The Green Lamp

The Green Lamp

By Caxton Valentine

Grevis Anderson was always into magic and genies. He believed the power of a genie was in a lamp, and so he spent years collecting various lamps. Even when traveling to multiple countries, it would be far-fetched to see Grevis without a lamp. It got to the point where his wife, Amy, would not bother to get him any other gift.

One day, in their small town of approximately 5,000, Grevis caught a news report about a magic auction featuring the most “magical” lamp in town, along with the chance to meet magician Jeffrey Lackey. Mr. Lackey was well-renowned in their town, and even believed he knew of real magic.

“Amy, I know we have a date night this Saturday, but meeting Mr. Lackey for this lamp is far more important,” Grevis said with a sarcastic tone.

“Honey, if we weren’t married, longer than brunch became a thing, I might divorce you for that statement,” Amy shook her head and rolled her eyes.

So, there it was: Grevis would go to this magic auction and bid for the most “magical” lamp in town. Before this could happen, Grevis went shopping with Amy. While he was terrible with fashion, his wife took responsibility a long time ago to help him with his outfits.

“I need something spicy that will show other bidders I mean business!” he graciously said aloud to Amy on the way to the local clothing store.

“It’s an auction, Grevis, not a fashion show,” Amy rolled her eyes.

Amy picked out the perfect outfit for Grevis, at least in his mind. A peacock suit with sunglasses that screamed, who dressed this guy. Sure, he looked silly, but silly did not matter to Grevis. Getting a lamp that is “magic” on the other hand… With his new outfit, he felt ready to get the “lamp of a lifetime.”

Saturday approached with the birds chirping in the air and the sunny breeze of a warm coffee on a patio. Grevis loved his coffee black with just a splint of creamer, which had to be hazelnut, nothing more, nothing less. Amy brought Grevis bacon, eggs, toast, grapes, and a magazine that happened to be about the auction.

“Mr. Lackey will review the 'special news' about the lamp at the start of the hour.” Grevis smiled. “It’s my time.”

“No, that’s a little weird, dum dum,” Amy frowned. “I usually don’t care what you do because you spoil me rotten and let me max out your credit cards, but honey, are you sure about bidding for this lamp?”

Grevis felt annoyed. Why would his wife say such a thing 2 hours before the event?

“I like your care, wife, but I’m getting this lamp,” Grevis grabbed his items to get the car started.

Grevis and Amy entered the auction site and sat at upper-level seats. Grevis could have gotten the lower-level seats directly across from Mr. Lackey, he preferred to watch everyone's reactions from above.

In Grevis’s words, “You poor fools, I’m not the lamp expert for nothing!”

Smoke and purple air filled the room, opening with the entrance of Mr. Lackey, with a green lamp shaped like a Winged Eagle, and a built-in hat resembling the same design as the eagle. Lackey looked at the crowd with a cocky smirk, and with one goal in mind for his event.

“Ladies, and Gentlemen! Boys and Girls! Children and Pets of all Ages!” Mr. Lackey said.

“I have great news about this lamp. What rhymes with unravel? Time travel!” he continued.

“You see, Boys and Girls, this green lamp has a unique power. This unique power gives anyone who holds it the ability to leave time behind. That is right, you guessed it, anyone who holds this lamp can travel into different eras, time periods, you name it! So, with that said, choose your price!” he exclaimed.

The audience gasped and could not believe what they had just heard. Everyone started to look around at each other with a familiar look. People wondered if this was a scam, while others were merely entertained. Grevis, on the other hand, had a look of glee on his face, to the point Amy smacked him across his head.

“What are you smiling so much about, it’s not our anniversary!” she shook her head.

“Did you not hear what Mr. Lackey just said about this lamp? It is magic!” Grevis yelled loud enough for Mr. Lackey to turn his head towards Grevis’s direction.

“Ahh, I see we may already have a bidder,” Mr. Lackey said with a sly smirk.

“Alright, Boys and Girls! The moment you have been waiting for is now! Who will be the first bidder? Who will step up! Who will gain access to the mythical powers of this green lamp, a power so spectacular that the one who holds it can travel through time. First bid starts at $1000!” he shouted.

And so the crowd of two hundred plus put in their first bids. One person bid exactly at $1001 dollars, while others bid above $1100.

Grevis watched strategically, “I bid $2000.”

“2000!? Are you mad!” Amy shouted. Amy knew when Grevis’s idiocy was unleashed.

Silence spawned the auction site. Bidders looked around to see if anyone would object to Grevis’s $2000 bid. Mr. Lackey continued to observe with his sly smirk and green hood.

Mr. Lackey stated, “$2000 for the bidder above, going once, going twice, going-”

“I bid $5000!!!!!” a new bidder shouted.

“Well, in that case, I bid $10,000!” another bidder shouted.

“Only $10,000? Well, I bid $20,000!” a third bidder yelled.

Bidding amounts were getting out of control, and the crowd began pushing each other. Grevis had not yelled another bid since his first, and yet with Amy looking on with a scowl, Grevis seemed to be strategically planning. Mr. Lackey knew he had to get the crowd and bids under control, especially because time was winding down.

“Boys and Girls!” He yelled loud enough to fill five colosseums.

“The time has come for final bids!” he proclaimed.

“While I admire the passion of bidding, let us keep final bids under $40,000. You heard it first, under $40,000!” Mr. Lackey was adamant.

“Final bids start now! Gooooo!!!!” He shouted at the top of his lungs.

“I bid $25,000!” One bidder yelled.

“Well, I bid $35,000!” Another one upped.

Grevis looked on and finally made his clutch bid, “I bet 39,999!”

All of the bidders looked shocked. Amy was furious. Grevis did not care.

“$39,999, going once, going twice, sold!” Mr. Lackey announced.

“Come on down and grab your green lamp and experience its unique power of time travel!” Mr. Lackey followed up.

Grevis walked down the auction site with a smile he could not hide, while everyone in attendance muttered to themselves, and Amy turned her head away with rage only a mother usually had if their child or children talked back.

“Here, sir, take your green lamp, and show everyone its power,” Mr. Lackey said.

“Oh, I will,” Grevis looked in awe at the large, green lamp.

Staring at the lamp's winged eagle eyes, he was in the process of next steps, but then, his eyes opened to a man in a blue scrub handing him medication.

Finished.