I recognized the source; some guy in Bermuda shorts and black socks. He stood about fifteen feet from me. He was pointing at me saying "It's him. It's him."
People stopped in their tracks to see what was going on and more, who was doing it. They saw the mom and little girl switch ages but didn't know who was doing it. Now they knew and sealed their fate.
I turned to my accuser. I felt the ring's energy flow through me, enveloping my body with a feeling that can only be described as god-like. I could feel my own body expand with the surge of energy that the ring gave me.
The man must have seen it because all the blood rushed out of his face. He put his hand down and started to back up slowly. He was not going to get away that easliy.
"Ratted me out did you?" I told him. "Well, guess what?"
At once, the man fell to his hands and knees, his body shrinking rapidly as he became more and more rat-like. His eyes turned black and beady, whiskers sprouted from his nose and all he could emit from his dwindling mouth was a muted squeak.
"Rat,rat,rat,rat," I said to the gathered crowd, pointing at each one of them. Everytime I pointed, they fell to the floor and scurried out of their clothes.
I moved through the mall, people getting out of my way as I passed. A group of young girls were huddled in the corner, clutching their Gap bags and each other. I knew some of them from school. There was Amy Pherson in the middle of the group. I asked her out one time and she laughed at me. Who was laughing now? This was every nerd's dream come true.
"Hi girls," I said happily. "Nice to see you."
They all clutched each other tighter as I walked up to them.
"Leave us alone, please Joe?" Amy pleaded. I'll do anything. I'll-I'll go out with you."
I looked at Amy's face, all wide eyed and scared and felt something that could be construed as compassion. I smiled and turned to go on my way.
"You're gonna go out with HIM?"
I wheeled, spinning on my heels like a trained Marine. "Who said that?" I asked.
No one said a word, not even Amy. I sighed. The feeling of compassion I had for that brief moment was now gone.
"See you in 18 years girls," I said and pointed at them. They all let go of each other and started to crawl around the floor. I watched as their bodies compacted into smaller and younger forms. Clothes began to loosen and fall off. They wiggled around in their tangle of clothes as they returned to being toddlers. They no longer cared what came from the Gap and what came from The Limited or Old Navy or Eddie Bauer. It was all just bunch of jeans, tops, socks, bras and panties.The children played with them like they were fun things to be tangled in. Even Amy joined in on the fun when she put a bra on her head and giggled, showing her incomming teeth.
I turned and decided to move on. Then I saw the police. Their guns were drawn and pointed at me.
Apparently, no one explained to them what was happening.
I would be more than happy to.