Genie was crestfallen once more and she glanced down to see while she was in a man's body and wore his clothes, she still had the golden manacles on her wrists. Golden manacles inscribed with ancient script which proclaimed Genie was a slave to her lamp, bound to serve whomever held it. Forever. Genie was beginning to understand how final that declaration was.
"Mrs. Harrison," Mary said, "I still don't understand what's going on? Josephine, why are you dressed like a harem girl?"
"Genie. She's dressed like a Genie, Mary because the Genie of the Lamp I command made a very poor decision to switch places with her. I don't expect you to believe me at this moment, but please, dearie, trust me about this, and that everything will make sense in due time."
Mary nodded slowly, not sure if she should believe Mrs. Harrison, or get her the help she clearly needed. "I've never known you to like, Mrs. Harrison, but you have been missing for a few months." Mary was still quite young and had just started life and college, had little experience with men, and was a bit miffed at her 5' 1" height.
"I know. That, too, was caused by this wicked Genie." Mrs. Harrison replied calmly, as if that statement wasn't crazy.
"I'm a chick," Joseph said, feeling his body, heart racing more and more. He didn't like being this weak, nor the way people would look at him in these harlot clothes. He knew the way men would look at him, because it was the same way he had looked at the Genie earlier. She looked so sexy in the thin pantaloons and tight bra. "I can't be a chick, Mrs. Harrison, you have to turn me back!"
"Yes, please, Master," Genie said, looking up at Mrs. Harrison. "I wish to be in my true body once again." The words surprised both Mrs. Harrison and Genie. She was aware she used to be a man, and wanted to be so again. But this body just reminded her of her failure. Her pathetic attempt to escape her bonds, escape fate, and maybe even God himself (though Genie was still unsure of His existence). Besides, with her memories of being male gone, being a woman was all Genie ever knew.
Mrs. Harrison sighed in that disapproving way that only older people could get away with, "I had plans for that final wish. I still would like that RV for my husband and I to tour the country, you know. See, that's what I don't get about you, Genie, you want to be free, but at the same time keep twisting wishes so that your Masters have to spend time fixing your mistakes. It makes us less likely to free you, you know."
Genie nodded and looked down at her strange body. Why could she never stop tricking her Masters?
"As for you two," Mrs. Harrison said, turning to Joseph and Mary, I suppose one of you will end up as Genie's next Master. Though, trust me, she is more trouble than she is worth, and deserves to spend a little time in her lamp. For you, all I can ask is that you pray for God to give you wisdom, and that you be careful with your words."
She sighed again and looked between Genie in Joseph's body and Joseph in Genie's, and made her fifth and final wish . . .
