SW Realm

Howdy.

I hope anyone who read That Time of the Month and Legacy found it enjoyable. I admit that my writing skills at the time I wrote those stories, still needed a lot of work. Even these days: I could do with some polishing.

This is the third in the series. Please enjoy, and by all means, if anyone can see a way that I may improve on writing skill or punctuation feel free to comment. I'm always looking to improve.


TNX *


Prologue.



“Your father is a much better driver a little buzzed, than most that are stone cold sober!” Tammy’s mother chided at her as she maneuvered her daughter into the backseat of the car.

It was the night of Tammy’s eighteenth birthday and her father wanted to take her out to celebrate it, though Tammy was certain it was just another excuse to get drunk again. But she went along with it anyway. She did have a great time at the party and met a lot of nice people not to mention some highly attractive men her age.

This however was the part she dreaded the entire night. Her father drunk and behind the wheel again. Tammy made sure her seatbelt was good and secure, but thinking to herself her father was a very good driver drunk or sober.


“Did you meet anyone we should be worried about Tam?” Her mother asked in forced conversation.

Tammy rolled her eyes exasperated bur welcoming the distraction from watching her father driving. “There was a boy there, that graduated from my school last year and he’s going to the university already.”

“Hmmm, a collage boy is it? I assume he’s in a frat house by now.”

“Frat house, mother?” Tammy said with not a little mirth. “If you mean a Fraternity, then yes, but it’s not like they’re out drinking and getting into panty raids each weekend. They’re serious college students and most of their weekend are taken up studying.”

Not really knowing if what she was saying was true, Tammy thought it best to keep her mother on the defense with this subject. Because if anything were to happen, it would be easier making it look like an innocent meeting instead of a discreet encounter.

“I don’t know, Tam. Those boys can get a bit frisky after being cooped up inside classrooms all the time.” Her mother pressed. “After all your father wasn’t such an innocent boy during our collage day. Were you dear?” Her hand slowly creeping up the leg of his pants.

Now Tammy was starting to feel ill and it had nothing to do with the slight swerving of the car. “EWWW!! Can you please not talk about you and Daddy and sex?”

Her father gave a harsh laugh. “You would be surprised at some of the things you mother would get into.” He said turning his head a little to see Tammy in the corner of his eye. “There was this time when she actually came looking for me in the library, wearing one of the lowest cut shirts I had ever seen. HA! HA! She kept dropping her pencil just to have an excuse to bend over so I could see that she wasn’t wearing a…”

“LOOK OUT!!!!!” Tammy screamed as their car blew through a red light, but not in time to avoid the huge SUV that they slammed into. The much smaller car that contained Tammy and her parents had no chance. Both vehicles spun in the intersection although the SUV not quite making a full revolution before halting.

Dizzy, her head and body racked with pain, Tammy looking through barely opened eyes saw three figures emerge from the SUV and run over to the now ruined car. Tammy closed her eyes and the last thing she heard was a kindly yet authoritative voice say, “Marry, Tina help me get these folks out of here.” After that sweet oblivion caressed her and she fell unconscious.



Chapter: one



Ken still felt a little groggy as he approached the smashed car, but he shook it off as quickly as he could, knowing that the people in the car were in critical need. He pulled open the passenger side door to check on the driver, but knew as he looked into the eyes that looked back unseeing, it was already too late.

He heard a gasp from the other side of the car looked up to see Tina looking back at him with tears in her eyes, telling him everything he needed to know about the passenger.

“She’s still breathing.” Mary said softly from the back seat of the car indicating a young woman, her face a mask of blood.

“I’ll call an ambulance and get the police out here.” Ken said softly as he fished his cell phone out of his coat pocket. Ken was certain from the smell of the man that he had to have been drinking, but couldn’t imagine why he thought he was well enough to drive. He wasn’t sure if he could fault either of the women in the car without knowing what had happened beforehand. Best to let the right people get here and do their job.

Tina, knowing that there was nothing to be done for the woman in the front seat, she opened the back door of the passenger side to see if she could help with the other girl. “How could this have happened?” Tina asked her mother. “I mean, how could they not see the red light, or even Daddy’s huge truck?”

“I don’t know, Tina.” Mary replied. “But none of them deserved this.” But before either of them could speculate any further the sounds of sirens and flashing lights brought any further discussions about the accident to a close.

The ambulance pulled up next to the totaled car, the driver asking Mary and Tina to back out of the way. His partner going immediately to the driver’s side to make the grim conclusion himself.

While Ken watched the two paramedics carefully examine the woman in the back seat, a police car had arrived and the officer walked to Ken. “You want to tell me what caused this?” The officer asked Ken bluntly.

“My wife, my daughter and I were coming home from a graduation.” Ken started to say but was cut off by the officer.

“It’s not the end of any school year I know of.” The officer said.

Ken smiled. “Not that kind of graduation. My daughter and I own a chain of taekwondo schools in town and many of our students were getting their new belt rank.”

The officer seemed to relax a little. “A fresh new population of new black belts?” he asked

“A few, but most were still in what we call the color ranking and while they may not yet have their black belt, we encourage commitment and make each rank they receive a ceremony.”

“Anyway.” The officer said. “You three were going home?”

“Yes.” Ken replied. “We were all still a bit psyched up about what we had been a part of, when we came to this intersection. I saw that we had a green light so I kept on going. Then before I could do more than hit the brakes, that car just ran right into the side of us.”

The officer looked at the ground and saw short skid marks. Then looked at the front of the SUV and saw where the left side hood was smashed in real good. He just shook his head looking at the demolished car. “Well, from the looks of it what you say it should check out, but we’re still going to need to do an onsite investigation. Just to make sure we’re covering all our bases. So that’s going to mean I need you to stay here until we finish.”

Ken nodded. “Of course. I’ll help in any way that I can.”

“Well the best way to help us now will be to just hang out here by your vehicle until we need to question you.” The officer said, trying to act a little less harsh than he knew sounded.

Ken had started to play back the accident in his head when he heard a large door slam shut. He looked up to see Mary running up to him. “They’re taking that girl to the hospital.” Mary said. “She’s in really bad shape. “They also want to take the rest of us in as well to get a proper concussion test.”

“Officer?” Ken called out and asked when he got there. “My family and I are being recommended to go with the ambulance to the hospital to check for concussion.”

The officer shook his head. I’m sorry sir but I’ll need you here for questioning. These things get resolved quicker and easier while it’s still fresh on the mind.”

“Well if I have to stay is there really any need for my wife and daughter? They’re just going to tell you the same thing I just did.”

Rubbing his chin the officer said, “I think it’ll be fine for them to go and after we’re done here I can give you a ride to the hospital as well.”

Ken turned to Mary and said, “Take Tina with you on the ambulance and if you can see about looking over that other girl as well. We don’t know if she has any other family and she may need taken care of for a while.”

Mary nodded and kissed her husband on the cheek. “Just make sure you get there too. You may be a big tough guy, but even you have limits.” With that she turned and followed Tina into the back of the ambulance.

In the time it took the doors of the ambulance to close and pull away sirens blaring, two more cars had stopped near the first police car. One was another police car, another Ken took for being an undercover car as it had no police markings, but a flashing light rested on the dash.

The three police men, two in uniforms the third in what looked to be a suit that had seen better days, went over both vehicles. They spent a good deal of time muttering to each other and pointing at Ken’s SUV, then the same amount at the skid marks finishing with the wreck that used to be a car.

It was then that Ken noticed that both the driver and passenger were still in the car in their seats. A fresh wave of grim realization came over him. Of course they were left there. An ambulance was better used to transport people who still had a chance to live.

His thoughts went back to the girl in the back seat. She couldn’t be much younger than Tina. Tina herself had just turned twenty one not that long ago. He smiled to himself. He was glad Tina hadn’t started drinking. He wasn’t sure if she ever would, but it would be her decision now.

“We’re done with our investigation.” A rough voice said drawing Ken out of his thoughts. The officer wearing the suit had come up to him with a clipboard in one hand and a radio in the other

Ken shook his head. “I’m sorry officer, kind of got me daydreaming there.”

“That’s detective, not officer.” The officer corrected, waving off Ken’s apology. “That’s quite alright. From the looks of it, I’d say you’ve had a very bad night.”

“You can say that.” Ken responded. “The driver was drunk, wasn’t he?”

The detective grimaced and replied. “And from these reports, this isn’t the first time although will certainly be the last.” He scratched his head with the end of the radio before continuing. “I’m afraid this guy was driving on a revoked license.”

Ken look concerned. “He didn’t have a license and his family let him drive anyway?”

“I don’t think they knew about it. He was first charged with dui about five years ago. He had to literally be dragged to court to face the charges. They let him off with a warning due mainly to the fact that when he was arrested he was at his job, and as such his place of employment instantly became his former place of employment.

“He was arrested again,” the detective continued. “Three years ago, dui again. Once again we had to pull him away and get him fired from yet another job. The reports say that where he was working wasn’t quite as upscale as where he had been before.”

“How would the police know this?” Ken asked. “I can’t believe that the police are that interested in what kind of work a man is doing.”

With a scoff the detective replied. “We wouldn’t be, but the people he owed money to were. You see, as his employment quality devolved, his life style never did. As a result he ran up more and more debt. But he was crafty. He managed to get any outstanding bill or notice delivered to a phony address. It was that what leads me to believe his wife and daughter knew nothing about it.”

Ken shook his head. “He had lived a lie so long that he not only convinced his family, but himself as well.”

“That about sums up this guy. “ The detective lowered his head and shook it, feeling bad about what was being said. “Look I don’t like talking bad about a man that just lost his life, but the last time he got pulled over for dui and was taken to jail, he refused a phone call. Just sat in jail for a week until a judge ordered his release and demanded that he surrender his license.

“I have no clue what he told his wife after that, but what he didn’t know was a warrant for his arrest had already been issued because of all the fraudulent debt he had”

Ken agreed that he didn’t like to think ill of the dead, but what this man had done was figuratively and literally destroyed his family. What made it worse was that they were woefully ignorant of it and were, at best, days away from their world collapsing on top of them.

All over one man’s lie.

“What’s going to happen now?” Ken asked

“Well,” The detective said. “As we’ve concluded you bear no responsibility for the accident, you’re free to go. If you need to call a tow truck we can help with the arrangements.”

“What about the girl?” Ken asked

“She was an innocent as well. If anything she’s a victim twice over.” The detective said with sadness.

“What do you mean?”

Looking back at the wreck and watching a coroners’ truck pull up, he said. “She just lost both of her parents in one night, and as her father’s doings, will undoubtedly cost her any possessions she may believe she has claim to.
“On top of all of that, she’s going to have her own debt issues for years to come for any medical bills that she’ll be racking up.” The detective shook his head and held out a hand to Ken.

Ken shook the offered hand. “Thank you for your time tonight.”

“Sorry that I didn’t have better news for you, sir.” The detective said releasing the hand shake as he turned around to walk over to the wreckage.

“So am I.” Ken whispered to himself.

Chapter: two



The ambulance raced through traffic and intersections, its siren screaming for the right of way. It carried five passengers on its errand of mercy.
The driver wore an expression of concentration and confidence. Giving all around him the feeling that no matter how fast they were going, he would get them there safe.

Mary was sitting in the passenger seat, normally reserved for the drivers’ partner. He was, however preoccupied in the back with his patient. She noticed that Tina was holding the girls’ hand and was again reminded of how much like her father she was. They still didn’t even know this girls’ name, yet Tina was doing her best to comfort her.

The paramedic had managed to get an I V into the girls’ arm, what he was giving her, Mary had no clue but it seemed to help stabilize her. He had even gotten most of the blood off her face. She was a very lovely young lady, Mary thought to herself. She couldn’t tell for sure what color her hair was, due to it being so badly matted down.

“Is she going to be alight?” Tina asked the paramedic in a quiet voice, as if anything more than a whisper would wake up the girl.

He shook his head. “I don’t know. She certainly got a broken leg and maybe a couple of ribs. What worries me the most is how much blood she’s lost. She has a rather large gash just above her forehead and below her hairline and because it didn’t have any hair to slow down the bleeding, her blood just came out unimpeded. And I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a lot of internal hemorrhaging.”

Tina tried her best to hide the horrified look on her face, but to see even this stranger in such dire straits was just the worst. She started thinking what if it were her there, or her mother, or even her father.

So deep into this thought she was that she had barely registered that the unsteady beeps from the monitor had been replaced by one long unending high pitch tone.

“Ma’am, I need you to let go now!” The paramedic said forcefully, as Tina dropped the hand and realized what it was she was hearing. Working a defibrillator with practiced speed, the paramedic had no sooner had the paddles on the girls’ partially exposed chest, had given a fast ‘clear’ warning, than was checking the monitor with a restored beep, although a very week one.

Hearing all this going on behind him, the driver yelled to the back. “We’re pulling in now!”

“I just hope we’re not too late.” His partner said in a more calm voice as they slowed to a stop outside the emergency room doors.

Tina plastered herself against the inside wall of the ambulance while both driver and paramedic rushed the girl out of the ambulance into the emergency room, it’s doors opening quickly to admit the team, that were being intercepted by a doctor.

Felling a little forgotten Mary let herself out of the front of the ambulance and walked around to the back and met her daughter who was still sitting inside with tears on her face.

“You alright, Tina?” Mary asked.

Tina shook her head slightly. “No, I’m not.” She took a breath to steady herself. “I was watching her and thinking what if it were you or daddy?”

Mary reached out her arms and hugged her daughter tightly. She knew that circumstances had made Tina the most emotionally strongest person she ever knew. But even the strongest needed support in hard times.

“But it wasn’t any of us, Tina. What’s happened to that poor girl isn’t our fault, not that it makes any difference.” Mary added seeing a stunned look on Tina’s face. “We’re still going to do everything we can to help that girl. It’s just at this point, unfortunately I don’t know what else we can do to help.”

“I know that, Mother.” Tina said, her voice still cracking from the hurt. “It was still scary when she flat lined. I thought she had died. I never want to watch someone die.”

“You wouldn’t be your father’s daughter if you did.” Mary said comforting. She knew she hit home with that last comment. No matter what Mary did, Tina had always admired her father more than anyone else. Not that Mary thought her daughter loved her less than she did her father. It was just Ken had always been her inspiration, even after she took over running all of her father’s schools nearly three years ago.

“What do we do now then?” Tina asked. Looking for something to distract herself from her freshest memory.

Mary looked around in the emergency room for any sign of the paramedics that some in with them, the doctor or even a nurse at this point. She was told by the paramedics that they needed to get a concussion test done. But where were they?

As if summoned by magic, the driver tapped Mary on the shoulder. “If you and your daughter will come with me, we’ll get those tests knocked out.” He looked a bit sheepish. “Sorry, no pun intended.”

Not completely suppressing a giggle, Mary said. “It’s quite alright. After the last hour or so I could do with some levity.”

The driver had showed them to the on call neurologist. He had given both Tina and Mary concussion tests, which they passed easily. “Better to know this way, than to guess.” He told them as he left the three of them in a small room in back of the ER.

“Now that’s done I need you to come with me.” The driver said.

Mary looked confused. “We can’t be in any trouble?”

He shook his head. “Nothing like that. It’s just that the doctor working with that girl we brought in wanted to see you as soon as you were done here.”

Following the driver deeper into the ER, Mary and Tina kept exchanging worried looks, as if afraid of what the doctor was going to either ask, or worse, tell.

They didn’t go much further when the man they were being taken to had come to find them. “Are you the girl’s mother?” The doctor asked without preamble.

“No, I’m not. But all three of us were in the same accident, that I’m afraid her parents were killed in.” Mary added quickly.

The doctor looked over to the driver, who nodded indicating Mary was being truthful. “I see.” The doctor said. Looking as if each word he was going to use next were well chosen.

“What’s going on with her?” Tina asked rather impatiently.

“We’re in a very serious situation here.” The doctor said trying to be delicate. “I’ve been advised that the paramedic on board has speculated about the girls’ injuries and I agree with it. Especially the internal hemorrhaging.”

Mary tried to keep a strong face, wishing that Ken were here. “Is there anything you can do for her?”

He nodded. “I’ll need to operate immediately, but I’m faced with two major obstacles’.”

“What are those?”

“First off I’ll need consent.”

She looked shocked. “You need consent to save someone’s life?”

“If she had come in here without anyone, then I’d do it without hesitation. But since you have come in with her and she is, for all intents and purposes a Jane Doe, I am required to get consent from whomever brings her in.” He said rather hurriedly.

“Fine then I give it for what it’s worth, just save the poor girl.”

The doctor handed her a clipboard and showed her where to sign. “Now that’s the easy part.”

“What’s the hard part then?” Mary asked.

He shook his head. “We need blood.” When Mary looked confounded he said. “A problem is her blood type is, a b negative. Our blood banks have been low and sometimes out of that type of blood. It may take longer than she has to get some here.”

“I’m afraid I can help you there at all, doctor.” Mary said sadly.

“My blood type is o negative!” Tina said suddenly.

Mary turned her head sharply at her daughter who covered her mouth quickly as if she could take back what she had said.

“Is this true?” The doctor asked Mary.

She nodded and asked the doctor. “Will o negative work with a b negative?”

He look at Mary gravely. “If your daughter truly has that blood type, then she could very well be the only one in the world who can save this girls’ life.”

“It’s the only way.” Tina said stoically. Mary knew that look on her face too. Tina had spent the last three years perfecting it. Tina had made up her mind and there wasn’t anything Mary could do about it.

“Wait here, I’ll send a nurse to bring you to the O R for an emergency transfusion.” The doctor said quickly as he hurried off.

The driver sensing the tension rising between Mary and Tina decided it was time to get back to his ambulance.

After hearing his foot falls fade into the distance Mary locked eyes with Tina. “You know there is something ELSE in your blood as well!!”

Tina not the least bit deterred ever after hearing Mary emphasize the word ELSE. “I know that, but what choice do we have? Is protecting this secret worth the life of another human being?”
“Of course not, but if your father were here he would…”

“He would agree with me.” Tina interrupted. Her mother was still a good half a head taller than she was, but Tina quit being intimidated by that a long time ago. “Besides, who’s to say that anything other than saving this girls’ life will happen?”

Mary, not taking her eyes off of her daughter’s softened her expression. “You’re a grown woman now, Tina and you have to make these decisions for yourself. Just please consider every time something like this has come along we’ve ended up regretting it.”

“I haven’t. But to do nothing to save a life is just as bad as someone betraying us. No it’s worse because we’d be betraying ourselves.” Tina concluded still standing her ground.

“I swear I don’t know how, but I sometimes think you’re more like your father than he is.” Mary said with watery eyes. Partly due to how good a person her little girl had grown up to become, and partly because she hoped that she was wrong about what might happen if the worst came to pass.


Chapter: three


Ken never felt comfortable in hospitals. The only good memory from ever being in one was when Tina was born. Other than that, they always felt to him to be the harbinger of bad news. He never blamed the people that brought said bad news, as it wasn’t really their fault and saw no reason to shoot the messenger. Now here he was again in another hospital, knowing that this time he would be the one bringing bad news with him, but wasn’t sure how to tell a girl that he didn’t know that her life may be ruined.

He was told by the receptionist that he was expected and was told to meet his wife in the ICU waiting room. Assuming the worst he hurried down the corridors, following the signs until he saw a large glass wall, with more than a few people inside. Mary saw him enter and waved him over to where she was sitting next to Tina, who looked a little pale with a bandage on the left arm and leaning against the armrest.

“How’re my two favorite ladies?” Ken asked as he sat across from Mary, keeping his daughter in his vision still wondering about her color.

Mary took a deep breath before speaking. “We’re fine for now, what about you? What took so long for you to catch up with us here?”

“The police just dropped me off a few minutes ago at the ER entrance.” Ken replied. “I wasn’t sure about driving the SUV after the accident, so I called the shop and they sent out a flatbed to take it in and see about fixing the damage.”

He then went into the explanation about the girl’s father that the detective told him, seeing the look of shocked disbelief on Mary’s face and Tina’s slight turn of her head as she listened to the tale. “The last thing I saw before coming here was the coroners putting the body bags into the back of their truck.”

“Now I feel even worse for that girl. To lose so much in one night and not even know it yet.” Mary said sadly.

“How is she anyway?” Ken asked. “The last I saw of her she was in pretty bad shape.”

Mary glanced slightly at Tina before speaking. “We’re not sure yet. She needed surgery to fix some bleeding on the inside, I don’t pretend to understand it, but since both her parents were gone and we brought her in, they needed my consent to do the surgery.”

Ken was starting to get bothered by the way Mary kept shooting glances at Tina. “Well you have to look at it from their perspective.” Ken said. “Unfortunately we live in a sue happy society these days. Even the best of intended actions could land them in all kinds of legal problems if they helped the wrong people without consent.”

Shrugging, Mary said. “So I signed my name to give them consent.” She looked again at Tina.

“Alight Mary, what’s going on between you two?” Ken asked having enough of the dagger eyes his wife was giving Tina. “Tina looks like she barely awake and you keep looking at her like she just slapped you.”

Before Mary could respond, the doctor came into the waiting room and walked over to them. “You must be Ken.” The doctor said holding out a hand. Ken stood up and shook it. “May I sit down with you folks?” He asked. Ken nodded at sat back down across from Mary, while the doctor took the seat in front of Tina.

“You should be happy to know that the girl you brought in will make a full recovery in time.” The doctor said to all three of them, but looking especially at Tina. He reached over to Tina and took her wrist while looking at his watch. “I’m going to assume you didn’t stop at the counter in the lab and get that cookie and milk that I asked you to?”

Tina shook her head. “I needed to get back here.” She said weakly. “I wanted to be here when Daddy got here.”

The doctor sighed before reaching into his coat pocket, drawing out a small packet of cookies and a milk carton. “That’s what I thought. Good thing I thought to grab these on my way down.” He said handing both to Tina.

“Why was Tina in a lab to begin with?” Ken asked. “I was understanding that both she and Mary were just getting check for concussions.”

“Indeed they were.” The doctor responded. “But as I’m sure you know by now that we needed some of your daughter’s blood.”

Ken felt a wave a shock in his head, but Mary was ready for it. “I was just about to explain it to him when you came in.” She said to the doctor.

“You should be very proud of her.” The doctor said to Ken in a very admirable tone. “If not for her I’m certain that, the girl in my recovery room right now wouldn’t need a doctor so much as an undertaker.” He looked back at Tina. “At the moment of greatest need, she gave without hesitation.”

“I’ve always been proud of my little girl.” Ken said all the while thinking of the possible ramifications, that this doctor couldn’t possible imagine.

“I love you Daddy.” Tina said weakly, still leaning against the arm of her chair with the cookies and milk laying forgotten on her lap.

The doctor was about to chide Tina about eating, when a nurse whispered something in his ear and walked away. “The girl is starting to regain conciseness.” He said. “So if you will excuse me.”

He started to get up when Tina asked. “Can we see her?”

“Well I suppose you’ve at least earned that much.” He said looking down at Tina. “All three of you are welcome if you wish, but on one condition.” He leaned down to Tina and said. “You finish that milk and those cookies.” He gave her a warm smile before straitening up and walking away.

Ken looked over at Tina. “You offered your blood?” He asked sternly.

Tina nodded. “I knew I had the blood type they needed.”

“Knowing that giving this girl your blood could make her?” Ken asked.

“I know full well that she may end up with my condition as well.” Tina interrupted standing up to confront her father. “But she would’ve died without it, so I’m not going to regret what I did.”

Ken stood up as well and looked down at his daughter who barely came up to his chin, but still had a fire in her eyes that told Ken she would never back down from him no matter how much she admired him.

He smiled and said. “What I was going to say was, that giving her your blood that would practically make you sisters. And from what I’ve learned tonight, it may be just what she needs.”

Tina smiled back up at her father, but started to feel dizzy as the adrenaline rush faded and fell back into her seat with a thud.

“You eat that right now, Tina.” Ken said. “It’s not going to do well to meet your new sister for the first time if you’re falling over.”

A few minutes later Ken, Mary and a surprisingly full Tina made their way into the ICU. The doctor had left word that they were to be admitted and shown to the girl’s room.

“Did you happen to get her name yet?” Mary asked Ken, feeling more nervous about this meeting than she thought she would.

Ken shook his head. “The detective never told me. I guess I should’ve thought to ask, but I’m not sure he would’ve given it to me.”

They stepped lightly into the room and saw the girl laying on her bed. The top of her head above her eyes was bandaged as were several spots along her arms and her left leg was raised slightly.

Tina was the first to make it to the bed and softly gripped her left hand. Mary stood next to her daughter while Ken walked over to the right side of the bed and took her right hand in his.

A slight groan came from the girl as she turned her head towards Ken. She opened her eyes slowly and barely looking directly at Ken.

“Hello.” Ken said kindly.

She tried to speak but found her throat to be too sore and scratchy.

Seeing what she was trying to do, Ken let the hand go to fill a cup with water, put a straw in it and held it up to her mouth, that she took between her lips a sipped nearly all of the water from the cup.

“Thank you.” She said weakly as Ken set the cup down on the bedside table.

Ken took her hand again. “You’re very welcome.” He said softly.

She tried to open her eyes more but still found it more comfortable to leave them half open. “I know your voice.”

Ken looked over at Mary. “She must’ve heard us talking in her car.”

The girl looked to her left for the first time and saw Mary and Tina looking down at her, noticing for the first time that Tina was holding her hand.

She was too tired to protest these strangers fawning over her but still said. “Who are you people?”

“I’m sorry.” Ken apologized. “I forgot we’re stranger to you than you are to us. My name is Ken. And this,” he indicated with his free hand. “Is my wife Mary, and our daughter Tina.”

Her head was starting to clear some and she found it easier to open her eyes more. “How did I get here?” She asked.

Ken gripped her hand a little tighter and said. “There was an accident. You were very badly hurt, so we brought you here.”

“And a good thing too.” The doctor said brightly. “I’m not exaggerating when I say they saved your life, especially her.” He said patting Tina on the shoulder. He then went into explaining everything they did to her.

All the while she was hearing this, she started to notice something was missing. “Where are my parents?’” she asked.

Ken and the doctor exchanged glances. “I’m afraid there were pronounced dead at the scene.” The doctor replied delicately.

She felt numb. Too week to cry and too tired to be angry. She knew something like this would happen, as her memories of the last night slowly came back to her. “How long have I been out?” She asked.

“It was around ten last night when we had the accident.” Ken said. Something about his voice made her feel safe and warm, in spite of everything. “So with it being around seven now, I’d say a good nine hours.”

She nodded her head in thanks. “How long before they let me go home?” She asked.

Ken brought his other hand up to completely cover her right hand and told her everything the detective told him. She listened to the entire story, feeling foolish for not noticing how much of a looser her own father had been. She wanted to feel sorry for her mother but her mother was a lot closer to him and had no excuse for not seeing it.

“If you like you can come stay with us, we have more room than we know what to do with.” Tina offered.

She shook her head taking her hand away from Tina’s. “Thanks, but I’ve never been one for charity. I’ll make my own way.” She said feeling more alert.

Ken squeezed with his hands on her right hand and yet she found she actually found comfort in it. “It’s not charity.” He said. “Tina gave the blood that was needed to save your life.” She turned her head to look at Tina who nodded, then turned back to look at Ken again. “The way I see it, you’re family now.”

Mary had backed away from the bed while this exchange was going on. She knew Ken was just trying to do what he felt was right. She felt Tina was trying to gain a real sister she never had. Mary was still very uncertain about the entire situation.

“If you agree to this,” Mary said. “We’re going to need to know your name.” She smiled kindly when she saw the look of apprehension the girl was giving her. “After all, we can’t keep calling you girl can we?”

“My name is Tammy.” She said looking back to Ken. “But my family calls me Tam.”

Ken lifted one of his hands off Tammy’s to place it on his own chest. “It’s great to meet you, Tammy.”

Tammy reached over with her left hand to hold Ken’s in both of her. “Call me Tam.”

The doctor seeing that Tammy was starting to get a glazed look in her eyes, asked that they all leave for a few hours, so that she could get her rest. Tina reluctantly left the room, Mary was on her heels very quickly. Ken started to walk away, but felt Tammy’s hand tighten on his for a few seconds before she let it go.

Mary had passed Tina to the waiting area and turned around to see Ken and Tina walk up to her, Ken with his arm around his daughter’s shoulder. “What was that?” She demanded.

Ken looked surprised. “I thought it would’ve been clear to you what that was.” He replied.

It was Tina, however that spoke up. “Well first she doesn’t have anywhere to go and since she does have my blood in her now, she is practically family anyway.”

“It’s that very thought that concerns me the most.” Mary said shaking her head.


“If anything comes of that.” Ken said. “Our home would be the best place to keep an eye out for it and do what we can to keep it contained.”

Chapter: four


ONE YEAR LATER.

For a city of average size, this one had its share of schools, stores and homes. Any sort of amenity was easily found. But if you wanted to learn how to defend yourself, it was widely accepted that K&T Taekwondo was the place to go.
It had started out over two decades ago as just a single school with a fresh new master with not only world class talent, but charming with a kind nature to match. Over the years it had grown to three schools. Its owner had even found time to get married and have a little girl.

Roughly four years previous, its owner had gone missing though he had been believed to be dead after a tragic accident he suffered at the hands of a formal pupil turned rival. After a several months he turned up again claiming amnesia. Because of how respected he was in the community as a whole, no one questioned his story.

During his absence, his daughter had taken over management of the three schools and had done a surprisingly great job of keeping them profitable. So much that no one seemed to either notice or care that shortly before her father’s reappearance the number of schools now in her ownership had tripled.

With father and daughter pooling their collective expertise, there were now a round dozen schools bearing the K&T logo on the front door. There were other competing school but they were always left alone and even sometime referred to when, I some cases, it just wasn’t a good fit for a student at K&T.

But the first school was still by far the largest. Not necessarily due to the number of students that attended. It was also the regional headquarters where Tina not only acted as regional administrator, she also maintained a small private studio apartment in the back.

It was this door that Tammy found herself in front of, wondering what all went on behind that locked door.

When Tammy had been released from the hospital, she learned that all her fathers’ legal issues had been dealt with and all her medical bills had been paid in full.

After agreeing to come stay with Ken and his family, she felt he may be over doing it a lot. She also realized just how rich these people were. He apologized for the small bedroom he had to offer her, which was still bigger than her room at her parents’ house, due to the fact that the carpenters hadn’t quite finished building the extension to the house to provide her with what he called ‘proper living space.’ Indeed when it was finished she found she now had not only a room twice the size she had moved into, but this one came with its own full bathroom. This was very helpful to her as she now had a slight limp, a relic of the accident, and it wasn’t very easy for her to access every part of the large house.

She hugged Ken tightly and kissed his cheek, thanking him the entire time. He would just smile and say he would do the same for any of his family.

Then only bone of contention between them was whenever he would try to bring up her continuing education. She had said she had just graduated shortly after moving in with them.

He would then show her many of collages that were in driving distance to their home and the various scholarships’ that had been offered to her. But she suspected that nearly all of those were reserved for just one student, and a stronger suspicion who the true benefactor of those were.

She asked Mary one time about why he was trying so hard to get her into collage, Mary told her that she felt Ken was trying to make up for not being able to send his first daughter to collage.

When she asked what happened with his second daughter, Mary looked back at her with a smile and a raised eye brow. That had made Tammy blush and nearly cry. They had all been so good to her and to actually be felt as a real part of the family, made her all warm inside.

Tammy finally told Ken that, for now, she wasn’t interested in collage, but wanted to simply get a job. He had seized on the idea at once and recommended she come work for him, or rather Tina as she was technically his boss as well.

At first Tammy felt this a worse idea than collage. She thought Tina was nice enough, but tried too hard to be a big sister to her. Particularly as Tina was nearly half a head shorter than she was.

But Tammy noticed right away that Tina, never acted like she was any less tall than Ken who towered over all of them. Tammy had even watched in amazement as Tina stood up to her father over issues about the school, and was stunned to see him back down from her. She never knew someone who had such emotional control. Never got angry or sad. Tina could get depressed like anyone else, but she always seemed to snap right back and be business as usual.

After much prodding, Tammy agreed to come work for Tina as an assistant. Tina showing more emotion than Tammy was used to seeing, squealed in delight and promised not to work her too hard.

Keeping to that promise, Tina took Tammy to the main school for the first time. Tammy was almost immediately overwhelmed. “You’re actually In charge of all of this?” Tammy asked Tina, looking around at all the students and instructors going about the daily routines.

“I’m really in charge of the administration of this school.” Tina said. “And I advise the other eleven but they’re left to run themselves unless a problem comes up that they need help with.”

“How do you find the time to do it all?” She asked Tina in amazement.

Tina shook her head and explained. “Sometimes I don’t. Many times when I come home late it’s because I’m back there.” She pointed to the door in the very back.

“What’s back there?”

“It’s my home away from home.” Tina answered. “It’s my own little private world.” Tina added with a smile and said. “I do mean, private.”

Tammy nodded her understanding, but found it odd that here of all places was the first time that Tina had used her business tone with her.

After that, Tina brightened up quite a bit as if nothing else would bring her more joy than to show Tammy the ropes. She asked if Tammy wanted to jump right in with both feet into administration or would she like to ease into the idea by doing menial tasks that Tina, insisted were still important.

Tammy chose the latter and was immediately assigned to doing what she though nothing more than gopher work. But as Tina had said, it was just to ease her into the idea of the two of them working together. Tammy wasn’t kidding herself though. She knew Tina was boss around here and Tina certainly carried herself that way as well.

After a few months of working for Tina, she realized what Tina had been doing all along was prepping Tammy to be a full partner. One day Tammy had found herself giving orders to one of the students who obeyed it without questioning it, when she realized she had seen Tina doing the same thing only a few days earlier.

Before she knew it, Tammy was elbow deep into assisting with the class scheduling, in some cases doing it herself. But more and more she had noticed that Tina was no longer requiring her to report for each decision that had to be made.
However there was still the question about the door to Tina’s private apartment that still bothered her. She had never again brought up the subject with either Tina or her parents, but was still curious as to what went on back there.

All those memories flashed in her mind as she thought about knocking on the door. There was an issue one of the other schools were having with a contract and needed Tina’s approval before they could either alter to accommodate the client, or simply terminate the deal.

Tammy put her ear against the door and could hear music playing. She guesses it was soft rock, but couldn’t really tell through the door. She knocked a little harder than she meant to and shut her eyes as she said, “Tina I need you to advise on a contract.” She knocked a little hard again, but still only heard the sound of soft rock playing in the room.

Shrugging, Tammy walked back to the main office to go ahead and approve the contract. She knew that the vendor wasn’t being unreasonable and was certain that Tina wouldn’t object. Tammy laughed as she thought to herself, “She’s creating a monster here.” As she limped away.

Behind the door was a very spacious apartment. A large bed took up nearly a quarter of the room. A sofa was placed against the wall on the other side of the room from the bed with a small table in front of it, with pens, pencils and papers of various sizes and color scattered about under it.

Next to the couch was a door that opened up to a small half bathroom. And near it on the other wall across from the door leading into the apartment was a large set of drawers. A mirror sat on top of it, and the topmost drawer was slightly open.

A tiny blond head had just gone back into the drawer when a male voice said from inside. “You hear something?”

Tina shook her head. “Whatever it is, it can wait a few more minutes.” She said as she dwindled until she could look Chuck strait in the eye again. “Now where were we?” She asked as she kissed Chuck pulling him down into the soft bra that they had been making love in.


Chapter: five


Tina giggled as Chuck buried his face between her large breasts. She knew that they were large to Chuck due to his small size even if she were the same four inches that he was. At her normal size her breasts were maybe a little larger than average, but if Chuck had been his normal size, they wouldn’t be quite as big as she would barely come up to his nose.

Tina had secretly used the last of a shrinking solution made by a long trusted family friend and doctor, who had originally, with Chucks help, betrayed her and her family to an old believed dead enemy. In the end Tina and her father got help from another enemy, that Tina had managed a reconciliation with, and the doctor herself helped them to escape. But not before Tina had taken two vials. One green that restored a shrunken Mary. The second in a red vial that Tina had forced into an unconscious Chuck’s throat.

It had been a fact that the original shrinking formula worked differently on men as it shrunk them away altogether, her old doctor had developed the only formula that would work the same way on both genders. Chuck had been the only recipient of that one. As a result Tina had kept Chuck in her dresser drawers as a sex toy for the past few years.

To say toy wasn’t accurate as she had always used her ability to shrink down to any size she wanted, to be able to actually have sex with Chuck albeit akin to rape as she normally made sure she was still much larger than him so he couldn’t fight back with any hope of success.

As time passed, Chuck and grown less resistant to her advances. He had taken a long time to come to terms that he was going to be this small for the remainder of his life, it was equally degrading to know that Tina, who used to be much shorter than him, was now in total and complete control of his life. To him, she was his god.

Tina had sensed his will slipping, but still craved their intimacy, had started shrinking herself smaller as to be less intimidating to him. She had gone so far as to let herself shrink smaller than he one time, but was rewarded with a blow to the head. If it hadn’t been for the fact that she could alter her size with little effort, she might’ve found herself at his mercy. As it was she quickly grew up to ten inches and slapped Chuck so hard, he did lose conciseness.

Again as time progressed she allowed herself to become closer to his size so that she could feel more of him inside of her. She had developed a pattern that she used from time to time, where she would shrink and grow while they made love. She found it exhilarating. She could tell that Chuck liked it as well.

These days, he was a lot easier to deal with no matter her size. Now she could shrink down small enough for him to pick her up in one hand and not worry about what he may try to do to her at that size. It definitely spiced up their sex life knowing that she could wrap her body around the penis of a four inch man, she would take him out of the drawer to let him crawl on her breasts, or slip into her womanhood.

Days like today it was just comforting to have a man to curl up to and simply sleep. She figured Tammy was getting a better head for the job than even she knew, and so wasn’t worried if she dozed a little.

“I need you to change my pot again.” Chuck said soothingly in her ear, she looked over at the giant thimble that Chuck used to take care of personal business. It was indeed starting to fill up.

In the early days of his imprisonment, Chuck had spent hours on end with nowhere to relive himself. The result was that he had to use a lot of Tina’s underwear to take care of it. After a while Tina would open the drawer to be met with the stench of days old poop and urine mingled in her panties and bras.

She had found an old thimble from her mother’s sewing kit and placed it in the drawer with him. She also got some disinfection laundry tablets that she instructed Chuck to use to eliminate the odor, in case it took her too long to clean it up.

She kept a small bag less vacuum cleaner with the clear window tank. That way when she needed to clean up accidents that happened due to the overflowing thimble, she could simply place Chuck on top of the dresser and suck up all the waste inside. Then it was just a matter of taking the tank out and cleaning it in the sink.

Tina sighed and stood up. Chuck stood up next to her and was already looking at the bottom of her breasts as she had started to slowly grow.

The entire thing was fairly routine for her now. She would grow tall enough to be able to pull herself up onto the top of the dresser, where she would grow large enough to be able to leap over to the bed as she continued to grow. As with most times she did this, she let herself grow all the way back to normal still laying down on the bed. She enjoyed the way the sheets slipped along her naked flesh as her body took up more of the bed. In all it took her less than a minute to return to her full size of five feet.

She slowly rolled to the end of the bed, feeling her naked breast rubbing against the sheet, then stood up and looked into the drawer. Ken had already moved the thimble closer to the front on the drawer where Tina could get to it easier.

He had to back away when a thumb and finger that could and had easily pick him up, pinched the full thimble between them.

“It doesn’t seem that full from this perspective.” Tina said with a half-smile half smirk.

Undaunted Chuck kept looking up at the naked giantess and said. “If it’s not that much, just gulp it down and hand it back.”

Tina made a disgusted look. “Touché.” She responded with her tongue sticking out as she took the thimble to wash it out in the sink.

She returned in less time it took her to grow back and placed the thimble back into the drawer. “How’s your food and water doing?” She asked

“Still got lots down here.” Chuck replied, sitting in the cup of her giant bra.

She giggled. “Alright you, move it or lose it.”

“I chose lose it then. Looks like I take the booby ride today.” He said cheerfully.

Tina scooped Chuck up in one hand while removing the bra from the drawer with the other. “See?” She asked. “I can take care of you and my bra at the same time without you being even the slightest bit of a pest.”
Chuck shrugged, sitting comfortably in her hand, his head resting against her thumb. “Was worth a shot.” He said.

She leaned her face into the hand holding Chuck and kissed him on the head. “It sure was.” She said as she lowered him back into the drawer. “I’ll see you again soon.” She said closing the drawer to finish dressing.

A few minutes later, Tina was fully dressed and turning off her music while opening the door to leave the room. She looked around to see if whoever it was knocking on the door was still nearby.

She walked to the main office to see Tammy in there, with a phone on one ear and her fingers working furiously on the keyboard of the computer she was staring at. Occasionally she would reach a hand to scratch her head, just above the scar left from the accident. Tammy did her best to cover the scar by letting her stringy, black hair grow over it.
Tina was highly gratified to see Tammy fitting in here. She still felt like Tammy was resisting her desire to become sisters, but seeing this, Tina felt it may still happen. She just needed to be patient.

Tammy saw Tina looking through the window and waved her in. “What were you doing in there?” Tammy asked.

“Sorry Tam, I had lots of paperwork to go through.” Tina said. “And I just needed to spend some alone time doing it.”

“I hope you were productive doing it, I’ve been slammed out here.” Tammy said with words laced with irritation.

Tina looked back her with understanding. “I know what you mean. I did it all alone for months. Sorry for leaving this for you to do but what I was doing was very important and I knew you could handle anything this place could throw at you, for a little while at least.”

Tammy shook her head in disbelief. “I’ve been at this solo for just an hour or so, and feel like my head is going to explode.” She said. “How did you manage it for so long?”

Tina sat down in the chair in front of her desk, as Tammy still occupied her much more comfortable chair and replied. “Necessity. For all I knew I was on my own for the rest of my life with this thing and I knew how much these schools meant to my father. So I just focused on what I needed to do, then I did it.”

She still felt a warmth at even the off reference to Ken, but Tammy did her best to hide it. “Back to business though.” Tammy said trying to steer clear of the Ken subject. “Ronnald from Six called about the Talon vendor. Apparently his costs are going up, so he wanted your approval for the new contract.”

“Talon has been a good supplier to that school, so I don’t see a reason not to rework it with them.” Tina commented.

“I assumed as much and went ahead and e-mailed the new contract to Six.” Tammy said in what Tina found rewarding, an authoritative voice.

Tina, not hiding her pleasure said, “See? You can do this job.”

“I’m not ready to take over as grand master just yet, but thank you for your faith.” Tammy said.

Tina was about to ask about getting her seat back when the phone rang. Being closest to it, Tammy quickly picked it up. “K&T Taekwondo, may I help you?” She nodded a few times and said. “I’m glad you liked it, Ken.” Tina made to reach for the phone, but Tammy leaned back in the chair and held up a finger, indicating she wanted Tina to wait a minute. “I see. She’s right here if you want to talk to her?” Tammy looked at Tina with a concerned look on her face. “I’ll tell her and we’ll see you tonight.” With that she hung up the phone.

“What was all that about?” Tina asked, a little annoyed that she didn’t get a chance to talk to her father.

Tammy looked at Tina and replied. “That was Ken.”

“I gathered that much.” Tina said getting more annoyed. “What did he want?”

Looking back to the phone Tammy said. “He has found a seriously troubling legal problem. Said it could change everything. He wants us both back at the house tonight, no later than seven.”

Tina checked the class schedule. “We still have classes then. We don’t close tonight until nine.”

“What do we do?”

Standing up Tina turned to face a corkboard on the office wall. “I can call Tim to come in tonight. He knows how to close after classes. We can give him a couple extra hours of overtime pay to make up for his time.”

Tammy stood up from Tina’s chair as she came around the desk to make the call. “I’ve never known you to not be here for closing.” Tammy said.

“My father has never asked. He knows how important these classes and closing is, so if he’s asking us to be there anyway, it must be something very serious.” Tina said waiting for Tim to answer his phone, dreading what her Father may have found out. Tina gave a quick glance toward the back of the school, thinking about the secret she had hidden in the drawer.

Chapter: six



“Blast it all!” Ken exclaimed trying to reach the small pin that he had dropped. It didn’t help that as soon as it hit the floor it bounced under the desk where his fingers couldn’t reach it.

Mary giggled and tapped Ken on the shoulder. “Let me try, my finger are a lot skinnier.” She said. He stood up and Mary took his place on the floor in front of the desk. “I can see it, but my fingers just aren’t long enough.”

Ken sighed deeply. “Why do I have such a heavy desk? I can never move it.”

“You insisted on a good sturdy desk made of oak.” Mary pointed out. “I’m just glad you weren’t here when they delivered it. You would’ve killed yourself trying to help out those guys”

“At least I’d know how to move it.”

They heard a car pull into the driveway. Ken looked out the window and recognized Tina’s Car. He looked at the clock and saw that they were ten minutes early. “I should’ve told them to get here at eight.” He said. “For once you would think she would be fashionably late and make things easy on me.”

Grabbing his hand, Mary pulled him out of his study. “Nothing we can do about it now.” She said. “We have to make sure they don’t go into the living room yet.” With that, both Ken and Mary hurried down the stairs just in time to see Tina and Tammy walk in the door.

Tina was surprised to see her father wearing his best formal masters’ suit and her mother in a black one piece suit that hugged her still impressive curves.

Before either Tina or Tammy could speak, Mary put an arm around Tina’s shoulder and walked her up the stairs. As soon as they were roughly half way up the stairs Mary whispered into Tina’s ear. “I need a really big favor, or rather a really small one.”

“What’s going on?” Tina asked still perplexed by the initial summons.

“No time to explain right now.” Mary said hurriedly. “You father has something for Tammy, but the big oaf dropped it under the desk and now neither of us can reach it.”

Tina now understood why her mother brought up the stairs alone, if still not why they had to come home so early. “No problem.” She said while starting to take her clothes off and handing them to Mary. “Hang on to these.”

Mary started tossing them to the side saying. “You’re not going to need them tonight.”

“Why not?” Tina asked as she watched her mother and the room start to grow around her.

“I have one of these for you to wear.” Mary explained to her rapidly shrinking daughter, while pulling a little on the black one piece that she was wearing.

Tina was starting to see where this was going, but wasn’t entirely sure until she was small enough to walk under the desk and see the pin laying in the dark under the desk. She pulled on the pin that was just a little smaller than she was and dragged it into the light. Lifting the pin, feeling the metal rub against her naked legs and chest, she saw what looked like a fiery wing. She looked up at her giant mother who had been standing over her, her toes just a little taller than she was.
“We’re doing that tonight?” Tina asked her mother, shouting just enough to be heard.

Mary bent her knees to rest in a squatting position and looked down at her tiny daughter and said. “Yes we are.” She reached down and let Tina jump on her hand. Taking the pin from her with the other. “You can grow back in my bedroom. Your one piece is in there anyway. With that she stood up and walked down the hallway to her bedroom. A tiny naked Tina lying flat on her stomach to grip her mother’s fingers better, feeling the palm of the hand under her, press against her breasts.

Tammy watched Mary and Tina go quietly up the stair and started to really feel like her luck was finally up. Ken looked more serious and business like than she had ever remembered him to. In fact she didn’t think she had ever seen him so somber. And here she was wearing the same blue jeans and T-shirt she’d had on all day.

“What we do tonight, Tam.” Ken said in the same authoritative voice she was used to hearing. Only this time is was void of the kindness. “We do not do lightly.” He continued. “You have been with us a full year this day.”

“I know.” She said meekly. Only then remembering for the first time it was her birthday. She dismissed the idea of this being a surprise party. The only cars outside in the driveway was Mary’s, Ken’s and now Tina’s.

“After tonight we’ll not be able to allow you to remain here as a guest.” He said still looking very serious.

Tammy felt a lump start in her throat. She had really liked being here. Ken had been like the father she wished she had. Even with the seriousness of the situation, she still thought he was extremely handsome. If anything he looked more dashing than ever before.

His expression softened as he put a hand on her shoulder. “Something you will learn, if you haven’t already, is life is never about endings. Life is always about new beginnings and ever perpetual change. Handling those changes are what we truly fear.”

She felt an unexpected shudder down her spine as he touched her shoulder. She raised her head to look up into his eyes with her brown ones and said. “I have loved being here. You have been more than kind enough.” Which was true. Ken seemed to live to spoil her. Tina seemed determined to make a sister out of her. She could understand why as they literally shared the same blood.

Mary had been the only one that Tammy felt, was having trouble accepting. Mary had always been kind and polite, but Tammy could sometimes feel eyes looking at her back. When she would turn around, Mary would be doing some trivial thing, to mask that she had been looking at Tammy. Or was it studying? She felt Mary was waiting for her to do something. What she wanted, Tammy hadn’t the slightest idea and she felt wrong to ask as it may lead to awkward questions that Tammy didn’t know she wanted to answer or even ask.

“We have loved having you here, but things are about to change forever.” Ken said backing away, resuming his hard tone.

They stood in silence of a few minute. Ken, never taking he eyes off of Tammy. She looking up at Ken a few times, but mostly staring at the floor. Dreading what he was getting ready to do to her, and wishing he would just get it over with.

The door behind Ken slid open a touch and Mary’s face could be seen in the crack. “We’re ready.” She said, sliding the door back into place.

“We’re going into the living room now.” Ken said holding he hand out, palm up to Tammy. She took the offered hand, still getting a shudder from the touch.

He led her to the door and slid it open revealing the pitch blackness that was the living room. He pulled her hand slightly and she followed, unable to see where it was they were going. She knew it was a very large room, but knew they would hit a couch or recliner sooner or later while walking in the dark.

She bumped into Ken as he stopped abruptly. “Stand here!” He ordered Tammy. He released his grip from her fingers and melted into the darkness.

Tammy was starting to get worried. As far as she knew, she was now alone in a dark room, and from the looks of it, abandoned.

A small light from the celling suddenly shone down on the exact spot Tammy was standing in, illuminating her in a dull glow. “When the traveler left home.” Ken’s voice echoed in the room. “She went many miles before finding herself lost and alone in the dark.

“Far from home, she started to long to return there.” Ken Continued sounding more and more ethereal.

A small flame appeared to the right of her, and she could just make out Mary’s face. Glittering from the small flamed produced from the butane lighter she was holding.

“A spirit of fire came to the traveler.” Ken continued. “The spirit said to the traveler ‘you are lost, alone and wish to return home.’ The traveler being proud told the spirit ‘I am a hardy wanderer who needs no guidance on my journey.’”

Tammy saw Mary walk closer to her. Only her face visible in the flickering light of the lighter. She held her hand out to Tammy with a small smile and said. “Even the most stalwart adventure needs my help from time to time, allow me guide you so you may gain my knowledge.”

“And so the traveler and the spirit of flame began to walk and learn from each other.” Ken’s voice said in the darkness while Mary, holding Tammy’s hand, began to guide her from the lit circle and into the darkness again. Their only source of light, came from the flame, Mary held in her hand.
“So it came to pass, when the flame spirit had taught the traveler all she knew, they had in fact reached the end of the road they were on. ‘You travel alone from here’ the spirit said to the traveler.” Tammy heard Ken’s voice say as she felt the still flaming light being placed in her hand, from a smiling Mary.

At that point Mary had backed away just before another light from the celling illuminated a waist high pillar. On that pillar stood a single long candle in a small holder with an ornate handle attached to it. She looked closer at the candle and saw that the words “WISDOM” were written vertically on it.

Tina’s face came into view, as with Mary, Tina’s face was only visible from the flame of the lighter. “Knowledge must exist with wisdom.” Tina said in a calm voice, but Tammy could make out a river of tears streaming down Tina’s face dripping from the cheeks that were barely containing the smile.

Ken’s voice was heard again. “Understanding the words presented to her, the traveler added the spirits knowledge to the wisdom that was gained from the hard road behind her.”

Tammy understood what she was supposed to do. She held the lighter to the wick of the candle. Upon seeing the light from the candle she could make out the words “KNOWLEDGE” written in script on the lighter.

She picked up the candle by the holder. As soon as she did this, the light above her and the one that she had left, both were extinguished. Tammy turned around on the spot until she saw another pillar in a light from the ceiling. She could see something on the pillar but couldn’t make out what it was.

“The Traveler now had learned on her journey, the words of knowledge and how to use them with wisdom.” Ken said this time just visible behind the newly lit pillar. He beckoned her over and spoke as she walked to him. “Moreover she had learned that the words, the spirit, the knowledge and the wisdom was with her the entire time.”

Tammy had arrived to stand at the pillar in front of Ken. She saw sitting on the pillar was what had to have been the most beautiful oil lamp that she could ever remember seeing.

Ken had lifted the glass top, and nodded to Tammy who put the candle to the wick of the lamp. She could see, after Ken replaced the glass on the base of the lamp, the words “Welcome Home Tam”

Ken smile and said. “The traveler learned all this was her family and as long as the fire of family burned within her, she would always find her way home.”

Tammy was openly sobbing when the overhead lights came on, lighting the entire living room.

Mary and Tina had come over to hug Tammy, who welcomed the affection. She could see Mary smiling brighter than she had ever remembered. She saw Tina in a rare display of emotion that made Tammy choke up a bit.

Ken was still standing where he was, but now smiling and gazing at Tammy, giving the three women of his life, time to bond before he stepped to Tammy and said. “As I said earlier after tonight you will not be able to stay with us as a guest.” He held his hand to Tina who placed a small pin on his palm.

“Tammy.” Ken began. “Tam. You’re life with us has quite literally been a metaphor. There is, in mythology, a spirit of fire that is said, when the time comes for it to die it will burst into flames leaving nothing but ash. However from the ashes it is reborn into a new life. A life full of promise and unending peace.”

He then fastened the pin to her shirt, just below the collar. “The day you came into our lives, yours had very much burst into flames. In the time since then you have risen from the ashes of the old, flying high on the flame, your only limit the sky.”

Ken then joined them in the new family hug. Tammy felt the warm embrace of the all. Felt Ken’s reassuring hand, resting on her back and felt the shudder more than ever. She felt that she had been blessed with more than anyone had a right to. With such a great, dare she really use the word? Family. What could ever go wrong? She thought to herself, gazing at the phoenix pin that was glittering happily in the light from the lamp.




Chapter: seven



Tammy feeling happier than she could ever remember, she returned the embrace that the other three had been giving her. At length she released the hug to take in her surroundings. The living room, as she had remembered was now a jumbled mess from all the lights and pedestals in its center. All the normal furniture had been pushed against the wall.

She turned to see Tina and Mary hugging and it occurred to her that it was the first time she had really seen the two standing that close to one another. Tammy had always knew Tina was the shortest in the house, remembering the times she would be standing talking to Tina, and casually noticing Tina’s eye level just below her chin. But seeing Tina next to Mary made it seem more pronounced. Mary was of course the same size as Tammy, but she never thought much of it.

There were other qualities as well that made Tammy gaze. Tina had May’s blue eyes, but Ken’s face. As Tina normally wore shoulder length blond hair in a ponytail, it was easy to see that Tina’s ears were a good mutation of both her parents. And for being as short as she was, she didn’t seem to be too thin or fat. She had never asked Tina about her weight, but as she looked on she wondered what it was. Tammy herself, while not exactly a rail herself, but considering her forced sedentary life style, due to her limp, she was pleased that she hadn’t gotten fat either, though she did look well fed.

Tammy also noticed that Tina wasn’t quite as gifted in the chest as Mary was. The skin tight one-piece suits they were both wearing, accentuated both women’s curves leaving little to the imagination. Tammy felt a small sense of pride, knowing that she believed herself to have larger breasts than Tina while maybe not quite as big as Mary.

She started running her finger through her hair while nonchalantly placing her free hand on her chest. Tammy started trying to remember if she had her mother’s looks and hair. It had only been a year and yet more and more of the memories of her own parents were slipping from her.

“A small fortune for your thoughts.” Ken said wrapping an arm around her from behind. She jumped slightly. “Didn’t mean to scare you, Tam.”

She gripped his arm that moved to remain on her shoulder. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful for everything you guys have done for me tonight, but how does this make anything any different?

Tina and Mary had stopped talking to one another when they heard this question. They looked to Tammy, then back at each other. Wearing identical knowing smiles.

Ken tightened his grip on her shoulder and she felt him start to guide her into the dining room. “A fair question that deserved an honest answer.” Ken said as all four filed into the dining room, taking their accustomed seats about the table.

On the table in front of Ken were, what looked like, two stacks of legal documents. He took up one stack and indicated that they be passed around, so that all four were holding an identical sheet.

“This Tam is the last will and testament of Mary and myself.” Ken said.

Tammy started looking through it, knowing she couldn’t be hearing what she was.

Ken went on. “Until today, Tina was the sole beneficiary of the will. However that has now changed. From this day forth. Tina and you are now co-beneficiaries of the will.”

“But...” Tammy started to protest. Thinking of what Tina must be thinking of having to suddenly split a potential inheritance in half.

“Before you go on with what you’re thinking.” Ken said almost as if reading her mind. “This was part Tina’s idea as well.”

Tammy turned her head to Tina who nodded and said, “Can’t call you ‘sister’ if you’re not in the will, ya know.” She smiled at Tina for a few seconds Tammy then turned her attention back to Ken.

“Now” He said. “Each of us has a notarized copy of this. I recommend we all put our respective copies in a safe place.”

Tammy was still looking at her copy. Indeed her name now appeared alongside of Tina’s. She held it tightly in her hand. Not wanting to think of a world where Ken wasn’t in it, she still felt like this was the first genuine proof that she belonged to a real family. Did she ever feel this way before with her parents?

Before she could answer her own question, the next stack of papers were pushed in front of her. All of them. “What are all these? She asked.

Ken took in a deep breath before replying. “This is the real meat and potatoes of what everything tonight was about. You see, what you went through tonight was something of an offshoot from a ceremony I give to new black belts at our various schools.

“And that meaning.” Ken continued. “When I say OUR schools. It’s no longer just a figure of speech.” He pointed to the paper in front of Tammy. “What you see before you is a contract.” She picked it up and started looking at it.

Ken indicated three signatures on the contract in her hand. “When you sign it that will seal your fate as a member of this family. When you sign it and the other three you will be the proud owner of 25% of K&T schools.”

Tammy dropped the contract and gaped at Ken before staring dumbfounded at Mary and Tina who both nodded their agreement. “How can you just up and give me 25% of everything. I’ve done nothing to earn or deserve it.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Tam” Ken said. “I’ve seen how hard you’ve been working and Tina has told me how far along you have come in administration. Add to the fact that limp of yours hasn’t slowed you down in the slightest. I would say that alone would make you a good candidate.

“And let’s not forget.” Ken said with a smile. “This IS a family business.”

Fighting the tears back, Tammy still needed to ask. “So after I sign this.”

“Sign these.” Ken corrected pointing out the other three.

“Sign these. We will all own 25% of the schools?” Tammy asked, preying she wasn’t looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Ken shook his head. “Not exactly. If you notice you and Mary will each own 25% of the business. Tina will own 50%.”

Tammy furrowed her brow. “You’re not going to own any of it?”

“That’s correct.” Ken said. “Since Tina has done so much to not only keep the business running, much of the time by herself, but she has seen to it that it has grown far larger than I could’ve ever dreamed it would.”

“Are you saying that you’re giving up taekwondo?” Tammy asked.

“Not at all.” Ken responded. “I will maintain my rank of regional grand master and go from school to school, instructing the higher rank black belts. However the day to day running, managing and decision making will now rest with you three.”

“You two mostly.” Mary added. “I know nothing about how to run a business of that size. I’ll be little more than an advisor pulling in a handsome check each quarter.”

Then Tina spoke. “While a lot of the decisions will be on me to make, I’ll need your back up sometimes. After all we have a lot of schools to oversee.”

“Not to mention. “Ken said. “I miss just being able to simply teach. Besides Tina has, in practice, been my boss for the last few years. This will simply make it official.”

Tammy seized on the idea. “So then, will that make ME your boss as well?”

Ken chuckled and said as he heard Tina and Mary laugh as well. “Only if you promise not to be too hard on an old man still in your employ.”

Tammy started scribbling her name on all four of the contracts and handed them to Ken then said, “I want all of you to know how special you are to me.” She looked at Mary. “You took the responsibility that no one else could, to save my life.” She then looked to Tina. “You gave me the very lifeblood from yourself, so that I could live.” She kept looking at Tina for a few extra seconds, seeing the tears flowing freely from her reddening eyes.

Finally she looked at Ken. “You took me in and made my life right, when I needed it most.” She fingered the phoenix pin on her shirt. “You said that the phoenix is a spirit of flame. But to me. You’re the flame to my wings.” She then looked back to Tina and Mary. “You all are. I’m not sure if what I had before all of you saved me, was a family. But now. I truly know what a family is and I love you all.”

After the contracts were put away, awaiting to go to the school vaults in the morning, they had a quickly prepared dinner. As the night had been running so high on emotion for so long, they all had gotten very sleepy very quick.

Tina followed Tammy to the bedrooms. Ken and Mary were left in the kitchen to clean up.

“I think we did a good thing tonight.” Ken said to Mary as he loaded the dishwasher.

Mary nodded. “I think so as well.” She said as she continued to wipe the same spot on the counter over and over.

Ken grabbed the cloth from her hand. “What’s on your mind?” he asked.

“When she told us that she loves us. You and Tina have earned it. I haven’t” Mary said sadly.

“What do you mean?”

Looking down at the floor Mary said, “Ever since she’s been with us, I have watched her very closely.”

Ken shrugged. “She was still in bad shape. She still has that scar over her forehead and I’m thinking she will have that limp for the rest of her life.”

Mary shook her head. “That’s not what I mean and you know it.”

A look of understanding came over his face. “You were expecting her to come running up to you, banging on your foot and asking why she is so small.”

“Yes. Hasn’t that worried you?” Mary asked. “I mean, we haven’t even told her all about Tina’s ability yet.”

Ken shrugged. “It did for a while. But after six months or so I quit worrying about it. Figured if it was going to happen, it would’ve by now.”

Mary sighed. “You’re right. And that’s why I feel so guilty. I have watched and watched her, almost to the point of stalking. I hate to think of the times that I have invaded her privacy without her knowing it. Hoping I would catch her in the act and then praying I wouldn’t.”

“If she had would’ve it been so bad?” Ken asked. “Tina has been doing it for a few years now and it hasn’t been a problem.”

“I still get scared each time she does.” Mary retorted. “I had to ask her to do it tonight. If what we were doing wasn’t so important I wouldn’t have. She looks like she has the time of her life whenever she’s tiny. But to my eyes she looks so small and helpless. Like all it would take would be the smallest of accidents and then…” Mary then slapped one hand with the other and started crying.

“Shhh.” Ken soothed Mary as he took her into a hug. “That hasn’t happened, and I think Tina is clever enough to not let it.” He then put a finger under her chin and gently lifted her head until their eyes met and said. “As far as Tammy is concerned. I think we can safely say she’s out of the shrinking woods, as it were.” They both giggled at his pun and went back to cleaning.

******* ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******

Tina had hugged Tammy once more before saying good night and going to her room. Tammy closed the door to her room and limped to her bathroom where she started running her nightly bath.

She preferred to take a shower as it was quicker to clean that way, but she found a good long soak in hot water did wonders for her leg, especially on nights like this where the hurt just wanted to hang on.

Going over the events of the night, Tammy hugged herself as she lay in the tub, her breasts just breaking the clear water. She wondered sometimes about using bubbles, but always dismissed it when she thought that if she wanted to run the water jets in the tub, she would quickly drown in good smelling bubbles.

“Now I have a real family at last.” She said out loud to herself. Tammy thought about what it was supposed to be like. Being an owner. Would anyone at the school treat her any differently when they heard about it? She had never gone to any of the other schools. She had always stayed at the main school, doing what she could. And thinking about Tina’s locked room.

Tammy drove that thought from her head as she started to think about needing to visit other schools. Surely that would be expected. She had passed on other opportunities to visit for a graduation. A graduation like where they had been coming from, when her father crashed into them. Killing himself his mother and nearly doing the same to her. She stood up and shook her head. Her dark hair whipping about sending water all over the tile and floor.

Tammy pulled a clean towel from the rack and started drying herself. She was so scared when she and Tina had first got back home. She giggled. That was the first time she called this place home. She had always referred to it as ‘the house’. Now Ken had made it an honest home for her.

He was always on her mind it seemed, Ken. He was just so kind to her. His was the face that she saw when she first entered into this new life of hers. His hands felt rough like he used them a lot, yet still warm and comforting, she thought as she stepped out of the tub, sloshing water onto the floor as she looked in the mirror.

She plugged in her hair dryer still thinking of Ken. Running a brush through her hair as she turned the dryer on. It ran down her back maybe a little longer than Tina’s. She thought about cutting it back some so she wouldn’t have to spend so much time drying it, but a hand brushing her scar reminded her why she kept it long.

Tammy thought of Ken’s hair. He always kept his blonde hair cut real short. Not short enough to be a buzz cut but too short for anyone to pull on it, or run my fingers through. She snapped out of that dangerous daydream right away so violently that she dropped her hair dryer on the floor of the bathroom.

Pain as she never knew racked her body. The last thing she heard was her own voice screaming and the lights above her mirror blowing out one by one.

Chapter: eight


Tammy found herself looking at Ken and liking what she saw. He was the perfect picture of handsome. “You’re going to be alright, Tam.” He said soothingly. Of course she was going to be alright. Why would he think otherwise?

Then Ken’s picture was replaced by Mary’s sobbing face. “You don’t deserve this. I’m sorry for ever doubting you. Please come back and forgive me.” But why would Mary need forgiving? True she wasn’t Tammy’s mother, but considering all that she and Ken had done for her, she wasn’t a bad substitute.

“You’ve got to come out of this, Tam. We all need you.” Ken’s voice said a little stronger than before. She reached a hand for his. He extended his hand as well, but hers’ passed thought it like smoke.

“I think she’s coming around!” Mary’s exited voice reverberated in her ear.

She saw Ken’s image again and as before she reach her hand for his, expecting the same results. She saw her hand start to pass through, but felt the hand grip tightly on hers. The same warmth and comfort that has always come with it, filled her with contentment.

Slowly an unfamiliar room started swimming into view. She heard a steady beeping sound and a chair scrapping. The next thing she saw was a mass of blonde hair covering her face, as two thin arms flung themselves across her prone figure.

“Oh, Tam!” She heard Tina say with a squeak. “I thought we had lost you.” She said crying into Tam’s shoulder.

Tammy felt Ken’s grip on her hand start to slacken. Reflexively she tightened her grasp, not wanting to let go. “Even near death, you’re as strong as an ox.” He said with relief in his voice.

“Where am I?” Tammy asked, though she thought she had a pretty good idea.

“In the hospital.” Mary said from the foot of her bed, straitening the covers and trying to make the bed more comfortable.

Ken stroked Tammy’s hair and said. “We were in the kitchen when all the lights went out. We heard you scream at the same time. When I got into your room, you were already passed out.

“From what I could tell from the emergency lighting,” Ken continued. “Was that you had managed to get a good deal of water on the floor. For some reason you had dropped your hair dryer on a very wet floor. As soon as it impacted with the floor a circuit touched the water, and since you were standing in the water…”

Tammy understood. “I got a bit of a shock.”

“That’s an understatement.” Tina said still keeping her head on Tammy’s shoulder. “You were electrocuted. Your hair is going to be a mess for some time to come, I don’t mind telling you.”

Upon hearing this, Tammy reached up with her free and ran her finger through her hair. She could feel where it was very much frazzled in areas. She could also tell that much of her hair was gone.

“It’s not as bad as all that.” Ken said reassuringly. “We had to cut some of it to get your head off of the floor as your hair had fused with the tile.”

“How are you feeling Tam?” Mary asked shooting angry looks at Ken and Tina. “Seems like everyone else just wants to give you bad news.”

“My head hurts a bit.” Tammy replied. “Feeling pins and needles in my fingers.”

“Well that’s to be expected.” A new voice said as it entered the room. Tammy recognized the doctor that had helped her right after the car accident. “And I tell you what. If you’re going to be in here each time you have a birthday, I’m going to write a note excusing you from any more birthdays.”

“Can I have one of those?” Mary said with a small smile.

“Sorry, only one per family.” He responded as he nudged Tina out of his way to examine Tammy. “A very lucky young lady you happen to be, my girl.”

Tammy scoffed as the doctor started flashing a pen light in her eyes. “If this is luck, I’d hate to see how unlucky feels.”

The doctor shook his head. “You don’t understand. I don’t think any of you do.” He said to all of them. “She took a lethal voltage. “By all medical rights you should be dead.”

Ken looked confused. “A lethal voltage? From a hair dryer?”

“It wasn’t just the dryer that or any receptacle channels voltage from.” The doctor explained. “I don’t claim to be an electrical expert, but what I know about it, is that several room of an average household share a common electrical breaker. That’s why you can shut off power to just certain parts of your house while others are left unaffected.

“The particular breaker that dryer was plugged into.” The doctor continued. “Was the most populated one in your house, save for the main breaker.”

“How do you know this?” Asked Tina skeptically.

The doctor shrugged. “Public records. Your house was expanded onto in the last year and all the specs, including electrical wiring is easily obtained. When I learned that she was a case of electric shock, I had to know how much we were dealing with.”

“So what happened to me?” Tammy asked. “A sort of chain reaction?”

“That’s as good a way to put it as any.” He replied. “And so it follows, that you’re a very lucky young lady.” They all stood in silence as the doctor looked into her ears, down her throat and checked her pulse and heart rate.

“What’s the verdict?” Ken asked. “When do we take her home?” Tammy liked that idea. She spent enough time in a hospital over the last year. She didn’t fancy doing it again.

“I’d like to keep her here tonight, just as a precaution.” He said to the mutual disappointment of the room. “If there aren’t any complications tonight, I don’t see why we couldn’t send her home tomorrow late morning.”

“Can I stay with her tonight?” Tina asked. Tammy wasn’t sure if she like that idea. She knew Tina meant well, but was afraid, that they’d be sharing the bed by the time the night was over.

She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of Mary staying with her either. At each opportunity, Mary seemed to make sure Tammy was comfortable. Pulling the blanket up to keep her warm, fluffing her pillow and such.

“I think we should let her get her rest tonight.” Ken said. Tammy found that to be the most discouraging. “If we want her to come home in the morning, we should do what we can to aid her.”

The doctor nodded. “And right now the best aid we can give her is sleep.” He then look directly at Tammy. “You may think you’re good enough to jump right out of this bed and hit the road, but don’t forget, you just woke up not that long ago.” Then he looked in her eyes again with the pen light. “And I would like to see your eyes not quite so dilated.”

Accepting defeat, Ken, Mary and Tina each gave Tammy a final hug before leaving the room the doctor following behind them. He turned to give Tammy an understanding smile. “Just one night.” He said as he closed the door.

Minutes started to tick by at an agonizingly slow pace. She thought she had dozed a couple of time, but the clock just didn’t want to agree with her. At one point she swore she had only shut her eyes for a second, when they were brought back to life in the most annoying way as a nurse came in and turned the light on.

“Turn it off!!” Tammy complained.

The nurse tutted. “Oh it’s not that bright. Besides I need to get your vitals again.” She said putting on her eye glasses.

Then without warning the nurse wrapped Tammy’s arm in a blood pressure cuff and started squeezing. Tammy was getting very annoyed with this nurse. She even formed an image of the nurse in her mind. She felt the cuff release its pressure and get taken off her arm. Tammy started to really loath the way this nurse kept looking down her nose at her.

When the nurse grabbed Tammy’s wrists, something in her snapped. She felt a spark of static on her arm as the nurse released her arm. The nurse started writing down the vitals on the chart she was carrying as she walked to the door, said good night before turning the light back off seemingly having trouble keeping the glasses on her eyes.



Chapter: nine



The rest of the night was for the most part uneventful for Tammy. She managed to sleep some, but kept getting woke up by the nurse who said that her I V kept coming out and had to be reinserted. The nurse was certain that Tammy had be tampering with it as the bandage looked to have been pinched together then spread back out.

Tammy was never happier to see a doctor. He came in a little earlier than expected. Said he had talked to the nurse about the I V. She was about to protest when he told her that bandages could bunch up from time to time and since her vitals were strong he would arrange her discharge.

“I’d still like to see you again in about two weeks.” He said filling out a prescription.

Tammy groaned. “Again? When will I ever see the last of this place?”

To answer her, he pulled out his pen light and shone it into her eyes again. “I’m concerned that your pupils are still dilated. I’m going to give you some Lortabs and flexural. I only want you to take them when you’re really in pain. And I’d like you to take them one time as soon as you get home.”

“I’ll see to it.” Mary’s voice said coming from the door.

Tammy knew that one of them would come to take her home, she felt a little disappointed it wasn’t Ken. “Ken not with you?” She asked trying to not sound ungrateful.

Mary smiled at her as she walked over to the bed to started fussing with the covers and pillows. “Both he and Tina had to work today.” She help up a hand before Tammy could protest. “No one is expecting you to be back to work until you’re good and ready. Certainly not today at any rate.”

“I want you sleeping today, Tammy.” The doctor said. “That’s my only condition that I insist on before sending you home.”

Tammy sighed and nodded her head. “I promise.” She said before the doctor left the room to finish with the discharge papers and give Tammy a chance to change.

“Both Ken and Tina send their apologies.” Mary said as she started pulling Tammy’s clothing from a bag she had brought with her and reached over to pull the covers off of her.

“I can dress myself.” Tammy said with more of a bite to her words than she meant to. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m still on edge a little.”

Mary nodded. “I think that’s why the doctor wanted you to get a lot of sleep today.” She said lightly stroking Tammy’s hair just above the scar.

Tammy sighed. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to get a little help.” She told Mary who immediately took the rest of the blankets off her.

When Tammy turned her back on Mary to take off her top, Mary reached over and removed it off her revealing Tammy’s naked chest. “Come on now.” Mary said. “It’s just us girls here and you don’t have anything that I don’t see in a mirror every day.” When Mary had touched her shoulder, Tammy could see an image of Mary in her mind.

“I bet yours are better that mine though.” Tammy said conversationally as Mary helped her with putting on a bra.

Marry giggled. “Don’t count on it.” She responded. “I have about twenty years’ worth of gravity on you, not to mention Tina attacking them like she owned them when she was a baby.”

Tina’s name sparked something in her mind. “How long did Tina stay with me?” She asked Mary.

“Tina never left your side, until you woke up yesterday.” Mary Replied.

Tammy paused. “How long was I out?” She asked, just now thinking that this was the first time she thought to ask.

Mary pulled a t-shirt over Tammy’s head. “You were unconscious for two days.” She informed Tammy. Ignoring the shocked expression, Mary continued. “Remember what the doctor had said about it being near fatal. I’m happy it was just the two days.”

“He said it should’ve been fatal.” Tammy corrected her, emphasizing been. “And you mean that Tina had been sitting there the entire time?”

Watching Tammy put on her pants Mary said. “I’m not sure you know just how deeply Tina cares for you.”

Tammy finished dressing before saying. “I know. I know. She thinks of me as a sister. After all I have her blood in me now.”

Mary shook her head. “It goes beyond that.” She sat down on a chair in the room while Tammy sat on the bed. “When we first saw you, you were bloody, beat up and as far as any of us could tell, you were dying. In fact at one point your heart had actually stopped beating. The paramedic was able to stabilize your condition. But apart from that, Tina held your hand all the way up to the point when they took you into the hospital.”

“Guess I owe Tina more than just my life.” Tammy said. Felling guilty, but at the same time feeling like she would always be in debt to Tina and that thought chaffed.

Mary reached out and took both of Tammy’s hands into hers to help her up. “Tina doesn’t see it that way. She first saw you as someone in need and didn’t know how to help. After she learned she could help, she jumped at the chance. If anything I think she may feel she owes you. You’re the closest thing she’s had to a real friend let alone sister.”

Shaking Mary’s image out of her head again, Tammy followed Mary to the door out of the room. She found what Mary said to be easier to accept and wore the first genuine smile she had felt for since she woke up.

Not thinking about how crowded the corridors were going to be, Tammy was surprised to see how many people that were there. The nurse from the night before was pushing her in a wheel chair. Tammy noticed that she wasn’t wearing her glasses. “Forget your glasses this morning?” She asked trying to sound cheerfully concerned, but privately hoping that the nurse had broken them.

“I think the frames may have warped some. They wouldn’t stay on this morning. Having to use contact lenses today.” The nurse replied irritably. Tammy could see that the nurse was indeed wearing contacts, but her eyes seemed to look red and sore.

Not feeling too sorry for the nurse, Tammy enjoyed the ride. At times her elbows would stick out a little too far and would brush up against another person. Then immediately that persons’ image would appear in her head. Even though she had never seen them before, it was like her mind took a snap shot. A few times she would turn her head and be amazed at the accuracy of these images.

She had lost track of where they were going, when the nurse announced. “End of the line.” And reached down to help Tammy up. Tammy grasped the offered hand and saw the nurse’s image again, and still thought about how low she was.

“Ow.” Tammy said, getting a static shock from the touch. “You shocked me.” She said to the nurse.

The nurse shrugged. “Sorry. I didn’t feel a thing.” She said as she walked away pushing the wheelchair. Tammy thought the nurse was having a little more trouble pushing an empty chair, than she did pushing it with Tammy in it. Must be those lose shoes she’s wearing Tammy thought to herself as she followed Mary to the car.

As soon as they reached the house, Mary shepherded Tammy to her room. Tammy looked around and was amazed to see nothing was out of order. Even the Bathroom looked brand new.

“Ken had carpenters out here to fix it, almost immediately.” Mary said as if reading her mind.

Tammy was still stunned by how quickly it had been done. “How?” She asked.

Mary chuckled. “It’s amazing at how fast you can get something done, when you say, ‘money is no object’ and the actually have the money to back it up.”

Looking at the expansive bathtub, Tammy tenderly ran a finger along the basin. She then turned to the mirror. It was the first time she had seen her reflection in days. Her hair was indeed a tangled mess. She could see parts of her scalp where the hair was just now starting to grow back. To her disappointment, her scar was very visible.

“I so desperately need a shower.” Tammy said to herself forgetting that Mary was still in the room with her.

Mary shook her head. “I’m sure you want to clean up, but the doctor said bed first, so that’s where you’re off to.” Holding out the pills the doctor told her to take with a cup of water.

She turned to face Mary. Looking at the pills and casting a longing look at the tub. “Oh alright.” She said in a mock pout. She figured she’d slept so much the past two days, she could take the pills, get Mary out of the room then try to sneak in a quick shower before Mary could do anything about it.

“That’s better.” Mary said taking the empty cup from Tammy and escorting her to her bed. “I’m putting a do not disturb sign on your door, and an ‘I mean it’ sign right under it.” Mary continued fluffing up Tammy’s pillows.

In spite of what she had planned, almost as soon as her head touched the pillows, she fell asleep. Not even registering Mary leaving the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

Tammy awoke when the nurse from the hospital slapped her on the face. “You’re such a screw up.” She berated her. “Barely with them a year and already you’re back here.” Tammy started to feel ashamed but the nurse wouldn’t let up. “As if it isn’t enough to be the biggest parasite imaginable, now you want nothing more than to take Ken away from Mary and have him all to yourself.”

“No it’s not like that, I love all of them. I never want to hurt them.” Tammy protested. She looked up to see that the nurse was growing right before her eyes. “Please don’t take me away from them.” She pleaded to the nurse to whom now she was only as tall as her ankle.

“You’re a small pathetic excuse for a little girl. You’re not even big enough to be that much.” The nurse said getting on her hands and knees, her face hovering just over Tammy’s head. “I think I should just swallow you whole and then you’ll not be a problem to anyone anymore.” She contracted her mouth then started inhaling as hard as she could. Tammy felt her feet struggle to stay on the ground.

“Are you awake?” Tina’s voice boomed into the room startling Tammy back into being awake.

Tammy groaned weakly. “I am now.”

“Tammy are you awake?” Tina asked again, a little more quietly into the pitch blackness of Tammy’s room.

Tammy was about to tell her that she was, when she heard Mary’s voice chiding. “I told you to let her sleep.”

Tina sighed. “It’s okay. She’s still out cold. She never heard me anyway.” She said as she closed the door.

How could Tina not hear her? Tammy thought. She spoke loud enough and Tina practically announced her presence with a bull horn. She opened her eyes and couldn’t see anything. All was darkness.

She reached up to pull the covers off of her, when her hand pressed against what felt like a cottony surface. She placed her hand to her chest and to her surprise she was naked. She swore she went to bed wearing what she had come home in. Why would Mary strip her down and then put such a large blanket on top of her.

As her eyes started to adjust, Tammy could make out a pattern in the blanket. It looked like a giant seam. She tilted her head backwards and then realized that the pillow was no longer under her head. Looking up she saw that the blanket went as far as she could see, but there was something that looked like a wall. She tried to sit up, but the blanket on her was too heavy. It wouldn’t budge.

She was trying to not panic. She rolled onto her stomach and started to crawl up under the length of the blanket. She made good progress when reached what looked like a large white wall. She placed her hand on it and she thought it felt familiar, when she saw large numbers and a letter on what looked like a poster board. 34 d.

She didn’t believe that it was what she was thinking it was, but it all added up. The cottony blanket had to be her shirt, and this wall. It was the bra she had been wearing when she laid down. Somehow she had shrunk, just like in that strange dream she had. Only this was for real. At least she now knew why Tina didn’t hear her.

Knowing that at her size she could never move the cup of the bra she turned around on her stomach and crawled in the other direction. She figured that seam she had seen, must have been the seam of the shirt. She may be able to get under it and out from underneath her now giant shirt.

Fortunately there was a space between the seam of the shirt and the bed, that she was able to fit through stand up and confirm what she feared to be the truth. She was tiny. Without knowing what the size things were that were around her and with no handy ruler to use, she had to take a guess that she couldn’t be more than one inch tall.

She started walking back up the shirt, which was a lot easier now that she was on top of it, than under. She made it to where her bra was and could tell she would have to walk around as there was no way she was going to be able to climb anything that large. For the first time in her life she regretted having a large chest. Because it needed good support, the cup wasn’t very flexible. At least not to her at this size.

Tammy walked around the perimeter of the bra and saw that her pillow was where she thought it should be. Getting on top of the pillow seemed to be her best bet to get help as she could be seen easier from there. She saw at the bottom of the pillow, what looked like an up ramp on it. She surmised that as she shrunk in her sleep, her head while getting smaller and sliding off the pillow, was still heavy enough to leave a good impression.

Having no trouble climbing the pillow, Tammy stood on top of it, feeling like she were some mountain climber at the summit of the mountain. She looked around the room, trying to see as much as she could in the dark. But because she was so small any object that might’ve been visible in the dark were now just monolithic blurs in the dark. Even the swell of her shirt that marked where her bra was, seemed to be a faraway building.

She thought about calling out for help, but didn’t think her voice would carry anywhere near enough to be hear. If she were only a little bigger she might be able to be heard. No sooner had she thought that, than she felt her feet sink into the pillow.

She looked down and sure enough, she had sunk into the pillow. Where a few seconds ago it supported her weight easily. Now she was knee deep into it. Tammy looked around and started to see a few things a little more clearly. Her bra didn’t seem as far away anymore.

“I wonder.” She said to herself and thought about being a little taller. This time she looked down to see the pillow getting smaller under her feet. She could make out the edge of the bed now that she could see over the covers.

Tammy stepped off her pillow and reached her bra in three steps. It only came up to her knees now. She bent over to pick it up. Even through the shirt she was able to lift it some. She let it fall back to the bed and walked to the center.

“Here goes nothing.” Tammy said quietly to the dark and thought about herself being her normal five foot four. Looking up she saw the celling getting closer to her, felt the bed start to creak on the spot she stood growing.

She laid down, trying to position herself as close to the middle as she could. Not an easy thing to do as the bed kept getting smaller around her.

By the time she had stopped growing, everything around her looked a normal as they ever had. Things just now had a weird feeling to them. Looking at each object in the room, knowing that less than one minute ago she was smaller than any of them.

Tammy was also aware that she was still naked. She looked at her clothes that were still on the bed, but very crushed and wrinkled. She gathered them up, put them in her laundry basket and pulled out a nightgown from her drawer and slipped it on.

She thought about going to either Ken, Mary or Tina and tell them what she just experienced, but her head started swimming again. “I must not be fully over those drugs.” She advised herself as she laid back down. She would tell them tomorrow what happened. That would be early enough.

With her head back on her pillow. Tammy pulled the covers back over herself and was sleeping again in no time.

Chapter: ten



Tina was sitting at the table in the dining room, her breakfast all but forgotten on its’ plate, while she poured over new student contracts and payment schedules. She didn’t even notice that Ken had already sat down across from her and had been studying her look of concentration for a full minute.

“I thought,” Ken said, startling Tina out of her focus. “That when we built that room for you at the school, you wouldn’t need to do that here.”

Picking the fork she had been holding, off the floor she half turned her head to look at him. “Daddy, you know how much I hate that you can sneak up on me like that.” She said irritably.

Ken chuckled. “There wasn’t any sneaking involved this time. Your nose was do deeply buried in those books, I could’ve been playing a cymbal and you wouldn’t have noticed.”

“I just needed to check a few things with one or two of the payments.” Tina said. “That and I thought I might be needed here.”

Mary walked into the dining room carrying a plate of eggs and bacon. “You’re not fooling me.” She said setting the plate in front of Ken. “You wanted to be here.”

Tina smelled the fresh bacon and looked at own plate wistfully. “So sue me.” She responded. “I can still get minor things like this done here. I don’t have to stay at the school all night for it.”

“No one said you did.” Mary said warmly. “It’s just, ever since you took over all those years ago this is the first time I’ve known you to bring your work home.” She walked over and started running her hand down Tina’s head, stroking her hair.

“Well you can’t blame me.” Tina said. “Even though she been released from the hospital, there’s no guarantees that she’s in perfect health.”

Ken eyed his daughter, clearing her mouth before he spoke. “Of course she isn’t, and it’s not like she’s going to be for a little while. That was quite an ordeal she had.”

“We just need to let her have whatever time she needs to recover.” Mary added pulling a hairbrush from her purse, which was on the table.

Tina paused what she was doing while her mother brushed out her hair before saying, “I have no plans for her to come to work for at least a week. More if she feels she needs.”

“That’s a good idea.” Ken said. “But make sure you don’t pamper her too much either. From what I’ve learned about her is that she needs to be busy and if you put her on the sideline too long, it can create a bit of resentment.”

“Try a lot of resentment.” Tammy said as she walked into the dining room, fully dressed and looking energetic. “I felt my ears burning, so I knew I had to see what everyone was saying about me.”

Mary dropped Tina’s hair and moved to intercept Tammy. “How are you feeling?” She asked, guiding Tammy to a chair. “You sleep alright?”

Tammy sat down in the chair, with not a little pressure on her shoulders from Mary’s hands. “I can’t believe I slept as long as I did.” She said seeing the image of Mary in her head.

Tina looked over at Tammy. “Why are you dressed like that?” She asked, while reaching behind her head to put her hair in its customary ponytail. “I have things well covered at the schools for several days to come.”

“I’m just ready to get back to work.” Tammy said brightly. “I feel fine and after yesterday, I’m very well rested.”

“There’s not going to be much for you to do there today.”

Tammy shrugged. “You’re always in need of a gopher.”

Ken held up a hand before Tina could protest any further. “You girls go in together today.” He said the looked at Tammy. “You go in today with the full understanding that you take it easy. You may feel well now, but if your head, or even your leg start to give you, even the hint of pain, then you stop immediately and come home.” Tammy nodded excitedly. Ken then looked to Tina. “And remember that you are NOT a doctor.” He said with a smile. “Don’t try and tell Tam that she has had enough and send her home anyway.”

Tina looked as if she were about to protest, but looking at Tammy’s pleading face she said, “I think you’re forgetting who’s in charge now, Daddy.” She giggled softly to herself. “But I guess I could never refuse either of you now.” Tina said as she looked at Tammy.

Mary, who had started fussing with Tammy’s hair didn’t look happy about it. “I still think she needs to take it easy.” She looked into Tammy’s eyes. “Still dilated. And her hair is in such a state.” She said as she resumed trying to groom it.

“I’m one step ahead of you on that one.” Tammy said with a smile as she pulled a cap from off of her lap with K&T written in bold letters. “I was thinking that, one of my first decisions as part owner is to institute casual hair day.”

Tina laughed out loud. “We don’t really have a dress code you know.”

“Then my second decision will be to make one.”

Ken gave Tina a roguish smile. “Looks like she has it all planed out.”

Tammy stood up and placed the cap on her head. “If I know you and new contracts,” She said looking at Tina. “You’re going to want to file those ten minutes before you’ve even finished reading them.”

“Quite right.” Tina said standing up, gathering her papers as she did. “You’re still going to nine later today to instruct the teachers?” She asked Ken.

He nodded, not getting up. “I’m to be there around eleven, then at noon I leave there and head over to twelve.”

Tina nodded and walked over to kiss her father on the head, then turned to Mary and gave her a hug. “See you guys later today then.”

Tammy followed suit. She first kissed Ken, on the cheek rather than the top of his head. Again an image of Ken flashed in her mind. Mary was behind her and gave Tammy a hug as soon as she turned around. Mary’s image replaced Ken’s instantly. She paused to tell them about what she experienced last night, but as Mary was already against her going to work in the first place, she thought if she mentioned last night to them Mary would win out and not only make her stay home, but take her back to the hospital.

Tina grabbed Tammy’s hand and said. “Let’s go partner.” As she tugged Tammy towards the front door. Tammy couldn’t help noticing that she didn’t get an image of Tina in her head at all.

Later on that day, Tammy watched the twelve o’clock class. Since it was in the afternoon the class wasn’t that large. Mostly housewives and people who worked in the evenings and couldn’t attend normal classes.
She knew Tina said there wouldn’t be much for her to do, but Tammy didn’t think that it would be an understatement. From the time they walked in the door two hours ago, the most she had to do was put fresh towels in the showers. She had repeatedly asked Tina if there was anything, even grunt work that needed to be done, but Tina had told her with a week smile that everything had been done late last night.

So here she watched the instructors putting his class through their paces. She watched with mild interest a man, who looked to be maybe in his mid-thirties alternately punching and kicking various targets that the instructor had placed around him.

She saw two women, who looked to be good friends, practice sparing. Never hitting each other but getting as close as they could without making contact. She noticed they both wore red belts and looked like they were going to get their black belts in no time at all. They were that good. But she was rapidly losing interest. She needed to do something productive. Almost on cue, she hear Tina calling her from the office.

Tammy walked to the office to see Tina in a flurry of actions. Typing like mad on her computer while filing papers in her file attached to her desk, and from somewhere, she had an inbox that looked to be overflowing. “Why didn’t you call me in here sooner?” She asked. Somewhat amazed at how much work there was to be done and a little annoyed that Tina was doing it all herself.

“This is nothing.” Tina said dismissively. “I’ve handled way more than this many times in the past.”

“But I am bored out of my mind.” Tammy said, not letting Tina off the hook that easily. “There’s no reason you should be doing all this yourself.”

“I’m not going to, I need you to do something for me.” Tina said looking around her desk before handing a zipped bag to Tammy. “Would you run this to the bank?

Tammy felt outraged. She told Tina that she would do gopher work for her, but was hoping to get in into something challenging first. Not this petty errand. “Fine.” She said taking the bag from Tina, trying to not snatch it away. “You want anything else while I’m out?”

For some reason Tina’s eyes shifted toward the back. “Nothing I can think of. Why don’t you take an early lunch when you’re done with that and be back here around one thirty?”

Now Tammy knew she was trying to get rid of her for a while and it had to do with that locked room. But she felt if she pressed the matter she could ruin her chances to come back tomorrow. Mary certainly didn’t want her to work today and if Tina had told either Mary or Ken, they might team up against her the next day and make her stay home.

She simply nodded and gave Tina, what she knew had to look like a forced smile, but she had turned away before she could see if Tina had reacted to it. Reluctantly she picked up the keys for Tina’s car and walked out of the school, the deposit bag feeling her wrath in her hand.

As Tammy drove Tina’s car she felt her resentment come in full force. Sure Tina was taking it easy on her, but she wasn’t exactly helpless. She knew she could do Tina’s job if she had to. Maybe not as well as Tina, but she would get there soon enough.

Tammy shook her head and started feeling ashamed. Tina was only looking after her. She now knew that Tina really cared for her and had, since they first met, been there for Tammy no matter what she needed. Tammy thought about how Tina had talked her parents to include her in their will. Probably had a hand in her part ownership in the schools now. There was absolutely no reason for her to resent anything about Tina. Who cared what she did in that room?

She was actually feeling real good about everything. Tammy started thinking about where to have lunch. Maybe treat herself to a good fancy meal. Ken had given her a credit card to use for day to day expenses, but she never really took advantage of it. She couldn’t think of a reason he would begrudge it now, especially when Tina had basically told her to take a long lunch.

But first she needed to make the deposit. So with that in mind she finished her drive to the bank and walked in, humming to herself. Then the rage came back. The line was unforgivably long. How could so many people need to use the bank at what should’ve been a lunch hour.

She stood in line fuming, her resentments about Tina cutting into her mind like a wet hot knife. She felt a bump from behind her and the image of what had to be the most snobbish looking woman she had ever seen, entered her mind.

Tammy turned to see a woman, who had to be at least six feet tall, looking at Tammy as though she were a cockroach. “Excuse me.” The woman said in a very condescending way. Holding a French poodle in one hand. “But you weren’t moving and the line has progressed.”

Looking to the front, Tammy saw that the line had move, but it was hardly perceptible. “I didn’t think they allowed pets in here.” She said directing her voice behind her, so she didn’t have to look at this woman.

The woman sniffed in a way that made Tammy’s blood boil even more. “Well young lady.” She said. Clearly meaning to talk down to her. “If you knew how to read you could tell that this is a comfort animal. I need it with me otherwise I could not tolerate being in public places like this.” Tammy turned around and saw that the poodle was indeed wearing a harness that said ‘medical animal’ on it, but it was hardly even perceptible.

Before Tammy could turn around, the woman nudged her again. “But my patients with trashy commoners.” She said looking at Tammy’s cap. “Should not be tested. Please move forward, you’re holding up the line.”

Tammy turned on the spot keeping her eyes fixed at the front of the line. She still had the woman’s image locked firmly in her head. As she got to the front she was glad that her head was starting to clear again, but still wanted to forget about the bitch behind her. Tammy had thought she couldn’t loath anyone more than that nurse from the hospital, but the woman behind her was giving the nurse a run for her money.

Having finally made it to the teller and having made the deposit, she looked at her watch and saw that is was nearly one o’clock already. So much for the fancy lunch, she thought irritably. She tried to push the anger aside when she felt a vice like grip on her arm and in her head she saw the same snobby woman’s image.

Before she could react the woman had turned her around to glare down at Tammy. “I don’t know where you come from or what simpletons raised you, but you would do well to recognize your betters and give them proper respect.” She said to Tammy with a snarl. “When you see someone like me, you move aside. You’re very lucky that I have somewhere to be, otherwise I could ruin you with just one phone call.” She raised back up. “You see, some people in this life actually work to make themselves better, while parasites like you skate by, pretending to be important. Now get out of my way, and if I were you, I’d never want to see me again.”

Tammy felt the woman release her arm and felt a spark. She watched the woman get into her car, all but tossing the poodle into the passenger seat. She agreed that she never wanted to see that woman again, not for any fear of her, she just hated her. But as she watched the woman drive away, she couldn’t shake the woman’s image from her head.

She thought about the woman seeing her in her mind. Thinking what a thrill it would be to look down her nose at someone like that. Then the image started to diminish. Tammy kept the image firmly in her head as she saw it getting smaller. Thinking she may as well have fun with it, she closed her eyes and held onto it. She smiled to herself as it got smaller and smaller. She stopped when she could barely make out the woman’s image at all. Then abruptly it had vanished.

Since there was only a little time to get anything to eat, Tammy decided to just get some fast food and started driving to a fast food restaurant she knew along the way. Not far from the bank, however she saw the car that the woman from the bank had been driving. It was off to the side of the road, resting in a line of bushes. Tammy felt a twinge of satisfaction at the idea of that snobby woman being in an accident, but thinking about what Ken would do, she pulled over to make sure she was alright.

As Tammy approached the car, she couldn’t see the woman’s head at all. She thought that to be strange as she knew her to be rather tall. When she looked into the car, all she could see on the car seat was a pile of clothes. She opened the drivers’ side door and looked in.

What Tammy saw nearly made her yelp. She saw the poodle on the floorboard of the drivers’ side, growling and barking at something under the seat. Looking closer Tammy could just see a tiny arm trying to swat at the little dog’s nose.

Tammy knew what had to have happened. She closed the door, trying to think about what to do. Before last night she would’ve thought what she saw was impossible. But as she remembered being tiny herself last night, she knew that not only was it possible, but she had somehow made it happen. First to herself last night, and now to this woman.

But thinking further back, she realized that she must have done it to the nurse as well, only not nearly as much.

Trying to fix what she had just done, Tammy tried to think about the woman again, only instead of seeing her get smaller she would try to grow the woman back. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make the image of the woman come back into her head.

She opened up the door and started to reach down to pick up the poodle, but it had snapped at her hand biting it, not hard enough to draw blood, but enough to wet her rage again. She looked down at the dog and thought about the tiny woman hiding under a seat that a small poodle was too big to get under, and smiled.

“I guess some of us just need to be brought down to size.” She said as she shut the door and walked back to Tina’s car. She wondered what would happen if the dog had gotten to her, but then realized she didn’t care.



Chapter: eleven



Tina waved to the students as they left the school after the class was over. The instructor stayed on the floor to work on his own higher level material. She had wanted him to have left with the students as well, so she could have the place to herself for at least half an hour, when Tammy was due back.

Resigning herself to the fact that it wasn’t going to happen, she told the instructor that she was going to be in her room and to knock if he needed anything. She knew the guy wouldn’t need anything from her. After all she wasn’t exactly a teacher. She walked to the door leading to her private room and entered the security code on the panel before turning the door and walking inside.

Tina was certain that she wasn’t about to make enough noise to carry through the door, but as normal, she turned on her stereo to mask any sounds that she didn’t want anyone else to be suspicious of.

She started undressing as she walked to the dresser and opened the top drawer and saw Chuck fast asleep, curled up on top of one of her panties. “Rise and shine.” She cooed softly into the drawer, lightly poking Chuck with her giant finger.

“I’m awake.” He said yawning widely. “How’s Tammy?” He asked.

“You would swear nothing had ever happened to her.” Tina replied as she reached into the drawer and scooped Chuck in her hand raising him to eye level. “I brought her to work today, but I wish she would’ve stayed home. She still needs time to recover.”

Chuck raised an eyebrow and asked. “You want her to have time to recover, or you just wanted her out of the way this afternoon?” He looked over her hand and saw that she was already naked from the waist up.

“She’s out of the way for now.” Tina said setting down Chuck on the middle of the bed. “But we don’t have a lot of time.” With that she removed the rest of her clothes and started shrinking. The top of the bed was already higher than her knees as she climbed on, shrinking the entire time. He would never get used to how she could do that. Chuck watched as she stood at the edge of the bed, looking to be about twenty inches tall as she walked toward him.
Shrinking as she walked, her chest was just above Chucks head when she stood next to him, placing her breasts right over his head and letting them rub against his face as she shrunk to stand just below his chin.

“You want to be the small one this time?” He asked. “We could’ve just stayed in the drawer for that.”

She shook her head, wrapping her tiny arms around his, now much larger body. “I told you we don’t have a lot of time and I’d like to get a little adventurous this time.” With that she gently nudged him backwards until he lay on his back and she crawled onto his chest kissing him deeply.

He returned the kiss with as much passion as he could muster. Feeling her body start to grind on his. When he broke the kiss, he saw her smiling mischievously as she lowered her head to start kissing his chest. He could feel her kisses start to descend down his chest. He first though that she was bending her head lower to get to his penis, when he felt her feet slowly creeping up his leg. Then he realized that she was shrinking again.

Tina had made love to Chuck while smaller than him before. She had even let herself get to be smaller than his penis, but she was wanting to try something different. As soon as she realized that she was maybe less than two inches, roughly half his size, she stood up on his chest and looked down at his giant face, biting her lower lip and started to walk backwards.

She reached behind her, until she could feel his huge member at full attention, coming up to just above her knees. “Hmmm.” She said with a purr as she straddled it. She lowered herself and felt him start to fill her up, with his manhood.

“I think we can do better than that.” She said as she started getting smaller. She could feel herself slowly lifting as he continuously got larger inside of her. She would feel herself slowly start to rise on the growing penis, then she would let herself grow a little, to where she would slide back down. “That’s better, just lay back and I’ll take it from here.”

Over and over she would shrink and grow, never small enough to be forced off, and never large enough to be able to take all of him in her at once. Chuck was getting very close to exploding. “Whatever you’re going to do, do it fast. I’m not going to last here.” He said warningly, looking at Tina and admiring her incessantly growing and shrinking breasts.

She nodded and closed her eyes and let herself get smaller still, until she could feel that even the head of his penis was getting too large for her. “PICK ME UP!” She demanded, feeling her own ecstasy start to reach its climax. Tina felt his giant hand start to wrap around her, but before he could lift her too far, she hugged his shaft with both of her legs as he lifted her up, to irretrievably send him over the edge.

As his lay there in his own spasms he herd her scream. “Don’t stop with me yet” As she reached her hands to pull a giant finger to her body. He closed his hand slightly so that he had a thumb and forefinger on each of her breasts, while his pinky bent in to stroke her heated womanhood.

After hearing her scream of pleasure, he lowered Tina onto his chest and felt her getting heavier. “That was awesome.” He said softly as she slid down his side, to lay next to him, with her growing head on his chest.

“Oh. I don’t want to move.” She said. Feeling her feet start to touch his. “But I really need to make sure I’m back in the office before Tammy gets back.”

Chuck raised his chest to lean back on his elbows. “You know I’m always here for you.” He said gazing at Tina as she stood up. “Not that I have anywhere to go.” He added with a smile.

Tina sat back down and leaned to Chuck and stroked his hair. “Sometimes I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but if anyone found out that I’ve had you here this entire time and what we’ve been doing.”

He nodded. “I know. I just get bored sometimes.”

She smiled as she reached her arms around Chuck and pulled him on top of her. “How about a quick ride?” She asked.

Chuck was thinking they were about to go again, when he felt her body expand beneath his. Tina held on to chuck, first by wrapping her arms around him, the as she got larger, she had to settle for just her forearms keeping him in place, just on top of her expanding breasts. When Tina had reached her normal five foot tall, Chuck found himself atop Tina’s left breast, her hand holding him just on her nipple. “Ride’s over.” She said softly as she wrapped her fingers around his body and reached her legs to the edge of the bed.

With her hand so completely surrounding him, he didn’t see that she had stood up and was lowering him into the drawer, until the fingers released and he fell back onto the same pair of panties that he had started from.

She looked down at him as she started to dress. “You get to think of the next adventure and I dare you to top this one.”

“Challenge accepted.” He said watching her put her bra on concealing her giant breasts. “Just don’t make me wait quite as long next time.”

“You bet.” She said with a wave as she slid the drawer shut and looked at her watch. It was nearly one thirty already. Tammy should be back any minute. She thought to herself as she put the finishing touches on her hair and pulling it back.

As Tina emerged from her room, she saw Tammy walking toward her and could see that something had put her in a much better mood.

******** ******** ******* ******** ******** ********

When Tammy walked into the school she heard Tina’s door shut in the back. Smirking to herself she thought that Tina must be done and started coming up with some ideas about what she was doing back there with the music on and the school empty.

Tammy still was feeling the satisfaction of knowing she had brought down that snobby woman. Literally. She kind of wondered how small that woman was now. Remembering the size of the poodle and that the woman could now stand upright underneath the seat of a car, she thought the woman must be about three inches tall now. Maybe smaller? Taller? Who knows, who cares? She thought to herself felling justified.

One thing was for certain, she needed to get a handle on this thing. She was going to need a volunteer. Then smiled as she saw Tina and thought she knew who would be more than willing to help her out. Whether she wanted to or not.



Chapter: twelve


Smiling, Tammy walked to Tina and wrapped her arms around her, pretending to give her a hug but in reality, was waiting for Tina’s image to appear in her head. She saw nothing. Tammy released Tina from her embrace. “Just didn’t know if you knew how grateful I was that you let me come in today.” She told Tina while putting her hand on Tina’s’ cheek. Still no image.

Tina smiled and placed her hand, on the hand that Tammy holding her face with. “I am happy to have you here today, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I still think you should be at home resting.”

Tammy hid her disappointment. She didn’t understand why this wasn’t working. Everyone she came into contact with since she left the hospital, left an image of themselves in her mind. For some reason, Tina didn’t. “I just couldn’t stay at home all day, with Mary fussing about me like a mother hen.” She said to Tina as she dropped her hand from Tina’s face.

“Just be glad you didn’t get chicken pox with her around.” Tina said with a grin, walking back to the offices, holding Tammy’s hand as they walked. “When I had them, each time I made any kind of breathing noise that was louder than dust falling, she would be in my room with a thermometer and vapor rub.”

They reached the office, Tina settled into her chair and pulled a stack of papers toward her, leaving Tammy with nothing to do again. “Is it just me or is it a little hot in here?” Tammy asked scratching the top of the cap she was still wearing, trying to get at the itch on her scalp.

“Feels fine to me, but I don’t get hot or cold too easy.” Tina said before looking up to see Tammy rubbing the cap on her head. “That cap can’t be helping you either.”

“I know, but with the state of my hair, I need to keep it on.” Tammy said feeling her scalp starting to itch even worse. “I’m going to the bathroom for a minute.” She told Tina.

Tina nodded then turned her attention back to her work that she was only halfheartedly doing. Her mind still on her encounter with Chuck a few minutes ago. She normally had taken time to collect herself before leaving her room after making love with Chuck, but this time in her haste, she just got dressed fixed her hair and left the room, all but running right into Tammy. Trying to force the idea of what would happen if she got caught doing what she was doing, Tina redoubled her efforts on her work.

Entering into the women’s locker room, Tammy went straight to the mirror and looked at her reflection, wondering why she couldn’t get an image of Tina in her head, like she had so many others.
She took off her cap to scratch her scalp and was surprised to see how much hair fell to her shoulders. Looking closer she could tell that a lot of the hair that had been lost, was now growing back. Not all of it, but looking at it, she could tell that at this rate her hair would be back to normal in no time.

Tammy was so distracted by her hair she didn’t notice the two women walked into the locker room. “Good afternoon, Tam.” A voice said followed closely by the image in her head of the woman who had just patted her on the back.

She turned to face a woman, whose name she was struggling with. “Debbie?” Tammy asked as she hastily put the cap back on her head.

“That’s my name.” Debbie said cheerfully. “Head still a bit wonky?”

Nodding, Tammy looked behind Debbie and saw her friend Ashley. “How’re you two doing?” She asked conversationally her mind on Debbie’s image. Noticing they were both sweating all over their heads.

“We were running around the neighborhood.” Ashley commented reaching for a towel. “We just needed to clean up a bit.”

Debbie grabbed a towel of her own and looked at Tammy closely. “You sure you’re okay?” She asked. “Your eyes are very much dilated.”

Tammy was getting sick of people saying that to her. Did they think she was some kind of junky hooked on crack or something? “I’m fine.” She replied. “I have no idea why they’re doing that. It’s been like that for a couple of days now.”

Debbie smiled concernedly. “Please take care of yourself, Tam.” She said. “We’re all kind of fond of you around here.”

Now they were talking to her like she were some precocious little child who was always getting into trouble. Tammy started to feel her anger start to boil again, but she kept in in check when she reached out to take Debbie’s hand. “I know.” She said, feeling an electric spark in her hand as she touched Debbie, Noticing her image clearer than before.

“We all love you, you know?” Ashley said placing a hand on Tammy’s shoulder, creating a spark that only Tammy could feel, as well as leaving her image to go alongside Debbie’s in Tammy’s mind.

Tammy recognizing what had just happened, she concentrated to hang on to both of the images as both Debbie and Ashley walked toward the showers. She waited for the door to the showers to close before putting her test into motion.

The showers in the main school were many and varied. There were a few individual stalls for privacy, and also a larger communal shower with many shower heads. It was into this one that Debbie followed closely by Ashely walked into. They had gotten undressed in the prep area and were now turning on their own shower heads to clean up.

Tammy had quietly followed them into the showers. If she was right, she wouldn’t actually need to be in the same room with them, but she wanted to see the process take place assuming she could really do what she was about to attempt.

Looking in the showers, she studied their bodies and thought about how much different they looked standing naked so close to each other. Debbie was a little taller than Tammy, she guessed her to be roughly five foot seven. Having never had to reason to ask the heights of anyone, all her size comparisons were going to be pure guess work. Her hair was a dirty blonde, not too much unlike Tina’s. She also couldn’t help notice that Debbie didn’t have much in the way of a chest either. Her breasts weren’t exactly a cups, but looking she would be surprised if Debbie filled out that much of a b.

Ashley was nearly the polar opposite. Starting with her fire red hair. She was very short. Even Tina would look tall standing next to her. Guessing again she figured Ashley to be maybe four foot ten? She also always thought of Ashley as a bit chunky, but seeing her naked she realized, that was hardly the case. Ashley’s stomach was flat enough, but what made her look fatter than she really was, was because of her huge breasts. Tammy wasn’t sure, but thought that she could give Mary a run for her money in the big boob contest.

She looked on as they started scrubbing shampoo into their hair when she focused first on Debbie’s image, making sure not to lose Ashley’s in the process. In her mind she wanted to see Debbie grow smaller, and to her excitement, she watched the real Debbie start to dwindle who didn’t even noticing anything out of the ordinary. Tammy saw that Debbie was now standing eye level with Ashley, when she decided to hold the image in her mind, both of which were now identical sizes.

With her eyes still closed, rinsing out the shampoo from her hair Debbie asked Ashley for some conditioner. When Ashley said sure, Debbie reached her hand down to take it from her. “Thanks.” She said to Ashley looking over and smiling when she was shocked to see that Ashley had grown.

“Ashley!” Debbie said in shock. “What’s happened to you?”

Ashley still had her eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of the shower. “Nothing going on over here. I’m just enjoying the water. Debbie walked over Ashley and poker her in the breasts. “Ow” She said opening her eyes and seeing Debbie’s eyes locked with hers’.

“How did you grow like that?” Debbie asked, looking Ashley up and down as if looking for an elevator.

Ashley stared at Debbie for a moment, no believing what she was seeing. “I don’t know. I didn’t feel anything. It must be because the water is so hot that I didn’t feel anything.”

Tammy was working hard to hang onto both images, which was getting harder to do while suppressing her laughter at the same time.

Looking up at the shower head. Ashley thought it didn’t look any closer than it did before. She looked over at the one Debbie was under and saw it was still on a same level as hers. “I’m not sure I’ve grown at all.” Ashley said looking Debbie up and down. “I think you’re smaller.”

Debbie shook her head. “People don’t get smaller. Thinner maybe.” She said.
Tammy hearing this gave Debbie another slight push down and watched with growing amusement, Debbie’s eyes widen as they slowly started having to look up at Ashley. When she had stopped shrinking her eyes were looking directly at Ashley’s breasts.

Ashley was concerned for what was happening to Debbie, but all the same thought it neat that, for once, she was looking down at Debbie rather than straining her neck to look up. “We need to call someone.” Ashley said pulling in Debbie’s head into her breasts.

Debbie was getting scared. Not just because Ashley’s boob was now larger than her head, but if she had shrunk twice already, what’s to stop it happening a third time. Almost as if on cue, Debbie felt Ashley’s breasts slide up against her face. She pulled her head back to look up, in time to see the large breasts get larger and higher over her head.

Ashley was nearly in a panic for her friend as she watched her shrink to just below her stomach, nearly eye level with her crotch. She looked around in a panic and saw Tammy looking in with a smile on her face. “You know what’s happening!” She shouted at Tammy in accusation.

Tammy was glad that two shower heads were going at the same time, so Ashley’s voice wouldn’t travel beyond the walls of the shower room. But also figuring her fun time was over for the moment, she concentrated on Ashley’s image and started bringing it down.

Seeing that the room was starting to grow around her, Ashly knew that not only was Tammy responsible for shrinking Debbie, she was now doing the same to her. She released Debbie to run at the door of the shower room, but Tammy had stepped inside already and closed the door. By the time Ashley had made it to the door, the handle was well out of her reach.

“Where you going?” Tammy asked still hanging on to both Ashley’s and Debbie’s image, seeing that Ashely’s was still getting smaller. “I thought you said you loved me.”

Ashley was starting to reassess that feeling as she dwindled to Tammy’s knees and stopped. “How are you doing this?” She asked feeling Debbie come up behind her. She turned to see that Debbie was now larger than she was.

Tammy smiled lovingly. “I don’t know how I’m able to do this.” She said pushing Debbie’s image down and watching her shrink again until she was once again looking into Ashley’s breasts. “I just know that when I concentrate like this.” She said pushing Ashley’s image down. “Whoever I’m thinking of goes down.”

Debbie could tell she was right as Ashley shrunk down to stand just under her knees, then watched as Ashley’s head start to rise as she shrunk smaller again.

Having fun watching Ashly and Debbie alternately shrinking, she saw that they were both standing just about at the size of her ankles. She thought that they were small enough now, and with that released their images. “I should thank you girls.” She said in mock sincerity. “With your help, I’m going to get a good hold of this new gift of mine.”

Debbie and Ashley ran in the opposite direction of Tammy, slipping on the wet shower floor. Because of their small size, they were easily swept up by the currents of the water still cascading down from the shower heads in the same force that they were using when the now tiny women were normal size. They both screamed and flailed their arms trying to get a hand hold of anything that would keep them from getting washed away in the rapidly approaching drain.

But just as their feet touched the metal grate, the water had stopped and they could no longer hear the shower running. “That was a close call.” They heard Tammy’s voice echoing in the acoustic shower. “I think I need to put you two somewhere safe.” She casually walked to where the two miniature naked women lay, hugging on to each other and gasping for breath.

“I’ll find somewhere good and warm for you.” Tammy said picking them both up in one hand. “I’d put you down my shirt, but you’re too wet and would raise a lot of questions.” She walked out of the showers, carrying Debbie and Ashly in the one hand, while holding the other hand over them so the better to hide from any unexpected eyes.

She looked around the locker room and saw just what she needed. Ashley had so kindly left her water bottle on the bench in the locker room. She placed two very wet and weary shrunken women on the sink counter. Then picked up the water bottle and emptied its contents into the sink.

“This’ll do nicely.” Tammy said as she held the water bottle just under the sink counter at an angle, and gently brushed Ashley and Debbie into the bottle. Happy that it was a K&T bottle because they weren’t clear plastic, Tammy looked down into it. “Now you two just relax. I’ll try not to make the ride any bumpier than what it has to be.

With that, she placed the cap of the bottle, hearing a satisfying snap as it locked into position. She pulled up the straw flap so that air could get into it, and walked out of the locker room.

Chapter: Thirteen


Tammy walked into the main part of the school with her two tiny prisoners stashed quietly away inside the water bottle she was carrying. As she passed the office and saw Tina look up, she stopped at the open office door and said. “If you’re not going to need me, I think I’m going for a walk. I ate way too much at lunch today and could use the exercise.”

Smiling up at Tammy, Tina said cheerfully. “Sure go ahead. There’s nothing going on today that needs two people anyway. Enjoy your walk.”

She waved at Tina with her free hand and walked out the front door and started a brisk walk down the side walk, thinking hard. She had two tiny women inside the water bottle. She guessed them to both be around three inches, but without anything to measure with, she wasn’t certain. More importantly, she had no clue what she was going to do with them now. She couldn’t take them home, because she wasn’t sure Mary wouldn’t stay out of her room. Mary loved to clean up and many times, Tammy would come home to see Mary in her room with a vacuum and a dust rag.

Tammy walked around the corner of the street and the solution presented itself. She had forgotten that there was a small hotel not too far from the school. As it was one of those suite hotels, that sometimes hot shot business people would stay at when visiting from out of town. It was perfect.

The desk clerk was pleasant enough. He told Tammy that she wasn’t the normal clientele that the hotel usually had, but since there were extra suites available and nothing was coming up for another week or so, he rented it out to her. She paid for the first three days in advance, got the card key and went to the room, that had its door facing the outside of the building .

As soon as Tammy walked into the room, she immediately found the do not disturb sign and hung it on the doorknob outside. Afterwards she sat down on the bed, opened the top of the water bottle and gently laid it on its’ side. “You girls can come out now.” She said in the best reassuring voice that she could. She didn’t want to scare them.

Tammy waited for a moment, then looked inside the bottle. They had both passed out. She hoped that it wasn’t because they had been knocked unconscious. She tipped the bottle slightly so the two tiny women slowly slid down the inside of the cup to gently roll onto the soft surface of the beds’ comforter. She sighed in relief to see that they were both breathing steadily.

She thought they were simply adorable. Tammy even had to suppress a giggle when Ashley tumbled out of the bottle, and her breasts continued to jiggle back and forth for a moment before she had settled onto her back. Tammy reached the fore finger and thumb of her right hand, and softly pressed the tiny breasts together. She wondered if they were the same size, if her breasts would really compare.

Confident, that both Debbie and Ashley would be out of it for a little while and as she needed to test this part of it out anyway, Tammy quickly undressed. She stood at the side of the bed, leaning over Debbie and Ashley, her giant breasts lightly touching them both. “Well. They’re bigger than yours for now.” She whispered to Ashley.

Tammy sat on the bed, her back to the shrunken women, closed her eyes and concentrated. She was thinking of herself being smaller. She almost gasped when she felt her feet leave the floor and her legs begin to lift over the side of the bed. She opened her eyes, still thinking about becoming smaller, she stood up and was excited watching the room grow about her. She looked to her left and saw that the headboard of the bed had already passed her line of sight, and was continuing to rise.

She walked over to where Ashley and Debbie were still laying down, their eyes shut and breathing steady. She gazed at Ashley, looking forward to the boob comparison. Tammy didn’t think it would be much use to compare with Debbie. She could tell from here, and from what she saw in the shower, that Debbie didn’t quite have the gifted chest that she or Ashley had, even if she was bigger than Tammy.

Tammy had to shake her head. She had let herself get carried away. She had shrunk smaller than them. In fact she was so small that now Ashley looked like she was the giant and Tammy was just normal sized. She stood next to Ashley’s chest and had to look up to see her left breast, hanging slightly to the side as she was still on her back.

Reaching up Tammy could just reach the giant bosom but she was too small to push it up. She concentrated on growing and smiled as Ashley’s breast slowly lowered and Tammy could now see over the top of it. Still growing slow, Tammy laid down next to Ashley and waited until she judged them to be the same size.

When Tammy looked to her right she could tell that Ashley still had bigger breasts, than she did. “Guess it’s a good thing I’m normally taller than you.” She said, stoking Ashley’s fire red hair.

Debbie started to stir. “Where are we?” She asked, startling Tammy into a standing position.

The sound of Debbie’s voice along with the sudden movement beside her, Ashley opened her eyes to see Tammy standing next to her, completely naked with a look of worry on her face.

“What the hell?” Ashley asked sitting up, causing her breasts to shake again.

“I’m sorry for this.” Tammy said apologetically. “I just needed someone to test my new abilities with.”

Debbie and Ashley looked at each other. Saw that they were all nude and a look of remembering comprehension played across their faces.

Debbie stood up and ran at Tammy, knocking her over. “You did this to us.” She said angrily pinning Tammy down between her knees. “Now you fix it.”

“I’m not sure how.” Tammy said pleadingly. “That’s why I brought you here. So I can see what I can do.”

“Did it occur to you stop to think, that maybe we didn’t want to be shrunk?” She said, digging her knees into Tammy.

Ashley stood over Tammy and said. “I sure wouldn’t have volunteered for this. Look at me, I’m less than knee-high to a Barbie doll.”

Debbie was about to interrogate Tammy further, when she noticed that her legs were being forced apart, by Tammy’s expanding neck.

Tammy lifted her head to look at Debbie trying to stay on top of a growing Tammy. “Look, I promise not to hurt you, but I need to get the hang of this thing.” Tammy said watching Debbie’s legs release their hold of Tammy’s neck.

Standing up on Tammy’s chest, Debbie tried to ignore the breasts growing underneath her, when she said. “But why us? Why can’t you just experiment on yourself?”

Tammy had reached her normal size, Debbie now standing between her giant breasts, each arm stretching to hold on to a boob for support. “I will be experimenting with myself.” Tammy said. Lifting Debbie off her chest and lowering her down to stand next to Ashley. Then sat up, looking down at the tiny women. “But I need to understand how to control the shrinking. I needed someone to practice with. You were there.”

Ashley put a hand on Debbie to calm her down, then stepped around her and walked closer to Tammy. She reached an arm up and placed her hand on Tammy’s giant foot. “If you’re planning to experiment, surely one of those will be to see if you can make us bigger.” She said, trying to keep her head cool.

“That’s one of the things, yeah.” Tammy replied.

“Then here’s a chance to show your good faith.” Ashley said a little more brightly than she felt. “Try to make one of us bigger.”

Tammy knew she was right, and since this was as good a time as any, she reached down and placed a finger lightly on Ashley’s head. She felt nothing. “Nothing’s happening.” She told Ashley timidly.

Ashley started to panic but kept it in check. “How did you shrink us in the first place?” She asked.

“Whenever someone touches me, I get an image of them in my mind.” She explained. “It’s only when I feel a shock that the image gets solid and then I can control the size of it.”

“Maybe it’s an emotional thing.” Debbie offered up. Trying to help the matter along.

Tammy thought for a second. “Well each time I got that shock was after someone had made me angry.”

Ashley exchanged a dark look with Debbie. “Well let’s try to stay away from that trigger.” Ashley said. “We don’t need anyone who could squash us like a bug, getting too angry.”

“I said I would hurt you.” Tammy said, feeling defensive. Didn’t they see she was only trying to help them?

Debbie snapped her fingers, which didn’t make enough noise for Tammy to hear, but made Ashley turn around. “What is it?” She asked Debbie.

“Well.” Debbie began. “If it is an emotional thing, and we don’t want to trigger anger, what if we tried desire?”

Tammy scoffed. “I may have been playing around down there a minute ago, but that was more of the size thing. I don’t desire either of you.”

Laughing Debbie said. “Not that kind of desire.” She thought for a second before saying. “A desire to see what you want come to pass. Like if you desire an ice-cream you do what you have to, to get it.”

“So you’re saying, I really have to WANT, to make you grow?” Tammy asked.

Looking up Ashley said. “Try it.”

Tammy nodded and looked at Ashley and focused on what she wanted to do. When she was sure what she wanted, she reached a finger and touched her on the head again, and received the shock followed by the solid image of Ashly. “IT WORKED!” Tammy all but shouted.

“See if you can make me bigger.” Ashley said excitedly. Tammy nodded and focused on Ashley’s image and saw it start to get bigger. She looked down to see Ashley was in fact much larger than Debbie now.

“This is so cool.” Tammy said watching Ashley get larger.

Ashley now stood as high as Tammy’s naked breasts, albeit while Tammy was still sitting on the bed. “You’re doing great.” She started to say, but saw that Tammy was growing again. “What’re you doing?” She asked Tammy.

Tammy grinned down at the shrinking Ashley and said. “I still need to experiment a little and I’m running out of time.” She kept Ashley’s image shrinking until Ashley herself was now slightly shorter than Debbie. “Opps.” She said, quickly dismissing Ashely’s image. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

“Just return us to normal size then.” Debbie said pleadingly. “We can’t live like this? We don’t even know how tall we are.”

Tammy looked around the room and her site settled on the desk in the corner, complete with stationary supplies. “I wonder.” Tammy said to herself standing up and walking to the desk.

She looked on top and just saw fancy pens and papers. Tammy then opened the desk and saw what she hoped to. A little plastic ruler. Made more for drawing lines than measuring, but it still had twelve numbers on its side, indicating inches.

“I think it would be easier to do this on the desk.” Tammy said reaching her hand down palm up, motioning for the two tiny women to climb on.

Guessing that Tammy would just pick them up anyway, they lifted their legs to climb onto Tammy’s fingers, that were as tall as their knees. Tammy waited for the shrunken women to settle in, before she slowly stood up and gingerly walked over to the desk, lowered her hand and waited for them to step off onto the desk.

Tammy then grabbed the small ruler and held it vertically before asking. “Who’s first?”

As Debbie was taller than Ashley, she walked over to stand with her back to the ruler, saw Tammy’s enormous thumb settle on the three inch mark. Debbie didn’t know if she felt worse for herself, being only three inches tall, or Ashley as she was even tinier now.

“Ashley appears to be two and three quarter inches.” Tammy announced with pride. “Looks like I did well.” She said standing up, grabbing her clothes off the floor to start dressing.

Both Ashley and Debbie looked scared, then Ashley shouted. “What are you doing?”

Tammy looked down at the tiny naked women and responded. “I told you, I’m running out of time. I need to get back.”

“What about us?” Debbie demanded. “You can’t just leave us here.”

Tammy laughed loudly, causing Debbie and Ashely to cover their ears. “Of course I can. In fact I have to as I can’t take you two home with me and I still need you to help me play around with the shrinking and growing.”

She reached down and without warning, she scooped up both women and carried them back to the bed and setting them down in the middle. “I’m going to need to make sure you girls don’t try to go anywhere.” She said bunching up the comforter around the two tiny women to make a wall that encircled them both. “You should be comfortable here. Try to keep in mind, that even if you get past my barrier, you’re still a good distance from the floor. I’m not sure if it would be a fatal drop, but I urge you not to risk it.”

Ashley ran to the wall of blankets that the top of which was now impossibly out of her reach. “Please make us big again and let us go!”

Tammy smiled lovingly at her. “I’ll do that soon enough.” She said putting her shoes and cap back on. “But for now, think of it as though you’re getting to stay in the largest hotel room, you’ve ever seen and you don’t have to pay a penny for it.

“I’ll be back in little bit.” Tammy said reaching for the door. “I’ll bring you some food and clothing so you don’t have to stay naked the entire time.”

As Tammy walked out the door, Debbie could just see the top of the gigantic door shut, leaving both her and an even smaller Ashley alone in the hotel room



Chapter: fourteen


Tammy had found a small convenience store across the street from the hotel and bought crackers cheese and what looked like passible bananas’. She took them back to the hotel room where Ashley and Debbie still complained about their small size and captivity.

She was starting to get really annoyed with both of them. Couldn’t they see she was doing everything she could to make them comfortable? “Would you two be happier if I just went and got a hamster cage to keep you in?” She snapped over her shoulder as she cut the food she bought for them into smaller pieces.

Walking to the bed, with a tray of now much smaller food. “Though I think it might be too big to keep you anyway.” She said smiling as she started to place the food pieces at their side. “Oh you’re going to need water.”

Tammy took the lid off of the ice bucket and ran just enough water in it to be full enough for the two tiny women, but not so much that it would slosh over the side as she brought it to them and set it down next to the food.

“Anyone need a bathroom trip before I leave?” She asked. “I might be gone all night.” Both Ashley and Debbie nodded and one at a time, Tammy took them to the sink so that they could take care of their business. Satisfied that she had done all she could, she left the room ignoring the barely audible pleas issuing from the bed.

Tammy walked at a brisk pace, she looked at her watch and noticed that she had been gone from the school for nearly two hours. She decided to make up a story about window shopping or something else mundane.

When she walked into the school, she saw that the late afternoon classes had started, and Tina wasn’t in her office. Tammy’s first thought was that Tina was back in her stupid room. Why did that room make Tina feel like she’s better than the entire world? She thought to herself, not trying to hold back the anger at Tina she was feeling.

Tammy started to head for the door to Tina’s room, when she saw Tina walking out of the women’s locker room with a concerned look on her face. “Enjoy your walk?” Tina asked in a bright tone that was clearly forced.

“It was very relaxing.” Tammy replied in a cautious voice.

Tina looked back into the locker room. “Did you see Ashley or Debbie today?” She asked Tammy.

Hate turning to fear, Tammy said. “No I haven’t. There was no one in there when I left to go for my walk.”

“It’s odd.” Tina said still looking toward the locker room. “All their stuff is in there, but there’s no trace of them.”

“Maybe they just dropped that stuff off and went for a run, or walk like I did.” Tammy offered, trying to think fast.

Shrugging, Tina looked back at Tammy. “It could be. I know a few people who carry extra clothes if they’re going to work out in more than one class in a day.” Tina said. Then she shook her head slightly. “I’ve just never known them to.”

“Maybe you don’t know them as well as you think you do.” Tammy said condescendingly.

Tina’s eyes snapped onto Tammy’s with a look of disbelief. “What?” She asked her. Clearly at a loss with Tammy’s tone.

Realizing that she had said out loud what she was thinking, she sighed deeply. “I’m sorry Tina.” Tammy apologized. “Even with that walk I still feel out of sorts. I’m just not used to doing nothing all day.”

Tilting her head and smiling, Tina reached her hand up to hold Tammy’s cheek. “Maybe I should have let you do more today.” She admitted. “You can’t blame me for wanting to look out for you.”

Tammy knew that she had to keep her cool. “I know and understand.” She said. Still bothered that she didn’t get any hint of an image of Tina when she touched her. “Maybe I would’ve done better to stay home today after all.”

“Look.” Tina said hanging onto Tammy’s hand as she guided her to the office. “I still have a ton of paperwork to get to. It would go a lot faster if you’d help me sort it out.”

“I’d love to.” Tammy said, but for some reason she found herself resentful to Tina. Was she her slave now? She thought.

The rest of the day went by in something of a haze for Tammy. She recognized the sounds of certain classes being held. One of which must’ve been a sparing class seeing many of the students in full padding. She hid her face in the paperwork when the topic of Ashley and Debbie came up again. She heard Tina on the phone talking to both of the girls respective families, all were stumped at their sudden disappearance.

“I think it’s time to clock out now.” Tina said to Tammy in a tired but cheery voice.

Tammy took a deep breath as she pushed herself up. “I can’t believe how much work you had to do here today. From what you said earlier you didn’t have that much.” She said to Tina, trying to not sound as if accusing.

Tina smiled as she gathered up a few stray papers. “Well for me it wasn’t. I just get into a rhythm and before I know it, I’m done.” She said as she put the papers she had gathered into a binder to take home with her.

My god, she really does think she’s the smartest woman on the planet. Tammy thought to herself. How she would love to bring her down like she did those others. She got an idea. She was angry and she definitely had desire.

“Let’s go home then, Sis.” Tammy said standing up and holding her hand out.

Tina was nearly in tears. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me to hear you say that.” She all but sobbed as she took Tammy’s hand.

Still nothing. Tammy thought in frustration, keeping her sisterly like smile on the outside, but feeling the strain of putting on such a sappy façade as she walked, hand in hand with Tina out of the school and to the car.

The ride home was nearly torture listening to Tina drone on and on endlessly about growing up and all the things she did with her parents. The only time Tina stammered was when she mentioned a family doctor she remembered growing up, but abruptly steered her monologue back to learning how to make deals with some of the more unsavory business people she had to work with.

Tammy thought she should be happy to see the house. That meant she was about to get break from Tina’s endless prattle. But as she looked upon it, she thought about how it had been only a few days since she was made a real member of this family. She started to feel ashamed again for her attitude toward Tina.

“Home sweet home.” Tina announced as they both got out of the car. Hatred flared inside of Tammy again. What a loser. She thought of Tina again as she bit back the words she was longing to throw at her.

As they walked into the house, Mary was predictably there. “How’re my girls?” She asked, fussing about Tammy almost at once. “I hope you didn’t over do it today.” She turned her head to Tina. “I better not find out you pushed her too hard today. She needs time to ease into it.”

“I’m fine.” Tammy spat, wishing Mary would just get a grip.

Mary’s eyes snapped onto her, just as Tina’s did earlier. Only this time it looked as though Mary saw something that Tina didn’t. “Are you sure you’re alright?” Mary asked Tammy. “Your eyes are still so dilated.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just tired I guess.” Tammy replied, knowing she would regret what she was about to say next. “Maybe a good supper is what I’m needing.”

She was right about regretting, as Mary’s face brightened immediately. She hooked her arm into Tammy’s and escorted her to the dining room, where Ken was already sitting, reading a martial arts magazine. Tina bringing up the rear, looking as though she had just been forgotten.

“How was your first day back?” Ken asked brightly. As Mary went into the kitchen. “I trust you pushed yourself harder than either Mary or Tina would have wanted you to.”

Feeling the first real smile she could remember having for several hours, Tammy looked at Ken with fondness. “What makes you think I would?” She asked him coyly.

Ken set down his magazine. “Because I know you.” He said simply. “You need to be doing something, otherwise you go nuts.”

Tammy couldn’t believe how well he understood her. “I really didn’t do that much.” She said.

Tina who had just poured herself a glass of milk, nearly choked on it. “Didn’t do that much?” She asked wiping the milk from her shirt. “I tried to take it easy on her, but she was going so stir crazy I just gave her half of my paperwork, and before I knew it she had blown through it and was stealing from my pile.”

What a snotty little tattle tale Tina was. Tammy thought to herself, not meeting Tina’s eyes. “I just did what I felt I could.” She said with a shrug.

The rest of the conversation was brought up short with Mary’s voice issuing from the kitchen that she was going to need help bringing dinner into the dining room.

“Coming.” Tina shouted getting up from the table and going into the kitchen.

Tammy watched Tina leave and turned her eyes back to Ken who had picked up his magazine, stood up and took it to a book shelf just outside the dining room. She followed him. Half excited about what she was about to do, and half scared. But Tammy was starting to know, what she felt for so long. She was in love with Ken, and there was only one thing she could do at this point to make sure he would be hers forever.


Chapter: fifteen


Ken was standing in front of the magazine rack that was attached to the wall just outside of the dining room next to the book rack when he felt two arms wrap around him from behind and felt a head press itself against his back. “If this is a guess who game, you’re supposed to cover my eyes, Tam.” He said.

He turned around within her hug and wrapped his arms around her in return. She was looking into his chest with her brows furrowed. “You sure you’re doing alright, Tam?” He asked. “You look like you’re angry about something.”

Tammy didn’t understand what was going on. She had his image in her head, but for some reason she couldn’t get that spark that would solidify his image and make it subject to her ability. She quickly hitched a smile to her face. “I’m doing great.” She said turning her head up to see into his eyes. “I just feel so much love for all of you, I just want to cry sometimes.”

Ken pulled her in closer. “We love you as well, Tam. Don’t forget that. You bring more to this family than I think you realize.”

Remembering her dream from the day before, she asked. “You have never thought of me as a parasite?”

“What on earth made you think that? “ He asked pulling back from the hug just enough to look down at her, still keeping his arms around her.

Deciding on a partial truth Tammy said. “I just had a dream where I was called that, for accepting everything you have done for me.”

Ken released the hug and took her hand before leading her back to the table. “If you had just sat around and contributed nothing, then you might’ve been.” He said guiding her to her seat before settling into hers as well. “But you haven’t. As soon as you were done with your physical rehab, you still had your plate full finishing high school. And then almost immediately you went to work with Tina.

“And during all of this.” He continued. “You have never asked for a single thing, that we didn’t offer you in the first place.” He shook his head. “So no, you have never been a parasite. If anything your efforts have helped this family grow in more ways than just another number to the population.”

Tammy felt her love for Ken grow in ways she didn’t think possible. So enamored with him she hardly noticed that Mary and Tina were coming back into the dining room, each laden with pots and bowls, steam rising from each, a delicious aroma filling the air. All Tammy could do was stare with barely disguised hatred.

“Could you grab one of these, Tam?” Tina asked as she struggled with a pot in one hand and a few plates stacked precariously in the other.

Hitching up a smile she certainly didn’t feel, Tammy rose and grabbed the plates from Tina’s hand and set them down on the table, as Mary started arranging the evening meal in perfect order.


Tammy felt that diner would never end. While she loved catching glimpses of Ken while trying to not look like she was pining for him. And each time either Tina or Mary spoke, their words grated on her nerves like nails on a chalkboard.

As soon as she was finished and felt she had done her duty of listening to Mary’s and Tina’s endless prattle, Tammy rose from her seat and started gathering dishes. “I’ll get that, Tam.” Mary said. “I’ll collect everything at once before I start cleaning up.”

“I don’t mind helping, after all you did all the cooking.” Tammy said a lot more brightly than she felt.

Mary shook her head. “Both you and Tina have had a long day, and I’m still a little worried about your health. You might want to think about calling it a day and getting some rest.”

She had to admit she was tired and this gave Tammy the perfect excuse to escape the droning voices that threatened to overwhelm her thinning patients.

After she had reached her room, Tammy went immediately to her bathroom and started running her bath. She longed for the soak, but somehow the anticipation that would usually build up before each bath, just wasn’t there.

Tammy turned to look into the mirror. She took off her cap and to her surprise, all of her hair was now back. Not only back, but it looked fuller than ever. Not so stringy anymore. She wasn’t sure how she was going to hide her… “It’s gone?” Tammy asked herself out loud. She ran her hand across her head where the forehead met the scalp. The scar was now gone. It was as if it had never been there.

She gasped as she just now thought about something that had happened earlier that day and couldn’t believe she never noticed it. Her limp was now gone as well. Remembering back to walking to the hotel and then to a store, then back to the hotel and the school. Not once did she limp.

Tammy grinned as she turned to see the tub had just about filled. She took off her clothes, turned on the water jets and slipped gently into the tub.

As she soaked she thought of everything that had happened to her since she was in this room a few days ago. She had to conclude that since she had a near death experience and it was with electricity, which was what had given her these size changing abilities.

She had two Ginny pigs back at the hotel she could try out all her abilities on. She wondered if she could make one of them shrink out of existence all together. But she didn’t know if she liked that thought. It wasn’t as though she didn’t like them. They were good people and she didn’t really want to hurt them. But after what she had done to them so far, how could she return them to normal and risk their retribution.

Closing her eyes, she thought of Ken. Now there was a man who could understand how she felt. He always seemed to have the answer for everything. Why couldn’t she had met Ken and he be single? And what was he like when she wasn’t around? Was he just as wonderful alone, lost in his own thoughts?


Tammy’s eyes shot open and a smile crept across her face. She could easily find out. She stood up from the tub, making sure not to splash water on the floor again and dried herself off. Grabbing her robe from her closet, she whipped it around her naked body, so that only her head, hands and feet were exposed as she cautiously opened her bedroom door.

She didn’t see Tina, Mary or Ken for that matter in the hallway. Tammy slowly walked to stand in front of Ken and Mary’s bedroom door. She could still hear Mary and Tina chattering away down in the kitchen.

Closing her hand on the doorknob, Tammy slowly turned the knob and was happy to feel that it wasn’t locked. She pushed the door open and heard a shower running in the master bathroom. She removed her robe hurriedly and stashed it in the hallway closet, just outside the bedroom. Naked, Tammy crept into the bedroom and closed the door behind her. Seeing herself shrinking in her mind she watched as, in reality the bedroom rapidly grew around her, to where now she stood just under eye level with the baseboards.

Almost gleefully she ran across the expansive carpeting of the master bedroom floor. The carpets fibers rubbing against her knees as she sprinted towards the slightly cracked door of the bathroom. The opening while hardly noticeable, was more than wide open enough for Tammy to pass through.

Just then she heard the sound of the shower turn off. She didn’t realize until she saw her first giant that she had not yet shrunk with someone else around that was normal size. As quickly as she could, Tammy dashed behind the toilet so she wouldn’t accidentally get stepped on.

The sight was very intimidating, but she got over it very quickly as her eyes traveled up the giant muscular legs that had just stepped out of the shower. Feeling sexuality stirring, her eyes lingered on his giant penis that looked to be hundreds of feet in the air. She wasn’t sure if it was because of her tiny size, but from what she saw. He was very gifted as he looked huge even unaroused.

Tammy involuntarily purred to herself as she felt her fingers stroke herself. She wanted him in the worst way. She almost thought about just growing in front of Ken, letting him in on the secret, and since she would be in all her glory, what man wouldn’t want her?

The thought was dashed as he suddenly moved from the bathroom into the bedroom. She waited for him to cross the threshold before running after him, keeping as close to the baseboards as she could, so the better to not draw any attention to herself.

As Tammy found a new hiding place behind a dirty clothes hamper, she watched as Ken put on a robe and sat down on the bed, his back propped up against the large backboard, and started to read.

She saw this and her heart started to melt all over again. Could anyone be more handsome at all times? She thought to herself. Even when in concentration of reading he had that gentle upturn of the cheeks that gave him what looked like a permanent smile.

Once again Tammy thought of just throwing herself at Ken, when the bedroom door opened and Mary walked in. Tammy felt her blood ice all over again.

“Well good evening kind sir.” Mary said playfully standing at the foot of the bed. “You got room in there for the little woman?” With that she stared to undress.

Tammy gawked as Mary took off her clothes to reveal a body that looked like it was made for beauty magazines. Any time Tammy had seen her, Mary didn’t have the look of the beauty queen that she was now displaying in its fullness to Ken. Mary had always worn lose fitting jeans or pants. Sure she would wear shorts on occasion, but Tammy had never taken in the look of legs on another woman.

But now that she was completely in the buff and making sexual overtones to Ken, Tammy had to admit why he loved her. Or lusted her. She corrected herself. Tammy saw Mary’s gigantic breasts and wondered just how much bigger than hers they were in actuality. After all Tammy guessed herself to be around four inches tall.

Tammy felt a painful stab of jealousy as she watch Mary crawl onto the bed, remove Ken’s robe and start kissing him passionately. She felt tears stream down her face as she witnessed their love making, in the true sense of the word. Each kiss, a testament of their love for one another. Each gasp, a reminder to each of the commitment of their souls. How alone she felt as now she knew that Ken would never be hers. Not while Mary remained in the picture.
She crept back to the door of the bedroom and let herself shrink again until she was small enough to crawl under the door. Growing back, she pulled her robe out of the closet again and put it back on. Walking back to her bedroom, she wondered what chance she would have with Ken as long as Mary was still here. With that on her mind, she closed the door of her bedroom as she entered it and started planning.

Interlude:

At night in a town the size of this, some activity still remained. But for the most part the city slept. The roads lit dimly by street lights that shone on both road and building, as well as the occasional car that passed under it.
Some buildings, like a simple hotel within walking distance of the main headquarters for a chain of local taekwondo schools.

In one hotel in particular, there was a room that held a secret. Inside that room, the secret wanted to be known, but despite its’ best efforts, the secret remained unknown.

Debbie had cried herself out many hours ago. She now felt very hungry and reluctantly ate the food that Tammy had provided for them.

Ashley wasn’t faring quite as well. She had not cried like Debbie had, but sat with her back to the wall of the comforter, her legs crossed and eyes red and staring down.

Cupping her hands to get some of the water from the enormous ice bucket lid, Debbie drank as much as she could. She was angry at what Tammy had done to them, but aside from shrinking and kidnapping, Tammy hadn’t exactly hurt them. Maybe if she could talk some sense into Tammy, she could convince her to undo the damage that had been done already, before it was too late.

Debbie looked over to Ashley, who had so far rejected any attempt at conversation. Debbie’s heart went out to her in a way she didn’t understand. While Debbie was fully aware that she was only three inches tall, she still felt more pity for Ashley who wasn’t that much smaller than she was. Looking at Ashley she almost felt normal sized until she looked just above Ashley’s head and saw the towering wall of the beds’ comforter.

“You feel like talking yet?” Debbie asked.

Ashley didn’t make a move, which Debbie took as an improvement as each other time she tried to talk to Ashley, it was met by a shake of the head and a showing of her back. Now Ashley just sat unmoving, save for the slow rise and fall of her chest as she took involuntary breaths.

Debbie walked over to Ashley and sat down next to her, crossing her legs in the same fashion as Ashley, trying to foster a spirit of kinship. “You know it could’ve been worse.” Debbie said, earning a sharp look from Ashley from the corner of her eye. “Think about it.” She continued. “Tammy could’ve easily killed us and no one would’ve suspected her of it. I mean who’s going to go looking for three inch corpses in a garbage can?”

“What makes you think she isn’t going kill us in the end?” Ashley remarked, her head still forward but eyes looking at Debbie.

Debbie shook her head. “I don’t know.” She replied. “I think that with everything Tammy has been through in the last year or so, to suddenly have the power thrust on her. It’s made her a bit confused and she’s doing what she thinks is best to help herself get a grip on her situation.”

Ashley snorted and turned her head to look directly at Debbie. “By shrinking us?” She asked disbelievingly.

“I’m not saying what she’s done is rational, or even moral.” Debbie pressed. “I just don’t believe she really knows what she’s doing, and the one thing I think that is grounding her right now, is the fact that she has spent so much time with Master Ken, she now has his regard for life, even if it’s buried within that madness somewhere.”

Turning her face back to in front of her and away from Debbie, Ashley closed her eyes. “Master Ken does have that way with people.” She said. “But I’m still so scared!” She said her tears raining from her eyes.

Debbie uncrossed her legs and wrapped her arms around Ashley as she cried loudly. She felt Ashley burry her face into Debbie’s shoulder and her arms gripping Debbie’s back tightly.

Ashley had cried for a full ten minutes, with Debbie softly rocking her back and forth in as soothing a way as she could think. Ashley then pulled her head back and turned it up to look into Debbie’s eyes. “You’ve been so kind to me today and I’ve been ugly in return.”

“We’ve both had a rough day.” Debbie said reaching her hand up to wipe tears from Ashley’s reddened cheeks. “What we need to do now is look after each other as best we can, until we get out of this situation.” She let her hand fall from Ashley’s face, lightly stroking her breast on the way down.

With a slight jump, Ashley smiled a little. She knew that the touch was accidental. But for some reason as she looked into Debbie’s eyes she felt something new. She reached down and took Debbie’s hand, her eyes never breaking contact with Debbie’s. Ashly guided Debbie’s hand back to her breast. Felt her touch against the skin of her nipple. She saw that Debbie had a look of confusion as well, but still reached for the other had to join its mate on her other breast a small gasp escaping her lips upon Debbie’s touch.

Slowly but steadily, their lips met, followed by the best kiss either of them had ever know. Each finding in the other, something neither ever knew they were looking for. Ashley wrapped both her arms around Debbie’s neck as Debbie eagerly fondled Ashley’s large bosoms, and pulled Debbie on top of her. For the first time since their ordeal had begun they were both not only content in their present condition, they were also blissful. Completely unaware of the outside world as it was of them. The sleeping city slept on.

Chapter: sixteen


When Tammy woke up the next morning, she felt a lot better than she did before she had when she laid down. She got dressed, looking out of the window to see what was promising to be a sunny day. She felt a smile stretching. “I’m fine with what I have for now.” She said our loud to herself. Trying to put the memories of what she saw last night out of her head. She still wanted Ken, but just couldn’t think of bringing harm to Mary in order to get him. After all Mary had been good to her.

Humming happily to herself, she saw that the clock said it was nearly nine a.m. and left her room, putting on her cap to conceal her full head of hair and newly scar less forehead. Tammy wasn’t trying to really hide that particular secret, she just knew that Mary would start an entirely new world of fussing.

Tina and Mary were in the dining room enjoying their breakfast, when Tammy walked in. “I guess there goes that plan.” Tina said with a half-smile.

Like a freight train, all the anger and hatred flared in Tammy’s mind. “What plan was that?” Tammy said as sweetly as she could. If the academy awards gave out prizes for completely fooling those you live with, she should win the top prize. She thought to herself as she watched Tina stand up and walk into the kitchen.

“I’ve made you a doctor’s appointment for one o’clock this afternoon.” Mary said. “I’m very concerned that your eyes are still so dilated.”

Tammy felt even more outrage. She had her own things to do. She didn’t have time to sit in a cramped waiting room, waiting for two hours just to have the doctor see her for ten minutes and send her away with even more pills. “What about work today?” She asked trying to use it as an excuse to not have to go.

“We’re still going to work.” Tina said brightly carrying a plate of eggs and bacon, setting them down on the table in front of Tammy, gesturing her to sit down. “Since there are no noon classes today and most of what we have to do this morning will just be setting up for the evening classes, We’ll close the school for a couple of hours today.”

“Just for me to go see a doctor?” Tammy asked. Watching Tina settle back into her seat to finish her breakfast.

Tina shook her head. “Not just that.” She replied taking a drink of milk before continuing. “I need to head over to four this afternoon anyway and mediate a dispute between the manager and the head instructor. On the way I’ll drop you off at the doctors’ and will come back for you when it’s over. I don’t think it will take too long.”

“Sounds good to me.” Tammy said already formulating a plan. “Kinda would’ve liked to have seen the mediation. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be needing to do one or two of them later on.”

“Don’t be in too much of a hurry, unless you enjoy listening to grown adults whine like babies.” Tina said.

Tammy knew that Tina could not hear the irony in that statement. All she ever hear from her was whining. Oh please be my sister. Oh please let’s make her family. Oh please let’s be the best of friends. It was enough to make any sane person sick.

She flinched when she felt Mary touch her cap. “I think we should get going then.” Tammy said, trying to mask that she didn’t want them to see her with her cap off.

Mary still looked into her eyes, as though she saw something but couldn’t put her finger on it. “Please take the appointment today seriously.” Mary said, not breaking eye contact with Tammy. “I swear, your eyes look even more dilated. There must be something else going on.”

Tammy started to feel worried about what Mary knew. How could she know anything that a doctor didn’t tell her? Before she could get a line of thinking, she felt Tina’s hand in hers. “Let’s go then. I gotta earn my slave driver stripes for the day.” Tina said in a happy tone, thinking that there was a tension building, but couldn’t for the life of her figure out what it was.

The first couple of hours dragged at an excruciating pace for Tammy. For the first time since she started working with Tina, she simply did not want to be here. She wanted to go to the hotel and check on Ashley and Debbie. Tammy hated to think of how long they had been there by themselves, and knew that some personal hygiene issues needed to be addressed. Assuming they hadn’t already. Shaking her head of that thought, Tammy looked at the clock. It had finally reached twelve thirty, the time they had agreed upon, to close shop and head over to the doctors’ office.

Tina stopped the car in front of the medical offices that were used for day to day practice for doctors. “I’m sorry I can’t be here with you for the waiting room snooze fest.” Tina said with regret in her voice. “I already have a plan for the mediation and I should be back here in no time.”

Tammy held Tina’s hand her hers and smiled back. “Thanks, but I’m sure this visit is going to be nothing more than to satisfy Mary’s need to mother me.”

“I know from personal experience that she’s a great mother.” Tina said. “Besides I’m not so sure she thinks of her as your mother. I think that sometimes she feels bad that your parents left your life just as we came into it, and after the other night when we all thought we were going to lose you.” Tina winced. “She’s just wanting the best for you now.”

“That’s sweet.” Tammy said, not believing a word of it, but needing Tina to go so she could put her plan into action. “I’ll go in there and be a good girl until you come back.” She said with a smile, leaning over to hug Tina, who returned the hug with more feeling that Tammy cared for. Still no image. She couldn’t help but notice.

Tammy got out of the car, shut the door and heard Tina say. “I love you.” She waved back as she watched Tina drive away and waited for her car to turn a corner before she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and called a cab.

A taxi arrive a short time later, and Tammy instructed the driver to take her to the hotel. Upon arriving to the room, Tammy saw the do not disturb sign was right where she left it. She opened the door as quietly as she could and entered the room, closing the door behind her with a soft snap.

Tammy wasn’t prepared for what she saw. Both Ashley and Debbie were fast asleep in a spooning position. Debbie had her tiny arm wrapped around Ashley’s even smaller body. Cupping one of Ashley’s breasts. She smiled and thought this was the sweetest thing she had ever seen. She didn’t think they were gay at all, but from the way that they were laying together as comfortable as could be, she could tell that they must be.

But she had work to do and not a lot of time to do it in. “Rise and shine girls.” Tammy said in a very soft singing voice as she gently prodded Debbie on the back.

Debbie slowly opened her eyes and lifted her head from off of Ashley’s shoulder to see Tammy’s giant face grinning down at them. Debbie abruptly broke contact with Ashley as she stood up in a hurry.

Tammy frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Tammy said trying to calm Debbie down.

“It’s okay.” Debbie responded coaxing Ashley from her sleep so she could know, Tammy was back. “I’m still not used to being so small, and wasn’t ready to be woke up by a giantess.”

Ashley sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “I really need a bathroom break.” She said as she stood up and looked at Tammy.

Tammy placed her hand down and let both tiny women climb on and took them both to the sink. As it had been nearly a full day since the last time they had a chance to do this, they didn’t bother going one at a time, they both claimed a different position in the sink and let nature take its’ course.

When they were done, Tammy lifted them onto the counter of the sink and started cleaning it out, which didn’t take long, then started to fill it with warm water, dripping shampoo into the mix, creating a good mix of warm soapy water.

“How do you girls want to do this?” Tammy asked. “I can bathe you or if you prefer you can bathe each other. After what I saw a few minutes ago I dare say that you prefer the latter.”

Somewhere between embarrassed and aroused, Ashley and Tina lowered themselves into the sink. Due to their small size they more swam than bathed. Every now and then they would take a handful of the soapy water and rub it against the naked flesh of the other, as they didn’t have a cloth to work with.
In spite of the fact that they knew Tammy was watching them closely, they felt the same rush of desire they had acted on the night before.

Tammy looking down at the swimming girls, she judged them to be clean enough, reached down into the water and scooped both Debbie and Ashley up and held them just over the sink. She could feel them start to shiver in her hand. “Sorry about the cold, but I gotta let some of the water out so we can rinse you off.” Tammy said watching the soapy water escape down the drain.

Still holding both tiny women in her hand, Tammy turned the water back on and waited for a good mix of hot and cold to start running before she held them under the rushing water. They stood in her palm as they rose their hands to scrub the soap from their hair, and out of each crevasse of their bodies. As soon as they looked to be soap free, Tammy placed them on a large towel and let them dry each other off.

“I think you gals are in for a treat today.” She said as she carried them both back to the bed, placed them both in the center of the comforter circle and flatted it out to reveal a flat landscape of bed.

Ashley looked hopeful. “You’re going to grow us back?”

Tammy smiled. “A little.” She saw disappointment flash across Ashley’s face. “Don’t worry. You’re going to simply love what I have in store for you. She reached down and concentrating on what she wanted to do she touched Ashley on the head, felt the familiar spark and saw her solid image. “Now first things’ first.” Tammy said as she watched Ashley start to grow.

Ashley saw Debbie get smaller next to her, though she knew it was just because she was getting bigger. Keeping her eyes on Debbie Ashley felt herself stop growing and saw a tape measure being lowered next to her.

“If you could hold the end of this down with your foot?” Tammy asked Ashley who complied, looking down at her own foot, seeing that Debbie was just shorter than her knees now. “Sixteen inches.” Tammy pronounced. Dismissing Ashely’s image.

Ashley looked disappointed. “Is this all the bigger you’re going to make me?” She asked looking up at the still giant Tammy.

“For now, but the fun is just getting started. If you could pick up Debbie, we’ll start the next phase.” Tammy said as she watched Ashley bend down and wrap both hands around Debbie’s waist and lift her up.

Debbie seeing what was about to happen decided to play a little with it, and upon Ashley’s hands nearly reaching her, she stepped forward to feel one of Ashley’s giant breasts touch the top of her head.

“Now hold her in one hand if you can.” Tammy requested. It was a little difficult. While Debbie might be three inches tall, Ashley was only sixteen and so her hands were still relatively small, but managed to hold Debbie in the one hand, though she found herself steadying Debbie with her other.

Debbie saw Tammy’s giant finger reach down and lightly touch her. Before she knew it, Ashley’s hand was starting to grow. At first she was thinking that Tammy was doing a trick shot. Touch her to make Ashley grow, but as she saw everything grow right along with her, Debbie knew she was shrinking again.

Ashely was getting scared for Debbie, but saw she had stopped shrinking when she was about the size of her own thumb. “How can you see her?” Ashley asked Tammy.

“That’s what I’m going to need you for.” Tammy said in a matter of fact tone. “After I let the image go, the only way I can get it back is to make physical contact. So when I’m ready to grow her back to a more manageable size, I’m going to need your eyes to help me do that.”

“Then why did you shrink her even smaller if you can’t even see her?” Ashley asked. She thought she heard Debbie say something, but her voice was so faint, she’d have to pull Debbie in close to hear.

Tammy looked at Ashley coyly. “Well as I said, we’re going to have a bit of fun and after what I saw this afternoon, I was thinking that you two might like to get to know each other a little better.” She leaned down and lightly nudged Ashley. “Inside and out.”

Ashley could see the same reaction as Debbie’s face that she was feeling. Initially disgusting, but looking at how adorable Debbie looked in her hand and seeing something of a playful smile start to creep across Debbie’s face, Ashley thought it might not be so bad after all.



Chapter: seventeen


Tammy walked back to the school feeling elated at all that she had done so far this afternoon. She saw the erotic joy that both Ashley and Debbie were experiencing with each other. First Debbie, quite literally all over Ashley, then after a while they felt what it was like from the other side.

She felt something like a cupid, bringing love together albeit in a most unusual fashion. Tammy was so lost in her own reverie that she didn’t notice until it was too late that the school door was already unlocked as she pushed the door in.

Walking in cautiously Tammy went to the office to see Mary sitting in Tina’s chair, with the angriest look she had ever seen in Mary’s face. For the first time since she had known Mary, she was positively frightened of her.

“Hi Mary.” Tammy said meekly.

Mary rose as if she were the angle of death, getting ready to swoop down on Tammy. “Don’t you ‘Hi Mary’ me” She said. “Where have you been?”

A fresh wave of hatred suddenly replaced her fear. “I don’t have to answer to you, or anyone else.” She said turning away, walking to the back of the school.

Mary gave pursuit. “You will answer to me.” Mary said not giving in. “It wasn’t easy to get that appointment for you this afternoon. Can you imagine my worry when I got a call saying that you hadn’t shown up?”

Tammy was starting to feel her control slip. “I never asked you to make any appointments for me.” She said stopping just short of Tina’s room. Feeling even more self-control ebb away.

“Tam, I have noticed your mood swings.” Mary said. “I also see the way you’ve been looking at Ken lately. If you’re not going to go to a doctor then at least tell me what’s going on with you.” She reached up and snatched the cap off of Tammy’s hair, seeing it flow freely down her shoulders.

As soon as Mary had made contact, Tammy felt the spark and saw the solid image of Mary in her mind. She slowly turned on the spot to face Mary. “I’ve been thinking about where my life is he…”

“Oh my god.” Mary whispered, interrupting Tammy.

Tammy laughed. “I see you noticed my hair is back and that scar you guys gave me is gone.”

Mary shook her head, fear and deep concern filled her eyes and she moved her face closer to Tammy’s so she could see her eyes better. “I thought I recognized that last night.” Mary said tracing a finger along Tammy’s left eye.

Curious, Tammy took a step back, hanging on to Mary’s image. “What?”

“You’ve been shrinking, haven’t you?” Mary asked, worry laced her every syllable.

Tammy felt confusion. “What makes you say that?”

“I can see it in the corners of your eyes. They look strained and stretched.” Mary replied, not taking her eyes off of Tammy. “It’s the same look that Tina...” She broke off realizing that she had already said too much.

“That Tina, what?” Tammy demanded grabbing Mary by the shoulders, ignoring the tears starting for form in her eyes. “Are you saying that?” Tammy felt she knew the answer already, but had to hear it. “Are you saying that Tina can shrink too?”

Mary’s mute confession was all she needed. So that was it. Everything now fell neatly into place. They took her in, not because of some sense of right or wrong, or a hyped up notion of family. If Tina could shrink, then it followed it was because of something in her, most likely her blood. The same blood that was in her now. They wanted her there so they could cover their own asses, because if it got out it would destroy them all.

Tammy shook her head. The anger and rage giving her focus as she had never known before. “You people are really something.” She said to Mary, who felt rooted to the spot. All your talk about family and love and respect. Yet you keep secrets like any other hypocrite that’s only interested in saving their own ass.

“I’ve been thinking of a good time to let you in on my secret, Mary.” Tammy continued, as an evil smile grew on her face. “You’re right. I can shrink and grow back. I’m not sure how well Tina has honed her skills, but I wonder if she can do this.”

Mary watched as Tammy started to grow. Being no stranger to shrinking herself, she wasn’t surprised to feel her clothes start to fall off as she rapidly dwindled in front of Tammy. Watched how quickly Tammy grew in front of her along with the rest of the world. She felt the shrinking stop just as she got lost in a sea of her own clothing.

Tammy was more than pleased with herself as she started fishing through the clothes, keeping Mary’s image in her mind. She had just gotten to the now empty panties when she saw Mary, running toward the door to Tina’s room. She didn’t need Mary to get in there, or she might lose her. Tammy shrunk Mary a little smaller to slow her down, but all that did was make it easier for Mary to roll under the door.

“YOU’RE NOT SAFE IN THERE!!!” Tammy shouted, accidentally losing her grip on Mary’s image. She banged on the door fruitlessly. Then took in a breath to try and calm herself. If Mary could go under the door, why couldn’t she. In fact Tammy couldn’t understand why she hadn’t thought of this sooner, especially after doing this very thing the night before to escape Ken and Mary’s room.

She quickly undressed, flinging her clothes to the side as soon as they parted company with her skin. Then with as much determination as she could muster, she shrunk herself as quickly as she could, even going a bit too far as now the bottom of Tina’s door was well above her head. Running as fast as her tiny legs could carry her, Tammy sprinted under the door in time to see what looked like a giant Mary run underneath a dresser.

Tammy knew she couldn’t follow Mary under the dresser. Even if they were the same size, she didn’t know exactly how much taekwondo she might know now, having been married to a master for over twenty years.
She let herself grow back to normal and she laid flat on her stomach, feeling her breasts pushing out on either side of her. Tammy could see Mary’s tiny form, her back placed firmly against the baseboard. “You have only yourself to blame you know?” Tammy taunted “If you would’ve been honest with me at the start we might’ve been able to work something out.

Mary shook her head. “We were hoping we wouldn’t have to.” She shouted.

Tammy knew she’d never get Mary to come out on her own, and even if Tammy had the strength to move the dresser, Mary would simply run to the next form of cover, that Tammy noticed, was too much of. Then she saw exactly what she needed.

“Ah just the thing.” Tammy said as she stood up and picked up the small clear tank vacuum cleaner and plugged it in. She lowered her head to the dresser and saw Mary had not moved. “Last chance to come out on your own.” She said, seeing the shake of Mary’s head that she was hoping to. She flipped the on switch and placed the nozzle of the vacuum to the bottom of the dresser.

Before Mary could react, she felt her legs get pulled out from under her as she looked down to see the gaping hole that was pulling her quickly into it. She felt her legs scrape across the plastic of the nozzle when her fingers found an edge to the attachment that she could grip.
But the force of the vacuum was too strong for her tiny arms and fingers as she was pulled free and found herself tumbling through the hose, every so often she could see through the clear plastic and see Tammy’s gigantic grinning face follow her progress all the way to the tank, that she fell hard onto bouncing once before settling in.

Mary rubbed her now sore arms and legs as she watched Tammy stand up with the vacuum cleaner, still turned on, firmly in her grip.

Tammy for the first time got a good look into this room. Just the sight of it made her rage even more. It was like a small apartment. Did Tina think herself so high and mighty that she deserved all of this? She set the vacuum down on the bed.

Giving in to her rage, Tammy picked up a small wooden stick, which rested on its own stand and started smashing everything in the room that she could see. A picture of her and Tina, made her blood boil and was instantly destroyed. That stupid stereo that could be counted on being heard through the door, was the next victim of her rage. She punched holes in the walls. She knocked taps off the bathroom sink.

She stopped in front of the mirror on top of the dresser, and didn’t recognize who it was she saw. Her dark hair was now longer than she ever remembered it to be. She saw that her eyes were so dilated that her brown irises could no longer be seen. Her eyes now had a look of death to them which suited her fine. People would need to fear her now.

With all the strength that she had, screaming Tammy shattered the mirror in front of her, sharp pieces of glass cut into her skin, that immediately expelled them, all sign of cuts, quickly healing.

Tammy reached down and pulled out the top drawer of the dresser with every intention of flinging it across the room, when what she saw, stopped her dead. It was a tiny man. She set the drawer onto the top of the dresser and looked at him in amazement.

“Who are you?” She asked the tiny man who was just starting to rise from a mess of water, crackers and what looked like a thimble that had emptied itself all over the bottom of the drawer.

“I’m Chuck. I’m guessing you’re Tammy.” He said with no trace of fear on his face.

“You know my name?”

Chucked laughed. “Of course I do. Tina can’t stop talking about you. She seems to think of you as some long lost sister or something.”

Tammy bristled. “Tina doesn’t think of me, or anyone else like that. She’s just a user like everyone else.” Then something clicked. “I’ve heard of you. You disappeared about four years ago.”

Chuck shrugged. “Didn’t know it had been that long. Kinda lost track of time in here you know?”

It all made sense. Tina had learned from her parents well. “Looks like Tina has been keeping the biggest secret of them all then, hasn’t she?” Tammy said, her gaze still in Chuck’s direction, but not really looking at him.

“I would think I’m something of a very small secret.” Chuck said.

Shaking her head. “I can’t think of that right now I have things to do.” She left him standing in the drawer as she opened the other drawers and found t-shirts and sweatpants with the K&T logo on them. She slipped on a shirt and pulled a pair of pants on. She saw a gym bag sitting in the corner, and placed a handful of shirts and pants into it.

Chuck waved his arms. “Think I could talk you into helping me?”

Tammy looked at Chuck as though he were an insect. “I have no desire to help you or anyone else anymore.” She turned to take the tank, which was holding a shrunken Mary in, out of its holder on the vacuum when a thought occurred to her. “However I think you may be able to help me.” With that she picked up the vacuum that had been running the entire time during her rampage, and turned the hose just over Chuck and giggled as it sucked him up into the tank.

Pulling the tank free and carrying the bag in her other hand, Tammy walked to the door, and using all the rage she still had, kicked it as hard as she could, knocking a large hole on its center

Before leaving the school she looked back and saw her path of destruction realizing that for the first time in over a year, she felt alive.



Chapter: eighteen


When they heard the door to the hotel room open Ashley and Debbie broke apart from their embrace abruptly. When Tammy had left them earlier she had readjusted their sizes, to where they were now both three inches tall and could look at each other eye to eye. It made things a bit awkward for Debbie as she had always been used to being taller than Ashley, but she was hoping that since they had cooperated so well with Tammy earlier, that they might get their respective normal sizes back.

They fully expected to see Tammy come in, what they weren’t ready to see was how maniacal she now looked. She walked to the bed and dumped what looked like a glass tank over the bed. They had to jump out of the way as two figures dropped down from inside the tank onto the bed. One man and one woman.

The man they didn’t recognize. They saw that he was a little taller than they were. The woman they recognized instantly, and a new wave of fear hit them. It was Mary. Master Ken’s wife. Tina’s mother. What was more she was even smaller than they were.

Ashley ran to Mary to see what, if anything there was that could be done for her. Debbie turned her attention to Tammy who had set down the tank and was watching the four of them with dispassionate eyes. “Have you lost your mind?” She shouted at Tammy. “How could you do this to Mary of all people?”

Mary was still lying in a heap, Ashley still bent over her, tracing what looked like to be bruises. “What have you done to her?” Ashley asked as she stood up to face a giant Tammy who lowered her face to look over them all.

“It’s her own fault. She kept pushing me. Kept lying to me. This is her reward for deceit.” Tammy said, trying desperately to think about what she was going to do next.

Debbie walked to the edge of the bed to stand directly under Tammy trying not to notice that even standing on the bed, she was still under Tammy’s knees. “There’s nothing so bad that she could’ve done that would make you want to shrink her and beat her up.”

Tammy looked confused again, just now noticing the bruises along Mary’s back and legs. “She made me do that. If she hadn’t tried to run.”

Ashley turned her attention to the man, who while looking a little bruised himself, still had a look of upmost satisfaction on his face. “Who is he?” She asked Tammy.

Tammy reached down and picked up the four inch Chuck between her finger and thumb. “This is Tina’s biggest secret.” She said smiling at the man who squirmed just under her thumb, his arms and legs trying to find a good grip. “You know that room that Tina is so proud of? Well guess where I found this little guy?”

In spite of their anger toward Tammy, both Debbie and Ashley’s attention were drawn to those words. Everyone knew Tina had her own private room at the school and that sometimes she would stay there over night. It was just generally assumed she did that because of the long hours she kept and was too tired for the drive home.

The tiny man fell unceremoniously from between Tammy’s fingers to land on the bed. While the fall didn’t hurt him because of the soft surface he landed on, he still felt a wave of humiliation. “His name is Chuck.” Tammy said. “I’m thinking we let him tell us how he got to be so small and living in Tina’s dresser.”

“Did Tina do this to you?” Ashley asked. Not believing that Tina would be guilty of anything so insane.

Chuck sat up, from the prone position that the fall had left him in. “Of course she did.”

“LIAR!” Mary had said from behind Ashly. “Tammy is the only one that I know of that can make someone else shrink. I don’t know how he got so small or why Tina kept him in her room all this time.”

“Let me fill you in on what has happened to me over the last four years.” Chuck said as he went into the details of how he woke up after the incident with Dr. Smith and Jill. How Tina had forced the shrinking potion down his throat as he was unconscious. He woke to find himself four inches tall and her unwilling plaything. “Of course after a while she got more and more sick and twisted about the things she wanted me to do to her.” He started to invent horrible atrocities that Tina had put him through, that had never actually happened.

“But she’s always been so nice and kind to everyone.” Debbie said disbelieving. “We all thought of her as truly her father’s daughter.”

Tammy scoffed. “What makes you think the rest of them are any more innocent than she is?”

This time Ashley stood up and glared at Tammy. “I don’t care what you say or think. Master Ken has at least two generations of students that absolutely love him.”

“While he may not be entirely guilty,” Tammy said. “He’s not innocent either. I think mostly due to Mary’s corrupting influence.”

Debbie shook her head. “Do you understand what you’re asking us to believe? You’re telling us, that two of the most respected members of our entire community are untrustworthy and corrupt.

“Add that to the fact that this information is coming to us, from someone who has already shrunk and kidnaped us.” Debbie said.

Tammy smirked. “You think they’re all above reproach. But let me fill you in on a secret they’ve hidden from everyone, including me. Tina can shrink and grow as well.”

Debbie’s and Ashley’s eyes widened in shock. The looked at Chuck who just smiled and nodded. They then turned their attention to Mary who cast her eyes down, unable to look at them.

Ashley still shook her head. “That doesn’t matter. They have never done anything to any of us, other than treat us with kindness and respect. Just like the do to everyone.”

Tammy stood up to her full height and laughed derisively. “Do you know what they’ve done to me?”

“They took you in after your father killed himself and your mother.” Debbie said defiantly. “No one could’ve blamed them if they left you to your own fate.”

“But they sealed my fate before I ever met them.” Tammy said. “You see when I was brought into the hospital, kind Mary here.” She said tapping on Mary’s miniature head. “Signed the form giving the doctors permission to operate on me.

“Then Tina.” Tammy continued. “Knowing that she had that freak blood in her, told the doctors to take it, knowing full well what might happen one day.

Tammy looked down at Mary in disgust as Mary kept her eyes lowered. “When they ‘took me in’” Tammy said. “It wasn’t to help me get my life together. It was to keep an eye out for any size changing that I might do that would expose their daughter.”

Debbie looked at Mary who slightly nodded. “That was one of the reasons at first.” Mary said. “But we would’ve taken her in anyway. And in the time she has been with us we have all grown to love her. Especially Tina.”

“YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE!” Tammy bellowed, forcing Debbie, Ashley and Chuck to fall back. “My god you are incredible. How long does it take, listening to your own lies, before you start believing them?”

“Apparently not long at all.” Ashley said getting up and moving over to Mary to place an ineffectual protective arm around. “From what I’ve seen and heard. They were real good to you. So whatever madness has gripped you, it’s taken such a hold and made you feel like such a martyr, that you’re going believing anything that helps your paranoia along.”

Debbie stood next to Ashley. “While we still don’t know the whole story with Tina and Chuck, I’m still willing to give Tina the benefit of the doubt until we can hear her side of it. And the only way that is going to happen is by you restoring us and letting us talk to her.”

Tammy couldn’t believe the nerve of these little insects. She had gone so far out of her way to make them comfortable. She even brought Debbie and Ashley together and helped them find love in each other. Now there were not only making unreasonable demands, they were accusing HER of being the bad guy. How could they not see that SHE was the victim here, not them?

Mary looked up at Tammy. “Do what you feel you have to, to me.” She said resignedly. “But don’t blame Tina or Ken for any of this. And please don’t hurt them. They still love you. As I do.”

Tina, Tina, Tina. That’s all she ever heard from anyone anymore. “If you want to get Tina’s side of it so bad, wait here and I’ll get it for you.” She said angrily. Her eyes hard and blood boiling. She looked at Chuck. “One more think, Chuck.” She said picking him up as before. “I’m holding you personally responsible for anything that happens to them.” She indicated to the three tiny women. “If one of them gets a bruise, you get a broken arm. If one of them gets a broken bone.” She let the or else speak for itself as she dropped him onto the bed again and left the hotel room, slamming the door behind her.

Walking from the hotel to the school with undisguised fury in her eyes, Tammy saw people walking on the same side of the street with her, look at her, and give her plenty of room to pass. She would otherwise enjoy the terror she was creating in others, if not for the red she saw in her eyes as all her thoughts kept going back to Tina. She was going to put that little snot nosed bitch in her place once and for all.

****** ****** ******* ****** ******

Tina had just left the doctor’s office feeling a lot more scared, than she did going to it. Tammy not only wasn’t there, she hadn’t been there at all. Tina assumed that Tammy left as soon as she dropped her off.

Her fear turned to terror as she got to the school to see the front door wide open. Feeling the dread in the pit pf her stomach, Tina walked into the school to see her worst fears were coming to life. The door to her room was shattered.

She dropped the papers she was holding and ran to her room and was devastated to see it had been thoroughly destroyed. Even worse. The drawer she kept Chuck in was now open and empty. She sat down on her bed and started to cry into her hands, she felt her shirt start to loosen. She shook her head to clear it. She didn’t need to lose control now when she was going to need it the most.

“I saw that you know.” Tammy’s voice said from the shattered door.

Tina turned her head, and fixed her reddening eyes on Tammy. “What did you see?” Hoping against hope that she saw who destroyed everything. But seeing the shape that Tammy was in, Tina didn’t think she was going to be that lucky.

“After I got home from the hospital the other day, I noticed that I could change my own size at will.” Tammy said tauntingly. “I guess I have you to thank for that.”

Trying to deny Tammy’s words Tina said. “What are you talking about?”
“I saw your shirt get too big for you.” Tammy said stepping into the room closing the distance between her and Tina. “Tell me, how long have you had your ability?”

Recognizing defeat, Tina said sadly. “For a few years. It used to happen when I would lose control of any negative emotions.”

Tammy grinned. “So that’s why you’ve always had such good control over yourself like that. It was so you could control your shrinking at will. As I have learned to do.”

Tina nodded. “I’m sorry I did this to you, Tammy. But I was only thinking of saving your life.”

“You didn’t even know me.” Tammy pointed out. “What makes you think I even wanted to be saved? Brought back into a life where my own parents were dead, and my only option was to live with a family that would’ve made the Brady Bunch barf?”

Tina stood up, and felt fear slip past her mental barriers as she saw that Tammy’s eyes were now completely black. “What have you done?”

Tammy smiled. “Well for starters. Your little secret is out.” When Tammy said those words, Tina knew full well she was talking about Chuck. “He’s somewhere safe and out of the way for now.”

“I know what you must be thinking of me right now, Tam. But…” Tina stared to say before Tammy cut her off again, standing even closer to her.

“You are not worth my thoughts anymore. Little Tina. Always the apple of everyone’s eyes.” She said getting closer. “Well they’re all about to find out what a little deceptive, sneaky little worm you can be.”

Then Tammy grinned so evilly that Tina shrunk an inch before catching herself. “Even little Mary knows of your sick secret.” Tammy then leaned into Tina’s ear and said, “And I do mean little Mary.”

Tina stepped back to look at Tammy and see if the words meant what she thought they did. Tammy nodded. “You’re ability lets you shrink yourself and grow back, but me? Well. I can do it to others as well.”

Tina no longer felt fear, she felt betrayed. “How could you?”

“It was easy to do it to her.” Tammy replied. “I couldn’t do it to you, believe me I’ve tried. And for some reason I couldn’t do it to Ken.

Everything just made no sense. What had happened to Tammy to make her this evil and scary? “The thing that gave me my ability was something done first to my mother before I was born and something done to me after. But that same thing didn’t work on men in the same way. It shrunk them down to nothing. What you can do now must only work on women.”

Tammy halted her advancement on Tina to think about that. If that were the case, then why did she still get the image of Ken when she touched him? So lost in that thought, she almost missed Tina try to run past her, but she caught Tina with an outstretched arm and threw her against the wall, the back of Tina’s head punching a hole into it. Tina’s head erupted in a shower of pain as it collided with the wooden stud that helped to make the frame of the room.

“You’re not going anywhere.” Tammy said through gritted teeth. “We’re not done yet.” She walked to Tina and grabbed Tina by the shirt and pulled Tina’s stomach into her oncoming fist. Tina doubled over, her breath forced out of her lungs.

Tammy looked down at Tina as she gasped for breath. Grabbing Tina by the hair, she pulled her back up. “You’re wrong. I must be able to change a man’s size. Otherwise I wouldn’t get his image. You know something you’re not telling me!” She said loudly as she slapped Tina as hard as she could with the back of her hand watching blood fly from Tina’s mouth as a tooth was launched along with it. All the hatred she was feeling and all the anger from over a year of lies and patronizing, pretending to actually want her as a part of a family when all they were really doing is trying to save themselves.

Tina staggered back against the wall, but before she could slide down, Tammy clamped her hand around Tina’s throat in a vice like grip and lifted Tina above her head holding her in place against the wall. Tina’s hand scratching impotently against Tammy’s hand, her feet kicking lightly underneath her. Tina could feel her breath leaving her.

“You’re so pathetic.” Tammy sneered, as she back handed Tina’s face again. “We’re going to be a lot better off without you.” She said while shoving Tina’s head against the wall again.

Tina had stopped her struggles, she hung limply in Tammy’s grip. Using all the strength she had left, Tina opened her red and watery eyes gasping for breath and said. “Please… don’t… do this… Tam.”

Feeling a fresh wave of hate, Tammy screamed as loud as she could. “MY NAME IN TAMMY!” And with all the force she had and screaming as she did before shattering the mirror earlier, she punched Tina squarely on the face. A satisfying crunch of bone was felt under her fist as she let go of Tina’s neck.

Tammy looking down at Tina’s unmoving form with a smirk. She reached down and put two finger on Tina’s neck and failed to find a pulse. It was done. Now the next thing to do was destroy the rest of them and she had an idea that would make Mary’s and Ken’s corruption undeniable and their humiliation complete.

Chapter: nineteen


Tammy felt like her head was about to explode. She walked back to the hotel not clearly seeing where she was going. She was now a murderer and there was no going back from that.

Not only had she just taken a life with her bare hands, she took the life of one who only wanted to be considered a sister. No not a sister. A tool. A tool used by all of them. If that were the case, however, then why was it starting to hurt?

She knew Tina got what she deserved, but how could she start to feel the weight of it? Tammy knew she had to get over it though. She had to finish her revenge against Tina, Mary and Ken. All who did their best to ruin her life.

Tammy was starting to feel better and righteous about what she had done by the time she had entered the hotel room and saw the tiny people jump up. All but Mary who stayed in what seemed to be in the exact spot that she was from earlier.

“Well?” Debbie asked. “Do we get to hear Tina’s version now?

Tammy looked down at Mary when she said. “Tina isn’t going to be giving her side of anything ever again.”

Mary’s eyes opened at these words and her head lifted up to meet Tammy’s eyes. “You didn’t.”

“Not only did I, But I even enjoyed it.”

Mary jumped up and raced at Tammy as fast as her shrunken legs would take her. Tammy stood up a little straighter and watched as Mary jumped from the bed to Tammy’s leg. Grasping what she could of the sweatpants in one hand, and punching the giant leg as hard as she could with the other.

Tammy saw this and felt a new wave of confusion. What was Mary trying to prove? Did she think that at her size, judging by how she had been about half the size of Chuck she was probably two inches, she was really going to do any damage to Tammy at all?

She plucked Mary off of her pants between her thumb and forefinger and set her down on the table. “Look, I don’t want to have to do the same to you.”

Mary scoffed. “You killed my daughter. You think I give a damn what you could do to me now?” She said through anguished sobs.

“There’s still Ken to think about.” Tammy pointed out. “You want me to bring him down as well?”

“He’s going to feel the same as I do as soon as he finds out what you’ve done.”

“I can’t believe you.” Debbie’s voice came from the bed behind her. Tammy turned to see Debbie looking at her with murder in her eyes. “You’d better just kill me now as well, because I swear if I get the chance I’m going to do the same to you.”

Tammy felt those words hit her like a ton of bricks. “Tina deserved that.” Tammy said with justification in her voice. “She had built her life around a lie. It was only a matter of time before someone else did it. I just got to her first.”

“What you’ve done.” Ashley said. “Was to make an enemy of half the people in this town. Because as soon as they hear about what you’ve done, they will all be after your blood.”

Tammy heard these words and while it didn’t hurt quite as much as what Debbie had said, it still touched a nerve. She knew that Ashley was right. She was going to have to make a run for it while she still had a chance.

“No one is going to get my blood or any other part of me if I’m long gone.” Tammy said lowering her face to look directly at Ashley, with Debbie standing beside her. “Just be thankful I’m directing justice at the ones who really deserve it. Because when I leave here, I plan on restoring your size. I may need to knock you out first.” She leaned in closer to where she could feel Ashley’s miniature breast touch her nose. “I can do it nice or hard, your choice.”

Tammy then rose up to her full height. “But that’s not going to happen just yet.” She said as though making a pronouncement as a queen would to her peasants. “I have one more thing I want to try.” She said looking down where Chuck was sitting, trying hard to not be noticed.

“I’ve been told that my shrinking abilities doesn’t work on men, something about a gender bug or something.” Tammy said leaning down, her fingers hovering over Chuck. “But I wonder if it means I can’t make one grow?”

Hearing this, Chuck stood up, reaching his arms up. “I’m willing to be a volunteer.” He said eagerly.

“I’m sure you are, but first I need to know something.” She said placing both her hands around Chuck, making it look like he was in a prison of fingers. “When I leave here, I’m going to need an ally.” She raised an eyebrow. “You ready to follow me to the ends of the earth and back?”

“Lead the way and I’ll follow anywhere you want to go.” He said with a bow.

Tammy grinned. “I’m going to hold you to that.” She then brought both hands together.

The worst spark she had ever felt surged through her, but not just in her hands, but all through her body. Her head felt like an explosion had gone off inside of it as a small lightning storm circled her head. She heard the loudest scream she had ever heard in her life, so lost in the agony that she was in, that she didn’t register is was her own.

She didn’t know how long she had been in this pain. A few minutes, a few seconds, her entire life? It seemed to be pain and suffering without end. Then with a bone shattering jolt back into reality, Tammy felt the floor under her head.

She couldn’t move and she didn’t think she ever wanted to move ever again. Her hands felt like they were on fire. She could feel something wet dripping from her ears, that she was sure was her own blood.

Opening her eyes, she could tell she was still in the hotel room. But why? Why was she there in the first place? What had happened? Then the memories of everything that she had done over the last couple of days came rushing back. But she didn’t even have the strength to cry.

Debbie and Ashley had ran to the edge of the bed and looked down at where Tammy lay. They saw her open her eyes, the pupils contracted to mere pin pricks in her large brown eyes.

“What have I done?” Tammy said weakly. Tears of blood dripping from her eyes.

“I’ll tell you what you have done.” Said a strong male voice. Chuck’s naked form rose from the floor on the other side of the bed. His height fully restored. “You just signed Ken’s death warrant.” He said as he walked around the bed to look down at Tammy.

“Please, no one else is supposed to get hurt.” Tammy said feebly, slowly moved her head from side to side.

Chuck knelt down on one kee and started stroking Tammy’s breasts through her t-shirt. “Oh there’s going to be a lot of people getting hurt.” He said as he slipped his hand under her shirt pinching her nipples hard.

It hurt her, but she didn’t have the strength to resist even that. “Please just kill me.” Tammy pleaded. “I’ve done terrible things that I can’t undo.” She felt her shirt lifting from her chest and saw the material flash past her head.

“Don’t worry about that.” He said pulling her sweatpants down, leaving her totally naked and helpless. “By the time I’m through, anything that you have done will seem like child’s play.” He started kissing her neck. “But you can take pride in knowing it was all made possible by you.”

Mary had seen everything that had happened from her perch on the table. Saw what looked like a lightning storm erupting from Tammy’s ears, eyes and hands. Saw Chuck taunt Tammy as he started to take advantage of her helplessness. And in spite of knowing what she had done to her daughter, Mary still felt a tear of pain roll down her face as she helplessly watched Chuck easily force Tammy’s legs apart.



Chapter: twenty


An ambulance sped away from the school as Ken watched it leave. He was having trouble coming to grips with everything he had already seen.

When he arrived at the main school. The first one that he had ever owned, and had meant more to him than any of the others. He found it half destroyed. The result of an apparent break in. Each time he thought of how he found his daughter made him start to choke back the tears. He needed to be strong right now.

For some reason, he couldn’t find Mary or Tammy. They were all fine this morning when he left their home. He needed to find them, but felt the best place for him was here. He knew logically he couldn’t help Tina by going with the ambulance. He also believed that if anyone were to come looking for him, they would come here first. So here he waited. He stood in the middle of the work out floor. Not working out, not practicing. Just standing looking towards Tina’s destroyed room and prayed that someone, somehow would bring him news about his wife and Tammy.

****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******

Tammy started to feel her arms and legs start to move again. She was still very weak, but was slowly recovering. If you could call what she was feeling a recovery.

Chuck had taken the clothes that she had been wearing, put them on and left the room. Everyone there knew where he was going as he taunted both Tammy and Mary about it. He left with the promise that he would be back for Mary. He still owed her.

The only thing Tammy could think to do was try to recover enough to go after him. She didn’t think she stood a chance against him, but he was her mess that she needed to clean up, even if she knew she had no chance of doing so.

“Just lay still Tam.” Mary shouted from the table. “You’re in no shape to go after anyone.”

Tammy laid her head back down and could see Mary leaning over the table to look at her. “Whatever happens to me I have earned it. The only thing left for me is to make it right.”

Mary shook her head. “If what I saw was any indicator, I don’t think you’ve been responsible for any of your actions for a few days now.”

“I am responsible. I did those things.” Tammy said through sobs. “I… killed…Tina…” She got out. Saying it made it more real for her than she could’ve imagined and wailed loudly on the floor of the hotel.

Ashley and Debbie started lowering themselves from the bed, using the comforter to scale down the side. Ashley walked to Tammy’s hand and placed hers on it. She was horrified to see the scorch marks on the fingertips. Debbie looking at Tammy’s face that was easily four times her size, rain blood from the eyes.

“Can you make us big again?” Ashley asked. “We can all go after Chuck together.

Tammy placed a finger on Ashley’s head and concentrated as hard as she could. She got nothing. “I can’t do it.” Tammy said. “I’m not even getting an image.” She gathered what strength she had and lifted her torso, to where she was now in a sitting position. “However I was able to change the size of others, is gone now.”

Debbie looked defeated. Not just because it now looked like her and Ashley were going to spend the rest of their lives at three inches tall, but also she felt heart sick for Mary who just lost her only child and looked like was going to lose her husband. She didn’t think Chuck would announce his presence to Ken when he saw him. He was more likely to attack from behind and finish him off before Ken knew that he had even been attacked.

Tammy stood up, careful not to step on the tiny women who were now on the floor at her feet. She looked to Mary as she pulled a t-shirt and sweatpants from the bag she brought back with her from the school and got dressed.
“Even if it costs me my life.” Tammy said leaning down to put her face in reach of Mary’s tiny arms. She felt her miniscule fingers touch her face. “I promise, you will not lose Ken as well.”

“You don’t have to prove anything.” Mary said. “I honestly believe what was going on with you was beyond your control. Don’t just needlessly toss your own life away for it.”

Tammy raised back up. “If I can give Ken a fighting chance, then it will not be needless.” She said as she left the hotel room, giving whatever chase she could.

Ashley and Debbie hugged each other. “What’re we going to do now?” Ashley asked Debbie. “What kind of life could we have being this small?”

“Don’t give into despair just yet.” Mary’s voice was heard from above.

Debbie looked up. “We need to get you down from there. You don’t want to be there when Chuck gets back.”

“I think I can climb down the electrical cord.” Mary said.

Ashley and Debbie watched as Mary skillfully descended the cord running from the lamp to the receptacle and let herself drop the last few inches to the floor. They ran to meet Mary halfway under the table. “I’ve been tiny more than once before.” Mary said meeting their unbelieving eyes.

“What did you mean that you didn’t think Tammy was responsible for her actions?” Ashley asked.

Mary reached up and took both Ashley’s and Debbie’s hand as they walked across the floor. “A few nights ago, Tammy received what the doctor told us was a lethal electrical shock.” Mary said looking up at the girls that were still larger than she was. “For whatever reason, maybe because of the way Tina’s blood may have mutated hers, she held a great deal of that electricity in her head. It could explain why her eyes were so dilated all the time.

“When she made Chuck grow, I think she had to actually use a lot of force to make that happen.” Mary continued. “When she did, her head released all that energy it had just held in place. And with all that going on in her head, I would’ve been more surprised if it hadn’t been driving her insane.”

Debbie nodded. “I did noticed that her eyes looked more normal right after.”

“As interesting as all this speculation is.” Ashley interjected. “It still doesn’t help us with our current situation. If she can’t restore our size, what do we do? How can we live being this tiny?”

Mary started to offer a suggestion, when she started feeling a familiar sensation creep up her spine. “I’m not sure we’re going to have to find out.” She said smiling.

****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******

Chuck was closing in on the school as quickly as he could while maintaining as much stealth as he could manage doing so. He had waited too long, suffered through too much to let anything ruin it for him now.

He had always prided himself on his patients. It served him very well before he got into all this shrinking nonsense. It served him well even after he became a sex toy for that brat child of his. Although he had to admit, she was very good at it, considering he had been her first and to his knowledge her only. Thinking about what Ken was going to say, when laying at his feet and bleeding his lifeblood into the ground, he finally discovered that he had been defiling his little girl, literally under his nose.

It still didn’t make up for the fact that, regardless of how much fun he had from time to time, he had still been a tiny slave. A small dick in a drawer, only ever taken out when it suited Tina. Yes his patients served him very well. He just regretted that Tammy had taken any chance at revenge against Tina away from him. But he had to admit he liked the consolation prize.

Now all that was left for now was to take out Ken. Then Mary would know what it was like to be a sex toy. He felt anticipation swell as stealthily he closed in on his target. Slowly but surely.

****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******

Tammy moved as fast as she could. Running when possible, but with the shape that she was in she didn’t know if she would get there in time to do anything.

How could I have let it all come to this? She thought to herself. She shrunk Mary. She killed Tina and she unleased a monster. They had been nothing but good to her ever since saving her life over a year ago. Tina had done nothing but try to be a sister to her. A good friend and never asked for anything in return. Mary had been more kind to her than she could ever had hoped to deserve. And Ken. That was almost as hard to think about. He had done more than any of them to make her feel like part of a family. She repaid that kindness with lust, greed and betrayal. He may not have been her birth father, but he was more of a real daddy to her than her real father had even been. Bloody tears fell from her eyes as she thought about how she had just thrown it all away. Now it was probably too late, but just once she thought, how would she like to address Ken like a true father, or a daddy.

Tammy picked up her pace a little, then felt her feet screaming in protest. Without looking at them, she realized for the first time, that she had been barefoot ever since she went after Mary. How she walked back and forth from the school and hotel without noticing was beyond her.

She knew all too well why her legs felt week. She had never had sex before and to have her virginity taken away from her in such a violent fashion made her feel even dirtier. But she thought she deserved worse after everything she had already done. No the rape hadn’t made her dirty, she had done that to herself all on her own.

Tammy pushed herself all the harder. She had to help Ken in any way she could. Because as certain as she was racing to her own death at the hands of Chuck, she knew Ken would be the only hope for Mary, Debbie and Ashley. How she would be able to convey what she had done, to Ken she would figure out when she got there.

****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******



When he approached the school, he could see Ken standing in the middle of the main workout area. Just standing there with his back to the door, leaving himself uncharacteristically vulnerable. Chuck walked up to the front door of the school. Placing each foot down cautiously heal to toe as to make no sound at all. In perfect silence he passed the threshold and entered the school, Ken’s back still turned to him. Just a few more steps Chuck thought to himself as he felt the mussels in his arms and legs start to tense as he readied himself for the attack.

“DADDY, LOOK OUT!” A voice screamed in his ear, as he saw Ken turn abruptly and felt a weight collide with his back. He managed to stay upright as he grabbed behind himself and was surprised to see Tammy struggling in his grip.

“I’ll deal with you later” He said lifting Tammy, bodily off the ground and hurled her into the wall behind Ken where she crashed painfully head first. She fell to the floor unmoving, her face and head a bloody mess.

Ken’s shock at who he saw and what he saw him do slowed him enough to give Chuck time to strike. With a yell, Chuck landed a jumping round kick to Ken’s face following it with a fast leg sweep that took Ken off his feet, the side of his face starting to swell.

“I can’t tell you how long I have waited to do that.” Chuck said as he walked to Ken, not backing up at all as Ken’s training took over and using his hands arms and back mussels, jumped back up into a standing position adjusting his stances to Chuck’s body language.

“You’re probably the best I have ever seen.” Ken said waiting for the next attack, which he could feel building. “You’ve always had a cool head. But like so many others who reach your level, you spend too much time gloating rather pressing your advantage.”

Ken then ran at Chuck executing a perfect feint to the left with a left front kick, that he knew would miss, but set Chuck up perfectly for a spinning back fist that landed perfectly to Chuck’s left ear, raising a cauliflower in its’ place.

Chuck stumbled to a wall for support and to regroup. This wasn’t going the way he wanted to. Damn Tammy for ruining it. “Have you ever wondered where I’ve been the past four years?” He asked Ken.

Ken stopped his advancement. “I didn’t care where you were, so long as it was as far away from my family as possible.”

“Well guess what ‘daddy’, I’ve been real close especially to Tina.” Chuck felt he had just scored a point with that comment.

“What do you mean?” Ken asked. Still not dropping his guard as he knew Chuck was trying to goad him into doing.

Chuck indicated the ruins that had once been Tina’s room. “I’ve been in there the entire time.”

Ken knew that Chuck was trying to get him to look away. “I know better than that. I’ve been in there a few times and never once did I see you there.”

“That’s because Tina knew you were coming and was able to hide me in a, let’s just call it an intimate location.” Chuck said still taunting.

“How?” Ken said in disbelief. He thought he knew what Chuck was getting at, but from everything he knew about what Tina could do, and how Dr. Smith’s experiments never worked properly with men, that just wasn’t possible.

Chuck sneered. “Your little girl always was good at adapting to situations and taking advantage of an opportunity. It just happened to literally fall into her hands, as I did shortly thereafter.”

Ken felt his defenses slipping as he listened in revulsion as Chuck described all the things his little girl had been doing with him over the past four years. He felt that Chuck must be lying about some of it, but he knew enough about good lies being eighty-five percent truth.

Just as he had hoped, Chuck saw Ken leave an opening that nearly anyone else would’ve missed. But to Chuck, Ken may as well had left a welcome mat. Chuck charged with all of his might, putting everything he had into a flying axe kick. He knew from the shocked look on Ken’s face, he was about to score a home run.



Chapter: twenty-one


Ken saw the blur that was, Chucks right heel descend toward his head. It missed by half an inch. Chuck’s heal slammed painfully on the floor directly in front of Ken. Not missing the opportunity this provided, Ken countered with a perfectly executed and placed sidekick to Chuck’s already injured ear.

Chuck fell to the ground holding the left side of his head. He could feel his strength draining. He couldn’t understand. He had Ken dead to rights. There was no way he could’ve missed.

“Looks like captivity has slowed you down, Chuck.” Ken said keeping his distance as well as an eye on Chuck. As much as he wanted to finish the job, he couldn’t bring himself to attack a man while he was down.

Chuck scoffed. “No way. As much time as I had to myself in the drawer, I spent nearly all of it working out.” He said slowly staggering to his feet. “I may not have had any equipment, but I didn’t need them to keep my body strong and reflexes sharp.”

Ken saw Chuck slowly advance on him again and readied himself for it. “It doesn’t matter now.” He said. “You’re beat. Don’t make me have to truly hurt you. Just back off and we can settle this without either of us getting seriously hurt.”

“You think this can end just like that?” Chuck said with hatred lacing each word. “After what Tina did to me, after what I did to Tammy with Mary watching, I’m not going to…”

“What did you do to Tammy and where is Mary?” Ken interrupted. “I swear you better start talking.”

Chuck moved closer to Ken, but kept his arms down, not giving Ken a reason to lash out at him. “Well for starters, I’ll say that Tammy is good, but not as good as Tina, But then again, Tammy just wasn’t in the mood.” He looked up at ken with a smirk. It turned out to be a huge mistake.

Ken unloaded his full fury on Chuck. Punch followed by kick followed by take down followed by punch again. Before he knew it Chuck was on the floor, feeling dazed as he felt his hair pull painfully against his scalp. Ken was pulling Chuck to his feet.

“There’s nothing more I’d like to do than to kill you right now.” Ken said holding Chuck in place. “Two things are saving your life. One you know where Mary is. Second, Tina talked me into not killing you before and because I still love my daughter more than I hate you, I can’t kill you. Because if I did I would never be able to face her again.”

Chuck’s head was starting to throb from the pain of Ken pulling on it. He stood more on his toes to lessen the pull. “But she’s dead.” Chuck said feeling the pain to his head increase.

Ken looked at Chuck as though he had lost his mind. “Who told you she was dead?”

“Tammy said she had killed her.” Chuck said, his eyes drifting to where Tammy still lay.

“I’m not sure what happened here, or what Tammy thinks she may have done.” Ken said in a shaky voice. “But Tina is very much alive.”

“My baby is alive?” A voice said from the door.

Still maintaining his grip on Chuck’s hair, Ken turned to the door to see Mary and Debbie standing just inside the school both wearing t-shirts and sweatpants. Tears of joy pouring down Mary’s face.

“How?” Chuck’s weakening voice had said looking at the full grown Mary and Debbie. “You’re supposed to be shrunk.” He felt the pull on his hair increase and stood a little straighter.

“Not long after Tammy left to chase after you, we started growing.” Mary said looking at Chuck as though she had one more secret to reveal to him and was eager to do so. “It took a few minutes to get big enough to get to the clothes and a couple more for us to fit into them. But as soon as we were large enough to wear them without them falling off, we came here growing the rest of the way.”

Ken looked stunned. “You and Debbie were shrunk?” He asked.

“Ashley was as well.” Debbie said. “But she’s still at the hotel. There wasn’t any more clothes in the bag for her to leave.”

Mary put a hand up to hold off Ken’s next question. “I’ll explain everything later. Right now we need to find Tammy.”

“She’s over in the corner.” Ken said looking over to Tammy’s unmoving body. “She saved my life.”

Mary ran over to Tammy and placed her hands around Tammy’s head in an attempt to wake her up. She put an ear to Tammy nose and mouth.

“LET GO OF ME!” Chuck shouted, his feet no longer in contact with the floor. Ken let go of Chucks hair and saw him fall to the floor. Rubbing his head Chuck stood back up to renew his attack. Before he could gather any strength to do anything, he looked in front of him and saw Ken’s stomach.

Looking up Chuck saw Ken’s confused expression looking down at him as he slowly shrunk. “How?” Chuck asked not really expecting an answer. He felt a vice like grip on his shoulders. He looked up and behind him to see he was standing just under Debbie’s ever growing chest.

“Don’t you worry about that right now.” Debbie said with a smirk. “You just be a good little boy and shrink all nice and quiet.”

Ken started to walk to Debbie to ask his own questions, when he heard Mary’s voice come from behind him. “Ken get over here.” He turned and raced to where Mary was cradling Tammy’s head in her lap. “She’s not breathing.”

Pulling Tammy from his wife, Ken started giving CPR to Tammy desperately trying to get her to start breathing on her own. He placed his mouth over hers, pushed on her chest and repeated the process over and over, until they heard Tammy’s gasp of breath for herself.

Mary looked at Tammy’s face with concern. “Is she?”

“She’s alive.” Ken said. “But we should get her to the hospital. Tina’s already there by now.”

“She really is alive?” Mary asked through her tears. “Tammy said she was dead.”

Ken shrugged. “Well I don’t think Tammy would really be able to tell if someone is dead or not, just by looking at the condition Tina was in.” He took Mary’s hand. “Tina has a broken nose a slightly bruised larynx and almost certainly a concussion.” He looked at Tammy’s slowly breathing form and something hit home with him. “She did all that to Tina?”

“Yes, but don’t be angry with her.” Mary said with a plea to her voice. “I promise to explain everything later. First we need to take care of Tammy.”

Ken nodded and scooped Tammy up in his arms, carrying her to his SUV not bothering to look at Debbie, holding onto a waist high Chuck.

Mary handed a key to Debbie. “Use this key and get some clothes out of storage.” She said. “Get them over to Ashley, I’m sure she’s getting tired of sitting around in the buff all day. Also if you could lock up the school when you leave. I’ll call and apologize later to any students who get their classes canceled tonight. ”

Debbie looked at the key. “I’ll take care of it. What do you want me to do after?”

Looking down at Chuck, Mary said. “There is not enough punishment in the world to bring any real justice to you, after what you did to Tammy.” She leaned down. “But I’m looking forward to trying to find it.” She felt a twinge of satisfaction at the look of fear in his eyes.

“Keep a watch on him as well.” She said to Debbie. “He’s got a lot to answer for.”

“Count on it.” Debbie said to Mary as she watched her get into the SUV with Ken and Tammy.

****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******

Tina woke up in the hospital, not remembering how she got there. She opened her eyes and saw a bed next to her on the left. Tammy was in it. Then she remembered the attack. She tried to sit up, but felt her head swim and settled back down.

“Take it easy.” She heard her mother say. Tina looked to her right and saw Mary stand up from a rather large chair.

“What’s going on?” Tina asked. Mary told her of what had happened to her after Tammy had shrunk her and found Chuck. About watching Tammy’s head all but explode. Chucks’ raping of Tammy and how Tammy had nearly got herself killed saving Ken.

Tina looked back to her left and saw Tammy more clearly now. There was a bandage on her right ear, Tina assumed there must be another on her left. She could see that both of Tammy’s hands were wrapped in bandages as well.

“They said there was some damage to her eyes as well, but they should be fine in no time.” Mary told her daughter. “Your father went to find the doctor when we saw you starting to wake up.”

“And he found me.” The doctor said coming into the room and checking Tammy’s eyes. “No unusual dilation anymore.” He announced, pressing a stethoscope to her chest. “And a good steady heartbeat.”

Tina looked up at the doctor as he came over to do the same to her. “Has she gone insane?” Tina asked. Not sure she wanted to know.

The doctor looked over at Mary who was arm in arm with Ken, then turned back to Tina. “I don’t think so.” He said. “Your mother guessed and I agree that she had somehow stored a massive amount of electricity in her head. And during that time Tammy could very easily suffered from delusions of persecution and paranoia leading to bouts of schizophrenia.”

“What about her abil…” Tina started to say when she felt her mother’s hand on her shoulder.

“You believe that after it discharged from her head, it will have alleviated the delusion?” Mary asked.

“I think so.” The doctor said. “She may have some trouble hearing for about a week or so, but I think even her hearing will make as good a recovery as the rest of her.”

Tina grasped the doctor’s hand. “Thank you for taking care of the both of us.” She told the doctor. “Especially Tammy.”

“Well it is getting to be something of a hobby with Tammy.” He laughed lightly. “I hope none of you will object but I’m going to keep you here for a couple more days.”

“What about Tammy?” Ken asked.

The doctor scratched his chin. “Well physically, she’s going to make a full recovery. It’s her mind that is going to be the concern at this point.”

“You said she wasn’t insane.” Mary protested.

“And so she isn’t, but she still hasn’t woke up on her own yet.” He pointed out. “Even with her injuries, she should’ve come to by now.”

Tina tensed up, feeling her face hurt where the bandages were still holding her nose in place. “What are you saying?”

Sighing deeply he explained. “I would guess that she’s in a deep depression. She might be feeling an overwhelming sense of loss, fear or regret. Maybe all of those. The point is that she’s not going to wake up until she wants to.”

“And if she never wants to?” Ken asked.

Frowning, the doctor looked Ken in the eye. “There’s only so long someone can exist on life support before a hard decision has to be made.” He saw the sorrow on their faces. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you what you wanted to hear, but don’t give up we’re not there just yet. Talk to her, maybe you can help her find her way home again.”

As the doctor left, Tina Mary and Ken all looked at each other. Eyes wide open and thinking the same thought.

****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******

Tammy was lost in a sea of darkness. It was lonely and cold. She didn’t remember a time when she didn’t feel it. She wasn’t aware of where she was, or even who she was. She just knew that the darkness had her for a reason and she didn’t think she could resist it anyway.

She turned her head and saw nothing but darkness still. As always. Looking up darkness. Looking down darkness. Looking ahead dark… No she saw something that shouldn’t be there. It was a flame. It was coming to her.

As the flame drew nearer it spoke. “You are lost alone and wish to return home?” She nodded as she took a hand offered by the flame. It didn’t burn her, but filled her with the first warmth should could ever remember feeling.

“Allow me to guide you so that you main gain my knowledge.” The flame said growing brighter. As it walked with her. The flame released her hand, but another flame remained in her palm. “I can guide you no more. From here you must travel alone.”

She didn’t want the flame to go as she knew she would grow cold very quickly. But the flame that was now a part of her hand warmed her even better than the flame that had guided her thus far.

The flame in her hand spoke with a voice she was sure she had heard before. “Knowledge must exist with wisdom” It had said growing brighter. She looked down as saw a road she never knew was there before. Her eyes followed the path behind her and saw an even greater light in the distance.

Not knowing why, she ran toward the new light she saw. As she got closer she started to understand what it was. She knew the flame was the spirit, the light in her hand was knowledge and wisdom. And the words that held them together were her family. She approached the light and saw the words. “Welcome home Tam.” Written in the flame before her.

Tammy opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was the oil lamp her family had given her. A flame dancing merrily under the glass, which had the same “Welcome home Tam.” Written on it as it was on the fire, the phoenix pin sitting right at the base.

She felt tears on her face as she looked and saw Ken holding her right hand, Mary holding her left and Tina sitting on her bed, both hands on Tammy’s hips.

“I knew she would find her way back.” Tina said with a smile, not caring how much it hurt her healing nose, or black eyes.




Chapter: twenty-two


Several days had passed since Tammy woke up in the hospital bed, surrounded by her family. She was surprised to find out the hospital staff allowed Ken to bring an oil lamp into her room, but when he told them he was certain it would help, they gave him a chance to use it, with the understanding that he had only the one chance.

To her surprise, Tina who had been cleared to return home, stayed with Tammy in the same hospital room. “We came in together, we’ll go out together.” Tina kept repeating.

Tammy had time to reconcile her attack on Tina. She was ashamed and felt she didn’t deserve the forgiveness that Tina was showing her. “If I hadn’t kept that secret as long as I had, all of this may not have happened.”

“Why didn’t you fight back?” Tammy asked.

Tina shrugged. “Daddy has taught me some self-defense, I just never really got into it like he did. But I still enjoy running the business part of it.” She then turned her head down while keeping her eyes on Tammy. “Besides, I’ve never been as scared of anyone as I was of you that day. I don’t think I would’ve been able to fight back if I had wanted to.”

Tammy ignored the pain in her feet as she got out of her bed to crawl into Tina’s bed. Lying beside her and wrapping her arms around Tina. “I so very, very sorry for all the pain I caused you.”

Tina stroked Tammy’s long black hair. “Shhh. It’s over now. We both have some serious healing to do and I think we’ll do a lot better job of it if we work on it together.” She kissed Tammy’s forehead lightly. “I shouldn’t had done that to Chuck. For that it’s really my fault you’re in here now.”

Ken and Mary held the same opinion but didn’t want to pursue that matter any further stating that they should’ve told Tammy everything the day they brought her home. She could understand their concerns to an extent. While they had opened their home to what amounted to be a stranger, they couldn’t foresee the results of telling that stranger she may find herself shrinking one day as a result of their daughters blood being inside her.

“All in all there’s blame to go around for everyone.” Mary told her, when Tammy cried real hard at the thought of what she had done to her and what she had thought she had done to Tina.

“I’m not saying I’m not glad I was wrong.” Tammy said to Ken. “But I checked her pulse, it simply wasn’t there.”

He smiled and leaned over her bed. “Show me where you checked.” Tina placed her fingers just on the side of his neck.

She looked at him in shock. “You don’t have a pulse either.” Tammy exclaimed.

“Try putting your finger here.” He said with a laugh guiding her finger to touch the front of his neck where the neck met the throat. She felt the steady beat and smile up at Ken.

She gazed into Ken’s eyes. “I thought I was in love with you.” She told him. “Each time we would come into contact I felt a shudder.”

Ken smiled. “I’m not going to tell you that what you were feeling was more crush than anything else. However, when you first woke up into our lives you said you had heard my voice before, and mine was the first face you saw.”

Tammy found it hard to keep eye contact. “You’re saying I was more in love with the idea of you?” She asked.

“Something like that.” Ken confirmed. “But just remember that many who use the word ‘love’ have not really found out what it means. Some think of lust and equate it to love.” He took her hands into his. “And some get as infatuated with a single person, and think of it as being love.”

“How can you tell if you’re truly in love with someone, like you and Mary?”

Ken leaned down to give Tammy a small kiss on her head. “That’s something that neither I nor anyone else can tell you. Each person is unique and has their own wants and desires. But when and if you’re lucky enough to find that one certain someone that not only shares the same desires, but also opens their very soul to you. That’s when you know.”

Tammy pondered that before asking. “Is that what’s meant by soul mates?”

“That’s as good of an explanation as I could ever give.” Ken confirmed.


Each time Mary had visited them, she held Tammy’s hands in both of hers. Tammy was pleased to notice she didn’t get any images anymore.

“Seeing anything today?” Mary asked Tammy quietly.

Tammy shook her head. “Not a thing.” She replied. “I think you were right, when you said that all that electricity in my head somehow made it possible to transfer my shrinking to others.”

“Of course I was right.” Mary said defiantly. “I’m always right.” She got closer to Tammy’s ear. “Can you still make yourself shrink?”

Tammy looked over at Tina who nodded. “Yes I can. I’ve been trying it in the bathroom where no one can see me doing it.” Tammy looked away from Mary. “If it is Tina’s blood in me that lets me shrink, why did getting electrocuted make it start?”

“It was probably simply dormant waiting for the right trigger.” Tina suggested. “My own ability didn’t start until after I had sex for the first time.”

Mary saw tears filing Tammy’s eyes and wrapped Tammy up in her arms to comfort her. “Go ahead and let it out.” Mary said knowing exactly what was going on in her mind after Tina mentioned the loss of her virginity.

“Oh my god!” Tina exclaimed. She thought it ironic that the same man she gave her virginity to was the same man that violently took it away from Tammy.

Tammy cried herself out before saying. “Please don’t blame yourself for this, Tina.” She said wiping tears from her reddened eyes. “If after everything that I had done, that was the worst thing to come of it, then I accept it. I’m more relived that he hadn’t hurt anyone else.”

They had all decided, including Debbie and Ashley in on the decision that it would be best for all to keep secret what had happened. Ashley had visited Tina and Tammy with Debbie a few times. “We knew you didn’t know what you were doing then.” Ashley told Tammy kindly.

“Besides.” Debbie said. “If you hadn’t we may not have truly found each other.” She held Ashley’s hand and looking into her lovers eye.

“And you never hurt us either. It’s just best to keep it to ourselves and think of it as a growing experience.” Ashley said not realizing the pun she had made, until they all laughed about it.

Debbie turned her head to Mary and said. “What I still don’t understand, is how we grew back. If Tammy had lost that ability, then we should still be tiny.”

“I think what happened.” Mary said. “Was something like static electricity?” When no one seemed to be following her she continued. “Everything that Tammy was doing had spawned from the electrical charge that she was storing in her head. Her entire body was acting like an electrical appliance.

“When she would touch someone she would get an image of them in her head.” Mary continued. “This seems to me to be something like what happens if you leave an old picture tube on too long, you get stuck with the last image that was on it. I think the reason she could never get an image of Tina was because they were basically sharing the same channel.”

Mary pulled a small balloon out of her purse, blew it up and tied a knot on the end of it. “If you rub something like a balloon against you it stays there.” She rubbed the balloon against her and let go of it to show that it had stayed there. “But when you release the charge.” She said taking the balloon off of her touching a metal door frame letting the balloon go and float down to the floor.

“When Tammy shrunk us.” Mary continued. “I think she unknowingly kept something of a static charge as a link. As long as she didn’t discharge that electricity we would remain whatever size she made us.

“But when she had released all that energy, it was just a matter of time before the link itself was completely severed. And when that time came our own electrical field repaired the damage.

“I also believe that energy racing in Tammy’s head, may have sped up her metabolism so much, that it triggered something of a healing spurt, which fixed her hair, scar and limp.”

Debbie looked skeptical. “Sounds kind of farfetched to me.” She said.

“It’s only a theory.” Mary said. “But as I have no intention of asking any kind of scientist about the validity of it, I’m going with it.”

“I guess that’s why Chuck started to shrink again.” Tammy offered. “He was already small before I did the reverse to him. It took a little longer for the effect to wear off, but when it did, his electrical field that thought him to be small to begin with, repaired the damage and shrunk him back.”

Tina shook her head. “I just don’t see how you were able to grow him back. You said you tried to make Daddy shrink but it wouldn’t work on him. And as far as I know the original shrinking formula just made men shrink away completely.”

“I think between the mixing of your blood in mine along with all the electricity stuck in my head made it possible for me make a man grow rather than shrink.” Tammy offered. “I wonder if Ken would’ve grown to be a giant if I had wanted to make him grow rather than shrink like I did with Chuck.” Tammy looked at Debbie. “And you have no clue what happened to him?”

Debbie shrugged. “I was taking him back to the hotel with me, after I got some clothes for Ashley.” She said. “He had gotten small enough for me to carry under my arm kind of like a football. Then his shrinking kicked into high gear and he fell from my grip. By the time I had gone through the pile of clothes that was left, I couldn’t find him.”

Tina nodded. She then looked sadly at her hands, “I guess what I used on Chuck was fine to keep him small without doing away with him, but after Tammy tossed her mojo into the mix, it must have countered whatever was in it that, that kept him around.”

“So in the end I’m a killer after all.” Tammy said, not meeting anyone’s eyes.

Mary grabbed Tammy’s hand. “He knew that you were unstable and took advantage of it. He was jumping at the chance. And don’t forget what the first thing he did when he was his full size.”

“I still don’t like to think that I may have had anything to do with his death.” Tammy said.

Mary, understanding it would take time for Tammy to forgive herself for that and every other transgression that had taken place. So she let the matter go and just enjoyed listening to the new wave of girl talk that had, Mary thought, started at a very convenient time. “Just make sure you don’t go around electrocuting yourself in the future.” Mary said generating a wave of much needed laughter in the room.

Tammy saw the nurse from her last stay in the hospital come into the room to check the monitors, and noticed that the nurse’s eyes were red and puffy. Also no sign of any glasses. “No glasses again?” Tammy asked the nurse politely.

The nurse sighed. “The first pair I had, stretched out so bad they didn’t fit. So I went and got a new pair and a day or two later they broke. Turned out they were too small.”

Tina and Tammy eyed each other significantly, then broke out into a laughter that Mary, Debbie and Ashley quickly joined in on. The nurse gave the other five women a look of confusion before leaving the room.


The day came when the doctor felt that Tammy was well enough to go home. Ken wanting to mark the occasion had arranged for a stretch limousine to pick them up and take them home. The four of them enjoying the first chance at each other’s company away from the hospital, had the driver take them on many needless detours and even a drive through at a local burger stand. They laughed as the driver, being a good sport about it, put in the order and took the ribbing that the cashier at the window gave him.

Tammy noticed a newspaper in a glass case vending machine. Its headline reporting on the female streaker was still at large. She smiled in relief and humor as she recognized the picture of the woman from the bank with the little dog.

“Something I’ve been meaning to ask you, Tam.” Ken said “When you warned me against Chuck.”

Tammy reflected on that. “I called you Daddy.”

Tina, who had been sipping her soda through a straw nearly choked. “You called Daddy, Daddy?”

Tammy held Tina’s hand. “Well as my sister, what would you have me call him?”

Tina sobbed uncontrollably into Tammy’s shoulder as Tammy sharing her emotion returned her embrace. Unaware of the other romantic embrace that Ken and Mary were now sharing as well.

****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******

Tina and Tammy returned to work a few days after leaving the hospital. When they arrived for the first time, the night classes had already begun, but had stopped when all saw Tina and Tammy walk back into the school. A cheer and round of applause erupted.

Tina not releasing Tammy’s hand had led her past the office. “We’re not going to the office?” Tammy asked, her head still turned to the office, noticing that there were now two large comfortable chairs instead of just the one.

“Nope, we’re gonna play hooky tonight.” Tina replied.

Tammy was confused. “We could’ve played hooky at home and not bothered with the trip here.”

Tina shook her head. “It’s more fun here. Look.” She said and pointed to the door leading to her private room.

Tammy squealed. “Oh you had it rebuilt.” Tammy said in delight. She still hadn’t forgiven herself for destroying the old one. “I swear I’ll never be jealous of your private room ever again.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Tina said. “However you’re not going to be able to keep that promise.”

Tammy was about to ask why, when Tina dangled two keys in front of her. “You see?” Tina said. “The only private room I have, I share with my sister.”

Beaming, Tammy took one key and looked at it in her hand. “It’s our room now?” She asked unbelievingly.

Tina held her hand toward the lock. “You have the honors.”

With her hand shaking, Tammy inserted the key into the lock and felt the door welcome her to open it. When she did, she expected to see the same set up as before, what she saw made her brows furrow in confusion. She saw a slot racetrack, something that looked like a miniature obstacle course. All sorts of games and other small knickknacks littered the floor.

Before she could ask what all this was, Tina had closed the door behind them, locked it and tugged at Tammy’s shirt, trying to get it off. “What’re you doing?” Tammy asked.

In response, Tina got undressed quickly and started shrinking. “I’ve been dying to try out the obstacle course.” She said still shrinking until she was staring at Tammy’s shoe, tugging at the laces. “Are you coming or not?” She shouted.

Tammy removed her clothes and started to shrink as well. “On my way sis.” She giggled as she saw Tina get a head start on her. Still shrinking she gave her sister chase, until she got to the obstacle course and found out that once again she had over shot her shrinking.


Epilogue:


A few days after everything had seemingly returned to normal. Ashley was back to enjoying her running. After spending nearly a day and a half tiny and locked up in a hotel room, she really appreciated being able to stretch her legs.

Before all this had started, she was always jealous of just about everyone being taller than her. But after spending time being three inches tall, and sometimes smaller than that, she now happily accepted he four foot ten frame. Especially that now she had someone to come home to.

She had rounded the corner of the block her house was on and approached it. Ashley opened the door to reveal the familiar furniture landscape. She had always liked coming home to this house, but these days it was even better.

“I’m Home!” Ashley shouted. She still felt it strange to share her home with another person, but she was getting to like it a lot.

“How’d it go?” She heard a voice say.

Ashley started shrugging off her sweaty clothes, and in no time she was walking completely naked in the hallway. She entered her bedroom before saying. “About as expected. She’s still looking.” She picked up towel and walked toward the shower holding it to her chest.

“She’ll never find what she’s looking for you know.”

“Of course I know.” Ashley replied. Looking at her naked breasts in the mirror. “But as long as Debbie is looking there she’ll not think to look here.

Gazing down at the towel she smiled at the tiny man standing on it, feeling a rush of lust as his tiny hands stroked a breast that was several times bigger than he was. “You think she’ll ever look here?” Chuck asked.

Ashley lightly stroked the back on the four inch man on her towel and said. “If she does, I’ll just find somewhere else to hide you.” With those words, Ashley picked the tiny man up off the towel, held him to her chest and turned on the shower.