"This plaque just doesn't sound right."
My ears perked up at Karyn's voice. It was feeding time, I realized; but it seemed Karyn was talking to Anne instead of bringing my dinner.
"What did I tell you about Jonni?" Anne asked. Her tone told me she knew what had made Karyn accept my situation.
"I have a suggestion." I recognized THAT tone. Karyn wasn't going to be ignored; and I wondered what could have happened to break the wish. I sat up and looked up at them as Karyn continued. "You don't have to keep Jonni. If I had the rock; I could wish up a leopard that looked just like her."
Suddenly I remembered. Anne's accidental wish had been two parts; and Karyn had thought of something that triggered the second part. I saw Anne looking at me; and I nodded quickly. Anne looked between me and Karyn a few times; then smiled down at me. "Just wait here a few minutes."
Like I could do anything else!
She walked away; leaving Karyn standing there. She returned after a few minutes; and from Karyn's smile I figured she had brought the rock.
Anne quickly confirmed my thought. "I wish there was a real leopard that looked just like Jonni sitting next to her."
The 'look away' reflex told me the rock had done something ...
A loud growl beside me made my fur bristle. The new leopard wasn't happy about sharing her enclosure. I bounced to my feet facing her ... and suddenly I wasn't in the enclosure anymore.
I shook myself; realizing Anne must have wished me out. Then Karyn was scritching me around the ears. "You were a very good mother; Jonni. But I don't want you to be that anymore."
And I felt myself start to change ...
