Hot For Teacher-A Holiday Tale

Chapter 1
Hot For Teacher - A Holiday Tale

Hot For Teacher- A Holiday Tale

by Louder

The buzzer sounded and signaled the end of another school day. 16 year old Mark motioned to his cousin, Sam, and they grabbed their backpacks and headed for the doors.

"Can you believe how HOT Mrs. Stevens is?" Mark asked

"Tell me about it!" Sam replied "Man, I’d love to see her in my bedroom! Too bad she’s such a stuck up. She acts like she’s all business or something"

"Yeah, totally! I know what you mean. That’s just stupid, too. Did you happen to see her driver’s license sitting on her desk? She’s just 23 years old. She’s almost our age!"

"Uh huh, I saw it. We’re almost 17 and she’s barely 23 and she’s trying to be all ’teachery’ or something. That’s pretty stupid ’cause if she wanted to she could fit right in and be cool. She could pass for a student even. She could, you know, be one of the cool teachers" declared Sam "Too bad she’s a teacher and not a student anyway! She’s too hot to be a teacher!"

"Oh yeah! Couldn’t you imagine her in one of this year’s new cheerleader outfits? Wow!" Mark added as he thought about the short skirts and crop tops the cheerleaders were wearing this year.

"Ouch! Oh man, she’d be smokin’ hot!" Sam stated as he formed a mental picture of Mrs. Stevens leading cheers.

The boys continued on walking and entered the mall. It was almost a requirement, a teenage ritual, to stop in on their way home from school.

"I wish Mrs Stevens would just go out with me sometime" Mark added, seemingly from left field.

"Go out? With you? Yeah... right... And you know she’s married and all, don’t you?" Sam explained.

"Yeah, I know..." a dejected Mark replied "But have you seen her husband? I was watching her leave the other day and saw him pick her up. He’s like geeky and old. And kinda, like, fat!"

"What, are you stalking her now?"

"Ummm I wouldn’t call it stalking... But, man... she’s so... you know.... hot!"

Sam rolled his eyes, shook his head, and decided to change the topic "Can you believe this place? I mean... I know it’s December and Christmas is coming, but this is Florida. Look at some of the decorations and stuff. It’s stupid! It’s, like, 80 degrees outside and that place has their windows frosted up! That place over there has fake snow in their display"

"Yeah, totally dumb. You’d think we’re in the North Pole or something. And all these stupid little shops lining the hall that open just for a month or two and then close after Christmas. Stupid!"

"Well, I need to get my mom something" Sam explained "So I guess I should keep my eyes open and check some of those places out"

"Yeah, I need to get something for my mom, too. Dad’s easy... but mom always acts like she wants something different" Mark replied.

"Look there...." Sam said pointing ahead "Look at that place"

It looked more like an old shack rather than a booth. There was a man in front of it placing letters on a cheap sign. "Santa’s Place" it said. The booth was made to look like an abandoned shack similar to what you might see in the mountains. Weathered, uneven boards, and it looked like it could fall over at any minute.

"He doesn’t look much like Santa" Sam remarked staring at the skinny man’s red pants and red flannel shirt "and if that’s his workshop... well... it needs some work itself!"

"It looks like his stuff is cheap though. Let’s see if we can find something our mom’s would like. She likes stupid little figurines and stuff" Mark said as he spied a display of figurines in the window.

The man stopped messing with his sign and followed the boys inside. "Howdy boys, whatcha a’ lookin’ fer?" he asked in a slow southern drawl as he rubbed the short whiskers on his chin.

"We’re just looking for something for our moms for Christmas" Mark answered as he looked around on the shelves. The place looked surprisingly large on the inside compared to what the boys had expected from the outside.

"Yip...welllll... Ya’ll can get stuff like that anywheres... Tell me somethin’ that ya’ll would rather have? Ya know, fer yourselves!"

"I just want something for my mom" Sam answered as he gave his friend a look to see if his friend had the same idea he did. Sam was sure this man was some senile hick.

"Yeah, same for me. Just something for my mom" Mark said but sounded distracted.

"Ya think? How ’bout something for that teacher ya been a’ pinin’ fer?" the man asked.

Sam laughed but Mark was taken by surprise "How’d you know?" he said before realizing he should’ve denied knowing what the man was talking about.

"Awww heck... I, I hear thangs. Ya know... I tell ya whatcha need" the old man said as he reached under the counter and brought out a small bottle "This right a’ here"

"What is it?" Mark asked.

"Awwww it’s a special potion" the man answered with a cocky but crooked smile.

"A -love- potion?" Sam asked, trying to hold back his laughing.

"Love? You ain’t gettin’ no love potions here! No siree! That love stuff ain’t my deptarment. Nuh uh! This here is a’ diff’rent"

"Ok, so what is it?" Mark asked, his curiosity growing.

"See, the problem ya’all got is that there teacher is all uppity and stuff. She’s trying to put on a show for that school principal and them there other teachers. She wants ’em thankin’ she’s one of them. Ain’t ’dat right?"

"Uhh... yeah sorta..." Mark replied, surprised by the man’s accuracy.

"And she ain’t a’ never gonna go out with you when she’s bein’ all uppity and stuff."

"Yeah... " Mark answered, drawn in by the man’s spiel.

"Welp, this stuff’ll fix ya right up. Yip. I tell ya... Ya just put a drop in any ol’ drink of her’s each day and she’ll start to a’ changin’" he said as he tapped his head "She’ll be droppin’ that uppity stuff an’ start a’ actin’ like a kid ’bout ya’ll’s age. She’ll start a’ fittin’ right in with a buncha high schoolers instead of a buncha ol’ stuffy teachers" the man explained in his down home drawl "It ain’t a’ like she ain’t hardly a young’un anyway. Once she starts a’ fittin’ in with ya’ll, then ya can go ta’ workin’ yer charms on her!"

"That can’t work" Mark told him.

"The heck it can’t and it’s guaranteed!" the old man replied "And it’s only a goll-durned dollar anyway. Whatdya gotta lose?"

Mark didn’t know why, but he felt compelled to give the man a dollar. What -did- he have to lose he wondered?

Sam looked at his friend and shook his head.

"Now, ya’ll remember... just a drop... everyday.... and it’ll start a workin’ like nobody’s business! Just a’ make sure ya use it all or it won’t be a’ permanent. A drop a day!"

"Ok... Uhhh... Thanks" Mark said as he took the bottle from the man.

"Just a second... Sam... here ya go. A little gift fer yer mom. Some vanishing cream fer them crows feet she’s been a’ fussin’ over. That’s just a’ dollar too!"

Sam rolled his eyes but placed a dollar on the counter and followed his cousin out of the little shack.

"So, how’d he know my name?" Sam asked "And how’d he know my mom’s been worrying about her crows feet?"

"He probably heard me call you by name and, you know, what woman the age of our moms isn’t worrying about her looks? It was probably just a lucky guess. At least you’ve got something for her now and it only cost you a buck! It’s in a fancy container so she’ll probably think you spent a bunch on it"

"Well, how’d he know about Mrs. Stevens?"

"That’s easy... I’m sure we’re not the only guys noticing how hot she is. You’ve got a school T-shirt on even. He’s probably already talked to some dudes about her. No biggie. The real question is, what is this stuff he gave me?" Mark said.

Sam shook his head "I have no idea. You’re not really gonna, like, use it on her are you?"

"Maybe... I mean... I dunno... Maybe it’s made from some kind of herb or something. What’s it gonna hurt? The old man seemed harmless enough, didn’t he?"

"Or senile" Sam added to his friend’s thoughts "You’d know all about herbs though, wouldn’t you!?!"

Mark rolled his eyes but didn’t reply. He was too busy thinking about the potion the old man had sold him. Could it really work he wondered?

----

All weekend long, Mark thought about the potion. He knew he had to use it. What if it really did work? He had to take the chance. Mrs Stevens was just too hot!

----

Monday:

When Monday rolled around, Mark had the vial of potion in his backpack. Since he had Mrs Stevens class as the first class of the morning, she usually had a cup of coffee at her desk.

"Pssst... Sam... I need you to go talk to Mrs. Stevens about your homework" Mark whispered.

"What? I have my homework finished?" he replied, not exactly grasping the point.

"I don’t care! Just distract her!" Mark told his friend as he loaded a dropper with a drop of the potion.

Sam, not exactly sure about his role in this, did as his friend asked. He uneasily walked to the desk and brought his textbook to ask her some questions about the weekend’s assignment. Questions that he already knew the answer to. But he wanted to help his friend whether he believed in the potion or not.

Mrs. Stevens had her blond hair up, as she usually wore it, and her glasses on. She always wore her glasses at school. She was wearing pantyhose with a conservative blue dress and low heeled shoes. Even dressed as conservatively as she was, it couldn’t hide her pretty young face or fail to show her seductive curves.

"Good morning, Sam" she said politely as he approached her desk "Have you got a question about the assignment?"

"Ummm yeah...." he stammered as he improvised a few awkward questions.

Meanwhile, Mark worked his way to the pencil sharpener on her desk. She glanced to see what he was doing and then again directed her attention back to Sam. Satisfied that Sam had her undivided attention, Mark quickly put a drop of the potion in her coffee when nobody was looking.

He wasn’t sure what to expect. Sam, seeing Mark was finished, smiled and told Mrs Stevens "Ahhh... I get it now...That’s what I thought. I just wanted to be sure before I handed everything in"

Both boys returned to their seats and waited to see Mrs Stevens take a sip of her coffee. It seemed to take forever. The clock barely seemed to move. Finally, Mrs Stevens put the cup to her lips and sipped the now cool beverage. She smiled as if the coffee was better than expected, and then took a longer drink before putting it back down. It didn’t stay down long. She took another long drink and smiled.

"Lori... your skirt" Mrs. Stevens said suddenly.

Lori Winkler had just stepped into the room. Her mini-skirt was obviously shorter than the school dress code allowed, but it was rarely enforced. Mrs. Stevens had been known to enforce the rule on occassion if something blatantly broke the rules. Lori was sure this was about to be one of those times. She was ready to be sent to the office.

"I’m sorry, Mrs. Stevens... Is there a problem?" Lori asked, just knowing she’d pushed the hemline boundary a little too far.

"It’s cute" Mrs. Stevens answered with a warm smile "It might be a little short, but it’s so darned cute I don’t blame you for wanting to wear it"

"You want me to get my sweats from my gym locker?" Lori asked, still not convinced she wasn’t being asked to change to something less revealing.

"Sweats? You have a cute outfit like that and you want to put on your sweats? You don’t want to hide your legs in sweats anyway!" Mrs. Stevens told her.

Now Lori was confused. So were Mark and Sam and the rest of the class wasn’t sure what to make of the exchange either.

"Ohhhh... the dress code!" Mrs. Stevens finally said as she seemed to understand why everyone looked so confused "I think dress codes are stupid. Lori looks cute the way she’s dressed. I’m just curious where she got that skirt"

Mark and Sam looked at each other and silently knew what each was thinking ’Did the potion have something to do with this excahnge?’

Lori pulled a sale flyer from her bookbag and began showing Mrs. Stevens some of the skirts that were on sale where she’d purchased her new outfits. Instead of starting class, Mrs. Stevens was doing some catalogue shopping with a teenage student. Both boys decided this was certainly out of the ordinary. Even when Mrs. Stevens did start with the day’s lesson, she obviously scaled it back. She even gave everyone the answers to their recent homework assignment before asking the students to hand the assignments in.

"She’s really acting different!" Mark exclaimed "I think it’s working!"

Sam wasn’t sure what to say. Doubtful as he’d been, he had to agree this class had been ’different’ than the norm for Mrs. Stevens.

-----

Tuesday:

Tuesday rolled around and Mark was more excited than ever to again try the potion on Mrs. Stevens. He couldn’t wait to get to school and see her and practically ran down the hall and into the classroom to be the first one there.

Mrs. Stevens was already at her desk. Her eyeglasses were sitting on the desk rather than on her face. She still had on what could be called a conservative dress but her legs were bare. Her hairs was pulled back from her face but it wasn’t pinned up like normal. It hung loosely down her back.

"Hello Mark" she said as she went over some papers on her desk and shook her head.

"Morning, Mrs. Stevens" he answered "What is in store for us today?"

"Oh? That’s the first I’ve ever known you to care about what’s happening in class!" she told him "I hope you don’t think today will be as easy yesterday. I don’t know what got into me, making the day so easy. I mean, I hate to... but it’s only right... I don’t really want to push you guys so hard.... that’s not really me... But..."

At first Mark though either the potion had worn off or else it had never worked in the first place. But now here was Mrs. Stevens letting her guard down and actually questioning herself.

She pushed herself away from the desk and went to stare out the window as if lost in thought. Mark quickly grasped the opportunity and readied a drop of the potion for her coffee. Before she could return to the desk he had placed a drop of the potion in her coffee.

She seemed to collect her thoughts and returned to the desk and sipped the coffee "Yes, Mark... today will be...."

She didn’t finish the sentence. Instead she giggled and took another drink and began bouncing her shoe on her foot.

"I hate being a teacher... You know that don’t you?" she declared from out of nowhere while sliding her glasses to the edge of the desk.

"You do?"

"Yeah... Really... And all the rules and stuff I have to do...." she said as she finished off her coffee in a long gulp. "It’s all so... so... BORING!"

Mark just knew he was on the road to a breakthrough with his teacher when the door opened and the other students began pouring in. Disappointment melted over his body.

"Mark? There you are! I was waiting for you" Sam said as he entered the room.

"Uhh... I uhhh... I wanted to get here early and talk with Mrs. Stevens" Mark explained sheepishly. He caught a glimpse of Mrs. Stevens smiling as he mentioned that. Was that good he wondered? Was that a sign? His hormones began to take over.

As easy as Monday had been, Tuesday was even easier. In fact, Mrs. Stevens seemed more interested in talking about the latest movie star gossip and checking out online fashions with her laptop than actually getting on with class. Mark and Sam now both knew there was no doubt that the potion was working. Before the end of class, the girls were sharing nail polish and lip gloss with their teacher while the boys watched in amazement as Mrs. Stevens began her transformation from teacher to someone who was relating more and more easily with her class of teenagers. Especially with the girls.

By the time the buzzer sounded, Mrs. Stevens sported a new nail color and had a head full of fashion tips from the teenage girls in her class.

"Did you see that?" Mark asked "It’s really working! I think after tomorrow’s dose I might ask her out"

"It’s kind of weird but I think you’re right. At least about it working. I don’t know about her going out with you though. It’s not like she’s a real teenager" explained Sam.

"It doesn’t matter if she’s a few years older than me as long as she doesn’t care about ages and quits trying to be such an adult all the time"

"And what about her husband?"

"Blah... Who cares? She’ll like me better. You should’ve been here this morning when we were talking. We really hit it off!" Mark stated "Anyway, I wanna to get moving on this. Friday is the last day of school before Christmas break. We have to be together by then so I can keep giving her the potion"

---

Wednesday:

Wednesday morning arrived and Mark practically ran the whole way to school. He was curious and wondered how much Mrs. Stevens would still be under the influence of the potion. More importantly, he was excited to give her another dose.

Breathlessly, he opened the door to see her sitting on her desk and drinking a diet cola instead of her normal morning coffee. Not only that, but there was no conservative dress this morning at all. She was wearing a tank top, a short skirt, and flip flops. Her hair was simply loose now. Not tied back at all.

"Hi Mark" she said in an almost musical way as she hopped down from her desk. Her voice seemed to have a new life to it. Almost as if there was a new innocence about her. As if her cares were fading away....

"Hi, Mrs. Stevens" Mark answered as he caught his breath and took in the sight of his teacher wearing something much more revealing than what he was used to seeing.

"Ummm Mark... Do you think... At least when nobody’s around... that you could call me Jenni? "Mrs. Spencer" makes me sound so old. I’m just 23. I know that might sound old to you but I don’t feel old at all"

"Uhh... Yeah... Sure, Mrs... errrr Jenni. I can do that" Mark told her. This is just strange he told himself, but it’s also working out just like he hoped. "23 is not that old. That’s young. And you look like you should be going to school here instead of teaching it anyway!"

"Ooooooo you’re so sweet" she cooed and ran over and hugged him. This took him by surprise but it was a pleasant surprise!

"Thanks" he said nervoulsy.

"Thank YOU!" she replied "I’m glad you don’t think of me as old"

She returned to her desk and Mark watched her wiggle away and shook his head. He was ready for a cold shower already. He loaded the dropper with more potion. Her diet cola was sitting on the desk now. She walked to the back of the room and bent over to grab some items from a low shelf. As much as Mark wanted to watch the view, he needed the opportunity to put today’s potion in her drink. He quickly did it and turned to hopefully see her still bent over. Too late, she was now crouched down in a more ladylike stance. She stood up and made her way back to the desk with some files.

"I guess I’m gonna hafta, like, give you guys this stupid test today" she said as she plopped the papers on her test "Wanna see the answer sheet before anyone gets here?"

"Sure!" Mark answered and took the offered sheet for a quick look.

Meanwhile, Jenni took a drink from her diet cola. And then another. And then another. "Wow, this is really good" she said as she wiped her mouth with her hand.

"Those tests are really dumb, aren’t they? If I make you guys take those, nobody will think I’m cool!"

"You could just give everyone the answers" Mark suggested.

"I’m just gonna, like, give everyone an ’A’ in the books for them" Jenni replied as she tossed the test papers in the trash. "There, done!" she giggled "Wait until I tell everyone they just got an ’A’!"

"Ummm Mrs...errrr Jenni... do you wanna maybe... uhhh... ummmm... hangout after school?" Mark asked, summoning all the courage he could.

Before Jenni could answer, the door swung open and students started arriving. Soon, the class was full and all the guys were gawking at their teacher while the girls were talking with her over more movie gossip. ...And Mark didn’t have his answer on whether she wanted to ’hang out’ with him later or not.

Sam could hardly believe the transformation. Mrs. Stevens did fit right in now. Her looks, her actions, her speech... she really was more like one of the girls than the teacher she had been. She fit right in with the other teenage girls.

There was no more studying in this glass. The girls, and Mrs. Stevens was one of them now, were discussing fashions now. They’d exchange shoes and jewelry and talk about what matched their clothing best... where each girl had bought what... Sales...

Meanwhile, the guys talked sports... and girls...

Jenni excused herself to get a magazine she’d left in her locker in the teacher’s lounge.

Mark could hear a muffled voice from down the hall, even though the classroom door was shut. "Excuse me... Miss...Miss... Have you got a hall pass?"

Mark heard Jenni giggle "Sorry to disappoint you, Sir....errrr Frank... But I don’t need a hall pass"

"Oh... Mrs. Stevens? .... Uhhhhh sorry.... I thought you were a student...." the security guard replied as he sheepishly excused himself to check another area.

Jenni returned with her magazine and the girls were all abuzz checking out the new hairstyles that this magazine was claiming to be all the rage for spring.

The buzzer sounded and the kids all groaned. This had fast become their favorite class these days. Just before Mark left the room, Jenni motioned for him to come to the desk.

"The water fountain. At the park" she said.

"Huh?" he asked.

"You big silly... You asked to hang out after school. We could meet at the water fountain at the park.... Unless.... unless you changed your mind?" She seemed to lose a little confidence as she asked the question.

"Oh... cool... sure! I’ll be there!" he answered.

As soon as the final buzzer sounded Mark made a bee-line for the park. He didn’t want to be late. He sat down on the bench and looked at the wires wrapped around the trees. It was for the Christmas lights that the city would light each night during the season. What a great Christmas present this is turning out to be he thought!

After a few minutes, Jenni arrived and sat down beside Mark on the bench. Their conversation started awkwardly but they were soon hitting it off fabulously. Time passed quickly and before they knew it they were holding hands.

"Ooooh! The time!" Jenni exclaimed "I should get home"

"Home? But why?" Mark asked.

"My uhhhh.... husband will be wondering where I’m at. He’s all jealous and stuff" she replied.

"Do you hafta go, right now?" Mark said, hoping to steal a kiss.

Jenni turned her head before Mark could make his awkward move. "Yeah, I better go" she said as she stood up.

Disappointed, Mark could only muster "Ok".

His mood soon lightened as Jenni gave him a peck on the lips "Quick, give me your cell number" she begged "I’ll call you!"

Excitedly, Mark gave her his number and watched as she ran to her car. "YES!" he shouted after she was out of earshot.

Mark couldn’t wait to tell Sam the latest news. He knew Sam would be mad that he had skipped their normal routine of a trip to the mall following school but figured he’d understand.

Sam, in fact had wondered what had happened to his friend, but had a pretty good idea.

---

Wednesday Night:

Mark’s cell rang. It was Jenni telling him she’d made her husband move out because he was "such a horn dog!" She wasn’t sad or even angry, in fact she sounded downright giddy! The two talked until their cellphone batteries died.

-----------------

Thursday:

Just as he’d done every other day this week, Mark was up early and rushing to get to school. His cell rang and it was Jenni wondering where he was. She was already missing him. He talked with her as he scaled the last couple of blocks and made it to the classroom.

Jenni was wearing capri pants, sandals, and a short blouse that would give a peek of her midriff as she moved. Her hair was down and she’d put some highlights in it.

Some of the teachers watched as Mark entered Jenni’s classroom and those same teachers began to talk and shake their heads. They had all noticed the change in Jenni’s wardrobe choices, and the slide in her professionalism, but hadn’t quite put it all together yet since it was happening so suddenly.

"I brought you a cola" Mark said, handing Jenni a spiked can of diet cola. He didn’t want to take any chances getting the potion in her beverage. Not now. Not this close.

Jenni began sipping the cola and then slowly started taking larger drinks.

"You know what would be great?" she asked as she finished her drink.

"What?"

"If I could pass for 16 and we just move away and find someplace where we could go to school together!" Jenni declared.

Mark was taken aback "But... but... you’ve already been to school... You’re a teacher and all... How??"

"I know... but, like, I don’t feel like a teacher anymore. Not since I met you. It’s probably a dumb idea. You probably just think I’m some silly 20 year old girl"

"20?" Mark asked as he picked up on the comment "but you’re 23"

"You know what I mean" she answered but not quite really explaining things to Mark’s satisfaction. "You think I’m just a dumb girl, with all my dreams about relationships...and getting married.... and having a nice things... and a nice house... and... and..."

Mark put his arm around his emotional teacher. The potion was still working on her. Her emotions were quickly becoming as unpredictable as any teenage girl.

"Why do you treat me this way?" she sniffed, fighting back tears but losing the battle.

"I’m sorry" Mark told her, although he had no idea what he was even sorry for!

"You really are sorry?" she asked as her mood began to lighten.

Mark couldn’t believe how quickly her moods could swing "Yeah, I’m truly sorry" he lied.

"Pinky sorry?" she asked in a cutesy type voice.

"Yeah... Pinky sorry" he replied as they hooked fingers and then she pulled him closer for a hug.

"I’m sorry, too" she told him "We can still meet after school today, can’t we?"

The classroom door opened and they quickly separated hoping no one had noticed their embrace. The class quickly filled with students and Mark filled Sam in on the morning’s happenings.

"She kicked her husband out, for you!?" Sam asked, upon hearing that part of the story.

"I think she was going to do that anyway. Something like that couldn’t happen that quickly" Mark reasoned.

The hour again was filled with no studying. A couple of students even wondered if the lack of studying was going to hurt their grades but Jenni got a loud cheer when she told the class she’d already decided to give everyone ’A’s for the semester so they didn’t need to study.

After school, Jenni and Mark again met at the park and found a secluded spot to talk... and make out. Mark began to get a bit more aggressive but Jenni wouldn’t allow him to get too far.

"What’s wrong?" he asked.

Jenni seemed nervous to reply but slowly found her courage "I don’t know how but I got my virginity back. I don’t want to... you know.... I want to.... ummmm wait" she said softly "You understand, don’t you?"

Mark’s mind raced ’How could a 23 year old married woman gain her virginity back?’. He knew it had to be the potion at work. He’d saw her maturity being erased all week. He’d watched as her emotions had regressed to that of any typical lovesick and confused teenaged girl. But this was a real physical change. He saw nothing to worry about though. In fact it was even better than he had imagined.

"I understand" he told her as he softly kissed her.

"Thanks" she answered "Since I met you it’s like everything is new again. I don’t know why. It’s like you put some kind of spell on me or something"

"What? A spell??" a shocked Mark asked as he pulled away.

"I didn’t mean anything bad about it. I just like the way you make me feel" Jenni explained giggling nervoulsy about having such a conversation "I’m just caught in your web"

Mark had a quick sigh of relief when he realized she wasn’t seriously accusing him of putting a spell on her. Though he had to laugh to himself, thinking about how close her metaphor was to reality.

With her husband gone, Jenni no longer had a rush to get home but Mark did. His parents would worry if he stayed out any longer and so the the two parted for the night.

Mark hadn’t been home an hour before Jenni called him on his cell phone. They again talked until their batteries emptied.

-------------

Friday:

Mark’s cell rang. It was Jenni calling him with an idea. "Whatdya think about skipping school today?"

"Uhhh I dunno" he answered, questioning whether it was a good idea.

"I was thinking maybe you could get your cousin Sam to cut school too and he could drive while me an you... ummm talked" she said with a knowing laugh.

The laugh did it. It was settled, Mark would get Sam and meet Jenni and they would skip school. "Bring something to wear, and we’ll go to the beach" she told him.

Sam was leery but his cousin eventually convinced him and he agreed to the plan. The boys met and then waited at the park for Jenni to arrive. After a few minutes they saw her car pull into the parking lot.

"C’mon" Sam said "Before someone sees us"

Jenni stepped out of the car. She was barefoot and wearing a pair of faded, cut off jeans. She had on a skimpy bikini top and sunglasses. Sam couldn’t believe the transformation that Mrs. Stevens had been through. No one would accuse her of being stuffy now. She was acting and looking more and more the part of a carefree teen. "So you’re OK with driving?" Jenni said as she looked at Sam.

Sam gathered his composure after staring at his teacher’s curves. "Sure, I guess" he answered and slid into the driver’s seat "But I have to be back in time for dinner at home. Tonight is when we have our Christmas and exchange gifts"

"No problem" Mark said as he threw their backpacks into the trunk. He and Jenni then snuggled into the back seat together.

"I hope this isn’t a bad idea" Jenni said, as if she was suddenly having second thoughts.

"It’s a good idea" Mark told her as he handed her a fountain drink that he’d already prepared with a drop of the potion.

After a few sips on the straw, Jenni seemed to get more comfortable again "This is gonna be, like, soooo cool!" she said "When we get to Sunville I want you to stop at that one electronics store by the mall. I want to get something"

When they reached Sunville, Sam dutifully pulled into the parking lot of the electronics store and the 3 exited the car and headed inside. Jenni seemed to know exactly what she wanted and in a few moments she had a brand new IPod in her possession. "Merry Christmas!" she said as she handed the IPod to Mark. "I know how much you like music and stuff and I heard you talking about wanting one of these. Sooo.... Do you like it?"

"Wow! Yeah! You’re getting this for me?" he said "Thank you!"

The two hugged and kissed some more.

"Do you two just want to get a room, or do you just want to make out here in the parking lot? Or maybe.. just maybe... we should all get back in the car?" Sam asked.

Mark and Jenni both laughed as they got back in the car with Sam.

"Where are you going!?" Jenni asked as she saw Sam signal a turn.

"The beach... Isn’t that the plan?" he answered.

"Helllllooooo! We can’t just go to a PUBLIC beach... We’ll get busted for not being in school! We need to sneak onto a private beach where the worst thing that can happen is somebody running us off!" Jenni explained and then pointed out directions to a spot she knew. The three found the spot and then headed for a secluded area.

Sam borrowed Mark’s new IPod while Jenni and Mark made out in the sand. Jenni seemed to allow Mark to be a little more adventurous and Mark was enjoying the extra liberties. Things were going great until their intimacy was broken with a poke from a stick. A broomstick!

An elderly woman stood over them weilding a broom as if it was a weapon. "What are you doing here!? This is a private beach you little heathens!" she exclaimed.

Mark and Jenni jumped to their feet and tried to straighten their clothes.

"Shouldn’t you kids be in school? Don’t you have any parents? And you... you little teenaged floozy... In my day a girl wouldn’t be seen in public dressed like that!"

Jenni wanted to stand up to the woman but for some reason her confidence escaped her. She felt shy and more like a scared child than an adult woman. She felt exactly like the teenager that this elderly woman thought she was right now. In fact, she’d thought of herself as a teenager all day. She no longer thought about her age difference with Mark. They seemed like equals to her. Actually, she looked up to Mark and felt she needed him... needed his support and approval. If the old woman hadn’t appeared when she had, Jenni felt she might’ve given into Mark right there on the beach. She wanted him to know how much she cared for him and didn’t want to lose him. She knew she was going to have to show him how much she cared for him. She didn’t want to lose him!

The old woman didn’t seem to want to let this go, continually berating the threesome, and finally Sam decided that he’d heard enough. "Let’s go!" he yelled and took off running. Mark and Jenni followed Sam’s lead, grabbed what they could of their personal items, while the old woman kept yelling for them to come back so she could call the police.

They hopped in the car, laughing, and looked back to see the old woman waving the broom over her head and cursing.

Jenni stuck her head out the window of the car and yelled back "Screw you! You old hag!!" and then stuck her tongue out at her as they safely drove away.

"I need to be getting back anyway...." Sam explained "I don’t want to miss any gifts! We’re opening gifts tonight. Everybody’ll wonder where I’m at"

"Yeah, my mom is going to be wondering where I’m at too" Mark added.

All during the ride home, Sam could hear Jenni and Mark whispering. It was clear they were becoming quite the couple. The trip home was otherwise uneventful. Sam drove the car back to the park and gave the keys back to Jenni. The two boys then exited the vehicle, again leaving it with Jenni.

Sam watched her carefully as she climbed over the seat to take over the car. The young teacher really could pass for a high school student now. Her speech, her personality, all coupled with her youthful wardrobe and looks made for a convincing picture.

"Dude, tomorrow’s the BIG day!" Mark exclaimed once Jenni had driven off.

"How so?" Sam asked.

"She told me she wanted to make tomorrow -special-" Mark answered confidently "By the time Christmas break ends she’ll be the coolest teacher in the school and she’ll be my girlfriend!"

"Really? Man, she’s changed so much... She even -looks- younger! Do you really think she can still be a teacher when this is all over?" Sam asked.

"Sure, why not? It’s no big deal. She’s just cooler now"

----

That night Mark didn’t hear from Jenni. He tried calling her but could only get her voicemail. He’d grown accustomed to their long conversations and wondered why tonight would be any different. He decided she must’ve forgotten to charge the phone or maybe even pay the bill. She hadn’t been the most responsible person lately.

----

Saturday Morning:

Mark’s cell rang. It was Jenni and she sounded odd, as if she was worried about something. She wanted him to meet her at the park again as soon as possible and implored Mark not to tell anyone where he was going. He got dressed and hurried to the park, grabbing a fountain soda pop and spiking it with a drop of the potion along the way.

“Jenni, What’s wrong?” he asked as he saw her crying as he approached.

“We’ve got to break up....” she said in between sobs “A friend of my husband saw us and followed us yesterday. He’s threatening to go to the police AND the school. I’ll lose my job and maybe go to jail!”

“But the other day you were thinking about us running away together and you weren’t worried about school at all?” a shaken Mark replied.

“That was before anyone was watching me. Besides...it was just talk... silly talk... This could be big trouble for both of us.”

Mark handed her the cola and she took a few sips. Her mood did lighten but her resolve didn’t change.

“I hate this soooooo much, Mark.... I do.... But we can’t fight the law... Maybe when you’re older and out of school....”

“No, I don’t want to wait! Today was going to be -special-. You promised!”

Jenni took another drink “I’m sorry... I really am... But real life is getting in the way. Maybe if I wasn’t, like, a teacher... but I am... and so it’s too late. There are laws... and rules... This is the last time we can see each other ”

Mark didn’t know what to do. How could this be the last time? And if he couldn’t see Jenni any longer then he could never give her the rest of the potion to complete the changes and make them permanent. All that he’d worked for this week would be lost. They’d been too brave, too soon. He realized that now. Even with her teenage persona taking control, the thought of trouble with the law was too much.

“Maybe we can still see each other but keep it a secret?” he asked pleadingly.

“No... They’re watching me too close... I shouldn’t even have met you today but I had to see you one last time”

Mark knew what he had to do. He had to give her all of the remaining potion now. There wasn’t that much left and he needed her to slip further back into her teenage persona and stay there. It was his only hope. He siezed the first opportunity to empty the vial in her drink.

----

Back at Sam’s house:

“Mom!?” he said seeing his mother look more youthful than he could ever remember.

“What a wonderful Christmas present. That vanishing cream you gave me is -wonderful-” she replied “My crow’s feet are nearly gone! Gone! Isn’t it wonderful? Everytime I use it I can see them just fading away. Thank you!”

“Everytime? How many times have you used it?” Sam asked.

“I tried it when I woke up this morning... and it worked great... so I thought I’d try a little more. You know, if a little is good a little more could be great! And then I just had to try some more trying to get the last of those little lines. It’s like magic the way it works! It’s like a miracle. And you know how much I hate those little lines!”

“But don’t you think you’ve used enough... for now anyway?”

“Oh heavens... I don’t know... I think I still see some lines. And this is working so good... I mean... why stop until they are gone?”

“Mom, I don’t see any lines on your face at all. In fact I doubt anyone would think you’re a day over 30! Maybe you better go slow on that stuff”

“30? You think so? But I still have some little lines... and looking 30 isn’t all that young... I’m going to try some more...”

“Mom... wait...” Sam shouted but his mother ignored him and practically bounced into her bedroom with her newfound energy.

----

She stared at the mirror and smiled at her reflection but then, if she stared really close, she could still see some tiny lines. She couldn’t have that! She again rubbed some of the vanishing cream into her face until it disappeared. Then she felt a tingle throughout her body. Her rear and boobs seemed to lift and her face youthened even more. Her dark hair became more shiny and fuller. And her already trim body slimmed even more.

She had to go show off her new looks.

“See, silly... isn’t that better” she asked as she spun around to model her new youthful look for Sam “The lines are practically gone now”

“Mom, you really look young now. I don’t think you should use that stuff anymore. That’s enough! You’re my mom, you don’t need to be looking like a 25 year old”

“You’re just jealous!” she said and twisted around “Besides...there are still lines.... Don’t you see them? I can’t have lines!!”

-------

Back at the park:

Jenni finished her drink and with it, the last of the potion. She suddenly felt lightheaded.

“Mark.... what’re we going to do?” she sobbed.

He sat down beside her on the bench and gave her a hug “We’ll figure something out. Maybe we can just runaway and hide?”

“You think we can?” she asked, no longer against the idea this morning.

“Maybe”

“Ohhhhh Marky... we could go somewhere far away and go to school together. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You don’t care to give up teaching?”

“Teaching? As long as we are together, I don’t care what I do... I can be whatever you want me to be”

Something was odd. Mark noticed Jenni’s voice growing higher in pitch. He also noticed it felt like she was shrinking in his embrace.

He pushed her back to get a better look. He could see freckles appearing on her face. She was actually getting younger! Too young!!

“Marky.... what’s wrong... Why are you looking at me like that?” asked the former adult who couldn’t be over 14 or 15 now. Her clothing was growing large on her. Her limbs were growing shorter. Her sneakers slipped off as her legs grew shorter, her feet no longer able to reach the ground.

Just then Mark’s cell phone rang. It was Sam.

“Mark, I’ve got a problem!” he said

“I, I, I do too!” Mark stammered in reply.

“That vanishing cream I got from the Santa guy at the mall is a potion just like the stuff you got. And Mom keeps using it like she’s addicted or something. And she keeps getting younger! And younger! You’ve gotta help me! What’s your problem?”

“Jenni’s getting younger too.... she’s like a kid already! I think I messed up. I gave her -all- of the potion this morning. She’s just getting younger and younger”

“Well, that Santa guy said satisfaction was guaranteed so I think we better get down to the mall and tell him we’re not satisfied and have him fix this mess!” reasoned Sam “Let’s meet at the mall. You bring Jenni and I’ll get my mom... I hope I don’t need a stroller for her!”

Sam hung up the phone and went to find his mother. She had found an old box of clothing from 20 years ago and was trying on items from it. A denim mini skirt, pink pumps, a pink tank top, and a faded denim jacket was what she was now wearing. She looked like a runaway from an 80’s music video. She was busy searching for a pair of yellow leggings.

“Mom! You’d barely pass for 20 now! You have got to stop using that stuff. It’s not good for you! You’re addicted or something!” Sam pleaded.

“As if!” she shot back “Look at all this cool stuff. Wow... This stuff is, like, totally awesome. I don’t know why I boxed it all up. Do you think it’s cuz I thought I got too old for it?”

“I’m sure that was it...” Sam answered “Now, c’mon... we’re going to the mall to find the Santa guy who was selling that vanishing cream”

“The mall?” his youthened mother asked “Totally, Cool! Awesome!”

Then she reached into her small purse for another dab of the vanishing cream on her fingers.

“No more, mom! Please!”

“But, there are, like, still some gnarly lines....” she whined as Sam grabbed her other hand and started her toward the door.

“No, there’s not... You didn’t even look in the mirror. You’ve gotta stop! It’s already gonna be several years before you need to worry about lines ever again! And if you don’t quit soon, you won’t have to worry about zits either... It’ll be diaper rash!!”

That didn’t stop her and she finished rubbing the cream onto her face as he she got to the car. The vanishing cream again went to work, youthening her even further. From a young college student back to a 1980’s teenager. Her features softened even more and her clothing grew a little loose. By the time they arrived at the mall, Sam’s mother had youthened into a 16 year old ?Valley Girl’. She found some bubble gum in the glovebox which completed the look.

She kept running her hands through her hair trying to make it look bigger "Like, I totally need my hairspray!" she complained as she clicked her gum.

Sam saw Mark waiting for him at the entrance. Mark was holding the hand of a little 5 year old blond girl wearing an oversized T shirt like a dress. He knew that had to be Mrs. Stevens.

"C’mon!" ordered Sam.

"Nooooo.... Not without my vanishing cream!" his teenager mother whined "It’s, like, mine... It was a present. You can’t take it back!"

"I’ve got it and I’m not ever giving it back if you don’t come with me!"

Sam’s mom reluctantly agreed and dutifully followed him to the mall’s entrance.

“Aunt Karen?!” Mark asked as he saw the now teenaged version of his aunt.

"Yeah! Duh!" she replied clicking her bubble gum and rolling her eyes "You didn’t know? As IF!"

“C’mon... let’s go. We’re wasting time” Sam said and the four headed into the mall to find Santa’s shack.

“There it is!” Mark said as he picked up the pace.

“Howdy boys and girls!” the old man said as he pulled his smoking pipe from his mouth “What brings ya’ll down to these parts? I tell ya what... It looks like ya didn’t follow the instructions fer yer teacher and a’ gave her a little too much all at once, huh?!”

“Yeah, maybe... But you told us satisfaction was guaranteed... and well, we’re not satisified!” Mark said as the boys placed the empty potion vial and what was left of the vanishing cream on the shelf in front of the old man.

"Hey! That’s mine!" Karen squealed and reached for the vanishing cream.

“Well, I’ll be.... Yip... I surely did say that and if’n ya’ll ain’t satisified then right here’s yer monies right back” the old man said as he handed the boys a dollar each.

“We don’t care about the money... we want you to FIX things.... Jenni can’t stay a 5 year old and Sam’s mom can’t be a teenager again!” Mark explained

“Fix thangs? Ya’ll want me to make ?em adults agin’? That ain’t part of the deal. I cain’t be a’ doin’ that! Sorry, young fellas... Satisfaction was guaranteed and if’n ya weren’t a’ satisified then I gives ya yer money back. That there’s the deal”

“You can’t leave them like this!” Sam complained “What kind of a Santa are you?”

“Santa?” the man replied in amusement, smiling knowingly as he rearranged the ?Santa’ letters on the shoppe’s sign:

“Satan’s Place”

The End

 

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