How to Sell a Wish
by Michael M. Jones
The door opened with a whisper as Martina entered Glamourabilia, like the inhalation of an anticipatory breath. Martina wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but the interior of the shop had just the right vibe: bright, warm and cozy, wooden bookcases and display cases holding hundreds of miscellaneous and unusual objects, autumn spices wafting through the air. It was surprisingly tranquil.
“Welcome to Glamourabilia. Can I help you with anything?” A tall, thin blond of indeterminate gender and age materialized from the depths of the stacks to greet her. A nametag identified them as Quinn.
“I… I have a wish to sell,” Martina said, praying this was the right thing to say, and she wasn’t about to be laughed out of the store.
To Martina’s relief, Quinn smiled. “Of course. What kind?” At Martina’s confused expression, they elaborated, “Djinn, faerie, wishbone? There are lots of different kinds of wishes. The origin affects the trade-in value and other considerations.”
“Oh!” Martina blushed at her ignorance. “Faerie. I did an old woman a kindness and she rewarded me with three wishes.”
Quinn nodded. “Things didn’t go well?”
“No. I used one wish and it about ruined my life. I used the second wish to fix everything. I was afraid to try again after that. Then a business card appeared in my pocket, advertising this place. It seemed… worth a shot.”
“I assume your benefactor gave you a token?”
Martina nodded, producing a golden leaf from her pocket, offering it over for Quinn’s inspection.
They took the leaf, turned it over and over, clicked their tongue thoughtfully. “Definitely Fae. Seelie Court. One of their ‘teach a lesson’ rewards. It’s benign but annoying. I can give you free advice on how to use your last wish safely, or you can trade it in.”
“Trade-in, please,” said Martina. “I don’t think I want to mess around with wishes anymore.”
“It sounds like you learned your lesson,” Quinn said with a soft chuckle. They led Martina to the counter near the front, where an old-fashioned set of scales sat next to a truly ancient cash register. Quinn spent several minutes balancing the golden leaf against a series of weights, before nodding with approval. They offered Martina a token, an unexpectedly heavy metal coin, cold to the touch. “One Seelie wish, unused. You have plenty of options for an exchange.” They gestured at the myriad objects all around—lamps and boxes, bones and crystals. “You can choose anything from the general collection.”
Martina took in the labels on the shelves. Bargains, Deals, Favors. Prophecies, Destinies, Wishes. More still, stretching into the distance. “People really sell you all these things?”
“Sell, trade, leave on consignment,” Quinn agreed. “Lot of magic out there, and not everyone wants what they get.” They smiled. “I’m accepted as an authorized broker by all manner of beings and deities, so I’m one of the few places where you can safely divest yourself of a god’s favor, a demon’s bargain, a faerie’s obligation.”
Martina stood, frozen with indecision, the token growing heavier and colder with the weight of potential. “I…”
“If I might offer advice?” At Martina’s nod, Quinn continued. “Avoid Prophecies and Destinies. You don’t strike me as a potential hero or chosen one. Favors and Bargains are even worse for unintended consequences. You really don’t want a trickster god’s attention. Come with me.”
Martina listened intently, following Quinn closely as they led her through the shop. “And people want those?”
Quinn shrugged. “Some folks are willing to risk it. Big gamble, big reward. Or epic failure. You never know. Some even go for the upgrade.”
“Upgrade? Like, they can buy more?”
“Of course,” Quinn laughed. “Everything is for sale if you’re willing to pay the cost.”
“How do they pay?” Martina asked, gawking at the endless array of enchanted objects. A small wooden clock caught her eye and she reached for it, only for Quinn to gently put a hand on her wrist.
“Careful. Touching implies interest, and too many of the items here are eager for a new owner.” Quinn offered a smile to put her back at ease. “As for paying, it all depends on what you’re willing to sell. The color of your eyes, the ability to taste spicy things, the meaning of your three favorite words…”
Martina gaped. “Oh.” She moved away from the clock, quickly, just in case, and they continued. They passed a bookcase labeled Second Chances, which sounded interesting. Quinn steered her clear with a sharp shake of the head.
“You’re not nearly desperate enough for those.” Quinn stopped in front of a case of jewelry marked Blessings. “I think this is your speed. Hard to go wrong with a Blessing. Is there a quality you’ve always wanted more of? First thing that comes to mind.”
“Patience,” Martina blurted out. “I’ve always been too impatient. That’s why my wish went wrong. I was tired of waiting for success.”
Smiling, Quinn plucked a ring from the case. It was simple but elegant, silver and gold woven with a star-shaped flower motif. “Excellent choice. I believe this should do.”
“So… what do you get out of all this?” asked Martina, following them back to the front. “Trading and selling all this magic?”
“Long ago,” Quinn said thoughtfully, “I lost someone very important. I keep hoping that they’ll turn up here someday. Until then, I’ll continue the work they started.” They refused to elaborate as they finished the transaction, exchanging the ring for the token. “Good luck with your Blessing.”
As the door shut behind Martina, she slipped the ring onto a finger, surprised by its comfortable warmth. A sense of peace and calm washed through her, and she closed her eyes to bask in the sensation. As such, she never saw Quinn quietly dissolve into the very fabric of the store, as though they’d never been there in the first place.
