Daniel, my nephew was a smart kid, but he had no balls. He would always do what he was told. This made Christmas especially depressing for him, trapped with the family for days!
I knew I was his favourite, when I visited over the holiday period, we would always be hanging out together in some quiet corner of the house.
We were close, and he confided in my that he had learnt a trick. He was able to swap people, soul for soul.
I asked how many times he’d tried it, and he said just the once and only for a few minutes.
He told me it was with his older brother; a marine who had been staying with them for a couple days.
“Really,” I chuckled, “what happened?”
“I did it in the middle of the night, when he was asleep. I woke up in his body. I was scared that he’d wake up in my body and freak out—so I swapped back.”
As Christmas approached, I decided to force his hand. I called his parents, told them that I couldn’t make it this year. They were sad of course, but when I spoke to Daniel and told him he was distraught. He pleaded with me to come, but I told him I wouldn’t. But I suggested he could escape the house using his trick.
On the morning of Christmas Eve, I woke with a start. Something felt different, but not unexpected.
In the darkened room I could see I wasn’t in the same bed I went to sleep in.
I got up, and glanced down. Smirking, I was happy that Daniel had figured out what to do.
Daniel had swapped with me, I was now in his body, and I assumed he was in mine.
It felt natural to check social media, I picked up Daniel’s iPhone and tapped at the screen. As I checked his feed, I realised, I’d subconsciously entered his pin and unlocked his phone.
I looked up, and realised he’d left me with access to his memories. I could act as Daniel without causing suspicion—it also gave me access to the tick he’d learnt to swap bodies.
As I contemplated the possibilities, a message came through on the phone, from “Uncle Sean.”
It read, “Sorry, please forgive me.”
I laughed and replied, “I was hoping you’d swap us, but it had to be your decision—you understand?”
“Look, I’ll get back to you in an hour or so. You got my memories I guess?”
“You know how to drive :)” he sent a thumbs up.
“Good, I’ll get back to you in a few hours. Enjoy yourself, being the man of the house!’
Whilst showering, had to admit I was impressed with Daniel’s build. He was a cute kid, but always shy about showing off.
I decided to keep in character for a while, and dressed in his regular attire. I spent the rest of the hour backing a large gym bag with clothes and stuff I knew Daniel would.
Downstairs, there was the usual commotion, arguments between ‘my’ parents. I knew for Daniel’s memories that this side of his family life never saw the light of day. I was beginning to understand why he needed me to be around.
Sent a text to my old phone number, giving a crossroads near by, and told ‘my uncle’ to wait for me there. It would take him about an hour to drive there, so I headed for the kitchen to ‘act’ like my nephew!
They ignored me as I collected together some cereal, prepped a protein shake and began to eat.
My ‘father’ (and my brother), glanced over. “You’re coming with me to the market, your mother has forgotten some stuff.”
I looked up at him, with a mouthful of food and worked Daniel’s face, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
“It won’t take long,” he replied.
I swallowed the cereal. “Sorry, can’t do that,” Daniel’s voice came out of my mouth. His mind screamed, he wouldn’t dare answer back to his father.
“Can’t go, if fact I don’t want to go!” I finished my breakfast and shake and stood up. “I’m spending Christmas with Uncle Sean.”
“You can’t, I have everything planned,” my ‘mom’ exclaimed. Whilst my father, just stood there with his mouth open.
“I’m going, I don’t want to be here this year, I want to be with Sean.”
I got to my feet, and walk ed to the door. My father stepped in to block me.
I looked at him in his face, Daniel was larger and stronger that his father.
“I’m going,” I said calmly. He blocked the door with his arm. With only a little force, I tooted his wrist, and pushed it down and left the kitchen.
Grabbing Daniel’s hoody I put it on, and picked up the gym bag.
“I’ll see you in a few days.” I turned for a final glance over my shoulder. They were both silent, just staring at me. I shook my my head and left.
With the gym bag over my shoulder I made use of Daniel’s strength and stamina and jogged to where I was meeting Daniel (using my own body).
When I arrived at the location, my pickup was already there. I could see myself behind the steering wheel with a huge grin on my face. I chuckled, it would appear that Daniel was enjoying himself as Uncle Sean.
Throwing the gym bag into the back I got in the cab.
He blushed. “Sorry about what I did to you,” he said.
“No worries, I was was kinda hoping you would after you told me about your trick.”
“Course not, I suspected you needed a break from the family. I kinda shocked your parents.”
“Oh no,” he groaned, “what happened?”
“Nothing to worry about, *you* found a new inner strength and finally stood up for yourself,” I laughed.
“You think they’ll be OK when I go back?”
He drove us back to my apartment, and once inside I dropped the gym bag into the guest room.
When I returned to the kitchen, he looked nervous.
“I guess, you want your body back now?”
I raked my hand through my hair—Daniel’s hair and rubbed it.
“We don’t have to,” I murmured, “I’m quite enjoying myself—being the kid again,” I looked him in the eye, “Unc.”
He grinned widely, “If you’re sure then… Danny.”
We crashed on the crunch, and I could see he was enjoying himself.
“You know, this swapping trick is pretty easy,” I told him tapping my head. “Could be fun being other people, and you didn’t even tell me that you can suppress their memories of their own existence. Kinda handy, I’d say.”
“We could do it for New Year, go to some party as someone else and let them be caretakers in our bodies without even know it!”
“Ok, but for Christmas, I just want to be here and chill. No stress,” I answered.
“Sounds perfect,” I replied.
Season’s Greetings to everyone!
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