Chapter 1

Arrival

Present Day: July 23, 2021…

          Hello, I am Stephen Morgenson, the smallest living man in the world today.  Believe it or not I was not always the miniscule height of merely 9”, I was once normal like anyone else, standing 5’10” about average for a college sophomore.  However, when I tell this fact of my reality to anyone they typically laugh in my face as I stand in the palm of their hand.

          Let me tell you a little about myself.  I consider myself a pretty stylish guy for someone who simply goes through his dresser and throws on whatever he grabs first, gotta admit, when you look good, you look half-decent.  I prefer to comb my dirty-blonde hair crosswise across my head from left to right, and you will never catch me outside my dorm without my signature pair of beat up Grey Converse.  If you can’t tell, I have a very sarcastic sense of humor.

          Regardless, none of this actually matters in the scheme of what all happened to me.  So, I guess now we will start from the beginning of the evening in which my reality inexplicably changed.

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The Evening of December 9, 2017…

          As I rode in the backseat of Kayla’s silver Pontiac Grand Am I couldn’t help but think of how much fun I was going to have at the drumline party tonight.  I had managed to get a DD from the captain of the cymbal line, Kayla, who I just so happened to have a massive crush on, although she had already confided to me before that she was not into younger men.  You see, Kayla was about to finish her first senior semester of college but man she was a knockout, with an amazing personality to boot. 

She stands at about 5’9” with an athletic build, the ideal body style for what I like in a woman; I just find it sexier when a woman is taller than me when she wears heels, personal preference of course.  She has long, straight golden-blonde hair that hangs down passed her shoulders paired with one of the cutest round faces I’ve ever seen.  Her mouth is in such a way that she has the slightest overbite in her upper jaw just enough to make her smile unique and beautiful.  She also has joyful brown eyes below thin curved eyebrows.

The best part is Kayla has an identical twin sister named Rhonda who was also on cymbal line and she just so happened to be riding in the passenger’s seat.  The only way you can tell the two apart is the face.  Rhonda has a more pointed chin and straighter dental than Kayla.  Rhonda is also taken, so Kayla is the only option for me between the twins.

Also in the backseat on the driver’s side was the twins’ bubbly younger sister Elaina, who was also a sophomore, who had signed up as a sober monitor tonight.  Elaina was not too bad looking either, she is above average height at 6’2” sporting a more muscular build.  She is very beautiful with olive tanned skin and a face similar to Rhonda.  She had Auburn hair which hung down to her shoulders, but was currently tied up in a loose bun.

          Finally, in the back middle seat was Rhonda’s sorority little, Mary.  Mary is very petite standing 5’ even with a very thin build.  I had considered having a fling with Mary until one of my fraternity brothers gave me the info that she is bat shit crazy and insanely controlling, always looking to wear the pants in the relationship.  Damn, she is cute though.  She is of Puerto Rican descent and has gorgeous tanned skin and a nice smile with a pointed chin.  Mary is one for style as well, never going to school without the latest hairstyle, but tonight she simply had her shoulder-length bobbed black hair in its natural flow.

          We were all five crammed into the tiny coupe as Kayla drove us off-campus to Conner’s house for the party.  I was very excited to not be forced into volunteering to DD for this one so I pregamed in my room beforehand and was feeling a slight buzz.  We conversed and joked as we rode along the road.

          “I can’t wait until we get there,” Rhonda proclaimed excitedly, “after the last week of classes I really need to kick back a little bit.”

          “Yeah, I feel you on that,” I responded, “the semester has definitely been stressful.”

          Classes had just let out the day before and finals began on Monday.  I was really ready to just take a load off and relieve some stress, and there is nothing better to do that with than good friends and a little booze, or as I dubbed it “social butter”.

          “I just hope none of you go to crazy this time around,” Elaina said.  She did not do a good job of hiding the fact that the previous statement was directed at me and me alone.  I had a tendency to get wild.  “We don’t need anyone getting carried home again.”

          “You know me,” I playfully accepted the scold.

          “Yes I do,” Elaina retorted glaring at me.  I knew that she cared deeply for my well-being.

          “Stephen, at least promise you won’t do any stupid shit this time around,” Kayla said pleaded to me finding my gaze in the rear view.

          “I promise,” I chuckled a response.

          Kayla let out a playfully-irritated sigh at my sarcasm.

          We arrived in front of Conner’s house and parked the car in the front lot.  I got out and held the door open for Mary.

          “Thank you,” she said cheerfully.

          “Yes m’lady,” I said with a playful bow as I shut the door behind her.

          I could hear the bass radiating from inside the house.  It was going to be a fun night.  Rhonda led the group to the front door, knocked three times, and then just opened it, allowing our entire carload to barge into the house.

          “The party has arrived,” I shouted enthusiastically as I entered with shouts of greeting from a few of my fraternity brothers chilling on the couches in the front room.

Chapter 2

Social Butter

          “The party has arrived,” I shouted enthusiastically as I entered with shouts of greeting from a few of my fraternity brothers chilling on the couches in the front room.

          Michael, one of my fraternity brothers jumped up from the couch to greet me holding out his right hand.  I dap him up and pull him in for a bro hug.

          “You got the tickets,” I whispered in his ear hoping no one would hear over the bass.  You see ‘tickets’ is my codeword for edibles and Michael said he’d hook me up with the newest batch tonight.

          “Yeah I do,” he replied secretively as he patted the front pocket of his usual green hoodie with his left hand.  “Meet me in the restroom upstairs once you’re done working the floor.”  With that I nodded and released the embrace.

          Waiting patiently was Michael’s housemate James who is an alumni member of my fraternity.  When I first met him I was super intimidated, because he was definitely the body-building or football player type; African-American, about 6’4”, muscular as all get-out, and covered in tattoos, but he was a total music nerd like me.  In fact, last year he had even released an R&B Album with Conner and Michael.  Crazy shit!

          I dapped up with James as I did with Michael.  He pulled me in for a bro hug.

          “How you doing Steve,” James greeted cheerfully as he released the embrace.

          “Pretty good, bro,” I responded.  “Just living it up before it’s time to fail my finals.”

          “Bro, you’ve got this, man,” James comforted, “you’re a fucking legend.”

          It’s true, my brothers and friends saw me as legendary in the party scene.  I was invited to every single party that was thrown and was a star at each and every one of them.  I could certainly hold my alcohol.

          I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to see who was trying to get my attention.  It was Elaina, and she had a stern expression.

          “I’m just reminding you not to get to crazy,” she said looking down into my eyes.

          “I won’t this time,” I reassured her with a smirk, “I swear.”

          “I’ll be watching,” she said as she turned away and walked into the kitchen where there was another conversation circle happening.

          As Elaina was confronting me I couldn’t help but notice a girl I didn’t recognize talking to Conner’s girlfriend Grace in the corner of the room.  This girl was pretty good looking, especially with the buzz of my pregame radiating through my system.  She was about 5’7” give or take, plus she was wearing 3” platform heels, making her roughly the same height as me.  She had beautiful bobbed auburn hair that landed at about the top of her shoulders and a nice face with green eyes and a reasonably pointed chin.

          I grabbed my shot glass which I had concealed in my hoodie pocket and headed into the kitchen to get some whiskey which Conner and I had split the pay on.  As I entered the kitchen I’d have to be blind not to see the 6’5” Conner leaning on the corner of the counter talking to Lauren, another one of our drum captains who regularly DDed for parties as she is an RA.  I had had a thing for Lauren in the past but she was taken at the time, I understand why.  She was about 5’4” with an athletic build and long straight platinum blonde hair and blue eyes.  Her skin kissed by the sun and her personality was amazing, she was the type that could literally converse with anyone.  

I needed to get some more alcohol in my system so I approached the two confidently, ready to spark up a conversation.

          “Hey Stephen,” Conner enthusiastically greeted as I walked up to him.

          “Oh, hey Stephen,” Lauren also greeted with a smile, turning to face me.

          “Yo guys,” I returned.  “How was y’all’s last day of classes?”

          “I mean, mine went okay,” Conner replied, “just two tests.  I hate how professors assign tests right before finals though, like for real, what’s even the point?”

          “No clue bro,” I responded.  I looked to Lauren expectant of a response.

          “My last day was very easy,” Lauren replied with a smile, “my only class on Friday is Marching Band and since performance season is over I had a free day.”

          “What, no way,” Conner returned, amused and bewildered.

          “That’s crazy,” I said with the same genuine response.

          “That’s lucky scheduling for you,” Lauren said cheerfully.

          After hearing Lauren I turned to Conner and said bluntly, “so I saw this girl over in the living room talking to Grace who I haven’t met and I am going to need some of my Social Butter.”

          “Say no more fam,” Conner said as he reached behind his body on the counter retrieving a half-sized bottle of Jack Daniels that was missing a small amount.  He gestured for me to hand him my shot glass.

          “I see you’ve already had a little bit,” I joked as I watched him fill my shot to the top.

          “Yes I have,” he replied, “actually hold up a second.  I want to shoot the shit with you.”

          “Damn, alright,” I said.  I loved drinking with Conner, it gave me another way to bond with a man who was both my big in band and a fraternity brother.  He finished pouring himself a shot and gestured for me to move to the center of the room.

          I complied, as a few people in the room let out a cheer of my name “STEPHEN!”  I was very well liked as the life of the party.

          Conner and I locked arms at the elbow in the middle of the kitchen and a chant rang out.

          “SHOOT THE SHIT!  SHOOT THE SHIT!”

          Conner counted down, “3… 2… 1… Shoot!”

          I felt the familiar burn of the whiskey as it was fired down my throat.  The crowd erupted into a roar of cheers and Conner and I proceeded to give out the avalanche of fist-bumps, high fives, and daps that came after somebody shot the shit.

          Feeling the whiz of the alcohol I decided it was time to go meet the girl in the next room.  As I proceeded to the doorway I was greeted by Kim and Grace, the girlfriends of Conner and one of his housemates Timmy.

          Kim was Timmy’s girlfriend.  She was a flirty, friendly 5’7” brunette who was the same year as myself.  We had a lot in common.  She had gone to high school in the same county as me but we hadn’t met until we got to college where we were in the same orientation group.

          Grace was Conner’s girlfriend.  Like myself she majored in music, so we saw each other a lot.  She is about 6’1” with a beautiful muscular build boasting a singing voice which could charm a rattlesnake.  She has a very up front personality and is really fun, but also very honest about things.  Grace has long, straight golden-blonde hair that lies at about her shoulder blades and gorgeous green eyes.

          “Hey Stephen,” Kim greeted as she came toward me, arms outstretched for a hug.

          “Hi Kim,” I returned the greeting as we embraced.  I could smell a mixture of alcohol and a sweet perfume as we held each other close.

          “Always good to see you,” we said at the same time.  With a laugh she said “Jinx.”

          I moved over to talk to Grace.

          “Hey Grace,” I said looking up to her gaze.

          “Hey Stephen,” she greeted, “how are you?”

          “I’m doing pretty okay,” I responded, “I’m really glad classes are over.”

          “Oh yeah.  Me too!”

          “So, if you don’t mind me asking,” I started, “who was that girl you were just talking to in the living room?”

          “Oh, that’s Micky,” she returned, “it’s funny.  I thought you two would’ve known about each other.  She was Conner’s band little before you.”

          “Really,” I inferred.

          “I can go introduce you if you’d like,” Grace offered.

          “That would actually be really helpful,” I said with appreciation as I looked over and saw Micky walking in our direction.  My heart jumped, she looked more beautiful than before.

Chapter 3

Introduction

          I looked over and saw Micky walking in our direction.  My heart jumped, she looked more beautiful than before.

          “Hey Micky,” Grace greeted as she beckoned her to come over.  “There is somebody you might like to meet.”

          “Really,” Micky responded with genuine interest as she stopped in front of Grace and I.

          “This is Stephen,” Grace introduced me, “he was Conner’s band little the year after you.”

          “Oh my God,” Micky exclaimed excitedly.  “Conner never told me I had a twin!  That’s awesome!”

          “Yeah, I honestly didn’t know either until Grace told me just now,” I returned.

          Micky lunged forward excitedly and wrapped me in a tight hug.  Apprehensively, I returned the gesture.

I felt her hair brush against my face.  I could smell the alcohol coming off of her, but I wasn’t complaining.  A drunk embrace with a gorgeous girl is enough to make anybody’s night.  We released the embrace and I gazed into her excited brown eyes level with mine.

          “I’ll leave you two to yourselves now,” Grace said with a smile as she turned away and joined Conner who was once again leaning on the kitchen counter.

          “It’s crazy that this is the first time we’ve met,” Micky said excitedly.

          “Damn right,” I said trying to figure out my thoughts with Micky standing in front of me, my infatuation clearly dripping.

          “I see you’re a man of few words,” she replied, “that’s fine by me.”

          “Well,” I paused, “n-not usually.”

          “Hmmmmm…”

          “Yeah,” I paused again to come up with an excuse, “I just pregamed a little bit tonight.”

          “Awesome,” she exclaimed, “my twin is an animal.”

          “You know,” I said, busting out of my shell.  “I’ve got to have some of that Social Butter as I call it.”

          “You’re crazy,” Micky said with a playful punch to my arm.

          “Um… Do you like edibles,” I questioned.

          “Oh my God.  You’re so crazy,” she cheered, “I love edibles.  Do you have some?”

          “I do,” I responded.

          “What are you waiting for,” she said, “let’s go.”

          “Okay,” I responded as I took Micky by the hand and led her through the front room.  I saw Michael was still on the couch and with my free hand summoned him to the stairway.

          Micky and I began ascending the stairs when she started to wobble.  She definitely had had a little more than she could handle.  I wrapped my arm around her and helped her the rest of the way up.

          “So Micky,” I said as we reached the top of the stairs, “are you sure you haven’t had too much?”

          “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, “I’m good for a little more fun.”

          “Well, okay,” I responded, “but just know that you can…”

          Michael came jogging up the top of the stairway, cutting me off, “you ready legend?”

          “You better know boy,” I responded reaching my hand for a dap which he returned.

          “Let’s go,” he said, turning and opening the bathroom door at the top of the stairs.  “I see you Micky.  Joining the fun.”

          The three of us entered the small upstairs bathroom and Michael removed a crumpled Chipotle bag from his hoodie pocket.  Unravelling the bag quickly he reached in and retrieved two bags with brownies in them.

          “So, Stephen has a super high tolerance,” Michael said, “so he can have a full one and me and Micky can split halves.”

          “Sounds good to me,” I responded.

          Michael divvied up the portions and handed everyone a piece.  We clinked the brownies like glasses and started to eat them.