Hergropingaroundturnedupabulkypairofglasses.Sheseizedtheseand putthemonherface.Whenshedid,thebedroomcameintofocus.Jeriswung offthebedandthenmadeherdailyruntothemirror.Todayshesawapale youngwomanwithlongbrownhairtiedintoaponytailthatdrapedoverher shoulder.Hergreen-framedglassesweremorelikegoggleswithtintedlenses.
Whatageek,shelamented.
Therewasaflashoflightandthentheimageinthemirrorwasreplacedby hernormalone.Shesighedwithrelief.“Hello,darling,”Taisaid.
“Iwishyouwouldn’tdothat,”shesaid.“Oratleastcouldn’tyoumakeme lessugly?”
“You’renever ugly,dear.”
“Ithoughtyouloved me,notalltheseotherwomen.”
“It’sjustrole-playing,silly.Forfun.”
“Areyouthatboredofme?”
Inthemirror,shesawhisblackeyessmoldering.“I’mboredofyour whining,younglady.”Therewasanotherflashoflight.Thistimetheroom swelledaroundJeri.InthemirrorshesawherselfasayounggirllikeSheriand Teri.Herchesthadflattenedandherhairhadstraightenedwhileatthesame timeitdarkenedtoalightbrown.Shelookedso plainnow.
Taipattedhershoulder.“Now,getreadyforwork.”
“Ican’tgointotheofficelikethis.They’lllaughatme.”Sheturnedand thenrubbedupagainsthisnakedbody.“I’msorry.Ireallyam.Pleasechange meback. Please?”
Heconsideredthisandthentousledherhair.“Allright.Isupposeyou’ve learnedyourlesson.”
“Yes.IpromiseIwon’tcomplainanymore.”
“Good.”Inanotherflashshewasagrown-upagain.Shesighedwith
relief.Hepattedherontheback.“Now,let’sgetaquickshower.”
***
Whentheygottotheoffice,Jerisawanunwelcomesurprise.Sheriand Teriweregrown-upsnow,justasthey’dbrieflybeeninthecarbeforetheyleft school.SheriboltedfromherdesktowrapJeriinahug.“Hi,Jeri!Isn’tit wonderful?”
“What?”
“Wegotapromotion!Mr.Lecaumadeuspermanentnow!”
“That’sright,”Taisaid.“YoutwohavedonesuchagreatjobthatI’ve decidedyoushouldstayonforgood.”
“Weevengotourownapartmentnow.Nomoregovernessoranything.”
“Istillhavetolivewith you,”Terigrumbled,buttherewasahaughtinessin hereyeswhenshelookedoveratJeri.
“Now,girls,don’tbethatway.Trytogetalong.I’llbeinmyoffice.”
Jeriwentovertoherdesk.Itlookedsmallerthanthedaybefore.With somecloseexamination,shenoteditwasthesamesizeasSheriandTeri’snow.
Thishadtobepunishmentforthismorning,eventhoughshehadapologizedand they’dmadeloveintheshower.
Anhourwentbybeforetheintercombuzzed.“Jeri,comeinhere,please,”
hesaid.
Shebroughthernotepadandpenassheusuallydid.Notthatsheusually neededtheseanymore.Mostofthetime,hebentheroverthedeskoroneofthe chairstomakeloveagain.Itseemedhehadaninsatiableappetiteformaking love.Thatwassomethingshedidn’tshare,butitkeptherprettyandagrown-up,soshecontinuedwithit.
Sheopenedthedoortoseehimstaringatthewindow.“Closethedoor, please,”hesaid,asifsheneededprompting.
Themomentthedoorclosed,therewasaflashoflight.Asinthebathroom earlier,theroombegantogrowlargeraroundher.Shegotsmallerandsmaller untilherskirtpooledatherfeetandhersweaterfitlikeatent.Thesleevesofthe sweatermeltedawaywhiletherestofitbecameapinkdresstrimmedwith ruffles.Shepattedherhairtofindittiedbackwithanoversizedbow.
“Whydidyoudothis?”shewhined.
Hespuninhischairtofaceherandthenpattedhislap.“Hopup,”hesaid.
“Iwanttohaveatalkwithyou.”
Shetrudgedacrosstheroominhertinysaddleshoes.Shewastoolittleto climbupintohislap,butitwaseasyenoughforhimtoscoopherup.Heswung heraroundtositonhislap.“I’msorrytodothis,Jeri,butIthoughtthisway wouldgetyourattention.”
Hebegantobounceheronhislegasheexplained,“Iknowthingshave beendifferentwithuslately.It’snotyourfault.You’vebeenarealtrouper throughthewholething.You’vedoneeverythingI’veaskedofyou.”
“ThenwhyamIbeingpunished?”
“Iknowit’snotfair,butsometimesingrown-uprelationships,thingsaren’t fair.That’swhyit’ssohardtobeagrown-up.”
“Ilikebeingagrown-up,”shewhinedlikeachild.“Can’tIbeoneagain?”
“Youwillbe,afterwe’redone.”Hebouncedherharderandranonehand throughherhair.“AsIsaid,it’snotyourfault,Jeri.OverthislastmonthI’ve beengettingbored.That’swhywe’vebeenrole-playingtheselastcoupleof weeks.”
“WhatdidIdowrong?Aren’tIprettyenough?”
“Ofcourseyouare.Why,evennowyou’retheprettiestgirlinthewhole office.”
“Whyisn’tthatenough?”
“It’scomplicated.I’mjustlookingforsomethingelse.Forsomeonewitha littlemorefightinher.”
Jerilookedtowardsthedoor.“YoumeanTeri?You’regoingtomakeher ExecutiveSecretary?”
“No,sweetie.Teriisn’tthekindofgirlI’mlookingfor.She’sgottoo muchfight.”
“Thenwho?NotSheri.Shedoesn’tfightatall.”
“Ofcoursenot.I’mgoingtobringinanewgirl.Hername’sKari.She’s goingtostarttomorrow.”
“Kari?”ThenameclickedinJeri’smind.Sherememberedthatfirsttime they’dbeentogether.“You’vebeenplanningthisallalong!Youpoopyhead!”
Sheclawedathimtofreeherself,butshewastoolittle.“Justaminute, sweetie.NotuntilI’mfinished.”
Shedidn’tunderstandatfirst,notuntilshesawthelookofconcentrationon hisfaceandthenthebulgeinhispants.Shestrainedevenharder,butitdidn’t doanygood.Atlasthesighedwithrelief.“Therewego.”Hepattedheronthe headandthengentlyshovedherdowntothefloor,whereshebegantocry.
“Iknowit’shard,sweetie,butdon’tworry,nowyoucanfindyourselfa husbandtotakecareof.Why,IhearRauninAccountsPayableiscrazyabout you.”
Asshewipedthetearsfromhereyes,shethoughtofRaun.Hewasn’tas handsomeasTai,buthewasn’tbadlookingeither.Andhehadmadeeyesather inthecafeteriaseveraltimes.He’dprobablytreatherbettertoo;hewouldn’t
makeherplayallthesesickgames.
“You’vealwaysbeensuchaprude,Jeri,”Taisaid.Hehadreadher thoughtsagain.“AfterallthistimeIwouldhavethoughtyou’dbeusedtoit.
It’sthatschoolofyours,Isuppose.Theytaughtyougirlstoowell.”
“Areyougoingtosendmebackthere?”
“No,ofcoursenot.Unlessyouwantmeto.”
“No.”
“Good.”JeriwasabouttoscurrytothedoorwhenTairaisedafinger.“I wantyoutomakeKariwelcometomorrow.She’sgoingtobealittlerough aroundtheedges,justlikewhenyougothere.”
“Yes,sir.”
Shetrudgedovertothedoor.Asshereachedforthehandle,therewas anotherflashoflight.Thistimetheroomshrankaroundher.Shedroppedonto allfoursasshegrewbackintoaprettyyoungwoman.
Somethingwasdifferent:shewasalotwomanlierthanbefore.Herbreasts werebiggerandwiththeplungingnecklineofherblouse,mostofthemwere visible.Herwaistwasnarrowerwhileherhipswerewider.Theskirtaround thosehipsbarelycoveredherprivates.Shetookastepandnearlyfelloverfrom thesix-inchstilettoheels.
“I’msureRaunwilllovethat,”TaisaiddrylyasJeristruggledoutofthe office.Shelimpedacrosstheofficelikeanewborncolt;theseheelsfeltasifshe werewalkingonice.
TerishookherheadatJeri.“What?”Jerishotback.Hervoicewasan octavelowerthanbefore.
“Yougetalotof workdoneinthere?”
“Shutup!”
“Ithinkshelookspretty,”Sherisaid,butthenSherithoughteveryone lookedpretty.Evenbumsdressedinragslookedprettytoher.
Jericheckedherfaceinthemirror.Herskinwastannerandsmearedwith moremakeup.Hergoldenhairwasabitfullerthanbeforetoo.Shepattedthis andthensmiledtorevealdazzlingwhiteteeth.Iampretty,shethought.
Shepushedherselfoutofthechair.“Mr.Lecauwantsmetogodownto AccountsPayable,”shesaid.Shecouldn’twaituntilRaungotalookather now.Andtomorrow,thatlittlebitchKariwouldgettoseejustthekindof competitionshefaced.
Part3
Chapter11
ThealarmclockshookJerioutofanightmare.Shehadbeenamidgetina circussideshow,dancingforacrowdofgawkerswhiletheythrewcoinsather.
Theirlaughterstillsoundedinherearsassheswattedthealarmclock.
Withatremblinghand,shegropedforthelampbyherbed.Sheclickedit onandthenheldupahand.Shewasrelievedtoseeherlong,thinfingers,not thoseawfulsausagelinkfingersfromwhenshe’dbeenamidget.Herfingers wereabitfuzzyuntilshefoundherglasses.
Astabofpainranthroughherbackasshegotoutofbed.Shehadto remindherselfshewasn’tayoungwomananymore.Withahandpressedtothe smallofherback,shelimpedintothebathroom.Thereshestaredather reflectioninthemirror.Shestaredatthewrinklesthatsurroundedhereyesand mouthandcreasedherforehead.Atleasttheonesonherforeheadshecould coverwithherhair—dullbrownhairstreakedwithgray.Shesighedasshe alwaysdidwhenshethoughtofhowprettyshe’dusedtolookwithhergolden hair,smoothface,andwomanlyfigure.
Beforeshecouldstarttocry,sheturnedawayfromthemirrortoclimbinto theshower.Shewasgladtoclosehereyessoshewouldn’thavetoseethetiny breaststhatseemedtosagabitmoreeverydayandamidsectionthatseemedto getthickernomatterwhatshedid.Asthewaterrushedoverher,shethoughtof hermeetingwithTai.
Ithadbeenthedayafterherbirthday.Kari,Sheri,andTerihadtakenherto abar.IthadbeenakindlygesturetoeaseherlonelinesssinceTaihadturned themintomidgets.Buttherehadhardlybeenanymenandthosewhowere presentjustgapedather.Jerihadrunaway,backtotheirapartment,whereshe curledupinbedtocryherselftosleep.
ThenextmorningshewaddledintoTai’soffice.Hehadgrinnedather smuglyasheturnedtofaceher.“Hello,Jeri.Howwasyourbirthday?”
Shewastednotime.Shethrewherselfathisfeet.“Pleasechangeme back.Iwon’tdoanythingbad.Iwon’teventhinkanythingbadaboutyouever again.Ijustcan’tstandtolivelikethisanymore.”Shestoppedtosniffle.“I’m tiredofbeinglaughedat.Iwanttobeprettyagain.”
Hetousledherhairandthenbrokeherheart.“I’msorry,Jeri.Ican’t changeyouback.WhatwouldtheothersthinkifIdidthat?They’dthinkIlet youoffthehook.”
“ButIdidn’tdoanythingwrong!”
“Perhaps.”
“Thencan’tyouchangemeback? Please?”Shegrabbedoneofhislegs withbothofherhands.“It’sKariwhoneedspunished.She’stheonewho makesusdefyyou.Ifyouchangemeback,thinkofhowthatwillpunishher.
She’llseemesoprettywhileshe’sstillanuglyfreak.”
“That’saninterestingpoint.WhataboutSheriandTeri?”
“Idon’tcareaboutthem.”
“Ithoughttheywereyourfriends?”
“Onlybecausethey’relikeme.Wehavetosticktogether.”
“Andyoudon’tcareifIchangethemback?”
“No.”
“Isee.Everyfreakforherself.Ilikethat.”Heponderedthisthoughtfora minute.“Still,itisamusingtowatchyoufourcaperabouttheofficelike monkeys.”
“Ifyouchangemeback,theotherthreecanstillcaperaround.”
“True,butitjustwouldn’tbethesame.”
Jericouldtellthiswasn’tgoingtowork.Hewastoocrueltochangeher back,notunlesssheofferedsomethinginreturn.Shegotonherfeet,hermouth levelwithhiswaist.Shereacheduptorubthecrotchofhispants.“WhatifI giveyousomethinginreturn?”
“Well,Isayitmightbefuntogetblownbyamidget.”
Shetookthisashercuetounziphispants.Shefumbledaroundwithher sausagefingerstobrushasidethefabricofhisunderpantsforhispenistospring outlikeasnake.Shethoughtbacktothatfirstnightthey’dspenttogether,when he’dforcedhertosuckhiscock.Atthetimeshe’dhatedit,butashe’d suggested,eventuallyshelearnedtoenjoyit.
Sheclosedhereyesandtriedtogivehimthebestblowjobpossible.Maybe thenhewouldseecleartochangeherbackintoafull-sizedwomanagain.Ifnot, shecouldalwaysremindhimtherewerealotmorethingsshecoulddotohimas anormal-sizedwomanthanasamidget.
Thistimesheswallowedwithouthesitation.Sheevenmanagedtodoit withasmileonherface.Thenshepulledbackandzippedhimup.“Well?”
Hethoughtaboutitforamoment.Hepattedherontheheadasifshewere achild.“I’msorry,butthatwasmuchtooentertainingtochangeyouback.”
“No!”shewailed.Shedroppedtoherkneesandbegantosobagain.“You can’tleavemelikethis.Youcan’t!”Shehuggedhislegagain.“I’lldo anything.Anything!”
“Isee.Wouldyougivemesomething?Somethingveryspecial?”
Shelookedupathim.“Likewhat?”
“Apieceofyourself.”
Andsotheyhadstruckthedeal.Whenshe’dsteppedoutoftheoffice,it wasasadowdymiddle-agedwoman—adowdymiddle-agedfull-sizedwoman.
Herhumiliationhadended,butthenightmarehadcontinued.Inthislatestphase ofthenightmareshehadlosttheonethingthathadmadeherstandout.Now shewascompletely ordinary.
Asshetrudgedbacktothemirror,shetriedtocheerherselfup.Itwasn’tso bad.ShemightnotbegorgeousenoughforRaunanymore,butshewasn’tugly either.TonightshewouldmeetHowefromAccountingfordinner.Hecertainly wasn’tashandsomeasRaun,buthemadeagoodliving.Hecouldprovidea goodhomeforher.Shestillhadafewgoodyearsleftinher.
Withthisinmind,sheputonhertightestsweaterandshortestskirt.Before sheleft,shebentdowntopickupBene,hercat.“Mama’sgoingtobealittle latetonight,”shesaid.
Thecatmeowedather.Theeveningaftershe’dmadethedeal,she’dcome hometothistiny,rundownapartmenttofindthecatonherdoorstep.Hewasa tabbywiththreewhitepaws.Hehadimmediatelysnuggledagainstherand meowed.She’dpickedhimupandsawhisnametag,whichlistedhisnameand theapartmentashishome.WhilesheknewitwasagiftfromTaidesignedto makeherfeellikeanoldspinster,shehadn’tminded.Withallshe’dbeen through,itfeltgoodtohearthecatpurrasshepettedhishead.
Beforesheleft,shemadesuretoputdownalittleextrafoodforBene.
Then,withaspringinherstep,sheleftforwork.
***
Aftershe’dmadeherdeal,SheriandTerihadmadeonewithTaiaswell.
Thathadn’tmadethingsanybetterattheoffice.AssoonasJeriwalkedinthe door,shesawTericurledupinherchair.Herbrownhairfellacrossherfaceso thatonlyanarmofherglasseswasvisible.“Itoldyouthatwasmystapler!”
Sherishouteddownathersister.
“I-I-I’ms-s-sorry,”Teristuttered.
“Youtrytotakeitonemoretimean
dI’llbeatyoutodeathwithit.Gotit?”
“Y-y-yes.”
JerithoughttoberateTeriaboutherrudeness.Sheknewthatwouldonly promptSheritoturnonher.SinceherdealwithTai,Sherihadbecomeahateful witch.Tomakeitworse,Sherihadbecometheprettiestgirlintheoffice.Itwas asifTaihadgivenJeri’sbeautytothisawfulgirl,togiveheralithebody,shiny darkhair,andbreaststhatheavedbeneathhertranslucentblackblouse.Jeritried nottothinkaboutthisasshesatdownatherdesk.
Sinceshe’dalreadycowedhermousysister,SheritrompedovertoJeri’s desk.“So,youdidn’thaveaheartattackcomingintoday,Granny?”
“I’minverygoodshape,Iassureyou,”Jerisaid.
“Idon’tknowwhyhekeepsyouaround.Heoughttohaveyoulockedup inanursinghome.”
Jerisaidnothing.SheknewSherionlywantedtogoadherbymakingfun ofherage.Itwasn’tfairthatSherigottobesoyoungandprettywhileJerihad tobesooldanddowdy.Still,therewasnopointinworryingaboutthat.She hadtonighttolookforwardto.
SherisatattheedgeofJeri’sdesk.“IhearHoweaskedyouout.”
“Whotoldyouthat?”
“Youknowhowpeoplelovegossipingaroundhere.Itisgoodyou’regoing outwithsomeoneyourownage.Justbecarefulifyougethiminbed.Oldguys likethat,yougetthemtooexcitedandtheyjustkeelover.”
“I’lltrytobecareful.”
“Whereareyoutwogoingtonight?MaybeRaunandIwillseeyouthere.”
Jeri’sfistsclenchedatthis.ItfiguredthatsnakeRaunwouldthrowhimself atSheri;healwayshadbeensoshallow.“I’mnotatlibertytosaywherewe’re going.”
“You’reprobablytakinghimtothattinyshitholeofyourstointroducehim toyourcats.”
“Ionlyhaveonecat.”
“Fornow.Girlslikeyou,italwaysstartswithone.Nextthingyouknow, thepolicearebreakinginbecausetheneighborscan’tstandthesmellanymore.”
“Nowseehere—”BeforeJericouldfinish,thedooropened.Taistrodein, briefcaseinonehand.