Copyright (c) 1999, 2000 by Constance Grant Manasquan, NJ all rights reserved

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is unintended.
Any comments are welcome.

Authors note: This story was submitted to the Fictionmania Halloween ’99 story contest, and tied for fifth place out of ten entries in the SciFi/magic category. One hundred and forty one votes were cast, however, this story has been accessed over 5,000 times on the Fictionmania site. I received several dozen notes on this story; some notes made suggestions or asked for clarification. I do listen to my readers, and to the extent possible made changes in this version to answer those comments. I am working on a continuation to this story, as many readers asked.

This story contains adult situations, describes mild sexual activities, and deals with magical sex change. Without the TG aspect, it would be rated PG. If such material upsets you, or if it's illegal for you to read this - DON'T.

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Halloween Football Magic       by Constance Grant       ConnieBabe69@hotmail.com
© 1999, 2000

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This was an important game for me, perhaps the most important of my short career. It wasn’t that I hadn’t prepared myself for it, I had. Long hours in the weight room, and more hours using Cathy’s dad’s exercise machines, plus several hours of field practice six days a week. I was only a high school senior, but folks in Oklahoma take their football seriously, and I was an all conference receiver. I’m told, that our games filled the stands better then college games back east, but I really wouldn’t know about that. Extra bleachers had been set up at the end zones for this game, a traditional Halloween contest between across town schools.

Just before taking the field, I always looked at Cathy’s picture for luck. The coach kidded me about it; after all, I would see her in a minute cheerleading out on the field. I told him it served to bring me luck, "Brandon my boy, as long as you kept playing well, I’ll put up with your superstitious nonsense" – as he so delicately put it. It really wasn’t much to put up with, but then, Coach Peterson put up with very little that he didn’t expressly command.

Cathy Walton and I planned to get married after college, for as long as I remember we knew we would marry each other. When we were little, on rainy days we would often play dress up together, I would be the groom and she the lovely bride. Sally and Meg, the twins from across the street would be bridesmaids, and Tommy their younger brother would be my best man. On nice days, I would play football, basketball, or baseball depending on the season, and Cathy would cheer me on.

That’s the way it would be today. I would play football, and Cathy, as lead cheerleader, would cheer me on. The difference today was that I would be playing in front of scouts, scouts that could make or break my college plans. Ever since dad died a year ago, college moved from a certainty, to a maybe – maybe if we are lucky.

At the end of the last school year, Cathy, mom, and I sat down and discussed our future. We decided that I would concentrate on football, and try for an athletic scholarship to OU. Cathy would take the same advanced courses as I, and tutor me, while she tried for an academic scholarship to OU. She was smart as a whip, and secretly I believed she had the better chance.

A week after the discussion with mom, we had a similar discussion with Cathy’s mom and dad. Mr. Walton bowled us over when he made a promise to us. If Cathy received a scholarship, he would give us the money he would save toward my tuition. If I won an athletic scholarship, we could bank the money to give us a start after we married. From then on, he called me son.

The plan was working extraordinarily well. I was playing better football then I ever thought possible. Cathy would tutor and work with me nightly as I completed my homework assignments. She told our parents, that because of tutoring me, she was getting all A’s, and her GPA placed her at the very top of our class. Surprisingly, I was getting all A or B grades for my academic work, and held the highest GPA on the team for the first marking period.

We spent a lot of time together as you might imagine. The guys on the team all assumed we were doing the deed, and frankly were envious of me – you see Cathy is an auburn haired stone fox with flashing green eyes. There wasn’t one guy I knew who would pass up a chance to date her. Not only is she beautiful, she is nice. That’s a normally mediocre thing to say about a girl, but in Cathy’s case, it wasn’t. She was nice to everybody, kids, underclassman, our parents, classmates, and me. I told my friends we just kissed, and would wait until we were married to make love, but they didn’t believe me. Cathy told her girlfriends the same thing, but they didn’t believe her either – at six two, a very athletic one ninety, slate gray eyes, craggy features and longish brown hair, I had more than my share of unrequited offers from many of the girls. But Cathy was old fashioned, and wanted to wear her mothers white wedding gown, since it was important to Cathy, I had no problem abiding by her wishes. Besides mom told me it would make our marriage special, and really mean something to us.

Just after I promised Cathy my best effort in the game today, and as I turned from her picture, I felt a sharp pain in my head followed by an intense feeling of dread. As quickly as the feeling came, it left me, and I continued out to the field a mite shaken. The player introductions and handshakes over, the coin was tossed, and we elected to receive. I noticed Cathy wasn’t cheering, and I was concerned, but I focused on the game. In the back of my mind, I decided that her mom must have been late taking her to the game – it wouldn’t be the first time. We moved the ball down field using our patented running game, until we were on the twenty-five yard line. The next play was perfect, I moved into the end zone uncovered, and Murphy our quarterback drilled one directly to me for the touchdown. I remember catching the ball, holding it up, and then spiking it…

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My next memories are confused. I could only see white and vague shadows, but I could clearly hear my mother’s voice talking to me. It was strange as I felt I was above her. She was telling me how much she loved me, and for me to please wake up. I tried to talk to her, to relieve her anxiety, but I didn’t seem to be connected to my voice. I couldn’t talk to her…

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The next time I awoke to a beige world of light and shadows. Mr. Walton was in the room with me. I thought Cathy was there too, as he was talking to her like mom had been talking to me. Again, I tried to speak, and again I was strangely disconnected from my voice. I must have passed out from the effort…

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I became aware of a ceiling, I could see clearly now. But there was something close to my face, a grid like effect. At first, I thought it was the protective grid of my catcher’s mask, but my muscles wouldn’t respond to my mind’s commands to move my head. I tried to lift my arm, but it seemed to only move a few inches, and then a machine to the rear of me began to squeal.

A nurse came into my field of view a minute later, "Hi honey, boy are we glad to see you awake. Don’t try to move or speak, you have suffered a badly fractured skull. The doctors have put it back together weeks ago, but the pieces are still held in alignment by a support. The grid structure in front of your eyes is part of that support. Don’t worry, your face is unmarked and you will be as pretty as ever. If you understand me, blink your eyes twice."

I blinked twice; the nurse smiled and said, "I will go call your dad and the doctors now. I’ll be right outside if you need me, pulling on your tether will signal me to come to you… be back in a few minutes."

I was alone for several minutes until a woman in hospital greens moved into my field of view. "Hello Cathy, I’m Doctor Perkins. If you understand what I said, blink your eyes twice"

Again, I blinked twice, but my mind was full of a question – why was she calling me Cathy?

She continued, "You have been in a bad automobile accident Cathy, your skull was badly crushed. We were able to get to you quickly, and were fortunate to have a doctor on staff experienced with treating head injuries like yours. He used space age adhesives to glue some twenty pieces of your shattered skull together, and put you in that support. There were some complications, but we believe those are behind us now, and I expect that you will recover beautifully. Do you understand?"

I didn’t blink immediately as I was trying to digest what she said. "Do you understand honey, please blink twice if you do."

I blinked twice, "I know it’s a lot to digest, but don’t worry, you will be just fine. And best of all there will be no visible scarring; you will be just as pretty as you always were. I have a lot of doctor questions to ask, please blink twice for yes, three times for no."

She started at my feet, and worked up my body touching, pinching, and poking me, and asking if I felt it. I answered yes in most cases until she came to my shoulders and neck. "You have been given a muscle relaxant implants to quiet your neck and shoulder muscles. We don’t want you jerking free of your support, that’s why you can’t speak. In addition, you are pinned to the sheets in several places, and can’t move anything very much. We may be able to remove that support today, keep your fingers crossed dear."

I crossed my fingers on both hands; it felt strange, almost like they weren’t my hands. The doctor smiled, "That’s the spirit Cathy, I’ll get Doctor Hanson in to see about removing that contraption from your pretty head, we’ll have you out of here in no time!"

Why did she keep calling me Cathy? I moved my fingers; they felt like Cathy’s fingers, smooth longish nails, and fine bone structure. I must be dreaming that I’m in Cathy’s body. I shut my eyes and concentrated on waking up. What was I doing, yeah I had just made a touchdown. Murphy had nailed one right to me in the end zone, and then…

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I must have dozed off; the next thing I saw was mom and Mr. Walton leaning over me from opposite sides of the bed. Both mom and Mr. Walton looked as if they had been crying. I smiled at them, and mom smiled back, Mr. Walton said, "Thank God pumpkin, I was so worried that I would never see that smile again. The doctor tells us you will be just fine now."

I was still in that dream; someone must have really clobbered me hard, after I made that touchdown. I hope they penalize them good. Well, I had wanted to join with Cathy for years; I might as well enjoy it – even if this wasn’t what I really had in mind. The thought struck me funny and I laughed.

"Yes we are happy to see you too, Dr. Hanson will be in soon, and maybe he will remove all that hardware. I know you can’t talk, so we will just sit here and wait for the doctor."

He moved to a chair, just barely in my field of vision. Mom sat on the bed and held my hand, it was just like when I was little, and sick, and I was very glad she stayed by me. Mr. Walton got up twice, once for coffee, and once for cokes, so I guess several hours passed.

A tall man in surgical greens came in and mom retreated out of my field of vision, "Cathy, I’m Dr. Hanson, very good to meet you." He held my hand, "Sorry to say, but that that cage on your head and tube in your nose is my doing. That’s the bad news; the good new is that I can take it off today. Shortly after it is removed, you will be able to speak and move around a little. If you are ready, I’ll bring you to the procedure room and we can get started. Squeeze my hand if you are ready."

I squeezed his hand firmly.

Once in the operating room Dr. Hanson said, "Cathy there are some thirty attachments to your skull and shoulders from this erector set. The procedure is tedious to remove them, but I assure you it is far easier to remove than to put on. Some attachments are screwed directly into your bones, and these may squeak a little as I remove them. Others are attached by a space age adhesive, a relative of super glue. These I will remove using a special solvent. The entry puncture or slit for each will be closed using another space age miracle, an artificial skin/sealer. Your entire scalp and shoulder area has been numbed, and while you will feel pressure and hear strange sounds, you shouldn’t feel any pain. Finally, I’ll remove the nine implants that are relaxing your neck and shoulder muscles. The whole procedure will take about an hour. Do you like Yani?"

I blinked twice. "Good, I do too. Just relax and I’ll do all the work." Somebody started a player, Yani’s warm voice filled the room, and I did as the man said. While some of the screws sounded like a grade B movie’s sound effects, the time passed, and I truly felt no pain. Dr. Hanson called out the number of the attachment as he removed it, marking his progress for me. Lastly he removed a long tube from my nose, I assumed it was a feeding tube. I hadn’t really noticed it, but I felt much more comfortable after it came out.

"Very good, all the attachments are removed, as well as the nine implants, with no sign of infection anywhere. Your skull will be stronger than ever, though I don’t advise testing it again! We even left you enough hair to hide your bald spots. I’ll add the hairdressing to my bill." He smiled broadly at that. "See if you can move your head a little, mumm, wait a few minutes and try again. Try to speak, that should come back quickly as those muscles were only indirectly affected."

I tried and a sound came out, it didn’t sound like me though. "Good, you’ll be back on the phone in no time. Your dad and Mrs. Dewinter are waiting for you, I’ll have the nurse bring you upstairs in a few minutes."

Boy what a dream, I never had one that lasted like this, or that was so realistic.

On the way through the endless passages to my room, I began to move my head. My neck seemed to creak as if it hadn’t moved in a long time. Back in my room, mom was there, and she smiled at me as she walked toward my bed. "Hi Cathy, your dad had to run back to work, he will be back in a few hours. Can you speak now?"

"Iee cuun alllmoost."

"How would you like to get cleaned up a little?"

"Pleeesse"

A different nurse come over and unpinned my restraints, "I will remove the catheter, that is how you have been peeing these past weeks."

Past weeks? I felt something strange being pulled out of me from a strange place, it stung a little, but it was mostly a strange feeling. Then she removed some IV tubes, leaving in the part stuck in my arm – Cathy’s arm – I moved it, it was Cathy’s arm and hand, but attached to me.

"Do you feel well enough to get up and sit on the side of the bed?" the nurse asked.

"Yeeessss, I think I can."

I felt in control of my voice, even though my throat was a little sore. ‘So that’s what Cathy’s voice sounds like to her, not bad, but I like it better through my ears.’ I thought stupidly. With mom on one side, and the nurse on the other, I sat up and then stood. Good God, but I was stiff, every muscle hurt. I let out a little groan of pain.

The nurse said, "You were simply one big bruise the day after the accident, but most of that has cleared up nicely now – thank God you were in excellent physical condition. That saved you from far worse injuries. We moved your limbs several times a day, and applied electronic stimulation to exercise your muscles, so you shouldn’t be too stiff."

"I’d like to work the remaining stiffness out, can I move around a little?" We moved back and forth around the room and down the hall. After the nurse saw I was doing pretty well, she left, but mom continued walking with me. After about fifteen minutes, I sat on the bed and lay back. Mom fluffed some pillows and put the bed up so that I was sitting comfortably. Looking down over my chest to my legs, there was no doubt I was in Cathy’s body. Outside of feeling sore in every muscle, I didn’t feel that different than the morning after a game. Everything seemed to move, as I would expect. However, I felt dissatisfied that I was in an ugly hospital gown, my nails clearly needed work, and I knew a little make up would make me look better for dad.

The nurse looked in and then left, after pointing out the call button to me. Mom sat on the bed holding my hand. "What happened mom?" I asked in Cathy’s normal voice. I don’t know why I wasn’t upset about being in Cathy’s body, but it just seemed more important to understand what had happened.

"There is no easy way to say this. You were in a bad automobile accident, do you remember any of it?"

"No, not at all. The last thing I remember is being on the football field…"

"You’re confused, we were told that was to be expected after the head injury you received. The doctor’s are anxious to test you to see if your brain has any long term damage."

Mom paused, then took a deep breath, and continued, "As I said, you were in a very bad accident, your mother was driving, and you were in the passenger seat. A guy, with far too much to drink was coming from a Halloween party; he ran a red light directly into your mother’s side of the car, he didn’t even try to apply his breaks. The police estimate he was going over fifty miles per hour. Your mother was killed, and you were badly injured."

"Mrs. Walton is dead?"

"Yes dear, and your father is taking it very hard. I’m afraid you will have to be very strong for him."

"Where is Brandon?" I asked with my heart in my mouth.

Tears started to form in mom’s eyes, "He was killed playing football… it was a freak accident. A boy tackled him at the Halloween game and snapped his neck. I’m very sorry to be the one to tell you."

"Mom, I don’t know how this has happened, but this is me, Brandon. Somehow I am in Cathy’s body."

"That can’t be Cathy dear, I’ve come to terms with his death, and you don’t have to try to make me feel better."

"But, it’s really me – I’m Brandon." Mom looked at me like I was crazy, I continued, "Look, do you remember the day dad died, we had a conversation in the hall outside your bedroom…"

I spoke for a long time, about things only I would know, things that as close as I was to Cathy, she wouldn’t know.

Mom put her hands up to her mouth, and looked at me wide eyed saying, "My God! I think that I believe you son, but I don’t think you should tell anyone else, they would think that you are crazy. However this miracle happened, it’s clear God wanted you to live on in Cathy’s body. Cathy was initially pronounced dead at the accident site, and brought here. For a time the three of you, Cathy, her Mother, and you were side by side in the emergency room. Maybe that was when the magic happened, I don’t know. I do know that you were pronounced dead in this hospital after being brought directly from the game. I was there when your body was buried."

"I think it must be some kind of miracle, even though my rational mind tells me I’m dreaming. I can’t under the way I feel. It feels right for me to be in Cathy’s body… I need to get cleaned up before Mr. Walton comes back, will you help me?"

Mom helped me into the bathroom, and removed my hospital gown. It wasn’t much of a mirror, but I looked at Cathy’s nude body, as I had imagined doing so many times in the past. Her body was more beautiful then I had imagined from seeing her in bikinis last summer. "She is beautiful, isn’t she mom?"

"Yes dear, you are beautiful now."

I felt rage, and almost started shouting, "Give me my body back, I can’t be a girl!"

But as soon as I opened my mouth to yell, I felt like I was being kissed. Mom was behind me, so it wasn’t her. The kiss took all of the rage from me, and left me feeling very peaceful and mellow.

"Mom I feel grungy let me take a shower."

"Are you strong enough?" I nodded. "All right, sit down and let me adjust the temperature. I think lukewarm will be just right."

I sat down, wondering at how docile and mellow I felt. It just shouldn’t be this way. What a strange dream. Mom stood back from the shower after a minute, with few drops of water beaded on her face.

"Sure you don’t want to join me, you have a good start on a shower."

"Yes! Get in there, and don’t fall down. This is one of my best suits, and I don’t want to ruin it rescuing you."

I grinned at her as I stepped into the shower, leaving the door open. I washed myself quickly, and although I enjoyed feeling and looking at Cathy’s body, it really was as if I was looking at my own body – and not very erotic, especially with mom standing by incase I felt weak. Finally, I stepped out and mom started to pat me dry. She had some lotion from the hospital kit and rubbed it into my skin, that felt very good – she had never done that to Brandon. Without thinking, I asked mom if she had my hairbrush and makeup in the room, and she brought me a small suitcase.

"Your dad packed this for you the night of the accident, and I brought you a few more things from your room. Er, Cathy’s room."

Mom stood behind me, and carefully brushed my hair out avoiding the areas with artificial skin. She then put in two berets and a scrunchie, to hold my long hair back from my face and form it into a ponytail.

She said, "I always wanted to have a daughter, I hope we can remain close."

I kissed her and said, "You will always be my mom, and I will always love you. Besides, you were always a second mom to Cathy, and after all, you are here now for her."

"Actually I am here as much for her dad as for Cathy, he really fell apart after the accident. He has had a very rough time. I don’t know where you will find the strength, but he really needs Cathy’s love now, and to feel that she needs him. Make him feel needed, or he may fall apart."

I put on some lipstick and a little mascara, used an eyebrow pencil lightly, looked critically, and added a touch of blush. Then I put on the nighty set dad had chosen, mom said, "You do that very naturally, some of Cathy’s mind must still be active. Come to bed and I’ll do your nails." As mom did my finger and toenails, I wondered at how natural all this seemed, I had no trouble with the makeup, and enjoyed mom’s fussing with my nails. Even my breasts and rounded hips seemed mine. I was sore, but I had moved with Cathy’s fluid grace.

I followed mom’s advice and pretended to be Cathy for Mr. Walton, daddy now, and felt perfectly natural with him. He was so pleased at my recovery, but did I notice some chemistry between mom and daddy – now that didn’t sound bad to me at all. About nine they left, but not before the Doctor Hanson visited. He said that I could go home tomorrow afternoon – if I looked this good in the morning, and providing I promised to come back for some further tests.

The nurse dimmed the room lights, and I drifted off to sleep…

I was floating in a mist that began to clear.

"Hi Brandon," Cathy said from the bench, "come sit down with me."

I floated over and sat next to her, embracing her as I did. "I love you Cathy, it’s so wonderful to hold you again. I thought… I mean, mom said I was killed. Have you come for your body?"

"No, that’s ours now, we will share it for this lifetime."

"But how?"

"Mom is a white Wiccan witch, she could not save her own corporal body with her magic. Nor could she save both of our corporal bodies, so with her dying breath she cast a spell that caused your soul as it left your body to enter my body. My soul was almost severed from my body so you will pretty much control our body, while I get to help in the background. Mom’s spirit has contacted me, and shown me where her book of spells is, and how to contact other white witches. You are now not only a girl, but we are a witch," she laughed at that, and continued, "and mom says our magic will be very powerful."

"Why didn’t you remain in control, it’s your body after all?"

"Brandon, my dying wish was to have you with me – besides under some circumstances I can take over for a time, and you can observe."

"Cool!"

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End – for now…

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This is a new ‘universe,’ and it may not be the last we see of Cathy (and Brandon.)

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© 1999, 2000
The above work is copyrighted material. Anyone wishing to copy, archive, or re-post this story must contact the author for permission.