Milton Jenkins is 78 years old and he's spending today as he spends most days, out on the beach with his metal detector. He doesn't need the money, he does it just for fun. He was wise with his money his whole life. In fact he always planned ahead, played it safe, and was always so careful. The little house near the beach he bought years ago when the prices were right. When he retired he had enough savings to last him and his wife for the rest of their lives. As it turned out that was only two months after retirement for his wife. He still thinks back to that moment so many years ago. He had hoped he would soon follow her, but it wasn't the case. He has been blessed our cursed with good health. Another product of his careful choices over the years. Their kids have lives of their own and he's lucky to get a card at Christmas now. Milton sighs and looks around. He feels out of place and without purpose. The beeping of the metal detector distracts him from feeling sorry for himself. He sets the detector down and pulls out a small garden spade. He doesn't have to dig very far before the spade strikes metal. "Not jewelry", Milton thinks to himself. He digs the object out and looks at it. It appears old, very old. It looks like one of those magic lamps from those Aladdin stories. With a little polish he figures someone will buy it. Milton sits back and begins to rub the sand off of it. Some young college age kids then run out onto the beach. Milton does not even notice the smoke coming out of the lamp. Milton reminisces as he watches the young people. For a second he imagines himself as one of them again, his whole life in front of them. He would do things different. He would have more fun, take more chances, and live more in the present than always planning for a future that may never come. He mentally shuts those thoughts down. "Idiot, you're an old man, past your usefulness. Just die and be done with it. There's no going back ", he says to himself. Just then a voice beside him says, "But what if there were a way to go back, Milton?" Milton turns with a start to see a strangely dressed man with eyes black as coal. "What", Milton says? The man smiles and says, "What if there were a way to be young again, do it all over again? Would you wish for something like that?" The puts an emphasis on the word wish and that sets something off in Milton's mind. Milton looks down at the lamp and then back at the man's dress. He's dressed like a genie. Milton looks around quickly scanning for a camera. "Is this some kind of joke", Milton states! The man laughs and replies with, "No, not at all, Milton. I'm what I appear to be. So, I ask again, do you wish to be young again, to live life to the fullest this time around." Milton ponders the question for a minute. There is no doubt in his mind he's being set up. he's seen the tv shows they have nowadays. He figures what the hell, at least he'll get on TV. "Sure, I wish I was young and attractive like that", Milton says pointing his finger at the college age kids playing on the beach. The genie follows Milton's finger to where it's pointing to see it has landed on the rather busty young woman that's in danger of coming out of her top. Gen take things very literal and figures Milton wishes to become a busty young woman. The genie has come across this often and has been confused why men always want to be women and women want to be men. He's come just to accept it. With a snap of his fingers Milton, the old man vanishes.
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