Jim just sucked his thumb only half listening to her.
“I thought we could go to the mall."
***
Five minutes later Judy had dug out an old stroller and was pushing Jim out the door.
The mall was a short, 15 minute bike ride away from their home, but it was a much longer walk. As the time passed, Jim started to calm down again. Sucking his thumb was actually relaxing him and giving him enough focus to consider his predicament. It wasn't a pretty situation.
He had become a dickless toddler in a cute dress at the mercy of his formerly younger sister. If only he could get the balloon back... Even though he couldn't use it, he might be able to find someone who could. But how would he get it from her at the mall?
The mall! Of course!
The shop he bought the balloon at was in the mall! He smiled. If he could somehow get away from Judy and find the shop again, he thought, he might be able to get the old man to turn him back to normal.
He would need a distraction. He popped his thumb out of his mouth.
"Judy," he said, and winced at his babyish voice.
"Yes, sweetie?"
"What are you going to do when Mom and Dad come home?"
The stroller stopped moving.
Jim couldn't see Judy's face behind him, but he knew that she was worried.
"Well..." she started. Obviously she hadn't thought things through that far yet. Mom and Dad might have a problem if their children were suddenly different ages.
"...I'll ... think of something," she said and started pushing the stroller again.
Excellent, he thought. She ought to be distracted enough thinking about Mom and Dad that he could sneak away in the mall. He looked around. They had reached the parking lot.
"Here we go," he whispered to himself.