Dot and Sam 24

Dorothy Philpot. Landlady of The Harbour Light pub
Sam Philpot. Drag-queen.
Billy Parkins Doorkeeper.
Jessica Merlot The town’ and county archaeologist.
Josephine MacDonald The town and county archivist.
Richard Drummond Town planning inspector
Robert Vincent. Junior planning inspector.
Georgina. (Georgie) Homeless Transgender girl previously known as George.
Bobby Gay boy on the school bus.
Marty Girl on the school bus. (She becomes Georgie’s best friend and lover)
Jack. Marty’s twin brother (Keen runner).
Trevor Aitkins, Georgie’s Biological father.
Lucinda Aitkins Georgie’s biological mother
Terence Georgie’s step-dad
Allison. Old school friend of Trevor
Fred Allisons husband
Elizabeth Aitkins (Beth) Georgie’s younger sister. Later proves to be sympathetic to her ‘sister’
Jonathon Aitkins (Johnny) Georgie’s younger brother.

Chapter 24

“For the first month of the Spring term there was a noticeable increase in security patrols around Georgie’s college campus. There was even a single daily patrol by the police, mainly after the refectory had finished serving regular meals, or between seven and ten p.m., as students trafficked to and from the various libraries or laboratories. There were no more attacks at Georgie’s college but there was a serious ‘racially motivated’ attack upon the Iman who attended to cultural and religious affairs at the City College. He was badly beaten up and for several weeks the police were buzzing around like bees at a hive but eventually, the issue came to nothing.

The man had returned to his home country in the Middle East before the police investigations had even finished.

Rumours eventually emerged that the victim was the Iman who had orchestrated ‘morality patrols’ at various locations around London, usually close to or even upon university campuses and occasionally down the east end of London where a large ethnic religious community existed. The police consequently got nowhere with their inquiries and indeed, there was little motivation to dig deeper.

For Georgie however, life became briefly complicated as the Terfs tried strenuously to get her to join their organisation. Several times they approached her with beseechments to ‘support their cause’ but Georgie pleaded that she and her partner Martina had ‘done their bit’ for women’s security and they were engrossed in studies. By Easter, the furore had died down and Georgie breathed a little lighter because her transgender secret had not been exposed.

Secrets however, rarely last forever if more than one person knows and regrettably, both Georgie’s siblings had learned of her transitioning. Ordinarily this would not have mattered but her younger sister Elizabeth (affectionately known as Beth’) had learned during a brief mobile call that Georgie and Marty were staying in college during the easter hols to indulge in some heavy swotting preparatory to the summer exams. On realising that Georgie would be in London over Easter, Beth begged and cajoled her older sister to let her bed down in their room for a couple of weeks.

“I promise I won’t be any trouble. I’ll be out and about exploring the city during the day.” She pleaded.

“And what about at night. Both Marty and I tend to burn the midnight oil sometimes.” Georgie objected. “College isn’t a holiday you know.”

“You’ve got two rooms. I can stay in the other room and I’ve brought my own ‘blow-up’ mattress.”

To be frank, Georgie was secretly glad that her sister still wanted to maintain a relationship with her so she approached Marty later that afternoon.

“And she knows everything?” Marty checked. “The whole caboodle; my lesbianism, your sexual preferences, everything.”

“Yes.” Georgie affirmed. “She knows the score.”

“She’d better. There will be no nonsense or partying. I’ve got to work cos I’m finding some stuff difficult and our deal was that you’d help me with some of the difficult stuff.”

“Yes, I’ve warned her about us being here to work and I’ve warned her especially about me and the Terfs.”

“Good then. Well, we can give it a try, if it doesn’t work out then she has to go home. No questions no protests, she’ll be on probation.”

“Absolutely,” Georgie agreed then she phoned her dad to discuss the arrangement.

A week later, Beth duly arrived by coach but much to her surprise, their younger brother Johnny was with her. Georgie gasped when she saw him on the bus and immediately tackled Beth.

“What’s he doing here? He CAN NOT STAY IN HALL! It’s a female hall only.”

“He’s staying with Dad just for one week. Dad’s got a big project on and he’s staying at a hotel for a month or so. I’ll meet Johhny every day in town and just tour the sights. At night he stays in Dad’s room at the hotel. They’ve got a split double bed.

Georgie gave a sigh of relief.

“Thank god for that! They’re dead keen about the ‘no men’ rule in our hall. Some women just want peace to study.”

“Like me for instance.” Marty declared. “No stupid boys doing panty raids and stuff.”

Before even the whisper of a smirk crossed Johhny’s countenance, Georgie weighed in forcefully.

“We mean it bro! No bloody nonsense! If you visit us on Campus, it’s strictly the union building or the academic buildings. You cannot visit our hall. It’s girls only and that’s how we like it.”

Johnny smirked and was about to make some facile remark about trans-girls but the look he got from Georgie, quickly changed his mind.

Having set the boundaries, they returned to hall where Beth dumped her suitcase while Johhny left his rucksack at the porters lodge to be collected by their dad later.

It was already mid-afternoon by the time the four had toured the campus and familiarised Johnny and Beth with all the useful places so they settled comfortably into the sofas in the union bar and chatted while sipping coffee around a low coffee table. As they chatted and laughed Georgie’s expression suddenly soured and Johnny twisted around to see what she was looking at. A group of girls had entered and while most made for the coffee counter, three of them made a bee-line for the four. Johhny tensed slightly and glanced questioningly at his older sister.

Georgie reassured him there was no threat but warned him not to mention transgenderism. Without even waiting for introductions, the Terfs immediately asked Georgie again about joining them. Having done so, the ringleader produced a paper clipping from the London evening News.

“Have you seen this; about that Imam?”

“Yes, I saw it online last night. He was detained but not arrested because of his diplomatic status. Gypsie’s mother keeps us informed and he’s due to be deported, tomorrow.”

“Good. Who’s this bloke? I thought you were into pretty girls.”

“This bloke as you call him, is Johnathon, my younger brother and while you’re asking, this is Elizabeth, my younger sister.”

The Terf loomed over the lounging Johhny and asked him.

“What d’ you think of your sister being gay?”

Johhny had already sensed the antagonism between the Terf and Georgie so he glanced at his older sister and winked before replying to the Terf.

“What I think is nothing to do with you.”

“Oooh! It speaks.”

Johnny gave her the vee sign and said no more. This unsettled the Terf as she was more akin to immediate verbal responses. She smirked at him and responded.

“Is that all you’ve got to say; two fingers?”

Without looking up, Johnny responded by giving the more American ‘single finger’, then picked up his coffee mug and sipped unconcernedly. The comedic element of his simple sign-language had not been lost on the others for his message had been loud and clear. The group sniggered collectively and the Terf stalked angrily back to her group. Once she was out of earshot Georgie grinned at Johnny.

“Thanks Bro, so what do you think about my changing?”

“As to the sex change thing, I couldn’t care less! As to my getting my sibling back; I’m overjoyed. Though. I just wish you’d meet mum and set her mind at rest. She’s missing you.”

“Early days bro,” Georgie replied, “I won’t meet with Terry or that son Peter of his; ever.”

Johnny shrugged and suggested more coffees to which most of the girls agreed, so he gathered the cups and mugs onto a tray and headed for the counter. After stacking the dirty cups he joined the back of the queue where a group of older male students approached him.

“You’re a lucky bastard,” one of the boys grinned, “how d’ you do it?”

“Do what?” Johnny frowned with puzzlement.

“Get to chat with those beauties.”

“Uuhm, they’re my older sisters and their friends.”

“Yeah, I thought you looked a bit young for Col.”

“Jus’ visiting.” Johnny confirmed as he collected a fresh tray and set out new, clean cups. Then he discovered he needed two trays because some of the girls had ordered snacks.

One of the boys spotted his opportunity and offered to help Johnny with the load. Without thinking, Johnny accepted his offer and the boy used the ploy to leave his friends and join the girls. Suddenly the girls found that they had somehow acquired a ‘follower’.

As the girls fell silently tense the new arrival realised he might not be as welcome as he thought . After placing the second tray down, he paused uncertainly and looked hopefully around the girls. Georgie decided to ease the tension and turned to Johhny.

“What’s this Bro, found a new friend already?”

“Well I – not really he jus’ offered to help.”

“That was cunning dear,” Beth looked up and grinned at the boy. “But if you’re looking to join us I’m afraid it’s girly talk.”

“Can my friends join?” He asked, nodding towards the group of boys he’d left.

“They’re out of luck darling,” Marty added, “we bat for the other side; well, four of us do.”

The boy had the wit and grace to make no further comments but Beth was slightly taken by his insightful demeanour and invited him to join.

“If you behave yourself you can join us but please, no daft questions. I’ll need a chaperone at the union dance tonight. What’s your name?”

Like her older ‘sister’, Beth was a very attractive girl and the boy did not want to miss such an opportunity. He looked around uncertainly again and Georgie decided to warn him.

“She’s my younger sister and she’s sleeping in our hall tonight, but by all means ask for a date. You can share our table but don’t monopolise the conversation.”

Beth bristled slightly at Georgie’s seeming overbearance and immediately moved to regain her independence.

“Don’t listen to my big sister, but she’s right about sleeping, I’m staying in her room tonight.”

Georgie shared a sisterly grin with Beth and bade the boy to sit.

“No funny business now, just sit and chat.”

“Can I sit by Beth?” The boy asked, looking hopefully at the occupied space on the sofa.

“Well, I’m the only straight girl here so you might as well.” Beth opined.

This remark occasioned a quick but agreeable rearrangement of seating and Beth contentedly leaned into the boy’s open arm as he promptly let it fall around her shoulder.

Georgie let out a snigger before commenting,

“Huh! And you don’t even know his name!”

Beth started self-consciously as she turned to ask him but he volunteered it.

“It’s Robert, everybody calls me Bob.”

“There! Happy now?” Beth riposted as she pulled her tongue out towards Georgie.

Georgie just rolled her eyes and took a sip of coffee as the conversation returned to the issue of the Terfs on Campus. This was of little interest to Bob who simply sat silent while very gently squeezing Beth’s shoulder. Then the subject returned inevitably to the violence meted out by Terfs and Bob’s interest perked up.

He had previously resolved to do as he’d promised and keep silent but one of the girls suddenly asked him.

“What would you do if you saw some Terfs attacking a trans-girl?”

“Uh! Wha-? Well. I uhmm, I’ve never thought about it.” He replied, aiming to steer clear of the issue.

“But wouldn’t you move to protect her?”

“Well; I uhmm, well, that’s tricky; I mean, if I’m a bloke and I beat up a woman or even several women, – even though they’re attacking some poor tranny; I’d still be the one charged with battery or something. It’s a lose, - lose situation for a bloke. Besides, most trannies come across as a docker in a frock and they can usually protect themselves; especially if it’s a Terf attack.

His answer held too much painful truth for the girls to take the subject further except that Johnny, being younger, took it a fateful step further without realising. He was thinking of his older sister getting beaten up.

“Not necessarily, lots of trans girls are very feminine these days and vulnerable. So, if the trans-girl’s pretty and very feminine; would you step in then?”

“I dunno’,” Bob confessed. “All I know is that if you touch a woman, lookout. Not all lesbians look like wrestlers either, so how would a bloke know it it’s just a cat-fight or a full-blown Terf attack? I don’t think I would unless the Terfs were obviously chunky or the tranny didn’t pass well.”

“Ooh, listen to the mansplaining,” Beth teased Bob.

Johhny got a little angry cos he thought Bob was being fair and honest.

“Bugger off sis. No tranny deserves to be attacked jus’ because they’re trans.”

At this Johnny indicated the Terfs gathered by the refectory counter.

“Jus look at that lot. What would they do if they found out?”

Even as he spoke, Johnny realised he was stepping into dangerous territory so he instantly fell silent and glanced around uncertainly. Unfortunately, Bob was slightly more astute than most college boys and he squinted curiously at Johhny.

“Found out what?”

“Oh nothing, Johhny replied thinking quickly then adding, “just if somebody in coll was trans or something.”

By now both Georgie and Marty were realising things were getting tricky so they finished their coffees and declared they were going grocery shopping. Glad to spot an escape, Johnny stood up to join them but Beth felt more comfortable wrapped by Bob’s arm. She asked her older sister what time they would be back and agreed to meet her back at their room.

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