As Tony stared, a pair of large powerful hands grabbed his shoulders almost painfully from behind. Tony felt hot breath by his ear and a familiar voice whispered, “I’m jealous.” Tony gasped, and grinning Brian Hossler spun Tony around. Still recovering Tony stammered, “What do you mean Brian?” Brian chuckles and shakes his head, “You know you can’t fool me Tony.” Tony looks sheepish. “Don’t worry man. It was easy for me to guess but most people don’t know what you can do, so they figure Donnie’s just having one really freaky growth spurt.” Tony sighed in relief. “Yeah, Donnie’s really a good guy and now that he has got some size, people are starting to realize it. Your gift was well placed,” Brian continued. Tony asks, “Are you really jealous??? Anytime you want, just…” Brian cuts Tony off saying, “No man, I’m just as happy as a clam the way I am… I was just pulling your chain…” As they changed and join the rest of the class in the gym, Tony continued, “He always was one of the best basketball players but as small as…” “Yeah you don’t need to convince me man, you did good,” chuckled Brian.

Coz brought out several basketballs and out of habit picked the usual team captains that proceeded to pick the pretty much usual teams. With his new size Donnie had moved from being a late pick to an early first round choice. Today instead of making Tony his first round pick Brian picked Donnie and then Tony on the second round. Tony was pleased with the idea of playing with both Brian and Donnie and was delighted the they would be playing “skins” until he realized that meant he would be shirtless too. It wasn’t that Tony was ashamed of his body; he was on the swim team and in a Speedo you can’t hide much. As a swimmer the layer of baby fat that still cover most of his body wasn’t a problem for him and that the fat jiggled a bit when he moved was hidden in the water. He was one of the better swimmers on the team and his teammates respected him enough to not tease him. But he did sometimes get catcalls from the swimmers on the other teams and the spectators. Scott and Teddy the other guys Brian had picked weren’t teen muscle gods like Brian and Donnie, if anything they were thin but what muscle they had was nicely defined. A bit reluctantly Tony pealed off his t-shirt and sighed to himself; “I’m a swimmer, so it’s ok to be built like a ‘seal’…” but not completely believing it himself.

Andy caught up to Tony after school just before Tony walked out the door to head home. “Hey Tony,” said Andy as he trotted up to Tony, “you up for a match, man? It’s been ages since we had a good battle.” Distracted Tony answered, “Huhh??? Oh, Hi Andy, did you say something, what’s up?” “Well it isn’t you I guess,” said Andy, “I asked if you were up for a game, Tony.” Still mostly self-absorbed Tony replied, “Game?” “Yes, Ground Control to Tony do you read me Tony??? ‘Duel Monsters’ battles… where you always trounce me… You want to play Yu-Gi-Oh?” Finally coming out of his stupor Tony answers, “Oh, sure Andy anytime.” Andy looks at Tony a bit confused and says, “Is there something wrong Tony, you seem to be a million miles away this afternoon.” Tony mocks a diabolic laugh, “Ah, so that’s why you want to battle now, you figure if I’m distracted I’ll be easy prey.” “Yeah, right,” Andy chuckles, “I would need to be Yugi himself to have a real chance of beating you.” Andy and Tony start walking home together, eventually Andy asks, “So do you want a match or not." "Okay Andy, but just a quick one I've got a ton of homework to night. You can stop at my place for a quick battle before dinner and since your folks eat late you’ll still be on time for dinner with them. Okay?” “Okay but only if you sleep over Friday and Saturday nights and we have a real tournament, I’ll get some other players to come and you can invite whoever you want too,” said Andy. “Assuming it’s cool with my mom it’s a date… but I really can’t think of anyone to invite,” said Tony. “Well, what about Brian Hossler, the two of you seem to have some sort of relationship or the new giant of your PE class the now “hulking” Mr. Duckworth… you had something to do with that didn’t you Tony?” Tony stops dead in his tracks… “And what if I did… Yes I give him a push, I felt bad that the most skilled basketball player in the school wasn’t on the school team and got pounded in PE class because he was smaller than ‘Tiny Tim,’ so what!” “Chill Tony,” said Andy. “I think it’s great what you did for him, I take it that unlike Brian, myself and I would guess Shane, Donnie doesn’t know you gave him a boost… letting him grow slowly was a good idea nothing to explain away.” Tony started to stalk toward home past Andy saying, “I’m so glad you approve…” A bit shocked Andy trotted to catch up with Tony saying, “Relax Tony… calm down… I didn’t mean to upset you… just slow down and talk to me.” Tony stopped and sighed, “You’re right you didn’t do anything for me to be upset with you about and neither did Brian…” “Tony will you please tell me what you’re upset about?” asked Andy as he put his hand on Tony’s shoulder and gently turned him around. Tony smiled shaking his head as he recalled the similar encounter with Brian in the locker room earlier. “I don’t know if you would understand but when I use my power it can sometime cause… Let’s call them unexpected side effects. Like when I made Donnie grow, I didn’t know his dad had been out of work and they were barely keeping food on the table. So what do I do??? I turn Donnie into an insatiable eating machine that out grows his clothes a couple times a week. I fixed it that his dad won a bit of money on the lottery so they’re getting by better then they were before I turned Donnie into the “Hulk.” I don’t know if I hurt anyone with that little trick and I don’t want to know. And when I tried to make things better for Mike Matthews…” “You mean Mick Matthews our all state wrestler. What did you do for him? He’s a bit short but he’s got quiet a build,” Said Andy. “I mean Mike... Mick is an alternate reality version of Mike and there are actually two Micks. The one you know is 3 inches shorter and 30lb lighter than the original Mick. I shrank him a little because big Mick’s appearing trashed Travis’s life. And both of the Mick's are about 200lb lighter than Mike. Just thinking about that mess gives me a headache. I made you and Brian stud-muffins... no big deal... I try to stop Mark Tinsley’s goons tormenting a nice, though obese, guy and Mike gets a new life as Mick and Travis ends up a fat junkie. I didn't intend for that to happen it just did… I remember them all because I altered the timeline. I really don’t want to think about it,” Tony said as he pulled away from Andy and started walking again.

Andy caught up to Tony again in a couple of second and started to walk with him again and said, “I knew we were in the ‘Twilight Zone’ after what you did for Brian and me, but if you’re suggesting what I think you are, we’re also in the ‘Outer Limits,’ at the intersection of the Bermuda Triangle and ‘Eerie, Indiana’.” “I think you have the general idea,” said Tony, “Let’s get home so I can whoop your behind with the cards!” And Tony’s gate changed to a brisk jog and he thought to himself, “Maybe a little running will help clear my head and if I make it a habit it should help me burn off some of this blubber.”

The next morning Tony elected to jog to school for the exercise and look up Shane for a talk. “He’s really not a bad guy, a bit thoughtless and uncaring but since our last talk he’s turned over a new leaf,” Tony thought. It wasn’t hard to find Shane as usual he was hanging with Brian and the other football jocks that didn’t turn on Brian when he let it be known that he wanted Tony as part of his circle of friends. The trick would be to find Shane alone. After failing to get the opportunity during school Tony decided that his best bet was the same secluded part of Shane’s route home where he had first confronted Shane.

Tony lounged against a tree waiting for Shane. As he did he reached into his pocket for a cigarette but as he was about to light it Tony thought to himself, “No, you were right about that Shane, smoking is bad for my health.” And Tony crushed the cigarette and dropped it to the ground. Tony then pulled out the rest of the pack, crushed and dropped them and ground the remains into the dirt. “D’you decide to quit?” said Shane, a bit of concern in his voice, as he walked up to Tony, recalling their last encounter here. Tony was a bit startled at Shane’s sudden appearance, “Hi Shane, I didn’t hear you coming… Yeah I decided you were right they aren’t healthy.” Tony smiled and walked over to Shane, who backed up a step, and was relieved to find he was still able to move his feet. Tony picked up on the concern that showed on Shane’s face. “Don’t worry Shane I’m not going to do anything to you. You really are an okay guy just a bit dense at times. I was hoping you could do me a favor,” Tony said. Still concerned Shane answered. “Sure Tony, but what could I possibly do for you that you couldn’t do on your own.” Tony replied, “I want you to help me get into shape… Burn off my flab and build some decent muscle.” Shane started to laugh but checked himself quickly, “But why??? Couldn’t you just zap yourself into any sort of body you wanted?” Tony looked down and replied, “I guess I could, but that’s not the point… I want to have to work for it… To prove to myself that I can do it the way you and Brian did before I gave you a boost.” Starting to relax a bit but still confused Shane replies, “But why are you asking me, why not Hossler, the two of you are tight.” Tony looks back up and says, “I don’t want Brian to know anything about this,” and to empress on Shane that he was serious about Brian not learning of his plans Tony added, “if he does, you’ll wake up with that teeny weenie again.” Terror flashed across Shane’s face but Tony smiled warmly and gently put his hand on Shane arm and said, “I’m just kidding, but Brian is not to know anything about this. What I want you to do is act as a coach, personal trainer, workout partner, ass kicker whatever it takes to get me in shape; and what gains I make you’ll get too, so the bigger you make me grow the bigger you get. Is it a deal Shane?” Tony extended his hand to shake on the agreement. Shane hesitated at first but then took Tony’s hand saying, “No Teeny Weenie?” Tony grinned, and the already sizable bulge in Shane’s jeans swelled a bit. Shane grinned broadly and replied, “Okay, Deal!” Shane puts his beefy arm across Tony’s shoulders and the pair started to walk towards Shane’s place. “So Tony,” Shane asked, “what exactly are you looking to accomplish?” •