After the brothers took in the changes, Derrick took charge.
"It's almost time for bed anyway," he said. "We can check the Chronivac again tomorrow."
Tanner wasn't quite willing to leave off studying the machine, but the device had never been designed with kids in mind. Lacking exciting graphics or colors, the machine just didn't hold Tanner's interest for very long. He found himself staring at the readout on his statistics and becoming bored and restless.
"We just have to get you out of those wet Underoos," Derrick said, taking his little brother by the hand and leading him down the hall toward their shared room.
Tanner felt the seat of the Underoos sag slightly as he walked. He felt the tingling that usually preceded a change by the Chronivac. He felt hopeful he was about to grow back into his 17-year-old body, but he was soon robbed of this optimism when he noticed that he was having trouble keeping pace with Derrick.
"Dewick! Somefing stwange is happening…."
Derrick looked down and watched in astonishment as Tanner shrunk from a four-year-old boy in too-large Underoos to a naked toddler clutching his wet Underoos in his fists in front of his crotch.
"What happened?" Tanner asked, his lower lips quivering and his eyes brimming with tears as anxiety overcame his emotions.
Derrick made a quick scan of the Chronivac.
Name: Tanner William McBeall
Age: 2
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Height: 3’ 2’’
Weight: 27 lbs
Sexual Preference: N/A
Hair color: black
Eye color: blue-green
Occupation: toddler
"You're now two years old!" Derrick announced in undisguised surprise.
Tanner felt too small, too exposed. This wasn't supposed to happen.
"Tanner big boy!" He argued petulantly.
"Sure, you're a big boy," Derrick said patiently, reaching down and scooping his toddler brother into his arms. He finished carrying Tanner the rest of the way to their room.
"I need cwothes."
"I don't know if we have anything that will fit you," Derrick said. "Maybe I can go to a store and buy some pull-ups."
He thought for a moment. "Maybe I should get some diapers, too, just in case you keep getting smaller."
Tanner's eyes widened.