Edits - Ch 6.2.1.1.1

Chapter 6.2.1.1.1 - Chris becomes Tim’s younger brother.

<<Previous (6.2.1.1) / Outline

Outside of the building now, Chris and Tim cut through a hole in a fence and entered a wooded area with a small creek running through it. Tim felt himself relax now that they were off school grounds and out of sight. They walked forward, gathering little prickers from the weeds, which clung to their socks.

“So…” Tim said as they reached the water, “Where are we going?”

Chris paused as he was about to leap over the creek and turned back to Tim. “Anywhere we want,” he said. “I don’t really care, honestly.”

Tim felt as though he wanted to regroup and take a little time to plan their next move. “How about we go to my house?”

“Okay,” Chris said. “You lead the way. I’ll hang back, I guess. People might have questions if they see you wandering around with some kid.”

That gave Tim an idea. “What if you weren’t just some kid?” he said, opening up the app on his phone.

“You gonna make me older again?” Chris asked without betraying any hope.

Tim shook his head. “I thought I might change your life a little to give us an excuse for hanging out together.”

He opened up Chris’s caption, which read:

Chris Baker is an 11-year-old boy. (Show more.)

A careful edit changed it to read:

Chris Smith is an 11-year-old boy. His older brother is Tim Smith. After this family change, Chris will keep the memories of his old life while having knowledge of his new life. (Show more.)

“That should do it,” Tim said, saving the changes.

“Do what?” Chris asked.

The progress bar rapidly filled, as there were no physical changes happening to Chris’s body. Then, the high pitch whine began, growing louder until it cut off with a flash of bright light, rivaling the sun above them. In the silence and relative darkness of the shade by the creek, Tim waited for Chris to react to the change.

“What did you do, bro?” Chris asked, holding his hand against his temple. “My head feels… funny.”

“Did you hear what you just called me?” Tim asked, suppressing a smile.

“No,” Chris said, shaking his head to clear it. “Did I call you ‘stupid’ or something?”

Tim shook his head and asked, “Who am I to you?”

“What do you mean? You’re…” Chris paused, staring at Tim as if he were seeing him for the first time. “...my brother?”

Tim nodded.

“What!?” Chris said, taking a step back in confusion. “That’s not right. We’re not… I mean, we weren’t before, but now…” He stared off into the distance, trying to sort out his thoughts. “When I think of you, it feels like you’re part of my family, like I’ve known you my whole life.” He made eye contact with Tim and said, “Wow… This is kinda weird.”

“Bad ‘weird?’” Tim asked.

“No, just… different.”

“Want to go home?” Tim asked.

“‘Home?’” Chris said, staring off into the distance, again. “Yeah.” He nodded. “And, I know exactly how to get there, now. Come on.” He leapt over the creek and Tim followed after him.

They pushed through the tree line and after cutting through a few backyards, they walked out onto the sidewalk of a residential street. Tim was vaguely aware of where they were.

“I know which way to go,” Chris said. “Over here.”

They crossed the street together and cut through more backyards. Soon, Tim recognized some of his neighbor’s houses.

“There we are,” Chris said, pausing as they entered the backyard of Tim’s house… their house. “We’re home.”

They hurried around to the front door, and Tim unlocked it, letting them both inside. He shut the door behind them and watched as Chris took a few hesitant steps into the foyer.

“Hello?” Chris called out. “Anyone home?”

The house was silent.

“We’re alone,” Chris said and turned his attention to the stairs beside them. “My bedroom… It’s the one at the end of the hall, right?” He turned to Tim.

Tim shrugged. “It might be. You’d know better than I do.”

Chris took off running up the stairs, and Tim followed, lagging behind his brother, giving Chris a few moments alone upstairs.

When Tim reached the room, which his parents had been using as a storage room before, he found that it was now furnished as though it belonged to an 11-year-old boy. Chris was standing in the middle of the room, gradually turning around, taking it all in, slowly. The posters on the walls, the shelves of toys, the loft bed, the little desk beneath it, the entertainment system beside the dresser, it all appeared to have been there for years, despite only having appeared less than an hour ago.

“This is my bedroom,” Chris said, seemingly amazed that it was true. “This is my stuff… all of it.”

When Chris turned to face Tim, there were tears forming in his eyes.

“My own room,” Chris said, his voice cracking. “I never had my own room when I was a kid.” He sniffled. “I shared a room with my big brothers… couple of jerks, always picking on me. We had to share everything. All my clothes were hand-me-downs. All my toys, too. Now… Look at that.” He pointed at the screen beside him. “I’ve got my own TV. I’ve got a games console. There’s only one bed in here, my bed. It’s all mine. I’m…” Tears poured down his cheeks. “I’m so happy.”

Tim walked up to Chris and put a comforting hand on the boy’s shoulder. Chris suddenly wrapped his arms around Tim’s chest and pulled him into a hug. Tim felt the boy's tears soaking into his shirt as Chris tried to hold back his sobs. Tim hugged his little brother back.

“T-thank you,” Chris said. “Thank you for… letting me be your brother.”

“Then, you’re happy with things this way?” Tim asked.

Chris slightly nodded his head against Tim’s chest. “Yes,” he said and sniffled again. “I am. I’ll be a good little brother. I promise.”

“Okay,” Tim said and waited for Chris to finish crying before they ended the hug.

Chris dried his face on his own shirt and snorted back his dripping nose. “Sorry,” he said. “I’m okay now. I’m good.”

“What do you want to do now?” Tim asked, holding up his phone.

Chris looked at the phone and back at Tim. Then, he smiled. “I’ve got an idea or two.”

What does Chris want to do with the app?

He wants to go to the mall and mess with some rich shoppers. (6.2.1.1.1.1)

He wants Tim to be his twin brother.

He wants to get revenge on his former brothers.

He wants to go for a walk and find a random person to mess with.