Mark found himself in a hazy space. The one thing he could see clearly was a tiny woman, about 6 inches long, with transparent wings hovering in space in front of him. "Who are you?" he asked.
The woman gave a silvery laugh. "You don't think people just change form and sex and age spontaneously, do you? I'm a fairy. I wave my wand"--she held a tiny stick--"and turn people into things. I made your family into freaks."
"We're not--"
"Oh, be serious--how many people do you know that have furry tails? But I tell you what, since I used to be a human myself, I'll turn you back to normal, how about that? Didn't you always want your family to be normal?"
"Yes, I guess I did. . ."
The haze began to clear, and Mark saw Danielle, Kevin, Jennifer and Michelle. They were all breathing, but quiet and unmoving, like they had been drugged.
"Great. And since I'm in such a good mood, I'll give you an improved version." The fairy laughed and waved her wand, and something happened to the four too quickly for Mark to perceive.
Now their old human selves stood there--Daniel, the teenage Michelle, Karen and Jonathan. But improved versions--handsome and beautiful, smiling and happy. Daniel was holding a bouquet of roses in his hand.
Daniel: "I bought these for you honey. Time to celebrate--I got a promotion and a big bonus! Now we can buy a bigger house!"
Michelle: "Great news mom! I'm going to be homecoming queen!"
Karen, looking much more feminine then she ever had in real life: "I made the cheerleading squad!"
Jonathan "I got a gold star for conduct today, and I got a 100% on my spelling and math tests!"
They were perfect--the family Mary had always fantasized about. And none of it mattered.
"Where's Danielle? What have you done to Danielle?" Mark shouted.
No one paid the slightest attention to him, but went on recounting their many triumphs. Then amid the babble, Mark heard something that resonated as loudly as a clap of thunder. It was the mewing of a trapped, scared catgirl--no, catwoman--crying out for help.
And it was coming from "Daniel's" chest.
Mark's claws ripped Daniel's shirt to shreds. (He showed no reaction but just kept talking about his promotion.) Under the shirt wasn't skin and flesh, but a thin plastic shell like a doll's. Mark heard a deperate scratching sound coming from inside. He pounded the shell, putting all his strength into liberating Danielle.
And--
it--
shattered.
There was Danielle, and the fear on her face transitioned in an instant to joy. Mark heard the other shells bursting as well, and turned to see Kevin and the twins emerging from them. The twins rushed to comfort each other, while Kevin shook the last fragments from his fur. Then Mark turned back to his wife, feeling Danielle's warm embrace. As he waked, the dream embrace melted into the one his real wife was giving him.