"I told you to be careful Hannah," Laura moaned. "They have a tendency to just keep rolling....what's so funny!"
Laura frowned as she now stared at the 26 year old woman. Hannah appeared to be holding in a laugh as she listened to Laura. Laura narrowed her eyes, placing her hands on her narrow hips as she glowered at the woman.
"Sorry," Hannah apologized with a smile. "Its just. Looking at you when your like this, Injust have this sneaking suspicion you've always been a bit of a mother hen. Tell me were you the oldest?"
"I was the youngest," Laura grumbled. "My older brother was a bit if a screw up so I was the responsible one."
"Ah I understand," Hannah said. "You were the one that always had to be on their best behavior. You never got to be a kid growing up."
"That's not true," Laura exclaimed. "I did all sorts of stuff as a kid. I swam, I was on the soccer team, heck I was even a girl scout."
"Those are things your parents made you do," Hannah stated. "You never had a chance to just...hang out, play outside with your friends. Just be a kid."
Laura opened and closed her mouth, unable to come up with good comeback. "You know," Hannah said as she now began to search for the dice. "In my experience nothing ever happens by accident. Maybe the dice coming to you happened on purpose. Maybe it's the universes way of letting you enjoy a second childhood."
"But I dont want a second childhood," Laura whined. "I want to be an adult."
"Maybe deep down Laura you do," Hannah said. Glancing under a couple of boxes Hannah spotted the dice. Carefully she now picked them up breathing a sigh if relief as she glanced at Laura.
"Is someone up there?"
Laura and Hannah's eyes went wide at the question. Hannah immediately recognized the voice as her granddaughter Annette. Placing a finger to her mouth, she now motioned for Laura to remain quiet. Laura did as she was told, watching as Hannah mow hid in the shadows. Unfortunately it seemed Annette was a rather curious girl. As the girl now ascended the stairs she could see Laura standing in the middle of the attic.
"Sorry Annette I was just exploring," Laura said quickly. "Didnt mean to wake you." Annette gave the girl a curious look before slowly scanning the attic. Laura could feel herself breaking into a cold sweat, Annette was about to find Hannah. Before she could act she could see Annette freeze in place as she locked eyes with her much younger grandmother.
Hannah kept from her hiding spot, covering her granddaughters mouth before she could scream. Unfortunately for her it meant releasing the dice. Laura watched in morbid fascination as the dice now clattered to the floor.
Twenty six years you have walked this Earth. Now this number is but seventeen. Each roll fo the dice returns more of what you have lost.
Annette and Laura were now both present as Hannah began to grow younger once more. Hannah's curves seemed to melt away as she retreated from adulthood. The womans breasts decreasing a cup size, becoming perkier as her face lost all adult maturity. Hannah's black hair seemed to grow thicker, shinier, as she became an innocent teenage girl once more. If Annette had not seen the sight with her own eyes she would never have believed it. As the orbs if light now faded the two middle school girls were left with a dark haired teen that could easily pass as their big sister.
"Annette it's me grandma," Hannah said quietly, noting the teenage pitch in her voice.
"Grandma," Annette whispered, still utterly confused. "What, what just happened. Did...did you just grow younger?!"
"Yes munchkin I did," Hannah chuckled. "I know its unbelievable but well...here I am."
"No one calls me munchkin except my grandma," Annete frowned as she critically looked the teen over. "How did this happen?"
"Magic," Hannah smiled. "But I'll let our friend Laura explain."
Laura sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. Hannah had been reduced to a teenage girl now. A girl barely old enough to drive. With Hannah steadily growing younger, and the inclusion of her 12 year old granddaughter, things were about to get alot more complicated. Hopefully no other issues were crop up between now and when they reached the Magic Shop.