The Secret Switch

"Valerie!! Valerie, get up!! Your brother's gone!" I jerk and sit up in bed, my hair looks like something from a horror movie as I try to see what time it is. It's seven-thirty in the morning on my one day off. What has Valen done now...

I push my hair back out of my face and turn my lamp on as I slip on my slippers. I walk over to the door and open it to hear my mother crying. I sigh and quickly head downstairs but on my way down, my foot slips and I take the last four steps with my butt. 'Ow ow ow...' I rub my sore behind and stand up to find my Dad rubbing my mother's back in a soothing manner as he says "It's okay, hun. We'll find a way to make it right. I called my brother and he's going looking for Valen."

I sigh again and ask "What's going on?" My mother looks up at me with tears running down her thin face. "Valerie, my sweet child. Your brother has truly screwed us over this time!" She starts crying again as I struggle to understand.

When my Dad sees my confusion, he quickly explains "Your brother applied to the Star legion Academy and actually got in. All those who apply and get in, they get a large signing bonus of ten grand." My heart begins speeding up as I suddenly start piecing things together.

My Dad sighs and says "Your brother took the money and left. He left a note saying that he'll be back and would repay us when he comes back in a few years..." My Mother suddenly cries out again and says "We can't pay the ten grand or the fee that comes with breaking the contract!! We're going to jaiiil!!" She wails and practically falls out of the chair as my Dad tries to calm her down.

I can nearly feel my jaw hit the floor as my poor sleep-deprived brain tries to comprehend everything all at once. I quickly walk over to the computer and pull up the Academy. After reading the information and rereading it for the hundredth time... I lean back in the seat with complete disbelief.

How could that idiot do this to our parents!? I reach up and pull at my hair as my brain struggles to think of something. Even with my savings... I have two thousand at best! Our parent's shop hasn't been doing great lately so they have nothing in savings.

When I get my hands on that idiot... I look back at the computer and see where it clearly says that failure to show up will result in a breach of contract. You'll have to return the ten grand and another ten grand on top of it!!

Failure to return the money and to pay the fee will result in prosecution. When they fail to find my brother... they'll hold my parents responsible. They'll go to jail and be put to work in the mines... I look over to my aging parents and feel anxiety eating at me.

They wouldn't last long down in the mines... I look back over to our family portrait and glare at my idiot twin brother. Suddenly, an idea hits me. My heart begins to race as I slowly sit up in the chair. Maybe... just maybe this might work.

I look over to my parents and swallow hard before walking over. I nervously lick my lips before saying "I think I may have an idea that will buy us some time until we find Valen..." My mother looks up at me and says "Valerie my dear... this isn't your fault you shouldn't bother yourself with this. Just try and find your brother."

I awkwardly shift back and forth of my feet before saying "Well... I understand that but I don't want you two to go to jail and be sent to the mines." My mother's face suddenly turns white as she mutters "The mines..."

My Dad holds my mother's hand as he says "What's your idea sweetheart?" I give him a strained smile as I say "What if I go in his place?" Both my parents look at me in silence before my father says "It's an all-boys school sweetheart. You can't do that."

My mother continues to stare at me but I see her mind suddenly forming the same idea I have. I look to my father as I say "I know. I'd go as Valen and take his place until you find him and bring him back."

My father looks at me in shock as my mother suddenly says "No, wait... this might actually work. Think about it, Freddy. They're identical and even though Valerie isn't as tall or... built, it could work. No one will recognize her in the city!"

I can see my father considering it before suddenly shaking his head and saying "That's entirely too dangerous! What if they find out she's a woman!?" My mother waves him off and stands up saying "No one will find out. Valerie is very smart and even got better grades in school... We can do this!"

For three days, my Mom and Dad argued back and forth until I finally walked into their room and said "I'm doing it with or without you. You can either help or just let me do it by myself..." My mother looks to my father with a 'You see!?' look causing my father to give in.

He looks at both of us and says "Fine!! But... Valerie will have to take a few lessons from me and you'll have to be extremely careful." My Mom and I both give him a knowing smile as we both say "Don't worry, we've got this."