John's Gift                 by: Prudence Walker

 

Chapter three

I could see in her eyes the thought taking hold, and as she lunged at me I had time to dodge sideways. Too late she saw her mistake, and as she tried to stop herself I saw her slip and lose her balance, falling over the rail with a soul-chilling scream. As her legs were going over, I grabbed them, not just with Cathy's hands but my own ghostly ones as well, that's how scared I was of seeing her fall. Nobody deserves to die that way, even if she was a bully. Several things happened at once, I heard the guy yell as he saw what had happened and heard him start to run towards us. As I grabbed with my inner self I found myself merging with her, but instead of feeling the normal thoughts, I heard this piercing mental shriek that seemed to be fading away.

I started to feel Cathy's grip slacken, then it felt like I was sucked in like a vacuum, not the usual gentle merge. As I felt myself fill her body I could feel Cathy's hands loosening, having no-one to keep the muscles tight with a controlling thought they were beginning to relax. I shouted in my mind, but found it came out my/her mouth as well.

"Cathy's time." Cathy reacted with lightening speed, and as I felt her grip tighten on my legs I heard the guy shout,

"Hold on, I'll get her." Feeling more hands pulling on my legs, I started to be pulled up and back over the rail, scratching my arms on the wooden railing. As I got back to my/her feet I was conscious of a couple of things. One, I was in control of this body there seemed to be no-one in here but me, and two, the guy was hugging me and asking if I was ok. Not yet knowing what was going on, I just broke free from the guy and whispered in Cathy's ear,

"It's John, I'm in her body." Looking at me, her eyes widened in surprise and thinking quickly she said,

"Are you sure you're ok, Jan?" giving me a wink. "Yes Cathy" I replied, silently thanking her for giving me this body's name. The guy started to glare at Cathy, saying,

"This is all your fault." I looked at him and shouted for him to get back to the car, as I wanted to talk with Cathy, he looked at me strangely for a second, but complied with my wishes. Quickly, before he got suspicious, I asked Cathy if she knew who he was. She said she thought his name was Nick, which I thought very appropriate considering my earlier thoughts. I said I'd ring her as soon as I got Jan's body home. I paused, and asked if she knew where she lived but Cathy shook her head saying she didn't know.

Walking back to the car, repressing the urge to walk away from Nick as fast as I could, I told him I didn't feel well and for him to take me home (where-ever that was). Trying to avoid his attempts at kissing me, I shifted as far away from him as I could, saying the fall had shaken me and I wasn't feeling well. As we drove I watched where we were going, as I needed this information if I wanted to tell Cathy where I was.

Arriving in an upmarket neighbourhood, we stopped outside some tall gates controlled by a video camera, and a speaker box. Gesturing to him to do the honours as he glanced towards me, I hunched down in the seat as he spoke into the speaker.

"Miss Carmichael and guest" he said, smirking as the gates opened. Wheels spinning on the gravel drive, he drove along a tree-lined avenue, the drive opened up to a house that took my breath away. A house was an understatement, more a small mansion. As I looked at Nick to see if he was trying to pull a fast one on me, he pulled up at the front doorway. I got out resisting any assistance from Nick, saying I'd be ok. I went to open the door, but found it had started to open already by a man in a butler's outfit.

"Good afternoon Miss Carmichael," I heard in a somewhat sour voice.

"Hello yourself" I said, "I'm not feeling very well, I nearly fell off the railway bridge near school." The butler's face underwent a few strange expressions, as if I had said something so unusual that it belied understanding. Maybe it was, I couldn't guess how Jan usually greeted the butler, but obviously it wasn't with anything pleasant. As I stepped into the large entryway, I saw in front of me a huge staircase that went up to the next floor. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings, and I stood there gawping at the obvious wealth within the mansion. Jan lives here? I thought, then why does she hang with that lout, and wear such horrid clothing as she had on. The butler had by this time signalled a maid, and had told her I was not well and had had a traumatic experience. Looking at me with an exasperated expression, she said,

"I'll run a bath for you while you go upstairs and change." Following her upstairs I had just started looking for my bedroom, when a very attractive woman opened a door from the landing and as she saw me she gestured me into another room and closed the door.

"Jan we are having very important guests tonight, and if you don't try and dress suitably and mind your manners, then I'll just have the cook send your dinner up to your room."

-"Yes mum" I said quietly, not knowing if that was how Jan usually greeted her mom. By the look on her face I could tell something was wrong, but whether it was the mum or just because I had agreed to her without argument, I wasn't sure. As Jan's mom left, I looked around the room realising for the first time this was my room now. It was nicely furnished, but not overly feminine as if someone (probably Jan) had tried to rebel against being a typical girl. There was a large walk-in wardrobe, which out of curiosity I went in to check it out. Near the front was a collection of clothes similar to the style I was wearing (a little cleaner though). Behind them on hangers, were loads of beautiful dresses, skirts, blouses and gowns, most of which were all covered with plastic, as if in storage. I took one out to look at it closer, it was new and if it had been worn then I couldn't tell. How odd, turning round I saw the phone and remembering my promise to ring Cathy, I picked the up the phone and dialed our number.

After about three rings she answered, I told her it was John and she rapidly started asking questions, I told her I didn't know exactly what had happened. Although I found that I couldn't leave this body like I could Cathy's, I was stuck inside it for the moment. I told her that I couldn't sense anyone else in the body, unless Jan was in a deep coma, I couldn't think of why she should be absent. Then Cathy said jokingly that maybe she died of fright when she thought she was falling off the bridge.

Suddenly that thought made chilling sense, was it true? Was she gone? Had I replaced her? I have heard of people dying of fright, so it wasn't beyond the realms of possibility. If that was true what did that mean to me, was I truly stuck in here till I died a natural death, or if threatened again would I jump leaving the body, or take it with me?

There were no ready answers, so I concentrated on the here and now. How could I live in a stranger's body with parents that knew the old inhabitant? I told Cathy where I lived. She said that was where a lot of rich people had their homes, I laughed and said Jan's parents were so rich they had servants.

"WOW, boy did you luck out," replied Cathy.

"Yeah right," I said "real lucky to be stuck in a new body with parents whose names I don't even know." I told Cathy that if nothing changed then I'd see her in school the next day to talk more. I hung up and thought about what I was going to do next. Hearing a noise in the next room, I remembered the maid saying she would run a bath, opening a connecting door I found myself in a huge bathroom where a bath was being filled. The maid was still there, adding what smelled like scented bath salts. As I entered she looked up at me and said,

"Lets have those clothes, they need cleaning and repairing by the look of them." I looked at them on the floor and replied,

"Just chuck them, I'm not wearing them ever again, or the ones in the closet like these." The maid's eyes widened in surprise,

"Yes miss," she said, surprise plainly heard in her voice.

"Thanks, and can you call me Jan," I said, trying to think of a way to get more information from her without her suspecting anything. "Can you help me?" I asked, "I almost fell off the railway bridge, and my arms are sore, and I'm not sure I can get these clothes off, without help." The maid came over, and started to help me undress, while I pretended to be injured, seeing the scratches on my arms and legs, she asked, what happened. So I recounted the events to her.

"I slipped while walking with a friend, and she saved me from falling right off the bridge. I hit my head on the railing going over and my memory seems to have some gaps, in fact I can't even recall your name."

" Its Julie miss-er Jan" she said looking worried.

"I'll be fine, if you wouldn't mind helping me get dressed, after my bath."

"Just ring for me when you're ready" she said, eyeing me as if I was going bite her any second. Sitting in the hot bath was very soothing, and I had plenty of opportunity to explore this new body. It was about 5'7"tall, slender like Cathy but long black hair hung just past my shoulders, now that I had unpinned it and let its soft natural waves flow freely. Pale complexion now I had washed all the makeup off showed off my long eyelashes and thinly arched eyebrows. I had removed most of the rings, and taken off the earrings.

Trying to think about what I was going to do after my bath, I came to the conclusion to be me (whoever that turned out to be). Not to try to emulate Jan, if there was any comment then I'd just say I had a life changing experience on the bridge (which just happened to be true). Getting cleaned all over gave me time to explore that special piece of feminine anatomy in great detail, it was so different and so sensitive, my exploring finger had found that little nub that sent such delicious feelings racing through my body. I didn't want to stop, but forcing myself to think of my future as a young girl brought some semblance of decorum. Checking out my now slender hands, I saw there was no nail polish and unlike Cathy's, needed some shaping.

WOAH! SHAPING? Whatever put that thought in my head, unless that was a remnant of Cathy's thoughts. Hmmm, I wonder if there's any more of Cathy's thoughts lingering in my head, maybe they can help me in the near future. Finally getting out of the bath I dried myself on a nice soft towel, feeling my body tingle as I gently rubbed it against my perky breasts. Wrapping it around me girl style, I walked back to my bedroom. I had managed to keep my hair dry, as that was something I didn't want to tackle just yet.

Looking around my room, I found a button near my bed on the wall, guessing this would bring the maid, I pressed it and while I waited I looked in my dresser drawers. Finding some panties and a matching bra I put these on, having only a little difficulty with the bra, then I started to look in the walk-in wardrobe for something to wear. Hearing a quiet knock on the door, I said,

"Come in", Julie had come over to the wardrobe and was watching me sort though the clothes. I asked her what should I wear for the dinner tonight, giving me another strange look she said,

"Are you sure you want to wear something nice for a change, and not your usual clothes?" I looked at her for a moment, thinking of a suitable reply.

"Look, from now on I just want to be a normal girl ok, forget the past that's gone, I'm a whole new girl and I want to fit in." Pulling a long dress off the rack I asked her if it was suitable. She then started to get enthusiastic, and pulled out a few more saying these would be more appropriate given the sort of guests we were having. Looking them over I settled on a light blue gown that came down to my calves, it was gathered at the bodice and had a modest neckline. Asking her for more advice, she seemed to open up more and started giving me tips on what sort of makeup I should use, and what shoes went with the dress. As I started to pull the gown on, she stopped me and said I needed a slip first and also stockings.

Opening a drawer full of stockings and pantyhose in a bewildering array of colours I looked askance at her, and she gave me a pair of light coloured pantyhose. I started pulling them on carefully as I had seen Cathy do. Reveling in the way they made my legs feel as they hugged my legs in a sensuous grip. Putting on a satin slip, Julie helped me into the gown and zipped it up, feeling it hug my curves in a cool caress. Then moving over to the lovely vanity filled with pots and tubes of assorted makeup, some of which looked unopened; I studied myself in the mirror. I looked stunning in the gown, but my hair and face needed working on.

Now I need to make an explanation here, why you ask, was I so interested in looking as feminine as I could? Well, the simple truth was that I was now a female and from the look of things, stuck. So either I fitted in, or I could try and deny my femininity which seemed to have done Jan little good. Also having spent some time in Cathy's body, both in real time and as a passenger I had picked up her love of looking beautiful. The oddness of wearing dresses and makeup seemed to have faded, and dare I say it, felt almost normal. Sitting here in front of the mirror thinking of what I had to do, I quailed at the thought of having to do my own makeup by myself. I looked at Julie with a helpless look,

"I don't know how to look normal anymore, it’s been so long, can you suggest something?" I said, looking up at her in a pleading manner. Julie smiled and said,

"Of course I'll help you. Ever since I came to work here you always insisted on wearing scruffy clothes and wearing well, I can't call it makeup, more makedown if you ask me. I've been wanting to get my hands on you, to see how you look all made up nicely." I sighed in relief at one hurdle being overcome, and then I asked,

"Well I'm going to need help in the morning too, for when I go to school" She said she would wake me early so we could get ready. I thanked her again, which I could see really surprised her as coming from a truly different Jan. Turning to face Julie so she could work on my face, we started. As she applied a light base to half my face, she explained what she was doing and got me to do the other half using my fingers to smooth it evenly over my skin, I tried to get back into Cathy's relaxed frame of mind. It seemed to work, as I couldn't tell the difference from what I did and Julie did, then selecting a light blusher she highlighted my cheekbone. Again I had no trouble with this. Then came the eyes, putting on a light Grey eye shadow over my eyelids then a blue colour, progressively using lighter shades of blue. I struggled to do my half, but she seemed pleased with my progress. Then came mascara and eyeliner of which I settled by not thinking of doing it, but going on Cathy's autopilot, again it came out fine. Turning to my hair, Julie teased it with a small wand like brush and a curling iron, pinning most of my hair up on my head and leaving several coils coming down, just near the front of my ears. I could feel the weight of my hair now it was piled on my head, and as I moved it felt top heavy, but Julie assured me it wouldn't fall.

During this time I hadn't fully looked at myself, having been concentrating on what Julie was doing. Julie handed me a pearl necklace with two strands of small pearls, then gave me a lovely set of pearl drop earrings. I put them in struggling a little then I finally looked at myself in the mirror.

OH MY GOD! I was beautiful, gone was the Jan I saw on the bridge. In her place was this ravishing beauty, "this was me?" I was speechless.

"One last thing" she said, "Your nails need filing and will need some nice polish."

"Ok," I said. Quickly and with some skill she shaped my nails till they were nicely rounded, then gave me a bottle of pale pink polish which I found the easiest thing to do so far (it reminded me of when I used to paint my models). Using the left hand to paint my right hand nails went a little slower, due to my right handedness. Looking at myself I thought there's something missing, Lipstick. Picking up a pink tube I applied it myself, doing a great job (if I do say so myself). Julie then handed me my shoes, which had a two-inch heel. I knew I would have no trouble walking in them, as Cathy had worn 3-inch heels and I had managed them ok. Handing me some long white elbow length gloves, I felt I was ready. Julie by this time was smiling openly, giving me a critical once over, then giving me a quick squirt of channel no5 perfume, she smiled,

"You're ready," she said, "and don't you look beautiful" at which I blushed. I went to Julie and hugged her, at once she hugged me back and said,

"You really have changed, the old Jan never showed such affection."

"She's gone forever," I said, realising as I said it, that it was true. Jan had gone, to where I don't know, but I vowed then and there that I would try to be the best I could at being the new Jan. Female or not, I was alive and in a healthy young body. So what that it was female, half the population gets along being female and so would I, my only worry was how I would relate to boys. Shrugging off these thoughts I thought instead of the upcoming dinner, could I pull it off? Would seeing me dressed as I was shock them into silence. Maybe seeing me in this new role they would forgive any mistakes I might make, not wanting to see me revert to the old me. Hearing a deep gong sound, Julie said,

"It's time for your debut, good luck." Taking a deep breath, I opened the bedroom door and stepped out onto the landing. Seeing no one there, I started to walk gracefully towards the stairs. As I started down them, concentrating on keeping my balance by looking at where my feet were, I didn't see them until the last step. Looking up, I saw Jan's mom and dad watching me in disbelief as I smiled at them.

"Well" I said, "do I past muster?" Jan's mom gasped and said,

"Whatever happened to our child?"

"Someone's replaced her with this vision" said Jan's dad,

"Daddy do you really like the way I look?" I said, giving him a shy smile, and hoping "daddy" wasn't too much.

"Of course I do, but----" then his eyes went hard as if trying to see if there was some hidden joke to my appearance, "you'd better not be trying to pull a fast one on us young lady, because if this is some joke you'll regret this I assure you."

"Oh no 'daddy' (I must have lucked out on that) today I had a life changing experience, and have decided to be a new Jan and would like if possible to start afresh from scratch, as it were." Then walking up to them, I held out my arms for a hug. They hesitated, only for a second and then they both gathered me up in a hug. By the time we broke, tears were glistening in my eyes at the thought that maybe, this was the first step in accepting and being accepted into my new life. 'Mom' looked at me, then at Jan's dad and said,

"I truly believe we have our daughter back." Inwardly I thought boy, do they ever have it wrong, but I didn't dwell on the might haves or could be's, I was just happy to be alive and have someone who still loved me, even if it was a sort of borrowed love. Now don't get me wrong, I still loved my parents and planned on seeing them regularly, but a girl, (a GIRL! what a strange thought that is) has to have love and support at home, and this was my home now, like it or not.

Walking hand in hand, we went into the dining room to behold a lavishly set out table, with a nice chandelier over head, and silverware shining on the table. I thought now comes a test, can I manage not to mess up.

Another thought occurred to me, what if they come out with food like caviar or other exotic stuff, could I eat it, or would I embarrass them by refusing to eat it. I stood uncertainly unsure of where I was to sit, but 'daddy' pulled out a chair for me, and gestured for me to sit. Remembering to sweep my gown under me like a lady, I managed not to look clumsy, 'dad' pushed my seat closer to the table, and waited while the guests came in. I turned to watch them enter, a large man with a moustache shook hands with 'dad' and said,

`"Glad to see you Keith,"

 

Hmm, so that's my 'dad's name, I thought, that's one down.

"Ben, I'd like you to meet my daughter Jan." An elegant woman in a lovely silk turquoise gown entered and walked over to my 'mom' and gave her a hug, saying to her,

"Who's this I see Sophie?" Looking over at me. I blushed and hung my head a little, not wanting to say anything.

"Oh yes, Carol, meet my daughter Jan, I don't think you met her last time you were here, at least not this Jan," at which a slightly puzzled expression came into Carols eyes.

"I'll explain later," my 'mom' said, winking at me. Then Carol called out,

"Sam get in here already, there's someone you must meet." Looking up, I saw this young man in a suit looking very uncomfortable. He was taller than me by several inches, and had wavy blonde hair that looked as if he spent lots of time in the sun. He had a wiry frame, not skinny, but with a sense of hidden strength. He came over to us and Carol introduced me to him, he took my hand and gave it a quick shake, then seemed to change his mind and took my hand and gently kissed the back of it as he gazed into my face. I blushed as this was something I had never experienced, and wasn't sure how to take.

He was seated across from me and took every opportunity to gaze upon me, not with a leer, but with the polite gaze of someone who was appreciating the view. Dinner went well, I remembered my manners and tried to eat a little of everything, but was too nervous to eat much, which looking back on it, gave the impression of me being a dainty eater. Me a dainty eater, sheesh! Oh well, that's something else I'll have to remember, no picking up anything in my fingers, like I used to, (the gloves helped me there as I couldn't pick up food with them on anyway).

Once dinner was over, Sam came up to me and asked if I'd like to walk with him around the grounds. I said yes after a moment's thought, thinking I needed to familiarise myself too. So with him taking my hand, we went outside into the warm evening air. Walking around the grounds gave me more idea of how wealthy my new parents were. As we passed a gardener working in a rose garden, Sam went over and asked the man for a rose, getting a lovely red one. Sam came back and presented it to me, saying,

"A rose for a rose." I nearly blushed as red as the rose as I thanked him. As we walked I slipped when my heel caught in a crack on the ground. As I over balanced, Sam caught me with his arm and pulled me close to him then left his arm around me as we continued. What was in my thoughts as we walked, well, I was confused a little, here I was walking with a guy in an intimate way with his arm around me and yet I wasn't repulsed, it seemed natural and yet odd as well. I decide not to think too much about it, just enjoy it. Later, when we were about to re-enter the house, he stopped and turned to me,

"I enjoyed your company tonight" he said, "and I hope to see you again, maybe we could go out on a date?" I looked up at him, smiled and said,

"Yes maybe we could, but I'll let you know, ok" then he took my face in his hands and gently turned it up to his as he kissed me, full on the lips.

 

If you liked this story and would like to see it continued then please contact me at prue_gg@yahoo.com or prue

 

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