Centaur of the Universe

[corjomc]

Quirke Residence
Pelham, NH
Saturday, January 23, 1999
4:56am

Thomas James Quirke had a busy day. He had drove up and down the town looking for stock footage for the local funeral home. The owner of the funeral home had been on an access Tv show and Quirke had been the volunteer who directed the show. More importantly He had edited a montage about the funeral home for said show. Now the director wanted to hire Tom to put together memorial videos for their clients.


So once Quirke finished his day job serving seniors at the community center he signed out a camcorder and went off to collect the video He would need. Normally one was not allowed to sign out the station’s equipment for their own projects but the stock footage He shot would also be useful to the Access Tv station for bumpers and other projects there.

Halfway through the filming of the shots He needed to collect it began to snow. This was a good thing as it added an extra element to shots. This was a bad thing because now Tom had to double back and retake half the shots He had previously taken if He wanted them to include the snowfall. Also, driving became more difficult now with the elements and the drivers on the road who forgot how to handle their vehicles when any form of precipitation was present let alone the frozen rain variety.

Thus it came to be that Tom Quirke was more tired than usual when He got back to his Uncle’s house. Uncle Jim let him stay in the basement rent free. All Tom had to pay for was the House’s internet. Uncle Jim had not had internet before Tom moved in.

“Cable TV,” his Aunt Maeve would say, “is a luxury we do not need.”

After Tom moved in he had argued the need to be connected to the World Wide Web. His Uncle backed him up and his Aunt relented as long as He paid for it. She also told him no Adult channels. Quirke agreed knowing full well his Aunt had not figured out you did not need a Tv anymore to see certain things.

Quirke’s dreams that night were strange indeed. He was on a great plain. From his POV He could see the storm in the sky. A herd of wild horses was charging straight towards him. He could not get out of the way. In truth He could not move at all. The wall of frothing horse flesh rapidly approached. Tom screamed.

“Aargh!!,” Quirke yelled as He fell out of his folding bed then jumped up slamming his head into the ceiling.

Uncle Jim yelled something from upstairs. Tom was stunned and collapsed. Something did not feel right. When He tried to stumble to his feet He saw the hooves. Uncle Jim came down the stairs.

“Sweet Lord!?,” Jim exclaimed when He reached the basement.

Tom rubbed the top of his head where He had struck the pipes in his area’s ceiling. His Aunt started to call out asking what was going on. Uncle Jim stared now silent with words bubbling to the surface but being unable to form. Tom looked behind him to see He had an Auburn horse body that matched his Auburn hair. He looked at his Uncle also with words unable to form.

“Should I call 911?,” Jim asked his Nephew, “or Ripley’s Believe it or Not?”

[corjomc]

Quirke Residence
Pelham, NH
Saturday, January 23, 1999


There was a police car outside the Quirke Home. The Blue lights glistened off the light snowfall. A firetruck left to go to another scene. Many neighbors milled about outside. Inside Tom Quirke sat on the floor of his Uncle and Aunt's basement. The cops and firefighters were down there now along with his uncle Jim. His Aunt Maeve was upstairs dealing with all the people now in her home.

"The news says it's happening all over the world Jimmy!," She hollered from the kitchen where She could holler down to the cellar but still see the Tv in the living room.

"So, uh, Tom," one of the officers, Patrolman Derek Hanley coughed, "you haven't been , uh, you know, kinda too intimate, like Catherine the Great style, with any horses have You?"

Quirke glared so hard at his former classmate that it made where He banged his head hurt.

The other cops and firefighters all laughed at what Hanley was suggesting. Only Tiffany Baylor, the paramedic, did not. She finished examining Quirke and told him is upper half was alright except for the bump on his head.

"I'd give you some painkillers," She told him as She put her equipment back in her medical bag, But I am not sure how You would react to them."

"S'ok," Tom told her while rubbing the Band Aid She had put on the top of his head.

"I think we'll have to cut through one of your walls," the oldest firefighter told Uncle Jim, "make a ramp for your nephew to get out of your basement."

"Hole?!," his Aunt bellowed from above, "in one of my walls?!!"

"It's the only way to get Tommy out of the cellar," Jim looked up the stairs and told his wife.

"Will our insurance cover that?," Maeve asked back down to him.

"Aunie!," Tom blurted out upset by her, "I can't stay downstairs in your basement half man, half horse!"

"Maybe you can write it off as an expense for the handicapped?," Officer Hanley suggested.

"Derek!," Quirke turned on the cop, "I am not handicapped!"

Quirke almost unthinking rose to his hooves. Only Baylor's quick intervention stopped him from banging his head again. She ordered him to sit back down. Being the first day with 4 new legs Tom awkwardly did as he was told.

An older man with a medical bag came down the stairs. It was the veterinarian, Dr. Ben Weisner. The memory of when his first dog, Buttercup, had to be put down in '81 rushed back to Quirke. He knew it was wrong to associate Dr. Weisner with the death of his first pet but He still did. Buttercup was 5 when Tom was born and 12 when He got sick.

"Where's Maggie?," Tiffany asked as Margarette Weisner had taken over for her father when He retired.

"Same as him," Weisner answered as he motioned towards Tom.

Everyone stared at the retired vet. He walked over and started examining and questioning Quirke. He told everyone that He hoped to find a way to reverse his daughter's condition and He thought was that maybe by comparing another case of this Equine transformation He may get closer to the answer He seeks.

"The good news is your Centaur body is in fine shape," Weisner sighed, "the bad news is I am no closer to finding a cure for all of this."

"So what do I do?," Tom asked trying to contain the panic growing inside him.

Weirdly, two different hearts started to beat faster. He forced himself to calm down. Weisner and Baylor talked about whether they should give him some drugs to help with the pain and panic. In the end they decided not to. Better safe than sorry.

"What do you do?," Weisner mused, "I have a lot more people in town and nearby to check on," He explained, "if you don't all of a sudden turn back and, or I can't find the solution to this situation," He pointed to a wall, "punch a hole in that and get out of here, you can't stay the rest of your life as a centaur in a basement."

[corjomc]

Quirke Residence
Pelham, NH
Saturday, January 23, 1999


"Excuse Me," Tom told the people around him as He tried maneuver to reach his computer, "uh, excuse Me."

"Hey!," Patrolman Hanley yelled as His foot almost got crushed.

"Tommy," his uncle chided him, "this isn't the time to play arcade games."

Quirke grimaced. Tiffany the paramedic went to check on Derek's foot. Tom half-heartedly apologized to his former classmate. He finally angled himself in the right direction.

"Won't be needing this anymore," Quirke muttered as He wheeled the chair at the table He was set up on out of the way.

"Maybe," Weisner told the transformed man, "I am determined to find a way of reversing this."

The retired veterinarian started packing up his stethoscope and other devices. Uncle Jim asked if He was leaving already. the older man nodded. Quirke asked if He could stay until Jimmy was safely out of his basement.

"There's other cases I have to check on," Weisner grunted, "the whole Mullen family has been transformed."

"Auntie!," Tom hollared upstairs, "Get off the phone!"

"I am talking to your Aunt Sharon in Florida!," Maeve yelled back, "It's happening there too!"

"The Sunshine Farm?," Uncle Jim blurted out and Weisner nodded.

"The whole lot of them," Hanley interjected while wincing as Baylor slid off his shoe.

"Sorry," Tom muttered again when He heard Derek wince.

Aunt Maeve yelled down that She was off the phone. The cellar was filled with the sound of Tom's modem firing up and connecting. Quirke was going to check his Compuserve then AOL and also his Juno accounts. When He was connected He saw lots of new chatrooms filled with people. He stared as the magnitude of whatever it was that was happening sank in.

"You don't own a horse Thomas?," Dr. Weisner asked as He made his way around Quirke's hindquarters.

"Don't really need one now," Tom answered while still staring at the monitor.

"True," Weisner nodded as a theory died in his head unsaid.

The Doctor excused himself as he made his way past Tom.

"I did go horse riding last week," Quirke told the vet, "Part of a shoot."

Weisner turned around and asked if Tom had been alone or with someone else.

"I was with Steve," Quirke told the animal doctor.

"Francemir?," Hanley asked, "remember his graduation party?"

Steve Francemir's folks owned Kuna Plumbing. They were rich. The biggest graduation party for the Class of '91 was held at his place. Steve had the biggest pool and it was heated.

"Remember Creech made out with the Torrino twins?," Hanley asked with a laugh.

"Yeah," Tom answered not really paying the Patrolman his full attention.

"You've Got Mail," the computer told the centaur.

DDWizardKing: Hey Tom

His friend Dean Dowell greeted him.

JTQuirke74: Hey DD

DDWizardKing: Did you hear? The Police are all over the Sunset Farm, its CRAZY!!!

JTQuirke74: Yeah, I've heard.

YaboiCreech69: Wassup Nedrs!

DDWizardKing: Hey Creech, did you hear about the cops at the Mullens place?

Yaboicreech69: Something weird giong on cop cars and firetrucks all over town

JTQuirke74: you are not going to believe it

Quirke started typing out what had happened to him and what was happening at the Sunshine Farm and in Florida.

"Is Steven Francemir on?," Weisner asked, "Can you speak to him?"

Quirke checked. Neither of his friends, Steven Francemir or Stephen Miller were on. Quirke told the vet this. The doctor asked if Tom could call his friend. Quirke told him He would page him. Weisner nodded.

"Thomas," Weisner told the transformed young man, "I have to go to the Sunshine Farm check on Steven and call Me."

The veterinarian scrawled his number down and handed it to Quirke.

"Sorry," He gave a sheepish smile, "I burned all my business cards at my retirement cookout."

"Check on Franko," Quirke nodded, "no problem."

Dr. Weisner told Tom that everything was going to be alright and made his way upstairs. Quirke typed to his friends He needed to hangup so He could call the Stev/phens.

Hanley, Uncle Jim, Tiffany and the other paramedic had gone to the cellar's one window. Something had their attention. With effort Tom maneuvered behind them. Looking over the shoulders of the others what He saw was his teenage neighbor from down the street, Erica Boyd. She wore a Hello Kitty sweatshirt and nothing else.

Her long Purple hair flowed in the wind. Her Mother was yelling at her to stop. She was chasing her daughter with a blanket. From the waist down Erica had the body of a Purple horse.

Seeing another person like himself gave Tom a huge sense of relief. It was sort of a 'Misery Loves Company' deal. He saw the Mrs. Boyd with the blanket and quickly reached down and grabbed one of his own blankets. Looking back to the window and his neighbor was exuberant with joy as She galloped down the street.

[corjomc]

Quirke Residence
Pelham, NH
Saturday, January 23, 1999


"Get your fat ass up there!," Derek Hanley said angrily from the effort.

It had taken a while, the Sun had been up a few hours, but Mr. Black, who owned Granite State Construction and was a Baseball coach of Tom's years ago, showed up. Aunt Maeve had complained about "the absolute destruction" of her home. It was not until Tiffany Baylor told Maeve She could either have a professional come over and get Tom out, or She would contact her fellow firefighters and they would smash a hole in the side of her home with their axes that Mrs. Quirke relented.

So it was with several people (Hanley at the tail end), an array of ropes, and a makeshift ramp that Tom Quirke was extricated from the basement. Baylor examined Tom again once He was free. Aunt Maeve fretted to the neighbors while Uncle Jim discussed repairing the hole with Mr. Black and his Sons.


"First things first," Jim Quirke told everyone, "Let's clear out the garage and put all that junk downstairs while we have the hole and the ramp."


Uncle Jim told Tommy that until they could cure him He would have to stay in the garage. Maeve commented that was where She had wanted him to stay in the first place. Uncle Jim got the line of people together so they could pass things to each other from the garage to the basement.


Tom looked at his Buick. He had had the car for all of a year. It had replaced his Chrysler when the transmission went. He thought all the money he had saved that had gone into the car. He was pretty sure He was not going to get that much back if He had to sell it.


"You look alright," Baylor told Tom with a smile.



"Uh," Quirke turned from his car to the paramedic, She was cute, "Thanks, thanks for everything."


"No problem Tommy," She told him with a bit of playful snark.


Quirke had to laugh. Only his Aunt and Uncle called him Tommy. Hanley came over with his blanket and told him to cover up before He arrested him for indecency. Quirke eyed Hanley as he put the blanket over what were now, currently, his hindquarters.


"Go ahead and try it," Quirke fired back, "I haven't kicked anyone with these hooves yet."


"Sorry," Hanley shrugged, "I meant to say I'd get Animal Control to come and get you!"


Quirke had to laugh at that. It was not a mirthful laugh but it was a laugh. Tom's pager started buzzing. The other Paramedic named Al Barwell asked if he was going to answer that. Tom nodded and went to the kitchen window. One of his neighbors in the kitchen passed him the phone through the window. Quirke checked the pager and saw he had messages from both Miller and Creech but not Francemir.


"Yeah," Jake Creech told him, "it's all over the news, I'll be right over."


"I have to work," Stephen Miller told him, "If You need Me I will reschedule with the trainee I am with otherwise I'll be by after 2."


Like Francko now Dean Dowell did not pick up either. Tow was walking, trotting?, to the garage when He saw Hanley getting ready to head out. Derek was chatting up Baylor. She was giggling at whatever stupid thing He was saying. Quirke snorted then embarrassed caught himself covering his nose. Hanley then hit the sirens and raced off. Baylor and Barwell got in their Red ambulance and took off as well.


"There's been a plane crash in Toronto," Maeve was telling Uncle Jim, "and in Europe it's even worse than here."


"There's no proof the plane crash in Canada has anything to do with this," Jim told his wife but She disagreed.


Tom went over and asked where Miss Boyd had gone off to. She was a centaur like him. Purple, but equine afflicted as well. Maeve told him that the police want all the people who have been cursed to go to the Sunshine Farm. Their neighbor, Mrs. Nguyen, overheard this and added the whole Mullen family who owned the farm were like him now, or so She had heard.


Dean lived on the other side of the woods from the Sunshine Farm. Tom considered heading over there. Instead He was concerned for Steve. Francemir had not answered his E-Mail or phone.


"Probably sleeping," Quirke argued with himself.


Still Francemir was closer than the Sunshine Farm and Dr. Weisner had asked him to check on his friend so it was decided. He told his Aunt and Uncle He was off. They both showed concern about his leaving so soon.


"Tommy," Aunt Maeve warned him, "what if you get halfway there and you turn back to normal, "You'll be half naked in the snow!"


"Steve will be fine," Uncle Jim assured him.


"I'll be fine!," Quirke told them and ran for the first time on the new legs.


As Tom ran He began to wonder how He was doing so well with this indeed being the first day with the new legs. He was at a near gallop in icy conditions. It would not do to slip and trip. He had so many legs He could break. Quirke slowed down slightly until the Francemir Estate came into view.


The fence was more for show than anything else. It was ornate and covered the front of Steve's family's property. Quirke decided to go around it. A thought hit him. Was He just going to trot up and knock on their door in his current state? That would be too weird.


Quirke saw the stables. Not only were the owners of Kuna Plumbing rich enough to have a heated pool they were rich enough to have a phone line in their stables. Tom had not only seen it. He had used it a few times. He made his way to where the horses were kept.


Quirke bit his tongue. He almost laughed out loud when he realized He was a now, currently, a centaur trying to stealthily sneak across his friend's yard. He was almost certain Mr. or Mrs. Francemir would catch him.


The Skipper and Ginger would be in the stable Tom recalled. They were the horses that He and Francko had rode during the shoot Steve wanted of him riding in the snow. Quirke tried to be even more quiet so as not to spook them when he entered their paddock area. He went into Ninja-Horse mode.


The door squeaked.


"TJ?!," a voice called out.


Francko called him TJ. Steve called him TJ but that was not Steve's voice. Quirke turned to see the female centaur feeding a carrot to Ginger.


"You're a centaur!!!," She cried out in shock.


"Who the Hell are You?!," Tom fired back no longer being stealthy.


The female centaur made a face then blushed and looked down at her hooves.


"It's Me," She admitted shyly, "It's Steve."

[corjomc]

Francemir Residence
Pelham, NH
Saturday, January 23, 1999



Tom stared at the other centaur that despite it's gender claimed to be his friend Steve Francemir. For its case it stared back equally interested in seeing another person who had become centaur. For Quirke this was his his second other than himself. It was the other's first.



Ginger whinnied and it broke the silence. Quirked tentatively approached to get a closer look at the Equinoid. They half circled each other. Tom had to admit if Steve had a sister She would be it.



"Prove your Steve Francemir," Quirke finally asked of the other centaur.



"What??," the female blanched, "Prove You are T.J. Quirke!"



"I haven't been turned into a girl!," Quirke fired back.



The other centaur signaled for him to quiet down. The one claiming to be Steve told him their parents did not know yet. Steve, if they were Steve, had not broken the news to them yet.



Tom nodded. It made sense. This whole being half horse thing could end at any moment He reminded himself. Why bother your parents with it if you would be back to normal at any moment.



Two more thoughts suddenly entered his head. First, if He did transform back in the near future his Aunt Maeve would kill him for the damage done to her cellar. Second, would this person, if they were Francko, would they turn back to human but stay a girl.



"TJ," the other centaur breathed in then spoke, "we did the shoot last weekend."



Steve related how they started and then went into details like how Francko had Tom ride the Skipper because He was old and mellow while Francemir was the better rider he could handle Ginger. He also recalled how they had got a shot of Mrs. Stone and her daughter when they rode by.



Elena Stone was about 10 years older that Tom and Steve but she was drop dead georgeous. She had been married for just over a decade. Her oldest daughter Cyndi was 10. Cyndi had waved to Tom as She was very happy to have been videoed on horseback.



"So you're really Francko," Quirke admitted, "and you're really a girl."



Quirke swallowed when Francko quickly lifted his hoodie and flashed him. He was definitely a girl from the top up Quirke now was certain of. Something hit Tom like second puberty. He Fumbled for the Blanket Hanley had put on him and realized He had lost it during his stealthy approach to the paddocks.



"I am surprised You are not filming this," Francemir told his friend.



Quirke saw another horse blanket and quickly grabbed it. Tom soon realized how difficult it was to put one on when one was currently a centaur. The more He tried the more frustrated He became. Francemir laughed and put the covering on him.



"Why are you being so weird," the currently female Francemir asked with amusement, "it's a horse's body," Steve reminded his friend as they posed for him, "and despite appearances we're both guys."



"We are not horses," Quirke told his friend and pointed to another of the horse blankets.



"Don't be silly Teej," Francko told his friend.



Quirke coughed and shuffled his feet that were currently hooves.



"You need to tell your folks what has happened to you," Tom told Steve, "and the police want all of us to go to the Sunshine Farm."



Quirke then went to the phone that had been his original reason for coming to the Stables in the first place.



"Nah," Francemir disagreed, "this is like the Flu," He told Quirke, "24 to 48 hours and we will all be fine."



Tom called Jake's pager. Then turned to face Francemir. He hoped Francko was right about the 24 to 48 hour thing. Francemir walked over and called his house which was in front of the stables they were in. He told his Mother He was going to hangout with Quirke this weekend maybe go into Boston for the weekend.



"Boston?," Tom shook his head, "It's the Sunshine for us."



"Better than the glue factory," Steve joked.



They waited for Creech to call back. When He did Tom told him to grab his camcorder from the garage and meet them at the Mullen place.



Sunshine Farm



"Whoah," Francemir muttered when they emerged from the woods that separated Steve's home from the Mullen Family Ranch. There were more state and local police cars at the Farm. There were also firetrucks. Most noticeable were the over to dozen transformed humans. Quirke wished He had his camera.



"Tom!," Dean Dowell yelled out when He saw his friend.



Quirke broke into a trot. He felt the cold air on his current underbelly. It became less of a problem the more he trotted and heated up. Dowell met them less than halfway. He was joined by a centaur wearing a lab coat. It was the town's current vetinarian, Dr. Maggie Weisner.



"Hey Tom," Weisner greeted him.



She had been a Senior when He was a Sophomore. She had also been there in her family's office the day Buttercup died. She had tried to comfort him with logic. It had had the opposite effect.



"Have you found a cure yet?," Francko asked without waiting.



Dr. Weisner asked if She looked like they had found a cure. She asked who Francko was Steve explained his situartion. This drew a second look from the vet.



"Dad," She called out, "we've got another one."



Dr. Ben Weisner was with the Police and Fire Chiefs and some other town officials. They were joined by Sunshine Farm owners Mr. and Mrs. Mullen who were both transformed as well. Weisner turned around and galloped over to her Father taking his clipboard. She then raced back to Tom and Steve. Behind her Quirke saw Creech's Transam pull up in the parking lot.



"What was the last horse or other animal You have ridden?," Weisner asked with enthusiasm.


"Other animal?," Quirke asked.


"TJ rode the Skipper," Francemir answered for the both of them, "and I rode our mare Ginger."


Weisner then spoke up telling everyone that had been transformed to get in line. Despite some grumbling everyone did as they were told. Creech came over. He was carrying Tom's camcorder.


"It's like one of my D&D campaigns," Dean Dowell told Creech when He arrived.


Jake handed the camcorder to Tom. Tom explained Steve's situation. Creech laughed.


"Looking good Francko," He told Francemir.


"Screw You Creech," Steve shot back.


"No thanks," He returned, "you and Tom should do it," Suggested luridly, "test out all te parts and Quirko here can video tape it as well."


"Dude," Tom shot back.


They were interrupted by a smaller centaur.


"Hi Mr. Quirke," Cyndi Stone smiled as She greeted him again, "can you film Me again?, PLease!"


Meanwhile Dr. Weisner and her Father, Dr. Weisner were joined by local resident, Dr. Vijay Sindhu, MD. The three compared notes. They tok particual interest in a pair of people Tom did not recognize.


"Weird," Steve nudged Tom.


Quirke jumped at the contact. He looked over and asked what was weird. Francemir explained.


"Those two," He told TJ, "those to are not half horse, their half donkey!"


The medical people broke their huddle. Weisner and Sindhu told Maggie that She had figured it out so She should make the announcement. Dr. Sindhu called for everyone's attention.


"Everyone," Maggie informed all the transformed, "we have not yet found a cure but we have learned something."


The younger Dr. Weisner explained that all the people that had been transformed had recently been on horseback. Everyone had not only become half horse but they also took on the sex of the mount they were riding. Steve glanced ruefully over at Tom.


"Listen up everyone," Police Chief Charles Whitcomb walked over and addressed the Equinoids, "President Clinton will be addressing the nation this afternoon."

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm
Pelham, NH
Sunday, January 24, 1999


"I really don't think You should," Stephen Miller told his transformed friend when He saw him with one of the beers Tommy Quirke had gotten from Jake Creech.

Into that first night most of the transformed were sleeping. Some could be heard arguing. Others like Robin Mullen and her friends were up talking, as they could not sleep. It was the same for Tom and his gang of friends.


"Maybe He's right," Steve Francemir told Tom as He handed the beer Jake gave him back to Creech.

"If I can't drink beer," Quirke told the others, "I don't want to go on living."

With that Quirke threw back the beverage and everyone laughed. Francemir again took the drink from Creech and followed Tom's lead. Everyone had a cold one except Dowell. Dean only drank soda. Mostly Dr. Pepper, or if He could find it, Moxie.

Miller shrugged. Who was He to try to stop them if they wanted to drink. Instead Miller changed the subject. He brought up the President's speech.

"What do you guys think of the President putting the Centaurs under the auspices of the Environmental Protection Agency?," Miller asked Tom and Steve.

"Who's this McCabe guy?," Francemir questioned having learned someone named W. Michael McCabe was put in charge of the situation.

"Never heard of the guy," Creech offered as he finished off his beer.

"Well his name starts with W.," Dowell offered, "must be some sort of bigwig."

"They put us under the Friggin' E.P., Friggin',A.!," Quirke complained pointing with the hand he held his beer in, "They think we're animals!"

"You do have a point there," Miller nodded.

"It'll probably all wear off eventually," Dowell added.

Francemir toasted to Dean's idea. Creech smiled and turned to Tom.

"There's a lot of fine fillies here on the ranch cowboy," He told Quirke with a nod, "nice ratio, I like your odds."

"Really?!," Francemir demanded from their friend.

Quirke felt uneasy at the thought of what Jake was suggesting. He wasn't surprised. It was Creech after all. If someone was going to be lewd it was going to be him. Tom glanced at the angry Francemir and diverted himself by taking out the camera equipment Jake had retrieved earlier in the evening for him.

"I should get some shots of us," Tom told the others after clearing his throat, "if . . .when this situation corrects itself We should probably have some video to prove that it really did happen."

"That's a great idea!," Francemir answered his face lighting up.

"You need to shoot some side by side comparisons," Dowell offered, "Centaur to human."

"The EPA will appreciate your efforts," Miller injected with a grin that earned him a few scowls.

Quirke set up his camera. He wished he had asked Jake to bring his light kit. It was then that He heard the noise. Something large running through the nearby woods.

"What was that?," Francemir asked looking around in the dark.

[corjomc]

Little Island Pond
Pelham, NH
Sunday, January 24, 1999

Tom dropped his empty beer can, popped the camcorder off the the tripod, and took off after whatever had just run by them. The rest of the gang stared as Quirke took off after the source of the noise. Quirke could see movement in the woods ahead of him. He awkwardly tried to aim the Panasonic while galloping. The ground was icy and uneven. He had to weave between the trees. Several times, he skinned the side of his new girth on the bark. The pain stung in the cold winter night air.

"Tom!," Francemir called out, "Wait!"

The other centaur in the group took off after Quirke. Steve was followed by Jake then Stephen. Dean lagged behind eventually shaking his head and following after his friends.

"Going to get us killed," Dowell muttered as he started to run.

Tom decided to stop trying to record while running (galloping?). It was frustrating and a waste of time. He could feel both hearts pounding. His lower horse half was building up a lather under the blanket the Mullens had loaned him. His breath was speeding up as well. The woods was cut in two by Windham Road. Then He heard the girl's scream.

It was in the woods on the other side of Windham. Quirke ran across the paved road and into the next section of woods. He had reached Little Island Pond. It was where as high schoolers He and his friends would go to hang out, drink, and swim. Cyndi Stone was in flailing in the water screaming.

Quirke immediately halted. He raised the camcorder and started to record. He did not know what Stone was doing out but this was great footage. He noted She must have taken a plunge as her hair and pajamas were soaked. She tried to exit the pond but slipped falling again into the icy water.

Tom looked up from his camera. He still held it on the shot but Quirke looked down at the 10 year old with his own eyes. For a moment He froze with the shot still on the Stone girl.

"TOM!," Francko hollered as He approached, "WHAT'S GOING ON?!"

"Dammit," Quirke whispered under his breath as He placed the camera down still pointing at Cyndi.

Quirke then waded into the water. It was so cold it hurt. He reached Stone the same time Francemir reached the shore. Quirke struggled but was able to grab Cyndi by the wrists before telling her to calm down. He yelled several times until She did.

"What is She doing in the Pond??," Steve called out.

"Grab my camera!," Quirke yelled back, "film this!"

"Really?," Francemir asked not believing what they had heard.

"Yes!," Quirke yelled back.

Francemir did as they were told. Tom lead Cyndi out of the water. She was shivering. Quirke noticed He was shivering. Jake was the next to arrive. He looked at the 10 year old like She had two heads. Francemir told Creech to get the blanket the Mullens had given them off of him and put it on Cyndi.

"Jeez Kid," Jake told Stone as he did what Francemir told him to do, "You trying to get pneumonia?"

Miller arrived followed by Dowell. Quirke took the camcorder back from Steve. He lined up a shot of Cyndi but realized his shivering was effecting what He was trying to video. He bit his lip to stop the shaking. Cyndi started to cry. Francemir told Quirke to get on one side of her.

If we each get on one side," Steve told Tom, "We can warm her up," He explained, "And ourselves a little too."

Quirke had just got everything right with his shot. He looked up and saw the miserable child centaur. He sighed and moved along side her. He handed the camera to Dean as he was the best camera guy amongst his friends and told him to keep rolling.

"Hey Kiddo," Jake smiled at Cyndi, "You're going to be okay, Don't worry about it!"

"We should get back," Miller suggested, "to the barn."

"And her Mom and Dad," Dowell added while without looking up from the eyepiece while filming.

Francemir started to ask what Stone was doing out this late wearing only her Pajamas. The child inhaled trying to stop crying. She was visibly upset.

"Daddy told Mommy that He can't be with an animal woman," She moaned painfully, "Daddy doesn't want us anymore!"

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm
Pelham, NH
Sunday, January 24, 1999


"Who's that?," Francemir asked when they returned to see the tall broad shouldered Blonde centaur tossing Alan Stone out of the Mullen family's main barn.


"Daddy!," Cyndi cried out as She ran to her Father leaving her rescuers behind.


"And stay out!," the tall centaur hollered at Stone.

When Cyndi reached her parent He screamed fearfully at her.


"DON'T TOUCH ME!," Alan Stone yelled as He back-pedaled to his feet and then broke into a run to his Yellow sports car.


Cyndi collapsed on all four of her new legs and again started crying, weeping actually.


"SonovaB!," the muscular Centaur yelled as He ran over to the young girl.


"No idea," Quirke replied to Steve with a whince.


"CYNDI?!?," came the cry from within the barn followed by Erica Stone galloping out to her daughter.


Mrs. Stone hugged Cyndi as the Blonde centaur guy was helping her back on her hooves. Erica started reassuring her daughter that everything was going to be okay. Quirke and the gang went over.


The sound of the engine roaring to life filled the air. Everyone turned to the direction of the road. It was followed by the sound of the Yellow sports car tearing off wildly into the night.


"Don't worry," Tom told them, "this will probably all wear off in a few days, a week tops."


"Really?," Cyndi asked as She rubbed her eyes trting to stop crying again.


"We're going to be fine," Erica reassured her daughter.


"I'll go get Doc Weisner," the Blonde guy told Stone.


"Who're you?," Francemir asked the unknown half-horse.


The guy turned and smiled looking down at Francemir. He held out his large hand.


"Wyatt," He said with a confident smile, "Wyatt Hilliard," he then explained, "my sister Sara works here at the Sunshine."


He held Francemir 's hand firmly in his grip smiling. Quirke watched as Steve had to catch his breath.


"Francemir," the plumber's son replied and swallowed.


"He's Steve," Quirke told Wyatt Hilliard as he stepped up and shook the big guys hand, "I'm Tom."


When Tom said Francemir's first name Hilliard took a step back quickly releasing Francemir's hand. Francko gave him a look. The big guy laughed and trotted off to get Dr. Weisner.


"What a jerk," Francko responded to Hilliard's reaction.


When He came back He had Maggie and Dr. Sindhu with him. They went in the main barn to check out the Stone child. Quirke went to the smaller barn to check out the footage his camera had captured.


"I know that guy," Dean told everyone, "He has a dojo in Nashua."


Dowell went on to say He had seen through the window as He left the comic shop next door He saw the big Blonde guy teaching karate. Creech snorted.


"Fat lot of good his karate is gonna do him with four legs and a tail," He told everyone.


Miller then apologized but He explained it was late and they should all get home and to bed. Dowell nodded and started to walk to his house which was within site of the Sunshine Farm. Creech asked Tom if He needed anything before He went. Tom shook his head and waved to his friends as they left him and Steve.


Once in the smaller barn it was warmer just because there was no wind. Quirke flipped the cover that hid the VCR controls to his camera. With it on the tripod He peered into the eyepiece and started watching the events at Little Island Pond.


The footage of Cyndi Stone struggling in the ice cold water at night were good. The camera being lousy at night shooting without lighting made the shot darker than it appeared to the human eye Quirke thought. He still had human eyes He told himself. The darkness did make the shot even more compelling.


"You're bleeding," Francemir said.


"What?," Tom asked not realizing Francko had come into the small barn.


"Be right back," Francemir said but quirke did not notice.


"Okay," He replied blankly while watching the footage.


Tom was trying to think How he could get into the edit bay at the access tv station when something warm touched his side. The pain and surprise made him jump. Francemir laughed.


"What the Hell?!," Tom spouted off.


"It's a balm," Steve laughed again, "You cut yourself running through the woods you big galoot."


Francemir told Quirke to stop moving and He applied the balm to Tom's injuries.


"That Jerk," Francko told Quirke, "the way He reacted when You told him I was Steve was so stupid."


"Uh," Tom tried not to think of Francko as a girl, "yeah, real stupid."


Quirke forced himself not to move as Francemir spread the balm. He became like the equestrian statues you see of Civil War warriors in parks. Frncemir gave him a pat when they finished.


"I'm just glad your cool with it Tom," Francko told him with relief,


"Yeah," Quirke shrugged like it was no big thing, "gonna wear off in a few days anyways."


"A week tops," Steve replied nodding.


They both started laughing. The whole thing was ludicrous. The laughter was broken up when Dr. Weisner entered. She smiled.


"Hey Freshman," She called her fellow Pelham High graduates, "what's so funny?"


"NOthInG!," Tom yelped far too loud and far too quickly.


"Everything," Francemir responded.


Weisner told them She wanted to check on Quirke as He had gone into the pond as well. When they asked She told them Cyndi would be fine. Maggie nodded after examining Tom.


"Nice job with the balm," Weisner told Francemir.


"I love horses," Steve told the veterinarian.


"Well you did a good job on these scratches," Weisner added.


"Yeah," Francemir thanked the doctor before admitting, "It's Tom here that isn't the horse person," Steve then elaborated, "He only gets on a horse if He's doing a camera shoot with Me."


"The POV shot was a good idea," Quirke reminded his friend.


"So," Maggie mused out loud, "you are the one responsible for turning Thomas here into a centaur?"


"WhAt??," both Tom and Steve asked in unison.


Weisner explained if the only reason Quirke had been on horseback recently was to do a shoot for Francemir then Steve that was why Tom was now a centaur.


"It makes sense," She finished, "logically."


Tom and Steven locked eyes.


"But it's not permanent," Francemir said quickly.


"Yeah," Tom added breaking the stare.


Weisner shrugged. She told the pair they had no idea why what had happened had happened so She had no idea how long it would last. She sighed and warned them the change to all of them may well be permanent.


"I'm going to be a centaur for the rest of my life?," Quirke Asked not wanting to believe it.


"I'm going to be a woman for the rest of my life?," Steve added also still hoping this was only temporary.


"Hope for the best," Weisner told the pair, "prepare for the worst."


The veterinarian then turned to Tom.


"You any good with that thing Freshman?," She questioned her underclassman as She motioned towards the camcorder on it's tripod.


"Pelham TV Volunteer of the Year, 1997," He told Weisner.


"Good," She nodded, "Want to work for Me?"

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm
Pelham, NH
Sunday, January 24, 1999



"But I am a girl!," one of Robin Mullen's friends protested when Dr. Weisner told the young colt-appearing person they needed to switch to the other side of where everyone was sleeping tonight.



The large riding hall was the place the Mullen family's surprise guests were staying in. The owners of the Sunshine had located to their stables. The hall, or indoor ring, had been divided in half with some hanging blankets.



Dr. Weisner took off his glasses and squeezed the bridge of his nose before returning the glasses to their place. He inhaled and cleared his throat. He pointed outside. Benjamin Weisner had never imagined in his long life he would ever seriously mutter his next words.



"Would anyone who has had their sex magically changed please join Me outside."



"That's you Francko," Tom told his friend who was sitting beside him on the barn floor.



"Yeah," Francko sighed and nimbly jumped up on their hooves.



Quirke shook his head. Despite being half horse He was still stumbling around like a pregnant ox.



"You're thinking too much," Francko told him, "a lot of this stuff is instinctual for horses."



"I'm not a horse," Tom groused as He awkwardly got on to his hopefully temporary hooves.



Quirke followed Francko outside. Dr. Weisner eyed Quirke as He exited the barn.



"Go back inside Mr. Quirke," Dr. Weisner told him, "I know you're a boy."



Tom laughed counting his blessings. He did not go back in but He did separate from the ones Dean would refer to in one of his D&D campaigns as "Genderbent". Memories of what had happened to his Paladin and the "Greenfire incident at Two Creeks" came flooding back to him. Dowell had really pissed off the party that night. Tom realized they had not campaigned in a while.



Given the current situation it may be a while before they could all get together and do it again. Tom considered that both He and Francko would have difficulty getting to the loft above the the Dowell family garage.



"Some people are not happy sleeping in the same area as the opposite sex," Dr. Weisner explained.



"It's that old Mrs. Fischer," Robin's currently male friend snorted.



A man trotted up. He told Weisner that He and his wife would gladly return home. The Vanovers had their own stable for their horses. Sandra Vanover was hoping to compete in the Olympics next year in Sydney. The dreams of the now male centaur, Ms. Vanover, were in jeopardy.



"The authorities have asked that for now everyone who has been effected to stay together here," Dr. Weisner reminded the couple.



"Wouldn't it be easier," the friend of Robin asked, "if we you just separated Grandma Fischer from the rest of us?"



"Me and my wife," the female half-donkey offered, "wouldn't mind having our own area."



The male half-donkey wife nodded their agreement.



"Are you going further subdivide us by Male to Female and Female to Male?," Francko asked after raising their hand.



"Hey," Robin's friend asked looking around, "where are the twins?"



Karen Williams was referring to Perry and Terry Mullen. The twin boys had been working together training the newest mare to arrive at the Sunshine Farm.



"Terrance and Percival are with their family," Dr. Weisner told Williams with growing consternation.



In the end Weisner got some more blankets and divided the riding hall into quadrants. Weisner told everyone they would further divide the hall so everyone would have their own spot eventually but this was the solution for now.



Tom walked with Francko back to the newly created Male2Female section. Francemir was joined by the newlywed half-donkey, Ashton Rice.



"Me and Court just got back from our honeymoon in Mexico," Ashton explained.



"That sucks," Tom told Ashton.



"Getting married??," the Ashton responded.



"Uh, no," Tom elaborated, "I mean getting genderbent and donkeyed."



"Well," Ashton laughed, "Court bought a Slave girl Princess Leia outfit," He revealed, "I begged her to get one," Ashton added with a rueful laugh, "guess now I'll have to wear it."



Both Quirke and Francko looked at Rice like He now also had two heads.



"What?," Ashton smiled, "don't be such closed-minded prudes."



Tom reminded him that their conditions were probably temporary. Ashton responded matter of factly that it was best that they then don't waste the opportunity to experiment while they still could.



"C'mon," Ashton looked Tom and Francko over, "you guys make a cute couple."



Both Tom and Francko retreated two steps. This caused Ashton to laugh.



"I can't stay in this section," Tom told Ashton quickly and turned to leave.



Tom quickly slipped between the blankets into the men's section. He found a corner and fumbled down to the blankets set out on the floor. Francko sat down next to him.



"I can't stay in there with that freak," Francko told Tom.



Tom looked back at the Male2Female section Weisner had put up. He then looked around at the other guys in his section. Most were sleeping.



"Well," Quirke told Francko, "Mrs. Fischer isn't in this section so I don't think there will be any complaints."



"Thanks TJ," Franko told him with a smile,



Quirke shrugged.



"Just don't flash anybody," Tom joked.



Francemir punched Quirke in the arm.



"And You hit like a girl!," Tom added laughing.



Francko started pelting their friend. Tom laughed louder. Francemir started laughing. Some of the other transformed men in the section started to wake up. The friends stifled their laughter.



"Tommy," Francko whispered, "I am sorry I got You into this "

"Hey," He whispered back, "not your fault," He paused then continued, "There was no way to know that filming a video on horseback was going to lead to the world turned upside down and inside out."



Francemir was nodding when Quirke saw the ambulance pull up through the window. He jumped up quickly without thinking. Francemir followed suit. They trotted outside. Tiffany Baylor was opening the back of the Ambulance. Tom was happy to see her again and galloped over to her.



"Hey Tommy!," Baylor turned around greeted him happy to see him as well.



From the back of the emergency vehicle the creature emerged. It was a young boy from the waist up but below the chimera was a large Newfoundland.



"Hey!," Brian Boniface spouted as his tail wagged excitedly, "You got horsey legs!"

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm
Pelham, NH
Sunday, January 24, 1999

"Are you okay?," Tiffany asked Tom when She saw the scratches along his flank.


Quirke shrugged and told Baylor He had ran through the woods but was doing alright. Francemir bent down and was talking to the Boy-Dog. His parents drove up behind the ambulance. Al Barwell got out of the emergency vehicle's driver seat and join everyone.


"Brian's always been a idiot," Katey Boniface announced when She and her parents reached her little brother.


"Mommy," Brian told his Mother after He ran over and grabbed her hand and pointed at Tom and Francko, "Look Horse peoples."


"Centaurs Brian," Bonny Boniface told her son. "their called centaurs."


"My name is Steven," Francko told the transformed child.


"You have a boys name," Katey pointed out while giving Francemir a look like they were like her brother an idiot, "You should be Stephanie!"


"That's right Kate," her Father Ron Boniface told her smiling.


Francko plastered a smile across their face.


"Was this kid riding the pet dog?," Tom asked Tiffany.


"Carlton," Tiffany nodded, "A Newfoundland."


"The dog is fine," Barwell added as He joined them.


Baylor walked over and ran her hand along Tom's injury. This caused Quirke to shuffle his hooves.


"Nice job with the salve," Tiffany told him.


"Thanks," Francko told the paramedic as they turned and walked between Tiffany and Tom.


"You did that?," Baylor smiled, "very professional."


"I am good with horses," Francko told Tiffany.


"Which is fortunate," Tom told Tiffany.


"Are there any other Canine afflicted people here?," Bonny asked.


"Probably not," Katey stated out loud, "no one's as dumb as my brother."


"Don't worry," Tom assured them, "It's only temporary."


"We could all wake up tomorrow," Francko added hopefully, "and this will all of been a weird dream."

The Sun came up and shone through the windows into the riding hall.


"Dammit," Tom muttered as Day 2 began with him being a centaur.


They were back in the riding hall. Tom started had to wake up when Francemir started to stir. His transformed friend yawned. They looked at quirke then peaked under their sweatshirt and sighed.


"Well," Francko sighed, "at least I didn't dream I was run over by a stampede."


Francemir quickly was up on their hooves. Francemir reached down and helped Tom to his hooves.


"Wait," Tom asked as He woke up more, "You had the stampeded dream last night too?"


Francemir nodded. Quirke thought for a second. He then asked Francko to help adjust his Horse blanket.


"Why are you wearing that?," Francko asked being curious.


"D'uh," Tom replied, "not going to run around half naked."


"It's a horse body," Francko argued, "It doesn't count!"


"You should wear one," Tom told Francko.


"Thomas J. Quirke," Francko made a mischievous face and struck a provocative pose, "Are you turned on by horses?"


"No!," Tom answered very quickly.

That was the end of that argument.


"Shame about that kid last night," Tom said after clearing his throat.


"Yeah," Francemir agreed, "half dog," they shook their head, "I thought the half donkey people had it bad."


"I think I heard Rice's wife sneak in to his section last night," Tom told Francko.


"Was He wearing the Princess Leia slave outfit?," Francko quipped.


A quick thought of Francemir in that outfit flashed across Quirke's thoughts. He recalled Steve flashing him to prove He had become a girl. It's not the horse part that a part of his brain told him He found attractive.


Tom reminded himself that was Francko and the situation was not permanent. Steve would be returning to his ugly mug sooner than later. These random thoughts were shut down.


Still he had not seen anything like that in person since Jane had dumped him. Tom told himself He did not miss Miss Glass. No He thought again, He did not miss her at all. No not one bit, honest.


When Tom was fully awake it hit him. The compulsion was strong and physical. He looked over to the restroom and realized the door was too small. Quirke Galloped outside.


"Tom?," Francko called out, "You okay?"


The snow crunched under his hooves as He got outside just in time. His huge bladder was full and the dam was about to burst. It felt like He had turned over a barrel full of water. The snow on the ground disappeared in a wall of steam as He realized what people meant when they would say 'Piss like a Racehorse'.


The smell was unduly strong and pungent. Quirke could feel the heat coming off the liquid on his equine underbelly. His legs felt gross.


The Boniface children were already up and outside. Katey was playing fetch with her brother. When they saw Quirke relieving himself Brian started laughing uncontrollably. Tom turned red with anger and embarrassment.


"Ewwww!," Katey responded curling up her face in disgust, "Gross!"


Francemir trotted over. They attempted to stifle their own laughter.


"Impressive," Francko told his friend.


"We'd all better change back quick," Tom said out loud as angrily as He was grossed out.


His legs and underside felt sticky from the thick urine steam that had hit him from his first time relieving himself. Tom took off.


It was cold it. It was slippery. But the Little Island Pond was a water source that He could clean himself off in. He returned to the site where He had eventually pulled Cyndi Stone to safety.


He hit the icy water and quickly started splashing around. Frustration hit when He could not reach his back legs. It was as He tried to bend to do just that that Tom lost his footing (Hooving?) and fell over into the water. He had not felt the icy cold before. It hit him like a fully body slap now.


"You know they have hoses back at the Farm right?," Francko told Tom when they reached the pond.


It was later after Quirke had dried off, warmed up, and had breakfast that Dr. Maggie Weisner had found him. She wanted to record everything that was happening. Tom went and grabbed his camera equipment. He set up for the first interview. Weisner had decided to go alphabetical.


"Let's get rolling Freshman," Maggie told Tom as She fidgeted with the microphone.


Quirke looked up from the flip out screen on the camcorder. He told Weisner to stop fidgeting and to not hold the microphone were it connected to the cable that connected to the camcorder. He then made sure the camcorder was switched to external microphone.


"Are we good?," She asked.


Tom reminded her the proper way to hold the mic then nodded. He turned back to the shot.


"Three, two," Tom told the Centaur Maggie was interviewing before pointing to him and He began.


"Matthew Anaya," the first subject told the camera and Dr. Weisner, "age 35, Detective Sergeant Pelham Police department."


Anaya told them He had been on the overnight. His fellow officers on the night shift claim they had seen him fall over at his desk then start to glow. When the glow faded he explained they saw that He was now what You see on the camera.


Weisner went on to ask how He was feeling. She asked about both his physical and mental state. She also asked when the last time He had rode a horse. He told her Friday before going into work. She asked for details on the horse.


"A three year old gelding," the detective told her, "white with Brown spotting."


Dr. Weisner noted for the camera that Detective Anaya's horse half was as black as his afro. More importantly to Mr. Anaya, He was not gelded. Tom could see the upperclassman was trying to make rhyme or reason of the situation. He made sure the shot was good and walked over to Weisner. He told her about the Stampede dream.
"You had one too?," She asked surprised.


"Yeah," I had one of those," Anaya told them on camera when He was informed of their dreams.


As Anaya went into detail about his Stampede Dream Dr. Ben Weisner trotted over. Tom pulled back one of the ears on his headset so He could hear them. Maggie's Dad told her that they had another pair of centaur joining them. Weisner told Maggie that Mr. Harper was injured but that his daughter was alright. Tom also overheard Dr. Weisner tell his daughter that Chris Harper had killed his wife.

[lordroel]

Oct 19, 2024 14:47:21 GMT corjomc said:

The snow crunched under his hooves as He got outside just in time. His huge bladder was full and the dam was about to burst. It felt like He had turned over a barrel full of water. The snow on the ground disappeared in a wall of steam as He realized what people meant when they would say 'Piss like a Racehorse'.


The smell was unduly strong and pungent. Quirke could feel the heat coming off the liquid on his equine underbelly. His legs felt gross.


The Boniface children were already up and outside. Katey was playing fetch with her brother. When they saw Quirke relieving himself Brian started laughing uncontrollably. Tom turned red with anger and embarrassment.


"Ewwww!," Katey responded curling up her face in disgust, "Gross!"


Francemir trotted over. They attempted to stifle their own laughter.


"Impressive," Francko told his friend.


"We'd all better change back quick," Tom said out loud as angrily as He was grossed out.


His legs and underside felt sticky from the thick urine steam that had hit him from his first time relieving himself. Tom took off.

Can you answer me, we do we need to read this in detail.

[corjomc]

Do we need detail? I would argue Yes.

Tom had to pee. It was his first time as a centaur. It was gross and disgusting. It made him unhappy.

Not as guttural.

I stayed away from mentioning body parts and 'Piss' was the most nasty of the language.

I do want to emphasize how even though this is a magical event it will have downsides and not be all Sunshine & Lollypops, Fireworks & Unicorns.

Having encountered what I wrote one time (Shudder) I can tell you it is based on (Unfortunately) experience.

Although, it does bring up an important part of the story, a certain aspect.

Mistaking, and/or treating the transformed as if they were animals.

Point being writing about a horse urinating is definitely a level below writing about a human doing so.

(I think I am arguing against myself now)

Centaurs should be on the same level as other sentient beings even when the knee jerk reaction is to the otherwise.

If i crossed the line that was not my intent. I wanted to share my "Pee-TSD" from the afore mentioned past experience.

[lordroel]

Oct 20, 2024 17:26:22 GMT corjomc said:

Do we need detail? I would argue Yes.

Tom had to pee. It was his first time as a centaur. It was gross and disgusting. It made him unhappy.

Not as guttural.

I stayed away from mentioning body parts and 'Piss' was the most nasty of the language.

I do want to emphasize how even though this is a magical event it will have downsides and not be all Sunshine & Lollypops, Fireworks & Unicorns.

Having encountered what I wrote one time (Shudder) I can tell you it is based on (Unfortunately) experience.

Although, it does bring up an important part of the story, a certain aspect.

Mistaking, and/or treating the transformed as if they were animals.

Point being writing about a horse urinating is definitely a level below writing about a human doing so.

(I think I am arguing against myself now)

Centaurs should be on the same level as other sentient beings even when the knee jerk reaction is to the otherwise.

If i crossed the line that was not my intent. I wanted to share my "Pee-TSD" from the afore mentioned past experience.

Okay, answer is accepted.

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm
Pelham, NH
Sunday, January 24, 1999

"Hand me another tape," Tom told Cyndi Stone.

After they had interviewed Detective Anaya they interviewed Elena Stone and her daughter. Cyndi had stuck around offering to help Tom. Dean had also showed up also looking to help out. Tom had Dowell collect the subjects to be interviewed and label each tape. Cyndi was just used a runner. She seemed happy to do it.

"Here you go Mr. Quirke," She told him with doofy smile.

"Thanks kid," Tom told her as He put the SVHS tape into the camcorder.

Maggie Weisner had given Dean the money to go down to the store and buy whatever stock of Super VHS they had one hand. The VHS stock outnumbered the Super VHS stock three to one. SVHS was also more expensive. Quirke had to argue over the better quality.

"If you are not serious about doing this," He told the veterinarian, "you don't need Me to do your camera work."

Maggie sprang for the more expensive tape stock.

"You got Detective Anaya," Dean read from a clipboard He had snagged from the Mullens, "You got the Stones, the half-donkey newlyweds, Miss Malavari, the gender bent Mullen twins," Dean finished, "and the gender bent Miss Williams."

"The Purple girl is next," Cyndi interjected to be helpful.

"Yeah," Tom answered as he watched Francko running around through the snow on the Sunshine property.

Quirke buttoned down getting to business. He checked both microphones. Cyndi trotted over and gave one to Dr. Weisner and Dean gave the other to Erica Boyd, Tom's neighbor.

"Erica Jaclyn Boyd," She said into the mic after Tom cued her, "17, High Priestess."

Tom, Dean, and Maggie all exchanged a glance. Boyd had a big smile on her face. Weisner asked her if She had had the Stampede dream or vision. The teen girl told her it was the most glorious moment of her life to be so blessed.

"Blessed?," Maggie asked unsure what Boyd meant.

"it's the end times," Erica explained as her eyes filled with fervor.

"Really?," Weisner asked while checking her watch.

"Yes," Erica added with energetic zeal.

Tom rolled his eyes. His neighbor had always been a bit strange. Quirke was convinced She had now taken the one way ticket to bonkers-ville and set up shop. He looked over to Dean and his friend was listening intently. So was Cyndi. Weisner at least appeared to be sizing Boyd up for a straightjacket.

"The world is going to end?," the veterinarian questioned, "is it because we are now equinoid beings?"

"I had another dream last night," Boyd explained.

"Like the Stampede Dream?," Weisner pursued.

"The rule of man is ending with this millennium," Erica elaborated full voice, "and the God of Horses is returning to rule the next age."

"Do you mean 2000," Dean asked to intrigued to not interfere with Weisner's interview, "or 2001?"

Dowell explained thinking 2000 was the next millennium was an error the vast majority of people often made. The next millennium He told Boyd begins with 2001. She laughed.

"Poseidon is returning to ascend the throne vacated by his brother Zeus," Erica told the camera, "we the blessed ones are to be his instruments during his reign!"

"We are?," Cyndi asked getting excited.

Quirke smiled. He had never caught so much crazy on camera before. There was the time that Creegh went skateboarding like he was waterskiing behind Francemir's jeep. He was trying to impress the captain of the cheerleading squad. Jake had only wore a motorcycle helmet with the American flag emblazoned on it and a Green speedo. Up till right now that Tom thought that had been the most crazy He had ever filmed.

Quirke double checked the audio meters to make sure he was getting Miss Boyd's little rant. She wouldn't shut up. She explained that She, Erica Boyd, was Purple because that was the Royal Color and She was going to be Neptune's, She switched between Neptune and Poseidon willy-nilly, Queen-Consort.

"Maybe you're Purple because your hair had been died Purple before transformation," Maggie countered.

"Blessing," Boyd shot back, "before We were all blessed by the Sea God!"

"Can I be a Princess?," Cyndi asked looking from Tom to Boyd.

"Of course!," Erica pronounced, "Neptune is a wise and just God!"

"Do you have any proof for these claims?," Maggie asked as She was starting to get perturbed by the teen's act.

Boyd turned and did a curtsey emphasizing her centaurhood.

"Oh boy," Tom replied while rolling his eyes.

Boyd then turned and galloped off to spread the new Sea Lord's gospel.

"She's insane," Maggie stated as Boyd ran off.

"Yep," Tom nodded.

A Centaur woman with White hair walked over while watching the Purple-haired teen take off. She looked over to Dean with his clipboard. She smiled.

"Am I next Deary?," the 72 year old Helen Fischer asked as She adjusted her horse blanket for the camera.

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm
Pelham, NH
Sunday, Janu​ary 24, 1999


"26 Interviews," Dean told Tom after re-checking the list on his clipboard.


Quirke nodded and started breaking down the camera equipment. Maggie had just given her statement about what an insult it was to have the 'Centaur Situation' put under the bailiwick of the Environmental Protection Agency. She wanted Tom to edit that one together first.


"They want to treat us like an endangered species when we're not animals," Maggie groused.


"I'll head over to the station," Tom told the veterinarian.


"Good job Freshman," Maggie told him, "What do I owe you?"


"At 25 bucks an interview," Dean answered doing the math in his head, "$650."


Weisner nodded. She told them She write a check. A check once the video was edited. As Weisner left Elena Stone trotted up to collect her daughter. She asked if Cyndi had been helpful.


"Yeah," Tom told Elena, "She did great."


"We're going to be on television," Cyndi told her Mother.


"Great," Mrs. Stone answered with a smile for her daughter's sake.


"It's more for documentation," Tom told the older woman.


"But it is Pelham Tv policy that if you use their equipment the project, it has to air on their channel," He informed her, "at least once."


Quirke shrugged. Dowell was not wrong that was the policy. Mrs. Stone sighed accepting the situation.


"You saved Cyndi," She told Tom with a smile, "I have to figure out how to thank You."


"No problem," Tom responded, "anybody would have done same thing."


"Thanks Mr. Tommy," Cyndi told him while offering her services for any future project.


Mrs. Stone asked for Tom's number and he gave it to her.


"Hey," Francko asked his friends when He reached them, "What's happening?"


Dowell explained they had interviewed all the transformed except for the newly arrived Harper and his daughter. Francemir nodded. They all stole a glance at the traumatized man in the neck brace and cast.


"He and his wife awoke transformed in bed together," Dean told Francko what they had learned, "They both panicked and He accidentally kicked his wife in the head killing her."


"Jeez," Francko said out loud while taking another look at the transformed man who stared blankly ahead.


"Well," Tom added, "that sort of thing happened all over the world."


The news had been full of reports of transformations turned tragic. The majority being people that were behind the wheel of a vehicle. The plane crash in Toronto was even rumored to be centaur related.


"Did you hear about Tom Cruise?," Francko asked his friends.


They were both surprised when Francemir told them that the news had announced that Cruise and his wife were among those afflicted by the change. Francko added his wife had been transformed as well.


"There's bound to be dozens more coming out," Dean told his friends.


"Isn't He a Scientologist?," Tom offered wondering how this would effect that aspect of the actor from Top Gun's life.


"They also mentioned some Crown Prince in the Middle East," Francko added.


"Ha!," Dean laughed, "just what they need another reason to kill each other."


Quirke told them both the more time that passed the more weird things that would probably come out of the woodwork. It was Francemir's turn to laugh.


"Speaking of coming out," He told Tom and Dean, "I am going home to show my parents what has happened."


Francko had already telephoned his parents. He admitted he had lied and had been at the Sunshine Farm. Now He was going to trot on home and show them what He had become.


"I'll go with you," Tom walked up and told his friend.


"Mr. Francemir is pretty big," Dean reminded Quirke.


"Thank's man," Francko told tom before blushing.


"No problem," Tom shrugged as the video could wait.


The trio made their way through the woods to the Francemir home.


"Why don't the two of you just set up house here?," Dean asked when they reached the stables that belonged to Ginger and the Skipper.


"What do you think TJ?," Francko teased, "Should we just move in together?," Adding, "Horse Wife and Horse hubby?"


Tom's response was a dry cough. He told Francko He wasn't his type. Francemir agreed telling him and Dean if the situation did not reverse itself he planned on beginning a new career as a professional lesbian. All three of the friends laughed.


Francemir Residence


Bruno Francemir was on his deck with his wife, 3 other sons, and his daughter-in-law.


"Oh!," Linda Francemir blurted out, "Steven!"


"That's really You?," his older brother asked uncertain.


"Are you okay?," Marten's wife Melissa asked Francko.


His younger brother Joe didn't say anything. He was stunned.


"Nice boobs Steve," his youngest brother Sean told the his female centaur sibling.


Mrs. Francemir swatted Sean off the back of the head.


"Don't worry," Tom stepped forward and told Francko's family, "this is all temporary, it is going to wear off any time now."


Mrs. Francemir demanded to know when this reversal would happen. Dean admitted they had no idea. The younger Mrs. Francemir repeated her question asking if Steven was okay.

Francko told his family everything they currently knew about what was happening.


"I have a cure!," Bruno announced, "have to everything myself!"


The large man who had created the Kuna PLumbing empire stormed into his palatial home. Tom saw the concern on Francko's face. It turned to shock when Mr. Francemir re-emerged with the shotgun.


"Dad!," Joe finally spoke up, "No!"


The larger, muscular Francemir pushed past his son. Bruno got off the deck gun in hand.


"Dad??," Francko asked frozen in place with disbelief.


Before He could think about what He was doing Quirke charged forward. He grabbed the gun. Bruno Francemir grabbed it back. Tom didn't let go.


The rest of the Francemir's left the deck to stop the patriarch of the family from doing something horrible. Dean took out his flip phone and started to dial 9-1-1.


"Francko!," Tom yelled, "Run!"


Francko did run. Not away but over to help Tom. Together with their size they wrestled the weapon from Bruno's large hands. The rest of the Francemir boys then restrained their Father.


"Idioti!," Bruno spat out angrily.


Linda Francemir ran to her centaur son and put herself between him and his father.


"I've called the police!," Dean announced as he held up his phone.


Tom now had the gun to himself.


"Idioti!," Bruno repeated adding, "I was not going to kill Stjepan!"


The large man explained that it was riding Ginger and the Skipper that caused the curse. He was going to kill the evil horses and free both his Son and the Quirke boy. He was going to turn them both back to normal humans the way God intended.


Quirke's attention was locked onto Mr. Francemir. He looked over to the stables when the Skipper whinnied. Tom looked back at Mr. Francemir, then down to the shotgun, then back to the stables, then to Francko.


"Dude?," Dean questioned Tom when He turned gun in hand.


"TJ?," Francko asked when He saw the look on Tom's face, "Tommy?"


Quirke trotted to the stables