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Fresh Start By Julie O Synopsis: Dr. Liz Reid takes a job at a spa following the death of her husband. For her son Josh, the trip will result in a life changing experience. Fresh Start By Julie O Edited and with menus by Amelia R. Chapter 1 Eighteen-year-old Josh Reid stared out the window of his mother's Land Rover as they drove towards their new home. He was lost in thought about how much his life had changed in the last year. His life had changed dramatically when he and his mom had answered the door and seen an army chaplain standing there. Josh instantly knew that his dad, Major Travis Reid, had been killed in Afghanistan. Josh had seen the article on the Internet that morning. The article didn't give the names of the soldiers killed in the explosion, but it did mention they were in the same Pennsylvania National Guard unit to which his father was assigned. The next few days were a blur and Josh only remembered bits and pieces. There had been the military funeral and the uncomfortable family reunion that it initiated. Josh had quickly gotten annoyed with being told how proud he must be and how awful he must feel. They had no idea. The questions and comments, while well meaning, were so degrading, he thought. Of course I was proud of my dad, it didn't take his death to do that, he thought. Do I feel awful? What do you think? he thought each time he was asked the same question. Josh was proud of the way his mom had handled everything from the funeral to the sudden celebrity status their loss had given them. She had always known this could happen. In fact, she had met his dad when she had been on active duty herself. Liz Reid had once been an army doctor and had fallen instantly in love with the dashing young second lieutenant who had been brought into her emergency room with a broken leg. He had broken it while playing football for his unit's team. He also was immediately smitten with the gorgeous brunette. Six months later they were married. Josh, their only child, was born in an army hospital in Germany a year later. After a decade of moving around at the army's whim, they'd settled in the Philadelphia suburbs. Josh considered himself as an "overly average teenager" in his own words. However he was an excellent student and participated in several clubs and sports. His main interest was writing, and he was the assistant editor for the school paper. He was also an avid reader. Josh wasn't just a bookworm; he loved running and often went on long runs with his parents. He had a runner's body and was thin and athletic, like his mom. In fact, they were the same height. Both were five-ten. Travis was six-two and had often kidded them about being able to borrow each other's sweats. Liz was now out of the service and only worked part-time at a local clinic. Travis was also out of active duty, but stayed in the reserves. He was assigned to work with a guard unit. When they were activated, he willingly went along. Josh understood fully. While he had no plans to join the military, he knew the obligations that went with the uniform. Following the announcement of the death of his father, Josh became instantly sick of the hypocrites at his school. He had always downplayed the fact that his dad was overseas. Both his parents had brought him up to respect other people's opinions, and he had heard the entire gamut while at school. He felt they were entitled to their opinion, just as he was entitled to his own. Still, he was nauseated by those teachers he saw on TV eagerly praising his father. Both extremes of the political spectrum sickened him. Josh shook his head at seeing his English teacher talk about how proud the whole school was of Josh's father, when just two weeks earlier he had heard her making derogatory comments about the military. The principal wasn't any better, and he was a retired marine. He called Josh into his office and told him how his father would want him to "march on" and not let his death trip up Josh's academic plans. Josh just nodded and walked out. Two weeks after the funeral, Josh's mom sat him down in their living room. "I've been offered a job," she announced. Josh nodded. "You're going back to being a doctor fulltime?" Liz nodded. Josh smiled back. "Good." He had been worried that she might withdraw into grief. "You're no fun! Don't you want to hear about the job first?" she asked. "Please! I've spent the last couple of hours coming up with reasons." It struck Josh that this meant that the job wasn't in the Philadelphia area. "Okay. So, where is the job?" Liz smiled. "New Mexico." "Really? What sort of job is it?" asked Josh excitedly. This was totally unexpected and it actually thrilled him. He had always wanted to see the west. "An old friend from college is opening up a new spa north of Santa Fe. She wants me to be the resort's house doctor," replied Liz. She pulled out a thick pamphlet showing off the resort. "You remember my old friend, Judy, don't you?" Josh nodded and picked up the pamphlet. He then began to page through it. "Looks pretty nice." "I know. In addition to the job, they're also offering us a cottage." "Wow! That's great," replied Josh. "You don't mind?" she asked. Josh shook his head. "No. I understand that things have changed. So when are we moving?" Liz smiled and hugged her son. "The resort doesn't open to the public until mid-summer. We can go out as soon as school lets out." Josh nodded. Normally the idea of moving just before his senior year in high school would have been appalling, but Josh wanted a change. "What about the schools?" "There are options," answered Liz. "The closest town is over forty minutes away, in good weather. They have a high school." "That sounds like a long haul everyday. Do I get my own car?" asked Josh with a wink. Liz laughed. She was pleased with Josh's reaction. "No. However, there's a bus that runs to the school. I did mention options. How do you feel about home schooling?" Josh raised an eyebrow. "You're on pace to graduate early anyway. All you need is a few credits. I've talked to Judy and she says that several of the fulltime staff plan on homeschooling. It's up to you," she stated. "I'm not sure about ages and grades, but at least there'd be some other kids around, and maybe someone to study with." Josh looked at the photos of the beautiful hills that the resort was nestled in. There were mountains in the background and it looked so serene. He was just a few credits shy of graduating. He had planned this so that his senior year would be very easy. It would have allowed him to spend time working on the paper. "You don't have to make up your mind today," stated Liz. "Cool. I want to go, but I want to wait until we get out there before making up my mind on the school options," replied Josh. That had been three months ago, and now they were passing through Santa Fe. "We'll be there in an hour. Do you feel like stopping or do you want to press on?" asked Liz. "I say press on!" replied Josh. He smiled at his mom's use of "press on." It had been his dad's favorite saying. This was the first time that she had used it since his death. Chapter 2 "Liz! You made it!" an overly enthusiastic blonde woman greeted his mom. Her skin was tanned dark from years in the sun. "Welcome to Caldera de Gaia Spa!" Josh watched as his mom hugged the other woman. He figured that she was her old friend, Judy. Josh was surprised at how much younger she looked than his mom. He was under the impression that they were the same age, but Judy looked at least ten years younger -- not that his mom looked old! "And you must be Josh," welcomed the woman. "You have the same hair color!" "Josh, this is Judy, my boss," stated Liz. Judy was in the middle of giving Josh a huge hug. She looked over her shoulder at Liz. "Oh, please! Don't call me your boss!" "Well, you are!" replied Liz with a grin. "Just promise me that you'll call me Judy and not Ms. Ramone," stated Judy. "Okay, just as long as you don't call me Dr. Reid," replied Liz. "Deal! Now, have you eaten yet?" asked Judy. They shook their heads. "Okay, let's go eat. I didn't know when you'd be arriving, but I have everything standing by. I have some shish kabobs ready to throw on the grill as soon as the coals get hot," stated Judy. "I'll take you to your cottage after we eat." "Are you still planning on opening next month?" asked Liz. "Yes. I would have liked to have opened sooner, but we had some construction delays. The good news is that I hiring our employees," stated Judy. Over dinner she showed them a map of the complex. There were ten guest cottages in addition to the main lodge that had thirty rooms. "The two main highlights of the spa are the hot mineral pools and the mud baths," stated Judy. "If we're successful, I plan on adding more guest cottages and rooms." "People actually pay to have a mud bath?" asked Josh. Judy nodded. "Absolutely. One of the benefits of your mom working here is that you'll have access to all our facilities." "The mineral water baths sound nice, but I'm not so sure what's relaxing about sitting in mud," replied Josh. "The mud is warmed and contains minerals that help revitalize the skin. My family has owned this land for decades and I've been soaking in the mud since I was a kid," explained Judy. Josh nodded. "Where do you get the mud?" asked Liz. "There's an old dry creek bed that runs through the property. The hot springs are next to it. Native American women would gather the dirt from the creek bed and use the water from the mineral springs to make a therapeutic mud. They would use it to heal all sorts of ailments. But mainly it was used in fertility rights," explained Judy. "I'm not sure how much of Grandma's story is true, but it's a nice tale to tell the tourists. I do know that it's very relaxing." Judy went on to tell how the dirt would be gathered and then recycled. The clients would first have to take a shower before entering the mud baths. Afterwards the mud would be spread out on a nearby hill to dry out. "What's interesting is that the potency of the minerals in the mud doesn't seem to diminish, even after multiple uses," explained Judy. "What do the baths look like?" asked Liz. "They're large copper kettles! There was a chocolate factory that went out of business, and I was able to buy them as scrap. We have them hinged, so that we can just dump out the mud after we're done. The copper also allows us to control the heat of the mud more accurately," stated Judy. "I can't wait to see them," stated Liz. After dinner Judy showed them their cottage. It was a nice three bedroom building connected to the spa's clinic. In keeping with the southwestern theme, all the buildings were adobe with tile floors. "This is wonderful," remarked Liz as she entered their new home. The house was fully furnished. "I was hoping you'd like it," replied Judy. "Once your furniture arrives, we can move this stuff out." "I don't know, it looks nicer than some of our things," joked Liz. Josh began carrying in their bags. He had to admit that it was really nice. He was especially pleased to see that Judy had already had the cable TV and high speed Internet installed. He checked out his room. It was very spacious and had doors that opened out to its own deck. He also had his own bathroom. This wouldn't be so bad, he thought. "Where do you live, Judy?" asked Liz. "I'm in the house over there," replied Judy. "It's not that big, but then again I don't need a lot of room. Besides, if I have guests over, I do have the rest of the resort!" Judy explained that there were ten other homes that would eventually be occupied by fulltime employees. She then listed them off. All Josh caught was that their neighbors would be two women on the right hand side and a husband, wife and daughter to their left. The two women were in charge of the spas. Tara was the head masseuse, and her partner, Cari, ran the mud spas and mineral baths. Cody and Hannah Dylan were old friends of Judy's. Cody was the entertainment director and ran all the outdoor activities. Hannah was the head chef. Josh was pleased to learn that they had a daughter his age. Her name was Lindsey. "The Dylans won't get here until tomorrow. They're moving here from Seattle," explained Judy. "However, Tara and Cari are here. I'll introduce you to them at breakfast." Josh nodded. Mom had told him Judy liked the staff to have breakfast together each morning. "I'll introduce the rest of the staff to you then. The fridge is full, just in case you didn't get enough at dinner. I'll see you in the morning. Damn, Liz, it's great to see you again," exclaimed Judy as she hugged Liz again. She also gave Josh a big hug before departing. As they unpacked, Josh turned to his mom. "Has she always been so shy?" Liz laughed. "Oh yes! I've told you how we met?" "Not in the past twenty-four hours," replied Josh with a grin. Liz threw a pillow at her son. Liz had first met Judy while they were at college. They were on the same dorm floor and had equally annoying roommates. They were trading tales of whose roommate was worst when Judy suggested that they move in with each other. Within a week they were sharing a small apartment off campus. By the time Liz entered med school, they had moved to a large house along with two cats and a mixed lab-setter. Judy had also been Liz's maid of honor when she married Travis. Judy had married well and often, and had come out of her three marriages quite wealthy. She'd invested all her funds into the creation of the resort. She had inherited the land from her grandparents. Judy had called Liz after the funeral and offered her the position. It wasn't out of pity; rather Judy was giving her friend a chance to heal. Liz appreciated this offer and was happy that Josh was willing to make the move. Later in the evening, mother and son sat out on the main deck and absorbed the silence of the early evening. It was very peaceful and serene. "I'm glad we came out here, Mom," stated Josh. "Me too. I have a feeling this is going to be a good move for both of us," she replied. She sipped her coffee. There was a long silence. "I miss Dad," stated Josh. "So do I, honey," replied Liz, as she reached over and took his hand into hers. Josh knew no other words were necessary. Chapter 3 Josh and Liz walked up to the main building for breakfast. It was set up as a buffet, and Judy greeted them as they got in line. "Did you sleep well?" she asked. "It was almost too quiet," replied Liz. An attractive woman with a long raven colored ponytail started laughing. "Everyone says that when they first get up here." Josh wondered if she was Native-American. "Hi, I'm Tara, you must be Liz and Josh," she greeted. "I'm so happy to meet our new neighbors." She was joined by a blonde haired, blue eyed woman. She had the brightest blue eyes that Josh had ever seen. Both women looked to be in their early thirties. Tara introduced her as Cari. The fact that they were obviously partners didn't faze Josh all that much. Even though his parents were from a military background, they were also very open-minded. Besides, they seemed like two nice women, thought Josh; what should it matter if they were also in love? Over breakfast Judy introduced Liz and Josh. There were too many people for him to keep straight, so he just focused on a few. There was Gregory, the head groundskeeper and maintenance man and his wife, Maria. She was in charge of the housekeeping staff. Josh was pleased that everyone seemed so friendly. He found out that Gregory and Maria had three children and that they would be home schooled at the resort. Gregory was a large muscular man. He had the look of a man who had worked with his hands his entire life. "It may not seem like it right now, but winter can get nasty up here. I don't like the idea of my kids traveling on the roads for nearly an hour each way, every day," remarked Gregory. "Besides, with the knowledge of the staff we have here, we're better off than most schools," added Tara. It turned out that several of the staff had been teachers. Josh began to think that it might not be so bad to spend his last few months of school here. Besides, as he wanted to be a writer, this place seemed to be a great place to people watch. "Liz, do you and Josh need anything?" asked Maria. "I think we just need to learn our way around right now," she replied. "I'll be giving them the tour this morning, but I fully expect you all to show them your own special parts of the resort," interjected Judy. "You want to try one of our mud baths?" asked Cari. "I can't wait!" replied Liz. "What about you, Josh?" asked Cari. "You should try it, Josh. It really feels good," piped in Gregory. "I get one once a week." Josh shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, why not?" He figured if the muscular man liked them, then what was the harm? "Great. Why don't you come by this afternoon, say around three?" asked Cari. Josh nodded. "Oh, that reminds me. We're supposed to get a thunderstorm this afternoon. Please keep an eye on the skies; we do get flash-floods around here," warned Judy. "Lightning can also be bad," added Gregory. Over the next three hours, Judy showed off the resort to Liz and Josh. The whole area was landscaped with native plants. Judy had the resort designed in the shape of a wagon wheel. The main building and restaurant were at the center. The different spas were off on their own paths, like spokes from the axle. There were also hiking trails into the hills snaking away from the center. Judy explained that she eventually wanted to have a stable, but that was sometime in the future. "Horses are so expensive to maintain. I'm hoping that one of the local ranches wants to provide the business, even on a part-time basis," she stated. The mineral pools were located to the west of the main building. The mud baths were just to the north of them. Just as Judy had described, there were several large copper kettles that looked over a field, in the distance a mesa rose up, giving whoever was having a mud bath a spectacular view. Cari was adjusting the thermostats of the units as they walked up. "Aren't they something?" she asked as she looked up at them. "They're gorgeous," remarked Liz. She then talked to Cari about the temperature settings. The mud was normally just slightly heated, but could also be kept at ambient temperature, depending on the preference of the guest. "We have a max temperature for all the baths and saunas," stated Cari. "The last thing we want to do is boil someone." "I know that I'll appreciate that," added Liz. "Come on, Doc, don't you want some excitement?" quipped Cari. "Just remember, the less we pay for insurance, the bigger the bonuses will be come the end of the year," interjected Judy. Cari nodded and turned to Josh. "You still coming by at three, Josh?" "Sure, that sounds good." Chapter 4 Liz and Josh ate lunch in their cottage. "Do you think that people will come here?" asked Josh. "Judy says that reservations have been strong, and they even have some weeks sold out." replied Liz. "Wow!" "Caldera de Gaia could become one of the top spas in the southwest. I'm really curious about the effects of the mineral water and the mud baths. I'm also interested in your reactions." "I'll give you a full report," replied Josh. He then noticed a SUV pull into the driveway next to theirs. A man, woman, and teenage girl stepped out of the vehicle and began to stretch. "Looks like our neighbors have arrived." Liz got up and motioned for Josh to follow. Josh's attention was immediately drawn to the pretty red headed girl. She was the same height as he was and looked equally athletic. The Dylans were very pleased to meet their new neighbors. Josh and Liz helped them carry in their bags. "So, when did you get here?" asked Lindsey, as they carried some bags into the cottage. "We got in yesterday," replied Josh. "Oh, so have you had much time to see the resort?" she asked. "We came out here in April for a week. It's pretty nice." "From what I've seen, it's great. I was planning on sampling some of the services this afternoon." "Cool. Which one?" she asked. "The mud bath." "Oh, you'll love it. I had one when I was first out here. It feels like you're in a big bowl of Jell-O!" replied Lindsey with a smile. "You want to join me?" asked Josh hopefully. "I'll try. I have to get unpacked first. If not, we can do it another time." Josh nodded. He really liked her; she seemed very cool. Chapter 5 Josh arrived at the mud bath building at three. The sky was darkening on the horizon, and Josh wondered if they would get a storm. There was no sign of Lindsey, but he wasn't disheartened. He knew he'd see her at dinner. Liz had invited them over for a barbecue. "Hey, Josh, over here!" greeted Cari. Josh saw the blonde woman and walked over to see her. "Since this is your first time, I need to give you some instructions," stated Cari. Over the next thirty minutes, she described the process. The copper tub with the mud was already warming up. After showering, Josh would walk up the steps to the tub. It was elevated three feet off the ground. The tubs faced the mesa and, while the tubs were outside, they were covered by a roof. There was a seat mounted in the tub that would allow Josh to be nearly fully submerged in the mud. "Do you have dandruff?" asked Cari. Josh nodded. "Sometimes." "Okay, I have a great cure. Once you're in the tub, I'll go over your scalp with mud. Believe it or not, it does wonders. I'll also coat your face with mud using a brush. You'll be amazed how refreshed you'll feel afterwards. "When you get out, you'll shower again. The mud will drain to a retaining tank, and it will be reused." Josh nodded. "I heard it sounds like sitting in Jell-O." Cari laughed. "Come to think of it, it does feel like Jell-O." Josh showered and walked up the steps that led to the bath. He was wearing a pair of trunks. Cari said that he could do it the nude, but he wasn't quite ready for that. He dipped one foot in the mud. It felt warm and very comforting. He followed Cari's instructions and eased down into the tub. Soon, only his head was above the mud. It felt very good. Cari told him to close his eyes as she covered his head with mud. She then covered his face with more mud. He reopened his eyes. "You look great. Now just relax. I'll check on you in thirty minutes. If you start feeling too warm, just step out and ring the bell on that rope." She pointed to a lanyard connected to an old fashioned dinner bell. "I'll be in my office should you need anything." Josh had to admit that he could get used to this. The mud seemed to suspend his body in place. This allowed him to totally relax. He stared out towards the mesa and watched the sky darken. Looks like Judy was right, he thought. The storm was heading their way. The wind was picking up, and Josh realized that the storm was approaching much faster than he had thought. He saw some lighting and decided that sitting in a copper tub in a thunderstorm might not be the smartest thing in the world. He was just about to get out when there was a bright flash followed immediately by a deafening sound. Josh sunk into darkness. Chapter 6 "Josh, Josh. Can you hear me?" Josh heard his name, as if it was coming from a long corridor. He tried to reply, but couldn't. He tried to move, but it felt as if his body was being held down. Slowly the cobwebs began to clear in his mind. "Josh, please wake up." The voice was familiar. It was Mom. He must have overslept again. "I don't want to go to school today." Judy looked at Liz. "Did I hear that right?" "It's a good sign. He's gaining consciousness," replied Liz. "Josh, please wake up." No, I'm not late for school, thought Josh. His mind cleared and he struggled to open up his eyes. It was difficult, as if something was holding his eyes closed. "Josh, let me clean off your face," stated Liz. It then hit Josh; he was in a mud bath in New Mexico. But why couldn't he move or see? "What... happened?" he croaked. He could barely move his lips. It felt like concrete was covering his face. "Thank God! Josh, please relax. Lightning struck the building. The tub you're in was also struck. The mud hardened on the surface of the tub, sealing you in. The mud on your face is also rock hard. We're soaking it now." "Okay...." "Are you in pain, honey?" she asked. "No... just... sore." "Good. Okay, we'll have you out soon." Josh recognized a few of the other voices, including Cari, Judy, and Lindsey. He had no choice but to let them try to free him. Soon they had cleared enough of the mud so that he could blink his eyes and open his mouth fully. "Can you move your arms and legs?" asked Liz. It was difficult, as the mud seemed thicker now. "Yes, it's not easy, but I can move around." "Good. That means that only the top has solidified. Gregory is getting some tools, and we'll have you out soon," stated Liz. The top layer of mud had sealed Josh in the tub. "The storm came up so fast. I was on my way back here when the lightning struck. I'm so sorry, Josh," apologized Cari. "It's... okay," replied Josh. His voice sounded funny. He didn't quite sound like himself. He tried to clear his throat. "Can... I have some water?" "I'll take care of that," stated Cari who retrieved a sports bottle full of water. There was a straw attachment that allowed Josh to sip some water. Gregory arrived with some tools. The mud at the top of the tub was as hard as concrete, and Gregory carefully drilled a hole in the top layer. "Josh, I need to see how thick this layer is. Don't worry I won't hurt you." The top layer of mud was almost two inches thick. Gregory decided the best way to break it up was to drill multiple holes and then break off sections. Josh watched as he carefully drilled hole after hole in the mud across from him. Gregory then pried off a section of the top layer. "Okay. I should be able to break you out. I know you want out, but this may take a few minutes. Once we get you freed, we'll take you to the showers, and we'll wash the rest of this stuff off you," stated the large man. Josh nodded. He was starting to feel faint again and did his best to stay awake. He must have passed out because he heard his mom's voice. "Josh, please wake up." "Sorry," he replied. "I feel really weak." He looked around and saw a concerned man standing next to Lindsey; it was her dad. "I know. But you need to try to stay awake," reminded Liz. An hour later he was still stuck in the tub. He was getting a little antsy and couldn't wait to be freed of the mud. "Okay, Josh, once I get this section clear, we should be able to get you out of there," stated Gregory. Josh watched as Gregory carefully drilled just to the right of his neck. The mud prevented Josh from touching his body. It had seemed to form a second skin over his body. He felt sore, and very drained, but otherwise he felt okay. This would make a cool story he thought. Not many people can say they were hit by lightning. "Okay. Cody, can you grab Josh's right arm and I'll grab his left. Lift him carefully," stated Gregory to Mr. Dylan. On the count of three, they lifted him out of the tub. Josh looked down and saw his formless body. The mud seemed to be a part of him. They carried Josh to the shower and sat him down on a plastic lawn chair. "We'll start hosing you clean, Josh," stated Gregory. The mud was slow to wash off. Josh wondered if the lightning had changed its composition. It seemed to want to stick to his body. He looked down at his chest and almost started to laugh. The clinging mud made it look as if he had breasts. Only when the mud was washed off, he did see that he actually had breasts. There was something very wrong, and he suddenly felt panicky. He began to frantically scrape the mud off his body. He had changed! He looked over at his mom, hoping she would say something that would make it all right. His waist was thinner and seemed higher than before. Likewise, his hips seemed wider. Anxiously, he reached down into his trunks. It was gone! "Mom, what's going on?" he cried out. His voice seemed higher pitched. It made him sound panicky. "Calm down, Josh." Josh was about to answer her, but he couldn't. He suddenly felt faint, and he drifted into darkness. Chapter 7 Josh awoke in his bed. It was dark out, and his room was lit by the light on his nightstand. He didn't initially know where he was, and it took him a few moments to clear his head. He sat up in bed and became instantly aware that he had changes. He looked down at the two foreign growths on his chest. They were standing out, pressing his Philadelphia Eagles t-shirt out. He lifted up his shirt and saw that he really had breasts. It hadn't been a dream. He dropped the shirt, and with trepidation he reached down between his legs. He was praying that his cock would be there, and that what he had previously thought he had felt was just an illusion. But instead of the familiar feel of his cock and balls, there was a very unfamiliar slit between his legs. He couldn't believe it and gasped in shock. Liz came in and sat down on the bed next to her child. She put her arms around him and pulled him close. "Mom, what happened?" he begged. "We're not sure." She released Josh. She wished there was something she could say. But what she had seen that afternoon was counter to everything she had learned in medical school. How could someone just change sex? "That's not very reassuring," replied Josh. His voice seemed lighter. There was still a slight masculine pitch to it. He thought he sounded like that singer that his mom liked so much, Melissa something. "I want to give you a complete physical in the morning. I did do a quick check when we brought you in here. Other than the gender change, you don't appear to have any injuries," she explained. "Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?" replied Josh. It was another old family saying. Liz smiled. "I'm going to be honest with you. I don't know how or why this happened. I also don't know any way to reverse this, short of surgery and hormones." Josh remembered the lesson on transsexuals in his honors human sexuality class. While modern surgical science could do a good job on men wanting to be women, the surgery for women wanting to be men still left much to be desired. "You mean that I'm stuck like this?" he replied. She nodded. "I'll know some more after checking you out tomorrow." Josh sighed. "I'm also going to send a sample of that mud to a friend of mine. There must be some chemicals in it that caused your change," continued Liz. "I suppose everyone knows I'm a freak," bemoaned Josh. "You're not a freak. Yes, there were several people there that saw the changes. Judy is calling a meeting tomorrow morning to talk to everyone. If it makes you feel any better, they all seemed sympathetic." Josh shook his head in disbelief. He then became aware of the growing pressure on his bladder. "I have to go," he stated and got out of bed. With his mom's help, he walked to the bathroom. He pulled down his shorts and sat down on the toilet. He stared down between his legs. It was real. He didn't contemplate it too long as he attended to his bodily functions. Liz stood outside the door. She debated what she was about to say, but figured it was necessary. "Honey, you need to use some toilet paper when you're done. Always wipe from front to back." At first what she said didn't make sense, then it hit Josh; this new body required more maintenance. He carefully wiped himself. He couldn't believe this was happening. He didn't feel like a girl, yet he was wiping his vagina clean. Then it hit him that this might just be the start. He pulled up his shorts and stepped out of the bathroom. "Mom, do you think that I've changed completely... I mean, do you think that I've changed inside too?" "I don't know. I'll find out more tomorrow." Josh wondered if he could now become pregnant, not that he wanted to be with a guy. This was too confusing, he thought. He turned and stared at his new image in the mirror. He was the same height at least. His face had changed too. He wasn't totally different, but there were subtle changes. His lips were slightly larger and his cheeks more pronounced. His face looked familiar, and then it came to him. He looked like his mom. He ran his fingers through his hair. It wasn't longer, but it felt thicker. It was still shoulder length as before. Josh held out his arms and saw that they were thinner and less muscular. Something else was different, but it took him a second to figure it out. There was no hair on his arms now. He looked down at his legs and saw they were slim and shapely and also hairless. "I look like you," he commented. "I know. You look like I did when I was your age." "I don't want to be a girl, Mom." Liz nodded. "I know, honey." Josh stood there shaking his head. He was becoming angry. "This isn't fair! First Dad gets killed, and now this. Who did I piss off?" Liz wished she had something to say, but she was equally confused. When she had heard that Josh had been hit by lightning, she'd feared the worst, but she'd had no idea that he would become her daughter. "I don't feel like a girl. I don't like boys. I have no intention of wearing a dress or putting on makeup!" ranted Josh. He then turned to his mom. His lower lip began to quiver and tears began to form in his eyes. "Mom, please make this better." Liz leaned over and pulled Josh close to her. They sat down on the bed, and he began to cry. It was soft at first, as if he was trying to hold the tears back, but it grew into a full flow. Josh was sobbing, and all she could do was to hold him. She couldn't remember the last time that Josh had cried like this. Even when Travis was killed, Josh had maintained emotional control. She wondered if the changes were affecting his emotional state too. Either way, she would be there for him. Eventually, Josh was all cried out. He felt so tired. "For some strange reason, that felt good." "I know. It doesn't make any sense, but a good cry can help sometimes." "Mom, I'm really scared. What will happen to me? What will others think?" She put a finger to his lips. "Josh, you're still my child. I'll be here for you whenever you need me, and I'll help you through this the best I can. Now, we can't solve everything this evening." Josh nodded. "You hungry?" she asked. Josh nodded again. "Okay, why don't we go to the kitchen and see what we can put together." She fixed them each a grilled cheese sandwich and a mug of tomato soup. It had been Travis's favorite comfort food. After dinner they sat together on the couch. "You feel like going to bed?' asked Liz. Josh yawned. "I guess so. Mom... do you mind if I crash in your room tonight? I'll sleep in the chair. I just don't want to be alone tonight. I'm afraid that... well, that maybe the changes aren't done." Liz smiled. "The bed is big enough for both of us." Later that evening, Liz stroked Josh's hair. He was sound asleep and looked content. She hoped that he was having pleasant dreams. She was also glad that Josh was asleep next to her, as she also didn't want to be alone that night. She wondered how Josh would adjust to the changes. It would be difficult for both of them. Eventually, she slowly drifted off to sleep. Chapter 8 Josh woke up early and quietly climbed out his mom's bed. He felt a bit silly about asking to sleep in her room, but then again he had slept the whole night. He walked back to his room and stepped into the bathroom. He stripped off his shorts and t-shirt and shook his head in disbelief. He was definitely a girl. He stared at his reflection and twisted around to re-examine his body. The urge to explore his new body was offset by the feeling that this wasn't really him. He almost felt like he was someone else. "There's no way I'm going to get used to this," he confessed aloud. After he showered he discovered to his frustration that while he was the same height, there was little of his old wardrobe that still fit. His t- shirts were a bit tight in the chest. Even those that weren't physically tight showed off his breasts too much. He had a few oversized t-shirts that had belonged to his dad, and he slipped one on. None of his shorts fit him. They were all too loose or too tight, sometimes both at the same time, depending on what part of his body you were talking about. He picked up the shorts he had been wearing and saw why they fit so well, they were a pair of his mom's running shorts. He let out a loud sigh and slipped them back on. He then reached for his sport sandals and discovered that his feet hadn't changed size. Josh was ready to leave his room when he suddenly realized that he wasn't wearing his watch. He found it on the dresser where he had left it the previous afternoon. It was way too big for his now dainty wrists. Even at the smallest position, the band was too big, and in frustration he flung the watch across the room. "Did that make you feel better?' asked Liz, who was standing in the doorway. "A little," replied Josh. He reached for his throat, as he wasn't used to his new feminine voice. "It looks like we'll need to go shopping," she replied. "I just need some new shorts," replied Josh. "I'm afraid you'll need a lot more than that." "I'm not wearing a dress!" he snapped back. He then realized that he'd lost his temper. "Sorry." "Look, honey, I know this is difficult, but you'll survive. I'm going to be with you all the way." Josh nodded. "You're going to need a new wardrobe: tops, shorts, pants, panties, bras, and other things." "Panties? Why can't I just wear briefs?" "Panties are designed for your body. You want to be comfortable don't you?" Josh nodded. "You now have a female body. You need to wear clothing that is designed for it. We're talking practicality here." "I'm not sure about the bra," he stated. "Trust me on this one, Josh. You need a bra. You look slightly smaller than me; that would make you a 36-B. I'll take your measurements before I go shopping, just to make sure." "This sucks," he stated casually and sat down hard on his bed. Liz sat next to him. "Come on, let's go get breakfast. Afterwards, we'll go to my office, and I'll examine you." "Can't we eat here?" Liz shook her head. "They know what happened and they care about you. You can't spend the rest of your life hiding in here." "Why not?" he asked. There was a slight smirk on his face. Liz smiled back and pulled him close and hugged him. Chapter 9 Josh walked nervously into the main dining room. He tried to act normal, but it was impossible. From the moment he walked in, everyone was staring at him, or at least that was the way it felt. There were twenty people in the room. Liz was right next to him and, while she also noted that the others were looking at them, she saw it differently; they were looks of concern and caring. Judy walked over and broke the ice by hugging Josh. "Good to see you up and about," she greeted him. "Thanks," replied Josh. "Look, you two get something to eat, and then we'll talk about what happened," she continued. Josh found that he didn't have the same appetite as before, and settled for a fresh fruit bowl, juice, and a blueberry muffin. Lindsay really wanted to get up and sit next to Josh, but decided to give him his space. Besides, she had plenty of time to talk with him. After everyone was done eating, Judy stood up and addressed the crowd. "There's no sense in trying to beat around the bush, yesterday something incredible happened to one of our family. It's my intention that we do our best to give Josh all the support and protection he needs." Liz held Josh's hand as they listened to Judy's words. Both noticed the way Judy referred to Josh as one of the family. "I have no idea what happened to you, Josh, but it changes nothing. No one outside this room knows what happened yesterday. Everyone here has agreed to protect your privacy and keep your secret, unless you tell us otherwise," continued Judy. There was the unanimous nodding of the heads of everyone in the room. "Just to make it official, I have a document, signed by everyone who knows what happened to you, stating that they'll protect your status." She handed Josh a piece of paper. Josh read the paper and saw the signatures, and he suddenly felt very funny and his lips began to quiver slightly. He felt a tear run down his cheek, and he reached up to brush it aside. "Thank you," he stated softly. "I found out part of the problem. The lightning rod to the spa was incorrectly installed. I've already fixed it and will check those on all the other structures. I'm also going to ground the kettles, so that nothing similar ever happens again," announced Gregory. Josh nodded. "There are many other unanswered questions. Liz, do you think we should shut down the mud baths?" asked Judy. Liz shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. You said that your family has been using the mud for decades. It must have been a combination of the minerals in the mud and the electricity from the lightning. The copper kettle might have amplified the effect. I'd like to send away a sample of the mud for chemical analysis, if you don't mind." "I think, until we get the test results back, we'd better use a different mud for the baths," added Cari. "It's not the main attraction of the spa anyway." "That's true, the mineral springs are our big selling point," interjected Tara. "Did you use the spa water to mix the mud?" asked Liz. Cari shook her head. "We tried that earlier; it didn't work very well." "The mud's consistency became sticky and very unpleasant to move around in. We use the water from the main waterline for the mud now," noted Judy. "Good, that will narrow down the analysis. I'll be sending my friend both the mud from the kettle Josh was in and some from your main tank. That wasn't affected by the lightning strike, was it?" Cari shook her head. Judy nodded. "One more thing, as much as I love the look of the kettles, I will look for a non-conductive replacement." There was some more discussion on the topic. Gregory was confident that the kettles would be safe once he grounded them. Additionally, he would manufacture a rubber mounting to further insulate the kettles. This was all well and good, but Josh was more concerned about how the others would treat him. He wondered if everyone was more concerned with the viability of the resort than his predicament. Lindsey noticed his distress. She stood up and cleared her throat to get everyone else's attention. "Josh, how do you want us to address you?" This immediately stopped the spa conversation and directed everyone's attention back to Josh. Josh didn't answer at first. He didn't like the idea of changing his name; not only would that be an act of acceptance that he was now a female, but it was a tie to his father. Travis had named Josh after his sergeant, who had served with him in Korea. Likewise, Josh didn't want unnecessary attention. This would be hard if everyone called him Josh; it wasn't exactly a unisex name. "Let me think about it," he replied. Lindsey smiled back. "No rush." No, there was a rush, thought Josh. Like it or not, he looked like a girl now, even if he didn't feel like one. Blending in would require some changes, although Josh wanted as few as possible. Having a girl's name, or a name that might be a girl's name, was a necessity. The people in this room were all willing to lie to protect him, so what were a few sacrifices on his part? He looked over at Lindsey and saw that she was also wearing shorts and a t-shirt. She noticed he was looking at her and she winked back. "I'll have something by tomorrow morning," stated Josh softly. Liz slipped her arm around him and pulled him close. "I want to say, for both of us, how much we appreciate your concern," she stated. Chapter 10 The physical exam took nearly two hours. Liz wanted to make sure that she didn't overlook anything. She took blood, urine, and DNA samples. These would be dropped off in Santa Fe that afternoon. "What are you going to tell the doctor at the lab?" asked Josh. "Just that it's a dependent physical. Your name won't be on the samples, just your Social Security Number. Besides, they'll just process the samples for the tests that I've requested. Trust me, Josh, they're far too busy to trace yours back to you," stated Liz. Josh nodded. "Sorry, I guess I'm just a little paranoid." Liz nodded. "Are you ready for me to give you the gynecological part of your exam?" Josh let out a sigh. "You have no idea how strange it is to hear that from you." "I know. I'm not an expert, but I want to give you a quick check... before I take you to a gynecologist." Josh stared back. "Why? Can you see if something is wrong?" "Josh, I'm a GP. I'll sleep better once you have a full exam. I'm also going to schedule a CAT scan for you. We have no idea what happened to you, and I want to make sure that you're completely healthy." "Okay. So what do I have to do?" Liz explained what she was about to do and positioned Josh for the exam. "Josh, I know you're nervous. I was extremely anxious when I first was examined; it's only natural. I'll tell you everything that I'm doing and why, okay?" Josh nodded. "Okay." The rest of the exam was soon over. Liz was pleased that Josh appeared to be healthy - no, make that extremely healthy. "So, am I... complete?" asked Josh. "I mean... can I get pregnant?" "I don't know yet. We'll need more tests, but everything looks normal. Time will tell," she replied. Josh absorbed her words, and then it hit him what she meant. "You mean that I should know in the next month?" Liz nodded. "Just remember that a period is a natural bodily function." "That's easy for you to say!" replied Josh as he dressed. "It's hard enough imagining that I'm going to have a .... Damn, it's hard enough just saying it, I can't imagine having one!" Liz smiled back. "You'll be fine. Now, before you finish dressing, let me get your measurements first. Since I'll be in Santa Fe anyway, I might as well pick up some things for you." "When will you be back?" asked Josh. "I should be back by dinner," she replied. Chapter 11 Josh sat on the deck of the main lodge, looking out at a hawk circling in the sky. He had been watching it for nearly an hour, and he envied its apparently carefree existence. Now he had seen enough shows on Animal Planet to know this wasn't true, but that hawk would adjust so much easier to a sex change, he thought. An almanac was lying on the deck next to him. He had grabbed it in hope of finding a new name. He had highlighted several names. It was weird to be able to pick out a new name, he thought. He was surprised to see that Tara was both a male and female name. After his third review, he wrote down some of the better ones. The short list included, Lee, Jan, Jesse, Jirra, Terry, Paige, Randy, Kelsey, Shane, Shannon, Alex, Andy, and Dale. "How're you doing?" asked Lindsey. Josh turned around and was pleased to see her standing behind him. "Not bad, I guess. Thanks." "Whatcha doing?' she asked, as she sat down next to him. "Working on a new name," replied Josh. He showed the list to her. "Jirra?" she asked. Josh laughed. "It's Aboriginal; it means kangaroo." "Cute." "I'm not exactly happy about changing my name, but it's a necessity. I figure that a unisex name is the most acceptable." "Or a mysterious non-gender name," replied Lindsey. Josh nodded. "Anyway, I'm going to give Mom the list and get her input." "Good idea." There was a long silence. "Thanks for this morning," stated Josh softly. "No problem," she replied. "There are so many things running through my mind right now. My life just got so complicated. I mean, what about my legal status? What about my school records? What do I tell the rest of our family?" "Ease up, Josh. Try to take it one crisis at a time," interrupted Lindsey. "Good choice of words. I don't know how I'm going to get through this," bemoaned Josh. "It could be worse," she stated. "Not by much. At least if I was physically injured people would understand. But I can't just tell all my friends and family that I'm now a girl!" "You make it sound like it's a disease." Josh shrugged his shoulders. "Being female isn't that bad," added Lindsey. "Compared to what?" replied Josh. Lindsey was about to reply when it hit her - she had nothing to compare it to. "Oh, I see what you mean. Still... " "I'm now physically a girl. Mentally, I still see myself as a guy. I don't want to be a girl. I have nothing against girls; it's just that I don't want to be one!" Lindsey nodded. "I wish I could do something to make you feel better." "Just being here talking to me is helping a lot. I'm really scared, Lindsey. The reality of what has happened is just starting to hit me. I appreciate that everyone has been supportive, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm so worried about my future." "What do you want to do?" she asked. "I want to be a writer." "Have you written about this so far?" "No." "I suggest that you start. You need a way of relieving this stress before it overwhelms you. Record your thoughts, and don't worry about editing it or trying to make it into a coherent story right now." "Good idea, thanks." "I do the same thing," she stated. "You want to be a writer?" he asked. She shook her head. "No, I want to be a chef like my mom. I started keeping a journal when my mom got sick." "What do you mean?" asked Josh. "She had cancer when I was ten. We almost lost her," stated Lindsey. "Oh. I'm sorry," replied Josh. "She's been cancer-free since. Still, it was rough for all of us; writing down my thoughts really helped." Josh nodded. "No one expects you to get over this anytime soon. I just want you to know that I'm in your corner," continued Lindsey. "Thanks. I apologize in advance for any future rants I may have," stated Josh. "No problem." "What time is it?" he asked. Lindsey looked at her watch. "Almost three, why?" "I want to go see Cari. I want to let her know that I don't blame her for what happened." "I'm sure she knows that." "Still, I want to tell her to her face," replied Josh. He stood up and picked up the book and papers. "Mind if I tag along?" asked Lindsey. Josh shook his head and smiled. "No, not at all." Chapter 12 Josh and Lindsey walked into the spa building. "Does it bother you to come back in here?" asked Lindsey. "No. I'm more leery of lightning than the spa, if that makes any sense," he replied. They walked out on the deck and found Cari and Tara examining the new mountings of the copper kettles. Cari stood up and gave Josh a huge hug. "How're you doing?" "Can't breathe!" Josh quipped. Cari released him. "Sorry. I was so worried about you." Josh nodded. "I just wanted to let you know that I don't blame anyone for what happened to me. It was just an accident." "Does that mean you're accepting of what happened to you?" asked Tara. "No," replied Josh immediately. Tara nodded. "I suppose it will take time." "Come on, let's go sit down," offered Cari. "I have some cold drinks in the fridge in my office." Josh showed them the short list of names. "This is a good sign," commented Tara, as she looked at the list. "It's just practical," replied Josh. "Your spirit will take time to adjust to the gift you have been given," continued Tara. "But, from what I've seen, you'll adapt." "I wish I had your optimism," replied Josh, as he sipped his soda. "What did you mean by gift, Tara?" asked Lindsey. She smiled. "My grandmother was raised in the old ways, the ways of the ancients; she regarded anything that profoundly changed someone's life as a gift. It was up to the recipient to find the positive aspects of the gift." "So you're Native-American?" asked Josh. "Half. My mother's side of the family is Navajo; my father's side is Mexican and Irish," she replied. "Mexican-Irish?" asked Lindsey. Tara laughed. "My great-grandfather had to leave Ireland rather quickly in 1907. He was smuggled into England and placed on the first freighter leaving Liverpool. Eventually, he ended up in Veracruz, Mexico, just in time for their civil war. His expertise in explosives and his hatred of the oppressors drew him to the revolutionary factions. He even fought with Pancho Villa." "Wow!" replied Josh. "After the fighting, he stayed in Mexico. He got married and moved to Mexico City and became, according to my grandfather, 'respectable.' He used his knowledge of blowing things up for good and became a mining engineer," continued Tara. "What happened then?" asked Lindsey. "My grandfather came to the US to attend college. Like his father, he went into mining. He eventually became a US citizen and lived in Colorado. He married and had six children. My father moved to Santa Fe. He met my mom while he was working on a tourist dude ranch during a break from college. She was also working on the ranch." "Your family history would make a great book," stated Josh. "I've thought about it. I was an English major in college," she replied. "Josh wants to be a writer," piped in Lindsey. "Really? Well, we'll have something else to talk about," stated Tara. "Now, back to what I was saying before I told you my family history. To find balance in your life, you'll need to accept what has happened." "That's easier said than done," replied Josh. Tara chuckled. "Josh, no one expects you to accept these changes immediately. I'd be worried about you if you were now wearing a dress and makeup." "This won't be easy, but you'll adapt," added Cari. Josh turned and cocked his head at her. "I know what you're thinking, Josh. But I know all about being different. Try growing up a lesbian in Utah!" replied Cari. In spite of himself, Josh laughed. "I'm not downplaying the challenges that you're going to have to deal with, but I just want you to know that you're not alone," continued Cari. "Everyone has challenges; yours are just a bit more extreme." "We also want you to know that we're always here, should you need to vent," interjected Tara. "Absolutely! There will be times when you'll need to purge your frustrations, and we're both good listeners," added Cari. "Thanks," replied Josh. He felt funny, as if he was going to start crying again. Seeing his eyes tearing up, Cari handed him a box of tissues. "Sorry," replied Josh as he wiped his eyes. "No need to apologize, Josh. You may still see yourself as male, but your body is female. Your emotional state is different now," noted Cari. Josh nodded. "Knowing doesn't make it any easier to accept." Chapter 13 As Lindsey and Josh headed back to their cottages, they saw a green Land Rover approaching them. "Looks like Mom is back from Santa Fe," stated Josh. "Thanks for hanging out with me this afternoon. I really appreciated it." "Hey, I enjoyed it too. See you later," she replied. She then hugged Josh and headed off to her cottage. "How was the trip?" asked Josh as his mom stepped out of the SUV. "Not bad. We should have the test results back within three days, except for the DNA; that takes a few weeks. Here, give me a hand with the bags," she replied. In spite of himself, Josh was curious about what was in the bags. He had worn a bra once as part of a Halloween costume. He tried to remember what it had felt like. Well, this wouldn't be just a one night event. He might have to wear one the rest of his life. They carried the bags into his room and set them down on his bed. Liz began to take the items out of the bags. She sorted them out and placed them in piles. Josh watched in silence. "Okay, let's start with the underwear. I want you to try on a pair of the panties and one of the bras. I'm pretty sure that I got the sizes right, but I want to make sure," explained Liz. "Now, Josh, I know this is a little traumatic, but try to remember these are just normal clothes for the body you now have." Josh nodded and took the panties and bra from her. He examined them; they were both white cotton. He headed to his bathroom and changed. Josh had to admit that the panties fit pretty well. He struggled a little with bra. "You need help?" asked Liz from the bedroom. Josh decided to swallow his pride. "Yes, please." Liz smiled and walked in and helped him adjust the bra straps. She'd had a lot of time to think that day. In front of Josh, she did her best to be strong and supportive, but alone she had broken down several times that day. Six months ago everything had been perfect, now she was a widow and her only son was now a girl. She wondered what she had done wrong to deserve so much pain. However, she was determined not to let Josh know the distress she was experiencing. "How's that?" she asked. "Okay, I guess," replied Josh as he flexed around. It was strange enough wearing a bra, but what had made it stranger was actually needing one. Reluctantly, he had to admit that the bra felt comfortable. "I also bought you some sports bras. They're a little different than the one you're wearing. Let me get one for you." After removing the first bra, Josh slipped the sports bra over his head and adjusted it on his chest. "They're great when you're running, exercising, or doing a lot of lifting," stated Liz. "Okay, what's next?" he asked, as he followed her back into his bedroom. "Try on these shorts," she stated as she handed him a pair of khaki shorts. They didn't look that different from his male shorts. He tried them on and discovered how they were different. Josh wasn't pleased with the way they showed off his hips and butt, but they did fit better. Liz nodded in approval. Not only was she pleased that the clothes fit, but that Josh was so willing to try them on. "Good, now here's a top." Josh slipped on the olive-green sleeveless top. "I know it's a little different from what you're used to wearing, but it will help you fit in easier," explained Liz. Josh nodded. "Cari and Tara were wearing similar tops this afternoon." He looked over the other items. There were more shorts and tops. "I was going to get you some jeans, but I'd rather you select them yourself," stated Liz. "What's this?" asked Josh. "I bought you a bathing suit." "Oh." "You'll probably want to use the pool and the baths," explained Liz. Josh nodded. He held up the one-piece green suit. "I didn't think that you'd want a bikini," continued Liz. Josh turned and smiled. "You can try it on later if you want." "Okay, thanks," replied Josh. He folded the suit and set it down on the bed. "This initial wardrobe will allow you to function around the resort, but you'll need to expand it eventually," stated Liz. Josh nodded. "I know, but knowing is just part of the problem." Liz slipped her arm around his shoulders. "I'm so proud of how you've handled this so far. It can't be easy, but you're doing great." Josh smiled back and then hugged her. Their tender moment was broken up by the sound of someone knocking on their door. Liz went out to answer the door as Josh began to put his clothes away. "Josh, that was Lindsey; her parents have invited us for dinner. It's up to you," stated Liz. Josh thought about it. "Okay. That sounds good." He really wanted to stay home, but decided that Mom should have a life too. "Great, I'll call them back." Josh looked at himself in the mirror and debated changing. No, these were his clothes now. Besides, they weren't that different from his old clothes, he rationalized. Chapter 14 In spite of himself, Josh enjoyed himself that evening. A lot had to do with the fact that he was spending more time with Lindsey. He liked her a lot and hoped that they could be more than just friends, and then it hit him that he was now a girl. Figures, he thought, I finally meet the girl of my dreams, and I'm now a girl myself! Lindsey's parents were really cool. They insisted that Josh call them by their first names, much to Liz's annoyance. Josh remembered how Cody had helped him out of the kettle and thanked him. "When I was told that you were struck by lightning, I thought you were a goner," exclaimed Cody. "It's amazing that you weren't burned or injured in any other way," noted Hannah. "I'll be right back - need to check on dinner." Josh nodded. He saw no point in saying that he hadn't gotten out of it unscathed. Hannah was a petite redheaded woman. Josh figured that she was barely five foot three. "Can I help, Hannah?" asked Liz. "Everything's almost ready. We're going to eat on the patio, so in a few minutes you can help me bring stuff out. Lindsey, you and Josh can set the table. Cody, will you get everyone drinks? We're having New Mexico style chili, so I think beer will go better than wine. There's a pitcher of fresh homemade lemonade for the kids." "I see that you're wearing some new clothes," noted Lindsey as they set the big round table. Josh nodded. "Almost nothing from before fits me anymore, other than some sweatshirts and stuff like that. Thankfully, my feet haven't shrunk, so I can still wear my old pair of Tevas." "I like them too. Look, I know that you're probably not ready for dresses or skirts, and to be honest I don't wear them a lot myself, but if you want help in building up your wardrobe, I'd be glad to help," replied Lindsey. Josh nodded. "Thanks." "That would be a great idea, Lindsey," Liz concurred, as she and Hannah set out a batch of pots and dishes on a side table. "OK, let me explain this meal," Hannah said. "I've been learning about Southwestern cooking in preparation for the job here, and I just love this way of preparing and presenting chili. It lets everyone have their meal the way they want it, which is great when you're serving many guests. It's going to be our house special dinner on Wednesday nights at the spa. "The official name of this is Pecos Valley Bowl of Red," she stated, pointing to the biggest pot. "It's just got the beef and sauce in it. There's a lot of onions and garlic and ground red chiles in there, but most of the chiles are mild, so it's not a super-hot dish. You add your own beans and garnishes to suit your own taste. Many people serve this over rice, but I prefer it over nice fresh cornbread, as you can see. Then these are just pinto beans cooked with some oil, onion, and garlic. Here are bowls of chopped sweet onion, chopped fresh Hatch green chiles, shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, and sour cream with the juice of a fresh lime stirred into it. Add those to suit your taste. If anyone's a masochist and wants extra heat, there're a couple bottles of hot sauces you may use. "One more thing. I challenge Liz and Josh to tell me what the "missing" ingredient is. There's one major ingredient that's been in almost every bowl of chili you've ever had that's not in this." Hannah grinned broadly. "OK, that's enough talk; grab a bowl and help yourselves. There are separate plates for the salad." Josh was already drooling from Hannah's description and the smells, but he remembered his manners and stepped back to allow his mother and Lindsey to go first. Cody laughed and said, "It's okay, Josh, you get to go ahead with the ladies now." That idea was a whole new shock, but Josh didn't take time to think about it; he was hungry. He was delighted to find that the beef was not ground, but nice half-inch chunks. H