The two girls tiptoed into the room where the blonde bombshell of a woman lay sleeping on the bed. Katie was amazed how beautiful Claudia was as a young woman, it was no wonder the ring had given her a modeling career, she was fantastic.
Katie frowned, "I don't know Mary. She's pretty gorgeous, she might not want to be a little girl again."
"I have to try at least, she's my closest friend of all the girls, if it doesn't work then we'll find a way."
Katie nodded and Mary slowly shook her friend. "Claudia?"
The woman looked at her, bleary eyed. "Whuu?" She blinked. "Mary? What are you still doing up? Its way past your bedtime!"
Mary looked startled a moment and then realized that the changes to her friend had altered her perception, she now remembered Mary as a little girl, not her best friend. "Uhm, Claudia, do you remember much about being... you know, my age?"
Claudia thought a moment, "Well I was always into dresses, pretty things. I would go out with my friends and play with dolls, nothing too fancy. I started modeling training when I was twelve."
"Do you... remember having a best friend?" Mary asked, biting her lower lip.
"No, not particularly."
This seemed to shatter Mary a bit...and Katie saw it. She took the other's girls hand to bolster her. Mary took a breath and continued, "Would you ever want to be a kid again?"
"I don't think so," Claudia said. "Why all the questions though kiddo? You shouldn't want to grow up too quickly, you got your whole life ahead of you."
Mary took a breath and looked to Katie, "Help her remember."
"Remember what?" Claudia asked. As soon as she asked it, Katie made the wish. A slow realization dawned in her friend's eyes. "Wait....Mary? Mary is that you?"
Mary nodded, "It is, Claudia! Its me! Remember? We were best friends."
Claudia nodded, "Yes of course. I remember now...but, how could I forget. Wait a moment....you, your...your a kid!" Claudia's eyes widened. "What's going on?"
Mary Elise explained the situation carefully, and Claudia listened to her credit but like Mary she didn't believe it, even with the evidence set before her. "I just can't understand it, magic doesn't exist."
"It does, and I am living proof. In fact, we all used to be even older than we are now." Mary said. "Katie, can you help her remember some more?"
Katie silently wished Claudia to remember the extent all the way to the beach and as she did Claudia's eyes widened visibly. "I was ....I had gotten so old, but now, I ... I am young again. Beautiful. But at what cost. I had a family, a husband...long since dead. This is all too much."
Mary took her friend's hand, "Its all right. Katie has given us a second chance at childhood Claudia."
"But at what cost? Mary, look at us. Growing up only happens once in life! We cannot wish for it again, it's not natural."
"Its fun though," Mary insisted. "Don't you remember what fun we had as kids?"
Claudia smiled and put her hand on the little girls shoulder. "I do, and I am thankful you made me this young, but this is as young as I am willing to be. I am sorry Mary. I just don't want to be a child again."
Mary looked to her and Katie could see she had tears in her eyes but she nodded, "I understand."