The absolute quiet was most the disturbing thing.
There, standing on the bed, was Mr. Mendes, looking like his old self again (well, like his old naked self) with one arm outsretched, a lone shaking finger pointing
just beyond the door, the other hand cupped over this open mouth.
Ric craned his neck around the door and took a small step inside.
Two boys stood face to face.
"That's me!" Ric mumbled, recognizing his 13-year-old self. But who's that next to ... Josh??! Is that you, dude?"
"As if a glass has shattered, the boy next to Ric - that is, Ric's body, blinked and looked over to where the question had emanated.
"Of course I'm Josh, you dork .. oh, sorry. I thought you were - waitaminute." His head turned to and fro, looking first at Marco, standing at the door, then at Ric,
standing next to him. "Um, Marco, right? Mr. Mendes told us about you. It's cool."
"No, you dufus. Listen and listen good," 'Marco' responded. "Something went w-a-a-y wrong. I'm Ric, dude, but I'm in Marco's body. and I don't know WHAT
you are. He stepped next to the teen and, placing strong hands on his shoulders, spun him around so they were both facing the full-length mirrot on the inside of the
bedroom door.
"What the fu---" shouted Josh, staring at the coffee-colored youth in the glass.
"I know, dude," Rick answered. "But - hey, wait a minute. He scrunched in as close to Josh as he could get and bent his knees. "Doesn't it look kinda like...."
"Shee-it, yeah, it does," Josh nodded. "I'm, I mean, how? I'm like -- Marco, too, but at 13? Damn - you get all the luck dude, you know?"
"And, then, I would guess this would be --" Ric said, more confident now, turning and looking intently into 'his' old face - "Marco -- hey, buddy, you in there?"
Almsot robotically, Ric's head (only now it WAS Marco's) nodded.
"Awe-eff'in-some," Ric and Josh said as one, and slapped a high five.
Picking up the book, Marco's body (Ric inside) went over to the bed and forced Mr. Mendes to sit down.
"Oh, baby, I'm so glad you're here," sobbed Mr. Mendes. "you have no idea what's been going on. These boys got hold of some old magic book, and - well, the
damn thing works!"
Mr. mendes, obviously distraught, wrapped his arms around Marco's thighs and pressed the side of his head against his waist. "I'm so glad you're here, baby.
Thought I would go freakin' nuts!"
Not knowing what else to do, Ric patted the man's head, repeating "It's OK, Frankie. It's OK."
A few more minutes would clear the confusion in everyone's mind.
Then ...