My first conversation as Joan; and switching back

Greg's face relaxed. "Joan, of course! Sorry, that was a bit embarrassing. Even after you tried to tell me it was 'John'." He smiled sheepishly. "I don't suppose this gives you much confidence in my ability to notice any changes."

I sit down. My body is full of energy, but I need to carefully channel it. "No, Greg, you're doing fine actually. Er..." I think. "Don't worry if it's hard to remember, but can you tell me why I asked you here?"

Greg sat up and reflected. "It's about a stone that you found. You said that you can use it to change the world. You also told me that it changes you somehow." He paused for a moment. "Was... did you say that it would change your gender?" he says.

He looks to me. "But it looks to me, as though you're still a woman."

"Okay," I said. I nodded to myself. "Okay. I didn't expect that. And... as far as you remember, I've always had blond hair?"

Greg nodded. "Yes, that's right."

I wanted to find a photo of myself. "Just a moment Greg," I said as I looked at my phone. I pulled up selfies that I'd recently taken. Sure enough, I found that my gallery had a number of selfies taken by the blonde woman whom I'd seen in the mirror, dressed in about the same clothes I usually wear.

"I'll be damned," I said.

Greg looked to me inquisitively. "How are you doing, Joan? Everything alright?"

I look to him. "Yeah," I tell him. "I... I must seem to you as though I'm acting really strangely. I really appreciate your patience, Greg."

Greg nodded. "It's nothing, Joan," he said. "I'm happy to be here for you."

"I think I'd like just to talk," I told him. "The pizza will still be a while. Are you happy to stay a while, after all this?"

Greg looked slightly wounded. "What sort of friend would I be if I left now? You're going to need help to eat all the pizza you've ordered."

I surprised myself by giggling.

Having someone to talk to, helped. The switch lasted about fifteen minutes. Then, suddenly, I was a man again.

Greg blinked in surprise. "There it is again. Like a single missing frame in a movie."

He looked to me, and stared. I watched him carefully.

"Hullo," he said, slightly warily.

I nodded slowly. "This time, you notice something."

Greg takes a long, deep breath through his nostrils. "It's like waking up from a dream. Even now, it's fading away. But I remember the main thing." He looked to me and nodded slowly. "Joan."

"It actually is John," I said with a chuckle.

Greg peered at me slightly. "Yes, so you said." He tilted his head, and then nodded to himself. "John. Though if last time is any indication, you might need to remind me."

I smiled. "Joan works while I'm switched. I think it suits me."

Greg smiled a gentle smile. "Yes, it does." His brow furrows. "Do you know, John, this is the most interesting experience I've had in at least five years?"

I was very surprised. "Five years," I repeated, in disbelief.

Greg shrugs. "What can I say? This is very unusual, but you can have all sorts of profound experiences on acid. For that matter, I'm going to have to wait a day or two to be sure that all of this actually happened."

I smile. "Greg, you make me very glad to have invited you over."

Greg just smiles.

"Okay, now..." I considered. "I'd like to try switching again, and see if I can make it last longer than an hour. I think I need to make more changes to myself or the world. But I don't want to go too crazy. What should I do?"