Pt3
“Johnny, I think you know why I want to talk to you. What did you give your mother and where did you get it?” Mary asked him.
Johnny realized his grandmother might not be pleased with him. “Ummm It was water from the Fountain of Youth like I toldya before!” he answered.
“Normally, I’d say there is no such thing as the Fountain of Youth but right now I’m willing to hear more about it. Exactly where did you find it?”
“I didn’t find it... I guess the Petries did”
“Who are the Petries?” she calmly asked him as she tried to put all the pieces together.
“They live down the road. Sometimes I go over there and talk to ‘em and stuff. They’re nice”
“Are they scientists?”
“I dunno.... maybe... I didn’t ask ‘em”
“So how is it they gave you this water, or potion, or whatever it is from this so-called fountain?”
“I dunno... we were just talkin’ and stuff and they told me about it”
“And?”
“Uhhhh.... welll.... they told me it would make people get younger”
“I understand how the fountain is supposed to work. What I don’t understand is why they gave it to you or how you come to give it to your mother?”
“Oh... Well....ummmm. They asked me if I knew anyone who’d wanna be younger and I thought mommy would. I wasn’t sure at first but I thought it would be cool if she was younger.”
“So they knew you were going to give it to your mother?”
“Uh huh... they told me I could”
“Enough to turn her into a child?”
“Yeah....”
“But your mother didn’t want to be a child” Mary explained as she heard little Trina yelling “Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee” as Jamie pushed her higher and higher in the swing.
“They said she might not want to at first but once she drank enough she’d see stuff different. But I asked her first anyway and told her what it was and she wanted to drink it.”
“I see... Well, Johnny, since she didn’t believe it was anything other than regular water I’m sure THAT is why she drank it. She was just playing along with you. Please tell me the Petries have an antidote?”
“I dunno....”
“You don’t know??? Look at the trouble you’ve caused! You’ve caused your mother to change from a parent to a playmate! You need to tell me where I can find the Petries. I need to have a talk with them immediately!”
“Are you gonna make mommy a grownup again?” he asked disappointedly.
“I’m certainly going to try! Now tell me where they are!”
Johnny explained which house in the neighborhood was their’s. They were in their 50’s and had moved in only recently.
Mary next brought Trina inside and cleaned her up. She borrowed some clothing from Jamie’s wardrobe that closely fit Trina and made her look presentable rather than the barefoot ragamuffin she appeared to be earlier. Shorts, sandals, a T-shirt and her hair in pigtails.... she looked and acted every bit the 5 year old she appeared. No one would ever suspect she was really almost 30 years old!
“Mommmmmmmmy?? I don’t wanna grow up!” she whined when Mary explained what they were about to do.
Mary took her hand and had to tug her along as they walked down the street. Trina wasn’t being too cooperative.
“I swear! You act more like a two year old than a 5 year old!” Mary scolded “Act like a little lady and do as you are told! Isn’t there an adult in there SOMEWHERE?!”
Trina bit her lower lip and hung her head. She’d forgotten how bossy her mom could be!
They arrived at the house Johnny had directed them to. After they rang the doorbell a voice yelled for them to ‘come around back’.
Sitting around the pool was a couple in their 50’s. Both looked very relaxed and not concerned with their surprise visitors.
“She does make for a cute little girl” the woman said to the man and they smiled.
“She certainly does” he replied.
“I’m not exactly sure what to say. My name is Mary and we have a little problem” Mary started, trying to find the proper words to say what she would’ve thought was impossible only earlier that morning. “This is Trina...”
“Yes, we know. She’s such a darling and pretty little girl!”
Trina smiled. These people knew she was a little girl and even said that she was pretty!
They knew it was Trina? Mary was a bit confused but continued on “Umm somehow she drank something, a medicine maybe... my grandson said it was from the Fountain of Youth and that you had it... Anyway.... it was an accident that she drank it. She didn’t know it was real. You can imagine. She was just... ummm humoring her son... Now she’s younger than him! I guess you are doctors or scientists?”
The two laughed and then the gentleman answered “Scientists... You could say that!”. Again, they broke out laughing.
“You’ll have to excuse our manners. We don’t work much anymore. I’m Rob and this is my wife Laura and you must be Trina’s mother... Mary?”
How did he know her name? She figured Johnny or Jamie must’ve told them. Everything was so odd! “So, I’m hoping there is an antidote?” she said.
“An Antidote? Little Trina doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to grow up. You realize that there’s a natural antidote don’t you?”
“Natural antidote?”
“Yes... She’ll grow up at the rate of 1 year every year if you just let things be!” the man said and laughed heartily.
His wife joined in laughing as well. “Rob! That’s probably not what she meant! Don't be so mean... Not everyone gets your sense of humor!”
Were they purposely toying with her Mary wondered?
“Here, let’s all have a seat” Rob said as he moved to an umbrella covered table. Laura went inside to fix drinks. She returned with a tray full of drinks and sat them on the table.
“I hope you like lemonade?” Laura said.
“Yes... lemonade is fine” Mary replied as she sat down and graciously accepted the offering.
Rob wiped his brow and took a drink “Laura makes the best lemonade. It really hits the spot on a hot day like today!”
“Trina, honey, there’s some stuffed animals just inside the house if you want to play with them.” Laura said as she motioned toward the door.
That sounded like fun and Trina made a beeline in the general direction that Laura had sent her.
Mary just wanted to find out about an antidote and get Trina back to normal. These people did seem friendly enough... altho a tad bit eccentric.
“So, is there an antidote?” Mary asked sipping the lemonade.
“She doesn’t seem as interested in finding it as you do!” Rob said with a laugh “The thought of being a parent all over again not sound too appealing?”
Laura laughed, almost spraying her drink.
“Now, let’s be serious for a moment” Rob said “Are you sure Trina drank the waters by accident? She seems pretty happy”
“Yes she does!” Laura added “I’d hate to ruin her second childhood!”
Mary adjusted herself in the seat as she tried to be polite yet to the point. She wanted to yell but she needed to remain calm. These people were obviously a bit flighty. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing. “No, I’m quite sure it was an accident. I had her explain everything that had happened and it was obvious she had no intentions of being a child. She didn’t think it was even possible. I mean, who would?”
They laughed as if Mary had just told the funniest joke they’d ever heard. Mary smiled politely as Laura refilled her lemonade. She didn’t really want to stay and drink another glass. She just wanted the antidote. Then she realized that they’d never even said that there was an antidote!
“Now, there IS, like, an antidote isn’t there?” she asked.
“Youth is so intoxicating” Rob said.
Laura laughed raising her glass
“To youth! Why is it wasted on the young?” Rob said.
Mary scooted her seat in to politely join the toast altho she was getting a bit agitated. Is there an antidote and would you please give it to me she wanted to yell out but thought better of raising her voice. She finished the toast and set her glass down. She looked across the table at Rob and Laura. Did they look different? Was their hair less gray? Everything was too weird. This whole experience was reminding her of an acid trip from her wild past in the 70’s. The only thing missing was a talking rabbit!
“You guys, like, I really wanna just get the antidote for Trina... OK?”
They both only laughed at her. Mary was taken aback by their reaction. Why were they prolonging this. What was so funny? What’s wrong with these people she wondered? Suddenly, a piece of their earlier conversation clicked. Their names...Rob and Laura.... Rob and Laura Petrie! She hadn’t thought of it earlier but had they taken their names from an old TV show? Surely, it wasn’t coincidental she wondered? Her mind was racing. Was it playing tricks on her? Why would they make up fake names... let alone something as hoaky as Rob and Laura Petrie? Something wasn’t right!
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To be continiued?