A cowboy, dying of thirst in the desert, stumbled upon a mysterious briefcase. Opening it released a most unusual genie—one dressed as an auditor from the Australian Taxation Office. Skeptical but desperate, he listened as she explained the traditional three-wish rule. His first wish was for salvation: a lush oasis with all the sustenance he could want. It was instantly granted. Emboldened, he used his second wish to demand treasure, and found himself sitting atop a fortune in gold and jewels.
For his final wish, the cowboy thought he was being clever. He wished to be irresistibly desired and needed by beautiful women everywhere. The genie, with the literal-mindedness of a bureaucrat, fulfilled his request precisely.
He was transformed into a tampon. The story closes with a sharp, humorous moral about the hidden costs of seemingly generous offers from official entities. It’s a cautionary fable about the perils of vague wording and the importance of remembering that every gift, especially a magical one, can come with strings attached—or in this case, a complete transformation.
