Geri woke up suddenly. She had just had a dream she could not remember except that it had been both pleasant and surprising at the same time. Assuming it had been one of her special dreams and it would sort itself out soon enough, she slipped out from under the pink sheets and got out of bed. Margaret, her cat familiar, remained asleep, curled up in a circle at the foot of the queen-sized bed.
Geri went to the bathroom. After using the toilet, she stepped onto the recently purchased stepstool and washed her hands and face. The cute little girl’s face that greeted her in the mirror was still a bit of a surprise -- her having become a cute little girl only a few days ago. She looked at the boring white toothpaste tube she used to use and instead picked up the brightly colored toothpaste tube with bubble gum flavored toothpaste. The so-called adult toothpaste was too nasty for her to use.
When she finished, she picked up the hair brush and ran it through her long, straight, chestnut colored hair until there were no longer any signs of bed head. Stepping off the stepstool, she went out to the living room. She touched the figurine of a woman doing a high kick with one hand. She snapped her fingers and the figurine grew into Mei, the former Mr. Chin. “Morning, Mei.” Mei was wearing a white, button-down blouse with a high collar and vertical pleating, a navy blue, knee-length pencil skirt, black opaque stockings, and a pair of blue leather shoes with a low, wide, chunky heel.
“Good morning, Geri. Your usual breakfast?”
“Yes.” She returned to her bedroom to get dressed as Mei started making scrambled eggs. Opening her closet made Geri sigh. All the clothes were girly but part of her felt they were not girly enough. Apparently her change had not just been cosmetic, she thought. She should take Tammy up on her offer to take her clothes shopping at some point.
She carefully put her pajamas in the laundry basket before changing her underwear: pink today, with a pattern of small strawberries. She pulled on some white tights and put a yellow dress with green polka dots and puffy short sleeves over top. She went to her dresser and put on a pair of barrettes, also yellow, to keep her hair from falling over her eyes. She skipped into the dinette area and sat at the table. A carton of orange juice was sitting next to her glass. She carefully poured herself a serving, the juice carton feeling heavy to her thin limbs.
Mei turned around with a plate in hand. She had put on an apron before starting to cook. She said, “You’re looking lovely today, Dear.”
“So are you, Mei. That skirt is rather flattering.”
“The magic allows me to pick out my outfit when I am summoned, I saw this in a catalog yesterday. Still it feels a bit like cheating. I don’t have to spend the time actually getting dressed or doing my hair and makeup.”
“We could make it so you are wearing the kung fu uniform worn by the figurine when summoned. Buy you a wardrobe.”
“I don’t want to burden you financially.”
“Maybe only once a week come out in the robe and get dressed.”
“I’ll try that after we have some clothes for me to wear. Also, I have to do some food shopping today.”
“Oh, in the mail yesterday, the credit card in your name finally arrived so you can access my account directly instead of us going to the cash machine again. It’s on the shelf there.”
Mei picked it up. The name on the card was Mei Chin. “I’ll sign the back before I leave.”
Geri finished her meal and went to the corner of her living room that was her home office. She sat on the booster seat she had added to the desk chair and began working. She was glad she had a job she could do entirely with email, IM, and a spell that repitched her voice when she was on the occasional conference call.
Mei ate her own breakfast before cleaning up. “I’m leaving now,” she announced. Geri just waved at her, engrossed in her work.
There were two sets of knocks at the door before Geri noticed. She opened the door and a man was there. “Oh, hello,” he said sweetly. “Is your father home?”
“I believe your business is with me,” Geri said and stepped back holding the door open.
The man pondered this for a moment before entering. “Isn’t your father the witch?”
Geri walked into the living room. “No, I am. You were here last week to pick up Amy, weren’t you?”
“There was no little g-- woah, what’s that?” The man said as he saw the statue of the old witch.
“She is none of your concern. And I was there. I just didn’t look like this last week. Do you mind sitting down so I don’t have to look up at you?”
The man laughed and sat down, “I’m sure there’s a long story behind your new look. But I suppose I should get down to business. Amy is still a mannequin and I don’t know what to do about it.”
“What is your name? I believe you gave me a card but I probably lost it when dealing with that.” She pointed to the statue again.
“Oh, my name is Brad Williams. Amy is my girlfriend. We’re supposed to go to the Bahamas Friday. But she’s still a mannequin and that was supposed to stop yesterday.”
“Don’t you have her changing stone?” Geri said sitting on the arm of the chair adjacent to the man’s seat.
“Changing stone?” the man said. “Oh, you said something about Amy handing you a stone. Is that the stone you meant?”
“Yes, I remember now. It was made of agate I think. I didn’t give it to you? Then it must be in here somewhere.” She looked around the room. “Now I remember.” She got up and laid down on the floor next to the couch looking under it. “Margaret?” she called out.
The cat walked into the room. Geri sat up and said, “Margaret, there’s a stone under the couch in the back, can you fetch it?”
The cat stared at the girl and then licked one of its paws.
“Margaret, I know you understand me. Get the rock or you go back to dry food only.”
The cat glared at the little girl and then scurried under the couch. A moment later the rock rolled out from under the sofa. Geri picked it up.
“Your cat understands English?”
“Another long story.” She handed the rock to the man. “Touch Amy with this rock and say ‘woman’ and she should turn back to normal.”
“Does that work the other way too?”
“If you mean will touching her with the rock and saying ‘mannequin’ turn her into a mannequin? Yes, it does work that way too. The rock only works on her.”
“That’s mildly disappointing.”
“You intend to turn her into a mannequin again?”
“If she’s willing. For all I know she’s hated the last couple weeks of being a mannequin.”
“It’s good that you care about her.”
“I am her boyfriend. Not some stranger with a mannequin fetish.”
“Instead you’re her boyfriend with a mannequin fetish.”
“Well, maybe.”
“I don’t judge.”
“May I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“You were in your thirties and a man the last time I saw you. Why are you an eight years old girl now? I don’t judge either.”
She pointed at the statue. “She couldn’t accept a male witch. We had a magical dual that I believe I won. But there were side effects on both of us.”
“What happens if child services notices you’re a little girl who lives alone?”
“My presumed ‘guardian’ is out shopping at the moment. It should not be a big deal.”
“I see. It’s just the lack of age appropriate toys and books is suspicious. So you might want to acquire some before someone notices.”
“That is a good idea,” Geri said standing up. “I will do that. And I’ll let you go restore your girlfriend.”
Brad stood up and walked to the door with her. “Well, thanks for the rock. Good day.”
“Good day.” She said. As she closed the door, she saw a woman and her daughter stepping onto the elevator. The other girl saw her and waved. She waved back as the doors closed.
* * *
Mei started lunch when Tammy arrived. Geri stopped working when she arrived.
“Tammy, someone pointed out that my apartment lacks age appropriate toys. Any ideas what I should get?”
“Well, you need some plush toys for your bed. I was thinking about getting you some. And dolls. You have no dolls.”
“What do I need dolls for?”
“For playing let’s pretend by yourself. You’re a little old for a tea set.”
“My daughter loved her tea set,” Mei said.
“Actually, I have an idea,” Geri said. She got up and went to the living room. Tammy followed. “I’ve tried several times to turn this statue back into a human and each time the spell fizzled.”
“Or turned the couch pink.”
“I fixed that. But maybe I can turn her into something smaller so she doesn’t take up so much space.”
“Like a doll. Oh, and accessories and spare clothes.”
“Like what?”
“There’s a lot of mass here. Don’t just turn her into a doll. Also turn her into the clothing and stuff a doll has.”
Geri was about to speak when she blinked slowly. “This was my dream this morning.”
“So you have your own wish to fulfill. Perfect.”
“I hope so.” Geri said then followed it with words in the magic speech no one understood. The statue shimmered and started shrinking. When the spell ended, the statue was gone. In its place was a pink box containing “Esme, the Witch”, a doll that could easily be part of the line of toys associated with the most popular doll of the last century. Leaning against the box was an array of clothing packages.
“This is so cool,” Tammy said, picking up the box. “Look, there’s a cauldron and a broom. She also has a pointy hat.”
“And she dresses like she’s hoping to get lucky on a date,” Mei said. She was flipping through the clothing packages. “These dolls were much less risqué when my daughter was young.”
Tammy opened the box and took the doll out after taking a scissors to the packaging holding the doll in place. She handed the doll to Geri. The doll was of a young twenty something woman with long black hair, large blue eyes, tan skin, big breasts, an insanely narrow waist, long legs, and feet permanently shaped to fit into heels. It was wearing a costume one might find in a Halloween shop: a black pointy hat with a wide brim, a black, fitted dress with a purple pentagram embossed on the front, the sleeves were long and made of black faux-leather. Her legs were covered by a pair of black and purple striped leggings and a black wrap made from tulle. It had tiny pentagrams embedded in it. The shoes were also black with a long stiletto heel.
Geri laughed. “It’s a good thing Esmerelda here can’t see this getup.”
“Lunch is ready,” Mei said and the three of them sat down to eat at the dining table. When they were done Tammy put on her hat and became Fifi. “I’ll clean the table,” Mei said territorially.
“I know, Madam.” Tammy said. She got up and went to the living room to clean up.
Geri came into the room shortly. “Fifi, do not throw that box away. I’ll need it later. Collect all the packaging inside the box and then put the box on the shelf there.” She did not mention the thin red ethereal line connecting the doll to the box. She reminded herself to check that out later.
“As you wish. What should I do with ze doll and ze clothing?”
“The clothing should fit in the draw in the coffee table. Leave the doll on the coffee table. I’ll play, I mean, deal with her later.”
“Oui, Mademoiselle,” Fifi said with a smile.
Geri got back to work. There was a timid knock on the door a few hours later. Tammy had already left. Geri looked up from her desk and noticed Mei had returned to figurine form when she was not looking. She got up and answered the door. The girl from the elevator was there.
“Hi,” Geri said.
“Hi,” the girl said.
They stood at the door for a moment. “Do you want to come in?” Geri asked.
The girl nodded and entered. “My name’s Beth.”
“Geri.”
“Like a boy?”
“No, Gee Ee Ar I. Geri.”
“Oh. Beth is short for Elizabeth. But that’s an icky name.”
“Too long?”
“It has a zee in it,” Beth said looking around the living room. “Do you want to play?”
“I’m busy,” Geri said. “I have homework.”
“Oh. I don’t have homework today. Do you need help?”
“No, thanks.”
“When you are done, can you come to my apartment and play? 307.”
“If I can.”
“Okay.” Beth said heading for the door. “Don’t be long.”
“If I can.” Geri said as Beth pulled the door closed behind her.
Geri touched the figurine and snapped her fingers. Mei appeared and said, “Geri, it’s too early to start dinner.”
“A little girl just stopped by. She wanted to know if I could play with her.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“I don’t know how to play with a little girl.”
Mei laughed. “It’s not rocket science. Besides, I said I’d look like this so you wouldn’t be alone as you explored your new form. So as your mother analog I demand that you go play with this girl.”
“Her name is Beth.” Geri said. “I told her I had to finish my homework first.”
“Fine. Finish your work for the day in the next half hour and then go play with Beth.”
Soon, Geri found herself outside apartment 307. Mei knocked. A woman opened the door. “You must be Geri,” she said looking down at her. She extended her hand toward Mei. “Hi, I’m Evette.” She turned her head and called, “Elizabeth, you have company.” She opened the door wide revealing a corridor, much like her own apartment, but the layout was the mirror image of hers.
“My name is Mei,” Mei said, shaking Evette’s hand.
Beth entered the hallway from a door to an extra bedroom Geri’s apartment lacked. She waved Geri toward her. “C’mere, my room is this way.”
Geri followed Beth in as the two adults continued talking by the door. The room was a cacophony of pinks and purples. The walls were a pale violet. A twin poster bed with a pink ruffled canopy was against the far wall. Half of it was covered in plush animals. Next to it was a large dollhouse with several dolls in various rooms. A dresser sat next to the closed closet door. The floor was neat. A miniature drafting table was in one corner and there were pencil and crayon drawings around the room on the walls. Some were signed Beth and others Elizabeth, though the zees in Elizabeth were always backwards. A shelving unit next to the dollhouse had several mass market dolls on them.
She pulled some of the dolls off the shelf and said, “Do you want Maggie or Rita?”
“Rita,” Geri said based on the way Rita was closer to her than Maggie.
“Oh, good,” Beth said, handing her the doll. She sat down on the floor and Geri followed along. Beth waved Maggie around, “Do you want to go to the beach, Rita?”
Geri mimicked the doll waving, “Sure thing, Maggie.”
After a while Beth’s mother entered the room. “Beth, Geri will have to leave in a few minutes. It’s almost time for dinner.”
“Can’t she stay for dinner?”
“No, I can’t,” Geri said. “My aunt is making dinner for me tonight.”
“You have to get cleaned up for dinner, Elizabeth, and Geri has to go home. So clean up in here and then say goodbye to Geri.”
There were a bunch of dolls and doll clothes on the floor. Geri helped Beth put them away on the shelves.
“Can you come over tomorrow?”
“I’ll have to ask my Aunt.”
“Okay.”
“Bye Geri,” Beth’s mother said as Geri passed through the kitchen.
At the door, Beth gave Geri a hug. “See you soon.”
“See you soon.” Geri returned to her apartment.
Mei had the table set and pointed to a chair, which Geri sat down on. “You were gone for three hours.”
“I was?”
“Yes. I suspect you had a good time.”
“I think I did.” She told Mei about the game of dolls they had played as she ate. Mei smiled the whole time. When Geri was done eating, she returned to the living room. Mei cleaned up the kitchen and came into the living room.
“I’m done for the day,” Mei said. She touched the figurine base and snapped her fingers, transforming into the kung fu girl figurine.
Geri said “Okay” without looking up. She was sitting on the floor by the coffee table. “Maybe today I’ll go shopping,” she said as she put a new outfit on the Esme doll.