"I figured you would be in the mood for a light breakfast after what I put you through last night," said Debra. "Just toast, OJ and Wheaties. I have some shopping to do today, I'd be happy to give you a ride to school"
"Uh, yeah, that'd be great, Mom. Uh, sorry I was so sharp with you last night, y'know I still can't believe this..."
Here mother pursed her lips, curious. "What, that werewolves exist, that I'm one, or that we both are?"
"NONE of it!! OK...OK, I know that what I saw on the DVD could be great special effects, by the way Mom - you need some work on your filmography, and the same goes for what was on the computer..though to be honest, I didn't really look at any of the folders. But when you came home and changed right before me, that SHOULD have been enough to convince me of anything you told me. Even so, I can't really accept what my eyes told me."
Her Mom smiled broadly. "I'm glad to hear that Heather. I'm glad. I'd always wanted my child to grow up asking questions, to develop the wits and the courage to challenge what she saw." Debra pulled up a chair and sat down next to Heather, stroking a loose lock of hair out of her daughters eyes. "Everything you saw is real, honey. Three times a month, every month for the past 18 years and 7 months, I've been changing into a wolf. Let's go, I'll tell you more along the way."
As they exited the driveway, Heather asked, "So what does the, uh, change FEEL like, Mom? Does it hurt?"
"It's not really what you would call 'pain' Heather. It's INTENSE. Every cell in your body is being altered, every nerve, every vein, every muscle fiber, every inch of your skin, and you feel it all; pressure, tension, exhilaration. Words can't do it justice."
Heather was silent for a few moments? "Can you stop it?"
"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I can change voluntarily either way when the moon isn't full, but for those three nights a month it's a command performance. And for the first five months after I was bitten, I didn't even become human again till after the full moon was done for the month. Lisa was even more unfortunate, it was a whole year before she could become human during the daytime."
THIS revelation made Heather's stomach lurch, and she felt a lump grow in her throat. Three whole DAYS as an animal? But the figures she saw on the DVD weren't WOLVES, they were basically human in shape. "Mom, you transformed partially on the video. Like the movie versions?"
Debra nodded. "What you saw was our hybrid form. That's the form we can take during the full moon after YEARS of experience, or any time the urge strikes you when the moon isn't full. The hybrid form is useful, but to be honest with you Heather, the full wolf form is more pleasant."
Debra smiled at her daughter as they reached a red light, gently squeezing her shoulder. "I bet I know what you're thinking, Sweetie. 'Maybe if I avoid the question, I won't have to face it.'" She shook her head. "Heather, it is going to happen to you. You will grow fur, you will grow fangs and a muzzle. You ARE going to turn into a wolf on the night of October seventh, and yes, you probably will remain a wolf for a few days." She squeezed Heather's trembling hand. "We'll rent a cabin out in the woods and have a big sleepover with Lisa and Dita. And we will all become wolves."
Heather tried her hardest to keep her emotions in check, but she was sobbing now. "I don't WANT to be a werewolf!" Her mother nodded, understanding. "Do you remember when you were eleven? You were just starting to develop breasts, and you were terrified." The Porsche pulled into the school parking lot. "This is exactly the same thing."
"Oh for God sakes Mom, you're telling me I'm gonna turn into a fucking ANIMAL!! This is NOTHING alike!!!"