Chapter 6 — Parting the Red Sea.

The door creaked open and Sarah slowly stepped into the mess. As she closed the door behind her, she balled her fists up and walked across the room towards the coke machine.

She could feel eyes burning into her as she walked. It was all the courage she had to continue walking.

As she reached the machine, she fumbled for a coin in her pocket before shakily slotting it into the machine and hammering any button her hand landed on.

Behind her she heard a faint chuckle and some voices.

She crouched and recovered her drink from the vending machine and turned to find Peter Shiloh standing before her quietly.

“Um, Hi David.” He said quietly.

Looking mildly unamused she replied tersely; “It’s Sarah, please.”

“I…oh… sorry.” He blushed. “Um, you want to join us and talk?” he continued.

Sarah simply nodded and followed Peter across the room to a group of sofas that seated six of her unit. Amongst them, she saw Ari.

This made her heart skip; she had one ally at least.

Nervously looking around the group she sat down on one of the sofas to one end of the small seating enclave and tucked her leg under her bottom.

Looking around the group, she slowly opened her coke and took a sip. Pausing to collect her thoughts she spoke; “I guess you guys are wondering what the deal is?” she said hesitantly.

Snickers and nods from the group suggested that was indeed their reason for being present.

Ari caught her eye and smiled reassuringly; urging her on.

“You know me as Corporal David Yakobavitch…” She started

“When I was little, I guess I was a normal quiet kid. I went to Synagogue and helped my parents with chores, my school work, the usual…

Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents, and they love me, but I just never felt I fitted in with the family. Even school, I just felt like I was a spectator … watching it all happen; life pass by.”

Clearing her throat, she continued, not put off by the silence that had befallen the group.

“I guess I realised I was different when I started high school. All the boys and girls began developing and changing, and I felt like I was missing out.”

She laughed darkly. “I know I never went down quite the same path as all of you clearly. But it was enough to make things seem unjust….

I finally realised it when I was about 14. I wasn’t a boy. Sure, I had boy parts down there.” She sighed, gesturing at her crotch.

“But I wasn’t one up here.” She said touching her hand to her head.

“Yeah, I know what you’re thinking….” She grimaced. “It sounds bizarre at best, even deluded. I know what the Torah says. It’s not possible to change sex…. But that’s the thing… I’m not doing.” She almost pleaded as she looked around the sceptical faces.

“I was born a girl; A girl with a birth defect. I had the body of a boy, but I wasn’t. I was always a girl from the moment my mother gave birth to me. At least up here.” She whispered; touching her head once more.

“I feel like a liar.” She continued. “I joined the army when I was conscribed to endure my 3 years service. I didn’t want to. Cutting my hair when I joined nearly broke me. But I grew to love the army; I was good at what I did. I excelled, and most of all, I feel proud to say I am a defender of our nation." she said, for the first time drawing nods from the group, the first reaction of any sort.

“I joined Sayeret Matkal because I could excel, and defend this country more directly and because it allowed me to be more free with my appearance whilst remaining in the army.

Like I said; I feel I need to apologise to all of you now; because I’ve lied to you all for so long.” She sobbed, a tear rolling down her cheek.

“I wish I could have met you all as me… the real me… The me that sits here now. Sarah Yakobavitch. I am the same person, I don’t ask you to treat me any differently you have. I’m still you’re friend. The shell just matches the person you were friends with now.

I have never been a David in anything but name.” she whispered; wiping a tear from her cheek.

She looked around the group, trying to gauge some reaction from her peers

“I never really thought about it that way,” mused Peter, “It’s still a bit sudden though…. I mean, I had no idea.”

Ari broke out in hysterics at that moment causing the group to turn and face him with a mixture of questioning and confused stares.

“Seriously?” he laughed. “How can any of you have considered her one of the guys before today? The only thing she’s changed right now is she’s wearing a bra! How can you tell me that you are SURPRISED?” he shook his head in disbelief.

There were several nods and mutterings of agreement around the group at Ari’s comments.

Sensing he had their favour he continued; “We’re soldiers, and she showed today that she can still fight just as hard, if not better than some of us. As much as we are brothers in arms, I’m perfectly happy to consider her my sister in arms…” he said proudly smiling at Sarah.

Hearing her friend defend her like that lifted her sense of dread as she waited for reactions from the rest.

Her eyes fell on Sergeant Goni. He looked intently thoughtful sitting there with his arms folded and a frown on his face, intently studying his shoe.

The others seemed mostly reserved, while nodding along with Ari’s comments, keeping their own mouths shut.

Peter finally spoke: “I guess we saw what we wanted.” He began hesitantly. “I mean, you were a guy to us, so we saw you as a guy… if that makes sense. But Ari is right. You never really were… its like you were told and we were told that you were a guy, and we all just accepted it without really questioning it.”

Peter looked around the group.

”You have my support Sarah. Man or woman, you are one of my team, and a friend. You aren’t changing who you are, just the covering, um… slightly” He blushed. “Anyone says anything against you, they have to go through me.” He said smiling reassuringly at Sarah.

“That means more than you can imagine Peter, thank you,” gushed Sarah. “And you Ari, just anyone accepting me is more than I could have hoped for.” She said, staring down at her lap.

“Why were you out in town dressed up like that?” Sgt Goni said flatly.

“Like what?” Sarah frowned looking up.

“Like a woman.” The Grizzled sergeant replied. “You’re a soldier of this unit, and you go parading around town in a skirt?”

“So?” replied Sarah; her frown deepening. “Nearly every female soldier in the IDF does it.”

“You are MEANT to be Sayeret Matkal.” Growled the sergeant.

Her hackles raised, Sarah stared at the Sergeant. “Are you just a misogynistic old bastard or are you saying I’m some man in a dress?” whatever it is, fucking spit it out to my face.” She growled getting to her feet.

She stood there with her hands on her hips staring at the sergeant with a ‘well answer me’ expression on her face. She was well aware this was the only time she would look down at him.

The sergeant realised his eyes to meet Sarah’s and chuckled with a shake of his head.

“What’s so fucking funny?” she spat with venom that shocked even herself.

The Sergeant just smiled. “Never mind, I guess I’m just a misogynistic old bastard.” He chuckled.

“You just proved you’re a woman by completely over reacting and miss-interpreting what I was saying. And sit down little one, don’t be under any impression that you look tough or intimidating like that.” He laughed. Something that even made Sarah crack a small grin.

Flopping back into her seat she scowled at the sergeant. “This isn’t an excuse for you to treat me like I’m less.” She sneered.

“keep dropping ragheads, and I don’t care if you fight in a bloody tutu.” He replied with the hint of a smile.

“Just don’t let this affect your work.”

“Far from it.” Sarah replied.

“I ‘m going to go out on a limb here and speak for everyone,” said Mark, the SAW gunner as he looked around the group. “You watch our backs on missions, and its time we did the same for you. David or Sarah, man or woman, you are a human being in our eyes, and in god’s… Anyone gives you shit, talk to me.”

There were emphatic nods from around the group. Sarah finally relaxed in the seat, taking only the second sip from her coke that had been untouched since the discussion began.

“Just make sure to tell us when you start wearing your combats like the other girls, so we can move you from sniper to point.” He grinned stupidly.

“Men!” Sarah sighed with comic exasperation.

With that the group broke down into silliness. The uncertainty cleared and the bond between warriors reformed.

Sarah was glad that her friends had so far been supportive. But she was not naive enough to believe it would be the same in every case. The religious hardliners could be vicious.

As she sat with her team-mates and friends, her phone bleeped, bringing her back to reality.

Flipping the cell open, she opened the new message. It was from Ben;

‘Are we still on for tonight? B’