Narayanne considered it for a moment, then smiled to herself. How blindingly obvious! she laughed.
Rebecca was adjusting her Browns cheerleading costume in front of the mirror, smiling as she admired the way she filled it out. One last tug on her halter top and...
That's funny, she thought, puzzled. I'd almost swear my tan was deepening. She put a hand up in front of her face and inspected it. Sure enough, as she watched it, the skin continued to grow darker, going from a light tan to a golden brown - and darker still.
"Hey, Neesha, check this out!"
"What's up, hon?" Neesha asked. "You oughtta be gettin' ready for - Holy Cow! Hon, whatta you been doin? You're almost as dark as me!"
"I don't know," Rebecca said in confusion. "I just happened to look down and notice that - that - th-th-th..." Suddenly, Rebecca felt her body stiffen.
"Rebecca?" Neesha asked in concern. "You okay, girl?"
Rebecca, though, couldn't answer. She continued to face the mirror, a wide smile frozen on her pretty face. Sure enough, her skin and even her hair had now turned a shade or two darker than Neesha's own mocha shade. And for some reason, it almost looked - wrinkly?
As Rebecca watched, her skin continued to wrinkle, and she could somehow feel it toughening up as it did. He costume vanished, but any vaguely obscene features had vanished along with it. Seams appeared along her sides, and her eyes and mouth changed into white lacing. She couldn't see that her back was now stenciled PROPERTY OF CLEVELAND BROWNS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT. What's happening?!? What's happening?!? she thought in near desperation.
Neesha's eyes had grown wide with shock, but then she blinked and shook her head. When she turned back to Rebecca, it was with a smile that indicated she saw nothing out of place. "Well," she said, "C'mon, Girl, let's get out on the field." With that, Neesha picked Rebecca up as though she were light as a feather - which she almost was. "I' tell ya what, I wouldn'ta signed on to be the Cleveland Brown Football girl, but the crowd seems to love ya, so I guess you know what you're doing."
No I don't! Help me! Rebecca cried in her head. But her leather face showed only her laced on smile.
