Page 1 of Jasmine's Enchanted Genie

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JASMINE

“I’m sorry, dear, but as much as I’d love to help, I can only give you this much.” The village herb woman, Flo, held out the small packet of medicine with tears in her eyes. “If I could spare more, I would.” She sniffed and pushed her long, dark hair off her wrinkled face. “Times are tough, and I have children to feed.”

“I understand.” I said the words with sympathy, but my croaking voice gave me away. This wasn’t enough. It would barely cover three nights of the medicine my sister needed for her cough. “It’s better than nothing.”

If only I could earn more money. But my boss held her coins tight. I barely made enough by hand sewing dresses for the wealthy women in town to feed me and my sister, plus keep a roof over our heads.

“I wish there was a way to cure her,” I said, my eyes stinging. They hurt from staying up late sewing garments I sold on the side. But without the extra work, I wouldn’t be able to pay for even this measly amount of medicine.

“They say the palace healers can perform magic,” Flo said, her hand on my arm. “If you can find a way to reach them, you may be able to talk one of them into seeing your sister.”

“As if I’ll ever get close enough to them to ask for a cure.” I scoffed, allowing anger to push away my endless sadness. “The guards would stab me if I came within ten feet of the fence.”

“Not if you had an invitation to the upcoming ball.”

I lifted my eyebrows as I tucked the packet of herbs into my skirt’s pocket. “I doubt the royal family will be inviting me, plain old Jasmine Bains, to a fancy ball. A few of them, however, will be clambering for me to make their gowns.” The extra work might buy my sister a little more time.

“Every young woman has been entered into the lottery.”

“It’s not going to happen.” If only it could.

“Don’t give up hope, deary.”

Sometimes, it was hard not to wallow in sadness. I worked hard from sunrise to sunset, but I barely made enough to pay our rent and buy food. At home, I sewed until the early hours of the morning to make extra money for Lana’s medicine. There was never enough for anything extra.

“Even if I got an invitation,” I said, “I doubt I’d be able to go.” I didn’t have a thing to wear to one ball, let alone the three that would take place over the weekend.

“You could make lovely gowns for yourself.”

With what fabric? At work, I was allowed to take home scraps I carefully stitched together to make skirts and blouses for me and my sister. I doubted a patchwork dress would impress the royal family.

“You do such beautiful work.” Flo tilted her head. “Perhaps, if you can spare the time, you could . . .” She shook her head. “No, it’s too much to ask.”

“What do you need?”

“If you’ll make me a new blouse in deep blue, I’ll trade you enough herbs to get Lana through the month.”

“I’ll do it.” Where would I find the time to make a blouse? I’d just have to get by with less sleep.

“Lovely, deary.” She mixed more of the herbal remedy and handed it to me. “You’ll deliver the blouse by Thursday?”

Two days from now. “Of course.” It was a struggle to keep the smile on my face. “Will the end of the day work for you?”

“Of course.” She squeezed my hand. “Now get along with you. I’ve heard the invitations to the ball were going out today. Perhaps there’s one waiting for you at home.”

“Perhaps.” With a rueful shake of my head, I left her shop and hurried across our village of Forest Fable. People lived very differently outside the village, and I’d often wondered what it would be like to move there with my sister. Surely it wasn’t better than here. Some said people flew across the sky in big silver birds and rode along the ground in carts that rumbled and spewed smoke. Who could believe such a thing? No, life might be simpler here, but it was familiar and decent.

As I was hurrying down the cobbled street, weaving around the large hill in the center holding numerous homes of the elite, I paused, sighing at their beauty.

“What would it be like to have so much you don’t have to worry about buying medicine or food?” I whispered. When I sucked in a deep breath, my lungs hurt. My heart ached just as badly. “Gleaming buildings, fine furniture, and everything my heart could desire is not for an average woman like me.” My voice broke. “I just want enough money to buy the medicine Lana needs.”

My eyes stinging with tears, I ducked my head and continued walking, reaching our small home built on the edge of the village, far from the glorious buildings in the center.

Someone had tacked a note to the door.

“Please tell me the landlord isn’t raising the rent.” I could barely afford what he charged right now.

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