You run home, thankful that it's not that far - Ryan lives the furthest - and hoping that no one you know sees you dressed in these footed pajamas. Though, something is bothering you.
Since you've left the store and the further you get from it, you find that you're actually comfortable wearing clothes like this, almost as if you've done it your whole life, all three years. Home, you shed the coat and shoes and just about to head to your room when you see your mother sitting in the kitchen, braiding your sister's hair.
Upon seeing you, she pauses and asks, "Marty, would you like you hair braided as well?"
Before you can stop yourself, you nod and tell her, "Yes mommy," in the same voice and tone that your sister, who's only five, uses once in a while.
Your mother continues to braid your sister's hair and tells you, "Go and get dressed and when I'm done, I'll do your hair."
You're really bothered by all this and wonder if the jelly beans you ate have anything to do with how weird things are getting. Trudging up to your room, you open the door and gasp at the sight before you. It's not just your clothes that have changed, but your room as well.
Were there once was posters of rock bands, are now posters of Angelina Ballerina, Hello Kitty and other posters advertising ballet. The walls have gone from a dark greyish blue to a light pinkish white. Barbie dolls, Hello Kitty plush and Angelina Ballerina plush litter the floor and you wonder if maybe your sister's room has been moved.
"But my sister isn't interested in half of this stuff," you think. "Maybe just the Barbie dolls."
You sit down on your bed, which is now covered in light purple sheets and a Tinkerbell comforter, wanting to play with the tea set. Shaking your head, telling yourself, "I need to fix this," you stand and remove the pajamas and underwear.
Tossing them into a hamper in the closet, you stop as you see the dress hanging up and suddenly you want to wear one. Slamming the closet door, which doesn't really slam at all, you walk across the room, kicking dolls out of the way as you go and wanting desperately to play with your sister.
Opening the dresser, which is now white with pink knobs, you nearly scream in frustration as you find nothing but clothes for a three year old girl.
"Okay, this is going to far and needs to be fixed, soon." you think as you select a pair of panties with Disney Princesses on them, a pair of white ankle socks, a long sleeve white shirt with Angelina Ballerina on it and a pair of pants that have the zipper located on the side instead of the front.
Bothered by this even more, you begin to get dressed. When zipped up, the pants look like they don't have a zipper and the shirt is really baggy and comes down midway of your upper legs.
Putting on the socks, you twirl about, grab a scrunchie and run back to the kitchen. It's only after your mother has brushed and braided your hair, that you remember Jake as she tells you, "Go play and be sure to stay out of trouble."
Nodding, you head back to your room and collect your allowance, about five dollars and forty nine cents. Next you collect your coat and dumping the money in one of the deeper pockets, you put your shoes back on and start to head out, telling your mother as you leave, "I'm going outside to play. Can I go over to a friends?"
From somewhere your mothers tells you okay. Outside, you breathe in the crisp air, trying to clear your head as you hurry back to the store.
There, you begin to search for Jake, who is no longer waiting for you. In the end, you wander back to the exotic section and upon seeing the second greeter, you asks, "Is there any way you can turn me back to the way I used to be?"
The greeter shakes his head and tells you, "All transformations are permanent past this door. However, I remember you and I know that you have six selections of jelly beans left to choose from. If you can remember who you are, then maybe you can turn yourself back. It's rather simple, at least from were I stand."
You look at him puzzled and finally you laugh and say, "That's ridiculous. I know who I am."
The greeter looks at you and asks, "How old are you? Are you a big boy? Answer me those questions and prove that you know who you truly are."
You stamp your foot in frustration and before you can stop yourself, you tell him in a whiny child's voice, "I'm three and I'm a big girl!"
The greeter sits down, not saying anything. You are stunned that what you just did was so natural and wonder if you're losing yourself. "How old am I? Am I a big boy or girl? And where is Jake and Ryan?" All these questions and more enter into your head as you begin to wander the exotic selection of jelly beans, not wanting to sample any more, not until you remembered who you used to be.