As Colin was deciding what to do, a young boy walked up to him and poked Colin on the back. "Excuse me, sir, but would you like to buy any cookies? I'm doing a fundraiser for my school."
Colin looked at him. He seemed like he was about 11, and he was obviously doing something good for his school. Unfortunately, that was just because Colin had done the same thing himself a few years ago. Colin knew that not very many people would buy cookies from a young, mischievous-looking boy like this. The boy had spiky yellow hair, and a quirky smile, like he was analyzing the best way to prank you. He was short for his age, and seemed like a nice kid to Colin, but only because Colin himself was a lot like that.
Colin decided to help the kid. "Sure, I'll buy some. How many other people have bought anything?"
"You would be the second today," the boy replied, looking sad. "I'm afraid I'm not going to make very much of a contribution. We're trying to raise funds for people with disabilities, but no one listens long enough for me to tell them that."
Colin considered this. "You know, I did something like that once. I often got told that if I was a girl, they probably would have bought the cookies. Have you ever got told that?"
The boy immediately responded, "Yes. A lot."
"Well then, how about this. I can make you a girl until you are done selling all the cookies, then you will turn back into a boy," Colin said.
"Sure you can," the boy said, deciding Colin was nuts. "Go ahead."
Colin thought about his wording, then said, "Are you a girl who will turn back into a boy as soon as you finish selling the cookies, and do you remember being a boy?"
The boy looked surprised as he suddenly said, "Yes, and yes."
Suddenly, a cute girl with long, blonde hair, an innocent face, and female versions of the clothes he had originally been wearing was standing there, holding the cookies. "Wow! Thanks!" she said in her new female voice. She skipped off into the crowd, getting her cookies bought almost as often as not. Unlike previously, though, she was always talked to politely.
Colin, watching her, said to himself, "That basket is going to take a long time to empty, even at this rate.
He went off into the crowd, trying to find someone else to change, permanently this time.