The walk home was uneventful. I didn't have anything to do but constantly think about the stone and its power. It had so much potential, but it could all be so easily ruined by making a foolish wish that I couldn't escape. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I almost ran headlong into our own front door. Luckily, my legs were accustomed to the walk and knew where to go; otherwise, I probably wouldn't have noticed the house at all and would have wandered off somewhere.
No calls of hello from Mom, so I guessed she was out—probably a busy day. I made myself a sandwich and sat down to watch TV. As I channel-surfed, I passed all sorts of shows, and a flood of ideas came to mind. X-Men was on, and I thought about being a superhero. I could have so many powers, but could I get stuck in a strange superhero universe? A workout show was on, presented entirely by attractive, athletic women in bikinis. I thought about making them all completely attracted to me, but did I want them following me around for the rest of my life? I'd heard Karyn complain enough about guys staring to know that it's not much fun.
Then it hit me. I was so foolish; the solution was so simple. I could have it all, with no strings attached, and I could escape anything whenever I wanted.
"I wish I was omnipotent" I said.
I didn't really notice anything. I looked around, and everything seemed about the same: half-eaten sandwich, TV currently playing QI—everything the same.
"Let's test these powers out," I thought.
I looked at the now basically useless wishing rock.
"Go to hell, and take your unnecessarily binding wishes with you," I said.
And then, at my mere thought, it sizzled for a second and was replaced by a smoking pile of ashes. Now that was power. I could do anything, know anything, and go anywhere in the universe.
"What shall be the first REAL test?" I wondered to myself.
