As she watched the two kids age into a married couple with a magical kiss, a pang of desire passed through Katie’s breast. Whether a passing fancy or something more, her thoughts drifted to the future. To a wedding day of her own.
Still, Katie thought, that was a problem for another day. She was here to test the ring after all. That and she had all the time in the world to date now. “Or,” she said as she glanced down at the ring, “Just make a lover of my own.”
That thought brought her back to the happy couple, still lovingly embraced. She had heard them mentioning a wedding reception. “Well,” Katie thought, “they say catching the bouquet is guaranteed to find love. Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone.”
Turning her attention back to the remaining children on the playground, Katie began to formulate a plan. While Richard and Rebecca probably had someone already waiting for the reception, she could test several things about the ring by changing the kids here into the groomsmen and bridesmaids instead. Then, she could follow them to the reception and either observe or enter fashionably late herself to play the field.
After a few moments of consideration, she had decided on several questions about the ring to test.
1. Could she make changes temporary by setting an end time or event for the wish? Would the ring recognize her intent if she did so using subjective measurements?
2. Could she selectively control perception of the aging? Most of the kids had parents here and it wouldn’t do for them to panic at their children spontaneously turning into twentysomethings.
3. Could she change perception of the changes after they had happened?
4. Did every change occur in the same sequence and fashion, or could she influence that as well?
Tracking her eyes over the nearby play structures, she found the kids she wanted to work with.
The first were a boy and girl, probably five or six years old, playing together in a sandbox. Secondly was a lone boy sitting on a bench with his mother, backpack open to reveal a small collection of toys. Third was a much younger child, maybe two or three, sat in a stroller next to her parents. Finally, a trio of slightly older children were playing on the nearby slides.
And so, with those ideas in mind, Katie set about making her next wishes. Closing her eyes and smiling as she brought the ring to her lips, Katie silently wished.
“I wish that the children on this playground would age mentally and physically until they are old enough to become this couple’s wedding party and attend their reception. They, the bride, and the groom will be unaware of any changes.”
Her thoughts then turned to the parents and any other people present around the playground as she continued to matters of time and awareness.
“The children’s parents and other observers will remain unaware and unconcerned, seeing their children as they always have. The children will become aware that they have changed when the reception ends, but not how or when. They will feel the need to return home and return to their original ages one hour after the reception ends.”
As she finished the somewhat complicated instructions, Katie tried to push a playful feeling into the ring. Maybe these changes would occur in new and exciting ways?
“Now,” she thought as her eyes opened, “Let’s see what happens."