My figure, its shape, was pure Valerie... except for one part, which was embarrassingly evident.
The doctor stood, watching me, and then slowly pulled the mask from her face. "Hello, lover, it seems you're all developed now."
Debbie...

- Kim

04:13 16 Jun

I was just making lunch, pigs-in-a-blanket again, when Ricky came running up to me.

"Mommie!" he cried, "I can't find it anywhere!"

I looked down at him, vaguely surprised that he hadn't messed up his makeup this time. "What's that, Ricky?"

"My other earring. I can't find it ANYWHERE!" he started wailing.

I shushed him as well as possible, and warned him not to wake Stella. Then, just as I was getting him quieted, the phone rang. Damn. I hurriedly went to pick it up, but couldn't find the pickle, so I had to go for the wimp phone on the wall. "Hello?"

A burst of static came from the phone, and all I could make out was "...his... ...er residence?"

"No, this is the Johansen residence. This is Valerie Johansen. May I help you?

From nowhere came a tracery of machine gun fire stitching me up the middle, and as I fell, I could hear Ricky crying "Mommie, mommie..."

***

The next I knew I was on a table in the operating room, and there was quite a crowd. Or was the room really that small? Mike leaned over and whispered "Sorry, Tuck-old-bud, but it was all I could afford. These places are EXPENSIVE!"

I wanted to get off the table, to stop being the center of attention, but I couldn't move. The doctor, masked and gowned, leaned over and then ripped the sheets from my body, exposing it to the world, in all its horrible splendor. My figure, its shape, was pure Valerie... except for one part, which was embarrassingly evident.

The doctor stood, watching me, and then slowly pulled the mask from her face. "Hello, lover, it seems you're all developed now."

Debbie.

"My work on you is almost done, love. But there's only room in there for one of you." She leaned down and pulled something from the tackle box on a side table. "So who will you be, Tucker or Valerie?"

I tried to answer, I really did. But my mouth wouldn't work... all I could do is watch in stunned horror as she lifted the carving knife, and touched the point to one soft breast. "If you don't choose, I'll have to choose for you", she whispered as a lone drop of blood broke through the skin.

The blood, it seemed to be spreading across my body, and I tried to block out the sight. But I didn't pass out, or get woozy, and I wasn't able to close my eyes.

"No decision, love? But no decision IS a decision." And with that Debbie moved the knife lower, down to the one part of me that wasn't part of Valerie.

As the world flared white with agony, I heard one last thing as my senses faded. "I owe you some pain, missy. And I always settle my debts."

***

*Damn, that hurt* I was going to have to learn not to lean over the counter like that when doing my makeup. But at least there was a good side. I didn't have to go through any more elaborate charades before heading for work.

I checked the time and hurriedly finished dressing. One final thing, I pulled on my gym shoes, grabbed my bag, and then rushed into the hall. I set the security system, then double-timed it down the stairs.

"Looking good, Sis!" Brian called from his seat in the living room.

I looked down to see my orange shorts and the owl on the front of my tee, and everything went grey.

***
Dad walked in as I finished dressing.

"Um, Dad... I can... that is..."

He waved one hand dismissivly. "Don't worry about that, Eugene. All your mother and I want is for you to be happy. Everyone changes when they grow up. Everyone. I did, your mother did, everyone."

"Tucker, you're not the same person you were as a child. That's okay. Whatever other people may think, whatever they may say, you're still our child, and we will always love you."

"And Valerie, don't ever let them drive you crazy."

***

I was sitting alone, silently eating my lunch, when Mike walked up to me, a troubled look on his face.

"Tuck, it's not good," he remarked.

I looked up at him, annoyance on my face, as the bra was digging into my chest again. "What is it this time?"

"We took a vote, and, well, we've decided to revoke your membership in the Boyz. You just, well, you don't fit in any more. You look too much like a mallbunny, and think what having one of them would do to our image?"

I just sat there, tears running down my cheeks, and asked, "What about me? What'll happen to me?"

Kim was there, sitting at my side, her arms wrapped tightly around me. Behind her was the Pack, all of them, even Debbie and Lisa. Finally Kim spoke up. "You're one of us now, Val, now and forever."

***

I woke up panting, my chest heaving a mile-a-minute, and my sudden motion woke Amy, in whose bosom I'd been sleeping moments
before.

She stretched lazily, smiled gently at me, and said, "Good morning, lover."

***
04:41 16 Jun

I woke up panting, my chest heaving and my gorge rising, as I made a panicked bolt for the bathroom. I made it just in time, as my insides tried to fill the bowl with everything I'd ever even thought of eating.

I sat there on the floor for a while, comforted by the cold tile and the welcome feel of reality.