"Whew!" Karyn sat down on the chair in the quiet food court, tossing the shopping bags underneath the seat. "We should do this again sometime."
"Agreed," Joan said with a smile. "You thirsty? I'm going to grab some drinks for us. You mind watching Jon until I get back?"
"Sure. Can I hold him again?"
"Only if you don't wake him up."
Karyn eased Jon out of his stroller as Joan walked away. He really was adorable, contently sleeping in her arms. She had known Jon through all of high school, but her wish was letting her see her friend through all stages of his life. An eleven year old, an eight year old, a nearly newborn baby. Still, there was a lot more to see. Bending her head, she whispered, "Plus four years."
A preschool aged Jon was now sleeping on her lap, his head nestled between her breasts. Still cute, but in a different way. The diaper bag had disappeared; the stroller was still there, but larger. It didn't seem like anyone else in the food court had noticed the change. Good. These changes seemed to be like the ones made by the stone. "I am going to have so much fun with you," she whispered quietly to the child on her lap.
Not quietly enough. Jon stirred on her lap, stretched, slowly opened his eyes. "Huh... what? Karyn? Where am-" His eyes shot wide open. "Karyn! I can't believe you!"
Karyn giggled and wrapped her arms around the boy, pressing him against her chest. "Aw, go back to sleep, tired boy."
Jon swore and wriggled free. "Why are you doing this to me? You- you- and my mom!" The kid ran his fingers through his hair and grimaced. "She breastfed me! Ugh!"
"Hey, that's completely natural. Besides," Karyn added with a smirk, "it's nothing you haven't done before."
"I'm not going through with this any more, Karyn. I mean it. Make me my normal age again, or I'll- I'll-"
"You'll what? Not much an adorable four year old like you can do. Still, we can't have you throwing a tantrum." She reached into her purse and pulled out the stone. "Maybe I should wish you to be obedient and act your age. Ooh, or forget your real age until I want you to remember everything. How would you like to enjoy being breastfed?" She held the stone above Jon's head, just out of reach.
Jon's face crumpled, and he slumped into the chair next to her. He put his face on the table and covered it up with his hands. Karyn thought he was about to cry. "You don't have to bother waving the stone like that." He was starting to cry; his voice was trembling! "Remember my mom's wish? I'm supposed to leave the stone alone."
A small part of Karyn felt sorry for the crying boy in front of her. Still, she couldn't resist placing the stone on the table, right beside him. Standing behind Jon, she started passing the stone from hand to hand, having it skid mere inches away from his head. "Alright, Jon-boy, here's the plan. You be a good little boy, and I'll let you stay four years old until we get back to your home. Then I'll turn you back to normal. But make any fuss, and I'll turn you-"
The stone rolled off her fingers wrong, and it hit Jon's exposed wrist. Karyn gasped; Jon was supposed to leave the stone alone, but what if it touched him? Before she could snatch it back, Jon spat out, "I wish..."
