"Are you sure you're ready?" Mum asks, waiting as I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. Before I reply, I can't help but look at the girl looking at me in the mirror, a girl wearing a grey school uniform, complete with a white blouse, a smart blazer and tie, a grey knee-length pleated skirt, thick grey tights and plain black flats.

I, by chance, had met the bully from my former high school two-hundred miles away. Talk about coincidences! Even more incredible, he recognized me … kind of.

“Haven’t we met before?” he inquired.

“Wow, that’s an old line!” (OMG. When I was a boy, you wanted to kick my ass, now you’re gonna hit on me?)

“No! It’s not a line! I think I’ve seen your face before! Have you ever been to San Antonio?”

“Yeah, I had a couple of cousins who lived there.”

If you don't know who you are, how do you find out?

Christmas vacation ended and, as my grandparents left, Dad told them he would prepare a place for them in the main house, where they could stay while a contractor came in to paint and update the interior to the servants’ quarters to Pop’s and Mama’s specifications. They made a short list of the things they wanted done, telling they trusted him to make whatever other changes he felt needed to be made. We said our goodbyes, but we were happy that they would soon be back to stay.

A few days later my dad got a phone call. After the call, he announced that he had a visitor coming by regarding the body in the wall. He also asked that we not say anything about the specter.

Author's Note: In any family, bigotry can hide behind the kindest phrases, and be cloaked in the best intentions. Later, Carl and his siblings have a wonderful Christmas, not knowing the nightmare to come. As ever please be tolerant of my failings, and forthright with your criticism. ~Persephone

Lisa and I stayed in my room and chatted for a few minutes, then my mom rapped on my door, opened it and said, “We’re gonna show Pop Mama around the neighborhood. Y’all wanna come?”

“I don’t guess, mom. Maybe we’ll get into the pool.”

“Ok, we’re already dressed, after we ride around a bit, we’re going to take them to Floyd’s. Would y’all like for us to pick y’all up for that?”

“Sure!”

“OK, I’ll call y’all when it about time to start getting ready.”

“Ok, mom.”

the same accident that caused the loss of his leg at age six also stimulated the latent genetics that ran in his family to trigger a mutation. Although becoming one of the ‘exo-humans’ the government monitored would prove to be the least of his worries once he stumbled upon his family’s secret.

Author's Note: You may have noticed that I’ve chosen to write a story set in the US rather than my home turf, so, if I’ve messed up a phrase or cultural reference, please forgive me and let me know my mistake as a PM. As ever please be tolerant of my failings, and forthright with your criticism. ~Persephone
 
Photo by  Christopher Campbell on Unsplash
© Persephone 2019

That night, my ghost came back. Lisa was, as typical of her, in a deep sleep, so I didn’t try to rouse her. Instead, I bravely asked the specter, “Who are you?”

Once again, she moved toward the center of the room. As it moved, I heard a child’s voice say, “Help me.” Then, it disappeared near the center of the room as before. Somehow, I knew that this was a little girl, but I can’t explain how I knew that.

The Wager Part 8
The story starts to near its end. Jen and Sam think that they are making good progress in thwarting Justin's plans. There is reason for some optimism but then the story reaches a dark place. Is it the dark before the dawn?

Sam's pregnancy becomes real. Jen's relationship with Mike continues to develops and young Liam becomes reliant on his Aunt Jen. Jen spends the night with Mike. Research into Justin's criminal activities continues. Time is passing quickly and relationships are becoming increasingly strained.

Tom has started to come to terms with the loss of his balls. Some progress is being made in trying to get evidence against Justin but it is going too slow. Justin retaliates brutally against Tom and nearly breaks him. Some good news for Sam but the strains continue. Tom finds a man to target for the wager.

Lisa and I, plus our moms … The ‘River Oaks 4’ arrived at the mall like so many Tasmanian Devils. The cloth would fly, the price tags almost completely ignored. All we left were rejects to most likely be marked down and a great deal of money in digital format. The cashiers were more than willing to clean up our mess; their commissions would be substantial and well deserved.

THE WAGER
Tom is slowly disappearing and Jen is becoming more real. The desperate search to find evidence against Justin continues. Tom and Sam are able to spend time out together to reconnect before Tom has to get down to the task of finding a man with whom to meet the terms of the wager. Tom's check up with the doctors ends with his castration and his self image is shattered.

THE WAGER
Tom is still struggling to find anything on Justin that would enable him to escape his control. In the meantime Tom's journey into femininity continues. Sam takes him on a girl's night out and he discovers more about being a woman than he expected.

Weeks ten to sixteen in Tom’s journey. Tom and his wife are starting to get more inside information on Justin’s business, but are no further forward in trying to escape from his evil control. Tom is starting to find himself acting more often as a woman without thinking. Sam is realizing just what this journey means to their life together.