This is a gentle coming-of-age story about a college-aged boy becoming the girl he knows he truly is.
With the help of his two girl friends he becomes Susanna as they teach him all about life as a girl.
Please note this is a gentle, sentimental tale and although there is some sexual content it is inferred, NOT graphic and tagged where it occurs.

“Now girls I have to ask you about India – could you tell me what happened!” Aunty Val asked us.
I looked at Shoni and between us we started recounting our meeting with the mystic.

Aunty Val was fascinated and listened intently to our story.
After we had finished she started telling us about her strange dreams, “Your story explains a lot to me because about the time you say you started living as Susanna I started getting strange dreams.

In them either your Mum, Dad or Theresa would talk to me telling me to ‘look after her’ she needs you to look after her.

But it was mainly Helen – your mum she would come to me and in my dreams sit on the edge of the bed and tell me that it was meant to be and to look after her other daughter!” I will admit I was totally confused, as I knew Helen only had 2 children but the dreams continued.

We all looked at one another and Charley breathed, “Wow” My aunty Val looked and smiled saying, “Wow indeed Charley.”
She then carried on, “To be honest I thought I was going crazy I couldn’t understand what Helen meant that was until you decided to get in touch last Christmas then everything became clearer.”

I was enthralled by this story it would seem my dead family were really trying to help me from somewhere beyond our modern day comprehension.
Aunty Val then continued telling us, “Then the dreams changed it was always your mum that came to me and always she sat on the bed talking to me.

But once you had contacted me her message was slightly different she was telling me “Val I need you to look after her please promise me that you’ll look after her and protect her soon very soon I will be able to talk to her and give her my love and blessing.”

OMG this was as shocking as it was amazing the three of us were speechless then a voice came from the door – it was Uncle Frank who had finished in the bathroom and had come downstairs unheard.

He said, “You had strange dreams too Val – you never said.”
We all jumped and aunty Val said, “Frank you daft Ha’puth you scared the bloody life out of us! I never said because I thought you would laugh at me.”

He shook his head saying, “Nay lass your Helen spoke to me too why d’you think I was relaxed when you and our Beth told me?”

“I did wonder about that.” His wife said to him, “It was so unlike you.” He smiled saying, “Your Helen made me promise to look after’t lass and give her away when she’s wed!”

He looked at me saying, “Don’t you forget that our Susie!” I was speechless and totally blown away so I simply nodded then wondered if I should have shook my head and ended us mumbling, “I won’t Uncle Frank.”

Aunty Val asked him, “Do you still have these dreams?” He shook his head saying, “No they stopped about May or June – why?”
I looked at Shonali and Charley as Aunty Val commented, “Mine stopped about that time.”

Then I piped up, “That was about the time we met the mystic in India.”

No more could be said on this as to be totally honest none of us really understood what had happened to us but it certainly was strange.
Whatever it was it was certainly beyond our comprehension. Uncle Frank then said, “What happened in India?”

“You girls go and get ready” aunty Val said, “I’ll tell Frank.” And with that the three of us scampered upstairs to get ready for the evening. Luckily they had an electric shower so we took it in turns to shower and then finished getting ready.

With about half an hour to go aunty Val came upstairs to get ready she looked at us styling each others hair and finishing off our makeup and said, “God you three remind me of when I was young Helen and I were exactly the same” – then she went and got changed.

Somehow we were all ready when the taxi arrived to take us to the pub we all managed to squeeze in and off we went.
I must admit the night went really well. As Uncle Frank had said there were a couple of his nephews there and they really hit on the three of us competing for our attention it was quite funny.
With my close family well I got to know them a whole lot better Beth and Robin along with their partners and families.

We were not allowed to pay for anything though we did get a few rounds of drinks in Beth and Robin along with their spouses and kids left about nine while the rest of us left an hour later.

We all had had a great night. Now we knew each other we were part of the family once home we made a pot of tea before we all went to bed.
Uncle Frank was very mellow (read drunk) and was soon shooed off to bed leaving the four girls to talk for a while.

The next morning the aroma of bacon woke me and by the problems I had getting into the bathroom it had also woken Shonali and Charley.
Finally we all assembled in the kitchen.
As we were going around the Castle and Cathedral today we all were dressed sensibly in jeans, pullovers and trainers.

Charley was like a little kid! She simply couldn’t wait to go and have a look around these historic sites.

After a substantial breakfast we were given a spare key as my aunt and Uncle would in all probability out when we came home Aunty Val at the grandkids while Uncle Frank usually goes to the local pub to watch football on a Saturday.

As we left he commented, “Lasses if you feel like dropping in - the pub’s at the top of the street I’m willing to bet you’ll cause a stir.”
Hearing this my aunty snorted saying, “If you DO (and I stress the DO part) meet Frank in the pub; half the old codger’s will probably have a bloody heart attack.”

Now I’ll explain where my Aunty lives; it’s in a part of Durham known as Cross Gate Moor, which is on the promontory where the cathedral is overlooking the river.
In fact as they are in the parish bounds of the cathedral this is their local church (not that they are deeply religious).
The Dun Cow, which is my Uncle’s local is at top of the street except you have to walk about ½ a mile to it, you go across the River Weir by Elvet Bridge then down Elvet Street to the pub.
We were going the other way to down Saddler Street onto North Bailey thence to the Cathedral, which made our walk to the Cathedral quite easy.

As we walked Charley commented, “Well that went well Susie though it’s scary your aunty and Uncle having weird dreams.
I shuddered saying, “You’re not wrong there - it’s spooky but I think my parents are watching over me and want me to continue.”
Shonali looked at me and commented, “It’s a good job they’re on your side – just imagine what may have happened if they were against your new life!”

We arrived at the cathedral just as it opened its doors. Now for those of you not familiar with the building it is a UNESCO world heritage site built on a loop of the River Weir it is the largest Norman Church in the world and building was started in 1093 and it took only 40 years to build!
It is a truly impressive structure and in next to Durham Castle an equally impressive building that is part of the university complex.

Cathedral and castle from the air

I have never seen Charley so animated she was drinking in every piece of the cathedral she simply wouldn’t be rushed and explored everywhere guide book in hand making notes to (as she put it), “Ask Rob about things next time she was with him”
We spent over 4 hours going around the cathedral even climbed the 325 narrow stone steps of the spiral staircase that lead to the Tower – I know it’s 325 as it says so in the guide book AND Charley insisted on counting them!

Cathedral

Just before three in the afternoon we made it to the castle for a guided tour. As this is a working part of the university the only way we could see it was with a guide.
The castle predated the cathedral by about 20 years originally built in 1072 as a defended mound but later became the stupendous edifice it is today.

We all had a great day but it’s fair to say Charley had really enjoyed herself – it turns out she’s a history geek and places like this are like a drug to her.
As we walked back Shonali came up with a brilliant idea, “Girls” she started “How about a day or so in York?” I knew instantly what she was getting at and was all for it. Charley would love York with a capital L!

York

We explained to Charley what York was like and again she was all for it. Again for those who don’t know about York I’ll give a précis of the place.

It’s an ancient City - with a Wall all around the oldest part of the city.
It has been lived in for millennia by the native British, the Romans the Viking’s and the Normans.
Much of the original city is in situ and there are numerous museums that display York throughout the ages.
Guy Fawkes of the gunpowder plot fame came from York.
It also has a splendid Minster where the Archbishop of York holds sway he is the second ranked clergy in the UK after Canterbury.
There are streets that haven’t changed in centuries where the houses nearly meet at the second floor.

York Minster

By now we were heading back to the house. After our usual democratic discussion we decided that if Kelly was fit enough we’d spend a full day or a couple of days in York next week.

On the subject of Kelly judging by the number of texts we were getting off her she was doing well and I actually started feeling sorry for her mum!

As a bored Kelly is a pain in the bum! We all were missing her company greatly.

As we were walking home we were discussing the day when Charley said, “Let’s walk to the pub your Uncles go and see him.” I looked at Shonali who simply shrugged. So it was decided we crossed the river and wandered down Old Elvet
until we reached the pub. The pub was called the Dun Cow and it was about 400 years old it had a small front bar where we found my Uncle who to say the least looked surprised to see us.
His mate’s were all about the same age as him (50’s) and soon we were perched on the bench seats being outrageously flirted with.

Charley had some difficulty in understanding the local dialect but struggled on she actually tried some English beer and discovered she had a taste for it! (Her and Rob seemed like soul mates as they both enjoyed the same things – I was so happy for the two of them)

The bar staff were really friendly and my Uncle boasted about our antics on the other side of the world.
Telling everyone that we had been cheerleaders for the cricket (much to our embarrassment)
In fact after the football final scores had finished the barman dug out a set of DVD’s of the IPL (Does every pub in the world have these matches recorded??) and soon we were on display on the TV.
Word must have got through into the backroom because younger guys came through not to view the cricket but to view the very fit cheerleaders (us)! I think it’s fair to say we achieved minor celebrity status.

About six we gathered up Uncle Frank and made our way home for tea. We were a bit tiddly and Uncle Frank was slightly worse for wear he got a good-natured telling off from his wife.

We helped her prepare tea while her husband gently snored in ‘his’ easy chair we apologised for bringing him home late but aunty Val simply smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it girls I’m glad you three enjoyed yourselves – he’ll be talking about you three for ages.”

She looked at me and added, “And young lady he’s really proud of you and can’t wait to give you away.”
Then she hugged me saying, “And I’m proud too – you’ve turned out a really pretty lass.”
I was an emotional wreck inside but I was so, so happy half of my family had accepted me.

We set the table then woke Uncle Frank during tea aunty Val told us that tomorrow the whole family would be coming around for Sunday dinner.
We looked in amazement as the room was quite small aunty Val grinned and said, “We can fit everyone in girls; cos the kids eat in the other room!”

After tea the three of us cleared up and washed the pots. Uncle Frank went back to sleep – or as Aunty Val put it, “Watched the TV through his eyelids.”
We then settled down in the room and had a very quiet night watching the TV and doing each other’s nails.

Sunday was a lazy day! Dinner was scheduled for three in the afternoon so we helped get everything ready. The piece of Pork was huge – well there were nine adults and four healthy hungry kids.

Everyone arrived between 11 and 11:30 which I thought was very early until I found that everyone was heading to the pub until 2 then home ready for dinner, the meat was on slow cook and everything was ready to go.

This apparently was the norm when all the family gathered and aunty Val went to the pub to make sure her errant husband arrived home on time.

So the three of us had to shoot upstairs to get changed out of our scruffy clothes.
I decided on a short tunic dress and dark tights with 3” fashion boots – dressy but in keeping with what the other women were wearing Shoni and Charley dressed similar.

When we set off for the pub Charley had her little blonde haired inquisitor (Izzy) holding hands with her asking again why she ‘talked funny’ which I suppose to someone of that age having never met an American before seemed a logical question!

I had seven-year-old James hanging onto one hand while lucky Shonali had
Millie and Annie! Both her hands were full. We were all suffering the inquisition of inquisitive and brutally honest kids.

We arrived at the same pub we were in yesterday and filled half the small front bar with adults and kids. There were also many of my Uncles friends there along with sundry family kids and dogs it was mayhem but really good fun.

Once again the IPL games were shown – Charley groaned and said to me, “Gee is this going to follow us about forever?” Aunty Val answered, “No I doubt it – unless you’re thinking about making a career out of it!”

We desperately assured her that it was a one off job we’d done. Then big mouth Shonali mentioned the club in New Zealand and started to show pictures she had on her iPhone of us in that skimpy uniform! (It seems that Shonali is replacing big mouth Kelly as chief putter of foot in mouth!)

Aunty Val looked at the pictures and the cricket DVD’s and sighed “Eeeee I which I had a body like you young ‘uns!”
Uncle Frank gave her a squeeze and said, “You still have as far as I’m concerned.” And promptly got a clout for his attempt at gallantry!

The rest of the day was wonderful, and as Aunty Val had said we all managed to fit around the table with the kids in the next room (wooden floor easily cleaned).

Then it was Monday and time for us to leave we said goodbye to Uncle Frank before he left for work.
He told us we were welcome anytime and then to me he hugged me and whispered, “I’m proud of you lass.”

We then packed our cases. Aunty Val took us to the station, as she didn’t start work until eleven.
We said our goodbyes to her thanking her for a wonderful weekend. Again we were told that we were always welcome and next time we had to bring Kelly. Shonali groaned theatrically and said, “Do we have to?”

As we boarded the train I hugged my aunty and simply told her, “Thank you it means so much to me.”

Then we were off to Leeds to rescue Kelly’s mum from a obviously very bored Kelly – we could tell she was bored because the number of text messages we were getting were increasing and another clue was she was telling us she was bored.

We sent a text telling her we were on our way to Leeds then settled down, as usual we changed trains at York – this had more of an interest for Charley now she knew something of the history – she actually bought a book about the city.

At Leeds station we got a huge surprise Kelly was there waiting for us as we had a group hug it was great to see her but she was still weak still recovering that snake venom had really damaged her muscles and it would be some months before she recovered to full fitness.

But as she told us, “Can I come home with you guy’s I’m bored out of my head at home.”
We got a taxi and headed to the area where Shonali and Kelly lived and finally we got a very weak Kelly home.
She may be bored but she was still not right.

Three of us were greeted like long lost daughters while Kelly got a bollocking for disappearing without telling her mum!
We all went up to Kelly’s room where I was sleeping and hung my clothes up. I gathered my stuff for washing plus some of the other girls washing and Kelly’s and went down to see if I could use the washing machine.

As expected I got told off for doing my own washing – Kelly’s mum was great. I explained, “Look mum, we’re used to doing our own washing. Anyhow you have enough to do looking after Kelly.”

“God that daughter of mine is a bad patient!” She sighed. I laughed at that saying, “I can only imagine that cos she has a very low boredom threshold.”

We both laughed at that then she asked me, “Do you think you can persuade her to stay here until after Christmas at least the hospital physiotherapy is making progress she is getting stronger –but:”

Mum left that but hanging I gave her a squeeze and told her, “We’ll do our very best I promise.”
Kelly’s mum smiled wearily at me saying, “You’re a good girl Susie – and a good friend to that bloody headstrong daughter of mine.”

We then went to Shonali’s house where Charlie was staying. As with Kelly’s we were treated like family.
As Kell had remained at home as she was tired we had the chance to discuss our strategy for not letting her go back to Manchester with us – and to be honest we didn’t really have a strategy!

Gill wasn’t home when we arrived - he still had the flat but visited home regularly.
In a way I was glad about this as too many memories would surface but I knew that I couldn’t postpone meeting him.
Once they were settled in I walked the few streets back to Kelly’s and we had a quiet night in watching TV.

That night as we snuggled up together in bed Kelly said, “I’ve really missed you guys and I’ve really missed night’s like this where we can simply talk.”

I answered, “And we’ve missed you but you are still very weak Kell.”

She sighed and said, “I know and it really pisses me off. I want to do things but I’m too weak it’s so bloody annoying.” Then she sobbed and clung to me letting all her frustrations out.

As a friend I simply held her close and comforted her remembering all those months ago when she had done exactly the same with me when my grief at loosing my family exploded – I did what a best friend does best – simply be there for her.

Finally Kelly fell into a sleep of sorts. I could feel she was dreaming as every-so-often she would twitch and moan.
Finally I fell asleep spooned into my best friend.
Our week passed quickly we went to York and did a whistle stop tour of all the sights we promised Charley that we’d come back and spend a few days there really doing the tourist trail.

Kelly went to physio twice a week and each time she came home she was knackered but her determination was still there. We planned out days around her not pushing things too much.

One night in bed Kelly asked, “When are you having your operation Susie?” I gave a sigh and told her, “Probably in the New Year. I’ve got to see Dr. Kendrick next week so we’ll go from there.” “Are you looking forward to it?” She asked.

I snuggled in close and answered, “Oh yes so very much it’ll be great to be like you guys; and to be myself and not pretend.”
“You are like us Susie” she said, “If you wanted to stop as you are we wouldn’t care a bit.”

I hugged her close and whispered, “Thanks it means a lot to me – but I’m going to be a complete girl!”
We lay in silence for a while then she said, “I don’t think I’ll come home with you three.
I think I had better stay here and annoy mum until after Christmas then I’ll see how I feel.”
I gave her a squeeze and answered, “It’s probably for the best Kell – but we miss you terribly.”
Again we were lost in our own thoughts when she said, “Have you talked to Gill?”

I giggled replying, “Oh yes!”
“And?” She prompted
“And nothing Kell. He wasn’t the man I thought he was he was afraid to meet me face to face. I don’t like that in anybody – it’s so sad he doesn’t have any balls!”

“I thought you said before that he seemed to manage alright!!!” “Kelly Jackson!” I exclaimed, “You know exactly what I mean!” That set the two of us off giggling.

These discussions in bed really took some time usually it was well after midnight when we went to sleep.
But there was no rush to get up the next morning so in truth we had a restful week ready for some serious job-hunting when we got back to Manchester.

We left Leeds on the Monday morning arriving back home about midday. We all went to inspect Charley’s new bedroom.
It was perfect absolutely perfect. Then she spotted the present that Kelly, Shonali and myself had arranged to be done.
In Pride of place - still in the box was the medal that Max had given to Charley as a Christmas present along with the letter from Max telling Charley what her dad had done.
We had it mounted into a frame nestling on a purple velvet background it was hung on the wall opposite to Charley’s bed where she could see it.
She was overwhelmed and broke down in tears.

Once we got ourselves sorted out I left Charley talking to Rob on her mobile. Then I went to the University to see if anyone was taking on graduates while Shonali headed off to the nearest job centre and collected all the local papers to go through the situations vacant.

Now it was the first week in November. We continued scouring the vacancies page and made sure out CV’s were as good as we could get them. (Mind you there wasn’t much on them apart from bar work and other odd jobs we had done during our travels – including the cheerleader stint in India)
My visit to Dr. Kendrick went well and he agreed that I could have my surgery in the New Year.

It was about two weeks later when Shonali burst through the door bursting with Excitement, “Susie, Susie, Charley I’ve got an interview! I’ve actually got and interview!” She was bouncing with excitement – I was so happy for her!

The three of us had a group happy hug then managed to get Shonali to tell us about her interview.
It was with a newly formed small firm that had started up to service Media City the job she was being interviewed for was a combination of web building with graphic design.
This was great as it meant one of us had the chance of a job.
Shoni phoned Kelly to tell her (and her mum and dad) all of them were excited for her.
The interview was in a week’s time so Charley and myself spent the week helping her prepare finding as much out about the budding company as we could so Shonali if asked would show she had done some research and was genuinely interested in the company.

Charley and Rob were most definitely an item they fitted together like a hand in a well tailored glove I was so very happy for the two of them.

The night before Shonali’s interview I was sitting watching a chick flick – Shonali was in bed getting a good night sleep and Charley was out with Rob.

I was curled dabbing my eyes when Charley arrived home. She took off her jacket and plopped down next to me.

We watched the film for a while then Charley said, “Susie I’ve something to ask you – if you don’t want to answer it’s ok I’ll understand.”
I stirred reaching for another tissue and told her, “Ask away.”

Charley fidgeted for a second or two then blurted, “When you and Rob ----- well were an item. ------ Did you ------ I mean -------- did you errrr.”
“Make love?” I finished for her smiling gently.

She looked really worried so I asked, “Does it make a difference?”
She thought for a second before replying, “I don’t suppose it does I love Rob -----But --------.”
I caught the word love and thought Mmmmmmmmm!

“Charley” I started, “I’ll be perfectly honest with you I only went out with Rob for a couple of months. Then before Christmas Kelly and Shoni had gone home.
Rob was going home the next day and me? Well I was going into hospital to get my Adams Apple shaved and my voice done.”
I stopped and thought about that night with a soft smile. I realised that this did mean a lot to Charley.

I continued telling her, “I had the flat to myself and I borrowed that yellow dress that looks like its been painted on.” She nodded as she had seen me in the very dress.

I looked her straight in the eyes and continued, “That night Rob was going to make love to me I’ll admit that. And he hadn’t a clue about what I was planning.”

I took a sip of my once warm milk then continued, “We had a lovely evening – Rob was the perfect gentleman.” Charley nodded and murmured, “He still is.” That made me smile.

“We got back here and it was on this very sofa that I started to seduce him. Then I figured out that he was a virgin – if I went ahead I would have been his first girl.”
Charley’s jaw dropped she managed to say, “He was a virgin?” I nodded and said, “And as far as I know he still is!”

Her jaw dropped again at that and she stammered, “W, w, w, what happened ----- I mean why didn’t?”
“What you are trying to say is why didn’t I take him to bed?” I finished for her.

Charley nodded so I continued, “When I thought about things - to me it just didn’t seem right that his first girl should be a girl like me! I thought that he should have a real girl – someone like you Charley!”

“But” she started to say but I continued,“All we did was make out on this settee he felt my boobies and that but no further – does that answer your question?”

Charley looked steadily at me nodded slowly and said, “Thanks for telling me Susie – I’ll never figure you out - but you have some strange and very rigid values.”

I smiled and said, “No Charley I don’t -------- Now about what you said earlier.”
This really puzzled her until I reminded her, “You said you love Rob – remember!”