Sarah Spoke up again.
"Richard do we really need to do this?" She talked to him as if he was her peer instead of her father. "Surely there is a way that we can put this all back the way it was."
Richard seemed annoyed at the question.
"Sarah, I'm busy at the moment, so let me ask you a question that will help you realize your situation. Where were you on 9/11?"
Sarah responded without thinking. "I was in high school, I was in freshman Algebra...." except she wasn't, because she couldn't have been, how could she remember that day?
She quickly turned to the now 17 Linda. " Do you remember where you were?"
Linda thought for a second "I mean I've seen pictures but that was way before my time, though I can kinda remember...naw...I think I've just seen photos."
Richard turned to the now nearly 40 year old Sarah who was currently do the math in head as to what her life currently was, all the years and experiences she had lived without living them, she still remembered being herself at 17 as well as all the other ages, being pretty and popular and the queen of the school, but also it seemed so far away, like a movie she loved but hadn't seen for 10 years. To this Richard added one final thought, "Don't worry, this will be over soon and you can go pick up your daughter." The implications were enough that Sarah just went and sat down.
Richard turned his attention towards his wife. "You might hate me for this, but I think in time you'll thank me my dear. I know it might seem harsh now, but I think we both know that you always wanted more from life than just being a hot piece of ass around the club. You settled, and I know you resent the world for it. So here."
The stone glowed blue again as she began to thicken and shrink at the same time, age falling from her like leaves from a tree, but also her face twisting as instead of getting more attractive, see seemed less so, she seemed more awkward than anything, and then suddenly standing in her place was a 16 year old boy.
"I suggest you make the best of your new gender, I expect you to be a member here again one day." Richard tried to heal the wound. The boy stood in his dress in shock. "You bastard! I can't believe you would do this to me!" He pulled his wedding ring off and chucked it at Richard as if to kill.
"I'm sorry my dear, it had to be done. If it's any saving grace, at least you don't love me anymore. I need that bit of reality for my next wife." He turned to Jon.
The whole room seemed opposed. "You can't" Sarah of all people was standing in defense of Jon, a motherly instinct kicking in.
The stone glowed blue. "I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll make this one quick." and suddenly there was a flash and in Jon's place stood a gorgeous woman of not more than 29, blond hair, gray eyes, and the bombshell body of a yoga instructor who just came from the spa.
Richard picked up the ring from the ground and kneeling before the woman put it on her finger, then rose up and kissed her passionately as she kissed him back.
"Now that wasn't so bad was it Jane?"
The newly minted Jane stood their speechless for a second, a little from the kiss and the feelings it gave her, a little from the very strange feeling of being remade into this form which different in every way from what he had been when...but there was no room for that in her mind at the moment, for she was too busy feeling love for this man in her arms, and sexy, and womanly.
While they were kissing Richard took off the bowtie that had been around Jon's neck and spoke into his wife's ear. "just a few things to wrap up, and then we can continue to get to know each other if you'd like.
He took the bow tie and handed it to his former wife. "I'd like to offer you a job, I think you could go far in time, and this is a great place to start." and as he handed off the tie reality seemed to span and snap and before Richard stood just an average boy of 16 named Sam who worked at the club. "Oh and I think you are really going to like Karyn, she's just your type." "Now give us some privacy would you?" And with that a stunned Sam left the room.
Richard then looked towards his former daughter and the 17 year old Linda. He picked up Linda's purse and put it in Sarah's hands, taking her cell phone as he did saying "I'm so sorry to take up your time today with this, you can be on your way I'm sure you've lots to do, and good luck." Sarah went to put on her coat and as she did the clothing under it changed to reflect a woman of 40 who did most of her shopping at Target or Kohls. She reached into the purse and grabbed the keys to an SUV.
He then turned to Linda and gave the Sarah's phone to her as well as 40 dollars and said "Honey" the second the phone touched Linda's hands another change happened, which even caught Richard by surprise. Linda's clothing changed, but also her hair and make up changed, before she was an attractive young thing, but now, with the advantage of daddy's money and magic she was also a hot young thing, though red hair was not what Richard had been expecting. "Honey, he started again. Jane and I would like some time tonight, do you mind?"
"Bet! I'm sure I can find something else to do!" she eagerly took the money and zoomed out of the room, automatically texting steve to come pick her up.
This left Jane and Richard alone in the room as the magic and the light faded.
"Now what would you like to do?"
