Matt, running to the other room to replace the wand,
didn't notice when the banging of the basketball
stopped. The ball rolled into the trashcans with a small
clatter, then lay still.
If Matt had been looking out his window, he would have
seen Brett disappear from his backyard, his clothes
hovering without apparent support for almost a second
before collapsing to the ground in an untidy heap.
But Matt wasn't looking, and he didn't see the tiny,
flesh-colored creature that beat his way out of the thick
material a minute later. It was six inches tall, exactly to
the specifications of Matt's hasty wish.
Brett DeSoto looked across the yard in terrified
amazement. With the openmindedness of youth, he
realized immediately what had happened and didn't
waste time trying to deny it. What worried him was HOW
it had happened. Later, the WHY would creep up on
him, but for right now, the tiny boy standing on the vast
field of concrete had a decision to make.