Unknown to Zoe (and thanks to the wish that was spoken, unknown to Jon and Karyn, as well), Jon had wished that everyone in town looked like his sister Zoe for the next three days. As a condition, he added that both he and Karyn wouldn't remember the reality before the wish was made and also wouldn't remember that the wishing stone granted wishes. He didn't want to make any wishes while being a different person ... literally. It was a really strange wish to make, but he thought that since he had a wishing stone, he might as well use it to settle some curiosity. He always wondered what it would be like if everyone had the same exact body. It was only going to last three days and Jon and Karyn would remember all of their experiences after the three days were over and they (and the rest of the town) returned to normal.
But as part of the wish, Jon didn't make any conditions for Zoe herself. It wasn't a matter of neglect, though. Normally, he wouldn't have to. Anyone who doesn't hear the wish shouldn't remember anything from the previous reality. But, unknown to Jon, Zoe did hear the wish. She may not have heard exactly what was being said, but Jon was being so loud in the next room when he made the wish (that everyone would look like her) that Zoe's memories didn't change to match the new reality. When Jon fell quiet, that was when he quickly made the conditions that it would only last three days and that he and Karyn wouldn't remember anything from before the wish or anything about the wishing stone until after the three days were over.
So, now, Zoe was the only one in town that noticed anything different. And Jon had no idea that he (now she) was the one that made it all happen, or that she had a stone that could grant wishes.
Zoe stared at her doppelganger at the end of the hall.
"Zoe, what's wrong, honey?" the other Zoe asked. Her voice belonged to Zoe, but the way she talked, it sounded more like her mom. It was her mom. Just like the Zoe in Jon's bedroom was Jon, just like she had said.
Suddenly, the door to Zoe's little brother Mikey's bedroom opened, and another Zoe emerged, this one dressed in little boy's clothes. But like the Zoe standing in the hall wearing her mother's clothing, this newest Zoe's clothes fit her teenage body.
Zoe's head was spinning with confusion. Was everyone in town like this? She had to call her friends. She really hoped that they weren't affected too.
