Sophia ventured up to the attic. It wasn't easy for her to get there, she wasn't as young as she used to be. She was in fact over 80-years-old. 84 to be exact. She took each step one at a time, holding onto the railing for balance. She didn't tell her daughter, Erika what she was doing. Firstly, she didn't want Erika to know what she was looking for. But also, Erika was always telling her don't do this and don't do that. Sophia thought she was old enough to know what to do and when to do it. She was Erika's mother. It wasn't the other way around.

Entering the attic, Sophia looked for her Trait Swapper. It was a device that could swap traits between the person who wore it. (The Trait Swapper looked like a wristwatch that could be worn by either men or women.) Sophia hadn't used it for years, decades actually, but now it was time to use it again.

Sophia had used it when she was much younger to swap many traits. Some because she wanted them and some for fun. But as she got more mature, her conscience started to act up. After a while, she stopped using it and packed it away. But now she was going to use it again.

Sophia was in constant pain due to her arthritis and other ailments due to her age. She was going to trade her ailments with someone else. Someone not so nice. Why should she suffer, when there were some people who weren't as nice as she was. That is what she believed.

The truth was that her mental faculties were diminishing. She didn't know this was happening. Even if someone had told her, she wouldn't remember anyway. Thus her conscience wasn't a problem anymore. After looking for a while, Sophia found what she was looking for and put it on. It wasn't all that easy with her fingers as stiff as they were.

On her wrist, the Trait Swapper booted up. Its power source was just as magical as the rest of it. Once it was fully activated, the Swapper would make all its options clear to Sophie through what looked like a menu that only Sophia could see. It in fact optimized the display for each wearer to make it as easy as possible to use. It was fully intuitive in its operation.

Sophia was over the master bedroom and from her position could hear what was being said. Erika was talking with her husband, Martin. Sophia couldn't make out exactly what they were saying until she turned her hearing aid onto its maximum setting. This setting would be uncomfortable when Sophia was in a crowd. But in a quiet room, she could pick up voices and sounds that even a person with average auditory abilities could hear.

"It's time you told me," Sophia heard Martin say.

"I know you are right, but I have been putting it off," Erika replied.

"I know it's not her fault, but it's not our fault either. She has to go."

Sophia didn't know who or what they were talking about. She sat quietly and listened some more.

"How do I tell my mother that."

"It'll be the best for her; for her and for us. They can watch over her better than we can. They can make sure she gets all her medication on time. They can keep her from falling down. There will be lots of people her age who she can make friends with. All her old friends have died. She doesn't have many people to talk to. Well besides you."

"I know."

"...and this problem we are having with Ricky. It will require our full attention."

Ricky is Sophia's grandson. He has been getting into trouble. He was suspended from school for some reason. Sophia didn't know what for exactly. But whatever it was, Ricky has been home from school for four days so far.

Martin continued, "look at you. Between the two of them, you're worn to a frazzle. It would be best for everyone if we put Sophia in a senior care facility."

"Put me in a home???" Sophia thought. "Are they nuts? I shouldn't go, it's Ricky who needs to be watched full time. I haven't been anything but nice. I help with preparing the meals and the housework. I never cause any sort of problem."

"What if she won't go?" Erika asked.

"She has to go. There is no choice in the matter. But we'll let her think it's her choice. When push comes to shove, she's going. IT'S BEST FOR EVERYONE."

"I know. I hope we can convince her."

"We'll take our time and let her think it's her decision."

Sophia didn't know how much concern she caused her family. They were afraid she would fall and end up in the hospital. Sophia knew she had been to the hospital for a fall, but she didn't realize how regularly it happens. They were afraid that she would try and wash the clothes with dish soap, or a hundred such mistakes that only a person who is losing their mental faculties would make. She didn't have any clue how much trouble she was causing.

"I wasn't suspended from school. I don't come into the house and throw my things around making a mess everywhere. If anyone should be going to a home, it should be Ricky, not me!"

Sophia hadn't planned on using the Swapper on anyone in her family. She was going to use it on a 'bad person' but now she was so mad that she was going to use it on Ricky. "If anyone's going to a home, it'll be Ricky!"

Sophia exited the attic and looked for her grandson. She assumed he would be in his room. The Swapper was now fully charged, she just had to test it out before getting to work. She had to move quickly, Erika and Martin were about to tell her about their plan. She had to complete her swaps before they made her leave.

Ricky was in his room, not doing much of anything. He wasn't allowed to use his computer. That was part of the punishment for being suspended.

Sophia walked up to him and said, "Sophia I want to talk to you."

"I'm Ricky grandma."

Sophia selected the name option and activated it. Ricky didn't know Sophia was doing anything at all as the Swapper was so intuitive. Sophia hardly had to do anything at all.