An Exchange Student
by: Paul G Jutras
In what was a typical peaceful block, there was one menace. Fourteen year old Chris Jones. As the sounds of his skateboard headed down the sidewalk, everyone in the way were moving aside as fast as they good. Some climbed street lamps and others leapt into near by stores. Those who couldn’t make it were bowled over like a bunch of pins at the end of an ally. Those laying there looked up and saw Chris karate kick a garage can into the air; spilling the garbage on the street and landing on his board safely.
What was bad for the townsfolk was worst for their single father, Donald. Ever since his wife died of liver disease when the boy was little, he tried to make him a tough man. That way he could handle whatever the world would throw at him. With the phone calls about what a terror he is both on the street and in the skate park, he was starting to wonder if he could really use a feminine touch.
"What am I going to do?" Donald thought as he collapsed on the couch and reached for the remote control. Turning on the television, he started to channel surf. "What the?" He said to himself as he reached a commercial for a student exchange program. "Maybe this is what everyone needs. The town and I can get a rest from Chris Jones while maybe he could mature a little."
"What’s up pop," Chris said as he skateboarded into the house; spun around on the back on the board, and grabbed a banana from the counter before heading out back.
"I think I know just the country to exchange with." Donald thought as he copied down the number from the television screen and began to call to arrange the student exchange. "Chris come in here!"
"Yes Pop, what’s up?" Chris asked as he hit the back yard ramp and flew into the house.
"I think you need to broaden yourself." Donald said with an angry look. "I just arranged for you to enter the student exchange program. I want you to start packing to go to Japan."
"But Pop," Chris protested. "They go to school longer there than here in America. I’ll loose my summer vacation and have to go to school."
"This isn’t up to debate." Donald said with his arms crossed against his chest. "You are becoming a terror without a feminine influence. You’ll do well to have a family with both a father and a mother. I even asked the exchange program to help you get a mother’s guidance. So start packing!"
A short time later Chris was alone on a plane, flying from California over the Pacific Ocean. Hours later, he was landing in Japan to the Soto family meeting with them as Donald would be meeting with their daughter back home.
"Greetings, Chris-san." Mr. Soto said as he bowed before the young hood. As Chris stood in his torn tee shirt, rip jeans and ratty sneakers, he stared at his host in his pressed suit and got a worried feeling inside. "I would like you to meet your temporary sisters for the exchange as well as someone I would like you to think of as your mother."
Looking at the women in wooden platform tongs and kimonos, he gathered his stuff and followed behind to a taxi cab. "Don’t you have your own car?"
"Here in the city it’s easier to use public transportation." Mr. Soto explained as they reached a building with a large fence and yard.
"Wow,. It’s like a mansion." Chris said in amazement as he clutched his skateboard.
"Not really, but I have done well with my computer software company." His host said as his new mother took him by the hand. "My wife will show you to your bedroom so you can settle in. School is early for you tomorrow so you also better get a good night sleep tonight."
"Is it true that they were uniforms in school?" Chris asked.
"You will find yours in your bedroom." Akane said as she took Chris upstairs to her daughters bedroom. There he found the walls covered in rock group posters, a pink bedspread on a double bed and a sailor blouse and blue skirt hanging on a hook on the wall. "This is your uniform."
"That’s a girl uniform." Chris’ draw dropped in shock. "I’m a boy!"
"Not for your stay here," Mrs. Soto said. "Your father said you were getting too wild and out of hand. He made a deal with the student exchange program and Mr. Soto to put some feminine influence into your life. Being a daughter is the best way. Not to mention my husband was too cheap to buy you a boys uniform."
Back in the states, Sara Soto had removed Chris’ playboy centerfold wall paper and unpacked. Donald really enjoyed having the Japanese custom trained girl fixing him breakfast for a change. Something Chris was always too self centered to do. "I like the American clothes." Sara said in a tight blue tee shirt that showed off her C-cup cleavage and jeans that show off her hips and figured well. With thongs showing off her painted toes, she waited until Donald began eating before she joined him.
For Chris it was one embarrassment after another as his new sister, Linn came up with the new name of Manami for Chris’ feminine name. With his hair and make up done, Chris was soon dressed and walking with Linn to school. "Come on, you look lovely."
As Chris was introduced by her homeroom teacher as Manami, he soon found out how good looking his breast forms and corset made him. He soon had all the boys begging to be sat next to him and Chris was embarrassed to be seen in public.
"Who would think you’d be more popular with the boys than me," Linn giggled as Chris tried to bury his make up covered face in his text book. He never found a school day that seemed so long as that one. Every time he even picked up a pencil with his polished fingers, he was reminded of his new identity.
When he got home, he changed out of the uniform and belted up the martial arts GI that he brought with him from the states. Going to the household gym, he practiced a few martial arts punches and kicks on a punching bag while trying to ignore the appearance of his polished manicure and pedicure.
"Now, now." Akane said as she stepped barefoot into the gym wearing a long dress that reached her feet and an apron. "That’s not how young ladies behave in this household. Even if it is the 21st century. It’s time for you and Linn to help me with dinner."
"You expect me to cook!" Chris shouted.
"Cook and help me clean house afterward, Manami." Akane said as she referred to Chris by his new name. As Chris followed, he was instructed to change into a blue lace trim dress that nearly matched Linn’s pink one and some slippers. "Since you’re new at this we want you to have some protection for you feet if you drop a knife out of your hands."
Chris was amazed at the speed and skill Linn used as she started the salad. It seemed like the type of speed he had seen martial artist in his favorite movies use. He began to wonder if with practice he could move that fast. He was determine not to be beaten in such matters by a girl.
His first meal looked terrible and tasted even worst. As time went on he improved his cooking skills and would serve making meals for his dad back home well. He even got to the point where he hated to remove his breast forms and wash his flat chest when he bath.
Donald wasn’t sure what the Soto family would do to his son to make him less reckless. By the time the student exchange changed back, he wasn’t expecting to find a geisha daughter to get off the plane. "What is this young man!" Donald shouted in attempt to embarrass his son.
Silently, Manami handed Donald a name stating what her new name was and that he had finally found his true inner self. For the first time in his life, his anger was gone and he was happy. They didn’t say a word during the drive home.
"Now get out of those clothes and start reading those playboy magazines of yours." Donald ordered as they stepped into the house.
"Hey Don!" Mr. Stu next door said. "I thought your exchange student was going home today. The neighborhood all wanted to see your improved son."
"You’re looking at him!" Donald said as he pointed to Manami, whose make up ever gave Chris a Japanese appearance in the face.
"Oh, My," Stu’s wife Mary said. "I guess we won’t have to worry about Chris wreaking the town any more, will we."
"I don’t care if my dishonor of you has caused you to hate me." Manami said softly. "Or if you have chosen to disown me. This is the true me, I realize and nothing you say will change that. I was never happy and never knew why. Now I’m at peace with myself."
Donald did love his child and heard how many in such a state takes their own life. Something he didn’t want to see. With hope that this was a phase he decided to put up with his new daughter. Especially after he tasted her meals. He only hoped that his constant pushing would bring his son back to him one day. He would never fully accept Chris Manami.
THE END
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