THE MOMENT
"Stupid kid...," the genie sighed when the boy froze mid-laugh. The genie looked around the time-locked park. Joggers floated above the ground, birds were stuck in the air; but, aside from all that it was a beautiful day. The golden sun hung in a clear blue sky. "...I guess I'm not in a hurry to get it undone..." the genie took his full form and stretched tall. Keeping his lower half in smoke tended to make him cramp up when he finally had legs again. It was rare that he had a moment to stretch. People usually found him with their wishes prepared and wanting them instantly.
The genie spent almost an hour wandering around the park enjoying the public solitude. It was good to see other people, even if he didn't actually want to talk to any of them. Finally, he was bored enough to call in someone to help him restart the time stream, and maybe educate the boy a bit.
As a genie, he could not control the magic; he was only its conduit. He could not restart time on his own; but, he knew someone that could help. She wouldn't have been affected by the time-stop because she wasn't on that Earth. He sent a Whisper to his friend in an alternate universe.
[Hey Barley. Busy? -Genie8824]
[Some kid is stuck in his own wish. -Genie8824]
[Urgent? -Brly]
[Kinda chattin' with someone. -Brly] she replied. The genie chuckled to himself.
[No, I guess not. -Genie8824]
[He locked himself in time. -Genie8824]
[No hurry. -Genie8824] The genie answered. He knew Barley was as good as her word and he really wasn't in any hurry.
[Oh! Time? BRT. -Brly] Before the genie could reiterate that he wasn't rushing her, a black portal opened. Barley, a young blonde woman in blue overalls walked out next to someone he did not recognize. She was pale young woman that looked about Barley's age. She had short dark hair that framed her face and she wore mostly black clothes, except for a broad red metal bracelet.
"I was talking to a Muerte, so here we are," Barley shrugged as she smiled at the genie. "This is my new friend, Quinn."
"That's fantastic," the genie said. "Thank you. And, by the way. Can you try and get him to think about his wishes better?" he asked Barley.
"Sure thing," she nodded at Quinn and time started flowing again.
"Hey! I wanted to stop time!" the boy immediately began to complain.
"And ya did!" Barley answered as she knelt down to talk to the boy at his level.
"Thanks for coming along and helping out," the genie smiled at Quinn and she nodded.
"I'm not done talking to Barley yet; but, I don't mind." The genie chuckled. He decided to make small talk while Barley talked to the boy.
"What's your problem?" he asked.
"Huh?" Quinn looked at him. She took offense, but he shook his head.
"I don't know how she does it," he said. "But, all the genies I know, and plenty of other people go to Barley when we have an issue. She can't always fix it, but somehow she still always gives great advice."
"Yeah...," Quinn nodded. "I heard that too."
"So, what's your problem?" the genie asked again. This time, Quinn caught the sincerity in his question.
"Ms. Sharp is trying to rewrite the future that's already happened...," Quinn sighed. "...and I'm trying to stop her."
"Oh...," the genie regretted asking and could only nod. "..yeah, good luck with that," he said. His voice sounded almost patronizing and Quinn was surprised.
"You harness the magics of the universe... but you don't believe me?" she asked. The genie shook his head.
"It's not that," he said. "I believe you completely; it's just that...," he focused on the ground and lowered his voice. "...I don't think you can," he said.
"Thanks...," Quinn sighed. She reached up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. The genie noticed a black #14 on the red bracelet. But, when she moved her hand, the loose-fitting bangle rotated and he saw a black #42 on the other side. But, he was too distracted by his thoughts to comment on it.
"No offense," he said. "But, until you mentioned her just now, I thought Ms. Sharp was dead. When you said her name, I didn't doubt you at all. I didn't even blink at the possibility that she was alive again. If she wants to change the future; she's going to."
"Yeah...," Quinn sighed. Then, Barley stood up and joined Quinn and the genie with the boy next to her.
"I think that Timmy here and I had a great talk; he's ready to make some wishes," Barley said.
"Let's try it out," the genie replied. He encouraged the boy.
"I'm kinda hungry now," the boy said. He looked up at Barley and she gave him an encouraging nod. Then, he made his wish. "I wish for a soda and a bag of chips!"