Page 25 of The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium

Alarm bells went off in Talula’s brain. If there was one thing Talula knew, it was that when a jinn talked about wishes, you had to be very careful.

Granting wishes is a compulsion for most jinn, and a rush for others, Sara had warned. But not always for the right reasons.

Luckily, the food was ready. Talula burst out of the back area, her tray loaded up with melty goodness. After nearly exhausting the Voltlette’s supply of bread, cheeses, fancy jams, and specialty pickles, Talula had created a smorgasbord of artisanal grilled cheese. She set the tray down on the coffee table, then explained the flavors. “This one is sourdough with American cheese, muenster, and sharp cheddar. Over here is French bread, brie, and hot pepper jam. This one is mozzarella, tomato, and pesto on focaccia. Noosh-eh joon and bon appétit!”

Without hesitation, Dahlia grabbed a sandwich and took a bite. Strings of melty cheese stretched between Dahlia’s mouth and the sandwich. She moaned with her mouth full, a sound that felt borderline inappropriate for a coffee shop, even one that was also an occult emporium. “Talula, is it normal to have sexual feelings about a grilled cheese? Because I’m having sexual feelings about this grilled cheese.”

Talula, red-faced, did not trust herself to make eye contact with Dahlia, or else it would be obvious that she was having sexual feelings about Dahlia having sexual feelings.

Meanwhile, Kiki raised an elegant brow. “Is this dignified? For tea?”

Talula smiled nervously. “See for yourself, esteemed guest.”

Delicately, Kiki picked up a sandwich. They nibbled at it. Then Kiki shoved the whole thing savagely into their mouth.

“Dignity,” Kiki said, licking a stray strand of melted cheddar off their wrist, “…is overrated.”

“I want a bathtub of this cheesy jammy melty heaven,” Dahlia said, and sighed.

“Is that what you want or what you wish?” Kiki clarified pointedly.

Talula’s heart stopped. Her wide hazel eyes locked onto the jinn’s face. Kiki smiled like a tiger.

“If we’re talking wishes, I definitely wouldn’t waste one on a bathtub full of cheese,” Dahlia scoffed. “Can you imagine cleaning that thing? I stopped microwaving my quesadillas because I hated scraping the dried-up cheese off the plate. Now I eat cold tortillas and shredded cheese, and it tastes just fine!”

(Despite the imminent jinn danger, Talula’s little chef’s heart wailed in agony.)

Kiki pressed on, their fiery eyes alight. “But truly, what would you wish for?”

“Does anyone want more tea? I could make more tea. Kiki, you want more tea, right?” Talula interrupted desperately.

“I have everything I want, thank you,” Kiki replied sweetly. Talula glared at the jinn, thinking loud, rude thoughts.

Dahlia picked up another tiny sandwich. “How many wishes do I get? Could I wish for world peace? An end to racism? Universal healthcare? Could I wish for a telepathic flying unicorn that shoots mozzarella sticks out of its horn?”

Horror choked Talula like a too-big bite of sandwich.

Kiki stroked their chin. “You get one wish. You could technically wish for lofty, altruistic things. Though no one ever has. You can’t wish to change someone’s heart or control their actions. But your wish could defy reality, make something new that was old, return lost things, or bring your wildest dreams to fruition.”

Dahlia stilled, and Talula saw the thoughts form like storm clouds on her face.

Her dad, Talula thought, stricken. She knew no good came of bringing the dead back to life. Especially not with a jinn’s tricky magic.

“Then I guess”—Dahlia turned seriously to Talula, whose internal organs had turned to blocks of ice—“my wish is for you.”

Talula stilled, heart pounding. For me, as in for me? Like she wants just…me?

Dahlia took in Talula’s deer-meets-eighteen-wheeler expression and chuckled. She plucked a brie and hot pepper jelly sandwich from the tray. “I wish you’d make me another one of these, please!”

Out of the corner of her eye, Talula watched Kiki’s mouth purse with displeasure. She realized that Dahlia had phrased her wish perfectly, asking for Talula to grant it. Not Kiki.

“I will grant this wish,” Talula shouted, practically into Kiki’s face. “Free of charge, completely and wholeheartedly, right now!”

Kiki’s face soured, their eyes glowing slits of sore-losership. But then, a playful smile tugged at their lips. “I’ll take more, too, Talula, daughter of wonder and vexation!”

“Hrmph,” Simon muttered tiredly.

Several cups of tea and many sandwiches later, Dahlia stretched out her arms languorously. “I should head out. Maybe tomorrow will be a better writing day.” Then she turned to Kiki. “It was lovely to meet you.”