lot.”
    His eyes were flashing around the kitchen. I knew he was admiring all the fancy new appliances. After all, he hadn’t been in a kitchen in a hundred years.
    Dad shook his head. He reached into the fridge for some club soda. “Weird friend,” he whispered to