"A Transformation Through Song: The Tale of a Mysterious Salon Visit" Once upon a time in the year 2021, in a small town in the heart of America, lived a curious 6-year-old boy named Oliver. He was a

Once upon a time, in the sunny state of Florida, lived a sprightly 6-year-old named Kevin. Kevin was an early riser, always the first to greet the sun with his shining azure eyes. The sun would frolic and play hide-and-seek, drawing russet highlights over Kevin's chestnut hair styled in a neat, boyish cut. This 3'9", 48-pound boy was born on April 3, 2015, imparting him the gift of spring's essence, the propensity of sparking joy. Kevin lives with his exquisitely beautiful, 23-year-old mother, Jennifer. A single mother, Jennifer stands at a height of 5’5” and has a slender yet sturdy build of 120 pounds. She has bright green eyes that brought forth the color of early spring leaves and a gorgeous mane of jet-black hair which she typically wears in a carefree, tousled bob. Jennifer was born on September 23, 1997, in the same state where she still resides. Kevin's father, Tom, aged 25, disappeared from their lives a few years ago. Tall and lanky, Tom stands at 6'2", weighing around 175 pounds with a birthday on December 5, having been born in 1995. His short, sandy blonde hair and piercing blue eyes are traits that Kevin, fortunately, did not inherit, giving Jennifer solace. Aunt Emily, Kevin's mother's younger sister, is another crucial part of Kevin's life. She's 21, her petite frame and vivacious energy making her the perfect play companion for Kevin. With her 5'2" height, weight of 110 pounds, and her birthday on June 4, 1999, Emily could easily pass for a kid herself, her auburn hair pulled back into a bee-stung ponytail and playful hazel eyes adding to her youthful charm. In contrast, Uncle Mike, on his usual escapade, is scarcely around, though Kevin adores him. Mike is 24 years old, towering at 6'4" and weighing about 195 pounds. His strong and athletic body, dark blonde hair worn in a modest, low fade cut, and cool, grey eyes were telltale similarities to Kevin's father. His birthday is on October 15, 1996. Grandma Rose, at 51 years old, is a nurturing presence of the family, showering Kevin with her love and life's wisdom. Born on February 12, 1970, she is a woman of an average build, weighing around 140 pounds, and stands at 5 feet 6 inches tall. Her once dark brown hair has now started to grey gracefully near the temples and cascades to her shoulders in soft waves. Her warm brown eyes have a twinkle that provides comfort to all around her. One fine day, Kevin decided to walk to a local salon all by himself for the first time. "Suzie's Salon" was famous worldwide, and it was run by a Korean woman named Suzie. Suzie was a rampantly glowing woman at the age of 54, slightly older than Kevin's grandma. Born on April 15, 1967, she was merely 4'11" tall and weighed around 110 pounds. Suzie was known for being an impeccably dressed woman, her Korean-style pixie cut with jet black hair being a trademark. Her monolid eyes were a deep shade of brown, appearing black unless caught in the light. Suzie's style signature was a chic blazer over a delicate blouse, paired perfectly with flared trousers and an enchanting pair of platform sandals. Suzie left Kevin to fetch some tools for his haircut saying, “Patie boy, you wit. Me come bavk.” Suzie’s English was rough around the edges, yet intelligent and conveyed her thoughts well. While waiting, Kevin decided to play a little; he slipped off his shoes and socks, allowing the cool tile to caress his feet. He giggled before wandering around, curiosity escalating with every step. “Miss Suzie! Me gotta potty!” Kevin declared abruptly in the most innocent way. His eyes fell on a seemingly promising hallway and decided to explore, his small towhead bobbing as he walked. Kevin tripped over something, an object hidden from his field periphery. Glancing down, he found himself experiencing an amusing predicament—his feet were snuggly enmeshed in the peaks and valleys of Suzie’s towering platform sandals. As he fumbled to de-shoe himself, the outlandish impossibility unfolded before his eyes. His blue-jean shorts and white tee shirt vaporized into thin air, leaving him vulnerable, and in the same beat, his skin began to morph. His feet, young and smooth, started to crack and age into a woman's, the nails painted a bright shade of vermilion identical to Suzie’s. “I didn’t do nuffin’ wrong! Just gotta potty! Don't wanna be a icky gurl. Gonna miss mommy and grandma,” blurted Kevin in bewilderment, the platform sandals finally off. Throughout the disjointed transformation, Kevin started humming a lullaby his mother had taught him, trying to reassure himself. "Hush, little baby, don't say a word..." his treble voice quavered in the unfamiliar setting. And then, just as his physique was caught between his and Suzie's, the lullaby transitioned inexplicably, becoming a traditional Korean song—"Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo…" And just like that, Kevin was no more. Standing in the quaint salon in place of a six-year-old boy was the svelte figure of Suzie, wearing the exact copy of her outfit, sans the jewelry and platform sandals. Somehow, though his memories were being rewritten, a latent part of Kevin was cognizant and terrified—he was now older than his dear grandma and mother. Feeling like a lost puppet whose strings were being pulled in multiple directions, the transformed Kevin found solace in singing, “…crossing over Arirang Pass. The one who abandoned me…” With every note of this traditional Korean song, the reinvented Kevin's voice and accent were becoming more Korean. As the metamorphosis completed and the song faded, an inexplicable calm settled over the Korean woman standing in the salon. She brushed her hair to the side, the vivid realization of her transformation sinking in. With a quiet sigh, she glanced around the room, scanning every corner before walking over to the counter where her jewelry lay. One by one, she picked up each ornamental piece—a set of gold hoops, a pearl chain, a silver bangle, adorned herself efficiently, each item finding its designated slot on her transformed body. Her diamond wedding band was next, the circular piece of jewelry slipped onto her ring finger. All that was left was her pair of platform sandals. Making her way to a nearby chair, she sat down, sliding her feet into the heeled beauties. Bending down, she manually adjusted each strap, ensuring the sandals hugged her feet perfectly. She wriggled her toes for good measure, the tip of her bright red nails peeking out from the open toe design. A nod of satisfaction later, she was striding elegantly across the room, the sound of her sandals clicking rhythmically against the tiled floor echoing in the silence of the salon. As she walked, she could not shake off a weird feeling of déjà vu as if she had repeated these actions before. But then she remembered: she had removed her sandals, jewelry, and wedding ring earlier to give her aching body some rest, the long hours spent standing taking their toll. Looking around the salon, she wondered where the young boy had vanished. “Vhere little boy? How he gone I no leave room?” her dulcet voice echoing with confusion. But since he was nowhere to be found, she went about tidying up her salon, adjusting her platform sandals periodically as they were still fairly new and stiff. Her regular thudding footsteps and hummed traditional Korean song provided a comforting rhythm as she worked, lost in thoughts. As she swept the floor, she glanced down at her platform sandals, elegantly crowning her painted toenails. Frowning, she decided to adjust them once again. Slipping them off, refluffing the insoles, and trying them on again, she finally felt comfortable. "Repetition makes perfect," Suzie mused, her shifted life embracing duality and the inexplicable in equal measure.