by Terri Bertha
“Lovely?” said ‘Chloe’, laughing and smacking Jeremy in the arm. “Nobody ever told me I looked ‘lovely’ before. They always say I look ‘cute’.”
Jeremy’s forehead raised. “Okay. You look cute. Are you happy now?”
“Let me get my purse,” said ‘Chloe’, grabbing a pink purse off the floor decorated with princesses.
“That purse looks kind of small. Don’t you normally take a bigger one?” asked Jeremy.
“No, this is the one mommy and daddy gave me for my birthday. Look, it has some money inside,” and she pulled out a handful of coins and showed them to Jeremy.
“Okay,” said Jeremy, rolling his eyes. “Let’s go. We can decide in the car if we want to go to the movies or have a bite somewhere.”
Jeremy held ‘Chloe’s’ hand as they walked to the car. “I’m a big girl now. You don’t need to hold my hand. When Jeremy opened the front door, she asked, “Don’t I have to sit in the back? Where’s my booster seat?”
“You’re being a real character tonight,” said Jeremy. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you. Just get in the car.”
“Okay,” said ‘Chloe’. “But don’t tell my mommy and daddy cause they’ll get mad if I’m in the front seat. I always sit in the back. They say it’s safer for me back there.”
“Don’t worry, Chloe. You’ll live.”
After ‘Chloe’ and Jeremy left for their date, ‘Abby’s’ mom yelled up to her daughter, “They just left for the movies, so I’ll be up in a minute to help you with your bath. Start getting undressed.”
“Oh, Mom,” said ‘Abby’. “Stop treating me like a kid. I’ve been taking showers for a long time. You don’t need to help me.”
Before her mom reached the top of the stairs, she heard water running in the bathroom. “Abby, are you okay or do you need help?”
“I’m fine, Mom. Need to finish shaving my legs.”
“When did you start shaving your legs? You’re too young to start that.”
“Oh, Mom. You’re so funny tonight.” said ‘Abby’, laughing.
Part 2
When Jeremy and his date got to the theater, ‘Chloe’ screamed, “Ooohhhh, we’re going to the movies! Yippee! What are we going to see? I want to see the one with the star princess or the one with all the colored fishes! Can I get some popcorn and a drink?”
Jeremy waved his hand in a downward motion to ‘Chloe’. “Calm down. You’re acting like a four year old. I thought we were going to see the adventure one that takes place in the Amazon where they have to find a lost treasure.”
“Yuck! I don’t want to see that! I want to hear the songs in the princess one! I want to go to the princess movie, now!” screamed ‘Chloe’, stomping her feet on the sidewalk while they waited in line for tickets.
People were turning around, staring at Jeremy and ‘Chloe’, and then back around, whispering and laughing amongst themselves.
“Okay,” said Jeremy. “Be quiet. You’re making a scene.” He could feel his face redden.
“I’m not gonna have to have a time out, am I?” asked ‘Chloe’.
“No, but stop acting so childish. We’ll go see the princess movie, if that’s what you really want to see.”
“K,” said ‘Chloe’.
Jeremy stood in front of the cashier’s window. “Two adults please for the ‘Princess of Princesses’ movie.”
“I don’t get a big ticket!” screamed ‘Chloe’. “I get in for free!”
“Young lady, you look like you’re over twelve, so you get charged the adult fare,” said the woman behind the counter.
Before ‘Chloe’ could say anything, Jeremy whispered to the woman, “Just take out for two adults. She’s acting kind of weird tonight and trying to be funny.”
After purchasing tickets, ‘Chloe’ skipped towards the snack stand and waited for Jeremy to catch up.
“Get me popcorn! I want popcorn!” she said, jumping up and down. “And a drink too! Not a real big one, cause mommy says that I will have to go pee-pee when the movie’s on.”
Jeremy could hear the snickering of people near them, and once again said, “Shhh. Be quiet.”
‘Chloe’ glared at him. “I’m not sure if I like you. You’re mean. I don’t think you’re fun.”
Jeremy couldn’t hide his frustration. For the life of him he couldn’t figure out why she was acting so out of sorts.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah, I think I may have to go poopy though. Can you take me to the bathroom?”
Jeremy winced. “I can’t take you into a ladies room. You’re big enough to go in by yourself.”
“But mommy or daddy take me all the time in the stall. You can take me. It’s okay.”
Jeremy walked over to the ladies room and found a young woman in her early twenties.
“Hmm, excuse me, miss, but could you escort my sister into the ladies room? She’s a little shy.”
“Sure,” said the woman, holding ‘Chloe’s’ elbow. “Come on, honey. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
‘Chloe’ yanked her arm from the woman’s hand. When she came out of the ladies room she announced to Jeremy. “I went potty, and wiped myself clean all by myself. I even got my underwear pulled up.”
“I wish you would stop talking so loud. Also, you’re acting like you’re in preschool. You’re sixteen. You’re old enough to drive.”
“Oh. I’m old enough to drive? Can I drive home then after the movie?”
“Only if you’re quiet for the whole movie and don’t say anything else.”
“Okay. I promise.”
‘Chloe’ kept her promise and was basically quiet during the movie. Besides fidgeting in her seat, she hummed and softly sang the lyrics to the songs. Occasionally, she came out with, “Ohhh, I love that princess dress. I want one. Can we stop at the store on the way home and get one?”
Jeremy ignored ‘Chloe’s’ question about the dress, worried she would throw a tantrum right there in the theater.
Part 3
Back at the house, ‘Abby’ laid down on her bed. Hmm...I finished all my homework. Should I watch TV, play a game or redo my nails for tomorrow? I think I’ll go downstairs and get a snack. I’m hungry.
She walked into the kitchen as her mom and dad were sitting in the family room watching TV.
“What are you doing down here, girl?” said her mom. “You should be sleeping by now.”
“I thought I’d come down for a snack. You know me. Can’t get enough food in this stomach of mine.”
Abby’s mom gave her husband a puzzled glance. “Since when did our little girl grow up so fast?”
“Do you want me to help you reheat the leftovers?” she asked.
“Come on, Mom. I’m a big girl. I’m not a little kid anymore. Do either of you want anything?”
“No thanks,” said her parents, shrugging their shoulders and turning back to watch their program.
‘Abby’ went into the kitchen and heated a couple of slices of pizza in the microwave. She stood at the counter gobbling the pizza, two donuts, and a can of soda.
“Are you sure you guys don’t want anything?” she called out from the kitchen.
“No, we’re good. Thanks, though. It’s great you know how to use the microwave. I guess I don’t need to cook for you anymore.”
I’ve known how to use the microwave for years now. Is my mom losing her mind? I feel like I’m in some kind of crazy dream.
“I’m going back up to my room and read a while.”
Exchanging a quizzical glance with her husband, Abby’s mom said, “Good night, then. Sleep tight.”
“Night, Mom. Night, Dad. Love you.”
“We love you too.”
Part 4
Jeremy debated whether to let ‘Chloe’ drive, but since she behaved during the movie, he thought there would be no harm done. He breathed with relief when she didn’t ask about stopping for a princess dress or ice cream.
‘Chloe�
� positioned herself in the driver’s seat, and Jeremy handed her the car keys. “Okay, let’s go home,” he said.
She sat motionless and stared hopelessly at the console and gauges, as if she had never been in a car before.
Jeremy saw the confusion on ‘Chloe’s’ face. “Maybe I should drive. I’m not sure if you’re up to this.”
“I can do it!” screamed ‘Chloe’. “This will be my first time.”
Jeremy thought he was in some different world. He had never seen Chloe acting like this before.
“What do you mean, ‘this will be my first time’? I’ve seen you drive plenty of times.”
‘Chloe’ pursed he lips and snorted. Jeremy saw she was ready to throw a temper tantrum.
Touching her gently on the arm he said, “Chloe, please let me drive. I don’t think you’re up to it.”
“Well…okay. But I remember ‘this way’ is left and ‘that way’ is right. So you drive, and I’ll tell you ‘this way’ or ‘that way’.”
“I can do that,” he said, and the two of them exchanged seats. The whole way home Jeremy listened to ‘Chloe’ yelling, ‘this way’ and ‘that way’. He was so flustered from riding with her, he almost drove the car over the curb, into the front lawn. Before the car came to a complete stop, “Chloe’ jumped out and ran into the house. “That was fun. I’m going to tell mommy and daddy which way to go all the time.”
Jeremy was worried about how ‘Chloe’ acted through the evening. He knew he had to talk to her parents, and tell them about her strange behavior and suggest they take her to the doctor. He waited downstairs as ‘Chloe’ ran upstairs to Abby’s bedroom.
‘Chloe’ started singing, “I went on a date with Jeremy! I went on a date with Jeremy!”
‘Abby’s’ face lacked understanding. “I have a date with Jeremy tonight, once I wake up from this crazy dream. How did you go out on a date?”
“Well, you remember you told me the only way I could go on a date was if I found a magic lamp and a genie and made a wish? Well, I made a magic tea kettle and it worked. I went on a date with Jeremy.”
So…I’m not dreaming…this is real? thought ‘Abby’. “What did you do? I think we have each other’s brains, because I don’t feel right. I feel like a sixteen year old in my mind but I’m stuck in a four year old’s body. How did you change us?”
“Well, I waved my star wand over my light up tea kettle, and said a few magic words.”
“Like what?” screamed Chloe’s brain in Abby’s body. “What did you say? You better get us switched back before mom and dad find out what you did!”
“Don’t worry,” said the Abby brain in Chloe’s body. “I don’t like being a big person. They don’t have any fun. I like being little.”
“I don’t care if you liked it or not, you need to change us back. How did you do it?”
“I put a picture of you inside the tea kettle and used my stick and magic words.”
“What stick and what words?”
“The stick my friend Lizzie gave me. Look. Here it is. I glued a star on the end of it. I waved it in front of the tea kettle with your picture inside and said, ‘tea kettle, tea kettle, gizilee goo, make us change places, make me into you!”
“Then change us back…now,” said Chloe.
Chloe ran into her room and came back with a picture of Abby. She placed it inside the tea kettle, and turned on the switch. Pink, purple, blue, green and orange lights twirled around the room. “Tea kettle, tea kettle, gizilee goo, make us change places, make me into you.”
Weird tingling sensations filled their bodies.
“Oh, I think it’s working. I’m starting to feel like I’m turning back to my grown up self in my grown up body. How about you, Abby? Do you feel like yourself?”
“Yes!” screamed Abby, jumping up and down. “I feel like a little girl again. I don’t want to be grown up. I want to stay little. Can I tell you a secret?”
“What?” asked Chloe.
“I didn’t like my date with Jeremy. He was mean. I didn’t kiss him goodnight. That would be yucky. I don’t like kissing big boys. I only like kissing daddy.”
“That’s okay. I’m glad you didn’t kiss my boyfriend. I’m the only one allowed to kiss Jeremy.”
Chapter Ten
You Talk Too Much
It was unlike Amy to start dreading going to school. She prided herself on being a stellar student, but lately, her friend Karen was distracting her from being the best. Especially in Mr. Morgan’s history class, where Karen sat across the aisle talking loudly before, during, and after class. Amy was worried that Karen’s chitchat would get her into trouble and her grades would fall.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if Karen had something interesting or informative to say, at the appropriate time, but Amy found Karen’s chatter useless, in and out of class. It was plain gibberish that drove her mad. Karen talked too much.
At school Monday through Friday, Amy wished she could become invisible. Lurking around walls and corners, and performing one eighties in the halls, was her focus for the day. Sooner or later though, the two would cross paths in the girl’s bathroom, cafeteria or class.
Amy was amazed that her yawning and staring off into space didn’t deter Karen from repeating her stories.
“I couldn’t find my other shoe this morning, and I looked all around the bedroom and closet and couldn’t find it anywhere. So I decided to put on the other one I found, and realized it was brown, and I was wearing two different colored shoes, and I searched under the bed, blah, blah, blah…”
It was getting to the point Amy wished she knew hypnosis, so she could use it on Karen to give her a suggestion to stop talking, but that only worked on TV. Amy needed to find something to keep Karen quiet when they saw each other.
Amy mentioned Karen’s never-ending talking to Lindsay, and asked her if she had any ideas to silence her.
“I tried avoiding her and acted bored, but she doesn’t take the hint.”
“Did you ask her to just shut up?” asked Lindsay.
“You know I can’t do that. Be serious.”
“I am. Hey, I have an idea. What about putting a spell or a curse on her to make her quit talking?”
“I’m not a witch. How in the world am I supposed to do that?”
“Well, my mom went a few times to an old woman in town who’s a psychic and does readings for people. She used her services when my dad was travelling a lot for his job.”
“Did it work?”
“Yeah, it seemed to. She read my mom’s palm, and told her my dad was having a hard time at work, and things would pass and get better, and sure enough, they did. Why don’t you go see her and maybe she can help you out?”
“Hmm,” said Amy. “I never really thought about a mystic approach to solving the problem. Maybe I’ll give it a try.”
After getting the name of the psychic, Amy checked out the hours for ‘Madame Herlet-The Sensible Psychic’.
With a word like ‘sensible’ in the name, it couldn’t be all that screwy and hokey pokey, could it?
Amy visited the shop the next day after school, and was astonished at the amount of paraphernalia inside. Various sized lit candles packed tabletops and shelves, scenting the air with earthy fragrances. Tapestries hung on walls, and long strings of colored beads dangled from archways. Yellowed, aged, black and white photos depicting gypsy women, sitting around tables staring into crystal balls adorned the walls. Tarot cards, balls, crystals, amulets, necklaces, oil essences, and herbs filled the rest of the shop’s space. There appeared to be no room in the shop to hang or place another object. A sense of claustrophobia engulfed Amy as she gazed aimlessly around the room.
Startled by the noise of the clattering beads, Amy jumped and turned to face an old woman about four feet tall, with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her cheeks were colored deep with blush, and bright red lipstick covered her lips. Deep set eyes hid behind long black eyelashes. A multi-colored scarf was tied
around her head and dark black curled hair extended to her shoulders.
“May I help you?” asked Madame Herlet in a cracking, hoarse voice.
“Well…I’m not sure,” said Amy as she numbly searched the contents in the store. “I… I…have a friend who recommended you.”
“Recommended me for what?”
“Well, I know this girl at school who talks all the time and won’t shut up. She’s driving me crazy, and I’m afraid my grades will be affected. My friend said you may be able to put a curse or spell on her to get her to be quiet.”
“Hmm…I think I may have exactly what you need.” She walked over to a display of necklaces adorned with various charms. She ran her quivering fingers over each ornament until they stopped. Bending down, she breathed on a jewel held between her thumb and forefinger. Removing the necklace carefully from the rack, she placed it in the center of her palm. When she extended her hand, Amy peered at the charm etched with a pair of lips and a finger over the top of them.
In a deep voice, she said, “Wear this, and when she starts talking, touch the charm on the necklace with your finger and she’ll be quiet.”
“It won’t hurt her, will it?”
“Oh no, dear. She’ll be fine. She’ll stop talking.”
“I’ll take it.”
“Anything else I can interest you in?”
“No, I’m good, thanks.”
“That will be ten dollars.”
Amy paid the woman, left the store, and couldn’t wait to get to school the next day to try the charm.
All I have to do is touch the charm. That’s easy. It’s better than putting a spell on her.
Amy couldn’t wait to try the charm on Karen. Before school began, she walked straight to Karen’s locker and purposely engaged her in conversation. Karen immediately started talking, and Amy tried her old ways of getting her to shut up, but none worked. Then Amy placed her forefinger on the charm.
Within seconds, Karen’s voice diminished to complete silence. Karen put her hand to her throat and a panic-stricken look filled her eyes.