"Jack?" asked Joe again, rattling the knob to the bathroom door.
"I'm fine, " mumbled Jack, surprised by the deep timber of his voice. His speech was a little slurred. Jack was not used to the changes to his mouth and lips, not to mention his new thick, long tongue.
Silence followed on the other side of the door. It seemed almost like an eternity of silence. Jack jumped when his father finally broke the silence, speaking to him again through the door.
"Okay, then. Well, come on out, boy. We have a lot of work to do today and we best get started. You are gonna need quite a bit of energy to help, so I made you a nice, big breakfast with all the fixins. Warm buttered toast, some greasy bacon and lots of eggs. I made 'em extra runny, just the way you like ...."
Jack vomited at the thought of all that food. The doorknob rattled again.
"You sick in there, boy?" asked Joe. "Okay, enough is enough. Open the door. Now!"
"No, Dad," said Jack weakly.
"Boy, you open this door or I am gonna kick it down," said Joe. "You know I can do it. I don't want to ...it'll just add to the list of chores .... but I will if I have to!"
Jack looked at the thin flimsy door and realized his father was right. A stiff breeze would probably take it down. With a sigh Jack reluctantly unlocked the door and opened it, greeting his father in his changed body.
Joe did his best to look shocked. He didn't have to try hard - he had expected the boy to change after he had altered his appearance with Chronivac. But seeing it displayed on a computer screen and seeing the results up close and personal were two different things. But it didn't take long for his initial awe to give way to an almost uncontrollable urge to laugh. His son's appearance was comical and the hang-dog expression on his face was the icing on the cake. But somehow he was able to keep his composure.
"Jesus, son! What the hell happened to you?" asked Joe.
Jack looked down at his father. It was strange standing over him like that. Jack had always been big, but his father had almost been his equal. Jack's Dad now appeared more than a head shorter than him. He must have grown at least a foot, if not two in height.
"I don't know, Dad. I just woke up and I was like this. What am I gonna do?" said Jack pitifully.
"I don't know, son. Give me a minute to think," said Joe, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
In truth Joe already had an idea. He had carefully crafted a plan designed to teach Jack to be more responsible. But in order to pull it off, he had to make it look like he was making this up on the fly.
"Well, I think we better get you outta sight first. Who knows what people would say - or do - if they saw you like that? Best hide you in the barn until we can figure this thing out," said Joe.
Jack walked out of the bathroom and back into his room, his feet stomping on the ground. Now that he understood more about his changed anatomy, it was a little easier to get around. Joe walked out the door to his bedroom but Jack hesitated and stayed behind, turning around and looking at the clothes scattered across his floor.
"What are you doing, son?"
"I can't go out there like this! I'm naked. I need some clothes," said Jack.
Joe clicked his tongue and held up the tattered remains of Jack's clothes.
"I hate to break it to you, but I don't think anything will fit. I guess you just don't realize how big you are now," said Joe, handing Jack his clothes.
Jack held up the rags against his body. Even intact they would have been ridiculously small. Like an adult trying to wear children's clothes.
"But I have to wear something...." pleaded Jack.
"If we hurry nobody will see you but me and the animals. And you ain't got nothing I haven't seen before. As for the animals I don't think it will bother them none. All of them are comfortable walking around in their birthday suits and I think they would be more comfortable with you like that, too. Especially, Sally. I reckon she might really like your new look, " said Joe with a chuckle.
Jack gave him a cross look. Sally was the young mare they had recently purchased.
"Sorry, son. Bad joke, not the time. Best we get moving. Someone could come by at any time," said Joe.
Jack hung down his head so he could duck under the door frame and followed his father out of his room.