The Demon in the Jug
© Virginia Marin
One day a man named Hosef became lost as he was walking in the forest. Being tired and thirsty, he sat down upon a hollowed out cyprus log to enjoy a rest. Bored and with nothing else to do, he reached inside the log and, to his surprise, withdrew a beautiful alabaster jug. Now, thinking that the jug might contain something sweet to drink, he uncorked it. A thick blue smoke issued out and changed into the form of a man-like being with six fingers, sharply pointed ears and a beak-like nose.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! I must give thanks to you for releasing me from that awful place of imprisonment. And, for giving me my freedom, I will give to you three wishes. But choose your wishes carefully, little man."
Hosef was so happy he immediately told the genie that his first wish was to go home. But, Hosef made a mistake. He did not ask the genie who had jailed him in the bottle. Had he done so, he would have learned that it was the holy man, Baal Shem Tov, and the Baal Shem Tov did not make mistakes.
Before he could blink an eye, or think further, Hosef found himself at home where the genie suggested he take a nap. His nap was too long, however, and when he awoke the next morning he found that everything in his house had been shrunk to fairy size.
Hosef found the genie sitting on the kitchen table roaring with laughter at his small plight while Hosef, beginning to suspect skulduggery, demanded that the genie restore everything in his house to its proper size and never again take that liberty with him.
"Your three wishes are my commands," said the genie as he waved the customary salutory greeting.
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