The Reading Corner

Chapter 1
The Reading Corner by Jeff and Libra

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Chapter Description: 7 year old Tommy loved the little bookstore called The Reading Corner mostly because since he turned 6 years old his single mother of two boys had allowed him to go there on his own. They lived just around the corner from the store after a short walk through a field where kids liked to play.

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7 year old Tommy loved the little bookstore called The Reading Corner mostly because since he turned 6 years old his single mother of two boys had allowed him to go there on his own. They lived just around the corner from the store after a short walk through a field where kids liked to play.

The store owner Miss Bree bought and sold books, but also she loaned out books much like the library for a modest fee. There was even a reading area setup in her store so children could read any book for hours on end. Teenagers sometimes hung out in the store to browse through the latest magazine issues. While the Adults always seemed to find that old book they had been looking for years or forgotten about.

Tommy liked Miss Bree who seemed to be older than his mother, but too young to be anyone’s grandmother. She never grew very angry or yelled at any child no matter how bad they been in her store. Her quiet tone of disappointment and scolding was somehow ten times worse than any spanking Tommy could remember.

Tommy went to his favorite spot in the store and next to the beanbag was a book shelf that held the one book he read over a dozen times.

The title was simple and every page of the book had pictures. Tommy looked at the cover he knew so well and quietly read it to himself “The Good Little Prince” Tommy said seeing a castle with two boys standing in front of it smiling out at him.

Tommy liked the story because it reminded him of himself and his brother. The story was about two brothers who were both princes in a kingdom a very long time ago. One day the oldest prince who was always mean to everyone including his own little brother called a strange old woman an old hag.

The old woman asked the young prince if it was better to be old and wise with age or young and foolish. The boy prince answered he rather be young. Suddenly the old woman cast a spell on the prince and before his brother’s eyes he turned into a baby again. Then the witch disappeared for many months.

The oldest prince had to learn to be a good baby and be nicer to everyone including his brother. The younger prince searched every day for the witch and one day he found her. He begged her to use her magic to change his brother back to his old age. After thinking about it she agreed and cast the spell to undo her first one. She never returned to the kingdom and the princes grew into a wise pair of kings.

“You really like that book, Tommy. ” A warm female voice said and Tommy looked up smiling at Miss Bree.

“Yeah, but I have a different ending. ” Tommy said and voiced his opinion.

“Oh? ” Miss Bree said now very curious.

“I would keep my brother as a baby. So I could be the older brother. ” Tommy said voicing a fantasy he dreamt for hours on end.

“Maybe one day you will understand why the younger brother begged the witch to change his brother back from a baby to an older boy. ” Miss Bree said wisely and the door to the store opened. 13 year old Thomas came in and glance around the store to see most people were busy browsing or lost in whatever books they were reading. Once he spotted Tommy he walked over to him.

“Come on, brat. Mom has dinner on the table. Are you reading that baby book again? ” Thomas asked and Miss Bree’s expression changed. It went from happy to slightly annoyed expression.

“It’s not a baby book. ” Tommy argued back and his older brother snatched the book from his brother’s hand.

“See it has lots of pretty pictures and really easy words to read. ” Thomas said holding the book out of Tommy’s reach, but showing his little brother the pages.

“Well, young man. Since the book is so easy to read how about you will read a page or two for me? ” Miss Bree said as she dared him and Tommy felt a shiver when he noticed her smile. It transformed her face from a kindly old woman into something almost too ugly for words.

“Sure, whatever it takes to get out of here. ” Thomas said and started reading. Tommy felt something happening and when he looked around he saw blurred figures of people. Sounds were muffled and no one else seemed to notice.

Tommy was about to say something when he saw Miss Bree moving behind his brother Thomas. She was muttering something as he read. Thomas didn’t appear to notice anything wrong, but something about him looked different now.

Tommy watched as his brother was getting shorter in height and his clothes changed as his body changed. Thomas was reading slower now and he started announcing each word carefully if he didn’t fully understand them.

Tommy watched in awe silence as his older brother soon became his twin brother in age then got even younger.

“And the moon was be...” 3 year old Thomas said now stuck on a word.

“Beautiful. ” Tommy answered because he knew the book like the back of his hand and his brother looked at him with daggers then seemed to noticed just how tall everything looked.

“Hey what happen to me? ” Thomas said and as he looked at his hands then down to his clothes. Thomas dropped the book and tripped over his own feet to land on a beanbag. The way he waddle and moved just proved he wasn’t wearing any big boy underwear.

“He is wearing a diaper under his overalls. ” Tommy said with a happy tone in his voice.

“Of course he is. Boys take a little bit longer to potty train. Tommy you better take your little brother home now. Both of you can come back tomorrow. ” Miss Bree said and walked away to go back behind the counter. The hazy around them vanished and normal sounds resumed as everyone came back into focus once more. Tommy guessed somehow she had put a bubble around them so no one could see what she just did.

“Change me back. ” Thomas said waddling after Miss Bree.

“Change you? I’m not your mother, child. You go home and have her change your diaper. ” Miss Bree asked if confused by the toddler’s words as people looked over at the toddler they didn’t notice before. Then everyone saw it was just Tommy’s baby brother.

“Not my diaper. Change me. ” Thomas demanded in a quiet voice so people didn’t stare at him.

“Little boy your getting on very thin ice with me. I said go and you may return tomorrow. Not one word from you. ” Miss Bree said and Tommy had picked up the book and followed his now younger brother so he heard everything. The scary look was back on her face.

“But…” Thomas said then Miss Bree pointed just a finger at him and Thomas doubled over in minor pain and felt such relieve as his bladder let go. Next he did a number two and a stench rose from him that made Tommy take a single step back.

“Gross. ” Tommy said realizing what his brother just did into his diaper.

Thomas looked up with horror and ran for the door just in case she was about to do that again to him.

“I’m taking my favorite book with me I will pay you later. ” Tommy said to Miss Bree as he went running to catch up with his now younger brother.

Tommy caught up with him just outside on the street. Tommy stayed a few steps behind as he hoped the wind didn’t change direction anytime soon.

Tommy saw that Thomas was trying to walk so the mess in his diaper didn’t spread around, but the more he moved the worst the smell seem to get.

Upon arriving back home their mother didn’t appear to notice that Thomas had turned into a toddler. In fact she seemed to think he always been a toddler.

“Thomas! I can smell you from here. When are you going to be a big boy? Go to the bathroom right now and wait for me in the tub. ” Their mother said in a furious tone.

“Tommy, go eat while I clean up your baby brother. ” She said more gently to him

“But, mom. I’m a big boy. I’m thirteen years old. ” Thomas whined and his mother stepped forward then picked him up to hold under her arm.

“Oh sweetie such an imagination you have, but your 3 years old and your big brother Tommy is 7 years old. ” His mom said now amused her son was trying to pretend to be an older boy.

Thomas protested a great deal as his mother stripped him of his clothes then carefully removed his diaper. She dumped it into a plastic bag inside the little trash can she kept in the bathroom.

Then she took the shower head from its hook and turn its setting to blasting spray after adjusting the water temperature to warm. Whenever Thomas whined he was too old for this she let him have a good spray in the face for his whining.

“Keep it up young man and I will double up on your diapers tonight with duct tape. ” His mother threatened now tired of hearing him whine he was too big to be treated like a baby. Not to mention the wild story he been turned into a baby by nice Miss Bree.

Of course she knew where he got that story from. After all it was from her oldest son’s favorite book and a mother knows these kinds of things.

Tommy smiled when he saw a wet hair and diaper clad Thomas return looking half drowned. Tommy had snuck to stand next to the bathroom’s open doorway. He heard nearly everything Thomas had said or tried to say to their mother.

“Now here is your booster seat and don’t get up until all your vegetables are cleanly eaten off your plate. ” Thomas’s mother said and lifted him into it so he could eat.

Thomas did eat as he sat in a sulky mood. Later after his plate was cleaned he looked around the house for proof he had been older. The family pictures on the wall had changed and even photos in the photo albums were different.

Thomas’s room was gone and it was his mother’s home office. Even her job history had changed so now she was higher up in the company, but ran things from home so she could raise her boys.

Thomas found his bed now turned into a bunk bed he shared with his brother.

“Isn’t it cool, Thomas. Since I’m the oldest I get top bunk. ” Tommy said already sitting on the top bed with his book open studying the picture of the witch. Now he thought about it and stared at the picture closely it did sort of looked like Miss Bree.

Change her clothes and hair then she could pass as the witch in the story. As Tommy thought about it she always did dress up as a witch every Halloween without fail. Tommy always thought somehow her black dress and pointed witch hat suited her.

“Hey, let me see that book. Maybe there is a clue in here how to change back. ” Thomas said remembering how his brother told the plot line of the book at least a hundred times.

“Say please. ” Tommy said jumping down from his bed to land with a thump just in front of his brother.

“Fine, I will get it myself. ” Thomas said and Tommy pulled him off the ladder.

“No no. Your too little to climb up so high. ” Tommy said as Thomas kicked and flailed his arms trying to hit his brother.

“Put me down. ” Thomas said not noticing all the excitement was causing him to pee himself again.

“Tommy, put your brother down. ” A stern motherly voice said from the doorway and Tommy turned to see his mother slightly amused, but annoyed he was picking on his brother.

“Okay, mom, but tell Thomas he can’t climb on the ladder. He could fall down and hit his head. ” Tommy said in a concern tone in his voice.

“Thomas, listen to your big brother. Your bed is the one with the TV at the foot of the bed. ” His mother scolded and Thomas put a hand on his diaper so it didn’t sag from the soaking material.

“But mom, I want to see Tommy’s book. ” Thomas whined and his mother was giving him a study look.

“That book is Tommy’s which he is borrowing from Miss Bree. He doesn’t play with your toys so you don’t touch his things. Did you get your diaper wet again, honey? ” His mother asked already coming into the room to check it.

“Just a little bit. ” Thomas said giving a quick look at Tommy who was grinning at his little baby brother.

“Thomas, the bathroom is right across the hall. You really must learn to use it. Otherwise you can’t go to preschool. ” She scolded just a little as she removed his diaper.

Tommy was giggling at the sight of his brother standing naked before their mother as she put a diaper on him from a dresser drawer then she put on some cute pajamas with little animals on Thomas next.

“Come on honey. You can sleep with mommy tonight. We can get away from your big mean brother. ” She said in a mocking tone which pretty much meant she didn’t really insult anyone.

“Sweet dreams, Thomas. ” Tommy called out and Thomas stuck his tongue out at him as he was carried out of the room.

“Here we go my little man. You just curl up next to mommy and before you know it. It will be breakfast time. ” She said and climbed under the covers with him. The 13 year old mental part of Thomas felt very uneasy being so close to his mother’s body. After the events he experience Thomas gave into his younger instincts.

He did curl up on her breasts and closed his eyes to rest. The whole time his mother was stroking his head and rubbing his back. She went to sleep not long after. Tommy read his book a few more times from the bottom bunk as the TV showed cartoons. After a while he put the book on the desk and went to sleep watching the TV.

Thomas awoke with a start because the dream he had sort of scared him. It wasn’t really a bad dream like a nightmare, but he dreamt he was a little baby trapped inside a crib and 16 year old Katherine from across the street was leaning over him to change his dirty diaper.

Thomas thought about Katherine or just Kathy for a minute. She was the pretty girl older girl he had a serious crush on. Sometimes she came over to babysit Tommy and Thomas would stay home so he could hang out with her. Thomas remembered how his heart would jump and how he had trouble speaking whenever she appeared suddenly before him.

Thomas seriously hoped she wouldn’t see him like this. He hated wearing the diaper. It felt funny against his skin and it forced him to waddled walk when he had to move about.

“Thomas. I have jam and toast for you. Since your brother doesn’t like jam I’m making scramble eggs for him. ” His mother said poking her head in the doorway.

Thomas went sliding off the bed and got to the breakfast table first. Tommy was sleeping in after watching cartoons late last night. Tommy came in looking sleepy and started eating.

“Mommy, I want to go to the reading corner. ” Thomas said using his toddler charm now. Thomas felt embarrassed he was saying mommy now, but the younger he sounded the more cute it would be.

“I can’t take you today, but Tommy can take you when he returns that book. ” His mother said already putting away dishes and double checking the stove to make sure everything was off.

“Mom, do I have too? I wasn’t planning on going today. ” Tommy asked seeing if he could keep his brother as a baby just a little longer.

“Yes, you have too and stay there until noon. I need some peace while I work and I will have lunch ready by the time you two come home. ” His mother answered back deciding that Miss Bree can handle her boys for a few hours. The woman’s store had become an unofficial daycare for children. She never seemed to mind having nearly every kid hanging out at her place of business.

“I will get dress. ” Thomas said and hopped down from his seat as his brother was nearly done with his plate. With hands still sticky from jam Thomas was licking each finger clean when he entered the shared bedroom.

He spotted the book just lying on the desk and went over to it. Maybe the book could give him some answers about witches or change back into an older boy. Thomas barely turned a few pages and was halfway through when movement in the doorway caught his eye.

“Hey, hands off. ” Tommy said and ran forward grabbing part of the book.

“Tommy, stop. I just want to see it. ” Thomas said pulling on his half.

“No, your hands are dirty with jam. ” Tommy said pulling harder just as Thomas threw himself back clutching the book.

There was a tearing sound as the well worn cover of the book ripped into two halves.

“Look what you did? ” Tommy said wiping away the jam on his half and looking at the torn book in horror.

When Tommy looked up Thomas was balled up on the floor his half of the book dropped.

“Tommy, I can’t…I can’t stop pissing. ” Thomas said and was holding as much as the diaper he could to his front area. Then Thomas relaxed and blacked out to lay limp on the floor.

“Mom!” Tommy yelled in a panic that caused his mother to drop a plate. Tommy did manage to put the book away before she arrived.

“Tommy, what happen? ”His mother said coming through the doorway. She could tell just from his yelling tone something terrible had happen.

“Thomas said he couldn’t stop peeing and then he just fainted. ” Tommy said quickly as his mother went to his brother.

“Thank god, he is still breathing and I can feel his heart through is chest. Get in the car right now, we are going to the hospital now! ” His mother said in a rushed and in the pit of his stomach Tommy suddenly feeling very empty.

A minute later his mother came out holding Thomas in both arms with an overnight bag on her shoulder. She put him in the backseat while Tommy rode in the passenger seat then Tommy got to see just how fast his mother could drive.

After they got to the hospital everything seemed to move fast as Thomas was taken away and they asked his mother all kinds of questions then they were forced to wait. Tommy couldn’t remember if an hour two even two went by before the doctor came back. Since they were the only two people waiting he went over to them.

“Your son is awake and doing well. As far as I can tell he is suffering from some type of bladder infection, but since he doesn’t have a fever we are assuming he is fighting it off very well. As far as I can figure he just fainted either from the shock or the sudden loss of fluids to his body. I’m putting him on some medicine that should help, but he will be sick from the medicine for a little while after taking it. I want to keep him here overnight and he can go home if his condition doesn’t get any worse. You may come with me to see him and even spend the night if you like. ” The Doctor explained and Tommy watched as his mother’s tears changed into tears of joy.

Tommy followed them as they went through hallways then into the pediatrics section where the walls were bright colors and cartoon animals with smiling faces were hung on the walls. Finally they turned through an open doorway and Tommy saw his brother.

Thomas was wearing a diaper just under a small boy’s hospital gown looking only a little scared to be in a hospital.

Tommy stayed quiet as his mother gushed over Thomas then told him everything was going to be fine and they go home in the morning. Thomas told her he felt fine and he was okay several times before she could calm down enough to ask the doctor out into the hallway. Apparently she had a few questions to ask the doctor.

“Tommy, first chance you get I want you to take the book to Miss Bree. Have her undo the spell and none of this would have happen. We can go back to our normal lives. ” Thomas said quickly and at this point Tommy would have agreed to anything.

Thankfully there was no other excitement that night and in the morning they all went home. Thomas was confined to bed and his mother even got out the old baby monitoring system she had bought only a few years ago. The model had a video camera on it so now she could watch Thomas’s every move. Thomas could speak in a normal voice and she heard him in her office.

Thomas thought the arrangement was silly. Thomas could control his bladder for about 30 seconds then he would soak the diaper he was wearing. He was now on a high fluid diet and the medicine he just took left him feeling very sleepy. Later he would wake up with butterflies in the stomach and he would be a little woozy.

Tommy quietly asked if hecould go to the bookstore and seeing her son’s now timid behavior she granted him free leave.

“Tommy, what happen to Thomas isn’t your fault. The doctor told us he just as an infection. ” She said, but part of the doctor’s answers told her he didn’t know what exactly what was going on. Since his health didn’t get any worse they assume he was getting better.

Tommy didn’t speak when he entered the share bedroom because his brother was now asleep from the medicine. Tommy collected the parts of the book and his piggy bank with a summer worth of allowance savings in it.

The book store was open and empty of customers until Tommy walked in. He put the piggy bank on the counter then slowly put the two halves of the book on the counter top for Miss Bree to see.

“Tommy, what happen? ” Miss Bree said picking up each half in one of her hands.

“Me and Thomas were fighting over it and it just tore in half. Then Thomas started wetting himself and couldn’t stop. He fainted and my mom got really worried so we took him to the hospital and now he is home in bed again. ” Tommy said confessing as the tears came from his face as the guilt hit him.

“It’s okay. Let it all out. ” Mrs. Bree said and waved her hand toward the front of the store. The shades fell down into place as the door locked then the sign flipped over to display closed.

“How did you do that? ” Tommy asked a few minutes later while he sat at one of the reading tables and Miss Bree offered him a cup of tea. He pointed toward the front door in reference.

“Haven’t you guessed already? ” Miss Bree said warmly.

“You’re a witch?” Tommy said and wondered if the word offended her.

“Witch, sorceress and so many others words are used to describe those who can tap into magic. Did you know magic has many different sources? ” Miss Bree said.

“Like what? ” Tommy asked now generally interested.

“There is good and bad magic in the world. My magic comes from here. Inside this store I can cast any spell I want. One time I even summoned a unicorn for a little girl to see. The only other person who could see it was a little baby boy in his mother’s arms. I had to tell everyone I was playing a game of pretend with the little girl. It explained why she was staring so hard at nothing. My magic is also strong in temples and churches. ” Miss Bree said looking very happy to talk to someone about her magic.

“Why is that? ” Tommy said realizing his eyes were free of tears and he felt better now sharing a cup of tea with the woman.

“They are places of belief. Mostly its children like yourself. If a child is free willing and is faithful it creates a bit of power in a place. That power you would call magic and the magic sort of fills a place up. Here inside my store all the children come here to read and for a little while you all believe in the stories your reading. Your desire, imagination and faith that your there in the stories makes a lot of magic for me to use. I can believe me it takes a lot of magic to change stuff. At the moment I can only do a little bit. Another day of children coming to read and I would be ready to cast any spell I want. ” Miss Bree explained and Tommy found it all very interesting.

“Does that mean you can just fix the book? ” Tommy said and picked up the parts of it from the counter along with his piggy bank.

“Fixing and mending things is another form of magic I know a little bit about. I can change and summon better than most. If only Merlin was here. He would know who we needed. ” Miss Bree said and almost vaguely if having a passing thought.

“I haven’t seen him since the second world war. Some have even rumored he fell in battle destroying the warlock who caused the war to start in the first place. Those were dark times for those with and without magic. ” Miss Bree said with a shuttered and saw as Tommy’s eyes go wide she had been around so far back.

“Enough of me and my interesting life. If the book had been damaged by accident or a careless deed I could fix it given some time. I can sense that this book was destroyed far more then by the tearing of a binding. There is jealousy and selfish feelings in each half of the book. Trust me you don’t want that in any spell. Since this books knows you best it black lashed upon your brother. ” Miss Bree said pointed out each one to Tommy. Tommy saw that his half of the book was the one she called the selfish half.

“Then we can buy another book to replace it. ” Tommy said and held up his piggy bank.

“It wouldn’t work. This book, you and your brother were all there when I cast the spell. I had to trick your brother into it, but at the moment everyone agreed. To undo the spell the book must be restored to the way it was before it was destroy. You both must learn to share and your brother must learn not to be so jealous of you. Do that and come back to me when you both agree you are ready. ” Miss Bree and pushed everything back over to Tommy.

Tommy went home and explained everything to his brother. As the days passed they try better to get along with each other and Thomas was finally allowed out of bed. Providing he could get to the bathroom in 30 seconds or less his bladder wasn’t a problem. His mother removed the baby monitor system from his room, but still kept a close eye on him.

One night they were going to sleep and Thomas called up softly to Tommy. When Tommy lead over he saw Thomas was silently crying.

“I’m sorry for being a pain and the worst big brother in the world. Mom was giving all the attention to you and it just made me really mad. ” Thomas said and wiped furiously at his face.

“It’s okay. I didn’t do a good job as your big brother either. ” Tommy answered back and they smiled at each other.

In the morning their mother fixed them breakfast and then went to her home office to work. She was still a day’s behind in paperwork and told them to play nice or else.

To make for accidently hurting his brother Tommy let Thomas see the book still torn into two halves, but each brother held each part. Tommy held the first part of the story while his brother held the last part. Tommy read it to his brother and his mother smiled when she peaked in on her boys.

Thomas attempted to read his half, but some of the words were harder then he remembered. The spell used to make him into a toddler had affected his mind. Reading long words and working out math problems were now beyond his understanding until someone explained it to him.

Tommy helped him sound them out which took longer to finish the book.

“I was wrong. It’s not a baby book. I kind of like it now. ” Thomas said as Tommy put the book back in the desk drawer.

“We will read it again tomorrow night. ” Tommy said excited that his brother now liked the book.

“Boys! ” Their mother called and both of them answered the call by going to their mother’s home office.

She was stacking and preparing papers into folders. From the way she was dressed she was planning on heading out.

“I have to head into the office tonight. I won’t be home until very late. I have called the babysitter and I will leave some money for pizza. ” Their mother explained and the doorbell rang loudly.

Everyone went to the door and when their mother opened it Katherine came in with her backpack smiling as she entered. Thomas found himself stunned as he stood and felt very naked despite he was wearing a double layer of diapers. His mother had forced them on him since the so called bladder infection.

“As I explained on the phone Thomas is having a little trouble with his bladder, but just make sure he takes his medicine. Both boys are to be in bed by 11:00 P.M. Here is some money for pizza. ” Their mother said to Katherine as she entered looking like she been coming over for years.

“Don’t worry. I been your babysitter since I was 12 years old. Of course you never been away more than a few minutes or an hour before. ” Katherine said to their mother.

“Well Kathy you just turn 16 years old. I am trusting you to only a few hours this night. I will be returning home sometime late tonight. You have the emergency numbers on the fridge and I’m a phone call away if my boys act up. ” Their mother said looking worried about her sons alone without their mother.

“I know. I even got the numbers on speed dial on my cell phone. Police, fire department, and poison control center. ” Katherine said pulling out her cell phone to show it was fully charged.

“I can’t believe you been coming over for four years now. You’re like a daughter to me now. ” Their mother said and smiled at the girl she watched grow into a mature teenager.

“I can handle the boys. ” Katherine said and winked at the boys in question.

Thomas was blushing and Tommy only grinned. Katherine acted tough and stern, but she was a cool babysitter.

“Be good, boys. I got to run. ” Their mother said and left with the folders in her hand. Minutes later she was pulling out of the driveway. All of them waving as she left.

“Okay. I will order the pizza and let’s see what we can watch on TV. If your both good let’s make bedtime midnight. ” Katherine said after she shut the door then locked it.

“Cool. ” Tommy said and Thomas did his best to hide behind his brother. The last thing he wanted to be was seen wearing two diapers in front of a girl he liked.

“Awww. Is Thomas being shy tonight? ” Kathy said looking around Tommy as she noticed Thomas was hiding from her.

“He is embarrassed that he isn’t being treated like a big boy. ” Tommy said enjoying that his brother was hiding behind him.

“Oh, but Thomas you look so cute in those diapers. ” Kathy said and reached around to snatch Thomas off his feet then held him in both her arms like you would a baby. The next moment she blew a big raspberry on his bare stomach. Thomas giggled with laughter and kicked his legs in light protest.

Then Kathy carried him over to the sofa where they landed together on the soft cushions. Tommy ran over to the DVD bookcase and picked out a few movies he hadn’t seen in ages. Kathy ordered the pizza with her cell phone and halfway through the first movie they ate the delivered pizza. Tommy fell asleep during the second movie they watched and Kathy carried him to bed.

Thomas took his medicine like a good little boy then Kathy decided he needed a warm shower before bed. Thomas felt so weak and dizzy from the drug he couldn’t protest when she did stripped him naked. Then Kathy stripped off her own clothes mentioning something about not getting a shower before his mother called.

Thomas fought to stay awake and remembered only laying his head on a pair of breasts as Kathy carried him into the shower spray. Then darkness and a deep sleep took him as Kathy sang a lullaby to him.

Thomas awoke to bright sunlight and his mother calling his name then his brother. When Thomas looked down at himself he was dressed in those animal pajamas again. At first he didn’t remember getting ready for bed then he remembered the silky smooth skin of Kathy as she held him to her naked body. She must of dressed him and put him into his bed.

‘If only he hadn’t taken that medicine he could recall his shared shower in more details. ’ Thomas thought with a bitter remorse.

Thomas awoke Tommy and told him what happen, but Tommy didn’t see the interest in girls like Thomas did. Tommy’s only interest in girls was if they liked the same video games or books. After breakfast they went back to their room and read the book together. Thomas did a perfect job this time in reading it.

“Cool, you read every word without my help. I guess it help I helped you sound them out last time. ” Tommy said and closed the book to find a surprise. The spine of the book was whole once more. The two halves of the book had become one again.

“It fixed itself. ” Thomas said feeling the spine and couldn’t detect the spot where it had torn apart.

“Let’s take it to Miss Bree. ” Tommy said and carefully put the book on the desk. Tommy left the room to tell his mom he was taking Thomas to The Reading Corner and they be back for lunch. After a quick warning to look after his brother they left.

Thomas was fully dressed since he thought if he was changed back while wearing a t-shirt with a diaper he might end up in a pair of underwear and wearing a t-shirt too short to cover his waist.

They arrived and much to Thomas’s slight embarrassment Kathy was there as well. She was browsing through the teen magazines , but she spotted them and said “Hi” to each without really noticing them as she was focus on some story within the magazine.

“Here you go Miss Bree. ” Tommy said proudly as he put the book on the counter then the money he owed for renting it.

“Bless my soul. ” Miss Bree said as she swept the money into her pocket without counting it and examined the book carefully.

“Nothing like a brotherly bond to mend things. ” Miss Bree feeling the spine of the book with care then she motioned for them to follow her into the back room.

“I have never been back here before. ” Tommy said coming around the counter to a living room with boxes of books and a simple little kitchen. He assume the stairs toward the back led up to her bedroom and bathroom.

“Normally I don’t let anyone see my home, but I be performing the reverse spell. No need for the haze spell bubble this time. Now if young Thomas if be so kind to open this book to the end where the prince is returned to his normal self. ” Miss Bree said and handed the book over to Thomas. He opened toward the end of the book and with a nod from Miss Bree started reading.

Miss Bree walked behind him again, but in reverse direction as she did the last time and Thomas noticed her, but kept on reading.

Tommy watched as his brother grew in height as his clothes changed back to the ones he wore before Miss Bree changed him the first time. It wasn’t long until Thomas was back to being his 13 year old self and he gently handed the book back to Tommy.

“It’s good to be the big brother again. ” Thomas said and ruffled up his younger brother’s hair with affection.

“Well, Thomas I see you learned a lesson or two. ” Miss. Bree said seeing he was treating his brother better now as well the book from the way he handle it.

“Yeah, it’s not easy being young. ” Thomas answered back smiling as they walked toward the door back to the store.

“It doesn’t get any easier as you get older either. Trust me on that I have been around a long time. ” Miss Bree said and they passed through the curtain that she used block the view of her living room from the store’s counter.

“Thank you boys for helping me with those boxes. ” Miss Bree said as a few people noticed where they all had come from. So very few people could claim of seeing Miss Bree’s home since she valued her privacy a great deal.

“No problem, Miss Bree. ” Thomas said catching on as they walked from behind the counter.

“Hey Tommy and Thomas. That was very nice of you to help Miss Bree” Kathy said when they returned. Kathy was no longer focus on the magazine she had been reading.

Tommy moved away from his brother a little deciding he needed some space with Kathy around. He did however did stay and watched them talk. Something in the air told him he would see more magic today.

“Yeah, it was nothing to help her. Kathy I was wondering if you like to catch a movie or something? ” Thomas asked feeling now was good as ever to ask her out. He lowered his head blushing and waited for her to answer.

“Thomas that is sweet you asking me out, but I just don’t see…” Kathy said and her voice changed to a younger voice.

As Thomas looked up he saw the world around them was muffled and hazy if they were inside what Tommy described as the bubble Miss Bree had used. He looked and saw Miss Bree grinning as she came around the counter. Even Tommy was in the bubble, but barely.

“Miss Bree, what is going on and why does my voice sound funny? ” 13 year old Kathy asked and Thomas saw Kathy was calm outwardly, but her voice shook just a little.

“It’s magic, my dear. Tell me Kathy if you were 13 years old again. How would you answer Thomas’s question? ” Miss Bree said and waved a hand toward the wall where she kept a mirror that was straight across from her counter.

Kathy looked and saw she was younger mostly because her height and body had changed a great deal. A fact she didn’t notice before.

“But what about my friends and family? ” Kathy asked seeing herself and not scared by her younger appearance.

“Don’t you worry about that dear. I’m very good at changing things. Let’s just say you skipped a few grades so you have the same classes in high school as you did before. Your friends and family will remember as you are now. ” Miss Bree said and took her hand and rubbed her thumb on Kathy’s palm.

“Well, I guess I can’t drive yet and my first ex-boyfriend won’t remember me. ” Kathy said seeing herself living as a 13 year old girl again.

“Small sacrifices I can assure you. I see a very different future for you now. Thomas will make a fine husband and your daughters will be beautiful. ” Miss Bree said studying Kathy’s palm paying close attention to the little lines.

“Then my answer is yes. ” Kathy said and the world came back in crisp clean sounds once more and everything around them wasn’t hazy anymore.

Miss Bree let go of her palm and walked behind the counter once more to leave them alone. An elderly man entered the book store then and Tommy saw he wore a light blue suit more casual than business and he appeared to have a short trimmed beard.

“Maggie, I thought I felt your magic in the air. ” The old man said as he turned to look at Miss Bree and the woman’s face was surprised then turned to angry.

“Merlin, where in the seven realms have you been? Not even a single mirror message or a phone call. It is just like you to show up without even a phone call and don’t tell me you couldn’t find me before. ” Miss. Bree starting in on lecturing Merlin.

Tommy saw that Kathy and Thomas were quietly talking while holding hands. Miss Bree was tongue lashing Merlin and judging from the old man’s movements. Merlin was used to her sharp tongue as he was apologizing over and over to her.

“Girls. ” Tommy said seeing perhaps they were worth more trouble then he wanted to know. Tommy still had a book to return to the shelf and he turned away from the couples.

Tommy just turned the corner where his favorite seat was taken to see someone else was sitting there. When the 7 year old girl looked up while holding a book about unicorns. Tommy found himself staring into the prettiest face he ever seen.

“Hi, I’m Sabrina. ” Sabrina said as she was fingering a little necklace with a unicorn on it while her other hand held the book.

“I’m Tommy. That’s my favorite seat too. I guess I will just find another spot. ” Tommy said finding himself almost lost for words.

“You can sit next to me. What book is that? ” Sabrina said patting the beanbag space next to her and Tommy felt his heart flutter.

“Just a book I have read a million times. Did Miss. Bree show you a unicorn once? ” Tommy said finally noticing the girl’s necklace and the book she was reading. Tommy remembered the story Miss Bree had told him about summoning a unicorn for a little girl.

“Yeah, did she show you a dragon with magic or something? ” Sabrina asked excited knowing boys like monsters. She looked happy that someone else knew Miss Bree could do magic.

“No, but she turned my older brother into a baby. He is back to being my older brother again. Just like in this book. ” Tommy said and sat down next to Sabrina showing her the pages of the book. As it turned out Tommy learn that Sabrina preferred the same stuff he liked with the only difference she really liked unicorns.

The End

 

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