Parental Authority

(based on Pic. 2 of Caption This 10/19)

I am at my wit’s end. My 16 year old son Dylan has started to hang out with a “bad” crowd, the kind that has real trouble makers. He is basically a good kid but is at that age when he is rebelling against my parental authority and wants to fit in with the cool kids. It hasn’t been easy for us since my wife passed away. He needs someone he respects and admires to help him get through this time in his life.

Kevin is a third year pre-med student at the local college where I am a professor. He lives next door in my neighbor’s “mother-in-law” house while he goes to school. I’ve helped him with his classes a few times when he has had trouble understanding some of the concepts. Kevin is a bright guy who is captain and quarterback of the school’s football team and isn’t too shabby to look at either. Like any college student his age, he likes to party and have his fun with the young ladies but he is a responsible young man, the perfect role model for Dylan. I can tell my son is in awe of him so maybe Dylan will listen to Kevin. I dial Kevin’s phone. It goes into voice mail so I leave him a message asking if he will drop by my house when he gets home. I want to talk with him about helping my son.

A short while later I hear the familiar sound of Kevin pulling up to the front of my house on his motorcycle. My doorbell rings and sure enough Kevin is standing there in his leather jacket looking like he just stepped out of an ad in one of those motorcycle magazines. “Hey Dr. G. what’s up?” I invite him in and after asking him to sit down I come straight to the point.

“Thanks for coming over Kevin. I have a huge favor to ask of you. You know Dylan just entered his sophomore year in high school and is going through that stage where he is trying to find himself. He needs someone he can look up to for guidance and as I am “just his dad” he tends not to listen to me. I was wondering if you might be willing to help me out, maybe hang around with him a little and try to steer him in the right direction. I’m sure you have noticed he idolizes you, both as the local sports hero and the big brother that he never had.”

“Sure Dr. G. I’ll be glad to help you out how ever I can. I only have one condition. Meet me at my place in about an hour and we can finalize the plan.” He leaves while I wonder what his condition is.

About an hour later I hear Kevin pull into his driveway. I give him a few minutes and then I head over as he requested. I knock on his door and he answers, dressed in nothing more than his pants. He ushers me in to his living area. “Have a seat Dr. G. I’ll be right back.” I can hear him rummaging in his kitchen. He has a couple bottles of Guinness with him when he returns, one of which he offers to me. We sit there chatting for a bit and drinking our brews when I start to feel sleepy. One bottle has never had this kind of effect on me before but I simply cannot keep my eyes open. The room begins to spin and I pass out.

“Wake up Dr. G.” I slowly rouse hearing my name being called repeatedly. I must still be groggy because I swear the voice sounds like mine. He tries to shake me awake.

“Okay I’m awake. You can stop shaking me now Kevin.” Wait a minute. That doesn’t sound like my voice. My eyes snap open as I realize I am looking at myself shaking me. If that is me does that mean… I shiver a bit as I can feel a slightly cool breeze across my upper body as though I don’t have any shirt on. Kevin didn’t have a shirt on when I came in. I look down at myself in disbelief. My torso has gotten longer, more muscular, and my normal crop of chest hair has disappeared leaving my chest smooth, showing off my tanned skin to its utmost. My small beer belly has been replaced by tight six-pack abs. I manage to stand up and go to the mirror I see hanging on the wall. There looking back at me is Kevin. I move my hand to my neck and the reflection does the same. This is simply unbelievable but somehow I have become Kevin. I can only surmise that Kevin is now in my body.

“This is my condition Dr. G. You get to be me so you can help your son.” How strange it is to hear my voice talking to me. “Sorry to do this to you without any warning but I figured you probably wouldn’t agree to a swap if I just asked you. Don’t worry - we can switch back once you get Dylan on the right road, no matter how long it takes. In the meantime you get to enjoy being the top football jock and BMOC. I get to take a break from my classes for a while and have some fun teaching instead.”

“How do you think you can teach my classes when you don’t know the subject matter? Moreover how can I be the football captain when I know nothing about the sport?” I still can’t believe I hear Kevin’s voice when I talk.

“Not to worry Dr. G. or should I say Kevin. You have my body and in a few minutes you will have all my memories as well. You’ll still be you but you can be me with no problem. Just think you get to ride my bike and play ball just like me. And I’ll be able to teach your classes easily. Your son will look up to you and listen to you. That is what you want isn’t it?”

I hate to admit it but Kevin is right. That is what I want. I’ll be able to help Dylan and be the hottest jock on campus, something I could never in my wildest dreams have imagined.

“Come over tomorrow Kevin and you can take Dylan to play some ball. I have to prepare my lessons for the week.” The new Dr. G. leaves to go home. Now that I am alone I can explore my new body. I don’t know how he pulled this off and I guess I really don’t care. It’s going to be awesome being Kevin.