The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2957 by Angharad Copyright© 2016 Angharad

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This is a work of fiction any mention of real people, places or institutions is purely coincidental and does not imply that they are as suggested in the story.
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“How can you possibly have four transgender daughters, you must be encouraging them.” This was asked by someone who was obviously male despite wearing a dress.

“I didn’t encourage them but I did allow them space and time to explore gender roles, so I didn’t discourage them.”

“But most transgender children go on to become gay not seek reassignment.”

“I can’t answer for others but my own seem content in their new roles.”

“Only because you make them.”

“I can assure you, Cathy doesn’t make them live as girls, it’s all their own choosing,” Debbie stepped in.

“You should have discouraged them, all you’re doing is building up problems for later life.”

“On what authority do you make that pronouncement?” I fired back at him.

“Well it’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“No because for the most part all I saw was depression or frustration because they wanted to dress as girls—actually they wanted to become girls, I simply allowed them to experiment.”

“But you shouldn’t have—can’t you see, they’d have been normal if you’d made them toe the line.”

“I disagree. Two were presenting as female, one eventually gave in to her urges and the encouragement of some of my daughters and the last one was doing it without my knowledge. When he revealed it to me, I was less than enthusiastic but he kept on and I finally allowed him to crossdress. She took to it like a duck to water despite having been quite a boyish boy. My husband was very disappointed but agreed if it was what she wanted to do, we’d let her in the hope she’d get fed up. She hasn’t.”

“How did they find you?” asked a younger person.

“I was asked to foster the first child who was subsequently dumped on me and if you recall had mobility problems. When we got her mobilised by a bit of sleight of hand, the doctor she was under asked if I do the same with another child who happened to be transgender but presenting as female. She was aged five but had negotiated the right to wear girl’s clothing and be called by a girl’s name.”

“At age five, come off it,” was heckled.

“She is a remarkable child. At her custody hearing, when we were seeking to adopt her, she actually followed the judge through his chambers and negotiated with him.”

“How do we know you’re not just making this up?”

“Why would I do that? It makes no sense. Look, I didn’t want to come here and talk about my children but I did as a favour to Debbie. I know we constitute a cluster effect in Portsmouth, but as they all came from here to begin with, what difference does it make?”

“I reckon you con them into becoming girls.”

“I can assure you I don’t and they are all under the care of a consultant psychiatrist with some experience of gender identity disorder.” I was beginning to wish I hadn’t bothered.

“I don’t believe you.”

“This morning, I was going to talk about my experiences with my one daughter and mentioned this at breakfast and to my surprise, they all said I could talk about them if it helped someone else. In part, I wished I’d brought one of them with me, to confirm my statement. If I’d brought one of them, she’d have argued the toss with her for the rest of the evening, she doesn’t give up and loves to argue. If I’d brought the teenager, she’d have flounced off having told you where to go. Believe me, I didn’t force anyone of them to dress or act like girls.”

“But if they’re living in that sort of environment, isn’t it more likely they’ll do the same as the rest of the girls?” So far this was the first bit of logic I’d had thrown at me.

“I don’t know and accept it could have been a factor although I did discuss this with the paediatric psychiatrist we use. She could see no evidence for it and said that she’d look out for it more in future.”

“Are they following some unconscious agenda you have?”

“Again I asked this of the psychiatrist and she could find no evidence for it but I am aware of it.”

“Aren’t you just in denial?”

“I don’t think so and neither does anyone else.”

“You mentioned other daughters, how many do you have, exactly?”

“Ten.”

“Ten girls and you wonder why the boys don’t want to compete? What are you some sort of man-hating lesbian?”

“I neither hate men nor am I gay, I’m happily married to a lovely man.”

“So you haven’t tried to convert him then?”

“What have I got to do to prove to you that I didn’t cause any of them to choose to be female, they all did it themselves, I just gave them space and made no judgement about them.”

“I think that’s enough now, let’s thank Cathy for coming to speak to us this afternoon.” Debbie once again stepped in and closed down the session. “Dinner is at seven but the bar is open from six, see you all later.”

“Thanks, Cathy, sorry there were some hostiles here today, normally it’s better than this.”

“Don’t bother asking me again, Debbie.” I walked away deciding to visit the loo before driving home. I’d just emerged when I ran into one of the awkward squad.

“You’re weird, you are,” he said to me—this coming from a man in a dress while we were standing in the ladies loo.

“And you’re not? Try looking in the mirror,” I said angrily as I pushed past them.

“I don’t damage children,” was called at my back. I chose to ignore it and go home because there was grave danger I’d have torn him to shreds both mentally and physically. I stormed out of the conference area and just my luck was recognised by a member of staff as I walked through reception.

“Lady Cameron, how nice to see you. Is there anything we can do for you today?”

“No,” I said and walked on to the car park, jumped in my car and drove out faster than I should. All the way home I decided that I would never have anything to do with groups of trannies ever again no matter what the cause.

I calmed down and drove home sedately. The girls were waiting for me when I got home and they were horrified when I mentioned the seeming abuse I received because I had so many transgender children, which they couldn’t accept because it was outside their experience or comprehension.

From now on I’ll stick to rodents, don’t get the same sort of problems from them.