A Bad Case of Stripes

The Changing Kid

That night, Eggette took her medicine. It was awful. When she woke up the next morning, she did feel different, but when she got dressed, her clothes didn't fit right. She looked in the mirror, and there, staring back at her, was a giant, multi-colored pill with her face on it.

Dr. Quack rushed over as soon Dr. Eggman called. But this time, instead of the Specialists, he brought, the Experts.

Dr. Falkner and Dr. Crusoe were the finest scientific minds in the land. Once again, Eggette was poked and prodded, looked at and listened. The Experts wrote down lots of numbers. Then huddled together and whispered.

Dr. Falkner finally spoke. "It might be a virus." he announced with authority. Suddenly fuzzy little virus balls appeared all over Eggette.

"Or possibly some form of bacteria," said Dr. Crusoe. Out popped squiggly little bacteria tails.

"Or it could be a fungus," added Dr. Falkner. Instantly, Eggette was covered with different colored fungus blotches.

The Experts looked at Eggette, then at each other. "We need to go over these numbers again back at the lab," Dr. Falkner explained. "We'll call you when we know something," but the Experts didn't had a clue, much less a cure.

By now, the T.V. news found out about Eggette. Reporters from every channel were outside her house, telling the story of "The Bizarre Case of the Incredible Changing Kid."

Soon a huge crowd was camped out on the front lawn.

Dr. Eggman was swamped with all kinds of remedies from psychologists, allergists, herballists, nutritionists, psychics, an old medicine man, a guru, and even a veterinarian. Each so-called cure only added poor Eggette's strange appearance until it was hard to even recognize her.

She sprouted roots and berries and crystals and feathers and a long furry tail. But nothing worked.

One day, a woman called herself an Environmental Therapist claimed she could cure Eggette. "Close your eyes," she said. "Breathe deeply, and become one with your room."

"I wish you haven't said that," Eggette groaned. 

Slowly, she started to melt into the walls of her room. Her bed became her mouth, Her nose was a dresser, and two paintings were her eyes. The therapist screamed and ran out of the house.

"What are we going to do?" cried Dr. Eggman. "It's just keeps getting worse and worse!" he began to sob.