The Notebook Genie

My feet could barely hold my balance as I strained to grasp the book on the top shelf. Tiptoes planted on the ladder, and I extended my arm to grab onto the cover. My fingertips found the edges and wiggled between the books on both sides until I had a firm enough grasp to pull the book off the shelf. The book came tumbling down from above, and I caught it clinging to the hardcover and bringing it protectively to my chest. Balance assured by my trusty ladder, whose days have been spent with me climbing up and down pursuing our library, I turn the book over in my hand. As I run my hand across the Italian leather hardcover surface, I notice the notebook was lighter than I had expected. The manufacturer had rounded the corners, and a single elastic closure bound the notebook. It squealed with delight as I release its security and open it. I had thought I had thoroughly explored every notebook, novel, and journal in my grandpa’s study, but somehow this notebook had escaped my attention until now. I stuffed the notebook into my backpack and slid down the ladder, hitting the floor with a loud thud. I landed on my feet but misjudged how slippery the floor would be with my wet boots. I face-planted, hitting my head on the wooden floor. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes and blinked a few times, dazed, and sat up, rubbing my head with the tips of my fingers.

“Alex?”

Oh no! I must have woken up mom.

“Coming, mom!” I scrambled to stand up, being careful not to slip again, and headed to mom’s room.

Mom was lying down in bed when I entered. Her face was a pale color, and frown lines crinkled the corners of her mouth. I hardly saw her smile anymore, and she did not always have the energy to get out of bed. Today was one of those days.

“What are you doing? I heard a loud noise.”

“I was looking through some of grandpa’s old stuff.” Mom nodded, looking lost in thought. Grandpa had passed away six months ago after being diagnosed with cancer. It had been terminal, and we had been lucky to have those last few months before he died.

“I’m heading out. Can I get you anything before I leave?” I asked.

“I’m fine,” she said. I gave her a look.

‘I’ll bring you a sandwich,” I responded, not taking no for an answer, and headed into the kitchen. I grabbed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, hastily placed it on a plate, folded a napkin, poured a glass of sparkling water, and stuck a daisy from the garden into a small vase. As I carried mom’s lunch back into the room, I couldn’t help but think about Grandpa's notebook. What secrets does it hold? Perhaps some business plans or a design for something new. As I helped Mom sit up, I realize how different she had become. Since grandpa died, her energy was gone, and the warmth I had become so accustomed to suddenly became almost cold and emotionless. It was like she was stuck in the grieving phase and couldn’t move past it. Then the bills started coming in. Notice after notice that bills weren’t getting paid. Grandpa’s art studio now needed three months’ rent, and mom wasn’t doing anything about it.

I kissed her on the head. “I will be back in a few hours.”

I headed back into the rain. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, and puddles lined the driveway. I made sure to jump into at least one as I walked past houses on our street. Just a few sprinkles were falling now, and the sun was peeking out behind the clouds. At the end of our road was a gigantic oaktree with branches that seemed to stretch toward the sky. Wooden steps were built into the bark like a ladder leading to some far-off place. I imagined myself rock climbing in another country as I climbed up the steps to the top.

I heard a yelp and felt a wet tongue shoot out from the top of the treehouse and catch my face as I neared the edge. I felt another damp kiss as my dog Cheese It excitedly planted a wet one across my face. The little golden Shiba barked and ran around in circles as I ascended the last step. I took dog food out of my backpack and poured it into his dog bowl. Cheese It happily ran over and started munching away.

“Alex, I wondered when you were going to get here!” My neighbor Tyler looked up from his laptop at me, and I bent down to give him a hi-five greeting. Tyler is 14. Three years older than me. My grandfather built this treehouse with Tyler’s dad two years ago. We had been friends ever since.

“I found one of my grandpa’s old notebooks,” I said excitedly. I sat down on the floor and removed the notebook from my backpack. Cheese It laid down and placed his head in my lap.

“Whoa!” he exclaimed, grabbing the black book from my hand. “It’s a Moleskin!”

“What’s a Moleskin?”

Tyler looked at me in disbelief. “Only the best notebook brand around.” He pulled at the elastic binding the book.

“Hey! I want to open it! I grabbed it away from him and continued the process.

“They make super high-quality notebooks and art books. Like this is super popular at school. There is even a Moleskin Club!”

“And you know this how?”

Tyler shrugged. “I may or may not be a part of it.”

I opened the notebook expecting to see grandpa’s old handwriting filling up the pages. Instead, most of the pages were blank except the first one.

“I thought this was a notebook. It looks like the pages are for drawing and writing.”

“Sweet, what’s in it?”

“Only the first page has writing. The world is a canvas for your imagination. You are the painter. There are NO RULES. Get to work -Henry David Thoreau.”

“No rules,” Tyler repeated.

I dug through my backpack and removed a pencil. I started sketching a cloud and a few raindrops. Once I was finished, I took a second to look at the masterpiece I had just created. I gasped as the image started to fade from the page.

“TYLER! LOOK!”

“WHAT THE..” Tyler exclaimed, edging closer. “Where did it go?”

As soon as he asked that question, a mass started to form in front of us. We both jumped up and scrambled to move against the wall out of the way. Startled as well, Cheese It barked and flattened himself low to the ground. The mass took shape and formed into a grey cloud. Cheese It barked uncontrollably now. Small raindrops started hitting the treehouse floor, and Tyler and I looked at each other in disbelief.

“This is incredible!”

“It’s going to flood our treehouse!” Tyler exclaimed, moving further away from the cloud.

“Damn!” I grabbed the eraser and started frantically erasing the blank page. Maybe this will help. Slowly eraser lines began to form in the cloud. After a minute, it was gone entirely. Stunned, Tyler and I made eye contact.

“That was WILD!” Tyler exclaimed. “So freakin’ cool!”

“I just drew that cloud, and it came to life!” I said in disbelief. Do all Moleskin books do this?”

“No way! This notebook is the first one I’ve seen that has…magical properties.” Tyler grabbed the book from me. “It’s like you have a genie artbook. You know, like the genie in Aladdin but notebook form!”

“Yeah!” I looked down at the puddles around my feet. We have to clean this up.

Tyler and I grabbed a paper towel and mopped up the water on the wooden floor. Cheese It pushed a rag with his nose across the floor, trying to help. Once finished, I opened the notebook again.

“Alex, what are you going to draw now? When can I have a turn?”

“Our treehouse needs a TV and a PS5,” I stated.

“Yes, and a fridge filled with soda.”

I quickly started drawing, and one by one, items began to appear before us. First the TV, then the PS5, followed by a fridge filled with soda. Tyler grabbed the black book.

“Hey!”

“Just a second.” He frantically scribbled an image on the page, afraid that I would take it away before he could finish.

An egg the size of a football appeared on the floor and started cracking.

“YES!”

“WHAT!” I pulled the notebook away from him. The image was gone, but the words baby dragon were still fading from the page.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I looked at him in disbelief.

Tyler was over the moon. “I ALWAYS WANTED A BABY DRAGON!”

The egg split open, and this little dragon, the size of a cup, rolled out. Tyler scooped him up before I even had a chance to examine him, and the green dragon immediately lit Tyler’s finger on fire. With a yelp, he stood up and dunked his finger into the pitcher of water on the table. He locked eyes with the dragon, and it curled up and fell asleep in his hands.

“I will call you. LITTLE FLAME!” Tyler exclaimed, not even in the slightest concerned that his finger had just caught on fire.

I stared at the blank page for a second. “Seems like we can create anything…” I scribbled numbers and started drawing an image. It was gone as quickly as it appeared. A large chest appeared before us. Cheese It barked again, and I petted him reassuring him that he was going to be okay.

“What did you draw?”

“I wrote $20,000 and drew a treasure chest.”

“We’re going to be rich!” Tyler jumped up and flung open the chest.

“I need this money to help my mom.”

Tyler’s face fell. “But-“

“Have you seen my mom since my grandpa died? She’s wasting away! We are going to be kicked out of our home soon, and his art gallery will close if I don’t do something!”

“How can I help?” Tyler was still cradling Little Flame, and he placed her on his shoulder. She nuzzled his neck, and it was instant love.

I grabbed handfuls of cash. “Stuff as much cash as you can in your backpack.”

We stuffed our backpacks with cash until the bags couldn't hold anymore. The rain was completely gone now.

"Follow me."

We hustled down the treehouse steps and sprinted down the street, afraid that if we lingered too long, someone would discover what we were doing. I turned the key in the lock, and we busted into my living room.

"Mom! Mom! We're rich!" I ran through the kitchen, forgetting to take off my wet shoes.

"We're-" Before I knew it. I slipped and fell again.

I woke up with mom peering over me.

"Alex, are you okay?" Mom was kneeling next to me. I felt her hand on my face, and I opened my eyes, seeing her concerned expression.

I tried to sit up, but I felt a welt start to form on the back of my head.

"Easy there," mom cautioned, helping me come to a sitting position. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. Mom! You'll never believe what happened!" I pulled off my backpack to show her the cash. I unzipped the bag, and there was- nothing.

My hands search around in the bag. "Where did the cash go?"

Mom looked confused. "What cash?"

"The cash that I drew!"

"Honey, are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"Yes, it was just here."

"Well, you've been laying here for a few minutes."

I looked around the room. "Where is Tyler?"

"As far as I know, Tyler is on vacation with his family."

"He was right behind me!"

"No, he is in Utah with his family."

"You mean I dreamed this whole thing up?! The money, the PS5, Little Flame!"

"You were out for a few minutes, hon."

"But mom! I had enough cash to save our house and all the bills!" I looked down and spied grandpa's notebook lying a few feet away. I scrambled to get it and drew back the elastic.

"Hon, what are you doing?"

"I will show you," I said, seeing the quote and flipping to the next page. I used my pencil and wrote $20,000 and drew an envelope this time with cash inside.

"Ta daaaaa!"

Nothing happened. I waited, and mom waited for what felt like an eternity.

"What's supposed to happen?" Mom peered over my shoulder.

"It's a genie notebook. There should be cash!" I look down, disappointed.

"Mom took the notebook out of my hands, and immediately a paper falls out from the last page.

Mom picks it up. Grandpa's familiar writing is scrawled on the front.

Mom's eyes widen. "To my Lilly and Alex..." In shock, mom's hand covers her face. She flips it over to show me in excited disbelief.

I read the paper, and it's a check for $50,000.