The tingling spreading over Katie caused her to break into a cold sweat. She rationalized that after making her previous wish for her mom to go away she couldn't make another wish until the other was completed. Now she could feel herself growing younger mentally and physically. She had been a 25 year old woman with a new career. Now she was physically 22 and her mind was regressing quicker than her body. She felt more like a high school senior than a confident young career woman. That her mind was going worried Katie the most, her knowledge of the ring was fading and soon she would return to the innocent young mind of a seven year old.
"Hope this works," Katie stated as she wished for her mom. The 21 year old closed her eyes and waited. Soon enough she heard a sound that gave her great relief. Open in her eyes Katie could see a small newborn stirring on her mother's pink shirt. "Oh thank god." Katie sighed as the newborn began to age. Adjusting her loosening pants watched as the sleeping newborn quickly becam 2 then 3. She remained asleep as she grew and Katie began to look for something to cover the young girl. Katie entered the laundry room adjacent to the kitchen and grabbed a blanket. As she returned to the sleeping girl Katie was astounded by what she saw.
Kellie had passed 7 and was settling into 8. The change stopped and a palpable energy transmitted to Katie's mind as instinctive memories came. She had nearly wished her mother out of existence, and wishing her back had indeed happened. But the woman her mother had been no longer existed from this point on. What was more Katie realized almost as quickly as lightning that her mother would never be an adult or over the age of 14 again, or any younger than two for fear of removing her from existence. The ring's power over her mother remained only between those ages, not anything younger or older. She was, effectively, eternally a child.
"Im sorry, Mom." Katie whispered. "I promise I'll take care of you like you took care of me."
Passing the family room the girls were watching a movie. Mary Elise called out, "Hey katie. Once you get your squirt of a sister to bed, come down and join us."
"So she's still my sister." Katie thought. She brought her to her old room, and stopped there. Gazing at the room she felt a strange sense of sad nostalgia. This had been her room, her toys, her clothes. Now they might never be hers again, but kellie's. "Well she'll get good use out of them." She thought. "Though this is a bit of a young room for Kellie. I wonder...."
She mentally made a wish, "I wish all my belongings would become kellies and that they would automatically change to suit her age no matter what it becomes from now on and that no one will notice the difference. I also wish that she and I will be safe and secure no matter our ages and no one will think any differently of two little girls living alone."