Tansy Undercrypt

“Um … Dad?” Troy’s father turned to see the djinn emerge from the cloud of black smoke engulfing the antiques shop – his skin a scarlet red, his eyes a surprising crystal blue. “Troy! What the hell?” “I .. just … this lamp …”. The djinn turned his eyes to the pair, smiling, his golden earrings, collar, and bracelets glowing as if made of flame. “Three wishes, boys; that’s the deal,” the genie said in a voice that echoed as if calling from another time. “And no wishing for more wishes, either.” “This is crazy, but … you look really familiar; have we met?” Troy’s dad asked, squinting his eyes to see the genie’s face better. “In your dreams,” Larry the fire spirit said, unleashing a warm and booming laugh that could be heard all of the way to Dallas.

(In memory of Larry Hagman.)

When at last their hearts mended enough to vacuum all of the hair from The Favorite Place, they found more in the same spot every morning. It was as if, in the night, their friend had put a curl there on purpose to mark the spot. “Watch this space; I will see you again,” that bit of shiny coat seemed to say. So they just left it … and waited. ‘The world is a magical place,’ they thought, ‘and anything can happen.’ (For Suzanne and Mal)

The small, brown man with the yellow coin eyes nodded at him. “Welcome,” he buzzed in a kind of musical note from his slender throat, “we are so delighted to have you home at last.” His sweeping palm invited the eyes to take in the red landscape – its basins and maroon atolls, its crystal pillars with what looked to be a rocket launchpad in the distance. “Is this … is this …” Ray stammered. “Yes, friend,” the little man sang, taking his hand. “Oh, yes. Behold your undiscovered country.”

After many years had passed, Barry found himself staring up at a spotlight feeling oddly disoriented. “Hadn’t I?” he stammered. “At the hospital?” Andy slipped an arm around his shoulders; the twins flanked him on the other side. “Wha?” he gasped, reaching out to touch them in disbelief. Robin smiled. “Welcome; now get to work. We’ve waited a long time for this reunion tour!” The curtains fully parted and the crowd went insane, the intro for “Stayin’ Alive” booming overhead.

He was warmly welcomed at the gates and taken on a brief tour before they stopped at the sound stage. “Let’s see … what do we have to work with here,” he said happily, mischievously peeking through the curtain. Bach and Buddy Holly, Elvis and Ella Fitzgerald, Mozart and Amy Winehouse, several choirs of what he assumed to be angels. America’s Oldest Teenager straightened his tie, gave a thumbs up to the box seat, and walked out on the heavenly bandstand to thunderous applause.