"You want us to do what?" came the horrified voice across the dining room.

I don't know which I was more surprised about; someone from the year four showing emotion at a request, or the request itself. I had to admit that it certainly broke a lot of the school history, but I'm sure we wouldn't be asked to do something that he didn't think we were capable off.

"To learn two languages. Now it wouldn't be practical for everyone to learn both languages as fluently as we normally do so here is my idea. Half of you will learn one language in depth and half of you the other. Since you always seem to stick by your study partner like glue, I thought it wise for you to learn one language each so that one of you will always be able to help the other. The language you don't learn in depth you learn enough to get by. Any questions?"

"Are there any requirements who does which?" asked Andy.

"Whoever is better at languages, so that includes the year's language specialist, will learn Farsi. The other will learn Russian."

"Farsi?" asked Sam.

"That's the language of Iraq, Iran and some other countries in that region," answered Jill.

"How on earth did you know that?"

"When your parents used to quiz you on daily news topics, you tend to remember a few," sighed Jill. Poor thing missed her parents so much; her mother being dead and her father unable to get close due to being a teacher. Rachel had been giving counselling to both of them about it, but I would sometimes see Jill frustrated at the forced separation. I thought that Helen and my two nights apart were bad enough, but this had been going on for months. From the chats I'd had with Julia I knew there was a solution being planned, but everyone was being tight lipped about it.

"Do you mind if I take the Russian?" I asked Helen. "Ever since I heard a bit at the start of Hunt for Red October I thought it would be a cool language to learn."

"Which language is going to be used first?" asked Helen across the room to Mr Hobson.

"The Russian. We will be having a sister school from America join us on this trip. They've been to Russia before, so we will be relying on them for certain information such as customs and culture. When we get back there won't be much time before our final trip."

During the meal the dining room hummed with excitement. Two places the school had never been to before. Two new languages to try to learn. A different school visiting, so new friends to make.

Something was wrong in the room. Something didn't feel right. I looked around and finally spotted that Stacy wasn't there. Yesterday she hadn't been her usual self and I wondered if she hadn't been feeling very well. I decided to send a message to Andy.

As I read the response my eyes began to fill with water. I wasn't sure why, but the tears were soon trickling quickly down my face. Helen grabbed my PDA, read the message and cleared the screen so nobody else could read it. My distress was obvious to most of the school and Rachel, who was our table's psychiatrist of the day, was trying to find out what was wrong when Andy appeared. He whispered something to Helen and she quickly escorted me out. I didn't do anything to stop her and just let her guide me down corridors and eventually into the hospital.

"I'm not sick," I protested.

"You're here to chat with Stacy," said Helen pushing me towards the room which had Stacy's name on it. "I'll be outside. Now take as long as you need."

I tentatively walked through the door, unsure of why I'd got upset and why I was being encouraged to talk with Stacy. Stacy was sat up in bed reading, Enya playing in the background.

"Come on in," she said in her gentle, but firm voice. "Why don't I move over a bit and you can sit on the bed next to me."

"This doesn't look anything like a hospital room," I sniffed. "I didn't think they had double beds."

"This is the school hospital. You should know that this school is nothing like the real world."

"What happens when we leave school?"

"We have the skills and knowledge to be who we need to be without question. Do I look anything like a boy?"

"No and you'll look even less like one in a few hours," I said with a nervous giggle.

"I have enough education to get a degree and have the knowledge and confidence to go a lot higher. Everybody at this school is highly intelligent but would never have succeeded where they were. Could you have learned what you now know in your old school?"

"No, I doubt I would have."

"Then the school is meeting its educational aims as laid down by the government and they leave us alone. If they imposed somebody on the school I doubt it would be able to do none of the extra things it does, such as helping people be who they need to be or the extra items that we do."

"Er," I said dropping my voice to a whisper. I think I would have been less surprised if they proved that Father Christmas really existed. "I thought that the extra stuff we do was government controlled."

She gave a little smile, which made her eyes twinkle. "It's okay. This room is soundproof and secure. I suppose it might seem that way when you don't have the big picture. When you came in here you were very upset. What happened?"

"I was worried because you weren't at breakfast. So I sent a message to Andy. I got a message back saying ‘Today Stacy becomes Stacy'."

"And that started you crying? Why?"

"You sound just like Rachel."

"So? Was it because you were worried about me?"

"No, knowing this school you'll get the best operation in the world. I just had a strange feeling come over me. I can't explain it."

"Can't or won't?"

"What?"

"There's a big difference. Perhaps you can't explain it because you don't understand the feeling or perhaps you won't explain it because you don't like the implication."

"The implication?"

"You obviously didn't like the time you spent being masculine because as soon as the course finished you reverted back to your feminine male self. Perhaps you want to be a girl? Perhaps you would like to join me today? I'm sure the surgeon could do us both."

"I don't want to be a girl," I protested.

"Why not? It's lots of fun and you've the right attitude."

"I am me. I don't want to be a girl."

"If you say so."

"I've changed my mind, you aren't like Rachel. She lets me work things out myself. You are telling me what to do."

"No, I was asking if you wanted to be a girl. You said no and that's that. You only have to change the plumbing as you act like a girl most of the time anyway."

"I'm not that bad," I complained. "I know I'm not that masculine but I'm not that feminine."

"If you say so."

"Look, do you know why Andy sent me to see you."

"Probably because you got upset and thought it might have been you being worried about me."

"So what are they actually going to do?"

"Because the school is a bit naughty with certain things, I have been on hormones for a number of years. I basically went through a girl's puberty and the only thing male about me is what's between my legs, which I had to wait till I was eighteen to correct."

"They're going to chop it off?"

"Not quite. They will remove the testicles and the muscle of the penis. They will then invert it and use the skin as the wall lining for my vagina. Oh gosh, that sounds so wonderful MY vagina."

"So how long does that take? Half hour, an hour?"

"More like six to eight. It depends how things go."

"I didn't hear about a year five birthday. We haven't had one in year one yet, but I think there is one in a few weeks."

"There will be a late party."

"It's your birthday today?"

"Yep."

"Wow, happy birthday. I bet this is the best birthday present you've ever had?"

"Too right it is."

"So how long will you be here for?"

"In the hospital? Probably about a week. I will then be able to go to my room but I'll be very sore and tired for a few weeks. It will probably be over a month before I feel up to being more active."

Just then a nurse came in. "Stacy, we will get underway in about an hour. I just thought you'd like to know."

"Thanks Sally."

Sally then turned to me, "I'm sorry miss, but the doctors need to just check Stacy out."

"Is it okay if David stays?"

"Oh, I'm sorry David; my eyes must be playing up today."

"Sally, it isn't a problem. I don't know why people think I'm a girl, but I was born male and I don't want to change that."

"Then don't," she said with a smile. "I'll check with the doctors to see if you can stay."

"Do you mind me staying?" I asked.

"Not at all. I told Andy not to visit me till after the operation. He's just so worried it would cause me issues. I wouldn't have asked you to stay if I didn't mean it."

"I saw him keep looking at his watch during breakfast. Look, I better tell Helen that I'll be quite a while."

"You left her sat outside?"

"She pushed me in here and told me to take as long as I needed."

"Then if you're staying you better tell her you will see her later."

I left the room and saw Helen sitting patiently reading something on her PDA. "You look a bit better," she said looking up.

"I still don't know what happened. Anyway, Stacy has asked if I wanted to find out more about what she's going through so asked if I will stay for a bit. I'm not sure how long I'll be."

"I think that's a super idea," said Helen jumping up and giving me a quick kiss. "I think I'll go and practice for a little bit and play a few games with the others. I'll see you later."

I watched as Helen disappeared and I made my way back to Stacy's room. "She's gone."

"Then come and sit on the bed and let's chat."

We didn't get much time to chat as about ten minutes later a distinguished man and a young woman knocked and entered. The man looked towards me and said, "David, Sally mentioned that Stacy asked if you could stay and as long as Stacy doesn't mind then I don't have an issue."

"Stacy, my name is Tom Millard. I'll be operating on you today. My colleague here is Barbara Smith."

"Hi."

"We are going to go through with you what is going to be done to make sure you're fully aware what we'll do. As long as you're happy we will proceed. If you have any doubts then I strongly suggest that we delay your operation till you are ready."

As the procedure was explained to Stacy I sat there listening, astonished what they were going to do. I thought it was too much detail, but the doctor wanted to make sure his patient was fully informed. Knowing Rachel, she would have been through it all with Stacy anyway and there wouldn't have been any chance of Stacy lying here waiting for the operation if there was any doubt. This school did take care of its students, even though sometimes they looked a little tough at times in their discipline.

"So Stacy, are you happy for me to do the operation?"

"Please," she almost begged.

Tom gave a slight smile at the response. He knew the school wouldn't have booked Stacy in for a sex-change if there was any doubt, but he felt it was his duty to confirm. This operation was irreversible, after all.

When the doctors had left Stacy looked at me and said, "So David, what do you think of me now?"

"Very brave," I admitted absently. The details the doctor had given were astonishing and I was still trying to process the details. I'd just thought things were moved around a bit. I hadn't realised how important things like nerve endings would be. "My Uncle wanted to be a girl but couldn't get past the issues."

"It was a lot harder back then," said Stacy putting her arms around me. "There wasn't the help and it is quite likely that he'd have been locked up for being nuts."

"Really?"

"Yes. At one stage it was thought that electroconvulsive therapy was a good way of curing people."

"What's that then?"

"They pass an electric current through the brain in the hope that it will alter the chemicals in the brain and cure the patient of the issue. It was originally used on schizophrenia and then extended for other problems."

"Can they do that without their consent?"

"Not in a lot of countries, but in England they still can. The Mental Health Act says that treatment can be given immediately and without consent in certain circumstances. So if it was thought that it would help and you were in imminent danger to yourself or others you could be given ECT."

"They could do that here?"

"I really doubt the doctors here would."

"I hope not."

"Though a few thousand in England and Wales are given it involuntary each year."

"Yikes."

There was a moment of silence and I saw the anxiety on Stacy's face. "It'll be okay," I said reaching across.

"I'm sure it will be," she replied trying to smile.

"I'll be with you. I doubt I'll be allowed to be with you while you have the operation, but I will be as close as I can."

"Thanks," she said squeezing my hand.

There was a knock on the door and Sally came in, dragging in a trolley. "Stacy, it's nearly time. Can you hop out of bed and onto the trolley?"

"Can David come down with me?"

"I'll need to check if he can go as far as the recovery room, but he wouldn't be allowed into the theatre."

"Oh," said Stacy sadly.

"Let me just check if you can go into the recovery room. I'll be back in a jif."

"I'll stay here while you have your operation," I said.

"Really?"

"Yes, now stop worrying. You know this school only uses the best. Knowing them they've probably scoured the whole country, if not the world."

"He is the best," admitted Stacy. "I did a lot of research into different surgeons and the one who is going to operate is the best."

Sally returned looking rather surprised.

"I had a word with Mr Millard and you were only going to be allowed as far as the recovery room door. However, a few minutes later he got a phone call and he told me to get a surgical outfit for you so you could be with Stacy."

"Really?" asked Stacy in amazement.

"Really. Now, David if you come with me I'll get you prepared. You then can be with Stacy throughout her operation."

* * *

"Is that you David?" asked Stacy as I caught up with her trolley in the recovery room. I was now in pale green theatre clothes and a mask covered my face.

"Yep," I replied. "Who else were you expecting? I'll be with you for the operation, so you just relax."

"Thanks. How come you're so mature?"

"I think it's because I was taught so by my parents. Also the situation at school didn't give me time to be silly. In some ways it's harder to pretend to not be as clever and it certainly makes you mature."

I watched as the anaesthetist gently put Stacy to sleep and wheeled into the operating theatre. There was a seat near the anaesthetist where I could sit without causing a nuisance. I wasn't squeamish and found watching the operation fascinating. However, things didn't quite go to plan.

"I'm showing some swelling and a rash," calmly stated the anaesthetist.

"A reaction to the anaesthetic?" asked Tom Millard, not moving his eyes from the area he was working on.

"I'm not sure yet. It could be several things. Her vitals are showing distress. I'm going to inject her with the adrenalin."

"Let me know her reaction," ordered Tom Millard. "It will be about another twenty minutes before I can get to a point where we could stop the operation."

Stacy was injected with the adrenalin which was already labelled and standing by.

"Her breathing is a bit better."

"I'm showing swelling in the area we're working on," added Barbara Smith. "Latex allergy?"

"That's a possibility as she's not showing any other reaction. I have a plastic air mask available."

"Nurse, in the glove draw you should see a box marked Non Rubber. We will all need them. Barbara, when you change your gloves do it in the recovery room. The powder in these gloves could cause other issues."

When Barbara returned, she took over Tom while he changed his gloves. I was just sat there, watching in amazement and offering silent prayers for Stacy's recovery.

"Will she be okay?" I quietly asked the anaesthetist. I'd not been told his name and he hadn't volunteered it. In fact the only names I knew were the two surgeons and the nurse who'd been in Stacy's room.

"She is showing signs of recovery."

"Do we continue?" asked Tom Millard after about ten minutes.

"She is stable enough."

"Good, I'd have to tell her that she'd have to come back in a few weeks. She hated the thought of an operation."

The total operation lasted just over six hours. When she was back in her room I asked Sally, "How long will she be asleep for?"

"Probably about another hour, but I won't allow streams of visitors. She has gone though a lot."

"You mean the operation or her allergic reaction?"

"Both, but especially her allergy. If it wasn't for the quick action of the anaesthetist and Mr Millard, Stacy would no longer be with us."

"Really?" I asked shocked. "Everybody had been so calm about it, I didn't think it was life threatening."

"Panic would have just made the situation worse. Doctors are trained to act calmly during any issue."

"Can Andy come and see her?"

"And Andy is?"

"Her boyfriend."

"Then it isn't a problem."

When Andy came down his first words were, "How is she?"

"I believe her operation was a complete success."

"Thank you for being with her during the operation."

"It's my pleasure. I don't know who twisted someone's arms, but they weren't going to let me stay with her. She is one brave girl."

"That she is," he smiled.

I didn't tell Andy about her allergic reaction, as I didn't want to worry him. That was for either the nurse, Rachel or Mr Hobson. I left him alone with his love.

I thought that would be the end of the matter but just before the evening meal Mr Hobson stood up and said, "As a lot of you are probably aware, Stacy had her SRS operation this morning. However, there was a problem during the operation, as it seems she was hypersensitive to latex. Since I'm responsible for your health, I am going to ask Dr Sue to perform allergy tests on you all. If anybody has any objections then please raise them with your year leader."

"Where were you all day?" asked Jessica.

"I was with Stacy."

"What about while she was having her operation?"

"I was with Stacy," I repeated.

"I didn't think that was allowed," said Emma.

'The surgeon didn't either,' I thought to myself. However I just shrugged.

Stacy was surprised to find out about her allergic reaction, but since she'd never worn rubber gloves, condoms or generally come into contact with anything like that before it wasn't a surprise she'd not known. The allergy tests came and went with little fuss. The only one with anything close to major was Wendy finding out she had a mild reaction to chlorine. Since a previous student had the same allergy, the school pool wasn't cleaned with chlorine.

Hayfield Hall took great pride in ensuring the safety of its students, however when things went wrong they took the steps needed to make sure it didn't happen again. In future all new students would be tested for allergies. Apart from everyone's obvious concern for Stacy, life went on. Stacy healed and was soon joining everyone for meals, though it took her over a month before she was feeling totally herself.

As the weeks went by we started to become fluent in our languages. I'd hoped to learn Russian, but was told that it would be better if I learnt Farsi. I spent most of my spare time getting Helen to teach me Russian. The extension was finished and the equipment that Julia and I had purchased arrived and we had great fun installing it. I don't know how we managed it, but during the start of November we fitted in our Mathematics GCSE exams.

Since the sister school was staying for a few months, Hayfield Hall was providing clothes to save the cost and inconvenience of shipping. After the incident when Jessica tried to run away and the security warning when Jill left still wearing a pair of school panties, I'm sure there was probably other reasons, but like a lot of items I discovered I kept them to myself.

It was breakfast on Sunday December 4th that Mr Hobson announced, "At about nine, our guests shall arrive. They are from our sister school in America called Immigration Manor. I'm sure you will all do your best to make them welcome. They have travelled overnight so they will be quite tired. They will have a nap and will join us for a late lunch at about one. Other changes to the schedule will happen, so please check your PDA for updates, as they might occur with little notice. After the meal tonight they will give a short concert. Year leaders, you will be responsible for showing the American students of the same year their rooms. Since they have three younger years they will be shown their rooms by Dan, Becky and Keith. They use the letters A to H to denote the years. Year A is the youngest, year D equates to our year one, going up to year H which is the same as our year five."

During breakfast Helen and my PDA beeped signifying an update. It was a list of the American students and which rooms they would be in. As year leaders we had access to that information and would only become available to the others after their year leader had authorised it. I scanned through the names and one name stood out. Helen must have noticed it at the same time as we both smiled at each other. Oh this would be fun to see.

At just before nine the coaches pulled into the driveway. We were all stood in the front lawn with signs denoting which year we were. After a few minutes, students started piling out of the busses and making their way to their designated areas. Quite a few of the girls and a few boys which headed for the big 'Year A' sign were cradling dolls or teddies in their arms. I'd never had a doll and for some reason I felt slightly envious.

The year D students must have been at the back of one of the busses as eventually a mob of students made their way towards us. There was a sudden scream of shocked delight from Jill and Anna as the students got close and they ran like mad people towards the advancing Americans.