Alex sighed with relief as he climbed up to the controls of the machine. It hadn't been easy, but he made it. He was helped by Jenny, who was glued to her cell phone and ignoring all outside distractions, and Cassie, who went back to sleep. But he still had to creep through the herd of sleeping young children to make it to the room that held the shrinking machine. He was almost caught when one child turned and dropped their arm right in front of him, narrowly just missing the opportunity to pin him under their hand. But now he was here, using a stool to climb up to the control panel.
The controls weren't labeled, but it still looked pretty simple. There was a dial that turned to adjust the size of the test subject. He turned it counterclockwise, just as Jessie had instructed, carefully measuring the ticks on the dial to be exactly the opposite of what it had been set at before when Cassie used it on him. He didn't want to end up too tall, like some kind of freak, or too small to fight back. He was about the press the large red button which he assumed activated the machine when he was startled by a familiar voice.
"'Well, well. What have we here?" said his sister Cassie with menace. "That couldn't be my dolly. No, my dolly is good. He wouldn't break the rules. What are you doing, dolly?"
Cassie grabbed him in her hand, holding him tightly. She looked down at the controls.
"Oh, so my dolly wants to get big again. Well, that's not fair. I haven't got to play with you yet. I think I need to punish my dolly. Maybe making him a little smaller will keep him from causing trouble. What do you say, dolly? Do want to be even smaller?"
"No, Cassie! Please don't! I'll be good. I promise," begged Alex.
Cassie laughed as she turned the dial clockwise, returning it to the shrink setting.
"As if you have a choice, " she muttered.
Alex's heart raced faster with each click of the dial.
"Cassie! What are you doing in there!?" yelled Jenny as she stormed into the room.
"Butt out. Unless you want me to tell," teased Cassie.
Jenny glared down at the young girl, placing her hands on her hips. She burned with anger. There was no way she was going to let that little girl boss her around.
"That's it! I have had enough of you, young lady. I will no longer tolerate your disobedience. I am the adult here and you are the child. You will show me some respect and do what I say. And the first thing you are going to do is take your toy and march right out of here."
Cassie just glared back, her young eyes burning with hate. They quickly darted to the control panel and a wicked smile formed on her lips.
But Jenny was having none of it.
"Oh no, little lady. I know what you are thinking. You may be smart, but I am older and wiser. And there is no way you can trick me into getting on that platform. So march!"
Cassie's grin turned into a childish pout. She stomped her foot on the ground, squeezing her toy uncomfortably tight.
"No fair. You think just because you are bigger you can boss me around. If I were bigger....."
Cassie suddenly stopped midsentence as an idea quickly formed in her brain. She might not be able to get Jenny into the machine, but she could go herself. She turned the dial several clicks counterclockwise. The machine made a strange, ominous humming noise. Alex didn't like that sound. It sounded like the machine didn't like having the settings adjusted so quickly back and forth. He prayed it wasn't broken.
Jenny apparently didn't like the sound either. She stomped over to Cassie and grabbed her roughly by the hand.
"Get away from there before you break something," yelled Jenny angrily.
"NO!" shouted Cassie.
Cassie struggled to free herself from Jenny's grip. In the melee she lost hold of Alex, and he dropped down to the control panel. Not one to waste an opportunity Alex leapt on the red button as hard as he could. The droning hum of the machine grew audibly louder as it warmed up and prepared to fire. Alex jumped down to the ground with a thud and took off running to the platform.
Jenny released Cassie from her grip and turned to chase Alex.
"Oh no you don't, toy. Don't think I haven't forgotten about you. You are going to get punished, too. As soon as I ..." said Jenny as she reached for him.
Just as Alex landed on the platform and stood in the middle of the circle, Jenny's hands closed around him. She was about to pull him out when the beam of the machine finally discharged, striking her hands and making them tingle.