The Birthday Present

My best friend Scott came over with a case of Guinness and a brightly wrapped box to help me celebrate my birthday. Although Scott is a few years my junior, we clicked from the first time we met many years ago and because I am an only child I think of him more as the brother I never had. We are watching the first Thor movie again before we go to see the latest incarnation of the superhero. Chris Hemsworth is the perfect male, at least according to Scott.

About halfway through the movie and more than a few brews Scott pipes up. “So dude when are you going to open up your present?” I completely forgot about his gift between the drinking and getting engrossed in the movie so I get the box and start tearing into the paper, wondering what it conceals. Once the paper is off I catch a faint whiff of a very tempting aroma emanating from the box. I open the lid carefully. The strong smell of chocolate playfully seduces my senses and my mouth begins to water as I see a rather plain but delicious looking cake.

“I stopped off at this weird little bakery I found. Never had seen it before but I thought they might have a cake that would work for your birthday. The lady called it a ‘wishing cake’. According to her if you take a bite of the cake and make a wish it will come true but it only works for the birthday dude.”

“Sounds like some kind of made up story to sell the cake.” I take the cake from the box and start to cut it. I pass a piece over to Scott who is sitting on the couch and then sit down in my chair to eat my piece.

“So bro what are you going to wish for?”

“If I tell you it won’t come true… or at least that is what people say.”

“Whatever dude.” Scott sits there eating his cake and watching the movie. What would I wish for? Many thoughts run around in my head, especially the one that I had often entertained before: I always wished Scott really was my brother. That is never going to happen so as I watch him enjoying the action of the movie I find myself wishing that he could have his desire to be like Chris. Wouldn’t that be so cool to have someone like Chris as a bud? Silly thought that I quickly dismiss as I take a bite of the cake. No sooner have I swallowed the cake then I begin to get dizzy and the room seems to be spinning wildly. Thor continues to pummel the bad guys while Scott appears oblivious to what is happening. Everything goes black as I pass out.

I’m startled from my sound sleep by a loud knocking on my door. Wait a minute… when did I go to bed? Glancing around still half-asleep, I realize this isn’t even my room. What is going on? The knocking persists so I start to get up to answer the door. I fling the bed clothes aside to find I am only wearing boxers and… these aren’t my legs. Checking the rest of me I find it isn’t just my legs that are different. My slight beer belly and chest hair are gone now as well, replaced by a long, lean, and toned torso while my lengthier arms are nicely muscled. I also suspect I will find quite a surprise lurking beneath the boxers. The continual knocking interrupts my exploration. I swing my legs to the floor, almost losing my balance as I start to stand. Still not fully awake I stumble towards the sound of the knocking, not thinking about the fact that I have nothing on but boxers. I am momentarily stunned when I open the door and behold a god-like figure enveloped in a golden sun-lit aura standing there. I have to be dreaming for there in all his glorious manhood is Chris Hemsworth. I know he has to be at least half a foot taller than me but surprisingly I am looking him straight in the eyes. It seems I have become much taller as well. What would he be doing here, wherever ‘here’ is?

“What are you…?” I stop in mid-sentence, slightly terrified that I don’t hear my usual voice. The words I heard had a pronounced accent with a very youthful timbre. What has happened to me?

“Liam Hems… but how did…?” The very perplexed expression on his face does not seem to fit at all with the self-confident Aussie actor I have seen and heard so much about. My mind is racing at warp speed. Has the cake granted my wish? I sure don’t have my own body and Chris acts confused like he doesn’t know who or where he is. Does that mean Scott has become Chris? No, things like that don’t happen but… he called me Liam. Could I be his younger brother? The scenario fits.

I usher him through the door while he awkwardly stumbles past me into the room as though he is not used to walking in his body. That makes me suspect even more that Scott might really have become Chris. He collapses into a nearby chair.

“Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” I leave him alone while I quickly make my way back to the bedroom to put some clothes on and then head back to him. I need to find out if this truly is Scott. I might as well just ask him.

“Is that you Scott?” If it isn’t Scott I’ll have to explain to Chris why I asked him that question but I’m quite sure I’m talking with my best friend.

“Of course I’m Scott dude but how did you know my name? I’ve never met you before.” Scott is indeed wrapped up in the hunk and he thinks he’s talking to Liam, not me. I feel much better knowing my best bud is here with me even if he does look like someone else. He is so disoriented that he obviously doesn’t have any idea he has a completely different body, least of all that he is Chris, nor has he yet recognized that his voice has drastically changed. I get him to stand up and lead him to a mirror I see across the room.

“Take a look at yourself.”

We stand together in front of the mirror, seeing ourselves for the first time. How cool is this? I have gone from an ordinary older man to an amazing 23 year old Aussie stud and Scott has become 30 year old Thor himself. I can tell Scott is dumbfounded to find he is now the embodiment of his ideal man. His eyes are eagerly taking in the sight of Chris reflecting back from the mirror. He is like a very excited little boy who got exactly what he wanted as a present. Can’t say I blame him because seeing Liam staring back at me from the mirror is just so incredible.

“I… I’m Chris Hemsworth. But how is this possible? How do you know me?”

“Remember you brought me a wishing cake last night for my birthday? Well, it really worked.”

“So you’re… Liam? This is so awesome dude. We look and sound so rad. You’re my baby bro now.” Relief floods his face as he realizes I am with him.

“You got it. I wished for you to be like Chris and I wanted to be your brother. Apparently my wish was granted by you transforming into Chris and me into Liam. You startled me awake this morning when you started banging on the door. I found myself in an unfamiliar room in a very different body. I didn’t suspect who I was or what had happened until I saw you and heard myself speak. But how did you get here?”

“I left after you fell asleep in your chair and went home to bed. The next thing I knew it was daylight and I was at a strange house knocking on the door and seeing Liam, er, you standing there. Chris must have been here to see Liam for some reason when your wish was granted.”

The realization dawns on me that neither one of us knows anything about being Liam or Chris. We are still ourselves, albeit packaged differently. Sure we look the parts but we don’t act like them so anyone who knows the two brothers is bound to notice something is different in their behavior. That is assuming, of course, that we are going to remain as we now are.

“Did the lady at the store say anything about the wishes being permanent?” Hearing Liam’s sexy voice coming out of my mouth when I speak is still unbelievable.

“No she didn’t but I didn’t believe the cake would actually work so I didn’t ask. Don’t worry. Everything will be alright little bro.” How amusing. Little bro – neither one of us is exactly little anymore. I watch as my friend sits and lights up a smoke as though it is the most natural thing for him to do. Something has happened to him because Scott never smoked a day in his life. I think he has gotten Chris’ mannerisms and habits. When he speaks I am sure of it.

“Get with the program mate. We’ve got to get going if we are going surfing today. You aren’t even ready yet.” There is a powerful tone to his voice and a new found confidence coming from him. The hesitation of before is gone – all traces of Scott have vanished, completely replaced by Chris’ personality. His ultimate fantasy has become his reality and my best bud is now truly my older brother.

My head suddenly begins to feel painfully strange as memories of Liam’s life assault my brain. The pain quickly subsides, leaving me with the knowledge of all the intricacies about him, his likes and dislikes, his darkest secrets, everything… yet I still retain my own memories as well. It’s like I am two people in one body.

“Give me a minute to change. I’ll meet you outside.” Liam’s identity is starting to fuse with mine, becoming more dominant than my own, much in the same way Scott became Chris I suspect. A sense of family closeness with my brothers, particularly Chris, manifests in my mind. I adore my brother. We may have fought like cats and dogs growing up but I always worshipped him. I wanted to be just like him, emulating everything he did. He was my idol, my hero.

“Don’t be long Liam.” He has no shred of awkwardness as he rises from his chair and strides confidently from the room.

I head to my room so I can get my gear on and grab my board. I glance in the bathroom mirror, checking out my incredible body as I throw on some board shorts and a tank top. In a flash we are on the road and headed for some fun in the sun.

It is exhilarating to feel my muscles ripple and obey my every command as I surf… and as an added bonus I know I look amazing on my board. As I walk up the beach after surfing I am leaving more of my old self behind, quickly losing the ability to recall anything of my prior life as if it had all been a dream. I am becoming Liam completely but that doesn’t bother me. I know somehow that no matter what happens I am going to relish my new life as a hot looking young actor with Chris watching out for me. I have the brother I have always wanted and I finally know what real brotherly love is. This is the best birthday present ever.