I thought the prior Monday had been unusual. The atmosphere at school was unreal. Everyone already knew that Jenny had dumped Tommy. Neither of them would tell anyone why and the number of often conflicting rumors were unreal.

Blake Medical Recovery Center, Napa Valley, Northern California:
Sara and Cindy look down at all the women and some men who have been brought to the center for help and recovery. Both of them couldn’t understand why anyone would forcibly turn innocent males and some women into the opposite sex.

“Mom and sis weren’t joking when they said that there would be days when this job would get to you.” Cindy looks at her twin sister standing next to her.

I had never enjoyed shopping more. My feet ached and we’d about doubled the mortgage on the house, but I had so much new stuff. We did just about manage to empty the back of the car in one trip when we arrived home, but only with both Mum and me carrying as many bags as would fit in each hand.

“What the hell is this?” Dad grumbled from his seat. The water on his table was untouched and there were a couple of extra beer cans beside the one I’d left him. Well, if he wanted to start Sunday with a hangover, that was his lookout.

[Friday December 16th, Lancashire]

I was at my desk working on the final plan for the rundown of production and not getting anywhere. My mind was not on the task at hand. If I was perfectly honest with myself, the plan was good and didn’t need any revision.

Uncle Charlie – Part One

Julia Wallace visits her psychiatrist to discuss repressed memories that have suddenly returned. Julia finds that telling Susan Bradshaw about her past terrifying but also cathartic. She begins by telling Susan about how, as a teenage boy, she discovered that she felt like she should really be a girl and how the men in her life took advantage of that.

Please heed the warnings as this chapter explores themes of coercion and reluctance.

CHAPTER 43
I didn’t sleep that well that night, and probably came across as a little grumpy over breakfast. Chad and Maryam were off quickly, Kul and I following a little later. The drive into work was a bit tense at first, as Kul clearly picked up on my mood.

“I never met her, Mike. Wish I could have”

“Sorry?”

“Me being silly. If I had been given the chance to meet her, you would never have ended up in Sheffield, so we’d never have met, us two that is, and well, yeah. You’re thinking betrayal, aren’t you?”

Nancy recommended a couple of hangover cures, which required ingredients the dining hall didn’t have, but I made up a makeshift with orange juice and hot sauce, which took my mind off the hangover if it didn’t cure it.

Part Fifteen

Amy just smiled.

“No need to wait,” she said, “Won’t it be more fun to see if Sadie recognizes her when we’re done?”

“Hmm, true! I’m not sure I would have known it was Chris–sorry, Chrissy–if you hadn’t told me right away,” Julia replied. She opened the box and took out something round-ish that Chris didn’t immediately recognize, “Sorry, they’re not quite her color.”

“That’s okay!” Amy exclaimed, “It’s all make-up safe, right?”

Being Samantha Masters

an homage-prequel to Being Christina Chase

Like You

“Wakey wakey, sunshine,” giggled a voice, coupled with a gentle shake to Sammy’s shoulder.  He wasn’t in bed.  He was on something… not quite hard.  Something smelled weird.  He started, suddenly full awake.

April 22nd, 3040