The next morning, Chloe got up early and went out of her room. Her Mom and Dad were both already up and making breakfast in the kitchen.  Chloe crawled up on a bar stool, her feet way above the ground as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

“Morning kiddo” Jim told her.

“Morning Daddy” she responded without a second thought.

“You want to go to the beach today?” he asked her.

“Yeah!” she responded enthusiastically.

“Well your Mom and sister are going to spend the day at the spa and I thought we could go play at the ocean”

“Okay” she responded. A spa day didn’t even sound good to her now, who would want to spend a day sitting around getting their fingers painted when they could be playing “Can we build a sandcastle?” she asked.

“Of course” Jim responded as he ruffled her hair.

Chloe looked out the window at the waves crashing on the beach. “Should I want to go to the spa?” she thought for a minute.

Danica had to wake Natalie up so they could make it to their appointment at 10. Natalie was out cold like any teenaged girl would be after a day at the beach. She got up slow and groggy, fighting her hair into a bun and getting dressed in cut off shorts, a tank top and flip flops. She barely opened her eyes as they left and went to the spa.

Natalie was more awake by the time they checked in and headed to the sauna first.

“I need this much more than you do” Danica told her daughter as they settled in.

Natalie adjusted her towel around her chest and could feel the sweat building up. “I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay in here” she admitted.

“It takes some getting used to; the ironic thing is it’s supposed to make you look younger” Danica laughed.

“Don’t even joke about looking younger” Natalie replied.

“How are you doing?” Danica asked. “Are you adjusting to this so far?”

Natalie blushed a bit and nodded “I am but it’s confusing to me still” Natalie confessed.

“Sometimes I still feel like I’m little and this body is so foreign feeling to me and other times, it feels just so natural and right that it had to always be like this”

“I don’t know if that will change as the week goes on” Danica told her daughter.

A moment passed quietly before Natalie asked “What if Chloe doesn’t learn anything from this? What if we switch back and she just goes back to being her usual mean and selfish self?”

Danica lifted her eyebrows but said nothing; she knew they had the option of keeping the girls like this permanently if Chloe didn’t show any remorse but she didn’t want to and wouldn’t tell Natalie this. “She will learn…” was all she said.

“I just hope it doesn’t make her meaner than she was is all” Natalie said as she adjusted herself to get comfortable. “If she takes it out on me when this is all over…”

Danica closed her eyes; it was her fear too that Chloe would resort to her old habits immediately upon returning to 16.  “Just enjoy your day honey…just relax”

Natalie put her head back against the wooden slats and did relax, she was still tired from being woken up. She wouldn’t last as long as her Mom in the spa though. “I’m going” she said as she stood up “I can’t take this any longer”

“Go pick out your colors for your nails” Danica told her “I’ll be out in a few minutes”

Natalie put her fluffy terrycloth robe back on and headed to the lobby. She was flipping through all her color choices when she heard someone else enter the room “Oh Hello”

“Hi” Natalie said smiling as she looked up.

“Spa day for you too huh? I’m Ellie Harper” she said coming up to Natalie.

“Hi…Natalie Anderson”

“Nice to meet you…I can’t wait to get my nails done how about you?” Ellie asked.

“Yeah, I can’t decide on a color though”

“I want something really bright, I mean, it’s my vacation and all” Ellie said giggling.

“Were you at the pool yesterday?” Natalie asked.

“Yeah! That’s where I saw you…I thought you looked familiar” Ellie said.

“You have a little sister too don’t you?”

Ellie laughed at the words, “I sure do” she responded a bit too loudly. She had been told by her Mom and sister to not tell anybody about what they had done; not everybody at the resort was switched to a different age they explained to Ellie.

By the time Danica came in, she saw her daughter lounging in a chair with her left foot propped up and being worked on. She was talking and laughing with a dark haired girl about her age and size. “Making friends with other teenagers…good for her” she thought.

The two girls were laughing and carrying on as they got pedicures so Danica hung back for a while to let them have their fun.

Natalie was filling Ellie in on Ryan and that led to other topics; they had a lot in common it turned out. Being 8 and 5 in reality helped them out as they were both just going with the flow as they talked.

Natalie saw her Mom and waved her over. By this time it was her right foot getting done as she introduced her to Ellie.

“Actually my name is Elinor…but I never go by that” Ellie told her.

“I really like that color” Danica told her daughter.

It was a light purple being applied to her fingers and toes “I thought it looked good” Natalie replied.

“Mine had been orange” Ellie admitted as her toes were getting a coat of shiny black polish applied to them.  “I should have brought my sister along…maybe she would have picked out hot pink for the week”

Natalie smiled and thought it would be a great color for Chloe too.

Mud masks were applied as the girls got their hands done but they continued to talk the whole time.

As Ellie and Natalie were exfoliated and pampered, their sisters were finding a different common ground.

Chloe was sitting on a towel in the sand when she heard “Emerald!” yelled out from behind her. She spun and yelled “Ruby!” as she saw the girl she had played mermaids with the day before.

The two small girls hugged and began to talk and play together instantly. Sarah’s Mom began to set herself up for the day; beach towels, lounge chairs, bags full of supplies were spread out and opened. Jim sat nearby with a smirk on his face; he kept his hat pulled down low and watched his daughter play without a care in the world.

Sarah and Chloe built a huge sandcastle that all the mermaids lived at; it was a large pile of sand with a broken shell in the top, but to those two, it was a palace. They even dug a moat around it and filled that with more shells that they found.

They talked about their favorite cartoons and TV shows as they built and periodically jumped into the water. They shared snacks when it was time to rest and both kept being sprayed down with more and more lotion.

They played for hours before Jim broke up the party by telling Chloe it was going to be time to go to the room and get some rest out of the sun for a while.

Chloe whined “But I’m having fun Daddy”

“I know you are…why don’t you ask your little friend if she can play again tomorrow?” Jim suggested.

Sarah smiled “We’re going to be here all week”

“Yea…then we can play some more” Chloe responded.

Jim packed them up and led Chloe back across the sand by the hand. Chloe turned and waved to Sarah before she went back inside. She didn’t want to admit to being tired but after she got back to the room and changed out of her damp and sandy bathing suit, Chloe fell asleep on the couch and took a needed nap.

It wasn’t too much longer before Natalie and Danica returned to the room as well. They saw Chloe sleeping when they entered so they made sure they remained quiet as to not wake her up.

Natalie tip-toed past to get to her room while Danica and Jim slipped out onto the balcony.

“I tell you Dani…she’s acting more and more like a kid with every passing hour” Jim remarked.

“But will that translate back when she’s sixteen again?” Danica asked.

“That I don’t know yet…I should talk with Mr. Cunningham about her…how should I say…juvenile enjoyment” Jim said.

“You should; definitely before our meeting with him on Thursday night” Danica answered.

George Cunningham sat in his office looking over a stack of files. He smiled as he flipped through them but raised his eyes up when one of the cleaning staff came in after a quick knock on his door. “Hello Maria” he said.

“Do you mind if I clean in here now Sir?” Maria asked in her heavily Puerto Rican accented voice.

“Actually it’s perfect timing; I was just about to take a walk” George replied getting up from his desk.

Maria smiled a crooked smile as she brought her cart in and picked up his trash can to empty out.

“Homely thing…” George thought as he smiled and nodded to her on his way out. Maria’s file was one of the files sitting on his desk. She was actually Brooklyn Houghton; heir to a multibillion dollar fortune in oil money.

Her father had sent all of his kids to the resort for a summer of service in one of the staff’s bodies so they could get a feel for real work. The real Maria was spending the summer in Brooklyn’s body, relaxing at the pool daily and enjoying seeing a blonde haired blue eyed goddess reflected back at her.

“This Maria is a harder worker than the real Maria” George thought “I may have to see if her father wants her to stay on for some additional time…” he thought.

George entered the lobby and saw Janet and Brett Walters coming through on their way back from the ocean. Janet clutched a towel around her bikini clad body as she ducked her head and smiled “Sorry…I’m trying not to drip on the floors”

“Happens all the time, don’t worry one second about that” George replied to the young couple. They were spending the week in the other’s body as a second honeymoon. They had been married 3 years and had wanted a new spark. The resort was more than happy to oblige in switching their bodies to see how it felt on the other side. They had both expressed an interest in remaining this way permanently.

George stopped by a well-positioned chair in the corner where 78 year old Helen Braxton sat watching the pool area. “How are you today Ma’am” George asked as he patted her hand.

“Oh Mr. Cunningham I am very well thank you for asking” Helen responded. “But it’s much too hot outside for me today; I can watch my granddaughter and my great-granddaughters swim from here in the air conditioning”

“Well if you need anything; absolutely anything at all, you just let me know please” George responded.

Helen smiled and went back to gazing out the window at her former body frolicking in the pool below. Helen had swapped bodies with her 30 year old granddaughter Lori for the week for an opportunity to actually get to know and play with her great granddaughters so now Lori sat patiently in this frail body watching the action below.  

George wandered the lobby for a few minutes before he went to the lab facility. It was being set up for a couple that would be arriving this afternoon. George Cunningham examined every detail of the program; he loved his job.

Once he was satisfied that the Millers would be satisfied with their vacation arrangements, George went back to the lobby where he saw that Jim Anderson was waiting outside of his office to talk to him. He patted Maria on the shoulder and told her a quick “Thank You” as he passed by.

“Mr. Anderson…how is everything? I hope everything is to your liking…” George said as the two men shook hands.

“Yes, everything is fine Mr. Cunningham but I had a few questions” Jim said.

“Of course come right in” George said ushering him into his office. “Would you like some coffee?”

“No thank you” Jim replied. “Mr. Cunningham I…”

“Please call me George” he interrupted.

“Yes fine, George…my wife and I are concerned that our daughter Chloe is slipping into the mind of an 8 year old a bit too much”

“How so?” George asked sitting back in his chair.

“Well, she’s really enjoying playing with some of the other kids here…really allowing herself to get immersed in building sandcastles and pretending she’s a mermaid; just things a typical 8 year old would do”

“And this is bad?” George asked.

“Well, we wanted her to reflect on her losing the privileges of her age…this doesn’t seem to bother her in the least now”

“I see” George answered “Let me assuage your mind for a moment Mr. Anderson: You see it’s like this…your Chloe must truly want to be 8 again”

“I don’t understand” Jim said leaning forward.

“With an age swap, memories don’t change but the mind does. The immaturity of the body correlates to the mind and brain causing people who are regressed to act more immature; they’re really just remembering the first time they were this age and blocking out the unpleasantness that is in their life at their real age. Your daughter must be happier at 8 than at 16”

“But…” Jim muttered.

“I know we will have our official meeting on Thursday but you should really consider and begin to really think about keeping your daughters this way. It might be the most beneficial thing for both of them, especially Chloe. Is Natalie adjusting to her new age?” George asked.

“Yes, she is…she seems to be just fine at 16” Jim answered.

“Then to truly benefit from the process, Chloe should probably be kept at 8 and allowed to grow up again with a better mindset for the future”

“But that’s not what we really intended to…” Jim began.

“I know Mr. Anderson but believe me; I’ve been in doing this for a very long time and this is very common and it does work out for the better when the troubled child gets a true second chance and not just a brief time out” George continued.

“Well…I…” Jim said.

“I’ll tell you what; I’ll have my staff work up the paperwork you will need if you do decide to keep your daughters at this age. We can have everything ready for a hassle free adjustment for you” George said standing up.

Jim stood up a bit dumbfounded “Okay…um…my wife and I will discuss we’ve talked about today”

“Good…excellent…” George said extending his hand. “I look forward to our meeting on Thursday evening Sir”

“Yes…me too” Jim said as he exited the office. He lingered in the lobby for a few minutes absorbing the conversation “Keep Chloe at 8 and Nat at 16…I…maybe…what will Dani think?”

On Thursday morning, Jim and Danica set an alarm. They were heading out for a day of fishing on the ocean and needed to be at the dock on the beach by 7.

Chloe got up and ready quickly while it was more of a struggle with Natalie. She was groggy and cranky but got on a pair of blue shorts, a white t-shirt and some canvas sneakers. She pulled her dark blonde hair into a ponytail and slept walked down to the shore.

She perked up some when she saw the other family that was waiting to board. She smiled and gave a shy little wave to Ryan which was returned to her.

Natalie’s heart fluttered in her chest as she approached. She could see Ryan’s Dad roll his eyes and turn his back for a second before he turned politely and introduced himself to Jim and Danica.

Hank’s wife Pam was also there for the journey along with Ryan and Caleb. He leaned down to Ryan “Don’t get any ideas mister”

“No sir” Ryan responded but his eyes were focused on Natalie’s long legs.

Hank and Jim talked as they headed out to sea as did Danica and Pam. Caleb ran around hanging off the side while Chloe stayed glued to her Mom’s hip.

Natalie took a seat at the back of the boat and Ryan sat by her but not next to her; he kept a seat in between them to his Dad’s approval. But as they trip went longer and the sun rose higher, Natalie took off her t-shirt to reveal a silver bikini top “I was burning up in that long shirt” she said.

Ryan squirmed in his seat but just smiled. He understood what was on the line today; he had to be perfect: A perfect gentleman in the eyes of Natalie and his father.

They talked and chatted until they reached their fishing spot. Natalie took out her ponytail and shook out her hair letting it fall over her shoulders. She put on sunglasses as the Captain handed out poles and gave instructions.

Ryan made sure he stayed next to his Dad as they fished. Caleb actually caught the biggest one and he crowed like a maniac as he reeled and reeled on it. Hank had to help and Ryan held the net when they finally got it up.

Natalie clapped for them as they got their pictures taken.

After the big catch, it quieted down as the fish weren’t biting. Natalie went back to the bench seats and took a rest. She had her right foot up on the bench and she was resting her chin on her knee when Ryan sat down by her.

“Hey” was all he mustered up to say.

“Hey back” Natalie responded with a smile.

“Do you think…?” Ryan sputtered.

Natalie raised her eyebrows in anticipation of his question.

“Do you think that we could say goodbye before we both leave?”

“Yes; I’d like that” Natalie replied. Both had their own motives; neither knew that they were both actually kids in bumped up bodies and both were anxious to experience something adult like in their limited time they had left.

Chloe hadn’t ventured very far away from the wall of the cabin and had a look of pure terror on her face the whole day. “I’m scared Mommy” she whispered to her Mom.

“It’s okay honey…we won’t let anything happen to you…don’t worry” Danica told her daughter.

Chloe gripped Danica hand tight, refusing to even look at the water. “I just don’t like it out here…its scary”

“We’ll be going back in soon honey, we thought you’d like this” Danica said hugging Chloe tight.

“I don’t like it out here” she admitted.

“I know” Danica replied.

“I love you Mommy” Chloe said sincerely.

Danica’s heart melted; she looked down and saw her sweet girl in her arms; a girl she thought she had lost. In that moment, Danica made up her mind.

As the boat’s engine fired up after 2 hours out, Danica made her way over to her husband to say “I know what I want to happen”

Jim looked at his wife a bit surprised but said nothing.

“The girls stay like this” was all she said before she walked away with Chloe still holding her hand.

Back at the dock, they all disembarked and began to walk back up to the hotel. Just as they were getting close, Natalie said “I forgot my t-shirt”

Ryan jumped back and sprinted toward the boat “I’ll get it!” he yelled.

Hank grunted but kept on going inside, he had burned his arms and wanted to get some aloe on it.

Ryan returned with the shirt and a smile “Here you go” he said as he handed it over.

“Thanks” Natalie said and with that, she leaned over and kissed his cheek.

Ryan blushed bright red as she jogged off to catch up with her family.

The Andersons settled into their room to rest a bit with Natalie heading off to the Jacuzzi to rest. Chloe took this as her opportunity to talk to her parents “Mommy…Daddy…I have a question to ask”

“Sure honey” Danica said.

“Why do you want to rob me of my real age?” she asked with a serious expression on her face.

“Wh…what are you talking about honey?” Danica asked sitting up straight.

“I heard what you said to Dad and I think it means that I’m going to stay as an 8 year old and you’re going to let Natalie keep my age and stay at 16”

“Um…well…to be perfectly honest…your Father and I have been talking about…” Danica began hesitantly.

“That’s not right and it’s no fair!” Chloe said stomping her foot “I don’t deserve to be 8 again…I’m 16 dammit!”

“See…it’s your attitude that got you here and it’s your attitude and mouth that’s going to keep you here” Jim said.

“No! I know I’ve made some mistakes but this is ridiculous. You can’t just trap me in the body of a little girl when I’m not anymore. I grew up and I’m almost an adult”

“Almost an adult isn’t an adult and your mistakes are quite lengthy…you think I didn’t see the condom package on your floor when I kicked that scrawny little shit out of the house you were smoking with?” Jim said.

Chloe didn’t think her Dad had seen it. “Underage sex…underage drinking…smoking illegal drugs…skipping school…getting caught stealing shirts out of the Macy’s…and those honestly are just the ones I know about. I shiver to even think about what you’ve done that I don’t know about” Jim concluded.

Chloe sucked in her bottom lip.

“So yes…your Mother and I have decided that you have so much growing up to do that you can do it all over again. If you don’t want to spend 10 years growing back up the right way in a nice safe environment, then we can let you go back to 16 and you’ll spend the next 20 years in prison at the rate you’re going”

Chloe swallowed and looked down at the floor: She knew her fate and that she had been beat.

“When you sister gets back, we’re going to dinner and then you two are going to a concert that out on the deck while we discuss our final arrangements with Mr. Cunningham” Danica said. “I’m sorry; I really am, but this is the only way we have to help save you from yourself. In time, you’ll see why we did it and appreciate it”

Chloe began to cry and ran out the room to her bedroom slamming the door shut behind her. “This isn’t fair!” screamed her mind as she threw herself on the bed, pounding her fists and kicking her feet in rage.

She let herself go for about 10 minutes before a sense of calm began to creep over her, thoughts from the back of her mind allowing her to relax and look at her situation in a different light. “Okay” she thought “You have to make the best of this…you might still be able to switch back but if you don’t find that way then how do you make this work to your advantage”

“I can make Natalie’s life miserable in ways that only a little sister can” she thought “I shouldn’t give my parents any reason to somehow keep in some perpetual time loop though…10 years from now they could just make me little again…maybe even younger than this…I don’t want to end up in diapers. By that time they could make me a baby and have Natalie adopt me and I’d have to grow up with her as my Mom”

It was then that Chloe made the most mature decision of her life so far “If I’m really stuck like this, then I have to just behave and be on my best behavior and not give them any reason to keep me a kid”

Chloe came back out when she heard Natalie come in and go to her room. “I’m sorry for my overreaction” she told her parents.

They exchanged a look between them before saying “Thank You…you realize now that we’re doing what’s best for you”

“Yes, I do” Chloe said.

After dinner, Natalie took Chloe by the hand and led her outside to the concert; a local band was playing for the guests while Jim and Danica headed for the office of George Cunningham.

“Come in…would you like anything to drink?” George said greeting them at his door.

“No thank you” Danica replied as she smoothed out her skirt and sat down.

“So…what are we thinking we should do with Natalie and Chloe?” George asked as he sat.

Jim let out a sigh “Well…we think we’re going to take your suggestion and keep them like this”

“Excellent choice!” George said. “I think you’ll be very happy with the results…now you might get a bit of being upset from Chloe but in the long run, you’re doing the right thing” he said as he took out a thick folder.

“Now you’ve already said that they are adjusting well but we will require a session with them to swap out a portion of their minds” he raised his hand when he saw Jim and Danica’s eyes open wider “I ensure you that nothing about their personalities or self-awareness will change, just a few knowledge things that will need to go to Natalie from Chloe will be swapped; school things mostly.
“Oh…Ok” Jim replied.

George opened the folder and spread the contents out. New passports and birth certificates had been created reflecting their new ages and faces along with other paperwork that would be need including school records and enrollments were all there.

“I guess we need all of this” Danica said picking up Natalie’s birth certificate that now read March 2nd, 2000 while Chloe’s stated January 5th, 2008.

“You do…your daughters do…” George replied. “We can do the final swap tomorrow at say…4 P.M. if that works for you”

“Um…yeah…that’ll be fine” Jim said softly.

“Excellent” George replied standing up.  He escorted them from the room and as they left, Jim nodded and said Hello to Hank and Pam Matthews who were waiting outside as the next appointment.

Jim and Danica held hands as they went out to the deck and joined their daughters as the band played on. “Our new family portrait” Jim thought as they stood swaying to the music.  

As Danica and Chloe sat down to listen, Jim tapped Natalie on the shoulder and indicated for her to follow him. Once away from the crowd, he told her the news “Nat…we’ve decided that it would be for the best if we keep you and your sister this way permanently…are you going to be okay with that?”

Natalie’s eyes went wide and her eyebrows went up “Oh My God are you kidding me! This is so awesome…no way…” she said. “I get to stay at 16…I get to be the big sister from now on”

Jim nodded “Yes you do but you have to show that you deserve it and…”

“Oh I will I won’t let you down and I won’t make you regret this…oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!”

“Now tomorrow we’ll complete the process with swapping out some last minute things between you and your sister…school knowledge…things that will make you fully 16 and her 8 you know”

“Will I be able to drive?!” Natalie asked.

Jim nodded and pulled a driver’s license out of his pocket and handed it to her.

Natalie’s mouth hung open as she looked at it in her hand. “My hand…” she thought. “It will never be small again…I don’t have to shrink back down…I get to keep this body”

“Thank You” Natalie said throwing her arms around her Dad’s neck and hugging him hard.

“Just don’t gloat around your sister” he reminded her.

“I won’t…I promise” Natalie replied, her mind reeling with all the possibilities that had changed for her.

Natalie couldn’t sleep that night and she found herself out on the beach watching the sunrise on Friday morning. She never heard the footsteps behind her and as a result, nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard her name spoken.

“Oh I’m so sorry I scared you” Ryan said as she caught her breath.

“No…it’s…it’s fine…” she said “I was hoping to see you again before we left”

“Really” Ryan said. “I wanted to see you too”

“I was just…” Natalie thought about how she could keep in touch with Ryan now and that her distance was gone “I thought maybe we could chat or text once we went back home”

“I…” Ryan hesitated “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea” he said blushing.

“Oh” Natalie said a bit heartbroken.

“It’s not that I don’t want to…you are the most awesome girl I’ve ever met and I’ll think about you every day…it’s just…”

It hit Natalie then and there; her hand flew to her mouth “Oh!”

Ryan nodded sheepishly.

“Oh…I get it…you’re…oh…um…”

“I’ll be 12 in a few hours” Ryan admitted. “But it could be worse; I came here as a 7 year old…my brother and I are splitting our years and becoming twins. My Dad doesn’t think I’m ready to be 17 yet and he doesn’t want my brother back at 17 again so…”

“I’ll let you in on my secret then too; I was 8 last week but I’m staying at 16 now” Natalie confided.

“Lucky” Ryan said. “I guess that’s why we got along so good” Ryan said “We’re both just little kids in big bodies”

Natalie laughed “I’m glad we met this week Ryan”

“Yeah, me too” Ryan responded. “I’d better get back before anybody else wakes up though”

“Hey wait a minute” Natalie said. She took him by his waist and pulled him closer “Let me give you something to think about” she said as she kissed him full on the lips.

Ryan closed his eyes; he would definitely remember this as the kiss went on for over a minute.

“Now there’s something to think about” Natalie said with a smile that melted Ryan’s heart.

He stumbled off over the sand back to hotel glancing and waving as he went “Bye Natalie…I’ll never forget you”

“I won’t forget you either” she said to herself.

When Chloe got up, she lifted her feet up under the covers “That’s all the bigger I am from now on” she told herself. She ran her tongue around her mouth touching the mismatched set of adult and baby teeth. “Losing teeth again” she thought as she sat up and swung her legs out.

She put her hands on her skinny thighs and looked down at her flat chest “At least I know what I’ll look like as a teenager so zits a plenty, here I come again” she thought sarcastically.

She looked around the room and found her tiny bathing suit to put on. “At least I don’t have to worry and obsess over how I look every second of every day” she thought as she put green shorts and a pink t-shirt on over the bathing suit. “Maybe Natalie will be a better big sister to me than I was to her” she thought. “It’ll be weird having to watch her go off to college first and get married first…have kids even”

Chloe came out into the living room with a weary smile on her face. Natalie had just come back up from the beach and they were alone; their parents were still sleeping.

“Hey” Natalie said somewhat nervously as she swept her hair behind her ears.

“Hey…big sis” Chloe said.

“Um…I just want you to know that I never asked for this” Natalie said.

“I know” Chloe replied “I did this to myself”

“I…uh...are you mad?’ Natalie asked.

Chloe looked up to her sister “Not at you” she replied. “I’m still mad at the situation but I just hope you can learn from me and not fuck up like I did”

Natalie chuckled hearing her little sisters’ foul mouth.

“Just…” Chloe started “Just be nice to me and watch out for me okay”

“I will; I promise” Natalie replied.

“You deserve it. You deserve to be the big sister” Chloe admitted.

“Um…Thanks” Natalie replied. “You want some breakfast…I can get down a bowl for your cereal”

Chloe blushed a little; she couldn’t reach the dishes “Thanks” she replied as Natalie got everything out for her.

The Andersons headed for the beach to spend their last full day on vacation. Chloe was going to enjoy herself and she hoped her friend Sarah would join her.

They trudged through the lobby heading out with all their supplies for the day when Chloe saw Sarah across the lobby “Sarah!” she yelled out.

Sarah turned and smiled “I’m sorry Chloe, I can’t go to the beach today, we’ve got other plans now”
“Oh man” Chloe replied. “I wanted to play again today”

“Sorry” Sarah said before her Mom took her hand “Come along Sarah, we can’t be late” she said as she led her down the hall.

“Are you coming Chloe” her Dad called out.

“Um…In a second, I have to go to the bathroom” she said.

“Okay…just use the one in the lobby and then come out, you know where we’ll be” Jim said.

“I’ll be there in a minute” Chloe replied.

She didn’t have to go to the bathroom; she knew that the hall Sarah was going down led to the lab where she had gotten regressed and now she wanted to see what was going on down there.

Chloe crouched down outside the door behind a plant. She could see inside and her mouth hung open at what she saw. Sarah was standing on a platform and her sister Ellie was on the other. She couldn’t hear anything through the glass but as they stood, numbers came on above their heads.

Ellie had a goofy smile on her face but Sarah was very serious looking. Ellie’s numbers read Age 18, height 5’3” weight 122lbs while Sarah’s read Age 5, height 3’8” weight 36lbs.

Sarah put on a very large shirt over her head. It came down to the ground while her sister had one on that came to just below her waist. Sarah was barking out orders from the look of things as her mouth never stopped and her fingers pointed around the room.

While Chloe couldn’t hear words, she could hear the hum of the computers and equipment kick into high gear; it was a sound she remembered all too well. “She was a teen all this time too!” she realized.

Ellie’s age number dropped to 17 but she still looked the same while Sarah spurted up 2 inches and 4 pounds as she went up to 6.

Chloe watched in fascination as Sarah continued to grow and Ellie began to shrink. Ellie’s shirt deflated and her weight went down before her height but it was watching her face that was most interesting to Chloe. Little by little her maturity left her, replaced by more youthful features slowly but surely.

Sarah was getting taller and taller; her legs poked out from under the lifting shirt and her dark hair grew long and wild.

Two young teens stood side by side until Sarah overtook Ellie in age, height and weight. Ellie was laughing in joy, obviously happy to be returning to her true age of 5. She pulled her shirt tight and twisted back and forth as she lost her massive breasts completely. Chloe tried to lip read when it looked like she said “No more boobies”

Ellie was disappearing into her shirt while Sarah looked about ready to pop out of hers. Her chest was growing and lifting the shirt up, exposing her lifting and rounding ass, her lithe hips and her full thighs.

As Sarah’s age returned to 18, her height read 5’6” and her weight was 133lbs. Chloe’s mouth hung open; Sarah was gorgeous. Her features had sculpted into a vision of perfection; luscious lips, big brown eyes, long lashes, small straight nose, perfect chin and strong jaw all framed by a mane of black hair.

Ellie was tiny; age 5 height 3’7 weight 33lbs. She jumped off her platform and ran full speed to her big sister, wrapping her arms around her legs and hugging her for all she was worth. Sarah looked equally happy as she returned the hug and patted Ellie on the top of head before she went back to turning and examining her body, making sure it had returned to her exactly in the same condition she remembered it.

Chloe began to back away, creeping down the hallway as close to the wall as she could be, glancing over her shoulder back at the room. “Oof” she heard as she hit something in front of her.

“What are you doing down here?” Caleb asked her.

“I…uh…what…uh…nothing” Chloe sputtered out.

Ryan and Hank came around the corner next “Leave her alone Caleb” Ryan said.

Hank scowled but just said “Run along little one….this is no place for you to be by yourself”

Chloe scampered away and found her Mom standing in the lobby looking very upset. “Get over here now young lady” she said.

Chloe dipped her chin and ran to her Mom “I’m sorry! I saw my friend Sarah and I followed her to see if she was coming to play and…and instead…I saw her turn back into a teenager…I’m sorry Mommy…I’m sorry!” she was full out crying by the end.

Danica hugged her daughter tightly “It’s alright…it’s okay…just calm down honey”

Chloe continued to cry as they went out to the beach. She played some, but her heart just wasn’t in to it today.

They stayed out at the beach for a little bit longer before they were all hot and ready to just relax in their room.

As they went through the lobby, Natalie stopped dead in her tracks at the sight she saw. Hank and Pam Matthews were fighting a luggage cart by the front doors as they loaded up their items into the shuttle that would drive them to the airport. Right behind them stood two boys; young teenagers by their looks.

Natalie walked over, her heart pounding in her chest as they didn’t see her. “Goodbye Ryan” she said simply to the shaggy haired 12 year old boy who stood several inches shorter than her now.

The skinny boy spun upon hearing his name and looked directly into Natalie’s bikini clad chest before looking up and into her eyes. He blushed hard seeing the difference in them now but he smiled and said “Goodbye Natalie…I promise I won’t forget you”

Caleb mocked his brother by repeating his words in an annoying sing song voice.

“Shut up Caleb or I’ll kick your ass” Ryan said.

“We all know you can’t so shut your pie hole ya dink” Caleb told him.

“You know I’m older than you still” Ryan retorted.

“By 7 minutes officially…yeah…I was told but we know the truth” Caleb said.

“But I’m also bigger than you” Ryan shot back.

“Guys…please don’t fight” Natalie said. She leaned over and gave Ryan a quick kiss on the cheek which made him blush even more.

She smiled and ran off without another word.

At 4, Natalie and Chloe found themselves back in the lab. They didn’t have to stand on the platforms this time, instead, they were sitting in chairs across from one another with wires ran to their temples.

Chloe kicked her feet back and forth as they dangled above the ground while Natalie just looked a bit nervous. She drummed her legs up and down and fidgeted in her chair while the preparations continued.

“Remember your promise” Chloe said as the humming noise began to rise.

“I will” Natalie responded. She smiled and put her hands out. Chloe put her small hands in her sisters and they held on tight. Natalie closed her eyes as thoughts filled her head. Chloe’s eyes also shut against the light as various simple scenes seemed to play out for her.

It was over in a matter of seconds. Both girls were surprised when the humming dies down and the wires were removed. “How do you feel?” George asked as he stood nearby.

“Great” Natalie replied. She rubbed her temples for a moment as she realized that her mind had been filled with additional knowledge. She began to assess new facts and figures; when she thought about driving, she knew she could do it.

Chloe smiled and hopped out of the chair “Can we still play some more tonight before we have to leave in the morning?” she asked.

“Of course” Jim answered.

“Yea! Let’s get outta this dumb old lab then and get back to the beach” Chloe said already at the door.

“I think she’s just fine if you ask me” George replied.

The next morning brought them to the airport where an overexcited Chloe endlessly annoyed an overtired Natalie. Natalie took the window seat on the plane for their journey home despite Chloe’s protests. “Quiet shrimp…I’m trying to sleep” she told her once they were buckled in.

Chloe just shook her head “Teenagers…” she mumbled to herself.