Episode 2

I opened my eyes, the room was already bright, it was morning. The sun might be up, but I wanted to go back to sleep. I heard singing, mixed with the sound of a shower. I looked around the room, then grabbed the pillow and put it over my head, thinking, crap I’m still here.

I couldn’t get back to sleep, between my mind racing and Lisa’s singing. How the hell can people be that cheerful this early in the morning anyway. I was still tired, but sat up anyway. I heard the shower turn off, which also turned off Lisa’s off-key version of Pink, singing, ‘What about us’.

I slept in my clothes because I don’t have pajamas, or any other clothes for that matter. A moment later I heard a noise and looked up, oh shit, there was Lisa, standing in the bathroom doorway wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around her head, saying...

“Good morning roomie!”

I quickly looked away, and while fighting off a yawn, said...

“Good Morning.”

“I’m out of the shower if you want to jump in.” She added.

“Oh, ok.” I said.

I got up and walked toward the bathroom. I really need to pee bad, then a shower. I looked at my watch and saw it was only 6:45. Why is she up so early, we don’t have to meet Sam till 9. She was still in the bathroom, bent over toweling her hair dry. I said...

“Hey, uh, I need to go to the bathroom.”

Lisa kept drying her hair, and I stood in the hall, even though the bathroom door was open. Then she said...

“What’s the matter Mel, are you shy?”

“Well, I can’t go to the bathroom with you in there!”

A moment later she walked out naked, and headed down the hall toward her bedroom saying...

“You’re going to have to get over it, if we’re going to share a bathroom Mel.”

I didn’t answer her, but quickly went in, closed the door and peed. When I finished, I jumped in the shower and washed up. I decided not to wash my hair, mostly because I didn’t want to deal with sharing the bathroom. I hated putting dirty clothes back on, especially my panties. At least they weren’t that bad since I had just changed them yesterday before leaving for work, or two weeks ago, or whenever it was. But one thing I did see was Lisa’s tooth paste. I squeezed some onto my finger and did my best to brush my teeth.

I finished, and noticed Lisa was still getting dressed. I went to her kitchen and found some orange juice in her fridge. It’s obvious she doesn’t cook, there’s nothing in here but juices, sodas and bottles of wine. I sat at her table sipping OJ, and feeling sorry for myself.

I kept thinking about my mom and dad, and my little sister. I wonder what they’re doing right now. It’s funny, but when you know you’ll be seeing someone again, you don’t think about them, but now, I want to see them, and regret things I’d said, or done.

After Lisa finished getting dressed, she came in and made a cup of coffee. She definitely intimidates me. Although she appears 27 years old, she’s been that age for almost 80 years. I find it interesting that she’s chosen to be a prostitute. She must have noticed how I was looking at her, because she finally said...

“What? Go ahead and ask.”

I’ve never been able to hide my feelings, or my curiosity. So after getting up mthe nerve, I ask...

“Why a prostitute?”

She took a sip of coffer while composing her response, then she said...

“Well, after granting wishes, that often involve sex, you eventually accept it as a natural act. Many of those wishes begin with dinner, and dancing, and almost all end in their home for a fuck. Well, You start to realize that some men want companionship, and a sense of normalcy. But they still want the sex. So, after a about ten thousand sexual wishes, I asked myself, why am I working as a secretary, barely making a living. Why not make some of those other men happy, the unassigned wishes. After a while, you end up with a clientele. So, why not get paid for some of those sexual wishes, or work as a secretary and not get paid for any of them.”

She looked at me and waited for some kind of response, but I was in shock. What the hell, was she being sarcastic or just exaggerating. Finally, I laughed, and said...

“Ten thousand?”

She laughed with me for a moment, and ended it with...

“Well, I haven’t actually counted. I did for a while, but eventually stopped. Do the math Mel. Granting wish fucks three or four hundred times a year, it only takes about thirty years to reach ten thousand. And I’ve been doing this 74 years Mel.”

“Oh my god Lisa. I thought you were joking.”

“This is no joke Mel. But take my advice, think of it as making someone’s wish come true, regardless what it is. Don’t judge, just do your job and let it go. And speaking of go, we’ve got to go meet Sam.”

Oh shit, I hadn’t watched the time. We got up and headed out the door. While walking the two short blocks to the diner I was becoming more and more worried. Everything Lisa said kept going through my mind. She’s completely accepted her situation and made the best of it. That her choice, and I’ll decide what I want to do, all by myself.

We walked into the Dine-In and saw Sam sitting in the exact same seat as yesterday, reading the newspaper with an empty plate in front of him. We sat down, and Lisa immediately picked up a menu. I wasn’t all that hungry, and being broke, I didn’t want to stare at pictures of food I couldn’t pay for. This is bullshit I, how do they expect me to be some kind of wish wielding girl, if I don’t have any money. I decided to confront Sam right now...

“Sam, I need money. How am I supposed to eat? I don’t have any clothes, and I don’t even have a toothbrush!”

Sam sat there, and seemed unmoved. Then he put the paper down and said...

“Like I said last night, if you want to eat, get a job.”

“If I can’t tell anybody who I am, how can I get a job?” I shot back!

Lisa spoke up, saying...

“Do like we do, and create a new identity. But you have to change it every five or ten years. Looking like a 16 year old 10 years from now creates questions.”

Sam chimed in...

“You can’t go around using your real name. Especially in the same town you lived in.”

I thought about Lisa’s idea. It made sense, at least for getting my old job back. I gave it a little thought and said...

“Ok, in that case, I think I’ll be Molly, Molly Wield.”

Sam chuckled and said...

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope, that’s it.” I said.

Lisa spoke up saying...

“I think it’s a great name to use for all those living types, because they’ll just see Molly. I still see you, so you’ll always be Mel to me.”

I looked at Sam, he was looking at me, apparently deep in thought. Then he said...

“Ok, Molly it is.”

Then he reached over and pulled a few napkins out of the dispenser, and pulled out his calendar.

I still hadn’t gotten an answer about being broke. I needed things and I couldn’t wear the same clothes every day, and I wanted a toothbrush. But this time, I used my needy voice again, and asked...

“Sam, Sam the man, can I please borrow money for toothpaste and a toothbrush, and maybe some clothes. Please?” Then put on my most pitiful face.

Lisa looked at me and smiled. Then Sam pulled out his wallet and threw a $50 bill onto the table in front of me, saying...

“Get a part-time job.”

I smiled and picked up the money just in time, because the waitress walked up asking for our orders.

Lisa ordered an omelet and I asked for scrambled eggs, toast and a glass of milk.

Sam finished writing on the napkins and tossed one in front of each of us. He put another one that he put in his shirt pocket. I looked at my napkin and read...

W Spence
6420 E. Walnut
11:46 am

I said...

“Hey, isn’t Walnut Street way across town? How am I supposed to get there?”

“Take the bus!” Sam said.

“Am I supposed to come back today?”

“Yes, come back when you’re done. Don’t screw it up!”

I wanted to tell him to fuck off, but I don’t know what I’m doing, and I don’t want to make him mad. I just looked at him, folded up my napkin and put it in my pocket.

After we finished breakfast, I wanted to go shopping, and stop by Burger Palace. I needed my old job back if I wanted to survive being dead.

I bought some toiletries, new panties, and another pair of pants and top. Then I stopped off at Lisa’s to change before catching the bus.

I caught the eastbound bus and rode it across town. I hopped off the bus and walked over to Walnut Street. When I got to 6420, it was a grocery store. Fuck, how the hell am I going to find this person in here. I had 7 minutes, so I walked along the registers where there were a few customers checking out. You’d think it would easy, but I can’t ask every customer their name. When I got to the far end by the customer service desk, I saw what I needed. Above the bulletin board were pictures and names of employees of the month, and the last June was William Spence. He’s somewhere in this store right now, and I need to find him. The picture showed a nerdy looking middle-aged guy wearing glasses.

I walked across the front of the store looking down the isles. I was getting nervous towards the end, but walking past produce, there he was. He was spraying down the vegetables with a fine mist. I looked at my watch and still had a few minutes, so I found a place to stand and watch.

I felt like a stalker, but damn, what 16 year old girl would stalk a nerd twice my age! He reminded me of my 8th grade math teacher, minus a pocket protector. As the time ticked down, I grabbed a nearby cart, and started walking down the isle. I picked up a few things as I got closer. He looked at me and we locked eyes briefly. I walked behind him, and as I pass, I gently rubbed my hand across his back.

I kept walking but instantly felt it, the adrenaline rush, then lightheaded. A few steps away from him, I looked back and saw him watching. I tried to hide the shock I felt, but I couldn’t stop what I heard come out of my mouth, as I whispered...

“There’s no fucking way that’ll happen!”

He looked at me strangely and said...

“Excuse me?”

I panicked and pushed the cart around the end of the isle and up the other side. I headed straight for the door, leaving the cart blocking the isle as I walked out. I never slowed down and walked head down across the small parking lot. That’s when I ran smack into someone, rolled around them to continue, I felt my arm being grabbed. I looked up and saw Sam, and pulled my arm away. Then he said...

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I looked at him and said...

“I can’t do this!”

“Yes you can, it’s not optional.”

“But you don’t know what he...” Sam spoke up, stopping me, and said...

“No I don’t know, and I don’t need to know. But what I do know is that’s your wish in there, and you’re going to march you ass back in there and grant it.”

“But...”

“No buts!”

“You don’t understand.” I said.

“I do understand, but the alternative is worse Melinda. So much worse that you’d beg to come back to this. But then it’s too late. Believe me, this is better.”

I stood there, frustrated and pissed off. I didn’t say anything, only looking toward the store. My eyes teared, and I felt defeated. Then, after a moment, Sam softly said...