"Wait a minute," said the young man. "I thought you always got three wishes when you let a genie out of a lamp or bottle."
"Yeah, well, times have changed," retorted the genie. "Inflation, you know. My contract says that whoever lets me out gets one wish. Take it or leave it. What is your fondest wish?"
The young man pondered the question. He took so long that the genie finally said, exasperated, "Hey, man, come on. I have not got all day. What do you want?"
"You will grant whatever I wish?"
"Whatever."
"I am having a real problem figuring out what I want. The fact that you are restricting me to one wish really is not kosher, you know….. But ….. if you insist…. Here it is. What I want is for you to build me a bridge to Hawaii."
"Say what?" the genie replied. "I though you said you wanted a bridge to Hawaii. I am going to have to get my hearing checked."
"I did say that . I want a bridge to Hawaii. You see, I am afraid of flying. I flew one time, and I almost had a nervous breakdown, what with the possibility of plane crashes, and the airlinr food, and all."
"So take a boat."
"I get sick on boats. Deathly ill. I can not travel on boats. But if you build me a bridge to Hawaii. I can drive there. And I really need to go to Hawaii."
Chagrined, the genie asked, "Do you understand what you are asking me to do? I can not do that. Do you realize how far it is to Hawaii? It is 2,000 miles. I'd have to sink pillings into the ocean floor…. Do you know how much cement that would take? And I'd probably have to attach all kinds of pontoons, and it would take months just to do a geology survey and prepare an environmental impact statement. I'm tired after all thoes centuries inside that lamp. I don't think I have the energy….. No, this request is simply out of the question. Ask me something else. I'll give you another chance. Is there someone spesial you want to see? I can transport whomever you'd like right here in the twinkling of an eye. The queen of England. Madonna. Whomever. I can bring however many people you want-a whole army. Or maybe there is some possession you desire. A Rolls Royce, perhaps? Money ia no object."
Again the young man cogitated for a considerable time. Finally, he said, "Yes, I do have one more wish."
"All right," responded the genie. "Now we are getting somewhere. Make it; make it."
"Well," said the young man, "I have always been facinated by the mysteriousness and the unpredictability of women. Have you ever been able to figure them out? I have not. So that is my wish."
"What?" said the genie.
"To understand them. I have always wanted to know makes women tick. I will be satisfied if you can answer that question for me. That will be my wish."
…….."So did you want two lanes or four on the bridge?" the genie said.