This is bad, Kellie thought. Why couldn't Katie have not noticed anything? All of a sudden, the ring grew warm as a blank look came across Katie's face.
"So mom," 9-year old Katie asked, "Can I get them pierced now?"
Before responding, Kellie took in a few changes. For one, Katie called her mom instead of mommy. Also, she seemed to have forgotten about growing up, instead focusing on getting her ears pierced. Kellie then remembered that she had promised her daughter earrings when she was nine. But looking at how young her daughter still looked made her think twice.
"Sweetie," Kellie began, "I know I said when you were 9, but I just think you are trying to grow up too fast! I'm sorry." Now let's have a quick meal and head to the mall. Those clothes look really bad on you," Kellie added, realizing that her daughter was still wearing her old clothes.
As she prepared dinner, Kellie's mind drifted back to the ring. If she can change Katie, could she change herself. She silently wished herself two years younger.
And with that, Kellie began to change slightly as her features freshened up. What the 41-year old didn't realize was that her mind had also been ever so slightly altered, even though she remembered being 43. So her response changed slightly when Katie asked again.
"Please mom?" Katie tried one more time.
"Well ...." Kellie trailed off. Why not let her daughter have earrings? After all, a promise was a promise, and she could always have her stop wearing them if she proved Kellie wrong. "OK. I think you are old enough. But you have to take care of them!"
"I will!" Katie exclaimed!