“Matt has to apologize to you and your two boys,” said Matt’s father.
“That’s fair,” said Mr. DeSoto quickly. “Let me go call them over.” The burly neighbor stood up and walked behind Matt’s father to where the phone hung on the kitchen wall. Matt shifted uneasily under his dads' disapproving glare as Paul DeSoto called home and told Bryan and Brett to come over to the Laird’s immediately. Matt could feel himself continuing to shrink in the presence of Mr. DeSoto’s big balls.
Mr. DeSoto didn’t sit down again after the phone call. He remained standing behind Matt’s dad as they waited for the boys to come over. Matt just stared at the floor, wishing he could sink into it. He looked as small as he felt by the time Bryan and Brett sauntered into the house.
Matt heard his father say, “Okay, boys, Paul, Matt here has something he wants to say to you.”
Matt mumbled “I’m sorry” under his breath.
“A little louder, son,” said Matt’s dad, quietly prompting Matt..
“I’m sorry,” said Matt with difficulty. “I’m sorry I shrank Mr. DeSoto yesterday. I shouldn’t have done it, and...I’m sorry.”
Mr. DeSoto’s authoritative voice said, “Thank you. Bryan, Brett, you boys don’t say a word about this to anyone or I’ll tan your hides. Get on to school.”
Matt heard the footsteps as Bryan and Brett left the house, but his gaze remained fixed on the intersection of two tiles directly ahead of his feet.
“You know, Matt,” said Mr. DeSoto gruffly. “Most people won’t accept an apology from someone who won’t look at them.”
Matt reluctantly raised his gaze to look over at Mr. Desoto, who winked and pointed down at Matt’s dad.
Matt’s gaze traveled back down to his father, who was less than three feet tall and steadily shrinking. Matt checked quickly; he himself was still over four feet tall, and not dropping quickly at all. Mr. DeSoto shuffled forward slightly, looming close behind Matt’s dad, who began shrinking more rapidly still.
Jim seemed to realize that something was going on. “Umm...Paul...” he began, as he realized he was sitting like a toddler at his own table.
“Jim, why I don’t I take a look at this,” said Mr. Desoto as he bent forward to take the wand off the table. Matt’s dad grabbed at it as it passed him, but Mr. DeSoto easily pulled it out of reach.
“Make a wish, huh?” said the burly construction worker. “Okay, Jim. I wish you were off for a week’s vacation on company business, and I was taking care of Matt until you got back.”
Matt’s dad suddenly vanished from the room, along with several sets of his clothes from the closet and one large piece of luggage from the attic.
Matt stared at Mr. DeSoto with his mouth open.
Mr. DeSoto didn’t seem to notice. “Oh, shit!” he said, looking worriedly at Matt. “Did I just send your father on a business trip only two feet tall?”
Matt’s lip twitched. Then, his face broke into a grin. He began to laugh, and so did Mr. DeSoto, the two of them chuckling for a good minute at the thought of Matt’s dad trying to negotiate business deals from a booster seat.
“I’m glad I remembered that last wish you made before you left yesterday,” said Paul, as the laughter subsided. “I’m going to have a lot of fun at work today. Speaking of which, we’d both better get going.”
As Matt hopped off his chair, Mr. DeSoto seemed to realize how much his balls had shrunk the teen. “Whoa, kid, nothing’s going to fit you at that size. I wish you were back to your normal size for a while, and I was too. If this wand thinks I don’t notice the lost inches of height, it’s sorely mistaken.”
Mr. DeSoto suddenly rose back up two inches. Matt wobbled as he shot from a little under four feet back up to six. For a moment, he took stock of his returned size, then went upstairs to get his clothes and backpack.
When he came back downstairs, he saw Mr. DeSoto standing in front of the closed front door. Matt stepped towards him, expecting Mr. Desoto to swing the door open, but instead Mr. DeSoto planted his feet and folded his arms across his beefy chest.
“What the hell do you think you’re going?” he said.
Matt looked puzzled. “Umm...you said...I had to get to school.”
Mr. DeSoto reached up and knocked Matt’s backpack off his shoulder. The bag plummeted to the floor about a foot away from Matt’s feet.
“Fuck work, fuck school,” said Mr. DeSoto. “Today, you’re staying with me.” His arms pulled Matt into a rough, full-body hug that turned into a passionate kiss.
After a few minutes, they both pulled back, crotches bulging. “So...” said Mr. DeSoto. “I’ve got the wand now, and I can change you OR myself this time. I wish...”