“Sage…party of 6 getting sat in your section”

Sage Martin smirked seeing the group of 6 older ladies coming in to the long rectangular table in the middle of her section. It was 11 on a Tuesday morning.

She watched them settle in; some moving better than others in the group. Some had full on white or gray hair while others still hung onto various shades of blonde or brown whether by chemicals or nature. She recognized one member of the group as a lady who came in fairly regularly.

She went to her first “So…you’re usually in here in a much smaller group” she said with a smile.

“Well yes; it’s my turn to host our little group and I thought of here immediately!” she said.

“You’re Linda right?” Sage asked trying to recall hearing a name when she would come in.

“Yes! That’s right!” Linda replied beaming.

“Haha…I try to learn my favorite customer’s names” Sage replied smiling.

Linda winked and laughed.

“Can I get you ladies’ something to drink?” Sage asked pulling out her notepad.

She took drink orders and but couldn’t pick up on the conversation, it was jumping all around from days in high school to college to sports to fashion and music “Amazing how the time flies honey” one of the other ladies commented to laughter. “How long have you been out of high school?” she asked Sage.

Sage smiled as she answered “5 years…I’m 23” hoots and laughter and all kinds of comments came at once “Such a baby! Oh my stars…what a young’un! If only I were that young again!”

The women were quickly immersed in their conversation. The talk about spouses, children and grandchildren ranged around but always with a knowing laughter to them. Sage kept hearing the phrase ‘Second Time Around’ being thrown around. She thought she heard talk about time frames ranging from a week to a year and then some talk about large sums of money but she couldn’t be sure; it seemed like an odd conversation.

Sage got their orders, refilled drinks and waters, brought out their food, refilled more drinks as it was a fairly slow day at Murphy’s diner and besides a few quick business men stopping in, they were her only table.

A fine misty rain mixed with gusty winds and kept most people inside as the afternoon wore on.

Around 2 a few of the women got up to leave; kids were coming home from school and they were the pickups. Others needed to get home to fix dinner or other commitments.

The checks had long been settled up and Sage had been tipped well. As she bused the table and wiped it down, she realized someone was over her shoulder.

“I just wanted to say thank you personally” Linda said.

“Oh…no problem…you’re welcome. Your friends are hilarious” Sage said carrying glasses to the back bins “Not like we’re lined up out the door either today”

“Weather keeping everyone in today. The first raw day of October will do that” Linda said.

“Doesn’t do much for my tips though” Sage laughed but it was a hollow sound.

“Is this your only job?” Linda asked.

“No…I also tend bar at Christie’s a few nights a week…pick up whatever shifts I can here or there” Sage said “My fault for not going to college”

“No…” Linda started to say.

“I wasn’t interested in college. Not smart enough and I couldn’t afford it and I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life anyway so why waste my time and money you know” Sage said.

“College isn’t for everyone” Linda said.

“But it’s expensive…just living you know…I’ve just got a one room apartment and my bills but I can never seem to get too far ahead” Sage added with a shrug. “But you don’t need to stand around listening to my problems”

“No…it’s no problem; I really like you. You’re an awesome waitress and you seem to genuinely care about your customers. You laugh easily and often and, if I may say so, you’re very pretty” Linda added beginning to blush.

Sage blushed as well and tucked a strand of her long wavy blonde hair behind her left ear “Aw…thank you very much. You’re so sweet”

“I just wish I could help you out more than just leaving you a decent tip” Linda said.

“Unless you want to take some shifts for me…see how your feet feel after being on them all day” Sage replied.

“Funny you should say that” Linda smiled.

It wasn’t busy at all so they sat down at a booth across from each other. Sage watched the older woman move with effort to get under the table lip and slide to the center while Linda watched the simple grace and flexibility that came so effortlessly to the youthful waitress.

“These old feet, knees, hips and back probably wouldn’t last too long waiting tables” Linda admitted “The aches and pains of age creep up on you and once they start, there’s nothing you can do to reverse it”

“I’m sure you’re right. I can’t speak about being old yet” Sage said.

“But I did wait tables years ago” Linda said. “I think it’s something everyone should do. It taught me to always respect people working in service jobs. If you do it, you’ll never be mean to a waitress or cook or person running a cash register ever again”

“So you were a waitress?” Sage asked.

“In 1970…I was 19 years old. I didn’t go to college either. I got a job at a restaurant called Shelly’s. I worked there about 2 years then I got a job as a secretary at the elementary school. I worked there for 40 years before I retired. Honestly, I miss it. I wish I could work still. I volunteer at the animal shelter but it’s not the same” Linda said.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to retire” Sage admitted. “Pensions and retirement funds are not something I’ll ever have”

“I know it’s a different world now. The school system had a union and a nice retirement plan” Linda admitted.

Sage smiled “You’re so lucky…I wish I had a nice cushy retirement” she thought.

Linda smiled “You’re so lucky…I wish I was young and could work again” she thought.

“What if our roles were reversed?” Linda said while watching Sage’s reaction.

“Oh are you kidding me?” Sage laughed “Um…okay sure!” Linda giggled as she continued “So let’s see…I would be 68 and you would be 23 but…I would get to do whatever I wanted while enjoying my retirement and you would be busting your ass working 2 jobs…where can I sign up?”

“I wouldn’t mind being young again” Linda admitted.

“Youth for comfort…I would switch places with you” Sage said. “At least for a while”

“Sure! I would happily work your jobs for you for a while” Linda added.

“Deal!” Sage said with a laugh.

Linda slide forward and leaned over the table. Sage realizing what she was doing leaned forward now too. Linda whispered “I know this is going to sound crazy but I can actually make this happen. Don’t scream, don’t freak out. I have something that will allow us to switch bodies for 7 days. If you really want to do this, come to 115 Grant Street when you get off work tonight”

Sage’s jaw dropped and she sat back, upright and straight in shock. Their eyes met. “You…you’re serious aren’t you?”

Linda just nodded. “Let me explain to you the club that my friends and I are in” she began.

“We’re known as the Second Time Around Club or STAC…and I know all of this will sound crazy to you but we actually have a way to switch bodies. We do it to get to go back and experience our youth again in different ways. We offer a nice payment based on how long we swap for. One week as you would earn you 25,000 dollars”

Sage’s eyes bulged “That’s like a year’s wages for me”
“We know. That’s why we offer the money. Many young women will gladly give up their bodies temporarily in a swap if it means being financially secure. We all treat our swaps with the utmost respect; no getting anyone in trouble…arrests, pregnancies…none of that” Linda said

Sage was speechless; Linda just watched her as she tried to comprehend. Her jaw went up and down, she smiled then frowned “Uh…”

“Athletes, singers, regular college girls, cheerleaders, nerds, goths…the possibilities are endless” Linda said “For me this would be a way to kind of relieve my own youth going back to waiting tables again”

“But…” Sage was still in shock.

“What do you have to lose? It’s a one week vacation for you” Linda said and then she got up “Maybe I’ll see you later”

Sage watched the woman leave “Did that really just happen?” she questioned herself. She watched her closely “That could be you…”

Linda Halpern was in relatively good shape for her age. Soft in a few places but still slim. She had short reddish brown hair streaked with gray and was about the same height as Sage but was nowhere near as beautiful as the young waitress. Sage had a nearly perfect face, everything in perfect proportion. Her blonde hair was long and thick and wavy and her body was curvy yet trim and fit.

“45 years older” Sage thought.

“45 years younger” Linda thought as she turned and glanced over her shoulder still seeing the stunned look on Sage’s face.

Sage was stunned. She sleepwalked through the last hour of her shift, her mind churning over and over. “This is stupid! There is no way in Hell that woman has a device that could magically swap our bodies for 7 days. If she did, why would she swap with me…I’m just a dumb waitress. I’m nothing. She could be swapping with models and celebrities and oh my God I’m still thinking about this?!”

Sage grabbed her jacket at the end of her shift and headed home. She walked around the block and went to her small apartment. Once inside, she stripped down and showered; she hated smelling like grease and soup for the rest of the night. Instead of putting on pajamas though, she got dressed in jeans and a maroon colored sweater. She put on some brown boots that went to her knees and decided to go for a walk.

She put on a jacket and grabbed an umbrella and headed in the direction of Grant Street. “I just want to talk to her a little bit longer. This is not a definite thing!”

Linda sat in her living room with a cup of tea “I can’t believe I said anything to her! She must think I’m absolutely nuts! She not one of our usual types and I really sprang it on her too suddenly…I am such a…and…” she looked out her window seeing movement “Oh My God she’s walking up my driveway!”

Linda’s heart took off beating a mile a minute, her stomach leapt up into her throat and her cheeks began to burn bright red. “This could actually be happening” she thought as she heard the knock on her front door.

Linda opened it with a smile “Oh my gosh…please come in!”

Sage smiled and ducked her head as she took down her umbrella and stepped inside “Let me take your coat and your umbrella…”

Sage shook off her umbrella and closed the door behind her. She unzipped her boots and took those off as well revealing heavy wool socks on her feet “Thank you very much”

“No…thank you…I mean wow! I can’t believe you came over…I…” Linda began as she hung up the jacket.

“I just want to talk some more” Sage said.

“Oh, of course, yes, please, come in. Can I get you something to drink?” Linda asked.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having” Sage replied.

Linda smirked “One cup of tea coming up”

Sage walked in; the house was small but very nice. Clean with nice furnishings. She didn’t see any family pictures. She also didn’t recall seeing a ring; “Single I guess”

She walked a bit further inside and Linda came out of the kitchen with a steaming cup in her hand “Just a little sugar in it…it’s how I take it”

Sage smiled “Please come in and have a seat”

“You have a beautiful house”

“Thank you…and if you’re wondering, I was married but we’ve been divorced for 20 years. He cheated on me and I kicked him out; we never had children”

“Ah…it’s none of my business really” Sage replied.

“It is what it is” Linda replied “I made peace with it a long time ago”

Linda went to her chair and Sage took a seat at the end of the sofa so she could put her cup down on the end table. She crossed her legs and took a sip “Hot…but good”

“Glad you like it” Linda replied “So…what would you like to talk about since it is why you decided to come over. I love having company haha but I suppose you have some questions”

“You guess right” Sage said “I can’t get what you said out of my mind” she put her hand up to her forehead “It doesn’t make any sense. Usually I would dismiss something like that right away but I can’t forget what you said. I mean…is it? Is it true?”

Linda smiled “Yes it is. This all started with a friend who swapped bodies with her Granddaughter for a week. I know how crazy that sounds but it happened, I swear that it did. They swapped and lived as the other for a full week and then swapped back; it was foolproof” Linda looked up “So, you know, you wouldn’t have to worry about getting stuck as me”

“Well, I mean, I wasn’t…A week is fine” Sage stumbled with her nerves “It doesn’t have to just be a week”

“Oh that’s good to know” they both blushed. “If we go through with this for the week, we could do it again some other time”

“But let me explain a bit more” Linda continued. “What causes the swap is a pair of silver rings. Mary only knew about the one week but it was so fascinating that we started to obsessively research them. We found out everything we could and then began to experiment. It was between all of us, the 6 of us, to begin with and we found that we could manipulate the time down to hour and up to a year. From the moment it starts, it’s like a clock ticking down is how Mary described it”

“Oh…really” Sage said.

“Mary said it was the greatest week of her life. She had a great time and her Granddaughter Katie enjoyed her time as her too. Mentioning it to you just felt right. Like, it just hit me as we were talking; if there is anyone that I should swap with, it’s her”

“But you don’t know me, it’s not like I’m related” Sage said.

“Like I said…it felt right and the fact that you’re thinking about it; that it affected you this much means that it was right to tell you about it. That little voice inside my head was right when it said you would be receptive to the idea. I followed my gut. I was worried after I said it”

“Oh really…” Sage began.

“I thought you’d think I was crazy. I was beating myself up even as you walked up the driveway” Linda admitted.

A moment of silence passed before Sage said “Like I said, I can’t stop thinking about what if”

Linda smiled and shrugged “It’s up to you. I’ve put it out there...I would be very happy if I got a chance to be you and I promise to live by the rule that Katie gave to Mary: Don’t get pregnant or arrested”

“This is just such a big step” Sage said “I don’t want to just immediately say sure…take my body and live my life”

“Oh I get it! It doesn’t have to be right now. I’m just glad you didn’t think I was totally insane” Linda said.

Sage looked down at the floor “One week huh…so, can I ask who else you’ve been?”

“Oh! Haha...well sure…we started out like I said with all of us swapping so I’ve been Mary and then I was Ellen, then Judy. Judy is the tall one with the strong jawline. Then I was Judy’s daughter Terri and then her daughter Anna. Anna is quite the singer so I wanted to experience time on stage so…”

“Yes” Sage interrupted.

Linda paused “You’re sure”

“Yes” a bit of anticipation in her voice.

Linda held her breath, the moment seemed to go on forever.

“I’ll do it” Sage said softly.

“Really?” Linda asked.

“For whatever reason I guess I was the right person to tell this to” Sage said. “Knowing it reverts back after a week helps”

“I know right?” Linda said.

Sage stood up, her knees felt shaky and weak “If it’s exactly a week, now would be a good time; I always have Tuesday night off. We can swap back here at this time next week”

“Yeah, good…that’s right” Linda said. She got up and left the room “I’ll be right back” she felt like she was floating as she went to the safe in the bottom of her closet. Her face was numb just thinking about it.

Sage bit her lip nervously, heart pounding “What did I just agree to?” she thought.

Linda returned and opened her hand “This is what makes it happen” she said revealing two silver rings in the palm of her hand. “Once we put these on, we put our hands together and once the rings touch, it starts. We start to change bodies and the clock starts ticking down until we swap back”

“Um…okay, I mean that sounds simple enough” Sage replied. “Part of me still doesn’t know why I agreed to this still” she smiled nervously.

“I’ll be honest with you; I think that’s part of the magic of it” Linda said. “Once you find out what it can do, you really feel compelled to go through with it”

“I mean I’m willingly becoming a senior citizen” Sage said “Me! Besides getting to sleep more I don’t know what I’m getting out of this”

“Well $25,000 for starters!” Linda laughed “But more than that It’s the experience. You realize that you’re getting a chance to live someone else’s life. The chance to see the world through another set of eyes, even if they are weak and need glasses. You know that this is a once in a lifetime chance; something that you shouldn’t be able to do so you don’t care who it’s with. It’s the impossible, the extraordinary…the sheer thrill of knowing you’re about to know what it feels like for your body to physically change into that of another” Linda said.

“You’re right” was all Sage could muster up in reply as she shrugged “My stomach is fluttering just thinking about it”

“Mine too” Linda admitted “I am getting the better part of this deal though”

“In looks only…I need the money but it’s only a week” Sage reassured herself.

Linda looked at the young lady standing across from her “You really are beautiful”

“Thanks” Sage said.

“I’m not trying to be creepy but you should hear that sometimes” Linda said.

Sage just smirked and looked at Linda’s curled up hand. “Oh…right” she said opening her hand back up.

Sage’s hand was numb as she reached for one of the rings, she barely felt the cold metal between her fingers and her hand shook as she slipped it onto her left middle finger.

Linda’s lips parted even as she held her breath and put the other ring on her right middle finger. She held up her hand flat and Sage slowly lifted hers up as well. Their hands came together.

A very soft clink of metal was heard as both women jerked backwards gasping.

Sage felt an electric jolt run through her entire body that settled into a warmth that settled into her abdomen. A similar warmth emanated from the ring.

Linda’s hands went to just below her stomach and she pressed down as heat seemed to surge through her body. She lifted her right hand and stared at it in disbelief “Wow” was all she could say.

Sage felt tired; a weariness seemed to be settling over her and she blinked trying to clear her head.

Linda exhaled hard out of her nose as her eyes widened and the corners of her mouth turned up in a look of anticipation “This is it. It’s starting….” She could feel her heart beating stronger and louder, color blazed in her cheeks.

Linda stopped suddenly and stared off in the distance “I was born in 1996”

“What?” Sage remarked as she let out a nervous low chuckle “I was born…” her mind began to drift a little bit “I’m older than that…” she muttered “1996 doesn’t sound right to me anymore”

Linda looked over at her and Sage shuffled her feet “1951” Sage said and Linda nodded.

“Wow” Sage said feeling her throat go dry. “So I’m going to think I’m you?”

“Partially” Linda answered “You’ll know me and I’ll know you so we can do each other’s jobs and know people around us, so people don’t think I’ve gone senile” Linda laughed.

Sage blinked and squinted; the room was getting fuzzy around the edges. Linda was no longer in focus in front of her and a tickle ran up her neck realizing she was going to have to ask for help “Um…”

Linda looked her direction “I might need to borrow your glasses” Sage said.

Linda smirked as she removed them. The room got fuzzy and so did Sage but not for long. Everything was coming into focus even stronger than before. Colors bloomed and details emerged as she held out her glasses. Looking down she clearly saw Sage’s hand take them from hers.

She was smiling as she came back into focus for Sage.

Sage slipped the frames over her ears and felt the weight on her nose but her vision improved with them on.

Without the glasses, Linda’s eyes began to lighten and widen and the lines around them began to lessen. The skin around her eyes plumped up and the lines simply eased away into the fuller skin.

Her eyelashes thickened as her eyes changed from brown to green; the kind of green that could look gray or blue in the right light.

Sage could see it all; she watched Linda’s eyes regain a youthfulness and change color “It’s actually happening…you have my eyes” she whispered.

Linda smirked again. Her lips were plumping up as was all the skin on her face. It was rejuvenating and moisture came naturally to her taking away the paper thinness of her skin. The sallow look of her cheeks reversed as they began to plump up high and round and full.

Sage’s mouth opened seeing it “It’s like watching a movie” she said. She felt her own face tingling and loosening up.

“Oh…here you go” Linda said seeing Sage’s face begin to change. She brought her hands up to her cheeks and her skin felt different; rougher and thinner but also softer below as it moved much more than before.

Sage pinched excess cheek skin and ran her hand down as they hollowed out closer to her mouth. She pushed her tongue up against the backs of her teeth as they felt soft in her gums. Her teeth were changing shape, wearing down smaller and flatter, her taste buds dulling as her lips thinned down drastically.

Lines etched in at the corners of her eyes and her mouth. More lines went deep across her forehead as her eyebrows thinned, her eyelashes waned and her hairline began to lift up higher.

Sage felt her chin droop. Her neck began to soften and her jaw line dropped in “Ah!” she finally let out as she aged quickly and her face showed her true age.

Sage’s nose shifted and changed shape from the small pert button to Linda’s more Roman shaped one.

Linda gasped. The nose change, altered the entire look of Sage’s face. Up until then, it looked like an aging Sage but once the nose changed shape, the face turned to her own.

Linda felt everything tightening up like the world’s most effective face lift. Her forehead plumped, her eyebrows filled in thick and full, her lips plumped up as her teeth grew larger, whiter and stronger in her mouth.

Her chin lifted up firm and tight as her jaw line defined itself. Finally, her nose shrank and shifted back from Roman and prominent to button small and pert with a slight upturn.

Age passed from Linda to Sage as their faces took on each other’s looks and features. Their hairlines shifted and their necks began to quiver as their changes began to spread outward. “Oh God…even my ears are getting firm again” Linda said as her fingers rubbed her lifting lobes.

“Things are sagging on me that I never even knew could sag” Sage countered as her ears grew longer.

“You look just like me in the face” Sage said.

“My face feels so different” Linda replied looking back “It’s so strange seeing my face on you. You still have your hair and body but my face”

“It’s like a face swap app” Sage replied.

Linda went to the wall where a decorative mirror hung. She stood on the couch and took it down off the wall “Oh my God” she said seeing her face. “I look like someone famous”

“I had always heard a pre plastic surgery Megan Fox” Sage said with a shrug. She walked over to have a peek as well.

“Oh Lord!” Sage said seeing her actual face reflected back, mimicking her movements and shock “I’m old!”

“Well duh…yeah…it’s what you get for swapping bodies with a 68 year old” Linda chuckled. “It’s going to take some getting used to”

“No shit!” Sage said just staring. She ran her hands all over her wrinkled face. “Maybe I’ll be used to it by the time we change back”

“Haha…I think you’ll get used to it sooner than that” Linda said as she lifted her chin and smirked Sage’s smirk “Damn I’m hot” she thought as she felt the excess skin on her neck begin to lift and tighten.

“Oh…oh what is this…I’m getting a wattle” Sage said seeing skin begin to loosen and build up folding down and out. Sage batted at the excess skin like a cat playing with a toy “Oh that feels so weird!”

Linda laughed heartily at the young woman playing with her neck flaps. She stuck her own chin and jaw out as her neck firmed up very nicely.

Sage’s mind was reeling as she watched Linda’s hair begin to grow out long and blonde and curly.

“It’s really a physical and mental rush right” Linda said seeing Sage’s hair lift up, straightening and changing color as it went. The gray streaks came out in the reddish brown color naturally.

Sage shook her head “My hair barely moves” she said as it tightened up into Linda’s style. “I think my neck moves more than my hair now” she managed to laugh.

Sage shrank down just an inch in height but as Linda grew that inch, their heights reversed. “I’m just a bit taller than you now” Linda said.

“It’s not much but it is different” Sage agreed.

“Sometime I’d like to either be really tall or really short” Linda commented off hand.

“You should try to swap with a basketball player or like a gymnast” Sage said just as she was feeling a softness engulf her entire body. More energy and stamina drained from her and her shoulders slouched.

Sage’s skin puffed up; first on her shoulders then across her chest and back. Small age spots began to develop and grow larger and more plentiful. Her upper arms plumped up fatter while at the same time, the skin sloughed and came loose on the bottoms. Her top no longer fit right as weight began to build up.

“Should I…” Sage paused tugging at her tight sleeves.

“Oh yes, you probably should start taking off your clothes…I’m afraid my body my do some damage to your clothes and I’ll need to wear those out of here” Linda agreed.

Sage reached down to the bottom of her shirt and lifted it off over her head. It was a bit strange to not have her hair get in the way but it was even stranger to feel so much jiggling going on. Her sides moved, her chest moved and she was beginning to feel a belly growing out.

Linda blushed but also smirked as she too removed her top and slacks revealing a body that was trimming up and firming up quickly.

Tan and flawless skin was also emerging as Linda stripped down. Her shoulders rose, her upper arms toned into muscular working arms with long ropy muscles defined.

Her age spots were lightening and vanishing at the same rate that Sage’s were appearing and growing. She let out a sigh but pulled her shoulders back adjusting to her shrinking stomach and firming breasts still underneath a very matronly Playtex white bra.

Sage’s fingers fumbled the hooks and latches trying to remove her bra as it began to stretch and move around underneath. She spun around and Linda’s nimble fingers unlatched it just in time.

Sage’s breasts spilled outward just as they were released from their prison. Additional weight and size ballooned outward as Sage let out a held breath.

“Whoa…look at the size of these puppies” she said as her small lacy bra lifted up out of the way uselessly. Her breasts had just shot out from a 32B to 38D. Gravity sagged them down; her nipples pointed downward more to the floor than to Linda standing across from her.

Sage also noticed that her large breasts now had some support from down below.

Her stomach had grown out into a round belly complete with stretch marks and lines around a deep navel. “Oh…oh my…” she said slightly embarrassed.

Linda’s body was now putting Sage’s body to shame. Tight abs atop a toned stomach, flawless lines along her sides and pert firm breasts were what Sage now saw in front of her eyes as Linda got her chest. “I always just took my body for granted; just always thought it was and would be mine…now, now that I’m outside of it, seeing from your eyes and your body…I can’t believe this is actually true”

Lind smirked again, it was a natural reaction of her face, as she removed her bra confidently. She really didn’t even need it at that point.

She put her thick and wrinkled hands up to them showing a huge contrast as the changes were still making their way down her arms.

As her red polished nails and veined hands squeezed, they too began to change into youthful hands.

The pain she had taken for granted vanished “Oh” she cooed as her fingers straightened out pain free. Moisture rejuvenated her skin taking away all the flaws on the backs of her hands and her fingers lengthened out. Still a bit rough from her line of work and with short utilitarian plain nails, Linda gladly took possession of Sage’s hands.

Sage felt pain creep across her palms as veins and spots broke out, aging her hands into old lady hands in no time flat. Hands were one place where age could not be hid. Her nails turned bright red as polish filled in. Her fingers crooked with age, use and abuse. More dull aches worked their ways in all the way to the ends of her fingers which now felt colder to her.

Sage rubbed her hands together feeling the paper thinness of her skin.

“This is going fast, I’m going to be you in no time” Sage said once again fumbling with the button on her too tight pants. “I can’t seem to get my fingers to work…”

“Dexterity can be an issue” Linda said with a shrug. She once again helped her elderly friend as she reached over and unbuttoned her pants for her.

Sage gave a matronly smile “Thank you honey” she said in a sweet voice that was changing with age. The zipper moved down mostly on its own as her moved her hips.

Once again, it was just in time as her hips and ass began to grow and spread outward. She pulled the pants down but needed to put her hand against the wall to balance herself “I’m afraid I might fall” she admitted.

Linda again smiled sympathetically. “I know that all too well but you’ll get used to it. You will need to be more conscious of your balance though at your age. You need to go a bit slower”

“I don’t think that will be an issue; I don’t think I could go fast now if I wanted to” Sage said. She was using her feet to push her pants down off her calves.

Finally she managed to step free of them, then she used her feet to push down her heavy wool socks, stepping on the ends of them to pull them off and free her toes.

Sage looked down and swayed a bit seeing her wide full hips. She peered over her shoulder to spy on her growing ass. She brought her hands around and all she could feel was soft, doughy flesh that swallowed up her hands as she tried to find any definition in her backside.

Linda once again smiled. She had long ago shed her pants and she reset her feet as her hips narrowed and her ass tightened up into a firm ball of muscle “Shit I could bounce a quarter off my ass and take somebody’s eye out across a room” she said making Sage blush.

“I’ll take that as a compliment” Sage said feeling her thighs soften. They came together as the muscles slackened.

Under her panties, Sage felt a definite stirring; an itch she could scratch or define.

Linda turned beet red and bent over. Her hands pressed down and she grimaced.

Sage could only blink and lick her thin lips, a far off stare overtook her as her vitality passed away from her.

Sage felt a dryness, an emptiness, a definitive change run through her body as it was no longer capable of so many things it had been capable of just a moment earlier. “Uh…” she said curtly.

Linda looked over and their eyes met. Linda was fertile. Linda was revitalized. Linda was a young woman again and Sage…Sage was old.

Linda let out a long breath through pursed lips as she stood back up straight. She arched her back and nodded, a very sly smile on her full plump lips. Lips that looked plumper, her eyes had dilated and she shivered trying to regain control of her hormonal body.

“I don’t know what to say” Sage said “You just…we just swapped…”

“Yes we did” Linda said, her voice had gotten stronger “We are swapping everything you know”

“I know that it’s just…”

“You weren’t thinking about how it would feel to actually turn into a post-menopausal woman” Linda said.

“Nothing could actually prepare me for such a thing” Sage said. Her knees now ached as did her calves which were plumping up and dropping closer to her ankles.

“No; you can’t prepare for that at all” Linda shrugged.

Linda’s legs were flawless. Curves in all the right places, tight muscles and no cellulite or flab marred the surface of her tan skin.

Just their feet remained their own. Then, even those began to change shape.

Linda wore the same red color on her toes that were on her fingers. When that red began to fade, she knew. Her toes straightened and lengthened. Her nails thinned and trimmed as they changed shape. Age marks, spots, bumps, crooked spots and bunions all worked their way out. Her arches lifted, her heels smoothed and her skin now matched the rest of her young body.

Sage’s toes began to go crooked. Arthritis pain took ahold as her big toes moved to an inward angle pushed in by bunions. Spots and red toe nail polish both appeared and grew darker. “Old lady feet” was all Sage could think as she watched her feet change. She lifted her toes fascinated by their new shape and feel “Everything I had is now yours and everything you had is now mine” she said.

Linda nodded.

They both looked at their hands; at the rings. The rings simply sat there, no power left to transfer.

“It’s over” Linda said. Both women shivered “You can take the ring off now, it’s done. Next week at this time, no matter where we are or what we’re doing, we will change back into our own bodies so I recommend that we meet here”

“Yes, yes that sounds like a very good idea” Sage said looking around.

“And in case you’re wondering about the money, I’ll transfer it to your account as soon as we swap back; I don’t want to spend it while I’m you” Linda said smiling.

“Oh…good idea…” Sage said “Every time you say something, I realize something else I haven’t thought of. I mean I have your fingerprints, your dental records, your medical records…Oh God…do I have medications I need to take while I’m you?”

“Yes, indeed you do. Everything changed on us. You have my heart, my higher blood pressure and my thyroid issue. My aches and pains, my arthritis…I’ve even come down with gout before…never know when it could flare up” Linda admitted. She stretched her arms out and arched her back again rising up on her tip toes “But damn this body sure does feel good”

“Um, thanks I guess” Sage said. She reached for the big bra she would need and pulled it on. She took off her stretched out panties and took a look at her new setup “Oh…”

“A lot looser huh…more skin, more flesh…just like the rest of your body now” Linda added. She took off her large panties and handed them over. They were still very warm when Sage put them on.

“Sorry yours are stretched out” Sage said.

“Not entirely your fault…it’s actually my ass that did the damage to them haha” Linda laughed “I can go without until I get home”

“Oh yeah…I’ll be staying here now” Sage said.

“Everything you need is here…listen, don’t beat yourself up on the deets…I’ve done this before so I think I catch up quicker. More and more of my details will filter in. It’ll feel more natural for you to be me as time goes by. By tomorrow morning even you’ll be pretty settled in” Linda said putting on the maroon top and Sage’s pants.

“I suppose you’re right” Sage bit her bottom lip.

Buttoning up a blouse proved even a bit more challenging for Sage. Her fingers didn’t have the same dexterity to them, was that some numbness she was feeling as well. She had to press down harder to really feel the buttons. She slipped on the pants and began to move and walk around, adjusting a little bit more with every step.

Linda was sitting and pulling on her socks and boots. She bounced up and went to the mirror to pull her hair back in a ponytail after finding a hair tie in her pocket.

She grabbed Sage’s phone and then went after her own. She synced the phones and made sure their numbers and contacts were both there.

Sage was already detecting her first changes; doing something like that and being so comfortable with phones and electronics. She was already getting older.

Linda saw the look of awe on her Sage’s wrinkled face “Ok boomer” she laughed handing over her phone. “Text me…call me…whatever you need anytime. If I’m at work I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. I’ll let the other members of the STA know that we’ve swapped. One of them might come by for the rings if they need them. Of course you can talk to any of them at any time too! They’re always happy to help out if you have a question and can’t get ahold of me”

“Oh okay” Sage said. She was getting really tired and feeling overwhelmed suddenly.

“Once they find out I’ve swapped they’ll probably hit you up for specifics about you anyway” Linda laughed. She grabbed Sage’s purse and umbrella “I’m going to head out if you’re okay”

“Yeah, I guess so…I…”

“I know it’s a lot but you know, time is precious. I’ve got one week. You’ll get the hang of it” Linda said and just like that, she was gone.

Sage just stared at the back of the door in silence. “What did I do?” she thought bringing her hand up to her mouth. She shuffled more than walked to the bathroom down the hall, scaring herself as she looked in the mirror “Oh my Gosh! That’s me!”

She ran her hands over her face “I’m old!” Her hands continued pushing on her soft pale skin leaving indents as she went “I’m doughy!” she went down her legs and over her stomach. She turned back and forth looking at her rear end “It’s huge!”

Finally, she had enough “It’s only a week and the money will help in the end” she told herself as she went back to the kitchen. She heard her phone go off ‘Patricia’

‘So Hello “Linda” I hear you’re occupying my friends’ body for the next week. If you’d like, we can meet for breakfast tomorrow morning. I think Murphy’s has a lovely pancakes’

Sage gasped ‘Sure’ was all she texted back.

‘9 o’clock…you’ll recognize me’ followed by a winky face emoji.

Sage’s hands hovered over the phone; she wasn’t sure how to get to the emoji on it. Eventually she just put it down.

She found herself pacing. She cleaned up their tea cups now that they had gone cold “I could drink either one of these” she laughed at herself “What would it hurt?”

She found a package of cookies and felt her stomach growl “Oh I’m definitely eating cookies while I’m here” but she kept finding herself going back to mirrors and examining herself in them. Slowly, she stopped being scared by the reflection and started to get used to it.

Linda practically ran home. Her strides were long, her body didn’t hurt and she was in a hurry “I don’t think I’m going to sleep this week…too much to do” she said to herself. She already was grasping Sage’s work schedule and she knew she wanted to do as much as she could in her limited free time too “This shit is easier as a college girl on break…”

Once inside her apartment, Linda went straight to the closet. She knew the clubs in town and wanted to hang out, dance and drink. She immediately stripped down and put on a tight gray dress and black heels before fluffing out her hair and putting on some make-up. It would be 3 AM before she came back home.

Sage dozed off in her chair. She woke up with a kink in her neck and saw it was still just 11:15 so she struggled to get up out of her chair and made her way to the bathroom.

Being old meant having to go to the bathroom a lot more often. She took her pills, thankful that she still had her own teeth and wasn’t wearing dentures. She went to her bedroom where she found several nightgowns, all of which would come down to her knees. Putting one on, she thought of her week as one big countdown clock. Just ticking away until she could turn back into herself.

A beeping coming from her phone was what awoke Linda the following morning. Her head was pounding, her mouth was dry and her face felt sticky.

A combination of drool and sleeping with her makeup on after a night full of drinking and dancing had gotten her to this place. Now, she had to get up and get ready be in to work on time.

Sitting up, something she thought would be a lot easier in a young body was made difficult by her actions. She didn’t miss the aching in her bones, back, knees, feet and hands but she had replaced them by a pounding in her head.

She staggered to the bathroom peeling off the remainder of her clothes from the night before. She smirked happily though upon seeing her gorgeous young face reflected back at her. Aspirin and a shower would take care of the rest “Damn I love being young again”

Linda enjoyed her shower, just how tight and firm her body felt, the enhanced sensations, everything about it. “Sage will never take this body for granted ever again”

But today was not the day for glamour. She dressed in her comfy thick soled black shoes, black pants and light blue shirt along with her nametag. She pulled her hair back getting it out of her face for what was going to be a long day. She also packed a bag since she would be going to her second job immediately from her first. A red top with a plunging neckline would replace her blue one since tending bar had a bit of a different tipping crowd. “I have to be honest though…I did want to work. To feel the energy I need to expend, to feel tired after working again” she told herself as she headed out.

It was the familiar car in the parking lot when she pulled in to Murphy’s that made her just laugh and shake her head.

Sage couldn’t have slept in even if she tried. This body was hard wired to wake up early. She had also had to pee twice during the night.

Getting out of bed made Sage grumble “Dang it my back hurts…my knees hurt…” she put her feet on the ground and felt those tense up as well “My feet my hands my…lordy…every joint in my body seems to ache”

She brushed her teeth and showered feeling how much her soft body moved and jiggled on her. Doing her hair took a lot less time though and she was ready and dressed in tan flats, tan pants and a long loose sky blue top in plenty of time.

Sage went through her jewelry picking out a necklace, bracelet and earrings. Her stomach was growling as she pulled into her former employer’s parking lot. “No work for me today…I’m here to be waited on”

Coming into the restaurant that she worked at but in another woman’s body was almost too surreal for Sage. She saw her co-workers who politely smiled at her like she was a stranger.

Linda’s body shuffled and it was driving Sage nuts to hear her feet always scraping across the ground but she couldn’t override it, it was just how this body moved.

She immediately recognized Patty even before she raised a hand in a wave and smile. “I knew it was you right away” Sage said pulling herself into the booth. She bumped the table with her stomach and felt her arms flap underneath her shirt as she got adjusted.

“So…it’s nice to see you” Patty said barely containing her laughter. Patty was a bit heavier than Linda but was probably 15 years younger. She looked to be in her early to mid 50’s with graying brown hair and bright blue eyes.

It was the jewelry that gave away how well off she was at first glance. Sage knew the brand new Audi in the parking lot was driven by her as well “Thank you very much” Sage said speaking softly.

“So how do you feel?” Patty asked earnestly.

“Old” Sage said with a shrug “Tired, kind of fat…I’m just being honest”

“Oh I know you are and I don’t mind one bit. What we do is very unconventional to say the very least but I think it works out for both sides; we get a little adventure in our lives and girls like you get some much needed money in yours. A small price to pay really for what is basically a years’ salary”

“That’s why I’m here” Sage said “In fact, I’d go longer or again if it meant another boost to my bank account”

“Haha! Well if Linda gives your body a good review you never know…” Patty replied.

“But I’m sure not many would want to put in the hours it requires to be me” Sage said “I don’t live the fun party girl life or simple college life…I’m guessing Linda won’t give me a good review. I bet she’ll be worn out and wanting to try someone different by the time this week is up. Double shifts on your feet all day…I might get more of a vacation and adventure than her”

“Frankly I was a bit surprised she offered it to you…no offense” Patty said “It’s just, well, we do try to go the easier route”

“Oh no offense taken!” Sage replied “She mentioned that she waitressed when she was like 19…nostalgia might have clouded her judgement. She’ll remember reality”

Patty nodded knowingly “I hope you don’t think we’re a bunch of freaks”

“Gotta get your kicks somehow…if offering money to young women to take their bodies for some time is your thing, go for it” Sage laughed.

“Well when you put it that way” Patty laughed.

“Watching Linda turn into me was fascinating I have to admit. And the sensations I felt changing into her were fascinating to say the least” Sage said “I’ve never felt anything like that…it definitely grew on me as we went along”

“The swap is the best part” Patty admitted “Feeling your body change…watching the other person take on your body…it’s exhilarating!”

“It is…I have to agree with you on that” Sage said “Linda told me a bit about the back story and of course I used the rings…”

“We fell into this backwards and just experimented and pushed our boundaries a bit further and further until, well, here we are” Patty said.

They ordered and continued talking and sipping their drinks. Tea for Sage, she had the taste for it.

Patty was a fountain of information about their club and the pay scale. They were finished eating when they saw Linda come in.

Linda barely looked at them out of the corner of her bright eyes but it was enough that all three of them shared a knowing glance and smile.

“She looks really good” Patty said.

“She does…she pulls it off well. She makes a good me” Sage agreed.

“You’re a cute girl so I can see what caught Linda’s eye. We were all in here for lunch; I didn’t pay that much attention to you really but Linda comes here more often”

“She’s been one of my regulars; I had no idea I’d end up as her thought” Sage laughed.

Linda came by and winked as she headed up front to seat a couple who had just came in.

They watched for a while before heading out “If you need anything this week, just call” Patty said as they parted.

“I will” Sage said.

“I might be stopping by to get the rings…what do you think about me turning into a 6’1” college volleyball player?”

“Um…wow!” Sage said looking at the short and plump woman before her “Quite the change”

“Duh…that’s why I’m working on it” Patty laughed elbowing Sage as she went to her car “I’ll let you know!”

Linda would never admit that swapping with Sage wasn’t the best idea but as the week went on, she was running on empty. Shifts had already been agreed to and she had a lot of them to fulfill. In addition to her work, she tried to party as well “If I’m only here for a week, I’m going to run this body hard and leave it exhausted for Sage when she gets back to it” she thought.

Sage, however, sensed what was coming. She treated her time as a vacation. She slept a lot, rested, relaxed, read books and got her exercise in by walking the dogs at the animal shelter Linda volunteered at.

“It’s me Patty…” started the voice mail Linda got on Saturday “I need to swing by and pick up the rings, let me know when you’re going to be home today”