The day after the party Gloria found herself enjoying a quiet day in her room. Despite the fact that her unborn sister had made her 16 she decided it would probably be best to return to 15. Lynne’s magic hadn’t aged anyone else besides her and Jackie. This meant that their friends were still freshmen while they were sophomores. After much soul searching Jackie and Gloria decided to return to 15.
“Hey sis what you up too?”
Gloria glanced over to see her sister peaking into her room. “Hey Lynne,” she smirked. “Just enjoying a quiet day, especially after last nights nuttiness.”
“Ugh tell me about it,” Lynne shivered. “I can’t believe little me made everyone younger. I didn’t even notice that I was younger. Glad you and the others fixed it but I may have to kick my ass when I’m born.”
Gloria giggled as she looked at Lynne, the girl still had a hang up about age magic. Gloria realized that her fear of growing younger and not being able to control it was crippling to the girl. She hoped now that she could help her overcome her fear. “Well it wasn’t that bad,” Gloria said. “I mean you didn’t get any younger than 12. It was mostly the adults that got the worst of it.”
Lynne shrugged as she stared off towards the window. “I suppose,” she whispered. “Still, kinda freaks me out. I mean what if I kept getting younger? What if I vanished? Reality altered so much that people wouldn’t even remember I existed. That’s the part that scares me the most. Being forgotten because of a magical mistake.”
Gloria smiled as she approached her little sister, placing her in a tight hug. “I promise I will never forget you Lynne,” she soothed. Lynne couldn’t help but smile as she returned her sisters hug. Stepping back Gloria she cocked her head, gazing at Gloria. “Huh who would of thought all it would take was you celebrating a birthday to make you into a cool older sister,” she grinned. “Didn’t realize turning 15 all the sudden made you that much smarter and wiser.”
“Thanks,” Gloria laughed, placing her arm around Lynne.
As the two teens made their way downstairs they noticed their parents cleaning up from the party. After all the age changes from last night the two adults decided to just head to bed once they returned to normal. Unfortunately they were paying for it today as they groaned while cleaning. “Hey mom, hey dad,” the two teens called.
Lisa and Jason looked up from their tasks, smiling at their daughters. “Hey you two,” Jason said. “How you two getting along?”
“Pretty good actually,” Gloria said happily. “Lynne and I have kind of come to an understanding.”
“Thank god,” Lisa sighed as she heaved a garbage bag over her shoulder. “The whole bickering sibling thing was driving me nuts and reminded me too much of my childhood.”
Jason, Lynne, and Gloria laughed as the now helped their parents with the cleanup. The combined effort of the four of them allowed them to clean the house completely within 20 minutes. Happy with the task being completed the family now glanced at one another trying to figure out what to do with the rest of their day. Before they could decide they heard the sound of someone knocking at the door. “You expecting anyone today Lisa,” Jason asked.
Lisa shook her head know before looking at the girls. “No,” she said quietly. “Ann said something about possibly seeing Jackie today before heading home. What about you girls, expecting anyone?”
“No everyone’s busy today,” Gloria answered. “Goes double for me mom,” Lynne added. “Tricia is visiting her folks at college while Tommy was doing something with his dad.” As they continued to stare at the door they continued to hear the knocking. Whoever it was seem undeterred.
“Well we should probably answer it,” Gloria shrugged as she slowly made her way towards the door. “Do we really have to,” Lisa asked, a slightly annoyed look on her farce. “I mean not for nothing lately anytime we answer the door something weird happens.”
“Your being paranoid Lisa,” Jason chuckled. Lisa spun as she narrowed her eyes at her husband. “Really,” she grumbled. “Then I’ll tell you what Mr. Turner, if that is some weird magical thing then you owe me dinner and I’m going out to get my nails done. Your treat.”
Jason smirked, accepting his wife’s good natured challenge. As they flung open the door their jaws dropped as they gazed at the young woman standing on the front porch.
“Hi mom, hi dad,” the woman said. “It’s me, Gloria.”
The Turner family stared dumbfounded at the beautiful young woman in front of them. It was finally Lynne who broke the silence. “Gloria,” she exclaimed. “How the hell did you get here?”
“Same way you did kid,” Gloria smirked. “Now give me a hug I’ve missed you.”
Lynne didn’t need any more prodding as she launched herself into a bear hug of her big sister. The adult Gloria smiled at her family, with reality being altered so much since Lynne’s arrival she had acquired memories of her sisters time here. Now she hoped she could help the family return to some sense of normalcy, or as normal as having two wizards in the family could be.
“It’s great to see you guys again,” she said. “I mean, I just saw you before you before I left but still great to see you.”
“Um Gloria,” Lisa said slowly. “Look it’s not like I’m not happy to see you. Especially when this means my husband is buying me dinner and pairing to have my nails done but, what are you doing here.”
Gloria could only smile as she watched her father try to protest Lisa’s intentions. She wished she could gay longer in her childhood home, however, things I dictated that she move fast. “Mom, Dad,” she said. “I wish I could stay longer. Maybe I can visit again soon but I have something to tell you. I think I can get Lynne and her friends home.”