Jen stood in shocked silence amongst the herd of now very confused zebras, her naked torso rising above the striped group. She noticed that her hair had fallen in front of her face and to her horror now found it jet black with a few white streaks. She looked around at the crowd that were watching her, a hundred eyes fixed on her new form. Jen wanted to run and hide but feared she would fall if she tried. She spun round when she felt something against her back, only to find it was her tail, flicking from side to side lazily. The crowd laughed,
“Well that something you don’t see everyday” said a voice from within the crowd, the cheerleaders were climbing out of their tree and stood with the rest of the onlookers.
“Amazing, but what are we going to do about the rest of the zebras?” said another.
As if they understood the herd started to head back to their enclosure, leaving Jen standing in the middle of the path, her zebra half now exposed along with her naked body.
“Please, you have to help me” she said to the group, trying to protect her modesty with her hands.
The crowd stood whispering before a keeper spoke up, “Sorry, I’m pretty certain that we can’t fix you, I think you’re going to be stuck like that”
“What?! No! You haven’t even tried!” Jen yelled, but the crowd ignored her and were calmly walking away. Susan approached her scared friend, “I guess you’re the new school mascot then” she said with a giggle.
“Yeah!” Anne shouted excitedly, “The Zebras! And we could be the zebra-ettes!”
Jen stumbled backwards, “You don’t think this is WEIRD?! I’m half zebra!”
Susan rolled her eyes as though Jen didn’t get it, “Of course it’s weird Jen! You’re a massive freak now! But there’s not a lot we can do about it so I think it’s best to just get on with it!”
Jen didn’t say anything, her mind was filled with the phone call that Kyle had made to her that morning, angry and scared she contemplated everything he had said and how the curse would affect her. She remembered that he’d said something about everyone thinking it was normal and realised that it was futile to try and argue when they had obviously been brainwashed by Kyle’s curse. Jen sobbed again, she was really lost, she didn’t know what to do or how to deal with any of this. Unconsciously she stamped her back hoof in annoyance.
“Can you guys get me a top? For some reason the other zebra pulled it off” Jen pleaded, if they weren’t going to listen she was going to have to go along with it until she could figure out a plan.
“Why? You’re part animal now anyway so I don’t think public nudity laws apply to you anymore...” Rachel said. “Besides, you’ve got great breasts”
Jen screamed, “Just get me a top!”
The other girls stood staring at her, their faces were a mix of confusion and fear. Susan started to speak, “No, if you’re going to treat us like that then you don’t get one”. Tears were forming in their eyes, Jen looked at them in disbelief, they wouldn’t let her get dressed and yet they felt she was in the wrong. Jen sighed, without her friends she knew she wouldn’t get through today so she relented,
“Ok, you guys are right, I’m sorry”
The whole group started smiling again, “Good now let’s go see the rest of the zoo!”