Altered Fates: Lost And Found free porn video

Altered Fates - Lost and Found by cj Permissions: Archival and/or sharing of this story, along with derivitive works - WITHOUT profit from reselling/repackaging, are permitted as long as the story remains complete, unchanged, and correctly attributed to its original author "cj". These permissions are to be included with shared or archived story, and extended to any derivative works. Written permission from the author is required for any "for profit" use. Special Thanks: Thank you, Jennifer Adams, for allowing us to participate in your "Altered Fates" universe. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'd found a strange item on the side of the road - like a fake coin hanging from a cheap leather lace. I laughed lightly as I wished that it was the fabled Medallion of Zulo. As I examined the gold-colored object I started to question my mental status... this thing looks exactly as I'd seen the Medallion of Zulo described. 'There is no way that this is real' I thought to myself. I had to look around... see if someone was watching... was someone having a bit of fun with me. Still, I put the object in my pocket to deal with later. I decided to test the magic (and my sanity) and tried a little experiment. I grabbed a pair of old blue-jeans and touched the questionable item as it hung around my neck. A little tingle, and in minutes the clothes I wore became looser-fitting. I tried the old jeans and they fit great. Amazing! I lost a few inches around my waist and more importantly, confirmed that the Medallion of Zulo did exist... and was currently in my possession. I quickly tried to formulate my plan, what changes do I want to make... who do I really want to be. Who could I ask to swap bodies with... or would I even want to. If I swapped bodies - we would have to try to be each other for the duration of the swap. But if I just transformed myself, I wouldn't have to pretend to be someone else - however as someone new, I would have no history, no documentation... no identity, and that could be problematic if I needed to leave the house or wanted to to keep my new form longer than the few days it would take for me to be missed. What started off as hours, became weeks, as I thought about possible partners to swap with, and ways to re-create myself as someone new... with documentation and everything. Sure it was possible for the medallion to change my size and shape to match new, never-worn clothing... but how would I go about looking and sounding like I'd been born a girl... and could I maybe shave a few (okay several) years off of my age. Would I have to transform into a young girl version of myself first and then into an older version of that younger girl. I began to wonder also about what things I would have to learn about being a girl so that my actions wouldn't hint that I'd not always been one. I don't remember the medallion's magic having the effect of transferring those skills, knowledge and mannerisms. How long would it take me to learn these things... and most importantly, how long would it take for me to appear convincing to the world at large. Perhaps it would be better if I did revert to a child and then learn these things the same way that most other girls learn them - life experience. Months had passed since I found the medallion and I was hiking through the woods just outside of town one afternoon - pondering what to do about the medalion before I lost it or it got stolen or otherwise disappeared. Perhaps I should've been paying more attention to the trail than the medalion, because while I was preoccupied with my thoughts, I stumbled and rolled down into a ravine. At the bottom of the hill I could feel my ankle was broken and I was pretty bruised. I started to brush the dirt and debris off of me when I realized I was caught up in something that wasn't part of the forest floor, a jacket. A pink, girl's jacket. What was that doing out here? I didn't have time to ponder that question, I've more important things to consider, like what to do about the medallion. The medallion! Where did it go? Still in pain from the sprained (or broken) ankle, I looked all around where I was sitting for the medallion. Seeing nothing but what appeared to be a partially-hidden garbage bag of clothes, I rolled to my left, then my right before I found the medallion - caught between me and the girl's jacket... touching a bare portion of my back... AND the jacket!!! I realized that I was 'tingling', and not from the excitment of the situation. Oh boy! This isn't quite what I had wanted. I rushed to get the Medallion and the jacket away from myself but the tingling didn't stop. I could feel the pain in my ankle subside as I grew shorter - my hair grew longer and my clothing became too big for me. I started to panic - not knowing what to do, or how to stop the transformation. I was in shock for a few moments not knowing what to do at all. Finally the tingling stopped and I could see that I was now in a different form. The best I could tell, I looked like a 8 to 10 year-old girl with long, curly brown hair. I took a moment to breath and try to think. My first thoughts were about how I felt so energetic and small and light now. My next thoughts were to see what it's like to be a girl for a little bit. At the very least, I should try to see what a girl's body looks like from her point of view - I quickly vetoed that thought, for as I felt no urges that I would describe as sexual in nature, it still felt "wrong" to do so. I looked around to check out my surroundings and get my bearings again before deciding what to do. I knew it was getting late and I probably shouldn't stay out here for the next 12 hours until I could change back. I certainly couldn't go around looking like this either. I decided I needed to get out of the ravine and find some shelter - but first, what to do about these giant clothes I was swimming in. I remembered that garbage bag about halfway up the side of the ravine - something that I seemed to have disturbed on my roll down. Curiousity got the best of me and I struggled with the giant clothes as I climbed the ravine to the trash-bag. Inside what I found made my heart sink as these looked to be clothes made to fit the form I now wore. While I felt relief that I would have clothes that fit, I was pained with thoughts about what had become of the girl who really belonged to these clothes. There was a complete outfit for me - pants, shirt, socks, shoes... underthings. A myriad of dark thoughts about her demise made me sad... and perhaps a little scared, still I didn't understand why my eyes started to tear-up. It was in rifling through the clothes that a cold chill ran up my spine. I think these are the clothes that little Katie Green was wearing the day she went missing a few months back. I had to get out of this ravine now, I may have found a clue into her disappearance, I had to get help to find her. Wait a second! I can't do that now - They'd think I *was* her! I knew I'd probably already ruined a crimescene but if I hadn't I'd be struggling with my own clothes, probably unable to make it to some shelter before dark. I'd likely be found dead, thought to be her and having succumb to hypothermia, a great amount of evidence then pointing back to my own self as a suspect. I swallowed hard and appologized to Katie and whatever God was up there for having to do what I had to do to survive. I finished donning the girl's clothing from the garbage bag and replaced them with my own. I made it back down the ravine to collect the jacket and the Medallion, put on the jacket, and then stashed the garbage bag once again on my way out of the ravine. I made a silent dash to the old fish hatchery in the woods that was a little off the beaten path, I figured that was the best place to find secluded shelter for the night. But first... I hated doing it, but a body has needs. I wasn't sure how to pee in the woods as a girl. As a guy, I could just unzip and go - but as a girl? I figured that since girls sit down to pee, my best option would be to squat down. I didn't want to sit in the dirt as it would turn to mud when I went. So I did my best to make sure all my clothes were out of the way and squatted down and did what I had to do. I was expecting the pee to go down... well behind me as I was leaning, but it went more frontward than I had expected. I was able to readjust myself before I made a real mess of things by leaning forward more, but when I was done there was still a little bit of wetness down there. As I had no toilet paper to clean up, I simply stood back up, pulled the clothes back on, and continued on my way. This body was light and limber, and although my strides were shorter, I was nowhere near as winded from the half-run in this form than I would have been in my larger frame. It took some work to get into the old building as my new body wasn't as strong as my old form. But due to my new smaller size, I eventually squeezed myself in - unfortunately, tearing the jacket a little. I needed to wait before I could change back so I really had nowhere to go and nothing to keep me from boredom. Though it was still a bit chilly even with the jacket, the excitement from this whole experience had taken its toll. The emotional drain, the physical struggles, and the boredom wore me out, and it didn't take me too long to nod-off. I was awakened with a start, the sound of chains being pulled and a large, heavy door squeaking open. It was odd, then I remembered where I was... and more importantly who I looked like. My eyes shot wide open! I needed to get out... NOW! I made a dash for the back door that I had squeezed in through, but I was seen. A man yelled to his buddy "Hey, there's someone in here!" And I could hear him come running after me. I tried to get back out of the small hole I used last night, but he caught me. I screamed "No" as he grabbed me, and struggled to get away. He tried to assure me that he only wanted to help, but I didn't care. I needed to get back to my own self before someone recognized me as Katie... or worse - What if these were the guys responsible for Katie's dissapearance! I couldn't help but feeling terrified, like I haven't been since I was a kid, which I guess is appropiate since I currently was a kid. As he pulled me back inside the building I was crying and screaming and fighting with everything I could give - but it wasn't enough. I could hear faint sounds of voices over a radio as one of the men called for assistance. I could see these guys were in uniform but through teared-up eyes it was hard to determine at first that they were from the Parks Department. They kept asking me my name - and I just sat silently, balled-up on the floor, absolutley unsure what to do... what to say. I couldn't tell them the truth, that was for sure. So I just sat in silent terror as I felt reality close in around me. It didn't take long for them to identify me as one missing Katheryn "Katie" Marie Green - age 9. Police, an ambulance, and a trip to the hospital for a check-up followed, as did a "reunion" with "my" parents. I'm sure I was cold and distant - as I just had no memory of these people or any of Katie's past. Of course, I'm sure the doctors said that my behavior was normal for traumatic situations like this. Man, I was really up a creek. "Mommy" stayed with me all night long. Every time I woke up she was there, still awake - and wanting to cater to any need I might have. There was no chance for me to escape and return to my own self. I couldn't help but think about what my own parents would be going through if I didn't show up for supper tonight like I had planned. Did they miss me at work? How am I going to explain my abscence to my friends and everyone else? I was really struggling to keep it together and refrain from these stupid tears that constantly want to work their way to the surface. Why do I cry so easily now? Over the next few days, they tried again to get me to talk. They had doctors come in and talk with me. I still didn't know what to say, and I still couldn't tell anyone the truth. I just kept quiet and cried when I had to. I also got my first real introduction to Katie's body as I was bathed for the first time as a girl. It was an experience - I wasn't sure how I felt about it... It wasn't right for this to be happening - for me to be feeling such intimate contact with her body, but I knew that this body needed to be cleaned. Afterward I got another taste of the difference between boys and girls - hair. Long, wet hair is heavier than you'd think - it really makes your neck muscles work. And drying it seems to take forever. But the brushing - brushing has to be the worst, it hurts everytime a tangle causes the brush to pull your hair - and there are loads of tangles to work out. It seemed like it took an hour just to brush through her unruly mane the first time. Of course, it wasn't so bad after that, but it still took a few more times through before her mother was happy. I could see the love and relief in Katie's mother's eyes when she looked at me, and I think even what I would call pain when I seemed distant and/or cold to her. When I would cry, I could only imagine what she was going through - her daughter lost, and now found... so joyous a thing. Yet her daughter found, but lost... so painful for it was an injury she couldn't make better. These thoughts made me cry too. For as much as I wanted to get back to being me (or a newer me) - I didn't want to be the cause of the the devastaing pain that Katie's parents would feel if they lost their little girl again. These thoughts tore me up inside, and tormented me in my dreams at night. As much as I wanted to try being someone else all these past years, I never wanted to take the place of a missing (and dead) child. What happened if they found the real Katie's body? How could I possibly pretend to be Katie? I just can't stay her. I can't be her. What happens to the real me? What should I do? What could I do? I need to get to Katie's jacket and that medallion, get back to my own clothes, and get back to my life. However, under the constant watch of the hospital staff and Katie's mom, I wasn't going anywhere, anytime soon. I'm stuck here, as Katie, for the time being. Okay, getting back to my own clothes and life is out for the moment. What about the Medallion? I haven't seen Katie's jacket since shortly after my arrival. Okay, I need to find the jacket and secure the Medallion... before it disappears! The only way I'm going to find that jacket is to either get up and look for it... or ask. Either option presents possible issues. If I get up to look for it, what will the mother's response be, and what will the doctors try to make of it? If I talk, well, then there are too many questions that I'm going to have to answer. I figure that getting up to look for the jacket and the Medallion might be normal for a traumatized child. Something familiar... secure. So, get out of bed it is. Katie's mom grabs for me, but doesn't hold me back as I slide down out of the bed. She asks me if I'm okay as she rises from her own chair. As I look around for the jacket, she asks what I'm looking for - I choose to remain silent. As I start to run out of places to look, I start to consider the possiblity that the Medallion is already gone. By the time I'm done searching, I'm already well into the water- works - and climb back into the bed and curl up into a ball. Is this it? Is this how my story ends? Has my own curiosity caught up with me and left me stuck in this perdiciment? I wonder what my friends and family are going to be going through - and I can see bits of that in Katie's mother's eyes, and I cry myself to sleep in the realization of how much more pain I've caused with that stupid Medallion - pain that didn't have to be. I woke up feeling warm and comfortable. I felt arms around me, it felt really nice. Then I started to remember. I realized that I was being embraced lovingly by Katie's mom. I wanted to stop this charade, but I had to admit... right now, this felt pretty good. I felt safe... loved. I closed my eyes "just a few more minutes... can't hurt". Well, being Katie feels good. I'm loved, I'm safe. But I'm not Katie! If I'm Katie, nobody is me... I'm gone. If I'm gone I won't get to be with *MY* loved ones! If I'm me, then I'm loved and safe too, and I'm surrounded by the people that *I* love. If I'm me, then Katie's gone. Either way, hearts will be broken. I'm not going to give up on my own life. That jacket with the Medallion has to be somewhere, I just need to figure it all out. I ponder for a bit on what my next step should be, before realizing that if Katie's mom brought some of her clothes here... then the jacket must be at their house. Step one, get out of the hospital. Looks like I'm going to have to pretend to be Katie for awhile. I hope I can do this... I HAVE to do this... For now, I'm going to have to play the part of Katie. I gathered my wits about me and tried to imagine myself into character. I sighed and gently called,"Mommy, where's my jacket?" "Hmmmm." she groggily ??? "What's that, Baby?" "My jacket... with the necklace?" Why not, might as well ask what for the item I'm really after. "It's all dirty, Princess. We'll get you a new one." "No. The necklace?" "I don't know Baby, we can buy you a new one." I started crying again. No, it's not gone. Think positive. Maybe it fell out somewhere along the way. Yeah, that's it. It fell out of the pocket, and I'll just go looking and find it after I get out of here. I tried to calm myself down as Katie's mom tried to comfort me, "Shhhhh. It'll be alright, Honey. Everything will be alright." It was another two days before they let me go "home". There were plenty of talks with the doctors - I don't know what their diagnosis was, I just know that I did my best to answer their questions like a 9 year-old kid would. I didn't know how my "amnesia" would be viewed - but I certainly didn't have the cunning to spin some wild yarn and remember it - so I used the truth everywhere I could, and feigned ignorance on things like "When is your birthday?" and "Where do you live?" Of course, "Who is your best friend?", "What is your favorite stuffed animal?", and "Who is your teacher?" were completely unknown to me, so that helped. I hoped that I was giving them enough to declare me missing memories, but otherwise fit to go home. Obviously, I did well enough - and now I had a thousand more questions to consider if I was going to be Katie for the next little while. I always wondered what it'd be like to wear tights and a dress, so I was quite happy when Katie's mom brought a nice yellow dress and white tights for me to wear home. After visiting the restroom, cleaning up, and brushing this wild mane for the hundred-thousandth time, I finally got to slip into an undershirt and the yellow dress. After the dress was on, I got to put on Katie's white tights followed by her white buckle-style shoes. Katie's mom decided that I needed a bow and so a yellow ribbon was brought up and tied around my hair. This was followed by a pair of yellow flowery earrings in my pierced ears (I hadn't noticed that before). While the pierced ears were a surprise, after the initial strangeness of having them inserted - I really didn't notice them. I got to look at myself in the mirror and I smiled as I looked pretty cute, and felt even cuter. Then the smile left my face as I thought about what I needed to do if I wanted to get back to my own life. Katie's mom noticed the change, and I picked up on that and tired to smile again for her sake - I was only partially successful. Katie's dad was waiting for us when we came out of the bathroom. He was a tall, decent-looking fellow clean-cut and fit. After I put on the sweater Katie's mom handed me, her dad picked me up and carried me out of the hospital. After an initial start, as I wasn't expecting such a thing - I wondered if this was a normal thing for Katie. It was just another reminder of my new station in life - once again I was a child - with no say in many of the things that happen until I could get back to my own life. ****** Once outside, Katie's dad set me down, and we walked to their car. Tights aren't as warm as you would think - it gets kinda breezy under a dress. When we got to the car I sighed internally as I realized that I wasn't going to be doing any driving for awhile. I resignedly climbed into the backseat behind the dad when the door was opened for me. Katie's mom got into the backseat on the passenger's side - well, at least I wasn't going to be alone. On the ride home I experimented with how to sit while wearing a dress. Interestingly, I could keep my legs together with little effort or discomfort - something I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to do as a man. Sitting with my legs slightly apart felt quite natural too. But sitting with my legs spread a bit (like a guy) just felt weird... not so much physically uncomfortable or painful, but mentally it just felt "funny". By this time the tights were starting to feel itchy and I had to keep 'adjusting' them or moving my legs to keep the itchiness in check. Long hair is heavy and too much work. Dresses in wind are too breezy. Tights are too itchy. Being a girl maybe isn't so much fun. Being a kid again is definitely not so much fun this time around! We pulled into an alley in an older part of town, about a block away from the lake. About half-way down the alley we turned into a driveway and then pulled into a garage. The backyard didn't look very big and the houses were pretty close together. Stepping out of the garage and into the kitchen I could tell that this was a decent size house. The kitchen looked fairly modern, but the adjoining rooms seemed to give the house an early 20th century feel, with wood trim, high ceilings (I think) and partitioning of the rooms. I followed Katie's mom through the dining and living rooms, and then up the formal stairway. At the top of the stairs there was a short hallway that led to several doors. We entered a door with Katie's name in painted blocks hanging on it. The room was painted, furnished and decorated in a cliche'd pink on white theme. After setting the little case of Katie's clothes and such from the hospital stay on Katie's bed she opened it and began to unpack while I stood at the doorway trying to absorb what would be my new home for the next who-knows-how-long. I noticed a bed against the wall to my right and a closet on the far side. Against the left wall was a bookshelf, a dresser with a mirror, and a small desk with a mirror on it. A large double-hung window on the far wall fell between the closet and the desk. A look behind me revealed another closet and some shelves with various stuffed animals and dolls. There was a large dollhouse in the corner and a small bedstand with a lamp. As I was taking in "my" new room, I noticed that Katie's mom was staring at me. When I looked at her she gave me a curious look and then asked what was wrong. I thought for a moment on how to best answer her question, then replied that I didn't remember this room, that I couldn't remember anything about anything in it, that it felt like I was in a strange house. I could see her concern surface and she came and gave me a hug, which while it effected no change in what I felt, did feel nice in itself. I helped Katie's mom put away the clothes that I hadn't worn, which allowed me to become more acquainted with some of Katie's fairly vast wardrobe. I also helped to put up the stuffed companions that Katie's mom had brought to the hospital to help comfort her... well, me. Which thinking about it, in not using any of them, had I been "acting strange"? I wish I'd thought of that before. As we were finishing up, I felt that familiar urge... but I had no idea where the bathroom was. I was almost embarrassed to ask - but I knew that this was something that I was going to have to know. "Down the hall and on the opposite side," I was told. The bathroom looked very Victorian and had a claw-foot porceline tub. When I was done, I went back to Katie's room and studied her things more carefully, trying to imagine how she would have interacted with them... trying to imagine the names of her dolls and suffed animals. I was making head-way, but I felt like such an outsider, such an intruder. I was holding one of Katie's dolls when a soft, deep voice said "Jessica." I jumped and spun around. Katie's dad apologised for startling me and said "Her name is Jessica" as he nodded at the doll I was holding. I considered her for a moment and then replied that Jessica was a nice name. He nodded and then told me that lunch was ready. It was a simple lunch, PB&J, some milk and a couple of chocolate chip cookies. After lunch, I was dressed in mid-length, red and white dress; short socks and a pair of dirty white sneakers. Then we all went to the park which was only a couple of blocks away, and next to the lake. I wasn't sure what to do - so I just tried a bit of everything, much to the consternation of Katie's mom who reminded me not to get "my" dress dirty. Now playing in the city park is pretty much the same everywhere - but it's different when you're in a young, fit, and energetic body... especially if you're wearing a dress. I had to be extra careful on the swings and slide to keep from 'flashing my panties' - and the breeze takes a bit of getting used to. Okay, being a kid again might not be so bad all the time. Back home I ran up to Katie's room and then wasn't sure what to do when I got there. I tried to imagine what Katie was like. I could guess from the excitement and energy that I felt after having been to the park that she was an active kid. I just wanted to keep moving and doing things. But I tried to bring my energy level down a bit - I needed to think. If I was going to be Katie for little while - I was going to need to know how. What did she like? How did she interact with people? Who were her friends? Again, I felt like an intruder and a liar. I started to cry as the thoughts overwhelmed me. I woke up lying on Katie's bed. Something was poking me in the side of the head - it was the back of the earring I was wearing. As I rubbed the sore spot on my head, I stretched and tried to imagine what Katie would do. I looked down at myself and noticed that I'd wrinkled my dress. I sighed, and as I got out of bed again realized the size of my new bladder. After taking care of business I decided that Katie would change into something less wrinkled, so I grabbed a light green T-shirt and a pair of jeans that I thought looked comfortable and put them on. I put the dress in the hamper. I looked thoughtfully around Katie's room for clues as to what she would do now. I sat at the desk to see if she had any papers... or a diary that would help me in my quest. All that the desk contained were some jewelry and nail polish. I looked at my finger nails, no polish. I wondered if I should try puting some on - and decided that I'd deal with that another time. I took a look through the jewelry and found a small arrow-head pendant on a leather cord. It looked interesting and so I put it on. It reminded me a bit of the medallion. The medallion! Where's the medallion? I thought back to the last place I'd seen it - well, okay, felt it in the pocket of the pink jacket. Shoot, I really hadn't checked on it after I climbed out of the ravine - It could be anywhere between the ravine and the old building. I hope nobody else found it. *sigh* I found myself bored, and decided to see what else I could do to occupy my time. I bounded down the stairs and I was met with a "no running down the stiars young lady!" from both of Katie's parents, who were in the kitchen. I joined them at the kitchen table where Katie's mom was just setting down a glass of juice for me. I drank the juice while Katie's parents asked me what I wanted to do today. Knowing exactly what I wanted to do, I stopped and considered their question, trying to think how the real Katie would ask it. I finally decided that a traumatized Katie wouldn't even consider heading back into those woods. Defeated, I shrugged and told them that I didn't know. They decided that I just needed more time to recover, and smiled at me lovingly. How am I ever going to find a way to get out and look for that Medallion? We decided to stay in and watch Animal Planet on TV. It wasn't my first choice, but even I still learned a thing or two from time to time - and it wasn't like I could have them tune in to any of my favorites shows. Most of the stuff I watched on TV was too "adult" or "mature" for a 9 year-old. I guess this was something else I'll have to tolerate until I can get my old form back. That got me thinking. I can't drive, I can't cook, I can't shop, I can't watch what I want, Heck, I don't even know if they have internet access! I know that there's no computer in my... I mean Katie's room. And Katie's too young to have a cell phone. I was effectively cut off from being an adult and doing things that are normal to me. I was at the mercy of others for most of the things that I took for granted everyday. I was now, to the rest of the world, NOT an adult - and would be seen and treated accordingly. I have to get out of here! I have to get back to my life! ***** As much as I keep trying to imagine what Katie would do, and as much as I keep trying to be Katie the best that I can... I just have the most difficult time not getting bored out of my mind! I keep looking for new and adventurous things to occupy my thoughts but I'm either not imaginative enough, or Katie's life really sucks. My life over the next few days was much the same, wake up, get dressed, eat, play, think, play, eat lunch, play, think or nap, then snack, then play more, supper, family time, bed time... it was quite boring. The only real break from the boredom was Thursday afternoon when we went to see one of the doctors for a checkup. Unfortunately, it was my mental state they were trying to get a grasp of. I still didn't remember any of Katie's life from before, so there was no change there - and I was still trying to do my best at being Katie so hopefully they would see that things were normal and let me get on with things so I could get back to my own life. Friday afternoon, I got my next break from the monotony of my boredom. "Katie!" her mom called from downstaris. I welcomed the break and bounded down the stairs. "Amy and Jill are on their way over." I was told. I figured that Amy and Jill must be Katie's friends, but I didn't know who they were, and I assume that my lack of enthusiasm at the news revealed my ignorance. "Amy and Jill are your friends. You used to play with them all the time." I wasn't sure what to say, and my blank look brought out the sadness in Katie's mother's eyes. Jill arrived first. She was taller than I, and thin - Bound to be model material when she was older, or so it seemed to me. She seemed shy, and we really didn't say anything for those uneasy few minutes until Amy arrived. I froze for a moment as I recognized Amy's mom right away... my neighbor Cindy! My shy little neighbor girl, Amy, is one of Katie's friends - This should be interesting. I tried, honestly, I did - but I just couldn't look Cindy in the eye. I felt partly ashamed, and partly afraid that she would know who I really was. Fortunately, my distress was short-lived as we moved away from the moms and into the house. Amy was about my current height and build but with blonde hair, but as I soon found out, those were the only things about Amy that I really knew. Around me, the old me, Amy was shy and reserved - but around me, as Katie, it was like she was someone else. Amy wasn't shy at all. She took charge right away and we went up to Katie's room to get some dolls and the dollhouse. We brought them down to the living-room where we played with them for awhile. It was interesting to see how real nine-year old girls played with dolls. Imagining what it's like to be a familly. Daddy going to work, Mommy staying home and caring for the babies... cooking and cleaning. It seems that they had a fair idea of some of the things that are required, but I'm sure the two lacked the understanding of the effort and responsibility involved. I did my best to play along, but mostly watched as Amy and Jill played. Several times we'd run up to my... Katie's room to get more dolls and accessories before we finally decided to draw some pictures. I was quite apprehensive about this idea. I have no idea what I should be drawing vs. what might draw suspicion to me. I decided to draw a daisy. I wanted to dumb-down my artistry to a nine-year-old level, but as I started to draw the flower, I found myself correcting little flaws in my effort. After a while I took stock in my drawing and found that the image was much better than I'd normally have achieved. I was a better artist in this little body than I was in my own! This revelation actually made me feel quite good, and I continued my drawing, adding in some grass and other daisies around the first. It wasn't gallery material by a long-shot - but it was well above average for a nine year- old kid. I knew that I didn't draw this well, so I hoped that it was something normal for Katie. I really had to wonder about that, as I didn't recall the Medallion giving abilities or skills to those it changed, only physical attributes. I was still considering the piece when mom interrupted us with some snacks. After the snacks we jumped rope for a bit until Jill's and Amy's moms came to pick them up. Before they left the girls asked when I'd be coming back to school (Hopefully never) and I told them that I didn't know. They told me that they hoped to see me again soon, and I reciprocated though I wasn't sure I was really ready for that. Although I'm not keen on going back to school and having to re-do the Third Grade, I was still somewhat curious as to social interaction as a nine year-old girl in a larger setting. I tried to remember what social interaction was like when I was nine, and really couldn't remember. Perhaps being around Katie's classmates would help jog those memories while allowing me to experience a whole new set. ***** On Saturday, "Dad" was in the garage working on the family car. I sat and watched him for a minute or two before asking what he was doing. He told me he was chaning the oil and I walked over towards him. He cautioned me not to get under the car, because it was "dangerous". As boring as being Katie was, this was something new, yet familiar - I decided to help. I helped hand him rags and wrenches and the filter - always waiting for him to ask me, but always ready for his request, as I've done this too many times and knew what was coming next. He slid out from under the car when he was done and thanked me, giving me a kiss on the forehead before standing up. That was kind of cool. I got to stand on a bucket as I helped him add oil to the engine before he closed the hood and then we started up the car and checked for leaks. It felt nice to be doing something normal - even if I was just a helper this time. When we went back inside the house "Mom" asked what we were up to. I told her we were changing the oil and she casually acknowledged it, all the while looking at me curiously. It was as I was looking away that I noticed the window on the wall between the kitchen and the garage. My eyes grew wide as I realized that Katie's mom could very well have seen me helping "dad" in the garage. I wondered if she noticed that I was prepared before he asked me for things. I hope not, that'll be impossible to explain without sounding crazy. That night I could've swore Katie's mom was watching me like a hawk as I got washed and ready for bed. Maybe I was just paranoid. I look exactly like Katie, down to the genetics from what I'd read in those stories... so I have to be Katie - I can't be anyone else, because that would be impossible. After repeatedly brushing through Katie's long mane again, I was finally able to crawl into bed. The next morning, I woke to be greeted by "mom" setting out Katie's Sunday best for me to wear - another dress, and another pair of tights. More conservative than fancy, but not too plain - a little lace, a few ruffles, and some basic leather, flat-heeled shoes with a buckle. I was a bit lost during the service as my mind was on other things. I caught a glimpse of my real parents during the service as well as some of my friends - and when the pastor mentioned to say prayers for me (the missing me) I was already crying softly. When Katie's dad asked me if I wanted to leave, I shook my head, I wanted to stay as close to my real family for as long as I could. After church, everyone was stopping by to offer my real parents support, and to express to Katie's parents their joy at "my" safe return. As the crowds parted, Katie's parents and I went over to my parents and they exchanged wordless embraces and commiseration. I wanted to tell them I was okay, but I knew that things were strange enough and that nobody would understand or believe me, and that I was likely to make everyone feel worse. Overwhelmed with emotion, I went up to my mom and hugged her tightly. She picked me up and reciprocated. Even my father who was normally staid and rock-solid joined her and embraced me. It felt so good, I hoped it would never end. But all too soon, we had to move on. I looked back at my parents as Katie's parents led me away. I didn't want to leave, but knew I couldn't stay. My parents looked my way and upon meeting my gaze, smiled at me. I cried softly. The rest of the day was a rollercoaster ride of emotions as I quit trying to hold back the tears while I pondered my future. Interrupted only by meals and parental concern. I have to admit that I miss the closeness of being hugged by my parents, and even though these weren't my parents, the effect on me was very much the same as if they were my own... comforting. It's still a bit disconcerting being picked-up and carried or held so effortlessly by Katie's dad, but oddly reassuring, and sometimes... I think, a bit "fun" too. Monday, "Mom" kept me busy with helping around the house. Helping her do the various household chores, and wash and fold the laundry kept my mind distracted. I'd have figured that the tasks would be boring, but I found that this new, smaller frame made most of them an adventure. I had to compensate for my smaller size and diminshed strength. I almost can't believe that I napped for an hour and a half after lunch. I guess perhaps I pushed this body a little harder than it wanted. That afternoon Amy & Jill stopped by to visit and Mom shooed us up to my room. I was still at a loss with how to really interact with them. It didn't take long before the girls realized that I was struggling with the situation and took charge. Soon they were "reminding" me of the names of my various dolls and stuffed compnaions. We had a fashion show for the dolls, followed by a real life fashion show with me as the model. At first I wasn't too keen on the idea, then it occured to me that perhaps this was the best way for me to learn how to match an outfit from all the various pieces of clothing that were in my closet. I did my best to pay attention and try to remember the combinations and more importantly why they fit together. The experience and education was very tiring, almost moreso than helping with the house-chores from earlier. That evening I don't really remember much of the bath I took, I was so tired. Tuesday morning I was awakened from bed at what seemed to be too early in the morning. I was being told to "hurry-up" and get ready. I didn't understand what the big rush was until I saw the outfit that was laid-out for me... a plaid skirt and sweater with a patch on it... a school uniform! Oh, I so want to get out of here and back to my old life! ****** Third grade for a nine year-old must be a wonderous and fun experience. But for a nearly 40 year-old man... Well, the lessons were elementary, and the rest was child's-play (sorry, this day is boring and I couldn't resist the fun of making that pun-ny). I found that if I wasn't paying attention to things, school got quite boring. So I tried to pay attention to the other kids, to learn what "normal" was in Katie's world. It wasn't reading, writing, or arithmatic that I learned in school today. No, what *I* learned in school today was that wearing a skirts required more awareness than pants; that ponytails are simple and great for keeping long hair out of my face; that boys loved to tease and pick-on the girls; and that girls seem to care more about others than boys do. That last item was interesting to me. I thought that I'd cared for other people before, but this seemed to be on a whole different level. At first I thought that these girls were just friends of Katie's, but as the day wore on, I began to realize that there was a distance between us that wasn't just because I wasn't really Katie. It seemed that there were several different groups of girls. I kind of remember the same type of thing when I was boy. But outside of these groups of girls, there existed some type of relationship. I'm not even sure how to describe it. It's not really like a friendship, but did share some characteristics of one. I could feel some empathy between the girls, even if they were from different groups. And of course, there's always the camaraderie of solidarity when facing-off with worst of the boys. As the week progressed, I became more aware of how different people seemed to be from Katie's perspective as compared to my own. I mean, besides the obvious of being treated like a child, I noticed in adults that I'd known previously what seemed to me to be a different personality. Typically, women seemed to be more vocal than I recalled witnessing as a man. I wondered if perhaps some or most of these women were just more reserved around men, especially men that had a few years on them. Or perhaps they just weren't comfortable around the old me. I noticed nothing new with the boys. It seems that they still prefered to mingle in their own groups, only stepping outside of that boundary for the rare recess activity or any class activity that mandated it. As for the girls... well, it was becoming more and more obvious to me that the girls did band together in their own little groups, and I really struggled to determine what it was that separated the various girl- groups. I guess my adult male mind still lacked the proper perspective. I did note, that while some of these kids that I had known previously were about the same, albeit more active and vocal than I remember. I wondered if that had to do with showing proper respect to their elders when I was an adult, as compared to now. I also noticed that some of these kids were mean-spirited, much like one or both of their parents, but sometimes completely opposite of them. And these were kids that seemed so nice when I was an adult. It really struck me as to the extent that children learn behavior and respect from the adults closest to them (most of the time). I debated often on whether the sacrifice and boredom of being Katie for a just a bit longer might be worth the knowledge and insight I might gain from her perspective. I'm not sure that I really decided, but as the internal debate raged on, so too will time march. I suppose that I can bear it for a bit longer, and then when I feel that I can learn no more, than I can execute my escape plan. Still, I needed to get back out to the woods and find that Medallion, or this whole debate may become moot. ****** On Friday, we headed to doctor again, only this time they put me in an MRI-type machine. That really concerned me - I had no way to figure out how to manipulate my brain to mimic Katie, or if they could even tell. Katie's mom saw my apprehention and tried to ease my anxiety. She told me that the doctors wanted to check my brain to make sure it was okay. I wasn't comforted one bit. After the hospital visit, we went out for an ice cream treat. It was kind of chilly outside, but ice cream is good in any weather. We headed home after the treat, where I pondered what the doctors would find lurking inside Katie's pretty little head. Time passes very slowly when you're cut-off from the people and activities that you love, when everything is planned-out for you, and you have very few responsibilites. It didn't take too long before I became bored trying to live Katie's life. I didn't enjoy the same things that she did, I found it difficult to connect with Katie's friends, and the school work was much too easy. I guess I had let my guard down a little too much. Katie's teachers had reported all this to her mom, and I guess she had started to notice it too. This resulted in my having to see a counsellor a couple of times a week. I guess they thought that this was some symptom of whatever traumatic expereince that they thought I went through. I found it increasingly difficult to open-up and share with them things that I didn't know or remember. It was frustrating, both for me, and from what I could tell, even the counsellors. I kept alternating between pushing myself to act like nine year-old Katie and retreating into my own little world. I found myself drawing more and more. I found my new talent quite relaxing and pleasant. I guess that no matter how hard I tried to be Katie, that my true self kept trying to push to the surface. It wasn't long before the head doctors had me on pills. I'm not sure what they put me on, but eventually they found a combination of drugs that had me doped-up to focus during class, and feeling even more numb than I already felt. I had trouble thinking during that time, school work actually became difficult for me, as my normally sharp mind was now wading through a quagmire. I found less and less time to draw, but more importantly, when I tried to draw, I couldn't "see" things in my mind as clearly as before. I hated these pills and I voiced my concerns. They changed up my medications again and again. I was so drugged that I really had trouble expressing my emotions. Katie's mom must have finally gotten through to the doctors, because after a few weeks, I was off most of them. I was happy to finally have my mind and my thoughts back. Needless to say, I re-doubled my effort to play my part as Katie as well as I could. I took the lessons I had learned while all drugged-up to alter the pace at which I was "learning". I once again took the time to enjoy my drawings. I don't care where this ability came from, it is one I've come to appreciate. I could tell something was up when Katie's mom picked me up from school. The ride home was eerily silent, but thankfully short. When I got into the house, Katie's mom stopped me at the table, where many of my drawings were laid-out... along with the little journal I've been keeping to help me learn, and remember, my life as Katie. My eyes were wide with shock... fear... the unknown. "It's unbelievable." Katie's mom started. "It's impossible. You have to be Katie, but yet, you aren't my Katie. I've read everything, and the only thing that makes sense is if what you wrote is true." I lowered my gaze, tears forming in my eyes. "Where is my baby, Where's my Katie?" she asked. I shrugged my shoulders. "Who are you?" she asked. I hesitated. I wasn't sure that I wanted to tell her who I was. I was embarassed and afraid. "Look, I know that you're a boy... and probably an older one, based on the level you're writing at." I just looked at her, wanting to tell her, but still not quite willing to share. "What are you afraid of?" "How you'll think of me. I'm not some sick pervert, I didn't want this. I didn't choose this!" "Okay." She paused for a long moment, before continuing, "It was an accident, and you're a victim of circumstance. Right?" I considered her words while looking her in the eye, and then shook my head in affirmation. She sighed. "I promise, I will not pass judgement on you for the things you had no choice of." She told me as we looked each other in the eye. It took me a few moments to work up my courage, then: "Chris Richards." I lowered my head in shame. Katie's mom gasped and then covered her mouth. "That makes sense. I don't know why I didn't think of that." She just stared at me for a moment before saying, "We need to call your family and let them know." "NO!" I shouted. Katie's mom jumped. "She needs to know that you're okay." "I know, but not like this... how can I explain all of this to her? People will think that we're all crazy, and they'll lock us up." "You don't know what a mother goes through when their child is lost." "No, but I don't want to hurt her anymore until I can find that stupid Medallion and make things right again." She reflected for a bit, then hit me again with, "Where's my Katie?" "I don't know." I couldn't bear to tell her that I thought that the real Katie was dead, but I think she was struggling to push those same thoughts out of her own mind. I told her that I knew nothing of Katie's disappearance and that she could certainly look into my whereabouts on the day she went missing - that I was at work that day when word came in asking for volunteers to help the search. When she once again looked into my eyes, I could see fire in them. Not of anger, but of passion. A powerful passion that gave me goosebumps. "I don't think I could take losing my baby again." I could see her eyes tearing up as continued, "I know it's not your fault, but it's not fair! It's almost like you want to take her away from me now." She paused for a moment. "I can't do this to you, to your family." She was sobbing as she left the room. "Too painful." Supper that night was very quiet. Katie's dad could tell that there was something bothering his wife and I, but seemed to sense that it wasn't something he should ask about yet. I'm not really sure what happened at school that next day, my mind was elsewhere. Wondering how Katie's mom was doing... how my own mother was doing... what we were going to do about my situation. Surely, she wouldn't lock me in this prison, stuck to imitate her daughter for the rest of my life. The thought made me shudder -- I'd seen that firey passion in her eyes... she just might. That afternoon when we got home, Katie's mom and I went over what felt like hundreds of scenarios of how to get me back to my own life. I explained that if we didn't find the Medallion fast, it might disappear, and that that should be our primary objective. She laughed at such mature discussion coming from her daughter's young mouth, then apologized. As it was raining out, Katie's mom decided the search was out for today. We decided to go out to the woods tomorrow, weather permitting. We continued to map-out possible solutions to the missing Katie problem, but every angle we took was just as sad as the last. Finally, I had a thought. What if the real Katie were still alive. All we'd have to do is find her and help her back into her own life. Katie's mom's eyes became alive with hope. We'd never considered that. If I had become Katie... what if she had become someone else? We started to consider what Katie would do if she had been presented with a situation similar to my own. What would a nine year-old girl do if she'd been transformed into someone else? We knew that the clothes that I had found had been packed neatly into a black garbage bag. It wasn't much to go on, but maybe we would find other clues there. ****** We finally started our search for the Medallion, and clues to the real Katie's whereabouts two days later... in the rain. We decided that it couldn't wait. We decided to start our search near where the garbage bag was hidden. We found the garbage bag, but it was empty... except for a note. Dear Mr. Richards, My mommy is so happy that you are me now. Thank you for the cloths. Love, Katie "Holy shit!" I exclaimed. "Watch your mouth, young lady!" Katie's mom replied instinctually. I handed her the note. "Oh my God! She's alive!" "Yes. Now to find that Medallion!" We spent all of our free time over the next few days searching the woods for that Medallion. I started to wonder if perhaps Katie had found the Medallion when she found my clothes. Maybe if we shifted our focus to finding Katie, we might also find the Medallion. That next afternoon, our minds were made up for us. A tornado tore through the area. Katie's house suffered some minor damage, my parents' house had some roof damage due to a fallen tree, and my heart sunk as I learned that my own home was now gone. But the area that suffered the most was the area of the woods where I started my life as Katie. There was nothing left... nothing but dirt. If the Medallion had been lost there, it was now lost for good. I hoped that Katie had found it and taken it with her. I found that Katie's mom had already been quite focused on her search for Katie while I was at school. She had been reaching out and engaging with the local gossips to see what she could uncover about any new residents in the area, especially those who seemed to lack a high-school education. She'd had no luck. We brain-stormed for ideas on how to search a wider area without drawing much attention to ourselves, but came up lacking. We considered hiring a private investigator, but realized that what we were asking was crazy. We had no physical description. I finally, in desparation, suggested that we just place a simple ad in the area newspapers for a while to see if we could get Katie to contact us. to Katie from Chris. Call mom, please. Weeks went by and no contact. Halloween was approaching and Katie's mom asked me what I wanted to be for Halloween. "Chris Richards." I replied immediately. "I know." was her reply, "What else?" I took my time to answer while I considered my options. A princess, an angel, a fairy, a cat, a sexy french maid... hmmm, maybe if I was nineteen instead of nine. "A butterfly." I decided. I got to help Katie's mom make the butterfly costume that I'd be wearing. I think this being busy helped to keep her nerves at bay. I could tell from time to time that her mind was elsewhere. I started to think that perhaps she saw me as the imposter that I often felt I was. When the costume was finished, I thanked her. "Of course, baby." We looked at each other. "I'm sorry." we both said at the same time. "No, I'm sorry. I've been so worried about Katie and why she hasn't called, and how else we could find her... that I'm hardly spending any time with you. I know this can't be easy for you, and that you're trying so hard to be Katie. I can't even begin to express my gratitude for stepping in and taking her place while we try to find her. I will never forget this. You always have a special place in my heart now." she stated as both of us welled-up with tears. She opened her arms and I half-ran to her as she picked me up and we embraced each other in a loving hug for awhile. Finally, she set me down, and had me go try on the costume. I donned the pretty work of art and floated back down for inspection. A few adjustments to material and the fit and finish were good enough for a night of fun-filled adventure. Trick-or-treating again was actually sorta' fun. It was tiring, but I knew that the rewards were worth it. After the door-to-door begging, we headed up to the school for a little carnival there and costume competition. I won third-prize! While most kids would be bummed to have only gotten third, I wasn't expecting to even compete, so I was elated to have won anything at all. I was all giggly and such, though I think perhaps that I'd consumed a bit much candy. ****** Several weeks passed and still no word from Katie. I was starting to worry that I may be stuck living her life now. I tried to keep myself busy with my drawings and helping around the house. Getting everything together for Thanksgiving dinner was a chore. I never realized just how much work it is preparing that annual feast, until I helped Katie's mom. No matter how much prepartion you do, a good amount of the work is still done the day of, and some of it in your good clothes, too. I'm really surprised that I didn't get my pretty dress all dirty, even with the apron, this little body still retains some of it's awkward clumsiness. I figured that this was a good experience to take in, so I helped Katie's mom with everything I could. Including some cleaning (still wearing my good dress). It was an enlightening experience. I will never take my Thanksgiving kitchen staff (moms and sisters and aunts and uncles) for granted again! Thanksgiving night, the phone rang. "Hello. Green residence." i answered. "Is mom home?" was the woman's reply. I guess my brain never registered the wording. "Sure, can I tell her who's calling?" "Katie." You would think that I'd have caught it by now... but I hadn't. "Mommy. Phone." I called to mom. As I handed the phone to her, I said "Katie." It seems that Katie's mom is a bit brighter than I, as she grabbed my shoulder to stop me while I was walking away. As she turned me towards her, she gave me a look that made me think. I tried to figure out what she was telling me, when it hit me. My eyes were quizative as I waited to know. The conversation was short, but I could see relief in Katie's mom's eyes. Tears of joy were starting to moisten her eyes, but she remained collected and in-control. They arranged to meet for lunch on Monday. I was so happy for them... and for me. I finally get to go back to my own life, what was left of it. I wanted to go to lunch with them, but Katie's mom wanted me to go to school while she and Katie had some time alone to talk. ****** After school on Monday, I wanted to know what happened with Katie. But I could see in her mom's face that something was terribly wrong. The short ride home was made in agonizing silence. As we walked into the house, Katie's mom told me that she needed a moment, and to get myself a snack. I was too anxious to eat anything, so I just sat at the table and waited for her to return. "She's not the same. She's not my innocent little baby anymore. I don't know how to help her, I don't know where to start. This cruel world has destroyed my baby!" She cried to me. I tried to comfort her, but could tell that my attempt was causing as much pain as it was relieving. Katie's mom told me how disheveled Katie looked and the run-down place that she was living. She told me how her little girl had been thrust into an adult world, and was forced to grow up, the things that she'd had to learn the hard way. As she recounted some of the details, I found myself squirming in my seat. I was crying inside for Katie as I tried to imagine what it must have been like for her. Things that she shouldn't have had to experience for years... things that I almost would have had to experience myself. She had finally found a job that she could do, waitressing in a town nearly an hour away. She was able to afford a small room to live in, but she had no identity, no papers, no education, no real future. We cried for awhile at the loss of Katie's innocence. "Hhopefully you both can find some peace once we get Katie back to her nine year-old self." Katie's mom let loose again. I didn't like where this was heading. "How? Katie doesn't have the Medallion." My heart sunk, and I started to weep. Not only was I stuck as nine year- old Katie. nine year-old Katie was stuck as a 20-something year-old version of herself. I could cope with the boredom, and knew almost everything I needed to know to fit into this world as a nine year-old girl. Katie, didn't have a clue how to function in the adult world - and had no identity to boot. There was nothing we could do, except to function as best we could. We did our best to help out Katie without her dad finding out. Who would believe us anyhow? ****** It was during the fall elementary-school concert, while I was channeling my sadness into my singing, that the thought occured to me that I really missed my own family. The next day, I confered with Mom... Katie's mom, to formulate a plan to let my own family know that I was still alive. We decided to try to breech the subject by letting her examine my drawings, then reading my diary... and then questioning me, if she took it well. She was not amused by the unbelievable story. Then she questioned me with great prejudice. Asking me details about every drawing, I answered every detail, giving information that wasn't in the drawing - and relating each subject as to who was there and why. When she asked more and more questions about my dog Sampson, my emotions for my beloved pet surfaced more readily than ever before. I felt my loss of Sampson compounded by my impending loss of my own family. She sat in silence as I tried to regain my composure. "Why did you wait so long to tell us?" "Would you have believed me?" She nodded thoughtfully and sighed. "It's alot to take in." I nodded, and lowered my gaze. She gently raised my head by the chin and looked me in the eyes as if trying to peer into my very soul. She gasped softly and I could see her eyes swelling with emotion. "You are in there, aren't you?" I nodded, softly sobbing tears of joy She squeezed me tightly in a hug that I eagerly returned. We talked some more before she had to leave. She promised to return so we could talk more. I was relieved. At the very least, I once again have a mother... well two of them, I guess. ****** That night, I tossed and turned. Although I was finding peace in this new life, I couldn't stop thinking about Katie, and the poor hand that she'd been dealt. I wished that there was some way to give her back her life. Even if she was damaged by having been an adult - there is so much more for her to learn and experience as a child. As much as I'd love to stay and experience some of it myself - I couldn't deny her what little childhood she could reclaim. I prayed, I wished, I hoped to whatever powers I could think of that there was some way to return Katie to her own life. ****** I was awakened by a gunshot. I bolted upright in bed. I went to get out of bed and hit a wall. "What the hell?" I questioned - but my voice wasn't quite right. I tried to find the lamp and while searching found a strange reddish light fading in and out as if on some on some short timer. I found a lamp and turned it on. I knew I was in an unfamiliar place, and wondered how I got there. I decided to see if I could figure out where I was, but decided to stay away from the window for the moment. As I stood, everything in the room seemed so small. I made my way over to the dresser to look for clues. I saw a wallet that looked very much like the one I used to have. I opened it up and was shocked to see my own ID. Where the hell was I? I looked in the mirror at my reflection, and was amazed to see that the chubby cheeks had changed, my face was now longer, leaner, more oval... I looked older. I looked exactly like an older version of Katie. No, that's not possible. I pulled my shirt out and nearly fainted when I saw that I had breasts. I rummaged around the room for more clues, but there was so little in the room... some clothing, some personal toiletries, and that was about it. There was little doubt in my mind as I concluded that I must an older version of Katie. Had