Welcome to the Machine

Chapter 2
Chapter 2

’But you jumped out of the machine before it started. How’d this happen?’ Sara asked her now younger mother.

’What’re you talking about? Sure I jumped out. You were gonna, like, zap me again or something! No way am I gonna be getting any younger until you figure that thing out!’

’But you ~are~ younger?’ Sara replied.

’Quit foolin! As if!’ Gloria answered with a sneer.

’You don’t know? You look like a teenager. I thought you were one of my friends from school when I heard your voice!’

’~Please~ Knock it off and quit playin’ around! I’m, like, back to normal...totally!’

’I don’t think so.... Mom... Look in the mirror’ Sara said as she pointed to a mirror on the wall.

Gloria walked toward the mirror and looked at her reflection. She brushed her hair back with her hand and seemed to admire her reflection. ’Yeah, so I looked... You got me. Ha ha. So’d you find anything in the papers?’

’You think you look ~normal~?’ Sara asked incredulously.

’Get off it! I’m fine. Sheesh....’

’You really think you look like a 40 year old?’

Gloria looked again. This time her expression changed. ’I dunno....like.... you’re not foolin with me? ’

’No....You look like a teenager!’

Gloria looked harder. ’Wow. I guess I do look kinda young for my age...... but, like, you think I look younger than I did?’

’Mom! You look barely older then ME! Something’s wrong. I gotta figure it out.’

’Well.... just be careful what ya figure out. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!’

Sara watched her mother turn and leave. As she climbed the stairs Sara could see that her shoes were starting to slip. She also noticed how loose her clothing was. She hoped that she didn’t get any younger.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gloria looked at her reflection in the window. She wondered why she was wearing such frumpy clothing. Not only was it dull and boring but it was too big! She turned and made her way to her room. She picked out some clothing but none of it was really what she was looking for. It was all pretty boring and looked too big anyway. She finally had a thought.... a sly grin crossed her face and she headed toward Sara’s room. After a few minutes she had picked out a short halter top, cut-offs, and sandals. They fit her perfectly. ~Much~ better she thought as she returned to the kitchen and again saw her reflection in the window.

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Sara skimmed over the notes that she had arranged chronologically. She could see that her father had been doing a lot of testing but didn’t see anything at first but plant tests and computer self diagnostics. Finally, she found some notes on animal testing. At first the notes seemed to indicate high success rates but then she noticed their tone changed as her father noted some ’instability’. There was a few more references to the instability but nothing describing exactly what he was calling unstable. Worse, the notes were incomplete. The most recent dates were still a couple of months old. There had to be more notes somewhere! Sara glanced around the room. Filing cabinets, desk drawers, there were papers everywhere. The newer notes must be in there somewhere. Apparently, the older notes that she had found near the computer were older notes that her father had been referencing. She wished he could be there so she could just ask him what she wanted to know!

Sara decided it was time for a break. She figured she would break the news to her mother about the instability that her father had noted. She figured her mother would have questions about what that would mean but she just didn’t know. She decided that her mother’s recent regression must be part of the instability, but she didn’t know what else to expect.

’Mom! You’re wearing ~my~ stuff?’ Sara said upon seeing her mother.

’You mind? You’re stuff is so cool and all my stuff is kinda tacky like’

’Uhh No... I don’t mind. It just surprised me....that’s all. Anyway, I’ve looked over the notes that I’ve found. I think there’s gotta be more somewhere, but the one’s I’ve got talk about so instability in the process’

’Instability? Like how?’

’Well, I think like what’s happened to you. I mean looking like a teenager and all....’ Sara studied her mother closely. She wondered if she looked even younger than before. Sara had thought she looked taller downstairs but now they seemed the same height.

’What’re you looking at?’

’I think you might be getting younger....’

’Nuh uh! Get real!’

’Mom... I don’t know what Dad meant by instability for sure....but I think something like what is happening to you could be it! And if it continues..... I think I better call Grandma because we don’t know what is going to happen.’

’What are you saying? That I’m gonna, like, be a baby ~again~. No way!’

’Mom, it’s not just your looks.... it’s your personality and everything. I think we have to, like, plan for the worst, ya know? I’ll do what I can but it’s gonna take time! I really think you’ve gotten even younger. Suzi’s gonna be home soon too. I think grandma can help with her. She’s gonna have a ton of questions.’

’~Whatever~ To tell you the truth even ~if~ I’ve gotten younger, it ain’t much! I think you’re just bein’ way to much of a worry-wort. Call mom if you want.’ the frustrated teen said as she sat down and crossed her legs in a huff.

Sara called her grandmother and asked her to come over. She didn’t explain why just yet, figuring it was better to show her than to try and explain it. She then returned to her work downstairs, hoping to find some newer notes and some answers.

Gloria was pretty bored with it all. She hadn’t liked being a baby but now that everything was back to normal she figured that Sara was just worrying to much and they should just leave everything alone. She even wondered if Sara was only going to try and turn her into a baby again just to be mean! Before her thoughts got too far afield, the door opened behind her.

’Sara. What’s wrong? You’ve had me worried ever since you called!’

Gloria spun around ’Mom! You can’t tell the difference in your daughter and your grand-daughter?’

The older woman’s jaw dropped. ’Gloria? No..... You’re a look alike. Sara’s playing a joke. Where is she?’

’Joke? ~As if~ ~Right~ I haven’t seen anything funny around here today. C’mon. She’s, like, downstairs playing scientist or somethin’’

She didn’t know what to say. If the teen wasn’t Gloria, she was a dead-ringer. She started to follow the girl but had to wait as the girl had to stop and tighten the straps on her suddenly looser sandals.

’Sara...mom’s here. Ya satisfied everything’s OK yet?’

’Sara what is going on?’ her grandma asked

’It’s this machine. It’s something dad built. Mom accidentally got zapped by it and.....’

’And everything is OK now and everybody is, like, bein stupid or somethin! I’m goin’ back upstairs. See ya later alligator!’ An increasingly impatient Gloria said before turning and leaving.

’Grandma, it’s really her. I swear!’ Sara said.

’So you’re telling me that she got zapped and turned into a teenager?’

’No.....not exactly. She got zapped and turned into a baby. I figured out how to reverse it and I thought everything was, like, back to normal.... and then a few hours later Miss Teen Personality appears. She doesn’t even seem to notice how much younger she has gotten. And I think she’s still getting younger. And I ~know~ her personality is getting younger. I’m hoping to figure it out....’

Her grandma listened to the story. The most convincing part was the personality. How would a look-alike know how to act out Gloria’s teen persona? How would any of them even know how Gloria was a teen? And the girl was absolutely a dead-ringer!

’...So I was hoping you’d help with Suzi and maybe even mom if she gets like, you know, ~too~ young!’

’Isn’t there anybody you can ask about this thing?’

’Mom is afraid dad might’ve stolen some of this technology. We might end up in trouble talking about it and besides, who could we ask? Dad was the only one and he’s gone.’

’Well, I’ll help however I can, honey. I’m here for you. Just tell me what to do’

’Well, first... why don’t you get Miss Teen Personality back down here with me so you can catch Suzi and tell her what is going on. It’s probably not a good idea for those two to meet without a little warning, you know?’

’You’re probably right. I’ll send her down here and wait for Suzi. You keep studying. Heavens, what a machine your father built!’

Sara nodded and went back to work. She found a huge pile of papers in the filing cabinet. Some of them looked related to the machine but none of them that she had checked were very recent.

’So, you want me down here with you, huh? Whatsa matter.... Miss Brain not smart enough to figure it out by herself?’

Sara looked up to see Gloria looking even younger. She obviously was younger than Sara now. Probably 15 at most Sara decided. ’Mom, can’t you just be quiet and let me find the missing notes. I’m sure if I can find the notes I can figure out what we need to do’

’Do? Why do anything? You probably just wanna make me a baby or somethin’ so you can be in charge! I’m fine. Everything’s back to nomal so why are ya so pig-headed about it?’ Gloria asked as she again had to tighten the straps on her sandals. She also had to adjust her halter top because it was growing progressively looser.

’~Please~ Just be quiet and let me look thru these papers.’ Sara pleaded as she continued sorting notes.

’Sure ~whatever~’ Gloria sarcastically replied and went about fidgeting were her ever loosening clothing.

Soon, Sara was able to divert all of her attention back to the notes as Gloria had finally quieted. After a while the silence made Sara curious. It was TOO quiet!

’Mom.... what are you doing?’ she asked as she saw her even younger mother inside the machine. ’You better be careful messing around in there’

’I’m just checkin’ it out! Sheesh! It’s, like, boring down here. I know what I’m doin!’

’Yeah, well, we wouldn’t be in this mess if that was true.’

’Yeah. Sure. Whatever.’ Gloria replied as she stepped out of the machine. Her shorts were dangerously close to falling off. Her narrowing hips could barely keep them up. The halter top was growing flatter against her chest. Her shoes slipped worse than ever. She’d already tightened them as much as possible. This time the 14 year old just kicked them off as she moved closer to Sara. ’So, ya find whatever stuff you’re lookin’ for?’

Sara was surprised to hear how much higher her mother’s voice had gotten. She reminded her of Suzi. ’Ummm I found some more info but I’m still missing some stuff.’

’Like more notes or stuff?’

’Yeah, Dad had notes everywhere.’

’What about those?’ Gloria asked pointing to some papers in the machine lying on the laptop.

’Where’d those come from? I looked over there.’ Sara asked.

’I dunno. I found ’em’

’Found them where?’

’Over there by the laptop somewhere’

’Well, would you bring them here please?’

’No. Get ’em yourself. You always want me to do stuff for ~you~!’

’~Mom!~ C’mon. Can’t you just help me a little bit?’ Sara asked as she got up and went to retrieve the papers.

As she entered the machine she heard a click. She turned around to see her teenaged mother grinning wickedly as she watched the machine come to life. ’Gotcha!’

Sara tried to speak but the machine seemed to paralyze her. She felt a chill as the light brightened. The room seemed to be growing. At first she was able to concentrate on what was happening but the longer she was in the light the harder it became.

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Upstairs:

Suzi had arrived home. Her Grandmother did her best trying to explain what had happened. She finally decided that she had prepared her as well as possible. Suzi looked a little disbelieving but trusted her grandmother. They headed for the stairs. They were curious about the glow from the basement. Upon entering the basement they saw Gloria behind the main terminal.

’Mom?’ Suzi asked haltingly.

’Hi, Suzy!’ She replied as she readjusted her halter top.

Suzi ran to get a better look at her mother. She looked the same age as her!

’Where’s Sara?’ their grandmother asked.

Gloria smiled wickedly and pointed toward the machine where a 2 year old was struggling to free herself from a pile of clothing.

’You made her little?’ Suzi asked with a giggle.

’Yip, sure did. She was being too much of a pain so I fixed her good!’

’But she is the only one who knows anything about computers!’ their grandmother replied sounding very worried.

’Nuh uh! I know a bunch about computers too!’ Gloria argued.

’Sara, can you talk...do you remember me? I’m gramma’

Little Sara shook her head yes.

’Do you know what your mother did to you?’

’She make me wittle with the ’puter’

’At least you still have your mind. Maybe we can straighten this out still. How do I change you back?’

Little Sara’s face screwed up and her 2 year old emotions took over. ’I..I...I...don’t ’member how to work it’ she bawled.

Gloria and Suzi didn’t seem to share in her concern for her eldest grand-daughter.

’So can that machine make people older too?’ Suzi asked.

’Yeah, I think so. ~I~ can make it do it’ Gloria answered as she clicked thru the various windows.

 

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