Retrofocus (part 4)
by Sumner
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Stopping Down
Katie glanced at the odd contraption strung around Laura’s neck. It looked nothing like the lightweight digital cameras that had grown so popular in recent months. In fact, this model seemed bulky and outdated, and she wondered why Laura was so keen on carrying the ugly thing around like a prize.
What is she, a photography nerd all the sudden? Katie wondered as she opened the driver’s side door. Her friend seemed weirdly edgy that afternoon too. She chalked it up to Bobby Meyers-related nerves and turned the ignition.
”So when are you gonna be driving?” she asked Laura.
”Whenever I pass the stupid test,” she answered grudgingly from the backseat. “How hard is it?”
”It’s cake,” Katie replied.
”Harder on pot though,” Randy interjected.
”Shut up, Randy,” Katie said jokingly. “You smoked pot once and swore it gave you diarrhea.”
”Well, it did!”
”More likely the Taco Bell, baby,” Katie rejoined. Noticing Laura seemed preoccupied she turned the topic back to more standard chit-chat. “Oh, I’m sorry for not introducing my friends. The girl on your right is Andrea. She’s on the swim team with me. And on the other side is Charity, who has bigger boobs than all of us combined.”
”Katie!” Charity squealed, turning red. “God!”
”Well, it’s true,” Katie giggled. “What did your mama put in your milk, girl?”
At that, the entire car burst into laughter, with Randy barely able to contain himself. As Katie’s shadow, he had grown accustomed to being surrounded by girls – and the seventeen-year-old harbored no qualms. In fact, he hung out with them so frequently that his guy friends teasingly referred to him as their “double agent.” It made sense, however, as Randy was somewhat girlish in appearance with soft features and hair straight out of a shampoo commercial. He made no secret that he enjoyed his designation as the “pretty boy” at school. After all, it was superior to most high school social classifications.
”Must have been breast milk,” Randy couldn’t help but add the obvious zinger.
Charity immediately leaned forward in her seat and belted the back of his head with her Olson Twins beach towel.
”Geez, Charity,” Randy said, “ever think of updating your swimming accessories?”
”I like this towel!” Charity wasn’t much of a comeback queen, but she always managed to shift the blame. “Hey, you’re the one who’s constantly talking about how much you like Mary-Kate and Ashley.”
”Well, they aren’t too hot on their own, but together—“
”Behave,” Katie said, shooting a glare of mild disapproval in Randy’s direction. “Remind me again why I go out with you.”
”Um, because you love me?”
”Only on days when you’re not this horny.”
”You guys are sick. You know that?” Andrea remarked.
Charity finally had a laugh at that one.
”Hey Miss Hanson,” Katie said. “You’re awful quiet back there. Something wrong?”
”No, I’m fine,” Laura said. “Just thinking.”
”Let me guess… are the initials BM?”
”Bowel Movement?” Randy jumped in with the requisite scatological reference. This time, Katie only scowled at him.
Laura laughed without answering. Of course her mind was on Bobby Meyers; it had been since the start of the school year. Though he seemed unattainable, Laura couldn’t stop herself from engaging in the most stereotypical of teen-girl reactions whenever she found herself in his vicinity. Even her notebook was full of hundreds of handwritten variations on “Laura Meyers” surrounded by pink and purple hearts. Just thinking about him she found herself hallucinating, usually fairy tale scenarios with ultra-happy endings.
So much for feminism, Laura thought.
”I think our girl is in love,” Katie suggested in a sexy, low voice. “Va-va-va-voom.”
”I heard he’s originally from Australia,” Charity added out of the blue.
”Well, duh, everyone knows that,” Andrea chimed.
”I’m just
saying,” the blonde replied, failing to clarify exactly what she was saying. Leaning toward Laura, Charity whispered in her ear, “Andrea can be a little bit of a bitch sometimes.”
It was during this exchange Laura caught a glimpse of Charity’s much-touted boobs – ones she purportedly grew during one illustrious month in the eighth grade. As the legend went, the summer after Charity blossomed she magically wriggled her way out of two shoplifting charges, dated three seniors, and got free backstage passes to a Phish concert. And from the looks of it, Katie’s assessment was dead on the money. If Laura had moved any closer, she thought she might fall in.
This girl is seriously gonna need a chiropractor some day, Laura predicted.
”Thanks for the tip,” the intimidated teen whispered back, trying her best not to stare at Charity’s charitable cleavage.
By this time, Katie had driven into the Summer Hills subdivision, one of the more affluent neighborhoods in town. Sasha’s parents owned a successful restaurant chain and had no reservations when it came to flashy status symbols – something that became obvious the moment their house came into view.
”Man, how rich is Sasha?” Laura asked. “I knew her parents were loaded, but wow.”
”Yeah, you should see the house during Christmas. It looks like a fucking movie set,” Andrea said. “Moving reindeer, a Santa that talks, laser lights and shit.”
Trying not to look impressed, the gang unceremoniously exited Katie’s car and approached the virtual mansion of a home. Suddenly, Laura felt a wave of anxiety creep over her. The pool party was more formal than she had imagined. Everything – the ritzy look of the house, Katie and Randy’s nonchalant sex talk, and Charity’s fearsome chest – made her feel unexpectedly small and out-of-her-league. She had to remind herself Katie and Randy were her friends and this was her big chance to land a date with the man from down under. Not to mention, she had a secret weapon hanging around her neck.
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The last thing Taylor ever wanted to do in life was arch his head backward and stare up at his little cousin’s pubic hair, but nevertheless, that’s where he found himself. Taylor, now barely eyelevel with Kevin’s waist, had reached a new low – literally. Dwarfed by his baby cousin and clueless how to handle his girlfriend, now only a tot, the five-year-old seriously considered plopping to the floor and balling. It was, after all, the most natural thing for a little boy to do in such upsetting circumstances.
”Kevin,” Taylor addressed the giant standing in front of him, “the first thing we need to do is get you some clothes, all right?”
”Why is everybody so little and I’m so big?” the disoriented twentysomething asked, seeing two preschoolers and a toddler beneath him. He felt his face, now covered in patchy stubble, and looked on the verge of tears.
”Don’t worry about that right now,” Taylor coached. “Just follow me to Mom and Dad’s bedroom, OK? We’ll get you dressed and then figure out how to fix everything.”
”OK,” Kevin said, still unsure the voice coming from his mouth was really his.
A shrunken Cassenia and infant-sized Sydney watched in amazement as the bare-naked man paraded past. Neither could believe the hairy, muscular specimen before them was the eventual product of the snot-nosed butterball who, only hours ago, was watching “toons” in his Batman undies. Though average height for a man of twenty-four, Kevin seemed far taller as the result of Sydney and Cassenia’s prominent reduction in size. Both reflexively turned their heads away as Kevin and his exposed butt proceeded toward the dining room. It felt wrong to look – on a number of levels.
In his parents’ room, Taylor discovered he couldn’t reach high enough to maneuver his dad’s clothes effectively, so he humbly assigned Kevin the job of looking for something that might fit. Taylor urged him to hurry, not knowing how much longer he could stand seeing his baby cousin’s fully developed penis flopping in the breeze. Having his own shrunk down to a piddling preadolescent insult was punishment enough.
As he contemplated his situation, Taylor finally allowed Sydney’s words to seep in.
What if Laura leaves with the camera? Or breaks it! All of it was coming true and Taylor started to ponder the ramifications. What if she did break the camera? And worse, what if it’s the only camera of its kind, an irreplaceable curiosity? He and Sydney might be doomed to grow up all over again. Laura would take over as big sister.
Big sister. The words scrolled through his mind. No, it was all wrong!
”Kev,” Taylor said, pointing toward the chest of drawers with a renewed sense of urgency, “there should be some underwear in the top drawer that you can wear.”
”My wee-wee is all huge,” Kevin said, fingering his considerably longer manhood.
”Yes, Kevin, I know. Now open the drawer and find some underwear, please?”
”Tickles.”
Taylor dreaded this discovery might take place before Kevin covered himself.
”All right, now that’s enough. Put on some clothes and… and… I’ll give you a treat.”
”A treat?” Kevin’s ears perked up.
”Yes, and all you have to do is put some undies on. Sound good?”
”Yeah!”
Taylor kept forgetting he could appeal to Kevin like any normal six-year-old – with cookies, suckers, and over-the-top enthusiasm. Observing Kevin’s childish fervor at the mere hint of a treat, Taylor found himself almost envying his cousin. Then again, maybe it was just his mini-hormones talking. He conceded a small part of him wished that, if he had to be a kid again, he could at least take part in the customary pleasures of being one. Kevin, erection breakthrough aside, would have to wait a while before he could truly appreciate the perks of being twenty-four. Taylor, on the other hand, had hindsight on his side.
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Katie rang the doorbell and soon the crew was greeted by Sasha, a perky strawberry blonde wearing a revealing two piece and sandals.
”Oh hi, Katie! Glad you could come by,” Sasha welcomed them with a faux-politeness she had honed to a fine art. “The party is out back by the pool. We also have some drinks and stuff, so make yourself at home.”
Andrea shuffled in, followed by Laura, Randy, and Charity.
”Hey guys!” Sasha made sure she smiled at anyone who came through the door. Everyone returned the gesture, except for Andrea who seemed less than thrilled with Sasha’s obvious attempts to show off. Laura noticed her chilly reception and wondered if the two had a past, or if Andrea, an average girl with petite breasts and glasses, merely dreaded the inevitable swimsuit competition waiting in the backyard. Judging from the mostly good-looking, popular guest list and the noticeable lack of academic team members, Andrea was clearly worried about fitting in – unlike Charity, whose popularity stuck out like two party balloons.
”Hey Greg,” Charity wasted no time flirting. “Hi Chris!”
Sasha’s in-ground pool looked like a resort brochure. And the beautiful people populating it only aided the stylish aura. Katie and Randy blended into the crowd with little trouble while Charity skipped off to a nearby table and began stripping down to her bathing suit, prompting a fair share of thinly-veiled ogling. Andrea made for a less-inhabited cove where she could observe the goings-on without actually participating. Laura, meanwhile, busied herself scanned the area for Bobby. She found herself quietly wishing the camera could make her just a smidge older – though she knew it was only capable of doubling her current age, and she doubted Bobby would prefer her at thirty-two.
Already crowded, the party was fast becoming a full-blown event as it seemed like half the high school was showing up. Sasha’s mom Christy even joined the fray, wearing a colorful number she bought in the ‘70s and clearly had to work to get on. Laura could tell from the first glance Christy fit comfortably into the middle-aged hippy stereotype, the kind of mom who wants to be “friends” with her children. Suddenly, Sasha’s affable but sometimes snooty attitude at school made complete sense to Laura.
I’ll bet Sasha gets whatever she wants.
After nearly giving up, Laura found what she wanted – Bobby Meyers, stationed on the opposite side of the pool. Rather than yell over the blaring Sugar Ray song, she elected to brave her way around the teeming pool. Her heart started beating like a bass drum when her eyes met his. Shirtless and wearing a trendy set of trunks, Bobby was a sight to behold, almost like some airbrushed teen magazine cover. Laura pushed the people out of the way as politely as a love struck girl could.
”Excuse me, excuse me… sorry…”
But then the music stopped. Halfway around the pool, Laura stopped cold in her tracks when she caught sight of Sasha, who stealthily sidled up to Bobby’s side like a magician. Laura froze, hoping the meeting was merely a casual hello between friends, but that wish went out the window too. Before either had exchanged twenty words, Sasha laid a mouthy kiss on Bobby’s lips – one he didn’t resist in any visible fashion. Laura’s teeth clinched and her fists tightened.
Oh, it’s that easy, is it? she thought, immediately reaching for the camera.
Examining the smaller buttons on top, Laura located what looked to be the camera’s zoom mechanism. Holding the viewfinder to her eye, she tested her little theory and found that the arrows buttons did indeed tighten or widen the shot. She doubled checked the setting. Her next move seemed obvious.
Aiming the device directly at Sasha, she zoomed as close as the camera allowed – a closeup on her smug, smiling face – and activated the camera. But just as the shutter opened, another guest at the party bumped into Laura, knocking her off balance. Teetering on the edge for a moment, she finally lost the battle with gravity and slipped into the pool, clothes, camera, and all. Luckily, the dazed teen landed in a shallow end and was able to keep the device from falling in the water.
”Oh, I’m so sorry!” one of the boys said, holding out his hand “Are you OK?”
”Yeah, yeah, I’m all right,” Laura said, hoisting the camera above her head. “Just as long as this doesn’t get wet.” Not catching the print in time, Laura saw the picture land face up in the water beside her. She didn’t dare look in Bobby’s direction for fear he and Sasha might be laughing their asses off.
”Laura, are you all right?” Katie said, jogging to the pool’s edge.
”Yes, I’m fine,” Laura repeated, feeling anything but fine as the boy lifted her of the water. After returning to land, she dipped her hand in the water and fished out the blurry picture. It was still too early to make it out.
”Oh, honey, is everything all right?” Christy said, waddling over to the poolside. “Come inside and we can get you some dry clothes, OK?”
”No, really—“
”Nonsense! You can’t stand around soaking wet. Come upstairs. I think Sasha might have some clothes that fit you.” Christy took her arm and starting leading her into the house.
”Perfect,” Laura mumbled, turning back to see what, if anything, was happening. The picture was a smudge for the most part and she could almost make out a face, though she couldn’t be sure
whose face it was.
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The familiar cell phone ring filled the living room.
”I’ll get it,” Taylor said, closely followed by a vivacious, underwear-clad Kevin.
He ran into the living room and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”
”Hello...um,” Julie said, sounding puzzled. “Is this Cassenia?”
”No, Mom, it’s me, Taylor.”
”Taylor?” she asked. A pause followed. “Honey, this doesn’t sound like Taylor. Cassenia, are you playing around?”
”No, it isn’t a joke, Mom,” Taylor muttered.
”Well, maybe it’s the connection, but your voice… its sounds really strange… almost high.”
”That’s because it is high,” Taylor explained, knowing whatever came out would be unbelievable over the phone. “OK, where to start… I got this camera in the mail today and we were playing around with it, and this thing happened.”
”What happened?”
”It made us younger. Every time we got out picture taken, we got younger—“
”Honey, this isn’t funny. Hand the phone over to Taylor so I can talk to him,” Julie demanded.
”This
is Taylor, Mom!” he shouted. “I’m like five years old because of this stupid camera! Laura turned us into little kids! I’m trying to tell you—“
”Stop fooling around!” Julie issued an ultimatum. “One of you is going to be in big trouble when we get home. You hear me? Dad and I are on our way home, OK? And when we get there you better tell us what’s going on.”
”I am telling you!” Taylor exclaimed, coming dangerously close to crying. He even allowed a few sniffles to slip.
Another awkward pause passed.
”Taylor? Is that really you?”
”Yes, Mom.”
”Well, we’re gonna be home soon and we’ll fix whatever this is, OK?”
”OK,” Taylor mumbled unenthusiastically.
”It’s going to be all right, honey. Just stay there. We’ll see you soon.”
”OK… Bye.”
”Is Mom coming home?” Cassenia asked, tear marks still lining her cheeks.
“Yes, Cass.”
Taylor approached his distraught girlfriend. Wearing her old shirt like a towel, Sydney looked even more childish than she had minutes before. Taylor could scarcely believe it when he finally got a good look at her. The co-ed had the face of a little bible school angel, bereft of even a hint of her true age. The blemish-free chocolate skin and black hair that once lent Sydney sex appeal now only amplified her irresistible infant cuteness. Her soft, puffy cheeks stood out the most, making her almost a caricature of herself.
”Syd?” he asked delicately. “Are you all right?”
”Mmhmm,” the little girl answered reticently.
”We’ll get you back to normal. I promise.”
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With Laura’s mini-ordeal almost instantly forgotten, the party moved back into full swing. Sasha and Bobby, each plainly admiring each other’s assets, continued talking at the edge of the pool. As the conversation progressed, however, Sasha started noticing something peculiar happening to her friend.
”Bobby, you look…different,” she said.
”Different how?” he said, tugging his swimming trunks back up.
”I don’t know. It’s like you’re shorter or something.” Sasha cocked her head sideways and examined the seventeen-year-old.
”That’s crazy, babe. How could I be shorter?” Bobby replied.
But as the seconds wore on, the changes became more readily apparent. His beefy physique began showing signs of thinning, while his face seemed to be producing freckles that hadn’t been there only minutes before. His already baggy trunks kept slipping and slipping, eventually to the point he had to hold on just to keep them from sliding down his legs.
”What’s happening to me?” Bobby whispered to an increasingly-fretful Sasha.
”I don’t know,” she said, watching a line of boyish freckles spread across his nose. By this time, he had grown just shorter than Sasha and, by the looks of it, was still headed down.
”What the fuck?!” Bobby said, with his voice cracking on the last word. His biceps shrinking and his six-pack abs disappearing, he looked no older than fourteen now. Desperate, Bobby turned to Sasha only to find that he was staring into her breasts. The picture was swiftly taking its toll, withdrawing its years from Bobby and, in the process, reducing him to a gawky pre-teen, then scrawny preadolescent. Sasha gazed on in panic as the boy with whom she had just been making out dwindled to a skinny boy of nine.
By now, word had circulated throughout the party and heads were turning. But no one saw Bobby – just some dorky little kid wearing Bobby’s trunks.
”No, this can’t be happening!” Sasha whimpered. “You’re a little boy!”
”But—“ was all Bobby could muster, his voice now a girly soprano. He reached his hands up toward Sasha as if he could grab onto her and stop the shrinking. But he got no help – especially from his swimsuit, which proceeded to slither down his tanned, hairless legs the moment he let go. Mortified, he reached down and scooped up his oversized trunks, but not before partygoers in the vicinity got a peep of his bare eight-year-old behind.
With hands over her mouth, Sasha ran crying into the house. Holding his suit with one hand, Bobby followed clumsily after her. “No, wait! Sasha!”
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Meanwhile, upstairs, Christy had assigned Laura some dry clothing – a stylish black top with what looked to be Capri pants – and shown her down the hallway to the marble-tiled bathroom.
”It’s right across from Lizzy’s room,” Christy informed.
”Lizzy?” Laura asked.
”Sasha’s little sister, hun. She won’t bother you.”
”Oh, OK.”
Admittedly, Laura felt odd donning the attire, considering she had seen Sasha wear the outfit only last month. That, and she wasn’t excited about the prospect of trying on one of her friend’s bras either. Sitting the camera on the bathroom counter, Laura grudgingly stripped off her sopping clothes and started threading her legs into Sasha’s pants; they fit surprisingly well. Next came the bra, which much to her chagrin, Laura found a little loose in the cups.
”Damn,” she mumbled, pulling the straps over her shoulders. Almost like an omen, she suddenly remembered.
The picture! Holding the image up to the light, Laura found only the same fuzzy combination of sky blue and possibly a blurry face of some sort. Hoping to see the party below, she rushed to a window on the far side of the bathroom, but it overlooked the wrong of the house. Hooking the bra behind her back and pulling the top over her head, Laura couldn’t help but wonder how Sasha was reacting to her sudden loss in stature. Popularity might be harder to come by with a flat chest and no driving privileges. She giggled.
”No, Sasha, I think Bobby needs a real woman…” Checking her hair one more time, she decided confronting the little backstabber in her own clothes might be even more gratifying than she had imagined.
But when Laura made for the door, she knew something was wrong.
Who opened—? she thought. A quick review of the bathroom counter sent her pulse racing again. The camera was gone!