"Oh indeed!" Jon pursed his lips into a full pout and crossed his arms underneath his generous chest. "Zoe, don't you see why you can't just make wishes on a whim like that? Yes, that wish was far more responsible, but you're still acting impulsively. Who knows what could happen in a week's time? What if something were to happen to you, like if you got sick or hurt? You know how devastated I'd be if you were in pain and I couldn't help you? I'd be devastated. Plus, we could've used the stone to help make sense of these new lives. I don't know the first thing about being a floor manager for the ladies section at Nordstrom's. I don't know a single thing about what's in or out, I mean sure, I can let some of the younger girls handle the main section while I can just focus on plus size, maternity, and inventory,"
"Jon..."
"But what do I do about lingerie? Perfume? Jewelry? We're understaffed as it is,"
"Jon!"
"And who knows if Tiffany will show up again, I'd fire her if father wasn't the regional manager, she's so entitled and lazy-"
"MOM!"
"What is it?" Jon's head swung on a swivel.
Zoe looked aghast. "Are you listening to yourself? You sure seem to know quite a lot for someone who has never even set foot in a Nordstroms before. Jon, what exactly happened when I made that wish, when your eyes went blank? I thought you were just messing with me at first, but the mannerisms, your word choice, your inflections, it's so... mature. So mom like. Can you really not control it?"
Jon shook his head as if waking from a trance, his conditioned curls waving in front of his face. Once again, it all felt so foreign, where as a minute ago he didn't notice his bra's underwire poking his chest, the straps digging into his shoulders, his posture shifting and slouching like a teenage boy's, shedding its feminie poise, and how soft and silky his dress felt against his skin, as if he had been accustomed to these things for a lifetime. "I can..." Jon tried to say more gruffly but just came across as a bad impression of a man. "I just sort of lost myself there for a second. I had these weird visions that felt so real. I guess your wish made it if I'm not focused on it, this just seems... natural. I mean, I didn't even notice that your hair is back to it's natural color and you're wearing makeup."
"I'm WHAT?!" Zoe shrieked, running into her room which had gone a drastic transformation, no longer retaining any of the black, gothic, angsty vibes that decorated her den, becoming something far more average for a girl her age.
Jon giggled, but quickly stifled it, embarrassed that he giggled. But it was hard not to find humor in Zoe frantically looking at herself in the mirror, checking out her larger chest, "basic" outfit of a cami and yoga pants, while completely ignoring all the new decorations. The walls were no longer black, instead a nice clean white, with a faded pink accent wall which matched the sheets of her bed which was home to a pile of stuffed animals. Gone were the posters of skinny boys with emo haircuts, looking depressed and staring at their feet, replaced with groups of boys who looked softer, safer, and probably played the type of concert where you wouldn't hear the music over the legions of screaming tween girls.
"Omygod Mo-Jon! What am I going to do?! I can't let Athena see me like this."
Jon could only smirk, "Serves you right, young lady. Compared to me, it seems like you got off easy."
"But my reputation..."
"Is that you're just a sweet, average teenage girl who likes cute animals and boy bands," Jon teased.
"Stop it!"
"Okay, okay princess. I was just having a little fun. I think I deserve at least a little bit of that after everything. And don't you remember how the stone works? Everyone who heard the wish has no idea what you were like before. Your reputation is fine. I mean, can you imagine how I'd feel if Karyn knew who I really was? Or Biff? Or Sarah? I'd be mortified. So relax, calm down, maybe check your computer and the Instagram and learn a little bit about the new you while I get ready for work. Someone has to keep a roof over our heads."
"Okayyy," Zoe softly lamented.
"That's my girl," Jon comforted her with a big hug has his heart pitter pattered with affection and pride. I can't believe how tall she's gotten, soon she'll be bigger than me.
Jon turned and headed back to his room, dreading what he was about to find. If Zoe's room altered itself to fit this new reality than surely his had gone through a drastic change as well. And that, it had, being first and foremost, quite a bit bigger. Gone was the messy room with clothes strewn about, but instead piled into an overflowing laundry basket. Ugh, it feels like the laundry never ends. His bed was made, covered with stylish pillows and floral sheets, the end tables on either side hosting vases of flowers, candles, and a book with the cover of a shirtless man atop a horse approaching a woman in a white dress an moonlit skin in the foreground. 'Bleh' thought Jon, 'of course Sandra would be into those trashy romance novels.' On the other side of the room was a dresser that could barely close from being stuffed full, a vanity with all sorts of foundation, blush, eyeshadow, lipsticks, polishes, and brushes strewn across it, obviously being a place 'Sandra' made use of often. There was also a picture on there, of her and Zoe arm in arm, wearing bathing suits with the waves and ocean behind them. Zoe in the bikini, showing off her tight, youthful beauty, and Jon in a one piece, which covered his muffin top and stretchmarks from creating such a wonderful young woman, but doing nothing to hide her chunky thighs and which mercilessly road up her plump derrière. I don't know why Sandra kept this picture, I look so fat in it. But Zoe does look so pretty and I love her smile. Plus that was such a fun vacation.
As Jon made his way to the bathroom, avoiding the walk in closet which he was sure was stuffed to the limit with all sorts of shoes and skirts and dresses, that could wait til later when he had to change into his uniform. The bathroom was a bit messy, with a hair dryer, curling iron, all sorts of perfumes littering the sink, while the shower/tub had every rack filled with some sort of shampoo, conditioner, exfoliating cream, bath bomb, you name the product, Sandra had it. By the toilet were stacks of magazines, ranging from celebrity gossip rags, to interior design, lifestyle, fashion, and health and fitness. So I guess this is what Sandra does for fun. I guess it makes sense, it was silly for me to think all my old Nintendos and videos would stay with me. Is there anything Sandra does that isn't just lame mom stuff?
Right on cue, Jon noticed a purple headed "massager", waterproof, and branded Hitachi lying in the tub. He gasped and covered his mouth from the shame. Just then, he heard the doorbell ring and both he and Zoe emerged from their rooms, making eye contact in the hallway, and like mother like daughter in their shocked expressions, gasped, "Uh-oh."
