Free Glorious Sunset by Ava Bleu Page B

type of red tape crap that is typical for people these days. No one wants responsibility. No one wants to say, ‘this is my job, I’ll make sure it gets done.’”
    â€œAre you implying that I am one of those types of people?”
    â€œI’m not implying it; I’m saying it outright.”
    â€œI have no power, woman. I am a king without a kingdom. My friend decides when, if, or how I emerge from my stone.”
    â€œAnd that’s it? That’s all?”
    â€œWhat do you suggest?”
    â€œHow about you stand up for yourself, make something happen? How ’bout you go to your friend, or whatever, and ask him when my wish will come true? How about that?”
    â€œAnd you will accept the answer and stop haranguing me?”
    â€œCertainly.”
    â€œFine.”
    â€œGood.”
    Violet was appeased. She looked up and down the street. It was relatively busy this time of day, but it was such a lovely day. And it’d been awhile since she’d had some time off. “Hey, you want to go do something?”
    Taka looked at her dubiously. Was this a trick? She seemed to run hot and cold so he had no clue. “This is your time to use making your decisions.”
    She heard a slight note of petulance in his voice. Obviously kings didn’t get a dressing down from commoners where he came from, but she didn’t want to fight with him. She didn’t want him mad at her. She had no idea why.
    â€œI’ll make my wishes in plenty of time; don’t you worry about that. I was just thinking, it’s such a pretty day and it must be awful cramped where you are. Is it like the bottle in I Dream of Jeannie? ”
    â€œI told you I am not—”
    â€œI know, I know. Not a genie. But do you get cramped, tired? Do you have a bed? How’s it work?”
    Taka looked at Violet and wondered if she had some mental sickness that could swing her from anger to polite conversation so quickly. She looked normal enough. Better than normal. He scrutinized her face to see if she was planning to mock him, then grudgingly admitted, “It is not a physical discomfort I feel while I am inside. My body is different when I am changed. When I am in my stone I merely feel I am hanging in a place with no sound, no light, no smell, or taste. It is almost as if I do not exist.”
    Violet wrinkled her nose. “That must suck.”
    â€œIf that means it is bad, yes, it can be.”
    She thought, what could she plan for him that he might enjoy doing? Was there anything an old-timer might like to do in modern times? An idea came to her and she nodded her head with satisfaction. “We’re going to have to make sure you have as much fun while you’re out as possible. It’s my civic duty. When you go back into that rock you’re going to go happy, genie.”
    Taka felt a lightening of his soul. She was offering an unexpected kindness. The second that day. It surprised him, but pleased him nonetheless.
    He followed her back to the car and when they got in, he looked at her while she drove like a maniac, taking a road that was high and busy with a multitude of cars, but she was passing all of them.
    He held on to his arm rest and was glad that he had attached himself to the seat with the belt as she’d instructed, but his curiosity got the better of him.
    â€œWhere are we going? I do not remember taking this route to go to your office.”
    â€œWe’re not going home,” Violet said. “I had a brilliant idea. I’m thinking, you stuck in that stone all the time can’t be fun. And you men like to be in control a lot, right? That probably hasn’t changed since you were around before?”
    â€œNo, you are right. We liked control in my day as well,” he admitted.
    â€œGood. I’m taking you to a little spot where my stepdad took me when I was sixteen and he taught me to drive. And I’m going to give you the same