Steve awoke with a startled jump. He had had the craziest dream. He was wearing children's clothing while his kids acted mature and his wife wore a diaper! He shuddered, but his relief quickly gave way to fear when he turned to see his wife Janet silently sleeping in a massive baby seat. Steve was too shocked to hold it in and let out a fearful screech. The rest of the car woke up immediately as Steve tried to calm down.
"No no no." He whimpered. "Dis can't be weal!"
"Honey calm down, it's gonna be all right." Megan tried to soothe her father, only to realize that she called him honey. "Oops, um, sorry Dad, this magic is really weird." She apologized.
Steve crossed his arms and huffed. Here he was, a grown ass man, forced to sit in a booster seat. "It's fine. I'm sowwy for waking you up."
"Apology accepted. Now, should we try the book now?" Alan asked the car.
Steve screamed yes as loud as he could while Janet furiously nodded her head. She was 100% done with not being able to talk. Alan looked over to Megan who looked a little unsure.
"What's wrong Megan?" He asked. "You don't think we should use it now?"
"I think we should just go home first.... If any more chaos happens, I'd rather be in the safety of my own home." She replied.
"Yeah I think you're right." Alan agreed.
"B-but..." Steve started before Alan gave him a stern look. Steve didn't know why, but he felt compelled to shut up. Janet still wanted to protest but could only babble incoherently.
Alan started the car and the family drove off. Nobody even questioned Alan's sudden amazing skill at driving. The family mostly sat silently as they drove along, all of them trying to avoid making eye contact with their reflections. After another half hour or so, they finally arrived back home.
"Okay let's be quick about this." Megan told Alan. "I don't want our neighbors thinking we're freaks or something." She announced, as she opened the car door.
"Wait! Megan-" Alan started to warn, but before Megan could react she got out to find her mom's friend, Mrs. Baker, waiting for them in the driveway. Megan nearly froze as she happily walked over. Mrs. Baker was your typical stay at home mom. She had gained some weight which made her features very exaggerated, she always wore mom jeans, a lot of makeup, and her curly red hair in a bun. She walked over holding a fresh apple pie.
"Um, hi, uh... this isn't what it looks like... we just wanted to try on costumes for um.... a costume contest!" Megan lied as she tried to cover the window so Mrs. Baker couldn't see Janet.
"What on Earth are you talking about Megan?" Mrs. Baker laughed. "I just came by to say high to the family." She explained as she moved passed Megan and opened the door. Megan decided to except their fate and hope her mom wouldn't be too pissed. Janet sat, mortified, as one of her best friends opened the door to see her sitting there in a diaper. But, to everyone's surprise, she did not react how they expected.
"Aww, high little Janet! Aren't you the cutest little doll. Yes you are." She said as she gave Janet a pinch on her cheek.
"Oh, hello Alan, I just wanted to say hi and drop this pie off for you and your wife." She explained as Alan rounded the car.
"My uh, my wife?" Alan asked fearful, already knowing the response.
"Megan is your husband okay? You both seem frazzled by something?"
"No! Sorry, um, Kylie. It's just been, a long drive and we're all just happy to be home." Megan lied, trying not to panic.
"Okay great!" Mrs. Baker responded cheering up. "I'll stop by later to chat, but I gotta drive Jimmy to baseball practice! Later Donaldsons!"
Alan and Megan waved goodbye, and as soon as she was out of sight, they both sat down on the driveway in a sudden plot. Alan yanked at his now balding head while Megan stared off into space. Steve, meanwhile, had heard the whole thing and was utterly shocked. He looked over to Janet to see her trying not to cry as the family realized the implications.
"So... it's not just out clothes and the mirror then." Megan sighed.
"The whole freaking world.... thinks we've always been this way." Alan continued. "Reality itself freaking changed to adjust."
Alan and Megan forced themselves up, got Janet and Steve out of the car, and walked inside. They placed the book on the table, Janet in a high chair, and they all sat down on the dinning room table. Everyone was silent, but looking around. The entire place had changed to match their lives. All the family photos were the same as the mirror. Showing them all as the wrong ages. They then stared at the book, wondering what they needed to do.