Samantha Jane, sometimes Sam, or even Sammy, to her friends, was 37, but often passed for several years younger. Good genes and regular excercise, but lately, she was feeling all of her years...and then some.
She'd still been in college when she'd had Iris, and it hadn't been easy to raise a daughter while trying to finish business school and enter the working world. Now she had a rebellious, 17 year old daughter who was counting the days until she'd be an adult.
It's not that Iris was a bad girl, she was bright and pretty, and the two of them had always gotten along before...but things were changing in her daughter's life, and she'd gotten out of touch.
She found herself wandering the mall rather than go home, still remembering their fight from this morning.
A small clock chimed the hour pleasantly. Looking over, Samantha realized she was standing outside a strange store, full of clocks and other things. She checked her watch, afraid she'd wasted too much time, but no, the little clock was half an hour fast.
It was made from a chunk of black, smooth marble, set on a crystal base, and it's hands were gold. Instead of letters, it had tiny roman numerals. Walking into the store, Samantha took a closer look at the clock.
It didn't have any cord or sign of a battery pack, and it was advertised as a "Zero Energy Chronometer".
Curious, she walked up to the counter, and was suprised to see a young teen there, who smiled cheerily. She had pleasant china blue eyes, and short blonde hair, save for her bangs, which were long and dyed pink. Iris had recently switched to a similar hairstyle; it didn't look bad, just...different. She was suprised a girl so young was allowed to style her hair that way as well...but perhaps the clerk was older than she looked.
"Hi there! I'm Paige, how can I help you?"
The girl was petite, there was no doubt about that. If she stood on the floor, Sam was certain the clerk wouldn't come up to her chest. She had a slender, girlish figure, and small breasts...if someone had told Sam that Paige was over 13, she'd have a hard time believing it.
"Uh, yes, hello Paige. I'm Sam...I was curious about that little clock there."
Paige sighed. "Oh that poor thing. I know, no matter how many times I set it, it falls behind. Really smart idea, Earth's magnetic field is supposed to power the motor, or something. But it just can't keep up. So much for free energy, huh?"
Sam shrugged. "It reminds me of myself, seems like I'm always behind lately too. How much is it?"
Paige hopped down from her stool and walked to the window, her arms swinging freely. Sam followed her...and her guess was right. Paige wasn't even 5' tall.
"Paige, not to be rude, but could I ask how old you are?"
The smaller girl turned and looked up at Sam. "Thirty-two, why?"
Then she laughed. "Sorry sorry, actually I'm nineteen. I know it's hard to believe."
Sam blinked. "Nineteen? Oh I'm sorry, I'm being an idiot."
Paige shrugged. "I get it all the time. Quirk of genetics, the rest of the girls in my family are tall with big breasts. My little cousin Erika is taller than me and she's only ten. It's my curse, but it's not so bad, I guess."
"Believe me, some women would give a lot to have a curse like yours."
Paige winked. "Like you, Sammy? So anyways, the clock is priced down to fifty dollars, but I have a lot of discretion when it comes to sales...how does twenty sound?"
"Really? Oh but that's far too cheap."
"For a broken clock, Sammy? Nonsense, c'mon, I'll wrap it for you."
It wasn't until Samantha got home that realized Paige had called her Sammy...something only her friends could get away with.
What happens next? It's up to you!