I Wish

Chapter 5
Chapter 5

Sara looked worriedly at the phone. There was no way she could answer it with her 18 year old voice. And she couldn’t put her mother on the line either. Even Kyle’s voice was too changed to be convincing.

’You gonna answer that?’ LuAnne asked.

’Ummmmm Yeah Ummmmm in a minute’ Sara replied hoping the ringing would stop before she picked it up.

’I wanna answer it!’ Kyle declared as he reached for the phone.

’NO!’ Sara said just before he grabbed it out of the seat.

’I wish the phone would stop ringing’ she said quietly. It suddenly stopped!

Sara breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t ready to return everyone to normal just yet. If she’d picked up the phone she would have had no choice and likely would have been in big trouble.

----

Back at her grandmother’s house:

’I don’t know, John, it just disconnected’ Carol said.

’Damn cell phones are worthless when you really need them!’ John growled.

’Well, it rang a long time and no one picked up anyway. Maybe LuAnne will get the message I left for her on her machine.’

’~Maybe~’ John said disgustedly ’I should have told you about the coin. I didn’t figure you’d believe it though. And I sure as hell never thought you’d give it away!’

’Well, I’m still not so sure I believe it, but I never should have given something away without asking. I figured it was just worthless junk’

’Junk? All of my things are collectibles. Most of them are rumored to have certain powers or abilities. Now, I know most of that is bunk but it just so happens some it could be true! This coin is one of the ones that work!’

’Work? Honestly, John.... you’re not starting to believe that stuff are you? All those books are starting to go to your head in the wrong way!’

’Take a look at our house. How could ~we~ live in a house like this?’ John asked her.

Carol shrugged. ’Well, we ~did~ win the lottery!’

’We played one damn time in 20 years and WON.... doesn’t that seem a bit ~strange~?’

’I just figured we were due for some luck....’

’Luck? Well, when was the last time either one of us was sick? We’ve been pretty ~lucky~ there too, huh? Pretty lucky with the weather on our vacations, too. Car ever break down lately? Pretty darned lucky, huh? And pretty lucky that the court lost any record of your speeding a ticket a while back.... and REALLY lucky that.... well, you get the point!’

Carol looked dumbfounded. She had to admit that they HAD had a really good run of luck. ’Could it be more than luck?’ she wondered.

’So, that coin brings luck?’ she asked ’Is Sara going to have good luck?’

’No! It brings wishes! The story goes that Merlin himself cast a spell on that coin. And now and 8 year old has it! If she figures it out or loses it.... or heaven forbid...accidentally wishes for something terrible.... *shakes head* We just need to get it back! Let’s split up. You head straight to thier house and I’ll check places that they might’ve stopped’

-------

Sara found driving fun. It was like playing a video game but not nearly so hard. As she pulled up at a stop light she noticed an elderly couple in the car beside her. They were easily in their 70s and likely almost 80. Both had grey hair and looked frail. The old woman’s shoulders slumped noticably while the man’s posture was only slightly better. Sara giggled as she said ’I wish they were younger’

The coin worked it magic. The old couple began to sit up straight and their hair began to darken. Their skin begin to tighten and take on a healthier look. Finally, their ages had been cut in half. They were both now in their 30’s. When Sara saw that they were no longer getting younger she developed a curious expression on her face. ’They’re still ~old~?!?!’ she mumbled. ’I wanted them to be young again!

’I wish they were young like those kids’ she said motioning to a group of teens waiting to cross the street.

The couple began growing younger. Much younger! His hairline filled in where it had been thin. Her hair lightened and got curlier. The remaining lines on their faces disappeared. Their height shrank as they re-entered teendom. A few light freckles appeared around the bridge of her nose. Her curly hair cascaded around her shoulders.

*HONK*

Sara heard a car horn and looked away from the two teens. The light had turned to green! She sighed and slowly pulled away.

*HONK* Honk* *HONK*

She looked back in her mirror to see that these honks weren’t for her but rather for the two teens in the 20 year old 4 door car. She could see the 16 year old boy kissing the 15 year old girl while both were totally oblivious to the traffic around them.

She thought about wishing them back to normal but decided against it.

’When ya gonna let me have my turn again with the magic coin?’ Kyle asked.

’You’ll have to wait’ Sara told him figuring he’ll probably never get a turn!

’What magic coin?’ LuAnne asked.

’Sara’s got a magic wishin’ coin!’ Kyle explained.

’Oooooooh I wanna play with it too!’ LuAnne exclaimed.

The two ’children’ were suddenly occupied with thoughts of what they could wish for with

Sara’s ’wishing coin’.

’You’re too little to be playin’ with something like this!’ Sara told them.

’Awwwwww c’mon!’ LuAnne complained ’We’ll only wish for good stuff!’

’I don’t think it’s a good idea’ Sara replied wanting to keep the coin for herself. She liked being

big and she liked the idea that her brother and mother were now younger than her and didn’t

know any better.

’But I just wanna use it for a little bit.... Pleassssssssssse! Pretty please!’ LuAnne whined.

’Why? Pleassssssssse.... Pleassssssssse...... Just one wish! C’mon....

Pleasssssssssssssse!’ LuAnne’s whining continued.

Sara shook her head at her mother’s childish behavior. She didn’t have much patience for

LuAnne’s whining and it quickly got on her nerves as she continued driving toward home.

’You know you’re being awfully whiny? You should learn to be a ’little lady’ and not so

ummmmm bratty’ Sara said in an increasingly frustrated voice.

’Pleassssssssse’ LuAnne again whined as she drummed her feet against tha back of the

driver’s seat.

’The way you’re acting makes me wish Louis was back. At least he wasn’t whiny.’ Sara said

without thinking as she pulled into her driveway.

Suddenly Kyle exclaimed ’COOL!’

Sara glanced in the rear view mirror to see what Kyle was excited about. There she saw

LuAnne had again been transformed into Louis!

’Ohhhhh..... Fudge! I didn’t mean to ~really~ wish for Louis!’’ Sara groaned upon seeing ’him’

smiling his mischievious grin.

’But we didn’t finish having fun before. We’re like pals!’ Kyle argued ’I like having a brother

instead of sisters!’

Sara was still amazed at how well the wishing coin worked its magic. Kyle no longer thought

of LuAnne as his mother. She was now his sister. He seemed not to think anything strange

about now having two sisters nor did he remember that it was his mother that HE had turned

into Louis in the first place. He still remembered Louis from before but the inconsistent details

seemed to be erased from his mind.

Louis, on the other hand, was a bit confused about the conversation. ’What’re you two talkin’

’bout?’ he asked.

’None of your business!’ Sara barked. She didn’t like Louis at all. ’I wish you were a girl again!’

’HEY! No fair!’ Kyle yelled but it was too late. Louis was again LuAnne. ’OK, let’s get inside

you two.’

With that the 3 exited the vehicle and went inside the house.

LuAnne was still not happy about not getting a turn using the coin. She didn’t seem to

remember being Louis and was whispering her displeasure to her ’brother’ ’She’s bein’ awful

mean. It’s not fair I don’t get a turn with the ’wishin’ coin! We got as much right to it as her.

She’s just a big bully!’

Kyle seemed to agree but didn’t know what they could do..... Sara was so much bigger than

them!

Sara’s first thought upon entering the house was to head to her mother’s room. She wanted to

see herself in the full length mirror. It wasn’t long before she was lost in her new body and it’s

abilities to ’wear’ clothing from her mother’s closet. She experimented with high heels,

wobbling around the room and giggling. All the while she was in the bedroom LuAnne and

Kyle were plotting on getting the ’wishin’ coin.

They could hear Sara giggling. Finally, LuAnne suggested that she could sneak up there and

see if Sara had seperated herself from the coin. LuAnn tip-toed to the room and peeked in.

Sara was setting at her mother’s makeup table wearing an expensive gown and applying

makeup.... albeit rather clumsily. LuAnne scanned the room and saw the coin on the bed.

She stealthy walked to the bed and grabbed the coin and slipped out unnoticed.

’Did you get it?’ Kyle asked upon seeing his ’sister’ return.

’Yip!’ LuAnne exclaimed barely able to conceal her excitement as she held up the coin.

’Whatya gonna wish for? To be my brother?’ Kyle asked hopefully.

’Yuck! Why would I wanna do that?’ LuAnne replied.

’I dunno.... just an idea’ Kyle dejectedly answered. ’What’re you gonna wish for then?’

’I’m think ’bout teachin’ Sara a lesson and makin’ her our little sister!’ she said.

’YEAH! That’d be COOL! Then she’d have to do what we tell her!’ Kyle said.

LuAnne’s face broke into a sly grin ’I wish Sara was our little sister and just a ’first grader’’

The two laughed and then Kyle said ’Huh uh... a Kindergarten baby!’

LuAnne giggled ’Ooooooh hehehehe OK, I wish Sara was our little sister and that she was a

kindergartener’

-----

Sara never noticed herself changing. The elegant gown that had been only slightly large on

her seemed to be growing. Her over-done makeup looked even more over used. She had to

scoot the seat closer to reach the makeup table. Her high heels slipped off. Freckles

sprouted on her face. She had to strectch to reach things on the back of the table. Her hair

shortened and thinned. Finally, a five year old who looked to be playing dress up was left

sitting on the seat staring into the mirror. She thought the lipstick made her look pretty...so

she applied even more!

-----

’I wonder if it worked?’ LuAnne asked.

’I bet it did. I always worked before!’ Kyle replied.

LuAnne giggled some more.

’What?’ Kyle asked.

’We oughta wish to be teenagers so we can drive and stuff!’LuAnne told him.

’COOL!’ Kyle exclaimed ’Sara will really have to listen to us if we teenagers and all grown up

and stuff!’

’Yeah..... Bein’ a teenager would be cool! OK, here we go. ’I wish me and Kyle looked like

teenagers instead of kids! Like 16 year olds.’

The two began to change. Both grew taller, especially LuAnne at first. The T-shirt that she

wore begin to reveal more and more of her thighs. Kyles clothing got tighter and tighter and

then started straining its seams. Finally, Kyle’s height passed her. Her T-shirt began to fill

out.

When the process stopped both LuAnne and Kyle could only stare at each other.

’Wow..... we’re big’ LuAnne said as she stared at Kyle’s lanky body and torn clothing and

then her own longer legs and arms.

’Yeah....and you got boobies!’ Kyle said as he pointed at the two protrusions from LuAnne’s

T-shirt.

’~Cool~’ she said as she put her hands under them.

Both of them now looked 16 but they still retained their 7 year old minds. LuAnne had only

wished for them to ~look~ 16.

They were still examing themselves when the door flew open. It was Carol, Kyle and Sara’s

grandmother. ’What the hell.....’ she said as she saw the two half dressed teens.

’LuAnne? Is that you?’ she said as she began to recognize the teenage girl. ’Did you wish for

this?’

’Uh huh....... cool huh?’ she answered hopefully.

Carol studied the two teens. ’Uhhhh Kyle?.... ’

’What?’

’Why don’t you go into the kitchen so I can talk to your mother’

Kyle and LuAnne looked at each other with confused looks after hearing what Carol had just

said..... ’His mother? But only his sister was here.’ he thought.

’You want me to go to?’ LuAnne asked.

’No.. I want to talk to ~you~’ Carol told her wondering why she didn’t understand that from

before.

Kyle shrugged and walked away.

’I don’t know what you were thinking wishing Kyle to be older and you younger but.....’

’Huh uh.... we both wished to older! What are you talking about?’

’Huh? You’re son is older and.....’

’Son? You mean my brother?’

’OK..... I’m confused.....’ Carol answered hoping for an explanation.

’Me and Kyle wished to not look like little kids anymore ’cuz Sara was bein’ mean to us! We

used the ’wishin’ coin and it did it! We’ll change back after while. We’re just playin...’ she said

as she suddenly felt like they might be getting into trouble.

Carol was even more confused. Brother? Little kids...~anymore~? It finally dawned on her that

Sara must figure into this and that Kyle and LuAnne weren’t totally aware. ’We’re going to

have to fix this....’

’SARA?!?’ Carol yelled.

’Can’t we stay big just for today?’ LuAnne pleaded.

’Let me talk to Sara and we’ll see if we can’t get you ~big~ for even longer than that!’ Carol

told LuAnne as she awaited Sara’s reply.

Carol heard some shuffling and turned to see 5 year old Sara waddling in oversized high heels

and a gown, face painted with makeup, walking into the room.

’I’m pwayin’ dress up, gramma!’ she said happily.

’Alright... Whoever has that coin had better give it to me now so I can wish everything back to

normal!’

Kyle looked at LuAnne who was grasping the coin. ’We don’t wanna wish back yet’ he

pleaded.

’I don’t care what you ~want~! THIS needs to be fixed!’ Carol yelled as her anger and

frustraton grew.

’I think she gettin’ mad’ Kyle told LuAnne.

’I wish you weren’t mad at us’ LuAnne said.

Carol’s expression changed. ’I’m not mad at you but I’m worried.’ She replied in a friendlier

tone of voice. ’We need to get everything back to normal’

’Maybe you can just have a wish too?’ LuAnne said ’I’ll wish somethin’ for you too and we can

stay this way for a while?’

’No honey, we should just get everything back to how it was before. I just worry about you and

everything. I worry so much right now, that’s all.’ Carol told LuAnne.

LuAnne thought for a moment before speaking ’....I wish you’d go back to not worryin’ so

much!’

Carol started changing. Her matronly features were quickly replaced by a more youthful look.

Her hair color returned and her eyes brightened. Her skin smoothed and her complexion

improved. When it was over an 18 year old Carol stood in place of the grandmotherly figure

from moments ago. An 18 year old who figured she had the world in front of her and knew all

she needed to know. An 18 year old who had began to grow confident in her looks. An 18

year old who barely had a serious worry in the world.

’Uh oh’ Kyle said ’I think you wished her back too far!’

Carol didn’t mind being 18 at all but she still wanted the rest of them to return to normal. ’I still

think that you, like, need to change back.... ya know?’ she replied as she pulled the hemline

of her dress up higher and seemed to be contempating how she’d look in a shorter skirt.

’Just wish that she didn’t know nothin’ ’bout the wishin’ coin’ Kyle offered.

’I wish she didn’t know nothin’ ’bout the wishin’ coin or have anything to do with it anymore!’

LuAnne said, taking her ’brother’s’ suggestion.

Suddenly, Carol’s expression changed to one of surprise. She was young again! She didn’t

know how but her youth and looks were back! ’LuAnne, you’re young too!? How?’ She asked

but didn’t even wait for an answer as she dragged LuAnne to a mirror to ’see’ their new

teenaged bodies.

’Look at us... Look at US! This is, like, soooo groovy!’ She exclaimed. ’...I gotta get out of

these close she said as she kicked off her shoes and opened LuAnne’s closet.

She began tearing through LuAnne’s clothing. Since it was for the middle-aged LuAnne, Carol

didn’t really find what she was looking for.....but she figured some scissors would help.

LuAnne didn’t undertand what she was so excited over as she kept talking about showing off

her body ’like those tiny things on TV’ and how she must be ’losing it’. It didn’t take long

before Carol had chopped up a pair of old jeans into short shorts and was cutting up a sweat

shirt into a pseudo halter top.

-----

Meanwhile, Carol’s husband John, arrived at the house.

 

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