FTEC, Monday Morning

[headologist.livejournal.com]

Granny was sitting at the front desk, reading a handwritten manuscript and occasionally scowling.

Comments

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

Peter walked into the FTEC after his second period class and hoped for the best.

"Hello, ma'am," he said. "I was told that you might be able to help me with a problem I have?"

[headologist.livejournal.com]

Granny set down the manuscript. "Very possibly. What seems to be the matter?"

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

"The short version is that my body is messed up and I have four more arms than I'm supposed to have," Peter explained. "This just happened a week ago and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to turn into a monster of anything. But I'd like to be back to normal."

[headologist.livejournal.com]

Granny peered at him critically. "Are you sure you want to be rid of those arms? Could be very handy to have around."

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

Peter wasn't sure whether or not that was a clever... okay, not clever because he'd used it to death recently... whether or not that was an all-too appropriate pun or just a coincidental play on words. That didn't really matter, though.

"I've had them for a week. Took them for a test drive, thought they handled well, but it's just not the ride for me," Peter said. "So if you could do anything to help me, I'd appreciate it."

[headologist.livejournal.com]

"Well, then, let me take a look at you," she said. "Hold out your hands."

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

Peter held out his hands as requested.

[headologist.livejournal.com]

Granny examined his hands. "Maybe you could just get rid of two of them. Can't help but think how many times an extra pair of hands could've been useful."

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

"I really would like to keep just the two arms, if possible," Peter said.

[headologist.livejournal.com]

"Right, " Granny nodded. "Any particular two?"

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

If this woman reminded John of his grandmother, it kind of explained a lot about John.

"Um, the top on on each side, please?"

[headologist.livejournal.com]

Granny nodded. "Sensible choice." She led Peter into Exam Room One. "Lay down," she said. He laid down on the bed and she sat in the chair beside him.

Extra arms, useful as they may be, just weren't natural for humans. Granny closed her eyes and looked around Peter's mind.

It weren't easy to read human thoughts, mainly because human minds didn't run straightforward-like. But she was looking for something deeper than thought.

She searched until she found the body's image of itself. As she'd hoped, the body had a strong physical memory of having only two arms. She encouraged that memory, lent it strength and power until it was the only way the body could imagine itself being.

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

Peter laid down as Granny instructed and closed his eyes. He didn't know what was going on and he really didn't want to.

He could feel... something. He wasn't sure what. He finally worked up the nerve to look and, well, he was back to normal. "Huh. Um. Where did they go?" Peter asked.

[headologist.livejournal.com]

"They didn't belong here," Granny said.

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

Well, it was a simple explanation. And it made sense, kind of. He once again realized that he really didn't get magic at all.

"Oh. Um. Thank you, ma'am."

[headologist.livejournal.com]

"That's why I'm here. No need to go out of your way to thank me. Though if your family were to be baking pies, wouldn't mind if you sent one my way."

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

"My family is kind of far away, but I'll see if I can do anything about the pie," Peter said.

"Have a good day, ma'am," he said as he headed out from the exam room.