you… “

“I know!” Karnage snapped. “I wasn’t specific!” He sneered at the Genie, mixed together with his glare that would kill a wildebeest at that moment.

The Genie sighed. “Sorry, but as I’ve told you repeatedly… You need to be specific in your instructions with each wish you make, and make sure that they are clear. As a wish can... ”

“I know! I know!” Karnage repeated. God, this Genie was worse to deal with than Baloo. He fumed for a few moments. He had hoped that he had been done with the ‘camouflage’ wishes, but it seemed he had no choice. If he tried wishing Baloo in his sights again, he might end up with another hundred Baloos on his ship, or worse… He might find himself stuck with that Baloo-ified bellydancer again.

Karnage shuddered.

The worst part was that when the spell had worn off, the bellydancer had actually turned out to be a very attractive lady-cat, one whom Karnage would have very much liked to have spent some time alone with. But she had been so insulted at having been referred to as a ‘pot-bellied, bad-smelling oaf!’ by Karnage, that she had taken the first transport off the ship.

Karnage fumed, cursing the fact that although she didn’t remember anything at all about being turned into Baloo for the whole day, she could still clearly recall how he had insulted her, when he had been trying to steer clear of her… or him as she was back then.

“On the plus side,” the Genie materialised a pair of scissors out of thin air, and began trimming his beard. “I don’t think you or your men have had a more wild party than the one yesterday?”

“Or such a long one,” Karnage muttered, but shook his head. “Never mind that now! It seems I have no choice, but to once more go into the camouflage, to spy on my nemesis. Listen to my instructions, and make double sure that you get it right this time, comprehende?”

The Genie saluted him, like a soldier, and then crossed his arms, waiting for the wish.

Karnage tapped his snout for a while, wanting to get his wording clear. “Okay, first of all, I do not wish to loose my Fox-hood again, so you will NOT change me into anything other than another Animal Being, understand?”

The Genie nodded. “Oke doke, no more being turned into furniture. Got it!”

“Or anything else!” Karnage warned him. “Second of all… “

“Let me guess?” the Genie interrupted. “You wanna be someth… I mean some-ONE, who will be close to Baloo at all times throughout the day?”

“Correct!” Karnage said happily, glad that the Genie seemed to finally understand. “Just remember, no being turned into anything other than another person, remaining close to Baloo, the real Baloo of this world, and with minimal risk of getting harmed… In fact, turn me into someone that will ensure this time I shall not be harmed.”

“How’d you mean?” the Genie asked curiously.

Karnage shrugged. “Turn me into someone that Baloo wouldn’t dream of hurting… like a new customer for his pathetic business, or a visiting relative. Is that understood?”

The Genie clicked his fingers, understanding, and cracked his knuckles. “You want it, you got it, master! I’ll turn you into someone who will be perfectly safe this time… Mumbo jumbo, bits, ends and bobs! Fulfil this guy’s wish, and ensure he’ll be as safe as if with his Mom and Pops!”

The flash and puff of smoke followed, and Don Karnage had his wish granted…

* * * * *

One Second Later; Higher For Hire:

… “There, there,” Baloo cooed, cringing his snout at the smell, as he changed the diaper of Higher for Hire’s newest ‘client’.

“Becky!” he hissed at his employer in the other room, speaking lowly. “Are you completely loco? This is without a doubt the dumbest hair-brain of a scheme you’ve ever had… A day-care centre, in an air-delivery service???”

Rebecca Cunningham poked her head in, grinning like mad. “Oh, come on, Baloo. Where’s your paternal instinct? Loads of people have kids, and many of them don’t have the time to do everything they want in a day… So we open a crèche, at least temporarily. We look after the kids, as part of the service, and whenever they need something else delivered, they immediately remember us. It’s foolproof!”

“No, it’s just foolish!” Baloo snapped, and then immediately tried hushing the baby that he was holding. “I’m no babysitter, I’m a pilot. I’m supposed to be out there delivering.”

Rebecca snorted. “That’ll be a first,” she scoffed, and then added more calmly. “Look, Baloo. Believe me when I say you weren’t my first choice for a babysitter… “

‘Or even my last,’ she thought.

“… I would take care of the baby myself,” she said, continuing out-loud, “but I have no time. I’ve got a load of paperwork that needs doing, so I’m booked solid for the day. And Kit’s at school, so he’s not available either. There are no deliveries for the rest of today, so that means your schedule is free, hence the reason why you’ve got the job. You’re the logical, and only, choice.”

“What about Wildcat?” Baloo near pleaded.

Rebecca gave him a look that he couldn’t quite read.  “Don’t even go there,” she finally said. “I barely trust him to make dinner, let alone have him take care of a client’s child.”

Baloo fumed, and then asked. “Who is the client anyway?”

“GEN-I Enterprises,” she replied. “Apparently they’re some new company that just started up here in Cape Suzette. The owner wanted someone to look after his kid, just for the day. So if we make a good impression, we could be set up with a new client for life!”

“What’s the kid’s name?” Baloo then asked.

Rebecca looked as if she was about to reply, but then paused, and frowned. “Hmmm, I can’t remember,” she answered. “Must have forgot to ask … Huh, never mind. I’ll check later.” She then turned around, about to return to her office.

“Hey!” Baloo exclaimed. “You’re not gonna leave me here alone with him, are ya?”

Rebecca gave him a sideways glance. “The B and the S stand for babysitting, Baloo… not brain-surgery. You’ll do fine.”

“But what am I supposed to do with him for the rest of the day?” he asked. “You expect me to sit around on my duff all that time?”

Rebecca rolled her eyes. “It’s never stopped you before,” she murmured. “Play with him, give him a bath, get him to take a nap, or… “ She thought for one second. “How about taking him out for a ride?”

Baloo’s face brightened. “Yeah, that sounds great! I can take him to Louie’s, show him the spots, give him one of Louie’s Crackatuo Specials and… “

“Baloo!” Rebecca said warningly. “Two things… One, I didn’t mean a ride in the Sea Duck… and two, you don’t feed babies ice cream!”

Baloo looked disappointed. “Well, what am I… “

“Take him out for a bicycle-ride is what I meant,” Rebecca answered for him.

Baloo’s jaw dropped. “A bike-ride? Get serious!”

Rebecca snorted again. “It’ll just be for the day. Wildcat found an old bike the other day, which he can easily fix up in no time. You’ll get some exercise, fresh air, you and the baby can see some of the sights together, maybe go to the park… “ She noticed Baloo’s expression and paused.

“Okay then, which do you prefer?!” she snapped. “Going out with the baby, or staying here with me?”

That settled it.

“I’ll go talk to Wildcat,” Baloo quickly said.

“Just make ‘triple’ sure that absolutely nothing happens to the kid, all right?” Rebecca warned him.

Baloo looked insulted. “Hey, Beckers… I might be, as you say, a tad irresponsible, but I’m no wild animal…” he paused briefly. “Well, except at parties, but that doesn’t count…  But I am the all around best pilot you could ever hope to get, and a really great looking one at… “

“Baloo,” Rebecca said tiredly. “Do you have a point to make?”

Baloo lifted his chin proudly, as he held the baby over his shoulder, patting its back, burping him. “Despite all that, I would never ever do anything that would risk hurting any kid, let alone a baby. You can trust old Baloo on that.”

Rebecca gave a small smile. “Fine,” she said. “Just make sure I don’t live to regret it,