Easy As Falling Off A Bike.
by Angharad & Enid Blyton.
part 28b

I froze like a chicken caught in the headlights of a juggernaught. I wanted to run around in circles but stood still instead.

"So who are you?" asked the voice.

I knew perfectly well who he was and I was sure the moment I turned around he would recognise me. However, the longer I stood there the more suspicious it would be. I slowly turned around.

"So has our resident nerd got a girlfriend?"

"Maybe," I answered coyly and blushing, "excuse me, I have to go." I brushed past Big Mac. We called him that because his name is Macmanus and he's huge. It is also appropriate because he is so full of sh!t that it reminds one of..oh, I suppose that could be libellous, but you get my drift.

"Just a minute darlin', haven't we met somewhere?" he pushed his arm out in front of me preventing my escape.

My heart nearly stopped, how was I going to get past this oaf, without him working out who I was. At a glance he might mistake me for a stranger, but with a few minutes to look at me, he'd surely twig.

"I don't think so, I'm sure I would remember," a gorilla like you. I ducked under his arm, and was down the stairs before he could react. The problem now was whether or not his brain was switched on. The answer to it, I wouldn't know until I met him again. Could I claim to be my own sister? I shook my head as I walked along towards the university and the bike shop, this was beginning to sound like one of those stories I've seen posted on the internet.

As I trundled through the streets, I was trying to make up contingency plans for all eventualities. There were quite a few, including Simon killing me if he found out, Big Mac killing me, Kev killing me, me committing suicide, and then...

"Hello, young Watts isn't it?"

I stopped as if I'd stepped on a garden rake and the handle had smacked me in the face.

"Professor Agnew," I replied to the older man.

"Two questions," he paused to gain my assent, "Can we expect to see the new you in classes from now on, and why are you not in classes now?"

I swallowed hard, if he could recognise me would Big Mac? Part of me just wanted to tell him where to go, the other part wanted to get my MSc and I'd need his support for that.

"I don't know," I replied and he nodded.

"And my second question?" he asked.

"It's a long story." I blushed.

"It's just as well I have plenty of time then, there's a coffee shop over there, shall we adjourn there for your answer?" He held out his arm and I linked mine around it, feeling even more like a headless deer. "It does an old man good to be seen with a pretty girl on his arm."

We found a quiet table and my host ordered two teas and Danish pastries. "So is this the real you, Miss Watts?"

He knew about my gender identity problem, but had treated it with the confidentiality it deserved. He was close to retirement, over sixty five and had been allowed to stay because he was still as sharp as a pin and had one of the most respected reputations in vertebrate zoology in Europe, and was probably nurturing a dozen top research scientists towards international acclaim. Sadly I wasn't one of them.

"I don't know," I told him and went on to explain my past twenty four hours. He smiled, laughed, nodded and shook his head at my story.

"So how do you feel about this Simon?" he asked as we sipped our coffees.

"I don't know that either, he's so far been very kind and claimed to find me interesting rather than sexy," I related, pouting as I said it.

"You seem disappointed?"

"In a way, I suppose I am. All my life I've been tolerated rather than accepted or wanted. When Stella had finished her magic on me, I thought I looked better than I had in my whole life before."

"You still do, Cathy wasn't it?"

I nodded and thanked him.

"If I wasn't your Professor, I would be asking you for a date myself," he said smiling.

I laughed at him, "Don't be silly Professor, you know too much about me," I chuckled implying my true legal sex.

"I do now, young woman and I have never seen you look happier or better."

I blushed and looked at the table avoiding eye contact.

"When you first told me about your little problem, I could see that you were quite a feminine almost pretty looking boy, but I've met other such young men as students and most had no such problems. Given your inclinations, I suppose your appearance would become an advantage when you got around to transitioning, is that the right word?"

I agreed that it was.

"However, I have been told all sorts of things by students over the years, sometimes as a way of protecting themselves against poor results, but yours have not been affected and your research is looking good, I think DEFRA (government department) might be persuaded to fund a doctoral research programme, with EU monies. The European Union likes little furry animals, thank God."

I smiled wondering where this was leading.

"While I don't want to rush you into anything, I should very much like to have a pretty young research assistant on my staff, if only because it makes the departmental photos look so much better. So I suggest you finish your dissertation and apply for funding to do a research degree for a doctorate. You would be Doctor Dormouse," he said laughing.

"Wouldn't the agency find it funny that I changed my name in between the two degrees?"

"It's nothing we can't deal with, but of course if you were to make your change over, sorry transition, sooner rather than later, it wouldn't arise, would it?"

"What, are you suggesting I make my transition now?" I gasped.

"Looks to me as if you already have, and it's a remarkable improvement if I say so myself. Should I ask Mrs Miller to make the appropriate alterations?"

Mrs Miller was the departmental secretary, she was a mature woman of forty-something who everyone liked, although she protected the prof like a rottweiler.

"There she is."

I cringed as I recognised the voice of Big Mac.

"The nerd's girlfriend, c'mon, let's go chat her up..oh Professor, I didn't see you there."

"Is there something I can do for you boys?" he said firmly. I just wanted to die, I couldn't see who or how many there were. "I am having afternoon tea with Miss Watts, how can I help you?"

"Miss Watts, what Charlie's sister?" said Big Mac.

"Yes Mr Macmanus, I am trying to persuade her to finish her brother's research project, he's been injured in a cycling accident and might not return for some time."

"Cool, I erm mean, I'm sorry to hear about Charlie, but if I can help you get to know the place..."

"I think her fiance may feel a bit put out by that Mr Macmanus."

I found myself swallowing hard, and heard a similar reaction from Big Mac, but the prof was dealing with them better than I could, I did say he was as sharp as a pin.

"Right oh, Miss Watts, if I can help, just let me know," he said making a tactical withdrawal, "I'm next door to Charlie's place."

"Thank you, Mister umm..."

"Macmanus, Alistair Macmanus, and you're welcome." He left to few hoots from his friends.

"It seems they didn't recognise you," he smiled at me and ordered tea for both of us.

"It's very kind of you Professor, but I've imposed upon your time too much already."

"Nonsense, I've ordered the tea now, surely you don't expect me to drink it all by myself?"

I sat back down. A sudden and very frightening thought occurred to me, "Are you expecting me to turn up as Cathy, from now on?"

"As your brother is injured and can't, I don't see why you shouldn't, do you?"