The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THREE MEN WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND. ONE WAS FROM GERMANY,
ONE WAS FROM ITALY AND ONE WAS FROM MAINE. ONE DAY, THEY CAME UPON
A BOTTLE. THEY RELEASED THE CONTENTS AND OUT CAME A REAL GENIE.
THE GENIE SAID, "SINCE YOU KIND GENTLEMEN HAVE RELEASED ME FROM MY
BONDAGE, I WILL MOST GRACIOUSLY GRANT YOUR FONDEST WISHES. MAN FROM
GERMANY, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WISH FOR? THE GERMAN SPOKE, "OH GENIE,
I WOULD BE EVER SO HAPPY TO GO BACK TO GERMANY. I HAVE NOT SEEN MY
FAMILY IN MONTHS." "VERY WELL, IT'S OFF TO GERMANY YOU GO!!!!"
REPLIED THE GENIE. " MAN FROM ITALY, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?" " OH
GENIE, SEND ME BACK TO ITALY. THE SEASON CHANGE IS SO BEAUTIFUL
THERE AND I HAVE A LOVE THAT I'VE LONGED TO SEE." " ITALY AWAITS
YOU," REPLIES THE GENIE. " AND NOW, MAN FROM MAINE, WHAT IS YOUR
FONDEST WISH? THE MAN THOUGHT AND THOUGHT, FINALLY HE SAID, "I KIND
OF MISS THOSE GUYS ALREADY, THINK YOU COULD BRING THEM BACK HERE?"

Where learned: MICHIGAN

Date learned: 11-19-1987