Katie felt a sudden lurch in herself and in the world around her. The warmth of the ring coincided with the wish as she suddenly felt her words sinking into the reality around them. Suddenly, the house shifted around her. Pictures on the walls of her mother shifted to pictures of herself and Kelly in a new way. They showed two little girls instead of a mother and daughter, growing from babies to adults. Some showed pictures of a new woman that Katie didn't recognize at first, but after a moment, somehow knew to be their birthmother. The house continued to shift now, the furniture was much the same, but suddenly the building itself just ...grew. The stairs vanished, and with that so too did katie and her mother's former rooms. The family room became larger and a bit more spacious, as did the kitchen and instead of stairs there was now a hallway to two new rooms. Looking, Katie could see the names "Katie" and "Kelly" on the closed doors. The house was now a single story, but it was large enough and spacious enough to fit two preteen girls and all their friends.
Cubbies for shoes appeared near the door and all the kids dusty sneakers settled neatly into them. After a moment, the changes stopped and Katie felt the reality shift around her. She was the same, as was Kelly, and all the girls were giggling and having a grand time in the family room. The house looked like two children lived there, but it was still neat and comfortable for their needs. Something in her told her they had outside help now. What was more, there was no sign of adult presence otherwise and again memories instinctively told her that the girls were independent and left on their own for the most part because of the nature of her wish.
Katie touched her hand to her stomach, feeling a certain queasiness. She'd just effectively erased her and her mother's former lives, and yet it filled her with a palpable thrill. Glancing back at Kelly, she felt a certain love and friendship that should be shared between two sisters that were the best of friends as much as siblings. Now, Katie truly was the one in charge.