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by James J. Craft

Color Illustrations by Joe Six-Pack

A "Tales of Transformation" Story

Ira and Hank were two fathers looking to start fresh. What better way to start over than in a brand-new housing development? That's when they signed their reluctant families up to move into Thames Greene.

Hanks's son, Julian, takes the news as a challenge. A challenge to re-build his popularity and make new conquests when it comes to girls. He wants to start with his new next-door neighbor, Connie. Her brother, the weak-willed Martin, doesn't know what to do in the new town. Fortunately, Julian wants to use Martn to get to Connie. That's why the two mismatched kids become friends.

They spend more and more time together, as they enjoy swimming in Hank's pool. The friendship seems to instill a rebellious streak in Martin, who takes to dressing in more and more bizarre fashions. Julian follows his friend's lead. Connie, too, gets involved, and helps dress them like her own personal dolls.

As Ira watches on, his kids, then his neighbor's kids, then the wives start to become very different people. Enlisting his only confidant, Hank, they try to get to the bottom of what is changing their families. What they find is that you can't bury the past as easily as you'd like.