Cordell began to explain why he brought his daughter here. "Corrie, you know you have powers that most others don't have. You can conjure food and clean the house. But there is more."
"You have the ability to control others for a short period of time. This is a very serious and potentially dangerous power that should be used with much discretion and NEVER on a family member."
"You mean I can make people cluck like a chicken?" she said as she began to laugh but inwardly was thinking of all kinds of things she could make people do.
Cordell was not happy with his daughters flippancy. He knew it could be dangerous and cause her to end up like he was for 1,000 years, confined to a life in a lamp doing the bidding of others before he tricked her mother into freeing him. He didn't want that for his daughters but hoped he didn't need to tell her that she could wind up like that. "NO!" he exclaimed. "You must never give in to the temptation to utilize this power! It can and will backfire and YOU will be the victim of your own greed." 
"Good girl. Now, let's try so you understand how it actually works. Then you can have full control over it. Promise me baby, never, ever do this. It only leads to sadness."
"Sure Daddy. I promise," said Corrie while she was secretly doing back-flips in her head.
"Sure," sighed Cordell, "That seems harmless enough."
Corrie concentrated and then the man bought the lady a drink while they watched. Wow! He really did it! thought Corrie, This is awesome!
Once Cordell was satisfied that Corrie understood her powers, they stood to leave. "Corrie, promise me," he said again.
"I promise Daddy," she said and hugged her father for giving her the best gift ever!
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Joy helped with Stone all the while being nervous about this evening's secret rendezvous with Alia to meet up with their 'older' friends, Jaycen and Sahan.
Both of the 'boys' they were meeting with had actually graduated a couple of years ago. But then Joy thought about her oldest sister Jewel, whom she worshiped, who had also met someone she liked in high school who had waited for her. They worked it out so why couldn't she and Sahan or Alia and Jaycen? She could tell by the way Alia talked about Jaycen she was all in with him. And Sahan, well she would see. Why would a tall dark and handsome 'man' want a plump 18 year old like her?
It was almost time to go and the twins got ready. They made there way to the park and then cut across the alley to the restaurant. As soon as the arrived, Joy spied Jaycen. "Hi Jaycen!" said Joy, "Are you looking for Alia?"
"Yes!" he said excitedly. "Was she able to come with you?"
"Yes. She is over there getting drinks," replied Joy pointing to the bar. Then as he turned to go find Alia she grabbed his arm and asked shyly, "Uh, is your friend Sahan with you?"
Jaycen laughed and looked at her with understanding in his face. "Yes Joy. He is looking for you. He really likes you," then added conspiratorially, "a lot! He is outside. Why don't you go find him. He would like that."
Joy ran outside and collided with Sahan. It was like running into a wall he was so strong. He wasn't there and then suddenly he was there.
"Oh! I am so sorry! I didn't see you!" said Joy breathlessly as she removed her hands from his chest, "Uh, Jaycen said you were out here and were looking for me."
"It's okay," said Sahan in his deep baritone voice, "I kinda liked that you ran into me. Dang girl, you are even more beautiful than I remember!"
Joy was speechless. Her knees went weak when he called her beautiful. She felt so much like a pumpkin. She was plump like her father, not slender like her sister. Didn't all guys want the skinny little thing?
Then, Sahan shocked her. He put his hands on her and pulled her close. "Joy, so perfectly named, you could bring me so much Joy and I you. A perfect name for a perfect woman."
"Sahan....I am....you are so sweet, but I am not....you are so much older...I am still..."
"Shhhh my beautiful Joy. I will wait for you. You will turn 19 this year and graduate in a few months. Then we can be together. You are worth the wait, but until then at least I can give you this."
Sahan pulled Joy to him and kissed her their first kiss. She felt like she would and could do anything for this man. And he was a man. But she was just a girl, not yet a woman and wondered if this was going to end badly with her getting hurt.
Joy was so confused. Then she thought about her sister. What was she doing with Jaycen. Jaycen had been much more assertive with his feelings for Alia than Sahan had been with her.
As if Sahan could read her thoughts and doubts about their relationship, he pulled her to him in the most wonderful loving embrace she had ever had. It spoke of things to come and was gentle and respectful. He had won her heart and she was ruined for any other.
Then, she heard her phone ringing and looked down. The time! They were out after curfew and not where they said they would be! Their parents had called the cops! UGH! How did they even know they weren't home? Those two were ALWAYS in bed doing - well what she wanted to do with Sahan - by 9:00! She had made sure Stone was good and wouldn't be waking up. They were in so much trouble!
Sure enough, a police cruiser rolled up finding her and her sister out after curfew. The policeman promptly put them both in his patrol car and took them home lecturing them about the dangers of being out so late alone. The sisters knew there would be hell to pay the next morning if not that night.
The girls jumped of the car darted into the house trying to get into bed before their parents saw them, knowing they were probably already busted.
Delia met Alia outside before she could get into the house.
"ALIA!" yelled her mother, "What were you thinking? Staying out until 1:00 in the morning? You of all know better. Corrie said you and Joy were meeting BOYS at a club in town. YOU lied to me! You said you two were at the park! I am so disappointed in you. You are grounded! Get inside and get to bed. NOW!"
Alia slunk into the house thinking - Corrie - this is all her fault. She snitched on us. Humph! Just wait little sister, you will get yours! Corrie = Trouble!
Joy thought she had made it inside fast enough that she would avoid her mother's wrath. Wrong! Delia left Alia and went to find Joy. If one is in it, they both are in it!
"Farah Joy!" yelled Delia. "Don't even act like you weren't involved in this little escapade! You two know better than to sneak out. Do you know how much trouble you could have gotten into. Thank goodness Corrie told us what you were up to! We were worried sick!"
"Farah Joy!" yelled Delia. "Don't even act like you weren't involved in this little escapade! You two know better than to sneak out. Do you know how much trouble you could have gotten into. Thank goodness Corrie told us what you were up to! We were worried sick!"
"I - I am sorry Mother. We won't do it again," stammered Joy.
"Regardless, you and your sister are grounded. Now get to bed! Good luck with your father in the morning!"
Joy ran into her room crying. Sahan had made her feel like something and now she felt like less than nothing. She could still feel his lips on hers and his arms around her like she was the most precious thing on Earth. She wanted him so badly right now. But he wouldn't take her until graduation. She only prayed he would still want her in 5 months.
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The next day at lunch Joy confronted Corrie. "You told Mom and Dad we weren't at the park didn't you?"
Corrie was smug. "They were worried and I knew where you were. What was I supposed to do sister? I couldn't let them think you were dead or kidnapped," said Corrie sweetly.
"They came downstairs and went to check on you and the two of you weren't in bed..." lied Corrie.
"Okay, I guess I just thought you went and snitched on us," sighed Joy believing her half truths.
"It's okay. I felt bad. Did you meet cute boys?" asked Corrie.
"None of your business!" said Joy.
That night, Alia confronted Corrie as well. "Corrie, why did you rat us out? We were just at the diner a couple of blocks away."
"Alia, I already told Joy, Mom and Dad came downstairs to check on us and you guys were MIA. They freaked. I told them where you were. What was I supposed to do? Let them think you were kidnapped or dead?"
"Really?" asked Alia suspiciously, "They actually came downstairs? They never do that."
"They were checking on Stone and just looked in your bedroom and it was empty," said Corrie. Then adding to her lies she begged, "Please forgive me big sis."
"Okay...I guess," conceded Alia.
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In the midst of all of the drama, Delia and Cordell's youngest daughter, Angelica or Angie as she had been dubbed, was getting ready to start school and as such, like her big sister Cordelia, had come into her first "Genie" powers. She was built much like Joy, or more to the point, like her father, big boned and chunky. But she looked more like Cordell than any of his daughters, sporting his blonde hair and big round dark blue eyes.
Angie was growing up to be one of the most insecure of all of his daughters. Cordell wasn't sure how to deal with her self loathing and wondered if it had to do with Corrie who seemed so full of herself. He had seen Corrie talking to Angie and giving her 'advice' from time to time. He was beginning to wonder if Corrie's advice was really good advice.
In addition, Cordell wasn't entirely sure that Corrie hadn't planned all along to 'tattle' on her older sisters when they snuck out of the house to go see their friends. But now, he needed to deal with the newest Genie to his brood.
Just as he did with Corrie, he asked Angie to come down into the basement for a chat. Angie thought she was in trouble.
When they got settled he began to ask her if she had been 'experiencing' any strange feelings.
Poor Angie's self esteem was so low she seemed afraid to answer him. In fact, she seemed afraid of him in general. This is going to be hard, thought Cordell. Why is my daughter afraid of me? I would never hurt her.
Angie was growing up to be one of the most insecure of all of his daughters. Cordell wasn't sure how to deal with her self loathing and wondered if it had to do with Corrie who seemed so full of herself. He had seen Corrie talking to Angie and giving her 'advice' from time to time. He was beginning to wonder if Corrie's advice was really good advice.
Just as he did with Corrie, he asked Angie to come down into the basement for a chat. Angie thought she was in trouble.When they got settled he began to ask her if she had been 'experiencing' any strange feelings.
Poor Angie's self esteem was so low she seemed afraid to answer him. In fact, she seemed afraid of him in general. This is going to be hard, thought Cordell. Why is my daughter afraid of me? I would never hurt her.
Cordell could see he had to take it gently with her. "Angie, it's really okay. You see, I have those feelings in my hands as well. It tingles like I have no control over them. But when I concentrate, then I do. Try to concentrate Angie."
"You feel it too?"
"Yes sweetheart. I do. It's okay and normal."
"Does Mommy feel it?"
Cordell took a deep breath before responding, "No, you and I and even Corrie are different. We have magical powers that no one else in our family have. Baby, just trust me, please."
"You aren't mad at me? And Corrie has tingles too?"
Cordell laughed, "No Angie, I am very proud of you. You and Corrie are very special, now baby, please, concentrate and imagine a plate of your favorite food."
"Okay Daddy," said Angie and began to focus really hard. Then suddenly tingling started moving from her center to her arms and out to her hands and then, she was holding fish n'chips! Her most favorite meal.
"Look! Daddy! I did it! I did it!!"
Cordell looked lovingly at his little girl. "Yes, baby. I knew you could. Are you hungry? You made them perfect! They are nice and hot and ready to eat."
"Oh Yes!" exclaimed Angie, "I am starving and these are my most absolute favorite of all time!" Then Angie sat down with her father to eat a serving of fish n'chips.
Angie ate quietly. Cordell wondered what was going through her little mind. When she finished he said, "Angie, you are so special and your mom and I love you so much. You don't have to be afraid. Okay baby?"
Then he reached over and pulled her into a sweet hug repeating, "Mom and I are proud of you. Don't ever forget it."
"Thanks Daddy for showing me how to make food. That is so cool!" said Angie feeling much more confident than she did when her father called her down to the basement. This is so awesome! she thought.
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Cordell never knew being a husband and a father could be so stressful. How can people you love make your life hard? Girls! Every single one of them were going to be the death of him. The twins snuck out to meet boys, his oldest daughter has fallen in love with a witch and he had to destroy everything that she believed in and now his other two daughters were Genies and needed to learn how to handle that responsibility. He couldn't help but think what trials his son would bring. But that wasn't the worst. His beautiful wife had demons she needed to face and he was going to have to do it with her. And it was time. He found his wife holding their son and took a deep breath, "Delia, my pretty lady, we need to talk. It's time," he said wanting to get all of the bad over with.
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