The First Wish

[PhineasQP]

The impatient Genie glared. "Gimme a minute," said Roger, who was genre savvy enough to know that wishes often backfired.

Irresistible to women? He'd seen that go wrong in the stories.
Eternal life? He'd be alive when the sun burned out. And beyond.
Unbelievable wealth? Tempting, but even Roger knew that money doesn't buy happiness.

Happiness.

"Aha! I wish… to be always happy!"

"Easy enough" said the Genie, and he conked Roger on the melon with his bottle.

Roger now sits drooling in his chair at the Shady Acres rest home, blissfully unaware that he's got two more wishes coming.

[strawman]

Very nicely paced, with satisfying resolution.

[gunsofchekhovia]

You'd think we would have learned that all genies are sadistic and untrustworthy by now. I mean, really, power to completely ruin your life and absolutely no conceivable reason not to do so?

Very nice.

[Algernon Sydney is Dead]

he conked Roger on the melon with his bottle.

This kind of magic system always amuses me.

I could swear I've read a variant of this, but can't place it.
Fine drabble.

[strawman]

I could swear I've read a variant of this, but can't place it.

Bugs Bunny as genie w/ Elmer Fudd ring any bells?

[chemistryguy]

Phineas, I like the cut of your jib.

[PhineasQP]

Thanks for the kind words, gang. You kids are nifty.

I could swear I've read a variant of this, but can't place it.

Whenever I write something I like, there's always a nagging thought: If I thunk of it, someone else probably already has, too.