Author Note: Sorry for missing yesterday and posting twice today.
Unlike the last few days at Charlotte’s house, this day was more vibrant and louder than ever. With the event at the supermarket behind them, Nancy and Charlotte got ready to prepare for the Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Well, Nancy was busy with the food while Charlotte was busy exploring her recent transformation.
“I’m so excited to see my feet again. I will never take them for granted!” cried out Charlotte. She ran around her home with zeal and enthusiasm, with such joy that she hadn’t felt in years.
“Charlotte, can you please calm down? I’m trying to bake the pie for tomorrow's dinner.” At the sound of the word “pie”, Charlotte hurried to the kitchen. Nancy turns to face her friend once she hears her come in, knowing that by doing so she would regret it.
Staring at her was Charlotte, but looking much younger than before. Not like a few years younger but over a decade years younger, just when they were kids. The child version of Charlotte (who is currently 11 years old if the computer is right) was wearing her old T-shirt as a dress since neither of the women had any that would fit her.
“I still can’t believe it. Even if I knew this could happen, I still can’t believe it,” Nancy muttered under her breath. “You can’t believe it. Look at me!” Charlotte spread her little arms to show Nancy her hard work. “Not only did I escape from all that extra mass from the last few days, I’m a kid again! I never thought that I would miss this before.” Charlotte then ran around the kitchen, which Nancy a little bit crazy.
“Yeah, but you know that it is just for today, Charlotte. After this, you’ll-” “I know! I know, Nancy,” Charlotte interrupted Nancy. “But still, I am having so much fun being a kid again.” Now at her wits end, Nancy kneeled down to grab Charlotte by the shoulders just to face her and to stop her running.
“CHARLOTTE! Just stop and listen to me! If we are going to have dinner tomorrow, I want you to stop running around and bothering me. Can you do that?” The chubby face Charlotte looked away from her older friend, knowing that she had pushed her buttons too much. But before she could give a response, the doorbell rang.
“Are you expecting someone?” Nancy asked Charlotte, who just shook her head no. Knowing how “indecent” Charlotte is in her current get-up, Nancy gets up and makes her way to the door. As she made her way, the ringing soon turned to knocking at the door. Looking through the peek-hole, all Nancy could see was a hooded woman, standing out there with a dish in her hand.
Not being able to see who it was under the hood, Nancy thought it might’ve been the neighbors and opened the door. “Hello, how can I help you?” asked Nancy. “Nancy? Is that you?” was spoken under the hood before the hood was taken off. It was an older-looking woman that Nancy barely recognized but felt that she knew her from somewhere. “Yes, I’m Nancy,” was all she said in a confused tone before being flooded with numerous questions and concerns.
“I just want to know if she is okay, is she okay? When I received that call, I knew something was wrong. So I came over to see if she needed help and a bite to eat. Is she healthy enough to eat? If so, I will make something more than just soup.”
“I’m sorry, but who are you?” Nancy tried to interrupt the inconsistent chatter from the stranger but not before being shoved aside by her. “Oh, I’m sure she told you who I am, Nancy. Now where is my little angel?” The woman made her way to the kitchen to put aside the pot. But when she got there, the woman gasped and dropped the dish which spilled the content all over the floor.
Fearing for the worst, Nancy hurried to the kitchen. By the time she got there, she saw the woman who wandered in and Charlotte who was munching on the chocolate chips. “Charlotte. Who is this woman?” Nancy asked the question out loud, which led the woman to say, “Charlotte?” Realizing that she was caught with her hands in the cookie jar (or in this case, the chips bag), she swallowed and said with all the fear in her little voice, a voice she hadn’t said for a long time, said, “Mommy?”