Curiosity Gets the Kat

Chapter 1
Cuiosity Gets the Kat

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Chapter Description: Co-written by Louder based on a story suggestion and outline by Ross Erger

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Katrina was a 37-year-old single mother of two. Her children were 17 and 10. Jenna was the oldest while Kyle was the youngest. Katrina’s husband and children’s father, Matt, had died years ealier and left them with enough insurance and investments to live comfortably.

Katrina had used some of the money to move the family out of the hustle and bustle of the city and into what she thought would be a quiet small rural town. She’d expected a Norman Rockwell painting but sometimes felt she’d gotten something more akin to one of Dr Kervorkian’s works! The townspeople seemed cold and distant to her and seemed to treat her as an outsider. Some would be nice and then would suddenly avoid her like the plague. It was as if they’d been warned that they shouldn’t be seen with her.

The kids didn’t seem to have the same problems though. They accepted things more easily and soon were part of the ’clique’. Katrina never was one for the status quo and always seemed to ruffle feathers when she questioned some of the townspeople’s eccentric ways.

On this day it was the return of the county fair. A rather large event in this small town’s normally laid-back and slow pace. It was opening day and a fair queen would be selected that night. Jenna was excited to be among the contestants. Kyle didn’t much care about that stuff. He was just interested in the rides and games... and of course the food!

Even the fair seemed strange to Katrina. It was oddly laid out and security seemed overly tight. There were sections that were deemed off limits except to a select few. No one would tell her how to be one of those select few or why it was so restrictive. Most fairgoers seemed fine with that. They were seemingly oblivious to the oddly restrictive areas. It was as if they had no curiosity at all about what they were missing.

Jenna, looking tanned and fit, went to meet up with the other queen contestants. They would walk around the grounds hoping to be seen and make an impression on the crowds for the evening’s judging. It was also a good way to be seen by the young men roaming the grounds. What young gentleman wouldn’t want to be dating the queen of the fair?

"So what do you think goes on in there?" Katrina asked Kyle as she motioned to a large fenced in area where the fencing was blacked out with fabric. You could see the top of a tent looming inside the area but the view was blocked otherwise.

"I dunno.... We’re not ’sposed to go there anyway!" Kyle answered not seeming to be interested.

"Ok... Whatever... but aren’t you even curious?" she asked.

"Naw... Not really" he replied.

Shaking her head, Katrina dug in her purse and grabbed a few dollars. She sent Kyle off to the ticket booth with what she deemed as an adequate amount of cash to keep him entertained for the evening. "We’ll meet at 8PM at the queen selection building" she told him.

"Cool" he said as he scampered to the booth.

Katrina took another look at the fenced in area and the short line forming in the distance. What could be in there she wondered? She shrugged and decided to get in line. Once there, the people around began to whisper. She felt their eyes on her as they talked. The whispers grew louder.

"Mam, have you got a ticket?" she heard a voice say sternly.

"Ummmm No... but I’ll gladly buy one or just give you the money...."

"No ticket? You aren’t allowed here!" he icily replied.

"Where do I get a ticket?" she asked trying to remain nice.

"If you have to ask then you can’t get one. You aren’t allowed inside nor are you allowed to stay in line. You’ll have to move on!"

While this was going on, Kyle caught sight of his mother in the line. He knew she wasn’t supposed to be there. He could also tell by her body language that she was getting angry. He walked a little closer for a better view. The din of the fair was too much for him to hear the conversation though.

"I can’t even be HERE? In line???? Why?" She asked incredulously.

"Mam... You aren’t to be here!" he said as he pointed her away.

A security officer came walking up "Is there a problem?"

Katrina started to speak but got no chance as the other man quickly informed the officer of Katrina being where she wasn’t supposed to be.

"You’ll have to leave this area now, mam" the officer told her.

"But...."

"NOW!" he said as he actually rested his hand on his holstered handgun!

Katrina rolled her eyes and stormed off. How dare they treat he that way she thought to herself! Kyle continued watching. He saw his mother look back toward the two men who were now talking. They weren’t watching her. She quickly darted to the side and then examined the fence. She saw an area that looked like where a dog or other animal had been crawling under. She quickly darted for that spot and crawed under.

Kyle witnessed the whole episode. He couldn’t believe his mother would sneak in somewhere that she had been told she wasn’t allowed. What was she up to he wondered? He decided if she could do it then so could he. He took a look around to see that no one was looking and then he also darted under the fence.

Looking ahead he saw his mother sneak under a section of the huge tent that was in the area. He made a run for it himself as well. Once inside he saw just how huge the tent was. There were halls and rooms in it. He could hear caliope music echoing from the top. He looked for his mother but didn’t see her. He quickly decided to be extra careful. He didn’t want to get caught and get into trouble. He slowly made his way toward where the music seemed to be coming from. After a bit he could see an open area. There he could see his mother from behind. She was hiding at the edge of the entrance into the big open section. He was about to whisper toward her when he saw a man enter from the opposite side and grab her shoulder.

"Katrina! Being a bit naughty I see!" he said in a smarmy condescending voice.

"OH!" she exclaimed and jumped at his touch. "I-I-I- didn’t know anyone was here!"

She didn’t recognize the man. Hadn’t he said her name? How could he know?

"Katrina... Curious, Curious, Katrina" he said.

"Do I know you?" she asked as she gathered herself.

"Many do" he replied without offering more.

"Yeah??... I was just curious why all the fuss about this place." She told him.

"You do know what they say about Curiosity and the Kat?" he asked with a deep menacing laugh.

"What?"

"Follow me" he ordered.

"No... I....uhhhhh better not" she said "I should just get back to the fair"

"Katrina, Katrina, Katrina.... You wanted to see... so you shall see. A demonstration is in order! COME!"

A larger gentleman walked over to the area but didn’t say a word. Kyle continued hidden as he watched the happenings.

Katrina didn’t feel much like complying but the menacing man didn’t appear like he was willing to accept ’no’ for an answer. She grudgingly walked with him toward the Merry-go-Round that was the centerpiece of the room.

"This belonged to a man named Dark" he explained "But he let his ummmmm -payments- lapse and so I have retaken possession."

Katrina looked around. There was a small gathering of older people waiting in line. Upon seeing her a buzz had built throughout the group. It continued as the man walked Katrina past them and to the front of the line. Kyle had moved to the edge of the entrance area and laid on the ground to try and not be seen. He watched intently as the man led his mother to the Merry-go Round.

"And so, Curious Katrina you shall take a ride. My treat. No ticket necessary" he said.

"Ummm No thanks. I’d rather not" she replied.

The larger gentleman walked closer as if to grab her at any instant. He didn’t seem pleased with her declining the man’s offer to ride the Merry-Go-Round.

"Katrina? You were curious and now you’re not? I assure you it is a fine, fine piece of machinery. A ride like no other! I’m afraid I can’t accept ’no’ for an answer." he said as he took her hand and directed her toward one of the painted horses. She only wanted this odd event to end and so did as he said rather than prolong it. She climbed upon one of the finely crafted horses. The large man moved to the controls. The other man let go of Katrina’s hand and backed away.

She felt a bit silly to be on the ride. Especially by herself. The mysterious man motioned towards the large man at the controls. He smiled and then engaged the ride.

Katrina heard the music resume. Then she felt a tug as the ride began to move. But it was moving backwards! She adjusted her grip to allow for the unexpected movement. Kyle watched closely. How weird he thought! The crowd of elderly onlookers talked amongst themselves. It was a growing buzz.

With every revolution the crowd seemed to become more excited. Kyle squinted as his mother flashed by at greater and greater speeds. The strange ride continued going backwards and no one seemed concerned. With every revolution the din of the crowd grew. Some would point as Katrina whirred by.

What were they talking about Kyle wondered? He looked closer at his mother. Something seemed odd. Her clothes seemed to flap a bit more with every spin around. Her hair fell down and began blowing in front of her face as they ride continued backwards. Did her hair look different he wondered? The buzz from the crowd continued growing. They seemed genuinely excited now. Kyle noticed his mother adjusting her grip on the pole. Then he noticed her feet slowly coming out of the stirrups. After a few more revolutions her feet no longer seemed to even REACH the stirrups! Her hands were gripping the pole lower and lower. Her clothes were even more baggy and flopping in the breeze. Her shoes fell off.

What was happening to her Kyle wondered as his worries grew? She looked like she was shrinking! But that’s impossible he thought! He could see she was starting to have to lean more and more forward to even hold the pole!

The mysterious man motioned to the other and then walked toward the ride. The other man brought the machine to a slow stop. The crowd cheered. The man then gingerly plucked a 5-year-old Katrina from the painted pony! Suddenly Kyle could see what had happened. His mother hadn’t just shrunk.... she’d been turned into a kid! A little kid!!!

The man lowered the youngster to her bare feet. As he did her skirt fell effortlessly to the floor. Her tent-like blouse covered her aptly now. In shock, she didn’t speak for a few moments.

"What’s the matter? Has a KAT got your tongue? OH... You are a KAT! A curious LITTLE Kat!" the man said with devious glee.

"What’d you do to me?" Kat lisped through her five-year-old teeth. "Who are you?"

"Call me Lou.... That will do... Just call me Lou" he replied.

"I don’t want to be little! Why’d you thisth? Change me back!"

"I’m not through with you. You’ve been a naughty little girl!" he said with a grin.

"I’m not a little girl! I’m a mother.... I’ve got children older than this! This isn’t right! Pleathhhhhe change me back" she said trying to fight her lisp.

The man reached in his pocket and removed what looked like a watch. He stared at it for a moment and then looked back toward Kat. "A mother? Hmmmm Interesting... and your daughter is vying for fair queen...."

"Don’t do anything to her! No!" Kat said suddenly fearing for what he could do to Jenna.

"Jenna hasn’t been a bad girl... YOU have!" he replied "A bad little girl!".

The crowd had grown progressively quiet as the conversation had continued. Kyle could hear what was being said. What had his mother gotten herself into?

"I’m not a little girl! You’ve had your fun so change me back! I don’t want to be a little girl!" she argued

"I can fix THAT!" the man said with a laugh. You say you don’t want to be a little girl?" he asked as he walked toward her.

"Yes! Make me older...pleathhhhhe!" she answered hopefully.

"Oh.. I wasn’t going to make you older... I just thought I’d see to it that you wanted to be a little girl!"

"What?" she asked.

"You want to be a little girl" he told her and then gently touched her hair. "In fact that is all you want to be... a little girl.... you want to be innocent... you want to believe in Santa Claus... you want to believe in the Easter Bunny.... the Tooth Fairy.... you want to forget how your children were born because you only want to believe the stork brought them... you want to play.... you want to be a little girl!" And then he snapped his fingers and a sparkling dust flittered around Kat.

Kyle wondered what just happened. He saw his mother smile for the first time since she’d gotten off the Merry-Go-Round. Could the mysterious man really make her want to be a child?

Little Kat felt like a weight had lifted off of her young shoulders. Everything seemed different.

"Ahhhh Kat... Little Kat... How are you?" the man asked.

"Fine sthir" she lisped in a polite child’s voice.

"Let me ask you about Jenna and Kyle..... can you tell us about them?" he asked as if putting on a demonstration of his ’work’ for the crowd.

Kat giggled "I’m their mommy. We like to play together!"

"You seem kind of young to be a mommy?" he then followed.

"I like bein’ a little girl but I wanted to be a mommy so a big ol’ stork brought ’em" she said as she held her little arms apart as far as possible to indicate she was talking about a BIG bird.

Some of the crowd gasped while some smiled at little Kat’s innocent answer... and the power of the mysterious man who had done this.

The large man then walked over and whispered something into the other’s ear.

"Hmmmm Interesting idea.... Very interesting. Quite interesting concept. I like it. Good thinking!" he said and then took Kat’s hand. "Kat... we’re gonna take a ride on the Merry-Go-Round" He then lifted her up to the horse and made sure she was gripping the pole securely.

He then pointed to the large man who then started the Merry-go-Round again.

Kyle wanted to do something but what could he do? His mind raced but there wasn’t any time or answers. They were going to make his mother even YOUNGER! He watched the Merry-go-Round come to life. But it was different this time. This time it went forward! He breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe this all was about over? The ride went faster and faster. He could see little Kat’s hands slowly moving up the pole. Her feet grew closer to the stirrups as her legs lengthened. She sat farther back as she could more easiliy reach the pole now. Her feet soon touched the stirrups. She was getting older! Great, Kyle thought! And then the man stopped the carrousel. ...But much too soon Kyle quickly realized. His mother was still a kid. She looked about Jenna’s age. Probably a little younger!

Lou helped the teen from the horse. Her blouse didn’t cover her nearly as well but she didn’t seem to mind at all. Then Kyle understood why as he heard her speak. She still had the mind of a child!

"I got boobies????" she said as she stared down under her blouse.

The crowd laughed.

"Kat, you don’t want to be a little girl any longer... in fact.... you want you adult self back...." the mysterious man said as he snapped his fingers and again the tiny sparkles fluttered around Kat.

"MY GOD! How.... Why...?? I was a child.... Totally.... Stop this!" she pleaded as she now realized how she was dressed. She tugged on the blouse to cover as much as possible. With a quick examination of her hands and then her legs... and then her chest...she soon realized that she wasn’t back to being an adult at all but was instead a TEENAGER! "Please... I am sorry... Return me to my proper age and you’ll never see me again. I promise. I don’t know how you turned me into a child and got inside my head and I don’t care. Just accept my apologies and let me leave here with my normal age and mind."

"Well, you see there is a queen contest this evening that Jenna is in. Of course you know THAT! What you don’t know is how much YOU want to be in it too!" he said with an evil laugh.

"No... please... I don’t want... no! Please don’t do this...." she pleaded as she began to wonder if he was about to do what she feared. She couldn’t bring herself to say it for fear of giving him the idea.

Too late! Lou began speaking even as Kat tried to plead for him not to say or do anymore.

"Kat... you don’t care about parenting at all.... you’d rather no one even know you have children.... you’ve turned into a teenager again and that is all that matters to you.... you’re 16 and glad of it... You don’t care about all the things that you’ve learned in the last 21 years.... all you want to deal with is what you’ve leaned and felt in the first 16 years of your life..... and you really really want to be crowned queen of the fair tonight...." and with that he blew a smattering of the glittery dust toward Kat.

"Oh... geez.... I’m like 16 again! Wow... COOL! ...Wow!" She said joyously. But her mood suddenly changed.

"Is something wrong, Kat?" Lou asked.

"I could be queen of the fair but I didn’t sign up in time! If I’d, like, knew I was gonna be, like, 16 again I coulda signed up already! Now it’s too late!" Kat said as she started crying.

"Ahh... I see.... Well... I have some connections. I think I could get them to accept a late entry!" Lou told the teen as her mood began changing.

"Oh wow... couldja? Like... it’d be soooooo cool if ya could! I’d be sooooooo happy.... Oh thank you thank you thank you!!!"

"No problem" he said as he accepted a phone from the large man and began dialing a number and then speaking. Finally he looked at Kat and said "There it is all set"

Kat jumped off the ground clapping her hands. She didn’t seem to mind the blouse barely covering her like a short short mini skirt. "I wish I coulda got some sun... I hope I’m not too pale... I gotta get something to wear... what am I gonna, like, wear?....."

Back at the fair office:

"Girls I just got word that there is a late entrant going to join you. Be nice to her. She should be here in a few minutes" the director told the queen hopefuls.

"Awwwwww man....." Jenna groaned "I thought there was a deadline!? Isn’t it, like, too late or somethin’?"

"YEAH" chorused a couple of other girls.

-

"Curiosity Gets The Kat"

Part 2

by Ross Erger

Lou led the bubbling Kat into a room where Kyle could no longer see what was happening. He could only wait and wonder what he should do.

In the room was everything a teenage girl could want for her wardrobe. At Lou’s urging she finally made up her mind and settled on an outfit for the day along with some things for the evening competition. Everything fit perfectly. Once deciding she had the perfect amount of gloss on her lips she was ready to meet the other contestants. Lou escorted her from the room.

Kyle couldn’t believe what he saw. His mother was wearing fringed denim shorts, a short ’belly button revealing’ yellow top with only a couple of strings in the back, and sandals. He wouldn’t have recognized her if he hadn’t seen the earlier transformation. She looked, dressed, and acted like a teenager! This can’t be good he thought. Now what to do!?

He sneaked down the hall and back out the same way that he had entered. He was able to beat them back on the grounds before Lou and Kyle’s teenaged mother appeared. He soon saw them exit the gate and he casually followed trying not to draw attention. He could see some of the boys staring at his mother. Almost drooling. Teenage boys!

"Hello girls!" Lou said as he entered the office. "Here’s our charming late entry. Say ’Hi’ to Kat, everyone!"

The girls mainly grumbled. The sounds they made were not very cheerful nor were they inviting. Kat was sure she heard one girl utter ’bitch’ under her breath. She kept quiet.

"Well, I am sure you girls have plenty to catch up on so I’ll leave you. Good luck!" he told them as he tipped his hat and backed out the doorway.

"So, like, you guys are ALL running for queen?" Kat asked as she turned up her nose.

"Whatdya mean asking it like THAT?... ~ALL~? Yes... of course we ALL are!" a girl replied from the back of the group "What’s your problem?"

"I don’t have a problem.... especially a WEIGHT problem like some of you!" Kat snipped.

"OH? ~right~ And just who do you think YOU are?" Jenna shot back not recognizing her rejuvenated mother.

"Wouldn’t YOU like to know!?" Kat countered without offering an explanation. If Jenna didn’t recognize her then so much the better she figured. She’d only be jealous anyway!

Kyle saw the girls come out of the office. He hoped Jenna would have talked some sense into his mother and countered the spell. Instead they were as far apart as possible and none of the girls looked to be very happy. He never thought of his mother as old looking but actually seeing her as a 16-year-old

hanging out with other teens made for a strange _frame_ of reference. No one would ever believe that one of the ’girls’ was actually a 35-year-old

mother of two!

Seizing the opportunity he ran after Jenna. "Jenna... wait... we gotta talk...." he said.

"~GREAT~" Kat mumbled sarcastically under her breath "the dweeb is here!"

"What???" Jenna asked sounding perturbed.

Kyle pulled her aside and begin whispering her the story. Jenna’s eyes squinted more and more as she heard his unbelievable tale. She looked at Kat. And then looked again. It had to be a coincidence she thought. The story was impossible.

"You can see for yourself!" Kyle explained. "C’mon!"

"Where?" she asked as he pulled on her arm.

"Behind the fence... in the tent... I know a way!"

"But you aren’t supposed to be there. It’s off limits!"

"C’mon... watch.... we gotta figure this out!" he said as Jenna reluctantly followed.

The girls continued on without Jenna. Kat watched the two make their way and sneak under the fence. Fine, she thought, one less contestant to beat!

Kyle led Jenna to his earlier hiding place. There he hoped she’d get a glimpse of the mysterious Lou’s power and then maybe she’d believe him. The group of old people seemed to be negotiating for a ride on the Merry-go-Round. Kyle just wanted to see one of them get on it so Jenna might have a reason to believe him.

"This is, like, SOOOO stupid" Jenna explained "It’s just a dumb antique carnival ride. I’m gonna walk right out there and ask him if it is ~magic~. As if!"

"NO!" he whispered as he tried unsuccessfully to grab his older sister.

Straight out into the open she marched! Lou looked up. "Jenna? Well... hello!"

"You know me?" she asked

"You’re one of the queen entrants" he told her.

"Oh...Uhhh .... yeah.. OK.... I have a question..." she said.

"Ahhhh first I have a question... Why are you in here? Isn’t this area off limits? Does this run in your family?"

"Well I..."

"SILENCE!" he snapped, his mood changing to anger.

Jenna felt everyone’s eyes suddenly turn her way. They were waiting for the next move. The man sighed and rubbed his chin as if he was deep in thought. This wasn’t the reaction that Jenna was expecting. After all, she was one of the queen contestants she thought to herself!

Lou whispered something to his accomplice. The man nodded and left. Lou turned back to Jenna. "You want to ride the Merry-go-Round... or maybe check out the House of Mirrors? You must have some reason for so brazenly breaking my rules! It could be construed as rather rude!"

"Uh well I...."

He didn’t let her finish her thought "Or maybe you’re simply a curious child? Or are you a nosey old busy body?" Lou asked rhetorically with a laugh.

Jenna didn’t know how to reply. Was he really mad? What was he going to do? Should she apologize and leave? Should she turn and run as fast as she could? A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. The man seemed to be waiting for something.

Finally he again spoke "Ahhhhh look who is here!"

It was Kat. The other man had retrieved her from the others.

"What’s up?" Kat asked as she scanned the room wondering why they had requested her.

"Ahhhhh lovely Kat..... It seems your daughter is cursed with the same curiosity that you’ve been known to possess."

"Daughter?" Jenna asked.

Kat stuck her tongue out at Jenna "You’re just jealous because I’m gonna win tonight!" Kat said.

"Mom? Is that YOU? ...But But But you look like a .... a ..... teenager!?" Jenna stammered.

"Ya... soooooo....what about it?" she replied.

"But how? Why?" Jenna asked.

"What’s it to YOU? You’re just jealous!" Kat answered.

"GIRLS! Enough of this catty bickering! Neither one of youis showing much maturity. Maybe you two should be contestants in the baby contest this evening?!" Lou said.

He turned to Kat "Kat, your adult sensibilities will now return. Being fair queen isn’t your priority any more. Your 35-year-old mind is now free to regain control". He then sprinkled the magical dust around her head.

Kat shook her head and staggered back. "What have you done to me? This isn’t right! What was I doing? What was I thinking? Jenna... I’m sorry!" Suddenly, Kat noticed something. She felt a cool breeze.... one her bare stomach! Her outfit was a bit more revealing than her 35-year-old mind considered proper. She tugged on her shorts and top trying to get the material to cover more flesh. "I’m dressed like some teenaged floozy!" she protested.

"Mom.... you’re 16! You’re dressed fine!" Jenna said still shocked at the appearance of her rejuvenated mother.

"But it isn’t right! You’re older than ME!" Kat said as she examined her teenaged hands in front of her face.

"How’s this possible?" Jenna asked.

"It’s HIM. He’s evil!" Kat declared pointing to Lou "He did this to me!"

Lou only laughed and then spoke "Kat, I think I liked you better as a teen."

"NO!" Kat screamed. "No more!"

Lou shook his head as if to indicate the hopeless nature of her protests. "You are again a teenager in mind and body! A SHY SHY teenager!" he added as he sprinkled the shimmery dust around her.

Kat looked down at the ground and twisted her toe nervously in the dirt. She even bit her lip.

"Mom, mom? What did he do to you?" Jenna worriedly asked.

"Ummm he like, ummmm, ya know.... did it again." she said meekly "He kinda made me different..... I think... It’s ok..... "

Kat continued staring down. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Lou.

"That’s better. Not so mouthy now!" Lou declared and then turned his attention to Jenna "And now a ride on the Merry-go-Round for you!"

"No way!" she exclaimed.

Lou just stared deeply at her and suddenly she felt weak. Very weak. She couldn’t fight as he took her arm and guided her to the ride. Soon she was on the ride!

"Do ya hafta make her ride?" Kat asked in a shy quiet voice.

Lou ignored her and motioned to the other man to start the machine. The ride began turning.... forward. Around it went. Kyle watched as his sister began to change. Each revolution brought on more change. Older she got. Into her 20’s... 22...23....24....25.... and then into her 30’s. Her once trim body was becoming less and less defined. Her once shiny healthy hair was becoming duller...then greyer! Her legs began to show small veins. Her clothing grew progressively tighter. Lines creased her face. Everything was sagging. 39 became 40.... her youth and looks were fast fading away into middle-age! 45....50... she was becoming more matronly. 55....56...57...58...59....and then 60.... Her youth was a memory now. Her teenaged _style_ clothing looked so very wrong on her now grandmotherly body! 65....70.... She began slouching badly on the horse. Her grey hair was wispy and dry looking. 75.....77....80! Her fine hair was white. Around she went! She looked frail now. 85....90....91...92...93...94...95!!

Lou ordered the ride stopped. 96-year-old Jenna was helped off the horse by the two men. Her withered face contained a blank look.

The look never changed. The ride had carried her into senility!. The skimpy clothing looked awful on such an old woman. Her youthful nail polish was comical. Lou had to help her to find a seat. Her frail body was barely able to walk.

"Why’d you do that?" Kat asked meekly. "Didja hafta? Can you change her back?"

"You’re just a little TOO mousey like this!" Lou complained "Maybe I shouldn’t have made you quite so shy!"

-

Part 4

by Ross Erger

Kyle wanted desperately to hear what Lou was offering as a deal but he realized his well-being depended on him escaping the tent unseen. He might be Jenna and his mother’s last chance! Mr. Karl’s methodical search allowed Kyle enough time to slip out using the pathway as before.

"So, Kat, it is an interesting dilemna YOU’VE created. I have my rules here for a reason yet you saw to it to disobey them. You would think that you would’ve been taught better manners than that" Lou said deliberately as if he was hiding his plans for Kat.

"Listen, I’m willing to just drop this thing. Never mention this again. Leave this town. Whatever you want. Just give Jenna her youth back! Please!" Kat told him.

"Whatever -I- want? Yes, it does sound like you’re willing to make a deal." He answered as he rubbed his bearded chin.

"Tell me what you want and let’s end this. My God, look at her! You can’t leave her like THAT!" Kat said as she motioned to Jenna who was slumped over in a wheel chair.

"Well, as I said... I expect better manners. The way I see it is that if you were able to start over at say kindergarten, or maybe preschool, perhaps you could learn some better manners. Now, if you were willing to do that voluntarily then I could see returning Jenna to her rightful age" he explained.

"No!.... Why? Why do I have to ’agree’? You can just do it to me anyway!" Kat asked feeling a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Yes, I can but there is no sport in that. No lessons for you. Besides, I’m tiring of that simple game with you. I need a higher level. There needs to be consequences for your actions. I want you to voluntarily return to preschool to live your life over and learn to respect those like me! And by doing that to yourself I’ll know that you’ve started on your way to respecting me and my establishment! For my end of the bargain, I then will restore Jenna’s youth!" Lou said. The corners of his mouth turned ever so slightly revealing a menacing grin.

"Preschool???" Kat sobbed "No.... that is too much.... please... Not that far!"

"I could easily change my offer to your returning to infancy. Perhaps a demonstration of what that would feel like is needed?" Lou said as he touched her shoulder.

Before she could say anything the room suddenly changed. She was looking up at a blurry _object_. Her eyes didn’t quite focus. Then she felt her legs being grabbed. It all cleared for her.... she was a baby and was about to have her diaper changed by her mother! What was worse is that she had all her adult sensibilities. Her mother looked so young. It was obviously some point in time around 35 years prior to when Kat had started the day. Lou had taken her back in time again... this time to her babyhood! She felt a cold touch on her shoulder. Just as quickly as she had slipped back in time she was again in the tent staring at Lou. She was too overwhelmed to speak.

"What’s wrong.... a ’Kat’ got your tongue!?" Lou laughed. "A little overwhelming, huh? Everyone who rightfully enters this tent does so with the understanding that they will have to make some type of deal. I’m willing to discuss the terms. Instead of preschool I will allow you to regress yourself to the age of 8 in exchange for restoring Jenna’s youth. I am going out of my way. That would be a bargain!" Lou explained still wearing a smirk on his face.

"8? That is still too far!" Kat protested

"That deal is off... 7!" Lou countered.

"No! You said 8 before?? I can’t! What about my children?! I’d be younger than them!"

"They’d still be your children... of course you’d be more interested in playing with them than parenting them!" he quipped

"Please no...." Kat replied.

"6!" Lou said "It isn’t as if we can’t reach an agreement that nothing will happen. The difference is that by agreeing to my terms Jenna gets restored. The deal stands at 6 now!"

"SIX??? What happened to 8??? You can’t do this! No!" she argued.

"5!" he said

Kat sobbed. "Ok.... I agree....Just restore Jenna, please."

"Ahhh not until you uphold your end of the bargain. Please walk yourself to the merry-go-round" Lou told her.

"You promise you’ll make Jenna young again???" she asked between sobs.

"Yes.... but you have to willing regress yourself to age 5" he replied "Please get on the ride"

Kat reluctantly walked toward the merry-go-round. She could think of no other option. Lou held all the cards. She only hoped that Kyle had escaped cleanly or this could even get worse! She got on a pony and took a deep breath.

"Ready?" Lou asked.

"Do it" Kat answered as she gathered her bravery.

The ride whirred to life. Music played. Lights flashed. ....And the ride flowed backwards. Kat’s form seemed to shrink with each revolution. Her clothing got baggier. Her sandals got looser. Her grip kept sliding on the pole. Her feet pulled out of the stirrups as her legs grew shorter. Her shoes slipped off. She grew younger and younger leaving her teenage years behind. Further into childhood she went. 8-7-6..... and finally all the way back to 5 years old.

Lou stopped the machine and helped young Kat off the pony. It now seemed high to her.

"Now, will you restore Jenna?" she asked in her childish voice.

"We’re not done yet" Lou replied "You still have your adult mind and you can’t teach and old dog...errr Kat... new tricks!" Lou laughed at his pun.

"Do it" she said "use your dust and get this over with"

"Oh... no.... You must do this yourself. It was part of our deal. No magic dust." Lou said as he pointed her to a room behind the merry-go-round. "In there"

Kat slipped off her oversized shorts. Her top acted more like a dress now. Barefoot, she walked cautiously toward the room. Inside the room was a mirror. She couldn’t believe how young that she looked!

Lou didn’t follow her completely inside but instead stayed near the doorway. "Kat, our deal was that you regress to a 5-year-old. Please tell the image in the mirror that is what you want"

"What?" she asked incredulously "Talk to the mirror?"

"Talk to your image in the mirror" he explained.

"I want to be a 5-year-old" Kat said unconvincingly. If Lou thought he was going to brainwash her into losing touch with her adult self without his magic dust then he had better think again Kat thought.

"Tell it again. Tell it you’re 5 years old now" Lou told her.

"I want to be a 5-year-old. I’m 5 years old now" She said a bit more relaxed in the thought that Lou wasn’t going to trick her into using his magic dust.

"Keep it up... make me believe you are serious!" Lou said.

Kat shrugged and looked at her reflection "I’m a little girl. I’m 5 years old. I said I would be a 5-year-old so that’s what I want." She wondered why Lou would make her do this when he could use his magic and it would really work "I’m 5 years old now. Is that good enough?" she yelled to Lou.

"What do you see in the mirror?" he asked.

She looked "HEY! I’m grettin’ older!"

"No, you’re still a little girl. You’re just separating from your adult self.

"Huh?" she asked not understanding.

"Just remember our -deal-. Convince me that you’re a little girl" Lou told her.

Kat was a bit confused. She looked at her hands and feet. Even though the reflection did as she did the reflection looked older than her.

"Kat, are you backing out of our deal?" Lou asked.

"No" Kat replied. If just saying she was a little girl was all it was gonna take then she could do that. "I’m a little girl now. I’m 5 years old." She really wanted to convince him so she could get out of the scary tent "I’m not a grownup no more.... I’m 5 years old. Hey.... she’s gettin’ older!?" she said as the reflection aged more.

"That’s ok. Don’t worry about her!" Lou answered.

Kat stuck her tongue out at the reflection and laughed as the older lady in the mirror did the same. "She’s old!" Kat said "I’m young!" Kat skipped around in a circle and tried to watch as her older self did the same in the reflection. Of course the now 37-year-old in the mirror looked ridiculous doing so.

"She’s tryin’ to talk to me!?" Kat said

"What is she saying?" Lou asked.

"She says I won’t be smart no more without her!" Kat replied "Is that true?"

"I think you’re a smart little girl. Does she like to play?" Lou replied confusing Kat even more.

"She’s too ooooold" Kat answered. "She says I need her though"

"Tell her that you are a little girl now and don’t need her anymore" Lou said.

"I’m a little girl and I don’t need you anymore" she said confidently "You’re old and don’t have no fun! ....Hey mister, she’s starting to cry?!"

"That’s because she knows you don’t need her anymore. Don’t let her trick you" Lou explained.

"I’m a little girl now and I don’t need you so don’t be fibbin’. You don’t like playin’ or nothin’ that I do!" Kat said and then started singing as she started spinning around dizzingly "I don’t gotta listen to youuuu....I don’t gotta listen to youuuuu...."

Lou smiled as he listened to Kat’s childish ways.

"Hey, mister.... wow.... she’s walkin’ away. hahahaha... She says I won and she can’t stay! Hey....It’s me in the mirror again not that old lady!"

"That’s good, Kat. Mr Karl says that Kyle is still walking around the fairgrounds. Maybe you should get changed and go find him?" Lou said as he handed her some proper sized shorts and a T-shirt.

She changed clothes and took Mr Karl’s hand. She happily skipped along as he led her out of the tent.

Meanwhile, Lou examined the senile Jenna, still dressed as a 95-year-old teenager. "What to do, What to do?" he said with a smirk.

"Curiosity Gets The Kat"

Part 5

by Ross Erger

Kyle took a seat on a bench and put his head in his hands.This was too much for a 10-year-old boy to deal with! He wondered how it could get any worse. He was soon to find out!

"Kyleeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" exclaimed a barefoot, carefree little girl as she ran up and grabbed Kyle’s wrist.

"Huh?.... What?....~MOM~!?" he asked although he knew it was her.

"Let’s play! I wanna ride the rides!" she told him gleefully as she tugged on his arm.

"Wait.... what happened?" he asked.

"C’mon! I wanna riiiiiiiiiide" she whined as she hopped up and down for emphasis. "Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaasssssse!"

"Mom, slow down. Tell me what is going on. Where’s Jenna" he asked trying to remain calm.

Kat sighed "Mister Lou made me a deal. He said if I got little he’d change Jenna back"

"So where is Jenna?"

"I dunno.... let’s play!" Kat said as she grew frustrated just talking while there was a whole park full of rides and games!

"You made a deal? You let him turn you into a little girl so he’d make Jenna a teenager again? So did he?"

"Did he whaaaaaaat?" she frustratingly whined.

"Make her a teenager??"

"Ummmm I forget"

"You ’forget’?"

"Uh huh.... I forget"

"How can you forget. Didn’t you see him do it?"

"Ummmm Sorta.... Kinda.... I dunno..." she said as she stuck out her lower lip.

"You’re acting like a little kid.... did he use that magic dust stuff on you?" Kyle asked seeing how childish Kat was asking.

"Nuh uh! I just decided I wanted to be a kid and I ran that grownup off!"

"What grownup?"

"The one in the mirror. She wanted to stay but I’m in charge now so I made her go away so I could play! She said I wouldn’t be smart without her but she fibbed! I can spell my first name K A T! Seeee??? And I can run reeeeeal fast. Wanna see?"

"No! Don’t you run off anywhere!" Kyle said suddenly feeling more like her parent than her son. "Is Jenna young again or is she not?"

"I dunno. She ’sposed to be! Let’s ride somethin’!" Kat said

"So you didn’t SEE him make her younger?"

"Nuh uh.... but he promised he would... now let’s play!" Kat said as she felt youthful energy bubbling inside her.

Suddenly a strange voice spoke from behind them "Now ’scuse me for overhearin’ ya but it sounds like ya be havin’ some troubles" said a large Jamaican woman.

"Who are you?" Kyle asked.

"Make ya no nevermind who I am, but it sounds like ya be a needin’ my help!" she replied.

"Are you Miss Cleo?" Kat asked.

"Heavens no, child. Why ya say a durned fool ’ting like dat?"

"Sorry.... but ya kinda sound like her" Kat replied meekly.

"Now, it sounds ta me like Mister Lou has been up ta his tricks again now ain’t he? Tell me little one, how’d he get ya ’tinkin’ and actin’ like a child?"

"Ummmm I got on the funny merry-go-round where the ponies go backwards and then I went in a room and talked to a mirror so I could be a kid. I’m still mommy but now I can play and have fun and stuff!" Kat explained "cuz the lady in the mirror was an old fuddy duddy!"

"But dat lady was you child.... my my.... we gonna have our work cut out for us!" the lady said.

"Us?" Kyle asked "Are you gonna help us?"

"I’ll do my best child. Mister Lou’s done been a busy one..yes he has. Dis little girl’s always been inside yer mom... just like there’ll always be a little boy in ya..doncha know? But Mister Lou split em up and den let da little one send da older one a packin’!"

"But we can fix her can’t we?" Kyle asked "And he made my sister REAL old!".

"We’ll do our best, child! But it won’t be easy, doncha know! Her older self is slowly de-evolving as we speak!"

"Whatdaya mean???" Kyle worriedly asked.

"Da little one sent her away and she has no where ta go and da little one is a likin’ her carefree childhood with no responsibilities can’t ya see? Da little one had won once she sent her older self away and now she’s a livin’ locked away in a corner of da little one’s mind.... But dis child don’t be a needin’ no adult thinkin’ for playin’ so eventually da older one will just slowly fade away. Kinda like an old long forgotten memory."

"Wow! What about my sister?" Kyle asked.

"Well, I’m sure Mister Lou has some kinda plan for her too, now. He’s a tricky one!" the lady said.

"So what do we do now?" asked Kyle.

"Well, we gotta wait until I can ’tink of somethin’. Your mom’s had a traumatic day ya know so you best be a playin’ with her and let her tire herself out. Tomorrow’s gonna be a long long day, now. Go ahead and humor da child for today and den get her home. Find me here tomorrow and I’ll be a havin’ a plan!"

"How’re we gonna get home?"

"You best be a takin’ da bus cuz I don’t ’tink your mother will be a drivin’ now will she?!"

Kyle shook his head. "So where will we find you.... hey??? Hey??? HEY???" The lady was gone!

"C’mon we gotta ride! They’ll close or somethin’!" Kat said.

"They’ll be open for a long time tonight" Kyle explained.

"You don’t wanna have any fuuuuunnnnn" Kat sobbed as she kicked at the grass with her bare feet.

Kyle wondered if he had been this much trouble when he was 5 years old!

In the tent....

Lou and Mr Karl led the elderly Jenna to one of the carriages on the merry-go-round. She was much too weak to sit upon one of the horses unattended.

Lou smirked and started singing a song under his breath "What goes up....must come down....spinning wheel...gotta go ’round...."

"Curiosity Gets The Kat"

Part 6

by Ross Erger

Kat drove Kyle dizzingly mad as she seemed to have boundless energy. The cotton candy and soda didn’t help! She kept running from ride to ride and game to game. Kyle began to feel much older than his own meager 10 years.

"Mom!" he yelled after the child which caused some strange looks from the crowd "Get back here!." He was quickly tiring of his new role as babysitter!

Some of the fairgoers even managed to compliment Kyle saying ’What a responsible young man you are for taking your little sister around the fair’. This didn’t bother Kat at all. In fact it felt great being a carefree kid at the fair. She obviously didn’t feel much like a mother any more... nor did she want to in her current state. She wanted nothing to do with her older self. Her 5-year-old personality was taking over. If people thought she was Kyle’s little sister... so what?

"KyleeeeeeeeeEEEE!" she squeaked "Let’s ride THAT!" she said pointing to a spinning ride.

"Ewwwww I dunno... I’m kinda tired.... and would ya just call me Kyle? Knock off the KyleEE, OK?" he answered.

"I wanna ride it!" she said as she stomped her foot "And I’m gonna hold my breath until we do!"

"Oh geez.... OK... c’mon" he said taking her hand "but this is the last one ’cause it’s our last ticket, squirt!" He recoiled as he realized he just rubbed his mother’s head and called her squirt. This was getting too freaky. It was time to ride this last ride and then get home. Hopefully, Jenna would be there.

Kat squealed the whole ride helping to give Kyle a headache.

"KyleeeeeeeeeeeeEE, do we hafta go now?" she asked as they got off the ride.

"Yeah, but we’ll come back tomorrow" he told her "We’re outta money and tickets"

"Tomorrow??? Goody!!!" Kat exclaimed and danced around excitedly.

Kyle took her hand and led her to the bus back into town. Kat sat in the bus humming and swinging her feet back and forth. She’d had a great day as far as her 5-year-old self was concerned. Once home there was no sign of Jenna.

"I knew it! He tricked you!" Kyle told his mother "Now you’re a little girl and I bet Jenna is still old"

"He didn’t trick me!" Kat protested.

"Whether you know it now or not I’m sure he tricked you" Kyle dejectedly told her.

"Ya know I got a question" Kat said.

"What?"

"Ummmm I forget...."

"You forget?"

"Ummmmm maybe"

"Maybe you forget?"

"I dunno.... it’s dumb..."

"What’s dumb?"

"I forget, OK?"

"Forget WHAT? What’s dumb?"

"That lady’s talkin’ in my head"

"What lady... The Jamaican lady?"

"Nahhhhh the one from the mirror!"

"She is? What’s she saying?"

"She wants me to be mommy. She didn’t like that lady saying I was your little sister"

"You are ’mommy’"

"Nuh uh.... Not no more!"

"What do you mean!?"

"I want that lady to go away cuz she ain’t me! I’m gonna be your little sister and there’s nothing she can do about it! She might as well go back to sleep or wherever she goes! Can’t you hear her?"

"I don’t hear anything!???"

"She’s gettin’ weaker....HA! I don’t wanna be mommy no more. That’s what I was gonna ask you.... if you’d call me your sister from now on?"

"No... You’re NOT my sister!"

"I’m gonna be...so there! That lady’s leavin’ again. I think she’s gettin’ tired. I ain’t gonna be mommy no more. I don’t ’member much mommy stuff anyway. I feel funny... I’m gonna sit down"

Kyle helped her to the couch. He wondered how many more battles his mother 35-year-old personality to could muster. It was pretty obvious that Kat’s youthful energy and mind were too much for her 35-year-old personality to overcome. Kat looked briefly confused but then seemed to perk up. She spied the Playstation2. Something that she ridiculed before. Now she looked awfully interested in it. After a few moments of study she asked Kyle to make it work for her. She couldn’t figure out how to work it. A few more moments and she was playing although not very well. This didn’t seem to matter to her. She giggled and laughed and sat crosslegged in front of the TV trying to master the game. Slowly she got better at the various levels although no where near as good as Kyle who thought the game was kinda easy.

This went on for a while until the door swung open. A strange middleaged lady entered. The clothing looked familiar altho skimpy on the 35-year-old. Kyle squinted trying to figure out who the intruder was. A spark of recognition hit him just as she spoke.

"Kids!? What’re you still doing up? It’s 10PM! Get yourselves washed up and get your butts in bed!"

It was a 35-year-old Jenna!

"Jenna, what’s wrong with you? You’re.... not a teenager???" Kyle said.

"What? You don’t call me by my first name! And of course I’m not a teenager! I’m your mother and I expect you both to mind me!" she barked.

This was fine with Kat. No way she needed to be a mommy now.

"Mom.... Kat... tell her you’re ’mom’ and that she’s been brainwashed!" Kyle pleaded as a very confused Jenna wondered what had gotten into to him.

Kat giggled "KyleeeeEEEE’s just playin’, mommy. We’ve been pretendin’ I was mommy and then he wouldn’t quit it and kept on goin’ even when I was done pretendin’"

"Kyle, don’t torment your sister! Get washed up and get to bed and quit this silly stuff. You’re too old to be acting this way"

Kyle simply stared. He wasn’t going crazy was he? Could it get any crazier? Maybe he would wake up soon and it would all be a dream!?

"Mister... I said NOW!" Jenna ordered as she stroked Kat’s hair. "C’mon, hon. Let’s get you ready for bed too."

Jenna turned to Kyle "Get some sleep because tomorrow we are gonna clean this place up. You can’t even get a car in that garage with all that stuff in there and it is filthy out there. You’ll gonna be mowing the yard and if there is still time then you can help me paint the backfence."

"But... we have to go back to the fair??" Kyle protested.

"Not tomorrow we don’t!" she shot back.

"But.... But...... we hafta..." Kyle explained.

"We -have to- clean this place up! That damn fair will be here next year!" Jenna told him as Kyle’s shoulders dropped.

 

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