by Phil Wheeler
wasn't going to be good.) “The balance must be maintained, harmony must be brought.”
“OK, what does that mean? Does she get three wishes?”
“No, only you get them, but there is a reciprocal effect.” said the Genie.
“Reciprocal effect?” asked Henry.
“Yes.”, continued the Genie, “everything that you ask for is received by and doubled for your mother-in-law.”
“What?” Henry was standing now, in the face of the Genie, shouting.
“I am sorry”, said the Genie, “but that is the law of Karma.”
Henry was fuming; he couldn't believe what he was hearing. The one person on this earth that made it a living hell was going to benefit by his good fortune. More than that, she was going to exceed his good fortune, receiving double of whatever he received. That sucked!
“Would you like to begin, master?” intoned the Genie.
“Wait a minute.”, said Henry, trying to focus his thoughts, “You said that you couldn't just give me a pile of gold if I asked for it, what if I wanted gold, a million dollars worth, how would you do it?”
“Easily, master,” responded the Genie, “If you wanted a million dollars I would simply have you buy a lotto ticket that would pay you a million dollars. You could then purchase the gold.”
“Oh, I got it! But wait a minute, what did you do before there were a lotto tickets?”
“That was a bit more tricky, don't ask. Are you ready to proceed?”
“Okay, I guess so. I want $1 million. No wait, if you give me a lotto ticket it will only be worth half that after Uncle Sam takes his cut, you better make that $2 million.”
“As you wish, master, but in accordance with Karma I must tell you that your mother-in-law will be purchasing a $4 million Lotto ticket.”
“With that, Henry lost it. “I just can't believe this, why should she receive money, it's not like I treat her badly, she's the one that treats me horribly. She makes my life a living hell!”
“I understand,” said the Genie, “but I don't write the rules I just follow them, and Karma must be balanced.”
Henry was still fuming, but there was nothing he could do about it, so he finally said, “I don't think that I want to make another choice right now, so I want you back in the lamp. I need some time to think about it.”
The Genie bowed, and said, “As you wish, master.”, then vanished into the lamp.
Henry went over, bent down, and picked it up. He slowly walked home, thinking about all that had happened. He stopped at the local beverage store and bought a lotto ticket. Entering his house he said nothing to his wife or mother-in-law, he just sat down in his chair and turn on the TV.
“So it's about time you got back!” said the voice. Screech!
“Hello mother.” said Henry, “I was out taking a walk.”
“Well, we are going out shopping, so you need to watch the kids.”
And with that his wife and mother-in-law left, leaving him with a cold dinner and two children to watch. It was 7:30 when they returned, and he was just settling in to watch the Lotto Show.
“Oh good”, said his mother-in-law. “I just bought my first Lotto ticket. Strangest thing, I never buy them but I just had this – urge.”
Henry fumed as she sat down on the couch and began to watch the program. He said nothing. If it had been physically possible steam would have rolled out from his ears. The show went on, his mother-in-law droned on, and they finally got to the winning tickets for the first Lotto – the 2 million dollar drawing.
“...and now said the voice, we will pick the six winning numbers for the $2 million lotto. 22, 13, 3, 66, 21, and 22....”
Henry remained silent; he did not even look at the ticket in his pocket. He just waited.
“...let's move on to the Classic Lotto. Tonight, the winning ticket is worth 4.3 million! And here are the numbers...”
As the announcer read the numbers Henry began to wriggle and squirm in his seat. He knew it was coming, but could do nothing about it!
“I won, I won! I can't believe that I won, that's incredible.”
It was his mother-in-law screeching what Henry already knew to be true, in his pocket sat a winning Lotto ticket for the 2 million dollar lotto, and in his mother-in-law's hand was the winning ticket for the $4.3 million lotto. The show continued, but Henry excused himself and went down to the basement to be alone. He sat sulking, brooding in his anger, until he no longer heard voices or movement upstairs. He sulked up the stairs, got ready for bed and climbed into the bed next to his wife, who was snoring. Tomorrow was Saturday and he had the day off; maybe things would look a little better than.
He awoke early and got dressed, leaving the house before breakfast and taking the lamp with him. He walked down to the beach to the place where he'd found the lamp and looked out at the ocean. Slowly, he raised his arm, drew it back, and prepared to throw the lamp as far as he could. 'Karma sucks', he said, and brought his arm forward, but something stopped him. He rubbed the lamp, and the Genie appeared in his gray cloud as he had the day before. “Genie, it happened just like you said. I won 2 million in the lotto, and my mother-in-law won $4.3 million. I don't understand this Karma thing, but I don't like it.”
“I'm sorry that you feel that way,” said the Genie, “but I have no control over it. Do you have your second wish?”
Henry hadn't really thought about it, he was too busy being angry about the whole karma thing. For a moment he said nothing, and then he said “I have always wanted a Mercedes-Benz. That is my second wish.” He knew he should be thrilled, but Karma reared its ugly head as the Genie spoke, “Very well master, that is your wish, that is my command. But I must say, master, that to keep the balance in the universe your mother-in-law will receive two Mercedes-Benz.”
Henry didn't say anything, he just looked at the Genie. Finally, he said, “Back in the lamp Mr. Clean.”, and he slowly walked home the long way.
That night they were all gathered together and watching TV when a commercial for the local car dealer revealed the winners of a promotion that had run for the last two weeks. Henry knew immediately what was going to happen, and as the announcer droned on he heard the inevitable truth spill forth. The contest had been simple, just sign a card and drop it in the box. Three brand-new Mercedes-Benz would be awarded, and if your named was picked more than once you could win more than once!
“I can't believe it!” Came the screech. “I don't remember even signing up, and what are the odds that I would win two Mercedes-Benz?”
Henry said nothing; he just sat there as the screeching continued. He didn't even care when the winner of the third car was announced – it was Henry.
It was a blustery Sunday morning, and Henry awoke with a tremendous headache. He might have blamed it on the weather, but it was more likely the six boilermakers that he had downed at the local pub last night. He groaned, and sat at the side of his bed, willing the room to remain still. He hated Karma, he hated the Genie, and he hated his mother-in-law! He was $1 million dollars and one brand new Mercedes Benz richer, yet he felt like he wanted to die. Well, more precisely, he wanted his mother-in-law to die, but the Genie was specific on that one, he could not bring about the death of someone by his own hand. Henry had only one more wish, but he didn't care. All he saw was more happiness for his mother-in-law and more angst for him. Then, Henry grinned! He jumped up, threw his clothes on, and headed for the door. Almost running down to the beach he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The Genie presented himself in his cloud, and said, “What is your final wish, master?”
Henry took a deep breath, then spoke, “I want you to have someone beat me half to death!”
The Genie looked at Henry for a moment, and then shrugged his shoulders, saying, “Your wish is my command, master.”
Henry smiled to himself – Karma was a beautiful thing after all.
Karma was a great thing!
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