Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps by Linda Chapman

falling chocolate bars.
    â€œNo,” Michael said, shaking his head. “You’re not going to tell me we haven’t got the lamp?”
    Jess felt her cheeks burn red. She gave a small nod.
    â€œPerfect!” Michael looked at her furiously. “What was it the book said—‘keep tight hold on that which is precious’? What’s more precious than the lamp? You heard the worm: Without a lamp a genie is nothing!”
    â€œMichael can’t grant any wishes, otherwise,” cried Milly. “None of us can!” The wall of traffic rumbled beside them. “We’re stuck here!”
    â€œEveryone stay calm,” ordered Jess. “The magic will wear off at sunset; that’s only a couple of hours away….”
    â€œA couple of hours?” said Michael. He looked particularly strange standing in his black genie outfit with curly-toed slippers in the middle of a parking lot. “I can’t stick this for a couple of hours! My X-ray vision is getting stronger. I can see through everything! ” He shut his eyes and groaned. “I can even see through my eyelids! It’s making me feel really sick. What about the book? Do you have the book?”
    â€œYes,” said Jason. He turned to the right pages. “But it’s still all gibberish. Skribble?” He shook the book a bit, and winced as two large chocolate bars fell onto his foot. “Skribble, please!”
    â€œI’m busy,” came a grumbly voice. “Bother me when you’ve finished making your wishes.”
    â€œBut we have finished!” cried Jason.
    â€œOr rather, we are finished.” Michael glared at Jess, snatched the book, and shoved it into a large side pocket of his black jacket. “I bet that stupid worm wouldn’t know how to help us anyway. And I certainly don’t want to see through his revolting body!”
    A battered blue van rumbled into the parking lot. Toffee neighed in alarm. Milly hung on tight to his lead rope. “Whoa! Steady, boy.” He tugged her forward. “Hey, guys! Any chance of some help here? He’s small but he’s really strong.”
    Jason went over to her, chocolate spilling from his pockets with every step. The pony squealed and kicked out at him. “Hey, stop it!” Jason cried, slipping on a fruit-and-nut bar as he tried to get out of the way.
    Toffee bit Milly’s arm and she yelled.
    â€œWhat are we going to do?” Michael exclaimed. He looked at Jess and stared. “Oh…my…!”
    â€œYou’d better not be looking at my underwear!” she told him furiously.
    â€œNot your underwear.” Michael’s face turned a shade of green. “The X-ray vision’s getting worse. I can see your skeleton! All the bones and bits of gristle and your brain ! Ugh…” He turned, staggered behind a car, and was sick—very, very noisily.
    â€œOh, nice!” said Jess, revolted.
    â€œHelp!” Milly wailed as Toffee yanked the lead rope out of her hands and careered off toward the parking lot exit. “Quick! We’ve got to stop him! If he gets out into the road, he might get hurt!”
    â€œHe’s not the only one!” Jason yelled.
    They all charged after the pony, Michael groaning and clutching his stomach.
    As Jess ran, she felt her eyes filling with tears. She’d set her heart on coming back to London, but not like this. Never like this!

Chapter Thirteen
    T offee cantered out of the parking lot and down the street. Astonished passersby leaped out of his way.
    â€œCome back, Toffee!” Milly wailed, charging after him. “Please!”
    A mother tutted. “What are a bunch of kids doing out on their own with a horse?”
    â€œWhere are your parents?” shouted an old man.
    Ignoring him, Milly forced herself to run faster. If she could only reach Toffee and grab hold of his lead rope…
    â€œI can see through the pavement,”