"Circe?" she asked the voice in her head. "Did you shrink my brother down like this last night?"
"Why, of course, child," the voice replied unemotionally.
"Why would you do such a thing?" Anna asked.
"He's a worthless male, Darling. What did you expect? I mean, did we not turn that horny old man, Mr. Cox, into a horny old dog just yesterday afternoon?"
"But that was different," Anna replied. "Mr. Cox deserved it. He was an evil old man. My brother is a good person."
"But he'll turn on you, Anna," Circe said simply. "Believe me, all men are evil."
"Not Ken," the 12 year old replied, on the verge of tears.
"Children," Circe sighed in frustration. "Okay. If you really feel that way about him, then I'll..." She trailed off.
"Wait a minute," Circe said. "I have a proposition for you, Anna. I'm going to leave your brother like this for the rest of the day. If you feel the same way you feel now at sundown, that I should change him back, then I will do so."
"If, on the other hand," Circe continued. "You think his life is better this way, that Ken being younger and smaller than you is, in fact a good thing--and believe me, Child, it is--then I will keep him this size. Okay?"
Ken looked up at Anna. She wasn't seriously considering this, was she?
"What do you mean you'll keep him this size?" Anna inquired.
"Whatever you want it to mean, little one," Circe replied. "I can make it so that he grows up always shorter and weaker than you. Or, I can just keep him the size and age he is now. He'll grow older mentally, but not physically. Just think of it: You'll always have a little brother to play with."
Anna's face lit up. "Okay! You have a deal."
"What are you doing, Anna?" Ken insisted, raising his voice a little. "Tell her to change me back."
"Silence, inferior one!" Circe commanded, forcibly shutting his mouth for the time being. "You have no lines in this scene!"
Anna smiled down at Ken. "Come on, little brother," she said, grabbing his hand. "We have a big day ahead of us."