"No place really," replied Jon. "We were going to meet at the mall and sit down and talk about things, like how to use the rock."
"Isn't that dangerous?" wondered Pete. "Someone could hear whatever you say."
"Like you?"
"Maybe."
"But you know what the stone is, most people would just figure we were rehearsing a play or something and ignoring it. So it wouldn't matter if they hear funny things. Or even wishes, like 'I wish I'm a girl" or "I wish I'm a robot but I look human and everyone remembers me as a human."
Then Jon gulped at his mistake as two flashes followed in succession. The first left a cute teenage girl where Jon was. The second... didn't seem to do anything.
"I can't believe you did that!" exclaimed Karyn.
"Well, there goes your boyfriend," said Pete.
"He's not my boyfriend! We're just friends."
"He's certainly not anyone's boyfriend now."
"Yeah, I'm a girl," replied Jon.
"I think you're a robot," said Pete.
"That's silly," replied Jon.
"You wished for it," said Karyn. "I wonder where your manual is. Can I borrow the stone?"
"For what?"
"Just testing something."
"Fine," said Jon and she handed the stone to Karyn.
"I still can't you believe you messed up a wish like that, Jon. Two wishes, in fact. Anyway, I wish I had a manual explaining how to operate you." Suddenly a pamphlet appeared on the table in front of her, as she, Jon, and Pete watched. She picked up and leafed through it as Pete fidgeted. Then suddenly she said "Begin program mode".
Jon's eyes glazed over, and she said "Beginning. No owner set. Do you want to be set as sole programmer?"
"Sure."
"Accepted."
"Okay. Let me think of something to try... Jon, you think that you should be called Jonnie." Of course, everyone else would remember her as a human girl, but assuming she kept her human girl name as a robot, Jonnie was the name printed in the manual. "And you like pistachio ice cream. And nothing anyone can say will convince you you're a robot. End program."
Jon's stare returned to normal and she said "Does the manual say anything?" She didn't even seem to notice that she had paused or been programmed.
"I don't know, Jon" replied Karyn.
"You know, Karyn, since I'm a girl, that sounds funny. I should be called Jonnie. Jon really doesn't fit me any more."
"All right, Jonnie. And why don't we get some ice cream?"
"Sure. Get me a pistachio."
"But you hate pistachio."
"I used to hate pistachio, but I just changed my mind. I'd like to have some for now. I think I'd enjoy it."
"Get me one too, please," said Pete. "An ice cream and a manual."
"No way," replied Karyn. "You're not taking advantage of this mistake. I can just imagine what you'd program into Jon."
"Do I look like a robot?" asked Jon.
"No, I guess not," said Karyn. "Begin program." Jon stared blankly again, ready to accept her commands....
