Body Switches

by Barbara G. Tarn

  She flew back to New York with Gabrielle, threw away all the DVDs of his movies, deleted all his books from her i-Pad and went to work at her own company. In a few months she might go online to find a last minute flight for some exotic location where handsome young men would make her feel like a goddess. They might have darker skin than Rohit – who looked everything but Indian with his Greek nose and gray eyes – but at least they wouldn't shun her.

  She had what she wanted. Her own company, her two best friends and New York, what else could she wish for?

  Yes, it's good to be me!

  ***

  Samantha was happy with herself. The latest body switch might have been shorter than the others, but it had had more consequences. She wondered what would have happened if she hadn't interfered again. If Rohit would have tried to kill himself again or Babs would have opted for abortion.

  Dear Pat, you have no idea how good it is to be me! I have real power, I can make you forget or fall in love or... But Pat wasn't from Silvery Earth. And neither was the trio she'd so disrupted with her body switch. Well, at least Babs had given up the idea of writing one – and her story about the two assassins was coming out just fine.

  Time to find another pastime.

  ***

  Acknowledgments: very special thanks to Rebecca Bates, Leah Cutter and Shafali Anand for their inputs on cultures that are not my own (i.e. America and India). Beta-readers: Rebecca Bates, Shafali Anand, Melissa Yuan-Innes, Barbara "Abby" Palmer, Dayle Dermatis, Dave Hendrickson. And special thanks to Mighty Editor Tricia Kristufek.

  bonus story – the original, first body switch short story!

  Being someone else

  Tuesday, May 2nd, 7.30 p.m. I know the exact time because I had just checked it. I was awfully late for dinner. Sebastian would be home soon. He hates waiting. He comes back starving like a homeless person. He's an architect, instead. Should be another kind of person. Anyway, he's gorgeous, with a very sexy body and world's best ass. He has many women going after him, damn him!

  As I said, I was late. And the mixer wasn't very cooperative either. It was the damn mixer's fault, I think. I looked at the time and had a shock. I mean, real electric shock. A flood of electricity. I thought I'd die. I saw my dream come true, instead. See, I was born male. And I became a woman!

  So I had that shock, and when I recovered I wasn't in the kitchen anymore, but in a bathroom, and instead of the stupid mixer, I was holding a hairdryer. A broken hairdryer. With wet hair. Naked. Female. I stare at the mirror. This face isn't mine! It's a young woman. Shortsighted, I'm afraid, as the vision is blurred. Hair to the shoulder. Colored. Mahogany red. Nice. Small tits, but that can be worked on. I dreamed of bigger tits, but these are real. Ommygodommygod, I'm female at last!

  #

  It was Tuesday, May 2nd, 7.30 p.m. I was drying my hair, bored at the thought of the upcoming evening. Chris had another one of his damned working parties where I was supposed to attend as the happy and lovely consort. I love Chris, he's my husband, but since he became an executive and asks me to do these things for his career, I hate him! That's because I'm not very sociable, I'm not vain and I hate to be at the center of attention. That's what I was thinking when I felt the shock. You know, hairdryer, water, the usual danger. Never happened in over thirty years, then suddenly that night I got electrocuted.

  One second and I think "Good, at least I won't have to attend the stupid party". But I re-open my eyes and I'm alive. Except I'm not at home anymore, this isn't my bathroom. It's a big beautiful kitchen, someone is preparing dinner. The mixer is broken. And I'm all dressed. I've never seen these clothes and I feel different. I touch my torso, no more breasts. But I seem to have something more between the legs instead. Oh, God, I need to see...

  I rush through a big, unknown house, searching for a mirror. I find it, huge, in a royal looking bathroom. I see the face of a blond, shaved, effeminate young man. Very beautiful, and not shortsighted, lucky him. Is this what I've become? I'm a man? My secret dream is to be reborn as a gay man – is this what happened?

  #

  I find the glasses and observe my new self in the mirror. Not too bad. Tomorrow I better buy contacts, though! I leave the bathroom to check the wardrobe. She has awful tastes in clothing! I wear the bathrobe, disappointed. I must buy more fashionable clothes tomorrow! How should I dress, now, though? Does she have a husband? A boyfriend? Was she ready to go out or preparing for bed? Oh, God, what shall I do?

  #

  Think, Mary Ann, think. You're in somebody else's body, absurd as it may be. But then someone else is in mine! Where's the phone? This house is huge! I find it in a big bedroom, a very romantic one, by the way. I call my home number. A trembling voice answers that sounds almost like mine.

  "Hello, are you the one who was cooking five minutes ago and had an electric shock?"

  "Yes!" is the relieved answer. "I was using the mixer! Are you the one who was drying her hair?"

  "Yeah. Luckily it's just the two of us. Imagine if more people had that shock in that instant, and bodies and minds got mixed up!"

  "You think it happened because we had an electric shock at the same time?"

  "Who knows? My name is Mary Ann, by the way," it sounds weird to say my female name with this male voice.

  "I'm Johnny," he answers with my voice. "Your hairdryer is broken."

  "So is your mixer."

  #

  While I think about what to do, the phone rings. Panic. Who is it? I answer with a feeble voice that isn't mine. Thank God it's the owner of this body who is now in mine. We exchange quick, vital information. She's married. She's a secretary. Her husband is an exec. Tonight they have a party. I must get ready!

  I'd love to know what her husband looks like, but it's so-o darn late, I have no time to look for pictures. I choose an elegant dress and go back to the bathroom to finish preparations.

  #

  I'm lucky, the guy is gay. I wouldn't have made love to a woman, not even in a man's body! He works at a call center, so I guess it won't be too hard to exchange jobs, if this state is permanent. His partner is an architect, and it shows from their house, all done by this guy, Sebastian. I'm supposed to finish making dinner, so I don't have much time to look for pictures of the happy couple.

  I go back to the kitchen, thinking how lucky I am to be in a gay man's body. Will it be forever or... well, I doubt we'll get another electric shock at the same time anyway. Maybe tomorrow I'll meet him, so we can adjust better to our new situation. I'm glad. The architect will be less happy, cause I'm not a very good cook, but anyway...

  I hear the key in the front door, it must be him.

  "Johnny, I'm back!" His voice is very nice. I wonder how old he is. A friend of mine in his twenties fell in love with a forty-year-old, so you never know. I wonder if Johnny likes mature men too.

  "I'm in the kitchen," I answer, uncertain.

  He appears on the door. Jeez, what a stud! Why are all the best gay? I'm forgetting I have a male body too at the moment and he's in love with me... great! This beauty is about thirty-year-old, tall, blond, blue eyed, a northern god who looks at me with an amused expression.

  "I had no doubts you were here," he says. "And you're late as usual. When will you start cooking something easier and faster?"

  "You want something easier and faster?" Good, I have no idea about what Johnny was preparing anyway, so I can come up with something simpler.

  "No, forget it, we're dining out with Gabe and Luke," he says. "And don't tell me you forgot," he adds sternly.

  "Actually, yeah, I forgot," I admit. It's obvious I didn't know at all. He looks surprised by the mild reaction. Maybe Johnny is more inclined to hysterical outbursts? Well, no more of that, I'm a woman, not an hysterical drag queen. I mean, I was a woman. Anyway, it's not a male body that will change my behavior or personality. "How should I dress?" I ask, having no idea of who Gabe and Luke are.

  "It's your friends, I guess you look fine," he shrugs. "I'
ll be ready in a minute."

  "Good, I'll clean this mess in the meanwhile," I decide while starting to put back in order the kitchen. Sebastian's smile lightens it up like a sun. He's really handsome. I hope to stay forever in Johnny's body. I wonder how he's doing with Chris...

  #

  I'm still doing my makeup when I hear him come back. Mary Ann's husband. He knocks on the door and asks if I'm ready. He says we're awfully late. I say I'm coming. I even blush. I come out of the bathroom, excited by that manly voice, and get light struck. What a husband she has found! Pity he's straight! Oh, yeah, but I'm female now... What a beauty! He is... simply is! Tall. Clean shaven. Great ass. Right muscles in the right places. Gorgeous. Black hair, but not your Latin type, more with a touch of Asian somewhere. A fairy tale. I hope I can keep him forever.

  He stares at me, surprised. He can't believe I'm wearing makeup. In fact Mary Ann didn't have much of that stuff, so I had to manage with few. He smiles and I reflect his smile. It's going to be a great night.

  #

  I find myself in a restaurant with another gay couple, a man in his fifties – not very attractive – and a plump young man who is, apparently, Johnny's best friend. I don't get most of his jokes, and by the end of the dinner he looks kind of puzzled as much as Sebastian, but there's nothing I can do about it.

  I'm glad to have this beautiful body. And this stunning partner. What will it be like having sex with him? A male body... I went to the restrooms, it's kind of practical. But for the rest of my life? I wonder and I wonder how Johnny is doing.

  #

  I come out of the house holding the arm of this handsome man who still looks surprised by my elegant look. He says usually I'm not like this. I believe him. Tomorrow I must talk to that Mary Ann. Tell her a couple of things about her look. In the car I can't help staring at Chris. I can't describe him. He's not gorgeous in Sebastian's way, but... I don't know, he makes my blood run wild. When he looks at me and smiles at me, I'd die for him. I wonder who's going to be at the party.

  #

  We come back around midnight. I'm tense now. He's silent. I glance at him while he drives in the shadows. His profile is just perfect, he looks like a Greek statue. A statue that breathes and is warm. I wonder how Johnny sleeps. I couldn't check if he has a pajama somewhere, I wouldn't know if it's his or Sebastian's anyway...

  #

  We come back at two in the morning. I'm wrecked but glad. And he's happy about me. I look forward to going to bed. How sweet can he be in the intimacy? I think I could have sex until dawn. We only brushed each other during the party, and every time it was a shiver down my spine. I want him badly. I can't wait to touch him.

  #

  I look at him while he undresses, he's so beautiful. In spite of the rings under the eyes, in spite of the tiredness. He smiles at me, gentle and encouraging. He holds me closer with sweetness. I feel his hands on my new body, I shiver with pleasure. Kissing him is a new sensation, it's great. The big bed welcomes us, sensations never experienced before sweep me away. Is this the male orgasm? That new, unknown piece of my body seems about to explode. I let myself being carried away by the pleasure of a male body and think about Chris, how he must feel when he makes love to me.

  #

  God, how beautiful is Chris naked! He's not perfect like Sebastian, but still... I don't know, he's so darn sexy! I almost jump on him. I must taste his dick. He is breathless, surprised. Mary Ann must be dead in bed! I make him come immediately, then let him touch me. I feel he still has energies. He can go on till morning. No, it's already morning. Anyway, Mary Ann doesn't seem to give him much, sex-wise. I try to find pleasure with my new body, but the orgasm arrives only when I give him my ass.

  #

  It feels strange to wake up in an unknown house. I stare at the Adonis by my side, the sleeping beau out of a fairy tale. Sebastian, you're really handsome. Only now I notice a small scar on your cheek, underneath the left eye. One small imperfection compared to all the signs of Chris's crazy youth. My husband used to like motorcycles and fast driving, and had many accidents. He's calmer, now, but his body still wears traces of his youthful mistakes.

  It's 7.30 a.m., my internal clock never turns off. I get out of bed in silence and call home. Answers a sleepy Chris, probably on his way out for work.

  "May I talk with Mary Ann, please?" I ask, trying to refrain from laughing. Johnny doesn't seem to happy to hear me, but we must call in sick and meet to decide what to do. I can't throw myself in someone else's life without directions.

  "All right," he grumbles, giving me his boss's phone number and writing down mine. We decide to meet at lunch time.

  I notice Sebastian has woken up, because he joins me and stares at me, surprised.

  "Who are you calling at such an early hour?"

  "A friend of mine, her name's Mary Ann, we must meet today. Have you seen my cell phone?"

  He points at it, and it's under my nose. Ops. I thought it was his. Maybe he deserves to know what happened, but he turns and leaves. Maybe next time.

  #

  Stupid Mary Ann woke me up at dawn! At least I could kiss good-bye to handsome Chris who was going to work. He kisses like a God.

  Then I looked for something nice to wear, and went out all dressed up. Optician, contacts to try. Cosmetic shop, new makeup, and perfume. I'll throw away all her useless remnants.

  Back home, struggle with key, and on the phone. Estimate for new, bigger tits. Appointment in six month. Think about new clothes. Euphoric about the new situation. But it's lunch time already, and I better go and meet Mary Ann. Maybe we could even go shopping together!

  #

  Jesus, what has he done to me! Johnny makes me look like a whore!

  "That shirt is Sebastian's," he notes, sourly. I guess he noticed my sigh of disapproval, or maybe he doesn't like the way I dressed his body. I guess we're even.

  "Sorry, I can't tell your clothes from his and he was already gone," I reply innocently.

  "All right," he grumbles. "But take it off before he comes back, or he'll get mad."

  "I'll do it. Shall we discuss how to organize our lives?"

  "Yes," he-me lightens up. "I booked the clinic!"

  "What clinic?"

  "Breasts enhancement!"

  "Breasts... what?"

  "Your tits, honey, can't you see how small they are?"

  I'm going to kill him! Doesn't this guy have a brain? He's so cute, but zero intelligence! By pure chance I find myself in the body of a gay young man who lives in my town, but he's brainless! Agh!

  "Listen," I say, trying to stay calm. "What happened is definitely uncommon, and we don't know if it's permanent or not, therefore you better not touch my body! Or I'll have your dick removed, so that if you get your body back, you'll miss a piece!"

  "I thought I was doing you a favor!" he-me wails. "Besides, if my turn arrives and I'm still in this body, I'll do what I please!"

  "When are you supposed to go there?"

  "Six months. Will you concede that if in six months time we're still like this, it's permanent?"

  "I concede that if you touch my tits, I cut your dick."

  "Then you won't be able to feel pleasure anymore!"

  "That's what you think."

  My face pouts under Johnny's will. I've always wished to see myself from the outside, but not like this, not manipulated by this drag queen with great ideas who never thinks before doing things.

  "Can we go shopping together, now?" he-me suggests at last.

  "Why, you don't like my wardrobe? Show me which are my new clothes, instead!"

  #

  Mary Ann is a real bitch. She says she's going to cut my dick if I touch her tits. Can you believe it! I do her a favor and she... fuck you, bitch! I'll show you all of Sebastian's clothes, so that when he sees them on you, he gets mad at you! So you'll learn to not treat me like you did! I feel your body will be mine forever, and even your husband will be mine forever!

  I go back t
o Mary Ann's house very happy. Handsome Chris will be back soon. I'll prepare a nice little dinner for him, and then both in bed! Ah, tomorrow I must meet Mary Ann's boss. She says he's an old bastard. I might quit if I don't like him, handsome Chris earns enough for both anyway. In fact, I'll quit anyway. I'd rather stay at home and wait for him. What's the time? 7.15 p.m. He'll be here soon. Dinner is almost ready. I prepare the table, putting flowers in the middle. I even found two candles. Oh, yeah, romantic dinner for two! Take that, Mary Ann!

  Here he is! I run to him. I hold him. I kiss him. I feel 7.30 hit. Head spins. I hold on to him. I fall. I open my eyes again. I'm home. Sebastian is staring at me in wonder. At home? In my body?

  I start crying. Good-bye, handsome Chris! Good-bye, female body, not totally of my dreams, but could have been worked on! Sebastian keeps staring. He doesn't understand. Besides, how could I explain this to him?

  #

  Sebastian said we could eat Chinese tonight. He called during the afternoon to check what I was doing. I was with Johnny-in-my-body who was explaining their wardrobes, and didn't want to know anything about my house; hope he's not doing too much of a mess. True that Chris and I have a much smaller house, so it should be easier to handle for him. Anyway, told Sebastian I was with my friend Mary Ann, and that was it.

  Sebastian comes back at 7.25 p.m.

  "Will you stop wearing my clothes?" he is furious. I changed clothing according to Johnny's instructions, though. Maybe... bastard, he took revenge for what I told him about our bodies and showed me the wrong pieces!

  "Sebastian, I..."

  The alarm clock by the bed turns 7.30. My head spins, I close my eyes, think I'm going to faint, but two strong arms hold me.

  "Mary Ann, are you all right?" God, it's Chris's voice! Chris's smell, Chris's body... the exchange lasted only twenty-four hours! I'm home, in my husband's arms... Hey, then Johnny was... I open my eyes, we're definitely holding each other. The little bastard! True that I had sex with Sebastian... I'm glad it's over. It's good to see you again, Chris. It's good to be with you again. Being male and gay isn't that fun.