"I'm TRYING," said Ric into the phone. He was flipping
back and forth in the book, trying frantically to find the
spell that he had just used to return himself and his
brother to their proper ages.
Young Marco, still pantsless and holding the phone,
scooted out and picked up the small men. Francisco
looked tired and resigned, but the miniature cop looked
furious and horrified to be the size of a doll in a kid's
hand. He kept yelling at both of them, demanding to
know what had happened and to be changed back to
his old, huge self.
He's sort of cute, thought Marco, randy despite his
extreme youth. He climbed back in the car and put the
two men on the seat next to him. From the cellphone,
he heard Ric yell, "I found it!" Moments later, he felt
himself sliding on the seat. He was aging again!
"Ric, that's it!" he shouted, thrilled. His voice cracked as
he raced through puberty. From below, Francisco and
the buff cop watched in awe as Marco expanded in all
directions and assumed the gorgeous dimensions of
his normal self. The newly restored adult sighed in
extreme relief. "Now grow back the other two!"
There was a pause. "Uh, I can't. There's not a size
restore spell in here!"
Marco tried not to let a hint of this information show on
his face. He didn't want to upset the two little men.
"And there's something else," said Ric. Marco could
hear the panic start to creep into his voice.
"What?"
"I guess I lost control when I cast that spell. Josh
shrank, too! And there's no way of changing him back."
"Just calm down," said Marco, trying to sound calm
himself. "We'll be right there and sort everything out."
He was about to hang up, when he heard a
high-pitched "Oh no!" come out of the receiver.
"What is it?"
"I-I'm shrinking, too! Hurry home!" shouted Ric.