#tgcap

“Hey! I heard you were back from Vietnam, I’m really glad you’re okay!”

“What do you mean I sound different? Must be a cold or something…”

“Yeah, I know I got lucky. You know my Mom would have freaked out if I got drafted, you remember how my Dad died, and she’s so overprotective…”

“I’ve mostly just been spending time with my Mom, she said if I was going to be around I’d have to help out more around the house, so you know, laundry, vacuuming, the dishes…”

“Your parents are throwing a ‘Welcome Home’ barbeque this weekend? Pool party? Um…. Of course I’ll be there, you’re my best friend, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”

“Listen, I’d love to talk more, but I’ve gotta go, I’ve got a date tonight and…”

“Yeah, of course I’ll tell you all about the lucky… lady this weekend. Talk to you then.”

“Yes, Mom, I heard you that Steve’s outside! I was on the phone with Bill! Yeah, Bill’s back from Vietnam, do you think we can take my old stuff out of storage yet? They haven’t drafted anyone in months and all my friends are back!”

“Come back to bed, baby!”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I mean the makeup washes off, but the highlights? The extensions? And my eyebrows!”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ve got work in the morning! I can’t show up looking like this!”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m a man! I’m not supposed to...”

“Because you’re not supposed to have long, lustrous hair, shaved legs and delicately arched eyebrows? Honey, I think it’s time to face facts and stop living a lie.”

“What are you talking about? This is just a game, just your fantasy.”

“My fantasy? Maybe that’s what I told you, but don’t think I haven’t seen the looks over the years, looking more at my dress than me, this was always supposed to be your fantasy. The one you were too afraid to admit.”

“But...”

"Aw man, I thought they'd be bigger... And ugly PJs too..."

"What the hell?! Why did I get transformed too? What did you wish for?"

"I wished to be a smokin' hot chick! Just like I told you I wanted!"

"And you said those exact words?"

"Well... Mostly, it got the gist of it..." "What were your exact words?"

"I wish that when I looked in the mirror, I'd see a smokin' hot chick looking back at me!"

"The same mirror I was looking at when you made the wish?"

"Oh... Well, at least you're hot!"

"I don't wanna be a girl! I wish I was a boy again! Make it change me back!"

"Sorry, can't do that! The planets have to align under your zodiac sign in order for the wish to be granted. Which by my estimation would be about a week before your next birthday!"

“Hey, you’ve been grabbing water for a long time, Ms. Ernst is getting restless and oh… Oh!” My eyes widened as I saw Chrissy in the arms of one of the ranch hands, passionately kissing him.

“Chuck, can you give us a minute?” Chrissy batted her eyelashes, an effective tool of persuasion, as I knew firsthand.

“Sure thing, babe, but don’t be too long, okay?” Chuck grinned and tipped his hat to me as he walked away.

“What’s going on here? You told me you were into girls! That’s why I let you do all this!” I motioned towards my body.

You see, before arriving at the ranch, I’d been your normal average guy. Yeah, that’s right, guy. Chrissy had been on the welcoming committee, and we’d hit it off on the first night, or at least I thought we did, until she’d confided in me that she liked girls. I thought that was the end of my chances with her until she commented on how she thought I’d make a pretty girl. I’d never been the most masculine, always skinny, with soft features, and I’d do anything to be with her, so I let her make me over into her type, my long-ish hair styled into pigtails, some makeup on my face to plump my lips and define my eyes, a little bit of shaving, (I’d never been that hairy either) and she even went into the ranch’s database to swap my record around so I could room with her and work the hospitality side. It was a wonderful few weeks, even if she kept me at a distance, never doing more than kissing or over the clothes stuff.

“Listen, Tori, you’re cute, don’t get me wrong, but you’re just not my type, and I wanted to let you down easy, but you were so eager, I figured telling you I was gay was easier, but you just wouldn’t take the hint. And given how well you took to the makeup and the dresses, heck, you’re walking in heels better than I am, I think everything worked out for the best. You had fun, didn’t ya? You wouldn’t have liked being out in the sun anyway, right? Why don’t you run along, okay? And bring the water back to Ms. Ernst.”

“O-okay…” I tried to hold back my tears as I grabbed the bucket and headed back to the house.

“Your friend okay?” Chuck asked as he returned.

“She’ll be fine, just lonely I think.”

“I’ve got a buddy who’s been talking about having a thing for her, maybe we can introduce them tonight at dinner?”