Welcome to the Hole part 2 by Jason Mitchell

Sep 25, 2002

Not sure what happened, but the story was cut off after I submitted. If I went over limit I do apologize but here is the rest of the story


"I can make that happen. I can't reverse it, or I wouldn't be here, and if I do it, it's permanent. Just take another look at those x-rays. But, you will be a kid. You can play games, watch cartoons and give up all responsibilities forever. Go to school like me. Think you could handle the third grade again? Who knows, we could be roomies."

"I have the resources," Dr. Jenkins said.

"To retire? How old are you, doc? Thirty something like I was. That's a long time without
income."

"I have people. I'm not married, at least, now, but I have family that would take care of me."

"And they would let you be a permanent little kid? If so, great, but if not you could end up here, too. It's not so bad for me. I own a huge online brokerage now, and I'm raking it in. It's amazing how much business you can do over the net and never have to worry about face to face meetings. After all, my signature and social security number are the same, and anyone who does a check will find out how old I really am."

"You little..." He said with a wry grin. "Do I have to decide this now?"

"What do I look like, a car salesman? I'm not going anywhere. Just promise me one thing
if you do decide to do this."

"What?"

"That you don't try to get famous from it. You could video tape the whole process, have
John Harris and a bevy of trained observers with you every second, and all the x-rays and scans in the world done while you change, but no one's going to believe it."

"Okay, I can understand that."

"Good, because I don't want you to come back to me complaining about this. If you say yes, it will happen and once it does there's no going back no matter what."

"Okay, but why are you telling me this? What's in it for you?"

"Nothing. But, Dr. Jenkins if you do decide to do this, it will make you happy."

"I know," the man said simply. "I know which is what makes this so hard. I'll get back to you on this."

"Oh, and nothing's going to happen until you tell Ms. Neuman that I'm healthy, okay?"


Two days later, the call came for Corey to report to the director after school. He was not surprised to find Dr. Jenkins waiting for him. He followed the man to a private office, and shut the door behind them.

"I did reassure Ms. Neuman that you are fine, and nothing is the matter with you," Dr. Jenkins started.

"And?" Corey asked quickly.

"And that little project we discussed. I want to go ahead with it. Seriously."

"Sure, Dr. Jenkins..."

"Dave," the man said, "or Davey. I have everything arranged with my family, and
finances so I am all set. Maybe I could get a pointer or two about online investing?"

"Anytime," Corey said drawing inward to make the connection with the doctor. He sent out two tendrils of power, touched the right spots, and opened his eyes. "It's done. I'd call John Harris, if I were you. It took me a couple of days to make the complete change."

"I didn't feel anything," Davey said with a frown.

"Neither did I, or anyone else I've helped."

"There are more kids like you now?"

"No, you're the first person I've found that truly wanted this change, and I know it's going
to be rough, at first, but it will work out for you in the long run. I wouldn't have done it otherwise."

"What else have you done?"

"There was a kid here named Stevie, about six, who prayed his heart out every night to be
a girl. She moved into the girl's wing a couple of months ago, and I'm her boyfriend."

"How deep does this change go? I mean could you turn people into animals if they wanted it badly enough?"

"Yes, I could, and I almost did once, but I just can't bring myself to cut someone's life span that short," Corey said with a long sigh. "It would have worked out, too."

"And the kid that did this to you?" Davey asked.

"I don't know. Part of his essence passed on to me, and the rest must have just passed on, so to speak. He was really happy about it too, and I wonder how long I'm going to live with this power. As far as I could tell, that kid was really eight-years-old, and didn't know when to say no."

Davey reached down and picked Corey up into a long hug. "I don't know how to thank you for this. I'll get my sister to bring me over here to see you when everything is settled in."

"Sure, thanks."


Davey Jenkins walked behind Ms. Neuman into the room, and said nothing to the two boys sitting on their beds. He tossed a bag of clothes on the empty bed and flopped down as Ms. Neuman introduced him to Mark and Corey.

As the lady left, Corey blurted out. "Well? I thought you were just coming for a visit?"

Davey shook Mark's hand, and gave Corey another hug. "You have got to be the nastiest
little creep in the world."

"Me?" Corey asked, hurt. "What did I do?"

"You told me the truth, that's what you did, and I didn't believe you. I was so sure that I was smarter than you. The whole time I changed, John Harris, my family, and a million other people were there watching, and testing and taking pictures and x-rays, but no one in the medical community believes us. If you even think about saying 'I told you so' I'll punch you.

"My sister -- my dear, darling sister, told me for days that I could come and live with her and my two nephews, but when she saw me really changing she freaked."

"Changing?" Mark asked. "Oh, is he like Stephie?"

"Sort of," Corey said. "He used to be Dr. Jenkins."

"Cool! Hi, doc, I'm all better from that sore throat."

"You believe him, Mark?" Davey asked.

"Sure. I've known Corey for two years now, and he's still a little shrimp but I know what he can do. When I get out of here I'm going to be rich."

"Which reminds me, kiddo," Davey said with a laugh. "I came this close to signing over
everything I had to my sister for taking care of me," he said indicating with two fingers.
"John got it into a trust fund for me, and he told me to ask you about managing it."

"No sweat, Davey. Take a number. But, have you ever thought of doing something online yourself? I mean, you could run a health site for kids. Kids' questions to the pediatrician, advice to moms and dads. That sort of thing."

"I hadn't thought about that, but would it make money?"

"Yeah, but give me time to work out the details and have a look at what you already have. You didn't have anyone that would take you in?"

"No, and believe me I tried after my sister backed out. She was sorry, but after a while it
became painfully obvious this was the only other choice I had. So, hi, roomie."

"Hi, yourself, but are you happy?"

Davey laughed. "I'll say. This is everything I had dreamed about and more. I've been having a blast. I did get a chance just to hang out and play with my nephews, but even that was too much for Julie. But, no matter what happens, I know I'm not going to regret this."


John Harris took Debbie Williams firmly by the arm and led her into the building. "This is the place."

"You never told me he was here," she said.

"You never asked, and when you think about it, where else could he go?"

"So many kids," she said. "He always wanted a big family, and I guess he got it, but... Couldn't he get adopted or something?"

"When a couple adopts a child or even fosters one, they do expect that child to grow up eventually. Deb, Corey's been here for five years now, and he's doing very well in some
ways, but this has changed him -- really changed him. Why are you here now?"

She sighed, then blurted out, "I want to get married again. I've been seeing someone for
the last few months, and it's serious. Corey never signed divorce papers, and..."

"Wait in here," John said and opened the door to the visitors room. "I'll get the office to send Corey down since they know me."

A staff member did bring Corey soon enough. He ran into the room. Dr. Harris stood up and lifted the boy up over his head. "Hi, squirt."

"Uncle John, hi! I didn't know you were coming to see me."

"It's a special visit, kiddo." He put Corey down. "Corey, do you remember Debbie?"

Corey looked at the lady and broke into a wide smile. "I remember you. Hi, I'm Corey. I'm eight years old. Do you want to see my room? I got some neat stuff for my birthday."

"Corey? It's me, Debbie. Your ex-wife?"

Corey giggled. "My wife? I remember. We were married. We lived in a great big house," he said waving his arms to show the size, then he started dancing around the room. "We had cars, and a great big TV and we played ... house! Want to meet Davey? He's my best friend and roommate. He used to be a doctor like I used to be -- I used to be -- I don't remember, but I was something."

"John, what's wrong with him?"

"Nothing and everything. We've thrown him into a child's world. That's all he has left. He reads kids' books, watches kids' TV and spends one hundred percent of his time with kids, is it any wonder that he adapted? He's a typical eight-year-old now. I get glowing reports from the staff here from time to time about how well he's fitting in."

"Isn't there anything we can do?"

"Would you be willing to adopt him? Take him into your new home and re-introduce him
to adult society?"

"No, I can't. Peter would never understand this."

"Who's Peter?" Corey piped up.

"Peter is a -- special friend of mine, and the reason I came to see you today. Do you remember what a divorce is?"

Corey frowned. "You want half my stuff?" he asked, appalled.

"You do remember, and no, sweetie, I don't want half of your stuff." Debbie stood up to
drop down to one knee. She rubbed a finger down the boy's cheek and hugged him "No,
you can keep all of your stuff, but I want you to sign a paper for me..." She looked up to
Dr. Harris. "Can he sign anything?"

"In crayon, but yes, he could. The legality is questionable and this may not stand up
under close scrutiny, but I'd have to read the papers first, as his advocate. I trust you aren't asking for anything besides the property you took five years ago?"

"I've got a whole collection of 'Star Wars' comics, and 'Spider Man', too!" Corey announced.

"Oh, I'm sure they are great." Debbie said. "Corey, I love you."

"I love you," he said solemnly. With that he gave Debbie a peck on the cheek. "Are we going to be married again?"

"No, but maybe after I marry Peter you might come for a visit?"

"But when I grow up you'll marry me again. I have a big stock company on the net and a
million billion dollars in the bank."

"I just bet you do," Debbie said wiping a tear from her eye. She stood up. "I'll get the papers. Half the proceeds from the house went into an escrow account for Corey and I wasn't sure what would happen. I'll make sure you get it for him, okay? Is there anything we can do for him?"

"No, but you might want to talk with Davey -- our missing pediatrician. He went through the same thing as Corey, and now I have two people stuck as eight-year-olds."

"If you had another one... How did it happen?"

"I did it," Corey bragged. "He really wanted it, too. Just like you really want to live on a beach somewhere and be a bathing beauty," Corey said and giggled. "You don't want to be married at all, but you're scared to not have a husband. It's okay, Debbie. I get scared too, sometimes."

"Damn it, he's right," Debbie almost whispered. "How did you know that?"

"I just do. You don't love Peter, but you do like him, and you won't be married to him for
long. I can send you to the beach, or make you a bathing beauty but not both."

"That's tempting, but you're right, sweetie. I am scared of not being married. I have to go
now, but Uncle John will bring some papers for you to -- print your name on, okay?"

"Okay," Corey said and lifted his arms to be picked up. "Are you coming back soon?"

"As soon as I can." With that, Debbie gave the boy a quick kiss on the cheek, put him down and headed for the door. "I'll meet you outside, John."

"Okay, in a few," he said, and picked Corey up as Debbie raced out the door.

"I think that went over well," Corey said. "Thanks, Uncle John."

"It was mean, Corey, downright mean, but I agree with you. She would have tried to get
half of your net money, and go to the beach."

"But I did tell her about it, and she can't say I didn't if she ever finds out about it. I just
wish she hadn't waited five years for this. It was really hard letting her go like that. But, there's no way I could have held her either."

"You know, Corey, you never told me what my innermost desire was."

Corey laughed. "Isn't it painfully obvious, John? It's something I've always known about you and it's something I can't help you with either. Your burning passion is to be the best doctor that you can be." After all, it was just a little fib.

John Harris laughed, then nodded his head. "Right again. And you?"

"I can't grant my own wish but I always wanted to have kids and be the best dad I could be to them. And now I do have kids, lots of kids, and I'm doing the best I can for them. I'm right where I should be."

"Okay, squirt. You go play with your friends while I drive Debbie home," Dr. Harris said and let the boy down.

"Thanks! See ya, and please tell Debbie that I really don't want to come for a visit when
she marries this Peter, okay? That is unless he wants to be a kid again." Corey grinned, and raced for the door to lose himself in the crowd of kids.

Dr. Harris watched the boy go, just another laughing and screaming kid having a blast no
matter where he was. He did, he had to admit, have a pang of regret, but he could never
have given up his life and practice as Davey had. It would have ruined his life to be a kid again, but at least it wasn't an issue now. Corey, of all people, didn't know about that -- that he, too, would give his right arm for a chance to be a kid again. Unless the little brat was lying through his teeth to prevent a headstrong doctor from ruining his own life.

Someday he would ask Corey that question again, and who knows, maybe he would get a
different answer. After all, Corey wasn't going anywhere.

End