Free Double Trouble by Miranda Jones Page A

the desk with her flailing hands.
    “Oops!” Ali bent to pick them up.
    “Drama sounds
great!”
Genie said eagerly, peering down at Ali from on top of the desk. “In Transformation we actually had to
turn
ourselves into trees,which always seemed silly. Especially when another genie named Lampella couldn't turn herself back Although it did make our classroom a bit more interesting.” Genie smiled. “Just
pretending
to be one sounds lots more fun.”

    Lampella? Ali shook her head. “I don't think so.”
    “Well, if school's going to be such a drag, it's a shame you can't just stay home,” Little Genie said. She sat on the edge of Ali's desk, swinging her legs and looking thoughtful. “Hmmm.”
    Suddenly, the bedroom door opened. Quick as lightning, Little Genie dived into the open pencil case, zipping it up behind her.
    “Ali?” Her mom came into the room,looking puzzled, “Who on earth were you talking to?”
    Ali thought fast Maybe this was her chance to get out of going to school! “I was just trying out my voice,” she said weakly, pretending to cough. “I've got a really sore throat.”
    Mom raised her eyebrows. “Open up,” she said.
    Ali opened her mouth wide and her mom peered inside.
    “It doesn't
look
red,” she said briskly. “You'd better get dressed and come and have breakfast or you'll be late.” She went over to the door. “Oh, and don't forget your science book,” she added. “You can do some last-minute studying for your test.”
    Ali's shoulders sagged as her mom went out It had been worth a try, but her mom was hard to fool.
    “Help, Ali!” called a tiny voice. “I'm stuck!”
    The pencil case was twitching wildly from side to side like a fluffy pink worm. Ali rushed over to the desk. Genie's pajamas had got caught in the zipper Ali tugged gently until the pencil case opened.
    “Phew!” Little Genie panted as she stuck her head out “Thanks.” She grinned at Ali. “So your mom didn't fall for it?”
    “No,” Ali admitted. “She never does.”
    Little Genie's ponytail swung back and forth. “Maybe I can help,” she suggested. “After all, I can still do magic without the wishes.”
    “Do you think that's a good idea?” Ali asked doubtfully. She really did want to stay home, but she couldn't help thinking that Genie's magic might end up getting her into real trouble.
    “Of course it's a good idea!” Little Genie cartwheeled across the desk and grinned up at Ali. “Now let me see.…”
    She snapped her fingers, sending silver sparks shooting upward. Immediately a book appeared on the desk. It had a purple cover, and its pages were edged with silver.
    “A Genie's Big Book of Sickness Symptoms,”
Ali read aloud.
    Little Genie flipped open the large book and leafed through. Then her face lit up. “Ah, this should do the trick!”she said. She pointed at Ali and began to mutter some magic words.
“Oola, moola, pooh, pill, please make Ali look really ill.”
    Ali waited, holding her breath. She glanced down at herself, wiggling her fingers and toes to see if anything had changed. She didn't
feel
different.
    “There you are!” Genie beamed triumphantly. “Now you can stay at home today.”

    “But I feet exactly the same,” Ali began. Then she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror that hung over her chest of drawers, “Genne!” she yelled, rushing over to the mirror to take a closer look “What have you done to me?”
    Genie looked confused. “I thought you
wanted
to look sick” she said.
    “Yes, but not like this!” Ali gasped. Her face was covered with enormous purple spots. “It looks like I've got a tropical disease. My mom will take me straight to the hospital if she sees me!”
    “Okay.” Genie shrugged. “Let's try something different, then.” She flipped through the book again and began to chant another spell.
    Ali anxiously watched her reflectionin the mirror. She breathed a sigh of relief as the bright purple spots began to fade. But then