Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 The Switch By: KarenTV720

   My fiancee Susan and I were do to get married in six months when she
suggested we go for pre-marital counseling.  I didn't really see any need
for it, we hadn't had many arguments and I had no complaints about our
relationship but she insisted.  Somehow she even persuaded our friends Ed
and Mary who were to be best man and maid of honor to come along.  I
couldn't see any harm in it or good for that matter so I agreed and we
scheduled a session that was to last for an hour.  Or so I thought. We all
showed up for our appointment with Ed and me feeling like we were wasting
an hour's time.  Ed and Mary were mutual friends who had introduced me to
Sue.  They were engaged to be married in about a year and were probably the
best matched couple I'd ever met.  Yet here we were about to spend an hour
in what was likely to be a waste of time. We registered with the
receptionist and were asked to fill out a questionnaire.  The questions
were supposed to be designed to find out how we really felt about each
other and reveal any possible feelings of resentment that might cause
marital problems. Ed and I had a great time answering questions like "I
wish I could understand what women really mean by what they say" or "women
have no idea how hard men really have it".  Our all time favorite though
had to be "Life is really much easier for a woman." We were howling over
the questions when we noticed that Sue and Mary were giggling like a couple
of school girls.  It turns out they were answering the same type of
questions on their forms!  I asked the receptionist if the questions were
meant to be a joke.  She smiled and replied that many couples thought they
were funny when they came into the office but only the guys were laughing
when they left.  I figured that she meant the doctor tended to side with
the men more often and maybe this wouldn't be a waste of time after all! We
filled out our forms and soon were called into the doctors office.  He said
that he AHD reviewed our answers and wanted to double check them with us
but first asked the girls to wait in another office..  Ed and I told him
that yes we did wish we understood women better but then didn't all men! 
Yes, we certainly felt women didn't have the foggiest idea of how tough
guys had it and women absolutely had it easier than men!  He asked Ed and
me to wait in the other office while he interviewed the girls separately.
After a few minutes we were called back in with our fiancees.  The girls
were laughing and said that they had answered their questions the same way
we had.  The doctor let us enjoy our fun for a few minutes before he
interrupted. He asked each of us if we'd like to see life as our partners
saw it, to give us a better understanding of each other he said smiling.  I
said that the idea was certainly intriguing to say the least but Sue and I
had many wonderful conversations in the past without either of us really
understanding the other one completely.  The doctor assured us however that
this would be different as he led us to another office.  There on a table
were several helmets like they have in the video arcades for virtual
reality games.  We were asked to sit opposite our partners and put on the
helmets. Once we had the helmets on we were asked to relax and think of the
time we first met each other.  As I began to relax and concentrate on my
first date with Sue I was surprised to find that I was experiencing some
very strange yet extremely pleasant feelings.  It was a feeling of
excitement and happiness similar to what I remembered yet somehow very
different.  I started to feel a sense of relaxation and happiness began
from deep within me and rise to the surface.  It was such a great feeling
that I leaned back in my chair and let it overcome me.  Suddenly the
darkness inside my helmet ended and I saw the restaurant where we had our
first date.  Everything seemed to be the same as it was that night yet
there was something different that I couldn't quite define.  I saw the
restaurant as we walked towards it and the table as we were seated.  "This
was great" I thought, I'm reliving our first date! It was only when I began
to sit down at our table that I realized something was very wrong.  The
feeling of happiness began to increase and I saw hands set the clutch purse
Sue had carried on the table.  The next thing I saw both thrilled me and
terrified me!  The view in my helmet lifted from the purse on the table to
a good looking guy sitting directly across from me and I realized that I
was staring at myself!  I was reliving our first date all right but from
Sue's perspective!  Before I could say anything I heard Sue giggling.  "So
that's how you felt about me " She laughed.  "I should have slapped you!"
All I could say was "What's happening?" The doctor explained to use that we
were experiencing our first meting from our partners point of view, He said
that the helmets allowed us to transfer our thoughts and feelings to each
other much like the arcade games made us feel that we were really in a
game. Anything that one of us felt or thought could become reality to the
other.  Sue was ecstatic over the idea and soon I found that she was
transmitting her feelings to me.  I tried to tell her to stop but she was
having too much fun and soon I found that my own feelings were being pushed
aside and I was experiencing more and more of her thoughts and feelings. 
We were told that the ability to experience past events like this seemed to
make couples more appreciative of each other.  I managed to force enough of
Sue's feelings out of the way to say that I appreciated Sue but still felt
that no man could ever really understand a woman's mind.  Ed readily agreed
with me and added that although it was fun to experience Mary's feelings
for a few moments he would never really understand how she felt at other
times.  "Women were different from men " Ed said.  "They didn't really see
things in a practical way!" The doctor let out a short laugh.  "Remember
the old saying about not judging someone until you've walked in their
shoes!" He said.  " That's something I can give to you if you'd like!"
"What do you mean by giving it to us," I asked puzzled.  "Yes," Sue piped
in, "This sounds interesting!" The doctor then proceeded to explain that if
the girls agreed he could use the helmets to help us switch places!  He
explained that he had found that what people referred to as the "Mind"
really existed.  It wasn't a physical thing that you could touch or see but
rather a thought process that made each of us who we were.  With the use of
the helmets this thought process could be switched between two people so
that each would experience life as the other! Ed reflected my opinion when
he said he thought the doctors theory was a load of bull but the girls were
excited!  "How about it Sue" Mary asked .  "Wouldn't it be great to let the
guys see how tough we really have it in life! Without giving Sue a chance
to reply I shouted, "Tough, you have no idea of what tough really is!" As I
finished I was suddenly overcome with a feeling of anger and excitement.  I
realized that Sue's thoughts were so strong that they were coming into my
helmet again, I concentrated and cleared my head for a second but it was
too late.  I suddenly knew realized that the last thought of Sue's to come
across was that she planned on making the switch! A chill ran down my spine
as I heard Sue's voice saying "Let's do it!" Within an instant Mary agreed
and I heard the doctor tell them it would only take a second.  I yelled to
Ed to take off our helmets but it was too late.  As I frantically grabbed
for my helmet I suddenly felt a feeling of excitement come over me.  As
quickly as it came the feeling began to subside and I heard the doctor tell
us to remove our helmets.  I quickly pulled mine off and blinked trying to
adjust from the dark helmet to the bright room.  Once I adjusted to the
brightness I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach, sitting across from me
was a guy who I immediately recognized --- ME!  "Please tell me this is
just a bad dream" I exclaimed.  At least I thought I did for the voice I
clearly heard was Sue's! Next I heard Mary saying, "I hope you're right but
somehow I doubt it!" I looked across the table to where the voice came from
and saw Mary sitting there with a look of dread on her face.  Her boyfriend
Ed however was grinning from ear to ear as was the guy who looked like me!
He looked at Mary and me and then at my partner.  "Looks like we made it
Sue" He said. I began to get agitated and demanded that we be switched back
again.  The doctor just laughed and told me to settle down and listen for a
few minutes.  Laughing he turned to the two guys and said, "Hysterical
females!  My husband used to call me one!" The doctor explained that he too
had once been a woman, actually he had been the wife of the doctor who had
invented the helmets!  As the wife she was the giuinea pig for her husbands
experiments with the helmets.  When he discovered that he could make the
mental switch she made plans to do it to him.  She gained his knowledge and
body, he became a devoted wife and mother! Now he used the helmets to help
other women teach their boyfriends and husbands to be more appreciative of
women, In three years he said he's never had a dissatisfied customer. Ed
stood up and began to look over his body.  "Not bad" He said smiling, "Just
going to take a little getting used to that's all!" He walked over to where
Mary was sitting with her hands folded demurely in her lap.  Smiling he
took her by the hand and helped her up.  Pulling her close he put his arms
around her waist and gave her a passionate kiss!  I couldn't wait to see
Mary break away after what had been done.  Instead she put her arms around
his neck , looked up at him and returned the kiss. "Ed" I yelled, "what are
you doing?" Ed turned to me and laughed, "Kissing my girlfriend, what does
it look like?" Mary just lowered her head, "I couldn't help it, the doctor
was right.  I realize that I was a guy, I still remember everything I ever
did as a guy, but I feel like a woman and this is the guy I'm in love with!
I felt a hand on my arm and realized that I was being turned with little
effort.  I saw my reflection standing there smiling.  "How about a kiss
Sue" he said as he pulled me towards him. I knew that I had just chewed out
my friend for the same thing but I also felt a very real desire to be held
and kissed by the man in front of me.  I moved close to my future husband
and without another thought I met his lips and allowed his tongue to probe
my mouth.  As we kissed I experienced feelings that I had never known
before.  I felt a warmth coursing through my body and a feeling of
happiness and contentment which alternated with what I can only describe as
a longing to be taken by this man.  I knew that I had become a woman!