Little Man

"Austin, breakfast is ready," Madelyn calls from the bottom of the stairs. She half expects her brother to be late waking up. Oddly it only takes a moment for him to appear at the top staring down at her. "Well this is a surprise," she chuckles with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" he seems to not recognize her.

"Um… I live here," she answers in an annoyed tone."

"Since when?" he is genuinely confused.

"I don't know. Since always," she shrugs. She has no idea why he is being so distant. "Come on, I made eggs with toast."

"That's it?" he groans while trotting down the stairs. "Couldn't you make something more extravagant?"

"Be grateful you're not starving," she crosses her arms angrily. "Mom is never home to cook for us so this is the best you'll get."

"Have you always made breakfast?" he ponders out loud.

"I think so," she rubs her chin in thought. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I'm pretty sure I always have cereal in the morning."

"I remember that as well," she agrees. "You are always eating it when I come to the door."

"Why do I greet you at the door if you live here?" he asks a good question.

"I don't know," she is slightly annoyed. "Just eat your breakfast before it gets cold."

"Yes, ma'am," he sits down at one end of the kitchen table. She takes her place on the other side as he starts to tear his toast in half. She watches carefully as he sets aside a portion of food in his napkin.

"Do you have to do that?" she grumbles.

"It helps," he assures her.

"How so?" she doesn't believe him. "It doesn't matter how much you feed that thing it won't fix anything."

"It doesn't hurt to try," he shrugs. She lowers her face to stare at her plate, trying to avoid watching his strange ritual.

After they have both finished, he scoops up the napkin of leftovers while heading toward the door. "Don't forget your things," she motions toward his backpack full of supplies for school.

"Can you handle them?" he calls back to her on his way out the front door. She grumbles while sauntering to the corner where his belongings are still strewn after being discarded the previous day. After gathering them up into a neat stack, she shoves them into the backpack without much care.

Austin has already disappeared from sight by the time she makes it outside. She doesn't have to look far to find him though as she knows exactly where he is headed. A few blocks down the street on the right is the broken-down church where they often chose to play together when they were younger. As expected, Austin is inside kneeling in front of the altar with his offering of food.

"Took you a while," he scolds as she joins him on her knees.

"Is this really necessary?" she mumbles while bowing her head. With one eye closed she glances up at the statue in front of them. It is about two feet tall, made out of marble and sculpted to look like a normal pastor.

Austin elbows her side to keep her quiet. "It can hear you," he hisses.

"I know it can," she snaps in a whisper. "Just as long as we don't ask for anything it will be fine. Besides," she suddenly raises her voice, "it doesn't matter how loud we are. It is always watching. We could be miles away and it would still grant our wish."

"I know that already," he elbows her again. "Look there," he points to several brown feathers sticking out of the statue.

"There's one missing," she gasps. "What do you suppose happened?"

"Did you make a wish?" he accuses.

"No, did you?" she counters.

"I don't think so," he shakes his head. "What was the last thing we wished for anyway?"

"I can't remember. It always becomes so confusing," she clutches the sides of her head.

"That's part of the process," he sighs. "Not only is the past changed but our memory as well. For all we know we might not even be who we think we are."

"Don't even suggest that," she shivers. "Can you imagine if one of us was a perfect stranger?"

"It's probably you," he points an accusing finger at her.

"Very funny," she frowns. "We have to get to school." He rises first before helping her stand by yanking on her arm. They both rush down the blue carpet side by side, away from the altar. The sun has started to shine already when they exit through the broken stain glass doors. "That place always gives me the creeps," she shudders as the warm sunlight hits her skin.

"We don't have a choice," he reminds her. "It is our responsibility to watch over that thing and try to prevent people from making unnecessary wishes."

"Why?" she complains. "Just because we were the first to use it doesn't mean we are the only ones. Many people have made the mistake of asking for something from the little man."

"But none of them realize that it comes true," he answers. "Their memories all change too much."

"How long will we have to keep doing this though?" she continues to mope.

"Until the last feather is gone and no more wishes remain," he crosses his arms pompously. Madelyn simply shakes her head in disappointment. This is by no means a successful plan in her opinion. Supposedly the idea of offering food and prayers to the little man will make him less angry and more agreeable when it comes time for him to grant a request. The hope is that he will not go overboard and ruin someone's life.

Unfortunately little success has been noted as they can not really remember what changes he has made to their lives at this point. All they know is that they hope to lessen the number of people using the feathers for their own selfish reasons. "We're already late," she gasps while checking her watch. She grabs his hand to drag him along the street in the direction of school.

Their friends are already waiting for them in the class room when they arrive. "Well if it isn't the A.M. twins," Mary laughs as the skinny brunette pair take their seats on either side of her.

"The what?" they both look at her in confusion.

"A is for Austin and M is for Madelyn," she quickly explains.

"I got that," Madelyn nods. "You've just never called us that before."

"I haven't?" Mary scratches her head. "I've been waiting for a chance to use it. Today just seemed like the perfect time."

"Why today?" Austin is still curious. "We've been sitting here all year."

"Perhaps this is the first time I realized you were twins," she shrugs.

"How can you not have?" Austin is a little annoyed. "We come to school together everyday."

"Well, your names are different," Mary reminds them, "Austin Gale and Madelyn Finice."

"What?" Austin and Madelyn share a confused glance before grabbing their school planners to check.

"She's right," Madelyn gasps as she spots the name on the cover. "What is our parents' name?"

"Gale," Austin answers, "Todd and Sheryl Gale."

"So why is my last name Finice?" Madelyn frowns.

"Perhaps you changed it," he shrugs.

"Changed it how? With a wish?" Madelyn is not convinced.

"A what?" Mary doesn't understand the conversation topic.

Before they can bother explaining or lying to her, their second friend enters the classroom, taking their attention. "What's up?" George asks as he takes his seat in front of Mary.

"Get a load of this," Mary chimes excitedly. "The twins aren't twins."

"I knew that," George chuckles. "They've never been twins."

"They haven't?" Mary leans back in shock.

"Wait," George starts to scratch is head. "Never mind, of course they're twins. What am I saying?"

"Well they don't have the same name," Mary continues.

"That's news to me," George grins excitedly. "Show me." Obediently the siblings show him their planners. "Interesting," he chuckles. "So basically, you have a misprint."

"Well that's possible," Madelyn agrees. "But I'm pretty sure my name has always been Finice."

"Really?" George shrugs. "I've never really paid attention. I thought it was Gale."

"My name is Gale," Austin raises his hand.

"And you are twins?" George leans toward him.

"Yes," Austin confirms.

"Then her name is Gale too," he laughs, "end of story."

"But…" Mary continues to argue.

"Out of the way, commoners," a shrill voice cuts her off. All four of them turn to face the sliding door as Alice Monroe struts into the classroom.

"What does she mean by commoners?" the boy next to George asks.

"Is she some sort of bureaucrat?" another student ponders.

"Isn't she just from a middleclass family?" the girl in front of Austin states.

"Alice!" Madelyn waves her friend over.

"What might you want?" she demands in a pompous tone.

"Drop the attitude," Madelyn orders. "We need to talk."

"I do not socialize with the likes of you," Alice scoffs before taking her seat at the front of the class.

"What was that about?" Madelyn grits her teeth.

"She's really going all out on the role," George nods.

"What role?" Mary looks at him in confusion.

"I…" he stutters. "I'm not sure. Isn't she just as poor as us?"

"No," Mary shakes her head. "Her parents own that huge company."

"What company?" Madelyn pries.

"The one with all the new ideas and the foreign employees," Mary answers.

"Oh, that company," Austin nods. "Was there really such a thing?"

"Of course there was," George responds. "I mean we've all heard of it?"

"Since when?" Madelyn demands, "a few seconds ago? I'm not sure it existed until we thought about it."

"Are you saying…?" Austin's eyes widen.

"She's definitely our feather thief," Madelyn nods.

"Your what?" Mary still doesn't understand.

"Are you guys talking about that statue again?" George sighs.

"It's real," Madelyn insists. "We showed you."

"All I saw was one feather disappear. Nothing else changed."

"It did," Austin urges. "You just don't remember."

"What changed then?" he crosses his arms.

"Well…" Austin rolls his eyes while thinking.

"You don't remember either," George surmises.

"But we know it happened," Madelyn takes her brother's side.

"Just forget it," George closes his eyes. "Don't drag me into your delusions."

"Aright, class, take your seats," the teacher, Mr. Briggs, ends their discussion as soon as he enters the room. "Would anyone like to remind us where we left off yesterday? Alice," he points to the front row as she raises her hand.

"Why do I have to learn this?" she asks in an annoyed tone.

"Excuse me?" he raises an eyebrow.

"Why should I have to sit here with common people for lessons that don't concern one such as myself?"

"What are you talking about, Alice?" Mr. Briggs grumbles. "You've been learning this all year."

"But why?" she continues to argue. "My parents can definitely afford a private tutor for me."

"Really?" Mr. Briggs seems surprised, "since when? I thought you applied for financial assistance when you first transferred."

"Did she really?" the student next to her gasps. "Are you really that poor?"

"I'm not," Alice raises her voice.

"Let me see your lunch pass," Mr. Briggs holds out his hand. Reluctantly Alice retrieves the piece of paper from her bag. "See here," he points to the tiny unreadable font, "exempt from all supplementary charges."

"But why?" Alice snatches it back. "My parents can definitely afford it now."

"Now?" the teacher becomes even more suspicious.

"I'm mean always," Alice corrects herself. "They've always been rich. Why would they send me to public school with financial benefits?"

"Maybe they just don't care about you," Mr. Briggs suggests.

"How dare you?" Alice is shocked.

"Where are they now?" he asks. "Do they live in town?"

"No," Alice shakes her head. "They travel pretty much all the time."

"Well, if they can afford that then they must have some sort of money," the teacher sighs. "Either way they can afford to pay your lunch bills so this is definitely a case of fraud. I'm going to have to send you to the principal. Here," he scribbles out a quick note for her. "I assume you will be suspended and perhaps expelled," he shakes his head disappointedly.

"What?" Alice starts to tremble. "What about my friends?" she looks back at Madelyn and Mary.

"I thought you didn't want to talk to the likes of us!" Mary shouts from across the room.

"That's enough," The teacher glares at her. "You can discuss personal matters later. I have a class to teach."

"This is great!" another student shouts at Alice. "You didn't want to go to public school, right?"

"That's not what I meant," she mopes as the rest of the class joins in mocking her, driving her from the room.

"That's strange," Madelyn scratches her head. "I can't believe her parents would do such a thing. They were always so nice."

"You've met them?" George is surprised.

"We both have," Madelyn grabs Mary's shoulder. "Remember?"

"I think so," Mary wracks her brain. "I don't know when though. They have always been traveling."

"Not always," Austin states in an ominous tone. "This is definitely the little man's doing."

"Will you give it a rest already?" George scoffs.

"Be quiet!" Mr. Briggs scolds them.

"Yes, sir," they all answer obediently.

Alice is waiting for them outside the school grounds at the end of the day. "Well, hello, darling," Madelyn grins at her. "Enjoying the high life?"

"No," she mopes. "I don't understand."

"What don't you understand?" Mary glares at her. "You abandoned your friends as soon as you came into money."

"But I don't have money. Do I? I don't think my parents are supposed to be rich."

"They're not," Madelyn agrees. "It's your fault."

"What is?" Alice is confused.

"Didn't you wish they had more money?" Austin asks.

"Certainly," she nods. "Yesterday, I was begging them for a larger allowance and they said no. I wished that they had money to waste on me and then…"

"And then what?" Austin pries.

"And then I remembered that they owned a huge company and my allowance was already quite large. I have no idea why I was even asking for more to begin with."

"She doesn't remember," Madelyn gasps.

"Just like always," Austin nods. "Is this enough to convince you?" he looks at George.

"No," he shakes his head. "She simply cried for a bigger allowance when she didn't need it. And forgot that her parents were rich."

"I have a question," Mary raises her hand. "Where are your parents right now?" she directs her attention to Alice.

"Abroad," she answers calmly.

"How long have they been away?" Mary continues.

"At least a week," Alice tries to recall.

"Then you were talking on the phone with them?" Mary tries to confirm.

"When?" Alive is confused.

"When you asked for a higher allowance."

"No, they were there in person," she bobs her head while remembering.

"Impossible," Mary shouts, surprising them all. "You just said they have been gone for a week."

"What?" Alice leaps back. "How can that be? I was sure I spoke to them just yesterday."

"The past was changed," Austin snaps his fingers.

"No way," George shoves him by the shoulders. "Let's just forget about her."

"Wait," Alice tries to stop them.

"Should we help?" Madelyn looks at Austin.

"She did this to herself," he shrugs.

"What am I supposed to do?" Alice begs. "I thought you were my friends."

"We thought so too," Mary glares at her.

"I'm sorry!" she wails as they walk off.

"Let's go sing karaoke," George shouts while resting his hands behind his head.

"Great idea," Mary pats him on the back.

"Are you all really fine with this?" Madelyn questions them. "Shouldn't we help her undo the wish?"

"Why should we waste another feather on her?" Austin sighs. "She has to make up her own mind. I'm up first," he turns his attention back to George.

"I'm second," Mary raises her hand.

"Third," George quickly yells.

"Um… fourth," Madelyn mumbles.

"Of course you are. You're last," Mary laughs at her. Together they head toward the center of town, leaving Alice alone to mope.