They had gotten their glasses of lattes and made their way over to one of the empty tables. With school out for the Thanksgiving break, many of the students had slowly made their way over to vent their mid term frustrations and to have some fun with their friends before many of them made their way home for the holiday weekend. Jenn had gotten her Pumpkin spice drink much to Josh's dislike and Josh got his Gingerbread latte. As they weaved their way through the crowds to find the much coveted single table, they accidentally nudged a few people which caused Josh to drop the package which revealed an old looking book with a small leather clasp holding it shut. "I'm sorry." A young lady with short blonde hair who appeared to be around their age. "There's too many people in here and I don't know where to go. Hey aren't you in my Geography class?" Letting out a smile, Josh nodded as he bent down as he picked up the contents of the box. He looked at her for a moment in an effort to get his brain to recognize her.
"Oh, Emily right?" He asked after a few seconds, but felt relieved that he was able to remember her name. "Look I'm with my girlfriend and I don't want to make her mad. I will see you later." He waved her good bye. Emily, feeling bad that she accidentally bumped into him, looked down to see the lid of the box. She bent down to pick it up and made her way outside in order to bring it back to him.
The crisp mid autumn air caused them both to shiver slightly as the North wind blew and effortlessly pierced through their jackets. They found a table on the South side of the porch so that they could have the cold wind blocked. "So crowded in there this afternoon." Josh said with a smile as he sat down across from his girlfriend. Putting the book that he picked up just a few moments before. The leather cover had no writing on it what so ever, but there was an old, faded picture of a pierrot. The man was wearing white clothing that seemed to be several sizes too big with black and white mime makeup decorating his face, there seemed to be a small glint of light coming from his face. In his hand he was holding an antique looking umbrella. Josh felt an compulsion to open the clasp, seemingly to release whatever was trapped inside.
He soon felt Jenn's hand stopping him. "What are you doing?" She asked trying to figure out what was going on with her boyfriend. "Are you alright?" Josh smiled and simply nodded his head and took a small sip from his drink and started to unbuckle the small leather clasp.
As soon as the clasp was unbuckled and the book opened, time seemed to come to a stand still. Josh looked over at Jenn to see mid drink of her latte and looking behind her a young man seemed to be mid step but was frozen in mid air. Continuing to look around proved to show much of the same, leaves frozen in time while being carried by the wind, several college students appeared to be mid step, and a young woman seemed to be about to slap a young man for grabbing her ass. "So many years being locked up really does a number on someone." A small voice cried out. Looking around, Josh couldn't see where the voice seemed to be coming from. "Ah a new master has come to me for help with life. Uhh... Down here young master." Josh continued to look around but finally brought his gaze down to the book to see the small mime looking character looking straight at him. Josh brought his hand down to see if he could touch him, but got his hands slapped away quickly. "Watch it young master. I could crumble easily."
Sitting there for several moments, Josh tried to comprehend what was going on, all the while the little mime continued to marvel at the changed world around him. As far as Josh was able to find out. The little mime had been sealed in the book ever since his last 'Master' was given a gift and that seemed to be almost 100 years ago. "So what exactly is going on?" Josh finally asked trying to gauge the situation and how he was going to be freed from this whole time hold. The little mime stopped looking around for a small moment and instantly changed form into what looked like a hipster barista from inside the shop, complete with small mustache and goatee, beanie with the emblem of the coffee shop, button up plaid shirt and tight jeans that were held up with a pair of suspenders. "So this is what you despise, master."
"What exactly going on?" Josh wondered, but was suddenly was filled with the information that he requested. Thousands of years ago a foolish prince was locked away inside this tome by a court magician. Each time the book is opened he was doomed to take on the appearance of what the summoner despises the most and offers the a gift to each person. Usually the one opening the book is a high ranking noble, but it seems that since the commoners were given the gift of literacy, he will have to do. "What gift are you talking about?" Josh asked as he saw the little man flex his suspenders and marvel at how far fashion has come from before he was doomed to answer the call to the owners of the book.
"I don't make that call young master. I'm afraid that its the call of my eternal prison." He gestured toward the book that he had been imprisoned so many years ago. Almost as if on cue, the pages turned, passing through the little man as if he wasn't even there within a couple seconds, the pages stopped abruptly. "Hmm that certainly is a rare one." Josh looked at the page, but found it clean of any writing or pictures. "I've never seen this one before. Give me a moment so that I can read up on it." He bent over to study the nonexistent writing. "Hmm... If I had this, I would've stayed inside and have fun." As he turned around Josh could see the little man's face was red with lust. He cleared his throat and told his master what he had learned. "It seems that you will be granted the gift of being able to copy a part of your body by simply wearing a piece of clothing that was last worn by a female. If you wear more than 3 pieces from the same person at the same time, you will change into that person completely." Josh looked at him with an incredulous look. "However, once you copy a part onto your body, you won't be able to change back for 48 hours, but it seems that you can only change with females. How lucky of you." He added with a wink.
Josh looked at him as if he was growing another head. "What are you talking about." Josh chuckled at the unbelievable statement.
The little man looked at his young master one more time. "Well sir. It seems that when you where a pair of pantaloons of a female you will get a copy of their body, they will remain the same, but be wary sir. Because unlike some of the other gifts, reality doesn't shift." He bowed his head in remorse. "I'm sorry, but my time has almost nigh and must leave. But remember that once you wear a piece of clothing, you will be stuck with that part of the body for 48 hours and then all you will need to do is wear your clothing from before the swap to change back." His appearance seemed to flicker much like his power source was running out. "Have fun with your newfound power and remember to be open minded or perhaps you may share a similar fate as mine."
As soon as those last words escaped from his lips his hipster figure flickered out of existence and a soft light surrounded Josh's body. It was just bright enough to cause him to close his eyes, but when he opened them the book was gone, just leaving an empty box from where it was contained. However, when the book disappeared, it seems that the time stoppage effect came to an end and the lively cafe came to life once more. "That was odd." Josh said as he looked around him to see everyone living normally.
"Where did that book go?" Josh heard a young ladies voice exclaim. Turning his head, he saw Emily, the young woman that he accidentally ran into just moments before.
"Yeah where did it go?" Jenn asked to firm up the question that the young lady asked first.
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