Stephanie Nguyen tried to be polite. She and Zoe had gone to high school together, back when she was a much smaller woman. She knew that some aspect of obesity was genetic...but the woman seemed to revel in it, and encourage her kids in that direction. She just didn't get it, as it contradicted her own work ethic. It had in high school also, as Zoe had been a good student...and now seemed...what did the woman do all day?
Her son, however, clearly hadn't met the woman before, based on his quickly covered expression when he saw her for the first time. "You must be Jon," Zoe said.
"Hello...Mrs. Brewer." Clearly this version of him hadn't met her before, despite being friendly with her previous daughter...and...how was she even bigger? He'd been shocked when she was bigger than the original Mrs. Brewer was, and this had gone even further. It was, as if, for some people, the swap amplified the worst qualities they picked up from others...and from others, the opposite. He hoped, when they returned to normal, things wouldn't come with them.
"Marie tells me that you tutor for extra money...and my girls need to work on their grades," Zoe said. "School is important, after all."
Her sister Zoe would have never said that, cutting school all the time. "Yes, it is," Stephanie chimed in. "If you want to get into a good college, and get a good job to provide for your family. You have to work hard."
Zoe frowned, wondering if Stephanie was suggesting something. She knew the woman worked hard, and was trying to support as many children as she was without having a provider like her husband to help out. She didn't care what people thought of her, but she didn't when people put her down either, even subtly, because she'd decided to focus on her family first. "I'm sure whatever your usual rate is is fine," she said to Jon.
