A Better Solution Than Divorce

by Jennifer Allison

  

Richard

It has been three months since my family moved to Tolerence. Looking at my son and daughter now, I couldn't tell that just three months ago they had been the other..

My wife enjoys teaching at Tolerence High. The students love her and they are also learning where they didn't learn before.

Amanda Blaylock delivered a 9 pound baby boy seven weeks ago, with help from the local midwife, I was standing by just in case I was needed. Mother and son doing fine.

I was doing fine until this morning. I woke up to an upset stomach. I just made it in time to throw up in the toilet. I had a strong feeling what my problem was.

My wife had already left for school so had Dean and Jennifer.

So the first thing I did upon my arrival at my office was to take the necessary sample for a pregnancy test.

When I handed the sample to Sam to do the required test. He asked, "this is your sample, Doc?"

"Yes it is," I replied and then I asked. "How did you know?"

"I have a sixth sense. I can tell just by looking if a woman if she is a mother to be," Sam told me.

"So I am going to have a baby?" I asked.

"Yes," he said as he walked away.

By noon the test results were back, positive. The rabbit had died.

As soon as I heard the results I said to my receptionist. "Cancel all of my appointments for the rest of the day."

I then called Amanda. "Amanda can you come to the office tomorrow and see one of my patients?" I asked.

"Certainly, who is the patient?" she asked.

"Me, the rabbit died and the Sam test was positive," I told her.

"Congratulations Richard. I will be in at eight so we have the exam before the whole town hears about it."

My receptionist asked, "Doc why are you taking the rest the day? All you are doing is haviing a baby."

"A tradition set forth by my wife," I told her. I then left the office.

I headed directly to market for the required groceries.

When Dean and Jennifer came home from school I asked them both if they could stay over at a friend's house for the night.

Dean wouldn't do it until I bribed him with the ten spot he had been bugging me for the last two days.

 

Helen

I was late getting home.

I had parent/teacher conference that went into overtime.

The smell that greeted me as I entered the house made my mouth water. It took me a few moments to realize that Richard was cooking something that he wasn't supposed to do.

When we were first married I had prepared a meal that took over four hours to prepare. After the first meal was completed Richard I had agreed that this meal was reserved for only special occasions. I only cooked that meal twice more since that day. Those were the days I told Richard I was carrying Dean and Jennifer.

"Richard you know you aren't suppose cook this meal?" I said to him as I walked into the kitchen.

Richard turned to face me and said. "I had to, it is a tradition." As he said this he was patting his stomach.

It took me a few second to dawn on me what he meant by that. "You don't mean?"

"Yes I do. You knocked me up."

I rushed and I took my husband in arms and starting kissing him. As I did this tears were rolling down my face.

After of few moments of hugging and kissing I asked. "Do the kids know?"

"No, we can tell them tomorrow. I sent them to a friends house so we have some time alone."

After the meal and love making. My pregnant husband and I talked over what we were going to do.

"So how do you want to handle this pregnancy?" I asked.

"There is nothing to talk about," he replied.

"So you still want to switch back in three months?" I inquired.

"Are you kidding!" he replied. "I want to carry this baby to full term. I even want to be the mother to our child for awhile after that."

A little shocked by what he just said. I asked, "Do you mean that?"

"I have had to listen to women complain that their husbands don't know what a woman has to go through to have a child," he said. "Here is a chance for me to find out first hand what it is like. I even want to find out what it feel like when I breast feed my child."

I didn't say a word. I was ready for some more lovemaking.

  

Richard

The next morning my wife and I called Dr. Knox.

"Dr. Knox, Dr. McLean here."

"Hi Richard, Helen, how are you doing," Hillery asked. "How are you enjoying being in each others bodies?"

"Great, we love it," I replied. "That is the reason we called. How much trouble would it cause if we stayed switched for another twelve months."

"It wouldn't cause any trouble on my end," she answered. "But won't there be a problem at your old hospital since you will have to stay in Tolerance?"

"When I left I told them there was a chance I wouldn't be back," I replied.

"Is there a reason why you want to stay the way you are?" she asked.

"I'm having a baby. I also want to carry it to full term plus a couple months," I told her.

"So what do Jennifer and Dean think about all this?"

"We haven't told them," replied my wife.

"Call me back when you have talked it over with them. I will support your decision either way you want to go."

"It will most likely be tonight," I said.

"You have my home phone, call me anytime." Said Dr Knox, who then added. "Doc. I might be sending some friends of yours to Tolerance."

"Who?" my wife and I asked in unison.

"Brad Driefort and his family. They are thinking over my program as we speak." She told us.

"Do they know that we are in your program?" I asked.

"No, and I won't tell them if and when they are in the program. The most I will say is that some friends of theirs are in my program and leave at that."

"Let's not tell the kids about the Drieforts until we know if they are coming or not," I told my wife after I hung up the phone.

Before the kids left for school we told them to be home right after school because we needed to talk to them.

  

Helen

At school one of colleagues stopped by my classroom and asked. "How did your husband take the news that he is expecting?"

"How did you know about my husband?" I asked.

"I had appointment yesterday with your husband," she said. "He received word about the death of the rabbit while I was there."

"He took it quite well. He even prepared our traditional baby announcement dinner for me last night," I told her."

"So he is planning on switching back as soon as he can, right?" she asked.

"No, he isn't. He wants to carry the baby full term. He actually wants to see what it is like to have baby."

"I wish I could switch with my husband just once and let him go through a pregnancy and then he will stop bugging me about having more children."

I knew exactly how she felt. Four months ago she had just returned from maternity leave after the birth of her third child.

  

Richard

Amanda and I arrived at the office within seconds of each other. Her new born son was with her.

After the exam we sat and talked awhile in our office.

"As far I can tell I don't see trouble for your wife to deliver this child in eight months, Richard." Amanda said.

"My wife, right now I plan to carry this child until it is born. I have already talked to Hillery Knox about extending her program for another year."

"So you are planning on going through with this?" Amanda asked.

"Yes I am. If I had a penny for every time I heard. 'You're a man, you don't know what a woman goes through to have a child.' I would be a multi-millionaire. This way I can have first hand knowledge."

As we spoke the child started to fuss. So without further ado Amanda picked him up and started to breast feed him. "I even want to see what it is like to do the same thing you are doing."

"I see no problem with that. Here is how I want to work it. Because of your age I want to see you at least once every two weeks. I will come in early like I did today as long as I am on maternity leave. After that I will just see you before our first patient of the day. Also listen to Sam. If she tells you to slow down and take it easy consider that an order from me."

  

Dean

I knew something important had happened as soon as my dad sent us out for the night.

As we sat down at the kitchen table my dad answered the question.

"Kids, how would like to stay in Tolerence another year?"

"Do you mean that you and mom don't want to switch back?' I asked.

"It isn't that," replied mom.

"Then why?" asked Dean.

"The reason why is in eight months or so you will have a baby brother or sister," answered my dad.

"You're pregnant?" Jennifer and I said in unison.

'Yes I am. I found out yesterday. I also want to stay in your mom's body until four months after the baby is born." replied my dad.

"We checked with Dr. Knox, she told us that it would be no problem as long as we stayed here in Tolerence." said mom.

"What about us? Will we have to switch back in three months or can we stay the way we are for a year, or maybe?" asked Dean

"Maybe?" my dad asked.

"What Dean is trying to say is. What if we want to stay the way we are right now?" I said.

"Is that what you truly want?" asked my dad.

"I don't how Dean feels, but I like being a girl." I told them.

"I like being a boy," announced Dean.

"I have an idea. Let's ask Dr. Knox to stay on her program for year. If the two of you still decide that you want be switched permanently your dad I will support any decision that you make."

My dad then said something that perked my ears. "What do you think your friends will say if they heard what you just said?"

"By the time we move back East no one will be able tell that I once was a boy," I replied.

My mom then said, "you have to tell them."

"Dean, Jennifer there is chance that some of your friends will find out the truth before the year is up," my dad told us.

"How? You won't tell anybody, we certainly won't," said Dean.

"We won't tell them but they will find out another way," he answered.

"How could they?" I asked.

"When we talked to Dr. Knox this morning she told that Brad Driefort and his wife are thinking about joining her program."

I sat there in utter shock. I just announced I wanted to stay in sister's body now my parents tell me my best friend in the whole wide world is about to move into town. I had to ask. "Will Phil switch with his sister?"

"Dr. Knox didn't say. Phil and Brenda will have the same choice the two of you had."

"Lets not worry about it now. We aren't for certain that the Drieforts coming to Tolerance," my dad told us.

 

Next Chapter

The more merrier.

  

  

  

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