SHR Inc. Wrap, Chapter 1

Becca Franklin strode down the hall of the TV studio looking determined. She found that, when she did so, people responded, usually by getting out of her way.

In fact, Becca was nervous. She was always nervous, really. She felt that she had made it in the TV industry because of her height and looks, not necessarily because of her skill. At 6-foot-2 barefoot, she was so tall in her heels that she towered above most men, let alone women. She had “presence,” and that was what sold her in everything she did.

Becca had gone through high school feeling a bit freakish. She had always been tall, but when she shot up in middle school to be the tallest student in her class, she wanted to hide. It only got slightly better in high school, since she was still taller than almost all the boys. That she stunk at the “tall girl” sports didn’t help. She was sluggish on the basketball court and couldn’t make a volleyball play to save her life. She loved to run, but wasn’t quite fast enough to be suitable for track or cross-country.

In college she realized her height could be an advantage. Even so, she still felt awkward in most social situations, and had never had a boyfriend who had lasted more than a few weeks.

Now she was being called into the office of the news director. She had landed a job with an international TV and Internet news service; had they figured out that she really was just a pretty face with a long, lanky body and D-cup breasts? Were they going to let her go because of her quality of work?

Becca knocked on news director Roy McKay’s door. “Come,” he said from inside.

She entered the room to just inside the door. “You wanted to see me?” she said.

“Becca! Yes, come in,” McKay said, gesturing to a chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

She sat down carefully, making sure to keep her legs together. Most skirts were miniskirts when you were as tall as Becca.

McKay stood up and came around his desk. He sat on the corner of it closest to Becca. She’d seen that move before. He wanted something, and this was his way of reflecting his authority.

“Becca, we’ve got a very special and unique assignment for you,” McKay said. “This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for you, and could make your career as a telejournalist.”

Secretly relieved she wasn’t being fired, Becca said, “Sounds good so far.”

“But it’s going to require a lot from you,” McKay said. “That’s why you’re getting the chance to accept or reject this assignment.”

“O-o-kay,” Becca said. “So, what’s the assignment? Combat coverage or something? And what‘s it going to require from me?”

McKay chuckled. “No, nothing like combat,” he said. “Becca, how tall are you?”

Becca swallowed hard. “Six-two,” she said.

“Then this assignment is going to require about six feet from you,” McKay said.

Becca couldn’t help but look confused. “Huh?”

“You’ve heard of Belinda Cicero, right?”

“Sure,” said Becca. “She’s the spokesperson for SHR Inc., ‘the Incredible SHR Inc. … Woman.’ …” Her voice trailed off as the probable explanation for McKay’s words struck her.

“Well, it seems she’s a fan of your work.” McKay said. “Her upcoming nuptials are the celebrity wedding of the year, maybe the decade. After all, how often does a woman who’s been willingly shrunken to an inch-and-a-half tall marry the man she loves -- who also happens to be a smoldering hunk himself?”

McKay picked up a packet of papers from his desk as he continued. “Anyway, Ms. Cicero is granting only one interview in advance of the ceremony, and she wants it to be with you. She’s even willing to let you also cover the ceremony itself -- from inside it.”

“I’m … flattered,” said Becca, “and a little confused. It sounds like I’m going to have to shrink myself to cover this.”

McKay folded his his arms across his chest. “That … is a condition Ms. Cicero has set,” he said. “She says she wants people to be able to see things, including the ceremony itself, from her point of view, and believes you can do that in ways other reporters can’t. So, what do you say?”

Becca thought for a second. “How long do I have to decide?” she asked.

“What time is it?” asked McKay. “We need an answer right away. If you were married or … otherwise attached, I’d offer enough time to talk to your loved one, but you’re not. This is your call.”

“It’s not exactly a hard news story,” said Becca.

“But it is a big story,” said McKay. “It’ll be out there in every media outlet, every medium. So, is it you, or not?”

Becca tilted her head down slightly, then used her eyes to look up at McKay. “You’re sure what they say in the commercials are true -- that the procedure is completely reversible?”

“That’s what all the evidence says,” McKay said.

Becca nodded. She stood up. “All right, I’ll do it,” she said.

“Great!” said McKay, shaking her hand. He handed Becca the packet. “These are documents the legal department wants you to fill out, or that have been filled out and need your signature. You’re going to be expected to file a series of stories. The first will be a tour of the SHR Inc. facilities while you’re at normal size. The second is an interview with that foot-tall SHR executive, Dr. Mitzi Elbert -- the one who’s Belinda Cicero’s friend. To put you on a more even footing, we’re going to pay to have you shrunk to her height, then go through a second treatment to do the interview with Cicero and cover her wedding. After that comes the reversal. You can actually file your stories while you’re shrunken. The shrunken camera and microphone will send signals that will translate as normal sized to our equipment.”

Becca’s head was spinning. “Okay, um, … Can I have a few minutes to go over these?”

McKay patted her shoulder. “Take your time,” he said. “You can use my office, if you like.” He started for the door, then turned. Chuckling, he said, “This is the start of a big career for you, little lady.” He chuckled again at his own joke, then left.

Becca sagged down in front of the papers. She’d wanted to be shorter for as long as she could remember … but five or six feet shorter? How would that feel?

It was the late that afternoon that Becca arrived at the office building that housed SHR Inc. The building looked like any other urban office. If anything, the architecture was modern and inviting. Why did it seem so imposing to her?

Becca sighed. She walked up to and into the building, found SHR Inc. in the directory and hit the up button.

Becca’s hand actually trembled slightly as she pushed open the door of the outer office. When she entered, she found a man quite a bit shorter than her seated behind the desk. He looked up. “Oh, hi!” he said, standing. “I’m Asa Lukas.”

“I’m --”

“Becca Franklin. I know,” said Asa. “Everybody around here knows you, since Belinda and Dr. Elbert requested that you get involved in the interviews. Dr. Elbert is waiting for you. I’ll let her know you’re here.”

Asa buzzed back on the intercom phone, then smiled as he looked up at Becca. “I’ll take you right back,” he said.

Becca glanced down at Asa. “Um, can I ask you something … personal?” she asked.

Asa looked up. “Sure,” he said.

“I know they … shrink people to different sizes, depending on needs and … tastes,” Becca said. “So, are you a client?”

Asa kept right on smiling as he walked. “Nah,” he said. “I’m just short. But, I have to admit, working here, I feel like a giant a lot.”

They passed a room with two skyscrapers sitting on a tabletop. Becca thought she saw movement between the towers. She stopped, staring. “Are those … people?” she asked.

“Yep,” Asa said. “They’re doing truly microscopic work -- for them. It’s beyond anything easily done on normal human scale,” he said. “Here’s Dr. Elbert’s office.”

Dr. Elbert was sitting on a chair at a fashion-doll desk atop a normal desk. Being fashion-doll-sized herself, the desk was a perfect fir for her. She was wearing a lab coat, and had her long (for her height) hair pulled back. She looked up. “Ah, Ms. Franklin! Thanks, Asa.”

Asa left, and Dr. Elbert directed Becca to a seat.

“”So, I assume they explained the idea behind these interviews to you?” Elbert said.

Becca nodded as she tried to brush a nonexistent crease out of her skirt.

“And how do you feel about this?” Elbert asked.

“Nervous,” Becca said. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m willing to do this. It’s just that … well, shrinking to an inch and a half tall is … daunting.”

Elbert smiled. “I’m glad you admitted it,” she said. “Most people who come to us when they’re assigned by work are a bit nervous, but you’d be surprised how many don’t admit it at first. I mean, it’s only natural. One gets used to being a particular height, and it winds up becoming part of one’s identity -- part of who one is.”

Becca laughed, sounding relieved. “I’m glad you understand,” she said.

“Remember, we can restore you to your original height when this is done,” Elbert said. “But this is what Belinda wants, and it is a condition of getting the interview. She wants whoever does it to have the same perspective she does. Now, that said, she is willing to let you grow some for the wedding itself -- to my height, actually. After that you can regrow to your normal height.”

“Your height?” Becca repeated. “Why your height?”

Elbert smiled. “That way, you won’t overwhelm the wedding party,“ she said. “You see, I’m in the wedding party myself. In fact, I’m the matron of honor.”