As a prominent big city news anchor, Janet was able to pull some strings to get her son a job interview to work in the marketing department.
She had spent the past week coaching Ryan in the art of the job interview. They must have practiced for hours doing mock sessions. Each time, she gave him careful feedback and direct critiques so that her son would be able to land a full-time job.
They both felt nervousness and excitement that morning as they hustled after breakfast. She was still wearing a loose tshirt and sweatpants while she put on her makeup and fixed her hair. Nothing glamorous, that would come later when the stylists at the station would fix her up in a few hours before the live broadcast.
While looking at herself in the mirror, a thought came to mind.
It may not be logical, or something she had ever tried before, but Janet had always been a spiritual and open-minded woman. She loved exploring cultures and different philosophies from around the world. Above all else, she was a firm believe in the power of a positive mindset.
Maybe that was what her son needed? A little more positive affirmation. It never hurts to try new things and she had long credited this approach to being the secret to her success.
After the light touches of makeup, she went to her closet to find something she had gotten in Japan several years ago when she was on assignment. She bought it as a souvenir because of how beautiful it looked. It was several hundred years old, which she believed because she had a lot of experience dealing with antiques and ancient cultures.
Finding the object, she held it and examined it after removing the wrapper. It was a small clay disk with letters and symbols sculpted into it. The artifact was simply beautiful and she felt it was worth the money she paid.
Janet went down the hall to her son's room, where she expected that Ryan would struggle a bit to wear a suit. She knocked on the door.
"Come in," he replied.
She opened the door, and sure enough, Ryan was wearing his slacks, socks, and was still in the process of dressing his upper body.
"Something from Asia," she said, holding up the clay disk the way a professional model would display something with her hands.
"Can it help me put on a tie?"
Janet entered the bedroom and approached her son. "No, but it can help give you extra confidence."
"It's a clay tablet."
"True, but it's a special clay tablet. This one was crafted by monks and has a number of special abilities."
He flashed a skeptical look. "You think so?"
"It's a mental thing. These little artifacts always give me a mental boost. Think of it as a good luck charm."
"Well, should I put it in my pocket or something?"
"Actually, we're supposed to rub it," Janet explained. "But we have to do it correctly."
"Will we switch bodies if we do it wrong?" he joked.
"Very funny. It's an energy transfer. Spiritual energy."
"I guess I could use some extra spiritual energy."
"Are you nervous?" Janet asked.
"Sure I am. I really want this job."
She nodded. "Then let's give this tablet a try. Who knows, confidence is everything and having that mental edge could really make you stand out from the other applicants."
"Alright, if you say so."
They huddled around the small clay tablet as she tried to figure out how to use it. Being blessed with a great memory, Janet was able to recall what she had learned from the person she bought this from. The Japanese letters and symbols were gradually starting to make sense again.
"Alright," she said. "I'll hold onto this side. You hold onto that side. Then rub with your thumbs."
She pointed out what her son had to hold. She held onto her side. Ryan held onto his side. They both rubbed their thumbs onto their respective letters and symbols.
"What's this supposed to do again?" Ryan asked, trying his best to get into the feel of things.
Janet kept her head down, rubbing her fingers on the tablet. "If we're doing this correctly, I should be transferring my energy to you, which
should
give you extra confidence for the job interview."
"That means if we're doing this backwards, I could be transferring my energy and confidence to you. Then I'd really be screwed for this job interview."
She giggled and ended the energy exchange. "You never know what this tablet is capable of. My Japanese is rusty, but I think we did it right."
"Let's hope so. Now since you're here, can you help with my tie?"
"Have you tried a youtube instructional?"
"I did, online searches too. It all came out horribly."
"Put your shirt on," she said. "I'll be right back to help with your tie. Let me get dressed first or else we'll be late."
Checking the clock, Janet mentally chided herself for spending too much time with the tablet. She brisked back to her bedroom and put the tablet down on a counter. With her door left open, she pulled her clothes off and got naked.
She put on her lacy bra and panties first. Her clothes were already arranged and she always did things carefully, taking every necessary precaution to avoid wrinkles and to make sure everything looked right.
They were like most stereotypical men and women, where Janet tended to take her time getting dressed for an immaculate appearance, and her son tended to toss his clothes on quickly. Being in the news business, Janet prided herself on a clean-cut exterior. She couldn't stand the idea of walking through downtown and not looking her best. It would be a blow to her reputation, in her view.
"Can you arrange an Uber now?" she hollered down the hallway after wearing her skirt and tightening the belt, assuming that her son was ready.
"Okay!" he hollered in return. Then he added, "Our ride will be here in 4 minutes."
At that point, Janet's skirt was on but she was still in her bra. She picked up her blouse, and before she could wear it, she turned to see her son in the hallway, dressed in a suit and holding up his tie.
"Sorry," he said, turning away.
Once again, Janet chided herself for being behind schedule. Sure, this would be a little embarrassing, but she was a glutton for always showing up early, and so she made a small exception to her rule for being dressed around the house.
"Come here," she called her son back. "Your tie is more important. No promises, but I think I remember how to do it."
Hesitantly, she watched her son enter the bedroom, wondering if the sight of her in a bra would be okay to look at. When she kept her hands down, Ryan knew it was safe. This was the first time she had ever stood in a bra before her son. The only time he had ever seen her like this was in glimpses from little household accidents.
She stood before her son and tried to focus on the necktie. It had been many years since she had helped a man wear a tie and she found it to be trickier than learning a few words in Japanese.
"Remember to be calm," she said, eyes and hands on the necktie. "Interviewers like a person with confidence. Someone who knows the right stuff and is well prepared. Find a way to make yourself stand out, but within reason. Don't do or say anything crazy."
"I know, I know. I'm sticking to our game plan for the interview."
Being so nurturing and standing so close to her son was having a strange effect on Janet. She looked at her son's chin and lips. Then her eyes marveled at the shape of his body. She always liked the professional look of a man in a suit, her son was no different.
Janet reflexively took a deep breath. It was the feeling of becoming breathless from arousal. From her own son!? As her hands fixed the necktie, the palms of her hands rested on her son's chest. It felt strangely sexual.
She noticed her son breathing harder as well. Looking up, she saw Ryan's gaze being downwards at her chest. Janet looked down at her own chest to see what Ryan was staring at, with a hypnotic expression in his eyes.
