Read Online Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps by Linda Chapman - Free Book Online

thinking of a moustache, either.”
    â€œMust be natural skill,” said Milly, pleased for him.
    â€œNatural stupidity, more like,” said Skribble disdainfully. “That, my beetle-brained boy, is a default moustache. The lamp chose it for you.” He tutted. “Really, if you wish to pass this step, you will have to display more imagination. A very good deal more!”
    â€œI do want to pass,” said Jason earnestly. “I really do.”
    Skribble sniffed. “Back in the lamp with you.”
    Jason held his nose and closed his eyes—and was sucked up inside the lamp like dust into a vacuum cleaner. Milly set him free and he popped back into reality, looking normal once more.
    â€œNow then,” said Skribble. “You—older boy.”
    â€œMichael,” said Michael indignantly.
    â€œYes, whatever your name is. It is high time you stopped laughing at the others and took a turn yourself.”
    â€œRight. Cool. Whatever.” Michael frowned and bit his lip. “Not a problem.”
    Milly squeezed her brother’s hand supportively. “Hey. It’s okay to be scared,” she said quietly. Then she pinched him and laughed. “Don’t feel dumb and useless just because your little sister did it easy as anything!”
    â€œAnd your stepsister,” Jess teased him. “And your little stepbrother…”
    â€œI’m not little!” said Jason, turning up his nose. “And Michael’s not scared of anything. Are you, Michael?”
    Michael scowled at the girls, and looked at the lamp in Jason’s hands. “Genie me!” he snapped.
    The book shook and Michael felt himself whizzing away like water down a drain. He whooped—it was like the most excellent fairground ride you could ever imagine.Suddenly, everything was dark around him, and Michael could taste the tang of old metal at the back of his throat. “Did it!” he whispered. “Now to show them what a real genie looks like…”
    He concentrated hard, and the next moment heard the squeak of fingertips on metal. Michael felt his whole body fizz like a shaken-up can of soda….
    WHOOOSH! He shot out of the lamp spout so fast he banged his head on the ceiling. “Ow!” he boomed, and landed in a heap on the floor.
    â€œWow, Michael,” said Jason. “You look cool!”
    â€œMore like crazy!” said Milly.
    Michael got up and marveled at his reflection. Just as he’d pictured in his mind, he was wearing a silk ninja-style outfit, the black material bisected by a golden sash. His turban was black too, with a huge glowing ruby in its center. “Hey, check the beard!” he cried. It was enormous and bushy and came down to his diamond-covered slippers.
    â€œYou look totally dumb,” said Jess with some pleasure.
    â€œWhat would you know?” Michael tossed the beard over his shoulder. “I could trap badgers in this.”
    â€œYou could tie it around your waist and use it as a belt!” said Jason, trying to join in. Michael ignored him.
    â€œIs it a real beard?” Milly wondered, and yanked on it hard.
    â€œOw!” Michael yelped. “Yes, it is!”
    Milly grinned. “My turn now!”
    Michael imagined himself back into the lamp and Jason set him free.
    â€œNow then, Milly,” said Skribble, a slightly softer edge to his voice. “Into the lamp you go. But don’t forget to really use your imagination.”
    Jason passed Milly the lamp. “Knock on the inside when you’re ready to come out.”
    Milly nodded and slipped both hands around it, tracing its swirling, tarnished patterns with her fingers. “Genie me!” she whispered.
    And with a now familiar WHOOSH , she was drawn inside.
    Finding herself inside the lamp, Milly thought hard. What did she want to look like? Blue trousers, she decided, a glittering peacock blue. She imagined herself wearing those with a