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Description
Author's note: I was only planning on doing one section for chapter 36, but as I was writing it, I got the idea of doing a two-part add-on, written like it was his article about the Johnson family that appeared in his paper. The first part is his interview with the men.

GIANTS AMONG US: Real? Or Fake News?

By: Pete Parker

Part 1

Let me get right to the point. Yes, they are real, and they are the nicest, sweetest human beings that you will ever meet. I had the opportunity to interview and spend an evening with them, and to be completely honest, I was made to feel more welcomed at their house than I am at my own parents.

Some background. I ran into a friend of mine at a bar a week ago. We have been lifelong friends, and where I had gone into the journalism profession, he went to work for a warehouse distribution center, which shall remain nameless.

Anyway, he had mentioned that he had a coworker whose wife and daughter were growing taller for unexplained reasons. Naturally, I dismissed the subject as the fantasy of some drunk guy at a bar. But he insisted it was completely true.

The next day at work, I talked with my editor about the claim, expecting him to dismiss it as someone trying to pull my leg. Imagine my shock when he informed me that he had heard rumors about the family. But he didn’t know how to bring it up with the veterans in the newsroom, who would probably think being assigned to investigate a story like this was basically management’s way of telling them to pack their belongings in a box and head for the exit.

So my editor was relieved when I brought up the subject, because I was now volunteering to investigate the claims. He thanked me, and told me the story, or lack thereof, was my baby, and that he would support me wherever it led.

So I checked with a couple of sources I had with the Westmont Lake government, and became convinced that it was quite possibly true. So, I narrowed down the possible people involved, and made a couple of phone calls, and struck gold.

Val Johnson answered my call, confirmed the story, and graciously consented to an interview. I was excited! But how would I approach a story where no one knew of the reasons, even the most respected medical professionals. I decided to let the Johnson family tell me their story unedited, and I would ask questions, when appropriate, but would otherwise let them tell the world in their own words.

I had the address, and the time, and showed up at an odd looking building not really visible from the main road. I immediately noticed that the front door was huge, which I thought was unusual.

I knocked, and a man slightly smaller than my 6’4” frame answered. Dan Johnson, father, husband, and all-around great guy, introduced himself after I did the same. We briefly talked about the building, which he explained was an old warehouse that he purchased and converted for his family. Now I was getting excited. If the front door was any indication, this was going to be the most unusual day of my life.

We walked in. The living room furniture was scaled in such a way that I felt small. I couldn’t get over the feeling. I asked Dan if I could take a picture of him standing next to the sofa, so I could have some visual evidence of the scale I was seeing. He warmly said yes. I took my picture.

Then he excused himself and returned with two other males. I recognized the one. Bill Johnson, star QB for Westmont Lake’s high school football team, and nearly my height.

The other was a 12yr old boy, Matt Murdock, a friend of Bill’s 12 yr old sister, Dana. We introduced ourselves, then I proceeded to interview the men first.

Dan explained his life, from childhood to the present, with great detail. And when we reached the topic of the interview, he was candid and forthcoming about what had transpired, and continues to transpire.

Dan explained that due to a combination of requirements for both his job and Val, plus Bill’s college and Dana’s grade school, they needed to get the vaccine due to the virus making its way through the population.

They had normal side effects, but a week later, when they were dropping Bill off at college, both Val and Dana started to have another occurrence of the side effects, and when they returned home, both slept the rest of the weekend. And at that exact moment, the virus ravaged the warehouse where he worked, forcing him to work 18 hour days for a week.

He wasn’t able to see his wife and daughter, but when he finally got a day off, he was shocked to see that they had grown, and were almost as tall as he was.

I asked him how he felt about that, and Dan responded that he was initially stunned, but he realized that they were still the same sweet girls that were his family, and whatever was happening, they couldn’t control. He needed to support them no matter what, because he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if they felt he abandoned them when they needed him the most.

I have to admit that Dan’s answer almost made me cry. It was so genuine, and from the heart, that I wish all men could be like him.

Next, I ask Bill about what his life has been like. Like his father, he seemed to be grateful for the childhood he had. Both his parents were always there for him, especially when his football prowess became evident, and he was always being invited to every showcase event. His parents never hesitated or complained about having to constantly drive him to and from the games.

I asked him how he felt about remaining the same size as his mom and sister grew taller, and like Dan, it was extremely important for him to support his family no matter what. Then he pointed out that his girlfriend was also experiencing the same side effects as his mother and sister.

This caught me off guard, as I didn’t expect a third female to be involved. I asked him her name, and he said Donna, a fellow freshman from college. I asked him how he felt about his girlfriend growing taller, and his eyes lit up, telling me that she was such a special girl, that it wouldn't matter how much she grew, he loved her. I believed every word he said. Like Dan, Bill was honest, and a terrific young man.

Next, I asked the young boy sitting there, Matt Murdock, and what was going on with him. Matt explained his childhood, how he was constantly moving because of his dad's job, sometimes even two or three times during the school year. I asked him what his dad did for a living, and he wasn't exactly sure, as his dad did everything for his company. And no, Matt couldn't remember the name of the company, as it always seemed it was being bought by a bigger company, and the name would change.

I asked him about his time in Westmont Lake. Then I saw his eyes light up. He explained that he moved in during 6th grade, and nobody would talk to him, because he was the outsider among a close group of friends, except one person who showed genuine kindness and interest in his well being.

I asked him who, and he said Dana Johnson. And he never would forget that. She would always be special to him, and he would always remain loyal to her.

I asked him how he felt about Dana growing taller, and he said he no longer noticed, because she was still the same person that she was when he met her.

I looked over at Dan and commented that he seemed to have a really wonderful family, and he couldn't wait to meet the girls. Dan smiled back at me, and recommended that I remain seated, as he was afraid that I would be so stunned, I might faint. I laughed at his joke, but remained seated as requested, while Dan yelled into the kitchen.

What I saw next I will never, ever forget, for as long as I live. And it will be continued in Part 2 of my interview story with the Johnson family.

Description
Author's note: I was only planning on doing one section for chapter 36, but as I was writing it, I got the idea of doing a two-part add-on, written like it was his article about the Johnson family that appeared in his paper. The first part is his interview with the men.

GIANTS AMONG US: Real? Or Fake News?

By: Pete Parker

Part 1

Let me get right to the point. Yes, they are real, and they are the nicest, sweetest human beings that you will ever meet. I had the opportunity to interview and spend an evening with them, and to be completely honest, I was made to feel more welcomed at their house than I am at my own parents.

Some background. I ran into a friend of mine at a bar a week ago. We have been lifelong friends, and where I had gone into the journalism profession, he went to work for a warehouse distribution center, which shall remain nameless.

Anyway, he had mentioned that he had a coworker whose wife and daughter were growing taller for unexplained reasons. Naturally, I dismissed the subject as the fantasy of some drunk guy at a bar. But he insisted it was completely true.

The next day at work, I talked with my editor about the claim, expecting him to dismiss it as someone trying to pull my leg. Imagine my shock when he informed me that he had heard rumors about the family. But he didn’t know how to bring it up with the veterans in the newsroom, who would probably think being assigned to investigate a story like this was basically management’s way of telling them to pack their belongings in a box and head for the exit.

So my editor was relieved when I brought up the subject, because I was now volunteering to investigate the claims. He thanked me, and told me the story, or lack thereof, was my baby, and that he would support me wherever it led.

So I checked with a couple of sources I had with the Westmont Lake government, and became convinced that it was quite possibly true. So, I narrowed down the possible people involved, and made a couple of phone calls, and struck gold.

Val Johnson answered my call, confirmed the story, and graciously consented to an interview. I was excited! But how would I approach a story where no one knew of the reasons, even the most respected medical professionals. I decided to let the Johnson family tell me their story unedited, and I would ask questions, when appropriate, but would otherwise let them tell the world in their own words.

I had the address, and the time, and showed up at an odd looking building not really visible from the main road. I immediately noticed that the front door was huge, which I thought was unusual.

I knocked, and a man slightly smaller than my 6’4” frame answered. Dan Johnson, father, husband, and all-around great guy, introduced himself after I did the same. We briefly talked about the building, which he explained was an old warehouse that he purchased and converted for his family. Now I was getting excited. If the front door was any indication, this was going to be the most unusual day of my life.

We walked in. The living room furniture was scaled in such a way that I felt small. I couldn’t get over the feeling. I asked Dan if I could take a picture of him standing next to the sofa, so I could have some visual evidence of the scale I was seeing. He warmly said yes. I took my picture.

Then he excused himself and returned with two other males. I recognized the one. Bill Johnson, star QB for Westmont Lake’s high school football team, and nearly my height.

The other was a 12yr old boy, Matt Murdock, a friend of Bill’s 12 yr old sister, Dana. We introduced ourselves, then I proceeded to interview the men first.

Dan explained his life, from childhood to the present, with great detail. And when we reached the topic of the interview, he was candid and forthcoming about what had transpired, and continues to transpire.

Dan explained that due to a combination of requirements for both his job and Val, plus Bill’s college and Dana’s grade school, they needed to get the vaccine due to the virus making its way through the population.

They had normal side effects, but a week later, when they were dropping Bill off at college, both Val and Dana started to have another occurrence of the side effects, and when they returned home, both slept the rest of the weekend. And at that exact moment, the virus ravaged the warehouse where he worked, forcing him to work 18 hour days for a week.

He wasn’t able to see his wife and daughter, but when he finally got a day off, he was shocked to see that they had grown, and were almost as tall as he was.

I asked him how he felt about that, and Dan responded that he was initially stunned, but he realized that they were still the same sweet girls that were his family, and whatever was happening, they couldn’t control. He needed to support them no matter what, because he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if they felt he abandoned them when they needed him the most.

I have to admit that Dan’s answer almost made me cry. It was so genuine, and from the heart, that I wish all men could be like him.

Next, I ask Bill about what his life has been like. Like his father, he seemed to be grateful for the childhood he had. Both his parents were always there for him, especially when his football prowess became evident, and he was always being invited to every showcase event. His parents never hesitated or complained about having to constantly drive him to and from the games.

I asked him how he felt about remaining the same size as his mom and sister grew taller, and like Dan, it was extremely important for him to support his family no matter what. Then he pointed out that his girlfriend was also experiencing the same side effects as his mother and sister.

This caught me off guard, as I didn’t expect a third female to be involved. I asked him her name, and he said Donna, a fellow freshman from college. I asked him how he felt about his girlfriend growing taller, and his eyes lit up, telling me that she was such a special girl, that it wouldn't matter how much she grew, he loved her. I believed every word he said. Like Dan, Bill was honest, and a terrific young man.

Next, I asked the young boy sitting there, Matt Murdock, and what was going on with him. Matt explained his childhood, how he was constantly moving because of his dad's job, sometimes even two or three times during the school year. I asked him what his dad did for a living, and he wasn't exactly sure, as his dad did everything for his company. And no, Matt couldn't remember the name of the company, as it always seemed it was being bought by a bigger company, and the name would change.

I asked him about his time in Westmont Lake. Then I saw his eyes light up. He explained that he moved in during 6th grade, and nobody would talk to him, because he was the outsider among a close group of friends, except one person who showed genuine kindness and interest in his well being.

I asked him who, and he said Dana Johnson. And he never would forget that. She would always be special to him, and he would always remain loyal to her.

I asked him how he felt about Dana growing taller, and he said he no longer noticed, because she was still the same person that she was when he met her.

I looked over at Dan and commented that he seemed to have a really wonderful family, and he couldn't wait to meet the girls. Dan smiled back at me, and recommended that I remain seated, as he was afraid that I would be so stunned, I might faint. I laughed at his joke, but remained seated as requested, while Dan yelled into the kitchen.

What I saw next I will never, ever forget, for as long as I live. And it will be continued in Part 2 of my interview story with the Johnson family.