She sniffled a bit more, and nodded, going to get a tissue.
Mikey wondered what was up with Linda today. But, hopefully this was the end of it.
Linda wiped her eyes, still feeling overwhelmed, and returned to where Mikey was waiting. "I'm ready," she whispered softly in the child's voice that had become her own.
Mikey escorted her out of the house, giving her no chance to run away again. As Mikey fumbled with his keys to get the car door open, Linda looked across the street and saw her long-time neighbor Gretchen Wilson, an elderly woman. The old woman looked up from doing her gardening and waved at Linda. Then she stood up and walked across the street. Smiling, she said "Good morning, Linda. Looking forward to school today?"
Linda looked like she might cry again. So not only was Mikey treating her like a little boy, but...it wasn't just Mikey.
Mrs. Wilson became confused. "Are you all right?" she asked. Then, right before Linda's eyes, the old woman's clothes changed. "Oh my," the woman said, looking down at herself. "How did that happen?"
One moment, the old woman was wearing a pale green blouse, an ankle-length flower-print skirt, and low-heeled shoes. And the next, she was wearing ...
