A homeless man was sleeping in the entry of a closed store across the street. I'd seen him before, probably in his 40s or maybe older. A battered shopping cart full of junk was next to him, and he had one foot on the bottom so he'd be alerted if anyone tried to steal it. We walked over quietly and looked at him. He was unshaven and thin, with gray streaks in his greasy-looking dark hair. And he reeked - it must have been along time since he bathed.
"How do I do things?" I whispered to Runt. "Do I have to touch him?"
"I should tell you it requires sexual contact." Runt grinned. "But nah, you just have to be close. Think of what you want to happen."
I nodded and then decided to go for little things first. The stink faded as the man was suddenly clean and shaved, his patched and filthy clothing becoming serviceable jeans, sneakers, and a T-shirt. Another bity of concentration and his face filled out, his health restored and weight made normal. Just those small changes had made a huge difference. He look years younger, more like a jogger who had stopped to take a nap.
Runt nodded in approval. "You're a natural at this! Most people try for big things and fail, or get silly."
I almost left things that way, but I had to try my powers out. Sure, I couldn't change reality, but this guy had no home or family, and maybe not even any official identity. Nobody would notice even big changes as long as I didn't go crazy.