A SMACK OF COMMON SENSE
by
Duckling
Chapter 6
The Chapters
“Van,”
he called out, “Grab him! He’s the genie.”
By
now, both Vanessa and the genie had regained their feet. Within minutes,
the blonde had the smaller figure pinned against the wall. You don’t date a Hardy brother without learning a little bit about
this type of thing, she thought proudly.
“I’m
not a genie anymore,” came the sullen reply. “You freed me
remember.” Anxious, angry eyes glared at Frank as he finally came
abreast of them.
“But
that was a mistake,” Frank countered. “You
are the genie. You’re supposed to be in the lamp. I need you to go back
so that I can release my girlfriend.”
“It’s not my fault that you sent her there,” the genie huffed. “I mean, man,” he cast pleading eyes at both teens, “I’m finally free! You can’t expect me to just go back now!”
“Well,”
Vanessa snapped, “whether you want to or not, you must go back.” She
motioned for Frank to take her place in holding the genie captive.
Once
the dark-haired teen had relieved her of guard duty, the girl dropped her
back pack to the floor and slowly drew out the lamp.
The
genie paled a bit when he saw it, but remained silent.
“Now,”
Vanessa ordered. “Get back in that lamp!”
Suddenly
the genie smiled brightly up at them, as he stepped back from Frank and
drew himself up proudly. “No,” he said cheerfully. “You can’t make
me.”
Frank
and Vanessa exchanged uncertain glances. They hadn’t counted on a
rebellious genie.
“And
you can’t make that friend of yours, in
there,” the genie smirked at the lamp, “wish me back either,” he
added smugly, crossing his arms in defiance.
“But,”
Frank insisted, “We have the
lamp. You’re the genie.
You’re supposed to do what we say.”
“Wrong,
wrong, wrong,” the genie chirped happily. “I am not the genie. The genie is in there.” He pointed at the lamp
still in Vanessa’s hands.
“It’s
true that normally I would have had another 178 years to go. Genies have
to spend 350 years in the lamp before they automatically revert back to
their natural form.”
“But,”
the voice was triumphant, “you freed me, irrevocably, when you hit your
friend with the lamp. I am no longer a genie, and do not have to finish my
time. I’m free!” The genie exulted, dancing in his joy.
Vanessa
shook her head in disbelief. First Frank smacks Callie upside the head
with a lamp, freeing the resident genie, and locking her friend inside.
Now, after they had finally found the genie, and had ordered it back into
the lamp, he was defying them?
Who had ever heard of disobedient genies?
“Anyway,”
the genie continued, snapping the girl out of her reverie, “even if I
were the genie, I would only obey the person who rubbed the lamp, or
someone of superior magical power than you mere mortals.” This last bit
was said with a trace of arrogance.
Ooooooohhhhh!
Vanessa thought furiously, How I
would love just to strangle this guy!
Frank
listened to the genie boast, utterly discouraged. How could they ever
release Callie from her prison if the genie refused to go back?
“And
no one,” the genie asserted, “has the power to make me return.”
Suddenly
the trio heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
At
this, the genie paled and began trembling, his dark eyes wide with horror.
He crouched down, shrinking against the wall in an attempt to conceal
himself from the as-yet-unseen person coming towards them.
“Except
him,” the genie whispered as a
figure emerged from around the bend.
Let the author know what you think of this story
Home Library Authors Rogue's Gallery Vehicles Chums Message Board Rap Sheet Links Contact
Disclaimer
The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.