Part 9 Louder
"Mom!???? Marci!!?" Jennifer said with shock.
"What's the matter with YOU?" Marci replied in bewilderment looking up from her bowl of cereal.
"You got even YOUNGER! What happened?"
"Younger? What are you talking about?"
"Like, younger! Like, you're a kid! You must be.... 13 or 14!"
"I'm 14! Are you sleepwalking or something???? You must need some more sleep!"
"You KNOW you're 14???"
"Well yeah... DUH! Don't rub it in! You're not THAT much older!"
"What!? What happened?" Jennifer asked.
"Are you OK? Really, I mean it. You're kinda acting.... weird!" Marci replied.
"Whoa... -I'M- acting weird? My mom is a 14 year old and you say -I'M- acting weird???"
"Mom's a 14 year old? My age? You really are freaking me out now!"
"NO! YOU! YOU are 14!!!" Jennifer shouted.
"Well... yeah.... DUH! This conversation, like, sure has made sense huh? And you're 16!" Marci said shaking her head in confusion "So we've established that you are my big sister. You are really an Einstein this morning!"
"Nuh huh..... like, YOU are NOT my little sister. Something's happened!"
"Am I supposed to be your big sister or something?" Marci asked playing along.
"Yeah!... I mean... NO! ....I mean, like, you were acting that way but.... geeeeez this is soooooooooooo confusing!"
"Like, -I'M- not confused NOW? What are you talking about???"
"You're not 14... you were, like, 19 but before that you were my 39 year old mother!"
Marci sprayed milk everywhere as she burst out laughing. "Wow, you really are weirding me out! You're a freak!"
"So you really, like, don't remember?" Jennifer asked with growing concern.
Marci shrugged as she wiped up the milk on the table.
"What did you do this morning... or last night after we went to bed?" Jennifer wanted to know.
Marci was getting bored with this. She tugged on her nightshirt. Funny how it seemed so big she thought. "I just went to bed, had a freaky dream, got up and made a bowl of cereal. I tried a cup of coffee but that stuff, like, SUCKS! Gross!"
"See???? Coffee! Why would a 14 year old drink coffee?"
"Cuz, I, like, wanted to try it I guess.... Geeeeez you're reaching!"
"OK... maybe... but I think it is weird. So, like, what was this -freaky dream-? Are you sure it was a dream?"
"Well... YEAH! I think I'd, like, know a dream wouldn't I?" Marci replied rhetorically. "You sure are smart!"
Sarcasm and frustration was obvious in Marci's tone.
Jennifer took a breath. "Tell me about the dream"
"Nah... It was weird"
"Just tell me!" Jennifer demanded.
Marci looked like she had a thought "Did you make me dream that stuff somehow!? How'd you do that???"
"Just tell me about your stupid dream. I didn't have anything to do with it!"
"OK... I was like, older.... and I was at the beach. Watching guys, you know? And then I remembered I had a test but all I had to wear to class was a string bikini. It was like that. Just, like, kinda stupid"
"You had a test? Don't you think that was weird?"
"Yeah... 'cuz today is like Saturday!"
"NO! Dreaming about YOU having a test???"
"We have tests at school. What's weird about dreaming about one?"
"But you were older! Tell me more about this dream and don't skip details!" Jennifer demanded.
"Well, all I had was, like, a string bikini and I couldn't wear THAT to class. I didn't have a coverup or flip-flops or anything! And I was scared because of this exam I'd forgot about. So I was all, like, worried and stuff and then I saw a shop and went in hoping to get some clothes"
"Was this the same shop from the other day?"
"What shop?"
"The one you stopped in that made you a teenager in the first place!"
"What are you talking about? Was there another dream or something that I've, like, forgot about? I hardly ever remember my dreams very long"
"Sorry... So you were a college student in your dream... about 19 years old I bet?"
"Yeah. So anyway.... This guy had like this schoolgirl outfit in this room just sitting there. Everything was there. So I put it on but was feeling funny cuz I was dressed wrong for college. But it was better than, like, being in a bikini in class. Then I realized I didn't have my car keys but I saw a school bus and so I got a ride on it. It took me to middle school though. I was about to run back to the university when, like, my teacher saw me. And then I realized I was where I was supposed to be. And then I woke up. The end! Happy?"
"Uhhh.... are you sure that was a dream?"
"Yes! Geeeez, what is wrong with you!?"
"I've gotta find Dad. Maybe he'll know what to do" Jennifer said grabbing Marci's hand "You're coming with me so you don't get any younger!"
"HEY!" Marci whined but followed along.
Bill wasn't in his bedroom... or office.... Where was he Jennifer wondered?
-
Kayla heard the ruckus and got up to see what it was all about.
"WOW! Cool!" she said seeing an even smaller and younger version of her mother. She immediately recognized her. Marci was standing there still wearing only her oversized nightshirt... although now it looked even larger on her than when she'd went to bed!
"What happened? Where's Dad?" Kayla asked.
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Bill walked into a small shop not sure if it was the right one. He had hardly slept trying to decide on a plan for the future.
"Howdy ho!" a cheerful salesman said upon seeing Bill "What can I do you for?" he said.
"I tell ya... I'm not sure I'm even in the right place. If I am NOT in the right place then I'm going to look like a fool when I tell you what I am looking for" Bill said sheepishly.
"Ohhhhh I don't know about that. I have a lot of rooms that can provide a lot of things"
"You're not making this easy" Bill told him "I'm looking for something not exactly like what I can get in other stores"
"Few stores offer what I offer" the man replied.
"What exactly do you offer?" Bill asked hoping he was in the right place.
"Dreams! I offer dreams!"
Bill's face brightened! This must be the place. "I believe you offered my wife her dream of being young again.... does that sound like something you'd offer here?"
"Most certainly!"
"Well, that's great for her but I'm not so sure that is so great for BOTH of us. I don't think I can relate to a 19 year old girl! So I was thinking maybe you could help me" Bill hoped he hadn't just made a fool out of himself and that this man was the right person he needed to be talking with.
"Ahhhhhh yes...... I am sure I can help you"
"How much will it cost?"
"Cost?. I don't feel like you can put a price on dreams. We can talk about that later. But Bill, you've had a lot of dreams in your life. Which one is really your greatest desire?"
"I don't understand... what are you saying?" Bill asked.
"Don't you remember how you used to dream of being an infant again? Not having a care in the world? Sometimes it would just be you being a little boy again. Other times it was infancy."
"Uhhhh that was a long time ago...." Bill replied noticing some of the old feelings stirring again. "Not so much after I got married"
"I also remember you dreaming about being female.... Your fantasy wasn't just getting your dream girl, it was also about you transforming into your dream girl!"
Bill was stunned. How could this man know these things? Bill could still picture his fantasy girl still frozen in her youthful beauty in his mind's eye. "I haven't thought about her in years" he said nearly trembling.
"Have you not?" the man replied as if he was unconvinced.
"I really came here with something in mind. I was thinking..... If I was 19....." his voice trailed off nervoulsy. Could he really have any dream he wanted fulfilled? Starting over? Experiencing life as a female? Rich? A combination? What other dreams had he forgotten as he became older, and jaded, simply because they seemed impossible?
"I know why you came here... and I know your dreams. I'm ready to fulfill your desires. Step in here" the man said.
Bill was nervous but he had to try.... He stepped into the room that the man had offered.
To be continued