Understanding Rachel part 2

Rachel ran when she heard the phone ring. She looked at the number, and realized it was her friend Tanya, and smiled as she picked up the phone.

“Hi girlfriend!” She sang.

“Who is this girlfriend? I’m a boy.”

“Sweetie, nobody buys that. You look like a girl, act like a girl, dress like a girl, sound like a girl, everyone treats you like a girl....”

“My dad calls me by my boy name. Proves I’m a boy.”

“No way, sister. He treats you like a girl whenever he isnt actively thinking about it. He has to FIGHT himself to even think of you as a boy.”

“I know, I know. I just feel like I should at least try, for his sake.”

“And make yourself miserable? Hon, If being a boy made you happy, I’d back you one hundred percent. But I dont want to see you hurting yourself, trying to be someone you’re not, for his sake, or anybody else’s.”

“Well, that’s enough about me. How are you doing? I know the mother’s day stuff had you upset.”

“It hurts like heck that my family cant seem to manage calling me Rachel, and keep using male pronouns for me. But I dont know if I should speak up, or just let it go. Its not like they dont have a point. I dont look like a girl, I never acted like a girl as a kid. Heck I was married and fathered a kid. Maybe they’re right. Maybe I’m just trying to hide, because being a man is scary to me.”

Rachel began to cry.

“Sorry. Stupid female hormones have me all over the place.”

“I wouldnt know about those. I’m a guy, after all.”

“Rachel laughed through her tears, and said, “Yeah, right. You’re having a bloody PERIOD, for heaven’s sake. Know too many guys with one of those?”

“Not proven, so not true.”

The two women talked and laughed for another twenty minutes, and then Rachel looked at the clock and then said, “Sweetie, I better go. Work tonight, assuming I dont hurt myself again.”

“Okay hon. Take care. I hope I made you feel a bit better.”

“Always, hon. Always. Take care.” Rachel said, and then hung up the phone.

She shook her head about her friend. How could anybody so girly sit there and try and argue she was a guy? She sighed, and then went to get ready for work.

“Ah well” She thought as she brushed her hair out of her eyes a luxury she relished, “I’ll convince Tanya eventually. Nobody that fem should pretend to be a boy. She just has to face the fact she’s a girl. ”

So saying she slipped into her steel toed shoes and put on her jacket that carried her keys and wallet so she wouldnt have to fight with a purse at work, and went to her car.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the rear-view mirror, and shuddered. She had a bit of five-o'clock shadow, and hated it. She fought back her tears, and drove off.

Another day was set to begin. Another challenge awaited.

And with the love of her friends, she’d see it through.