Don's mouth dropped open in shock, but not the dazed
and powerless shock that his brothers were
experiencing. "Who the hell got a hold of Mr. Laird's
magic wand?!" he exploded.
Bryan, Brett, and even the reduced Mr. DeSoto each
exclaimed something akin to "What?!?!?"
Suddenly on the spot, Don was shy. "Uh, Mr. Laird, the
guy next door. He has a magic wand that can do stuff
like this. I just assumed . . ."
"What are you talking about?" demanded Bryan. "How
do you know this?"
"He . . . uh . . . told me about it. I saw it work."
"Why would he do this to Dad?"
"I have no idea," said Don, feeling on the defensive.
"This is all just impossible!" exclaimed Bryan. Down at
his feet, his father winced at the volume.
"I guess it isn't," said Brett, nodding downward to where
their father cowered.
Bryan sighed. "Then I guess we need to go next door
and get some answers."
Don swallowed and nodded. He knelt down and
scooped up his startled father in one hand, making
sure that the tiny man's ass was nestled against his
palm before covering his lower half with the other hand.
"Let's go."