I arrived at the fire station bright and early to start my first tour of duty since completing my training. I had always wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps as a firefighter for as long as I could remember., putting it aside as I went to university to get my degree in English and History. Unfortunately Dad had recently passed away, but I know that he would have been proud to see me following in his footsteps.

I had my doubts as to whether I would be accepted for training as I did not fit the image of the big muscular rugged looking guy that people imagine a firefighter to be, in fact I was exactly the opposite, small (5’6”), slim and wiry (130 lbs) and had never been particularly athletic looking. When I turned up for the assessment session, I couldn’t mistake the look the instructors gave me as if to say “I wonder how long he will last before we ditch him as unsuitable.”

I was surprised that there was no minimum size, as long as you passed all the physical tests, which are to the same standard no matter what your physique you were considered fit to serve. I soon proved them wrong passing all the physical tests, outdoing many of the other applicants who fitted the macho image a lot more closely than I did, before going through the 12 week safety and operation training course, which I passed with flying colours.

I was greeted as I entered the station with a voice from the past, Jack Coulson, a classmate from my school days who I had never been particular friendly with. “Hi Titch, I never expected to see you turn up here, you never seemed the type, you were always the little weedy wimp.”

“You know fine well that my name is Jay, and that I never liked being called Titch. Let’s keep it as Jay.”

We were interrupted by the Watch Manager Harry Sutcliffe. “That’s enough Butch, you can catch up later, please come with me Jay.”

“Welcome to the station, until we get to know you better and what your capabilities are you will be on support duties, going out with the watch but keeping away from hazardous situations, We work a buddy system where you are paired up with a partner and normally follow in their footsteps carrying out their duties with them, watching each others backs, We have recently lost one of our watch, Chloe Grover, so you will be paired with her buddy Sally Cartwright, who is known to the rest of the team as Annie. Let me introduce you to her and she can show you the ropes.”

“Pleased to meet you Sally, I’m Jay ,I look forward to working with you.”

“Call me Annie, everybody else in the station does.”

“Why, what’s wrong with Sally?”

“It’s a bit of the boys’-club humour, everyone has a nickname, you’ve already met Butch. He likes to think that he is the big macho alpha-male, but between you and me, I’ve heard from some of the girls that I know that he is anything but, in bed if you know what I mean. I once stupidly mentioned that I was raised for a lot of my early years in a children’s home before being adopted and the level of their humour is that I became Orphan Annie. I hate it but the more I moan about it, the more they joke about it. Right let’s get you kitted out with your station wear and turnout uniform.”

In the stores she looked through the racks of kit and turned me with a frown. “It looks like they only have kit in sizes that are far to big for you, we’ll have to order in some smaller kit for you, but you need something immediately in case we get called out to an incident. I have a suggestion but you probably will not like it. You are about the same size as Chloe, who you are replacing as my buddy, her kit is still in her locker. Come with me and try it on, it’s hardly any different to the men’s kit, just in smaller sizes.”

I followed her and suddenly realised that I was in the female changing room.

“Should I be in here, what if someone else comes in?”

“Don’t worry, I am the only woman at the station, the guys tell each other that Chloe and. I were only here as the token females so that the station meets diversity quotas. It gets on my nerves, but there is not a lot I can do about it. Try on the uniform and see what you think.”

“As you said, the trousers and shirt are really no different to what the men wear. OK the buttons are on the opposite sides, the trousers are a bit snug at the waist, the backside a bit roomy, and the zip a lot shorter, but other than that they are fine, and the turnout uniform is standard. They’ll all do for the time-being. Let’s go out and you can introduce me to the rest of the watch.”

As we left the changing room, we unfortunately bumped into ‘Butch’ lounging by the door to the main rest room.

“What have we here then Titch, using the girls’ room and I see you are wearing Chloe’s old uniform, it still has her name tag on. Maybe Titch is the wrong nickname for you, I reckon that it should be Molly, you know Orphan Annie’s best friend, that’s what we used to call her old buddy.”

“If we’re talking nicknames maybe Butch is not appropriate, from what I’ve heard of your reputation about town maybe ‘Little Willy’ is more appropriate.” I instantly replied which sent most of the rest of the guys into hysterics.

He went purple with rage and I was sure that he was going to attack me, but Harry Sutcliffe came over and grabbed his wrist. “That’s enough Coulson, I’ve told you before if you can’t take it don’t dish it out. Go and check the Tender to make sure that it is ready for a call-out and only come back when you have calmed down. If I hear any more nonsense between you and Murray, you will be suspended while I review whether you are fit to be on the watch.”

For the rest of the guys it seemed that I had passed some sort of initiation test and one-by-one they all came over to shake my hand and welcome me to the station.

We didn’t get a chance to talk much further as the call-out alarm went, we all grabbed our turnout gear and climbed into the tender to get kitted up for action as we were being driven to the incident, we now had other priorities rather than petty personal squabbles.

I soon found out that Sally and Chloe had been very much kept out of the main action. “Annie, Molly, you get the hoses connected to the nearest hydrants.” Watch Manager Sutcliffe barked out, going into action mode rather than the more casual atmosphere in the rest room. Luckily it was only a minor fire in a small industrial unit which was soon under control and we were soon back at the station.

“Apologies for calling you Molly out there Jay, it was just automatic with the adrenaline going, I’m so used to Sally and Chloe doing those duties. Harry said as we relaxed afterwards..

“No worries, you didn’t mean it nastily like Butch did, speed is of the essence when on a call and if it gets things done quicker, it doesn’t bother me, in fact I probably prefer it to being called Titch, if I have to have a nickname.

The next morning when I come on shift I was met by Annie. “Come with me.” She said dragging me into the female locker room. Overnight someone had changed the label on the locker to ‘Molly Murray.”

It looks like you’re here to stay buddy, as far as the guys are concerned you are now Molly, unless it upsets you just ignore it. I am comfortable with you being in here if you don’t mind, but it does mean that both of us are seen as the girls’ team in the crew and you will be treated as such.”

For the next few days there was an uneasy truce between Butch and me, barely speaking to each other, except when we were out on a call, when professionalism took over from personal concerns. The rest of the crew soon got used to me being around and except when I was with Sally, they just accepted me as one of the guys, but when Sally was around we were definitely treated as the girls’ team.

The following Monday as I went in to get changed into my station wear Sally handed me a parcel. “Your new kit has arrived, get yourself changed, I’ll pop out for a few minutes to give you a bit of privacy.”

I opened up the parcel but was dismayed to se that it was another female set of kit, someone had obviously seen my name and my sizes and assumed that I was female. However it was no different to the one I had inherited from Chloe, except that the trousers fitted a lot more snugly.

Sally giggled when she came back and saw me in my new kit. “It looks like you are now on record as female, get it changed if you want, but that outfit fits you well you may as well just keep it. Let’s check the order to see why it went wrong. According to the form the female kit was ordered, but I know that I definitely ticked the male box, somebody must have altered it. ”

”I wonder who that could be, but I’d put my bet on Butch. Never mind , if that’s the way he wants to play it, I’ll not give him the satisfaction of starting an argument, I’m just going out there as if nothing is wrong, and get my own back on him when I get the chance.”

“Hey, I like your new uniform Molly, it suits you, fits like it was made for you.” Butch smirked when we went into the rest room.” confirming to me that it was him that had altered the form, but nobody else made any comment.

Over the following weeks I settled in with the watch and Sally and I were soon treated out at incidents exactly the same as the rest of the team, carrying out the same duties and taking the same risks. Back at the station Butch continued to be a pain in the neck, making snide comments about the girls on the watch. The last straw was one day when at the end of shift, I went back to change into my own clothes and found that they had been changed in my locker to a skirt blouson and blouse, along with a matching bra and pantie set, tights, handbag and wedge heeled shoes. He had gone too far this time.

“This is getting ridiculous Sally, I suppose that I will have to go home in my station-wear, although we aren’t supposed to be out in public off-duty in uniform.”

“Call his bluff, put on the clothes he has left, I’ll do you a bit of makeup and do something with your hair.”

“But what will the lads think? It’s bad enough Butch treating me like a woman, the others know that he is being a pain, but if they see me dressed up, they are all going to think the same as him.”

“Don’t worry about them, I’ll let any that are still around know what’s happening, they’ll be alright and treat it as a bit of fun.”

A short while later, fully dressed and, with a bit of mascara and lipstick and with my hair brushed into as near a short feminine pixie cut as Sally could manage, I picked up the shoulder bag that I had filled with my wallet keys and things and we walked out together, with me never having felt more embarrassed.

“Hey, I see we have got the real you at last Molly.” Butch was the first to react, turning to the others expecting them to join in with his laughter, but he was met with a stony silence.

“‘You’re looking good Molly, take no notice of that idiot, Annie told us what Butch had done and you won’t get any comments from the rest of us.” Mac, one of the older crew members, immediately commented, brushing past Butch and pushing him out of the way. “You had better clear off Butch before we strip you naked and tie you to a lamppost where the world can see if Molly’s nickname for you, ‘Little Willy’ is appropriate.”

“Thanks for that Mac. I just got dressed like this to prove to Butch that I don’t care what he does to try to belittle me I am not going to let him drive me to the point of quitting. You’ll see me back in my own clothes tomorrow.”

“No worries Molly, but while you are all dressed up, why don’t you and Annie come for a drink with a few of us that are going to the pub for a quick one.” Dai offered. “Obviously the treat is on us, we have to look after our girl team don’t we?”

“Go and sit down girls we’ll get the drinks in, is it halves for you or would you prefer white wine spritzers?”

“The usual spritzer for me please.” Sally quickly replied. “I had better have the same Dai.” I followed her lead and she gave me a wink to show that it was the right choice.

We had a pleasant hour with the guys, chatting about the incidents we had attended earlier in the day, and no further mention was made of the way I looked.

As we left it was a case of “see you tomorrow girls” as Sally and I left to go to our cars.

“Why not come back with me for a coffee Jay, you can tell me what you thought about your first trip out dressed as a girl.”

‘Thanks Sally, but despite putting on a brave face I feel weird dressed in the skirt and blouse, and don’t want my neighbours to see me dressed like this when I get home. Have you at least got any trousers and a plain jumper that will fit me.”

“Sure, but I must say that once you faced the guys and relaxed over the drink in the pub that you just looked like another girl alongside me out with some of our guy work colleagues. Let me see what I can find for you.”

“There’s some jeans and a neutral top for you. I’ve put a few bits and pieces in your bag in case you decide to face up to the guys tomorrow as a girl again to show Butch that he hasn’t won. You’ll still need the bag to get home as your wallet keys and stuff won’t fit in the jeans pocket. Since Chloe left, I have felt a bit like a fish out of water with the guys in the watch, but at least with them all calling you Molly, although I know that you are Jay, I don’t feel so alone in there.”

I changed into the jeans and top, put the skirt blouse and bra into a carrier bag with the other clothes, picked up my shoulder bag and left for home after a goodbye hug from Sally. It was just as well that I had changed into trousers, one of my neighbours was putting her bins out for collection and shouted a cheery hello.

I didn’t sleep well that night, disturbed by dreams about dressing as Molly and thinking about what Sally had said about with me being around not feeling so alone since Chloe had left. As I woke up to get ready and dressed I realised that I hadn’t cleaned off the makeup from yesterday, and decided to have a look to see what Sally had given me. As well as the clothes that Butch had left for me, the jeans and top that I had worn home, there was now also a denim skirt, a plain blue A-line skirt, three tops, a hair fall, one makeup box, mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick.

I wasn’t sure if she was having a joke with me but decided to go along with it. The makeup only needed a quick refresh, the fall clipped into place and I was soon ready and dressed in the jeans, a sweetheart neck top, with the bra underneath suitably padded out. After a light breakfast I put on the blouson, picked up my bag, now filled with my phone, keys, wallet, and a few bits and pieces, warily looked out of the door to check the coast was clear, got in my car and set off for work.

Taking a deep breath and with my head held high, I entered the station and getting a few funny looks from some of the guys, headed for the locker room, where Sally was already half stripped getting into her station wear. She hardly seemed to notice anything unusual and showed no embarrassment about being half-dressed in just her bra and panties in front of me.

“Morning Molly, I like the outfit it’s a good choice. I realise that you are playing a game and wanted to come in dressed, but the breasts might be a bit much for the guys, I really suggest that you remove the fall bra and padding and clean off the makeup while you are on shift.”

“Sorry for barging in on you while you are changing, I’ll knock on the door in future.”

“Don't be silly, there’s no need for that, I told you that I am not bothered about you being here while I am changing, it never bothered me when Chloe was here why should it worry me now?”

I was soon looking my normal self again and when we went out into the rest room luckily Butch was not there and nothing was said.

After a relaxing call-free morning we had an emergency alarm and were briefed while were getting into our turnout gear and being driven to the incident.

“There’s a major fire at a large industrial complex, a pharmaceutical works. There are already two crews in attendance and another two on the way. The fire is being contained by the other crews, our role is to check through the warehouse for anybody trapped or injured.”

“I know that you two want to be involved as much as the guys, but we need somebody to stay out of the building to act as backup if anything goes wrong, and respond in an emergency, keep your walkie-talkies open and listen for any calls for assistance.” Watch Manager Sutcliffe pointed at us, once more the ‘girls team’ were being kept out of the dangerous situations. I was beginning to get frustrated, both at being considered part of the ‘girls team’ during call-outs, but also that Sally and I were not being allowed to carry out all the duties that we were trained and qualified to do and were being over-protected by the guys who then all donned their face masks and breathing apparatus and rushed headlong into the warehouse area.

As the guys gradually came out of the building one-by-one with their areas cleared and any personnel safely evacuated and were all taking a few minutes well earned rest, the noise of an almighty crash and a loud scream came over the walkie talkie. Determined to do my share of the hazardous work I ran to the warehouse and started looking around for what had happened.

I soon saw a foot and leg sticking out from under a section of overhead gantry walkway that had collapsed and fallen under the effects of the heat and quickly recognised that it was Butch Coulson and that his leg was badly injured. I scrambled to remove the section of gantry to free him. I was just managing to get him up on his feet when one of the nearby silos split having been damaged by the falling gantry, and we were both showered in a cloud of dust which obscured my vision and made breathing difficult. We had just moved from where Butch had been trapped when there was another heavy crash as a huge section of the gantry tumbled down throwing up another cloud of dust, but at least we had escaped being killed of badly injured by the wreckage As I could only see a couple of feet in front of us, it was several minutes before we got back out into the fresh air, and I let the paramedics deal with Butch.

“Well done for getting him out of there Molly, but it was stupid going in without your mask and breathing apparatus, you could easily have been overcome by the smoke and fumes, don’t ever do that again.” WM Sutcliffe both praised and admonished me in one sentence. “There’s an emergency shower over there, go and rinse off your hard suit and wash your exposed skin, you never know what that dust is.”

Back at the station after I changed out of the turnout suit, had a thorough shower and donned my station wear, I went out into the rest room to be met with a round of applause.

“Well done Molly, our hero of the day.” Mac greeted me. “After what he has put you through you could easily have left Butch to his fate and walked away, but you chose not to and put your life on the line for him. No matter how slight you are, you are a bigger man than he is. At the end of the shift you are coming out with all of us to celebrate, if you don’t get a bravery award for what you did today, there is no justice in the system.”

I was looking forward to finally being accepted as an equal member of the watch, until I got back to the locker room with Sally and remembered that I had arrived wearing girl’s clothes.

“Damn it Sally I only have the clothes that you gave me, what will the guys think if I go out with them dressed as a girl for the second time.”

“For what you did today Jay, you could go out with them naked gripping a red rose between your teeth, the guys won’t care if you just put on the clothes you arrived in, even the bra and boobs, and redo your makeup. The guys won’t mind going out with Molly, just let them have their fun.”

“Come on girls, why does it always take you so long to get ready, we could have had the drinks in by now.” was the only reaction I got from them.

A few day’s later I found that Harry Sutcliffe had put my name forward for a gallantry award and the guys all congratulated me making me feel me feel so proud.

Attitudes changed and Sally and I were now treated no differently to the guys going into hazardous situations fighting fires along with the rest of the watch and everything was going smoothly until one morning Sally was staring at me as I pulled on my shirt.

“Jay, take your top off again, don’t ask why, just do as you are told.” he said poking me in the chest after I had stripped. Have you not noticed that you are developing breasts? I thought that I saw little bumps under that tee-shirt, but now I am certain, you are just like a young girl going through puberty..”

“Don’t be silly, it’s just bit of flab.”

“Jay, I know what I am seeing, I’ve been there myself. You really need to go and get examined by the medics.”

A week later I was at regional headquarters being prodded poked and bled by Dr James Dalgliesh, the regional doctor for the fire service.

“You are definitely developing breast tissue and your areolae and nipples are swelling, are you taking any drugs or vitamins.”

“Definitely not.”

“Any other symptoms, trouble with erections, not shaving so often, weight loss or fat redistribution or anything like that?”

“Now that you mention it probably most of those things, but I never really gave it much thought.”

“Let’s get your blood samples sent off, I’ll get them rushed through the checks, come back and see me in seven days.”

When I returned a week later he had the results of the tests in front of him.

I’ve had my suspicions when you first came in and have been making some enquiries with your Watch Manager. We have found thatour body is awash with female hormones which are slowly feminising you. From my enquiries it seems that the pharmaceutical works where you attended an incident a while ago produce amongst other things oestrogen for birth control and hormone replacement pills. The silo that cracked showering you with dust was full of highly-concentrated female hormone. You were in that atmosphere for several minutes without a mask breathing in the dust, and your body has meantime absorbed all those chemicals. Other than a DNA check, all your blood tests are what I would expect from a female. I would like to give you a physical examination again, please strip off for me.”

For the next hour I was prodded poked weighed and measured, until the Dr Dalgliesh was satisfied.

“Even in the few days since your last examination, your breasts have grown, your waist is slimmer your backside is plumper., and your musculature seems slimmer, I have to tell you that your body is taking on more and more female characteristics.

“What? Are you suggesting that I am turning into a woman.”

“At the moment that is what I am saying, but I need to speak to a specialist endocrinologist to determine the best course of treatment for you. Otherwise you are perfectly fit and can continue with your duties if you wish. I suggest that you speak to your manager to decide whether it would be too embarrassing for you or your colleagues to continue on duty and decide what to do until we can sort something out.”

Totally confused I called Sally to go round to have a chat with her before contacting Harry Sutcliffe. She was really upset for me when I told her what the doctor had said and that I was not looking forward to my condition being made public.

“No need to be embarrassed Jay, you have suffered an industrial injury, and I can’t think of another phrase to use, in the line of duty. You should treated with the same sympathy and understanding as if you had broken an arm or legs or suffered from lung problems from smoke inhalation. Leaving that aside how do you really feel?”

“No disrespect meant Sally, but I am a man, and have no intention of becoming a woman. I know that the guys all call me Molly and that they have seen me a couple of times in women’s clothes, but that is not really me, I just hope that the doctors can reverse the effects of all this.”

“Meantime you have to live with where you are at. Your breasts are getting to the size where you need the support of a bra, that first one you were given by Butch is not the right size, let me measure you up and we’’ll go out and get you some proper-fitting ones.”

“No Sally I can’t it would be too embarrassing, my body might be changing but my mind is still definitely male, I will be uncomfortable browsing through racks of bras. Besides I wouldn’t know what I was looking at, please just go out and get me something that you think is suitable.”

She returned after a while and presented me with a pack of plain cotton 38B bras. “I picked the plainest least fancy ones they had, try one and I’ll show you how to adjust it for correct comfort and support. There you are how does that feel?”

“It feels fine but it really pushes up the flesh and makes me look even bigger.”

“For us girls that is one of the reasons to choose the ones we do, sexy feel comes second, comfort comes third. I think that looks ok, put your shirt back on and see what you think.”

“There will be no hiding these from the guys or indeed from anyone else, what will people think?”

“You have two choices, either look like a man with breasts, or look like any other woman, you can’t hide the fact that they are there.”

“I can’t just turn up at work like this, can you go in and have a chat with Harry Sutcliffe and ask him what he thinks is the best way to deal with this?”

“Ok, if that’s what you want. Go home, you should not be too obvious with that coat you are wearing. I’ll have a word with him first thing and then give you a call, or better still call at your house at the end of my shift.”

All day, waiting for Sally to come back to let me know what had been agreed, I was brooding about what was happening to me. Every time I passed a mirror I was staring at the reflection of my prominent breasts, even though I was wearing a loose shirt they were still patently obvious.”

When Sally came to the door she was not alone, she had brought Harry with her. When he entered at first he said nothing just gazing in disbelief at my chest.

“Eyes upwards Harry! I didn’t know you were coming or I would have worn something looser and less obvious.”

“Sorry, Jay, although Sally told me about what was happening to you I didn’t realise the extent.”

“Sit down, I’ll get coffees and we can have a chat. Ok Harry tell me the worst.”

“Actually at the moment there is no bad news, in fact exactly the opposite. After Sally filled me in with the details it confirmed something that was at the back of my mind when I had a call from the doctor asking if you had been in any hazardous toxic situations recently. After the fire and seeing the state you were in, all covered in chemical dust the whole site was treated as hazardous and cordoned off while an initial investigation was taking place. Luckily the investigators were all in serious Hazmat suits with respirators and no one else seems to have been affected by the spillage except you. Even Butch is showing no effects like you, he was wearing his face mask and respirator which appears to have protected him. However you were exposed to it, breathing it in for several minutes, while you were getting Butch to safety.”

“I suppose that is good news, although it doesn’t help me, how is Butch by the way?”

“He’ll be ok both his legs were broken and he will be off work for some time, but I’m told that he should make a full recovery given time. He has asked to see you to thank you for saving his life, he can’t express how grateful he is that you put your life on the line to save his, and sends his apologies for the way he has been treating you.”

“What is my situation, am I allowed to come back to work?”

“I’ve had a discussion with the doctor and apart from the obvious he said you are otherwise fully fit and are cleared to return if that is what you wish. I know that you will be embarrassed to talk about your situation and will be worried about what the other guys on the watch will think of you and the changes you are going through. Apologies for not discussing it with you first, but I, with the help of Sally, explained the situation and everyone of them is looking forward to you rejoining us, no matter what is happening to you, you are a valuable member of the watch. On watch your uniform is no different to anyone else’s, but how you dress off-duty is up to you and nobody will think any the less if you if you accept the changes that are happening and want to present yourself as a female. I’m sure that Sally will help you all she can if that is what you want to choose. “

“Give me a few days to think it over, but one way or another I’ll be back at work next week.”

“One final thing and I’ll leave you in peace to talk things through with Sally. I have had a talk with your union rep and he is putting in a claim for an industrial injury for you. If you come back to work it will make no difference to the size of the award which I am told from previous cases of firefighters affected by chemical attack will be extensive and almost automatically awarded. I look forward to seeing you next week.”

“Have you had any thoughts about how you want to appear in public, you can’t hide away in here. You promised Harry that you would be returning to work next week and whatever you decide you need to adjust to it quite quickly.” Sally asked me after Harry had left.

“If I decide that it might be more convenient all round, and it’s still a big if, do you think that I could be made to look realistic and presentable as a woman?”

“I’ll be honest with you. As well as your short slim physique and the breasts, you are not nearly as muscular as you were, your waist and bum are becoming much more femininely shaped, and your skin is much softer than it used to be, the hormones have definitely get a huge grip on you. Even without the clothes and a more feminine hairstyle you are already looking more like a woman than a man. If we can get something done with your hair, and apply a bit of makeup, you will look no different to any other woman, and will easily pass as one. You are not on your own with this, I will help you transform yourself as much as I can, and Harry told you that if you want to appear at work as a female that will not present a problem, why not give it a try?’

To be continued