This choice: No, why don't you keep playing for a little longer? • Go Back...Chapter #13No, why don't you keep playing for a little... by: Kirafair   Emma put aside the college book and looked up at Chris. With the power she held, she could easily make him go back and continue playing. But Emma was rather distracted. The encounter with Marissa had opened up possibilities she had never considered. She had a growing desire to know more about this girl and Chris’ time in High School.
“Alright. But go play for a few minutes longer and then tell the girls goodbye” she commanded.
As she watched him run back to the playground, Emma began to think about the fact that Marissa thought she was actually Chris.
Due to a clothing mishap, she had swapped clothes with him and now assumed his role as teh sitter. Her only goal for this week had been to have Chris take her place at some activities. Sure, he wasn’t much bigger than her and they had the same color Brown hair. Was it really possible they could swap more than just roles?
As they walked home, Emma realized she had been lost in thought. She could understand why Chris wasn’t very talkative. A couple teenage girls assumed he was one of them. That realization must have been very deflating for his ego. Asking if he had any fun seemed pointless so she opened with a different question.
“Did you learn anything while playing with the girls?”
“No” he said tersely
“Really? What were their names?”
“Chloe was the first one. Samantha joined afterwards.”
Emma smiled “Aha, you did learn something. What did you talk about?”
It took a little more prodding but Chris reluctantly admitted they talked about clothes, music, and social media apps.
“They recommended I check out a couple people on TikTok” he grumbled.
The two had arrived home by now “Why don’t you do that while I get dinner going”
One reason why she disagreed about the need for a babysitter was Emma had learned to be rather self-sufficient in the kitchen. Her Mom’s Executive level position meant she sometimes got home late so Emma, often by necessity, picked up some advanced skills. Vastly simplifying the task were some devices in the kitchen. A rice cooker was super easy to use. For the main course, Emma pulled a couple pieces of frozen salmon from the freezer and seasoned each with some spices. These were tossed in the air fryer for 10 minutes. Add in some frozen peas warming on the stove and a complete dinner would soon be ready.
Since Emma had a few minutes, she pulled Marissa’s number from her pocket and created a new contact on Chris’ phone. She was feeling rather bold after today’s meeting. Unexpectedly, Emma thought her interest in classical literature might prove useful. Having read and re-read Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibilities many times, she had models of how a man should properly or improperly treat a woman.
She quickly typed in a message ‘Hi. It’s Chris Jackson. I'm so hoppy we crossed paths today.” Emma didn’t have long to wait for a response.
“Hey there. I’m really glad too. It was great seeing you”
Emma clutched the phone to her chest with delight. ‘This is so awesome’ she thought
In the interim, Marissa had sent another text message ‘What’re you up to?’
With her confidence soaring, she proudly texted back “Making dinner for Emma”
‘Cool. What’d you make?’
Emma replied she would send a picture in a few minutes. After plating the salmon, rice and peas she took a photo. The meal didn’t take a lot of effort but it truly looked delicious. Marissa seemed suitably impressed
‘OMG. That looks fantastic. You made that all by yourself?’
Emma tagged her text with a thumbs up. She wanted to continue but dinner was ready. Emma fired off 3 quick texts
‘I’ve got to take care of Emma now’
‘I’d love to make dinner for you sometime’
‘Can we chat later?’
Emma’s body tingled with excitement when Marissa tagged each of the texts with a heart emoji.
*****
With nothing to do, Chris killed some time watching some TikTok videos. One of the people Chloe recommended must have recently attended a Taylor Swift concert. The quality wasn’t that great since a bunch of young girls surrounding the camera were singing along with the songs. But Chris found himself being drawn into the music such that he visibly flinched when Emma announced dinner was ready.
He was also impressed with dinner. Chris thought he was perhaps capable of warming up some leftover meals in a microwave oven. After a few bites, he grudgingly admitted “This is really good”
Emma waved off the compliment “It’s nothing really. I’d be glad to teach you how I did it”
Chris said nothing. He wasn’t particularly interested in being educated by a 12 year old girl. The two ate in silence for a few minutes when Emma suddenly asked
“Tell me about your experience in High School”
He was surprised by the off-handed question. She actually wanted to learn something from him? He seized the chance to be defiant
“I’m Emma. I’ve never been to High School” he said in a petulant tone.
She smiled “Touché. But I will remind you I control the dessert choices this week. Depending on your level of cooperation, it can be a fruit cup or ice cream”
Chris crossed his arms across his chest “What kind of ice cream?”
“There are a couple flavors to choose from. We have all the toppings as well. Hot fudge, whip cream, sprinkles…”
“Hmmmm, why do you even want to know?”
Emma grew excited “I can’t wait to get there. Middle school is soooo boring”
There seemed no harm in answering her questions. A bowl of ice cream might marginally make this miserable day better. “Okay, what do you want to know?”
Emma proceeded to ask a series of general questions. What classes were required? What classes were elective? Why did he choose those? What were his teachers like?
His replies were initially curt but after a while he began to open up and provide more detailed explanations of his 4 years at school. Including some stories about classmates.
*****
Emma hung on every word he said. She managed to keep him talking the whole time as she cleaned up and made him an ice cream sundae. Emma was beginning to think she could bluff her way through a longer conversation with Marissa. When she decided she had learned all she could, she informed him he had a few hours free before bedtime.
Chris returned to the living room with her cell phone. Emma used the time to do a deeper dive on the internet for news about his High School. She also noted Chris was following Marissa’s Instagram account. Emma scrolled through the pictures building up a better understanding of her interests.
Chris suddenly called out “You got a text from someone named Veronica. She’s asking what’s new”
Emma halted her research and with a satisfied smirk she replied “Since she’s your friend Emma, I believe the question is best answered by you”
*****
Chris stared at her in disbelief. “You really want me to respond to her?”
“Sure. Tell her about your day. You might tell her about the annoying the sitter that you got stuck with”
“You got that right” he muttered under his breath. Her comment galvanized him into action as he began a lengthy text session that slowly devolved into some gossip about which Chris was clueless. Curiously, he found the gossip entertaining in its own way. He completely lost track of time until Emma announced he should go take a shower.
‘Where did the evening go?’ he wondered. Chris followed her upstairs to her bedroom. It practically glowed with various hues of Pink and Purple.
Emma laid out some pajamas and left. Chris quickly disrobed, grateful to be out of her panties. Not wanting to run the risk of being accused of exposing himself again, Chris wrapped a Pink fluffy cotton robe around his body and headed to the bathroom where he found Emma waiting patiently.
“I know how to take a shower” he said sarcastically
Emma looked serious “I’m sure you do. I merely want to leave this here should you choose to use it.” She spun a plastic bottle on the sink around to reveal its label. It was Nair, a hair removal cream.
“You can't be serious! You’re going to make me shave my legs?”
Emma shook her head “Not at all. Though I would recommend you run a razor over your legs once the cream has done its job. They become silky smooth at that point. No, I’m simply giving you the option if you wish to improve your chances of getting through this week without anyone discovering that you’re not a girl. It really doesn’t matter to me either way. In any event, the hair grows back quickly.”
With those parting words, she left the bathroom and closed the door. Chris continued to stare at the bottle long afterwards.
*****
Emma settled into a comfy chair and started texting with Marissa. A huge smile creased her face when she belatedly heard the shower start. It was about the right amount of time if he had used the Nair.
*****
Chris bundled up in the fluffy robe and rushed to her bedroom. He hated that she was correct. His legs did feel silky smooth. Chris looked sadly at the artwork on the pajamas
https://imgur.com/a/s3m8fbo
‘I wish this was only a dream’ he thought bitterly. He hadn’t even made it one day as a babysitter. Now with each passing hour, he was becoming more like Emma. He got dressed and slipped under the bed covers tightly hugging a stuffed dolphin plushie.
*****
Emma startled when Chris’ cell phone began ringing. It identified the caller as her mother Meredith Brooks. Undoubtedly, she was calling to get an update. The encounter earlier with Marissa gave Emma the confidence to try answering as Chris. If it didn’t work, she could always run upstairs and hand the phone to him.
“Hi Mrs. Brooks. How was your trip?’ she answered in a deeper tone of voice. Emma held her breath as she waited for a reply
“Hello Chris. It was good, thank you for asking. I thought I’d call and see how was your’s and Emma’s day?”
Sensing that her mother had no clue she was talking to her daughter, Emma answered enthusiastically
“Oh, it was such a wonderful day”
What happens next for the swapped pair?
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