Angel Espinoza

The Genie

I wrote this a while back and never posted it. Fifteen slides, drawn and rhymed, sitting in a folder. Here it is, unchanged, image for image and word for word.

An old leather-bound book titled Book of Modern Fables, decorated with small genie portraits in each corner

Let me share a MODERN tale, simple to behold, A tale meant to teach us, like fables told of old.

A gray-haired man in a sweater and jeans, standing plainly against a white background

There once was a man, steady as can be — We’ll call him ‘Angel,’ for simplicity.

The man shrugging with both hands open, a genie floating beside him with arms crossed, waiting

He met an entity great powers guaranteed — So he asked for ‘a car,’ to fulfill his current need.

The genie holding a small red toy car on his open palm, offering it to the man

In just a blink, without going far, The entity created a little car.

The same small red toy car, the man reaching for it

‘That’s not what I pictured,’ he said with a sigh, ‘I meant a bigger car — could we give that a try?’

The same toy car, now rendered rusty and weathered, still sitting on the genie's palm

‘No trouble,’ it said, raising the bar — ‘Here you go, a bigger car.’

A refresh, or loop, icon hovering between the man and the genie, both about to try again

He learned that his wishes must be clear, not thin — So he tried many times, again, and again…

The genie handing over a set of keys, a red sports car parked behind him

At last he got exactly what he sought — But knew he could change it later with a thought.

The genie asleep on the floor, snoring, while the man sits in an office chair working on his own laptop

So off he went, with a grateful smirk, Returning to his daily work.

A thought cloud crowded with a dozen generic-looking dashboard screens, charts, and maps

This helper, he learned, could do so much more, Than the simple wishes or tricks from before. From charts and infographics, dashboards that gleam, to whole presentations shaped from a theme. It built macros, programs, and tools for design, Solved his challenges, one step at a time. It reviewed his work with a careful eye, Asking the questions he might have passed by. And as each new skill came into view, He realized just how much more together they could do.

Two clusters of dashboard screens side by side, separated by a plus sign, one generic and one specific to a highway interchange

With API’s, platforms started working as one, Efficiency grew; real progress had begun.

The man smiling, presenting a tablet showing a clean traffic and intersection dashboard, with a 3D isometric interchange rendered above him

From that day on, without a quirk, The entity helped him with his work.

The man smiling broadly, satisfied

And with each task done crisp and snappy, Angel found himself so very happy.

The Book of Modern Fables again, closing the story

Thanks for joining me at this storytelling table — For listening to this humble little fable.

The Book of Modern Fables beside a large question mark

Maybe the story’s closer to true— On this site, I’ll walk you through.

Be Better - Wish exactly what you mean.