"I want to be a Neanderthal. A cave man from way back in history."
Madame Illusia raised an eyebrow. "I know what a Neanderthal is, young man. And would you mind telling me why you wish to become a cave man?"
The young man flushed slightly. "I am fascinated by primitive man. I've read everything I can find, and checked out museums. But to actually be a Neanderthal would be fantastic. I'd know how they thought, how they felt. It would be a huge benefit to science."
Madame Illusia smiled. "A noble cause and a worthy ambition. Plus, something I have never done before. It pleases me to grant your request. Take off all your clothing."
The young man hesitated a moment, but then started to strip without further prompting. He reddened as audience members began to chuckle, then laugh as he got down to his briefs. The boy was slender and mostly hairless, and when he finally pulled down his underwear he was modestly endowed.
Madame Illusia nodded in approval. "Excellent. You have the courage to follow through with your convictions. That will help you survive the cold climate, dangerous animals, and harsh lifestyle."
The boy looked at her, confused. "Huh?" But even as he said that, change began to sweep over his body. He shrank down, getting thicker and darker, his features coarser. Hair sprouted from dirty, thick skin, and his teeth became flatter and more prominent. The transformation was done in seconds, and the young Neanderthal male stared down at himself in amazement. He tried to speak, but could only make grunts and clicks.
Madame Illusia smiled broadly. "A lovely specimen! Do not worry. You will make your contribution to science. Enjoy your new life." And then the Neanderthal flickered out of existence.
The audience gasped, but she raised a hand to silence them. "Our young friend is fine. Or should I say, was fine. He lived a long and productive life in a Neanderthal tribe somewhere in southern Africa. He became a leader of some importance, as he was buried deep in a sacred cave. And his skeleton is now in the Smithsonian Institute, regarded as the finest and most complete example of Neanderthal bones ever discovered. So he got everything he asked for."