SHORT PUTTS

By. Contrast Lover

As I sit here contemplating my last two years, the same questions keep

coming to me, without answer. Why? Why me? How? The doctors gave up trying

to answer the questions six months ago. Oddly enough, I stabilized shortly

after that and have been stable since that time. That is not to say that

stable is good, but I suppose it is better than further deterioration. I've

already had my 15 minutes of fame, being featured in tabloid and respectable

papers alike, as well as a few talk shows. I soon became old hat though, as

cheating husbands and lesbian wives proved to be more attention getting and

profitable. I was told by one host, off the record, that I have a cute

gimmick, but of course, no one really believes me. Sure, I may be little,

but I couldnt expect anyone to believe that the pictures of that 6-ft. tall

guy are really me. Dwarf acts have a short shelf life, I was told. So here

I am, 40 years old, with a wife and 14 year old daughter, contemplating my

future at the size of a newborn child. The future is less than rosy.

Two years ago, I was a 6 ft. tall, 170 pound club pro at a local golf

course. I grew up playing and loving the game, but was never quite good

enough to make a living playing it. For years, I bounced around the

northeast, moving from one assistant pro job to another, waiting for the

break when I would land a high paying job as a head pro at a good club. My

wife Mary was always supportive and never complained, even though I knew the

lack of real roots bothered her and was not the best thing for our little

girl, Katie. Three years ago, the break came and I landed my dream job. We

bought a house and all was well, for a year at least.

Around Christmas, 1998, I started getting occasionally dizzy and didnt

have my usual energy. I went for a check up, where the doctor found nothing

wrong, but I had lost weight, down to 165. I was given some vitamins and

told to take it easy over the winter. Most likely, it was the stress of my

first year on the new job. I did everything I was told, and weighed myself

every other day. Two weeks later, I had lost another 5 pounds, barely

breaking the 160 mark on the scale. I started to be concerned.

Concern turned to bewilderment on the night of my 38th birthday. Mary

and I were going to our favorite restaurant to celebrate. We both got

dressed up fancy, which we rarely did, and Mary even put on high heels. She

doesnt' like to wear them because she's a little self conscious about her 5

ft. 10 inch height, and her 3 inch heels made her slightly taller than me. I

always loved her look in them though and she made an exception for my

birthday. Mary was packed off to my parents for the weekend and we were

looking forward to a romantic evening.

As I was zipping her dress for her, I casually remarked that I didn't

know she had bought new shoes with a higher heel. She turned around with a

puzzled look on her face and asked me what I was talking about. I said she

just seemed a bit taller and I assumed she had new shoes. As we stood face

to face, I became confused too. My eyes were below her nose. I asked her to

take her shoes off, and I did likewise. Standing side by side, we looked in

the mirror and I was barely taller than my lovely wife, by what seemed less

than an inch.

'I think your should see my brother's chiropractor, Honey. I think

you've shrunk a little. I understand it happens as we age, because of

compression in the spinal discs. He can probably straighten you out before

it starts really causing you pain.' It's probably from all those years of

you hauling those damn golf bags around and stooping to place the ball for

those idiot students of yours. I chuckled at her characterization of the

wealthy members of the club that paid my salary and accepted her explanation

as reasonable. We went to dinner and had a wonderful time. That night,

while making love, I had the odd feeling that I was not just shorter than

before because of a back problem, but that everything about me was slightly

smaller. As I held Mary's hand, it seemed bigger than it had. As our legs

entwined, hers seemed longer. As we kissed, her tongue filled my mouth more

than I remembered. I chalked it up to too much wine and an overactive

imagination. I decided to see the chiropractor as soon as possible.

PART 2

The appointment was set for the following week. I noticed my clothes were

starting to feel big on me. The cuff of my pants dragged on the floor. My

shoes were loose. The sleeves on my sweater were long. I felt paranoid. I

couldn't actually be shrinking beyond would could be cured by a simple

stretching of the back muscles to relieve tightness and compression.

Although I said nothing to Mary, I sensed that it was something far more

serious. I arrived at the doctor's office and was asked to strip to my

underwear in the examination room. After a few minutes, a woman entered and

introduced herself as Dr. Leslie Cody. I was a little taken aback, as I had

been expecting a man. I was even more taken aback when I stood to greet her

and realized that she towered over me. My eyes were below her chin and I had

to crook my neck up to speak to her. I reflexively darted my eyes to the

floor to discover she was wearing flats! Standing there in my underwear in

front of this woman's commanding presence, I felt like a vulnerable little

boy.

I was told to stand on the scale and did as I was told without a word.

To my shock, she read off my new vital statistics. I was now 5 ft 9 ¼, 152

pounds. It struck me that I was now shorter and lighter than Mary. The

Dr. asked me a series of general questions, but when I told her I used to be

6 ft tall, she simply chuckled. She explained that people might shrink as

much as an inch or two over the course of many years, No one shrinks almost 3

inches in a mater of weeks. Very rarely are people the actual height they

think they are, she explained. I was probably just mistaken about ever

actually being six feet tall. I debated whether to tell her about my

comparison to Mary, the clothes, the shoes, but realized she simply wouldn't

believe me. I allowed her to examine me, take x-rays and explore the

alignment of my spine with her hands, which actually felt very good. In the

end, she measured me again and nothing had changed. She then told me what I

instinctively knew would be her only conclusion, that there was nothing wrong

with me. I went home angry, confused and scared.

That evening, I found myself avoiding standing next to Mary. I really

didn't want to have her notice that I was now smaller than she was. It

didn't last long. We passed each other in the kitchen after dinner and 12

year old Katie all of a sudden shrieked with laughter, 'Hey, Dad! What

happened? Mom is taller than you!' 'Don't be silly, Katie,' chided Mary, I

am not bigger than Daddy.' 'Oh yes you are. Stand back to back. Please?'

Reluctantly, I stood with my back to Mary's as our daughter shouted with glee

'Wow! Mom is at least an inch taller. That's so cool!'

Mary turned to face me with a look of confusion on her face and I saw her

look to the ground to confirm that I was in my socks and she in her

pantyhose. 'Ok, honey. I guess you're right. Now go do your homework.' As

Katie bounded up the stairs, it occurred to me that I was only five inches

taller than she was now, and we were going in opposite directions. The

thought of actually being smaller than Katie gave me an awful feeling in the

pit of my stomach. Mary jolted me out of my thought by taking my hands in

her now larger hands and asking, with great

concern, 'Bill, What's

happening?' I simply shrugged my shoulders. I had no answer.

PART 3

I decided to just wait a few weeks to see if the shrinking stopped on its

own. It didn't.

Luckily, it was the season when northern golf pros are on vacation

anyway, so I didnt have to show up at the club for a while. By mid January,

I was 5 ft 7, 138 pounds. None of my clothes fit me. We decided to go

shopping when I realized that my shoes were now so big on me, I couldn't wear

them without tripping over myself. Mary suggested that, until we get to the

store to get new shoes, I wear her penny loafers. You couldn't tell they

were women's shoes to look at them and they just might fit. To my surprise

and embarrassment, I put them on, over a pair of Mary's white athletic socks,

and they fit perfectly. 'Now I'm not just a shrimp, I'm a transvestite too',

I grumbled. Mary smiled and just told me to not be silly. It was just for a

couple hours and no one could tell. With a sly grin she added, 'It will be

our little secret', and kissed me on the forehead.

At the mall, everything was a new experience to me. I was used to being

able to see over crowds and look down to men and women alike. Now, the only

people I could see over were children and the occasional petite woman who

might wonder by. I felt weak and puny. I feared what lay ahead as I grew

smaller. I tried on and bought some shirts and pants, which took quite some

time since I had no idea of my size. We decided to keep it to just a few

things, since I may not fit them in a matter of weeks. At the shoe store, I

was waited on by a giant black man, who had to be 6 ft 6 300 pounds. As he

prepared to measure my foot, he noticed from the label inside the penny

loafers next to me on the floor that they were women's. He smiled at me and

said he liked my taste in loafers and held my foot in his hand longer than he

needed to. His hand was bigger than my foot and before he put my foot on the

measurer, he told me that he could see already I was a 7 ½ C. A wave of

anger and fear spread over me as I realized this black giant was making a

pass at me because he thinks I'm a crossdresser. I wanted to get up and run,

but I didn't want to have to explain things to Mary. I felt humiliated. He

finally measured my foot the right way and I was, in fact, a 7 ½ C I bought

a pair of casual shoes and a pair of sneakers and got out as fast as I could.

On the ride home, Mary mentioned that at least now I had some decent

clothes to wear to Katie's music recital at school in a couple weeks. I had

been able to avoid neighbors and friends so far, and I told her that I didn't

think I was really up to a public event like that until I figured out what

was happening to me. For the first time since the shrinking started, Mary

showed a flash of anger at me. 'Well then, you had better start finding a

doctor who can help you, because we are not disappointing that child after

all the work she's put into this.' I felt scolded and meekly agreed.

Three days later, I was at the University hospital, being examined by the

chief of internal medicine. I was admitted overnight and a series of tests

were run. The next morning, the doctor asked me if I had been urinating more

than usual since the shrinking started. Thankful that he at least appeared

to believe that I was indeed shrinking, I thought back and realized that I

had been. Expecting a diagnosis and cure on the spot, since I had given him

the answer he was expecting, he simply gave a thoughtful 'HMMM' and told me

to come back in two weeks for follow up tests.

As I dressed, I was feeling somewhat hopeful, and decided to take Mary to

dinner at a fancy restaurant. My spirits were higher than they had been

since the beginning, for a few minutes at least. That was when I turned a

corner in the hallway and was steamrolled over by a huge woman in a green

hospital uniform. I went down like a sack of potatoes and was momentarily

stunned. The woman, speaking in some language I didn't understand, was

apologetic in her tone and I suddenly found myself being lifted to my feet

with her hands in my armpits. Still babbling away in what sounded like

Russian, she brushed me off as she would a child, tussled my hair and went

about her business. I realized she had handled me as easily as I might have

handles Katie a few months ago. Totally embarrassed, I decided that dinner

out was not a good idea just yet. I met Mary in the lobby and told her

nothing except that they want more tests in two weeks. As we approached the

car in the parking lot, Mary got in the driver's seat. That would seem

natural, as it was her car and she had driven to the hospital to pick me up,

but it was the first time she had driven when we were together since before

we were married, regardless of which car we were using. Something in the

dynamics of how we were relating was changing, and I felt insecure that I was

losing my once unquestioned benevolent dominance over our relationship.

Neither of us said a word, but the change was thick in the air.

PART 4

The following Friday was the music recital. I contemplated faking

illness, but ultimately decided that I had to face the music eventually, so

to speak. I had taken to wearing sweats and t-shirts around the house, and

had not yet worn my new clothes. I should have used them more when I had the

chance.

I had not measured my height since the hospital, but I had continued to

weigh I every other day. I knew I was down to 125 pounds and really did not

want to know how short I had become. Mary was starting to look like an

amazon to me. The new clothes were all big on me now, although they fit

closely enough to wear without fear of them falling off. Mary dressed up in

the same dress she had worn for my birthday. This time, she was wearing

flats, which did not compliment the dress at all. When I saw this, I felt

bad for her, knowing she was going out of her way to avoid embarrassing me.

I told her how much I liked her in heels and asked her to put them on. She

hesitated, but agreed. Then, she apparently misread my intentions. She

walked toward me with a sly grin and said 'So you think your great big wife

is sexy, huh little guy?', as she drew me to her in a hug that mashed my face

into her chest. My initial reaction was to pull away, which proved

impossible. After a second or two, I felt myself being aroused. I didn't

understand why. While I knew there were men who had fantasies of being with

women much larger than they were, that had never been my thing. Yet, I

couldn't deny the feel of my growing erection against her shapely thigh.

Leaning down, she kissed me full on the lips and then released me, saying we

didn't want to be late.

At that moment, Katie knocked on the bedroom door and complained through

the door that she cant wear 'these stupid shoes' with her dress, and that she

just had to wear her new ones. I had no idea what she was talking about, but

Mary sighed for a moment and finally told Katie to go ahead and wear the new

shoes. Katie screamed with glee as she trotted back to her room. 'What's

the big deal about a pair of shoes?', I asked. Mary took my hands in hers

and told me how important it is for a girl her age to be seen as stylish.

She had allowed her to get a new pair of shoes the other day, but told her

she couldn't wear them tonight. Seeing I still had no clue, she squeezed my

hand a little and told me that they were platform shoes that would make Katie

quite a bit taller than me and she didnt know if I was ready for that. She

also told me that, in case I hadn't noticed, Katie was in a growth spurt.

She might even be taller than me without the shoes. She had discussed these

things with Katie, but she didn't really understand how my shrinking must

have been affecting me. For the first time since the ordeal began, anger

rose within me. I was being treated as an object of pity by my wife and even

my daughter. I decided to put an end to it once and for all

I stormed into the hallway and called for Katie. She came from her room

in a beautiful new dress and clunky platform shoes. I walked right up to her

and found her to be at least three inches taller. I confronted her. As

calmly as I could in my state of rage, I explained to her what she already

knew about my shrinking and added that just because she may soon outgrow me,

I am still the head of this family and she should never worry about

embarrassing me. I would figure out the problem and be back to normal soon

enough. In the meantime, nothing has changed. Mary stepped in and asked

Katie if she understood what I was saying. Confused, the poor girl nodded

yes, but added that she didn't do anything wrong. Mary comforted her, saying

'We know, Sweetie. Daddy just had to clear the air a little. Now go finish

your hair and we'll leave in a few minutes.' I felt awful now and added

nothing to Mary's comments. I turned to walk away and Mary followed behind.

As Katie went back to her room, I could swear I heard a faint giggle.

PART 5

The recital was not as traumatic as I had feared. I had anticipated

having to field countless questions from other parents about my new size, but

it never happened. Mary went early with Kate to help her get ready and I

slipped in the back of the auditorium after the lights went down. During

intermission, no one seemed to recognize me. One father gave me a quizzical

look as if he thought he knew me, but looked away quickly, apparently

deciding that I must just be someone that looks like me, only smaller, like a

younger brother. I slipped out immediately at the end of the show and was

home a half hour before Mary and Kate.

Daddy, did you see me play?

Yes, Katie. You were wonderful. The best of everyone I thought.

How come I didnt see you there?

I was in the back row.

Katie seemed perturbed. She obviously didnt think I went. She

approached me and stood right face to face with me.

Yea? Then what piece did I play? Her tone was angry.

I had recognized the piece, but Im a golf pro. What the hell do I know

about classical piano? I felt myself going on the defensive.

I..I dont know the name of it. Its the one youve been practicing for two

months.

Ive been practicing three different pieces. You werent even there, were

you?

I looked up at my 12 year old daughter, staring me down from atop her

platform shoes, which gave her a small height advantage, and I felt like a

child being scolded for fibbing.

Yes I was. It went like . I hummed some of the piece as best I could.

Oh, Daddy, you were there. Im sorry. She hugged me and I felt her

strength. Ive always been very slim and as she hugged me, I felt her weight

and realized she probably outweighed me already, even if I was still slightly

taller.. It was all very disconcerting.

Mary had run to the bathroom as soon as she came in and had missed the

whole thing. I didnt mention it. I went right to bed and pretended to be

asleep when Mary came in. As she undressed, I surreptitiously watched,

feeling like a voyeur with my own wife. I felt as if i was becoming someone

else and didn't really have the right to watch my own wife undress. I was

glad I had snuck those three quick shots of Old Granddad before they got

home. In a few minutes, I was asleep for real, until the nightmare awoke me.

PART 6 I awoke with a start. A terrifyingly loud and strange noise was coming

from outside. The room was bright, though it was the middle of the night.

I ran to the

window and realized on the way there that this was not my bedroom. The

furniture was

different. The window was in the wrong place. Here the hell was I? Then I

realized I

was naked. The noise got louder. I looked out the window and it semed that

the street

was moving, buckling like a bridge in an earthquake. And it wasnt my street.

I saw no

familiar landmarks. It didnt even look like a street now, more like shifting

sands. It was

the color of sand.I ran out of the room and found the stairway, running to

get outside and

see where the hell I was and what was happening. I ran out the front door,

oblivious to

my nakedness, and was able to see all that was before me. I froze in shock.

The shifting

ground was not the ground at all. It was, unbelievably, my lovely wife,

seemingly as long

as a football field . Her breasts heaved back and forth as she lay on her

back, making

noises I had never heard before. Was she in pain? I had to help her somehow.

No. Wait.

Whats that? Between her legs. It cant be. A head, the size of a full grown

weeping

willow tree. A tongue, sliding itself across my wifes No. This cant be

happening.

I banged my head on the door a few rimes to try to knock some sense into

myself. The

head loked up. It must have heard me. O shit! Its eyes looked right at me.

I scanned its

face and my stomach turned. It was Bob Lent, my assistant pro. He laughed.

Hey, Mary. Look whos up! You said hed sleep for hours.. Damn it! He

should have slept till the morning with the dose I gave him. Bill, you get

back in your

house right now and well discuss this in the morning. My house? I turned

and

looked at the house I had just left and suddenly recognized it. It was

Katies old doll

house. I stood there, frozen. Bill, I said get back inside and go back

to bed.

NOW! My giant wife was bellowing at me. Aww, leave him be Mary. It looks

like he was enjoying the show. Come here, little fella, wanna get a closer

look? Stop

it Bob. Cant you see hes scared enough already? Scared, schmared. He

wasnt too

worried about my feelings last year when he thought he could fire me. He

was a big man

then. His gaze never left mine..Not such a big man now, are you Billy? Now

Im

gonna show you how a real man makes love to your wife. Come here. Ill give

you a

close up look.BOB! Dont. Leave him be. You might hurt him. Come here

little man. His hand reached for me. It was wider than I was tall. I

backed up against

the house. A thumb and forefinger encircled my waist. I was being lifted. I

screamed. I

screamed again. Wake up honey. Wake up. Youre having a bad dream. A

strong hand held my shoulder, lightly shaking me. I opened my eyes. I was

back in my

own bed. Mary was beside me. You were screaming bloody murder. What the

hell

were you dreaming? I gathered myself, rolled onto my back and looked

around.

Everything was as it should be. Im sorry sweetheart. It was nothing. Go

back to

sleep.You sure? Thats not like you.Im sure. Sorry I woke you.We both rolled

back

over , back to back. OK, if you say so.It was not until then that I noticed

my erection. Part 7 A week later, I was back at the hospital for further testing. Mary drove, as had become the the unspoken norm since I had become smaller than she. I was sent to an examining room and told to disrobe. After sitting naked for what seemed like an hour, geting angrier by the minute that they had not supplied me with a gown, a large black nurse with a Jamaican accent entered and chuckled at me. 'What you doing sitting there with no clothes on ? ' I stood to protest and realized she was taller than Mary and twice as wide. I felt like a little boy cought doing something wrong. 'They, ... I mean ... the other nurse didn't give me a gown' 'Well, no matter. You don't have anything I haven't seen before>' Again she looked down at me and chuckled. 'Let's measure you and weigh you and then well get you something to wear, OK?' Her tone was very condescending. She motioned me to step on the scale and I shudered when I heard the readings. 'My, You're a little one now, aren't you? Five foot two and a half and 112 pounds.'

I guilped at the realization that I was shrinking even faster than I had been. The nurse left the room and returned a mamoent later, tossing me a gown. Again, I was left alone with my thoughts for what seemed an eternity. How small would I become? How would I continue my job if I continued to shrink? How would I support the family?

Technicians then started coming and going, taking from me my blood, my urine, my stool, my saliva, a scraping of my skin, a lock of my hair, and even a vial of my semen. None of them could provide an explanation of why the samples were needed, but all assured me it was just 'routine' The semen sample was particularly difficult for me to produce, as the setting was hardly arousing to me. Searching my brain for an image to conjure up the necessary excitiement, a memory from years past, long ago buried, forced its way into my consciousness.

I remembered the day I first saw Mary. She and her family had just moved into the neighborhood and we shared a bus stop. I was fifteen years old and just starting senior high school. I was also skiny and scrawny. Altough it didn't occur to me at the hospital, I remember now that at the time I was the same size I was again at the hospital, about five foot two and 112 pounds. I was shy, geeky and introverted. As far as I knew, I was the only kid in my grade never to have had a date or kissed a girl. Even the kids in the chess club had each other. My small size and young face made me look like I belonged in sixth grade, not 10th, and I didn't have the personality to overcome my 'shortcomongs'. The second I saw Mary, my heart melted, for she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. I knew immediately she was out of my league though, as she seemed a foot taller than me and obviously a senior, or at least a junior. I knew from that moment on that I would have to be content with worshipping her from afar.

I studied her and sensed that she was uneasy and seemed as shy as I was. She talked to no one and seemed to slouch, as if trying to hide the fact that she was tall. I wanted to say hello, but my fears ruled and I said nothing. She looked my way and I managed a weak smile and nod, before quiockly looking away. As I turned my gaze, I thought I saw her smile back, but I chalked that up to wishful thinking.

Seconds later, the junior high school bus pulled up and, to my amazement, Mary got on. It wasn't until three weeks later, after watching her every morning at the bus stop, when my parents invited Mary's parents over for drinks, that I learned she was only 12 and in the seventh grade. For some reason, that information gave me some hope that, if I do something over the next couple of years to make a name for myself, maybe a short skinny 17 year old would have a chance with a tall beautiful 14 year old. I thought and thought all night. I knew I was too small for football and basketball and had never realy liked baseball. I wasn't smart enough to be valedictorian or anything like that. I remembered though that, the summer before, my father had taken me to the local golf course and I played for the first time. As I hit the ball off the first tee, I was surprised that it sailed straight down the fairway about 150 yards, but I assumed it was just an easy thing to do. The club pro happened to be watching and complimented me, asking how long I had been playing. When I told him it was my first time, he didn't believe me until my father confirmed it. For reasons I didn't undersdtand at the time, the pro seemed to be following me around as I played the round. I hit a lot of bad shots and had no idea how to putt, but I also hit many good shots. At one point, he came over and adjusted my grip and told me to swing as hard as I could at the ball. The ball sailed over the green from 180 yards out. When we finished, he told me I had an unusual natural talent for the game and that he could make me a fine player if I was willing to devote the effort to learn. Lessons were expensive though and my father politely tolf him we weren't imn a financial position to make golf a priority. As we were leaving, the pro called to me that, as soon I was 15, if I wanted to work at the course and get free golf and lessons, I should come on back.

As I lay in bed thinking of Mary, I decided to become the best golfer my school had ever seen. Then she'd pay attention.

Sitting on the hospital toilet, gown bunched up around my waist, I remembered watching Mary that first day at the bus stop. I remembered wanting to kiss her, but not knowing what it would really be like. I remebered wanting to touch her breasts, already evident under her bulky clothes. As the memories flooded into me, my juices flooded out of me. My mission was accomplished.

I never did see the doctor that day and was told to come back in a week, after he reviewed the labn results. On the ride home, Mary told me she had the strangest day dream as she was waiting for me. She said she was remembering the first time we met. The first time we actually spoke was when I was a senior and was receiving the award as male athlete of the year at a year end awards dinner for athletes. I had filled out to 6 feet tall by then and had realized my goal of becomong the best golfer in the school. In fact, i had become the best high school golfer in the state, winning the state tournement by six shots. Mary was sitting next to me on the dias, being honored as the female athelete of the year. Still only a freshman, she had won the state all around swimming title, setting two state records in the process. She had no isea I had done it all for her and that I had been worshipping her for more than two years. To this day, I have never told her. We spoke and got along great, each of us having overcome our shyness, at least to a point. By nights end, we had agreed to a date for the movies and our life together had begun.

'Yes, honey, I'll never forget that awards dinner. You were beautiful.'

'No silly, not the awards dinner. At the bus stop my first day of school in seventh grade. You smiled at me and I smiled back. You were the cutest little thing I'd ever seen. I had a crush on you for years. I even started swimming to get your attention. I bet you didn't know that did you? Funny how things turn out'

I looked across at my huge wife and she sniled at me as she put her arm around me and hugged me to her. I switched off the air conditioner in the hoipes my goose bumps would go away. PART 8

Another week passed and I could tell I was still becoming smaller.My new clothes were all too big on me, as well as my shoes. Katie was definitely bigger than me now, and I found myself avoiding being close to her.

One day, I came into the kitchen to have coffee with Mary, and I tripped over my own pants. I fell ass over tea kettle, losing one of my now oversized shoes in the process. Mary rushed to help me up, and as she brushed me off, i felt like she was inspecting me for cuts and bruises, just as she did when Katie was younger and would fall.

'Looks like we have to do something about this clothes situation again. Until we get to go shopping, I have a plan. Come with me upstairs.' It wasn't a request or a suggestion. It was a direction. Mary had never spoken to me like that before. I was confused and embarrassed by the fall. Part of me wanted to say 'Whoa! Who do you think you're talking to?' For reasons I still don't understand, I said nothing and just followed her up.

As Mary proceeded me up the stairs, I watched her firm bttocks and strong legs, a sight i had always enjoyed in the past. My feeling now was different. It was not my usual lustful appreciation. In retrospect, It was fear: fear that I was no longer man enough for someone that big and strong. It was also intimidation, realizing as I looked at her most powerful body part, just how much stronger she must be than I was at the moment.

'Go in the bedroom. I'll be there in a minute' Again, I did as directed, without a word. As I sat on the bed, my feet now dangling where they once reached the floor, I heard Mary go into the attic and return moments later with a big black garbage bag full of clothes. She spilled the clothes onto the bed, an assortment of mostly jeans, t shirts and socks.

' Start trying these on. Most of it should fit.'

'Where'd you get this stuff,Mary?'

'Don't worry where I got it, just see if it fits.' There was impatience in her voice.

I hesitated, but started to undress, as she rummaged through the pile. As I got down to just underpants and socks, she turned to me and looked disapprovingly. I looked down and saw my shorts hanging off my hips, about to let go and fall to the ground. The toes of my socks extended a full inch past my feet.

'Those shorts have to go too. I'll pick you up some tomorrow. The socks I think we can handle here.' Take it all off and try these on', as she handed me a pair of jeans and a t- shirt. I protested and said I'll leave my shorts on thank you very much, and her impatience grew.

'Honestly, Bill, do you think I'll see something new in there? Maybe smaller, but not new.'

Before I could even react, her tone changed and she was immediately apologizing. 'I'm sorry, honey. That came out the wrong way. I know this is hard on you. It' hard and stressful on me too. I'm so worried about you.'

The apoloy was sincere, but the damage was done . I felt humiliated.

'Now let's just get this over with, Ok honey? Take off everything and try these on. '

I meekly sripped off my remaining coverings as she looked on with a watchful eye. Again, i felt like she was regarding me as a child, not a man. I tried on several sets of jeans and t shirts plus a couple of button down shirts which i had trouble with, because the buttons were backwards for some reason. About half of the stuff fit, while the other half was a bit too small. The things that fit she put in my dresser. The things that were too small went back in the bag and up to the attic..

Upon her return, she was carrying a pair of Nike sneakers that looked brand new, but upon closer inspection I could tell they had been slightly worn. I put them on over some white crew socks from the bag and they fit just right.

I felt much better as I went back downstairs, dressed in a well fitting pair of Levi's and a flannel shirt from the Gap. When I asked her about the buttons, Mary told me that's a thing that the Gap does to nake their clothes a litle different. Never having been a shopper, it seemed reasonable enough for me. I was still curious about the origin of the clothes, but let it slide, figuring she'd tell me when she was ready.

Just then, Katie walked in the front door, returning from school. She said hello and started upstairs , but stopped and turned back to me wih a quizzical look on her face.

'Daddy....?' She walked over to me and stepped close. In her platform shoes, I was barely as tall as her shoulder as she looked down at me.

'Daddy, Is that my shirt from last year?'

A second later she took my arm and turned me to look at the label on the back of the jeans. 'And are those my old jeans?'

'Of couse not. Don't be sil...' I didn't finish the word as I saw Mary walking up behind Katie with a sad look on her face. I looked up at Mary in bewilderment. 'They.. they're not, are they?'

Mary didn't say a word, she just nodded yes.

Upon seeing this, Katie screeched with laughter and turned back to me, looking me over again. 'You look so cute in them Daddy. Well, i have homework.' She bounded up he stairs, muttering to noone in particular how she couldnt wait to call Cindy laer to tell her.

I felt a tear well up in my eye as Mary stepped to me and wrapped her arm around me, drawing me to her chest and stroking my hair as I buried my cheek in her bosom and cried. Part 9 Weeks passed and i continued to grow smaller. Tests and more tests were done. I was able to get a paid leave of absence from work, but I knew that wouldn't last forever. The doctors said they had figured out part of the problem, but had never seen it before and didn't know what to do about it. It seems that i was shrinking at the cellular level, with my individual cells becoming smaller as a result of losing fluid. I was also secreting a hormone that had never been seen before, but they didn'.t know if the two were connected.

Life at home settled into a routine. I rarely went out, except for medical visits, and I helped out a lot at home. Mary took a part time job. She didn't say anything, but I knew she was worried about me being able to support the family. I had new clothes, mostly things like t-shirts that could be long and loose as I grew smaller, and gym shorts or sweat pants with an elastic waist. Mary usually bought them without me, because she knew shopping in the children's section embarrassed me. The first time I had to do it I was mortified.

Mary took me to the mall and we headed to the boys' department at Sears. We weren;t sure of my size, but Mary knew that Kate had recently outgrow girls size 14, so we started with boys 14. She picked out a pair of jeans and a polo shirt and told me to go in the dressing room to try them on. She waited outside for a few moments while I changed, then called to me with a hint of impatience in her voice to ask if they fit. I had already determined that they were way too big, but didn't want to yell it out. When I hesitated, Mary came into the room and pulled aside the curtain. 'Obviously they're too big. Why didn't you answer me?' She was making me feel like a misbehaved child, though I am sure that wasn't her intention.

Before I could stammer out an answer, the saleslady appeared at the entrance to the room and asked Mary if there was anything she could help her with. She smiled a little smile in my direction, but did not address me. . Mary told the woman, who appeared to be well into her 60s, that she was having trouble getting the right size. 'Oh, you're not alone,' replied the saleslady, 'they grow like weeds at this age. My grandson is already out of things I got for him just six months ago. The best thing is to just take measurements and check the charts.' With that, she produced a tape measure from her dress pocket and addressed me directly for the first time. 'Ok, sweety, lets take off that shirt and those pants and see how much you've grown.' I looked to Mary to save me from this awkward moment, but she simply Said, 'It's ok, honey. The lady is just going to measure you so we can get the right size clothes for you.' The smirk on her face told me she thought it was funny that the saleswoman thought I was a young boy, and that she had no intention of telling her otherwise. When I stood there motionless for a second or two, Mary simply stepped to me and, before I could react, took the shirt I was wearing and slipped it up and over my head, leaving me bare chested. 'Shall I do the pants, too, or are you big enough to cooperate now?' Red faced, I undid the pants and slipped them off, so that I was now standing before Mary and the batty old lady in nothing but my socks and the new briefs that Mary had bought me the day before.

As she started to measure my chest, waist and hips, the old lady tried to make small talk with me by asking me what grade I was in. When I didn't answer, Mary just chimed in that I can be very shy with people I don't know. 'Well, that's a good thing to be careful with strangers, the way the world is these days.' Addressing me again, when she had finished the measurements, the lady said, 'Do you think you'll be all right here by yourself for a few minutes while Mom and I go pick out a few things that should fit you?' I shot an angry look at Mary, who was having trouble keeping a straight face, and she answered for me that I would be fine, as the two of them walked out, leaving me standing there in my underwear.

Mary returned a little later, alone, with an armload of clothes in sizes 10 and 12. Most fit fine and we bought about a week's worth of casual outfits. When we got to the car, I exploded. I yelled at Mary to never do that to me again. Her initial reaction was to laugh it off, saying it was funny to see the old lady so easily confused, and that it was certainly better to let her think I was a little boy than to try to explain that I was shrinking. When she saw that logic didn't persuade me and that I was still very upset, she changed her demeanor and apologized. Since that day, she simply brought home clothes whenever she thought i needed them and we never discussed the matter again.

That night, we made love for the first time in a long time. It was a new experience being so much smaller than Mary, and both disconcerting and strangely erotic at the same time. There was no question who was stronger, as i found myself being turned twisted and rolled into various positions by Mary, seemingly without effort. When we were done, I was laying on top of her, my head between her breasts and my feet on her shins. The last thing I remember before falling asleep in that position was Mary kissing the top of my head and humming a lullaby .