Advanact's
Robert's Reformation
Robert's Reformation
Chapter 2
Rob’s first few days passed uneventfully. He moped about the house, eating little, watching lots of television and generally being depressed. Although Mrs. Johnston tried to cheer the young man up from time to time – offering to play a board game, see a movie, or even just go for a walk – Rob politely rebuffed her offers and continued in his depressed stupor. Though miserable himself, Rob was amazed that Martha Johnston could maintain her constant state of pleasant happiness while his own company became more and more unpleasant. Offering words of encouragement whenever she could, Mrs. Johnston seemed to be waiting patiently for Rob to come out of his funk. Though he thought himself irredeemable, this woman seemed to hold some bizarre faith in Robert which he could not understand.
“What could she be thinking?” wondered the lad, as the woman chirped a happy ‘good night’ towards his bedroom. “It’s not like I’m gonna become nice or something...” Falling asleep with such surly thoughts, Rob reflected that his exile at Mrs. Johnston’s home seemed to be turning into one long, boring wait for the winter.
Upon waking the next morning, instead of rising at Mrs. Johnston’s call for breakfast, the young man remained in bed -- staring at the ceiling for what seemed like hours, wishing for a purpose, a need. Something to DO! What was the point of it all, really? Miserable beyond words, Rob laid his head back in his pillow and stared upwards, still and motionless, until hunger finally got the best of him and he finally hopped out of bed.
“Aaaah!” he gasped, as his feet hit the floor. “What’s happened?!?” Looking about, Rob realized for the first time that all objects around him had taken on a giant scale. It was as if... Oh, no!
Looking down, Rob realized the truth: The world hadn’t grown, he’d shrunk! In fact, his 6’ frame had been reduced to the few feet of height which might be found on a four-year old child! Rushing to the door in a panicked state, the boy awkwardly grasped the giant doorknob -- managed somehow to twist it – and swung open the giant barrier to see: Mrs. Johnson, grinning broadly and obviously expecting him.
Near the point of tears from the shock of his transformation, Rob cried, “Mrs. Johnston! You’ve gotta help me!
“Look at me!! What’s happened?!?!”
Smiling gently down at the boy before her, Martha Johnston slowly reached towards the lad and lifted him up into her arms. Marching back towards the bed, the matron gently deposited the boy back onto the mattress and sat down beside him. “Now, now, Robbie,” cooed the sitter, as she gently stroked the young man’s hair. “It’s all right now.
“You’ve just been made into a little boy again, that’s all.”
“Huh!” exclaimed the lad, shocked at the woman’s casual attitude. “Whaddya mean!”
Giggling gently, the matron cooed, “Why, what do you think?
“Did you really believe that an immature young man like yourself would be allowed to remain an adult in a witch’s house?”
Befuddled, the boy could only gape as the woman continued her explanation.
“Oh yes, Robbie. You’ve been acting like a child for some time now, and the only solution that I could think of for your horrible behaviour was to make you a child again in whole.
"B-b-b-but- *mrph*..?"
“Uh, uh, uuuuuh!” scolded the babysitter, as she gently placed a finger on the boy’s lips. “Mustn’t interrupt!”
Smiling affectionately at her charge, Mrs. Johnston continued. “Robert, you’ve been behaving horribly, so, to keep you in line and teach you a good lesson, I’ve decided to make you my very own little boy and raise you properly for myself. This time with lots of love and attention to wash out that childish naughtiness you’ve been displaying so much of in your adult life.”
Baffled into dizziness, Rob blurted “B-b-b-b-but... How? I’m a KID!”
“Oh, that!” tittered the woman. “Just a silly little youth spell, that’s all. It’s nothing, really. I use it all the time to keep myself looking young. Didn’t you wonder about that?”
“Y-y-y-y-young?” stuttered the boy. “H-h-h-h-how old are you, anyhow?”
“Oh,” sighed the woman, as she lay an arm around Rob’s shoulder and pulled the boy close against her. “Never you mind that. Let’s just say I’ve been living here for a very, very long time and have run into many, many naughty boys like yourself who needed straightening out.”
“S-s-s-s-so you ARE a witch!”
“Oh, yes. But we’re so misunderstood, you know. Don’t worry, Robbie,” soothed the matron, as she playfully messed the boy’s ruffled hair. “I’m still the same old Mrs. Johnston and we’re still going to have lots and lots of fun together this summer.”
Standing up to head towards the door, the woman said, “Now, why don’t you be a good little boy, get dressed in your P.J.s – you’ll find them in your bottom drawer – and come down for some breakfast, hmm? You’ve got a big day ahead of you!”
His lip starting to tremble, the boy whined “But I don’t wanna be a kid! I wanna be a grownup again!!!”
Smiling condescendingly, Martha Johnston cooed her sing-song reply, “Well, if Robbie wants to be a grownup again, he’s going to have to learn to ACT like a grownup, hmm?
“Since he’s not acting like a big boy should, Robbie can just stay my sweet little four-year old baby and can act his rightful age for as long as he wants.
“Hurry up, now. You don’t want to be late for breakfast...” turning to head down the stairs, the plump woman left the confused young man sitting dazed on his bed.
“What can I do?” wondered the boy, as tears started to pull from his eyes. “I’m trapped! I HAVE to do what she says or I’ll stay a little kid forever...”
“Ro-oooooooobbie!” called Mrs. Johnston. “You’d better be co-oooooooming...”
Reluctantly, the boy shuffled off the bed and towards his dresser. Sliding open the drawer, he removed the blue pajamas which awaited him and quickly got himself dressed.
Striding uncertainly into the hallway, Robert wondered absently if he was dreaming. Stumbling to his knees – awkward on his new legs – the mildly painful bump he received seemed to highlight that this was no fantasy. He was a child again, under the supervision of a kindly but no-nonsense witch, and would remain in her care for at least the next three months.
Oddly enough, to young Robert it didn’t seem that horrible a fate.