Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day

Authors note: This is based upon the short story "Gifted and Talented" by Ozhojabbe. In music there is something called Theme and Variate. This story is similar, there is a basic theme (the original story) and then variations upon that theme. In general unless it is impossible the same four characters are used. This is a different story than any I have written before. I hope you like it. Please comment...even if you have problems with it.

But I have reordered the chapters (I added a few also). Kept tighter control over the characters, there are now only 4 in almost every scene so you can see what has happened to them and how the last iteration effected them in the next.

I'm not saying the story is good, it might never be, but it is better now :-)

Groundhog Day by itsme based on a short story by Ozhojabbe.

Prologue.

Daniel Corsetti phoned the Weymore Academy. His firm had transferred him to this little town Cold Harbor and his daughter would be attending the school soon. He wanted to make sure that she was placed in the right courses.

He spent an hour on the phone going over what the school had to offer with Mrs. Werner the school's guidance counselor. She assured him that if things weren't right that she would make it right. All his daughter (Susan) had to do was see her and she would fix everything.

Daniel thanked Mrs. Werner and told Susan if she had any problem who was the person to set things right. Chapter 1.

Susan waited outside the office of the school counselor. The office was on the far end of the school, right next to the girl's locker room and the gym and sports fields. Old those involved in athletic activities like gym, the sports teams and cheerleading would have a need to come down here.

It was almost time. Susan knew what she must do. It was a serious infraction and something had to be done. No one gets away with it. They were prepared to spend a decade or more to remedy the problem and now that she was found then Susan knew what she had to do. Not that she was given specific instructions. They left it up to her discretion.

Susan got into character. She put a worried but determined look on her face. She was about to enter the office when a boy exited. She knew him, it was fifteen years old Joseph Brooks. Even as his age everyone at the school knew him. His talent in soccer might lead the team to victory one day.

Joseph was tall, strong jaw for his age, he had just the beginnings of stubble on his face. It wasn't that he kept it is way for show, he simple didn't shave everyday yet. His black hair was parted on the left side. His physique was impressive for his age, but when he matured into a man (he was still very much a boy) he would be a heartthrob for women of all ages.

Joseph was dressed in the male equivalent of the school uniform that Susan herself was wearing. Both were wearing a blue button down short sleeves shirt with the school crest proudly emblazoned on the right chest (Susan's was called a blouse not a shirt). The top was of course collared with ties. Both boys and girls wore plaid ties, but the boys was a standard straight men's tie and the girls wore cross ties. They both wore tan straight leg slacks. (Girls could wear a tan wrap around skirt if they chose) Black socks (girls could wear tights or stockings) and virtually identical regardless of gender black oxford shoes.

But all that was irrelevant to Susan. She might look seventeen, but that wasn't the case. She was playing her part.

Susan entered the outer office as sweet as come be. She saw the receptionist. The plaque on her desk proclaimed her as Mrs. Carlene Young. She was a middle aged woman in her early fifties. She wore a professional business suit.

Susan stood in front of her desk and waited to be addressed.

"May I help you?" Charlene said pleasantly.

"Yes, thank you. I have a one o'clock appointment with Mrs. Werner."

Charlene looked at the calendar on her computer screen.

"Are you Susan Corsetti."

"Yes I am."

"Good, Mrs. Werner has been expecting you. Go right in."

24 year old Miriam Werner heard her office door open and continued to type the email she was writing. Miriam was very pretty. She was dressed in a long herringbone blazer with two buttons neither of which were fastened. Under the jacket she wore a yellow draped faux wrapped top with a v-neck which cradled her breasts. The tops of Miriam's breasts could clearly be seen over the top of the blouse. It was sexy, yet professional at the same time. She wore it with black ankle length skinny jeans and pumps with two and a half inch heel. Her makeup was pretty but understated. In her ears she wore the cutest diamond studs.

"Um... excuse me. Are you the guidance counselor?" Susan asked tentatively.

Miriam looked up, and tried to place the student. Blonde, glasses, no slouch in the looks department (in spite of the conservative clothing that made up the school uniform and lack of makeup) and eyes that radiated an extreme intelligence. There was also a confidence in her eyes that seemed a little out of place. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students (even if it wasn't much of a feat in a rural school like this,) but she was drawing a rare blank here.

Susan spoke again. "I know I just transferred in, but I'm not finding my classes challenging enough. I was hoping I could talk to you about fixing them?" Susan tried to sound humble. But it was all an act.

Miriam smiled. So this was the new transfer student all the teachers were talking about. "Ah, so you're Susan Corsetti, then? I'm sorry to hear that the course load your father and I hashed out over the phone isn't to your liking. What exactly is the problem?" Miriam pulled up Susan's profile on her computer.

Susan looked nervous. "Well, it's just... At my old school I was in the gifted and talented program, and all of my classes were honors and AP classes. Right now, you guys have me in the same classes that all the other seniors are taking. I've already taken half of the classes I'm currently enrolled in, and even the ones I haven't taken already are painfully slow and, well, easy. Since this is my last year, I was hoping to have more challenging classes to prepare me for college..."

Miriam looked over Susan's records. "I'm sorry Susan, but we're a small district. We've never really had the funding to offer AP and honors classes. I'm afraid your last year might have to be an easy one for you. Look on the bright side, you'll probably be a shoo-in for any college you decide to apply to."

Susan looked crestfallen.

Miriam frowned. This wouldn't do at all. She promised her dad that she could solve any problems. "That said... I might still be able to help you. I do have a way to make your classes more challenging without breaking the school's budget..."

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

Susan couldn't believe this woman was going to try and use some new- agey crystal nonsense on her. Didn't she know that true power came from inside, not some some silly trinket. However, as she glanced at the crystal she couldn't help but notice the strange star pattern the light made as it passed through. Even though it sat perfectly still, it seemed to move, radiating outward again... and again... and again... Eventually, Susan was just staring, zombie-like at the crystal. Miriam stared into her eyes like she was staring into her soul.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

There was a brief pause before Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

The pause in answering should have been Miriam's first warning sign. Miriam crossed her arms. "You're unhappy because your classes are too easy, correct?"

"Yes," Susan answered in a monotone.

"Why don't you tell me what's wrong with each of your classes. Let's start at the top, what don't you like about English 4?"

Susan's response was an odd combination of breathy and robotic. "Too easy. Already read everything. Already took AP Literature and Composition."

Miriam raised her eyebrows. "It sounds like you're an avid reader. Is that true?"

Susan said, "Yes. Love reading. Do it. Non-stop."

"Well, if you're going to get the most out of English 4, that needs to change. You actually hate reading."

Susan furrowed her brow. "No. Love reading. So many... good memories."

So there was the problem. "Susan, you can't remember the last time you read a book. It might have been in middle school, or elementary school."

Without warning Susan's expression cleared. She didn't look dull and uninterested anymore, her eyes had returned to their bright intelligence. In a clear voice Susan stated "Do you think this crystal nonsense would work on me?"

"What???" Miriam said surprised. Miriam thought this girl was going with the program. "It worked on everyone else," she thought. Then she came to the realization that they had found her.

"Yeah, that's right," Susan said answering Miriam's unasked question. "we've found you. Did you really think you could hide from us? You steal a half a dozen artifacts and didn't think we would scour the Earth to find you. You really think these trinkets would give you real power." Susan shook her head.

Miriam's first instinct was to flee, but she couldn't move. Not only was her body glued in place, but her eyes couldn't look away from Susan. She tried to say something, to beg for her life, but her mouth was as immobile as the rest of her.

"So you were going to wipe away my intelligence? Make me just another dumb silly teenager? Well what's good for the goose is good for the gander. But let's make it ten time's worse. The intelligence in Miriam's eyes faded. Soon there was a childish innocence in her eyes as all of her knowledge, experience and intellect left her returning her back to a state she hadn't had since her third birthday. She could move again, her fear was gone. Everything around her seemed new and interesting. She grabbed a large paper clip from her desk attracted by it's pink color and started to play with it.

Susan reached over onto the desk and pressed the intercom. "Miss Young," she said "I think Miriam needs to use the potty."

Miss Young entered what used to be her old office (it was hers again) and called to Miriam. Miriam exited her seat, still holding onto the paper clip.

Miss Young took Miriam by the hand and led her to the lady's room. Susan watched as they left the office. Miriam had stolen Carlene's body as well as her job. Before Carlene had exited the office, Susan swapped back their bodies. Carlene was back to her gorgeous 23 year old body. The soon to be pottying Miriam was back to her fifties.

Carlene lifted Miriam's skirt and pulled down her pantyhose and panties helping her onto the toilet seat. She told the woman to just relax and let it go. Carlene turned on the water at the sink hoping the sound would inspire Miriam to potty. The trick worked. Carlene cleaned Miriam up with some toilet paper and led her back to her office.

When they returned, Susan was gone. There wasn't any indication that she had ever been there at all. There wasn't even a record in the school that such a student ever existed.

Carlene enjoyed having her daughter at work, but it wasn't professional. This would be the last time she took Miriam to work with her. From now on she would make sure there was a backup if her babysitter ever had an emergency again.

"What do you have there?" Miriam had a shiny crystal in her hands, she was trying to suck it with her mouth. When Miss Young reached for it, it slipped out of her fingers as it was covered in spit. It fell onto and then off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 2.

Susan Corsetti couldn't take it anymore. Her classes were just so darn boring, she hated them. She had been pushed all her life and now that everything was easy, she just couldn't stand it. Her father told her if there was a problem to see Mrs. Werner. He assured her that Mrs. Werner could fix any problem.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's outer office she just pushed right through. Carlene Young, the receptionist tried to ask her who she was. Susan brushed passed her. Then a feeling a dread halted her in her tracks. She didn't want to enter. Not unannounced anyway.

Susan approached the 23 year old receptionist. Susan thought the woman was quite pretty, despite trying to look professional in her business suit. "I'm Susan Corsetti. I have a one o'clock appointment with Mrs. Werner."

"I have it here. Just go right in."

On one of the chairs in the outer office was Joseph Brooks. Everyone knew about him at the school, he was just a sophomore, but his talent on the soccer field had caught everyone's eye. It was expected that he could lead the team to the championships one day.

Miriam Werner heard her office door open and continued to type the email she was writing.

"Are you the guidance counselor?" Susan felt better. She felt more in charge. Her feeling of dread vanished. She wondered why she had felt that way in the first place.

Miriam looked up. Why was this girl talking to her without being acknowledged. Mrs. Warner had an intense dislike for this girl immediately. But try as she may she couldn't place the student. Blonde, glasses, no slouch in the looks department (in spite of the conservative clothing that made up the school uniform and lack of makeup) and eyes that radiated intelligence. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students but she was drawing a rare blank here. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit.

The girl obliged and spoke again. "I know I just transferred in, but I'm not finding my classes challenging enough. I was hoping I could talk to you about fixing them?" She said "hope," but her voice made it sound more like a demand than a request.

Susan looked crestfallen.

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

Susan's excitement faded. Was this some sort of new-agey crystal nonsense? She should have expected as much in such a back water place as Cold Harbor. However, as she glanced at the crystal she couldn't help but notice the strange star pattern the light made as it passed through. Even though it sat perfectly still, it seemed to move, radiating outward again... and again... and again... Eventually, Susan was just staring, zombie-like at the crystal. Miriam stared into her eyes like she was staring into her soul.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

There was a brief pause before Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

Miriam crossed her arms. Looks like another trouble maker. Miriam hated trouble makers and she knew just what to do with them. Susan was about to join their ranks.

"Susan, I want you to imagine yourself as an intricate sand castle. The underlying base is your intelligence. Your goodness as angels protected on the bottom and your bad traits like your meanness as gargoyles on the outside of the castle. Everything you have learn as towers that extend proudly from your intelligence. You see it there sitting proudly on the beach. But it has started to rain, a little drizzle at first. You look at your castle and everything isn't as sharp as it used to be. It is still impressive but not as sharp.

Time passes and the rain gets a little harder. It's a steady rain small amount of sand from the top slips to the bottom. With that some of what you have learned also slips away.

The rain is getting harder and now the castle isn't as high as it used to be. The detail is ebbing away. The rain keeps getting harder. The sand is filling with water. The water makes the castle sink more and more. It is spreading out over the ground getting lower and lower. The towers have fallen away as the base which is your intelligence can't support them anymore. The unprotected gargoyles are being washed away. But the rain continues. It is even getting harder.

The rain finally ends and the sun comes out. You can't see much detail anymore, what was formerly a castle is now very little more than a lump of sand on the beach hardly recognizable. You look around and can see many people building their own sandcastles. You can see sandcastles built by four and five year olds that are even more impressive than yours.

You try and fix your own castle, but you have forgotten how. You need someone to help you. But even when you are helped, your castle is so full of water it's hard to make any progress. But you don't mind, because even though a lot of your intelligence was washed to the ground, all of your meanness, your envy, your sadness and even your pride has been washed away. Anything that makes you not a nice person is gone and never to be found again. All you are left with is your collapsed intelligence and the protected angels which was kept safe from the water.

Susan smiled. The intelligence in her eyes was gone. She stood there wide eyed and innocent.

Miriam had done this type of thing many times before with the trouble makers of the school. Queen bees, bullies, practical jokers and people she just didn't like all were reduced to a ruined sand castle.

"Now Susan we have a nice class for people who like a challenge like you. There will be people there to help you as well as a lot of students like you. You will be happy there. We even have a special outfit for your class. You you like to see it?"

"Yeah."

"Good, I happen to have one in my desk. Would you like to try it on?"

"Yeah."

"Let me get your out of what you are wearing," Miriam started to unbutton Susan's blouse. Susan didn't mind at all. She was glad someone was helping her. That is why she came here in the first place to get some help.

Miriam removed Susan's blouse, pants, shoes and socks, even her underwear. Soon, Susan stood before Miriam completely naked. Not that she had any embarrassment about being naked at all. Her modesty along with any knowledge of sex had been washed away with everything else.

Miriam then had Susan step into a plain white pantie brief. She told her to lift her arms and pulled a white t-shirt down her torso. Unisex denim overall's that hooked on the bib in the front was placed over her underwear and her shirt was put on next. Then white socks and slip-on sneakers completed her look.

Miriam planned to lead her down to the special classroom. Inside were over a dozen other students, all identically dressed. All the students were high school age, but they ranged from freshman to seniors. Some were boys and some were girls. All were being lead by the teacher into making finger painted drawings.

These students had once been the worse students in the school. Some had been bullies, other's were stuck up cheerleaders, others were thieves or just people who were too disruptive in their classes. All had been sent to Miriam and all had ended up spending all their time in the school special education class. It was run like a pre-school class for happy four years olds than for high schoolers. They even referred to the restrooms as potties just like in a real preschool.

Susan was completely dressed in her new school uniform. She was incapable of dressing herself alone regardless of the outfit now. It was time to put the crystal away. Without looking Miriam reached for the crystal but she knocked it off it's stand. It rolled toward the edge of the table. Miriam desperately tried to reach for it but it was too late. It fell off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 3.

Susan walked into the office of the school counselor. She knew that her father had made an appointment for her. She walked up to the desk where the receptionist sat. She was short, even shorter than the desk. "Hello," Susan said.

22 year old Carlene Young had to stand up a bit to see the little girl standing in front of her. The girl couldn't be more than four years old, or maybe three. But despite her age she wore the same school uniform that all the other students wore. She wore the short sleeved button down blouse with plaid cross tie, tan straight leg slacks, black socks and oxford shoes. Identical to every other girl in the Weymore Academe (although some girls like to wear skirts instead of pants.)

Carlene didn't know they made the uniform in such a small size. It was like Susan was playing dress up. But Carlene knew better, Susan was a student who had transferred in to the school a couple weeks ago.

"How can I help you honey?" Carlene asked cheerily.

"I have a one o'clock appointment with Mrs. Werner." Susan's voice was high pitched like the little girl she was, but it didn't have a little girl lisp. It is strong and clear and radiated an intelligence beyond her years.

"She's in with another student. But she should be done very soon. Take a seat."

Charlene thought it was so cute, how little Susan had to actually climb up to get on the chair. Her legs were so short, that her feet were actually suspended in mid air.

A few minute's later, Joseph Brooks soccer prodigy and seen to be heartthrob exited Mrs. Werner's office. He was only sixteen, but he was expected to lead the soccer team to victory in the coming school year. Everyone at the school knew him. He was dressed in the same school uniform as Susan was. Although the uniform didn't look quite as cute on him as it did on little Susan.

"You can go in now," Charlene informed Susan.

Susan climbed down off the chair and walked to Mrs. Werner's office. Charlene smiled, she was just so cute.

Miriam Werner heard her office door open and continued to type the email she was writing.

"Um... excuse me. Are you the guidance counselor?" Susan said in her high pitched little girl voice.

Miriam looked up, and tried to place the student. Blonde, glasses, cute as a bug in the rug. But her eyes that radiated an intelligence not found in any typical four year old. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students but in Susan's case it was easy. There weren't any other four year olds who were seniors in high school. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit. Once again Susan climbed up onto the seat.

The girl obliged and spoke again. "I know I just transferred in, but I'm not finding my classes challenging enough. I was hoping I could talk to you about fixing them?"

Miriam listened patiently to Susan's complaint and smiled. I'm sorry to hear that the course load your father and I hashed out over the phone isn't to your liking. What exactly is the problem?" Miriam pulled up Susan's profile on her computer.

Susan looked nervous, she was fidgeting in her seat. . "Well, it's just... At my old school I was in the gifted and talented program, and all of my classes were honors and AP classes. Right now, you guys have me in the same classes that all the other seniors are taking. I've already taken half of the classes I'm currently enrolled in, and even the ones I haven't taken already are painfully slow and, well, easy. Since this is my last year, I was hoping to have more challenging classes to prepare me for college..." Susan looked like she was four, but she talked like she was an intelligent high school senior, not a genius four year old.

Susan looked crestfallen.

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

Miriam crossed her arms. What was the best way to do this? "You're unhappy because your classes are too easy, correct?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you tell me what's wrong with each of your classes. Let's start at the top, what don't you like about English 4?"

Susan's response was an odd combination of breathy and robotic. "Too easy. Already read everything. Already took AP Literature and Composition."

Miriam raised her eyebrows. "It sounds like you're an avid reader. Is that true?"

Susan said, "Yes. Love reading. Do it. Non-stop."

"Well, if you're going to get the most out of English 4, that needs to change. You actually hate reading. You prefer playing with your barbies."

Susan furrowed her brow. "No. Love reading. So many... good memories."

So there was the problem. "Susan, you can't remember the last time you read a book."

Susan seemed to process this.

"Susan, tell me the last book you read?"

Susan looked confused. "Don't... remember."

Miriam nodded. "Alright, Susan. You hate reading books. You prefer to find summaries online, or to ask your classmates what happened in the last reading."

Susan sat for a long time, a number of emotions passing over her face. Miriam always found it interesting seeing how radical changes played out in a person's psyche. Finally, Susan's face was again neutral.

"Alright, Susan. What do you think about reading?"

Susan had a look of disgust on her face. "Don't like it. Play barbies instead."

Miriam smiled. "Alright, do you think your English 4 class is going to be too easy for you?"

Susan shook her head, never taking her eyes off Miriam's stare. "No."

"Okay, moving on. What's wrong with your Calculus class?"

Susan sighed. "Already taken Calculus III and Differential Equations classes."

This should be an easy fix. "Alright, you don't remember taking any Calculus classes. In fact, you haven't really taken Pre-calculus." Catching up halfway through a semester of Calculus was sure to be difficult.

Miriam went through Susan's remaining classes and erased knowledge and altered preferences as necessary.

Miriam questioned Susan and was satisfied that she would find all her classes challenging. However, Miriam still felt like something was missing. She had removed so many of Susan's interests, maybe she should give her some new ones so she wouldn't find her life suddenly strangely empty?

Miriam looked away from the direct contact she had had with Susan. She smiled as Susan trance lifted slightly but not totally. "I'm the school counselor. You wanted to talk to me about your classes being too easy. Isn't that right?" Miriam questioned.

Susan's eyes had an emptiness to them that was different from her trance-like state. So much of her was missing. "Um, like, why would I do that? My classes are actually, like, super hard. I barely know what's going on in most of them." The four year old didn't sound like a highly intelligent teenager anymore. Now the high pitch of her voice suited the ditzy teen persona she now had. Her little girl voice actually enhanced the effect.

"Well, I can put you in lower level or remedial classes if you don't feel your previous school prepared you for what you're currently taking?"

Susan shook her head. "Like god no, fer sure. I like can handle it, I am like very brainy." She wasn't as smart as she thought she was. She was now all full of bluster but she no longer had the ability she previously had.

Miriam was satisfied with what she had done. It was time to put the crystal away. Without looking Miriam reached for the crystal but she knocked it off it's stand. It rolled toward the edge of the table. Miriam desperately tried to reach for it but it was too late. It fell off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 4.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's outer office she just pushed right through. Joseph Brooks the sixteen year old soccer star was hitting upon Carlene Young the twenty-one year old receptionist. Joseph had to pass by Mrs. Werner's office to get to the soccer fields. He liked to stop on on his way just to see Carlene. Mrs. Werner could see the fields from her office window on the occasions that she looked outside. Both the sports teams and cheerleaders practiced there regularly.

Carlene didn't care if the high school sophomore was the best soccer player this school had ever scene, she wasn't into dating any of the students. Despite the fact that Joseph was tall, muscular and was starting to develop some stubble on his cheeks that make him both look sexy and older. Carlene was all business when it came to work, as her business suit plainly indicated to all who entered.

Since Carlene was occupied, Susan walked right by her. As a four year old, she wasn't even four feet now and was easily missed. She wanted to just talk to Mrs. Werner herself and didn't care about the simple etiquette of being announced by the receptionist.

Miriam Werner heard her office door open and continued to type the email she was writing.

"Um... excuse me. Are you the guidance counselor?" Susan didn't have time to wait to be acknowledged. She was missing her lunch period to talk to the counselor.

Miriam looked up, and tried to place the student. Blonde, glasses, cute as a bug in a rug but she had eyes that radiated intelligence that no other four year old could ever have. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students. She knew who it must be. She was wearing the standard school uniform. There was only one four year old who was attending the high school. Everyone knew her, but this was the first time that they had met. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit.

Susan felt nervous. She sensed something wrong. Something besides not being in the right courses. But Susan chalked up her unease to sneaking into the office. She pressed on. Of course it might be that she had to go to the lady's room, her bladder was quite small, but what was she going to do. She was only four.

"Well, it's just... At my old school I was in the gifted and talented program, and all of my classes were honors and AP classes. Right now, you guys have me in the same classes that all the other seniors are taking. I've already taken half of the classes I'm currently enrolled in, and even the ones I haven't taken already are painfully slow and, well, easy. Since this is my last year, I was hoping to have more challenging classes to prepare me for college..."

Susan looked crestfallen.

Miriam frowned. This wouldn't do at all. She promised her dad that she could solve any problems. The girl had it all but it wasn't enough. Miriam decided to fix the girl so she could have as much as she wanted. "That said... I might still be able to help you. I do have a way to make your classes more challenging without breaking the school's budget..."

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

Susan's excitement faded. Was this some sort of new-agey crystal nonsense? She should have expected as much in such a back water place as Cold Harbor. However, as she glanced at the crystal she couldn't help but notice the strange star pattern the light made as it passed through. Even though it sat perfectly still, it seemed to move, radiating outward again... and again... and again... Eventually, little Susan was just staring, zombie-like at the crystal. Miriam stared into her eyes like she was staring into her soul.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

This little girl was a genius. Maybe Miriam could fix that. She didn't want to send her back to preschool, but maybe make this girl a little more average.

"The problem is that you hunger for knowledge and we don't have the advanced classes for you. But let's change what you hunger for so you can have as much as you want. Right now you have a high IQ and a small body. Let's swap that. Let's start with kindergarten. You are supposed to be five when you are in kindergarten. (Susan's body matured a little, she grew three or four inches. She was still cute though.) There is no need to excel there, you can just be average like everyone else but when it comes time to eat you will want as much as you can handle."

Susan gained a little weight, not too much as a five year old how much could she eat. But as Miriam moved from grade to grade, Susan got older and older and fatter and fatter. The more she had excelled in education before the more her weight would increase over average now. Her body swelled up until she weighed close to two hundred and fifty pounds as she was a typical senior at seventeen years old.

"As you were saying," Miriam asked again, "something is wrong with your classes?"

"Ummm, no. I don't know why I came here." She was hungry and lunch period would be over soon.

Chapter 5.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's outer office she just pushed right through. Carlene Young, the twenty-one year old receptionist tried to ask her who she was, but Susan wasn't going to bother with the underlings. She wanted to just talk to Mrs. Werner herself and didn't care about the simple etiquette of being announced by the receptionist.

Besides, Joseph Brooks, the seventeen year old soccer star was flirting with the receptionist. There was only four years difference in their ages. Carlene was feigning disinterest, but there were subtle indications that she didn't mind this handsome boy (soon to be man) hitting upon her. She had been chunky (to put it mildly) all her life. She never had someone as cute as Joseph hit upon her. She was a little embarrassed about her weight which made her more receptive to his charms.

Joseph was dressed like a student in the school uniform and Carlene was dressed like a professional in her business suit, but that didn't matter. He was a man, she was a woman and both thought the other one hot.

Miriam Werner heard her office door open and continued to type the email she was writing.

"Um...Are you the guidance counselor?"

Miriam looked up, and tried to place the student. Blonde, glasses, no slouch in the looks department (maybe a little chunky, but no where as big as Carlene. If she lost a few pounds this girl could be very pretty) and eyes that radiated intelligence. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit.

Now that she was confronting Mrs. Werner, Susan's confidence began to falter slightly. "Well, it's just... At my old school I was in the gifted and talented program, and all of my classes were honors and AP classes. Right now, you guys have me in the same classes that all the other seniors are taking. I've already taken half of the classes I'm currently enrolled in, and even the ones I haven't taken already are painfully slow and, well, easy. Since this is my last year, I was hoping to have more challenging classes to prepare me for college..."

Susan looked crestfallen.

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

Miriam crossed her arms. What was the best way to do this? "You're unhappy because your classes are too easy, correct?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you tell me what's wrong with each of your classes. Let's start at the top, what don't you like about English 4?"

Susan's response was an odd combination of breathy and robotic. "Too easy. Already read everything. Already took AP Literature and Composition."

Miriam raised her eyebrows. "It sounds like you're an avid reader. Is that true?"

Susan said, "Yes. Love reading. Do it. Non-stop."

"Well, if you're going to get the most out of English 4, that needs to change. You actually hate reading."

Susan furrowed her brow. "No. Love reading. So many... good memories."

So there was the problem. "Susan, you can't remember the last time you read a book. It might have been in middle school, or elementary school."

Miriam went through Susan's classes and erased knowledge and altered preferences as necessary.

"Susan, you love fashion. You love makeup. You want a hot body. You are more interested in working out than your school work. Anything you can do to make yourself sexier, that is what you want. That is the best way to find a man. When you're not thinking about school, which is often, you should be thinking about finding a good husband who can support you."

"Well, I can put you in lower level or remedial classes if you don't feel your previous school prepared you for the classes you're currently taking?"

Susan shook her head and smiled. "No, like, thank you! I like a good challenge!"

Chapter 6.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's outer office she just pushed right through. Carlene Young, the receptionist put down her copy of 'Shape' magazine and asked her who she was, but Susan wasn't going to bother with the underlings. Carlene was only a couple years older than she was, maybe twenty. She wanted to just talk to Mrs. Werner herself and didn't care about the simple etiquette of being announced by the receptionist.

As she opened the door, Joseph Brooks the soccer star was exiting the office. Joseph was still a junior but he was going to lead the team to victory this year. There wasn't any doubt in the matter. She brushed passed him, not even noticing the lipstick on his face and neck Joseph looked over at Miriam but she waved him off. "We'll go 'those exercises' next time, Joseph. Be here at the same time tomorrow."

"Sure thing, Mir, er, Mrs. Werner." Joseph closed the door.

"Are you the guidance counselor?" Susan half asked, half demanded.

Miriam hated the girl instantly. Who was she to barge into her office. She had almost caught her with Joseph. But try as she may she couldn't place the student. Blonde, glasses, very fit, no slouch in the looks department (in spite of the conservative clothing that made up the school uniform and lack of makeup) and eyes that radiated intelligence. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit.

Susan looked crestfallen.

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

Miriam crossed her arms. What was the best way to do this? "You're unhappy because your classes are too easy, correct?"

"Yes."

"Well there is more to getting into college than taking classes."

"There is?"

"Yes, there is also a social side. You have to fit in with people and do the extracurricular stuff."

"That is true."

"You want to fit in with the girls and be popular with the boys."

"I want to fit in."

"What I think you should do is join some of the school activities. The popular ones you would like are cheer-leading, of course, and then the dance club and fashion club. You want to join them all, don't you?"

"Yes," Susan said somewhat roboticly. She had never had any interest in those things before, but now they became the most important things to her.

"Now since this is your first year here it will take some doing to get into these clubs, but I suggest you try your best. You will have to find the people in them and make them like you. That means doing anything they want. You know kiss their butt. There won't be anything you won't do to make them like you. It's all worth it. There is nothing you won't do to be popular."

"Right."

"People don't like being with people who they think are smarter than them. So you shouldn't act like you are smart."

"That's a great idea."

"Look at how you are dressed. I know there is a dress code. But that is only during class hours. You should change into some clothes you like better as soon as possible. I know a girl like you prefers clothes that are tight fitting and shows off as much skin as possible. You should store clothes to change into in your locker so you don't have to go home to change."

"OK."

"You should wear more makeup. You know bright colors that show off your lips and your eyes."

"OK."

"Always smile and giggle, people like that. You want to seem cheerful at all times."

"Another great idea."

"Now when it comes to boys do you want my advice?"

"Yes, definitely."

"Do you know what is the best looking part of a boy?"

"What?"

"His penis. Every boys penis is pretty. I know you want to see them all."

"I do."

"But more than see them, you want to touch them, feel them all over your body, have them inside you. You know inside your mouth, your butt, your pussy. There is that nothing feels as good as a penis inside you...any penis."

"Uh huh."

"You will do anything to see, to touch, to feel as many dicks as you can. It doesn't matter if you have a boyfriend, if you can get another dick inside you, you would do anything. With most boys it should be easy. But some boys you might have to be very how should I say direct. You don't mind doing that."

"I don't mind."

"It doesn't matter if the boy is the studliest of jocks or the gangliest of nerds you want them all. Don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"I know you want to do something more challenging. I'm sure many of the teachers can give you personalized instruction at their homes. I can arrange for you to see your teachers outside school hours. You know when they have free time. When their wives or girlfriends are away. You you like me to contact them for you?"

"Yes."

Miriam would call her good friends and tell them what to expect. Susan would be a lot of fun for them, especially during poker nights when several of the guys would be over.

Miriam thought that soon, Susan would be too busy for studying anyhow. She wouldn't care about her classes. Not that her grades would suffer.

Chapter 7.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's she saw the back of a cheerleader enter Mrs. Werner's office. The lockers were just next door so this boy was still wearing his cheerleading uniform. Joseph Brooke the only male cheerleader wore the same uniform as all the girls, but he fit right in with them. His strength and height with his thin athletic build and flexibility had him a perfect fit for the cheerleaders.

He could kick as high as any of the girls and was do any flips. But he was strong enough to be at the bottom of the pyramid and was tall enough to be in the center of any formation.

Once in the outer office Susan saw the receptionist tried to ask her who she was. The plaque on the receptionists desk stated that she was Carlene Young. Carlene was obviously a student just like Susan. She was approximately the same age and she wore the same school uniform.

"I'm Susan Corsetti, I have a one o'clock appointment with Mrs. Warner."

"Please take a seat, she's in with another student."

Susan didn't want to wait. But she had no choice. She didn't want to be here at all not really. She was having strange feelings all day like she had done this before. But she was here now and so she took a seat.

Susan looked at Carlene who was dressed in the same uniform that she was wearing. "Everything is so regimented here," she thought. Everyone boy or girl wore pretty much the same thing. There was very little deviation even among the sexes.

Susan was bored by the school uniform. It started with a sleeveless open netted crop top. The top couldn't be so low that your belly button wasn't exposed and the netting made it impossible not to see the bra underneath. Susan assumed that this was so that the administration could make sure all students were wearing a push-up bra that heightened and highlighted the tops of the girl's breasts. Boys were allowed to wear falsies in their bra if the chose too. Under the top, a student had a choice of daisy dukes or a denim micro-mini skirt All students had to wear it with peep toed pumps with a three inch heel. (two and a half inch or three and a half inch weren't acceptable.)

Boys had to wear a similar outfit, except boys could wear their shorts or skirt with sheer hose. And some boys with hairy chests could get away without wearing a bra. Girl's weren't allowed to wear hose of any type even in the winter. Regardless of whether a student wore hose or not, legs and underarms had to be shaved smooth.

They even had rules on the makeup a student had to wear. The lipstick had to be bright and bold and be appropriate for a student's skin tone. (The darker skinned students could wear more of a purplish colored lipstick whereas the paler students wore bright red colors.) Neutral tones were never acceptable. Proper foundation and blush that matched the lipstick had to be applied. The eyes had to have a smokey look and the eyebrows had to be trimmed into high arches. Hair had to be tinted blonde and half way down the shoulders. This wasn't too much trouble for Susan, but the African American students had a tough time with this requirement. Some had to wear wigs. Large hoop earrings (at least as wide as the ears themselves) had to be warn too. Long nails in the same color as the lipstick was also require.

There was no exceptions. Boy or girl it didn't matter. If a student showed up without the proper makeup they were taken to the office and the makeup was applied for them. If it happened a second time a belly button piercing would be required. Additional piercings were performed after each further infraction.

Susan was a 'good girl'. She didn't have any additional piercings. She was happy to see that neither did Carlene.

While she waited, Susan took out a compact and freshened her makeup. She hoped it would take long.

From within Miriam's office loud voices could be heard. "You want me to do what? I'm leaving."

"Not before you look at this," Miriam yelled.

"Get that thing away from me, you sow. I'M NOT LOOKING AT ANY SORT OF NEW-AGEY CRYSTAL NONSENSE." Then there was a loud crash followed by a blinding light which could be seen under the door jam of Miriam's office.

Chapter 8.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's outer office she just strutted right passed the receptionist. Carlene Young, the receptionist couldn't be any older than Susan was. Carlene was the school intern hoping this job would look better on her college transcript.

They were both eighteen years old and they both wore the school uniform. But there was a vast difference between them. Carlene tried to maintain a professional appearance. But her pig-tails seemed to give her more of a farm girl look. Maybe of the students had a similar look. This was a rural farming community after all.

Susan on the other hand tried to push the envelop when it came to the uniform. She was a city-girl at heart. She would fold the belt of the skirt over so the length was shorter. She purposefully stuffed her bra so her bust looked bigger. She couldn't wear 'makeup, but she wore foundation anyway. She couldn't wear lipstick but she always carried red Chapstick to give her lips a poutier look.

Charlene tried to ask her who she was. "Excuse me can I help you?"

"I'm Susan Corsetti," she said. "I have a one o'clock appointment with Mrs. Werner."

"It'll be just a second. Mrs. Werner is meeting with another student," Carlene informed her. But Susan ignored her and headed towards the office door.

As she opened the door, Joseph Brooks the soccer star was exiting the office. Joseph was still a junior but he was going to lead the team to victory this year. There wasn't any doubt in the matter. She brushed passed him, she saw the lipstick on his lips, chin and neck. A knowing grin appeared upon Susan's face. She had seen more of Joseph than Mrs. Werner had. Susan wondered if Mrs. Werner knew that he might be a big strong soccer star, but where it counted he wasn't even average.

Joseph looked over at Miriam but she waved him off. "Well go over what we were discussing next time, Joseph. Be here at the same time tomorrow."

"Sure thing, Mir, er, Mrs. Werner." Joseph closed the door.

"Are you the guidance counselor?" Susan half asked, half demanded.

Miriam hated the girl instantly. Who was she to barge into her office. She had almost caught her with Joseph. She had just reapplied her lipstick but hadn't put her blazer back on. She also hadn't fastened the top button of her V-neck yellow draped faux wrapped blouse. Without her blazer, the outline of her bra could be clearly scene under the sheer fabric.

Miriam tried to recall the student but try as she may she couldn't place the student. Blonde, glasses, very fit, sexy (in spite of the conservative clothing that made up the school uniform) and eyes that radiated intelligence. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit.

Susan sat and crossed her legs. She wasn't wearing any tights exposing her shapely legs and spoke again. "I know I just transferred in, but I'm not finding my classes challenging enough. I was hoping I could talk to you about fixing them?" She said with a breathy sensuous voice.

Miriam smiled. So this was the new transfer student all the teachers were talking about. The female teachers were talking about this girls brains and the male teachers were just talking about her. Susan had private lessons at some of the male teachers homes...when their wives were not home of course.

Miriam wanted to meet this girl, but she hadn't gotten around to it. "Ah, so you're Susan Corsetti, then? I'm sorry to hear that the course load your father and I hashed out over the phone isn't to your liking. What exactly is the problem?" Miriam pulled up Susan's profile on her computer.

Susan's father had moved from the city to the country because he was having a mid-life crisis. He had worked hard all his life to get ahead and once he got there he didn't know what it was all for. One day he had enough and quit his job, moved to a farming community and bought a farm. Susan was forced to come with him of course and was now miserable. She had always been driven like her father. She excelled at everything including sex.

Susan looked nervous, something wasn't right. She felt like she had done all this before. Susan never had deja vu like this. This distracted her for a second, but the confident woman she was she soldiered on.

"Well, it's just... At my old school I was in the gifted and talented program, and all of my classes were honors and AP classes. Right now, you guys have me in the same classes that all the other seniors are taking. I've already taken half of the classes I'm currently enrolled in, and even the ones I haven't taken already are painfully slow and, well, boring. Since this is my last year, I was hoping to have more challenging classes to prepare me for college..."

Miriam looked over Susan's records. She saw the classes that Susan was taking. There was some of the top classes in this school. This was a rural school after all. All the so call boring classes were agricultural classes. It included chemistry of soil, the biology of goats, pigs and cows and agricultural accounting.

"I'm sorry Susan, but we're a small rural district. We've never really had the funding to offer AP and honors classes. I'm afraid your last year might have to be an easy one for you. Look on the bright side, you'll probably be a Shoo-in for any college you decide to apply to. Very few of our students ever attend college you'll be a feather in our cap."

Susan looked crestfallen.

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

Susan's excitement faded. Was this some sort of new-agey crystal nonsense? She felt a sense of dread wash over her. She glanced at the crystal she couldn't help despite her trepidation but notice the strange star pattern the light made as it passed through. Even though it sat perfectly still, it seemed to move, radiating outward again... and again... and again... Eventually, Susan was just staring, zombie- like at the crystal. Miriam stared into her eyes like she was staring into her soul.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

Miriam crossed her arms. What was the best way to do this? Miriam's farming community had been dwindling in recent years if not decades. Her rural culture was dying and she determined to keep it alive. Many of the younger people had left the farm forever and few were returning. Miriam wanted this talented girl to stay and help Miriam return what she loved into its former glory.

"You're unhappy because your classes are too boring, correct?"

"Yes."

"Don't you like farm animals and stuff like that?"

"Well when I was younger. But I'm a city girl now. I don't have time for such things."

"When did you like it last."

"I guess when I entered middle school. That is when the classes got harder. When you went from class to class and could focus on each subject."

"We will return to those days. How old are you now?"

"I'm eighteen."

"No you are eleven. This is your first year of middle school. Your father moved you here and you find the whole thing a big adventure."

"It's a big adventure," Susan repeated.

"You love everything about the country. It's much better than the city. Everything is all green, not like the boring old concrete. There are animals everywhere, not just silly squirrels but horses and cows and everything else. Even the dogs and cats seem happier. You like that."

"I like happy animals," Susan repeated.

"Things are growing all around you, the people are friendly this is the best place to grow. It even smells nice. You find that you love it here. Not like the stinky old city."

"I love it here."

"You never want to leave."

"I never want to leave."

"At school they teach you the basics, because that is all that is important. You don't need to learn about advanced math, physics and literature about places far away. Everything you learned since primary school has left your mind. You didn't need any of that advanced stuff anyway. You want to learn by doing, like feeding the pigs at dawn or sewing in spring and harvesting in fall. Those are the things that matter. Food tastes better when you grow it."

"Yes it sure does."

"By the time you finish middle school, you will know all you really need to learn. High school is for finding a boy who you will love and who take care of you. You'll look for a rugged boy who works with his hands to make the food you eat. It is more important to you that the boys you date can take care of you than what they look like. That is what you want. How old are you again?"

"I'm eleven."

"Yeah that's right, your too young to think seriously about boys yet. But you have always had a dream of your perfect future. You've fantasized about when you are all grown up, you know, when you are twenty. By then you should be married and have two children and one on the way. Isn't that perfect?"

"Yeah," Susan imagined her life on the farm, with a fence around her yard and chickens running within. She could have a four year old by her side throwing grain to the birds, another toddler being held with one hand by her hip and pregnant with a third. This is what she now wanted.

Susan posture changed. She didn't emanate sensuality anymore. Even though Susan was still under the influence of the crystal, she looked younger as there was a big smile on her face and her eyes had grown more innocent and wondrous. The blank stare was gone.

"Susan, come over here, you have something on your face." Susan came as bidden. Miriam used a towelette to remove the makeup.

"That's better," Susan said. "Thanks for stopping by, now let me take you back to class. I'm sure they are wondering where you ran off to." Once Miriam put the crystal away she would walk Susan to the middle school part of the school. This was a small community such that the middle school and high school shared one building.

"Susan do you have a middle name?" Miriam asked.

"Yes it's Annette."

"That''s a pretty name Susie, do you mind if I call you Susie-Ann?"

"No, I think I like that."

"Me too. Susie-Ann."

Chapter 9.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's outer office she just pushed right through. Carlene Young, the receptionist tried to ask her who she was, but Susan wasn't going to bother with the underlings. Carlene was younger than Susan, she was only seventeen years old. Probably only a junior doing some extracurricular activity for college credit. Like a little hick like Carlene would ever get into college. She probably would be married with three kids by the time she was 21. "Look at the girl," Susan thought. "She had farm girl all over her. She even has her hair braided in pig tails." Susan resisted the urge to say suey as she passed.

"Can I help you?" Charlene asked but Susan was already approaching Mrs. Werner's office. Then she shouted, "You can't go in there!"

Only a strange sense of deja vu slowed Susan in her tracks. She hesitated for a total of two seconds. Something felt wrong. She didn't know what it was. She wanted to turn on her heels (she wasn't wearing any heels they aren't part of the school dress code) and leave immediately. She decided to ignore her instincts and enter Mrs. Werner's office unannounced.

Susan may have been dressed in the standard uniform of the Weymore Academy, but she was all business. She was a very professional person. Well professional when it come to dealing with people she didn't think was beneath her.

Miriam Werner may be in her fifties but she knew what she liked. What she liked was Joseph Brooks. He was the star on the school soccer team. He had led the team to a state championship last year and was on track to do it again this year. The eighteen year old senior was tall, handsome rugged and had the sexiest amount of stubble on his chin. He was also as flexible as a cheerleader which was invaluable when he played soccer. He could bend every which way to make a goal or block an opponent's shot.

Miriam pushed him away when she heard the ruckus in the outer office. It was just in time, but neither had time to adjust. Joseph still had lipstick on his face and Miriam hadn't refastened the top buttons on her v-neck blouse. Her blazer was on the floor, partially hidden by her desk. At least her skirt was smoothed out.

Miriam hated this girl with a passion immediately. What impudence to enter someone's office without being introduced or at least knocking. Miriam blamed Susan for the compromising position she had put herself in. Not that it was really her fault, Joseph was so damn hot...and flexible.

"Are you the guidance counselor?" Susan asked as Joseph quickly left the office. He tried to hide his lipstick covered face as he departed.

Miriam looked up trying to remain professional, and tried to place the student. Blonde, glasses, no slouch in the looks department (in spite of the conservative clothing that made up the school uniform and lack of makeup) and eyes that radiated intelligence. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students (even if it wasn't much of a feat in a rural school like this). Every student saw her. They all had names, but it was their assigned number that was important to Miriam. Since she didn't recognize this girl, she must be one of the transfer students. There were a few every year. Miriam hated them, they made her job so much harder. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit.

Miriam smiled somewhat evilly although she tried not to show her contempt. So this was the new transfer student all the teachers were talking about. "Ah, so you're Susan Corsetti, then? What exactly is the problem?" This was the third transfer student this year. The other two were average students and they accepted their average schedule. Miriam pulled up Susan's profile on her computer.

Miriam looked over Susan's records. "I'm sorry Susan, but we're a small district. We have limited resources, all of the advanced classes have been filled. I'm afraid your last year might have to be an easy one for you. Look on the bright side, you'll probably be a Shoo-in for any college you decide to apply to." Miriam couldn't be any clearer, you have to go with the program, there was little that she could do.

Miriam ran the school. She had since she was first hired. The crystal saw to that. There wasn't a teacher or administrator who hadn't been under it's influence. She could do as she pleased and today what pleased her was young Joseph Brooks. But that didn't matter now. What mattered was that this girl was screwing around with the order she had brought to the Weymore Academy. (It wasn't even called the Weymore Academy when she first arrived. Back then it was Cold Harbor Middle School and High School.

In a small school like this, money couldn't be wasted on having half full (or overflowing) classes of any type. Every class had an exact number of students to maximize efficiency. There were exactly twenty students in each of the remedial (special education) classes. It was always eleven boys and nine girls. It was the same in grade nine as it was in grade twelve. Any student that was assigned to a remedial class in ninth grade would be taking it throughout their high school career. They would all pass, of course, but they would never be mainstreamed. Miriam saw to that. Likewise, any student who was in the gifted classes (there were always 26 students in them, 13 girls and 13 boys) would also stay within that group their entire high school career. No resource would be wasted as there were limited teachers too.

The vast majority of students were in the average classes. There was always between twenty-eight and thirty students in each class. There were slight differences in the levels of each class and might be some slight movement from one to the other, but for the most part, when a student entered the school as a freshman, every class he would be taking for the next four years was selected for him. If there was a problem, a student had problems at home or took up drugs whatever, they would visit Miriam and she would correct the problem. When Miriam corrected a problem, it stayed corrected. Miriam didn't have a problem meeting with a students parents to see that her remedy was fully implemented. With all this known, budgets could be selected and maintained for the foreseeable future. Not a penny was wasted. The money saved went straight into Miriam's bank account of course.

The case of transfer students was a problem. The odd transfer student could usually be plugged a spot in the average classes. But on occasion a truly gifted student or a special education student would transfer in messing up Miriam's efficiency. This was the case here. Susan had transferred in at a time when another student had transferred out and Susan was simply put into her schedule. Miriam had planned on requesting that Susan visit her in the future. There were now two clubs that were missing a member that she wanted Susan to join. It didn't matter whether she wanted to or not. A club without enough members was a waste of resources.

Susan looked crestfallen.

"Maybe if you joined some clubs the extracurricular activities would look good on your transcripts," Miriam said hopefully. Miriam needed Susan to go along with the program.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Werner. But I'm not interested in any silly clubs. All I want is to take the college prep classes that I deserve."

"DESERVE?" the word grated on Miriam. What did this girl know about deserve. Why should she get into the best classes? What about the students who had been here for the whole four years of their high school career? They had the spot. They put in the time. Why should they lose their spot just because you decided to show up in your senior year.

This reminded Miriam of a girl in one of the remedial classes. Carlene is a sweet girl but was borderline in academics. She found herself in the remedial class. She couldn't advance, those were the rules. Miriam felt sorry for her, but the girl was a trooper and did what was expected of her. She never complained. She deserved to be mainstreamed. Miriam had made Carlene her receptionist.

Miriam was so mad that she decided to break her own rule. She would give Carlene, the spot that she had formerly given to Susan and put Susan back into the remedial class. That is what Susan really deserved.

Miriam frowned. "That said... I might still be able to help you. I do have a way to make your classes more challenging," Miriam said and then under her breath she continued "without breaking the school's budget..."

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

"Susan, listen to my words and know they are all true."

"OK."

"I am a professional and I know what is best for my students and the school. You know that?"

"Yes."

"I am giving you the best classes available given the school and the space available."

"If you say so."

"You will be happy in any class you are placed. Being the top student in that class is what is important, not which class you are taking."

"I want to do well."

"You will do well as long as you follow all the teachers and the schools instructions. Everybody here is a professional and they know what is best for you. That is what we are here for."

"Yes."

"You should be thanking me for helping you to be a success."

"Thank you."

"You're welcomed."

Miriam printed out Carlene's former schedule and handed it to Susan. "These are your classes, memorize them. They have always been your classes, you are happy to be in them. You don't know there are more advanced classes. Since you can do well in them you think you are among the best in the school."

Susan smiled.

Since Miriam stopped talking, Susan's expression went blank as she gazed into the crystal. During that time, Miriam rewrote Susan's records to make her present classes seem appropriate. A message was sent to have Carlene come to Mrs. Werner's office immediately. By the time she had arrived, Miriam had finished altering Susan's records.

Miriam promised to make Susan's classes more challenging. "Susan," she said, "I want you to forget everything you learned since...let's see...high school." That should make her class seem more challenging. Wait that probably wasn't enough. Let's make the class really challenging she thought. "Strike that, " Miriam continued, "I want you to forget everything you learned since the sixth grade. You know you attended classes, but all that you had learned in all eleven grades so far was what you had learned up until finishing sixth grade."

Chapter 10.

Inside the office, Carlene Young was busying herself at her desk. She was seventeen years old, but she looked even younger with her hair tied in pigtails. She was thinking about Joseph Brooks, the school's start soccer player. Her boss Miriam Werner the school guidance counselor had sent for him. He entered her office and had been in there a long time. Carlene didn't know what was taking so long. She wished he would come out and talk to her.

After a few minutes, Carlene crept to Miriam's closed door. Whether it was curiosity of she could hear the sounds that were coming from inside she didn't know.

Listening from outside she heard Joseph say, "Mrs. Werner you love helping all your student's like you are helping me. Don't you?"

Miriam's response was strange. It was garbled like she was choking. She sounded like she was in trouble.

Carlene opened the door. Inside the office she saw Miriam and Joseph. Joseph was standing in front of Miriam. He had a strange crystal in his hand. Miriam was on all fours in front of Joseph. She was clearly sucking his dick. Joseph didn't see Carlene his back was to the door and he was too busy to care.

Carlene was in total shock. She turned to run. She exited the office passing Susan who was waiting outside, still indecisive about whether to enter. Instead of getting out of there herself, Susan decided to enter to see what was going on. When she saw what was happening, Susan unlike Carlene screamed. This caused Joseph to turn. With Miriam's dick in his mouth he couldn't 'move' properly and the crystal fell out of his hand, smashing on the floor releasing a blinding light. But by this time Carlene was already half way down the hall.

Carlene found herself in a line of students. She was holding hands to a boy in front of her and a girl behind. They were both wearing the overalls and white shirts that all the special education students wore in this school. Looking at her herself, she realized she was wearing the same thing.

The special education teacher was speaking to the group. "It's the potty period. You will all wait out here until it is your time to potty. When it's your turn you will enter the potty. If you need help getting undress or anything else the nice woman inside will help you. Go as quickly as you can as there are other's waiting. When you are done come back out and join the line again." This was a speech the teacher had said more times than she could remember. Her class was always taken to potty at the same time everyday.

The last thing Carlene could remember was seeing Mrs. Werner on her knees in front of Joseph. She didn't know what she was doing here. She didn't belong with these people? They may all look like high school students, but they acted more like three year olds. She certainly wasn't one of them. There was nothing wrong with her mind.

The last thing she could remember was seeing Mrs. Werner on her knees in front of Joseph. The she ran. The next thing she knew she was here.

She didn't know what to do? Should she tell someone. If she did, who would get into trouble, Miriam or Joseph. She didn't want Miriam to get into trouble. Miriam had been very nice to her. She got her the job as receptionist. It would look great on her high school transcripts.

Also what was she doing here? Why was she dressed like this? She wasn't one of the special students. No one seemed to think she was out of place though. She looked at the other students in line. She recognized some of them. Wasn't that one of the school's bullies? And that girl, isn't she a cheerleader? What were they doing in line with these students?

"What are we doing here?" Carlene asked someone she thought she knew.

"It's potty time," the girl said cheerfully.

Carlene had to get out of here. She released her grip and left the line. She started to run. The teacher demanded, "Carlene you come back here right now!"

Carlene didn't know where she was going, but she wasn't going to stop.

Meanwhile, back in the guidance office. Miriam was satisfied with what she had done. It was time to put the crystal away. Without looking Miriam reached for the crystal but she knocked it off it's stand. It rolled toward the edge of the table. Miriam desperately tried to reach for it but it was too late. It fell off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 11.

Susan walked into Mrs. Werner's outer office. She was pushing her three-year old daughter Carlene in her stroller. Carlene's father had given her his seed and his last name, but very little else. Susan was overwhelmed by being a single mother. It was true that she was very smart and had done well. But now that Carlene was walking and starting to talk, it was harder for Susan to study and still look out for Carlene. The days of just leaving her in her playpen were over. Carlene was a sweetie, but she could get into trouble at the drop of a hat. This was Susan's final year in high school, she didn't need to work as hard as they expected her. She wouldn't have any trouble getting into a good college if she wanted to.

The desk where the receptionist usually sat was vacant. The plaque on the desk proclaimed his name was Mr. Joseph Brooks. Susan sat down and let Carlene out of her stroller. The little rascal ran around the room looking at every little thing. "She was so inquisitive like her mommy," Susan thought.

In the next room, Mrs. Miriam Werner was breaking in her new receptionist. Joseph Brooks, the eighteen year old senior, was tall, ruggedly handsome and had the sexiest amount of stubble on his chin. He was the star of the soccer team. She had seen him in the halls and decided that it would be great for him to work under her.

Just this afternoon, the boy had accepted her invitation to see her in her office. She got out her red crystal and gave him some new directions. He lost interest in all girls, only women excited him now, older women to be more precise. When she was done with him, Miriam would seem like a goddess to Joseph. He started worshiping her body today. While Susan waited outside, Joseph had just shown Miriam all he knew about love making. Miriam liked it of course, but there was more to teach him. She didn't know whether to use the crystal to teach him or show him herself the old fashioned way.

Susan knocked on the door.

"Just a moment," Miriam said.

Then both Miriam and Joseph got dressed. Joseph wore the school uniform all the students wore. Miriam was dressed in her long herringbone blazer, v-neck draped faux wrapped top, ankle length skinny jeans and two and a half inch pumps. Since it took less time for Joseph to get dressed than for Miriam. He was sent out to keep Susan waiting.

She quickly got dressed, making sure everything looked professional, including her makeup. She had made so much of a mess of herself that she had to clean it off her face with a tissue and reapply it. This took time.

All the while Susan was waiting outside. She felt a little uneasy as she waited. She couldn't hear what was going on in Miriam's office but something didn't seem right. Did she sense what was going on, or was it just general uneasiness being here before. She knew she had never been in Mrs. Werner's office but it felt both familiar and foreboding at the same time.

Finally Miriam had fixed her face, Susan was let into the office. Susan was a little hesitant about going in. Carlene, that little scamp, was moving freely led the way. Carlene saw the shiny crystal on Miriam's desk. Miriam had forgotten to put it away in her haste.

Reaching for the crystal, Carlene knocked the stand over. The crystal rolled toward the edge of the desk. Miriam seeing what had happened made a lunge for it, but it was too late. It rolled off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 12.

Joseph Brooks, Joey to his friends, was the Weymore Academy's sole superstar. He was a soccer hero who would probably be a pro one day. He had speed and strength but most importantly ability. The problem was that he was still immature emotionally and didn't know how to handle his success. Girl's threw themselves at him, but that didn't mean they wanted to sleep with him. He wasn't a bully per se but he had a chip on his shoulder bigger than the state's debt. He wasn't a nice person.

Besides being a sports star, he was tall, ruggedly handsome with black hair parted on the left side and the sexiest amount of stubble on his chin. Every girl wanted him in some way. Not that they wanted to sleep with him, not on the first date anyway. This was a rural community a girl could get a reputation real fast. Very few of the girls wanted that. Sluts that would sleep with him were the very girls that Joseph should avoid.

Since he was bringing national attention to the school, his bad behavior was making the school look bad also. The school needed to fix this not just for the school's sake but for Joseph's sake too. No one wanted to see this boy waste so much talent just because he was a jerk. They had tried everything, but now desperate measures would have to be employed.

Joseph was asked to Miriam Werner's office, the school counselor. Normally she wouldn't get involved in something like this, but now he was getting involved with Miriam's seventeen year old receptionist Carlene Young. Carlene was sent on an errand so she wouldn't run into Joseph when he arrived.

Joseph was asked to take a seat to the left of Miriam. "Joey I want to help you." Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "Have you ever seen anything like this?"

"What the fuck is that? Joey exclaimed. "Some sort of new-agey crystal bullshit?" However, as he glanced at the crystal he couldn't help but notice the strange star pattern the light made as it passed through. Even though it sat perfectly still, it seemed to move, radiating outward again... and again... and again... Eventually, Joey was just staring, zombie-like at the crystal. Miriam stared straight into the boys eyes, she was facing away from the door. She was so intent on doing what she had to do right that she was oblivious to anything else. She began to talk.

Since Carlene was uninvolved, Miriam reasoned these commands would effect Joseph only. If they were to become involved, Joseph would be the perfect gentleman. If not he would let her down easy. That was the plan anyway.

Meanwhile, Susan Corsetti a recent transfer student entered Miriam's outer office. She sat in the waiting room waiting for her turn. Susan could see through the open door that the counselor was busy.

She waited patiently for the counselor. No one was in the room with her so she was alone with her thoughts. She wanted to talk to the counselor. But she sensed a growing uneasiness as she sat there. Something felt wrong. It was as if she had already been here. She knew that wasn't the case, but she felt that way anyway. Deciding that it wasn't important and since the receptionist wasn't at his desk, Susan crept to the door. She was going to tell Mrs. Werner that she couldn't keep her appointment.

At the entrance of the inner office, Susan saw Mrs. Werner with her back turned to the door. On her desk was a a strange crystal standing in its mount. Mrs. Werner was talking to someone. He was a teen, but he was still a hulking figure. Now that Susan was closer she could hear what Miriam was saying. By this point, Susan was just as transfixed as Joseph was.

"Listen to me," Miriam said to both students even though she didn't know that Susan was eavesdropping. "I am going to make you a better person."

Miriam Continued, "You can't treat girls just like you treat your friends. Girls aren't like your friend. Girls are like delicate flowers they have to be treated with respect. I know you want to jump all the pretty girls. That is quite natural for you. But you can't just do that. You have to be a gentleman. You have to consider their feelings. If you like them you have to woo them. And most importantly, you can only love one girl at a time."

Miriam didn't realize that she had just changed Susan's sexual preference from men to women.

"You represent the school in everything you do. You have to look the part. No more long hair or silly studs in your ears. You have to be clean cut with short hair projecting a masculine sense of strength and confidence. You are the all-American-boy start acting like it. When you at school or playing sports, set an example in your dress. Don't wear jeans, wear dockers, don't wear t-shirts, wear polo shirts and button down shirts. Don't wear sneakers or sandals, wear oxfords and penny loafers, you know shoes that a man would wear and obviously with the appropriate socks."

"Finally, it's important for everyone to see what a fine upstanding man you are, you should always have a pretty girl on your shoulder. But, you must treat her right. You must be strong and protective. You must open the doors for her, pull out her chair and be a gentleman in every way."

Miriam continued staring straight into Joey's eyes as she removed the crystal from the desk. She waited for the spell to be broken. Slowly his eyes returned to normal. She went on to stress the most important parts of what she had said. There was no need. She was seeing by his responses if the 'hypnosis' actually worked.

Susan also came out of her trance and returned to her seat. She sat there patiently for the counselor. It didn't take long before Miriam escorted Joey out of the office.

When Miriam turned to acknowledge Susan. Susan got up and shook Miriam's hand. "Hello, I'm Susan Corsetti." Her handshake was firm.

"Nice to meet you. Come into my office."

Susan strutted into Miriam's office and took a seat. "I wanted to talk to you about my classes."

Miriam discovered that Susan wanted to take more advanced classes and Miriam was happy to oblige. The meeting didn't take more than five minutes. This was the first time Miriam had ever seen Susan although she had seen her name as part of the new transfers to the school. When Miriam had talked to Susan's father on the phone to arrange her schedule, he hadn't told her that his daughter was a dike. But Miriam's first impression was just that. Not that it mattered in this day and age. Not even in a small rural school in the middle of nowhere.

Susan saw the crystal on Miriam's desk. She had been literally mesmerized by it before, now she wanted to take a closer look. She tried to pick it up but Miriam tried to stop her. The crystal went flying into the air and then crashed against the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 13.

Susan Corsetti couldn't take it anymore. His classes were just so darn boring, he hated them. He had been pushed all his life and now that everything was easy, he just couldn't stand it. His father told him if there was a problem to see Mrs. Werner. He assured him that Mrs. Werner could fix any problem.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's outer office he just pushed right through. Susan had a brief twinge that something was wrong, but he ignored that feeling. His mind was made up and nothing would stop him. Carlene Young, the seventeen year old receptionist tried to ask him who he was, but Susan wasn't going to bother with the underlings. He wanted to just talk to Mrs. Werner himself and didn't care about the simple etiquette of being announced by the receptionist.

Carlene was one of Mrs. Miriam Werner's favorite students. Carlene couldn't take the classes she wanted. There just wasn't the space. Miriam wished she could help her, but there were limited resources. Miriam offered the job as her receptionist, assuring her that it would look good on her college transcript.

Miriam heard her office door open and continued to type the status report she was writing. She was just finishing up on Joseph Brooks. He was the star player on the school's soccer team. He had it all, eighteen years old, tall, rugged good looks, and she had to admit he had that short stubbly thing going on that made him look so sexy. But with all that he was still quite a gentleman. Always saying please and thank you. He dated many girls, but he always treated them right. He was the perfect young man. "If Miriam was years younger," she thought but then chided herself. "He was a student. She shouldn't be thinking about him like that."

"Um... excuse me. Are you the guidance counselor?"

Miriam looked up, and tried to place the student. Short blonde hair, broad shoulders, still no slouch in the looks department (in spite of his conservative clothing and shortness of stature) and eyes that radiated intelligence. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here. She nodded and motioned for the boy to sit.

The boy obliged and spoke again. "My name is Susan Corsetti." The boy pronounced his name with the accent on the last syllable instead of the first. He was su-SAN to himself and his father a decidedly masculine name.

Continuing the boy said, "I know I just transferred in, but I'm not finding my classes challenging enough. I was hoping I could talk to you about fixing them. Can you please help me?"

Miriam smiled. So this was the new transfer student all the teachers were talking about. He was handsome almost as handsome as Joseph. But unlike Joseph Susan was very smart too. "Ah, so you're Susan Corsetti. I'm sorry to hear that the course load your father and I hashed out over the phone isn't to your liking. What exactly is the problem?" Miriam pulled up Susan's profile on her computer.

Susan looked crest fallen.

Miriam frowned. This wouldn't do at all. She promised his dad that she could solve any problems. "That said... I might still be able to help you. I do have a way to make your time here more challenging without breaking the school's budget..."

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

Susan's excitement faded. Was this some sort of new-agey crystal nonsense? He should have expected as much in such a back water place as Cold Harbor. However, as he glanced at the crystal he couldn't help but notice the strange star pattern the light made as it passed through. Even though it sat perfectly still, it seemed to move, radiating outward again... and again... and again... Eventually, Susan was just staring, zombie-like at the crystal. Miriam stared into his eyes like she was staring into his soul.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

There was a brief pause before Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

Miriam crossed her arms. What was the best way to do this? "You're unhappy because your classes are too easy, correct?"

"Yes."

"We can't create an entirely new curriculum for you, but maybe I can suggest you do something challenging to keep you busy?"

"Like what?"

"Well you have always wanted a challenge haven't you?"

"Yes."

"Well how about learning the skills to pass as a girl. That would be very challenging to you. It's something you have never done before."

"But I don't want to be a girl."

"Are you saying with all your smarts you can't do it?"

"Well..."

"Then you aren't as smart as you think you are. This will be very challenging. You will have to learn lots of new things. You want to learn new things, don't you? Makeup is hard for a pretty girl, but for you it would be even more of a challenge. Wouldn't you like that?" This last sentence Miranda said as more of a command than a question.

The idea of the challenge appealed to Susan. "I suppose."

"But there will be more to it than that. You will not only have to become an expert on makeup, but also on fashion. You have to know what to wear that not only will look stylish, but will make you look like a girl. This is a real challenge, not like silly book learning."

"Yeah."

"You will have to do everything you can. You will start right now, but you will continue it until you are successful."

"Until I am successful?"

"Do you know what success would be? If you can be accepted by the girls as one of them and by the boys as someone they would want to date. It won't be easy, you will have to use all of your skills."

"Yes, all of my skills."

"If you can get a man to marry you, to love you, to take care of you then you will have met the challenge. If you can be a housewife and be taken care of by a loving husband for five years, then you will have met the challenge."

"I can do it," Susan said with some excitement in his voice.

"We can help, let me just change your classes. Let see we have a class on cooking and one on home design. You can take those. We can also move you into some easier classes so you will have more time to work on yourself."

"That would be great." Susan was up for the challenge, he was ready to dedicate himself to as long as it took to get it done. It would take at least six years, to transform himself, meet and marry a man and be a house wife for five years. But if he could pull it off it would be another feather in his cap.

"OK, I'll make the changes into your schedule and send the renewed program card to you soon."

"Thank you, thank you," Susan said. As he left the office he started to think about all of the things he would have to do to fulfill his goal. He would have to become an expert in the field of makeup. He would have to use it to minimize his more masculine features and give the illusion of feminine ones. A girl looked like a girl, but he would have to start at a level lower than that. It wouldn't be just looks, but he would have to change the way he thought too. Susan would have to force himself to actually think like a girl. To make girl's thought and mannerisms second nature to himself. Susan knew that once he got to college, learning wouldn't be his first priority, it would be finding a man. College was the perfect place to find someone who would take care of him.

There was so much to this. This would be the most challenging thing he had ever done in his life. He smiled in anticipation. Then he corrected his smile to make it prettier and more feminine.

Once Susan left the office, Miranda sent for Charlene. Charlene wanted to be in the classes that Susan had been. But there wasn't space. Charlene was the odd man out. Miranda wanted to inform her personally that space had come available for her.

Miriam took the crystal out again and soon Charlene was in the same position that Susan had been a moment before. She told the girl the good news making her think she had always been in the advanced classes.

When Miriam was satisfied with what she had done. It was time to put the crystal away. Without looking Miriam reached for the crystal but she knocked it off it's stand. It rolled toward the edge of the table. Miriam desperately tried to reach for it but it was too late. It fell off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 14.

Susan Corsetti couldn't take it anymore. This was her senior year, there were hot guys all over and she had to work hard on AP classes. What's the point, college classes (AP) should be taken in college. That is the point. She had enough credits to graduate, she was ready to take it easy this year. Her father told her if there was a problem to see Mrs. Werner. He assured her that Mrs. Werner could fix any problem.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's outer office she just pushed right through. Carlene Young, the receptionist tried to ask her who she was, but Susan wasn't going to bother with the underlings. Carlene was just a student like herself, wearing the same silly uniform that Susan was wearing. She hated the uniform. She wanted to wear something sexier. Well if not sexy than at least pretty. Carlene wasn't in Susan league. She wasn't even in her grade. Carlene was probably only sixteen years old. Susan wanted to just talk to Mrs. Werner herself and didn't care about the simple etiquette of being announced by the juvenile receptionist.

All of a sudden a sense of dread filled Susan. There was something wrong. She was about to leave but instead she saw Mr. Brooks, the school's assistant soccer coach exiting Mrs. Werner's office. Spurred on by Joseph's good looks, Susan quickened her pace instead. He was hot, barely out of college. He was tall, muscular, with just a hint of stubble on his face and he couldn't be more than 22 years old, maybe 23 but no more than that. She smiled seductively at him. Mr. Brooks passed by without saying a word. Susan made a note to visit the soccer fields when she had an opportunity.

Before she knew it Susan entered the office. "Are you the guidance counselor?" The student stood in front of Miriam's desk.

Miriam looked up, and tried to place the student. At first glance, she was dressed in the uniform that all the girls in the school had to wear. There weren't any exceptions. Every girl had to wear a blue short sleeve banded bottom oxford blouse with the school crest proudly emblazoned on the right chest. The shirt was of course collared with a girls plaid cross tie. The girls couldn't wear the male equivalent shirt which looked similar except the buttons were attached to the opposite side and the cut was made for a boy. She also wore it with a gray plaid wrap around skirt. Any color but gray plaid was never allowed and the girls certainly could never wear pants of any type (except gym shorts in the appropriate physical education class, the phys-ed classes were single-sex.). Dark gray tights and black leather oxford women's shoes were also mandatory. All girls wore the exact same uniform. No jewelry except a watch was permitted. Even the watchband had to be no thicker than a certain width. Make up of any type wasn't allowed.

Blonde, glasses, no slouch in the looks department (in spite of the conservative clothing that made up the school uniform and lack of makeup) and eyes that radiated intelligence. This girl had it all, she was both smart and sexy. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here.

Taking a closer look, Miriam discovered she wasn't quite right. The girl was wearing makeup. It was hard to tell as it was just foundation that matched her skin tone, but makeup wasn't allowed, not even foundation. Also her lips were a paler pink than Miriam was expecting. Was she wearing lipstick? Then she saw it, in her ears were small studs? No jewelry of any type was allowed, not even something as small as that. There was also something wrong with her skirt. Was it rolled up on top so it rode higher than it should? That wasn't allowed either. She wore nylon stockings which were acceptable, but cotton opaque tights were preferred.

She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit. "Are you wearing lipstick?"

"No that is chap-stick. My lips are very sensitive to the heat," Susan lied.

"And are those earrings in your ears?"

"Ummm, yes, I must have forgotten."

"Remove them please."

"OK," The girl obliged and spoke again. "I know I just transferred in, but I don't like my schedule.. I was hoping I could talk to you about fixing it?" She said "hope," but her voice made it sound more like a demand than a request.

Miriam smiled. So this was the new transfer student all the teachers were talking about. "Ah, so you're Susan Corsetti, then? What exactly is the problem?" Miriam pulled up Susan's profile on her computer.

"Please call me Susie. Everyone else does. It's just that I just would prefer a lighter load."

Miriam looked up Susan's record at her old school she was in the gifted and talented program, "These are courses similar to what had taken before."

"I know that. But this is my senior year. I was hoping to take it easier. All of my classes are honors and AP classes. Right now, you guys have me in the most advanced classes in the school. Why should I work so hard. Look at this you have me in AP Literature and Composition, Calculus B, Physics and Comparative Post Modern Art History."

"What would you like to take?"

"I looked over the class list, how about cooking, jewelry making, household accounting, survey of romance novels, history in the making." (a course where the students read the paper and write essays on the news stories of the day.)

"Let me give it to you straight. The Weymore Academy is a small school. We have only so many students who can handle our top classes. We need everyone who is eligible to take them. If they didn't we couldn't support them and then the rest of our top students would suffer. It's tough enough to get into a good college when you are from a small school. If they didn't take advanced classes too they would have no shot."

"But that isn't my problem. I'm already accepted at my college of choice. Besides if I wanted to take college level classes, I'll take them in college." It was true, between Susan's grades at her old school and her father's influence her acceptance was assured. This was her senior year, it was time to take it easy before the hard work began in college.

"I understand, but we really need you. You are one of our top students, you owe it to the rest. You might even be our valedictorian."

"I don't care. You can't make me take all these classes if I don't want to. I already have the credits to graduate."

Susan looked defiant. She was sure they couldn't make her take the toughest classes in the school if she didn't want to."

Miriam frowned. This wouldn't do at all. She promised her dad that she could solve any problems. "That said... I might still be able to help you. Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Yes," Susan brightened a little. "then you will change my schedule?"

"You really want to take jewelry making? If you do you would be doing things like making rings like this." Miriam pulled out a red crystal that was part of a ring. It seemed to shimmer in the light. "Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

Susan's excitement faded. Was this some sort of new-agey crystal nonsense? She should have expected as much in such a back water place as Cold Harbor. She looked at it, it sort of looked cheap. Did she really want to make things that looked as hideous as that? However, as she glanced at the crystal she couldn't help but notice the strange star pattern the light made as it passed through. Even though it sat perfectly still, it seemed to move, radiating outward again... and again... and again... Eventually, Susan was just staring, zombie-like at the crystal. Miriam stared into her eyes like she was staring into her soul.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

"Why did you really come to see me?"

"There are so many hot guys. I don't want to waste my time studying. I want them all."

"You don't have a special guy?"

"No I don't care. I'm young, thin and sexy. These guys are dumb as stones. They are only good for one thing and I'm going to get me some from as many as I can."

"Susan, you know you are one of the brightest students at this school?"

"Yes," she agreed. Susan didn't think the students here had any brains between them. But the guys were hot. They were strong farm boys who spend lots of time in the sun. They were very tan and very buff from working outside. She didn't care if they couldn't add two numbers together, they were damn sexy. She was sure they were big too, but even if they weren't there were plenty of them. She would steal the best guys from the silly country girls who had them and then move onto the next one. She may be bright but in her heart she was a slut. She didn't care who knew it.

"Being intelligent is a gift. But it's not only a gift but a responsibility."

"It's a responsibility," Susan parroted.

"You have a responsibility to use it to its upmost. A responsibility to your family, to yourself and most importantly to the school."

"...a responsibility to the school," Susan repeated roboticly.

"There will be plenty of time for boys later as soon as you have secured your career. You represent the school in everything you do. Now, when you get into college and even after you graduate college, you will always speak highly about this school. It is the place where they set you straight. You couldn't have accomplished as much as you did without attending the Weymore Academy."

"the Weymore Academy," she repeated roboticly again.

"Nothing is as important. You will give up anything distracting like fashion, makeup and especially boys until later."

"Everything distracting must go."

"You will follow the school rules to the letter. Not just the uniform rules but everything else. You represent this school now you must do you best."

Susan took a tissue off of Miriam's desk and started to wipe the lipstick off her lips. "I will do my best." Susan would do her best when it came to representing the school. She wouldn't only be the valedictorian, but she would also be the president of the student body and the editor of the school paper. She would promote the school in everything she did. She had no room in her life for anything she used to think of as fun. If she saw a boy (cute or not) her only concern would be was he properly dressed in the school uniform. All other concerns were gone from her mind.

Chapter 15.

"I have an appointment with Mrs. Werner at one o'clock," Susan said to the receptionist. The plaque on the receptionist's desk proclaimed her to be Miss Carlene Young. She looked young to hold such an important office. Susan guessed this girl couldn't be much more than sixteen years old. Maybe the girl would look older if she didn't have her hair in a ponytail. Carlene wore an identical uniform as Susan was wearing but she didn't look like a teenager.

Susan didn't stop moving, she was planning on going right into the office. It was one o'clock on the dot. She was on time, she expected Mrs. Werner to be on time too. Susan couldn't stand tardiness.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Susan Corsetti."

"Ummm haven't you been here before?" Something started to feel wrong. She had been feeling that way every since she entered the office, but now she finally realized it.

"I don't think so." This stopped Susan in her tracks. She knew she had never seen Mrs. Werner, but something about this seemed familiar. It was as if she had visited this office before.

Susan stopped at the door, she saw that Mrs. Werner was busy. She was talking to the school's soccer coach. He was the youngest coach the school ever had at twenty four years old. Now at age 33 he was a school legend. Leading the school to a championship as a student and now as it's coach. He was gorgeous, not that Susan cared she had too much on her mind. He was tall with rugged good looks and a dazzling smile that could melt any woman's heart. Joseph was dressed in a business suit and tie. (He was going to talk with some of the local college recruiter about this years student athletes.

Waiting her turn, Susan entered the school counselor's office. Miriam Werner had given Joseph the records of the students he requested. She was closing the files as Susan approached.

"Ma'am, are you the guidance counselor?" Susan considered herself a modern woman. She was as bright as anyone in the school. But she was also very pretty and knew how to accentuate her look. That wasn't easy when she had to wear the school uniform. But she could compete with anyone. She knew how to flirt and could have any man she wanted. But there would be plenty of time for that after she graduated college.

Miriam looked up, and tried to place the student. She was dressed in the uniform that all the girls in the school had to wear. Blonde, glasses, no slouch in the looks department (in spite of the school uniform and lack of makeup) and eyes that radiated intelligence. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit.

Susan looked nervous. "Well, it's just... At my old school I was in the gifted and talented program, and all of my classes were honors and AP classes. Right now, you guys have me in the same classes that all the other seniors are taking. I've already taken half of the classes I'm currently enrolled in, and the ones I haven't taken already are shop classes like cooking and sewing. Even the child psychology class is focused upon child management such as how to distract a baby when changing their diaper, not understanding how children learn, interact, think, etc. Since this is my last year, I was hoping to have more challenging classes to prepare me for college..."

Miriam looked over Susan's records. "I'm sorry Susan, but we're a small district. I have you in the topmost classes we offer here."

What Miriam left out of her statement was the word 'girls'. Susan was in the topmost girl's classes in the school. Only the boys took more intellectually challenging classes. My records show you had never taken any shop classes, we thought you would like to have a few in your schedule. Even the class that was called accounting, would more accurately be called home economics as it dealt this family budgeting, check book reconciliation and similar topics.

Susan looked crestfallen, she knew there were more challenging classes at the school.

Miriam frowned. This wouldn't do at all. She promised her dad that she could solve any problems. "That said... I might still be able to help you."

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

"Susan, this school is steeped in tradition that goes back over a hundred years. The uniforms you are wearing now are virtually identical to the ones worn by women a hundred years ago. We believe in tradition. Men make their way in the world and provide for their families. Women keep a happy home and support their men."

"That is so last century." (Susan was a modern woman looking to the next century not back at the past.)

"Yes, it is. It was a better time back then. But I can see you are not happy. I can help you to be happy, but you have to make a choice."

"What choice?"

"If you want to be in the toughest classes and excel outside the home then you can join the classes that are exclusively for boys. If you choose that, then I can make you into a man. With this crystal I can change you into a man. You will grow a penis, your shoulders will broaden, your breast will disappear. I will even make you stronger and look more intimidating. You'll be one of the guys and can do as you please. I can even help you get into a top college."

"What is my other choice?"

"I see you aren't happy as a girl. I can use this crystal to make you happier as a woman. I'll make you less inquisitive, reduce some of your general knowledge and make you more interested in running a home and taking care of children. I'll encourage your love of children, your tenderness, your desires to soothe hurt feelings. In general, I'll enhance your femininity and minimize all your masculine traits. You'll forget everything that you learned that isn't important to running a happy home. You'll find your greatest satisfaction in supporting your husband and your children. Those will be the most important things to you. But you'll have to choose."

Susan had a choice to make, she could either throw away her intelligence and become a homebody, a wife and a mother. Or she could become a man. She wouldn't have to get married, but she wouldn't be a girl in anyway any more.

Susan regretted coming to the office. A boring last year of high school seemed like paradise now. "Can't I stay as I am and we can forget this whole thing?"

"No, it's too late for that. You have to pick."

"And if I don't?"

"Then I'll pick for you."

A short while passed. But Susan hadn't decided. Miriam made her own selection. It was a selected based upon what she thought was best for Susan. Miriam was about to retrieve the crystal and implement her choice. Without looking Miriam reached for the crystal but she knocked it off it's stand. It rolled toward the edge of the table. Miriam desperately tried to reach for it but it was too late. It fell off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 16.

Joseph Brooks sat at his desk. He was the receptionist for Mrs. Werner the school guidance counselor. His appointment calendar said that Mrs. Werner had an appointment with Susan Corsetti at one o'clock, but it was well passed that time. Joseph had no way or knowing that Susan had approached the office and then felt such a panic attack that she returned to the cafeteria.

Joseph Brooks was a man in his forties but he didn't feel like one. He felt like a little girl in her teens. Not that he dressed like any modern little girl would, he dressed like a girl would about 75 years before. He wore a light red (the actual color was called light rose) knee length dress. Unlike today's dresses, the bodice rose to the bottom of the next much like a man's shirt would today. It had a sparkling white rounded collar and a big multicolored bow. Three white buttons secure the bodice down to a set-in waistband with ties in a sash in the back. There was a ruffle front peplum with more ruffles at the bottom of the skirt. It would be darling for a little girl going to school in the 1940s. He wore it with white ankle length socks and black maryjanes of course. What little girl didn't wear black maryjanes with everything in the 1940s. In his short black hair, he wore a matching ribbon.

The guidance counselor Miriam Werner called out to him. "Joey, when is my next appointment.

Joseph checked the records again. Then he exited his seat and smoothed his skirt before scurrying to Miriam's door. "I'm afraid your last appointment didn't show up. I expect your next appointment, Carlene Young at two.

Miriam was disappointed. "Joey can you get my crystal for me?"

A moment later, Joseph held the requested crystal. She knew that Carlene was going to be a problem. She would need her crystal.

"So we have a half hour?"

"Yes."

"Close the door, sit on my lap and give me some sugar," Miriam purred.

Joseph didn't have to be asked twice. He ran over to Miriam. His hands in the air by his face and his elbows kept close to his sides. He loved her so much. Despite taking very small steps as he ran, he tripped. The crystal went flying. It smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 17.

Susan Corsetti couldn't take it anymore. Her classes were just so boring, she hated them. She had been pushed all her life and now that everything was easy, she just couldn't stand it. Her father told her if there was a problem to see Mrs. Werner. He assured her that Mrs. Werner could fix any problem.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's office she just pushed past the vacant desk in the outer office. She opened the door in front of her without knocking.

Miriam Werner heard her office door open and continued to look through the school records. She was checking out the birth dates and other information of the seniors.

Miriam liked the old days when things were done with pencils and paper. When files were actual files in a cabinet. When people read books that were actual books. Listened to records that were on tape or better yet vinyl. Now no matter where you looked everything was on a computer screen, even phones.

"Um... excuse me. Are you the guidance counselor?"

Miriam looked up, and tried to place the student. Blonde, glasses, no slouch in the looks department and eyes that radiated intelligence. The girl was very pretty without having to be made up, Miriam liked that. The girl was wearing the school uniform, but she was pushing the dress code which Miriam didn't like. The skirt seemed higher than it should be. Did she buy it a size too small or roll it at the top. She wasn't supposed to be wearing any makeup, but was this girl wearing foundation? Small studs were allowed, but those looked like real diamonds.

She preferred refined girls. Girl's who hid their assets under pretty things that showed less skin not more. That is what made it so sexy the fact that it was hidden and could only be guessed at. Girls who wore tops with lace that added elegance not shown off skin. Her last receptionist Joey was like that, but Joey was gone, graduated last June. Being Mrs. Werner's assistant allowed the student to deviate from the school dress code. Mrs. Werner made sure of that.

Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit.

The girl obliged and spoke again. "I know I just transferred in, but I'm not finding my classes challenging enough. I was hoping I could talk to you about fixing them?"

Susan couldn't understand it, but she felt something weird. It was the worst case of deja vu she had ever felt. Thus Susan was tentative and soft spoken when she talked to Miriam. Miriam misinterpreted this as modesty. It was intoxicating to her.

Miriam smiled. This was the new transfer student all the teachers were talking about. "Ah, so you're Susan Corsetti, then? I'm sorry to hear that the course load your father and I hashed out over the phone isn't to your liking. What exactly is the problem?" Miriam pulled up Susan's profile on her computer. She hadn't gotten around to looking at it this morning with all the others.

Miriam looked over Susan's records. Susan had transferred into the school only a few days ago. She had just turned eighteen on labor day. Susan was one of the unfortunate who was born 'too late'. Most of the seniors would be turning eighteen this school year, but the lucky ones would be doing it in June. Susan had lost an entire year and was one of the oldest students attending. She made up for it by taking the most challenging classes the school would allow. "I'm sorry Susan, but we're a small district. We've never really had the funding to offer AP and honors classes. I'm afraid your last year might have to be an easy one for you. Look on the bright side, you'll probably be a shoo-in for any college you decide to apply to."

Susan looked crestfallen.

Miriam frowned. This wouldn't do at all. She promised her dad that she could solve any problems. "That said... I might still be able to help you."

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

"Susan, can you hear me?" Miriam asked.

Susan gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

Miriam crossed her arms. Many young women had come to her office in the preceding years. Miriam was an old pro at this by now. "You're unhappy because your classes are too easy, correct?"

"Yes."

"You want something challenging to do?"

"Yes."

"How about working with me? It'll look great on your college application."

"I don't think so."

"There is so much to my job. You have to be part psychologist and part manager."

"Oh."

"But you didn't come here to look for tougher classes. You know there aren't any."

"Yes." Miriam assumed that Susan had discussed her classes with her dad.

"You came here to see me, didn't you?" The crystal started to glow brighter. This last question didn't sound like a question to Susan, it sounded like a command. Every thing that Miriam said from this point on, would go into Susan's mind as if it had always been there.

"Yes, I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. You think I am pretty don't you."

"Yes."

"But you think I'm even more than pretty, you think I am sexy too."

Miriam was in her fifties. She was dressed nicely, but few would call her sexy. But to Susan, Miriam looked like one of the sexiest people she had ever known. "You are quite sexy."

"You like older women, women who are older than your mother don't you?"

"Yes, older women are very sexy."

"You think they are sensual too."

"Yes."

"They have something, that younger women don't have and no boy could ever have."

Susan's sexual preferences were being rewritten. "I have to admit I have always liked older women."

"You've tried boys, but in your heart you knew they weren't for you."

"It never worked out with any boy I dated."

"The more that you are with me, the more you will find you want me. You will find that I am the perfect woman for you. You want to be mine."

Susan didn't say anything. This was now just the truth in her mind. She wouldn't be able to help herself from now on. She already thought that Miriam was sexy. With time in her presence Susan would want her as much as anyone wanted another person.

"You came here, not because of your classes, but because you wanted advice."

"Yes, can you help me?"

"Yes, I think you should work here. You'll have lots of free time because of your class load."

"I think that'll be a wonderful idea," Susan said mechanically as she was still under the influence of the crystal. But she believed it whole-heartedly. She never wanted anything more in her life. She loved the idea of being around Miriam. Susan had an instant attraction to her. It wasn't anything she could put into words yet. But the idea of working with Miriam seemed like a lot of fun.

"Would you like to come to my house after school so I can give you some instruction on all your new duties?'

"Yes I would."

"I have some nice apparel you might like to wear. I'm sure it's in your size. Would you like it?"

"Yes, I would."

"They are a different style from what you usually wear. No jeans, no t-shirts, no sexy tops, but I am sure you will like them."

"I am sure too. I am getting bored with what I usually wear."

It was a new school year and Miriam had a new plaything, er receptionist. This year she found one quicker than most years. She usually had to wait until the girl's eighteenth birthday which sometimes took a month or two.

It was time to put the crystal away. Without looking Miriam reached for the crystal but she knocked it off it's stand. It rolled toward the edge of the table. Miriam desperately tried to reach for it but it was too late. It fell off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 18.

Carlene Young entered the outer office of the school guidance counselor. She wanted to talk to her about her classes. She wanted to take something more challenging. She had transferred to the Weymore Academy about two weeks ago and couldn't stand her classes. They weren't doing anything to get her into a better university.

But Carlene felt uneasy. She was having an awful case of dread. All this seemed wrong. She knew why she was here, but that didn't seem right either. She wanted to take more challenging classes. She was a senior and yet she was also only fifteen years old. How could this be? She wanted to leave immediately. But she couldn't she had to get into some better classes or she would go out of her mind. She forced herself into the room and preceded to the receptionists desk. The name plaque proclaimed his name as Mr. Joseph Brooks.

"How can I help you?" Mr. Brooks inquired.

"I have a one o'clock appointment with Mrs. Corsetti."

"Are you Carlene?"

"Yes, I am."

"I see the appointment here," Joseph said looking at his computer screen. "She is in with the soccer coach, Mrs. Werner. She should be through in a few minutes. Take a seat."

Carlene was happy to sit down. Mr. Brooks was dressed very oddly. He wore a long herringbone blazer with two buttons neither of which were used. Under the jacket he wore a white draped shirt with a v-neck. "What man wore a yellow shirt like that?" Carlene thought. "It looked more like a woman's blouse. He wore it with black ankle length jeans. "Were those skinny jeans?" He had studs in his ears and was he wearing makeup? His lips looked pinker than they should have been. But even though he was bare foot (no socks), the true giveaway was the pumps with two and a half inch heels laying under his desk. Not to mention that his legs were crossed daintily at the knee and his toe nails were painted. But this is a new millennium, people could wear what they wanted now.

Carlene tried not to stare at the cross-dressed receptionist. It was odd to see a transvestite ordinarily. Carlene didn't think she had ever seen one in the flesh before. But to see one in a rural school in the middle of nowhere was doubly strange. This wasn't a big city like where she came from. This was a small school hundreds of miles from nowhere. Calling this place the Weymore Academy was a stretch in itself. It should be just call Cold Harbor High School, since it was simply the only school in Cold Harbor. Not something ostentatious like the Weymore Academy.

Before she knew it, a woman came out of Mrs. Corsetti's office. She was a middle aged woman. But she was dressed in the school uniform. It was the same uniform that Carlene was wearing. It was the same uniform that all the girls at the school were wearing. Why would an member of the faculty be wearing the uniform of the students. Carlene didn't know. But did it really matter?

"Mrs. Corsetti will see you now," Mr. Brooks informed Carlene. Mrs. Susan Corsetti wasn't what Carlene expected. Susan only a couple of years older than Carlene was. "This girl had to only be seventeen years old," Carlene thought. The thing that made her seem more mature was that she was professionally dressed in a business suit. She wore a navy pinstripe business suit with a matching vest and a white shirt that buttoned all the way to the top. She wore it with a striped blue and red tie as well as black shoes and black socks. But even the suit seemed strange it looked like something a man would wear. Not a professional woman. Susan wasn't even wearing any sort of makeup or jewelry at all.

Susan looked up, and tried to place the student. Brown hair, freckles, braces on her teeth, a little bit of a bewildered look on her face, despite eyes that radiated intelligence. Susan prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit. Checking her calendar she found that this was Carlene Young. She was a recent transfer to the school.

The girl obliged and spoke again. "I know I just transferred in, but I'm not finding my classes challenging enough. I was hoping I could talk to you about fixing them?"

"I'm sorry to hear that the course load your father and I hashed out over the phone isn't to your liking. What exactly is the problem?" Susan pulled up Carlene's profile on her computer.

Carlene felt nervous. Somehow she felt like she had done this before. It took every ounce of her composure not to just get out of her seat and run from the office. Something was wrong, something was very wrong. But she forced herself to continue. "Well, it's just... At my old school I was in the gifted and talented program, and all of my classes were honors and AP classes. Right now, you guys have me in the same classes that all the other seniors are taking. I've already taken half of the classes I'm currently enrolled in, and even the ones I haven't taken already are painfully slow and, well, easy. Since this is my last year, I was hoping to have more challenging classes to prepare me for college..."

Susan looked over Carlene's records. "I'm sorry Carlene, but we're a small district. We've never really had the funding to offer AP and honors classes. I'm afraid your last year might have to be an easy one for you. Look on the bright side, you'll probably be a shoo-in for any college you decide to apply to."

Carlene looked crestfallen.

Susan frowned. This wouldn't do at all. She promised her dad that she could solve any problems. "That said... I might still be able to help you. I do have a way to make your classes more challenging without breaking the school's budget..."

Carlene brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Susan pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Susan placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

Carlene's excitement faded. Was this some sort of new-agey crystal nonsense? She should have expected as much in such a back water place as Cold Harbor. However, as she glanced at the crystal she couldn't help but notice the strange star pattern the light made as it passed through. Even though the crystal upon it's stand was perfectly still, it seemed to move, radiating outward again... and again... and again... Eventually, Carlene was just staring, zombie-like at the crystal. Susan stared into her eyes like she was staring into her soul. The fear and everything else faded from Carlene's eyes.

Susan looked directly into Carlene's vacant eyes. They may have looked vacant but Carlene knew better. She had to maintain strict eye contact if this was going to work. "Carlene, can you hear me?" Susan asked.

Carlene gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

"What this girl, needs is a boyfriend to keep her busy," Susan thought.

"Carlene do you have a boyfriend?"

"No, I usually don't have time with all my course work."

"That is a shame. A girl who doesn't have at least one boyfriend in high school is truly sad. Carlene I want you to start crushing on boys. You can't help yourself.

One boyfriend is nice, but you are a very special girl, you want to have two boyfriends at the same time. You need a nice boyfriend to take you out and treat you well make you feel good. Then you need a second boyfriend, one who will excite you. One who will make your toes curl up. One who well show you what being a woman really means. You can't let either boy know of the other."

"That should keep Carlene busy. Certainly too busy to worry about her classes," Miriam thought.

Carlene processed this final command. It was time to put the crystal away. Without looking Susan reached for the crystal but she knocked it off it's stand. It rolled towards the edge of the table. Carlene desperately tried to reach for it but it was too late. It fell off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 19.

But Susan felt uneasy. She was having an awful case of deja vu like she had done this before. She wanted to leave immediately. But she couldn't she had to get into some better classes or she would go out of her mind. She forced herself into the room and preceded to the receptionists desk. The name plaque proclaimed the receptionist as Miss Carlene Young.

"How can I help you?" Carlene inquired.

"I have a one o'clock appointment with Mrs. Werner."

"Are you Miss Corsetti?"

"Yes, I am."

"I see the appointment here," Carlene said looking at her computer screen. "She is in with the soccer coach, Mr. Brooks She should be through in a few minutes. Take a seat."

Susan sat down. There wasn't anything to read in the office and she didn't want to take out one of her own school books so she looked around. What attracted her first was the receptionist. Now that she got a good look at her, she seemed a bit young for the job. But she wasn't dressed like Susan was in the school uniform.

All students had to wear the identical uniform. Every girl had to wear a blue short sleeve banded bottom oxford blouse with the school crest proudly emblazoned on the right chest and everything that went with it.

Looking over at Carlene, Susan was a little bit envious. Carlene had a youthful appearance with short brown hair, freckles and braces on her teeth. But Carlene wore a long herringbone blazer with two buttons neither of which were used. Under the jacket she wore a yellow draped faux wrapped top with a v-neck that showed the lightest hint of her cleavage (what little there was of it.) She wore it with black ankle length skinny jeans. Since she was sitting with her knees daintily crossed she was bare foot, but pumps with two and a half inch heels were peeking out from under her desk. She was even allowed to wear it with a pair of studs in her ears. She had a light touch when it came to makeup. It was applied so well that you could hardly tell it was there.

She looked very professional but also very pretty. Susan would kill to be able to show up at school in that outfit. The closer that Susan looked at her face, the more youthful it appeared. For a second there, Susan thought the woman might look even younger than herself if she was dressed more casually. "Oh My God," Susan thought, "this girl is probably only fifteen years old."

A moment later, a man left the office. He was clearly an adult and presumably the school's soccer coach but he was dressed in the school uniform. He closed the office door behind him. Instead of leaving the office, the man approached the receptionist desk.

"Hey Beautiful," Joseph said.

"Hi handsome," Carlene replied. He hand was playing with her ear in a seductive manner as one of her pumps bobbed up on down off her toe.

They chatted about something mundane, but the tone of the conversation was distinctly charged with sexual innuendo. Susan found this sickening. Joseph was in his forties and this girl was barely fifteen. She still have freckles and a fresh face. In the school uniform she might be mistaken for a middle school girl.

Speaking of the school uniform this guy must be a creep he was wearing the girls version of the school's uniform. "He's a cross-dressing lech."

Susan couldn't stand it anymore. She yelled at them to stop and then she ran into the closed door of Mrs. Werner's inner office. Miriam wearing her men's business attire happened at that moment was bending down in front of the door putting away her red crystal. When the door opened suddenly it hit her behind and the crystal went flying. It flew up into the air and then smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 20.

"So you are the coach for the girl's soccer team," Susan Corsetti said to Coach Brooks. Joseph Brooks was a tall handsome man with rugged good looks and an easy going smile in his mid forties. What Susan didn't know was that Joseph wore panties just like all the other girls on the team.

"Yeah."

"I would like to try out."

"I'm sorry but the team is full. It's too late now."

"You don't understand. I just transferred in. I was one of the best players on my team in the city." Susan knew she was the second best player on the team. She also knew that that team had to be much better than one. It was only a small school in the middle of nowhere.

"I'm sorry, but there are no spots. Maybe next year."

"It isn't fair I just got here. This is my senior year. I can't wait for next year." Susan was sure if the coach could see her play, he would make an exception and put her on the team.

"Maybe but that is how it is here. Why not talk to Mrs. Werner the guidance counselor. She can put you into the soccer gym class. That is where I recruit my players if one has to leave the team after it is formed."

Susan didn't go to the guidance counselor as suggested, instead she complained to the vice principal in charge of physical education, who told Susan the same thing, "Talk to the guidance counselor, Mrs. Werner."

When the principal said the same thing and suggested that if she could convince her, Susan finally took their advice. She walked straight into Miriam Werner's office without being invited in.

"So you are the guidance counselor? I want to speak to you," Susan demanded.

Miriam looked up, and tried to place the student. Blonde, long legs, no slouch in the looks department (in spite of her school uniform and lack of makeup) and eyes that radiated intelligence. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit.

The girl obliged and spoke again. "I know I just transferred in. I think I'm missing out on a big opportunity, but I need your help." The arrogance of Susan was showing through her words. She may have said she is asking for help, but she sounded like she expected compliance to whatever request she was about to ask. "I need to be on the soccer team. Everyone said I should talk to you about it."

"You're Susan Corsetti. I've heard a lot about you." It was true that they hadn't met before, but if something was happening at the school, it always found it's way into Miriam's office.

Miriam ran the school in many ways. She didn't have the title but she ran it anyway. It had been that way ever since she acquired the crystal. Everyone came to her office and she decided the way things should be.

"What exactly is the problem?" Miriam said, but she knew without being told. She pulled up Susan's profile on her computer. Looking it over, Miriam found that Susan was one of those rare people which were truly talented and gifted. It wasn't just academically , but she was also a great athlete and she was very pretty. She was the 'Mary Richards' of the twenty-first century.

Susan went on to explain what Miriam already knew. That she was a star athlete in her last school and now that she was a senior she needed to be on the team so the college coaches could see her in action.

Miriam didn't think it was fair that this girl should just be given a spot on the team. The team was already complete. If Susan got on, then someone would have to come off. She loved all her students, they had been in the community their entire lives. Those on the team, had to work their way up to get there and it didn't seem right that someone who worked so hard would have to be dropped. It didn't matter that someone with natural talent happened to come along. Miriam decided she would fix that.

"I've got to be on the team. I just have to. I'm the best player you have ever seen."

Miriam had an instant dislike for this person. She may have talent, but what she lacked was humility. Humility is something she needed more than a spot on the soccer team. "That said... I might still be able to help you."

Susan smirked a bit. "Great what are you going to do for me?" "Put me in the dumb old soccer class," she thought but didn't say.

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

Susan's excitement faded. Was this some sort of new-agey crystal nonsense? She should have expected as much in such a back water place as Cold Harbor. However, as she glanced at the crystal she couldn't help but notice the strange star pattern the light made as it passed through. Even though the crystal upon it's stand was perfectly still, it seemed to move, radiating outward again... and again... and again... Eventually, Susan was just staring, zombie-like at the crystal. Miriam stared into her eyes like she was staring into her soul.

"Susan was right about one thing," Miriam thought. "We need another star on the team."

Miriam sent for Charlene Young. She was a lovely girl who was the last alternate on the soccer team. It was her senior year too. She loved to play soccer, but she wasn't good enough. It was only due to Miriam's intervention that she was on the team at all. Charlene would often help out as Miriam's receptionist. Now Miriam would help her.

When Charlene arrives she saw the crystal and went into a trance as she had many times before. Virtually everyone in the school had been under the influence of the crystal at one time or another. Using the crystal, Miriam swapped Susan's and Charlene's athletic abilities. She then set Charlene on her way. Miriam was sure that she would rise in the ranks on the team and would become a starting player very soon. Maybe she would be able to get a scholarship to college because of it.

But lessening Susan's athletic ability probably wouldn't cure the girl's arrogance. There had to be more. The next thing she swapped was the girl's straight teeth. One of the boys was a freshman who probably would be in braces until his senior year. But after that trait was swapped with Susan, that wasn't his problem anymore. It was hers.

There was a girl who wasn't a natural blonde. She dyed her hair monthly, but it didn't take long before her dark roots would show. After visiting Miriam's office, her blonde was now natural and Susan was the girl with dark roots.

Another girl had a bad case of acne that she was constantly fighting. She won sometimes, but it was a constant struggle. But today, she could finally declare victory over her acne enemy. Susan would find it would be a tough war, with many battles.

Susan's boobs weren't huge, they were only a C-cup, but that was better than the A's any other girl formerly had. She would find she had a growth spurt in that area.

Still another girl was constantly fighting a weight problem. She was a sweet girl, she just had a sweet tooth. But she would finally win that war today to the detriment of Susan.

Susan's physical, mental and emotional traits were swapped with lesser ones from other students. In the end, Susan wasn't a complete mess. She was now more average than anything else.

Miriam was satisfied with what she had done. Twenty traits had been swapped between Susan and various students at the school. It was time to put the crystal away. Without looking Miriam reached for the crystal but she knocked it off it's stand. It rolled toward the edge of the table. Miriam desperately tried to reach for it but it was too late. It fell off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 21.

Susan Corsetti couldn't take it anymore. Her classes were just so darn boring, she hated them. Maybe if she hadn't been so flat chested, or her chronic acne or having to dye her hair every two weeks to keep the dark roots at bay. These were small problems but she had to deal with them nevertheless. But she had problems with her classes and needed a more permanent fix.

Once entering Mrs. Warner's outer office she just pushed right through. Carlene Young the 43 year old receptionist tried to ask her who she was. Susan brushed passed her. Then a feeling a dread halted her in her tracks. She didn't want to enter. Not unannounced anyway. She thought that would be a bad idea although she didn't know why.

"I'm Susan Corsetti. I have a one o'clock appointment with Mrs. Werner."

"She's in with another student. It'll only take a minute."

Eighteen year old Joseph Brooks was the star soccer student of the school. He led the team to a championship last year and was expected to do so again. He left Mrs. Werner's office just as Susan was arriving. She wanted to see him to ask which picture they should use of him for his yearbook tribute. (That was the excuse anyway. Miriam made excuses to have the handsomest boys visit her office.) Besides being the school's only counselor, Miriam was also chief adviser on the yearbook committee.

Joseph smiled at the pretty Susan as he left the office. Miriam Werner noticed the exchange as she was watching Joseph leave.

Susan entered Miriam's office. Seeing Joseph broke Susan's tension and she felt much better when she approached Miriam.

"Are you the guidance counselor?"

Miriam quickly looked down (like she was trying to look busy) and then Miriam looked up again. She tried to place the student. Blonde, glasses, no slouch in the looks department (Joseph obviously liked the way she looked) and eyes that radiated intelligence. Miriam prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here. She nodded and motioned for the girl to sit.

Susan looked nervous. Her feeling of dread reasserted itself again. She resisted the compulsion to run. "Well, it's just... At my old school I was in the gifted and talented program, and all of my classes were honors and AP classes. Right now, you guys have me in the same classes that all the other seniors are taking. I've already taken half of the classes I'm currently enrolled in, and even the ones I haven't taken already are painfully slow and, well, easy. Since this is my last year, I was hoping to have more challenging classes to prepare me for college..."

Miriam looked over Susan's records. She saw from her records that Susan had it all. She had brains and she was also a good athlete as she played on the volleyball team and soccer team of her former school. (Miriam perked up when she noticed that this girl played soccer.) This rural high school didn't have the funds to have a nationally ranked team. They didn't have money to rent an extra bus to transport its teams to the other schools. (Not for the girl's teams anyway.) Most were very far away.

Miriam looked up again and saw the girl was even prettier than she thought. A little makeup and some apparel that emphasized her assets instead of hiding them away and this girl could be as pretty as anyone. She had all this going for her and she still complained that her classes were boring. She was already a shoo-in for college.

How Miriam envied her. Miriam was in her fifties. Her youth was long gone. She didn't have any of the opportunities that Susan had. When Miriam was in high school, she could never have any of the cute guys. It didn't get much better as she aged and now it was all over for her. She wished she could relieve her youth as a pretty girl, as an athletic girl, as a smart girl, as Joseph's girl.

This was a recurring theme to Miriam. She didn't remember when she started, and no one knew it, but a while back she used to take the pictures of the studs in the school to her house. As the yearbook adviser she had to select the best pictures and help organize them into the book. But she used to take them with her and get into the tub and finger herself while looking at the best of them. She would imagine she was one of the pretty girls and this was her boyfriend. She would imagine doing things to him that no teenaged girl ever could. As time went on, she didn't want any of the boys at the Weymore Academy. She wanted just one, Joseph Brooks.

Miriam popped out of her reverie. Back to the present, this girl was complaining that her classes were too easy instead of just using the time to have fun? If she wants to be challenged, how about doing her job. Dealing with stuck up cheerleaders who say they should get good grades because they are pretty. Or dumb jocks who do get good grades they don't deserve because they can put a ball in a hoop. The kids that think that barely passing three out of five classes a year was enough to get them into college. The kids that were just plain trouble who were in her office weekly. And the host of other problems she had to deal with. And then going home to an empty home, that was a real challenge. She wants a challenge let her deal with that.

"I'm sorry Susan, but we're a small district. We've never really had the funding to offer AP and honors classes. I'm afraid your last year might have to be an easy one for you. Look on the bright side, you'll probably be a shoo-in for any college you decide to apply to."

Susan looked crestfallen.

Miriam frowned. This wouldn't do at all. She promised her dad that she could solve any problems. "That said... I might still be able to help you. I do have a way to make your time here much more challenging."

Susan brightened a little. "Really? How?"

Miriam pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Miriam placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

It felt like she was leaving her body and floating into the crystal. She tried to stay put, but she couldn't. Soon the lights of the crystal seemed to be all around her. The next thing she knew she was looking at herself and the crystal was gone. "Was she looking into a mirror?" she thought. No that was her. She looked down at the body she now possessed she wasn't wearing the clothes she remembered. She didn't know she had a skirt like this at all. She was wearing a blazer with long sleeves. Most of her body was covered by clothes. But her hands were exposed. This wasn't her hands, they had wrinkles and slight age spots.

Before she could complete her thought her former body said, "If you want something challenging, then you do my job!"

"What?"

"You heard me, Susan. Well your name is Mrs. Werner now. I'm sure it'll be as challenging as you can handle."

Miriam held the crystal in her hand. Susan realized what had happened to her. "Give me back my body!!!" she pleaded.

"Calm down. What is done is done. There is no going back."

Susan started to cry. "You can't do this."

"I'm sorry," Miriam said it although she didn't feel it. "but I can."

"I'll tell everyone."

"No one will believe you. They'll probably send you to St. Agnes if you do." St. Agnes was the local hospital. It didn't have a psychiatric department, but they could always refer to other hospitals.

Miriam had enough of the girl's complaining and left the office. She wanted to get some nice clothes and find some lipstick. She heard that Joseph Brooks was dating someone, but she was sure she could steal him away with this body. She could rock his world. But first her body would need a little bit of work. A few trendy clothes and some hot makeup and she would be set for action. As for her classes, she could sleep through most of them and still get into a great college.

Susan lunged at Miriam, but in her new youthful body, Susan was no match for her. Then Susan reached for the crystal still in Miriam's hand. The crystal squirted away. It smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 22.

Fifty-two year old Miriam Werner entered the outer office of the school guidance counselor. She wanted to talk to her about her classes. She wanted to take something more challenging. She had transferred to the Weymore Academy about two weeks ago and couldn't stand her classes. They weren't doing anything to get her into a better university.

But Miriam felt uneasy. She was having an awful case of deja vu like she had done this before. She wanted to leave immediately. But she couldn't she had to get into some better classes or she would go out of her mind. She forced herself into the room and preceded to the receptionists desk. The name plaque proclaimed the receptionist as Mr. Joseph Brooks.

"How can I help you?" Joseph inquired.

"I have a one o'clock appointment with Mrs. Young."

"Are you Miss Werner?"

"Yes, I am."

"I see the appointment here," Joseph said looking at his computer screen. "She is in with the soccer coach, Miss Corsetti. She should be through in a few minutes. Take a seat."

Miriam took her seat. With nothing else to do she looked around and found herself staring at the receptionist. He was quite handsome. He was about her age, in his forties, tall, strong masculine jawline, black hair parted on the left side, a hint of stubble on his cheek. He was very sexy, not like the little boys who were her fellow students. True some of the football players and other's had a sexy appearance, but this was a man, not a boy. She wanted a man at this stage in her life.

He didn't dress like a boy as the other boys did. They all wore the same silly school uniform. She thanked god she didn't have to wear one. Because of her age she could wear something more professional. She hoped that Joseph liked her outfit. She wore a long herringbone blazer with two buttons neither of which were fastened. Under the jacket she wore a yellow draped faux wrapped top with a v-neck which cradled her breasts. It was sexy, yet professional at the same time. She wore it with black ankle length skinny jeans and pumps with two and a half inch heel. Her makeup was pretty but understated. She rubbed her ears by her studs trying to draw Joseph's attention.

Joseph knew Miriam was trying to flirt with him. But he resisted the temptation to look up. She was still a student and he could get into a lot of trouble if anything happened despite the fact she was older than he was.

With Mr. Brooks ignoring her, Miriam's uneasiness reasserted itself. Something about this entire thing was wrong. It was like she had been here before. It was the worst case of deja vu she had ever experienced. She looked at Mrs. Young's office door. Did she really want to be here? She was about to leave when someone left Mrs. Young's office. It was just a girl dressed in the school uniform. "Didn't Joseph say Mrs Young was in with a faculty member?" she thought. "I guess he doesn't know what he is talking about. He's handsome, but not a very brainy person."

"Miriam, Mrs. Young can see you now," Joseph said.

Miriam entered the office. A girl was sitting behind the desk with a plaque that declared her name as Mrs. Carlene Young. The girl wasn't anything as Miriam had expected. Brown hair, freckles, braces on her teeth, a distinctly immature body despite eyes that radiated intelligence. She was fourteen years old if she was a day. To make matters worse this girl was wearing the same school uniform that the other students were wearing.

"Um... excuse me. Are you the school counselor?" Miriam asked incredulously.

"Yes happy to meet you, I'm Mrs. Young."

Carlene prided herself on knowing all of the school's students, but she was drawing a rare blank here. Carlene tried to place the student. She wasn't like most of the students she typically saw. This woman was older. She was in her forties maybe even fifties, but that didn't mean she wouldn't help her. Her brown hair was professionally styled in a mature cut, her face showed many hints (to be kind) of wrinkles and her eyes betrayed the intelligence of a above average intellect. She nodded and motioned for the woman to sit. Checking her calendar she found that this was Miriam Werner. She was a recent transfer to the school.

The woman obliged and spoke again. "I know I just transferred in, but I'm not finding my classes challenging enough. I was hoping I could talk to you about fixing them?"

"I'm sorry to hear that the course load your father and I hashed out over the phone isn't to your liking. What exactly is the problem?" Carlene pulled up Miriam's profile on her computer.

Miriam looked nervous. With time to think while Carlene was looking over her records, Miriam thought something is wrong. Something is very wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Somehow she felt like she had done this before. But she continued with her prepared speech. She decided what she was going to say before coming to the office. "Well, it's just... At my old school I was in the gifted and talented program, and all of my classes were honors and AP classes. Right now, you guys have me in the same classes that all the other seniors are taking. I've already taken half of the classes I'm currently enrolled in, and even the ones I haven't taken already are painfully slow and, well, easy. Since this is my last year, I was hoping to have more challenging classes to prepare me for college..."

Carlene looked over Miriam's records. "I'm sorry Miriam, but we're a small district. We've never really had the funding to offer AP and honors classes. I'm afraid your last year might have to be an easy one for you. Look on the bright side, you'll probably be a shoo-in for any college you decide to apply to."

Miriam looked crestfallen. She was in her fifties and she was finally going to graduate from high school. It took so long she wanted to go out on top. She wanted to stretch her abilities not just waste time like a slacker.

Carlene frowned. This wouldn't do at all. She promised her dad that she could solve any problems. "That said... I might still be able to help you. I do have a way to make your classes more challenging without breaking the school's budget..."

Miriam brightened a little. "Really? How?" Maybe they would give her some sort of special assignment. That would look great on her transcripts.

"Have you thought of any of the school's activities to keep you busy?" Carlene asked. "How about cheerleading," she knew they needed an extra girl on the squad.

"Are you nuts?"

"No, I have something to show you." Carlene pulled out a red crystal that seemed to shimmer in the light. "With this. Why don't you take a closer look?" Carlene placed the crystal on a stand on her desk.

Miriam's excitement faded. Was this some sort of new-agey crystal nonsense? She should have expected as much in such a back water place as Cold Harbor. She should have known that this kid couldn't help her. What was she fourteen years old? However, as she glanced at the crystal she couldn't help but notice the strange star pattern the light made as it passed through. Even though the crystal upon it's stand was perfectly still, it seemed to move, radiating outward again... and again... and again... Eventually, Miriam was just staring, zombie- like at the crystal. Miriam stared into her eyes like she was staring into her soul. The fear and everything else faded from Miriam's eyes.

Carlene looked directly into Miriam's vacant eyes. They may have looked vacant but Carlene knew better. She had to maintain strict eye contact if this was going to work. "Miriam, can you hear me?" Carlene asked.

Miriam gave a soft, breathy response. "Yes."

Charlene looked at the list of clubs and activities that needed extra members.

Charlene thought that Miriam could use some exercise so she started with, "Miriam I want you to join the, um, let's see, cheerleading squad." Charlene looked over the list, let's see the D&D club needs at least one female member she thought. "Join the D&D club and finally why not join the goth group."

Susan was finishing up.

"Miriam do you have a boyfriend?"

"No, the boys here seem so immature to me."

"That is a shame. A girl who doesn't have at least one boyfriend in high school is truly sad. Miriam I want you to start crushing on boys. I want you to start thinking of the boys here as hot and sexy. You can't help yourself. It is very important to find a boyfriend. Especially since the prom is this year you need one of the students to be your date. The more time that passes the more desperate you will become."

Then inspiration hit Charlene, I want you to start dating one of the younger nerdier guys in you D&D club. I want you to rock his world. Make a man out of him.

Miriam processed this final command. It was time to put the crystal away. Without looking Carlene reached for the crystal but she knocked it off it's stand. It rolled towards the edge of the table. Carlene desperately tried to reach for it but it was too late. It fell off the table and smashed on the floor releasing a blinding light.

Chapter 23.

Joseph Brooks entered the outer office of the school guidance counselor. He wanted to talk to her about his classes. He wanted to take something more challenging. He had transferred to the Weymore Academy about two weeks ago and couldn't stand his classes. They weren't doing anything to get him into a better university.

But Joseph felt uneasy. He was having an awful case of deja vu like he had done this before. He wanted to leave immediately. But he couldn't he had to get into some better classes or he would go out of his mind. He forced himself into the room and preceded to the receptionists desk. The name plaque proclaimed her name as Miss Miriam Werner.

"How can I help you?" Miriam inquired.

"I have a one o'clock appointment with Mrs. Corsetti."

"Are you Joseph?"

"Yes, I am."

"I see the appointment here," Miriam said looking at her computer screen. "She is in with the school's soccer coach, Miss Young. She should be through in a few minutes. Take a seat."

Looking over at Miriam, Joseph's apprehension rose. She was a woman in her fifties, not too much older than he was but she was wearing the school uniform of a typical female student. The same silly blue short sleeve banded bottom oxford blouse with the school crest emblazoned on the right chest. The same plaid cross tie that it seems only little girls in school uniforms wore. The same tan straight legged twill pants. (God forbid that a girl would wear skinny pants instead of straight legged ones.) The same dark stockings and black leather oxford women's shoes.

This place was a model of conformity, not like his former school. He didn't know why his dad made them move all the way out here into the middle of nowhere. Joseph hated it.

Joseph was lucky in one respect. Everyone else (all the students and now it seems some of the staff) had to wear uniforms, but he didn't. They made an exception for him. He had transferred in late and since everything had to be specially made it was impossible for him to have his clothes ready on time. But he had to dress appropriately. He couldn't come to school in ripped jeans and tees like at his former school. He had to dress professionally.

Today that meant that he was wearing his long herringbone blazer with two buttons. He needed to keep it's buttons secured. Under the jacket he wore a yellow draped faux wrapped top with a v-neck that showed the lightest hint of his chest hairs. He couldn't let the blouse show too much, that wasn't proper. He certainly couldn't let anyone see the bra he wore underneath to give his chest some definition. It was sort of an unspoken rule that his bra and panties had to match although Joseph didn't know how the administration would find out. He wore it with black ankle length skinny jeans. The jeans had to be neatly pressed and mostly hidden under his blazer. He didn't wear any socks with his pumps with two and a half inch heels. But he could if he wanted to as long as they were nude stockings or tights. He wore small studs in his ears. He had a light touch when it came to makeup. He had to have a natural look or they would make him clean it off.

Joseph sat in one of the chairs with his legs crossed at the knees. He was here to get his classes changed into something more challenging. But as he waited he became more and more apprehensive. One of his heels dangled from the end of his toe. He didn't think anything could be done. He didn't know there were more advanced classes. But that was besides the point, everything seemed wrong some how.

He looked up again, Miss Warner was twirling her hair with one of her fingers. Then she took out a stick of gum and started to chew it. First this woman was dressed like a student and now she was acting like one. He finally recognized her, Miriam was one of the cheerleaders he saw at the soccer game. This place is getting weirder and weirder.

A moment later, a little girl (well a teenager about thirteen years old, she had freckles on her face, a little button nose like a high school sophomore. When she smiled Joseph could see braces on her teeth) exited Mrs. Corsetti's office, she was wearing a men's suit and tie. But despite wearing men's clothes she was skipping out of the office like the girl she appeared.

Carlene stopped at Miss Werner's desk and told her, "I'll send one of my students to pick up the books. Can you have them ready by 2:30."

"This little girl is a teacher here? What is wrong with this place?" Joseph wondered. "The people are acting so strange!"

A moment later, Mrs. Corsetti appeared at her door, she was dressed identically to Miriam. She wore the same girl's uniform as all the other students. But unlike Miriam she was indeed just a teenager. Joseph also knew that this girl was the guidance counselor. Somehow between his bad feelings and seeing the youth of the supposed guidance counselor Joseph decided it wasn't worth it.

He got out of his chair and ran as fast as he could in his two and a half inch pumps.

Epilogue.

Joseph ran aimlessly for only a few minutes. He had to get away from the office of the guidance counselor. But he felt better. His feet hurt a little bit, His pumps weren't made for running in but it was OK.

It wasn't long before the bell sounded the the students entered the hallway. He started to look around, for a moment everything seemed off. But then he took a closer look. There really wasn't a problem.

The first thing that Joseph discovered that he wasn't the only student who could avoid the dress code. There were a few of them students who wore suits or dresses.

The rest of the students were wearing the usual school uniform. Few even wore it with a skirt instead of slacks. It was a personal preference, but it seemed an equal amount of boys and girls wore skirts. To each their own. Joseph liked his skinny jeans, but he also occasional wore a skirt.

The students themselves ranged in ages from three to sixty which wasn't unusual. After all some students progressed quickly and others had to be left back.

Some of the teachers wore the school uniform, some did not.

The special ed kids all in their matching overalls and white shirts had been taken en-mass to use the potty. They waited for their own turn as the teacher sat each upon the toilet and then wiped and redressed them when they were done.

It might be a small rural school, but it looked pretty typical to Joseph. He didn't know why he became so afraid in the guidance office. But whatever it was it was for the best. It didn't matter if he took classes they weren't challenging. It was his senior year and he could skate through. What did it matter, he would be graduating in June and wouldn't have to come back here again.

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