I tugged nervously at my skirt as I made my way down the hall to father’s study, trying to ensure that everything was properly in place. He’d been hiding in there for days now, but had finally summoned me in to to meet with him. I tried to reassure myself that this was progress. Ever since I started living as Melanie, he’d been avoiding me. The few times I’d seen him in recent days had always prompted a scowl from him, and a retreat to his office. Mother says he should come around in time, but I’m starting to wonder.

It had been getting harder to keep the façade of Michael going. I’d worked out my gender conflicts with my therapist, and had been getting frustrated with lack of resolution. I knew that Michael was my past, and Melanie was my future, and being stuck in limbo was becoming more than I could bear. The main obstacle to me starting to live as Melanie had been Father. He really wasn’t ready to let go of Michael, or the notion that he had a son instead of a daughter. Finally, my therapist and mother were convinced I couldn’t go on as I’d been, and we resolved that I could become Melanie for good during the school break. Mother thought father might come around once he saw how much happier I seemed, but that wasn’t going to happen if he kept leaving any room I was in.

So it was with a flicker of hope that I knocked on the door. “Father, you wanted to see me?”

“Come in,” he called.

My flicker of hope was extinguished by his expression as he watched me come through the door. He seemed to be looking at something distasteful, and I quietly sighed as I realized this wasn’t likely to be a happy meeting of reconciliation. I moved to stand before the desk he was seated at, and waited for him to continue.

“Michael…or, Melanie, as I’m told you should be called now…” he paused, and his face grew stormier for a bit until he seemed to rally, and press on, “As you know, I’m not best pleased with these changes you insist on.”

He vaguely waved his hand up and down, gesturing at me, as if it might be unclear what changes he was referring to.

“I know it’s been hard on you, but I couldn’t go on as I’d been, and I hope you can come to term–” I started to say before he cut me off with a flat wave of his hand.

“Yes, yes, I’ve heard that from your mother and the quack you’ve been seeing. Stuff and nonsense, I think, but I’m prepared to give you a chance, and even, perhaps, help you clarify your thinking on this.”

Oh, this did not sound good.

“As the school break is coming to a close, we’ve got to get your schooling sorted. I’m told a new school would help give you a new start, but I hardly think anything local would work for that, as we’ve lived here all your life. With that in mind, I’ve made arrangements to send you off to a boarding school.”

No, not good at all. He probably has some military academy in mind to whip me in shape. I’ll be dead in minutes if I can’t put a stop to that.

He continued, “And while I still don’t see how you can be a girl, the letters from that quack are sufficient for a girl’s school to take you as such.”

Wait, what?

“Did you say a girl’s school, father?” I had to ask to make sure I understood.

“Well, you’ve been insisting you’re a girl, so what’s the problem with a girl’s school? Unless this was all a lark, and Michael would like to return to his old school?”

“No, a girl’s school would be great, father!” And with that, my hope was rekindled, maybe father did get it.

“If at any point you don’t feel you fit in there, be assured, I’ll happily rescue my son from the unsuitable environment with those girls, and bring you home where we can say no more of this episode of yours.”

I didn’t need an imaginary Admiral Ackbar standing on my shoulder yelling “It’s a trap!” to figure out there was a catch, but it seemed father was setting me a challenge, and when I met it, he’d be more willing to deal with me as his daughter. Besides, I wasn’t ready to deal with boys yet, anyway, so an all girls school seemed like it could work.

“I’m sure I’ll manage just fine, father. Thank you for trying to be understanding.”

“We’ll see, we’ll see. You should start packing. You leave for St. Trinian’s day after tomorrow.”