Solomon’s Test
Prologue
In a place that is not quite of our world two figures meet, and one begins to speak.
“Well, where have you been and what have you been up to?”
“Been here and there, poking around.”
“So what is it this time?”
“Been thinking. Once we did a wager that if you took everything away from a man, he’d be useless.”
“You lost that wager.”
“Well, regardless, I was thinking what about the reverse? What if you took an ordinary person, and gave them a gift, something more than anyone has ever had? I bet there’s no way they would not become arrogant, and abuse it.”
“I’ll pick the person, though.”
“Fine.”
******
Chapter 1 - Field trip
Disaster walked in the classroom door.
Disaster, at least as far as Michael Solomon was concerned, was the new vice principal of the school where he taught science. The woman seemed to have a serious problem with him, and as far as Michael could tell, he’d done nothing to deserve it.
“I have a assignment for you. There is a new particle accelerator opening up just out of town, and they’re offering us a chance to take a class through on a tour.”
“Why me Margaret?”
“Because you’re the science teacher. And call me Ms. Hollander”
“Fine, Ms. Hollander. Am I going to get any help?”
“You should be fine alone. Its only one class, Room 7.”
“And you’re letting me go alone? Give me some help!”
“Fine. Miss Anders can help you.”
“You’re really going to do this? Those kids will eat her alive.”
“Now, now. Just because they’re ... challenged, doesnt mean they would be anything less than wonderful.”
Michael sighed. “I dont have a choice, do I?”
“Not if you wish to keep your position, no.”
“Fine. When do we go?”
“This Friday. “ She said, “And dont look so down, I’m sure you both will have a good time.” She said, and blew out of the room.
Poor Samantha Anders, to be stuck with him and a bunch of “challenged” kids, he thought. He shook his head. Nothing he could do but weather the storm, he supposed.
After school was over, He went to find Samantha, and found her stressing in the staff lounge.
“I take it you heard.” He said.
“Yeah. What is her damage? Of all the classes to send on a field trip, why that one?”
“I’ve never actually worked it, but I’ve heard stories. Is it really bad?”
“Alan Walters who normally does the class says it's not bad when he’s there, but every substitute teacher they’ve sent in has come out swearing to not work the room again.”
“Where is he going to be while we’re on this field trip? “
“Dentist appointment. “
“Dam.”
“No kidding. It’d be a breeze if he was there, they really respect him but they test anybody else.”
“Well, here is hoping this is one test we pass.”
Time passed, as it always does, and before Michael knew it, the day of the field trip had come.
He went to Room 7 to pick up the students, and found Samantha Anders already there, and with her a surprize - Alan Walters himself.
“I thought you had a dentist appointment?”
“Got it pushed back till Monday. I took a super pain reliever, so I’m fine.”
“Did you tell Ms. Hollander?”
“Not until the bus was on its way, so she couldnt reschedule.”
“I bet she’s not happy to have her little plan spoiled.”
“Let her fume. I wasnt going to let my students be part of her games.”
“Well, let’s get them going then.”
Thanks to having Alan along, the trip to the accelerator went pretty smoothly. Alan handled the class like a master juggler, seeming to know by instinct which students would act up when. They got to the accelerator, and met their guide, who turned out to be a woman named Lorraine Locker.
“Come this way. You’ll be able to be actually inside the accelerator. Of course, it’s not on at the moment, but you’ll be able to travel the very path the particles will when the machine is on.”
The class actually seemed kind of impressed by this, and we made our way inside.
Things went to hell about half-way through the tour.
Lights and sirens went on, and Loraine shouted, “The machine is starting up! We have to get out of here, now!”
The teachers moved the kids as quickly as possible to the emergency exit, and Michael lagged behind, and then things got worse.
Just as the last kid was climbing up the short stairs to get out the exit, Michael went down in a heap, screaming.
Samantha shouted his name, but he called out, “Go!” and got up, limping toward the emergency exit.
She waited at the door, but he said again, “Go!” and weeping, she closed the door.
A second later he surrounded by light, and then his world went dark.
End of Chapter 1
******
Solomon’s Test Chapter 2 - A Rude Awakening.
Michael groaned, and opened his eyes.
He tried to wipe the sleep out of them, and discovered he was restrained.
“What the hell?” Is what he wanted to say, but it came out as “Whaagh?” and then he coughed.
Someone came toward him, and as his eyes cleared, he could tell it was a nurse.
“Wha ...”
“Its okay. Here is a little water dear.”
He took a long sip, and then said, “What happened?”
“Just relax for a bit dear. The doctor will see you soon.”
Michael laid back, and tried to rest. Eventually, the doctor came, took his vital signs, and released him from the restraints, saying “how does it feel to be something totally impossible?”
‘Im ... Impossible?”
“I’m assured by the scientists who run the collider that a person inside should be reduced to atoms. And yet you only have minor injuries.”
“Wow. Does that mean I can go home soon?”
“You will be physically ready to go home soon. However....”
“However?”
“We would like to figure out how you survived.”
“That sounds like it could take a while. Any chance we could do it on an outpatient basis?”
“Perhaps.”
Michael's face fell.
“We’ll try to make your stay as short as possible, is that fair?”
“I’d appreciate that. Its not that I’m not grateful for hospitals, but I wouldnt want to have to live in one.”
With that, the doctor left.
Michael grabbed a remote and turned on the tv, and a few moments later Loraine Locker and Samantha Anders came in.
“Hi. You up to having visitors?” Samantha said.
“Beats sitting here watching bad television.”
Sam gave Michael a hug, and sat on the bed beside him while Lorianne stood a little distance away in a very military “at ease” pose.
“How are you feeling?” Sam asked.
“Not bad considering I shouldn’t be alive.”
“They told you that?”
“Yeah. How are the kids?”
“Fine.”
The conversation petered out, and Sam stood there awkwardly for a few moments, then she gave Michael another hug, and left the room.
He sighed, and looked at Loraine and said, “So, you want to talk to me?”
“I do, but I’m not sure how to say this.”
“Be straightforward, I get the feeling that suits you best.”
“What happened was not an accident.”
“Someone did this ... on purpose?”
“I’m afraid so. We received chatter from a radical environmental group about causing problems at the plant to prevent it being put into operation. The chatter indicated they hoped for casualties”
“Been nice to know that before you let a bunch of kids come for a tour.”
“We messed up. But we’ve got leads on the group, and that’s the other news.”
“I gather it’s not good news.”
One of the members of the group was in the control room, and we have fingerprints. We know who was the one who pulled the trigger.”
“Who?”
“Colby Duke.”
“I... I knew a Colby Duke in college. In fact we roomed together.””
“We learned that doing a background check on him. When’s the last time you spoke to him?”
“Not since we parted ways in college. We were ... too different to make good roomies.”
“Did he ever mention a group called Gaia speaks?”
“He was starting to get into environmentalism, I kinda thought he was going overboard. But I dont recall the name.”
“That’s the group we’re looking at. And right now, he’s our only lead.”
“Well, I hope you catch him. I mean, we didnt part friends, but trying to kill me? Not to mention the kids and Sam and you?”
“That’s what it looks like. Can you tell me anything more about him?”
“I... I dont know. It’s been years.”
“I understand. But anything you recall, even something small could help us find him. I’ll leave a card at the desk, if you think of anything, call me.”
“I will.”
She nodded, and walked out.
Michael laid back down in the bed, and remembered Colby, as he was before he went a little gaga and started shouting about humans raping the earth.
Eventually, he cried himself to sleep.
****
End of Chapter 2
End of Part 1
Solomon’s Test Part 2
Chapter Three - Solomon’s Palace
Author's note: I know I said I would publish every 2 days, but the sheer number of stories put out since part 1 came out had me re-thinking ...
The next two weeks were near torture for Michael. The medical people poked and prodded him and subjected him to every test they could think of, and when he was taking a break from that, someone from the military was there trying to get him to wrack his brain for even the smallest details of his friendship with Colby in the hopes of finding out where he might be, and from that finding the rest of the group as well.
He was starting to worry his next stop after being released from the hospital would be Gitmo, but Samantha (with a surprise assist from Loraine ) kept the pressure on to release him, and finally, they let him go.
The two women helped him go home, and when he got there, Samantha said, “I better go. Dee will be waiting for me.”
Dee?” asked Lorraine.
“Dee is Samantha’s wife.” Michael replied.
Lorraine shrugged, and said “Oh yes. I remember that being mentioned when I was briefed on you two, and Alan as well.”
“And what did your briefing come up with?” Samantha asked.
“Outside of Michael’s brief association with Colby, nothing that would indicate your involvement in this event.” Lorraine replied. “Which was my primary concern at the time.”
“Good to know” Samantha said, “Now I really have to get home to Dee”
“Okay Sam. Give her a hug and a kiss for me. And thank her, for letting me borrow you so much.” Michael said.
“I will. I hope I’ll see you back to work soon.” Samantha said, and gave Michael a peck on the cheek.
“Me too.” Michael replied,
Sam left, and Michael found himself fidgeting now that he was alone with Lorraine.
He found himself struggling not to be nervous, but found himself feeling awkward in her presence.
“So.... “ He said, looking everywhere but at her. With Sam gone, a certain amount of “military” had been allowed to escape, and the woman beneath the uniform was showing through.
And Michael found that woman ... interesting ...
She gave him a shy smile, and then said, “Well, I guess I better go...”
“Oh. Okay.”
The two of them shuffled awkwardly, and then Loraine left.
Michael closed the door behind her, and shook his head.
“What’s wrong with me? I haven’t acted that nervous around a girl since I was twelve!”
He shook his head again.
“Not to mention she’d never want to be with me, even if I wasn’t a possible suspect.”
Some of his dreams were ... very eventful ...
******
Interlude
“So when does he get the gift?”
“It has already been given”
“But nothing has happened!”
“Patience.”
******
Chapter 4 Investigations and confessions
The next evening, while laying in bed, Michael began to feel ... strange. A tingling sensation throughout his body, that grew, and grew.
And then the tingling became pain.
Not knowing why, Michael called Lorraine instead of 911 before he passed out ...
When he awoke, he was surprised to find himself in his own bed, with Lorraine sitting in a chair watching him.
“I’m still home? You didnt call for an ambulance?” he asked.
“You were breathing regularly and your pulse was steady. A 911 operator recommended I just let you be for a bit, as you would not be considered a medical emergency. Besides, I wasn’t sure you would want EMT’s to see the rather pretty nightgown you’re wearing.”
Michael blushed, and then said, “I guess you’d like an explanation for that”
“If you dont mind.” Lorraine replied with a smile.
“I ...my oldest memory is of starting first grade, and being confused as to why the teachers would put me with the boys. They seemed so different than I was, so different than I wanted to be. But my family ... they thought the idea of boy wanting to be a girl, or feeling like a girl on the inside ... that kind of thing ... they thought something was wrong with you you, if you were like that.”
“Religious objections?” asked Lorraine.
“No my parents thought religion was for weaklings. It’s just they also thought psychiatry was for weaklings too. So I stuffed my feelings inside, even though each step toward being more masculine my body took was like a knife to my heart.”
“But you could do something about it now, couldn’t you?” Lorraine inquired.
“Came close last year. Thought I would start small, do something that wouldn’t be noticeable. So I tried to shave off my leg and arm hair.”
Lorraine glanced at Michael’s arms and legs.
“Yeah, it turns out however feminine I feel, my body hair has other ideas. I tried everything. Razors, creams, even had a go at electrolysis. None of it did the slightest good. And what kind of woman runs around with hairy arms and legs? Maybe back in the sixties, some feminists did it, but cant see anybody doing it now. Which would mean I would either have to keep covered like those Muslim women, or be outed as soon as I walked out the door.”
“You’re ... probably right” Lorraine said with a sigh.
“You seem to be taking this awfully well.” Michael said, “May I ask why?”
“I ... Knew a person like you when I served overseas. After ‘Dont ask, dont tell’ got repealed I told him I would probably find a girlfriend, if I could find a woman who would put up with me. And he dropped his truth on me - that given the choice, he’d transition, But even though being a lesbian was now allowed in the Army, being trans still wasnt. He ... she told me, she was happy for me, but she had two choices - a dishonorable discharge or one day she would eat her gun. And that’s exactly what she did. The army, in its infinite wisdom, decided to pretend she had been killed in action, and sent her home in a flag draped box.”
For a long time after, the two of them held each other letting old griefs go ...
Interlude 2
“He’s ... one of those?”
“She. Didn’t you look at her soul?”
“Ah, it doesnt matter. I’m still waiting for the gift.”
“Keep watching,”
****
End of part 2
Solomon’s Test Part 3
Chapter 5: Transformation
Michael cried out, breaking the silence, and ending the hug Lorraine had been sharing with him.
“What’s happening?” Lorraine cried out.
“My arms ...the hair, look at them” Michael responded.
Lorraine looked, and she would later describe what she saw as like watching a timelapse film of a plant sprouting from the ground, but in reverse.
Because the hairs on Michael’s arms were shrinking.
Then she glanced down at his legs, and the hair there was shrinking as well,
Michael seemed to now be glowing from within and he said, “I did that. I wanted my hair gone, and now it is. And I can do more.”
Moments later, he was standing in the air above the bed, one leg slightly lifted and his toes pointed down like a ballerina captured in mid-pirouette.
Lorianne staggered back, and would have fled, but somewhere within her heart, she heard a whisper “Fear not. Be still”, so she simply watched and waited.
Michael’s hands moved to his chest, and the lace cups of his nightgown began to fill ...
“C cup, I think. No need to go overboard” He purred.
His eyes were now closed, and Lorraine was not sure he remembered she was in the room as his hands moved down the front of his nightgown toward the last part of masculinity he possessed ...
Lorraine looked away for a moment, and then it was over.
What was standing (or rather floating a couple of inches) in front of her was not only a woman, but woman of extraordinary beauty. She looked like she had just stepped of a clam shell in some portrait of the goddess of beauty and put on a modern nightgown. A nightgown that Lorraine couldn’t help but notice was much more shear than it had been moments before, and a good deal shorter too.
In a desperate attempt to keep her mind (not to mention her libito) busy, Lorraine stammered, “Michael?”
“Not any more.” the woman replied. “Call me ..Melody”
And her voice fit the name, because it sang, even though she had only been speaking,
Lorraine remembered reading of a woman whose voice alone had such seductive qualities that even a statue would feel the need for a cold shower, and she thought that Melody’s voice may be even more seductive than that, as she felt an awkward dampness between her legs.
Then suddenly Melody giggled, and things changed.
Melody no longer looked like a goddess, but a more human kind of pretty. In fact she resembled her former male self, like she was now the twin sister to the person she used to be.
She also looked rather sheepish as she said, “sorry about that. Almost went overboard with the changes.”
Lorianne smiled, and then she asked, “I ... do you think you could do this for other people? Like that soldier I knew?”
“I ... yes. Yes I can. And seeing how it feels for me, I’m sure they’d appreciate it.” Melody replied.
“Good. because I just thought of someone who could really use it.” Lorianne said, and grinned ...
***
Interlude
“Almost had her there”
“And yet, you do not have her.”
“Matter of time, And what’s this about her helping other folk like her? You trying to put me in a no-win situation where even if she ends up abusing her power she will have made other lives better?”
“Wait, and see.”
***
Chapter 6: Talia
Melody looked at Lorraine in shock, and asked, “How would you know of any other ... people like me?”
“The internet is a marvelous place, Melody,” Lorraine replied, “I belong to a local group for trans people and their allies that I had found online”
“Your bosses dont object?” asked Melody.
‘I’m good enough at my job they take great care to pretend to not officially notice.” Lorraine replied with a smile.
“Okay, so about this person who could use a fairy godmother?” Melody asked.
Lorraine raised an eyebrow, and asked, “Fairy godmother?”
“Well, it was either that or magic genie, and genies are often portrayed as tricksters or worse, but fairy godmothers play it straight, as I intend to.” Melody replied.
“Okay fine. There is a support group that meets regularly downtown, and one of the girls who goes there has shared a bit of her story. If you really can do for others what you’ve done for yourself, she would be at the top of my list of those who could use it. I dont know her male name, but she goes by Talia.”
Melody cocked her head, as if listening to an internal voice. Then she said, “I know where she is, let’s go to her now!”
Lorraine took Melody’s hand, and with a small “pop” they were gone ...
A moment later they were standing outside the city’s largest hospital. Before Lorraine could even say anything, Melody pointed to a figure coming toward them.
Even in boys clothes and with her hair tied up in a masculine ponytail, Lorraine recognized Talia. Not for the first time since she had first met the girl, she wondered who was actually fooled into believing Talia was really a boy.
Talia had been looking down, so she almost walked into Lorraine and Melody before she noticed them.
She gasped, “Lorraine?”
“Hi Talia.” Lorraine said, “Sorry to come so suddenly and surprise you, but, well, I need you to meet Melody, here.”
Melody stepped forward, and taking Talia’s hands, said, “Don’t be afraid. I was like you, a trans woman with no hope of transitioning. But I’ve been given a wonderful gift, and have been made over as the girl I was always supposed to be. And better yet, I’ve been allowed to pass on my gift to others - to you, if you will take it.”
Talia looked deeply into Melody’s eyes, and then said, ‘I ... I believe you. And my answer is yes. If you can, make me the girl I should have been.”
Melody smiled, and then began to glow. She glowed brighter and brighter, and the glow spread to Talia, who gasped in wonder. The two girls were soon so bright that Lorraine was temporarily blinded, and when she could see again, it was over.
Talia had been transformed ...
End of Part 3
Solomon’s test part 4
Chapter 7: Talia’s transformation and Renee’s renaissance
Talia’s changes were both subtle and dramatic.
She was still wearing her EMT uniform, but she filled it out in a much more feminine manner. But to Lorraine, the biggest change was to her stance and demeanor. When Lorraine had seen her at the support group, the girl had seemed shrunk, drawn into herself as if permanently waiting for some blow to strike, or as if the psychological burden of being trans was physically crushing her.
But now, she was standing tall, both literally and figuratively.
Talia gasped, and said, “I see ... my whole life, but this time I was seen as a girl at birth.”
Melody giggled, and said, “That’s part of the gift. As of this moment, only we three remember you having any other life.”
“And what price do I owe for this gift?” Asked Talia.
“Nothing. How could I charge you for something which cost me nothing?” replied Melody.
The two hugged, and then Melody said, “This is gonna seem hard to understand, but I think there is a ... time limit on me being to help the next person. So Lorraine and I are gonna have to leave right away. Will you be okay picking up your new life, Talia?”
“Me? I’ll be fine. Go help as many as you can.” Talia replied firmly.
She hugged Melody, whispered “Thank you”, and then Lorraine and Melody vanished ...
****
There was a soft “pop”, and then Lorraine had a moment of confusion, thinking they had gone back in time based on how the people around her were dressed. Then she saw a sign that read, “Renaissance Faire” and she relaxed.
Melody took her hand, and said, “Come on, we don’t have a lot of time. She’s right at the edge.”
Lorraine looked at the serious expression on Melody’s face, stifled her curiosity, and followed Melody as quickly as possible.
As they went, Melody said, “We’re looking for a girl named Renee, although she’s had to work in male mode. She’s just been told she’s being laid off, and will therefore she wont have enough money for rent. She is right on the edge of life or death. So we have to hurry.”
“How do you know this?” Lorraine asked.
“I don’t know, I just ... wait!”
Then Lorraine heard the sounds of a person crying.
They turned a corner, and found Renee huddled in a corner, tears streaming down her face.
Melody squatted down in front of the girl and said, “Hi Renee. I’m Melody. And I think I can help you.”
“How did you know that name? I’ve never told anybody” Renee asked.
“Take my hand, and I’ll show you.” Melody replied.
Renee reached up, and linked hands with Melody.
And just like what Lorraine had witnessed with Talia, Melody began to glow, and then Renee began to glow as well.
“You can make me a girl, can’t you?” Renee asked.
“Yes, Renee, I can fix your past, so you can have a future. Are you willing?”
“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” cried Renee.
And when Lorraine could see again, Renee had been transformed.
Her physical transformation was greater than Talia’s had been, but less than the change Melody herself had undergone. Her clothes also had been changed to a long red dress with fur lining.
But it was their location that changed the most, as they were no longer at the fairgrounds, but by the steps of an elementary school.
Melody said “You became a teacher, instead of working the fair?”
Renee giggled, and said, “My mom was a teacher, my grandma too. Just following family tradition. And look!” Then she held up her right hand, showing she had an engagement ring, “And I won’t be spending the holidays alone, either!”
Lorraine added, “Well, that’s wonderful!”
Renee turned to Melody, and asked, “And how can I possibly thank you, miss angel, or fairy godmother, or whatever you are?”
“Just knowing I helped is thanks enough. But now, just like St. Nick, Lorraine and I have to dash away to give more presents!”
“Okay” Renee replied
And in a wink, Lorraine and Melody were gone ...
***
Interlude:
“Bah, she’s not even accepting gratitude, what a disappointment. But the test isn't over yet!”
****
Chapter 8: Gifts
For Lorraine, The next couple of hours did in fact resemble what she imagined being a helper for Santa would be like, as she and Melody whizzed around the world, giving their very special present to some good little girls - and boys too, as it turned out.
After a while, it became a blur for Lorraine, and she found herself struggling to keep all the people they had helped straight.
There was Melanie, who didn’t change all that much except her books were now on bestseller lists, and then there was Amanda, the girl who went from being a sailor in the Navy to computer programmer for NASA, then there had been Jeffrey Felix, the first trans guy on their list, and many more besides.
The ones that stuck in Lorraine’s memory were the ones who actually turned down the offer, like Dorothy, an older trans lady who refused on the grounds that such a change would erase her daughter from existence.
But the saddest one of all might have been a girl named Jaci who was still too raw from the grief of losing her dad to think about herself, and eventually Melody had been forced to move on.
But most accepted, were transformed, and rejoiced in their new lives.
And then they were done.
They had returned to their starting point, just outside of Melody’s house, and suddenly, Lorraine realised they were not alone.
Standing on the porch of the house was a man.
He seemed to Lorraine to be in his middle-thirties, with dark brown skin and jet black hair that was almost down to his shoulders, and was wearing a business suit and tie.
He smiled, and said, “Well done.”
Melody looked at the man in shock, and then said, “You ... you were the one telling me where to go, who I could help. Weren’t you?”
“I was your guide. But now I can perform a different function. I will be your advocate.”
“My .. advocate?” Asked Melody.
“For your trial. And It begins ... now.”
And suddenly, they were ... somewhere else ...
End of Part 4
Solomon’s test part 5 - the conclusion
Chapter 9: Solomon’s Trial
Long afterward, when Lorraine tried to describe what had happened next, she found herself struggling to find words.
The place she found herself in at first seemed like a green grassy grove, with a range of mountains to the east. A bright and clear river flowed through, and flowers grew everywhere.
Even though she could not see the sun over the mountains, and sky had that just-turning orange shade you see just before sunrise, she could see everything clearly in the grove.
The dark-skinned man who had declared himself to be Melody’s Advocate said “Come”.
And so Melody took Lorraine’s hand, and they followed him.
The man lead them for a while, and then they saw ahead a wooden arch covered in flowers.
Then as they got closer, and Lorraine saw a root coming out of the bottom of the arch, and realized it hadn’t been built, but grown, somehow.
Beyond the arch, Lorraine saw two long tables at right angles to each other, one with three chairs the other with only one.
In front of these there was a podium with a large chair behind it, and Lorraine was sure that all of these were grown and living plants.
And she was also sure that this was courtroom.
Their guide directed the girls to sit down at the table with two chairs, and as soon as they were seated another man came into the grove.
The newcomer wouldn’t have looked out of place at any law firm on any TV show Lorraine had seen, in his expensive-looking suit and red tie - except he was wearing snakeskin boots.
He nodded to them, and sat down at the opposite table.
A moment later, a trumpet sounded out of nowhere, and the girls were urged to stand for the entrance of the Judge.
The judge was wearing a hood as well as the traditional black robe, so Lorraine could not make out his features, but she felt somehow he would be serious and firm, but fair.
He said, “Melody passed the test put before her. She used the gift she was given freely, without demanding anything in return. So what charge do you bring against her?”
The man in the snakeskin boots responded, “She passed the test of Charity, but she has not faced the test of Sacrifice. I say that she will not be able to pass that test!”
The judged responded, “She must face the test of sacrifice.”
Melody looked at the man who had claimed to be her Advocate, and asked, “What does that mean?”
He replied, “It means that the gifts you gave out tonight will be returned, every person you helped with be back where they were - unless you make the sacrifice.”
“What sacrifice?” Melody asked.
“Your own transformation. You go back to how you appeared before you were given the gift.”
“Lorraine?” Asked Melody plaintively.
“I dont think I can help you, Melody.” Lorraine responded. “It’s not me who would have to give up being seen as a woman at birth.” She hung her head, and added “I wish I could help, or even take the test for you, but it’s your test, not mine”
Melody said nothing for a long time, then she said softly, “I’ll do it.”
“Speak up.” The judge said.
Melody stood, and with tears streaming down her face, she said, “I’ll ... make the sacrifice. I’d never be able to live with myself if I kept the gift and all those people lost theirs.”
The judge replied, “So let it be,” and banged his gavel.
Then both the judge and the prosecutor in snakeskin boots vanished, and the advocate said to Lorraine, Take her home, and look after her.”
“I will” replied Lorraine, and then they vanished from the valley.
***
Chapter 10: The End, and after.
Lorraine found herself once more outside of Melody’s house, and then turned and realized that Melody had indeed lost the gift of a female body.
She was Michael, once more.
“Get me inside” He rasped, and so Lorraine helped Michael retreat to within the safety of his home.
Once inside, she held him as he mourned the loss of his gift, until her cell phone rang and she stepped away to answer it.
When the call was completed, she came back into Michael’s bedroom and said, “I have to go, apparently there has been a breakthrough in investigation into what happened at the accelerator. But I will be back as soon as I can. Will you promise me you wont do something foolish?”
“Why would I do anything foolish just because I’ve lost everything” Melody replied with some bitterness.
“Not everything” Lorraine replied, and kissed him, or rather her.
The kiss was tentative, at first, but it grew in passion and intensity. When they finally broke the kiss, Lorraine said, “I love you, Melody.”
“I’m not ...” Michael started to reply, but Melody cut her off, saying “You are. You will always be Melody to me. Now can I count on you to keep from hurting yourself while I’m gone?”
With tears in her eyes, Michael, or rather Melody responded, “You really love me, like this? I thought you said you like girls.”
“I do. Its just in this case the girl I like has stubble on her face.” Lorraine answered, and then said, “I really do have to go. Please keep yourself safe until I can come back.”
“All right. I promise.” Melody replied, and they kissed again, and then Lorraine left.
Once Lorraine was gone, Melody fidgeted for a while, and then carefully removed the dress, shoes, and lingerie that were the only things left of her transformation. She hung up the dress, put the shoes in the bottom of her closet, and out the lingerie in a hamper. Then she went to her dresser and found a pair of boxers, a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, and quickly put them on.
Then she crawled onto her bed, and slept.
Some time later, she was awoken by a knock at the door.
She opened it to see Lorraine smiling at her, and she said, “Hi. Sorry I’m not in better shape.”
“It’s understandable. But I have some good news. They found Colby Duke.” Lorraine replied.
“Oh?” Melody inquired.
“Actually they got all the members of Gia speaks. And not that you were ever considered involved, its official that you are cleared. Which means my bosses wont be able to object if you and I become involved.”
“Speaking of which ...” Melody said, and then blushed, and continued, “I’ve been thinking of how to say this. During our ‘gift run’, I got a glimpse of the lives of those I was helping, but somehow, I also got a glimpse of you, of your heart and soul. And I can say that if you love me despite the male body I’m stuck with ... I will do my best to be worthy of it, and give you my love in return.”
They then kissed, and kissing led to other things ....
****
Elsewhere:
“All right, I concede. She passed the test of self indulgence, she passed the test of generosity, she passed the test of sacrifice, and now it’s clear she will pass the test of despondency.”
“Indeed. And I now declare her off limits to you - and her companion as well.”
“Fine. There will be other battles, and others to be tested.”
“Indeed. But for these two, there will be blessings.”
***
The end.
Postscript: A big “thank you” to those who have read this, to those who left a comment or a kudo, and especially to those who graciously lent their name to characters in this story. I hope you all have enjoyed the ride as much as I have - Dorothy Colleen.