“This is a nightmare” bemoaned Gloria as she took inventory of her aged face in the mirror again, pulling on some of her gray hairs for inspection. “I'm hideous. What the hell is this thing, Bill?” she asked holding out the magic wishing rock theatrically for Bill to see.
“Uh...apparently it's a magic wishing rock?” said Bill, lost for words in his deeper voice. He looked at himself at the mirror himself. 'Not too shabby' he thought to himself.
“It's a cursed piece of shit is what it is” fumed Gloria.
“Oh, why couldn't you have turned into a puppy, or some ducks?” Bill joked.
Tammy's eyes darted around the house. The first thing she saw were a pair of photos: One when she and Bill had first gotten married. Tammy was wearing a gorgeous wedding gown based on a design from the 1800s, and Bill's thousand watt smile could melt anyone's heart. The date at the bottom said 5/8/2025. The second photo was of the two them, now older, perhaps in their late thirties or early forties, standing next to a teenage girl at Disneyland, all three in front of the famous copper statue of Walt and Mickey Mouse holding hands. It took only a moment for Tammy to realize that the teenage girl was their daughter. Tammy recalled her name: Willow. Willow had both of her parents physical characteristics, and she seemed particularly happy being at Disneyland. Tammy further recalled that Willow was interested in animation beyond just entertainment and fandom. She wanted to pursue it as a career, and Tammy remembers both she and Bill being very supportive of it. Early memories of Willow's artistic abilities flashed through her mind. Either way, all three of them in the picture were wearing Mickey Mouse hats and seemed like they were living the American dream. They seemed so happy...so blissful. Tom had always wanted to visit Disneyland, but he never had the chance to. This reality, despite the forty years of aging, seemed so much nicer than the one Tom had ten minutes ago. He...she could get used to this.
Bill and Gloria continued to bicker for a little bit, with Bill needling Gloria for how old she looked(She didn't actually look THAT bad, but Gloria couldn't stand it, both out of vanity as well as the psychic pain of not wanting to look like her mother). Gloria on the other hand reminded Bill who still had the stone, and how she was going to turn Bill into a ferret if he didn't shut up. Their fighting and Tammy's reverie were interrupted however by a loud honking noise coming from outside.
A cold robotic voice that sounded like the Siri app then erupted throughout the house like Reveille.
“Incoming call from: Willow”
“That's our daughter, Bill!” yelled Tammy with excitement from the living room.
“Our daughter?” asked Bill, confused. He was too busy quarreling with Gloria to recall his new memories, but neither he, nor Gloria, nor Tammy could ignore the knock on the door. He pulled his vibrating cell phone out his pocket, and saw an image of a pretty young woman who looked like maybe an older version of his sister Kimberly staring right at him.
Tammy then unlocked and opened the front door, revealing said young woman.
“Hey Mom!” squealed Willow, giving Tammy a large bear hug, who reciprocated said hug and squeal in turn.
“Who's that?” asked Gloria, still primping in the mirror.
“Beats me” said Bill, not wanting to admit the possibility running through his head. They both walked into the living room, where Bill was ambushed by another big bear hug.
“Hey Dad! I'm home! Hey Mrs. Vanapoulos, that's a cute jacket you're wearing” added Willow after she gave her father a loving peck on the cheek, looking over her father's shoulder at her childhood neighbor.
“Thanks?” added Gloria, who didn't really like the jacket.
Willow let go of Bill and composed herself.
“Mom, Dad...I've got great news, and I just HAD to tell both of you in person!” she said excitedly.
Bill's mind melted. The very first attractive woman to ever kiss him was his own daughter. He felt simultaneously disgusted, confused, and embarrassed. He wasn't anywhere near emotionally ready to be a parent, and yet, here she was, bursting with energy and gusto. He heard her speak, saw her mouth moving a mile a second, but the entire time Bill was lost in thought at this strange new reality. Suddenly he saw Willow childishly snapping her fingers in his face.
“Dad! Didn't you hear a word I said!?” giggled Willow. “I...”
Option 1: After two years of working on other people's shows, Willow is finally getting to create her own animated TV series. The plot of the cartoon, about a magic rock that warps reality and grants wishes, but only when the user is angry, is disturbingly close to the events of this morning.
Option 2: Mutants with superhuman powers exist in the future of 2058. Willow has just discovered that she is a mutant. A quite powerful one.
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