Size Worries

Size Worries.

Cathy shook her head as she entered the office. “Where did all of these people come from?”

Her boss turned towards her and smiled. “Oh, there you are. Cathy, I would like you to meet our new hires.” He pointed at the half a dozen people talking and drinking at the far end of the room. “Great, isn’t it?”

Cathy shook her head, causing her long dark hair to sway back and forth. “I guess.”

She sighed.  Why do we need so many people? I was just getting used to working alone.  She gulped.  And why do they all have to be so damn tall?  Cathy blinked her blue eyes.  For once, I wish I met someone that wasn’t so much taller than me.

“Hey, Cathy, are you alright?”

She shook her head. “Oh yes. I am fine.” She smiled. “Just fine. Glad we could hire some new blood around here.” Cathy nodded her head. “Should help with filling out some of those weird things that Fredrick wants us to make.”

He slowly nodded his bald head. “Right. Well happy you feel that way as they are your responsibility.”

Her eyes went wide. “Wait, what?” She threw her arms to the side. “I have enough on my hands trying to make these damn products for Fredricks Fancy that can and can’t shrink people.” She shook her head. “I don’t even understand what I should be working on such stupid cereal brands still. Why is Fredrick concerned if we make people smaller?”

“Hey, that isn’t your concern. Your concern is to make people shrink, so get to it.” He turned around. “We here at Fredricks Fancy just do what Fredrick wants. We don’t ask why Fredrick wants us to cause others to change in size. I mean, it pays well, so why complain.” He sighed. “Just do your job Cathy and get them trained and ready.” He walked off. “Ok, everyone, listen to Cathy and learn well. Welcome to Fredericks Fancy.”

Cathy slid her hands into her pockets and walked forward as her boss ducked out of the room. “Hello, everyone, and welcome.”

One of the new employees glanced at her. “Who are you?”

Cathy took a deep breath. “I am going to be showing you how to make the special Fredricks Fancy cereal that we are known for.” She smiled.

He turned towards her and crossed his arms. “What? I came here because I was told this place experiments with size changing. That sounds cool. I don’t want to be some weird food-making person.”

Cathy raised an eyebrow.  This kid can’t be serious.  She cleared her throat. “There is serious work that we do here umm. . .”

“Andrew.”

“Right. I don’t think you should have just come here if your only intention is to work on size-changing properties that may or may not exist.”

He laughed. “Oh, come now. That shit is all over the news. Giant ladies on a boat. Giant lady advertising for a store. Giant. . .”

Cathy held up her hands. “Ok, I get it. Strange things happen, but why do you think Fredricks Fancy has anything to do with this?”

He held up a flyer.  Fredricks Fancy. We make our products for a better future of growth and prosperity.  Andrew pointed at the words. “It is right here in writing. Can’t you see it?”

She rolled her eyes. “I think you are a bit nuts.” She turned around. “Look, can we get started.”

Another man walked up to them. “Hey, what is going on?”

Andrew shrugged his shoulders. “Just about how this company is trying to cover up changing people in size.”

“Enough.” Cathy threw up her arms and walked towards the door. “There is nothing that is being covered up here. I need to get some things out of the next room for your training session. I will be right back.”

She walked through the door and slammed it behind her. “God.” Cathy shook her head. “What is with these people.” She made her way over to the storage room. “I can’t believe that I am supposed to train a bunch of people who think this company is only about altering people’s size.” She sighed as she picked up a few pamphlets. “I mean, sure, it does happen, but that isn’t anything these people need to know about.” Cathy shuddered. “I still can’t believe that the company has been experimenting with size-changing technology, so why would I tell people who might be gone tomorrow about this.”

Cathy noticed a vial on the ground. “What is this?” She picked it up. “It is one of the shrinking vials from the experimental department. How did this get here?”

“Hey, where did you get off to Cathy? Can you hurry back so we can get our work started?”

She gripped the bottle in her hands.  If they want to know about this company’s size-changing policies so bad, I will show it to them. Besides, I am sick and tired of people being so much taller than me. Why oh why does everyone have to be fucking a foot or more taller than me. It isn’t fair.  She looked at the bottle.  It is time that they knew what being small really meant.  Cathy giggled and slid the vial into her pocket.

Cathy walked back into the assembly room. “Ok, is everyone ready to get to work.”

Andrew smirked and crossed his arms. “Well, it’s about time. Are you going to spill the beans now?”

A young lady scratched at her head, her blonde bangs falling in front of her face. “What beans?”

Andrew laughed. “That this company has been dabbling in size-changing products.”

The lady scoffed. “You are crazy.”

Cathy slammed her hand onto a nearby desk. “Look, can everyone shut up and listen to me. I have never done any training, but I thought I would start things off with a bit of a party.”

Cheers went up from the small crowd. “Party?”

“That sounds great.”

Cathy smirked wickedly. “I know it does. Now I don’t have too much on me as this training session was sprung on me at the last moment, but I can start things off with some beer, and while you drink that, I can go get some snacks.”

Andrew smiled. “Sounds great. Sure we can drink at work?”

Cathy turned around and walked over to the refrigerator. “Oh, don’t worry. You won’t have enough to get drunk.” She opened the door and pulled some drinks out. “Besides, it is non-alcoholic.” She began to fill up some plastic cups with the fizzy beverage; as she did so, she poured drops of the shrinking compound into the drinks. “Ok, here you are.” She took a few steps back and hid the vial in her pocket. “I will go get the snacks.”

Andrew raised the cup to his lisp. “Well, I do have to say this is starting off swimmingly.” He began to sip away at the beverage.

Cathy giggled as she walked towards the front of the room.  I am glad you all think so, as, in a few moments, things won’t be going as well.

***

One of the young ladies suddenly fell into a chair. “I kind of feel weird.”

“What is wrong, Quin?” Andrew asked.

“I don’t know. Everything just feels so tight.”

“I feel that way as well.”

“Me too.”

They all began to sit down. Andrew shook his head and looked over at Quin. “Hey, I think we should go ask Cathy what was in that beer she gave us.”

Quin nodded her head. “Yes.” She groaned. “I will try and find her.”

Andrew shook his head. “No.” He sighed. “You shouldn’t move.”

She stood up. “We all feel the same way. I will just put up with it and... Ughhh.”

She put her hand on the table as the constricting feeling intensified. Suddenly, the table grew in size, and her clothing felt heavy. “What in the world?” Her hand slipped off the table, and she fell out of her shoes and onto the ground. “Ouff.” As Quin pushed herself up, she shrank more and more into her clothes, and her pants slid right off her body. She tried to grab onto her shirt, but it quickly became too massive for her and crushed her. “Someone help.”

When her body finally stopped shrinking, she took a deep breath. “Can anyone hear me?” She heard a loud crash and fell to the floor. “Oh god, what was that?” Quin pushed up on her shirt. “I wish I could see what was outside my fucking work uniform.”

She began to crawl her way through the tangled mess of her shirt sleeve. “How did this thing get so fumbled up. I just fell onto the ground. Or am I really that small?” Eventually, she found her way to the edge of her shirt sleeve and pulled herself out into the light and freedom. “Finally.” She looked up. “Now, can someone help me? Hello?” Quin looked around only to see furniture and searing hot lights above her. “Where did everyone go. You would think at my size, I would be able to see everyone. I need to get a better vantage point to find out what happened.”

She climbed up the side of her shirt and gasped. “Oh my god.” She was surrounded by a sea of clothing. “Everyone has shrunk.” She ran her hands through her hair. “What in the world has happened here?”

***

Cathy pushed the door open and clasped her hands together as she entered the room. “Perfect, it worked.” She carefully walked over and picked up the tiny woman standing on the pile of clothing. “Though I was expecting the clothing to stay on everyone.”

Quin thrashed about in Cathy’s hands. “What did you do to me and the others. Put me down.”

Cathy laughed and gently touched Quin on her stomach. “Ohh, in good time.” She laughed. “You are so cute at that size. I wonder. . .” She tapped her free hand on her chin. “I will wait until I see the others.”

She threw Quin into her pocket. “Hey!”

Cathy turned her attention to the other clothing piles. “This worked better than I could have hoped.

“Let me out of here. I will call the human resources department on you. Hey.”

Cathy tapped the side of her pocket. “Stay quiet, will you. I could just shove you into a bottle, but I am being nice.” Cathy giggled. “Oh, it feels so good to say that.” She shivered in glee. “I should get the others and get out of here.”

She quickly dug the others out of the confines of their clothing. “Ugh, Andrew.”

She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “Why weren’t you wearing underwear?”

He covered his body. “Hey, I didn’t know anyone would be shrinking me. What is wrong with you?” He covered the lower half of his body. “You think shrinking people to show how the business works is funny?”

Cathy smiled. “Well, yes, it is cute.” She lowered her voice and brought her head in close. “But don’t tell anyone, but I shrank you because I wanted to.” His eyes went wide. “Not that you will be able to anyways. You will be small and tiny forever.” She giggled. “No longer able to be taller than me.”

“Wait, what? Why does that matter?”

She tossed him up into the air. “I am sick and tired of people having to be so much taller than me. Just once, I wish I could walk into the room and be the tallest in there.” She caught him and wrapped her hand around him like a doll. “But no, I had to be cursed this way,” Cathy smirked. “But no more. I have you and the others to help me stay this way.”

She looked at her pocket full of tiny little people. “Ugh. I need to find another place to keep you.”

Andrew sighed happily. “Perfect. You will have to put me down, and I can just—

“Oh, I know.” Cathy walked over and grabbed her purse. “You and the others I have yet to grab can go in here.” She tapped him on the head. “Just stay out of my stuff. I have everything in there the way that I like it. Understand.”

Andrew shook his head. “Yes. I get it.  Ughhh.” He groaned. “Damn it, all your finger hurts. Please don’t do that again.”

She threw him into her purse. “Then be a good boy and do what I said.” She set her bag down and looked around. “Now, there should be a few more trainees around here.” Cathy began to throw the clothing about. “Now come out, come out wherever you are. I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

Cathy noticed a small figure scurry towards the door. “Hey now. Where do you think you are going?” She shook her head and slowly walked towards the entrance of the room.

“Even if that door was unlocked, it would be too big for you to open, you know.”

A small voice squeaked from below. “Let me out of here. I didn’t sign up for this.”

Cathy bent over to see a small man hiding behind a table leg alongside a woman with short red hair. “Well, I didn’t sign up for training a bunch of people, so I think we are even.” She reached out and grabbed them.

The young man hit the side of her fist. “Let go of us.”

“Charles don’t make things any worse than they have to be. We are already less than a foot tall, and you are mouthing off to the giant lady?”

“Tina, I know what I am doing.” He blew his wavy blue hair to the side. “Just let me handle this.”

“I don’t need you to handle anything for me. I just met you and can get out of this mess on my own.”

Cathy slammed her foot onto the floor. “Just stop. I can’t stand the two of you arguing like this. You sound like my damn brother and sister. Sheshh.” She walked over to her purse. “If you don’t act better, I might sell you to a doll company to get rid of you.”

“See what you did, Tina? She is going to sell us.”

Cathy opened her purse. “Stop it. I know where a doll shop is, and I won’t hesitate to stop there on the way to my house after work.” They both gulped, and Cathy dropped them into her purse. “Now, I don’t want any more sounds from any of you.” She tapped the sides of her pants. “That goes for you all as well. I have a few hours left of work, and I need to sneak you all out. Don’t blow this for me.”

***

Later that day, Cathy found herself in the parking garage. “Wow, I can’t believe I got away with this.” She opened her purse and looked down at Andrew and the others. “Soon, I will be home and have a small army of tiny little people all to myself.” She giggled. “What a crazy day.”

“Cathy!” She turned around to see her boss barreling towards her, his eyes burning with rage. “What the hell did you do?”

She scratched at the back of her head. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

He grabbed her by her shirt. “You sure as hell do. Don’t you dare lie to me. Not if you want to keep your precious job that you value so much.”

“I umm. . .”

“Where did you send all of those people you were supposed to be training? How the hell did you lose them? Answer me?”

Cathy sighed. “Ohh, that. I thought you were talking about something else.”

He shook her once again. “What else do you think I would be talking about. How could you lose eight entire people? You think you are some kind of magician?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Oh, I don’t know. Things can happen.” She smiled.

“Tell me, and I will do everything I can to help you keep your job.”

She turned around and pulled out the vial she used to shrink Andrew and the others. “You really want to know?”

“Oh my god, yes, Cathy. Stop playing these games.”

She turned around and tossed some of the liquid on him. “Ok. I mean, you could lose a few feet after all.” She giggled. “I never liked you at that awful height.”

He snorted. “What are you talking about?” He took his cap off and rubbed his bald head. “Since when are you upset with my size?”

She looked at her watch. “Since about now.” Cathy tapped her foot. “Come on already. Work.”

“Enough games. I am going….” He blinked his eyes. “Ohh wow, I feel weird.” Her boss held his hand over his chest. “My stomach is doing jumping jacks all of a sudden. What did you throw on me?”

Cathy laughed. “Oh, a little something special I found.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “It only helps make the height issues more… in line with how they should be.”

“Cathy. That isn’t our department. Ughhh. Now get me an antidote. I think my clothes are starting to feel a bit heavy, so hurry.”

“Oh, no way.” She giggled as he began to shrink. “I finally have a way to make everyone who makes me upset shrink.” She tapped her finger on her chin as her boss fought with his clothing and fell onto his knees. “Or hell, maybe I should consider shrinking everyone I know. Then I could really be the tallest woman I know.”

“Cathy, are you nuts.” He stumbled backward and fell out of his shoes and pants. “Stop this nonsense. I look like a kid.”

“Oh, you won’t look that way for much longer. Hmm, I wonder if I will have to get a new boss. Maybe they will be a lot more kind than you, and I won’t have to think about shrinking them. Or maybe better I will be the boss.” She looked down at her boss. “Where did you go?” She laughed and held up the vial. “This is powerful stuff. I love it.”

Cathy noticed some movement at the base of the shirt as her boss clambered out of his suit. “What the hell. You will pay for this when I tell the higher-ups.”

She bent over and picked him up. “Oh, and how will you do that being only a few inches tall, huh?” She bopped him on the nose. “You aren’t as cute as the others. I should pick you up a wig on the way home. That bald head isn’t doing it for me. Now just hold on, will you.”

“Cathy.” She opened her purse. “This isn’t the end of this.”

She rolled her eyes. “Please stop yelling.” She closed her purse. “Between you and the quote-unquote family twins, I am going to get a headache.” She walked towards her car. “I need to find a way to deal with these mini people quickly.

***

Later that night, Cathy drove into her driveway. “Ahh, finally home.” She sighed and shut off the engine. “I will finally be able to take these damn little people out of my pocket.” She pushed her door open and stepped out onto the freshly watered lawn. “Why did I think shoving a bunch of little scratching monsters into my pockets would be a good thing. Ugh.” Cathy rolled her eyes as she slammed the car door behind her and locked it.

“I would have gone to the doll shop if they didn’t close the moment work ended.” She shook her head as she walked up the steps towards her front door. “Some of these people I am not going to enjoy spending the night with.”

“Hey, Cathy.”

She turned her head. “Oh, hey Maria.”

She stepped over the hedge line and walked towards Cathy as she twisted her golden curls. “I have a bone to pick with you.”

“Look, can we talk about this later.” Cathy opened her door. “I have some stuff to take care of first.”

Maria slammed the door shut. “Not until we talk.”

Cathy groaned. “Oh, come on.” She looked down at her pockets as tiny voices escaped the confines of her pants. “I have places to be. Things to do.”

“Cathy Patterson, what did you do with my beloved Vexon?”

“Huh?” She blinked her eyes in confusion. “Vexon?

Is that from one of those weird fangled games you play?”

Her eyes flared with rage. “No! You know damn well who Vexon is.” She stepped forward, so she was inches from Cathy’s face. “He is the cutest little pug you have ever seen.”

“Pug?”

“Yes, pug. Now, what have you done with my dog?”

Cathy waved her arms about. “I don’t know what happened to your dog. I haven’t been home all day.” She pushed Maria to the side and opened her door once more. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have things to do inside.”

“I will call the police if I have to.”

Cathy took a deep breath. “You know, I think I saw your pupper this morning.”

Maria crossed her arms. “So, you admit to your crimes. Where is he? Mommy wants to bring her darling home.”

Cathy rolled her eyes. “He might be in the backyard. This way.” She led Maria into her house. “You might be able to hear him barking.”

“I don’t hear anything. You better not have hurt him. I will take you to court, you monster.”

Cathy pulled out the vial of shrinking juice.  Oh, just shut up. It is bad enough you are over six feet tall; why do you have to be such a pain in the ass as well.

Cathy turned around. “I have something to quickly give you before I go and get your dog.”

“Vexon.”

“Whatever.” She tossed the liquid onto Maria.

“Hey!” She shook her head. “This is assault. Assault, I say.” She grabbed Cathy by the arm. “You will now stay here until the police arrive.” She pulled out her phone. “You hear me.

Ughhh. Why do I feel weird?” She dropped her phone and grabbed her belly.”

Cathy sighed and set her purse down. “You should have looked for your dog somewhere else.” She pulled Andrew out and set him on the table.”

“What in the world is that?” Maria cried out.

“It is what you are going to look like soon.” Cathy shrugged. “As for your dog.” She pulled out Tina. “I have no idea.”

“Nooo.” Maria turned around only to fall flat on her face as she began to shrink. Cathy shrugged her shoulders and pulled more people out of her purse.

“Ok, you little devils. . .” She used a rubber band to tie them together. “We can talk about accommodations for tonight.” She looked at Maria for a moment, who was now half her original height, and returned to pulling the tiny people out of her pockets. “You will all stay here until morning. Then I will find out something to do with you all.”

Andrew snorted. “You can’t just keep shrinking people like this.”

Cathy laughed. “Of course, I can. I have always been one of the smallest people around. Now I can turn the tables on you all.” She tied the last person onto the table. “It is wonderful to be giant instead of being small.” She tapped him on his head. “I am going to get used to this.”

Cathy walked over and dug Maria out of her clothes. “And let’s have you join the others.”

Maria slapped the side of Cathy’s hand. “Let me go, you crazy person.”

Cathy tied Maria up with the others. “Says the one who was going to report me to the police for a dog that I didn’t steal. Anyways big day ahead of us tomorrow.” She flipped the light off. “Good night.”