Jared debated and rejected one scenario after another until he recalled that his mother had one a thorough housecleaning during the summer and moved some of his old things out to the carport. He gave a cautious look toward the house, but the coast appeared clear. He made it to the carport and began to rummage through a row of shelves lined with plastic storage containers. All of the containers had been closed, which made his job much more difficult. The thought that his time was running out nagged at him, so Jared propped himself on his hind legs and used his snout to push one of the crates onto the floor of the carport.
A collection of items spilled onto the floor. One of the items, a rattle with a silver handle, made a jangly noise as it rolled across the floor, appealing to Jared's inner dog's curiosity. He grabbed the item in his jaws and bounded back into the yard. As he ran, the rattle made a tinkling sound as tiny metal parts rolled around within the enclosed silver sphere.
When he raced back to the spot on the grass where he had left the amulet disguised as a shiny dog tag, he immediately collected the tag into his mouth. He heard the metal tag clang against the handle of the rattle. Would it work?
Shaggy's bulky form began to contract. He continued to grow smaller until he was left a short-legged puppy. He whined. This wasn't what he had wanted!
But the transformation continue. He saw the puppy's paws begin to take on the appearance of human hands and fingers, although the digits looked stubby. The fur covering his body sank back into his skin, leaving Jared naked and smooth. Much smoother than he should have been. He tried to shift into a better position to check himself, but he felt like a turtle turned onto its back. Short and stubby legs and arms flexed in the air.
What had happened? He needed help.
"Help!" Jared cried. The word came out in a peevish articulation far short of the mark. A chubby fist closed spasmodically around the handle of the rattle.
He tried to crane his head, but he shivered when he saw the pair of hooves in the grass near his resting spot. Jared tried to focus. Something was wrong with his vision, but at least it wasn't confined to black and white. He squirmed in a useless attempt to evade Wepwawet's arms as they lowered to pick him off the ground.
The deity straightened its arms and held Jared away from his form, allowing a pair of pudgy legs to dangle.
"I'm not quite sure you planned this out," Wepwawet said.
"Put me down!" Jared bawled, distressed that he didn't seem to be able to form any recognizable words.
The being lowered Jared to the ground and propped his back against the wall of the doghouse.
Jared gurgled and his eyes widened as he looked down and did a proper survey of himself. He realized his mistake, as did Wepwawet.
"Well, you're human again," the being said with an odd chortling that sounded like tree frogs and hyenas trying to harmonize. "Just."
Jared tried again, trying to push out his questions, only to have them dissolve into babble.
"It's simple," Wepwawet said. The being stooped and recovered the shiny amulet off the ground. "And you won't be needing that."
Jared bawled some more as he realized he had changed himself into a pudgy infant of about six months of age.
"Maybe your parents will welcome a second opportunity to get you right," the being speculated.
"You can't leave me like this!" Jared bawled.
"Once again, you keep giving me credit I don't deserve," Wepwawet affected modesty. "This is entirely your doing."
"But the amulet..."
"Well, that is my property," the being said and closed his fist around the tag. He waved down at the infant Jared. "Ta-ta."
Wepwawet disappeared in a swirl of dust that gradually drifted down to the ground around the naked infant.
As Jared's eyes widened, his vision wavered. Tears obscured his vision as he bawled in dismay.