His mom opened her tired eyes and looked up at her son. "Jon? Is that you?" She cleared her head. "The rock?"
Jon looked at her impatiently. "Yeah, the rock! It's missing! Have you seen it?"
"I'm sorry, I haven't seen it. I'll help you look though. Let me take a shower first, though."
After his mom had gotten dressed, they searched the entire house but didn't find anything, as it was sitting at the bottom of her purse the whole time. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he raced for the telephone.
"Hello?" came the tired voice of Karyn on the other end.
"Karyn, you haven't seen the rock anywhere, have you?"
Immediately, all traces of her sleepiness vanished. "It's gone!? No, Jon, I haven't seen it! I'll be right over!"
Jon interupted her. "No, that's okay, Karyn. We searched . . ." Jon paused in shock as his voice cracked, and then resumed his normal pitch. He tried to ignore it, but his body refused to stop shaking. He continued, "most of the house. I'm sure it'll come up, though."
Karyn was alarmed. "Jon? What was that? Are you okay? I'm coming over, I'll be there in an hour, good bye!" She hung up the phone and Jon cursed.
Feeling defeated, Jon headed for the basement and began digging through the storage boxes until he found his old clothes. After a few minutes, he found a pair of dark blue shorts that fit, though they were much too short on his taller body. Unfortunately, the shirts he could find looked ridiculous on him. Most of the shirts were just too small, revealing his midriff. The ones that covered the area properly were mostly all long sleeved shirts, which went just past his elbows. The short sleeved shirts that didn't hang on him like a tent wound up being too small to accomodate his comparatively broad shoulders. Finally, he found a white tank top he'd worn just a few years ago, which more or less fit. Frustrated, he headed upstairs and continued searching.
Jon was still searching by the time Karyn had arrived. When she saw him, she was speechless. They were the same height with the same frame. Their hair was the exact same shade of auburn, and it was the same length. They had the same green eyes, something Jon hadn't yet noticed, and their faces bore a close similarity. For most intents and purposes, Jon looked like he was her scrawny fraternal twin brother.
"Oh my god, Jon! Look at you!"
He crossed his armed across his chest. "I'd rather not."
"I'm sorry, Jon! I didn't mean . . ."
"Never mind. I just hope that we can find . . ." Once again, Jon's voice cracked, shifting upward in pitch. He resumed in his regular voice, but a hint of panic had crept into his voice and face " . . . hope we can find that rock. Come on inside."
Just then, his mom walked into the room, dressed in her work clothes, carrying a suitcase. "Oh, hi, Karyn!" she said brightly to the girl. "Jon, I hate to leave you like this, but I just got a call from work. There's an emergency down at the store in Iowa and they need me there right away. I'll probably have to stay for a few days."
Jon stamped his foot in frustration, and then immediately realized what he'd done and blushed. "But mom, we've got an emergency right here! If we don't . . ." his voice cracked once more, and the pitch remained an octave higher. Frustrated, Jon looked pleadingly at his mother. "If we don't find that rock, I'm stuck like this, and I really don't want to become your daughter!"
After recovering from the shock of his voice, Jon's mom gave him a hug. "I know sweety, but this is important too, and Karyn can help you look. Anyhow, this could mean a promotion in the future, and you know how money's been tight lately." She was refering to how the life insurance from Jon's father's death years before had begun to run out. She grabbed her purse and just before she walked out the door, she turned back to her son. "Jon, just remember, I'll love you no matter what happens, and be happy with whatever you choose to do."
Jon mumbled a quick good bye and then she was gone, taking the rock with her.
Just remember, I'll love you no matter what happens.
