Mike's head was spinning and everything he saw tasted the way velvet felt on his tongue making him want to gag.. don't ask, its just how he felt. By the time he reached the bottom of the stairs he had dry heaved several times and had to close his eyes, it was as though he was back in sophomore year of high school and he had 4 beers. Mike smiled nostalgically.
Sitting at the bottom of the steps Mike remembered that he did weigh about this much back in sophomore year of high school and past the concern, confusion and certainty that something terrible happened to him and his son, he felt giddy. Several moments passed and the wild and violent heaving of the world mellowed into a rhythmic undulation. Mike tried to move, but the half hour of stillness wasn't enough and he collapsed right back to the spot. 10 minutes later, the undulation had calmed to a gentle rolling. This time he managed to get up but he could feel that the disorientation and pain will be staying with him for a while.
As Mike got out of the stairwell there were creaks from the floorboards upstairs. In a flash, Mike saw for the first time what the new Jeff looked like. Mike had given up his build and a decent portion of his athletic history to Jeff. This turned Jeff into a natural mesomorph athlete and made Mike an endomorph... a twig.
Mike stared in surprise as a 220 lb Jeff barreled down the stairs racing into the kitchen to restock before the game comes back on. Though it was obvious Jeff was no longer lean, it was equally obvious he was no longer weak. A careful examination of the new memories told Mike that, although he didn't go into sports in high school, Jeff was still a very active young man, and regularly met friends at a local roller rink, rode his bike, and works out with his sports friends for fun... despite possibly indulging a little heavily on his dad's beer and chips. Actually, Mike was the reason Jeff isn't in sports... safety concerns.
"I just need one more swap..." a crazed and desperate voice cut in, "It won't be that bad. Just brush up against him as he walks past!" it eagerly whispered from the back of Mike's head. "Jobs! How bout that? You always wanted to give the boy life experiences, how bout yours!? It will push the headache away."
The part of Mike's personality that was still a protective parent to Jeff, was absolutely mortified by the thought and more so by how much he loved the idea on multiple levels. Mike felt a sense of parental payback as he imagined Jeff wearing a suit, talking to his Boss, and preparing and presenting reports for senior management. "Hey Jeff?" Mike called to the kitchen, trying to be louder than the microwave. (Jeff was making nachos.)
"Yeah dad?" Urrrrp. Jeff belched, apparently chugging a beer so he can bring a full fresh one for the next quarter.
"I need to grab some fresh air, Ill be back in a little bit." Going on walks was a Jeff thing, Mike never did it. Why now? Maybe this was part of the transfer of "sports" preferences? Mike chuckled. Casual walking... such a thrilling sport. Mike just knew he had to get away from Jeff and think about this for a minute.
"Alright!" Jeff called back
Mike sighed heavily with relief and slipped out of the house... As he walked the crazed voice encouraged him to introduce himself and alternately begged and demanded he cause chaos, but everything kept coming back to Jeff. "Swap ages with that 20 year old, then send Jeff off to college. Please get it over with!" or "That young father seems to be holding a nice life you can give to Jeff, why don't you take it? Just take it! Take it!"
After several blocks of this Mike angrily asked the voice, "Why are you trying to ruin my son's life?"
Much to Mike's surprise, he got a response, "Ruin? I'm not trying to ruin anyone's life. It may happen, and I wouldn't feel bad, but we are here for the Chaos Michael. Nothing more, and Nothing less."
"But why are you telling me to change my son? It's literally my job to..." The sudden realization made Mike freeze mid stride and stop breathing.
"Bingo Mikey, we're best bros now, and I need you ready to turn things upside down at a moments notice. How can you do that if you need to make sure your child is ready for school, or need to stay home with him if he has the sniffles, or visit him if he wants to get married. We need to unhook the little leech so we can be free! The more independent the better!"
Mike turned to go back home, to protect his son, somehow...
"If you go home now, your son will be a 42 year old Lowes manager in the lumber department by morning." The voice mocked. That was Mike's age, and that was Mikes job, and worst of all, Mike knew it was true... He wanted to swap as badly as the demon inside him wanted him to cause chaos. But he also wanted to protect his son... what will Mike do?