LITMIR.BIZ

      ‘Look out!’ Arthur shouted. ‘Double yipes!’

      The black cloud swirled within itself, and its blackness became a mixture of brown and blue. A moment more, and it began to lose its cloud shape; arms appeared, and legs, and a head.

      ‘Ready or not, here I come!’ said a clear young voice.

      And then the cloud was completely gone, and a slender, cheerful-looking body hovered in the air above the desk. He wore a sort of decorated towel on his head, a loose blue shirt, and curious, flapping brown trousers, one leg of which had snagged on the pot’s spout.

      ‘Florts!’ said the boy, shaking his leg. ‘Collibots! I got the puffs right, and the scary cloud, but – There!’ Unsnagged, he floated down to the floor and bowed to Stanley and Arthur.

      ‘Who rubbed?’ he asked

      Neither of the brothers could speak.

      ‘Well, someone did. Genies don’t just drop in, you know.’ The boy bowed again. ‘How do you do? I am Prince Fawzi Mustafa Aslan Mirza Melek Namerd Haraz. Call me Prince Haraz.’

      Arthur gasped and dived under his bed.

      ‘What’s the matter with him?’ the genie asked. ‘And who are you, and where am I?’

      ‘I’m Stanley Lambchop, and this is the United States of America,’ Stanley said. ‘That’s my brother Arthur under the bed.’

      ‘Not a very friendly welcome,’ said Prince Haraz. ‘Especially for someone who’s been cooped up in a lamp.’ Frowning, he rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Florts! One thousand years, with my knees right up against my chin. This is my first time out.’

      ‘I must have gone crazy,’ said Arthur from under the bed. ‘I am just going to lie here until a doctor comes.’

      ‘Actually, Prince Haraz, you’re here sort of by accident,’ Stanley said. ‘I didn’t even know that pot was a lamp. Was it the rubbing? Those puffs of smoke, I mean, that turned into you?’

      ‘Were you scared?’ The genie laughed. ‘Just a few puffs, I thought, and then I’ll whoooosh up the spout!’

      ‘Scaring me wasn’t fair,’ said Arthur, staying under the bed. ‘I just live in this room because Stanley’s my brother. It’s his lamp, and he’s the one who rubbed it.’

      ‘Then he’s the one I grant wishes for,’ said Prince Haraz. ‘Too bad for you.’

      ‘I don’t care,’ said Arthur, but he did.

      ‘Can I wish for anything?’ Stanley asked. ‘Anything at all?’

      ‘Not if it’s cruel or evil, or really nasty,’ said Prince Haraz. ‘I’m a lamp genie, you see, and we’re the good kind. Not like those big jar genies. They’re stinkers! Take my advice and stay away from big jars and urns – and if you do see one, don’t rub it.’

      ‘Wish for something, Stanley,’ said Arthur, sounding suspicious. ‘Test him out.’

      ‘Wait,’ Stanley said. ‘I’ll be right back.’

      He went out into the living room, where Mr and Mrs Lambchop were still sitting quietly enjoying themselves.

      ‘Hey!’ he said. ‘Guess what?’

      ‘Hay is for horses, Stanley, not people,’ said Mr Lambchop from behind his newspaper. ‘Try to remember that.’

      ‘Excuse me,’ Stanley said. ‘But you’ll never guess –’