For the last couple of days, I’ve been waking up as ‘new Penn,’ and Des is starting to get suspicious. Lately, it’s been lasting all afternoon, and by the time I come back home, I’ve returned to my old self. It’s starting to get irritating. I’ve been skipping classes left and right—sending in homework online and praying my professors don’t withdraw me from their classes. Oh, and that Mr. Powers doesn’t fire me. God forbid if I lose the best job I’ve ever had.

I seriously need to get a handle on these transformations—that is, if there is one. I hope so.

I wrote a brief note for Des, explaining that I was leaving for the day. If there was ever a time for Des to be the closest thing to a saint, it was now. Nearly every day this week she’s been trying to get me to confess my dilemma, and when I narrowly dodge the question, she doesn’t push it. How I would love someone to talk to about this, but how do you explain the impossible to someone so down to earth? I’m not sure if she’d believe me or throw me in the loony bin. If she picked the latter, I wouldn’t blame her. If this wasn’t happening to me this very minute, I wouldn’t believe it. At least, not at first.

I grabbed one of our magnets and placed the note on the fridge. 

*****

I started to make my way to the park. It was still early, so the only people out were the exercise junkies that needed their morning run before their morning coffee. I decided that I wasn’t going to investigate in the lab today. It only made me more frustrated. The entries were vague as I continued to read them chronologically. There were just too many, and my patience was starting to run out.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, I answered it soon as I looked at the caller ID.

“Reese’s Pieces! What’s going on?”

“Penn?” He asked cautiously. “Wait a second, are you sure you’re my sister? You’re actually awake on a Saturday morning. This is freaking me out.”

“I know, right? I should be watching my cartoons. Although they don’t make them like they used to. Sad, really.” I sighed. “Did you want to meet today?”

“I can’t. I just wanted to talk for a bit. Your voice sounds kinda funny. Are you sick or something?”

I cleared my throat, forgetting for a moment that I was new Penn. “Oh, yeah, I’m getting over this cold. It got me good these last couple of days.”

“Are you ok?” He inquired, clearly worried.

I smiled as I walked past the park. “I’ll be fine. You know me, it takes more than a little cold to get Penn Benson down.”

Reese laughed, sounding relieved. “I definitely just imagined you doing a superhero pose just now. Please tell me you have both hands on your hips. That would be perfect.”

I chuckled for a moment. “Shh! It’s a secret!”

“So, what are your plans for the day, Penn? It probably has something to do with reading comics, doesn’t it?”

I grinned at that, and the next thing I knew, I was heading towards Reese’s neighborhood. Without intending to, I went to him. “Something like that.” I drew closer to his house—he didn’t live too much farther from the park. “What are you doing today? You got a hot date I don’t know about?” I teased.

“Hey, maybe I do!” He defended himself. “Well… there is this one girl I like at school, but... never mind. It’s dumb. This isn’t the kind of thing you talk to with your sister.”

“If you say it’s Des, I promise not to laugh too loud.” I joked.

He stood quiet on the phone for a moment. “Hold on for a second, Aunt Judy is coming.”

I nodded even though I knew he couldn’t see me.

I turned the corner and spotted the evil castle. It was an old Victorian house that had more rooms then people in it. There was a large, white wrap around porch, and roofs that you could climb out of windows to get on.

When I lived there, I would crawl out of my window and onto the flat rooftop. I would just sit there to get away from Judy’s incessant crowing. Between that and the porch, I would write in my notebooks, coming up with worlds I could escape to. A new home with a loving family and an insane aunt in an impenetrable prison. Go figure that I only felt safe on the outside of the house rather than within it.

I can only imagine what Reese must feel now that he’s not able to join me on our secret spot. Our safe haven.

I paused at the corner, beside a purple minivan. I watched Reese step out onto the porch, pacing as he finally began to speak to me again.

“Sorry about that. You know how Aunt Judy gets when I talk to you.”

“It’s ok.” I half-whispered. “So... about this girl you like… what’s her name?”

“Penn…” he whined. “Are you really going to make me say it?”

“Of course!” I tried not to talk too loudly. I didn’t want him to see the new me—even more than I didn’t want Des to see new Penn. How awkward would that be? I can’t even imagine it. “If you can’t talk to me about these things, then who can you talk to? Gargamel over there?”

He chuckle-sighed. “Good point.” After another pause, he spoke. “Well, her name is Anna. She’s in half my classes. She’s…”

“Hot?” I winked like he could see exactly what I was doing.

“Not exactly. More like one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen. She’s so nice and smart and… awesome.” He took a moment to collect himself. I watched him stop his pacing. He seemed to smile as he thought about Anna.

“You really like her, don’t you, Reese?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Oh my gosh! My little brother is growing up!”

He laughed a little before saying, “I don’t know what to do. My friends think I should ask her out, but what if she says no, Penn? I don’t know what I’d do if she said no. It’d be so embarrassing!” I caught him rubbing one of his hands down his face.

“Relax, Reese’s Pieces.” I said calmly. “If you really like this girl, you should go for it. If she rejects you then it’s her loss.” Reese started to pace again. “Dating is a gamble. Trust me, I know. But just be the gentleman I know you are, and if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. You’ll be the best date ever. I can feel it.”

He stood there, looking at the house across the street. “Yeah, I see what you’re saying. Ok. I’m going to do it!”

“Yay!” I cheered him on. “Good luck. Oh, and just a warning, if I hear anything about any inappropriate… actions... between you two I will most definitely be bringing down the power of Storm on your little behind.”

Reese actually gave into some hardcore laughter on that one. “Jeez, Penn, let me ask Anna out first.”

Even from this distance, I could hear Judy roaring for Reese.

“I have to go, Penn.”

“Yeah, I hear that.” I frowned. “It was good to hear from you, Reese.”

“I know.” Before he hung up, he said, “I miss you too.”