Jeannie felt strange when she woke up that Friday morning. "I think I overslept..." she thought. Her head was full and she still felt kind of tired. She put her usual pink and maroon costume on and left her bottle in... dark pink smoke? Something was not normal that day...

She went to the backyard to prepare the table for breakfast. The day was beautiful, the sun was shining and it would be great to have breakfast outside. And she'd better move fast, because her master, Major Anthony Nelson, would wake up at any minute. She focused on what he liked to have for breakfast and prepared to blink. She crossed her arms over her chest and did so. Many tasty things appeared on the table, but nothing she had thought of! "But... that is not what he likes!" She tried again to concentrate and poing! More pastries, croissants, donuts, muffins and more. "Oh, by Haji! What happened to me today?"

"Wow, the table looks beautiful! Good morning, Jeannie!" It was Major Nelson, who had just arrived. When the genie turned around to wish a good morning to her master, she... fainted!

"Jeannie! Jeannie! Wake up! Please!" Major Nelson grabbed her by the shoulders and patted lightly on Jeannie's face to see if she would wake up. And it worked, because she began to move and open her eyes.

"Master?..."

"Yes? I'm here! What happened? Are you okay?"

"I..."

She was looking at Major Nelson from bottom to top as she got up.

"Jeannie?..."

She had never seen such a fascinating man in her entire life! Was he really her master?

"Yes?..."

"Are you okay?"

And that voice! So beautiful and musical!

"I am, Master..."

"That's good! I was worried! I don't want you to disappear again!" said Major Nelson, hugging her (he was really relieved!) and chuckling.

She melted. He was hugging her! He had such strong arms!

"Mm... The coffee is great, Jeannie." he said, grabbing a muffin and sitting at the table.

"Really, Master? I am glad..." she said, still in the clouds. She could not stop looking at him. He was really fascinating!

"Jeannie."

"Yes, Master?"

"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that? "

"Because you are incredibly fascinating!"

He looked at her in a somewhat suspicious way. "That's it! If she thinks I'm going to fall for another one of her plans to marry me, she is very much mistaken!" He thought. "Um... ok, Jeannie, that's... up to you. I'm gonna go now, I have to arrive early at the base today."

"Oh, Master, really? I can blink you there!"

"No, Roger's coming in a..."

At that very moment, they heard the doorbell and it was really Major Healey, coming to pick up his friend. He went to the backyard, took a look at the table and grabbed a donut.

"Good morning! Wow! Look at this table! It's beautiful, Jeannie!"

"So, shall we go?"

"Yes. Jeannie, if there's something wrong, call me and I'll come home. If you feel bad again, really, just call me, okay?"

"Yes, Master... I will use the phone..."

She wanted to hug him again and never let him go!

"Jeannie, do you have a cold?" a concerned Major Healey asked.

"No, Major Healey. I am fine." She did not even bother to take her eyes off her master. He was lovely!

"Bye, Jeannie. See you. "

"Bye, Jeannie!"

The two walked out the front door and went to NASA. Jeannie, after having her breakfast, felt suddenly empty. Lonely and depressed. She started crying! "Heavens! What is happening to me? Why am I like this?... Oh! I cannot disappear!" Whenever she felt like that, she started to disappear. This could not happen! She tried to think what was making her feel that way, but she didn't come to any conclusion. She suddenly saw Major Nelson's cap on the table. "Oh, my Master forgot his..." Her master! It was his absence that was making her sad! She needed him and she needed him now! She didn't hesitate and blinked Major Nelson back to the breakfast table.

"Hello, Master..." she said, grabbing his right arm, which was holding some papers.

"Hello, Jeannie." Major Nelson said, distracted. When he realized where he was, he fumed: "Jeannie! What I am doing here at home? I was supposed to be in my office at the base! Would you please take me back there?"

"You forgot your cap, Master..."

"T-Thanks, but couldn't you blink it there?"

"Oh, Master..."

"What?"

"You are so smart..." she said, putting his cap on his head.

"Jeannie." said Major Nelson, calmly.

"Yes?..."

"I'm not going back to NASA now, am I?" He knew his genie better than she thought he did.

"Well... not now, Master."

"Very well. May I know what is going on?"

"Master..."

"Yes?" Patience was something he cultivated every day.

"I almost started to vanish when you left."

to be continued...