Karyn and Jon were in Jon's room, the empathy belly lying on the bed next to them.
"... and so that's the story," explained Jon. "It keeps getting used. I think I have an idea that might help, a little bit."
"Oh?"
"Write down all my wishes, or put them in a computer file, or something like that. Put the belly on, then wish for everything on the list, then get it to come off again. That way the only growth I get is the growth I get for putting it on, plus a minute or so. It's better than putting it on ten times because I keep thinking of new wishes, or leaving it on for a week. I'm starting to make a list here." Jon pointed to his math notebook. "There's a page in the back. Go ahead and look, there's nothing secret on it."
"I have a better idea," said Karyn. "Just wish that you can make wishes on it at a distance, without putting it on."
"I tried that. Didn't work." Unknown to Jon, that would contradict the original wish that it become a belly that only grants wishes when worn.
"Then wish for a countdown timer."
"I don't think that'd work."
"You didn't try it, Jon, did you?"
"Hmm. No, I never did. All right...." He scribbled another sentence on the list of wishes. "Let's see. Frivolous things... Mangas, CDs, games, I'm not sure about test answers. Getting in a good college I can't do, they're outside the range limit. I already got us enough money for a good long time. Good health for everyone. Fix everything wrong with the house... may as well. You know, after you do the obvious, there really isn't much you can do if you have a bunch of wishes except get some things to have fun with. Maybe I can learn to speak a foreign language. And I could become a little taller and irresistible to women."
Karyn grimaced at the last one. "You want to become a rapist?"
"What? Oh... you mean because I'm using magic?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I mean!"
"Fine, Karyn, you don't need to get so upset about it. Let me add a car. And knowing how to drive. Do you think it's enough?"
"I don't know. You can always add something new to the list, and do that forever. At some point you have to make the wishes."
Jon looked at the empathy belly, just lying there. Finally he decided. "I'm going to do it." He put on the belly. The wholly artificial device that was in reality a powerful magic item despite making him look pregnant. And it stayed artificial. Time hadn't run out. "I wish for all the wishes on this list."
Suddenly Jon found himself able to speak Spanish. His room was larger and he could see the CDs he wanted in a neat stack. He was an inch taller (he never had used the irresistible to women wish). Numerous other minor wishes, like repairing the house, happened too. "It works!" he yelled. "It wasn't time yet!"
Jon saw a clock on his desk. He could swear it wasn't there before. He got up, waddling with the heavy weight on his belly, and as he approached it it te digits lit up. "Must be the countdown timer." He read the numbers off of it, and when he did he knew that this group of wishes, car or no car, was a mistake. "5... 4... 3... 2... 1..."
