I Dream Of Johnny (novella)

by Madison, Juliet

  I wish for things to go back to the way they were before I made my three wishes.

  I peered around the corner of the kitchen at Jonathan as he scrubbed the plates and cutlery, and was about to turn back when he turned his head and blew me a kiss. I pretended to catch it in my hand then placed my fist over my heart. He smiled and turned back to the dishes, and with a deep breath, I pressed the ENTER button.

  Chapter 7

  Please wait while your wish is being processed.

  A bright light flashed and I squinted, blinking repeatedly until my surroundings came into focus again. A gentle trill sounded and I glanced back at the screen, telling me my wish exchange had been granted. It also said the lamp could be passed onto another person, but could not be reused by myself.

  I put the lamp on the table and walked around, surveying the results. Boxes littered the floor, mobiles hung from various places, and there was no extra studio out back. I checked my bank account which was back to a miniscule amount, with seven hundred and fifty three dollars owing on the credit card. Oh well, I’d manage. I’d figure it out. I walked towards the bedroom. “Jonathan?” I called, just to make sure. No response. I felt a little sad, but also relieved that my life could get back to relative normality. There was comfort in the familiar, even if it wasn’t the fabulous, perfect life I’d wanted yesterday. It was a life, my life, and I was damn lucky to have it.

  I noticed the television, DVR, and Wii laying about, yet to be set up, and my shoulders sunk. “Oh man, I forgot about this!” I laughed at how easy it had been for Jonathan and almost wished he was here again to help me. I selected my brother’s number from the contacts in my phone and waited. No response there either. He never answered the phone if he was in the middle of something important, like a video game, or his favourite TV show. “Let the machine get it,” he’d always say.

  The machine. My machine. I still had to change the recording. I went to press the greeting message button then eyed the array of technology. “First, let’s get this mess sorted out.” I flipped open the Yellow Pages. What would one search for when looking for help with this sort of thing? Was there a job category for ‘setter-upperers of household entertainment appliances’? Hmm...a handyman, perhaps? I scanned the advertisements: painting, carpentry, lawn mowing, odd jobs...was this classed as an odd job? And then I saw it. The ad I was looking for:

  Geeks R Us

  Brilliant!

  For all those tricky technology dilemmas, we are at your service, seven days a week. Affordable prices, hourly rate. Guaranteed same day service if you call before midday.

  I checked my watch. Yes! I called and was told my geek would be arriving in around two hours. Not as fast as the magic lamp, but not bad! And I knew just how I would pass the time, but first: the answering machine. I played the existing half-done message with low level coarse language and pressed DELETE. Then I pressed RECORD.

  “Hi, thanks for calling Mandy, from Mandy’s Magical Mobiles. I look forward to speaking to you soon. Please leave your name and number after the tone.”

  Beep!

  Done. Let my new life begin!

  Ninety minutes later I was putting the finishing touches on the design and templates for my fruit mobile. I couldn’t find a supplier of wooden fruit shapes so I’d have to carve them myself. I’d make apples, bananas, strawberries, pineapples, oranges, and grapes, and paint them to look as realistic as possible. In fact, I’d decided to create a whole range of food-themed mobiles and try to sell them to cafes and restaurants. Mobiles didn’t have to be solely in the children’s domain. And I had an idea I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of till now, till Jonathan made me the heart-shaped MANDY mobile — which sadly, didn’t survive the wish exchange —mobiles with children’s names on them. I found an online store that had some but they were cheap plastic; mine would be handcrafted and unique. I’d pre-make some with popular names and do custom designs for more unique names on demand. The first name I’d do would be ‘Jonathan’ and I’d use it as my example design on the website. Ooh! Bubbles of enthusiasm rose up inside and popped into spurts of bliss. I was in my element, and confident I could turn my money situation the right way round.

  As for the love situation, well, I simply hadn’t met the right man yet. Jonathan, despite his...shortcomings, had shown me some of the qualities I wanted and deserved: helpfulness, authenticity, honesty —oh boy did he show me honesty! —and kindness. If there was a man out there for me, I’m sure we’d find each other eventually, but there was no point stressing about it or forcing things. I’d meet him when the time was right for both of us.

  Ding, dong!

  Please don’t tell me it’s those charity collectors again...but then I remembered I was expecting the tech guru. I’d been so immersed in my creative world I’d forgotten. I put my pencil down and went to the door, pulling it open. A stream of afternoon sunlight welcomed itself inside and I instinctively shaded my eyes with my hand so I could focus on my visitor.

  Deep green eyes focused back through thick glasses. Green eyes, just like Jonathan’s. For a moment I thought he’d returned, but there was no comb-over, no pimples, and no high-waisted shorts with suspenders. The man wore smart trousers, polished shoes, a crisp shirt that sat comfortably on broad shoulders, and his hair was short, brown, and neat. A radiant smile graced his face.

  “Geeks R Us, at your service!” He offered his hand and I shook it, smiling back.

  “Please, come in.” I stepped to the side and extended my arm in a welcoming gesture.

  “Thank you.” He entered the hallway and removed his glasses. “I’ll just take these off now. The company makes us wear them, but they drive me nuts.” He placed them on the hall table, next to the lamp, and I instinctively noticed the absence of a wedding ring on his left hand. Not that I was looking for a husband in every guy I met, it was just habit. A habit I’d have to break if I was to move on with my life.

  “Ah,” I smiled teasingly. “So you’re not a true geek?”

  “Let’s just say I’m a regular guy —with geek elements.” He winked. “I like fixing things, making things work, but that’s about it. I don’t have the periodic table memorised or anything,” he added.

  I stifled a giggle. “So you wouldn’t name your children after the elements, then?”

  “Huh?” His brows furrowed. “Why, do you know someone who did that? Geez, I feel for the poor kids!”

  “I knew someone who wanted to, but I don’t think they’ll end up going ahead with it.” I wondered where Jonathan was now, and whether he would get any sort of chance at sharing his life with someone; someday, somewhere.

  “I think when I have kids I’d prefer to stick to basic names —Matthew, Emma, names like that. Simple, easy to spell and pronounce, and the kids won’t end up hating me.” He smiled again and his eyes shone with the sort of genuine, authentic spark that makes anyone attractive. I warmed to his nature immediately, and found my gaze travelling over his chest, along his muscular arms, and across his strong-looking hands. He was no body builder —just nicely built...in a regular sort of way.

  “So, have you got a busy schedule today?” I asked.

  “No, you’re my last job. Then I’m off to play footy with my nephews in the park, followed by dinner with friends at the Sushi Train. Gotta love Sundays.”

  Hmm...family oriented, fit, smart...Mandy, stop it!

  “Oh, that place on Park Street? I love their sushi.”

  “That’s the one.”

  “Well, I better let you get to work so you can go enjoy the rest of your day.” I led him into the living room, embarrassed by the mess and clutter. I shoved a few things aside and pointed to the equipment that needed setting up. “Just the TV, DVR, and Wii...Sorry about all the mess, I haven’t had time to tidy up...Here, I’ll just —oof!” I tripped on a box of art materials and fell towards him, my palms planted on his chest as the momentum took his balance and we toppled to the floor. My hair covered his face and I lifted my he
ad from his chest, meeting his gaze once again and breathing in a subtle hint of spicy cologne. “Um, er, sorry,” I said, my voice croaky.

  He grinned. “Maybe you should come and play footy with us this arvo, you do a mean crash tackle.”

  Warmth flushed my cheeks as I manoeuvred off him and stood, smoothing down my top with my hands and tucking wayward hair behind my ears. “I’m not normally that clumsy, sorry!”

  “Don’t apologise, it was an accident. Besides, it’s the most excitement I’ve had all day.” He stood, still grinning, clearly amused by my klutziness.

  My warm cheeks rose further in temperature, and I tried to look busy, arranging the equipment in a more orderly way to help him get started. “So, um, I’ll leave you to it?”

  He knelt down next to the equipment. “Yep, shouldn’t take me too long.” He rubbed his hands together and started fiddling with cords and plugs and things, arranging the equipment on the display unit and testing out various buttons on the remotes. A short time later he stood. “All done!” he said. “Here, let me show you how everything works.” He leaned in close to me so I could see the buttons on the remote, and that same spicy scent stunned my nerves for a moment. He smelled so...nice. So masculine. So...attractive. Damn those hormones, turning me into a yearning lump of desire!

  “Sorry, how do I set it to record again? I didn’t quite catch what to do after selecting the menu.”

  He patiently repeated his instructions, and in a few minutes I was confident I would be able to record Downton Abbey that night while watching a movie on DVD.

  “Here’s your invoice,” he said, writing on a pad. “It didn’t take me as long as I’d allowed so I’ve given you a bit of a discount.” He ripped the invoice from the pad and handed it to me.

  “Thanks, that’s very kind. I’ll pay by direct deposit once you’ve gone.” Worth every cent, I almost added.

  “No rush, we have a seven day account facility, so whenever you’re ready.” His eyes scanned the house and his gaze fixed on some mobiles in the far corner. “Did you make these?” he asked, approaching them with a gentle outstretched hand.

  I nodded. “Yep, that’s my business. Mandy’s Magical Mobiles,” I said proudly.

  “And these are your designs?” He eyed my sketches on the small table under the front window.

  ”I’ve been working on some new ideas. Food-themed mobiles and mobiles with children’s names.”

  “You’ve got a talent,” he said. “Do you have a business card? I know someone who might be interested.”

  “Yes!” I said, a little too eagerly. “I mean, I’ll just see where I put them.” I rummaged in a desk drawer and pulled out a few. “Here you go, and thanks. Word of mouth really helps.”

  “My pleasure.” He stuffed them in his shirt pocket. “Well, I better get going. If you have any problems using the equipment, give me a call at the office and I’d be happy to help.”

  Maybe I should invent a problem so I can see him again. “Thanks so much, you’ve saved me a lot of stress!”

  “Technology, huh? Supposed to make life easier, but sometimes I wonder about that.”

  I saw him to the door, part of me wanting to ask him out and part of me thinking I was being ridiculous. I’d only just parted ways with a Geek God from the World of Wishes and probably needed some time to process the remarkable, magical events of the past twenty four hours.

  “Well, it was great to meet you, Mandy,” he said as he stepped out onto the front porch.

  “You too...oh, I didn’t get your name.”

  “I didn’t introduce myself? How rude of me! My name’s Johnny. Johnny Stanza.”

  Johnny. Was he for real? This was way too weird! They had the same eyes, same technological skills, and now the same name —well, a variation of it, but the same nonetheless. I extended my hand. “It was great to meet you too, Johnny.” He shook it, and I finally processed his surname. Stanza. My eyes narrowed and I held his hand a moment longer. “Stanza? You’re not related to the Stanza family toy empire are you?” They were a huge chain of toy stores throughout the country, also selling baby furniture and equipment, and children’s bedroom items —like mobiles.

  Johnny smiled then released my hand. “Yes, it’s my father’s company. I do a bit of website work for him, but the business itself wasn’t for me, much to his disappointment. Not that it matters, I have three other brothers, and two of them work for the company.”

  “So you prefer —”

  “Being a geek for hire? Yes.” A grin spread across his face.

  “I was going to say —helping techno amateurs like me to make things work!”

  “That too!”

  I eyed the business cards peeking from the top of his pocket, and he must have noticed because he placed his hand on top of them. “You’re probably wondering if these are for my father, and yes, I think he might be really interested in your mobiles. But I didn’t want to mention it in case he wasn’t. There’s no guarantee, but he was talking recently about wanting to get back to basics when it came to children’s toys and decorator items, you know, stocking more unique and well-crafted items. So,” he gave the cards in his pocket a little tap with his palm, “I’ll see what he says and let you know.”

  This day was a vast improvement on yesterday! “That would be fantastic! And of course, no worries if they’re not for him, I’d understand.”

  “I’ll talk to him about it this afternoon at the football match —he’ll be there.”

  Johnny smiled and stepped off the porch, the sun reflecting off his brown hair, and I had the urge to pull him back inside and accidentally-on-purpose trip over that box and fall on top of him again. What was getting into me? Get a grip, Mandy!

  He turned away, then turned back and opened his mouth like he had something important to say, but all he said was, “See you later.”

  “Yes, see you later. Enjoy your afternoon.” I slowly closed the door then glanced towards the lamp on the hall table. Johnny’s glasses! “Johnny!” I called out, opening the door and dashing down the steps as he got into his car. “You forgot these.”

  He laughed. “That would have been a damn shame now, wouldn’t it?” He winked, and slid the glasses into his shirt pocket alongside the business cards. “Thanks.” He held onto the car door, as though he wasn’t ready to close it. “Mandy, would you like to join me for dinner sometime?”

  His smile warmed me more than the sun on my face. “I’d love to,” I replied. “That is, as long as we don’t go to a karaoke club or anything.”

  “No worries, no one will ever hear me sing, you can count on that.”

  I laughed. “I’m sure you’re not as bad as me.” Or Jonathan, more like it.

  “I’m sure I’d be worse, and I bet you’re actually good. I can’t imagine an unappealing singing voice could come from your mouth.”

  I willed myself not to blush. “Well, there’s no way I plan on challenging your false assumption.”

  “But I bet you sing in the shower, right?” he asked, and an image of him in the shower flashed in my mind before I quickly swept it away. What if he was thinking of me in the shower? Another round of blushing tried to escape and I pretended the sun was in my eyes and shaded my face.

  “Not really. Maybe. Sometimes.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes.” He checked his watch. “So, if karaoke’s off the table, how about we go to the Sushi Train where there’s no musical temptation whatsoever?”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  “Great, well, I have your number.” He tapped his pocket again. “And you have mine — the office number anyway. How about next Friday night?”

  “Oh.” My shoulders slumped. “I also work at a restaurant and I’m doing a shift that night.” Damn Gristle and Grill. I couldn’t wait till I could afford to quit my job and design mobiles full time. If that was even possible. Well, maybe now it was. Somehow, I’d make it work.

  “Saturday then?”

  “Saturday it is,” I
replied.

  “I’ll be in touch.” He smiled again and closed the door, and I waved as he drove off. Only hours since I’d sworn off seeking a man in my life right now and I’d already accepted a date offer. Was I mad? Susan’s words suddenly came to mind about Jodie’s boss dying and I remembered my decision to make the most of life. So, no, I wasn’t mad. I would have been mad not to accept.

  With my chin held high and a smile still on my face I turned to walk up the steps to my house, but stopped on seeing Mrs Kramer hobbling to her door, a newspaper tucked under her arm. She’d probably been reading it on the porch and had watched me with Johnny, perhaps wondering whether I was a prostitute with all these strange men coming to my house.

  “Hi, Mrs Kramer. How are you?” I called across the shrubs.

  She took a few moments to turn her rigid body around. “Same old, same old I’m afraid, dear. Nothing more I can do about it, I guess.”

  I felt so bad for her. Yesterday I’d been complaining about my life when I had something that Mrs Kramer would probably do anything to have. My health. What was the right thing to say to someone who was getting sicker by the day? “Get well soon”? or “It could be worse”? All I could do was try to keep her spirits up and give her hope.

  “Oh well, you never know. Researchers might come up with a cure tomorrow.” I sent a hopeful smile her way.

  “Oh, I wish,” she replied. “I wish.”

  She waved and hobbled inside, and a spark of excitement struck me. I dashed inside and picked up the lamp. It had said I could pass it on to someone else. Would it really work after being used? Maybe my parents’ neighbour, Valerie, had used it herself and that’s why she was so eager to give it to someone. Maybe this was some kind of pay-it-forward device to change people’s lives for the better. I got the box from my wardrobe and placed the lamp back inside, and then I wrote a message on a post-it note and attached it to the box:

  Make that wish. You never know.