This choice: "...it was your parent's brains. We had to switch them." • Go Back...Chapter #8"...it was your parent's brains. We had... by: Wassel   "...It was your parent's brains. We had to switch them."
This bombshell causing you to do a double take. Wait a second... Did he just say what I think he just said? Surely he had to be kidding?
He wasn't though. Or at least, nothing about his demeanor or the way he said it indicated that he was. Still looking as deadly serious as before. The other doctor also.
Going on then to explain, "Now I know this might be upsetting and rather strange to hear, but due to the injuries your parents sustained to the head during the impact of the crash, immediate action had to be taken. It really was a matter of life or death. And, having little in the way of options, Dr. Saunders and I were forced to perform an experimental surgical procedure that we've been developing. One that hadn't been tested on an actual live human subject."
What followed being a rather lengthy and complicated description of how they removed the part of your mother and father's brain that had been damaged and used some crazy science to swap them around. Which according to Kerry "stimulated the tissue into repairing itself". After which they'd remove the healthy tissue and return it to their respective brains. The only thing they didn't count on however was the tissue fully integrating itself while it was healing. Making it quite impossible to remove (without causing serious brain damage).
"And... as it was the cerebrum that was switched... the part of the brain that mostly makes up who we are... it, in a sense, left your parents' consciousness in each others form. Having essentially switched bodies."
Oh my God! you internally yelped. Not quite believing what you were hearing. "This is... This is crazy!" Like something out of a bad sci-fi movie. Asking Dr. Kerry then, "They're really stuck like that?" Your mom was now your dad and your dad was now your mom. A concept that was almost impossible to envision.
"I'm afraid so," he nodded. "But on the plus side, they are both in perfect health, and our highly sophisticated, non evasive surgery techniques means that neither of them have so much as a scratch on them. To an outside observer, they wouldn't even realize anything had changed."
Maybe not, but it had. Boy, how it had. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry. This information leaving you in complete and utter shock.
"We realize that it will take some getting used to, Tim. For you as well as them," Dr. Saunders then chimed in. His voice calm and soothing. "But so far they've both managed to take things pretty well. Remarkably well in fact."
"You... You mean they're awake?" you blurted. "They know what's happened?" Having expected them, after having surgery like that, to be out a lot longer. But apparently not. The doctor's surgical techniques being revolutionary indeed.
"Yes. They've been awake for about an hour now, and they're both anxious to see you."
And you them. Though you also felt a tremendous amount of trepidation. Knowing full well how bizarre and uncomfortable it was going to be. After all, your dad was now a woman and your mom a man. Which was a total mind fuck. Having no idea how you were supposed to even begin to get used to that.
Though hearing that they were both taking the news well (or as well as could be expected) was good you supposed. Imagining that it would be even worse if all three of your were freaking out. Your mother for one being a very calm and reasonable person. Most of the time at least. While your father was pretty laid back too. Having always had a close relationship with them both. Though, with the arrival of puberty and an interest in girls, you turned to him a lot more now for advice than you did her. It being surreal to think then that the next time you brought up a girl you liked in class to your father, you'd be doing it to your mom's face. Shivering uneasily at the thought.
"Now there are also some legal issues we'll have to discuss with you," Kerry continued, "but perhaps its best that we take you to see them first. Which... if you're ready... we can do right now."
Not being entirely sure that you were ready. Feeling like this whole thing was happening so fast. Your head positively spinning with all of this crazy and extremely heavy information you were still trying to process. Information that simply did not seem real.
It was soon to get very real though. As, after weakly nodding your head to indicate that you did want to see them, the doctors helped you out of bed and placed you into a wheelchair. Wheeling you out of the room and down the hallway (seeing as you were a bit too groggy still to stand). Feeling incredibly nervous now as they stopped in front of a door. Behind which, Dr. Saunders informed you, both your mom and dad were waiting. The elder doctor giving the door a little knock to announce your arrival before heading on inside. Finding, unsurprisingly, the exact scene you expected. There was your dad sitting up in bed while your mom sat on the chair beside him, holding each other hands. Looking, just as the doctors had said, completely unharmed and healthy. As if nothing had happened at all.
"Mom... Dad..." you uttered as soon as you saw them. Feeling an overwhelming feeling of relief.
To which your dad replied with a smile, "Tim. It's good to see you."
And your mom asked, "How you doing, buddy?"
At which point of you became all too aware that who you thought you were looking at wasn’t actually that person. Your mom certainly never calling you 'buddy'. No, that was exclusively your dad. Your brain hitting a speed bump then as you realized that the blonde haired woman sitting on the chair was actually your dad, and the large, brawny man with dark hair was your mom. A realization that you really did not know how to process. Staring at them both like a rabbit in headlights. It being one thing to hear they’d swapped, it was something else entirely to see it for yourself.
Which they obviously realized. Your mother (from your father's body) giving you a look of sympathy and understanding. Telling you, "I know. This is... It's very strange, sweetheart. Seeing us like this. I'm sorry."
Not that she had any reason to apologize. None of it was her fault.
"And believe you me," your father (from your mother's form) added, "you aren't the only one who had that reaction. Your mother and I did too.”
It being so surreal watching them speaking and acting like each other. Even with new voices and faces, the gestures, speech patterns and personality still showed through. As if each of them was doing a spot-on impersonation of the other. To a rather ridiculous degree.
This wasn't what was happening of course and you had to somehow try and get past it. Instead of just sitting there staring at them like they were freaks. This being the last thing you wanted to do.
Apologizing in return as the doctors wheeled you closer. Receiving a really awkward hug (on both ends) from your dad/mom. While your mother, from the bed, reached over and clasped your hand. This certainly being one very strange family reunion. The three of you spending the next ten minutes making sure that everyone was alright. Your dad even throwing in the odd joke in an attempt to make everyone feel better. The mere fact that he was doing this with your mom's face made this impossible of course. Being nowhere near ready to laugh. In fact, you were finding it difficult to say anything at all. Even as both parents assured you that, as crazy as this situation was, you’d all find a way to cope and get through this. Neither of them wanting anything to have to change for you. Even if it was unavoidable for them.
"But how?" you eventually worked up the courage to ask. "How can anything ever be normal? Everyone is going to know that you are in different bodies." There simply being no getting around that.
Or so you thought. It being at this point that the doctors (who'd remained silent up till now) once again chimed in.
"Yes, well... That's what we wanted to discuss with you, Tim," Saunders said, clearing his throat. "The legal issues we mentioned earlier..."
Going on to explain how, due to the experimental nature of the procedure and the various legalities that surrounded unsanctioned testing on live human subjects, it was of the utmost importance that nobody else knew . Otherwise there was a good chance that everyone involved could get in a whole lot of trouble. There being no telling what kind of complicated legal ramifications two people swapping bodies would bring. Not to mention the media circus as well. Meaning that it was in everyone's best interest if your parents pretended to be exactly who they looked like. Essentially taking over each other's lives.
"No way!" you gasped on hearing this revelation. "You've... You've got to be kidding me?! That's... That's insane!"
"I know, sweetheart. It's not exactly ideal," your mother said (having presumably been told about this already), "But unfortunately we don't have much of a choice. We have to do what's best for all of us."
Your father then adding, "Your mom's right." Backing her up. "And it'll only be in public. In private, we can still be us." Chuckling, "Plus, on the bright side, I guess that means I get to retire early. No more nine to five for me."
This of course being true. Seeing as your mother didn't work and instead took care of the house, she would have to do his job for him. How exactly you had no idea. What with her having absolutely zero experience.
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