“Hey, George!” shouted a boy from behind him.
George froze in place, why today and why now, he thought quietly turning to the boy.
“Wh-what do you want Norman?” he asked with a quiver in his voice.
Norman gave him a smug look as two others approached his side, “Well for starters where were you yesterday? My papers not writing itself you know!”
“My mother was sick, I had to stay home and help her.”
“Oh, what a nice thing to do, not as nice as say… writing my paper, also these two need help with math, and by help I mean need it done.”
George looked at shoes slightly shaking his head, “Why?”
“Pardon me Georgie, I didn’t quite catch that. Maybe you should speak up a bit, because maybe we’d be able to HEAR YOU!”
“Why are you people such jerks, I’ve done nothing, no one here has done anything so why do you have be such jerks!”
The three boys looked at him, Norman then looked at the other two and gave a nod. Quickly they rushed George and held him in place by his arms.
“Let me put it this way. The world has a hierarchy, one in which the more powerful rein over, and garbage like you serve. Now perhaps I’ve been too light on you and you need a reminder of your place!” Norman stated fully looking at him.
The boy then proceeded with his attack, throwing punch after punch. George was helpless to do anything to stop him with the other two holding him back. The assault of blows continued for a good minute or two, until finally he was released. George was bruised and in pain as he landed on the ground clutching his stomach.
“Now, paper and math, done by tomorrow or I won’t pull my punches next time, understood!”
George nodded and the three left, one of them giving him a swift kick on his way. Once they had left he was able to stand, no one was here, so he walked over to a nearby tree to rest and let himself cry.
He did so uninterrupted for a while until his eyes were too dry to do so. At that point, he simply remained in the corner hugging his legs, thinking about what he should do next.
“Say, what’s the matter with you kid?” A raspy voice spoke.
The boy became alert looking around him for its source, “Who’s there?”
“Oh, right you can’t see me. Hang on a second.” Quickly a figure fell down from above landing in a handstand. He then sprung up from the ground doing a flip and landing on his feet turning back to the boy with a confident grin.
George was stunned, never had he seen such a thing before and he had sworn he had looked up in the tree to see if anyone was resting in it. At this moment he was speechless.
“I am Mevis the magnificent, grand bearer of the art known as magic. Let me just say in the state you’re in you look like you need some.”
The boy relaxed his leg and wiped his face with his hands, “I don’t know, I mean is there really such a force like that? In fairy tales but not in real life, I don’t believe you.”
The man sighed and pulled out a flute from thin air, then removed his hat, tapped it twice and out flew a gold coin which zipped in to the hand of the boy. “There’s a thing called magic, we’re just subtle about it.”
From distrust to disbelief, George was astounded at what he had just seen, it was impossible yet there it was clear as can be. “That’s amazing, I’ve never seen such a thing.”
“I reckon you haven't, now on to my services. Usually one would need currency to hire someone like me, but I’m pretty well off,” he began turning over his hat, which released a ton of gold and gems. “I’m not one for charity or pity but I do know how to turn someone’s day back around. So what I offer is the most interesting of things, today I will play your genie, instead of three wishes though I give you one, but it will be as powerful as they come. Now what do you say kid, want to try a little magic?” Mevis asked with a pleasant look.
“Yes, oh please yes!”
“Excellent, now what will it be?”
George was about to say something, then recalled that he only had one wish. He had so many things he wanted to wish yet only one was given, oh what to wish for indeed.
“Can I wish for more wishes?”
“Alright, I grant you one more wish.” The magician responded smiling at the boys hope.
George chuckled a bit, and then continued thinking about what he wanted most right now, so many things, too many things.
“Okay, let me narrow you’re playing field, money won’t be valuable to you yet because you’re still in school and I wouldn’t advise you on wishing for material things because they are easily ridded of. That help?”
The boy nodded, what did he want… what did he want? Fewer options yet still a big decision to make.
“Still having trouble, okay why are you crying beneath this tree.”
“I was bullied.” He quietly responded.
“A bit more than that, from the looks of it they roughed you up pretty bad, why?”
“They did it, because I’m weak and their strong… I wish I was stronger, more powerful!”
“Hold it now, that wouldn’t solve anything. If anything you’ll end up just like like those boys. Now I don’t think that’s who you’d like to be, correct?”
“I know what it’s like though so I wouldn’t do such a thing.”
“Children with power can adopt new traits, especially at your age. They become very flexible. A broken boy with power is no better than those types of kids, understood.”
“Fine, why say I can wish for whatever when you limit my options?”
“This is a onetime deal, and I’m trying to ensure that you make the right choice.”
“Well regardless of options or choices something has to be done with them, I want them to be taught a lesson, and never harass me or anyone else… I wish that they were taught a lesson, I want them never to do what they do to people like me ever again.”
“You sure about that to, it’s jus-“
“I’m sure, now do it, please!”
Mevis smiled, “Alright, alright here we go.” He took his flute in hand and played a powerful tune. One which ceased the wind and blocked the sun for a moment, one that sent a shiver down you even when warm, once the final note was struck the world was set back right, only quieter. “I hope you’ve made the right choice… the spell will take effect tomorrow, meet me back here and I’ll explain what’s been done.”
“Alright,” He said standing up, “thanks for everything Mevis. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The magician nodded and began returning his collection of cash to his hat while the boy smiled and returned home. He slept well that night with a sense that his tormenting would cease once and for all.
The following day seemed the same, he got up ate breakfast and went to school. There were no signs of Norman or the other two boys that day. It wasn’t until the end of the day that it became apparent what had occurred.
Their teacher stood at the center of the room, “I am sorry to be the one informing you but Norman, Todd and Kevin will no longer be attending classes here. I am not sure why as I was not informed of the reasoning. Now please enjoy the rest of your day.”
With that the class was dismissed, they remained silent until out of the teachers ear range then burst into cheers. Everyone so happy except George who was utterly confused, regardless he knew what he had to do.
He headed out towards the tree and Mevis was there, his face hidden by a mask, his skin much darker, colored differently too.
“What happened to them?” George asked.
“They’re gone, problem solved.” He responded, his voice deeper almost demon like.
“How what did you do?”
The figure approached George, he stepped back a bit nervous. Mevis then proceeded to remove his hat and show the boy the inside.
“Hey, can anyone hear me? Come on, somebody answer me damn it!” shouted
Norman’s voice from inside Mevis’ hat. Mevis placed it back on his head.
“They’re in a special place, never bother another living soul. Now I owe you my thanks.”
“W-Why?”
Mevis removed his mask revealing his demonic features,, sharper teeth and blood red eyes. “Without you I would never have reached my true power. For that I shall spare you.”
“I didn’t wish for this, I said I wanted them to be taught a lesson, not wisped away to some other dimension!”
“All you said was teach them a lesson and now it’s been done, so run along before I get angry.”
“But I-“
“BUT NOTHING, LEAVE OR INTO THE HAT YOU GO!” Mevis screamed.
George stepped back and then ran away, he was ashamed and guilt ridden of what he had done. Though free from physical torment, the burden would always be with him, even after he died it would follow him.
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