He had picked up a cookie in the shape of a wolf but then put it back down again. He was trying to manage his sweets intake and had second thoughts. Besides, he didn't know Kathryn at all. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't."
"Really? Just one wouldn't hurt." Kathryn seemed a little hurt that Nate didn't want a cookie.
Nate walked towards the door and turned back. "I really can't. Enjoy the pie though and welcome to the neighborhood."
He smiled and walked out the door. Kathryn walked back into the kitchen and set the tray down. "Drat. I really wanted to turn that boy into something."
She thought it over as she put the cookies away. She decided she still could turn him into something, giving the boy the thrill he so clearly craved. She just had no idea what. That was when she spied his younger brother, Kris, swinging in the backyard. He was no more than ten, wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans with a old pair of sneakers. Maybe he could give her some ideas.
Kathryn walked out her backdoor and across into her neighbor's yard. "Hello."
Kris looked up and smiled. "Hello."
"I'm Kathryn, I just moved in next door. And you are..."
"I'm Kris. My mom actually made you a pie. Did my brother bring it over to you yet?"
"Yes, he did. Thank you. Do you mind if I swing with you?" Kathryn gestured to the empty swing next to Kris. Kris shook his head no and Kathryn sat in the empty swing. "Tell me Kris, do you believe in magic?"
"That's a weird question." Kris stopped to ponder it. "I guess so."
"Well, your brother said it was pretty boring around here. I was thinking a little magic would liven things up, don't you think?"
"What sort of magic?" asked Kris.
"Well, what if we turned your brother into something? I bet things wouldn't seem so boring after that."
"That's be so cool. Like what?"
"That's what I need your help with. I can't decide."
"Say, you could turn him into a werewolf! That'd be awesome! Him running around town, howling at the moon. It'd be a riot!" Kris was grinning from ear to ear.
"That's a thought. Anything else?"
"You could turn him into a dog. Like a big dog. That'd be funny. Or a horse. Then he could give me horse back rides! Or a donkey, like in Pinocchio! That'd be funny!"
Kathryn looked around. "I'm not sure you're zoned for farm animals, sadly. A dog is a possibility. How about a cat?"
"Like a big cat? A lion or a tiger?" asked Kris.
"Might attract too much attention. But that would be cool to see." Kathryn thought it over. "Okay, I'm going to leave it to you. What should we turn your brother into?"
Kris mulled over all the options. I think we should turn him into...