Countdown to Confidence
by Peregrine

Copyright © 2023 Peregrine
All rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Ghost Town
I had small hope this year of achieving my New Year’s Resolution. Recognising that it was likely to fare no better than its predecessor of the year before, I’d varied it this time, but I had little faith. My basic need was centred on overcoming the temptation which surrounded me and which in the past I had proved too weak to conquer. The circumstance from which that delicious torment arose was that I was at home, alone, for long hours each day while Carole, my wife, was working. There was no escaping it.

16. Enjoying toddlerhood

The sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the nursery-themed cabin where Alex slept in his crib. As he slowly opened his eyes, his mind immediately drifted back to the heartfelt conversation he had with Sarah the previous day. He knew that becoming a girl, a girl his age, was a complex journey that he couldn't yet fully comprehend or embark upon. For now, he decided, it was best to set those thoughts aside and embrace the joy of being a toddler girl for the remaining two weeks of camp.

Dot and Sam 27

Maeryn Lamonte Copyright ©️ 2024

“I don’t really want to go, Janet.”

There, I’d said it. I’ve never known why I find it so hard to be assertive, but it's especially hard with Jan.

She doesn’t like me calling her that, so of course, inside she’ll always be Jan to me.

Call it my little rebellion.

Maybe that’s where I found the courage.

“What do you mean? It’ll be fun. There be free food and free booze and loads of people.”

Is it Science or Magic?

By Jo Dora Webster

Is any sufficiently advanced science indistinguishable from magic?

.

Downtown Middleburg, Va.:
Ada, Clair, and Ayla pull into a parking spot at Bebe’s Clothing. Clair figures Alya would be able to find what she was looking for here.

“I’ve never heard about this place, Clair.” Ada was curious about it.

“It’s local. They carry a lot of designer clothes and off-the-wall clothing from unknown designers.” Clair has found a lot of good deals inside the place.

Clair leads the way inside the old-style store. It was bigger inside than it was outside.

Emily Berrigan is a 23 year old transwoman. At 17, she was thrown out by her parents. She hasn't seen her twin Jordan in person in six years, as a result. Her older sister, Stephanie, is engaged. Will sparks fly?

In Chapter 1, we met Emily. In Chapter 2, her (non-binary) twin Jordan. Now, we meet Stephanie, their cishet older sister and the bride-to-be
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“Please tell me more about Chris,” Permelia said as she followed me down the stairs to the parking lot.

 

“He’s like us,” I said, “except that he was assigned female at birth. And he was lucky enough to have understanding parents who helped him get HRT in his early teens, before he finished growing… and I understand both the men and women in his family tend to be tall. Anyway, he’s a big guy, and can be scary-looking if you don’t know him. I don’t think anybody will bother us with him escorting us.”

8. Day two begins

As Alex woke up, he felt the warmth and heaviness of his wet and messy diaper. He blushed slightly, but reminded himself that it was all part of the experience he had willingly embraced. As he looked around, he noticed Emily and Hayley, the counselors, standing by his bed. His sister Sarah was also there, looking at him with a playful smile. "Good morning, sweetie!," Emily said. "Did you have a good sleep?" Alex blushed and mumbled with his binkie between his teeth: "Um, yes, fank you. Good mowning, Emily."

Dot and Sam 26

This was originally written as a contest entry, but has - shock, horror - a sex scene. So, it's just a short story about going too far.
Marianne

Family Ties

It was early evening, I was on my bed, and I was in trouble. It was purely of my own making, and it needed me to think clearly and work out how I was going to get out of the trouble I was in.