The boy and the three wishes...

A young bedouin boy was traveling through the desert on a hot, languid day. Running low on supplies and strength, the boy came upon the Kha'zeel and spotted a craggy overhang jutting out under which he decided to take shelter for the night. As he began setting up a small camp to rest, he felt a hard metallic surface resting just underneath the sand. As the boy sifted through the sand with his fingers, he discovered a dully colored and sand-caked lamp. He brushed the sand aside to inspect the object further, and as he did - the lamp grew warmer and warmer. A light gray smoke puffed out of the lamp and with time grew darker and thicker. Surprised, the boy dropped the lamp and began scooting his body away, not sure what to think of this most unusual object.

The boy wheezed as the smoke had grown so thick as to make breathing uncomfortable. As he choked on the fumes, a flash and a loud bang erupted, temporarily blinding the boy as well. He then rubbed his eyes and squinted through the smoky fumes. Before him floated a djinn who greeted him with a firm, deep voice.

The boy and the three wishes

The djinn thanked him for freeing him and offered the boy three wishes in gratitude for rousing him from slumber inside the lamp.

It bears noting that the boy had spent his life amongst the bedouin, migrating around the sands on the periphery of society. He quickly recalled the grandiose silhouette of Ankrahmun, in particular its tallest spire which he had seen sparkling many times from within the city. It was then that the boy knew his first wish - he wished that the tallest, grandest building in Ankrahmun be his so at night he could look down and see all the glittering city - including all of the riches and wealth therein.

The djinn laughed, snapped his fingers, and said "and so it shall be done... travel to Ankrahmun in tomorrow after the sun rises and the tallest building there shall be yours, along with all of the riches inside. Now... what will your second wish be?"

The boy was a bit puzzled, frustrated as well, that he would not lay eyes on the reward of his wish until the following day, but was nonetheless excited beyond all limit. He paused a moment in thought before informing the djinn of his next wish - - true wisdom, so that he might better understand his place in the world. Again, the djinn laughed and snapped his fingers. The djinn manifested two potions, one in each of his outstretched hands. The djinn spoke, "in my left hand is a potion of reflection and in my right of humility. Drink the first of these potions tonight before you lay down to rest and the second in the morning when you wake. Your wish will then be complete and you shall be truly wise... So, then, what will be your third wish?"

The boy and the three wishes...

The boy could not hide his disappointment that the reward for both of his wishes would be delayed until the following day. While he had no real choice but to trust the djinn, he did not want to risk his third wish being for naught should the first two wishes fail. He told the djinn that he would reawaken the djinn after arriving in Ankrahmun, once he was the wealthiest and wisest of men. Only then would he know what else might be worth wishing.

The djinn agreed and in a flash of brightly colored smoke returned to the confines of the lamp. The boy sat near his fire, deep in thought, pondering the wonders that were about to befall him. He gazed into the fire and clutched the first of the djinn's two potions, rotating it in his palms as the bright cerulean color within sparkled reflectively as his campfire flickered and sparked. As his fire broke low and reduced to coals, the boy grew tired. He uncorked the vial and quickly glugged the potion down. He felt immediately woozy and his vision wavered for a moment, appearing warped and clouded before returning to focus. The boy paused his breath and looked around his surroundings, attempting to ascertain whether the potion had yet taken effect. He slowly exhaled and breathed deeply again, not sure whether he felt different or not. He warmed himself by the fire in a dazed state before rather quickly dozing off into a restless but undisturbed sleep, his mind full of varying imaginations. 

As the boy then slept, he dreamt of his youth, and the struggles of his impoverished family. He re experienced the yearning feeling he felt for his first crush - a young bedouin migrant girl in his company. He vividly remembered the satisfaction of his first hunt with his father, when he plunged his knife into the neck of a hyaena. He recalled the sick feeling in his stomach he felt when his fellow migrants robbed a traveling caravan and murdered its unassuming members. He dreamt of the hunger he felt many nights, and the similar jealousy he experienced watching his older comrades feast themselves on fruit and bread while sharing none with him.

The boy and the three wishes...

The boy eventually awoke just before sunrise, with tears in his eyes. Reflecting on all of his life experiences, he realized he had learned a great deal and was indeed proud of his family, his history, and his character. A sparkle of the remaining stars faded into the sky as the sun rose. Excitement pulsed through the boys veins as more and more light creeped over the horizon. He nervously clutched the second of the potions, which glistened in a pearly hue. The boy uncorked this vial as well and drank it as fast as he could - briefly choking on the mixture, discovering it was much thicker and bitter tasting than the first.

The boy stood up and clumsily collected his belongings before heading toward Ankrahmun with a brisker pace than he had ever before ventured the sand. As the boy approached the city, the tower he had wished for pierced the horizon! He could see its magnificent outline sparkling, just as he remembered. His pace quickened as he dreamed of the life he might live from within such a luxurious place.

Upon his arrival, he passed through the city gates, running as fast as he could. Never before did he have the courage to even enter Ankrahmun, given his nomadic background, but he cast aside all reservations in pursuit of the great honor and wealth he expected. As he finally came upon the base of the structure, there was no one in sight. He began ascending the structure, climbing higher and higher without encountering a single soul. Finally at the summit of the spire, the boy found a man.

The boy and the three wishes...

The boy asked excitedly, "Is this great building mine?" The man replied with gentle kindness in his voice, unphased by the boy's enthusiasm, "Of course young one! Everyone is welcome, this building belongs to everyone in Ankrahmun, it was erected for us all!"

The boy cried out in despair, and could not help but weep, realizing his err. As his tears fell, he thought more and more about his choice and the predicament he found himself in. Not having reflected in such a way before, the boy began to realize the wisdom he had gained, albeit through true humility. While the boy before lusted after riches, he was now ready to issue his final wish. He removed the djinn’s lamp from his garments and quickly rubbed its external surface, so as to summon the djinn's presence. As smoke begin to puff from the lamp the boy grasped and extended it into the air. As the djinn floated before him, the boy declined to complain or reprimand the djinn, but instead wished for the djinn to be released from the binds of the lamp, his fathomless prison.

The djinn, in shock, thanked the boy and bowed toward him. Before any further words were shared, the djinn vanished in swirl of smoke.