A brother and sister use a magic book to help her become pregnant. What can possibly go wrong? One part of a mult-thread story for the How Novel is It? catagory of Erin's Strangefellow's day contest.

"… Holy mother of ... ! … it’s worse. This is beyond my knowledge, time for me to call in some BIG favors. The Witches’ Council will have a fit over this. At least Laura and … John are alive and healthy … VERY healthy, all things considered.”

714: by the book

This is not a fan fiction of the Whateley Academy stories. This is not a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is an entry in Erin’s Oddfellows Day contest — Geese, I thought the Oddfellows was this church based organization … Oh it’s the Strangefellows day contest, is it? Your constructive criticism and advice is appreciated but it hasn’t stopped me from continuing to write. This is an exercise in the joys of creativity and in appreciation of the wonderful Whatel … BC … in appreciation of Bob’s generous… Oh, heck, after all these months I can’t even remember which contest this is. Is it still 2007? I want my Mommy!

Any violations of copyright, trademark or use of real people or incidents are purely for purposes of humor or parody and done solely for the free enjoyment of the reading public. All rights reserved in perpetuity, John from Wauwatosa WI, 2007-2008.

Adult content advisory: this story may or may not contain situations and topics unsuitable for children. It’s usually mild stuff, but you were warned. This story carries the Seal of Approval of the Guild of Evil Blonde Proofreaders, so “You know it has to be bad ®.”

Conversion Tables - Zwei

By John from Wauwatosa
Contents refined by Holly Logan
Provides 100% of an adult’s RDA of irony and coppery too

* * * *

Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, four years ago to the day
March 2, 2007, Noonish

“Kim, what am I going to do? Tony was so happy when I said we were pregnant and now I find I’ve miscarried … again. He hugged me and said it was okay, and we could try again but, gods, I’m 45 years old. My doctor was not happy I went off the Pill, what with my asthma and obstructive lung disease. He said there was a risk, a serious risk to my heath if I went ahead, and now it’s for nothing. No fertility specialist will touch me; I’m too old and high risk.”

“Laura, I know how you feel. That’s why I asked you to lunch, well, why we both did. I’m only two years younger than you, but my pregnancy went well. Sherry here, her first pregnancy was very shaky but she’s had two healthy children since, and she’s no spring chicken either.”

“But Kim, you look ten years younger than you should, and Sherry here has turned her self around too. I’ve tried to get fit but I can only do so much with the asthma and … “

“Laura honey, Kim and I have both been in your situation. Kim was always skinny because she had a bad heart; she was a frail thing when she first came to the firm. I had preeclampsia in my first pregnancy. I could have died, and I was rather overweight, which made things worse.”

“I vaguely remember something about you two like you claim, but I thought that was my dreams?”

“Laura, it was Mrs. Minnesalle who helped us.”

“The elderly lady we gave the pro-bono legal help?”

“Yes. When we saved her home from those unscrupulous developers, she said she would pay us each back someday. You know how she stops by often with cookies she’s just baked, or fresh vegetables from her garden?” said Sherry.

“Laura, Mrs. Minnesalle is a witch, a white witch. The women in her family have been witches for generations. She heard of our problems and lent us this book,” said Kim.

“I suppose this book is magic, and made you young and healthy?” Laura knew as soon as she’d said, that it sounded sarcastic. ~~I shouldn’t have said that, but it just slipped out, and thinking about it, Yes, I guess I meant it to.~~

“It may be that powerful, but we each we’re only interested in bring our children safely into this world. The book has a spell. We read it for each other, as you can’t cast it on yourself; you have to cast it for another, with love. Otherwise it will not work . If only one casts the spell, it is not permanent, it only last a day or so. The magic makes one into their ideal version of themselves. It made us both healthy enough that our pregnancies became easy, and we’ve enjoyed great health and our improved bodies ever since. I’ll bet you thought we’d had plastic surgery.”

“The thought did come to mind, but that was your business, not mine. So you have this *magic* book then?” Laura asked in disbelief.

“No, but we told Mrs. Minnesalle, and she will bring it to you today just before we close. That’s why we wanted to eat together, so we could tell you and so you could get your husband to our office.”

“Why, surely he can’t … I want him to stay a man, couldn’t one of you? Not that I entirely believe you, but it sounds harmless enough, and I do trust you gals.”

“We can’t, you can only work this spell once or it could harm you. It’s like asking the favor of the gods too often. Once is all you get. But it’s safe for Tony to do. The spell only makes one their ideal self, man or woman. The magic changes the two who invoke it into the best of what their genes can be if all the junk was discarded. You’ve met her grandson, haven’t you?” Kim asked.

“The pro-football player? He’s built like a ... he’s built, um, everywhere. I’ve noticed.”

“She let her grandson and his childhood sweetheart use the book. He used to be a spindly science geek and Kelly had lost a leg to bone cancer and her uterus to an infection brought on by the chemo.”

“That can’t be, they have four kids and she has the sexiest legs this side of a Vegas chorus line. I’ve seen her up close; she could be a swimsuit model!”

“The book did it. He unselfishly wished for her to be a whole woman and she wished for him to be a man any woman would be fortunate to marry. They’ve loved each other since they were toddlers. The spell in the book made their lives complete.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. But Tony is out of town on business, and I have no way to contact him. Can’t it wait?”

“No, she has prepared the book for you and it must be used within 24 hours or never. The book must be prepared or *linked* to one of the two doing the spell. Whoever else is involved doesn’t matter. It’s a bit like the person it is prepared for is the key that unlocks the spell, but the time limit is absolute. She did anticipate this problem when we said you were at work today but we weren’t sure about Tony being available. Your brother can do it. You would be able to be a mother and in turn, give him the gift of health. At a latter date the book can be prepared for Tony and he can give the blessing to his sister, or someone else you two agree on.”

The two ladies told her more about this miraculous book until Laura feared her head would burst. Eventually they convinced her.

“I wish you had waited to do this, but I do trust you. I’ll call John, but it won’t be an easy sell.”

“Speed dial, 07. Pick up the phone. Come on… John? … It’s your sister ... Can you come to my office immediately? it’s vitally important …Thanks.”

“He’s on his way. Now comes that hard part, convincing him.”

* * * *

“Thanks for coming so quickly, bro.”

“You said it was important, so I came as fast as possible. You don’t often ask me for favors, so I knew it must be something big, Sis. I’m sorry about the baby. I wish it could have been otherwise, but given your health maybe it was best.”

“That’s exactly why I called you. There is a chance I can have a healthy baby, but I need your help.”

“What, is this, some weird male surrogate mother sci-fi thing? You know, where a man carries the embryo to term? We’re not going to have our genitals swapped? You can tell your husband even if we do, I am not *that* kind of girl.”

“No,” Laura laughed. “But I do really need your help. You’ve met my coworkers; you remember what they looked like when I started? Could you imagine Kim or Sherry looking like this and having had children?”

“Great, now, no matter what I say next, I insult your friends. To be brutally honest, Kim, Sherry, you look better than when we first met. You must have worked hard on your diet and exercise to get like this. You should be proud. That’s not to say you were in anyway unattractive women before. Am I off the hook? I was being silly, but you ladies do look lovely.”

“Laura, your brother is a gentleman. John, that was diplomatically put, and I am not offended. Here’s what this is all about. Mrs. Minnesalle is one of our clients. Has your sister mentioned her to you?”

“Is she the lady who brings in her surplus garden produce, and bakes those great cookies?”

“That’s the woman. She needed our help a while back, and was so grateful she’s been like a mother to us ever since.”

“So, what does this have to do with my sister and carrying a child?”

“She’s a white witch. She used a magic book to make us healthy and a little younger so we could be mothers.”

“Ri-ight, su-ure, Sherry. Have you been drinking or do I need to start?”

“How old am I?”

“You look to be in your upper twenties. I mean you have only the faintest lines around your eyes — they’re quite becoming, actually … But you’re a lawyer and have been since before Laura started here seven years ago. You must have been a child prodigy.”

“You’re sweet, John, but I looked older than this when we first met, you simply don’t remember. It’s part of the spell, it fades the memories people have of what you used to look like. I’m fifty, and I’m a month pregnant with my third child. Everyone child I’ve had has been since I turned 40. Mr. Minnesalle’s book is that powerful. My husband is 35, and I wear him out in bed.”

“You believe this book really can change a person?”

“I *know* it, John.”

“Let’s say I buy into this craziness, Sherry. Why do you ladies need me to know?”

“We assumed Tony would be in town today, so we told Mrs. Minnesalle to prep the book. She has to perform a spell to unlock the magic in the book and it must be tailored to a specific individual. We cut a small piece of your sisters hair yesterday on the pretense she needed a quick trim. The book is now linked to her and whomever she chooses to say the spell with her. We were afraid Laura would back out if we didn’t put some polite pressure on her. To be blunt, your sister is not exactly a risk taker, now is she, John?”

“I mean no offense, Laura.”

“None taken, Sherry.”

“That’s why we told Mrs. Minnesalle to prep the book. We didn’t want to give Laura time to talk herself out of this wondrous gift. We didn’t stop to think that Tony might not be available, I’m sorry but we do love your sister.”

“So, Sherry, tell her to put the book on-ice. Why is Tony needed, anyway?”

“John, this is why your sister had to call you, Mrs. Minnesalle can’t *put it on ice,* as you put it. Once the book is prepped, it must be used within 24 hours or you can never use it, ever. The book *knows* somehow. There are other spells in the book you can use more than once, but this spell is a one-time only offer — due to the age reduction, I suspect. Laura, you explain it to him.”

“Okay, Ill try but my head is still spinning from what you all have told me.”

“John, I’ll do my best to keep it simple. My head is still not fully wrapped around all that Kim and Sherry have told me. I’m told the spell is designed as two complementary parts, a bit like mixing epoxy. I’m using that analogy since you’re in the hardware business. If only one person says the spell, it wears off after a day — it doesn’t *setup* or *cure*. If two people say the spell for each other, then it is permanent. The spell only works once; there are no second chances — just like epoxy. I need you to bless me, then I, in turn, bless you. It enhances a person and fixes any injuries or genetic weaknesses. It won’t change your sex or species or do anything else to hurt you. So long as we say the spell with love in our hearts, we will both be a little younger — but still adults — and a lot healthier. We’ll be optimized versions of ourselves. What do you say, brother dear? Tony is too far away to get here in time, and we so want children. Please.”

“I want to help, but my rational mind keeps saying, you want me to what? Are you nuts, Sis?”

“John, have I ever dabbled in the occult? Have I ever given a hint of believing in the supernatural?”

“No, you always were, I mean, have been very rational. Now I wonder.”

“Trust me on this. This will work and it certainly will do no harm. Mrs. Minnesalle is a kind old lady, and Kim and Sherry swear it’s all true.”

“You ladies always struck me as being honest and decent. To lie to my sister about this would be sick. I can’t believe you would do that. Okay. I’m skeptical, but I’ll try. For you, Sis … Stop that, Sisters don’t kiss their brothers! … Tony must be good for you, you kiss nice, Sis.”

“But you deserved it, and maybe now you can get a lady-friend. You know mom and dad want to see you happy. They are so sad you’ve never married.”

“Sis, what do I have to offer? I’m average in looks at best, and I have a crummy job working in a hardware store.”

“Don’t say that. You’re not unattractive, and you have lots of repeat customers who praise your service.”

“But that doesn’t help much. We’re barely staying above water what with the Home Despots and Wallyworlds competing against us.”

“John, if the spell works -- and I am sure it will -- you will have to beat the women off with sticks. You will be trim, muscular, have a full head of hair, great teeth and look and feel better overall. You’re not bad looking now, despite your personal doubts. The spell will make you the best you can be. The spell also enhances your mind; you will be smarter than before. That should help you with business.”

“Okay, for you I’ll do this. Um, this won’t backfire and I’ll end up with a two-foot-long penis or some other ludicrous feature? I’ve seen those models of what the body looks like from the standpoint of sensitivity to stimulus. You know, the huge face, lips, tongue, head, hands, feet and genitals, like some bizarre fertility god statue?”

“No my brother, you’ll be within the normal range for a man in all things just better than most in *every* way. You don’t think I want a stripper’s body? I just want to be healthy enough to have and raise children. Is it too much to ask?”

“I said I’d try. I’m sold, let’s get this over with. I don’t mean to sound curt, Sis, but we are short handed at the hardware so I have to work this evening .”

* * * *

“Thank you for inviting us into your house, Mrs. Minnesalle, I can’t thank you enough for what you are doing.”

“You ladies saved my home. I’ve lived there all my life, as did three generations before me. I have many happy memories here, and losing it would have killed me. This is nothing, compared to your kindness. This isn’t your Tony, is he?”

“Mrs. Minnesalle, I’m John. Tony is out of town and can’t make it. I’m Laura’s brother.”

“I can see the resemblance. I can sense your worry and skepticism, and no, I can’t read minds, but I can read emotions, and I’m good at reading body language. That last skill requires no magical talents.”

“So what do we do? I want to do this right. I owe it to my sister; I wasn’t the nicest to her when she was little, and I do love her.”

“You take turns reading from the book. You need to be holding it while you do, and face the person you are blessing. When one finishes, then the other takes the book and reads the same blessing to the first one. I have marked the particular pages you must read with Post-it notes to make it easy. The original text is some obscure language, the characters are possibly a variant on ancient Greek, but I have never been able to translate it. It’s likely it is another language which had no written form, and Greek was used to record it. Long ago an ancestor translated it to Latin and my grandmother translated it to English. Here, take a look, but don’t read it out loud.”

“This is gibberish.”

“It’s phonetic; you read it carefully and say the sounds out loud. The magic is tied to that ancient language, but you only need to speak it, not understand it. You must have sung Frá¨re Jacques in grade school or kindergarten. Did you know what the words meant or simply sing the sounds? The Latin text is phonetic, too. Take your time and speak it as it reads, and you’ll be fine. I’ve used this spell myself and helped others use it dozens of times without any problems.”

“You used it on yourself?”

“My aunt gave me the book when she saw I had the gift. My husband and I used it, though he wasn’t my husband at the time. He had been severely injured in an automobile accident as a teen and withdrew from his friends. I was a neighbor; he was 15 when it happened and I was 12, and had a big crush on him but couldn’t tell him. Though it killed me to see him crippled and in a wheelchair, we stayed friends, I wouldn’t let him pull away from me. When I turned 16, my aunt gave me the book and told me what it could do. I knew at once I would use it to cure him, even if he hated me for it. I tricked him into reading it with me; I told him it was a book of silly poetry.

We read the words. I kissed him and told him I loved him just before we fell asleep. The transformation took a lot of energy, magic and physical, due to all the repairs it made to his body. I woke to find him cradling me in his muscular arms and looking at me with an intensity I had never seen before in anyone … I was married at 17 and a mother at eighteen. I never regretted it. We raised six children here; the house was never quiet in those days. Frank was a fine man and we had a long life together. He died in an industrial fire. He was a firefighter and died saving lives. He would have lived if he hadn’t gone in that last time to look for a lost man. They were almost out when the roof collapsed. In the book there is a spell to heal a body but … It was a closed casket funeral, for what they could find of him. But then, Frank was always a daredevil.”

“’I’m’ so sorry. You must have loved him very much to cry for him after all these years. How long ago was it, ten, twenty?”

“He died in 1961, at the age of 54. He was a month from forced retirement at 55, but he looked like he was thirty-five.”

“But that makes you … Hearing about you, I though were near 70. Now looking at you, you can’t be more than 45, if that.”

“John, I turn 97 June 9th. That’s not to say you will age the same as I …”

“I should hope not. I am a man, I’ll have you know.” John laughed nervously.

“Your brother is a nut, Laura. I like him, my Frank was that way.”

“You promise my sister won’t be hurt, or anyone else either? I’ve read enough stories about magic making someone young or beautiful by stealing the same from someone else. No first born sons pledged to Satan?”

Mrs. Minnesalle laughed. “No, and no selling your soul to the Devil or worse, to a lawyer. Follow my instructions with reasonable care — some plain-old common sense -- and all will go well. I will leave you two alone to work the spell while I putter in the garden. With the doors closed I won’t hear the spell, and you won’t be disturbed. There is a one-page note with all the instructions written down step-by-step so you won’t be confused. Think of it as Magic for Dummies. It’s tucked in the book. Sorry about step two. It is important, though.”

“Um, sure, Mrs. Minnesalle. My sister and I will make sure to do that.”

”What was that about?” he said to Laura after Mrs. Minnesalle left.

* * * *

“Okay Sis. Step one, close all windows tight, draw the blinds and lock the door.”

“Check.”

“Step two. Take off all clothing, accessories and jewelry, including all rings, piercings — all of it. The spell is most effective if you are both naked. Don’t ask me how I persuaded my Frank, that’s private.”

“If they could do it … If you don’t stare, I won’t. Not that I would, you are my brother, yuck!”

“Agreed … Those are nice, Sis.”

“John! You said you wouldn’t peek.”

“Sorry, Sis. Great ass!”

“Right, pencil-dick.”

“Hey, it’s cold in here.”

“Step three. Light the candles and turn off the electric light, radio, etc. They only interfere with your concentration.”

“Check”

“That’s it, except for reading the book while facing each other close enough you can easily pass the book back and forth. She says the person the book was prepped for, that’s you, Sis, should go last. Here are the instructions. Did I miss anything?”

“It all looks okay. We are to read the pages Mrs. Minnesalle marked, and only those pages, John. Aren’t you glad it has a phonetic English version under each of the lines; no way could I have pronounced this stuff. The last instructions are, as you said, to sit in a comfortable position on the floor close together facing each other and to read the marked passage.”

“Okay sis, I need to concentrate. Ammara wesle foramus, zia pidora … zindaus. Veras hemai uno tella imdeminus unba samit. Amen. That was it Sis how do you feel …? Sis, your eyes are glowing. It’s faint but they are glowing. Wow, the candles are burning bright green, weird.”

“John? I feel strange … but I have to say the spell soon, or it won’t work and if you don’t get your wish, I lose mine. Hand me the book; whoa, my vision blurred for a moment and I felt dizzy. I’m okay now.

“Ammara wesle foramus, zia pidora”

-- thud … flup —

“ … zinfanaus. Feminas henati pepetuous duo tella identcus unba samit. Amen. That’s it, I’m sorry, my eyes got blurry and I had trouble reading. I dropped the book when I felt dizzy. Oooh, I felt dizzy again. I’m lucky it opened to the next page or lord knows what might have happened. I hope I said the spell right. “

“I don’t know, Sis, it sounded different somehow … I feel so sleepy and oooh! Sis …”

“John, you were wrong, the candles are burning an intense purple-blue, like a black-light. John, John something’s gone; wrong. I can’t see well at all. Everything is so blurry ... Oh, I feel stupid. My mistake, I don’t need my glasses anymore … John … John is that you? … Wake up, you don’t look well at all. You …You don’t look like you anymore?! The book, oh my … look at the book! John, wake up! Forgive me, this isn’t the page I was supposed to read. Oh, God what have I done?”

“Oooh ….Sis, help me, I feel like I’m on fire … God, it hurts! Help me; please make it stop!!”

-- Thud --

“John, don’t worry, I’ll get …Ooh, I feel odd. I ….”

-- Thud flup …thud --

* * * *

~~That’s odd. I felt the magic of the book working. The wards usually contain all but a trace of the magic. I’ve felt it working before, though never that strong but they are brother and …~~

~~What was that? The last time I felt a sensation like that, Virginia used a transmutation spell on her nephew, that poor confused boy. What does *she* call herself now … Goddess! I felt the magic again; it’s never been this intense. Someone read the wrong spell, but the first part felt normal, sort of~~

“I’m coming, you two, it will be alright!” ~~I hope.~~,

“Open the door! It’s Mrs. Minnesalle. Open up!” ~~Now where is that spare key?~~

“OH Goddess! Calm down, this may not be as bad as it looks … Let’s see how you two turned out… My, Laura, you’re a heart breaker, a little younger than I expected. A lot younger, you look like a college girl, if that. You could pass for a high school junior. Your husband will be so happy.

“Now John, how did you … Holy mother of ... ! … it’s worse. This is beyond my knowledge, time for me to call in some BIG favors. The Witches’ Council will have a fit over this. At least Laura and … John are alive and healthy … VERY healthy, all things considered.”

* * * *

“John, can you hear me? It’s Tony. I can’t thank you enough for what you did for my wife and I. My Laura is gorgeous and in perfect health. It is far more than she expected, and we thank you for it. Mrs. Minnesalle says I can undergo the spell in a few days, she has a grandniece who is ashamed of her body and we can say the spell for each other. I’m sorry. What happened to you will be a shock, but you have my support for as long as you need it. It’s not what you wanted, but it’s really for the best, John, believe me. You’ll …”

“My brother, you must hate me and it’s all my fault…”

“Hon, sit down. Your transformation was almost as severe as John’s. You were unconscious for 48 hours.”

”I’m fine. My transformation was far easier, and you know it. I’ll take it easy, but I have to be with him when … It’s only fair! Mrs. Minnesalle, John moved; I think he’s awake.”

“Ooooh.” ~~What a hangover! Those distorted noises sound like people. Damn why did they have to wake me? I was having the most erotic dream.~~ Ooooh!” ~~There she goes again. Did I get lucky? Whoever she is she sure sounds sexy.~~

“It’s my fault, John, if I may call you that. I’m Mrs. Minnesalle, we met? You’re at my house recovering. I should have warned your sister about eyeglasses and the like, a huge error on my part. I though the being naked and no jewelry, no accessories covered it. My mistake.”

“Th …tha … thwata?”

“Water? Sip slowly, John, you’ve been unconscious for some time.”

“Than …thank …Thanks, that’s better… Huh? ... Something’s wrong with my voice. I sound like you, Sis, just lower pitched and more resonant. Why am I blindfolded and tied down? Let me go! This is ... My body feels wrong, what happened?”

“I’ll untie you as Mrs. Minnesalle explains what happened, but promise me you won’t panic. I swear, when you look at what’s happened you’ll see you, we, were blessed. Not quite as intended, but blessed … amply. Okay my, ah brother?”

”Okay?”

“John, when your sister’s vision blurred, she dropped the book. The Post-it notes popped off and it opened to the wrong page. The spell was very similar to the one she had started to read, but different. By the time she realized her mistake it was too late. She ended up reading the first half of the rejuvenation spell, and the last half of a transformation/transmutation spell. Because both spells were so similar, and both of you read them with love for one another they interacted successfully, they hybridized. They combined into one spell and produced two consistent and permanent results. That is the Reader’s Digest explanation. It’s more complex than that. The magics catalyzed each other, how we haven’t a clue. The total effect was greater than the sum of both spells added normally.

“This new spell is a one off, I’m afraid. I called in some favors and you were examined by the best witches and sorcerers I know. They all say the same. To try and change you back would likely kill you, that’s if we can duplicate what you two did. We can only guess which spell she read in error; it could be one of several. To be honest, even knowing exactly what was said, using magic to counter magic is dangerous. Given the powerful magics you and your sister unleashed you’d likely both die in trying to undo what was done to you. It’s not all bad news, the women who examined your sister and you all wanted to know how to duplicate it. We didn’t let the guys look too close, though they all wanted to …”

“What? What do you mean, exactly?”

“Tony and I are going to help you up, then we’ll take off the blindfold. You trust your brother—in-law? Take a deep breath, stay calm, and look in the mirror. Then you will understand everything.”

“Hang on, John, while I get a grip under your arms …”

“Okay, Mrs. Minnesalle … Tony, you pervert! Get you hands off … my … breasts? I’m a woman, I take it? Excuse me while I… Just a quick feel … definitely female, the old Crocodile Dundee trick never fails.”

— giggle --

“Sorry I laughed there but … I do sound like a girl, don’t I?”

“I find it remarkable you are not panicking, John. It could be a side effect of how well the hybridized spell rewrote you. I wish I could take credit for the outcome. I’ve seen the results of many of rejuvenation and beauty spells. They work but never to this extent — I’m envious,” the old witch said. “There goes your blindfold, John, take a good look. You did turn out unusually fine.”

“What do you … Crap! … That’s me? I look like a centerfold. I can’t be more than 20 if I’m even that. I’ve seen science—fiction fantasy pinup art that wasn’t as sexy. Sis, can I see you?”

“Hi, John, what do you think of your sister now?”

“…My god, Sis, we’re identical twins!? We, we … oooh.”

“John, John? Help me get him, her to the bed. He, I mean, my sister fainted.”

“Your brother didn’t take the news well, did he, Honey?”

“True, but I hope my new sister will. Just look at her. If she can’t be a success in that body, she’s a fool and my broth … sister was never a fool. I heard what you said to her, about supporting her as long as it takes.”

“So? I meant it.”

“You deserve a reward for that. And I know just the thing.”

“Honey what are you doing … Let go of my …You want to *do it * here, on her kitchen table?!”

“She, he, oh … John’s waking, you lovebirds.”

“Coming, Mrs. M! Damn it, Tony.”

* * * *

“Am I okay, I’m so tired? That stupid spell isn’t killing me?”

“Far from it, this must be hard for you, but when you understand the upside, I think you’ll come to accept, even come to love what you you’ve become.

“John, my fellow witches believe the combined spell transformed your sister and you into the most perfect females possible, based on your combined genetics. In other words, you are better looking, healthier, smarter, more talented and just more *everything* than the best either of you could be individually.

“What do you mean by *everything*? And how do you know this?”

“John, you were out for five days. The magic had to do a lot more to change you than it needed to do for me. While you finished transforming, some friends of Mrs. Minnesalle ran me though a host of tests, both medical and magical. The medical people say they have never seen any woman as healthy as me. My asthma is gone, along with all my allergies, and I have perfect teeth. They x-rayed me; there is no evidence I ever had pneumonia. The lung damage is gone. Hon, I’m even a virgin again.”

“That won’t be for long.”

“Tony, you’re embarrassing John. But I think I’d like you to help me with that little problem. Sorry, but it doesn’t sound as if we’ll be completely identical for long, John.”

“You’re smiling, John. I like that.”

“I’m happy for you, Sis. You deserve this. You look beautiful, and for you to finally be healthy is a blessing. I… I hope I can be as happy. I promise I’ll try.”

“That’s all I ask, um …?” Um, John?”

“Why ya’ whispering, Sis?”

“Your nipples are erect and your cheeks are flushed. Something has you aroused. Don’t be embarrassed, I’m more *sensitive* since our change, too, Sis.”

“Sis I’ll be okay; it’s I’m ... ah … Oh crap. I’m hot for you, my own sister. The male in me sees this total babe and ... Does it mean what I think it does when your legs part on their own and you get wet down there? I’m a pervert; I’m lusting for my own twin.”

“John, I feel some attraction to you and I never looked at other women not that I think lesbianism is wrong. If that is what you chose, I’ll support you. At the moment I think it’s our new bodies combined with your male mindset. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“So this is just temporary?”

“I hope so, sis. That’s something else I’ve been thinking of. What about your name. You can’t be John anymore. You’re a woman and there is no denying it.

”Sis, I agree I’d better get used to it, but I will not change my name, forget that!”

“Okay, I can see that’s a sore point with you. Why not a compromise? You could consider changing the spelling to Jon, it’s less obviously male. Joan or Jean are nice, classic names if you don’t want something too trendy.”

“That’s precisely why I won’t change it. I’m not ashamed of who I was. I was John. Damn it I AM John! I want to remember. Maybe I’ll change my name someday, but I don’t want to lose me. Can you understand?”

“Gods, you’re not thinking of having surgery to … you know, change you back?”

“.As to surgery, Sis, I may not be happy but I’ve always wanted children. Hell, if I have to be artificially inseminated, I’ll do it if that’s what it takes. Sexual reassignment surgery would take that chance away from me. I may wish to be a man again, but I want to have children to love and grandchildren to spoil rotten, ones that are mine. Adoption is fine and even noble, but it’s not me.”

“You’re not going to cut you hair short, strap your breasts and dress like a man?”

“That would be stupid, and with this chest, downright painful, but don’t expect me to be a fashion plate, either.”

“Have you really looked at yourself? Heck, look at me; we’re identical, Sis. We’re gorgeous; we put most women to shame. I had to go out shopping the other day and several people asked me if I was a model or an actress.

“And there’s a lot more to it than just our being young and attractive. In those medical tests, they checked my fitness. I have always been fit, but never an athlete. This new body is a wonder. I’m so graceful, and flexible. I ran for an hour on a treadmill and never got winded. I got a little sweaty, but that was it. I felt wonderful afterward, so alive and energetic. My sense of balance is phenomenal, and I’m so strong. Oh, I’m completely fertile and biologically about 19 or 20. Everything I am, you are, Sis. Isn’t it wonderful?”

“I suppose, … but I’m not jumping in the sack with some guy to prove it. I’m me. I will not be what I am not.”

John, you’re a woman, you are not a man any longer. It will take time but I like being a woman and I love being a woman for my man. I pray you will too. Oh, dear, this may be a shock. You are also a natural witch, we both are.”

“A witch?”

“You’re white witches like me,” Mrs. Minnesalle said, interrupting the twins. “You must have had some potential in your family, and then, when the spell combined the best of each of you, you both became gifted. The huge expenditure of magic the spells unleashed left a considerable residue in your bodies. With training, you and your sister may become talented and powerful witches, possibly the most powerful in some time. You may be capable of doing what the spells in the book do, but without the assistance of a mystical object like it. It took dozens of skilled witches several generations to imbue that book with power. We, that is the Council, scanned you ladies and you each have as much power as the book. Your combined level of magical potential is unprecedented, and almost frightening.

“The local witches’ council can find nothing on record that compares or comes close, certainly not in modern times. They are concerned for your safety and wish to assist you in your training. The offer is a standing one you may refuse or accept freely, without consequence.”

“Huh?”

“She means you can quit if you want and they will not stop you or withdraw the offer either. The council talked with me and would like to talk with us both. They feel bad about what happened to you and they welcome the opportunities our powers present. I think we scare them a bit, but they mean us well. Somehow I know this. We could do serious good with our abilities, John. Please, consider the offer.”

“I’ll think about it. Can I get cleaned up and get some clothes? I need to get back to some semblance of normality.”

“As if our lives ever were normal, dear Sister of mine. Normal we have never been, and thank God for it.”

“I wish I knew how it will turn out? Life seems so much more uncertain now, Laura,”

“Yeah, ain’t it grand?”

* * * *

John’s journal, March 2, 2011

I begin this audio journal for my children, should I ever be blessed with any, or for the heirs to my estate, should I not. I’m writing this down so you may understand me better and, if you are my children, to understand your heritage. My sister suggested I do this to help me overcome some lingering *issues* I have about my transformation. She also thinks our story could make a great book or film. Just what Sis and I need, more publicity! I’ll explain more about that later. I have done things in my life I am ashamed of, and things I remember with pride. The following describes an early incident that illustrates this dichotomy.

In the four years since our, my sister Laura and my, transformations, life has been hard at times, for me anyways. My sister hit the ground running — so to speak — and has never looked back.

My sister’s marriage is stronger than ever. Tony did the spell a month after we did, and looks *marvelous*, so does Mrs. Minnesalle’s grandniece, Celia. Celia is one of my closest friends, and for a short while we were live-in lovers as I tried to sort out my life. We are still exceptionally close.

My sister’s a mother now, twice. I love my nieces. I spoil them rotten, but then I’m their favorite aunt. That’s not to say they don’t love Tony’s sister, Renae. She and my sister were not close, Renae thought he could do better. She also had a high opinion of herself, and thought she was better than Tony. I’d never met her until after our ‘accident.’ Our first meeting did not start out well. I was staying with Tony and Sis, trying to make sense of my wreck of a life. She rang the front doorbell. When I opened the door as Laura and Tony were busy bringing in groceries in the back way, Renae walked in like she owned the place.

“Tony, I came as soon as I could rearrange my schedule. How’s Laura?” She acted like I wasn’t there.

“Hello, Renae,” I said in greeting. I was straining not to shout obscenities at her. It had been nearly two months since the *accident* and she lived only fifty miles away.

“Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my brother’s house?”

~~She *noticed* me.~~ “I’m Laura’s sister, John.”

“You’re John, yah right. Like you’re related to that geeky sister-in-law of mine. Don’t lie to me. How much did those breasts set you back? They are big for my taste, but they look great on you. I bet they earn you a lot of tips at Hooters, or did Tony pick you up at a strip club? Who was your surgeon? I was thinking of having mine done. So Tony finally got some brains and dumped the frump? At least he has some taste. You’re hot. ”

All the anger, fear and worry I’d tried to push out of my mind in those first few days since my change roared back at once. I did something I never thought I would ever do.

-- SLAP — right across her face. She stood in shock; I seethed on the edge of losing all control.

“If you ever spout that filth about my sister, you’ll be missing teeth or worse, Got it, bitch? I’ve never hit anyone before. Don’t make me hit you again!” ~~Yeow! That stings. I hope I didn’t hurt her. I am so mad I think I’m gonna be sick~~

“Please don’t hit me! Calm down, you really must be her sister, to be that angry. I can see some resemblance but I thought she only had a brother? … You said you are John? That’s impossible, no way! You had me going there for a moment. I’m met a few TGs in my job as a campus recruiter, and no way were you ever a guy. Is this some kind of sick practical joke by Laura to get even with me? Are you’re her cousin?”

“It’s no joke, I’m not her cousin, *Renae*. Laura is my sister, my blood sister. I can’t state it any other way or I’d be lying. I'm sorry I hit you, but what you said was insulting.”

“Tony, I can hear you in the other room. What’s going on and who is … are? … Identical twins? Oh this is too rich! This must have cost you a bundle, Tony.”

“Renae, I thought you were better than this.”

“Tony?!”

“I’m ashamed of what you said to my wife and her sister. If I’d been in the room I would have slapped you too, sister or no.”

“Tony? Is that you? You look so … manly.”

“So I looked like a sissy, did I?”

“No, I mean you always were skinny as a kid and a man. I don’t understand. You’re better developed than most guys on our college wrestling team but how? I know *that* voice and the way you speak and it is you, Tony. It may be a little deeper, but the voice is you. Christ, how did this happen? I saw you six months ago, and you looked nothing like this.”

“Let me explain, Tony.”

“Good luck, John.”

“My sister’s coworkers knew she wanted a child but was having little success. They knew of a white witch who had this magic book. The spell required two people, each to wish for the benefit of the other. My sister flipped to the wrong page when her vision blurred — the spell was in a foreign language so she didn’t realize her error— and instead of us both becoming healthier versions of ourselves, we became these male fantasy twins. To be brutally honest, I think the magic read both our DNA and our minds. We’re a combination of my sister’s ideal body image, and my fantasy woman.”

“You did it again. I almost believed you this time. That is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard. Steroids could do this to you if you abused them, Tony but if you think I’ll believe these two Barbie Dolls are your wife and her equally geeky brother you’re …”

“Don’t you dare insult Tony or my sister that way. Shut up, Renae!”

“…”

“Cat got your tongue, Renae?”

“… … … ?!”

“This is beyond funny, Renae. God you’re such a bitch!”

“! … !!!! … !!!!!!!!”

“I am SO sorry, Renae. I’ll get you a pen and paper.” Turning, “Uh, Tony, I think I just muted your sister. I’ll restore her, I promise.”

“John, you worked magic? Mrs. Minnesalle said it was possible, but how?”

“I was pissed at Renae, Tony, and you know I haven’t taken this transformation well. It just happen … Gods, if I said or thought something like ‘why don’t you die’. I could have killed …

“Renae, don’t run off! Please, don’t be afraid. It was an accident, like what happened to Laura and I. The transformation spell to make my sister a little younger, healthier and fertile went wrong. Sis and I ended up identical twins and, um, … witches. But good witches, I swear! I’ll make it up to you. Sis, get Mrs. Minnesalle on the phone. We have an emergency.”

* * * *

“Thanks, Mrs. M., I owe you big time for this … Yes, I will come in for magic training, you have my word, but let me make it up to my sister-in-law first. Gotta go now, bye.”

“Renae, our white witch friend says since I did this by instinctively lashing out, I should be able to reverse it. You take your time writing … There is no need to rush, Renae.

“I see, Renae. No, you have every reason to be afraid of me and what I might subconsciously do to you. I promise I mean you no harm. Sit on my lap and hug me… I’m not a pervert; If I want to touch a woman’s behind I have my own now, 24/7. It’s good to see you smile. Relax and think of happy things. Mrs. Minnesalle said this will only work if I feel positive thoughts about you, both consciously and subconsciously. Be honest, your behavior to my sister Laura did not give me a favorable impression of you.”

“That’s it, Renae, a big hug now, don’t be shy. Forgive me, Renae, I want to be your friend. .. Let’s start over, and maybe we can be good friends … I’m so sorry I hurt you. I wish you were as you were before I muted you, only better… I’m trying, I really am. I can’t stand hurting anyone!”

“It’s okay, John I forgive ... my voice? It’s back. Thank you! This is for you, John.”

“Mmm, that was nice.”

“I feel so stupid to have doubted you, but you have to admit it was a wild story.”

“I glad it worked. You can stop hugging me if you want, but don’t stop unless you want too. Nice kiss, by the way.”

“My pleasure. I ... I need a hug, John. God that sounds strange, calling you John, but I’ll get used to it. I’m such a bitch because George is cheating on me. Oh, hell, he left me last week and cleaned out two of our joint accounts before I found out. It’s taken all this time to protect what was left. Thank God he couldn’t’ touch my IRA and retirement funds.”

“You want I should turn him into a frog? Or make him a eunuch? I’m willing to give it a try.”

“John, I think we will be very good friends.”

* * * *

See what I mean about how I have these two sides to my nature, the impulsive, emotional side and the thoughtful, compassionate side? Four years since my transformation, I am still that way but I am getting better. One other good thing came out of this incident besides my friendship with Renae. That also goes back to our first meeting. God, I wish I had this all on video.

* * * *

“Sis, have you seen yourself?”

“What is it Tony? I feel normal.”

“There’s a full sized mirror in our bedroom, Renae. Take a good look at yourself..”

“Thanks, Laura … Oh my, did you do this consciously, John?”

“If I hurt you in any way I’ll fix it, I promise. I tried to think only positive thing about you, honest.”

“Smokn’ sis.

“John, I don’t think you will have any complaints from my sister.

“Sis, since when were you a real redhead? Cute freckles!”

“Tony! Get your filthy eyes out of here. If you need to stare at a half-naked woman, I suggest your wife … uh … I’m a red-head?”

* * * *

I’d not known, but Renae had long been envious of women with good figures.

“John, I was a late bloomer and I … developed unevenly. I understand most women have one breast that is larger than the other but the difference is usually modest, and almost indiscernible. In a low percentage of women the difference is considerable. In my case the, difference was small, but noticeable. It distressed me a lot, I guess I obsessed over it, but what kid doesn’t think there is something wrong with their looks? I wore a bra that was padded on one side to even things out. It helped but *I* still knew. I had these scars on my face and arms from a bicycle accident as a little girl. The other girls in school teased me about all of it. I never knew girls could be so cruel to each other. I’m sorry, but I think it’s why I got so bitchy as I got older.”

“We never knew,” said Laura.

“That explains the long sleeves, and the way you wear your hair. I thought you liked old movie stars such as Veronica Lake but I understand now. I’m sorry. Children can be cruel.”

“Thank you, John, but it doesn’t matter anymore. Tony, this is for women only, so scram!” He left, she locked the door and stripped naked. “Look at me now, and I have you to thank for all this, John.”

She slowly turned to show off her now flawless body. The scars, well, all her scars were gone. Her breasts were evenly matched, sized just right for her frame and … the remaining male ego in me *wanted* her … you know. She was not the least bit self conscious, but eventually got dressed, though her bra was a cup size or two too small.

“You fixed me, John, I’m whole now. That bastard ex of mine can go to hell for all I care. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, friend?” she asked.

“If you want me,” I replied.

* * * *

I can hardly believe it but, Renae remains of my closest friends. She’s honestly nice to my sister, and delights in babysitting for her sister-in-law or *Cousin Laura* as she prefers to call my sister. I am her *Sister John*, imagine that. Sometimes we both sit for my sister and Tony, and delight in each other’s company and that of our nieces.

It was because of this incident and a related one that I took up the Witches Council’s offer of training. They felt I was making progress under Mrs. Minnesalle’s tutelage, but that I would benefit from additional instruction. Okay, it was not so much an offer at this point, but more of a warning to accept training, for my own good.

I got in trouble with the local witches council because I … In my defense I point out, I did it to encourage her sleazy ex, George, to return all the funds he withdrew, that rightfully would have been Renae’s in a divorce. He was a pig, in addition to an adulterer. I’ll admit it did lead to him to accepting a less than equal divorce settlement but he was at fault. In exchange, I restored his …

Renae put it best a few months later. “Remind me to never get you angry. I’m glad the council forgave you. I explained about your accidental use of magic on me, and how you immediately regretted it, then restored me to better than I was. You were only trying to help me with George; so you went a little far. I hope my testimony helped.”

“Very much so, Renae. Celia and your testimonies saved my bacon. I was told using magic for revenge was irresponsible, could expose my sister witches, and potentially could boomerang on me. After I was officially admonished, I was told that they approved of what I did to an adulterer. They might have done the same to him if or worse, had we but asked them. They were lenient because I did restore him after all, and I made him *better* than before. That went over well with the council.”

“John, why did you just giggle?”

“I made him bigger and better *down there* but I didn’t make it *all* in his favor.”

“Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know ... Please tell me; I have to know.”

“I’m not a total bitch, Renae.”

“John. are we denying who we are again?”

“Okay, I am one-hundred percent bitch, are you happy?”

“I’m much happier, John. You’re more of a woman than I am, and I was born female. Don’t reject who you are now.”

“Right. As I was saying, Renae, if he remains or becomes monogamous with his main girlfriend, they will have a satisfying and productive life together.”

“Productive?”

“She’ll have babies like a factory, but always regain her pre-pregnancy figure. I can’t punish your home wrecker, I don’t know her. Believe me, by the time they have six noisy children, it will be punishment enough for George. By the time they have ten …But there is a catch. He will satisfy his woman and himself, so long as he remains faithful. Should he ever cheat on her, he’ll find *it* has a mind it‘s own.”

“What?”

“He will get an erection at the worst possible times; say anytime he sees a man who is significantly stronger than him. His sexual preference won’t change — he’ll still be able to satisfy his woman -- but his reaction to other men will look like …”

“He’s a homosexual on the make. With his temper and overconfidence, he’s going to get beaten to a pulp someday. John, I think I love you.”

“You know, Renae, if I believed you swung that way, I’d take you up on it.”

“I’m happy you agreed to let Mrs. Minnesalle and her friends train you. That talent of yours is dangerous.”

“Laura’s been helping with that, as she accepted training first. It is kind of fun after you learn some control.”

* * * *

As those first few months went by I thought I might be a lesbian — or whatever the PC term is. I certainly was attracted to women, at first. But though it was fun, nothing clicked with Celia, as lovely and caring as she is. We enjoyed each other’s company and bodies but it never progressed beyond that. To be more precise, I did desire her at first, but it faded over time. I still love her as a dear friend but I find the sight of an attractive a women rarely arouses me anymore, but the sight of a good-looking man does. I wish I was still a man, or a lesbian for her, as she is happily bi. I wish I could desire her; it would have prevented a lot of heartache. Celia is a classy individual; I can’t say that about most men I’ve dated.

I dated a few guys in my first year as a woman but that was an unmitigated disaster. I should have waited longer than a few months, but Laura insisted it would be good for me. When Celia urged me to go and find a man to love, I couldn’t say no.

The first man was a slick wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am type. He got his *wham-bam* alright, in the form of a spiked heel to the foot, and a knee to the groin. If the jerk had bided his time, he could have got what he wanted. I was interested — in his body, in that regard I’m clearly hetero — but the mind in that virile body disgusted me once I saw past his charm. When I think how close I was to letting him take my virginity I feel sick. He’s lucky I’d learned some control over my abilities by then. I’d have castrated him or worse if I’d let my anger rule me.

What pisses me off, is he was someone I thought was my friend before the transformation. He was my sister’s friend, too. I think that’s why she got us to go out together, she figured he was safe. Some friend, the moment I’m f***able, he turns on me. At least he has given me a wide berth since, and any of my female friends too. Rumor is, he came close to losing part or all of one of his … I’m glad he didn’t. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone but I’m not sorry it hurt, a lot.

The next couple of dates were victims of circumstance. After that disaster of a date, Laura felt bad for me and wanted to cheer me up. Laura submitted our photos and *biographies* to the Ford modeling agency in Chicago on a lark. We got a call a few days later to come down to Chicago and …

* * * *

“Ms. Ford, the Milwaukee twins, Laura and John are here.”

“Come in, ladies. Take off your coats and turn around slowly until I tell you to stop. Nice height … I love your hair, it frames your lovely faces beautifully. You both have such enchanting eyes.”

“Thank you.”

“Quiet please, ladies… Those legs are outstanding, as are your figures. You’ve had no surgery have you?”

“What you see is what you get, it’s all natural. Stop giggling, Laura. Sorry, my sister has a wicked sense of humor. I’m worse.”

“Are you two always like this?”

“No, this is one of our better days. And you’re the one who giggled, John, not me.”

* * * *

We signed with them the same day, less than 72 hours after they received our homemade *portfolio*. Within six months of our transformation, only a couple months into our modeling *carriers*, we were nationally famous. We did some ads for Harley Davidson and Miller Brewing that got us national exposure and our careers took off from there. We did magazine covers, print and billboard ads. Several men’s magazines were interested, as was Sports Illustrated, but that was too much for me. We almost agreed to pose for the swimsuit edition then Laura got pregnant and took time off. Since then I’ve branched out into TV ads and some acting, mostly eye-candy roles, but a few serious parts, cop shows mostly.

Laura still works as a model, but usually for various mothers and baby magazines. My nieces have a tidy sum put in trust for their college expenses from the money they earned for working with mommy, some while still in the womb—talk about precocious.

My problem is anyone I’ve dated since I became famous expects my outgoing, sexy, confident professional image. I played this ex-call girl girlfriend of a police detective a few times on a popular show and people began to think I was like her in real life. It was partially my fault, as I liked her hard-boiled, sultry, confident style and carried some of it into my public *persona*.

What was it Rita Hayworth said? Something about guys thinking she was like this famous character she’d played in a film, Gilda, and finding out she was nothing like her off screen. When things started to heat up with a man, I’d panic. It’s not all my fault; most of the guys want me for their reputation.

The worst were a couple male gold-diggers. Paul was the worst. We’d been going out for several months, and he was patient. I’d made up my mind to give myself to him. I loved him, or thought I did. I certainly lusted for him. We were … He’d booked a swank hotel suite, ordered room service, flowers, strawberries and champagne -- the works. It was hopelessly romantic and I fell for it. I was undressing and *ready* -- I wanted him bad -- when I overheard him on his cell taking to his bookie. He owed a bundle, and I was his next meal ticket. I grabbed my clothes and purse and sneaked out of the hotel room, barefoot and in my underwear. I dressed in the elevator and took a cab home. The next day I learned the bastard was in the hospital, he’d met with an *accident*. I think the *accident* was his loan-shark. I sent him a bunch of roses, dyed black, with a card that read, “Serves you right, *Prick*.” It seemed appropriate. And no, I had nothing to do with his accident, not even subconsciously. The Council proved that, and believe me, they were thorough. As for the other gold-digger, I’d learned my lesson and was more restrained. I did a key job on his new car, removed the valve cores on all four tires and poured a five pound bag of sugar in his gas tank. Do you think I have issues?

I’ll add more to the journal another day, I promise,

John.

End of entry

* * * *

“I’m glad you came to lunch with me, John.”

“You giggled again, Sis.”

“It’s you and that name of yours. Why don’t you change your name? I know I promised not to ask you again, but still, Sis.”

“Are you on that again? I was born John, I’m used to it. I’m known by John professionally, so why change? And don’t say, ‘it will help you come to terms with being a woman’. Believe me, the woman bit is no problem. It’s learning how to evaluate men that’s the problem. I, I like men, Sis. I fantasize about men and the sight of a handsome one gets me excited, all over, okay? I just need to learn how to pick them better. It will take time, that’s all.” ~~Now if I really believed that I’d be okay.~~

“Good, I can’t bear seeing you alone. Give me a hug, but be gentle, my breasts are tender.”

~~Be gentle? Her breasts do look a bit swollen and …~~

“Sis, I thought you had *that* look to you again. How many months?”

“One, I found out today, and I’m happy. Three pregnancies in so few years will be a burden, but a blessed one. Don’t worry about me, Sis, the spell keeps me fit. I don’t have any stretch marks or other signs I’ve given birth. You’ll be there for the delivery again?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I particularly like the *colorful* language you’ve used to describe your feelings at the time to Tony.”

“It does hurt, spell or no, but it’s manageable and I can’t argue with the results. You will come to visit this weekend?”

“I’d never miss one of my niece’s birthdays. I’d better go now. I have a photo session downtown.”

“You’ll find someone, I know it. John, if you should choose to stay a single woman I’ll back you, but at least consider a guy. Having a child is everything, and a guy is much more fun than a vibrator.”

“Sis … John … you need to get over your fear of men. It’s not healthy for you to be alone. You may like women, desire them even but you are attracted to men, I can tell. We have the same body and the same brain. We may have retained our previous memories and consciousness but you have my sexual tastes, Hon. I see how you react to Tony and I when we are affectionate. You are attracted to him and I see the jealousy in your expression when he and I are close.”

“NO!”

“Don’t deny it. I’m not worried; you love me too much to risk hurting me by letting Tony know your feelings for him. That’s why you need a steady boyfriend. Kim at work has this younger cousin. He just got out of the Army, he’s a dream, and refreshingly honest. Kim assures me he’s always been a one-woman man and that he is currently unattached. You’d like him.”

“I think about it, but don’t push me.”

* * * *

~~I hope I’m not late. Parking is a pain on this side of town. Huh? What the hell!?~~ “No! … Gotcha! ...Mister, do you have a death wish?”

“Miss, as much as I enjoy looking a beautiful woman, would you let go of my belt.”

-- Crash --

“What was that? … Oh, my God! I am so sorry I yelled at you, Miss, You saved my life!”

“My pleasure?”

“How did you know that piece of wall was about to collapse? Did you see it bulging or what?”

“I … I don’t know; I *knew* if you went down that alley you’d die. Somehow I saw it!”

“Are you psychic?”

“No, this is the first time I ever …” ~~Mrs. Minnesalle hinted I might be precognitive.~~

“Can I have your name and number so I can call you? I owe you a dinner at least. You saved my life, lovely lady. I wish I could stay and talk, but I have a court date this afternoon. Don’t talk much do you, my guardian angel? You sure you cute when you blush, Ms ... ”

“I …I … Um, thanks, Mr. ..?”

We exchanged cards, as we were both late for appointments. I agreed to call him later and set up a dinner date.

What is with me? I almost came in his presence. But he is so hot, and he’s a lawyer too. Whoa, slow down Girl … Girl?~~

* * * *

“Hi, Gregory? This is John, yes I know it’s a goofy name for a girl but it’s mine. I know it’s been a month, but does the offer for dinner still stand? Meet me for dinner at six, Chinese Pagoda? I’ll give to the address. Wear casual dress. We talk and eat but that is all. I’ve not had good luck with men, so I need to be sure first, can you understand?”

“Perfectly understandable, I’m sure as a famous and attractive woman, people have tried to get close to you for less than honorable reasons. To be honest, I was afraid you’d never call me when I realized who you were.”

“And why’s that? Is the great big old lawyer afraid of little old me?”

“I thought you looked familiar, and then I saw your name on the card. You’re the model on all those billboards and magazines. You’ve done some acting, too. I’m sure you have fascinating stories you can tell me. I agree, six it is.”

* * * *

“This is a modest but cozy restaurant. You surprised me in a pleasant way. I thought you were used to the high life.”

“They have good food at a fair price, and nobody bothers me here. This is the real me, disappointed, Greg?”

“Not in the least. John, I have a secret I must tell you. I see you in my dreams; I can’t help it.”

~~Is he a stalker? Nah, we’ve never met until the alley, but what does he mean?~~

“I don’t mean to scare you. You’re up on this billboard across the road from my office. It’s one of you on the skin-tight dress for that women’s perfume. I must say the photos don’t do you justice, though the billboard you does have bigger breasts, but then you are a couple stories tall on it.”

“I don’t know whether to kiss you for complimenting me or slap you for bring rude. No, I do know. I think I’ll kiss you.”

“I, ah … Thank you, John. Do you always kiss strange men whose life you’ve saved?”

“Only you so far, I think I like it. I may have to do this more often. That’s a hint, Greg, for you to kiss me, and it better be good, or no next date.”

It was very good. I found I liked Greg, he was good looking and didn’t seem excessively suave or on the make. I enjoyed kissing him and he kissed me just right, not too aggressively, but not too timidly, either. I agreed to see him again on a casual basis.

* * * *

I’d been burned by my earlier dates; I was determined I would not be a victim again. With that in mind, I resumed my classes in magic with Mrs. Minnesalle. She had assured Laura and I with the right training we could defend ourselves against would be attackers and rapists.

“John, as you missed out on some of the lessons, today’s is a big one for you. Laura’s magical talents and yours both appear centered on transformational magic. It can be a powerful weapon, but that is a big limitation as well. It can be too powerful when you need something subtle, like using an elephant gun when a flyswatter would be more appropriate.”

“So what do you suggest I do?”

“There are two approaches that come to mind. Learn to turn down the intensity of your transformational spells. Learn to tie an attacker’s shoelaces together, versus turning them into sheep. The other is to develop your ability to read people. It need not be mindreading. Accurately reading a person’s body language or emotions can tell you if they mean you well or ill. And that does not necessarily mean magic is required. People *read* each other all the time, you just need to hone that ability.

“A second component of reading people and discerning their intentions, is identifying the different kinds of magic. You and Laura are extraordinarily powerful. That makes you a target for those who would enslave you for your talents or drain your magic, That last one is particularly nasty, the thief often kills their *donor* as a byproduct of stealing magic.. If you can read a person’s intent and identify magic *on-the-fly* you will be safe from most any attacker.

“As we work on these goals I will teach you several spells designed to deflect attacks. Used creatively they can be most effective. First of all let’s head down to my basement rec room.”

“I said I would pay for those Venetian glass vases I fried the last time I was here.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I don’t want any of my animals to be, you know. Jake is still getting used to being a cat, let alone a female one.”

“If he hadn’t stuck that wet nose of his in my butt crack it wouldn’t have happened. It was a reflex action, it wasn’t conscious”

“John, that is what Springer-spaniels do. At least she’s a pretty cat, a Seal Point.”

“See? A point in my favor already. I may not have much control, but I do quality work.”

“True, Hon, but those twisted blobs that were my antique, hand-blown Venetian glass vases scream you *need* training.”

* * * *

Several weeks passed with minimal damage to Mrs. Minnesalle’s property, though Jake proved more popular with the local toms than we anticipated. She proved to be far more receptive to their overtures than we anticipated as well. How was I to know when I nixed him, I unfixed her. I had to promise to take at least two of Jake’s, now Jackie’s, future kittens.

* * * *

“Okay ladies, this is a test of your level of control. Laura, John, I am impressed with the progress you’ve made. John, given that you missed some of the early instruction, your progress is most gratifying.

“I want you each to choose a piece of fruit from the dish here and transform it into a different fruit. Remember to use the spells I taught you to *scan* the object so you can apply the appropriate conversion *matrix*.”

“Yeah, yeah, Mrs. M, I *feel* the bunch of bananas, and I feel the apple pie I wish to change it into. Got it.”

“That’s an advanced transformation, John, be careful.”

“I’ve been practicing at home, no worries … oops! It’s not supposed to glow like that, is it? Never mind, Mrs. M, I’ll start over …”

“No!”

* * * *
Fifteen minutes later

“It was an accident! How many times to I have to say I’m sorry, Sis. I’ll pay for a new dress and I can’t believe hot applesauce is that hard to wash off of silk. It washed off the basement walls and floor easy enough. I wonder why it glowed florescent orange?”

“Ah, hum.”

“Okay if I bring the paint and rollers tomorrow, Mrs. Minnesalle? I doubt if I could do the ceiling today and it will give the ceiling tiles more time to dry. We have some great stain blocking, scrub resistant paint at the hardware store, I’ll buy that for you, okay? Laura, stop laughing!”

* * * *

I had enough paint left over from doing the basement acoustic ceiling tiles to do her basement stairway. Mrs. M forgave me, and continued the training, one-on-one, to give me more attention for some reason I can’t fathom. I got much better, honest. We continued on like this for several months and I was beginning to enjoy my newfound gifts, including womanhood.

* * * *

It was a Saturday and I was at the hardware store — you thought I quit didn’t you? I continue to work between acting and modeling gigs because I liked the owner and customers. Also he let me buy into the business so I had a stake in its survival. It was a smart move on his part, business has more than doubled since word got out I work there and that’s on average. When I am working there the place is packed. The people buy stuff too; it’s not just to ogle my goods. I still work there on occasion now, some four years later.

It took a while, but the regular customers got used to my new look and treated me much like before. You can’t begin to understand how precious that is. There are some differences, but for the most part, I am still John to them. The little old ladies I fix screens and windows for bring me fresh baked goodies like before, but now also bring along pictures of their favorite nephews, *Just out of law school and single.”

The guys are as friendly as ever, more so. This one sharp-dressed fifty-something man used to joke with me and slap me on the back good naturedly. He still does, however sometimes the hand lightly swats my butt and not my back, but that’s as far as it ever goes. If anything, his jokes have gotten raunchier to get a rise out of me but I zing him back. To him, I’m still one of the guys, just built differently, and I love him for it. I used to get occasional offers to go out for drinks at a local tavern, and maybe pickup some girls from the younger male regulars. Now I frequently get asked out for drinks and dancing — but I’m the pick-up. That is not strictly the case, I recall a recent offer to go for drinks and pick up girls, but that was from an athletic lesbian dom I met on a modeling assignment. I must admit I was tempted. My she was fit.

I was in the back fitting a piece of replacement glass to fit a customer’s storm window when I got a pleasant surprise. “John, do you have a minute? It’s okay that I’m in the backroom?”

“Mrs. Minnesalle! You’re always welcome back here. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

She looked around to see we were alone then spoke. “I have two things to tell you, my dear. I have come to offer you a *graduate level* course in magic taught by two of our local magic phenoms. The witches’ council is satisfied with your progress and is in agreement with my assessment of your needs. You and Laura have done well under my tutelage, but Tamara and Charlie can take you much farther. I’ve taught you as much as I can. Tamara may be of particular interest to you, as some years back she foolishly did two transmutation spells. One was voluntary the other was not. Her intent was to help a pair of star-crossed lovers. It nearly ended in suicide.”

“And why would a near tragedy interest me?”

“Because, John, that witch and both of her transformees are now the best of friends. When you meet them you will understand.

“My other message is more personal. I have a grandnephew; he’s a college graduate who just received a MA in business administration. He’s my youngest sister’s daughter’s boy, and a nicer child I have never known. He’s become a man who is as decent as any great-aunt could want and more. Giovanni looks much like my late father, the dark hair and piecing eyes; you’ll love him, I’m certain. He’s single and I assure you he’s not a gold-digger, drinker, or adulterer. I mentioned that I knew you, and he’s interested in meeting you. He saw your TV appearances, and yes he knows you are not *her*.

“I think about it, but I don’t know.”

“Whatever your decision on my nephew, please come to my home next Monday evening to meet your new *instructors*. They really will do you both a world of good.”

* * * *

“Good evening, John, Laura. Your new instructors Tamara and Charlie are waiting for you in the parlor, along with Charlie’s husband Jules. May I take your coats?” asked Mrs. Minnesalle. She made introductions. “John and Laura, these are Julies, his wife Charlie and their good friend Tamara.” The six greeted each other and got seated. John and Charlie looked at each other as if they recognized the other but the sensations passed.

“Mrs. M., I thought Tamara and Charlie were our teachers? What’s with Jules?”

“Jules is here to meet you; he’s concerned for my safety. Sweetie, anyone Mrs. Minnesalle approves of is a good person, you know that.”

“I know but I feel responsible for you and … well you are in your fifth month.”

“Fifth month? Come to think of it, Laura, Charlie does look much like you did at five months.

“Congratulations, Charlie, Jules, I wish you every happiness with your baby. I know Laura loves her girls, but then they are angels.”

“They’re angels when you are around, John. The rest of the time they are little devils.

“Congrats on your child. I’m busy cooking up number three at the moment,” Laura patted her own belly.

“Then you’re a veteran at this. Laura. We’re expecting our first child, it’s a girl. Jules insisted we have all the tests done; he’s such a worrywart when it comes to me. We’ll have been married three years as of this December first. We plan on having a big family; I’m having the first two and Jules the two after that.”

“Humma? I, … sorry Sis and I, we’re confused.”

“Jules is so devoted because he used to be sweet, petite Julie, and I was Charlie and a guy, a big, tall guy.”

“I told you Tamara got into trouble once over a pair of transformations? Meet the pair.”

“Charlie saved both our lives. Jules took it bad when she, that’s Charlie, rejected him after he’d been changed into a woman without his consent.” Tamara explained.

“Jules was the near suicide you mentioned?”

“I tried crashing into a bridge abutment, Laura, but veered off at the last moment. I thought of how much Charlie had loved me when he was a man and I was a woman, and she, I mean Charlie, deserved more time to adjust to his, I mean her, involuntary change into a woman. I hoped you followed all that, gender flipping plays havoc with the pronouns. I flipped the car in avoiding the bridge and was badly injured. I recovered, as you can see, and Charlie eventually forgave my having him transformed.”

“It took time, months before I could fully trust Jules, despite our attraction. When I learned of his nearly successful suicide, I felt guilty. I thought hard about all that had happened and what didn’t happen as part of the transformations. I asked myself, ‘If I love Julie, why can’t I love Jules? They are the same soul in a different package, much like I am.’ I wanted children, now I had many more years to enjoy them, if only I could embrace my change. I realized my intense attraction to Jules was only my old attraction to Julie, intensified by the novelty of this body and the stronger emotions of youth. There was no compulsion spell on us, I was mistaken. Any attraction we felt was genuine.

“We dated for the first time seven months after my transformation. Jules asked me that very night to marry him, but I wasn’t ready. We dated for two years before I said yes. Laura, John, you need to understand why I felt this way. In transforming us, Tamara took the very best of our genetics and enhanced that. Then she tweaked things so that we were each others ideal lover. She outdid herself, in that Jules is everything the female me could want in a lover, as I am his. That was the big reason why I rejected Jules, I was obsessed with his perfection as I saw him.”

“You rejected him because he was your hearts desire?”

“John is it?”

“Yes, I never changed my name after I … Mrs. Minnesalle told I used to be a guy?”

“I know who you both were. You two were the talk of the local witches’ council for months.

”To get back to my story, John, I was angry. I’d been changed without my consent and my intense attraction to Jules confirmed my worst fears -- that I’d been and was still being manipulated. I’ve never liked feeling helpless and under someone else’s control. The moment the transformed me saw Jules I wanted him, then and there. That moment, I *knew* this was clearly outside manipulation. As I said earlier, my conclusion was wrong, we were not being manipulated, but I thought that we were, and it made me furious. I’ve since come to love Jules for many of the same reasons I did when I was as a big man and he was this elfin sprite of a woman.”

“Charlie, you’re embarrassing me, but keep it up, I love it.”

“A guy six years, and you still act like a girl, Jules.

“What I thought was an insidious trap, has been our salvation. My desire for Jules has not only continued, it has grown over time. To think I nearly threw away love because of my stupid pride. I still have occasional twinges of anger over my transformation, but when I feel my growing child or kiss my husband I think how lucky I am. I wasn’t a bad looking man, and I was respectably endowed, thank you very much, but Jules. The first time I saw it I was scared.”

“Then why were you giggling and licking your lips, hussy. The woman nearly killed me when we finally consummated our love. I mean, every woman has the right to be a nymphomaniac, but she was abusing the privilege.”

“I am not a slut; I’m a sensuous woman who knows how to please her man and herself… Alright, I’m a slut, happy?”

“You know I am, Rose.”

“Rose?”

“It’s a pet name, Laura. Jules coined it because of how I *bloom* when we are, um, intimate.”

“And I mostly call her that because of Charlie’s great beauty, inner and outer. I did her an injustice in causing Tamara to transform her but thank God it came out well in the end. I am so fortunate she forgave me; I will do anything to keep her happy.”

“Oh Honey, rub my back some more? To the right a bit … down slightly … oooh, that’s wonderful, Jules.”

“I’m having the first two kids. Once they are weaned Jules has promised to become a woman again and let me, as a man, impregnate her twice. This is despite the thought of sex with a man being so abhorrent to her that it was much of the reason behind our sex changes. She loved me as a person but couldn’t love me as a man, she only desired women as lovers. That she is willing to make this sacrifice …I’m so proud of her, ah him. To be honest, Julie was a cute petite woman but Jules is a major hunk, don’t you agree?”

“He’s very handsome,” John replied.

“It’s only fair I have Charlie’s babies. She’s agreed to bear two of mine; I can too for my love. Now that we’ve made love as man and woman I think I can handle the situation being reversed, for while at least. I can always imagine Charlie’s still a woman. And no matter which body she is in she is still my love. We will find away. We might even end up a lesbian couple in the end. Charlie said she is willing to try it for me. Isn’t she the greatest? Oh Hon, your much prettier than I was.”

“Go on, Jules! It’s true but please do go on.”

“Charlie!”

“Tamara, you said you got into trouble over the transformations? You said that Charlie saved your life as well as Jules.”

“Laura, I offered to change Charlie back and I fully intended honor her request so once it was safe for Charlie. Then Charlie changed her mind because she realized she still loved Jules despite the deceit. Unfortunately this was right when the Witches Council found out what I had done. They assumed I had tampered with Charlie’s mind and wanted to strip me of my abilities then transform me into something degrading or worse. Changing people against their will or without their permission is a serious offence among the magically gifted. Had Jules or Charlie died I could have been executed.

“Charlie intervened and let the council examine her without any reservation. It must have been uncomfortable in the least, all those mind probes and psychic scans. I’ve been scanned a few times and it is unnerving, having all your innermost secrets laid bare. Her scans were far more intense and extensive. Charlie convinced them in the end and my punishment was to be her mentor in the magical arts. She gained powers as an unintended side effect of the transformation and needed training. I kept my powers thanks to her. Charlie is a star pupil; she’s almost as good as I am. In some ways she’s better, she’s more powerful.”

“The exams were unpleasant but they proved what I *knew* in my heart, I loved Jules, transformations or not. I had near to absolute proof I truly loved him, what is that worth? As to my magical talents, Tamara exaggerates but I am pretty good. That’s in part why we held off having children this long. I needed time to become fully comfortable as a woman and I needed to get my magic under control. Goddess knows what harm I could have done if I unleashed my magic carelessly. I heard recently a novice witch changed a cat’s sex by accident. Can you believe?”

“You’re looking at Miss Oops, I‘m on the list to take in her kittens when it is time.”

“I didn’t mean to insult you but you must admit the humor in the incident and the danger. It could have been a person you transformed. That is all the more reason to get you advanced training. May I examine you ladies? It’s nothing invasive, more of a passive scan. Being pregnant I’m cautious about excessive exposure to magic.”

“Sure, okay with you, Sis?”

“It’s fine with me, John.”

“Laura, lets see what makes you tick … My, you have a remarkable level of magical energy bound to you. Can you do anything useful with it?”

“Mrs. M. … Minnesalle, taught me to place wards to prevent my children from running off without my knowing, that one has saved me a lot of grief. I know a few house cleaning tricks and self-defense spells. I have potential for more but I had to suspend my training a couple times while pregnant. I’m here today to offer my sister John moral support. I will train with you two at some future date as I am pregnant again. I mentioned it earlier.”

“Laura, you may wish to have your children evaluated for magic on an annual basis. It often runs in families. The same goes for you, John when you have a family.”

“Now as to your sister, John, and I though Charlie was a strange name for a girl. Let’s see what makes you tick… Yeouch!” Charlie staggered and started to fall.

“Are you okay, Charlie?” Jules said and caught her. “What did you do, John?”

“Nothing, I tried to relax for her scan, that’s all.”

“I’m fine, Jules, I simply was overwhelmed for a moment, like getting a nasty static shock in winter. John, your magic reserves are incredible. I’ve never met anyone with your level of stored magic. How much training have you taken from Mrs. Minnesalle, I mean Mrs. M.? I’m sorry; I was brought into this consultation on short notice.”

“As much as she thought she could teach us, plus some from the witches council though not as much as Laura. I had other considerations after our transformations.”

“So that was what I sensed earlier; there was this momentary connection between us when we first met which could explain the magical static shock I received. John, you were a man like I. That is likely why your powers are so strong. A change in gender, particularly male to female, can boost ones innate sensitively to magic. Jules has no magical abilities from her change whereas I received considerable powers from my transformation.”

“Did that harm your child?”

“Don’t worry, Laura, that shock was more of a mind to mind thing. And I am taking precautions to protect my child, various talismans and the like. That’s also why Tamara will do most of your hands on instruction. I’m just here to advise and evaluate your progress. Think of me as a Wild Kingdom’s Marlin Perkins to Tamara’s Crocodile Hunter.”

“So long as you are safe, Charlie, I appreciate your help. Jules, you keep your part of the bargain with Charlie. You have a remarkable spouse and if you hurt her in any way you are a fool.”

“You have my word. Laura, Rosie, lets leave Tamara and John to make with the hocus-pocus. I know this nice Greek restaurant that will have things to tempt a growing mother.”

“I’d rather have Chinese, sweetie.”

“Me too. I could just die for some crab Rangoon,” Laura added.

“Women!”

* * * *

John’s diary

Even though this is my diary I can’t write much about my training as it falls under *trade secrets* but I feel more and more confident in my abilities with each passing week. Tamara has proved to have a wild Celtic woman’s psyche and we get along great. I don’t see Charlie as much — due to her pregnancy -- but she is a rock I can rely on when I am troubled. I’m calling her tonight in fact. End of entry.

* * * *

“Charlie, John here. I find myself attracted to a man and I don’t know how to proceed. My first few relationships were disasters.”

“Why not ask what the secret of life, the universe and everything is?”

“42?”

“You would have to be a Douglas Adams fan. I can’t help much I’m afraid as each person is different. You have to find your comfort level, the degree of trust you are happy with. For me love is ultimately a matter of trust and not willingly breaking that trust. I can teach you some seriously powerful protection spells, just in case.

“Don’t ever tell my Jules but I had a freeze spell and a few other goodies mastered before I ever let him in my bed. I feel so bad about it now but my unwanted transformation hurt me to the core. I plan on telling Jules soon. In fact I have found a way to put several of theses spells into charms that anyone knowing the trigger phrase can use, magic user or not.. I will give him several as a gift from me, to show my love for him. I want him to be safe, always.”

“Be careful, girl, Maybe he doesn’t need to know and this will only hurt him.”

“I have considered that but our inability to tell the whole truth to each other is what led to our near tragedy. I will not make that mistake again.”

“If you are sure but I worry for you, Charlie.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll let Tamara know about your fears and suggest some defensive magic you should learn. And good luck with your new guy. Believe me, you’ll love it.”

* * * *

“Hello, Greg, it’s great to hear from you. Yes, I miss you too. I wish you were in town and with me. …Yes, you have been a perfect gentleman … I … Oooh Greg, that’s naughty … Hum, where is this hunting lodge of yours? … That sounds like a fun weekend and I agree; maybe it is time to take this relationship to the next level. … Greg! That was very naughty, but I like the idea… Okay, I’ll see you in a week, love you.”

* * * *
“This is great. I mean this place is so remote and romantic yet I feel so safe with you, Greg. You’ve been so patient with me. I can tell you’re interested in me for me, not for my money or reputation. Keep this up buster and I’ll have to reward you … real well.”

“Here’s hoping then. Have some champagne, dear. It’s six months to the day we met, the day you saved my life — to us.”

“To us, my love.”

“To us. I don’t often drink champagne but this is delicious.”

“Would you like some more?”

“Better not, this stuff is hitting me like a brick. Greg, I don’t feel so good …

* * * *

“I see you’re awake, that’s good. I could do this without you being conscious but this way will be far more satisfying.”

“Why Greg? Why drug me, I assume the champagne was drugged, I feel so strange. Why tie me up like this?”

“To the point, I like that in a woman. I covet your power. I’m a warlock and I’ve studied the craft for years. I’m serious about my art but regrettably my power is limited. Making that wall collapse took every bit of power I’d had gathered over months but I needed a foolproof way to get you to trust me.”

“My saving you was a fake?”

“Not entirely. The wall was weaker than I anticipated and far more of it collapsed than I expected. I might well have died had you not sensed the danger. It took a lot of my power to hide the use of magic, so much so even I didn’t know the falling wall was more dangerous than intended. I thank you for that, dear.”

“But why steal my magic? I loved you; I’d have shared if I could. I didn’t even know you were a magic user.”

‘I need more than you can safely share. For the spells to extend my life and vitality for centuries and to remain hidden from the Council, I need everything you and your sister have. You will both die but it’s nothing personal. Once I have your powers, your sister will be easy to eliminate. You may be identical twins but you are the more powerful.”

“But what of her husband and her children, will you kill them too?”

‘They won’t die unless they interfere. I’m not a killer.”

“You could have fooled me. And to think I was about to make love to you. You would have been my first.”

“This is better than I hoped. Some of my texts say that the sacrifice of a virgin amplifies the magic released. Thanks for telling me. Any last words before you die? I’m not stupid, that post you’re chained to and the circle around you are enchanted, fully warded to prevent you from using your magic on me. It also prevents you calling on any other witch or person for help. There is nothing you can do to stop it; the spells are cast and are on *automatic* so to speak. The moon is nearing its zenith. When the rays of it strike the post your powers will drain and become mine. It may be painful; correction, it WILL be excruciatingly painful. I regret that. If I could take you power and spare you I would. I am not unaffected by your beauty and charm but power is power.”

“Greg, I give you one last chance to turn away from this insanity and release me.”

“I’d be fool to do that. For what I’ve done the witches Council would castrate me or worse. I’ve gone too far stop now. Power is the only thing that matters. Once I have you and your sister’s power the Council won’t be able to touch me.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Gregory. I loved you and you have killed it. I really wish it could be otherwise.”

“What? Are you pleading for your life or threatening me?”

“Goodbye, my love. Forgive me, Goddess … Amphorae aninmus transmissus … infinus.”

“That is all you can come up with? A life essence stealing spell and in fake Latin at that? That is so quaint and quite useless given my wards … I feel tired; it’s been a long day …Soon your power will be mine, John…Why does my body ache? … Aaah, it feels like I’m burning! No, it’s impossible… I was wrong, John. You must believe me I was seduced by the power. Save me my love, I beseech you. Please, if you love me… Aaaah!”

“Forgive me but I dare not, my almost love.”

* * * *

“Stop it, John! If he dies the council will have no choice but to brand you a renegade and hunt you down.”

“Mrs. Minnesalle, you heard my mental cries despite his wards?”

“I got here as soon as I could. I know he hurt you, dear; he tried to kill you and your sister. The council will forgive anything short of his death but they cannot forgive that. Please, for my sake. I got you in this mess, I have to try and get you out. Please stop before it is too late.”

“It is too late, Greg is no more.”

“Then as a representative of the Council I must…”

“Who am I?”

“John, you didn’t! It’s not possible.”

“Ask her yourself, Mrs. M.”

“Where is your mom or dad young lady?”

“I don’t know; I can’t remember. Do you know who I am, Lady?”

“What’s going on here, John?”

“I can explain. She doesn’t know, Mrs. Minnesalle, she was just *born*. The child you see was Greg. I couldn’t kill. I can’t, I would be like he was. I drained his magic from the wards and added it to mine to change him. Um, could you get me out of this contraption? The power stealing spell won’t work anymore but it is damned uncomfortable standing here naked like this.”

“With pleasure, I shouldn’t have doubted you; you were after all created out of love when you read the spell with your sister. Here, put on this blanket for now.”

“Lady, do you know who I am?”

“I’m sorry, I only knew Greg. He used to live here but he did something very bad and he had to go away for a long time. He had to go away forever. Do you understand?”

‘I think I do. Greg was bad? There was … I remember a man doing something very bad to a pretty lady. Do I know you from somewhere?”

“I’m a sometimes model for advertisements. Maybe you saw me on a big billboard?”

“I remember seeing a big picture of you, pretty lady. But who am I?”

“Well, I guess you can pick your own name but I think Dawn may suit you. You’re brand new in a way. You say you don’t remember much. The dawn is the start of the day, all bright with promise.”

“Are you my Mom? Am I in trouble?”

“No, I’m not your mother. I had a hand in shaping what you are but Greg was ultimately responsible. You are not to be blamed, Dawn, if that worries you.”

“Would you like to be my mom?”

“I like to but … Greg hurt me. He hurt me more than anyone ever has. I am sad and angry over what he did and I might hold that against you and that’s not fair. Give me time and maybe I can be your friend.

“Mrs. Minnesalle, do you know anyone who could take Dawn in?”

“I am not as old and feeble as I look. I can care for her until someone else on the council offers or you should feel you wish to care for Dawn. Don’t let these bad experiences scar you, dear. Many women have bad experiences before they find a good life partner. Be patient.”

“Um, Mrs. Minnesalle, I get the hint. You once told me you have this nephew, grandnephew? Is he still available, perhaps this coming weekend? I don’t like blind dates but I do trust you. So far my own choices have been disasters”

“You’re willing to date again that soon?”

“I was ready to give *it* up to you-know-who. I’m hornier than hell. You get your grandnephew on the phone so I can get me some!”

* * * *

“Giovanni? Your great aunt gave me your number … Yes, I’m her …. Stop shouting ‘Yes, yes, YES!’ or I’m hanging up … I am willing to go out with you but with certain non-negotiable ground rules … First, you meet with my sister. If and only if she approves …”

* * * *

“Sis, Tony, I’d like you to meet my, um, arranged boyfriend. This is Giovanni, Mrs. Minnesalle’s grandnephew.”

“He’s a hunk, Sister. You said boyfriend?! You want some privacy?”

“Yes.”

“Tony, help me with the children. John and Giovanni need the family room so they can start one.”

“Not *that* much privacy, Sis! This is a first date. We’re not making a baby tonight, though the idea has its merits.”

“If you ever disappoint my sister, you are dead. And remember, we are both witches. You got it Giovanni?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

* * * *

A few months later

- Brinnng! --

“John , that was the front doorbell. Could you answer please, to get off of the couch I need a crane these days.”

“At least you’re due in a week. Between the breast feeding, a little gentle exercise and that wondrous spell we worked on each other you’ll be in fighting trim in no time. Tony will be making love to his sexy Laura in no time.”

“What about you and Giovanni?”

“A woman never tells but we did *it*and it’s everything you said it was and then some.”

“About time, so spill it, how many times did you do it?”

“The act itself or have a night of lovemaking? If you’re counting the act, we managed it at least four times the first night and counting oral … 84 times.”

“John! You’re a slut.”

“And I’m damned proud of it, too. It would have been a lot more but I was on the road a lot modeling and then the guest appearance on CSI Miami. Sis, Laura, I am disappointed you haven’t said any thing.”

“So you have another ring, you wear so much jewelry sometime it’s too much ... but never on that finger. You’re engaged? When …”

_-- Briiiing --

“That will have to wait, I’ll get the door.

“Dawn, Mrs. Minnesalle, it’s a pleasure to see you. Are you here to see Laura?”

“In part but I’m here for you. John. I was expecting a few others here, they must be running late. Let talk while they come.”

“Ms Laura, can I see your new baby?”

“In a few days, Dawn, I’m due to give birth then. As soon as the doctor says okay, you can visit.”

“When I grow up I want to have pretty babies like you, Ms Laura. Why are you way over there, Ms John?”

“I wasn’t sure if you wanted to see me. I haven’t visited you much and I haven’t been as friendly as you’d like.”

“Momma M says I must give you time. Oh and you’ll come to your senses. I think she says that, I think. I’m a real good girl. Mamma M says so. Can you be my momma?”.

“I don’t know.”

“But Ms John …”

“Now I made you cry. Come here Dawn. You need a hug. There doesn’t that feel good?”

“That’s feels really, really good. Can I hugs you back?”

“How come you stopped crying so fast? Did you fool me?”

“A little. Your hugs felt so good I stopped. You must love me, you hugged me. Be my momma?”

“I may become a wife very soon if I am lucky but I’ll have to ask my boyfriend about you staying with us. If he says okay, then maybe we can try it out. Just a little at a time, maybe an overnight or a weekend or two to see if we get along.”

“I be the goodest girl I can. You see. Then you be my momma.”

“Is she always like this, Mrs. M?”

“The happy hugs and sweet little girl act? All the time it seems. She likes me a lot but she talks of you often. She sees your picture or you on the TV and she gets excited. At first I thought it was the magic you used on her or a remnant of any decent feelings Greg had for you. I think it is simply she has a thing for you; maybe she bonded or imprinted on you like a duckling on the first creature it sees.

“You seem to have that effect on people. They see you and fall in love with you. You had that effect on me. I love you Laura, like a favorite niece but John, as soon as I saw the transformed her, she became my daughter in my heart.”

“Oh my!”

-- Brinnnng --

“I’ll get it girls … Come on in. Close the door would you Tamara?”

“Wow, Tamara, Charlie, and you, Mrs. M, what gives?”

“John, the witches’ council needs a big favor. Have you heard of a series of disappearances of college students in La Cross?”

“I though that was explained away as heavy drinking by the students and their later falling drunk into the nearby Mississippi River, Tamara.”

“That is the official story to avoid a panic. The real story is most of those drownings never really happened. The missing students were in fact transformed by magic, most were male to female a few female to male. All are nonconsensual and all are irreversible so far.”

“We need a backup, an observer to keep a careful but loose watch on the undercover officer on the scene. The officer will be at great risk of being found out. Even if his cover holds, he is there both to investigate and because he was a close fit to the profile of the typical victim. He can’t contact the police directly in times of trouble as his cover required him to break with the police publicly. He appears to all but a few in the know as a disgruntled whistleblower who quit the force.”

“So you need someone on campus who can move around without attracting the wrong kind of attention to them … You want ME to go to college?! That’s like throwing a squirrel into room full of hungry stray cats. I’m probably on a scantily clad poster in most of the men’s dorm rooms and some of the girls.”

“I’d go but my baby is nursing and Jules would have a fit. It has to be a powerful and skillful magic user. They have to be familiar with transformational magic and they have to look the part of a student.

“You are the best candidate we have. Your cover will be yourself. You will be there ostensibly to teach seminars in modeling and acting. If anyone asks, you want to take a break from the fast life, step back and evaluate your life. It would be for a semester at most and the modeling agency says you could still do professional modeling as the clients will be willing to come to you now that you are prominent. A quick private jet flight could have you in Chicago or Minneapolis for any major shoots in a mater of an hour or less but that is only if absolutely necessary. They know you must be near the campus as much as possible.”

“So I would be the bait’s, sorry the undercover officer’s lifeline? He gets in trouble and I rescue him?” .

“Her, um, most likely, by the time you get there. We want to catch them in the act or right after so we can analyze how the transformations were done. That way we can reverse them, we hope. Not all transformations are one way only, like yours and Laura’s. The officer knows this and is willing to take the risk. He’s a very brave young man.”

“Hey, I can always pull a few stings and get her some modeling gigs if this plan blows up in her face as I assume it will.”

“That’s the spirit. Are you in?”

“Okay, I guess so but Giovanni is to be kept far, far away. I intend to marry him and I want him with all the original equipment intact and working.”

“Great. Do you realize, John, in marring Giovanni you are marring yourself?”

“What do you think Sis? Would Tamara look better as a humanoid cat or a bald lizard woman?”

“Ms John is gonna do magic? Can I watch. Mamma M?”

* * * *

To be continued in
714: Sgt Joe

714: Sgt Joe

Author:

John in Wauwatosa

Audience Rating:

Mature Subjects (pg15)

Contests:

What's So Novel About It - 40k words and up

Publication:

Novel > 40,000 words

Genre:

Magic

Character Age:

Preteen or Intermediate

TG Themes:

Age Regression

Other Keywords:

Permission:

Posted by author(s)

714: Sgt. Joe

An undercover police officers assignment goes very wrong. Part of a multi-thread story for Erin's BC Strangefellows Day contest. Latest Edition, honest

* * * *

I have memories of that night that come—and-go like will-o-wisps, but the last I can recall, I heard shouting, lights sweeping the waters and a distant loud splash. I was nearly gone when an arm snagged me and clamped around my waif-ish body. It squished one of my boobies, painfully. I distinctly remember that’s what I thought at the moment. I don’t remember much after that. I do remember wondering why my boobies were so tender and … Guys don’t have …~~

714: Sgt. Joe -- part of my complete enought for now What's so novel about it? entry

This was originally posted as a teaser from a pre-edit draft of my Strangefellows Day contest entry. I had started on several stories for the contest when I realized two were closely related to an earlier story of mine. This was originally from the least complete thread of the three related stories. It is now the most complete of the two main stories, the third being folded into other other main thread, 714: By the Book. That merged third *thread* was an offshoot of charaters I first created a year ago for the contest story The Day yhe Earth Stood Still or Happy Alternative New Years.

The Day the Earth Stood Still is not part of the entry but reading it helps you to understand some of the charaters in parts of 714.

Oops, forgot to warn you to look at it in the miror only, one must never gaze upon the face of the Gorgon directly.

714: Sgt. Joe

This is an entry in Erin’s BC Strangefellows Day contest. See, that was easy, John. Okay, I’ll admit it wasn’t so bad, John. — Sorry but I’m having a convesation with myself --

Your constructive criticism and advice is appreciated; let’s face it, this gets addictive after a while. I’m an applause junkie, I admit it. This is an exercise in the joys of creativity and in appreciation of furgle-bargele. Damned MS Word keeps barflagating my worms. Gwelb! Any violations of copyright, trademark or use of real people or incidents are purely for purposes of humor or parody and done solely for the free enjoyment of the reading public. All rights reserved in perpetuity, John from Wauwatosa WI, 2007.

Adult content advisory: this story may contain situations and topics unsuitable for children. It’s mild stuff usually, but you were warned.

714: Sgt. Joe

By John from Wauwatosa
Proofed by a blithering idiot, me
Holly Logan, helped proof most of this latest post but tried to hide her name.
P.S. This header and the last few scenes are my fault alone, don't blaim Holly
Thanks to Kiai for some useful sugestions I may or may not have used

* * * *

The PA in the precinct blared. "Sergeant Joe Friday to the Chief's office at once!" I heard a snicker just before the microphone was switched off.

I hurried to the Chief's office, as being late would have unfortunate repercussions. I couldn't help it my parents christened me Joseph Aloysius Friday but why did I choose to enter law enforcement, why, why, why? I must have a masochistic streak a mile wide to have done that. The department was cool about it; I was immediately assigned badge number 714. I earned sergeant on merit, I'll have you know. Oh, when this whole mess started I'd just turned 24 and had been a sergeant, um … 37 hours.

Back to being me, Joseph A. Friday, and a cop; the day I became a full- fledged officer was the proudest of my life, until the goon-squad saw my badge number. Then it started and it was less than subtle.

"Hey where is Officer Bill Gannon?"

"Joe, you really should get a buzz cut."

"Friday? I thought it was Thursday."

"Joe, that was dum-da-um-dumb on your part."

You get the picture; my life went hell in a Hollywood scriptwriter's hand basket.

I was working the day watch out of Bunko when …ha! I got you, didn't I? You could practically smell the monotone, couldn't you? I'm told I have a normal, if not animated manner of speech which puts the constant jokes about Dragnet to shame. Still, they come, but what's a guy to do? I love helping people and my hackles rise at the sight of injustice. I have a soul, so being a lawyer was out. That's why I'm a cop.

The Chief wanted me because I was new in the district, my face was unknown and…

"Be honest, Sir, I'm new, and thus expendable." I was never one to mince words.

"I wouldn't put it that way, but there is some truth to it. We have a bad situation, and too little solid intelligence on it. You know of the spate of disappearances in the latest month or two?"

"The half-dozen college students who disappeared from the river front bar district and were never seen again? We get frequent reminders about it in our daily briefings."

"It's worse than that, Officer Friday. There is a separate problem that turns out is intimately related. You know of the several instances of people claiming to have lost their memories, but are convinced they are in the wrong bodies?"

"The speculation was a bad batch of illegal amphetamines had hit the street. It supposedly fucked up their brains. Sorry, that was unbecoming of an officer. Anyway, the word is they're psych cases."

"Several of the earliest patients recently claimed their memories were returning and the details they gave forced their doctors to test their DNA to prove they were not who they claimed to be."

"So, what were the results?"

"They were a perfect match to the persons they claimed to be except for one detail, their 46th chromosome pair … was changed. A couple had fingerprints on file — they had jobs that required a criminal background check -- and they matched exactly, though the size of the prints had changed. One had a blood sample stored in a lab from a previous surgery, it tested identical except for being of the opposite sex. The doctors were shocked, you can well imagine."

"But how is it possible? This is fantastic. It's something out of a bad sci-fi novel or witchcraft."

"We suspect the latter but haven't ruled out the former. Don't give me *that* look. Magic is real. It's definitely low profile, and deliberately so, but it does exist. We need, that is, I need you to go undercover as a student. You'll take courses and do everything as a student, even live in student housing. Make friends and party; be a normal student. With luck you'll get invited to go out drinking and can flush out the criminals."

"But I'm 25, I'm a little old." So I lied, but 25 sounds so much more mature than 24.

"Your cover is that you are returning to college after a hitch in the army as an MP. That way if you spout any police jargon, it will be excused. You can claim you were disillusioned by the experience. You joined the police after your discharge, as you had no other skills but became disgusted with the corruption and resigned in protest. Surely you can find something about police work that upsets you, *Friday.*"

He said *Friday* in a particularly annoying tone of voice. I caught on fast.

"*That* should do it. You mean I'm going under cover as me? But there are public records of me as a police … I'm to fake my resignation? But I was never in the military; if someone checks my background I'll be sunk."

"I will take care of that personally. You military records will be beyond question. You look younger than your real age of twenty-four, which will help you fit in at the university. I must warn you, there is a strong possibility of a mole in the department, or in the local courts. As you are new here, you are considered a low risk. This will be difficult; you will get heat from some of the hard line officers. I'm sorry, but it has to be for your cover to be convincing."

"This sounds like an old movie plot."

"I watch a lot of movies, Officer Friday. Joe, I have a contact who will watch out for you, but she can only do so much. If you are successful in attracting the attention of the *perps,* you could be a victim too."

"You mean I'll become a ... female," I whispered.

"Yes, but you'll retain your genetics. You won't become a Chinese girl or African American or something else you are not. You would be a female you, but a best-of version of your female self."

"That makes me feel so much better — not. Is it reversible?"

"That's a yes and no, Joe. If the specific spell or charm used can be found, or better yet, the person who cast it is wiling to help, it can be reversed safely after a few months have passed. Any sooner is too much of a shock, and mixing magics is dangerous."

"I'm confused."

"I am too. I've been told to think of it like radioactivity. Magic has a half-life. After a sufficient span of time, most magical energy decays to a safe level. I can't order you to do this, but volunteering will look very good in your record once I can make it public. I promise you this, Joe, if the worst happens you will be assured a position in the department, and it won't be a dead-end make-work position either. We stand by our own, and I'm told none of the victims lost any knowledge or intelligence, just temporarily, their personal memories. Whoever is doing this is not completely malicious. We discovered that once a victim has fully recovered their memory, they are as bright as before their transformation and sometimes brighter.

"Fully recovered? You mean they've been restored to their original ... In that case, yes, I accept. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"The victims are stuck as they are for now, sorry, Joe. The DA is working hard to get all their records fixed so they can access their assets and continue their education, but it's not easy. A couple of the victims were a bride and her maid of honor on a girl's night —out/ bachelorette party. They both took it hard. The bride almost succeeded in killing himself. She's under close supervision to prevent another attempt. Her friend blamed herself for what happened. Apparently the bride rarely drank and she wanted her to loosen up for once. The marriage is off, possibly forever, and the bridesmaid is in a coma from a drug overdose. She, I mean, he, is in bad shape.

"This is case is a top priority and … the man in a coma was, is, the only daughter of my late bother. You understand why I need to see an end to this horror?"

"In that case, I agree. Can I interview the victims?"

"Too dangerous, you might be observed. I have all their testimony on several encrypted DVD's. They also include your instructions on how to proceed. I want you to take them home and review them. Show them to no one and make no copies. The password is …" he whispered a nonsense phrase to me which I memorized at once. "Joe, if the worst happens; I'd be proud to call you my daughter if that's what it takes. One way or another; I'll make it right."

"I don't know what to say. I'll read the materials and do my best. Thank you for your confidence and your support, *Daddy*."

"I've created a monster. Go!"

* * * *

I took the DVDs with me and watched them at home. The testimony of the survivors made me angry and apprehensive. I was angry that someone would do this to anyone, especially innocents. I was apprehensive, because I knew this could, and likely would happen to me if I was successful. If I was unsuccessful, I might die, or worse.

That worried me the most, the seeming inevitability of my becoming a female. The Chief and the experts on magic had concluded that to succeed in catching the persons responsible I needed to become a victim, I needed to be transformed. The *plan* was to make myself a tempting target and my support team would catch them in flagrante delicto. If we were extraordinarily lucky it would before they could use whatever is was that would transform me, be it a potion, spell, mystical object, a summoned demon, whatever.

It was as likely, maybe more likely — the experts disagreed — I'd end up a member of the fairer sex. If -- notice the growing pile of *ifs* -- my support team caught the suspects after they'd begun my transformation, I would be wearing a bra and panties for some months to come until I could be restored. This was *if* the potion, spell, mystical object, summoned demon, whatever was not destroyed, lost or so on. I began to believe skirts were in my future but that our perps would get caught. I hoped we could do it soon and get control of the means they used to do it, for the sake of the victims … and myself.

I had another worry. As a man, I wasn't exactly what you would call masculine. Oh, I was a man in every way that counted and I had compared *notes* in the locker-room in school and the police academy. I was properly equipped, if you know what I mean. My problem was, I was six foot even, 155 pounds. I was wiry, but no muscleman. The Chief said I looked younger than my years, that was true, but it only told part of the story. I had inherited my father's sense of righteous indignation tempered by my mothers caring soul. I inherited my fathers drive to excel and athletic abilities. He had been a top track and field man in high school, then later, a defensive back in college as he bulked up in his late teens and early twenties. Both my parents were intelligent people and I inherited that.

What I also inherited was the build and good looks of my mother. Mom was a classic Irish lass, picture Maureen O'Hara with pale freckled skin, and reddish blonde hair. She was a tall, willowy woman with an angel's face, the Devil in her eyes, and breasts like a stripper. I know it's not nice to describe one's mother like that but I can't deny it. Mom was a grade *A *Celtic babe. Being a man, I didn't have her impressive chest or womanly hips, separated by that tiny waist … My God, I'm lusting for my mom!

Given my genetics, was it a wonder I sometimes got mistaken for a tall girl? That's how bad it was. I had my mother's hair as well, so the best I could do was grow a small mustache, not really worth it. I had to shave daily, but if I missed a day you had to be close to notice. If it hadn't been for a glib tongue and fast feet, I might have caught more than my share of beatings at school. Some tried, because there seems to be a never ending supply of aggressive idiots out there who love to bully others. Between the Irish dance lessons, and the self defense courses mom and dad insisted I take as a child, few ever picked on me, and the few who did, wished they hadn't. I did have a girlfriend for a while in school, all of my sophomore and junior years. She was a lovely girl, but one of her parents got a promotion that required them to move to Shreveport, Louisiana and that was the end of that. We still write each other on occasion. She's married to a really nice guy; I met him and he's good man, damn him.

College came and followed quickly by the police academy and a couple years fulltime duty in exciting, dynamic Superior Wisconsin, as in Duluth —Superior, the Riviera of the North. Oh joy! This is where they send people on exile them now that the Soviet Gulag is dismantled. I hear it's a tossup between good old D-S and Bozeman Montana for punishing FBI agents who receive bad performance reviews. To compound my *enjoyment*, because I was the youngest both chronologically and physically, I was occasionally used as a light undercover officer at the local colleges and high schools. I had been required to grow my hair longer to look the part. By the time I left the almost *Great White North* my hair was shoulder-length.

Being accepted for the La Cross force was a happy day. To find a few months later I had made Sergeant was heaven , except it also revived the Joe Friday jokes with a vengeance. I didn't care, to be honest, but it gave me the seed I needed to convince the department I'd quit in anger. A solid cover was critical to my undercover assignment. A bad cover would mean failure or worse. I was used to the longer hair by the time I transferred to La Cross and kept it in a male ponytail. I thought it made me looked tough, like a biker. What it made me was the Chief's first choice to be transmutation fodder. I was determined to make a success of this assignment, but then I am a stubborn, like my mom.

* * * *

I had an unpleasant duty to perform but unless I was convincing, this entire undercover mission would be for naught. The Chief had provided me with some evidence of malfeasance on the force, corruption, racism and abusive behavior. Some was only suspected, some had been confirmed but disciplinary activity had been delayed in favor of using the evidence as an excuse for my resignation. Only one officer was likely guilty of a serious offence --taking *bribes* from a prostitute -- but it was enough ammunition for the Chief's and my needs.

I walked up to reception in my dress uniform, carrying a thick folder under my arm and put on my best *determined* face. "I need to see the Chief immediately, it's important."

"Sergeant Joe, the Chief is busy at the moment. If you wish to make an appointment …"

"This is extremely important. Tell him I must see him at once or this goes to the press and the State Attorney General's office." I gave the desk officer my most serious look.

"Chief, Sergeant Joe is here, he says he must see you at once. I think it's a serious matter, Sir … Yes." "You may go in now."

* * * *
"Yes, Sergeant, what was so important it couldn't wait?"

"This is," I said as I dropped the folder on his desk. "This is evidence of corruption and misconduct by various members of this department. I stumbled onto it soon after I started here, but I didn't believe it until I did some digging." "These are serious accusations. Are you certain of your facts, Sergeant?" The Chief spoke in a defensive tone.

"There is enough here to force several resignations, and possibly lead to prosecution. The ball is in your court."

"This will take time to investigate."

"It's all there except for dotting the *i*s and crossing the *t*s, Sir"

"That may be but I must still have this independently verified. I commend your diligence, Sergeant, but you have put me and the department in an awkward position. In the meantime, for your protection and to avoid disruptions in this department, I am putting you on indefinite leave, with pay"

"What kind of crap is that, Sir?"

Things kinda deteriorated after that until …. "I quit!" I practically tore off my uniform and handed him all my equipment that wasn't my own property. I stormed out of his office, muttering the foulest abuse I could think of. The guys in the station got a nervous laugh at my expense, as I had to hold my pants up since I now had no belt.

This exchange was all according to the script on his encrypted DVD but it hurt never the less. I'd only known him a couple months, but he had been good to me, an ideal commander for an officer with my limited experience. The tears streaming down my red face as I left didn't hurt my credibility. They weren't planned, they just happened. I worried that some officers might take that as a sign I was gay, or somehow unmanly, but I put it out of my mind or tried to. I knew logically the intent of the blowup was to legitimize my sudden departure, but part of me didn't like it. I worried I had burned bridges no amount of statements on my behalf by the Chief could rebuild.

* * * *

This plan had been put together on short notice, due to necessity and to reduce the odds of a leak. This meant I had to endure in-person registration, the cattle-call of college life. I filled out a form indicating my preferred area of study. I took a battery of tests, ACT, SAT, ABCDEFG or whatever. This took an entire day, and all I would get out of it would be a list of courses I would need to take to satisfy my base requirements for graduation, and a sore butt.

My proctor was an overdressed young woman — vintage clothes with a excess of lace -- with color traces on her cuticles that hinted at her having recently worn black nail polish. I could see five or more holes per ear and other place, many with small keeper studs. I was fairly certain she was a Goth in her free time and likely a student employee helping to pay her way through school. She seemed even less enthused to be stuck in that windowless room than I was. I was her only test taker, but she had to keep an eye on me at all times to ensure the results were honest, what with text messaging camera phones and the like being so common. Other than my instructions, and to call time when I hadn't finished a test, she never spoke to me.

~~Strange woman but then who am I to point fingers?~~

* * * *

When I returned the next day to meet with an admissions official and learn the results, I decided to act and look the student I would be masquerading as. I wore comfortable yet fashionable clothes, and generally affected a more relaxed look than I did as an officer,

An admissions counselor looked over my exam results and my preferred area(s). I absentmindedly brushed my hair back out of my eyes, I'd skipped the ponytail today just to be different.

"I see you chose pre-law as your area of study. Are you thinking of becoming a lawyer, Josie … I beg your pardon, Joseph?"

I let her momentary goof slide. "I am, more correctly I was a police officer and … let's say I was not in agreement with the way things were done. I figured I'd be happier and better off if I fought the system with its own tools, rather than being part of the problem. Becoming a lawyer seems the most productive way to do that." "Welcome to the University, Joseph. And I am sorry about assuming you were a woman, I …"

"It will give me something to laugh about when I am old, don't sweat it."

The counselor smiled and continued. "In person registration is tomorrow starting at seven o'clock in the Memorial Student Union. Good luck, some of the classes you need may be hard to get. Get in line for the most important ones first and your elective courses last. And if you get stuck, get on the waiting list and show up for the first few classes. A lot of students drop early in the semester, so space often opens up after the first class or two."

"Thanks, I'll remember that." On the way out, I grabbed a course catalog, campus map and map showing the layout of the in person registration by department. I hurried home to prepare for my first day on my own.

I spent that evening with a course catalog and multiple colors of highlighter pens, marking class combinations that didn't interfere with each other. Afterwards, I again reviewed the encoded DVDs of the victims and the Chief's instructions. I ate a good supper and went to bed. Now all I had to do was get up before dawn, endure a gauntlet of lines to get my classes, make myself a target, and get bewitched into a woman, piece of cake.

* * * *

Forewarned that in-person could be an ordeal, I prepared accordingly. I ate a hearty breakfast, and wore my most comfortable jeans, tennis shoes, shirt and a vest. I though it looked rebel/preppy. I found out otherwise, later. I selected sodas, snacks and sandwiches sufficient to last until dark, and loaded them into my backpack with all my necessary registration materials. I made sure I had a large supply of pencils, a sharpener, a mini flashlight and a fistful of black ballpoint pens for form filling, and a huge clipboard to write on. I was ready for anything. Locking my apartment, I walked to the bus stop and rode to campus.

* * * *

I got to the Memorial Union as they opened the doors to let everyone in, hustling to be near the front of the line for my most crucial course.

As I was leaning against a wall, filling out a form for this class as I waited for my turn with the department representatives,the man immediately behind me in line spoke. "I see you're signing up for the eight o‘clock Monday/Wednesday/Friday session. Are you in Business administration, or the School of Education?"

"Pre-law." I was supposed to act like a student and socializing was a big part of it.

"You too? That's great. Sorry, I'm Jesus, that's spelt like the son of God, but pronounced Hey-soos. I'm part Puerto Rican. And you are?" I laughed at his joke. "I'm Joe, and I'm part Irish."

"It will be great having a tall Irish lass like you in class, Jo. You remind me of a young Nicole Kidman. You really should let your hair grow out more, not that it isn't cute as it is."

My response was to laugh. I had to struggle to get though my turn with the instructors handling registration for the department. Anytime I saw or heard Jesus I broke up. As I got my course selection confirmed and turned to leave, I was consulting my map for the next course when the young man came up again.

"I didn't mean anything, Miss. My pickup line wasn't that bad, was it?"

"N_n_n_n _oo except for the fact I'm not into men."

"I'm … forgive me I didn't realize you were a lesbian, my bad."

"Jesus, would you please stop assuming things? I'm a guy! So settle down."

"You a guy, never! I mean, you have … breasts." He pointed at my heaving breasts, um chest … ~~These look like breasts?!~~

I looked at my chest, I had handkerchiefs in the upper inside pockets of the vest and it gave the illusion of cleavage. I opened the vest to show him he was mistaken. "I'm a boy."

"Just because you don't want to date me, doesn't mean you have to lie. So you're a little skinny, most girls have to diet to look like a model. I bet you'll fill out nicely in your freshman year. They say the average student gains ten to fifteen pounds, and with your build I bet it will be in all the right places."

"Want me to drop my pants?"

"If you're really a guy, no. Otherwise, I have an off-campus apartment …" . Jesus became my first friend on campus. I wished he'd change the spelling though, it sounds like I'm a religious fanatic when I talk about him. We're still friends, good friends. He has even remained one since word leaked I was an undercover cop. In fact, I'm seeing him tonight but more about that later.

* * * * . My feet were sore from standing and walking. My butt was sore from hours of sitting. My shoulders were sore from lugging my backpack all day, and my fingers wanted to cramp from all the form filling. I got my courses, not necessarily at the hours I preferred, but I got them. That left me Friday and Saturday to get my textbooks and plot out my way between classes.

* * * *

There was more to this than just looking the part of a student and *bait*, the encrypted DVD's had contained a shocker. Though there was considerable uncertainty because of the small sample size —i.e. not a lot of transformees were known to exist — there appeared to be a correlation between the victims.

It was not the *school,* or subject that mattered, it was about the students themselves. None were members of the Greek system, though over half had attended fraternity or sorority parties within a few weeks of their disappearance/ transformation. Though they were not all virgins — only two were — they were not highly experienced sexually. None had a close relative on campus, and all were either loners or had a limited circle of friends, few of whom were close friends.

This would be our edge in getting the perps to take the bait. I would act the bitter outsider, the rebel ex-cop. I would be distrustful of authority and most any organized group. And I would act the frustrated, awkward sexual neophyte. Sadly, that last role was near to typecasting. I didn't have the muscles or the high profile school sports experience to attract the gals. I was a studious type and I had a build like my mother before she developed. I even sounded a lot like her, for a guy's voice it was on the high end but okay.

I remembered as a senior in high school I had an English teacher who was more than little bit quirky. She had us read a Shakespeare play but with the girls reading the guy's parts and visa versa. Some of they guys gave me a hard time about it after.

"Damn, Joe, if you were a woman I'd have cum in my pants when you read your lines. Are you sure you're not a girl?"

"But Greg, if I were a girl could I keep my hands off your godlike body?" I said as sexily as I could.

"You're a guy."

I forgot to mention Greg was a skinny as a rail, but respectable on the school track and cross-country teams.

I loved women, I desired them. The thought of wearing their clothes did not occur to me, and the though of a man's penis up my ass revolted me. It may be fine for others but I was, to quote Red Dwarf's Ace Rimmer, ‘strictly butter- side up.' And here I was trying to trick the criminals into swapping my meat and two veges for a garden of delights. Sorry, I got this phrase book recently and I can't help myself.

* * * *

Eight o'clock the following Monday, fall classes began. A fifty-something, skinny man walked up to the front of the huge — three hundred-and-fifty seat — lecture hall. He looked so much like B.F. Skinner I had to force myself not to break up.

"Good morning and welcome to Introduction to Human Psychology 108 or Psychology for Dummies as my TA's like to refer to it. If you intend to make psychology or human behavior your field of study, you are wasting your time here. If you plan to go into business, teaching, law and the like, this is tailor-made for you. If you study hard you will know just enough to be dangerous." That got a laugh from the class. Professor Skinner Mark II would be fun, I could tell.

Not all my classes were like this. My college algebra instructor was a TA. He was boring and had a difficult to understand accent. This would be a tough class to keep up with. Business writing was straightforward, as were most of my other courses. The last class, my two o'clock Tuesday/Thursday was a surprise. It was a course on late 20th century politics and was contentious from the start. The instructor was an associate professor by the name of Ms. Lenore Tabor, I kid you not. Poe's lost love Lenore of The Raven she was not. She was a lovely woman, but gave off bad vibes.

I'd had an English instructor when I was in college the first time that was a radical feminist. It was understandable, she claimed she'd been raped by her dad as a child and that caused her to conclude all men were potential rapists. At least she was an honest grader, and competent, but I never felt comfortable in her presence.

Lenore made that instructor seem like a prostitute with a heart of gold, you know, an Irma La Duce or Holly Golightly type. She dressed business/shark and seldom smiled; Lenore oozed man-hater . Her classes were interesting though.

A few weeks into the semester she asked this question. "From your assigned reading, defend or dispute this statement. The US criminal justice system, though flawed usually functions to preserve liberty."

We got a litany of ‘abuse of power', ‘flawed but better than the alternatives' and the like. Some good points were made but they only nibbled at the core concept of Ms Tabor's statement.

I spoke up. "I find the system is saddled with a pervasive attitude that puts preserving itself ahead of serving the public interest. There are many dedicated people trying to do right, but they are frustrated, and often corrupted by the system. The local department is rife with corruption, up to and including bribery to protect a prostitution operation."

"Those are serious charges, …?"

"Joe."

"Yes, Ms Jo. What evidence do you have to back your suppositions?"

"I have a packet of evidence containing photos, documents and the like detaining this. Copies were given to the local Chief of police, but they were not well received."

"Where did you come by this, Ms. Jo?"

"Up until five weeks ago I was a member of the La Cross police force."

"You quit? You had to be their youngest woman officer and they don't have many."

"You are right, they don't and I was their youngest *male* officer"

That got a huge reaction from the lecture hall. Apparently many had assumed I was a woman. The reaction I got from Ms. Tabor was stranger. She spent a minute or two looking at her materials before she spoke. "Class, that covers everything for today. Read chapters fifteen and sixteen for our next class. Mr. Joe, could you please see me before you leave?"

* * * *
After the lecture hall cleared out, she motioned me to follow her.

"I find myself in an awkward position, Joe ..?"

"Friday, Joseph Aloysius Friday and yes, I was badge 714. They are real sophisticates on the force."

That got a rare smile from her, but it made me anxious rather than relaxed.

"Please explain why you asked me here, I don't understand. If is because you mistook me for a woman, lots of people do that. I'm not offended."

"That is part of it, but not in the way you think. After your comments today I looked at your quiz scores and participation marks from my TA and they show you to be an outstanding student. I like to pick and chose among younger students so I can have first pick of the bright young minds for my TAs. Today's class convinced me to keep an eye on you, thus my dilemma."

"I'm pleased you feel I'm doing well, but I'm pre-law not history."

"History and law are not mutually exclusive. You remember I explained my background the first day of class."

"How abuse during your childhood caused you to distrust men, if I remember correctly?"

"Yes. I think you could make a contribution as one of my teaching assistants, but I only take on women. Nothing personal, but that is the way I am. I do pass my outstanding male candidates on to other professors and I get their female candidates, so it is fair."

"No harm no foul, so why the dilemma?"

"I will be short of potential TA's in a couple years. It takes several years of mentoring to produce an outstanding one. I… I want you to consider accepting my mentoring, but under some strict rules."

"Even if I do stay in law I can see the value of a mentor outside of the department for perspective alone. What's the catch?"

"You will deal with my office assistant for any one-on-one meetings. I am not comfortable with, nor do I tolerate one-on-one meetings with men."

"At least you are up front about it, I respect that. How soon do you need a decision?"

"Next class?"

"Why don't I save us both the worry, I'll give you a tentative yes. If it doesn't work out, I can always leave or you can always tell me to take a hike. If I do stay, it will be for the long haul, I don't wish to waste your time and effort."

"Joe, keep in mind you are the first male I have offered to mentor in the twenty years since my doctorate. Don't make me regret it."

Now I felt like a heel, but I had to keep my cover if I was to stop these involuntary transformations. "I'll will do my best, Ms Tabor, I promise you that."

"Joe, I will inform my assistant to expect you at my office at four this afternoon. She will get the ball rolling."

She gave me the name of her office assistant and I left for my next class.

* * * *
"I'm Joe Friday, I'm here because Ms Tabor wants to mentor me to become a future teaching assistant."

"I'm her assistant, Ms. Esmeralda Prudence Addams. Please call me Ms Addams, or Mera,. My parents named me for a couple great aunts. Grand old ladies, but the names are so out of fashion."

"Not Emma, Emmi or Pru?"

"Those are so little girl sounding. Mera sounds a bit exotic, does it not? It's what I like."

"Okay, Mera it is, and please, call me Joe. Never call me Joe Friday, dum da dum dum, DA!"

She smiled, a bit on the feral side and laughed. "I can see how that might be annoying after a while."

I calmed down but something about her bothered me. Then this was an important meeting for my *student* carrier and possibly for the police investigation itself. ~~I guess I'm just being paranoid.~~

* * * *

I was told I would have backup, an expert in magic watching my tail and ready to leap in at the right moment. Presumably that would be thirty seconds after I was singing soprano and resembling a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. I was busy studying in the evening. I found a quiet desk in the huge main campus library that was good for when I needed serious concentration to study. I was gone from my table for a moment to use the bathroom, and when I returned there was a note stuck the legal notepad I was using. I never took my laptop computer where I could not lock it up so it was good old pen and paper tonight.

The note read, "Joe, check your e-mail for any messages from Bewitching02. Don't fail to do this. Our time together will be magical.

"An admirer."

This was exciting news. I'd been told to keep my eyes open to a message passed in any number of ways from my *shadow*. The wording of the brief note left little doubt it was my backup contacting me. I mean, what were the odds it was some gorgeous babe asking me out for sex? Be reasonable, people!

* * * *

I finished my research, returned the materials to the shelves, packed up and hurried to my dorm or I tried to.

"Joe!, Joe who does not want me to say his last name, wait up."

"Mera? What are you doing here?"

"I was studying too. I am working on my doctorate under Ms Tabor and this is the best time to do my research. She keeps me busy during office hours."

"That doesn't seem fair. How can you finish your degree if she monopolizes all your time."

"She is my graduate advisor and she has helped me several times when I was stuck, mostly little suggestions to help my find my way and the like."

"I didn't mean to imply she was being unreasonable I .. I don't know what I was saying."

"Well, it was sweet your rising to defend me from my slave driver task mistress." She smiled and I wilted in her warmth. To be honest, part of me was far from wilting. It was on the verge of becoming visible and embarrassing. It's a DNA hard-coded physiological reaction, folks, I'm not a pervert. And have any of you met her? I rest my case.

~~I would have to be wearing my tightest pair of jeans. I have got to do my laundry more often.~~ "I don't like people abusing authority, that's all."

"I heard how you resigned from the police. Ms. Tabor had me research it. For someone who was rising rapidly through the ranks to then throw it all away. and over a matter of principle says much about your character, and favorably so, Joe."

"Thanks, I guess." ~~They did a background check for a possible future TA position??~~

"Shy around women?

~~Does it show? Wait a minute, where did she find that out?~~ "Some, I never had much time with my studies and entering the force. And I thank you for your compliment but it's not warranted. I failed in eliminating the corruption."

"Don't you read the paper? Your packet of evidence got some attention from the State Attorney General's office. The shit is hitting the fan as we speak."

~~The copy I sent off did the trick as expected. The chief did order me to do so in the DVD's. Now the force will act like I squealed on them. That's good for my credibility, bad for my physical well being.~~

"I am not a confirmed man hater like Ms. Tabor. I find a man can be most useful." When she licked her lips, I began to sweat. That *other* problem was becoming, uncomfortable.

"I think you're most attractive but I don't want to poison our working relationship with hurt feelings from an unwanted romantic advance."

"You haven't dated much have you? I am only suggesting we go out for a drink or two tonight. I could call my roomie and we can go as a group, just for laughs and relaxation, no pressure." She smiled again and it took every bit of discipline I had not to drag her off to the bushes and *do* her.

"Where and when? I need to put my books away."

"Twenty minutes at the Student Memorial Union beer hall?"

"Done."

* * * *

I rushed to a rental locker area in the Union and secured my books. My apartment was too far to make it there and back in twenty. I noticed the longer I was away from her the more my urge to see her eased. That's not usual, is it? I only met her a few hours before, so it wasn't like I had memorized her cute ears, framing her innocent face with its puffy kissable lips, button nose and those hypnotic green eyes. Did I say was she was a redhead?

~~Huh? I may be anxious about going out with a woman for the first time in whatever but I haven't even kissed her and I'm obsessing? That is weird.~~

* * * *

I met her at the Memorial Union. I planned on ordering a beer but she pointed out how much more reasonable it was to share a pitcher.

"It's only the equivalent of two beers a piece, Joe. Plus, I am the one at risk here, after all I am the frail damsel the dastardly brute tries to get drunk."

"When you put it that way … Okay but in moderation, I do have class tomorrow, though."

* * * *

We finished the pitcher and had a nice chat. Mera was interesting to listen to, bright and vivacious, an ideal casual date. I was still aroused by her but it was controllable. Just being in her presence was addictive, and evening was going well. I was enjoying myself and hoped I was not boring Mera to death.

All was well until Crystal, Mera's roommate, showed up with Elise. It was obvious Crystal and Elise were *close* friends. I mean, they were arm in arm and their lipstick was smudged. I have nothing against alternative life styles, but the situation became uncomfortable for all of us.

"Mera, I hope you don't mind I brought Elise, after all you brought a *man.*"

"No, she is your steady after all, Crystal." Mera's tone hinted that she had reservations about Elise.

~~Steady? They act like they just got engaged. Euw! Elise just slipped her hand into Crystals slacks and … Oh My! That's TOO friendly, at least for in public.~~

Crystal and Elise were Goth or Goth-ish in appearance. They had the dark cosmetics, the unearthly pale face and the dark, overly lacy clothing. They were not bad looking girls, Elise had real potential if she dressed normally but it was their choice, and I'd seen a lot more extreme Goth getups. At least they weren't overboard with the piercings. To be honest, the corset Elise was wearing as a vest/blouse was hot. I guess I have a little of the kinky in me, huh?

"So this is the MAN whom Ms Tabor took on as her next *project.* He's older than I imagined. I thought he was a freshman. What are you, twenty?" Crystal had said *man* with a hint of discomfort, almost distain. Elise's tone was harsh, like she either didn't trust me, or hated me on sight. It seemed to me she was only going thought the motions of acting polite.

"I don't mind telling, I'm twenty-four. I spent some time in the Army and … elsewhere, then decided to return to school."

"Then it's true you were a cop. Fess up, you're undercover to catch students sneaking a beer under age or doing drugs so you can score an easy bust. I get it, you're here to hassle the LGBT community." She sneered at me, daring me to act up. It was nothing blatant, or was it?

"Hardly … Elise is it? I make no attempt to hide my past. I could give you the long drawn-out story but the ‘What makes Joe tick for Idiots' version should suffice. Let's say I was disillusioned with the force and some of its members." I said this with some emphasis, as it fit my cover, and I was put off by her patronizing, holier than thou attitude. I made clear in my tone it was the police I was pissed at and not her, other than her abrasive attitude towards me.

After that she relaxed. When she realized I wouldn't go ballistic or rollover in response to her provocations, she treated me more like an equal. All three girls were reasonably attractive and intelligent. I felt lucky to be in their company. The others in the bar noticed. Guys saw us and some gave me a thumbs up. A number of the young women were giving me more than a casual glance.

I noticed one exceptionally tall and attractive woman watching me from a far table. She was with several cheerleader types and several jocks but I noticed her looking my way every so often. What was it my dad used to say, ‘An employer is more likely to hire you if you are currently employed elsewhere. They assume if you are working someplace else, you must have something on the ball.' It also applies to human relationships. All I know is the conversation got friendlier and we ordered a few more pitchers of beer.

"Joe, now that we know you better, Crystal and I want to make it up to you for being rude."

"Yeah, we were rude. Just because we prefer women is no excuse. Not all men are pricks, though they all have one or they wouldn't be men, would they?" We all laughed at that

"There is this great nightspot we know. We don't mind dancing with guys, just sleeping with them. It will be fun."

"We won't be out too late will we? I have class at eight o'clock tomorrow and I live twenty minutes from campus. I'm currently on foot to save money."

"We won't be out that late, and if we are, I'll put you up for the night and make sure you get up in time. I have an apartment across the street from the Physics building."

"That's only a block from here. Thanks. I agree."

We got up to leave; I was feeling a slight buzz, but was okay.

As we left the bar, Mera turned in a different direction than the rest of us.

"Aren't you coming?" I asked.

"I have a long day tomorrow. Crystal and Elise will take good care of you, Joe. Enjoy. I'll see you again soon."

* * * *

We walked to a quirky super bar, one where you can both buy bottled beer and liquor, or buy drinks as in a regular bar.

"I thought we were going dancing?"

"I remembered tonight's band scene is dismal. We can go out on Saturday night, there are several great bands playing. I think a quiet evening getting to know you better is in order. First, one for the road.

"Bartender, over here, please!" A woman in her upper twenties walked to our end of the counter. "I I'll have one of your specials for our male guest, a Bloody Mary for Crystal and a Margarita for me."

"Right up, Elise."

Minutes later the bartender returned with our drinks, a tall slender glass with a slice of lime on the rim for me, a Bloody Mary for Crystal and a classic Margarita for Elise.

"Your next conquest, Elise?"

"He's Mera's friend."

"She'll be angry." The bartender half-whispered that reply.

"We're just being nice to him. I would never hurt Mera."

I drank my drink. It was sweet, bitter and strong all at once but it was tasty and I felt okay.

"That was interesting, Elise. Thanks. So what's next?"

"Follow me."

* * * *

We met Crystal at the door and walked for a few bocks to Elise's apartment. I felt warm and a little out of it, but nothing too weird. I did notice Crystal had been carrying a bag from the super bar. Once in the apartment she took out several bottles of liquor and got ice and cold mixers from the fridge. Crystal had been here before, it was obvious. She made some drinks while Elise asked me all sorts of questions.

"What's with the inqui, inqui , questions?" ~~Why is my speech slurred, I'm not drunk. I'd know it if I was,~~

"Just getting to know you, here have a drink. I must have given a look of concern. "Here, I'll drink half of yours and you try half of mine. It's not drugged."

We shared our drinks and I was feeling on the edge of being nicely drunk versus plastered. My vision was a little blurry and the colors seemed off; everything looked too blue. The room was stiflingly warm and I think I had this embarrassing bulge in my …. I don't remember much other than waking up with a head ache, and odd taste in my mouth. I realized I was not in my apartment and was shocked to see I was naked and lying on a couch.

"I can see you are *up*, Joe."

"Crap, I mean sorry." I scrambled to wrap myself in the blanket lying on the floor next to the couch. It was better, but did not completely hide my erection.

"I've seen one before; I had brothers."

"I am so embarrassed, getting drunk and imposing on you." I was embarrassed. I'd had *morning wood* before, it's a common physiological thing but never this rigid. I was so erect my penis was aching. I dismissed it as an affect of the drinking binge and being inspired by all that female company, odd as they were, they were female in all the right places.

"That's okay, we did kind of push a lot of drinks at you and don't worry, you were a perfect gentleman.'

"That's a relief."

"Hey, Joe, you were a stallion last night. I see you are ready again, you want to have another go? I may prefer women but I'm not adverse to a real man now and again."

"What, I don't remember …?"

The gals broke into a wild laughter, almost a bit too much under the circumstances.

"No, Joe, you made no move on either of us, and as wasted as we all were it was a possibility. If you are wondering about the clothes, we figured you might not be able to get home before class. This way your clothes are aired out, at least. Like I said, I had brothers, so I know how boy often wake up *that* way."

"Thanks, Ladies, that was sweet of you. Can I shower or something?"

"Sure, help yourself."

I showered quick and dressed. I ran the water a little on the cool side. That plus a quick trip to the toilet relieved my problem. I was my goodbyes and hustled off to class, recovering my books from the rental locker on the way. I was glad nothing had happed but there was this nagging voce in my head. Later in the day a thought came to me but it didn't know what to make of it.. ~~I got drunk way too easily, particularly at the end. What gives?~~ There was also something odd I had seen in Elise's bathroom, maybe more than one thing, but for the life of me I couldn't remember what it was..

* * * *

I got home late that afternoon and checked my e-mail. There were several from Jesus. He wanted to know what I was doing for the weekend, as he had a part lined up, and also if I wanted to study with him. Some of the stuff he wrote was hilarious.

"Dude, I know you are a guy, but I keep hoping you'll turn into a girl. It's not that you're all girly-like, but I bet you'd be a real looker. In the meantime, you don't have a sister do you? E-mail or text me with your reply with regard to the party, any joint studying or your having a hot sister. If you suddenly turn into a girl, stop by my room. Wear a teddie, okay? I call first dibs."

Jesus is a nut but I like him. If I was a girl, I think I'd find him attractive, but I only see him as a friend and possible wingman for cruisn' for babes. I have been spending too much time around him.

* * * *

The next few weeks were a blur of classes, studying, extra studying under Mera's tutelage and even a meeting with Ms Tabor, with Mera present.

"Mera has informed me of your progress and I am impressed. You are taking my offer seriously, and I do appreciate that."

"Mera is a patient teacher and has treated me in a friendly yet professional manner. Sometimes I have to try hard not to read too much into what we do together. I do have a potent and overly romantic imagination, and I am doing my damnedest not to spoil our working relationship."

"You're attracted to me?"

"You have a lot to commend you beyond your appearance, Mera. I'd have to be dead not to notice, but I promise that is as far as I will let it go. We are together for professional reasons, and I will adhere to that. I value your friendship and I will not abuse it. I felt I should be straightforward with you and Ms Tabor on this matter."

"That is always a risk when people work together. So long as you recognize it and control your urges, I am satisfied."

"What about me, don't I have a say in this, Ms Tabor?" Mera asked forcefully. "I am an adult, and I say who and when I can be interested in some one. I need to go and calm down, Excuse me." She got up and walked off briskly.

"Did what I think just happened, happen? Is Mera interested in me? I did mean to attract her though I'd be dishonest if I didn't say I was interested. I never intended for this to happen. Perhaps I should get a different mentor?"

"You and Mera will have to work it out. This is why I don't like mixing the sexes, it leads to trouble, but at least you both share the blame. Mera is an adult. If she chooses to be interested in men, that's her choice. Meeting dismissed."

I ran after Mera, but couldn't find her. I decided her friends might know. I left a note for her roommate to call me, that there had been an incident in our meeting with Ms Tabor and that Mera had run out upset. I also wrote she'd all but admitted she had an interest in me physically.

Several hours later Crystal called. "What did you do to Mera? She's very upset!"

"I admitted to Mera and Ms Tabor I was attracted to Mera physically and mentally, but that I would not press the issue, as ours was a professional relationship and I valued her friendship. Ms Tabor made a comment about the risk of romantic entanglements when people work closely together. Mera got upset when she felt we were talking around her, and not with her and she left.

"I want to remain her friend, and I must admit I would love to pursue a closer relationship if she is so inclined. At a minimum I want to apologize for hurting her."

"You should know, Joe, Mera was hurt bad in high school. She only has told us, Elise and I, part of it, but she was outed by a lover."

"Huh?"

"She had a relationship with another girl. Mera is shy when it comes to her sexuality, and this girl meant a lot to her. They were friends first, and soon lovers, Mera's first. I'm not sure about the other girl. The problem was Mera was also close friends with a neighbor boy. She went out on a date with him, to a school dance, as she felt it was safe and she had some attraction to him. As I said she's sexually shy and was struggling to find her way, her sexual preferences. There was alcohol at the party and … they did it, in an empty classroom. She lost her virginity. It was mutual, aided by the alcohol, but she said she enjoyed it as much as she'd enjoyed sex with her girlfriend.

"The girlfriend found out and outed Mera's lesbianism to the school. Her remaining time in school was a nightmare, as her long time friend broke up with her when his parents leaned she was lesbian and no one, male or female would date her or even be friends. The lesbians were the worst, as she'd *cheated* on one of them. They treated her like a cheap whore. She almost got raped as a result of the atmosphere of hate in the school.

"College was far way from home and she slowly blossomed again."

"So it was almost like a post traumatic flashback, the anger triggered by the revelations in our meeting?"

"Could be."

"What do I do?"

"If you care for her, confront her and show her nothing has changed, that you still value her friendship and are pleased she has interest in you."

"I'll do that, Crystal, thanks."

"I may prefer women but I prefer love over sadness."

* * * *

I bough a tasteful bunch of flowers and went to her cubical in Ms Tabors office.

"How may I help ? Oh . it's you." She didn't sound happy.

"I am sorry your feelings got hurt and I am pleased beyond measure you have some interest in me. I am not comfortable around attractive women in a social, I mean a dating situation and I … These are for you, Mera. Please forgive me."

She looked at me and cried. I turned to leave and I heard her get up. She grabbed my hand, spun me around and kissed me. She kissed me like I had never been kissed, I was dazzled.

"So what's the verdict? Friends or …?"

"Or."

"Oh my!"

* * * *

The remainder of October was pure bliss. I'd go to class study, meet Mera for tutoring then we'd make out. We made out anywhere and everywhere. Mera was a tigress unleashed, and I wasn't half bad myself. Ms Tabor was happy to have her efficient office assistant back, though she was not keen on our rampantly sexual relationship. Still, it was consensual, so she looked the other way.

I got and sent occasional e-mails from Bewitching02 and was careful to erase them after reading them. I never saved them. Even in our cryptic code they might have given me away. The messages let me know when Bewitching02 would not be available, and let Bewitching 02 know when I was going out, with whom and to where. One message pleased me no end. "Saw you two, great couple, Congrads."

As I look back on it, it was the night she invited me to sleep over, as Crystal was spending the night with Elise that caused all the trouble, and got us the break in our undercover investigation, lucky me. We had spent a quiet night drinking wine, I was legal and she was close to it, and it was a college. If I'd refused, it could have broken my cover. We'd had a wild night of it and ended up asleep and naked in her bed. Crystal chose that night to bring Elise back for a possible three-way, as Mera had done it a few times with them I later learned.

"Mera, Elise is all hot and bothered; you want to help me relieve her suffering … God you're with a man! Didn't we say not to bring men back here?"

Mera woke and stared at Crystal." So what's wrong with it? You said you were off to Elise's for sex, and we only did it in my bed. As I recall, we only agreed to check with the other first. You knew I was seeing Joe, and you said you were spending the night with Elise so what's the problem?"

* * * *

The gals gave us some time to dress, and after a long and sometimes heated argument Crystal calmed down and made a suggestion.

"I feel silly now, as I practically threw Joe into your arms after you got upset when you learned Joe was attracted to you. You'll always be welcome in my bed, but I spend so much time with Elise, Elise agreed I can move in with her. Joe can move in with you."

"You would do that for me, us? Oh Crystal!" Hugs were exchanged all around, and the happy lesbian couple announced they would have a welcoming party for the four of us a couple days after she got moved in and situated with Elise

* * * *

"Mera, Joe, thanks for coming. As a thank you for indirectly getting us together, I want to do something special for you, Joe. While Crystal here gives Mera a massage, she is training to be a physiotherapist after all; I want to give you a styling."

"A hair styling?"

"Yeah, I'm training as a cosmetologist in addition to getting a business degree. That way I have a fallback position or I can open my own salon and be better prepared to make a success of it with my business knowledge."

"Okay, but only a trim, I like it long, and so does Mera."

"Long it is and I'll do your nails too, they are in terrible shape.

We had a great time and I left well after midnight.

* * * *

We were walking across campus the day before Halloween when a familiar voice called out.

"Hey, Joe, whad'ya know!"

"Jesus, what gives?"

"I heard about you and Mera. Good going, guy, you scored some major ass."

"Ah-hum!"

"Mera, meet Jesus, we met during in person registration. Jesus, meet the major ass." I gave him a look, and Mera a hug

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I have a big mouth sometimes. Joe is so lucky to be dating a fine looking lady like you and smart too, I hear. Joe told me he was working with a real brainy woman in Ms Tabor's office. He said you were attractive, but he held back on me." He smiled and Mera relaxed.

."Joe and Mera, I want to invite you to tag along. A bunch of guys and gals from my English class are going pup crawling on Halloween, safety in numbers and all that. Want to come?"

"I'd say okay as long as my former roomie is invited and her SO."

"Consider it done."

"Mera, that's why I love you, you're so considerate."

* * * *

Crystal and Elise showed up in full Goth, which fit the festivities nicely. Mera was dressed as a forties femme fatal, while I dressed as a James Dean type, jeans, t-shirt with a cigarette pack, -- faked, I don't smoke -- rolled up in a sleeve. I carried a flannel workshirt to use as a light coat when the evening cooled down. It all started out pretty nice.

We had visited our first dance bar when Mera's cell went off. It was Ms Tabor. "Joe, I'm so sorry. Someone broke into Ms Tabor's office and trashed the place. She has a big meeting tomorrow, and she needs my help to recover her materials."

"She's been good to us, so go. Is it safe? I'd better come. Maybe I can help."

"Joe says he'll help … I understand …

"Joe, Campus security has an officer there, and is sending another to escort me over. Maintenance is fixing her door. She says it will be too crowded, and suggests you enjoy yourself tonight. And I do, too. Have a good time and we'll get together another night."

"I love you, Mera."

"I love you too, Joe."

We kissed until her escort arrived and she left.

* * * *

At the next bar we met up with some friends of Elise, a Goth wannabe and a couple real quiet guys who hung near her like an entourage. She spoke with Elise a while in private, then turned her attention to me.

"Elise tells me your girlfriend had to leave for the night. You offered to help her, but she said you should enjoy yourself. That's so sweet. I'll be your date tonight. I'll show you a great time and I won't make a move on you. I guarantee tonight will be memorable and then some." She sounded sincere enough. I still thought her costume was odd, more witch than Goth now that I'd seen it up close.

"I'm being exclusive to my Mera."

"My friend is trustworthy, Joe. She'll show to the time of your life and I guarantee she only wants what is best for you and Mera."

I agreed and went kept on partying.

* * * *

After our fifth tavern -- at just one drink per -- I was looped and I knew it. I had to drink, there was little opportunity to fake it. That would have given me away. I nursed my drinks but only so much for fear of blowing my cover. At a whopping 155 pounds the alcohol hit me hard. My fellow pub crawlers would insist on our sticking to zombies or boiler makers, ewh! I was having a hard time keeping them down and keeping myself upright.

I knew I was safe, I had my electronic tracer on me, in the form of my belt buckle. I also had a magical tracer, the World War II dog tags I wore, insisting they belonged to my favorite late grandfather. I'd even instant messaged my contact, the mysterious woman I had yet to meet. She was to watch my back and had sent the proper innocent seeming confirmation message. We could not be sure I was being watched or not, so all or messages were in a kind-of code. By necessity they were simple. Anything about going to the store or going shopping meant I was going out. The first number mentioned after shopping was the time I would leave my dorm. Clever, yeah?

Through my foggy brain I noticed we'd split up from Jesus and his gang -- from Crystal and Elise for that matter. Most of the gang seemed to have gone off somewhere, but I didn't know precisely where or when. The strange student friend of Elise and her group had taken a shine to me, they were real friendly, and we went to this tiny, eclectic bar. At least I thought they were students; I was more than a few sheets to the wind by then. I asked why we weren't following the main group.

"Oh, the place they are going is okay if you like big, commercial and tacky, but the place we have in mind will leave you with memories you'll never forget," the Goth wannabe said.

She was right, it was memorable. The place was practically a British *snug bar* as there was only the bar, a half dozen stools or so and a couple small tables.

"Guys, I … I think thish is it for … I'm pretty intox .. intox … smashed," I slurred.

"This last drink has hardly any alcohol at all. The bitters in it will counter-act any hangover. Drink it down, all of it and then it's sparkling water for you the rest of the night. That way you won't get dehydrated. You'll be feel like a new person in the morning, I guarantee it." I so wanted to believe her, I didn't know why though.. A small voice in the back of my head was screaming that something didn't make sense, but I didn't listen. ~~ Hmm, was it the girl who said it or one of the two guys? … She'd be lots more attractive if she didn't dress like a Goth wanna-be. I mean Crystal and Elise can pull off the look, but this one is over the top. Ooh, what a fascinating pendant she has between her breasts, it almost glows.~~

I think we left that bar around one-ish in the morning. The pick-me-up/hangover cure or whatever they called it was working I felt less drunk and surprisingly full of energy for so late at night. It was like I was a dam and water was building up higher and higher behind me, threatening to spill over the top, but something was holding it back. I felt happy and eager to please my new friends.

"Let's go for a walk. The night air will do us good. It's safe, we're in a group," one of the guys said. It was cool out now, so I slipped on my flannel workshirt.

He struck me as an odd sort. It was like he didn't have much of a *presence*, like he was a puppet. He'd not talked much at all earlier. The Goth wanna—be girl had done most of the talking. ~~Come to think of it, neither guy has said much. Oooh I feel odd. What a pretty night out. The sky is all twinkelly.~~

"Okey-dokey."

We got near to the river when I felt a sharp pain in my leg.

‘Ouwie!. What was tha …" I never finished the *t*.

My vision blurred but I swear I saw a syringe sticking in my leg and the Goth gal pushing the plunger. I felt myself being dragged along, then lifted as my legs gave way completely.

I heard the Goth wanna-be say, "You were good, Sergeant Friday but not good enough. We found out an undercover cop was trying to smoke us out. Our source wasn't sure who, but it must be you. Your quitting the police was too convenient, be reasonable. I've something extra special for you. Wish I could hang around and see how you turn out, but places to be, things to do, or is that people to do? Good bye, and good luck, you'll …"

I lost consciousness and didn't hear anymore. I dreamt I was falling from the sky. I lost all consciousness again, then I felt I was floating in a pool or lake. It was restful and … I inhaled water and coughed violently. My face went under and I couldn't breath. I was panicking. I tried to kick my legs, but they were numb and I could only feel the one move a little.

I lost my shoes, which was good, as my pants loosened somehow and tangled my legs. I managed to kick free of them with my good leg, though I swallowed some water in the process. My arms felt okay and I swam with all my strength. My face broke the surface and I could breathe. The twin shocks of the attack and my being in the river must have triggered a surge of adrenaline. I felt increasing alert, but odd. My vision was blurry, it was dark out and I was disoriented but I realized I was in a lake — being in all that water was a big clue -- or …~~I'm in the Mississippi River!?~~ I promptly threw up; I threw up a lot. It was hard to stay afloat, but the vomiting made me feel better.

I turned and looked for lights. I found what appeared to be the nearest shore and shouted as hard as I could. "Help, help! I'm in the river, HELP!?"

I shouted far louder than I might have expected. Part was fright and panic. Adrenaline will do wonders for that. I've concluded since, that it was due to my shock and my added confusion at the voice that came out. Ever hear a really great singer perform ‘The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow', the inspirational and annoying hit song from the musical Annie? The song every pre-pubescent girl in America was singing a few decades back, and still are, the little sadists?

~~What was the really good Annie's name, Andrea McArdle? It sounded like that, with a piece of Mariah Carrie thrown in for good measure. This girl might be a great star someday...if she wasn't drowning?!~~~ "Drowning? … HELP! For God sake HELP!!" My mind was going in and out — that's the only description that fits -- and it wasn't due to the alcohol I'd drank.

I swam with every bit of strength I had. I was collected enough to swim across the current rather that against it, but I was getting weaker by the minute and the leg she'd injected remained numb. I was being swept away from the bright lights of the city and would soon be beyond the old steamboat docks, my last good opportunity to get help. I kept shouting for help. "Help, p-please help me!" I began to cry and what little vision I had was degraded by my tears.

I was having problems with my shirt and T-shirt. ~~It's like I'm swimming in a nightgown that is too big for … me?~~. I caught my hand in a oversized sleeve. My strokes lost their coordination and I began it sink again. I slipped out of the freakishly large shirt with great difficulty. I struggled back to the surface, but my strength was ebbing.

I have memories of that night that come—and-go like will-o-wisps, but the last I can recall, I heard shouting, lights sweeping the waters and a distant loud splash. I was nearly gone when an arm snagged me and clamped around my waif-ish body. It squished one of my boobies, painfully. I distinctly remember that's what I thought at the moment. I don't remember much after that. I do remember wondering why my boobies were so tender and … Guys don't have …~~

* * * *

A lovely older woman was looking at me when I opened my eyes. She smiled at me and I naturally smiled back. My boobies were a little sore but not too bad. I was proud I was the first girl in my class to grow boobies. That would show that mean Kathy in Mrs. Smiths sixth grade class. I was in fourth grade and my boobies were as big as hers. I needed to go to the potty, though.

"You're so pretty, lady. I like your hair. You have blue eyes like my mom." I said this, as it seemed the right thing to say, but it didn't seem right, at least to part of me. I figured she was like my mom because she looked real old like her, maybe almost 35, even. I liked my mom, so I would say nice things to this lady, too.

"What a charming young lady. You're pretty, too. I don't think I've ever met as pretty a girl as you. Do you know where you are?"

I looked around. I was eager to answer. I wanted to show her how clever I was. It seemed really, really important. "Um, I must be in a hospital. Was I sick? Where's mommy, I mean my mom?" See, I'm really, really smart,

"I'll find out. Be a good girl for me." The pretty older lady left the room. A few minutes later — I knew ‘cause I read the clock on the wall. See I told you I am smart — another really pretty lady came in. I mean, this lady was like a princess or a movie star she was so really pretty. I am sorry, I should not use really so much, my mom told me. This new lady was not so old. She looked like those ladies in the fashion magazines, or even that naughty Cosmopolitan Magazine. I remembered my brother — I think it was my brother — had these magazines with very pretty girls, and some were naked. She looked like she could be one of those ladies. He said it was Playboy, and I shouldn't touch them or I'd get in trouble. At least, I think he said that, I'm confused.

"Lady, can I go to the bathroom? I have to go real bad."

"Um, sure, I guess. Let me help you."

The nice lady helped me out of the high hospital bed and into the bathroom.My she's so tall, and has great big boobies. I hope I grow up to be like her.~~ "Do you need help going to the bathroom?"

"I'm a big girl, I'm almost ten. I've gone to the bathroom myself for like forever. I'll be okay."

I closed the bathroom door, pulled up my hospital gown and sat down. I started to pee and …

"Aaaaaeeeee! I'm a girl!

"It took you that long did it, Sergeant Joe? Sorry, I guess Sergeant Josephine make more sense now."

"As soon as I'm done tinkling I'll show you who's a girl … I'm a little g_g_g_girl!" I sobbed. "Calm down, it's okay for little girls to cry … But I'm a man and police officer and I have boobies? But they are such cute boobies and the boys like to look at me now and …What the he .. he .. he .. fu… fu …I can't swear! What's wrong? Can you help me? I want my MOMMY!" Like I said earlier my mind was going in and out. It seems obvious to me what I mean .

The tall young lady with the big boobies came to me and hugged me ‘til I felt better. She hugged really … sorry, she hugged very nice. It felt very nice, like mom was holding me. A tiny and getting tinier part of me wanted to do something naughty with her that older boys and girls like to do. Another small but growing part of me wanted to lick the big lady in some very naughty places and have her ,,, ~~Those last two ideas are both so gross, yuck!~~

"Where's my mommy?"

"It's an effect of the magic, Joe. You can fight it if you try hard. It's forcing you to think you are a little girl … Stand up for me so I can have a look at you."

I stood up with her help. I knew she was there to help me, so I did what she said.

"Okay, physically you are a girl, or may be a bit older -- more of an adolescent -- what with the ‘sore boobies' you kept talking about in your sleep. I'd say physically, you are eleven or twelve, but the people who transformed you tried to make you think you were much younger. Give it time and it will pass, this thinking like a little girl. But there is no denying you are a girl on the cusp of womanhood, the budding breasts prove that. If it's any consolation, I think you'll be a rare beauty, and I should know, I used to be a guy too."

"Y-you were a guy, really?"

"Yes I was. In my case I was change accidentally when some good magic went wrong. Someone deliberately tried to kill you. You almost drowned before I could get to you with the help of some local boaters."

"You saved me?"

"I'm sorry I wasn't there sooner but it all happened so fast at the end. I apologize, I'm John, J-o-h-n and I know it's a silly name for a woman. I kept my old name after I was transmuted, and now it's my professional name so I'm stuck with it."

"I, remember ... I remember. The name sounds familiar."

"I do ads and TV shows, sometimes with my identical twin sister Laura. Does that help any?"

"You are an actress and model. You did ads for Miller and Harley, I remember. Damn I remember I was, I am a cop and a man, I have this great girlfriend -- and I'm undercover looking for these people who change people's sex and … I guess I found them. I'm the proof."

"I'm glad to you are taking this so well."

"Does Mera know? She's my girlfriend, or was until I get changed back." I asked and cried.

"She knows you're in the hospital, but she doesn't know about this. Let's get you tested, first. This maybe reversible, but we won't know without testing and …. "

"We'll need the jerks who did this, and/or what they used. I was warned about this. So I'm a girl for a few months? No sweat. I hope Mera takes it well." * * * *

Doctors came and went, John — Jesses that name still throws me. I used to mas…, um. I mean her photos … Never mind, let's say I think she's hot and leave it at that. What I was saying is John stood guard over me, not letting anyone near without checking their credentials. This was in addition to the Sheriff's deputy outside of my room.

"Joe, they threw you in the river, intoxicated, half paralyzed and in mid- transmutation; they meant for you to drown and an unidentifiable girls corpse to be found if we were lucky. They couldn't bring themselves to kill you directly so they threw in the extreme age reduction and mental age reduction in case you survived. They were too cowardly to kill you outright, but were not too squeamish to kill your identity. I'm sure they know by now you are not dead; they may try to finish the job."

"I know you are supposed to be this magic prodigy and I can't thank you enough for saving my life, but you don't look the bodyguard type."

"That's the point; I don't look like a bodyguard. In that moment of confusion lies our advantage. May I demonstrate?" She acted like she was panic stricken and whipped out a small but lethal looking automatic from out of no where.

"Are you convinced now, Joe? I had to learn this sleight of hand quick draw on top of the self-protection magic I'd been taught after an attempt was made on my life. Magic is powerful, but so is a 357 hollow point with a magnum load."

"Where did you hide that?"

"Hon, with my figure I could hide an arsenal on my body."

"So you're *booby-trapped?"

"I have a killer figure in more than one way." John giggled and it made me smile

"I'd say."

"Don't worry, in a few years I suspect you'll be similarly *equipped*"

"I've always liked women with a sexy body; I never expected I'd be looking out from the inside of one."

"It's not so bad after a while. I rather like being a woman, Joe. Anyways, after what you've sacrificed to help catch these magic abusers, making sure you're happy in this new life is the least I can do."

I'd seen her work as a model and actress. I'd thought she was a lovely woman but what she was doing for me impressed me more. I wondered what Mera was going to think?

* * * *

The doctors continued to test and examine me. The magical experts were strange. They made my medical tests seem simple by comparison. There were a couple of people who drew symbols on my skin with smelly dyes, then scanned me somehow to see how I reacted. I remember one person bringing all sorts of crystals near me, touching me with some and ah-ha, hummm and oh-ing depending whether they glowed, vibrated or whatever they were supposed to do. At one point he touched me with what looked like a simple quartz crystal. It began to flash pink, faster and faster. Soon I heard a high pitched tone coming from it that grew louder and louder and then it crumbled to dust. The mage, sorcerer, or whatever, stood there with his mouth wide open.

"I take it that wasn't supposed to happen?"

"No." He said in a deadpan voice Jack Webb would have been hard pressed to equal.

Another person placed various objects in my hand and asked me to concentrate on them.

"What am I supposed to concentrate on?"

"Anything, thing of the object and imagine changing its color, that sort of thing."

"You mean like this?" She'd given me a small pewter figurine, a cat, I think. I concentrated on it, thinking of Mera and what I'd lost. I opened my hand. The pewter cat was replaced by a slightly smaller gold figurine that looked exactly like Mera, posed like she was crying.

"T-that's good … that's very good, Joe. I … I'll get back to you."

* * * *

A few days of this and I was going stir-crazy. I finally had had enough and asked my doctors to come in and give me the lowdown. "Okay, now that you've poked, prodded, waved the proverbial dead chickens over me and damned near drained me of blood, what is the verdict, docs?"

"Do you want the medical one or the magical one first?" one of them asked. I had so many doctors I had a hard time remembering their names.

"I'm just like sooo happy being a little girl. I love Barbie dolls and can't wait until I have sex," I said in as vacuous a tone as I could, which was easy with my preteen voice. "How about the medical one first? I can't wait to grow up, menstruate and get pregnant …I hope you realize I'm being facetious …"

I tried to sound angry at the end, but somehow it came out petulant and almost sexy. I know, I‘ve played back the recording I made of the *conference*. John had brought me a mini digital recorder to take notes whenever I thought of something, anything. This was to help with the investigation and with my adaptation to my *situation*.

"Joe, it'd a good news/bad news deal, I'm afraid," one of my medical doctors replied. "All of the magic experts tell me the same thing, your spell is a right nasty one. Whoever did this to you intended this to be permanent. Before you start screaming at the heavens, you have lucked out. They couldn't have known you had latent magic talents in your family, or they never would have used this method."

"I'm trying to remain calm, what does this all mean, keeping in mind I reserve the right to kill someone over this."

"They intended for you to become far younger than you did. The little girl mind that bothered you at first, was the magic trying to force your body and mind younger. Think of the spell like a multistage rocket, each portion of the spell setting up the necessary conditions for the next part of it. The booster stage flew straight and true and that's why you are a girl entering puberty." The doctor finished.

John spoke. "I talked with the magic practitioners that examined you, Joe. Where your *opponents* screwed up was in not testing you for magic potential. In changing you into a girl, they triggered your potential and that protected you."

"Then why am I a girl?"

"The magic first reduced you in age and size then changed you a girl. Your magic potential could only be realized if you were a female. This saved your life, or your mind to be precise. The second *stage* of the transformation was to force your body and mind younger and younger. Magic is never precise; there is always a fudge factor that must be considered. The unknown can have a great effect upon a spell's eventual outcome."

"And all this means?"

"The bulk of the magic intended to make you physically and mentally a little girl was diverted in to fueling your emergent powers. This means you are a witch, if you wish to be trained. This also makes it harder to change you back without your tormentors assistance, if it is even possible at all, I'm sorry."

"Can't I just change myself if I'm a witch, as you say?"

"Think of it like a doctor trying to perform surgery on themselves. Oh, you could, with training, place a transformation spell into an object and using a trigger phrase release the spell. The difficulty is, your body would fight it as it did the later portions of the spell they used on you."

"Could my magic be drained away? Could I then be changed into a normal female and subsequently back into my old body and male?"

"It's your magic abilities confounding us again. If we try to change one aspect of you, your new *default form* -- a young witch — would respond to counter our efforts. We need find the people that did this to you and find out what they used to do it to have any hope of getting around your abilities If every aspect of your change was *treated* simultaneously, in theory it might be able to restore you, but it's unlikely. Releasing that much magic at once is difficult and could just as readily be destructive. Instead of restoring you, it might kill you.."

"I'm stuck as a little kid?"

"No, Joe. We all agree, the test show you will grow at a normal rate into an adult woman and can have children if that's any consolation," one of the magic experts offered. "Given your physical development, we anticipate you will begin menstruating within a year or so. Congratulations?"

"That's just peachy."

* * * *

I had recovered, so to speak, so they discharged me from the hospital but something bothered me.

"John, why didn't Mera come and visit me?"

"I … I don't know. She sounded concerned for you when she was told. I asked her to give you a day or two and try again, but I've not heard anything since."

"Does she know what happened and that's why she …?"

"I don't know. It's possible she heard, but I told no one and you have had no visitors."

"Thanks for the clothes and thanks for not saddling me with all that girly stuff. I could see my self walking out of here in a plaid Catholic school girl's skirt, Barbie Doll pink tennis shoes and a Hello Kitty crop top with sequins."

"That would be so hot on you, Joe, but they were all out, so you're stuck with jeans, panties, a polo shirt and white running shoes. I'd have bought you a bra, but you don't strictly need one yet. Besides, that's kind of personal." When John snickered, I laughed back.

"This getup looks okay to me, but if I'm to keep going to school I think I'll need a padded bra and some makeup. I look like jail-bait."

"Joe, even in stiletto boots, fishnets and a leather S&M get up complete with bull-whip you'd be jail-bait."

"Your confidence underwhelms me, but thanks, John. Let's go kick some magical butt, after we shop for the … Can we go to Victoria's Secrets?" I said with a giggle. I was happy, I'd managed a joke after all that had happened to me and school girls giggle, okay? I have an excuse.

* * * *
She took me to the county courthouse where we got my ID changed. This did not start out well at all.

"Y … you were a man? That's rich." The county records clerk did not seem impressed by me and my five foot nothing, ninety pounds of terrifying blue-eyed blonde cutie. I tried to hand her my papers from the hospital, but she was laughing too hard to notice.

"Hey everybody, this school girl claims she was a man!"

After they all stopped laughing and patting me on the head saying ‘what a kidder I was,' ‘what a cute little lady you are,' and , ‘Honey, you should get your mom to buy you a bra. Your nipples are showing and I bet they are sore at times. Welcome to womanhood.' I was really embarrassed by that comment.

John walked in, all of her. I'd tried to get the records people to take me seriously and clearly failed. John had warned me, but let my male, um female pride find out the hard way. She decided it was time to bring out the big guns and had undone a few buttons on her blouse accordingly.

~~If I'm really stuck as a girl, I hope I never have breasts as big as hers. Now I know what a gunboat boat feels when it looks at a battleship. Now where did that analogy come from? But I mean, her breasts are so unwieldy and they *hang* out there so blatantly. And they way they jiggle around, it's disgusting … My Ghod, I'm jealous of her figure and I'm only eleven or twelve physically? I'm a junior bitch!~~ I was discovering the spell had changed more than my body; I was not only in a adolescent girls body, but I was thinking like one.

"Excuse me; I'm looking for my friend? She's here to do a name change after a magical gender change.

"Ah, there you are Joe. Don't tell me they didn't believe you? Don't worry I'll call the Governor; we're *good* friends since his divorce. The things we did in his office, hee hee …" she giggled. She whispered in my ear. "I met him once and we posed for a poster to promote wildlife conservation, but they don't need to know that. Learn from a pro, hon.

In the mean time the clerk's supervisor, a male walked up. I could see John's gorgeous eyes gleam with expectation at the slaughter she was about to unleash.

"Hi, I'm John, and my friend here just went though a nasty forced magical transformation from an adult man to a young girl and I was wondering if you could help her?"

The breathy way she said *adult* nearly had my motor running, and at my age you don't have one, I think. God I hope not! Turning into a female is enough for now; I don't need falling in love with any boy who looks like Leonardo De Caprio on my plate any time soon. ~~Why did I say Leonardo De Caprio and that tight ass of … Aaaaah!~~

It took nearly an hour, but eventually I had a county ID as, get this, Josephine Alyssa Friday. I was described as female, five foot, 90 pounds, blue—eyes, blonde hair, DOB … None of your damned business. Didn't see that one coming did you? They listed my original DOB but with an amendment, ‘physiological age reduced by twelve years due to MA, Wis statues section yada subsection yadda yada.' Translation, I was a man transformed by felonious Magic Assault to a woman twelve years younger. They included a 1-800 number incase there were ever any questions. Apparently this transformation *thing* had happened often enough that the State had a set of procedures in place.

* * * *

The DMV was something else again. Things had gone so well at the county … okay they hadn't at first, but I now had a new county ID, additional papers proving who I was and a 1-800 number in case of problems, so piece of cake, right? I had John drop me off and told her I would call when I was done. Just my luck, the office manager was the older brother of one of the officers *I'd* named as being on the take. That this was from the Chief's own internal investigation didn't matter, all that anyone other than the Chief knew was *I* was the rat who squealed on brother officers.

Windows closed for *lunch* just before I got to them. A completed form got *mangled* in an optical reader and I had to start over -- sounded like they put it through a paper shredder to me but I couldn't be sure. My number got skipped in the waiting line and when I complained I was told I'd missed my call and had to start over.

I'd been there all afternoon and I never got properly waited on. I got upset and went to the *receptionist*. "This is ridiculous. I have been here for four hours to do a simple name change on my driver's license and I keep getting the run around. I wish to speak to the manager on duty."

"He's not available."

"He's been in his office for the last hour, all alone; I can see him in there. I wish to speak with him, now!"

"As I said, you cannot see him."

"I have every right to see him as I have received terrible service at this DMV center and as he is the man in charge, he is responsible."

"Miss, keep your voice down or I will have you arrested."

"I've been perfectly calm and polite the entire time I've been here. As to arresting me, I wouldn't advise doing that ma'am. False arrest is prosecutable. If you won't announce me, I guess I will have to see him myself."

I got about ten steps away from her when I was tackled to the ground and handcuffed.

"I'd read you your rights, but as an ex-cop, you should know them, Joe- sie. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy being made into a little girl. Are you going to cry now?"

"Frank, that's enough. People are looking," I heard another man say quietly. From his highly polished shoes — that's all I could see with my face pressed into the carpet -- it had to be the manager. He put on his best public face for the few members of the public who were watching.

"I'm sorry we had to detain you, but you were disturbing the peace; we had no choice, little girl. Come back when you are older and can behave yourself."

"You must be the manager. You're a hard man to see," I muttered, more squeaked from my uncomfortable position on the floor.

"Then don't waste your time, Miss. Officer, escort the little girl out of here and transport her to juvenile services where they may be able to notify her parents."

"You know very well I'm an adult. Your officer here knows who I am. I know the law and I will sue."

"Who would believe you?"

"I would." I was never happier to hear my Chief's voice.

"Hi, Chief, fancy meeting you here," I said in a vain attempt to imitate James Bond's suave repartee'. Frank eased his grip on me. I noticed the Chief was backed by several department officers, one of whom, an Officer Hendricks, I recognized as an obvious FBI type.

"Officer Frank is it? I suggest you release this young lady at once, or I will have you arrested for assaulting an officer, police brutality, false arrest or and maybe a sexual assault charge. That last one ought to look good on your record in prison.

"As for you, Mister Manager, have you no shame, ordering the deliberate mistreatment and false arrest of a law abiding citizen? She was, until recently, undercover on a big multi-governmental investigation. Did you know that as a precaution after Joseph here …"

"I'm Josephine now, Chief, but you can call me Jo, that's a big J and a little O." I was feeling much better with the cuffs off and the knee out of my back.

"Thanks, Josephine. If you are wondering how we got here so fast, we planted surveillance devices in your clothing as a precaution.

"Jo here was transformed into a woman while acting as bait as part of an investigation into all those disappearing college students — a joint multi-state and Federal investigation I may add. We feared those responsible for her transformation might try to *finish the job.* Did you know the security cameras here can be accessed from the outside, if you have the right equipment?"

"That's all nice and good Chief, but I still need a new driver's license. These kind public servants wasted over three hours of my time more than was necessary. My back is sore, I think I have rug burns, and my wrists are raw from the cuffs. Oh, and my breasts hurt like hell, excuse me, Chief." I kicked the officer who had roughed my up hard in the shins, well, as hard as a twelve year old, ninety pound girl could. The result was predictable, Newton's Law's of Motion and all that.

"Ouch! Does your ankle have to be that hard? Don't laugh; if I was taller I'd have kneed you in the groin for what you did to me."

They all started to laugh. After awhile, I started to as well.

"Can I just get my new driver's license and you all can work out what administrative punishments or charges are appropriate or not? I'm not keen on filing charges unless the Chief insists, though I will if requested to. I can't let misconduct go unchecked, but admittedly, you all had reason to assume I'd ratted on fellow officers, possibly unfairly. That's no excuse, just a reason behind your actions. It was all part of my cover, now completely blown. If it's a violation of the law, I must report or I'm dishonoring the badge, but minor infractions should be an internal matter. Nobody is perfect, and even good officers make mistakes. I mean, look at me. One moments carelessness, and it's women's bathrooms the rest of my life." I giggled and smiled. It broke the tension.

Thirty minutes later I had a new DL with a very flattering photo, I looked HOT, for an adolescent girl. I received sincere apologies in person from everyone in the building, and the satisfaction of knowing that the officer who'd cuffed me so roughly, the office manager and the receptionist, were all on suspension until a review was completed by the State Patrol. The Chief and the District commander for the State Patrol were golfing buddies.
* * * *

Having a legitimate license once again, I *had* to drive John's car when she came to pick me up. The woman showed up in a BMW Z3. I was in LOOOVE! So was the Chief when he saw my chaperone.

"Chief, John. John, Chief." John here was my backup. She couldn't get to me in time to prevent this," I gestured at my body, "but she saved my life. Got to go, I need a whole new wardrobe … Daddy." I was enjoying myself. I'm a bad little girl.

"You're not going to hold me to that?"

"And why not, … Daddy? You're good looking, respected, have a solid paying job and will intimidate the hell out of any boys who want to *deflower* your daughter. Don't worry, I'll be a good girl. Anyway, I like more mature men. Officer Hendricks here is single and kind of cute, and I've seen him in the shower. He's hung like a horse." I licked my lips. ~~I am so wicked! … Why did I think that?~~

Hendricks turned beet red. The Chief looked on the edge of shock. I was ready to pee in my pants, I was having such fun. A small part of my mind was in shock but for now, the fun-loving tart was in charge.

"See you later. There's a bullet-bra out there with my name on it."

My laugh broke the spell and the Chief chuckled. "That's right, you can't reuse much of your old stuff except maybe for oversized sleep shirts. Buy whatever you need, and send the Department the bill. You've earned it."

"Thanks, Chief. John, let's go break their budget."

‘Ha ha funny, Jo. Get what you need, don't feel you have to hold back. I mean, how much can a twelve year old girl need?"

I took that as a personal challenge. John let me drive her Z3 to her apartment, where we switched to a more sensible mini van.

* * * *

I'm not the shopping type, but I can be when it is necessary. It was very necessary and I was in a playful mood. John and I shopped all that evening and much of, well all of, the next day. I needed a year-round wardrobe, grooming supplies suitable for a girl, makeup, furnishings more suited to a teenage girl, and so on. I also needed police gear scaled to my body, not an easy task. Finding a service side-arm I could control, yet had acceptable stopping power was quite a task in itself. And we spent considerable time getting me measured for a properly fitting bulletproof vest. Don't ask what size, it's not polite to ask a woman that. See? I'm learning.

By the start of the second day after my release from the hospital my *digs* were appropriately female without going overboard. I was ready for all likely weather and social situations. That included makeup, jewelry and earrings.

"Jo, a girl your physical age would likely have pierced ears these days. Since you are going back to campus and need to look as mature as possible, you will need every *edge* you can get. I've learned since my transformation, how much power the right clothing and accessories have to change a woman's look. Trust me on this, Jo."

I even have this hot little bikini John insisted I buy.

"Think of how you reacted to a young woman in such a swimsuit when you were Joseph. Can you understand the power at your fingertips if you wear the *right* suit, Jo?"

* * * *

We did get some interesting feedback when John and I presented the bill to the Chief. First of all, we were in coordinated outfits, big sister/little sister I guess you'd call it. I saw myself in the mirror after John helped me make myself up and except for my disappointing cleavage, I was one hot little number. When John and I entered the police station the guys whistled at us.

The Chief smiled until he saw the bill. "Five-thousand two-hundred thirty- seven dollars and twenty-nine cents?!"

"Chief, Jo here was very conservative and replaced less than half of her old clothes, and furnishings. If she'd followed my advice, the bill would have been more like eight—thousand. Remember, she is stuck like this, probably for the rest of her life. Is even one-hundred thousand too much to ask for as compensation?"

"Well, I guess not since you put it that way."

"Plus, look at her. Is Jo a looker or what?"

The Chief gave me a good look, then smiled, "Jo, you look great, every bit the sophisticated young woman."

That made me so happy and he was so handsome, I had to kiss him. I held it together until we left for the college when I broke down in tears.

* * * *

"What's wrong with me? I actually liked showing off my body and when I kissed the Chief I … I felt a flash of desire. I *wanted* him in my bed."

"We may have gotten you out of the hospital too soon, but we wouldn't have noticed this in there. I suspect it's your mind adjusting to your new body. The spell made you comfortable with being a girl, which is good in the long run. It also tried to force you to be even younger, which likely explains your playful exuberant moods. As to your *noticing* men, Jo, you are in the body of a girl at the height of puberty. Your budding breasts mean your mind is being saturated with sex hormones. Many girls go through the *boy crazies* at this stage of their development.

"Remember when you were a guy and puberty hit? I bet sometimes you swore your penis had a mind of it's own. You simply have it worse than most. As your mind and body adjust to these hormones you'll gain a measure of control. You are a woman, Jo. You can't help but respond to an attractive person. I've been a woman for the better part of five years, and the sight of a healthy young man still makes me melt. It's nothing to be ashamed of, Jo. And you're right, Hendrickson is packing a monster in those trousers."

We laughed as we hugged each other. John told me a little about her successes and failures with men and I poured out my heart to her about Mera and my new feelings. I felt much better after our talk. It wasn't the magic destroying my sanity, I was *hearing* the call of the wild, and I could handle that. I'd survived puberty as a man, this couldn't be that different, could it?

* * * *
Return to college escorted by distant cousin, Ms John. Mera is heart broken, suffers mental breakdown, hospitalized.. Some of her Goth/lesbian friends and Ms Tabor are too happy and or make sexual overtures to John and Jo

Wild night parting with the Goths. Her new senses cause Jo to find the hair/nails, condom with dried semen in that were used to transform her.

Nearly caught, fools them by acting as if the programming to make her think she was a little girl has made her hate all men. She admits she's a witch now and how cool it would be to get revenge for the crap men do to women.

"I wish I could turn men into women or better yet little girls, the more pigheaded and macho the better. I'd love to take some steroid pumped knuckle dragger and turn him into a four year old girl who loves Hello Kitty. The God Damned mother fuckers made my life hell as a man. Now all they do is patronize me or ignore me like I don't matter, except for the perverts would get off on underage women. It makes me sick." I said with conviction — this had all happened at times though not as bad as I let on. "

"You hate men too but you were one?"

"Don't remind me,. I'm so lucky to be hid of that rape stick between my legs. I know whoever did this to me meant to harm me but they did me a huge favor. They freed my soul. I realize now why I had such poor luck dating woman, I was one but didn't know."

Elise walked into the room. She looked at me like she was trying to read my innermost thoughts. "I saw how you looked at Mera that first night we met, you wanted to stick your penis in her and rape her. You were a man, not a girl trapped in a man's body. That's all crap anyways to excuse men transforming themselves in a sick scheme to spy on real women." She sneered at me and my anger rose.

She was the one who gave me the haircut and manicure as part of her "backup schooling in cosmetology." The hair that shed careful gathered in that Ziploc bag with my nail clippings. The same bag I found later with a used tiff condom in it along with hair and nail clippings. ~~She's the one who transformed me or provided the materials to do it. God, I bet she and Crystal slipped me a big dose of Viagra and rode me until they filled the condom with semen. No wonder I had such a hard-on the next morning and it hurt. Why the sanctimonious bitch!~~

"Take that back, you bitch!" I screeched in my adolescent and very female voice.

I leapt at her and started hitting, biting and scratching. I went for anything I could reach and she reeled under the unexpected assault. But she was twenty and worked out and I was physically eleven, in a growth spurt and less than 100 pounds, She turned regrouped her self and hit me hard in one of my budding breasts.

"That hurts!!" I started to cry and before I knew it she punched me in the other one. I doubled over in pain and she tried to pi me to the carpet.

"Elise, that's enough, She's one of us now and she's a kid. We don't beat up our own." Crystal tried to pull her off me.

I was pure pain and fury at that point and tried to kick at Elise as hard as I could. My knee hit something hard and it hurt a lot. Elise went limp, she weighted enough, her dead weight held me down..

"Elise, speak to me, what's wrong?"

"Ooooh, my nooss. Thith bitch broke my nooss!".

"You hit me in the chest and my breasts still are throbbing. You did that deliberately, that makes you the bitch."

Crystal started laughing.

"Whathss so fuuny?" Elise asked.

"Hon, Jo is all girl now. She's more of a girl than you are. No guy would say what she said or fight like she did. Let's get you to the emergency room and checked out, you too, Jo, I'm sorry we doubted you but …"

What Crystal didn't say was "we thought you were an undercover cop," but I knew.

* * * *

The day after my visit to the Country and the DMV we stopped by the Registrar’s office and update my information. I had obtained a new student ID and I was ready for class. John agreed until I had been to every class at least once she would tag along.

“One, you might need my help and two, this will be great, seeing how they react to the new you.”

“Won’t your presence spoil the effect?’

“I’ll wait nearby but out of sight. This is gonna be fun!”

“For you, maybe, I feel like a mouse in a room full of hungry cats.”

* * * *

That night at my refurbished bachelorette’s apartment we came up with a cover story to explain why John was suddenly my best friend. “Jo, if anyone asks, we are distant cousins on your mother side, and I have been asked to assist you until you are back on your feet.”

“What if they try to check it out our story?”

“Say the blood connection is through a bastard child. That should do it.”

“Where did you learn to be so devious?”

“From my sister, where else?”

“Ha, ha. Shut up and let’s go get some sleep, cousin.”

* * * *

I woke to the smell of breakfast cooking. “Thanks for staying with me last night, I’m still a little spooked, John.”

“Understandable, that’s why I stayed and it’s easier to go in together this way.

“I didn’t know you cooked.”

“I have many hidden talents, young grasshopper.”

“Wha?”

“Never heard of the TV series Kung Fu?”

“Vaguely but it was before my time.”
“Thanks for making me feel so old. Now eat up, today will be a busy day, little girl.”

“Why no coffee?”

“With your new body I didn’t think you’d want it or need it. Tea maybe?”

“I’m surpassingly awake and full of energy. Maybe you are right. Let’s go back to school.”

“So you like Rodney Dangerfield movies too?”

* * * *

We got to campus nice and early to double-check my route between classes. It was a good thing we did, too. One of my classes was the furthest possible distance across campus. It used to take almost eight minutes travel time and that was if I hustled. I pushed it extra hard for the test run.

“Twelve minutes forty-five seconds? That took nearly five minutes longer than it used to. If I’m not out the door at the moment class is supposed to end I’ll be late for the next one. Maybe I should wear roller blades or take a bike on these days.”

“Jo, you’re way shorter than you used to be, smaller steps take longer.”

“That and did you see those guys ogling you and accidentally bumping into us, John? Having to walk around them slowed us a lot.”

“Jo, it wasn’t all me. You didn’t notice how they were looking at you? I’ll admit I got my share of it, but as I am teaching seminars on modeling and acting, I’m seen as staff here and verboten. I’m famous enough to be intimidating to all but the most determined of men. You are a new face, young, cute, petite and highly approachable. In trying to make you look older we cranked up your Lolita factor sky-high.”

Lolita? Who or what is she?”

“You must be joking!”

“Honest, I’m not sure. I think a Lolita is an underage woman/child who looks and acts sexy and sophisticated but is still a child. Sort of Brittany Spears ten years ago?”

“Close enough.”

* * * *

We got to my first class, the psych 101 and Professor B F Skinner Mark II took my change all in stride. However my classmates … There seemed to be two predominant camps. There was the ‘Honey, aren’t you a little young to be in college? Are you one of those child geniuses? You look fourteen tops,’ camp. That was the group, mostly gals, who wanted to be mother or big sister to me, though there was a quid pro quo. ‘You must be awfully bright to get in to college so young. If you help me with my class work, I can show you how to act and dress like an older girl and the tricks to finding the best dates. You know, Jo, trade knowledge for knowledge?’

Then there was the other camp, the ‘When they said good things come in small packages they must have meant you, Babe.’ Don’t let those silicone uber-blondes get to you, you have a perfect figure. After all, what you can’t get in your mouth is wasted.’ And the immortal, ‘Heaven must be weeping at the loss of an angel like you.’ This was often accompanied by ominous budges in their trousers. Part of me was flattered as I was a woman, well woman/child now and was predisposed to like men.

The problem for me was all this sexual attention terrified me far more than it excited me. I was by far the smallest student in any of my classes. Everyone was bigger than me. There were maybe two girls my height, and both out weighed me by ten to twenty well-placed pounds; no one else was close to my size. When no one else could hear, one of the petite gals said to me, “You’re my type. I like girls. If you ever feel inclined to explore girl-on-girl, here’s my number.” She wrote her first name, e-mail address and phone number with a felt-tip marker on a brand-new pair of satin panties she got from inside of her dance-class clothing bag. I learned later she was a dance major and VERY *flexible*, if you know what I mean. She handed them to me, blowing me a kiss and saying, “Just a little something to remember me by, my little Miss Sexy.” I immediately decided to give her as WIDE a berth as possible.

I had similar experiences in a math lecture later that morning. Thankfully John was waiting in the wings ready to help me out, as I needed it a few times. My mind and body were confused. I had the mindset to know what I was being offered and to fantasize about the possibilities, but my body was sending me incomplete and confusing feedback. Mentally I was ready for intimacy; physically I was only barely capable of it if at all.

Between classes I entered a women’s room to relieve myself and I heard two girls talking about me, I assumed it was me. “Did you see the new girl, Jo was it? If she is fourteen I’d be amazed. What is a naive nymph like her doing here? I bet she’s still a virgin. A few months of careful training and she’d be my perfect little willing sex slave. I’d love to get my lips on her juicy …”

By now I’d pulled up my panties and slacks and sat cross-legged on top to the toilet seat. I was trying desperately to hide. I regretted not having my sidearm with me. I heard the outer door to the bathroom open. The two girls stopped talking and left. I started to shake with fear. Who would be next, one of the creeps who’d changed me coming to finish the job?

“Jo, are you in here? It’s John.”

I opened the stall warily, then ran up to her and hugged her like a four year old who had lost her mommy in a crowd and suddenly found her again.

“Hey, I like you too, Jo, but not that much. God, you’re crying, what’s wrong?” There was a small bench in the woman’s room and she guided me to it.

“I know I’m a kid now” — sniffle — “but I feel so vulnerable and the way people talk about me” -- sniff–“I’m like a piece of steak in a lion’s den.”

“You’re a cute young woman. Of course people find you attractive, Jo.”

“No, they want to *use* me. That last woman talked to her friend of training me as her sex slave. And what’s worse, part of me likes hearing this, that part of me wants to be taken and utterly used sexually. Most of me was sickened and terrified.”

“Do you want out of your assignment? It’s clear you’re still adjusting to your new body and emerging sexual identity. This is overwhelming you.”

“No, no! I’ll stick it out for a week or two and only then will I bail out if I can’t cope. I’m better bait now than I ever was. They know I was hunting them and they must fear I might remember who they were. They will panic and come after me at some point. I owe it to the other victims to be one tough little bitch. Promise you’ll stay near me?”

“You’ve got it.”

* * * *

Humans are creatures of habit and one of mine was to meet Jesus, the guy who’d mistaken me for a girl, for lunch at the same table in one of the nicer student cafeterias several times a week. We had studied together a little and it was good to have a casual friend in the midst of my undercover chaos.

“You sit here and hold our seats, I’ll get us something good to eat and I promise it won’t be just rabbit food and plain tea,“ John said making reference to the sad fact of girls starving themselves to get model thin.

I saw Jesus heading toward my table carrying a tray of food and looking more and more perplexed as he got a better look at me. Did I forget to say I still used my old back pack for hauling the books around? I did shorten the straps a lot I do admit. So here I am, sitting in Joe’s seat, by his backpack, and I looked a lot like his younger sister might if he’d actually had one.

I smiled at my friend and without thinking said, “Jesus, it’s great to see you. Sorry I missed the last few times but I wasn’t myself. Shit!” I swore, then I started to giggle my head off. This was so funny. Here I’d planned on being cool and sophisticated about this and I acted like an over-eager school girl on a first date.~~Date? No, don’t even go there, brain! He’s just a good friend I’m hoping to keep … though he is kind of sexy in an Antonio Banderas kind of way. What!?~~ “You’re hot!” I managed to say, then I giggled some more.

Jesus amazed me. I think that’s why we are such good friends now. “You must be my friend Joe’s younger sister or cousin, you look so much like him, but far prettier of course. Where is Joe? I haven’t seen him for a few days. I’m sorry, what is your name, Miss, and where do you go to school?”

John chose that moment to arrive with our food. “Here we go, Jo. I got you a cheeseburger with the works, ice tea with lemon and sugar, a fruit cup and a small side salad. I expect you to eat the salad first, I’m eating mine that way too. Hey, so I’m a part-time model, sue me. Ah, you must be Jesus, Jo’s friend.”

At this point most men’s brains, at least the one on top of their shoulders, would have shut down in favor of the blood rushing to their little head. I doubted Jesus was an exception to this but he fought to say in control, an act worthy of a medal, believe me. You should have seen how John was dressed. Hell, I was looking pretty good too if you like jailbait.

“Jo?” Your name is Jo”

I nodded.

“You’re that model and actress with the strange name, John, right.”

John nodded.

“You have Joe’s backpack, he hasn’t been around for some time and here you are, a young woman who looks like she could be Joe’s younger sister. And you’re accompanied by a famous woman with a mysterious past. A past rumored to be that of a man transformed by magic, thus the strange name, John.”

“And your point is, Jesus?” I asked.

“Joe?” He pointed at me as he asked.

“It’s Josephine now, but Jo is fine. That’s Jo, J and O not J, O and E. Did you miss me?”

* * * *

This was the most surreal lunch I ever hope to have, but in the end he believed me and agreed to stay friends. “You sound as smart as before, Jo, if anything your mind seems a bit quicker and you are ‘much’ more pleasing to look at.”

“Hey!”
“Not that you weren’t a man’s man before.”

“That’s more like it.”

“So, John, will you be tagging along with Jo here? You fancy going out for a drink with me and maybe some dancing, my treat?”

“Jesus! That’s uncalled for and in front of your girl. Shame on you! You could have at least invited the two of us”

We all laughed after that and the rest of my first day back went well. As I lay that night in my suddenly huge and somehow empty bed I got to thinking. ~~I know it’s a bit early to consider this but Jesus is not a bad man. He’s bright, funny, ambitious and attractive in his way. By the time he’s a graduate I’ll be sixteen or maybe eighteen physically. At a minimum, he’ll keep the wolves at bay.~~

* * * *

The second day back I was ready for the hassles and determined to force my attacker’s hand. This time we would be ready. My first class was my history course on late 20th century politics with Ms. Lenore Tabor, self-confessed man-hater. I didn’t know what to expect. I presented my explanatory papers to her. She looked at me very carefully and seemed to go through a series of confliction emotions. Surprise, sympathy, smug satisfaction, embarrassment, a hint of lust or envy and fear took brief turns on her face.

“I understand Jo, we will talk after class about this. For what it is worth, I am sorry. If you ever need any help adjusting, see me. You were a good student as a man; I suspect you will be no less so as a woman.

We were maybe ten minutes into her lecture when she had had enough of the near constant whispering. I was attracting a lot of attentions as my story was making it around the campus grapevine.

“We clearly won’t get any where today until this is settled. Class you may have heard of the students who disappeared in recent years. It was explained away publicly as the unfortunate effect off too much alcohol combined with the unfortunate proximity of a large and dangerous river. I imagine many of you have also heard the rumors that the disappearances were due to foul acts of witchcraft being used to transform the unwary.”

“Jo, would you stand up, please?”

I got up and moved to where the class could see me. “Hi.”

“Jo until a few days ago was Joseph and a twenty-four year old man. She has the documentation to prove who she was.”

“Thank you, Jo, you may sit down.”

“This is an example of a total disregard for the rights of the individual. Some person or persons had the power to transform people and choose to do so irregardless of Joe’s rights. Take a few minutes and write down as many examples of abuse of power by governments and other large organizations in the latter half of the twentieth century. Lets see how many we can name.”

* * * *

I got a few strange looks at the end of class, but overall the response appeared positive or at least neutral. I arranged to meet with Ms Tabor about the status of my mentoring later in the afternoon.
* * * *

I sat at my favorite table eating a surprisingly tasty fish sandwich — I was trying to be health conscious for John’s sake — when I heard something that chilled my soul.

“I heard a rumor that you’d been turned into a little girl, but this is too good to be true, Joe_sie.” Her smart-ass tone made my skin crawl.

“It’s Jo, Elise. That’s a Big J, little o. Do you hate men that much?” I was trying to be James Bond *cool,* but inwardly I was shaking like a leaf.

“What did you expect would happen? How dare you spy on us … Sargeant. If there was any justice, you’d be in a pink top and Pampers, but we don’t always get what we ask for, Missy.” She poked me in the chest and it hurt. My budding breasts were sensitive.

I got angry and stood up. “What if someone turned you into a man or a baby boy against your will? Would that be right? I don’t care what your sexual preferences are, that’s nobody’s business but yours, but I do care when innocents get hurt. There is a girl in a coma because her friend tried to kill herself after they were both changed into men. You think that is funny, Elise? She may never regain consciousness, and will die in a man’s body because some bastard had the power and said ‘I don’t give a fuck.’”

“Why you little bitch!” Elise muttered. We were gathering the notice of other dinners who slowly backed away.

“I’d be damned careful what I said, Elise, because what you’ve said already suggests you had prior knowledge of what would happen to me. Failing to inform the authorities of what would happen makes you an accessory before the fact to several felonies, aggravated assault for the transformation, and attempted first degree murder. They threw me in the Mississippi and left me to drown. You’re looking at decades in prison, Elise, unless to help us catch these creeps and restore what was taken from the victims. And don’t you ever do this again.” I poked her in both breasts as hard as I could and she doubled over in pain.
“You were warned, girly, stay away or suffer the consequences.” She looked ready to slap me. A hand grabbed her wrist and twisted the arm behind her back and she winced with pain.

“You leave this young woman alone. How dare you threaten her? Get out of here, now.”

“Are you okay, Jo? Do you want me to stay with you for a while.”

“What are you, her boyfriend? This is rich, a woman less than a week, and already getting some. Do you like fucking little school girls? God you’re sick.”

“Get out of here before I do something you will regret.”

“This is not over, Jo.” Elise stormed off to some jeers. I started shaking as the adrenaline rush work off.

“I know this is weird, but would you just let me hold you, please?”

“If you really want me too, Jo.”

* * * *

We spent the next fifteen minutes with me clamped onto Jesus like a barnacle to a rock. He must have been horribly embarrassed, but said nothing; he just let me calm myself down at my own pace. I relaxed and slowly extricated myself from him.

“Thanks, I … I know that had to be hard, seeing as you thought I was a girl when we met during registration. You’re a class act, and if I can ever do something for you, just name it.” I stood and put on my back pack on in preparation to leave. I didn’t feel like eating anymore.

“Get the bastards who would do something like this to others.”

“You have my word. Oh, and, Jesus …”

“Yes?”

I grabbed his head with my hands and kissed him and ran off as fast as my legs to take me.

~~God … Why did I do that!?~~

* * * *

I had a gap between classes, so I stopped by the theater department to see John. She was showing her students how different lighting filters and effects could change ones appearance despite no change in clothing or makeup.

“If you understand the basics of how lighting affects your appearance, you will be way ahead of the game when it comes to your competitors for jobs, and believe me, modeling is a cutthroat business, I have met women I would have given a arm and a leg to date when I was a man, who were turned down for modeling because they came off as’ too explicitly sexual, we don’t do porn here’ or ‘not another Claudia Schiffer’ and so on.”

“John, can I speak to you later?”

“Jo, wait a minute. Class, this is Jo, she’s a cousin of mine several time removed on my mother’s side and your worst nightmare if she ever chooses to enter modeling. Take a ten minute break and we’ll get back to this.”

* * * *

“We can speak now. I locked the room so no one can disturb us. Now that we’re alone, what gives, Jo? What’s so important it couldn’t wait and no, I’m not angry at all ... Munchkin?”

“Elise, Crystal’s lover, came up to me at lunch and all but confessed she was involved or knew who did this, my transformation, to me. She also tried to scare me off of the investigation. My memory of that night is hazy from alcohol, the drugs and magic they did to me but I remember her introducing me to this very Goth girl, almost a witch’s outfit who was the last person I remember before this tall woman saved me from drowning. I have vague memories of this woman and pain, like a hornet was stinging me … No, it was a syringe, a medical syringe.”

“Crystal?”

“Mera’s roommate, Crystal, is a confirmed lesbian but was nice enough to me. Mera didn’t like Elise much, I don’t know why. But Mera is, or was, bisexual so might have been jealous. This all beyond me, John.”

“And the lovely Mera was your lover for a while and Dr Man-haters office assistant. I don’t like the possibilities here.”

“I’m due to meet with the doctor in her office in a couple hours. I hope to see Mera and find out why she didn’t come too see me. The last time we spoke we were on very good terms. Hell, we’d just had sex earlier that day and we were glowing..”

“That worries me even more. She was the hots for you, then all but disappears after your transformation, this is mucho bad mojo. Cancel, at least until I can cover you.”

“Mucho bad mojo? Where do you get these phrases from, John? I don’t think I should cancel. Ms Tabor seemed honestly shocked and upset I’d been transformed, and despite her predilection to hate men, she wasn’t gloating. If anything she envied me or was attracted to me. She does like women.”

“That could be worse, she might be tempted to seduce you. You are the best of all possible worlds to her. You’re a transformed man, you are a pretty and desirable young woman. You are also physically underage, yet legally an adult, and Dr Tabor knows you are an adult. I hope it’s not the case, but she could see you as legal jailbait. Think of it, as it stands now, she could argue it was consensual sex between two adults.

“I’m just playing Devil’s advocate about her, but you need to cover your cute butt, Jo. You’re not a man anymore, you not even an adult. You’re physically an adolescent girl who simply does not have the strength to fight off attackers.”

“I have to do it. I owe it to the Doctor and Mera to explain myself and to enlist their aid in catching the people who did this to me, to all of us. There is no way I can go back to being a police officer anytime soon. I have the knowledge, but I would fail the physical. My best hope it to finish this assignment and stay in school; take a sabbatical from the department as it were. I can earn a degree or even an advanced degree as my body matures. I intend to keep up my police training as much as possible, and once I am physically an adult again I will be in a much better position to rejoin the force or to pursue a different career.”

“Great career plan, but this meeting worries me. I should be with you.”

“That would complicate matters. I can leave my cell phone on and you can listen in.”

“I’ll think about it. There’s more than just Elisa the terrible and this meeting bothering you, Jo.”

“Magic?”

“No, I read body language fluently.”

“It’s … I’m not used to this body, being this small, this short, this vulnerable. Elise got to me. She pushed all my buttons and a breast. Do girls know how much that hurts, poking a girl in her tender chest? I though getting a baseball in the nuts hurt. God help me but I wanted to kill her for doing that it hurt so. I got her back in both breasts and she doubled over for a moment. It felt great watching her suffer, does that make me a bitch?”

“No, you had every right to fight back, and you have the right to be a bitch when necessary. I can be quite the bitch at times. It’s just like guys being macho. They compete with each other to be the alpha male, we compete to choose the best male.”

“I lost it after Elise left. That’s wrong, I lost it after Jesus helped scare her off. He was my white knight, okay, my Hispanic knight. He wasn’t macho or possessive; he was more like a brother to me. When she left, all the stress hit me at once. I asked to let me hold him, I was shaking with fear. It felt good; it felt right to be with him. I felt safe and loved and I kissed him. Am I gay? Am I crazy? Say something instead of grinning at me.”

“Jo has a boyfriend, Jo has a boyfriend!”

“I do NOT! ... Do I?”

“I went through this denial, too. Your case is different but not that different. Jesus is a friend, one of the few you have here, and he’s stayed a friend after your transformation, right?”

“So?”

“This is just an experiment. I’m opening my blouse and exposing a breast. I’m not coming on to you. Jo. Go ahead and touch it. I’m giving you a golden opportunity to go where half of America’s men would die to be.”

“There, I touched it, so?”

“You barely brushed them. Here, here’s both of them, two of the most famous breasts in North America. Come on, give them a good fondle, I won’t mind.”

“John, I … can’t.”

“We are both adults, do it. Suck on them if you want. As guy you’d kill to do it.”

“I .. NO! I don’t want to!”

“Eureka! Jo, do you realize what you said? You don’t desire women, not me at least. You are female in every sense, now. I’m sorry and I’m glad. You should fit into your new body much more smoothly than I expected. Though you are jumping the gun a bit, you really are attracted to Jesus. He seems a nice man and he’s proven his loyalty to you. Maybe he is your destiny, your mate.”

“My what?!”

“Um, the guy who sticks his penis in you and makes babies?”

“No!”

“I’m sorry, Jo, but I’d had to test you. You don’t have to be his lover, but your preference is unmistakable. Take your time but I think you are like me and prefer men. Since we probably can’t change you back, that is for the best, don’t you think?”

I left the room in a daze. Was I destined to be a lover of men? And what about my beloved Mera?’

* * * *

M My sidearm wasn't ready yet and I was reluctant to carry it until I'd had a chance to get proficient with it. Inexperience and a new gun are a dangerous combination. I stopped by campus security and after a bit of telephone tag we got my Chief and their Chief on the line. We set up a three-way teleconference with me in a secure office.

"Jo, I agree with the Campus Chief. The meeting this afternoon is dangerous. You need backup."

"I fear an obvious backup would mess things up with Ms Tabor and Mera, whether they are involved in the crimes or not. I would take my service sidearm, but the gunsmith is not finished with the needed customization."

"You bought a custom gun, Jo?"

"Chief, none of the standard-issue side arms fit me. My hands are too small. A gunsmith measured me and is modifying a lady's automatic to both fit me better, and to accept a more powerful load. It amounts to fitting a smaller grip to a normal police side-arm and adding a kick suppression barrel to compensate for the recoil, changed balance and my weaker hands. It won't be ready for several days."

"I may have a solution, Chief, Jo. We have compact police grade teargas sprays, like a pepper spray, but far more potent. I can temporarily issue one to Jo. At close range it is quite effective."

"Chiefs, what if I take one of the mini teargas spays and have my cell phone on, but in my pack? My regular backup or several of the Campus Security people could be listening at a discrete distance and come a-running if things go south. What do you say, Chief … and you, Daddy?"

"Daddy?! He's your Daddy, I mean your father?"

They agreed and I left Campus Security packing heat, well packing more of a luke-warm, but it was better than nothing. They also agreed with my idea of a remote backup. The Campus Security Chief himself volunteered to be one of my backups. He really got a kick out of my chief trying to explain the Daddy reference. I figure within a week every Chief in the state will believe I am the illegitimate offspring of …

* * * *

I arrived at Ms Tabor's office fifteen minutes early; I was not going to be late for this one. I'd paused out of sight just before entering, turned on my phone and made sure they could hear me and that my speaker was off. I entered the office. Mera was typing away on some document. She noticed me and smiled in her usual manner. "May I help you, Miss?"

I resisted the urge to run up to her and tell her everything at once. "I have an appointment with Ms. Tabor at four o'clock. The name is Josephine Friday, but everyone calls me Jo." I thought I saw a moment's confusion in her eyes but it passed.

She acted as if I'd said nothing odd. "She is running a little late but she won't be long."

"Thanks."

I sat there in awkward silence until Ms. Tabor came in.

"Ah, punctual, Ms. Jo, a most admirable trait, thank you. Mera give me five, make that ten minutes, then bring Jo in to see me. You will attend our little meeting as well."

"Yes, Ms Tabor."

The doctor entered her office and Mera looked at me. Again the momentary disorientation/confusion registered in her eyes.

"Jo, can I get you something? Would you like a bathroom break before the meeting? Ms Tabor doesn't like to be interrupted."

"Who does? A bathroom break would be lovely."

"Follow me then." Mera led me to the nearest ladies room and we both availed ourselves of the facilities. We finished with a good five minutes to spare.

"Would you like a soda or juice? We have a vending area just down the corridor."

"Thank you, please. I am thirsty."

When we got to the small vending machine alcove I tried to get out my purse but she stopped me. "My treat, and it's not a big deal, Ms. Tabor has a kitty for me to use for her guests."

"I see they have orange soda, it's my favorite."

She got me my orange soda and got herself a diet cola. "It's strange, but I swear I know you from somewhere."

My heart beat faster. "I look like someone you know, or was it my name?" I know that was leading the witness, but I was too excited.

"It's strange; I can almost picture someone with nearly the same name. And your face is very familiar but wrong somehow. It may come to me. It's strange, but my memory has been playing me tricks of late and I always had a great memory. What was your name again?"

"Jo, my name is Jo Friday."

"Jo … Oh, Damn that hurts! I'm sorry I've been getting these terrible headaches. I never had them before."

"You should see a doctor after work, this could be serious."

"Thank you, Jo, Oooh! Another one."

~~Shit, she is in shock from my accident. She found out what happened, but her mind won't accept it. Or she has been drugged or maybe her mind is being attacked by magic in some fashion. Poor Mera. I'll help you, I swear,~~

We walked back and she led me into Ms. Tabor's private office.

"I trust Mera here took good care of you?"

"Oh yes, she helped me to freshen up and got me a soda. I am worried for her, she not feeling well." Yes, I know, I said "freshen up." I wasn't going to say, "I took a piss." There are ways to say things, then there are ways to say things.

"I'm better now, thanks."

"Thank you, Mera, and thank you, Ms. Tabor, that is a sweet touch offering your guests soda and such."

"Mera, check that there is no one in the outer office, then lock it and come back here and lock this door. This is important."

I couldn't help but look at Mera's lovely figure as she glided out of the room..

"I noticed Mera has been odd as of late, Jo. Is this connected with …?"

"Mera, sit down, Jo here has something to explain to us. Listen until she finishes, then we will both have questions, I imagine."

"How do I begin? With the truth, I suppose. I owe the truth to both of you. Ms. Tabor here knows part of the story but not all." She appeared ready to say something but held back

"Mera, you have heard of the students who disappeared from campus? You may answer this."

"That is a strange question for someone of your age to be asking. I shouldn't be surprised by it, you do seem much more mature than your appearance would indicate. Yes, over a dozen students have disappeared in the last year or so, supposedly the victims of too much drinking and the fact the late night district is near the Mississippi River."

"Have you heard an alternative explanation, one involving magic?"

"Yes, it's been claimed that most of these disappearances are people transformed by magic in some cruel way."

"I have proof that these illicit and immoral transformations have occurred. I am a victim. I am an undercover officer assisting the local police, state patrol and the FBI in investigating these disappearances. I was chosen because I was new to the area and fit the profile of several of the known victims. My name is Josephine Alyssa Friday and I am approximately twelve years old physiologically. Until a few days ago I was a twenty-four-year-old man by the name of Joseph Aloysius Friday. I was and hope to remain under Ms. Tabor's tutelage after this investigation ends and to remain your close friend, my dear Mera."

Ms. Tabor looked a little angry but in control. Mera stared at me.

-- SLAP ! --

"You bastard, I trusted you. My god, I had sex with you and … Oh it hurts, God it hurts!" The pain fled from Mera's face as quickly as it came and her manner changed abruptly. I could see Ms. Tabor was very concerned for Mera.

"Is this some kind of silly joke, Ms Tabor? You know I don't like boys, and as to magic, there is no such thing.. Is Jo here your niece? Ha ha very funny."

"Mera, I don't like men. I cannot and will not trust men but Joe, I mean Jo has freely confessed to us what he and now she did, and I am willing to give her the benefit of doubt. I didn't strictly approve of your having relations with Joe. I must admit you were quite the couple and whatever you did in private had you glowing with happiness. I know the look; I had a wonderful lover on my college days, Katie. She could make me melt."

"I did not have sex with some man called Joe! ... Joe.. Jo, that really is you. I'm so sorry I meant to come to the hospital and … Ghod!!"

-- Thump! -- "Medical emergency, Ms. Tabors office, Canton Hall, Room 207a. Hurry. I have a woman unconscious after a series of severe headaches. It may be due to magical assault, repeat, possible magical assault."

"You have a radio on you?"

"An open cell phone line. Sorry, Ms. Tabor, but since my assault I have to be careful."

"I understand, Jo. I'm not happy about it but I understand. I'll get the doors and let in the paramedics."

* * * *

"How is Mera, you've been working on her for thirty minutes?"

"It's only been twelve but I understand. My men can't find the cause of her coma, and it is a coma. She unresponsive to most stimuli on a conscious level, and we are getting a bizarre brainwave pattern. It's like two minds are in her head at once."

"What?"

"All the normal patterns are there, but it's like two sets are running at he same time. Whatever is causing it is doing her great harm. Her blood pressure is rising, as is her heart rate. Her body temperature and respiration are rising, too. If we can't control it, she may die."

I remember hearing the distinctive click-clicking of high heels.

"It's a magic attack, the signs are all there. I was listening in on your open cell phone, Jo."

"And you are … You're that model!"

"Yes, and I am also trained in magic."

"That's your Mera, Jo?"

"Yes." I cried for the first time. Up until now I'd stayed strong.

"Mera is under some kind of remote mind control. Someone has put a spell on her or linked her to them via some magical focus and is playing a dangerous game with Mera's mind. If only we can find how they are doing this, a mind link works both ways. We could give this creep a taste of their own medicine."

"How do we find this link?"

"Given how powerful this is, it must be something she is wearing, clothes jewelry. Most commonly it's a necklace, earrings or …"

"Her hair band, it's new, and I know her intimately!"

"Okay, you bastard I hope this really hurts."

"No, Jo, don't put it on!"

I ran off and locked a door behind me. "Mera, for you." I fixed the image of Mera in her pain in my mind. I focused every bit of my will into it and put on the hair band.

* * * *

I noticed the smell of flowers. I felt weak but … I didn't know quite what I felt.

"I think she's waking up." I didn't recognize the voice.

"Feel like crap. Where am I?"

"In the high security ward of La Cross General Hospital, Jo, it's for your safety. There still may be a few out there we didn't get."

"Can I have someth' t' drink? So thirsty."

"Here, Jo. Sip slowly. You've been though a lot."

"Nice, orange soda."

"She said it's your favorite. We talked, a lot."

"Jesus?"

"When John told me, I had to come, Jo. You've been out for three days."

"You are a good friend."

"Just a friend, Jo? I see you blushing."

"Give me a break I'm only twelve. John, is that you?"

"You owe me, I had to postpone a photo shoot, but the Sports Illustrated people were most understanding. And it was in Maui."

"Wait a minute. Jesus, you said ‘She said it was your favorite.' Where is Mera?"

"When you broke that mental link she stabilized and began responding to treatment, or so I am told. She was in intensive care for a while, Jo, as a precaution. John here whipped up a little healing spell she adapted from some book she refuses to tell me about. Mera has improved rapidly since. John was going to use the spell on you but you started healing yourself. Mera is resting in another room but would like to see you when you are up to it. Some others want to see you too, and to thank you."

"Others?"

"I'll explain to her, Jesus."

"You wouldn't know, would you, but then you were unconscious, Jo. Your act of total idiocy broke the case, or at least most of it. You somehow managed to send all the pain they were using to control her back to the other end of the link and she tried to kill herself."

"Who?"

"That very Goth person you mentioned, the friend of Elise."

"She tried to kill herself?"

"No, we got to her before she could flee or harm herself. She was packing to go as we broke into her home; a right little den of black magic it was, too. Elise turned her in."

"Elise, why?"

"Because she nearly killed herself trying to jump out a fifth story window in the Physics building. She was on the other end of that *Psychic Hairline* …"

"Euw! That is so bad."

"Sorry Jo. She caught the backlash full on, and without letup. Remember we suspected your transformation unleashed a talent for magic? Hon, welcome to the Coven, you are a genuine broom carrying witch."

"Witch?" I complained, but it quickly became a giggle.

"You must be getting better, you're laughing again. You boosted the intensity of the pain such that Elise lost the will to live and tried to kill herself to end the torment."

"How could I do that? And how did she survive?"

"Short version, Elise felt all the pain Mera felt. She also felt the love you had for each other and the pain you felt when you though Mera was dying. Elise realized she'd made a terrible mistake in helping this very Goth girl as you called her. In her confused and pain filled mind, suicide was the only way out. She chose the wrong window to jump out of, it was above a huge dumpster full of office waste for paper recycling. Its plastic lid shattered when she hit it, taking out much of the impact and the paper scraps further cushioned the fall."

"How is she?"

"She's under extra tight security, including magical measures and will go nowhere soon. Not with a concussion, a compound fracture of her left arm, two broken legs, a broken pelvis, multiple broken ribs and sever paper cuts."

"John!"

"So I exaggerated about the paper cuts."

"Jo, when you are better, we need to talk, and so does Mera. You know we both love you."

"I love you, both you and Mera, Jesus. You are great friends." I yawned. This was too much excitement for the moment.

"No, I mean we both are both in love with you, and that will take some careful thought, what with your physical age and well, just everything. Mom will freak, I've in love with a twelve-year-old police officer. At least you're a girl, but so is the other person who loves you. I'm in college a few months and I'm already in a love triangle."

"There, I made you smile, dear Jo. Just know this, if all we ever are is friends, I will treasure that. You'd better rest, you look exhausted."

"Thanks, I … I understand."

Every one said their goodbyes and I started to drift off.

"Oh, Jo." One remained behind.

"Yes, John." I yawned.

"Your Chief was wondering, if when you are feeling better he, his niece and her best friend could come for a visit. The niece is a bridesmaid for her friend and they were wondering if maybe you'd like to be a bridesmaid, too. Sweet dreams, Jo."

I knew that that last bit needed a lot of explanation but for now sleep sounded pretty damn good. And I had the added incentive of not one but two sexy people to dream about who loved me. ~~Mera I understand but since when did Jesus become sexy? … Oooh, Office Hendricks, is that all for me? …. Oh dear!~~

I just know the next few years will be *interesting*.

* * * *

To be continued?

Sgt. Joe

Author:

John in Wauwatosa

Audience Rating:

Mature Subjects (pg15)

Contests:

What's So Novel About It - 40k words and up

Publication:

Novel Chapter

Genre:

Magic

Character Age:

College / Twenties

TG Themes:

Tricked / Outsmarted

TG Elements:

Memory Loss

Other Keywords:

Multi-thread Story/Story Universe

Permission:

Posted by author(s)

Sgt. Joe -- a teaser from my incomplete What's so novel about it.

This is a teaser from a pre-edit draft of my Strangefellows Day contest entry. I had started on several stories for the contest when I realized two were closely related to an earlier story of mine. This is from the least complete thread of the three related stories. I felt guilty not posting anything for the contest so here's peek into my mind.

Oops, forgot to warn you to look at it in the miror only, one must never gaze upon the face of the Gorgon directly.

Sgt. Joe

This is an entry in Erin’s BC Strangefellows Day contest. See, that was easy, John. Okay, I’ll admit it wasn’t so bad, John. — Sorry but I’m having a convesation with myself --

Adult content advisory: this story may contain situations and topics unsuitable for children. It’s mild stuff usually, but you were warned.

Sgt. Joe

By John from Wauwatosa
Proofed by a blithering idiot, me

* * * *

“Sergeant Joe Friday to the Chief office at once,” the PA in the precinct blared. I heard a snicker just before the microphone was switched off.

I hurried to the Chief’s office as being late would have unfortunate repercussions. I couldn’t help it my parents christened me Joseph Aloysius Friday but why did I choose to enter law enforcement, why, why, why? I must have a masochistic streak a mile wide to have done that. The department was cool about it; I was immediately assigned badge number 714. I earned sergeant on merit, I’ll have you know. Oh, when this whole mess started I’d just turned 24 and had been a sergeant, um … 37 hours.

Back to being me, Joseph A. Friday, and a cop; the day I became a full-fledged officer was the proudest of my life until the goon-squad saw my badge number. Then it started and it was less than subtle.

“Hey where is Officer Bill Gannon?”

“Joe, you really should get a buzz cut.”

“Friday? I thought it was Thursday.”

“Joe, that was dum-da-um-dumb on your part.”

You get the picture; my life was hell in a Hollywood scriptwriter’s hand basket.

I was working the day watch out of Bunko when …ha! I got you, didn’t I? You could practically smell the monotone, couldn’t you? I’m told I have a normal, if not animated manner of speech which puts the constant jokes about Dragnet to shame. Still they come but what’s a guy to do? I love helping people and my hackles rise at the sight of injustice. I have a soul so being a lawyer was out so I’m a cop.

The Chief wanted me because I was new in the district, my face was unknown and…

“Be honest, Sir, I’m new and thus expendable.” I was never one to mince words.

“I wouldn’t put it that way but there is some truth to it. We have a bad situation and too little solid intelligence on it. You know of the spate of disappearances in the latest month or two?”

“The half-dozen college students who disappeared from the river front bar district and were never seen again? We get frequent reminders on it in our daily briefings.”

“It’s worse than that, Officer Friday. There is a separate problem that turns out is intimately related. You know of the several instances of people claiming to have lost their memories but are convinced they are in the wrong bodies?”

“The speculation was a bad batch of illegal amphetamines had hit the street. It supposedly fucked up their brains, sorry, that was unbecoming of an officer, and made them psych cases.”

“Several of the earliest patients recently claimed their memories were returning and the details they gave forced their doctors to test their DNA to prove they were not who they claimed to be.”

“So, what were the results?”

“They were a perfect match to who they claimed to be except for one detail, their 46th chromosome pair … was changed. A couple had fingerprints on file and they matched exactly who they claimed they were though the size of the prints had changed. One had a blood sample stored in a lab from a previous surgery, it tested identical but opposite sexed. The doctors were shocked, you can well imagine.”

“But how is it possible? This is fantastic. It’s something out of a bad sci-fi novel or witchcraft.”

“We suspect the later but haven’t ruled out the former. Don’t give me *that* look; magic is real. It’s definitely low profile and deliberately so but it does exist. We need, that is, I need you to go undercover as a student. You’ll take courses and do everything as a student, even living in student housing. Make friends and party; be a normal student. With luck you’ll get invited to go out drinking and can flush out the criminals.”

“But I’m 25, I’m a little old.” So I lied, but 25 sounds so much more mature than 24.

“Your cover is you are returning to college after a hitch in the army as an MP. That way if you spout any police jargon, it will be excused. You can claim you were disillusioned be the experience. You joined the police after your discharge as you had no other skills but became disgusted with the corruption and resigned in protest. Surely you can find something about police work that upsets you, *Friday.*”

He said *Friday* in a particularly annoying tone of voice. I caught on fast.

“*That* should do it. You mean I’m going under cover as me? But there are public records of me as a police … I’m to fake my resignation? But I was never in the military; if someone checks my background I’ll be sunk.”

“I will take care of that personally. You military records will be beyond question. You look younger than your real age of twenty-four which will help you fit in at the university. I must warn you, there is a strong possibility of a mole in the department or in the local courts. As you are new here you are considered a low risk. This will be difficult; you will get heat from some of the hard line officers. I’m sorry but it has to be for your cover to be convincing.”

“This sounds like an old movie plot.”

“I watch a lot of movies, Officer Friday. Joe, I have a contact who will watch out for you but she can only do so much. If you are successful in attracting the attention of the *perps* you could be a victim too.”

“You mean I’ll become a ... female,” I whispered.

“Yes, but you’ll retain you genetics; you won’t become a Chinese girl or African American or something else you are not. You would be a female you, but a best-of version of your female self.”

“That makes me feel so much better — not. Is it reversible?”

“That’s a yes and no, Joe. If the specific spell or charm used is known or better yet the person who cast it is wiling to help, it can be reversed safely after a few months have passed. Any sooner is too much of a shock and mixing magics is dangerous.”

“I’m confused.”

“I’m too. I’ve been told to think of it like radioactivity. Magic has a half-life. After a sufficient span of time most magical energy decays to a safe level. I can’t order you to do this but volunteering will look very good in you record once I can make it public. I promise you this, Joe, if the worst happens you will be assured a position in the department and it won’t be a dead-end make-work position either. We stand by our own and I’m told none of the victims lost any knowledge or intelligence. Whoever is doing this is not completely malicious. We discovered that once a victim is fully recovered they are as bright as before their transformation and sometimes brighter.

“Fully recovered? You mean they’ve been restored to their original ... In that case, yes, I accept. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“The victims are stuck as they are for now, sorry, Joe. The DA is working hard to get all their records fixed so they can access their assets and continue their education but it’s not easy. A couple of the victims were a bride and her maid of honor on a girl’s night —out/ bachelorett party. They both took it hard. The bride almost succeeded in killing himself. Her friend blamed herself for what happened. Apparently the bride rarely drank and she wanted her to loosen up for once. The marriage is off, possibly forever and the bridesmaid in a coma from a drug overdose. She, I mean he is in bad shape.

“This is case is a top priority and … the man in a coma was, is, the only daughter of my late bother. You understand why I need to see an end to this horror?”

“In that case, I agree. Can I interview the victims?”

“Too dangerous, you might be observed. I have all their testimony on several encrypted DVD’s. They also include you’re instructions on how to proceed. I want you to take them home and review them. Show them to no one and make no copies. The password is,” He whispered a nonsense phrase to me which I memorized at once. “Joe, if the worst happens; I’d be proud to call you my daughter if that’s what it takes. One way or another; I’ll make it right.”

“I don’t know what to say. I’ll read the materials and do my best. Thank you for your confidence and your support, *Daddy*.”

“I’ve created a monster. Go!”

* * * *

I took the DVDs with me and watched them at home. The testimony of the survivors made me angry and apprehensive. I was angry that someone would do this to anyone, especially innocents. I was apprehensive because I knew this could and likely would happen to me if I was successful. If I was unsuccessful I might die or worse.

That worried me the most, the seeming inevitability of my becoming a female. The Chief and the experts on magic concluded to succeed in catching the persons responsible I needed to become a victim, I needed to be transformed. The *plan* was to make myself a tempting target and my support team would catch them inflagrante delicto. If we were extraordinarily lucky it would before they could use whatever is was that would transform me, be it a potion, spell, mystical object, a summoned demon, whatever.

It was as likely, maybe more likely — the experts disagreed — I’d end up a member of the fairer sex. If -- notice the growing pile of *ifs* -- my support team caught the suspects after they’d begun my transformation, I would be wearing a bra and panties for some months to come until I could be restored. This was *if* the potion, spell, mystical object, summoned demon, whatever is not destroyed, lost or so on. I began to believe skirts were in my future but that our perps would get caught. I hoped we could do it soon and get control of the means they used to do it, for the sake of the victims … and myself.