Why Harry Became His Sister's Replacement

Once upon a time, an 8-year-old boy named Harry visited his best friend Shane's house, a pocket full of cash for an epic evening of pizza, soda, and candy. Shane, too, had saved some cash for their plans. As they excitedly counted out their day's hoard, the living room door creaked open and in walked Holly, Shane's 16-year-old sister with a cavalier swagger. Laying her eyes on the heap of cash, Holly swooped in and grabbed it. Flicking her nails nonchalantly, she said, “This should cover getting my hands and feet done, or maybe buying new makeup or perhaps getting my hair styled,” before strutting out of the room, leaving her brother and his friend crestfallen. While Shane retreated to his room, Harry was filled with determination to retrieve the misappropriated cash. Holly was away from the house now, so Harry saw his chance. He snuck into Holly's room, a land filled with teenage-girl tokens that made him wrinkle his nose in distaste, but Harry had a mission. Spotting the cash on a shelf, he climbed up and reclaimed it. As he landed, his feet slipped into a pair of Holly’s purple glittery flip flops. Clutching the cash, he waddled out of the room but found Shane's room to be deserted. He kicked off the uncomfortable flip flops, but as he did, he felt a tingling sensation. His feet began to grow, transforming into a replica of Holly's. What followed next was a series of changes that led to a whirlwind of fear and confusion. His arms feminized, his voice turned high-pitched, his teeth became shiny straight rows seen in teens, and his hair lightened into blond with brown highlights. His clothes morphed into small purple shorts and a pink t-shirt, and a bracelet appeared on his wrist. His eyes turned the emerald green of Holly's, and even his earlobes experienced a sharp pinch as if they were getting pierced. He tried to scream, but it came out in Holly's voice. He felt his memories shift, forgetting about his life as Harry and remembering only being Holly. He found himself standing in his younger brother's room confused as to why she was still home. Spotting her own purple flip flops on the floor, she slipped them on and remarked, “What a little creep! I'll have to tell mom he's been raiding my wardrobe!” Holly then noticed all the cash on the floor, picking it up and clip-clopping back to her room. She stashed the money in her purse, threw it over her shoulder, and grabbed her car keys. "I'm so making a day of it. A full spa treatment at the nail salon sounds just right. Their kiddie food fund can wait,” announced Holly. Padding to her pink car, she drove off to the mall, oblivious to the fact that Harry was no more, and she, in truth, had once been his best friend's friend. She could not remember that fact, nor the hard work it took for two little boys to save up for their pizza, soda, and candy day.