Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 18:46:16 +0100 (BST)
From: Talisman <narration2006@yahoo.ie>
Subject: The Magic Lamp - Part II

This story contains realatively mild descriptions of gay male sex. If this
is offensive or not legal where you live, then don't read it.

THE MAGIC LAMP - PART II

Almost three months passed before I made my first proper wish. I use the
word proper because the morning after Anesh's arrival, and after our first
night of passion, I made the mistake of wishing I didn't have to go to
work. If was just a figure of speech but Anesh warned me to be careful and
to think before I spoke. He told me that once I made my first wish, the
magic would be activated and any wish thereafter, no matter how trivial,
would be considered as a second or a third wish.

The day I made my wish, I was watching TV, sprawled out on the sofa with my
head resting against Anesh's naked torso. His muscular arms were wrapped
around my chest and his legs intertwined with mine. I was happy and content
but I ached all over. Three months hadn't diminished our enthusiasm and we
weren't always gentle. Sometimes we went at it with an energy and passion
that boarded on violence. I was sore but I wasn't complaining, it was the
best-damned sex I'd ever had. I was practically purring like a cat.

The first couple of weeks had been difficult if not comical. Introducing
Anesh to my friends had been daunting and hilarious in equal measure. I had
to lie and tell them I met him through work but they weren't
convinced. Anesh was a total innocent, almost childlike and it made him a
reluctant and an inefficient liar but he played along for my sake. I'd
briefed him before meeting them, telling him to play the strong, silent
type, to be vague and mysterious about his origins. It was probably a
mistake because it only increased their curiosity and I'd to intervene and
shield a lot of questions. Luckily Anesh was a fast learner and quickly
adopted the subtle nuances of speech and social interactions, becoming
quite proficient with bending the truth.

He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and quickly realised the
Internet was an unreliable patchwork of information, full of mistakes,
half-truths, misunderstandings and downright lies. He discovered the local
library and bookshops and would visit almost everyday. He devoured
newspapers, magazines and journals, spent hours flicking through every news
channel and questioned people on the street, in shops and restaurants about
the smallest detail of their lives.

He was insatiable in the bedroom too but like it said, I wasn't
complaining. The first few weeks I couldn't get enough of him but it wasn't
just the sex. I loved spending time with him, waking up next to him and
seeing his bright happy smile. I loved showing him new stuff, explaining
life in the early years of the 21st century. I loved his innocence, his
naivety, his childlike curiosity and wonder about the world. He enthusiasm
was infectious and like osmosis, it began to seep into me, rekindling my
interest in life and knowledge. We'd talk for hours about every subject,
from the trivial to the profound before falling into bed for a night of
passion. I'd never felt so exhausted yet I'd jump out of bed each morning
with buoyancy and optimism, the promise of a new day stretching out before
me.

I'd go to work and go through the motions, all the time counting the hours
till I could go home again. He'd be in the hall waiting, waiting with a
broad smile and sometimes nothing else. I'd barely time to close the door
then he'd pounce and we'd go at it with an impatient ardour, too lazy or
too damn horny to make it to the bedroom. Those times were fast and
furious. I'd enter his already slicked up ass with a hungry urgency and
we'd rut like wild dogs. Other times it was sweet and gentle. We'd go to
the bedroom and take our time.

I knew it couldn't last so I was careful and tried not to get to close, too
emotionally involved. But these things have a life of their own and it's
not easy to control your feelings. So it wasn't long before I fell in love
with him. It's probably why I made the stupid wish. Part of it was tied up
with the idea of regret but a big part was to get away and find some time
to think.

This idea of regret had never really gone away, it had lingered like a
feted odour and kept me thinking about the past. So as I lay on the sofa
that day, flicking through the channels, I stopped when I came to an old
black and white film. It was H. G. Wells, 'The Time Machine.' It caught my
attention and got me thinking again. Anesh wriggled out from under me and
headed to the bedroom but I was riveted to the TV and watched the movie
till it finished. The following morning we were sitting at the kitchen
table reading the papers when I looked at him.

"Anesh, I have a wish, my first wish."

"Good, about time," he replied, lowering the paper with a smile. "Tell me
your wish Philip and I will obey."

"I want to go back in time...I want to be seventeen again."

"But why Philip, why would you want to be a teenager? Wasn't it a difficult
period in your life?"

"Yes, that's why I want to go back and live it as it should have been lived
but I want to retain my memories of the present."

"No master, no, no, please Philip, choose another wish, you cannot toy with
fate, it is too dangerous; you may irretrievably alter the present
timeline. You could possibly change, not just your own life, but the lives
of many others. And it will involve complex modifications at a molecular
level, an extreme and hazardous change to your DNA. Choose a different wish
Master, the risks are too great."

"But is it possible Anesh?"

"Yes it is possible but it worth the risk?"

"Yes, it's what I want, it's my wish, you said you'd comply."

"Very well, as you command Master."

He dropped the paper on the floor, closed his eyes and placed his hands,
palms down on the table. At first nothing happened, I could hear his
shallow breathing, the clock ticking on the wall and the distant sound of
children's laugher outside on the street. Then the table began to vibrate,
it was weak at first but it soon began to grow stronger. There was a soft
humming noise in the air like an electrical charge and a faint odour like
burning rubber. The small hairs on my arms stood up and my scalp began to
tingle. I watched as plates, cups, spoons and newspapers shook their way
across the table to fall with a smash on the floor. There was a loud boom
and the whole room shuddered then trembled. The shaking became extreme;
soon it was like a mini earthquake. Cupboard doors flew open and discharged
their contents, cereal boxes and rice, jars and tinned goods toppling to
the ground with a crash. The window shattered, the glass fragmenting and
falling into the sink. The floor cracked down the middle to admit a bright
green light. Then it buckled and split in two, the fracture widening, tiles
smashing and crumbling as more light spilled to flood the room. Suddenly
the floor disappeared in a flash of brilliance and I fell through the
opening. I closed my eyes to shield them from the glare as I continued to
fall down and down and down into what seemed like a bright bottomless
pit. There was a swishing sound, a long drawn out buzzing noise and then
another sound, almost ear shattering in its intensity. It took me awhile to
realise it was me. I was screaming and yelling as I fell. It suddenly
stopped with a jolt; I could feel a hard coldness beneath me but was afraid
to move or to open my eyes.

"Mr. Hamilton! If you're quite finished entertaining the class with your
silly antics perhaps you'd like to return to your seat."

My eyes flew open and I looked up in confusion. I was on a cold marble
floor and seemed to be under a wooden table. I could see the round knots in
the timber, and it appeared to be covered with dirty wads of chewing gum,
it all looked vaguely familiar. I sat up bewildered and there was group
laugher as I got to my feet. I thought it was a dream because I was back in
class and Miss Pringle, my old English teacher, was looking at me in
exasperation.

"Will you please take your seat Mr. Hamilton or I will send you to
Mr. Connor's office."

I quickly sat down; I was too damn stunned to reply. I just nodded my head
in total bafflement. Matthew Douglas turned around from the desk in front;
he was staring at me as I took my seat. I stared back in amazement, I
hadn't seen him in ten years and had forgotten all about him. I looked
around at the many faces of my old classmates. Most were sixteen or
seventeen but they looked so damn young. Paul Richardson winked and gave me
the thumbs up. I saw Patrick Dolan, Greg Byron, Rajesh Singe, the Harper
twins, Anthony and Martin. Then someone tapped my shoulder and I turned
round to the smiling face of Anesh Navaratnum. My heart began to pound in
my chest; he was my best friend and first crush. I wanted to tell him how
he fuelled my adolescent fantasies and I'd spilled a lot of semen in his
honour. His smiled widened and he leaned in to whisper.

"Hey Lip, why'd yeh jump outta yeh seat like that? You tryin' to get
expelled or somethin'?"

I just shook my head and smiled. He never called me Philip, always Lip.

"You okay man, yeh hit your head or somethin'? Yeh look kinda spooked'."

"No, I'm fine Tumbee," I replied with a grin. I smiled because the name
came naturally to my lips, like I'd been using it everyday. It was another
thing I'd kinda forgot. I'd always called him Tumbee. I'm not sure if it's
the correct spelling or pronunciation but Tumbee is the Tamil word for
little brother. He continued to smile and then the bell rang. Everyone
stood up and shuffled to the door and out into the corridor. The hall was a
mass of students; I recognised many of the faces but not all of the
names. Several guys ribbed me for falling out of my seat and I smiled
good-naturedly as I made my way to the toilets. I thought my head would
explode and I needed to get away, get a grip and make some sense of what
just happened.

I pushed my way through, headed to the sinks and splashed water on my
face. I looked up and it was a like a punch to the solar plexus; it
completely knocked the wind out of me. I touched my face as I stared at my
reflection in the mirror. I couldn't comprehend what I was seeing. It may
sound conceited but I never realised just how damn handsome I was at
seventeen. I remember people telling me I was good-looking. I always
laughed it off because I never really believed it. But looking through
adult eyes gave me a little distance, a kind of objectivity that I didn't
have as a teenager. I could now see what everyone else could see and I
gotta tell you, I liked it. My olive skin was smooth and flawless with a
light dusting of soft hairs above my lip. My black hair was spiked with gel
and my brown eyes seemed to sparkle, the whites bright and clear. My red
lips looked full and sensual and my body tall and sleek.

There were a few wise-ass remarks as I stared at myself in the mirror but I
ignored them, I was too preoccupied with my looks. And it's funny because I
was never a vain guy; I was always indifferent when I came to my
appearance. Growing up in a hard-nosed, conservative family can do that to
a guy. But that day, I couldn't stop staring at myself in the damn
mirror. I stood back and grinned, there was something I had to check.

I turned, went into an empty cubicle and locked the door. I unbuckled my
jeans and pushed them down, my cotton briefs quickly followed and I
suppressed a giggle as I took hold of my penis and stroked my balls. They
were not yet fully developed and the pubic bush seemed smaller, less
dense. I shook my head in wonder as my cock began to swell. I quickly
pulled up my whites and jeans and made my way outside. I washed my hands
and stepped out into the hall. Anesh was leaning against the wall opposite
and my heart gave a lurch. He came over and slapped me on the back and we
both grinned like dimwits.

"Hey Lip, you're crazy man, Miss Pringle will have your ass for sure. Are
yeh goin' to the canteen? I have stuffed vegetable Parathas with lots of
chillies today, my mom made extra for you."

"Oh my God, your mom still makes those, I haven't had Parathas for years."

"What yeh talkin' about Lip? We had 'em on Monday."

"Oh yeh...yeh, I forgot. What day is it?"

"It's Friday! Are you okay Lip? You're actin' very strange, you sure you
didn't hit your head when you fell."

"I'm fine, I'm fine, let's go outside to eat, I'm not up to a room full of
noisy kids...er...I mean noisy students today."

We headed outside into warm spring sunshine. I kept glancing sideways at
Anesh, it was like a dream. I was happy and kinda sad at the same time. I
was happy to see him but sad that I hadn't stayed in touch when we'd left
school. I'd heard about him through the grapevine. I knew he'd gone to
medical school, qualified as a surgeon and specialised in head trauma. He'd
emigrated to the USA and the last I heard he was living with a guy in
California.

I'd met Anesh when we'd both began secondary school at thirteen. We just
seemed to hit it off and get on well. I fell in love with him a couple of
years later, shortly after puberty kicked in. I loved him but was too damn
closeted to express my feelings. But I guess he was closeted too. I
remember there were times in my bedroom when he'd give me a lingering look
or a prolonged touch when he shook my hand. It always left me feeling
confused and scared. At the time I didn't know he was gay but it probably
wouldn't have made a difference because I was too shy and too damn closeted
to do anything about it.

But everything was different now; I was a grown-up back inside my
seventeen-year-old body. I wasn't sure how things would pan out but I was
determined not too repeat the mistakes of the past. I was given a second
chance and I wasn't gonna waste it. In some dark recess of my baffled
brain, I knew I was altering the course of our lives and there were risks
but I didn't care. All those old feeling had come flooding to the surface
and I was so damn happy to see my friend again, nothing else mattered.

We sat on the wall near the bike sheds and ate the Parathas; they were as
delicious as I remembered and they filled me with a sense of nostalgia. I
glanced covertly at my friend as he gazed out towards the buildings across
the street. I admired his exquisite, good looks. The smoothness of his
cinnamon toned skin, his bright hazel eyes, his jet-black hair and the way
it flopped forward over his forehead. I loved the way his jaws moved as he
chewed his food and his long darkish fingers clutching the napkin as he
wiped his full red lips. He turned, caught me looking and gave me a funny
look.

"What?" he said, twisting his body towards mine until our knees almost
touched.

"Nothing," I replied, and continued to smile.

"What! Have I got food on my face or somethin'?" he said, dabbing his lips
with the napkin.

"No, you're fine."

"What yeh starin' at me for then?"

"Nothing, just looking."

"What's up with you today Lip."

"What! Can't I look at my best friend?"

"Yeh, but it's the way you're lookin',"

"What way?"

"I don't know but it's weird and it's freakin' me out so stop it."

"I'm sitting in the sun eating delicious food with my best friend and I'm
happy, what's so weird about that?"

"Now you're really freakin' me out. Yeh been at the wacky-backy or
somethin'?"

I laughed and punched his upper arm. He grinned and then began to laugh
along with me.

"Hey Tumbee, what classes we got after lunch?" I asked, taking a last bite
of the Paratha.

"Double maths like always and then an early finish. Why?"

"Let's skip it and go somewhere instead, " I said, wiping my mouth with my
hand.

"You serious?" What about Maths?"

"Yeh Einstein, like missing a couple of maths classes will make a
difference to the smartest guy in school. C'mon Tumbee, its a lovely day
and I wanna spend the afternoon with you. We can take a tube to Hyde Park."

"Okay, but if my dad finds out he'll kill me."

"He won't, c'mon, grab your stuff and let's go."

"Hey Lip, do you have cash on you, I've only a five and some change." He
said, getting to his feet.

"Shit, okay, we can stop at my place on the way to the station and I'll
pick up some money."

We took the ten-minute walk to my house and I was feeling a tad
apprehensive as we drew nearer. We went round the back and into the
kitchen. My mom was baking apple pie and she smiled as we entered. She
looked the same, if a little less grey and a little more agile on her
feet. I felt a lump forming in my throat and had to swallow and take a
breath.

"Hello Philip, hello Anesh, what are you boys up to?" She said, slamming
the oven door.

"Not much, just dropped in to pick up a book." I replied, kissing her on
the cheek.

She stood back in surprise, looking a little flustered. "Okay but be quiet
dear, your father's taking a nap. Anesh, how is your mother?"

I left them talking and quietly took the stairs to my bedroom. It was
totally surreal to stand in my old room and look at the bed, the desk, the
bookshelves and the few meagre posters I was allowed to put on the
walls. It was all exactly as I remembered it. I went to the built-in
wardrobe and opened the door, pushed some clothes aside and lifted a
section of the floorboards. I smiled at the porn stash, it was mostly
straight stuff but it had been all I could get my hands on at the time. I
moved them aside and pulled out the small tin, it rattled as I pulled off
the lid. There were several notes and a lot of loose change. I pocketed the
notes and put everything back before heading downstairs. My mom gave us a
slice of pie and we ate it as we strolled to the train station. I was
feeling kinda strange, like my brain was floating in heavy syrup or
something. But I was buzzing; I was happy, happy to be with Anesh again.

It was almost 01.30 when we got to the park. It was only late April but it
was hot and sunny and the place was thronged with people. There were
mothers strolling with their kids, old folk sitting on benches and office
workers sprawled on the grass. We found a clear space and lay on our
jackets to soak up the sun. We chatted about silly stuff, just shooting the
breeze. Anesh talked of his future, his hopes for med. School. I told him
not to worry; he'd be a great surgeon one-day. I had to be careful with my
speech because several times he looked at me and asked if I was okay. He
reckoned I was acting strange, even the way I spoke was different.

We sat in the park for a couple of hours, only leaving when I turned cooler
at around 4.30pm. We walked up to Buckingham Palace and had a brief look
round before heading back to Piccadilly and on to Leister Square. We took a
tube train to Anesh's house. The smell of spices and incense was familiar
and reassuring. It made me feel all warm and cosy inside. Mrs. Navaratnum
was from India, she was Christian but her husband was a Sri Lankan Tamil.

The one thing you always got at Anesh's house was food and Mrs. Navaratnum
insisted we eat. She was a fantastic cook and I tucked into various
vegetable dishes and ate them with thin, pancake like breads called
roti. We were almost finished when Mr. Navaratnum came in from work. He sat
down to eat and we talked about school and exams, two of his favourite
topics. I could see he was looking at me strangely and it took my awhile to
figure out why. At seventeen I was a bit of a wallflower, I'd always been a
little shy with adults. Now I was confident and articulate, giving free
rein to my opinions and ideas, disagreeing with Anesh's dad on the current
state of education. I guess I should have modified my behaviour but I
completely forgot. Several times I was on shaky ground when I mentioned
educational websites and interactive DVDs. Later, when we went to Anesh's
bedroom, he questioned me on my indiscretions and obvious transformation.

"What the hell is wrong with you Lip, arguing with my dad like that?" he
hissed with an angry sneer.

"C'mon Tumbee, I wasn't arguing, it was a discussion," I replied, smiling
and stroking his hair, trying to lighten the mood. He slapped my hand away.

"...You've never spoken to him like that before, you barely say two words
and now you're Mr. Fucking-know-it-all. What the hell's wrong with you."

"Hey! C'mon, why are you getting angry, you're dad was cool..."

"...I'm angry because something's not right, something's up and you're not
telling me."

"Nothing's up, everything's cool. You're my best friend, I'd tell you if
anything was wrong."

"And what's with the best friend crap, you've never said that before, and
the touching, what's up with that?"

"Touching?"

"Yeh, taking my hand on the train and in the park. Touching my face and my
hair, you keep doing it and it's fucking weird man."

"I...I didn't realise I was doing it...er...I guess...you know, it was
unconscious or something...just showing affection, I didn't mean..."

"Well you never showed affection before, it's uncomfortable, I'm not a
fucking queer..."

"...Christ Anesh! No one said you were, where the hell did that come from?"

"Look, I'm not stupid Lip, I see the way you've been looking at me,
touching me...and your behaviour, even the way you speak, the words you
use...you...you seem different...are you...are you queer?"

"Tumbee, I think the proper term is Gay."

"Whatever, just tell me, are you gay?"

"Yes, I am, I'm gay."

"What! Really?"

"Yes, I'm gay, it's no big deal, don't look so damn shocked."

"It is a big deal, it's...it's dirty, it's shameful...it's not natural..."

"...Oh Christ man! Save the morality speeches, my dad's a vicar, I've heard
it all before.

"You told your dad!"

"No, you're the first person I've told."

"Jesus Lip, I don't know what to say."

"It's okay, you don't have to say anything. And it's not a big deal, I
don't have a problem with it, and it's not dirty or shameful either. It's
the most natural thing in the world, well, it is for me..."

"...But aren't yeh scared Lip?"

"No, why should I be scared?"

"I...I don't know...I just

His eyes kinda bulged and I saw him tremble and the realisation hit me like
a thunderbolt. He was just a kid, a confused, frightened kid struggling to
make sense of the world and to find his place within it. The Anesh from the
lamp had been right; I'd no business messing with the past. He had to deal
with and accept his sexuality at his own pace. I had no right to push
him. I was so wrapped up in my own needs and desires, I hadn't given much
thought to the implications or the effect it would have on him. I loved
Anesh but it was an old love, a well passed its sell-by-date kind of
love. It was wrong to try to recreate the feelings of my youth. I got up
from the bed and approached him. I thought he'd push me away when I hugged
him but he didn't and I'm real glad about that. His arms went around my
torso and he did something I never expected. He began to cry. It made my
heart ache as I hugged him to my chest.

"I'm sorry Tumbee, I'm so sorry" I whispered, guiding him and sitting him
down on the bed. "I shouldn't have told you."

"No, I'm glad you did, I didn't mean to say it's dirty...I don't...I'm
scared." He looked up at me with those big, puppy dog eyes and I thought my
heart was going to burst for sure. I gave a wry smile and touched his face.

"...It's okay, you don't have to explain. Listen Tumbee, I gotta go now but
I want to tell you something before I do. I know I've never said it before
and I've said it a lot today and I'm gonna say it again now. You're the
best friend I ever had Tumbee. Don't be scared okay, great things are gonna
happen for you, you're gonna..."

"...Please Lip, you're scaring me, I don't..."

"...Shhh, it's okay, it's okay, don't be scared. I gotta go now. I love you
man, and I'm sorry...I...I can't explain, look, I have to go."

I stepped towards the door but he jumped up and grabbed me, almost knocking
me of my feet. I regained my footing and we both smacked against the
wall. Our heads came together and I could smell his sweet breath and feel
the warmth of it on my face. His lips were soft yet firm and his tears wet
against my cheek as I pressed my lips to his before pulling away. He gave a
sweet-sad smile and I kissed the tip of his nose and whispered,

"I wish to undo my first wish."

 I'd barely said the words when everything instantly froze. It was as if
someone had pressed the pause button and stopped the world. There was total
silence, a complete stillness like a vast and vacuous void. Anesh was a
mannequin, a shop front dummy. I reached out to touch him but he vanished
and my hand touched air. Cracks began to appear along the walls and ceiling
and quickly made their way across the floor. Green light seeped through the
ruptures and several jolts shook the room in a series of violent
shudders. The walls and floor broke into a sequence of squares that flipped
over to transform the shape of the room. Cupboards burst into existence on
the far wall, a large sink and several electrical appliances sprung up from
the floor behind me. The window transmuted, twisting and elongating to
become higher and longer, the glass fixing itself into place. It began to
look familiar as the bedroom continued its metamorphosis, the
transformations almost complete, the whole room gave a final pulse before
swelling and buckling and settling into place.

I was back in my kitchen. My legs were shaking and I felt so damn tired. I
sat down at the table and the sound of footfalls made me look round. Anesh
of the lamp came into the room. He fell to his knees and gripped my
hand. He had a sorrowful look on his face and I had to fight the urge to
cry. It was a fight I quickly lost. I felt dejected and exhausted, suddenly
tired to the bone. I couldn't hold back and soon tears were trickling down
my cheeks. Anesh jumped up and held me in his arms as my shoulders shook
with sobs.

"Don't cry Philip, please don't cry. Everything will be okay."

"I fucked up, I should have never gone back. I'm so bloody stupid, what the
hell was I doing trying to change the past. Will he remember any of it?"

"No, the second wish neutralised the first. Don't be sad Philip, you did
the right thing."

"I wasted two damn wishes. You warned me but I was too fucking dumb to
listen. You told me to think first and not to be frivolous."

"You've still got one more wish, you can take your time and think about how
you'll use it. Don't be so hard on yourself Philip. I love you and it makes
my heart hurt to see you so sad. I'll make coffee and then I will take you
to bed."

"I can't help feeling sad, I feel like a total shit, worse then I've ever
felt in my life. Oh God Anesh, sometimes I regret meeting you and wish you
were back in the damn lamp."

I was just a flippant, off-the-cuff remark but the effect was instantaneous
and devastating. He was filling the kettle at the sink but dropped it with
a crash, spun around and looked at me in horror. There was shock,
disappointment and sadness there too. At first I didn't realise what I'd
said until he reached out and spoke my name. It all happened fast, so damn
fast. He rose up and floated in the air for a split second before being
literally sucked from the room. His arms flailed wildly and he briefly
grabbed the doorframe as he passed it. He held on for only a few seconds
but it was enough time for me to grab him round the neck. I held on in fear
and panic but I could feel my grip loosen as we were both pulled through
the door and into the lounge. The lamp was on the windowsill; it was
glowing red and pulsating as thick plumbs of white smoke billowed from the
spout. Like a vaporous hand, it reached out across the room to swirl round
his feet. His body began to merge and fuse with the smoke. I could feel him
become lighter and slowly dissolve in my arms. I kissed his lips, feeling
the rough stubble and familiar warmth of his handsome face. Then he became
translucent, ephemeral and I fell to the floor holding nothing. The last of
the smoke was sucked into the lamp and I watched it pulsate and implode in
a haze of white light. It vanished completely and I was left alone in the
bleak and empty silence of my own doom.

To be continued...

(c) narration2006@yahoo.ie

Again, I apologise for any spelling or grammatical errors. Like part one,
this was hastily typed when I should have been working. If I get time, I'll
write the final part at the weekend. I'd like to take this opportunity to
thank all those who wrote with comments and suggestions, they're always
welcome at the above email address.