A giggle made Robert look back to Michael. The dark-haired boy was noticable smaller, and it was easy to see why. He was no more than 4 years old, and getting younger as the big female lab licked his face and hands. Michael didn't seem to be aware of the change at first, but then he turned an already-furry face to Robert. "She's turning me into a dog! This is neat!"
Robert nodded. "Yeah. I was a puppy before, now I'm a boy. That golden retreiver was the real Robert."
"Really?" Michael stared at the other cages, his eyes already becoming doglike. "Cool! I think I'm becoming a puppy!" His hands had already started to shrink into paws, and fur wass racing over his skin. "When do I change back?"
Robert grinned as the former boy shrank down rapidly. "You don't. You're a dog from now on!"
Looking more like a young dog now, Michael barked sudenly, his voice gone. There was a flicker of fear, then confusion in the liquid brown eyes. And then pure curiousity as he dwindled to a small, wiggling puppy. The big female lay on her side, and Michael quickly found a teat and began nursing as the week-old puppy he now was.