"That's not funny you old crazy hag! Let me go! I want to leave!" James protested.
"We don't think so," laughed Hilda.
"Yes, you have paid for six months. Stay six months," added Matilda.
"This is not a joke! I don't want to live with crazy ugly women! Give me back my payment or I swear, I’m going to the cops!"
"'Crazy ugly women'?" said Matilda. "That's not very nice. You are a lodger here, boy. You should treat your landladies better, you know."
"That's what you are! Ugly, foul, crazy old hags that no one wants!" shouted James, outraged.
However, he stopped when he noticed something quite strange. Frightening, even. Matilda's eyes were glowing and her hands irradiated a blue light. No! It wasn't possible! Those three women could not be witches! That couldn't be! He flinched and backed away further into the room, amazed and terrified at the same time.
"What mean words," says Matilda with an evil smile. "Having you as a lodger will be a hassle. It will be uncomfortable having such a naughty little boy around. Foul-mouthed and ill-behaved. If we are to have someone around the home, it might as well be more pleasant. Like a pet!"
She shouted out an incantation towards James, aiming her hands at him too. James was struck by a bolt of pure power. It did not hurt but his perception changed at once. Suddenly, everything got bigger. The three witches became true giants, looming over him. When finally everything stopped growing so big, he noticed he was swimming in the folds of his own clothes. He then understood that the world had remained the same. It was him who had become tiny! The three witches, now giants, gushed and cooed at him. James gulped in fright. They were so tall and powerful and impressive now! And he was just a... Just a... What was he, actually?
"Shall we keep him like that for the six months he paid already?" asked Gilda.
"Let us wait six months. That's his rent. Then we shall see how much his manners have improved," answered Matilda with sparkling eyes.
James gulped again. This couldn't be good...