Charlie's situation - Part 1

Charlie's situation - Part 1

Bret threw a piece of paper on Charlie's head. Charlie looked back upset. Bret pretended that he did not throw that piece of paper and was instead concentrating on his schoolwork. Bret noticed that Charlie looked at him, obviously expecting it, and replied:
''What are you looking at butthead?''
Charlie turned back again still upset when suddenly the school bell rang indicating that school was over for the day. Everyone in class packed down their books and stuff and went for the door. Strangely the teacher had no final words before they left.

Charlie is a sixteen years young boy with a common messed up brown hair. He's what anyone (And even himself) would call a loser. He's not very smart, he's quite weak, he's pretty small and he obviously has no girlfriend. Although his classmates may not be very friendly with him he still managed to get the best parents in the world as well as the greatest teachers one of his kind could possibly ask for. You could say that kids bully him while the adults love him. Anyway, today was like any common day for him. His classmates bullied him, he told his school mentor about it, he returns home with a black eye on his face and he also has a message with him to his parents from the teachers. His teachers and parents have had several meetings trying to solve his problems. They even tried a different school once but the kids there were no different and the teachers weren't as caring. Even Charlie asked to return to his old school and that he did. So yeah, how long has this been going on? Well, it's been going on for about four years. The teachers and parents have tried several methods but there hasn't been a single day where Charlie managed to return home without a black eye. Even sometimes when he's out on weekends he returns home with a black eye. Bottom line, his life is a mess and tomorrow is just going to be worse. As mentioned before, he always returns home with a black eye and today was no different. His parents had gotten so used to it that they'd be surprised if he wouldn't return with a black eye. So when he came home his mother went to him and said:
''Welcome home honey.'' and kissed him on his cheek.
After that Charlie went to his room to do his homework.
His father on the other hand was still at work. He works to as late as seven o' clock and won't be home before eight o' clock. He doesn't even eat at home because he wouldn't stand waiting for so long to get dinner. However, the time he gets home is the one time that Charlie most looks forward to as he and his father always manage to do something exciting during the evening before Charlie goes to bed. It might be hiring a movie, playing something in the garden, going for a ride to the beach or the forest (Even though it's late), pretty typical things a child would do with his father actually. Only thing is, it's only for a measly two hours and then Charlie has to be home and go to bed. So what about weekends then? They've got the whole day there, right? Well, they used to but a few months ago Charlie's father got a new offer on his job. This offer meant giving up his free time on weekends as well as moving over to a motel pretty far away from home during that time or else he would never make it to his job in time. This meant leaving Charlie behind every weekend but Charlie's father did promise that when summer comes he will go on a vacation for the entire summer to a far away country taking the whole family with him. This managed to make Charlie smile again and he can't wait for that time to come. Best of all, there's only a little more than two weeks left for summer vacation to come. But tomorrow all that was going to change. In fact, Charlie's entire life would change.

Tonight when Charlie's father came home he had rent a movie for them to watch. What movie you ask? Meh, it doesn't matter. In fact, let's cut the rest of the night and jump over to the morning.
In the morning Charlie actually accidentally broke his alarm clock. The clock kept ringing next to him trying to wake him up. Charlie was just half asleep and the sound got him so upset that he actually clenched his fist and from above hit the clock. It was when his hand began to hurt that he woke up and realized what he had done. He rose from his bed and looked at the clock.
''Beautiful, mom's going to kill me when she sees that.'' he said to himself.
Although, that's not the first thing his mother's going to notice. Anyway, he got out of his bed and put on his clothes. After that he went directly to the bathroom to fix himself up for school. He looked at himself in the mirror while trying to get rid of a few zits when all of a sudden he felt weird in his throat. It wasn't that he couldn't breathe but rather that he couldn't speak. At least that was the first thing that came to his mind and he appeared to be right. He tried to say something not too sure himself what he was going to say but was unable to say it. It was slightly painful too. He grabbed a mug and filled it with water from the sink and quickly drank it all hoping to fix his throat. It had no effect. He tried to speak again but was still unable to. All of a sudden he felt a quick pain in his waist like someone punched him real hard. He took a few steps backwards in pain trying to figure out what happened. Suddenly there was another punch in his waist. Before he could react there was yet another one. And soon the pain would remain. He tried to scream in pain but his throat would not allow him to. All of a sudden it felt like something within him grew bigger. Or at least it tried to move. Or was it he that was growing? Yes, he was certainly growing. Before he knew it his head was reaching up to the ceiling. He tried to bend himself down to fit in the room for he was still growing but it appeared that he didn't have to. At the middle of his incredibly long body he slowly bended forward getting the form of a chair you might say. He slowly walked backwards to keep up with his sudden transformation when he suddenly noticed that he no longer had legs of a human. Instead his legs were those of a horse. The back of his newly formed body was even growing some brown fur as well as growing bigger getting more of the form of a horse. At this point his pants and underwear were also torn apart. At the point where his body bended it had the form of a horse's front. But then there was too much weight. He tried to hold on to the wall in front of him keeping his middle body up in the air. It was quite successful but somehow he managed to think quite clearly that he could use an extra pair of horse legs. And wouldn't you know it, from the point where his newly formed body bended a pair of horse legs grew out of him. And in the end a horse's tail came out of his back. The pain was suddenly gone. He leaned his upper body down on the sink with tears falling down from his eyes. For a split second he forgot everything that happened. When he remembered it again he thought that it must have been his imaginations. But why would he imagine all that? He wouldn't and he didn't. He looked back on himself and from the point where his waist was supposed to be he had the body of a brown horse with a white tail. Suddenly something clicked in his throat. He felt so much of a sudden pain that he let out such a scream that probably the whole neighbourhood could hear him, not to mention his mother. His mother was downstairs in the kitchen and when she heard Charlie's scream she dropped the kitchen knife and ran for the bathroom. When she entered she put her hands on her mouth in shock as she saw half her own son attached to the body of a horse. Charlie tried to turn to his mother but unused to his new form and weight he lost his balance and slightly tripped. At least he went down on his front knees. His mother ran over to him still in shock and grabbed Charlie's face and asked:
''Charlie, what happened to you?''
Charlie was crying again. During the transformation he had been crying the whole time. He was unable to speak at that time though so his mother would not be able to hear him cry. Now his throat worked again though and he cried again but not out of pain this time but rather out of fear. As for his mother's question, he was unable to answer.

After about an hour, his mother having called school telling the teachers that Charlie won't come today due to difficulties she can't speak of as well as calling Charlie's father telling him that he has to return immediately for Charlie's sake, Charlie had finally managed to calm down and accept his situation. He was sitting in the kitchen (Unable to sit on the chairs) leaning down on the table. He had already tried to walk a little and sort of managed to get the hang of it. After all, he did manage to walk down the stairs. Anyway, time was starting to get late so his mother had decided to make some breakfast for him. When she put the plate on the table next to her son Charlie raised his head and looked at her.
''You need to eat you know.'' his mother said.
Pancakes were always a perfect breakfast for Charlie. He didn't reply though. Instead he just began to eat the pancakes. They were delicious as always. While he was eating the front door suddenly opened.
''Honey, son, I'm home!'' a hurried father steps in.
Charlie's mother runs out to the hallway to meet her husband. She hugs him and they give each other a kiss. But Charlie's mother's lovely smile soon turns into a worried face as she says to her husband:
''Honey, what you are about to witness will be beyond anything you could possibly imagine.''
''I just don't understand what could be so serious.'' her husband replied. ''Did you call for a doctor maybe?''
''I don't think that he's sick but yeah, I did call for a doctor.''
Yeah, I guess I forgot to mention that but Charlie's mother did call for a doctor. Anyway, Charlie's father went into the kitchen to meet his son. When he entered he realized what his wife meant when she said that it was beyond his imaginations.
''Hi dad.'' Charlie said as he stood up still tired after all the crying.
''Oh my god…'' Charlie's father said slowly now looking up at his own son who yesterday was still half a foot shorter than him but now about two feet taller.

A few more minutes passed and the doctor finally arrived. Before Charlie's mother allowed him in she asked him to keep what he see a secret until further notice. The doctor had no choice but to agree and was permitted to come in. When he saw Charlie he was as shocked as Charlie's parents had been.
Charlie explained to the doctor everything that happened as well as his pain and such. The doctor made a thorough check of Charlie checking his horse body, his inner organs, listening to his heartbeat, anything a doctor simply would do. After checking the entire body (Which took a while) the doctor would tell everything he could find out.
''… I have no clue how this happened.'' he said.
''Nothing at all?'' Charlie's father asked.
''Well, I did find out a few things. During the transformation most of his organs moved down into the horse part of him. His stomach, his intestines, his kidney and even his liver have all been moved down into his horse part. Only his lungs and heart remain in his human chest. His oesophagus has also lengthened considerably. It goes all the way from his mouth, down through his human body, into his horse body and back into the stomach in his horse belly. I may not know animals too well but I think it's almost as long as that of a giraffe's throat. Now you may be wondering what remains in his human belly. Well, that part now just contains a large mass of muscles and flesh other than the oesophagus of course.''
Charlie looked down on his human body slightly confused.
''Muscles and flesh?'' he said in his confusion. ''I don't look very strong.''
''You may not look strong but I'm certain that you would hardly feel any damage at all even if someone would a swing a baseball bat on that belly of yours.'' the doctor replied. ''That part of you is impenetrable. Of course, that's hardly a relief.''
The doctor turned to Charlie's parents and continued with:
''Last things I'd like to mention before I leave. Most of his organs have also grown along with his body. Take his lungs for example. They have grown a slight bit and so he takes in more air when he breathes. As for his stomach, that one has grown considerably. He's going to need to eat a lot from now on. I'm afraid it's also going to leave a lot of manure in the end too. Probably too much to even fit in a regular toilet.''
The whole family couldn't help but feel a little disgusted.
The doctor apologized when he saw their faces and ended by saying that there's nothing else he can do. After that he bid his farewell and headed for the exit while the parents thanked him but just before he'd leave he turned back to the family and said:
''And don't you worry. I promise that this meeting stays between us.''
But as the doctor left he thought for himself:
''Not that anyone would believe me.''
Charlie sat down looking down on the floor. His father hugged him and said:
''Don't worry son. We'll make it through this somehow.''
''How can you say that?'' Charlie replied with a calm voice but with tears in his eyes. ''Everything is ruined. I can never go back to school again, I'll never get a girlfriend now, I'll never go to college, our summer vacation is ruined, I'll never get a…''
''Whoa whoa, stop it right there.'' his father interrupted. ''Our summer vacation is not ruined. I don't care if you would have transformed into a tiny dog, a giant dinosaur or in this case half a horse, when summer arrives we all are going on vacation and we're going to enjoy it no matter the odds. You understand me son? Nothing stands between our vacation and us. Nothing.''
Charlie looked at his father still in tears. He wiped his tears off and hugged his father while softly saying:
''Thank you dad, you're the greatest.''
When the two released each other Charlie's father said:
''Now let's get you out on the backyard. We need to get you used to your new body you know.''

After a couple hours in the backyard Charlie was starting to get used to his new body. He was really amazed at how fast he could run. In fact, he was starting to enjoy it. Not to mention that he had his father with him in broad daylight. They hadn't been together at this time of the day in several months. It was wonderful.

The day passed and the whole family was already getting used to Charlie's new form. It was a little troublesome with his size trying to fit him in the house but they constantly managed to find solutions. As for his new manure problem, his father decided to get him a place outside in the backyard for him where he can stay alone. His parents didn't feel too good about it of course but Charlie told them that he would be just fine. Also, his mother tried to look on the bright side saying that the manure might be useable as fertilizer. After all, she's always wanted to build a farm in their backyard. But enough talk about manure, it's starting to get disgusting. Let's cut to the next day.

The next day was Saturday. Charlie woke up completely remembering what had happened the previous day. However, he couldn't tell if it was all for real or just a dream. Throwing his bed sheet off of him he realized that it was not a dream. Half his body from his waist was still that of a horse. Waking up further and taking in reality he came to realize that he didn't know what time it was. Shouldn't his alarm clock have…? Oh that's right, he broke it yesterday.
''I guess I forgot to tell.'' he said to himself turning over to the broken alarm clock that to his surprise was not there.
Looks like his mother found him out. Oh well.
Charlie got out of his bed having to get used to his new body again. It didn't take long of course and with that he went out of his room, to the bathroom to fix himself up a little and then went downstairs to meet his mother. At least he thought he would. It appeared that his mother had gone shopping. She had left a note in the kitchen telling him this as well as assuring him that she had not forgotten over the night. After reading the message he decided to get some breakfast. Oh yeah, his father had left to that motel for his work as mentioned earlier.

By the way, I think It's about time I told you that Charlie's mother's name is Linda. Yeah, I suppose I could have told you earlier. As for his father, his name is Kevin. So anyway, after that Linda was done shopping she obviously headed straight home. However, on her way she came to think of an idea that might be good for Charlie. So she changed her course and headed for the local library. Oh yeah, she was driving a car.
Entering the local library Linda went directly to the librarian and said:
''Excuse me.''
The librarian looked at Linda and Linda continued with:
''Do you have any books about horses?''
''Oh yeah, we have plenty.'' the librarian answered. ''Are you looking for a fairytale maybe or do you have something particular in mind?''
''I don't know, a guidebook maybe.''
''Ah, I see. Yes, I have the perfect one for you. Please come with me.''
Local and small or not, Linda would never have been able to find anything she'd be looking for in a library. Good thing there's always a librarian. The librarian gave Linda a pretty big book with a very beautiful white horse on the cover. The book was simply called 'All about horses'. Quickly slogging through the book Linda thought that it was perfect. She thanked the librarian as they went back to the librarian's desk to check out the book. Linda thanked her again and left.

Linda had gone to a park in town to sit down in peace to read the book she got from the library. The book was simply amazing. It certainly lived up to its name. It had everything one could possibly want to know about horses, how to treat them properly, history, how they live in the wild, what they can be used for, everything. She was mostly interested in how to treat them. She managed to find out how to feed them, regular exercise, how to wash and clean them and at one point when she got to how horses can be used she also found out about using manure as fertilizer… Yeah, I got back to that again, sorry. Anyway, anything she found in the book was interesting and caught her attention. Reading it all she also managed to come up with great ideas. At least she thought they were great ideas until she realized what she was doing. She was reading a guidebook about horses with Charlie in her mind all the time. It struck her like a lightning bolt. She was planning on treating her own son like a horse. She quickly closed the book and went back to her car.

When Linda finally came back home she saw Charlie standing in the middle of the living room with his arms crossed. Charlie saw her too and said:
''Welcome home mom.''
Linda was getting a little worried and asked:
''Is something wrong honey?''
''Nah, I'm just bored.'' Charlie answered. ''I mean, at this hour of the day I usually go outside to the park or something but I can't go out looking like this.''
Suddenly Linda remembered something from the book. It had told her that horses needed to exercise regularly. Instantly she realized that she was thinking about treating Charlie like a horse again. She shook those thoughts out of her head forcing herself to remember that Charlie always goes outside during the days. But nevertheless, Charlie needs to go outside and the backyard is just too small. Besides, they can't keep this a secret forever.
''Well, shall we go on a walk together then?'' Linda suggested.
Charlie looked at her surprised and slightly confused.
''You really think we should?'' he asked.
''We can't keep it a secret forever.'' Linda answered. ''Besides, you have to go back to school on Monday. I think they're better off knowing before that day comes.''
Charlie had to agree.
''I'm just going to get the wares to the kitchen.'' Linda continued. ''Just wait here and I'll be right back.''
Charlie nodded. He was already getting really nervous about his mother's idea. Was it really that good an idea? He has to let the world know someday, yes, but even he still has difficulties believing it. But there was no more time thinking about it as his mother came back telling him that it was time to go.

Charlie took only a few steps out of the garden and he was already showered with stares. He couldn't help but blush and feel nervous. Even more embarrassing, as they walked down the street they suddenly heard a little girl from a garden next to them.
''Mommy, mommy, I want to ride the pony!''
The woman who was the little girl's mother turned to her daughter and asked:
''What are you talking about? There's no pony here.''
The woman suddenly saw Charlie and Charlie looked at her. Like everyone else she was shocked but when she looked at him Charlie turned his head away embarrassed.
No one would leave them alone. Everyone who saw them would follow them. Charlie kept on being nervous and embarrassed while Linda kept on smiling and sometimes even giggled.
''It's not funny.'' Charlie eventually said to her.
''Oh come on honey, you're doing just fine.''
Charlie sighed.
''Charlie?'' a man to Charlie's right suddenly asked.
Charlie looked to his right while his mother looked passed over his back. There they saw Charlie's school mentor.
''Hey sir.'' Charlie replied with a nervous smile.
Charlie's school mentor went over to him and asked:
''What in heaven's name happened to you?''

Two hours had finally passed as Charlie had finally explained to most of the people in the neighbourhood about his situation. The rumour should spread fast and people all around the country will probably get to know about him including the kids from his school. At least they will have suspicions for Monday but unless they see him it might be hard for them to believe it. He's at least a little less tense now.
Charlie and his mother had arrived at the park that Charlie usually goes to. Linda was sitting down on a bench with Charlie next to her (Not on the bench). Charlie was still trying to calm his nerves while Linda was enjoying the scenery.
''How do you feel?'' Linda suddenly asked.
''Like a book on display.'' Charlie answered.
Linda burst out in laughter. Charlie couldn't resist a smile. Soon Linda calmed down and stood up while saying:
''Well, enough of your nervous attitude, it's time we started having some fun.''
''Fun?'' Charlie said confused. ''You have something in mind?''
''I don't know, what do you usually do when you're out here?''
''Well, nothing fun really. I just kill some time, that's all.
''Man, you're so boring! Don't you have any youth left in you?''
''What are you talking about?''
''We're in a park, look around you, there are plenty kids running around having lots of fun even without video games or computers or anything! Release the child within you!''
Charlie thought a little about what he could possibly do for fun. It didn't take long though before he stood up and looked down on his mother with a big grin on his face. Without knowing why Linda suddenly felt nervous.

''Aren't you going a little too fast?'' Linda yelled.
''Don't be silly, you know you like it! Just think of it as a roller coaster ride!'' Charlie replied.
''I never liked roller coasters!''

Once again Linda was sitting on a bench with Charlie next to her (Charlie still not on the bench). She was drinking soda with big breaths in between. Soon Charlie asked:
''I was a little too harsh, wasn't I?''
''You think?'' Charlie's mother replied with a rather upset face.
The two looked at each other's face. Linda was still in shock breathing heavily with a rather upset face but Charlie was looking back at her with a big smile on his face. It didn't take long for the upset face of Linda to disappear steadily turning into a smile. Soon she giggled and so did Charlie. Not much longer they both burst out in a loud and happy laughter. After the laughing Linda stood up and said:
''Well, it's starting to get late. It's time we went back home and had dinner.''
''I'll give you a ride home.'' Charlie replied.
Linda gulped:
''You sure?''
''Don't worry, I won't do it again.''
Linda sighed in relief.

Warning: This scene may contain themes and words that may not be suitable for minors. If you are not of age then read at your own risk.

Dinner, watching TV, chatting a little, apologizing to his mother about the broken alarm clock and revealing to her that he managed to get an A on his last math test. The day was just fine until eight o' clock. Charlie was starting to feel the need to take a shower but…
''What's the matter honey?'' his mother asked when she noticed his thoughtful face.
''… I just realized.'' Charlie replied. ''I'm too big for the shower.''
And again the book that Linda borrowed from the library gave her an idea. According to the book horses need to be regularly washed and cleaned. Of course, she didn't leave the fact this time that she was thinking of her own son as a horse. But she had an argument to that one. A horse or not, Charlie too needs to take showers if she so is going to have to help him on the way. Linda got a big smile on her face and said:
''Come with me to the backyard!''
Charlie didn't even have time to reply before Linda was on her way out through the backdoor… I forgot to mention that door, didn't I? Sorry. Anyway, Charlie followed her and when he got out she had already prepared a bucket filled with soap and water as well as two sponges. Charlie took a few steps towards her but suddenly realized what was going on.
''No no, forget it.'' he said and took a step backwards.
''Come on, it'll be fun!'' his mother replied nearly jumping with joy.
''Mom, I'm sixteen, I won't let you wash my privacy.''
''Don't be silly, I'm your mother, it's not like you've got any secrets from me.''
''No mom, I won't do it!''
Linda then had a more serious face but still that big smile. She walked over to Charlie as Charlie took a few steps backwards but soon she grabbed his hand and pulled him along while saying:
''Embarrassed or not, you're my son and you too need to take a shower every once in a while and as your mother I am going to make sure that you take that shower if I so have to join you in order to.''
Charlie's not the kind to disobey his parents and this moment was no different. In the end he gave in and the washing began.

Scrub, scrub, scrub, Charlie was washing his human part of his body while his mother was washing his horse part. He may have kept a constant frown on his face but he couldn't lie to himself for he actually found this very enjoyable. That was until his mother came to his privacy but I won't go into detail on that moment.
Now came the time to flush him with clean water and get rid of all the soap. For that Linda would use the hose.
''Wait, the hose?'' Charlie said slightly frightened when his mother went to get the hose.
Before he even knew it Linda was spraying him down with cold water looking like she really enjoyed it… Maybe she enjoyed it a little too much.
Linda had given Charlie a couple towels while Charlie was standing there freezing like never before.
''Did you really have to be so rough on me?'' Charlie asked in shivers.
''Think of it as payback for the ride.'' Linda replied with a big grin on her face.
Charlie laughed in his shivers. He had to agree that he deserved it.

Note: There's no content that's not suitable for minors up ahead.

Sunday passes and Monday finally arrives leaving only two weeks left until summer vacation. It's Charlie's first day at school with half his body being that of a horse. He was really nervous about today when he woke up. But his nervousness was not the only thing that caught his attention. When he woke up looking down on his bed he saw piles of brown hair on his pillow. In quite a shock he placed his hands on his head hoping that it was not his hair. To his relief he found that his hair was still on his head. But if that's so then where did this hair come from? That was when he realized that he did not have as much hair as yesterday. Also, his hair was not as messed up as it used to be but rather soft and silky. Then he felt slight tickling on his back. Curious he put his hands on his back and discovered that a whole mane had grown from his back all the way from his head down to the horse part of his body. Still quite in shock he quickly ran for the bathroom (Waking his mother in the process) and looked into the mirror. Instantly he calmed down and found the mane to be quite nice looking. It was white as snow just like his tail. He kept on looking into the mirror with a smile but suddenly fear struck him. If he was already going to grow a mane then why didn't it grow when he first transformed? Fear seriously struck him. What if the transformation would continue? What if the rest of his human body would turn into that of a horse? Charlie tried to shake those thoughts out of his head and left the bathroom. As he went downstairs into the kitchen he realized that mom was not yet awake which was quite strange since she's always the first one awake (Aside from his father who leaves for work early). But it didn't take long for Linda to wake up and get to the kitchen except that when she did Charlie had already prepared breakfast for both him and her. Obviously though the breakfast wasn't the first thing she noticed for when she entered the kitchen she immediately saw Charlie's white mane. Charlie looked at her and said:
''Good morning.''
''G-Good morning.'' Linda replied.
Charlie noticed that she looked at his mane.
''You like it?'' he asked.
''Well, it's pretty.'' Linda answered. ''How'd you get it?''
''I just woke up with it this morning. That brings me to my worries.''
''Brings you to your worries? What are you worried about?''
''If I was always meant to grow a mane then why didn't I when the transformation first happened?''
Linda didn't reply.
''Mom, I'm scared.'' Charlie continued looking down. ''What if the transformation continues? What if I eventually turn into a horse completely?''
Linda went to him and hugged him while saying:
''Don't worry honey. You won't turn into a horse. I'll make sure of it.''
''You will?'' Charlie asked almost in tears.
''I promise.''
''… Thank you mom.''
Linda released Charlie and they looked each other in the faces but soon Linda said:
''Well, time for you to get ready for school. You'd better start galloping soon if you don't want to be late.''
''Do you really have to say it like that?''
Linda giggled at Charlie's reply and Charlie couldn't help but smile. When he was done eating he went for the kitchen's exit to leave for school when his mother suddenly called for him.
''Oh, and Charlie?''
''Yeah?'' Charlie replied.
''Don't forget your backpack and… don't forget to put a shirt on.''
That was when Charlie finally realized that he had forgotten to put a shirt on. Except for all the fur on him he was actually completely naked. He blushed at the thought but knew that he had no other choice.