Wish of forever A

Prologue.

40 Years earlier: It was a lovely day for the wedding, it was mid
summer, the birds were singing, the sky was clear and Michelle Carlass
and David Peters were getting married after a relationship of six
years. They had met when they were both 14, the first time they met,
they were shy and nervous around each other, just like normal
teenagers. As the months passed, they began to talk to each other and
then had their first kiss together during a tutoring lesson, after that
they fell in love and had a strong relationship for six years and then
one day, just after David hit 19, David proposed to Michelle and her
words were, 'What took you so long?' and they got engaged after that.
Now, a year later, they are getting married. The vows have been said
and the walk down the aisle towards the church doors has been done,
their family, friends and neighbours watching them, some crying, some
cheering, all of them happy for this beautiful couple. They headed for
the hired car amid a shower of rice and confetti and got in. After
getting in, they kissed and then were taken to the airport to start
their honeymoon. There was one more thing to be said and that was said
in their first night as a married couple after making love, a
wish.

'Michelle, for as long as I live, I will always love you and I'll love
you even beyond the grave.' Michelle made the same words, only her way.
"David, you are my life, my reason for living, without you I am
nothing. I will always love you, in life and in death. We will always
be together.' And then they made a wish, saying the words at the same
time, holding each others hands, the sigh of their lovemaking clear on
their skin in the moonlight through the open window. 'We wish that time
would preserve this moment, we wish to always be young to each other,
no matter how old we get, we wish to always be young and in love.' As
the wish was made, a shooting star had passed in the night sky and the
wish was made, and kept for 40 years. A wish can come true.

Chapter one

40 years later: The sound of pen on paper can be heard, a journal is
being written in. They both have a journal, which they started on the
day after they got married. Everyday they have written in it, forty
years of a happy marriage is in those pages, all fifty of them. Once
one is full, they start a new one, not one day has been missed in all
the forty years they've been writing it. From the birth of their first
child, Rachel, to the death of David's mother last year, there is a
whole life in those pages. Now though, the life will begin again, from
the very beginning, the wish is beginning.

Michelle's Journal, 2001, November 25th, Sunday: It's almost our oldest
daughter's birthday in a few days, she'll be 39 years old. We tease her
about it a lot, she just laughs. David is writing in his journal right
now, he may be 60 years old, like me, but to me, he looks like the man
I married 40 years ago, 20 years old, his body against mine, our
lovemaking complete. Funny thoughts from an old woman like me, I know,
but even in our old age, we're still at it, if somewhat slower than we
used to. We aren't as fit as we used to be, but that doesn't stop us
from making the bed springs get well used, I can tell you. Today we
watched a little TV after our breakfast, nothing on as usual, why do we
pay a TV license if all the money is going too is sports and nothing
else? So we spent the day in the garden, David gardening, he started to
do that after he retired six months ago, he's got quite the fingers, in
and out of bed, if you know what I mean. My day was spent talking with
a neighbour, Carla Waison, she just became 70 last week. We talked
about all the normal things that us old women talk about, the weather,
prices, anything at all. As it hit five noon, I said goodbye and went
indoors and made dinner, David was hungry, as was I. We had a small
meal, I'll go shopping tomorrow. Afterwards, we checked to see if there
was anything on TV, not a lot, but we watched it anyway. I told David I
was going to have a bath and he looked at me, seeing me as I was when I
was all thin and young and he smiled.
"Want me to rub your back for you?" He had asked playfully.
"Why, I do declare Mr. Peters, you know how to make an old girl like
me blush, that would be lovely, see you in a bit then, you'll find me
easily, I'll be the one with nothing on." We laughed and I went to have
a bath, David joined me and rubbed my back for me, if we were 40 years
younger, rubbing my back wouldn't be the only thing we would be doing,
if you know what I mean. Well I'm feeling a little tired now, so I'll
close for the night, goodnight.

David's Journal, 2001, November 25th, Sunday: I'm in love with a
beautiful young woman, I've been in love with her for 46 years now, and
she is in love with me. We have had three children together and if we
were younger, then we would have more. I would and will do anything for
her, my sweet, beautiful and forever young Michelle. She's writing in
her journal right now, in a while we'll go to bed and if our backs
don't put out, make love. It's hell being old, but it's life, can't be
young forever in body, just soul, and a soul can't do what the body can
do. Oh to be young together forever! We may see each other as we have
always seen each other, 20 years old, naked and in love, but our bodies
just aren't that age, well I guess I should stop rambling like an old
man, which I am anyway, and join my lovely wife in bed, I can see her
now, she may be 60 in body, but in bed, we're 20 years old. Love is
never over when you're old, it just slows down. Well I'll get going
now, I can hear her calling and my blood is raising a piece of me that
is always young, 'night.

Rachel's Journal, 2001, November 26th, Monday: I'm worried about my mum
and dad, why? Well I noticed something odd this morning. I went right
to see them to say hi and to give them a story that my oldest, Tonya,
had written, she's 18 years old and she's a writer. She started writing
after reading a story called Always there, yet just met on an internet
site, the writer of it was someone called Wingtony, she had talked to
him as well. She was the one who had actually gone out of her way to
talk to him and had asked him where he had gotten the idea from. He
said that the idea had always been there, he just wrote it. He then
gave her a copy of it for nothing at all, even added a second part for
her. She's read it 20 times now since he sent her the copy a week ago
and she treasures it. I read it myself, this Tony seems to have quite a
talent, maybe I'll talk to him myself, he even told Tonya his age and a
lot about himself when she asked, he sounds very honest and nice, she
always looks forward to talking to him. Well Tonya has written her
first story and after showing it to Tony and me, and we both gave her
honest comments, Tony had said it was excellent and that she has a lot
of potential and I have to agree with him, she does have quite a skill,
so I took a copy to show to her grandparents while she was at college,
the college is ten miles away in the middle of the city. When the door
had opened and I saw my mother, I was amazed at how good she looked,
she looked about five years younger. Must have been the light though.
After leaving the story with them, I left and went home, but I was
still unnerved by the change in my mother's face, my dad was working in
the garden, so I didn't say a lot to him, just hi and asked him how he
was. Maybe it was nothing, but I'm sure he looked a little different as
well, maybe I was seeing things, I don't know. Well I can hear Tonya
typing away at the computer again, she must be talking to Tony again, I
think I'll go talk to him as well.

Chapter two

And so it begins, a wish made so long ago, a young couple in a moment
of love that would last far longer than they ever knew, a love of
ages.

Michelle's Journal, 2001, November 26th, Monday: Don't know why, but I
feel pretty good today, still a little stiff, but good none the less.
David commented on how I looked this morning, and so did I, he looks
like he did five years ago, still the ravages of time showing under his
eyes and on his face, but it's as if they're slowly disappearing, maybe
it's nothing. Rachel came round today and dropped off a story that
Tonya had written, I read it an couple of hours ago after supper, Tonya
has a lot of talent in that brain of hers, I'll be sure to tell her
that myself the next time I see her. Well anyway, when I was shopping
earlier this afternoon, I met up with one of my many friends, Karen
Miker, we've known each other since we were mere slips of lasses, we
talked for a while and then Karen commented on how I looked, she said
that I looked different, not by much, just a little more energetic, the
sparkle in my eyes a lot more visible, I had just laughed and mentioned
it could be because of the sex that me and David had last night, and
she laughed as well. Well after a nattering for two hours, we said our
farewells and went about what we had come to town to do, mainly
shopping. The shopping didn't get long, just needed to buy a few
things, and I returned home by half two noon. David was still in the
garden, not in the least bit tired, but then he's always been a harder
worker once he starts on his work, so I left him to it and sat down and
read a book I had gotten out of the library a week ago. I think my
eyesight is improving, I've always had good eyesight, it's just been a
little blurry sometimes lately, but as I was reading, my eyes didn't go
blurry at all. Not important, after I read the book, I made our supper
and called David inside form his work. Afterwards, we talked and
watched a little TV and then at about ten, we decided to go to bed, and
here I am, writing in my journal, as I have been for forty years now,
well I'm off to bed, I think the earth might be moving tonight again,
'night.

David's Journal, 2001, November 26th, Monday: Haven't done a lot today,
been gardening most of the day. But Michelle looks different, younger I
think. My eyes are maybe playing tricks on me, even though she did say
that I looked a little different as well, I think she might be right. I
had looked at myself in the bathroom mirror earlier, and I do look
younger, about five years younger, must be the light. Well can't think
of anything else to write now, 'night.

Rachel's Journal, 2001, November 27th, Tuesday: Just finished reading
four of Tony's stories, I must admit, I'm surprised to see such talent
in someone from Britain, I can see why Tonya loves his work so much.
Well today I was just working around the house before I went to work, I
work at the Tesco in town from 10 to 4 during the day, it's not a great
job, but it puts food on the table since my husband is out of work, he
is looking but so far no luck, all the jobs are being taken up by the
foreign immigrants who keep trying to get into the country. We're not
angry at them, we just wish that the jobs weren't so few and far
between. So I'm now the only bread winner in the family, my husband
does odd jobs for people so that keeps him busy, Tonya is also looking
for a job, she's considering quitting college soon if the lack of jobs
mean she has too, she doesn't want to quit, and I don't want her to
either, she's doing very well in her courses. My youngest, Richard,
he's 12, is asking about getting a computer of his own since Tonya is
almost always writing and talking to Tony when she's not busy on her
college work or helping me out by making supper when I'm too tired too.
I've told him that it might be a while and maybe he could save up the
small allowance I give him, I give him ?3.00 every weekend for him to
either save up or use to buy himself something he saw during the week
that he's interested in. He saves it up instead, last I checked, he has
about ?55 saved up in his account, I'm surprised at his control,
normally he would have spent it. He must really want a computer, I'll
see what I can do, maybe someone is selling a computer that he could
have until I can afford a better one for him. Well I guess I'll stop
for tonight, feeling a little tired from sitting at the till all day
checking prices, running the barcodes of items across the scanner and
just getting bored during the odd quiet moment, I wonder how mum and
dad are? 'Night.

Chapter three

Tonya's Journal, 2001, November 27th, Tuesday: I've started a journal!
Tony told me that he started one as well in the site for a laugh, he's
quite enjoying it instead, he never knew how much he had to say. I've
also started one in the site and also outside the site, it is quite fun
surprisingly. So here I am, writing into my new journal, not sure what
to say, but I'll try anyway. Hi, I'm Tonya Edwards, I'm 18, female,
single and I think I look awful, but then Tony says the same thing
about himself, so I think everyone says it. I'm a new writer thanks to
a wonderful story I read written by Tony and he's recommended a few
books to me which might or might not inspire me with ideas, he is
helping me a lot though, so far he's given me about twenty ideas to
use. I think I'm in love with him, but he isn't in love with me, he
says that he's a little old for me, bullshit! He may be 22, but that
means nothing to me, if he was here, I would be trying to get him to
show some feelings for me, but then we have only just met two weeks
ago, so I think I'm acting a little rashly, he has said the same thing
as well. Well anyway, he's a wonderful friend, he's kind, honest,
creative and a wonderful help to me, he's even introduced me to a few
of his friends, he seems to have made a lot of friends since August and
he loves it. I've been reading a lot of other stories as well as his
and I have to say that there are a lot of talented writers out there,
more than I ever thought possible. I have asked him where he gets his
ideas, he just says that they appear all the time, he's even written me
a couple of tiny pieces in an instant, he says that they're basic, but
I think they're incredible, they just make me try harder to write like
him. He's also been helping me to write and I'm surprised that his
small lesson helped me to easily, all he did was give me a basic idea
to work on and while I was online talking to him, I wrote the story,
and afterwards I found out I could write after all. I've written my
first story and I'm working on my second, I've asked him for help and
he's helped me where I need the help. One of these days, I'm going to
meet him and hug him as a token of thanks and also in love, even though
he'll never love me. Oh well, can't think of anything to say now, good
night.

Tony's journal, 2001, November 27th, Tuesday: Why am I doing this? I
have a journal in Stories.com, but a journal in the real world,
something must be wrong with me. Well before I go to bed, I'm just
writing a little something about, well anything at all. Just said bye
to Tonya and a few other friends and I'm just listening to a little
Final Fantasy music as I'm writing this, hopefully the computer won't
go all nuts on me before I'm done. I've been writing a little and
reading a lot today, in fact I've been doing that a lot in the past
week, it's fun, but I really want to write more. I've been told by a
few friends to try and relax a little, not write so much, I think they
might have a point. Well anyway, I'll get going now, falling asleep at
the keyboard, shouldn't stay up so long, bye for now.

Michelle's Journal, 2001, November 27th, Tuesday: Not a lot has
happened today, unless you count the fact that I look ten years younger
than I did on Sunday, something's happening, even David is looking
younger. I've made an appointment with the doctor's for tomorrow, I've
made sure that David comes with me, a little time away from the garden
won't hurt him. Well since I didn't do a lot today, then I can't think
of anything else to say, so good night.

David's journal, 2001, November 27th, Tuesday: Something very strange
is happening, I think I'm getting younger, sounds odd, doesn't it? Well
first I noticed that Michelle looked younger this morning, but I just
dismissed it as nothing and after breakfast, I gave her a kiss and went
back to my garden. As I worked, I realised that my back wasn't hurting
like it has been for the past few years, wonder why? I feel good,
really good, like I could run a marathon and win first place, just like
I used too when I was 50, I've always been watchful of my health, and
even when I was 50, I was a fast runner, regular exercise and a lovely
wife to help keep young and me young, what could be better? Well I may
as well go to bed, tomorrow Michelle has arranged an appointment with
the doctor, she seems worried about something. Well 'night.

Chapter four

November, 28th, Michelle's Journal: We went to the doctors this morning
and had a check up to try and find out if there was anything odd going
on. Here, I've remembered the words he said. 'Well I've done the check
up and you both as healthy as is expected for two people of 45 years
old.' Now that's why we're worried, we're 60, not 45. 'Doctor, I think
you've got it wrong, we're not even 45 years old, three days ago we
were both 60 years old. I guess it's just not showing, is it?' Well he
run another test, but the results were the same, we are both 45 years
old. Well to say he was confused is to make an understatement, he was
really confused and even a little beyond that. 'Mr and Misses Peters,
it's physically impossible for the human body to get younger, I know
that there are creams and treatments that can make you look younger,
but there's nothing at all that can make the entire body revert to a
younger form. The tests say you're 45, so you must be confused about
your age, it does happen to people.' See? Not even a doctor knows
everything. 'Well never mind then, sorry to waste your time.' And we
left and returned home. What now? The only thing that seems to be
remaining of our real ages are our memories, experiences and love for
each other. David returned to his garden when we returned home and I
looked up our photo albums. I also had a mirror next to me and I
checked it to see how young I look after looking at each photo, it's
true, I'm getting younger. How is this happening to us? If this keeps
up, we could both be babies in a few days, maybe, just maybe it will
stop tomorrow, or in a couple of days. I can only hope.

David's Journal: I don't know why Michelle is so worried about this, I
think it's great, we're both getting younger, healthier. Michelle looks
great every day and I feel wonderful and I know that tomorrow I'm going
to feel a lot better. I'm not worried, maybe we'll stop at our early
twenties, that would be nice, I have to desire to go through puberty
again, and I think Michelle doesn't either. If this keeps going, we
could end up going through our puberty backwards, so I have no idea how
that will be if it happens, but anyway, since this is happening, may as
well make the most of it. 'Night.

Tonya's Journal: Just read more of Tony's stories again, and he said
something about what would happen if any of his stories became real, we
laughed and joked about what could happen and then he said that I
should check up on my grandparents about my story, I said I will on
Saturday, I won't be so busy then. He's just logged off, saying bye and
everything and I'm away to wrap up for the night on my college work.
Got college in a few hours, may as well get some sleep. Night
everyone.

Rachel's Journal: I'm not sure why, but I have a strange feeling that
something is happening to my parents, I'm not busy on Saturday so I'll
go with Tonya since I know she'll go and see them like she always does
on a Saturday before she goes and meets her friends at the swimming
pool. I hope they're okay. 'Night.

Tony's Journal: Either I've been talking to Tonya a lot or I'm just
tired and my mind is playing tricks on me, but I think something is
wrong with her grandparents. Always getting these feelings about
friends, maybe it's from lack of sleep. Well I'm off to bed, I'm busy
again tomorrow. Bye.

Chapter five

28th November, Wednesday, Michelle's Journal: 40 years old, they say
that life begins at forty. Don't know about that, but I don't think
forty is the age me and David will be starting at if this doesn't stop
anytime soon. Well anyway, may as well enjoy this while it's happening,
a second chance like this is not something you get in life. Today I've
felt incredible, haven't felt this good in a long time to be honest. I
went for a walk and not once did I feel tired like I did before this
happened, my body looks different, it's thinner since I was putting on
some weight slowly, now it's all gone, replaced by a body that every
day looks great. David is looking great too, he looks like he's been
working out, that's how good he looks. He's always been a healthy man,
like I've always been a healthy woman, but he really does look great. I
wonder what Rachel will say when she sees us on Saturday? Hope she
understands, by then we'll both be 25 if this keeps up in it's five
year spurts, having parents who are younger than you might not be easy
to take. Well I'm off to bed, me and David are feeling somewhat
sexually excited, so 'night.

David's Journal: Michelle is looking great, tomorrow she'll look even
better and I'll also feel and look better. Why this is happening we
have no idea, but who cares? Tomorrow I'll be taking a break from the
garden and I'll go see my old friends, wonder what they'll think of my
new younger body? Well can't think of anything else to write, so
'night.

Rachel's Journal: Hard day today at work, a disgruntled member of staff
quit and I've been promoted to take her place since I know more about
her job than she ever knew. I know it means a tiny raise in pay, but
I'm not sure if I can keep up working at the new hours, I've told
Kevin, my husband, and I've told the kids. Tonya understands and she's
said she'll help around the house even more than she already does. I
hope it doesn't affect her studies, I don't want to feel bad about
ruining her future, Kevin and Richard have also said they'll try and
help, but Kevin is about as good with an iron than I am with a tank,
not very good at all. Richard is fairly responsible, but he tends to
leave more mess than he tidies it up, so I'm dreading what the house is
going to look like tomorrow if Tonya is too busy to do anything. Oh
well, maybe now I can set a little money back for Richards computer,
should have enough for one if I budget right, Tonya has already told me
that all she wants for Christmas is to meet Tony, that's something I
can't do and nor can he, even though both Tony and Tonya are planning
on meeting someday, since Tony lives 100 miles away and he doesn't mind
a long trip, even if he gets motion sickness. Well guess I better get
to sleep, got to wake up a little earlier from tomorrow, fun.
'Night.

Tonya's Journal: Mum got a raise and a promotion today, I don't think
she's looking forward to the new hours. I've told Tony about it and he
told me that his mum used to work long days and nights and she was
always tired afterwards, and with his brother and sister unable to do
anything for themselves all that often, then they were always wanting
their food made for them. He hardly eats as it is, too busy for a full
meal, he's losing weight and happy about it, would love to see him when
he's lost a lot of his weight, he says that he used to be fairly fat,
not like Goodyear Blimp fat, just depressed fat. Well I'm off now, got
college in the morning and when I get back, I'm going to tidy up and
make supper, 'night.

Chapter six

29th November, Thursday, Michelle's Journal: 35 years old, almost half
the age I was only a few days ago. 35, been a long time since I was
this age. Both me and David look great, he's even more handsome than he
was yesterday. Rachel hasn't seen us like this yet, but when she sees
us on Saturday, I don't know how she'll take the news that her parents
are now younger than her. I know I would find it hard to take, very
hard, but both mine and David's parents are long dead of old age and
everything else life throws in your path. Tomorrow, if this isn't the
last time, I'll be 30, so will David, it's hard to take in for both of
us, but we are doing well. David went to see a few of his friends
today, a few at the old folks home, I don't know what their reactions
were, he hasn't said anything to me. I'll talk to him before or after
we have sex, not bothered, with this happening it's hard to sleep
without worrying about what our lives could be like if we keep getting
younger. Life is weird, and this is just one of those weird things.
Right, bed time, 'night.

David's Journal: Went to see a few of my old friends today, the looks
on their faces as they recognised was a mix of disbelief and horror.
"What happened to you? Got too much of Michelle's anti-aging cream or
did a mad plastic surgeon get a hold of you? You look, well, young." I
am young, my oldest friend is 70, compared to me, he's as old as the
hills, even though in reality he's only ten years older than me. "No,
it's hard to explain. Both me and Michelle are, for some odd reason,
getting younger by the day. I can tell my the looks on your faces that
you don't believe me, but it's true, very true." So I showed them
something that I got only a few weeks ago, a scar from when I was
working in the garden and the spade came flying out of my hands and
smacked me on the shin, the bruise was nasty and the cut had been sore,
I had even shown them when they had asked me to show it. I had pulled
up my trouser leg and showed them where the cut had been, now before
this had happened, the scar was still there, but now it was gone, just
a hairy leg was there, no sign of a scar at all. "With my body getting
younger, any scars, marks and wounds are disappearing, even the hole in
my right hand is gone." I had gotten the hole in my right hand when
Rachel was two, she came running out of the house, her nappy sagging
and she had a knife in her hand, she came running towards me, wanting
to know what it was she had in her hand, as I had tried to get her to
drop it, she dropped the knife at a bad moment and it went through my
hand, I know that it happened in my early twenties, but it's gone none
the less, as if it was never there in the first place. It hadn't been a
big hole, more of a cut right though the hand, missing any vital areas
thankfully, but it had still hurt a lot. I had showed them and they had
just stared. Well after talking to them for a little longer, about four
hours, I went back home and looked up the photo albums of what me and
Michelle had looked like back then, and what I saw was what I know is
going to happen, both of us are going to be having a hard time in a few
days, we'll both be twenty years old and our love will either strength
or weaken, I think it will weaken. But then we do both love each other
more than life itself, so I could be wrong, I hope so, I really
do.

Rachel's Journal: I'm too tired for this, but I'll write something
anyway. Just read a few more of Tony's work and apart from thinking he
has incredible talent, it's the way he writes, it's as if he's lived
what happens in his stories. I have asked him about that and he just
told me that what he writes is just there, as pictures that he
translates into words, he has no idea how he's coming up with these
ideas. Well I've copied and pasted a lot of his stories and I'll read
them when I can get time at work and after work, Tonya is talking to
him now and she really seems to like him, I think she's fallen in love
with him, he doesn't seem to be in love with her though, she says words
that even I would have had trouble saying when I was her age, and to my
surprise, Tony reacts with normal words, like 'Sorry, you're just a
friend, younger than me, and I don't think it would be right, sorry.'
Not that it stops her from trying, I think either I'll have a talk with
her or Tony will, he seems to be more adult than me. Well anyway, my
day has been busy, the new work is hard, I have to be there for when
I'm needed by the new staff for price checks, a lot of those, and
refunds, a few of those. And I also have to make sure that things are
going well, not easy when you have children running about as their
parents take their eyes off them for even a second. Well at least I can
rest for now, Tonya is a fast worker, so everything was done for me
when I got home four hours ago. Like me, Tonya is a fast learner and
reader, so we've both got a lot done today. Kevin and Richard didn't
help a lot, Kevin just sat in his seat and watched football, Richard
was playing football on his Playstation, he doesn't like football, it's
just that he's bored and trying to fall asleep playing something with
the excitement of an episode of Eastenders, so far it's working, I
found him asleep with the joypad in his hand the game blaring. I've
tucked him in and switched his Playstation off and then I talked with
Tony for a little while, since Tonya was doing a little homework. Well
I'm feeling a little tired now, so I'm going to sleep, tomorrow it's
probably going to be another hard day. 'Night.

Tonya's Journal: Damn, if only Tony was really here, I don't care that
he's 22, I want him badly! Sorry, I sound like a love struck teenager,
it's just that he is so kind, even when someone says nasty things to
him, he just shrugs and takes it in his stride, I asked him why he does
that and he just said that he was used to it. Meeting him as been
wonderful, he's creative, talented, kind, honest, he's everything that
is missing in males these days. I know where he lives and I gave him my
address, so I'm hoping we'll meet each other someday. Right, anyway,
have to keep control. Apart from my college work, I've been working
around the house as well. Tided up, my dad was a great help, he just
sat there, watching the TV, my brother also didn't help, he said
something about being allergic to dust, in other words he's lazy. So
I've been busy today, not that I mind, I'm a fast worker. Well I'm
tired now, said bye to Tony for tonight and now I'm going to sleep,
'night all.

Chapter seven

30th, November, Friday. Michelle's Journal: Halfway to 60 years old,
hard to believe I was even 60 years old only five days ago, how time
flies when you're getting younger. It's amazing how different my body
looks at this age, I've gotten so used to seeing my body age over the
years, that seeing it get younger instead is just hard to believe.
David looks great as well, so young and handsome, as if he's never
really been 60, instead it's like he and even me have always been
getting younger or even been young. Tomorrow Rachel will see her
parents as 25 years old, so will Tonya, how are they going to take the
news that before long they might be changing their parents, and in
Tonya's case, grandparents nappies if this keeps up? Rachel will
probably think she's having a nightmare, Tonya will probably smile and
her new writers mind will picture it like this Tony Rachel mentioned at
the end of her story, she had written that he had helped her to learn
to write out of the kindness of his heart and when she had written the
test story, she had been amazed at what she had written, all thanks to
a basic idea she had been given by him. Once she wrote the test story,
she was suddenly overwhelmed with ideas for new stories, so she had
asked him if he could help, he was happy too, so when she finished
writing the story, she mentioned him and his kind help at the end. I
think Tonya's fallen in love with him, I can tell by the way she wrote
the words that she was thinking about him. Well when I see her
tomorrow, I'll ask her about him, until then, I'm off to bed, even
though I'm getting younger, I'm still tired, or maybe it's not really
fatigue, if you get my drift, hehe. 'Night.

David's Journal: 30 years old, I can't believe it, at this rate, me and
Michelle will be crawling around the floor, wearing sagging nappies and
too young to do much else. What's causing this to happen? Working in
the garden was hard work, but not like it was when I was older, my back
isn't sore, I don't feel as worn out as I used too, I just feel, well,
great. But will this only be temporary? How much longer will it be
before I'm not working in garden, but running through while playing?
Hope Rachel understands, she isn't going to like this one bit, and you
can quote me on that if you want. Well I can't think of anything else
to say, so 'night.

Rachel's Journal: Tomorrow I'm going to go and visit my parents with
Tonya, I've been given a day off to rest and I'll be called if I'm
needed, I hope I won't be needed. I really need the day off. Just been
reading Full Circle, I'm amazed at what Tony wrote in this story, it's
as if he was there, it's written oddly because he wrote it as he saw it
in the dream, but it's good. If this is what he can write from a dream,
what can he write that isn't from a dream? Well as I've not got a lot
to say today, I'll stop wring into the journal, 'night everyone.

Tony's Journal: I can't believe it, hopefully in four years time, I'll
be leaving the UK behind and starting a new life, I have a friend who
is willing to sponsor me, and if we're still friends in four years,
then I'll be living with her. We aren't in love, can't allow that at
all, but we like being friend a lot more. Just been talking to Tonya
and I helped her with a story idea she was stuck on, my work is all
done for today and as I'm not feeling great, then I'm off to bed once
I've finished my journal entry. Tonya is highly talented and it's great
to help her and to read her work and all it took to make her realise
that she could write was a very basic story idea I gave her to work on,
my teaching method is simple, I give a very basic idea for the writer
to build on, and then I'll read it as they work on it, it's how I
learned and I like to teach it to everyone else, I already do in my
Interactive Stories. Well I'm falling asleep at the keyboard here and a
couple of my friends are telling to get offline and sleep, so
bye.

Chapter eight

1st, December, Saturday, Michelle's Journal: Rachel came round today,
here's what happened.

There was a knock at the door, I knew who it was, it was Rachel and
Tonya. After quickly checking that there was nothing breakable since
I'm sure Rachel will faint, I answered the door. "Hi honey." Rachel
stared at me and then choked out a word. "Mum?" Tonya just looked at
me, unsure if this 25 year old woman standing in front of her was her
grandmother. "Hi dear." I said to Tonya and then Rachel stepped
forward, she recognised me instantly from photos I've shown her over
the years and I stepped back. "Mum? What happed to you,
your...your...oh fucking hell! Your younger!" Tonya stepped forward and
touched my arm, as if to check it was really me. "Me and your father
have something to tell you, you better come in I guess." Stupid thing
to say, they were already in, but it's all I could think of. "Yes, I
think we better." Tonya closed the front and Rachel and Tonya followed
me into the living room. "David! Rachel and Tonya are here!" He gave a
small reply and joined us a few minutes later after we had sat down.
"Okay, time to talk, what happened to cause this?" I'll let David
explain the rest.

David's Journal: After Michelle called me into the house, we told
Rachel everything. We told her that somehow since Sunday, we've been
getting younger by five years the past few days. We told her that the
doctor couldn't find anything wrong with us, so it would appear to be,
well, natural. Rachel took al this in well, if you call staring at us
for a few seconds each time we moved, as if we were going to get
younger in front of her well. "I can't understand this, this isn't
real, I must still be sleeping." Tonya pinched her mum on the arm and
then looked at us. "Nope mum, you're awake. I'm not sure if I should
call you grandpa and grandma, you're almost as old as I am! Wait till
Tony hears of this!" Michelle didn't like the sound of that at all.
"No, don't tell him, please. I don't think he'll understand." I agreed
with Michelle, this was not normal. "But he will understand, he's
written stories like this, and he also has even more ideas for stories
like this, you should talk to him someday, he'll be able to help you
with anything at all. Mum, please, tell them, make them get some help
for this." Rachel looked at her daughter and then shook her head. "No,
not yet, maybe this will stop, maybe they'll age back or maybe it's
just on the outside. If he can help, then good, but what can he do?"
Tonya got up and took her mobile from her pocket. "I'll call him now,
he can help, you'll be surprised." And she left the room. "She's like
you at that age. We can't explain how this has happened, all we know is
that it's happening. Rachel, if we keep getting younger, then you'll
have to look after us, the others won't help as they're too far away,
in other countries. I know it will be hard, but we'll need your help if
it keeps going. Can we count on you and Tonya?" Rachel nodded, unable
to think of anything to say and we spent a few more hours talking,
Tonya came back in and told us that Tony would be happy to help, all we
have to do is talk to him and he'll help us in any way he can, so at
least we have Tonya's friend to count on for now. But what if we get
younger? Can anyone help us then?

Rachel's Journal: I can't think of much to say, I'm still in shock. I
returned home just three hours ago, I stayed with my parents for the
day, talking about what we will have to do if they get any younger.
Tonya to meet her friends and I made her promise to not tell any more
of her friends, she promised and left it at that. I think she's talking
to Tony right now, she was back when I returned. I just can't believe
this is happening, it's not normal. I can't think of what else to say,
I'm going to sleep, maybe this is all a dream, please let it be a
dream!

Tonya's Journal: Guess what? Me and Tony have made arrangements for him
to come here for a few days and try and help. He's not all that busy
and he says that he can easily make sure the computer of his won't be
used by the ungrateful brother and sister of his. He'll be here in a
few days, I can drive so I'll pick him up form his home, he only lives
a hundred miles away, a long way for some, but for me it's a breeze. My
test was easy and I can drive without panicking on the highway, so I'll
be fine. It will take a while, but that's okay, I have the month off
from college anyway since all my work is done already. Well I'm off to
bed, wow, my grandparents are probably going to be cute little babies!
I'm not sure what it'll be like, but I think it could be fun.

Chapter nine

2nd, December, Sunday, Michelle's Journal: Is this going to stop
anytime soon? Today me and David have become 20 years old, the age we
were when we married, if this keeps going, tomorrow we could be both
15. Maybe it's stops today, we can only hope. Oh well, I went for a
walk today with David and we saw all our friends as they are now, old,
older than we are now, it was unsettling to see them like that when
we're so young. We said hello to them and at first they didn't
recognise us and then they did, their reactions to see two of their
friends almost children was shocking. They asked us how it had happened
and we told them what we knew, it isn't a lot. I'm sorry, but the image
of talking to them in our young voices is still unnerving, maybe David
is writing about it in his journal, I'm going to have a cry about this,
this should be wondrous, but instead, it's like restarting and leaving
behind what you care about most, bye for now.

David's Journal: I can hear Michelle crying, she must still be unhappy
about seeing our friends so old when we're so young. I know how she
feels, it was unsettling to say the least. We're now younger than our
children, we're almost younger than our grandchildren. This isn't
right, this isn't real, but it is, damn it, it is. If this keeps going,
Rachel will be changing our nappies, tending to our every need because
we'll just be little babies. We don't want this, whatever is causing
this is unknown, but it has to stop, it just has too. We've had our
youth and it was nice, but this is torture. This has to stop or we'll
be restarting all over again and our children will still be children to
us, but we'll also be children to them. I hope this Tony can help, I
really do, if he can't, then at least we'll know he tried. Damn it, now
I'm feeling all emotional, I'm going to go to Michelle now, bye.

Rachel's Journal: Why did this have to happen now? Why did my parents
have to start getting younger? I know it isn't their fault, it's no
one's fault, but fuck sake! I can't help them and look after my family
at the same time, Kevin is a useless bastard these days, he just sits
around the house, watching TV and moping around, and Richard has no
idea how to look after children, let alone babies. Tonya will help and
I know that when Tony arrives in a few days, he will help the hardest
he can. But I can't do anything, I'm too busy as it is. If there is a
God, then please, help me here, help my parents before they get too
young. I'm going to bed now, busy tomorrow again, Tonya has a month off
from college, so she'll help a lot, I can count on her. Fucking bad
luck this, why now?!

Chapter ten

3rd, December, Monday, Michelle's Journal: I have no idea if I'm
younger today or not, I look 20 years old, but then when I was 19, I
did look the same as I did when I became 20, so maybe I have gotten
younger. Rachel stopped by after her work to check up on us, she is
trying to get used to seeing her parents younger than her, but I can
see it in her eyes that she's getting scared. So am I, so is David. I
went shopping us I usually do on a Monday and when my friends who I
didn't see the last time saw me, they were shocked at what they saw. I
told them that I had no idea how this was happening, and they've
volunteered to help us out whenever we ask. so at least we can expect
our friends to help. During my shopping, I was surprised at how fast I
was moving, how fit I felt the whole time, when I was older, I did tend
to feel stiff after a while. This time, no, I felt no pain at all, I
just felt like I had been this young for years. Maybe it's not so bad
after all, maybe. Will I'm not sure what to say now, the rest of the
day was nothing special, so there's not a lot more to say.
'Night.

David's Journal: Not a lot to say today, but I'll say this, maybe this
getting younger isn't so bad. I've been working in the garden all day
so that's why I don't have a lot to say. Sorry, I guess I should have
done more today, maybe tomorrow. 'Night.

Rachel's Journal: Busy day again, a lot of complaints from people about
the prices of the Christmas stock, but what do they expect from the UK?
Nothing in this country is affordable and if we join the Euro, nothing
ever will be. I hate this country, but I'm stuck here. Anyway, Tonya
has told me that she's going to pick Tony pick from his home tomorrow,
how he can help I have no idea, but she seem to have an idea that he
could help. Well if that's what she believes, that's fine with me. Well
I'm tired, so I'm off to bed, 'night.

Tonya's Journal: Tomorrow I'm going to meet Tony, can't wait to meet
him in the flesh, we've seen each other's pictures and we've also heard
each other's voices, so we know enough about each other to recognise
each other. Well as I'm going to be needing some sleep since I'll be
driving tomorrow, I'll get going, 'night.

Chapter 11

4th, December, Tuesday, Michelle's Journal: Met Tony today, Tonya took
him round about eight at night, me and David seem to have a lot more
energy now with us getting younger. We talked for five hours about how
it could have happened and when David mentioned the wish we had made on
our wedding night, Tony considered that the wish must have come true,
but not in the way we wished. It sounds odd, but stranger things have
happened in the world, so it could be that. After Tony and Tonya left
just after one in the morning, me and David decided to write in our
journal's, which we're doing now, and then go to bed, we would talk
more, but we're feeling more than a little tired. 'Night.

David's Journal: Michelle is maybe writing everything in her journal,
so I don't really have much to say again. I don't really feel like
writing in my journal entry, me and Michelle have been resisting a lot
today, we're feeling somewhat horny to say the least. I'm going to join
Michelle in bed now, 'night.

Tonya's Journal: I've just made a bed for Tony in the living room, he's
happy enough to sleep on the sofa, so that's okay. His idea about the
wish my grandparents made does seem to most likely cause, so I guess
there's no way of reversing it. I'm feeling tired now, it's almost
three in the morning, I'm just going to check if Tony is alright and
then I'm off to bed, 'night.

Rachel's Journal: Just been talking to Tony, he's fallen asleep in the
living room, on the sofa at that. I can hear Tonya going to check on
him. I'm not all that tired today for a change, but I'll try and get
some sleep anyway. Now that I know that the possibly of reversing
what's happening to my parents is unlikely, then in two days if they
are getting younger still, me and Tonya will check up on them if they
need help and if they get even younger, then either we'll go live with
them or move them here to live. Here's hoping they don't get any
younger. Well I'm going to try and get some sleep, 'night.

Chapter 12

5th, December, Wednesday, Michelle's Journal: Damn it, we are getting
younger, a lot younger. I looked in the mirror this morning and saw a
17 year old teenager looking back at me, damn it. I feel my age now, I
feel everything as I get younger. David must also be feeling odd as
well, wonder how he's coping with this? I'm sitting here, doing
something I haven't done since last I was a teen, in my underwear. It
feels nice, real nice. I can see David at the moment, he's away to
write in his journal, but right now he's naked, he just had a bath, and
he's making me laugh. Oh God, I have to stop writing, I'm laughing too
hard, 'night.

David's Journal: Just started to write in my journal now, Michelle's
still laughing hard, I'm wearing boxers now after I made Michelle
almost bust a gut. I'm not going to say a lot, too tired, or rather,
horny to write. Anyway, just going to say that this isn't too bad.
Maybe we'll get to have a little married life before we get too young.
We'll see. 'Night.

Chapter 13

6th, December, Thursday, Michelle's Journal: 16 years old, can't
believe it, but me and David are both 16 years old. We're teenagers
again and we can feel it, the confused feelings, the growing pains,
everything. I guess each day from now on we're going to get a year
younger, so we're going to have to get used to going through puberty
backwards. It was bad enough forwards, but backwards, this is going to
be hard to get used to. Anyway, I called Tonya, she took Tony back to
his home yesterday and told us his ideas, but not even he can help us,
pity. I told Tonya that we will be needing help after all in a few days
as we're going to be somewhat small to be able to do a lot around the
house. We have also shrunk a little, just like what we thought would
happen. We won't be growing back either if we keep going like this. I'm
also feeling my age as well and it's hard to ignore these feelings a
lot of the time, how are we going to cope? Oh well, I better get to
bed, me and David are going to have our last night of love making, so
we're going to make it special, 'night.

David's Journal: Oh man, Michelle looks incredible, even more than
yesterday, I think that's my hormones talking though. Anyway, working
in the garden is not even a problem at all, I'm not feeling as stiff as
I used to and I'm working even faster as well. I hope I can still work
on my garden though as I get younger, if not, what will I do instead?
Oh well, I'll think on that when the time comes, for now though, me and
Michelle are going to have a night of passion for the last time.
'Night.

Rachel's Journal: Tonya has just told me that my parents are teenagers
now, does this mean I'll be looking after my parents, not in old age
but in their youth? What can I do about my work, I have to make money
and looking after my parents and my worthless husband is just too much,
Tonya has said that she will help in any way she can with Richard and
my parents, so I can count on her. This is going to be a hard time for
the family, but I'll do what I can, I just hope Kevin helps out. Well
I'm going now, may as well get some sleep. 'Night.

Chapter 14

7th, December, Friday, Michelle's Journal: Being a teenager is hard, I
mean, come on! These thoughts, these confused emotions and these raging
hormones, I'll be glad if I never become a teen again! Woke up feeling
all confused and just like a pure teen, I'm sure David was feeling the
same. We looked at each other, we were both naked and then we hugged
and kissed, but kept ourselves in control the whole time, and that
wasn't easy, I can tell you. We then got dressed, eying each other's
bodies up the whole time, and had breakfast. We then decided to forgo
our normal day to day things and go for a walk. During the walk, we
tried our best to control our passion for each other and we kind of
succeeded, well if you call falling into the bushes in the park and
kissing and almost undressing each other in control. Tonya came round
just after we got home and helped us out in a few areas, we thanked her
and she left for her home. Right now, David is rubbing my back as I'm
writing and it feels so good. We've decided to sleep in separate beds
from now on, in case we can't control ourselves. We're too young now
for sex, so the separate rooms will have to do. Well once I'm done
here, I'm off to my room. And I'm done, so 'night.

David's Journal: Michelle's gone to her room and I'm sitting here in
the room we used to share, writing in this journal. It's odd not to
have Michelle here in the room, been used to it for 40 years now and
this is just plain odd. But we made the choice to have separate rooms
since we're getting younger a lot more and we're too young for sex now.
What's it going to be like as children together, even babies? Well I'm
off now, feeling a little tired, maybe that's from my body going
through all these changes, I'm not sure. 'Night.

Tonya's Journal: It is so weird seeing my grandparents younger than me.
They're a little smaller, thinner and just so much younger, no more
than 15 years old. Well I'll drop again tomorrow, I think mum will come
with me as well to help out, they'll be 14 years old tomorrow. What's
it going to be like when they're babies? Well I'm off to bed,
'night.

Chapter 15

8th, December, Saturday, Michelle's Journal: Tonya and Rachel are a
great help around the house, guess I need it. Unable to focus right
today, my mind is all confused and while I love David with all my soul
and heart, it's hard to actually love him the way we really do, I'm shy
around him, nervous. Just like when we first met so long ago. Tomorrow
we'll be 13 years old, hard to believe that, it really is. Being 14
years old is bad enough, just how am I going to cope being 13 years old
again? I'm sure I'll be fine though, I hope.

David's Journal: Hard to keep these feelings down, all day I've
actually felt shy around Michelle, even though my wife. Who said that
teens have it easy must have been in a coma the whole time they were a
teen, this is hard. If it's like this as teens, what's it going to be
like as children? Well I can't think of what else to write, so I'm off,
'bye.

Rachel's Journal: Seeing my parents as shy teens was hard today, really
hard. Tomorrow I'll drop by and help Tonya while she looks after them
for a while. Tonya is taking it well, I'm not and I haven't told Kevin
yet that they might be coming to live with us in a couple of days, I
know he'll never understand, but he has too. Well I'm going to get some
sleep, 'night.

Chapter 16

9th, December, Sunday, Michelle's Journal: Almost at the end of my
teenage years, even if it is just the beginning of the teen years in a
way. Tomorrow me and David will be pre-teens and then a couple of days
after that, children. It hard to get used to being a little smaller
everyday now, being a year everyday as well. It takes a while to get
used to it, and I'm still not used to it. You might have noticed that
my handwriting is changing the younger I get, I'm very slowly losing
skills I learned as an adult, I still have all my memories and my
personality, even if I am feeling my age these days, today I feel like
a 13 year old and tomorrow I'll feel like a 12 year old, what's it
going to be like being a child with my memories and experience? It's
going to take some getting used to, that's for sure. Well it's bedtime
now and Rachel is just saying good night to David, 'night.

David's Journal: Rachel has gone to tuck Michelle in for the night and
I've asked her if I can stay up and write a little in my journal, I'll
go to bed once I'm done. These feelings, these raging hormones, did as
bad as yesterday, but their still there, still strong. It's so strange
not to sleeping with Michelle next to me, I guess the saying is true,
you never know what you have till you don't have it anymore. And I miss
her warm body next to me, the feel of her body against mine. I miss it
so much and I miss her so much. Right, can't think of anything else to
write now, so I'm off to bed, 'night.

Rachel's Journal: I feel like a babysitter, my parents are so young
now, and the worst of it is that they're going to get even younger. I
wouldn't wish this kind of thing on anyone, I can tell you. Tonya seems
to like watching after them as they act their ages, in act I don't
think they're acting, I think they really feel their ages. Well anyway,
I've just tucked my mother in for the night, can't believe I just said
that, that's what my mum used to do to me when I was younger and now
I'm doing the same to her. Irony or what? Tonya is talking to Tony
right now, she really seems to like him a lot. I'm off to bed, busy day
tomorrow again, 'night.

Chapter 17

10th, December, Monday, Michelle's Journal: Never thought playing could
be so much fun! All day me and David have been playing games, mainly
pre-teen games, but games none the less and we've loved it. Tonya has
been looking after us the whole day, once she's done around here, she's
going to sleep in the living, on the sofa. She doesn't seem to mind
babysitting us everyday, in fact I think she rather enjoys it and she
did take her computer round, so she was talking to Tony when we were
watching cartoons. I have to admit, this isn't too bad, I feel free,
liberated from all the worries and doubts I had as an adult, it feels
wonderful. Well Tonya's coming in to tuck me in, so I'm off to bed,
'night.

David's Journal: It's weird being so small now, as an adult I was a
little bigger then Tonya, now though I have to look up to look her in
the face. Well I haven't been working in my garden for a couple of days
now and I quite frankly don't care. Tonya is good with my garden since
she always watched me and helped me a lot when I was older and she was
a little younger. Tomorrow I'll be younger, so will Michelle, we'll be
11 years old. It's going to be a strange Christmas, a very strange one
indeed. Well I'm tired and tomorrow I'm going to feel and be younger, a
lot of play probably going to happen. 'Night.

Tonya's Journal: That was a fun day today, been babysitting my
grandparents. I know mum is finding it hard to believe her parents are
younger than her, but I don't mind it, I think it's rather cool. Mum
has planned to move in here in a couple of days, shifting between our
home and her parents home at particular times. It will be hard, I know
that, but I'm willing to help out in any way I can. Well I'm off to
sleep now, 'night, night.

Chapter 18

11th, December, Tuesday, Michelle's Journal: Wonder how much longer
I'll be able to write in this Journal, my handwriting is slowly
reverting to a mess. Played again today with David, fun as well. I can
feel myself getting younger mentally each day and I don't mind at all,
my memories are still there, the just seem hard to remember now as my
mind gets younger. Tonya is sleeping in the living room, we've worn her
out. Well I'm off to bed, 'night.

David's Journal: Not a lot to say, been playing and having fun, that's
all. Tonya seems to like looking after us and she has also been making
the spare into a nursery for us, we know that we're going to be babies
in 11 days. Me and Michelle are ready for it, we know that we'll grow
up again. I'm feeling tired now, 'night.

Rachel's Journal: Tomorrow I move a few of my things into my parents
house, I'm going back to my childhood home, but I'll be there to look
after the children that are my parents. Kevin and Richard will have to
be told, but what can I tell them? I'm sorry about this, I'm too busy
to write, later.

Tonya's Journal: My grandparents have gone to bed and I'm going to get
some sleep early for a change. Tomorrow I'll be looking after two ten
year olds, odd to believe they are my grandparents. Well I'll not keep
you bored, 'night.

Chapter 19

12th, December, Wednesday, Michelle's Journal: Rachel moved in today,
it's good to have her here, if only it was in better times. Me and
David are so much smaller and younger than her now, looking up into our
daughters face was only when she was going through growth spurts as a
teen, but to look up at her through the eyes of a child, well that's a
new one. After helping Rachel out with a few of her things, me and
David went off and played as children since that's what we are anyway.
Rachel has been quiet all day, not even talking to Tonya, I think she's
finding this hard to get used too, watching her parents as children,
guess I would also have felt odd if my parents had been reverted to
children as well, but they never did revert to children, they died ten
years ago. Not in the mood to write right now, bye for the night.

David's Journal: Sitting here in old clothes of my grandson's, a pair
of pyjamas that I would never even have worn when I was a kid, but now
I'm wearing them and I like them. I feel so young, as if my adult mind
is fading and being replaced by the mind of a child and soon even
younger. It's not all that bad to be honest, I mean that. Well I'm off
to bed now, 'night.

Rachel's Journal: Just tucked my parents in for the night and I'm also
about to turn in for the night as well. Tonya is already sleep on the
sofa, she looks so young when she sleeps, like she used to when she was
ten years old. Even as an eighteen year old, she looks so young, so
much the age I wish she was sometimes, my little baby. Now though, me
and Tonya are looking after two people who used to be older than us
only a short time ago. If this is a joke, then it's not funny. Guess I
better get to sleep, could be a busy day tomorrow, 'night.

Chapter 20

13th, December, Thursday, Michelle's Journal: Nine years old! Wow!
Haven't been this age in such a long time, I feel so young, so small,
so innocent. Been having so much fun today, it feels so good! Rachel
looks huge compared to me and David, she's like a giant and I know that
we're going to get a lot smaller and younger in the next few days. I
feel a little tired now, all that play has worn me out, 'night.

David's Journal: Everything seems so much bigger than I'm used to, even
my bed is huge. Just standing next to Rachel, who used to be so small
when she was younger, is like standing next to a house, she's massive!
It's hard to believe that I was ever this small, hell, I'm that small
again, so I guess I really was this small before. Feeling a little
sleepy now, 'night.

Rachel's Journal: Tending to two nine year olds who used to be my
parents has been odd, they played a lot, run about in childish games
and just behaved like the children they now are. Tonya is talking to
Tony again, telling him everything that's going on and seeking any help
he can give. I have no idea how he can help, but anything is possible I
guess, I mean just look at my parents! Well I'll go tuck them in for
the night and then talk to Tonya for a little while before going to
bed, 'night.

Chapter 21

14th, December, Friday, Michelle's Journal: My handwriting is becoming
hard to read and even write. My adult handwriting is being replaced by
childish scribbles as each day passes, in maybe three days, I'll have
to stop writing in my journal, so will David. As I write this, I'm
resisting the urge to run around and just play, not easy I can tell
you. Unable to focus on anything other than play, it's so hard. Oh I'm
off to play before I go to bed, later.

David's Journal: Not a lot to say, it's hard to focus on my more adult
mind as each passes. I feel so confused sometimes what with having both
an adult mind and a child mind, I see the world through the memories
and experiences of an adult, but I also see it through the eyes of a
child who doesn't understand the world, so you can imagine how hard it
is every day. Michelle's standing next to me, I'm off to play,
bye.

Tonya's Journal: As I write this, my 'grandparents' are running around
laughing and playing. It's sweet to watch them like this, if somewhat
weird. When I was younger, I would be the run running about, getting
into scrapes and hurting myself on a table of door, but to see it
happening to them, I can see why they loved me, no matter how much
trouble I was. I think a quote I once heard says something in this
lines, 'To be a child is to be unknowing and free, to be an adult is to
be wise and full of regret for those days long gone, to be both would
be both a blessing and curse. A child in an adult, an adult in a child,
both together from the start, both together to the end.' No idea where
I heard it, but I've heard it. Oh well, better stop writing for the
night, I'm being attacked by two eight year olds, 'night.

Chapter 22

15th, December, Saturday, Michelle's Journal: What else can I say? This
isn't too bad being a child and all, it's fun, relaxing and nice.
Sorry, I guess that's all I can think of, you can see by my handwriting
that I'm losing the ability to write good, so I'll get going now and
play some more before bed, 'bye.

David's Journal: Running out of things to say now, guess the younger I
get, the less things I have to say. Tomorrow me and Michelle will be
six years old together, adults in the bodies of children and we'll be
getting even younger for the next few days. We've already accepted that
we'll both be babies shortly and even though it will be hard for Rachel
and Tonya, they are fully capable of tending to us when we're that
young. Well that's all I can think of for now, 'bye.

Rachel's Journal: Kevin found out today where I've been going and he's
speechless when he saw my parents and also what we'll have to do for
them. He's out looking for work even more now, when he gets motivated
to do something, then he will do whatever it takes to achieve his goal.
Richard just took it all easily, nothing seems to faze him. Tomorrow my
parents want to go to the park and see their friends if they're there.
I think it's a bad idea, but they're determined, so me and Tonya will
look after them. On Monday, I'll go shopping for baby things, it won't
be long till my parents need them. I can't believe how calm I'm being
about this, I should be crying for them, but instead it's as if it's a
normal thing. Guess I'm in shock and this is my way of showing it. Well
it's been a hard day, so I'm going to have a bath, 'bye.

Tony's Journal: Tonya has been keeping me up to date on her
grandparent's problem. She seems to be enjoying looking after her
grandparents, despite them being younger than her now. Guess it takes
all sorts, my own problems are bothering me a bit, Tonya doesn't know a
lot of it thankfully, but a couple of my friends do. I've been
overworking a lot and it's caused small heart attacks from my high
blood pressure. I've been told to relax, but I can't relax. But I will
try for my friends sake, I don't care about myself, but my friends want
me to live. Damn, chest hurts again, I guess I'll stop writing,
'bye.

Chapter 22

16th, December, Sunday, Michelle's Journal: Got some bad news to tell,
Tonya's friend Tony died last night. When she went online to talk to
him a couple of hours ago, his mum was telling all his friends online
what had happened and was sending e-mails to those who weren't online.
Tonya is in tears right now, she didn't stay online for long, I can
hear her crying. I wonder what he died off though?

David's Journal: I've been trying to comfort Tonya in her grief, but
I'm not much of a help. I guess it's maybe best to let her mother try
and comfort her, I just can't think of anything to say now.

Rachel's Journal: Just tried unsuccessfully to comfort Tonya in her
grief, but I'm not a great help. Maybe it's best to leave her to her
grief herself until she's ready to take some help, until then, I'll be
here for her if she needs me for a shoulder to cry on. A dull day upset
by the loss of a friend, not something I would wish on anyone.

Tonya's Journal: As I write this, I'm crying hard, my tear are falling
onto the pages of this journal, soaking them. Why did he die? Why?! He
was so young for fuck sake! His mum told me he had died of a heart
attack, and I know what that means, he was overworking again, to make
up for a month where he wasn't feeling well enough to work. Me and all
his friends have been telling him to relax more, but he was always
stubborn. Now he's just dead, gone. I did talk to one of his dearest
friends who he cared about a lot and she's in tears, saying something
about failing him. I miss him already, his kind words, his gentle,
helpful spirit. I'll never forget him for everything he did for me and
his friends will never forget him for everything he did for them. He
made quite a difference to his friend's lives, a huge difference in
fact. I...I'm sorry, I can't keep writing now, my grief is too strong,
I miss him so much!

Chapter 23
17th, December, Monday, Michelle's Journal: Today is my last journal
entry, I can't write anymore since my hand writing is really bad and my
mind feels so much younger than it used too. Tonya is still in tears
from Tony's death, she's been crying al day and I can hear her crying
even now. She really misses him, I wonder how his family is coping?
Well anyway, it's been fun writing these journals the last 40 years,
I've written so much in them. Well to whoever is reading this, I say
this, it's better being young than it is being an adult, being an adult
might give you more of a say in the world, but it can't compare to
feeling so free, so young, to never have to worry about things like
bills and death. This is bliss for me and David and even though there
was a lot we could do as adults, there are things that we can do as
children that we could never do as adults. Well this is goodbye, look
after yourselves, live life and have fun, bye, bye.

David's Journal: 40 years of journals in front of me, the pile looks
even bigger from a child's eyes than it did as an adult. Over 40 years
worth of life in them, all written down day by day. Me and Michelle
have asked Tonya if she would like to let people read these and even
though she is still in grief for her dead friend, she has agreed to
post them out for everyone to read in four days. This is my very last
journal entry, I'm sure Michelle is also doing the same thing. It's
been a lot of fun writing down our life together and even though we're
still together and very much in love with each other, it's not quite
the same since we're children now. Tomorrow we will be toddlers and
then babies a couple of days later, our abilities that we have learned
in life are going to no longer be of use to us, our lives will start
again. I have to say this, it's not half bad being this young and the
sound of being a baby again is somewhat appealing. Well goodbye then,
live your lives to their fullest, be more then you think you are and
just have good fun, because it can end so quickly like Tony's had.
Goodbye.

Rachel's Journal: I remember when I used to watch my parents write in
their journals every night, I would sit and watch them, and then once
they were done, they would put the journals on a shelf until the next
day. Now here I am writing in mine, but unlike my parents, not for the
last time. I will be reading their journal's in a few days once
everything is ready for two babies who used to and are still my
parents, the two people who gave me life and helped me grow into who I
am today. Tonya has been invited to Tony's funeral and she'll be going
for sure, she cared for him so much and to say goodbye to him is
something she wants to do. I'm not sure if his other friends will be
there, maybe they will if they can, if not, then I'm sure Tonya will
write something to help them remember him always and to make her views
known, maybe all his friends will do the same. He seems to have made
quite a mark on his friends lives and in Tonya's especially. Never
again will he write from his heart, never again will he make my
daughter laugh, never again will he be there for his friends, no matter
what. He's gone now and I feel like my daughter has lost someone highly
important, maybe she feels it too. Well I'm off to bed, tomorrow I have
two toddlers to look after. 'Night.

Tonya's Journal: Tony's funeral is in a few days, I'll be there and I
know that my tears will be hard. When I went online two hours ago, I
actually forgot he was dead and hoped he was online, but it was just
his mum making sure that his wishes were done, he wanted everything
about himself wiped from Stories.com, all his mail accounts deleted,
everything about him wiped from existence, something he had asked to be
done for him if he ever died. I talked to his dearest friend and she
was heavily upset at what was happening, but she had managed to copy
his work and also managed to make an item about him in the site for
people to read, her feelings for him are strong, a very strong
friendship indeed. All his friends have done the same and even I'm
going to write something about him, I have all his work on disk and I
will be printing it all out, even his very last story, which makes me
cry because not only was it his last one, but it was also about a
journey that he would be taking in his life. How fitting it is that he
finished the story completely and then after that died, how fitting
indeed. I miss him so much, I miss talking to him, I miss his work, I
miss his words, I miss his kindness. Oh cruel life, give him back to
us, give him back his life! Damn it, I'm crying again, I'm going to go
and rest, my tears will make me sleep, 'night.

Chapter 24

18th, December, Tuesday, Rachel's Journal: It's hard looking after two
toddlers, especially since these toddlers are also my parents. They're
thankfully potty trained, so at least for two more days I won't have to
change nappies, just keep an eye on them since they're acting more as
toddlers than the adults they are in mind. As well as looking after my
parents, I'm also helping Tonya out with her arrangements for going to
Tony's funeral, she'll stay at an hotel for a couple of days, she's got
enough money saved up and I can give her a little more in case it's
needed. She'll be going tomorrow, to meet his parents and to talk with
a couple of his friends from the village, he made a lot of friends
easily. She'll return the day after the funeral and by then, my parents
will be a year old each. Well I better tend to my parents again, Tonya
is going to need help getting two toddlers into their pyjamas,
'bye.

Tonya's Journal: My grandparents are in bed, sleeping thankfully after
I read them a bedtime story each. It's hard looking after them, but
it's expected with toddlers. Tomorrow I go to Tony's funeral, well, the
day before it anyway. I know that I'm bound to cry a lot, but I've
accepted that. Well I'm off to sleep, I'll be driving tomorrow and I
don't want to fall asleep at the wheel, 'night.

Two toddlers, formally Michelle and David Peters, dreaming the dreams
of very young children. As they sleep, they become one year younger,
three years old. Their bodies glow a little and then shrink and revert
to a younger form by a year, all in the space of seconds. Now they are
only one day away from infancy and then the youngest form of their
bodies without ever going back to the womb. The wish is almost
fulfilled.

Chapter 25

19th, December, Wednesday, Rachel's Journal: Just put my parents to
bed, since they'll both be two years old tomorrow, I've managed to
force them to wear nappies just in case. Tonya left this morning and
I've been looking after my parents all day. Hard, I can tell you. They
just kept getting their fingers into everything, always curious and
always getting into trouble, just like any normal three year I guess,
what's it going to be like tomorrow with them both being two years old?
I dread to think. Anyway, other than that, it's been hard. I'm glad I
managed to get a couple of days off work for this, I wouldn't be able
to cope otherwise and I'm due for a couple of days off anyway, so I'll
use them looking after my parents. Richard dropped by for a bit and
helped out best he could and Kevin told me he had finally found a job,
so he'll be trying to make enough money. This is hard, very, very hard,
but I've already looked after my own two children when they are
toddlers and babies before that, so I'm sure I can do this, if I don't
go insane that is. Well I better get off to sleep, tomorrow could be a
busy day, two year olds are tricky little things to keep an eye on at
all times, I can tell you, 'night.

Tonya's Journal: Well here I am, in Fraserburgh and I'm with a friend
of Tony's family who have been kind enough to have me for the two days
I'll be here. It's a quiet little town, there is the usual noise of
cars, dogs barking and people talking, normal everyday life in other
words. As my computer is back at my grandparents house, I can't talk to
any of his friends nor any of mine, so all I can do is write in my
journal and remember. To think that Tony lived here in this quiet
place, all his creative ideas, all his kindness and honesty coming from
being here for so long, now he'll be buried here, never to leave in
body, but in soul. He once told me that no matter what, he was going to
leave the UK, dead or alive, he was hoping alive, but nothing ever
works out for the good guys, does it? Well I guess I'll just get some
sleep and tomorrow, say goodbye to Tony one last time, it's going to be
a sad day for me, his friends and his family, a sad day indeed.
'Night.

The glow receded and where there were once two toddlers at three years
old, were two babies at two years old each. They continued to sleep,
unaware of the world any more, their minds and lives as innocent as the
day they were born. Young as they wished.

Chapter 26

20th, December, Thursday, Rachel's Journal: The terrible twos, how my
parents coped with me when I was that age is beyond me, Tonya and
Richard were hard to cope with at that age as well. Looking after two
year olds who also happen to be your parents as well is not easy.
They've been running about, making mess and noise, filling their
nappies and running about with sagging nappies and I'll try and catch
them and clean them up. When they make a mess, they really make a mess.
Well Tonya returns tomorrow and I'll thankfully have someone to help me
keep an eye on them, even though by tomorrow they'll both be a year old
and not as bad. I hope Tonya is okay at Tony's funeral, she hasn't
called to say how it went, so she must be spending a quiet night
contemplating about her future and about mortality, I did that as well
when I lost a friend when I was younger. Well I better get going, I can
hear them playing about in my mum's room and I know what that means,
mess and probably soiled nappies, 'bye.

Tonya's Journal: Tony's funeral was lovely and sad, his two favourite
songs were played and they seemed somehow fitting, Melodies of Life
from a game he liked and a song called Homeworld from another game he
liked. All his friends had managed to come to his funeral, not sure
how, but they were all here, his soul mate in particular was crying a
lot inside, even though she did her best to hide her true feelings, but
I could see it in her eyes that she felt she had failed him and also
that he was happy at last. During the service, I sat next to her and I
heard her say something about his role in a new life, and the hope that
they would meet again soon, she was counting on it. I on the other hand
just let the tears fall, I'm going to miss him so much. A few poems
were said and some work that his friends had done for him was
particularly beautiful, even one friend who said that she had trouble
writing made something beautiful. I had watched his parents reactions
during all this, his mum was in tears, his dad was just quiet, his
brother seemed as cold and aloof as his dad and his sister, she was
sick, she was smiling through the whole thing, she even said 'Goodbye
you bastard.' to his coffin as it was lowered in the ground, no wonder
he wanted to leave so badly. As his coffin was lowered into the ground,
his soul mate said something beautiful and threw a rose on his coffin,
what she said was this, 'It took us a long time to find each other and
when we did, we became friends from the word go. You told me everything
and I told you everything, we shared so much, we talked, we laughed, we
cried and we planned for the future. We made a promise to each other
that no matter what, you would live the life you truly deserved and you
promised me that no matter what, you would and will always be there for
me. I feel that even in death, your here with me, protecting me,
helping me, keeping your promise. I'll miss you so much Tony, never
will you be gone from my heart and the hearts of your friends, goodbye,
for now.' Tony's mum began to cry a lot worse then and I offered her my
shoulder to cry on, as did all Tony's friends. Me and his soul mate
remained at the grave site after everyone left and we cried together.
'He had so much to give, so much potential and his ideas were just
ignored, his life ruined by uncaring people. He offered a hand of
friendship to a lot of people and only a few took it, while the rest
just slapped it away. I was going to give him a life that he deserved
for everything he had to put up with and now I can't do that, what's
going to happen now, moving on is going to be hard.' I agreed with her,
it is going to be hard, in just the short time I knew him, he made a
huge difference in my life, he did that for everyone because it was
just the way he was, now he can't be there anymore. Now here I am, ten
hours have passed since the funeral and still my tears are many and my
memories are a mix of happy and sad. Tomorrow I'll be going back home,
but my life has been changed, as Kain said in a game Tony had played
once, the coin is on it's edge and only you can make the change. Now my
coin is on it's edge and anything can happen. I'm crying even worse
now, I'm going to stop writing before I soak the journal, 'bye.

As a life ended, two old lives began anew, their bodies reverting to
that of children of a year old. The story is almost finished, the wish
almost fulfilled. The wish of forever is nearing it's end.

Chapter 27

21st, December, Friday, Rachel's Journal: Tonya returned from Scotland
today, she's still in grief, but she seems to be trying her hardest to
not let it affect her too much. My parents are now a year old each, two
tiny babies. I've been looking after them better than I thought I would
and Tonya has helped a lot. Well I guess I better get going, I think
either my mum or my dad needs a nappy change, so look after yourselves,
live life to the fullest, 'bye.

Tonya's Journal: Returned home today and I've been helping out my mum
just to try and keep my mind distracted. It's working a little, but
it's only a mask of my true feelings. Tony's friends all wrote
something about him, about how they would miss him, there's one in
particular that I liked a lot, it was written by Tony's soul mate,
here, I'll write it down.

Final Good-Bye

We have lost a great friend. Never again will he be here to make us
laugh, to help us out, to be our friend. When I think of him, I think
of the times we shared, the talks we had, the problems we worked
through. He was my best friend, and I will miss him, oh gods will I
miss him. There will never be anyone to take his place in my heart. He
was too important? no, he is too important to me for that part of my
heart to be filled again. Until my own day of departure, that part will
always be for him. I could go through his life, and point out his many
achievements, but there are so many, I don't know where to begin. What
I do know is that he will live on in our hearts for the rest of
eternity. We can only hope to be lucky enough to be able to give the
kind of love he gave, to be able to reach so many people. He never
thought so, but he did, and now, I'm sure he knows that. And so, we say
our final good-byes to a magnificent person, a person whose life
changed those of many.

Good-bye my friend.

Well this is goodbye, all of the journals are about to be posted,
including Tony's ones which his mum gave me, this is to be my last
journal entry. It's been fun writing this, and I hope you've all
enjoyed it. From me, my mum and my grandparents, goodbye. Live your
life for the moment, enjoy it and be yourself, don't let anyone try to
control your life. Goodbye.

On a changing mat are two babies, both a year old, once both 60 years
old, married for 40 years and in love for so long. The babies look at
each other and then manage to roll themselves over to each other easily
and then hug. Even as babies, the love they have for each other is
still there and it shows as they baby kiss each other, their young eyes
looking at each other after the kiss, three unspoken words in their
expression, I love you, they made a wish and it was granted. They made
a wish of forever.

And posted and finished.

Author's note: Everything in this story, except for Tony, is a work of
fiction, made from one mind, one idea. I hope you've all enjoyed it and
any comments on it would be quite welcome. It's been fun to write this
story, a lot of thought has gone into the characters and I've done my
best to make sure that you enjoy each part I write, with all the
different parts of real life introduced. You may have noticed that I
used a lot of UK words, that's because I live here in the UK, in
Scotland in fact, so I've written what I know. Thank you for reading
it, I hope you've enjoyed it during the 27 days it's taken to write it.
All the journal entries are made as if written in pen, which explains
the odd mistake because in pen and making a mistake is a pain and any
mistakes are hard to fix, so if you notice any, then it's because it's
human error, it's real. Till my next story, which is soon,
goodbye.

Tony Watt.