"OK." Hebe grinned and tousled Derrick's hair. He felt it slick down from more mud. "I promise I will not make you a baby. And if you cooperate, I will give you a whole new life that I know you will enjoy."
A new life? Derrick liked the life he had! But... he did not want to start over as an infant, either. "Oh... OK."
Hebe smiled broadly. "Wonderful! I have some ideas I have been wanting to try out." She ran her fingers through his hair again, and it seemed to get thicker. When she rinsed it off he was startled to see he had coppery red curls in a thick tangle. He was also about 8 years old now. She ran her fingers gently around his face, creating a mask of mud that rinsed off to reveal a stranger's features. His eyes were now bright green, freckles covered his nose and cheeks, and his nose was upturned. Oversized buck teeth pushed his upper lip out, and his ears looked like big handles.
"Very nice!" She ran her hands all over his body as if lathering him up with soap, and pushed down on his forehead with one palm. Derrick felt confused, his thoughts slowing down. When Hebe rinsed him off this time, he had the gap-toothed grin of a 7 year-old, and there was something missing in the eyes. Derrick struggled to understand and she rubbed him again. He soiled himself and urinated, all evidence washed away with the mud of his age. Six now, a goofy grin and some drool creeping out of his mouth. Enough of Derrick was left that he realized Hebe was stripping away his intelligence. She was making him a skinny, ugly, retarded child! How could he possibly enjoy...?
Hebe hefted him up and held him close to her chest. He felt the mud start to form all over, and struggled weakly. He was so confused! But the warm mud felt nice. He felt her run her hands over his forehead again and grinned, suddenly feeling happy. When she rinsed him off this time, Derrick was two years old. He knew he had been older, even remembered much of his past. But all that was so vague and confusing that he could not hold onto it. It was easier just to accept everything and be happy.
Hebe lifted the toddler out and this time began to dry him off with a towel. The child was severely retarded and homely, but could be taught to perform menial labor. They always needed help in the stables, and Derrick would grow up happy to shovel manure, or perform any other simple task he was given. The question was, did she want to age him back now or let him grow up on his own?