Free Double Trouble by Miranda Jones Page B

she noticed that her face was looking a bit orange. She gazed down at her hands and feet. They looked orange too. A few seconds later she was bright orange all over.

    “There you go!” Genie declared, looking very pleased. “Orange fever is avery serious genie illness, you know. You're lucky you haven't got any of the other symptoms—”
    “Yes, but it's not a
human
illness!” Ali interrupted her “Genie, this isn't going to work,” she groaned. She wanted to stay home and watch TV, not be rushed off to the doctor! “Make me look normal again—please!”
    Little Genie frowned. “But then you'll have to go to school,” she pointed out.
    “That's better than looking like a giant, orange!” Ali whispered loudly. As Genie muttered another spell, Ali watched her skin go back to normal. Then she turned to Genie, who was slumped beside the spell book. “Nevermind, Genie,” she said comfortingly. “You did your best”
    “I'm sure there's other things I could have tried,” Genie said with a pout, closing the book. The pink sand in her magic watch sparkled in the sunshine, catching Ali's eye. A few pink grains of sand were beginning to drift through the hourglass.
    “Genie, look!” exclaimed Ali. “The sand is moving. That means my next three wishes have started!”
    Genie glanced down at her watch. “Far out!” she said. “And I know
exactly
what you should wish for”
    “What?” Ali asked.
    “Why don't you wish for me to look like
you
?” Genie announced, bouncingup and down. “Then you can stay home and I can go to school in your place.”
    A big grin spread across Ali's face. “That's a
brilliant
idea,” she said. “Let's do it quickly before my mom comes back”
    Genie nodded, her ponytail bobbing. “Go on then, Ali,” she urged. “Make the wish.”
    Ali closed her eyes. “I wish that Little Genie looked like me!” she declared.
    A cloud of glittering pink smoke whirled around the room. Ali couldn't see a thing when she opened her eyes. She coughed and waited impatiently, wondering if she was going to get what she'd wished for. With Little Genie, you never quite knew!
    Ali peered through the smoke as itbegan to clear. Little Genie wasn't sitting on the desk anymore. She was standing on the carpet, full size like Ali. But she didn't look at all like Genie.
    Instead, Ali was looking at herself!”

“Oh!” Ali was so shocked, she took a step backward and sat down with a thump on the bed. It was like standing in front of a mirror. Little Genie looked
exactly
like she did, right down to her blue and white striped pajamas.
    “Isn't it great?” Little Genie said. Even her voice was the same as Ali's. “Now you can have a nice day at home and I can go to school!”
    “Do you really think you can pretendto be me for a whole day?” Ali was worried. She suddenly began to wonder if this was such a good idea.
    “Of course I can,” Genie replied. She pushed her shoulder-length brown hair off her face, the way Ali always did, and smiled at her.
    Ali smiled back. Genie sounded so confident, she had to believe her. And that meant a whole day off from school—no science test and no pretending to be a tree! She was really lucky to have her very own genie!
    “Come on, Ali,” Mom called up the stairs. “Hurry up or we'll be late.”
    “Quick, Genie.” Ali grabbed a pair of jean shorts and a white shirt.“Get dressed before my mom comes in and sees
two
of us!”
    “It's not very colorful,” Genie grumbled as she pulled the shirt over her head. “Can't I wear my usual clothes?”
    Ali shook her head. “My friends would think I was crazy if they saw me in one of your sparkly outfits. No offense,” she added, just in case Genie's feelings were hurt.
    In a few minutes Genie was ready. Ali thought Genie looked perfect She wondered if her teacher, Mrs. Jasmine, would notice.
    Ali picked up her backpack and handed it to Genie. “You'd better go downstairs,” she said. “I just hope you can