Waking up in a strange place with your arms strapped securely against your sides is a rather disconcerting experience. Even after you realize you're in a hospital.

Of course there are only a couple reasons why one wakes up strapped down in the hospital. Either you're a criminal or they're afraid you'll hurt yourself. In case you're wondering, I'm in category 2, and not in the "he might have a seizure" kind of way.

Weekly challenge again. Let's see if I can give justice to MELANIE EZELL'S BIG CLOSET ULTIMATE WRITER'S CHALLENGE, the second week challenge:

2. The Uncomfortable Truth

idea: Write a story from the viewpoint of a non-passing transgender individual. This can explore any facet of the transgender spectrum, but try to focus on either the stigma of being one's self in a culture that values appearances or the difficulties of not being able to express ones inner self.

Chapter 5
The Night Goes On

We took 2 taxis to the bar that wasn’t the one we expected. In fact it was a big surprise because it was a famous and popular Gay nightclub called the Nightingale Club but I’d never heard of it. Jessica had been before with Mary Jo and Sally so it was their recommendation. We had the tickets and when I looked at mine I realized it was the same bar that James had mentioned with the discount tickets. They’d be there I was sure.

This is a try at MELANIE EZELL'S BIG CLOSET ULTIMATE WRITER'S CHALLENGE, the February challenge:

February: Where No (Wo)man Has Gone Before

Idea: It is 500 years in the future, and mankind has finally begun mass exploration and colonization of our surrounding stars. What kind of adventures does our kind have, and what changes must we face to survive in this harsh new environment?

Length: 1500 words or more.

New Shampoo

“Mom! What is this shampoo? Its in a pink bottle!”

“Just picked it up, by accident at the mall, Charles.”

“I can't use this! It's called 'Make me pretty'!”

“Come on. Shampoo is shampoo.”

“Fine!”

Later....

“Mom, that shampoo...it had some side effects.”

“Side effects? What do you mean?”

“Well, for starters, you might need to start calling me Cheryl”

My Super Secret Life-4.

Chapter 4

I’d been home at Mom and Dad’s insistence for a few days now. They just wanted me to adjust to being home and safe while keeping me clear of my friends and Mattie. I still talked to them online but it was hard to not pull my hair out over the way that they talked.

Amy: “You’re like so totally getting like major sympathy votes because of what like happened.”

Stacy: “Oh like totally you’re really rocking it Sunny! OMG!!! You’re so totally rocking the whole like sick vote.”

“How can you drink this crap?” I asked Stu after choking down the first swallow of the beer he had brought with him. “Blotz is nasty stuff!”

“Hey, it's cheap, and after the first one you don't notice.” My friend answered almost defensively. Besides they're running this cool contest and if you win you're guaranteed a contract to star in their commercials.”

Years since I last published anything I wrote. So this is going to be a semi-new thing for me. Let's see if I can give justice to MELANIE EZELL'S BIG CLOSET ULTIMATE WRITER'S CHALLENGE, the first week challenge:

1. In the Blink of an Eye

idea: Write a story with an instantaneous transformation. Aliens, magic, weird nanobots, the method is up to you, but the change is instant. Explore how the change affects the character's views of social situations and day to day activities.

Don’t Blame Me I’m A Martian.

I stared at “that” tattooed on my arm through the haze of a hangover. Amy, my girlfriend or my on again off again girl friend was asleep mildly snoring on the other arm. And it was dead, no feeling in it completely asleep.

I tried to focus and dimly remembered her and her sister Nina and some of our friends getting really drunk last night at the carnival with the yummy mixture of 7-Up and lemon gin. There was a heavy metal like tricked out school bus out in the parking lot and the guy in it was doing tattoos.

My name is Jenny O'Brien. It didn't used to be I was named John O'Brien. So let me tell you how this happened.
My folks are at least part Irish along with a mixed bag of many other nationalities. Any towering mountain of a man Irish genes that may have existed are long gone, replaced by what could almost be described as elfin genes. Both of my parents are small.
Not just the height though as both of them are under 5foot 5. My Mom is only 5'2 while my Dad is 5'4 or 5'6 with shoes on.

18 Years ago.

I do these all the time, given the number of characters and places I tend to put in my stories, just so I can keep track. It occurred to me that it might be helpful if I published this one so others could check back here to see who someone is or what a place is.

I'll be updating this as the story goes on, by the way.

Hopefully, it will be helpful.

Maggie