Mom, dad and sister and Shebe

I barely make it halfway down the stairs before the smell of breakfast hits me like a warm, embracing wall. Fresh coffee, eggs, bacon, toasted bread... and possibly pancakes. There’s also a sweet, fruity aroma in the air . Mom’s special handmade strawberry jam.

I don’t know what’s so special about today that we have such an amazing breakfast setup... buuut I’m not complaining.

As I step into the kitchen. I see the usual scene controlled chaos.

Dad (Samuel) is standing by the fridge with a cup of coffee in one hand, reaching for the coffee milk like he owns the entire kitchen. He’s blond like me but broader, tougher. His arms look like they bench-press water heaters for fun. He gives me a silent nod. His personal Dad-code for “Morning and good job being awake” and “Don’t screw anything up today.”

Mom (Olivia) turns from the stove a spatula in hand. Brunette. Stunning. Like the kind of woman who could wear pajamas and still look like she walked out of a skincare commercial. She gives me that knowing smile.

“Morning, my little muffin.”

I shoot her a look that clearly says, I’m not small anymore, and I really don’t need pet names.

She sees my expression and grins. “Now, now. You’ll always be my little muffin even if you someday grew as tall as me.”

She says it with a warm smile but I’m half convinced she doesn’t want to admit I’m noticeable taller than her now.

Then there’s Anne, my sister. She’s already at the table, eating and judging everything. She barely lifts her eyes over her fork to acknowledge me.

“Did the cat finally let you go?” she says while munching pancakes.

I roll my eyes. “Shebe had some…...some energy to burn this morning.”

“She’s just fat and greedy” Anne replies flatly. “She’s not reactor or radioactive.”

I mutter something about her minding her own business and slide into a seat. Then I casually checking to make sure the laser pointer is still in my pocket. It is. Solid. Still real.

No one notices anything weird. No one knows what I did to Shebe. how I changed her size. And they definitely don’t know I might have the power to change sizes of anything… well, at least pets.

I sit there while pretending to be normal, but I can’t help glancing down at Shebe now curled up near Mom’s foot like a meatloaf with legs.

Heeeeey! Not my fault. That was the closest I could get her back to normal.

Okay…...maybe she’s a bit smaller. Or bigger. But no one’s going to notice it