The Contract - Part 1

James Parsons hurried to get to his office after he finished his daily lunch. James was a light eater but he was trying to eat better per several nutrition books he had purchased over the years. He was fastidious about being on time and was one of the most punctual workers at the firm he was employed by. He was an up and comer and definitely scored points with every week, but only through his intense diligence. He enjoyed being clean, orderly, and well organized.

"Parsons! Into my office!" It was his boss, Mr. Langston.

James stepped in and sat down. His boss, an older and intimidating man with a constant scowl on his face, stripped his employee down verbally on a rather constant basis.

"You want to explain to me why you're late?"

"I'm usually early, sir."

"I don't pay you to be late, ever. Now I know you have improved over the last few months but honestly I am not impressed and you are replaceable."

"But sir, I-"

"But sir, nothing. Just do what I say. Make sure the Primo account is handled efficiently and make sure she's happy with our analysis because she hasn't been. I got a phonecall from her and I caught you daydreaming the same day."

"No, I wasn't. I mean. I was but ...I was thinking of ways to improve how we can do things. And I was thinking about the indexing for-"

"Just stop babbling. Ms. Primo is coming in next month,and by that time I expect her and every other client that walks through out doors to be wowed. I want them to say "wow" when they leave because we are experts and not some podunk little shithole. Are we a gas station?"

"No, sir."

"Are smiles good enough?"

"No, sir."

"What is good enough, Parsons?"

"Um, well, results, sir."

"RESULTS. Yes, results. Now get out there and get me results. You're meeting with Rick and Sebastian and they are going to lead the charge with the Nguyen account and you will back them up with data and try not to screw it up."

James' boss did not always appreciate the vast amounts of work he actually did. But he really did not do a good job of standing up for himself. Luckily he was still in line for promotion because other senior managers had taken notice of him before but it was just a matter of being seen outside his department and that took work.

But as hard as James worked, he was still fairly lonely. He didn't have a lot of time to pursue many interests outside of work. He often worked at home. He never really went out to clubs. He was gay and fairly quiet about it. No one at work knew and he liked to keep it that way so he could appear, well, more appealing as an employee to the senior managers, all of whom were highly influential, wealthy and very conservative. He did try to keep fit and while he didn't work out as much as he wanted to he managed to maintain his physique, and he liked to show off at home in front of the mirror, at the very least.

He was proud of his dick and flirted online quite a bit but due to his more cautious nature he did not often hook up. It had been over two years since his last fling. He jerked off nightly to porn on various websites, and fantasized about being in romantic relationships, falling in love and going on strolls in the park, the beach, hiking in the mountains with his imaginary partner, who nurtured all of his needs.

Eventually he bought a fixer upper of a home. It wasn't too bad but definitely required renovation. He got a good deal on it due to the fact that it had a ridiculous reputation for being unlivable. The previous owners had been involved in Wicca, which is very tame in comparison to the media's perception of it, mainly just a bunch of women making soap and smelling lavender and making made up incantations that did nothing. It was just silly make believe. However, this was a rather nice neighborhood and a crime had taken place. People talked about it for a while after. And although the previous owners didn't practice Satanism, there were some other strange things they did believe. They conducted night ceremonies in their spacious back yard and chanted and buried strange stick sculptures. Neighbors said it was unnerving and complained even thought hey weren't hurting anyone. But the real shit hit the fan on the day of the Homecoming dance. One teenage boy had stabbed another, apparently out of jealousy and according to witnesses had screamed something about the much bigger boy in question taking everything from him. It brought up issues of bullying in the school and the owners, whose teenage girl had been friends with both boys, decided to pack it up and leave.

James put an ad up on craigslist and no one seemed to have the references or background he was really hoping for. He called some over the phone and didn't seem really satisfied with their responses. That is until Buck answered. Buck Handley (a porn name if ever there was one) was a local handyman of 20 years and he came with a slew of good recommendations. James decided to meet with him for lunch. Right away he felt his dick slide out of his underwear and get hard. Luckily he was at a restaurant table and able to hide his erection. Buck was blue collar all the way. He was what James considered to be his polar opposite in many ways. James hated sports and Buck loved talking about them. James liked wine. Buck liked beer. Buck didn't mind a big pancake breakfast full of carbs. He had tattoos. He reeked of masculine bravado. He was confident in himself and even though they didn't have a lot in common, once they started talking about the house and what James was thinking of doing, Buck and he started to click.

Outside, Buck lit up a cigar and James momentarily flinched. He didn't want to be rude but Buck had just given him a much lower estimate than he expected. Buck was currently living in a motel and was wondering if for a reduced rate James could throw in a free place to stay for the time being that he was working as a contractor. He had made a verbal agreement and the two had shaken hands on it. But he didn't know the man smoked cigars...

Not that it was entirely something he couldn't deal with. He had been to cigar laden parties the senior partners threw and there had been some pretty nice business contacts he had made. But it was mainly just the sort of thing he normally would have considered a sacrifice in the name of getting ahead. He himself had never smoked anything and he didn't plan on starting. He wanted to tell Buck to put it out but he didn't. That would just be rude, and they were talking a considerable time before the two departed. Buck would come by the next day and check out the house.

The next day, James woke with a strange desire for pancakes and sausage. He tried to shun real meat in favor of soy meat but he was now craving bacon and eggs and made a stop that morning to Denny's rather than wolf down a quick bran cereal. He called Buck after work and told him he could pick the man up at his hotel because the house itself was rather hard to find. It was in a backwoods area and that was another reason James liked it. It was out of the way. The property had neighbors but there were distant enough away so that they were not really considered a suburb. There were big fields and some forest. It was perfect for the kind of man James was, and who knows, maybe this way he could bring men by in the future without having to worry about being seen. Before he had lived in a crowded apartment building and saved up his hard earned dollars. Now he was reaping the rewards.

At the motel Buck was smoking his trademark cigar, and James remembered that he had never actually commented that he disliked the smell at all. Buck got in the car and James repressed the need to ask him to put it out. He just wanted to get off on the right foot with this guy.

"Afternoon, boss." Buck said gruffly. Buck said everything rather gruffly. His voice was deep and there was nothing effeminate about him. James passingly wondered if he was gay, a bear maybe but even if he was it was better that James not even know. He didn't want to go down that road if this guy was going to be living with him. Besides which, Buck's pickup truck (of course he owned one of those) was in the repair shop and he would need a ride and James willingly volunteered.

James stopped for pizza, knowing that he would not have time for dinner later. He normally had such a healthy diet, and lived mainly off of the co-op, eating lots of salads, vegetable platters, and eating out of the vegan/vegetarian deli, but he had a guest and had to just start off with something that they could both enjoy and he liked the occasional pizza. Buck asked for extra meat on his side. James covered it even though Buck offered to pay half.

At the house, they ate and talked, and then talked shop. The faint trace of Buck's aromatic cigar clung to the man, a spicy woodsy smell that James was getting more accustomed to, but he liked it in sparing amounts rather than copious. Buck and he went over every room, and what needed what. This needed to be knocked out and this bathroom was in terrible shape. This definitely needed to be repainted.

"Are those words?" Buck asked, squinting at the strange big remnants that had been scrubbed off.

"Yeah. They are on the ceiling, too. They didn't even get scrubbed off."

"What the fuck language is that, Spanish?"

James frowned. "No, I think it's Latin and some of it I have no idea. The people who lived here before were witches."

"No shit."

"Yeah, but Wiccans are just crazy, they don't do anything like in the movies."

"So we can paint the ceiling. There's damage all over this room, though. Some of this part of the wall looks like it was burned."

"I didn't even see that." James said and walked over to bend down and examine it.

"Not too far deep." They walked throughout the house more. It was a really spacious house and James was very glad of the price. James wanted a new fireplace mantle, and new flooring for the living and dining rooms. As for the kitchen, that would require a lot of effort but it was a lot of space. They came up together with several ideas.

James drove Buck back to the motel so he could check out and bring his things. The man didn't have that much and James felt sorry for him. The man's house had been repossessed in the real estate crash. After an exhausting night, James showed Buck to his small guest room with a bed that was small but big enough and the two man shook hands goodnight.

The next morning was Saturday and James woke up with a strange feeling. Fleeing dreams he couldn't remember. Something about the witches of the house being real and this house being in their family for decades. The house had been built in 1915 so it was a real find, being in such good condition. James still couldn't believe how low the price was.

James made up some coffee and went back to his room and started jacking off, thinking of Buck the night before and being in such close proximity. He didn't even know what had come over him, but soon he had cum all over him! His penis seemed exhausted after just one splooge and he noticed it looked smaller. Was it always this small? Seemed odd. James got up when he heard music coming from the other side of the house. Country music. Of course. Buck had started early, which he liked, and was putting up some sheets and getting tools ready and other supplies.

"Hey, man. You sleep well?"

"Yeah. Had some strange dreams."

"Heh. Me too. Comes with sleeping someplace new I guess. 

 "Hey, do you think you could turn down the honkytonk? I have some work I need to get done today...so..."

"Yeah. Actually, I need to get my pickup truck today. Should be fixed by now."

"Uh...I can drive you down. I forgot about that. Say in about an hour?"

"Sounds good, boss." Buck smiled and wagged his eyebrows. James shrugged off sleep and an hour later they took off. One hour later they were in a shop surrounded by a junkyard with two big bearded men who were just as grizzled looking as Buck. Their names were Mack and Stan. They were burly and if they were gay, which James very much doubted they would definitely be classified as bears. They talked about cars and trucks and parts and James eyes glazed over. He wanted to leave but he didn't want to be rude.

"So you see the game last night, man?" Stan asked him.

"Huh? Oh no I don't really know anything about sports."

He thought about what it would be like to have sex with them and banished the thought away. He was mainly into lean men, younger guys and professionals.The three men got on real well and they offered Buck and James a beer each.

"Oh, no thanks. I can't. I'm driving."

"So am I but one beer won't kill ya, right?" Buck winked. "You should see this house of this guys, it's real fuckin' huge. Real nice. Lots of work there."

"How long you gonna be working on this project?"

"Probably a couple of months, depending on how much the boss here needs to have me do. But it's a pretty nice piece of house. Wouldn't mind living there for a few years myself." The three men laughed.

James frowned. 

Buck had to go to the Home Depot and start getting supplies. James gave him a card he had purchased for the store specifically and the two went their separate ways. James came back home and tried to go through economic forecasts but his heart just wasn't into it. He wandered about the house and walked past Buck's room. Buck shouldn't be home for quite some time yet. He had called and said he needed to pick up some donuts and asked James if he wanted any. He had politely refused. Did Buck honestly think he looked the way he did by eating donuts?? He opened the door and stepped into the older man's room. There was a musky smell of cologne. Already the room smelled more manly than any of James'. He wondered what cologne the man used. It was so intoxicating in here. He looked at some of the man's belongings. Trucker boots. Jeans. Lots of them. No dress clothes. Garth Brooks Greatest Hits on CD.

I shouldn't be in here, he thought. I shouldn't! It's wrong! What if he caught me? But then, I have to make sure this guy doesn't have anything screwy. It's just because...oh god. A pair of underwear, filled with cum stains. And a jock strap. Before he knew what he was doing, James lifted the boxer shorts slowly up in the air and then inhaled deeply and his dick, which felt too small for some strange reason, got immediately hard. He took the jock strap and felt the luxurious fabric of it, and there was a bunch of dried cum in there. He couldn't stop himself. He put in the jock strap and started stroking himself while sniffing the boxer shorts and he was so fucking hard he could only think of what it would be like if he were bigger and more masculine and more confident. He pictured himself with facial hair. He was and always had been jealous of any man that could grow facial hair as he never could.

He came inside the jock strap and it was one of the best orgasms he ever had. He pivoted until he was literally shooting cum all over the floor. He rushed to get paper towels and wiped down the cum with cleaning spray and then he heard Buck's truck hitting the gravel of the driveway. Shit! He was still wearing the jock strap! He took paper towels and got as much of his cum out as he could and then put it and the boxer shorts back in as close to the same position as he found them, closed the door, and then ran back to his room.

The next day, Buck left things all over the house. Tools everywhere had to be expected but something told James that Buck's style was different from his own. He had a very easy going nature and James liked to be neat, everything in its place.

Except for someone else's underwear, he reminded himself guiltily.

Buck invited him to go to a country western bar in town so he could introduce James to his friends. James declined at first but then after a while he relented. Buck was very relentless and charming in his own way. "Come on, boss. Let me introduce you to people. Get some fresh air. You said yourself you never get out because you always work and you're not from this area. Do you have any friends here?"

"Not really, not any that are in this area. I haven't had time."

"It'll be fun, I promise."

Getting there James immediately knew it wasn't his kind of thing, but he clamped his mouth shut. He let Buck get excited and he introduced him to several busty middle aged divorcees and everyone knew he stood out, as he was the only one in a dress shirt.

"We need to get some studs on your shirt," many joked. All the guys were mainly tall, gorgeous, strong, and wore cowboy hats. James felt so out of place but mainly listened to other people's conversations. Suddenly one woman perked up when they mentioned the house.

"You bought the Witch House?"

"It's not like there's anything wrong with it." James laughed.

"Well all I'll say is you're brave, cause you couldn't pay me to live there."

"Oh now, it's not like that. Nothin' wrong with that house." Buck chimed in and put a big meaty hand on James' shoulder. "This guy here is strong enough for any witch magic. Ain't that right, boss?"

"Yes, I think we'll be okay. Just out of curiosity, how many people know about this?"

"Just the ones that know better than to go where a house belonged to witches for a hundred years. Course, it originally belonged to witches and then had different owners. The new witches had nothing to do with the OLD witches. Back round the turn of the century where was a MUCH different story what went down there."

"What do you mean?"

"Lots of rumors, mainly," said the woman, named Darlene. "People disappeared. Sometimes people disappeared and their families would say they never existed. Some would remember and some wouldn't. Like most of the town would get amnesia. Strange things happen in that house."

"Didn't you used to make out near there, up on the mountain road?" another woman said, and everyone laughed, including Darlene.

"Yes, and so that's how I know."

"You don't know anything, stop scaring the guy."

"I gotta go to the bathroom, I'll be right back." James said. But when he turned around he walked no more than a few feet. The room was crowded and he tried to make his way through but walked straight into another, much much taller cowboy.

"Hey, watch where you're going, DIPSHIT!"

"Oh ohohoh-I I am so sorry."

"Yeah you should be, dumbass. Say you're SORRY. NOW."

James immediately wilted. "I'm sorry, man, look I don't want any trouble, okay?"

"Why, are you in trouble?"

"I-I don't understand."

"I said are you in trouble?"

"I...hope not?"

The big cowboy laughed. "Look at you, now look at me, you honestly think you have a shot with any woman here? Jesus, you're bout as cowboy as Richard Simmons." The man shoved James hard and walked past him while James nearly swerved into someone else until he caught his balance, all while making an ass out of himself. He hurried back to the table to get his jacket.

"I'm gonna leave early."

"Why didn't you stand up to that jackass?" Buck asked.

"Because he's enormous and I'm me."

"Well he still doesn't have the right to talk to you like that. Go over there and tell him you don't need to be talked to that way."

"Yeah, that's great for you but I don't feel like getting beat up. I think my boss might frown on me getting a black eye."

Buck shook his head as James left, utterly humiliated.

The week flew by after that. Buck apologized for the way James left, feeling responsible he didn't have a good time. James said it wasn't his fault. The two fell into a pattern. Buck started to eat out of the fridge quite a bit, eating things James had made to save for leftovers. It grated him but he had promised him fridge privileges as long as he contributed to buying food for the house. Which Buck did, but it was usually meat dishes. Which for some odd reason, James was craving lately. He was eating chicken and beef like crazy when it was normally a once in a while kind of thing for him. Buck continued to leave his things all over the house and when James tried to comment on it, Buck would just somehow talk his way out of things, and he had become an expert at getting James to see that it was nothing to be worried about, only later James would chastise himself for not standing up more for what he wanted.

Buck had started to take naps here and there and when James caught him upon getting home to see the larger man laying about, he always had an excuse for it. He always had an answer. James started to go to the gym every night in an effort of making a balance for his newfound diet.

The next weekend, Jimmy woke up and realized he had never gotten out of his dress shirt from the previous day. That was unlike him, usually he was so meticulous as to not crease his clothes in his sleep.

He rubbed his belly and noticed that he should probably go to the gym sometime this month and get his money's worth but he was so lazy this week it probably wouldn't even matter.

"Hey Jimmy!" Buck called. "You wanna watch the game with me today? It's the big one!"

"Yeah, let me just get some breakfast first." Jimmy answered. It felt somehow strange to hear his name this morning. But then he had been called Jimmy every since he could remember. He made a big plate of Spam all fried up with eggs and ketchup and wolfed it down. Shouldn't he try something healthier? Nah, forget about that. The game was on!

The next few hours were bachelor bliss. Jimmy drank a whole six bottles of beer on his own, and ate potato chips and other snacks and just watched two football teams demolish each other for his amusement.

Jimmy enjoyed lounging with Buck. If two people live together, they should spend at least some quality time together. He frowned. Didn't he used to have an office nameplate with "James" on it? The memory dwindled. He had been Jimmy for days now. No, not days. All his life? What is wrong with me?" he thought, and belched one of the loudest burps ever. They clinked beer bottles together. 

"Nice one, man!" Buck exclaimed.

"Thanks, I'm proud of that one."

When had he started to like sports? Was it last Tuesday? He had just told someone on Tuesday he didn't watch sports but then it was like he never said that and he remembered going out for sports in school quite a lot, even if he didn't always make the teams. He loved watching all the guys get all sweaty in their uniforms and he admired them for their ability to have both agility and endurance.

Another week went by and Jimmy asked Buck one day when he started smoking cigars. Buck often smoked outside but the smell lingered on the bigger man. It followed him and whereas at first it was off-putting, now it made Jimmy's mouth water for some reason, picturing the smell up close especially.

"Tried my first cigar when I was 14."

"Really? That young?

"Yeah but that was from my old man when our football team won. It was also a late birthday present. After that I got one on my birthday every year. He still sends me them."

"Oh, that sounds cool." Jimmy stared at Buck as his face changed to one of a mischievous smile.

"Why don't you try one, man? I'll teach you how if you want?"

"Me? I can't believe I'm saying this but...yeah I kind of do."

He didn't know what he was saying. He had hated cigars all his life and now he was more excited over trying it than almost anything he could ever remember doing.

Buck taught him a lot about lighting, cutting, storing, and how to smoke and before long, Jimmy was smoking like he had done it all his life.

"Wow. I've really been missing out. Holy shit."

"Yeah, man. I gotta tell you, you take to it like a natural."

Jimmy puffed and held the cigar in his mouth and it felt...so right. So much more then he could ever have dreamed.

"No reason why a grown man shouldn't be able to. Fuck, this is nice. You know what, smoke where you want, man."

"So you don't mind if I smoke in the house?"

"Long as you aren't painting at the same time. Geez, I've never had anything like this before."

The next morning, Jimmy woke and wondered where Bill was. Bill had been renovating the house for months and there was so much unfinished.

"Bill! Bill, where are you?!"

"I'm in here, boss."

"Bill, what have you done this week? Can we go over it? Because for the life of me I can't remember."

"Look, things have been very hectic so why don't we both just calm down. Let's go downtown. We'll take your car. I am gonna get you some pussy today, man."

"Oh uh. Look. I don't want to freak you out but there's no use pretending. I'm actually gay."

"Oh, really. Well that is interesting. I thought you might be but hey man, to each his own."

"Yeah, so...look, I am not trying to be a jerk but what did you do this week? I remember hanging out with you a lot and...geez this place is a mess." Jimmy noticed all of a sudden that Buck's stuff was everywhere and he hadn't cleaned up the kitchen in what looked like a week. Dishes filled the sink. Pizza boxes lay stacked on the counters. He walked into other rooms and saw a lot of clothing everywhere. Paint cans not covered. Tools just everywhere in random places. Paint chips and flakes all over the carpet and couch when there should be something covering them.

"Look at all this, Bill."

"Yeah, man I know. But you know what, everyone works in their own way. Now look, I'm gonna be bringing a woman home tonight so I'd like a little privacy. Is that okay?"

"Sure. I mean...look, Bill."

"Don't worry, everything is alright. I'm not mad at you at all."

"Oh, good. I'm glad." Jimmy felt relieved.

"Look, man. Why don't you let me do my thing and you do yours and then tonight we'll go to a bar and have a drink, mano a mano. Then I'll come home with my woman like planned."

"Sure thing. Sounds fun."

The day raced by. Jimmy tried to get all of the economics into his head but he was so frustrated. He should be feeling angrier not complacent. He should be telling Bill that he was angry. Wait, was his name always Bill? Wasn't it Buck or Chuck or something? Wait, no...a few days ago he remembered calling for a Buck. Who was Buck? He sat in confusion for some time before going online and jerking it to porn for a few hours.

Night rolled round and he hadn't gotten anything done. He drove Bill to the saloon that he had raved about and it was dusty and dim inside the smoky room. They sat and drank a beer and then Bill introduced him to Laverne, who was his new friend. They all drove home together and Jimmy didn't even remember that much of it. He was the designated driver so he didn't have much beer but he still felt like something was just wiping his memory of the day away and a lot of this week for that matter. The last few weeks! What was happening?

They got inside and Bill started showing Laverne around and telling her about all the renovation he was doing.

"Oh my gosh, this place is awesome. Your house is so beautiful!"

"Thank you," Bill said proudly.

Wait, was Bill masquerading as the house owner? Bill winked at Jimmy so Jimmy just went along with it. This whole thing was surreal. Bill showed Laverne all the work that Jimmy was doing. What? Well of course that makes sense. If he's pretending to be the house owner I guess I have to pretend to be the contractor, he thought.

"Yeah, I've been doing a lot of work on this place. I'm very proud of it." He looked to Bill for approval and Bill gave him a nod and smile back.

"Well if you'll excuse us, we need to retire to the master bedroom. Come, my dear."

"Oh I just LOVE it when you talk fancy!" Laverne said and Jimmy thought amused that she and Bill made a cute couple. But wait, they were taking my room, he thought. We didn't even talk about this.

But then the door to his room slammed shut and all he could hear was Laverne laughing and gasping and Bill heaving and yelling soon, at the top of his lungs.

Bill liked to scream during sex. He had told Jimmy that when he hired him. Don't mind me when I'm screwing some broad, cause I like to have it loud and I don't care what anyone fucking thinks.

Jimmy got himself a beer and a cigar and went into his guest room, which was not nearly as nice as Jimmy's ro-Buck's ro-BILL. Bill's room. Bill's room was so nice. His was still under renovation and barely had anything in it. But it was a roof over his head.

Jimmy scratched at his stubble. Goddamn he was always so scruffy and hairy (like always) but goddamn was this ever so relaxing. He pawed and rubbed his small penis and started masturbating thinking of Bill screwing some girl and pictured himself as the girl, squealing and laughing in delight as Bill had his way with him...and before he went to bed he wondered how strange it felt and how happy he was. Maybe he could talk his boss at the firm into letting him come in dressed in a wife beater instead of a suit. It was so goddamn hot all the damn time this summer. A real man needed to sweat! He thought of himself at his desk, enjoying a beer and a cigar and he thought of himself coming back home to paint the walls and install a new fireplace mantle, and redo all the woodwork and knock out the wall and reinstall new gutters...

The next morning, Bill donned one of his nice blue suits and Laverne marveled at his impressive figure.

"Sorry, babe. Got a meeting early. I'll drop you off at your work at the restaurant on the way."

"Thanks, babe. Damn, you are a hot piece of ass."

"Don't I know it. Everyone knows that Bill Parsons is one of the most fuckable members of the firm. Now give me some sugar." He kissed her. "I'll leave a note for the help to get some supplies today. He's a good man. I'm glad I found him."

"It must be nice to be in charge."

"Well I'm not entirely...but I will be." Bill said confidently. He kissed her one more time and swatted her ass and wrote a note for Jimmy and then took the SUV and not the pickup truck out of the driveway to go downtown.


To Be Continued

Caption: Scared and Alone

Immortality Comes With a Price

"118...119...120..AHH!"

Harold dropped and felt the enormity and girth of his new body. He felt like a new man, because he was. Soon his beautiful new girlfriend was at his side.

"So how does it feel to do that many reps?" She took his bulky, sweaty arm in her hands and led him away down towards the beach.

"Incredible! You are a godsend!"

"Oh now, I'm nothing of the sort. You gave up your entire life and that's not a trivial thing."

"I don't deserve you. You're a goddess. Just look at these muscles! I feel like I could take on the world! I feel amazing! I've never felt like this! And I have only you to thank."

Harold had been a sixty five year old on the cusp of retiring from his job in a warehouse, well, edged out by younger competition, even though it was a desk job. The new economy meant he had a lot less than he would have years back. And then he met Priscilla.

She had been interested in his schooling, in his interests, in his old sports days, in his many adventures in the military. Mostly, it was nice just to talk to someone again. His first and only wife had left him in his 30s and he had never remarried. Never had kids. But he had been taken advantage of plenty. He had had bad luck, and been swindled. A menial, ordinary life that had descended into the nightmare of being old and poor.

But Priscilla had told him, upon a first, and unbelievable night of lovemaking that she was a lot...older than she appeared. She had a way of switching the minds of people. She had inhabited several bodies in her lifetime, and she was...well she had stopped counting after 2500 years. The way she did it was a secret for now, but all she wanted was Harold's companionship. His...permanent companionship. Her partner of a thousand years had died falling off a cliff and it was not possible to do a switch if you were dead. She had mourned her lover for decades before finding a new soulmate.

As for the victims, they were always the perfect match. Priscilla researched tirelessly to find a completely immoral man with whom to switch Harold's ailing old frame. The man, whose name was Grant (and now that is my name Harold had to keep telling himself) was a former Wall Street banker turned retiree bodybuilder. His actions, though legal, resulted in the loss of jobs of thousands and the loss of life savings of tens of thousands. This man had no remorse, no guilt, and no right to continue screwing over the innocent.

It didn't take long to convince Harold, though he had had some inevitable ethical concerns and tortured himself about it until Priscilla arranged a meeting between the two. She had made a date with Grant and Harold posed as a man collecting trash. Grant made fun of him in a way that was both disgusting and unnecessary. After Grant made many more remarks about the homeless and how lowly they were, and how the rich deserved everything they got, Priscilla had agreed with him, saying "You have no idea."

She took him to a fancy hotel suite and knocked him out with a special lipstick. It was just like a spy movie. Grant went to sleep and so did Harold and when they woke up they got a massive freak out, with the new 65 year old screaming at the top of his lungs. Priscilla took over while Harold watched mildly as she threatened the hell out of him and told him to go to his new home.

The new Harold was horrified and wound up, well, trying to enjoy his retirement on such a limited budget. I'm Grant now, Harold thought as everyone stared at him, at his beauty. All those eyes on him, all of the time...

He swept his new love into his massive arms and carried her down into the waves, laughing as he played with her, intoxicated by his new godlike body.

It was a whole new life. He just hoped that the endless sex he'd been having would be enough to satiate him. After all, just one slip up and he could wind up in an elderly body again! He flexed for his new girl and she fawned over him, and he marveled for weeks at the new limits he could force this body to go to. He never had to work again and he had the body of a young, muscular buck. What more could he ask for? He thought, watching the many, many eyes of beautiful women lusting after his frame as he ran on one of his daily jogs.

Proving a Point Part 1

"Austin, I do not believe you! This is so irresponsible!"

"Dad, come on..."

"No, Austin. You need to admit what a big deal this is. You need to get how you know nothing about responsibility. Part of growing up means you have to deal with adult problems, and this is about as immature as it gets. So explain to me, from the beginning, what exactly happened?"

 "Nothing!"

"NOTHING? Care to try again?"

"Well it wasn't my fault because Casey and Eric were skateboarding with me and Casey swerved in front of me and it was a complete accident!"

"Where were you skateboarding?"

"I don't know," Austin said meekly.

"I don't know? You don't know? Are you sure?"

"Okay! I was on the hill."

"You were on the hill I've told you not to skateboard on. But you wanted to because you wanted to look cool in front of your friends!"

"Dad, please!"

"No, you are grounded for the next two months. You almost got killed. A car could have hit you, and you wound up breaking someone's radio antennae. And the car that swerved...you're so lucky they aren't pressing charges or suing me!"

"Their car was fine though," Austin said quietly.

"Yeah, and they had some old woman inside and they had to stop real hard. You don't think about how hard it is being a single father. You have no idea how hard it is for me to have to deal with this shit."

"This is so unfair," Austin pouted, his voice cracking.

"What? What was that? No, I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Nothing."

"No, tell me how good I have it."

"You have it so good! You don't have any problems like I have!"

"HA! Are you kidding me? You are so grounded. Grounded. that means no TV. No video games. Nothing but books and studying. No loser friends, either. You want to look cool in front of them, just wait until they see you with no skateboard. Which I'm taking, by the way."

"You never want to hear my side of anything!"

"And you never learn anything!"

"If I was in charge it would be different. I wouldn't treat YOU this way!"

"Like a maturing adult? I don't know why I do. I treat you the way my father treated me. You're in a child's body but one day you'll be a man and then you'll be glad I taught you everything I did, especially about respect, of which you have very little. Now, I have a business dinner to attend. If you leave this house, I'll know and find out about it. Believe me. Go to your room and think about what you've done."

Austin went upstairs. Life was so unfair. He hadn't meant to do anything. He couldn't just tell his friends he wasn't going to skateboard with them. He had to act cool or he wouldn't have any friends and then he'd wind up getting bullied like some of the kids he'd seen at school. Things went on all the time when adults weren't looking. Dad just didn't want to care about how hard it was being a kid. All he cared about was himself. He walked to his room and miserably laid down on his bed, and buried his head in his pillow. 

I wish I could be in charge and not him, he thought. He drifted off...

Downstairs, Larry (Austin's father) dozed on the couch. He was exhausted. It wasn't enough he was working his ass off to pay all the bills and give Austin the chance at a life he never had, but now his kid was just not listening to him. He just wanted Austin to listen and do the bare minimum. He had to do SO much more when he was a kid. Too bad they didn't live in a house with a big yard, with wood to chop. Austin could learn a thing or two from doing that.

He drifted off, unable to fight off the fatigue...

Austin woke up on the couch where his father had been dozing. Rubbing his eyes, he got up. Did Dad bring him down here? He was so tired. He walked around the coffee table thinking something was off. He felt dizzy or something...everything seemed contorted. Was he dreaming? He must be dreaming, since everything was at a different angle...it was like he was way taller. He must be dreaming or sick or...

He walked into the bathroom and saw his dad.

"Dad! Sorry! Where did you come from!?" He blinked, terrified for a moment, in a way he couldn't describe. "Why are you saying what I'm saying AHHHHHHHHHHH!" His eyes went wide. His father's eyes went wide. He waved. His father waved.

No it can't be. It can't be it can't be it can't be! NO FUCKING WAY, he thought.

The man in the bathroom looked at his reflection in disbelief. He scoffed several times, and looked at himself like he couldn't possibly believe what he was seeing. He tentatively reached a hand up to touch his rough sandpaper stubble, and ran a hand over his chest, covered in fine black hair.

He looked around, looking for someone who was in on the joke, smiling enthusiastically. 

"Testing, testing. I have my dad's voice. I look like my dad. OH MY GOD!"

This is real. I have my dad's voice. I have my dad's chest hair. I have my dad's...  

He immediately dropped his boxer shorts (boxer shorts!) and realized how much had changed. He delicately took his now absolutely huge dick and smiled and just held it in amazement. His balls were also huge, two big eggs on either side. 

"This is crazy. This...how did this happen?" He looked at himself in the mirror. "And who the hell cares? I got my wish. Oh wow. Wow wow wow!" He did a little happy dance in the mirror. 

Dad must be...me. I guess. I hope he's me. If he isn't me, someone else is. What if a bunch of people switched with each other and someone else is in my body? I better check. Just to make sure.

He walked upstairs, smiling at his newfound weight as the stairs creaked when before they didn't. He added a little momentum as he ran to his room. He prepared himself. Smiled. Took a deep breath. Knocked on the door. He heard his body groan. He opened the door. His body looked at him sleepily, got up, looked confused, looked back at Austin, who was now the dad in the room, the adult smiling down at his son.

"Hi, Daddy."

Larry screamed and found himself trying to run but Austin was too big and stopped him easily. The two danced with each other, Larry struggling in a moment of complete panic and confusion. Austin covered his mouth so he couldn't scream and held him down on the ground after they wrestled for a while. 

"It's okay. It's okay, dad. I had the same reaction. Well, you know. I mean, it's real and all and you're in my body now. So I'm going to take my hand off your mouth in just a sec and I want you to be calm, okay? Don't freak out. One. Two. Three." Austin stood up and looked uncomfortable as his "son" got up and was still breathing shallowly. 

"How the fuck did this happen? I must be going crazy. I'm having some kind of psychotic breakdown. This isn't real. I must be crazy."

"Nope, we just switched bodies. It's so cool! I have armpit hair! Look!" He twisted the armpit hair and then looked back at his dad mischievously. And grinned. He was carrying himself the way he did as a child, with his arms twisting in embarrassment and glee. 

"How could this happen? I was on the couch. I dozed off. And now I'm a..." Larry ran to the upstairs bathroom down the hall. He flipped on the switch. Everything towered above him. Suddenly the ceiling was WAY further up than it had been before. "This is impossible. Why am I in your body? Why?! Why did this happen?" He looked at his son suspiciously.

"I dunno!"

"How did you do this?"

"I didn't do this. I have no idea how we traded but I'm glad we did! I'm in charge now!" His face made an "O" as it dawned on him. "I was wishing I could be in charge. Someone listened cuz now we have! This is amazing."

"Well I need you go give me my body back! I need to go to a work dinner tonight! It's important."

"No. You're not goin' anywhere. CUZ YOU'RE GROUNDED OHHHHHHHH!" Austin did a ridiculous victory dance in front of his father, and moved his now giant arms and legs in "yes" gestures, shaking his fists in victory and smug self congratulation. "I'M AN A-DULT. YOU ARE A KID. I'M AN A-DULT. YOU ARE A KID!" he sang-song.

Larry stared up in complete disbelief and horror. "No. No, I'm not a kid! I'm in a nightmare. I need to wake up!" 

Austin stopped to look down at his dad and scoffed as if he couldn't believe Dad wasn't accepting reality. He'd accepted it pretty quickly! He picked up his father and held him in mid air, and then carried him in his arms. 

"Wow, this is awesome! I'm totally big and an adult and you're all little!"

"Put. Me. Down, Austin. NOW."

"Okay!" Austin began to fling his father on the ground and then swung him last minute until he was on the floor, unhurt.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh I'm bigger than you, dad! And you have to do what I say, cause I'm your dad now and you are my son!"

"We have to SWITCH BACK! THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN!!!"

"Well young man, I think we need to talk about how you need to respect me more," Austin said, crossing his arms. The phone rang. Austin went to his dad's room to answer it. 

"Do not answer that!"

"Why not? It's MY phone!" Austin was really enjoying every minute of this. "Hello? Yes, this is Larry. Why? Uh...I just took a nap. I will. Yeah. Sure. Okay. See you soon!"

"Who was that? Was that who I think it was?"

"Yep that was that fat dude you work with. I'm gonna go to a party!"

"You can't and you won't!"

"Uh huh!"

"You can't drive! You're a little boy! You don't know the first thing about operating a vehicle!"

Austin's eyes went wide. "I can drive now! I didn't even THINK of that!"

"Oh god..."

Austin ran downstairs and Larry followed.

"Son, you can't go to that party. It's at a restaurant and it's a fancy business dinner. I forbid you from going."

Austin swung around, putting on his dad's pants now. "Wow your pants fit me! This is SO AWESOME!"

"You can't do this. You'll get killed if you drive."

"So I'll take a cab. I got plenty of cash."

"No. No it is too expensive. You will to take a cab." Austin dialed and asked for a cab and Larry was helpless to do anything.

"Hey, what restaurant is it at? I need to know that."

"Well I'm not telling you!" 

"Just kidding, the fat guy told me where they were. They're gonna go to a bar first and get some drinks and I'll meet them up there. Hey. I can drink beer now! Wow!" Austin looked very comical to anyone that might have walked in at this point, a grown man excited by such things would be very out of place indeed.

"Austin, you can't just leave. We need to figure this thing out."

"You figure it out," Austin said, putting on his dad's shirt and sportscoat. "Hey I look pretty good. You know, for an old dude."

"Have you thought about how the hell we're gonna get back?"

"No, why?"

"Because we need to a) figure out what happened and b) figure out how to get back to normal. Can you think of anything that might have caused this."

"No dad, I told you." Austin rolled his eyes. "I dunno. But I'm gonna go to your fancy shmancy dinner so suck it.  Ha ha!" 

Austin went outside to wait for his cab. He went through his dad's wallet, checking out his credit cards, and new ID. "When I get back you'll have to tell me all the numbers I need for these. And how much money I have now."

"Can I tell you how to do my job as well?"

"Nah, I'll figure it out. Can't be that hard. Can't be as hard as being a kid."

"Jesus, I can't believe this. Austin, please, do not drink tonight. I...have work tomorrow. Oh God. Just claim to be sick. Stall for time, that's what we need to do."

"Nope, I'm gonna go to work tomorrow and you can go to school and I'm gonna have tons of fun because your life is WAY easier than mine."

"Ya wanna bet?"

"Yeah! If I'm wrong...I get to keep your body!" Austin laughed at his own joke and bent over and was generally acting like a little kid acts, being very physical and moving all over the place with hyperactive happiness. He swung around the porch column in circles while his dad tried to talk to him. 

"Son..."

"Hey my cab is here. Cool. Well son, have a good night. Don't stay up late for me. I have work tomorrow. Because I'm a cool grown up and stuff."

"This is not happening. And I will wait up. You come the hell back as soon as dinner is over, do you understand me?" Larry pointed a tiny finger menacingly at his son. Austin responded by not being the slightest bit concerned and he waved goodbye as he got in the cab, bouncing on the seat a few time and smiling like he'd just won the lottery.

Larry went back inside and watched TV waiting for his "dad" to come back. What could possibly happen if Austin went to work for him??

TO BE CONTINUED

Not Your Usual Field Trip

"You two are gonna have fun today, you'll see."
"Have fun? Our sons are at home in our bodies and you think we'll have fun at the museum??"
"Well you had fun the first time you were there on the field trip! It's been two whole days! You can't miss school for too much longer, people will start calling. We need to find this guy. And besides, your Aunt Vivian is here to make sure nothin' happens to you."
"Something already did happen to us! And very funny."
"Oh come on, you two are so cute! How can I resist. Look at you, with your bubbles!"
"Seriously, John, that is completely embarrassing." Kevin looked at his new "brother".
"Whatever. I'm in the body of my six year old son. I might as well enjoy it."
"God you even sound like a little kid."
"So do you! So do you!"
"Don't fight you two, or no ice cream later."
"This is a nightmare," said Kevin. "The boys said that the security guard was named Max but no one named Max works there, we checked."
"So it's some random magical security guard? Great, this is like something from a movie." John blew his bubbles.
John was secretly starting to worry. He felt like a kid again. He felt like playing with toys constantly, and every man on earth now towered over him as a giant, including his little boy! How could someone do this, even if they were able to? Didn't they know that a grown adult couldn't live like this? He blew bubbles more.
"Would you quit with the damn bubbles?!"
"I'm nervous and it makes me look the part, okay? Fine, here," John dumped the bubbles in a nearby garbage bin.
"What if we don't find him? What if we're stuck like this? God, my body is eight years old and my eight year old son is in mine. He doesn't know how to drive or go to work. What will we do? What can we do?"
"We'll get through it. We're family. That's what family does?"
"So how about we go see an R rated movie after the museum?" John asked.
"Do you have absolutely no priorities?" Kevin was amazed.
"Yeah and besides which, I can't bring a little kid to an R rated movie. What if one of my neighbors saw me? I would simply be mortified." Kevin rolled his eyes.
"I think I should probably tell you guys something," John began.
"Oh, I don't like the sound of that," Vivian said, in her constantly worried voice. His aunt in real life had now become his great aunt. John continued.
"When we were at the field trip I sort of met this guy."
"What? Why didn't you say something?"
"Because the boys finally came forward after two days and talked about how they made their wish but I sort of...look...he tricked me okay? How was I supposed to know he was for real?"
"What are you talking about? What did you do?"
"I thought he worked there. He talked about how much fun the kids were having. He asked me if I thought I wanted to feel that carefree again. And not have to deal with work. And then...I wished we could be kids again. Both of us."
"You what? How could you?" Kevin yelled.
"Oh like I knew this was going to happen," John replied.
"You two might have to get used to this," Vivian. "Oh think of those poor boys. What you've done to them! They will have to be the grown ups and...oh we better hope we fight that Max guy!"
"Time's a wasting! Come on!" Kevin said, as boldly as an 8 year old could. He would handle the boys if it came to it, but right now they had to at least track this guy down and unwish themselves back to normal, and fast!

Meanwhile, back home, the boys were anything but miserable...

"FUCK YOU, DAD!"
Jerry giggled to himself. Charles continued practicing,
"FUCK YOU, DAD! You don't tell adults what to do! We tell you what to do! NOW SHUT UP AND GO TO YOUR ROOM OR I'LL GIVE YOU A SPANKING!"
"You sound just like grown ups!"
"We are grown ups. Now and for good, stupid."
"I'm not stupid! Nuh uh! Am not! Am not!"
Charles, now in his father Kevin's body, ripped off the nametag his brother was playing with.
"You gotta start acting like an adult, man. MAN. Heh. You're a man now. This is awesome."
"I have hair on my face!"
"Dude, you haven't washed the spell off yet? You need to wipe that off before they get back. It's what makes this permanent. Wash it off and we get to stay in these bodies. If they see it they might suspect that the old man told us how to do it and how."
"I get to be a grown up and I don't have to go to school anymore! I get to watch TV whenever I want and stay up late!"
"And we get to punish our dads like they used to punish us all the time," said Charles darkly. "I can't wait til aunt Viv takes off. We'll convince her when the spell really starts to kick in. We're gonna get all their knowledge about how to do grown up stuff. Just wait. It'll be great. I can't wait to drive."
"What are you talking about, Charles. I know how to drive," said Jerry in a very mature manner. "Holy shit, I know how to drive! And I can say bad words! Shit! Fuck! I'm not even afraid daddy will hear me!"
"That's because you are daddy now, stupid."
"I'm not stupid. I'm a financial investor with an MA. Hey! I have all of dad's knowledge! Oh this is gonna be awesome! But..."
"But what?"
"But they're just gonna be like little kids. I didn't know how this would feel."
"I know how I feel. I feel like a fuckin' beer. And start calling me Kevin. And you're John. Our kids are Jerry and Charles now."
"This is gonna be so much to get used to. I'm tall and I have the knowledge of an adult now. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" asked the new John.
"That we know what these bodies want? And it ain't lemonade."
"It's a good thing both our dads are single. And that they are both gay. And they aren't related by blood." The two moved closer and started rubbing against each other. "How about you grab me a beer, too?"
"How about we get Viv to babysit while we out and "try and find the security guard". We'll explain that we've become like our dads. That we have their memories. Which she should believe since..."
"They are probably acting just like little kids right now."
"Right. I am getting my dad's memories."
"Me too! About how we met, fell in love, both had sons and formed a family..."
"I think this is the beginning of a new family."
"Works for me...Dad."

Wanting Everything

Peter was enjoying his cigarette break from his job as a financial adviser. It was for one of the more prestigious firms in the city and he enjoyed the allure it gave him. No woman could resist Peter Sanders when he came into a bar. He was a chick magnet and he knew it.

Yet some people who were close to him knew that he never stopped complaining. He was always going on about how the fucking waiters at his favorite restaurants couldn't do their jobs and the fucking gardeners, pool boys, and landscapers who worked for him could never really please him. He was always seeing fault in things. He played by his own rules and he was master of his world. People should try to please him, he often said, because he was smart enough to have a real job that paid real money. "People should treat me differently," he would say to his friends. "I am different. I'm better".

Peter's intelligence was very fierce but his compassion for others was notably low. He would often complain of the Mexican problem in this country.

"Hey man. How's it going?" asked Steve, a co-worker. They started walking back into work.

"Fine. Except my fucking pool boy didn't do everything that I asked him to. These fucking beaners come to this country and they don't even speak enough English to goddamn listen to what I'm telling them to do. I'm paying them. I shouldn't have to speak their godawful gibberish language just so they can do one simple task. He left the net out and a bunch of other equipment. Said he had to go home early for some family emergency. Don't they all have a hundred relatives? I fired his beaner ass. I need to find a white guy to clean my pool. One who can understand simple directions and won't be full of excuses."

"My sister has a great pool guy. She raves about him. He's Mexican but pretty fluent."

Peter sighed, so hellbent on appearing a martyr. "Fine. Send him my way. But if he fucks up even a little I'll can him. They just aren't as good as white workers, you know? They don't work as hard, they just come here and take over and just soak up all of the benefits. I'd like to see a beaner do THIS job. Something that requires actual thought."

Steve smiled and walked away. The next day Peter got a call from a man who introduced himself as Alejandro Zamora. The guy had a bit of a typical Hispanic accent, but Peter didn't mind that. The guy seemed like he spoke enough English for Peter to deal with him. And it turned out the guy was willing to do yard work as well.

The next weekend Alejandro came over. Peter had work to do in his living room, but when he took a cigarette break outside he noticed the man to be pretty decent at his job.

"This is a real nice place, man," Alejandro told him.

"Yeah, worth every penny. It's my dream pad."

"Bet the ladies appreciate it." Alejandro smiled wolfishly.

Peter laughed. "Oh, they don't mind it."

"Hey, Peter, so what is it you do, man? It seems pretty important."

That's more of an interest than any of my other help ever paid to me, he noted.

"Financial expert. I recommend investments."

Alejandro whistled. "Sounds pretty impressive. Money is a fascinating thing. Maybe when I have enough saved up I'll come to you, huh?"

Dream on, Peter thought. You could never afford my services.

"Well, I better get back inside. I have to finish up some portfolios tonight."

"Cool, man. Hey, do you mind if I use your bathroom?"

"Oh no, that's cool. There's no poolhouse yet, but I'm thinking of building one."

Suddenly he woke up and it was deep evening. It had been 3 in the afternoon just a few moments ago! A couple of empty beers and an open whiskey bottle lay on the $3,000 coffee table he had recently purchased for the living room. Well, that explains it, he thought. Must have been more tired than I thought. Peter had completely forgotten about Alejandro and didn't even give him a second thought that night.

"Eh, what time is it? 9 PM? Fuck. Good thing it's Saturday."

Peter flipped around some TV channels getting bored, until a channel caught his eye. It was the Spanish speaking channel and they were having some sort of pool party with hot chicks everywhere. Only thing this station is good for, he thought, and drifted off watching the Spanish conversations of some soap opera. Before drifting off to sleep he could almost swear that he understood what all the characters were saying...

In another week, Alejandro visited right on time.

"Peter! How's it hangin, my man?"

"Great, man. I got a lot of work for you today. The yard needs to be cleaned up. I'm having a party here in a couple weeks. It has to be spotless. I want all the hedges trimmed..."

He found himself inside dozing on his $8,000 couch. He saw what was left of his scotch on the rocks and laughed. Man, I am really living Saturdays up lately, he thought.

Alejandro came inside the house. "Well Mr. Sanders I'm all finished for the day. That entire list has been taken care of."

"Spectacular." He said, still feeling a little inebriated.

"You sure you don't need any help with anything else?"

"No, not unless you can do my job for me as well," Peter said, almost wishing Alejandro could.

"You could always make a wish," Alejandro said. "There's that meteor shower tonight."

"Ha! Wish upon a falling star?" He walked outside. Sure enough, a few meteors were burning through the atmosphere. "I WISH THIS GUY HERE COULD DO MY JOB INSTEAD OF ME! HAHAHAHA! Oh man, I gotta lay off the booze on weekends."

"Hey man, what do you think weekends were invented for?"

"I like you, Alejandro. Same time next week?"

"Sure thing, boss. See you soon." Alejandro said, tucking an unidentified object into his pants pocket. Something wooden. Peter shrugged it off and went back inside, to watch telenovelas. Something about a woman whose boyfriend was cheating on her. How the hell do I know what they're even saying? he thought as he drifted off.

The next week was fairly hectic for Peter. He made errors he didn't normally make. Simple fax mistakes that only a rookie would even think of making. He mixed up a few clients names and got pretty embarrassed but managed to laugh it off. And for some reason he kept watching the Spanish speaking channel every night. It was weird, he never felt addicted to any television like this, but he couldn't stop himself. It was like every other channel was just becoming a haze of gibberish.

The next Saturday Alejandro called Peter to tell him he would be late.

"Oh what? Man I have a million guys off the truck that would be happy to do your job!" Peter said, while watching some game show from Mexico.

"Peter, I got caught up with something. I'll be there in no time."

"I should fire you, you know. I rarely tolerate people being late."

"Peter? I really don't like the way you're talking to me."

Suddenly Peter felt truly bad. Maybe he was being harsh.

  

"Now Peter, I think you should apologize to me," Alejandro said slowly.

Peter shook his head. It was so hard for him to ever admit when he was wrong.

"Just get over here as quick as you can. I'm sorry I yelled at you, man."

"That's more like it." Alejandro said, a little angrily, and hung up.

When Alejandro came over Peter was hard at work on some mathematical ratios, and establishing scenarios for potential investment boons. But after Alejandro showed up he found himself unable to concentrate. God, he just wanted to kick back for once. He pictured himself in the midst of a pool party, showing off to everyone, with lots of beautiful women admiring him. Maybe a few of the studs from the office showing off while shirtless. Man, this party was going to be great. 

"Boss, you okay?"

Peter was startled. "Huh. What was I doing? Que es lo?"

Alejandro smiled warmly. "That's cute. Learning a little bit of Spanish on me?"

"Spanish? Me? Un pequeno. Tu sabes," he said. Man, what the hell? I must be picking up words without even knowing it from that TV channel. 

"I'm working on the topiary hedges today. You said you wanted them retrimmed in a certain shape?"

"Oh yeah, here let me show you.."

He led Alejandro outside but for the life of him couldn't remember the project he had for him. 

"It was going to be like...all of them had some shapes. Different shapes." He looked puzzled.

"Well, what we could do is give these here half domes and then these over here, we could do a graduated pyramid shape."

"Oh yeah! That sounds magnifico!"

Alejandro smiled again. "Why don't you help me out?"

"ME? Alejandro, I'm paying you to do a job," Peter said, suddenly annoyed by Alejandro's nerve.

"No disrespect intended boss. I just thought it might loosen you up. Detached work makes the mind work easier. You know?"

"Maybe it would help," Peter agreed. Alejandro showed him the techniques he used to trim the bushes. Peter decided that he was going to sweat a lot doing this so he took off his dress shirt, which he wore on weekends because all of his clothing had to be expensive, just in case someone showed up unannounced.

Hours passed and Peter got a good workout in while Alejandro looked on with arms folded proudly. 

"And THAT, my man, is how you do it!"

"Nice work, Peter! You did it!"

He high fived Alejandro without even thinking about the fact that he had done nearly all the work that day.

"Why don't we go inside and chill out a little bit?" Alejandro asked.

He's the help for fuck's sake? Where the hell does he get off? Then again, he has been doing a great job lately. 

"Yeah, sure. But just for a little while. I have work to do."

"Like what?"

"You're really interested in what I do, aren't you?"

"To be honest, I really want to do what you do some day," Alejandro admitted. "I've been going to college for the past year with an emphasis on economics."

"Really? You never told me. Hey man, I'm gonna take a shower. Make yourself at home in the meantime."

Make yourself at home? What the hell am I even saying? I don't want to give this fucking roughneck the impression I think we're equals. He began lathering up. Man, he had gotten quite a tan today working out in the yard. Bet it would make him all the more appealing at that pool party. Wait til the guys at the office saw him, he thought.

He came out in a bathrobe to find Alejandro going through his papers!

"What the hell are you doing? Those are confidential."

"Oh, I didn't know. I was just noticing you were recommending a company that doesn't exist anymore?"

"What? Where?"

"Right here, see?"

"How the hell could I have made a mistake like that?? I need to lay off the cervezas."

"You know, I could really make a few suggestions. First..." Peter listened as Alejandro filled him in on all his ideas, and even showed Peter that he could analyze data as well as any pro.

"Where did you learn all this? You're a pool boy for crying out loud."

Alejandro winced. "Let's just say I pick things up fast. And you could take advantage of that?"

"How is that?" Peter turned on the TV, searching for something cool. He settled on a movie about a couple on a romantic getaway to Puerto Vallarta, although it was hard for him to follow the plot.

"You could make me your assistant."

"Assistant? That requires years of experience. For a firm like mine? Sorry, amigo. No, si no podemos." How the hell do I know these words? he thought as he impatiently turned the TV to a telenovela he could follow.

"Well, you could help me out with that. Say I have years of experience in your field."

Peter thought about it. It wasn't a half bad idea. Alejandro wasn't like all those other wetbacks. He actually had a brain.

"Let me think about it."

"Are you sure? Come on, you know me well enough. I can do this job as well as...well, a lot of guys."

"Okay. Let's do this thing."

"Really??" Alejandro was beaming.

"Yes," Peter said, happy to make Alejandro so happy. "But under one condition. You have to help me get the pool party ready. We need to do some fucking celebrating."

"I couldn't have put it better myself." Alejandro smiled.

Peter spent all of Sunday putting together a fake resume for Alejandro. He gave him an Ivy League background. Called a few people and called in a few favors so people could act as false references if need be. Alejandro came over Sunday night to go over the job details for the following week. As a personal assistant, Alejandro would assist both at home and at work. He would be at Peter's beckoned call. This was the stipulation that came with the job. It was important and prestigious and would pay a far more handsome salary than pool boy. Alejandro had to earn it.

"What about clothes? I don't have many nice ones."

"That's not MY problem." Peter said, annoyed. Jeez, am I not doing enough for this guy already?

"I mean, I just want to make you look good. Can I borrow some outfits? Until I get that first paycheck? Come on, we're colleagues here," he said convincingly.

"Alright, alright. Right this way." Peter helped Alejandro into some of his outfits and they checked him out in the mirror. 

"Do you want to try my clothes on while we're at it?" Alejandro smiled.

Peter scoffed. "Yeah, right. Those jeans are ripped up and covered with paint. Not to mention the sweat stained old polo shirt that quite frankly smells."

"Come on. Just do it. For me. I want to see what you look like." 

"Ah, what the hell. I am curious myself." Peter undressed in front of Alejandro without a second thought.

"Nice package. Didn't know you wore boxer briefs."

"Yeah, you like that? Check this out." Peter got into Alejandro's clothes. They walked over to the full length mirror in the bathroom, which was quite spacious. 

"Fuck, if no one knew us they'd say you were the big shot of the house and I was the servant."  The two of them certainly looked that part. Their mirror images suggested Peter was some uncouth laborer and Alejandro was the refined owner of a palatial mansion.

"I think that'll be good. Let me try on some other outfits. Bring me the blue suit. Over there."

Peter obliged. After Alejandro had taken 20 of Peter's best suits, he had Peter bring them to his car while he talked to someone on his cel phone. Alejandro must be a popular guy, Peter thought. 

"I gotta go. I'll be there bright and early tomorrow morning so you can introduce me to the staff. And uh, you can keep those," Alejandro said happily, getting in Peter's expensive sports car. Peter didn't even give this a second thought. He walked back inside and looked at himself in the mirror with his torn jeans and faded, sweat stained polo shirt. Yeah, I look like a real stud in these, real workin man. Man, I should work out in these. I bet I'd look super hot. Peter had a club membership but he also had some weights he'd put in the garage. He walked there with a cocky walk and took off his sweaty shirt and lifted weights for about an hour. He checked himself out in the mirrors back in the house. He couldn't help himself. He started thinking about the gym and all the guys that worked out there and what a testosterone fest it was. Fuck yeah! Peter whacked off numerous times, disgustingly wiping his cum off on the ripped up jeans.  He passed out with a Don Equis in his hands.

He woke up the next morning with a huge headache. He had to take the pickup truck to work since Alejandro had borrowed his car. Whatever, he thought. Long as it gets me there.

He got to work. Alejandro was there waiting for him. He looked much better in a suit, that was for sure.

Peter introduced him as his new assistant to everyone, and there was more than one shocked reaction. Maybe there's just surprised to see a Hispanic guy in the office for a change, he reasoned. 

Going through the day's procedures was difficult. He had to show Alejandro the ropes as well as do his own job, which was very difficult with his headache.

Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the mirror at home, admiring his tan. The week seemed to float by. Alejandro soon became known as the new go getter around the office and people took to him quite well. Peter could be proud of his choice of adding Alejandro to the staff.

On day five, Peter found himself near the park around the corner, taking a cigarette break when Alejandro approached him. 

"Boss, you're needed inside. What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm taking a break!"

"You already had lunch. And after that presentation, I think everyone wants you to say something."

"What are you talking about?"

"The presentation you gave. You just muttered half of it, and stood there like you'd never done it before. And quite frankly, it was really uncomfortable to watch. Look, I only say this because we're friends, but people really need to be reassured here. 

"I don't...was it really that bad? My life ees so difficult, choo know?"

Alejandro smiled warmly. "I do know. I know you work so hard for what you have. I hate to see you toss it away."

"Geez, I didn't know it was that muy mal."

"Look, why don't you go home early? It looks like you really need it. I'll handle the rest of the accounts for the day."

"The way you're speaking. It's so...did you change your hair recently? There's something about you that's different." Peter didn't realize that their vocalizations had slowly been switching all week long. Peter had now developed a slight Hispanic accent and Alejandro's accent was a completely American one. 

"There's nothing wrong with my voice and no, I haven't made any changes. But thank you for noticing how good I look," Alejandro cupped Peter's chin in his hand gently, affectionately. "Now you run on home and get dinner started. I'll take care of those accounts. No matter how delicate they are, I think I can handle it."

It took me years to learn how to do this job, Peter thought sourly. But he's right. He remembered the presentation now and the confused look on people's faces. 

"Oh, and can I have me the keys to the car, por favor?"

"What are you talking about baby? You gave it to me? And I gave you my pickup?"

"Si, but...I like mi car. Ees so pretty."

"Look, Peter, go home. I have a lot of work to do," Alejandro said, sternly. 

Peter felt ashamed of all the work he was making Alejandro do for him. He obliged and took the pickup back home. But once he got there he just didn't feel right. He did some vacuuming and that made him feel better. He did some sweeping outside but he felt that there was so much to do he didn't have time for all of it. He did some dusting and even scooped the leaves out of the pool. He admired his reflection and all of his newly tanned muscles. 

That night Alejandro came home agitated but got in a better mood when Peter proudly showed him all the work he had been doing. Starting with dinner, he fussed over Alejandro's napkin and presented him with the roast that he had made himself, followed with some spicy Mexican side dishes which Alejandro praised. 

"Your mole sauce is excellent."

"And that's not all." Peter showed him all the work he'd done around the house and yard. He beamed as Alejandro took it all in.

"That's very good. I'm proud of you, Peter. Thank you." He reached over and embraced Peter and began kissing Peter's neck. "I'm very thankful for everything you've given me."

Before Peter knew what he was doing, he was on his knees. He was dressed in the ripped up jeans and soiled shirt that Alejandro had brought over for him to wear. 

"YEAH, SUCK MY COCK YOU LITTLE WETBACK!" Alejandro roared as he shoved his beautiful smooth cock into Peter's eager mouth. Peter loved it when Alejandro got this turned on by him. It had always been so hot between them.

Alejandro came buckets inside Peter's mouth. The taste of cum was unfamiliar to him for some reason, even though he remembered liking it a whole lot. He swallowed every drop like a good boy, which Alejandro kept calling him. Good Boy. 

After a long passionate lovemaking session where Alejandro licked his muscles and ass and then introduced his waiting ass to his plump eager cock, which just couldn't get enough, Peter was in heaven. He grunted for an hour as Alejandro thrust inside him, repeatedly.

"Baby, that was great. Run me a shower, would you? I had such a hellish day at the office, that was just what I needed."

Alejandro then commanded that Peter follow him in the shower so they could fondle each other a little bit more. Then they came into the living room. Peter turned on a telenovela while Alejandro did statistical analysis.

"Baby, you know I hate this shit. Turn it to something else." Alejandro took the remote control and turned it to a legal thriller. Peter couldn't understand the plot but the guys were all hot. He tried to snuggle up to Alejandro, but he was too wrapped up in his work to notice.

Alejandro gave him a written list then. 

"This is a list of all the things you need to do tomorrow. Do every single one of them. You understand me?" 

"Yes, sir," Peter said playfully. They kissed for a little while longer. 

"Alright. I'm going to bed. You coming?"

They spent the night together in what Peter thought was his bed. But no, that wasn't right. It was Alejandro's bed. He had a dream that night that he was in his office doing important work when some people came in and told him to get the hell out. He was to move some boxes downstairs. Then he found himself in a room where Alejandro was at his desk. Doing his work. He didn't work there anymore. 

In his dream, he went back home with Alejandro driving him in HIS sports car. But no, it was never really his. Alejandro let him drive it sometimes. As a reward for doing such a good job.

The next morning he was groggy and Alejandro was already dressed. 

"Gotta go, baby. I have things to do. I'll meet you in the park later after your list is done."

"But wait, I have to do the work. For the accounts. The project for la energia." 

"I think maybe you were dreaming," Alejandro said condescendingly. "I do the accounts around here. Now you get to work and make me happy." 

As Alejandro left Peter thought it was funny that he had brown hair. But no, his lover had always had brown hair. Hadn't he?

That day Peter busily called the caterers, picked up the food, cleaned the rest of the pool, set the tables, swept some more, and set up the music and drinks. Everything looked perfect. Guests would not arrive until that evening so he drove his pickup over to meet Alejandro at the park. His lover was waiting on the bench they met. Wait, was that right? Didn't he meet Alejandro...when he HIRED HIM??? 

He was the one in charge, not him! And he didn't even look the same!

"Hi, lover. Come and sit down." Alejandro took a drag off his cigarette.

"Alejandro? What da hell ees going on here? Why do you look white? Why am I doing what choo want me to?"

The man laughed. "Alejandro? Do I look like an Alejandro to you? My name is Alex Moore you fucking dipshit and don't you fucking forget it. Do you have any idea who I am? Well, no, you're confused." He smiled cruelly and took a drag, exhaled sexily. "You see, you gave me your life. I'm now cultured, white, and affluent. I have all of your skills and you have all of mine. And I deserve it. Because I'm better."

"No...zees cannot be happening!"

"Oh you'll get used to it. You're remembering only what I want you to. I wanted to see the look on your face. Sorry. I just couldn't resist. "What's your name?"

"Mi llamo es...Peter Sanders."

"WRONG! Your name is Pedro Suarez. Look at your license if you don't believe me."

Pedro looked through his wallet. Mexican ID, California driver's license....no. "I have someone else's wallet."

"Look at your hands, dummy."

Pedro looked at horror at his brown hands. "No es possible! I mean, it isn't possible!"

"Anything's possible, if you know how. Now look, you are my boy toy and I intend on taking good care of you. But you have to play your part. After you named me your successor a lot of people were taken by surprise so we have to put on a good show tonight. But don't tell them you're my boyfriend. I don't want them to think less of me. Mmmm. Even though you are quite the treat now. I like you with a tan." Alex started grazing his neck and fondling him..in a public park. They kissed a few times. 

"Now let's go home. You can follow me."

The party that night was both fun filled and elegant. Alex introduced his "friend" and manservant, Pedro. People loved Pedro. He was so fun loving. And Alex was gracious and not at all like the arrogant Pedro. When Peter had introduced him hastily to all his bosses, they were blown away. They didn't expect him to be just as good as Peter so soon! But he picked up everything so nicely. Of course, what other people saw was what Alex wanted them to see; a glamor to make them both look white until the actual physical transformations were complete. Now they had switched and it was real.

Alex did have a cocky side to him and he flirted with several of the men in the office whose heads he had turned all week long. He swaggered over to Pedro, who was trying to understand all of the conversations taking place. He wasn't quite as fluent as Alejandro had been in English so it was a little bit harder for him to follow.

"I think you should serve drinks now. Ask anyone if they need a refresher."

For a brief instant, the old Peter surfaced and hesitated, and said "This is mine,"

"It was yours. You gave this house to me. Now go get me a beer." He smacked Pedro on the butt playfully and swaggered over to a bunch of rich financial and office minded people who he related to.

That night after everyone went home, Pedro knew what his role would be from now on. He situated himself in a position on the couch and waited for Alex to come in.

"Well well. Hello, Pedro."

"Hello, Meester Alex."

"And have you been a good boy this week?"

"Yes, sir."

"Pedro, get over here," Alex took out his cock. Pedro lovingly licked his boss' cock.

"Mmmm, that's right, boy. Take it all in. Suck my big white cock."

Pedro worked so hard to please Alex sexually that night. He was every part of the boy toy that Alex wanted him to be. And Alex would always take care of him, as long as Pedro pulled his weight around the house, doing Alex's bidding.

"Do you ever wish things could be different and you could do my job instead of yours?" Alex asked him.

"Que? No, baby. I'm happy with everything jus' the way it is." They kissed. Alex smiled proudly at his boy. 

He finally had everything he wanted.