No-one doubted that Leif was ready for the testing, and would prove worthy to join the company of men.

No-one but Leif.

I took a deep breath to stop my heart from fluttering at the sight of the girl in front of me. Long, shapely legs encased in glossy translucent tights emerged from a tiny, almost skin-tight black skirt. Her curvaceous chest was covered by a thin light grey t-shirt, and tiny flats with delicate bows covered her feet. Her make-up was immaculate, with her face free from any blemishes, her eyebrows shaped to perfection and her mouth enhanced by nude matte lipstick and lipliner.

The only plane I had ever been on was a Tiger Moth, on a twenty- minute joyride out of Shoreham, which was only an airfield, not a proper airport.

It didn’t make me feel like Phineas Fogg, more like a descendant of Biggles or the Red Baron. Besides, I was just a kid when I had that first flight.

Photo by Andrew Gaines on Unsplash

1 - Home Sweet Home

I 'celebrated' my fifty-fifth birthday in Savannah Georgia, all alone in a motel room. Being there wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it meant I was employed. That was actually a good thing; you see I am, or was, an engineer and industrial programmer. That means I sat at a computer and designed things like assembly lines or machines that built things, then wrote the programming. Once that was done I drove mile after mile to fix problems that the came up when the machine was actually installed. I got paid pretty good money for doing that and I loved the work, but it could get lonely.

Chloe O’Neil took a foolish risk without thinking. A common mistake, maybe, but in her case the bill came due and payable, with interest. Now her whole family is struggling to make things right, unable to see a path forward. Maybe they need a miracle.

Emily Berrigan is a 23 year old transwoman who hasn't seen her twin in six years. Why? Because her parents threw her out when she told them who she really was. Now, her older sister Stephanie is getting married and wants Emily there - as a bridesmaid. Will sparks fly?
---
This is it. Stephanie's wedding day. Thanks to everyone who stuck with my story.
---

Emily Berrigan is a 23 year old transwoman, who hasn't seen her twin Jordan in six years. Not since she told her parents the truth about herself and they threw her out. Her older sister is getting married and wants Emily there - as a bridesmaid. Will sparks fly?
----
Emily finally confronts her mother and doesn't believe what she hears.

---
It was three months after the debacle of Stef's birthday. Emily could still taste the protein bar she had choked down late that night, when her nausea finally abated.

Meet Malcolm Sutherland, a sixteen-year-old forced to work a tough labouring job after his mother gets crippled in the same car crash that claimed his father. He longs for an out, but a whimsical purchase by a friend of his sister gives him one he wasn't expecting ...

A chance meeting while dressed up leads to a new future for Robin.

Emily Berrigan is a 23 year old transwoman, who hasn't seen her twin Jordan in six years. Not since she told her parents the truth about herself and they threw her out. Her older sister is getting married and wants Emily there - as a bridesmaid. Will sparks fly?
---
In this chapter, Jordan meets Kira's parents, and Kira gets to spend Thanksgiving with Jordan's family. Please let me know if there's interest in my continuing the story.
----
“Please tell me you won’t do it again,” Kira said, as Jordan merged onto I-65, headed to their parents for Thanksgiving.

“You okay?” Lucy asked her American friend, who paused to take several deep breaths before replying.

“Yeah,” Phoebe replied, momentarily lowering her mask to take a deep breath, but making sure to raise it back before exhaling. “I dunno if it’s the mask or not, but this is kinda harder than I remember!”

“Okay,” Kacey- the leader of the class- said as she observed the two students taking time getting their breath back. “I think that’s as good a time as any to take a break. Lucy, can I have a word please?”

38. Punishments

I wondered if she was asking the impossible. She had no work experience she could talk about, no references, and was a rank beginner at English writing and modern technology. Maybe there weren’t any jobs around here for someone like that that would also pay for transition care – insurance policies that covered it were rare enough as it was.

35. Playdate

26. A surprise tea party

The penultimate day of camp arrived with a buzz of excitement in the air. The campgrounds were adorned with colorful decorations, and a sense of anticipation filled the hearts of the campers. Colorful streamers and balloons adorned the trees, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Alex, dressed in a pretty pink dress adorned with frills and bows, giggled as he wobbled around in his diaper, feeling both nervous and exhilarated about the day's events.

Emily Berrigan is a 23 year old transwoman, who hasn't seen her twin Jordan in six years. Not since she told her parents the truth about herself and they threw her out. Her older sister is getting married and wants Emily there - as a bridesmaid. Will sparks fly?
----
In this chapter, Emily and Duncan go on a real date, she gets an audition and sees her uncle again. Please let me know if there's interest in my continuing the story.
---

21. Jake

The day at camp was filled with outdoor activities and adventures. As Alex happily joined in the fun, he couldn't help but get carried away, forgetting to be mindful of his delicate dress. A playful tumble resulted in a grass stain on his pretty outfit. Upon realizing what had happened, Alex's eyes welled up with tears. His mind at one with his inner toddler girl, he felt a mixture of frustration and sadness, afraid that his beautiful dress was ruined. He longed for the comfort of his sister, Sarah, who had always been there to support him.

“Please tell me more about Chris,” Permelia said as she followed me down the stairs to the parking lot.

 

“He’s like us,” I said, “except that he was assigned female at birth. And he was lucky enough to have understanding parents who helped him get HRT in his early teens, before he finished growing… and I understand both the men and women in his family tend to be tall. Anyway, he’s a big guy, and can be scary-looking if you don’t know him. I don’t think anybody will bother us with him escorting us.”

Ally suffers verbal and physical abuse from his father and needs to escape. Little did he know how his life would change for the better. Note, abuse is inferred rather than graphically detailed

“I’ll have to look things up to see if they’re worth more than the precious metals in them,” she said. “I don’t recognize them. The minting techniques seem to be relatively modern, like eighteenth or nineteenth century, but I thought I’d recognize all the historic coins of that period, and I don’t.”

A Song of Silk and Shadows
By Fakeminsk
(fakeminsk@gmail.com)
(patreon.com/fakeminsk)

Synopsis:
The old king is dead. As the great houses of Sangriferia manoeuvre to claim the Garland Crown, the fate of the realm rests on the slender shoulders of Aubriella Malveil, a young lady of the Crimson Court already burdened by secrets of her own.

Chapter One
One: The Old King’s Death