The Wishing Coin: A Modern Fairy Tale by Antara Mann Read Free Book Online Page A

Republican Mothers’ club?”
    “Yes, she was a Chairwoman, wasn’t she?”
    “I have no idea. I guess they don’t know yet. When they find out, they’ll be shocked. You know what else she’s done? This is the most bizarre thing of all. She’s donated ten thousand dollars to Ballard Food Bank. Can you believe it? Ten thousand bucks for the poor and the beggars!”
    This time, I was left open-mouthed, too. Jackie, who had thought that nobody should donate anything, not even food vouchers, unless the recipients were working; that immigrants were like weeds for the American economy and that the minimal hourly payment had to be discarded because it was against the basic market economy principle of demand and supply… Jackie had donated money to feed the poor in Seattle? That was inexplicable, and all the more so if we were talking about ten thousand dollars!
    “I told you she’s gone crazy!” Lewis started walking to and fro in the office and finally stopped at my desk. “Look, I don’t want to sound crazy; I know it sounds strange but…” He hesitated for a moment and cautiously looked around to make sure we were alone. “I think that there’s some magic involved here,” he said, almost whispering.
    I laughed nervously. I already felt as if I was a character in a Woody Allen movie.
    “Lewis, I understand that Jackie’s behavior is…” I wondered what word to use. “Supernatural” felt too much. “…unusual, but she is at an age when very often elderly people like her begin to rethink their values. I don’t think there’s any magic involved here.”
    “What magic is involved here?” Barry, The Screw’s screenplay writer, entered the room.
    “Oh, nothing. I was just telling Julia how magicians did their tricks. You know, rabbits in hats, bodies cut in half…” Lewis cleared his throat and looked around nervously. “Well, I must be going.”
    “Is he OK?” Barry asked me, staring at Lewis.
    “He’s fine. His mother, the living embodiment of Uncle Scrooge, has become a Democrat and is now giving tons of money to charity organizations.”
    “Really? Now that’s a story for Miracle – How I Did It. Are you planning to show it on national TV?” Barry winked at me. “The joke aside, for the next episode with Leonardo DiCaprio as a guest, I’ve laid emphasis on questions about environment, climate…”
    I wasn’t listening to him at all. My mind was focused on Jackie and her complete transformation. Hadn’t I wanted just that? Then why didn’t it feel right? Perhaps it was because Jackie had changed too suddenly, but it was to a good end, right…?
    “…make sure you squeeze these things out of him. Julia, are you listening to me?”
    Hearing my name mentioned took me back to reality.
    “Yes, sorry, Barry. Go on.”
    ***
    At the end of my workday, I decided to take a walk in Central Park and think over the situation. When I finally found some peace and quiet and was alone in the park, I took out the coin, determined to make a decision as to what I should do. One wish and it could all go back to the start, but was I ready for this? Why did everything have to happen by magic and not the natural way? Did I feel happier being the host of my own TV show and dating Lewis again? Could my previous life have been better, despite everything? Jackie’s dramatic change made me think about whether the fulfillment of my wish had actually been good, considering the fact that she was totally changed. Jackie had been a high-class, snobbish bitch who hadn’t been interested in anyone apart from herself. Now she was the complete opposite of her former self and still there was something that was bothering me. Somewhere deep inside, I felt I couldn’t meddle with people’s fates like this and change them to my liking. If they were going to change at all, it should happen by their own wish.
    “Hey, babe, how are ya?” A boy from a group of teenagers hanging around whistled at me.
    I decided to just