Joan sighed. She was feeling down because she had sent out another round of resumes and heard nothing.
"Ageism," she thought, as she watched her four-year-old step-grandaughter, Amy, play on the playground. Amy was the daughter of her son Shaun's wife, Emily. Amy's real dad was long gone.
Joan signed again and pushed her hair back. Formerly a sandy brunette, it was now more grey than brown. She was 5'3 and barely 100 pounds, with medium hips and B-cup breasts.
She watched her raven haired step-grandaughter play when something shiny caught her eye on the ground.
It was a ring. A strange ring.
"How odd," she thought as she leaned over to pick it up. It was at once both plain and beautiful.. She tried it on.
It fit. She couldn't believe it was just her size. "No harm in keeping it, was there?" she thought as it glinted a purple shine in the sunlight.
She turned her gaze back to Amy, somehow already forgetting about the trinket on her finger. She smiled as she watched the child play.
"Oh what I wouldn't give to trade places with her," she thought. "Just forget about adulthood and live my life over again. A clean slate."
Joan failed to notice the glow of the ring. Meanwhile, her iPhone timer rang. It was time to head home.
"Amy! Let's go!" the 52-year-old yelled to the 5-year-old child.
Amy came running up.
"OK, Nana Joan, I'm ready," she said, wistfully looking back at the playground... almost as if she'd never see it again.
Joan looked at the girl. Her clothes looked a little snug on her.
"Oh dear, Amy, I think you are outgrowing that outfit. Looks like we'll have to size up soon."
"Awww, I like this shirt," Amy said whistfully.
The two headed to the car to drive home, unable to shake a feeling that something wasn't quite right.