by O. Kaysonel
For readers of my past work, I should tell you that this is an incomplete story, as of this moment. I am working on other chapters, and will post them once I get the entire thing done.
Thank you for your patience, and I apologize if I left you hanging.
Thanks
O.K. Jan, 2012
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I came to my senses, with the ringing of a phone no more than three feet away. Instinctively, I picked up the receiver and said, “Oriental Gem, how may I help you?”
I took down the caller’s request, while idly gazing at my painted fingernails. I took the order over to the kitchen window and, raising my voice just a bit, called out “Order up!” After hearing the heavily accented reply, I placed the sheet in the ‘pick-up’ tray.
Once that was done, I gave my head a shake and tried to figure out where I was. Obviously, I was at the Oriental Gem restaurant. In fact, my last memory was seemingly moments ago. I was sitting across from my girlfriend of two years, having a great supper. So why was I taking telephone orders, in someone else’s body? In a girl’s body, to be precise.
I had to go look —was Miranda still there? Was I still there. I walked over to the dining room entrance, and was rather shocked to see my girlfriend and my old self holding hands, lovingly gazing into each others eyes. Everything seemed normal, except it wasn’t me that she was whispering sweet nothings to. I gave my head a small shake, and returned to ‘my’ area.
I barely had a chance to get there when a couple walked in the door. “Good evening. Are you here for dine in or take out?” I already knew the answer, judging by the way they were dressed. Their clothes were way too nice for them not to be dining out.
As I guided them to their table, I took another look at who I was just minutes ago. They just seemed so normal, and other than a normal glance, ‘Mike’ didn’t spare me any attention. Odd… it was like he didn’t know who I was, or rather, who he used to be. I seated the new diners, and headed towards the front of the restaurant.
Before I sat down, I looked at myself in the mirror behind the cash register. Strangely, I wasn’t all that surprised to see who I saw there. Dark brown hair, in a modern, semi funky / semi elegant style. Greyish blue eyes, partially obscured by low power eyeglasses. Nose a tad on the large side. A face that wasn’t quite pretty, but was attractive in a quirky way. From the neck down was another story. I checked out my curves and was quite impressed. I wasn’t skinny, and I wasn’t fat. I was voluptuous. My breasts were enormous, but well proportioned for the body. The hips were well defined without being outrageous. I turned around and checked out my ass and legs. Very nice, indeed.
As I scoping myself out, I heard someone clearing their throat behind me. I immediately blushed, and turned around. There in front of me, stood a rather handsome man. He looked at me with just a hint of a smile on his face.
“Good evening, my dear. Did you sit on something?”
“No… no… everything is fine. Just checking to see if I gained any weight.”
He laughed, and replied “My dear, you are absolutely perfect the way you are. Especially now.”
I looked at him, rather puzzled by his vague statement. “And how is that, Randolph?” How did I know his name?
He took two steps closer, and leaned over the counter a bit. He quietly spoke. “Well, Lindsay, or should I say ‘Mike’…?” My expression must have showed my surprise. “I fear that I must leave you in suspense. You need not worry; you will be able to complete your shift with no problem, although you can expect some hostility from your colleagues. I will explain that, as well as a great many other things, when I come to pick you up after work. See you at midnight.” With that, he gave a jaunty salute, and walked out.
As promised, I finished my shift without any problem. I seemed to know all what to do without giving it a second thought. I dealt with the usual customer flirting, and managed not to drop any food or give too much change away. The mood from my coworkers bordered on glacial. Smiles were not returned, and dirty glares were plentiful. I did spend my spare time worrying about Miranda and ‘pseudo Mike’, but there was not a lot I could do. I… or rather he… was due to spend the night at Miranda’s, and I could scarcely phone or show up there, asking to speak to Mike. The girlfriend was a bit jealous, and nothing good would come of it. I just hoped she was okay, and that the new ‘me’ wasn’t going to cause a problem that I couldn’t resolve.
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As promised, Randolph showed up at midnight, sharp. I had to spend a few extra minutes cashing out, so he waited for me in his Honda. When I got out in his car, he announced that we could grab a coffee at Burgundy’s, and he’d let me know what was going on then.
We walked into the cozy little coffee shop a few minutes later, and sat at a table near the fireplace. The waitress came and took our orders — an extra strong coffee for Randolph, and a Chai tea for myself.
After he took a sip of his coffee, Randolph began to speak “Up until yesterday, ‘Lindsay’ was a self centered little girl who annoyed everyone she worked with. She was catty and manipulative. She appreciated nothing, as almost everything was given to her. She only took this job because her daddy would buy her a new Mustang if she stayed here for six months. I guess he was trying to teach her a little humility, and humanity. Four and a half months, and nothing has changed.”
“How do you know all of this?” I asked. “And what do you have to do with this swap? Is that… bitch wrecking my relationship, even as we speak.” I was feeling more than a bit scared, and my voice must have let that be known.
Randolph put a finger to my lips, to quiet me down. “Shhhh, it’s okay, let me explain what’s what.”
“You better, or I will…” I had to think on that one a bit. I was no longer a bricklayer, and didn’t seem to have much in the way of physical strength. ”Well, I’ll do something, at any rate…”
He smiled at that, and then said, ”Let me start by saying that your therapist has had a chat or two with me about your troubles…”
“She had no right to do that!” I interrupted. “There is such a thing as confidentiality!”
“Shhhhhhh”, he said again, grabbing my arm to get my attention.
“Owwwww, that hurts”, I whispered loudly.
“Well, be silent, then”, he responded. “As I was saying… she and I have talked a lot. So, yes, I know the concerns you have about your ‘feminine side’, and how you felt it messed up your life, and might threaten your relationship. She felt that I might be able to assist in a radical idea she had for treatment.”
I had calmed down a bit, and managed to civilly ask “And what might that be?”
“Well, it was actually your idea to begin with. A passing thought, really. You had mentioned to her that you wish you could just ‘cut the girly side out and throw it away’. This got her thinking, and when she and I went for coffee next, she mentioned it. I explained that the soul is like energy, and it cannot be tossed away or destroyed. Well, to be more precise, it cannot be harmed while its shell is still alive.”
“’But what about a portion of the soul, or essence?’, she asked. ‘Could it be removed? Maybe transferred?’ I told her I would look into it, and see what I could find.”
He took another sip of his coffee, and continued, “Well, as you probably know, or suspect, souls can be swapped. What few realize is that a person’s essence can be, to some extent, copied. So, basically, I copied the feminine aspects of your soul, along with the memories, and transferred them to Lindsay’s shell.”
“So, I’m a… copy. That’s all I am? That doesn’t make me feel any better.” I paused, and then it occurred to me “And what happened to Lindsay. Was she killed? Is she in limbo somewhere? I don’t know her, but I’m sure she didn’t deserve that.”
“No, she’s fine. Well, in a sense. A street person had recently died in the hospital. After the poor woman’s soul left this earth, I brought the body back to life, and moved Lindsay’s spirit in. Miss Lindsay now has a very tough task ahead of her. She knows she cannot go running to daddy to bail her out. She has to learn some self reliance and people skills to get out of her predicament.”
“Will she be okay?” I asked.
“Yes. Despite her spoiled upbringing, I have a feeling that she will end up succeeding. She just got rather lazy, and once she overcomes that, she will do quite well.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. Now, what about ‘Mike’. What’s going to happen with him and Miranda?”
“First, I will answer your other question”, he replied. “You are not a ‘copy’. It is hard to explain — spirituality always is. You are you — for the most part. Sure, you no longer have the testosterone driven male side, but then again, you are no longer in conflict with who you really are. Tell me, did you feel uncomfortable in any way with your new body tonight?”
I paused with my answer, while the waitress refilled Randolph’s coffee. “No, I cannot say that I did. I scarcely gave being a woman any thought at all, other than when touching up my makeup, or the occasional adjustment of my bra strap. I even checked out a few guys.”
“So, as all is good with you, it will be good with ‘Mike’ as well. His relationship with Miranda will improve, as he will no longer have the ‘girly side’ to contend with. She wants a dominant male in her life, as you well know. And just to ease your mind, he won’t become an abuser, or mean, or anything like that. He will still have his good manners, and a good soul, just like you do. Sure, he’ll lose his taste for ‘chick-flicks’, will become a bit more competitive, and will make male friends a lot easier. Best of all, he will no longer be in conflict. Ironically, by removing part of him, he will become a happier person. I would be surprised if they didn’t get married soon.”
I got a bit misty eyed after hearing that. I took a moment to gather myself, during which Randolph handed me his handkerchief. I dabbed the tears from my eyes. I thought about how much I would miss Miranda, but knowing that she and Mike would have a happy life together took some of the pain away.
“Now, as for you, Lindsay Mercelle, you have an excellent opportunity ahead of you. And no, I am not just talking about a new car in a month or two. You are about 15 years younger, in excellent health, and basically can shape your life any way you want. You are in the body that will only add to your happiness. You can be a career woman, or a wife, or a mother, or a mix of all three. You can do a lot with your life, and your family will stand behind you. This despite the ‘Lindsay’ of the past treating them rather horribly. You'll see who you need to make amends to as you go through her memories." He smiled that funny little smile of his. "It's quite a lengthy list, I'd reckon.”
I smiled, tears of joy now starting. “I’d like that very much. Part of me is still a bit sad, but I think I am going to like this new life a lot. Thank you so much for everything.”
I leaned over to hug him, but he vanished right in front of my eyes.
Some readers didn't think that the previous story stood well on its own. I had some spare time and (hopefully) creativity, so here is Part 2 of "The Other Me".
As always, comments are welcome.
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That night, at the Oriental Gem, Mike had experienced something. He couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was, but it felt like… a loss. Like some part of him went missing. At first, being a mild hypochondriac, he thought he had a minor stroke or something. He excused himself, and went to the restroom to do the self diagnosis test he had read on some email (Speak a simple sentence, smile, and lift both arms). Everything seemed fine, so he returned to his table.
He was out with Miranda, his girlfriend of two years (to the day). They were having dinner at the Oriental Gem, their favourite Chinese food restaurant. They had met at his old job, and before either of them knew what had hit them, they were dating. They weren’t living together yet, and truth be told, neither was sure that it would happen soon. What mattered most was that they were deeply in love with each other, and enjoyed spending time together. Oh sure, they had they occasional argument, like any other couple. Still, they were fairly unique in that they always tried to resolve it before they went to sleep that night.
“Are you okay, Mike?” asked Miranda. “You looked a little pale there for a minute.”
“Sure. Just a long day at work, is all. Not a spring chicken anymore, I guess.” he replied, smiling to reassure her. She was always concerned about him.
She laughed. “Mike, you are in better shape than most of the guys you work with, and they are ten to fifteen years younger than you. Still, twelve hours of slinging bricks is quite a bit. Did you want to get going? I don’t mind.”
“It’s okay, babe,” he said, as he reached over to hold her hand. “Let’s just eat our food, and then…”
“And then…” she said, with a seductive look on her face. Leaning over, she whispered “Then we can go to my place and fuck like bunnies.”
“Hmmmmm. Suddenly, I am not so tired,” Mike replied, wagging his eyebrows in a way that always made Miranda giggle.
They continued eating and talking, oblivious to everyone around them. That included the dark haired, 21-year old girl occasionally sneaking a peek at them.
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Miranda knew of Mike’s ‘issues’ with gender and sexuality. She knew that he was uncomfortable with the feelings and desires that he sometimes had, and tried her best to reassure him that it was okay to be that way. She knew that he just wanted to be a normal hetero guy; and not want to be a woman on occasion, or dress up, or have other similar fantasies.
She worried that he wasn’t getting all that he could out of their lovemaking. There were certain lines that Mike would not, and could not, cross in her presence. A deep sense of shame and guilt kept him from the simple act of even wearing a piece of lingerie in front of her. Miranda encouraged Mike, saying that it was fine by her if he wanted to indulge his desires. She even said it would turn her on if he showed his ‘femme’ side.
Miranda knew that it was Mike’s feminine side, to some degree, that helped make him the incredible lover that he was, attuned to her needs and desires. Perhaps it was selfish, but she didn’t really want him to be more masculine. It would be too much like being with those oafs that she used to date. They were clumsy, and only concerned with their own gratification.
Mike did make one concession to his ‘other side’, by letting Miranda take the lead once in a while; to be the aggressor in their lovemaking. She would tie him up rather well, so that there was little chance of escape. That allowed his psyche some relief, so that he could be the passive one, without any guilt. That night was to be such a night, as they had agreed to beforehand.
After getting to her place, they made their way to the bedroom slowly, kissing and groping each other on the way. Clothes were strewn all over. By the time they reached the bed, Miranda was down to a silk bra and panties, along with stockings and a garter belt. Mike was only wearing silk boxers.
Miranda went to reach for the padded cuffs, but Mike beat her to them. Before she knew it, her hands and feet were securely fastened to the bedposts with cuffs and rope. “Aren’t you supposed to be here?” she asked with a smile.
She noted the slightly wild look in his eyes, as he responded “Nope. Change of plans.” He then proceeded to ravage her. He wasn’t his usual smooth or gentle self, but not so much as to be cruel or painful. Miranda didn’t mind — she liked it rough on occasion. She quickly found herself having an orgasm, and then another, and then another. By the time Mike came, she had lost count of how many times she had climaxed.
When she had finally regained her senses, Mike was untying her. He had a smug grin on his face. “How was that, miss?” he asked.
“Beyond description, honey,” she responded, still breathing faster than normal.
“Glad you liked it. That’s the way it’s going to be from now on.” He tossed the bondage gear aside, rolled over, and was asleep in a matter of seconds.
Miranda was surprised. They usually held each other, and talked for awhile after lovemaking. Still, she couldn’t complain too much. Her body was still tingling from the passion that they shared. She spooned up against him, and found herself dozing off a few minutes later.
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After my rather strange meeting with Randolph, I took a cab back to my car parked at the restaurant. I drove the old Chev home to my apartment in the west side of town. I was amazed at how easily I had adapted to being this new person. I had full access to Lindsay’s memories, and anything that the old ‘Lindsay’ could do, I could do just as well.
As I dug through the girl’s past, I felt embarrassed and ashamed at how spoiled and arrogant the she was. The sheer volume of arguing, pouting, backstabbing and manipulation was overwhelming. It was a surprise that someone hadn’t beaten the snot out of her by now. I would really have my hands full just trying to smooth things over and make amends. I would start with family and co-workers first, as they were the ones I dealt with the most. I am fairly diplomatic, and I would need all of those skills to make things right.
I was happy to be ‘home’. It was certainly a step up from my old place, being much larger and better furnished. It also was much cleaner — I wasn’t the tidiest person in my old life. I sat down on the sofa, and turned on a fair sized plasma television with the remote. I flipped through the channels, and settled on a sitcom that wasn’t too lame. It didn’t matter — I wasn’t paying a lot of attention to it anyways. Instead, I mentally summarized my rather unique day.
From what I understood, Randolph basically split Mike’s personality. I got the femme side, along with a copy of all the memories. Mike retained the more masculine attributes, and the memories as well. I was transferred into Lindsay’s body, while her soul was shifted to a resuscitated-from-the-dead street person’s shell. This would probably make a decent episode of the Twilight Zone, or perhaps the Other Limits. I wonder who could portray the old me? Tom Welleck is too old, but had similar looks back in the highlight of his career. Hugh Zackman? Nah, too good looking. Hmmmmm, Hugh. He is hot….
I snapped out of the start of that fantasy. If I gave it too much thought, it somehow seemed wrong. It shouldn’t, though. After all, I am the femme Mike, in a female body. It would be best to adapt to my circumstances. I would do probably do just that, once I found out for sure that this who I would be from now on. And as Randolph had up and vanished, I needed to talk to the only other person who knew anything about this: Emily, my therapist. I suppose I could phone her emergency number now, but it wasn’t like I was in danger of harming myself. It could wait until the morning.
And speaking of harm, what would the old Lindsay do, now that she was no longer a rich little princess? She was a poor person, living on the streets, with little to lose. Would she come after me? Try to do me harm? Was she even in this city? This state? This country? I would like to think that Randolph would have taken care of this potential problem, but he didn't say either way.
As for Mike and Miranda, I was assured that they would be alright. While Randolph was a bit sneaky with all of this body swapping stuff, I don’t think he was lying about my (former) girlfriend’s safety. I did miss her, more than I realized. She was an awesome person, and as I sat on the couch, I thought about all the fun we had together over the past two years. I started sniffling, and before I knew it, I was quietly sobbing. I laid on the couch, hugging a pillow, and cried myself to sleep.
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Apparently, I am on a roll. Two chapters in one day is nothing shy of amazing for me.
Comments are welcome, of course.
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I woke up in the morning, feeling a bit worse for wear. It was a nice sofa to sit on, but it left a great deal to be desired as a bed. I looked at the pillow that I had rested my head on during the night. As I suspected, there was makeup smeared all over it. Sigh.
I got up and stumbled towards the bathroom. I ran my right hand through hair, or at least attempted to. Sticky, dried mousse is pretty disgusting. Maybe I’d switch to a different hairstyle.
After stripping off my clothes, I sat down on the toilet and peed. Next, I removed the makeup from my face, then I jumped in the shower. Despite my groggy condition, it felt pretty good. I guessed it had to do with having no significant body hair to dull the sensations. And speaking of which, I shaved my legs and under my arms. Maybe time to get some waxing done.
Now feeling clean, and somewhat human, I took what seemed like an hour to get my hair manageable with the blow dryer. Cripes, to have to do that every morning — what a pain. I wondered if a pageboy or similar cut would look good on me. It could take fifteen minutes off my morning prep. The makeup only took about five minutes, and was well worth it.
I padded off to my bedroom to figure out what to wear. The selection of clothes that I now had was absolutely staggering. It took a few tries, but I got a decent look for my day off. Just as I zipped up my jeans (which seemed a tad snug, according to Lindsay’s memories), the phone rang. I searched around for a few seconds, finally locating the cordless under one of pillows on the bed. Looking at the call display, I saw Emily’s number. Obviously, Randolph had told my therapist about my new ‘residence’, so to speak.
“Hello, Emily. How nice of you to call.” My voice was tinged with just a shade of sarcasm.
“Hello to you, Lindsay. How are you feeling?” she asked.
“A bit displaced, and missing my girlfriend, but other than that, just swell.”
“Yes, I imagine you would want to discuss that. Care to come in this morning and talk?” she asked.
“Sure, why not. When are you available?”
“Any time until 3:00. Just stop by whenever you can,” she said.
“I’ll be there within an hour. See you then.” I pushed the End button on the phone, and put it on the nightstand.
I decided to skip breakfast, as my stomach was doing flip-flops from all the nervous tension. I’d pick up a coffee from a nearby Fourbucks instead, while driving to Emily’s office.
I thought over what I wanted to ask Emily on the short drive over. I also wanted to get the take on homeless Lindsay and if she was a threat. Also, what about Miranda and Mike’s future? Would Miranda be okay?
Before I knew it, I was at the building where Emily had her office. There was plenty of underground parking, as it was a Saturday morning. I bypassed the elevator, and walked up the two flights of stairs to the second floor, where her office was. She was waiting for me at her secretary’s desk.
She walked over and before I could say anything or object, gave me a big hug. I stiffened up, probably more from surprise than anything, before returning it. She embraced me, occasionally stroking my hair, and murmuring comforting words. It hit a chord within me, and before I knew it, I was in tears. I suppose it was one of the reasons that she was my therapist — she always knew what to say or do to bring issues and emotions to the surface, even if her method might be considered unorthodox by her peers in the profession.
Finally, my tears subsided, and she released me. “Now then, dear. Please come into my office and we can talk.” I followed without protest. I removed my flats, and sat on the plush sofa, folding my legs underneath me without realizing it. Emily brought me a cup of tea, and then sat down on the chair opposite the sofa.
She looked me over, and said “I must say, you are quite a lovely young woman. How do you feel about your appearance now?”
“I’m simultaneously stunned, and yet totally unsurprised, by how I look. It’s like I have been living in this body for less than a day, and yet also twenty one years. Does that sound strange?”
“No,” she responded. “It is not the least bit surprising. You do have all of Lindsay’s memories, as dreadful as some of them are.”
“Yes, she has made quite a rep for herself. I have a lot of cleanup to do, so to speak.”
“Well, knowing you, Lindsay — a.k.a. Mike — you will do quite fine with that. You were always a people person, even if you didn’t realize it. But, it isn’t just yourself that you are concerned about, is it? There is also Miranda and ‘Mike’, along with some lesser concerns about the other Lindsay. Am I right?’
I nodded. “Yes, I do wonder about them all.”
“Well,” Emily replied, “we best get the expert on those subjects in here.” She looked up, and spoke into the air. “Randolph, can you stop by for a minute?”
Like a shimmering mirage, Randolph appeared on the other end of the sofa, already sitting comfortably. He was impeccably dressed in a charcoal grey suit, along with a white dress shirt and a blue and grey tie.
He nodded at Emily, and then turned to smile at me. “I do apologize for the sudden disappearance last night. I had a matter which required my immediate attention.”
“That’s okay. I’m sure that anyone with your powers must have some heavy responsibilities.” I paused for a moment, then asked, “What, or who, are you, by the way? Are you an angel?”
He laughed lightly at this, and responded, “I’m flattered that you think so, dear, but my powers are far short of what they possess. No, I am a mere sorcerer, the male version of a witch. Or Wiccan, as some prefer to call themselves these days.”
He continued with a question. “Do you understand the why of what was done to you, Lindsay?”
“I believe so. I am the feminine side of Mike, and you two decided that it would be best if I was separated from Mike, so that he could be more masculine. I understand, although I don’t exactly approve of the method.” I gathered my thoughts for a second, then continued.
“Will Miranda and Mike be okay? I miss her like crazy, and am worried about her. Randolph, I know you said it would be okay, Randolph, but Mike is now essentially a different person. Will they end up splitting up? I know that would shatter Miranda.”
“She is tougher than you give her credit for, Lindsay,” replied Randolph. “There will be a period of adjustment, to be certain. However, I have no doubt that they will be happy together.” I nodded, more or less satisfied with the response. I still missed Miranda, but if she was going to remain happy, what more could I ask for?
“Now, as for your concerns about alternate Lindsay, whose name is now Patricia, let me allay your fears. While she has her original memories, and those of Patricia, she has no recollection of where she used to live. I also erased her memories of her former appearance, so that if she walked past you on the street, she would never know it was you.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Will she be okay?” I asked.
“Like I said before, yes. She has a support network, and a lot of friends. She knows why she is where she is, and she does have a lot of inner strength. More than she realized. She will do fine, and succeed in her new life. She will, for once in her life, truly feel good about herself and what she is accomplishing. So, she is gaining more than she is losing.
And, no, she is not your stereotypical street person. She is 23, her health is improving, and is actually quite attractive.”
There was a lengthy pause, with Randolph and Emily looking at each other in an odd way. The expression was… guilt? Emily nodded at him, as if to say ‘go ahead and tell her’. Randolph finally turned to me.
“I haven’t been completely forthcoming with you through all of this, Lindsay. I had to have a significant reason for doing what I did. It wasn’t good enough that Lindsay was a complete bitch, and that there happened to be a body available that I could shift her soul to. There was a more compelling reason involved. It had to do with her family.”
“I know,” I responded. “She was kind of a poster child for dysfunctional families. That’s okay, I can clean that mess up. I think.”
“No, my dear, it was more than that. Her other family. Her family… in the near future. I had to save that family.”
I thought a few moments about what he had said before it dawned upon me. “You mean to say that Lindsay… that I… am pregnant…?” I looked back and forth from Emily to Randolph for confirmation. They both nodded.
I felt very lightheaded for a moment, then fainted.
Chapter 4 in the series.
Note - may be an upsetting subject matter for some.
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I came to, and took a few moments to regain my senses. I was still in Emily’s office, lying on her sofa. It was considerably more comfortable than mine. Then again, it probably cost a lot more, too. Not to mention I couldn’t write mine off on my income tax.
“I see you are back in the land of the living, my dear.”
I propped myself up, and looked over to see Emily bringing me a steaming mug. “Here you go,” she said, “you look like you could use a good cup of coffee. Double-double, right?”
“Definitely. Thanks, Emily.” I took a sip — way better than what I normally drank. I put down the mug, and had scoped out the room. “So, where is my most favourite person in the whole wide world?”
“He had some other affairs to take care of.” She paused, and then continued, ”You took the news better than expected.”
“Oh? And what was expected? Crying? Screaming? Suicide?” I asked. “I scarcely had time for that, with my being busy fainting and all.”
“Still quick with your wit, I see”, she said with a smile.
“Yeah, well, maybe I will vent later,” I said. I gathered my thoughts, and then asked “So, what is your involvement in all of this, Emily? Obviously, you shared information with Randolph, without my consent. That wasn’t very kind of you, even if you were trying to look out for my best interests. But did you know about this pregnancy?”
“Oh, heavens, no! Had I known he was going to pull something like that, I would have told him to find someone else.”
“So, why did he do it?” I inquired. “It seems like a pretty drastic maneuver to pull, just to save an unborn baby. I’m not saying that a life is not important, but surely there must have been something else he could have done.”
“Well, he explained it more to me while you were out. He knows your soul — the one you have now, in this body — very intimately, as he facilitated the ‘transfer’, so to speak. He said that if he felt you couldn’t handle it, he would have aborted it before it was complete. You would have never been split, and other than a moment of dizziness, you would have been none the wiser for what was going on.”
“I’m surprised he could, or for that matter would, pull that trick off in a restaurant. I always thought things like that required an hour or two, plus a pentagram, or magic herbs, or chanting, or something else.”
“Don’t let his modesty fool you — Randolph is much more powerful than he lets on. I only know a small portion of what he is capable of, and it is impressive. I’ve only dabbled in magic — the occasional spell. I’m a natural empath, and I’ve used my powers, such as they are, to enhance that ability many times over. That is part of the reason why you are who you are now. I sensed a person very torn, and rather than offering only one choice, I figured that it might be better to offer you the chance at both solutions.” She hesitated for a moment, then added “I’m just sorry that the solution came with such a hefty price.”
I reached over, and grasped her hand. “It’s okay, Emily. I know you meant well for me. The pregnancy thing is an issue that I guess I will just have to deal with. I’ll carry the baby for the full nine months, and try to figure out what do in the meantime. I’m not sure I am prepared to be a parent, and there are lots of good people out there who are looking to adopt…” I stopped when I saw the indecipherable look on her face. “What? What!?”
“Nothing, Lindsay. It’s just that… well, don’t be very surprised if you decide to keep the baby. I know you are new to all of this, and you are probably more than a bit scared. However, it is incredibly difficult to give up an infant that you have been carrying inside you for nine months.”
I sighed. “Whatever. I will deal with that issue if and when it comes up.”
“Of course, dear. I don’t mean to put any more stress upon you. Whenever you want to talk, I’ll be happy to listen. And just to let you know, you take priority over all of my other patients.”
“Thank you. That is…” I stopped upon hearing some rather annoying music. It seemed to be emanating from my purse, which was on the floor, by my feet. I opened it, and dug out a cell phone. I opened it and looked at an unrecognizable number on the call display, before answering it.
“Hello?” I said.
”Hello, is this Ms. Mercelle?” said the voice on the other end.
“Yes it is. Who am I speaking with, please?
”It’s Barb Withers at the Ashton Clinic. I’m just phoning to confirm your appointment for Monday morning at 10:00 a.m.”
I took a moment to dig through Lindsay’s memories before I found out what this was about. I felt nauseous as I discovered not only what was going on, but Lindsay’s emotions in regards to it. I took a moment to recover, before continuing the conversation.
“I’m sorry, Barb. I should have phoned sooner. I’ll be canceling the procedure.”
“Perfectly okay”, Barb said. “It happens all the time. That’s why we give women a few days to think over what they are doing. It cannot be undone. I wish you best of luck.”
“Thanks, Barb. I appreciate that. Take care.” I closed the phone to end the call.
I was still in a state of shock as I reviewed those memories again. Emily sat down beside me and gently asked “Was that what I think it was?”
I felt my eyes fill with tears as I answered. “Yes, it is. That… that… bitch was going to abort the baby. Not only that, but she felt absolutely nothing about it. It was as if she was trying to get rid of a cold, or a hangnail. She didn’t think of it as a life growing in her. It was only a nuisance. And this wasn’t the first time she has done this — it was her third! Oh my God, Emily. What kind of person was she? What if I end up being just like her?”
And with that, I began to sob.
The story continues.
Comments are… well, you know the drill. : )
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After a few minutes, my crying subsided. I used a few tissues from the cleanex box that Emily had beside the couch, to wipe my tears and blow my nose.
“Don’t worry,” said Emily, as she hugged me once again. “You won’t end up like her. You have her body, and her memories, but you are NOT her.”
I felt reassured. I would never want to be like Lindsay. Every memory of hers that I had reviewed had some unpleasant undertone. She screwed people (figuratively and literally), all for her own gain. I couldn’t find one instance of her helping someone, unless she was going to benefit from it in some way. Pitiful. Oh, I really had my work cut out for me, trying to clean up her mess. No time like the present, I suppose.
I disentangled myself from my therapist’s arms, and got up. “Listen, thanks, Em. I do need to get going, though. I appreciate your help and support. Even if you were a bit… sneaky about some things. I know you had my best interests at heart.”
“You’re welcome,” she replied. “I’m sorry that you have this unexpected issue to deal with. Having been pregnant twice now, I can offer you support and advice on the subject. And should you decide to raise your baby, I can recommend some people to help you with that, too. I know you don’t think that is an option now, but don’t be surprised if you change your mind. Anyways, keep in touch. My door is always open to you.”
I grasped her hands with mine for a moment, and nodded. “Thanks, again.” And with that, I turned and headed back to the basement, and my car, and the rest of my (new) life.
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I walked back into my apartment and headed for the kitchen. After getting the kettle boiling, I made a cup of herbal tea, and made my way into the living room. I relaxed in front of the television for a while, mentally making up a plan of action. I was due back to work Sunday afternoon, and noted who would be working that night. There was Tracy, Lucy and Alisha. The former two were fairly confident women, so they shrugged off most of what Lindsay had said. Poor Alisha, though! She was a shy bookworm type, a bit overweight, and plain looking on a good day. Oh, the teasing that she had put up with was horrendous. I’m sure she had been in tears more than a few times because of what had been said to her. I felt myself blushing, embarrassed by it. I not only felt it necessary to apologize, but to make restitution to her in some way or another. Sigh.
Then there was ‘my’ family. My mother and father were pretty much fed up with what they had seen their daughter do and say. Lindsay was their only child, and spoiling her had not helped at all. They let her set her own rules, because they didn’t want to ‘oppress’ their little girl. And look at what their reward was for that. Anyways, time to begin setting things straight. I picked up the phone, and dialed their number. When I heard a gruff “Hello?” I had to smile. I felt a surge of love towards the man.
“Hello, daddy? How are you?…”
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Supper went well with ‘my’ parents. I told them how very sorry I was for being such an ungrateful little snot. When my father asked what brought this on, and did I think I was going to get the promised Mustang any sooner, I shook my head.
“No, daddy. I know you will stick to your guns on this. I would expect nothing less. And as for what brought this on, you might say I had a change of perspective. I’ve talked to a few people, Emily being one of them, and let’s just say that I’ve come to see the error of my ways. No doubt working at the Gem has helped, as you hoped it would.” I could see him smile at that. And really, it wasn’t really a fabrication. Had she not worked there, I would have not taken over her life, and this conversation would not be happening.
My mother, quite a striking woman in her mid forties, nodded. “I told you to have faith, dear. I knew it was a good idea to send Lindsay to mingle with the ‘common’ people.” I looked over at her, a bit aghast, but her grin told me she was joking. Phew!
She looked me over, and asked “Something looks different about you, dear. You look… much healthier than last time. Have you been tanning? Remember what I said about that — small doses only.”
“No, mother.” I replied. “Well, I might be getting a bit more sun, but mainly I am just eating more healthy foods and working out. Just like you told me to.”
"Well, it is good to hear that you are finally listening to your dear old mother. You know how us ancient ones are so wise."
I bowed to her, and struggling to keep from giggling, said, "Yes, revered grandmother. You are a river of knowledge in the desert of stupidity." She laughed at my irreverence.
I stayed for another hour or so after an excellent meal, catching up on the latest news about the clan, before leaving. I felt good about making progress in my relationship with them. I knew that they didn’t trust me 100%, but it was a very good start.
A stray thought crossed my mind on the drive home. “Wonder how they would feel about being grandparents?”
I shook my head, and wondered where that came from.
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My start of my shift at the Gem the next night was probably one that will go down in its recent history as one of the more memorable nights there. Frank, the manager, looked absolutely shocked to see me at work 15 minutes early, and already in my uniform. He was even more surprised when I asked if he would call a very brief staff meeting. “Five minutes at most, I promise. Please?” He nodded his assent, and went to gather up the staff in the dining room.
As each person came in, I quickly ran through the list of offenses Lindsay had visited upon them. It would be unlikely that any of them would offer immediate forgiveness, but I had to try. When the last person had filed in and sat down, Frank told them that I had called the meeting. He looked over to me, and said “Please proceed, Lindsay.”
I stood up, and looked at each person there. Their expressions ranged from indifference to hostility. “You are no doubt wondering why I asked to speak to you. You might be hoping that I am going to quit, and I wouldn’t blame you for that.” That got their attention. The Great Lindsay, engaging in self deprecating humour?
“Anyways, I am here to ask each and every one of you to forgive me for all the mean things that I have done and said. I doubt that I have been nice to any of you at any time, but that is about to change. I realize that words alone will not make things better. I intend to let my actions speak for me." I paused, and then added, “Thank you for listening to me.”
I sat down, feeling a bit embarrassed. Public speaking was not my forte. I looked around at my coworkers, and they all had the same expression — total amazement. They looked at each other, stunned. Then Lucy said, “I don’t know who you are, or what you have done with Lindsay. However, you are more than welcome to work here.”
I couldn’t help but smile as the staff laughed at her wisecrack. “Thank you for the welcome, Lucy. May I prove worthy of it.”
“Okay, folks — party’s over." announced Frank "Let’s get the Gem ready for another evening.”
We all got up, and got to work.
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I knew that ‘Lindsay’ wouldn’t have ever worked as hard as I did that night. It wasn’t that I was trying to go overboard — I was simply doing the job that she was supposed to be doing all along. The staff gave me surprised looks when I set up a table or two, or did some other task I was not asked to do. A few comments were muttered when they thought I was out of earshot. “Do you think she got laid?” and “Is she in love?” and “Was she hit over the head?” were just a few of the things said. I didn’t let it bother me — Lindsay had it coming, after all.
The customers were also surprised. Where Lindsay was rather uncaring and uncommunicative (except to good looking, rich guys, of course), I was friendly and helpful. A smile and a few kind words always go a long way, no matter what business you are in. It is especially true in the hospitality industry.
What made me feel really good was when Alisha briefly sat down with me during a break. She smiled and said “Thank you. I always knew there was a good person beneath all that meanness.” With that, she was gone.
My shift flew by amazingly fast. I had just seated the last group of customers for the night when I heard the door chime. I walked back to the front of the restaurant. I saw a rather handsome man who looked rather familiar. He was very handsome, and well built, and had amazing steel blue eyes. I set my brain into search mode.
“Good evening. Welcome to the Oriental Gem. How may…” I broke off when I recognized him.
He was the father of the child I was now carrying.
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From Part 5:
My shift flew by amazingly fast. I had just seated the last group of customers for the night when I heard the door chime. I walked back to the front of the restaurant. I saw a rather handsome man who looked rather familiar. He was very handsome, and well built, and had amazing steel blue eyes. I set my brain into search mode.
“Good evening. Welcome to the Oriental Gem. How may…” I broke off when I recognized him.
He was the father of the child I was now carrying.
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The hesitation in my greeting didn’t seem to faze him. Maybe he was used to women fawning over him, or tripping over their tongues while speaking to him. It was no wonder — he was one of the most handsome men I had ever seen. I went through the memories of Lindsay’s rendezvous with Argeon.
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She had met him at an S & M club in the east side of downtown. It was her first time in a place like that, and despite her usual bravado and arrogance, she was a bit intimidated. He was a regular member, and could immediately spot her shyness. He set about making her feel welcome, and comfortable. She could see through his routine, as she did similar things to people that had something she wanted.
It was an interesting exercise to play the ‘victim’. She figured that she could learn something from it, and in turn be that much more effective getting what she wanted from others. She knew that they would end up fucking, but wasn’t put off by the idea. In fact, after an hour in his presence, her panties were quite wet. She had even occasionally rubbed her legs together underneath the table, trying to trigger even a small orgasm to take the edge off. No luck, though. He could see her distress, and suggested retiring to one of the rooms in the back.
Lindsay readily agreed. Before she knew it, she was sitting on the edge of the bed, giving him a blowjob, while rubbing her pussy through her silk panties. She normally didn’t give head, as she found guys were generally quite sneaky about trying to blow a load in her mouth. Something about his tone seemed to suggest she had no choice in the matter, and she was surprised to find that she enjoyed sucking his cock. What surprised her even more was that she didn’t think she would mind swallowing his cum, and soon enough, she did just that.
He quickly recovered, getting hard again in no time. He put on a condom, and soon had her on her back, with her legs up in the air. He pounded at her, roughly played with her nipples, and gave her an occasional slap on the ass. It was all very different, and erotic, and she was really getting into it . Soon enough, Argeon came, and Lindsay came with him. They laid in each others arms for a few moments, spent. After a few minutes, he said he had to get going. He gave her a light kiss on the cheek, and then left her alone in the room.
She was shocked by this, as guys were usually asking her when she was free again at this point, and getting all clingy, and shit like that. She felt hurt, but didn’t let it show. Instead, she sorted herself as best as she could in the small en suite washroom. She touched up her makeup, brushed out her hair, and left.
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I came back to the then and there, with Argeon still standing in front of me, looking somewhat impatient. “I do not have all night. The name is Verce. Please get my order for me.”
“Sorry, sir. Just a long night, is all. Anyways, are you here to pick up an order, sir?”
“Yes — that is just what I said. It’s under the name Verce”, he replied.
“I’ll go get that for you. Back in a moment.”
As I went to the pick up area of the kitchen, I could hear him mutter something about ‘wanna-be blondes’. I grabbed the last bag there and brought it to the front. I rang up the order, and processed the credit card transaction. He took his food, without so much as a ‘thank you’ or ‘good night’, and left. With attitude like that, I could see how he would fit in so well in the S & M world.
Frank came up a few minutes later and locked the front door. He said to do the close-up, as the remaining customers could be put on tomorrow’s cash sheet. I rang out the till, and was happy that there was only a two cent variance from the cash to receipts. I turned the register drawer to the manager, for him to lock in the safe. They used to drop the money at the night deposit slot at the bank, but a string of robberies in the neighbourhood convinced the owners to get a safe installed. I was glad of it, as I would hate to see one of the staff get hurt.
My thoughts were interrupted by a question. It was Lucy, taking a few moments breather from looking after her last table. “That was some interesting speech tonight, Lindsay. Did you mean it?”
“Yes, I did. I know I have been a miserable…” I looked around, to make sure no customers were within earshot, “bitch. It took a few wise people, and way too much time, for me to see the error of my ways.”
She put a comforting hand on my shoulder for a moment, and said “I’m glad that you have decided to make a change for the better. Alisha is really happy, but not surprised, like the rest of us were. It was like she was expecting it to happen all along. Is she one of your ‘wise people’?”
“No, but she is a decent sort, and is far more mature than I have ever been. I feel very, very bad for the way I have treated her. I hope she will forgive me, just like I hope everyone else I have pissed off will. I’ve cut a pretty wide swath of damage.”
“A wide __what__?” Lucy asked.
“Swath. You know… it’s a farm term? Or a tornado term, for that matter.”
“You even speak differently now. Are you sure you aren’t an alien?” she asked with a laugh.
“I’m sure. I’m just different now, and hopefully a better person.”
“Well, whatever. Welcome to the Gem. I think you and I could get to be friends.” She got an indecipherable look on her face, then came up and hugged me. It caught me off guard, but it was a nice, nonetheless. The embrace lasted a bit longer than I thought it should, and Lucy’s closeness was having a bit of an effect on me.
She stepped back, and said “I’ll see you Wednesday night. Now get out of here — you’ve done more work tonight than in the previous month. You must be very tired. Go home and get some sleep. And, yes, Frank said it was okay.”
I mock saluted, and said “Yes, ma’am!” I went to the back to grab my coat and purse, saying good night to the various staff along the way. For the most part, they were somewhat more cheerful towards me than usual. Like I thought, it was going to take awhile to convince them I was sincere.
Lucy wished me a safe journey home, and locked the door behind me. I got into my Chev, started it up, and put it into drive. That Mustang I was getting was definitely going to be a 5-speed, because automatics really do suck.
The drive home was quick, as I ran through the events of the day. I was happy to make peace with my colleagues. The disturbing part was, of course, Argeon’s complete obliviousness as to who I was. Granted, I wasn’t wearing leather and latex tonight, and my glasses were different. My makeup was significantly less vampish, but still… Oh well, whatever. I didn’t plan on telling him about the pregnancy — he came across like such a horse’s ass that I could only see it causing more problems than it was worth.
I parked my car in the usual spot, and walked up the stairs to the apartment, rather than taking the elevator. This body, make that __my__ body, was in not bad shape, but could do with a bit of toning up. Lindsay had received a nice pair of rollerblades for the previous Christmas, along with a helmet and appropriate armour. She didn’t use the latter, because it might make a mess of her tan. Figures. As for the blades, she got reasonably good on them, but put them in the storage room the day she got the Chev. I guess I would be digging them out of there.
I unlocked my apartment door and walked in, only to get the scare of my life.
“Please, Lindsay, do come in. You and I have matters of great import to discuss.” Mr. Cordiality, a.k.a. Argeon, was sitting on my couch, looking as if he owned the place. I immediately turned to escape, but both of the door locks engaged, seemingly on their own. The door knob wouldn’t even turn. I turned to face the invader, who was now only two feet away, and looking rather angry.
“Don’t tell me you are having another pseudo-blonde moment. I said, 'do come in'.” And with that, he grabbed me by the throat, and tossed me halfway across the room.