"Oh I think I know the problem," Maurice said. "He's not young enough to really appreciate magic yet. What do you think folks? Should Jeremy go back even further?" Everyone clapped.
"No!" Jeremy pleaded. He grabbed the magician by his lapels and glanced up into his strong brown eyes. "I'm sorry okay. Just change me back."
That cherry candy smell drifted around him. Maurice waggled the sucker in front of his face. "No. No. You said I should be entertaining children, and that's what I'm going to do. Opitus, dopitus, mopitus, mean. Jeremy's a cranky teen. But when my spell reaches its end. He'll be a little boy of ten! Presto-change-o-age-re-arrange-o!"
Jeremy tried to cry out in protest, but already he had that funny feeling again. He was twirling around in a whirlwind of goofy rubbery feelings. He felt his frame contracting, his arms and legs shortening. His hardon shrinking. even more more body hair tickled and vanished, as he felt his pubes and leg hair fading away. His shirt and pants ballooned all around him, and his sleeves flopped right past his hands. His khakis and underwear plopped around his scrawny legs, and he saw this time as Magic Maurice grew taller and taller, bigger and more masculine and powerful right in front of his eyes. In the mirror stood a little boy swamped in men's clothing. He looked exactly as Jeremy had as a kid. "This can't be happening!" His voice piped out, high and immature. "Please mister! I don't want to be a little boy."
"AW! Look at little Jeremy, folks!" the Magician laughed. "He's just a little kid who wants to learn magic. You must think a big strong magician like me is SUPER cool, huh, Jeremy?"
And Jeremy's heart swelled with enthusiasm and desire. Because suddenly it was true. Magic Maurice WAS cool. SUPER cool! The coolest guy ever! He knew magic! Real magic. And oh boy how he wanted to grow up to be just like him. But no, he was a man, this was a spell. He had to fight it!
Jeremy shook his head. It felt like his body was full of butterflies and cotton candy. He tried to get away, but he tripped on his pants and shoes and fell flat on the stage. Everyone laughed.
Suddenly Maurice snatched him up and hoisted him clean out of his shoes, socks, pants and underwear. His dress shirt hung down to his knees, as the magician presented him to the audience. "Ta da! Where once was an obnoxious man, there is now an adorable little boy!" Everyone cheered. Jeremy blushed.
The magician set him down on stage. "There's just one problem, Jer-buddy!"
Jeremy glanced up longingly at the man with the sucker.
"You're definitely too young to be in here now."
Suddenly a giant, wicker cane hooked around Jeremy's young chest and tugged him. "Hey!" He slid toward the curtain. He was being pulled back stage. "Stop it! Change me back!"
The magician waved good bye. "Goodnight, little boy! Maybe if you're good, I'll come perform at your 11th birthday party!"
"No!" Jeremy struggled but he was far too weak. The cane pulled him behind the curtain into the dark, shadowy backstage world.