"So my plan was this," Jonni wet her lips with the tip of her tongue as she considered the first of what promised to be many wishes. Luckily, her father had had the foresight to suggest putting the stone safely out of reach and discussing everything before rewriting reality yet again. "First, I wish for an amulet with the power to change a person's appearance, size, shape, sex, age, everything. It only works when someone is wearing it and, once removed, the changes are permanent, until the amulet is put back on again - - just in case we need to do some touch ups or something goes wrong. We could use it to change everyone back, Mom, Karyn, Mindy, end phase one!"
"I like it so far," Gary gave a grudging nod. One wish, three fixes. He hated to imagine anything positive having come from this debacle, but he had to admit Jonni seemed to have grown up some. She was more composed, more thorough than the gawky teenaged boy Gary still remembered as Jon. "But what about photos, records, documents? People will still think your mother is dead and that Karyn should be eight years old! It's just a superficial fix. The old reality is still in place."
"We just wish that the rumors of her death were greatly exagerrated. I did say 'end phase one,'" Jonni smirked, "Lake Point is the county seat. We go to the hall of records and wish things around a little to create the necessary documents we need. Then follow it up with a minor wish that if anyone outside the range of the stone notices something out of wack and comes to investigate it gets written off as a clerical error."
"It sounds like you need to think that last bit through a little more, but otherwise I would say it sounds good," Liam smiled, no longer so worried about Jonni using the stone on him. He might be back to being Linda before he knew it, though hopefully with a few minor improvements courtesy of this amulet Jonni was proposing.
"I agree," Gary nodded, also speculating about the possibilities this amulet represented. The stone was dangerous, but if it could be used to create less powerful devices that didn't alter reality itself, a lot of that danger went away, "I say, go for it."
"Hmm?" Jonni, still kneading a spot in her lower back, looked up at her father, blinked twice and frowned, clearly having missed every word he said, "Oh, sorry! Just my back is killing me. I think Nora has the right idea. I'm going to be needing a nap once we finish up here."
"So we're all agreed then?" Liam turned his unsettlingly direct gaze from Jonni to Gary and back again, "Who's going to do it? Make the wish, I mean."
There was a loud bang and a blur of motion. Gary let go with a startled noise rather like a yipe. Jonni and Liam exchanged a look as both realized they hadn't relocked the door after their reunion earlier this afternoon. The door from the living room to the world beyond was flung open. Both the men jumped to their feet. Jonni, supporting her belly with both hands, leaned forward, peering around Liam, who had protectively leapt in front of her. Someone ran into the room...
