A Special Mother's Day Gift
Part 1:
Mother's Day, 1975
Gloria was smiling. It was Mother's Day, and her kids and grand kids were coming over to celebrate. She remembered a card she got from Jeff the year before. It said, "Congratulations, MOM! Today you get to pick what kind of cake you bake." She had laughed, as it was so true! As usual, Gloria remembered a Mother's Day twenty years earlier as she put on her makeup and got dressed.
1955
Susan Comfort had dragged her younger brother Jeff along to the flea market. She had convinced him to pool their resources to get a gift for their mom for Mother's Day.
"Why do I have to go?" whined Jeff. He was a cute teen, just turned sixteen. "Why can't I just give you my twenty dollars?"
Susan sighed with the age old impatience of women toward men's obtuseness. "Several reasons, bro. First, it will mean so much more to Mom if we can say we both picked it out. She knows how agonizing it is for you to shop. Second, if you help me pick it out, you can't say later, "Why did you buy that yucky thing?'"
Jeff was about to complain again when he felt his sister grab his arm tightly. "My God! I don't believe it! It's the Medallion of Zulo!"
"What the fuck is the Medallion of Zulo?"
"Quiet!" she ordered. "We don't want anyone else to hear!"
"Why not?"
"Because, it's a famous magic medallion."
"Get real! I'm not ten anymore, Susan! A magic medallion? Sure, when pigs fly! I'm not as dumb as I look!"
She looked critically at him. "I wouldn't bet on that, if I were you."
He looked offended.
"Oh, never mind. Let's see how much it is."
It was only $20, and Susan got the old man selling it down to $12.75.
Jeff congratulated himself on getting by a lot cheaper than he thought. He only made two-fifty an hour flipping burgers after school. Susan was in college, studying to be a teacher.
"Do you think Mom will like it?" he asked, dubious.
"Jeff, you're hopeless; it's not the medallion itself, its what it can do that's terrific!"
"What can it do - pull a rabbit out of a hat?"
"No, it can turn one person into another!"
He roared with laughter. "Get real."
He ended up betting all his money to Susan that she was full of it. So, that evening, shortly after dinner, she put on the medallion and embraced him. He endured the hug with a long suffering expression on his face. Suddenly, he felt weird. He stared at Susan, as she was looking so strange. Her very pretty face was changing. Fuck! She was starting to look like him! His voice squeaked in fear.
Susan was frightened, also, but would be damned if she would let Jeff see it. Soon, it was over. Jeff looked at himself standing across from where he stood, then turned and stared at his sister's image in the mirror in horror. "Change us back!" he shouted, in his sister's voice.
"In the morning - it takes twelve hours before we can switch again."
Susan felt her muscles. She grinned, later on she would feel other things when she was alone.
Their mother, Gloria, took this moment to enter, as they had neglected to lock the door of Susan's bedroom. She laughed to see what appeared to be her son in Susan's pink, frilly robe, and her daughter in Jeff's grungy warm ups. "A little early for Halloween, isn't it?"
Susan explained, but her mother wasn't buying. "I'll prove it tomorrow!"
Mrs. Smith nodded tolerantly. "Okay, but I want to watch."
She kidded them both all through the time they were watching THEM on TV. It was an exciting new movie, and both Gloria and Susan screamed a lot, while Jeff teased them about being sissy girls! All three of the Chambers were so proud to have their own TV. It was a full 11 inches! Mr. Kirk had given it to Gloria as a Special Christmas bonus for correcting a major error accounting had made before it got to a customer.
His mother laughed. "Nice acting job, you two, pretending to be each other, but I'm not fooled!" At bed time, Jeff started to head toward his room, but his mother laughed and said, "Nice try! You two will sleep in your OWN bedrooms! And that's final!"
Jeff felt like crying! He had to sleep in his sister's room, and in her panties and night gown! When the lights were out, though... He felt his new body all over; wow, did the tits feel great! As his breaths grew shorter, he thought, 'Sis better not be fooling around with MY body!'
She was thinking exactly the same thing, while she was pulling her hand back from caressing the balls and now engorged prick in her crotch.
Come the morning, their mother said, "Now, where's the proof?"
"In a few minutes," said Susan, her mouth full of fattening foods - like pancakes and sausages. Meanwhile, poor Jeff was making faces over his cottage cheese and skim milk.
With a sigh of satisfaction, Susan wiped the maple syrup from her present mouth. She took out the medallion, placed it around her neck, then she and Jeff embraced.
Their mother watched with open mouthed amazement as her two kids turned into each other. "I see it, and don't believe it!"
Susan looked smug. She took a deep breath. "Mom, you have worked so hard for us since Dad divorced you. I'd like to give you a special Mother's Day. A Mother's Day weekend. Friday morning I will swap with you. You can see what's it like to be nineteen again. You can go into class for me - then to my party Friday night, and dance and have a good time." 'Though I hope not TOO good a time with my body,' she thought. "Saturday you can play tennis and just have fun. Sunday - the same. I want you to enjoy yourself. Sunday night we'll swap back."
"I'll think about it. What about my job on Friday?"
"Up to you - I can go in and wing it - after you brief me. Or I can call in sick. You've only missed two days in the last five years, so it's hardly a black mark."
"Susan, you are so sweet. I'll think about it!" She hugged her daughter fiercely.
"Hey! I helped pay for it!" said Jeff, jealous.
Gloria laughed, and then hugged him, too. He pulled away. "NO hug, I just wanted to be thanked!"
* * * * * * *
It was Monday, and Jeff with his usual energy bounded out and caught his bus to school, while Susan got picked up by some friends to go to class.
Gloria checked out her image. Not bad for forty-two. Diet and exercise had kept her figure slim, and she had an elegant one - she was tall at five foot nine, and her dark hair was lovely with only a few touches of gray. Perhaps she should dye it, but her boss thought people who dyed their hair were frivolous.
Gloria got in her five year-old Chevy sedan and drove to her job as executive secretary to Mr. Stan Kirk, senior VP, Universe Transmission. He was a great boss, and she thought him a kind man and not unattractive, but she was never going get herself in the position where a man could hurt her again! Her former husband had been a major ass hole! He had cheated and abused her.
Stan smiled as his tall, elegant secretary came into his office, and they began discussing the day's projects. He had been unmarried all his life; he was rather shy when he was young, and then he became so focussed on his career that the years had flown by. Now he was forty-five, and without any relationships other than at work. He always admired Gloria; not only for her looks, but more importantly, she was honest and intelligent. He had a bit of crush on her, but she such a bad experience with her first marriage he knew she didn't want another relationship, and so they were just good friends.
At lunch, Gloria's mind drifted, and she paid no attention to the chatter around her. What an extraordinary thing - magic had come into her life! She thought she would only work until retirement, living through her kids and hopefully grandchildren. Her life was steady as a locomotive on a track. Now she had a chance to jump the rails. It was wonderful of Susan to offer to swap bodies. It would be nice to be young again. And also, it was so very flattering that her daughter trusted her enough that she would entrust her young body to her!
But - still - she thought about it.
"Gloria, your head is in the clouds today!" laughed Mr. Kirk.
* * * * * * *
Jeff laughed at his mother and sister as they talked about the coming body swap. Women fuss so! It was, "Oh darn, I forgot to tell you about that. And I have a church social on Saturday - what about that?"
Gloria hadn't yet fully made up her mind whether to swap bodies with her daughter, and it was Thursday night. Then she overheard her children talking to each other - arguing, really - as usual!
"Boy, sis, you're really sucking up big time - making so much out of this medallion and offering to trade bodies with Mom!"
"Well, Mr. Smarty Pants, what have you ever done for Mom except make messes around the house? I'll be amazed if you don't turn out like Dad."
This made Jeff furious. He hated his dad. The man had abused them all. There had even been a warrant out for his arrest, and he had skipped the country. He had been killed in Mexico over some sort of falling out among smugglers.
Jeff pushed his sister, and she pushed back. They glared at each other. He saw a chance to look good, and with no danger of ever having to put his money where his mouth was. "Look, if Mom would want, she could have my body instead of yours! But of course she wouldn't want to be a boy!"
A light went off in Susan's head. She was inspired. Gracefully, she walked into the living room, dragging her brother behind her. She then told her mom about the suggestion Jeff had just made.
"Why, Jeff, thank you for the offer! What a wonderful Mother's Day present. Much better than your usual skillet! I would love to take you up on it. It would offer me a new perspective - what makes you tick. I understand Susan very well - after all, I was a nineteen year-old girl once, myself. But I've never been a teenage boy. Also, it will be nice to be a big, strong man like you! It's very kind of you, Jeff!"
Susan laughed delightedly. "This should be good!" she said, gloatingly.
Gloria embraced her stunned son. He gulped, fighting to find his voice! "Gee, Mom, you don't want to be a guy!"
"Of course I do! This will also help you, young man."
"ME?"
"Of course, it will help you IMMENSELY! I suspect, like most teenage boys - or even grown men - you are in a fog when it comes to understanding women. Being one even for a weekend will help you the rest of your life." She embraced her stunned son again, and Susan hid a smile. "Thanks again for your kind offer of your body. It will be a nice change to be a strong young man - even if for only a weekend! Just be a good boy, and make an itinerary - you know your plans and commitments for Friday morning through Sunday night! And I will do the same."
She gently shoved her son out the door, and then she and Susan collapsed, laughing.
Gasping, Susan said, "Mom, are you are really going to do it?" Her mother nodded, looking years younger than her forty-two, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, this is priceless; I'm going to take LOTS of pictures. What a hold I will have on Jeff!"
"Now don't go overboard - after all, he is your brother."
"I wish you wouldn't keep reminding me - I always try and forget it!"
Meanwhile, Jeff was muttering over and over as he wrote down class schedules and about his baseball game Saturday. "Mom will ruin me - just ruin me - oh God, I have a date with Cindy! Mom will probably act like a sissy at school. I'll never live it down! Why couldn't I keep my big mouth shut? Mom was right, my big mouth is going to get me in trouble one day!"
Helplessly, he let himself be embraced at bedtime. He wore a robe, as did his mom. It was decided they should spend the night as each other to help them get used to it before facing the world Friday morning. He felt himself changing. He closed his eyes.
In about fifteen minutes, he felt his arm being gently shaken, and heard a young man's voice say, "It's over now, Jeff."
He opened his eyes to see his former body smiling kindly at him. It was wearing his mom's light blue robe. His sister was doubled over with laughter. "How do you feel, MOM?"
"Behave yourself, Susan," said his mother in a young male voice. "It's going to be tough enough on Jeff without you teasing."
"Spoil sport!"
Jeff was drawn to the mirror. He found himself moving with an easy grace, rather than his usual hell bent for leather dash. Wide-eyed, he stared at his mother's face and elegant figure in the mirror. He shook his head, and her long, dark hair flowed like a cloud. He missed his crew cut already.
They went into Gloria's bedroom. Susan protested, but was excluded. But after she left, she listened at the key hole. She grinned after a whiny Jeff went through mutual schedules.
"Jesus H. Christ! You mean I have to go to a church supper Saturday night, and I'm - you're on the committee to raise funds!"
It was so weird to hear her mom's usually measured and smooth tones being used by a whiny teenage boy! Then she laughed to hear her mother use Jeff's voice, reasoning and calming. Susan had to put her hand over her mouth, but she still giggled.
The door flew open. Her brother's body was standing there, looking sternly at her. "Just what part of leave and go to your room didn't you understand, young lady?"
Susan couldn't help herself, she went into whoops! It was just too funny, seeing her brother behaving like a mature woman.
Gloria got mad, and then she grew thoughtful. She turned back and said to an indignant Jeff, "We are going to have to do a better job of acting like each other, dear - I mean, Mom."
Jeff grew thoughtful, as did Gloria. Then Gloria added, "We're going to need your cooperation, Susan. Until we swap back, try and call me Jeff, and try to act like I'm your brother. Also, call Jeff Mother or Mom, and treat him with respect - just as you would me."
Jeff grinned with his mother's lips. He moved forward and grasped Susan by the shoulders, then propelled her out. "Yes, try and behave with the proper respect, young lady."
Susan didn't know whether to laugh or get mad.
The next morning, Jeff woke up and stretched. God, did he have to go to the bathroom! He remembered having the weirdest dream - he and his mother had switched bodies! What would the school counselor make of that, he shuddered to think. Well, he just wouldn't tell anybody of his foolish dream. When he stretched, he felt his BREASTS MOVE. Shit. Double shit, with runny buggers on it! It was a dream...WASN'T IT?!
He rushed to the mirror - there his mother's body appeared. 'I look awful,' Jeff thought, and put up a hand to smooth the tangled hair. "What am I doing?" he whispered. Shit. Double shit. He had to piss big time. He didn't have sixteen year-old kidneys any more. Sitting down was so humiliating!
After washing up, Jeff's former head stuck itself through the door. This Jeff smiled sweetly, and called out, "Time for you to start our breakfast, Mom!"
Kids. Jeff thought, 'Why can't those kids get their own breakfast?' He slipped on his mother's mules, and clattered into the kitchen. Thank God, he had practiced in heels last night.
"Bacon, with eggs over easy, 'Mom'," said the apparent Jeff with a grin.
"Me, too!" sang out Susan. "Hang the diet for once!" Having her brother make her breakfast was too good an opportunity to pass up.
Jeff gave her a dirty look, but started the breakfast. Surprisingly, he did better than expected.
"Don't leave the table without cleaning off your dishes!" he ordered, and was glad to see both his tormentors start doing so guilty.
After brushing his mother's teeth, he started putting on makeup with his mother's help. "Do I really have to go to work?" he whined.
Gloria nodded. "Yes, Mr. Kirk is out of town today, and you have to take messages and keep him informed if there is an emergency."
Getting into his mother's clothes, even with her help, was a real chore. As they struggled with the bra, they heard a click. Susan was grinning at them. She had taken a picture! Then she ran for it. On went the silk panties (how humiliating!), on went the garter belt (how humiliating!) and then the nylons! He ruined one pair before he was able to slide them onto his now smooth, silky legs. He struggled into the skirt, and then the blouse with the buttons on the wrong side (how humiliating!).
He noticed his mother had a hard time keeping from laughing.
"It took me only five minutes to get ready for school in your body!" she bragged.
Jeff gave her a much nastier look than he would have been able to manage with his own body.
But she only laughed and skipped out of the room. "Bye, 'Mom', I have to catch the bus."
Part 2
Jeff looked at himself in the mirror. He did look pretty good, he thought, in his mother's best gray suit and gleaming black high heeled pumps that set off his new legs. Absently, he patted loose hairs into place, and sailed out the door. At least he got to drive the car. He had problems right away, though; working the pedals in high heels was tricky, to say the least. This made his driving more than a bit erratic. Jeff got yelled at for being a woman driver, and his cheeks burned with shame.
He had been to his mother's work before, and so Jeff had little difficulty finding her office. He sat down with a sigh of relief, then put away her purse in the bottom draw. Jeff fought the feeling that everyone was staring at him and knew who he was; he knew it was foolish, but...
Fortunately, he knew how to type from school - his mother had insisted he learn, saying college will be a lot easier. So he found typing up the correspondence easy. He also found he could type faster and more accurately in his mother's body.
The phone rang. Shit! What was he supposed to say, he thought, panicking. The phone seemed to ring more insistently. Then it came to him. "Mr. Kirk's office, Mrs. Chambers speaking. No sir, I'm sorry, he is in Detroit today. Yes, I will take a message."
He wrote rapidly, and was surprised to find it was not only in his mother's handwriting, but also in shorthand! He didn't think he knew it that well! And so it went - typing and messages. Shit, he had to go the bathroom. Without thinking, he also barged into the men's room! Gulping, he quickly left and went to the right room, cursing at how much trouble taking a piss could be. Jeff also felt uncomfortable around so many women, some half undressed. His mom seemed to be popular, and he got smiles and greetings, like, "Hi, Gloria!" which he smilingly returned, but without names. In the stall (which he had to wait for) down went the skirt - down went the panties! 'Three more days of this, three more days!' he thought morosely.
Mr. Kirk called, and Jeff gave him his messages. "Thanks, Gloria, I don't know what I would do without you!"
The praise made Jeff feel good. His lunch did not - cottage cheese, yet! YUCK!
* * * * * * *
Gloria felt strange going back to high school - especially as her son - but didn't want to embarrass Jeff, so she kept her mouth shut as much as possible. The teachers were surprised how much more polite and knowledgeable Jeff was today. Then came gym. Why hadn't she gotten Jeff to write her an excuse! Well, it was too late now! She hadn't counted on the fact that her handwriting was now Jeff's, almost an illegible scrawl!
God, did the men's locker room smell! Didn't these boys EVER taken gym clothes home to be washed? The boys jostled each other, and Gloria was bumped into a locker; without thinking, she pushed back. Other guys broke it up.
Gloria was surprised how fast and strong she was now. She had never been able to climb a rope before, but now she went up one like a great ape from the Tarzan flics! And she ran the hundred yard dash in 10.5 seconds! She didn't look forward to showering with the guys, but she tried her best not to look. Not much to look at, anyway! She got kidded because she washed her hair.
"Leave him alone, he's trying to impress Cindy!" laughed Jeff's friend, Mark.
Gloria found herself blushing. After school, she went with a bunch of girls and guys over to the local hangout and pigged out on burgers, fries and a malt. No wonder he didn't eat much supper on Friday night! Of course, whenever she asked him if he'd spoiled his dinner, he had looked guileless and said, "Of course not, Mom!"
Suddenly Gloria felt uncomfortable, as Cindy wedged herself up against her, and Gloria felt herself get an erection. Cindy noticed it too, and smiled smugly. "Think your mother will give you a car for our date, tomorrow?" she asked 'Jeff'.
"I think so," said 'Jeff' with a secret smile.
"Good, I told you how to handle the old nag."
'So that's what Jeff told Cindy I was!' She started to get mad, but controlled herself. What else is a teenage boy going to say?
She got home, to see Susan laughing at Jeff nursing her feet. 'Not my feet now,' thought Gloria.
"Mom, how do you stand wearing heels all day?" he whined. Gloria just smiled.
Well, Susan had a date. Her boyfriend, Bob, stopped by to pick her up, and Jeff felt weird to be treated with such respect and be called Mrs. Chambers. The real Mrs. Chambers talked over their respective days. Then Jeff turned on the TV and watched an old movie. Since he now was well over twenty-one, he decided to have a drink, so he had a glass of his mother's sherry. At first she protested, but all he had to do was raise an eyebrow at her and she stopped. As he sipped, Jeff's attention wandered - he loved John Wayne, but now he thought the movie stupid, and he squirmed. His mother, though, was really getting into it. Weird.
He did take pleasure in sending his mother to bed early. Then he had another drink, and following his mother's directions, took his makeup off with cold cream. A shower felt good, but he felt very guilty soaping and washing down his mother's body.
The next morning, the new Jeff had to be driven to a softball game, and then the new Gloria had to do grocery shopping. Jeff made a sulky, protesting Susan clean the house. He smiled his mother's best reasonable smile, and said, "Now, dear, tomorrow is Mother's Day, after all. Don't you want to do your part?"
Susan glared at him, but started cleaning. Then she was going out on another date. As they would all be out of the house most of the day and night, they decided to put the medallion in the glove compartment of the Chevy.
He sighed with longing as he dropped 'Jeff' off at the game, and saw 'him' run toward his friends. Did he used to have so much energy? He sure hoped Mom wouldn't disgrace him, but there was nothing he could do. He watched, and found himself cheering when 'Jeff' hit a double, driving in the winning run! Just like at work the day before, all he had to do was stop trying to think how to do things, and let 'her' body do what came naturally. She felt right at home cheering for her son! Then she left to go shopping, as 'Jeff' was going out to have burgers afterwards with the coach - who owned the local Steak and Shake!
Gloria found it a lot of fun playing softball. She struck out the first time, but then after relaxing, she hit two doubles. Jeff's body knew what to do. She just had to not think 'she', but naturally think 'he', and everything went perfectly. He played left field and staggered a little, but caught everything hit his way. It was great. Just before she left to go shopping, Gloria thanked Jeff for letting him have this special day!
Without thinking, Jeff kissed him with tears in her eyes. This caused some of the guys to good naturally kid him, but Gloria just laughed it off, by saying, "You know mothers! Don't you guys still get kissed by your mothers?" A shamefaced silence told him that they did, of course. Mothers are mothers. It's a universal constant.
Jeff found herself doing well; she thought she would be more bored, but found satisfaction in comparing brands and prices and coming home with what her family needed for the next week. Grandmother was coming over at 6 Sunday evening, and they needed a good meal. More importantly, Jeff would be back in her own body before that. Noon on Sunday was when they'd decided to swap back. Whew! She would certainly be glad to get her body back!
Jeff felt funny being so OLD! Now she got tired easily, and she grunted just lifting grocery bags that she could as Jeff lift with one hand. She also had to be so careful as to not break a nail. A guy driving up in a T-bird was kinda cute, Jeff thought absently.
Judy Thorson came by to pick her up for the church supper. She was such a good friend. "My, you look extra nice tonight, Gloria!" said Judy, admiringly. She was wondering if her friend was finally interested in some guy. Maybe her nice boss, Stan Kirk. It was obvious that the poor man had had a crush on Gloria for years!
"Thank you!" That was nice to hear. Jeff had taken pains with her appearance. Turning to the real Gloria, Jeff mischievously said, "Now, be careful with the car, dear. I don't want to find any dents or scratches on it when I get home."
The teen's face grimaced, but Gloria whined convincingly, "Awe, Mom, you're treating me like a little kid!"
Jeff felt kinda good. She had dressed with care in her best Sunday clothes. The golden earrings she had found in the back of the jewelry chest really were attractive. She wondered why Mom didn't show herself off more? Even Judy had noticed the difference.
Lots of people were milling around, and Jeff saw that her boss was here. Gloria had warned Jeff that Mr. Kirk sometimes came to the meetings. He smiled at Jeff, and Jeff thought him warm and attractive. She shook her head. What a weird thought. Still, she walked gracefully over to him, and said with her charming voice and with a smile, "Hello, Mr. Kirk. How was Detroit?"
"Borings, as always. In their $20,000 suites, the automakers always cry poverty!"
They both laughed together. "Now, Gloria, how many times must I remind you it's Stan away from the office?"
"Sorry, Stan." Jeff found herself smiling and blushing.
* * * * * * *
The real Gloria was tooling along with Cindy. They went to the drive-in, but soon went to Make Out Point, as they couldn't keep their minds on the movie, after making out for fifteen minutes! 'This should be interesting!' thought Gloria.
It was! God, making out with a girl was wild. Male hormones were so damn strong. Cindy guided Gloria's hands to her tits! Wow! Both of them groaned. Of course, Gloria knew how to make a woman feel good! Then Gloria was all over a panting Cindy.
"Jeff, what's gotten into you?! You used to be so shy and clumsy! Now you really know how to turn a girl on!"
'I should,' thought the new 'Jeff'. 'I used to be one.' God, was sex as a guy great! Thank God there were rubbers in Jeff's wallet! 'I'll have say something to Jeff when we change back,' Gloria thought afterwards. Cindy snuggled up to him, and soon they were at it again!
What a time! They drove down past the lake, with Cindy still stroking his dick, and giggling as it got hard again. Gloria groaned, and unconsciously twisted the wheel.
"Look out!" screamed a panicky Cindy.
The car careened down the bank toward the lake!
* * * * * * *
"Mrs. Chambers, there is an important call for you."
Jeff wondered what could it be. With her high heels clicking, she walked over to the phone, her boss beside her.
"This is Dr. Zink, at St. John's Hospital; try to remain calm, Mrs. Chambers, your son is here. He's unconscious, but we don't think it's too serious."
Jeff almost fainted, and Stan supported her.
"How bad is it?"
"We don't know yet, please get over here as soon as possible. Get a friend to drive you."
"What happened?"
"Your son drove your car into the lake. A passenger, a Cindy Mach, was with him. She's okay - except for having hysterics."
Jeff's face was white as snow. She found herself weeping. "I hope he's all right!"
"We think he'll be okay, but we can't be totally sure yet."
Jeff hung up the phone, and looked imploring at Stan. A few words, and he was driving her with speed and skill. Before leaving, she asked Judy to get in touch with Susan - she was at the college, watching a play, Lystratra.
She felt Stan's arm a real comfort on the way to his Cadillac, and later going into the emergency room.
She looked down at her former face, and thought how pale he looked. Her hands trembled as she touched the forehead. God, what would happen if her mother died? Jeff started weeping. Stan put his arm around her. It felt good. Dr. Zink came in. "Good news, no broken bones - just a mild concussion. When he wakes up, he'll have a headache, but will be fine."
"Thank God!" Jeff clutched at Stan's hand for support.
Susan came in a bit later, and was relieved to find out her 'brother' was okay. A sudden thought stuck her. "Where is the car?" she asked the doctor.
"The police towed it to the station. Fortunately, there was no alcohol involved; otherwise, your brother could be in big trouble."
"I'll be right back, Mom. You stay with Jeff."
Jeff hardly heard her. She stayed by the boy's side, holding his hand. Stan was holding hers. About an hour later, Susan came back in, looking grim. "Mr. Kirk, could I have a few minutes alone with my mother?"
"Of course, dear. Is anything wrong?"
She just shook her head. After they were alone, Susan took a deep breath, and was about to speak when -
Gloria slowly came awake. His vision cleared; he saw Susan's pretty face staring intently at him looking - well, strange! He heard sobbing, and saw Jeff looking heartbroken.
"Am I badly hurt?" Gloria asked, feeling frightened.
"No, just banged up a little. You can go home in the morning, according to the doctor."
"Then what's wrong with Jeff? Why is she crying, if I'm going to be okay? Her body is just a little banged up. Is she upset about the car?"
"It's the Medallion, it was in the glove compartment, remember? Well, it wasn't recovered. It's somewhere at the bottom of the lake. Now, you're Jeff, and Jeff is our mother for the rest of our lives!"
The new Jeff looked guilty as hell. "I'm so sorry, honey! I never thought! You're losing almost thirty years!"
"Don't I know it!" Jeff, now Gloria, feverishly sobbed. With an effort, she pulled herself together. "Well, at last you weren't badly hurt, dear. That's the important thing."
"What about Cindy?"
"She's okay. She wants to see you. I'll send her in," said Jeff, trying to bring her sobs under control. She went out, than came back in with Cindy and Stan.
"Thanks, Mrs. Chambers!"
Jeff winced. That's who she was, now and forever more - her mother, Mrs. Gloria Chambers.
Cindy ran over and hugged her boyfriend. "I feel so guilty! I love you so much! Thank God you're okay."
"Anything I can do, Gloria?" asked Stan.
She turned at the sound of her name. "Just hold me, Stan. Just hold me."
Stan thought, 'Well, some good has come out of the bad. Now Gloria needs me as a man.' "Of course, Gloria. Of course."
Susan took her hand. "It could have been worse, Mom. It could have been worse. I'll help out all I can."
The new mother looked at her son, Jeff. A very emotional Cindy was kissing him. He seemed to be enjoying it.
1975
What a day that had been, thought Gloria! Well, they all had adjusted - they had to. She had taken comfort in Stan's attentions, support and love. They had married two months later. Life was easier than before because she had a man, a real man, and also, it didn't hurt one bit that Stan was very well off. Not that that was the reason she married him. She needed him and his love, and she did love him as well. It was just that having money for the first time in their lives had made things EASIER!
Her daughter, Susan, went on to a better university, and became a doctor - who would have thought - at the time, women doctors were rare. Susan had married Christian Yardley, the only son of THE Yardley's - old money. She and her husband had two adorable children, a boy and a girl. The girl, Stacy, was already engaged. Gloria hoped to live long enough to have great-grand kids.
Jeff had done okay. Ironically, he became an automotive engineer. Her husband, Stan, had helped her son so much. Cindy and Jeff stayed sweethearts, and got married; they have four adorable kids. Jeff and Cindy claim she spoils them rotten!
Stan and she have been happily married for almost twenty years now. She had been happy to give him the son he so desperately wanted, although at her age, the pregnancy had been a difficult one. Now her baby was almost nineteen, and married to a girl Gloria didn't think was good enough for him, but that's what mother's usually think. He was too young to get married, anyway, but kids don't listen to their parents anymore!
At times, she really misses not having her youth and the lost thirty or so years, but things could have been worse. She smiles at her husband. At least she had his support - especially during those first truly dreadful years.
Jeff bounces in, thirty-six and vigorous. He kisses her cheek. "Happy Mother's Day!" he says.
The End
(Thanks as always to Steve Zink, he makes me look good. This story is dedicated to Morpheus, who writes such great tales of understanding between parents and children, and Femur for his great site. Also, a nod to Raven's great story 13.)