The Hopping 2

              I set down the cabinet and wiped the beads of sweat from my face. “Phew.” I was helping my brother Tom with his yearly cleaning of his house. Normally I wouldn’t get involved in such trivial and tedious endeavors, but I decided to help out with this weekend-long project for a few reasons. One, I needed to lie low after what had happened with Fredricks Fancy recently. A meeting with Callen to get Carien’s vase back hadn’t gone very well, and now both Sarah and Carien needed a place to hide out for a few days. Carien was with her good brother for the time being while I was with my family.

              The other reason was Greta was with her own mother this weekend, trying to deal with a family emergency. She left the kids with Tommy, so he had his hands full, just trying to keep them entertained. After everything he has done for me over the years, it is the least I can do to help him out now by cleaning and keeping his boys entertained.

              Tommy’s strong hand gripped my shoulder. “How are you holding up?”

              I took in a deep breath of air. “Fine. I wish that we had more help.” I looked at Junior and Daniel roughhousing outside in the evening light. “At least they are not in the way.”

              Tommy laughed. “Ya. Last thing we need while trying to dust off the breakable stuff in the house is those two helping.” He sighed. “Thanks again, Sarah. I know this is the last place you want to be right now.”

              “Don’t mention it.” I smiled. “I would do anything for my favorite big brother.”

              He set the duster down and walked to the door. “I am your only brother. Hey, we are running low on cleaning supplies. Do you think you can make a store run?”

              I crossed my arms. “It will be dark in a half hour. By the time I get to the store, you all will be going to bed.”

              He turned around and looked at her with his hazel eyes. “We are done cleaning for tonight, but I need the supplies ready to go in the morning if we are going to have this house fully cleaned top to bottom by tomorrow.” He grabbed the pair of keys off the table and threw them at me. “Take my car and get me some. Before all of the stores close.” He took a step and then stopped. “Oh, and take the kids with you.”

              “Hey. You can’t just dump them on me.” Tommy had already turned around and walked into the other room. I raised my voice. “Don’t act like you can’t hear me. Ignoring me won’t work. Tommy!” I shook my head. “You have got to be kidding me.”

              I looked at the keys in my hand. “Well, I better get going.” I pulled at my grey jacket. “I need to get back here before it gets too late. The mosquitos are horrible up here.” I pushed open the screen door and gulped. “Ok. Daniel. Junior.” I stared at them as they punched each other in the dirt. “Hey, will you two listen to me?”

              Daniel pushed his brother to the ground and stood up. “What, Sarah?”

              I shook my head. “We need to go into town and get some stuff from the store.”

              He shook his head. “Nah. Having too much fun teaching numb nuts his place.” Junior growled from below, and Daniel laughed.

              I narrowed my eyes. “Look, I am not leaving you two here on your own, and your father already went to bed. Now get into that car or so help me I will grow so big that I will carry you to the store myself?”

              Daniel blinked. “Wait, what?”

              I shook as I looked at him. “Just get in the car.”

              He rolled his green eyes. “Ugh, fine. The bugs are starting to become a hassle anyways.” He kicked his brother. “Come on.

I need some fun on this stupid trip.”

              Junior popped up like a weed. “Hey, wait up.” He rushed after his brother as he pulled up his jeans. “I need to give you something.” He ran up to Daniel and hit him on the back of the head. “There, now we are even.” He then pulled at his ear as they stepped into the blue van. “And got you last.”

              I shook my head. “I can’t believe I have to take care of these gremlins. If this is what having kids is like, count me out.” I sighed. “I also can’t believe I said that. I will grow so big I will carry you to the store? What was I thinking? It is hard enough for me to hide the transforming and size-changing stuff from my family. That day I turned into a blueberry at my family gathering I managed to convince them I had a bodysuit on. There is no way they could deal with the insanity that goes on in my daily life.”

              I started up the van and tried to drown out the sounds of my nephews in the back seats. The engine roared to life, and in moments we were off. “Ok. I just need some quick supplies from a nearby strip mall. Get in. Get out. And dump these kids back with their father.” I shook my head. “How hard can that be?”

              I drove into town and began my search. The first store I came upon, The Handy Shop, was closed for the evening. I drove by as a young lady just locked the door to the store.

My luck with the other stores around the small town wasn’t much better. From small family-owned businesses to the massive superstores' everything was closed.

              After almost forty minutes of searching, I came across a gas station on the edge of town, which was still open. So, with a sigh of relief, I pulled into the parking lot. I was sick and tired of being at the mercy of Daniel and Junior. I turned off the engine and turned my head. “I want you two to stay here.”

              Junior shoved his brother down and looked up at me. “Why? We have just been driving around, and now you want us to just sit tight?”

              I clenched my fist. “Yes”

              He shrugged. “Ok. Don’t lose your shirt over it.” He looked at his brother. “Stay down if you know what is good for you.”

              I opened the door and shook my head. “They make it, so I don’t want kids.” I hugged myself as I walked over to the gas station. “Wow. Things are really humid tonight. Phew.”

              I pushed the door open and walked inside. “Hello?” I could see a man with red hair standing at the cash register but otherwise, I was alone in the store. “Well, this isn’t spooky at all.” The ceiling light above me blinked in and out as I walked below. I could see refrigeration units for holding beer at the far end of the store, but the store appeared to be all out. I walked down the one and only aisle in the store, looking for the cleaning supplies. “If they don’t have them, I don’t know what I am going to do. I am not going out again. Once is enough with what is waiting for me.”

              “Are those your kids?”

              I jumped as the man who had been standing behind the cash register was now in my face. He had blank green eyes that blinked awkwardly at me. “If they are, you are going to have to pay for that.”

              I looked past him to see Junior and Daniel tearing into a bag of candy. “Related to yes. Do I wish I was? No.” I walked over to them as I scratched at my arm. “What are you two doing?” I pulled at the sleeve of my shirt. “It is too hot in here for you boys to be causing trouble.”

              Daniel looked up at me. “Hot? It is cool as can be.” He held his hands up as candy shot into his face.

              I grabbed Junior by the arm. “Ok. We are going back to the car. Now.”

              “Aunt Sarah?”

              I turned my head to look at Daniel. “What?”

              “What is wrong with your hand?”

              I looked at my hand that was around Junior’s arm as thick white fur sprouted from it. I let go of my nephew and put my hand behind my back. “Umm, nothing. Just go and get in the van, will you?”

              They both looked at me in confusion. I narrowed my eyes at them and raised my voice. “Go.”

              Junior crossed his arms, and Daniel turned around. I put my other hand around my back as fur began to grow out of it as well.  What am I going to do now?

 I put my hands into my pockets. “Hey. We need to go now!”

              They looked at me. “What is wrong, Aunt Sarah?” Junior asked. “You don’t need to flip out over a bag of candy.”

              My teeth began to itch. “We just need to go before it’s too late.”

              Junior crossed his arms. “Too late for what? You are acting strange.”

              I winced as my teeth melded together and two long front teeth extended down below my chin. Junior’s eyes went wide, and Daniel pointed his right hand at me. “What is going on?”

              I wish I knew what was going on myself. I put my hands to my head as my thoughts started to become fuzzy. My hands hurt as my fingers grew, becoming short and chubby. A pad appeared on the center of my palm, and even more white hair sprouted from my skin.

              Daniel ran up to his brother. “Hey, what did you do to Aunt Sarah?”

              “Me? Why do you think I did this?”

              I shook my head. “Quiet. I need to figure out what to. . .” The sweet aroma of carrots drifted into my nose and wormed into my brain. I stood there and shook as I tried to keep my growing urges in check. “Junior, Daniel. I want you both to go home.”

              Junior narrowed his eyes at me. “What?”

              My ears started to grow, becoming long and floppy and covered in white fur. “I don’t have time to argue. Now get out of here.”

              Daniel grabbed his brother’s arm. “Let’s go. This is too weird.”

              “Hey.”

              I watched as they left, my shoes becoming tight. My thoughts were now a mix of concern for my nephews and finding the source of the wonderful smell. I fell down onto my massive paws as my feet burst out of my shoes. I took in deep breaths as my body continued its transformation, fur now sprouting from all over my body.

              I winced once more as I felt something push out from my rear end. I twisted to see a fluffy white tail push its way through my clothing, and moments later, my pants fall to the floor. Thankfully by this point, most of my body was covered in fur. That, though, was the last look I had before the fuzziness in my mind took over, and I blacked out.

              ***

              I awoke on my brother’s couch with the morning light in my face and smeared carrot all over my tattered clothing. I rose to a sitting position and gently touched my head. “Ugh. What happened?”

              Tommy walked into the room. “You tell me? My kids tell me you were turning into a massive rabbit last night. Is this some kind of prank?”

              I looked at my brother. “Umm.”

              He threw a bottle of cleaner at me. “Explain later. All this means is you have more of a mess to clean up.” He turned around. “But I don’t blame you. I would have come up with something just as crazy to get away from my boys.” He walked out of the room.

              I sighed. “At least they don’t believe what happened to me was real.” I wiped some of the half-eaten carrots off my body. “But I need to figure out why this happened to me again.”