As Luck Would Have it

Betsy flew her carpet to her house hoping Henry was still there. No luck. She wrote a message and taped it on the icebox. “Miss you this morning. Try again in two day. Love, Betsy.”

Betsy flew back and made more aphrodisiac. She bottled it in the fancy bottles as her mother worked in the garden. “Mom, Pop is making thousands on this stuff. Mattie says that it makes her husband perform as good as a man half his age.”

“Pop will be glad. Men will pay any price to improve their performance,” Mom said.

“Pop doesn’t take it.”

“He isn’t a young man. It improves blood circulation; it\'s good for the man’s general health.”

“Alex doesn’t need it,” Betsy said.

“You might think differently in ten to twenty years,” her mother said. “We have triple the orders we had last week. Can you make enough of this stuff?”

“Alex wants to build a house here. He has enough money to hire someone to build him a house.”

“I’ll tell Pop to give him a few days off to build a house,” Mom said.

“I want to help him.”

“Henry will be angry that you abandoned him.”

“He’ll live. He wasn’t home this morning. I left him a note.”

Betsy pulled Alex close at night; Alex put his hands down Betsy’s body. Feeling beautiful and feminine, she didn’t want to leave Alex’s side. In the morning, she just stared at him as he slept. He looked so much like an angel. She needed to do something to get him a sexual mature body. He did so much for everyone else. She kissed his hair lightly, not to wake him. Her morning peace was broken by Frank cursing that he couldn’t find any money lying around the house.

Alex gave him two dollars. “Kill yourself. I’m not healing you again.”

“Thanks.” Frank put the money in his pants pocket.

“Shower and change your clothes,” his mother said.

“Sure,” Frank mumbled, as he wanted up the stairs.

“Eat,” Betsy shouted. “I made eggs, griddle cakes and ham.”

Betsy dropped off Mattie supplies. After she collected the money, Mattie gave her a brief kiss. “Mattie, you shouldn’t cheat on your husband.”

“I like variety,” Mattie said.

“I’m cheating on Henry and it isn’t a good feeling.”

“Alex?”

“He’s very sweet”

Mattie kissed her. In a few minutes, they were in her bed. Mattie moved her mouth and hands over Betsy’s body. She licked Betsy’s earlobe and put her hands through Betsy’s hair. Mattie whispered, “Betsy, your body is curvier. More like it was five months ago.”

“You feel so good.” Betsy put her head on Mattie’s breast. “I love your breasts.”

“Enjoy them.” Mattie pulled her head into them.

“Jack could find us.”

“He doesn’t care.” Mattie put her hair through Betsy’s short masculine hair as Betsy kissed and licked the valley between Mattie’s breasts. “Are you going to keep your hair short?”

“I may let it grow out.” Betsy rolled beside Mattie and took her hand. “But with a eight month old, who has time to wash and brush long hair?” Betsy put her hand on Mattie\'s breast and sucked on the other.

“Relax and enjoy what you feel.”

“I don’t know what I feel.” Betsy kissed Mattie’s belly button. “I love your body.”

“You hate yours.”

“I do not. It keeps changing. I was a thin before I had Cynthia. Pregnancy shifted everything around. Then Mary Jane’s potion gave me straighter muscles and shifted my body fat. Now my body fat is way it was months ago. Not to mention, my curse remover changed my face.” She touched Mattie’s face. “Mattie stays Mattie. Betsy’s body is fluid, too fluid.”

“Let me enjoy your body the way you are enjoying mine. Let me teach you to love yourself.”

“I’m putty in your hands.” Betsy moved her head down lower. “Mattie.”

“Betsy, go ahead.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“So it yours.”

“A man can see his sex organs. A woman’s are mysterious. When I squeeze my legs together or use my hand I can feel it, but it isn’t shouting at me. Henry wants that loud male sexuality and I can\'t give it to him.”

Mattie dressed quickly afterwards. “Betsy, I need to make my deliveries. I’m sorry that we can’t spend all day in bed.”

“I’ll visit another time.” Betsy dressed.

“Never mind.” Mattie kissed her cheek as Betsy tied her work boots. “I expect to find a coarse cheek. Lock up.”

Betsy put on her jumper. The New England could get chilly in the early fall then suddenly get hot. The temperature could easily range from over 60 degrees F to below freezing within the day. She locked the door behind her as she left. Not wanting to face the cold,

Betsy looked at the fresh bread and pastries downstairs. “Jack, may I have two baguettes?”

“You would be a pretty girl if you let your hair grow.”

“I’m pretty.”

“You took something that counteracted the male hormones you were taking.”

“I take the hormones to prevent episodes of uncontrolled telekinetic energy. A friend suggested that I wear men’s clothes. I wasn’t making a political statement.”

“When people look at you, they see a man. You aren’t helping the suffragist movement. You pay Mattie and Agnes a fair commission. You treat woman fairly others will do the same.”

“I worked in a mill for seven years,” said Betsy. “I’ve put in fourteen hour days. I know what is it’s like to be a working girl.” Betsy put on her hat with a single hand while holding the baguettes under her arm then tipped it slightly toward him. “Good day.”

“Please, come again.”

“I’ll take what you say into considerate.” On the way to her parents’ house, Betsy ate one of the baguettes.

Betsy looked at herself in the mirror at her parents’ house and thought about finding a potion to reduce her bustline. “Can we talk and make potion?” Betsy asked her mother.

“What happened?”

“I brought us some bread at the bakery after my deliveries and the baker thought I was taking male hormone for reasons other than chaotic magic.”

“That must have hurt.”

“I’m at the house most of the day making potion and not being anybody for anyone.” Betsy allowed her telekinesis to fill the bottles.

“Betsy, we have work to do.”

“Why did the baker say that?”

“Honey, you shouldn’t have wore men’s clothes out of the house. What you wear speaks louder than your words. Amanda Bloomer wouldn’t have made such a stir if that wasn’t the case.”

Betsy stayed up late at night to do research for a sex change spell for Alex. After searching several of her father’s spell books, she flew home to see Henry after leaving her mother a note that she would be gone for one to two days.

Henry was asleep when she put Cynthia in her crib. Betsy climbed in bed with him. Henry screamed when he found someone in bed with him.

“It’s only me,” Betsy said.

“How long are you home?”

“A day or two. Pop will have to bottle his own potions for that long.”

“How is it working for your folks?”

“They’re slave drivers. I work at least fourteen hours a day. His salesmen have it easier. I’m pouring potion all day and night.”

“Frank?”

“He’s no help. Would you like to enjoy this beautiful body?”

“Is Alex enjoying it?”

“Yes.”

“Then, I rather go without.”

“Henry, I’m here for you.”

“I don’t want you here. You made your choice.”

“Henry, I’m your wife.”

“You’re your own man. I want nothing to do with you.”

Betsy wanted to scream. How dare Henry made a remark about her being a man after what Jack, the baker, said. Her voice was now deep alto, but she was never a soprano. Hips were curvier. Then, Henry wouldn’t notice those things. “We have a daughter.”

“I’ll visit Cynthia on the weekends. I don’t want you in my bed.”

“Can we just talk a minute?” Betsy put on his robe and sat up on the edge of the bed.

“I have nothing to say to you,” Henry said sitting up.

“I need your advice.” Betsy scratched her chin; the gesture mimicked Henry.

“Make up your own mind.”

“I’ll be back in two days for my daughter.” Betsy dressed and took her carpet back to her parents’ house.

Alex hugged Betsy as he was loading his carpet with supplies for the day. “I’m making more than I can imagine. What do your parents do with all that money?”

“Buying ingredients to make more potion. Pop says that the pretty bottles cost him more than the potions. I should ask for a pay increase so I can help with your house. Did you buy land?”

“I got an acre about a mile from here. It’s beautiful land. It has these beautiful trees. The land is nearly flat prefect for building a little house. I’m seeing an architect my next day off.”

“Henry doesn’t want me in his bed. He agreed to watch Cynthia for two days.”

“I’m sorry.”

Betsy worked hard on her potions and filling bottles as her mother worked beside her. Her pop came over to Betsy as she was bottling. “Pop, Alex has the mind and body of child. Do you have any ideas how to fix that? He doesn’t response to sex change spells. Is that because his body isn’t mature or is that because he isn’t male or female?”

“My sex change spell would change a boy into a girl. Puberty isn’t a factory.”

“Then, we need to find out what is different about Alex then anyone else.”

“I know a few healers. I can ask another if they found anyone with Alex’s problem and if there is a potion to repair it.”

“Thanks, Pop. The baker said that I act like a man.”

“You do. It’s nothing you can change so don’t let it trouble you. Betsy, I\'ll find an answer for Alex. I’m still working on the taste of your curse-curing potion. It’s still hideous. Do you have any suggestions?”

“Make it sweet and double the volume by adding sugar syrup and fruit flavoring.”

“I’ll do that,” Pop said. “I’ll have you taste it when I’m done.”

A week later, Betsy was still working for her parents. Henry gave CynthiaAnnaAnnabel to be raised with her cousins. Henry claimed that Cynthia needed a stable home life and neither of them was able to provide it.

“Alex is physically and mentally a boy you shouldn’t be teasing him,” Pop said after returning from training a new guy.

“He’s twenty-six years old,” said Betsy.

“Mentally, he’s closer to twelve. I’m not telling you something you don’t know.”

“You didn’t mind when I was kissing him before.”

“I talked to a few healers about his problem. It took me five healers until I found someone who treated this condition. In every cell in our body there are twenty-three pairs of chromosomes. In males the twenty-third set doesn’t match. Alex has an extra chromosome. If removed by a healer, he’ll be a healthy female.”

“Do you think I could make a potion will that will do this?”

“Possibly. If he is mentally deficit, do I have the right to do this to him?”

“We should ask his parents.” After researching the problem, Betsy located a potion that worked to cure certain forms of retardation when they were extra cellular material; it was one of those many spells discovered and never put to proper use. However, it sounded like the problem that Alex had. If worked for Alex, perhaps, more healers would use a portion to cure retardation caused by extra cellular material. Many cures healers had were neglected and Betsy didn\'t understand the phenomena, but if Alex was cured perhaps, he could repair the situation.

Betsy woke her father in the middle of the night after she had made the potion. “I did it. This will cure Alex.”

“Can we cure Alex in the morning?” her mother said between yawns.

“It can wait until morning. Pop, you had the answer. There are several disorders caused by extra chromosomal material. The physical characteristics are different but that might be due to having a different extra chromosome than Alex.”

“I’m glad you found the answer. Let Alex sleep. We will fix it in the morning,” her father suggested.

Betsy was too excited to sleep so she returned to bottling potion. She read to see if they were more about this potion. A physical immature male taking the potion would become female when the extra material was removed. The potion would do nothing if there were the normal amount of genetic material. She returned to bottling. The orders were over a week behind. There was too much work to do out of the basement. Her father would need to build a factory; demand was still growing.

Betsy started to make breakfast at the crack of dawn. Her father joined her soon after. “Let’s go. Pop, get Alex. I’ll get the potion.”

“I get the message,” Pop said. “This better work. We can’t him dying on us. He’s my best salesman.”

“If this work, she’ll be your best saleslady,” Betsy said.

“We’ll have to tell him that.”

“If we are wrong and there is no extra material, it won’t harm him in anyway.”

Alex came into the room. “I heard you talking about me.”

“I want you to take pot potion. Pop thinks you have a genetic defect. With my potion hopefully, you’ll be a healthy woman,” Betsy said. “Your personality will change as well as you appearance. There is no way anyone can be prepared for that.”

“I have healing ability. I won’t die,” Alex said. “Darling, I trust you.”

“Wait a minute. I have it downstairs.”

“I’ll try to be patient,” Alex said. “Healers are female. Everyone knows that. I need to know the answer. This has been bothering me for twenty years. Once I know, I can go on. It’s the not knowing.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Betsy said.

“What’s the first thing you ask when a baby is born? It does matter,” Alex said. \"I live with the difference.\"

Betsy brought up the potion she made earlier for Alex.

“We should ask your parents,” Thad said. “Once we remove the information we can’t put it back.”

“They are deceased.”

“Let’s do it,” Thad said.

“This is it. Are you sure you want your genes changed? Your personality, everything, might change,” Betsy said. “Please, are you certain? We can’t change you back. Another spell would simply change you into another person. The original template will be gone.”

“I never felt this nervous.” Alex opened the jar.

“Would you like to warm it or drink it with ice?” Betsy asked.

“Room temperature is fine.” Alex drank it down quickly. “It’s working. I’m smaller. I think I’m going to throw up.”

“Sit down.” Thad helped Alex into a seat. “You’re good six inches shorter.”

“You are. I hope you weren’t too attached to your height,” Betsy said.

“I feel dizzy. Your potions are getting better tasting as you go along.”

“You’re just getting used to them.” Betsy hugged the smaller woman. “You’re beautiful. Do you want to look in the mirror?”

“In a moment, I’ll need clothes.”

“I’ll sew you some.”

Alex looked in a mirror. “What did you do to me?” she asked.

“We removed the extra information. Most people have forty-six chromosomes; you had forty-seven.”

“What now?”

“You continue your life. Alex, you’re a healthy woman. We told you ahead of time that you can’t put the information back.”

“I’m just trying to understand. I don’t want to put it back. I want to be normal.”

“Do you need to lie down?” Thad asked.

“No, I think I should return to work as soon as possible. Betsy, can you shorten a dress for me. Nobody is going to recognize me,” Alex said.

“I can hem a dress for you. One of mom’s dresses will probably fix you better. Pop hires new people all the time. So you have the same first name.”

Wanda Logan rubbed her eyes as she entered the kitchen. “Who’s this young woman?” Mrs. Logan stared at the short, blonde young woman.

“I’m Alex Gardener. Betsy gave me a spell that removed extra material from my cells. Mrs. Logan, can I have a dress to wear for the day? I need to get to work.”

“I must be three or four inches taller than you,” Wanda said.

“I’ll hem it,” Betsy said.

“I’ll meet you in the den. We can’t sew in the kitchen.”

“After we eat,” Thad said.

After Betsy hemmed a dress, Alex left to do her route. Betsy loaded her carpet to delivery to Mattie. She didn’t say a word to Mattie about the potion and what it did for Alex. It would be a day or two before Alex realized that she was brighter. Betsy felt it would be better if Alex told Mattie about the potion herself.

Betsy returned to help her mother with the bottling. “Mom, we need to get a factory. There is more than we can do in a basement.”

“We could hire couple of girls to work through the night,” her mother suggested. “It would be cheaper than building a factory.”

“I’ll put an advertisement in the paper for help.” Betsy filled bottles with her telekinesis.

“I’ll do it. Two people needed with magic to work overnight.” Wandat tht the basement.

Betsy worked until late at night. The bottling was not even close to done. Betsy turned on a lamp and placed two sheets of paper on her nightstand. She wrote a simple algebra problem on the paper. Betsy looked at the petite woman, trying not to focus too much on that this seemingly intelligent woman had been a mildly retarded man the day before. “Alex, you told me that you were good in math. Would you like to try something new?”

“Sure.”

“Have you heard of algebra?”

“Isn’t that hard?”

“No, it is easy if you know basic arithmetic.”

“I can add, subtract, multiply and divide. I even know long division.” Alex stated that she knew long division like it was the greatest accomplish in the world and for the boy that he was, it was. It was miraculous that he could mathematics at all.

“Then, this should be cake. If you work with me every night, you’ll be integrating and differentiating before you know it.”

“What is that?”

“There is a high level mathematics called calculus that I taught myself as a teenager. Girls aren’t suppose to be able learn it. Anyway, that is what I was told when I tried to take it in high school. I managed to get a book from a college book sale, a bag of books for a nickel.”

“Calculus.”

“It’s only a goal. Henry doesn’t even know calculus. He can conduct business in three different languages so I think his mind operates on a whole different level. Henry told me that I should teach math at a woman’s college. He\'s amazed at the problems that I can solve.”

“You do math for fun.”“All“All the time. I would bring textbooks to the mill and do it on my breaks. The other girls thought I was studying for college.”

“Does Henry have any friends that teach math?”

“He had one. He freaked out at my notebooks. He believed them to be Henry’s but Henry didn’t know a vector from a function.”

“It’s all over my head.”

“We better get started. Let’s find the unknown. The unknown is ‘x’.”

Alex solved a few problems. “This is easy.”

“It get hard fast. Be careful to keep all your lines straight.”

Betsy removed her skirt and blouse and snuggled next to Alex. Betsy wore a skirt and blouse that morning because she couldn\'t see Alex wearing a dress when she normally refused to do the same. She didn\'t want to imagine Alex that lived 26 years as a boy was more a woman than she was. Betsy didn\'t feel feminine in women\'s clothes, but uncomfortable like she was putting on a costume that people wanted to see. The real Betsy wore trousers and shirtsleeves and spit like a common man.

“I can’t cuddle with another woman.” Alex\'s voice was so feminine sounded and it wasn\'t just the pitch. She had the inflection of a woman; something, Betsy never managed to acquire.

“Alex, just sleep. I’ll buy you patterns and fabric in the morning.”

“I can’t sew.”

“I will. I’ll have my mother help me pick out the patterns. Mattie can help me.”

Betsy took Alex’s measurements in the morning. Mrs. Logan suggested that Betsy used her patterns. “You should make yourself a dress while you’re at it.”

“I have no interest in wearing a dress. I’m fine the way I am,” Betsy said. “I’m too tall. I look better in a man\'s shirt and trousers.” Betsy needed to admit to herself that Alex that was a woman for a day was far more feminine than Betsy that had tried to be a woman most of her twenty odd years of life.

“That’s why your husband isn’t speaking to you.”

“That is because I cheated on him. He was drawn to me because I’m a masculine woman.” Henry\'s eyes got big when he saw Betsy in men\'s clothes and it wasn\'t disgust. He thought she made a very attractive man and told her such with more than his words.

“Even so you could wear a dress.”

“And be uncomfortable. Mom, this is who I am.”

“Are you going to become a man again?”

“Why? I’m can do what I want with this body. Even Mattie was impressed. All right, we used a few of Paul’s sex toys but that is what they’re there for. I should bring some home for Alex.”

“You would scare her off. I can’t believe that you and Mattie.”

“At least, Jack can’t scream about her sleeping with another man.” Betsy started working on the dress for Alex.

“You expect Alex to wear a dress and you won’t. Make yourself a dress. Try to set a good example.”

“Alex’s decisions have nothing to do with mine. I wear skirts all the time. Dresses hang on me wrong. We have two other women working in sales. I’ll ask them to talk to her.”

“Maybe, you shouldn’t ask Mattie to talk to her.”

“Why? Are they going to compare notes?”

“I wasn’t considering that. Mattie’s morals are a bit loose.”

“Mother, what are you trying to imply?”

“Have you looked in the mirror, lately?”

“Mum, I do the best I can.”

“I have to get to the bottling. Talk to you later.”

Pop came downstairs after Betsy had made three dresses for Alex. “Hello, dear.”

“What do you think of the dresses?”

“They’re a little small for you.”

“They’re for Alex. I have my own clothes.”

“I’m sure she’ll be happy. Mattie will probably take her to pick out patterns and fabric.”

“She doesn’t know how to sew,” Betsy said.

“You can teach her.”

“I wouldn’t know how to teach her. You taught me to use telekinesis. I can barely sew a button with my hands.”

Alex put on one of the dresses. “How do I look?”

“Very good,” Thad said.

“I can read better. I read so much faster today and remembered everything. It was great. Everything seems easier,” Alex explained.

“How did work go?” Thad asked.

“Fine. The distributors will have to accept a short woman,” Alex said.

“They will,” Betsy said, “or they’ll have to deal with me.”

“They wouldn’t want to do that,” Alex said.

“I hired another man for the Boston route. Alex, you’re on your own,” Thad said.

“I’ll be fine,” Alex said. “Betsy, thanks for the dresses.”

“Mom told me that I should make a few for myself.”

“You look great in pants and shirts,” Alex said. “Mattie says she’s going to teach me to be feminine.”

“She’ll probably teach you how to pick up men,” Betsy teased.

“I’ll talk to you girls later,” Betsy’s father said.

“See you, later.” Betsy said.

“Excuse me, sir,” Alex said. “Can I have two days off to find an architect to design my house and afterwards, Betsy and I’ll need some time to build it?”

“Go ahead. You need your own place,” Thad said. “No potions. I care about the health of my employees.”

“You have my word.” Alex shook Mr. Logan’s hand. Alex looked up at Betsy that was much taller than her. “I read a book today.”

“That is great.” Betsy put her arm around Alex.

“I couldn’t read a book before. I couldn’t remember the words. Betsy, I’m so grateful to your father and you.”

“Alex, you’re so beautiful.” Betsy kissed her forehead. Betsy lifted her cheek kisskissed her on the lips. “You’re perfect.”

“I feel small and weak.” Alex hugged Betsy. “I feel odd about wanting you as a woman.”

“It’s all wonderful sensation. There is no main event; it’s all fabulous foreplay.” Betsy touched her hand and walked her to the bedroom. “Alex, I’m going to show you how easy it’s to have an orgasm as a woman.” Betsy removed her shirt and tee shirt. Betsy put Alex’s hand on her trousers.

Alex undid her belt and trousers. “One undresses you and expects to find a man. The illusion is incredible.” Alex looked at Betsy in her tee shirt and briefs; her chest was bound so tightly that she looked like she had well-developed pecks and not a bustline.

“I’m going to take a bath. I’ll join you, later.” Betsy blew Alex a kiss.

Alex looked at Betsy enter the bath. She removed the tee shirt still looking like a man from the back then unwrapped her chest. She slipped off the men’s briefs and got into the filled tub. Betsy toweled herself dry still moving like a man and wrapped the towel around her hips the way men do

Alex laughed. “Betsy, don’t you ever think about the way you move.”

“Occasionally.” Betsy dropped the towel and sat on the edge of the bed.

“You project outward that you’re a man,” Alex said. “I’m not very bright but I know to wrap a towel around my chest.”

“Do I threaten you?”

“No. What do you see when you look at me?” Alex sat up part way in the bed.

“A woman. You’re so much more feminine than I. You’re beautiful.” Betsy touched Alex’s arm. “I want to touch you. What do your customers see?”

“I can’t read their minds.”

“Do they make small talk with you? Do women chat with you when you go by?”

“Yes. I feel comfortable talking back. My mouth moves right. I can smile now. I love to smile and talk with people.”