The Brass Bottle

"The Brass Bottle" by F. Anstey is a story from a old time where we meet Horace Ventimore, a not-so-great architect with a secret crush on Sylvia Futvoye, whose dad is a big-shot professor. Horace's life is kind of a mess until he buys a normal-looking brass bottle at an auction. Turns out, this bottle has a Jinnee inside who's ready to grant wishes. Early on, Horace thinks a lot about a trip with Sylvia, showing he's stuck between wanting things to be different and dealing with how things really are. Then, out of nowhere, Professor Futvoye asks him to bid on some stuff, changing everything. The story mixes a bit of love with a big adventure as the Jinnee shows up and gives Horace a chance to chase his dreams. This sets the stage for Horace to face his fears and go after what he really wants.