Sitting down in the living room, cuddling my favourite stuffed animal, I turn on the telly and begin to flip through channels. And then I remember that I'm grounded and should not be watching anything. Since mommy has not come in to tell me off, I continue to flip through the channels until I come to a children's program and I feel my mind slip
Trying to shake it off, Katherine enters and seeing what's on, she claps her hands and squeals, "Dora. Mommy, Dora's on."
Unable to stop myself, I find myself lost once again and enjoying the program as my mommy called from the kitchen, "Okay. Be a good girl and sit down and watch, princess."
Unable to stop myself, I say to this, "Yes mommy." Luckily I was drowned out by Katherine and nobody heard me.
All morning I sat and watched the Telly with my sister. From Dora the Explorer to Barney, I was entranced by it all. What finally snapped me back was when my mommy came in and announced that lunch was ready.
Leaving Angelina the plush mouse on the couch, I sat down at the table to eat. After lunch, mommy said, "Get your coats, we're going to visit Thomas." Grabbing my coat, I climbed into the back with Katherine and we rode in silence to the hospital.
At the hospital we greeted Ms. Patterson, who told us, "Thomas still hasn't woken up," and led us to his room.
Inside, mommy and Linda talked in silence, while Katherine walked around the bed. After a bit, Linda and mommy left to talk in the hall and Katherine disappeared into the bathroom. Sitting next his bed, I didn't know if he could hear me, but still I laid it all out for him what was happening. As I finished, I happened to notice that the closet was open and I could see something hanging out of his pocket.
Opening the closet, I took the jacket out and out of the pocket I extracted the amulet from the pocket. Seeing the crack run through it, I asked myself, "How did he get it from me? Did he steal it at some point?"
"He didn't steal it," a voice from behind me said.
Turning, I saw a pale man in a black suit standing next to the bed Thomas rested in. Looking at me, he repeated, "He didn't take it from you if that was what you are thinking."
Looking at him, I asked, "Who are you?"
The man smiled and replied, "I am part of an order called Zulo. The medallion you hold is one of many and is a symbol of our religious order."
Blinking, confused, I asked him, "So what do you want?"
The man looked at me with sad brown eyes and said, "I've come to retrieve the amulet, seeing as the boy will not be able to use it."
Holding up my hand, I said, Hold on a minute. What do you mean he can’t use it? Was I correct in that it can transform people? If that is the case, I'm going to transform myself back."
The man looked at me and said, "For you, it is not that simple. Because not enough of your previous self remains, you can not transform back. Most of this has to do with the fact that the medallion was cracked when you touched it after touching your sister's dress. For you, there is only forward."
Looking at the man, I sputtered, "I don't care. Change me back or do something to help my friend."
The man looked thoughtful and then produced a box from inside his coat. Looking at me, he said, "Give me the amulet and maybe I can help you or your friend."
Wondering if I should trust him, I finally handed him the medallion and watched him put it in his pocket. Afterward, he began to touch various sides of the box. After that, he handed it to me and said, "This artifact had one and only one use. For you, it could turn you back into your fifteen year old self. Be warned, whether you choose the box or to remain, because of the magicks that surround your transformation, you can never use the amulet again to transform. However, you may use the box to transform your friend back to before he was hurt. The price for this is that he will have memories of you as a fifteen year old friend and you as a friend in your current state, which is one that will one day become Katherine's younger sister. Suffice to say, she will be four and you will be three and a year and three week shall separate your birthdays."
I looked at the box and wondered what I should do. Looking back at the man, I saw that he had vanished, but I could still hear him saying, "Also, if you choose to use the box on your friend, he will also be unable to use the Amulet of Zulo for transformations."
Gulping, knowing that I could not get out of this unless I used the box, I looked over at Thomas. "Could I really use it on my best mate?" I asked myself.
Sitting back down in the chair, I looked at the box and brushing a strand of reddish brown hair back, I thought over my two choices.