#antique's

I'm obsessed with Widow's Bay and when I saw this old print for sale, I HAD to buy it because...spooky waters.

Anyway. It cleaned up beautifully. It's a chromolithograph (Unfortunately the previous owners from 100 years ago trimmed it to fit this frame but that's okay)

My name is Brett Cline and I owned and managed Sydney's biggest and best antique store.

I was recently divorced after 30 years of marriage and to keep my mind occupied out of work hours I have been going to a lot of markets and garage sale in search of something interesting to sell in my store.

On Friday night while I was online I had a quick check to see if there were any garage sales nearby in the morning close to my home and to my delight I found one just a few suburbs away at Rose Bay.

I like garage sales because most people don't know the value of what they are selling.

Every now and than I come across a precious piece of jewelry a family heirloom or a valuable work of art that have the potential to be worth thousands of dollars for a measly few bucks.

I arrive precisely at 8am and already there are half a dozen other bargain hunters searching through the tables for kids clothes, plants and bric a brac all the usual stuff found at a garage sale but my eyes are focused on finding the gold at the end of the rainbow.

After ten minutes of fruitless searching I am just about to give up when I notice the neck of a green bottle poking out from behind an old heater.

As soon as I pick up the bottle my heart starts racing because it looks exactly like the bottle on that old TV show 'I Dream Of Jeannie.'

The bottle stands around 40 centimetres and is inlayed with fake rubies, sapphire and is decorated with gold leaf.

There is no price label so I ask the lady holding the sale and she tells me that I can have it for five dollars which I gladly hand over.

I am not expecting to make much of a profit but you never know.

One mans junk is another mans treasure.

An hour later I arrive at my antique store aptly named 'Artisan Treasures' and after parking out back I enter the store and am pleased to see quite a few people inside including my business partner Casey Lamborne.

Casey is 28 years old with shoulder length blonde hair and a bright personality who has a passion for antiques and history.

We first met at university back in the 1990's and discovered that we shared similar interests so we become friends and eventually business partners.

'Hello Brett what have you got there" Casey enquires.

'Just an old glass bottle I bought at a garage sale this morning, It caught my attention and hopefully we can sell it for $200 or more.'

'Give me a look' Casey demands because she is an expert on antique bottles and such.

After a close examination with a small loupe' Casey whispers excitedly 'Brett I believe that this bottle is thousands of years old, made from pure jade with Ruby, sapphire and diamonds and of course the gold leaf.'

I grab the bottle from Casey and gave it the once over including the base 'Holy shit there is something inscribed here, can you hand me you loupe?'

'Yes it is just what I thought, it says 'MADE IN CHINA'.

'What' Casey screams 'Give it back to me, you are mistaken.'

When Casey notices that I have been pulling her leg she smiles 'Why you bastard I could kill you.'

When we both settle down I tell Casey that I think it would be wise to get another expert opinion so I take a pic of the bottle and attach it to an email that I send to my old professor of History & Antiquities at Sydney University Dr Alfred Pennyworth.

Alfred sends me a text saying that he is excited by my find and will drop by in an hour or so plus he informs me that it would be wise to put the bottle in the safe for safe keeping.

Unlike his namesake from Batman who is a calm efficient butler the Alfred Pennyworth who just walked into my establishment is a bundle of nerves who always dresses like a relic from the 19th century but he most importantly is a great friend and colleague.

'So tell me more about this bottle of yours Brett.'

'It caught my eye at a garage sale so I bought it as a curio piece but Casey thinks that it could fetch a lot of money.'

At the mention of her name Casey joins the conversation 'i believe that the bottle is made from pure jade with precious gem inlays and originated from the Bulgarian, Hungary region around the beginning of the 9th century.'

'I need to go guys, my wife wants me to get something for dinner ' Alfred says 'And Maggie likes to eat at 6 o'clock sharp.'

'Yep, I need to do some shopping, so come on Alfred I will walk you to your car.'

After Casey and Alfred leave I close the store for the day and go back into the office and open the safe and grab the bottle.

I place it on my desk where I begin to rub at the dirt and grime that has built up over the years.

Remembering Alfred's comment about a genie I chuckle as I remove the jade stopper and peak inside but the bottle is empty.

Noticing a stubborn spot on the neck I spit on the polishing cloth and gave it a little rub but the spot refuses to budge so I rub a little harder and to my surprise the bottle begins to shake and a huge orange cloud emerges and begins to spin fast like a mini tornado.

I wave my hands around and soon the cloud dissipates leaving behind a short balding guy wearing bright purple pantaloons with a matching turban.

We stare at each other for a few seconds before the genie proclaims 'I am Blat master genie from Bucharest and I was born in the year 1146 but pray tell me where am I and where are all of your goats and sheep?'

I can't help but laugh at the absurd comment 'My name is Brett the owner of this fine establishment and sorry but I don't own any livestock and today is the 10th October 2023 oh and you are currently in Sydney Australia.'

'I have never heard of such a place' Blat responds 'But first off please me tell that you have a larder full of chicken livers and pigs feet?

'Sorry again but I can make you a vegemite sandwich or perhaps you would rather cheese on toast?'

Thinking that Blat wouldn't appreciate the taste of the Australian delicacy I quickly make the toasties which the genie eats gleefully.

'Very nice, now to business what is your first wish?

I am suddenly very nervous because I don't want to waste any of my wishes.

''So Blat how many wishes do I get exactly?

Blat who reminds me of Mario from those video games ponders my question 'Well Brett if you will be my master for eternity I will grant you three wishes per year but I warn you Brett that if you promise to be my master and then break that vow I will destroy you.'

'But enough talk, what do you wish for?'

I want to tell Blat that I was really hoping for a young blonde genie like the one in that old TV show plus I don't really want to be anyone's master but a shitload of wishes is hard to resist 'Okay Blat I will be your master and I am hungry so i will make us some more cheese toasties while I think about my wish.'

A few minutes later I return to the office carrying a tray of food and coffee to see Blat waving a small gold wand around 'It has been a while since I have granted any wishes so permit me time to hone my skills.'

'Um Blat in what year did you actually grant your last wish?'

I can see Blat thinking inside his head 'I believe that it was in the year 1399 so six hundred years or so.'

The two us eat and drink in silence and as we do I take in the shabby looking office and say 'Blat my first wish is for a brand new office with all of the mod cons.'

Blat stands wiping his hands on his pantaloons and begins waving the wand around but nothing happens and even when he tries again and again but still the office is unchanged.

Not only do I get an old man genie but a genie who can't grant wishes 'Blat try crossing your arms and blinking or if you wriggle your nose it might kick start your wish granting skills.'

Blat gives me a murderous look 'Please master I am just a bit rusty 'tis all.'

Then I am brought back to reality but a loud tapping on the front door and when I stick my head out of the office I see Casey beckoning me.

I wave back telling her to give me a minute 'Quick Blat back in your bottle I have a visitor.'

Blat shakes his head 'Master I have lost all of my powers so I can't return to my bottle until I have rectified the issue.

'Fucking great' I mutter in dismay.

THE END.