Don wasn't sure what to think as he pulled on the shoe and stood up. He felt perfectly fine, but everything was so weird. Either he was still drunk from the previous night's festivities or someone was playing some sort of weird joke on him. Either way, he could either go and hide in his room until it was over or he could go about the plans he'd spent a week making.
"Let's hurry up and get to dinner so we can get to that movie," he told Chris, who was looking at him strangely.
"Uh, sure."
Don held his pants up all the way to the dining hall, where dealing with his tray and finding a seat almost made him lose his grip on them.
The dinner was disgusting, as was usual for the college's fare. Don sat on his foot, which made him sit taller in the seat. Funny, he was having trouble reaching as easily as he had before. During the meal, he tried to joke with Chris to take his mind off of these strange events. Other friends came and went, stopping by to say hello.
Their friend Jared sat down with his tray just as they were finishing. "Hey, guys, where ya goin?"
"LORD OF THE RINGS," said Chris, standing up with his trash. Don was avoiding standing up, but he decided to go back up to his room to change into clothes that fit better.
"Cool! Can I come?"
"We're leaving now," said Chris.
"Fine," said Jared, pushing back his full plates. "I can't eat this shit anyway. Let's go!" He, too, got to his feet. "Come on, DeSoto."
"Uh guys, I need to go upstairs first and change clothes," Don said.
"Why?" asked Jared. "What's wrong with what you've got on?"
But then Don stood up, too, and it was perfectly obvious what was wrong... his clothes were ridiculously baggy on him. Don had to hold his pants up with both hands. But there was something else...
"Are you crouching?" Jared asked, eyeing his friend. Chris, hearing the concern in his voice, turned and gasped when he noticed that he and Jared were literally looming over a strangely small-looking Don.
"Uh, no..." said Don, standing up straight. He was staring directly into his friends' chests.
"Is this some sort of publicity stunt?" demanded Jared with a sly smile. "Are you supposed to be a hobbit? How'd you do it?"
He was interrupted when Don, his eyes wide with terror, gasped and attempted to run out of the crowded cafeteria. Unfortunately, he tripped over his pants legs and boatlike shoes, going sprawling and attracting the attention of everyone.