Lexy moved around the kitchen, finishing the last touches on the mashed potatoes, but unease gnawed at her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it—something was off, but what? She glanced over at her grandmother, Tina, seated at the table with her usual serene smile, a picture of calm amidst the Thanksgiving bustle.
But when her gaze shifted to Josh, who was helping their mom, Kristella, with the turkey, Lexy's breath caught. She blinked, her hand freezing mid-stir. Something was wrong—wrong.
Her brother's tall, broad-shouldered body looked as it always did, clad in his usual casual clothes. But atop it, where Josh's head should have been, was her grandmother's. Tina's short, platinum-blonde hair and familiar, slightly wrinkled features were perched on Josh's body as if it were the world's most natural thing.
A shiver ran down Lexy's spine, and she quickly looked back to the table where her grandmother had been sitting. But it wasn't Tina's face staring back at her. Instead, Josh's youthful features looked oddly out of place on her grandmother's petite frame.
Lexy's heart began to race. She dropped the spoon she held, the metallic clatter snapping her back to reality. This couldn't be real. She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again, hoping the scene would revert to normal. But it didn't. The bizarre sight remained.
"Uh, Josh?" she called out hesitantly, her voice trembling.
Josh—well, Josh's head on Tina's body—looked up at her with a warm smile. "Yes, Lexy?" he responded in his usual voice as if nothing was wrong.
Lexy's stomach churned. "Are you… feeling okay?" she asked, struggling to keep her voice steady.
"Never better, sweetie," came the reply, still in Josh's familiar masculine tone. Lexy's breath caught in her throat.
She turned to what should have been Josh's body, now moving with a careful, almost delicate grace that was unmistakably Tina's. Her grandmother's head was focused intently on placing the turkey on a platter, her hands—now Josh's—working with expert precision.
"Lexy, are you alright?" Tommy's voice broke through her haze of confusion. He was standing beside her, his hand gently touching her shoulder.
She turned to him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Tommy… do you see that?" she whispered, nodding towards the two figures.
Tommy followed her gaze but remained unfazed. "See what?" he asked, oblivious to the surreal sight before them.
Lexy's heart pounded as she tried to process what was happening. No one else seemed to notice—everyone acted like this was normal. A wave of dizziness hit her, and her mind spun as she grappled with the impossible reality in front of her.
"Lexy, honey, could you bring the cranberry sauce to the table?" Josh asked, or rather, Tina asked with Josh's head. The sound of his voice sent another jolt through her.
"Sure… sure," Lexy stammered, trying to keep her composure. She moved robotically, her mind racing as she reached for the dish of cranberry sauce. She could barely register what was happening around her as she set the dish on the table.
She glanced around, hoping for any sign that someone else noticed the horrifying swap. But everyone was acting as if everything was perfectly normal.
Her grandmother—no, Josh—patted her hand as she sat beside her. "Everything looks wonderful, darling. You've outdone yourself this year."
Lexy forced a smile, her mind still reeling. "Thanks, Grandma… Josh…" she mumbled, unsure of what to call them anymore.
As the family gathered around the table, Lexy felt a deep unease settle over her. She was surrounded by the people she loved, but something was wrong. And the worst part was that she seemed to be the only one who noticed. As the family gathered around the table, Lexy found herself staring at the impossible sight of her grandmother's head on Josh's body and Josh's head on Tina's small frame. The unsettling image made it hard for her to focus on anything else, even as the room buzzed with the usual Thanksgiving chatter.
Kristella, oblivious to the bizarre swap, leaned over to who she thought was her mother—Josh's head on Tina's body—and began chatting with the same warmth she always used with Tina.
"Mom, I was thinking about what you said the other day," Kristella began, her tone light as she scooped some stuff onto her plate. "I do need to start watching my figure. Tina commented the other day that he'd go to the gym with me if I wanted to."
Lexy's eyes widened as she listened, her heart pounding. The conversation was surreal—Kristella talking to Josh's head on Tina's body, believing she was speaking to her mother, and referencing a conversation that would have been impossible under normal circumstances.
Josh nodded sagely. "That's a great idea, dear," she said, her voice warm but distinctly Josh's. "I think going to the gym together would be wonderful. It's always more fun with a partner and keeps you motivated."
Kristella smiled, clearly appreciative of the support. "Thanks, Mom. I'll also talk to Ruben to see if he's on board. It'd be nice to make it a family thing."
Lexy's stomach churned as she realized how deep the swap had gone. Not only did Josh and Tina look switched, but their memories, thoughts, and personalities seamlessly adapted to their new roles. It was as if they had always been this way, and Lexy was the only one left out of the loop.
As Kristella continued the conversation, Lexy noticed that Josh was playing along perfectly, nodding and responding with the same motherly concern and affection that Tina always showed. The way she leaned in slightly when Kristella spoke, the comforting tone in her voice, the little smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes—it was all so convincingly Tina, despite being delivered from Josh's face.
Lexy felt a cold sweat form on her brow. She would never have believed it if she hadn't seen the switch happen. She glanced around the table, searching for any sign that someone else noticed the strangeness, but everyone was happily eating and chatting, utterly unaware.
"Lexy, honey, could you pass the gravy?" It was Josh's again. Lexy's hand shook slightly as she reached for the gravy boat and passed it across the table.
"Thanks, sweetheart," Josh said as she accepted it with a smile.
Lexy took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She was trapped in an upside-down reality, where the people she loved were still here, yet entirely different. And the worst part was that she seemed to be the only one who noticed.
Lexy excused herself from the dinner table but was stopped by Tommy, except it was _____'s head on Tommy's body.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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