Page 110 of The Witching Hours

I finally had the get the leash, pull him to the car, and lift his fat ass up to the cargo area.

Panting, I said, “Pad. You gotta lay off the treats.”

I’d set the vase in the passenger side floorboard. Of course, it fell over the first time I made a left turn. Then it righted itself when I made a right turn.

I don’t know how I could’ve forgotten that I had no chance of getting close to the Arts Festival. Unless it was because I had the best excuse in the history of excuses. There was a jin in my house trying to trick me into making my life worse.

I pulled over. What to do?

Then I realized I didn’t have to take the vase back to where I got it. I could leave it anywhere.

I did a quick u turn and pulled into the Magick Cauldron parking lot.

“I’ll be right back.” I told Paddy.

I marched straight to the cashier who was stationed roughly in the middle of the store.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey,” she responded with caution while eyeing the vase in my arms. “I’m donating this vase.”

“We don’t take donations.”

“This vase is special. It has a genie. A real one. Imagine how much you could get for a prize like that? And I’mgivingit to you. For free!”

“Uh. Sure,” the girl said. “We still don’t take donations.”

After more back and forth, it became clear she wasn’t going to budge, but we were attracting attention. I turned to the customers who seemed interested in the exchange and held up the vase. “You want it? It’s yours! Wishes at your command.” I lowered my voice. “And the genie is hot, too.”

They backed away from me like insanity was contagious. Finally, I realized it was because the vase wasn’t polished. No one would believe something good could be inside something that looked awful. I needed to go back home and finish the job. It’s a lot easier to rehome something beautiful.

No need to look around for Mitch. I could hear the TV on in the living room. I didn’t show him anything about the TV and he couldn’t know anything about modern technology. That meant he was more than a pretty face. He was resourceful as well.

I placed the vase back in the sink wishing there was still some of that yummy looking cheese left on the magic banquet board. I absolutely did not want it badly enough to wish for it.

Paddy had run straight to the living room looking for his new best friend. When I arrived in the room, he was sitting politely next to Mitch looking for all the world like he was Mitch’s dog.Traitor.

“I see you brought the vase back.” Somehow, he managed to make this observation without looking away from the show he was watching. There might’ve been a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

I think a part of me had thought he’d be gone when I returned. Like Scrooge’s bad bit of potato. But alas, no such luck.

What does one do with a genie watching TV in her living room? One who refuses to either leave or get back in his hidey hole. 911 is not an option unless I wanted to be the one taken away in an unmarked white van.

“Yes,” I answered.

Nodding, he said, “It’s hard to get rid of,” and almost sounded sympathetic. “Look at this!” He used the remote to point to the TV. I looked at the images on my flat screen television. It was big, good quality, and had been a splurge, but was worth every cent. He was watching a show about glam safari travel. “It’s remarkable. No wonder you’re content with your life. The world is at your fingertips.

“These lady lions were being attacked by hyenas. Then the big male comes running in and takes over. He was pickingthose hyenas up and throwing them with one paw.” He laughed. “I actually saw that!

“Turning to me,” he said. “You should come watch. You might get some ideas about what you’d wish for.”

“Not new to TV, Mitch. So, make yourself at home.” I didn’t really expect him to pick up on my sarcasm, so I wasn’t disappointed. “I’m going to polish the vase.”

He looked over his shoulder at me. “I can make it shine like the sun. Instantly. Is that your wish?”

“No.” My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a text from Cass.

CASS: You left your sunglasses in my car. The cheap ones in the Fendi case. I can drop them off tomorrow on my way to that thing at Pin Oak.