AR Short Stories

Chapter 27
Beating the Drums

Chapter Description: A couple is upset at their son's upbringing, so they decide to restart it.

Zack was a very hyperactive teen, he always liked sports and playing the drums since he was little. But his parents never saw that as a problem, until he said he wanted to become a drummer and planned to start by trying to start a drum account on the internet. They were in shock. “But, what about your dream of being an astronaut?” His mother asked. “Mom, that stopped being a dream when I was six. Since that first drum class, I’ve been reflecting about my future, and after talking to some people online that encouraged me, I know that’s what I really want to do!” He said, but his speech was cut short by his furious dad. “What? You’ve been talking to strangers on the internet and you let them manipulate your mind? What if they're predators?” “Dad, it’s not like that. I came to that realization myself, and they didn’t manipulate me!” He said. “But that’s how they start. First, they make you change your life route and, later, they will ask for photos and your address!” He said. Zack was fuming. “You don’t understand me! You should support me and my decisions, and not say stuff like that!” He went upstairs and locked himself in his room.

The adults looked concerned. “Oh my gosh! He’s becoming a rebel! I knew we shouldn’t let him have a computer until he was 21.” Lena said. “No worries, dear. I think there’s a reasonable way to make everything better.” Neil said. “How?” “I think we need to raise him from scratch.” He said with confidence. “What? No, that’s crazy. I’m not too fond of raising a newborn, but I’m fine with a bit older baby.” She winked and went to the kitchen.

During the night, Zack went downstairs so he could get a cup of milk, but he only found a glass bottle that had a weird red liquid. He thought it was tomato juice and he poured some in a glass and drank. Two seconds later, he left the glass fall after a sudden shock, but it didn’t break since it wasn’t very far from  the ground. And Zack noticed that when he looked down saw how closer the floor was now and his clothes were now covering his whole body. He was scared and realized what happened, remembering his dad came from a lineage of Potion makers, so he felt an urge to cry and he just let it fall. His parents came running and saw the little two year old that they desired. Lena picked him and Neil put on a diaper and covered it in pajamas pants. “Why did you do this?” He asked angry. “Because you were growing up wrong, you changed and thought that you could use a restart so you can never lose that original route that made us very proud.” Neil said. “But dat’s just growing up. No one stays dah same fowevah! Dat’s just unethicaw!” He replied, but his parents just laughed and put him on the ground so he could get used to his new body.

The toddler looked at the mirror and saw how similarly different he was. His hair, that was once a mohawk, looked like an unruly early hair, with a high and thin edge. He was furious and needed to stress off, so he ran to his room to get his drumsticks and got a stool on the living room and a bucket from the laundry area and covered it with a blanket, like his parents did when he was that little originally. And he started to beat on it, but right after he ended, he saw his parents on the door, Lena with a spoon and Neil with a belt, who just stared at him. “Looks like he’s still in those steps that made him a failure.” Lena said. “Don’t worry, let’s just start his correction.” Neil smiled. Zack felt his diaper get wet after realizing that he was about to get his first spanking in years.