“Ugh fine,” Lisa sighed in annoyed fashion. Kellie watched as Lisa handed the ring over to Katie as she did Kellie could see the realization of Lisa’s wish wash over Katie. Kellie shifted nervously as Katie’s eyes went wide as she looked at her sister and Kumiko. “Um Kellie,” Katie stammered. “I, Uh, need a minute with my sister.” Kellie nodded, she knew what the girls were going to talk about yet needed to play dumb. Katie, Lisa, and Kumiko now hurried into the living room out of ear shot.
While the girls thought Kellie could no longer listen they were mistaken. Although not a full fledged wizard Kellie did have access to some magic. Looking towards where the girls had gone Kellie pulled lightly on her earlobes, enhancing her hearing with a simple spell. Able to hear the conversation now she listened to the girls conversation.
“What the hell Lis,” Katie whispered. “You turned Aunt Ann into a freaking 12 year old with a stranger in the house.”
“What,” Lisa hissed back. “She was getting on my nerves and besides it’s not like the new girl noticed anything.”
“What if she did though,” Katie hissed back. “Do you really want to try explaining all this to someone we just met. Also seriously if Ann’s freaking 12 whose taking care of the house. Someone has to pay the bills and work, Geez Lisa what are we going to do.”
Kellie smirked as she listened to the girls argue quietly. In many ways Katie was acting very similar to how Kellie acted when they first discovered the ring. She could appreciate how responsible Katie was acting and the foresight in understanding that leaving Ann a child was probably not a great idea.
“You know we’re going to have to change Ann back Lisa,” Katie whispered to which Kellie could hear Lisa sigh in acceptance. “I know, I know,” Lisa muttered. “But cmon you gotta admit it’s kinda cool seeing her knocked down a peg.”
“Lisa,” Katie sighed. “You really should just sit down with Ann and talk. Seriously she’s not as bad as you think she just worries a lot.”
“She’s not mom,” Lisa muttered angrily. “And she shouldn’t try to be. I mean ever since we moved in with her she’s all do this and do that. It’s...it’s really annoying..I...I...”
Kellie could hear Lisa trail off with a sniff, shocked she could now understand what Lisa was so angry about. The girl desperately missed her mother and was still bitter about her death. She wasn’t so much angry at Ann but at the fact her mother was gone.
“It’s not fair,” Lisa whispered. “Why did mom have to die? Why?!”
Kellie listened as Lisa began to cry softly. The sound of both Kumiko and Katie hugging the girl was audible enough that Kellie could hear it through Lisa’s muffled cries. “I know Lisa,” Katie soothed. “I miss mom too but we can’t blame Ann. I know she’s a pain sometimes but she means well, just give her a chance okay.”
Although Kellie was unable to hear Lisa’s movements she had a feeling the girl sullenly agreed. Kellie smirked s she thought of the fiery red head. Lisa was a rebel yes but was a good kid deep down. Kellie remembered how Lisa often acted out due to being insecure about herself, putting on a front to cover her own insecurities. These would be things Lisa would confess later in life. It was also the reason why she was such a good guardian for Katie. She was empathetic towards the plight of teenagers because she had been a troubled teen.
As Katie, Lisa, and Kumiko now reentered Kellie could see Lisa had been crying. The girl leaned into her friend averting her eyes from Kellie. “Sorry,” Katie apologized. “We um had to talk. Sister stuff.” Kellie nodded as she looked the three over. “No it’s okay I um get it,” She stammered.
As the girls now stood in the kitchen Ann approached. The preteen had a sad and shy look on her face as she looked at the four teens. “Lisa, Katie,” she murmured. “I can’t find anything that fits me. I...I don’t know what’s going on.”
Katie and Lisa looked at the young girl in her overly large business suit. The girl looked on the verge of tears as she stared at Lisa and Katie. The twins now looked at each other sharing a type of unspoken word. “Ok fine,” Lisa huffed. Katie grinned as she now made a wish.
Kellie watched as Katie’s ring began to glow. Turning she could see Ann begin to grow back into adulthood. In only moments Ann had returned to adulthood, a confused look on her face. “What’s going on,” she asked. “Your, um, just tired Aunt Ann,” Katie said. “why don’t you go shower me and Lisa will clean up.”
Ann nodded, still confused, as she headed back towards her bedroom. Katie, Lisa, and Kumiko now looked at Kellie unsure of what Kellie knew. The three now looked at Kellie, trying to decide what to say. “Ummm Kellie,” Katie said. “Can you give us a second we need to talk in private.”
“Uh sure,” Kellie answered feigning ignorance. She watched now and listened as the girls began to discuss whether they should tell Kellie their secret. Kellie for her part waited patiently, seeing if the girls trusted her with their secret and trying to decide if she trusted them with hers.