Dr. Dennis Reed is a thirty year old physician with a seven year old daughter named Melody. It is a sunny Sunday afternoon and he is sitting on a park bench next to another man about the same age. They are watching their daughters play as they discuss the current events of the day.

DENNIS REED: Nice to finally get outside and enjoy the sunshine for a change.

NICHOLAS LAKE: I know what you mean. Being a single parent of an eight year old girl is a time consuming job.

DENNIS REED: Try being a single parent and a physician.

NICHOLAS LAKE: You’re a physician?

DENNIS REED: Yep, Doctor Dennis Reed. I’m head surgeon at County General Hospital.

NICHOLAS LAKE: I thought that you guys were out of a job ever since the satellite was shot into orbit. Hasn’t that wiped out all diseases and disabilities?

DENNIS REED: Not yet. They can’t say how long it will take before it has completed its task. But until then I’m still working, just not as much as I used to. But one benefit to all of this is that I get to take my daughter to the park before she gets too old for stuff like this.

Nicholas’ eight-year-old daughter Clara runs over to her father.

CLARA LAKE: Daddy, the ice cream truck is here. Can I have some money for an ice cream?

As Nicholas begins to hand his daughter some cash the rays of the satellite strike them and Nick and Clara’s clothes and appearance begin to change. Dennis watches in disbelief as Nicholas shrinks in size and age until he is an eight year old boy wearing a little league baseball uniform while Clara grows in size and begins to age until she is a woman in her early thirties.

CLARA LAKE: Here’s some money for ice cream dear. Be careful not to get any on your uniform.

NICHOLAS LAKE: Okay Mommy.

Nicholas hops off the park bench and happily heads for the ice cream truck. Clara sits on the bench next to Dennis who still appears to be quite confused.

CLARA LAKE: It takes so little to make them happy at that age. Don’t you agree?

DENNIS REED: I’m sorry, but what just happened here?

CLARA LAKE: Oh you must think I’m a terrible mother for giving him treats so close to dinnertime but his team just won their first baseball game today and I promised him an ice cream if they won.

DENNIS REED: No, that’s not it. I mean, weren’t you just an eight year old girl?

CLARA LAKE: (laughs) It’s been quite a while since I’ve been eight. But my son Nicholas is that age. Do you have a child?

DENNIS REED: (still confused) Uh, yes, uh, her name is Melody and she’ll be eight in a couple of days, but I could swear that your son was much older.

Nicholas returns holding an ice cream cone.

NICHOLAS LAKE: I got my ice cream. Thank you Mommy. Can we go home now?

CLARA LAKE: Of course dear. It’s almost time for your dinner. We’re going to have your favorite tonight, macaroni and cheese.

NICHOLAS LAKE: (smiling) Hooray! I like mac’roni and cheeses!

As they begin to walk away Clara turns her head and looks back at Dennis.

CLARA LAKE: It was nice speaking to you. I hope to run into you again sometime.

Dennis stares in disbelief as Clara and her young son walk away.

DENNIS REED: (to himself) I must be working too hard. I could have sworn that her son was much older than that. And I’m almost positive that she was a little girl. I must be under too much stress. I think I’m starting to hallucinate.

At that moment his daughter Melody walks over and stops in front of him.

MELODY REED: It’s almost time for dinner Daddy.

Dennis looks at his watch.

DENNIS REED: Yes it is. I must have lost track of time. Okay, get into the car and I’ll take you some place nice to eat.

A short time later they are seated at a table in a very nice restaurant eating their dinner. Several waiters are seen walking about and taking orders. The surrounding tables have a variety of people seated at them. At table # 1 is a young husband and wife in their mid-twenties. Table # 2 has a father and his two young daughters, and at table #3 is a small office party with three groups of men and women.

DENNIS REED: How is your dinner Melody?

MELODY REED: It’s very good Daddy.

DENNIS REED: That’s good. Now hurry up and finish. It will almost be your bedtime by the time I get you home. I can’t believe that we had to wait so long for a table. This place is packed tonight.

A young man about 21 year’s old steps up to the table dressed in a waiter’s outfit.

WAITER: Can I get you anything else sir? Was everything satisfactory?

DENNIS REED: Yes with the exception of the long wait everything was fine. I would like my bill now.

The waiter pulls out a large pad from his back pocket. At that moment the rays of the satellite strike the restaurant and several nearby people go through very swift transformations. The first person to get transformed is the waiter. As the waiter is about to hand Dennis the dinner bill his hair gets much longer and his body frame begins to shrink slightly and become curvier. The clothes he is wearing also transform into a tight little sexy waitress skirt and blouse. Within seconds he has changed from a 21 year old man into a gorgeous 21 year old female. All of the other waiters also go through a similar transformation.

WAITRESS: Here you go sir. Will that be all?

DENNIS REED: (surprised) Where did you come from?

WAITRESS: I’ve been your waitress all evening sir. I’ll just leave this for you and pick it up when you are done.

As she leaves the table Dennis looks around at the other tables and is shocked at what he sees. Table # 1 which just a minute ago had a young couple in their mid-twenties now has the same woman but the young man is now a two year old boy seated in a high chair.

Table # 2 which up until a few seconds ago had a father and his two young daughters now has two grown women and a young boy of ten.

Table # 3 is the most changed. The three women that were there before are still there but the three men are now babies and they are currently being breast fed by the three young women.

DENNIS REED: What in the…?

He gets to his feet and storms over to the table with the three breast feeding women.

DENNIS REED: What the hell is going on here?

WOMAN # 1: We’re in the middle of feeding our children. Do you mind?

DENNIS REED: Yes I mind. Where did those babies come from? Where did those three men disappear to?

WOMAN # 1: I don’t know what you are talking about. Will you please go away? You are disturbing our babies.

Two of the babies begin to cry and Dennis storms over to the table with the two women and the young boy.

DENNIS REED: What happened to the young man and the two little girls that were sitting at this table?

Before they can answer the waitress steps up to him and grabs him by the shoulder.

WAITRESS: I’m afraid that I’m going to have to ask you to sit down sir. You are disturbing our other customers.

DENNIS REED: Doesn’t anyone here see what just happened? Am I the only one who sees anything out of the ordinary here?

He points to table # 1.

DENNIS REED: Barely a minute ago there was a man in his twenties seated at that table with that woman and now there’s a toddler. How do you explain all of the weird things that are going on in your restaurant?

WAITRESS: I think it would be best for everyone if you were to leave sir.

Two other waitresses come over and help escort Dennis and his daughter from the restaurant. A short time later they are both seated in the front seat of the car as he drives home.

MELODY REED: Is everything okay Daddy?

DENNIS REED: (frowns) I guess I’m just a little on edge honey. There was a satellite that was sent into orbit a few days ago and if it does what it is supposed to do then a lot of surgeons like myself could lose their jobs.

MELODY REED: Why?

DENNIS REED: Because if nobody is sick or disabled then they won’t need to see a doctor. The only time a doctor will be needed is if someone has an accident. So there won’t be a need for so many doctors. I kind of wish that I had decided on a different profession when I was growing up.

A short time later they are home and in Melody’s room. She is in her pajamas getting ready for bed. It is a typical 7 year old girl’s room with colorful posters on the wall and several plush dolls on the bed.

MELODY REED: Do I have to go to school tomorrow? I hate all the homework and tests that they keep giving us.

DENNIS REED: Of course you have to go. You have many more years of school ahead of you. Now don’t forget that I will pick you up after school and take you to your dance lesson.

She gets into bed and he kisses her on the forehead.

DENNIS REED: Good night sweetheart. Pleasant dreams.

The next day Melody is standing outside of her school. She has backpack strapped to her back and she smiles when she sees her father drive up to her. She gets in the car.

MELODY REED: Are you going to stay for my dance lesson today Daddy? Teacher said that our parents can watch us today.

DENNIS REED: Yes sweetheart I can stay. I got some news from the hospital today. There’s been a dramatic drop in patients and so I won’t have to go back until they call me.

MELODY REED: (happily) Goody! Then you will have more time to spend with me.

A short time later they are in a large room filled with young girls in ballet outfits. Watching them from the side of the room are seven other men next to Dennis. All of the men appear to be quite bored and look like they wish they were somewhere else. The lesson is finished and the girls run into the changing room and come out a few minutes later changed into their normal clothes. They are smiling as they run over to their fathers.

MELODY REED: (excited) Did you see me Daddy? Did you see me?

DENNIS REED: Yes dear I did. Now can we go home? Daddy’s not having a good day.

They are about to leave when the studio is hit by the satellite’s rays. All of the young girls with the exception of Melody begin to grow and age. Their clothes transform into leggings and tops. As they transform into adults their fathers begin to shrink and change into young boys. Their attire also begins to change into little boys’ clothes. A minute later the transformation is complete and their roles have now been reversed. The instructor steps over to the women.

DANCE INSTRUCTOR: Now ladies I hope you’ve all enjoyed our special Mommy and me dance class.

Dennis has a shocked look on his face. He looks at each of the recently transformed and his mouth pops open.

DENNIS REED: Where did all those young boys come from?

MELODY REED: They’re in my class Daddy.

DENNIS REED: But your class had all girls in it.

MELODY REED: No it doesn’t Daddy. I’m the only girl in my class. All the rest are boys.

Dennis is still confused as he watches the women collect their son’s dance bags and clothes and slowly leave the studio. Dennis takes his daughter by the hand and follows them outside. As one woman walks up to her car with her son, Dennis taps her on the shoulder.

DENNIS REED: Excuse me but can I ask you a question?

WOMAN: It will have to be quick. I have to get my son home and feed him. It’s getting late.

DENNIS REED: Weren’t you just a student in my daughter’s class?

WOMAN: My son is in your daughter’s class. I participated today because it was a special Mommy and me class.

DENNIS REED: But I don’t remember any boys dancing in her class. It was all girls.

WOMAN: (angry) Are you trying to imply that my son is a girl just because he takes ballet? I’ll have you know that many young boys are ballet dancers. I would much rather my son be a dancer than take up some vulgar activity like sports!

She quickly puts her son in the car and drives off. Dennis walks back to his car. Melody is already seated in the front.

MELODY REED: Are we going home now Daddy?

DENNIS REED: Yes dear, Daddy’s not feeling well.

MELODY REED: Does that mean that I won’t get to have my birthday party tomorrow?

DENNIS REED: Of course you will have your party tomorrow. I’m sure that Daddy will be fine by then.

It is the next day and the living room is decorated for a little girl’s birthday party. A banner on the wall says ‘Happy 8th Birthday Melody’. The room is filled with a half dozen little girls along with their fathers. Melody is playing a birthday game with the other girls as Dennis talks to the fathers.

MAN # 1: Is it me or do all of these kids’ birthday parties all look alike?

MAN # 2: The kids enjoy it.

MAN # 3: Yeah, at that age there isn’t much that they don’t enjoy.

MAN # 4: Nice party Dennis. When do the strippers arrive?

DENNIS REED: (laughs) Yeah this party could do with a few gorgeous women, but seriously, I can’t believe that my little girl is already eight. It feels like only yesterday that she was just learning how to walk.

Suddenly the rays of the satellite strike the area and everyone with the exception of Melody and her father begin to transform. The six men near Dennis begin to shrink and get younger while their daughters quickly grow and age. A few seconds later the men are now all young boys ranging from five to eight year’s old with the exception of one who is now an infant. The boys are all dressed in little kid clothes while their daughters are now beautiful women in adult clothing. Dennis appears to be the only one that notices the change.

DENNIS REED: Oh no! Not again! Why do I keep having these hallucinations?

One of the boys smashes a cupcake in the face of another boy while the five year old runs over to his mother.

FIVE YEAR OLD BOY: Mommy, I gots to go potty.

Melody runs up to her father.

MELODY REED: Daddy is it time for me to blow out the candles on my cake yet?

Dennis bends down and puts his hands on his daughter’s shoulders.

DENNIS REED: Melody, please tell Daddy that you saw what just happened.

MELODY REED: (smiles) Yes Daddy, I saw it.

DENNIS REED: (surprised) You did?

MELODY REED: Yes Daddy, I saw Tommy smoosh a cupcake into Jerry’s face. But that’s because Jerry was teasing him.

DENNIS REED: No, that’s not what Daddy means. Didn’t you see anything else out of the ordinary?

MELODY REED: No Daddy.

The baby begins to cry and his mother begins to breast feed him. Dennis stands back up.

DENNIS REED: Okay, go play with your friends. Daddy needs to sit down and rest on the couch for a while.

Later that evening the party is over and Melody walks into the living room wearing her pajamas. Her father is lying down on the couch watching television.

MELODY REED: I’m all dressed for bed and I am going up to my room. Are you still not feeling good Daddy?

DENNIS REED: Not really. I’ve just been seeing too many strange things lately. I think it is all the stress about my job. You can go straight to bed and then in the morning you can take a quick bath before going to school.

MELODY REED: Okay Daddy. Good night.

She kisses him on the forehead and goes up the stairs as he turns his attention back to the news on the television. A young attractive woman in a white lab coat is being interviewed by a female newscaster.

CHARLENE DAWSON: It has now been a week since the momentous day that the satellite was shot into orbit. I have with me today the creator of the satellite, Dr. Josephine Avery. Tell me Doctor, has the satellite completed its mission yet?

DR. JOSEPHINE AVERY: Not yet Charlene. It is a very slow and intricate process. There is no saying how long we will need to keep the satellite in orbit before it completes its task. To date there have been no reports of any serious or unusual side effects. However many hospitals are reporting that patient occupancy is at an all-time record low.

Dennis picks up the remote control and angrily turns off the television.

DENNIS REED: Big whopping deal! And how about all the people that might lose their jobs because of your stupid satellite? You haven’t given any thought to us, have you?

He closes his eyes and the remote control drops to the floor as he falls asleep on the couch.

The next morning he opens his eyes and he sees an attractive woman in her late twenties staring down at him. On the wall behind her is a banner that says ‘Happy 8th Birthday Dennis’.

MELODY REED: Looks like someone fell asleep on the couch. You’ll need to hurry if you expect to make it to school on time.

Dennis sits up on the couch and his legs are so short that his feet no longer touch the floor. He looks down and sees that he is wearing a cartoon character t-shirt and briefs. His mouth opens in astonishment as he lifts up his right hand and sees a small hand and tiny fingers.

DENNIS REED: I must be having another hallucination.

MELODY REED: Are you just going to sit there all day or are you going to get moving?

DENNIS REED: What’s going on?

MELODY REED: I’ll tell you what’s going on. You stayed up all night watching cartoons and fell asleep on the couch instead of going to bed like a good boy.

DENNIS REED: (in disbelief) I’m a little kid.

She picks him up and gives him a big hug.

MELODY COATE$: You’re Mommy’s handsome little eight year old boy.

DENNIS REED: Mommy?

She puts him back down on the floor.

MELODY REED: Now hurry upstairs and take a bath I’ve already filled the tub for you so get cleaned up before I help you get dressed for school.

DENNIS REED: But… but…

She gives him a quick whack on the butt.

MELODY REED: No buts from you young man. Now go upstairs and take your bath and then off to your bedroom.

A minute later he is in the bathroom and he takes off his briefs and t-shirt. He stands there naked for a minute and stares at the tub in amazement.

DENNIS REED: Wow! I don’t remember the tub looking so big before.

He steps into the tub and spots a few floating toys and begins to play with them. He is still playing with them a few minutes later when Melody comes into the room.

MELODY REED: I thought you would be done by now. We’ve got to hurry and get you dressed or Mommy will be late for work.

She lifts him out of the tub and he drops the toy that he is holding.

DENNIS REED: (protesting) But I was having fun! I don’t want to get out yet!

MELODY REED: I don’t care what you want. I have to go to work.

DENNIS REED: But I’m supposed to go to work.

MELODY REED: No, you’re supposed to go to school and get an education. That’s what little boys do.

She finishes drying him off and carries him bare assed naked into his bedroom. She places him on the floor as she goes through his bureau pulling out things for him to wear. He looks around the room totally confused.

DENNIS REED: Whose room is this?

MELODY REED: It’s your room silly. Now Dennis, I have no time for your games.

DENNIS REED: My room? But this is a little boy’s room.

MELODY REED: (laughs) Well that’s what you are. I certainly hope that you don’t think that you’re a little girl.

She pulls out some clothes from the bureau and begins to dress him. He begins to struggle.

DENNIS REED: No! Don’t want you to dress me! I’m a big boy. Can dress myself.

MELODY REED: The last time you tried to dress yourself you wore your underwear on the outside. Now hold still while Mommy dresses you.

When she finally finishes dressing him he looks at himself in the mirror.

DENNIS REED: I’m so little. How did this happen to me?

Melody hands him a backpack that has a cartoon character on it.

MELODY REED: Here are your things for today. You will find that I packed you a nice lunch. It’s in the pouch next to your dance clothes.

DENNIS REED: (confused) Dance clothes? What dance clothes?

MELODY REED: Your tights and leotard. You didn’t forget that you have a dance lesson after school today did you?

DENNIS REED: But I don’t take dance lessons.

MELODY REED: You’ve been taking dancing lessons since you were five. Your instructor tells me that you are the best pupil in the class. She said that if you keep this up that someday you will grow up to be a professional dancer.

DENNIS REED: But I’m supposed to be a doctor.

MELODY REED: (laughs) A doctor? Now Dennis, why would you want to be a doctor? The satellite will make them completely obsolete by the time that you are grown. You will be much better off being a ballet dancer.

DENNIS REED: Ballet? But I don’t want to be a ballet dancer.

MELODY REED: That’s what you’ve been dancing for three years now. Now stop arguing with me. It’s almost time for the bus to pick you up. After school Mommy will get you and take you to your ballet lesson.

DENNIS REED: But I don’t wanna go. I’m supposed to be a Daddy.

MELODY REED: You have many years before you become a Daddy. Now take Mommy’s hand like a good little boy and I will walk with you to the bus stop.

A short time later they are outside at a street corner along with several other young children and their parents. Dennis is the only one that is not happy.

DENNIS REED: Why is this happenin’ to me? I’m not a little boy! I’m not!

The bus pulls up and all of the children get on with the exception of Dennis. He is still standing with his mother. Melody kisses him on the forehead.

MELODY REED: Don’t forget that Mommy will pick you up after school and take you to your ballet lessons.

She pushes him onto the bus and the last shot is of Dennis’ face looking pleadingly out of the school bus window.

DENNIS REED: (crying) I don’t wanna go to school! Mommy, please don’t make me go. Please, Mommy, please. I’m a big boy.

The End