"This experiment is still a secret from the public, so we can't tell anyone." Dad explained. It made sense I guess, but I hadn't actually thought about it. I had been so consumed with having a new body I never really thought about what life would be like with it.
Brad smiled. "A secret experiment! Like spies!" Dad smiled. I guess despite being 17, he still had his four year old enthusiasm.
"Not exactly, but close enough. We can't talk about who you were and how old you were before the swap."
"What about our neighbors?" I asked. "Won't they question where two of your sons vanished to and how you suddenly have a second daughter?"
"The good news is that the lab has a neighborhood where all the swappees and their families are going to move to. The bad news is we, especially you two..." He pointed at me and Brad. "...Will have to cut ties with everyone you know."
"Okay." Brad said. Maybe it was because four year olds didn't have a lot of close friends but I on the other hand wasn't as calm.
"What? I lose my body, my manhood, and now my friends?" I cried.
"Did you expect to go back as a middle schooler and hang out with your soon to be seniors buddies?" Lucas asked.
"I never thought that far!" I wailed. "I was busy freaking out about loosing my body!" My mom was quickly by my side trying to soothe me.
"Its going to be okay sweety. It's hard now but we will get through it. It might actually be better this way since they will have trouble relating to you now."
"Yeah." Lucas added. "No need to throw a tantrum, even if your the baby now."
Mom responded quickly and sharply before I could. "Hush Lucas!"
Dad continued. "On top of the money we are being paid we will be given a new house that is a lot nicer then what we had before. Your old bodies will be in the neighborhood too, and they will be sending over their clothes to our new place to get you started on your wardrobes. Obviously we will send your clothes to them."
"Just my clothes right?" I asked. I hated how my voice sounded near tears.
My mom rubbed my back. "Of course sweety, there is no reason to send over your video games or other things."
Dad continued as if he was never interrupted. "The neighborhood is a gated community and every one inside will know about the swap. There will be plenty of kids your new ages who are going through the same thing, which should be very helpful with adjusting."
Dad cleared his throat before continuing. "Outside the neighborhood however, we need to keep our cover story straight. Brad is our 17 year old son who due to amnesia has trouble remembering things. He will also attend a special school to help with those needs." Dad paused. "David will be our youngest daughter and will transfer into 6th grade. A different school than Hailey's of course. Also we should discuss whether or not you want that as your new name"
I just shrugged.
"Well, we can just call you Hailey while we get breakfast so no one will question it."
"I have a question." Lucas spoke up. "Mariah and I didn't swap bodies with anyone. Can we still hang out with our friends or do I have to give them up even though unlike everyone else, I voted against this experiment."
"You can hang out with them, but they can't come to our new place. It will bring up too many questions of they knew about the old Brad and David."
"Fine." Lucas huffed
Dad loudly clasped his hands together and spoke in a chipper tone as if he hadn't completely turned my life upside-down. "So, whose hungry?"