As Luck Would Have it

Betsy Takes her Potion

Daniel’s test rabbits were living and the pain that they experienced seemed minimal. The test rabbits were reproducing well like rabbits. After two years, it was time that he tested it on a living person. He loosened his clothes expressing new genetic material could cause a shift in size. He was fulfilling his destiny. He would now have male anatomy with live sperm. Her first daughter was the daughter of her womb; his second daughter would be the daughter of his loins. Daniel felt his body tingle all over then his body went into spasms.

Daniel managed to get on his feet. He felt between his legs. He was a man; he would learn if it worked later. He was a bit taller. He looked in the mirror and saw a gaunt looking man. He must have maintained his weight and grew an inch taller. His father was working on the opposite side of the basement. He walked over to Daniel. “You must be at least an inch taller than you were.”

“I changed my genetic material.”

“Your shoulders are broader. You look thinner.”

“I suspect that I lost mass when I created the energy to do the magic and at the same time grew taller. I’m sure my appetite will improve to compensate. If I’m going to sell it, I’ll have to refine it a bit.”

Daniel went up the stairs. He looked in the full-length mirror in the bathroom as he took off his clothes. He walked to the toilet and held his organ to pee. He felt the curly brown hair on his broad chest. He felt his thin arms and shoulders. He hoped he could add muscle to his scrawny frame. The potion needed work before he could give it to anyone else. He put the condoms that he had brought a long time ago into his pocket.
Daniel took his carpet to Alex’s house. After all these years, he still had the key on his keychain. He opened the door and walked to the bedroom and listened to her quiet snores. Daniel laid in the bed bedside her and wrapped his long thin arms around her. “I found it. It needs a little work.”

“You’re so thin and tall,” Alex said.

“I noticed. I have all the parts.”

“I rather you didn’t. I’m not on birth control. I don’t want to give you a daughter, yet.”

“I brought Henry condoms. We never used them.”

“I’m afraid.”

“I love you. I would never hurt you.”

“I suspect that you’re huge. How tall are you?”

“I don’t know exactly probably around six two; my father is very tall.” Daniel kissed Alex’s shoulder. “I hope my face hasn’t changed too much.”

“If it has, just tell the men that your healer had an alchemist correct the problem. They’re known to change the way people look.” Alex wrapped her arms around him. “Daniel, you need to see your healer.”

“I’ll take the next two days off. Tell Wayne that I’m not feeling well.”

“I’ll tell him that you aren’t feeling like yourself.”

“Don’t you dare.” Daniel kissed Alex. They forgot all about the condom. They did it twice before Daniel fell into a fitful sleep. Letting Alex sleep, Daniel went in the kitchen and ate all the apples in the fruit bowl. He was still hungry, so he finished off the leftovers Alex left on the stove.

Daniel took his carpet to see Mary Jane as the sun began to rise. He had on a cotton pants and a polo shirt and sweater. He would get clothes that fit better after he saw her. Mary Jane came to the door in a robe.

“I’m sorry about the hour,” Daniel said. “I found the potion last night. I mixed a several potion including a sex change potion and one that cures genetic defects.”

“Daniel, you have grown rather tall.” Mary Jane took his hand. “Come in. I won’t ask you to undress. I’ll just ask two questions.”

“Go ahead. I’ll try to answer.”

“Does it function?” Mary Jane touched Daniel’s hand.

“Well. Alex and I experimented before I flew here.”

“Your female hormone levels are just as low as before. Come back at your regular time. I’ll have a potion designed for a man. Your body has no trouble with male hormone so I won’t give you anything to lower it. You may go.”

“I feel hungry and tired. Other than that, I’m fine.”

“Can I measure your height and weight? Kick off your shoes.”

“They are too short. My toes are killing me. I think the first thing that I’m doing buying is shoes.” Daniel stepped on the scale.

“Six-two. I’m not surprised. A hundred and forty-seven pounds. You need to gain a little weight.”

“I know that. I’m little more than skin and bones. I’ll get food before I finished my errands.”

“Don’t put your shoes back on. They must be two or three sizes too small. Does having a dick make you feel better about yourself?”

“It makes me feel less self-conscious.”

“Daniel, don’t blame me. I know of two of women given male hormone to treat medical problems. They both continued to dress as women. One started to wear fancy hats and lots of make-up to take attention from her deep voice and body hair.”

“I’m not blaming you. Before I took your potion, Will thought I was Henry’s boyfriend. When Annabel insisted that I was a pregnant woman, he didn’t believe her.”

“See me in three months.”

“I’ll see myself out.”

Daniel rolled up the carpet and walked over to Annabel’s house. Will hadn’t left for work yet. Wearing only a bathrobe and silk pajamas, he opened the door.

“Go away,” said Will. “Don’t you salesmen know what time it is?”

“I’m Daniel,” said Daniel. “I stopped by to see Cynthia.”

“You aren’t going to tell the child that you’re her mother.” Will looked Daniel over from head to toe.

“No, I’m her Uncle Danny,” said Daniel. That lump started to form in his throat, again. “I want you and Annabel to raise her. Can I join you for breakfast? I did a new potion and it caused me to lose seven pounds.”

“You can’t gain back the weight in one meal.”

“I would enjoy some company. We can talk about business if you don’t want to be sociable.”

“Stop by the bakery and get us some bread. Annabel will cook us some eggs and bacon.”

“I don’t know if I want to see Jack.”

“You’re fucking his wife.” Will hadn’t invited Daniel in. They were still talking through an open door.

“Not that.” Daniel pulled his coat tight. A spring snow was beginning to fall. Some was blowing into Annabel’s clean house. “He laughed at me for wearing men’s clothes.”

“You have to face him.”

Jack didn’t say more than hello when he sold Daniel his bread. “Jack, have a nice day.”

“Thanks. You’re our first customer.”

“I thought you opened at five thirty.”

“I have the light on. People don’t usually start coming until seven.”

“Thanks for the bread.” Daniel carried the loaves of bread the three blocks back. Daniel smelled eggs, bacon and coffee as he opened the unlocked door. Daniel phe bhe bread on the table and walked over to Annabel serving the eggs and bacon. “That smells great. I take back everything I ever said about your cooking.”

“Will is the one that has been trying to get me to hire a cook since I fired the last one,” said Annabel. “You have always been nice about my cooking.”

Will laughed. “You burned seven pounds when you cast the spell. Anything would smell great.”

“See what I mean.” Annabel filled two plates for the men. “I’ll eat with the children.”

Daniel ripped off a hunk of bread and started eating. He finished at least, two eggs and a half-pound of bacon with the baguette. He, finally, drank some coffee. “I never burned off the kind of weight with a spell. I’m sorry that I’m making a pig of myself.”

“Food is cheap. I’ll buy more.”

“How is Cynthia?”

“She’s fine.” Annabel poured the men coffee.

“I feel odd about leaving Wayne in charge, but Mary Jane said to see her if I cast any potion on myself.”

Annabel, finally, poured herself coffee. “What did she say?”

“That I should come back in three months.”

Annabel put sugar in her coffee. “I suppose that’s good.”

“I was making the woman rich. I’m sure I’m the only one that pays that much for a shot.”

“She knew you can afford it,” Will said. “Besides, you needed an unusual drug. Many patients that need unusual drugs are undercharged and Mary Jane’s other patients make up the difference.”

“I don’t mind. I just feel she’s laughing at me,” Daniel said. “She tells me that other women with my problem do anything in their power to look more feminine.”

“Most would,” said Annabel. “I know I would. Daniel, the reason doesn’t matter. If you are happy this way, that’s all that matters.”

“I want us to stay friends.”

“You can visit anytime you like.”

“Alex wants the potion. I can’t give it to her without refining it. I don’t want her losing weight or getting sick. It was rather painful. I can’t put her through that.”

“Work on it then,” said Annabel.

“I don’t want her thinking that I'm holding out on her. I made this potion for her, not me. I promised her that I would make her a potion that would make her male, again.”

“Tell her your concerns. I’m sure she'll be patient,” Annabel said.

“I had muscle spasms throughout my body. I felt like my body was on fire. I didn’t know if I would live or die.” Daniel ate another couple eggs.

Will eat some bread dripped in bacon grease. Then he finished his eggs and bacon. “Enjoy your meal. Don’t eat too fast. You don’t want to get sick.”

Daniel smiled at Will. “I didn’t know you cared.”

“You’re my sister-in-law, brother-in-law, something,” said Will. “You’re Cynthia’s mother. That makes you family.”

After eating his full, Daniel stretched out on the sofa and went to sleep. After he got up, Annabel bundled up Cynthia for a walk. “Daniel, you should go back to Alex. She is probably worried.”

“I’m going to take Cynthia to the park. Then I’ll talk to Henry. Alex is probably at work.”

“You shouldn’t go far.”

“I’ll just take my daughter to our house in Cambridge. I can get some sleep in my own bed,” Daniel said. “Henry will probably insist I eat again."

Cynthia came into the room. "Let's go see Daddy."

“He probably left for work hours ago,” Annabel said.

“Probably. I have a key.” He landed the carpet and when into the house. He was tackled near the door. He tried to use teletelekinesis to pull the man off him. As the man put his large hands around Daniel slender neck, Daniel struggled to face his attacker. His telekinesis wasn’t working.

Daniel, seeing Henry’s face, forced out the words, “Henry, stop!”

Henry took his hands off Daniel’s neck. “Get away from my child.”

Daniel coughed some blood. “I’m Daniel.”

Henry put his arm around Daniel. “We better get you to a healer.”

“I’m coughing blood. Henry, I’m sorry." As his knees buckled, Daniel leaned onto Henry. Daniel wanted to tell Henry that he wasn’t to blame, but the cold and fatigue took Daniel’s words away.

“Put your arms around me,” said Henry. “We aren’t that far from the house. Get on your carpet.”

“Hurry.” Daniel coughed up a little blood. His chest had dull pain that cut through the numbness taking over his body. “My chest hurts. It’s hard to breath.”

"You hurt Danny," Cynthia screamed.

“You wait with Cynthia.” Henry kissed Daniel’s forehead as he helped Daniel onto the sofa. Henry called for ambulance.

Daniel tried to focus on Cynthia but his eyes wouldn’t stay open. His throat felt raw and he coughed more. He felt so cold, so very cold.