Transcendent Twist: A Child’s Bewilderment in a Policewoman’s Form

The year was 2024 on a perfectly pleasant day in August. In Pasco, Washington, a 5-year-old boy named Owen was blissfully chasing butterflies in his backyard. Owen was a charming little boy, always the sunshine in his cheerful striped t-shirt and navy blue shorts. He stood just 3.5 ft tall, his chocolate brown hair always donning a touch of mischief, reflecting the light of his curious hazel eyes. Owen was born on March 2, 2019, on a day that still seemed not so long ago to his parents. His soft boyish giggles rivalled the sweet notes of a songbird, filling every space with pure delight. Suddenly, Owen felt a pulse of energy followed by a calm enveloping darkness. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in the sealed, quiet interior of a police car, its dashboard lights casting an uncanny glow in the middle of the night. He looked down to discover he was now nestled in the strong, uniformed body of a woman named Officer Jennifer Stanford. Today was September 18, her birth date but in her 32nd year, born in 1992. Officer Stanford was known for her dutiful service in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She was a lovely policewoman who managed to strike a balance between femininity and authority. Her stature was a punctuated 6 ft; commanding respect and attention. Jennifer was not one to shy away from her femininity though, often seen with her fingernails delicately manicured, covered in a layer of light pink polish, a symbol of her softer side. There was the glittering symbol of her marital status, her wedding ring, which stood out even when partially covered by her standard police gloves. At that moment, though, Officer Stanford's appearance distressed young Owen. His hazel eyes, a little misty, could not understand how he had come to be dressed in a sharp police uniform, a taut police hat encompassing the now lengthy curls cascading down his back, and an unfamiliar badge reading 'Jennifer Stanford' pinned over his heart. Fear took over his heart as his surroundings began to feel alien. With a hasty glance down, he noticed a belt adorned with equipment he'd only seen in action movies: a set of handcuffs, a radio, and even a holstered weapon. The imposing police car's dashboard dazzled with numerous controls, none of which made any sense to him. He glanced outside, seeing the streets bathed in the dim glow of the streetlamps, completely deserted. "Mommy!" Owen tried to yell, but what he heard instead was a mature, feminine voice that was a far cry from the tender, sweet tones of a 5-year-old boy. "I...I need immediate assistance," he heard himself say. The grown-up, measured language, contrasting sharply with his internal panic, made him feel even more petrified. But somewhere deep down, he knew he had to brave this strange predicament, or he would never get back to his mommy, his home, his life as a carefree 5-year-old boy again.