For all the drama in the day, you made the mistake of wondering what else could go sideways. You had 20 minutes of relaxation on your phone before you heard your parents arguing and you just knew it had something to do with the fiasco you caused.
Eavesdropping you heard that Mom got a call from the piano teacher over an hour ago, but she was out shopping with you at the time and didn't hear it... Dad forgot to pick Daniel up after his piano lesson HOURS ago... because he was being teen-like and playing video games, because of you... yeah... cringe...
Dad couldn't explain himself, Mom was furious, Dad wanted a little slack... door slammed, someone was driving off.
"Hello? Marsha, I'm so sorry. I..." It was Mom... Dad was driving.
Pushing that aside, you recalled what you just learned and how drastic your father's reversion was. it made you wonder what the rest of your puberty would be like. Are you truly older or just sized closer to that of your father? Either was possible as far as you could tell and if your stature changed and you were still 16, you are suddenly on track to become a very large man (the family freak) over the next few years...
On that thought you headed to the bathroom and turned on the lights. To your horror, you got some answers. You had changed again! You had been aged previously... how do you know? Well, after getting your fingers stuck for a few seconds you were now taking on your father's beard... Your stubble was longer and reached up to your cheeks. It looked like a weekend's worth of dad's growth, complete with that rustic salt and pepper look! There were even some gray strands in your hair and around your temples! It was a miracle your father didn't see while in your room!
You can use the socks and revert back! Your shoes, however, were by the door to the garage. Mom was out there already fired up, she'd smell you dodging questions and it would get ugly! Will this day never end?
With the mission impossible song playing in your head you fear you've taken on your father's taste in movies as well as coffee... You head to his bathroom hearing your mother continue to apologize for dumping her youngest on the pianist and begging that she not discontinue the lessons. Dad didn't have a good reason, so mom cant give a good reason to Marsha, which doesn't look good. They can't go in circles forever and you know your mom may give up and just find another teacher at any moment.
Urgently you find Dad's razor and shaving cream and without time for ceremony, attempt your first shave, rushed. Moments later with blood pouring from wounds and spots missed you rinse off your face and the most obvious mass of silver is gone from your jaw. You feel very mixed emotions at the shadow that remains which makes you still look college aged. Your temples, however, still give you away with any scrutiny.
"That will be gone in a few minutes" you tell yourself. "Now to just run out there, grab my shoes, and... no, socks first..."
You go to the bedroom replacing your socks with the magic green striped socks. You wish you could do something about your temples but the scissors are in the kitchen, you don't have a winter hat in your bedroom, and your brain is out of ideas...
A quick listen tells you Mom was off the phone and angrily starting dinner. You'd have to walk right past her... "Fu- crap." you caught yourself this time feeling pride and a sense of dread that you may have to fight your father's identity for the rest of your life.
"Now or when more people are home!" With that goading message you stood and went to your shoes. NOPE!
A thought flashed in your mind. The image of your mom seeing your bloddied face and making sure to get a good look at you and your injuries. You diverted into your bathroom and washed your face again with soap... you were a mess but this is temporary... the socks will heal you back to where you were when you came home from shopping with mom.
Cleaned up again, you return to your mission... and hear the car pull back in.. "Shi---ooooot" you struggle picking up speed. the car door slams, you're at the hallway. bounding through the kitchen to the garage entry, you bend down grabbing your shoes as Daniel opens the door. You stare him in the eyes as he looks at you, his face contorts, "What happened to you? You look..."
Your eyes go wide and you shake your head briefly giving him the stop signal and... he stopped. "Shh" you whisper as dad comes to the door wondering why Daniel stopped. He see you turn and race back to the bedroom.
Mom calls back to you sternly. "What's that all about? No running!"
"Something." you respond knowing that saying 'nothing' would encourage people to check on you faster. 'Something' lets them feel like you aren't pushing them out... just busy dealing with it... "I'm okay."
Getting to your room you shut the door and slip the tight shoes on as quick as you can. A moment later you haven't noticed the warm tingle and you wonder what if anything is happening. You curse the fact that you don't have a mirror in your room.