The Perfect Escape              by: Rose

Part 2

Kelly was over at Alice's, helping her get ready for the costume party. Well, more hanging out and keeping her company. Alice had used her spray bottle of Hugglebugs this morning, this gave her plenty of time to get used to the changes to her body. Alice was still surprised by the changes in her appearance, Kelly just had to remember looking in the mirror the morning after his change. The face and hair were just as he remembered, except that Alice use of her make-up was so much better than Kelly's attempts.

"See the Hugglebugs really makes this costume look fantastic.", said Alice.

"No you make the costume look great, its just a little extra with that HuggleBugs formula.", Kelly corrected.

Just then there was a knock at the door. Kelly went over with his crutches and looked through the peephole, it was Mom home from work. He opened the door to let her in.

"Hi Gloria.", Alice greeted.

"Hi Mom.", was Kelly's echo, "How was your day?"

"Well, I would have to say great, I quit my job today.", Gloria said.

Both Kelly an Alice looked on stunned.

"I asked for a leave of absence to care for my child and they said no, so I said "well I quit".", said Gloria triumphantly, "Geoege and I discussed it last night. Since he makes more than me and my child is more important than any job, I quit".

"Mom, I thought you loved that job? You said that you were going to head your division by the end of the year.", Kelly said.

"It was a great job and it was very important to me, but the most important part of my life is the child I brought into this world. It shames me that I forgot that for awhile and didn't see the pain that you were feeling.", Gloria answered.

They engaged in a little more chit chat when there was a knock at the door. This time Mom opened the door. Suddenly the hallway was filled with music and Elvis leaped into the apartment. Dr. Wright had dressed in a white Jumpsuit with sequin's and a belt around his waist with an enormous buckle covered in rhinestones, big mirrored sunglasses and a long flowing cape behind him. He truly captured the fit Elvis in his prime. The two of them looked spectacular together Elvis in white with sequins and rhinestones and Alice as the showgirl in silver spandex body suit covered in sequins with fishnet stockings and 5 inch high heeled slippers.

After Dr. Wright turned off the cassette player attached to his belt that was supplying his music. They had a brief conversion thanking him for all he had done for us and wished them a good time at the party. Kelly and Gloria went home to their apartment to find another surprise. Kelly's Dad was home and it was only six p.m. There was even more good news to share.

"I learned a new word today and taught it to my staff. Its called "delegation" and its what I'm going to be doing a lot more of from now on.", he said proudly

Kelly and his parents all went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Kelly sat at the table peeling potatoes and making the salad while his parents cooked the rest of the meal. While they worked they discussed how everyone's day had been. The conversation carried over into dinner as they talked and ate. Monday the family had an appointment to see Dr. Owens, Kelly's councillor.

The family spent the weekend sorting through Kelly's room. While sorting and packing up clothes, Kelly's parents learned another truth. Kelly's room had all the warmth and hominess of a cheap motel room. There were no models, no posters and the only picture on the wall was the one of a sailboat that had been up since Kelly was three. Kelly's Mom took her husband aside.

"George, is this how we let our child live for the last eleven years?", Gloria asked sadly.

"Gloria, we can't change how we acted in the past. Now we just have to prove our love for Kelly by our actions.", answered George.

While they were carrying the bags of clothing down to the car, Gloria and George bumped into April. Gloria invited her in for coffee, while George drove off to the homeless shelter with Kelly's old clothes. April was just bubbling over with happiness, as she walked into the living room she ran over and gave Kelly a big hug.

"Oh Kelly I am sorry you got hurt in that accident but I'm so happy you helped me meet Bruce.", said April.

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking about the party and their date.

Monday found the family sitting in the office of Dr. Owens to go over his findings. Dr. Owens had spent many hours with Kelly and together with Kelly's parents during Kelly's recuperation in the hospital. Not only Kelly's feeling's but his parents too, and why Kelly was an only child? All tests that had been done showed that Kelly was really a young girl, not the boy he had been born as, and his parents would accept and love their child without question. The doctor discussed all the options available and the family went home to think them over. During the drive home Kelly's Dad had a surprise to share.

"I already took a big step towards making you the person you want to be. Friday we have an appointment at the HuggleBugs Company to meet with its CEO and have a batch of HuggleBugs made just for you."

"What do you mean, made just for me?", Kelly asked.

"Just what I said, we are going to work with their people to create the HuggleBugs that will make you the girl you would have been born as if fate had been different."

With that the family went home. After diner they began looking through all of the family photo albums. They wanted to see which physical traits were common in both sides of the family. As time went on though they just sat munching popcorn and reminiscing and telling Kelly story after story about how they both grew up. Laughing at clothing and hair styles that were popular at different times.

The rest of the week was spent with Kelly and his mom making lists and discussing the pro's and con's of the different traits that were dominant in both, George and Gloria's, family's. How often people were born blonde, brunette or when a redhead would pop up. How tall, how thin and what shape were most common.

Friday morning the Berger family were driving to the city of Celoron, where the HuggleBugs main office is located. Kelly was riding in the front passenger seat of the Lexus because of the casts on his arm and leg. When they reached the building they almost drove past it, it was so ordinary looking. Mr. Berger parked in a space labelled visitors and they helped Kelly in. In the lobby they came to a desk where a very voluptuous woman with flaming red hair was seated.

"....yes Michelle I know were out of milk in the break room, give me ten more minutes Okay? Work time, gotta go.", she turned, "Hello I'm Rose. How may I help you?", she asked.

"Hello, I'm George Berger. I believe we have an appointment with Miss Prue.....", a loud beep sounded that drowned out the rest of his words.

"Yes and your right on time. Excuse me please?", Rose pushed a button on her console and began speaking, "Yes, Kim if you'll meet us at Prue's office, yes they are very punctual, yes bye bye." … "Sorry for the interruption. I'll bring you right on up to her office. You must be Kelly, we have a wheelchair available if that would be more comfortable for you?", Rose asked.

Kelly accepted and the group entered an elevator for the second floor. Mrs. Berger only elbowed her husband twice during the trip for the way he was watching Rose walking down the hall. As they approached the office door there were two ladies talking at a large desk in the alcove in front. Rose introduced the ladies to the Berger family. First standing was Cathy, a brunette with a full womanly body and Neri, a petite but adorable woman/child with auburn hair.

"Cathy is our Marketing genius and Neri whose capable hands I leave you in is Miss Prue's personal secretary."

After pleasantries were over with, Rose and Cathy walked away talking about the lack of milk in the break room. Neri escorted her visitors into the office of the Chief Executive Officer Prue, a young woman but almost regal in bearing as she sat behind her desk like a queen upon her throne. She rose to meet her guests and introduced the woman standing beside her. A tall athletic woman with reddish blonde hair.

"Hello I'm Prue, and this is my Managing Director and Chief Nanites Designer Kim".

Prue directed everyone to sit in a comfortable sitting area of her massive office. As they sat Prue and Kim asked Kelly how his injuries were healing and gave wishes for a speedy recovery. Neri then entered the office carrying a tray with coffee and tea, placing it on the table before everyone. Gloria then noticed a chilled pitcher of milk sitting in the middle of the tray.

"I thought you were all out of milk?"

"Well, Rose can always produce milk when the need arises.", Neri said with a smirk.

Kim stifled a giggle making it sound like a cough.

"Thank you... that will be all Neri.", said Prue with a smile in her stern sounding voice.

"Your situation is not that unusual, we have created HuggleBug nanites for minors before and always with the parents permission. Now as I've been told you OBTAINED the formula we created for a Miss April Walker, is that correct?", Prue stated.

"Yes. I was going to use them to try to get a job in Las Vegas as a dancer, then order permanent nanites when I had the money.", Kelly answered meekly.

"How long did you plan on using that batch for? They were only set for a three day life span.", Kim interrupted.

"There were twenty doses, so I figured I had two months if I was careful.", Kelly said.

Kim reached for an intercom button on the table, "Neri, this is Kim. I'll need to speak with Pickles this afternoon, I need to see if the warning label needs another rewrite.", she turned back to Kelly, "Kelly, these nanites work on a genetic level to effect these changes, abusing them like you planned could have been very harmful to your health, they might even have killed you.", Kim stated factually.

Prue quickly brought the meeting back to its purpose. To be sure Kelly truly wanted to be a woman she said, "Kelly, once the permanent formula is used, there will be no chance of going back. You will become a fully functional woman in all respects, and your first few months could be difficult for you to get used to the changes. Your body will go through.", she paused, "Before any decisions are made, Kim will take you to her office to start design work on your personal HuggleBugs formula."

They left Prue's spacious office and walked down the hall towards Kim's modest office and lab space. On the way Rose stopped Kim with a question.

Kim said, "Please be seated and I'll be with you shortly." ... "Yes Rose? What can I do for you?"

"Kim, could you please explain to Cathy that even though I can produce gallons of milk a day because of the original formula I was exposed to, that you can't make me produce cola out of my breasts?", Rose asked hopefully.

Kim stood still for a moment before a giggle erupted into full laughter. "I'll do my best, I promise.", Kim said, trying to control her giggling.

Kim did her best to compose herself before returning to the family in her office. The Berger's had heard the conversation in the hall. Gloria was concerned when she caught that there could beside effects.

"Kim, I didn't mean to listen but … did Rose say that HuggleBugs makes her body produce large amounts of milk each day?"

"Oh no, Rose worked for Prue back when she was doing genetic research. We started the HuggleBugs after that lab accident. Our quality control keeps any side effects to a minimum, if any.", Kim replied confidently.

Kim went to her work station and began entering the information that Kelly told her that he wanted to turn out as. On the screen a person started forming. Her height would be 5' 6", her hair colour would be auburn, her measurements would be 34c-24- 34 to start with. Kelly and her Mom left with a technician for a blood sample to be taken while George stayed with Kim.

"Now that were alone, you are positive that there is no danger to Kelly with this? Son or daughter, I want him to be happy but I wont risk his health for it.", George said carefully.

"I understand your concern, but we do this all the time as long as the directions are followed properly there is absolutely no danger.", Kim replied understandingly.

Kelly and Gloria came back from the lab test. Kim said it would be a few hours before the new HuggleBugs would be ready. They decided to get some lunch and do some shopping while they waited. Kelly was disappointed when Kim said that the HuggleBugs could not be used until the casts were removed. To ease the disappointment, Rose walked up with a package containing a new birth certificate, Social security card and other documents showing Kelly as female.

One month later a young woman glided into the reception lounge at HuggleBugs LTD. She was as graceful as she was beautiful. The joy this young woman felt flowed out to all around her.

"Hi Rose, I had to stop by to thank you all.", she bubbled.

Rose looked up with a slight confused look on her face.

"It's me, Kelly. We used the HuggleBugs last night after the casts came off."

Prue, Kim and Cathy steeped out of the elevator heading out for lunch.

Rose jumped to her feet and ran around the desk to give the girl a hug. She held her at arms length to look at her.

"You look great, how do you feel?"

"Just wonderful, I can't thank you all enough."

"It's Kelly, Kelly Berger. Doesn't she look great? Kim you do great work.", Rose said.

The group came over and more hugs were shared. It looked like Kelly was on her way to living a beautiful life.

 

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