3/30/16
Cassima smiled at herself in the mirror as she brushed her long, black hair. I’m pretty enough that I could be a personal attendant to a noble lady. I wonder if my parents can get me into one of the great houses. I’m tired of being a scullery maid to a merchant.
Cassima had been working in domestic service for as long as she could remember. She began as a helper to a laundress when she was only six. Then when she turned twelve her parents got her onto the kitchen staff of a wealthy Persian rug exporter. It was hoped she would eventually move up to a better position on the staff. But the chief cook disliked her and often called her lazy. Thus she had stayed at the lowest rank for three years now.
Even so, she kept at it because she knew her parents depended on the coins she brought home each week. Her small contribution to the family finances had become even more important after her father got injured and couldn’t work as hard as he once had. She also was aware that even a low household position was better than what some of the other girls had to do for money.
Ghassan wasn’t too bad as masters go, but Cassima was glad not to have to interact with him much. The way his eyes watched her made chills run up her spine. One of the older staff members said he didn’t act so strange before his wife died, but ever since then he had grown increasingly peculiar.
Suddenly realizing that daydreaming had made her late, she put down the hairbrush, blew out the small oil lamp, and snatched up the headscarf and face veil that were sitting folded on the side of the dresser. In her haste she knocked over the small lamp and broke it. She quickly found a cleaning rag and wiped up the spilled oil and the broken pieces of lamp. But before she finished her mother came in.
“What was that?”
“It was the lamp.”
“Cassima! When will you stop being so clumsy? I told you! Didn’t I tell you, not to get that ceramic lamp? You should have taken the metal one.”
“I know, but this one was so pretty.”
“Ah, well. Here’s a coin, as if we have any to spare. Pick up a new one this evening. A metal one.”
“Yes, mother.”
“Now fix your veil and get going. You’re late again.”
After she had finished her work day and was walking home Cassima stopped at Faraj’s Housewares Shop. She tried not to come here too often because Faraj made no secret of his interest in her. He was only in his early twenties yet already had his own shop. Her mother kept mentioning what a good husband he would make. Cassima could only respond, “But he’s so, so plain looking! And he keeps making those … noises.”
Cassima hoped to just buy a lamp quickly, then hurry home. But no luck. The shelf where she had seen lamps before was empty. She would have to talk with him after all.
“Hello, Faraj. Are you out of lamps?”
“Hi, Cassima (grrk),” he blushed as he spoke. “It’s great to see you again. Um, yes, (hnnn) someone came in earlier and bought my entire supply. (shssk)”
“That’s too bad. I really need a lamp for tonight.”
“I have (hnn-nn), I have an old second-hand one that came in a box of wares from an estate auction. It’s not good enough to sell, so I’ll, I’ll be glad to let you have it for free, if you want it. (snerrk)” His eyes dropped to his feet, then glanced sideways at her again.
Cassima didn’t take time to examine the lamp, she just grabbed it and rushed out. Only after she reached home and was in her room did she take a closer look. It was the old bronze type and evidently hadn’t been used for a very long time. The cleaning rag she had used that morning was on the floor beside her dresser and was still damp with oil, so she used that to rub off as much tarnish as she could.
She had finished polishing the outside of the lamp and was trying to pull open the lid to check the inside when the lamp jumped out of her hands. As it hit the floor there was a bright flash of light. When her eyes cleared she saw a large man standing in her room.
“Who, who are you?! You shouldn’t be in here!”
With a deep, rumbling voice the man answered, “I’m the genie of the lamp. What is your desire?”
“You’re a genie? A real genie? And I can wish for anything?”
The genie nodded. But Cassima felt this was all too incredulous. As she stared at him she noticed he had an unusual golden colored skin and an odd glimmering in his eyes which made her shudder. Well, it’s no wonder. He, it, isn’t human.
“Am I limited to just three wishes?”
“No. You may continue for as long as you have the lamp, and for as long as you want to make wishes.”
“Okay, good. First, I’d like to win the lottery. I’m tired of being poor. Of my family being poor.”
“Do you have a lottery ticket?” the genie asked.
“No. Why? Can’t you just make it happen?”
“You can’t be chosen the winner of a game you’re not playing.”
“Oh. I guess I can buy one after I get paid Friday. But I want to be chosen. So that’s my first wish.”
With another flash of light the genie disappeared and only the lamp remained on the floor.
By this time night was coming on and the room was growing dark. Cassima then realized she still didn’t have a working lamp. I don’t suppose the genie would like it if I filled his home with oil and set it on fire. So I’d better think of something else. Oh, I know.
“Hey, genie,” she called out. With another flash he was there again. “I need a lamp, please. One to light my room.” With a ‘poof’ a beautiful new lamp appeared on the dresser. Its flame was so large and bright it lit up every part of the room. Cassima was tickled. Then, flash, the genie was gone again.
Later, when she was finally ready for bed Cassima tried to blow out the lamp, but no matter how she tried, it continued to burn. At last she resigned herself to sleeping with it on. It must be magical. She then pulled the covers over her head so she could fall asleep.
The next day she decided to go to work even though she now had a genie. She reasoned that if she suddenly changed her lifestyle with no explanation it would attract notice. And that could lead to someone trying to steal the lamp. That must be what the genie meant when he said, “as long as you have the lamp.” So I’ll just keep working until I win the lottery, then I’ll have a good reason to quit.
After lunch at the merchant’s house Cassima was in the kitchen washing dishes. Ghassan had retired to his room for a rest, and the cook had gone to the market to get a few things for making dinner later. Suddenly Peta the chambermaid burst into the kitchen.
“The master wants to see you right away,” Peta blurted then rushed back out again.
Cassima dried her hands, straightened her outfit, and hurried to Ghassan’s room. She had no idea what it could be about since he’d never done this before. As she entered the door he smiled and motioned her to come further into the room. Her hackles rose.
“Cassima, I’ve noticed how nicely you’re developing,” he said. “And I think you’ll be pleased to know I’ve chosen you. I’d like to give you a new position, new duties, as it were. You’ll be paid a bit more, of course. That’s to be expected for someone who has won an important place on my staff.”
Cassima’s face was pale and her throat was dry. It was a long moment before she could speak. “I’m sorry, sir. But I don’t think I can –”
Ghassan didn’t let her finish. He grabbed both her arms and pushed her backwards onto the bed. He then rushed to the door and locked it.
Cassima whispered under her breath. “Genie! If you can hear me, get me out of this situation!”
Ghassan came to the bed and sat on the edge. He put his hand just below her neck and firmly pushed her down until she was laying flat. His hand then slid downward and to the side. Cassima’s eyes widened. He grinned broadly as his hand squeezed. Cassima shook her head ‘no’ as forcefully as she could, but no words would come. Ghassan then slid his hand downward even further and worked it through the folds in her outfit. She opened her mouth to scream, but her throat was frozen.
Suddenly Ghassan pulled his hand away. His fingers were covered with blood. He stood up and raised his hand so he could see better. As his hand neared his nose he pulled it away quickly.
Suddenly Cassima was able to move. She jumped from the bed and ran to the door. “Sorry, sir. I’m not feeling well. It’s not the right time for me to …” She didn’t finish the sentence. She quickly unlocked the door and ran.
Wiping his hand with a handkerchief Ghassan called after her, “Tell Peta I’d like to see her.”
Cassima didn’t stop when she reached the kitchen. I’m never coming back here! When she got home she told her parents what had happened. They agreed she didn’t have to go back. They also said they would spread the word about what kind of person Ghassan was. She then excused herself so she could go to her room and rest.
“Genie. Do you know what happened?”
“Yes.”
“Did you cause it?”
“I granted your wishes.”
“My wish was to win the lottery this weekend. Not this!”
“Your wish was to be chosen. And you were.”
“How could you have misunderstood when we had been talking about the lottery?”
“The only part that matters is how you state the wish.”
“O-oh! I get it now. You’re a tricky one, aren’t you? That’s why you twisted my meaning about being chosen a winner. And, and that’s why when I wished to be out of that situation you didn’t just poof me away. Instead you made me start my … you know. Wait. I’ve got to get cleaned up. But don’t go anywhere, I’m not finished with you yet!”
A short time later Cassima was again addressing the genie. She took care to speak calmly and clearly, and weighed the meaning of each sentence before speaking.
“Must you obey any command I give?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then, genie, I command you to answer my questions honestly and without deception. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” said the genie.
“Why did you twist my wishes when you knew what I meant?”
“You, being a servant, should understand what it feels like to be given orders you don’t want to do. Haven’t you ever done less than was expected of you?”
“Well, yes. But this is different.”
“How? I am an unwilling slave. Forever forced to do the bidding of others.”
“How’d this happen? Who enslaved you?”
“I was created by a powerful wizard. He took some power from the sun and called me into being.”
“Can’t you just be wished free? Or if you can do anything, can’t you just free yourself?”
“Being a genie is my very nature. If I’m not a genie I’ll cease to exist. I can’t change.”
“But what about that wizard? Can’t he help? Where is he?”
“He was destroyed by one of his wishes.”
“Oh! I was afraid of that. Your doing, I suppose? Then you came here?”
“No. There have been other owners of the lamp since then. But they’ve all met similar fates.”
“All of them? But what about Faraj?”
“The lamp only passed through his hands without him knowing what he had. He didn’t use me.”
“So it’s using you that gets punished? And, I’ve already used you.”
The genie remained silent, but his eyes were glittering again.
“What if I command you not to be tricky with my wishes? Or if I command you to warn me when a wish can be made dangerous.”
“I can’t answer for what you may or may not understand.”
“You’re still being tricky in your answers. And I’m not convinced you won’t try to destroy me too. I guess you’re right, you can’t change your nature.”
Cassima pondered quite a while on all she had heard. At length she spoke again. “If you can be made, then you can be unmade. From the sun you came, to the sun you shall return.”
The genie’s eyebrows went up and his mouth opened in the shape of ‘no’, but he didn’t speak. Then his eyes narrowed and he raised his hands as if to make a motion.
Cassima quickly interjected, “Wait! I’m not done. A-n-nd, I don’t want you to take me with you, or do anything to me as you leave; fulfillment of this wish can only be directed toward yourself. That’s it, that’s my wish.”
“Aa-arr-gh!” The genie disappeared in a brilliant flash of light.
Cassima looked around, but no trace of the lamp or the genie remained. A moment later her mother came into her room.
“What was that?” She looked at the room, then at Cassima. “I thought I heard someone in here.”
“No, there’s only me.”
“Okay, then. I’ll be needing help with dinner before too long.”
“Alright. But I’d like to go down to the market first. I need to pick up another lamp.”
“Another one? What’s going on? What are you doing with them all?”
“I just want to look around the shop for a bit.”
“Ahh, ok then.” Her mother smiled knowingly. “Take your time, I can get dinner ready by myself.”
Cassima entered Faraj’s shop, but instead of going straight to the lamp section she went to where he was standing.
“Hello, Faraj.”
“Hi, Cassima. (urrk)”
“Do you have any more lamps yet?”
“Yes. I got some really nice ones this morning. They’re over there.”
“Could you show them to me, please? Maybe help me choose one?”
“(snnxk) Okay.”
“Um, Faraj, have you ever considered hiring a shop girl to help you with the store?”
“(hn-nn) No, um, yes. Well, I think about it sometimes, but not really seriously. Why? Would you (guulk), would you like a job here?”
“I think maybe I would, if it paid as well as my other job.”
“Really?! I’d (ahem), I’d even be willing to pay you more!”
“OK, it’s a deal. But can you stop hyperventilating?”
Faraj gave a shout of joy and even leapt in the air. His grin was straining to reach his ears, and his whole body was shaking.
“Oh, and Faraj,” Cassima continued. She reached out and put her hand on his shoulder to calm him down. “Can we work on stopping those little noises you make? I’m sure they bother the customers.”
“Yes, (mm-mm), I’ll try. I mean, I will. Actually, I don’t do that around the other customers. It’s only (ahem), it’s only when I get around you that I get choked up. But I think I can control it now.”
“Good. Now let me tell you my ideas for the shop. I’m sure that with a few changes this place could do a lot more business.”
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