Genie Meanie

Genie Meanie — page 3 — be super mean She’d encouraged me to stand up for myself if anyone tried to bully me Never give up trying to do the right thing no matter how hard it is she would say But try not to hurt anyone either How was I going to face another year of school without her I frowned at the odds and ends I’d tipped out of the box onto my bed Why had Gran left these things for me A crow’s feather a yellow pencil stub a necklace made of wrinkled brown beads a rusty key and a small glass bottle with some kind of spice in it I searched for a note Nothing What was I going to do with the spice Mom didn’t let me use the stove Gran had known that All of this stuff was junk wait a minute I stared at the bottle It was labeled Zayn Garam Masala A wisp of blue smoke seemed to waft 2

Genie Meanie — page 4 — up and down inside it and I had the weirdest feeling it was trying to escape I rattled the bottle Oi Stop Startled I looked around Who said that My desk and chair returned my gaze mutely Kiara Mom called from downstairs downstairs Dinner’s ready 3

Genie Meanie — page 5 — I was dying to examine the bottle more closely but Mom liked everyone at the dinner table on time I scooped up Gran’s things and put them back into the box Except the bottle of garam masala I picked it up Ouch It was so hot I dropped it Oh no Luckily it landed on the carpet with a thud Watch it butterfingers What Who Come out and show yourself I said inching toward the door Bai had texted to let me know he was back from his vacation in China and had precisely one day to get ready for school I needed to ask if he knew anything about ghosts because either my room was haunted or I was losing it but I’d have to wait until tomorrow No one appeared I was the only kid in this house But the voice I was hearing 4

Genie Meanie — page 6 — in my head also belonged to a kid It kind of sounded like this horrible boy in my class Matt I gazed at my reflection in the mirror Brown eyes stared back at me from under a mass of wriggly black hair Kiara you’re only eight and you’re losing your mind I said to myself That’s sad Yup the voice in my head agreed

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