Girl For A Spell
By Ellie Dauber

Email Ellie Dauber

Wednesday

The next afternoon, Phil stopped me as I was leaving the Boy's Dressing Room after gym. "Jerry and I came by your place yesterday -- cute cousin, by the way -- where were you?"

"Yeah, where?" Jerry had joined him. They were blocking my way and looked ready for a fight.

I thought fast. "Oh yeah, Aunt Therese said you two came by. She got really mad when I came home drunk last weekend. I -- um -- I threw up in the hall, and she -- she got real mad. She grounded me for a month. I have to be home by 4 PM to do homework, and I can't go hang out on the weekend. I was up in my room when you guys came by. You left before I could come down."

"So sneak out, man," Jerry sneered. "What's the matter? You afraid of the old bat?"

I couldn't believe these guys. Didn't they know the situation that I was in now? No, I guess they didn't. How could they? But they did know a little about my life. "I've got no choice," I said. "Aunt Therese says that she doesn't have to take care of me. If I sneak out or do anything else she doesn't like, she says she won't even consider a foster home. She'll just drop me at the State Home for Boys on her way out of town."

"Bummer," Phil said. "Hey, but it might still be worth the risk. I hear some guys are planning a big party this weekend over by Kleigger Lake. A bonfire, plenty of beer, women. Be great, man. You interested?"

"Didn't you hear me, you asshole? Aunt Therese locks the house when she isn't around, and she already took my keys. I try anything like that, I might as well pack for the Home before I leave for the party." I'm afraid I got a little mad. These guys were supposed to be my friends, and they were acting like a pair of jerks. I gave up and tried to push Phil out of the way, so I could get to class.

"Who you calling asshole, asshole?" Phil pushed back. Then Jerry pushed me; just to get his licks in, I guess. I should have ignored them and walked away. I never had the chance.

"What's going on?" It was Mr. Graydon, the English teacher. He was not happy. "Fighting in the Hall, boys. Maybe you can work it off in Detention after school." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small tablet and a pen. "Webster, Lane, and Klein. Thirty minutes." He wrote each of our names on a sheet of paper, tore the sheets off, and handed them to the three of us. As he turned to walk on down the Hall, he added, "I'm on duty this afternoon. If I don't see you, it will be an hour every day for a week."

The three of us glared at each other and hurried off to class. Luckily, I had Spanish, and Jerry and Phil had math.

This was not good. School ended at 3:20. Add a half hour, and it was 3:50. Figure a couple minutes to get to Detention and a couple more to get out after my time was up, and it would be 4 o'clock. I was going to change into Alice at the school. I thought about calling Aunt Therese to see if she could get me out of Detention. Tell them that I would be punished at home or I had a doctor's appointment. Anything. Then I thought about how mad she was going to be when she found out. Calling would probably make her even madder. I definitely did not want that.

I didn't pay a lot of attention in my classes the rest of the afternoon. I was trying to figure out what to do at 4 PM.

Detention was in a first floor study hall. I go there just after Mr. Graydon. He took my detention slip and told me to sit in a corner of the room. He made a note of the time as I sat down. I got out my algebra book and started doing that day's assignment. As before, I noticed that it seemed to come easier since I began doing my homework as Alice. I thought about it for a minute and decided that it was -- I hoped -- just because she was studying harder than I did.

Jerry never came. He told me the next day that he didn't care. He didn't have much to do after school anyway. Phil showed up ten or fifteen minutes after I did. He made a big protest about how it was all my fault. Mr. Graydon had him sit across the room from me. Some other students who'd gotten in trouble during the day or who had several days detention to do were sitting in other seats. A couple of kids who'd gotten caught being much too affectionate during lunch hour tried to sit together. Mr. Graydon sat them about three rows apart and recommended that they take a cold shower after they were done in Detention. "Only if we can take it together," the boy said. The girl giggled. So did a couple of others.

And so did I. I suddenly thought about Rick. I hadn't thought of him all day, but now I sort of looked forward to seeing him at the Library. Omigosh! Was I about to change; here in front of witnesses! I felt the dizziness beginning, but only a little. I concentrated and it went away. I looked at the wall clock. It was 3:55. I decided that it wasn't the change, just nerves.

Mr. Graydon saw me looking at the clock. "Okay, Alan. You can go. Try to stay out of trouble."

"I'll try," I said. I grabbed my book bag and walked quickly out the door. The hall was empty, but other kids would be finishing detention at any time.

I particularly didn't want to run into Phil as Alan or Alice. I knew that I'd never get out of the building -- let alone get home -- before the change, so I tried to find a place to hide. The classrooms were locked, and the bathrooms were at the far end of the floor.

But the stairwell was nearby. I headed for the basement. The door to the girl's dressing rooms weren't far from the stairs. Nobody seemed to be around, so I tried the door. Open! I got in just as the change began to hit.

It was getting easier. I was dizzy for a minute, then it felt like I was dropping down a fast elevator. I felt my clothes shift along my body as I shrank. Everything got looser, except for my t-shirt, which got tight again as Alice's breasts grew. My hair growing out tickled me on the back of the neck. There was a weird sensation in my groin as my sex changed -- I can't really describe it -- kind of like getting a hard on in reverse. Then it was over, and I was Alice.

Now my problem was how to get home in Alan's clothes. They were much too big. Anyone who saw me was sure to ask question; questions I couldn't possibly answer. Besides, if I was going outside, I wanted to look nice.

Yes, I was definitely Alice.

I looked around. In a corner, I saw some cheerleaders' outfits that were tossed in one of those big wheeled laundry baskets. You know, the kind with a heavy canvas bag fitted over a metal frame. I could wear one of those, maybe even find a pair of the boots that went with them. I dug through the pile and found both a skirt and top that fit me. I even found a pair of those short shorts they wore underneath the skirts.

I stripped out of my T-shirt and jeans and put on the outfit. I had to take off my undershirt, too, because of the way the top was designed, sleeveless with narrow shoulder straps. The top felt cool and tickled my bare nipples. I felt them begin to stiffen in response, and I understood why girls like silky blouses so much. The shorts hid my boy's underpants.

I didn't find any boots, but I did find a couple pair of matching socks. When I put them on over my regular socks and stuffed my feet into my shoes, they almost fit. I checked myself in a mirror near the door. Except for my big feet, I was as pretty as any cheerleader.

I did a couple of cheers, watching myself in the mirror. I looked good. I closed my eyes and daydreamed about being a cheerleader. Rick was watching me and smiling. I liked that and I felt my nipples tingle as I thought of it. But, suddenly, in my mind there were a whole stadium full of other people watching me. A whole stadium! Watching me! I opened my eyes and shivered. I could never, ever, stand up in front of all those people.

Alan might. He -- I -- he had played junior varsity football, till he quit the team after Aunt Liz died. Playing in front of a crowd never bothered him. But, as Alice, the thought of standing up and performing in front of all those people scared me silly.

I put Alan's clothes in my book bag and left the dressing room. There were no practices today, but some of the cheerleaders sometimes wore their outfits to class anyway. A few did it because we were having a rally or something, even if the cheerleaders weren't going to be a part of it. Some of the others did it to show off or because their boyfriends liked it. As long as nobody got close enough to recognize me, I'd be okay waking home in these clothes. I'd figure out later how to get them back to school without being caught.

It took a while to walk home. I hadn't realized how heavy my book bag really was. As I was waiting to cross Grove Street, an older guy, in his forties maybe, pulled up next to me in a Chevy. He lowered the window and asked how much I wanted to ride with him. I was flustered and just mumbled something about wanting to get home from school. "High School?" he asked. When I nodded "yes", the windows shot back up and he drove off. I realized what had just happened -- I'd been mistaken for a hooker! I was terrified and hurried across the street.

A block or so later, a car full of guys from school drove by. As they passed me, they shouted out several suggestive remarks and a very lewd invitation to join them. The car slowed to see my reaction. I froze for a minute, then I turned and crossed the street at an angle away from their direction. I could hear them calling me and almost feel their eyes staring at my new female charms. I felt slimy all over and was very glad to hear the car drive off behind me.

Aunt Therese was waiting for me when I got home. "The school called to say that you would be late because of detention," she explained "They said it was a new program -- calling the parents -- so they would know when a child misbehaved." She paused then smiled. "I didn't think it was a work punishment, though. I must say that you look very fetching as a cheerleader."

I was too tired to rise to her baiting. "Phil and Jerry hassled me about not meeting them yesterday. I was dumb enough to push one of them, and a teacher saw it. We each got thirty minutes detention, and I changed at the school. I didn't want to walk home in Alan's clothes, so I took these. Can I go put on some other clothes, please?"

I noticed that Aunt Therese's eyebrow shot up when I referred to "Alan's clothes", but she didn't say anything about it. "Go change clothes. And bring down that cheerleader's outfit. I'll see that gets back to your school without anyone noticing it was ever gone." I had expected her to be really mad about detention, but I guess she decided that my having to walk home dressed as a cheerleader was punishment enough. Besides, in a way, the fight was her fault..

I went upstairs to change. I was kind of sorry to take off the cheerleader's outfit, though, and I did a couple more cheers before I did, watching myself in the mirror. Again, I pictured myself doing cheers for Rick. He smiled and held out his arms for me. I ran to him, and we kissed. My nipples began to tingle and my crotch seemed warm.

"No!" I shouted to myself. I wasn't really a girl. I was Alan Webster under a spell. I shook my head, trying to shake loose these crazy thoughts. It was getting harder and harder to think of myself as Alan. I had to try, though, or Aunt Therese had won.

I changed, trying hard not to look at myself in the mirror. I thought that maybe I should let Aunt Therese win. If she saw that I behaving myself while I was Alan, she'd end the spell and Alice would be gone. I decided to ask her about it again.

I put on a pale yellow panty and matching bra. Over this I wore a yellow sleeveless blouse and a light brown skirt. I kept on one pair of the yellow cheerleader's socks and put on my -- Alice's -- my brown sneakers. A quick dab of lipstick, and I was done. I picked up the rest of the cheerleader's outfit and headed back down stairs.

"Here's the cheerleader's stuff," I said, handing my bundle to Aunt Therese. She stuffed it into a brown bag and stuck it by the door. I was curious as to how she'd get it back to school but decided not to ask. I had other things on my mind.

"Aunt Therese, can I ask you a question about this spell?"

"Certainly, dear. You want to know how to break it, of course."

"Well, yes. But I was going to ask what exactly I had to do to get you to end it."

"Why? Don't you like being a girl? Goodness me, did you and our young man have a fight?" She smiled at that, maybe trying to look sympathetic, maybe just laughing to herself.

"No, we didn't have a fight -- I mean, no, I don't like being a girl." Why had I answered like that. Which _was_ more important?

"Well, I'm glad to hear that you two are still together. As far as ending the spell, I hate to admit it, but I can't."

"What!"

"Not just yet, anyway. The spell is to teach you a lesson for all the trouble that you caused me as Alan. I expected that to take a while, so I linked it to a woman's menstrual cycle. You must go through a minimum of one complete cycle, thirty days, before the spell can be reversed."

"Oh, great," I thought. "Besides everything else, I get to see what having PMS is like."

"Yes, and remember, dear. Most of the time, you'll be Alice. The only reason that you change back to Alan at all is so he can attend school. If I don't reverse the spell before your Spring term ends, you get to be Alice all Summer. Think about that for a minute."

I did. As Alan I had definite Summer plans: a job, working on Jerry's car, dating, swimming out at the Lake. I could just see myself out at the Lake. I'd wear a really skimpy bikini. Rick would like that. Even if I felt embarrassed showing off my body like that, I'd do it for him. We could -- oh, hell, Alice was taking over again.

I think Aunt Therese could tell how my thoughts had strayed. "Yes, my dear. All Summer as Alice, unless you show me that you've changed your ways. Now is there anything else before you go upstairs to study?"

"What the hell," I thought. "If I'm going to be stuck as Alice for a while yet, I may as well see how the other half lives." Aloud I asked, "Rick Medford, the boy who's been driving me home, he -- well, he asked if he could take me out this Saturday. I said that I had to ask you first. May I go out with him?"

"Since you asked so nicely, and since you've been behaving in such a ladylike manner, I suppose a reward is in order. Very well, you two may go out. But he will come into the house to introduce himself; not just honk the horn on that car of his. A "Honk!" and his date with you will be over before it begins. And you must be home by 11:30 PM."

"Thank you, Aunt Therese," I said, hugging her impulsively. I knew that I was a lot happier to be going on the date than I should have been. I was really Alan after all. Wasn't I? But I was so happy that I didn't care. I ran upstairs to start my homework, so I'd have time for a little extra primping before I went to the Library to meet Rick.

Rick was waiting for me at the door to the Library. "Did you ask your Aunt about our date?"

I suddenly felt very shy, scared almost. I found myself looking down, rather than at his face. "Yes, yes, I did, and she said that I could go out with you."

"That's great," he said. I looked up. He had the cutest smile on his face. "I'll pick you up at 6. We can get something to eat, and then go to a movie, if that's okay."

"It sounds fine. But Aunt Therese said that you have to come into the house and introduce yourself. If you just honk for me, she won't let me go. And I have to be home by 11:30." Now I felt embarrassed. And cared. It suddenly occurred to me that Rick might not want to come in; that he might call the date off. I held my breath and waited.

"That's okay. A lot of parents are like that. My folks used to be that way with my sister, even."

"You don't mind, then?"

"Nah, I'll come ten minutes early, so your Aunt has time to ask me whatever questions she wants. It's cool."

I felt so relieved. I wanted to kiss him for being so understanding. My body was tingling at the thought of being with him for the evening. Then I remembered where we were and those two girls from the night before. If someone saw us kissing, I'd just die. I felt my face get warm and realized that I was blushing. "Let's go in and get started with our research," I said, trying to change the subject. Rick took my hand, which made me tingle even more, and we walked into the Library.

About a half hour before the Library's closing time, I heard Rick yawn. I looked up to see him stretching like a cat. "I think I've worked enough tonight," he said winking at me. "I'm kind of tired, and if we -- if I -- leave now, I don't have to drive home so fast to make curfew." He winked again, this time with a little bit of a leer thrown in.

I realized that what he was saying was that, if we left now, we'd have some time to park before he had to get me home. Time to do all sorts of things - alone - in his car - in the dark. All I had to do was say "No", or even just keep on with my studying. Only I didn't want to. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but I found myself _wanting_ it to happen - wanting to be with Rick in whatever way he wanted. It was like Alice had locked up Alan in a cell in her - his -our mind. He'd get to watch, but that was it.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, or both. Nothing happened on the way home. That is, nothing happened to me. There was some kind of accident on Pine Street, and Rick and I got caught in mid-block in a long line of cars. Rick started to pull over to park, but I was afraid that we'd get stuck. I didn't want to get home so late that I couldn't change back to Alan for school the next day.

Rick put his arm around my shoulder, while we inched our way down the street. I smiled and moved closer to him on the seat. Then he moved his hand down and began rubbing my breast. It felt good, damned good. I wanted him to keep doing it, then I suddenly remembered where we were. "Rick," I yelled.

He jerked his hand back. "What's the matter, Alice?"

"There's people here all around. Somebody will see us."

"Alice, it's nighttime. Everybody's trying to see whatever caused this tie-up. Nobody will know."

"I'll know. It -- it just feels like everybody's staring at me. Please, stop."

"Well," he said, sounding very disappointed, " if you don't like it."

"Oh, I like it, Rick. I like it a lot, but I just feel uncomfortable doing anything where people can see us." I reached up and squeezed his hand. "Can you understand?"

"I guess so." He took his hand away. "I kind of like shy girls."

I beamed. I was so afraid that he would have called everything off; maybe even told me to get out of the car. I promised myself that I would try to make it up to him on our date. Then I realized again what that would mean. Alice wanted to be with Rick -- to sleep with Rick -- but I was Alice, and I was Alan, too, wasn't I. Was Alan gay, or was Alice taking over. I was beginning to get scared of just what Alice might do on that date.

I didn't really say much of anything to Rick the rest of the way home. Not that he said a lot to me, either. I gave him a very sisterly kiss as I got out of the car. He got back in, shouted, "See you tomorrow," and drove off.

Thanks to that accident, I got home about ten minutes later than usual. Aunt Therese said not to worry. It was still early enough that I'd have no problem changing back to Alan in time for school. That was good because I had enough other things to worry about.

...continued on Thursday