“We should go home.” you tell your dad before a loud sound interrupts you. You look surprisingly at your stomach, where a loud growl is currently escaping from. Grasping your big belly, you have a sudden realization that you’re starving.
“Uhh… but… could we hit the food court first?” you ask sheepishly, a bit embarrassed at your sudden new increase in appetite.
“Of course! After all a man, such as yourself, tends to have a big appetite.” your dad responds nonchalantly. It seems that although your increased hunger surprises you, it apparently has no shock value to your dad.
That’s when you realize something. If you were in your dad’s body, it would only make sense for you to also share the same appetite your dad always had.
Making your way to the food court, you stop at one of your favorite restaurants. Ready to place your usual order at the cashier, you’re surprised when your dad begins to talk and place the order for you instead. After your dad finishes listing a long order, you pay with your dad’s card once again.
Walking over to a table and sitting down, you begin to ramble to your dad. “Dad… I mean… Son! Why did you place such a big order?” you exclaim.
“Believe me. You’ll be happy I ordered for you. After all, I know my body pretty well.” your dad answers.
Before you get another word in, you’re called to pick up your order. Bringing the food back to the table, you realize that your new sudden hunger is unable to be restrained any longer. Suddenly, you find yourself eating all the food your dad ordered for you, unable to control yourself. It’s only after you finishing helping yourself, that you find your dad still finishing his small combo.
Looking at the now lack of food on the table, you get up and throw away all your trash. As you come back to the table, you find it hard to make eye contact with your dad. “Sorry about all that…” you say and feel your face going slightly red.
“Eh. It’s no big deal.” your dad says with a shrug as he finishes his food. “Trust me! I know from experience what it’s like to need to eat a big meal.”
Feeling a bit more relieved, and less hungry, your dad throws away his own trash before the two of you begin heading towards the exit. Another bus ride and long walk home, longer on the account you had to walk slower due to your full stomach, you both finally make it home.
“I thought the mall would be boring but it was actually kinda fun.” you tell your dad as you enter the doorway and close the front door. Your dad had already arrived before you and was sitting on the couch on his phone. Aware of your presence he puts down his phone.
“It’s just like I told you son, a different body makes even the most dullest activities more entertaining.” your dad says with a cocky grin. “It’s just too bad we didn’t have more time to do anything else.”
You look at your phone and realize that it’s already around the time you and Tim get out for school. At that exact moment you find the front door opening as Tim walks in. Draping his backpack on the couch he spots you and dad in the living room.
“Oh! Hey, dad! What are we eating for dinner?” Tim asks.
“Don’t know. I was thinking of just ordering out tonight.” your dad says. It take a few seconds for him to realize his mistake.
A few awkward seconds pass as Tim looks at your dad with a confused expression.
“Son! I told you not to mess with your little brother anymore.” you say quickly, hoping to cover up your dad’s actions.
Tim looks back at you, now looking less confused, as your dad secretly signals you a thumbs up.
“Anyway, I think your brother had a good idea Tim. Anything you had in mind?” you say, trying to change topic and distract him.
“Yeah! I want some pizza from the place downtown. And I want a large pepperoni with extra cheese and extra sauce!” Tim says excitedly.
“Guess we now know what we’re having for dinner tonight.” you say with a laugh, the way your dad always does. “Ok I need to talk to your brother privately now, so I’ll call you when the food’s ready.”
“Sure thing dad!” Tim tells you happily, looking forward to dinner. He leaves to his bedroom but you don’t say anything until you hear his door close.
“Dad! I think we need to switch back. I don’t think we can really keep the act around Tim.” you whisper to your dad.
“I’m pretty sure he bought it.” your dad says confidently. “But you’re right. It’s better if we turn back and don’t risk exposing ourselves.”
You both step inside your parents’ bedroom and lock the door. Grabbing the magic socks from your back pocket, you realize… they’re missing!
Frantically checking both of your back pockets and your other pockets, you find nothing besides your phone and your dad’s wallet.
“Son… what’s wrong?” your dad asks, but his face has a worried expression.
“Dad. I think… I… uh… lost the socks.” you stammer as you feel yourself beginning to feel stressed out and on the verge of collapsing.
You both look at each other as you try to decide what to do next.