Three Wishes by Deborah Kreiser Read Free Book Online

though — how could we have told you? You wouldn’t have believed it until you saw what was happening to you. And, even if we had told you, what would you have done with the knowledge? There was a good chance you would be a regular human, so we wanted to give you the opportunity to have a normal childhood, without the burden of anticipation.
    â€œSweetheart,” she adds, “you know you can choose not to be a genie. If you don’t find a master by the time you’re eighteen, you’ll lose all of your powers and you’ll revert back to how you were yesterday.”
    â€œIs that what you wish, Mamère?” I ask, a bit stunned.
    â€œWe both support you, no matter what you do,” Papa says, giving her a glance. “We love you. You’re our family. All of our family. And nothing could ever change that. Right?”
    â€œOf course,” Mamère adds. “I… only want her to understand all of her options.”
    â€œFine,” I say, and stalk off into the kitchen. I need more time to think this all through. My grandmother follows me in. Sometimes I wish she would leave me alone, but I don’t dare say it out loud.
    â€œSo how are you coping with the, uh, physical changes you’re experiencing?”
    â€œIt’s fine, Mamère. Well, not really.” I take a swig from the glass of water I’d refilled, and look down at her slippered feet. “It’s weird. I feel different, and everybody’s staring at me, which is kind of good, but not. And swim team practice was… awkward.” I don’t usually talk about girl stuff with my grandmother, so I feel strange discussing it.
    She seems uncomfortable, too, and gives me a quick hug, saying, “I’m sure. It’s a big change, sweetie. Most girls develop gradually. To have a new body in an instant…” She lets the thought trail off, shaking her head.
    â€œYeah, well, I’ll have to keep adjusting, I guess,” I tie up the conversation. “Well, I’ve got to shower, and I, uh, have homework, so I’m going upstairs. G’night.” She pats me on the shoulder as I leave.
    I poke my head back into the family room. “G’night, Papa.”
    â€œSweet dreams, sweet girl. I love you,” he says. Papa still acts like I’m seven, not seventeen, but it’s okay, most of the time.
    â€œLove you too.” I take the stairs by twos as I run up to my room.

Chapter Five

    If a man could have half of his wishes, he would double his troubles. — Benjamin Franklin

    Settling onto my bed, I think more about what happened today. So much attention, and a date — okay, a study date — with Pete Dillon this Saturday! It’s kind of unbelievable. He has always been so out of my league, there’s no way he ever would have paid me any attention before my transformation. But on my dream boyfriend checklist, he’s got it all: taller than me, smart, athletic, and oh-so-hot. I shiver with excitement, and a little bit of nerves, anticipating seeing him on Saturday. Other than my short, almost accidental relationship with Luke, I have been pretty much left behind in the romance department.
    It’s funny; a month ago my biggest wish might have been to have a curvier body. I’m sure there are worse nicknames than Bean Pole, but I have gotten pretty sick of hearing it. But now that it’s happened, I have mixed feelings — mostly good — but it’s still weird. More than one guy today talked to my chest. In fact, this one dude annoyed me so much I said out loud, “I wish you would look into my eyes.” Of course, then he stared at me, without blinking, for the rest of the conversation.
    I want to read my mother’s diary, and I dig through the clutter under my bed to try to retrieve it. Even if it hasn’t told me as much as I’d like, it’s one of the few things left connecting me to my mom and her