Grant McWishes, the local town genie
has always been known as a terrible meanie
Though genies are meant to make wishes come true.
this one just seems to shout rudely at you.

“WHADDYA NEED? WHADDYA SAY?
WHADDYA WANT FROM ME TODAY?”

When Grant McWishes appears in a flash
the town dwellers all run off in a dash.

“WHADDYA NEED? WHADDYA SAY?
WHADDYA WANT FROM ME TODAY?”

But if only they stayed and heard what he meant,
people would see he’s a genial gent.

“WHADDYA NEED? WHADDYA SAY?
WHADDYA WANT FROM ME TODAY?”

Then after his roar he says, “Dear me!
Why won’t you stay for a wish or three?
I’m happy to see you, that’s why I shout.
Though each time I do, I see no-one about.”

Then Ellie McWellie knocked on his door,
and chose to ignore that terrible roar…

“WHADDYA NEED? WHADDYA SAY?
WHADDYA WANT FROM ME TODAY?”

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes tight
and wished for a pen to write what’s right.

With a whizz and a bang her wish came true,
and Ellie McWellie said “OH, THANK YOU!
My schoolwork now will never be wrong
So I’ll spread the good news before very long.

Soon the word spread and the town stood in line
and everyone said, “Why, isn’t he fine?”
Next Tony B. Boney crept up like a mouse,
shook his boots and rubbed the house.

“WHADDYA NEED? WHADDYA SAY?
WHADDYA WANT FROM ME TODAY?”

“OH Mr McWishes, if you would, please,
grant me a car with magic keys.”

There were wishes for dishes of gold and jewels,
and one for a school without any rules.
There was one wish for youth, and another for age,
and one boy had his sister locked up in a cage.

They came in groups, they came in teams,
They came to wish for their wildest dreams.
But so many people happened to call
that Grant McWishes grew tired of them all.

“WHADDYA NEED? WHADDYA SAY?
I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU WANT TODAY!
LEAVE ME ALONE. I QUIT AS A GENIE.
I HAD MORE PEACE WHEN YOU CALLED ME A MEANIE.”

But nobody listened, and more still came,
so what happened next was really a shame.

When Sally O’Furball wished for a bear…
It wasn’t a teddy who gave her a scare!

When Freddy O’Roar wished to fly in the trees
He was turned to a leaf and blew in the breeze.

When Timothy Star wished to be on TV,
He was shrunk to a statue for all there to see.

Grant McWishes had had quite enough.
He granted their wishes in a mean old huff!

“WHADDYA NEED? WHADDYA SAY?
I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU WANT TODAY!”

Everyone fumed, “You’re a loud, rude genie.
We were right to call you a terrible meanie.”
Only Ellie McWellie cried “LEAVE HIM ALONE!
He never wished to be bothered at home.”

“WHADDYA MEAN? WHAT DID YOU SAY?
YES ALL I WANT IS A PEACEFUL DAY!”

Then Ellie McWellie remembered her pen
and said “This can write exactly when
Our genie will work and when he is free,
like maybe from ten ’til half-past three.”

Now everyone gets just what they need
And everyone now has plainly agreed
That Grant McWishes is a gentle genie,
And nobody thinks he’s a terrible meanie.

So rub on his house and you’ll hear him say:
“WHAT KINDA WISH CAN I GRANT YOU TODAY?”

—-

If you enjoyed this and would like to support my work then please…

Illustration courtesy and copyright of Jools Wilson. Thank you!