“Don’t yell; I can explain everything” he heard a deep voice reply as a strong hand grabbed his arm.

“Patty?! What happened to us?! I mean you’re me!” Matt said still grating inside at the sound of his voice. “I just don’t understand?”

Patricia’s hand went to her lips. She patted and verified that the lipstick was gone from them. She felt her beard instead.

“I know you didn’t want to go on this trip. I so wanted a chance to go on one last vacation to the lake with my daughter…I knew that this would be for the best. You would be miserable up there”

“So you switched our bodies?! You didn’t think I’d be miserable being my own Mother in law?!”

“It’s only going to be until Monday. We will switch back the second we get back home. I know this seems extreme but you’re going to have to trust me. I will swap us back. I just…I just had to have this trip”

“This is insane don’t cha know!” Matt said slipping even further into the accent. “For cryin in the sand Patty…I can’t be you! You need to switch us back right now ya know”

“Just…wait…let it sink in a moment” Patty said in a very calm tone of voice.

The sounds of the world picked back up around them. Matt heard Maddie just outside the door. Sam came trotting up.

The big dog sat down and looked at both of them. He sniffed the air and then went to Patty who scratched behind his ears as he leaned his weight against her strong legs.

“Oh Good, Sam is ready to go” Annie said coming inside with Maddie in tow. “Thanks for watching him for us Mom” she said looking her husband dead in his small pale blue eyes.

“We need to get going. I want to get on the road” Patty said picking up Maddie with ease “Who’s looking forward to a trip to the lake?” she asked.

“Me!” Maddie yelled throwing her hands up.

Patty and Maddie walked out, Annie followed just a step behind. Matt stumbled forward lost in a dream, unable to comprehend what was happening.

Maddie was put into her car seat and Annie and Patty got in. “We’ll see you Monday Mom!” Annie called out.

Patricia waved with a smirk from behind the wheel.

“What just happened to me?” Matt said standing slack jawed and dumbfounded in heels in his own driveway.

Matt watched the car pull away further and further, turning out of sight “Wait” he barely said above a whisper.

Sam sniffed around at his feet as he shuffled back inside the house. Matt turned and went into the living room before heading down the hall to the bathroom. He flipped on the light, looked in the mirror, and screamed at the top of his lungs.

After several minutes of hysterics, he stopped crying. His makeup had run and his face was puffy and he was near hyperventilating.

His small hands worked all over his face and body. It was so foreign to him to feel and look like this. He knew the woman he was seeing but never like this. A hug or kiss on the cheek in the 8 years they had known each other; now, he was her. He had her body, her face, her clothes, her voice, her life.

The words she had said about switching back on Monday rang through his muddled mind. “She had better be serious about that…she can’t steal my life…” so many thoughts came to his mind that it made him shiver.

Part of him just wanted to curl up in his bed until Monday but he also knew that his husband would be worried about him.

“Yes…I’m married to Don now” Matt thought. “And if I’m not there to make dinner for him…” she shook her head. “At least I’m off work until we swap back” Patty worked Tuesday through Thursday in her office and from home the other days. “And Don’s got a golf outing all day on Saturday. I remember him talking about it…maybe I can just slide through for a few days and then swap back and never think about this again”

It took every ounce of strength he had to walk back out of the house, dog in tow and get behind the wheel of his Mother in law’s car. Her purse sat on the passenger seat. He dug in and found the keys, her wallet and her phone.

It took a moment to adjust to driving in heels. His small foot slipped a time or two as he adjusted to his body but it was only a 10 minute drive across town to her home.

Don was at work like always so he and Sam went inside. Matt had calmed down; he couldn’t do anything until he saw his old body again anyway.

He began to cook. Recipes were at his easy disposal in the front of his mind so he began to cook up some turkey chili for dinner.

As it simmered, he went to his bedroom and balked at the clothes and accessories he found there. “Good Lord” he said out loud as he fixed his makeup from his earlier crying fit. A fresh spray of perfume just seemed appropriate as he slipped off his shoes to walk around barefoot.

He checked her email and saw nothing from her employer so he was at least safe from that today. Curious, he went to her closet and began to peruse his choices. “Just a few days…just like 3 nights and 4 days if you count today and Monday but they should be home before I know it” he said out loud, the accent becoming more normal to his ears.

He went through her jewelry box and found himself smiling. He pulled out additional bracelets and other small hoop earrings “I knew she had to have multiples…she couldn’t always wear the exact same ones all the time…I’m learning your secrets Patty” he laughed.

To the closet he went and flipped through his clothes. Dresses and blouses and slacks hung in her side of the closet. All very organized with shoes lined up in pairs on the ground below.

He lost track of time as he puttered around the house and before he knew it, his husband was home from work.

Matt fixed his hair, styling it with his small fingers and fixed a smile on his face as he descended the stairs.

“Dinner smells great” Don said.

“Oh thank you…turkey chili” he replied proudly smelling the aroma “I really can cook like her” he realized.

A quick kiss on the lips made his eyes pop but he quickly covered it up and let his nerves settle “Well Annie and Matt and Maddie are off on their adventure” he said.

“Hmmm good” Don said turning away. He saw the dog curled up sleeping in the corner “We obviously don’t have to worry about anything with a guard dog like Sam here”

“I know you think the lake is boring…” Matt began

“Because it is boring” Don laughed “I had done everything possible up there…there are other places to go on vacations Pat. I know you’ve had fun everywhere else I taken you”

“Yes I have…it’s just that it was the first place we took Annie and Keith so it’ll always be special”

“So will the hospital you delivered them in” Don chuckled.

A slight warmth settled into Matt’s stomach at the mention of birthing; a maternal warmth that frankly felt incredibly comforting, like nothing he had ever felt before in his life “So is this what being a mother feels like? I had no idea maternal feelings were a real sensation but…I do now”

Matt came to and started to set the table. Having to raise up on his tip toes to get the soup bowls in the back of the cupboard reminded him he was 9 inches shorter now as he grabbed napkins and soup spoons and set up much more precisely than he usually did.

They chatted over their meal speculating on what the kids were doing; Matt was careful to make it look like he wasn’t obsessing over them and particularly his own body.

Don went to watch a game on TV and even though Matt was a huge baseball fan, tonight, he simply wasn’t very interested. The Twins were about to clinch the Central title if they won or the Indians lost tonight but for the life of him, he couldn’t name more than a few of the most popular players.

Instead, Matt cleaned up the kitchen. He put away the leftovers and got the dishes into the dishwasher noticing that he had chipped some of the nail polish on his right index finger “Good thing I have my appointment tomorrow” he said instantly as he fussed over the chipped nail.

While Don sat in his chair, Matt curled up on the couch, tucking his thin legs and tiny feet underneath him. He opened up his laptop and put in earphones to listen to a podcast while he read a mystery on the reading app.

“This was more than just our bodies that swapped” he realized as he took a step back and looked at the situation in the room.

“I’m going to walk Sam” Matt announced standing up. He slipped on a pair of small and very clean white sneakers. The jangle of the leash was enough to get Sam to come over and jump up.

“Oof” Matt exclaimed as the dog easily pushed him back “Down boy…no jumping” He attached the leash and Sam jerked towards the door easily dragging him.

Matt almost lost his balance “I never have to fight Sam; I can always contain him” was his initial thought “When I’m 6’4” and 210 pounds and have muscles…” he shook his head and gave the dog a wry smile knowing the dog was stronger than he was in his current state “You be a good boy and heel” he warned him in his high nasal voice. Sam wagged his tail and panted for him but as soon as the door was open, Matt was jerked outside stumbling to keep up “Sam! You heel!” he pulled on the leash but the dog simply leaned into it and led Matt to the big tree in the neighbor’s yard.

Matt’s short legs jogged to keep up and he felt the distinct jiggle of his breasts as he ran. Quickly out of breath with loose hairs itching at his face “You’re going to make me all sweaty you dumb dog!” he chided as the dog sniffed around.

Sam did his business and Matt was more embarrassed than usual watching him. “This is so very strange” he said to himself feeling his cheeks blush.

Sam came over and stood by his legs indicating he was ready to walk at a more leisurely pace. They took off together for a trip around the block and it went fine until on the next street over, a squirrel decided to run in front of them. “Oh No!” Matt thought as he thought his arm would be pulled out of its socket “Sam!” his voice rose as he yelled, a high pitched sound that became an “Ahhugh!”

The dog easily controlled him chasing the squirrel to the nearest tree.

After a few barks and constant tugging at the leash, he moved on much to Matt’s delight.

Once home, Matt leaned down and undid the leash “Stupid dog” he panted out of breath.

By 9, Matt was tired. “Well it’s been a big day” he thought as he slipped out of the room and headed upstairs.

Matt’s nighttime routine was very different. He removed his makeup and put on a mask as he brushed his teeth. He knew the mask had to remain on for 15 minutes to help his skin so he sat on the end of the bed and stared into the mirror.

Staring back was a woman in her mid 50’s; white mud mask on her face with her soft medium length hair pulled back with a headband. He looked at the loose excess skin on his neck as he removed his bracelets. He carefully removed his V-neck top to reveal his chest. The skin was rougher with the marks of age. He stomach was soft with rolls as he sat squished down some. He removed his bra feeling a relief that came with his c cup breasts falling free.

He took a long hard examining look at them. Tentatively, he played with them. Laughing at himself as he did “Never thought I’d be copping a feel of Patty’s boobs!” he thought “Let alone from this perspective”

He stood and took down his pants. He had gone to the bathroom several times since their swap; an inevitable fact of life. He had tried to not pay much attention but now, Matt leaned into the fact he had a vagina. He walked up closer to the mirror and spread his feet out and began to look there as well.

With a sigh, he put on a fresh pair of panties and a nightgown and went and washed his face off. He was fast asleep when his husband came to bed.

Matt awoke on Saturday morning to an empty bed. He was disoriented for a moment trying to figure out why he was wearing a nightgown and his body moved so differently as he sat up.

He remembered.

He heard movement downstairs and found Patty’s slippers under the bed.

Don was about to leave for his golf outing and Sam was lapping up water from his dish. “Already been outside and fed” he announced.

“Oh thank you” Matt said putting in some coffee and grabbing a mug down from the rack on the wall. The ones he used were on the bottom; Don’s were on the top row. “Good luck today…have fun” he said as Don headed out.

“I’ll see you tonight; you know how these go” Don said.

“Oh I do…you won’t be home until late so it’ll be me and Sam for dinner” Matt replied.

Don just smirked “See you later hun”

Matt gave him an air kiss and crossed her ankles as he leaned against the counter and took the first sip of coffee. The bitterness surprised him “Of course I take a lot of cream in this now”

After a check of Patty’s email, which did contain a work request that he knew how to answer, he finished his coffee and went to shower. His appointment at the nail salon was at 11.

Matt knew this routine too. He just went into automatic mode as he showered his feminine body; stretching his body in different ways to get to every place that needed cleaning; his hands in places he never thought they’d be.

He put on a floral blouse with ¾ length sleeves and a pair of tan Capri pants and open toed sandals, He knew it was mani and pedi day. With his hair and makeup done, he drove downtown and parked out front.

“Hello Patricia! How are you today?” the bright faced young woman said walking up.

“Great Julia” he replied with a smile.

“Come on back, I’m ready for you” she said.

Matt went and sat, slipping his small feet out of his sandals “What color are you thinking?” Julia asked.

“I’m going to go bright pink” he replied immediately.

Julia giggled and raised her expressive dark eyebrows “Excellent choice!”

They chatted and Matt relaxed as she rubbed his feet with peppermint oil before taking off the polish.

The gentle rhythm of the rubbing and working on her nails made her close her eyes as they talked. Other women around them joined in for a full group conversation.

Matt opened his eyes as she worked on his hands. The conversation ranged around him “This isn’t natural Matt; keep you head you dick!” he scolded himself internally “Think about Annie and Maddie”

“Oh yes my granddaughter colored a picture for me the other day and yep, up on the refrigerator door!” she gladly spoke up popping right back into the conversation.

“Granddaughter?! You said that a little too fast slick!” he chided himself. “Keep. Your. Head!”

“There you go…what do you think?” he heard Julia ask.

Matt splayed out his bright pink tipped fingers “I love it! Perfect!”

“It’s a great color and it looks amazing on you” Julia confirmed.

After paying, Matt swung by the café across the street and got a chicken salad sandwich and an iced tea for lunch finding himself quite full and unable to finish off the last two bites.

Back at home, he wished he could hear something from Annie or Patricia but he knew the connections were impossible up there and they wouldn’t waste their time finding a landline to call on so he straightened up the house, did a few work projects and read some more. The TV never even went on as he preferred to listen to background music.

Another walk with Sam went the same way as the first one; Matt was dragged around at the will of the animal, unable to control him with either his voice or his arms.

The day passed into night and he found himself curled up and asleep before 9.

Matt’s eyes went open and he read the clock as only 10:41 but he was suddenly very aware of his surroundings. His heart was pounding in his chest as he ascertained what exactly had woken him up. He felt weight pressing down on the mattress behind him, he heard and felt breathing close by on his neck, moving his blonde hair with each exhale. Something was poking him in the small of his back.

“Oh no”

He tried to pretended he was fast asleep but he heard Don’s voice whisper “Are you up honey…cause I am”

He exhaled “Oh God…what am I going to do?! How do I get out of this?!”

A hand came up and around him and grabbed his right breast.

Matt was frozen in fear and panic as Don squeezed and played with his breast with one hand. He felt the other begin to rub circles on his right ass cheek. “Shit! He wants to play! Shit! Fuck! Fuck! He’s going to fuck me!” He smelled beer as Don exhaled and Matt turned.

Matt was immediately kissed full on the lips “Hmmmpfh” he mumbled as Don kissed him.

Matt’s hands went down and despite trying not to do anything, his right hand went right to Don’s erect dick. Matt wrapped his hand around it and gave it a quick pump. “Oh yeah Patty that feels nice. Do it again”

“Maybe…” Matt thought as he began to stroke him “Maybe I can get out of this with just a sloppy hand job” he hoped.

Don flipped and laid out on his back. Matt kissed him as his hand moved up and down “God damn this is possibly the worst thing that could happen” he thought not allowing his mind to go where this could have went to.

Don stiffened under his touch and soon shot off his load; the hot sticky solution ran over Matt’s hand. He smiled as he grabbed Don’s boxer shorts and wiped both of them off “Good day on the course?” Matt asked laying close to keep up the ruse.

“Yeah…we came in second. The dinner was actually pretty good too” Don responded “I like the pink nails”

“Oh thank you” Matt replied and gave him another kiss.

“You not in the mood for the whole…you know…” Don said.

Matt smiled “Thanks for understanding…I just feel, a little dry tonight but I can still make my husband happy”

“That you did honey…maybe tomorrow?” Don laughed.

“We’ll see” Matt replied smiling politely.

He waited until Don fell asleep before getting up and going into the bathroom. He shivered all over and washed his hands “Nope! Did NOT! Need to see that or feel that! That’ll remind you real fast on who you really are!”

Sunday morning meant church. Matt wasn’t a regular attendee but Don and Patricia were. Black low heels, a long black skirt and a white and yellow floral pattern blouse with full hair and makeup all done in time for 8:30 mass.

He knew the routine of Catholic mass, sitting, standing, kneeling and reciting all the prayers and songs. Coffee and doughnuts in the hall afterwards were all a perfectly normal part of the day as well. He chatted and gossiped and caught up with all their church friends.

Afterwards, it was football for Don; the Vikings were playing the Lions in the early game. Matt watched for a while but didn’t feel the same passion for the game as usual. “I should be obsessing over my fantasy guys right now” he thought watching stats crawl across the bottom of the screen. Instead, he went to the kitchen and started to make lunch.

Slicing potatoes, onions and peppers and frying them up before braising chicken cutlets in another skillet and adding a salad on the side brought both Don and Sam into the kitchen “I really love being able to cook like this” Matt had to admit.

It was a warm early fall day and Matt had changed into black shorts and a ladies cut Vikings jersey; number 8 for Kirk Cousins, after church. The sneakers went back on for another round with Sam.

“Now this…I don’t like” he said to himself as the dog dragged him around yet again despite his protests. He was just simply too big and strong for Patricia’s body.

He was exhausted by the time they got home. He went upstairs and looking for a fresh washcloth, a tube of lipstick rolled out from underneath the extra towels. “This is it! This is the lipstick!” he said turning it over in his small hands. “Less than 24 hours to go and they’ll be home”

The afternoon game came on; the Cowboys were playing somebody in blue as Matt got on his computer and completed another task for work rather effortlessly.

He read and relaxed knowing that there was enough lunch made up that they could have it again for dinner. He stretched out on the couch, his pink toes popping out above the laptop against the far arm of the couch.

Matt could feel a rising anticipation as the evening turned dark. They got ready for bed and luckily, Don was tired and just wanted to go to sleep. Sliding under the covers in his nightgown, he rubbed his feet back and forth against the sheets trying to warm them up.

Monday morning. Matt got up and put on his robe and slippers as Don got ready for work. Sam bounded around wanting food so she fed him and got him fresh water in his bowl “I still can’t understand how even a full water bowl feels heavy to me?” he thought as he bent down on one knee to put it on the floor.

“You ready to go back home boy?” he asked the dog who cocked his head in reply. “Ready to see me back as me again? Are you boy? Who’s a good boy and who gets to be a boy again today?” he pet the dog behind the ears.

After Don left, Matt began to get nervous. He showered and got ready getting dressed similar to Friday in jeans, a maroon top, a cream colored sweater and a pair of tan low heels.

He stopped by the bathroom and grabbed the red lipstick, slipping into his purse as he gathered up the dog and drove across town. He stopped at the store and bought a fresh gallon of milk and a loaf of bread for the house since he knew they’d be needed.

Once at his own house again, all he could do was wait.

He couldn’t sit still so he straightened up and cleaned and did a load of laundry. When he heard the car in the driveway, his heart nearly leapt out of his thin framed chest.

“Hello!” he said opening the door and stepping out. Sam blasted past nearly toppling him as the dog ran and jumped up on Patricia who easily held him off. “You all got some sun” he observed.

“It was perfect weather all weekend” Annie said coming around. Maddie ran up and with some effort, Matt lifted her up and placed her on his hip “How are you honey? Did you have a great time?”

“Yes Grandma!” Maddie said as she began to tell stories of deer, being on the water, throwing rocks in the sand and other things she found important.

“And how about you Matt?” Matt asked as his body came up effortlessly carrying several pieces of luggage “Did you have fun?”

“Yes I did. It was a lot of fun Patty” he said with a smile.

“I’m so glad to hear that…you know I love that lake” he said as Patty went by.

Annie began a basic step by step replay of the entire weekend. Patty continued to unpack and Matt clapped and played along feigning interest in the stories but really wanting a chance to be alone again with Patty.

A half hour of non-stop talking by Annie and Maddie went by. Matt watched Patty play with and manhandle Sam easily as the dog was happy to see his real owner again.

Finally, Maddie was thirsty so Annie took her to the kitchen. As soon as they stepped out of view, Matt and Patricia looked directly at each other.

“I had to give your husband a hand job!” Matt hissed out through clenched teeth.

Patty winced “I’m so sorry. I really am…I had to…I know it seems extreme what I did but now that we’re alone…” she put her big meaty hand on Matt’s slim shoulder and led them down the hall.

Matt grabbed his purse as they went by and brought out the lipstick.

“Good, you brought it!”

“I’m guessing I have to put this on this time…since I’m the one who should be wearing red lipstick” Matt said.

“Yeah” Patricia nodded “You put it on”

Matt pursed his lips and applied the bright red.

The spell played out over and over in her head “Switch our bodies for the days, switch our lives in so many ways, the spell is sealed with this kiss, the only way to reverse is this, use the stick of bright red, both repeat the words that are said, swap our bodies swap us out, swap us back without a doubt”

“Let’s do this” Matt said rising up on his tip toes and planting a kiss full on her lips.

A jolt of electricity surged through them; it seemed lower though to Matt this time as a warmth built up inside of him.

The kiss felt passionate, he felt his own mouth moving against hers. Matt could feel Patricia’s strong hands and arms wrapped around his narrow back. He waited to begin to grow. “It’s taking longer” he thought “It must take longer…” his thought paused and when the internal voice in his head picked back up again to say “…the second time around ya know” he blinked in confusion. “Hello? Testing…testing…” he felt heat in the back of his throat as the voice inside his head now sounded like his mother in law’s voice instead of his own.

The deep voice inside his head had kept him sane all weekend long, had kept him anchored “Why would it change now?” the Minnesotan accented nasal twang inside his mind asked.

Matt’s eyes were open and while they held their kiss, his eyes began to dart about “She still looks like me! I don’t see anythin’ changin’ over there!”

Patricia now opened her eyes “Something is wrong!” sprang into her head. The electric feeling was fading fast. She closed her eyes again concentrating on the spell but simply put, there was nothing there and their lips broke apart.

“What is this?!” Matt yelled.

“Keep your voice down!” Patricia hissed. “Put on another coat of the lipstick and think about these words…” she recited the spell several times until Matt knew it and repeated it with her.

They kissed again and again electricity jolted through them. Matt closed his eyes and felt his mind swirl.

Snippets of memories came to him in quick flash bursts. A smell of popcorn, a teddy bear, a white dress. “A white dress!” his mind screamed. He tried to break the kiss but couldn’t. “It’s my first communion! It’s 1971!!!! I’m getting Patty’s memories! No!”

More sights rise up; a high school classroom, wedding dress, wedding ceremony, kissing my husband, waddling while pregnant, a strong hospital smell, looking down and holding a baby boy, looking down and holding a baby girl while my son hugs on me from the other side…

The memories pick up speed coming faster and faster, filling in so many details “I’m seeing my daughter’s wedding! I’m wearing a green dress! I’m watching Don give my daughter away to Matt”

“The next scenes are holding my granddaughter Maddie in my arms…I’m putting on bright red lipstick…I can see myself in the mirror applying it. I’m wearing an olive green V-neck top…I’m already running the spell through my mind. I’m up to the point of no return!”

The kiss broke apart.

“Matt?”

She took a step back seeing how confused her son in law looked. The absolute heart break in his eyes.

“I…We…” he said shaking his head. He leaned in for another kiss.

“No Matt it’s over. It didn’t work” she said.

“But I…we were supposed to swap back. It was only supposed to be for the weekend. I never meant for this to be…” he said.

“Ssshhh… it’s okay honey. I know what you intended to do. It. Well…it didn’t end up working out like that. Did you feel us change?” Patricia asked in a calming voice.

“I did…I have your memories…I think I have most of your mind now permanently. I saw so many different things” Matt said.

“Me too…me too. I have everything I need to be you from now on” Patricia said strangely calm and at peace “So maybe in a way it really did work”

“What?”

“Well the mind changing that we just had happen to us. It locked us into these bodies and put us in a mind to be able to live them” Patricia said.

“But this is not fair to you” Matt said “I never intended to turn you into a woman in her mid 50’s. I didn’t want to take 33 years away from you and obviously didn’t want to be married to my own daughter or make you married to your father in…”

“Husband” Patricia interrupted “He’s my husband from now on”

She looked down at herself “This is me now. This is my body and my clothes. My face…and my hair and my nails to get done” she let out a laugh.

“How can you laugh? How can you find this funny?” Matt asked “You must hate me so much”

“But I don’t. How can I? You’re my son in law and I’m still hoping for more grand babies”

Their eyes met again.

“It’s okay. Move on and be the best damn Matt you can be” Patricia told him.

“I will. I promise” he replied.

“What are you two talking about over there?” Annie said coming out.

“Nothing important” Patricia said putting her hand on Matt’s shoulder. “I’m going to get out of here and let you three relax and wind down. You’ve had a busy couple days”

Annie came over and gave her Mom a quick kiss on the cheek and she gave Maddie a big hug and kiss. “Take care of yourself Matthew” she said with a wink that only the two of them saw.