Ann swore she could feel beads of cold sweat on her brow. In the course of 30 minutes she had watched this party go from a group of college women to an elementary school gathering. Everyone, save Ann, appeared to be 10 or 11 years old now with no sign of slowing down. Glancing back at her cellphone, she now tried to will her nieces to call.
"Pickup, Pickup, Pickup," the 21 yea old muttered as the phone continued to ring. As it went to voice-mail once more, Ann grunted in frustration. "Maybe the others found Lynne."
Glancing around for her sister and her friends, Ann was at first hopeful. That is until she saw the girls emerge from the basement. Lisa couldn't be older than 10 now, the energetic young girl sprinting with the others towards the party. Ann now watched as her sister turned to some of the other guests, giggling like a school girl as she began to talk.
"Crap," Ann muttered. "Shes a kid now." Looking at the others she could see they weren't doing much better. Maddie and Nina had paused by the refreshed table, the two 11 year olds grabbing a soda, while Kumiko and Julia appeared to be only 10 and were now singing off key renditions of the Christmas music that was playing through the building.
"Okay maybe that girl Natalia found something," Ann thought. Glancing towards the upstairs, she now scanned the area for any sign of Reiko or Natalia. All she could see though was two 11 year olds, holding hands and giggling as they descended the stairwell to join the party. Ann groaned as she immediately recognized the young Asian girl and her frizzy red haired companion. "Great them too."
Things were getting desperate as Ann examined herself. While still an adult (technically) she looked like she would be more comfortable with a group of college students or high school seniors. Ann was only 20 now; her face losing its mature qualities as her curves evaporated ever so slightly. Brushing a stray blonde hair from her eyes she now began to try and formulate a plan.
"Okay Ann think," she whispered. "If I was a magical toddler where would I hide?" As Ann looked out over the party she couldn't help but listen to the Christmas music. A contented smile now spread across her face as she thought back to Christmas's past.
Spending the holidays with her sisters, wrapping presents, visiting Santa, Ann had always loved Christmas growing up. Gazing out at the excited elementary kids now she couldn't help but want to join them.
"Whoa!"
Ann shook herself from her stupor, she had almost slipped. If it hadn't been for her business coat slipping on her narrower shoulders she worried just how far she would have slipped. As she took in her appearance she realized she was a good deal younger now.
Ann appeared around 15 now. The teens slacks sliding off her waifish hips while her feet wobbled in heels that were a size or two too big. Glancing at her blouse and jacket she could see the blouse hanging on her body while the jacket no longer fit properly and drooped off her narrow shoulders.
"Crap I'm getting too young," Ann whispered. Glancing out at the party again she winced at the girls appearances. The girls no longer appeared to be 10 or 11. Now the girls looked closer to 7 or 8. Everyone was now much shorter, some of the girls now having to stand on tip toe to reach the refreshment table. With the loss of just a few years the party now resembled a sleepover. Little kids racing around barefoot dressed only in long shirts that resembled nightgowns.
The sound of Ann's cellphone ringing now drew the teens attention. Quickly picking it up, Ann breathed a sigh of relief to hear Glorias voice. "Thank God Gloria!"
"Is everything okay Aunt Ann," Gloria asked. "Katie called me right after I checked my text messages."
"Lynne crashed your moms party," Ann said quickly. "She cast a spell on everybody."
"How bad," Gloria asked.
"Well I'm surrounded by second graders so its bad."
"Okay Aunt Ann," Gloria said. "Me and Katie are on our way. I'll have Caleb drive me over I'm at his house right now."
"Just hurry please," Ann groaned. "This doesn't show any signs of stopping." As Gloria and Ann hung up, Ann now frantically glanced around once more. As she was about to give up the search she gasped as she saw a tiny toddler in pj's smiling at everyone.
"Lynne!"
Lynne smiled happily as Ann now made her way towards her. "Annie," Lynne replied happily. "Everybody little! Now I can go."
Ann now knelt down in front on Lynne, the young teens heels slipping out of her shoes. "Lynne sweety," she said. "You have to stop your spell."
"Why?"
"Cause we can't all be little Lynne," Ann stated. "Its dangerous."
"Why?"
"It just is Lynne people don't want to be little."
Lynne gazed at her aunt curiously, shaking her tiny head. "Eveyone is having fun though Annie," Lynne stated. "You should have fun too."
Ann now felt herself shrinking, growing younger at a faster rate. Quickly the teen felt herself go from 15 to 12, her shoes slipping completely from her diminutive feet as her clothing began to swallow her skinny body.
"No Lynne," Ann whined, her voice rising in pitch as puberty began to abandon her. "I don't want to be little. I have to be a big girl. I have to..have to.."
Ann's mind was fogging over, her body continuing to regress as she sped backwards in age. As she hit 10 and became 9 the young blond girls slacks pooled around her feet as her blouse and jacket hung on her tiny body. Ann crinkled her nose as she watched her hands disappear inside her sleeves as her jacket now hung on her like a blanket. As Ann now stood, she gazed at the party curiously. Something didn't seem right, was everything always so big?
"Annie are you okay," Lynne asked.
Ann shook herself from her stupor, the 7 year old giving Lynne a odd look. "I'm fine Lynne," she said. "But you shouldn't be here. Your going to get in so much trouble with mom if she finds you snuck out."
"Sowwy."
"Its okay," Ann sighed, shaking her hand free from her cumbersome sleeves as she took Lynne's hand. "Lets go find Lisa. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you." Lynne smiled, humming to herself as the young blond girl now joined the elementary Christmas party.