Midway through this morning Carol asked me if I’d like to stop for a coffee and have a chat. I agreed, having been expecting just such an invitation all weekend.

‘Jean, I’m glad to have this opportunity of talking without the children being around. As you probably realize, I’m still a little concerned about Joe or Josie. I don’t know whether to feel pleased and proud about last night for Josie’s sake or be anxious for Joe’s future.’

‘We can’t keep referring to ‘Joe or Josie’ all the time, which one is it to be?’ I asked.

Carol sighed.

‘I supposed we should still refer to ‘Josie’ and ‘her’ at least for the remainder of the weekend.

‘I agree, but before we go any further, can you explain to me exactly what it is that is worrying you?’

‘It’s just that she seems to be taking the role of Josie so seriously. I was a little disconcerted last Sunday when I first saw the way in which you’d all transformed her looks, but I came round to the idea because she seemed to be enjoying herself so much. I began to worry once more when I’d heard that she’d been out and bought herself some underwear, and then by the way in which she’d got herself ready yesterday morning, when I came over to collect you. Then there was that performance last night!’

‘I know,’ I said, ‘I have it all on video. But isn’t Josie just doing what we all asked her to do?’

‘Yes she is, and maybe we were wrong to do so. But it now seems to be more than just a question of doing the other girls a favour. Apart from the understandable bout of nerves last night, Josie seems to be so much more confident and happy as a girl than Joe ever was as a boy. It’s as if she’s an entirely different person. I just wonder whether we have encouraged my child to explore something much deeper in his or her psyche.’

‘But surely it is better to have Josie who is happy rather than Joe who is depressed?’ I said.

‘Yes, of course, but I am worried that we may be encouraging her into something that she may regret later on.’

‘In that case why did you persuade her to take part in the competition last night?’

‘I didn’t try to persuade her one way or the other. I just said that the decision was one for either Joe or Josie to make and that I would go along with whatever he or she decided. I also said that as far as I could see Josie made a very attractive and convincing young lady, who was unlikely to be recognized as anything else. I reminded her that the others were relying on her, but if Joe really couldn’t bear to remain as Josie any longer, I would find a local hotel for us both to stay for the night and that we would go out and get him some male clothing as soon as we could in the morning.’

‘Was it Josie or Joe who responded to you?’

Carol sighed.

‘It was Josie. She told me how much she’d enjoyed her week living as a girl and didn’t want to let the others down. I got the impression that she was more concerned about what you and I must think of her than worried that she might be recognized as being a boy. I tried to reassure her that we both accepted and admired Josie and that girls would too, especially if she didn’t let them down. I think it was that re-assurance that gave her the courage to go on.’

I thought for a while before responding.

‘Josie’s recent conduct certainly raises some questions about Joe’s sexuality and gender identity, but she is still only fourteen. I don’t think you should try and force the issue, one way or another at the moment. After all, it was only a week ago that you were worried that Joe was so depressed and had no friends. Now you’re worried for almost the opposite reason,

‘I know, and as far as I’m concerned Josie can remain as she is for as long as she likes, but I do wonder how she would cope at home in our village or at school if it were to become widely known.’

Jean thought for a moment.

‘What do you think will happen after we get home tomorrow and Josie has to change back into Joe?’

‘I don’t know, I’ve a horrible feeling that he will again become introverted and depressed, and that if anything, I will be more worried about him than I am about her now’.

‘In that case, why don’t you let Josie continue to stay with me and enjoy herself for the time being if she wants to do so, but without making it a big issue. After all, the girls seem to accept her and enjoy her company. Just try and make it clear to her that either persona would be equally welcome to you’.

‘Perhaps I am worrying about nothing’.

‘No I don’t think you are worrying about nothing, you should certainly keep your eye on developments and maybe have a heart to heart conversation with him or her at some point, but I would advise you not to try and force the issue this weekend.’

‘Alright, Jean, thanks for the advice.’

Our conversation moved on to other topics.

‘Do you have any plans to go away on holiday later in the summer?’ I asked.

‘I haven’t booked anything because of the uncertainties of my new job, but I’d like to do something with my two if I can,’ answered Carol.

‘Me too, but the trouble is that at this age they often prefer to be with their friends to being with one another or their mother.’

‘In some respects it would be easier for me if I did have two daughters rather than one of each’

‘Why do you say that, Carol?’

‘I have to go to Southport for an exhibition on Monday and Tuesday of the week after next. My travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by my employers, and I could easily book a second room in the same motel for the kids. We could even add on the weekend as well for very little extra so the visit would be four nights. However, I doubt if Jenny will want to go without Sue, and if I ask Sue I will also have to ask Karen. Now if Joe were willing to travel as Josie once again next week then I could offer to take your two girls with me as well. The five of us could easily share two double rooms in a motel, as each room contains two large beds. Of course the girls would have to look after themselves during the day but I would keep an eye on them each evening and make sure that they didn’t get into any trouble.

‘Why not discuss the idea with your two. I suspect that Joe might be willing to spend another weekend as Josie if you were to explain the circumstances. I’m also fairly sure that my girls would be happy to go with them, and I’d have no problems with you taking them’.

‘So you think my scheme might work?’ asked Carol.

‘I think you should discuss it first with Josie before saying anything to the others so that there would be no question of anyone putting any pressure on to her.’

‘Alright then I’ll raise the matter with her this evening when I am helping her to get ready’.

‘Actually Carol, I was going to make a suggestion about that. Would you mind if I helped Josie to get ready instead of you tonight and you helped the other three?’

‘I suppose not, but why is that?’

‘That Edwardian dress that she is borrowing from Denise is something rather out of the ordinary. I think that I could probably give her a special hair style to match, and I’ve brought some contemporary jewellery for her to wear as well. If you are agreeable, I really could make her look a picture tonight,’ I replied.

‘Why are you offering to do this for Josie and not for your own girls?’

‘The others are quite capable of looking after themselves, and to be honest, I should be quite pleased if Josie were to do better than all three of them in the competition tonight, it would be an object lesson to them all,’ I said smiling.

Carol gave a small chuckle.

‘Alright then, assuming that Josie’s still willing to go in for the competition tonight, you can get her ready. I will have to find a chance to have a talk with her alone tomorrow morning.’