“Julia?! Are you almost ready? We need to get going!” Mariana Conner called up to her daughter.

“Yeah Mom...I’ll be right down” Julia yelled back down as she was finishing brushing out her hair. She put on a denim jacket over her maroon and white sundress and took a seat on the edge of her bed to put on her sandals. Her tiny pink painted toes peeking out as she laced and buckled the ankle straps.

Julie was 15 with long straight brown hair and big brown eyes. She was also 6 inches taller than her Mom, which brought her great joy.

Mariana waited at the bottom of the stairs with her car keys in her hand and her purse on her shoulder. She tapped her foot clad in a black flat while she waited somewhat patiently for her daughter to get ready.

Mariana was 41 and just 5 feet tall. Small featured with hair a shade darker than her daughter and narrow brown eyes she wore a dark green blouse and a black skirt. “Our reservations are for 7 and we still have to pick up your Grandma” Mariana said as Julia descended the steps.

“We have plenty of time Mom” Julia said “I’m ready…we can go”

“I just don’t want to be late; you know how your Grandma gets…it’s her birthday and we’re going to her favorite restaurant…”

“Yeah; she’s impatient just like you are Mom” Julia said getting into the car “We’re not going to be late! Why do we have to be 20 minutes early to everything?”

“Just because” Mariana laughed and shook her head. “You know we’re going to hear about how we’re late right?”

Julia rolled her eyes in the passenger seat “Yes” she replied exasperated. “But it wouldn’t be Grandma without her complaining”

Christina Werner sat in her favorite chair watching out the window “Where are they?” she asked. She would glance at the clock which read 6:21 and then back to the driveway all the while tapping her foot clad in a tan flat.

Christina was 65 with gray hair and glasses over her green eyes. She wore tan pants and a white and blue flowered blouse with a white sweater over the top.

She began to pace but let out a sigh of relief when she saw her daughter’s car pull in at 6:26. The car wasn’t even in park yet as she headed out the front door with her purse on her shoulder.

“I was beginning to think that you forgot about me” she said coming around the car.

“Oh Grandma, relax, we would never forget you and…we have plenty of time. It’s only 5 minutes to the restaurant and our reservations aren’t even until 7” Julia said getting out to let her Grandma have the front seat.

Julia smiled as Chris stopped in front of her. Julia leaned forward and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. At 5’8” Christina’s height gene had skipped a generation. Chris wrapped her arms around her granddaughter “Well that’s easy for you to say! You have a lot more time than I do” she laughed.

“Grandma! Don’t say things like that!” Julia playfully slapped at Chris’ shoulder while showing a look of shock. She tucked her long hair behind her ear against the breeze blowing “You have a ton of time! You’re the healthiest woman I know”

“Get in the car Mom” Mariana called out “That wind is getting worse. Looks like a storm is going to come through”

“Oh of course” Chris got in the front seat as Julia moved to the back.

Julia got out her phone and sent a few texts while her Mom and Grandma chatted away. She was asked how school was going and answered with a bright smile and simple “Fine”

They got to the restaurant just as the first few big drops of rain began to fall from the sky. Julia easily skipped and ran across the lot to the front door while Mariana and Chris grabbed umbrellas.

Julia held the door open for them “Thank you sweetie” Christina said coming in.

They were seated by the window and a storm did roll up.

They were getting their drinks as the rain pelted the windows. They placed their orders as thunder began to rumble off in the distance but getting closer and closer along with lightning flashes in the clouds.

“Might as well take our time and let the storm pass” Mariana said.

“I’m in no hurry to rush out in this” Chris said.

Julia just smirked as she text on her phone underneath the table. She crossed her ankles and put them back under her seat as she looked up “I didn’t think it was supposed to be this bad”

“So how’s it been since your last day of work last week?” Mariana asked her Mom.

“Not bad yet but I’m going to need to find something to do or I’ll be bored out of mind in no time” Christina replied. “I wasn’t ready to retire but they were ready for me to go”

“It was just your company’s policy…besides you get a pension” Mariana replied “I’d love to be retired. I’m tired of being on my feet all day”

“You could use a chair Mom; it’s not illegal” Julia giggled.

Mariana worked as a bank teller and insisted on standing “I know!” she rolled her eyes dramatically “It throws me completely off to sit and you know it” she laughed.

“Well I’d use a chair if I were you” Julia said with a shrug as she took a sip of her iced tea.

“And I wouldn’t be on my phone all day if I were you” Chris laughed “I saw you sneaking off texts or whatever you were typing” she winked at her granddaughter.

“Grandma!” Julia blushed.

“Oh I’m just teasing you! I know it’s how girls your age live. Always have to be connected…I don’t get it”

“Well you would if you were a 15 year old girl” Mariana said “That phone is her entire life”

Julia just blushed and looked down.

Chris sat back in her chair “What if I was a 15 year old girl?” she thought looking over at Julia “So pretty and so young…” she replayed their words “I’d use a chair if I were you…” she looked from Julia to Mariana “I’d love to be retired…”

“Julia could be her Mom…Mariana could be me and I could become Julia…” the random thought ran through Christina’s mind “Talk about your Freaky Friday…”

<CRASH>

The lightning struck the building directly. The flash and sound was blinding and deafening causing all three of them to jump in their seats.

The lights flickered and the restaurant went dark. Julia gripped the table tight feeling her heart take off inside her chest.

Emergency generators kicked on and while most people headed to the kitchen or stayed in the dark Mariana saw the light in the lobby and said “Let’s head out there…I don’t think I want to be by the windows anymore”

“I agree” Christina said getting up out of her chair. Her shoes slipped as she took a few shuffling steps getting up and moving.

“Come on Grandma; I’ve got you” Julia said taking her Grandmother by the elbow.

The lobby was empty when they got there. Mariana gave a sly smile and chuckled, her small features lit up by the harsh emergency lights “Well you can’t say we didn’t put on a show for you”

“Well that is true” Christina chuckled feeling butterflies in her stomach “We certainly can’t say tonight isn’t eventful”

<CRASH>

Another direct hit made them all jump. Mariana let out a low surprised scream and Julia grabbed her Grandma’s arm. Christina put her hand out and placed it on Mariana’s arm <CRASH>

The hairs on Julia’s arms stood straight up. She felt the electricity run through her. Everything went into super slow motion. She could feel her eyes blinking. She saw her Grandma’s surprised and somewhat fearful look. She saw her Mom’s hand coming up to her face as her eyes widened. For some reason, she smelled her Grandma’s perfume clearly and strong in her nose as she rose up onto her tip toes.

Mariana heard it, a high pitched ringing in her ears even above the deafening crash of thunder that she felt change her heartbeat, it was so loud and so close.

Christina smelled it; an acrid ozone smell that raised all of her senses to 11, putting her on high alert and on edge. She felt a tingle running all over her and looked to her Granddaughter seeing their eyes meet.

Julia blinked, a high pitched squealing in her ears wound even higher as she now looked to her Mom and their eyes met.

Mariana blinked and shifted her gaze from her daughter to her Mom. Her shoulders shuddered and a spasm racked her entire body just as her eyes met Christina’s

Time came back to them and all three of them came apart suddenly; their hands dropping away from one another.

Mariana looked around and laughed nervously.

Julia smiled and looked at both of them as her eyes darted between them.

“I feel odd” Chris said looking back and forth as well.

Julia just nodded as she put her hands to her stomach.

“Odd…yeah…I feel strange too” Mariana agreed.

And with those words, the growth spurt than had been denied to her for her whole life kicked in.

Mariana’s shoulders rolled forward on their own and the look of confusion on her face was immense. “What the…?” she said as her hips shifted back shoving her ass backwards. Her hands dropped to her sides and her stomach pulsated in waves moving her torso and her blouse “What’s going on?! I’m not doing this…it’s like something is controlling me; moving me!”

Julia took a step backwards as Chris cocked her head watching.

“Whoa!” Mariana yelled out as her legs began to lengthen, her arms grew longer and her torso stretched out.

Julia’s eyes shot wide open and her jaw dropped as she watched her Mom start to grow taller and taller.

Mariana’s feet were planted and set fast as she came closer to Julia in height “Julia?! What?!” her head pivoted and swung back and forth looking down to the ground which was steadily moving further away from her eyes and to her Mom and daughter. Both of whom had been significantly taller than her but now, she was coming up to meet them in size.

“Mari! You’re getting taller” Chris said.

“I know! But…I don’t know why I am!” she said managing to flutter her hands as she came up. Her face went serious and she could only blink as she equaled her daughter in height, then, Julia gaped in wonder as she was now the shortest of the three of them.

Mariana grew another two inches up to equal her Mom Chris in height at 5’8” Her skirt was now above her knees and the cuffs of her sleeves had pulled back away from her wrists. She let out an exasperated and shocked “Ah”

“Honey?” Chris said putting her hand out and touching her daughter’s shoulder softly “What happened to you?”

“I…I don’t know Mom! I just…I just grew!” Mariana said.

“What did it feel like?” Chris asked.

“It didn’t hurt. There was a tingling sensation and then I was just lifting up. I could tell my feet were planted but it felt like I was stretching and not stopping”

“I just don’t…” Chris began but shivered all over “…oh my!” she said suddenly stopping moving and standing perfectly still.

“Oh! Oh Mom oh!” Mariana said as Chris stared straight ahead. Her shoulders rocked and in a whole body shimmy, she shrank down 2 inches in height.

Chris shook her head and moved, blinking then she noticed the change “What the?! I’m shorter!”

“Yeah but not like, really short…” Mariana said before she sized up her Mom in comparison to her daughter. Pointing she said “Now you two are the same size”

Julia pointed to herself and looked at her Grandma “What? I don’t understand at all”

Chris cocked her head again and now Julia shivered and rose up on her tip toes, an embarrassed smile and look on her face as her shoulders shook and she went back down flat footed.

Julia let out a soft burp “Oh excuse me” she said as her hands went to her stomach and her face blushed pink. Her high round cheeks twitched with a nervous smile.

Her smile dropped away and her eyes widened “I don’t feel right…something is…” she looked down at the ground and then back up quickly “Mom?!”

Julia’s body shivered and then her shoulders lurched forward in a rolling movement.

“I’m right here honey” Mariana said coming up right next to her daughter. Julia looked up into her Mom’s eyes and then realized she was looking pretty far up into them. She tried to straighten up but it wasn’t helping.

“Oh my word” Chris said staring.

Julia looked to her Grandma who looked taller than her. Her Mom was getting bigger. She looked down and the ground looked closer to her eyes. She felt annoyance as the sleeves to her denim jacket rubbed and brushed the backs of her hands. She twitched her fingers and even they seemed to now be slipping up inside her sleeves.

Her dress and jacket both felt huge on her, weighing down her shoulders and hanging loose on her. The bottom of the jacket felt like it covered her ass where it had been clearly at her waist “What’s going on?”

“Julia honey! I don’t know how to say this but…” Mariana said looming over her. “You just shrunk!”

“What?!” How?! That’s impossible! I…” she looked back and forth between her Mom and Grandma clearly much shorter than both of them now.

Mariana sized her up “You look like you’re my height now honey”

“But…” Julia stopped. All three of them looked around confused and a bit scared as it hit them.

Mariana looked at her Mom “I’m your height”

They both nodded “And you’re Julia’s height” Mariana said to Chris before turning to her daughter “And you’re my height…”

Julia furrowed her brow momentarily before her eyes sprung wide open and her jaw dropped “Oh No! You’re not saying that…How?! Why?!”

“Are you saying that…?” Chris said before putting her hand to her mouth “I feel faint” she added grabbing onto the arm of a bench in the lobby to steady herself.

Chris’ vision swirled and she focused on her hand trying to not pass out. As she stared, it began to change.

Her hand seemed to plump up. The veins and lines slowly fading away or working down with youthful looking skin. Her nails grew out and looked stronger. Her fingers looked straighter and thinner and as her eyes focused, she recognized the hand as Julia’s.

Julia’s mouth began to twitch. Her lips pursed and began to thin. She slipped her tongue out and ran it along but even with just that small window, her tongue changed along with her teeth into her Mom’s.

Julia slapped her hand over her mouth “MMMMMMM!!!!!” She hum screamed, her eyes big and wide.

Mariana shifted her gaze back and forth between her Mom and daughter, watching them meant she didn’t realize her hair was turning gray and she was putting on weight, softening up. “It’s okay honey”

“How is this okay?! I’m turning into YOU Mom!” Julia said as her small pert nose elongated to Mariana’s sharper nose “I can’t be you Mom”

As Julia spoke, her voice began to alter, sounding a bit deeper but also nasal and, a bit weary and sarcastic. Her cheeks shrank down as her skin tone darkened and her eyes began to shrink.

Lines started etching in along her eyes and mouth as her chin and jaw now shifted. Her forehead and hairline moved with her hair growing darker and shorter, rising up to the top of her shoulders.

“We’re going to figure this out right Mom?” Mariana said turning to Chris and getting the shock of her life.

A very scared and very young looking Chris nodded back.

Mariana audibly gasped. Christina’s gray hair had turned a thick chestnut brown and now came halfway down her back and sat over her shoulders and onto her chest.

Her eyes were big and bright and clear, no age lines at all on her forehead, cheeks, or mouth. Her nose was small and pert, upturned at the end with high rosy apple cheeks and full moist lips. She blinked long eyelashes innocently but with fear in her eyes, a slight quiver to her lips as her chin and jaw rose up. The loose skin of her neck rose up tight and firm.

“Holy Shit!” Mariana said with a voice that sounded aged. Her hands went to her throat and got a handful of loose, flappy skin in return.

Her hands moved up and felt a soft chin and more loose skin along her jaw “Oh…I’m…okay yeah” she mumbled as her lips numbed. The thinned and the lines she was already working on in her 40’s dug deeper and multiplied as she aged into her mid-60s.

Mariana’s features broadened and drooped softly. Her nose fleshed out as her cheeks sagged. Her brown eyes lightened to green weakening as they did. Her lashes and eyebrows thinned and additional lines etched across her forehead and around her eyes. Her dark brown hair was now a stark and full gray cut short to the nape of her neck.

Mariana flapped her arms and slapped her hands against her thighs in exasperation. A few tears of frustration showed in her eyes and she blinked at them.

“We can’t stop this?” Julia asked “We’re really helpless top stop us from somehow switching bodies with each other…”

“It would appear so sweetie” Chris said, her voice high and clear and sweet; the voice of a girl. “If I could stop it, I would…I don’t want to take your body from you or see you have to turn into your Mom or especially make my own daughter turn into me”

“Something in the lightning?” Mariana said questioning “Did the lightning strike cause this?”

“But how?” Julia put in “Electricity…this isn’t Back to the Future or some shit” Mariana’s sarcastic sounding voice coming out of her naturally which was also conveyed in the deadpan look on her face and skepticism in her eyes.

“We can’t give up hope though that we’ll switch back though” Chris said optimistically, the light twinkling in her eyes “Right?” her eyes darting back and forth between Julia and Mariana looking for optimism.

“Of course not” Mariana said trying to sound reassuring. Her green blouse began to grow tight across her chest. Her upper arms were plumping and filling out her sleeves. Her stomach was rising up softer and larger and her breasts were also growing.

Mariana’s bra was uncomfortably tight as the weight and mass of gaining Christina’s larger and more matronly breasts became a reality.

She squirmed against the tightness and brought her hands up to press and adjust as much as she could. Her fingers and hands ached as she did and looking down confirmed that she had the hands of an old lady.

Her knuckles were swollen, the skin rough and loose, veins and brown spots marked the backs and her nails were thin and short.

Mariana’s breath caught in her chest realizing that she was old. She was quickly turning into her Mother and as traumatic as it was for Julia to turn into her, it was equally so for her. Her body, aging before her eyes; aches and pains settling in deep.

Julia’s clothes were fitting her changing body very oddly. She was 6 inches shorter but her shoulders were broader and her waist was sliding outward along with her ass and hips growing.

She wiggled her fingers in her oversized jacket before shrugging her shoulders and sloughing the jacket off. That exposed her arms and shoulders in her spaghetti strap sundress.

Pressing her chin against her chest, she saw her darker and rougher skin, her fuller upper arms and her older looking hands topped with longer nails.

Her breasts and cleavage looked very different in her dress top. Smaller yet saggier, her clear and smooth skin gone. She ran her hands over them and then down to a softer feeling stomach beneath.

The butterflies still fluttered away in her stomach but she was also feeling a need to try to remain calm and steady things. All rational thoughts were eluding her though “I won’t cry” she said out loud.

Christina’s nerves were getting steadily worse. She was feeling overwhelmed with emotions and so much was going through her mind and body that it was hard to keep any thought in her head “Hormones” her mind told her “You’re in absolute overload mode as the hormones of a teenaged body rush through you like a freight train”

The process of rejuvenating and shedding 50 years off her body was causing Chris to shake.

Her body was shedding years and pounds all the while firming and toning up. She wrapped her arms around herself but as she grabbed them, the thinness of them struck her. Her trim upper arms had plenty of room to move in her blouse and sweater and, when she squeezed, she felt the fabric of her bra well before she felt her arms touch her small, pert breasts.

The bit of skin she could see at the top of her chest was smooth and clear and something she hadn’t seen on her own body in decades.

Everything felt tight and small on her. Chris’ stomach shrank back to full flat; not an ounce of excess fat on her youthful body as her stomach and waist pulled drastically inward pulling her hips and ass in along with them.

“I’m turning into my own granddaughter…I can’t become a kid again. No…I just can’t do this”

Both Julia and Mariana stepped forward to soothe Christina. “No…we’re going to figure this out and we are going to get you back to normal” Julia said “We’re all going to get back to normal and…”

Julia grimaced and lurched forward grabbing for her abdomen.

Christina soon did the same motion followed by Mariana. As all three women leaned forward their eyes all met; they knew what they were switching now.

Underneath skirts and pants and a sundress all three women were swapping and now sharing intimate secrets with each other. Julia stared at her Mom, who stared at her Mom who stared at her granddaughter.

Pulsations ran through each of the three of them all of varying intensity. Christina’s was the worst as severe cramps and heat ran through her body like electricity whereas Mariana felt a dull ache that lessened to nothing.

Julia shivered as she knew she now possessed her Mother’s uterus. A place she had been before but no longer.

Christina’s pupils dilated and she stood ramrod straight for a solid minute before she was able to move again.

By that time, the changes had taken hold and moved to the rest of their mid-sections and legs.

Mariana’s ass had turned to dough. She was a fit woman in her 40s, running and working out regularly but now, as her body turned into that of her Mother in her mid-60s, her ass expanded out much larger and softer, pushing her black skirt even closer to its limits.

She simply couldn’t stop time, age or gravity, the three inevitables to changing a body as it ages.

Mariana’s hips shifted wider and her thighs began to fill out, the skin sagging loose especially on the backs and insides of her legs.

Veins and bumps appeared on her calves and her knees ached intensely as the changes raced through her ankles, puffing them out and heading to her feet.

“Ow” was all she could say as a dull ache popped into the soles of her feet. Her toes elongated pressing against the ends of her shoes. Her nails thickened as her toes crooked in different directions. She pulled them free to reveal the gnarled feet of her Mother as her own.

“At least I turned into Mom instead of Julia” she thought “Aging 50 years would have killed her but I have no idea how well Mom will do shedding 50 years either. Suddenly finding yourself trapped as a teenager…”

Chris was feeling every emotion ever all at once. Guilt topped the list as it represented how she initially felt about becoming the youngest of them but guilt intensified as she realized how much she was enjoying her change “I can’t say anything but this is an absolute dream come true but at what cost” she thought. “The energy…the intensity of everything…the desires…God!”

She looked at Julia and shook her head trying to convey innocence as much as she could. Her ass had pulled up incredibly small and tight and as her hips narrowed along with the absence of a stomach and a much smaller waist, her tan slacks fell to the ground at her feet.

Stepping clear of them also removed her feet from her tan flats. Chris was pain free. No aches at all in any joint or random spot at all.

Her thighs were smooth and full and firm, her knees showed no signs of age and her calf muscles were so tight they bounced when she stepped.

Her feet were slim and narrow with tiny toes topped off with pink nail polish. Cute and dainty, quite a difference 50 less years could make on a body.

Julia’s sundress stretched around her middle as she developed a soft stomach, larger waist and fuller hips along with a wider ass. Middle age hit her swiftly and firmly in the middle.

Her shorter legs darkened in tone, her muscles, while still in shape, slackened with age. Her calves dropped and her thighs softened and filled out fuller.

Her feet, fully on display in her white sandals shrank down to her Mom’s size while her toes and nails shifted size and shape as well and rougher skin took hold.

All three women shuddered from head to toe as the storm rumbled off in the distance, moving on and the sky cleared enough for a ray of sunlight to stream in through the window.

They all knew what the shudder meant. The electric static that had hung in the air vanished; their transformation was complete “Now what?” all of them thought.

“Don’t scream” Mariana muttered to herself and the others.

“It’s over isn’t it?” Christina said “We’re stuck like this…we’ve really changed bodies with each other” she looked to the other two for confirmation.

“We’ve changed but I’m not just giving up and saying we’re stuck like this” Julia replied.

They heard people stirring “Get your clothes” Julia said shoving Chris towards a women’s room a few feet away as Mariana followed them as fast as her aged body could go.

Chris quickly grabbed up her old lady pants and shoes and bounded into the women’s room followed by Julia and Mariana.

“We’ve got to change clothes and get out of here…now” Julia said taking charge.

“But what about our order?” Mariana asked.

“Forget politeness Mom, besides, we only ordered drinks!” Julia shot back while Chris stifled a laugh.

Christina was taking off her huge baggy panties, tent like old lady top and huge puffy bra “So out of fashion” immediately flashed to her mind as she watched Julia shed her ill-fitting sundress.

It was taking Mariana a lot longer to get undressed, to the point where Julia helped her; taking items off of her Mom and immediately putting them on herself.

Chris was dressed but barefoot as Julia had yet to take off her sandals, waiting until Mariana was fully dressed again before she unbuckled them and handed them over and slipped her own feet into the black flats.

“Let’s go” she said ushering the other two out.

Julia grabbed her Mom’s purse and slipped behind the wheel “You know how to drive? You’re 15” Mariana said.

“I do and no I’m not 15 anymore” Julia replied.

All Mariana could do was nod “I know…just like I know I’m not 41 anymore” she got into the passenger seat as Chris slipped easily into the back, smoothing her dress out.

“And that means you’re not only a teenager in body but in mind too” Mariana said to her 15 year old Mom.

“This is more than just physical” Julia said as she effortlessly backed out and drove off “Ever since it started I felt more changes happening inside than out”

Mariana nodded.

“Good! I thought it was just me and I was going crazy!” Chris chimed in.

“Oh honey…I can only imagine what this has been like for you…confusing to say the least” Julia replied.

“It’s like my mind is exploding and my body was on fire” Chris said. “I literally thought I was losing my mind. I couldn’t think straight but now I know that if it’s because my mind is actually changing to be more Julia’s was, then at least that explains it”

“I’m definitely feeling mentally slower” Mariana said.

“Hey!” Christina shot back.

“Not like that…just more cautious and reactionary. You saw how Julia took over; that should have been me…”

“In our own special way, it was you. Since it was me” Julia said driving them home. “You two go inside. I’m going to drive to your place and get some clothes and all your essentials. All three of us are living here until we figure this out”

Mariana and Christina got out and went to the house as Julia pulled back out to drive to Chris’ condo.

“Oh my” Mariana said taking her time on the two steps on the front porch “I never realized these were so high”

“Now you see why I bitched about them” Chris said jumping easily up them to the door before extending a hand back to steady Mariana.

Once inside, Mariana headed to the sofa and took a seat, grunting as she sat. “Don’t tell Julia this because I feel super guilty about turning into her, but her body feels sooooooooooooooooooo good.

“It’s the rush of youth” Mariana told Chris “Of course it feels good. Your body just hit reset. You have the energy and hormones and body of a kid”

“But I shouldn’t”

“None of us should be where we currently are sweetie” Mariana said smiling “But here we are. Fate can be a fickle and funny thing”

“Are you giving up?” Chris said “That sounds like…”

“Like someone who is old and tired” Mariana laughed. “I just feel worn out all of a sudden. It’s like everything just hit me once I sat down. The adrenaline rush wore off”

Christina began to pace. She would check the window to see when Julia was coming back. She heard stirring in the next room “You should rest Grandma” she said.

Chris slapped her hand over her mouth and blushed bright red at what she had said.

Mariana’s eyes widened in shock but then, she exhaled and smiled. Her green eyes squinted down “It’s okay honey…I feel it too. We can’t help it. We’re adjusting to our bodies and our roles”

“And that’s what is so scary” Christina admitted.

Julia drove to her Mom’s place thinking about it for quite a while before correcting herself “Grandma’s! I am not my Mom I’m not 41…I have to keep a straight head. I can just feel more and more like her. Even the voice inside my head sounds like her”

Julia went in and began to pack several bags. She gathered up clothing and medications as well as other bathroom supplies.

Driving back to her house, Julia’s thoughts began to drift to work tasks at the bank.

The sky had cleared as evening had come on leaving a calm moonless night.

Christina smiled as she saw the car pull into the garage. Mariana had fallen asleep on the sofa; her head was back and her mouth was hanging open snoring lightly.

“How long has she been asleep?” Julia asked coming in.

“About 15 minutes…she said the adrenaline rush wore off and she was out” Chris said shrugging. She looked like she was about to cry so Julia hugged her and she did.

They held each other for several minutes; Julia whispered “It’s alright…It’ll be okay” several times as she stroked Christina’s hair or rubbed her back. It was extremely odd for her to be embracing her own body from another body, a shorter and older body at that, her Mom’s body.

“No…you don’t get it” Chris said wiping away the tears “I think I caused this. I was thinking about all the things we had said. We had each said something about the other. Your Mom said she wished she was retired, you said you’d use a chair if you were her at work and I was talking with you about how I didn’t understand you and your phone and…and…”

“There is absolutely no way you could have thought it would turn into this. That’s just crazy and I’m not blaming you one bit. I don’t know what freak occurrence this was to have us all switch bodies like this but an idle thought wasn’t it”

“Then what was it? Lightning doesn’t cause it!”

“I…I have no idea” Julia said throwing her hands up “I can’t say fate. I just…I have no answers but it is what it is. We swapped. We need to swap back but I don’t know how it works”

“We all run out in a field holding golf clubs over our heads the next time a storm runs through?” Chris asked.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come down to that” Julia said. She went in and covered up Mariana on the couch with a blanket.

“She might sleep all night there” Julia said.

“She’s going to wake up sore” Chris cautioned.

“She looks comfortable and I don’t want to disturb her” Julia said. “Maybe we should go to bed too, get some sleep and rest and see if the morning brings us any ideas”

Chris nodded and followed Julia upstairs where she instinctively turned into Mariana’s room leaving Chris to go to Julia’s.

Mariana woke up at 4 having to go to the bathroom. It was a regular occurrence for her at her age but it still took a moment to get straightened out and moving in the right direction despite her aches and pains.

She was up then and couldn’t fall back to sleep. She saw the bags and got into them to start taking her morning meds. She knew her routine like the back of her hand; it was hers.

She sighed looking out the window. She knew yesterday hadn’t been like this but today felt totally normal like this.

Soon enough, Julia came downstairs wrapped in a robe looking for coffee. The 5’ woman shuffled into the room “Hey Ma” she said still technically correct just both had taken a step up. Her eyes were barely open as she held her robe close to her chest.

Christina came down in a pair of short cotton shorts and a tank top, her long hair pulled back in a ponytail “How’s it going?”

“As good as could be expected” Mariana replied “At least I get to stay home today”

“And I get to use a freaking chair at my window” Julia said “And guess what? You get to go to school today my little freshman”

“Who are you calling little shorty?” Chris said sticking out her tongue.

“How do you get off looking so fresh in the morning?” Julia shot back.

“The wonders of youth haha” Chris laughed.

Julia left to get ready coming back down in black flats, black slacks and a blue top. Chris returned in skin tight jeans, white canvas slip on shoes, a white top and a navy blue vest over it, her hair braided back.

Christina had her phone in her back pocket and her backpack on her shoulder “Enjoy your day Grandma” she said on her way out.

“Oh I will! I’ll be thinking about you two while I have my feet kicked up just relaxing with a good book” Mariana replied.

“Guess I’m driving these days” Julia said with a shrug as she grabbed her keys and purse.

Christina fell immediately into her new life without a hitch. Everything felt normal to her, natural and she really had to pull herself into the mindset that she truly was in her 60s and not her teens.

Julia too fell right into her work routine. She flew through the computers and transactions and, after about 15 minutes, she got annoyed with her chair and stood the rest of her shift.

It was so busy that Julia went into automatic mode never thinking about missing a day of high school to working in her Mom’s place.

The door closed, the car pulled out and Mariana stretched out on the couch with a satisfied smile on her face. She sat up putting her feet on the carpet “Once I get going, this body is still in pretty good shape” she moved her arms around in a windmill motion.

Mariana got dressed in loose sweat pants, a tighter white top and a blue windbreaker and sneakers to go for a walk. “I need some fresh air and exercise” she told herself as she headed out.

She walked nearly a mile by the time she got home coming in and drinking some water. She would doze on the couch, read a book, needing to use bifocals nonetheless, but generally enjoying her day.

Chris was the first home, not even looking up from her phone as she came into the house “Hey Grandma” she called out finally looking up “How was your day?”

“Just fine. More important…how was yours?” Mariana asked folding her arms over her chest.

“Do you want the truth?” Chris asked.

“Of course I do”

“It went absolutely fine…no problems at all. But also no red flags at all. I didn’t know more than what I should but I also knew technology and was comfortable with everything that I honestly shouldn’t be. I am 15…and I am Julia”

“I have to admit that I really don’t feel like anyone but Christina right now or anymore” Mariana said. “It’s only been like a day but this is so total; so real”

“I wonder how Mom will feel when she gets home?” Chris said

“I guess she’ll feel like we do. It will feel right to her too” Mariana replied.

An hour later, they heard Julia pull into the garage. They were sitting at the table waiting for her when she came in.

She looked tired but she smiled upon seeing them “Hey you two!’

Chris smiled suddenly feeling nervous as Mariana looked at her former body and life stroll through the door looking foreign to her in that way “That wasn’t me! I was never that short” flashed through her mind immediately.

“I, uh, guess we all adjusted to our new situations” Julia said.

Both Chris and Mariana nodded.

“I don’t know if we’re stuck like this or if we’ll swap back but we at least know that we can live like this if we have to” Julia said.

“It was a random strike of lightning that did this to us” Chris said “What are the odds of it happening again?”

“The old saying is that lightning never strikes twice” Mariana said looking out the window at clear skies.