A Better Solution Than Divorce

by Jennifer Allison

Part 17

  

Since Richard and Helen have decided to stay switched. I will refer to them in their right name.

Randy Bream

Something happen to me today and I thought I would tell you about it. I was embarrassed by it, but somebody might find it amusing. I needed to go the bathroom badly, I mean really bad. So I rush into the bathroom and sat down on the throne where everyone is equal. Within seconds I was grunting away like everything was okay. That was until I heard someone enter the stall next to me. To my utter horror I saw a pair of panties on the floor. I had entered the girl's bathroom by mistake.

Before I could move my own briefs, a girl's voice asked. "Who's in there? I know you are a boy. Who are you?" I recognized the voice of another girl in Dr. Knox's program.

"It's Randy Bream," I replied.

I was expected a full outburst of laughter, but nothing came. That was until these words. "The same thing happened to me one time. I entered the boy's by mistake."

Feeling relief, I was about the ask, "Could you help me get out of here?"

The girl's voice said, "Give me a moment and I'll check to make sure the coast is clear for you to get out of here before anybody else finding out." That is exactly what she did. No one found out I ever went into the wrong bathroom.

 

Wally

I had no problem living in Annie's body. That was until I got home. The only time I had to use the bathroom on the drive and flight back home I had to do both. By the time we reached our home I had to take a leak bad and I do mean bad. So without thinking of what I was doing. I rushed into the bathroom and pulled down my panties and stood there and let loose, all over the floor. Finally realizing what was happening, I turned around to sit down and almost fell in. The only thing that saved me from doing so was my size.

Let me explain. At our house there are two bathrooms. So as not to cause my mother any problems, one bathroom was set aside for the men and one for her. I just went to the men's without even thinking about it.

When I finished my dad handed me a mop and said, "You will have to use your mom's from now on."

Another thing that had Tommy and me worried was how do we tell our friends and classmates about the switch. Mr. Brown already had that problem fixed.

As I walked into school Monday of Thanksgiving week, I was met by Mr. McLean, who told me there was a full school meeting in the gym before first period. He also told me to join Tommy, Kendra, and Annie and wait there until Mr. Brown calls for you.

"As most of you know, we had an incident at the Homecoming Dance. Most of those involved

have paid for their wrongdoing. The two boys who did the crime are on the last stage of their punishment. During the next month, I will not tolerate any kind of harassment or making fun of these individuals. If I feel your crime against these boys warrants it, you will join them in their punishment." Mr. Brown paused to let his words sink in.

"Will Wally Claxon please come here," he called me.

There was a very loud hush. Then a giggle here and there started. All of sudden, laughter broke out in the crowd as I walked into the gym.

"STOP!!!!" screamed Mr. Brown.

As the laughter stopped, Mr. Brown asked, "Will Tommy Brothers please come here?"

"As you all can see what their punishment is," said Mr. Brown. "For the next month, Wally will be in Annie's body, as Tommy will be in Kendra's. This way they will learn the hard way, the right way to treat a lady."

That was the way it started at school.

Richard

Since Helen wasn't going to be on-call for the Thanksgiving weekend she had agree to see Amanda's patients so she could have five days off during the weekend before Thanksgiving. So I had to go get my mother-in-law.

 

Mildred McLean

I knew there was something different the first time I saw him as I got off the plane. We hugged and kissed like any mother and son, who hadn't seen each other for over a year.

"Where is Helen and the kids?" I should have waited, but I wanted to know.

"Helen is working, Dean and Jennifer are in school, and Sam is with Helen," replied Richard.

As with most mothers, I didn't miss a thing, "Sam????"

"Actually, it is Susan Allison McLean, but we call her Sam. She is your newest granddaughter, mother,"

A little shock wasn't a strong enough word. "You mean you kept this child a secret from me for nine months?" I figured the child had just been born. "You should have notified me as soon as

Helen found out she was pregnant. You did so with the other kids."

"I am sorry we didn't," said Richard. "Sam is four months old, mom."

"How many other changes haven't you told me about?" I asked.

"A few," replied Richard.

A few was an understatement, if ever there was one. During the seventy-five miles to Tolerance, Richard and I small talked about old friends and relatives. There were a few times Richard gave me the impression that he didn't know what I was talking about. Like when I talked about things that happened while he was growing up.

The one subject I didn't bring up and one I wanted very much to do so was why Tolerance, and why did he give up his practice in the big city. I knew Richard and Helen were having problems. So I decided to wait until I could get the two of them together.

Helen

I was waiting for Richard and my mom.

We did the usual hugging and kissing that happens between in-laws that haven't seen each other for a long time. We then left mom with Sam, so that she could have some private time with her new granddaughter.

An hour later, Dean and Jennifer came home from school.

"I can see no reason why you never told me about this beautiful child," were the first words out of mom's mouth when the four of us joined her in the nursery. She then went over to Dean and Jennifer and kissed and hugged them and commented on how much they had changed since the last time she had seen them.

"Mom, there are a few things we need to tell you," I said to her.

Before another word could be said, the phone rang. Dean picked it up. "Mom, Sam needs to talk to you about a patient of yours."

From the look on my mom's face I could tell right there and then she knew something funny was going. "Richard, why did this Sam want to talk to Helen about your patient?" Mildred asked.

"You're the doctor."

"Please sit down, mom," I heard Richard say as I headed towards the phone. "There is

something we need to tell you and I want to wait until Helen gets back."

I was back five minutes later.

"Mom remember last year, when Helen and I were having a lot problems with our marriage?" I asked.

"Why did you call Richard, Helen?" Mildred asked. Then she said, "You are Helen."

"That is the point. I am not Helen," I told her. "I am Richard."

"WHAT????????" Mildred screamed. Still in a loud voice she ask, "WHAT are you talking about?"

"Mom, let me explain, and please don't interrupt me until I am done," I told her.

"I want to hear why you think you are my son Richard," was her reply.

"Eighteen months ago, we were one very small step away from divorce," I started. "Our marriage counselor said we had two options left. See a divorce lawyer or see a colleague of his."

"Since Helen and I were still very much in love. We decided to see this Dr. Knox," I continued. "She offer us a chance to join her program for married couples who would do almost anything to save their marriage."

"So what was this Dr. Knox's program?" asked Mildred.

"A mind swap," I answered her.

"That is impossible, I have never heard of such a thing," said the shocked Mildred.

"It is possible and Helen, I, Dean and Jennifer are the proof," I told her.

"You don't mean?" Mildred asked moving her index finger between Dean and Jennifer.

"Yes, us too," said Dean. "We have decided not to switch back."

"I don't believe a word you are saying," complained Mildred.

"I'll prove it to you." I then told her something that only I would know. "Remember back when I was thirteen and dad was gone on a business trip. You wanted to go out in the country to a certain farm. You weren't sure you could find it, but you knew I could."

"I remember that."

"Do you also remember what happen?" I said. "We miss the exit off the freeway and had to go down to the next one. All of sudden, you, for some reason, thought you remembered you might be able to get to the farm using that exit. Do you remember how I got you to turn around and take the right way."

"Yes I do," said Mildred.

"I broke down and cried and begged you to turn around," I told her. "When I finally got you headed in the right direction. I asked you not to tell anyone about what I just did."

"RICHARD!!!!" Mildred then jumped up and hugged me. "I believe you, please tell me about this program. Why did you decide to stay and live in Tolerance?"

"The mind swap was suppose to be for a month," I started the story. "The program didn't cost a penny but what it did cost was six months of my time."

Mildred gave a questionable look.

"You see, Tolerance had only one doctor before I came. Her and her husband are also part of Dr. Knox's program."

"That was the doctor who just called?"

"No, Sam is my nurse, he is the one who called. Mom please hold your questions until I am finished?" I asked her. "At the time of Helen and my mind swap, Amanda was seven months with child. So to pay for the program, I replaced her for the last month of her pregnancy and maternity leave."

"Richard and I decided to stay swapped for six mouths to stop any problems that might come up when the town's woman doctor become a man over night," Helen broke in.

"Also, at that time, Dean was having trouble in school, especially in the area concerning girls. Jennifer was also having trouble. Dr. Knox asked them if they would like to see what it is like to wear the others shoes."

"So we did," said Dean.

"That was over a year ago. Why didn't you switch back when your six months was up?" asked Mildred.

"You are holding the reason," I told her. "Six week or so after coming to Tolerance, I found out

I was carrying Sam."

Mildred pointed her finger at me and ask, "you mean?"

"Yes I did. I carried her to full term," I replied. "I can't count how many times a mother has told me that I don't know what she has to go through to have a child. Now I do. I also wanted to spend some of that special time between a mother and her newborn child."

"So when do you plan on swapping back?" she asked.

"That's it, we aren't," answered Helen. "We have found we love the way we are and we love each other more than ever,"

Turning towards Dean and Jennifer, Mildred says, "you?"

"I found out I was never meant to a boy," replied Jennifer.

"I couldn't be happier," answered Dean.

"OH boy!! I wonder how the rest of the family will take all of this?" wondered Mildred aloud.

"Your coming early helps a lot. You can help us figure a way." I told her.

 

End of part 17

  

  

  

*********************************************
© 2004 by Jennifer Allison. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, and compilation design) may be printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without the express written consent of StorySite and the copyright holder.