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story identification - Hero rescues a minor deity, granted a wish of small value; gets a girl


As a high school student just starting in science fiction, I read a short story collection in paperback that included this story – not quite a short-short, but not very long either. I think that it was written by a familiar author, since the collection was one of those “Best Of…” anthologies.


Our hero is a sympathetic young guy trying to get ahead, in love with a beautiful neighbor, but hopeless in love. He rescues a miniature Minor Deity (and I've forgotten the mechanism – rescued from a cat perhaps?) and gets a wish in return. The catch is that since this is only a minor deity, the value of the wish is small – and I forget the actual value, perhaps $2.49. He asks for help winning at the races to help get the girl – and the minor deity says sure, but the payoff can only be $2.49. How about help rescuing her from a calamity like an earthquake? Sure, but the total damage can only be $2.49. Other alternatives are discussed, but the value can only be $2.49. Frustrated, our hero thinks about the problem, but the Minor Deity thinks he has a solution.



Later that evening, the girl knocks on the door, he opens it to her welcoming arms, and the night passes. The next morning, our hero finds a small clipping on the floor, an article stating the latest estimates of the total value of the elements in the human body were… $2.49. (The whole story was building to that punch line.)




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