The Pageant: Then and Now
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

Part 1 – Before the Pageant

“Is that really your hair? I can’t believe it,” said Mac, at last working the mouth that had just gaped for a full minute.

“Color highlights, curlers, backcombing and hair spray and shit. You would not believe what I have been through.” said Brad. “Like I just said, I wish I had never got Mom involved.”

“You will win the prize, Man,” said Mac. “You just have to, looking like that.

Chapter 16

The rest of the orchestra sat quietly as Willow played the Saint-Saens piece, with fingers over strings and hands on the percussion, to dampen any resonances. When she had finished, a couple of the percussion players pushed the organ to one side as she went back to her seat. Alec smiled and made a kissy face as she sat down.

CHAPTER 78
“Right, darling, these three pictures go together, because they are all wedding pictures. This one is me and your Dad, over on Rotto”

“That’s a golf place, Mum”

“Yes. One of our friends arranged it as a wedding present, and before you ask, not as a game of golf bit as somewhere we could all sit, somewhere nice, Oh, and this picture as well. Recognise it?”

“King’s Park, Mum”

After flubbing a powerful incantation, meant to give newly coronated Demon Queens the wisdom of their ancestors, Devilla Satanne awakens to memories of her past life as Jacob Divington, a human from Earth. Having gained a new perspective on life, she quickly comes to a rather horrifying conclusion: she's been a complete and utter brat! No wonder everyone hates her!

And then there's the fact that she's apparently been reincarnated as the villainess of Tower Conquest, a lesbian porn game with a surprisingly intricate plot. One in which the Heroine conquers Dimona Tower, turning Devilla's people against her in the process. In victory, the Heroine brings about a glorious age of peace between demons and humans for the first time in millennia. ...Which actually sounds pretty good for her people, come to think of it. Devilla knows her terrible behavior is beyond forgiveness, but maybe she can still make up for her past mistakes? She just needs to make sure the events of the game unfold correctly. Though there is one little detail she'd like to change - the part where Devilla herself is killed or enslaved!

The series cover was commissioned from https://twitter.com/HaizeUqei

Chapter One – The Cabin

Sarah is a mature crossdresser with a dark past. Searching to relive something that happened to her when she was a teenager, she agrees to meet a man in a no-tell motel but is totally unprepared for what is about to happen to her. Please heed the cautions.

The Interview (4)
by
Angharad.

The problem with the ruling of the Supreme Court and its definition of a woman is that its effect is very personal and emotional. I felt very angry and disappointed in the decision but at the same time felt that I would carry on regardless and would treat authority with the contempt it deserved by acting as I had for umpteen years. I had survived before I received a gender certificate and would continue to do so. I looked the part, so unless they knew something about me, they shouldn't suspect I'm anything but female.

Author's note: Numerous people pointed out to me that I forgot to post this. Thank you for letting me know. I tried to keep track of which chapters I needed to post, but I messed up. Sorry for the confusion, and I hope this helps to make chapter 6 flow better.

Chapter 5: Sleepover

Two Days Before Christmas Eve:
Charlotte finishes wrapping the Christmas gifts she bought for her brother’s. Her older brother was spending Christmas with his long-term girlfriend. His girlfriend didn’t get along with their parents and she couldn’t blame her.

As for Jamie, she barely saw her. When she was home, Jamie wasn’t and when Jamie was home, she was asleep, which was fine. Christmas was coming up and Jamie had Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after.

Chapter 15

Willow took her time getting ready, then strolled to the church. Reverend Russell was sweeping the porch when she arrived.

“Willow, welcome. How did your weekend go?”

“It was good, Reverend. We really made friends there. I met Cassandra, who is planning an Easter Wedding. I did suggest that she has it here. They did talk about having it at the Abbey. We went to St. Edwards for Sunday morning.”

“I know. I had a phone call telling me how pleased they were that I loaned them my organist.”

The blue glow of David's computer monitor illuminated his face as he stared at the Skype window, waiting for Morgan to accept his call. David had spent the last hour trying to focus on his physics homework, but his mind kept wandering to the town meeting tomorrow, the bizarre energy that he and Tony had witnessed in the park, and now Morgan's increasingly frantic messages about Melissa.

The Crystal Hall cafeteria buzzed with morning activity, sunlight streaming through the massive geodesic dome to illuminate the central arboretum. Ethan sat at what had become their regular table, surrounded by what she now hesitantly thought of as friends. A full week had passed since her dramatic teleportation incident with Kira—seven days of intensive training, gradual improvements, and subtle shifts in her relationships with everyone around her.

Chapter 6: What's New

Millie's brow furrowed as she scrunched up her nose, deep in thought. Her delicate fingers tapped rhythmically against her chin, and I could almost see the gears turning in her mind. Suddenly, her face lit up with a bright smile, her eyes gleaming with inspiration.

"I know! We can do Dancing Lights! We can do that one, right?" she asked excitedly, barely able to contain herself as she twirled on the spot.

”It all started three weeks ago. Peter Kowalski complained about a D he had got on his Math test. I tried to explain to him that while he is smart and probably understands the material, he is sloppy and makes stupid mistakes. He retorted that he was a victim of gender discrimination. Of course I refuted that. The idea was preposterous. Then Mary, a bright but not very pretty girl backed me up, sort of. She claimed that I only favored girls with pretty legs in short skirts. I ignored such a wild unfounded accusation.