“Mabel! What are you doing?” came the shout from across the playground.
It was Elaine Norriss, an older lady who also worked at the daycare. She was 52, a tall, skinny woman with large breasts and long brown hair with streaks of gray running through it. Her face was getting wrinkled from frown lines. She was dressed conservatively, in a white blouse and black skirt and sensible shoes. She was not Mabel’s boss, but she was very strict to her and the other employees and children.
“I’m just watching my group of kids, Elaine,” Mabel said. “Why?”
“I’ve been watching you,” Elaine responded. “You’re not doing a good enough job. You really need to watch these little ones! Do not let them misbehave! They’re always running around!”
Mabel was in no mood to argue. She had been here for years, she knew what she was doing, and her bosses were happy with her. So, she simply answered “Yes, Elaine,” hoping that would be the end of it.
To herself, however, she muttered “You’re such a strict bitch … I wish you knew what it was like to act like a child again!”
And so the ring began its familiar glow again, unbeknownst to Mabel.
“OWWWWW!” screamed Elaine as she clutched at her head.
“What’s wrong?” asked Mabel. Several of the children looked over.
“My brain! It’s POUNDING!” Elaine said. And then she straightened up, as if nothing was wrong.
“You OK?” Mabel asked.
“I’m fine,” Elaine responded. “I just feel a little, light-headed. Like I … lost something?”
“Maybe you should sit down on that bench,” Mabel said.
“OK,” Elaine said. She then caught her reflection in one of the building’s windows. “Ugh, I look awful! I look … older!”
Mabel looked at Elaine … nothing had changed. She looked the same as always.
“No, you look like your usual 52-year—old self,” Mabel said.
“52? No, I’m 42!” Elaine exclaimed. “Am I getting older?”
“Uhhh, yeah, you are because you are 52,” Mabel said. “We had your birthday party last month.”
“Right, I remember that, silly,” Elaine said, her speech pattern noticeably different but still stern sounding. “We went out for my birthday.”
She caught her reflection again. Again, nothing had physically changed about her.
“It’s still happening!” Elaine said. “I look way older than 34!”
“Elaine, what are you talking about?” Mabel asked. “First, you’re 52, not 34, and second, we didn’t go out for your birthday, we had cake here!”
“What? I’m not 34, I’m 28!” Elaine said. “My hands! Why do my hands look so old! What’s happening?”
Mabel was confused as to why her co-worker was freaking out. She looked the same as always, why did she think …
She then remembered what she had said a few minutes ago. “Act like a child.” Could it be? Was it happening?
“Elaine, how old are you again?” Mabel asked.
“I just turned 21!” Elaine said, still staring at her hands. “Mabel, do something, I can’t be old, I haven’t even like gone to the bar yet!”
Mabel was amazed, her wish was coming true. But how, she wondered. As if in response, she felt a tingle on her hand.
The ring she found! Could it be?
Elaine was now sitting on the bench crying. Mabel watched for a few minutes, waiting to see if anything else would happen. After a few minutes, she tried again.
“OK Elaine …how old are you really?” she asked the sobbing woman.
“I’m … *SNIFF* I’m only 12!” she said.
“Really, 12?”
“Uh huh. I’m 12, I’m in the 6th grade, and I’m scared ‘cause I look like an ol’ lady,” she bawled.
Mabel realized the mental changes had stopped. She rationalized it must be because 12 is a child while 13 is a teenager, even though there is really no difference technically. She wondered what else the ring could do. After a silent wish for a million dollars proved fruitless, she took a guess that the ring could only control aging. Still, she had an urge to try something else.
“I wish Elaine didn’t think there was anything wrong with being a 12-year-old in a 52-year-old body. In fact, I wish she didn’t notice anything wrong with her age at all.”
Suddenly, Elaine seemed to calm down. She looked up at Mabel questioningly.
“What was I doing Miz Andrews?” Elaine asked.
“You were just taking a break. You’re being a great helper today though.”
“Like thanks,” the middle aged girl said.
Mabel was satisfied, the ring was able to mask the changes and mess with people’s age perceptions. She silently wished that no one would notice anything off about Elaine, and she felt a shudder as if to confirm that was now the case.
“Well, I guess the only thing left is to try a physical change,” Mabel thought to herself.