Surprise...? (2023)

Andrew stood at the door of his father as he contemplated whether or not he wanted to do this. Was this worth it? Would he return to normal? How would he look at his father again?

Andrew was a smart kid growing up, had a normal upbringing, safe for his parents splitting up, but he was never torn between the two. His mother got sole custody of him, but his dad was just as involved when he was younger. As Andrew grew older and got busy with high school, his dad and him drifted apart a bit. They made time for each other whenever they could, however both wishes they had more time to spend together.

Unbeknownst to anyone else, Andrew was in the process of developing his interests…extracurricularly. Between the ages of 13-17, Andrew realized he had this “thing” for feet. In retrospect, as a kid, he was always fascinated with the feet of his father, but he figured that was proximity more than anything. However, this is where we find Andrew now, standing in front of his dad’s apartment, gearing himself up to shrink down in order to see them proper. He was nervous and more questions rang through his mind: What if he’s seen? What would his Dad do? Would I be able to explain this away? No, how would anyone explain being shrunk?

Looking down at the remote in his hand, he was second guessing himself when he heard a cough inside. His dad was home and up. If he opened the door now, he’d know something was up. Andrew was meant to be in school at this time, not in front of his dad’s door.

Sucking up his apprehension, he made the split decision to just do it. Knocking at the door, he pressed the button on the remote at the same time, and in seconds, he was dwindled down. Being that this was his first time, he was a bit disoriented as he adjusted to his new size. He estimated he couldn’t have been any bigger than a centimetre tall. As the dizziness of the shrinking wore down, the giant door in front of him erupted open, creating an air current the nearly sucked Andrew inside the home, but knocked in down to the ground in front of him. Getting to his hands and knees, he was welcomed by a new feeling: fear. He didn’t anticipate he’d be this vulnerable.

Finally looking up, he was greeted by the image of his now giant father standing at the door, looking up the down the hallway in confusion.

“D-Dad!” Andrew cried, getting up from the ground. He began jumping up and down. “Dad! Look! Down here! I made a mistake!”

The giant above remained oblivious as he shook his head.

“Damn pranksters…” He grimaced as he began shutting the door.

“No! Dad! Wait! Don’t leave me he-“ Andrew began before he was cut off.

“Hey Cam,” A new voice erupted through the air. “How’s the new ride?”

Both Andrew and Cam looked down the hall towards the neighbour who now stood outside. A newspaper on the ground indicated to both this man was getting his newspaper.

Cam reopened the door to begin chatting with his neighbour about his new car. The two giants stood idly in their respective doorframes as the tiny boy below screamed and yelled for help, his tiny voice never reaching their ears.

Never looking down at this minuscule son, Cam adjusted his stance and leaned against the door, setting his left foot on the doorframe as he did so. His giant toes hung off over the side, momentarily allowing Andrew to forget his plight. This was what he wanted, his dad’s feet. And there his giant toes were, peeking out from the door frame that stood above him. Andrew enjoyed the view, and was happier when his giant father’s other foot came and rested atop his left, as he continued chatting and fidgeting his feet.

“…and now it rides like a dream.” The giant above finished his sentence.

“Oh, man,” The neighbour said. “I’m jealous, I don’t think Marie would let me get one of those.”

“Well, it helps when your wife didn’t want to be married anymore, no one to ask,” Cam joked.

“Here, take a look at this car I’ve had my eye on…” the neighbour said, pulling his phone out of his robe.

Andrew, lost in the euphoria of his father’s fidgeting feet was unprepared as the feet left its current position and stood straight on the frame, the left foot now perpendicular to his tiny son’s location. Taking a step out to the hallway to see his neighbours pic, he was unbothered and unaware of a tiny splat underneath his foot as he walked down the hall.

“Well, that is a nice ride,” Cam said, “Maybe Marie will relent if you keep pushing her. Maybe tell her she can decorate it.”

“Maybe,” his neighbour said. “Well, it’s been nice chatting, but I gotta get ready.”

“Alright, take care,” Cam said, re-entering his own home.

Getting back in his chair, he was surprised by a missed call from his ex-wife. Calling her back, he was greeted by a frantic woman.

“Cam?” She asked. “Have you seen Andrew?”

“Not since a couple weeks ago, at your birthday,” Cam replied, putting up his chair’s foot rest as he settled into the call. “Shouldn’t he be in school?”

“Yeah, well, they called and they said he checked himself out, but I didn’t give him a note, did you?” She asked, almost accusingly.

Rolling his eyes, he replied. “Why would I do that? He’s probably had a free period.”

“That’s not until the afternoon.”

“Okay, then I don’t know where he is, he never showed up here. If he calls, I’ll tell him to give you a ring.”

He heard a short huff on the other end. “Fine, make sure to tell him he’s in big trouble when he does.”

“Sure, Cathy,” Cam said, dryly. “Enjoy your day.”

“Uh-huh.” With a click, the call ended.

Settling back in his morning routine, he was still as unaware of his now tiny son was nothing more than a crushed splat on the bottom of his foot, nearly rubbed away by the small amount of walking his father did.