"You mean there's not an escape clause in that waiver? I don't like this. I demand to be returned to my normal state of mind!"

CHAPTER FIVE

Sufficiently full, the family went to the Counseling Centre for their session. The Centre was a separate building from the Reception/Registration area, and had multiple rooms for different sessions. The rooms all had huge windows with one-way glass to show the surrounding tropical views and vegetation. The Braxtons were led to the biggest room.

Once inside, Drs. Mark Brand and Rahne Ruiz met them. Dr. Brand greeted the family. “Mr. and Mrs. Braxton, Tina, Janis — welcome.”

“Wow — we get the two head honchos to be our counselors? How did we rate that?” wondered Marlene.

Dr. Brand explained. “We have evaluated all of the problems that each of the patients have come to deal with this week, and have concluded that this family requires the most intensive and urgent intervention. We will have a brief session with all of you, then break off into two groups: mother/Janis, and father/Tina.”

Kent was somewhat surprised. He had thought the reason the head counselors were there was because he was a Very Important Person, not because their situation was so serious. “Are we that bad? As far as I can see, the only thing about our situation is that my daughter refuses to follow by the house rules. Fix that, and we’ll all be fine.”

Dr. Brand turned to Kent, making direct eye contact. “Mr. Braxton. Your family’s condition appears serious. To have any hope of saving it, I will require some things from you. One, have an open mind. If you contest all of our observations, you will waste everyone’s time here. Two, I require you to submit to a level where you are the equal of your spouse and children. The counselor you are with will be the authority in the room for your sessions.”

Kent emitted a light laugh. “With all due respect, sir, I paid for your services. Your job here is to serve me. That’s how I see it.”

“What you paid me for, Mr. Braxton, is to try to get your family to healing. So that’s what I’m going to do. And that means today I take the leadership position in this room.”

Brand spoke with such authority that it temporarily made Kent go mute. He wasn’t used to someone else telling him what to do.

The tall counselor’s face softened. “I’m going to do you a huge favor, Kent. I’m going to confront you with the truth when you’re messing up. I will not humiliate; just confront. You are surrounded at work by people who will not speak against any of your decisions or opinions, because they fear for their jobs. In your home, your family fears punishment. It’s a rare blessing for a leader to have someone in his life who’s brave enough to point out his bullshit to him. I’ll be that blessing for you, this week. Will you submit to that?”

The father of the foursome was silent, looking at the floor, rubbing his hands tightly together. His daughters held their breath. Marlene prayed. Please, Kent. Show some humility, for our sake.

Kent’s head came back up. His eyes were misty, and slowly his authoritative posture lost its tension — his shoulders sunk slightly, his face and hands relaxed. “Okay, Dr. Brand. You’re the boss. I will submit to your instruction, listen with an open mind, and … yes, I will see my daughter as an equal. For this week.”

Dr. Brand smiled. “Thank you.”

The three females were amazed and impressed. Especially Tina. I’ve NEVER seen Dad that way. He always has to be the big chief, the driver of the car. Dare I hope that Dad will finally stop and really listen to my side of the story?

Some more questions, and then they split into groups of three. Brand took Kent and Tina, while Rahne took Marlene and Janis.

~o~O~o~

“Ground rules. When one of you is talking, the other one will not interrupt. PERIOD. No moans, groans, loud sighs, or other intrusive nonverbal acts. When you’re not talking, LISTEN to what the other is saying; DO NOT be preparing your rebuttal in your head. Lastly, your thoughts and opinions are just that: opinions. Not irrefutable facts. Speak them out as ‘I feel that …’ or ‘I think …’, please. Talk about how you feel. And be kind to each other in your speech. Do you both agree?”

Even though Dr. Brand spoke in a normal volume, his basso profundo voice shook Kent’s chest and made Tina shrink in her seat. “Yes sir,” they both said in near unison.

“Good. Now, the questionnaire that Mrs. Braxton returned to us gave me the bare bones of the conflict between you two. I’d like to hear you two elaborate on that; I’ll hear out both sides. Tina, would you like to go first?”

A half smile curled the left side of Tina’s mouth. “You mean, I get to start? Cool.”

~o~O~o~

Before Dr. Rahne Ruiz could begin her session, Janis blurted her a question. “What country is your last name from? It sounds Hispanic.”

“Aye, wee one. Me great grandfather was half Spaniard, and I got th’ Ruiz from him. Th’ rest o’ my clan is from Scotland. ‘Rahne’ is a scots name. Its roots mean stubborn, passionate, and lovin’.”

Marlene had a query also. “Why are Janis and I having a session? It seems to me the biggest problem is with my husband and older daughter.”

“A hot flame burns all wha’ are near it. In a family, just one person gettin’ sick — emotionally — tends tae make all th’ others sick too. Tell me, Janis. This war atween yuir faither ‘n’ sister — how do ye see it affecting ye ‘n’ yuir mother?”

Janis teared up, squirmed, then spoke. “It’s all Tina’s fault!”

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER SIX

Dr. Mark Brand had his elbows on his desk, hands intertwined, and chin resting on his fingers. Tina was sobbing. Kent looked away through the window, a mixture of anger and anguish on his countenance. After a minute more of tense silence, the black counselor finally spoke.

“Let me see if I heard correctly. You both enjoyed a good father-daughter relationship until about a year ago. That’s when Kent and Marlene found out about Tina’s relationship with a boy named Mitch. Mitch is - how much older than you, Tina?”

She silently held up three fingers.

“Three years. So you were barely seventeen, and he was twenty. How did he meet you?”

Tina blew her nose. “He goes to our church — our huge, 2,500 member church. He attended the college age classes. When he saw me sitting on the other side of the sanctuary, it was love at first sight — that’s what he says. So he asked me out. He came by the high school at my lunchtime and took to me get some lunch. He told me to keep it secret — he said my big shot dad intimidated him.” She shot a mean look at Kent.

Brand pushed on. “And did you fall in love with him?”

“After that first lunch date, yes. I knew he had to be the one.”

“And your father disapproves.”

“Yessssss,” she hissed, again glaring at her dad.

“Why does he disapprove, in your opinion?”

“He thinks I’m too young to fall in love, to make my own decisions. He wants me to be his baby girl forever, and to have no other man but him in my life. Sick.”

The doctor raised an eyebrow. “That’s what your dad told you?”

Tina lowered her head. “No. But that’s what he thinks, I know it. All of my girlfriends say that’s how their fathers think.”

“Hmmmm …”

Uh — oh. The shrink is saying a long ‘hmmmm.’ That can’t be good, thought Tina.

“… mmm. Let’s change the subject some. Where did Mitch take you out to eat on that first lunch date?”

Tina’s face turned red. “He … took me to his room. At his parent’s house.”

“What did you have to eat?”

The teen girl sat silent, her mouth open, but unable to produce a sound.

“Tina … did you have lunch with Mitch, or sex?”

Her hung head told the answer.

“It’s okay, Tina. Lots of teenage girls have sex. It’s a normal part of childhood.”

“Not for me, doctor. It was my first time. And with him sneaking around and swearing me to secrecy, it felt like we were doing something wrong. But why was it wrong? Why did I have to hide the fact that I’m head over heels for my Mitch? Why can’t we make love if that’s what we choose to do? I’m a legal adult! Sure I still live at home until I graduate, but I have the right to live my life any way I want! And what I want is to get married to Mitch!” Tina was now standing, a new righteous indignation fueling her plea. Her father looked at the wall with a numb, dull look, faintly shaking his head.

“That’s true, Tina,” said the doc. “An adult can make her own decisions — as long as she is willing to live with the consequences. How many times did you have sex dates with Mitch until your folks found out?”

“Uh … it was most every school day last year from March ‘till school ended.”

“Thirty or more times?”

“Probably,” she whispered.

“Any birth control?”

“He … he promises me that he always pulls out in time.”

“Condoms?”

“He said he’s clean. A lab test said so. He swore it to me.”

“You sound like you’re fully committed to him. Is he true to you? Does he sleep with any other girls?”

Tina’s face began to come undone. “He … he’s getting better about that. He’s just so hot that these junior high sluts just throw themselves at him. He’s a guy — it’s hard for him to be strong all of the time.”

Dr. Brand spoke deeply and gently. “Tina. Your college age boyfriend is sleeping with junior high girls from your church?”

Tina’s tears were flowing freely again. Her reply was a mix of pain and anger. “If HE,” she pointed to Kent, “would just let me date Mitch as much as I need to, I could keep him faithful!”

Kent’s voice came forth quietly. “From what we’ve found out, Mitch has had occasional intimate contact with multiple underage girls. Most remain infatuated with him, and are loath to testify against him or press charges. He’s not been taken to court by anyone yet, though he has lost his ability to take any kind of leadership role at church. He was also a volunteer at a Boy’s and Girl’s club, and they now have banned him from their center.”

The girl’s rebuttal came rapidly. “Dad spied on Mitch with a private eye to get that information. Half of it is probably not true! And MY dad accuses ME of sneaking around?!”

Brand looked concerned. “Tina — even if only one tenth of all this is true, doesn’t it worry you?”

“Mitch is so sweet at heart, though. He doesn’t like this part of himself. He says he thinks he can change if I help him. But I’ve got to be able to see him, to fill his needs — to keep him satisfied.”

“Tina, listen to me carefully,” said the black counselor. “From what I’m hearing, the only way you could satisfy Mitch is if you could forever be a 13 year old virgin.”

She was bawling again. “I c-can’t help it *sob* … I love him!”

~o~O~o~

Dr. Rahne Ruiz was digging further with her two patients. Janis was stating her view.

“It is all my sister’s fault! First she has to go and let that Mitch creep sex her up — and in so many disgusting ways! He did her back door! You know what that means, right? UGH! Disgusting! Then she argues with Dad about it — I mean, she never used to talk back to him. Then Dad is in a bad mood, and I can’t relax with him like that. Everyone walks around on egg whites!”

“I think ye mean egg shells, lassie,” smiled Rahne. “Do ye feel overlooked fer all o’ th’ attention Tina gets, even if most o’ it is negative?”

“No. Mom and Dad are perfect to me.”

“Janis has been our trouble free child through all of this,” said Marlene as she put an arm around her daughter. “She gets good grades, is always sweet and agreeable, keeps to herself mostly, and never gets in trouble. She’s my calm in this storm.”

The redheaded therapist scribbled on her pad. “Are ye jealous o’ Tina in any way, Janis?”

“Maybe I wish the boys flocked to me at least half as much as they do her. She literally has her pick of any boy around. And then she chooses a loser! It’s … it’s not fair. But anyway, if most guys are like Mitch, I’ll join a convent before I go steady with any of them. I’m happy just being a daughter to two wonderful parents.” As she said the last sentence, she laid her head on her mother’s shoulder.

“Aye, lass. To listen tae ye ‘n’ yuir mother, it seems that if yuir sister would just shape up, th’ rest o’ th’ family would hae a perfect, peaceful, lovin’ existence.”

“EXACTLY!” said the mother and daughter in unison.

Rahne watched this interaction closely, with concern. They’re tryin’ too hard tae look idyllic. At least Janis is. There’s somethin’ that she — or they — ‘r hidin’.

~o~O~o~

Kent spoke with regret tingeing his voice. “If I could do this over, I’d let the girls start dating earlier. I subscribed to the notion that dating should start no earlier than age 16. Then when Tina approached that age, I changed it to 17. As a result, when Mitch approached her, she’d really never dated anyone. All out of obedience to my rules. That boy was her first boyfriend, her first sexual experience, and she’s infatuated. When Marlene and I first learned about her and Mitch, Tina was already acting and thinking as if she and he were married. She hasn’t even finished high school yet.

“I’m not against young love — hell, I married Marlene when we both were 19 — but this guy is trouble. He’s got a fetish with underage girls. There’s no reason to think that will change if he marries Tina. I half think he’s pursuing her to get access to our rich family and lifestyle. If Tina could just at least date around a little — experience attraction to other boys — the spell that Mitch has over her might be broken.”

As he spoke, Tina sat slumped over in her chair, covering her ears and shedding tears.

“While Tina is still in school, legally I’m her parent and somewhat responsible for her. So I feel she should live by my rules. Yet starting this school year — her senior year — she began rebelling. One afternoon when she and Janis were home from school, Marlene stepped out to go to the store to get supper. Tina called Mitch, who came over and had sex with Tina in her bed while Janis stayed in her own room with the door locked. Mitch threatened Janis with bodily harm if she told anyone he had been there; we found out anyway, as Marlene came back home early to get her wallet. So now, Janis is scared to death of Mitch, and we have a restraining order against him.

“I have grounded Tina for the year — “

“For the YEAR?” Brand was a little shocked.

“Yes,” said Kent as if he were talking about stock options. “We keep a constant eye on her. Either Marlene or I keep her with us at all times. At school, she no longer has privileges to leave school grounds. Yet Tina persists in her obsession with Mitch, and has become spiteful and disrespectful — with me, mainly. I put my foot down, but she persists. I demand respect. Her mother says I should try a softer approach, but I don’t see how that would work.”

Then, in an extremely low volume voice, Kent added: “And … I don’t know how to do soft discipline. I know my way isn’t working. But I don’t know what else to do.”

There was about a minute of silence as Kent and Tina sat at opposite ends of the couch, both hanging their heads. Kent began to snort back phlegm, betraying his near tears.

Dr. Brand broke the silence. “What is the worst outcome that could happen in this situation, Kent?”

“The worst? That she gets married to and/or pregnant from this creep, and ruins her life.”

“Wrong. The worst outcome is that you lose your relationship with your daughter forever. That’s what you’re risking by acting this way.”

Kent’s head shot up, a look of surprise and dread on his face. He hadn’t considered that could happen.

~o~O~o~

Dr. Rahne was complimenting Janis on her looks in an attempt to build her self-esteem. “I must say, lassie, ye are th’ most elegant and glamorous woman on th’ island. Yuir jewelry, yuir look, yuir clothes, yuir shoes … ye even outdo yuir sister an’ mother. No offense intended, Mom.”

“None taken. It’s true, she dresses like a model,” laughed Marlene.

“Thank you, both of you,” chirped Janis without a trace of embarrassment.

“How do ye get th’ money tae look like that?”

“Well, I get an allowance — the same amount that Tina does — but I’m just great at finding deals.”

Marlene added, “She’s also friends with another schoolgirl who comes from a wealthy family. I mean BILLIONAIRE wealthy. Chloe Margolis’ dad is an international stockbroker, and she is always dressed to the nines. Janis will come back from a weekend at Chloe’s with clothes and accessories — Gucci, Donna Karan, you name it — all gifts from Chloe.”

“We go to private school,” said Janis. “Chloe likes to hang with me, and she wants me to dress the part.”

“OCH! What a blessin’ tae have such a generous friend! Does she also come o’er tae yuir house to spend th’ night?”

Janis’ face turned white. “Oh god no! I couldn’t stand for her to come to our dumpy house! It wouldn’t do for her to be seen in our neighborhood!”

“Honey … we live in a 2 million dollar mansion in a gated community,” murmured Marlene.

“Mom. You don’t know what ‘rich’ is. I mean, Chloe lives in a palace. A castle. I would die of embarrassment if she came over.”

Rahne tapped her fingers on her pad. “Hmmm…”

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER SEVEN

Dr. Mark Brand had heard both sides of the story. He now was eager to start resolving the conflict.

“Kent, Tina. Have you — either of you — ever tried to ‘walk a mile’ in each other’s shoes? Imagine what the other is feeling and experiencing, in an attempt to understand why you both act the way you do?” Both patients looked up, but Tina responded first.

“I know why Dad does what he does. Like I said, he doesn’t want to give up control over my life. He wants to be the #1 man in his ‘little girl’s’ life forever.”

Kent grunted with irritation. “She has no idea where I’m coming from. But I know what’s in her teenage head. She’ll look back one day and thank me that I kept her from a stupid decision — if she ever grows up.”

“Time out!” said Brand. “Developing empathy for each other is the first step in trying to heal your relationship. I’d like to start with a course of guided imagery for both of you, starting in the morning —“

“Guided imagery? That doesn’t work for me. I’ve done it as part of stress reduction at work. I actually got more stressed because of all the damn time it wasted,” Kent spat.

“I’d be willing — but only if he’ll do it too,” remarked Tina.

“I knew this damn therapy would be a failure,” mumbled her father below his breath.

“Again — time out!” Dr. Mark Brand spoke in his deepest, most authoritative tone. “Okay. There is another therapy we can use that will guarantee the development of empathy. It’s fairly extreme so we use it only as a last resort here. In fact, before we use it, I have to clear it with the CEO; so please excuse me for a minute. Can I request that you two speak only with kindness while I’m gone?”

Kent was curious. “Who’s your CEO? Is he or she on the island?”

“No. ‘He or she’ resides elsewhere. Now, will you both be courteous — or if you cannot, remain silent?”

“Yes,” grumbled Kent.

“Yes sir,” smiled Tina, still pleased that her father was now taking orders instead of barking them.

~o~O~o~

Dr. Rahne Ruiz felt she’d reached a blockage to further therapy with Marlene and especially Janis. The combination of lack of complete openness along with denial of any problem made progress virtually impossible, at least for the rest of today. “Both o’ ye; I get th’ feelin’ that there’s some problem or shame that’s not bein’ talked about. I shan’t force it out o’ ye. But I suspect one or both of ye aren’t bein’ totally honest.”

Marlene’s jaw dropped. “Really? I … I thought I’d been completely forthright with you. I don’t think I’m hiding anything.”

The teen was pale as a sheet as a trickle of sweat ran down her back. “Yeah … me too. Mom, I’m getting tired. Are we almost through?”

“We’re done, wee one. Why don’t we meet one more time at least, in 2 days? If either of ye want tae talk t’ me afore then, just call me or th’ office. You two are free tae go; I have a feelin’ that Dr. Brand still has a while yet with Dad ‘n’ Tina.”

~o~O~o~

Tina sat across from her father in uncomfortable silence. Her thoughts reflected her yearnings.

God, what I would give to hear him say that he still loves me. I want to tell him I’m sorry — sorry for hurting him and Mom, for lying, for falling for a guy with issues. If he would just forgive me and hold me. But no, I can hear him now: ‘If you’re so sorry, then stop seeing Mitch!’ GYAAH! I do love Dad — but I hate him, too. He probably thinks I’m a failure as a daughter, as a Braxton. I’ll bet he’s ashamed of me — at least, that’s how he acts.

In Kent’s head, turmoil was brewing. I’m screwing this up. I’m screwing everything up. But do I sacrifice my principles — hell, do I sacrifice my DAUGHTER — just to make nice and get peace back in the house? I truly don’t know what to do. Kent Braxton, company big shot, savior of failing businesses — and as a father, I’m a pile of crap. Someone tell me what to do. I truly don't know what action to take next. Please, tell me what to do.

“Hello! I’m comin’ in on yuir session,” said a cheerful Dr. Ruiz as she entered the room. “Whenever we do UET, it usually requires Dr. Brand ‘n’ me t’gether.”

“UET?” both patients said.

“Ultimate Empathy Therapy,” said Brand as he returned. “The extreme treatment I mentioned before. We believe that if you two truly understand each other, your conflict has a good chance of being resolved successfully.”

Kent was skeptical. “What kind of ‘extreme’ are we talking about? Hypnotizing me to think I’m a teenage girl?”

Drs. Brand and Ruiz looked at each other with a surprised look. Rahne responded with a wry grin. “Not exactly … but tha’s aboot as close an explanation as I c’n give, sir.”

“The CEO has approved this for you two. I need both of you to sign these waivers,” said Brand as he handed papers out.

Kent scanned the form with his executive eye. “Hmmm … treatment lasts for 60 hours … can be prolonged or permanent if one of the parties so desires … I do not hold the Isla responsible for any consequences brought about from any actions I take while undergoing the treatment …” He put the paper down. “What are we signing up for, human experimentation? The language in this waiver sounds a little ominous!”

“I assure you Mr. Braxton, in spite of the language in the contract, we have used this therapy on over 130 clients in the past. Every one of them found it superbly successful. But I won’t force you into it.”

“Please, Dad? I’ll do it if you will.” Tina hoped she still had the ability to pull on her Father’s heartstrings.

Kent sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.” He signed the waiver.

~o~O~o~

“If ye both would sit yuirselves over here, please.”

Rahne pointed to a small square table with two chairs facing each other. A large plate of glass bisected the table, so it was possible to be seated and see the other seated person through the glass pane. Kent and Tina sat themselves; they faced each other.

“Now, if both o’ ye would lean forward, reach yuir hands aroond th’ glass on either side o’ it, ‘n’ grasp th’ hands o’ the other person. Good! Just lik’ that. Now look through th’ glass at the other person’s face. Fix that face in yuir eyes.”

Kent felt silly going through this rigmarole. Yet he and Tina gazed intently into each other’s faces.

Dr. Brand grabbed a hidden tab on the glass pane and pulled it out of the wooden frame with a SHHHHK. He then placed a whiteboard of equal size up to the pane and inserted it. On both sides of the whiteboard there was writing, in large dry-erase marker print.

“Now, both o’ ye: read th’ words ye see, silently, to yourself. Mean them with as much o’ yuir will as ye can muster. Don’t speak a word or make a sound, except for th’ very last word on the board. Say tha’ word oot loud, then close yuir eyes, and keep ‘em closed.”

Tina felt a warm tingle in her throat as she said the phrase in her head. “PLEASE GRANT ME THE EXPERIENCE OF MY FATHER. MAY I KNOW WHAT HE SEES, WHAT HE FEELS; HIS JOYS, HIS PAINS, HIS STRENGTHS, HIS WEAKNESSES, SO THAT I MAY UNDERSTAND HIM MORE COMPLETELY. MAY I SEE MYSELF THROUGH HIS EYES, AS HE SEES ME. AMEN.” Kent’s writing was the same, except his said “DAUGHTER” and “HERS”.

Tina said her “amen” and closed her eyes. Kent had reached the last word, but hesitated to say it.

I can truly say that I have no interest in understanding what a teenage girl thinks or feels. Frankly, it feels a little creepy praying this. That’s what this is, right? A prayer? I don’t even go to church with Marlene and the girls, much less talk to God. If he or she even exists, that is. But … I promised I would submit, for Tina’s sake. So, here goes.

“Amen.” Kent then shut his eyes as instructed.

Both Kent and Tina heard a SHHHHHK — SHHHHUNK. It sounded like the whiteboard had been taken out and the glass reinserted.

“Okay, ye two. Open yuir eyes and look a’ th’ glass.”

Kent opened his eyes and once again stared into his daughter’s face. “Well? Now wha —“

He choked in mid-sentence. As he had spoken, his daughter’s mouth had moved, forming the exact words he was saying, and in her voice. Except her voice was coming from his throat. He then heard his familiar baritone sound — but it came from the other side of the table, and said “OH … MY … GOD… NO… WAY!”

Kent saw a head — his head — rise up over the glass and look at him. “Dad,” — his head said to him — “is that you over there?

“Yeah.” Dammit, there was Tina’s voice coming out again when he tried to talk. He looked at his head, peering over the frame of the glass at him. He looked into the glass itself and saw only Tina. As he tilted his head, Tina exactly mimicked his movements. How was she doing that? What was his head doing looking over the glass at him?

Mark Brand squatted beside Kent and hugged him around the shoulders as if to steady him. “Mr. Braxton, you are no longer looking through a clear glass pane. You’re looking in a mirror.”

Tina’s eyes — no, his eyes now?! — grew saucer size as they saw Tina’s body being steadied at the shoulders by Dr. Brand. He heard the counselor’s words in his left ear, but in the glass the Dr. was speaking into Tina’s ear.

Kent shot up out of the chair. He noticed Tina’s brunette hair shifting in and out of the periphery of his vision as he looked furtively around the room to get his bearings. Looking down, he saw his — Tina’s — no, now his — tiny hands with bangles on both wrists and pretty painted nails. He couldn’t see his lower body because of Tina’s — his — ample bosom.

“WHAT IN FUCKING HELL?!” he squeaked in a shrill female voice.

Kent saw his body laughing at him. Then his body said to him, “What have I told you about using the f—word, little girl? You are so grounded!” Then the baritone guffaws started again.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER EIGHT

Tina was smiling wide with amazement. “This is a pretty awesome bit of hypnotism! I actually look and feel like I’m in my Dad’s big body!” She walked around, stomping her feet. “I feel so strong! And it looks like I’m a foot taller!”

Kent was huddled in a corner of the room, his dainty arms wrapped around himself. He was shaking — a little from being suddenly chilled in this small body, but mostly from being on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “Stop it. Make it stop. Undo this. Unhypnotize me. Just — just wake me up, PLEASE.” He felt more vulnerable, more weak and unprotected, than at any other time in his life.

Rahne approached Kent. “Sir — I’m sorry, but now that yuir intae th’ therapy, ye have to let it run its course. 60 hours — two ‘n’ a half days.”

Kent resorted to his fail-safe emotion: anger. “What do you mean, I have to let it run its course? You mean there’s not an escape clause in that waiver? I don’t like this. I demand to be returned to my normal state of mind! If not, I will lawyerize all your asses until you lose everything! And — “

“Stop it.”

Kent looked to his side. That order didn’t come from one of the counselors — it came from his old body, the body that Tina now seemed to inhabit. She had talked back to him before, but hearing his booming male voice scolding him knocked him mute.

“You’re embarrassing yourself, and you’re embarrassing me. You may be disoriented and scared, but that gives you no right to take it out on these helpful people. So cool it, and let’s work together to get the most out of this. Okay?”

The teenage girl body (and the man’s mind now inhabiting it) completely lost its cool. “Tina — how DARE you order me around? Don’t forget whom you’re talking to! Now back off and shut up while I try to get us out of this.”

Tina stepped forward and spoke intensely. “Young lady — you will not speak to me in that tone again.”

“I’ll speak to you in any way I choose! No matter how I look to me — or you — I am your father.”

“Yes you are — but here on this island, you agreed to be my equal. Right now, I’m more than your equal. You will not be rude or disrespectful again.”

Kent tried a move that usually worked with his kids, and his employees. He stomped towards Tina in a slow bull rush in an attempt to put his face in hers. “Why? Who’s going to stop me, Ti … na …”

He faltered as he realized that instead of towering over his daughter as usual, he was now looking in her male chest. He looked up and saw a sad but frustrated visage — formerly his, now Tina’s.

“That, young lady, crossed the line,” she said. Her thick manly hand grabbed Kent’s tiny arm, and she pulled him along with her back to her seat. She laid Kent down over her knee.

“Tina — what are you doing?”

“Remember last thanksgiving, father? Where you paddled me in front of the rest of the family for talking back to you? I was seventeen years old. Seventeen. Well, it’s time for a taste of your own medicine.”

She raised her hand and brought it down on Kent’s bottom. Again and again. Kent initially was indignant, though held in place by Tina’s overwhelming strength advantage. But as he felt the repeated slaps, his demeanor changed. His brow began to twist up, and tears rushed out freely. Finally he said, “Stop! Please! I’m sorry — please, please, forgive me.” Tina halted the spanking.

“Are both of you sufficiently done with ‘acting out’?” Brand cut in. “Because we have some recommendations for you to consider during the next fifty-nine hours and forty-four minutes.”

“Go ahead, sir. We’re listening,” said Tina, remarkably poised and relaxed. Kent was still sniffling, but nodded his teen girl’s head.

“First: treat the body you’re in with respect. In less than three days you’ll have to return it.”

“Second: Treat each other with respect. Tina, we didn’t intervene in that spanking episode; given what you said about last Thanksgiving, it was probably appropriate. But you’ve made your point. The goal of this therapy is not revenge, or taking advantage of your new situation; it is to achieve an understanding of each other.”

“Third: everyone else around you will see you as the person who’s body you now inherit. Try not to embarrass each other, as you will still have three days left on the Isla when this special therapy is over.”

Tina whistled — well, she tried to, but her new mustache tickled her nose as she attempted it. Rubbing her nostrils, she had a question. “Everyone on the island? Including Mom and Janis?”

“Yes, Tina.”

“How does that work? Did you hypnotize them too? And everyone else here?”

“Lassie, ye aren’t hypnotized,” Rahne cut in. “When yuir father asked earlier, I responded that hypnotism was close tae what would happen.”

Kent, still shaking, knew what was being hinted at. The sensations, the reality was just too authentic to be a trance state. He looked up with red eyes at his huge, now former anatomy. “Tina — we’re actually in each other’s bodies. I don’t know how they did it, but that’s what has happened.”

Tina’s cheeks turned pale. “No. No, it’s not. You’re wrong.” She looked at Rahne. “Tell him that he’s wrong!”

“Child — he’s tellin’ th’ truth.”

“B-but I don’t want to be stuck in my Dad’s hairy body! And I definitely don’t want my Dad in my body! I mean, when he takes a shower, or changes clothes, I don’t want him seeing my … ooohh God!” It was now the daughter who appeared to be close to “losing it”.

Drs. Brand and Ruiz looked at each other. Rahne whispered to her boss’ ear. “They’re takin’ this harder than most, Mark. We usually do UET between spouses, or lovers. This is the first parent — child we’ve done. Mayhaps they weren’t appropriate for th’ treatment.”

“I see that. But there’s not much we can do about it now. Tell their attendant to keep a very close watch on both of them. Who is their attendant, by the way? Demetrius? Shannon?”

Rahne pulled out a folder and opened it up to the tab stating “Braxton”. She smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s Angelo.”

Brand’s face relaxed. “Oh, thank heaven. Rahne, I think this is going to turn out OK.”

~o~O~o~

TO BE CONTINUED THURSDAY, JULY 11

~o~O~o~

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to a real situation or person is purely coincidental

Tremendous thanks to Cyclist for beta reading and help!

If you've gotten this far, please leave a comment! Don't make me reach through the screen and tweak your nose!

Thanks for reading! ... **Sigh**

Okay - go down. Go down! Why isn't it going down? Think unromantic thoughts...

CHAPTER NINE

After anguishing together about their fate (and being continually reassured by their counselors that this would be for their good), Kent and Tina were finally dismissed from their session.

“Any chance we could disappear for 60 hours — hide somewhere and wait this out?” quivered Man-Tina.

“I’ve already thought that through. Not unless we find a hidden cave, and avoided any search parties. Dammit — if we weren’t on a fucking island, we could find a chain motel and cloister ourselves there,” muttered girl-Kent.

“Stop that.”

“Huh? Stop what?”

“Cursing. You always police our speech — Janis and me. You maintain that it’s inappropriate for a lady to use foul language. Well, you’re a lady now. I’m going to continue to enforce your rule. And you also have stated that it’s OK for you to curse because you’re a dude. Well, I’m the dude now. So quit your damn shitty curse words, asshole — got it?”

Kent opened ‘her’ petite mouth, but no sound came out. ‘His’ logic was too airtight.

After about twenty seconds of awkward quiet, Tina cleared ‘his’ throat and resumed the conversation. “So, we’re going to have to break the news to Mom and Janis about our situation.”

Kent looked up. “Do you really think they’ll buy it? I’m worried they’ll think that those quacks drugged us. In two days they will be more freaked out than we are. This is our mess; let’s keep it to ourselves.”

The girl’s soul in the man’s frame sighed. “Actually, I agree with you. So that means you go to the girl’s cabana with Janis, and I go to sleep with Mom.” The bearded face turned white. “OH GOD. Is Mom going to expect me to sleep sleep with her? This is a romantic place, after all. OH … MY … GOD …”

“Just tell her that as a result of this therapy, you’re way too worried and upset to make love with her - that excuse may hold her off for two days. And even better, it’s not a lie.”

“Hold HER off? You mean she gets horny and comes on to you? I figured you were always the aggressor …”

“Can we not talk about this now?”

“Aaah … okay. Let’s talk about our naked bodies. I don’t want you to see mine. And no exploring with your hands!”

“My God, Tina. This is your — my daughter’s — form. I’m not a pervert.”

“No, but you’re a guy. I mean, you still have the mind of a guy. You think I didn’t notice you glancing at my chest when we went to Cocoa Beach that summer— when I first wore my yellow bikini?”

Kent’s jaw dropped. “WHAT? I — I did? I don’t remember ever ogling you!”

“Don’t worry; you didn’t leer in a prolonged way, just a second or two. I’ve come to realize it’s just the way you guys are wired. Now, if 10 seconds later you were still examining my chest, and with a hard on, then I’d be creeped out. So, while you’re in my body, I don’t worry that you will purposely fondle it. But because you have the mind of a guy, your hands might subconsciously wander to my boobies or my groin. Just don’t let it happen, okay?”

“Yes ma’am — er, sir.”

“Now — let’s talk about the bathroom, and getting naked in the shower.”

“Sheesh. Let’s not.”

“Dad! I’m serious! When toileting, sit down and let it go. Then wipe yourself dry front to back. DO NOT TOUCH ME with your fingers — just with toilet paper. When bathing, do not touch me with your hands, except when you shampoo your hair. Use the pouf I packed in my makeup kit. Keep your face turned upwards, or if looking down, please close your eyes. And DO NOT LOOK IN THE MIRROR until you’re clothed! It sounds like a lot of trouble, but please — I don’t want you to see me naked.”

“Okay. Got it.”

“Now — what do I do with yours? I’ve seen your bare chest before, so no problem there. But how do I deal with … with your ‘thing’?”

“You can say penis, Tina. I’m sure that’s what you call Mitch’s ‘thing’.”

“Mitch has a penis. But to think of my Dad … uh, you’ve got a ‘thing’.”

“If you don’t want to touch it —“

“OF COURSE I DON’T!”

“- Just listen. When bathing, just use a soapy washcloth to clean around there, then rinse the cloth and use that to help rinse it off. When you use the toilet, just sit on the pot and let it hang down into the bowl, then let go. That way you never have to touch it. I’d rather you not see my … ‘thing’ … either, so just follow your rules for me. Don’t look down at it, and no looking in the mirror without at least undershorts on.”

“That sounds do-able.”

“Tina — I don’t know how to dress in girl clothes. I don’t color coordinate — that’s why for years I’ve only black slacks. I’m worried about the bra … and makeup, and dealing with long hair. How do I handle all that?”

The thick manly brows of Tina’s face furrowed together as she thought of how to deal with the problem. “Breakfast is at 8 AM, right? Be showered and dressed by 7:15, and meet me at the gazebo down the road by 7:30. Bring the makeup kit. I’ll do a quickie on your face and hair. It won’t be up to my usual standards, but it’ll do, and we won’t be gone long enough to arouse suspicions. Thank God we don’t know anyone else on this rock except for Mom and Sis. As for the bra, here’s a sneaky and easy way to get one on …”

In ten more minutes, both had finished a crash course on how to deal with each other’s physical shell.

“It’s supper time,” Kent said. “We’ve been together over 5 hours now, and we haven’t had one screaming fit. I think that hasn’t happened since a year ago.”

“I did have to spank you, though,” Tina laughed.

“And boy, am I sore. You hit me hard! I’m pretty sure I’ve never hit you …”

Tina nodded “his” head.

“… that …”

“He” nodded much more vigorously.

“… hard …?” Kent whispered that last word. The color slowly drained out of “her” face as “she” realized the truth. “Oh Tina. I am so, so sorry. That was wrong of me. I … I abused you!”

“Wow,” Tina said. “I think this ‘UET’ is working!”

“Please forgive me, honey. I feel awful —“

“You’re forgiven. Just — never again, OK?”

“I promise — from the bottom of my heart.”

Tina looked down the slope towards the restaurant. “There go Mom and Janis in to eat. Hey, they see us. Wave back.”

“Hey Honey,” Kent yelled.

“Dad! It’s ‘hey MOM’ for the next two days! And I’m Dad to you when we’re in public!”

“Sorry about that, ‘Dad’. Are you ready to try to do this?”

“Umm - ’Daughter’, I am sooooo not ready,” boomed Tina’s baritone voice.

“Same here. Well, here goes nothing,” said Kent.

They both walked down the hill towards supper, and the other half of their family.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER TEN

The supper special was broiled mahi-mahi with rice and steamed squash. The only Braxton who didn’t choose it was Janis, with her usual order of chicken tenders.

Marlene scanned the faces of her husband and her firstborn. “So, you two, how was your session? Goodness, you both were in there for the whole afternoon!”

“It was shocking, uh, ‘Mom’,” replied her daughter (Kent).

“You’re not kidding, ‘Tina’. I felt so nervous. They really did a good job of getting us to see from each other’s viewpoint.” Tina so far was sailing smooth in her Dad act.

“Would you like some dessert?” asked their waiter.

“I’ll have the ‘Isla mango—pineapple sundae’,” said Kent, licking her lips.

“No, you won’t,” scolded Tina in ‘his’ most authoritative voice. “You have your girlish figure to consider. Remember what Dr. Brand said about respecting our bodies.”

“Sis — want to split a virgin strawberry daiquiri with me?” Janis intervened in an attempt to stave off another Kent/Tina battle. Kent nodded her head. Then she stuck her tongue out at her ‘father’.

“Wow. That’s mature. Not,” said Tina in a mocking tone. Then he felt the sensation of fingernails digging into his forearm. It was Marlene — with a clenched face and water welling to the verge of overflowing in her eyelids.

“Kent. Please. Not now,” she pleadingly whispered.

Tina was ready to explain that she was just kidding, that there was no need to worry, but the look on her mother’s visage gave her pause. “I’m sorry Mo … Marlene.” Turning to Kent, Tina said, “I’m sorry for being rude to you, my daughter.”

Marlene’s lids opened so wide it seemed her eyeballs might pop out. She leaned over and embraced her husband’s body in a tight hug, and kissed his face. “You apologized! You’ve never done that so immediately before — it usually takes a day, or a week! I’m so proud of you!” She smooched his cheek again.

Girl-Kent couldn’t believe her eyes. Who would have guessed that a simple prompt apology would mean so much? She realized that ‘her’ fatherly pride had been hurting her wife, her daughter. And although she had already cried today more than he had in the past five years, tears inexplicably began to form again.

Marlene whispered into her husband’s ear. “See? It’s even choking Tina up. Keep this going. I’m so happy with what you did.”

“Ahem,” the waiter coughed uncomfortably. “I’m sorry. This is an obvious personal time. Will there be any more dessert orders?”

“Bring me an espresso,” Man-Tina said with a wide grin.

Janis gasped. Marlene’s mouth opened in surprise. “Honey? Espresso? You hate all types of coffee. That’s why you always order tea. Espresso is Tina’s thing!”

Tina began to sweat. Stupid! I forgot that. I’m blowing this! “Uh, I’m actually getting it for her. For Tina. To make up for being rude to her earlier.”

Kent’s jaw was the next one to go slack. To cover for that slip, she was going to have to drink espresso now? I hate coffee! “Um, ‘Dad’, I think you should drink it. You know, part of the empathy therapy? Experiencing what each other experiences? Walking a mile in each other’s shoes?”

“Excellent suggestion, ‘daughter’. It’s about time I took some risks, for the sake of our relationship,” Tina sighed in relief. Crisis averted, and he still would get his espresso.

~o~O~o~

When the meal was done, a movie was shown in the outdoor theater: Freaky Friday, starring Lindsey Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Janis and Marlene seemed to enjoy it much more than Tina and Kent. Afterwards, the Braxtons went to their respective cabanas.

Kent was perplexed. He was looking in the suitcase that Tina had packed, and it was empty. Meaning she had previously unpacked and put everything up. But where? “Uhhh … Janis? Where did I put all my clothes, and makeup, and my … bathroom stuff? I … I can’t seem to remember.”

Kent’s “sister” made a face reflecting irritation. “Girl, that therapy must have really screwed you and Dad up royally. You’ve been acting strange since you got out. Dad is too, but you’re worse.”

“Janis — are you going to help me or not?”

“It’s just like usual, like what we do in hotels, Tina. You take the drawers on the left; I take the ones on the right. Same way in the closet, I take the right half, you take the left.” Janis walked up close to Kent, and held up her hand. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

“Four.”

“At least you can still see straight. Hurry up and finish getting ready for bed. I’m super tired, and I’m almost ready to turn the lights off.”

“Let me just find my toothbrush and stuff.” Kent grabbed what looked like a nightshirt out of the drawer; holding it up, she could see it was a hip-length nightgown. Oh God. I’m wearing satin and lace to bed. I hope this experience doesn’t turn me into a transvestite.

Kent turned around, just in time to see Janis taking off her shirt and bra. She squinted her eyes shut and turned back the other direction. “Janis! I’m in the room!”

As Kent ran into the lavatory, a befuddled Janis wondered what the heck her sister was talking about. “Yeah — and now you’re in the bathroom! So what?” she yelled.

As Kent took off her makeup with remover pads — after years of watching Marlene get ready for bed, she had at least picked up a few things — she looked at the clock. It said 10:01. Just 53 hours to go, she grumbled in her head.

~o~O~o~

Tina and Marlene, at the latter’s request, were walking hand and hand under the moonlit sky. “This is so romantic. It kind of gets me in the mood, you know? How about it, darling — feeling the same?” Marlene cooed.

Tina quickly pecked a kiss on Marlene’s cheek. “There. I was in the mood for that, too. Thanks for suggesting it, honey.” Please let that satisfy her for this evening, hoped Tina.

“Don’t be coy, mister. That’s my job.” Marlene spun around to the front of her husband. “I really am proud of what you did today. Now let me tell you what I’m going to do tonight.”

She began to whisper into her husband’s ear. Tina’s face went red, then white, at the sweet and naughty nothings that came out of Mom’s mouth. He pulled away. “Not tonight, Marlene.”

The mother was stunned. Kent never refused an offer of sex from her. “Honey? What’s wrong?”

“It’s the therapy earlier. It has me so confused, so upset — I’ll be lucky if I can even get to sleep. I’m sorry.”

Marlene looked concerned, and a little disappointed. “Can we at least cuddle?”

Tina looked up with a smile. “I really, really need to be held. I’d love that.”

~o~O~o~

Late that night, as Janis slept in the adjoining bed, Kent was thinking. Reasoning furiously about what had happened this day.

Okay, it’s not hypnotism. That’s established. Some new advanced technology? But there was no machine, no wires, nothing in the room to suggest that. Witches — magic? I don’t believe in that; besides, no spell was chanted, no cauldron or pointy hats with belt buckles. No blood sacrifice or pentagram, so I guess this isn’t a result of a satanic ritual. What the hell — look how I’m thinking. Next I’ll be considering leprechauns and Norse deities.

Think. All we did was silently read a phrase on a whiteboard, and then said “Amen”, then closed our eyes. The phrase was not a wish; more of a request. A prayer. To who? God? I don’t believe in God. That’s Marlene and the girl’s thing. Even if there is a God, I don’t believe he’d honor a skeptic’s request. But Tina … she’s not a skeptic, and she made the request too.

Hey God — if you really are there — could you please switch us back, so we can wake up in our own bodies in the morning?

Kent’s eyelids were now droopy. But she opened them up for one last time. “Oh yeah — Amen,” she whispered.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Tina gradually became aware that it was morning. Things didn’t seem right; the bed was huge, for a twin size. And she felt someone spooning behind her. Mitch? Well, who else could it be? Oh, how she’d dreamed about actually waking up with him, having spent the whole night together. Finally!

She reached up to wipe the sleep from her eyes, and then gasped in shock at the hand in her vision. It was big and hairy. Yet it moved any way she commanded it. She inadvertently felt her cheek, and noticed a thick field of coarse hairs there. What the heck?

The events of the previous afternoon and evening came rushing back into Tina’s brain. In response, his heart quickened, his inhalations deepened, and his arms and feet started to tremor faintly. A classic adrenaline reaction.

OMG! OMG, OMG. Get ahold of yourself, girl. Uh, guy. Less than 48 hours left. Calm down; you can do this. Slow down that breathing. It’s going to be OK.

The self-lecture seemed to work. Tina calmed, and took stock of his situation. That had to be Mom he felt snuggling up next to his back, with her arm over his torso. True to her word, Marlene had stuck by him all night. Mommy hasn’t held me like this since grade school. It’s nice. Although, she feels so small — Dad’s body is massive compared to the rest of us. If I was in my own form, I could scrunch up and have her nearly surround me like I did as a little girl. Right now she almost feels like a small person I’m giving a piggyback ride to.

He also became aware of a few more sensations. One, he needed to pee pretty badly; that wasn’t a foreign feeling. What was very unfamiliar was tightness in his groin area, as if his boxer shorts were suddenly too small. He looked down, and saw …

O-M-G!!! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!! That’s … that’s an erection! Morning wood! How? Why? I’m not horny! Assuming I even know how a guy feels when he’s horny. Okay — go down. Go down! Why isn’t it going down? Think unromantic thoughts. Having to pick up Dixie’s dog poop in the back yard, yuck. Math. In any right triangle, the area of the square whose side is the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of …

Tina heard Marlene yawn, and the mother’s arm moved involuntarily downward, her fingers grazing Tina’s hardened penis. “Mmmmh … you weren’t in the mood last night, but it sure feels like you are right now,” came a drowsy yet unmistakably sensuous voice. Marlene reached to stroke the engorged organ …

She never got the chance. Tina shot straight up out of bed, and ran to the bathroom.

“SORRY SORRY HONEY I REALLY HAVE TO TINKLE REALLY BAD,” Tina yelled as she shut and locked the door.

Marlene was wide-awake now, wondering at her husband’s behavior. He seemed … repulsed by my touch. And did my husband really just say he had to ‘tinkle’?

~o~O~o~

Kent’s full bladder urged him to consciousness. Well, half conscious. He felt as if he could use a few more winks. Which he would get, as soon as he “drained the snake”.

He sleepily shifted into a sitting position and tried to put his feet on the floor, except they wouldn’t touch. Forcing his eyelids to crack open a little, he was reminded of his surroundings. Ah, that’s right. We’re on a tropical vacation. I can sleep as long as I want. This mattress is wonderful, even if it is too damn high off the floor.

He slid down until his feet hit ground, then looked through his bleary peepers to see the way to the john. Shuffling to the pot, he thumb-pulled his shorts down. Why did I wear briefs to bed instead of my sleep boxers? Oh well. He lifted the toilet lid, then assumed the position he had assumed every a.m. for the past three decades: leaning forward, both hands on the wall, dick hanging straight down towards the center of the bowl. He had perfected this technique; it never missed. He could do it with his eyes closed, and so this bright morn he did just that. He relaxed and let go-

A spray of urine bathed his inner thighs, drenching his briefs and puddled rapidly on the floor. In surprise (and suddenly fully awake) he tightened his groin to shut off the flow. Looking down to see what the hell just happened, his view was obstructed by a nightgown-clad large pair of breasts.

After processing the shock of remembering the previous day’s events, Kent furiously used wads of toilet paper to dry herself, half-dry her panties, and sop the floor up. Dammit dammit dammit. Come on, scrapper. Just two days left of this shit. How I will welcome the return of the ability to pee while standing.

She quickly turned to sit in order to finish urinating. Only after immersing her bottom in cold toilet water did she remember: she hadn’t put the lid back down.

Janis stuck her head inside the doorway. “Are you all right in here? What’s all the splashing — Oh, HA! HA HA HA HA HA! Earth to Tina — THAT’S NOT A SWIMMING POOL! HA HA HA HA HA!”

Kent struggled with flailing legs, clenched teeth, and surprising tears, eventually extracting herself from the bowl. Oh well. This day can’t get any worse, that’s for sure. Wait — King’s X on that thought. I did not mean that. Murphy’s law, if you’re listening, I did not mean that.

~o~O~o~

Tina was in the bathroom, trying to figure out how to get rid of his erection.

God, that was close — my own Mom was gonna give me a hand job! I gotta get limp! How do guys deal with this?? I mean, I know they get it gone by having sex or masturbating, but NO WAY am I doing those! Girl, I really gotta tinkle! And maybe if I relieve that bladder pressure, it’ll relieve the pressure on Dad’s — I mean, my — “thing”. That’s it! I’ll pee, and then my “thing” will go down. Oh God, I can’t believe I’m having to deal with a penis — I mean, MY OWN penis-thing.

He made sure the toilet seat was down, then pulled down his boxers and sat on the seat. He immediately perceived a problem when his sensitive “thing” poked him in the lower belly as he sat down. If he peed now, he’d spray his face. Quickly wrapping his right hand in a wad of toilet paper, he tried to push the penis down, force it into the bowl.

OW! OW — OW — OW!! O! M! G! Did I break it? That really hurt. Please tell me I didn’t break off Dad’s thingie.

Tina still refused to look at it, but felt with the wrapped hand — the thingie was still there, and still as erect.

God, it feels stiffer than ever! I gotta stop touching it! It’s like it’s so sensitive that being touched by anything makes it more rock hard! It did feel amazing when I touched the tip, though. I wonder if I touched it again OMG NONONO WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING?? Just figure out a way to pee! Wait — guys pee standing up all the time.

He stood up quickly and turned to face the porcelain throne.

OK, problem. Most guys are limp when they pee, right? They’d have to be, because then the pee goes downward. If I let go now, though, it’s gonna go up! Maybe I can aim and “arc” it into the toilet. How far back do I stand? So much pressure — it feels like if I release now, I’ll hit the ceiling! Please, please don’t let me hit the ceiling.

He backed up a little, hoping it was enough to hit a bullseye with a rainbow shaped stream of pee — that is, if it didn’t shoot a hole in the plaster above her head.

OK, here goes. Please, no ceiling.

His prayer was answered; no urine hit the ceiling. Tina did manage to baptize the bathroom wall just above and behind the toilet, though. He frantically used his wrapped right hand to try to grab the male fire hose and redirect its aim, but he only succeeded in now getting pee onto the toilet paper roll and toilet base. He tightened and shut the flow off, but the damage was done.

Cleaning the mess as quickly and thoroughly as he could with an extra bath towel, Tina began to silently panic.

God — I still have to urinate! I can’t do that safely until the hard on’s gone! I can’t get rid of the hard on until I can empty my bladder! Maybe … maybe I can pee in the shower; it is all tiled, after all. Yeah, but YUCK and EWWW! Maybe if I peed into the shower stream, with the water running … WAITAMINUTE!

A COLD SHOWER!! THAT’S WHAT GUYS DO TO GET UNHORNY!

Tina jumped in the shower (sleeping undershirt still on), grabbed the water knob with the “C” on it, and turned it on full blast.

Marlene heard a “WAAAAUGH!” from the bathroom. She got out of bed and ran to the bathroom door, but found it locked.

Ten minutes later she saw her husband emerge from the bathroom, shivering, undershirt sopping wet and translucent, a towel wrapped around his midsection a little higher than usual.

“What in heaven’s name happened in there, Kent?” she said, confused.

“I told you; I had to tink — er, pee.”

“You had to ‘tinkerpee’? What is that, another way of saying you had to masturbate? You locked the door; that had to be what you were doing, right? “ Marlene was now crying. “I’m right here, baby — ready and willing — but maybe I can’t pleasure you as well anymore as you can by yourself? It must have been great for you — I’ve never made you say ‘WAAAAUGH’ before!” She ran sobbing into the bathroom and this time, Tina was the one locked out of it.

It took fifteen minutes of pleading through the door, explaining about the urine accident and difficulty aiming, to get Marlene calmed and back into the bedroom. Tina had taken off the wet nightshirt and dried his chest so that he could wrap his arms around a snuffling Marlene; Tina had seen Kent hug this way before when his wife needed comforting. As Marlene sunk her face into her man’s neck and pressed her chest into his, Tina embraced her for a straight couple of minutes. The whole time he prayed: please, no more erections … not for two more days, at least.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER TWELVE

Tina trudged towards the gazebo, eight minutes late. He was surprised at the effort it took to walk his huge body up the sloping road; yet, equally astounding was the raw strength in his arms, trunk, and legs. The tallness added to the feeling of power. THIS part I could get used to; as a girl, I always had to be aware of my surroundings. Nobody’s gonna mess with the 6’2’’ burly guy with the black hair, beard, and mustache.

Kent was sitting at the gazebo with her makeup kit. “What took you? Breakfast is in 20 minutes,” she scolded Tina. Tina scowled back.

“After the morning I had, I suggest you treat me with care,” he spat.

“Wow — your day started lousy too? Sorry.” Kent pulled up a bag that was laid near her feet. “Here’s the makeup and a hairbrush.”

“Plenty of time. It’s not a wedding or a prom we need to attend; at a place like this a girl can get by on minimal paint.” Tina began rapidly applying a powder to her old face, realizing it was strange to be doing it from this new angle.

“Umh — Tina,” Kent said (trying not to interfere with the face work), “is Janis angry with you for any reason?”

The male face twitched and raised an eyebrow. “Before I answer, tell me why you asked.”

“She’s been very rude to me — I mean to you, because she thinks I’m you. Both last night and this morning. I’ve never seen her be this way. What did you do to make her so spiteful?”

“Dad. There’s a lot of stuff you don’t know about Janis. Around you guys she’s petite miss perfect, but away from your eyes — and around me — her dark side comes out.”

“You’re one to be talking, Tina! Don’t start pointing your finger at her and think that it will distract from what you’ve done this last year! You —“

“I know, I know, Dad. I’ve got your lecture memorized. Let me condense it: you think I’m a slut.”

“Tina! I do not.”

“You’ve said as much — when you first found out about Mitch and me. ‘Tina, you’re acting like a slut’. Your exact words, Dad.”

Kent remembered saying them. She coughed mildly, and then quietly spoke. “I didn’t say you were a slut — just acting like one. There’s a difference.”

“Not much of one, in my opinion,” Tina growled. “New subject. After breakfast you need to change your shirt, or shorts, or both.”

Kent looked at her shirt and shorts. “What? Both are blue.”

Tina grabbed the hem of the shorts Kent wore. “Neon Pacific Blue. Your shirt is Turquoise. Clash. Get the white skirt with the pinkish belt; change into that, please. Daddy’s orders.”

“Don’t push me, Tina. Remember, I go back in that body soon.”

Man-Tina sighed. “Yeah, I know. But at this moment, we’re playing roles — both to keep Mom and Janis from freaking out, and to get empathetic about each other. And furthermore, ‘little girl’, I did give you an order — but I said it without yelling. And it still rubbed you the wrong way. So how do you think I feel when you’ve barked your commands at me, so loud that the walls shake? Wait — don’t answer yet. Hold your lips still while I apply this.”

~o~O~o~

Janis looked dreamily out the full-wall window of the Isla’s restaurant. They had been assigned a window table, and the sunlight illuminated the blue-green waters at the bay; the room showcased the beach area. “So romantic. So classy. So jealous, Chloe will be,” she muttered.

Marlene looked at her family. What a great looking bunch. Janis with her elegant long lines and rich brown hair, hanging down her back nearly to the chair seat. Tina’s black tresses stopped at her shoulders, and framed her porcelain face elegantly. Not that most people looked long at her face — her body was a guy’s wet dream. She had tried modeling at age 16, but was often passed over because she was actually too curvy; when certain “niche” agencies said they could get her work, they turned out to be porn pushers. The tip-off was the “call us the day you turn 18” line.

Kent was strikingly handsome even at 42. He had a full head of hair that was greying some (especially at the temples), and had a rich deepish voice that (when used correctly) could make you believe that you’d be okay even if the apocalypse was happening. 6’2’’, a little chubby at 235 pounds, but he made her feel safe, as well as secure. Loved.

Marlene then looked at herself; unfortunately, the mirror at the maá®tre d’s stand gave her a full side view of her body. Though others constantly complimented her on her great looks, all she could see in the mirror were blemishes and wrinkles; a new one every other day it seemed. And her breasts had seemed to get much more saggy over the last year.

It didn’t help that Kent seemed to be avoiding her last night and this morning. The prospect of sex had made him seem … afraid? No, it can’t be that. He’s fearless. It must be that I’m less attractive to him. I can’t blame him, with some of the little hotties that are here for their therapy. A rich, handsome man; beyond the ring on his finger, there’s nothing to stop him from having his pick of gorgeous women.

Why am I feeling so insecure? He’s never cheated, to my knowledge. But since we arrived here, he’s been embarrassed to get close to me. He says it’s the ‘traumatic’ therapy. God, I hope so. I hope I’m not starting to lose my husband.

The waitress interrupted everyone’s distant thoughts. “What would each of you like to drink?”

A minute later she left with their orders. Marlene smiled with wonder at her husband. “Another espresso? And you, Tina — hot tea? You guys are really taking this ‘walking in each other’s shoes’ to heart. Just don’t start dressing like each other,” she laughed.

“Actually, I’m wearing a pair of your panties right now, honey,” Man-Tina said while kissing Marlene’s forehead.

Girl-Kent’s brain exploded. “YOU ARE?”

Tina laughed. “You’re so gullible, daughter.”

“Hello, Braxtons!”

It was the bartender from yesterday afternoon walking up to their table. “James! You’re looking dapper this morning,” stated Kent. How about this. I now have a way to get him and Tina together for a little fling. Just have to act interested.

“I made the espresso with a special Kona reserve, Tina. You told me yesterday that you’re an espresso … hey, why did they give you the tea?” James was scratching his head.

Kent was preparing a response when she noticed she was giggling. Giggling like a schoolgirl at this good-looking guy. Finally she gained control of her mouth again. “Dad and I are ‘walking in each other’s shoes’. I’m sure the ‘spresso’s fantastic. Maybe in a day or two I’ll be back to coffee again. I’d looooove to try it then.” Kent batted her eyes at James, who responded: “Then I’ll plan on it, beautiful one!” He walked off with a huge smile on his face.

Tina did a slow burn watching Kent flirt with the bartender. Dad, you creep. You’re trying to make me — or, my body - act unfaithful to my Mitch.

“I’m going to have the fruit plate,” Janis said as she scanned the menu. “Same here, I guess — have to maintain my ‘girlish figure’,” Kent said. Marlene nodded that she would go all fruit too. Have to try to keep some of my attractiveness.

Fruit plate for me, thought Tina. Although, I want so much more. Whew — I am so hungry! WAIT. I’ve got Dad’s big body and metabolism! I’ve got to take advantage of this! “I’m getting the “Grand Breakfast” — 3 eggs, sausage, bacon, with two pancakes and hash browns.”

Kent, across the table, looked as if she was going to cry.

The waitress returned. “Have you all decided what you’d like?”

Tina turned towards their server and spoke. “I’ll have the Grand … the Grand …” He was eye level with the waitress’ breasts. They were huge, and perfect. A slight hint of cleavage was present above the button of her outfit. Tina had checked out other girl’s assets before (what girl doesn’t, for comparative purposes?), but he had never felt this unusual when doing so. In fact, he felt mesmerized. What was his order? Grand something? Sausage, bacon, and 3 … or 2 … perfect eggs … plump, round, tasty, sunny side up eggs …

Suddenly Tina noticed that the server had just covered her chest with one of the menus, and her cheeks were slightly flushed. OMG! Was I … LEERING at her BOOBS?? He looked at his family. Marlene’s head was turned away, and she was sniffing wet and rapidly. Kent, though, had her teeth clenched and grimacing with an angry glare right back at her ‘father’.

Marlene got up from the table. “I’m not hungry. I’m going *sniff* back to the cabana.” She walked off briskly.

Janis arose. “What was that, Dad? I’m going to catch up to her. Mom! Wait up,” she yelled as she bolted away.

Tina turned back quickly to the waitress. “Can you get me three fruit plates to go? And some humble pie for me, please. By the way, I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“There’s someone else you probably need to apologize to more urgently,” smiled the waitress. “I’ll get those plates ASAP.”

“I’d better go to try to explain myself,” said Tina, scooting his chair back. “Can you get the food and bring it to the cabanas?”

“What the hell — er, heck just happened, Tina? I haven’t seen you look at anyone — not even Mitch — so lustily!” Kent was pretty upset.

“I … I don’t know, Dad. I’ve never experienced that before. OMG. Mom looked so hurt. I’ll see you in therapy at 9:30.” Tina took his big body and left in a loping run.

~o~O~o~

TO BE CONTINUED SATURDAY, JULY 13

~o~O~o~

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to a real situation or person is purely coincidental.

Tremendous thanks to Cyclist for beta reading and help!

If you've gotten this far, please leave a comment! Don't make me reach through the screen and tweak your nose!

Thanks for reading! **Sigh**

"Let me explain your predicament clearly: We'll let you out of this tree grove without harm. All you have to do is give each of us a quick favor. For me, I just want to kiss - your exposed left nipple."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"I demand to know exactly what you did to us! And I mean in excruciating detail! Waiver or no waiver - you get us back to normal, NOW, or so help me I will litigate you into oblivion!"

Kent stomped in to the midmorning therapy session with Tina in tow. This bellowing/bullying entrance was very effective for an important, powerful adult man. Somehow, though, when a 97 pound 5’5’’ teenage girl with a squeaky soprano voice said it, it just came across as humorously bitchy.

Dr. Mark Brand listened calmly to the diatribe, then spoke - but not with a reply to Kent. Instead, he looked at Tina. "Mr. Braxton, I have a question for you."

Tina's brow wrinkled. "You - you're talking to me? Dr. Brand, you remember that I'm Tina, right? I'm not 'Mr. Braxton'. At least, I think so ... I hope," as she remembered this morning's breakfast event.

"Right now, Tina, you are the only 'Mr." in the Braxton family. So: Mr. Braxton, your 'daughter', is yelling at me, and threatening me. Do you feel that is appropriate?"

"Oh, so I'm just a child to you now? You fucking quack! How dare you ignore me,” seethed Kent.

The beard and mustache on Tina's face tightened with a mix of anger and dread. Turning to Kent, she spoke in a normal volume but with unmistakable resolve. "No, doctor. It is not appropriate at all. She should speak in a civilized manner, even when expressing disagreement. Daughter - because for today and tomorrow, you are my daughter - apologize to Dr. Brand."

Kent was incredulous at this development. "What?! I am a MAN - just stuck in your body right now, but still your father, with authority over you!"

"Except, Dad, you agreed that while in counseling sessions I would be your equal."

"Yes. Yes, I did. But even with that promise, it's not the child's duty to discipline the parent."

Tina smiled. "I completely agree, 'child'. That’s who you are right now, your role that you agreed to play. Yet you are acting like you think you’re still a 42-year-old man — assuming that the tantrum you just threw is acceptable behavior for an adult.”

Kent had an epiphany with that. It was obvious that she’d just thrown a juvenile hissy fit. Had she thrown that fit as her male self, it would have inspired fear and obedience — not because of great leadership, but rather fear of tyrannical reprisal. Was it really possible that he acted like a spoiled brat at times in her adult male life?

Tina continued. “'It is not proper for a lady to yell, or threaten, or curse'. Remember saying that? Well, you have just yelled and cursed, and threatened. Not proper - for anyone, not just a lady. So apologize in the next 5 seconds, or there will be punishment."

Kent stood, speechless, transfixed. She thought of a hundred comebacks, but could not see any of them having effect with this screeching high-pitched voice of hers. Finally, she said in a whisper: "I'm sorry for yelling, cursing and threatening you, Dr. Brand. Please forgive me."

"You are quite forgiven, child. Thank you for owning up to your actions," a smiling Brand said.

Tina was smiling also. "I forgive you too, daughter. However, it did take more than a minute for you to respond. So I'm giving you consequences after the session.”

“Wait a minute — you’re grounding me?”

“You wish! No, you’ll find out. Heck, if you stayed a girl for longer, you’d actually desire this ‘punishment’ I’m planning. Just be patient; you’ll see.”

Kent shook her head and looked at the clock on the wall. 9:12 in the morning. A little under 42 hours left ... dammit. "Can we get to the problems that happened this morning?" she whined.

~o~O~o~

"So those are the morning's events. How do they make both of you feel?"

The teenage girl's eyes rolled. The doc had to say the classic, clichéd psychologist's line. She wondered if the next question would be about why she hated her mother. "Feel? I feel like this therapy - the UET - is helping Tina and me very little, and meanwhile it's screwing up my marriage. Not to mention it's turning Tina gay! Why else would she ogle a pair of female breasts like a teen boy whose puberty just kicked in?"

Tina had to respond to that. "Hey - it's not like I planned that! I still like guys - why that happened, I have no idea. It's like my body took over and put my mind to the side. And you, daughter - you were giggling at that bartender like a poodle in heat. The weird thing is, I don't think you were faking it."

"Allow me to explain,” Brand broke in. "Your minds - your souls, in essence - are in each other's bodies. Bodies that still have all the hormones and cerebral configurations that they always have had. What's different is your souls are not used to these new brains and chemicals. Tina - morning erections are completely involuntary. And the male brain is configured to be attracted to curves. To keep from hurting Marlene further, you will need to be aware of your new tendencies and control them. Same with you, Kent. Tina's brain is female with heterosexual tendencies - in other words, you may find your body responding to men.

"Since the body's anatomy and chemicals influence thinking, you both will have to keep close watch on your thoughts. You two could probably help each other adjust."

~o~O~o~

Father and daughter sat together on the leather couch in the counseling room. Brand had left the room to give them some alone time; he left the door half open so that if the conversation deteriorated, he could intervene.

Kent started. "Okay, 'daddy', let's talk about how to look at other women the right way. You've already realized that men are 'wired' to look at breasts and behinds. So when you look in a certain direction and there are curves there, the vision tends to zero in on them."

"But Mom always said that you only have eyes for her - that it was one of the ways that you showed her you love her," countered Tina.

"That's true for the most part. Marlene would get really insecure if I stared for a long time - say, five or more seconds - at other girls' assets. Like you did this morning. However, she knows that I sometimes may unintentionally linger for one second. The key is, know that the male brain tends to do that. When it happens, nip it in the bud. Look somewhere else. When talking to a girl, quickly rise to the eyes. You know what it feels like to have an unwanted ogle from a stranger, right?"

"Yeah."

"And you hate it, right?"

"Yes. I mean, - **ahem** - usually. Sometimes if it's a good-looking young guy, even if it's not Mitch, it can be cool. Like I can control them with my body; it can make me feel sexy."

"Okay, let's try a different tack, Tina. How would you feel if Mitch leered at other women?"

The male form hung his head. "I hate it when he does it. Especially with the young girls."

"Right. So for your mom's sake at least, remember: either look at the girl's eyes, or turn and focus on Marlene."

"Dad ... do you ever get really horny anymore, at your age? Please, please say no. I don't want to have to deal with another erection."

The girl frowned. "Hey! My body's early middle age; it's not dead! But as for the 'horny' issue, usually I deal with it by having se - um, relations with Marlene every 2-3 days or so. Of course I'm not suggesting that you-"

"OMG. NOT GONNA HAPPEN."

"And when I have to go off on a trip, I ... uh ... just take care of it. Not with anyone else - just by myself."

"SO NOT GONNA HAPPEN. I AM NOT TOUCHING YOUR THING. How long has it been since you and Mom ... y'know?"

"About a week, honey. Sorry."

Tina exhaled a huge, plaintive sigh. "Then I plan to have a cold iced drink in my hands at all times. I'm going to pour it down my shorts if I feel the hot dog plumping up."

Kent started to laugh at that; at first a little snickering, then full throated guffawing. It infected Tina too, and soon he was doubled over with mirth. Kent leaned over on the couch - she was unable to sit upright due to the giggle fit.

~o~O~o~

Janis huffed loud enough for her mother to hear. "How long will they be in that stupid session? I want to get to the beach!"

"Let them take all the time they need," answered Marlene. "That stuff is the real reason that we're here; the beach and everything else is just the icing on the cake."

"Well, I'm bored. Can't I go down to the ocean and get a head start on tanning?"

"Sure, I guess. Take the main walkways. And don't go anywhere else without letting us know, please."

"MOM. This is me you're talking to. I'm the good one, remember?"

Marlene laughed. "Don't you start getting a big head over it, sweetie. I'm going to wait for Kent and Tina. Sure, go get into your suit and have fun."

"Done!" Janis quickly stripped off her T-shirt and shorts to show her bikini underneath. Thirty seconds later the youngest Braxton was skipping down the hill towards the sand, towel and lotion in tow. Great! Maybe I'll catch a lifeguard's eye before Tina steals the spotlight. And maybe there's some poorly guarded bling around, too.

~o~O~o~

The gaiety had been a blessed respite. When the laughter finally died down, man-Tina spoke in a hushed tone towards girl-Kent. "Dad - you're fairly handsome, and kinda rich and powerful. A real man's man. Do you ever have other women ... come on to you?"

"Hoo boy, Tina. All of the time. It's not so bad at the office - "

"Really? None of the women at your work come on to you?"

"Not any more. Not since a woman named Jodee tried to. She was a young clerk at the company, and very pretty. One morning when I walked into my office, I found her laying on my desk - on her side, wearing nothing but a smile."

"Oh god! What did you do?"

"It's all about being prepared. I had worked with a consultant for CEO's, and he covered avoiding seduction in my training. I basically must be aware, at all times, that women will try to draw me in with their beauty in order to eventually become my new wife. So when I picked my jaw off the floor, I did a one-eighty and walked straight out. I told my assistant to call security and have a nude intruder taken out of my office. Jodee was fired, of course, and we shipped the contents of her desk to her home."

"What did Mom think?"

"She knows that women come on to me, some of them barely older than you. I do my best to reassure her that she is number one in my heart; I do that with daily phone calls from work, pictures of her all over my office, and mentioning her fondly and often in conversation. Also, I have a male buddy - an accountability partner - who grills me after every conference about my activity. Knowing that I'll have to be honest with my pal helps keep me from getting into any circumstance when I could be alone with another woman - it even keeps me from using any of the porn channels in a hotel room."

"Why do you have to go to all that trouble? Shouldn't your love for Mom keep you faithful?"

"That's what I would hope. But I've seen too many of my colleagues fall in a single moment of temptation; they get lonely, maybe they're having an argument with the wife, and then this goddess with a dress cut down to the navel starts flattering them. If they've had a drink or two, their judgment may be a little impaired. In a single moment's indiscretion, they lose their family. I can't take even the slightest chance of that happening to me."

Tina fretted. "So, you have to do lot to make sure you never slip. I never heard of any other men doing all that paranoid stuff."

"Honey - if more guys took precautions like I do, then maybe less of them would find themselves in an accidental affair and divorce. The fantasy of sexual infidelity with another woman is something that is, unfortunately, a lifelong issue for most of us." Girl-Kent looked down at her curvy body. "Well - maybe not for me right now, in this condition."

Man-Tina shook his head. "You make all guys sound like sex addicts - interested in nothing but boobs and butts. I was hoping all that excess horniness wore off when a boy got into his twenties." Does that mean Mitch is going to have a wandering eye for another couple of decades - or more?

"Tina - didn't that waitress incident this morning give you a hint of what males deal with?"

There was no response. Just a smoldering, growing expression of anger from the hairy male face Tina was now behind. "Dammit!" he said, slamming his fist down on the coffee table.

Dr. Rahne Ruiz entered the room rapidly. "Wha' was that racket? Are ye two all right? May haps it's time to end yuir discussion-"

"I - I have no idea why I did that," said Tina, cheeks reddening. "I mean, I never punch anything - anything."

"It wasn't directed at me. I'm fine. I'd like to continue talking," said Kent. Tina nodded.

"Male brains and hormones tend to respond with a degree of anger whenever there's stress. Not an absolute rule, just a tendency. Girls under stress tend to cry more than boys do. Now ye both are experiencing new and strange emotions as a result of the therapy; ye will have to learn how to control the anger," pointing to Tina, "and the tears," glancing at Kent. Dr. Ruiz then slowly exited, gazing back with a concerned look.

The "daughter" looked at her "father". "Tina - outside of no giggling at boys, is there anything else I need to worry about?"

Tina's eyes looked off into the distance. "I can feel it, Dad. The anger Dr. Ruiz talked about. I'm so nervous that I could cry - which is what I usually end up doing. But instead of tears, I feel a pressure building - like my head and chest might explode. It's scaring the hell out of me."

"Hold it together, honey. It's going to be okay." Kent realized she needed to change the subject. "I think I'm doing pretty good at being you, correct?"

"Not necessarily. Stand up, please."

Kent arose.

"Now, touch your fingers to the floor - like you did when you dropped your sunglasses in the restaurant at breakfast."

She shrugged, and bent over at the waist to reach the carpet.

"Hold that pose right there!" Tina got up and ran to look at the back of her former body. He squatted until his head was at the same level as Kent's hips. "Oh no. I had no idea that it looked THAT embarrassing. God."

"What?" Kent strained her neck.

"Stand up, now. You should never bend over that way in those white shorts. They get tight in the crotch, and a little see-through. Not to mention, major camel toe. Always bend at the knee in them - in other words, squat down, get your dropped item quickly, then stand back up. If not, everyone will think you're a dumb floozy, except for the gross guys who think you're coming on to them."

"Wow - I had no idea. I'm sorry." Now it was Kent's cheeks that were red.

"And be careful where you walk. You're a small, attractive, girl now. When you were 'big Daddy" there was no need to worry about being molested. It's always a possibility; don't get isolated, or out of the light, if you can."

"Of course. I know that." Even if I had forgotten to apply it the last 12 hours. "Okay - is that it?"

"Oh no, my 'daughter'. You have learned much, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet."

Tina's instruction continued for another ten minutes. Then, as promised, he took Kent for her consequences.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The rest of the Braxton clan walked together to join Janis at the beach. Marlene had ahold of her mate's bicep, acting as if the waitress incident had never happened. "Sweetheart - how did the therapy go? Are you and Tina still fighting?"

Her husband (Tina) gave a half-frown. "I'm afraid we're having to depend heavily on each other just to survive this empathy therapy we're on."

"But that's a good thing, right? Or is it not? You haven't been ... yourself, not since yesterday's therapy session. I know we're here to get you and Tina better. Do you think things are getting better?"

"Jury's still out on that, Marl - uh, Mom," Kent muttered, walking behind them.

Marlene craned her neck backwards. "Tina - are you feeling all right, honey? Do you feel chilled? Why are you all wrapped up like that?"

Kent had on the least revealing bikini that she'd been able to find among Tina's clothes. She still felt scandalously exposed, so she'd worn the complimentary Isla bathrobe and Tina's pink ball cap for her trip to the beach. "I'm fine, Mom. Just avoiding the sun's harmful radiation. Don't want to get skin cancer when I'm older."

"I’ve heard your father talk that way, but never you. Why are you walking funny?"

"Uh — consequences..."

Tina cut in and explained. “She behaved so well in therapy this morning. Therefore I took our daughter to the Isla spa to get a bikini wax, and went ahead and paid for them to do the works down there — a, what do you call it?”

“A Brazilian?” gasped Marlene.

“I prefer to call it ripping my soul in two,” Kent volunteered.

“That’s … kind of an odd father-daughter gift,” the mother postulated. “Still, Tina, how exciting! It sounds like your father is really trying to get in touch with your likes, your feelings! Isn’t that great?”

“Yep!” Kent lied.

Tina loved this moment. “Yes, honey, and believe it or not there was a man down there getting a wax also. That’s when I had an idea — in three days, we have some free time on the schedule. How do you think I’d look being hairless from the neck down — a full body wax?”

Kent had goosebumps as she realized that she would be back in that male body when that occurred. “MOM — he’s crazy! I’ll bet he changes his mind at the last second; please allow him to!”

Marlene shook her head. I'm not sure I like how all this is going. They're not getting better; they're getting weirder.

~o~O~o~

Janis was lapping up the attention she was getting from some of the men at the beach. Even after the arrival of her family, she was still the star of the sand. Well, at least the youngest star. A voluptuous redhead in a revealing two-piece was attracting more than her share of attention. She was the female in the threesome, the man / woman / androgyne group. While the auburn beauty cavorted in shallow waves, her other two partners lay under their umbrella in close embrace.

Girl/Kent attracted little attention, but mainly because she remained bundled up like a Hollywood actress just after plastic surgery. Man/Tina was lying out in the sun. Marlene was flustered. "What is it with you two? Tina - you're usually the tanning queen, and Kent likes staying in the shade. What in the world is happening?"

"It's the empathy treatment," both responded.

Marlene held her head as if it was trying to burst. "I - I'm going to get something cold to drink," she quivered as she walked off.

Kent scowled at Tina. "If I get a melanoma later, I'm blaming you."

Tina smirked. "Hey, 'daughter', this is my body for now. You could use some vitamin D anyway."

"I take D supplements. You should too, you know. Hey - you ought to try the water! My body knows how to swim. I'll bet you could be successful!"

"Okay, wait. This big male body may be used to swimming, but this 18-year-old girl mind inside the body still remembers nearly drowning at age 6. No way."

"Hmm. By that logic, then this teenage girl's body I now have should be able to swim - because my mind still knows how!"

The tanning man turned over to look at the girl. "Dad. No. Remember Dr. Brand said we had to respect each other's bodies. If you go out into the water, you're disrespecting my wishes."

"Well, I'm at least going wading in the surf. I'll be ba-"

"Ask politely, 'daughter'. In this family, children will act with respect and obedience towards their parents."

Kent recognized that; it was his saying, his rule. But now 'he' was 'she', and felt a little humiliated by the order. "Um - 'Dad', may I please go wade in the water?"

Tina smiled. "It's not a good feeling, is it? Being treated as if you were a five-year-old? Yes, little one, you may play in the water. Not beyond waist deep, okay?"

"Okay, 'Daddy'. Thanks ever so much," Kent dripped acidly. Then standing, she perceived another challenge.

Oh boy. I'm going to have to walk in front of everyone in this teeny weeny bikini. If I can just quickly get out there, I can squat to where the water comes to my neck. Yeah, that's the ticket. She looked up and down the small beach. Let's see ... there's Angelo, our Italian attendant, busy making repairs to the surf shop; James the bartender dropping off some drinks for a couple; the lifeguard is one of the groundskeepers, and right now he's yapping with the other two lawn men; and the busty redhead is occupying most of the other male attention. Time to make a run for the ocean!

Kent shed the bathrobe and cap and took off in a sprint towards the waves. Her butt was jiggling all the way, as were her breasts; they were barely reigned in by her top. Hell, this feels so weird. Come on, come on. Almost there....

Then, upon reaching the water's edge, disaster struck. Kent's foot slipped and she flopped head first into an oncoming wave. She came up coughing and sputtering and stood up in the knee deep saline. Clearing the hair and salt from her eyes, she became aware of someone clapping. Janis, I'll bet. But then multiple other hands — accompanied by wolf whistles and whoops, mostly from the men present — joined the clapping. She opened her eyes, to see —

Marlene was running towards her out into the surf, a look of panic gripping her face. Kent put up her hands. "Mom, I'm okay."

"Honey, cover your chest and turn around," Marlene barked as she bent over to pick up something out of the water. It was Kent's bikini top. Kent shrieked in horrible realization at her nakedness, and squatted down so the water covered her to her shoulders.

Marlene retied the top onto her 'daughter'. "There. Oh honey, I'm so sorry; this can happen to anyone. Ready to go tan, or do you want to go back to the cabana?"

"Uh ... " Kent was holding it together externally, but the quiver in her voice betrayed the frustration building up in her. There had to be something she could do to salvage this lousy morning. To hell with it. I'm going to show my daughter that she can achieve things if she'll just believe she can. "Neither, Mom. I'm going to swim." She then turned and dove into the oncoming wave, emerging on the other side doing a stroking action towards the open sea.

"B - but you don't know how ... you can’t...” Marlene's mouth went agape as she saw her daughter swimming. Not treading water, but freestyling in a practiced motion. Oh dear Lord! She can, and she is! But she shouldn't - didn't she see the flags they just put up, that she's the only one in the water now?

Kent could hear Marlene yelling something, but didn't stop stroking. She knew everyone would be amazed; after all, ‘Tina’ had a deathly fear of the water. Well, I'm going to show her she has this capability. She'll thank me later. The water seemed to be getting colder, but it was barely noticeable through the sheer bliss of finally being isolated. No people around that she had to "act like a girl" for.

Tina — still lying on the sand, sunning — had seen the bikini top debacle, and chose to ignore it. Serves Dad right; he now knows one more of the trials of girlhood. Although I'm going to resent that incident being attributed to me, when it was his carelessness that caused it. Then he heard Marlene screaming frantically, and looked up to see what was the matter.

He ran up to his 'wife'. "What's the matter? Where's Da - ah, Tina?"

"Out there!" She pointed to a small flesh colored speck in the water - almost eighty yards away, and getting smaller. "How - when did she learn to swim? When did she overcome her fear of swimming?"

"I told her to go no farther than waist deep!" Tina spat angrily. "That hypocritical, rebellious -"

"Disobedience is not the issue here," Marlene shot back. "She's in danger! See the red flags that they just put out? The announcement they had over the loudspeaker two minutes ago? Nobody's supposed to be out there because of the rip tide!" She turned towards the lifeguard tower chair. "Hey! Our daughter's out there! Wake up, dammit!"

Marlene's anger was well deserved, because the so-called lifeguard was still yukking it up with his other two lawn maintenance buddies. His head snapped up at the word 'dammit'. He quickly saw the situation and jumped from the high chair onto the ground - promptly straining his ankle. He screamed in pain and grabbed his foot, writhing on the sand as his friends Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dumber stood by mutely, frozen with indecision.

Marlene twisted rapidly to her 'husband'. "Kent - it's up to you. Please - get out there and save our baby!"

Tina felt suddenly unable to breathe, as if he was about to pass out. Oh no ... I'm going to have to swim?!

~o~O~o~

Kent was in glorious solitude. How about if I just stay out here until the "therapy" is over? Although I'm getting pretty cold; I guess my girl metabolism just doesn't keep me as warm as a guy's. I heard Marlene freaking out; I better wave back to her to show her I'm okay. She paddled her arms to do a 180, and the view shocked her.

The beach was just a tiny strip, the people just ants. How had she swum so far in such a short time? In fact, even though now she was just treading water, she could tell she was getting drawn farther away - out to sea.

Kent pointed towards shore, put her head down, and swam with all her might. After two minutes, she stopped and gasped, out of breath. Evidently Tina didn't work on keeping her body in shape as Kent had with his. More dismaying was the realization that she was not closer to the island, but even further away. A fear unlike any she had ever known gripped her brain. She waved and began to scream, "Help! HEELLLP!"

~o~O~o~

"Kent! Go! Go get her!" Marlene was jumping up and down, pleading. What was wrong with her husband? Why did he stand there, unmoving? Then suddenly, unbelievably, he broke into a run - away from the water. His wife was stunned. She turned and ran into the surf, choking back sobs; she might fail to save Tina, but she had to try.

It was hard for Marlene, running into the waves; one nearly knocked her over, and she was not the strongest swimmer. When she hit waist deep water, she felt a big hand on her shoulder - her spouse's. He was wearing a life jacket, and had a second one tied onto the first, trailing behind him. "Go on back, honey; I'll get her," he reassured in his deepest voice. OMG, thought Tina, I hope I can - it looks impossible! Focus on Dad, not the water; this body can swim, this body can swim … He ran as far into the surf as he could, saving his arm strength for the deep water; he was just about to jump in and start to attempt a “dog paddle” when he heard another man yell right behind him.

"Signore! Let-a me get her!". A flash of flesh and orange shot by Tina's left side. It was Angelo, their assigned attendant. He was in a fiberglass kayak, his long apelike arms twisting like a windmill in a gale as his double-paddled oar briskly hit the water. Tina had never seen a one-manned boat move so fast.

~o~O~o~

Kent could no longer see the shore except at the top of swells. She was treading water but didn't know how long she could. What a magnificent screw-up I've been. Tina - please forgive me...

A circular life preserver landed right in front of her. "Buongiorno, miss Tina! Can you getta holda di float?". Kent looked up; she’d never ever been so thankful to see another human being, especially the burly Italian attendant. Gasping, she grabbed the ring.

"Now, put-a you head an’ arms tru di hole. Keepa di rope behinda you head, an' hang on." Next thing she knew, Kent was being pulled steadily through the surf back to the shore. Angelo kept glancing back every few seconds to check on her; halfway back, he urged for the girl to verify she was okay. Kent croaked "I'm alive ... so tired," and Angelo kept paddling in, not quite as fast as he had gone out so as to not lose his passenger.

Coming to shore, James the bartender ran past everyone out to the exhausted girl. He scooped her up in his arms, took off the safety ring and took her up onto the sand where he gently placed her down. "Tina - are you with me? Did you inhale any seawater? Talk to me," he implored. Marlene and her husband were now kneeling at the girl's side.

"I'm okay ... just exhausted ... if Angelo had been ... one minute later ... I'd be a goner," Kent gasped.

"Nuts. I was hoping to give you mouth-to-mouth," James grinned.

"Back off, Romeo. She needs her family now," Tina growled. James retreated.

Janis ran up. "I saw the whole thing! Super Mario, you're awesome! I never saw anyone row so fast."

"Adrenaline help me," Angelo shrugged humbly. "Bambina - before you swim again, you needa lesson in how to escape a ripa-tide."

Kent looked towards her savior, who was pulling his kayak towards the shed he'd been working on. The bow of the boat read "AMB ANGELO". "Hey, hero," she said, "what does the AMB stand for? Water ambulance? Something Italian?"

The hairy man smiled. "It'sa my ‘espressione di possesso’. It mean, ATSA' MY BOAT!" He roared with laughter as he left the scene. Kent chuckled even as she rolled her eyes at the groaner.

Marlene continued questioning her daughter. "Honey - when did you learn to swim? And why did you disobey your Dad? Are you really okay?"

"I'm fine, Mom. I just need to rest. I think I'll skip lunch, and rest in bed, if you guys don't mind."

"All right. We'll bring you back some food; at least, you need to drink fluids," said her father (Tina). "Then, later ... you and I need to talk. Alone." The tone of the last few words was unmistakably ominous.

Drs. Brand and Ruiz showed up, having been notified of the incident. So did the nurse from the first aid desk. Being assured that the girl was fine, Brand walked over to the lifeguard tower, where the nurse was now wrapping a severely strained ankle. As Mr. and Mrs. Braxton carried their daughter up towards the cabana, they could hear a tongue-lashing being unloaded on the lifeguard and his two pals.

"Stuart, when you are on duty, your job is to remain focused on the beach. You failed in that; I was told how you allowed yourself to be distracted by Freddy and Ronald. Then instead of taking a few seconds to climb down off the chair, you jumped and rendered yourself unable to help. You are hereby disqualified from further lifeguard duty; I'll have to add it to Angelo's already-overloaded schedule. Fred, Ron: you two will have to do the maintenance and gardening work that all three of you previously did. Any more goofing off, and you're done here." Brand spoke in normal volume, but his biting pronunciation and steady glare clearly showed his anger.

Tina smiled in partial satisfaction. Serves those creeps right. I wonder if I should tell Dr. Brand how they leered and gestured at Janis and me when we first arrived.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Kent promptly fell asleep after being placed in bed. She arose an hour later with a scream, right as Janis was walking in.

"YIKES! Sis, are you okay?"

Kent rubbed her eyes. "I-I just had a nightmare. I was back out in the ocean again, except this time no one saw me … I was about to suffocate underwater.” So that’s how Tina feels about swimming. No wonder she won’t try it again.

"Lookee what I got," tittered Janis, holding a necklace with a diamond pendant.

Kent marveled. "It's beautiful. It must have cost a fortune. Where did you get it?"

"From the big-boobed redhead who was busy flirting with the guys at the beach. She had her purse in her beach bag, and this was right inside. So easy, and no one saw me. Won't it look great with my black leather blazer back home?"

"You mean ... you STOLE it?!"

Janis rolled her eyes and smirked. "Don't act dumb, missy. You know very well that I did. I don't think of it as stealing, though; anyone stupid enough to leave precious stuff like this unguarded doesn't deserve to keep it."

Kent suddenly realized she needed to play the part of Tina expertly if she was to find out more about this hidden part of Janis. "Yeah ... I remember the first time I found out you do this. How long ago was that, again?"

"Heck, I had been doing it a year before you ever found out. I took a bottle of shampoo from Wal-Mart 3 years ago; they didn't miss it, they even calculate into their equation that some stuff they have is gonna be lifted."

"Chee! Lil' sis, I'll never understand why you did that; after all, you know we get plenty of allowance to buy shampoo and stuff."

"Yeah - but I had to start somewhere! I could care less about plucking shampoo now. It's Gucci, and Coach purses, and The Limited - they have LOUSY security - and Chloe's closet! With Chloe, it's not stealing. That chick has so many clothes she just can't wear them all. So I help her out, and relieve her of some now and then."

"I thought you said she gave you all the clothes you got from her...”

"She lets me borrow her clothes at times when we're together. When I go into her closet to return them, I just take something else I know she hasn't worn in a while. She never misses it - or if she does, she doesn't say anything. To make sure, I try not to wear the ones I took when I know she’s gonna be around, like at school. But at church, on some weekends, and at home - I be stylin', sistah!"

Kent frowned. "Don't go all 'ghetto' talking like that, Janis. It comes across as fake. It's not you."

Janis turned, with an odd look on her face. "Weird. You sounded just like Dad when you said that."

"And yet Mom and Dad think you're the 'good one'. Why don't you remind me again why I haven't told them," Kent pushed.

"My god! You know very well why, you bitch! Maybe you've forgotten just how gross, how embarrassing they are." Janis pulled out her smartphone and punched in her lock code, and then pulled up a picture file. "This ought to refresh your memory," as she turned the display to her ‘sister’.

Kent’s mouth dropped along with her spirit. These were pictures of Tina's body - the body Kent now inhabited - in various states of undress, most of them naked. Extremely explicit photos, with close-ups of her groin and other unmentionable areas, as well as whole body shots of her 'doing' herself. Kent was so hurt, so broken by his daughter's self-exploitation; this is usually the point that a fatherly rage would erupt.

But there was no explosion. Instead, there were just tears. Ones that ran like rivers down her face and evolved into sobs.

"Serves you right, idiot," dripped Janis. "You are so stupid - sexting to Mitch in hopes that he'd stop being attracted to other girls. It shouldn't have surprised you when he posted them on his Facebook. And you should have known that I'd find some insurance against you squealing to the folks about me. It was simple to figure out your lock code.

"Now, big sis, let's go over this - one last time. Are you gonna keep quiet about me, or will I have to send these in an e-mail to Mom?"

The answer came in a snuffling whisper. "No. Don't send it, please. I won't tell." Kent wondered how he would ever break the news to Marlene without breaking her heart.

“Tina, you ought to work with me. It’s so fun living the high fashion life. And I can teach you how to do it like me, so you never get caught.” Janis patted her ‘sister’ on the shoulder. “We’re running late for supper. Clean your face up — your eyes are bloodshot, use some of my drops — and meet us at the dining area.” With that, the younger sister left the cabana.

Kent flopped her body onto her bed, face first into her pillow. “My kids are so screwed up! I’m screwed up! How did they get this way right under my nose? Someone — something — help me. I literally don’t know how to make this right. Help me. Help us. Please … help,” she wailed to no one in particular.

~o~O~o~

Kent used the eye clearing drops and put some lip-gloss on as she had seen Janis do. Supper was already being served, she was sure; having slept through lunch after the beach incident, hunger was really tickling her lower ribs.

Shadows were growing longer as the sun was setting. Kent walked the trail from the cabana to the dining area as it meandered around different groves of trees. This is taking too long. I can see the lights of the restaurant flickering through the trees. So she decided to take a short cut through them, and left the trail.

The pod of trees was pretty thick, but she could still make out and avoid most of the trunks in the dying light. Then suddenly, her foot hit something thick and she fell forward — into someone’s lap.

“Shit! What the — well, look who we have here,” said a boy’s voice. Kent recognized it; it belonged to one of the gardeners. Her nose detected the smell of marijuana in the air. The boy spoke again. “You already caused me to turn my ankle. Now I guess you’re trying to bruise my thigh too? Sounds like you need to be taught a lesson, cunt.”

“You’re Stuart,” Kent said. “The lifeguard. I heard Dr. Brand 'dressing you down' at the beach. Does he allow pot smoking on the island?” she jeered as she tried to regain her footing.

Before she could, she felt a big mitt grab her arm as a husky voice spoke. “Hold it, baby. Don’t leave so rudely. If you want, I’ve got a joint for you. The price: one blowjob. What d’ya say?” She noticed the voice belonged to the shadowy outline of a chunky, big guy; he stood between Kent and the path she’d taken into the trees.

A third boy’s form — this one tall and lanky — stepped out from behind a tree trunk. “You’ll have to excuse my pal Freddy there. He can be quite crude. My name’s Ron. Let me explain your predicament clearly: We’ll let you out of this tree grove without harm. All you have to do is give each of us a quick favor. For me, I just want to kiss — your exposed left nipple.”

“And I get to lick your twat,” bellowed Stuart.

“Mine’s the same as before. Suck me,” hissed Freddy.

“How about I just beat the hell out of all three of you?”

Kent and the three hoodlums turned in the low light to see the massive bulk of Mr. Braxton silhouetted against the sundowning sky. He was holding something — the outline looked like a big shovel. “Daughter — run down to the restaurant. I’ll be a minute; I have to kill some toads.”

Kent jumped out of Freddy’s grasp and bounded back towards the path. Tina and the gardeners stood facing each other silently. Stuart blurted out something about “she was coming on to us” and “we were just playing”.

“Shut up,” said Tina. “and walk away. Or I’ll kick your asses.”

“Oh, you will, old man?” Freddy — the big chunk of the three — stepped towards Tina. “You’ll beat all of us?”

Tina tensed inside. She had seen her Dad get tough with bad guys before. Usually when confronted with possible harm, a bully would retreat. This one was calling her bluff, and she wasn’t sure she could fight as well as she knew Kent could. Time to up the ante, she gambled.

“You’ll be first, pudge. Come and get it,” Tina said with a twisted, malevolent smile. Freddy didn’t move forward or backward.

“WELL? DON’T KEEP ME WAITING, SWEETHEART!” Tina shouted, simultaneously slamming the back of the huge shovel against a tree trunk. It rang with a clash. The loud sound finally broke the trio’s resolve; two ran (and one limped) away.

Man-Tina briskly walked down the path back to the eating area. Standing right at the door was girl-Kent, who was smiling. “Tina — I’m so impressed. Thank you for saving my neck. How did you know I was in trouble?”

“Mom,” Tina replied. “She has always had a pretty good sixth sense about her daughters. She told me all of a sudden that she thought I should go check on you, to make sure you were okay. I’m glad those gardeners are sloppy — they left that shovel laying right next to the tree grove. I heard one of them yelling something about a twat, so I went in and there all of you were.”

Kent wrapped her hands around Tina’s right bicep. “I’m sorry I went in the tree grove. I was trying a short cut.”

“Don’t you remember our talk last night? You’re vulnerable now. You cannot put yourself in a dangerous position. And you did it twice in one day! I hope I have a body left to go back to when this is over.”

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Supper featured fusion cuisine with Korean and Mexican influences. Afterwards, Tina and Kent had to go to yet another session. Monitoring at least twice daily was the rule with UET, per Dr. Rahne Ruiz, who was running this session.
“So, tha’s what happened at th’ beach today. Sounds like neither o’ ye are followin’ the rule aboot respectin’ each other’s body.

“Huh? What did I do? Dad’s the one who went swimming when he — uh, she — God, this is so confusing — well, anyway, all I did was get a tan,” huffed Tina.

“Ye laid oot in the sun — against Kent’s wishes. And with his body.”

“At least I didn’t almost drown,” Tina whisper-mumbled.

“Do either o’ ye think yuir gainin’ empathy for th’ other?”

“All I see Tina doing is enjoying the power and authority that comes with my body. I don’t see any appreciation in her about what I have to do as her father, much less as a husband and CEO,” Kent volunteered.

“Dad, you’re one to talk! You’re still trying to act like a huge grown man instead of realizing you’re in a teenage girl’s body! I sure don’t see any insight developing in you, either!”

“Time oot,” spoke Rahne forcefully. “My question was, do either o’ ye see empathy growin’ — in yuirselves. I need each o’ ye tae tell me aboot yuir own understandin’, not how ye felt th’ other was doin’.”

The therapist was pleading, emphatic. “Dinnae ye see yet? Tina, ye cannae correct yuir dad’s faults — ye can only work on yuir own. Kent, ye are not responsible for Tina’s misbehavior — but ye are totally responsible for yuir own! “

“Now, wait a minute.” Kent stood up. “Even now, in this body, I am Tina’s father. I am responsible for her — “

“She’s eighteen, Kent. Eighteen. She’s an adult, ‘n’ in a few months when she graduates, she’ll be ultimately responsible for her life ‘n’ decisions. Yuir role now needs t’ be one of influencer, counselor, friend — not dictator.”

For a moment there was no sound in the room except for the audible inhaling and exhaling of Dr. Ruiz; she was doing deep breathing in an attempt to calm her own frustration over these two stubborn combatants. After some further thought, she made a decision. “I think it best tha’ we separate ye two for th’ remainder o’ this session. Kent, I’m calling Dr. Brand t’ take ye t’ th’ other room. I’ll stay with Tina here.”

~o~O~o~

“Tell me what you’re feeling right now.”

Kent shook her head. She’d had quite enough of this therapy nonsense. Looking at Dr. Brand, she decided to imply a threat. “Gee, doc. I wonder if it’s appropriate for a big, strong guy like you to be alone in a room with a hot little thing like me. If I wanted to charge you with molestation, it would be just your word against mine.”

“Nice try, Kent. That’s why I left the door part open; you are in the chair next to the door, while I’m further from it; and finally, see the tiny camera emerging from the ceiling? We have security monitoring these sessions — just video, no audio — for both of our safety.”

The girl in the room slumped her shoulders. “What is the point of this therapy? To humiliate me, to make me feel like I’m totally inadequate? Because if that’s the goal, it’s working. I can’t believe I actually paid thousands of dollars for the ‘privilege’ of this!” Angry tears began to well in her eyes. “Do you know that before I came here, I thought I had two well adjusted kids? Except for the oldest having an inappropriate crush. Now, I find that one of them is doing home porno, and the other is a thief!”

“The truth does two things,” nodded Brand. “It hurts; and it sets you free.”

“That’s *sniff* half right, at least.”

“How does it feel, being a teenage girl?”

“I don’t like it. I’m … I’m frail. Instead of being feared, I have to fear others. And instead of being my family’s leader, I have to follow Marlene’s — and Tina’s — orders. Like being low man on the totem pole. That’s not what I have worked for years to attain.”

“Believe it or not, Kent, that’s a good thing. Humility is an essential part of being a successful adult. Not humiliation; humbleness. All the greatest leaders — Washington, Lincoln, Jesus, MLK — had it. It helps you grow, and eliminates blind spots — like missing what was happening with your children. If there’s one phrase you should take away from this week, it’s this: The Humble Improve.”

“The humble improve,” Kent repeated in a whisper.

“So, isn’t there anything that you’re enjoying about being a girl?”

“Nothing that I should be enjoying,” Kent continued whispering.

“Explain that to me, please.”

The teen girl’s head hung down now, her brunette tresses lightly brushing her thighs. “I … I don’t like not being the leader, yet at the same time, the relief from obligation is surprisingly exhilarating. You know, the strain of being responsible both for a family and for the livelihood of 15,000 employees — not to mention the quarterly reports for thousands of demanding stockholders — it all can be such a crushing burden.”

“Lack of obligation is one of the benefits of childhood that many children take for granted,” Brand agreed.

“There’s another thing. I seem to … enjoy the attention that I’m getting from boys. Especially James, your barkeep. I still am in love with Marlene, I know I am — but I feel funny in my chest when he calls me beautiful. And seeing that red haired bombshell at the beach today did nothing for me. Does that mean I’m turning gay?”

“No. Not that it’s even possible to ‘turn’ gay. Remember, right now you have the brain makeup and chemistry of an 18-year-old heterosexual female. As soon as you switch back bodies, that attraction will fade.”

~o~O~o~

“So, Tina. I have a question for ye. Ye resent yuir daddy for keepin’ you from Mitch. Yuir eighteen, lass. Why don’t ye just move oot?”

“I thought of that. I don’t have anywhere to go. None of my friends understand — they don’t like Mitch, and so they won’t take me in. Even if I took on a part time job, it wouldn’t be enough to pay the bills living on my own. When I graduate, I can get a full time job and move out.”

“Full time. So, yuir not goin’ t’ university, then?”

“I — I want college … but I want Mitch more.”

“Could ye move in with him?”

Tina looked away. “He lives with his parents, still. They aren’t too keen with me moving in with him. He’d be able to pay for an apartment if he didn’t have such lousy luck with the job market.”

“Go on.”

“He’s gotten fired a lot because wherever he works, a woman will come on to him, and then when he rejects her, she plays like he sexually harassed her, and he gets kicked out. It’s happened like, five times. He’s just too hot for his own good.”

Rahne raised an eyebrow. “Mitch has told ye all this?”

“Yes.”

“And ye believe him?”

“What motivation would he have to lie to me?”

“Ye know tha’ as well as I, Lassie.”

“I … I’m so confused. My brain keeps telling me to leave him, but my heart won’t — can’t — let go. Rahne, you wouldn’t advise me to follow my head and ignore my heart, would you?”

“Wee one, the best kind o’ love is one where yuir head and yuir heart are in full agreement. Whether ye believe it or nae, yuir heart will be able to love again should ye leave Mitch.”

Tina’s fists clenched in anger. “Whenever my friends at home would talk to me about Mitch this way, it would make me cry. But right now I can’t seem to cry. Instead, I … I feel like knocking his fool head off!” Her fist slammed against the wall.

“Temper, temper, Tina. This rage is th’ way yuir father’s body reacts tae stress. Ye must learn tae control it.”

“Dr. Rahne, the anger builds up so quickly, and is so strong. I’m amazed at how Dad is able to deal with it.” Tina shook her head. “Well, actually ... since he found out about Mitch, he doesn’t hold in his ire around me.”

“So ye don’t like the anger part aboot yuir papa. Is there anythin’ else ye don’t like aboot bein’ in his body?”

“The erections. I had one this morning, another at the beach today — that’s why my back is more tanned than my chest — and, to be honest, I’m hornier than a big game hunter’s trophy room! Have you noticed I’m avoiding looking at you?”

“Yes…”

“It’s because I’m attracted to boobies and butts now! All types of female parts! And there’s no way — NO way — that I’m jerking off or sleeping with my own mom to get release! But I’m actually fantasizing about how it would feel to have sex with the redhead! This treatment has turned me into a lesbian sex fiend!”

“Tina, ye hae been experiencing wha’ most males fight with all o’ their lives. It’s not perversion unless they fail to control it. I think that in yuir father’s case, his sex urge is higher than even most men’s are.”

“OMG. I think I respect him a little more now — for how he controls it.”

“Is there anything you like aboot bein’ a grown man?”

“Oh yeah. I like the power. I mean, most other guys give way to me when I’m walking down the trail. The respect they give me, just because of how big and strong I am, is awesome. When I speak deeply, my family stops and pays heed. And my strength! When I picked up a shovel earlier tonight, it was like picking up a twig. That part I wish I could keep.”

Rahne kept a clinical posture, but mentally was squirming a little. She's rather enthusiastic aboot liking th' strength o' bein' male. I hope she doesn't get too enamored o' it.

~o~O~o~

TO BE CONTINUED MONDAY, JUNE 15

~o~O~o~

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to an actual situation or person is purely coincidental.

Tremendous thanks to Cyclist for beta reading and help!

If you've gotten this far, please leave a comment! Don't make me reach through the screen and tweak your nose!

Thanks for reading! **Sigh**

Kent's face drained of all color. "Tina ... you wouldn't ..."
"Try me," Tina growled. "Now, will you let me be with Mitch when we go home, or do I have to keep you in that short, weak, vulnerable girl's body?"

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Both sessions ended around nine in the evening. Tina and Kent walked out of their respective rooms, then exited the counseling center together.

Tina looked down at her Dad, now her ‘daughter’. “Hey. How did your session go?”

“Fine.” Kent didn’t feel like opening up any more tonight.

“Did you talk about Mitch and me, how you feel about us?”

Kent turned to her ‘father’. “Tina. You need to realize this fact. I will never, ever change my mind about you and Mitch. As long as you live at home, I forbid you to see or talk to him. And when you eventually leave home, I will do any and every thing in my power to keep you two from getting together. Until you come to your senses, that’s what I will do.”

Tina’s mouth fell open. “You — you intend to continue to make my life miserable? You’re going to antagonize Mitch until he gives up on me?” Tina knew that Kent could very well accomplish that.

“Sorry, honey. It’s for your own good. Now: in about 30 hours, when we return to our own bodies — “

“Wait. ‘When’ we return to our bodies? Don’t you mean, ‘IF’?”

Kent looked up. “Huh?”

“IF,” Tina boomed, “IF, IF, IF. IF I allow it. You read the waiver we both signed? Well, I did too. I remember it saying that BOTH of us had to be willing to change back; if not, we stay this way for as long as it takes for both of us to agree. And since we’re talking about you and I, that may mean ‘never’. Frankly, my existence as your daughter has been horrible for the last year. If you keep sabotaging Mitch and me, then why should I go back? I kind of like being big and tough, and in charge. Especially in charge over you — ‘daughter’.”

Kent stood stunned. She’d remembered that provision in the papers, yet she never thought that Tina might want to not change back. Being small and vulnerable was already unnerving; the threat of this becoming a permanent situation scared the hell out of her. She said nothing more for fear of inflaming Tina more. Silently, both of them walked together.

~o~O~o~

Tina entered the cabana where Mr. and Mrs. Braxton slept. Marlene was brushing her teeth, readying herself for bed. Her ‘husband’ quickly changed into his sleepwear while his wife was in the bathroom.

As they settled into bed, Tina turned on his left side, facing his side of the mattress.

“Can I at least get a kiss goodnight?” whispered Marlene.

“Oh! Sure, ‘honey’. Sorry.” Tina turned over to give Marlene a kiss. Just a quick peck, and it would be over; at least that was Tina’s plan. Instead, Marlene grabbed his shoulders and pressed her body up against him as they engaged in a long, warm, wet smooch. That’s when Tina felt it happen.

OMG no no no! Not another hard-on, not now!

Marlene felt it also, pressing against her stomach. Without a word, she placed her right leg over her husbands’ legs. She next pulled his shirt up, exposing his bare chest. She began to pull up her nightgown…

“No! Marlene — NO!” Tina pulled suddenly away, and turned his back to her while sitting up.

“Wh — what? Kent … what’s the matter?”

“I can’t … not while we’re doing this … special therapy,” Tina gasped. His body’s urges had almost led to the unthinkable. “I do love you, and I want you so bad, (OMG I can’t believe I just said that to my mom) but I can’t. If I do, it will screw up the treatment. It just lasts a little more than a day, now. The morning after tomorrow, things will be fine. I’m sorry.”

“Kent … I don’t understand. What does intimacy between us have to do with you and Tina? You look so worried lately — you aren’t yourself. Sex has always been one of the ways you’ve been able to relax, and rethink any problems later. I’ve never heard of a father-child treatment that required the parents to be abstinent from each other.

“And right now, my husband, I need us to make love. I need it perhaps even more than you. I need to be reassured that I can still bring you to ecstasy, to know that even if the world falls apart, we won’t. I need the fulfillment, the peace it gives me. I’ve never refused you before. Please don’t refuse me now.”

Tina had never heard Marlene sound so desperate. His heart broke as he replied. “NOT … UNTIL … THERAPY’S … OVER!” With that, he stood up and walked out of the front door. He didn’t stop until he got to the ice machine located between the cabanas and the main complex. Oh dear god … I’m destroying Mom and Dad’s relationship! Dispensing some ice into his cupped hands, he then placed it on his groin as he began to sob.

~o~O~o~

Kent lay in bed, distraught. The threat delivered to her tonight had rocked her world. She had been hanging on in this hurricane of strange feelings, clinging to the knowledge that all would be back to normal in just hours. But the prospect of staying this way, for weeks or months or forever? That was breaking all of her resolve; she feared she was even losing her grip on reality.

She needed someone. In the past, she would have made passionate love to Marlene; that usually helped calm her storm. Right now, she didn’t need sex so much as someone to listen, and comfort. Janis? No … her ‘sister’ was a bully. Best to let the bully sleep. Marlene? Yes … except then Tina would get involved too, likely; and facing ‘him’ again right now made her shiver. Who?

She started to smile, and her eyes brightened. Perfect! I’ll get to talk to someone, and I’ll help break Mitch’s hold on Tina at the same time!

Kent quietly got out of bed, taking care not to wake Janis. She picked up the clothes she’d worn earlier and carefully put them on — bra, shorts, tank top, and sandals — and slinked out of the cabana. In the darkness, she hoped the hoodlums were in bed already as she walked down the trail to the pool. Only two couples were lingering there, talking under the light of the nearly full moon. And then she gladly saw her objective, tending the poolside bar.

James.

~o~O~o~

“So, gorgeous one, what brings you here so late?”

“I need one of your virgin PC’s, please. And an open ear, if you care to give it.”

“Coming right up.” James smiled as he pulled out the necessary ingredients from his bar fridge. “You sure you don’t want an espresso?”

“Ah, nope,” Kent replied. While in this teenage girl’s body, she had the rep of being the coffee queen. Kent, though, detested coffee — too bitter, and adding sugar and cream helped little. “It’s too late; the caffeine will just keep me up.”

The blender whirred and produced the creamy smoothie. “I was just about to close up shop; it’s almost 11,” James said. “We stay open later — ‘til 1 a.m. — on Friday and Saturday, because there’s no formal therapy on the weekend. Then we get a new set of clients flying in on Sunday, and the week starts over again.”

“So, you work seven days a week? That sounds rough,” exclaimed Kent.

“One of the line cooks tends bar for me about five days a month. It’s not so bad. I have fun, and meet some of the nicest people. Like you,” he grinned. “And when I do have a day off, I get to spend it in this paradise.”

What a great guy, thought Kent. And if I can get him interested in me, I don’t see any way that Tina can resist his charms when — er, make that ‘if’ (gulp) — we switch back.

Kent slurped the last of the colada. “Delicious. But now I’m a little chilly.”

“Hang on.” James closed down the bar, grabbed some of the thick pool towels next to the bar, and led the girl to a covered bench swing. Sitting her down, covering her with the towels, he then sat next to her and put his arm around her. “Better?”

“Much!” cooed Kent. Have I got this flirting business down, or what?

“So, Tina. What do you need to talk about?”

“Can’t give specifics. The person I usually open up to — “

“Isn’t here, I know. You told me you were spoken for the first day I met you. I’m assuming that’s a boyfriend, not a fiancé, right?”

“I sure hope not,” mused Kent.

“Hm? Sounds like there’s trouble in the romance area of your life. I hope I’m not making you feel like you’re cheating on your guy.”

Let’s reassure him that Tina finds him attractive, Kent thought, so she snuggled her head into the crook of James’ neck. “I need someone right now. You’re here. Mitch isn’t.”

“Hooray,” James said.

Kent spilled her thoughts. “I feel like nobody likes me now; like, in spite of everything I’ve done for my family, that no one appreciates it. I’m not perfect, by any means. But I feel like I’m better than 99% of the other fa- er, daughters out there. Do you understand what I’m getting at?”

“I think so, Tina. Heck, I keep this smile plastered on whether or not people appreciate my efforts. I make a mean margarita, a beautiful bloody mary, and a fantastic fuzzy navel. Yet I rarely get a word of thanks, much less a great tip. People seem too absorbed in their hang-ups, especially here. But it still doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve my best. Heck, I owe it to myself to do my best — in my smile, and my work.”

“My, what a great attitude you have,” breathed Kent.

James laughed. “The better to woo you with, my dear.”

“So, you admit you’re trying to woo — mph!“

Kent couldn’t finish her sentence. James had craned his neck over and was planting the tenderest of kisses to her lips. Kent froze; her male brain was protesting, yet not wanting to push James away for Tina’s sake. Kent’s current body, however, was responding at 100,000 RPM. Her skin tingled, her heart beat like a trip hammer, her pupils dilated, and goose bumps rose on her neck, her legs, and groin. Also, her left butt cheek felt warm. And compressed. And massaged.

Wh … that’s James’ hand!

“Hey — stop! Please,” Kent gasped.

James looked crestfallen. “Really? Oh — I’m sorry. Nuts. I got carried away. Forgive me.”

“Hey — no apologies needed. I’m just not looking for that out of you — not tonight, at least.” But feel free to explore that with Tina when we’re back to normal, Kent schemed. “James, you’ve been great. You listened to me, and that kiss … wow. But I better get back before someone in my family notices I’m gone.”

“I’m already missing you,” James said with mock distress.

“James … listen closely. In a day or two, I may be acting strange; like I’m not attracted to you, like tonight never happened. If that occurs, don’t be put off. Keep pursuing me. Just be your gallant, sweet, handsome self. You will reach me again. Please remember that, OK?” Kent hoped that Tina would be open to this dream of a boy.

“Okay, Tina. That sounds kind of weird … but I’ll bet it has something to do with that secret therapy that some of the couples here go through. I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Gee. You’re smart, too. *sigh*,” Kent faked a swoon, then got up and walked towards the cabana path. “Night, James. Sleep tight.”

“Sweet dreams, gorgeous. Make one of them about me,” called James.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Morning came, and girl-Kent walked to the gazebo to meet man-Tina. This is the last day … the last morning I have to get make-up applied. Yee-haw! As of about 3 a.m. tomorrow, I get to be me again! Lost in her reverie, Kent was almost at the stairs to the gazebo before she noticed Tina was already there, waiting.

“Well, aren’t you up early,” said Kent. “Did you rest well?”

“No. I slept horribly. Mom’s hurting badly because I won’t get affectionate with her, and this … thingie of yours keeps coming to life with the slightest movement. I woke up at four and couldn’t get back to sleep because I was afraid of yesterday morning happening again,” Tina moaned.

“Don’t worry, honey. See, this is why we should definitely change back when the 60 hours is up.”

“You think you’re pretty slick, don’t you, Dad. As miserable as I am now, I’ll be just as doomed if I lose Mitch because of you. So, even though it’s killing Mom, she might just have to get over losing her husband if I am forced to have to get over Mitch.” Tina was so angry now, he was saying anything that he thought would hurt Kent.

Kent’s face drained of all color. “Tina … you wouldn’t …”

“Try me,” Tina growled. “Now, will you let me be with Mitch when we go home, or do I have to keep you in that short, weak, vulnerable girl’s body?”

Kent stood, and started to leave the gazebo. She turned back to Tina at the edge of the stairs. “Forget the make-up. My eyes are too wet for mascara anyway.” She then ran away, crying.

~o~O~o~

Breakfast was a somber affair. Tina angrily poked at his eggs. Marlene didn’t touch her food; she did sip her coffee, but it did nothing for her reddened eyes. Kent was bloodshot in her peepers also, just nibbling on a berry or two from her fruit plate. Not a word was said. Janis, who could sense the tension but had no clue where it was coming from, finally broke the ice.

“What the heck is wrong with everybody?”

Kent and Tina glared at her, while Marlene continued to sip her coffee and look out the window at the flora.

“Okaaay … I withdraw the question,” Janis mumbled as she slumped down in her chair.

~o~O~o~

After breakfast, the family walked out and sat in shaded chairs on the verandah. The silence held until Tina spoke.

“Let’s skip therapy today, “daughter”. I don’t want to go.”

“Fine with me. It’s just making things worse, anyway,” answered Kent.

“Now, wait a minute, you two,” Marlene cut in. “I’m suffering from this ‘special treatment’ of yours also. Today is the last day of it, right? So, see it through. I’m damned ready for it to be over.”

“Where did you go last night, Tina?” chirped Janis.

Man-Tina barked, “Janis, don’t change the subj — wait. What?”

“I said,” Janis looked directly towards girl-Kent, “where did you go last night, Tina? You left at around ten till eleven and didn’t come back until nearly midnight.”

Kent was mute, and flushing bright red from chest to crown.

“You should remember how light a sleeper I am,” Janis continued. “I saw you sneak out. I would have left to go make sure you were okay, but then I would have been disobeying Daddy’s rule of walking alone after dark. And I always obey Daddy’s — “

“Janis, shut up,” both Kent and Tina said in near unison.

Then Tina turned to Kent. “So … where did you go?”

“Nowhere.”

“LIAR! You’re lying!”

“Now that’s the pot calling the kettle.”

Tina stood up. “That’s it! I have had it with you! You will no longer be allowed to be alone! You must be with your mother or me at all times! You will sleep on the floor in our cabana so we can monitor you constantly! If you continue to act like a delinquent, then I’ll treat you like a criminal!”

Kent rose in reply. “Oh yeah? Well, after the threat you leveled at me last night — and again this morning - I realize I may have to live the rest of my life this way. So I will live it in spite of you, not under you! And I’m 18, ‘Daddy’. Less than three months, and you’ll never see me again if you don’t want to,” Kent hissed.

“I’ll never see you again? Oh please — promise me that!” roared Tina.

“Kent! Tina! Stop this! Please,” Marlene implored.

“You want to know where I was last night, ‘Daddy’,” Kent said, ignoring Marlene. “I was with James. I poured out my heart to him because I couldn’t do it with anyone in this screwed up family!”

“James the bartender? You don’t really know him, do you? He could be a smooth talking liar, trying to just bed you!” Tina countered.

“Yeah — like Mitch,” smirked girl-Kent.

“YOU LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS! MITCH IS PRECIOUS TO ME!” shouted man-Tina.

At this point, Janis and Marlene were totally confused.

“Go ahead, ‘Dad’. Make good on your threat. You will be a failure of a man. I will be successful no matter what, because that’s what I am — a success. Unlike you,” Kent said with all the venom she could muster. She was five feet from her 'father', arms crossed.

Tina lost all control. He screamed at the top of his lungs: “HOW … DARE … YOU … SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY!” As he said it, he closed the space between him and Kent in two giant strides, slamming his fist down on the side table near them. The punch was so hard that it destroyed the wooden bench with a loud KRAK — AKK.

Kent was suddenly scared to death. The scream had shaken her whole body to the spine, and the table smash left her ear ringing. She had never seen this look on what used to be her face. Tina was like a raging monster, well able to crush her with his bare hands; a hulk, with more clothes and flesh colored skin. A high-pitched squeal of fear escaped from Kent’s lips, and she turned and ran away into the trees.

Tina stood still, numb from the realization of just how crazy he had just acted. Marlene was out of her chair, holding onto a frightened Janis.

“Kent … what … what’s happened to you?” Marlene sobbed.

Tina looked at his ‘wife’. “Marlene …”

“Just … just stay away from us!” -She continued backing farther and farther away.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Dr. Brand tapped his pad computer. “You’re a little late for the session, Tina, so we’re going to have to make it a forty minute one. By the way, where’s Kent?”

“Doc,” man-Tina sniffed, “everything’s going to hell. I’m screwing it all up. I didn’t want to come here this morning, but there was had nowhere else to go, no one to talk to.” He then relayed the events of the morning to Brand.

The psychologist’s brow furrowed with worry. “We’ve never had to end a UET early, but I think it’s time to make an exception. Let me clear it with the CEO.”

Tina was exasperated. “To hell with the CEO! You’re the boss here! I’m sure you have the authority — now do it, please!”

“I cannot do this without the CEO’s permission, nor without his capacity,” Brand replied deeply. “Stay here. I’ll call; if she approves, then we can proceed as soon as we find Kent. I’ll get Angelo on that as soon as I get off the phone.”

Dr. Brand stepped out. Tina stayed in the counseling room, head in hands.

“Uh, Mr. Braxton?”

Tina looked up. It was an Isla employee, one he’d not really seen before … she had the official shirt and nametag, though. “Uh, yeah. That’s me.”

“Sorry to bother you, but I notice you’re alone in here. Sir, we’ve received an urgent call for you. It’s from your company; whoever called said he had to speak to you urgently. He’s holding on line 3.”

~o~O~o~

“Uh — hello?” Tina was nervous; he knew next to nothing about being a CEO.

“Mr. Braxton! Thank God I found you. I know you’re on vacation, sir, but this is an issue that just came up, and it’s pretty serious. In fact, the whole survival of Hannegill Enterprises is at stake.”

“Uh — okay,” hemmed Tina.

“A corporate raider is actively trying to buy us out. He started yesterday; he means to divide us up into dozens of smaller divisions and sell us off. Evidently he’s already sold half of our shareholders on the idea. They’re calling a special meeting this Friday. I know you’re not due back until Monday — but this is too serious for you not to be here, leading the opposition to this guy. When shall I send the corporate jet to pick you up?”

“Uh — what?!” hawed Tina.

“Sir — snap out of vacation mode. I need you here with me right now. We’ll reimburse you with an extra week of vacation.”

“Uh — who is this I’m talking to?”

“Kent — this is Robert. You know, the COO? The guy you left in charge of the company while you went on this vacation?”

“Why, of course I know you, Robert. The phone service here is awful; I can barely hear you. Robert, hang on for thirty seconds.”

Tina put the phone in his lap. Dad’s not here to help me. And if we can’t find him, I can’t switch him back to his body. If I say the wrong thing, Dad could lose his company. Oh My God — what do I tell this guy? What would Dad say?

In thirty seconds, Tina lifted her head, and raised the phone handle to her head. “Robert — you there?”

“Yes, sir. I never left.”

“Robert. I am in a critical moment with my family. If I leave them now, I might lose them. And when it comes to choosing between Hannegill and my family — well, there’s no contest. I left you in charge because I trust you can do the job. Now, if you need me to speak to the board or the shareholders, I can do it via Skype, or some other videolink. Make it Friday when that happens, if at all possible. Until then, Robert, know this: you can deal with this. I have given you all the tools necessary for this, and I wouldn’t have chosen you if you couldn’t handle it. Repeat after me: I CAN HANDLE THIS.”

“I — I can handle this,” said the voice through the phone.

“With conviction!”

“I CAN HANDLE THIS!”

“Good man. Now get out there and handle it.” Tina hung up. Well, I hope I didn’t screw up things even more badly. I don’t know what else I should have said, though — that was the absolute best I could think to say in the situation. I hope dad doesn’t freak out when he hears.

Tina didn’t have to wait long to find out. Angelo walked in the door, with a fretful, nervous Kent in tow.

~o~O~o~

“Angelo — don’t leave me alone with him. I won’t feel safe,” Kent whispered to her attendant.

“Hokay, signorina,” reassured the Italian. “I’ma right here.”

Tina breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God you’re here, ‘daughter’. Dr. Brand has decided to end the therapy now, and get us back to normal. He’s just getting all the things in order, like talking to his boss.”

Kent appeared suspicious. “So … you’re fine with that? What about your threat to not agree to the switch back?”

“Dad, I’m not meant to be a man. I’m a girl. I just wanted to make you suffer … to abuse you like I felt you had been abusing me.”

Kent was silent for the longest time before responding. “Tina … abuse is the right word.”

Tina shook his head in shame. “I know, I know. I wanted to make you feel my hurt, to get even with you. But when I did it, it made me feel horrible — like I can’t live with myself. I’m such a hypocrite — complaining about how you treat me, and then I turn around and do even worse back to you.”

“That’s not what I meant,” said Kent, eyes welling. “I’m not talking about your behavior. I’m talking about mine.”

The young girl walked over to the big man and sat next to him, grabbing ahold of his hand.

“Tina … what just happened frightened the hell out of me twice. The first time was seeing the raw fury in your face, the craziness in your eyes. I really thought you were going to hurt me. So, I ran off into the trees. While there, I realized a terrible truth: In this past year, I have made you feel that way. The times that I have ‘lost it’ and raged, and made you tremble and back away? I thought I was forcing obedience out of you. But what I was really doing was scaring you to near death. That’s true, isn’t it?”

Tina nodded her head. He ... he’s beginning to see — finally!

Kent was now openly weeping. “That’s child abuse, Tina. I don’t deserve to be your father. I should be locked away in a prison somewhere. Oh God … baby … I’m a monster … I feel so horrible … I’m so, so, so sorry …” Kent broke down, holding her face in her hands, sobbing loudly.

Tina watched Kent for a minute, searching for any signs of insincerity. Finding none, he put his arm around the weeping girl. “Dad … look at me.”

Kent suppressed the sobs enough to raise her face; she lowered her fingertips enough so her eyes could peek at Tina.

“Dad … we have to change how we act towards each other. We have a long way to go — but this is a start. I’m sorry too, for my behavior this past year — boy, I’ve learned how horrible it feels to have a disobedient daughter. I’ve treated you with such disrespect. I’m willing to work on changing. I just pray that I won't have to give up ... M-m …” Tina was faltering.

Mitch?! realized Kent with awe. This was the first time that she had even shown a hint of weakening her stance regarding her lover.

“… Because no matter what happens in life, I love you. You’re my Daddy.” Tina’s tears were freely falling now. “Please forgive me for how I’ve hurt you. And Daddy — I forgive you, too. For all of it.”

Both father and daughter now dissolved together in a rush of wails and tears, hugging each other tightly.

~o~O~o~

The next hour was one of peace and bliss for both of them. They reminisced about the good times of past years; they complimented each other on the best qualities they saw in each other. Kent spoke of what an honor it was to be in Tina’s beautiful body, to possess her gleaming smile. Tina remarked about how proud she was of his accomplishments. When Tina recounted the phone call with Robert from Hannegill, Kent was amazed at the wisdom of his daughter’s response.

And Kent spoke to Tina about Janis’ blackmail of her. Tina was embarrassed severely to find that Kent had seen the explicit photos, and readied herself for a lecture. None came.

“The only thing wrong with what you did there, Tina, was trusting those photos to someone who wasn’t trustworthy. By posting it to his friends, he betrayed you. But tantalizing each other is what lovers do; and if you were married to a responsible partner, I’d have no trouble with what you did.”

Tina was stunned. “Really?!”

“I’ll let you in on a secret — you cannot tell anyone else. Your mom knows, but she should not know that I told you this, okay?”

“Okay …”

Kent pointed to the smartphone located in Tina’s left back pocket. “In the pictures section is a hidden file, secured by three passwords. That’s where I keep your Mother’s Victoria’s Secret photo shoot.”

“Mom … did a lingerie photo shoot?!”

“Yes, about five years ago. It was a Valentine’s gift to me. And when I’m gone on a weeklong trip, feeling lonely, I get to a private place, call your Mom on speakerphone and pull up that file. If I ever get ‘horny’ I like to focus all that sexual tension on her body, no one else’s. And now you know another secret I use to make sure I’m faithful to your mother.”

“Dad … I’ve been so ashamed of those nude pics … I can’t believe you aren’t yelling at me over it.”

“Daughter,” Kent said, “Look at me. I … forgive … you. For all of it. Everything. I want you to know something: even though I may not agree with you — even if you do things that I can’t be proud of — you will always be my beloved daughter. I will love you forever, and nothing, no one will ever change that.”

“You forgive me? For all of it?”

“Yes, honey.”

More tears and hugs followed. After fifteen more minutes, they calmed enough to resume talking.

“Tina,” Kent said. “We have to do something about Janis. She
can’t continue to shoplift and steal — she’s hurting other people, and she’ll ruin her life.”

“I know, Dad. But what do we do?”

“Ahem,” spoke a rough voice with a heavy Mediterranean accent. “I have a suggestione.”

Both Tina and Kent suddenly realized that Angelo had been in the room the whole time. Tina tried to cover up: “Ah … Angelo; you’re probably wondering why I’m calling my daughter ‘Kent’, and why she’s calling me ‘Tina’. See, we’re-“

“Is di ‘minda — swap’, no?” the hairy man grinned. “You donna work here for twenny years witout learning a few tings. Don’ worryaboutit. Dottore Brand, Dottore Ruiz, anda me are di only ones who know. Now, about Signorina Janis …”

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER TWENTY

Marlene lay on the bed in her cabana. Janis laid with her. They had ahold of each other, both sniffling from the morning’s events. “I curse the day I decided to look at the mailer for this awful place,” the mother said.

She heard a tap-tap-tap at the door. “Kent — leave me alone. I don’t want to see you right now.”

“Mom — it’s me, Tina,” Kent spoke in his daughter’s voice.

Marlene sat up. “Tina? Come in, honey! Are you all right? Janis and I looked for you for nearly an hour!”

Girl-Kent walked in. “Mom. Something wonderful has happened between me and Dad.”

“What?” “Really?” For both Marlene and Janis, those were the words they least expected to hear.

“Yes, really. We both had a breakthrough. I know you said you didn’t want to see Dad right now, but can I bring him in? We both have some amends to make with you guys.”

It was a little unusual, what with Kent apologizing for Tina’s wrongs and Tina confessing Kent’s. Neither father nor daughter thought that disclosing the mind/body swap was a wise thing to do yet, if ever.

There were many tears, admissions of wrongs, apologies, confessions of love, and promises made. Fresh soul wounds still existed in all four Braxtons, but the balms of humility and forgiveness started the slow healing process on most of them. Evil words spoken in the past were addressed, confessed, and absolved. For the moment, all was well.

The four of them ended up sprawled together on the king size bed, hugging, intertwining fingers, and stroking one another’s hair.

Marlene finally interrupted this fantasy-come-true. “I’m hungry. I’ve been so upset that I haven’t really eaten much since the first meal we had here. I’m starving!”

Man-Tina laughed. “You must be feeling better, then. Lunch is still forty minutes away. How about we all get up and go for a stroll — have any of you visited the gift shop yet?”

“Oh, I want to go there!” cried Janis. “All I’ve gotten to do is just stick my head in for a few minutes.” And there are a few items there I’d love to have, if the right opportunity presents itself.

“You go on, Janis. We’ll catch up with you,” her ‘father’ said.

~o~O~o~

Janis had been in the gift shop for about twenty minutes when the rest of her family showed up. The youngest Braxton had already scouted the place; no security camera, one employee behind the counter. It was a small shop; even with no electronic surveillance it would be hard to get away with something. I’ll stick around; who knows what could happen.

She saw Kent looking around at the coffee cups and shot glasses; he collected the latter. Tina seemed to be advising her father on which shot glass to get. Weird, thought Janis. Marlene went straight to the jewelry case, and asked to see some of the earrings and bangles. They were mixtures of pearls, diamonds, and gold; some had seashells or exotic coral. Pretty, pretty — Janis salivated while watching from the corner of her eye.

“Honey, come on,” Mr. Braxton urged. “They’re opening up the dining area.”

“Ooh! I can’t wait. I’m so hungry!” Marlene turned and walked away, leaving the jewels on top of the display case. The clerk, who appeared to be Asian, started to place the items back under lock when the walkie-talkie on his hip began to squawk.

“Chaoxiang! Pick uppa di phone!” It was Angelo’s voice.

The clerk stopped everything and grabbed his radio. “Chao here. What’s up?”

“Coda red inna di equipament shack! Comma help, NOW NOW NOW!!”

“Fire,” Chao whispered. He looked up. The store was now empty; the youngest daughter of that family was just now stepping out. It would take him precious minutes to lock up — minutes the shack might not have. He left the jewelry on the countertop. Quickly closing the shop door and turning the sign to “CLOSED”, he bolted out the back door, running to the equipment shed.

Two minutes later, the left-unlocked front door opened, and a svelte young girl tiptoed briskly inside.

~o~O~o~

Lunch for the family tasted better than any meal had in a long time. Without the underlying acid of conflict, everything seemed improved. Also, the special was conch salad, with broiled Chilean sea bass and asparagus.

Marlene leaned towards Janis. “Honey, were you able to find a fresh tampon?”

“Yeah, Mom. Thanks for letting me go back to my cabana to get it,” Janis whispered back. I’m not quite on my period yet; I’ll have to remember this little lie and not contradict it later.

“The only way this meal could get better is to top it off with an espresso,” man-Tina sighed.

“Or a hot black tea,” gushed girl-Kent.

“This sudden taste change in you two still amazes me,” laughed Marlene.

“Mr. Braxton?” a tenor voice bellowed.

The whole table looked up at a huge Scandinavian woman in a security uniform. She had a frown on her face. “I need to speak to you and your daughter — now.”

“Me?” said girl-Kent with fear.

“No. Her.” She pointed with her big white finger at Janis.

“I want to be included,” Marlene remarked with alarm.

“Can I be there also?” urged Janis’ sister.

“Yes, please let her be there too,” Janis pleaded. If this is about the gift shop, Tina may be my alibi. Or maybe I can pin it on her.

~o~O~o~

Janis sat bewildered. There on the black and white screen, it clearly showed her entering the empty store and swiping the jewelry. A quick frisk by the female officer showed the items were stashed inside her underwear.

“People think we don’t have cameras in there,” remarked security chief Brita. “Our equipment is state of the art. This shot is from a device so tiny, it’s hidden in the pupil of the eye of one of the mannequins.”

Janis moaned. “I was caught by a dummy.”

“So, little one. Is this your first offense?” Brita thundered.

“Yes. I’ve never done anything like this ever before. I — I don’t know what got into me. I promise,” Janis cried. She was shedding actual tears, although out of fear, not repentance.

“Um … that’s not true.” The quiet admission came from the back of the room. Janis turned her head towards its origin. Tina! That little bitch is squealing on me! “Sis, remember the pix,” Janis growled.

Marlene took charge. “It’s too late, Janis. Tina just showed me the shots from her phone — the ones you’ve been threatening her with. And although she’ll face consequences, it does not excuse your behavior in the least. You’ve been stealing from multiple stores and people. Your closet is full of Chloe’s clothes; I’ll bet that’s why you never want to invite her over. When Tina told us about you — right after you left for the gift shop — I didn’t want to believe it; but it makes too much sense. You really aren’t that great at finding bargain priced fashion and accessories, are you? You’ve just been great at stealing. Do you deny it?”

Janis looked at the assembled accusers before her and considered the evidence against her. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “No.”

Brita picked up her radio. “Congrats to Angelo and Chaoxiang. The sting was successful. Repeat, successful sting.”

“Wait! This was a SET UP?” squeaked Janis.

“Your blackmailing of me came out in therapy, Janis,” her ‘sister’ casually remarked. “I let Dad here know about it, and he and Angelo figured out a plan to expose you. To help you. You have a problem, sister. You need help. We did let Mom in on it at the last, when you left for the gift shop. She needed to ask for the jewelry case to be opened.”

Janis’ head hung low. “So, what happens now?”

Man-Tina laid down the law. Janis would start counseling here for kleptomania, and continue it upon arriving home. All stolen items would be returned to the stores and people as much as possible, and a lawyer would argue that she in good faith is trying to change her life. If Janis refused any of the above terms, she’d be at the mercy of prosecution without the assistance of the family lawyer; she’d have to find her own.

Janis, trembling, agreed to the terms.

~o~O~o~

Later, Marlene sat beside a weeping Janis. She didn’t overly comfort, as she felt her daughter needed to feel the fear and stress of her coming consequences so as to motivate her to change. She did feed Janis a fresh tissue every so often, though.

Tina and Kent took a walk. “Well, that went as good as it could, I think,” Tina said.

Kent looked up at him. “You were pretty awesome in there, daughter. You’re going to make a great parent. A real chip off of Marlene’s block.”

“I never would have had the courage to come clean about those pictures without you, Dad. Thank you for loving me through this.”

“It’s time for our afternoon therapy, honey. Ready to get your body back?”

“You know it! And you’re just as eager too, I’ll bet.”

~o~O~o~

TO BE CONTINUED WEDNESDAY, JULY 17

~o~O~o~

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to an actual situation or person is purely coincidental.

Tremendous thanks to Cyclist for beta reading and help!

If you've gotten this far, please leave a comment! Don't make me reach through the screen and tweak your nose!

Thanks for reading! Hugz - **Sigh**

No, no! This shouldn't happen! It CANNOT happen! STOP!

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“What do you mean, he won’t let us do it early?” Kent was upset.

“Just that,” exclaimed Dr. Brand. “The CEO has mandated that no matter what, the treatment must last at least for a full sixty hours. I have no authority to overrule the CEO.”

“Why?” blurted Tina.

“Because he’s the CEO,” Brand said. “I have to do what she says. No other reason was given to me, and no other reason is needed. I apologize for falsely raising your hopes. I was sure it would be okay.”

Kent started to cry. Tina just looked mildly infuriated.

“Look. There are some other issues that we can use this time for. Why don’t we address them? It’s almost 2:30 p.m. — we have time to do that. Then tomorrow morning after breakfast we can meet to accomplish the reversal of the therapy. Or, if you’re extremely eager, I can meet you both here at 3 a.m. and revert you both exactly when the time is up.”

“Sorry, doc. I’m saying ‘no’ to any more talking right now. I’ve been through the emotional wringer today enough already,” Tina said. “We will be back here at 3 a.m. though — right, Dad?”

“Absolutely,” affirmed Kent. With that, father and daughter got up and left the session.

~o~O~o~

Supper was … different. Janis was wordless as she picked at her meal. Kent and Tina were both upbeat, though not as much as if they had already returned each other’s forms. Marlene was a mixed bag: thrilled over her husband and older daughter, but distraught over the one she had considered her rock in the storm.

Emotional workouts can be almost as exhausting as physical ones. After supper, all agreed that going to bed would be wise.

~o~O~o~

The parents readied to retire for the night. Marlene came out of the bathroom; her husband (Tina) was already in bed, lying on his left side, facing the wall.

“I’m going to be blunt. Are we making love tonight?” Marlene asked.

“Honey — wait until after 3 a.m. The therapy ends then. As soon as I get back from that counseling office, I’ll make passionate love to you.” I have to remember to tell Dad to do that, Tina thought.

“That doesn’t make sense. Very little of this does, you know. I can tell you that I don’t want to sleep tonight beside a man that avoids me. So until you’re allowed to be intimate with me again, I’m sleeping in the hammock outside.” She grabbed her pillow and a blanket.

Tina arose. “Honey — no. If anyone deserves to give up the bed, it’s me. Let me sleep on the hammock.” After a few minutes of arguing, Marlene begrudgingly got back in bed and Tina went outside to sleep.

~o~O~o~

“What’s that you’re taking, Janis?”

“Over-the-counter sleep pills; they’re essentially Benadryl. I told Mom I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight, so she gave me some of these. She told me to take one, but I want to escape the world for a while.” With that, she popped two pills in her mouth and chased it with a glass of water.

Wow. Two pills knocked me out for hours when I took them on occasion as a big grown man. Janis will be in la—la land until at least the morning, Kent thought.

Sure enough, she heard Janis snoring loudly fifteen minutes later. The sawing of logs was so high decibel that Kent had to stuff cotton in her ears. That measure helped little. It didn’t help that Kent felt invigorated, not sleepy. Perhaps from the excitement of seeing how disaster had turned to triumph in her family.

I bet I stay awake until 3 a.m., when we’re due to switch back. I don’t want to listen to snoring for 6 to 7 more hours. I’m going for a walk. Janis sure won’t be sleeping light tonight; I should be able to get away with it.

Maybe I can remind and encourage James to pursue Tina tomorrow night, in spite of the dismissive attitude I know she’ll have towards him.

Once again, she arose and carefully clothed. This time she added some lip gloss and a few whiffs of perfume. She stepped out the front door, and glanced towards the parent’s cabana. In the full moon light, she gasped as she saw the hulking form of her former body lying in a hammock outside. He appeared asleep.

What? Man, I’m going to have to do some major repair work with Marlene when we get back to normal, she thought. She carefully padded her way down to the poolside bar.

~o~O~o~

“Hi James!” Kent chirped.

“Hey there, beautiful,” James returned.

“I just came to remind you about tomorrow, so you’d remember — wait, what are you doing sitting by the pool? I thought you’d still be working.”

“Already finished. My line cook buddy took over thirty minutes ago. I asked him because I was hoping you’d show up.”

“HMMmmm! Methinks the gentleman is crushing on me a little!”

“That obvious, am I? Then let me greet you with a gentlemanly embrace.”

“Look, I’m not here to snuggle. I just want to make sure that tomorrow you —“

James came to her despite her protestations. Instead of just hugging her, he picked her up by the back and the legs, and walked her over to one of the poolside lounge chairs. He sat down on the chair, placing Kent on his lap.

Kent was surprised at how fast her sexual motor came to life this night. She felt … dampness? … in her crotch, and her heart and breathing rate were suddenly elevated. The goosebumps from last night were all at attention. And James hadn’t even kissed her.

That deficiency was addressed in the next two seconds.

~o~O~o~

Tina awoke with a major backache. This hammock was not made for a 6’2’’ man to sleep in. He struggled to get out of it, and almost fell. Stumbling, he considered his options. He peeked in on Marlene. She was sleeping, but fitfully. He walked to the adjoining cabana to checked on the girls.

Janis was there, sleeping like a rock, but her sister’s bed was empty.

Oh no. Don’t tell me Dad went to see James again.

Tina put on some sweat pants that he’d taken outside to get into if it got too cold. He grabbed his slippers that he’d taken outside to the hammock. He then went down the trail approaching the pool.

~o~O~o~

James had rounded first base and was heading to second with Kent. His hands had slid inside her panties as he massaged her butt, he withdrew one of them and reached inside her shirt to grasp her bra cup.

Kent pulled back, panting. “James! No! We need to … to …” As Kent pulled her head away from the handsome bartender’s, she got a glance at the path heading back to the cabana. Her eyes widened.

“We need to keep on going?” hinted James, hopefully.

“We need to get out of here! Now!” Kent urgently whispered. “I think my Dad is coming!” If Tina sees this, there’s no way she’ll be open to James.

James face turned to one of resolve. “Roll off of me to your right. Stay low; the hedge will shield us. Stay on the grass; the lights are trained on the cement. Then follow me.”

Both of them briskly slinked out of the area. James caught the eye of his replacement barkeep. “Cover for me, bro,” he breathed. The cook gave thumbs up.

~o~O~o~

“Did you see my daughter — a teenage girl, long brunette hair, very curvy — down here? And, where’s James? I thought he was the bartender,” Tina inquired of the man who was polishing a glass.

“It’s James’ night off.”

“Where does he bunk? Where would he be tonight? I really am worried that my daughter is with him,” man-Tina implored.

“I dunno. I pretty much keep to myself. And no, I haven’t seen no teenager ‘round here tonight.”

Nuts. Where could Dad have gone? I really don’t feel like combing the island in a wild goose chase, Tina fretted.

The replacement bartender looked at the big man. “It’s pretty slow right now, just you and me. You wanna drink?”

“No,” Tina sighed. “I’m under-” Wait a minute. I am not underage tonight. I’m forty-two! How about that. I’m gonna have a drink. “Something not too strong. How about a light beer.”

“Comin’ up.”

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

James opened a door and walked in, girl-Kent right behind him. They were in a sparsely equipped metal shack. A bed, a small desk, a phone on a bedside table, and a wooden chair. Concrete floor. The window mounted AC unit completed the accoutrements. Oh, there was a tiny bathroom, and a tiny kitchenette room. But that was it.

“So this is where you live? Looks pretty Spartan,” said Kent. “Not even a picture on the wall.”

“I leave this summer once I secure an engineering job, so why dress it up if it’s temporary?” James responded. “Now, where were we? I think you had your lips pressed on mine …”

“Umm … I’m not going to resume the cuddling. I’ll be honest with you, James. I didn’t come with you to your room to go ‘all the way’. I just wanted not to get caught by my Dad. So, sorry to disappoint you, but physically we’re going no further. Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow night? Who knows?” Kent knew he couldn’t guarantee Tina’s actions when she was back in this body.

James had a look on his face as if he had heard this many times before. “It’s okay, Tina. I know that some girls come to the Isla looking for a temporary fling, and that’s fine with me. But if you really don’t want to be here — if you’re just doing this so as to not hurt my feelings — please, don’t. We’ll wait until the coast is clear and then we can sneak you back to your cabana. But please don’t lead me on. Not you. Please.”

“Lead you on? Why would you think that?” Listen to the earnestness in his voice. Oh, this guy will be so perfect for my daughter.

“Because,” James said in a quavering voice, “Unlike all of those other flings, I … I’m developing feelings for you. I think I’m fall- … oh, forget it.”

“What? No, please — finish,” Kent’s voice was now trembling too. He has feelings for her! And by the way this body is feeling, I know Tina will have attraction for him too!

James shook his head and turned away. Kent put a hand on the boy’s arm to reassure him.

“James. You are a special guy. I’ve only known you for a few days and I can tell that. It really is this therapy I’m going through that has me hesitant. But by tomorrow morning, it will be over. I may forget how I felt tonight — you will have to woo me all over again — but I want you to do that. Please?”

The young man continued to avoid Kent’s gaze. “You think I haven’t had experience with women taking that secret therapy? They fall in love with me, and then in two or three days act like they don’t know me. Not that it mattered much, because … because I wasn’t really in love with them. But you …”

Kent held her breath. He’s … he’s saying he … Oh my god.

“I can’t afford to get too involved with you, Tina. Because when you leave — it’s gonna break my heart.” James turned to her, and drew near.

“J — James.” Kent tried to speak more, but her body’s feelings overwhelmed her. She felt hot, so hot, as if her blood was boiling. Emotions of a type and intensity she had never sensed before were roiling inside, taking over her body, her senses, her brain. Her mind — her male mind — became alarmed, and fought desperately for control, but like a novice surfer trying to ride a twenty foot wave, it was easily overmatched. She stood bolt still as James put his hand gently behind her neck and pulled her into his kiss.

All sense of space and time, all orientation was suddenly lost. She couldn’t tell if she was still standing or if she was now lying under him on the bed. Her breasts and nipples were on fire — or was he licking them? She closed her eyes in an attempt to focus, but that just removed any visual competition for the unbelievable sensations coming from her lips, her body.

“No, no! This shouldn’t happen! It CANNOT happen! STOP,” Kent’s male mind screamed.

SHUT UP shouted the female body and brain anatomy. Kent was both terrified and exhilarated, as her body became a holy temple being ministered to by the high priest James. Every inch was quivering, on fire, being made clean of clothes. Not yet her nether regions between her thighs, at least-

James slid his fingers down inside the front of her panties.

“JAMES! Wait! D-don’t …”

But the young man’s face was lost in glorious bliss. “Tina,” he breathed, “I love you. I love you so much.”

The “L” word sealed it. That twenty-foot wave of desire and emotion broke and pounded the old male Kent into the background, into submission. All that was left to be sensed was a glorious rush of fulfillment. Heaven. Utopia. Life more alive than any felt before.

“Ohh, my James. I love you!”

All resistance fell away as she allowed him to finish undressing her. She opened up wide and gasped, then moaned as he made their two bodies one.

~o~O~o~

They lay in bed together. James had come twice, and Kent had done so more times than she could count. The bartender was now asleep, with his arms wrapped around her. His lover was still wide-awake, a hurricane of thoughts swirling her brain and mind. She was terrified. She was electrified. Or more specifically, her female brain and emotions were claiming victory over Kent’s male soul…

Oh God. What perfection this is. I’m lying in bed with the most wonderful guy in the world, and he loves me. He completely loves me! And I love him! James and me. Me and James. Forever.

‘Oh God’ is an understatement!. Sweet merciful heaven, what have I done? I have betrayed my daughter — and my wonderful wife! They can never, ever find out! I’ve got to get out of here, get back to the cabana, and try to forget this ever happened!

How can you forget? Don’t you remember the rush of emotion we felt? Tell me that you’ve ever felt that way before. You haven’t. And if we stay in this form — if we stay in this teenage body, together — then it solves a number of problems. We all get to experience this bliss every day for the rest of our life, and Tina never gets with Mitch!

What!? No! That means that Tina …

She’ll be stuck as a man, yes. Wasn’t she saying just earlier today how she planned to do just that? And the way she handled that phone call from Robert. Excellent. Even if she loses your job, the severance pay will be more than enough to retire on. Why, pretty soon that sex drive she has now will have her thinking of Marlene as a lover, not a mother. She will be fine, eventually.

But I still love my wife! Marlene …

Will survive. What we have here with James is rare. It is truly love. It must be love. And love conquers all. Having found it, we must sacrifice everything for it. Everything! Didn’t you love the way we felt?

Yes. God forgive me, I liked it. But I didn’t want to…

See? We can do this! We can live in the glorious heaven that few share! Oh! Our prince is awakening!

“Mmmm. Hey there, Tina. Can’t sleep, huh?”

She was trembling. She looked at him with infatuation and fear. “I’m afraid not. This fire you started in me — it’s out of control. I don’t like being out of control. It won’t let me sleep.”

“Mmmm.” He climbed on top of her. “Let me inject a little more ‘lighter fluid’ on that fire.”

“Ooooh my Gooooo….”

~o~O~o~

Tina sat at the pool bar, comtemplating. The four light beers were starting to have an effect, but not a good one. He was feeling worse and worse about how Marlene was rejecting him. Not that he wanted to be with her — gross! To make love to your own Mother? Blechh! — but he felt horrible about hurting her so. Yet, until the therapy was over, he couldn’t think of anything else to do.

“Boy — you sure look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

Tina looked up. Sitting on the stool next to him was The Redhead, the busty beauty from the beach. She had on a buttoned shirt top that was undone halfway down her torso and tied up to expose her midriff. Short shorts below that left little to the imagination.

“Bet my situation’s worse than yours,” she sniffed.

“I can’t get into specifics about mine. Suffice it to say that my body wants my wife badly, but I can’t make love to her.” Did I just admit that to a stranger? Girl, this booze must have loosened my tongue.

“Ah. The old cold shoulder. What a shame. It’s too bad — you look like a hunk. Heck, if I were your wife, I’d sleep with you.”

“It’s not that she’s — oh, forget it. It’s too complicated.” Tina turned the other direction.

“My situation is still worse. It’s the old ‘double cold shoulder’.”

Tina looked back at her. “Hey — you’re part of that threesome that’s here, aren’t you? You, and the guy, and the … the…”

“The transsexual. He’s/she’s not gotten the operation, so a lot of people would call her a she-male. A chick with a dick. By the way: hi, my name’s Tawny.”

“Uh … hi, I’m Kent. How … how does your relationship work?” wondered Tina.

“It doesn’t, not any more. See, my husband and I wanted to do something to reinvigorate our love life. So we searched around and even interviewed; and eventually chose to have this male-to-female transsexual come to live with us. She had something to offer both of us, you know? A penis for me, and a butthole for him.”

“Man oh man, it was fantastic for the first two years. All three of us in bed, and occasionally different combinations of two. But then something started to happen. My husband started forming a stronger bond with the dick-chick than he had with me. It’s gotten to the point where the tranny is contemplating a full sex change surgery so my husband can divorce me and they can get married, and go off and leave me high and dry.”

“I’m sure that you flirting at the beach with every guy in sight didn’t help things,” Tina snapped sarcastically.

“Hey! I’m desperate. I was trying to make Jack jealous,” bit back Tawny.

“I must admit, that’s pretty weird,” Tina agreed. “But you don’t look like you’re as depressed as I feel.” He got up from the bar and walked over to the bench seat positioned near the wall of the bar.

Tawny followed. “Hey, you! I don’t look like I’m depressed? That’s because I’m good at faking a smile! If I get down in the mouth, that makes the happy tranny look even more appealing to Jack!”

She stood in front of him, bending over at the waist so they could see eye to eye. Except Tina couldn’t focus on Tawny’s face; her breasts, with that magnificent crevasse separating them, were all his eyes were plastered on.

The redhead started to mist up in her eyes. “No matter how hard I try, it’s all slipping through my fingers.” She sat down on the bench next to him. “I love both of them … but I don’t get any love back … I’m starving!” She began weeping loudly.

Tina looked at her. She was obviously in pain. And painfully hot. He was starting to feel sorry for her. He put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. With that, she continued boo — hooing and slowly melted towards him, putting her face on his shoulder.

This is inappropriate. At least, it looks that way, I’m sure. But what do I do? Leave her to cry all by herself? That seems cruel, thought Tina.

Tawny looked up. “I mean, why won’t they love me? Am I that ugly? Do you think I’m ugly?” She sat up and opened her arms, inviting Tina to evaluate her body.

Tina obliged. The curvy hips. The inviting butt. The world class breasts. And a face like Taylor Swift. “You are definitely not ugly. You’re beautiful.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.” She leaned over and pressed her chest into Tina as she hugged him tight. That’s when Tina felt his biggest erection yet, tenting his sweat pants, threatening to burst the seam.

Tawny must have felt it too. “Let me thank you in a special way,” she exhaled lightly into his ear. Her hand dipped inside his sweats, grasping his penis tightly. She began rubbing up and down.

Tina was agog in new sensations. Her girl mind screamed for her to push this slut away, to run for the ice machine. Her male body was already too far gone, having needed sex for days and now getting the illicit thrill of a hand job from a woman who was centerfold-worthy. The internal conflict produced a paralysis — he didn’t embrace Tawny, but he couldn’t run from her either. She continued pumping away with her fingers.

Suddenly Mount Vesuvius erupted in Tina’s groin. “NNNNGH … AAAH!” he choked out. OMG. O. M. G. OMGOMGOMGGGG!!!

“Let’s go somewhere else, where we can do this with … adequate exposure, hmm?” Tawny purred.

“KENT!”

Tina opened his eyes; he hadn’t realized that they had been squinted shut.

There, ten feet away, stood Marlene. One hand covered her mouth; another clutched at her suddenly nauseated stomach.
Her body jerked twice, as if attempting a convulsion; then she wailed - a long, mournful wail of horror. Turning, she ran out of the bar and pool area.

Tina, at once fully sober, jumped up out of Tawny’s grasp. He ran with his dying erection pointing out the damp spot on his sweat pants. Not that he cared a bit. “MARLENE! WAIT!”

Tawny sat with a wet hand and a sour facial expression. “Dammit,” she said. “Cockblocked again.”

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Kent awoke in the middle of the night. She was alone in bed. “James? Baby?” There was no answer. Then she heard the humming of a machine coming from the kitchenette area. James stuck his head through the door. “Hey, gorgeous.”

“Come back to bed with me, baby,” Kent cooed. “I need to feel your arms around me. I need your tender kisses. Make love to me again.” She was addicted; she could think of nothing else.

“I was hungry — and a little thirsty — so I made something special for the both of us,” he shouted from the ‘nette. He emerged from the door carrying a large coffee mug and a small espresso cup. “This is primo stuff, imported from Brazil. Decaf, so it won’t keep you up. A latte for me, and an espresso for my espresso girl.”

BLECCHH! Coffee. How sweet, he made it special for me. But I’ll throw up if I drink that sour stuff. “Thanks so much, baby,” she said, trying to mask her insincerity.

“Well? Taste it and tell me what you think,” James said. At that point, James’ walkie-talkie chirped. “Hey James, you there?”

James looked mildly irritated. “Excuse me, sweetheart. I’m gonna answer that.” He set down his latte, grabbed the handset and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door.

Kent was sitting there, holding the espresso. She didn’t want to disappoint her love — he’d gone to the trouble to make it. But she just couldn’t bring herself to even taste the nasty stuff. A way out presented itself. She leaned over and poured the tiny shotglass of espresso into James’ latte. Surely he wouldn’t notice the difference.

Just then, James emerged from the bathroom. “Hey! You drank that fast. How did you like it?”

“It was fabulous,” Kent lied. “But tasteless when compared to your sweet kiss.”

James faux-pouted. “Awww. I was hoping we could sip our drinks side-by-side, together.” He started sipping his latte. Then he turned to his lover to find her yawning.

“Getting sleepy again already? Maybe I shouldn’t have made the drinks unleaded.”

“Oh, I can’t sleep long with the best boy in the world touching me. It’s a dream come true.” She stifled another yawn.

James smiled upon seeing that. He lifted the w/t handset to his mouth and pressed the button. “Okay, guys. NOW you can come over.”

Kent raised an eyebrow. “Baby, who are you talking to?”

James’ smile was wider than she’d ever seen it. Wide, and … a little malicious? “My, my. You are one sweet piece of ass. I would keep you all to myself, but I have monetary and chemical needs, you know?” He drank deep from his latte.

Suddenly there was an urgent knocking on the door. James opened it. In walked the three groundskeeper hoodlums — Freddy, Stuart and Ron. Stuart was still limping from his ankle strain.

“Hey! She’s still awake,” Freddy protested.

“Not for long,” said James. “I put a ton of rohypnol in her drink. It will block her memory even back to thirty minutes ago, so she’ll just remember her night with me, not what’s about to happen now.”

“You’re a prince, dude. Here’s our part of the bargain,” said Stuart. He handed James a clear freezer bag partially filled with multiple little bags of white powder.

James opened one of the little bags and tasted it with a finger. “Oh man. I am gonna get so jacked up on this stuff”. He yawned, then took another long gulp of his latte.

“Wh — what’s going on? James … baby? What are you doing?” Kent’s male soul knew very well what was happening, but couldn’t figure a way out.

Big Freddy shed his shirt and pants and crawled up onto the bed, straddling Kent. “What’s gonna happen in a minute, when you’re zonked, is this: I’m gonna fuck your brains out. Then my buds will. We’ll repeat and repeat until we’re satisfied. And you won’t remember a thing. Ain’t that thoughtful of us?”

Kent clung to the thin bedsheet that separated Freddy from her nakedness. “No … **sob** … it can’t be true!”

Ron scratched his head. “Hey, James. Shouldn’t she be looking at least a little sleepy now?”

THUNK — CLUNK! That was the sound of James, and then his big coffee mug, hitting the floor. He was unarousable.

The hoodlums looked at him. Ron, the smartest, realized what had happened. “Oh, James. You colossal fuck-up. Guys, this is over. James drugged himself, not the chick.”

“To hell with that!” yelled Freddy. “I came over here for some pussy, and I’m not leaving ‘til I get some!”

“Dude,” Stuart said. “She’s not drugged. She’ll remember and charge you with rape.”

Kent, meanwhile, had stealthily grabbed for the phone. She lifted the handle and prepared to dial 911. Wait - they don't have 911 services on this island. Oh, god. Who can I call? Then she remembered. She dialed 400, waited a second, and then punched 299. That was probably a worthless attempt. It’s early a.m. — he’s not going to wake-“

Kent felt a hard punch to her right face. “What are ya doing, bitch? Keep away from the phone!” Freddy roared, still straddling her. “No, guys. I’ll tell you how we do this. We tape her mouth shut, then get our rocks off with her. Then we take her out in the skiff, to deep water. Her hands and feet will be tied, and we attach that 50-pound anchor to her, and drop her down. Next day, James talks about how his lover went out for a midnight swim, and got caught in the riptide again. See? Perfect story.”

“Dude, that’s ludicrous. Get off of her.”

“Stu!” Freddy cried. “C’mon, man!”

Kent used the moment to put all of the strength she had in a knee thrust into Freddy as he straddled her. He grabbed his groin with an "ARRGH!" and fell to his side. She jumped out of the bed the opposite way and ran to the far wall, to the side door of the shack, fully naked. She grabbed for the doorknob — it was locked. She looked desperately for a latch, but then realized: this lock had to be key-opened from both sides. Gasping, she realized she was trapped, cornered.

Freddy was limping towards her, rage in his eyes. “You shouldn’t have done that, cunt.”

Ron yelled to his bud. “Freddy, you’re on your own on this one. I’m leaving. Come on, Stu.”

Suddenly the locked knob on the side door next to Kent shook, as if being keyed from outside. Then it turned, and came open. Stumpy Angelo came in, his tool belt around his waist. He scanned and evaluated the situation in a split second.

“What the hell are YOU doing here, monkey man?” bellowed Freddy.

“I gotsa call from dis-a phone,” replied Angelo. “I see what’sa goin’ on. Now keepa way from di Signorina. Alla you guys in biga trouble.”

“GYAAAH!” Freddy, now delirious with anger, bull rushed the Italian.

Angelo at once set his feet and leaned forward towards the charging chunk, simultaneously twisting his torso so that his left shoulder pointed to the floor as his right one arched upwards. As big Fred closed in, Angelo’s lanky right arm lashed out and grabbed him by the throat, pushing Fred’s head upward and stopping his momentum. Then the lower arm looped a blinding roundhouse punch into Fred’s abused crotch. The blow lifted the the youngster’s feet off the floor.

“HUKKK!” the big tough gasped, and fell onto the cement curled in a fetal position.

“Angelo,” Ron sniffed, “This was all Freddy and James. Stu and I had nothing to do with this.”

“You were-a leaving di scene offa crime witout doin’ notting to stop it,” accused Angelo.

Ron sighed, and pulled out a knife. “Please don’t force me to do this the hard way.”

Angelo pulled out a claw hammer from his belt. “Mano!” he yelled, and fast as lightning unleashed it at Ron. It hit exactly at the base of Ron’s palm with a POK, knocking the knife out of his hand.

“Stomacao!” A pipe wrench rocketed into Ron’s stomach, WHUDD. He doubled over in pain. He and Stu looked back at Angelo.

Angelo was now twirling two extremely long ice picks, one in each hand. “Testicoli,” he said menacingly.

Ron’s eyes widened. Stu’s upper lip quivered. Neither knew a lick of Italian, but it wasn’t hard to determine the next shots would be aimed at their testicles. Both of them dove out the front door, one running, one hopping away.

Freddy was still incapacitated, moaning and rocking. Angelo turned to Kent, with his eyes shielded so as to not see her nakedness. He whispered, “Hey dere, Signore Kent. You A-OK?”

“Thanks to you, Angelo. I’m amazed … how did you get here so fast?”

“Grabba you clothes and puta dem on, quick. I will make sure Frederico stay down.”

She got dressed in less than a minute. She and Angelo left the shack quickly.

“Angelo, what time is it?”

“Alamost 3 inna di morning.”

“I need to get to the Counseling Centre. Oh, Angelo. I have blown it big time. Just hours ago, my family was healed. Now I’ve destroyed us again.” She began to weep so hard it became difficult to walk. Angelo gently picked her up in his arms, and then trotted towards the complex.

He dropped her off inside Counseling Room One. “Remember, you need anyting at all — you aska me.”

~o~O~o~

“M-Marlene … what are you doing?” quivered Tina.

“I’m leaving, Kent. Leaving here, then leaving you. I’ll use the phones at the main complex to set up a private jet to pick up me, Tina, and Janis, and we’re getting out of here.” She spoke through anger and pain as she packed her bag.

“But Marlene — Mom. I just told you. I’m not your husband. I’m your daughter. I got seduced, because I was stupid and didn’t recognize it, and the beers didn’t help eith-“

“SHUT UP! That is the most asinine story I’ve ever heard! Not only do you cheat on me, but then you lie about it? That’s why I know — it’s over!”

“Please, Mom. Just come with me to the Centre. It’s 3 o’clock, and they’re gonna change us back. You’ll see it for yourself!”

“LIAR! GET OUT!” Marlene shut the door and locked the deadbolt, stranding Tina outside. “I’m contacting an attorney to draw up divorce papers as soon as I get home,” she shouted through the wood.

Tina felt lost. He sat down, nauseated. “OMG. I just killed Mom and Dad’s marriage.”

“Miss Tina,” came a whisper.

“Angelo?”

“Yes, itsa me. They all waiting for you atta di Centre.”

“Angelo … I’ve screwed up big time. Mom’s leaving Dad, and it’s all my fault.”

“Signorina — comma to di Centre. Hava som faith.” Angelo reached for Tina’s hand, and pulled him up. He then pulled him to the counseling center.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Girl-Kent was sitting on a couch as Man-Tina came into the room. Both were silent. Both had tortured, anguished visages. Kent knew she would have to tell her daughter what happened with James, but feared losing Tina forever. Tina meanwhile held his face in his hands, knowing he would forever live with the guilt of causing the imminent divorce of his parents.

“Are you both ready to undo the therapy?” Dr. Brand yawned as he entered, Dr. Rahne Ruiz behind him.

“Fine,” mumbled Tina.

“Yeah **sniff** I guess,” whispered Kent.

Rahne snapped to attention. “What’s happened? Just twelve hours afore, ye both were havin’ major positive breakthroughs. Tell me what’s wrong.”

Kent looked up, tears streaming down her face. “I can’t. It’s too horrible … too embarrassing. I’m so ashamed.”

“Wee one,” said Rahne stroking Kent’s cheek, “Yuir in a safe place. C’mon, blether it oot to me.”

“I’ll tell you guys what I did,” Tina volunteered. “I just drove Mom to divorce me — uh, you, Dad. And I feel like a piece of crap.”

Dr. Brand was now fully awake too, eyes wide as saucers. “Tina — how did that happen?”

The large form of Mr. Braxton started to shake as he -Tina - recounted the last few hours. By the end of the tale, tears were dripping down his cheeks and off of his generous nose, making his mustache and beard a matted mess.

“Daad,” he howled, “I’m — I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I’ve ruined everything. I wish I were dead!”

Kent sat silently. Then she stood, and slowly walked over to Tina. She took his huge head and wrapped her arms around it, cradling it against her right shoulder. This caused Tina to wail loudly, with jerking sobs; never had this male form looked so broken. The girl then began to whisper into the grown man’s ear.

“You’re forgiven, daughter. Shhh. Don’t worry. It will turn out all right — you’ll see. Thank you for being honest right now. I’m so proud of you for that. I love you, my sweet Tina, my firstborn. Don’t you ever wish you were dead. You are my cherished little girl — nothing anyone ever does can change that fact. Hold on to me. Let it out.”

Dr. Brand was standing back against the wall, smiling. Rahne was rapidly using up the nearby box of tissues.

Tina lifted his head, still sobbing. “Dad. You should have seen her, heard her voice. There’s nothing that will put this right. The only thing that could is if I could go back in time 6 hours or so — God, I would make sure that never happened.”

Kent laughed as she stroked Tina's head. “Yeah … I could use a 6 hour reboot myself. Maybe we can ask Angelo — he’s always saying “call me for anytin’!”

“What a great guy he is,” Tina sniffed, then chuckled. “Even if he is a little weird looking with those gorilla arms.”

“I’ve called them orangutan arms, they’re so long,” Kent nodded. “And as for being a great guy … Tina, you have no idea. He literally saved my life — again — tonight.”

Dr. Brand spoke up. “Kent. Talk about that. What went on with you this evening and early morning?”

“Excuse me, sir,” Tina interjected. “Do you mind switching us back first? I’ve had all I can handle living as a man. I’m a girl in my soul, and always will be. I want my body back!”

“Ditto for me! The sooner the better,” affirmed Kent.

Rahne and Brand looked at each other, and nodded simultaneously. The Scot lady produced two sheets of paper from a folder, and gave one to each Braxton in the room.

Tina looked around. “What about the table with the glass / mirror thing? Don’t we need that?”

“Nae this time,” Rahne answered. “Both o’ ye, like afore: read wha’ has been given ye, silently. Mean th’ words wi’ every fiber o’ yuir being. Then say th’ last word oot loud, wi’ yuir eyes closed.”

Tina looked at his paper. “I PRAY SINCERELY THAT I MAY RETURN TO MY FORMER LIFE, AND RETAIN THE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED WALKING IN MY FATHER’S SHOES. AMEN.”

Kent had a similar paper. She had no trouble meaning every word with all the earnestness she could muster. “Amen,” she said with eyes closed.

“Amen,” said Tina, squinting his eyes shut.

“You may open your eyes, now.”

Kent opened his eyes. Yes, he was back in his manly form. Tall, muscular — he felt the power in his limbs that he was used to, that he’d taken for granted. Okay. One last crucial test. He thought of James. Nope, no lingering attraction. “I’ve got my heterosexual male brain back again. Hurray!”

Tina was similarly ecstatic. She imagined The Redhead, her breasts, her butt. Nothing happened inside her. “Yay! I’m back to normal too!”

Father and daughter, each as they should be, embraced. Then Kent joyfully twirled in a circle, swinging a laughing and squealing Tina with him.

“Now, you two,” Brand stated soberly, “We have some work to do. Kent, we need to salvage your marriage. It should not end based on a misunderstanding. And I haven’t forgotten that you need to open up about your night.”

Kent grabbed the male counselor by the shoulders. “Doc, can you and Rahne go to Marlene and explain the treatment to her? You’re the only ones she might listen to.”

“Kent. I am forbidden by the CEO to discuss this treatment with anyone except the involved patients, Dr. Ruiz, Angelo, and the CEO himself — “

“ATTENZIONE, tutti per favore,” bellowed a familiar voice.

All stopped talking as a breathless Angelo hopped into the counseling room.

“Mi scusi, mi perdoni, boss,” he heaved in big breaths, “but I gotsa news urgenti for di signore e signora.” Putting his big mitts onto his knees, the attendant took a few seconds to catch his air.

“Hokay,” Angelo suddenly stood. “I really hadda call ina my markers on dis. Itsa di most grande ting I ever ask di CEO for. But he approve it.”

Kent and Tina were blank-faced. “The CEO approved what?”

“Why, di goin’ back six hour in time,” he said. “You did indeed aska for dat, si, Signore Kent?”

“I — I guess I did? But Angelo — you weren’t even in this room,” Kent sputtered.

“I gotsa good orecchie,” he said, pointing to his ears. “Now: you guys areddy? Ifa you do dis, it must be righta now! It happen when I snappa my finger.” Angelo raised his hand.

“This — this is impossible,” Kent gasped.

“Dad,” said Tina, “we just traded bodies. Is anything impossible?”

“I guess not. Angelo! Will we be swapped again, or in our right-“

SNAP!

~o~O~o~

TO BE CONTINUED FRIDAY, JULY 19

~o~O~o~

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to an actual person or situation is purely coincidental

Tremendous thanks to Cyclist for beta reading and help!

If you've gotten this far, please leave a comment! Don't make me reach through the screen and tweak your nose!

Thanks for reading! Hugz - **Sigh**

"Oh darling ... I love you. I love you so much." James then opened one eye. "Erm ... how was that?"
Kent's eyes were red, and tearing. He had an anguished look on his face. "Yeah. That ... that's damn good," he whispered. "James, you want to know a secret?"

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Tina found herself outside. She was in a shirt, shorts and shoes. Wait a minute. I’m still me — in my girl body. But if I really went back in time, wouldn’t I be back in Dad’s form?

She saw the pool area about a hundred feet in front of her. Walking down to it, she looked at the large decorative dial clock etched into the opposite wall of the pool. The arms on it showed the time.

9:25 p.m.; yeah, that would be about six hours before we got “sent back.” She grinned widely. My god — I lived in a man’s body for a few days, and now I’m a time traveler! This is so cool! I mean, it’s cool especially now that Mom’s not trying to divorce Dad, yet; now that I have a chance to set some things right.

“Hey there, beautiful.”

She turned to see James approaching her. He had his usual charmer smile on. “I took tonight off early in hopes you’d show up. Sam is covering for me at the bar. Shall we take up where we left off yesterday?”

Tina’s eyes narrowed as she cocked her head sideways. “Remind me. Where exactly did we leave off yesterday?” Dad … what were you up to?

James drew closer. “As I recall, we were at this point.” He pulled her into a passionate kiss before she could say WTF.

“MMmmph!” Tina finally broke away. “BACK OFF, Mister tongue! I told you the first day, I’m spoken for!”

James looked at her with a little confusion. “You seem a lot different. I thought they weren’t going to end that secret therapy until tomorrow — that’s what you told me. Looks like they did it a little early.”

I’m glad I stopped him when I did, thought Tina. Mercy, he can kiss. I almost got lost in it. “James … whatever I did with you the last few days, I need you to know that it’s over. I’m sorry, but this therapy may have caused me to, um, ‘lead you on’. I don’t want to interact with you any more this week unless it’s about you getting me an espresso.”

James sighed, still beaming his sexy grin. “Yes, ma’am. I won’t bug you again, unless you initiate it. But speaking of espresso — why don’t you let me fix you one of my ‘special reserve’ ones as a nightcap before you leave, my treat? I’ll make it decaf if you want.”

Hmmmm, Tina thought. What harm could just one espresso do? Then I’m going straight back to the cabana, into my bed and out of any potential trouble. “Okay. If you can make it quick.”

“Lightning fast, milady,” he replied as he hopped to the supply room behind the bar.

Tina kicked at the concrete of the pool area as she considered just telling her ‘wannabe’ paramour to forget it, and leaving. Then she lifted her head, and the bitter taste of gall filled her soul.

There, coming into the bar area, was The Redhead. The cause of all of her troubles tonight. Dressed just as Tina had remembered — “slut seductive.”

Tina walked with cold purpose to the bar. Sam, tending, started to tell her that he didn’t think she was of age for alcohol. Before he said a word, she spoke. “A big container of ice water, quickly, please.” She didn’t even look at him; her eyes were focused on the object of her enmity. Sam gave her a hurricane glass filled as she’d requested.

Tawny Bristol was disappointed. She’d come to the bar area because she was bored, and wanted some illicit fun. But there was not a man in sight. There was the older, stinky, dude behind the bar, but even she had standards. I wish that business exec guy was here; he looks like a stud.

“I have a theory about you,” a voice to Tawny’s side spoke. The auburn beauty looked up to see a teenaged girl sipping a cold drink. Looking closer, Tawny recognized who she was. “Hey — aren’t you that girl who almost drowned the other day? You look better,” The Redhead quipped.

Tina ignored the comment. “My theory goes like this. You married your hubby, but you got bored and started having affairs. Your physical beauty is so stunning, you can’t help but attract men, and you love it. Hubby tries to compromise in an attempt to keep you faithful; he even allows a third person into your marriage bed. But it’s not enough for you; you still sleep around. Eventually the two people at home who you’re cheating on begin to console each other and you start to lose both of them. Is that accurate, more or less?”

Miss Red-Hot squinted her eyes. “Where are you getting this information?”

Tina still didn’t acknowledge her; she just pointed to her ice water glass. “Oh, how I wish I’d had this to pour on my crotch when you seduced me earlier. But now, it’s of no use to me — “

“I seduced you? Baby girl, you need to cut down the amount of crack you’re snorting,” sneered Tawny.

“ — so I’m giving it to you.” With that, Tina emptied the tanker of icy fluid into Tawny’s cleavage. The bra continued to hold most of the ice there as the water continued down to drench her short shorts.

“HUUUAGH,” Tawny gasped.

So, I’m not the only one who says that when they’re doused with cold water, Tina mused.

“YOU FUCKING PSYCHO WITCH,” the drenched woman said as she stood and then walked quickly out of the pool area. “IF YOU WEREN’T A SCHOOLGIRL AND DIDN’T HAVE A HOT FATHER, I’D KICK YOUR ASS!”

“You STAY the HELL AWAY from MY DAD,” returned Tina as she watched her enemy leave.

James emerged from the supply room with a demitasse, spoon, and creamer/sugar/sweetener pods. “Well, here you go. I don’t know if you like it black, or what.”

Tina grabbed the espresso and the sugar. “I like it like I like my revenge: sweet,” she smiled.

~o~O~o~

“Well? What do you think?” James was eager for an evaluation of his work.

Tina licked her teeth and palate to savor the aftertaste. “Not bad, not bad at all. On a scale of 0 — 10, I give it a solid 6.”

“Just a 6?! That stuff is like liquid happiness — and really expensive, to boot!”

“I’m sorry, James,” Tina meekly answered, cheeks slightly red. “ It’s no cut down on you. I mean, it was perfectly prepared. I’m kind of an espresso snob, I guess — it takes a lot to impress me.”

“Wow. I guess I’m going to have to ‘up’ my java game a notch.”

“You want a secret? Go online and order some ‘Barefeet’ brand espresso beans. Your high-end customers will be impressed. That’s one of my favorites,” she offered. “Now …” Tina had to stop and yawn. “… whew! As I was saying, I’m leaving to go to my cabana and sleep, like a good little girl.”

“You do look a little tired all of a sudden,” he agreed. “If you want to take a nap on one of the lounge chairs, I’ll watch you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Goodbye, James. Quit flirting. Others may get fooled by you, but you smell like a ‘playa’ to me. **yawn** If you approach me again — unless it’s to deliver me my ‘spresso — I’ll complain to the management and my Dad - **yawn** … got that?”

“Loud and clear, miss.”

“Good.” Tina started for the pool area gate. Once through, she started on the path back to her cabana. The way was intermittently lit by lights, so she shouldn’t have had much trouble negotiating it. It was an uphill trek, slightly. But for some reason, Tina had more and more trouble with each successive step. Her legs felt unbelievably heavy, and she was yawning every five seconds or so now.

God, I need to just sit down and rest for a second. I’m so tired. She tried to sit ladylike on the grass next to the trail, but instead went down on her butt — and then her back — with an awkward plop. My god — I’m acting like I’m drunk or something! But all I had was a mediocre espresso.

Her last fading thoughts were fueled by a horrid realization. No. No! It couldn’t have been … help!

The last thing she saw was James’ face over her, barely illuminated by the moonlight. “Hey there, hot thing,” he whispered. “I suspected you’d be needing a lift right about now. Let me give you one.”

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

It began as an irritated tickle in the lumbar area, barely noticeable. However, the tickle intensified over the next ten minutes into an ache. Finally, still mostly asleep, he tried to turn over in bed; perhaps changing positions would help.

FWUMP! Kent’s body hit face down on the underlying grass. Immediately he was fully awake, and rolled over quickly to get his bearings. Directly above him, partially silhouetted against the moon, a hammock twisted and shook as if laughing at his clumsiness.

Brushing grass and dirt out of his facial hair, he took a minute to orient himself. He didn’t need the full sixty seconds before he had adequately assessed the situation. He jumped up and ran to the girl’s cabana. Opening the door quietly, he looked at the beds his girls should have been occupying. Janis was there, but Tina …

He glanced around rapidly — there were some sweat pants on the chair next to the hammock. He put them on over his shorts. There were also some slippers. Forget them, I need my sneakers. He carefully entered his cabana and grabbed them, taking care not to wake Marlene. Back outside, furiously slapping on and tying the footwear, he formulated his plan.

Okay, so when I got sent back, I arrived in my male form. And when I arrived, I was asleep in that cursed hammock. How long have I been dozing? He checked his watch. Roughly 25 — 30 minutes have passed since I was due to get back, if the travel was six hours exactly. Since Tina’s not here, I need to make sure those creeps haven’t gotten her. Damn me to hell for not thinking — there were only seconds from the time we learned we’d be sent back and it happening, but I still should have thought to warn her about James, about the espresso!

He didn’t change out of the short sleeve undershirt he had on; breaking into a run down the path, he raced to the pool area.

~o~O~o~

Kent got to his goal. The water and bar was slow tonight, with one solitary couple embracing and kissing in one of the corners of the pool. The only other persons there were at the bar - the bartender, and an auburn haired woman with four empty shot glasses lined up in front of her.

Kent realized the woman as the voluptuous redhead he’d seen at the beach a few days ago. The one who had seduced Tina — somewhat — earlier tonight, before they switched back, before they were sent back 6 hours. She was wearing tight, white jeans, and a floral bikini top with an unbuttoned white blouse draping around it. The white clothes were bright and clean, as if she had perhaps put them on very recently.

Kent looked at the man behind the bar again; he recognized him as James’ line cook buddy.

“You,” Kent barked as he strode to the bar. “I think my 18 year old daughter was here within the last half-hour. Longhaired brunette, beautiful. Did you see where she went?”

The line cook, wearing a “Hi, I’m SAM” name tag, replied. “No, I ain’t seen no teenager ‘round here tonight. It’s pretty slow right now, just you and me and her,” as he thumbed over to the The Redhead. “You wanna drink?”

“What about James. Have you seen him?”

“It’s his night off.”

Kent towered over the ‘tender by at least six inches; it was time to cut to the chase. He leaned over the bar, grabbed Sam by the lapels and pulled him off of his feet, halfway over the bar. He grabbed the corkscrew off of the bar’s work counter and held it with his left hand in front of the cook’s vision, while suspending him half elevated by the collar with a strong right hand.

“Look. Let’s be real with each other. I know that you’re lying and covering for your friend, James. So instead of wasting more time, here’s how it’s going to go. I will ask you questions; for every evasion or lie, I will remove a cork-sized chunk from your body. We’ll start with your neck.” Kent put the point of the corkscrew against the barkeep’s jugular.

The smaller man was sweating profusely now. James was his buddy, kind of — but not worth being beaten up over. “N-no problem, sir. I’m sorry for lying. Here’s what happened.”

Kent found out that Tina was given an espresso, started to look sleepy, left for bed, and that James had followed her.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” Kent said through clenched teeth. “One more thing you need to know. I’m going to go get my daughter; if you call and warn James — if you interfere in any way — I will come for you. With a bigger corkscrew.”

“I won’t warn. This is between you and him. Just leave me out of it,” Sam quavered.

Kent let go of him. But before he could turn and leave, he felt some lithe arms wrap around him from the behind. Who …? Aw crap. The redhead; and she’s ‘well lubricated’, per all the empty shots on the bar.

“Hey, hannsome. I need someone to talk to, like really badly. Care to help out a damsel in distressss?” She pressed her huge breasts into Kent’s back from behind.

“NO. Get off me, lady.”

“Awww, c’monnn.”

“Hey, drunk chick. I said, GET OFF.”

“NOPE. Nope, I won’t,” she giggled. “Not until you siddown and talk to me. Or, kiss me. Those ‘r yer two choices.”

What do I do now? I can’t hurt her, like with an elbow shot to the ribs; she’s not assaulting me, she’s just slowing me down. And I HAVE to LEAVE! I HAVE TO FIND TINA NOW! GRAAAAAH!” — he could feel his rage taking him over.

No! Gain control! Blue Morpho, Blue Morpho. Kent felt his heart rate drop, and an idea sprouted in his new calm. If I can’t beat her, I’ll pretend to join her.

“Okay, Miss Sexy. Let’s talk.”

“Oh, yay! Thank you, Mister Hunnky.”

She loosened her grip, and he turned around to face her with a gentle smile. In one swift motion, he picked her up by the legs and back, as if carrying her like a bride over the threshold. He then walked towards the pool lounge chairs. “There’s two things I’m dying to tell you, Miss …?”

“Call me Tawny, hunny,” she said, with as much sensuality as her inebriated self could muster.

“Okay, Tawny. Two things. One, I’ve seen you in your full bikini; you really are one of the most physically stunning women I’ve ever met.”

“Wait ‘til you see me without my ‘kini,” she breathed.

“And two,” Kent ignored her while turning at a right angle, “You need to know this …”

“What, lover,” Tawny whispered.

“You don’t hold a candle to my wife in her Victoria’s Secret.” And with that, he dropped her. Into the pool, which he now stood at the edge of.

He took two steps back, watching to make sure that she broke the surface again. She did, cursing and splashing, her wet red hair covering her whole face like ‘Cousin It’ from the Addams Family. “BASTARD! SONUVABISH! FUCK YOU!”

Kent smiled. That’s for Tina, you shameless hussy. Now, to find my daughter.

Just then a different female voice sounded, from behind him.

“KENT!”

He turned to see a shocked Marlene. She had one hand covering her mouth, the other wrapping with her arm holding her stomach. But despite her attempts at self-restraint, she began smiling, then laughing, then guffawing.

Kent approached her, relieved; he’d worried at first that she’d misunderstood what was happening.

“You don’t think that was a little extreme?” Marlene giggled.

“Actually, no, I don’t, honey.”

“Me neither,” Kent’s wife whispered to him, grinning widely.

Kent held his spouse in his arms. “I love you so much. I want to show you how much. As soon as — “

Marlene’s brow fretted. “But the therapy …”

“Is over, honey. And I can’t wait to make passionate love to you. But first, I have to find Tina and get her to safety.”

She frowned. “What’s going on with our oldest?”

“I think that she’s in trouble; I think James has her.”

“But Kent — isn’t that what we wanted to happen? To maybe have a fling with James or some other boy here, to break Mitch’s spell?”

“Honey, I’ve just found out tonight — James is worse than Mitch, even. He drugs his girls and date rapes them. But I think I know where they are, and I’m going there.”

“I want to come with you, to help.”

“No, Marlene. James has friends that like to get violent — the three groundskeepers. It’s too dangerous. Just go back to our cabana, and call Angelo and tell him to get himself and security to James’ shack right away. Then wait for our return.”

“Honey — you may be going up against four young, strong men by yourself!”

“Mar — this is our daughter we’re talking about. If I fail, she gets hurt, or worse. So I’m NOT going to fail. Not with that to motivate me. Please believe me — I’ve got to go, now!”

The worried wife and mother quickly assessed her husband, the resolve in his eyes, the desperation in his voice, the strength of his body. She’d never known him to not succeed when he was this focused. He could defeat a small army with the force of his will.

She smiled. “Okay. I’ll call Super Mario. Go get her, honey.”

That was all he needed. As they bounded out the exit of the pool area, she broke in a run to the cabana, praying silently as she ran. God, protect our daughter. Protect my husband. And thank you for reminding me to pack my Victoria’s Secret lingerie.

~o~O~o~

Kent ran the path he’d remembered James taking him down earlier when he’d been in Tina’s form. He was trying to formulate a plan of attack as he did so. Being slightly distracted, and without much light to guide him, he didn’t notice an object just to his left. His shoulder grazed it, and he almost fell from being thrown off balance.

He glanced back to see what the object was. From this angle, it was more visible; the golf cart that the three landscapers used to carry them — and their tools — around. One of the tools in it was a big shovel. Kent went to grab that, and while doing so noticed the keys lying on the seat of the cart.

Seconds later, the cart was bounding over the manicured landscape, its electric motor barely making a sound. Kent had his plan now. He had seen how these punks fought, their strengths and weaknesses. He had seen them beaten by a funny looking Italian. Like Tina said yesterday: Time to kill some toads, he thought. Please let me get there in time.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Freddie, Ron and Stuart sat inside the small shack.

“Where is he? I’ll bet he screwed up. She probably just blew him off,” Freddie grumbled.

Ron was lying on the bed; he replied with his eyes closed. “Patience, my friend. James is the slickest con man I’ve seen when it comes to women. You can’t rush these things.”

On cue, the shack door shook as if being knocked. Except it was being kicked. All three hoodlums jumped to their feet; Stuart hopped to the door on his good foot, and cracked it open, peeking to see who it was.

“James! Finally, dude!”

In walked the Isla’s bartender, carrying a comatose young girl over his shoulder. He was gasping for breath. “Man … that half mile walk’s … a lot harder … with a load like this.”

“You wimp,” sneered Fred as he took the young woman’s limp body from James. Transferring her to the bed, he added, “You shoulda let me go with you and carry her. She don’t weigh nothin’ to me.”

“Except you’re about as quiet and discreet as a drunken elephant,” sighed Ron. “No, this was James’s job, all the way. Since he’s out of breath, we’ll let him go last.”

“Hold it …” James gasped. “First … where’s my … payment?”

“Right here,” Stuart said, shaking a big freezer baggy filled with smaller ones. “I’ll leave it on your window sill for the moment.”

Freddy was already shedding his clothes. “Hot damn! Whatta set of tits! I can’t wait to feel ‘em.”

“Dude,” said Stuart. “All you gotta do is get your dick in her, not get nekkid.”

“Fuck you! I want the full feeling of her raw bod next to mine.” Fred was now fully nude. He rubbed his hands together as he stood at the foot of the bed. “First, these.” He grabbed her sandals and pulled them off. “Now, the good stuff,” he drooled as he began to unbutton her shorts.

KRAK!

All four boys turned to the front door and saw that it had been kicked in. Standing there was big Kent, wielding a shovel as he had been the last time they had seen him.

“Back away from her and let me take her home, and I won’t kill you. This is your only warning,” he roared.

Stuart looked to their leader, Ron, for direction. Ron pulled out a knife. But before he even had it securely grasped, the sharp edge of the shovel came down blindingly fast on his hand, shearing the skin and producing blood. Ron dropped the knife and was about to yell in pain when the back of the spade slammed into his face, flattening his nose with a WHUNGCH.

As Ron fell unconscious to the floor, Stu dove for the dropped knife. He saw from the corner of his eye — the shovel was being swung like a baseball bat, down towards him. He put up his arm to protect his head and block the blow; before the big tool could be redeployed, he would stab the old man and end this.

But the shovel didn’t hit at the head, or the torso. Instead it tore into Stuart’s swollen ankle. The boy screamed and rolled around on the concrete floor, clutching his foot, essentially neutralized.

“GYAAAAH!” Kent turned at that sound; sure enough, it was Freddy, charging like a rhino. Predictable. The older man dropped the shovel, set his feet, and turned his shoulders perpendicular to the ground, Angelo-style.

In the next second the nude thug felt his neck grasped and hyperextended, blunting his charge; followed by a knockout punch to his nuts. “HUKKK!” he gasped, dropping to the floor in a fetal position.

“Don’t move. Don’t come near me, or I’ll slice her.” It was James. He had picked up that knife that Ron and Stu had failed to use, and he held it against Tina’s neck. The bartender now held the upper hand — yet he looked scared to death as he and Kent locked eyes.

If you can’t beat him, pretend to join him, Kent thought. He sat down on the solitary chair in the place, and kicked his shovel to the side. “Actually, I wasn’t planning on pounding you, James. Unlike these three thugs, you look to me like a lover, not a fighter. I’m not angry with you so much as impressed. Tina doesn’t fall for just anyone. How do you do it?”

“How d-do I do what?”

“How do you win girls over? I’ve heard they fall for you by the dozens. You’re a real Don Juan. It’s got to be more than just the words you use; how do you get them to believe that you’re sincere?”

James was agape. Out of all the possible interactions he could be having with Tina’s dad right now, this was the last he would have expected. “What? Why do you want to know?”

Kent remained sitting but leaned forward. “Come on, James. I am a businessman, and successful; every out of town trip I take, I have women throwing themselves at me. But I’m tired of those easy lays. I want to snag the very top women, the ones who turn their nose up even at me,” he lied. “The supermodel. The happily married ‘uber-MILF’. The wife of a head of state. I want that thrill, but I need to know your gift, and see how you use it. Teach me how you act out ‘being in love’ so convincingly.” He then leaned back in the chair, an expectant look on his face.

James looked bewildered. “Ah … well … the main-“

“Oh, by the way, you probably ought to take that knife away from my daughter’s throat. Because if you do hurt her, even accidentally, then I will have to kill you. Just sayin’.”

James carefully put the knife on the floor.

“Thank you,” Kent said. “Now please, go on.”

“W — well,” the boy stammered, “I think back to my first crush, and first kiss, how I felt I was in love. It really was just lust and infatuation, but it felt so true. I imagine I’m ‘in love’ again, and say the right words. And then when I kiss her, I’ve usually got her. It took a lot of practice to perfect the technique, but I think I can seduce most girls. Is that what you needed from me?”

“Almost. I need one more thing.” With that, Kent exploded out of the chair, tackling James before the knife could be picked up again. Kent now had him pinned up against the back wall. “You should have just run,” Kent snarled. “I wouldn’t have followed you. All I wanted was my daughter. But no, you had to put a knife to her neck.”

“Let me go, man!” James struggled to get free.

“Tell me you love me, James,” Kent proffered in a low voice.

“WHAT?!”

“Close your eyes and pretend like I’m a girl you’re trying to seduce. Give me your best stuff.”

“YOU’RE CRAZY! I-I’M NOT GAY!”

“Oh, I know that very well. But I’m not letting you down on the ground ‘til you do it. Pretend that I’m a hottie, and you want to seduce me. I know you can.” Kent pressed James’s back into the wall even harder.

James swallowed hard, and closed his eyes. His face relaxed, and a slight smile arose on his lips. “Baby,” he whispered, “I’m afraid. I’m afraid to hold you, to kiss you; because I’m at the precipice. I feel like I’ll fall in love so deep, I’ll be lost. I don’t know how you got to me, but you did; I don’t know how I can live without you. Oh darling … I love you. I love you so much.” James then opened one eye. “Erm … how was that?”

Kent’s eyes were red, and tearing. He had an anguished look on his face. “Yeah. That … that’s damn good,” he whispered. “James, you want to know a secret?”

“Wh-what’s that?”

“YOU BROKE MY HEART, YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Kent buried a punch deep into James’s solar plexus — the blow made the boy pass out. The bearded man, sobbing with raw emotional pain, then turned and walked back to his sleeping daughter. After a few seconds he composed himself; gently picking up Tina, he walked through the human flotsam on the shack floor, and outside.

As he walked out, Angelo trotted to him from the side, three large Scandinavian female security officers in tow. “Signore Kent. You and di bambina hokay?”

“I sure could have used you a few minutes ago,” Kent replied as the guards entered the shack, restraint devices in their hands. “You weren’t as quick as the last time I called. Wait, - you DO remember ‘last time’, right?”

Angelo’s eyes twinkled. “Sure do. Di first time was when you wassa here in you daughter’s form. Nottin’ big gets done here on di Isla witout me an’ di dottores are in on it.

“So. Using last time as a guide, you probably could have figured out that James was going to go after my daughter. Want to tell me why you didn’t just stop it at the pool, before Tina could be drugged by this creep?”

“Drogare? He usa that?” Super Mario seemed surprised.

“Yes, he does. I’m amazed you didn’t know that, Angelo. I’ve come to expect that around here, you know it all.”

“Ima sorry, signore. I did not know James usa di farmaci stuff. I know a lotsa tings, but not everytin’. I thoughta you daughter would just — how it said? ‘Blow offa’ — di creep atta di pool, an’ all be hokay. But it looka like you no need me after all, si?” The Italian smiled wide and slapped Kent’s back, knocking the breath out of him. “BEL LAVORO! Atta mean ‘good job’, amico!”

~o~O~o~

TO BE CONTINUED SUNDAY, JULY 21

~o~O~o~

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to an actual person or situation is completely coincidental.

Tremendous thanks to Cyclist for beta-reading and help!

If you've gotten this far, leave a comment! Don't make me reach through the screen and tweak your nose!

Thanks for reading! Hugz - **Sigh**

"That's quite a coincidence," Tina wondered with increasing alarm. "Mom? Please tell me that it's just a coincidence!"

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Marlene and Kent didn’t spend any time together in bed that night after all. Mom stayed right by her daughter’s side in the medical clinic, making sure there were no problems; the RN observed her closely too. Dad spent the night trekking between the girl’s cabana (to check on Janis) and the clinic. It was 5 p.m. the next day before Tina began to awaken; thankfully, there were no apparent lingering effects of the ‘roofies’.

That evening, Dr. Brand spoke with shock and regret about what had occurred — in both the initial and the "6 hour do-over" rounds of the previous evening’s events.

“I’m so sorry for what happened, Mr. and Mrs. Braxton. Everyone here is praying for Tina, and for all of you. I want to offer you a full refund for your family’s stay here, and to pay for any subsequent treatments that are needed to check on Tina. Dr. Rahne Ruiz and I feel horrible about this. Although we’ve had ‘incidents’ the last forty years, none have come close to what happened just now.

“We hired James two months ago, and did the background checks; he turned out clean. About a month after the time he came on, our grounds crew — a family — all took off for greener pastures. We got Fred, Ron and Stuart off of a tip from James, who had known them previously. All four are the worst hiring decisions we’ve ever made. Although (as you’ve found out) we are powerful, we are obviously not infallible.”

Kent smiled. “I was waiting to see how you would respond to what happened, and I’m thankful to see you really care. You know, Dr. Brand, I’m the CEO of a large company. I’m aware of how the behavior of one or two hires can sink the largest ship. Also, the counseling and this ‘UET’ — even with all of this bad crap from last night — has indeed helped me, and my relationship with Tina. So forget the refund for the stay; I want to see this place continue to exist, to help others like us. I will take you up on the offer to pay for Tina’s medical follow-up, though.”

~o~O~o~

Although the Isla was privately owned, in governmental matters it was under the umbrella of the Bahamas. The four bad boys were sent there for holding and eventual trial, an overwhelming bevy of evidence against them. A fifth man, Sam, had also been charged initially, but he plea-bargained with the government; he would go free in exchange for his damning testimony about James. New groundskeepers — Nguyen, Ashley, and N’kundu — were quickly hired, and a new bartender — Isaac — was found.

~o~O~o~

Except for Janis and her kleptomania sessions, the Braxton family was given a reduced formal counseling schedule. Drs. Brand and Ruiz just asked them to attend one session a day, followed by an “exit interview” on Saturday,. “The rest of the time,” Brand had told them, “should be ‘vacation’ therapy.” Marlene and Janis were still “in the dark” about the mind switch; after Tina’s reveal of it to Marlene was rejected on that horrible night, it was felt to be better left alone.

~o~O~o~

The Thursday session of counseling featured Kent getting with Dr. Brand, and Marlene with Dr. Rahne.

“Anything you think you’ll take away positive from this place, Kent? I hope that the negative that’s happened will fade into the background,” hoped Brand.

“Positive? Absolutely. Tina and I seem closer than ever. And I’m trying to remember your instruction about humility — it’s a lot easier to be 'meek' since the UET experience. That really blew a hole in my pretentiousness ... it hurt, but I needed to be brought down a peg.”

“Besides having to be a daughter and obey parents, and being in a smaller weaker body, how specifically did you feel humbled?”

Kent shook his head at the memory. “That night when I got seduced by James — I thought only a ditsy bimbo could fall for a the lines I fell for. I mean, I swallowed them hook, line and sinker. And Tina didn’t get fooled by his tricks on the “re-boot” — except for the drugged coffee, and that was my fault for failing to warn her.”

“I’m proud of you, Kent. It takes a big man to admit a mistake like that. And admitting a failing is the first step to making sure it never happens again. Is there anything else good you’ve gained here?”

“Well, I have actually enjoyed having someone — you — to call me on my bullshit. I’m going to miss that when I leave here. I need a 'peer-mentor' in my life for that, to be a ‘third eye’ that sees what I cannot see that easily. I don’t know a good person to do that with — it would take a brave soul. After all, I can be pretty intimidating, even without realizing it.”

“May I make a suggestion for someone to fill that role?” Brand picked up the phone in the counseling room, and punched three numbers. He put the handset down in its’ cradle.

Rahne entered the room, with Marlene in tow. Brand pointed towards Mrs. Braxton. “Kent, may I present to you the best candidate for your ‘third eye’, your ‘external conscience’. Rahne has been talking with her about this, and we both feel your spouse has the prerequisite qualities to make a good ‘peer mentor’.”

“I haven’t been too keen on giving you advice, honey, because you haven’t been too keen on listening to it,” spoke Marlene as she stroked his hand. “But I feel I have a lot to offer you, both for our family and even your work.”

Kent considered this. “But Mar — you aren’t really involved in the complicated business strategies I deal with every day.”

“I’m far from an expert in business, honey. But I feel I’m the world’s best expert on Kent Braxton. I can see when your thinking is influenced by stress, anxiety or anger. I’ve noticed also that when you have someone to just listen to you and hear you as you talk out a problem, that you are eventually able to figure out the solution. I’d like a chance to be all of those things to you.”

Kent appeared just a hint skeptical … but as he examined the look on his wife’s face, he remembered her qualities. Her ability to calm his anger, her ‘sixth sense’ about her family, her wisdom in even setting up this trip and therapy in the first place. “I can’t believe it. So much help for my life has been right in front of my face for years, and I’ve not seen it. Please forgive me, Marlene. Would you give me the honor of being my advisor?”

Marlene was hugging his neck before he even finished the sentence. “Honey — it would be a dream come true for me!”

Kent hugged his wife tightly as he turned his head to the two counselors. “Can you guide us in how to get started?”

Rahne replied. “Kent, t’would be our honor and pleasure.”

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

‘Vacation therapy’ seemed to relax the Braxton family, and they actually opened up to each other more.

~o~O~o~

Friday was a calm day at the Isla’s beach; no riptide warnings. Marlene and Janis frolicked in the waves. Tina was sunning, while Kent relaxed in the shade under an umbrella on the sand. He was perusing a John le Carre spy thriller. What a treat, he thought. The last few years I’ve been so work-focused that all I’ve been reading are the latest business gurus.

He heard the sand shifting beside him. Looking to his right he saw Tina, who was relocating her towel to just outside the shadow of the umbrella.

“Mind if I sun here, sir?”

“I’d be honored if you did, young lady.”

“Can we talk while I tan? I mean, I don’t want to interrupt if you’re in a suspenseful part of your novel.”

Kent put the book down. His daughter — estranged to him for most of the last year — wanted to talk to him. Nothing else in the world right now was more precious. “What’s on your mind, honey?”

“A few things. First — does Mom ever call you bad names? Like, Mo-Fo?”

“What?? This is Marlene we’re talking about here,” he said. “She gets red-faced if she says ‘damn’ when she jams her toe.”

Tina continued. “When Mario was saving you from drowning, she called me a blue Mo-Fo about five times. She said she did it because I was getting angry about you disobeying.”

Kent reared his head back in guffaws. “Blue MORPHO,” he snickered. “It’s a butterfly she reminds me of to calm me down.”

“OH. Well, that had a simple answer. Well, on to topic two.” She remained on her back, facing the sky, appearing calm; yet, her voice hesitated. “I need to know what happened.”

“You mean, when James drugged you. I got there just before any of them could — “

“No, no. Not that. You got to hear the dreadful thing that happened between that redhead and me — when I was still in your body. But I never got to hear about what you did — the thing you said was horrible, that you were too ashamed to talk about. I need to know what happened. Fair is fair.”

“Oh, no,” Kent sighed. “Honey, I’m so afraid to tell you. Yes, it was terrible — a terribly wrong thing for me to do. I’m afraid that when you know, you’ll never want to be around me or speak to me again. And that would destroy my heart.”

“Daddy.” Tina’s left arm reached out and took hold of Kent’s hand. “Nothing that ever happens will change the fact that I love you, and will always be your daughter. I will always love you, even if you hurt me, even if I hurt you. It’s called unconditional love. I learned it from my mother, and more recently, from my father.” She smiled from beneath her sunglasses. “I’ve got some pretty cool parents, y’know.”

Kent was broken by his daughter’s loving gesture. He awkwardly confessed what had happened between James and him before the mind switch was reversed. The petting at the pool, the multiple sexual acts, all of it. He didn’t get graphic with his descriptions, but he left no sin hidden.

Tina was silent for a minute after he finished. She then cleared her throat, betraying the fact that she’d been slightly crying. “Ah … Dad. Are you still in love with him? I mean, even after the switch back?”

“Tina … it was never ‘love’. Not love like your mom and I have, one where we trust each other, where we’re each other’s safe place, as well as being each other’s passion partner. What it was, was the most intense emotional infatuation I have ever felt. Feelings like that won’t last, for anyone. But I confess I wasn’t prepared for the overwhelming rush. It overcame my rules, my common sense, my loyalty to my wife and daughter; it completely fulfilled me — temporarily — and at the same time it destroyed me.

“No, I don’t feel any love or even attraction to him, not after the switch back to this body. But believe it or not, his betrayal of me still aches my heart — in a small way.”

Tina nodded. “That’s what I felt — and still feel — with Mitch. I am hurt by his cheating, but the love I feel for him … I can’t get over it … I can’t live without it. Do you understand me now?”

Kent looked at his daughter. “Yes, honey. Yes, I think I do. I judged you harshly for falling prey to your emotions, but I think your brain and body feel emotions much more intensely than I ever imagined. I’ve been thinking about the ‘Mitch Sitch’, and I’m going to have a talk with Mom later today. Then, we’ll talk with you. But know this: the war between you and me is over. I surrender.”

“I do too. I think that makes us both winners.” She applied some more SPF lip-gloss. “Dad, do you think that pain — of James betraying you — will ever get better?”

“Every time I get intimate with your mother, it gets smaller, honey. One day soon I expect it to be totally gone.”

“Intimate with Mom. TMI,” laughed Tina. “So. I have another really shameful question to ask. This has to stay just between me and you.”

“Fire away, daughter. I doubt I can be more embarrassed than when I had to tell you about James.”

Tina took a big breath. “How … how was it, for you? Sex as a woman, with James. Did you … you know? Was it better than it is as a man? I’ll tell you what I think if you tell me.”

Kent swallowed hard. “I stand corrected. This is a LOT more embarrassing. I can’t believe that this is even an appropriate father-daughter topic.”

“Dad. You are the only person in the world I can talk to about this. And after what we’ve been through, what’s inappropriate?” Tina was laughing again.

Kent gave in. “Okay. As a girl it was … different. It built, and built, and built until it then tumbled over me, pulse after pulse. It was fantastic. But it’s fantastic to me as a man, too; just over a lot quicker. The thing I hated was being out of control, of being at the mercy of this guy. I like being in control.”

“Really? Just surrendering, letting myself be taken, is one of the things I like about being a girl.” Tina looked at her father; his cheeks looked sunburnt. “Uh-oh,” she whispered. “TMI?”

“Uh, yeah,” Kent admitted. “How — um — did you feel about what The Redhead did to you?”

“I was overtaken. Not with emotion, but with raw bodily lust. I tried to leave, but your body and hormones wouldn’t let me. The climax was — well, the most intense five seconds of my life. I think if it could last for thirty minutes, I’d like guy sex more. But five seconds? SO not worth it.”

“I see, I see, honey. Interesting. So, anything else you want to tell me?”

“Nope, Dad. That’s pretty much it.”

“So, this topic is over and done with for all time, then?”

“Yep.”

“Thank God.”

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER THIRTY

Later that night, Tina prepped for bed. Janis was already asleep. Tina spat out her toothpaste and rinsed her mouth. She pulled out her nightgown, and got ready to take her top and skirt off. The cabana door cracked open at that minute.

“Tina honey,” Marlene breathed. “Are you still up? Can your father and I talk to you out here for a minute?”

In the balmy evening breeze, daughter and parents sat on the grass. The father started the discussion. “Tina. From our conversation earlier today, you still feel you love Mitch, right?”

“I don’t feel like I love him; I do love him.”

“And your plan is to graduate, then get a job and move out from under us, and have Mitch move in with you, right?”

“That’s the plan.”

“What about college?”

“I guess it’ll just have to wait. If I have to work full time to live with Mitch, I’ll have to sacrifice college. In reality, I’ll have to probably work one and a half jobs just to make ends meet, until Mitch can get steady work. Mom, Dad: why can’t you just let me live at home, and have Mitch move in to my room?”

“Mitch and Janis,” Marlene cut in, “are like oil and water. Don’t forget that we still have that restraining order on him at our property; that’s because he threatened your sister. She’s scared to death of him. That’s the main reason we can’t allow it.”

Kent took it from there. “We know that you’re an adult now, Tina. So we’re going to start treating you like one; you make your life choices, and we will help you all we can. We will only refuse help if we think it will hurt you. So consider this proposal.

“When we get back home, I will find and rent an apartment for you to move into. You may have Mitch move in if you so desire. I’ll pay the rent — until you graduate from college, or turn 25, or get married. Whichever occurs first.”

Tina gasped. “REALLY?”

“There are some conditions you should know about. One is, you use birth control — unless you get married, then you can do what you want with that. We’ll pay for your contraception as long as you’re single. Another is, any damage done to the apartment — by you or Mitch — you will be liable for. You will need to sign a contract with us in that regard. And thirdly, after you graduate in a few months, we’ll pay for your college tuition and expenses — but if you choose not to go to college, you will need to find work to pay for your lights, food, etc. We’ll still pay your rent, as I said earlier.”

“Okay …” Tina looked suspiciously at her father. “You’ll support me, unless I get married. That sounds like an incentive for Mitch to never marry me. Is that what you’re trying to accomplish?”

“No, honey,” Kent implored. “I just feel that if a man and woman marry, it’s up to them primarily to support themselves. Marriage is an adult decision, and carries adult responsibilities. That’s always been my stand, with both you and Janis.

“However, I do feel it would be more appropriate for you and Mitch to live together for a while before marrying, just to make sure things work out. You don’t have to do that, of course; you can get married anytime you wish. But I am going to sweeten the pot a little. If you wait at least one full year to marry Mitch — a year starting from the time we get back home — then I will give you the princess wedding of your dreams. It will put all of those wedding divas on TV to shame. If you choose to marry him before then, I’ll give you $10,000 to do it with, that’s all. You still can have a nice, small, simple ceremony with that. No manipulation here, we just don’t want you to rush into things. And no matter what, we will love you, and accept whomever you choose. What do you say?”

Tina’s hand shot out to shake her parent’s. “Deal.”

~o~O~o~

The counseling had been completed. It was time for the “exit interview”. Only Tina and Kent showed to meet with Drs. Brand and Ruiz for this.

“We heard tha’ ye had tae do a conference call to th’ states on Friday regardin’ yuir company, Kent,” remarked Rahne Ruiz. “Did th’ discussion go well?”

“Yes. Robert, my second-in-command, had brushed back most of the takeover threat by the time I spoke with the shareholders. He told me that my ‘pep talk’ I gave him a few days earlier gave him the confidence he needed to handle most of the problem,” he said with a fond glance at Tina. “My conference call sealed the deal. I just have to do some mop up work when I get back … you know, kill a few toads.”

“Excellent! Now, do ye have any suggestions aboot wha’ we can do better as a therapeutic experience?” asked Rahne Ruiz.

Tina coughed. “Um — Dad and I have a theory about this place. Can we discuss it with you two?”

“Mayhaps,” Dr. Rahne Ruiz frowned. “Wha’ is it?”

Kent smiled. “We were hoping you could tell us that … Mr. Roarke.”

Mark Brand and Rahne glanced at each other with a knowing look.

Tina saw that look, and jumped up and down. “I knew it! I knew it! This has to be Fantasy Island, right? Mark Brand — two words that are synonyms for ‘Tattoo’. Except you’re the tall boss, not the short underling. And Rahne, you’re a Scottish woman with a Hispanic surname instead of a Hispanic — Ricardo Montalban — with a Scottish-Irish type name. I still don’t know how Angelo fits in with the TV show, but we’re right about this place, aren’t we?”

“Angelo’s been here only twenty years; when he came, the TV show had long ended,” said Brand.

“Okay, ye two,” sighed Rahne. “Wha’s said here, stays here. Just open yuir mind, and imagine. Imagine tha’ angels really exist, and tha’ there’s really a God tha’ they work for. Now suppose tha’ two angels forty years back came tae God with a proposal. This angel pair had a desire to heal human relationships, mainly. So they set up a place tae get tha’ done, all with the okay o’ God — he’s the CEO. It had been set so th’ wealthy pay full price, th’ less wealthy pay less, and the poor get in free on scholarship. They set aboot to find some o’ the worst relationship crises around, an’ then send out information tae attract ‘em tae comin’.

“Now supposin’ that one o’ th’ first clients o’ this place was a television producer. Th’ angels didn’t want sensationalism associated with th’ place. If he later wanted to make a show aboot it, how could he do so discreetly? He’d have tae change some o’ the facts, as ye’ve discovered.”

“You both don’t look anywhere near forty years old, much less sixty,” Kent wondered.

“Angels tend to age very slowly,” Brand replied.

“Anyway,” Rahne continued, “both Mark and I continue tae operate this Isla. For a time, we remained th’ only two angels here; the rest o’ th’ staff are hired humans. Tis getting’ more pernickety, though — th’ world’s getting’ tae be rougher ‘n’ tougher, in my opinion. ‘Tis hard tae find good help, as all o’ us found oot th’ hard way. Th’ CEO, bless her, did send us a third, special celestial being — Mr. Angelo Giordano — twenty years ago tae assist us, though.”

“I notice you call your CEO — um, God — both ‘he’ and ‘she’,” Kent remarked. “Which is it?”

Brand smiled. “Everyone down here has imagined the boss as male, due to presupposed prejudices. The truth is, he/she is closer to both sexes mixed in one.”

“So God represents both sexes,” chuckled Kent while scratching his head. “On the way over from the airport, I had the androgynous person labeled as a weirdo, when actually he — or she, or she/he — is more representative of God than any of the rest of us!”

“Has Angelo been a huge help to you?” said Tina.

“He’s been an angel,” Brand shrugged.

“More than that, Mark!” scolded Rahne. “Angelo’s one o’ a special type, more powerful and privileged than us, even though technically we’re his bosses here. We — ‘n’ our guests — are blessed tae have him.”

Kent rubbed his beard. “Angelo Giordano. Angel … Guardian?”

“Guardian Angel,” Tina gasped.

“This place won’t last f’rever,” Rahne shrugged. “Still, we help who we can. We cannae save every starfish tha’ washes up on shore, but we throw as many back intae th’ sea as possible.. So — we need ye two tae be mum aboot th’ supernatural aspect o’ the Isla, as well as th’ Ultimate Empathy Therapy. Will ye?”

Father and daughter looked at each other, smiling. “Yes. We promise.”

“Thank you both so much for that,” said Brand. “To show our gratitude, consider both of yourselves eligible for a future free week here, with a free round of UET for each of you, to be performed with anyone else you wish — eh?”

Kent and Tina ran as fast as they could from that suggestion. They had blown out the door before Brand even realized it.

~o~O~o~

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Most of the people on the cruise ship were up top on the main deck, waving goodbye as the ship pulled out of port. Marlene and Kent Braxton found that to be old hat. That’s why they were in the jazz bar, sipping on mixed drinks that their waitress just brought them. Keeping them company were Tina and Joe Willis, relative newlyweds, having married 10 months prior. Joe was Kent’s new son-in-law.

“I’m so excited”, said Marlene. “This is going to be such a great cruise. Four days at sea, then Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. What a piece of heaven it will be!”

“Honey, I don’t know how you keep finding these dream vacations, but you do,” admired Kent.

“Thanks for inviting us to come along, Mr. and Mrs. B,” said Joe. “I wish I could have helped out more with the expenses.”

“Joe, no worries,” replied his father-in-law. “You treat my daughter so well, and make her so happy. In that way alone, you’ve paid me more than I could ever reimburse you. I’m so glad it’s you that she married, and not Mitch.”

“Boy, me too,” agreed Tina. “Dad — allowing me to be able to live together with Mitch was the best move you could have made. It was hard to remain infatuated with him when I saw that all he did was eat, sleep, and avoid job-hunting as well as housework. Not to mention all of the porn watching, in spite of my attempts to keep him satisfied. God, how hard he tried to get me to bring in another girl for a threesome. When I came home from college freshman midterms and he had another freshman — a HIGH SCHOOL freshman — with him in our bed … well, that was the last straw.”

“His loss. My gain. Every day I wake up next to you, I’m amazed at how lucky I am to have you,” Joe said as he kissed Tina’s cheek.

“It’s too bad Janis couldn’t come,” sighed Marlene.

Tina took her mother’s hand. “I’m actually proud of her decision to stay home. She’s been through a lot the last four years — therapy for her kleptomania, remission, relapse, twelve months of jail. She said that coming on board a ship that has tons of jewelry, clothes, cameras, and drunken revelers with open purses — it would be too much of a temptation. She’s still required by her probation officer to attend three twelve-step sessions a week, anyway.”

“I agree, Tina,” added her father. “In the fall, I’m taking her hiking in the Adirondacks. Nothing to steal there but a breath of fresh air as one enjoys the magnificent scenery.”

Marlene nodded her head. “Just look at you two. Father and daughter. Speaking with love, respect, and understanding. Ever since you had that special therapy at the Isla, you have an outstanding relationship. It’s also made each of you a better person. Tina, you are much more mature, and less swayed by pure emotion while still passionate about your beliefs. Kent, you actually found some meekness, some humility, in your character. It has curbed that anger you once had, and has made you a much better father, husband — even businessman. Hannegill Enterprises has taken off like a rocket; I suspect it’s because your new management style reflects that humility.”

“The humble improve,” whispered Kent. "And don't forget, I have the best peer advisor in the world."

“Darling … it makes me a little envious of you and Tina,” Marlene confessed.

“What?” Kent’s head rose. “Honey — Tina and I are close, but no one is nearer to my heart than you are! You act as my third eye — I have gained so much insight into myself, and made so many more wise decisions since I learned to stop and seek your input.”

“But what if we could be even closer? What if we had gone back to the Isla and taken that special therapy, just you and me? Think of what bliss life could be, knowing that we would be as connected as it’s possible for two lives to be! Isn’t it worth just three to four hours of counseling a day for that?”

Kent fretted while trying to think of a response that wouldn’t hurt his wife’s feelings. Neither he nor Tina had ever told Marlene or anyone else about the true nature of the Ultimate Empathy Therapy, per Dr. Brand’s and Dr. Rahne’s request.

“Mom, you don’t understand what you’re wishing for,” Tina inserted. “Yes, the therapy helped me and Dad, but it literally almost killed us too. Neither of us would volunteer to go through it again — right, Daddy?”

“AMEN,” said Kent, making Tina suppress a giggle with a snerk.

Joe spoke up. “I don’t know, babe. I sure wouldn’t mind going through something like that with you. Your mom has told me about the radical improvement between you and your Dad. Why couldn’t it work for us? It’s just counseling, after all.”

Tina put a finger on her husband’s lips. “Lover — not a word more. You know not of the forces of which you speak.”

“Well, another Isla vacation isn’t possible anymore, anyway,” Marlene sighed. “I checked. The island was bought out from under them by a huge corporation; Isla Empatio Bonita no longer officially exists.”

“Aw no,” Kent groaned. “That’s too bad. That place was doing some good in the world.”

Marlene nodded again. “Well, it wasn’t a total loss. They just moved to a different base of operations.“

Kent tensed. “Which island did they move to? Honey — please, they aren’t now on a Hawaiian island, are they?”

“No, my husband. Not a Hawaiian island, nor any other stop on this cruise.” Kent and Tina both exhaled with relief at Marlene’s response.

Tina glanced to her right, where the drinks were being made. She cocked her head and smiled. “Everyone, look up at who’s tending bar! Isn’t that — what was his name, again — Oh! - Isaac?”

“Who’s Isaac?” said her mom.

Kent focused on the smiling black man with the handlebar mustache and the afro hairstyle. “Why, yes it is. Isaac was the man who took over bartending duties on the Isla when James got arrested. Well, how about that. I’ll walk over and say hello when it’s time for a refill.”

“Cool,” said Joe. “He kinda looks like Isaac the bartender from The Love Boat. I used to watch that on TV retro channels growing up.”

“I remember watching that show as a kid during its first run,” reminisced Kent. “It came on Saturday nights at 8 p.m., followed by Fantasy Is-“ the words caught in Kent’s throat. Suddenly suspicion and fear arose in his chest as he choked out a question. “What’s an ex-Isla employee doing working on this ship?”

“That’s quite a coincidence,” Tina wondered with increasing alarm. “Mom? Please tell me that it’s just a coincidence.”

Marlene smiled as wide as Texas. “SURPRISE!! They moved the Isla therapy team, not to another island, but to a cruise ship — this ship!” She clapped with excitement. “Kent, I signed you and me up for that treatment! They even said that there would be no cost for the therapy portion, because Dr. Brand had offered you a free round of — what is it — UET! Oh, honey!” She hugged her love. “Aren’t you excited?”

“I’m … I’m speechless,” mumbled her husband. He looked shocked, numb.

Tina had her hand over her mouth. “Mom — please tell me that you and Dad are the only ones you enrolled in the therapy. You didn’t sign me up too, did you?” Before Marlene could reply, Tina felt a tapping on her shoulder.

It was Joe. “They told your mom that you also had been offered a free week of that UET when you left. When I heard that, I thought it would be great to sign you and me up for it. So I did.”

“Babe — you WHAT!?”

“I’ve been hiding the surprise for four months now,” he cooed. “It’s such a relief to tell you. I can’t wait for us to develop more empathy. I want to know you inside and out, what makes you tick.”

Tina looked pissed. “Oh, you’ll find out all right,” she breathed in his ear. “Remember how, when we make love, I’m always telling you I want it rougher — and you keep saying you wish I could show you what I mean? Well, I’m REALLY gonna show you. You’ll learn to be careful what you wish for, and to let me in on all ‘surprises’ in the future.”

A rich bass voice broke into their conversation. “Here you all are! We only have four days at sea, so the UET begins this afternoon.” All four family members looked up to see a tall, huge black man in a sailing uniform indicating officer status. Beside him, also uniformed, was a woman with striking red hair in a pixie cut and a stumpy hirsute man with long arms and a curly mustache.

“Dr. Brand! Dr. Rahne! Angelo! It’s so great to see you all again,” squealed Marlene.

“Or is it Captain Stubing, Julie, and Gopher now?” mumbled Kent, head in his hands. “I’m not signing the waiver this time, so you all can go-“

“Ye don’t need t’ sign another waiver, Kent. Th’ ones ye and Tina signed four years ago are good for life. It’s in th’ fine print.”

Kent looked woefully at Marlene. “Honey, what kind of swimsuits did you pack?”

“Since I’ve been body sculpting for the last half year to get ready for the cruise, it made me want to show off a little. I’ve got three new string bikinis for the trip; I left all of those dumpy one pieces at home. I packed for the sun; halter tops, miniskirts, short shorts. Why?”

“I can tell I’m gonna be wearing the complimentary bathrobe a lot, “ the blushing man mumbled.

“Cheer up, Signore Kent. Puta a smile ona you face. I lika di look ofa string bikine.” Angelo was chuckling.

“Then you can wear it,” sighed the father.

“I don’t understand what you’re so dour about,” wondered Marlene. “We’ll only be in counseling for a few hours a day, and then the rest of the time we just enjoy the cruise. No work, no chores. We just relax and be ourselves.”

“In a minute, sweetheart, you’re going to find out how wrong you are. We’ll be anything but ourselves.”

Marlene cocked her head to the side, looking dumbfounded at Kent. “What?”

“Marlene and Joe pre-signed their waivers as part of the cruise paperwork,” Dr. Brand said. “Everybody, here’s your individual sheets of paper, with what you have to read and what you have to say out loud.”

“W-wait!” Tina cried. “This is all so fast — don’t we have to have that desk-with-a-mirror-in-the-middle thingie?”

“Tha’ was always joost for show, Lassie,” said Rahne.

Tina growled at her husband. “I’m on my period. Serves you right.” Joe looked perplexed, wondering what that meant.

“Mar,” pleaded Kent, “give some thought to us just staying in our room for the next 60 hours.”

“MMMmmm,” purred Marlene. “Are you saying you want to ravage me for three days straight?”

“Well,” he replied feebly, “Yeah. Or, you could ravage me.” Kent’s wife raised one eyebrow high in confusion.

“Everyone read all the words on your paper to yourself, silently,” thundered Brand. “Mean them with all of your heart.” He waited thirty seconds. “Now, on the count of three, all of you speak aloud the last word on your paper, with your eyes closed. One … two …”

THE END

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to an actual person or situation is purely coincidental

Tremendous thanks to Cyclist for beta-reading and help! Without you this would have been a piece of hack work!

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