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"SSC9: On the sea of sand"

‘If I could,’ said Dawar, addressing his camel, ‘if I could I would enchant her eyes by summoning in the sunset sky a great cloud, which, on the utterance of her name, would transform into a majestic palomino, as golden as the goblets on the Sultan’s table. Dazzling with a beauty beyond her wildest dreams, it would prance across the sapphire heavens in a wide circle. Then, as her eyes blink in disbelief and wonder, my long shadow would leave the sand and climb an invisible stairway, its fleet-footed ascent leading it to an emerging starburst of crimson light. And my leaping shadow would seize that star by one of its glittering points and return to earth, floating slowly down, as if gripping the string of a festive balloon, till landing softly at her feet, where its dark hand would drop the sublime star into her cupped palms, and as her eyes marvelled at the wonders I am able to control, I would say, I, Dawar, give this to you, Almase, light of my life, my soul.’

Dawar looked at his camel. ‘If I could I..’ He produced a small grey-blue lamp from beneath his robes. ‘If I..’ He began to gently rub it with his fingertips.
Nothing happened.
He rubbed the lamp a little harder, uttering strange words.
Nothing.

Dawar sighed, picked himself up, clasped his camel’s leash and pulled it. The beast wouldn’t budge. He tugged it again. Still the camel refused to move. A third time. At last the beast yielded to the boy’s command.
‘If I could,’ said Dawar, walking towards the sunset’s crimson jewel, glancing askance at his companion, ‘if I could I would transform you into a flying carpet, glide over the land kicking up a storm of sand, amaze her eyes with my acrobatic soaring, and free myself from your stubbornness once and for all!’
The camel grunted, halted, crouched its rear end and, gawping at its nostrils, unleashed a cataract of urine. Dawar looked away shaking his head.
Another day of dreams was coming to an end.

Interesting.

I'm sure I've read this before, though, and it still feels like a little bit of a story rather than a complete short story.

‘If I could,’ said Dawar, addressing his camel, ‘if I could I would enchant her eyes by summoning in the sunset sky a great cloud, which, on the utterance of her name, would transform into a majestic palomino, as golden as the goblets on the Sultan’s table. Dazzling with a beauty beyond her wildest dreams, it would prance across the sapphire heavens in a wide circle. Then, as her eyes blink in disbelief and wonder, my long shadow would leave the sand and climb an invisible stairway, its fleet-footed ascent leading it to an emerging starburst of crimson light. And my leaping shadow would seize that star by one of its glittering points and return to earth, floating slowly down, as if gripping the string of a festive balloon, till landing softly at her feet, where its dark hand would drop the sublime star into her cupped palms, and as her eyes marvelled at the wonders I am able to control, I would say, I, Dawar, give this to you, Almase, light of my life, my soul.’

Dawar looked at his camel. ‘If I could I..’ He produced a small grey-blue lamp from beneath his robes. ‘If I..’ He began to gently rub it with his fingertips.
Nothing happened.
He rubbed the lamp a little harder, uttering strange words.
Nothing.

Dawar sighed, picked himself up, clasped his camel’s leash and pulled it. The beast wouldn’t budge. He tugged it again. Still the camel refused to move. A third time. At last the beast yielded to the boy’s command.
‘If I could,’ said Dawar, walking towards the sunset’s crimson jewel, glancing askance at his companion, ‘if I could I would transform you into a flying carpet, glide over the land kicking up a storm of sand, amaze her eyes with my acrobatic soaring, and free myself from your stubbornness once and for all!’
The camel grunted, halted, crouched its rear end and, gawping at its nostrils, unleashed a cataract of urine. Dawar looked away shaking his head.
Another day of dreams was coming to an end.