Sherry shifted the bags she was holding carefully as she slipped her keys in the door. "I'm home." She called out as she entered the living room. Jon bolted up from the couch eagerly.
"Did you find it?!" He asked frantically. Jon didn't really look any different, but she could swear he sounded differently.
She tried to look sad and guilty, which she didn't find too difficult. She did sort of regret keeping this from him. "No sweety, I'm sorry." His face fell.
"Oh." Jon said dejectedly.
"I wouldn't worry too much. I was thinking while I was looking around town for the stone. I said that I wished it was somewhere that we didn't have to worry about it, so maybe that means it's somewhere safe? We might find it any day now, or it might just come to us." She tried to sound cheery and reassuring.
"That actually makes a lot of sense." He said, perking up.
"See? And you thought your mother didn't know anything about wishing stones." Sherry said, teasing. "Now give me just a second and I'll be back down to start lunch." She walked up the stairs towards her bedroom. Fortunately Jon had been too preoccupied with the stone to notice the shopping bags.
As Sherry put the clothes away, she wondered just exactly why she had done what she had. After she'd resolved that she'd have to spend a long time thinking about the stone before she gave it back to Jon she'd found she had a lot of free time, and she thought the mall was as good a place as any. But while Sherry was there shopping she got the sudden urge to buy copies of several of her own outfits. Before long she had several bags full of a dozen blouses, v-neck shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, shoes, and underwear that she already owned. She didn't know why. After all, Jon certainly wouldn't be able to fit in them, at least not yet, and surely he wouldn't ever be able to even if he wanted, since she could just figure out a way to wish him back, couldn't she? She put it out of her head and walked back downstairs.
While the oven was preheating Sherry sat down next to Jon, who was watching television. It took Sherry a moment to realize that it was one of her favorite shows.
"Jon...are you watching a soap opera?" She asked him.
He blushed. "It was all that was on." Yes, his voice was definitely higher. And his neck seemed a bit slimmer too.
Silence persisted for a few moments.
"Why did she do that?" Jon asked her suddenly, turning his attention from the TV.
"Well, he was cheating on her." Sherry explained.
"Oh."
Just a few moments later, Jon asked another question. Then he asked another, as Sherry found herself explaining the backgrounds of all the characters and the various plots of the show. Jon seemed genuinely interested. Before long they were both avidly discussing the soap opera like two good friends.
"And she really did that?!" Jon asked her incredulously.
"Yes, she really did."
"Wow. The nerve of her. I-I'd like to..." Jon trailed off as his voice cracked sharply mid-sentence. Sherry listened intently as he started again "I'd like to..to." But Jon didn't finish. The conversation was ended as suddenly as it began when Sherry and Jon both realized that he was speaking with Sherry's voice, and his adam's apple was missing from his now slender throat.
After another moment of persisting silence, Sherry got up to check on the oven. But while she began preparing their lunch she couldn't help the odd thought that discussing that soap with Jon had been the most fun she'd had with him in a week.
