“So, Genie, what are you doing here?”
Esmeralda said, nibbling a lettuce leaf. “Everyone knows you aren't allowed to come back after you've been expelled.”
Little Genie hung her head.
“Genie's been allowed to come back for a reason,” Ali said sharply.“It's private.”
Esmeralda's eyes narrowed as she turned to stare at Ali.“Oh, really?” she said, tapping a perfectly polished fingernail on the table. “Tell me how you and Genie got to know each other. I thought I would know every genie Little Genie knows.”
Ali gulped, trying not to look too scared. Had Esmeralda guessed she wasn't really a genie? Cornered, she looked over at Genie for inspiration. But at that moment a voice boomed out from the other side of the cafeteria.
“I don't believe it! It's Little Genie!”
A very large genie wearing a paisleypatterned lab coat was walking toward them. He looked about ten feet tall and towered over everyone else. A smaller girl genie with a sweet face and long black hair, dressed in a white skirt and pink T-shirt, hurried along beside him. Both genies were smiling from ear to ear.
Little Genie gave a gasp of delight. “Genius! Lampella!” she cried, jumping to her feet. Genie ran over to the small genie and gave her a big hug. Then she threw her arms around the tall genie's knees and hugged him, too.
“Ali, these are my best friends in Genieland!” Little Genie declared, looking happier than she'd been since she'd broken her
hourglass.“This is Lampella.” She patted the small genie on the shoulder, and Lampella gave Ali a shy smile.
“Hello, Ali,” she said.
“Hi,” Ali said. She could tell that these genies were real friends.
“And this is Genius,” Genie went on, pointing up at the big genie.
“Your masters must get a shock when you pop out of your lamp!” Ali said, staring up at Genius.
Genius laughed, a deep booming sound like rocks rolling down a mountain. “Welcome, Ali,” he said. “It's great to see you again, Little Genie. We've missed you!”
“Yes, school hasn't been half as much fun without you,” Lampella added. “What are you doing here?”
“That's what I'd like to know,” Esmeralda chimed in. Her tone was sugar sweet, but Ali could tell she was annoyed that she hadn't managed to find out what Genie was up to.
“Just back for a short visit,” Little Genie said.“How is everyone else? How's Magico?”
“Ask him yourself !” Lampella said with a wink.“He's over there!”
Ali turned and saw a dark-haired genie in flowing gold and maroon robes and a jeweled turban. He was coming their way.
“Little Genie!” Magico exclaimed with a big smile.“So it really is you! Jupiter told me he'd spotted you getting off a hoverboard outside the school—I thought he was imagining things!”
Ali watched Genie blush. Ali knew Genie hoped Magico was the genie who'd given her an anonymous valentine before she left school. Genie had a genie crush!
“Hi, Magico!” Esmeralda leapt up from her chair and elbowed Lampella out of the way to give Magico a big hug. “I haven't seen you in so long!”
Ali rolled her eyes. Esmeralda seemed to like Magico too!
“Hello, Esmeralda,” Magico said politely. “Actually, I saw you half an hour ago, remember?” He turned back to Little Genie. “It's so great to see you again, Genie! How are things?”
“I'm cool, Magico,” Genie said, her cheeks still pink.“This is my friend, Ali, from the Academy of Genies.”
“Charmed,” Magico said, making a sweeping bow.
“Pleased to meet you,” Ali said.
“You know, school was so boring after you left, Genie,” Magico said. “Remember how you turned Lampella into a tree in Transformation class?”
“Oh yes!” Lampella laughed.“It took forever to figure out how to get me back to normal, Genie. I had to eat lunch holding my knife and fork with my branches!”
“Your Lava lamp must have found its eleventh owner,” Magico said. “How was your first master?”
“Pretty good!” Little Genie said with a smile.“Nothing has really gone wrong. …”
Ali remembered one of her wishes. “I heard that once Little Genie's master asked for a hundred chocolate bars, and Genie gave her ten thousand instead!”
Everyone laughed, including Genie.
“Oh, poor Little Genie, she was never very good at magic, was she, Magico?” Esmeralda sighed, putting her hand on Magico's arm and fluttering her eyelashes at him. “Not like me, of course.”
“Ah, but Genie always tried her best, and that counts for a lot,” Magico said, moving away from Esmeralda. Ali noticed that Esmeralda looked irritated, although she kept a phony-looking smile on her face.
“What are you doing back at school, Genie?” Magico asked. “Have you persuaded the principal to let you come back and specialize?”
“What are you all specializing in?” Genie asked, avoiding Magico's question. “How about you, Lampella?”
“I'm specializing in fabrics,” Lampella said. “I'm making my own magic carpet!”
“And I'm specializing in earth structures,” Genius said.“We're studying moving mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.”
“Volcanoes!” Ali exclaimed, remembering her homework. She blushed as everyone turned to look at her.
“Are you interested in volcanoes, Ali?” Genius asked eagerly.
“Well, I—I—”Ali stammered.“I'm studying them at the, um, academy. I'm supposed to draw the inside of a volcano for my homework.”
“I could help you with that, if you like,” Genius offered.
“Ooh, Ali, don't get him started on science!” Little Genie interrupted, crossing her eyes comically. “He'll never stop! What are you specializing in, Magico?”
“GES,” Magico said.
“GES?” Ali echoed.“What's that?”
Esmeralda gave her an incredulous look. “Genie Emergency Services, of course!” she said. She stared suspiciously at Ali. “Every genie knows that!”
“Oh yes. Of course,” Ali mumbled, feeling embarrassed. She wasn't doing such a good job of pretending to be a genie!
“Whenever a genie needs any kind of emergency help with their tools, I'll be there,” Magico went on.“Hourglass watches, lamps, magic carpets, whatever. I'll be able to fix anything by the time I've completed specialization!”
Ali and Little Genie exchanged glances. Ali knew exactly what Genie was thinking: maybe Magico could help them get the watch repaired!
“Magico, do you think you could help me?” Genie asked a little nervously.
“Why?” Esmeralda leaned across the table, not giving Magico a chance to reply. “What have you done?”
“Of course I'll help you,” Magico said, smiling at Genie.“But you'll have to tell me what the problem is.”
Little Genie hesitated. Ali didn't think her friend should speak out in front of Esmeralda. “Maybe I should talk to Magico in private …,” Genie began as Ali nodded.
“Oh, come on, Genie!” Esmeralda laughed. “We're all friends here. You can tell us.”
“What's the matter, Genie?” Lampella asked, looking concerned.
Little Genie glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening.“I broke my hourglass watch!” she whispered.
“You broke your watch ?” Esmeralda cried.
Ali glared at her. “Keep your voice down!” she said.
Genie took the jewelry box out of her backpack. “See? It's broken,” she said, biting her lip. The others looked shocked as Genie opened the box and showed them the broken pieces inside.
“Oh dear,” Magico said, bending over the jewelry box to examine the broken hourglass more closely.“That's a bad crack.”
A tear rolled down Genie's cheek, and Ali slipped a comforting arm around her shoulders.
“At least you haven't lost your watch, Genie,” Lampella said. “That would be much worse.”
“Well, this
is bad enough!” Esmeralda declared. “Without her watch, Little Genie won't be able to do magic ever again.” She sighed, wringing her hands dramatically. “Her life as a genie is over!”
“I told you to keep your voice down, Esmeralda!” Ali said as Little Genie gulped.
“Of course your life isn't over, Genie,” Magico said, casting a stern look at Esmeralda. “Don't worry. Accidents happen. Now listen, I have a GES class right now with the watchmaker, Mr. Ticktock. He'll be able to mend your watch for you.”
“Really?” Genie whispered.
Magico nodded.“He does it all the time. You and Ali come with me.”
“I'll come with you too,” Esmeralda said. “I have a free period after lunch, and I'm dying to learn about mending watches!” She fluttered her eyelashes at Magico again.
Esmeralda isn't interested in watches at all, Ali thought. She was only interested in one thing, and that was Magico!
“Good luck with your watch, Genie,” Lampella said. “Genius and I have classes now. Don't leave without saying goodbye!”
Genie nodded and hugged her two friends.
“Let's go,” said Magico.
Immediately Esmeralda leapt up from her seat. “Tell me all about genie tools on the way to your class,” she cooed, linking arms with Magico. “I want to know everything!”
“Magico seems nice,” Ali whispered to Little Genie as they followed them out of the cafeteria.
“And what about Esmeralda?” Genie asked with a hint of mischief.
Ali made a face.
“Exactly!” Genie giggled. Ali was glad to see her cheering up now that she was about to get her watch fixed.
The watch-mending class took place in a workshop on the other side of the school. Outside the workshop there was a large green and gold sign on the wall.
“‘All genies must wear safety clothing in the workshop,’” Ali read aloud.
Magico had opened a large cupboard and was handing out gray overalls, hard hats, and goggles. Ali and Genie put theirs on.
“Oh, these just aren't my colors at all!” Esmeralda complained, staring at her gray overalls. She murmured a few magic words under her breath, and Ali saw a cloud of lavender-colored sparkles swirl around her. Then the sparkles drifted away, leaving Esmeralda wearing a very glamorous pair of purple overalls cinched with a sparkly white belt. Her hard hat was purple and sparkling too, and her goggles were rimmed with purple glitter.
Ali glanced at Genie and rolled her eyes. “Come on.” Magico opened the workshop door and ushered them inside.“We're late, and Mr. Ticktock won't be pleased.”
The room was full of long wooden workbenches, most of which were already occupied by students. Different kinds of lamps hung on the walls, and on the teacher's table were rows of glass bottles filled with brightly colored, bubbling liquids. They were in luck—Mr. Ticktock hadn't arrived yet.
“Let's sit here,” Esmeralda suggested, pushing Ali and Genie out of the way as she rushed to get the seat next to Magico.
Ali jumped when a loud siren sounded in the corridor outside. A moment later, an orange carpet flew through the open door, lights flashing on each corner. An elderly genie with white hair and spectacles was sitting on the carpet.
“Quiet, please, class!” Mr. Ticktock called as the carpet zoomed over to the teacher's desk and he climbed off. “I've just come from an emergency extraction. A genie got stuck in his lamp, silly boy!”
Mr. Ticktock clapped and a lamp immediately appeared in front of each of the students. They didn't seem surprised at all, but Ali almost gasped aloud. She managed to stop herself, however, just as Esmeralda again turned to glance at her suspiciously.
“Get on with your lamp assignment from yesterday, please,” Mr. Ticktock called.“I want to see all these lamps working by the end of this class.”
“I'll go and speak to Mr. Ticktock about your watch, Genie,” Magico said.“You get it ready for him to look at.”
Genie nodded and opened her backpack as Magico went over to the teacher. She rummaged around for a moment and then glanced up at Ali, her eyes wide with panic. “The jewelry box!” she whispered. “It's gone!”
“It can't be,” Ali whispered back as Esmeralda bent over her lamp.“Look again!”
Ali watched as Genie, now ghostly pale, searched through her backpack again.
“It's not there. I've lost it!” A tear rolled down her cheek. “Oh, Ali, what am I going to do? This is much, much worse than just breaking my watch. It means I'll be degeniefied!”
“What's going on?” Esmeralda asked. “Why are you whispering?” She glanced up. “Oh, here comes Magico with Mr. Ticktock. Come on, Genie, get your watch out.”
“No! I've changed my mind,” Genie said. “I don't want to bother Mr. Ticktock! I'll mend my watch myself.”
“Nonsense!” Esmeralda said loudly. “You can't fix it!” She frowned. “There's something funny going on here!”
Ali glared at Esmeralda as Magico and Mr. Ticktock joined them.
“Are you all right, Genie?” Magico asked. “You look as white as a sheet! Don't worry, Mr. Ticktock says he's sure he can help.”
“Now then, my dear, let's see this broken watch,” Mr. Ticktock said kindly to Genie.“And don't look so scared. I've never come across a watch I couldn't fix!”
Ali wondered if there was any way they could talk themselves out of this mess.
At the same moment, Esmeralda's purple poodle started yapping.
“Be quiet, Lilac!” Esmeralda said sternly, but the little dog kept barking. Its front paws scratched the edge of Esmeralda's purple handbag.
Ali tried to think where the jewelry box could be. Maybe Genie had dropped it on the way to the workshop? If they could just get away from the teacher, they could search for it.
“Genie?” Mr. Ticktock prompted. “The watch?”
Little Genie hung her head.
“Come on, Genie, give the watch to Mr. Ticktock,” Magico said. “It's every genie's duty to keep their magic tools in perfect working order.”
“I can't,” Genie confessed.“I've lost it!”
Magico, Esmeralda, and Mr. Ticktock looked shocked, horrified, alarmed, and puzzled all at once.
“You've lost your watch ?” Esmeralda shrieked at the top of her lungs. “Little Genie, how could you?”
“Why don't you just tell the whole school?” Ali snapped.
“Oh, everyone will know soon enough that Genie's lost her watch,” Esmeralda said smugly. “News travels around this school faster than a genie on a hoverboard!”
Ali was about to tell Esmeralda to be quiet, but several other students had already heard what she'd said.
“Did you hear that?” one of them exclaimed.“That genie has lost her watch!”
“A genie's lost her watch!” said another. “How terrible! Hey, listen up, everyone— we've got a missing watch here!”
Everyone began crowding around to stare at Genie.
Magico frowned at Esmeralda. “Don't worry, Genie,” Ali heard him whisper.
“This is extremely serious!” Mr. Ticktock said.“Extremely serious.”
There was a buzz of agreement from the crowd of students. Esmeralda's poodle was still yapping, and the noise was getting louder.
“Little Genie has shamed genie magic with her carelessness!” Esmeralda yelled above the din. “She should be sent to the principal's office!”
The other students were nodding.
“And we all know what that means, don't we?” Esmeralda said triumphantly. “Degeniefication!”
Whoooooosh!
Suddenly a huge, thick puff of green and gold smoke burst into the room. The students nearest to it backed out of the way, and a deathly hush fell over the students.
“Oh no,” Genie moaned, clutching Ali's arm.“It's Principal Grant!”
The green and gold mist drifted away. A tall woman with jet black hair and piercing eyes stood in the doorway. She wore an ice blue skirt and jacket and high-heeled sh
oes in the exact same shade of blue. Ali gulped. How were they going to talk their way out of this one?
“Would someone please tell me what's going on here?” she asked coldly. “I can hear this noise on the other side of the school!”
“Principal Grant, look who's back!” Esmeralda said, pointing at Genie. “Little Genie! She shouldn't be here because she was expelled, but she came back because she broke her watch, and now”— she paused for maximum impact—“she's lost it!”
Principal Grant stared at Genie in surprise.“You've come back,” she said.“And on the day the Grand Genie is due to visit us too!”
Ali could feel Genie trembling beside her. Her friend couldn't look the principal in the eye.
“Is this true? Have you lost your watch?”
“Yes,” Genie whispered, still looking at the ground.
“Little Genie, I'm very disappointed in you.” The principal sighed. “I was hoping that you'd spend your time in the Lava lamp wisely after you were expelled. But it seems that you haven't learned anything at all.”
Ali wished she could tell the principal that it was her fault—that Little Genie only decided to come back because Ali would stay genie-sized if the watch wasn't mended—but then everyone would know she was human. Genie might get into even more trouble.
The principal looked over at Esmeralda's poodle. It was still barking. “What is wrong with that dog?”
Esmeralda lifted the puppy out of the bag and gave it a cuddle. As she did, Ali leaned over. There was something pink and square and very familiar nestled at the bottom of the bag.
“Little Genie's jewelry box!” She grabbed the box and held it up. “It was in Esmeralda's bag!” She opened it quickly and checked inside. The broken pieces of the hourglass were still there.
“Oh!” Genie almost collapsed with relief as Magico put his arm around her. “That means I won't be degeniefied after all!”
“What was Little Genie's jewelry box doing in your bag, Esmeralda?”The principal turned her piercing gaze to the meanie genie. “Stealing another genie's magic tools is a very serious offense!”
Meanie Genie Page 3
