Granny and several elders sat in the big screen room flicking the remote control. A projection similar to a hologram materialized on the stage before them. TJ's Shoe Store was the main focus of everyone's attention.

Granny shifted the control knob several decibels as Robert's voice from within the enclosed mirror was discernible.

"Lizzy!" He said in a desperate whisper. "My Lizzy, I miss you something terrible."

Granny gazed at the elders as she raised one eyebrow.

"Have you ever seen a depressed wish-giver before?" Granny asked with worry.

The elders began to whisper amongst themselves as the chairperson stood. He was the kindest of the elders with laugh lines surrounding his eyes, hinting at what once was human kindness.

"We have given great thought to this problem with Robert. After much consideration we feel it best that you administer the wedge of forgetfulness to him."

"Please, I beg you to reconsider." Granny urged, her face paling.

"He's not being productive on the front lines. IN fact, several people in need passed right by him and he refused to see their problems, he refused to lift a finger to help them."

"Maybe I could have a talk with him." Granny suggested.

All eyes within the screening room gazed at her with sadness. Without words she understood they had reached a final decision. She was just wasting her time, wasting her voice in pleading Robert's case.

"If he forgets Lizzy......." Granny began. "He will also loose everything that made him uniquely Robert. Without any past life experiences how can we expect him to muster compassion for those who need it?"

The female elder stood. All that was visible was an outline of her hair, no face was apparent within an intense blinding light. Everyone shielded their vision as she began to speak.

"He will find it in his heart. Robert's heart is big and there is plenty of room for more. The only fraction missing will be the space that once belonged to Elizabeth Fenmore. I want you to remove him from his current team and place him in charge as team leader of another."

Another elder stood. "He should have no contact with anyone who may remind him of his past love, Jeanne Wishgiven. For the good of the community I hereby request that you remove her plaque from the great hall."
"Remove her plaque?" Granny said in a tone of disbelief. "She was an inspiration to everyone that knew her."

"Was is the imperative term here. The woman is gone, her spirit removed from this organization. It's time that we all get over it and continue to fight against the evil one by helping the living who need it."

"Is this your final decision?" Granny asked in a humble tone.

The elders stood, one after another. There was grandeur in their sense of formal tradition. Each placed their hand to the empty cavity that at one time contained their human hearts. The gesture indicated the finality of their decision, there was no turning back.

"So be it then." Granny said clenching her teeth.

_______________

Granny stood on the beach skipping flat rocks into the ocean. She pulled a tool from her house dress and clicked the center of the triangular shape. In an instant Robert Wright materialized before her and his eyes were wide with shock, wide with surprise.

"Did you find Lizzy?" He asked in desperation.

"No. Lizzy is gone Robert and she won't be returning anytime soon."

"You know I'll never accept that."

"I know Robert. That's okay, everything is okay." Granny whispered twisting the triangular shape. There was sadness in her expression as she placed the metallic wedge into his grip.

"Just peer inside Robert, just gaze within the miniature maze of transport tunnels for all the answers you'll ever need."

Robert placed the apparatus to his eyes trusting Granny. He peered within two magnified chambers and gasped with disbelief.

"It holds the secrets of our universe." He whispered, suddenly finding it difficult to stand. Robert repositioned his feet in a feeble attempt at balance.

"I'm loosing her." He whispered a few moments later. "I can no longer see her face, I can no longer feel her heart..... she's dissolving, this woman, this woman who dreams of only me... I, I, can't find anything, I can't see anything. It's as if I've lost all vision. Why? Who? It's blank......It's blank inside, please help me! I'm lost... Oh, good Lord, I'm lost!"

Robert fell to the ground, the triangle of wisdom became detached from his grasp and his eyes remained closed.

Granny swooped down plucking the tool from the sand and clicked the button only once. The peering holes closed in a way similar to a camera's aperture. Granny gazed about the deserted dimension in a nervous manner, she then slid the wedge back into her pocket.

"It was for your own good Robert."

"Robert?" He questioned with obvious confusion.

"You're a magical genie Robert. Your job is to help those who need a wish. Trust me when I say everything will be all right now."

"Why do I feel broken?"

"I'm not sure... what do you mean?"

"It's as if something important has been stolen from me."

"Nothing of significance, nothing that you need in this world.. today."

Robert nodded pulling himself to his feet.

"We must find you a unique port, one that you can feel comfortable with. There are genies waiting for you Robert, genies that require direction. Good luck on your new assignment."

"What was my old assignment?" Robert asked confused.

"You were in a shoe store trying to save a hundred souls!" Granny said with a chuckle.

"Oh that's bad." Robert said with a half smile catching her joke.

Granny brushed away tears as she led Robert to the doorway of an alternate island. The transparent wall rippled in the gentle breeze.

"After I introduce you to everyone, we'll go over your new responsibilities."

Robert nodded and for the first time since Jeanne Wishgiven disappeared, a smile lined his lips.

"Good luck to you Robert. I'll be following soon." Granny said, shoving him through the ruffle of dimension. "...and remember, what you need for your work will come back to you eventually."

As soon as he passed through the layer of wall, Granny pulled the triangular wedge from her pocket and sealed the outline his body severed through the material. It reattached the cutout of his outline seaming it in a zipper like pattern. Once completed, it was as if he had never been present in that sector. Granny sighed as she replaced the tool into her apron.

"Forgive me Robert." She whispered as she headed to her personal doorway to follow him.

"This is the part of my job I least enjoy." In an instant, Granny disappeared from that reality. Somehow she knew that Robert was waiting, Robert was waiting and there were humans in need of his style of wish giving.