This story is suggested by another story posted now on Fictionmania. Thank you Nighthawk for "Once More With Feelings."

The Day I Went Home - Part One
By Barbara Lynn Terry

I am 56 years old. I'm not a real genius or anything, but, I have been toying around with time travel. Something suggested by the Back To The Future trilogy and the series Quantum Leap. I was being helped by a university professor friend I met one day at the campus coffee shop. I was talking to a student who used to live in my neighborhood, until he moved on campus after entering college. We were talking about the Back To The Future trilogy, and pondering on what it woud be like to actually travel through time. This professor was at the next table and heard our conversation.

"You do know that time travel is actually possible, don't you?" He asked, as we sat there looking at him like he was crazy.

"Uh yeah, we know professor," and we started laughing. As my friend was busting a gut, I looked at the professor with a serious look like I wanted to know more. So I told my friend I was finished and I should be heading out cause I had to go to work. Well I didn't, but that was what I used to excuse myself without hurting his feelings. I looked at the professor again and then motioned with my eyes towards the door. He got up and put his tray away, and followed me outside. When we were away from where my friend couldn't see us when he came out, I asked the professor what he meant.

"Professor what do you mean that time travel is possible"

"Just that. Remember the book The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, it was then made into a movie?"

"Yes."

"Well picture this, if you will. The space-time continuum is mathematically sound. I have been working on the theory for quite some time now, and I am almost finished. But, I need someone who can put it all together, to make it work properly. Are you any good at mechanics?"

"Yes I am. I mean I tinker a bit here and there, but what I make usually works."

"Good! Want to help me prove that time travel is not only mathematically sound, but is also a reality?"

"Sure, I'm always good for a challenge."

"Good."

We went back to his office where he took three notebooks out of his briefcase. He opened the first one and began explaining what all those symbols and numbers meant and why they were arranged the way they were. When he was finished he looked at me, then at his notebooks again, then he said in a matter of fact tone.

"I want you to build an accelerator just like the blueprints show. If you can do that, anyone can go back anywhere in time. I also have another blueprint here too. It is what I call the exchanger."

"What does that do, exactly, professor?" I queried.

"What it does is, when you go back in time, it will allow you to change places with any person, including yourself, if you wish."

"But the theory is, that if you meet with yourself in the past, and touch each other, you will perish into oblivion."

"That is a science fiction writer's fantasy. There is absolutely no truth to it at all. That is why I made the blueprints for the exchanger. It does things science fiction writers don't tell."

"But, if that is true, then why don't they write their stories that way then?"

"Dramatic license. Something to put you on the edge of your seat, I guess. Anyway, my exchanger will put you into the body of the chosen person, but, it is a one way exchange. There is no coming back the way you left, cause once the exchanger is used, it is destroyed."

"But that means, if I did that, then everything that I did up to now from the point of excahnge is erased. Right?"

"I'm not certain about that part. I do know that you won't be cast into oblivion if you decide to go back as yourself say, when you were a child, or some other age. So maybe, the future is erased because you changed the past isn't true once the future has already been established. I mean, like now."

"That is a very interesting theory professor."

"Yes it is, uhmmm, oh darn, just what is your name anyway?"

"David."

"Well David, I can assure you that, everything I say here now, is perfectly safe. Are you still game to help me?"

"Sure Professor, I'll help you."

"Good!"

This brought me back to my younger days when I was ten years old and had a very secret birthday wish that I never told anyone. If I could go back and meet myself as a ten year old child, I could probably change what didn't happen. That was, I wanted to be a girl so bad, that I dressed in secret. My mother never knew that this was my secret birthday wish. Now the professor was giving me a chance to go back and correct something I should have had the courage to do. Tell my mother of my wish to be her daughter. As I sat there and thought, which I must've seemed like I was in another world to the professor, he brought me out of my reverie.

"David? Is there something wrong?"

"No professor, I was just thinking of the possibilities of what you said, is all."

"Oh, about what, David?"

"My secret birthday wish I had when I was ten years old."

"Would you like to share that with me?"

"I, uh, no professor. I don't think you'd understand."

"Try me David, I'm more open minded than you would think."

"Yeah maybe so, professor. But this particular wish isn't very popular and can get people very hurt in a lot of ways."

"Well okay then, let me tell you of a wish I had once, but then fate took its course and here I am. When I was a child, and through my twenties even, I had a very secret wish also. I had been dressing as a girl for a lot of years in secret. I had always wanted to be a girl. But then when I was in college, quantum physics became my passion. That's how I came onto this theory of mine. So, anyway, I was one of the girls, without my mother knowing about it, and I don't think she ever did. If she did, she didn't let on."

"I also have had that wish. I had been dressing from the time I was five years old. So, when I was ten, I made this secret birthday wish, but was scared to death to tell my mother."

"I know how you feel, David. How would you like to go back and correct that mistake?"

"More than anything."

"And, here is your chance. What say we start on Saturday, since today is Thursday?"

"All right professor, that sounds good to me."

"See you on Saturday then, David."

We shook hands and I left still thinking of the possibilities this adventure could bring. I could actually go back and correct the mistake I made when I was ten years old, by not telling my mother about my secret birthday wish. This couldn't have come at a better time in my life. Forty six years ago, I was scared to say anything. Now I was being given the chance to correct it. If what the professor said was true, I will be the girl I have always been.

Before I knew it, I was at my hotel room. I opened the door and went in. I just sat there, looking out of the window, at the Madison skyline and still thinking of what lie ahead of me. I was being given a second chance that no one has ever gotten, including me, up until now. A second chance to correct a mistake from the past, by going into the past. This was just too good to be true, but, if it worked, mankind was on the edge of having technology, that shouldn't be available for another one thousand years, today. It was mind boggling, but I took it in stride. I will help the professor build his time travelling accelerator and the accompanying exchanger.

It was early by midwest standards, nine o'clock, but I was tired and decided to go to bed. I will be here for another week and its a good thing this hotel has weekly rates.

Chapter II Helping The Professor

Since I was on vacation, I didn't have to go to work the next day, so I went out for a jog. As I ran, I thought about the professor's proposal. To be able to travel back in time and correct something that should have happened. I didn't have any children and wasn't even married. My love affairs consisted of dressing like a woman in my own apartment. So If I could go back and correct the omission that occured, I would have my life to live as it should have been, all those years ago. To be ten years old again, in the past. Was that just too much to really hope for? Maybe, maybe not, but I had nothing to lose by trying. As the day wore on, I began to get increasingly tired, so I went to bed early.

That night I dreamed I was a ten year old girl, with many friends, and we had sleepovers, and played all different kinds of games. I wore the prettiest clothes, and had the nicest hair imaginable. My mother was even in my dream, but instead of being born a boy, I dreamt I was born a girl, and my mother treated me with kindness and affection, instead of the constant yelling that she subjected me to. As I was dreaming, I heard a far off buzzing sound that kept getting nearer and nearer. When my mind finally realized what the sound was, I woke up and turned off my alarm clock. Don't ask me what I thought the far off buzzing sound was, cause I couldn't remember, even if I had known.

I got up and went into the bathroom and ran a bubble bath. I like the scent of lavender, so I poured in a little bubble bath with oil, and just sat there, with my eyes closed. I let the water soak through me, and I drifted into a daydream. It was kinda similar to the dream I had during the night, except this time I was running through a field of violets, and was being chased by a boy. I ran giggling while he was laughing. He pretended to tackle me and we rolled over a couple of times and then just lay there, hugging and kissing. I have a timer I set just for these occasions, and when it went off, I looked very sad in my daydream and then poof, it was gone and it was time to wash and rinse off.

I got out of the tub, and wrapped the towel around me like a woman would. I went into the bedroom and got out my rose cami, bra and panty set. I got out a pair of stay up thigh hi stockings, and my black flats that were unisex and my pullover sweater and size eighteen jeans. I wore all misses sizes, but they looked like guys clothes. Only I knew they were misses sizes. I got dressed and called the professor. He was in his lab at the university, and said he would meet me at the door, so there wouldn't be a problem with the guard. After putting my keys in my granny pack, I looked around to make sure I wasn't missing anything, and left for the university.

I got to the university in just a little under ten minutes. The professor was waiting for me, and the guard let me in. We went straight to his lab, where I set to work. The professor had bought the materials I would need. After looking at the blue prints again, I knew this wasn't going to be a one day project.

I studied the blueprints and what it looked like to me was, that I was going to be building a shower stall, instead of a time machine. But, in reality it looked more like a space capsule, or an alien force field; kinda like what you saw in the movie War Of The Worlds. The glass dome would be special ordered and would be the only thing I wouldn't have to build.

I started by taking the engine prints and spreading them out. I looked them over very carefully. There were more gears and wires than I cared to admit. I then took the first blue print over to the work bench and began assemblying the ratio gears. After that, I looked them over, to make sure they were according to the blue prints. They were. I then put them on the side, and went to get the second print. This was the rocker arm assembly. Something like what you see on a train engine that makes the wheels go around together. There are only two rocker arm assemblies, and they were easy to put together. I compared them to the blue prints, and I was satisfied that I had done the job properly.

The professor came to me, and told me it was time to go for the day. So, we left everything the way it was, and left. As we walked out of the building, we talked a bit about the project.

"Professor, this project is going to take about a week to put together. Is there some way I can work on it during the week? I'm paid up at the hotel until next week Sunday."

"I figured it would take about a week. Yes, there is a way we can let you work on it during the week. I'll just tell the dean of my department that you are my apprentice. How far did you go in school?"

"I have another semester of college to finish, if I ever get there."

"That's good. The dean has no idea what this project really is. He thinks it is an accelerator for some kind of secret weapon, that the government has contracted me personally to build. If he ever found out I was toying with time travel, he would make sure this project was closed down quickly."

"I understand, professor. By the way, what is your name?"

"I'm professor Steven Marcks, associate dean of the science and physics department. That is why it is very important that no one finds out about what we are really doing in my lab. My classroom, for the most part, is where the students do their studies and projects. Come on, I'll show you."

We walked to his classroom, and when he opened the door, I saw an exact duplicate of the professor's lab. When I was in college, I only was in the classroom, not any labs, so, this is my first time seeing both. All college classrooms look alike. The seats are tiered, so everyone can see what the professor is doing during class.

"Anyway David, can you come back tomorrow? We have a lot of work to do yet."

"Yes, I can come back tomorrow. If this all works the way you said it will, then there is a lot that I can do. But, how come you don't try this yourself. There's a lot you could do too."

"That is true, David. But I am happy here. This project was just something I needed to do. When I heard you talking to your friend in the commons, and I saw that expression on your face, I knew I could be able to help you. Don't get me wrong, David. I would love to go back and correct things in my past. But I feel I would still end up here, teaching quantum physics to students. So, I'll just stay where I'm at. I mean, I like my job and it gives me an excuse to tinker with things you only read about in science fiction stories."

"Okay professor, I see your point. I'll see you tomorrow then. About what time should I call you?"

"I'll come and pick you up, and we can come over tomorrow together. How does that sound?"

"Okay professor. I'm staying at the Towne hotel, room 347."

"Okay David, I'll give you a call and let you know I'm on the way."

"Okay professor, see you tomorrow then. Goodnight."

"Goodnight David."

I left and walked back to my hotel. It wasn't a bad hotel, but it sure wasn't the Hilton. That night, as I lay there awake, I thought about all the possibilities of the project I was building. As I lay there thinking, I drifted off into a blissful sleep. I dreamed that I was back home, on the day of my tenth birthday. I would wait around, until I saw my younger self, and then I would go to him (me?) and pretend to ask for directions, but he would have to look at the map with me, so I could use the exchanger. It was such a nice dream, that I didn't want it to end. But, I was awakened by the phone ringing.

"Hello, David. Are you awake?"

"I am now professor, giggle."

"Okay I'll give you about an hour to get up and shower and get dressed, then we can have breakfast in my lab."

"All right, professor. Just call when you are downstairs."

"Okay David, see you in about an hour, then."

I looked at my watch and it was seven thirty. So I got up, went and got out my rose colored cami, bra and panty set. I got out a pair of thigh high stockings, my jeans, and white, ribbed, v-neck shell. You could see the bra through the shell, and that was fine with me. If anyone noticed, which I know that guys and women alike have, I didn't care. I was even thinking about wearing a skirt set tomorrow. I'll talk to the professor about it and see if it is tolerated by the university's dress code. As I got into the shower, and made sure my legs and underarms were shaved, I thought about this project some more. It would be very nice if I could go back with the knowledge I have now, and be able to have the courage to correct what should have happened 46 years ago. Maybe because I didn't have the courage back then, is the reason why I was still dressing in secret. But, maybe that secret should come out and be seen. Years ago, when I heard Jessie Colter's song, "I'm Not Lisa", I thought Lisa would be a very pretty feminine name. If this project was a success, then I would be the happiest girl in the world.

I finished my shower, lotioned and powdered down. I put my clothes on, and no sooner was I dressed, than the phone rang. It was the professor, he was waiting by the desk downstairs. I got my granny pack and headed out the door. I went down by the desk, and the lady desk clerk, in her twenties, winked and said that my cami was pretty. She noticed the rose color through the shell. I smiled and said thank you, without saying it out loud. Then the professor and I went to his car and headed for the university.

"Professor, can I wear dresses or skirts, while I am working on the project? I mean while I am at the university."

"There are some male students who are transgendered, that are dressing as their proper identity. Five years ago, we had a strict dress code for males and females, but since there was a big protest by the students, that the dress code wasn't fair to those who had a female soul, and those persons should be allowed to dress so they could be who they really are, comfortably. The student body all agreed that this was an institution of higher learning and that the staff should learn a few things too. They said if the female student body could wear pants and shirts that buttoned toward the right, those who were female in their souls should be able to wear dresses and skirts and shirts that buttoned to the left. That protest went on for a whole month, until the president of the university said that the board of directors had voted out the dress code. It was my vote that made the difference. So, if you feel the need to show the world the woman that you are, by all means, bring her out."

"Thanks professor. Tomorrow then, you will see Lisa, not David."

"All right, Lisa, I would like that very much. It'll make the scenery a little brighter in the dusky lab." We both laughed at that and then we were at the university.

We got to the lab, and I saw what I had done the day before, so I went to get the next blue print. The professor then said that it was time for breakfast. He had a complete cupboard and full refrigerator.

"What would you like for Breakfast, Lisa.?"

"Something light. Maybe just a piece of jelly toast and a glass of milk. Do you have any cranberry juice?"

"Yes I do. Okay coming right up."

He put the bread in a two slice toaster and filled two eight ounce glasses, one with the milk and the other with the cranberry juice. When he had his glasses filled too, and the toast was done, we sat down and had a nice breakfast.

"Lisa, I want you to take your time on the exchanger, because that is going to be the most important item in the project."

"All right, professor. I'll make sure that it is according to the plans. After I get it assembled, I'll go back over it to make sure I did everything according to the blue prints."

"Good. I don't mean to get too personal, but when did you start thinking that you were a female?"

"When I was four years old. The boys always wanted me to play with them, but I didn't feel like they did. I didn't like to play the games they did. I wanted to play the games the girls did and wear what the girls wore. But I didn't have the courage to tell anyone. Until the internet came along, I thought that there was something really wrong with me mentally, that made me dress like I do."

"Well, now you know there isn't. Four years old, huh. Maybe you were born with a female brain. That is possible that a male can have a female brain. That is why you think like a girl instead of a guy. I mean, there is nothing wrong, in my opinion, with the male mentality, but there is also nothing wrong with a male body having a female brain. Your soul is female, and it is the soul that directs the brain. The brain then directs your actions. So, if you have had these feelings since you were four years old, I venture to say that you were born female in a male body."

"I have often thought about that, professor. But, as the years went on, I thought that what people said about that if you are born male, you have to be a man. I tried very hard to fit into the male population, but I failed every time. So I went out a bought some women's under garments, and wore them under my male clothes. I still do. But, now that I know what it is that makes me wear these under garments, I wanted so much to have the courage to wear the female outer garments too. So tomorrow, Lisa will make her debut, and she will be here to stay. Forever."

"That's good, Lisa. I would like to see Lisa. I bet she is very pretty."

"Well professor, I don't kow about 'very' pretty, but I bet she can pass for a natural female."

"All right Lisa. I think we had better get started then. Work on the exchanger today."

"All right professor," as I got up, I gave him a little kiss on the cheek. "And, thank you for everything."

"That was very nice Lisa, and, you're welcome."

I went over to the blue prints and took out the print with the exchanger on it. What it looked like I was making was a television remote. This was a hand held unit that had normal television remote buttons, but it also had a few more with very strange symbols on them. I looked at the blue prints and began wiring the inside. I took the ten watt soldering iron, and began soldering the wires to the small board. This I had to do slowly, cause if I soldered the wrong wire to the wrong terminal, it would malfunction, and my dream would be shattered. Helping the professor this way, gave me hope that I could go home again, and this time be able to tell my mother of my secret birthday wish, that I didn't have the courage to tell her, when I was ten years old. It took a good two hours to get the exchanger wired and assembled. When I was finished, I took it over to the professor, and showed him that it was complete and it was all correct.

"Good Lisa. You seem to be able to do a lot of things. But don't think that what I'm having you do, is strictly for guys. I know a few women that are auto mechanics. So, just because you are doing this, don't feel that this is strictly a man's type of work."

"I won't professor. You have been the first person that has ever treated me this way."

"Think nothing of it. Remember, I have been there before, myself. I am your kindred spirit, so to say. But when you left the hotel, the desk clerk noticed your cami, and she didn't call you any nasty names. So, when you do go back Lisa, make sure you look me up, cause I will give you my address when you leave. I will also give you a letter to take with you, that will introduce you to me and my family. And you needn't worry, though. My family, even back in 1958, was very much accepting of others, regardless of who they were or wanted to be."

"It is good to know, professor. Many people back then were very one sided as far as what a man or woman was supposed to be. I mean, if you were born a male, you were expected to grow up and be a man, regardless of what your soul was. Back then, people judged the book by its cover, rather than the story inside. My cover may say male, but my story is all female. With what I know now, I will have the courage to tell my mother of my secret birthday wish."

"That's good, Lisa. Now I know I have the right assistant and the right subject for this project. When you are working, I am examing your work, so that when you are not here, I can duplicate the project. You see, Lisa, when you look me up, and show me the letter I wrote, I will be back also, and I will know you. I will tell my parents that you are a friend of mine before you even get there, and not to be surprised if you come dressed as a girl. I will tell them that your name is Lisa, and that you are what doctors call transgendered."

"That would be very nice professor. Uhm, when we meet back in 1958, can I call you Stevie?"

"Yes Lisa. Most of the girls I knew, called me that."

"Thanks professor."

As we talked I was still working on the time machine itself. The super turbine engine, was going to be the hardest, because it had to be placed just right, and wired precisely. That was going to take another four or five days. Everything else was almost finished. Before I knew it though, the day was ending, so we closed up the lab and covered the time machine, and the exchanger was put in the professor's personal safe.

"Lisa, would you like to go to dinner with me? I don't really like eating alone."

"Yes professor, I would like that very much."

"All right, young lady, let's get some dinner. My treat."

To be called young lady, by a virtual stranger, was both accepted and satisfying. I smiled when he called me that, cause it was the first time anyone has ever said that to me. I gave him a little kiss on the cheek and said "thank you, professor," to which he replied, "You are very welcome, ma'am."

We left the university, and then the professor told me to go up to my room and change from David to Lisa. I thought to myself, 'I am being accepted by this man, who really doesn't know me all that well, just what I told him'. I smiled, and told him all right. We pulled up the front of the hotel, and I got out of the car.

"Lisa will be right back professor. Unless you would like to come up too."

"No Lisa, I'll wait in the lobby, though."

"All right professor, be back in a few."

I went upstairs to my room, and got out my burgundy dress, my burgundy pumps, a pair of stay up nylon stockings, my burgundy slip, and burgundy bra and panty set. I went in and turned on the shower. I looked at my face and saw that I was still very clean shaven. I looked at my underarms and at my legs and they were good for wearing a dress. I got my vanilla body wash, and stepped into the shower. I washed myself very good, and then turned the shower off after rinsing my body. I wrapped a towel around me in the fashion of women, and went into my room. I put vanilla body lotion all over me, and powdered down with the vanilla body powder. I then put on my bra and panty set, and then put the slip over my head, so it would smoothly slide down. I then sat at my table with my makeup mirror and put on my makeup. I put on a light foundation, and, after blending that in, I put a light powder over that with my powder brush, and put on my eyeliner and eye shadow. I then put on my mascara, and I picked up my dress and stepped into it. After zipping it up, I got my burgundy coat, my purse, and made sure everything was in there, and went down to meet the professor. As I got off of the elevator, I walked over to the professor, and in my best feminine voice, introduced myself.

"Hello professor Marcks, I'm Lisa Connors. It is a very nice pleasure to meet you."

"Oh no, dear lady, it is my pleasure immensely, to meet you."

The desk clerk who was watching this, told me I looked pretty and was I going to stop trying to be a tomboy.

"Yes ma'am, I am going to be me from now on." She gave me the thumbs up and winked. Then the professor and I left to go out to dinner, with me holding his arm. "Where are we going, professor?"

"It's a surprise for my girlfriend. And, I will warn you now, when we meet back in 1958, I'm going to make it my business to make sure that you are my girlfriend."

"Why professor Marcks, are you trying to pick me up, giggle?"

"Not trying dear lady, have."

"Well, all right, I guess, but, you have to make sure that I am treated as the lady that I am. When we have dinner, I need to tell you of things I don't go for or believe that people should do to one another, if they are not married."

"I understand completely, Lisa. I will tell you now though, that my intentions right now, are strictly honorable."

"Thanks professor."

We drove about twenty minutes away from the hotel. When I saw the restaurant on the outside, I knew we were at Selbies, the cuisine for the serious diner, as people would say. The professor parked the car. The professor got out and opened my door for me, and offered me his hand. I placed my hand in his and he actually pulled me up gently from the seat. I put my arm in his again, and we went in to the restaurant. The Maitre d' asked if we wanted smoking or non-smoking, and since neither one of us smoked, we said non-smoking. We followed the Maitre d' to a table near the front window. The maitre d' pulled out my chair for me, and slid it under me as I sat down.

"Thank you," I said with a genuine smile. He nodded and gave us our menus, promising the waiter would be here shortly.

"What would you like to drink, Lisa?"

"Something light, no alcohol though."

"I don't drink alcohol, either Lisa. How about a large grape juice?"

"That sounds great, professor."

When the waiter showed up, we told him what we wanted for drinks, and he went to get them.

"Lisa, since you eat very light, would you let me order for the both of us?"

"Yes professor. I believe the man should always order for the couple, when they are boyfriend/girlfriend, husband and wife, or engaged."

"You and I are going to be very compatible, later on. You see Lisa, I am going to make sure that this time around, everything is going to go according the way we thought it should have been, years ago."

"I would like that professor, very much. But, if I'm only going to be ten years old, how are we going to explain our being together all the time? I mean as much as we can?"

"Just that we are friends. A lot of friendships start out as just that, between a boy and a girl. There are husbands and wives, who went through school together from Kindergarten, or the the first grade on through. I'll tell you what. Give me the address you lived at when you were ten, and just tell your mother at the last minute that you invited a friend over for your birthday party." I gave him the address on one of the paper napkins.

"Yes professor, that would work very well too. Cause then you can be sure that I will have the courage to tell my mother of my secret birthday wish."

"That, and I want to be with you on your very special day. Also, I want to be with you too, so that your mother won't yell at you, or try to tell you that because you are a male child, that you cannot be a girl."

"All right professor. With you being there, I know I will have the courage to tell my mother that I don't want to be a girl, but that I need to be a girl."

"Good girl, Lisa. You will do fine, I promise you that."

"Today is Sunday, so tomorrow, I will start on wiring the super turbine engine. I also noticed too, professor, that there is a special fuel you need to fuel the engine to make it turn over. Is this an absolute requirement?"

"Yes it is, Lisa. Without that fuel, the project is just another fancy shower stall."

We giggled at that, because I knew he was just being funny. I liked the professor, he had a very disarming and humorous personality. His smooth way of talking, and his acceptance of me, as the girl I am, made me feel very attracted to him. He was very nice when he worked, he was very nice when he talked. He wasn't stuffy at all, like some of the professors I had when I was in college. It was very refreshing to meet a man like him.

"Professor, uhm, you're not falling in love with me, are you?"

"Yes Lisa, I am. Or, should I say, that I fallen in love with a very beautiful woman, whose name is Lisa Connors, and she is sitting right here at this table with me."

"Why you smooth talker, you, giggle."

He took my hand and when the waiter came over to take our order, the professor became even more charming.

"Lisa Connors, will you be my wife," he said slipping a ring on my finger.

"Yes professor, I will marry you."

The waiter then asked for everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privelege to introduce professor Steven Marcks and the future Mrs. Lisa Marcks."

Everyone clapped and a couple of the women came over to congratulate me, and some of the men cam over and shook the professor's hand and some even patted him on the back, with a knowing wink. The waiter was young, about late twenties, with nice brown hair and deep blue eyes. He then went into the kitchen and came back and said that the manager said that this is indeed a special day, and that our meal was on the house. This restaurant also had a live band on weekends, and they played 'Will You be Mine', by the Penguins, from 1957. He got up and asked me to dance, and I did, after he held the chair for me to get up, and offering me his hand. Of course, we both remembered this song from way back when we were children. If we had anything to say about it, we would be children again, and given a second chance to correct what I didn't have the courage to bring about.

When the song was over, he gave me a kiss that lasted for what I thought would be eternity. We got an applause from the customers, and we went to sit down again. He held the chair for me, and slid it under me as I sat down. Chivalry isn't dead, it is just alive in the form of the professor, my new found sweetheart. Ever since I was able to know what dating was all about, I had wanted a man like the professor, uhm Stevie. I told him it was getting late, and we should be getting back, so that tomorrow, we would be very wide awake so I could wire the engine properly.

"You're righ Lisa, dear. We should ge back, but I don't think you should be living in that hotel. What say you come to my house and stay. I have a separate bedroom you can have."

"Have, professor?"

"No, no, Lisa. I mean this will be your bedroom. I have my own room. I promise, that until everything is finally done for you, and your body is the female that your soul is, I will not try anything more than a kiss and a dance, now and then."

"All right pro..., uhm Stevie, I will accept your kind and generous offer."

"Okay, let's go and get you checked out of that hotel."

We went back to the hotel, where Stevie and I went up to my room, so I could pack my things. When he saw the room I was staying in, he couldn't understand how I could live in a place like this.

"A young lady like you shouldn't be living in a place like this, Lisa. You should be living in a palace."

"Oh Stevie, I bet you say that to all the girls, don't you?"

"No dear, just to you."

I gave him a big hug and a kiss, because he was so charming. "So then if I should live in a palace, you must be my Prince Charming."

"Yes Cinderella, the future Mrs. Charming. I don't think that you should live in a palace, I know you should live in one."

"Why Stevie dear, I never knew you cared, giggle."

"More than you will ever know, dear lady."

I gave him another hug and kiss and then I was finished packing. He took my bags down to the front desk, where I checked out.

"You're leaving, Lisa?"

"Yes, I have to go. But I may be back again. Everything here was fine."

"Thank you Lisa. It looks like everything is fine too. We owe you eighty-seven dollars."

"Keep it. As a showing of my appreciation for everything. And, I do mean everything."

"Well, Lisa, we can't just keep it. You have to sign for it, to show that you received it."

"Okay, give me the money then, and let me sign the receipt." She gave me the receipt, and I handed her the money back. "It's my engagement day, and you keep this as a present from me."

"Why thank you Lisa. I will share this with the other two desk clerks. We're going to miss you around here. It isn't often that we get a person in here, that can find themselves and be themselves. And, from all of us here, congratulations."

"Thank you. I put my male clothes in the laundry chute to be laundered. They don't have any names in them, so you can give them to someone who needs them, or to the thrift store. What ever you decide. I won't ever need them again."

"I wish you a lot of luck, Lisa." Then she came around to the front of the desk and gave me a big hug. "When you throw the bouquet, think of all of us girls here. Okay?"

"Okay. You take care too, and tell the others I enjoyed my stay here a whole lot."

"I will. Cya again, Lisa."

"You can count on it."

Stevie then picked up my bags and we went out to his car. We drove for about a half an hour, until we came to a three story, natural brick house. The mailbox said Mr. and Mrs. Steven Marcks.

"Stevie, your mailbox has Mr. and Mrs., on it. Why?"

"For us dear. I had nothing on the mailbox until the other day. I put that on there shortly after meeting you."

"Oh Stevie, you are just so wonderful." So, when he stopped the car, I gave him another kiss and hug. I was happy, for the first time in my life, and, if this project was a success, I would be very happy even more.

Because it was late, we went to my room, where Stevie helped me unpack and I put everything away. Then I got out my lavender nightgown, and told Stevie he would have to get out while I changed.

"Yes dear, anything you say. Good night darling, and very sweet dreams to a very sweet lady."

We kissed for what seemed like forever, then he went to his own room. I got into my nightgown, and slid into bed. I fell asleep almost instantly. But morning sure comes quickly, though. I got up and stretched and for a moment, I was kind of disoriented, until I remembered where I was, and how I got here. I had thought I had a very vivid dream about the events of the day before. I saw that there was a shower in my room too, so I got out my vanilla body wash, and washed myself really clean. After I was through, I went into the room, after wrapping myself in a towel, like a woman would. I got out my peach skirt set, that I had bought while I was on my way here. I got out my peach cami, and bra and panty set, plus my peach half slip. Yes, I like my clothes to be color coordinated. I sat down at the dressing table ... What!!! A dressing table. Did he get this for me? Oh well, it was here, so I made use of it. I put on my foundation, blended it in really good, the the light powder. I put on my eye liner then my eye shadow. Last but not least, I put on my mascara. Then I got dressed. When I finished dressing, I put on a light pink lipstick. I would ask Stevie if I could get my nails done at a nail salon. After making sure that everything was in order, I left the room and went downstairs. Stevie was waiting for me in the kitchen.

"You look absolutely stunning dear. Did you sleep good last night?"

"Yes darling, I slept very well thank you. Stevie, do you think I could get my nails done at a nail salon?"

"Why yes, of course. Every lady should have beautiful nails. As soon as we are finished here, I will find a salon for you."

"Thank you, Stevie, you are so wonderful to me."

"And, you, dear lady, are so wonderful to me."

"Stevie, you said when I go back in the time machine, you are going to duplicate what I did. Why do you want to go back? I thought you said you were happy here."

"I was, and then this lady came into my life, and she has been helping me put this project together. Do you think, for one moment, that our meeting was by accident? I believe that God has a plan for all of us. We don't know what that plan exactly is, but we carry it out anyway. I believe our meeting the way we did, was part of God's plan, for us anyway."

"I believe in that too, Stevie. I believe that God has directed me to you, so that you could help me return to that day I messed up. I believe he sent me to you, to help you, so that you could go back too. But remember, Stevie, we are going back to when we were children. And, we will be children again, having to go to school, be in at a certain hour, and for eight years, at least for me, I will be a child."

"So will I dear. You must remember, that we are about the same age. When were you born, Lisa?"

"I was born August 14, 1948, in Des Moines, Iowa."

"What a coincidence, I was born August 13, 1948, in Ottumwa, Iowa, just a boat ride down the Des Moines River from you. Where were you raised, Lisa?"

"In a very small town in Upper Michigan."

"I was raised in Houghton, Michigan. So you see Lisa, we were meant to be together. But now God has given us an even greater gift. He has allowed me to write the physics for a machine and an exchanger, that will allow us to go back, and become friends through the years. Also, when I turn eighteen, I will inherit the house you slept in last night. That means I can help you with your transgender transition. Would you like that Lisa?"

"Oh yes Stevie, that would be just so wonderful."

"All right, let's go home and get a good night's sleep, and tomorrow, you can continue on the wiring of the engine."

"Okay Stevie, but the wiring will take at least another three days. Then the housing will have to be bolted on,

and it is finished."

"Good girl, Lisa. But I think it's time we got home, though."

We got up to the applause of the rest of the customers that were there when the waiter announced our engagement. We paid the bill and went out into the parking lot, where the professor took me in his arms and kissed me, in a long, passionate kiss.

"I love you, Lisa Connors."

"I love you too, Stevie."

We went to the passenger side of the car, and he opened the door for to me get in. I sat down and swung my legs inside, and then he closed the while blowing me another kiss. I am going to sleep good tonight, cause I finally found my true love. We left the parking lot, and Stevie was whistling while he was driving, with a nice smile. I just sat there watching him whistle, and that smile, oh my gosh, this man was just so wonderful. We drove all the way back, and I didn't take my eyes off of him for a moment. I think he knew I was watching him, but because he was driving, he kept his eyes on the road. We got home, and I waited for him to open my door. He got out and came around and opened my door, and gave me his hand to help me up. Once I was out of the car, he gave me another deep, passionate kiss. Then we went inside.

"I'll be right back dear. I need to freshen up a bit."

"All right, Lisa, but hurry back love." And then he blew me another kiss, in which I blew a kiss back to him. I went upstairs to my room, and took off my dress, slip, and bra. I left the panties on, and put on my Pengoir baby doll nightie, with the see through robe. I took my hair down, and put on some perfume. Then I went back downstairs. I found Stevie sitting on the sofa, where he was when I went upstairs. He heard me coming down, and he whistled. I just smiled that female coy smile.

"My God, Lisa, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to tell me something."

"Giggle, why professor, whatever gave you that idea?"

"Oh I don't know, this little birdie came and sat on my shoulder." We had a good chuckle with that and I sat down next to him and put my head on his shoulder. He put his arm around me, and I guess he could feel me trembling, cause he told me not to worry. "Don't worry Lisa, this will all be over shortly, and we will be able to have another chance to make everything right."

I just let the tears come. I wasn't embarrassed either by my tears, cause girls have a right to cry; about anything. I just sat there letting him hold me. Then he lifted my head, and wiped the tears away with his finger. Then he kissed me again and held me tight. I felt so safe, that nothing could hurt me, ever. I don't know how I got in bed, but when I woke up that's where I was. Stevie probably carried me up the stairs and put me to bed. When I pushed the covers back, and swung my legs out of bed, I felt drained, very drained. Then Stevie came in the room, with a breakfast tray.

"Good morning, my sweet dove. I thought I would make you a nice breakfast. How are you feeling?"

"I feel very drained, honey, like I have no energy. Oh my gosh, Stevie, that breakfast is huge. I can't eat all of that."

"I know dear, some of it is for me too." He set the tray down on the night stand, and then he sat down and gave me a kiss. "Remember dear, that I am here to protect you. Last night I saw a little girl, in her most vulnerable moment. You fell asleep in my arms, so I carried you up to bed. When I tucked you in, you looked just so like an angel. I gave you a kiss on your forehead and went to my own room. You showed me last night, that you are indeed female. But, we can take care of that, cause now God has given us a second chance to correct what we didn't have the courage to say, when we were children."

I leaned over, and put my head on his shoulder. He held me for a while, then he said:

"Our breakfast is getting cold dear. Would you at least try to eat something, anyway. Please?"

"All right, Stevie, I will try." I took two bites from a piece of jelly toast and put it back on the tray. I took a few sips of milk and juice and told Stevie I was full.

"But you haven't really eaten anything. You worry me when you don't eat right."

"I don't mean too dear, its just that I'm not very hungry this morning."

"All right precious, I won't try to force you to eat now, maybe later."

"Yes, maybe later Stevie."

I put my head on his shoulder again, and he just held me there, cause the fears of the night before, came back.

"My God, girl, you are still afraid, aren't you?"

"Yes I am, what scares me Stevie, isn't the success or failure of the project, but what if when I go back, and I tell my mother I need to be physically female to match my soul. What if she laughs at me, or even worse, yells at me? I mean though, I need this and I need to make her understand, that this isn't something I just thought of, but something that has been happening to me since I can remember. Like you said, I may have been born with this female soul, and if that that is true, I need to make her understand that."

"Yes Lisa, I see. And, you are right, of course. But don't let uncertainty make you feel sad or scared. Face this like you have faced life so far. I know that you will be a child again, but you will still have your adult mind that you have now. So you will know how to handle that situation, if it does come up."

"Your right Stevie, I'm sorry..."

"Sorry? For what? Letting me see the woman in you come out? You have nothing to apologize for. You are a sweet woman, who has a generous and kind soul. Even though you have just started dressing the part in public, make no mistake, Lisa Connors, you are all woman, and you should be proud of that."

"I know Stevie, but I can't help my emotions, they just come and there is nothing I can about it."

"Every woman should let their emotions flow. I have seen transgendered on campus, and you are more feminine, more woman, than they are. Let me give you an example. When I asked you to go out with me as Lisa, you didn't hesitate. When you asked me if the dress code of the university would allow you to dress as Lisa, you were not afraid. When the waiter at the restaurant announced our engagement to everyone, you just sat there taking it all in with a smile.
When I danced with you, I felt a woman in my arms, not a man. When I kissed you, not once, but several times, you reciprocated and kissed me back. You submitted to my advaces like any normal woman would. Last night when I blew that kiss, when you went upstairs to change, you blew one back to me, lingering as you did. No Lisa Connors, you are all woman, and I am proud to be your future husband.

"Thank you, Stevie."

"My pleasure, believe me. Now you need to get dressed so we can go and work on the project. I will leave you alone in the lab for a few hours, because I have a couple of classes I have to teach today. But, you will be fine, I promise you that."

He gave me a nice, long, passionate kiss and then I went to get dressed. I showered and tweezed a few hairs off of my chin, and went and got dressed. Today I wore my pink, Levi's Women's Wear Jeans, with my soft pink Angora sweater. Underneath I coordinated with my soft pink, lace bra and panty set. I put on a pair of suntan stay up thigh hi stockings, grabbed my purse, and went downstairs. Stevie was already waiting for me to come down, and he even whistled as I descended the stairs.

"My God woman, you do look beautiful, even in jeans. All right finacee of mine, are we ready to go to work?"

"Yes, fiance of mine, we are," I said with a beaming smile.

We went to the car where Stevie again held open the door for me, and then closed it, while blowing me a kiss. I blew one back to him, and he went to his side of the car and got in. He back the car out of the driveway, and we headed to the university. When we got there, the dean of the science and physics department was waiting for us. He was maybe five foot, seven inches, with black hair only on the sides and back of his head. He must have been color blind, because nothing he wore, matched.

"Good morning Steve. Who is your new assistant? We need to get her registered if she is going to work here with you."

"Yes Dan, I quite agree, its just that I have been very busy with my classes and my government project, that it just slipped my mind."

"No problem, Steve. Bring her over during lunch and we'll get her an application. I will approve it, so that she can continue to work here."

"Thanks Dan. I'll bring her over then. By the way, Dan Grainger, this Miss Lisa Connors."

"Nice to meet you Lisa. I hope you do enjoy it here."

"Thanks dean, I think I will. The professor is very nice to work for."

"Please, call me Dan, everyone else does, including the students."

"Okay Dan, I will make sure I make out that application."

"Okay, see you during the lunch period then."

After he left, I went back to work, wiring the engine. You know the old song, "the hip bone is connected to the...", well that is what this reminds me of. I went and got the wiring diagram blue print, and checked my work from the day before.
Everything seemed to be connected properly. Now I needed to wire the transmitter that would operate the exchanger. The transmitter would operate off of a huge lithium, titanium cased battery. I placed the other wires on the rest of the engine, and made sure they were in the correct spot, then I soldered them with the ten watt soldering iron. With the wiring now almost complete, I looked at the leads on the battery. It didn't have any side or top posts like a car or boat battery did. It had bolts where the wires would be wrapped around, and then soldered to the bolts. So I wired more to the engine, and, I don't know why, but after I soldered the wires in place, the wiring was complete. I took the hoist and wrapped the cables around the battery, and lifted the battery in place. I then bolted the wires to the battery, and soldered the wires to the bolts. All that needed to be done now, was to place the engine cover on, and the time machine would be done. With the exhanger already complete, this project would be done tonight. Four days earlier than what I had thought. I took the hoist over to where the cover for the engine was. I put the cables around the engine cover, and hoisted it over to the time machine engine. I lowered it down gently, and then I went and got the pneumatic ratchet, and bolted it in place.

I completed my project. I was very anxious to try it out, but I had to wait for Stevie to come back. I sat there, admiring my work, when all of a sudden, my sense of better judgement left me. I went over to the time machine, and I set the dials for August 14, 1958. I got in and closed the door on the glass bell, which was made of the type of glass they use in jet planes. I looked at the control panels, to become familiar with their use. All I needed now, was the determination to succeed in making my mother understand, love and support me as the girl I so desparately need to be. I pressed the green button, and all of a sudden, I saw Stevie coming in to the lab. The last thing I saw was his lips saying, good luck, Lisa dear.
______________________________________________________________
NEXT TIME: The Day I went Home - Part Two. This is the first time I tried a time
travel story. If you like it, please leave a comment. But remember though, I do not
influence easy. There will be one sequel to this part. Also, I will say this here. I am so
sorry to my fans of Chrissie. I have been in and out of the hospital, for the past 7
months. So, do not worry, Chapter 15 of Chrissie is being submitted at this time,
also. Thanks everyone for reading my stories. Barbara.