Bedtime Stories for the Emotionally Exhausted

Fairy tales with practical results

Annika found the old teapot on the beach. As she rubbed the sand off, a Djinn popped out. “I will grant you three wishes,” he said, with great solemnity, despite all the sand in his face. 

Annika thought for a minute. “I wish for a billion dollars.”

The Djinn crossed his thick forearms and nodded his great head. “Your wish is granted,” he said, his sonorous voice reverberating in the sea air. “And your second wish?”

Annika thought for a minute, though not as hard. “Nope, I’ve got a billion dollars. I’m good.”

And she left. To live on a billion dollars. 

Full story at Inglenook Lit [June 22, 2026]