You Love It

You turn around and exclaim, "This has gotta be five times bigger than my apartment! I think I'd be happy for the rest of my life just in here."

"Just in the bathroom?" Allison asks with a grin.

"No, I mean the entire --"

Allison laughs again. "Sorry, Jane. I probably shouldn't joke too much until we know each other better. I know this is all overwhelming for you."

"Yeah," you admit, and decide to walk back out into the main room. "That closet is definitely overwhelming -- I think my clothes will only take up about three feet of it." You're talking as you walk over to the kitchenette. "And this -- I assume there's a much bigger kitchen downstairs, but --" You glance at Allison, who nods, and you continue. "I guess this would be good for midnight snacks."

You open up the stainless-steel refrigerator to reveal that it's empty. "Guess I'm going to have to fill this up with --" You gasp as you remember, "There are groceries in my car! I totally forgot about everything once I saw Mirela get hit -- ohh, the ice cream's probably melted by now, and that was 10 bucks' worth --"

Allison has a bemused expression on her face as she points to the purse hanging from your shoulder. "Take all the money out of your wallet," she says.

A bit confused, you reach into your purse. "I think I've got maybe eight bucks." You take out your small leather wallet, open it, and pull out, just as you thought, a $5 and three $1 bills. You start to say something, but as you look at the empty wallet pocket, a small stack of bills appears in it right before your eyes.

You look up at Allison, a bit shocked, and then back down. You dare to pull the new bills out just slightly, and see a couple $100s, a couple $50s, what looks like five or six $20s, and at that point you stuff the bills back in, including what's in your hand.

"Didn't Mirela tell you?" Allison asks. "That's a big part of your reward. Of course, who uses cash these days? So you'll also find, with your charge cards --"

"She did tell me," you say, remembering. "It's different when you see it happen."

"Of course," agrees Allison. "Maybe we should sit down for a few minutes."

There are two sofas and two easy chairs arranged around a low table. Allison motions for you to take one of the chairs, and she sits next to you at one end of a sofa.

You venture to ask, "Would Mirela mind if I did some redecorating?"

Allison responds, "Not at all! This is now your house, after all. What were you thinking?"

"I don't see a TV in here, and I like to watch in bed sometimes," you admit.

"Ah, Mirela doesn't watch much telly, since she came of age a few decades before it was invented," Allison tells you. "She's even older than she looks when she looks old. I think you'll want to get this place set up with wi-fi, too."

"Oh, I guess the router I have in my apartment won't cut it," you realize. "Um, Mirela called you my 'assistant.' Does that mean I can ask you to, um..."

"Get this place set up with wi-fi?" she says with another grin. "I could do that if you want, but it would also be a nice, easy test of the notebook she gave you."

"Oh, that's right," you say as you get the small black notebook and matching pen out of your purse. "So all I have to do is write something and it comes true?"

"Pretty much," answers Allison. "You could just write 'this house is set up with a wi-fi network that's the fastest Internet connection possible' -- the magic does a pretty good job of interpreting exactly what you mean, so you shouldn't have to be too worried about something backfiring on you."

"Mirela said you were 'an exception to my abilities,'" you point out. "I assume that means this."

"Right, you can't change me or my possessions with the notebook -- and don't forget about your power of obedience, which won't work on me. I've got my own notebook and my own power, neither of which will work on you." After a beat, she adds, "Unless you decide you want them to."

"And can you decide --" you start to ask, but she holds up a hand.

"It's like with the jokes -- maybe I should hold off until we know each other better," Allison says.

"So let's get to know each other better now!" you exclaim. Allison raises an eyebrow, but you don't particularly notice. Instead, you ask, "So you've obviously been blessed by Mirela -- uh, I guess, what's your story?"