"You ~CHILDREN~ play nice" Kayla told the three "I have some work to do on the computer"
Peter wasn't sure he liked playing with Barbie dolls but he didn't have many options right now. At least they let him play with the Ken doll. Jenni and Billi liked having someone else to play with sense Katie was gone. Kayla logged onto the internet and began composing an email to the Dreamkeeper. Before she could finish the phone rang.
"Hello?" she said.
"Hello Kayla. Were you wanting to speak with me?" a voice replied. It was the Dreamkeeper.
"I was just about to send you an email!" she told him.
"I know" he answered "I'm afraid you have a problem don't you?"
"Yes! I tried the mind control spell on that crazy old bat and she broke it!" Kayla explained "What happened? She might ruin everything!"
"We were just discussing that here. You might've taken Martha a little lightly. Such simple things. Were you trying to have too much fun with her? Perhaps you should've taken the ability more seriously?" the Dreamkeeper explained "But I think you realize that now. I must say the effort was good. It was just not strong enough!"
"So, what now?" Kayla asked.
"I've discussed this with my partner and we feel you could use more power. I know it wasn't part of our deal but now that Martha thinks she is onto you more power could certainly be to your benefit!" the man told her.
"Your's too!" Kayla said.
The Dreamkeeper laughed "I'm not worried about Martha. I just don't want her to ruin your dreams. I've told you that your dreams being fulfilled are important to me. You should understand that now. Haven't I provided everything that you've asked of me?"
"Yes" Kayla replied.
"Well, then there is no need to worry now. The potion that you placed in Martha's coffee is still in her system. That makes her still susceptible and weakened. With your increased abilities she is vulnerable and doesn't even know it"
"So you're going to increase my powers?" Kayla asked hopefully.
"Already done!" the Dreamkeeper said "Just remember our deal!"
"So what do I do?" she asked.
"You'll know. Think! It will make it so much more of a feeling of conquest to accomplish this on your own" he told her.
Kayla paced back and forth as she talked on the cordless phone. She wanted to say something but wasn't sure that she should. Afterall, the Dreamkeeper had already done so much.
"Speak Kayla... What is it that your heart desires?"
"I was just thinking.... Maybe Marci could be even younger? Maybe?" Kayla replied.
"Why don't you get her and see?" the man answered.
Kayla went upstairs and grabbed baby Marci from her crib. "Does baby want to be even younger?" Kayla sang.
Baby Marci began to get fussy. She kicked and squirmed. "What's wrong with you? I thought you liked being younger... me being the mommy?" Marci only squirmed more. Kayla was disappointed. She considered using her mind control powers but thought it would be wrong to do such a thing to a baby that had been her mother. "Have I been a bad mommy? Why don't you want to be younger? I want to know what it is like to.... to... to have a smaller baby".
Baby Marci kicked harder. She began to cry even more.
"Don't cry, baby...." Kayla said as she unbuttoned her blouse "I'm sorry. I just thought you'd like being tinier and in my care even more...."
Baby Marci stopped squirming and fussing. Her tiny hand touched Kayla's nipple. "I thought you'd like that" Kayla said as she held the child against her breast. "I'd be a better mommy if you'd just let me... if you'd be tinier... Don't you want that? Isn't it safe in mommy's arms?"
9 month old Marci started to grow younger.... and smaller. "You DO want to be younger don't you?" Kayla said as the baby stayed close to her breast and shrank in her arms. 8 months.... 7 months.... 6 months.... 5 months.... 4 months.... Marci slid deeper into infancy as her infantile instincts were in control. Kayla kept pleading. It still wasn't enough. Ideas ran thru her head. "Be younger, baby...."
3 months.... "younger"....2 months..... "younger".... 1 month.... "younger"
And now baby Marci's age could be measured in weeks. 3 weeks..... 2 weeks.... 1 week......
"Younger...."
6 days..... 5 days...... 4 days.....
"Younger...."
3 days... 2 days.... 1 day.....
"Younger...."
And then merely hours...
24 hours....16 hours.... 12 hours..... 6 hours.....
"Younger...."
3 hours....
"Younger...."
Kayla laid the tiny infant back in the crib. She laid her gently on her back. Her diaper needed tightened. It was much too large now.
Kayla picked up the phone nervously. "She wanted to get even younger! She's so small now! How old is she????"
"She's a newborn now. 2 minutes old" the dreamkeeper said.
"2 minutes??? Oh wow...." Kayla replied nervously "So far back...... wow..... Ummm is it possible to.... ummmm......"
"To what, Kayla?" the man asked.
Kayla took a breath. "Uhhh nothing.... Nothing...." she answered rather uneasily.
"Do you desire something else?" he asked "Please tell me. That is what I am here for"
"Oh....whoa... let me think....." she said.
======================================================================
"Veronica, there's no time to explain on the phone. I need you on a plane here. The next plane! This is an emergency. Bring your.... supplies! I'll explain when you get here! Bye!" Martha said as she put the phone down.
"She'll be here soon. Then we can figure our next plan. She's always wanted to meet you" Martha told Katie.
Katie still didn't like being younger. She wanted to be 16 again. No way was she going back to grade school! She only hoped Aunt Martha and this mysterious Veronica could help her.
Martha began gathering various odds and ends from her cabinets. Katie had no idea what some of the items were.
The phone rang. "I'll get it Aunt Martha" Katie said as she reached for the phone. Martha was busy on the step ladder going through the top shelf of the cupboard.
"It's for you" Katie said holding the phone.
"Oh what now? I told Veronica to get her right away. She's probably worried about bringing her cat!" Martha took the phone "Veronica, this is important.... bring your cat... I don't care!"
"Martha, You will listen to me and NOT hang up this phone!" a voice said. It was Kayla.
Martha figured Kayla was going to try and trick her but she didn't care. What could it hurt to listen? Afterall, she had more power to overcome Kayla's simple methods. How much power and knowledge could someone that young have?
"Martha, have you changed out of your clothing yet?"
"Yes" she answered seeing no reason to lie.
"Martha, don't you realize that when you wore those clothes you looked young again? Without them you are old. Very old! Tired. Sore. Old!"
Martha wondered why she had ever taken them off! She could hardly keep her balance on the ladder. She slowly stepped down.
"Martha, you must be 100 years old!" Kayla said "Don't you feel it? Sure you do!"
Martha hunched over. Her walking turned even slower and unsteady.
"Earlier today you looked like you were barely 20 years old. Now you see and feel yourself as a tired, withered old woman. I could change that. You want me to, don't you?"
"Yes..." Martha answered robotically "Please..."
"Go where no one is listening" Kayla ordered. Martha hobbled into the guest bedroom down the hall and shut the door.
"O...ok...." I'm alone in here..in the bedroom..." she said barely able to muster her breath from the walk.
"Martha, you've been very bad. Very bad. But now you will obey me. You won't even try to break my spell. Not this time"
Martha wondered why Kayla would think that she'd try and break her spell? Of course she wouldn't break a spell that Kayla placed on her! "I won't break the spell" she answered.
"Good... that's good... in fact... that is being a very good girl. A good 5 year old girl. You now see and feel yourself as a five year old. How does that feel?"
"Good" Martha answered innocently suddenly catching her breath.
"Martha, how about you jump up and down on the bed and spin around and around until you are dizzy... and then talk to me some more?"
That sounded fun! Martha sat the phone down and took off her shoes. She stepped up onto the bed and began jumping up and down. Her robe bounced with her. Around she went. Higher and higher. Her old heart worked harder and harder trying to keep up. Her bones threatened to separate at any time but she didn't feel it. All she felt was the fun of being 5 years old. Her lungs strained for air but it didn't matter. She had to get dizzy! Around and around. Up and down. Around and around. Up and down. She finally collasped to the bed, her head spinning.
She could barely see the phone. There was two of them in her vision! "Hi!.... Geepers.... I'm dizzy!!" she said as she picked up the phone panting.
Kayla laughed. She could only imagine what the scene must've looked like. She figured it only served the crazy old woman right! "Martha, I want you to go back to your true age now. You're really lucky though.... you only look like you are 19 years old. You see yourself as a 19 year old. You always have. You've really been fortunate to look so young! Look in the mirror and tell me what you see?"
Martha looked at the mirror "Long black hair..... shiny..... I have kind of cute nose..... I think anyway.... My eyes are bright and clear. Yeck... I might have a pimple starting! My hair's kind of messed up right now. I think I could pass for 20 if I had to!"
"But you look 19 to you!" Kayla emphasized.
"19! Nobody could guess I'm not 19!"
"You like looking like a 19 year old don't you?"
"Yes!" Martha replied.
"And you feel like a 19 year old too, don't you?"
"Yes!"
Kayla was glad Martha was back where she wanted her. People were going to think she was senile now. That should take care of Martha ruining things now. "Martha, I want you to forget everything you know about the dreamkeeper"
"Who?" she asked.
"Nevermind" Kayla replied not wanting to be the one that even mentioned the name. She thought back to when Jennifer had been 16 "Martha, you are no smarter than the average 19 year old girl are you?"
"Uh.... Like... whatdya mean?"
"I mean you know how teenager girls are these days. Boy crazy.... no attention span.... fashion concious.....That kind of thing. You are that way too. Afterall, you look 19. You're hot... and know it...... why not act it?"
"Yeah.... well... -duh-... of course! Like, I'm totally not into some of that stupid adult stuff!"
"Martha, one last thing. When you hang up the phone you will forget I even called. Maybe you can find a date for tonight? Bye" Kayla laughed as she sat the phone down.
Martha sat the phone down and wondered why she even had it in her hand? She looked at her robe and realized she couldn't wear that all day. She let it drop slowly around her feet and admired her body. She hated not having a date tonight. It seemed such a shame to not tease some boys with this body!
Martha began searching through the closet for something to wear. Everything was boring. It looked like her grandmother's closet!No short dresses! No miniskirts! No shorts! No tank tops! No hot bikinis! No high heels! Nothing sexy at all! Everything was boring, boring, boring!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Veronica sat on the plane and wondered what her sister could have wanted. It sounded important. She only hoped it was. She hated flying!
The plane was circling the airport getting ready to land. She'd soon know just what Martha had gotten into.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kayla heard a phone ringing. She looked around. It kept ringing and wouldn't stop. She finally traced the ringing to Peter's discarded pants. She grabbed the phone. "Hello????" she said meekly as she answered uncertainly.
"Who's this???" a voice replied.
"Ummmm who's THIS?" Kayla countered.
"I'm trying to find my son, Peter. This is his cell phone, right? This is his mother"
"Uhhh.... oh.....uhhhh.... yeah... uhhhhh..." Kayla stammered wondering why she'd ever picked up the phone in the first place.
"Is this Jennifer's mother? He said he was going to Jennifer's" Peter's mom said "He forgot his wallet and I was going to bring it to him. I was already in the area.... I'm just trying to find him"
Kayla took a breath. She had his phone... how could she explain that? And this woman was on the way over. What next?
----------------------------------------------------------
Katie paced back and forth. Her aunt had been in the bathroom and extended period of time. She wondered what could be happening. All she knew was she'd heard a lot of noise in the guest bedroom... then her aunt's bedroom... and finally she scooped up the clothing that she'd gotten from Kayla. It was all very strange.
Katie jumped as she heard a knock at the door. She turned to see an 50ish woman looking in.
"Katie?" she said.
How'd this woman know her name? "Yeah??"
"I'm your aunt Veronica! I haven't seen you since you were a little baby! My, how you've grown!"
Grown? Grown down Katie thought.
"Are you going to ask me in???" Veronica asked "Martha rushed me here and I hurried as fast as I could"
"Oh!... That was quick... Come in! Sorry!" Katie replied.
"So, just what is th problem?" Veronica asked.
"Ummm how long ago has it been since you saw me?" Katie replied.
"Weeelll let's see... It would've been.... 11... no.... 13... no... hmmmm 16 years ago! Time flies!"
"So.... um... do I look 16 to you?" Katie asked trying to make a point.
"Oh.... Dear... People mature at different rates. You shouldn't worry about that" Veronica said as she looked at the girl with pity.
"NO! That's not what I mean... That's the problem! I USED to be 16 but now I'm not!"
"Did Martha mess up a spell? She never did really master all that. I'm sure we can figure out what she did and reverse it"
"No, Aunt Martha didn't do this to me... The Dreamkeeper did it... I guess!"
"You know about the Dreamkeeper?"
"Yeah... And so does my best friend and her family!"
"And you let him do this to you?" Veronica asked.
"That's the weird part. I don't know how he did it to me!"
"But the Dreamkeeper doesn't work that way.... not without help...."
"Help?" Katie asked but before Veronica could answer Martha bounded into the room. Martha was dressed as a typical teen... but she didn't look like a typical teen. She looked like a 55 year old squeezed into her teenaged granddaughter's clothing. Her dull grey hair was brushed into lifeless waves. She'd painted her nails in juvenile colors. Her pale white flesh was WAY too exposed.
"Hi Ver.... What's up?" Martha asked.
"Martha???? What's wrong with you?" Veronica asked as her eyes grew wide.
"Oh no... not again!" Katie exclaimed
"Again?" Veronica said.
"You guys... geeeeez.... Veronica, you're just jealous 'cuz I'm, like, the pretty one" Martha said only half in jest as she rubbed some lotion on her pale legs.
"Kayla... or the Dreamkeeper did that to her before... but she broke the spell... I thought!" Katie told Veronica.
"Kayla? This is getting complicated!" Veronica said shaking her head.
"Why would Martha even dream she'd only looked like a teenager to herself? There are all sorts of strange fantasies but I find that one hard to believe!" Veronica explained to Katie.
"I know... It's weird... like how I got little..."
"You're not that little, dear"
"I was smaller but Aunt Martha made me older and got me away from there!"
"There? The Dreamkeeper's shop?"
"No... Jennifer's house" Katie explained.
"Jennifer???" Veronica shook her head. This was confusing.
"You guys! What're you talking about??" Martha asked "It's like I'm not even here... AS IF!"
"Martha, I think someone has put a spell on you" Veronica.
"Oh yeah? Riiiiiiight...... Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Get real!" Martha told her sister.
" I don't think it was the Dreamweaver either. This is outside of his powers" Veronica explained as she tried to piece everything together.
"Dreamkeeper? What's a dreamkeeper?" Martha asked "I, like, never heard of it??"
"Yes you have..... errrrrr well... you used to know... This is some kind of mind control spell. That's not his style. He's got help!" Veronica said.
"You really are crazy, sis! People always said that..ya know?... I, like, guess they were, like, right! Geeeez!" Martha said.
"Katie, you have to tell me the whole thing from the start. All of it. If you forget something it could be trouble for all of us now!" Veronica told Katie.
Katie began the story from as far back as she could. Veronica stopped her. "Where do you think you are going??" Veroinca asked Martha seeing her with a hand on the door.
"Uh.. like... I need some clothes? OK??? To the mall! Like, OK... mother!?? Geezzzzzz" Martha answered "You're not my mother and I can, like, do what I want!"
"You don't want to be seen like that!" Veronica said.
"You really ARE jealous aren't you??? Like, I'm gonna find a date for tonight 'cuz I'm, like, hot and you're, like, ~ not~!" Martha argued as she posed in the door way for effect.
"I don't think so, Martha. Just stay here!" Veronica ordered.
.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kayla wiped her brow and rubbed her stomach. She felt ill. Peter's mother was about to arrive and she couldn't let her see Peter right now. Soon, a car pulled into the driveway. Kayla watched from the window as a late 30 ish year old woman stepped out of the car and walked to the house.
Kayla opened the door hoping that the lady would give her the wallet and leave.
"Jennifer?" the woman said.
"Oh... uhhh no.... I'm her.... uhhh mother" Kayla lied.
"Wow! What did you do, have her when your were 8!?" the woman asked extending her hand "I'm Stephanie"
Kayla took her hand "Hello Stephanie. I'm uhhh Kayla" she said hoping the woman didn't know Jennifer's mother was really named Marci. Why didn't I just say Marci she thought to herself?
"You look much too young to have a teenage daughter! I bet people think you are sisters!" Stephanie said as she stepped inside. Damn, Kayla thought. She didn't want her to come in! "So , you have Peter's wallet?" She asked hoping the woman would give it to her and leave.
"Yes. Silly boy! Sometimes you have to treat them like 10 year olds! My husband is the same way! They are both like little boy's sometimes. Where is Peter?" she asked.
"Uhhh... he's not here" Kayla lied.
"Not here? His car is here...." Stephanie said. Kayla wasn't prepared for that. "I mean he's not RIGHT here..." she said and nervously laughed.
"Oh... ??" Stephanie replied as she heard the children upstairs making noise "You have little children? I didn't know that"
"Yes.. uhh... well.. they aren't all mine. There's 3 of them up there" Kayla said hoping the woman would just leave and quit asking questions. She didn't look like she had any intentions of leaving soon. This woman wasn't going to give up the wallet except to Peter. It was time for the backup plan.
"Coffee?" Kayla asked as she excused herself "Peter will be be a few moments"
"Oh... Ok... sure" Stephanie replied shrugging her shoulders "I'm in no hurry"
Kayla returned with the coffee. It was more of the same batch with the potion that she had used on Martha. She didn't trust her newfound powers without the potion. Not on this woman she knew nothing about. She poured extra in the cup. It would numb her senses. Hopefully get her antenna down.
"Good coffee!" she said as she sipped it... and followed with a larger drink "So do you babysit?"
"Babysit?" Kayla asked.
"The children upstairs? You said they weren't all your's"
"Oh... yes... That's it... I babysit some" Kayla told her.
"All girls?" Stephanie asked?
"Uhh...no... 2 girls and a boy" Kayla answered.
"I see. They get along OK?" Stephanie asked as she began to feel rather relaxed.
"Get along?"
"The girls and the boy?"
"Oh yes... they get along.... You'd almost think Billi was a boy in a past life of something... the way he get along with little Pe errrr the boy"
"Little boys are fun" Stephanie said as she sank into the chair.
"How so?" Kayla asked.
"Their ballgames.... and sports..... and things.... I played basketball in High School..." Stephanie mumbled as she took another drink of the spiked coffee.
"Basketball?" Kayla asked as she saw that the woman was getting too comfortable. She decided that she put too much potion in the coffee. It was much more than she'd used in Martha's. She'd planned on softening Stephanie up and then using her mind control powers but this woman wasn't a threat in this condition.
"Ummmm huh.... I wasn't very good.... I tried... I'd shoot the ball... like a girl....." she said whimsically and laughed "I could dribble really good.... bouncy bouncy bouncy ball...." She closed her eyes and smiled "I couldn't shoost... shoosts... shoots... shoot it though!"
Geez she's drunk Kayla thought! What was in that potion? Kayla rolled her eyes. This wasn't going as planned. It was entertaining though.
"Peter's can shoot it... though... swish swish swish.... We knew when he was a little boy he could play ball.... swish.... I wasn't as good as him... swish swish swish.... He could play base...ball ...too!" Stephanie said slowly as she finished the coffee "Good coffee..... I couldn't do it though"
"What? Couldn't make coffee?" Kayla asked shaking her head.
Stephanie laughed "Coffee? That's funny.... No.... Baseball.... I couldn't hit the ball.... my dad tried..... Daddy would try... he'd throw... and I'd miss... and miss.... I couldn't shoot it either.... the basketball I mean.... Daddy woulda been proud of Peter.... He liked sports.... He wanted a boy..... I couldn't live up though....". Her voice trailed off.
"Stephanie! Come with me! Upstairs!" Kayla said as she lifted the nearly limp woman from the couch. Kayla had a plan. "You gotta be quiet!" she said as she helped the woman to her bedroom. She didn't want the children to see this woman. She sneaked her past them without any problem and opened the door to her room.
"How do you do this?" Kayla asked seeing that she was in the Dreamkeeper's shop.
"You're house is part of my dreamworld now. Dreams and reality are all the same for you... thanks to our deal. I see you brought Stephanie"
Kayla looked surprised but the realized that she should never be surprised by the Dreamkeeper. "I thought she was going to be a problem but I think maybe this can go as payment toward my debt. She seems to be fading in and out though."
"That she does!" the Dreamkeeper said "But I'm sure I can help her. That was a very good idea bringing her to me"
"Who are you???" she mumbled
"Me? I am the man to bring you your dreams! To see to it that your heart is fulfilled!" he said.
"Oh..." she said and hung her dizzy head. She was tired. She felt like liquid.
"So what is your dream?"
"My dream??? huh?...." she replied groggily. Her mind was cloudy. Her eyes heavy.
"Tell him about your dream to play high school sports and be good this time" Kayla said figuring a teenaged athletic Stephanie would have other priorities than ruining her perfect family.
"Good like, Peter" Stephanie mumbled in confirmation "I wish I coulda been good..... I couldn't shoot the ball.... I was fast tho... really fast...." she rattled.
"I can do that. No problem! Your fantasy can now come true. Bring her to the room and sit her on the floor, Kayla" the man directed. Kayla did as she was told.
"Swish.... swish... swish....." Stephanie rambled and made motions like she was shooting the ball. Kayla backed out of the room and shut the door.
"This is a wonderful thing you are doing for her, Kayla. You should be proud" the Dreamkeeper said as he walked toward the door.
"Stephanie. Your dreams await. Discard the things that trap you in this reality and free yourself to experience your heart's desires. Get rid of the jewelry... the clothing... then search out what you seek" the man said.
Stephanie felt so comfortablt. So relaxed. How nice to have her dreams fulfilled. Her mind was like butter. She smiled as she remembered the man's words "Get rid of the jewelry... the clothing... then search out what you seek"
She took off her blouse and bra. It seemed as if she was moving in slow motion. She kicked off her shoes and unfastened her jeans, slowly stepping out of them. "....Get rid of the jewelry... the clothing... then search out what you seek"
She took off her bracelet and watch.... and lastly her wedding ring. "Now what???" she asked laughingly still feeling very cloudy and relaxed.
She stood rubbery in th center of the room... nude.... her 38 year old body looking fit, if a bit unsteady thanks to the potion, for her age.
"Take a look around!" the Dreamkeeper implored.
Stephanied squinted her eyes and scanned the room. She saw clothing that she hadn't seen in there until just now. It all looked familiar. There was a basketball uniform with her old number. It was just like what the high school team wore now.
"Keep between your man and the basket" she heard a voice say.
"Play defense with your feet!"
"Your holding, 32!"
"Keep your elbows in. Follow through!"
"Pump fake! Pump fake!"
Stephanie smiled. It had been a long time since she'd heard that. It sounded good... like music.... She could hear the rhythm of a basketball bouncing on the hardwood floor. It made for a song. Her dad would be proud.
"32? Are you in the game?" a voice said
"32? Are you in the game?" a voice said
32... that's my old number Stephanie thought and smiled. She felt so relaxed. What a comfortable place!
"32? Are you in the game?"
Would these clothes fit? She'd grown some since high school!
"32? Are you in the game?"
"Yeah..." she answered aloud to the voice in her head "I'm in the game!" She had to see if the uniform would fit.
"32? Are you in the game?"
"I gotta get dressed...."she answered "then I'm in the game"
"32? Are you in the game?"
"Hold up!" she said as she began to dress. She pulled on her sports bra. She felt a tingle as she did it. Her breast felt different. She wasn't sure what the difference was... it was just different. She continued dressing and as she pulled on her shorts she noticed something begin to feel different about her leg. She shivered. It was as if her skin was tightnening. Her legs looked different. Smoother. Younger. She pulled on the top of her uniform and felt her hair pull into a ponytail. She felt energy... adrenaline...
"32? Are you in the game?"
"I'm coming! Just a minute!" she answered as she grabbed her sports socks and shoes.
"Is this really what you want?" another voice asked just as she started to pull on her socks.
A basketball rolled off a chair. She picked it up. It felt familiar in her hands again. Like it had in high school.
"32, Don't shoot! Let someone else shoot!" the first voice said.
Her confidence faded. She worried about shooting. What if she was open? What if she had the ball with game on the line? She never could shoot the ball... not like Peter!
"32, Don't shoot! Let someone else shoot!" the first voice said.
No, this time she would learn to shoot. She would have more patience. Her shooting would be important to the team! She reached for her socks again and her finger caugh a rivet. "OUCH!" she said. She looked at her young hand in amazement.... and then her finger... she'd broken a nail. "Oh no..." she whined absently.
"Is this really what you want?" the other voice asked again.
How could she have patience for learning the game better when she is worrying about a broken nail? That's the problem. How could she ever make her father proud? Stephanie hugged her knees.
"32? Are you in the game?"
"NO! NO! NO!" she cried "I'm not coming!" She might as well been a cheerleader she sobbed. At least then she'd have an excuse for worrying about her looks instead of being a better player.
She started taking the uniform back off. This was a terrible idea she decided. She looked at the other uniform that was in the room. It was smaller. She was surprised the high school uniform had fit.... but now she examined her body.... she was 16 years old now! She was smaller... maybe this uniform would fit? Would she get even younger? Maybe starting younger would be better!
She padded over and picked up the uniform. The shorts were very baggy. This uniform had a 32 on it as well. 32 was her dad's number when he played in college. She slipped her teenaged legs into the trunks and pulled them up. She immediately felt very strange. The room seemed to grow. Her legs seemed to change. Did she just get younger she wondered? She must've she figured. She room looked bigger. She thought about her dreams. She wanted to make her dad proud. Stephanie grabbed the jersey and put it on. She felt her chest inflate and knew she was getting younger. Maybe this is the the best way she felt. Her mind was still foggy from the potion. She focused on her fantasy and finished dressing. She was surprised how big her hands and feet were.
"Hey 32, What are ya... just another girl? You need to get started practicing if ya wanna play with the boys when next season gets here!"
That's what she wanted... to prove herself against the boys! That's what would've made her dad proud! She laced her basketball shoes and ran out of the room to see Kayla and the Dreamkeeper waiting.
"She's a little boy!" Kayla said
Stephanie looked down at herself and ran her fingers through her short hair. No wonder her hands looked bigger than she remembered! "But????? What happened???" she asked as the fog was only beginning to lift.
"Yeah? What happened?" Kayla asked as well beginning to think maybe the Dreamkeeper did work in mischievious ways.
"Stephanie's fantasy was granted!" the Dreamkeeper explained.
"Hey.... what do you mean?!..." Stephanie said "This isn't right! What about my family?" Her mind was clearing more.
"I can take care of that for you" the Dreamkeeper said "They'll understand"
"I'm going back in there and changing back" Stephanie said.
"If you desire...." the Dreamkeeper said "But your dad has sent a message to you... he says he is very proud that you've chosen to be the son he never had!"
Stephanie stopped in her tracks "My father is dead! How could you have a message from him? This is a trick!"
"He's good!" Kayla explained.
"But.... my family.....? No...." Stephanie's resolve was shaken. She was torn. She had to admit that deep down she did regret not being the son she felt her dad had always wanted "This can't be happening"
"Stephanie, I think Kayla can help you out with your decision... if you ask her... See you in your dreams!" and with that the room changed back into a bedroom and the man was gone.
"Kayla.... I'm scared! I just want to change back!" Stephanie protested "You've got to help me. I have other responsibilities now"
"You want my help?" Kayla asked.
"Yes! Please.... I can't be Peter's mother in the body of a 10 year old boy!" Stephanie said.
Kayla took pity on the child "Stephanie.... you are not Peter's mother any more. You aren't anyone's mother are you?"
"Uhhhh no...."
"Look at you. You are a 10 year old boy. You want to do whatever 10 year old boys do. Be whatever 10 year old boy want to be. Right?"
"Yeah....."
"Your name is Stevie. I'm going to introduce you to a little boy named Peter. When you see him it will be the first time you have ever seen him. Ever! You're new here. I want you to try and be friends with him. Do you understand?"
"Yeah...."
"Ok, Stevie... Let me have your hand" Kayla led Stevie to where the other children were still playing. They all looked up to see who Kayla had with her "Kids, I want to introduce Stevie to you. Stevie wants to play with you children. Maybe he and Petie can play ball or something and you girls can pretend to be cheerleaders? That sound good?"
Petie looked at the new child. The child looked familar. "Howz come I think I know you?" he asked.
"I dunno" Stevie shrugged "I'm new here"
"Real new!" Kayla added with a laugh.