" . . . I wish that you'd become more like Karyn." She turned to Karyn to explain, missing the looks of horror on Karyn and Jon's faces. "I'd just gotten done talking to you on the phone, sweety, and I just had thought that Jon could be polite like you." Then she realized what she'd said. "Oh no, I'm so sorry, Jon!"
They turned to face Jon, but he didn't look any different. Jon ran into the bathroom and examined himself in the mirror. A few minutes later, he came back.
"Well, doesn't look like anything's changed. Maybe the wish didn't take place because she added it in the middle of a sentence?" Jon said weakly.
Karyn shook her head. "No, Jon, I think it's because she said the word 'become'. It probably means you'll become more like me in the future, maybe over time or something. But how much is that going to be? For all we know, you might just match my eye and hair color closer."
Relieved that her son seemed okay, Jon's mom handed him the rock. "I don't want to make any more mistakes. Here, it's your rock."
"Thanks. I'd better keep this on me, to keep it safe, I guess." He slipped it into his pocket. "It should be safe there." He glanced around the kitchen. "Let's see . . . I wish that the toaster was brown instead of black." When the toaster didn't change colors, Jon smiled. "There, should be safe now!"
