Mikey was just outside when Linda Madison knocked heavily on the door of her daughter, Janine. Although she was used to having a fight to get her up, this morning Janine simply called out, "Morning, mom, what's for breakfast?" Linda was shocked, but knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Ted walked past the Madison's driveway just as Mikey was exiting it. It was as if any two given victims of Mikey's wish were inextricably drawn to each other. But they kept moving, Ted in the direction of the Maxwell residence, and Mikey in the direction that Ted had just come from.
Ted passed by a young boy eating cereal who, just twenty four hours earlier, had been a woman, and entered the room of Larry Maxwell. A few moments later, the young boy hopped out of his chair and walked nonchalantly out the front door as Ted Maxwell took his place.
