Jacob Kim sighs as he wipes crumbs from the table, glancing at the clock. He hears the laughter of his brothers and sisters, knowing it’s up to him to clean and feed them while their parents work endless shifts at Maxinville Shopping Centre, a behemoth that looms like a distant city.
"I wish I didn’t have to do everything just because I’m the oldest," he mutters, stacking dishes with tired hands.
Jason Max fidgets with the straps on his backpack, frustration simmering beneath his quiet exterior. His mother, the principal, is away at Maxinville Shopping Centre—a two-day drive—and leaves him in charge, a responsibility he never wanted.
"Why do I always have to be treated like a kid? No one ever lets me do anything important, except when Mom makes me be principal. But that’s not even fun when no one listens," Jason grumbles, kicking a stone across the pavement.
Jacob Kim approaches the display, mesmerized by the promise of escape. The headset is different—it’s full-body, promising immersion beyond anything he’s ever known. He imagines slipping away from chores, just for a moment, into a world where he isn’t the caretaker.
"Maybe this thing could show me what it’s like to be someone else," he whispers, fingers brushing the smooth surface before he decides to try it on.
Jason Max hesitates, but the urge to escape his responsibilities is too strong. He straps on the headset, just as somewhere across the world, Jacob does the same. Lightning strikes, momentarily illuminating both Maxinville Shopping Centre and Jason’s Primary in an ethereal glow.
"Let’s see if this thing can take me anywhere but here," Jason says, pressing the button as the storm crescendos.
Their parents, unaware of the magical accident, rush to their sides. The VR headsets are quickly discarded, tossed into dumpsters as dangerous junk. Jacob, now in Jason’s body, wakes to find himself surrounded by unfamiliar teachers and classmates. Jason, in Jacob’s body, blinks at a crowd of younger siblings, all waiting for breakfast.
"Where am I? Why is everyone so small?" Jacob stammers, overwhelmed.
"This isn’t my house. Why do I feel so… big?" Jason whispers, panic rising.
Both boys begin to understand the burdens and privileges of each other’s lives. Jacob learns that being the youngest isn’t as carefree as he believed, while Jason finds himself yearning for the simplicity of being the youngest again. Their parents, still unaware of the swap, wonder at their children’s sudden changes.
"I get it now," Jacob says quietly one night, staring at Jason’s reflection in the mirror.
"It’s not easy being you, Jacob," Jason admits, sinking into a chair as he wipes spilled milk from the table.
Jacob Kim and Jason Max close their eyes, wishing only to return to their own lives. But inside, they carry the lessons learned from walking in each other’s shoes.
"Maybe one day we’ll switch back," Jacob whispers to the night.
"Or maybe we’ll just be better brothers because of this," Jason replies, his voice soft as the stars.
