Amanda walked stealthily downstairs, holding the gun in her left hand. She heard Robert and his sometimes girlfriend, Jess, talking quietly while they alternatively watched music videos, did Robert’s homework, marked up their Myspace pages and kissed and snuggled. He had his shirt off, and Jess wore a minimal tube around her considerable chest, pulled down slightly.

Amanda knew exactly why Robert hung out with Jess. Not only did she have one of the largest busts in the tenth grade, but she never challenged Robert, let him touch her wherever and whenever he wanted, did his homework for him, and generally did all she could to keep him happy, even though he spread himself around with other girls too. It was just another example of what bothered Amanda about her brother. He seemed to do whatever he wanted, and people just let him get away with it.

As she entered the room, Robert had his hand inside Jess’s tube top, fondling her well-developed right breast, while she held onto his upper arm and kissed him. The television was playing a Kanye West video, and the loud music masked the sound of her footsteps. She moved the gun’s settings to minus and fired directly into Robert’s chest. The effect was immediate. Right before her eyes, his chest lost its muscular appearance and became thin and soft. His legs became bony, although his waist remained the same size, perhaps even slightly larger, as his tight abdominals relaxed and were replaced by soft fat. Most noticeably, his arms lost all definition and became skinny, even thinner than Jess’s. Her hand, which had been resting comfortably around his half-flexed biceps, was suddenly grasping at nothing.

Amanda was thrilled. She ducked back and hid the gun in her jacket, hanging in the closet and waited in the hallway to eavesdrop on their reactions.