Madame Illusia looked straight into Damon's eyes and stared deeply into his soul, looking for the animal of his heart's desire.
"Ah, you pour thing," she said, pityingly. "You've wanted this for a long time, haven't you?"
Damon nodded.
"Tell them," she said, "out loud. Don't be afraid: you're going to get your wish on this very stage. Your rightfully cherished partner has already bravely her support."
"I, I've always kind of thought I'd rather be a--well, a dog," he said nervously. "Dogs can do things humans can't, and they have a kind of devotion humans don't. It's the kind of existence I'd love to have for myself... the kind of devotion I want to embody for people I care about, people like Monica."
The audience was silent for a moment and then gave a loud, communal noise of adoration. There was something cute, loving and innocent about the man's statement, something that reminded most viewers of their favorite household pet, the kind he was asking to become. Monica breathed a sigh of relief that she wasn't going to have to find space for an elephant or a giant water tank for some kind of sea creature.
"Ladies and gentleman, every dog has his day," said the Madame, waving a wand around in the air: "Are you ready to this dog's first?" The audience erupted into applause.
"It's gonna be a lifechanging show today, folks. Damon, today is going to be the first day of the rest of your life!"
More cheers rang out. Monica looked around anxiously, hoping she and her so-called boyfriend weren't going to end up being cruelly humiliated by whatever this so-called transformation was going to entail. She was almost becoming convinced that the woman's magic was going to be real and might be furious for weeks if this turned out to be another kooky hypnotist gig.
Illusia pointed her wand at Damon and made firework-like glittery bursts engulf him. When they cleared and he was standing in the smoke, he was naked. The clothes had seemingly vanished into thin air. Damon covered his privates. The audience laughed. Monica lowered her face to her palm and shook her head. Madame held up her hand to reign everyone back in.
"Can't get through a show without a little inspiration and a little comedy, right?" she winked with a chuckle and looked back at Damon. "Aw, chin up, Damon. Even your human body is worth showing off; Monica has been quite the lucky lady. Consider this little display your first taste of your new life! After all, dog's don't have to be ashamed, do they?"
She waved an arm in front of him and lowered it toward the ground. Damon felt his embarrassment at the situation draining out of him as though it were never there. Even his lifelong paranoia about his penis size was simply gone. He took his wants away from covering his junk and let them hang more casually at his sides. He stopped blushing. The audience wolf-whistled.
"Tell us Damon," said the Madame. "What is your dog name going to be?"