The Recital (Patreon)

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you can swap traits with anyone as long as they agree to the swap too. Also, reality will change to make the swap seem perfectly normal to everyone."

"Oh my god. Any swap no matter how big or small?"

"Yes, you can swap everything with another person or just a mole on your nose if you like. It doesn't matter. And you can do it as often as you want. There is just one caveat."

"What is that?"

"You can swap with only one person at a time. If you want to swap with someone else, you have to give back everything you had gotten from the first person."

"Why is that?"

"So, you can't get the best traits from dozens of people to make yourself 'perfect'. If you want to be handsome like say 'John' then you can't be rich like 'Paul.' But regardless, they have to swap with your willingly. How you could get Paul to give you all their money, or John to give up their looks, I don't know. Probably won't happen."

"I can trick them?"

"Sure, why not? But they have to agree. As long as they agree that anything goes."

"And if I swap back, I can swap with someone else?"

"As long as the first person agrees to swap everything back. Then you can do what you like with the next person."

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. But as they say, be careful."

With that, he left me. I knew everything he said was true. There wasn't any doubt. I knew there should be doubt, but a person who could give that power could also convince me of the authenticity of their claims without real proof.

----------------------------------------------------

My younger sister Joan was driving. Her six-year-old daughter Suzy was having a recital today. Even though she was six, this was one of scores of dance recitals she has been part of. Suzy has been taking dance since she was three years old.

I was sitting next to Joan in the front passenger seat and Suzy was sitting behind me in her child safety seat. It was in the afternoon in the middle of the week so Suzy's father couldn't attend. I wasn't busy so I said I would come.

Joan pulled the car into the hotel/theater where the recital was taking place.

Joan got out of the car and headed immediately to the trunk to get what she needed. I got out at the same and opened the door such that Suzy could get out too. I took her hand and we waited as Joan fetched what she needed.

"Suzy hold Uncle William's hand. It's dangerous in the parking lot. Cars could come by," Joan reminded her.

Suzy didn't have to be told. I was already holding her hand.

"Suzy, you must be excited but a little scared to be in front of all those people," I told her.

"No, Uncle William. I do them all the time."

"Not scared at all?"

"No, I love to dance. I just love it. It's so much fun."

"I'm glad. Hey, would you like to see yourself dance?"

"Mommy takes videos. I see myself all the time."

"I mean from the audience. It's different from the audience."

"How can I be in the audience and dance at the same time?"

"We could swap. I'll dance for you, and you can watch me."

"That's not the same. Besides everyone will know you aren't me."

"I know some magic. Everyone will think I am you. The teacher, your friends, Mommy, and everyone in the audience."

"I don't believe you."

"Then swap with me. I'll be you and you'll be me."

"OK, what do I have to do?" The swap took place, even though nothing physically happened. As far as everyone was concerned, I was a six-year-old girl and Suzy is an adult man.

"You already did it. Everyone thinks I am you now."

"No, they don't."

"Yes, they do."

Joan appeared from behind the car after she closed the trunk. She was carrying two bags (besides her purse), one over her shoulder and one in her hand.

Now hold onto Mommy's hand," Joan announced. Then she got on the other side of me (as compared with Suzy) and grabbed my hand. I held on. I was now in the middle of both of them. Suzy was amazed, she was usually between the two adults. Suzy thought this was more of a game of pretend than actual magic.

Once we entered the hotel lobby, Joan told me to stay with Uncle Suzy until she got back. She needed to go to the front desk to check on where to go and what to do.

"Now what?" Suzy asked.

"Well, I think I'm too tall to dance with the other little girls. I think we should swap bodies too."

"Sure, let's do that."

This time there wasn't any doubt. My body shrank and took on the form of my six-year-old niece Suzy. Her body changed into the body of an adult man. We both looked kind of silly wearing each other's clothing.

"Wow, I didn't think it would happen," she squealed in a voice that used to be my own.

"See I told you." I was looking up at my body. Suzy is now doubly tall as compared to my new height. But not only was Suzy so much taller than me, everyone was. It was like I was in the land of the giants now. Fortunately, I didn't expect to be this size for very long. I would return to my own body and life right after my performance. Continuing I said, "But I think we have to make two other swaps."

"What?"

"Well, I need to know how to dance as well as you do. So, let's swap everything about dance."

"What else?"

"Your clothes silly."

"I guess you're right." My clothes changed shape to a jumper and top that Suzy had been wearing moments ago. My long hair was tied up in a bow and I was wearing Suzy's sandals too. But the clothing swap was nothing compared with the newfound love I had for dance, that I had never had before. I had all of Suzy's practical experience with dance, what she learned from her teachers. There was also a joy about just twirling around that I didn't know before existed. I could also remember every dance experience that Suzy had had. They were my experiences now. I smiled at the memories. IT was a gap-toothed smile with many baby teeth.

A moment later, Joan came to fetch me. She had to get me ready for the recital.

"Here's the ticket," Joan said to Suzy. "I'll meet you at our seats." Before waiting for an answer, Joan took my hand and lead me to the dressing room.

She sat me down and took off my shoes. She stood me up again and then she pulled my jumper over my head and then the top next. Finally, she pulled down my panties. This was the first time I had seen them. They had daisies on them.

I was completely naked now. I looked away from my crotch. I'm not a perv.

Joan sat me down again as she reached into her bag and pulled out an unopened package of white tights. I could see from the packaging that they were Capezio Ultra Shimmering Tights. I assumed shimmering meant that they were going to be very shiny. They weren't as shiny as I expected, my legs were now as white as a painted fence. I couldn't see the flesh tone of my leg at all.

Next, she put me in a leotard...my dance costume. The tights said that they were shiny, it wasn't really, but the blue leotard was definitely very shiny. It was obviously custom made for this performance. It had an iridescent sequin spandex bodice with a translucent mesh neckline. There were a sequin flower and satin ribbon at the waist and a tri-layered tulle skirt with crinolines.

"Step," Joan said as she held the leotard open for me.

I stepped into it, and she pulled it up my body, then I pulled my arms through the sleeveless bodice.

"Turn."

I did so and she fastened it closed with a G-hook enclosure.

Next, she worked on my hair, putting it in a bun that was secured with a matching flower hair clip.

Finally, she spent ten minutes applying makeup to me. When I saw myself in the mirror, I saw that she didn't make me up like a woman, all the makeup was understated but was still designed to be seen clearly from the back-most seats in the theater.

I sat down again, so she could put on my ballet slippers, then she stood me up to poof out my skirt.

"Beautiful. Just beautiful," she told me with a huge smile. I had to agree with her when I saw myself completely made up in the mirror.

I was only going to be a little girl for a short time. I decided to play it up, "Mommy, can I get ice cream after the dance?"

"It'll be getting late. I don't want to spoil your dinner."

"If I do really, really, good? Then can I have ice cream?" I pleaded.

"We'll see."

I walked gracefully towards my teacher, using steps I hadn't even been familiar with an hour before. It wasn't like I was walking; it was more like a combination of dancing and floating as I joined the rest of my dance-mates and who I recognized as my dance teacher. I knew everyone. I remembered dancing with some of these girls since getting out of diapers. Others had only joined the troop this year. I knew them all.

When it was time, we took our places on the stage. The curtain was still down. I knew it would be up in less than a minute. I was nervous. Suzy had been lying to me. She was always nervous before a performance. I didn't need to be reminded to put on a big smile. I was also so happy that I couldn't help but smile all the way through the performance.

I heard the music and started to dance. I felt light on my feet, like I was floating on air. I danced effortlessly, never missing a step. (at least I didn't think I did, my dance teacher was a bit more critical, thinking I forgot to point my toes occasionally or that my spacing was as perfect as it should have been. I progressed from one move to the next. I knew not only where I was on the stage, but where I was supposed to be after my next move. I didn't have to think about what I was doing. I suppose I could call it muscle memory.

When it was over, the crowd was clapping enthusiastically. We moved into our positions to accept the adulation. We curtsied in the proper sequence which seemed to also be part of the performance. The whole troop leaped off the stage.

"You all were wonderful, just wonderful!" our dance teacher told us.

Joan found me after the performance. Joan lifted me into the air with a great big hug. "William, it was so beautiful," Joan repeated as she swung me around.

I enjoyed the experience, but it was time to return to normal. Joan got me out of the costume and back into my street clothes as well as cleaned the make-up off my face.

When I got to the car I asked. "Where's Uncle Suzy?" I assumed she would be waiting for us.

"Uncle Suzy had to go. But he said you were the best dancer on the stage and that he loved every minute of it," Joan informed me.

I didn't understand. 'Suzy had to go?' 'Where could she have gone?' 'She's just a little girl.'

"But William, I changed my mind. We can have that ice cream!" Joan said brightly.

Joan didn't know where Suzy had gone any more than I had. Suzy didn't go straight to her seat when Joan told her to. She left the stage and walked out into the city. Everyone treated her like she was an adult, but she had the maturity of a six-year-old. She wasn't paying attention and stepped into traffic. She never knew what hit her.

Here's what could have happened next...

William ate his ice cream and appeared to enjoy it. He asked Joan for ice cream, he should act accordingly. He expected that Suzy would be at the ice cream place waiting for him. But when she wasn't there, William didn't know what to do.

"Where's Uncle Suzy," William asked again.

"He's busy. But he told me you should enjoy yourself. He said you did very well at the recital."

"But I want to see him now."

"I'm sorry honey. He's not here."

"Can I talk to him?"

"He isn't answering his phone. He's very busy."

I thought that when I find Suzy, I'll yell at her. Well just as soon as I return to normal.

We went home and Joan told me to play or watch a video while she made dinner. There wasn't anything else for me to do, so I went to 'my room.'

I entered my room. It looked much bigger than it had when I saw it before. I was just smaller. The room was decorated in a yellow and white motif. It was nice for a little girl, but I didn't want to live there. I would have to though until I figured out what to do. There were toys and dolls everywhere. On the bed, on the dresser, on the floor, and still a huge pile in the toy box. There was a stars and moon comforter on the bed, and I could see many costumes in the closet, presumably for my other dancing recitals.

I found my tablet. It wasn't a typical tablet, it was encased in some sort of bright color protective border. An adult would never have such a thing. But it was something so I tried to use it. My thumbprint unlocked the tablet. There was automatically loaded some sort of child-safe program that restricted my access. I was blocked at every turn. There was child safety software that limited me to very basic stuff and little kids games. I wasn't even allowed to download any game by myself. Not without "Mommy's Approval" accounting to the system. After a little while of trying, I gave up. If I wanted to do anything productive on the tablet I would have to get Joan to unlock it for me.

Next, I turned on the TV and looked for something to watch. But I found that the TV had a V-Chip. I could only watch TV-Y rated shows. Even TV-Y7 was considered too scary for me. I couldn't even watch Gilligan's Island. I couldn't believe it, something as harmless as Gilligan's Island was off-limits to me. TV-G was too advanced for me. At least while I was in my room alone.

With nothing better to do, I decided to look around my room. There was what I expected. I saw all my clothes in the drawers. Besides the dance costumes, there were mostly dresses in the closets and some shoes. I didn't know why there were so many dresses. I could wear a different one every day and it would take weeks or maybe even a month until I wore the same one twice.

On the shelves were books for children. I don't know why I was looking so hard. Everything in the room was just as I should have expected.

"William Sweetie, time for dinner," I head Joan call out.

I trudged down to the dinner table. I was stuck and I didn't like it.

I had to jump onto the chair. I was much smaller now. Having to do so, didn't help my mood. I sat in front of a plate of food, but I wasn't hungry.

"I made your favorite, mac 'n cheese with chicken," Joan announced.

"I don't want any."

"Just eat a little."

"No," I wasn't in any mood.

"You have to eat."

"I don't want to."

"If you don't eat, I won't let you go to dance on Friday."

"I don't care."

"Suit yourself. All your friends will be there."

"I don't want to go to dance anyway." This was a lie. I loved dance. I couldn't help myself. It was one of the things I swapped with Suzy. The love of dance. But I didn't want to give in.

"If you won't eat, then you will have to go to bed early."

I just glared at Joan.

It took a little coaxing, but finally, she got me to eat a little.

After dinner, I returned to my room. But I still didn't know what I was going to do. I didn't have to wait long. Joan was in my room, and she made me take a bath. Worse yet, she was going to give me one. I wasn't allowed to take a bath (or a shower) without Joan being there. I was still too young.

I walked into the bathroom. Joan followed me.

"I can do this myself," I informed her.

"I know you're a big girl William, but I have to be here. Who knows what could happen?"

"Nothing is going to happen."

"Fine, then nothing will happen."

"So why can't I do it by myself?"

"Well, maybe next time. If I see you are grown-up enough now. But not this time. Mommies have to make sure."

"Then I don't want to take a shower."

"You have to. You had dance today. You got all sweaty."

"I don't want to."

Joan had finally had enough. She grabbed me by the wrist. Lifted me toward her and gave my rear three hard spanks. It hurt more than I thought it should. "Listen to me, young lady. I don't know what got into you today. But you are going to do as Mommy says. Now either take off your clothes by yourself or I will help you. But you are going to take a bath right now!" she shouted.

I didn't want to be spanked again. What was the point? She was 'bigger' than I was. I couldn't stop her. Did I really want a proper spanking? I would still have her giving me a bath and I wouldn't be any closer to returning to normal.

I took off my clothes as Joan started to fill the tub. I thought of dashing off, but why bother, she would catch me. There wasn't anywhere to go anyway.

The bath itself was OK. Joan washed me thoroughly. It really wasn't a big deal. Then she dried me in a big fluffy towel. I was allowed to put on my panties and the pajamas she selected. Then She reminded me to brush my teeth and my hair, and I was off to bed.

Joan tucked me in. Got a book off the shelf and read it to me. When she was done, she turned off the lights. A nightlight flickered on. Then she closed the door leaving the door slightly ajar.

I was up early. But there wasn't any reason to get out of bed. I took the time to think about what had happened. I couldn't think of what to do next.

Joan entered my room and got me out of bed. She selected an outfit for me to wear to school. It included a dress, a pair of panties, and some tights.

"I don't want to wear a dress," I told Joan.

"You have to. You are going to school."

"Can't I wear something else, like pants?"

"You always wear a dress."

"Not all of the kids wear dresses."

"You do. I want you to be the prettiest girl at school."

"I don't want to."

"What has gotten into you? Do I have to give you another spanking?"

"No, I guess not."

"Do I have to help you put it on?"

"No."

"Brush your teeth and your hair after you get dressed. Breakfast will be ready when you get down to the kitchen." Then she shouted back as she was down the hall, "Don't forget, leave your PJs in the hamper."

"OK."

"I took off my pajama top and then my bottom. I suppose Joan wanted me to change panties as she left me a fresh pair. I did so. I left the dress and tights on the bed as I walked to the bathroom. I had to pee. I knew I had to sit down, and I did so. I then pulled up my panties and brushed my teeth. Ran a brush through my hair a few times and returned to put on my dress and tights. It took some doing to get the tights on. I had seen my girlfriends put them on before. But it was the first time I tried. Then I slipped the dress over my head and I was ready. "Oh, yeah shoes." I found some Mary Janes. They are what Joan wants me to wear.

Next in rapid succession, breakfast, putting on my backpack, waiting for the school bus with Joan, and getting in.

I looked down the aisle of the school bus. There were lots of kids there, but I didn't know any of them. "Oh My God. I'm off to first grade," I thought.

I found a seat in a vacant row and had to hop up onto it. My feet were nowhere near the floor.

Once at school, in the yard I just wanted to be alone. The girls said OK, but the boys saw an isolated girl and decided to attack.

"QUIT IT!" I yelled.

But they wouldn't stop.

"Please quit it. If you stop, I'll help you later. I promise."

"You're just a stupid girl."

"So, it would seem," I said under my breath.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"You said you had cooties. That's what you said."

"Yeah, sure whatever. Just can you go away?"

The boy wouldn't leave me alone. I was in no mood, and I jumped at him. Somehow I was the one who got into trouble.

I pleaded with the teacher to just leave me alone. I told her I would do anything. It didn't work. No one would listen to me.

I didn't know what to do. Maybe if I show them all I'm smart that would help. It will at least get me out of the first grade. I raised my hand and answered all the questions. Strangely enough, it was the kiddy stuff I was having problems with. I could do anything that an adult could do, but using crayons was eluding me. I couldn't draw a presentable cat. I had forgotten how to skip. It didn't matter, nothing was helping my situation.

Every day was the same thing. I was watched like a, well like a six-year-old. I was under constant surveillance. I couldn't do what I wanted. I couldn't go where I wanted and if I did anything out of line, there would be trouble. My one bright spot was dance. I loved it. When I was dancing, I was alive. It was so much fun. I wouldn't do anything that would interfere with my dance. I even danced around the house. It was the one thing I could do that I enjoyed.

But all other times, I was despondent. After a while, Joan noticed and took me to a child psychologist. With nothing else to lose, I told him the truth. I told him I was really a man and that I had this power (which I couldn't prove as it didn't work anymore) what I had done and what had happened. he didn't believe a word of it.

"Don't you like being a little girl?" the psychologist asked me.

"It doesn't matter if I like it or not. I'm not one. I'm a fully competent adult," I told him. I was trying to sound intelligent. But that didn't work either. The magic made it so that no matter what I did, or what I said, everyone would accept the swap no matter how ridiculous it could be.

The psychologist talked to Joan privately. They put me on medication. They never told me 'what was wrong.' I was too young to understand anyway. The medication was hidden in my juice.

The only time I was truly happy was while I was dancing. Joan picked up upon this and made sure that I danced more than ever. It was the one bright spot in a dreary day...in a dreary life. I started to look forward to my times dancing. This included random dances at my house or in the aisles of supermarkets. After a while my depression lifted. As long as I could dance, what does it matter? I'm not the only person who is stuck in a job, relationship, marriage, I don't like and can't get rid of.

I have made the best fit I'm the best student in the entire first grade. The boys don't bother me too much, I have learned how to hit hard. Some of the girls in my class also like dance and we can do that together. All in all, I think I'll be alright. When I get older than I can decide whether I want to be a boy or a girl, a man or a woman. But for now, I'm just a pretty little 1st grader.

Maybe it could have gone like this...

I ate my ice cream and tried to appear to enjoy it. I had asked Joan for ice cream; I should act accordingly. I expected that Suzy would be at the ice cream place waiting for me. But when she wasn't there, I didn't know what to do. Something seemed to be bothering Joan, but I didn't know what.

Finally, I had to ask, "Where's Uncle Suzy."

"Umm, he's busy. But he told me you should enjoy yourself. He said you did very well at the recital."

"But I want to see him now."

"I'm sorry honey. He's not here."

"Can I talk to him?"

"He isn't answering his phone. He's very busy."

I finished my ice cream. And Joan and I went home. I didn't know what had happened to Suzy. She should have been there.

"William, go play in your room. I'll call you when dinner is ready," Joan told me.

I did as I was told, but I didn't play in my room. I didn't want to play. I wanted to know where Suzy was. I finally realized, "It was foolish to swap with a little girl." Children are so unreliable. Especially little ones. I thought that swapping with a little girl would be a great place to try. She was little and could be easily manipulated. But now I see the error in my ways. The worst part was that this was just a test run. I didn't even do any of the fun swaps I wanted to try. I thought I should just try out my power first.

Originally, I wasn't planning on doing the entire recital. I would just make one swap, see it worked, and swap right back. But once I tried the swap, I decided to test it out a little farther. I didn't think it would be a problem. One dance and then I would swap back. But now I was stuck until I could get a hold of Suzy, or how I should refer to her now, 'Uncle Suzy'.

I exited Suzy's room, well, for now, it was my room, and heard outside the master bedroom Joan crying. She appeared to be on the phone with someone. I didn't who. I couldn't hear the entire conversation. "Oh my god...you mean...was there anything that could be done?"

I guessed what had happened. Suzy wondered off, got into trouble and now she is... I can't think about it. I blame myself for what happened to Suzy. It is my fault. She was just an innocent girl.

I returned to my room. I'm not a monster, I regret what happened to Suzy, but I have my own problem now. I couldn't be stuck like this. I have to call for help. There was only one being to call. Call wasn't the right word. There was only one being I could summon.

"You wanted me?"

"Yes, you have to fix this."

"Fix what?"

"Look at me."

"I don't see a problem. If you make a swap, I can't do anything you just have to swap back with whomever you swapped with."

"I can't."

"If they don't want to, I can't make them."

"It's not that. They aren't with us. Not anymore. There was an accident."

"OK."

"Well can't you do something else?"

"Like what?"

"Let me swap with someone else."

"That is against the rules of magic. I told you clearly. You can swap with anyone you want. But if you can only swap with someone else after swapping everything back."

"That was only so I didn't make myself perfect with lots of swaps. That clearly isn't the case."

"I can't break the magic. Well, maybe there is something."

"Something? Anything you can do."

"It'll take time. In the meantime, you can't do anything that would let anyone know you aren't as you seem. You haven't told anyone?"

"No."

"You haven't let it slip even for one second?"

"No, nothing like that. I've been acting like the little girl you see me as."

"Great. This is going to take some time. You are asking for a miracle and miracles take their time. In the meantime, you can't let anyone know in any way that you are not a little girl. Not Suzy's parents, not her teachers, not her friends, not passersby in the street. No one! You understand?"

"Yes."

"OK, I'll start as soon as I can. You just be like a little girl for everyone to see."

"I'll do it."

I know I have to 'be the little girl'.  I looked around his room. It was done in a yellow and white motif that was indicative of any little girl. There were toys and dolls all over. Even though I could see many on the shelves and for, the toy chest was still halfway filled with more dolls and toys. I sat myself down on the floor with my legs spread apart. I could see my small legs covered with white leggings in front of me. Then I picked up two random dolls and tried to play with them.

Holding one in my right hand I say, "You really did it this time."

I shake the doll while talking.

Then I speak for the second doll, "I sure did. I was really stupid." I shook the second doll like the first.

I continued my faux conversation back and forth between the two dolls. "What are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know. I don't know. I think I'll just try and ride it out."

"That's all you can do."

"Right. That is all I can do."

"What are we going to do while waiting?"

"Let's watch some TV."  But when I turn on the TV, I found the V-chip at its highest setting. I can only watch shows that are for children between two and six. Programs for seven-year-olds were considered too scary for me. I can't even watch Gilligan's Island.

"What should I watch? Peppa Pig or Puppy Dog Pals?" one doll asked the other.

"Hey, wait, what about SpongeBob SquarePants?"

I turn the channel on, only to find that SpongeBob was TY-Y7 and he wasn't old enough to see it. I frown and say to both dolls, "I guess we are watching Peppa Pig."

When I was called to dinner.  I go to my seat. I have to hop up onto it since I am so small. I eat everything I can. I don't care how it tastes; I just want to be a good little girl. The only way out of this is to be a good little girl.

After dinner, I return to my room. Peppa Pig was over, now I have to watch Bubble Guppies.

Soon, Joan entered my room.

"Mommy," I said. I have to make sure I don't call her Joan by accident.

"OK William, it's time to take your bath and get ready for bedtime."

I turn towards the bathroom. Joan followed me. I expect to take my own shower. But that wasn't going to happen. Joan always gave Suzy her bath. I acquiesce to what was happening and took off my clothes. When I was naked, 

Joan asked, "Do you need to make sissies?"

"I should." Then already naked I sat on the bowl and did my business.

"Don't forget to wipe," Joan reminded me.

I did so. Then I got into the tub and let Joan wash me all over. Joan tried to entertain me during the bath. I played along and raised my arms when I was supposed to, dunked my head when I was supposed to, and giggle when I was supposed to.

After the bath was over, I was dried in a big fluffy towel and then was given a pull-up. "Do I have to wear this?" I asked.

"I know you're a big girl. But you sometimes have those accidents at night. I know it's not your fault. You can't control yourself while you're asleep."

I realized for the first time, "Apparently, I'm a bed wetter." There wasn't any use fighting it. I stepped into the pull-up. Then I put on my pajamas.

Once dressed, I sat down on the toilet seat and Joan braided my hair. Then my teeth were brushed, I was tucked into bed, and read a bedtime story. Joan turned off the light, I could see the nightlight then I shut my eyes to sleep.

That was the beginning of William's life as a six-year-old girl.

I did my best to fit in. I was always dutiful to his Mommy and Daddy and respectful to adults. I played whatever my friends (all girls) wanted to play and avoided the 'stinky mean boys' as often as I could.

It was tough to maintain my disguise, but I know I have to. My only true joy was dancing. I loved it. I had swapped Suzy's love of dance with my true feelings about dance. While I was dancing, I felt truly alive. It was my passion. I danced all over. I danced in dance class of course, but I also danced with my friends, and alone in my house. I even danced in the halls of my school.

Whenever I summoned the demon, the demon kept telling me it would take more time. Eventually, my life became normal to me. The times between summoning the demon became longer and longer. Mostly because I was practicing for one big recital or another. I was the brightest in my class, the other girls liked me, and I could dance whenever I wanted. I loved my recitals. Before I realized it, I grew up into a talented young woman.

Maybe it happened this way...

Joan came backstage to congratulate me and help me change after the recital. I did everything I did before the recital in reverse. Joan first took the hair clip out of my hair and let it fall to my shoulders. Then Joan carefully took me out of the leotard, making sure not to rip or tear it.

"Step."

I stepped out of the first leg and then the second.

She pulled down my tights to my thighs.

"Sit."

I sat down so Joan could get it off my legs. She carefully folded both the leotards and tights, while I sat there naked.  I looked down his small flat chest with tiny nipples to my lap. Then I looked up at my small hands. I thought "I am tiny." This was my first opportunity to look at myself. "I'm a little girl," I thought. "As far as everyone is concerned, I'm a little girl. It's funny to think about." 

I also realized something I hadn't thought before. I hadn't felt this good in years. I am much older than Joan, almost 15 years. I had my own share of physical problems. Even though I wasn't in pain, my days of running were long gone. In my new body, I feel invigorated. Not only that, I am flexible in a way I never had been before. I knew everything my new body can do. I can bend at the waist and kiss my shins. I could do any type of split possible. I was even the best dancer at the recital.

I understand things in a way that Suzy never could. I would have been made the lead dancer, but I was 'six' and the lead was seven and the teacher didn't want to hurt the little girl's feelings by giving her part to a younger girl (with more talent). I also recognized Suzy's talent. She just loved to dance (now William does) but she didn't know how good she really was at it. Or how much money she could make when she got older and more experienced.

"Hey, stop daydreaming. Get dressed," Joan coaxed.

"Oh, yeah, sorry."

I didn't need Joan's help to get dressed. I forgot that. I stood up and put on my panties, the ones which had daisies on them. Then I put on my blouse. I buttoned it up. Only when I reached the top did I realized the buttons were misaligned. I have to do it again. Finally, I pulled the jumper over my head. After stepping into my shoes, I was back to how I was before.

As Joan walked me out of the dressing room, I realized this was the greatest day of my life. I'm doing something I really love. I am good at it and I haven't felt this good in years.

"Hey, I changed my mind. Let's get some ice cream."

"Yeah!"

When I got to the car, I didn't see Suzy anywhere.

"Where's Uncle Suzy?"

"Suzy had plans. He said that you danced very well."

"Will he be at ice cream?"

"I'm afraid not."

I decided I didn't care. I am feeling great. I could spend a few more hours like this.

While licking my ice cream, I thought about my performance. It was really good. All my spins were clean and my moves precise. My teacher had told Suzy many times, but she didn't understand what she meant. Since I am an adult, I do understand. I am more proud of myself than Suzy ever was. Along with the absolute joy that I now felt when I am dancing, I'm considering staying like this forever. I'm a talented little girl with 'her' entire life in front of her. That was much better than my old life.

Joan drove back home. Suzy was waiting for them. She had taken an Uber and got to her house.

I went to 'my' room and Suzy followed me.

"OK, it was fun. But I wanna swap back."

I changed my mind. I don't want to become myself. I have found happiness in my new life. I see limitless potential. I can start over again. School would be easy, I could certainly ace all his subjects at least until I got back into high school in seven or eight years. I can concentrate on dance, something that I love and had a talent for. I don't care that I am a girl. Whatever little troubles I have, being treated like a small child, I would have to live with. It was worth it to have a new start.

"No, I don't want to swap back," I told Suzy.

"But I wanna swap."

"I'm sorry, I'm not going to do it."

"I'll tell Mommy," Suzy threatened.

Suzy ran to Joan. "Mommy, Mommy, William has my body and he won't give it back!" Suzy told her.

"Oh, she won't? I'll just ask her," Joan replied. Joan thought that Suzy and William were just playing a game.

"William, did you take something from Suzy?" Joan asked him in a voice she uses when indulging little children.

"No."

"William says she didn't do it."

"He's lying. Make him give me my body back," Suzy told her.

"William, do you want to?"

"No, I'm not," William replied.

"I don't see anything I can do. if William doesn't want to."

"You have to. I don't want to be a man. I want to be me."

"I'm sorry."

"But I want to..." Suzy said. She was starting to cry.

"What are you doing?" Joan asked. She knew something was wrong.

"I told you. William took my body. He won't give it back."

"Suzy stop fooling around."

"I'm not fooling. It's real. By now Suzy was hysterical.

Joan didn't know what to do. She took Suzy into her room. She tried to calm her down, but she wouldn't calm. She kept saying the same thing. Something was wrong with her brother. He would never act like this. He must have had a breakdown. Joan didn't know what to do.

Then again it might have happened like this...

I ate my ice cream and enjoyed it. I asked Joan for ice cream, I should act accordingly. I expected that Suzy would be at the ice cream place waiting for me. But when she wasn't there, I didn't know what to do. Something seemed to be bothering Joan, but I didn't know what.

Finally, I had to ask, "Where's Uncle Suzy?"

"Umm, he's busy. But he told me you should enjoy yourself. He said you did very well at the recital."

"But I want to see him now."

"I'm sorry honey. He's not here."

"Can't I talk to him?"

"He isn't answering his phone. He's very busy."

I finished my ice cream. And the Joan and I went home. I didn't know what had happened to Suzy. But something did happen. I could tell by Joan's demeanor. She was keeping something from me. I couldn't blame her, she thought he was just a little six-year-old who had to be protected from the outside world. Besides, that was the only thing that made sense. Suzy couldn't call an uber and drive away. She may look like an adult, but in her head, she was only six. Suzy needed to stay close to Joan. I should have made sure we stayed together.

"William go to your room and get changed. I'll call you when dinner is ready," Joan told me.

When I was out of eyesight, Joan made a frantic call. She hurried to her own room and closed the door. I wanted to hear but I couldn't hear that well. But I could tell that in some way Suzy did get hurt. I blamed myself. It was my fault.

Regardless, I had my own problems, I am now a little girl. The demon told me that the magic made everyone think that everything was normal after the swap. If I tell what happened, they will think I am just 'making believe' and not listen to me no matter how convincing I could be. There wasn't any way around it. It made sense considering what happened. That was the only way. If I could have swapped lives with Suzy but not bodies, everyone thinking it was perfectly normal was the only way for it to work.

There wasn't anything to do but go with the flow and see if I could make this life tolerable for myself. I didn't want to kill myself, that wouldn't help anyone: not myself, not Suzy, and not Joan.

Back in my room, I realized how tough that would be. My room was a room you would find for a typical little girl. It had a yellow and white motif with scores of dolls and toys all over. Including a huge toy chest that was still half-filled with more. Not wanting to play with dolls, I turned on the TV to find that it had a V-chip and that chip was set to its highest restriction TV-Y. I can only watch shows appropriate for a two to a six-year-old. It really hit home, when William found that SpongeBob SquarePants was too mature for me. I left on Peppa Pig and found my tablet. That was just as bad. I can't use a browser of any type, all the Apps were games for small children, mostly girls, and even the version of Youtube (technically it wasn't called Youtube) only allowed the most juvenile of videos.

I bore my burden the best I could. I don't have any other option

"William Sweetie, time for dinner," Joan called.

I had to hop onto the chair, I am so small. In front of me was his dinner, mac n cheese with grilled chicken and green means with a cup of soda. I ate it all. I want to be a good girl for Joan. She had just lost her little girl (even if she didn't know it) I want to be good for her. My plan was just to go with the flow.

"You can play for a little while. I'll be up soon to give you your bath," Joan told me after dinner.

"Give me my bath?" I didn't realize that I am too young to take a shower alone. Getting totally naked in front of my sister and letting her give me a bath was a unique experience. She had to rub me all over to get me clean. For my part, I tried to not look at my naked body. I 'amused' myself by playing with a floaty toy that Joan had given me. I didn't have any interest in it, but what else was I going to do. I had to seem as normal as possible.

Once dried with a towel, Joan reminded me to make 'sissies' before getting dressed. Then I found out something I didn't know about Suzy. She apparently had a bedwetting problem and wore a pull-up to bed every night. I stepped into it. It really wasn't any different to me than wearing a pantie at this point anyway.

The next day, Carl, Joan's husband, drove Me and Joan to a hospital. I wasn't allowed past the lobby and was kept watch alternately by Carl and Joan. They didn't tell me what was going on.

"Mommy," I asked, "is Uncle Suzy hurt?" I chose his words carefully.

"He had a little accident. But he'll be OK soon."

"Can I see him?'

"I'm sorry sweetie. They don't allow little girls to the rooms."

I didn't want to seem out of character, so I made a look. I knew I couldn't argue my way to see Suzy. I am just a small child in everyone's eyes.

I tried to eavesdrop upon what was happening with Suzy, but I couldn't find out. They were purposefully sheltering me.

In the meantime, I was living Suzy's life. I went to my first-grade class. Played with the girls who I supposed had been Suzy's friends and did whatever activities Suzy was supposed to. The only activity I really liked was dancing. It was the one thing I always looked forward to. I enjoyed it so much, that even at home I would dance around. I loved to do it. I didn't remember liking it before all this happened. It took a few days before I realized that I had swapped my 'love' of dance with Suzy's. I hadn't had any or at least not much of, but now it was my favorite thing.

One day, Joan drove me to a courthouse. She didn't say where they were going or why they were there. Joan escorted me in. They waited in the halls with Joan talking with some lawyers. When Joan went into the actual courtroom, I was made to stay outside with a bailiff or something. I believed it had something to do with Suzy, but how was I to know.

After a couple of months, Joan told me. How would you like it if Uncle Suzy comes to live with us?" Joan asked.

"She..I mean he is? Great!!!" I said excitedly.

"I'm glad you are so excited. Uncle Suzy will be staying with us for a long time, maybe even forever. I'll bet she'll want to play with you all the time."

I just smiled. If Suzy was coming to stay with us, I could swap back with her and return to a normal life.

When the big day came and I saw Suzy, she wasn't as expected. She still had my old body, but she wasn't dressed like a man. She was dressed like a little girl. She had her thumb in her mouth and was carrying a stuffed bear in the other hand. I should have expected it, Suzy was still Suzy. She didn't know how to act like a grown-up. I know how to act like a little girl and was mature enough to know I should. But she was mentally, emotionally, and psychologically still a little girl. There wasn't anything that could be done to change that. She would need a decade of maturing to become an adult. But, I could help her. I can swap back and they could return to their normal lives.

When I finally got her alone.  "Suzy," I said, "let's swap back everything we did before. I'm sure you don't want to be a big person anymore."

"I wanna play with my friends again," she told me.

"You will."

I have only one regret. If I swapped back, I would lose his love of dance. That was the only consultation in my entire experience. I knew I would never feel that way again. For a moment, I thought to swap everything else, body and life, but not the love of dance. My maturity won out though. It didn't belong to me. Let Suzy have her love of dance back. She deserved it. She deserved more than that. I had put her through a lot. I don't know exactly what had happened though.

"OK, we are going to swap four things, the same as before. We will swap lives, bodies, clothes, and love of dance. You have to agree with all those things," I informed her.

"I wanna swap," Suzy said.

That was all it took, they swapped everything back. When I looked down upon myself, my body had returned, but the clothing I was wearing was distinctly feminine and juvenile. I am wearing a jumper with a big giraffe on the front with a blouse underneath and pink leggings. My hair is long and tied in braids. I am also wearing panties though I couldn't see them.

I didn't consider this. I thought I would be in men's clothing. It didn't matter, I'll talk to Joan and tell her I want to wear pants again. I would work to get my old life back.

There was a big problem with that though. Suzy's life had changed since the first swap. She had been declared incompetent in court and was made a ward of Joan. She had talked to the doctors after the accident who said that due to the trauma Suzy was left with the mentality of a child. Suzy had also become effeminate. The best thing to do was to indulge him. In court, Suzy's status (which now belonged to me) was changed from an adult male to female juvenile (approximate age four to seven). This is how everyone will treat me from now on. Because it was done with magic, there isn't any way to convince anyone that I am anything else. Before, I had a chance to grow up and decide what type of person I wanted to be, but now I am stuck with the life Suzy had when she swapped back. I'll never be legally an adult (competent), I'll never be treated as if he is a boy either.

I would have been better off if I didn't swap back. Eventually, Suzy would grow up and so would I. Now I was stuck this way forever. That is unless I can get someone to swap with me. But who would want to swap away their competence?

But what really happened was...

I ate my ice cream and appeared to enjoy it. I asked Joan for ice cream, I should act accordingly. I expected that Suzy would be at the ice cream place waiting for me. But when she wasn't there, I didn't know what to do. Something seemed to be bothering Joan, but I didn't know what.

Finally, I had to ask, "Where's Uncle Suzy."

"Umm, he's busy. But he told me you should enjoy yourself. He said you did very well at the recital."

"But I want to see him now."

"I'm sorry honey. He's not here."

"Can I talk to him?"

"He isn't answering his phone. He's very busy."

I finished my ice cream. And the Joan and I went home. I didn't know what had happened to Suzy. She should have been there.

"William, go play in your room. I'll call you when dinner is ready," Joan told me.

I feigned going to my room. I knew something had happened, I had to find out. I hid and overheard Joan on the phone. Suzy walked into the street without looking. She never knew what hit her.

"Oh my god! Suzy is gone!" I was shocked. I never thought a thing like that could happen. I just wasn't thinking.

I walked to what was now my room. I took off my little slippers, got into my bed, and put my head under the covers. I stayed that way for hours with my eyes closed. Tears streaked down my cheeks. Joan saw me when she passed by and decided not to disturb me. She realized that I must have found out what had happened, and she was going to let me come to terms with it in the best way I could. If I needed her help, I would ask for it.

Somehow, I got through it. Soon I started to feel sorry for myself. I was stuck and I knew there was nothing I could do about it. I could never swap with anyone again and I can't summon the demon that gave me the power in the first place. The demon made that quite clear.

Sunday, Joan got me up and made me some breakfast. She wanted to give me some space, but also help me to move along.

"You know Honey," Joan consoled. "If you need to talk to me. I'm here."

"I know." Then Joan scooped me up into her arms. I burst out into tears again. I didn't need to hold back or be strong. Everyone thought I was a little girl anyway.

I returned to his room. I could see my room as I entered it, it had a childish yellow and white motif. This was the first time I took stock of my room. It was perfect for a little girl. I saw toys and dolls all over the place: on the floor, on the bed, on the shelves, on the dresser, and on the bookcase. I walked up to a mirror and looked at myself. I saw my new little body. I really looked at myself for the first time. I am a six-year-old girl now. I am actually my own niece and there was nothing I can do about it. It is my fault. I don't know how I could have been so foolish. I was in 'better shape' than Suzy. She didn't deserve to die. I would make it up to her and her family by living her life well. I have to carry on for Suzy. I owe it to my sister Joan too. She didn't deserve to lose her daughter. I will be the best little girl I can.

I'm a girl now and forever. I forced myself to think of myself as she instead of he.  I see a toy and hugged it. It made me feel a little better. I tried to 'play' with it but I really don't know how. I have the body of a little girl, but not a girl's instincts. The next thing I tried was to watch some TV. But the V-chip parental controls were up so high, that, SpongeBob SquarePants was considered too 'scary' for me. I watched one of the few shows I was allowed, Peppa Pig but it was too juvenile for me to watch for very long.

I found my tablet, but much like TV, the parental controls were set so high it was almost useless to me. I wasn't allowed to use a browser. There were a few Apps, but they were childish games. I didn't even have access to Youtube, but I did have a video player that was also highly restrictive. I gave that up pretty quick too.

With nothing better to do, I walked over to my closet. I found it filled with lots of dresses. But besides the dresses were outfits and costumes that were used in dance. Seeing them brightened my spirits. Each outfit reminded me of a dance or two that I did while wearing them. (It was actually Suzy's memories, but they felt like my own now.) I love to dance. I received the love of dance from Suzy. It was one of the swaps.

I found a dress I (well Suzy) used in one of my recitals. I remembered every moment of that recital as if I had performed it myself. I took the dresses off the poll in the closet and placed it in front of myself. I made dance moves while holding the outfit. I couldn't do it properly while holding the garment, so I stripped off all my clothes and put the outfit on. Then I could move freely. I danced in my room. I didn't have any music, but I could still hear it in my head. U was smiling broadly for the first time in a while.

Joan saw me smiling for the first time and let me enjoy myself. She decided that this would be the best thing for me.

I returned to my tablet and looked in the video program for dances. There wasn't any block on that subject. While still wearing my dance costume, I selected a video of a young woman dancing and watched it. I loved all the dance videos. They were so graceful and so pretty.

"William, it's time for lunch," Joan called from the door. Joan was happy that I was smiling. She didn't even ask me to remove the dress I was wearing.

I took the tablet and watched dances all throughout lunch. Joan didn't mind. Dancing was the one thing in my 'new' life that I enjoyed.

It became the center of my life. I discovered that I had something no other six-year-old had. I had dedication, focus, and time. I didn't have to worry about things like school or anything else. I was in the first grade; I would get A's without trying. I played with my friends at school just to be sociable, but my true friends were those who were in dance with me. Everything else didn't matter.

My typical day was to go to school, go home, spend two or three minutes doing whatever homework was required, and then spend the rest of my time dancing. I had all of Suzy's skills and flexibilities with my adult understanding and interpretation. I could become a great dancer. That is all I wanted to do.

I dedicated my first recital where I was the lead dancer to 'Uncle Suzy'. But that wasn't enough. I dedicated my entire career to my Uncle Suzy who I said was an inspiration to me.

Some people say this is what really happened though...

I ate my ice cream and appeared to enjoy it. I asked Joan for ice cream, I should act accordingly. I expected that Suzy would be at the ice cream place waiting for me. But when she wasn't there, I didn't know what to do. Something seemed to be bothering Joan, but I didn't know what.

Finally, I had to ask, "Where's Uncle Suzy."

"Umm, he's busy. But he told me you should enjoy yourself. He said you did very well at the recital."

"But I want to see him now."

"I'm sorry honey. He's not here."

"Can't I talk to him?"

"He isn't answering his phone. He's very busy."

I finished my ice cream. And the Joan and I went home. I didn't know what had happened to Suzy. She should have been there.

"William go to your room and get changed. I'll call you when dinner is ready," Joan told me.

I went to what was now my room. I was perplexed where Suzy was. I was sure that she would turn up as soon as she realized how hard it was to be an adult. Then I would swap back.

I looked at my new room. It was definitely a little girl's room. It had a yellow and white motif with stuffed animals and toys all around. There was a huge toy box in the corner that was filled with even more toys.

Joan told me to get dressed, so I went to the drawer and looked for something to wear. I wanted something simple, like jeans and a t-shirt. I looked for such and found one pair of jeans. I had never seen Suzy in jeans, maybe this was the only pair she had? There weren't many plain t-shirts either. There were lots of frilly and girlie shirts, but it was hard to find plain ones. The closest I could find was a sleeveless pink shirt with a round neck and a smiling hippo print on the front. Finally, I put on a pair of socks.

Now that I was dressed, I decided to lay upon the bed and watch some TV. The problem was that this TV had a V-Chip in it. It was set to the TV-Y7 setting. There wasn't anything I could watch. All the shows allowed for me were for two to six-year-olds. Even SpongeBob SquarePants was too advanced for me. I turned off the set and looked for something else to do. But I didn't know what. There wasn't anything that seemed interesting in the room. It was a little girl's room. What was I going to do? Play with a doll?

"Dinner Time," Joan bellowed. As it turned out this was a later dinner than usual for the family. Joan had to give sufficient time for me to get over the ice cream.

I arrived at the table. I noticed that Joan was watching me as I sat down. I had to hop onto the chair, I was very short now.

Joan put a plate of creamy mac n cheese with broiled chicken slices with a side of green beans in front of me. I ate all the chicken, some of the mac n cheese and none of the vegetables. Joan was watching me eat. She didn't say anything though.

After dinner, Joan told me it would soon be bedtime. We are going to take a bath today.

"OK," I said.

I headed towards my room to get some clothes for after the bath. I had already looked in the drawers, so I knew where the nightwear was. I found a pair of pajamas. I didn't want to wear a gown and took it to the bathroom. Joan was waiting for me and followed me in.

It hadn't occurred to me that I was too young to take a shower by myself. Joan filled the tub with warm water and bubble bath. I took off my clothes in the meantime and then got in. She gave me a floaty toy to play with. But I didn't bother. I just wanted to get this whole thing over with.

After the bath, Joan dried me off and told me to make 'sissies' before she helped me to dress. I sat on the toilet and did as requested. I needed to anyway.

"What's this?" Joan asked.

"My panties?"

"You don't wear panties at night. Where's your pull-ups?"

"Umm, I just thought that just for tonight."

Joan gave me a look. I retreated out of the bathroom naked. I went to my room. "Where are the pull-ups?" I thought. I realized they must be in the closet and I found them there. I snatched a pair and put them on. Joan was in the doorway carrying his pajamas.

"I KNOW WHAT YOU DID!" she told me in a loud voice.

"What I did?"

"Yes, you aren't my daughter. A mother knows."

I didn't know what to say. The demon said that everyone would think everything would seem perfectly normal. That would be true if Suzy hadn't been killed when she stepped into the street without looking first. She never knew what hit her.

Joan was looking fiercely down at me; she was grabbing me roughly by the shoulders. I felt so small, so vulnerable.

I was so terrified I said meekly, "Joan, I'm your little girl."

That was the final straw. Suzy had never called her anything but Mommy. There were lots of other things. Suzy never wore jeans, she hated them. Suzy liked green beans and of course, Suzy knew she wore pull-ups to bed and where they should be.

I had to confess. I told her everything. I didn't hold back. I also explained that now that Suzy was gone, I couldn't swap with anyone else. I was stuck this way forever.

"You took my daughter's life in more ways than one!" she yelled.

"I didn't mean to."

"I don't care. Get into bed. Go to sleep and then wait for me to get you. Don't leave this bed. I'll think about what I am going to do with you!" Then a moment later she asked, "Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, Mommy."

"OK, now go to bed."

I slipped my tiny body under the covers. I never felt so small.  

Joan closed the light and left the door ajar as she left. The only light was a nightlight in the outlet. It was hard to get to sleep. I had some thinking of my own to do. But I didn't see many options. I was stuck as a six-year-old girl. I could never be a real man again. I wouldn't be an adult for at least a decade. I couldn't run away. I couldn't leave this family. It would be worse to be a ward of the court in the foster system.

In the morning, I waited for Joan to come and get me. I didn't dare leave the bed. Not even to go potty. I was wearing a pull-up anyway.

Joan entered the room, "I've decided," she informed him.

I didn't ask what. I waited for her to inform me what she wanted.

"You wanted to be a little girl and you will be one. You are going to be Mommy's Perfect Little Girl."

"I am?"

"Yeah. You are going to always be smiling. You are always going to be obedient. You are always going to be friendly. You will never wear pants again. Your days of wearing pants have left you along with your penis which as you said you will never get back. Oh, and you'll always wear white tights. Nothing says little girl like white tights. I don't care if it summer or winter. Whether it is ten below or 110 degrees. You will always be wearing a dress with white tights." She let that sink into William. Continuing, "All your friends will be girls and you are never to talk to any boys of any age. If a boy wants to talk to you, call him a name and get away as quickly as possible. I want you to have lots of girlfriends. I want you to be playing with them all the time. You shouldn't be by yourself. You are already in dance, but I think you should also join girl scouts. You are going to be a 'Daisy'. You are going to be my perfect little girl."

"But, Jo...Mommy."

"No buts and you will never call me or any other adult by their first name again. You hear me?"

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, Mommy."

"Good, now get dressed. We are going shopping. I need to buy you some more dresses. You can never have enough."

Joan left the room. I looked for a dress to wear. I decided that Joan would want me to wear the girliest one I saw. I looked at each dress one-by-one in my closet. My old life was over. My new life had just begun.