I got an idea and, before Branden could get out of earshot, I called and waved after him. I waddled slowly out to the front driveway, feeling the warm concrete against my socks.
"Hey! Branden! Can you do me a big favor?" I asked, glancing behind me to ensure that Mom wasn't there.
"Sure dude, anything. What's on your mind?"
"My parents have been hounding me lately, and I just need some time away from the house. I'm going to tell them I'm staying at your place this evening. So, in case they call
sometime tonight, would you mind covering for me please?" I explained. "Just say I took my mom's advice to heart. She'll get what I mean."
"I can do that, no problem." Said Branden. "But if she wants to speak to you on the phone...?"
"You can make something up. Say I had to run to the bathroom, that usually works." I shrugged. "I won't be away long enough for her to worry. But she might call and check."
"Yeah, I get it. My folks won't be home until late; Jenny's staying at a friend's house tonight, and Steven's performing in that jazz band concert Mom and Dad are attending.
There's no problem with staying over at my place if you want." He offered.
"Thanks, but... uh... I'll let you know if plans change." I said.
Branden adjusted the strap on the duffel bag he was carrying. "And what are those 'plans', exactly? Is everything OK?"
My mind froze. How could I explain to Branden that I wanted to break into the neighbors' house and search through their stuff for a head-swapping ring? The same ring which,
only a month ago, gave me Mary's 5-month pregnant body... and made everyone think it was normal?
Seeing the hesitation on my face, Branden blinked. "Sorry Mike, I don't mean to intrude. Maybe it's the baby on my mind, but it's really none of my business..."
But I decided to persuade him anyways.
"Hey, what if I told you that this baby isn't really mine?" I began.
He shifted his stance, replying, "I thought it wasn't yours, Michael, you're just carrying it for the Webers. Right?"
I huffed, this wasn't going to be easy. "No, dude, forget the surrogacy. This body, from below my head to the tip of my toes, belongs to Mary Weber. She has my body.
Doesn't it make sense that a woman should have an anatomically female body, and that I should have a male body?"
Branden frowned, running his eyes up and down my borrowed body. Then, he gave a low chuckle. "Is that a joke? You're saying that she is supposed to have... and you should
have a... ? Then why did you agree to get pregnant?"
I sighed, cradling my oversized belly, "I didn't want this to happen! We swapped while Mary was pregnant. It happened a month ago, but everyone seems to think that we've always
been like this."
"You have," insisted Branden. "Unless you have proof otherwise? Proof that you switched?"
I had tried to find evidence of the swap, but everything in this reality had been altered. Every photo I was in showed my face the same as before, but with the important difference
that I had a woman's body beneath my head. Wearing a two-piece bikini at the beach instead of my swim trunks. Dressed in a sequined, off-the-shoulder dress with dainty gloves
instead of a suit and tie. Last Halloween, instead of being dressed in a homemade Hulk costume (with green bodypaint), pictures showed my smiling face atop a scantily clad cat
costume, with fishnet stockings and the highest heels I've ever seen before! And it wasn't limited to photos, the changes also included videos, documentation, others' memories,
clothing, and even personal hygiene products!
"I've tried to find proof, but it's been no use." I replied. "I'm the only person who remembers things as they used to be. Please Branden, try to imagine how distressing it would be
knowing that your neighbors are having sex with your own body. It keeps me up at night."
My friend still thought I was playing some elaborate joke, as he replied, "Doesn't sound too bad. Mary takes care of herself pretty well. I wouldn't mind trading my body to be a
woman for a day!"
"That's sick, Branden. She has a penis. My penis." I protested.
"Without any proof, it's hard to believe that." He thought about something for a moment, then added, "You are seriously disturbed by this, aren't you? You're not kidding when you
think that her and your bodies switched?"
"Not kidding. I found a ring on the ground in front of my house -- right over there, in fact -- and I put it on. Next moment I know, I've got boobs, a vagina, and a baby due in a few
months." I explained. I recounted the last month's details as quickly as possible, while he stood there with an odd expression on his face.
"... That ring is the only piece of evidence that will prove to you this is all true. So do you believe me now? My back is starting to ache from standing for so long. If you're not going to
help me search for the ring at the Weber's house tonight, can you at least cover for me and pretend like I'm staying over at your place?" I asked, desperately needing to sit down and
rest a while.
Branden, meanwhile, had come to his own conclusion. Clearly, his friend is delusional; it isn't possible for people to swap heads after all. But why would Mike go to such lengths to
make it all up? He guessed that, maybe, it was the summer heat or Mike's hormones confusing his mind into thinking this way? Regardless, if his expectant friend isn't 'firing on all
cylinders', then somebody has to look out for him and his baby. If that meant playing along with his apparent delusion, at least long enough to get home and tell Mike's parents, then
that may be the best solution.
"Okay, Michael, I'll help you out. I believe your story." Branden lied. "I'll help you look for the ring. But I have to be home by 9:00, that's when my mom, dad, and Steven get home."
"Great!" I exclaimed. "But we can't start searching yet. Mary and Josh aren't supposed to leave for their anniversary celebration for an hour or so."
"Want me to wait at your house, and we can go together?" Suggested Branden. That way, he thought secretly, I can tell Mrs. Long that her son is feeling unwell and should seek
help, possibly a psychiatrist.
"No, that would be too suspicious." I answered. "Just drive back here, in front of my house, in an hour. We'll go over together after the neighbors leave."
"Sounds like a plan." He nodded. "See you then..."
I watched Branded off once again, then headed back inside the house. Mom was busy making dinner when I told her I'd be staying over at my friend's house that evening.
She insisted that I eat here first ("I didn't cook all of this only for your father and myself, young man!"), then go. No problem, I figured it matched up well enough with the plan.
Although I had no idea when the Webers would get home from their night out, it was the best opportunity to search for the ring. And with a second pair of hands to do the searching,
I thought, the chances of finding it were even greater.
