... much older. The baby grew, to the point where Karyn had to put her down next to her. She seemed about to stand up, then collapsed on the floor while still growing. Soon on the floor was a girl, around age fourteen or so, maybe a year younger or older than that. She was old enough that she was starting to develop into womanhood, but there was a blank stare in her eyes.
"Petra?" said Jon, confused.
The girl briefly turned to look at Jon, as if there was something vaguely familiar about the name, but she couldn't remember. Then she began to crawl away and drool.
"It figures," said Karyn. "She's old enough to eat but since she suddenly aged, she doesn't know anything. At all. She has the mind of a baby and there isn't much to that. I wonder if she can even feed herself or if she's just the right age to feed herself."
"Let me try something," said Jon. "I made myself able to control her mind, remember? So she can still do things. First, let's get her to stand up...."
The girl stumbled around, agitated. She reached her hand up as if grabbing for something. She didn't stand up, and after waiting, Jon gave up.
"It's not working," said Jon. "I make her want to stand up, she wants to stand up, then she can't do it because she doesn't know how. We have to keep trying, Karyn."
"Yeah," replied Karyn. "Let's do another wish." Karyn walked over to the near mindless teen. "I just have to wish she has an older mind. What should I do? Make her know how to talk and things, but leave her with no memory or personality?"
"Well, she would have some personality if she knows how to talk," replied Jon.
"Why's that?"
"Well, it makes sense."
"I don't know, Jon. And what about memory? I can't make her remember being around for fourteen years--it would be silly. She'd remember being three while you're six."
"So don't give her any memory. Just do what you think is right. You did say you were going to solve it and I hate to see her like this."
Karyn walked over and touched Jon's wishing stone/daughter, then said "I wish...."
