"That woman gives me the creeps, James!"
"You were the one who "forgot" about the cosmetics in your handbag! Babysitting an old bat has to be better than going to prison."
"Yes, you are right. Two more visits and my "community service" is over and I get a clean record."
"What's she like?"
"Old and creepy."
"What do you do there all day?"
"Tend to her and talk."
"About what?"
"Me, you and me mostly. She seems hungry to know every detail of my life and our marriage."
"I'm sure she likes to live vicariously. How old is she?"
"Older than Methuselah. She was born in Haiti but has been in the States since before my grandfather was born."
"Doesn't she have any family that can take care of her?"
"They died a long time ago. But she keeps hanging on. She smells like death too!"
"Keep your chin up, babe, it's almost over."
"Yeah. Oh, shit look at the time! I have my penultimate appointment with death in forty minutes. I better get over there.
"Yep, and I've got to be at the plant in fifteen. Remember, it's our date night."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, husband!"
James embraced his beautiful dark-haired wife and kissed her full on the lips. He watched the beautiful woman stride out of the living room and settle into the seat of her car. Jim loved the fact that her skirt rode up as she slid behind the wheel revealing a gorgeous ivory-toned leg. James adored his wife's gams. If only she showed them off a little more!
**
"Hello Eileen, how are you today?"
"Fine Mrs. Maurice."
"And how is your ever so handsome husband?"
"James is fine. He's taking me out to dinner tonight."
"Lucky girl."
The two spoke for about an hour. Well, Eileen did nearly all the talking, while the ancient woman listened attentively. Finally, the trim young woman seemed to remember the purpose of her presence in the nursing home.
"What can I do for you today, Mrs. Maurice?"
"Bathroom first then some magic."
"Magic?"
"You shall see, beautiful one."
Eileen helped to old woman answer nature's call and the noxious duty of cleaning up after her. As they strode back to her rocker the old woman gathered up a small object adorned with feathers from her dresser. As she settled herself, Mrs. Maurice pricked Eileen's wrist with the object then fixed Eileen with a fierce stare the young married woman could not seem to pull away from. It seemed to the twenty-four-year-old that she was falling from a great height. She blacked out for a moment and when she opened her eyes once more, she was looking at herself.
"There is the magic I told you about, pretty one."
It was her own face looking down at her!
Eileen screamed in horror when she looked at her hands and discovered that they were wrinkled and brown!
The young woman continued to gaze at both of her hands. The illusion persisted. She made a panicked move to stand up and her arthritic knees collapsed under her. Her panicked breathing caused her heart to flutter and her head to swim.
"Silly girl! Haven't you figured it out yet? I thought you were a bright girl."
"What did you do?" asked Eileen. Her voice sounded strange in her head. She looked at her hands again.
"No, it can't be!" Eileen cried in despair.
"Oh, but is, blanc femme. Now I am young and desirable, and you are at the end of your days. I have decided that I am not yet done with life. I want to start again, only this time with the things I never had before, looks, wealth, privilege, and a gorgeous husband! I made up your mind when I saw the picture of your James. What a hunk of man! All these years, I never lost the desire! The freedom you girls have today! "
"Put me back!" cried Eileen. "This is wrong!"
"No, what is wrong is living alone and unwanted. You never had that. You have had more in your short life than I have in my long one. Now, I must go to your house and get ready to be taken out to dinner by James."
She laughed, picked up Eileen's purse, and headed for the door of the private room in the nursing home.
"NO!" cried Eileen.
She succeeded in standing up but when she strode forward, she crumpled to the floor.
"Nurse, you had better check in on Mrs. Maurice. I think she is having some sort of attack." stated the pretty white housewife as she strode down the hall.
The nurse rushed into the room.
"Mrs. Maurice! Are you all, right? Let's get you into bed."
"Stop her!" Eileen wheezed.
"Stop who?"
"Mrs. Maurice!"
"You're Mrs. Maurice, Mrs. Maurice. As soon as I get you into bed, I am calling the doctor."
"No! You don't understand! She stole my body!"
"Mrs. Maurice, you are delusional! Let me help you."
"No!" the old woman repeated over and over.
**
Finding Eileen's car in the parking lot was no challenge. She knew that the keys in the purse across her shoulder would contain a key fob that beeped and flashed the lights of the vehicle it belonged to. Those TV shows the nursing home put on to dull and calm its residents had shown her that. Acclimating herself to the automatic transmission was a larger challenge. Finding her way to Eileen's house would be the easiest of all. The pretty young things who served as nurses and aides at home, delighted in showing off the wonders of their cellphones. Sure, enough the map icon was preset to "home." All she had to do was follow the perky voice. She left the parking lot in stops and starts until she got used to not having her foot seek out the non-existent clutch. A tentative drive around the suburban block and old reflexes and muscle memory kicked in. She was soon meshing and flowing with the traffic, savoring the sensation of breathing without pain, or wheezing, and being completely free of arthritis! She was humming to herself by the time she reached the small tract house in a leafy neighborhood. The third key she tried opening the door. With a giggle, she strode right in.
She knew from her hours of pumping Eileen for information that his ever-so-handsome husband worked his long shift today and would not get home until eight P.M. It was just past five now. Leisurely, she familiarized herself with the small house. Living room, dining room, small but tidy kitchen. Half bath on the first floor. Up the stairs, a large bedroom with an adjoining full bathroom, a second smaller bedroom, and a compact laundry room. The girl had told her that this was a "starter house," but to the imposter, this was the epitome of luxury!
She returned to the master bedroom and stripped off. She gazed with wonder at the naked body on display in the full-length mirror. Trim and toned everywhere, with a flat tummy, succulent full breasts, long legs, lovely face, and a cascade of luminous brown hair. Even in her prime, she had never looked this good! Her hand strayed to the thickly furred quim. She fell backward on the bed and a short time later; she savored her first orgasm in more decades than this young body had even lived! She sighed with contentment. Then she engaged in another session of self-love.
She must have drifted off. The clock was nearing seven. The cast-off clothes found their way to the hamper. She really wanted to luxuriate in the lovely old-fashioned tub but realized that she lacked the time for a proper one. A shower would have to suffice. She dried herself off and smoothed out her hair. How odd, after so many years of styling the hair of wealthy and not-so-wealthy white women, to now be the owner of white hair! She styled it quickly and efficiently, better even, she told herself than the original occupant of this flesh had done.
She explored the walk-in closet. James's suits sat in a nice row above a line of shoes. "How handsome he must be in these!" she thought.
She was disappointed, a bit in the female fashions on display. Severe dresses and modest hemlines to the exclusion of almost anything else. "A body as fine as this should be displayed!" she mused. At last, her search turned up a little black dress and heels. The intimate drawer's bottom revealed a black wispy brassiere, lacy black nickers, and black stockings. Further rummaging turned up the suspenders. She understood implicitly that was James's favorite of her fashions, though she probably did not humor him much by wearing it. At least not without a lot of begging on his part.
"James is in for such a surprise!" she told her reflection. Applying minimal makeup, she was ready to face her next challenge with glee.
She heard a car pull to a stop in the narrow driveway.