“NowIknowthisisabigshockforyougirls,butIpromiseitwillonlybe untiltheparty.Afterthatyou’llbebacktonormal.Andonthebrightside,allof yourblackmarkshavebeenremoved.”TaigesturedtoMissKilgoreinthe back.“You’llbestayingatmyhouseforthenextthreedaystogetacclimated.
MissKilgorewilllookafteryouduringyourstay.Anythingyouneed,youjust askher.”
“Comealong,children.Acariswaitingforus,”MissKilgoresaid.
Thegirlshoppedofftheirchairs,KariholdingontoKrisee’shandtosteady her.JumpingandwalkingwouldhavebeenmucheasierifTaihadn’tmadetheir dressestoolongandtheirshoesaboutthreesizestoobig.Shefiguredthose, alongwiththelisps,weredesignedtomakethemallcuter.Forwhatpurpose, shestilldidn’tunderstand.
Whateveritwas,shewassureshewouldn’tlikeit.
***
Asbefittedtheshadowyruleroftheentireplanet,Tai’shomewasacountry estatebiggerthananentiretown.Gatesmadeoutofsolidgoldhadhisinitials pressedintothem.“Iwannasee!Iwannasee!”Desireeshouted,herpersonality quicklydevolvingtothatofaseven-year-oldasshescrambledoverKariand Krisee.
“Ow!”Kriseewailed.“I’mtewwingMissKiwgowe.”
“Itshouwdn’thuwtthatmuchwithawthatpaddingyougot,”Desiree snapped.
KarigrabbedKrisee’sshouldertokeepherfromretaliating.Shebrushed someofKrisee’shairasidetowhisper,“Don’tstooptotheirwevew.Youstiwa biggirw.”
Valsatacrossfromthemonabackwards-facingseat,herarmscrossedover herchest.“Whatthematter?Mowegirwgonnacwy?”
“Shutup!”Kriseescreeched.
Kariagainhadtoyankherback.“Shejusttwyingtogetunderyouskin.
Justignoreher.Shejustastupidbabynow.”
“IcanbeowderthanyouanytimeIwant,”Valshotback.“ButIwannabe theyoungestandpwettiest.”
“Oneoutoftwoisn’tbad,”Karisaid.SheandKriseesharedagiggleat this.
Thecarpulleduptoamansionasbigastwocityblocks,oratleastit seemedthatwaywhenKarigotoutofthecar.Kriseepressedclosetoher, keepingafirmgrasponherhand.Thatcameinhandywhentheyhadtogetup thestonestairswithouttrippingovertheirskirtsandshoes.
BythetimeMissKilgorehadshownthemaroundthegroundfloorofthe estate,Krisee’sfacehadturnedredandcoveredinsweat.“Can’twetakea bweak?”shepleaded.
“Yourroomsareupstairs.Itrustyoucanmakeitthatfar?”
“Yes,”Kriseemumbled.
“JustweaveMowegirwhere.Shecandigahowetosweepin,”Valsaid andherfriendsgiggledinresponse.
MissKilgorewaggedafingeratthetoddler.“Yougirlsbehave.ThisisMr.
Lecau’shouseandyouwillberespectfulofhisthings.Thatgoesdoubleforyou two,”shesaid,herwaggingfingerturningtoKriseeandKari.
“Yes,ma’am,”theysaidtogether.Theywaiteduntiltheothersstartedupto mountthestairs.
“Iknowithard,butweawmostthere,”Karisaid.
“Howyouknowhowharditis?”
“Iusedtobeafatwidowgirwwikeyouownow.”
“ButnowyougettobeskinnyandIgettobefat.Itnotfair.”
“Iknow,buttherenothingwecando.”
“Iguess.”
Longaftertheothershadreachedthesummit,theygottothesecondfloor.
MissKilgorewaitedforthem,tappingherfoot.“Thisisnotimetodawdle, girls.Yourroomisdownattheendofthehall.”
“Nofair,”Kriseegrumbledagain.
Theendofthehallfeltlikeakilometeratleast.WithMissKilgorebehind them,theycouldn’tstoptoresteither.Kriseestumbledalong,Karihavingto steadyheracoupleoftimes.Bythetimetheyreachedtheend,Karifeltas thoughshe’dwalkedtwentykilometers.
Taihadpreparedthemalittlegirl’sbedroomlikeKari’soldapartment.On onecanopybedsheevenfoundSnowmanewaitingforher.Shesnatchedthetoy
offthebedandthenploppeddownonthemattresswithouttakingoffhershoes.
Insteadofgoingtotheotherbed,Kriseecurledupnexttoher.Karilether friendhaveSnowmane,settlingtostrokeKrisee’shairuntiltheybothfell asleep.Theyhadalongthreedaysaheadofthem.
Chapter16
Bytheendoftheseconddayallofthegirls,evenKrisee,hadsettledinto theirchildishbodies.Karihadevencometoaccepttheoversizedclothes,which MissKilgorerequiredtheywearuntiltheywenttobedsotheycouldget acclimated.
Besidestheclothes,theyhadtolearnhowtodance.NottheroutinesKrisee andtheothersdidonstage,butformaldancing.EvenasanadultKarihadnever donemuchofthatkindofdancing.Shefellonherfaceoncetotheamusement ofValandhercronies,butresistedthechildishurgetowailfromthepain.
Instead,shetookKrisee’sprofferedhand,gottoherfeet,andthenbrushed herselfofftocontinuethelesson.
Valseemedalotmorecomfortableasatoddlerthistime.Shedidn’tgointo anyscreamingfitswhenMissKilgorehadtobrushandcurlherhair.Nordid shetrytotakeoffthewhitebow.Ifanythingshewasthequickestoneto acclimatetohernewsituation.
Theydidn’tseeTaiatall,butKarisuspectedhewasaroundsomewhere.
Hewasalwayswatchingthem,evenifhewasn’therephysically.Valsleptinhis bedroom,onhismassivebed,butwhethershewasaloneallnightKaricouldn’t say.
Attheendofthetraining,KariandKriseelayintheirbed,Kriseeclutching SnowmanewhileKariclutchedher.“What’sgonnahappentoustomorrow?”
Kriseeasked.
“Idon’tknow,”Karisaid.
“Youthinkthosemenattheparty…youthinktheywiwtouchus?”
“Iwouldn’tputitpastthem.”
Kriseeshiveredagainsther.“Idon’twannago.”Tearscametohereyes.
“Ijustwannabemeagain.Iwon’tevencareaboutthezitsanymore.Ijustwant ustobethewaywewere.”
“Iknow,butthere’snothingwecando.”
“Whynot?Maybeifweaskhim,he’wchangeusback.”
“Notuntiwaftertheparty.”
“Henotgonnachangeanyofyouback,”Valwhisperedfromthedoorway.
“Vaw?Whatyoudoinghere?”
Valscurriedovertothesideofthebed.Sheneededhelpinordertocrawl ontothemattress,whereshesatcross-leggedinfrontofthem.“IheardTai tawking.Henotgonnawetyougoback.Hegonnasewwyou.”
“Sewwus?Tothosemen?”
“Yes.Hegonnasewwyouasswavestodowhatevertheywant.”
“Thenwhentheydonewithus,theykiwwus.”
“Kiwwus?”Kriseeaskedwithawhimper.“Why?”
“Becausetheymean,”Valsaid.
“Whyyoutewwus?”
“Becauseyoustiwwmyfwiend,Kawi.Iknowwebeenmeantoeachother wecentwy,butthisisdiffwent.Idon’twantyoutogethuwt.”
“Sowhatwesupposedtodo?”
“Icanshowyouhowtogetthestone,butIneedyouhewp.I’mtoowidow todoitmysewf.”
“Thestoneishere?”
“Partofit.Hekeepsomeonhiswingandwesthekeephere.”
“Won’tyougetintwoubweifhefindout?”
“Notifitwork.”
“Twue.”
“Thenwewon’tbesowdtothosemen?”Kriseeasked.
“Thatwight.Thenwecanbegwown-upsagain.Wecandowhateverwe want,”Karisaid.“Anythingwewant.”
“Wow.”
“Comeon,wegottadoitnow,beforeMissKiwgorewakeup.”
Valhoppeddowntothefloor.KaritookalookatKrisee,whonoddedher assent.Despitethis,shekeptSnowmanewithherastheystarteddow
nthe hallway.Theothergirlswereapparentlyallasleep.ValpausedatMiss Kilgore’sroom,butonlythesoundofsnoringcamethroughthedoor.
Valmotionedthemtothestaircase.ThestonewascoldagainstKari’sbare feet,butitwaseasiertogodowninherpinknightgownthaninthatawfuldress.
Kriseefounditeasiertoo,thoughherbangswereplasteredtoherforeheadby sweatbythetimetheyreachedthebottom.SensingKrisee’sweariness,Kari squeezedherhand.“Wegottakeepgoing.Wedon’thavemuchtime.”
KriseenoddedandfollowedbehindKariandVal.Thelatterstoppedata woodendoorthathadtobefivemetershighatleast.“Itthwoughthatdoor,”she said.Shereachedinsidehernightgown,retrievinganecklace,attheendof whichdangledakey.“IgotthisfromMissKiwgow’swoom.Itshouwdgetus in,butIcan’tweach.”
AsthetallestofthegroupitwasuptoKaritodoit.Shetookthekeyfrom Valandthengotonhertiptoes.Eventhenshecouldbarelyreachthelock.The harderpartwasturningtheknobwithherscrawnyarms.Betweenherand Krisee,theywereabletogettheheavydooropen.
Tai’sofficeinthemansionwasfarmoreopulentthantheoneatTaiCorp
hadbeen.EverywhereKarisawsumptuouswoodlinedwithgold.Therewasa granitefireplace,whichatthemomentwasonlycoldashes.Valpointedtothe fireplace.“Itinthere.”
“Inthefirepwace?”Kariaskedwithdisbelief.
“Behindthebwicksinside,sonooneewsecouldfindit.”
“Oh.”
Karistartedtowardsthefireplace,butKriseegrabbedherarm.“Kawi,no.
Idon’twikethis.Shecouldbewaitingforyoutogointhereandthenstarta fire.”
“Startafire?I’mawmostababy!HowcanIstartafire?”
“Idon’tknow!Butyoubeennothingbutmeantousandnowyouactaw nicetous.Itdon’taddup.”
“Iawweadyexpwainedit.Idon’twantyoutogethurt.Ifyouwannaget sowdandthenkiwwed,thengobacktobed.”
“She’swight,”Karisaid,puttingahandonKrisee’sshoulder.“Igottado it.”
Beforeshecouldlookinthefireplace,Karineededsomelighttoseeby.
Sheclimbeduponeoftheofficechairs,recallingherdaysasamidget.Thenshe clickedonthelamponTai’sdesk.Byadjustingthat,shecouldshineabeamof lightintothefireplace.Shehoppeddownandthenscurriedovertothefireplace toinspectit.
Theinteriorofthefireplacewasmorethanbigenoughtoaccommodate her.Ifthisdidn’twork,though,shewasgoingtoneedalongbathtocleanthe sootthatinstantlystainedherface,hands,andfeet.
“Seeanything?”Kriseeasked.
“No.Gokeepawookout.”
“But—”
“Justgo.”
“Awwight.”AfterKriseehadscamperedoff,Kariwentdeeperintothe fireplacetoinspectthebricksattheveryback.Sheranherfingersalongthem untilshefeltoneslightlyoutofplace.Squinting,shesawthemortararoundit wascracked,meaningthebrickhadprobablybeenreplacedrecently.
“Ifoundit!”Karicalledout.“Itwaybackhere.”
“Wetmesee!”Valsaid.Shesqueezedintothefireplacetostandbeside Kari.“Thatit?”
“Wegottagetthebwickout.”
Ittookbothofthemgruntingandstraininginordertomovethebrickjusta fewcentimeters.Theyheavedagainandagain,untiltheywerecoveredinsweat andsoot.Finallythebrickcamefree,landingattheirfeetwithathudand
shattering.
Intheholeleftbythebrickwasaglasscase,alumpofblackstone glitteringinside.
TheyhadfoundtheStoneofChange.
***
Karicarrieditovertoanarmchair,bigenoughtoaccommodateallthreeof them.KriseestaredatthestonewhileclutchingSnowmanetothepointhis stuffingbegantopopoutfromhisneck.“That’sit?”
“Partofit,”Valsaid.
“Butitcouldmakeusgwown-upsagain?Wike,weawgwown-upsandnot teenagers?”
“Itcandowhateverwewantittodo,”Karisaid.“Ifwecangetittowork.”
“Howdowedothat?”
“Idon’tknow.WasttimeItouchedit,itmademefifteenagain.”
“WhatdidTaidotoit?”
“Idon’tknow!”Karisnapped.“Hesatawoundbyitforawhiweandthen hesaidsomething.”
“Wikewhat?”
“Somekindofancientwanguage.ButIcouwdn’thearawthewords.”
“Somaybeweshouldthinkweawyhardaboutwhatwewant,”Val suggested.
Karistareddownatthestone,tryingtothinkofwhathadhappenedinthe temple.Taihadspentallthattimeupthereonthepedestal.Whathadhebeen doing?Shereplayeditagainandagainuntilitfinallyhither:hehad communicatedwiththestone.Orperhapsithadcommunicatedwithhim.
Sheclosedhereyes,imaginingthestoneinhermind.WhenKriseetriedto saysomething,Karishushedher.“I’mtwyingtotawktoit.”
Shekepthereyesclosed,tryingagaintoseethestoneinhermind.After whatfeltlikeforever,thestonesheimaginedbrokeopenlikeanegg.Insideofit wasascalytanface,oneoftheancients.Taihadprobablyseenonejustlikeit duringhismeditationsupthere.“Whoareyou,child?”
“KawiChomar,”shewhispered.Thensheasked,“Howyouknowour wanguage?”
“WelearnedfromtheoneyoucallTaiLecau.”
“Oh,Isee.”
“Whatisityouseek,youngone?”
“Iaskyoutopweasechangemeback.”
Thealien’sblackeyesnarrowedatherforamomentandthenitnodded slightly.“Itisdone.”
Kariopenedhereyes,butimmediatelynotedsomethingwaswrong.
Insteadofgettingbigger,shewasgettingsmaller.Shecontinuedtoshrinkuntil shewaseventinierthanVal,justababyagain.Shepattedhercurlyhairwith onechubbyhandandthenfeltherfaceturnwarm.“No!”shewailed.“Notwike that!Makemebig!”
Assoonasshesaidthis,sherealizedhermistake.Hertinybodyinflated likeaballoon,untiltheseamsofhernightgownburstopen,asdidthoseofher diaper.Shesatnakedintheruinsofherclothes,whileKriseeandValgapedat her.
“Whatyoudo?”Valasked.
“Idon’tknow!Itnotunderstandme.”
“Wetmetwy!”Valsaid.BeforeKaricouldstopher,Valsnatchedthestone away.TherewasawinkoflightandsecondslaterValtoowasarotundbaby.
“Nofair!”
TheStoneofChangeslippedfromherhandtorollontothefloor.Krisee droppedfromthechair,ontothefloor.“Kwisee,no!”Karishouted,butitwas toolate.KriseepickeduptheStoneofChange.
Nothinghappened.
ThenKriseeturnedaroundandsmiledwithTaiLecau’ssmuggrin.“Ithink that’senoughfunforonenight,”Kriseesaidinhisvoice.
***
Thestonewinkedagain.Karifoundherselfmercifullystretchingoutuntil shewasateenageragain.Shehadneverbeensogladtofeelthezitsonherface ortheglassesoreventhebracesuntilthatmoment.Besideher,Valalso changed,notasshehadbeenthreedaysago,butintothegeekyteenagerwitha helmetofblackhairandwhitecat’seyeglasses.Shepattedthehair,glasses,and thenhergreenplaidsweater.“Whatdidyoudotome?Changemeback!”
“I’mafraidyourdancingcareerisover,sweetheart,”Taisaidthrough Krisee.Herbodyalsoswelleduntilittoowasateenager,thegirlKarihadfallen inlovewith.
“Wereyou…wereyouherallthistime?”
“Youmeanallthetimesyouwerefuckinginthestoreroomandbathro
om?
Yes.ButI’mnotreallyher,notphysically.Ijusttookoverhermind.”Krisee sneeredather.“TherealKriseeneverlikedyou.Shethoughtyouwereaprissy littlebitch.Yourfriendherecanattesttothat,I’msure.”
“Yes,”Valmumbled,stillpattingherfaceasifshecouldchangeitlikea
lumpofclay.“ButIthoughtshewasjustpretending.”
“Butyouwerepretending.Allthistimeitwasjustanothersickgameof yours.Youbastard!”KarishotfromthechairtolaunchherselfatKrisee—at Tai.Shepummeledatthefaceshehadkissedandcaressedsomanytimes before.“Yousonofabitch!”
TaitookholdofherwristsandwithmorestrengththanKrisee’sscrawny musclescouldpossiblyhavehepushedherbackuntilshewassittingonthe floor.Thenhelookedherintheeye.“Itwasn’tagame,Kari.Irealizedyou weretoostubborntoeverlovemeanyotherway.”
“Whataboutme?”Valwailed.“Whataboutus?”
“I’msorry,dear,butthereisnous.Thereneverwas.Ijustneededtoget youtobreakawayfromKari.”HereachedouttotakeVal’shand.“Iknewyou didn’treallyloveheranymore.Thewayyouthrewyourselfatmeintheclub wasonlyproofofit.”
“AndthenyoubroughtmetotheclubsoIcouldseethatshehadmoved on,”Karisaid.
“Afteryouresistedmyadvances,yes.YoucouldhavesparedValsome heartacheifyou’djustgiveninbackattheoffice.Butnowwecanbetogether.
Youhavetoseeitnow.”
“AllIseeisthatyou’reaconnivingmonster.ThethingsyoudidtoValand meandtothiswholeplanetarereprehensible!”
“Howcanyousaythat?RememberallthetimewespenttogetherwhenI wasKrisee.Youlovedmethen.Youlovedmesomuchyoubrokeintothis roomtotryandstealtheStoneofChange.Don’tyouseeitnow?”Hegaveher handagentlesqueezethatfeltexactlylikeKrisee’stouch.“I’llbeherifthat’s whatyouwant.Wecanbewhateverageyouwantustobe.”
KarilookeddownatthefloorandthenupatVal,whowasnowsobbing quietly.“WhataboutVal?Shereallydoesloveyou.”