(Author's Note: This episode was actually written by me, seven years ago. That would have been about a year before I started adding stories to this site.)
Karl always wondered what it would be like to be female. Just a quick chance, not one to last forever. And the moment he found out about that new "spell" store at the mall, he just couldn't resist going there. Of course, he had heard that the owner of the shop had sometimes "twisted" the wording of spells, wishes, etc., so Karl thought it through what to ask for when he got there.
He told his fiance Dana, soon to be his wife in another couple of months, that he was going to the mall. She was shocked.
"Going to the mall? To do what?"
"It's a surprise. You'll see when I get back." The truth was, however, that Karl didn't want to tell her the truth. He never told his fantasies to her, and he felt a bit embarrassed to tell her now.
"A surprise, huh? Well, I hope it's really something."
"Oh, it will be." For me anyway, he thought.
When he got to the mall, he went straight to the magic shop. He opened two great wooden doors and walked into a large room that looked far bigger than what it had looked like outside.
An old man in what appeared to be a bathrobe stepped out from behind some curtains in the back.
"Welcome, Karl."
"Huh? How did you know my name?"
"I'm a wizard."
"Okay, sure."
"I am. I guess you'll just have to take my word for it."
"Okay. I came here because ..."
"Because you wanted to know what it would be like to be a woman."
"Whoa. I guess I am a bit more impressed now."
"Glad to hear it." He bent down behind the counter and brought a vial back up with him. "Just drink this liquid and ..."
"Hold on just a minute," Karl said, holding up his hand.
"Okay."
"I want to make a few things sure, before I buy anything from you."
"Cautious. Hmm. Most customers aren't like that," the old man muttered to himself. "Please, go on," he told Karl.
"First, when I turn into a woman, I want to remember everything that I know from this life. Second, to make things a bit easier for everything and everyone else, I want clothing, possessions, and other people to fit my new life. And third, I want to do this whenever I want. Not just a one time deal, but used over and over."
"I see you thought this through." He placed the vial on the counter. "I have something that fits what you want. I'll just be a moment." He turned around and went back through the curtains again.
A few minutes later, he returned, holding a small box. He opened it and Karl looked inside. "It looks like a giant emerald."
"It is. But this one has magical powers."
Karl began to stick his hand inside the box, meaning to lift the object out, but the old man stopped him.
"No, no. I would suggest moving it around with gloves." The old man closed the cardboard box and slid it over to Karl's side of the counter. "You see, anyone who touches it becomes the opposite gender. So, if you touched it ..."
"I'd become a woman."
"Right."
"I'm sure you'd rather try this at home."
"Yeah." He began to pick up the box and turn around to leave, when he suddenly thought about payment for it. He turned back to the counter, but the old man was gone. There was only a sheet of paper with NO NEED TO PAY, THE FIRST ONE IS FREE written on it in big black letters.
It was very strange. But if the old man was giving him a trial free run with his newest toy, then that was okay by him.
