Michael and Rebecca laughed as the adorable now ten year old Abby rounded the corner. Her eyes lit up when she saw Michael. She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him, giving him a big hug.
"Oh Michael! I am so glad that our parents let us spend the day together. We are going to have so much fun playing games all day. I'm so excited I don't know what to do first," Abby said as she squeezed Michael tightly. He placed the Chronivac on a table and gently eased her off of him.
"Easy, Abby. We got all day to play. Just don't play so rough," said Michael.
"You little weenie! You are always such a crybaby," Abby said with a smile. "Oh, but who is going to watch after us?"
"I'll do it!" said Rebecca happily as she snatched the Chronivac off the table and began to fiddle with it.
The sight of the device in Rebecca's hands gave Michael a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. She was a nice girl, but she was also very young and naive. Giving that kind of power to a little girl seemed like a very bad idea. He wished that Abby was still older or that at least one adult was around to help him. He was suddenly aware of just how vunerable he was now.
"Becca, what are you doing?" Michael said nervously, as he began to edge closer to her.
"I am going to become a big girl and take care of you guys, " said Rebecca happily. "I'll be the babysitter!"
"I don't think that is a good idea. Why don't you give that back to me and we'll work something else out?" Michael said as he continued to inch closer to her.
Abby silently watched with confusion. She had no idea what the Chronivac was or why Michael wanted it so bad. But she could sense the tension in the air and it made her uneasy. She twisted some of her hair into her mouth and began to nervously chew it, watching the drama unfold.
"No!" said Rebecca suddenly, backing away from Michael. "I want to be the older sister, just once. I am so tired of always being the little one, being treated like a baby and getting bossed around by everybody. You wanted to be little and you got to do it. So it is only fair that I get to try being big."
Michael reached forward, but he was too late. Rebecca hit the button and activated the device. Michael and Abby watched in shock as Rebecca began to slowly inch taller.
"Whoa! You are as big as us now!" said Abby with excitement.
"I know!" said Rebecca happily. "Isn't it cool?"
Michael noticed that Rebecca's clothes were changing, too. She must have set the 'Alter Reality' button. But had she set the 'Awareness', too? Michael's bad feeling began to get much worse.
"Yeah, now we can all play!" said Abby happily.
Rebecca shook her head and blinked, as if confused. She held her hands against her head. Her long growing hair streamed through her hands as her body continued to age and stretch taller. Suddenly she shook her head, blinked her eyes rapidly and looked down at Abby and Michael.
"Why would I want to play with you little brats?" said Rebecca.
By the changes in her clothes Michael he guessed his sister was now around 13 or 14. Her attitude seemed to match that age, at least. And it didn't look like she was stopping there. Her body continued to stretch taller, making Michael feel very small.
"But you promised our parents you would play with us," said Abby sadly.
"Ugh, I may have agreed to watch you little munchkins, but that doesn't mean I have to hang out with you. Why don't you two play with your dolls in your room and leave me alone?" said Rebecca snidely.
"Becca, give me the Chronivac, " said Michael firmly.
"What was that? Are you trying to order me around, you little runt?" said Rebecca, placing her hands on her hips and glaring down at Michael.
She was still stretching taller, her body blossoming into a young woman. She looked like a teenager now and seemed to tower over him.
Just how old had she made herself? thought Michael with a little fear.
"Mom and Dad aren't home so you can't run and tattle on me now, you little baby. I am in charge. You have to do what I say!" she said smugly. "Besides, this thing isn't a toy. It's for mature adults like me!"
"Please, Rebecca. I just want to make a few adjustments, that's all," said Michael weakly.
Rebecca was ignoring him, admiring her body in the mirror. She had stopped growing and seemed to be in her late teens.
"Sorry, little brother. Maybe when you are older, " she said, still examining her body in the mirror.
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
"But that doesn't mean I can't make a few adjustments of my own."