The Girl and the Genie by E. M. Lilly Page B

this request.”
    “I’d be happy to take him,” she said. “I grew quite attached to him myself in the short time I was with him.”
    The smile Jack was trying to force weakened even more. Emily felt a heaviness welling up in her chest as she understood how much this was going to affect Jack since Winston was really the only companionship he had.
    “Don’t feel sad for me, Miss Mignon, please,” he said, his smile nearly breaking her heart. “I’ve had so many dogs and other animals over the centuries, only to lose them to death. That won’t be the case this time. In a way, it is a joyful feeling knowing how happy he’ll be with you.”
    Emily nodded and fought hard to keep from tearing up. “You can visit him whenever you want,” she said.
    “I can’t,” he said. “I need to be summoned by you.”
    “Then I’ll summon you often. Every day. I promise,” she said.
    “You don’t need to make any promises to me,” he said, somewhat stiffly. “I am in your service, after all.”
    Emily made a face at that. “I’ll be summoning you every day. You can count on it.”
    “Very well, Miss Mignon, that is your prerogative.”
    There was a flash of smoke, and Winston lay on the floor before Emily. He appeared to be moping and his expression was one of misery, but as he sniffed and then looked up at Emily, that changed as he let out an excited yelp and pushed himself quickly to his feet. He nearly tripped as he raced over to Emily. Jack watched this solemnly before asking Emily to take good care of him.
    “He’s a good soul,” the genie said, and then he once more disappeared in a burst of blue smoke.
    Emily kept her word. It turned out Mr. Pish had a soft spot for English Bulldogs, or at least for Winston, so she was allowed to bring him to work with her, and he behaved well enough not to bring any attention to himself. In the evening whenever Emily was alone in the condo she’d summon the genie so that he could spend time with Winston. They wouldn’t say much other than Jack asking whether she was ready to make another wish or how she was finding her new home, but that was okay as she was increasingly finding herself more comfortable with him, and actually enjoying having him around. She would spend her evenings in the den reading manuscripts for work while Winston would either lay contentedly by her feet, or jump on Jack as he hovered in the air as if he were reclining on a sofa. Jack seemed particularly fond of the den, often browsing Professor Anderson’s extensive book collection, and occasionally commenting on the antique artifacts scattered around the room.
    Four days after Emily had moved into the condo, she met Sally for lunch and she immediately knew something was wrong from how tense Sally seemed and the brittle smile that threatened to crumble apart any second. The two of them made uncomfortable small talk until a waitress came over to take their order. Once the waitress left, Sally asked Emily why Winston had acted the way he had. Emily forced a confused look and pretended she didn’t know what her friend was asking her.
    “You know,” Sally said. She lowered her voice so other diners nearby wouldn’t be able to hear her. “The way he got so upset when he passed by my room.” Her eyes shifted momentarily away from Emily’s, and then added, “Winston was growling at Mitch, wasn’t he?”
    Emily nodded, almost imperceptibly.
    “Mitch was the rodent you referred to,” Sally said with a tired laugh. “I thought so at the time you said that. Em, what did Mitch do? Did he hurt your dog? Did he throw something at him or kick him?”
    “No, nothing like that.” It was Emily’s turn to look away as she stared down at her hands which were resting on the table and folded in front of her. “He acted like a jerk, that’s all. Winston was sensitive enough to pick up on it, and I guess he didn’t appreciate it.”
    “How did he act like a jerk?”
    Emily looked up and met her friend’s