Chapter 3.16

June 9th, 2023

Chatham Yardworks, North Pole

2:46PM

The office building was half a block off the main drag in North Pole, but there was a large sign that was placed at the corner, pointing down the cross street letting people know where they were. Beside the office was a salon on one side, and Ross’ Diner, the same fast food joint where Chet had finally realized how he felt about Mage, on the other.

Bob pulled the car he and Mike were driving into the parking lot. They’d called ahead and found out that it had been a busy day at the office, so when they got out of the car, they went to the diner and ordered some burgers for the office staff, which consisted of Rick and his wife Carla.

Ari brings a friend to poker night, but what's her real game?

One of the trans guys at the meeting announced that he’d finally figured out his permanent name (he’d been trying out different ones, like me). That reminded me again that I needed to think more about my name. Amanda was nice, but it wasn’t quite right, any more than Natalie, Amber, Isabella or any of the others I’d tried on for a few hours.

“Stop whining, Alex,” she said sternly. “it is unseemly for one whose veins carry the blood of Zeus himself. I was celebate for almost 500 years before you were conceived. Surely you can manage a week between strumpets?” Alex ground his teeth. Athena sighed again and added, “Alright, fine. You can’t. How about two days?”

“I should be able to make up my mind by now, I’ve tried out like ten different girl names either online or in person.”

“Can we talk without the police listening?”

This is a short part.

As we entered, I saw what was laid out on the bed. Shirley must have done this while I was getting the dinner.

It was a dark blue silk teddy. One piece with spaghetti straps and 2 inches of black lace around the bust and legs. It looked like it was made of liquid. I knew I loved the silk knickers I was wearing. How would this feel? Next to it was a matching silk negligee.

"I hope you like it. I got it for Susan last year. She never wore it."

Said Ken.

"Why wouldn't she wear it? It looks amazing."

I had trouble at first holding the pages of the trade paperback open with my little hands, but after a few minutes of trial and error, I managed to get the hang of it, and started reading.

Delphine waved her hand dismissively. "He went to look for that idiot Amber."
After a quick glance around, she leaned in. "Listen to me, Max!
Do you want to know who Oswald is? Do you want to know why he's Amber's plus one?"

I suppose this is all my own doing really. I had been working as Mr. Owen’s assistant for 6 months now. I loved the job he was a nice guy. Very generous to his staff and if the company was doing well we all got bonuses. Yes, Owen tech was going places. My dream of buying a narrow boat and living free on the canals of Britain could be realized before I was too old to enjoy it.

No map ever drawn, on earth, on sea, or in outer space,
has ever presented a cartographer as daunting a challenge
as the seating chart for a wedding reception.

I felt like Mom had suddenly developed X-ray vision and was going to see through my pants at any moment.

“Cool. So do you want me to turn you into something today?”

 

“Yeah, Sophia and I talked it over and we thought: dragon sisters!”

Which reminds me: I had a third reason for feeling nervous. My dad was coming up for a visit.
Vivianne had planned for it, though I didn't expect it to happen so quickly after Nessa's wedding.

A couple in their forties went in the machine just as we got in line, and they came out again a few minutes later; the woman was younger and prettier, wearing a much more expensive-looking outfit, a dark blue dress that Meredith said looked like silk. The man was a wolf or wolfhound; the woman put a collar and leash on him and led him out toward the parking lot, probably to avoid trouble with the mall cops, police and animal control until they got home.

"Speaking of Lorelei's resemblance to Elliot..." Claus intoned,
"Did you know that Amber sincerely believes that Lorelei is actually Elliot?"

I’d pretty much given up on trying to convince myself I wasn’t trans by that point. I was still trying to convince myself that a girl body, whether human or dragon, was a “nice to have” rather than the burning need it had soon become once I’d started thinking about it.

The Ladies’ Tee
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters

Is there anything more infuriating in golf than to have your playing partner set his tee on the ladies’ tee and then enter it as a valid score?

“It’s only a few yards shorter and the lie is better”. Or how about this one – “I am not going to drag my clubs over there when the trail ends here – this tee will do.”

I could protest as much as I liked, but he just gave his usual smile. It was always hard to stay mad when he did that, but it always irked me, especially when I followed the rules.

Were some trans women lesbians, if that was the right word for it? The parental control software wouldn’t let me find out and I couldn’t ask anyone.