This is a work of fiction so any resemblance to persons living or dead, in whole or in part, is purely coincidental. All of the usual copyright rules apply, but this story may be posted freely on any site that does not require a fee for accessing it. Also, the usual rules about legal restrictions on accessing stories like this apply according to where you hail from.
I hope you enjoy, Joanne
The young boy stared at the closet, a not uncommon event in his fifteen years of life, and felt the excitement and the fear all over again. This wasn't just any closet, it wasn't his closet, it was his mother's closet. He hesitated. The apartment was empty, his mother still at work, his sister out with a couple of friends, and the coast was clear. Like so many times before, the young man opened the closet door with trembling hands to expose the racks of clothing hidden inside.
Josh Stevens stood there, wearing only his underwear and a bra that he had stuffed with rolled up socks, surveying the options in front of him. Carefully, he removed one of his mother's dresses from the rack and held it up to his slim frame in front of the stand mirror beside the closet. It was a beautiful dress, a dress that was designed for elegant evenings out, all black with delicate lace around the neck. Josh loved this dress, he dreamed of wearing it, but didn't dare because it was expensive and he was afraid of damaging it.
Josh contemplated the vision in front of him. His eyes didn't see the boy in the mirror holding a dress. His eyes saw a beautiful young girl, her eyes glowing in preparation of big evening out at some fancy ball or gathering. In truth, Josh was not the most boyish looking of boys. He had delicate features, finely shaped hands, long brown hair, and enough shape that his sister had commented that he sometimes looked more like a girl than a boy. Publicly he hated that, secretly he reveled in it.
With his senses finely tuned to the protection of his secret, Josh heard the lock to the apartment being turned. Hurriedly, he hung the dress back up and closed the closet. He then quickly stripped off the bra and tossed it, and the socks, into the laundry hamper he had retrieved them from. Within seconds, he was shrugged back into his usual jeans and t-shirt.
"Hey Josh! How are things?" Lisa shouted from the kitchen. Lisa was Josh's twin sister and actually pretty cool in his estimation. She and Josh bore an uncanny resemblance to each other, their gender being the only differing factor and it was a factor that many people sometimes missed, assuming that they were sisters. They had many of the same friends as being twins had kept them very close to each other.
"They're okay. Did you have fun?" Josh responded has he wandered into the kitchen area, trying to bring the rapid beating of his heart under control.
"Yeah. Why didn't you come?"
"I just had a couple of things I wanted to do."
"You've been doing that a lot lately. What's going on?" Lisa asked.
"Nothing special," Josh denied.
"Give me a break, you can't fool me."
"It's nothing," Josh insisted.
Lisa sighed, "Alright, whatever, I don't believe you though."
Josh sometimes hated the fact that his sister could read him like a book. He hadn't considered that he could do the same with Lisa; it didn't really matter at this time. Josh was afraid of his secret, he was convinced that it was shameful, something to be hidden.
Lisa hated when Josh lied to her. She knew he was hiding something, something big, and it bugged her. She and Josh shared everything with each other, or so she used to think. It had to be something he was ashamed of, something he thought she would hate him for.
"Did mom say anything about dinner?" Lisa asked, changing the subject.
"I think she wanted to order pizza or something," Josh suggested.
Lisa laughed, "Nice try!"
"It was worth a shot. Anyways, the note said to start the roast and peel the potatoes and carrots."
"You do the carrots, I'll do the potatoes," Lisa suggested as Josh nodded.
********
"Lisa, what's going on with your brother?" Denise Stevens asked after dinner. Josh had disappeared into his bedroom to do homework.
"I don't know mom, he's been acting very strange lately. He hasn't been hanging out after school and he's refusing to tell me anything."
"I thought you two shared everything?"
"So did I," Lisa mused, looking down at the floor.
Denise could tell that Lisa was hurt by Josh's reticence, but there was little she could do about it at this time. They'd just have to sort it out between themselves, she thought as she flicked on the TV with the remote. "It'll work out Lisa, I'm sure he'll tell you in his own time."
Lisa nodded, "I hope so. I'm going to call Carla, we have to plan for school tomorrow."
Denise smiled absently as Lisa wandered off to her room.
********
"Hey Lisa! What's up?" Carla James asked as she picked up the phone.
"I'm worried about Josh," Lisa said into the phone.
"Josh? Why?"
"He's been acting weird, haven't you noticed?"
"Maybe a little," Carla admitted. "It doesn't mean much though, probably just a boy phase or something."
"He won't tell me anything."
"Now that is weird. Since when?"
"Last couple of weeks. I need to figure out what's going on with him," Lisa said.
"Do you want conference in Sue? She's the sneaky one, maybe she can think of some way for us to find out what's up."
"Okay." Lisa waited while Carla brought Sue Smith into the call.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Sue chirped into the phone.
"We're trying to figure out what's going on with Josh," Carla told her.
"What do you mean?" Sue asked.
"Well, he never hangs out after school anymore and he won't tell me anything," Lisa told her.
"Oh."
"I need to find out what is going on. He tells me it's nothing, but he's lying about it. I can tell when Josh lies, it's almost like I can read his mind."
"I thought twins could read each other's minds," Carla joked.
"It's not funny! I'm worried about him and all he does is bolt home after school and never hangs out," Lisa explained.
"I still think it's just a guy thing. He's not a jock, he's a bit of a loner, and he almost exclusively hangs around with us," Carla noted. "Maybe he feels out of place or something."
"Yeah, but now he's turning into a complete loner, instead of being a bit of a one, and I don't know why! Do you have any ideas Sue?" Lisa asked.
"Well, I think we need to spy on him, find out what he's doing that he can't tell us. That means we have to get to your place before he does," Sue informed them.
"Spy?" Lisa asked, sounding dubious.
"Uh huh. It's the only way."
"So, how are we going to do that?" Carla asked. "It's not as if we have any faster a way of getting there than he does."
"We'll have to get him delayed," Sue suggested.
"How?" Carla and Lisa asked at the same time.
"Leave that to me..."
"Joshua Stevens! Just what is that picture doing in your locker?" Mrs. Carlaw's shrill voice sounded over the commons area.
"Huh? What picture?" Josh questioned, unsure of what she was talking about.
"That picture!" Mrs. Carlaw pointed to the picture of the bikini clad girl on the inside of his locker door.
"How did that get there?" Josh asked, confused at the sight of a picture he hadn't put up.
"Fine story that is young man, obviously you put it there. You do have a lock on your locker I presume?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Have you shared your combination with anyone?"
"No ma'am."
"Then that's settled, nobody else could have put it there. Take down that offensive picture and see me after school for detention."
"Yes ma'am," Josh sighed as he ripped down the picture. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out who put the picture in his locker or why, but there it was. Looks like I need a new combination for the lock, Josh thought as he made his way to homeroom.
********
"That's settled," Sue whispered to Carla and Lisa as they watched Josh walk out of the common area.
"Poor Josh," Lisa said. "Mrs. Carlaw is such a prude. She'll chew him out all through the detention."
"Couldn't be helped, she's probably the only teacher that would give him a detention for it."
"How did you get his combination Lisa?" Carla asked.
"It's easy. He's always used our birthday and current age for his lock."
"Well, let's get to class before we get a detention too!" Sue exclaimed.
********
"I got a detention," Josh told the three girls as he sat down with them at lunch. Josh was pretty unusual for a teenaged guy. Most of the guys ate with other guys and the girls with girls, but Josh and Lisa were practically joined at the hip as twins and they always ate together. Josh got some teasing for it, especially since he was a dead ringer for his sister if you didn't look below his shoulders.
The girls all made sympathetic noises. "I guess you won't be hanging out with us at the mall then?" Sue asked innocently.
"No."
"Well we're going clothes shopping anyways, you'd be bored."
Josh tried to hide his sudden happiness at the news. If the girls were going shopping, then he'd still have hours to play with at home, even with the detention. "Don't worry about me, I've got some stuff to do anyways," Josh told them.
"Like what?" Carla asked.
"Just some guy stuff. Nothing special."
"Josh and his secret lives!" Carla teased.
********
The three girls raced back to Lisa's place after school so that they could find a good spot to hide from Josh when he came home. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Lisa asked for third time since arriving.
"Relax Lisa! It can't be all that big. Josh isn't into drugs or anything, we'd know. We just need to find out what's happening so we can help him," Carla soothed.
"We love him too Lisa, he's like a brother to us. We'd never hurt him," Sue added.
"Okay," Lisa sighed. "He should be home any minute, let's get hidden."
********
Josh, once again, stood before his mother's closet in a borrowed bra and panty set and held his favorite dress against his body. His mind wandered with the vision in front of him.
"Oh, Josh..."
Josh whirled at the sad sound of his sister's voice from the doorway. "Lisa! I... I..." Josh stopped at the sight of the three girls staring at him in surprise.
"Josh?" Carla asked.
Josh panicked and bolted through the girls and into his room, slamming the door behind him. He stood there, trembling, his back pressed against the door as it tried to open.
"Josh? Josh! Open the door!" Lisa shouted from the other side.
"Go away," Josh cried miserably.
"Josh, please let us in."
"Why? So you can laugh at me? My life is over."
"We won't laugh. Did we laugh?" Carla added.
"No."
"Then open up, we have to talk," Lisa ordered again.
Josh sighed as he stood up from the door and pulled his robe down and placed it around his body. As the door opened, he said, "You guys must hate me."
"Why?" Sue asked, surprised at that.
"Because of this," Josh gestured helplessly.
"Well, you're wrong," Lisa told him. "We're upset that you didn't tell us, but not because you're wearing mine and mom's clothes."
"But... it's wrong," Josh insisted. "I don't know why I do it."
"What's wrong with it?" Carla asked. "It's only wrong if you're ashamed of it."
Josh sat down hard on his bed and buried his face in his hands.
"Look Josh," Sue said as she sat down beside him. "You've always been a good friend, as close to me as anyone. We don't hate you for this. It makes you even closer to us. We can help you too."
Josh looked up in surprise, his face streaked with tears. "How?"
"What I don't get is why," Carla admitted after they had gotten Josh calmed down.
"I don't know," Josh admitted. "It's not something I can really explain. It was like a compulsion, something that just pulled me and left me no control. I tried to fight it, but I couldn't."
"I don't understand," Lisa admitted.
"Neither do I. Have you ever done something that scared you silly, that part of you thought was wrong, but you did anyways? Especially when it made you feel better?"
All three girls nodded.
"That's what this is like. I know it's wrong, it scares the hell out of me that I would be caught, but I couldn't help it. It made me feel better, more whole, like a gap in my life was replaced. I was transported away, like in a vision, where everything was different."
"How long have you felt this way?" Lisa asked.
"For a long time. As long as I can remember, really. It didn't matter much when we were kids, mom dressed us alike to fool people and we didn't really understand what boy or girl meant, we just assumed. When we got older, it started to matter more, but I didn't really figure it out until more recently."
"Figure what out?" Sue asked.
"That I should have been a girl."
All three girls stared at Josh with open mouths. "Are you sure it's not something else?" Sue asked, tentatively.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, look at your surroundings. You grew up with your mother and sister. You only hang out with girls. You're not a jock... All you have is chick stuff around you."
"I rationalized like that for a long time. It even worked for a while, but it's not true. It's not that simple."
"Do you prefer boys?" Lisa asked.
Josh shook his head.
"So you do like girls."
Josh shook his head again.
"Now I'm more confused," Lisa admitted as the other two nodded agreement.
"It's hard to explain. You see, the problem is that I don't much like my own body and it's hard to see past that when looking at guys. Every time I see a girl's body, I get jealous rather than interested. I can't even think of sex when mine is all messed up."
"So what do we do?" Carla asked.
"Do?"
Sue nodded. "We have to figure out a way for you to catch more than a glimpse of our side."
"How do we do that?" Josh asked.
"Well, I doesn't hurt that you look like Lisa," Sue suggested.
Lisa looked at Sue in surprise. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Sue nodded.
Josh and Carla looked at each other. "What?" They said in unison.
"We're going to create me a new sister," Lisa smiled.
********
"You seem a bit happier today Lisa. Did you and Josh settle things?" Denise asked after dinner and Josh had disappeared for homework again.
Lisa nodded as she settled onto the couch. "We talked a bit mom, so I understand a little better."
"Are you going to tell me?"
"I can't."
Denise raised her eyebrow.
"Mom, it's up to Josh."
"I see. Well, you two can tell me anything you know, I'll always listen."
"I know mom. What's on the tube?" Lisa asked, changing the subject.
Denise flicked on the TV and started flipping channels. "Looks like the usual schlock tonight. Let's see... Well, we've got 'How I lost 50 pounds and now I'm hot' as one option."
"Neither of us has to worry about that!"
"Well then, there's a re-run of some sitcoms."
"Seen 'em," Lisa dismissed.
Denise flicked a few more channels. "There's 'My boyfriend steals my clothes' here."
"I don't know... They don't look all that great."
"Well, they're guys, what did you expect?" Denise asked, laughing.
"I just figured that they'd try more."
"Lisa, honey, these shows are for shock value. Besides, guys don't look like girls, you can always tell."
"What about Josh?" Lisa challenged.
"Josh doesn't look like a girl!"
"He looks exactly like me."
"Hardly, only a blind man would mistake you for both being girls," Denise denied.
"I think you're seeing Josh with a mother's eyes," Lisa disagreed.
"Why this sudden insistence that Josh looks like a girl?"
"No reason, I just thought of how much he and I look alike when you mentioned that."
"Well, honey, Josh is sensitive about his looks, so don't be teasing him. He's got delicate features, but he doesn't look like a girl."
"Alright mom," Lisa capitulated, rolling her eyes.
Denise continued flipping channels without a lot of hope.
"Do you think it's wrong for guys to want to dress like girls?" Lisa asked suddenly.
"Why do you ask?" Denise put down the remote.
"I was just thinking about that show."
"Well, I don't know about wrong, but I think they probably need help."
"Help? Are they sick?" Lisa asked.
"Sick might be too strong a word, but it's not normal."
"I guess."
"Lisa, I don't understand all of these questions. Is there something you're trying to tell me about Josh?"
"No mom, I was just curious. I've never really seen anything like that before."
Denise gave her a long, measuring, look. "I see."
"Really!"
Denise let it drop. "Don't you have homework to do?"
Lisa nodded, suddenly not feeling all that happy and it wasn't homework.
"Then you should probably be doing it."
********
"I don't know Josh, mom seemed pretty sure," Lisa admitted.
"I don't want to deal with shrinks. They pump you full of drugs and stick electrodes all over you. That's all I need is to have my brain fried."
"They don't do that stuff anymore!"
"I don't want to chance it," Josh insisted.
Lisa went back to doodling in her notebook. She'd been trying, most of the evening, to concentrate on homework, but was getting nowhere. Her mother's simple statement had her more worried about Josh than before. "Are you afraid that they'd make you stop?" She asked suddenly.
"I don't know, maybe."
"But you said yourself that it was wrong," Lisa noted.
"It is and it isn't. I don't know anymore, I'm confused. Is it wrong to feel this way or is it wrong that I'm afraid to feel this way?" Josh waved his arms.
"What's the difference?"
"A lot. One is inside me, the other isn't."
"Oh," Lisa commented. "I think you should talk to someone. A professional, like a doctor."
"I can't. Please stop..." Josh whispered, tears forming in his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Ms. Dickenson, do you have a few minutes?" Lisa asked, poking her head through the door.
"Hello Lisa! Certainly. What's on your mind?" Sonia Dickenson, the school counselor asked.
Lisa entered the office and closed the door before taking a seat. "It's kind of hard to explain..."
"This sounds serious," Ms. Dickenson noted.
Lisa nodded. "I have a friend, a guy friend, who is having a real problem."
"Your boyfriend?"
Lisa shook her head. "No, just a friend. He's having a problem with his sex."
"He's gay?"
"If only!"
"I don't understand, Lisa."
Lisa sighed. "I guess I'm not being too clear. He told me that he wants to be a girl."
Sonia Dickenson sat back surprised. "Well, that is a bit unusual. It's not unheard of, though."
Lisa nodded again. "Well, I'm not sure what to do."
"Well, let's get a few things straight though. There is a difference between sex and gender."
"What do you mean?"
"Sex is your physical attributes. Gender is your brain. They don't always line up quite right."
"Which is the correct one?" Lisa asked.
"I'm not a gender psychologist Lisa, but I don't think that there is an easy answer to that question. How long has Josh felt this way?"
"A long time, I think."
"I see."
"I didn't say it was Josh!" Lisa realized, suddenly.
Ms. Dickenson smiled gently. "Lisa, don't worry, it was pretty obvious. What other boy in the school would tell you something like this? It pretty much had to be Josh."
Lisa shrugged, resigned. "It's Josh."
"I don't think you have to worry in the manner that you have."
"You mean it's not wrong?"
"Not in the way you might think," Ms. Dickenson noted. "Josh has a problem, a serious one, but he's not sick or twisted. By itself, this sort of problem can be treated. No, the real wrongness is how many in society would react to this. Josh's fears are going to be grounded in that."
"It can be cured?" Lisa asked.
"What is a cure?"
"Well, something so that he wouldn't feel this way anymore."
"Josh probably feels like an alien in his own body. There are really only a few ways to deal with that. Either you can change his mind, or you can change his body until he feels comfortable with it."
"Can they change his mind?"
"If he truly feels this way? No. At least, I've never heard of it happening very successfully."
"Oh."
"Lisa," Ms. Dickenson said, "Don't lose sight of the fact that Josh needs to feel happy in life too. If it is better for him to become her, then it is better."
"How can I help?" Lisa asked.
"Be there for him. Encourage him to discover himself and learn more. It may be that he is satisfied with a part time glimpse into our world. In the meantime, I'm going to contact a friend of mine and see if she is taking patients. She's an expert in gender issues."
"Josh is afraid of psychiatrists."
"You, and your friends, need to convince him otherwise. I assure you Lisa; she is there to listen, not poke, prod, or judge."
"Thanks Ms. Dickenson, you've helped a lot."
"My pleasure Lisa. I'll let you know what my friend tells me."
********
Lisa was sitting with Sue and Carla in the cafeteria waiting for Josh. "I talked to Ms. Dickenson today," Lisa told them.
"About Josh?" Sue asked.
Lisa nodded. "She helped, a little. She said that sex was the body, gender was the brain. She also said that they don't always agree with each other."
"Can anything be done?"
"Surgery, if it's true."
"Surgery!" Carla looked surprised.
Sue shook her head as she saw Josh coming towards them. "Hey Josh!" Sue said loudly.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Josh responded.
"The usual," Lisa shrugged.
"Are you all set for tonight?" Sue asked.
"Tonight?" Josh was at a loss.
"For the big experiment! For the trip to the other side."
Josh blushed and nodded.
"Don't worry bro, it'll be cool." Lisa assured him.
"When?" Josh asked.
"Right after school."
********
Josh spent the rest of the afternoon in the half daze of anticipation. A very big part of him was scared silly, another part was excited, and a final part was just plain relieved that he didn't have to totally hide anymore. Of course, they weren't going anywhere, they'd be in the apartment and he'd be safe. He still couldn't help the nervousness he felt.
Josh hooked up with the girls after school finished. They'd have several hours because his mom started work late and ended work late to avoid traffic. Now that her two kids were in their mid-teens, Denise hadn't seen a need to fight the rush hour traffic and, besides, both kids could cook.
Once they got to the apartment, they all sat around in the living room to make basic plans for the transformation of Josh. "First thing that has to happen is that Josh needs to shower," Sue decided.
"Huh?" Josh replied intelligently.
"The first step in the process is to make you smell like a girl," Sue told him. "While you're showering, we'll pick out some clothing and stuff for you to wear."
"Okay. Now?" Josh asked.
"Now."
Josh made his way to the bathroom and peeled off his clothes. He took a moment to study himself in the bathroom mirror. Not a bad shape, he mused to himself. Smiling, he turned on the taps and started the shower. Not ten seconds into the shower, Sue barged in. "Hey! A little privacy in here!" Josh shouted, hiding himself behind the curtains.
"Relax, I've seen you naked before," Sue told him. "We all played doctor together."
"Ages ago."
Sue rolled her eyes. "I forgot some instructions. First, don't wash your hair. We can work with it a bit better like it is. Second, shave your legs and pits."
"The first I can do, the second I don't know about."
"Why not?"
"Well, I've got gym and stuff," Josh pointed out.
"They'd never notice, you're a blonde and you can barely see the hair anyways."
"So, why worry then?"
"Because, you goose, it's part of the experience!"
"I'm not sure..."
"Look," Sue told him, exasperated, "Just tell anyone that asks that you and I are dating and that I asked you to do it."
"Really?" Josh asked, surprised.
"Really. Now shave!"
"I'm shaving! I'm shaving!" Josh lathered his first leg. "Do I shave all the way up?"
"Just go above your knee, most girls don't bother higher up."
"I didn't know that," Josh admitted.
"It depends on how dark your hair is. Now that I think of it, though, maybe you should do the whole leg," Sue suggested.
"Why?"
"Most guys don't know any different and if your whole leg is shaved, they might not notice that it is at all."
"Okay. Ow! Damn!"
"What?"
"I cut myself."
Sue broke out into peals of laughter. "Well, you just got your first war wound."
"It's bleeding! I don't think blood soaked legs are especially feminine," Josh protested.
Sue peaked into the shower. "It's a scratch you big baby!"
"Hey!"
Sue started laughing again as she ducked the spray of water directed her way. "It'll stop bleeding before you're done. Just don't make a habit of cutting yourself or it'll get harder to hide. Anyways, once you're done, come to Lisa's room."
"Okay."
********
All three girls looked skyward as Josh walked into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. "What?" He asked.
"What girl wears a towel like that?" Lisa asked him.
"Well, it's not like I have anything to hide upstairs."
"Doesn't matter Josh, it's getting into the experience that we're trying to create here. If you want to be a girl, you have to be one mentally too. You have to think like one. It's not just clothing and makeup. It's a mindset. It's how we think."
"Oh."
"Which reminds me," Carla noted. "We can't just keep saying Josh. It won't help."
"How about Joan?" Sue asked.
Josh shook his head.
"Danielle?" "Marie?" "Allison?" "Lucy?" "Dina?" "Shirley?"
Josh shook his head at all of the suggestions.
"Have you got anything better?" Lisa asked, exasperated.
"Well, um, I've always like 'Melissa' for a name," Josh admitted.
"Perfect!" Carla clapped.
"Melissa it is," Lisa agreed as Sue nodded. "Now, Melissa, let's get you ready." Lisa held up a white bra and panty set. "This is one of my older sets. The bra doesn't fit anymore, so you can keep the set."
Josh, now Melissa, took the offered panty set. "Um..."
"What?"
"Could you turn around?"
The girls rolled their eyes, but turned around as requested. Having put on a bra and panties before, Melissa was quick to get them on. "Do you have some socks or tissues?"
"For what?" Lisa asked as she turned back.
Melissa waved at the vicinity of her chest.
"That went out decades ago!" Sue laughed.
Lisa held up two flesh colored, rubbery like lumps. "These are some helpers. Most girls are a little embarrassed about their chests at first and sometimes we help nature along the right path." She tucked them into Melissa's bra. "We can't all be Carla, who I think was born well-endowed."
"It's in the genes," Carla protested.
"And the chest."
Carla stuck out her tongue and muttered something about jealousy.
"Okay," Sue interrupted the exchange, "Put on the tights next." Sue handed Melissa a pair of white knit tights.
Melissa started to put her foot into the tights.
"Not that way. Roll the legs up and then place your foot into the toe of the tights. You can run tights like nylons if you're not careful," Sue instructed.
Melissa did as directed as Lisa readied the denim jumper skirt and white top. "These next," she instructed. "Put the top on first and then the skirt, it's easier than playing with the shoulder straps after. Once it's on, pull your shirt in from under the skirt."
After Melissa was dressed, the others looked at her. "Wow," Carla said. "You two really look alike now. It was always from the shoulders up, but now it's the whole picture."
Melissa smiled. "Do you think so?" She asked.
Sue and Carla nodded as Lisa stared with a half-smile. Melissa looked at Lisa. "I was just thinking... It's too bad you couldn't dress like this all the time, we could swap classes and get amazing marks!" Everyone laughed.
Sue guided Melissa to Lisa's makeup table. "This'll be easy because you and Lisa are a perfect match. Now, what we're going to do is instruct you and you can do it. Don't worry if it doesn't look good the first time, you'll just need practice."
Lisa handed Melissa the bottle of liquid makeup. "First thing you want to do is apply an even coating of this to your face with a makeup sponge. Those are the little triangle sponges there."
Carla added, "Try to get an even coat and don't forget under your chin and blending into your neck."
Melissa followed the instructions, watching herself in the mirror as Lisa pulled her hair into a high pony tail so that it was out of the way for working.
Sue examined the finished effort. "Missed a small spot," she pointed on Melissa's left cheek. Melissa corrected the mistake. "Okay, lightly brush on some of this powder with the big brush."
"Next is eyeshadow," Lisa said as she handed her a palette of colors.
"Frosty blue is in again," Carla suggested. "It'll match what you're wearing too. Just use this brush to dust over your eyelids." Melissa dusted her eyelids with the frosty blue shadow.
"Okay, now we want to line your eyes with this pencil," Sue followed up. "This is tricky. You want to follow the line of your lashes, top and bottom, with a steady line."
Melissa brought the pencil near her eye and started to line it, but she couldn't stop the rapid blink. "Pull your eye a little, like this," Lisa demonstrated by applying some pressure just outside the corner of her eye. Melissa tried that and found that it helped.
"Not too bad," Sue commented as she peered into Melissa's eyes. "A little rough in spots, but you can use the smudge tool at the other end to soften and correct." Melissa tried that and it seemed to help.
Lisa passed her the mascara. "Not that you need eyelash help, and I'm jealous by the way, but this will thicken and lengthen your lashes. Just go slowly and try not to blink. The lower lashes are harder."
Melissa applied the mascara. "There's clumps," she noted.
"No problem," Lisa reassured, "just use this lash separator." Lisa held up this tiny comb on a stick. Melissa combed out her eyelashes and could see an improvement.
"Blush is next!" Carla announced. "You want to go light with this, just on the apple of your cheeks and just enough to give you a hint of color. Too much and you'll look like a mime."
Once the blush was applied, Lisa held up the lipstick. "Now for the crowning glory..."
********
All four sat on the couch in the living room. Carla was shaking her head. "I can't get over it. You look so much like Lisa."
"We are twins Carla!" Melissa noted.
"Yeah, but... it's uncanny."
"How do you feel Melissa?" Sue asked.
"Good. Real good. Thank you so much for this, I'll never forget it."
"What makes you think this is the only time?" Lisa asked.
"I don't know..." Melissa stammered, "I just figured..."
"Figured wrong is what you did," Sue noted. "We have to get you practiced so that you can go out with us."
"Go out?" Melissa looked a bit frightened at that.
All three nodded. "Not right yet, though," Lisa added. "We have to work on your mannerisms and stuff. Soon, though. You did a great job on your makeup for the first time. With some practice at being a girl, nobody would know, not even mom!"
"Speaking of... I think Melissa probably needs to transform again," Carla suggested.
"Oh wow! It's getting late. Into the shower Melissa, and wash your face really, really good," Lisa instructed.
Later that night, Lisa dropped of a nightgown in Josh's room. "I thought you might want to borrow this Melissa," Lisa explained.
Josh accepted the gown gratefully. "Thank you Lisa," he said, giving her a hug.
"I love you. Sleep well."
The weeks following the initial session with the girls saw a lot of growth for Melissa. It became a goal for the girls to get Melissa to the point where she could easily join them in public. Melissa looked the part and now she was able to act the part. More importantly, Melissa had become comfortable around the others.
"You know, I'm getting bored hanging here after school. We need to do something different," Sue decided.
"Like what?" Lisa asked.
"Let's hit a mall, not the usual one, but a mall. We've got bags of time before your mom gets home. She always works late on a Friday."
Melissa stood up. "I'll shower and change then."
"Uh uh girl, Melissa needs to make her public debut!"
"I don't know Sue... here is one thing, but in public?" Melissa asked nervously.
Sue nodded, "yep."
"You look and act just fine Melissa," Carla added.
"We'll just go and check out the latest music and see what's new in the clothing stores for spring," Lisa added. "Everything'll be fine."
"Well... I guess so," Melissa conceded looking scared.
********
The four got off the bus at the entrance to the mall. Melissa hesitated at the entrance, feeling far more vulnerable in a skirt than she had ever felt as a guy.
"Come on pokey!" Lisa pushed, "Let's get inside and have some fun." Melissa allowed herself to be pushed inside.
Once inside, Melissa took a deep breath and followed the girls to the music store. It was the usual sort of mix of teenagers looking at the latest releases and the adults looking for anything but. Once she realized that nobody was pointing and laughing, Melissa allowed herself to relax and explore her own musical tastes. Unlike Lisa, Melissa was much more into Rock and the Blues than modern pop and so she drifted over to the Blues section of the store.
Before long, Melissa was absorbed into the racks of music thinking that she only needed In Step to finish off her Stevie Ray Vaughn collection. Melissa held the disc in her hands longingly as a voice said beside her, "That's a great album."
"Huh?" Melissa responded with deep intelligence, looking up into the face of the young man standing beside her.
"It's a great album. Crossfire is a rockin' tune to blast on your stereo."
"Yeah, I love that song," Melissa admitted.
"You going to buy?"
"I think I will. I'm Melissa."
"Steve. Yeah, Yeah, it's corny, but that's what my parents named me. I think being a fan of SRV runs in the family."
Melissa laughed.
"I don't see many teenaged girls listening to SRV," Steve admitted.
"I'm an enigma," Melissa smiled. "My sister is the pop music fanatic." Melissa pointed to Lisa.
"Twins! Wow, I guess it's skin deep only?"
Melissa laughed again. "No, just in music. We're exactly alike otherwise."
"Cool. I'm jealous, I always wanted a twin."
"It's got its plusses," Melissa agreed.
"Well, enjoy the disc Melissa," Steve told her. "I've got to run."
As Steve left, the others came over. "I think he likes you," Sue noted.
Melissa blushed. "We were just talking about Stevie Ray. I was scared shitless."
"You looked okay, we saw you laughing," Lisa pointed out.
"He was funny, and nice."
"You passed the first test, and up close too!" Carla pointed out.
"Yeah... I think I'll have that heart attack now," Melissa decided as she gathered up the disc to pay for it.
********
Denise put the key in the lock to her apartment as she nodded politely to Mrs. Ames, their next door neighbor.
"I see that your other daughter has decided to shed her tomboy looks," Mrs. Ames said by way of greeting.
"My other daughter? Tomboy?" Denise looked quite surprised.
"Oh yes, she always wears jeans and t-shirts and they made her look almost like a boy. I was surprised to see her dressed like her sister for once. I guess they were going to the mall."
"They?" Denise was feeling very lost in the conversation.
"All four of them seemed excited about a new mall or something. Ah, to be young again. Have a nice evening," Mrs. Ames smiled.
"Thank you, you too," Denise responded automatically, her mind whirling.
Denise dropped her purse on the side table and attempted to gather her thoughts. What on earth is going on, she wondered. "It's got to be related to Josh," Denise said out loud. "Well, with the place empty, now is a time to see what's going on in his life." Denise made her way to Josh's room.
*********
Melissa and Lisa were laughing quietly as they let themselves into the apartment. "I'm telling you Lisa, this song is the best!" Melissa protested as she began singing a few more bars of Crossfire.
"Bah, I like to dance. You can't dance to that stuff," Lisa sneered.
"Sure you can," Melissa told her as she began dancing into the living room. "Oh shit!"
"Mom!" Lisa added as she bumped into Melissa's back.
"Which one is which?" Denise demanded as she twisted the clothing in her hands. "Well?"
Melissa shrunk back from the harsh tone as she pointed to herself. "Josh," she replied, sounding scared. Lisa rubbed her shoulders in encouragement.
"I was going to ask you to explain these," Denise said, gesturing at the small amount of clothing in front of her, "but I guess I have an idea."
"I can explain."
"Really? You can explain why my son is dressed like my daughter? Get changed. Now!"
Melissa shook her head and ran to her room, the sounds of her sobs trailing her.
"And you!" Denise turned to Lisa accusingly. "What on earth were you thinking of?"
Unlike Melissa, Lisa wasn't about to be intimidated. "I was thinking of my twin!"
"By humiliating him?"
"The only person who appears to be humiliated is you," Lisa told her.
"What?"
"Did you hear her voice when we came in?"
"His!"
"Hers! Answer the question!"
"Lisa, don't shout at me, I'm your mother," Denise told her.
"You're avoiding the question."
"He," Denise stressed the pronoun, "sounded happy."
"She! She isn't humiliated."
"What if someone found out?"
Lisa shrugged. "Someone did. Me."
"Mrs. Ames."
"Mrs. Ames thinks Josh is a tomboy. Josh gave up trying to convince her otherwise ages ago."
Denise deflated on the couch. "I don't understand," she said quietly.
"Neither do I, but maybe it's time we did."
"Tongue tied and twisted, just an earth bound misfit," Josh sang. "I."
"You aren't being positive," Denise admonished as she drove to the medical centre.
"Besides, Ms. Dickenson says the doctor is super nice," Lisa added.
"I can't believe you told her," Josh grumbled.
"She'll keep it to herself."
"I don't like shrinks."
"Psychiatrists are here to help you," Denise said.
"What if she wants to change my mind?"
"Would that be so bad?"
"Yes!"
********
"Josh, please relax," Dr. Patel. "I promise you that I'm not here to change your mind, poke you, or stick chemicals down your throat."
"I'm a little nervous doctor," Josh said as he fidgeted on the chair.
"Amy, please. Why so nervous?"
"I don't know. I guess ..."
"Surely you don't believe the stories."
"Um, no?"
"I'm only here to help you be who you want to be. Do you know who you want to be?"
"Melissa!" Josh covered his mouth as soon as he said it.
Amy smiled gently. "Are you worried that I will try to take Melissa away from you?"
Josh nodded, looking frightened.
"I won't do that."
Josh visibly relaxed.
"Why don't you tell me about Melissa," Amy suggested.
********
"How are you today Josh?" Amy asked as Josh came into her office a week later.
"Okay."
"Just okay?"
"I miss going out with the girls," Josh admitted.
"As Melissa?"
"We only did it once."
"Have you had any time as Melissa since?" Amy asked.
Josh shook his head.
"Why not?"
"I don't think my Mom approves."
"I think it's more likely that your Mom doesn't understand."
Josh shrugged.
"You know what I think we need to do?" Amy asked.
"No?"
"I think we need to have Melissa here."
********
"Please hurry up Lisa," Melissa begged as Lisa slowly made up her face the same way as Melissa's.
"Will you relax? We have plenty of time. Mom won't be home for twenty minutes."
Melissa kept pacing.
"You don't have to do this," Lisa said as she put the finishing touches on her lipstick.
"Uh."
"But I think you should."
Melissa sighed and slumped into a chair. "Yeah, I should. I'm scared."
"Scared?"
"What if she laughs?"
"Why would she laugh? You look gorgeous and I ought to know 'cause you look like me," Lisa told her as Melissa giggled.
"Really? I don't look like a guy in a skirt?"
"Trust me sis, if you looked like a guy in a skirt, we'd both look that way."
"Mom wasn't happy about this idea," Melissa tried.
"Mom will get over it."
"Why is this so hard?"
********
"I have to say, I'm impressed," Amy said as she led Melissa to the comfortable chairs.
"Impressed?"
"You're really quite a beautiful girl you know."
Melissa's eyes widened.
"Of course, now I have to make sure you aren't Lisa," Amy grinned.
"How?"
"Well, we could do a physical exam."
Melissa shrank against the couch.
"But that won't be necessary. How do you feel?"
"Scared."
"I was only joking," Amy told her.
"Not of that, just of someone figuring it out."
"That you aren't a real girl?"
Melissa nodded timidly.
"What's a real girl, I wonder?" Amy mused. "What do you think makes a real girl Melissa?"
"Well, I guess the physical parts."
"You mean the breasts and the vagina? Medical science can help with that you know."
"Womb?"
"Ah, the womb. Why would the womb be the thing that makes a girl?"
"Girls can have babies," Melissa said. "I can't."
"Lots of women can't have babies, that doesn't make them any less a woman. What is a real girl Melissa?"
"I ... I don't know."
"Exactly. Forget the physical parts for a moment, are you a real girl?"
Melissa nodded. "Do you think I am?" She asked.
"I don't know yet," Amy smiled gently. "That is what I'm trying to discover about you."
"I don't get it."
"No matter what happens in here, Melissa will always be a part of who you are and what you will be. The same is true of Josh. What we are here to do is to find out if Melissa is a part of Josh's life or the other way around. When we both know the answer to that question, then we can make some decisions."
"How do we find that out?" Melissa asked, suddenly feeling as if a significant weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
"Your sister and her friends were unintentionally brilliant," Amy grinned. "They have already helped you to start learning to fly."
"Kids are starting to comment," Carla observed as Melissa finished touching up her makeup in the mall bathroom.
"About?" Sue asked.
"Josh."
"Like what?" Lisa prodded.
"Well, most of them think he's gay, but they've always thought that. It's just getting more noticeable."
Melissa shrugged as she put the eyeliner back in her purse. "It doesn't matter," she told them. "They haven't a clue."
"Yeah," Sue agreed. "They really don't have a clue!" All four burst into giggles as they left the bathroom and sat back at the food court table.
"I can't really tell the difference anymore," Carla told them. "I mean that I have to actually think about Josh consciously at school. It's getting pretty hard." Sue and Lisa nodded agreement.
"Come on, it's only been a few months since this started," Melissa protested. "You've known Josh all your lives."
"You blend Mel," Sue explained. "I mean, we know who you are, but at school, Josh is disappearing. We can't tell the difference between you anymore."
"Amy said that too," Melissa noted. "She asked me to come as Josh last time and then thought I had forgotten."
"Really?" Sue asked.
"Really."
"That's so cool," Carla giggled.
"Yeah, I think I have an answer now too."
"An answer?" Lisa asked.
"Is Melissa part of Josh or is Josh part of Melissa?"
"I think it's obvious," Lisa said and the others nodded.
"Yeah, so do I."
"It sucks though," Carla observed.
"Huh?" Melissa and Lisa said at the same time, looking surprised.
"It means that I have two hot chicks to compete with for attention from the guys. That sucks." Carla favored them with a sniff and a grin.
The table dissolved into giggles again as Melissa threw a french fry at her friend.
********
"You know that you're still very young," Amy observed.
"I know, but I know who I am," Melissa told her as she idly twirled a strand of hair around her fingers.
"That's a remarkably feminine gesture."
"What?"
"Hair twirling. Do you do that at school?"
"I don't know. Maybe?"
Amy smiled. "I'm positive that you do," she said.
"Probably," Melissa agreed. "Carla said that people are noticing things."
"I'm not surprised. Even I can't really tell when you are Josh and when you are Melissa anymore."
"I know who I am."
"So do I. Have you heard of Harry Benjamin?"
Melissa nodded.
"You understand the reference?"
"I do. RLT."
"RLT. The real life test. I've talked with your mother."
"And?"
"She has come a long way."
Melissa nodded. "She still doesn't really understand, though."
"No, but that isn't surprising. Most people never will. Even I don't truly understand, though I have some knowledge to guide me."
"So, do I start RLT?"
"Not yet. You have some tasks first," Amy told her.
"Tasks?"
"There are people to talk to, plans to make, before you can start."
"How long?"
"That depends on you."
"Okay, what do I have to do?" Melissa asked as she sat up straight. She felt her heart suddenly pounding with an excitement and an eagerness to get started.
Welcome to part 2 of my story about Melissa "Josh" Stevens. If you haven't read the first part (chapters 1 - 7) then you probably should or none of this will make a lot of sense!
This is a work of fiction so any resemblance to persons living or dead, in whole or in part, is purely coincidental. All of the usual copyright rules apply, but this story may be posted freely on any site that does not require a fee for accessing it. Also, the usual rules about legal restrictions on accessing stories like this apply according to where you hail from.
I hope you enjoy, Joanne
Denise regarded Melissa steadily, but you couldn't mistake the pain in her eyes. Denise had dreaded this day, a day she knew was coming based on the advice of Dr. Patel, Melissa's therapist.
"I, uh," Melissa stammered, suddenly finding herself unsure under the gaze of her mother. Even the subtle 'thumbs up' from Lisa wasn't helping. She started over with a deep breath. "Mom, I know you don't want to hear this, but I have to tell you," she rushed out.
Denise felt her eyes narrow, despite her best efforts. "Here it comes," she thought.
"For the longest time," Melissa continued, not seeing the increased tightness in her mother's features, "I've felt that something was wrong. I didn't always know what it was, why, or even how it could be. I just knew, somehow, that it was wrong. It wasn't until I got older, learned a few things, that I began to understand."
Denise continued staring. She didn't speak, nod, or even mutter inarticulate things that would have encouraged this discussion.
Melissa took another deep breath, feeling it shudder in her chest. "There was a mistake, or something, but I should have been a girl, not a boy!" Melissa felt a weight lift from her. She knew that this was hardly news to her mother, but even still, it was the first time that she had come out and said it so directly to her.
"A mistake?" Denise asked, surprising even herself at the coldness of the question. Denise hadn't intended that, but the sudden blow of the "mistake" insinuation bothered her in a way she couldn't really define.
Melissa felt the coldness of the question and tried to hold back the tears that threatened. "I don't mean it like that, Mom," she replied. "I meant that nobody could control it, it just happened."
"I see." Intellectually, Denise knew what her child meant, but her emotions were cutting raw. She was too caught up in her own hurt to see the hurt that she was causing. In that, she wasn't alone, the same could be said of Melissa.
Melissa bit back her reply and settled in again. "Amy and I talked it over," she continued, almost trance-like in an attempt to get this painful episode over with. "We think it would be a good idea for me to experience life as, well, as a girl."
"I see."
"She told you this Mom!" Melissa flared.
Denise sighed and her stare relented. "Yeah, she did. That doesn't mean I like it."
"I . . ." Melissa faltered.
"I don't like it," Denise continued. "I gave birth to two beautiful children. A boy and a girl; perfectly formed and so alike accept for one detail. I was so proud, and so was your father. How much better could it get? We always wanted two children, a boy and a girl. To get them both, at once, was something special."
"Dad," Melissa whispered. She closed her eyes and struggled to hold back the memory of her mother holding her and Lisa, explaining the car accident.
"What would your father think now?" Denise asked, almost in spite of herself.
"That's enough!" Lisa flared, jumping into the discussion for the first time.
"Lisa, stay out of this!"
"No! You're being unfair. Do you think Melissa asked for this? Do you think it's any fun for her?" Lisa had the full-on anger of a twin protecting her sibling.
"What about me?" Denise shouted back. "I'm losing my son!" Denise collapsed back into the chair and started crying, voicing a low "my son" every few seconds.
Lisa softened her stance a little. "Melissa isn't doing this to take Josh away from you," she said, trying to comfort. "She is trying to become a whole person, a complete person."
Melissa touched her arm and shook her head lightly. "Mom, I love you and I need you. I need you now, more than I ever did. I have to know who I am, who I should be. This is the only way."
"Is it?" Denise asked, looking up with a tear-streaked face. "Is it really?"
Melissa nodded, looking resolute. "I tried hard to be your son."
"What about school? Your classmates?"
Melissa shrugged.
"It's not that easy!" Denise exclaimed. "Do you think they won't react? Kids are cruel."
"They already are," Melissa said.
"What?"
"They already are. I hear the whispers behind my back. I'm not deaf. They call me a fag, a homo, a queer. Names don't hurt."
Denise sat back, stunned. "They call you those?"
Melissa and Lisa nodded. "Even if I didn't do this, that wouldn't change."
"What if they get physical?"
Melissa shrugged again.
"This isn't some casual matter to shrug off," Denise told her. "There are people who do that sort of thing. I don't want my baby coming home in a box!"
"What would you have me do Mom? Live my life by someone else's prejudices? Or hide in fear because of what might happen? I can't do that. I have a right to be me."
"Why now? Why not wait?"
"Mom, waiting isn't going to change anything. It will just make it worse for me, harder. The time is right for me. Amy wouldn't suggest this if it wasn't."
"I don't like it," Denise repeated, sounding a little tired.
"You'll support me, though?"
"Of course I will. I don't have to like it to support you. When?"
"Beginning of the school year."
"You two are getting part-time jobs," Denise decided. "I can barely afford one teenaged girl and her clothing, two is out of the question."
Melissa let out the breath she didn't realize that she had been holding. She smiled happily at her mother and accepted the weak, tentative, smile in return. "It's a deal."
"Hey!" Lisa protested, receiving an elbow to her ribs. "Alright, it's a deal."
"What should I check off?" Melissa asked Lisa as they filled out the application forms.
"What?"
"M or F?"
"I don't know," Lisa admitted. "What do you think?"
"Well, technically I'm still a boy," Melissa said. "It's a legal document."
"I guess, well, that you should check off the M then. Do you have the letter from Amy?"
Melissa nodded. She never went anywhere without the letter from Amy, it explained her situation in case she was ever questioned by authorities. "Maybe we should have waited for the name change papers to go through," she added. "It's a woman's fashion store after all."
"I hadn't thought of that. What did you put down?"
Melissa showed her the form.
"They're going to be so confused when they see this," Lisa noted as Melissa nodded and shrugged helplessly. "Oh well, if we don't get the jobs, the confusion should be worth a giggle."
Melissa laughed and finished off the last bits of the form. Since school had finished for the summer, she had been presenting as a girl the entire time. Today, she was wearing a light sundress and low-heeled sandals, similar to Lisa. They wanted to be presentable for their job hunts, but neither of them considered the quandary that would pose for prospective employers.
"Here goes nothing," Melissa said as she carried her form to the receptionist.
The lady at the desk looked over the form and then looked back at Melissa. "Well," she said, "either you've made some terrible mistakes on the form or there is a deeper explanation to this."
"I guess it would be the second option ma'am," Melissa told her and offered the letter from Amy.
The receptionist quickly read the letter, her eyebrows raising and then narrowing. "Well, that's certainly a surprise! I wouldn't have guessed. I think I'll need a copy of this to attach to the form."
Melissa smiled nervously and agreed.
"Why don't you sit with your, um, sister?"
"She is really my sister," Melissa assured her.
"Okay. I'll bring you your letter back in a minute."
Melissa sat back down with Lisa and let out a deep breath.
"Well?" Lisa asked.
"I haven't a clue."
"She seemed to take it okay."
"I guess, maybe. I don't think I'm going to get this job," Melissa decided.
"Never say die!"
"I didn't," Melissa grinned. "I think it's more of a coma."
*****
Melissa knocked on the office door tentatively, surprised that she was even being interviewed. "Come in," came the brusque, but strongly feminine voice from the other side. Melissa opened the door and said, "Hello."
"Hello, um, Josh? I don't think that's really quite right, is it?" The well- dressed woman said as she stood up.
"My name is being legally changed to Melissa, ma'am."
"Pleased to meet you Melissa, I'm Judy Burke. Have a seat."
"Thank you Ms. Burke," Melissa replied shaking hands and sitting down at the offered seat.
"I must say Melissa, I'm rather taken aback by this situation and by you."
"I see," Melissa said, trembling a little. "I'm sorry if I wasted your time." She made to stand up.
"Sit," Ms. Burke instructed. "I didn't say you were wasting my time. In fact, I'm quite impressed by you."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. First, you look fabulous. I half expected a football player in a mini-skirt, but if I didn't have a copy of this letter and your application form, I wouldn't know better at all. Second, you have a great deal of courage and honesty because you didn't lie on your application in the first place."
"Thank you," Melissa smiled and relaxed slightly.
"I really prize courage and honesty Melissa, they are hard traits to find in many people these days. So, tell me if you can, why?"
"Why this job or why Melissa?" Melissa asked.
Ms. Burke laughed, "Yes."
"Well ma'am, this job interests me because I'm learning. I don't have the advantage of my sister or you; I didn't grow up a woman. I really think I can learn a lot here, about things I never had a chance to learn before."
"Your sister? Lisa? I think she's next."
Melissa nodded. "We're twins," she explained.
"That's delightful! Is she as pretty as you?"
Melissa blushed, "She's prettier."
"Somehow, I think you're being modest. So, why Melissa? Please tell me if it's too personal, this isn't a job question, it's honest curiosity on my part."
"It's okay," Melissa smiled. "I'm not sure I can explain it though."
"Do your best."
"Well, have you ever wondered what it would be like to be someone else?"
"Everyone does, from time to time," Ms. Burke assured her.
"For me, it isn't from time to time, it's every time. Every day, every minute, I live in another's skin and wonder why. When we were kids, my mom used to dress Lisa and I alike because it was fun and I never paid much attention to it. When we got older, she dressed us differently and I didn't understand it. We were the same, weren't we? But mom said we were different, a boy and a girl. I didn't even know what a boy was, but that's what I was told."
Melissa took a deep breath and Ms. Burke smiled encouragement.
"As we got older, I resisted what my senses told me and tried to be a boy. I thought that it was just a phase, nothing special, childhood fantasy. It didn't go away. Then I thought it was wrong, bad, evil maybe, and so I fought it even more. Finally I couldn't fight it. I surrendered? Or maybe I finally realized the truth. Lisa and some friends caught me. At first I was scared, like my life was over." Melissa paused and laughed at that. "Only, it really meant that my life had just begun."
"Oh my," Ms. Burke said, her voice catching slightly. "You are quite the remarkable young lady, I think."
Melissa blushed again and tried to shake her head.
"Don't disagree with me Melissa," Ms. Burke told her. "While I expect my employees to offer opinions, I also expect them to agree with me when I've made a decision."
"Does this mean?"
"Yes, it means I want to hire you. I have a feeling that you are going to do very well here."
"Oh thank you Ms. Burke, you won't regret it!" Melissa gushed.
"No, I don't imagine that I will," Ms. Burke smiled. "Ms. Brown will take care of all the details and arrange your first day. Why don't you tell her to send in your sister on your way out?"
"Thank you ma'am!"
*****
"She adores you," Lisa said as they made their way home after the interviews. Both were glowing with their success at getting hired.
"You're imagining things," Melissa said. "We just had a good interview."
"You had an interview; I had a dissertation on Melissa. I think she hired me as an afterthought."
"Oh come on!"
"She spent fifteen minutes talking about you and then asked me if I would like the job," Lisa laughed. "I'm not complaining, Carla said her interview was a nightmare of questions. They even asked her how M&Ms were made!"
"For a grocery store?"
"She wanted to be a manager trainee."
"Did she get the job?"
"Yeah, she told them that M&Ms were made by machines!"
Melissa had a giggle fit. "Are you looking forward to the job?" Melissa finally asked.
"Yeah. You?"
Melissa nodded. "I'm a little scared, though."
"It's a ritzy place."
"Uh huh. Real feminine too."
"You'll be fine. Just don't talk about tampons."
"Lisa!"
"Well, you've never had to use them you know," Lisa reminded her.
"I've what?"
"Mind you, I doubt it would come up at the store."
"Gawd, I hope not!" Melissa exclaimed.
"What department do you think you'll be in?" Lisa asked.
Melissa shrugged, "No idea."
"I'd put you in lingerie," Lisa grinned.
"What!"
"I'm evil that way."
"I don't think they'd do that," Melissa decided, sounding just a little disappointed.
"There's still some Josh in you," Lisa observed, not missing the tone of the response.
Melissa blushed. "Well, I am human."
"You don't prefer boys?"
Melissa thought about it for a few minutes. "I don't actually know, you know? I can't find myself attracted to a male body right now because I don't much like my own, you know? But when I look at girls, well, I get jealous instead of interested. It's way too confusing."
"I'm sorry," Lisa told her.
"Why?"
"I shouldn't tease you about it."
"You're the only one who can," Melissa smiled and shrugged. "Still, it would probably be better if I didn't work in lingerie. I can't always control Josh popping up to say hello."
"Popping up to say hello?" Lisa giggled.
Melissa shrugged. "I hate it, but there's nothing I can do about it. Heck, even a bus ride can get it going."
"Gah! I'll take the cold and my nipples any day."
"Band aids."
"What?"
"Band aids," Melissa repeated. "They help prevent that. Doesn't work for downstairs though."
"Who told you about that?" Lisa asked.
"I have my ways," Melissa laughed.
"I guess! Maybe you know more than I thought."
"I'm still not going to talk about tampons at the store."
"That's probably a good idea," Lisa agreed.
*****
"Are you sure about this?" Arlene Brown asked as she sorted the papers for hiring Melissa and Lisa.
"What do you mean?" Judy asked as she glanced at the wall clock and unwound her hair from the tight bun it had been placed in.
"Josh is a boy."
"Melissa actually, or soon anyways. She's hardly a boy."
"Wearing a dress doesn't make you a girl either," Arlene pointed out. "This is a store dedicated to women."
"Do you think anyone would have guessed otherwise?" Judy asked.
Arlene shrugged, "It doesn't matter. We know."
"So?"
"So, we've never had a male work here, the customers wouldn't like it."
"We still won't be having a male here. That child is no more male than you or I."
"That child wasn't born a woman, how would that child know what it was really like?" Arlene asked, her hostility rising.
"This side of you surprises me Arlene. If you felt so strongly, why did I ever see her application?" Judy asked, her eyes narrowing a little.
"I figured you would laugh him out."
"You don't know me as well as you think, apparently. There is nothing to laugh about in regards to Melissa. She's experienced a lot more pain than you have realized."
"It's wrong."
"Enough of this! I've made my decision and I'm certainly going to stand by it. You have two choices Arlene, sort out the paperwork or leave. If you leave, don't come back."
"Fine! I'm leaving!"
"Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out sweetie," Judy called out as Arlene stormed from the office. "Well," she added to herself, "that was a real surprised. I didn't think Arlene had that sort of hostility in her."
*****
"Judy?"
"Yes Marie, what is it?" Judy asked, sounding a little tired as she looked up from her desk and regarded her floor supervisor.
"What happened with Arlene?" Marie asked.
"A difference of opinion over a hiring decision. She decided to leave."
"Oh. It's just that she shouted something about 'faggy boys' taking over the store. What does she mean?"
Judy sighed and rubbed her temples with her fingertips, trying to abate the incipient headache she could feel coming on. "She's upset about a young transsexual girl that I decided to hire."
"A what?" Marie asked, looking confused.
"We had a pair of twins apply for part-time jobs today. Beautiful girls, they'll fit in nicely. Arlene's problem is that one of them was born a boy."
"Wow."
"Does that bother you?"
"Should it?" Marie asked, looking confused again. "I don't understand it, but so what?"
"I like you Marie, that's the right attitude to have."
Marie blushed. "Why doesn't Arlene like it?" She asked.
"I wish I knew. Arlene has had some problems with men in the past, I know. She's fairly deep into the lesbian scene these days too. There's an undercurrent of dislike for transsexuals in the lesbian community from what I've seen. A bit of a tinfoil hat syndrome there."
"A what?"
Judy laughed. "Let's just say that some of them think that transsexuals are really men who have surgery just to spy on them. I've never managed to figure out what is so great about them that any man would want to do that for espionage purposes, but that's probably a good thing for my own mental state."
"Well, I don't see any harm in it," Marie decided. "If that's what this girl wants to do, more power to her. Does she look okay? Not like a boy in a dress?"
Judy laughed again. "I'll make a wager with you. On Monday morning, when they start, you tell me which one was born without ovaries and I'll give you a five hundred dollar bonus on your paycheck."
"If I lose?" Marie grinned.
"You can buy all four of us lunch."
"It's a deal!"
"You both got a job on your first application?" Denise asked, sounding very surprised. "In the same place?"
Lisa nodded. "Mostly thanks to Melissa," she admitted.
"How?"
"The owner of the store, Judy Burke, really liked Melissa. I think she hired me in order not to lose her."
"Really?"
Lisa nodded.
"Did you tell her the truth," Denise asked, turning to Melissa.
"Yes Mom, of course I did," Melissa said, sounding a little peeved. "I also gave her a copy of Amy's letter."
"And she hired you, this Ms. Burke, even knowing the truth?"
Melissa nodded.
"Wait a minute, isn't she the owner of The Regency?" Denise asked.
"Yep."
"It's exclusive to women!"
"Yep." Melissa was openly grinning now.
Denise shook her head in disbelief.
*****
Arlene sipped her beer in the bar and looked around at the other women. Pickings, she decided, were slim tonight and she wasn't even sure was really in the mood. She was still stinging from the confrontation this afternoon.
"What's got you down Arl?" A soft voice asked from behind.
"Marty! What brings you out tonight?" Arlene asked, feeling a little happier to see Martina, one of her closer friends.
Marty shrugged and pulled a stool up beside Arlene and signaled for more beers at the bartender. "Bored. Don't you have to work tomorrow?"
"I quit."
"You quit? I thought you loved the place? A regular estrogen heaven you called it."
"It was until today. Burke hired a drag queen."
"Come on!"
"Seriously, some fucked up kid who thinks he wants to be a girl. Burke got upset when I tried to talk her out of it."
"A tranny at The Regency? The society birds will be all a-flutter over it."
"If they figure it out," Arlene admitted before she could stop herself.
"You're having one on me. I haven't met a tranny I couldn't spot a block away," Marty asserted.
"Not this one," Arlene said morosely. "Dead ringer for the real sister. Twins and you can't tell them apart."
"How do you know he really isn't a girl then?"
"He admitted it on his application and gave me the shrink's letter."
Marty dropped some bills on the bar for the drinks. "That's pretty freaky. I wouldn't figure that Burke would go for that even still."
"Me too, I figured her for a closet butch, you know. She's pretty tough when she wants to be."
"My Mom'll have a fit," Marty suddenly laughed. "She still calls my lesbianism 'the sickness' when she thinks I can't hear her. When she gets wind of this, she'll avoid The Regency like the plague and take her society friends with her."
Arlene suddenly grinned. "That's true, isn't it?" She asked, sounding a little more pleased.
*****
"Hello? Ms. Burke?" Denise asked as she knocked on the door to Judy's office.
"Yes?"
"Sorry to bother you, my name is Denise Stevens. I believe you just hired my children yesterday?"
"Well, hello Ms. Stevens, please come in!" Judy said as she smiled and stood.
"Denise, please. I'm sorry to bother you Ms. Burke, but . . ."
"Judy. It's no bother. You're not here to tell me you won't allow them to work for me, I hope?"
"Of course not," Denise assured her.
"Well then, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit to then?" Judy asked, her curiosity even stronger.
"Well, I was rather surprised that you hired them I guess," Denise began, sounding a little unsure. "I wanted to be certain that you were in possession of all of the facts."
"About Melissa who is still Josh for now, I assume?"
"He did tell you!"
"She," Judy replied, stressing the pronoun, "was quite honest and forthcoming. I must say, I was quite impressed with Melissa."
"I see."
"That bothers you, doesn't it Denise?"
"I . . ."
"I'm not judging you. I imagine that it's quite a difficult situation for you."
"I'm losing my son!"
Judy sighed. "Would you prefer that I rescinded the offers?" She asked.
"No!"
"That is a relief for me, I must admit. I'll be honest with you Denise, I think you are gaining quite a bit as well."
Denise stiffened.
"I don't intend offense," Judy assured her. "I'm stating a fact because my frame of reference is Melissa. She is, as I said, quite a remarkable person."
"So is Josh."
"They are one and the same."
Denise shook her head. "Why am I telling you this stuff? I didn't come here to relieve my burdens, I just wanted to make sure that you had the truth."
Judy waved the concern away. "I've been told that I have a way of drawing people out," she smiled. "Your worry is gratifying; I see where the honesty of your children come from."
"Aren't you concerned for your store?" Denise suddenly asked.
"In what way?"
"What if people find out?"
"So what if they do? I don't serve bigots. If they can't deal with it, they can shop elsewhere."
"I don't understand this, I really don't."
"Well," Judy smiled. "For one thing, I don't need the store, it's a hobby. Secondly, I think I saw something in Melissa, and in Lisa too, that made me stop and think. It was probably in that moment that I decided that there is very likely to be a battle and that I wanted to be on the good side of it."
"A battle? I think that's a rather strong term," Denise protested.
"No, I think it's quite accurate. Melissa is determined to be herself, but she's just turning sixteen and that means she's still in school. She is going to need strong, helpful, and resourceful people around her if she is going to make it through."
"Why?"
"Why me, I assume? I'm not really sure, but I liked her immediately and decided then and there that she would be helped, if she needed it. It's my fervent hope that she won't, but I doubt either of us believe that."
Denise looked pensive and nodded, almost absently.
"Does all that put your mind at ease, Denise?" Judy asked.
Denise nodded. "It's also given me something to think about," she added.
"Nervous?" Lisa asked.
"A little," Melissa admitted as the two approached the store. "This is the first time I'm going to be spending a lot of time in front of people, talking to them."
"You'll be fine."
Melissa knocked at the entrance to the store which was still locked up before opening. "Maybe I'll be in the stock room. You think?" She suggested as they waited.
"I doubt it," Lisa disagreed as the door opened.
"Hi! You two must be Lisa and Melissa," said the young, cheerful looking woman that opened the door. "I'm Marie Anderson, the floor supervisor here. Come in and we'll get you all sorted out for your first day."
"Thank you Miss Anderson," Melissa smiled.
"Marie, please! Miss Anderson makes me sound so old. Anyways, the first thing we need to do is sort out your wardrobe."
"Our wardrobe?" Lisa asked.
"Oh yes, everyone who works for the store wears its clothing. That's a must both on and off duty, when in the public eye. Judy expects us to represent the best in fashion, appearance, and demeanor when there is any chance that one of the customers may see us."
"I don't know if we can afford it," Melissa chimed in, looking worried.
Marie laughed. "None of us can, sweetie, we get an allowance for selection. In other words, each month, we are told that we can select some amount worth of clothing and then we shop! It's a lot of fun because it's staff a only event."
"I would guess that you would have a lot of clothes now," Melissa observed.
"We donate them to charity after a while. Fashion is a fast-paced business, so styles don't usually stay around long." Marie led them into the back area of the large store as she continued, "However, your first selection of clothing has been personally picked by Judy. She has both casual and work oriented clothing as well as some formal wear selected."
"Oh my," Lisa and Melissa breathed at the same time as soon as they saw the two racks. It wasn't a large wardrobe, but it was of obvious high quality.
"I think I said that very same thing when I started," Marie laughed. "Now, you have to try them all on, which I'm sure will be a hardship for you both, but I'd guess that all of them fit. Judy almost never misses on sizes just by looking. After you have tried everything, put the ones that don't fit on that rack over by the wall and they'll be adjusted later. Finally, put on the suits at the front of the rack before coming back out to the floor."
"How much time do we have?" Lisa asked.
"How about an hour? Will that be okay?"
Both girls nodded.
*****
"So?" Judy grinned.
"I owe us lunch," Marie smiled. "I couldn't tell, I could only guess by flipping a coin."
Judy laughed. "Yes, she is almost perfect. In many ways, she is lucky because it is so much easier at her age in many ways."
"Really?"
"I did some research on the topic," Judy admitted. "The younger they transition, the better it will be for the outcome."
"Oh. So, are you going to tell me?"
Judy just grinned at her. "Nope," she said. "You have to figure it out."
"You are way too cruel," Marie laughed.
"You could just ask them," Judy suggested, her eyes still twinkling.
"No, really, I couldn't. Could I?"
"I have a feeling that she would tell you. If you asked."
"I can't."
"Suit yourself," Judy laughed again. "I'm not the one in suspense."
*****
"Oh my," Melissa said for the seventh or eighth time as she held up the formal gown that Judy had provided. The gown was a classic black with white trim that ran diagonally across the bodice.
"You're like a kid in a candy store," Lisa grinned.
"Better than that! This clothing is amazing." Melissa felt her eyes glaze as she looked at herself in the mirror, the gown hugging her curves. She felt herself being transported the same way she did when she had held her mother's gown in front of her. In her minds eye, she could picture the grand entrance to the ball, her hand gently on the arm of her handsome escort. The introductions were barely over before he had swept her onto the dance floor and led her gracefully . . .
"Melissa, earth to Melissa! Come in Melissa!" Lisa said, waving her hands in front of the mirror.
Melissa gave herself a small shake. "Wow."
"What on earth were you doing?" Lisa asked.
"Day dreaming."
"What?"
"I just went to a place that I always wanted to be," Melissa said as she carefully removed the dress. "Did you know that I used to spend hours staring at Mom's ball gown?"
"It is gorgeous, isn't it?" Lisa smiled agreement. "I did the same thing. I never tried it on though."
"Me neither, I was afraid I would damage it."
*****
Marie and Judy smiled as the twins finally made their way onto the main floor of the shop. Both were smartly dressed in tailored business suits and it was impossible for Judy to tell them apart.
"I think we're going to have to put you both at opposite ends of the store or the poor customers will get confused," Judy laughed as the two approached. "Which is which?"
Lisa smiled and pointed, "I'm Lisa."
Marie handed them both name tags.
"I trust everything fit okay?" Judy asked. "Nothing on the alternation rack?"
"No ma'am," Melissa replied. "Everything fit perfect."
"Please, Melissa, my name is Judy unless there is a customer around."
Melissa flushed, pleased. "Alright, Judy," she said.
"So, first things first, there is some paperwork you both have to sign, agreements and such. Then we begin your training sessions. You will both need to learn a lot about fashion and do it very quickly. I expect all of the ladies who work here to devote some portion of there spare time reading up on fashion, the trends, and whatnot."
Melissa and Lisa felt their eyes widen.
Judy laughed at their alarm. "Don't worry; we're going to make sure that you are armed with enough initial knowledge." Judy led them both back to her office area.
"Is Miss Brown okay?" Melissa asked, noting the empty desk.
"Arlene and I had a parting of company," Judy said, her eyes hardening.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Melissa responded.
"It's okay Melissa."
*****
"All sorted out?" Marie asked as Lisa and Melissa returned to the floor. Both nodded, smiling. "Good. So, for the first week, each of you is going to shadow another employee. You'll help them out a little, but your primary job is to learn. Next week, we throw you to the wolves!"
All of them laughed at that.
"So," Marie continued, "Melissa is going to be paired with Jennifer in the lingerie department today and Lisa is going to be paired with Annie in the shoe department. We'll move you around departments all week so that you can learn the various spots."
Melissa gave Lisa a stricken look. "Uh . . ." Lisa shook her head.
"Something wrong?" Marie asked.
"Um, no, I guess not," Melissa sighed as she tried to smile gamely.
"Okay then! Follow me and I'll introduce you to your partners for the day. Before I forget, I have good news for you both, lunch is my treat."
"You don't have to do that," Lisa protested.
"I do, actually, but I don't mind," Marie told her. "I lost a bet with Judy and she'll be joining us."
"A bet?"
Marie nodded. "About you two," she admitted.
"It's me," Melissa told her with a wry smile.
"Pardon?"
"The bet. I'm the one you had to guess."
Marie laughed. "Honey, you're sharp. Yes, that was the bet and I gave up, so I have to buy lunch for us all today. That's okay though, because I think I would have anyways. You two are going to do very well here."
"You don't mind?" Melissa asked.
"Should I?"
"I hope not! Do you still want to put me in lingerie, though?"
"I hadn't thought of that," Marie admitted. "Are you going to suddenly turn all boyish and ogle everyone?"
"Never," Melissa said, standing straight.
"Good enough for me," Marie said. "Judy thinks you're honest, and that opinion carries a lot of weight. Just be Melissa and everything will be fine. You have to learn that part of the store anyways, we all do."
"I'll do my best," Melissa promised.
"Good enough."
*****
"Wow," Melissa said as she sat beside Lisa in the break room before lunch. "I had no idea that breasts came in so many sizes."
"Like fish in the ocean," Lisa agreed with a grin.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think my evil twin set me up for this."
Lisa laughed. "You have to admit, it's pretty funny."
"Frightening, actually."
"Nothing happened?" Lisa asked, slightly alarmed.
"No, nothing silly like that," Melissa replied waving her hand. "It's just that some of the things these women want to buy, with their bodies, are frightening. I may be permanently turned off sex from this experience."
The peals of laughter from the doorway announced Marie and Judy. "Oh my," Judy said, trying to catch her breath, "I did say you were honest!"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Melissa said, jumping up from her seat.
"Relax Melissa," Judy said, regaining her breath. "You've only said much the same thing most of us have said over the years. It's part of life in the retail clothing business. You see something of everything and not all of it is fun to look at. Now, are we ready for lunch?"
The first week turned into a blur for the girls as they moved from department to department in The Regency clothing store. Both were tired, but excited by how much they had learned in the process, especially Melissa.
"I can't believe this clothing," Denise commented as she took stock of their wardrobes. "However, I'm very grateful that I don't have to pay for it."
"Are you still okay with this," Lisa asked.
"Mostly," Denise told her as she winced looking at Melissa. "I have some news, though, that will put a crimp in this a little."
"What?" Lisa and Melissa asked at the same time.
"Uncle Charlie is coming to visit for a week."
"Uncle Charlie! When?" Again, in unison.
"He'll be here on Monday."
"Monday!" Melissa sounded alarmed.
"Monday. He called the other day because he was coming down here anyways and thought it would be a good time to catch up."
"Uh."
"Precisely," Denise summed things up. "I've picked up some clothes for you."
"What? I don't need any clothes."
"Yes you do. This is not the time for Charlie to learn about you, so you have to be what he expects."
"Why?" Melissa demanded.
"Look," Denise said, getting angry herself, "I've dealt with this situation as best I can, but I'm not ready to deal with it in front of our family!"
"I have to work!"
"Work around it," Denise insisted. "I expect Josh to greet his uncle on Monday. That's the end of this discussion." Denise stormed out of the room.
"What is with her?" Melissa demanded.
Lisa shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted, "but I'm going to find out."
*****
"You invited him," Lisa said as she faced her mother.
"What?"
"He wasn't planning a visit."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Denise insisted, but her expression indicated a guilty conscience.
"Of course you do," Lisa replied, her eyes flashing angrily. "We all love Uncle Charlie, but you brought him here to force Melissa to be Josh. Why?"
"I did no such thing!"
"I don't get it. Why are you fighting this so hard?" Lisa asked, sinking onto the couch and blinking back tears.
Denise regarded her for a moment. "You know Lisa you're very luck to be a twin. Your loyalties are so certain. Neither of you have ever stopped to consider me in all of this. How I would feel. What sort of pain it would cause me."
"We didn't think you would be this opposed."
"Neither did I. Not until everyone started talking about this 'Real Life Test' and Josh started working as a girl. I'm losing my child. I gave birth to a healthy, happy, beautiful baby boy and girl. I didn't give birth to two girls."
"You did, but you didn't know it," Lisa asserted.
"Do you think it's that easy? Do you have any idea of the hopes and dreams I have had in my head for you both? Hopes and dreams that materialized the day you were born? Now I sit here and watch them being torn asunder."
"Why are your dreams for us more important than ours?"
"What?"
"I think, Mother, that it's time you realized that we're human beings with our own hopes and dreams. They are not always the same as our parents."
"I know that," Denise said.
"So?"
"Uncle Charlie is coming and Josh will greet him. I've made up my mind on this. I think the real issue is that Josh hasn't had a male figure around to guide him. I think he has deluded himself into believing this thing and maybe Uncle Charlie can snap him out of it."
"Well, we know who is delusional around here," Lisa muttered.
"What's that?"
"Nothing."
"Don't get smart with me, young lady, I'm still your mother."
"Well, Mother, I've warned you. Don't blame me if you lose both Josh and Melissa."
*****
"Ugh, I hate this stuff," Josh complained as pulled the jeans up around his hips. "It only took a week for me to get used to the nice fabrics that Judy sells."
"It's only a week," Lisa offered. "We can get you dressed up at the mall before work."
"I hate this Lisa, why can't we just tell him and have done with it?"
"Mom. Well, and Uncle Charlie too. You know he's a "man's man" and all that. Eats nails and kills bears with his two hands. I don't know how he'd deal with it."
"I guess," Josh sighed. "Well, I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
*****
"So, Josh, getting involved in any sports this summer?" Uncle Charlie asked as he spooned another large mound of potatoes onto his plate.
"Too busy," Josh said. "Lisa and I are working this summer."
"Working? Well, that's the ticket! Nothing better for adding quality character in a man than working. What are you doing?"
"Selling clothes," Josh told him.
"Clothes?" Uncle Charlie asked, sounding a little disappointed. "Well, I guess that's city life for you. Out my way, the young men work on farms for the summer. Makes them big and strong."
"Not many farms in the city," Lisa pointed out, with a grin.
"That's true," Uncle Charlie laughed. "Pay me no never mind, Josh, a job is a job and it's good to see you getting one."
"Lisa works there too," Josh pointed out.
"That's good as well, you two do well together. Besides, it's good for women to get out into the workplace before marriage."
Lisa rolled her eyes.
*****
"This is a royal pain in the ass," Melissa grumbled as she put on the last of her makeup in the women's washroom.
"It's only a few days," Lisa reminded her.
"Easy enough for you to say, you weren't the one stuck in a suit on the way out the door."
"It would have looked funny if I was all dressed up and you weren't."
"Did I ever tell you how much I hated ties? There, done."
"Well, let's get to work."
*****
"Lisa, what's with Melissa today?" Marie asked, sounding a little concerned.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, normally she's really cheerful, but today, she seems kind of depressed."
Lisa filled her in on the situation. "My Mom is getting really difficult about this," she confided.
"I'll cheer her up," Marie decided. "You two are already getting rave reviews from the customers, so I don't want that to change."
*****
"Feel better?' Marie asked.
"A little, thanks," Melissa smiled. "It's just more of a pain in the rear, you know."
"I don't," Marie grinned, "but I'll take your word for it. Anyways, it's only a few days and then things get back to normal."
"Marie?"
"Yes honey?"
"Thanks."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Maybe for just letting me be myself."
Marie laughed softly and gave Melissa a peck on the cheek. "I'll tell you something, Melissa. Judy thinks very highly of you and she's developed a real mothering instinct where you're concerned. If things get rough, you call her. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Promise me."
"I promise," Melissa agreed.
"Good! Now get back out there and make our customers smile!"
"Getting!"
*****
"What's wrong with Josh?" Charlie asked as he sipped his coffee.
"What do you mean?" Denise responded, trying not to sound alarmed.
"He seems a little out of sorts," Charlie decided. "Maybe it's all of the female influence around him."
"Oh?"
"Hey, don't get me wrong, Josh is a good kid. Maybe it's just that he needs some time around men, you know?"
"What are you suggesting?" Denise asked, suddenly curious.
"Well, this new academy opened up near us."
"What sort of academy?" Denise sound a little suspicious.
"Military," Charlie admitted.
"Charlie, you know I'm not a fan of the military mind-set."
"Yeah, I know, but I think it might do Josh a world of good to spend a year or two there. Get him involved in manly things."
"I don't know," Denise hedged.
"Think about it, will you? I brought a brochure. They promise to turn out real men of honor and integrity. The heads of the academy come highly recommended."
"I'll think about it."
"Good enough," Charlie agreed, letting the subject drop. "Now, about that ballgame . . ."
*****
"Oh, I'm glad that's over!" Melissa said as she donned her business suit for the day. "He kept dragging me out to ball games, the park to toss a football, and whole bunch of other stuff. I think my nails are destroyed."
Lisa fell on to the bed laughing. "Oh man," she gasped. "That is the most stereotypical girl thing I think I've ever heard."
"It's not funny! Will you look at these?" Melissa demanded, shoving her hands in front of Lisa.
"Wear fakes," Lisa shrugged, still laughing.
*****
"Have you finished shopping?" Lisa asked.
"Yep," Melissa responded with a grin. "No snooping either!"
"I don't snoop!"
"Sure, and the sun sets in the east."
Lisa stuck out her tongue.
"Mom makes me nervous," Melissa admitted.
"I don't think she'll do anything too crazy," Lisa suggested.
Melissa shrugged.
"Carla and Susan'll be there, Mom will have to keep it on an even keel," Lisa decided.
*****
Denise winced as the collection of girls sang happy birthday. She had compromised and chose not to get a cake with names on it, instead settling for a "sweet sixteen" cake. Still, hearing "Melissa" ring out in the song made her feel just a little more depressed.
"Presents!" Carla shouted, hauling out her gifts to the twins. "I hope you two like these," she confided, "because it's pointless to buy you clothes now."
The twins tore into their boxes and triumphantly held up the gift certificates to a local spa. "Oh wow," Lisa commented, "I hear that they pamper you so much that you never want to leave."
"It's heaven," Carla admitted, a blissful smile appearing on her face.
The twins opened the other presents on the table, though Melissa stared rather bemusedly at the baseball bat her Uncle Charlie had left.
"That's quite the dildo!" Susan called as the others laughed.
"Susan!" Denise said, alarmed at the comment.
Susan looked contrite. "Sorry," she mumbled.
Denise brought up her packages and handed them to the twins. "Last, but not least," she said, a nervous smile on her face.
Melissa tore into her package first, so Lisa sat and watched with a curious expression on her face and her present balanced on her lap. It was the look on Melissa's face that caused her to stand up and drop the package on the ground.
"What's this?" Melissa demanded, not sounding happy as she drew the clothing from the box.
"It's a uniform," Denise supplied.
"I can see that," Melissa snapped.
"Don't take that tone with me! Uncle Charlie suggested that time at a military school might do you some good, bring you some perspective. I agreed with him."
"You what?!" Melissa shouted as the other girls in the room looked at each other.
"It'll be good for you," Denise tried to explain, sounding almost desperate.
"I will kill me!" Melissa screamed as she bolted for her room.
"How could you?" Lisa whispered, staring at her mother. Carla and Susan backed towards the door, still shocked at the scene they had witnessed.
"What?" Denise snapped.
"You unbelievable bitch!" Lisa snarled.
Denise gasped and slapped her. "How dare you! I'm your mother and I know what is best for both of you. Josh will go to this school and he will learn to be the man he should be. I've had enough of this nonsense!"
Lisa stared at her mother for a few seconds, holding her cheek, before whirling around towards her bedroom.
"Lisa! Come back here and open your present!"
"You keep it. I don't want anything from you right now."
Denise sank to the ground and grasped the opened present. "Why?" she cried, tears rolling down her face. "I just want my son!"
*****
Denise stood at the door of Lisa's room, holding the unwrapped gift in her arms. Lisa ignored her, staring out the window as she clutched a piece of paper in her hand.
"Where's Josh?" Denise finally asked.
"Melissa."
"Answer me!"
Lisa threw the wad of paper towards her.
"What's this?" Denise demanded.
"Your answer. I told you, I warned you."
"What do you mean?"
"Read it."
Denise smoothed out the crumpled piece of paper and began reading.
"Dear Lisa," Lisa intoned, "I have to get away for a while. I'm sorry. I can't deal with this at home anymore, but you will know how to reach me. Think about it. What a terrible birthday, huh? Not the sweet sixteen we dreamed of, is it?" Lisa turned and faced her mother, tears streaming down her face.
"I . . ."
"Don't say it," Lisa told her. "I told you and you wouldn't listen. You had to believe this was a phase, something that would go away."
"My Josh," Denise cried.
"No, Melissa! You won't listen to me, but I know my twin. I know Melissa better than anyone. You have to stop this. You have to. I won't let you drive my sister away from me."
"Lisa, I love you both. I love you very much."
"Then stop this!" Lisa shouted.
"I don't know how," Denise whispered, looking afraid.
Welcome to part 3 of my story about Melissa "Josh" Stevens. If you haven't read the first two parts (chapters 1-12), then you should because what happens here won't make a lot of sense otherwise.
This is a work of fiction so any resemblance to persons living or dead, in whole or in part, is purely coincidental. All of the usual copyright rules apply, but this story may be posted freely on any site that does not require a fee for accessing it. Also, the usual rules about legal restrictions on accessing stories like this apply according to where you hail from.
I hope you enjoy, Joanne
"Melissa! What's up?" Marie asked as she opened the door to her apartment. "You're crying!"
Melissa snuffled and then hugged Marie. "Oh, Marie, I didn't know what else to do. I had to leave."
Marie pulled Melissa into the apartment and set her on the couch. "Wait. You need a nice cup of tea and then you can tell me," she instructed. Melissa nodded and curled up with duvet that Marie handed her.
Marie stared at her young friend for a moment before nodding to herself. With determination, she made her way into the kitchen, turned on the kettle, and then dialed the phone. "Judy, sorry to bother you," she said.
"It's no bother Marie. Is there a problem?" Judy asked on the other end of the line.
"Melissa is here. She's been crying and I think the left home. Judy, it's her birthday! What would cause her to run here on her birthday?"
"Has she told you anything?"
"Not yet," Marie admitted. "I'm making her some tea."
"You're positive it's serious?" Judy asked.
"Yes."
"I'll be right over."
"You don't have to do that," Marie protested.
"I'll be right over," Judy said firmly. "In the meanwhile, warm her up and make her feel a little better. Tell her to hold her story until I get there."
"Yes ma'am."
*****
Melissa smiled gratefully as she accepted the steaming cup of tea.
"Judy's coming," Marie told her.
Melissa sat up. "What?" she exclaimed. "It's not that serious!"
"Yes it is, or you wouldn't be here."
"But..."
"Hush. Wait until Judy gets here, she won't be long."
"Thanks," Melissa whispered, feeling better.
*****
"Are you okay?" Judy asked as she sat on the couch with her mug of tea.
"I guess," Melissa nodded. "Better now, anyways."
"Why don't you tell us what happened?" Marie suggested.
"Oh, okay." Melissa related the events of the party. By the time she was done, Judy's eyes were flashing angrily.
"She did what?" Judy shouted.
"Um, military school," Melissa repeated.
"I heard you sweetie, it was a rhetorical question," Judy smiled as her glare softened. "I was just very surprised, that's all."
"That makes two of us," Melissa agreed with a wry smile. "I won't go to it though."
"I don't understand," Marie admitted. "Why is she trying to send you to military school?"
"I think I can answer that," Judy said. "Denise came by to see me just before the twins started working at the store. It's pretty obvious that she isn't happy about Melissa, but wasn't sure what to do about it. It would seem that the idea of a military school gave her some belief that it would change Melissa back to Josh."
"Not a chance," Melissa said. "I'd probably end up dead there, but nothing else."
"I know," Judy smiled reassuringly. "I did some research after I decided to hire you. It would be pretty rare for someone who feels as strongly as you to be persuaded differently. Sure, it might put the decisions off for a while, but not permanently. I'm not all that convinced that the ones "cured" have done anything other than delay it either."
"Amy and I, she's my therapist, spent a long time figuring things out."
"I talked to her too," Judy admitted.
"Really?"
"Nothing very personal, she is a professional after all, but she did assure me that your transition wasn't a passing phase. She was quite convinced that you would transition and do it very successfully. I think she has dreams of writing a paper about you," Judy laughed.
"I'm nothing special," Melissa demurred.
"On the contrary, my dear, you are special because you are a person. On top of that, the rather large stack of compliments from my customers says that you have a real way about you that people genuinely like."
"Except my mother."
"I'd bet Josh was pretty likeable as well," Marie disagreed.
"Just so," Judy added. "Your mother is struggling with her own feelings. She probably feels that she failed you, that she didn't do the things needed to make you a man."
"You don't think that she failed do you?" Melissa asked, looking worried.
"Hardly. I'm not a psychiatrist, but I do know that there are a lot of transsexuals that grew up in very masculine homes, had very masculine careers, and still transitioned. Besides, if you're a product of failure, then let's have more of them!"
Melissa blushed. "What do I do?" she finally asked.
"Well," Judy decided. "For the time being, you're going to stay with me. At sixteen, you actually have some legal ability to make some of those decisions. After that, we'll see what we can do about bringing your Mother around to your perspective."
Melissa smiled her thanks and then sighed.
"Lisa." Marie voiced it, but it wasn't a question. Melissa nodded.
"She hasn't quit," Judy reminded them. "You'll see her tomorrow and make her feel at ease."
"Why is this so hard?" Melissa asked nobody in particular.
"Chasing rainbows are not allowed to be easy," Judy laughed. "If they were, everyone would have a pot of gold."
*****
Judy sank into the large "relaxation" chair, positioned in front of the fire, in her spacious home office. "Money has some uses," she decided happily as she took a small sip of the white desert wine. She had tucked Melissa into bed in one of her guest rooms and came back downstairs to contemplate what to say into the phone she was staring at now.
"Well, there's not much point in putting it off," she growled as she dialed the number. Judy prided herself on knowing the phone numbers of every employee, amongst other things.
"Hello?" asked the tired voice at the other end of the line.
"Denise Stevens?" Judy asked, more from habit. "This is Judy Burke."
"Judy!" Denise responded, sounding a bit more alert. "Has Josh contacted you?"
Judy sighed and rubbed her temples. "Nope, this won't be easy," she decided. "Melissa," she stressed as she finally answered, "is currently sound asleep in one of my guest rooms. So, she is safe."
"I see."
"Do you really Denise?" Judy asked, her irritation slipping through in her voice.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really see your child? That child, who looks like a perfect angel nestled amongst the pillows?"
"Of course I do!"
"I beg to differ."
"Who are you to tell me about raising my son?" Denise demanded.
"That's the point Denise! Melissa isn't your son, she's your daughter! I told you, right from the beginning, that I hired Melissa because I wanted to be on the right side of the battles to come. You have a wonderful child there and you are forcing her away."
"So, I'm a battle then?"
"Yes," Judy told her. "You most certainly are."
"Why am I having this conversation with you?"
"It's simple, really. Right now, your daughter is sleeping in my guest room and she will continue to do so until her mother learns the truth. This is why we are having this conversation."
"Josh is not an adult! I'm his parent and guardian and he will return home immediately."
"Actually, Denise, you need to read up on the law a little bit. Melissa will return home when she is ready to do so."
"I'll go to court!"
"I'm not holding her Denise, so do so. My lawyers will advise her that she apply for legal emancipation."
"What?"
"It would make her a legal adult."
"I know what it means," Denise snarled.
"You are going about this the wrong way," Judy sighed. "Melissa doesn't want to leave you. She just wants her mother to love and support her."
"I love my child!"
"Only, it's the child that you wish her to be. Think about that Denise, because you seriously run the risk of losing her and that would be a terrible thing." Judy clicked the off switch to the phone and refilled her glass of wine. "Chasing rainbows really shouldn't be quite this hard," Judy muttered as she gazed into the fire.
"Which one is the tranny?" Marty asked Arlene as they looked through the window of The Regency.
"Um, I'm not sure," Arlene admitted. "I'd have to see their nametags."
"You weren't kidding that he was passable, I can't tell which the real one is."
"Yeah," Arlene agreed unhappily. "A lot of unsuspecting women are going to have a boy fitting their lingerie for them and they won't even know it."
"Mom mentioned the twins; she said that Melissa was really quite good. She even left a note for Judy about it."
"Melissa is the tranny."
"Oh really?" Marty started laughing. "Mom got a bra fitting from him!"
"See! That's the problem. I tried to tell Judy this, but she wouldn't listen."
*****
"Judy Burke," Judy said, answering the phone in her office.
"Hi Judy, it's Andrea St. Laurant."
"Andrea! What do I owe this pleasure to?"
"I don't know if it will be a pleasure," Andrea responded ominously. "I heard some disturbing news from my daughter today."
"Oh?"
"I heard that you have a boy dressed as a girl working there and that he was the one that fitted my bra!"
"Calm down Andrea, I do not have a boy working here," Judy informed her.
"Martina heard from Arlene that this 'Melissa' is actually a boy," Andrea insisted.
"Melissa is a girl. She's a transsexual going through her real life test."
"A what?"
"A transsexual. Come Andrea, I'm sure that you've heard the term before."
"Quite. You're playing semantics Judy, this Melissa is a boy and neither surgery nor hormones is going to change that!"
"You've met the girl Andrea; you tell me if she's a boy or a girl. You even raved about her and I have the note on my desk to prove it."
"That's before I knew what he was!" Andrea shouted. "I feel violated enough to call the police."
"The police? On what grounds?"
"It's sexual assault!"
"A bra fitting? Did Melissa touch you inappropriately? Did she ogle you?"
"Well, err, no."
"Hardly sounds like an assault. Sounds like a bra fitting to me. A fitting, I may remind you, that you previously indicated was very good." Judy was beginning to sound impatient.
"Well, I . . ." Andrea sputtered.
Judy sighed. "Look Andrea, Melissa is a girl. Maybe not yet in her body, but she is most definitely a girl inside. She would no more mistreat a customer than she would her own sister. I wouldn't have hired her if she was a mere boy in a dress."
"I think it's wrong. This Melissa shouldn't be working there."
"I disagree. We're probably not going to convince each other much, I'm sure."
"The other patrons of your shop are not going to like this," Andrea threatened.
"Be that as it may, Melissa stays."
"That's a mistake Judy."
"No, the mistake would be to believe that this shop matters enough to me to protect it from bigotry. I hardly need the money, as you know."
"Did you just call me a bigot?" Andrea snarled.
"What else would you call someone who judges the worth of another person solely on the basis of gender?"
Judy winced as the sound of phone slamming carried back to her. "Well, that was unpleasant," she muttered.
*****
"How's Mom?" Melissa asked during their break.
"Off her rocker," Lisa decided. "She's switching between being angry at you and afraid that you're going to leave permanently."
"Still pining for Josh, then?"
Lisa nodded. "We're not talking right now," she added.
"I think Judy called her last night."
"Yeah, and gave Mom a right blast of shit too. I thought Mom was going to have an aneurism on the phone."
"What do you think of emancipation?" Melissa asked.
"What's that?"
"I can go to court to petition them for control of my own life. It would make an adult for most purposes."
"Wow, really?"
Melissa nodded.
"Did Judy suggest it?" Lisa asked.
"Yeah, and I've been thinking about it ever since. Amy can't prescribe hormones until I'm either eighteen or Mom approves. We both know Mom isn't going to approve, so if I'm emancipated I can actually approve the medication myself and start sooner."
"It's an idea," Lisa agreed. "Mom'll have a complete flip though."
"Probably," Melissa shrugged. "I'm finding that I really don't care what she thinks anymore. It's been too much of a struggle with her."
"She still loves you," Lisa reminded her.
"She loves Josh, she hates Melissa."
"I don't know about that. I think she's just having a hard time."
"Why are you defending her?" Melissa said, her eyes narrowing.
"I'm not! I'm just trying to remind you that she is our Mom and that she does love us. It doesn't mean that she's right," Lisa protested and Melissa relaxed.
"I don't understand Amy, I thought you talked to her about this," Melissa complained.
"We did," Amy admitted. "I even thought that she was ready and willing to give this a go. I explained to her the purpose of the real life test and what it would reveal. I won't say she was enthusiastic, but she agreed with it."
"What happened then?"
"If I had to guess, and that's all I'm doing here, her emotions caught up with her intellect."
"Huh?"
"Intellectually, she understands RLT and what it means for you. She even understands why you need to do this. However, until you actually started it, she didn't have to confront her own issues so directly."
"Has she called you?" Melissa asked.
Amy nodded.
"And?"
"She demanded that I take you out of RLT," Amy told her.
"What?" Melissa shouted.
"Don't shout! I refused the demand on medical grounds. She even threatened legal action."
"She's been doing that a lot lately."
"It wouldn't matter; we both know that you aren't going to listen to anyone telling you to be Josh unless that's what you really wanted."
Melissa nodded vigorously.
*****
Melissa sat at the food court table and sipped her drink. She felt exhausted and torn up after her weekly meeting with Amy. "Would it be easier to just give up?" she whispered out loud. "I'm so tired of fighting." She brushed her hands against her eyes to prevent the pending tears.
"Hey, buy any SRV lately?" asked the pleasant male voice behind her.
Melissa whirled in her seat.
"It's Melissa, right? I didn't scare off her twin?" Steve smiled.
"No, uh, it's me. I mean, Melissa."
"Cool. What's the matter? You look a little upset." Steve sat across from her.
For a brief second, Melissa was annoyed but quickly recovered with a sense of relief to chat with someone who didn't know. "Just a spat with my Mother," she finally said. "We've been fighting a lot lately."
"Ah," Steve responded delicately. "Need some cheering up?"
Melissa smiled a little. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well, when I need cheering up, I like to play mini-golf."
"I haven't played that in years!" Melissa laughed.
"Are you in?"
"You're on! Just promise to take it easy on me, okay?"
"No problem, I'll use the other end of the club," Steve grinned.
*****
"You're pretty good," Steve noted as Melissa sank the put through the castle on the last hole.
"You still creamed me though," Melissa grumbled good-naturedly.
"More practice."
"Do you get depressed that often?" Melissa asked and then immediately clapped her hand to her mouth. "Sorry, that's a bit personal."
Steve waved the apology away. "Less than I used to," he said as he deposited the clubs with the attendant. "Want to get a coffee or something?"
"Tea?"
"Deal."
They walked in silence to the coffee shop and Steve picked up their orders. After a couple of sips, he looked at Melissa curiously. "Do you want to know why?" he asked.
"About getting depressed?"
Steve nodded.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want," Melissa told him.
"It's okay, really. I came out to my parents six months ago."
"Oh wow," she breathed. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, they're actually really cool about it. That's actually why I don't get all that depressed very often anymore."
"You're very lucky," Melissa said, unable to keep the envy from her voice.
"I guess I am," Steve acknowledged.
"I'm surprised you would tell me."
"Because we've just met?"
Melissa nodded.
Steve shrugged and then laughed a little. "I don't know why," he admitted. "I really like you. You could probably make me go straight."
Melissa burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
Melissa gasped and waved her hands for a moment. "I'm sorry, please don't take that wrong. I guess if we're in the position of revealing secrets, there's something you know about me."
"What's that?"
"Well, technically, I'm still a guy."
"What?"
"Yep," Melissa grinned at him. "That's what was so funny. If we started dating, I'd hardly be turning you straight."
"I don't believe it," Steve said, shaking his head.
"I'm not about to pull up my skirt to prove it to you!"
"Okay, okay! I believe you. Um . . ."
"What?"
"Do you like guys or girls?"
"Don't know," Melissa shrugged. "I haven't figured any of that out because I'm still figuring the basic me out."
"Oh." Steve look disappointed.
"I'm going to transition, I'm in the real life test now," Melissa told him. "Even if I end up preferring men, I'll be a woman."
Steve nodded. "I wasn't kidding, though. There's something about you that attracts me and that isn't something that I have said about any girl I've ever known."
Melissa blushed. "Thanks," she smiled.
"I'm guessing your mom isn't happy?" Steve asked.
"Nope, she isn't happy at all. She tried packing me off to military school."
Steve made a face.
"I reacted a little stronger than that," Melissa grinned. "I'm staying with my boss right now. She's helping me prepare papers for emancipation."
"What's that?"
"It will give me legal authority over my own life, essentially like an adult."
"Whoa," Steve said. "I didn't know we could do that."
"Apparently it isn't all that easy," Melissa said. "Still, even if I move back home, having it will give me some control."
"Does your mother know?"
"She will soon."
"What the hell is this?" Denise demanded of no one in particular as she opened the official looking documents. "A notice of suit for emancipation? That bitch!"
"What?" Lisa shouted, running down the hall from her bedroom. "Who?"
"You know who! Josh has filed for emancipation; it's that Judy Burke's fault."
"I see," Lisa said, sounding tired.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Denise snarled.
"I warned you again and again, but you wouldn't listen to me."
"I'm not in the mood for games Lisa."
"It's not a game Mother. You blame Judy for this, but you ignore your own role. You drove Melissa from our house and you act surprised when she takes action."
"Don't call him Melissa!"
Lisa sighed and sat on the couch. "What will it take to get through to you?" Lisa finally asked.
"If you expect me to lose my son without a fight, you're mistaken missy!"
"Do you know why Melissa has filed this?"
"Stop calling him Melissa!"
"I won't! She filed this because she is tired of fighting you. She doesn't want to have to fight to be herself, so she's going to take away your control of her life."
"You knew?" Denise asked, sounding surprised.
"Of course I did," Lisa said, waving her hand. "The lawyer is filing for an emergency stay of the three month requirement due to circumstances. Melissa thinks that the judge will agree."
"I can't believe you wouldn't tell me about this, I'm your mother!"
"I've been telling you all along, but you just ignored it. I told you that you would lose both Josh and Melissa if you kept up with this."
The court summons crumpled in Denise's hand. "I was already losing Josh, Melissa isn't mine."
*****
Melissa absently pushed the piece of steak around the plate with her fork. She couldn't muster the appetite to eat, her stomach churning as she visualized her mother's reaction to the lawsuit coupled with the sense of fear about being emancipated. Even her phone chat with Steve had failed to cheer her up.
"You should eat," Judy cautioned. "I know you're tied up in knots, but you need your energy."
"I know," Melissa sighed and took a lifeless bite of food, not even tasting it.
"You don't have to do this."
"No, I do. It's just scared me witless and I really wish it hadn't come to this."
Judy patted her gently on the hand. "I'm not surprised, Lisa said that nothing has changed at home. Apparently, even that uniform she bought you is hanging in your closet."
Melissa winced. "Is it really the right thing?" Melissa asked, sounding almost plaintive.
"I wish I could answer that," Judy sighed. "We both know it's not all that simple. It would be better of you could reconcile, but if you cannot, then you need to be free to make necessary decisions for yourself."
"I guess."
"Remember, too, that it is not necessarily permanent."
"That makes me feel a little better about it," Melissa admitted. "I love her, you know."
"I know."
*****
"Are you serious?" Sue asked.
"Yep, she filed yesterday." Lisa confirmed as she dipped a french fry into her ketchup.
"How did your Mom take it?"
"As expected; she blames my boss and tried to tell me I had to quit working there. I told her that I wouldn't. We had a big fight over it."
"I wouldn't have figured your Mom would be like this," Carla said. "She was always so cool."
"I wasn't sure," Lisa told them. "Mom and I saw some show on TV where guys were dressing as women and she reacted kind of funny."
"Funny? How?"
"She said they needed help; mental help. I guess she meant to make them stop."
"Ms. Dickenson said that almost never happens," Sue reminded them.
"Yeah."
"Where is Melissa?" Carla asked.
"Ms. Burke's place right now."
"Cushy!"
Lisa laughed. "Yeah, she's got an amazing place; indoor swimming pool and everything."
"We need to get her out and have some fun," Carla decided.
*****
"Okay, where are you dragging me?" Melissa asked, giggling at the girls towing her to the front door.
"Out!" The three said in unison.
"We already told Ms. Burke," Carla added. "So she won't stay up worrying about you."
"So, where already?" Melissa demanded.
"Dancing!"
"Dancing? Save me!"
"Hush, you need to learn," Lisa told her. "Besides, it's fun."
"So is shaving your legs with an axe."
"Oh poo! You're coming and you're going to have some fun."
*****
"It's loud!" Melissa shouted.
"What?" Lisa shouted back.
Melissa put her head close and shouted, "It's loud!"
"Yeah! It's great!" Lisa dragged her to the dance floor.
Melissa stood on the floor, momentarily confused before beginning to move to the music a bit. Her movements were a bit stiff, but she tried to copy what the other girls were doing and soon started to get the hang of it a bit. Sue threw her a big smile.
After about a half-hour of dancing, Melissa and the girls were feeling a little winded. They managed to find a table and Lisa waved that she was going to get something for them to drink. "Wow, that's a lot of work," Melissa noted as she panted.
"Fun though," Carla grinned.
"Yeah, it is," Melissa admitted.
"See!"
"Okay, okay. It's fun to dance to it, but I wouldn't just sit there and listen to it."
"Stodgy," Sue commented as Melissa stuck out her tongue.
Lisa arrived with four Cokes. "Wow, they charge a lot," she commented.
"No cover, they get you at the bar," Carla told her as all four started gulping the drinks.
"Whew," Sue finally said, "I needed that!"
"Hello ladies," a male voice said from behind Melissa.
All four turned and recognized Turner Davis from their high school. Turner looked momentarily confused at the sight of Lisa and Melissa. "Uh, so, what's going on?" he finally asked.
"Just dancing," Carla told him.
"Some buddy's of mine are here," Turner said as though his meaning was obvious.
"Oh?"
"We managed to sneak in some stuff."
"Not really interested," Carla told him.
"So, where's Josh?" Turner suddenly asked, not taking the hint.
"Josh?" Lisa asked.
Turner looked a bit more confused. "Your brother?"
Lisa shrugged. "I don't have a brother," she told him.
"Huh?" Turner looked between Melissa and Lisa again. "Josh?"
"Melissa," Melissa said firmly.
"What the fuck is this?" Turner asked, his eyes narrowing a little.
"This? This is none of your business Turner Davis," Sue told him. "We didn't ask you to come over here."
"I knew you were gay!"
"You don't know anything it all," Melissa told him.
"Fuck you!"
"I'll pass."
"Why don't you just go back to your buddies and leave us alone," Carla suggested.
"Fucking freaks," Turner snarled as he left the table shaking his head.
"Well, the air smells better already," Sue quipped as the girls broke out into laughter. They ignored the glare that Turner sent their way.
*****
Melissa tried to ignore the looks and laughter, directed her way by Turner and his friends, as she danced with the other girls but they were getting irritating. Finally, she turned to Lisa and said, "I can't take anymore of this, let's get out of here." Lisa nodded and motioned to the other two.
"What's the deal with Turner?" Melissa asked as they left the club.
"I think he's in the closet," Carla offered as the others giggled. "No, really! I mean, he's always been pretty prejudiced against gay people."
"That doesn't make sense," Sue declared. "If he hates gay people, how can he be one?"
"It's just a theory."
"He was beginning to scare me," Melissa offered. "He kept staring at me and giving me nasty looks."
"He won't do anything," Lisa comforted.
"Oh?" The four girls whirled around to see Turner and his friends. "We just came out to let you know that Josh isn't welcome here," Turner added.
"You don't own the club!" Lisa spat at him.
"So? If you bring that sissy around here again, we'll make him pay."
"What is your problem?" Lisa demanded.
"We don't like people trying to fool us. You keep your faggot brother away from here and there won't be a problem."
"Fuck you Davis!" Melissa snarled, jumping in front of Lisa. "I'll go where I want and you can't stop me."
"Really?" Turner asked, his grin turning nasty and his eyes lighting up. Melissa felt the urgent tug on her arm just as she saw Turner's fist from the corner of her eye and then everything went black. She could hear the shouts and screams of her friends as she collapsed into unconsciousness.
Melissa came awake feeling very stiff and sore. Her face hurt, her ribs hurt, and she was having a little trouble focusing her eyes. She let out a soft groan.
"You're awake," Lisa said, her voice laden with relief.
"I wish I wasn't," Melissa groaned as she struggled to sit up. "Where am I?"
"No, lie back," Lisa told her. "You have some cracked ribs. You're at the hospital. Judy insisted on a private room."
"Why am I here?"
"Turner."
"I remember," Melissa said, suppressing another groan. "I don't know why, though."
Lisa shrugged. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
Melissa felt her stomach grumble and nodded. "My jaw aches," she complained.
"It's a little bruised, but not too bad. You kind of fell face first, so they just kicked you."
Melissa gently chewed the food Lisa propped on her bed. "Does Mom know?" Melissa asked after a few bites.
"Yeah. She might come by."
"Just what I need, another lecture on the dangers of being Melissa."
"Maybe," Lisa agreed. "She was pretty upset about it. Enough that she actually went with Judy to press charges."
"They busted Turner?"
"Oh yeah," Lisa nodded. "Mom and Judy are trying to get just about everything in the book applied to him."
*****
Denise and Judy stared at each other uncomfortably. It had been a long night for the both of them and they had finally taken the opportunity to get some breakfast at a local diner.
"Maybe this incident will finally sort this thing out," Denise finally said as she sipped her coffee.
"I would be surprised at that," Judy disagreed.
"After being beat up? I warned Josh that this could happen!"
Judy sighed and rubbed her temples. "Denise, please, I don't really want to get into an argument right now."
Denise hesitated and then nodded. "I worry," she finally said.
"So do I."
"Then why do you support this?" Denise blurted out.
"I don't know sometimes," Judy admitted. "I really like Melissa and that is probably the biggest reason."
Denise let the name reference pass. "All of this suffering," she implored.
"I wonder, Denise, if you ever asked Josh about his school life?"
"What do you mean?"
"Melissa and I talked about Josh, or being Josh more precisely. The school kids thought he was gay and abused him badly."
"He never said anything," Denise protested.
"Are you sure?"
Denise leaned back in her chair and looked thoughtful.
*****
"Hello?" Denise asked, sounding almost tentative, as she poked her head into the hospital room.
"Hi Mom," Melissa replied, glancing up from the magazine she was reading.
"How are you feeling?" Denise asked, taking a seat beside the bed.
"Sore, but okay I guess."
Denise fumbled around with a few of the cards on the bedside table. "Josh . . ."
"Melissa," Melissa told her firmly.
"Even after all of this?"
"Yes, more than ever."
"I don't understand. This Turner kid is only the tip of the iceberg," Denise implored.
"I'm well aware of that," Melissa said, her eyes giving Denise a penetrating look.
Denise blushed. "I suppose I deserve that," she mumbled and Melissa sighed. "I'm just trying to do the best I can for you," Denise added.
"I wish I could believe that."
"That's harsh."
"So is fighting me every step of the way," Melissa told her.
Denise looked down at her hands. "Are you going to go through with the suit?"
"Yes."
"Why?" Denise protested.
"Mom, I'm tired of fighting you. You told Amy to halt my treatment. You even threatened her. It's my life and it's what I want. I can't risk you trying to prevent things."
"But . . ."
"No," Melissa said, shaking her head. "You have no idea how long I have felt this way. You have no idea about the pain I've gone through to get to this point."
"Judy mentioned you talked about school."
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Denise asked.
"I did. You put it down to 'boys will be boys' if I remember."
"I didn't realize."
"No, you didn't," Melissa told her. "You didn't try to find out either."
"I . . . Do you still love me?"
"I do."
"Then?"
"No. This decision isn't because I don't love you, it's because I do."
"I don't understand," Denise admitted.
"Sometime, I don't either."
Joanne
"Hello, Josh Stevens?"
"Melissa," she responded firmly to the man who entered.
"Ah, well, um, this is an official discussion if you have some time. I'm afraid that I'll have to record it as such," he responded. "My name is Detective Ames."
"What would you like to know?" Melissa asked, sitting upright.
"Well, uh, Melissa, we have Mr. Davis's version of events, amongst others, and we do need yours. Why don't you tell me what happened from the first encounter at the club?"
Melissa nodded and related the events as best she remembered. "I don't remember anything after the first punch," she concluded.
"I see," Detective Ames hemmed as he scribbled in his notebook. "Are you sure that you didn't say anything in the club that would lead him to believe that you were making a pass at him?"
"What? Hardly!"
"Okay, why did you go to the club dressed as a girl?"
"I'm in my real life test."
"Your what?"
"It's a process that transsexuals, like me, use to determine if a more permanent gender change is a good idea," Melissa explained patiently.
"Uh, okay. Did Mr. Davis know you were a transsexual?" Detective Ames asked.
"Probably not," Melissa shrugged. "He probably assumed that I was gay. He said so anyways."
"Are you?"
"Gay? Do you want to know if I like girls?"
"No, boys."
"That wouldn't make me gay," Melissa told him.
"Huh?"
"Detective, I identify as a girl."
"You're a boy though," he suggested.
Melissa's lips compressed into a firm line. "Maybe you should talk to my psychiatrist," she said.
"Right. Well, I think I have enough information," he said as he shuffled a little nervously.
"Do I scare you?" Melissa asked bluntly.
"What?"
"You seem nervous around me. It isn't catching."
"I'm a professional," Detective Ames responded stiffly.
*****
"Are you certain that you want to file that report?" James Draper, District Attorney, asked as he flipped through the pages.
"What do you mean?"
"Bob, your conclusions fly in the face of the evidence."
"Yeah, well," Detective Ames replied. "I interviewed it and that's what I saw from the evidence."
"It?" James asked, his eyebrow rising and his countenance darkening.
"You know what I mean."
"I don't, really. Are you suggesting that this child doesn't deserve the support of the law?" James asked.
"What?"
"I don't think I could make the question any clearer. In fact, Detective, I'm quite concerned that your prejudices are coloring this report."
"Wait just a goddamned minute!" Detective Ames shouted, "You listen to me!"
"No. You listen to me. This report is either a result of shitty police work or a deliberate attempt to cover up a crime. Either way, it isn't going to reflect well on you and, frankly, if I decide it is the second case I might well file abetting and obstruction charges against you."
"What?"
"I seem to be leaving you a little confused throughout this conversation."
Detective Ames stood up. "This report reflects my findings," he declared.
"I see. I want Turner Davis picked up and charged, now, and I'll deal with you later."
*****
"You can't win this James," Turner's lawyer, Layton Harper decided.
"The facts are pretty apparent; I don't see how I can't," James replied. "Your client assaulted Ms. Stevens maliciously and without due provocation."
"Ms. Stevens? Lets not confuse the legalities here; Josh Stevens is legally a male."
"True. However, Ms. Stevens is undergoing a real life test with the supervision of a qualified and competent psychiatrist. It is generally considered polite and reasonable to refer to such individuals by their chosen gender."
"Very enlightened of you," Layton commented dryly.
"Indeed."
"Regardless, you know how this is going to play out. I'm going to go into court and paint a picture of a young man being led on by another young man pretending to be a female. When he finds out, he becomes justifiably enraged and responds as any normal person would."
"So, you intend perjury?" James asked.
"It's what happened."
"Only if you ignore reality."
Layton shrugged. "Perception goes to motive. Mr. Davis perceived this situation and reacted accordingly."
James snorted.
"Suit yourself."
"I intend to," James told him. "I intend to prosecute Turner Davis to the fullest extent of the law. I understand that a civil suit has been filed as well."
"So?"
"Ms. Burke has a lot of money."
"What has Judy Burke to do with this?" Layton asked, surprised.
The smile on James face grew wider. "Ms. Burke has taken our young victim under her wing. In fact, Ms. Stevens is currently residing with her and was doing so before the attack. I think Mr. Davis is going to get a rough ride given the amount of influence that Judy Burke is capable of leveraging. However, I'm given to understand that the civil suit will be dropped if they are satisfied with the results of the criminal prosecution."
"I can win both."
"I doubt that, but if even if you did, Turner Davis would still lose. Really Layton, do you think that Judy Burke is the sort to let someone out of her crosshairs until she has satisfaction?"
"Is that a threat?"
"Hardly," James replied. "It's more in the nature of friendly advice that you might consider passing onto your client. You know how to reach me if he comes to his senses."
Chapter 19: Skirmishes and Defensive Planning
"I think we can win both cases," Layton Harper told the Davis family as they sat arrayed in front of his large desk. "Nevertheless, I think that would be half the battle."
"What do you mean?" Arthur Davis asked, looking concerned.
"The civil suit is being backed by Judy Burke."
Melanie Davis paled. "What has she to do with this?" She demanded. "My son has no connection with her."
"I'm afraid he does, in a manner of speaking," Layton told her. "It appears that Josh Stevens is currently working for and living with Judy Burke."
"I'm not worried," Turner said.
"You're a fool then," Layton told him. "Ms. Burke is amongst the most influential in this city and she has a great deal of money. She can sustain legal pressure for a long, long, time. Not to mention, she can cause a great deal of other difficulty for you and your family."
"So, what do we do?" Arthur asked.
"We negotiate."
"No."
The adults turned and looked at Turner. "What?" Arthur asked.
"I said no," Turner reiterated. "I'm not going to let them scare me."
"I don't think this is a good idea," Layton said.
"I don't care. You said we could win. If we do this, then we lose."
Layton sighed.
***** "Hello?" Arthur Davis asked into the phone.
"Mr. Davis?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"My name is Andrea St. Laurant," Andrea replied. "I understand that your son is in some legal difficulties in regards to a Josh Stevens."
"So?"
"I think I can help."
"How?" Arthur asked, sounding a little suspicious.
"Mr. Davis, a civil suit has been filed against you by Judy Brown. Ms. Brown has a great deal of financial wherewithal and the necessary tenacity to see her case as far a long as she desires. Unless I'm sadly mistaken, you do not have that ability and, at some point, your lawyer is going to become reluctant to continue."
"He is now."
"He's a wise man. It's not very reasonable to fight the influential without some backing from a similar position. I'm in that position."
"Why? I mean, why do you care?"
"Let's just say that I have my own reasons for disliking Josh Stevens."
"I see."
"Also what he is doing to himself is wrong. It should be stopped and discouraged."
Arthur shrugged, "I wouldn't know."
"Have you agreed to a deal?" Andrea asked.
"No. Turner refused it."
"Good lad."
"What do you propose?" Arthur asked.
"Well, Layton Harper works for me as well. I think I can take over the costs and provide some additional assistance."
"I'll admit to being grateful," Arthur told her. "We can't really afford to lose."
"Indeed."
*****
Melissa sank into the couch gratefully. She winced as her bruises protested any shift of her body, but they were becoming more bearable. "Thank you Judy," she said with a grateful smile.
"My pleasure," Judy responded. "I talked to my lawyer today. He's filed the civil suit and has begun putting the information together."
"Why a civil suit?"
"Sometimes justice in criminal courts is sadly lacking."
"What do you mean?" Melissa asked.
Judy passed Melissa a cup of tea. "Witness the O.J. Simpson trial," she suggested. "He was found innocent in criminal court, largely because of a solid defense team and a less than solid prosecution. However, as little as it may have been, some justice was done in the civil suit that followed. Standards of evidence are very different."
The doorbell rang and Judy's eyebrow rose. "Who could that be?" She asked. "I wasn't expecting anyone today." Melissa shrugged.
"Judy?" Asked a man from outside the door to the parlor.
"Aaron! Come in, we were just talking about the case. Melissa, this is Aaron Bosko, my lawyer. Aaron, this is Melissa."
"How do you do Melissa," Aaron smiled and extended his hand. "I've heard a great deal about you. I was expecting, however, to see wings and a halo."
Melissa blushed.
"Oh hush," Judy laughed. "You'll give her a big head. What brings you around?"
"I got some news from Layton today. Rather interesting really."
"Layton Harper? Turner Davis' lawyer?"
"The same," Aaron nodded. "It seems that a certain Andrea St. Laurant has picked up the cost of his defense in both the criminal and civil cases."
"Why?" Melissa asked. "I met her once, at the store, and she was really nice to me."
"It seems," Judy told her, "that Andrea has some prejudices that have come to the front since then. She's always been quite homophobic, despite having a lesbian daughter, and has been fighting her own underground battle over the concept. Says her daughter has 'the sickness' or some such. I'd guess that she would have an even harder time with a transsexual."
"That pretty much sums up my understanding of the situation," Aaron confirmed. "Layton was feeling a lot more relieved to have this turn of events."
"Can they win?" Melissa asked.
"I'll be honest with you Melissa; it depends on the attitudes of the jury. If we get some secret Andreas in the collection, then they might. Layton's defense is that you lead Turner on and he only reacted after discovering the truth." Aaron helped himself to a cup of tea.
"I never said anything to him!"
"I know that. I also know that you didn't hide who you were from him and the assault took place long after he discovered who you were," Aaron placated her. "Nevertheless, in a trial, it will be up to the jury to determine if they see it his way or yours."
"It's still assault either way," Judy noted.
"Yes, but if the jury decides that he was goaded into it, then they may exonerate him regardless."
"This is so frustrating," Melissa cried. "Why can't they just leave me alone?"
"Who knows?" Judy told her. "Some people live to interfere in the lives of others. For some, it is simply a case of feeling that their way is better and that everyone should believe the same. They forget that the same freedom that protects their way also serves to protect yours."
"I don't understand."
"Be grateful for that Melissa," Aaron smiled. "If you did, you would probably be one of them. Nevertheless, such people do exist and they expend extraordinary effort in the pursuit of their cause."
*****
"Why?" Judy asked into the handset.
"Why Judy, I was expecting you to call," Andrea St. Laurant replied. Judy could almost see the malicious smile that accompanied the facetious response to her question.
"The question, Andrea, is why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you backing Turner Davis?" Judy clarified.
Andrea laughed. "I think that should be fairly obvious," she replied. "I was quite upset about Mr. Stevens serving me in your store and you refused to do anything about it."
"That's petty."
"Hardly. You're putting women in the position of exposing themselves in front of a boy without their knowledge."
"I asked you before, did Melissa do anything, anything at all, that was untoward?"
"That's not the point," Andrea told her. "The point is, the child is a boy and was ogling half-dressed women while pretending to be a girl."
"Melissa was not ogling!" Judy exclaimed.
"Figure of speech," Andrea purred.
"Nor is she pretending anything!"
"Judy, you can call him a her all you want, but he has a penis and that makes him a boy."
"You're entitled to your opinion," Judy said, "but it does not explain why you're defending that boy for assault."
"He, like me, was fooled into believing Josh was a girl and was, justifiably, upset. I have a little more couth than to engage in simple assault over the issue, but I can certainly understand young Turner's reaction."
"You can understand premeditated assault?"
"Premeditated? Hardly, Josh led the boy on and Turner reacted as any normal boy would have under the circumstances."
"Melissa never did anything to lead him on and Turner knew almost from the start. If it was such a spontaneous reaction why did he threaten and attack hours later?"
"He denies that and I believe him," Andrea said.
"Of course you do," Judy said with a note of irony. "It fits with your little world."
"You won't win this battle," Andrea told her.
"How little you know me," Judy replied.
"It will be costly."
"Andrea, you should hire a better private investigator. I am, at last check, the wealthiest person in this town. You want to assume that I own a store for the money. No, I own it for the fun. I'd shut it down in an instant to devote my attention to this battle."
"Why?" Andrea demanded, a little taken aback.
"I have my reasons. How's your daughter? I hear she has become very close with my ex-secretary. Still no cure I assume?"
Andrea hung up, the phone making a loud crashing sound in Judy's ear. Judy laughed and shook her head.
Chapter 20: Scenes from a Mall
Melissa sipped her tea at the table in the food court. She was still feeling sore, and privately admitted that the hard plastic of the food court seats wasn't helping, but she nevertheless stayed and watched the people pass her by. It was her favorite hobby, people watching, and Melissa learned a lot from it. Her eyes picked out some familiar faces, including many customers to Judy's store. She sighed, wishing she was feeling up to working again.
Melissa didn't see the approach of Andrea St. Laurant, focused as she was on the people entering The Regency. "Well, if it isn't the thing?" Andrea hissed at her.
"What?" Melissa responded, startled from her reverie.
"Look at you. All dolled up, pretending to be something you're not. Fooling honest people and ogling nude women in change rooms."
"What are you talking about?" Melissa demanded.
"You know what I'm talking about," Andrea snarled. "You ogled me. Pretending to be a girl and staring at me while I was buying a bra."
"I did no such thing!"
"You're a liar. That's not a surprise given how you're dressed. You're entire life is about lies. Hiding your identity."
"I hide nothing!" Melissa shouted, standing up.
"Do you deny being a boy?"
"Yes!"
"Do you have a penis?"
"What?"
"Answer me!"
"No! It's none of your business," Melissa snarled, her fists clenching.
"You answered the question. Obviously, you're a liar, living a pretend life like a sick pervert who just wants to leer at unsuspecting ladies."
"You're a twisted old bitch aren?t you?" Melissa responded with heat, sitting back down and turning away from Andrea.
Andrea grasped Melissa's shoulder and spun her around on the seat. "Don't you turn your back on me," she snarled. "You should be grateful that I don't have you charged with sexual assault."
"Just leave me alone," Melissa cried.
"I will, as soon as you stop lying to everyone."
*****
Melissa glared at the table surface as Andrea stalked away from her. Her stomach felt queasy, as though she was going to be sick. She felt torn between shouting in anger or crying in pain. Her knuckles turned white where she gripped the table.
"How did you like my mother tranny?" Marty asked as she and Arlene circled in front of Melissa.
"Go away," Melissa replied, not looking up.
"Aw, poor little tranny," Arlene cackled.
"That's nothing," Marty laughed at her. "You should try living with her."
"What do you want?" Melissa demanded, glaring at the pair.
"Oh nothing," Marty told her. "We're just feeling a little bored and wanted to see, up close and personal like, this boy who wants to be a girl."
"What's it to you?"
"We don't like men," Arlene told her. "We especially don't like men who pretend that they are women."
"I'm pretending nothing," Melissa said.
"You can cut off that useless sack of meat," Marty sneered, "but you won't be a woman."
"We're tired of your type invading our space," Arlene added.
"Go away," Melissa reiterated, getting tired by this.
"We're never going to go away," Marty told her. "We'll haunt you every step of the way."
"You ladies have heard about the anti-stalking laws?" Steve Jones asked from behind.
"What?" Marty asked, spinning around.
"Anti-stalking laws? You know? The very laws that prohibit what you just threatened to do?" Steve replied.
"Who, the fuck, are you?" Arlene asked.
"You're bothering my friend," Steve told her as Melissa favored him with a grateful smile.
"Fuck off, it's none of your business," Marty told him.
"I don't think so. You should take your own advice or I'll call mall security over and you can explain harassing a mall employee. I'd be willing to bet that Ms. Burke would just love to have you both brought up on charges."
Arlene looked nervous, but Marty just shrugged and stared. "I don't have your connections," Arlene noted, tugging at Marty.
Marty shrugged. "Whatever. See you around tranny," she threatened as she left with Arlene.
Steve sat at the table. "You look like shit, if you don't mind me saying so."
"Queer eye for the tranny gal?" Melissa managed with a wan smile. "I feel like shit, so it works."
Steve chuckled. "Are you okay? I heard about the assault."
"Word gets around."
"It does in my community. Turner Davis is known, though most of us avoid him."
"He's in to gay bashing?" Melissa asked, looking shocked.
"I can't prove it."
"Wow. I'm feeling better though."
"That's good," Steve smiled. "I'd invite you out for some mini-golf, but I don't think you could take the punishment of the course today."
Melissa smiled again and nodded. "It's pretty demanding," she agreed.
Steve laughed again. "It's good to see you smile."
Melissa blushed and took a sip of her tea. It was starting to get cold and she grimaced slightly. Steve just gazed at her and they fell into a silence.
Melissa fidgeted after a few minutes and looked at him. "What are you thinking?" she asked.
"Thoughts I didn't really expect to have," Steve admitted.
"Huh?"
"Did you want to take a walk?"
"Okay."
*****
"Any regrets?" Steve asked as they strolled along the park path.
"About what?" Melissa replied.
"Your decision."
"No. Well, I regret that my mother has been so difficult."
"Not worried about the abuse?"
Melissa shrugged. "I can't help what other people think," she replied.
"I can't figure out the two lesbians," Steve admitted.
"Lesbians?"
"The ones that were bothering you in the mall."
"I didn?t know."
"I've seen them around," Steve told her. "I guess they're part of the more militant group."
"Militant?"
"Yeah. They make raging feminists look tame. If it was up to them, men would be locked up twenty-four and seven."
Melissa giggled.
"Don't laugh, some people think that way."
"They said that they were tired of people like me invading their space," Melissa told him.
Steve nodded. "Yeah, that would fit. Some of them actually believe that men have surgery just to infiltrate their society."
"What purpose would that serve?"
"Search me," Steve grinned. "I've never found any desire to determine what was so all fired special about them that I'd change my sex to discover."
Melissa turned to face him. "Thanks Steve," she said.
"For what?"
"For protecting me and keeping me sane." Melissa stood on her toes and kissed him. She started with it being a chaste, sisterly kiss, but both unexpectedly responded. Their arms circled each other and the brief kiss turned into something longer.
The kiss broke and they looked at each other.
"I?" began Melissa.
"I?" began Steve.
They both laughed.
"I thought you were gay," Melissa said.
"Me too."
"Unexpected thoughts?"
Steve nodded.
"And?"
"It was a lovely kiss," Steve said. "I'd really like another."
"Okay," Melissa replied, feeling, somehow, a little more free.
Welcome to part 5 of my story about Melissa "Josh" Stevens. If you haven't read the first four parts (chapters 1-20), then you should because what happens here won't make a lot of sense otherwise. I know I said I was going to wait until it was complete, but it just came to a point that made sense for me to post. So here it is and I hope you like it. Now that summer has come and the work load at the office has lightened a little, I hope to be a bit more frequent. I apologize for the long delay.
This is a work of fiction so any resemblance to persons living or dead, in whole or in part, is purely coincidental. All of the usual copyright rules apply, but this story may be posted freely on any site that does not require a fee for accessing it. Also, the usual rules about legal restrictions on accessing stories like this apply according to where you hail from.
"Dr. Patel, you've been seeing Melissa for how long now?" Aaron Bosko asked Amy
after she had settled into the witness stand.
"Objection!" Michael Jones called. "The plaintiff's legal name is Joshua
Stevens."
"Your Honor," Aaron responded, "my client is currently in transition and has
applied for a legal name change to Melissa. It is generally considered courteous
to refer to such a person appropriately."
"Nevertheless," Michael countered, "his name is still Joshua."
"Overruled. Counselor, I understand your objection, but I don't see any problem
with applying some simple courtesy to the situation."
"Thank you, your Honor," Aaron noted. "Now, Dr. Patel, if you could answer the
question?"
"Almost a year," Amy replied.
"How would you characterize your client?"
"Melissa has what is clinically known as gender dysphoria. In a nutshell, it is
a condition by which the patient has ongoing and persistently strong beliefs
that their physical gender is not correct. A great many people experience this
to some degree or another but, for those whom the feelings are quite acute, the
treatments become more dramatic."
"Is this a mental condition?"
"Nobody really knows for certain," Amy admitted. "There is some evidence to
indicate that there may be some biological explanations for it, though much more
study is required. What we are certain of, however, is that for extreme cases,
the cure has invariably meant surgery and hormonal treatment."
"Is Melissa an extreme case?" Aaron asked.
"That is the purpose of the real life test, or RLT, to discover if that is true
or not."
"Describe this test."
"Basically, a patient undergoing the test spends a year living and working as a
member opposite to their current physical gender. During that time, they'll
hopefully learn a great deal about themselves and whether or not the change is
something they need to make permanent."
"It's my understanding that Denise Stevens attempted to halt this test, is that
true?"
"Yes sir, she even threatened legal action if I did not."
"What did you decide?" Aaron asked.
"I told Ms. Stevens that to halt the treatment at this time, against the wishes
of Melissa, would do irreparable harm to my patient and so I refused."
"Ms. Stevens is Melissa's legal guardian," Aaron noted.
"Yes sir, but my primary concern is my patient and I felt that Ms. Stevens was
reacting strictly to a situation that she had manufactured."
"Explain."
"Ms. Stevens had told me that she planned to send Melissa to military school and
that to accomplish this, she needed Melissa to halt the treatment. I asked if
Melissa was aware and had agreed to this plan and she told me that Melissa knew,
but was currently throwing a temper tantrum and would come around soon enough.
In my professional opinion, I felt that Ms. Stevens was acting contrary to the
continued good health of my patient and refused."
********
"Why are you seeking Emancipation?" Aaron asked Melissa.
"My mother has made several attempts to halt my treatment and every step of the
process has resulted in a battle," Melissa told him.
"Why do you suppose that is the case?"
"I don't know," Melissa shrugged. "I suppose that she is afraid of losing Josh."
"You refer to Josh as though he's another person."
"Josh is, in a way, another person. Part of who Josh is is someone that I made
up to hide who I was."
"Where are you living now, Melissa?" Aaron asked.
"I'm staying with my employer, Judy Burke."
"Tell us how that happened."
********
"Tell us, Josh, do you think you're mother has your best interests at heart?"
Michael Jones asked as he stood up to question Melissa. Melissa glared at him.
Lisa leaned over the rail and whispered at her mother, "You should tell your
lawyer to smarten up unless, of course, you never want to see Melissa again when
this is over." Denise shook her head.
"I believe I asked you a question," Michael asserted.
"I think it's clear, by the nature of your question," Melissa countered, "that
my mother does not have my best interest at heart."
"I beg your pardon?"
"If you can't even be bothered to address me appropriately then it is clear that
she didn't feel the need to consider my emotional state and the ongoing issues
that I face. Based on that, I can only conclude that she does not, in fact, have
my best interests at heart, merely her own selfish desire to hold on to her
vision of who I should be." Melissa ignored the wince Denise made at that
statement.
"Your Honor!" Michael protested.
"The answer appears quite reasonable to me counselor," the Judge responded. "In
fact, it's quite a sound argument."
"I told you," Lisa whispered to Denise again.
"Stop it," Denise said, suddenly as everyone turned to look at her. "Just stop
it."
********
Melissa hugged Judy and Aaron after they left the courtroom before bursting into
tears.
"I know, I know," Judy soothed as she held Melissa. Denise looked on from the
other side of the room, the pain evident in her eyes. Judy could see the deep
breath that Denise took before she made her way over.
Sensing her mother, Melissa looked up, her eyes red and tears still on her
lashes, and shook her head with a cautioning look. "Not now mother."
"But," Denise tried.
"No." Without looking back, Melissa left with Judy and Aaron.
"Say it," Denise cried as she whirled on Lisa.
Lisa stared as Denise grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "Say it, damn
you!" Denise shouted.
"What more is there to say?" Lisa asked, shrugging herself loose. "You've
ignored everything I told you."
"This isn't over."
Lisa took a deep breath and sighed. "It is over mother, you just can't accept
it. You pushed Melissa away even after you had a chance because of that idiot
Turner."
"Josh was still going to do this," Denise insisted.
"That says it all."
********
"You're welcome to keep staying with me," Judy said as she and Melissa drove
towards Judy's house.
"I really appreciate it," Melissa said with a grateful smile. "I can't keep
freeloading though."
"You aren't freeloading, believe it or not. At the very least, you've given me
something that I haven't had in a great many years."
"What's that?"
"Something worth fighting for. I'll never be your mother Melissa, but you are so
much like the daughter I wish I could have had."
"You have no children?" Melissa asked, surprised. "I'm sorry, that's too
personal."
Judy favored her with a gentle smile. "No, it's quite alright. I was pregnant
once, but I nearly died the night I was giving birth. My child, my daughter, was
stillborn."
"I'm so sorry," Melissa started crying again. "You would have been a wonderful
mother."
"Hush child, there is no need to cry, life has moved on. My husband, rest his
soul, refused to even allow me to try again. He said that the biggest love of
his life was me and that he wouldn't risk that again."
"He sounds like a wonderful man."
"He was. I never dated after he died; no other man could live up to him in my
eyes. I would have loved to have had a child, but he was right. Still, since
you've come into my life, I've found that I fancy she would have been a lot like
you: warm, caring, friendly, honest, and courageous."
Melissa blushed. "I'm just an average kid," Melissa disagreed.
"I really don't think even you, as modest as you are, believes that either,"
Judy laughed. "Still, the point is that you are not freeloading. Oh no, by no
means are you doing that. Besides, my good customers love you to pieces."
Marie shook her head sadly at the spray painted messages scrawled onto the glass
of the store. "Fake girl" and "We don't want you girly-boy" were amongst the
nicer of the messages. She called Judy.
"Hello Marie, what's the problem?" Judy asked as she pointed her spoon at
Melissa's breakfast, urging her to eat.
"Vandals," Marie told her. "They've spray painted some nasty things on the
windows facing the lot. They must be aimed at Melissa."
"How so?" Judy asked as her face grew angry at the list of insults Marie read
off. "I see," she added. "Call the police and put up a sign that closes the
store for the day. Is Lisa there yet?"
"No, but she's probably already left home."
"That's unfortunate. Do your best, I'll be down shortly."
"With Melissa?" Marie asked.
"Hardly," Judy replied dryly.
********
"What is it Judy?" Melissa asked, concerned at the expression on Judy's face.
"You closed the store?"
"Some neanderthals thought it would be amusing to deface the store," Judy
replied. "So, why don't you relax and read today?"
"I can come down and help clean up," Melissa offered.
"Ordinarily, my dear, I would accept, but not this time."
"Why not?"
"These are things I don't think you need to see," Judy replied with a gentle
look.
"About me?"
Judy nodded.
"I've heard them all," Melissa asserted.
"Maybe, but I don't care. Let me put it differently: you have enough hurt in
your life right now; you don't need to have more. Put it out of your mind and
let the rest of us deal with this for you."
"I'm sorry for this," Melissa stated.
"Nonsense. This isn't you, this is idiots. Never, ever, think that I would blame
anything like this on you. You don't control the prejudice of others."
********
"Bastards!"
"Oh Lisa! I'm so sorry, I wanted to stop you from coming, but I was too late,"
Marie cried as she tried to turn Lisa's head away from the garish works on the
window.
"Stop Marie! I'm okay, I'm just pissed off."
"The cops are coming, so is Judy."
"Melissa?"
"No, Judy is making her stay home."
Lisa let out a sigh of relief. "The person that did this had better hope I don't
catch them," Lisa added.
"You and me both," Marie grinned. "I think I know who it is."
"Oh?"
"I can't prove it."
"Yeah, I know who it is too," Lisa agreed, thinking about Arlene Brown.
********
Marty and Arlene laughed as they watched the flurry of activity in front of the
mall. "Too bad that the drag queen didn't see it," Marty noted.
"He's probably heard," Arlene suggested, recovering her breath from laughing.
"I can't believe I'm actually agreeing with my mother though."
"You aren't," Arlene soothed, stroking her friend's shoulder. "You're mother is
going all religious on this, we're just having some fun."
"My mother is right, in a way, you know. It's not natural."
"What about being a lesbian?"
"It's natural," Marty insisted. "Even animals do it."
Arlene shrugged. "I don't care," she decided. "Men don't know what being a woman
is like. Pretending to be a woman insults those of us who had to live through
it."
"My mother plans to picket the store today," Marty noted, grinning at the spray
painted windows.
"It looks like it's closed."
"Yeah, well, she won't care as long as the press shows up."
"Will they?"
"My mother has influence, so they'll be there."
********
Melissa winced as she watched the noon news. The scenes of people picketing in
front of the store hurt her even more than the epithets scrawled in paint across
the windows. She recognized Andrea St. Laurant in the group, but the rest of
them were a mystery to her. "Why do they hate me so much," Melissa wondered out
loud.
"Bigotry doesn't really need a reason," Judy noted from the doorway as Melissa
turned in surprise. "Andrea, for example, has always been unreasoning on such
topics despite the fact that her daughter is gay. Others? Who knows? Religion
perhaps, maybe fears that they can't quite put their finger on, or maybe they
just learned hate at the knees of their parents."
"I don't understand it. Did you see that sign one man carried? It was so hateful
and yet he looked so kindly."
Judy sat beside Melissa on the couch. "He probably is kindly in many ways, but
he's been taught certain things and so reacts according to them," Judy
explained. "Even the most gentle of people can do surprisingly cruel things when
their beliefs are challenged."
"I'm not challenging his beliefs," Melissa stated as she stared in morbid
fascination at the unfolding newscast.
"He thinks you are. Do you remember Matthew Shepard?" Melissa shook her head.
"Matthew was a young gay man," Judy continued. "He was murdered because he was
gay and there were actually people who protested with similar signs outside his
funeral."
"That's awful!"
"Indeed. Yet, the people that did that thought that they were doing God's work.
Remarkable, isn't it? Some people seem to have selective memory when it comes to
the message that God represents."
"What do I do?" Melissa asked, sounding plaintive.
"What you are doing. Be yourself, live your life, and smile. We can beat this,
Melissa; you don't have to walk in fear."
"There are a lot of people against me."
"There are a lot that are with you too. We're stronger, you'll see."
********
"It would have been better if there wasn't the spray painted windows," Andrea
St. Laurant declared as she sipped her tea. "As it was, the press made it appear
that we were responsible for it."
"Now Andrea," Reverend Barrons cautioned. "This is only the first of many
protests and there won't always be such nonsense." The Reverend David Barrons
was the leader of The Family Council, an organization that focused on
fundamental values and strict moral codes. Reverend Barrons looked kindly, the
face of a much loved grandfather, but his eyes showed a piercing judgmental look
to those that looked closely.
"As you say Reverend," Andrea agreed. "You're aware that young Turner's trial is
a few days from now?"
"I'm aware and I've already begun making the preparations for it. We'll have a
full contingent out for this. I've also been asked to testify as Turner's
spiritual council."
"I hadn't heard that," Andrea told him.
"It's recent," Reverend Barron admitted. "I'm to testify to the emotional effect
that Joshua Steven's attempted masquerade had on the lad."
"I'm a little nervous," Melissa said as Lisa sifted through the closet looking
for something suitable.
"I would be too," Lisa replied. "He's cute and really nice though."
"I can't believe I'm doing this."
"Why not?"
"He's a guy," Melissa said.
"You're a girl," Lisa asserted.
"We both know that's not entirely true."
"Sure it is! So what if your parts are still being sorted out, you're as much a
girl as I am. Don't let those bastards convince you that you're wrong. If you're
wrong, be wrong for your own reasons, not theirs. Are you wrong?"
Melissa shook her head and accepted the skirt that Lisa held out to her. "This
is a little short isn't it?" She asked.
"You have great legs sis, show 'em off."
"How's mom?" Melissa suddenly asked as she pulled the skirt on, the dark gray
creating a nice contrast with the black hosiery. "This looks good," she added as
she admired the effect.
"I told you," Lisa grinned. "Mom's okay, I guess. I don't really know 'cause we
aren't talking to each other lately."
"I'm sorry you have to be stuck in the middle of this."
Lisa waved it off. "I don't have any issues," she added. "Mom has been closeted
with her lawyer trying to figure out how to break the emancipation ruling."
"I'm not about to wish her luck," Melissa noted with a wry grin as she donned
the black sweater.
"You look hot. Mom loves you, you know," Lisa told her.
"She loves Josh, not me."
"She just needs help seeing that you're one and the same."
"Maybe, but I can't deal with her right now," Melissa decided.
"So, is Steve a good kisser?"
Melissa blushed.
********
"Wow!" Steve's eyes widened as he watched Melissa walk down the stairs, much to
the amusement of Judy and Lisa.
"You look good yourself," Melissa smiled happily as she adjusted his tie a
little and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I brought you these," Steve said as he pulled a bouquet of flowers held between
the arms of a small teddy bear.
"Oh Steve, they're so pretty and the bear is so cute!" Melissa surprised herself
by gushing.
"I'll put the flowers in water for you," Judy said. "Why don't you two go and
enjoy your evening?"
"Thank you Judy," Melissa replied as she picked up her wrap and purse. "We won't
be too late, I promise."
********
Steve escorted Melissa to the candle lit table he had reserved in the
restaurant. "I hope you like Italian, but they have other options here as well,"
Steve told her as he held her chair.
"I love Italian, who doesn't?"
"My dad, if you can believe it."
"That's so weird!"
"I'm glad you came out tonight," Steve told her seriously.
"I am too. Why did you ask me?" Melissa asked.
"Because I'm gay?" Steve questioned as Melissa nodded. "Remember, I told you
that you impressed me enough to actually consider going straight!" Steve smiled.
"You haven't really, though," Melissa pointed out.
"No, I guess that's true in a way. Still, despite it all, I can't help being
attracted to you."
"Me too."
"You're attracted to yourself too?" Steve asked with a sly smile and teasing
sound in his voice.
Melissa giggled. "Of course not, silly man, I'm attracted to you. I never really
thought about it before, you know? I was always struggling with who I was."
Steve nodded agreement.
********
"That was fabulous," Melissa sighed as she put down her fork and gazed at the
half-eaten lasagna in front of her.
"You barely ate," Steve protested.
"Barely? I'm stuffed! Besides, I do have a figure to take care of, you know."
Steve started laughing. "That's the most stereotypical girl thing to say that I
could possibly imagine," he grinned.
Melissa stuck her tongue out him.
"Cute tongue," Steve winked as Melissa hurriedly pulled it back into her mouth.
"Do you want to dance a little before desert?"
"It's pretty formal music," Melissa replied, looking at some of the dancing
couples nervously.
"That's okay, just follow my lead."
Melissa put her arms around Steve's neck as he held her close. Slowly they
circled their way around the dance floor, lost for a moment in the music until
Melissa's eyes caught an unexpected face sitting at a table near the dance
floor: Andrea St. Laurant. "That bitch is here," Melissa murmured into Steve's
ear.
"What bitch?"
"The one that was protesting against me down at the store today," Melissa
snarled.
"Ignore her," Steve suggested. "We're here to have a good time and not to have
it spoiled by the likes of her."
Melissa leaned backed slightly and smiled at Steve before reaching up to kiss
him. Without meaning to, the kiss progressed to the point that Melissa
momentarily forgot about Andrea. That is until she heard the hiss of Andrea's
voice in her ears. "I think decent society would prefer that you keep your
homosexual love affairs out of public view," Andrea said, standing a few feet
from the dancing couple.
"I don't recall asking your opinion," Melissa snarled as she turned to confront
Andrea.
"You're a mere child and a confused one at that. Young man," Andrea added,
addressing Steve. "You're aware that this child is actually a boy, I presume? Or
was he into fooling you as well."
Steve stiffened and glared at Andrea. "Frankly, madam, I find Melissa to be far
more of a lady than you could ever hope to be. Melissa, at least, wouldn't dream
of barging in on a private conversation and dance to espouse her unwelcome
opinions."
"How dare you!" Andrea gasped.
"Excuse me," the maitre d' said as he approached the scene. "You have disturbed
several other customers here and that is most inappropriate. You will need to
leave now."
Andrea turned to smile triumphantly at Melissa and Steve. "As I told you," she
said.
"You're mistaken madam, I meant yourself. The young couple here has done nothing
to disturb the patrons."
"Do you know who I am?" Andrea sputtered, sounding indignant as Melissa and
Steve shared a relieved look.
"Indeed. Mr. Barchelli, the owner, identified you and asked me to see that you
were escorted out." The maitre d' waved towards a couple of gentlemen before
turning to the young couple amidst the light applause coming from around the
restaurant. "I'm terribly sorry that you had to experience that situation," he
told them. "Mr. Barchelli has informed me that your meal is on the house."
"There is no need for that," Steve protested.
"Perhaps," the man smiled. "However, it is not my decision. Please enjoy the
rest of your evening."
Melissa turned to Steve as they made their way back to the table. "Did you mean
that?" She asked.
"Of course," Steve replied as he seated her.
"Thank you."
********
"Ah, you did not order dessert?" Anthony Barchelli asked as he approached the
table. "Please, don't get up. I'm Anthony Barchelli, the owner, and I wanted to
ensure that everything was alright after that unfortunate incident."
Steve stood and shook his hand anyways. "Thank you for the dinner, it wasn't
necessary, but thank you anyways. We didn't feel that we should impose further
on your generosity."
"Nonsense! You must try our tiramisu, it is to die for." Anthony waved over the
waiter and whispered. "Now then, I trust that you've otherwise enjoyed your
evening?"
"Very much," Melissa assured him. "You managed to make what could have been a
disaster into something entirely special."
"As ever, Judy is quite right," Anthony smiled. "You are delightful and quite
lovely."
Melissa blushed. "You know Judy?" She asked.
"Of course, she is a good friend. She thinks very highly of you and I can see
why."
"Thank you," Melissa replied, blushing again.
"Give her my regards," Anthony told her. "And enjoy dessert and dancing. The
night, and both of you, are young. Ah, to be young and in love again. It is a
beautiful thing." Anthony gripped their shoulders and favored them both with a
wide smile before turning back to the restaurant.
"Judy was right, there are allies everywhere," Melissa said, a genuine smile
appearing on her face.
********
Melissa broke the kiss as she sensed, rather than saw, a light come on from
behind her. "I had a wonderful time tonight," she whispered.
"Despite Andrea?" Steve added as he reluctantly let her go.
"In some ways because of her," Melissa grinned. "Not only did I spend an evening
with you, but I got to see that there are more people that support me."
Steve laughed gently. "I had a fabulous time too and I still have all that money
saved up to take you out again!"
"Name the date," Melissa told him.
"I'll call you," Steve promised and kissed her again.
********
"That was some kiss," Lisa remarked as Melissa leaned against the door.
Melissa jumped and turned to see Judy and Lisa behind her, both in robes. "Lisa!
I didn't think you would be here!"
"I couldn't miss my sister's first date," Lisa told her. "Now, come on, we have
milk and cookies in the kitchen just waiting to be eaten. You can tell us all
about it."
"I couldn't eat another bite," Melissa protested.
"Nonsense," Judy declared. "There is always room for milk and chocolate chip
cookies."
Melissa gave in and followed the two to the kitchen.
"So?" Lisa demanded.
"So what?"
"How was the date? Sheesh, girl, what do you think?"
"It was okay," Melissa admitted as she took a sip of milk.
"Okay? By the look on your face and that kiss at the door, I'd say it was more
than that," Judy noted as she dipped a cookie.
"Alright, alright. It was fabulous!" Melissa laughed and proceeded to tell them
of the events of the evening.
"Tony has the soul of romantic," Judy smiled as she heard the events surrounding
Andrea. "He wouldn't take too well to someone interfering like that."
"He's a very nice man," Melissa agreed.
"Amongst the nicest," Judy agreed. "Didn't I tell you that there were more of us
than you think?"
"I think I learned that for real today," Melissa admitted as she shifted in her
chair and yawned. "Sorry, I'm nearly worn out."
"I'm not surprised, it was a long day," Judy agreed. "Why don't the pair of you
head off to bed?"
Melissa gave Judy a hug and kiss. "Thanks for everything," she whispered.
"My pleasure child, now go sleep."
********
"Tony, you're a hero tonight," Judy said into the phone.
"It was nothing Judy," Tony replied, sounding pleased nevertheless.
"I don't know my friend; your actions tonight gave that young girl a lot of
hope."
"I can see why you think she is worth it," Tony agreed. "The look on Andrea's
face was priceless really, the stuck up bitch."
"Tony!" Judy laughed, pretending to be shocked.
"Ah Judy, I've heard worse from you!"
"She might start protesting at your restaurant."
"Let her, she'll be in for a surprise. You would be amazed at how many of my
guests thanked me and congratulated me on the events of this evening."
"That's a bit heartwarming," Judy admitted.
"Quite the young gentleman with your Melissa I might add."
"Oh?"
"You should have heard what he told Andrea," Tony laughed as he related the
confrontation.
"He's right, you know," Judy laughed.
"Oh, indeed."
"Tony, thank you."
"No need."
********
"Wow," Lisa said as she climbed into the gigantic bed beside Melissa. "That was
quite the date. Nobody ever took me to such a fancy place."
"Steve is something else, huh?" Melissa agreed as she punched a pillow.
"Yeah." Lisa silently stared at the ceiling for a few moments. "You're really
lucky, you know," she finally said.
"What?" Melissa turned onto her elbow. "What do you mean?"
"You're getting to be you."
"So are you," Melissa told her.
"I guess."
"Lisa, what are you trying to tell me? Spit it out!"
"I'm gay!" Lisa cried, turning away to muffle her tears.
"Is that all?" Melissa demanded as she placed her hand on Lisa's shoulder.
"All? We're pretty fucked up twins you know!"
Melissa shrugged as she sat up. "I don't know, apparently we're more alike than
I would have thought," Melissa grinned.
"What do you mean?"
"Apparently I should have been you and you should have been me."
"I like being a girl," Lisa protested.
"I didn't say otherwise, but I'd wager you would have been happier as me and
vice versa."
"Maybe, I don't know."
"Why didn't you say anything before?" Melissa demanded.
"I don't know. I guess it was because we needed only one crisis in the house at
the same time," Lisa suggested. "Mom was so bent out of shape and you were
starting to break out of your shell. I just didn't want to make matters worse."
"Lisa, I love you, you wouldn't have made it worse."
"You're not mom."
"Mom would probably deal with that better than she'd dealt with me," Melissa
disagreed.
"I doubt it."
"I'm sorry," Melissa whispered. "I've been so selfish."
"Huh?"
"I can't let you hide like this, it'll kill you."
"Don't be stupid," Lisa asserted. "You're not going to change back because of
this, I won't stand for it."
"Are you going to tell mom?"
"Should I?"
Melissa nodded.
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. She may not like it, but you can't keep it from her. Do Carla and
Sue know?"
"Yeah. All three of us, well, um, experimented a little."
"Lisa!"
"So!"
"Uh, nothing. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. Guys do nothing for me. Look at Steve, he's a good looking guy and
smart too. Does nothing for me. Girls, on the other hand, yummy."
"Yummy?"
Lisa blushed. "You know what I mean," she replied. "Sue swings both ways, but
Carla is like me."
"I never knew."
"We didn't tell you. Now you know, though."
"Thank you," Melissa saida seriously as she gathered Lisa into her arms and
rocked the gently crying girl.
Welcome to part 6 of my story about Melissa "Josh" Stevens. If you haven't read the first five parts (chapters 1-23), then you should because what happens here won't make a lot of sense otherwise.
Also, in a never ending series of apologies for taking so long, I want to apologize for taking so long. Several things galvanized me to complete part 6, not the least of which are the various emails people have sent along the way providing encouragement. So, I dedicate this part to all of those who have been patiently waiting without a word of complaint. I wish I had the patience you folks do.
This is a work of fiction so any resemblance to persons living or dead, in whole or in part, is purely coincidental. All of the usual copyright rules apply, but this story may be posted freely on any site that does not require a fee for accessing it. Also, the usual rules about legal restrictions on accessing stories like this apply according to where you hail from.
I hope you enjoy, Joanne
Chapter 24: Back in the Saddle
"So? How was it?" Marie demanded as Melissa fussed with her nametag at the counter.
"My date?" Melissa smiled. "It's was fabulous!"
"So, spill then!"
Melissa related the events of the previous evening, leaving out her conversation with Lisa afterwards. Marie was grinning openly at what happened with Andrea. "That must have angered her a lot," Marie laughed as Melissa nodded with her own smile. "So, are you and Steve going out again?"
"I hope so," Melissa admitted as she completed the opening of the main doors to the mall. It was early, so the halls were largely empty, though she noticed that older man from the newscast peering towards the store. "What do you think he wants?" Melissa asked, nodding towards him.
Marie shrugged. "Who knows? He's a nut, I saw him yesterday."
"He supposedly runs some organization that supports family values."
"Have you ever noticed that family values always seem to include some form of bigotry?" Marie asked.
"I guess," Melissa sighed. "I didn't really have much experience with them before now. I wish I didn't still." She suddered at the glare the man directed her way. "He hates me and I never even met him before."
"Come on, ignore him." Marie pulled Melissa back into the store. "Lisa needs some help setting up the sweater display for the fall line. It'll take your mind off of it all for a while."
Melissa smiled and allowed herself to be pulled back into the store.
*****
"You did what?" Carla demanded.
Lisa cringed as Sue added, "We agreed to keep it to ourselves!"
"Melissa's one of us now," Lisa protested. "I hated keeping that secret from her. You know that she won't care about that, beyond being supportive."
"Why now?" Carla asked, calming down a little as she realized that Lisa was right.
Lisa had the grace to blush. "I got a little jealous of her, I guess," she admitted. Sue and Carla rolled their eyes. "In spite of everything," Lisa continued, "Melissa seems to be pretty happy that it all came out and she doesn't have to keep herself in hiding. I'm tired of hiding too."
"Yeah," Carla whispered as Sue nodded agreement.
"Are you going to tell your Mom?" Sue asked.
"I dunno," Lisa replied. "Melissa thinks I should, but with everything else going on, it just seems like a bad idea."
"Yeah, I think you should wait," Sue told her.
"Then I'm still in hiding," Lisa noted.
"Does that matter, really?" Sue asked.
"I didn't think so, before. Now, um, yeah, I think it does."
*****
"Hey beautiful!" Steve called as Melissa prepared to head out to lunch. "I thought I would join you, is that okay?"
Melissa grinned in happiness and gave Steve a quick hug and a kiss. "Are you kidding?" She added. "I didn't want to leave you last night!"
"Was it my wit, charm, or devastating good looks?"
"All three!"
The pair made their way to the food court and split up to get their selections. Melissa stood in front of the local salad and health food place sizing up the menu options when she felt the shove from behind. Whirling, she came face to face with Turner Davis.
"What do you want?" She snarled at him.
"Hello faggot," Turner grinned and flexed his hands, his two friends snickering behind him. "We don't like your sort in this town."
"What? Human beings?" Melissa shot back.
"Don't piss me off faggot, you'll just get hurt."
"Trying to get another assault charge added to the list?"
"You're pushing your luck," Turner warned.
"No, actually, you are," Steve said as he spun Turner around. "You're annoying my girlfriend and that tends to piss me off."
"Another faggot," Turner snarled as he shoved Steve's hand off his shoulder.
"What's it to you?" Steve asked, sounding very casual. "Did you want to make something of it?"
"Maybe I do," Turner replied as his two friends came up beside him. Steve just grinned at them. "We don't like your kind around here," Turner added.
"Then we have a problem," Steve admitted. "I don't like bigots around here and I don't plan to leave."
"Who you calling a bigot?"
"You're stupid too! Put two and two together bright boy."
Turner snarled and swung his fist rapidly, but nowhere near fast enough as Steve's left hand came up in a block just as his right snaked out in an open-
palmed punch to Turner's chin. Turner dropped to the ground as his two friends looked at each other and then at Steve.
"Rule number one, when picking a fight," Steve suggested to them with a smile, "is that you check to see if your opponent has a black belt in Karate." The two boys backed up into the hands of a couple of security guards.
"What's going on here?" One of the guards demanded.
"We were just coming to the food court to get something to eat when the carpet on the floor there decided that he took offense to me and my girlfriend," Steve explained.
"That's not true," said one of the boys in the grasp of a security guard.
"Actually, it is," said the manager from the salad shop. "I watched the whole thing and the young lady was doing nothing when those three boys accosted her. Then the one on the ground took a swing at her friend."
"He's unconscious," one of the security guards noted.
"Glass jaw," Steve shrugged and grinned. Melissa snaked her arms around him and looked at the security guard.
"We just wanted lunch," she told them. "I work at the Regency and I'm on my lunch break."
"Right," the guard replied. "Well, we'll take care of this from here. Enjoy your lunch."
*****
"My hero," Melissa grinned as she fluttered her eyelashes at Steve. Steve blushed. "Karate?"
Steve shrugged. "I got picked on a lot when I was younger, so my parents decided that it might be a good idea. Karate taught me a lot about myself and made me comfortable in who I am. I guess that's why I was able to come out to my parents. It also ensured that nobody at school would take issue with me being gay."
"Did they? At school, I mean."
"Not to my face," Steve grinned. "Actually, as far as I can tell, most people didn't really care and those that did, kept it to themselves."
"I'm scared of school," Melissa admitted.
"It's in the open now, they aren't all going to be like that asshole."
"I want to believe you, but nobody staged protests over you being gay."
"True, I guess," Steve admitted. "I don't really think it's about you specifically though. I think they're scared because gender seems so immutable and you're not fitting that mould for them and that's shaking their beliefs."
"You're a lot wiser than you look."
"Nah, I just think too much for my own good. I've been thinking about you a lot, you know."
"Really?" Melissa asked, suddenly blushing as she felt an unexpected heat.
"Yeah. I mean, women haven't turned my head before. Sure, I could look at a woman and think she was beautiful, but that was all. I wouldn't be attracted to her. I'm attracted to you though."
"You know I'm not a complete woman yet," Melissa noted.
"Yeah," Steve agreed. "You might as well be though and I'm certainly not going to suggest that you stop half way just for me. You're a pretty girl, but it wouldn't matter to me. Something inside you has me trapped and, for the first time I can remember, I'm finding myself thinking that being in a heterosexual relationship could be just fine."
"You meant what you said to Turner? About me being your girlfriend?"
"Uh, is that okay?" Steve asked, suddenly looking a little awkward. "I mean, I didn't want to put you on the spot like that, but it seemed like a good idea at the time."
Melissa just kissed him.
Chapter 25: Prosecution
"That was massively stupid," Layton Harper commented as he escorted Turner Davis from the police station. "Our entire defense is based on you being surprised to discover that you had been tricked by Josh Stevens and reacting to the situtation. Assaulting him in a food court is not going to help us."
"I wasn't thinking," Turner muttered.
"That's certainly obvious. Look, Mrs. St. Laurant is paying my retainer, but I'm not going to continue this case if you can't control yourself. As it is, I'm going to have to figure out a way to mitigate this incident because James Draper is going to be all over it."
"How can it be admissable?"
"It goes to motive and casts doubt on your story. So, let me make this clear: you stay away from Josh Stevens and anything related to him. Understand?"
Turner nodded.
*****
"Tell us, in your own words, what happened," James Draper instructed Sue after she had been sworn in.
Sue explained the events of that evening in the club as Layton Harper scribbled notes.
"Did Melissa Stevens ever make any claims about her gender to the defendant?" James asked.
"Objection!" Layton Harper called out. "Joshua Stevens," he stressed, "is a boy. My esteemed colleague is confusing the with name and pronoun changes."
"Your honor," James responded. "Melissa has legally changed her name and is currently in her real life test. It is generally considered courteous to address her appropriately."
"Overruled," the Judge decided.
"If you could answer the question, Sue?"
"No sir. Melissa made no such claim."
"How long after the first encounter did the confrontation outside take place?"
"A couple of hours, at least," Sue told him.
"When you were leaving?"
"Yes sir, we were tired of being glared at by Turner."
"The defendant was glaring at you?" James asked.
"All evening sir."
*****
"You claim that Joshua Stevens never claimed to be a girl?" Layton asked.
Sue glared at him. "Melissa didn't say anything of the sort," she said.
"Melissa is Joshua Stevens?"
"Objection," James called out. "Your Honor, we've already established Melissa's circumstances."
"Agreed," the Judge commented. "Counsellor, I suggest that you avoid grandstanding tactics in my courtroom."
"Your Honor, the termonology is prejudicial to my client," Layton protested. "At the time of the alleged incident, Melissa Stevens was Joshua Stevens. I'm merely working from that period of time."
"I'll allow the name, let the record show that references to either Melissa or Joshua Stevens mean the same person."
"Did anyone at the table claim that Joshua was a girl?" Layton asked Sue after favoring James Draper with a tight smile.
"Uh," Sue hesitated.
"Answer the question please," Layton instructed.
"Well, Lisa claimed that she didn't have a brother, just a sister."
"I see. So Lisa attempted to fool people into thinking Joshua was a girl?"
"No!"
"You just explained that Lisa claimed Joshua as a sister. Joshua is a boy, so that implies that she was attempting to fool people. Don't you agree?"
"Objection! The counsellor is leading the witness," James stated.
"Your Honor, I'm merely trying to establish the circumstances of the encounter."
"Objection overruled, the witness will answer the question," the Judge instructed.
"Don't you agree?" Layton reiterated.
"No, I do not. Melissa is a girl and we were minding our own business."
"Your Honor!"
"What's the problem counsellor?" the Judge asked.
"The witness is not answering the question," Layton stated.
"I believe she stated that she did not agree."
"She insists that Joshua Stevens is a girl."
"I believe we have established that, yes."
Layton sighed. "No further questions, Your Honor."
*****
"Ms. Stevens, why did you refer to Joshua as your sister in the club?" Layton asked.
"Melissa is my sister," Lisa insisted.
"He is, genetically speaking, a male correct?"
"Objection!"
"It's a simple question," Layton insisted.
"Your Honor, Lisa Stevens is not a qualified doctor or geneticist, she's hardly in a position to comment on the genetic condition of Melissa Stevens."
"Sustained. Rephrase your question counsellor," the Judge instructed.
"Joshua's body is anatomically male, correct?" Layton continued after a small pause.
"So?" Lisa responded.
"Answer the question."
"Yes."
"So, you attempted to deceive Turner Davis into believing Joshua was anatomically female did you not?"
"No."
"Logically, by referring to Joshua as your sister you were implying that he was anatomically female. Is this not the case?"
"As I said," Lisa insisted, "no it is not. Just because Melissa isn't complete, doesn't make her any less my sister. Being a woman is more than just the sum of our parts. Or do you think a woman with a hysterectomy isn't a woman?"
"Your Honor," Layton protested. "I want that last answer stricken from the record."
The Judge shook his head. "I don't think so counsellor. While gender, itself, isn't on trial here, Ms. Stevens has raised a valid point."
Chapter 26: Lessons in Hate
"Reverend Barrons," the reporter called out. "May we have a moment of your time?"
"Certainly," Reverend Barrons smiled as he stepped away from the small protest circling in front of the courthouse.
"Reverend," the reporter asked. "Why are you staging this protest today?"
The Reverend drew himself up. "We're here today to help prevent a travesty of justice from being carried out. A young man is falsely accused of a crime having been led on by the wicked machinations of Satan marching in the guise of another."
"I assume you mean Melissa Stevens?"
"Joshua Stevens," the Reverend stressed, "is being led astray by Satan. He is prancing about in the guise of a girl in order to tempt and corrupt the innocent. We're here to prevent that and, with God's help, return Joshua to His light."
"By the innocent, you're referring to Turner Davis?"
"A fine, upstanding, young man."
"Are you certain of this, sir?" the reporter questioned.
"Indeed. Young Mr. Davis is an excellant example of a god-fearing child seeking his way in the world."
"Reverend Barrons, have you done a background check on Turner Davis?"
"What do you mean?" the Reverend sputtered.
"He's been arrested several times for possession of alcohol, assault, and various vandalism attempts. Are you certain that you're defending the right person?"
"Joshua Stevens is an abomination before God! He will be consigned to Hell to burn in the eternal fires of damnation unless he relents this blasphemy and returns to the bosom of the Christ eternal!"
"Indeed," the reporter commented. "Thank you for your time, Reverend."
*****
Denise Stevens winced as she heard the thunderous declaration of the self-styled Reverend and retreated back inside the entrance to the courthouse. No matter which way she turned, she saw people trying to cast her child as something wrong, something perverted. Tears streamed down her face as she fled to the closest bathroom.
*****
"Wow," Arlene commented as she stepped up to the sink. "That Draper character is better than I expected."
Martina laughed. "Don't believe everything you see in the movies," she commented. "The District Attorney is usually pretty smart or he wouldn't have gotten to that position."
"Yeah, well, if he keeps it up, he's going to end up having the court rule that the little queen is a woman!"
"No, but it doesn't matter anyways. The twerp is ruined 'cause this is all over the press. That psycho Reverend my mother adores is playing it up outside as well. By the time all of this is done, the punk won't be able to show his effiminate face in this town."
Arlene laughed as she dried her hands. "What about Turner?"
"Who cares?" Marty shrugged. "Two-for-one if they convict him in my books."
*****
Denise Stevens felt her heart shatter as she heard the two women in the bathroom. "So much hate," she silently cried to herself. "My child would never hurt any of them, why do they hate her?"
Denise sat up suddenly, registering what she had just said to herself. "Do I mean it?" she whispered.
Chapter 27: Lessons in Love
The small collection of protestors looked down the street in unison as the sounds of chanting reached their ears. A much larger group approached, bearing signs proclaiming support for Melissa Stevens. At the front marched Steve Jones, bearing a sign that stated "God is Love and He loves Melissa too."
"Satan marshalls his forces," Andrea shouted as the group tried to increase the volume of their chant.
Reverend Barrons stepped in front of Steve as his group approached the steps of the courthouse. The reporters in the area quickly started rolling their cameras, anticipating a confrontation. "How dare you!" Reverend Barrons thundered.
Steve merely smiled and raised his eyebrows.
"You seek the wrath of God by daring to support that child of Satan!" The Reverend continued.
"My God does not teach a message of hate," Steve replied.
"You dare to instruct me? A mere child?"
"Out of the mouths of babes," Steve grinned.
"This child is misguided," the Reverend proclaimed. "God has made us in his image and to dare to change that image is a mortal sin against His will and His plan for us. Repent your blasphemy here child and God will forgive you."
"No, thanks anyways. As I said, my God does not preach hate, you do. Perhaps it is you who should be repenting."
"How dare you!?" Andrea hissed, coming to the side of the Reverend. "Reverend Barrons is a god-fearing, righteous, man and you are an open sinner!"
Denise stepped back outside the courtroom and her eyes were also drawn to Steve and the sign he carried on his shoulder. She hesitated before making her way to the confrontation in time to hear Steve say, "You need to find a different faith lady if the only reason you behave is that you fear. Some of us do the right thing because we want to."
"I won't take such filth from someone who lies with other men!" Andrea shouted and stepped forward to slap him. Steve merely shifted with the blow, his smile never changing.
"Touch that child again," Denise said as she interposed herself between Steve and Andrea, "and I'll make certain that you're charged with assault."
"The mother of the viper," the Reverend hissed.
Denise pulled herself to her full height. "Proudly so," she stated. "I want to thank you for that, Reverend."
"What?" the Reverend responded, taken aback.
"It wasn't until today that my eyes opened to the vitriol of hate you've spewed against my child. My sweet, wonderful, child who would never harm you or anyone else. My child that never did anything to deserve this and, despite it all, has carried herself with more pride and dignity than either of you could ever hope to manage."
Chapter 28: Reunited
"Wow, did I just see what I think I saw?" Melissa asked as the news segment just ended.
"Indeed," Judy smiled. "I must admit that it surprised me as well."
"Should I call her?"
"I think so," Judy agreed.
*****
"Mom, I'm proud of you," Lisa said.
Denise just smiled wanly. "It's too late, I think. I was being such an idiot and I couldn't see it," she told her daughter. The phone rang.
"I don't think it's too late," Lisa commented as she looked at the phone.
"Hello?" Denise answered.
"Mom?"
"Oh baby, I'm so sorry," Denise cried. "I never realized how wrong I was until today."
"It's alright Mom, I forgive you," Melissa told her. "I love you."
"I love you too, Melissa," Denise told her without hesitation.
"Melissa? You mean that?"
"Yes I do. I won't stand in your way honey. I wish more women had your grace and dignity, myself included."
"Oh Mom," Melissa replied as she started crying.
*****
"So, are you going home?" Judy asked as she gently wiped Melissa tears away.
Melissa nodded and smiled.
"I'm going to miss having you here," Judy told her with a smile. "However, I think it is important for you and your Mom to reconcile. My door is always open, you know that? I want you to keep your key. Come when you need to, as a refuge when it gets a little tough. Okay? Promise me."
"I promise," Melissa swore. "I can't begin to thank you enough for what you've done for me."
"Hush. I think we both benefitted."
*****
"Welcome home," Lisa greeted Melissa as she struggled with the suitcase. "It's a good thing Mom cleaned out your closet!"
"She what?"
"The uniform was the first down the chute."
Melissa smiled and then started crying again.
"Come on, Mom is taking us out to dinner tonight. We have to get ready and you still have to unpack. Wait until you see the dresses she bought us."
"She what?"
"You have to stop saying that," Lisa grinned.
"I guess I'm still a little shocked," Melissa admitted.
*****
"You both look lovely," Denise commented. "I'm going to feel old and haggard beside you."
"Nonsense," Melissa grinned as she took her mother's arm and guided her to the front door of the restaurant. They'd both shed a few tears earlier when Denise arrived home, costing Melissa more time in front of the mirror to repair the makeup job. "Where do you think Lisa and I get our gorgeous looks?"
Denise laughed as they entered.
*****
"Your boyfriend is really something," Denise commented as they sipped on coffee after the meal. "He reminds me of your father. Strong, determined, and always a gentleman. He's also pretty hot."
"Mother!" Melissa blushed. Lisa and Denise laughed.
All three looked at each other for a long moment before Lisa turned away, her eyes moistening.
"Lisa, what's wrong?" Denise asked.
"It's nothing," Lisa muttered.
"Tell her Lisa," Melissa demanded.
"No!"
"Tell me what?" Denise asked.
"If you don't, I will!"
"No!"
Melissa gave Lisa a hard stare before turning back to Denise. "Lisa's gay," she stated quietly.
"I know," Denise nodded.
"What?" Melissa and Lisa said that the same time.
"I've known for a long time," Denise told them. "I think that's part of the reason that I resisted Melissa so much. I knew that you couldn't change being gay, but I thought that if I stopped Melissa from transitioning, then I would still have a chance for grandchildren."
"Oh Mom," Lisa cried. "I still want children."
"How? It does take a man, even now," Denise responded. "It doesn't matter though. It took a long time, but I realized that you two are the most important people in the world to me and so I still have a lot to cherish. I don't think I could have raised either of you any better, nobody could have. You both make me proud."
All three started crying then. When they finally stopped, Lisa grinned at her mother. "There's still the turkey baster if I want to get pregnant," she commented, causing all three to start laughing as the other two took swats at her.