“Several years ago during my studies into myths and legends I heard about something called The Jewels of Puck,” Professor Black said to her two disbelieving guests.
“The what?” Lonna asked.
“Do you want me to tell you what is happening to you or not?” The older woman asked Lonna.
“Of course we do professor please continue,” Lauren said trying to get the professor to tell them more about their situation.
“Good, then I shall” The professor replied with a look aimed at Lonna as if to tell her to stay quiet.
“The jewels of Puck as I was saying. I first found out about them several years ago. I thought they were someone's idea of a joke but I decided to investigate them anyway. The more I did so the more strange stories I found. Apparently, there are 13 stones in total according to the legend. Each stone is said to be a different color and has a different power or ability if you like” She went on to say.
“Excuse me professor but a lot of this is in your book,” Lauren told the professor.
“Yes, my dear it is. In my book, I dealt with them as if they were nothing more than a legend. However, what I did not put in my book is that the jewels are real and that I have even held one of them at one point. The professor told the two women who each let out a gasp at this detail.
“Why didn’t you put that into your book?” Lonna asked all be it a little less confrontational than before.
“Well, I didn’t want to be laughed at. I have spoken to people like yourself who the jewels have affected over the years. Mind you in very different ways. I spoke to a young man who had found the Silver which has the power of Wealth. Money” The Professor said once again looking at Lonna.
“Why would there be any problem with that stone? I mean if it makes you wealthy why would complain about it? Lonna asked.
“It made him wealthy, yes but it did so by making him the benefactor of the wills of a number of his family who died shortly afterward” The professor replied.
“Sounds a lot like Jinn and their lamps.” Lauren added.“
“Quite right my dear. I have begun looking at the similarities between the two legends myself. So far however I have no details of a link between them.” Professor Black answered Laurens’ question. “I also met a young lady who found the Copper jewel which has the power of persuasion. She was using it to pursue the man of her dreams. She had him do whatever she wanted until her conscience got the better of her but then it was too late.” The Professor continued.
“Why was it too late?” Lonna asked.
“Well by that point they had got into an argument and in the heat of the moment she had told him to jump off the nearby bridge. Well, you can guess what happened next.” The Professor told them with a tear in her eye. May I ask what colour was the stone that you found?” The professor asked the two women not looking directly at either of them.
“It was Blue,” Lauren answered.
“Blue, The switching Stone it Causes attributes to swap between parties. These can be anything including but not limited to, Race, Clothes, and gender.” Professor Black told them as if talking to a couple of her students.
“Is there any way of reversing what it has done to us?” Lauren asked the professor.
“I am not sure ladies. I will have to research that. I have to tell you however that I have not found anything about reversing the effects of any of the jewels.” Professor Black told the two hopeful women in front of her.
Both Lonna and Lauren turned and looked at each other dejectedly. Lauren choked back her tears. “There must be something that you can do Professor. Please.” She said almost pleading with the older woman sitting at the other side of the table.
“Perhaps, Perhaps. What happened to you?” Professor Black asked her hands reaching towards Lauren to comfort her.
“At the start of the week, she was only 18 years old and Caucasian not Vietnamese,” Lonna answered as she was not sure that Lauren was able to at that moment.
“Oh, I see why she may be upset but what about yourself?” Professor Black asked still holding Laurens’ hands.
“I was 35 years old and her teacher, not her student. That seems like a lifetime ago and not just the beginning of the week.” Lonna told the professor sounding a little more like the teacher she had been and not the high school student that everyone saw her as.
“As I said there may be something. During my research, I found a ritual of stability. From what I can tell it allows the situation at the time it is performed to become the status quo. I don’t think it will reset things but it will stop any more changes.” The professor told the two of them.
Lauren was the first of the two of them to understand what the professor was saying. “So we will stay the way we are now?”
“Exactly. I wish there was something more that I could do to help you I do. However, at the moment it is the best I can do.” The professor confirmed.
“It is better than nothing,” Lonna replied. “What do we have to do?” She continued.
Lauren looked down at herself she knew that this ritual would leave her as a Vietnamese woman. She would have lost a decade of her life but at least she would not lose any more of herself. It was not that she minded being Vietnamese she just wanted to get back to the person she had been at the start of the week.
Lonna was lost in her thoughts for a second or two. She realized that if what the professor was saying was true she would forever be a member of the Rodriguez and not the Tran family. Even though over the last few days her connection to the Tran family was becoming less and less. Unlike Lauren, she had gained some of her life back. She was now 24 years old once again and not the 35 she had started the week out as. She knew if it was up to her Lonna would have jumped at the chance to stabilise things but Lauren had to be the one to decide. Lauren was the one who had gone through some major changes so she would have to say yes or no.
“Lauren it has to be your choice. I will back you whatever you decide.” Lonna told her once student now teacher.
Lauren stood up and looked the professor directly in the eyes and said softly, “ Yes, Yes we will do it.”
Lonna stood there nodding in agreement.
“I am glad that is settled ladies. Now I will meet up with you tomorrow and we can do what we need to then.” Professor Black told the two women
The question that was on both their minds was voiced by Lauren” Why not now?”
“I need to get some things together so that we have no problems. Shall we say 1 pm?” The Professor asked.
The two women had no choice but to agree knowing that the professor was their only hope to stop things from getting any worse.
“I will meet you at your school if that is ok with the both of you. Besides it is a place that you will both be at tomorrow. Now if you don’t mind I need to get some rest before tomorrow.” Professor Black said gently nudging both women towards the door.
“I suppose there is nothing else we can do but wait now,” Lauren said looking at Lonna.
“I suppose so. I had be get back as Mom will be getting back soon the late shift doesn’t last all night.” Lonna said almost instantly regretting the fact that she had called Mrs Rodriguez Mom. If her doing so had upset Lauren she didn’t say anything.
