Still trying to process the change in her Son, Mother races to her and Father’s bed and tears the covers off her sleeping husband. Not seeing the drastic changes their son has, she’s momentarily relieved until she looks closer. Father’s features look different. His hair has grown out, the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes and his laugh lines are smoothed out, and even groggy, there’s more color in his face and eyes. With an embarrassed apology, Mother pats Father down and blushes to discover that he too is more a mother than Father.
The family is gathered around the table and the awkward silence is broken when young Daughter groans and says she doesn’t know what the big deal is. She always wanted a sister and she’s happy to have two moms. Brother’s glare silences her, but she still pouts. The topic breached, the family discusses what to do. The town doctor can’t undo this. Brother blames the mysterious berries while Father blames the cursed land itself for putting this sickness into their food and them. Outside of the changes, and rather drastic ones for Brother, the two otherwise feel healthy. No longer tired or plagued by hunger, Brother and Father otherwise feel back to normal. Better than back to normal. And transformed or not, chores need to be done and the winter maintenance performed. Mother is displeased to see them want to get up and outdoors, but she has to agree that life and the world haven’t stopped because of this change. At the very least, she has to help Brother mend his clothes and take them out for more room in the chest and at his hips. Daughter’s suggestion of sewing dresses is shot down.
Making do with their meager stores, Brother and Father turn to the berries to supplement their meals again. With no hint of the aftertaste, they report that the berries taste better than ever and give them the strength needed to continue working.
With all four family members working again, the winter work becomes easier. Mother has to take several days off to show Daughter how to mend the clothing. While not as drastic as the first night’s changes, Father and Brother slowly continue to transform through the season. Father’s clothes eventually need to be taken out and as Brother’s curves continue to expand, his need frequent work and mending. For an unhappy week, Brother had to make due with one of Mother’s skirts as all his pants were waiting on new material to mend them.
All the hard winter work pays off when spring and its rains come to the farm. The trenches distribute the water well and the land is sprouting in no time. The staple crops are still too small for sale, but will adequately cover the family’s meals with extra to can for next winter. Eventually, the time comes where the family stands around the cursed berry bushes, which have grown beyond the cultivated land to form a ring around the family’s property. The family stands with tools to dig up and destroy the abominations, but nobody acts. They simply stand there in silence, considering the strange fruit.
Father quietly chimes up first. Surely... this is some kind of scientific marvel. Brother nods without looking up. Some doctor would be interested in them. Mother thinks on it deeper. Surely the university would pay good money for samples of this. Daughter thinks they should be good neighbors and share the excess with the townspeople, it’s the neighborly thing to do.