While Karyn was still thinking of something to say, Jon spoke up. "Mother, I am Princess Allaria of the greater High Elven Kingdom of Tyr!"
"Hush!" Karyn admonished her. "You're making it worse!"
Jon's mother looked at them bemusedly. "What's going on? If this is some kind of prank, I'm not falling for it. Is Jon hiding somewhere with his camcorder?"
Karyn sighed. "I'm not exactly sure how to explain this, Mrs. Sullivan; it's hard to believe. I'm not sure I believe it myself."
Jon's mom made an impatient gesture with her hands. "Well, spit it out. I'm waiting for the punchline."
"Jon and I were at the mall today, and we found a new store there, and we got this magic bookmark. It changed Jon into Princess Allaria, here. I know it sounds crazy."
Jon's mother glanced at "Allaria" for a second, and then she did something Jon had seen her do countless times before, but she never would explain it. She carefully held her thumb out in front of her, and squinted with one eye, then stared with the other past it at Allaria.
Then she dropped her hand slowly, and shook her head. "Oh my stars! Jon, what have you gotten yourself into?"
