On the set of the television show Life Swap, Chris Sampson was literally the center of attention. He was bathed in a pool of bright lights as several cameras were focused on him. It was the precise moment when he would be choosing whom he would be trading every aspect of his life with. Chris believed no matter who was behind the three curtains, he would come out ahead on the deal. His life kind of sucked.
Chris was flanked by the male and female co-hosts, Eliot and Juliette who were exuding a fake charm. He cynically observed them during breaks and they acted nothing like their on-screen personas.
“Which curtain will you pick Chris?” Juliette Silverstein asked. She almost sounded liked she cared. Well, he certainly did. The Family court judge had warned him as she explained the deal for leniency. He needed to put in a real effort on the show or she would be sending him back to Juvenile Hall. His previous stint there had been in a word, unpleasant. Being on the small side for a boy his age, he was the target of some larger, more vicious residents.
He reflected on what each of the three people had said in response to his questions. One had made mention of how important their family was to them. Chris had never had much of one. He had no recollection of his biological father and his mother had issues of her own often leaving Chris to fend for himself. Which was exactly why he was in this situation. Swapping with someone who had a real family would be kind of cool.
“I choose #2” he said mustering up as much conviction as possible.
The male co-host Eliot Quinton smiled knowingly “Let’s see who is behind curtain #2” he said dramatically.
Chris barely had any time to register what he was seeing as the person behind the curtain was slowly revealed. Standing there was a young woman wearing very odd clothing. The long Blue dress looked very plain but what really caught his eye was a single long Blonde braid that lay across her shoulder and a White bonnet that covered her head. She looked like some character from an old TV show such as ‘Little House on the Prairie.
Not only was Chris about to swap with a girl. She looked like a farmer from a hundred years ago.
“Are you fucking kidding me? No fu…..” he blurted out an angry string of curse words.
*****
In the control room, the show producer Marc Berman smiled with delight. He knew the show’s audience loved watching these visceral reactions. That was what ‘reality TV’ promised but could not always deliver. Marc turned to look at his new production assistant who was flushing with embarrassment.
“This is great stuff Chloe. Absolutely great. Make a note for the post-production editing team to blur out Chris’ mouth. We wouldn’t want someone at home who can read lips to figure out what he is yelling about right now”
*****
Sarah Miller could never have foreseen she would end up in this moment. It began when she reluctantly agreed to participate in her society’s traditional Rumspringa ceremony almost 2 months ago. A sort of rite of passage for young Amish to make a choice of which society they would spend the rest of their life in. A major reason for her hesitance was her younger sister Rebecca was ill and she hated leaving her. Sarah had no understanding of what was wrong with Rebecca but she knew her blue lips and lethargy were abnormal.
Her parents often vacillated between considering getting Rebecca to a heart surgeon to help or taking no action at all. Both they and other members of the community would mutter aloud “It’s the Lord’s will”
To Sarah this was very confusing. How could it be the ‘Lord’s will’ or a ‘test of their faith’ while also knowing there was a means to heal Rebecca? With this distraction weighing heavily on her mind, her initial reaction to visiting a large city on the East coast was disheartening. It was true there were wonders to behold but the people were far too impersonal. The pace of the city was overwhelming.
Sarah had already made up her mind to return to her community soon. It was during a chance meeting with an ex-Amish woman named Ruth that set her on this current path. Ruth provided a safe space for those engaging in Rumspringa to shelter in during their journey. Though she had chosen not to return home after her own rite of passage, Ruth never tried to influence the decisions of others. When Sarah disclosed there might be financial reasons for her parents reluctance to get Rebecca the lifesaving surgery, Ruth mentioned that the show Life Swap was scheduled to interview people for the upcoming season.
After showing her a few episodes of the show, the young Amish girl was intrigued. Not only by the ‘magic’ of watching a show on a machine much thinner than the Bible. No, what truly captured her interest was the promise of earning a large sum of money. Which could be used to help pay for Rebecca’s surgery.
The Amish often traded goods and services with the non-Amish world in exchange for small amounts of cash. As much as they tried to be self-reliant, sometimes they needed the money to purchase things they couldn’t come up with by themselves. But despite this familiarity with modern civilization, the Amish kept their interactions to a minimum. The amount of money needed to save Rebeccas appeared daunting.
Ruth told Sarah that she was exactly the kind of contestant they wanted on Life Swap. The greater the difference between the two people who swapped, the more the audience loved it. Still, Sarah expressed doubt.
“What will my family say if I end up on this show? The townsfolk as well?”
Ruth pursed her lips “I cannot say about your family. I suspect some back home will be unhappy. They dislike everything regarding non-Amish. But you have my utmost respect for doing this for your sister. If anyone takes issue with it, that is a something they will ultimately have to repent for with God”
Sarah was wringing her hands anxiously “My parents say Rebecca’s illness is a test of their faith”
Ruth leaned backward and studied her young charge “Only you can decide what the Lord intends for us. But I’m sure you’re familiar with the saying ‘God helps those who help themselves.’ I suggest you take this evening and make a choice. I’m here to help you no matter what you decide”
Sarah prayed for guidance and after a night's rest she asked Ruth for help with securing an interview with the Life Swap staff. As the older woman predicted, they were ecstatic to have an Amish girl participate. They made all the arrangements and she soon found herself flying on a plane across the country. When she was younger, she would often gaze upward and see the wondrous aircraft soaring like angels. Now she felt closer to them. This must be a sign!
Sarah believed she was prepared for any circumstance as she answered the questions from the person she might swap with. Her heart rejoiced when the host asked for her curtain to be raised. She was going to earn the money to help her sister!
When she saw a young man staring at her incredulously, Sarah realized she was not as prepared for what may come as she had believed.
As Chris went on a tirade, Sarah was already at work studying him. His colorful choice of words and his demeanor were unlike anything she had seen from an Amish boy of the same age.
‘The Lord is testing me it seems. Fine. The almighty shall not find me wanting’ she mused.
*****
The producer Marc Berman pulled both Chris and Sarah aside. Chris stared warily at the Amish girl who returned his gaze with a placid expression. After describing his role, the man said cheerfully.
“Allow me to introduce you two. Chris Sampson meet Sarah Miller. By the end of the week, you’ll become each other”
Chris snorted in disbelief “Even if that is possible, I’m not sure I can do this”
The older man nodded “I’ve heard the same sentiment countless times. I assure you that my team will adequately prepare you both. Once you leave the studio though, it will all be up to you. That is what makes this show so interesting to our audience. Can you outlast the other by remaining in character the longest and win the big prize?. At this point, I will add a disclaimer that I cannot legally force you to do anything.”
Chris’ brow furled unhappily. The producer seemed to place a great deal of emphasis on the word legally. A warning perhaps?
‘Why did it have to be a girl? Especially a farm girl!’ he wondered.
A major part of his reason to avoid going back to Juvenile Hall was a couple older boys had eying him hungrily during his last incarceration. A sexual type of hunger. Yet, the thought he would be swapping his life with this girl seemed equally bad.
However, as the producer babbled on about the preparations, Chris began to sense he had an easy path to victory. It seemed impossible this naive young girl would last for long living his shitty life. He could then take his winnings and move somewhere else and start anew. Maybe choosing Sarah from behind curtain #2 would work out for the best after all.
What happens next?
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