Light The Way

Was a rookie genie with sat nav trouble really the one to solve her problems.

- Margaret Mounsdon

The lamp was rather ornate. Katrina picked it up. It might look all right on the coffee table. She peered underneath it, rubbing away years of grime to see if she had stumbled on the bargain of the century – not very likely in a muddy football field, but a girl could always hope.

“Your wish is my command.” Katrina almost dropped the lamp in surprise. Standing in front of her was a genie complete with scarlet turban, ornate feather, shocking green palazzo pants, sparkly waistcoat and curled-up silver slippers. He was bowing, hands respectfully crossed over his chest.

“I am the genie of the lamp,” her apparition explained.

“Er – are you?” Katrina kept her voice low, casting a quick glance over her shoulder as she spoke. The stallholder was looking in her direction.

“Whew.” The genie wiped his brow. “Glad you can see me. It’s my first solo outing. This sort of thing’s a bit tricky until you get the hang of it.”

“Really?” Katrina blinked, not sure what he was talking about.

“Name’s Ahmad, by the way.”

“Katrina Cash,” she responded.

Ahmad bowed again. “And now, bint –” “What did you call me?”

“Bint? Where I come from, it means daughter.”

“Oh – I’m sorry, I thought you were being rather rude.”

“That’s quite all right.” Ahmad accepted her apology with good grace as he looked round. “This does not look like Faisal’s market place.”

“That’s because it’s Market Steeping boot fair.”

Ahmad screwed up his face in anguish. “I knew it. I’ve gone wrong. It was that left turn at the Pyramids that did it. Our supervisor insists we use sat nav because it saves on expenses, but I can’t get the hang of it.”