A Granted Wish
He was disconsolate at the rejection.
He visited his local Gods “R” Us
to plead his case, was careful to remove
his hat and wipe his shoes, to show respect,
before he crossed the threshold. It was clear
the goddess had heard all of it before.
“You must remember, when a woman doesn’t
feel the same way that you do, the gods
themselves will never interfere. You self-
styled lovers seem to think we’ll overturn
the rule of Nature just to make you happy.
We have to get along with Nature too,
you know—we can’t afford to break her rules.
A woman has a right to be attracted
to whomever. It’s a mystery,
and we don’t pretend to understand it,
but we respect it. We don’t change her mind.”
“But I’m not asking that you break a rule,”
he says, “just this one time make an exception.”
“If we made one, we’d have to make a million,”
says the goddess, “surely you see that.”
“What if I make the game more interesting?”
“And how do you propose to do that?” says
the goddess. It had been a humdrum day.
“Change her mind and make her want me—I’ll
do anything you say, pay any price.”
“Hmmm, I’ll have to ask my manager,”
the goddess says, and cloaks herself in mist.
Returning presently, she says, “I can’t
explain this—it’s unprecedented—but
the boss says it’s a go. I have permission.
I can totally renumber all
the atoms in her heart—they’re odd right now,
but I can make them even, so they’ll match
the atoms in your heart, and she will find
the two of you are in perfect accord.”
“And how will you do that?” he says. “It’s done,”
the goddess says, “go home. You’ll find her waiting.”
He rushes off, gives thanks at every step.
And it’s come true—the woman just can’t get
enough of him. For three days he’s ecstatic,
she’s besotted, and he can’t believe
his luck. On Day Four, while she’s out acquiring
pleasing geegaws for the nest, there comes
a knock at the front door. He answers it
to find the goddess in her traveling clothes.
“There is the little matter of your payment,”
she says, smiling, “You are satisfied,
I take it?” “Yes, completely. Far beyond
my boldest dreams.” “That’s nice,” the goddess says,
“we take pride in our work. Now, as to what
you have to do, it’s very simple.” “What?”
“You have to let me make your atoms odd,”
the goddess says. “You have to what?” “It won’t
hurt. You’ll just feel different. There, it’s done.
You’ll find out what it means when she gets home.”