As the girls sat down to eat their pizza they began to laugh and joke with one another, their little legs swinging in the open air beneath their chairs. Only Tricia remained with feet firmly planted on the ground, eating more quietly than all the others. Katie noticed it and broached the subject.
"Tricia? Whats wrong?"
The college aged woman shook her head as if coming out of a daze. "Nothing, don't worry about it." She smiled sweetly, but something about it made Katie uneasy.
After they were done, the girls began to get into their costumes. Katie started into her witches one when Tricia found her. "Katie...I want to talk to you."
Katie nodded, "Sure, what's up."
Tricia came forwards and took her hands gently. "I know you are having fun, and so are all the other girls, but messing with that ring, its changing things so fast. Everyone I know now...we're all becoming more and more ... well, like kids. Im the only one it seems that enjoys being a ..." She hesitated. "Grown up."
Katie frowned, "I understand. But the ring has been fun, and everytime I've used it since I told you all, I've given everyone a choice."
"Yes but you see things from a child's perspective, Katie."
Katie suddenly felt Tricia reaching for the ring to slide it off her finger....