Wait a minute. Why was she so worried about what her "mommy" would think? She was only Marie's "mommy" because she had been given the Age 6 vial. Who was an older version of herself to boss her around and punish her for wasting food?
Marie smiled, hatching a crafty plan. She uncorked the Age 6 vial and one other vial, pouring both onto the plate of food. She put it in the microwave, hoping "mommy" came home soon.
Just a few minutes later, Mary returned. Her arms were full of shopping bags. "I got some food while I was out," she said. "And I think you'll like some of these dresses...well, I know you will since we're the same, but still." She put the bags down on the table with the vials. Marie pulled the food out of the microwave and set it back on the kitchen table.
"I made you some dinner, Mommy," she said sweetly. "For getting me some new clothes and letting me live with you."
"Oh, honey!" Mary said, touched. "You didn't have to do that. Thank you. I am pretty starving."
As Mary dug into the meal, Marie slipped over to the box of vials, taking one for herself.
Mary felt something tingling inside her, and started worrying. What was that feeling? Were the vials affecting her again? How could they...unless...
"Marie, did you put something in this food?" she tried to ask sternly, but her voice cracked higher as she spoke.
"Yes I did," Marie said, sounding different herself. "I changed my mind. You can't be my mommy anymore."
Mary felt herself shrinking. Her body was changing to look more like Marie, but that wasn't all. Something else was happening to her as well. And why did Marie sound different?