Andrea On Her Own (Part 3 of Andrea's Stand)
A Note Before: If you have not read parts 1 and 2, please go back and
do so. I have spent some time trying to develop the characters involved
and a brief description of the plot so far will not help you much.
Chapter 1: Needing More
I leaned back in my chair and stretched. It had been a long hour and a
half finishing the homework from my calc. class. As I stretched I felt
the sweater pressing against the breast forms and glanced over to see if
Lisa had noticed. I fantasized for a moment about her coming over,
straddling me on the chair and slowly making love to me. She'd slip the
sweater over my head, play with my brassiere and somehow release my
penis, take off her panties and then...
I brought myself back to reality. There were two things that drove my
lover. Sex was one; sex in every possible way, place and time. She
scared me and pushed my limits. The other driving force was her
determination to be the top of her class in college and then be able to
choose the physical therapy internship she wanted. Right now she was
studying and I could have danced nude in front of her and received no
more than a brief glance.
I looked at my watch; 10:15. I could wait until Lisa finished or give
her a kiss and go back home and make an early night of it. Both were
very tempting. I hadn't had a lot of sleep the past week preparing for
midterms. My aunt would be happy to see me home at a reasonable hour.
"Hey Lisa, take a moment's break OK."
She looked at me and smiled then shook her head.
"No I'm not trying to distract you. It's late and I need some sleep.
Give me a kiss and I'm heading home."
"Oh puppy, you should keep some clothes here."
After a bit we broke off our kiss. I got into my coat, hat and gloves,
and after kissing Lisa again I left to find that it had snowed about an
inch since dinner time. In the four-wheel drive pickup the snow was no
problem and I took the roads carefully as I thought about Lisa and me.
We had been together now for about three months and I had thought we
were in love. Now I was starting to have my doubts. I loved being with
Lisa. We had fun together whether we were in bed (or on the floor or the
couch for that matter), studying together or going to one of the museums
in the area. The trouble was that I didn't believe that Lisa really
understood what I was or who I was. Sometimes it felt as though I was
some strange sex doll with interchangeable parts, there for her
experimentation.
I pulled into my aunt's driveway and went indoors. Aunt Clara was
reading in her bedroom and I knocked and went in. We talked about random
subjects for a bit and I assured her that I was fine just tired.
"I've been studying so hard Aunt Clara. If I can get better than a 90 on
this mid-term then I have a solid A for the first half of the class.
That's all. No, everything is fine at work, yes and between Lisa and me.
No, I have nothing planned for the weekend. OK, I'll ask Lisa if she
wants to join us. Goodnight."
Standing in the bathroom I looked at myself in the mirror. Despite
months of good nutrition I was still painfully skinny. If I looked at
myself from the neck down I saw a man or really a boy. Even if I didn't
shave and depilate I would have very little body hair, now I just had a
little pubic hair and nothing else. My ribs were clearly visible and
small, light colored, nipples sat on a flat chest. I looked further down
and thought for a bit. When I was Andrew I used to worry about having a
small penis. Now it just made it easier to dress as Andrea, and Lisa
didn't seem to mind my size.
I shifted my gaze upwards. From the neck up I was a girl. Even after I
washed off my makeup, the thin eyebrows, large eyes and long hair spoke
to my chosen persona. I wasn't pretty and maybe not even that attractive
but I was female. Months ago I worried about being spotted and
occasionally I still would get the second or third look from people that
told me they had worked out who and what I really was. Now I didn't care
and it had been weeks since anyone had made me.
I showered and, wrapped in my robe, went back to my bedroom. In two
days I would take my mid-term and then I could relax a little. I was too
tired to pick up a book and it was late. Pulling on a pair of pajamas I
turned off the light, burrowed under the covers and tried to sleep.
The room was dark with only the glow from my clock as a source of light.
I listened to the wind and the occasional car as it passed by. Staring
at the darkness I waited for the drifting feeling that preceded sleep
and found myself cycling back to the subject of Lisa and me.
A while back Lisa had confessed that she had planned on the two of us
being only a short sexual fling. We would have some fun, she'd have sex
with a cross dresser and then we'd move on. Some how it hadn't worked
out and we were still together, each seeking the other out but not
clinging.
I lay there thinking about the two of us. Lisa was 22 I was 20. I knew,
logically, that the probability of us being a permanent couple was
slight but the thought of us not being together hurt. I wanted this to
last and yet I was scared by the thought. Lisa wanted too much from me.
Earlier in the week we had gone out to dinner and then she drilled me on
some math. During the drills her hand slowly crept up my leg and after I
brushed it away a few times I reminded her that when she was studying I
kept my hands to myself. She waited until we closed the book and then
launched herself at me, covering my face with kisses and pulling at my
sweater.
We lay on the bed and I buried my face between her legs as she played
with me. As usual I didn't get completely erect but it didn't matter.
After a bit Lisa told me to try something and pulling a vibrator from
her drawer handed it to me. I was uncomfortable at first but discovered
that between my fingers, tongue and the little ivory colored cylinder I
could bring Lisa to a frenzy, back off and then do it again and again.
I was having fun when I felt her fingers, now covered with some cold
gel, slipping between my cheeks and then felt a buzzing as she placed a
vibrator against my rectum. I jumped, pulled away and grabbing the
blankets sat with my back against the wall.
"Hey Andrea, you have got to relax, you know I wouldn't hurt you."
I just sat there clutching the blankets to me. Lisa came and sat next to
me and pulled me close.
"We're just having fun. I like to play with you, you're my little puppy,
and you like to play with me. That's what lovers do. I want to kiss
you, and feel you inside me, and suck on you, and play with you and go
inside of you and feel you all warm and tight and quivery and..."
"Stop it, damn it."
I jumped up and started getting dressed.
"I am not some damn lab experiment for you to use to see how many
different ways you can come. I like making love with you. I like the
cuddling and the kissing and, and, the other stuff but maybe what you
really want it a bigger vibrator."
Lisa grabbed me and we stood frozen in the middle of her one bedroom
apartment. I could have easily shaken her off but I could see the alarm
and hurt in her eyes.
"You are not a vibrator Andrea. You are not an object to me. I love you.
I've told you that. I do cuddle and snuggle and hold you close but I
need more. Oh hell, let's get dressed."
We sat at the kitchen table sipping cocoa trying to talk to each other.
I put my hand out and Lisa placed hers above mine.
"Andrea, what do you like most about sex?"
I thought for a while. Growing up I had spent hours fantasizing about
finally losing my virginity. I would sneak peaks at my father's copies
of Hustler and dream exotic dreams. Now that I was having sex I still
fantasized but the actually time spent in bed never lived up to my
dreams.
"I think it is that time after we've climaxed. We lie against each other
and stroke gently and whisper things and I bury my face between your
breasts and smell you and we drift together."
"Puppy you are such a romantic. I like everything, especially when we
are writhing and grabbing and biting and doing things that would make
other people envious and disapproving and even grossed out."
I walked behind Lisa and kissed her on top of her head and massaged her
neck.
"I'll try Lisa but please don't push me too hard."
"OK Andrea. Hey you really seemed to like it when I sucked on your
nipples."
"Yeah it's funny, I don't feel anything when I touch them but you make
them sort of buzz and well almost itch."
"OK, I'll play with them more. Give me a kiss."
I stared at the darkness and felt my mind start to drift and jump
illogically. I would try to relax and Lisa would cup my breasts in her
hands and, wait I don't have breasts, just forms, and her library desk,
the ceiling fan..."
I slept soundly until the alarm announced another morning.
Chapter 2: Testing, Testing
I put down my pencil, shut off my calculator and closed my eyes. Either
I knew the calculus stone cold or I was so addled I couldn't see my
errors. In either case I was doen with the test in just over forty
minutes and then spent another ten double checking. I stood up and
brought the test to the front. Professor Fischer smiled, wished me a
good evening and went back to reading his magazine.
As I was putting on my coat in the hall, the door to the classroom
opened and Jerry came out and waved at me.
"Whoo, that is not something I want to do again. Did you end up with a
minus number on question three? I mean as part of the function."
I thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I think it was Y squared over
minus four."
Jerry just shook his head. "I think that's what I got. I'll be glad when
this is over. Hey you up for some coffee?"
I almost said no but then thought about it for a second. Other than Lisa
I had no close friends. There were Tracie and Maria, two girls of my
age, but they were still stuck in a high school frame of mind. Jerry
seemed nice and was a few years older.
"Sure, the Starbucks or what?"
We sat at a low table and I listened as Jerry told me about being a
full-time student while trying to survive on a part-time job. I smiled
to myself remembering Marnie telling me once that men will talk about
themselves until they collapse if a woman will just look at them and
from time to time say "Uh huh" or "really".
I learned about Jerry's job, his almost marriage, his ex-girl friend,
his hobby (archery) and Jerry learned that I worked at MJ's Classic
Motors, but was otherwise too self-absorbed to find out much else.
Despite that I enjoyed being out with some one and argued only a little
when he insisted on paying for the coffee.
We parted with waves of hands and mutual groans about the amount of work
we had and went our separate ways. Later on the phone, Lisa lectured me
about being safe around men and I accused her of jealousy. Then we
laughed about it.
I laid out clothes for work and sat in bed with a book of short stories
feeling good about myself. Math wasn't my best subject in high-school
but I felt confident about the test. Jerry seemed nice and when Lisa
had warned me about men I stood up to her with out becoming upset or
defensive.
Tomorrow was the first day of the month so I had a lot to do at work but
that was OK too. Once I had slaved in my father's junk yard. Then I
worked at mindless tasks, dressed in rags and was insulted and cuffed at
every turn. Now I dressed nicely, went to school and worked in a clean
place. Sure there were problems ahead but I seemed to be getting along.
"Yo Andrea, give me a hand here."
I looked up from the reception desk at MJ's Classic Motors to see Paul,
the salesman, trying to lower the canvas and leather top of a Morgan. He
seemed totally tangled and I rushed over to help. Together we lowered it
and then he practiced raising and lowering it again.
"Christ, I like these old cars, but modern technology has its plusses.
Thanks."
I went back to my desk looking up to see Marnie smiling at me. I smiled
back and then listened as she ragged Paul about his mechanical
abilities. It was good to be at work. MJ's sold classic cars and while I
was just the receptionist by title, little by little Marnie, who was the
owner and Aunt Clara's lover, and Susan, the business manager, were
passing along more of the paperwork to me.
I stood up and went over to a man who had come in to the shop.
"Good afternoon. Can I help you?"
By now I was used to being looked at. I might not be pretty but I knew
how to dress. In my tailored grey slacks and dark blue turtle neck I
showed enough to catch an eye and anyway some men like their women tall
and skinny.
After giving me the quick up and down the customer asked about a
Mercedes in our inventory and I handed him over to Paul. Marnie came
over and sat on the corner of the desk.
"You really have become comfortable as Andrea. I watch you with the
staff and customers and I can't see the scraggly gutter rat I saw back
in October. You truly are one of the girls now. Maybe you Susan and I
can go out to lunch this week. I..."
Her cell phone rang and Marnie waved bye as she answered the call and
stepped away. She became lost in a world of quotes, delivery dates and
payments. For some reason I was irritated by something she had said.
"One of the girls." Well I guess I was now, sitting there in my control
panties, brassiere and tight turtleneck. When I stood up men looked at
me, and now and then a woman looked as well. I shopped with Tracie and
Maria for blouses and skirts and my hair was done at "Tyrell's Fashion
Hair Salon."
I sat stewing. I liked being Andrea because it meant I was not Andrew
Dade. I had left behind dirty hair and ragged clothes. However I didn't
think of myself as one of the girls. I certainly wasn't one of the guys.
The phone rang and I answered "MJ's Classic Motor's Good Afternoon."
After I transferred the call I thought some more. The person at the
other end of the phone would have no doubt that a young woman had
answered the phone. The customer who I helped earlier knew that he had
been looking at a young woman and might even be daydreaming about sex.
Paul, if asked to describe me, would never think about saying I might be
male.
That evening Aunt Clara was off at one of the concerts she liked to
attend and I tried to decide what to do with myself. I could call Lisa
and we'd scrounge dinner and then probably have sex. I felt out-of-sorts
and wanted to do something different; something that was not "one of the
girls".
I went into my bedroom and quickly undressed. Tossing my underwear into
the hamper I hung up my clothes and then going into the bathroom applied
solvent to the tape that held on my breast forms. Then I scrubbed off
every trace of make-up and wetting down my hair tied it back in a low
pony tail.
Back in the bedroom I opened the lowest drawer in the dresser. When I
first arrived in Williston Aunt Clara took me shopping for men's
clothing. I had put away the jeans, slacks and underwear. Now I gazed at
the men's clothing. It seemed so odd to pull up y-front briefs and slip
into a plain white t-shirt. The jeans were cut all wrong and seemed to
have no shape. I pulled on the most masculine of my flannel shirts,
slipped into a pair of plain sneakers and looked at myself in the
mirror.
"Damn" Andrea was looking back at me. I wanted to see Andrew but it had
been about five months since I last looked at him. He was always hiding
there behind Andrea but now I couldn't bring him to the fore. I
scrabbled in my closet and found what I was looking for.
When I arrived in Williston, dirty and bruised, I was wearing an oily
baseball hat with "Valvoline" on the front. Now I crammed it on my head
and looked in the mirror again. Yes, there was Andrew. I shrugged on my
parka; it was a kind that could be worn by either men or women. I
grabbed some plain leather gloves and my purse.
"Right Andrew, you are trying to pass, not get beaten up. Where's my old
wallet?"
I transferred my license, some cash and my credit card and left the
house. The pickup truck stood in the driveway. It belonged to MJ's and
said so right on the side, but I used it as my own. I climbed into the
cab, turned the key and headed toward Rt. 140 to find a diner far enough
away that no one would know me.
The Regina Diner is the quintessential roadside eatery. Pam and Laura
are perfect stereotypes of diner waitresses and the clientele is a mix
of locals, truckers, and birds of passage. Since that first trip I have
eaten there many times but pulling into the parking lot for the first
time I felt more than a little scared.
I locked the truck and went in and sat at the counter, draping my parka
on a hook on the wall.
"Can I start you with some coffee hon?"
I looked at the menu as I waited for the coffee. It was about 7:30 and
the diner was only about a third full. When the waitress came back I
ordered a cheese burger with bacon and fries and tried to relax. I
thought back to the first time I had gone out alone as Andrea. I had
been scared and tried to slump and hide. I was sure that everybody would
look, stare, point and laugh. Now I was feeling the same anxiety
returning to Andrew.
The waitress brought over the burger and went to gossip with some men
sitting at the end of the counter and I settled down to enjoy some
honest American road food. I listened to some of the other customers as
I ate and managed to tune into the conversation at the end of the
counter.
"Naw she has to be a dyke." "She, you're blind", "Uh uh, it's just the
clothes, see the truck." "Gay, I bet you he's gay" "Well go see" and
from the waitress "Cool it Pete."
My radar was going wild and I tensed up as one of the men detached
himself from the group and brought his coffee over and sat next to me.
"Hi, I'm Pete, d'ya work for that car place."
I turned, smiled a little and nodded while chewing.
"So what's it like, get to ride those things?"
"Not often, but it's a good place to work."
The waitress came over and leaned on the counter. "Hon, if he's
bothering you, just spill your coffee in his lap. His wife doesn't let
him use it much anyway."
The other men started laughing and Pete turned and made some comment
about their wives and girlfriends. The waitress ignored them.
"I'm Pam and those jerks are harmless. Any woman that comes in alone
they dream about but they are shackled to the dog house. So what's your
name? No let me guess, I'm good at this."
Pam leaned back, put her hands on her hips and tilted her head. Then she
placed her fingers against her temples and imitated a fortune teller.
"Let's see the first letter is in which half of the alphabet, the first
or the last, mmmm, OK in the first and I don't think it's Alice or
Betty, I have it you're name is (and she gave a theatrical pause)
Esmerelda."
I laughed and said "No I'm Andrea."
Pam refilled my cup and asked a few questions about where I worked and
lived and then drifted off to bring menus to some newcomers. I sipped my
coffee and worked on the remaining fries. I hadn't passed, or maybe I
had been "made". It all depended on whether I looked at myself as Andrew
or Andrea. However I defined myself, even dressed in men's jeans and a
ratty hat with my hair tied back people thought I was female.
My cell phone rang and I checked the number. It was Maria and we
gossiped for a bit. I agreed to join her at the local coffee house the
next evening and sat on the stool thinking.
I could dress up pretty much as I wanted but unless I did something
really radical most people would assume I was female. People who worked
closely with me didn't know I was really Andrew. Tuck, the slow talking
detailer, had figured it out but he was one of those people who observe
everything. Lisa was the only person who didn't treat me solely as
female but even she referred to me as "her" and in bed called me
"girlfriend".
As I paid for my food and said goodbye to Pam I looked at my reflection.
Yeah, the person there was a woman, or a girl, but not a man. She was
dressed in ill fitting work clothes but what the hell the image was
female.
About five months earlier I had become Andrea for no real reason. I had
floated along taking suggestions or following directions. For five
months I had been Andrew living as Andrea. I had tested the image and
been told what people thought I was. Now I had to decide, do I change to
fit the image or change the image to fit me.
First I had to decide was who was this "me" I talked about.
Chapter 3: Who Am I
"Why not Dr. Franck? I mean I've been living full time as a girl for
five months now. I think it's reasonable. I've read up on it and I know
what I'm doing."
Dr. Franck looked me up and down and sighed. After five years without
seeing a physician I finally went for a physical in the fall. Marnie
suggested I see her primary care doctor and I had. Dr. Franck dealt with
my being Andrew as well as Andrea without embarrassing me and guided me
through some decision making when tests showed I was producing less than
the normal amount of testosterone. Now I was back in her office and not
getting anywhere.
"I won't prescribe female hormones for you because you have only been
living as Andrea for five months. Also because you are barely 20 years
old and finally because you told me you won't see a therapist. It would
be unethical for me to do so."
"Now Andrea, listen to me carefully. You can get hormones illegally. You
and I both know that. You also can do yourself a lot of damage that
way. I will make you a deal. If you A, tell me why you suddenly want to
start taking hormones, and I don't mean the feeble reasons you just gave
me, B, start seeing a therapist, C, wait at least another two months,
then I'll refer you to an endocrinologist and we'll figure out a way to
prescribe the drugs for you and have your insurance pay for it."
I felt myself choking up. For the past week I had been asking me the
same question. Why suddenly did I want to be Andrea forever? Why
suddenly did having breasts matter? I really couldn't answer. I just
knew it was the right thing to do.
I told Dr. Franck I'd think it over and promised not to self-medicate.
She forced me to take the names of some therapists and information about
a support group. I left feeling dissatisfied and wanted to talk to
someone but I couldn't think of anyone.
Lisa was out because she might see things in purely sexual terms. Also
she was so content with who and what she was that the idea of being at
odds with one's emotions was too foreign for her to contemplate.
Aunt Clara was almost phobic about doctors and medicines and Marnie was
my boss, Aunt Clara's lover and worst of all, blunt in a ribald manner
that I just couldn't face.
I went over all the other people I knew; Maria and Tracie, staff at the
shop, people from the community college and ended up drawing a blank. I
thought back to a talk I had with Tuck when he let me know he had
figured out my secret. He had been gentle and mostly wanted to tell me
that I could not let others decide for me who I was.
We were sitting drinking coffee when he said "Well you can see a doctor;
a psych type. You can find an older friend to talk to, and I don't mean
me. You can go to the clergy." Tuck told me about talking with his rabbi
about some of his problems.
I didn't have a rabbi of course but I did go with Aunt Clara to the
Anglican Church every Sunday and there was an assistant minister who led
the youth group and had organized an ecumenical gay/lesbian/bi
conference. I'd see what I could find out about him and maybe start
there.
Things take time of course and I worked, I studied, I had sex with Lisa
and occasionally she would haul me to a museum. With the passing weeks
I felt myself becoming more and more depressed. It didn't help that when
I told Maria I was lesbian and that's why I did not want to go out with
Kevin, a guy she was pushing on me, she said "oh that is so neat. Some
of the coolest girls in high school were lesbians."
Whatever else I thought of myself I did not want to see myself as cool
in a high school sense.
Saturday came cold and nasty but I wasn't working that weekend and Lisa
was off with her family. I planned a nice day. I would go to the
library, exchange some books, light a fire in the fireplace and spend
the day with cocoa, cookies and short stories. I bundled up and drove to
the library, turned in and checked out books, glanced at the community
bulletin board and had an epiphany.
I was so struck by the obviousness of it I almost shouted "Andrea you
are stupid" but managed to keep my mouth shut. Right there on the board
was an announcement for a gay/lesbian/bi/transgender support group. It
met twice a month in the basement of my church. I probably had seen
notices about it on the church bulletin board as well.
As I drove home I berated myself for being blind and stupid. My idiocy
didn't matter however. This coming Tuesday at 8:00 I knew where I would
be, the only choice I had to make was what I would be. Was I gay (OK,
that was out because I liked women), lesbian (that's how I was starting
to look at myself), Bi (no) or transgender? I'd decide as I walked
through the door. Until then I had something to look forward to, or at
least anticipate. The rest of the afternoon was to be spent indulging in
reading and junk food and nothing was going to get in my way.
"Well I am Andrea, and I was Andrew and I live here with my Aunt so I
guess I'm transgender. I really don't know more than that, I mean I
don't have more to say."
There were nine others in the room that evening. Coffee, soda and snacks
sat on a table along with pamphlets on all types of related subjects. I
expected one of the ministers or deacons to lead the group but the
facilitator was a middle aged social worker named Beth.
We quickly went around the room and introduced ourselves. I looked over
the others. One was a guy about my age, the rest were older. I was the
only transgendered person there, or at least the only one who identified
themselves that way. I settled back to listen, intent on saying as
little as possible until I found my footing.
The others talked about what they had been doing, problems faced, fears,
successes, and a lot of what was discussed had nothing to do with
gender. I relaxed and said one or two things and in what seemed like no
time at all it was 10:00 and people were shaking hands and hugging and
the meeting was breaking up.
"Andrea could you wait a moment"?
I walked over to Beth and waited while she discussed a brochure with two
men who looked like bankers but were holding hands.
"Yes."
"I just wanted to say "welcome" and to let you know about another group.
Here is the information. This group is mostly older than you, except for
Max who's about your age, and I know there are a few transgenders in the
other group. It's a bit of distance but you decide."
"Thanks. This is very convenient and the people seem nice."
"Oh they are. Some times it gets testy between the "you have to shout
your sexuality to the world" types and the "just let me live in peace"
group. Other than that it works well. I hope to see you in two weeks
then."
I let myself in and found Aunt Clara sitting by the fire as I hung up my
coat I mentioned where I had been.
"I know dear."
"What?"
"You told me on Sunday."
"Oh."
"How was it?"
"I liked it Aunt Clara. Nothing really happened but it was nice to be
able to say out loud who I am. I haven't been able to do that except
with you and Marnie, oh and Lisa."
"It's not going well with Lisa is it?"
"No."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't know. I really like Lisa and well we... I mean it's... I like
being with her and doing things. It's just that she wants so much."
"Like what Andrea?"
I just sat there. What could I say to my dear and seemingly conservative
aunt? I knew she wasn't really what she looked like. She had confessed
to me that the reason she and Marnie didn't live together was that she
had had a few lovers and Marnie was still hurt by the betrayal, but
still.
I mean I couldn't bring myself to say "Oh Aunt Clara sex is usually nice
but Lisa likes all sorts of games like, oh you know, strap on play with
dildos and sex in public places and stuff." It was just too much
information so I was silent.
Aunt Clara looked at me. She nodded.
"Let me guess, it is either she wants you to move in with her and form
something permanent, or she wants you to spend all your spare time with
her and gets jealous when you do something on your own, or you and she
have different views about sex."
I felt myself blushing and knew that Aunt Clara had spotted it because
she actually chuckled. I almost shouted "It's not funny" but managed to
control myself.
"Oh dear, Andrea come and sit by me. No, come on and sit here.
Relationships are about boundaries and compromises. Some things you do
for the other person and some things you agree not to do because of the
other person. Lisa seems a really nice girl, and pretty as well, but if
she can't understand your boundaries it won't work. I won't ask for
details, in fact I really don't want to know the details. Why not speak
to Marnie."
"No way."
"Give it some thought. You and she have a lot in common and she is
pretty hard to shock or embarrass. Anyway she likes you a lot. You're
sort of her younger sister in this trio so you can ask her for advice in
ways I don't want to know."
"Thanks Aunt Clara. I think I'll go to bed."
"Good night dear."
I lay in bed thinking again about Clara and Marnie. I knew a little
about them. They had met in college and I was getting the feeling that
my aunt had seduced Marnie. They had been friends and off and on lovers
for about 27 years and it certainly had not been smooth.
Marnie was loud, ribald, NASCAR, beer and crackers. Clara was self-
controlled, a little shy, and yet it was Clara who had stepped outside
of the relationship and hurt Marnie.
I stared at the ceiling. Who was I? What was I doing with Lisa other
than having sex. The last time we had sex she asked me to tie her hands
to the bed post and then take her from behind. It was OK I guess though
I didn't understand the thrill any more than I understood the thrill of
having sex upright in the back of the college library or with the
windows wide open while dressed in lots of clothing pretending to be
Eskimos.
I sighed and turned off the lights. Clara had Marnie; Lisa had whoever
she wanted. I had a future to build but the more I looked at it the less
I could see Lisa in it. Andrea had to become something out of nothing. I
had been living in Andrea's shell as it were, now I had to decide what
was the material within this hollow person.
Chapter 4: I Am Andrea
"No Andrea, going to a bi-monthly support group is not getting
counseling and you know it. You are too intelligent to pretend
otherwise. I laid out the rules. If I am going to refer you to an
endocrinologist you have to be seeing a therapist."
It was another argument with Dr. Frank. I knew I was going to lose when
I started it but as long as I was in the office to deal with an earache,
a fever and a bad cough I thought I would give it a try.
I smiled and tried to make a joke of it.
"Hey Dr. Franck. I've got an idea. I'm 20 years old, sexually active
and all that. Why not just prescribe me contraceptives, like the pill or
a patch."
"Right; what I am prescribing now is antibiotic, I call it in to the
pharmacy, lots of liquids and at least two days of complete rest and
preferably three. I gave you Dr. Miller's number, give him a call. He
sees a lot of college students and I know has a discount rate for them.
I think you'd like him. Now scram, I have an office full of hacking,
sneezing patients and you are the healthiest of all of them. Get some
rest."
I called Marnie and told her I was heading home from the doctor's and
would be taking the next day off. She commiserated, mentioned she'd be
over that evening and would see me then. I asked her to pick up my
prescription and drove home. By the time I pulled into the driveway I
was shaking and desperately tired.
I stumbled into the house and considered the distance from the front
door to the bedroom. It seemed too far so I just lay down on the couch,
pulled my parka over my head and closed my eyes. My last thoughts before
passing out were that Aunt Clara would kill me for still having my boots
on.
"Come on Andrea. Sit up; hey open your eyes, no sit up dear."
Aunt Clara was trying to say something to me but I couldn't figure out
why she was trying to drag me out of bed. It was way too early and I
just wanted to sleep.
"Marnie give me a hand. Oh lord she's burning up. Get me the thermometer
from the bathroom, yes, middle cabinet. Andrea open your eyes and stand
up, we have to get you to bed."
I somehow managed to stand up and swaying back and forth leaned on my
aunt as she guided me into my bedroom. I sat on the bed as Marnie put
the thermometer in my mouth and I dopily obeyed my aunt's commands.
"Stick out your feet dear, let's get those boots off."
"Boots? Oh I'm sorry Aunts Clara."
"Shush, now let me unbutton this, shift your bum dear, that's right.
What Marnie, one oh five point two. Oh no. Call your doctor now; I'll
finish getting her undressed. Hands over your head dear."
I looked at my aunt and tried to figure out why the lights in the room
were getting dimmer. My arms weren't moving and she seemed to be getting
further away. I tried to explain that I couldn't get my boots off and
then the light became too dim to see her.
I hated the beeping noise I was hearing and someone had taken away my
nice comforter. I opened my eyes and tried to figure out why the ceiling
was different. A woman in yellow leaned over me and smiled.
"Well hello Andrea. You gave your aunt quite a scare there. You're at
North Adams Regional in the ER. You collapsed and, oh wait, here in the
basin."
When I finished vomiting, the nurse gave me some water to wash out my
mouth. I stared around feeling dizzy and sick.
"Aunt Clara?"
"She and her friend were here and left to get some coffee a few minutes
ago. Now let me sit you up a bit and I'll ask Dr. Pierce to come in.
You had quite a fever there."
"Time?"
"What, oh it's, let's see, it's 11:32, that's in the evening Andrea. Now
just lean back. There. This is a call button here. If you need anything
push it. I'll be looking in every couple of minutes."
I leaned back against the pillow and felt myself drifting off again.
Someone was gently pushing my shoulder and speaking to me. I opened my
eyes and looked around. A man in light blue scrubs was talking to me and
I blinked my eyes.
"Good, you are awake. Hi I'm Dr. Pierce. I'm the chief ER resident. Well
we got most of your information from your aunt so I only have a few
questions. First, how are you feeling?"
"Like shit. I am so tired."
"Well you have the flu, and I mean the real flu not just the virus of
the moment. Also you were pretty dehydrated so we've had you on an IV."
I looked at him and slowly my thoughts jelled.
"I came here by ambulance? I mean I'm in..." I looked down. I was
wearing a hospital gown.
"Oh hell?"
"Now Andrea. I have only a few more questions. First though, yes, we
changed you into a gown and frankly no one here is that concerned or
shocked by what we found. No one is going to go out and publish what we
saw. We are medical types, we keep all kinds of secrets."
"That is not my concern but I need to ask you, before your aunt comes
back, are you on any medications?"
"Dr. Franck prescribed something but I never got it."
"What?"
"An antibiotic."
"That's OK, but not what I need to know. Are you taking any drugs, any
hormones, are you self medicating."
"Oh, no I am not taking anything."
Dr. Pierce gave me a long look with one raised eyebrow. Then he smiled.
"OK. I think you are going to stay overnight but I doubt we have a bed
free, so you'll sleep here. You need to take at least until Monday off.
Don't push it."
"What about school?"
"You need to take at least until Monday. Now just lie back. I will see
if your aunt is back."
The next few days passed in a haze. Bit by bit realizations hit me. Aunt
Clara and Marnie had taken my clothes off and changed me into pajamas.
That means that they saw me naked. People at the hospital had learned
what I was but still referred to me as Andrea or "miss". Lisa called
twice and wanted to come over but Aunt Clara dissuaded her on the
grounds that I needed rest. I realized I was glad she hadn't visited.
I was damned if I was going to just lie in bed and on Tuesday I hauled
myself from under the covers, took a morning shower and dressed for
work. Aunt Clara asked me about ten times if I thought I was ready. I
accepted a ride from her and somehow managed to stay awake through the
day.
Jerry had kept me up to date on the homework assignments so I was more
or less up to speed in class. I took a few more days laying low doing
only what was necessary at work and in class. At home I kept looking at
a piece of paper on my desk.
While sick with the flu, in between sleeping, I spent a lot of time
cruising the web looking at sites devoted to transgendered people. I
also spent a lot of time trying to write an essay describing Andrea
Dade. I never got beyond an outline but that outline was on my desk
staring at me whenever I walked into the room.
The first lines were the scariest.
"Andrea Dade is a 20 year old woman who plans on living by herself. She
is concentrating on her studies and on being admitted to an associate
degree program at the community college and though she once had a lover,
currently she is unattached."
I gritted my teeth and dialed Lisa's number.
"Hi Lisa, yeah. I'm still pretty weak but I'm back at work and school.
Can I come over tomorrow after work. Great, but you have to promise me
something. That's right a promise. OK, when I come in you don't jump on
me and haul me to bed. Yeah I've missed you to but I need my energy for
other things right now. I'll see you about 6:30. Bye love."
I felt hypocritical saying "love" but I wasn't going to tell her I was
walking away over the phone. I knew some people did that but it was too
cold and I liked Lisa. I liked her a lot. For now though Andrea "...once
had a lover, currently she is unattached."
The next call was just as hard. I dialed the number and waited until the
answering machine finished its inanity.
"Hello Dr. Miller, my name this Andrea Dade and Dr. Franck suggested I
call you. I would like to come in and talk to you. My cell phone number
is..."
Aunt Clara was reading in the living room and I came in and sat down.
She looked at me went back to her book, stopped and looked at me again.
"I'm breaking up with Lisa."
"Yes."
"Yes? Isn't there more to say than that?"
"I don't know dear. You don't want to hear this but you are only twenty
and at your age people form connections and then break apart. Can I ask
why you are splitting?"
"I need to concentrate on being Andrea and not some one else's image of
what Andrea should be. I guess it's more than Lisa. It's also you and
Marnie."
I stopped, hoping that Aunt Clara would say something but she just sat
and looked at me.
"I love you Aunt Clara and I love Marnie, but the two of you look at me
as, well as a surrogate daughter. I like it I really do. I never really
was somebody's child. Mom was too scared of my father and tied up in her
own problems. My father viewed me as either a nuisance or a slave. But
as long as I stay here I will never really figure out who I am."
"Andrea, I am glad to hear you say this. Oh it hurts, it really does,
but I told you a while back that you couldn't stay here forever. I told
you I was worried that I would try and run your life."
"I know but it is scary to think about it. I called a therapist Dr.
Franck suggested and I will see if he will talk with me."
"If you need money..."
"Thanks, but I think I'm set. You and Marnie are already paying for my
classes and Marnie pays for the truck. I really need to think about
being independent."
"You are only twenty Andrea. A lot of women of your age are still
completely dependent on their parents."
I signaled Aunt Clara to wait and got the paper from my room. Silently I
scanned down the lines until I came to the one I wanted.
"Andrea is fiercely independent and private. Others might view this as
being cold but she knows she needs time to dedicate to herself."
I looked at Aunt Clara.
"I am not completely sure who Andrea is yet but I know that I am Andrea.
Chapter 5: Not the Book of Love
I had been right in asking Maria to meet me for coffee. She might be a
little shallow, concentrating more on boyfriends and fashions than on
school or her job, but I needed a shoulder to cry on and she was
perfect. I told her about breaking up with Lisa and she told me that at
least I wasn't being dumped. I complained about not really knowing who I
was or what I wanted to be and she handed me a few clich?s.
The thing was she really did sympathize. I knew that Maria was
considered "easy" and had a lot of boyfriends but I also knew she really
wanted to find the "one." We drank coffee and ate cake at the coffee
shop and commiserated with each other. When one of the guys came around,
we chased him off and spent a few hours being two girls enjoying the
melancholy gripes.
"Was Lisa really angry?"
"A bit, more shaken I think. I don't think any one has ever walked away
from her. I think she always did the walking. Oh hell, I really like her
and I want her as a friend but I guess that's screwed up now."
"Who knows, give her a call in a few weeks and suggest doing something
as friends but don't go back to her apartment."
"Maybe. I have to start looking for a place to stay. Maybe I should put
double locks on the door. You want another coffee?"
"Naw. I need to get home anyway. I know you told me you are gay but
Kevin still has the hots for you. Even more so since you told him you
have a girlfriend."
"What is it with men and lesbians?"
Maria laughed "forbidden fruits and dreams of four nipples." She leaned
over, kissed me on the cheek and grabbed her coat. She laughed again,
waved and was gone.
I sat there finishing my coffee and thinking. In two days I would see
Dr. Miller. The next day I would be at the support group. Every day I
was thinking less and less as Andrew within Andrea and more and more as
Andrea. I shrugged. It was late. I put on my parka. Passing a table with
some acquaintances I stopped to say hello and then left before I could
get sucked into a conversation.
Driving home I had to laugh at Maria and also at me. We had indulged in
that kind of thing that men ridiculed. It was the "girls getting
together to complain about love and the male sex". Okay I was
complaining about a woman but I had enjoyed it. It also made me feel
better about splitting with Lisa. I would call her up in a few weeks and
suggest a trip to a museum. For now I concentrated on driving home
safely in a mixture of rain and snow. The last thing I wanted was
another tip to the ER.
"Slacks or a dress, hmmm, maybe the red skirt, no. Let's see I can wear
the brown skirt and the off-white blouse or is that too conservative.
OK, the black slacks and, oh hell it's easier to dress for a dinner out
than this."
After work I was seeing Dr. Miller for the first time and I was fretting
over the image I would present. He only knew that Andrea Dade was coming
in not that there was also Andrew Dade involved. Did I want to emphasize
femininity or just dress nicely but a little conservative? Would one of
my sexier outfits (closely tailored slacks and a tight sweater) send the
wrong message?
In the midst of all the fretting I realized I had pulled on panty hose
and put on a white brassiere. I guessed a decision had somehow been made
and took an off-white blouse from the closet. The material was slightly
shiny but absolutely opaque and combined with the long brown skirt had
an old fashioned feel. I liked the outfit because it was warm and when
the door to MJ's Classic Motors opened a stiff breeze blew under my desk
and in a short skirt that was thrilling to say the least and
uncomfortable to tell the truth.
Work passed slowly and Marnie came out to gossip with Susan and me. The
two talked about spring fashions and vacations. I listened in and
occasionally added a comment. Susan recommended a new restaurant,
Marnie talked about a new jewelry store and time passed. I drifted and
dreamed, answering the occasional phone call and tried to decide if I
looked forward to seeing Dr. Miller or dreaded it.
Walking into Dr. Miller's office I was surprised by how much it did not
look like a Dr.'s office. There were some diplomas on the wall and
medical books on a shelf but it reminded me a lot of my lawyer's office.
Perhaps the only clues were the extra boxes of tissues scattered around,
the stuffed bear on the couch and the large bowl of M&Ms.
We talked back and forth for a few minutes and then Dr. Miller asked me
the question I was anticipating and prepared for.
"Why don't you start by telling me a bit about yourself?"
"OK. About six months ago I ran away from home. I was living with my
father and his slut of the month in a trailer and working for him at his
junk yard. I was abused and used. I don't mean sexually but he did hit
me, never really paid me, he cursed at me and treated me the same way he
did my mother until the day of her death."
"One day I had enough, grabbed the bus to Williston and called my aunt
asking for shelter and help. Now I'm here. I work at a clean job with
decent pay and good benefits. I am taking classes at the community
college and I am appreciated and not abused."
I took a deep breath and smiled at Dr. Miller.
"There is one more very important thing. Until to day I ran from my
father, October 3rd, I was Andrew Dade and now, as you can see, I am
Andrea Dade, and I guess that's the big reason I am here."
Dr. Miller looked at me for a long moment.
"I see we will have a lot to discuss, let's start by my asking some
basic questions. Uh, where does your father live?"
I left the office relieved and amused. Talking with Dr. Miller hadn't
been hard. I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to achieve but I was
certainly willing to give it a try. I was amused however by some of his
"rules". I had to come up with some short term goals to work on with
him. I had to promise to treat the sessions as I would classes, in other
words not skip any. Finally he would occasionally give me assignments.
The last was what made me chuckle. Towards the end of the session he
told me that I should bring in a written description of Andrea next
time. I reached into my shoulder bag, pulled out my outline (which by
now was two pages) and asked "something like this?"
The look on his face was priceless. He skimmed the pages and told me
that I was the first patient who had a description ready and waiting.
"Usually they hem and haw and explain why they can't figure out what to
write. Or they turn in something that is twenty pages long. Can I keep
this?"
While waiting for the truck to warm up I pulled out my cell phone and
called my aunt.
"Hi Aunt Clara. Uh huh. It was good, I'll tell you about it. Yes I'm
about ready to leave. It occurred to me I have never taken you out to
dinner, will you be my guest? I was thinking Indian. No, that means I
pay. OK, I'll be home in about thirty. See you.
Lakshmi is a nice Indian restaurant on Route 122 near Paxton. It was
the first place that I ate Indian food in my life and also the first
place Aunt Clara and Marnie took me to dinner. In a way I viewed it as
an extension of home. Aunt Clara and I sat at a corner table and waited
for our food. Two men in their late twenties looked our way and one of
them smiled. I smiled back and then continued talking to Aunt Clara.
"Do you remember me taking you out to ice cream the first day you
dressed as Andrea?"
"Yes. That was awkward. Marnie had played a joke on you and used me as a
prop. I wasn't sure if you were just going to leave me there."
"Oh you know I'd never do that. No, I was remembering that some boys
gave you a smile and you turned beet red and nearly sunk under the
table."
"Oh. Right. I remember that. I still do blush a lot."
We continued eating and gossiping and it felt good at the end to pull
out my credit card and pay the bill.
"I know I've said this before Aunt Clara, but really want to thank you.
You saved my life by taking me in."
"Oh hush."
"No really. If you weren't there to run to and if you weren't strong
when Carl showed up the first time, I don't think I would have
survived."
"Blow your nose dear you are getting teary eyed. I am glad you came. I
am still not sure that becoming Andrea was a good idea, no, shush and
listen to me. I am still not sure as I said but you are doing well. I
also must confess that your being here has helped me and Marnie. I think
she understands that at 48 I am not the person I was at 38 and can be
trusted. Oh Lord I hope so."
"Do you think she will move in with you?"
"I plan to ask her soon."
"I hope it works out Aunt Clara. On the subject of moving do you have a
broker you trust I can use to find an apartment or should I just go
through the papers?"
We both knew I had to move out on my own and even if it was hard to
discuss we talked about it. Aunt Clara suggested a couple of landlords
to approach directly and I reminded her about my finances and wanting to
be near the college.
I waited until two weeks had passed since I broke with Lisa and then
gave her a call during my lunch break. I had this image in my head. I
would say "hi" we stumble awkwardly for a bit then I'd ask her if she
wanted to go to the art museum in Williamstown. She'd tell me she missed
me and we would agree to get together the following Sunday.
It didn't work that way. Lisa let me know how much I had hurt her. She
told me plainly that if I was so uncomfortable being myself or felt that
she was "oversexed" I could wait until I had grown up and then find some
one else. Then she said she was moving on and the phone clicked and went
dead.
I sat there stunned. I was too numb to cry and just went back to my desk
and worked the rest of the afternoon. I had class that evening and when
it was done Jerry came over.
"You OK?"
"What? Yes. It's just some family stuff."
"Can I buy you some coffee?"
We sat in Starbucks and Jerry talked. This time he asked questions about
me. I was still numb and mumbled responses including saying I had broken
up with someone recently and that was why I so down. It didn't occur to
me that there was a subplot to Jerry's interest and we parted as we
always did with waves and "see yas".
I suppose that I should not have been surprised when two days later
Jerry called me and asked if I wanted to go out for dinner. Then the
penny dropped and I thought back over a couple of times at Starbucks,
talks in the hall after class and me leaning forward, giving him a big
smile and saying "Hey archery sounds interesting. Do you think you could
show me, some time."
I asked him to wait for a second. Then I thought about Lisa. Fine, she
was moving on, well so was I, but I'd be honest about it, or at least as
much as I could.
"Sure, dinner sounds great, just as long as you keep repeating this is
not a date, this is not a date."
Jerry laughed. "I'll try."
Again is became an issue of how to dress. The last thing I wanted to do
was wear anything that said "come on big boy" at the same time I had
grown to really like dressing nicely. I decided to take a bit of a
chance and wore closely tailored grey slacks, a black camisole and a
white blouse that I could unbutton a bit if I felt daring. I brought a
pair of two inch heels to work with me though I wore sensible flats for
driving.
It seemed to me that I had chosen a nice middle ground between drab and
sexy and settled down at my desk to answer phones and file. I walked
over to a car to put some more information brochures out and passed
Marnie. She looked me up and down.
"So who are you planning on seducing?"
"What? I am not planning on, oh Ms. Jarman give me a break. I chose this
outfit to look nice and deliberately not as a come on."
Marnie took me by the elbow and led me to her office. She closed the
door and pushed me onto the couch.
"Andrea, that outfit shouts "hey pay attention to me". You may not have
planned it but think about it for a moment. Remember I look at women
with a special eye. Right? Okay then. Those slacks show off your cute
little tush. The camisole allows your breasts to move a bit and without
a brassiere the forms are free to wave nipples in the breeze as it
were."
"Christ Marnie..."
"No really. You are very attractive. You are showing off your assets
which is your length and, shall we say perkiness."
"Damn. Marnie I am going out to dinner with a guy. I told him up front
this is not a date and in fact I'm going to tell him I'm a lesbian. I
was trying to dress to say that I might be good looking but I am not
hunting for man."
"Well if you are not hunting then take an elephant gun for defense. He'd
have to be dead not to be attracted. Take it easy Andrea. Just be up
front with him, tell him early in the evening, offer to split the bill
at the end and maybe you'll make a good friend.
So we sat in the restaurant and before Jerry could get beyond the "How
nice you look" platitudes, I jumped into the deep end.
"Jerry before we go any further and you lean over far enough to burn
your nose on the candle I have to tell you something. I really like you
but it is only going to be as a friend. I'm a lesbian and the person I
broke up with is named Lisa. I want to get to know you better because
you are fun, considerate and, hey I admit it, good looking, but it's
just friends."
I held my breath. Jerry was looking at me with wide eyes.
"You are gay?"
"As the queen of spades."
"Oh."
"Sorry Jerry. That's why I said this wasn't a date. I like you. Oh I
said that. You haven't been like, I mean, you..."
"Yeah I had some thoughts. Oh well, here's to shattered dreams and maybe
a friendship. I'll still take you to the range and show you how to
shoot."
"Oh good (and then I couldn't help myself) are there any cute girls
there? Hey I'm just kidding. At this moment a relationship is the last
thing I want. Pass the bread please."
Chapter 6: Home
I leaned against the wall and wiped the sweat off my face. Jerry was
sitting on the couch and Maria was doing something in the kitchen
alcove. Marnie and Aunt Clara had run off to purchase some cleaning
supplies. I was almost moved in and totally exhausted. The past couple
of days had been spent finding a bed, a table and chairs, more chairs,
and dishes. Aunt Clara and I visited every used furniture store and
consignment shop in a twenty mile radius and I had graciously managed to
avoid being the recipient of every piece of furniture that she and
Marnie didn't want any more.
The most amazing thing was that Aunt Clara had decided that we needed
all of Sunday to complete the move and didn't insist on going to church.
The day before, Paul and his son helped us carry the bed, mattress, a
dresser and a couch up the three flights of stairs. Today Jerry and
Maria helped finish the job.
Maria came in and plopped down on the area rug in front of the couch.
"Whew I am exhausted. Do you know that you have five different patterns
of plates, bowls and cups in there?"
"Uh huh. I like to think of this place as an eclectic collection of cast
offs."
Jerry laughed and chatted with Maria as I straightened out some books. I
looked around at my new home. It was a very small two room apartment. I
estimated it was about 390 square feet. The kitchen was an alcove off
the living/dining room. It was on the third floor with no elevator. The
building was old and one of the two windows was taken over by an air
conditioner, but it was mine. It was perfect. I could drive to work in
five minutes, to the college in fifteen. Best of all, it had its own
parking lot and the spaces were allotted so I knew I would always have a
place off the street.
"Hey Andrea snap out of it."
"What?"
"We asked if you wanted to go out to dinner."
"Let's see what Marnie and Aunt Clara are up to."
We wasted time gossiping and then, when it became clear that Marnie and
Aunt Clara wanted some time alone, we found a local pizzeria and
indulged in cheese, sausage, soda and talk until I begged off, claiming
exhaustion, and walked back to my place.
I undressed and showered. The shower stall was small with a worn tile
floor. After living at Aunt Clara's I was going to have to get used to
less space. I brushed my teeth and hair and pulled on panties and a
nightgown. I grabbed my robe and went back out to the main room to sit
on the couch and think.
I couldn't help but think about Lisa. I knew that if she were here she
would be pulling off my nightgown and wrestling me to the ground but in
my fantasies we were cuddling on the couch slowly easing each other's
clothing off, playing, teasing, and maybe even merging into one if the
mood was right.
I shook myself back to reality. It was almost eleven. We sat at the
pizzeria for almost three hours. I turned off the lights and wondering
if I would be able to sleep this first night in a new place passed out
cold and slept until the alarm went off.
"OK Dr. Franck. I am seeing a therapist, I am going to a support group
and I am living alone as a woman. I really want to start with hormones."
I was on the phone with Dr. Franck and she was again hemming and hawing
about hormone therapy. I had a trump card but I did not want to play it.
Dr. Miller could refer me to an endocrinologist. I liked Dr. Franck so I
wanted to work through her.
"OK Andrea. I'll refer you to Dr. Herald. I want to see you in six
months however. You'll get a referral slip with her number in a few
days. I am still not sure about this but I trust you to stick with Dr.
Miller. Say hello to Marnie."
I walked back into MJ's Classic Motors. I had stepped outside to take
the call. Susan was covering the desk and stood up to let me take my
seat. I smiled, thanked her and went back to my stack of papers. The job
was mindless and I thought about something Dr. Miller and I had
discussed.
"I just don't know. Half the time I am gung-ho about being a woman and
absolutely know it is the right thing to do because there is a woman
inside of me demanding to be free. The rest of the time I wonder if I
want to be a woman because I want to be everything that is the opposite
of my father."
"How will you decide what is right?"
"Oh I know what is right. I am Andrea. I just don't know why. Is that
important."
"It could be Andrea. If you make the right choice for the wrong reasons
it is no big deal. You can work out the whys later. But making the wrong
choice not only leads to practical complications but many people beat
themselves up with the "what ifs" and the "how could Is".
A customer walked in and I raised my head. Neither Paul nor Marnie were
in the showroom so I stood up and walked towards her getting ready to
make my standard greeting. Halfway there I almost stumbled. The woman
was in her early thirties and with out doubt the most beautiful woman I
have ever seen.
"Welcome to MJ's Classic Motors. Can I help you?"
I managed to get the words out while staring at this goddess. She was a
little shorter than me with jet black hair a deep, dark eyes. The
conservative business suit did nothing to hide a high and large bust and
her small waist flared to nice hips.
She smiled back and I couldn't help but think she knew the effect she
had on people.
"Yes, can someone help me? I saw the advertisement for a Jaguar E-type
on your web site."
I stuttered a bit, pointed out the car to her and found Paul who went
to play the salesman. Back at my desk I occasionally would look up and
admire the woman. Once she turned and saw me looking and gave me a
smile. I blushed, looked down and felt my heart pound.
When she left, Paul came over to drop some papers on my desk.
"Well that will be a sale I am sure. Nice woman. Knows her cars, her
father used to drive one a lot like that Jag."
"Yes, she's really pretty."
"Pretty nothing, that woman is stunning and her husband told her to go
and find the car of her dreams, the lucky guy."
Paul shook his head as if to clear away a dream and wandered off. As I
put papers in order I daydreamed about the woman. I would bring her up
to my little flat and we would kiss in the doorway. She would kick off
her shoes and wrap her arms around me and I would feel her breasts
pushing against mine.
I stopped. I replayed the fantasy in my head. Yes, even when I
daydreamed about sex with beautiful women I was Andrea. In my daydreams
I never worried about someone discovering I had a penis. In fact, as I
thought about it, in my daydreams sex never got that far except with
Lisa. I made a mental note to bring this up with Dr. Miller and got back
to sorting and filing.
Dr. Herald took some blood and urine, pushed and prodded my neck,
armpits and groin and then pushed and prodded my brain. Then she talked
about side effects and things to watch for. Finally she told me that
after the test results were in she would either send me a prescription
for hormones or else call me in to talk further. Then she went over all
the potential problems involved in hormone therapy a second time and
sent me on my way.
It is strange. Within a minute of meeting Dr. Franck I knew I liked her.
Within a minute of meeting Dr. Herald I knew that while I could work
with her it would never be a friendly relationship. In both cases I knew
nothing about the doctor when I reached that decision; it was as if I
could smell something. It didn't matter though. Dr. Herald made it clear
she would prescribe hormones as long as nothing problematic showed up in
the tests.
My cell phone rang on the way home and Maria asked if I wanted to join
Jerry and her bowling. I agreed and headed home. Then it struck; Jerry
and Maria. For a moment I couldn't identify the feeling then I did.
Damn, I was jealous. I couldn't allow myself to be. After all wasn't I a
lesbian and Jerry a guy. Didn't I tell him that I wasn't going to date
him? Oh hell and corruption.
I wanted to call back and say I couldn't make it but I needed to get out
and do something. I was done with my class work and didn't need to
study. I had no book that had to be read and Aunt Clara was off to New
York. I changed out of my work clothing and decided to dress, as Marnie
would say, to hunt.
I started by pulling on a very tight pair of support panties that kept
me well tucked in. I followed that with a skin tight dark blue halter
top. The lace of my brassiere showed through the material but that was
OK. Tight jeans and a loose blouse tied at the waist rather than
buttoned completed the outfit.
It was still slushy outdoors though most of the snow had melted but I
decided to go with some black heels rather than be sensible and wear
sneakers or boots. I smiled as I looked in the mirror.
"Damn girl (I heard Lisa in the back of my head) you look hot tonight."
I didn't really. I was too skinny and my face too angular and my jaw too
strong to really look hot but I didn't look bad and the way I was
dressed was a signal. I was saying "Look here. If you are right for me,
and I'll do the choosing, then maybe, just maybe, you and I can have
some fun."
Now let it be known far and wide that I am a terrible bowler. We played
two games and I scored 72 and 63. Maria was a little better and Jerry,
who brought his own ball and shoes threw a 178 and a 184.
We had a great time. It was fun watching Jerry move in on Maria and fun
watching Maria play the game of flirting. I hoped that they clicked and
felt a bit like a third wheel on a bicycle. I was about to excuse mys