I try to keep in touch with both of the children each day by mobile phone whilst I’m away from home. I’ve been relieved to find out that, despite the slightly unusual circumstances in which I’d left my son, things seemed to be working out well this week. In fact it is a long time since Joe (or Josie as ‘she’ now insists on being called) has sounded so animated. I found it easier to think of her as my younger daughter when she was standing before me, in person, but I’m gradually getting used to the idea of relating to her as a girl on the phone. Even Jenny has been positive about the progress of her younger ‘sister’ whilst I’ve been away. I had no particular concerns when I spoke to them both on Monday and Tuesday, but Jenny did let something slip during her conversation with me last night, which concerned me a little.

‘Josie has been out and got herself a lovely blue lingerie set to go with that baby-doll dress that Karen was making.’

‘Where did she get them from?’

‘La Senza, in County Mall.’

‘You mean ‘she’ went out and bought them for herself? Using her own money?’

It has always been something of a family joke that Joe would only ever spend his pocket money on upgrades for his computer, and then would spend weeks scouring the Internet looking for the best possible deal, before he did so.

‘Well the rest of us were hardly going to pay, it’s bad enough that we have to loan her the other clothes that she’s been wearing this week.’

‘Why on earth would she want to do that?’ I asked.

‘Well they were very reasonably priced,’ answered Jenny, seemingly surprised by my question.

I’d already spoken to Josie by then and didn’t want to make an issue about it, but nevertheless decided that I would use the next opportunity to have a talk with Jean about the incident. I wasn’t too sorry when Jenny announced later in our conversation that the four of them would be going to visit Denise on Thursday afternoon and staying for dinner and that I shouldn’t bother to ring them. This would at least give me the opportunity to have a private word with Jean before I saw them both again. I therefore told Jenny to keep an eye out for Josie and to warn her to take care when they went out.

I arrived back in Rusper at teatime on Thursday, unpacked my suitcase and then repacked it again with the clothes that I was going to need for the weekend. I fixed myself something to eat, and washed my hair, before telephoning Jean. I was glad to find that she was at home when I rang her and I knew that her daughters were out together with my own children..

‘Hi Jean, how have you been finding things over the last week?’ I asked.

‘Everything has been fine, thanks Carol. My girls have never been so co-operative nor given me less trouble before. I’m sure it must be the calming influence of your daughters’.

‘I suppose I really want to know how my youngest ‘daughter’ has been getting on.’

‘Honestly, there have been absolutely no problems since you left us on Sunday. In fact Josie has worked hard to become a convincing young lady. As far as I know, nobody that she has come across has recognised Joseph or raised any question about her sex. I must admit that for the last day or so I’ve also tended to forget that Josie used to be a boy and now think of ‘her’ rather than a ‘him pretending to be a her,’ answered Jean.

‘Oh’ I replied, a little surprised.

‘She’s also been really helpful to me in sorting out a computerised list of my customers. In fact, all told, I’ve been most impressed with your younger daughter,’ she continued.

‘You don’t think she’s taking things a little too far?’ I asked.

There was a slight pause.

‘Well I did ask you whether you were alright with their plans, and you implied that I should go ahead and cooperate.’

‘Yes I know, and I’m not criticizing you, Jean. But I’m not sure how I should react to the news that she’s been out and bought herself a bra and pants. One minute I’m telling you about how worried I am because of Joe’s depression, and now you’re telling me that ‘Josie’ is having a really good time living as a girl.’

‘She also bought herself some makeup on Tuesday,’ added Jean.

‘Really? Do you think this may go deeper than we imagined, and that she’s transgendered?’

‘She has only been living as Josie for just over four days, so it is a little early to be jumping to too many conclusions, but I think you should consider it is a possibility.’

‘I see,’ I replied not knowing what else to say at that point.

‘What would you reaction be if Josie did confirm to you that she was transgendered?’

‘I don’t know. I’m not sure of the implications of that would be. I just want her to be happy but wouldn’t want her do anything she might regret later on.’

‘Well she certainly doesn’t give the impression of being unhappy at present.’

‘What do the others think about it?’

‘I’m not sure; they just seem to accept her as one of themselves.’

‘What do you think I should do?’ I asked.

‘I don’t think there is anything you can do before the coming weekend other than to accept the idea of having a second daughter. I think that once you get used to it, you will be quite pleased with the result.’

‘So you think that we should continue with the weekend trip to the convention?’ I asked.

‘Oh yes, all four of the girls have put such a lot of effort into getting themselves ready, I don’t think we could possibly back out at this stage.’

‘But then what?’

‘I’m afraid you’ll just have to play it by ear, but there should be plenty of opportunity for us to talk about it further over the weekend if you wish. The main thing is not to worry too much at this stage, and just enjoy the prospect of having two daughters for a while.’

‘Alright then Jean, what time shall I collect you all tomorrow?

‘We need to check in to the accommodation between three and five, and it is likely to take you about three and a half hours to drive there, so why not come over at about midday so we can have a quick lunch together before leaving’.

‘That will suit me,’ I replied. ‘Now that I have spoken to you I am quite looking forward to the weekend’.

Once I’d finished the call to Jean, I logged on to our computer and searched Google for references to ‘transgendered’. Somewhat to my surprise I was quickly overwhelmed with references and so had to begin to refine my search by combining it with words and phrases such as ‘young people’ and ‘advice for parents’. Before I knew it, it was nearly midnight and I’d downloaded and printed out half a dozen files, several of which contained exactly what I was looking for. There was a lot for me to read and think about over the next few days.