Easy As Reading - more vacuous ramblings.
by: Angharad.
part 279.

I drove Monica out towards the clinic, an old mansion which had been converted into a psychiatric unit. It was private and probably cost a large amount of money to stay there. I know Simon said he'd pay the bill, but whether that meant him personally or the family, I didn't know nor dare to ask.

The grounds are in immaculate condition with formal gardens and shrubberies, even a vegetable plot and an orchard, all of which appeared to be well maintained. Organic veg? Why not if you can afford to pay someone to grow them for you.

I parked in the car park, which was beside the house, and I decided I would stay in the car and do some more work, I had my laptop in the back.

Monica went off and I settled down to booting up my machine and dealing with some more enquiries, two of which were about dormice. Recognition at last! Not really, they wondered what sort of mouse I was holding in the poster photo. If they had taken the time to read it, they could have saved themselves an email, it says, dormouse, quite clearly.

Why do these stupid spammers send emails wanting to know if I want to make my penis larger! I mean, I've spent the last umpteen years waiting to get rid of the same, besides which my email address is in a female name, so why send me such a thing? I just delete them, like everyone else I expect. I thought they were going to prosecute them, obviously not.

I replied to Des's answer to my proposed schedule, he liked it, so I thanked him and sent him the draft of the narration I was thinking of writing for his film. It obviously had to fit in with what eventual video footage he had, but with editing sofware so clever, it shouldn't be too much of a problem to mix things up a bit as necessary.

As I fiddled, my phone beeped to indicate a text message. I pulled out the phone from my bag and clicked through the screens to get the text message.

'Hi Gorjus, hows Stel?
Let me know.
luv, S xxx.'

I texted back, 'Monica is with her now, let u know when I speak 2 her. C xxxx.'

I thought of Simon and a warm sensation emanated from my heart filling my whole body, and no I hadn't wet myself. Part of me wished I'd made a better go of it that first time, but it was so painful.

I had desperately wanted him, to feel him inside me, to complete my rebirth as female, and it was a disaster in all but name. Not only that but I was now feeling very put off by my experience. In short, I was frightened it would hurt like hell again. I had effectively gained a month's respite on doctor's orders, but that didn't include the plastic penises, blessed things. They hurt too!

I was lost to my thoughts, feeling very sad and even shedding a tear when Monica came back to the car. I had locked it, given my experience with the Russian hoodlums, and she banged on the window. It made me jump out of my skin, in fact it nearly caused me to foul myself, I jumped that much.

I opened the door and she got in. "Brrrrrr, it's bloody cold out there, but warm in here. You've had the heater on."

"If I hadn't, you'd be still stuck out there, cause I'd have croaked with hypothermia."

"I'd have thought the cold would have got you first, my girl."

What do you say to the arrogance of ignorance? I chose to ignore it. If it went on like this, it was going to be a long day.

"How was she?" I asked.

"Yes, okay, she seemed mostly alright. She asked after you."

"Did she clutch a machete to her breast when mentioning my name?" I asked.

"No certainly not, she was a bit down, a bit dopey, so goodness knows what medication she's on. She wants to apologise for trying to hurt you. She wants you to go and see her."

"Yeah, I might after I've spoken to the staff. I just don't know how much I can trust her anymore. She's moved from being my closest confidant to almost total stranger in a matter of days. And that really hurts." I started to sob.

"Why don't you go and see her now?"

"How can I?"

"You just go to the door and press the bell."

I looked almost aghast at her.

"Want me to come too?"

"Would you?"

Okay, come on, hide your laptop in the boot."

I did as I was told, putting the machine in the boot and covering it up with various odds and sods.

Monica told me to clean up my face, and I dabbed the tears away and touched up my makeup. It would probably have been better if I'd not worn any in the first place.

We walked to the door, our high heeled boots crunching on the fine gravel. "Lady Cameron and Lady Cameron to see Lady Cameron," said Monica smirking broadly.

"What did you say, madam?" came back the voice from the box by the door.

"Monica and Cathy to see Stella."

"Okay, letting you in." The door buzzed and opened remotely. I felt like I was entering a prison, albeit a very plush one.

"Down here," said Monica pulling my arm and we went off down a corridor. We stopped at a door and knocked, Stella's voice bid us enter.

"Oh you're back Monica," Stella sounded surprised.

"I've brought another visitor for you."

"Oh good, who?"

I stepped into the room. "Hello Stella."

"Cathy!" she shrieked and dashed to engulf me in a monster hug. I didn't have a chance to move, so if she'd intended me any harm, I'd have been dead or injured, so quick was the movement.

We cried all over each other begging forgiveness and so on. It was very cathartic but good. I left there drained of all energy and she sat and nodded off in the chair. I asked how long she'd be there, she shrugged her shoulders, but said she was feeling quite a bit better. I would call Simon as soon as we got home.