The Adoption Of

  Little Orphan

  Danny

By K.T. Leone

(Little Katie)

It has been quite some time (almost 2 years) since I posted a story. This
story was written about 4 or 5 years ago and I just got around to typing it on the
computer. It is a fun little story and I do some exploring with certain things.
I do hope everyone likes it, but please post and validate my existence.

Part 1: Humble Beginnings

“Good Morning Mrs. Adams,” Mr. Pritchard, the head of Father Henry O'Neil's orphanage, said as the well to do widow stood at the front door. “I'm so glad you could make it on this fine day.” The lanky balding man was by all means ready to make a sales pitch to get some money for the much needed repairs on the old building and began to butter up the prospected philanthropist.

“I do appreciate your social graces Mr. Pritchard,” the large, middle aged woman, with her well permed curly brown hair said cordially. “But I am a very busy woman with a very full schedule and rarely do I have time for such pleasantries. “

“Certainly Mrs. Adams. If you would follow me.” Mr. Pritchard was sure to keep his friendly demeanor as he led the woman through the bottom floor offices and to his office. Certainly if a woman of Mrs. Adams inheritance was interested in one of his boys, as he liked to refer to the orphans, then certainly she would have a gracious heart and perhaps make a hefty donation to meet some of the orphanages needs.

“Very quaint building,” Mrs. Adams said as she made her way into the office. The office, as she expected, was as drab the other parts of the building she'd seen already. A plain wooden desk, certainly of questionable quality, filled most of the room and though some people might call it cozy, Mrs. Adams would call it cramped. None the less, she took a seat in a chair she found uncomfortably restraining. Despite all she felt lacking, Mrs. Adams managed a meager smile.

A tall blond secretary entered the room and stood in the corner to remain unnoticed until she was needed. A hefty folder filled with papers were tucked tightly under her arm.

“We were quite surprised about hearing that you were interested in adopting a child. It can be quite a rewarding experience,” Mr. Pritchard started his pitch.

“As you said, I'm already interested in adopting,” Mrs. Adams cut him off. “Please save the sales pitch for someone whose conviction on the mater is wavering. Remember, I'm a very busy woman.”

“Oh yes, I remember,” Mr. Pritchard said apologetically. “I suppose the only question would be which child you will be taking home with you.” Unlike most people who came looking for a child, Mrs. Adams extensive wealth and standing in the community made her immune to the red tape and delays.

“I would like a girl, but one who is not too young. Past the potty training phase, please,” Mrs. Adams insisted.

Mr. Pritchard tried his best not to seem disappointed, but failed. “This is a boys orphanage, Mrs. Adams. But boys have their redeeming qualities as well,” he said with a glimmer of hope.

“And then there is always Danny,” the secretary interjected with a smirk.

“Ms. Lewis, please,” Mr. Pritchard said sternly.

“A behavioral problem, I suppose,” Mrs. Adams said with a raised eyebrow.

“Not at all.” The secretary either didn't notice her bosses reprimand or simply didn't care. “He's not like any boy I've ever seen before.”

“In a way, that sounds promising,” Mrs. Adams said before Mr. Pritchard could get a word in. “Please tell me more about this Danny,” she said in a motherly sort of way.

“Danny doesn't quite fit in with this rough and tumble crowd.” Mr. Pritchard decided to take back control of the conversation. “He's not aggressive at all, in fact he's downright gentile. For an eight year old, he's extremely polite and soft spoken. Fancies himself to be quite the artist. I suppose you could call him almost perfect.”

“Almost?” Mrs. Adams leaned in, wondering what the catch was.

“For a boy, he's quite fragile, bruises very easily and doesn't quite look eight. I'm sure he has some condition, but our budget to test for such abnormalities is quite limited.” Mr. Pritchard hoped his reply wouldn't chase off the woman and also offered the perfect segue into addressing the financial needs of the institution.

“He sounds absolutely Charming.” Mrs. Adams smiled easily.

“Would you care to meet him,” Mr. Pritchard pressed the issue even further.

“My, of course I would.” The delight was evident in Mrs. Adams' words.

“Ms. Lewis, would you mind finding Danny for us?” Mr. Pritchard gave his secretary an appreciative wink.

Danny, as was his custom was sitting on a bench, watching the much larger boys play a spirited game of rough-tackle football. He knew he wouldn't be picked to play, but his desire to do such was even less then his desire to be pummeled. He simply enjoyed looking in on the game now and then as he let his thoughts wonder aimlessly. An errant pass found itself at Danny's feet.

Danny stood up and placed the large, oblong leather ball in his throwing hand and, with all his might, he heaved the ball at the group of boys. The ball, for all his efforts, traveled end over and end, only making it half the required distance.”

“Good job, Danielle,” the boy teased. “That's why you're the designated cheerleader.”

Danny glared at the boy but knew that as far as sports went, he would spend his life as a spectator. The prospect suited him just fine. Danny sat back down and tugged at the collar of his uncomfortable dress shirt. The pressed, gray slacks were no better as they continually itched.

“Danny! Danny!” Ms. Lewis called as she came to his bench.

“Yes, ma'am,” the child answered while looking down at the grass, or his worn leather dress shoes, no one was ever sure what he always stared at.

“There's a lady who wants to meet you, I think she might even take you home,” Ms. Lewis said excitedly.

“Yes, ma'am,” Danny said flatly as he stood up and followed the slim, blond haired secretary into the building. Danny had been through this drill before; a family wanted a son, and each time he simply didn't measure up. The men wanted someone macho and the women wanted to please their men. Danny walked down the hall as his eyes kept a steady gaze on the old gray tiled fool and his mind concentrated on the methodical clicking of Ms. Lewis' high heal shoes instead of getting his hopes set on actually finding a home where he belonged.

Mrs. Adams saw the child and was taken aback. Danny didn't look any older than four or six, even though she was assured he was eight. His long brown hair rested on his shoulders as it framed the delicate features of his face. But what caught Mrs. Adams the most was his eyes. Those deep blue eyes that seemed to long for love but lost hope in ever finding it. It was in that instant that she knew she had found the child she was looking for, the fact that he wasn't a girl didn't really seem to matter that much.

“So you must be Danny,” Mrs. Adams started casually.

“Yes, Ma'am,” Danny answered as he looked at his untied, scuffed shoe.

The slightly high pitched voice that had a hint of unrehearsed sweetness delighted Mrs. Adams. “Do you know who I am?”

“No, Ma'am,” Danny answered as he momentarily looked up at the smiling woman.

“I'm the lady who is going to take you home,” Mrs. Adams said evenly, but with a hint of excitement behind each word. “That is if you and Mr. Pritchard don't mind.”

Danny's head snapped up and he looked at Mr. Pritchard for an answer.

“You'll get no objections from me,” the man behind the desk said.

“It looks like it is all up to you Danny. Would you like to come home?” Mrs. Adams smiled invitingly at the small child.

“Yes Ma'am, I would.” Danny's small voice rang with uncertainty as if he questioned if this was too good to be true.

“Mr. Pritchard, you have my lawyer's number, if you would have him complete the paperwork it would be much appreciated,” Ms. Adams said as she rose.

“That won't be a problem, how about Danny's things,” he asked, happy that at least one boy would get to see how life outside of the orphanage was.

“I suppose I can wait until Danny gets his things all ready to go.”

“I'm already ready,” Danny said impulsively, afraid that if he gave the lady extra time to think about her decision it would only turn out poorly for him in the end. “I mean, I have all I need, Ma'am.” Danny restated in a more composed manner. The fact was, he spoke the truth. Other than a change of clothes, that were as bad as the ones he had on, and a few completed drawing, Danny didn't have any possessions that he didn't own communally with all the other boys.

“Sounds good to me,” Mrs. Adams said with a smile. She held out her hand and Danny took it. “We'll be in touch,” she said from the doorway before leaving.

“I hope with only good news,” Mr. Pritchard said to his secretary.

Danny sat in the front seat of the Mercedes Benz with a lady he barely knew sitting behind the wheel. Though he had no clue as to who the lady was, the promise of a bigger and better life was far too great to ignore. Being oblivious to material possessions, he didn't know how grand a scale that new life would be.

“So Danny.” Mrs. Adams turned her head towards him momentarily. “What do you like to do?”

“I like to draw sometimes, and sometimes I just think,” Danny said softly as he looked out the windows and watched as trees whizzed by.

“Thinking is good,” Mrs. Adams joked.” So is drawing. Do you have any music that you like?”

“The boys at Father Henry's only listen to rap, but I don't really like it. They don't ever change the station and if I ever tried I'd get it for sure,” Danny confessed while looking at the power window button on the passenger side door.

“How terrible,” Mrs. Adams said sympathetically. “How about you listen to this.” She leaned forward and hit the play button on the car's CD player. The sound of light piano and rain from the strings of violins came from six speakers.

Danny closed his eyes as he listened to the melody. In his mind, he could picture the action of the music. A lone leaf caught in the wind, red and yellow, turning, floating, gliding on waves of air. A small smile came to his face as he leaned back in the leather seat.

Mrs. Adams pulled into her driveway and parked the car near the walk. She let the music play until the selection was over. “What do you think?”

“It's very pretty, Ma'am,” Danny said as he looked on the lady's face squarely for the first time. It was a friendly, warm face.

“Very pretty indeed,” Mrs. Adams answered as she stared at the soft, delicate features of her passenger. The small button nose and the full, pinkish-red lips that went with those blue eyes that spoke of a person trying to find their place in the world where they were loved and truly accepted for what they were.

“The song's over, Ma'am,” Danny interrupted the silence. “Is this your home?”

“No Danny.” Mrs. Adams pushed the hair from Danny's cheek. “This is our home.”

“It's so big, it's like a castle.” Danny looked up at the second floor balcony.

“When my George, Mr. Adams, was alive, he would say it was comfortably middle class. Are you ready to go in and start on a whole new life.

“Yes Ma'am I would,” Danny said with conviction.

The long walk up the brick path was made slowly as Danny looked at the towering pillars that bracketed the front door. Though he was moving methodically slower than usual, he was moving much quicker than he actually wanted.

“Take your time sweetie, there's no need to rush,” Mrs. Adams said kindly as she sensed the child was rushing himself when there wasn't a need for it.

Danny looked up at the large woman and faintly smiled. It wasn't much the permission to take his time that caused such a response, but the pleasant nickname. At the orphanage, the staff didn't have time for such niceties and the nicknames the other boys came with bordered on ruthless. “Thank you, Ma'am,” his small, high pitched voice said in a soft tone. He took a step off to the side where a pink rose bush was in full bloom. Though he thought the saying was always meant as merely poetic, he stopped and smelled the roses.

“You're welcome sweetie.” Mrs. Adams watched the child savor the sweet smell of her prized roses. “If you wish, you may call me Aunt Carol.”

“I like that, Ma'am. I mean, Aunt Carol,” Danny said as he looked back. A split second later, his nose was full into a rose. He closed his eyes as he took one last whiff and savored all of the new warm feelings he felt rising in his stomach. For the first time since he could remember, Danny felt perfectly at ease with another person. Perhaps, this could work out, he thought wistfully.

“I believe I like that too.” Carol Adams was delighted when Danny walked by her side, reached up, and put his hand in hers.

The inside of the house was as large and as grand as the outside. Danny was wide-eyed in astonishment as such an open space being indoors. He was lead up a large marble staircase and turned left down a hall.

“This will be your room, sweetie,” Carol said with slight hesitation. “I hope it's okay for now.” She opened the door and led the boy inside.

Danny walked into the room that was even larger than the one at the orphanage that he shared with six other boys. The first thing he noticed was the large, four-post bed that occupied the center of the room. The fine white-laced canopy gave the area a regal look. The bed was made with a shiny pink bedspread and a mixture of large white and pink throw pillows. A white dresser with a mirror almost as big as Danny sat on the opposite wall. On top was a silver comb and brush set and a small jewelry box. Danny walked over to the dresser, and lifted the lid of the box; a small ballerina sprang up and twirled as soft music played along. An assortment of earrings and heart shaped pendants were kept in the box as well, along with charms of teddy bears, hearts, and teardrop shaped gems. Danny closed the lid and looked further around the room. Dolls and teddy bears lined many shelves and a few sat by the window. Immediately Danny knew what kind of child this room was initially designed for and it was definitely not designed with a boy in mind.

“What do you think,” Carol said tentatively as she watched the boy's eyes shift back and forth.

“It's pink,” Danny said almost whimsically.

“I know.” Carol let out a soft chuckle. “I hope you can bear with it for a little while. To be perfectly honest, I was expecting to bring home a little girl today,” she freely admitted.

“Sorry,” Danny said downcast as his eyes immediately focused on the plush pink carpet.

“Don't be sorry, sweetie.” Carol softly lifted the boy's chin so he was forced to look at her. “Who I found instead is by far a much better deal. Don't you think?”

Danny smile returned as his cheeks turned rosy as he blushed.

“I know this is a new place and there's a lot for you to explore so you most likely don't need an adult in your way as you get yourself acquainted with your surroundings. Now, I have a meeting until six that I simply must attend. Can I trust you to be on your own and take care of yourself.”

“Yes, Ma'am. I mean, yes Aunt Carol,” Danny said as he touched the soft comforter on the bed.

“Very good. When you get hungry there's a sandwich in the refrigerator and some juice boxes. I'm counting on you not to use the stove or the phone or to go out front, we wouldn't want you getting hurt or loss. Other than that, this is now your house too, Danny.”

Danny smiled. “Thank you,” he whispered as he watched the large woman leave.

He, Danny, waited by the window and when 'Aunt Carol' looked up, he gave a small but friendly wave good bye. She waved backed and smiled genuinely before sitting in the large luxury car and driving off.

As was his way, which was very unboylike, Danny decided to explore the house. Instead of running about and acting crazy, he strolled through the large house, making sure to stop at every framed painting and potted plant just because it was there. Eventually he found his way to the living room. There was, as he expected, a very large television set and a lot of video equipment for playing DVDs, laser discs, and video cassettes. He slid his finger at the base of the TV, but it didn't really excite him. Of all the boys at the orphanage, he was the least interested in watching the contraption. Of course most of what the boys watched was sports and he found those extremely boring.

After further searching of the large entertainment center, he finally found the CD player. Pressing play brought a whole unit to life and the sounds of a single violin soon filled the room with both joy and sorrow.

Danny smiled. He liked this music and as other instruments joined in, he explored the room further. On one wall was a large glass case filled with delicate looking figurines of ballerinas. Danny looked at each one individually; it was quite the extensive collection. On the side of the display case was a poster of a ballerina, quite young, perhaps even Danny's age. He stared at the picture, imagining that the girl in the poster probably liked the music he was listening to now. He closed his eyes, and, although he thought it was extremely silly, imagined it was he who was the ballerina in the poster. Though he never saw a ballet in his life, he moved gracefully to the music. He stepped lightly on his tip-toes in time with the music, twirling when the mood seemed to serve its purpose. When the music stopped, he struck the pose the ballerina did in the poster, which was a curtsy. As he opened his eyes, he half expected to receive applause, thankfully there was none.

As the next selection played, Danny made his way to the kitchen. The large room with mostly stainless steel appliances looked big enough to feed an army of a million men. The refrigerator was stock full and instead of finding the one sandwich he expected, Danny found dozens. The bologna and cheese was snatched away and placed on a napkin. He ate at the kitchen table while enjoying the sounds of the music coming from not too far away.

At the song finished, Danny found himself swinging his feet lazily under the tall chair. Even though the music was noise, the house was so peaceful that Danny didn't think about it. All he could think about was the irritating material of his pants and how luck he was that someone took him home.

After wiping up the crumbs and throwing the napkin in the garbage can, Danny decided to check out his new room. Though the house was huge, Danny knew the exact way, more or less, and after accidentally walking into a linen closet, he found his bedroom one door away.

He opened the dresser drawers. The bottom two were empty and he had almost given up hope. After pulling a step stool in front of the large dresser he opened the very top drawer. On his left was a neatly folded row of underwear on his right he found balled up socks, and in between a row of undershirts. Suddenly he realized once again how uncomfortable his clothing, 'from the state,' the other orphans would often say, made him feel.

“I have until six,” he said to his reflection. “No reason to be itchy and icky and I can change before anyone can know. And who cares that they're girls clothes, there's nothing else to change into and there's only girl things to play with,” Danny argued to his reflection which gave him a highly questioning look. “Besides, I'm the ballerina in the poster until Aunt Carol comes back and there's no harm in a ballerina wearing this stuff.” A smile came over his face and his reflections. As long as he pretended he was the ballerina, he reasoned, then he wasn't doing anything wrong, he was only being silly.

Not being too picky, he took the very first pair of underwear, the very first undershirt and the most accessible pair of socks and placed them on his bed. Before getting started with dressing the part, as he called it, he closed the drawer and returned the step stool to its proper place.

Standing in front of the bed, he slowly unbuttoned the dingy stiff white dress shirt with the blue monogrammed FHO atop the breast pocket denoting his place in the world.

“Good riddance,” Danny said as he carefully folded the shirt and placed it in an empty dresser drawer. He looked at the clock, he knew he only had four and a half hours to be out of the garment.

The brass buckle of the warn belt was unfastened and after Danny kicked off his black dress shoes, he unbuttoned the pants and also placed them in the drawer neatly. The underwear briefs that Danny wore were so old they were gray. Without a hint of embarrassment he pulled them off as fell.

“Surplus unders, who needs them,” Danny said as the neatly folded underwear found themselves also in the drawer.

Danny looked down at his feet. His big toes stuck out of the holes in his socks. He slid his feet out of them and rolled the black cotton socks into a ball. In a new house, in a new room, he was now like a newborn. He walked over to the mirror on the dresser. After climbing on a chair and then on top of the furniture, he could see his nude body fully reflected in the mirror.

“You know, you don't look right,” he said as he stared at his face.

“I know. I look like a little kid,” he answered for the reflection.

He looked at his whole body, everything looked as if it belonged to a different person. Everything looked so soft and gentle, he knew why the bigger boys teased him. He looked at his middle. He remembered the night when all the boys compared their size, all the boys except him. He knew he would only be ridiculed even further. Though he was eight and his body looked like it was that of a four year old, the thing that he viewed now looked like it hadn't bothered to grow since he was an infant. “Forget about it,” he said in a huff and then looked back at his face.

“Can the ballerina come out and play,” he asked the mirror.

“Yes she can,” Danny answered affirmatively for the reflection in a slightly sweeter voice.

“Good! Only she can have fun in here now,” he said in the same voice.

Danny climbed down from the dresser and took slow, even steps towards the bed. First he unrolled the undies. The soft pink material felt cool in his hand and as he unrolled them, he could see that they had white ruffles on the back side. Slowly and deliberately, he placed both his feet through the required holes and lifted the garment to his waist. Though they felt cool to the touch, the panties provided a sense of warmth that Danny found pleasing. More importantly, they fit amazingly perfect, whether to his dismay or to his delight, even Danny couldn't decide which. The garment hid any trace that he was actually a boy.

“I don't know why the older boys make fun of girl's undies,” Danny said aloud as he looked at his backside covered with ruffles. “They look kind of cute and they feel nice.”

Next he tried on the soft pink t-shirt. The cut was different from anything he ever wore before. “Don't want any nasty boys seeing my ta-tas,” he said with a giggle as the shirt was lowered over his chest but left his stomach bare. The pink elastic band held the shirt to his rubs as his small abdominal muscles were clearly visible. The small cloth rose on the upper-front center added a nice touch. Though he was barely dressed, the same sense of warmth now filled his whole body.

Danny sat on the bed and put on the pair of matching ankle high socks that had a white ruffle around the top. “A matching set,” he said to his delight and now he was as completely dressed as he planned and could comfortably leave the safety of his new bedroom.

Danny stood by the entrance of the dining room with his head hidden behind the door. “Now for your viewing pleasure, the ballerina Danielle,” he called out loudly into the room. He imagined hearing applause as he stepped out into the room that in his mind was transformed into a large stage with an even larger audience viewing. He hit the 'next' button on the CD player and waited for the next selection to play.

As the piano played alone, so did Danny dance for himself, as well as for the millions of imaginary fans who filled his mind. No boys were around to make fun of him and he felt as free and as graceful as the moves he made. He didn't simply pretend to be the ballerina, he was the ballerina and he suddenly realized that. For a second the realization frightened him, but he didn't stop the dance. The second passed as he accepted the new feeling and in a wave that crashed down upon him, a sense of peace filled his body as he knew exactly what she was. His gracefulness intensified as he twirled and leaped to the music.

“Thank you,” he curtsied and blew the audience a kiss. He hit the power button on the CD player, turning it off, and retreated upstairs.

The room was still filled with toys, girl's toys, but still things to play with. Danny walked by each doll, carefully examining them to see how they were similar and how they were different. His hand carefully felt the doll's dresses, each one had a different texture, but they all had one thing in common, they were amazingly soft. Which doll would a ballerina like,” Danny asked out loud.

He looked around the room at all the dolls he had just surveyed. “This one,” he said in extreme delight as he unknowingly skipped towards the window. A life sized baby doll sat in the window dressed in a pink onsie and the diaper underneath was clearly evident. The total realism was what made the doll stand out and as Danny cradled the toy in his arm, imagining it was the real thing didn't seem like such a stretch.

Though he knew he was being silly, and if the boys from the orphanage ever found out he'd be pummeled into oblivion, a strange sense of peace and comfort overcame Danny's being once again. “You're the ballerina's baby now,” he announced to the doll. He rocked the doll and cooed at it, forgetting completely every lesson the guys from the orphanage taught him on what was right and acceptable behavior for a boy. He also didn't care, they weren't around and this was the most fun he could ever remember having.

“Let's see if there's more stuff for baby in the closet,” Danny said in a hushed, sing-song voice to the doll.

He walked over to the sliding closet door and pushed it to the side. The closet was almost as big as the room but remarkably empty. All that hung in there were four fancy dresses. Danny took a moment to look at each of them and then backed out of the closet. “Nothing for baby,” he said with the sound of disappointment clearly in his voice.

Danny walked to the bed and placed the doll in the center. “What's that?” He looked at the doll. “You want mommy to dress pretty for you.” Danny looked at the closet and could almost hear one of the dresses calling for him. “We still have over three hours before Aunt Carol gets back so I guess it's okay,” he turned to the doll. “Be a good baby, mommy won't be long.”

Once again, Danny unwittingly skipped to the closet until he found himself in front of the rack of dresses. They all looked equally promising. He had his choice between white, pink, yellow, and pale blur. For the simple reason that he was already in pink, he chose the dress to match.

The silky material felt cool in his hand as he carefully took the dress of the hanger. Not knowing how to properly put on a dress, Danny slid it over his head as if it were a shirt and worked his arms and head through the appropriate openings. As soon as the dress fell into place, a shudder ripped through Danny's body, never had he imagined that a piece of clothing could feel so wonderful.

Curiosity being a strong motivator, Danny climbed on top of the dresser so he could see how he looked. With him not wanting to ruin the dress in any way, getting on top of the furniture was slow going and the anticipation was about suffocating, but Eventually he found himself in front of a reflection he almost didn't recognize.

“Wow!” Danny said as he touched the mirror to make sure it was real. He looked at the reflection of the girl looking at him. Her long brown hair caressing the shoulder of the fancy pink dress. The short poofy sleeves looked as if they came from a fairy tale. The top part of the dress looked as if a hundred hearts were woven together all the way down to the skirt that started at Danny's bellybutton. The skirt didn't come down quite far enough to cover the bottom ruffles of the panties. He smiled at the cuteness of it all. The reflection smiled back.

“That's a pretty girl in there,” he said to his reflection.

“Well, duh,” he answered for the reflection. “How else is a mommy suppose to look. Now go take care of your baby and play before it's too late and you have to change back.”

Danny heeded his own words and climbed down off the dresser. Even walking provided a pleasant sensation as he made his way to the doll. “Is mommy pretty enough for you baby?” he softly asked the doll.

“I knew you'd say that,” he said after a beat. “And you're very pretty too.”

He rocked the doll as he sat on the bench by the window and sang to it a soft lullaby while feeling very content and pleased with himself.

“Good baby,” Danny whispered as he placed the doll back on the bed. “Sleep while mommy explores a little bit.” He tiptoed out of the room after kissing the doll as if the thing was read and could actually wake up screaming and crying at any second.

We walked down the hall with no real direction in mind, but was pleasantly surprised when he found himself in the master bathroom. An assortment of glass bottles that sat atop the counter caught his eyes immediately. He picked up one of the bottles that was shaped like a crystal swan with a bulb coming out of the side. Danny made it swim on waves of air as he looked at the pale yellow liquid inside. He held the bottle in front of his face and out of curiosity squeezed the rubber bulb.

Danny coughed as the mist of the perfume enveloped his face. He was glad he closed his eyes a split second before or he might have gone blind. It didn't take long for the mist to settle and he was able to take a deep whiff of the air.

“Mmm,” he said with a smile. “Smells like a garden, kind of.”

Danny opened the drawer just to see what he could find. He found a sea of makeup and wondered what the big deal was about it.”

“Why you girls go though all this fuss I'll never know,” Danny said to his reflection as he held a tube of red lipstick in his hand.”

“Ms. Lewis wears this all the time and I bet you want to try it too?”

Danny made his reflection shake its head yes.

“Okay, we still have lots of time before Aunt Carol gets home, so we can take it all off and not get in trouble,” Danny said as he twisted the cap and raised the lipstick out of the holder.

Danny had seen Ms. Lewis apply her lipstick a million times and drawing on those memories, he applied the dark red makeup, making sure he smacked his lips the same way he had watched his unknowing mentor do it before.

“Don't you look pretty,” Danny said to the reflection.

“Thank you,” he had the reflection answer and then giggled up a storm.

He found the matching color nail polish tucked neatly among dozen of other similar bottles. He lowered the soft cushioned seat of the commode and placed his ruffled bottom on top. Danny unscrewed the top of the bottle and carefully pulled the brush out. Using small, even strokes, he painted each nail as if it were its own work of fine art. He got all ten done in a glossy, dark red and was pleased that his lips were now color coordinated with his fingernails.

Danny held his fingers apart as he placed the bottle back in the drawer. He looked in the mirror and smiled. He stared at his reflection intently. The boys at the orphanage always teased him that he looked like a little girl, he never before knew how accurate they actually were.

“Come on Cinderella, let's go play before the clock strikes midnight.”

Danny blew himself a kiss and then left the bathroom.

Danny skipped off back to his bedroom, this time conscious of his actions but reveling in his play. The doll that he was playing with earlier was still lying on the bed. “There's my baby girl,” he said happily as he scooped the doll in his hand. “Let's dance baby girl.”

Danny held the doll tenderly, letting its head rest on his shoulder. Slowly he rocked from side to side, taking a tentative step to the left and then going into a slow twirl. Every nerve on his leg seemed be alive every time he took a step and felt the silky skirt brush against his thighs. At the end of the dance he curtsy just like the ballerina in the poster.

Danny climbed on the bed and sat against the pillows. The doll still cradled in his arms. The bed was so soft, much different than the thin mattress on metal frame from the orphanage.

“Hush little baby, don't say a word,” Danny started to sing in a hushed voice.

A minute passed and he was still singing, albeit softer than before. Though his lullaby was designed to put his 'baby' to sleep, it was doing its magic on him. Not only was the bed comfortable, but Danny had never before been as comfortable with himself. Sure, he was just pretending, but everything felt so right. It was as if it were all a dream.

Danny took a deep sigh and his eyes could remain open no longer. He still had two hours before Aunt Carol came home and his naps only lasted half as long. Comfortably and with an extreme sense of peace, Danny slept.

TO BE CONTINUED

The Adoption Of

 Little Orphan

 Danny

By K.T. Leone

(Little Katie)

Part II: Part of the game

The bed was increasingly soft and comfortable. Danny didn't think such comfort could be found on this Earth. He slept more soundly than ever before. He never thought such a state of rest could even be found in this realm. The room was silent, as if he was in a vacuum. Sharing a room with six other boys, Danny never knew what total silence sounded like until now, and he liked it. The only sound that penetrated the silence came from him, the soft hiss of a long, slow exhale, the rustle of the skirt while he shifted his weight from one hip to the other. He lay uncovered, the room was a comfortable seventy-eight degrees and there was no need for the blanket. His head sank into a pink satin pillow as he slept on his back. The doll he chose to claim as his own was still clutched tenderly in his arms and amazingly added to the comfort of his slumber.

Aunt Carol arrived home. She was more than an hour and a half early, but being the boss, she pushed up all her meetings and now, after three years of uninterrupted work, she found herself with an open schedule for the next two weeks. After a short meeting with her lawyer to confirm that she did indeed find what she was looking for, and a brief stop by an art store to pick up a few supplies she was certain Danny would find useful in his pursuit of artistic excellence, Carol was now in her front foyer. She knew there was a child somewhere in the house, but with the place being so still, there was no evidence of it.

After a brief survey of the ground floor and back yard, Carol decided to check the bedroom where the child was to be staying. The door wasn't completely closed and she assumed that must mean it was okay to enter. Softly, she pushed the door fully open, being a well kept house, the hinge didn't squeak like the ones at the orphanage. Carol took two steps into the room and paused as she looked at the figure on the bed.

Two small feet wearing pink ankle socks with the cutest white ruffles, long slender creamy white legs with bony knees and thighs that were barely thicker than the calves. A darling pair of pink panties with white ruffles were visible under a skirt that wasn't designed to maintain a little girl's dignity while horizontal. The pink party dress fit simply wonderfully to the small frame and two thin arms clutched a doll close to the child's chest. Ten perfectly painted red fingernails added a stark contrast to the porcelain white skin. Then there was the face that Carol looked at last. So soft, so gentile, looking so peaceful. The long brown hair and dark red lips looked almost doll like. Carol was looking at the epitome of little girl loveliness, only she was looking at a little boy.

Being practically raised in an orphanage all his life, Danny had an internal sensor which warned him when people were watching him when ever he slept. As an orphan, such a thing was mandatory or one might find one's head in the toilet bowl while hanging upside down and being flushed upon. With a start, Danny woke up, sat up, and ascertained the situation. As if he had a built in radar he opened his eyes and immediately focused on Mrs. Adams. His hands went for his legs and upon feeling flesh, he quickly realized how he was dressed. The look on the lady's face was one of surprise and horror.

'Oh no!' Danny thought. 'What have I done? Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! How many times did you wish someone would take you home? How long have you known the reason people didn't want you were because you're one pathetic excuse for a boy? Finally you get a shot of having a real home and you ruin it by being stupid. She probably sends you back right away, you better come up with a good lie or you'll definitely be back within the hour. Say something.'

Danny opened up his mouth to come up with a plausible explanation, but no words proceeded from his lips and he could feel the tears well up in his eyes. 'Don't cry,' he pleaded silently with his body.

"Danny?" Mrs. Adams said with a note of concern as she saw the horror on the boy's face and the tell tale sign of unformed tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Danny blurted out without hesitation. "I didn't mean to, Ma'am. It was just my other clothes were so itchy and smelly and this was the only stuff I could find and I didn't want to go around nude because that would be even badder. And I was just playing a game of make believe and just trying to pass the time before you got back, Ma'am. Please give me another chance. I promise that I won't do nothing like this ever, ever again." A tear trickled down Danny's face as his rambling ended.

"Danny," Carol said very softly. "You are not in any trouble." There was almost a note of humor in her words.

Danny took a breath and saw that the lady was telling the truth. "I'm not?"

"Of course you're not." Carol smiled and sat on the bed. "I can certainly understand about that suit you were wearing being uncomfortable and I know children your age love to pretend and try out new things and I find that perfectly acceptable."

"You do?" Danny's eyes grew large, he wasn't expecting such a response.

"Plus, I think this outfit suits you. You look simply adorable and precious."

"I do?" Danny blushed and turned away.

"I'll tell you what. If you're willing to keep pretending you're little game, you feel free to do so. You don't have to change into uncomfortable clothes if you don't want to and we'll get you suitable replacements as soon as possible."

"I can pretend to be a girl the rest of the night?" Danny asked in wide eyed anticipation and bewilderment.

"Yes you may, if you like," Carol said as she put an arm around the child and gave a light squeeze.

"I would like that ma'am. I mean, Aunt Carol." Danny placed his head against the lady's chest.

"May I also pretend that you're a little girl?" Carol asked with a slight smile.

"Yes, you may," Danny said in a precise imitation of his new found guardian.

Both giggled for a moment and Danny found his anxiety swept away. "She knew I was only pretending all along," Danny thought as the lady stood up.

"Well little miss, how about we go out in the back yard and enjoy the rest of this beautiful day by the pool," Carol said as she walked to the closet.

"You have a pool?!?" Danny said excitedly.

"Of course I do. Didn't you go out into the yard to see for yourself?"

"No ma'am. I was too busy, um, pretending." Danny gave a sly smile.

Carol chuckled at the response. "Well little miss, you need to go and see, but we can't let you go out in socked feet, they'll get dirty."

"I'll put on my shoes," Danny quickly offered.

"They wouldn't go with the dress," Carol joked as she returned from the closet. "But I do have these." She showed the child the pair of shiny white Mary-Jane's.

"They look new," Danny said in awe as he stared at the footwear.

"That's because they are new. May I put them on you?" Carol asked as she sat back on the bed.

"Yes, you may." Danny placed his feet on the lady's lap and let her shod his feet. Amazingly, they were a perfect fit and felt really comfortable as well.

"This sun won't last forever pretty little girl, let's go outside before we waste it all away." Carol stood up and held her hand out to the child.

"Yes. Let's." Danny took the lady's hand and walked to the back yard, taking delight in hearing the hard soled shoes strike the floor rhythmically.

The back yard was bigger than anything could've imagined, even bigger than the common area at the orphanage where the bigger boys would play rough tackle football and softball. As promised, there was a pool that was of fairly good size, equip with a diving platform and a water slide. But the pool didn't take up the entire yard as it would if it was on a modest sized lot, there was also plenty of green grass and rose bushes and a large, white gazebo that housed a table and a few over sized chairs. It was there that the child and adult headed.

Danny sat down in the chair. Mrs. Adams noticed how carefully the boy sat down and kept his knees pinched together to avoid the embarrassment of showing off anything the dress failed to cover.

"You sit very lady like," Mrs. Adams said as she sat down next to the child.

Danny looked at the adult and wondered what to make of the comment.

Mrs. Adams smiled politely. "That was meant as a compliment dear. You must learn to relax a tad, after all, you are pretending to be a girl and there is no rule against me pretending too, is there?"

"No ma'am. I mean, Aunt Carol." Danny smiled and tried to relax like he was told to. "Thank you for the compliment, but I did it without thinking, honest I did."

"Maybe you're just a natural, you certainly look the part." Mrs. Adams sat back in the chair.

Danny blushed and fidgeted in his seat.

"That was a compliment also, sugar." Mrs. Adams placed her hand on the tiny hand of her guess.

"I know," Danny gushed. "It's just usually don't like me because I'm..." Danny trailed off, and once again looked away.

"Because you're pretty. It's okay for you to say it. Trust me, you aren't keeping it a secret from anyone. I think you will find that I'm not like other people and I tend to see how beautiful you are on the inside."

"So you don't mind that I look like a girl?" Danny blurted out the question before he could get the chance to think if he really wanted to ask it.

"Would I have let you wear a dress if I did?" Mrs. Adams took Danny's hand and held it.

Danny was dumbfounded. "I guess not."

"Come now, there's no need to be shy about things. I want to get to know you, but it will be hard for me to do that if I don't get to see the real you."

"The real me?" Danny sat rigid in his seat and stared at the face of the lady beside him.

"Yes. You know the real you, don't you? The part of you that acts and thinks and feels before you get the chance to respond the way other people expect you to."

"I know who that is, it's just that..." Danny paused and looked down at the shiny white shoes and pouted ever so slightly .

"It's just that you're scared." Carol lifted the child's chin to make him look at her once again. "It's perfectly understandable, a lot of people are scared when they act themselves, but in this house, as long as you are true to yourself, you will find that you'll never be in trouble."

"What if I don't know what the real me is?" Danny's voice quivered as he asked the question.

"Then we'll discover that together." Carol smiled at the child and wiped away the solitary tear drop that was streaming down the porcelain chin of the child's cheek.

"I'll like that, Aunt Carol, I really would," Danny said without hesitation. A smile slowly crept on his face and once again he felt relaxed.

"I'll help you on your way," Carol said as she led the conversation in a new direction. "What is the one thing you like to do above all others if given the chance?"

"That's easy. I like to draw, it's fun," Danny said excitedly.

"Well then, I guess it was a good thing that I got you a sketchpad and real artist's pencils so you'd have something to do tonight." Carol slid the contents of the brown paper bag onto the table, revealing a pad of paper and a box of assorted charcoal pencils. Along with the tools of the trade was also an art instruction book that was designed to let individuals progress in their skills.

Danny didn't wait to wonder how the world would expect him to react, he wanted to do what impulse told him to. "Thank you Aunt Carol," he squealed as he jumped out of the chair. He quickly hugged the woman and planted a kiss on her cheek before he had time to think about what he was doing. "I love them."

"You're welcome princess," Carol said as she patted the ruffled behind of the child. "Why don't you draw something nice while I get dinner ready."

"Okay." Danny knew he heard the word princess in there somewhere, but knew it was all in pretend. He did look a like a little princess after all and something in his actually felt warmed by the moniker. "I'll draw you something extra nice and pretty."

"I'm sure you will. I doubt you could do any less." Carol saw the pixie of a boy beam as she went off to fix the dinner both of them would have.

Danny adjusted the chair to the table and after previewing his new stash of goodies, he put his mind to work on what he would like to draw. After a brief moment of inspiration, he got right to work.

The boy in the pink dress that didn't quite make it to mid-thigh swung his feet under the large white chair. Being short had its advantages, he didn't come close to scuffing his new shoes on the tiled gazebo floor. The light breeze on his bare skin and the rhythmic swaying brought a certain comfort to the child but he couldn't reflect on it because he was staring at the thick white paper, formulating the picture in his mind before he would even mark the canvas. Without realizing it, Danny stuck his tongue out of the side of his mouth and lightly bit it. His left hand held the pencil and with light, quick, short strokes, he began his first masterpiece at this house.

Carol had dinner in the oven. Not that she had much to prepare, each meal was prepared in advance by the cook who came in twice a week and stored everything in the large stainless-steel refrigerator. Carol actually liked to cook, and use to do it every night when her husband was still living. But, taking over his business affairs was such a full plate that he thought having a cook was a necessary evil. But now that the business affairs were in order and she untangled the web of multiple ventures her husband was in, she could now take a hands off approach and let them be more self-sufficient.

While the dinner was being heated, Carol walked towards the door that led to the backyard. She stood off partly to the side and looked out the window. The child was busily working on something with great concentration. Carol smiled, even though she ran her husband's business well, she felt useless not caring after another person.

"George would be tickled pink," Carol thought. "He always wanted a little girl running around the house; all ribbons, and lace, and pigtails. She's all George would've wanted and then some." Carol smiled at her own little Joke. "It's a good thing Ms. Lewis told me about her, or she might still be trapped at that home for boys. How terrible it must have been for the little sprite."

Danny lifted his head and noticed 'Aunt Carol' staring at him from the door. He gave a small wave and a smile and then continued his work.

The large lady retreated from the door, the smile never left her face as she whimsically hummed 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls.' IT was all she could do to contain he exuberance while she removed the baked ravioli from the oven.

Danny finished his drawing and felt proud with how well it turned out. At the orphanage there were far too many distractions for one to think. Kids hanging over him to see what he was doing, but being genuinely annoying with comments, questions, and suggestions every half-second. The worst was when the bullies would purposely bump his chair or arm and ruin the whole work. Danny shook his head as he thought about how many masterpieces turned out less than perfect just because of where he was. He looked at the drawing and all that was left to do was sign it. It always brought him satisfaction to use his signature, it was the only time he used cursive letters. In his overly ornate style he penciled his name with precise detail and after he looped the 'y', with the loop underlining his whole name in a perfect oval, he added his trademark daisy at the end. Of course he always told the other boys it was a star, but he knew better. This time, however, he made the daisy distinct and even added a few leaves on the stem to avoid any confusion. He thought it was a cute touch and it commemorated the fact that he drew the artwork while he was wearing a dress. He hoped the touches would bring a smile and maybe from laughter for the fun he was having and effort he put into things.

"Now it's all done," Danny thought as he stood up and darted to the house with the picture held safely in his hand.

Carol could hear the patter of little feet coming through the house. The rhythm they made brought a smile to the older lady's face, for she knew it was the sound of a young girl, um child, skipping. "I'm in here, princess," she called out as she placed the second bottle of sarsaparilla into the frosted mug.

"Aunt Carol," Danny said as he made his way to the kitchen quickly. The excitement was contagious and Carol could feel it spreading to her. "I drew this for you."

"I knew that. You told me before I came in, remember." Carol looked at the child and knew the bright pink cheeks and dimples weren't caused by make-up.

"oh, yeah." A high pitched giggle escaped Danny's lips. "I hope you like it." Danny extended his project forward.

Carol marveled at how convincingly and natural Danny acted as a girl. Or was it an act? Carefully she took the picture. She was amazed at the detail, the fine lines, the realistic shading. It was almost like looking at a black and white photograph, except that there were crisper details than a lens could capture. "It's the most beautiful rose that I've ever seen and the best piece of artwork to enter this house."

Danny, like most children, at up the praise. "And that rose won't ever die," he said with a certain air of modest pride in his voice. "I'm glad you like it," his voice practically danced on the air.

"Now I wouldn't say like," Carol said as she looked at the picture again.

"Oh?" Danny's voice fell flat and he wondered where he failed.

'No like isn't nearly strong enough a word. I love it, I absolutely and whole heartedly love it," Car said with unbiased enthusiasm.

Danny smile returned just as fast as it had vanished.

"May I hug and kiss the artist?" Carol asked as she knelt down, which, for a lady her size and age, wasn't the easiest thing to do.

Danny shyly looked down and away and slowly pivoted the toe on his right foot on the heel of the left. "Yes you may," he said in just above a whisper.

"Then I shall." Carol embraced the child and planted a kiss firmly on his rosy cheeks, leaving behind a light outline of her lips in lipstick as evidence.

Even though the lips were no longer there, Danny could still feel them, savored them. At the orphanage, he hadn't been kissed since he was three, and those kisses he could barely remember at all. He didn't want to take this one for granted. He wondered if the lady who took him in, even if it turned out to be for only a little while, realized how much such a thing meant to someone who felt himself inferior and unlovable, or was it just a kiss that to most were a dime a dozen and he was simply over-analyzing things.

"Huh," Danny said as he came out of his head and realized that he missed something that was said. He hoped it didn't seem rude, he'd hate to ruin a good thing.

"I said, how about we have some dinner, or would you like another kiss instead," Carol said as she struggled to get up.

"Oh?" Danny giggled liltingly. "Dinner sounds nice."

"Go run ahead with the rolls and butter and I'll bring out the plates in a moment." Carol handed a basket willed with warm rolls and a tiny tray of butter.

"Yes ma'am," Danny said as he half-curtsied just to be cute.

Carol watched the little boy skip away. She smiled at that. "A born natural, that's for sure," she said out loud, knowing she wouldn't be overheard. She also wondered how many fantasies she just fulfilled with a little kindness and a kiss. She knew Danny was an orphan at birth. She could only guess how many times the child wished and prayed to be praised and kissed in a motherly way. She could tell by his eyes when she pulled away that the boy was in total awe and complete bliss by her action. There would be questions later, internal ones that he would have to answer and figure out for himself. Carol knew that for sure. All she could do was attempt her best and remain consistent. She grabbed the tray with the two plates of fine china and decided to joint he child outside and enjoy the company for a change.

"Here you go princess," Carol said as she placed a plate in front of Danny.

"It looks really good," Danny replied as he sat straight up on the edge of the chair so he could reach his food and be neat about it.

Child looked at the child, there was a certain glow about his face that was previously lacking. She smiled, it was an easy thing to do in this instance. She took a bite of dinner and swallowed. "It taste even better than it looks, yum."

Danny chuckled softly and then got on to the business of eating. "You're a real good cook, Aunt Carol," Danny said as he finished half of the plate.

"I am," Carol said emphatically. "But I didn't cook this, I just warmed it up."

"Oh," Danny said as he felt foolish for giving an undeserved compliment. "You're a real good warmer upper too." Danny smiled, causing his dimples to show and putting more color in his cheeks.

"You're a real sweetie, did you know that?" Carol asked.

"I try. Usually when I do that, the other boys make fun of me and call me a brown noser. I just like being nice," Danny explained as he kicked his feet under the table.

"Well, those boys are not around and you can be whoever you really are."

Danny looked at the lady, but didn't reply. It was a lot to think about.

"It looks as if we're both done eating," Carol said as she noticed the fork resting on Danny's half eaten plate of food.

"Yes, Ma'am. I'm stuffed." Danny patted his stomach to emphasize his point.

Carol gently dabbed a napkin on the corner of Danny's mouth. "I didn't think you were saving some for later," she said and laughed.

Danny laughed too, not because he thought the joke was funny, but because someone was simply trying to make him laugh.

"Since it's your first night here, I'll let you decide what you'll like to do."

"Shouldn't we clear the dishes first," Danny said as he scanned the table.

"Normally, yes we would, but, for tonight, they can wait."

"If I had a bathing suit I would say swimming." Though Danny didn't mean to, a slight pout came to his face.

"Swimming is a wonderful idea and there are some swimsuits in your room, but we should wait at least a half hour before we go in, let the food settle, don't you think?"

Danny didn't consider what swimsuits there were, he'd never been in a pool before and wasn't about to pass up on an opportunity like this. "I think it sounds really good. Maybe we can listen to some music like you played in the car."

A marvelous idea," Carol said as she stood up. "Care to join me in the living room?" She held out her hand towards the child.

Danny answered by grabbing her hand, he didn't need to say the words. They slowly plodded towards the living room and Carol put on some classical music that played softly through the room.

"You've at least made it to this room earlier, I suspect," Carol said as she sat down on a brown leather sofa in the corner of the room.

"Oh yes! I like this room, it was a fun place to pretend." Danny said with a note of excitement as he looked around the room once more.

"What did you pretend that was so much fun?" Carol got a kick out of hearing the small child gush about things.

Danny stood still and looked down, making sure his eyes didn't betray him.

"It's okay," Carol comforted. "I promise, I won't get mad."

"I pretended I was her," Danny whispered as he pointed to the poster on the wall. He knew Carol was okay with him dressing up because his uniform was so uncomfortable, but to admit the even pretended to be something as ultra-feminine as a ballerina seemed to be infinite degrees worse.

"Was it fun pretending to be me as a little girl," Carol asked, slightly amused.

Danny shook his head yes, even though he hadn't completely processed every word that was spoken.

"That's wonderful," Carol said excitedly. "Too bad I wasn't around to see it, I would've loved to see you put on a show."

Danny's eyes got so big as he looked up at his new caretaker in surprise. "You would?"

"Of course I would, especially since you said you had so much fun. Remember I said I wanted to get to know you. That means all of you, sugar, the real you, even that part of you."

"I can do a show for you if you like," Danny said in eager to please.

"If that is what you truly want to do, then I would love to see a performance."

"It is!" Danny stated. "Can I put on the next song."

"I can do that with this." Carol showed the child the remote.

"Cool," he said with glee. He walked to the center of the room. "I'm ready now."

Carol hit the 'FWD' button on the remote control and leaned forward to watch the little child dance his heart out. She smiled as Danny twirled slowly to the music, showing off a small portion of the ruffled panties he wore. Though his moves were definitely that of a person untrained in ballet, there was a certain grace to them and it was extremely easy to imagine it were really a young four-year-old girl before her.

Danny's body was moving instinctively to the music as he stepped and spun and occasionally did a small kick. The words "I want to know the real you," danced in his head even more graceful than he could ever hope his feet could move. "The real me," Danny thought. "I don't know the real me, but this is definitely part of it."

The music stopped.

Danny curtsied.

Carol clapped enthusiastically. "That was beautiful, princess. Come here." She held her arms open and had an inviting look on her face.

Danny didn't deny her request and ran into an embrace. He found himself sitting on Carol's lap, being perpetually hugged. Feeling the warmth of another human being was better than he had ever imagined. His emotions also confused him, for the longest time he had felt himself undesired, unacceptable, and unloved, but suddenly in the here and now it was as if all those preconceptions were lies.

"What are you thinking about princess," Carol asked as she brushed some of Danny's hair from his face.

Danny stared a her eyes. There was so much to say, so many hurts and fears, hopes and dreams to share. But to risk opening up to someone he just met was a great gamble. Why risked being crushed, he figured. "Nothing," he said in a soft, high pitched voice even though his eyes betrayed him.

"In good time princess, in good time." Carol managed a faint smile as her folded hands fell down to the child's hi[, just under the skirt of the dress. She was prepared to wait as long as it took.

"Is that really you in that poster," Danny asked after a moment of silence.

"That was taken an few months after I met my George. He was 12 and I was eight, but we knew we were meant for each other. His dad loved having me around too, I was the little girl he never had despite the obvious discrepancy." Carol smiled at reminiscing.

"Because you wasn't really his little girl," Danny piped up.

"Not until I was sixteen, then me and George got married, but his father and I were really close and I loved him as such."

"Cool." Danny put his head on Carol's chest.

"Times were different then princess. Don't feel like you have to go run off and marry the first boy who strikes your fancy." Carol gave the child an amusing look to show she was joking with him.

Danny giggled at the silliness. "No, I'll wait for the second one." He laughed.

Carol laughed too. "Come on princess, let's get you into a swimsuit and we can waste the rest of the day in the pool.

The two walked hand in hand to the bedroom and Danny started taking of the pair of white Mary-Jane's and ankle socks while Carol went through the second drawer of the dresser and pulled out one of the available swimsuits.

"Now, I hope you don't mind this one," Carol said as she held up the garment.

Danny looked at the small pink suit. "That's for girls," he stated the obvious. But not only was it for girls, but the frilly little dark red skirt and picture of a cartoon mermaid meant it was little kids as well.

"I know sugar," Carol said sympathetically. "I am really sorry that I don't have anything appropriate for a boy, but we'll remedy that as soon as possible, I promise. I thought since you were pretending to be a girl anyway, that it wouldn't matter that much. I certainly understand if you want to do something different."

Danny stared at the suit. "I didn't say that," he finally said as the allure of the swimming pool was just too much to pass up for a silly little thing like clothing. It's just part of the game, right?"

"That's the spirit." Carol smiled. "I'll let you change in privacy. I'm sure you never wore one before, but so you'll know, you're not suppose to wear anything underneath. I'll see you at the pool when you're ready."

Danny grinned. "Thank you, ma'am," he said as Carol walked out of the room.

Alone in the room, Danny carefully wiggled out of the dress and placed it neatly on the bed. In a matter of seconds the frilly panties with the ruffles and the baby-tee followed. He was extremely careful to fold things as nicely as possible, not wanting to ruin such soft and delicate clothing. Holding the suit as open as possible, Danny placed both his feet through the appropriate holes. The material was skin tight, but not constricting as he slid his arms out the top ends. The cut of the suit was forgiving up front and he noticed the lack of any discernible bulge, which actually made him smile because the game of pretend seemed more enjoyable the more he was actually able to pull off the look.

The back of the suit took something to get use too and Danny pulled the material from between his lily white butt cheeks and hoped the one piece suit would behave.

Walking seemed like a new experience. Danny knew he was clothed, the bunching material behind him made that evident, but he felt practically naked. The odd thing, to Danny at least, was it didn't seem like such a bad thing. He walked out of the bedroom, watching the floor under his bare feet. At the orphanage, the only place people were allowed to not be in full clothing was when they were in the bathroom and furthermore in the tub. Danny grinned, it felt as if he was getting away with breaking a rule.

"Don't you look absolutely precious," Carol practically squealed from the other end of the hall as Danny stood by the banister.

Danny turned and faced the lady. His hands went behind his back as his left hand grabbed the first two fingers of his right. The child blushed as he tilted his head away from his benefactor and blushed. "I don't look silly?" Danny asked in a soft whisper.

"Not at all princess, you're an absolute doll," Carol praised and saw the child turn even more red. "You like hearing that you're pretty, don't you?" She decided to confirm the suspicion she long had.

Danny nodded. "Sorry," his voice cracked. "Don't be mad. Please."

Carol chuckled as she walked to the child. "Why would I be mad, Princess?"

"'Cause boys aren't suppose to be pretty and like it," Danny said shyly.

"I guess that says a lot about you then." Carol smiled as she lifted the child. Danny's size made the task easy. "I like that you're pretty, and I like that you like it. Okay?"

"Okay," Danny said in confusion, not truly believing all the lady was saying to him. "It's all part of the game, right?" he finally asked as they made their way to the pool.

"Of course it is," Carol said as they walked back outside.

Danny gave a faint smile. Of course he liked being called pretty, he thought. All girls like to be told they're pretty because that is what girls do. Since he was pretending to be a girl, it made his feelings normal, so Danny reassured himself.

"Do you know how to swim," Carol asked as she placed the child by the edge of the pool.

Danny shook his head no and hoped the pool wouldn't be off limits.

"Then you need to wear these." Carol slid on a pair of pink water wings and blew them up.

"They're pink, like my suit," Danny said with a smile. "I like pink," he said affirmatively. Of course he liked pink. All girls like pink, after all. It was all part of the game.

 

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Author's note
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I did cut this chapter short because of length, but I promise I will continue
every thing. It's an attempt to make a light airy piece and not surround things
with tragedy, as of yet. Danny seems to be enjoying his little game of pretend.
Enjoy. Please comment.

The Adoption Of

 Little Orphan

 Danny

By K.T. Leone

(Little Katie)

Part III: A little inadequate

---

 

Carol waded in the pool wearing her large, one-piece swimsuit. Swimming was a normal part of her exercise routine that she didn't follow. Tonight offered a different incentive to being in the pool that had nothing to do with numbers appearing on a scale. She looked at her new motivation, the image of a girl standing on the far ledge of the pool that wasn't really a girl, but in fact a boy. He didn't look like a boy, didn't talk like a boy, didn't act like a boy. Perhaps he was boy who wasn't really a boy, Carol mused to herself. The soft porcelain white skin that seemed to ache for a few hours in the sun, the long wavy hair that caressed the shoulder ever so slightly, even his face, her face, the picture of youthful innocence that made one want to believe in angels. Carol looked down the body at the childish one-piece pink bathing suit. She was sure some where beneath the Lycra material was actual evidence of boyhood, it wasn't evident now, even though it was obvious the suit was skin tight.

Danny looked into the pool, it was the first time he would actually be in one. He cautiously dipped a toe in the deep end and quickly retracted it. There was a light yelp. "It's cold," Danny said and giggled at the same time. It only served to enhance the image was a four year old girl and not an eight year old boy as others chose to report.

"It's okay princess, once you get in you'll get use to it right away," Carol said as she looked on. She was curious how the boy would enter the pool, wondering if any male habits would ever actually appear.

Danny counted to three in his head and then daintily hopped in the pool, cause nary a splash. His teeth chattered as he made his way to Carol using a modified doggy paddle. "I made it." Danny smiled as he was embraced by the large woman.

"That you did, princess, that you did." Carol held on to the child that clung to her. Even though the child was smiling, it was evident he was actually afraid that the inflatable water wings would fail in their job of keeping him afloat.

Like most fears of young children, this one subsided ever so gradually. First it was the simple loosening of the death grip he had on the larger lady, and eventually moved to Danny holding onto Carol's hands as he stretched out in the water and gently kicked his feet.

"You're doing a fabulous job, Princess," Carol praised.

Danny smiled as he looked at the lady.

"Are you ready to let go now?" Carol asked in an amused tone.

Danny tentatively shook his head yes and released the grip he had on the woman's hands. His feet soon found themselves under his body, but he sill remained afloat. Instinctively, he kicked his feet under him even though it wasn't truly necessary. "I'm doing it," he said joyously as he contorted his body in the pool in order to spin.

"Good girl," Carol praised as she made her way to the side of the pool to relax and to enjoy watching the child play.

Danny experimented with movement and discovered several was in which he could get around. Soon his fear was completely gone and he enjoyed the time he was having to its fullest. After an hour, he made his way back to carol, not realizing how much time he actually wasted.

"Tired yourself out, did you?" Carol put her arm around the small child.

"Yes Aunt Carol," Danny said as he leaned back into the waiting arm. "Swimming is a lot of hard work, but it's fun."

"How about we get you in the bath and then ready for bed."

"Okay," Danny said without any objection in his voice.

"Would you be offended if I carried you upstairs?"

"No ma'am. It would be nice." Danny smiled, even though he thought he would outgrow the need to be mothered, he never did. He felt the arms clamp under his bottom as they waded towards the steps of the pool. In turn, the small child wrapped his arms around the lady and placed his head on her shoulder.

"Did you have fun today Danny?" Carol asked as they made their way through the house and up the stairs to the bathroom.

"It's fun to be a girl," Danny replied. He meant to sat that it was fun pretending to be a girl, but he didn't quite catch himself in time.

"You do a very good job of it." Carol heard the child full well, but didn't want Danny to know she heard exactly what he said. "Here we go, your bathroom." Carol tried to divert Danny's attention as quick as possible before he had a chance to over analyze the words he spoke.

Danny was let down in the pink and white tiled bathroom that was just across from his bedroom. He walked around and looked at all the feminine touches; small flowered shaped soaps, a mermaid shower curtains, and a puffy fuzzy pink toilet seat cover added to the effect.

Carol looked at the child, mostly at the two plump butt cheeks

that stuck out of the bottom of the suit. They looked so cute she wanted to giggle. She didn't however, not wanting to embarrass the child. Instead, she turned on the water and put a stopper in the drain. "What do you think of the bathroom little miss?"

Danny was busy leaning on the counter and smelling the potpourri that was in a heart shaped dish. "I like it Aunt Carol, I really do."

"I thought you just might. What do you say to a bubble bath?"

"Cool!" Danny replied ecstatically.

"Okay." Carol added a cap full of bubble bath mixture." I'll give you some privacy and get you something to sleep in for the night. All I ask is that you be careful not to get a lot of water on the floor."

"Yes Ma'am." Danny grinned and watched the lady walk out the door.

The boy pulled the two Lycra straps off of his shoulder and shimmied the suit down his legs. He noticed the thing that ruined the image that he were truly a girl, even though it was even smaller than usual. "If Aunt Carol knew about you, she probably wouldn't want us, we're so inadequate," he spoke to his anatomy glumly.

Deciding that thinking about the areas he found himself lacking wouldn't help anything magically grow, Danny stepped into the warm bath water and sat down.

It was nice to sit in a clean tub that wasn't shared with a bunch of other boys. Even though the water was changed after each bath, the tub at the orphanage always felt gritty. Danny scooted his pale white bottom on the bottom of the tub and smiled broadly as he slid as if sliding on a sheet of ice. The first thing he did was sit back and relax, he knew no one was going to rush him out. The smell of strawberries greeted him as he closed his eyes. He couldn't explain why, but he found the odor comforting.

Knowing he was in the water for quite some time, Danny proceeded to wash in his well practiced routine. First he soaped up his toes, making sure to get in between the crevices and worked his way up. For the first time in the history of him taking a bath, he stopped at his middle.

"Too bad this isn't a magic eraser," he spoke to it. "A ballet princess is not suppose to have one of you, you know." Danny scrubbed the area harder than he ever scrubbed any part of his body, but the result he was aiming for wasn't accomplished. "Stupid thing," he spat.

Danny continued the rest of his chore and then found himself with time on his hands to play with the bubbles.

After 15 minutes, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Danny called out automatically.

"It's Aunt Carol," the voice said jovially. "Is it safe to come in?"

"Yes you may," Danny said loudly after he made sure there were enough bubbles surrounding him not to frighten the lady into fits of laughter.

Carol walked in with a small pile of clothing that she placed on the bathroom counter. The wet bar of soap that sat on the soap dish informed her that the child did indeed wash himself and she didn't need to ask the question. "Are you just about finished, sweetie?"

"Yes ma'am," Danny said as he glanced down to make sure the bubbles didn't pop and reveal his inadequacies.

"How about we let the water out and I'll leave you to dry yourself," Carol said as she pulled the stopper out of the drain.

Danny knew the lady would find out about him sooner or later and the thoughts of her reaction raced through his head. "Do you want to dry me," he asked half expectantly, figuring if she found fault it would be better to find out now before he got too attached to the place.

"I certainly don't mind. That is, if you're okay with it."

Danny stood up. It was the easiest way to answer without showing his fear. His head went down and he could see the area, his anatomy was so small from the water that only the very tip stuck out from his body and the tiny pouch underneath seemed only slightly bigger. "It's okay," he whispered.

"Aren't you the most precious," Carol squealed as she grabbed a towel.

Danny didn't know how to take the comment. Was she saying the words as a joke, or to be cruel? "I'm sorry ma'am."

"Whatever for?" the lady asked as she took in the full view of the pixie.

"Because it's... it's so small," Danny said in a barely audible tone.

Carol giggled. "Oh, that. It's the perfect size for a little princess."

"You mean you're not mad and aren't going to send me back to Father Henry's."

"For that? Heaven forbid. You still have a lot to learn young Danny. Now let's get you dried and dressed before you catch a cold standing in your birthday suit."

Danny cracked a smile. "Yes ma'am... Aunt Carol," he said joyfully.

Carol wrapped the large fluffy pink and white towel around the boy and dried him off sing the softest of pats and the gentlest of rubs. "Now, I don't have any boy pajamas for you, but..."

"That's okay," Danny interrupted without even thinking about what he was saying. The words just slipped out on their own and quickly he blushed and shied away ever so slightly. "I mean, I don't mind if you only have girl pajamas. I guess I could try to wear them instead." Danny tried to sound like he was willing to suffer a great injustice, but his big smile and dimples gave him away.

"I really appreciate you being such a sport," Carol went along with the child as she smiled along with him. She grabbed a garment off the counter. "How about we step into these first."

Danny looked down at the small pair of white panties that had cute little butterflies flying all around them and a lavender trim. "Oh, okay," he said in a tiny voice. He put his left foot in through the appropriate hole and then his right foot. Carol slid the pair up the child's relatively long and slender legs and around his waist under the towel so he wouldn't have to reveal himself to her again. Once they were securely in place, Danny let the towel fall to the floor.

They look very pretty on you," Carol remarked as she grabbed the final garment off of the counter. "And now the nightie. Up with those arms."

Danny raised his arms over his head. Even though he was old enough to dress himself, he relished the attention he was receiving. The white cotton garment that was barely longer than a shirt was shimmied down his arms and as the purple quarter-length sleeves rested on the boy's shoulder he could see the picture on the front. "It has little kitties on the front," Danny gushed, "they're so cute."

"And so are you, Princess," Carol complimented and watched the child blush. "I know it's a bit early, but I know you had a big day and a lot's happened. So how about I put you in bed and we can talk for a little while."

Danny wasn't about to put up an argument and he felt tired out from his time he spent in the pool." Will you carry me to bed so my feet don' get dirty," ha asked as sweetly as he could as he looked at his guardian hopefully.

"Why, of course." Carol lifted the child, he was so light as it was that it could never seem a burden to carry such a pixie. She walked across the hall and pulled the sheet down before placing the child in the bed.

"Thank you," Danny said as the sheet and blanket were placed over his legs. He grabbed the doll he claimed as his own and brought it to his chest.

"You're welcome. Now, let's discuss what we're going to do tomorrow. You see, we have a little dilemma on our hands."

"We do?" Danny asked in surprise.

"Yes, we do. You see, I knew I was going to bring someone home today and I made plans to go to the zoo, even have reservations made to eat at a very fancy restaurant right after we were done."

"The zoo," Danny said excitedly. "I always wanted to go to the zoo."

"I see. The problem is that we still don't have anything for you to wear and I would hate for you to have to wear that uncomfortable suit and ruin the experience."

"There are those other dresses," Danny said impulsively. As soon as he realized what he said, his hands immediately covered his mouth.

Carol smiled. "I see. That doesn't seem to be a bad idea and no one would know you weren't a real little girl. I was going to suggest we move the trip to the zoo to another day and go shopping, but if you're willing to continue being a precious little girl then we can go shopping the day after tomorrow."

"Aunt Carol," Danny interrupted. "Would you mind if I was a girl all day tomorrow and go to the zoo and to a fancy restaurant and stuff."

Carol pushed a strand of hair from the boy's face. "Not at all, in fact I think it would be very nice to have such pretty company."

"I think it will be very nice too," Danny said affirmatively despite thinking he was saying all the wrong things. Truth was that the idea of continuing his little game brought butterflies to his stomach and joy to his heart.

"Well that settles, princess. Tomorrow we go to the zoo and you get to be a girl all day. And do you know what else?"

"No! What?" Danny asked excitedly.

"You make a very pretty little girl at that."

"I like being pretty," Danny said honestly, much to his surprise.

"We have a big day before us, how about I read you a very special little story about very special little girls like yourself."

"I'd like that," Danny said as he couldn't contain his smile.

Carol left the room, but quickly hurried back with a few sheets of computer paper in her hand. As she sat on the bed, she read the child, "The Boy who Wanted to be a Girl," by Little Katie. (Yes, it's a cheap plug, but self-promotion is always free. :P)

"The end," Carol said to the sleepy eyed child.

"I really liked it," Danny said in a whisper.

"I thought you might. Good night, Princess." Carol kissed the child softly on the cheek.

"Good night Aunt Carol," Danny replied. As he watched the lady walk out of the room, he could feel the tear trickle down his face. Receiving a good night kiss fulfilled many of his life long dreams. It almost seemed that this day was too good to be true. As he closed his eyes, Danny thought that if the whole day was a dream, that he didn't want to ever wake up.

"She kissed me," Danny spoke to the doll as he was drifting further asleep. "A real live goodnight kiss. It was even better than the ones I imagined. I with I received one every night, they're so nice. Maybe if I were truly a girl I would never have been an orphan and my mom would've given me a kiss every night and that would've made me happy. Life would have been so much better if I was born really a girl." This was not the first time Danny had such thoughts, it was a common consensus he had many nights just before going to sleep. "Maybe that's why aunt Carol really let me dress as a girl, maybe she knows I should've really been a girl. Things would've been so much better then. Maybe I just should've been a girl, maybe I should've been aunt Carol's little girl."

With that final thought, Danny fell asleep as he cradled the doll in his arms.

---

This was a light chapter with not too much going on, but it does set things up for the future. Usually the inadequacies thing creep into my stories, I guess I have issues. I have also been very careful with Carol's response to things. I am trying to steer away from anything that would suggest a sexual motive in the woman i.e. not being in the bathroom when the child changed to get in the tub. I am also trying to play down the psychological aspects, if anyone has read me before you know how I like my psychology. It isn't in here as heavily, Oh well. Please feel free to comment or to blast me, whichever comes natural for you.

The Adoption Of

 Little Orphan

 Danny

By K.T. Leone

(Little Katie)

Part IV: Sugar and Spice, Ribbons and Lace

---

Danny was in a sound sleep. He had never been so comfortable in all his life. It was not just the bad that was comfortable, though it certainly helped, it was everything. The soft cotton nightie didn't itch and get in the way like the pajamas he was forced to wear at the orphanage. Without anything covering his legs except the blanket, he didn't feel unbearably hot and confined either. Even the undies he wore seemed to be an improvement, they didn't bunch and ride, but instead snuggled against his middle, providing comfort and a sense of security. Even though the new clothes helped, there was an added comfort Danny didn't count on; the doll he lightly held against his chest, even after all these hours of sleep.

Danny slowly opened his eyes and quickly got his bearings. He looked down at the doll and smiled. "You're still here, cool!" Danny said in his small voice and then lifted his head to kiss the doll's forehead. With his free hand he slowly lifted the hem of the nightie under the blanket and put his hand in his panties. Danny rubbed the thing that dispelled the fantasy that he was truly a real girl. "They're still there too," Danny said in a mixture of disgust and sadness.

Danny decided not to dwell on things that he couldn't change. Instead he sat up and decided that he would us some of his free time to play. "I bet the baby is hungry," he spoke to the doll. "It's okay, mommy will feed you." The boy lifted part of his nightie to reveal his flesh colored nipple and brought the doll's mouth to it. He knew he was being silly, but imagining that he was truly breast feeding a real infant brought a sense of warmth to him he didn't expect.

"Being a real little girl wouldn't be all that bad," he told the doll as he rocked it in his arms. A moment later, he started singing a soft lullaby.

The high pitched sound of a little girl sweetly singing in play filled the hallway and Carol knew that her new guest was awake. She paused next to the bedroom door, watching the child while she stood out of view and enjoyed witness the child be her true self. Casually she walked into the room.

"Good morning, Aunt Carol," Danny said happily as he continued with his play.

"Good morning, Danny," Carol said as she sat on the bed. "I heard you were up and I thought I would come in and see what you were up to."

"I'm feeding my dolly." Danny smiled and blushed all at once.

"I can see, and what a good mommy you make, too," Carol praised.

"Aunt Carol I was thinking something," Danny told the lady as he returned the nightie into place.

"What were you thinking sweetie?" Carol brushed Danny's hair back with her fingers.

"Would you have liked to have a little girl?" Danny asked innocently. "I mean a real daughter, not like an orphan or nothing."

Carol smiled. "I think I would've, but I wasn't able to have babies."

"Would you like to pretend that you have a little girl today," Danny continued.

"I thought that was what we were going to do today anyway."

"I mean a real little girl," Danny slightly whined at not being fully understood.

"Oh? Do you want to pretend to be a real little girl, a part of your game?"

Danny blushed and nodded his head yes.

"And how old do you want to pretend to be?" Carol asked as she watched the child.

Danny held up four fingers. "This years old," he said shyly and then giggled. "I know I look that old anyway, everyone tells me so."

"Are you sure it's something you truly want to pretend and be treated like a real little kid and have me full over you and such?"

Danny shook his head yes again. "Just for today, so I can see what it's like."

Carol chuckled. "Okay little miss." With her finger she lightly tapped Danny on the top of his crown. "Poof! For today you get to be a four year old girl until you decide against it."

"Goody!" Danny clapped, getting into the spirit of things. "First you get to dress me for our trip to the zoo. Real pretty too."

"You got it, Princess." Carol was delighted and amused and a little confused at how Danny was diving into such territory with her. She didn't think the child would trust her like this so quickly.

Danny continued to smile, even though he too wondered if he was taking things a bit too far. But the idea sounded like fun, more fun than a lot of other choices he had. He watched as Carol grabbed the silver brush from the counter.

"What do you think we should do with that gorgeous hair of yours?" Carol asked as she pulled the cover down for the child.

"Pigtails!" Danny exclaimed, for a second forgetting himself, or was he? "I've always wondered what pigtails were like," he continued to gush, deciding he might as well make the most of the game he was to play.

"A marvelous idea," Carol said as she opened the drawer of the nightstand so she could get at additional supplies. She then sat on the child's bed. "Come and sit on Aunt Carol's lap and we'll start making you look real pretty."

"Cool!" Danny crinkled his nose. He crawled on the bed and sat on the large lady's lap with her back to her. He could feel the brush going through his long hair, parting it down the middle with care.

"You certainly have very pretty hair, Danny," Carol said as she clumped together the hair on the child's left side and readied a black hair-tie.

"Thank you very much, ma'am," Danny said as the hair-tie tugged his hair into a pigtail. "It's a good thing it's long 'cause it makes me look prettier." Danny stifled a giggle as Carol worked on the other side. He sat as still as he could while his hair was being finished. Once the two hair-ties were put in place, his hair was brushed out again. Danny was sure something more was being added, but he couldn't see what it was from his vantage point.

"All done!" Carol claimed with joy.

"Do I look really pretty?" Danny asked as he turned towards her.

"I'll let you decide that for yourself," Carol said as she stood up, holding the child around the waist. She took a short walk until they both appeared in the mirror that sat on the dresser.

Danny looked at the reflection with his mouth opened wide in amazement. The image of a four year old girl stared back at him. The pigtails were done to perfection and the finishing touch were ribbons of red, pink, and white streaming down from both clumps of hair, seeming to keep them in place. "That's me," Danny stammered as he pointed at the mirror.

"That's right," Carol said in amusement. "What do you think, Princess?"

"I am pretty!" Danny said affirmatively and then smiled brightly.

"That you are." Carol gave the child a big kiss on his puffy cheek. "How about I get your clothes ready and dress you for the day."

"Okay," Danny said, still slightly bewildered by what he saw. He didn't mind the fact that he would be dressed, after all, he did ask to be four today.

After being placed on the bed, Danny watched as Carol gathered together the clothes he would wear for the day. She grabbed a few items from the top two drawers of the dresser and then vanished momentarily into the closet and returned with the white dress in her hand. "Do you want me to leave so you can change your panties?" Carol asked in a soft tone, assuming the boy would be embarrassed despite his exploits from the previous night.

"No. You can do it, Aunt Carol," Danny said shyly as he turned away and slightly blushed.

Carol was surprised by the answer to say the least, but she assumed that after so many years of not being personally looked after, perhaps the child thought it was time to be pampered by a caring adult. "Okay princess." Carol smiled. "How about you stand on the bed so Aunt Carol won't have to bend as much."

"Yes ma'am," Danny said joyfully as he hopped to his feet before he even finished the sentence.

"Good girl! Now, up with those arms." Carol actually meant to say good boy, but her Freudian slip went unnoticed as the child lifted his arms. It was getting hard to picture Danny as a boy, but she figured this game would be over in a day and she was sure the child was enjoying himself.

Danny shivered slightly as the panties were removed from his tiny body. He couldn't help but look at his anatomy and feel embarrassed. His blush wasn't because he was nude, however. It was because such a thing ruined the fact that he wasn't really a girl and even though the clothes would hide the fact, he would still just be a boy playing a game. This wasn't the first time he thought to be a girl, he often pretended in the orphanage as he went to sleep and in those wistful moments before he drifted off to sleep he could be that which he truly desired. He never shared his feelings with others and definitely couldn't act upon them for fear of death by the hands of the other boys. He never thought he would live his dream come true, but Carol seemed such a willing participant to allow him to be silly and free, for at least a little while.

Carol lifted the ruffled pair of white panties to the child's waist. Even naked he more resembled a girl than a boy and Carol wondered if there were perhaps a medical reason for the child's slow development. It wasn't quite time to ponder such a thing, there would be time later and with the small part of the child that resembled a boy covered, there was nothing left to hinder the image of a four year old girl. "Lift your left foot please," Carol instructed as she held a rolled up piece of material in her hand.

"Yes ma'am," Danny said and did what he was told. A long lacy item traveled to his thigh that reminded the child of a very long sock, only thinner and with images of hearts on them. "What's that," Danny asked as the cool material hugged his legs.

"It's a stocking. I thought you'd like to look extra pretty today," Carol said as she saw the sparkle in the child's eyes and his deep, rosy cheeks.

"I do! I think they're nice." Danny lifted his right foot without being told and reveled in the feel as the elastic band hugged yet another thigh. A moment later he found his feet shod in the same white Mary-Jane's that he wore the night before. Carol laced a white baby-tee over the child's chest and then lowered the white dress into place, careful not to mess up the hair.

"Want to see what you look like princess," Carol asked as she looked at the child. She was pleased with Danny's look, but doubted she really did anything at all.

Danny eagerly shook his head yes and found himself being placed on top of the dresser once again. The little girl he saw before returned, only dressed very prettily. Her white dressed looked very delicate, almost as delicate as she did. The poofy sleeves looked like they came out of a fairy-tale and the short puffy dress came down just to the bottom of the panties, but Danny saw that every time he shifted his weight or moved his leg to walk in place, sure enough, a small hint of his underwear would show. The skirt itself had a few layers of white lace under it, making it stick out a little further than the pink dress he wore the day before. "What are these?" Danny asked as he pinched some of the lace.

"Oh, that." Carol chuckled. "That's a mock petticoat, it use to be all the rage in the 50's but they've always looked darling on little girls."

"Cool!" Danny said as he shifted his weight once again.

"So what do you think of everything?" Carol asked as she put the child on the floor.

"You made me look very pretty," Danny said as he looked up.

"I think you did that on your own," Carol complimented as she pinched the child's cheek.

Danny blushed and soaked in the compliment. "Thank you," he said softly as he looked down at his shiny unscuffed shoes.

"Why don't you run off downstairs for breakfast while I get ready myself?"

"Yes ma'am." Danny perpetually smiled and in a flash he was off.

Carol didn't think her offer would be taken quite so literally, but she smiled as the blur of ruffles scampered past her.

Danny wasn't the fastest of children, but he made his way to the doorway of the kitchen quick enough, and then came to an abrupt halt. A large figure dressed in white was standing off in the corner and slowly turned to face the child.

"Why hello there," the towering man with long locks of black hair and matching goatee said.

"Wh-wh-who are you?" Danny stammered as he stared at the giant's dark eyes.

"I'd like to say I'm Pierre, the chef, but really I'm Peter and I cook and serve other functions for Carol, I mean Mrs. Adams," the man said in a casual, relaxed way.

"Oh." Danny took a sigh of relief. "I didn't think anyone was here."

"Just me pumpkin." Peter smiled and got on one knee. "Mrs. Adams told me about a new guest but she didn't tell me we had a beauty queen.

Danny blushed and shied away.

"Do you have a name sugar or should I keep calling you pumpkin."

"My name is Danny," the child said in a whisper and wondered if he should've given a girl's name instead, considering how he was dressed.

"Danny," the man said with joy. "That name is almost as pretty as you are." Peter gently took the boys hand and kissed the back of it lightly. "I'm pleased to meet you."

Danny giggled, partly because of the way the man's whiskers tickled when they touched his skin and partly because of the attention he was receiving. "You can still call me pumpkin if you like." Danny didn't know what caused him to say the words but part of him felt giddy about uttering such nonsense.

"Okay Pumpkin. I like that. Do you know why?"

"No," Danny said as he looked up and thought. "Why?"

"Because I love to eat pumpkins and put them in pies." With that, Peter snatched Danny into his arms and stood up. His mouth quickly went to the child's neck as he playfully slobbered on it.

Danny kicked and screamed and laughed with delight. He had never felt so free and sill in his life, and he liked it. "Stop eating me," he squealed.

Peter placed the child on the counter. "You're right. I should save you for desert."

"For desert?" Danny asked in a whine as he swung his legs off the edge of the counter.

"Of course. You're all sugar and spice and everything nice. I think I'll save you for after dinner." Peter playfully tweaked the child's nose.

"You're silly," Danny said as he leaned back on his arms and soaked things up.

"I hope you don't mind," the man said as he kept his attention on the child.

"No, I like you."

"Good. You're pretty and I like you." Peter kissed the child on the forehead and then pinched his cheek for good measure. "So, Pumpkin, what do you want for breakfast? We got Apple Jacks or Lucky Charms, neither as sweet as you."

"Apple Jacks, please." Danny positively glowed.

"One bowl coming up."

Carol made her way into the kitchen a little while later. She saw Danny sitting on Peter's lap finishing off a bowl of cereal. "I see you two met and from the sounds I heard earlier, it seems you get along."

"Yes," Danny piped up first. "I like him a lot."

"I like Danny too, I hope she stays," Peter gave Carol a look that said he meant every word of that statement.

"I have the lawyers working on that," Carol said as she sat down to a half a grapefruit. One of Peter's jobs was to make sure she ate healthy.

"Is Peter gonna go to the zoo with us?" Danny asked during a lull in the conversation.

"Sorry pumpkin, but maybe I can have dinner with you tomorrow," Peter answered.

"Can he?" Danny asked in eager anticipation.

"Peter's always welcome here and he knows that," Carol said.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Danny giggled lightly.

"Something like that pumpkin," Peter answered diplomatically. "But don't worry, you're my second girlfriend."

"Cool!" Danny smiled as Carol winked at him.

"We better get going princess," Carol said as she stood up. "We have a big day ahead of us and quite the long drive."

"I better give you this then." Peter rose and handed off the child. "You make sure you have a good time and bring little Danny home in one piece." Peter leaned in and gave Carol a casual kiss on the mouth.

"Don't worry," Carol said. "We'll have fun and be back late this evening."

"Make sure you be good Pumpkin, have fun and behave," Peter said to the child.

"Don't your second girlfriend get a kiss on the lips too," Danny protested.

Peter laughed. "Sorry, I almost forget." Peter gave the child a peck on the lips.

Danny giggled. "Bye Peter," he said as sweetly as he could.

"I better get out of here before she snatches you away," Carol joked as she walked out the front door.

"I like him," Danny said as he was placed in the car. "He's nice."

"I'm glad you like him and I'm glad you're getting into your little game of pretend."

Danny looked down and saw that he was still dressed as a little girl. He had actually almost forgotten about that as he was going off on pure impulse. "Oh, yeah," he said in a surprised tone and slightly blushed. "I guess I'm good at being a girl."

"You got that right," Carol smiled as she buckled the boy in. She got in on the other side, started the car and they were soon off. Carol put on the CD of classical music but even before they hit the interstate, Danny was out like a light. Carol would occasionally look over and smile at him as she made the 90 minute drive in relative peace.

Carol pulled her car into a specially reserved spot near the entrance of the zoo. There would be few people there on this day as the patrons would be those who could readily write a philanthropic check and keep the place afloat. Though Carol was invited to many of these various functions she rarely enjoyed the elitist attitude of some of the patrons. Today, she was willing to be occasionally annoyed for the child's sake. "Danny," Carol gently shook the child's arm. "Wake up, we're here."

Danny's eyes fluttered open. "Already," he said as the energy of youth raced through his body and totally revitalized him. He patiently, though eagerly, waited as Carol walked around the car and helped him get out. "This is gonna be fun."

"That it is princess. Now make sure you stay near, we don't want you getting lost."

"No. We don't want that." Danny smiled as he put his hand in the waiting grasp of his guardian. As they walked towards the entrance, the swishing of the faux petticoats reminded Danny all too well of the way he was dressed. Deciding that this was his idea of fun, he remained in the spirit of things and started to skip, albeit awkwardly.

"Hello, Mrs. Adams," a finely dressed gentleman in a suit greeted at the front entrance. He softly shook the older woman's free hand.

"Hello Greg." Carol gave a slight nod to the graying man before turning to Danny. "Mr. Johnson here runs the zoo and made this day possible for us to enjoy with a smaller crowd."

Danny looked up at the plastic smile. "Do you take care of all the animals," he asked as he shifted his weight back and forth on his hips, trying to get comfortable.

Greg Johnson's smile became more genuine. "Not all the animals, sweetie," he said as he got down on one knee. "I have a lot of people help me do that because it's a very big job. But I'm sorry to say we don't have any animals here that are as precious and pretty as you."

Danny blushed and giggled and turned away. "Thank you, sir," he said shyly.

"Such a polite little girl too," Mr. Johnson continued. "What's your name."

"I'm Danny," he said proudly as he daintily held out his hand. "And I'm pleased to meet you."

Mr. Johnson laughed and then shook the child's hand with just his thumb and index finger. "Well Danielle, it is certainly a privileged to meet you. When we get pretty, young guest like you here, we like to put a special bracelet on them so if they get separated from their adult we can reunite them as soon as possible. May I put one on you." Though the adult was looking right at the child, it was plainly obvious that he was talking to Carol.

Danny nodded anyway as a plastic strip with a coded number was fastened to his arm. "It's pink," he said joyfully as he twisted his wrist and looked at the letters.

"Of course, nothing else would do for a pretty little girl," Mr. Johnson replied.

"Come on Danny, there's a lot to see and I'm sure Mr. Johnson has a lot of people still to meet." Carol turned to the now standing adult. "I'm sure we will talk later," she said cordially.

"Bye Mr. Johnson." Danny said as he was led through the main gate.

"Bye sugar." Mr. Johnson waved back.

"I liked him Aunt Carol, he was nice," Danny said as he walked in step with the adult.

"He is nice, but I think you do have a certain affect on people." Carol squeezed the child's hand.

Danny didn't reply, he just contemplated what she meant and wondered if the way he was dressed had any effect on the matter. He couldn't decide and the question left his mind just as fast as it popped in.

"Would you like a balloon for your little girl," A vendor asked as they made there way deeper into the front pavilion.

"What do you say, Danny? Would you like a balloon?" Carol asked.

"Yes Ma'am," Danny said with excitement as he looked at the bunch.

"Which one would you like?" the young lady in the red and white striped collared shirt asked.

"The red one that looks like a bear," Danny said as he pointed to the one in question.

"A very good choice, the bears are my favorite ones too." The vendor tugged on a few of the strings until she found the correct one and separated the single balloon from the many. In a feat of agility, she tied the balloon around the child's wrist.

"I hope I don't fly away," Danny joked and amused the adults.

"I think you're safe princess," Carol said. "Now thank the nice lady for the balloon."

"Thank you very much for the balloon," Danny said to the vendor and did a slight curtsy.

"You're welcome very much sugar," the vendor replied, then watched the pair walk away.

The morning was spent watching many of the animals do whatever they wanted, which was not very much at all. Except for the monkeys, who were being vulgar and otherwise disrespectful to their audience, Danny enjoyed looking at the simple beauty that nature provided. Carol, on the other hand, was watching the beauty that was Danny himself. He was still as polite as ever, but there was something about the way he acted that was different but seemed so natural.

Danny stood on a bottom rung of an iron fence and looked at the baby elephant that was a few yards away. "Hello baby," he said sweetly as the elephant looked his way.

The small pachyderm trumpeted it's trunk and then walked to his mother.

"Aunt Carol, Aunt Carol," Danny said excitedly as he hopped off the fence and ran to the bench where the lady was sitting. "Did you see that? I said hello to the baby elephant and then the baby elephant said hello right back to me."

"I saw." Carol was amused at the child's reaction and knew this was what memories were made of. "It's about time for lunch princess. How about we join the others?"

Danny smiled. "Yes, Ma'am." he turned back to the large fence and waved. "Bye baby Elephant."

Carol chuckled as she stood up. In an instant she lifted Danny into her arms and walked towards the pavilion where the planned meal was to be served. Danny wasn't too accustomed to being transported around like this, but he liked it. In a matter of minutes, they were towards the center of the compound where a lunch of deep fried chicken and watermelon was being served.

"Carol," a voice called out from among the crowd.

Carol walked towards the younger woman. "Hello Grace," she said in a friendly manner. "I figured I would find you around here somewhere."

"You know me," Grace replied. "Anything for Cynthia. "I see you have a precious little angel with you too today. What's your name pretty?" she asked the child.

"My name is Danny, Ma'am," the boy said in his small tiny voice.

"Oh so cute and how old are you precious?" Grace continued.

Danny held up four fingers, still going along with his game.

"Just like my Cynthia. I could just gobble you up." Grace playfully gummed on each of Danny's fingers in succession.

Danny laughed and squealed and kicked his legs in delight.

"Come on you two. I have an extra seat and an extra high chair at my table. I just know that Danny and Cynthia will be the best of playmates." Grace led them to her table, which wasn't very far away. A small blond haired girl was sitting in a high chair eating small pieces of cut up watermelon. "Cynthia, this is Danny and she wants to be your friend."

Cynthia looked up from her food. "Hi Danny."She waved her little hand at him.

"Hi Cynthia." Danny waved back and then it dawned on him how much of a little girl he must actually look like. Cynthia had her hair also in pigtails with pink ribbons. Not only that, but she wore a similar dress to the one he was wearing, even the same color white. But what really struck him was that even sitting down he could tell Cynthia might even have been a little taller than he.

"In you go, Princess," Carol said as she slid Danny into the high chair. When the tray was slid over his legs did he finally snap out of his self analysis. "I'm going to get our food, you be a good girl while Aunt Carol's away."

"Yes Ma'am," Danny replied as he wondered what he should do in a high chair.

"Let's get this on you," Grace said as she tied a bib abound Danny's neck that said 'little princess' and had a picture of a crown with a heart at its center. "We would hate to ruin such a pretty dress."

"No. We don't want that," Danny said as he crinkled his pudgy nose as the lady.

"You're simply darling," Grace complimented as she finished her task.

"Thank you Ma'am." Danny decided to watch Cynthia for a little while, hoping that he could pick up some of the finer points on being a girl.

"Here you go Danny," Carol said as she returned and placed a tray of food in front of the boy. "We have chicken nuggets and some seedless watermelon."

"It looks yummy, Aunt Carol." Danny started to pick at his food.

"Aunt Carol is it?" Grace mused. "Your niece is an absolute peach."

"I know," Carol said proudly. "She's the most precious girl I know."

"Don't forget, you know Cynthia too," Grace joked and giggled.

"You're right," Carol joined in on the fun. "It's a tie for first."

"I can definitely live with that," Grace wiped the side of her daughter's face.

Lunch went by calmly enough. The adults chatted back and forth as the children slowly ate their handful of chicken nuggets and drank from provided sippee cups. Danny didn't mind the fact he didn't say much, he just carefully observed the girl across from him. The only thing he noticed was that he already was doing the same things that Cynthia was doing and he was doing it naturally.

"Aunt Carol," Danny said in a raised whisper after a while."

"Yes, Princess," Carol asked as she excused herself from her conversation.

"I got to use the potty," Danny whined.

"Okay Princess, we'll go." Carol answered.

"Do you mind if we tag along?" Grace asked. "I'm sure Cynthia could use a fresh diaper and perhaps the girls would enjoy each others company."

Cynthia's still in a diaper?" Danny asked in surprise.

Grace smiled at the boy. "Cynthia is just as much a big girl like you, but when we go to some special places that are far away and might not have many potties, we use diapers just to be safe."

"Oh?" Danny said in wide eyed astonishment. "That makes sense."

"Cynthia?" Grace lifted her daughter from the high chair. "Do you mind if pretty little Danny shares your stroller with you?"

"It okay," Cynthia answered. "I like her, she my friend."

Danny didn't have time to accept or protest the decision before he found himself placed in the double wide stroller next to his new found friend.

"Here Danny, baby for you." Cynthia handed the slightly shorter child a small unclothed doll and then grabbed a stuffed pink bunny rabbit for herself.

Danny decided to go with the flow and cradled the doll as he leaned back.

"You know," Grace started the conversation while both adults pushed the stroller. "You may want to consider a diaper for your niece in a public place like this. Though I'm sure they tried to clean the restrooms as much as possible, you never know what germs are crawling around. Plus, you have a long drive home and it cuts down on stops and stinky messes."

Carol laughed. That's certainly something to think about."

"I'll give you one in the bathroom for your little miss and some to hold you over for the rest of the day," Grace offered. "I keep a spare box in the back of the trunk."

"Thank you. I think I'll let Danny decide, she's a bit particular about letting people see her bottom, so I don't know," Carol said doubtfully as they walked into one of the public restrooms.

"Here." Grace handed Carol a thick diaper. "In case she decides it is a good idea and I'll wait out here and make sure no one tries to look at Danny's precious little honey."

Danny giggled slightly at how the lady put things and knew the last comment was directed towards him. He didn't mind though, he thought it was kind of cute.

"Come on Danny." Carol took the child's hand and led him towards the stall. "Time for potty-land express." Carol slid the latch on the door. "Down with these," she lowered the child's panties to his ankles, lifted the skirt over his belly button, and then helped him sit on the toilet.

Danny was actually accustomed to going while he sat. He made sure his private was facing downward and got going with his business.

"Good girl," Carol praised, more for the companies' sake than for the child's. "Now let me wipe the rest of the tinkle away." Carol wrapped some toilet paper around her hand and wiped the child's middle just to be sanitary.

"Aunt Carol?" Danny asked as he looked up from the bowl.

"Yes sugar?"

"Is that a diaper in your hand?" Danny questioned further.

"Yes it is sweetheart," Carol answered honestly but expected a disapproving reply.

"I don't mind being like Cynthia today and wearing it."

"You don't?" Carol was shocked by what the child said as much as Danny was for finding himself saying the words. Danny shook his head no. "Okay, stand up on the bowl and I'll put it on."

Danny stood on the lid of the toilet and kept his legs spread far enough for Carol to position the thick diaper on him while he held up the skirt of the dress. Though Carol didn't have any babies of her own, she expertly put on the diaper in no time flat and fastened the two tabs of tape into place.

"Look Aunt Carol, They got duckies on them," Danny said in a happiness that he didn't know he had within him.

"That they do sweetie. Let's go find your friend." Carol neatly tucked the small pair of panties into her purse and led the boy out into the main area of the public bathroom.

Danny was surprised that walking didn't become more difficult from the thick undergarment as he walked out of the stall. In fact, the warm padded cloth provided an obscure sense of security that he didn't quite expect, nor did he expect that warm glowing feeling to radiate throughout his being. As if at once he no longer felt like he was a boy who was pleasantly pretending to be a girl, he felt like he was a girl and wondered why she spent most of her life pretending to be something that she absolutely wasn't. "I'm all finished," Danny announced with certainty.

"That's a good girl," Grace complimented. "I made sure no one tried to look at your cute little honey, it certainly was hard work. Phew!" Grace exaggeratedly ran the back of her hand across her forehead and wiped away imaginary sweat.

Danny laughed, he couldn't help himself. "You're silly," he said between chuckles.

"Now it's time for Cynthia to be freshened up," Grace said as she pulled her daughter out of the stroller and placed the child's feet firmly on the floor. Would you like to be a good girl and help."

"Yes ma'am, I would," Danny said confidently as he stood next to the slightly taller, though younger child."

"Good!" Grace smiled and turned to her daughter. "Now you, up with those arms."

Okay Momma," Cynthia's voice had a certain sing-song quality to it as she obeyed her mother's command. In a flash her dress was pulled off and the toddler stood in the middle of the floor wearing nothing but a saggy diaper and a pair of white sandals with pink flowers on them.

"It's easier to do without the dress on and it makes sure nothing gets stained," Grace told Carol as she pulled down the blue plastic changing table.

"I will try to keep that in mind for later," Carol replied as she watched the actual four year old be placed on the changing table and lay there passively while petting her stuffed pink rabbit as if she hadn't a care in the world.

Danny, I need you to hold these for me while I take care of Cynthia," Grace said as she handed the boy a fresh diaper and a blue plastic box of baby wipes.

"Yes ma'am," Danny answered as he was placed on the counter that was directly next to the changing table. "Hi Cynthia," he said in his small voice as he looked at the other child's body and was surprised that he saw more similarities than differences. "Your Mommy's gonna take off the old diaper and make you feel so much nicer."

Cynthia smiled. "I know," she said as she placed her hand on the back of Danny's hand. The toddler didn't seem to notice that her mother pulled on the two taped tabs and slid the diaper from out from under her. She just lay there naked, looking at Danny like nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

"Let's throw this stinky thing away," Grace mused to the smiling delight of both children.

Cynthia may not have noticed she was nude, but Danny certainly did. His eyes went directly towards the part of the anatomy that they didn't share. It wasn't like anything Danny expected. He expected a gaping hole where he had a little something stick out. Instead he found that a girls 'thing' was in a slightly different area and did look something other than an absence. He looked at Cynthia's puffy private area in awe and with a sense of longing. He didn't long for it the way he figured most boys did, especially the way the older boys at the orphanage spoke of such things. He didn't want to taste it, and he definitely didn't want to jab at it with any part of his body. Instead, he found himself longing for it, or something very similar to be a part of his own anatomy. For a brief moment he imagined that between his legs, he too had a 'honey.' instead of what was there and he found the concept very appealing and reality became a tad unsettling to the child.

"Danny," Grace said in a voice most adults reserve for young children. "Would you be a dear and use the baby wipe on Cynthia's honey, make sure you clean it real good so she doesn't get a rash."

"Yes ma'am," Danny said with a little hesitancy. He pulled a cool, moist towelette from the blue box. Tentatively he reached forward and gently placed the baby wipe on the area he was about to clean. He knew some of the older boys told stories of touching a girl on the spot he now found his hand, he always knew they were lying. Danny rubbed the area well and he could feel the softness and the warmth of the child beneath him, even through the towelette. The boys at the orphanage always spoke of how there bodies reacted around girls. Danny found that his body didn't react in such a way. He was confused, but glad. Instead of feeling anything growing or 'getting hard,' Danny found a certain warmth through his body and a happiness that he was being helpful. "All done," Danny piped up when he was finished.

"You did a very good job, Danny," Grace praised as she threw the dirtied baby wipe into the trash can. "I bet you make a wonderful mommy when you grow up."

Danny smiled and blushed but didn't say another word. He just watched as the fresh diaper was placed on his new friend and her dress was returned to her body.

"We're going to go to the petting zoo and to the playground," Grace told Carol. "Would you care to join us and pass the rest of the day sitting on a bench watching these two beauties."

"How does that sound Danny," Carol asked the boy, not wanting to have the child do something that he truly didn't want to do.

"That sounds like a totally wonderful awesome cool idea," Danny said joyously.

Carol laughed. "There you have your answer."

Danny found himself back in the stroller being pushed out of the restroom.

For the rest of the day, Danny found himself staying close to Cynthia's side. It wasn't that he felt obliged to do so, but because he genuinely liked her company. She was fun to be with, but more importantly, Danny found it was easier to be his true self around her. They fed the animals at the petting zoo together and each took turns petting all the white bunny rabbits, which was decidedly their favorites. They both decided to make sure to pet each and every animal available so none would feel left out. It was Danny's idea to do such a thing, a suggestion that would've been met with ridicule and scorn by the boys at the orphanage, but one that Cynthia agreed with whole heartedly.

After the petting zoo, they took a short stroll to the playground. They climbed up the inside of a tree and slid down the provided slide together, neither caring that the world could see their diapers on the way down. On a rope ladder that was designed like a spider web, they each pretended to be a trapped fly to their laughing delight. Before long, two hours were spent and the children didn't notice that they played the day away while the adults talked to each other about whatever adults found important.

"Danny, it's time to go," Carol called out.

"Yes ma'am," Danny replied unenthusiastically. "Bye Cynthia," he said as he turned to the taller, yet younger, child. "It was real nice playing with you and I'm really happy we're friends." Danny didn't know what impulse came over him but he found his lips pressing against Cynthia's as he gave her a goodbye peck.

To his surprise, Cynthia returned the gesture without so much as a second thought. "Bye Danny, maybe you can visit and we don't go to be treated like such babies if we're at my house."

"Maybe," Danny said softly as he waved goodbye and walked to Carol. Instinctively he grabbed the adults hand and headed out of the zoo, stopping only briefly at the gate for Carol to receive an information packet on how to make a large donation.

"So sugarplum, did you have fun?" Carol asked as she put the child in the car.

"Oh yes, thank you so much for taking me Aunt Carol," Danny said energetically. "I never had so much fun in all my life."

"Good!" Carol smiled at the child. "Let's get some dinner and head home."

---

Author Note: This was a lengthy little thing and every time I read it I wonder if I should really post it because I know where the rest of the story goes. It's fun, I suppose, but I often wonder how in the world things like this ever enter my head. I guess I need counseling or another life to sort it all out. I believe the main thing I was trying to establish was how detached Danny is to the "normal" ways boys respond to things and give him a chance to discover the differences in anatomies as well as introduce it to his psyche. Well, enjoy as I sit in the corner babbling incoherently to myself.
 

The Adoption Of

 Little Orphan

 Danny

By K.T. Leone

(Little Katie)

Part V: Nearing the end

Danny looked out the car window and saw the familiar driveway of the house he hoped he could forever call home. “We're back, Aunt Carol,” he said happily, hoping he didn't let on that he was a little afraid that they would actually be returning to the orphanage.

“That we are, Princess,” Carol gave the pretty child a smile. “I'm sure you'll be happy to get out of those soiled diapers and into a nice warm bath.

“Yes ma'am.” Danny smiled, blushed, and turned away. He was surprised he actually used the diaper, but two large chocolate malts and rush hour traffic didn't leave him much of a chose. Even more surprising was the fact that the wet, slightly sagging garment didn't cause him that much discomfort. The radio and light conversation on the ride back also served as a distraction and Danny didn't let on that he went twice.
Carol got out of the car and walked to the passenger side. “Are you still my little girl?” she asked as she opened the door. “Or do you want to return to a boy now?”

“Can I still pretend to be a little girl just 'til we go shopping tomorrow?” Danny looked up with hopeful eyes and prayed that he wasn't taking things too far.

“Of course you can.” Carol smiled as she lifted Danny out of the seat. “And how old is my pretty little angel girl?” she mused as they made their way in.

“I'm still four, Aunt Carol, just like Cynthia.” Danny couldn't help but to gush.

“Not just like Cynthia,” Carol said as she placed the child on the couch in the living room. “You are much, much prettier and sweeter.”

Danny closed his eyes and soaked in the compliment. The words made him feel warm and special in ways he never felt before or ever imagined.

“Let's get you changed down here for your bath,” Carol said after a moment.

“Yes ma'am,” Danny replied even though Carol was already busy removing one of his white Mary-Jane's. The second came off just as quickly and soon the pair of stockings were rolled down. Only with their absence did Danny realize the sheer pleasure he felt in wearing them. The pretty white dress was removed last and Danny found himself lying on the couch wearing just the diaper and the pigtails.

Carol looked down at the little pixie, even without the feminine clothing, the child still exuded girlishness in all its splendor. “Let's get that wet diaper off and then head up for your bath,” she said with just a hint of excitement so the child wouldn't think she was mad at her, him. When Danny didn't reply, she assumed that meant it was okay. She unfastened the tape and slid the diaper from between the child's legs. Even with the small penis dangling right in front of her, Carol still couldn't imagine Danny being anything but a girl and felt a little sad that this game would be over soon. She hoped Danny would still choose to explore this side of himself, something she would certainly encourage, but she knew that it would be hard for the child to accept such a role, especially coming from the environment he did. “Come on pretty little girl, let's take that bath.”

Danny extended his arms forward. “Carry me? Please?”

Carol loved the way Danny's voice dripped with sweetness. “But of course.” She cradled Danny in her arms and carried him like a proud mother would carry an infant. Danny laughed as he was rocked back and forth as they ascended the stairs. The fact that he was totally naked didn't seem to bother the child as Carol was glad to see the child immerse in his chosen role of pretend.

Danny, however, didn't realize he was pretending, he was just doing what came natural to him. It was as if all his repressed tendencies were simply spouting out like a fountain and he didn't want to turn off the faucet, not yet at least. He watched as the water filled the tub and kicked his feet slowly off the edge of the counter.

When he was placed in the bathtub, the water felt as warm as the feeling he had inside of him. That made Danny smile.

Carol gently washed the child with a sponge that slipped over her hand and some baby soap. Danny allowed her to wash him thoroughly, making sure each crevice was sufficiently soaped and rinsed.

As Carol washed between Danny's legs, he wondered how come it didn't grow like other boys said it should. Even though the soft sponge and warm soap felt pleasurable to him, his small 'wee-wee' just stayed almost hidden to the world. Danny was certain it was broken, and he wasn't so sure if he wanted it fixed, or have it at all for that matter. “Aunt Carol,” Danny spoke up as a cup of water was poured on his backside to rinse off the suds. “Can we keep the piggy tails in? Just for tonight, please?”

“I don't see why not.” Carol grinned. “I think tomorrow we'll take you to a barber, it looks like you have gone a long time without seeing one.”

“Okay,” Danny said almost glumly as the water drained.

Carol began drying the child. “I think first we'll get your clothes, you'll have to wear that suit until we at least buy you something.”

“It's okay, the suit isn't that bad,” Danny said in a whisper.

“But for now, you're still an angel princess and need to get dressed for bed.”

“Do you think Cynthia wears a diaper to bed,” Danny asked as he was placed on the floor outside the tub wearing just the towel.

“She's still young, so I think that she probably does for safety.”

“Can I wear a diaper to bed too,” Danny's eyes lit up in excitement.

“Certainly, let's go to your room and get one on.” Carol led the child across the hall and giggled slightly as he left the towel folded neatly behind in the bathroom. She thought how he was such a pretty, precious child and was all that a little girl was meant to be; if he were a little girl that is.

Once in the bedroom, Danny quickly climbed on the bed and laid down to make the task even easier for his caretaker, who he watched walk out of the room and quickly returned with a diaper and baby powder.”

“A little squirt for the little squirt,” Carol said as she let an ample amount of baby powder fall on Danny's bottom. She gently rubbed it into his behind and marveled at how soft his skin felt to the bare touch. “This way you won't get a rash,” Carol explained as she placed the diaper under the child and fastened it into place.

Danny smiled as he looked up. He didn't want to admit how at ease the diaper made him feel and how normal the whole idea struck him as. A small nightie, a pink one with no sleeves and a hem that allowed most of the diaper to stick out the bottom, was put on the boy and it made him feel that much better.

“You look very pretty princess,” Carol complimented as she tucked the child into bed. “Would you care for a bed time story?”

“Yes please,” Danny said as he clutched his favorite doll and brought it close to his chest. “The same one as yesterday, please.”

“Of course.” Carol had left the pages by the side of the bed and read Little Katie's 'The Boy who Wanted to be a Girl' to the delight of Danny.

“She was lucky to have such a nice mommy,” Danny commented after the story was done. “I bet she grew up happy and pretty.”

“I think she did too.” Carol gave the child a kiss on the forehead. “Just because you end your game tomorrow, don't think you can't go back to pretending anytime you like.”

“I think I'll be done pretending I'm a girl tomorrow, Aunt Carol,” Danny said with a certain intensity and resolve that it was surprising to Carol.

“As you wish. I like you for who you are young Danny, and that goes far beyond what clothes you choose to wear. You're a rare gem. Good night, sweet princess.” Once again, Carol gave the child a kiss, this time a peck on the lips.

“Good night, Aunt Carol.” Danny returned a similar kiss and watched the lady leave the room and close the door. “Tomorrow I stop pretending to be a girl and start pretending to be something I'm really not,” Danny told his doll in a hushed whisper. A tear fell from his eye as he rolled to his side. He placed his thumb in his mouth and found sucking it peculiarly comforting. The day finally took its toll on the child and Danny fell asleep, still shedding silent tears that his voyage as a girl was coming to an end. Even if he could go back to pretending, he doubted he could be as immersed in femininity as he had been the last two days.

THE END?

Author note: Is this the end, I doubt it because I have the little question mark. In my life I know that it is hard to chose between what I know I am on the inside and what people expect me to be. I often choose the latter because I want to be accepted and fear rejection. Who knows if Danny will choose a similar path? Find out Sunday when I post the next installment. I know this is short but who wants to do a lot of work on a Thursday.

By K.T. Leone

(Little Katie)

Part VI: Game Over

Danny found sleeping in diapers even more comfortable than he found sleep in the panties the night before, which he thought could not be surpassed. Despite the extra level of comfort, he did not find himself sleeping peacefully. He tossed and turned all night, trying to enjoy every bit of his last moments of living as a girl and fretted over the eventual end of this game that he found himself so wrapped up in.

Sometime during the night, the boy in the pink nightie and the pair of diapers with a row of cute little ducks 'swimming' around the waist band did finally get to sleep. Carol walked in a little after eight and was surprised to find the child curled up in the fetal position clutching the doll he loved and sucking his thumb. She long assumed that the boy would be awake and playing with whatever he saw fit. “Wake up sunshine.” Carol gently shook the boy's hip to arouse him.

“Good morning, Aunt Carol,” Danny immediately sprang to wakefulness in the way that most children seem capable but so few adults can muster.

“We're running late to go shopping,” Carol informed as she sat on the bed. “I put your uniform on the chair, it's been washed and pressed. Get ready and we'll grab something on the way to the department store at the mall and then get you something nice to wear.”

“Oh, okay,” Danny said sadly. The last thing he wanted to do was return back to boy clothes and a boy's way of life, it just didn't feel right.

“Don't worry. I know they aren't too comfortable, but as soon as we find something suitable we'll let you wear that instead.” Carol assumed the boy's glum mood was caused by having something related to a place he'd care very much to forget. “I'm sure you're a big enough boy to dress yourself today.”

“I guess.” Danny tried to crack a smile as Carol walked out of the room.

“Don't worry,” Carol said as she turned back. “You may even find shopping fun.”

The door closed. “It would be fun if I was getting something nice and pretty to wear,” Danny said in a whisper. “But, no! I got to get yucky boy stuff because I got to be a dumb yucky boy.” Danny made a face to emulate how he felt.

As soon as he lumbered out of bed, Danny went to the mirror and removed the red, pink and white streamers that were in his hair. He allowed his long trusses to fall about his shoulder and thought that even down in such a manner he still made a much cuter girl than he ever could considered handsome as a boy. He sighed and then gathered his hair in a more male-suitable ponytail that he kept in place with an available black rubber band. Without bangs he didn't look as much as a girl, but he was still convinced that he didn't look any closer to being a boy. After his hair was taken care of, Danny stripped off the clothing he wore for the night. Though he found the diapers comfortable, he was glad to find out he didn't use them.

Naked, the boy in the pony tail walked over to the clothes he was to wear for the day. They were folded neatly but gave him shudders when he thought of putting them on. First he picked up the underwear, plain white that turned gray with a little thin blue stripe around the elastic waist band. They completely lacked the appeal and the cuteness of the items Danny found himself wearing the prior two days. Still, he slipped them on with the ridiculous hole in the front that for him served no purpose at all. They didn't feel soft, nor did they hug his skin the way the panties did and for some reason, they bunched and felt even bulkier than the diapers did. Second came the drab and dingy white dress shirt; it was stiffly pressed and itched as Danny buttoned it up leaving the collar button open. He felt relieved that the tie was nowhere to be seen. The pair of gray slacks followed shortly after and they had the same lack of comfort as did everything else. Danny felt he could cry with how horrible all his clothes felt, but kept his composure, sat down, and put on his dark wool socks and his dress shoes. Once again he sighed as he shuffled out of the room and went off to find Carol.

“Don't you just look handsome,” Carol said as the boy walked down the stairs.

“I guess. I mean, yes ma'am.” Danny kept his eyes down.

“Don't worry, soon we'll get you something nice and comfortable.” Carol led the child to the car and after a brief stop at a fast food drive through, they were finally at the mall just as the department store was opening.

Danny walked one step behind Carol as they walked through the wide, empty aisles of the just opened store. On their way to the boys section, they had to pass through the girls. Though Danny's feet followed Carol's, his eyes wondered to the brightly colored shirts that looked so soft and the denim skirts and dresses that had the pretty designs of flowers embroidered on them. He faintly smiled as he imagined himself wearing any number of items but found that he passed through that section much too quickly for him to feel any lasting pleasure from the sensation.

“Here we go Danny,” Carol said in an upbeat tone. “Time to get your new wardrobe.”

“Oh joy,” Danny thought sarcastically to himself. “It's the underwear row, ma'am,” he actually questioned out loud.

Carol chuckled. “I figured we had to start somewhere and I thought since that was where you started getting dressed that this is where we would start. So which do you prefer, plain white ones or maybe superman funderwear?” She asked excitedly.

“Aunt Carol?” Danny looked up at the older lady with moistened eyes.

“Yes Danny?” Carol looked at the child quizzically and wondered what could be wrong.

“Do we hafta buy boy underwear,” Danny asked in a slight whine that he tried to control.

“Whatever do you mean?” Carol filled in the missing pieces but wanted to hear the child confirm her beliefs, this way she was sure she wasn't leading him down a path.

“Well, couldn't we just buy some pretty girl underwear?”

“I see.” Carol smiled briefly. “Still want to continue with your game, do you?”

“No,” Danny said flatly and firmly, but his lip began to quiver.

The answer took Carol by surprise. “No? Then why do you want to buy girl underwear? I thought you liked your little game.”

“It's not a game.” Danny started to cry softly. “I'm sorry. I know you'll hate me and send me back to the orphanage and never want to see me again,” Danny bawled.

“Why is that?” Carol asked calmly as she struggled to one knee.

“Because I wasn't pretending to be a girl. That was me, the real me, but no one likes the real me because my body ain't right and people want me to pretend I'm a boy but I'm not and I wanna just be me but no one wants me to be a girl.” Danny hugged himself and cried on the spot. His lip quivered so badly he could no longer speak. He didn't know why he said what he did, but he couldn't contain it any longer.

“My poor child.” Carol's voice cracked as she wrapped the boy in her arms. “That was very brave of you to say all those things to me and I know you're scared, but do you know what?”

Danny looked up at the woman's face and composed himself slightly. “What?” he mouthed.

“I'm not mad or angry at you for what you said. Not at all.” Carol wiped the child's eye with her thumb as she spoke the words soothingly.

“You're not?” Danny answered in surprise.

Carol shook her head no and grinned. “I want you to be happy and I want you to be who you really are because I not only like the real you, but I love the real you.”

“You do?” Danny smiled at hearing the words as he stood in Carol's arms.

“Of course I do. I think there's only one thing left that we ought to do.”

“What's that?” Danny asked in an excited voice.

“It's about time we ended your silly game that you evidently hate pretending and about time we find cloths befitting a beautiful little princess.”

“Thank you aunt Carol. Thank you.” Danny quickly wrapped his arm around the lady's neck and shed a few more tears; this time of happiness.

“There's also one more thing I need to do,” Carol said amusingly.

“What's that Aunt Carol,” Danny said as he pulled back slightly to look at her.

“I think I better get a kiss from my favorite little girl before we go on.”

Danny did not deny such a request and planted one right on Carol's cheek.

Carol struggled to get to her feet, but managed. She took Danny's small tender hand and headed off to a more appropriate area of the store, one where Danny would find all the items he truly wanted and happiness would follow.

Danny's smile was wider than ever and his deep dimples and dark pink cheeks exuded all that he felt inside as he skipped to the underwear section that was designed for people just like her. He looked at the packages with their colorful cloth offering and their cute designs.

“Which one do you like best, Danny?” Carol asked as she stood behind the little boy.

“I can't decide,” Danny admitted. “It's between this one with the happy butterflies dancing on them, or this one with the cute dancing hearts all over.” Danny held a package in each hand to show them off.

Carol chuckled. “I guess the only thing to do is get both.” Carol searched for the same packages but in the correct size which were slightly smaller. She placed them in a brown shopping cart and watched the child beam.

“Is everything okay,” a salesman came over. He had watched the previous crying and was wondering just what he asked.

“Every thing's just fine,” Carol answered. “We're finding everything we need.”

“How about you,” the man looked down at Danny. “I saw you crying?”

“That's because my aunt was making fun of me and told me I would have to get more yucky boy stuff.” Danny pouted slightly to illustrate his point.

“Oh, I see,” the man gave a skeptical look but figured the child was being truthful.

“Danielle just moved with me,” Carol offered up a further explanation. “Unfortunately her box of clothes got lost in transit and other than her dirty clothes she arrived with, this was all I had to offer her. I admit I took the teasing a little bit too far and told her I would keep her a boy. I forgot how literal little children can take things and hope we didn't cause a scene.”

“Oh!” The salesman smiled as he figured he had the whole situation figured out. “I have a little one at home about Danielle's age. I wish my daughter was as quick to give up her tomboy phase as your niece here.” With that he turned to the small child. “You have nothing to worry about sweetie, you're far too pretty to ever be confused with a yucky boy.”

Danny turned away shyly but his cheeks were so rosy it hid his blush.

“If you ladies need any help finding anything, just let me know,” the salesman said and then walked away.

“Well princess, what's next?” Carol asked Danny who was looking at some more undergarments.

“Can we get some more stockings, I really like them?”

“Of course.” Carol was happy the child was getting into the spirit of shopping and knew that the rest of the day was going to be fun. She put three packages of stockings into the cart and a pair of white tights. She also added two packages of undershirts, each was a different pastel color and had a small rose at the center of the front collar.

Danny simply loved them and was getting more excited as they walked into the main section that had the large selection of outerwear.

“So, how old is my little niece going to dress?” Carol asked as she wondered what style of clothes to buy for the child, knowing the styles were vastly different.

“Can I sometime be eight and sometimes be four?” Danny asked eagerly.

“That sounds perfectly acceptable to me,” Carol replied happily and both went around picking many items that they both felt they weren't going to be able to live without. They bought dresses and skirts and blouses and jumpers and sleepwear, some were designed for toddlers and other for an older child. Two pairs of shoes and three pairs of sneakers were added to the top of the pile and they went to the salesman who showed concern before and were rung out.

“If you ladies like, you can have Danielle change into one of the new outfits now in the dressing room and this way she can be out of the yucky boy clothes,” the salesman said in an amused tone.

“How's that sound to you Danny,” Carol asked the child.

“Really, really, totally cool idea,” Danny sang his reply.

Carol lifted the child up so he could pick out the outfit he wanted. He chose a long denim dress that buttoned all the way up, a pink t-shirt, and he opened a few of the packages of undergarments and pulled out a few select items.

“I think we got it all,” Carol said to the salesman.” Can you arrange for the bags to be brought out to the valet parking area for us so we can continue shopping?”

“Certainly,” the gentleman said and took down the appropriate information before watching the two head off to the dressing room.

Danny stripped naked faster than he ever had in his life and for the first time in his life he didn't fold his clothes, he just balled them up and threw them in a shopping bag. “Good bye to bad rubbish,” Danny said proudly. He slipped on a pair of white panties that were adorn with happy multicolored butterflies and took a deep sigh of relief. The dark pink t-shirt followed and then so did a pair of pink ankle socks with white ruffles. Danny's new pair of white sneakers with pink accents were put on before the blue denim dress with the brass buttons was put on to perfection. “Ah! Finally back to normal,” Danny said as he exited the dressing room and modeled for Carol.

“You look absolutely stunning, Princess,” Carol complimented as she applauded in approval. “Let's continue our shopping excursion, shall we?”

“We shall,” Danny said and then giggled.

The pair walked into the main section of the mall hand in hand. Danny couldn't hide his smile and enjoyed the way the denim dress swished below his knees. He had no clue as to where they were going, it didn't matter, he was finally herself.

“We have to get you to your hair appointment,” Carol said as they rode the escalator.

“You're not going to get me a boy haircut, are you?” Danny asked in concern.

“Well, that was what I was planning to do,” Carol said jokingly.

“But that's not what we're going to do now, right?” Danny hopped over the grate at the end of the escalator so he wouldn't be eaten up.

“No,” Carol said pointedly. “I do think you would look cute in a perm though.”

“A perm? What's that?” Danny asked as they made their way through the mall.

“A perm is where they put some chemicals in your hair and it makes in curly and pretty.”

“Would it make my look very, very, pretty,” Danny asked in his cute little way.

Carol grinned. “I think it would do just that thing.”

“Then I'll have two of them,” Danny said eagerly.

Carol laughed so hard that she had to stop walking and catch her breath. A half minute later she was at the hair salon counter. “Hello, I'm Carol Adams and I have a hair appointment for my niece Danny.”

The slim man behind the counter looked down to the floor and saw the pretty little thing. “Oh, Danny is a girl,” he said in his high pitched voice. “I thought it was going to be a boy. They're dreadful little creatures to give cuts to, always whining and won't stay still for a moment. You won't gave me that problem, will you cutie?” he asked the child nicely.

“No sir. I want you to make me look pretty,” Danny said proudly.

“You certainly aren't going to make me work hard now are you, precious?” the man complimented the child and gave him a wink.

Danny blushed and shyly turned away.

“I know over the phone I said a trim, but we've decided on a perm,” Carol informed the gentleman as they made their way to the chair. “I hope it won't be any problem.”

“For this little Diva, I'd give her the moon,” the man said. “I'll be back in two shakes.”

“Aunt Carol?” Danny looked up. “What's a diva.”

“A diva is like a female star that's real pretty like Britney Spears,” Carol informed.

“Oh!” Danny's face lit up. “Cool, but I'd rather be a ballerina princess.”

A minute later the stylist came back and set up his chair to accommodate his minuscule customer. A long pink gown was placed around Danny's neck to protect his dress. “I think your niece would look simply gorgeous with curling bangs to go with this style.” The hair dresser showed Carol a picture.

“What do you think Danny?” Carol showed the boy the picture. “Is this what you'd like?”

Danny looked for a moment. “Yes, yes,” he said with approval.

“Okay precious, just sit back and relax,” the stylist said and got to work trimming the hair so the perm would come out perfectly. After he was done make bangs and trimming the rest of the hair, he began to get the perm mixture ready.

“It smells yucky,” Danny stated as the soupy white mixture was brushed in his hair.

“That it does, but think you'll look like such a precious little girl,” Carol said.

The statement made Danny smile and made the smell tolerable.

It took almost two hours, but Danny's once straight hair was now a pattern of curls and even seemed a bit lighter. “Is that me?” Danny asked in wide eyed surprise as he looked in the mirror.

“That it is, ballerina princess,” the stylist said. “Do you like it?”

“No. I love it,” Danny said, borrowing a line from his benefactor.

“Carol laughed and then went to the counter to pay the gentleman, adding in a hefty tip to boot.

“Danny, let's see where to go to next,” Carol said as she took the child out of the salon.

The first store they immediately passed was a jewelry store that advertised free ear piercings (with the purchase of two pairs.) The sign caught Danny's eyes. “Aunt Carol, can I get my ears pierced,” Danny asked sweetly.

“Going all out, are you?” Carol chuckled. “I don't see why not.”

Danny quickly walked into the store ahead of Carol and started to look at the jewelry the store had to offer. Though it was an extensive selection of 14k gold earrings, Danny didn't take long to pick out the two pairs he liked best, the only dilemma was which ones would he try out first. “What do you like better Aunt Carol, the hearts or the daisies?” Danny asked when he decided that he was stumped.

“I'm partial to the daisies because you remind me of a precious little flower.”

Danny smiled. “Okay, I'll pick the daisies,” he said to the woman behind the register as if he were deciding the fate of the world.

“A very good choice,” the lady in her mid-30s said. “Let's get you in the chair and we'll get those lobes pierced.”

“Yes Ma'am,” Danny said with a gulp as he realized that he had no clue how ears were pierced and images of medieval torture suddenly came to mind. Slowly he walked to the chair.

“Don't worry little girl, it really doesn't hurt at all,” the sales lady reassured.

“Yes ma'am,” Danny said as he climbed up the chair. He watched the lady load the piercing gun and immediately didn't like the looks of it.

“It only makes a loud sound, that's all,” the lady confirmed as she held the item in one hand and wiped Danny's ear with an alcohol drenched swab.

“A huh,” Danny mumbled as the torture device was positioned around his earlobe.

“You count backwards from five to zero and at zero I'll use the machine, okay?” the lady said kindly, use to this kind of apprehension from little children.

“Yes ma'am,” Danny confirmed.

“Okay, you can start now,” the lady said in a light tone while Carol looked on.

Danny closed his eyes as tight as possible. “Five,” Danny said and took a deep breath. “Four.” Danny clenched his teeth in preparation. “Three.” A loud pop erupted in his ear that caught him completely by surprise. Though the sound was loud, there wasn't actually any pain. “Hey!” Danny objected. “I was only at three.” he gave the sales lady a stern look.

“Oops.” The lady laughed. “I must've slipped, but see, it didn't hurt at all now did it.” The lady tugged on the lobe to show carol the placement.

“It's a very pretty earring on a very pretty girl Danny,” Carol told the child. “I really don't think you should be upset, the nice lady didn't want to see you scared.”

“It's okay. Do the next one, please,” Danny decided to let the slight slide.

The lady still laughed and positioned the machine on the other ear. “Are you ready to count down again little miss?”

“Zero!” Danny said quickly, wanting to at least finish the count before he was fooled.

A quick squeeze on the trigger and another loud pop and both ears had matching, albeit small, gold daisies on them. Danny was given a mirror and he smiled his approval at the reflection. “Thank you, Ma'am,” Danny said thoughtfully as he hopped off the chair.

“You're welcome cutie,” the lady said as she returned to the register.

“Thank you Aunt Carol, the earrings are totally cool,” Danny said as the two walked out of the jewelry store.

“You're most welcome pumpkin. There is one place that I really want to take you. I hope you don't mind,” Carol said as they continued their journey through the mall.

“Of course I don't mind, you always do cool stuff,” Danny said as he took the large ladies hand and was willing to go anywhere she led.

The store that Carol had in mind was at the far end of the mall. It wasn't a bother as she and the child slowly plodded their way looking in the windows and making comments about certain items they saw. Danny was happy he was being herself for real, without anyone thinking he was pretending, and felt content in the knowledge that he was accepted for what she was.

A small store was tucked in a corner and it was there that the couple headed to. Danny didn't bother to read the sign, he just walked in beside Carol. Immediately the child's eyes lit up as he saw racks of leotards, rows of ballet slippers, leggings galore, and a host of other dance related paraphernalia. “It's a ballerina store, Aunt Carol. A real live ballerina store,” he squealed with delight.

Carol laughed. “I know that princess. Ever since you danced for me that first night, I wanted to bring you here so you can pretend correctly.”

“You're so cool,” Danny hugged the large lady's leg tightly.

“I already know that,” Carol said bemusedly. “How about you pick yourself out something in addition to what I pre-ordered.

“Thank you, thank you,” Danny said excitedly and then skipped off to the rack of leotards and tights. The material felt exquisite as he rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger. In an instant he found what he wanted. He pulled the white dance outfit off the rack. Unlike the others, this one had long legs that would go to his thigh and didn't look like a bathing suit that ended at the crotch.

“I want this one, Aunt Carol,” Danny said as he handed it to her with the greatest of care.

“Very good choice Danny,: Carol smiled as she placed it on the register. “It is just the right size and I know you'll look simply darling in it.”

“I know so too,” Danny said in a cutesy voice.

Carol chuckled and paid for the merchandise. In return, she was given a huge bag that Danny was sure he could fit into.

“Come on, Danielle, let's go home and maybe you can put on a show for me, how does that sound?”

“It sounds like a totally wonderful, awesome, cool idea,” Danny shouted.

Author note: This is a good chapter that allows the character to transition, but things will be advancing and explanations will be found.

By K.T. Leone

(Little Katie)

Part VII: The Show

Danny enjoyed his lunch once they arrived back home but was eager to try on his new dancing outfit. He did, however, remember his manners as he neatly ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and drank his chocolate milk out of a tall pink and purple sippee cup, one which he picked out.

“How about we go upstairs and get you changed for your performance,” Carol suggested as she broke the silence and stood up.

“Yippee,” Danny shouted. “Um, I mean yes Ma'am,” Danny composed himself.

Carol laughed. “Don't worry, Yippee was just fine.”

Danny skipped through the house and ran up the stairs as quickly as his little legs could carry him. He was the first in his bedroom and anxiously awaited Carol's arrival.

Carol didn't lag too far behind. “Okay princess, what outfit would you like to wear first?” she asked as she went in the big bag from the dance store.

“The one I picked out Aunt Carol,” Danny answered before seeing the other choices.

“Okay, first thing's first, you need to get undressed.”

As Carol began digging through the bag, Danny undressed at lightning speed. The dress was taken off and folded neatly, the t-shirt and underwear followed shortly thereafter. Danny found that dressing as a girl had a lot of advantages, speed in undressing was one of them. He untied his sneakers and pulled them off as well as the socks. He stood completely naked in the middle of the room.

Carol stood up with an armload of choices. Though she was surprised to see Danny take her instructions so far, she couldn't help but smile at the little beauty.

“First,” Carol said with a slight giggle. “You need to decide what tights you're going to wear under your leotard. You have a choice between red, dark pink, light pink, and white.”

Danny mulled over his choices for a while. “I think the dark pink ones.”

“Okay, sit on the bed,” Carol instructed as she rolled up the tights.

Danny obeyed and was on the bed in no time flat. The tights were rolled up his legs and over his middle to restore a sense of modesty. The cool silky fabric felt heavenly to Danny as he swung his legs on the bed as he saw there were no feet to the garments, but rather stirrups.

“Now for your leotard. Stand up please, miss.”

Yes ma'am.” Danny sprang to his feet and allowed the white skintight garment to be placed on his body. Though it clung to the child's skin and showed off even his slightest of curves, the garment was far from constrictive.

“Now for your slippers,” Carol informed as she produced a pink pair of ballet shoes from a small box. She took pleasure in putting them on the child and expertly wrapped the pink laces around the child's ankle and calf. “You look so precious,” Carol fussed.

“I feel precious Aunt Carol.” Danny's smile lit up the room.

“Now for the creme a la creme.” Carol pulled out another box from the bag.

“A crown!” Danny squealed as he saw the silver head wear. “A real princess crown.”

“It's called a tiara, it certainly looks like a crown.” Carol felt warmed by the glow of the child. “I name you princess Danielle, the princess of this castle. May your every wish be granted.”

“Thank you Aunt, I mean Queen Carol,” Danny said.

“You're welcome princess. I also purchased a beginners video for you. Will you be a good little girl and watch it and practice your routine while I make some very important phone calls and take care of a little paperwork before dinner?”

“Yes ma'am, I will,” Danny said as he eyed himself in the mirror. He was besides himself with happiness that he looked like such a pretty girl.

Carol popped the video cassette into the VCR as Danny sat on the couch in the living room. She wished she could spend all her time with the child but knew that she had other responsibilities and also didn't want to seem smothering.

Danny watched the large screen TV and for the first time was captivated by what it had to offer. The opening scene showed girls about his age, dancing around a stage in colorful costumes. Danny was hooked, instantly knowing that ballet was something he would love. After watching the ten minute performance, the tape went into an instructional segment. Danny stood up and followed the little steps along with a group of four to six year olds on the tape. He was surprised how much he looked like the little girls in the instructional part than he did the eight year old performers.

Danny watched the twenty minute instructional segment four times, making sure that the little routine it taught was memorized. Though he felt a little tired, he was far too happy for that to even matter. At the end of the fourth viewing, Danny shut off the electronics, hoping to save the next lessons for another time. He felt the need to perform building inside.

Danny ran into the office where Carol was talking on the phone. Danny immediately stopped and stood quietly at the door, hoping not to interrupt.

Carol smiled in acknowledgment to Danny and in short order ended her phone conversation. “Done watching your video already princess?”

“I've been watching it for over an hour Aunt Carol,” Danny said in half a whine, bus still an amusing tone.

Carol looked at her watch. “So you have. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my work. Come here and sit on my lap, I have some news for you.”

Danny skipped over to his caretaker and climbed on her lap. “I hope it's good news,” he said in a cutesy voice as he received an embrace.

“It can be.” Carol rubbed the child's thigh. “Peter is going to be stopping by for dinner, I hope you don't mind.”

“Of course I don't Aunt Carol. I like him, he's nice.”

“The other thing I wanted to tell you was that I set up an appointment for you with the doctor, just to check you over.”

“Is he going to give me a shot. I don't like shots,” Danny said with concern.

“I wouldn't be able to say. He's going to look you over and try to find out why you're so tiny. We want you to grow into a big girl, don't we?”

“A huh,” Danny conceded. “Want to see me dance,” Danny changed subjects because the last thing he wanted to think about was getting a shot.

“Of course.” Carol lifted the child and carried him into the living room.

“I wish I had the music off the tape,” Danny lamented. “But I guess I can dance the same stuff to other music.”

“Carol grinned. “Or we can use the CD that came with everything.”

“Really?!?” Danny said excitedly. “Cool!” Danny watched Carol place the shiny disc into the CD player and then sit down on the couch.”

The music began to play, it was light but had a distinctive beat to it that allowed Danny to step in kind. All the moves were basic and consisted mostly of rhythmic stepping and the occasional spin, skip, or hop. At the end of the routine, Danny finished with a curtsy.

“Bravo!” Carol applauded as if she just saw the greatest performance of all time. “May I kiss the performer.”

“If you didn't I'd be very sad.” Danny gave a tiny pout and then ran into the waiting arms of his audience. The kiss he received was even greater and for a moment the child snuggled in the warm embrace.

“Now princess,” Carol said in a light tone. “I want you to be a good little girl and go to your room to change. Peter should be here in an hour and I need to warm dinner and make some final arrangements.”

“Is Peter very important to you, Aunt Carol?” The child asked while climbing off Carol's lap.

“Yes. Yes he is, Princess. Why do you ask?”

“Because if he's very important to you, then he's very important to me. Do you thing he'd be mad if I told him what I was?”

“And what are you?” the adult knew where the child was going, but didn't want to lead him in any way, shape, or form.

“I'm a girl with a willy,” Danny said shyly but with some pride.

“I don't think he would be mad one bit, but I'll let you tell him in your own little way.”

“Thank you.” Danny gave Carol a peck on the cheek and scampered up the stairs to his bedroom. Carefully he removed the dance wear which was a little more difficult than he imagined. Standing in his room nude, he had to decide exactly how to dress.

Eventually, Danny decided he would once again play the role of a little toddler and dressed accordingly. He put on the same cute pair of panties he wore in the mall, after all, they weren't dirty. A child-like play dress that didn't completely cover his bottom, but somehow made him feel over-dressed was also worn.

The two straps came down over his shoulder and fastened over his flat chest. Depending on the way he moved, sometimes his flesh-toned nipples would show. He decided to stay barefoot, but put the tiara back into place. He ran back downstairs to join Carol, who was in the kitchen.

“Is this okay for dinner ma'am?” Danny asked as he did a little spin.

“You look like an adorable little baby girl, it's perfect,” Carol complimented.

“That's what I was hoping for.” Danny crinkled his nose at her.

“Why don't you join Peter, he's out back. I'll join you two shortly.”

“Cool!” Danny said excitedly and then ran off.

“Look who's here,” Peter said as Danny practically tackled him in the chair he was sitting. “This is a pleasant way to be greeted.”

“Hi Peter,” Danny cooed as Peter's strong arms embraced him.

“Hi Danielle. How's my little girlfriend doing?” Peter held the child on his lap.

“I'm okay, but I'd be even better if I got a kiss,” Danny said cutely.

Peter kissed the child once on each cheek and then on the lips. Though Danny wasn't use to this sort of contact from men, he absolutely loved it and melted in the large man's strong embrace. Even the way Peter's strong hand firmly rested between his knees brought a sense of fulfillment to the child.

Dinner was tasty and Danny mostly listened to the two adults, even though he was far from being neglected. After dinner they all went back inside to the living room and Danny spent most that time on Peter's lap.

“Time for your bath Sweat Pea,” Carol said as it was getting late.

“Can Peter come help me wash and play with me in there,” Danny asked.

“It's up to him sweetie,” Carol replied.

“I tell you what,” Peter answered before the child could ask. “You run the bath and call to me when you're ready. Does that sound like a deal?”

“Yes!” Danny almost shouted in excitement. He kissed Peter on the Cheek and then ran to the bathroom to prepare.

As soon as the bath was full and the bubbles were bubbling, Danny called for Peter from the top of the stairs. The child quickly retreated, stripped and jumped into the tub before Peter had the chance to arrive.

Peter was a bit confused why the child would want him to see her in the bath. He thought that perhaps with a missing adult male role model that Danny may be wanting some closeness with a guy and establish some kind of close relationship. “There you are, Pumpkin. I see you have the bubbles almost overflowing.” Peter was actually glad for the bubbles, with his lack of experience with little children, he didn't want any inappropriate thoughts to creep into his mind.

“I like bubbles,” Danny said as Peter knelt down beside the tub, making sure his eyes kept continual contact with the child's face. Danny put a few bubbles on the edge of Peter's nose. “Bubbles should be shared,” the child said cutely.

“Thank you. I think I'll leave them right where you put them.”

“Do you know anything different about me?” Danny asked.

“I know you got your hair done up nice and pretty.” Peter smiled.

“Thank you.” Danny paused and thought. “I want to tell you something, but I don't want you to get mad. Promise me you won't get mad.”

Peter giggled. “Nothing you can say will make me mad at you.”

“I got a secret,” Danny continued hesitantly.

“What's your little secret, Pumpkin?” Peter asked amused.

“I'm not a girl,” Danny said softly.

Peter laughed. “Of course you are, Pumpkin.”

“No, honest. I'm not really a girl,” Danny said firmly.

“You're being funny. Okay, you're not a girl, you're a young lady.”

“No. Look!” Danny stood up to prove his point. “See, I'm not a young lady.”

Though Peter had tried not to look at any of the child's private parts, he found that unavoidable now. “You still look like a pretty little girl to me.”

Danny looked down to make sure the bubbles didn't cover what he wanted to display,or that it didn't magically fall off or shrink to no existence. Unfortunately, his willy was still there. “What do you call this then?” Danny asked exasperatedly.

Peter giggled. “You have a pretty little... um... a pretty cookie,” the man stumbled over the word, not truly knowing what to refer to the anatomy as. “But I really don't think you should go around showing it off for all to see.”

“But it proves I'm a boy,” Danny whined.

“You're as close to being a boy as any other precious little girl I know. Who cares that you have a little extra skin that hangs out a bit? It certainly doesn't look like you want to be a boy, and, in my opinion, you make one dynamite girl.”

“I do?” Danny sat back down in the water.

“Of course you do. Isn't that what you want to be anyways?”

“Yes. But I thought, because, you know.” Danny looked down.

“That just means you're a special kind of girl, Pumpkin. I already knew that and so does Aunt Carol.”

“You already knew?” Danny blushed and felt silly.

“Carol and I don't keep secrets. But, do you know what? I love you just the way you are. I think I'll let you finish your washing though. Is it okay with you if I leave?”

“A huh,” Danny murmured as he watched the man leave. He sat back in the tub and contemplated all that was said.

Author Note: Now a second person knows the truth about Danny. When I was younger and things were happening and I went out as a girl with my step-dad people just assumed that I was a girl even though my hair was pretty short. At times it aggravated me that people didn't know I was a 9 year old boy and I often thought I should strip just to prove my point (but I didn't). Danny is a lot braver than I, and we will come to see why he hasn't grown normally in the next few chapters. I'm enjoying rediscovering the story though, hope you enjoy.

By K.T. Leone

(Little Katie)

Part VIII: The Guest

Danny was once again alone in the large house. Other than the pool, he had free reign over all the abode had to offer. The first thing he did after kissing Carol goodbye was rush up the stairs so he could decide what to wear for the day.

Danny stood next to the bed and pulled his nightie and pair of pampers off. Though they provided him great comfort during the night, Danny was more interested in dressing more appropriate for his age and not the age that he actually looked. In his mind he already had an idea of how he planned to spend the day and wanted to dress appropriate for those activities. He found a pair of pastel purple panties and slid them up his legs, once again creating the illusion that he was 100% girl. He added a matching baby tee and then a purple jogging suit with pink accents followed. Even though Danny was dressed in pants, they somehow felt different and that made him smile.

Danny found his ballet slippers that were placed neatly under the bed. He laced them up as best he could, but didn't do nearly as good of a job as Carol did the day before. That didn't matter, he was still pleased with himself.

“Come on Betsy,” Danny said to the doll he loved above all others. “Mommy is going to do her dance lessons and you're going to be her audience.”

Danny carried the doll in one hand and the video cassette in the other as he slowly and carefully descended the stairs. He placed the doll on the overstuffed chair in the perfect position to see him and then slid the cassette into the VCR.

Danny decided to go through the first lesson over again, this way he could perfect the lesson before proceeding with the second lesson which he planned to complete directly after the first.

After stretching he was ready to begin.

Danny spent an hour working on the two ballet lessons, at one point taking off the jogging suit's top. He was proud of what he accomplished in those two lessons, but knew he was a long way from perfection. He was also proud for another reason, he was finally doing something athletic and this time he was enjoying the activity more than he enjoyed any other.

At the end of the second lesson, Danny curtsy to his doll. “What's that baby?” he asked out loud. “Mommy was marvelous? Oh you're too kind little baby. Mommy thinks she did just okay, but if she keeps practicing then maybe one day I can have my picture just like Aunt Carol."

Danny looked at the posters in questions , this time picturing it was his face and his body that was being displayed. A week ago he would've found such things impossible, but now the world seemed to offer so much more.

“Come on baby,” Danny scooped up the doll. “Let's find something different to do before lunch.” The child ran up the stairs holding the doll in one hand and the discarded sweatshirt in the other. He placed both nicely on the bed before searching the room for some new activity.

Danny didn't take all that long formulating a plan on how to spend the rest of the morning. There was one curious outfit that he wanted to try on but felt a little embarrassed wearing it around others because he never wore anything like it in his life.

Danny opened the third drawer of the dresser and found a small pink bikini tucked away amongst the other bathing suits and tights. For the second time in the morning, Danny stripped down to his skin and placed the clothes he wore neatly on the chair. He held up the bottom half of the bathing suit and examined it closely, trying to discern which way was the front and which way was the back. Both panels were quite small, being held together by two thick piece of string that were already tied together on either side. On one pf the panels there was an extra layer of a thick white material and Danny supposed that was meant to go up front in order to provide some protection of being seen. He slid the bottoms over his own bottom and once again marveled how any sign of his masculinity vanished. Danny retied the two strings in large looking bows so the bottoms fit snuggly. He could feel the material behind him cling to his butt cheeks, slowly creeping in between a minuscule amount. Oddly, that didn't bother him as he shook his rear just for the fun of it.

The top was easier to discern and Danny slid it over his arms and head, making sure the two small triangles covered his dime sized nipples. Danny reached behind him and retied the string around the back of his neck to make the garment fit better, but had no clue how to reach the second string that was lower that the first and out of reach.

Danny modeled in front of the mirror on top of the dresser and marveled over how much he actually looked close to his own age in this particular outfit. Even turning around and seeing the other side of him caused Danny a certain amount of satisfaction where he realized just how attractive he was.

Danny decided to make a quick trip to the master bathroom to get a fashion magazine and a bottle of pink nail polish that closely matched his bikini and then made his way for the back patio.

Once out back, Danny set up a lawn chair in the most perfect position to capture the mid-morning sun so he could get some color to his skin. He laid on the padded wooden chair with his legs up and proceeded to apply the nail polish using all the skill he learned from his years of drawing. After all twenty nails were perfectly painted, Danny relaxed and looked at the sky, trying to determine what the clouds resembled and just thinking how content he was with life.

Carol arrived home at 3:30 in the afternoon. Though she would rather have been at home with the child, something came up and she needed to do certain errands without Danny being underfoot or bored. She was, however, looking forward to seeing the pretty little boy and hearing how he spent the day.

After dropping off some packages in the kitchen, Carol went in search of the child. Seeing that the day turned unbearably hot, she figured she would first search the living room.

“There you are,” Carol said as she entered the child's bedroom, seeing the child sitting at the desk still wearing the pink bikini from the morning.

“Aunt Carol!” Danny squealed excitedly as he spun off the chair. “I was waiting for you for a very, very long time and I missed you.” Danny sprinted into the large lady's arms.

“I missed you too, Princess.” Carol embraced the child. “I had some very important things to take care of, but what's really important is that I'm here now.”

Danny smiled at hearing the words and felt wanted.

“So tell me Princess, how did you spend the day?”

“I went in the yard and tanned myself, and then I ate lunch, and then I decided to draw something. I just finished when you came in,” Danny reported.

“That sounds like a lot.” Carol grinned. “I see you found the bikini it's a good thing no boys were around or you'd have had to fight them off by yourself.”

Danny looked frightened. “You think boys would want to beat me up if they saw me dressed like this?” Danny thought of the boys from the orphanage as he asked.

“Heaven's no.” Carol laughed. “I think they would find you too delicious to resist and probably want to kiss you and pinch your cute booty.”

“Aunt Carol!” Danny whined in protest as he blushed.

“Oh? Wouldn't you like a little boyfriend?” Carol asked whimsically.

Danny thought on the question for a moment. “Yes I would,” he stated confidently. “But if he tried to pinch my booty, I'd give him a smack on the face.”

“You might feel differently once you're older,” Carol said in a knowing tone. “We're going to have company tonight and a special surprise, so I'd like you to dress your prettiest. Perhaps in the little pink dress you wore the first night."

The request didn't strike Danny as odd, in fact, he found the idea to be very pleasing. “Can I wear stockings too, and maybe make up?”

“I think both ideas are perfectly exceptional. Our guests will arrive in about an hour, so I think you should start getting ready now,” Carol informed.

“Who's coming over?” Danny asked excitedly.

“That's a surprise and you don't want a surprise ruined, do you?”

Danny pouted. “No. I guess I don't,” he said sadly.

“Don't worry, it won't be that long until you find out who it is. Would you like to show me your art project before I leave so you can get dressed.” Carol remembered the picture and wanted to encourage the child in whatever endeavors he participated in as long as they were appropriate.

“Yes!” Danny's pout quickly turned into a smile. Carefully he picked up the large 11x17 sheet of paper and gently handed it to Carol.

“Oh! What do we have here?” Carol said with genuine astonishment. “It looks just like the poster of me downstairs, but with you in the middle looking oh so pretty.”

“Do you like it?” Danny immediately asked.

“Oh, I wouldn't say I like it,” Carol started.

“I love it,” both of them said in unison.

Danny received a hug and a pinch of his tushy. “You better get princess. You want to look nice for tonight,” Carol said and then left the room.

Danny's mind raced with ideas of who could be coming over that night. There weren't many possibilities for him to list, but the unknown was enormous. At first he thought of Peter as he laid the pink dress on the bed as carefully as possible. As he took out a pair of ruffled panties and the white lace stockings, the idea of Cynthia paying him a visit popped in his mind and caused him to smile. As he reached under the bed for his white, shiny, Mary-Jane's he caught a glimpse of the poster he drew and wondered if perhaps a ballet instructor might be coming by in order to discuss him becoming a star.

There were many more people who could be dropping in and the anticipation seemed almost too much for the child. He rushed through taking off the bikini, but made sure to treat it with care as he put it away. The first thing he put on was the white pair of ruffled panties. Though they were designed for little girls, Danny found them to be his favorites. In imitating Carol, Danny balled up each of the stockings and unrolled them up his leg. Before putting on the dress, Danny took a few laps around the room to enjoy the feeling the clothing caused. He also liked seeing his painted toenails through the practically transparent material. Finally, being careful not to mess his hair, Danny put on the dress and adjusted everything into perfect position.

After putting on the Mary-Jane's, Danny walked down the hall towards the sound of humming. Though he didn't know the tune, he found it enjoyable.

Carol was humming the tune to “Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” as Danny walked into the room as if on cue. “Don't you look absolutely adorable,” Carol fussed as she watched the epitome of childish femininity stand by the door.

“Thank you ma'am.” Danny smiled, showing off his dimple as he curtsied. “Can we put the makeup on now? Please?”

“Of course we can, Princess. I picked out just the perfect shade of lipstick and blush for this occasion.”

“Cool!” Danny said as he was lifted on the bed.

“Now, go like this.” Carol puckered out her lips in an over-dramatized kiss.

Danny followed in like kind. A moment later the dark red lipstick was applied, adding a stark contrast to his porcelain white skin.

“Now, like this.” Carol sucked in her lips and gently smacked them together.

Danny successfully blotted the lipstick, even though he didn't understand why he was doing the things he was. He looked at his reflection in a mirror that Carol handed to him and was pleased with the results. “I like it,” the child glowed .

“So do I,” Carol confirmed. She opened up a compact and applied the slightly moist mixture to the supplied pad. She added the pink blush to the child's cheek in a way that made Danny look like he was permanently blushing.

“I look like a doll,” Danny remarked as he stared at his reflection in awe.”

“Honey, you are a doll. You're my little Danny doll,” Carol teased as she tickled the child's ribs.

Danny kicked and laughed and loved the attention. The doorbell sounded and put a premature end to the festivities.

“It looks like our dinner guest has arrived,” Carol said as she performed a final fuss-over check of Danny and his dress.

“Aren't you going to tell me who it is?” Danny whined.

“You'll see soon enough.” Carol chuckled and took the small child by the hand. Together the two descended the stairs and strolled to the front door.

“Coming!” Carol called out from a few feet away.

Danny stared at the door as Carol put her hand on the knob. Time seemed to be going at a quarter speed as Danny watched the doorknob turn.

As the door swung open, Danny could see exactly who it was. “Ms. Lewis,” Danny stammered as he saw the secretary from the orphanage stand a few feet away.

“Oh my God!” Ms. Lewis exclaimed. “Danny? Is that you?”

Danny wondered if he should run and hide or just die on the spot. The choice was too difficult so he stood frozen on the spot. “Yes ma'am,” the child finally managed to whisper as he looked down at the floor in shame.

“Oh my!” Ms. Lewis blinked hard, wondering if she could believe the image before her.

Slowly Danny looked up, first at Carol and then at Ms. Lewis, trying to gauge how much trouble he was in.

“You're absolutely precious,” Ms Lewis exclaimed as she walked around the child.

“Huh?” Danny was dumbfounded by the response and tried to make sense of things.

“Why, you're the prettiest little girl I've ever seen,” Ms. Lewis continued.

“I guess,” Danny murmured as his thoughts spun inside his head.

“You more than guess you're pretty. It's okay, I know you love being a girl.” Ms. Lewis lifted the child to eye level and followed Carol into the dining room.

By the gentle way he was held, Danny knew he wasn't in any trouble at all. “I do like being a girl,” Danny admitted. “I like being pretty too.”

Ms. Lewis watched the child smile and could feel herself melt. For the first time the child she knew for years looked genuinely happy and the pair of dimples seemed to emphasize the point. “I think being pretty comes naturally for you.”

“It does!” Danny exclaimed as he was placed in a chair. Soon the child found himself at the head of the table with Ms. Lewis on his left and Carol sitting on his right.

The meal, homemade lasagna, was a big hit with all three. It was the first time that Danny ate such a dish and he decided it was already one of his favorites. The child was extremely careful not to spill any sauce or any of his drink on the delicate dress. In that regard, he was completely successful.

“When did Aunt Carol tell you I was a girl?” Danny asked as Dinner concluded.

“She didn't.”

“She didn't?” Danny was surprised his caretaker would take such a risk. “So you didn't know I was a girl until you came over?”

Ms. Lewis chuckled. “I knew you were a girl for a long time, even well before you ever met Mrs. Adams. You didn't do a very good job of hiding the fact.”

“You knew for a long time?!?” Danny's eyes grew big.

“Danny,” Carol spoke tenderly. “Ms. Lewis actually told me about you a long time before I ever visited the orphanage. We met at a fund raiser and became friends. I divulged certain information about myself and Ms. Lewis told me about a child who was in a place where she truly didn't belong.”

“So you knew I wanted to be a girl before I did,” Danny confusingly asked.

Both adults laughed. “Not exactly,” Ms. Lewis answered. “We thought it was a good possibility and wanted to give you the opportunity to explore that side of you while you were still open to the idea. We could never have expected you to take to being a girl like a fish takes to water, but here you are.”

“That's because I am a girl,” Danny stated whole heartedly.

“That you are, sugar.” Ms. Lewis grinned. “No one can deny you that.”

“Now Danny,” Carol interrupted. “Ms. Lewis is here on a bit of business as well. You know when you visited here it was on a temporary basis, like a trial run?”

"Yes ma'am.” Danny took a deep gulp as his eyes darted between the two adults. He wondered if Ms. Lewis was going to take him back to the orphanage or a one for girls.

“I need you to think about my next question very carefully. Okay?” Carol asked.

“Okay.” Danny saw the seriousness in Carol's face and figured his original assumption was correct and he would have to choose between a boy's or girl's orphanage.

“I would very much like it if we could make your current living arrangement a permanent one. I'd like to adopt you Danny and make you mine.” Carol looked at the child as the stress left his face. “That is, if you would find that acceptable.”

Danny's heart stopped for barely a moment. He had waited a lifetime to hear that question asked of him and suddenly found that his mouth refused to work. A tear rolled down the side of his face, leaving a trail in the blush.

“What do you say, Danny?” Ms. Lewis prodded.

“You really want me?” Danny asked in disbelief.

“Of course I do,” Carol answered.

“As a pretty little girl?” Danny was still digesting the situation.

“As you! I want to adopt you for who you are,” Carol stated kindly.

“I want you to adopt me,” Danny finally was able to speak the words he so often wanted to say. “I want to be your little girl.”

“Then that settles it. I'll make the arrangements first thing in the morning,” Carol said as she was beside herself with happiness.

“Congratulations Danny, you found a home,” Ms. Lewis said with equal joy.

“Thank you for finding it for me,” Danny replied as he filled with emotion.

“Danny, I did get you something small for this occasion,” Carol said as she knelt by the child's chair. She pulled a small jewelry box from her pocket.

Danny watched as the casket was opened and saw the gold heart shaped locket with intricate lace detail on it. “It's beautiful.”

Carol clasped the gold chair around the child's neck. “I just wanted some way to remind you that you are always in my heart.

Danny cried and wrapped his arms around the large lady. “I love you Aunt Carol.”

“I love you too, my precious little Danny.” Carol returned the embrace.

For the first time in his life, Danny heard the words he had so longed to hear. He buried his head into the lady's shoulder and could actually feel the love rain down on him.

AUTHORS NOTE: So there you have it, some questions are finally answered. Aren't I a stinker. I knew all along that Carol knew Danny was a girl trapped inside and I waited to chapter 8 to let you know. It explains a lot from the first chapter with Carol seeking a girl, looks like she knew there was one at the boys orphanages. But don't worry little girls and ladies and devotees, there are more chapters to come. I am sure there will be some kind of conflict, and there is still the doctor visit, and Cynthia, and a few surprises.

By K.T. Leone
(Little Katie)

 
Part IX: Doctor Day

Danny woke up in his new usual fashion. His bare feet touched the cool hallway floor as he made his way to the kitchen. He didn't care that Carol or Peter would be able to see him in the short, sheer baby nightie or the diapers he wore underneath, in fact, the idea of him been seen like such gave him a peculiar pleasure.

“Morning Pumpkin,” Peter greeted with warmth as he stood by the kitchen.

“Good morning Peter.” Danny gave the towering man a hug. Since hearing about his upcoming adoption, Danny showed his affection unabashed. “Can I have a Grandma apple,” he asked, trying to sound as cute as possible.

“One Granny Smith apple coming up,” Peter announced as if an important order was given to him. He received a kiss on the cheek for the spectacle.

“It's not going to work today,” Carol said from her chair at the table.

Danny walked over to the large lady and sat on her lap. “What's not going to work today?” Danny asked innocently.

“You know, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away.' I know it's kept you safe these past days, but today we're going,” Carol said in a somber mood, trying to imitate the child's disappointment.

“Maybe he'll call in sick,” Danny said hopefully as he took the apple that Peter offered to him. “Or they could go on strike.”

“They could.” Carol giggled. “But I wouldn't count on that one.”

“Keep up the hope little miss,” Peter said as he sat down across from the two girls. “But you really have nothing to be afraid of.”

“Yes I do!” Danny said emphatically and then took a huge bite out of the large, shiny green apple.

“What are you so scared of?” Carol probed.

Danny swallowed his chunk of apple. “Needles! Real big needles that are longer than my arm that the doctor wants to poke me with and turn me into Swiss cheese.”

“I think when you're there, you'll find out that things aren't quite as extreme as you imagine,” Peter replied honestly, even though he found the child's exaggerations completely hilarious. “Besides, who would want to turn such a pretty little girl into Swiss cheese.”

“Big, mean doctors,” Danny answered without missing a beat.

Peter and Carol both laughed. “You'll be okay, Princess,” Carol reassured.

Danny found himself being passed off to the other adult. “Now you two play nice, we don't want a repeat of the other day,” Carol said as she stood up.

“It's okay today,” Danny said as he was being bounced on Peter's knee. “I'm still wearing the diapers.” Danny noticeably blushed in embarrassment as he remembered the previous morning he wasn't so fortunate and his bladder didn't hold as Peter tickled him mercilessly.

“Still,” Carol said sternly. “Make sure you behave.”

“Yes ma'am,” Danny said glumly.

Carol laughed. “I wasn't talking to you princess, I was talking to the other child, the really big one with no self control.”

“Oh,” Danny said as his eyes grew big. A smile soon appeared on his face.

“I promise I'll be good ma'am,” Peter answered with a grin as he watched the large lady retreat out of the kitchen.

“I'm sorry I got you in trouble yesterday,” Danny said as he stood on the man's lap.

“You didn't get me in trouble, Pumpkin. It was just something that happened.”

“Well I'm safe today, so ha!” Danny stated proudly.

“That you are,” Peter said, amused at the child. “I don't think the doctor will turn you into Swiss cheese. He doesn't need to.”

“Why not?” Danny asked in confusion.

“Because you're tasty enough to nibble already.” With those words, the kitchen was filled up with the sound of the small child laughing like crazy.

After a short while, Danny settled down, glad that this time he was able to control himself and keep the diaper clean. In addition to the apple, Danny ate a bowl of Apple Jacks and drank a sippee cup of orange juice.

“I see you're still in one piece,” Carol said as she re-entered the kitchen with an armful of clothes.

“Yes ma'am.” Danny grinned as Peter cleared the table

“That's good,” Carol said, “because we're running behind on time and we don't need to be giving you another bath. I brought your clothes with me so up on the table little miss.”

Danny stood on the chair and was helped as he stepped onto the table. He knew he was being treated like a little kid, but he preferred it that way. He liked it when Carol removed the nightie and diapers, even though he did blush when Peter whistled at his naked body in jest. It was equally as comforting to be covered in the yellow panties. He also wore a red dress that was designed more for play than show. The yellow short sleeved t-shirt and matching ankle socks made for a nice contrast. The pink and white sneakers finished off the outfit and Danny found himself ready to go.

“I'll be here when you get back,” Peter told Carol as he led them to the door. He gave Carol a light kiss on the lips and Danny a peck on the cheeks.

“Bye hon,” Carol said as she walked through the door.

Danny slowly waved goodbye as he pouted. He liked being carried and liked driving around with Carol, it was just the destination that scared the happiness out of the child and the closing of the car door seemed to finalize his doom.

The ride to the doctor's office was over far sooner than Danny would've liked. The white face building with dark, almost black, tinted windows didn't seem that scary, but Danny could only guess of the horrors behind the double doors. He slowly walked to those doors, which gave no hint that the place was a doctor's office or any other type of business, holding Carol's hand and shivering. The sterile air hit Danny hard once they were inside and for a moment the child felt faint.

“Hello Mrs. Adams,” a lanky man with salt and pepper hair greeted with a musical quality to his voice. His stethoscope and long white lab coat informed Danny that this was his doctor.

“Good morning Dr. Wilhelm,” Carol answered as the child cowered behind her leg.

Dr. Wilhelm squatted and did a funny duck walk towards Danny. “Hewwo,” he said in a high squeaky voice. “You must be Danny, I've heard so much about you.”

Danny didn't mean to laugh, but he did anyway. “Are you a real doctor?”

“Only when I need to be,” the doctor spoke in his normal voice. “Fact is, I'm a specialist and I'm going to help you the best I can. Come with me and we'll get this over soon and get to the happy parts.”

“The happy parts?” Danny asked. He didn't know why he placed his hand into the doctor's tender grip or why he was following the man down the corridor with Carol not too far behind. All the same, he was doing just those things.

“Didn't you know you get a lollipop at the end that's almost as big as you, and maybe a puppy if you're really good.”

“A puppy!?!” Danny asked excitedly.

“If you're really, really good,” the doctor said in his high, squeaky voice. “First, I need to ask you some questions.”

“Okay,” Danny said as he sat down by the desk and smiled at Carol, who took sentry at the doorway.

“Question one,” the doctor started. “Is it true that you are really a fifty year old double agent spy only pretending to be a cute little girl as part of your plan to take over the entire universe?”

“No!” Danny laughed out loud.

“Then how old are you really,” the doctor looked at Danny suspiciously.

“I'm eight, Sir,” Danny answered and watched the doctor jot things down.

The doctor went through the list of allergies, known surgeries, broken bones and vaccinations. He always would add a joke in with the list or would make up things that didn't exist to keep the child guessing and laughing.

“Okay Danny, now for the fun part,” the doctor said as he closed the file.

“I get my puppy now,” Danny said with child-like eagerness.

“No, but I get to take blood,” the doctor said and then laughed maniacally.

“Are you going to use a big needle,” Danny's voice quivered.

“No. These.” The doctor put in a pair of fake vampire teeth and brandished them.

Danny gave out a small yelp of fear.

“Got you!” the doctor said as he removed the dentures. “Actually, what we're going to do is take a small finger prick with this little thing here.” The doctor held up a metal square that had a point sticking from the middle. “It'll only hurt a very little. I promise.” The doctor went back to his cartoonish voice, “finger pwease.”

Hesitantly, Danny extended his index finger and in a flash the doctor stuck him. Danny watched as a few drops of blood was placed on the glass slide.

“Awl done,” the doctor said as he let go of the child's hand. “I told you that it wouldn't hurt much.”

“A-huh,” Danny murmured as he sucked his finger.

“I need to talk to this big person you brought with you, but I have a job I need you to do while I leave you in here alone.”

“What kind of job?” Danny asked with his finger still in his mouth.

“While we are gone, I need you to take off all your clothes, that includes your under-stuff and socks and put on one of those gowns over on that table.” Dr. Wilhelm pointed to the area in question. “Do you think you can handle that while we talk?”

“Yes. That's easy,” Danny said as he finally took his finger out of his mouth.

“Do you think you can reorganize my files too then?” the doctor joked.

“No!” Danny said in a drawn out whine.

“It was worth a shot,” the doctor said. “We'll be back in then to fifteen minutes, so that gives you plenty of time.”

“Yes sir,” Danny said and then watched the adults leave. He slowly untied his sneakers and pulled them off, along with his ankle socks. He placed one sock in each sneaker. The dress came off next, followed by the t-shirt and pair of panties. Danny found himself standing in the middle of the room wearing only the golden locket he received the night before. On one wall he saw a mirror and couldn't resist the urge to look at himself undressed.

“I see what you were talking about, Mrs. Adams,” Dr. Wilhelm said as he viewed the child through his end of the one way mirror. She is definitely well behind the growth curve for her age, but hopefully we can figure that out without too many test. As for the little gender thing, we can start treatment on that as soon as she wants to.”

“Knowing Danielle, that'll be immediately,” Carol said with certainty as she grinned at the naked child who was doing ballet poses to the mirror.

The doctor waited until the child was dressed in the mid-thigh length yellow hospital gown. Though he had already viewed the child completely naked, he didn't want to cause any undue embarrassment. “I see you're all ready for me,” the doctor said in his high pitched comical voice.

“Yes sir,” Danny said as he sat back in the chair.

“Well there's no time to relax,” the doctor said as he gently tugged the child's arm, causing Danny's bare feet to hit the tile floor. “Walk this way, please.”

Danny mimicked the doctor's duck-like walk in the best manner he could, laughing all the way down the hall to the examining room with Carol not that far behind them. He stood in the center of the room and waited to see what was next on the agenda.

“Danny, I need you to step up here so I can get your height and weight,” the doctor instructed as he motioned towards the scale.

Danny stepped onto the little platform and watched as the doctor manipulated two sliding metal blocks on top. Though Danny knew what was going on, he was in no position to read the numbers. A moment later, a metal stick was lowered on top of his head to get his height.

“Very interesting,” the doctor mused to himself as he jotted the information down on the chart. “It seems your body decided to quit growing sometime when you were very young, young lady.”

“Some parts quit even before then,” Danny added slyly.

“Yes, I've heard.” The doctor made sure not to mention that he saw as well, protecting from the Freudian slip was almost impossible, but he managed. “Your Aunt Carol brought that area to my attention and that was one of the reasons in particular she brought you to me. I know you're young and this may seem a tad embarrassing, but I would like to examine that area.”

“Okay,” Danny whispered. He knew there was something wrong with 'that' and figured that it might have something to do with why he was so tiny. Though he wished he didn't have that particular piece of equipment and found pretending to be a four year old fun, he definitely didn't want to stay looking like a toddler forever.

“It'll be okay,” the doctor said in his squeaky duck voice as he lifted the child onto the awaiting leather examining table. “All you need to do if you start feeling uncomfortable is tell me. I also need to know if certain areas hurt or feel weird. Okay?”

“Yes sir,” Danny said as he was positioned with his legs dangling off the table and him laying on his back. His gown was raised above his belly, showing the world all that he had to offer, which wasn't much.

Dr. Wilhelm walked over to a large stainless steel basin and scrubbed his hands clean. He allowed them to air dry for a moment after shaking them off. He grabbed a metal toll from off a prepared tray and walked towards the child. “The first thing we are going to do is take a few measurements,” the doctor informed as his slightly moist hands parted the child's legs.

Danny could feel the doctor touch the tip of his penis and move the clamp like measuring device into place. Danny wondered if the instrument could measure something so small. Though it felt weird to be touched in such an area, Danny found the doctor's strong hands on his small body to be peculiarly nice, and exciting, and pleasurable, and confusing.

“Hmm,” the doctor said after measuring the area by both height and width. He jotted the information down on the chart. “Tell me Danny, has this ever gotten excited?” Dr. Wilhelm asked as his fingers gently caressed the child, trying to elicit some sort of response.

“Um,” the child gulped. “No,” he answered in a confused tone.

“You've never had an erection in your life?” the doctor probed as he looked at the child's appendage knowing that even in infants, some response was expected by the anatomy being stimulated.

“No, never,” the child answered, confused that he found what the doctor was doing quite enjoyable.

The doctor stopped stroking the child, knowing there was a professional line with dealing with a patient this way that he didn't want to cross. “You do know what an erection is, correct?” the doctor wanted to clarify.

“When a boy gets a stiffy,” Danny answered with a blush.

“That's correct.” The doctor jotted more notes on the chart and knew that finding a reason why the child's anatomy didn't respond in the usual way was going to
be a daunting task.” Okay, let's continue,” the doctor said in his funny voice once more.

Danny could see the top of the doctor's head as he felt his penis being lifted. “The boys at the orphanage said that I wouldn't get hard until I was older like them,” Danny offered an explanation just to take his mind off from being touched.

The doctor was busy looking at a scar running the length of the penis to remark to the child. “Danny, do you remember having surgery or perhaps being cut down here and getting stitches?”

“Ut-ah,” Danny said. “I would've remembered that.”

The doctor laughed. “I'm sure you would've.” He wrote more notes down on the chart. “We're almost done with the examination, just one thing more.” Dr. Wilhelm noticed the child's testicles had yet to descend and he wanted to make sure that they were okay and were not the culprit for the child's under development.

Danny felt the doctor's two fingers probe his testicular sack. As the fingers moved further in, Danny felt strange in a new way and felt more than a little uncomfortable. Danny adjusted his hip to help the doctor find what he was looking for that much quicker, and found in doing so that the pleasure intensified.

Dr. Wilhelm was perplexed. The testicles weren't even in the per-descended position and he carefully pushed his finger slowly deeper trying to find where they could be. He was even more confused as he found a shallow chasm inside the boy that a boy wasn't meant to have, even internally. Finally he felt something hard, but he was unsure if he found one of the testicles.

Danny slightly squirmed on the table, but not enough to effect the doctor. He could feel he doctor's fingers rubbing around on something inside him and whatever that something was felt good. Danny could feel his face get hot as the pleasure radiated through his stomach. “Ooh, ah,” Danny cried in ecstasy as his body responded on it's own. His legs and arms quivered as he felt his head spin inside him. His whole body felt like it were on fire, and he liked it.”

“Oh my!” Dr. Wilhelm said as he backed away. He had just discovered an important truth about Danny, one in which he was sure he was the only one who knew. “Are you okay?”

Danny had no clue as to what happened and why his body responded in such a way. “I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!” Danny cried in his confusion.

“You did nothing wrong, there is no need to be sorry, it's all part of nature,” the doctor reassured. “I apologize myself, I didn't know I was having such an affect on you. I'm going to talk to your Aunt Carol in the hallway and give you some time to compose yourself. Remember, you did nothing wrong, and you aren't bad for feeling the way you did. It was a natural response. Okay?”

“Okay.” Danny trembled, only half-believing what the doctor said.

The doctor walked out of the room followed by Carol. He carefully closed the door behind him as he stood in the hallway.

“Was that normal?” Carol started. “I mean, I know what that looked like, but I didn't see you do anything to facilitate such a response.”

“It was a normal response for her, and yes, it was as you suspected, an orgasm.”

“But how? I didn't see an erection, you weren't touching his penis, not then at least. I might not be an expert on such things, but I know the fundamentals.”

“Mrs. Adams,” the doctor started in a comforting voice. “I think Danny is more of a girl than you first assumed.”

Carol looked at Dr. Wilhelm quizzically. “What do you mean?”

“I couldn't say for absolute certain until I run more test, but I believe Danny is inter-sexed and her response was probably due to me coming across her female parts.”

“You mean Danny is actually both? Wow!” Carol found the news exciting, but not completely surprising. “I wonder how Danny will take to the idea.”

“She'll probably be confused and maybe a bit relieved. My guess is she had hypospacia at birth, and maybe both genitals. Her birth parents probably arbitrarily turned her into a boy, not the common choice, but not one out of the realm of possibilities.”

“I'm sorry,” Carol held up her hand for the doctor to pause while she digested all of the information. “You said the word 'hypospacia,' I'm not familiar with the term.”

“Hypospacia is a condition where the urethra comes out at the base or underside of the penis. Usually it's a minor operation to place it at the tip to restore the look of normalcy. Danny probably had the operation early on in his infancy and that's why he doesn't remember it. The scar it leaves behind is so faint that it's practically invisible to the untrained eye, that may be why previous doctors didn't pick up on it, and without knowing about the other items that were covered up at birth, a regular doctor wouldn't suspect Danny as being inter-sexed.”

“This is a lot of information. I don't know if Danny could grasp all of this and the implications. You mentioned other tests,” Carol purposely diverted the conversation as she found herself happily overwhelmed. “Which other tests?”

“In the near future, I would like to run an MRI so we can see what's going on inside. If things are as I expect, we can discuss surgical procedures to return her back to normal.”

“You mean sexual reassignment surgery. I thought we'd have to wait until Danny was eighteen before we decided on that?” Carol asked.

“In this case, it wouldn't be sexual reassignment, it would be assignment,” the doctor said with a wry smile. “The laws are much more liberal when it comes to such a situation. Of course, there will need to be discussions and psychiatrist and that whole nine yards, but let's take things one step at a time.”

“What is the next step?” Carol asked as images flashed through her mind.

“I believe the first thing I need to do is inform the patient.”

“Do you think that's wise?” Carol asked with evident concern.

The doctor thought for a moment. “Considering the role in which Danny has chosen to act, I think that she may actually find the news to be a great relief. I know on the outside Danny has seemed like the most happy child in the world ever since giving into her feminine side. But, I have worked with a lot of transgendered children, remember, that is my area of expertise, and have come to discover that no matter how happy the child appears, no matter how supportive the family and community structure, no matter how convincingly they pass for the opposite gender, there are always internal questions about whether or not there is something totally wrong with them mentally and whether they're bad for not conforming to the gender in which they appeared to be born. Now, with Danny, she was born both, but she doesn't know that yet and these questions will abound. With the new news, it will alleviate a lot of that guilt.”

“I can see your point,” Carol resigned herself to the facts as the doctor put them. “I'll wait out here as you tell her.”

Dr. Wilhelm strolled into the examining room. The little child was sitting on the edge of the table, the gown was still raised above the waist. Danny perpetually stared between his legs, trying to figure out what had happened to him.

“Are you okay?” Dr. Wilhelm asked, trying to divert the child's attention.

Danny looked up. “Did Aunt Carol leave because of what I did?”

“Of course not.” Dr. Wilhelm comforted. “You didn't do anything bad, I told you that already. Come here.”

Danny found himself being lifted off the table and was led over to the desk. The doctor sat down and placed the small child on his lap. “Danny,” he spoke softly. “What happened to you happens to a lot of girls when they are touched in certain ways. I didn't realize exactly what I was doing to you, but if I made you feel uncomfortable then, for that, I am truly sorry.”

“It wasn't uncomfortable, it felt really, really good. But,” Danny paused.

“It was a new experience, you'll figure things out in due time. You're still young and there's a lot for you to learn.”

“But what's wrong with me to do that?” Danny cried out.

“Danny, do you know what inter-sexed is?” the doctor asked.

“Yeah,” Danny's eyes sparkled. “The guys talk about that.”

“What do they say it is?” the doctor asked amusingly.

“That's when a girl likes other girls and boys. The guys say that's cool.”

The doctor laughed. “I believe you're thinking of something else. Inter-sexed is a person who is born both a boy and a girl, like you are.”

“But I'm not a girl, I don't got a girl thing here.” Danny placed his finger on the spot where he saw Cynthia's private parts.

“Actually, there is a good chance you do. Only yours is on the inside, hidden. When you were born, you probably had both for all to see, but those doctors and your parents thought it best to make you a boy on the outside.”

“They picked wrong,” Danny said glumly.

“It appears so, Danielle. But I don't think they picked wrong on purpose.”

“Can you turn me back?” Danny asked hopefully.

The doctor smiled. “I can, in due time. But I need to run more test and we need to make sure it's the best choice for you.”

“Do we have a lot of test today?” Danny asked.

“Actually, we're done for the day. We'll do other tests on another day. For now, we're done.”

“Do I still get a puppy?” Danny asked excitedly.

“You certainly do. You stay here and change and I'll bring up the box for you to choose.”

“Yes sir,” Danny couldn't contain his smile.

“I told her,” the doctor said as he walked past Carol. “She's ready to change back into regular clothes and probably needs to talk.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Carol walked into the examining room with the child's clothing. “How do you feel princess.”

“I'm a girl,” Danny stammered as the news registered with his brain. “A real honest to goodness girl, Aunt Carol.”

“Was there ever any doubt,” Carol smiled at the little girl.

“I knew it all along.” Danny grinned and allowed his guardian to dress him.

A few minutes later, the doctor came back with a litter of puppies in a large cardboard box. “Which one do you want, Danielle?”

“That one,” Danny excitedly pointed at a black and tan Cocker spaniel.

The doctor pulled the small puppy to of the box and placed it in the child's hand. Immediately the dog began to lick at Danny's face as it happily wagged it's tail.

“I think she likes you Danielle,” the doctor cooed.

“What are you going to name her, Danny?” Carol asked.

“Hazel. I think her name is Hazel,” Danny announced.

“A perfect picture of a girl and her dog,” the doctor said as he placed the box down and grabbed a camera.

“A real girl,” Danny said with a huge smile as her picture was taken.

AUTHORS NOTE.... I hope this answers some questions. I was a little hesitant with the scene, but I didn't know how to introduce the new information

By K.T. Leone
(Little Katie)
 
Part X: One Week Later

Carol placed the phone down on the receiver, an eager little girl in footed pajamas sat on the arm of the chair. Though Danny tried to make sense of the conversation and steal a listen at the voice on the other end, he found that he was unable. The one sided conversation he did hear was full of ''yeses,' 'I understands', and 'that's interestings,' for the child to even fathom a guess of what was said.

“That was the doctor, right?” Danny didn't wait for the adult to initiate the conversation, he didn't want to be in suspense any longer.

“Yes it was,” Carol said confidently. “All the results are in.”

“That means no more tests and needles, right?”

“That is correct. All the tests are over for now so you can relax.”

“What they say? What they say?” Danny cried out.

“Oh, they said a lot of interesting things. Why, I could fill a book. Just wait until I tell all my friends,” Carol carried on.

“Aunt Carol!” Danny whined and turned red.

“Yes, Princess,” Carol looked at the little child get flustered.

“Won't you tell me what the doctor said?” Danny pouted.

Carol laughed and figured she had taken the joke far enough. “I suppose I could do that. Sure, why not?”

Danny hopped from the arm of the chair and onto the lady's lap. The thick padding from the diaper he wore to bed cushioned the blow. “So what he say?” Danny looked up with hopeful eyes.

“It was as he expected, you are part girl physically. In fact, you are at least 99% girl,” Carol explained.

“But how?” The child looked confused. “I mean, I have a thing.”

“You also have a girl's thing, but when you were a little baby someone sewed up the opening so no one could see. Your parents probably were not well to do and couldn't afford the tests to find out more about you.”

“Oh?” Danny said in a voice that sounded as if he didn't completely understand all that was being said. “But why am I so tiny?”

“Everything stems from the same thing. You have what is know as Heinkenson's syndrome. You see, when a person is born they usually have two chromosomes that determine if they are a boy or a girl. If the baby is a girl, she is XX. And if the baby is a boy, then he is XY.”

“But what am I?” Danny asked. “XXXY.”

“Not exactly, but close. In your syndrome you are xx-upside down y. When you were being formed in your mother's tummy, a distorted y chromosome somehow got involved in your development. But it wasn't a true y chromosome. It only contained part of the information to form boy parts on you. There are a lot of cases that go undiscovered because most of the time the baby that comes out looks like it's all boy, but it's mind has all the programing for being a girl. That usually just makes people with the syndrome confused about what they really are, but doctors suspect many people fight their female brain and simply conform to what society wants them to be. You have level five Heinkenson's syndrome. That means, originally, you were born looking like both, even though you were lacking testicles, and your parents probably simply guessed you were a boy. The other thing Heinkenson's does is block your growth hormones, so your body never developed during the normal curves as other children. So, though you have had eight birthdays, your body isn't quite eight years old.”

Danny looked like a deer caught in headlights. “How old is my body really? Could the doctor know that?”

“He can and does. Your body is 40 to 44 months old.”

“That's not even a four year old!” Danny exclaimed. “I'm still a baby!”

Carol could see the child was confused and upset. “Danny, we will talk more about this later. Don't worry about growing, now that we know about you, there is medicine you can take and you'll start developing normally.”

“But,” Danny stammered. “What you're saying is I'm really a 3 year old baby girl?”

Carol thought for a moment. “In a sense, I suppose you can say that. Danielle, you've received a lot of news for now. I think maybe it will be a good idea for you to be alone and think it over. We'll see the doctor later this week and I'm sure he can answer a lot of your questions. We've got an hour before we need to get ready to visit Cynthia for your play date. Why don't you go out back and play with Hazel and think things over, okay?”

“Yes ma'am,” Danny said as if he was punished. Though she wanted to play with the puppy, her head filled with so many new ideas and concerns, that she couldn't even begin to know where to start to sort them out.

Danny trudged out the back door into the yard. The puppy didn't know how to read human emotions, like so many animals seem to be able, yet. All the tiny cocker spaniel knew was that its owner was there and that made it happy. So happy that it wet on the patio floor as its rear shook in delight. Danny leaned down and patted the pooch on the head. The dog responded in play, lowering its head and front paws to the ground while keeping its hind quarters in the air. A quick yelp followed.

Danny chuckled. “You're a silly little thing, Hazel,” she said as she walked towards the center of the yard to find a sunny place to lay.

The dog wasn't done playing and as Danny walked a bit further, the dog sunk its teeth into the cloth covering the child's toe. Though the animal missed any flesh, it had a strong hold of the pajama's foot and wasn't about to let go. Danny tried to pull her foot free but the more she tugged, the more excited Hazel got and the dog pulled even harder in the opposite direction.

Danny plopped down on her padded behind right there on the spot. “Okay, okay, you win, I give up,” she said in mock defeat.

The puppy got what it wanted and jumped on the child's lap to smother her with kisses.

“If you weren't so little you wouldn't be so gosh darn adorable and able to get away with murder, do you know that?” Danny asked the puppy.

Hazel replied with a few more licks to the child's chin.

“When I was a human puppy, I didn't have anyone big to care for my, puppy dog. You're lucky. When I was little like you, they put me in an orphanage; that's like a pound for human puppies, where the bigger dogs pick on you just because you're little and they like to hurt your feelings. I wish I could be little again, but no, I got to think about the thing I got that doesn't make any sense and keeps me little.”

The world stopped. Birds hung in midair. The clouds refused to move. The puppy's tail was frozen in mid-wag and it was as if the voice of God Himself reverberated a message inside Danny's head. That message, loosely translated, was, “Well, Duh, did you just hear yourself?”

Danny felt tingles all over her body as the world started spinning once more. “If the doctor says I'm still a human puppy, then why should I be the one to say he's wrong. I can be little again because I was never big and this time it'll be better, 'cause this time I get to be the girl I truly am and not the boy they made me pretend I was.”

Hazel was neutral on the subject. As long as the child played with it and rubbed its belly every so often, it was happy.

Danny didn't wait for the whole hour to expire. Hazel was tired out from the hard work of playing and was laying on her back, allowing the sun to warm her belly. Danny was careful not to wake the animal as she stood up, but to no avail. Hazel followed the child through the back door and then made a mad dash for her food and water bowl which was filled while she took care of natures business. Danny went off in search of her guardian.

Carol saw the child walk into her bedroom. Though she was only in a pair of panties, she made no rush to cover up. She figured Danny was already girl enough to know that such parts existed and she was more focused on the little child to even think of such things. Carol sat on the bed and watched the child in the dark pink footed pajamas walk towards her. Carol actually smiled as she saw the bands around the wrist were different colors, one orange, one purple.

“Done with your thinking already, Danielle?” Carol asked gently.

Danny slowly nodded his head yes.

“How do you feel about everything?” Carol probed. “Are you okay?”

“Did the doctor say I'm really only three and a half?” Danny asked in his mousy voice as his eyes stared at his pink and white padded feet.

“He said your body is three and a half, but you still lived for eight long years.” Carol wondered if the child might be sad for being physically younger than he was mentally, or perhaps thinking he had to return five years of birthday gifts to make up the difference.

“Well, I was thinking,” Danny started but then trailed off.

“What were you thinking princess? It's okay to tell me, nothing you can say will make me care for you any less,” Carol reassured.

“Do I have to be eight?” Danny blurted out and immediately covered his mouth with her hands.

“What do you mean, sweetie?” Carol asked as she looked at the little child.

“I know we pretend sometimes I'm a little girl, but can we not pretend. Since my body is still a baby's can't all of me be a baby?” Danny pleaded.

Carol tilted her head and looked at the child, perplexed. “Are you sure this is something that you truly want to do?”

Danny nodded her head yes. “More than anything.”

“How come, Princess?” Carol asked, wanting to know more.

“Because my first time being three I couldn't be a little kid and I couldn't be a little girl. I had to be big and tough, even though I was small and scared. Maybe if I can do it over, I can do the stuffs little kids are suppose to do. That and I think being your little girl would be so cool and I thought that maybe you would like a baby girl.”

“Come up here Danielle.” Carol patted her lap for the child.

Danny didn't say a word, she just climbed up the lady's leg and placed her padded behind on Carol's lap.

“This is very important, okay?” Do you want to go back to being three because that's what you think I want you to do?” Carol asked calmly.

Danny shook her head no. “All my life, since I could remember, I always went to sleep pretending I was still a baby. I know it sounds silly and stupid and weird, but I feel I never been one and missed out on stuff that I don't even know what that stuff is. It's like that thing the doctor says I got means I still got a chance.”

“Well, I definitely don't mind you being three outside and in and I bet your just a natural at it.” Carol pinched the little girls cheeks.

Danny smiled bigger than she smiled ever before. “Cool!” she exclaimed in glee.

“Now, little baby girl, would you please wait for Aunt Carol to get dressed, then we can go by Cynthia's house and you can play the day away.”

Danny scooted off the lady's lap and onto the bed where he lay while Carol took to the task of getting dressed. Danny watched the large lady slip into a bra and then put a blue dress with small white dots all over it on. Danielle thought she could actually feel the eight years as a boy slipping away from her. Without thinking, her left thumb found its way to her mouth and she contently sucked the time that Carol took getting ready away.

When Carol was done, she looked on the bed and could tell that Danny was no longer pretending to be a little girl. Something about the baby's face and the relaxed posture of her body confirmed this. Carol could feel her heart melt for the precious little thing and knew that the love she felt for the child was as genuine as if she had give birth to Danny herself. “Time to get you dressed, little one.” Carol scooped the child into her arms and supported Danny's bottom with her forearm.

Danny couldn't tell what was happening, but everything felt natural and right with the world for the first time in her life. She looked towards the way she was being led and before long she was standing on her own bed. The zipper from the pajamas was lowered and quickly Danny was standing, wearing only the diaper.

“We need to find you something to play in,” Carol announced as she walked to the child's closet. She came out holding a set of pink overalls with blue stripes and a white undershirt that had a frilly collar to it. From the dresser, she retrieved a pair of white panties and ruffled socks.

As the diaper was pulled away, Danny found herself naked and looking down at the one part she felt she was never meant to have. Though usually a cause for embarrassment, Danny now felt impartial to being naked and simply smiled at the attention she was receiving.

Carol enjoyed Danny behaving as a little child but didn't know if it would last very long. For now, she was happy for what she had as she slip a pair of panties up the child's legs. It still amazed the older woman how a small piece of fabric could so completely transform the body of a boy into something that looked so fully feminine. “Now we don't have to worry about little boys looking in the window and seeing your cookie.”

“Aunt Carol!” the child whined in protest.

“What?” Carol feigned ignorance. “What I say? What?”

“A cookie? That's silly,” Danny asserted.

“I'm sorry. You're right. Though a cookie is a silly word to call that, since your whole body is just so sweet, it looks good enough to eat.” Carol caused the child to plop on the bed and started tickling Danny's ribs. Danny laughed out loud and kicked his feet as Carol blew against his belly.

“Stop! Stop! I'm going to tinkle,” Danny cried out in laughter.

Carol did stop. “are you all better now?” she asked as the child settled down.

Danny nodded her head yes and the dressing resumed in a more orderly fashion. The socks and undershirt were put on with great care, as was the set of pink overalls and pink canvas sneakers.

“There's a pretty little girl,” Carol complemented.

“Don't forget the locket,” Danny reminded the adult.

“Of course not.” Carol took the locket from the dresser and placed it around the child's neck. She was touched that such a little trinket meant so much to the little girl. “Now you're all ready to go on your play date with Cynthia.”

“Yea,” Danny exclaimed as she clapped her hands.

Carol lifted the child and carried her to the car. "I think since I got a new baby on my hands, maybe it's time I got a car seat. What do you think about that Danielle?"

"It sounds okay. You don't want your little girl getting hurt," she said with child like simplicity and with a sparkle in her eyes.

Carol walked around to her side of the car. "I think I'm in love," she mused to herself as she opened the door and got behind the wheel.

It was a long drive to Cynthia's house, but one that Danny felt was well worth it. He held Carol's hand as he walked up the cobble stone path that led to the front door. Carol pushed the white button on the side of the door and a melody chimed for all to hear.

"It plays music," Danny said excitedly at hearing the door bell. "Cool!"

The door opened and Cynthy stood by her mother's side wearing the exact same outfit as Danny. "Hi Danielle," Cynthia said with as much happiness as a four year old could muster. Before the smaller child could respond, Cynthia reached out and hugged danny, giving him a kiss on the cheek as well. "I'm glad you came over."

"Me too." Danny hugged back and actually enjoyed the physical contact. It was much different than the way the boys touched each other at the orphanage, which was always rough and painful. Danny could see the benefits of being a girl.

"Why don't you show little Danny your room and play nice while Carol and I talk," Cynthia's mother told her daughter. "I'll come get you two in time for lunch, okay?"

"Yes, Mommy." Cynthia looked up and smiled. "Come on Danielle, there's lots of toys in my room and we can play and stuff."

Danny didn't have time to respond as his arm was tugged into the house and her body soon followed. She didn't know what cause her to break out in a run, but the last thing she remembered was hearing Carol say have fun and her not being able to respond in kind.

"This is my room," Cynthia announced proudly as they walked through an open door.

Danny's mouth dropped open as he saw the size of the room. In dimension it looked more like a great dance hall meant to entertain thousands than it did a child's bedroom. The parquet floors seemed to indicate that perhaps at some point that's exactly what this room was. Danny figured the walls were some shade of lavender, but couldn't tell for sure because all the walls had shelving and all the shelves were brimming with stuffed animals, dolls, and toys. "Is this stuff all yours to play with?"

"Uh-huh. My daddy owns a toy company and I gets to get all the stuff he makes," Cynthia noted simply. "He makes boy toys too but my cousin Joeys gets all of them 'cause who wants boy toys except boys."

Danny giggled. "What do you want to play first?"

"Do yo know how to do patty-cakes?" Cynthia asked.

"A little bit, but I don't know if I'm any good."

"Don't worry, I'll teach you to be good. It's easy and then we'll have a tea party, my mommy said so. Come on sit down like this." Cynthia tugged Danny onto the floor and then sat Indian style. The blonde haired girl scooted so that both of their knees were touching. "Now go like this."

"Okay," Danny replied and then she held up her hands the same way that Cynthia was.

The game of patty cake started out simply, with the children clapping their hands against each others and then doing a simple clap. Like most things children do, it progressed to more advanced schemes. Before long Danny had the whole scheme down even though there were breaks for fits and giggles whenever there was a mistake or the children missed each others hands.

"Yay! We did it," Danny said with glee as she panted out of breath.

"See. I told you I would make you good," Cynthia said and then hugged her friend. "Mommy!" she called out, "We're ready now."

"I know," a voice called back from the entrance to the room. "We've been watching and waiting for you two to finish."

"She said tu-tu," Danny remarked and broke into laughter.

"That I did, little miss funny pants." Cynthia's mom smiled. "I brought some tea cups and a pot of my special mint tea for your party."

"Thank you ma'am," Danny said sweetly.

"Thank you mommy," Cynthia said practically at the same time.

"It's nice to see you playing so nicely with your little friend, Danny. I hope you're having a good time," Carol said as she also looked on.

"I'm having the best time, Aunt Carol," Danny retorted.

Cynthia's mom placed the tray of tea supplies in between the two children as they separated. "Now be careful to be neat, we'll be having lunch in about a half an hour and then maybe we can figure out something special for desert."

"Thank you mommy," Cynthia said once again.

Danny gave a childish wave goodbye as the adults backed out of the room.

"Do you know how to tell time," Cynthia asked as she poured some tea into a cup of fine china.

"A little I do, but I can't now," Danny said as she looked around the room.

"And why not?" Cynthia didn't believe the smaller child could do something she couldn't while pouring the second cup of tea.

"Because you don't got any clocks," Danny stated simply.

"Oh yeah," Cynthia said and let the subject drop. She handed Danny a saucer and cup of tea before taking one for herself. "You got to drink it like this."

Danny held the cup daintily and kept her pinky pointed out just in the same way as her friend. She found the cold tea to be a tasty surprise. The children finished their tea party in relative silence, only exchanging niceties that one often exchanged in such affairs. A lot of pleases and no thank you kind of exchanging and acting as stuffy and aristocratic as possible.

"I'm hungry," Cynthia said as she finished sipping the last drop of her second cup of tea, proud not to have dripped any on her overalls.

"Me too," Danny affirmed. "Let's find the big people."

"They're in the parlor, proll'y talking about boring stuffs like money and cleaning. Let's walk quiet like mouses and sneak up on them."

Danny tiptoed behind his friend as they walked the long way round to the parlor. Cynthia carefully slip the sliding wooden door open, just wide enough for er to barely squeeze through sideways. The two children tiptoed behind the elegant couch where the adults were sitting. Simultaneously both children scaled the back of the sofa and put their hands over the adults' eyes.

"Guess who? Guess who?" they both shouted in glee.

"Let's see? Could it be Daddy?" Cynthia's mom stated.

"Is it Peter?" Carol followed suit.

"No!" Danny said loudly and giggled

"Guess again mommy," Cynthia cried out.

"Then Danny must be covering my eyes," Cynthia's mom feigned certainty.

"That means Cynthia is covering my eyes," Carol added.

"Nope and nope. You're both wrong," Cynthia cried out.

"Well it it's not Daddy and it's not Danielle, then I guess it must be Cynthia who is holding on to me and giggling," Cynthia's mom stated.

"You guessed it mommy," Cynthia said, obviously pleased with herself.

"And Danny must have my eyes covered and I'm going to gobble her up." Carol reached for Danny's arms and pulled the child over her shoulders. "Look! I was right." Carol began tickling the child.

Danny laughed her hearts delight, she never remembered playing such a game the first time she was three. "Aunt Carol," Danny said between gasps, "we're hungry and yous said we can have lunch after our tea party."

"That we did, but the proper term is you, not yous," Carol corrected.

"Oops, I forgot." Danny blushed, knowing that she made the mistake on accident and not by actually trying to sound like a little child.

"Come on," Cynthia's mom said. "We'll give you piggy back rides to the dining room where we have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a cup of milk waiting. Then a special desert."

Danny climbed atop Carols back and received the much delighted piggyback ride into the living room. Danny marveled at how much the world looked different from the height as he looked down at the tops of tables and shelves.

Once in the dining room, Carol placed Danny into a high chair as Cynthia was placed into her booster seat.

"I'm sorry you have to sit in the baby seat, sweety," Cynthia's mom consoled. "But we only have one booster seat and your Aunt Carol didn't bring yours."

"It's okay," Danny said as the tray was slid over her lap. "I like it up here. I can see the top of Cynthia's pigtails." Danny smiled.

Danny was served the pre-mentioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich that was cut diagonally and had the crust removed from the bread. She enjoyed eating the small lunch primarily because she didn't need to worry that much about dirtying her overalls. Other than a small drip of jelly that dribbled onto her chin, the child was completely successful. A Sippee cup of milk provided something to wash it down with. The special desert was and icecream cone served upside down on a plater. Jelly beans made a smiley face that stared at Danny. The little girl smiled and laughed at the sight and ate the treat to her shear delight.

"Mommy," Cynthia spoke after the meal was completed. "Can we go into the little pool."

"I don't see why not, we could all use some sun," Cynthia's mom answered.

"But I don't have a swimming suit," Danny whined

"We don't use a suit for the little pool, silly," Cynthia said as she hopped off her chair and immediately unfastened her overalls, letting the fall to her ankles. She dropped to the floor and struggled to get the outfit off over the sneakers that she forgot to remove first.

Danny looked at Carol in horror. Though the child seamlessly passed for a female, Danny knew she couldn't do that once her clothes were removed.

"I'll handle this," Cynthia's mom stated. "Cynthia, I think Carol can take you out back and help you figure out this mess you find yourself in.

Danny's eyes grew wide as he watched her guardian abandon her.

"Are you okay," Cynthia's mom asked tenderly.

"Um," Danny was at a loss. "I don't know."

"You don't have to worry, I already know." Cynthia's mom grinned.

"You already know what." Danny was unsure to what extent Cynthia's mom's knowledge extended.

"That even though you're a girl, you got a boy part. Your Aunt Carol explained everything to me before, but I must say that even with that little piece of thing I don't think you could ever lok like much of a boy."

"But what about Cynthia, she won' understand." Danny protested.

"Don't worry, I think she will and can I tell you a secret."

"Cynthia was a boy too?" Danny blurted out.

Cynthia's mom laughed "No! But then again, neither were you, were you?"

Danny shook her head no.

"The secret is I am kind of curious what you look like. I hope you don't mind me saying that. If you would rather not I understand and you can go into the pool in your undies."

"It's okay," Danny whispered. "I'd probably have to explain more if I wore something anyway. Anyway you want to see and I don't mind cause I'm just a little kid."

Cynthia's mom lifted him on to the table and pulled off the child's sneakers. "By the way, Carol told me about that too. I think it's a smart thing you becoming a baby again, you look just like one, so precious."

Danny felt the panties being pulled down and knew she was completely naked. Oddly it didn't feel like such a big deal and Danny felt some pride.

"I knew it, you're precious all over and cute as a button. Even you little button the doctor needs to fix is cute. You could tell you were meant to be a girl."

"You can?" Danny was awestruck.

"Of course you can. Now let's not keep Cynthia waiting."

Danny walked out to the back yard naked. To his surprise Cynthia didn't even mention his extra piece of skin. Danny laughed at the bigger girl and as she stared between the other child's leg she found herself longing to have a matching anatomy. Even though the thought persisted, Danny got down to the business of playing. It was as if by magic all her cures vanished and she once again was the embodiment of three year old splendor. Even being naked became inconsequential as she ran around the yard and in the pool and played the day away.

By K.T. Leone
(Little Katie)
 
Part XI: The Best Intentions

“So, after we go to court I’ll be yours for good?” Danny asked as he sat down on the couch in between Carol and Peter.

“That’s right princess, and it’s only two days away.” Carol put her arm around the little girl and drew her near.

Danny was eager and anxious for the event to finally take place. She didn’t know that the court hearing was more of a formality than anything else. The day that was coming was one Danny had all but given up hope in seeing and a little voice in back of her head warned of not getting hopes up high, counting her chickens before they hatched and a bunch of other clichés that made even less sense. She sighed softly and rested her head against Carols arm as she watched the remainder of the Disney DVD that provided the much needed distraction.

Mr. Pritchard pulled into the driveway behind the white Mercedes. Though his Honda Accord was a reliable machine, he couldn’t help but wonder if he could’ve been driving such a luxury vehicle if he put his talents to use in the business sector instead of working in his more charitable field. He though this way briefly, but often, whenever he came across things of value. His mind would quickly return to the boys at the orphanage and he knew they would be in a much worse situation if it hadn’t been for his budgeting skills and ability to make a hard sell for donations. In fact, on three separate occasions he saved the orphanage from closing, whether due to budgetary cutbacks, or meeting the new state regulations that seem to be polar opposites to the old state policies. His only hope, that he would live long enough to receive the cheap gold watch that would eventually be his reward for twenty long and grueling years of service, sacrifice, and heartache.

“She was good enough to pay for the roof to be fixed and good enough to fund an upcoming trip to the zoo,” Mr. Pritchard mused loudly to himself. “Let’s see if we can convince her to be good enough to volunteer to be on the board of members and the ten grand donation that comes with that position every year.”

Though it was summer, Mr. Pritchard put on his heavy gray tweed sport coat. It was one of two suit jackets that he had and he was sure Mrs. Adams already saw him in the other one. The one thing he wanted to make sure of was that he wasn’t mistaken for the charity case, even though he figured his meager salary would qualify him as such.

The door bell rang throughout the house and interrupted the movie he two adults and one child were watching. Carol hit the pause button on the remote. “I wonder who that could be?”

The group all went to the foyer and Carol opened the door. “Why Mr. Pritchard, what an unexpected surprise,” Carol said cordially.

“Sorry to bother you at home. I know the court date is a few days away and I wanted to check on Danny’s new environment. You know, procedure and all.” Mr. Pritchard wanted to hide the real reason for his visit. Most people get defensive when they are asked for money up front and he liked to back door into that conversation.

“Hi Mr. Pritchard,” the little girl said happily as she gave a friendly wave and stood one step behind Carol.

Mr. Pritchard looked at the little child. There was something vaguely familiar about her, as if he’d seen her someplace. The big dimples looked out of place and the cream colored dress and white tights confused the man about why he associated this child with the orphanage. It suddenly hit him like a thunder bolt. “Danny!?!” he said in shock and awe. “Is that really you?”

“Yeppers. It’s me through and through,” the child replied in a sing song voice as she exuded the happiness of a little child.

Mr. Pritchard’s mouth dropped open as he looked at the boy. He simply couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “It certainly is a good thing that I decided to stop bye tonight or I would never have known this was going on,” he said in a stern tone as his face turned red with anger.

Danny took two steps back, well aware what was going on.

“Mr. Pritchard, please, allow me to explain,” Carol said in a calming voice.

“Explain? Explain! How can you possibly think you can explain this away?” Mr. Pritchard screamed. “I know for damn well sure this isn’t October 31st and this isn’t Halloween. You might think that because you have money to throw around that you can take a boy and turn him into some kind of fairy, but you can’t. Not one of my boys, you sick freaks.”

“Mr. Pritchard!” Carol cut off the rant. “You, sir, are out of line.”

No! It’s you madam who are out of line,” Mr. Pritchard responded snidely. It’s about time I collected this particular child and we will be on our way. You can
forget about adopting also, once the judge hears about this I wouldn’t be too surprised if criminal charges follow. Let’s go Danny.” Mr. Pritchard lunged for Danny, but the child cowered behind the leg of Carol’s boyfriend.

Mr. Pritchard lunged at the terrified child once again and this time having his neck caught in the very capable grasp of Peter’s hand.

“You are scaring the girl half to death. Calm down, or I’ll calm you down.”

“Listen you child molesting freak, you don’t scare me,” Mr. Pritchard said in a shaky voice. “I’m a court appointed officer and if you don’t feel like spending the night in jail I suggest you release me and this child immediately. But, then again, maybe you two would like jail, spend some time with the other pedophiles and the like.”

Peter cocked his arm back and looked squarely at Carol.

“Peter, don’t! It’ll only make things worst. We’ll settle this in court,” Carol pleaded.

“Wise choice,” Mr. Pritchard said coldly. You, young man, come with me.” The man harshly grabbed the child by the arm.

“Ouch!” Danny said in pain as he was being pulled.

“Stop being such a sissy,” Mr. Pritchard reprimanded.

Peter blocked the door. “You hurt one hair on that child’s body and I swear, court officer or not, I’ll hunt you down like a dog.”

Mr. Pritchard lightened his grip as he pulled the child through the door. “Let’s get you out of this place.”

Danny looked back at the entrance of the house, at the two adults who stood there, watching him leave. A tear came to her eye.

“Don’t worry Danny,” Carol called out. “I’ll figure a way to get you back soon. Worst case is you’ll be there just until we go to court. Be Brave! I love you!

Danny paused at hearing the last three words. She wanted to bolt back to the house and to the life where she thought she belonged, but wasn’t strong enough to break free from Mr. Pritchard’s grasp. Instead she found herself traveling in the opposite direction that she wanted to go.

“Get in,” Mr. Prichard commanded as he opened the car door.

Reluctantly the child obeyed and got into the front seat.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” Mr. Pritchard said as he climbed into the driver’s seat. “We didn’t know what was going on there.”

“But I want to be there. I liked it,” Danny whined.

“I can see some brainwashing was going on as well. Don’t worry though, we’ll straighten you out and get you out of those girl’s clothes.”

“But I am a girl,” Danny stated with conviction.

The sound of Mr. Pritchard’s hand striking the child’s face filled the car. “I don’t know what kind of shit that monster has been filling your head with, but you do not repeat such lies in my presence. I’ll make a real boy out of you yet. If I have to kill you in the process then so be it.”

Danny took a deep gulp and sat the rest of the trip in silence.

The small child felt self conscious as she was led into Father O’Leary’s orphanage. The boys all gawked at her and whispered things amongst themselves as they realized who had returned. Danny’s hand was firmly tugged as she was led down the hall towards Mr. Pritchard’s office. The only sound was that of the child’s hard soled Mary Jane’s striking the old tile floor.

“First things first, young man,” Mr. Pritchard started as he closed the door to his office. “Let’s get you out of that ridiculous get-up and back into proper attire for a young man.”

“No!” Danny said firmly as she stood her ground.

“Excuse me?” Mr. Pritchard was taken aback. “What did you just say?”

“I said no,” Danny repeated. I’m not wearing that yucky suit.”
“Listen, Danny,” Mr. Pritchard spoke calm and evenly. “I know that you’ve been traumatized by that woman and God only knows what kind of nonsense she brainwashed you with. It’s okay now though, she can’t hurt you here. I know you’re a smart lad and you probably thought you were doing what was in everyone’s best interest so we could get the much needed money for this place. I should’ve kept a closer eye on things. I’m sorry you had to go through what that woman put you though. It’s over now. It’s time to return back to normal and that mans putting on the clothes that you’re suppose to wear.”

“I am wearing the clothes I’m supposed to. Aunt Carol didn’t traumatize me or make me do anything. I’m a girl and girls don’t wear suits.”

“Listen you prissy little sissy,” Mr. Pritchard responded in anger. “Do you know what those boys will do to you out there? They’ll tear you limb from precious little limb. Do you want that? Now you will change out of that ridiculous getup or I’ll tear it off your body and force you to go around naked. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”

“You touch me and I’ll tell the first cop I see that you tried to have sex with me and touched me in ways that you’re not suppose to,” Danny said so strongly that even she believed that was exactly what she’d do.

Mr. Pritchard relented. “Have it your way, but I warned you. There’s one thing left and that’s to give you the proper hair cut. A nice crew cut and that you are not getting out of,” he added with an evil joy in his voice.

“No!” Danny ran and hid under the desk as Mr. Pritchard retrieved an electronic razor from a large green metal locker.

“You want to do this the hard way, then so be it,” Mr. Pritchard yelled and then reached under the desk to get a hold of the little child. This was not the first time he had to force a haircut on a misbehaving child and he was quite proficient despite the protest.

Danny saw the big hand coming at her and took the only course of action that she felt prudent. She bit down between the thumb and index finger as hard as she could. Though it seemed hardly ladylike, desperate times do call for desperate measures.

“You stupid son of a bitch,” Mr. Pritchard yelled as he yanked back his hand and held it in pain. “You’ll pay for that one.”

Danny, sensing a brief opening in time, crawled out from the back of the desk and made her way to the door. Before Mr. Pritchard could make it to the child, she was out the door and running down the hall towards the front entrance. Ms. Lewis came into view.

“Help!” Danny shouted.

“Stop him!” Mr. Pritchard yelled at the same time.

“What in the world is going on? Danny what are you doing here?”

Before Danny had a chance to answer, Mr. Pritchard spoke up. “I made a surprise visit to Mrs. Adams house and I guess she had us both fooled. Look at what that freak decided to do with one of our boys.”

“She’s not a freak,” Danny said defiantly in protest.

“And what’s going on between you two?” Ms. Lewis tried to gain control of the situation.

“This one refuses to wear proper clothing and when I set up to give him a hair cut, he bit me.” Mr. Pritchard regained some composure.

“Danny?” Ms. Lewis sat the child down by the door. “Please remain here while Mr. Pritchard and I have a quick chat. Okay?”

“Yes ma’am,” Danny said somberly.

The two adults walked half way down the hall, far enough to be out of earshot of the child.

“I didn’t think that woman would abuse him,” Mr. Pritchard said in a hushed voice. “The trauma that poor boy must’ve went through.”

“Do you think terrorizing him will make matters any better?”

“Um, no. I See your point, but these boys here will tear him apart dressed the way he is. It wouldn’t be good to let him be killed before going to court.”

“If him being in a dress was forced on him, then him being out of a dress could be just as easily accomplished,” Ms. Lewis offered. “All we have to do is let peer pressure run its course and if what you believe is true, than viola, we’ll have our old Danny boy back good as new.”

“I see your point, but what do we do with him until then?”

“Tim has the only single room. Let’s put Danny in with him for the time being, at least until the court hearing. After that we can decide on a more permanent placing.”

“I’m too frustrated and angry to deal with things now.” Mr. Pritchard took a heavy sigh. “Can you make the arrangements? I think I’ll just go to my apartment and have a good, strong, stiff drink of something.”

“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry a bit.”

Mr. Pritchard walked towards Danny, sneered at the child in the dress briefly, and then walked out the door.

“Danny,” Ms. Lewis called the child. “Tonight I’m going to have you spend the night with Tim, you’ll be safe in there for the time being.”

“Am I in trouble,” Danny asked as he slowly walked up the stairs.

“No. I don’t think any one is in trouble,” Ms. Lewis comforted. “It’s just that yours is a very unique case and some people can be easily confused by things. All you need to do is when you go to court, the day after tomorrow, is tell the truth and trust that the judge will do what’s best for you.”

“Yes ma’am,” Danny said as he stood before the door to Tim’s room.

Ms. Lewis knocked on the teens door and explained the situation to the muscular youth without giving too many particulars. Danny stood back and looked at the boy’s unpleased reaction. Danny remembered how many times the bigger boy would tease her and call her names. The prospect of spending two nights in the room with Tim was probably equally unenjoyable to both.

“Come on squirt,” Tim finally said to the smaller child. “Let’s get you in here before the other guys figure out I have a girl in my room.”

Danny looked up at Ms. Lewis, hoping for a reprieve.

“Its okay sweetie,” Ms. Lewis reassured. “Tim’s not going to bite.”

“But I may nibble just a little,” Tim said jokingly as he ushered the smaller child into his room.

“Tim,” Ms. Lewis reprimanded. “You behave and treat Danny with respect.”

“I will,” Tim huffed in the annoyed teen fashion.

Danny sat on the floor in the corner, brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. The orphanage now seemed like such a scarier place.

Tim looked at the child and smiled smugly. “You know, when you sit like that I can see your little panties,” he teased.

“So what,” Danny spat as she turned her body so the boy couldn’t see anything.

“Look, I know you’re upset and all and I’m cool with that. I mean you got a raw deal and all. But, you don’t need to take it out on me.”

“I’m not taking that out on you,” Danny replied nastily.

“Then what are you taking out on me?” Tim asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Because you always make fun of me and try to make the other boys laugh and that’s not very nice,” Danny replied.

“How do I make fun of you?” Tim turned his attention fully to the little child.

“You call me sissy all the time.”

Tim laughed. “Is it me or are you the one in a dress?”

“See!” Danny whined. “That’s what I mean. There’s a reason I’m in a dress.”

“Yeah, I know. Because you’re a sissy and think that you’re a girl.”

“I don’t think I’m a girl,” Danny hissed back. “I know I’m a girl.”

“Okay, okay. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.” Tim chuckled. “How else do I make fun of you, other than calling you sissy?”

“You call me Danielle, that’s how.”

“What name do you ho by now that you ‘know that you’re a girl’?” Tim asked.

“Danielle,” the small child whispered as she figured out how dumb her previous statement sounded.

“So I made fun of you by using your name, hmm, interesting.”

“You used my name to make fun.” Danny stuck her tongue out at the boy.

“Danielle, can I tell you something and you not get mad,” Tim asked tenderly.

“I guess so,” Danny answered while still in the corner.

“I figured you was either a girl or gay a long time ago. But it’s cool with me.”

“You did,” Danny answered in surprise. “It is?”

“Of course. And I know another secret too,” Tim teased.

“What other secret.” Danny released her lock on her legs.

“I think you’re very pretty as the girl you are.”

“You do?” Danny blushed.

“Yes. I do. Now can we kiss and make up?”

Danny slowly stood up. “I guess so,” she said as she walked over to the boy.”

Tim softly kissed the child on the cheek and pulled her on the bed.

“Oh,” Danny said in disappointment. “I thought you was gonna boyfriend/girlfriend kiss me.”

“Sorry squirt, but you’re kind of too young for me. Beside you’re kind of like the little sister that I never had.” Tim put his arm around Danny. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, it’s okay.” Danny put her head on Tim’s chest. “Being a little sister feels nice too.”

“Come on sis,” Tim lay down and pulled Danny with him. “It’s been a long day and I got to get up early for football practice.

“Okay,” Danny answered in half a whine but quickly fell asleep.

AUTHORS NOTE: Ah, drama, Finally!!!! I figured if this story happened in the real world, this would eventually happened. Here's the good news... the drama only last one more chapter... because that's how long the story last. How do I end this one... a daring rescue, a runaway attempt, does Danny join the circus? Tune in boys and girls and boys that want to be girls.

By K.T. Leone
(Little Katie)

Danny woke up wrapped in Tim’s arms. It was the second day in a row that she woke up in such a position and she decided that she definitely enjoyed it. In fact she liked it a lot. Tim slept in a pair of shorts, allowing Danny to feel his hard chest muscles under her cheek. She wore one of his old T-shirts that was still too big and, though she didn’t mention anything, she wore nothing else.

“Morning Baby Doll,” Tim said as he gently pinched the younger child’s nose.

“Good morning Tim,” Danny replied in a sappy sweet tone that reeked of a prepubescent crush.

“You excited about today,” Tim said as he pushed the thin sheet from off both of them. As he sat up, the morning sun lit his bronzed skin.

“I’m more worried, I think,” Danny replied as she too got out of bed.

“I think things will work out fine, just tell the judge the truth.”

“I will, I just hope I go back to Aunt Carol. I miss her and I miss my puppy.”

“It’ll work out. I’m going down to get breakfast. I’ll bring you back something and give you time to dress.” Tim put on the T-shirt he wore the day before and slid his feet into an old worn pair of slippers.

Danny watched as the door closed. For the past thirty-six hours she didn’t venture out of the room. She didn’t want to hear from the other boys and the thought of being pummeled made the notion of leaving the room seem ludicrous.

A suit lay on the desk and Danny knew that was for her. After two days of wearing the same dress, she thought it was getting gamy and opted for the suit t-shirt she wore now. It was a decision she was now regretting because when Mr. Pritchard checked on her the night before, he gathered the clothing while she took a nap. The only thing that survived were the panties, but wearing the same underwear three days in a row was gross and so she put on the pair of boy briefs. The rest of the suit soon followed in due order. All at once the feeling of being uncomfortable returned. The boy underwear seemed to bunch, the shirt collar felt too constricting and as she walked, the polyester pants made an awful sound. Danny couldn’t help but feel like crying.

“Hey Danielle,” Tim said as he walked in holding a tray. “I brought you a bowl of Cheerios and a banana, I hope its okay.”

“Thank you,” Danny said glumly as he looked down at the shiny black shoes. For a while she picked at the cereal, occasionally taking a small spoonful.

Tim stood across from the child and stared. “You know what I think,” he suddenly announced. “Even in that ugly boy suit you sill look like one pretty little girl.”

“That’s ‘cause I am a girl,” Danny said slightly above a whisper.

“Sure there are lots of girls. But not all girls are as pretty as you.”

Danny blushed. “Thank you,” she said as she turned her head away.

“It’s time for you to go,” Tim said as Danny finished her bowl of cereal. “Come on and get a good luck hug and don’t forget to invite me over to swim in that pool once you get back home.”

Danny walked into the boy’s embrace, loving the feeling of being held. A moment later he was out the door and walking down to the first floor where Mr. Pritchard was waiting for her.

“Now that’s the proper attire for a fine young lad,” Mr. Pritchard said pointedly as he grabbed the boys hand none to lightly.

Once again, Danny found herself sitting in the director’s car, this time going to court and hoping that this would be the absolute last time he rode in this particular automobile. He watched the orphanage roll by through the window and hoped he wouldn’t be seeing the place ever again as well. The drive was long, or at least it seemed so, and Danny was led into the large court building, towards family court. The walls were gray, Danny didn’t know if they painted them that way or if they turned that color from years of neglect. It didn’t truly mater; it was just something to divert her attention away from the impending procedure. The sound of the hard soled shoes echoed the seconds away. Danny looked down at the shiny black shoes in disgust, thinking they lacked a certain something, elegance perhaps.

“Aunt Carol!” Danny’s face lit up as he saw the woman standing with peter and another gentleman in front of two large wooden doors.

“Oh no you don’t!” Mt Pritchard yanked the child’s arm as she almost took off running towards her would-be guardian. Danny immediately stopped after letting out a slight whimper of pain.

Carol put her hand on Peter’s shoulder. “Please don’t. Not here, not yet.”

Peter glared at the man as Mr. Pritchard and Danny walked past his group and entered the courtroom. “Not yet,” he sneered, “but soon enough, I tell you.”

She looks so sad,” Carol lamented. “She looks so uncomfortable in those clothes. Peter would you be so kind as to go out to the car and get the outfit we picked out for her.”

“Yes, I suppose I can,” Peter said sullenly, as if he were Danny’s age and just given a time-out. “It’ll give me time to cool off.”

Danny walked past the tows of benches and through a small swinging gate. A large figure loomed over her as she stood before the bench.

“Is this the youth in question,” the judge voiced boomed in the empty courtroom, seeming to bounce off the walls.

“Yes, your honor, and I am Harold T. Pritchard, for the state.”
Carol and her lawyer walked in at that moment and strolled down the aisle. The lawyer placed an expensive leather satchel on the table.

“From what I’ve been informed, the nature of this procedure has changed and now the state would like to oppose the adoption of the minor.”

“Yes, your honor,” Mr. Pritchard spoke formally and chose his words with care. “In light of some recent developments, the state feels that placing the child with Mrs. Carol Adams would not be prudent and potentially harmful to the child.”

“Counsel for the defense,” the Judged said as he looked at Carol’s lawyer.

“Your honor,” the lawyer spoke in a nasally tone. “What the state perceives as harmful was everything but. Instead of listen to the sound reasoning behind Mrs. Adams’ course of action, Mr. Pritchard made a series of rash assumptions and has mistaken them for fact. Not only is it prudent for the adoption to go through as planned but it would be in this particular child’s best interest.”

“Thank you counsel.” The judge lowered his voice, “Considering the nature of this particular case, I think the wise thing to do is to let the minor reside in my chamber so we can discuss the issues in further detail. I have read the briefs by both sides earlier and I believe I know the core issue. To avoid any trauma to the youth, Danny shall not be allowed in the court or to be unduly influenced by either side until I have had a chance to discuss things with,” the judge paused as he tried to decide which pronoun to use when addressing a child with gender identity issues, “with the youngster.”

Carol whispered something into her lawyer’s ear

“Your honor, may I approach the bench,” the lawyer addressed.

The judge motioned the short man forward and heard what the lawyer had to ask. “In this case, I find that acceptable.” The judge hit a small red button on the white intercom and spoke to an assistant on the other end, granting permission for the package Peter was bringing to be allowed in to his chambers. “You have five minutes to get it there and vacate,” the Judge addressed Carol and then turned his attention to the child. “Danny, if you would come with me, please.”

Danny watched the judge step down and realized the man wasn’t as large as he seemed. In fact, he was barely taller than Carol’s lawyer.

A moment later, Danny followed the black robed judge into a back hallway. This hallway was much different than the one Danny walked through to get to the courtroom; it had bright wood paneled walls that were lined with portraits of judges now long gone. The door to the courtroom closed behind the child and she knew her fate would be sealed within it without her present.

“Do you know why everyone is here today,” the judge asked casually, but with a caring tone.

“Because Aunt Carol wants to adopt me but Mr. Pritchard doesn’t want her to.”

“Very good.” The judge gave a wry smile. Do you know why I asked you to leave?”

The child thought for a moment. “So my feeling wouldn’t get hurt?”

“I suppose that’s part of it, but there is more,” the judge knelt down to be closer to eye level with the diminutive child. “After I hear from both sides I’m going to ask you for your opinion. Now, I can’t promise that what I decide in the end will make you happy, but what I do choose I will pick what is in your best interest and yours alone. I hope you can trust me to do that.”

“I do,” Danny answered in a meager tone.

“Good! Now let me show you my chambers.” The judge led the child down a maze of hallways and came to the door that led to his chambers. The assistant nodded at both of them as Danny was led into the Judge’s personal office, with the assistant just behind them. “Danny, I am going to trust you to behave yourself while I’m away. If you need anything, just ask Sandra here for it and she’ll do the best she can to get it for you.”
“Yes sir,” Danny answered as he scanned the room.

“Mrs. Adams thought you looked uncomfortable and brought in that bag for you in case you wanted to change. It is important for you to know that you are not obliged to wear the contents and no one will be angry with you either way. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir,” Danny replied.

“One last thing before I go. I understand your name is Danny Myers. Is the name Danny short for something?”

“Danielle,” the child said hesitantly, feeling a bit odd using her girls’ name while dressed up in a boys’ suit. “It stands for Danielle, sir,” she restated with more certainty.

“Well, Danielle sir,” the judge joked, “it should be a few hours before I return. Remember, be on your very best behavior.”

“Yes sir,” Danny answered and watched as the judge left.

The red-headed assistant stayed behind. “Danielle, that’s a very pretty name.”

“Thank you ma’am,” Danny said as she pivoted on her toe.

“Would you like some juice or some cookies, or maybe jelly beans?”

“No thank you ma’am, I had a big breakfast.”

“Okay sweetie. If you want you can use the TV in the corner. It only gets three stations so I don’t know if there’d be anything o. Maybe later I can find a good video or something you would like, doesn’t that sound nice.”

“It sounds nice indeed. I’ll be okay for now Ma’am.” Danny smiled faintly.

“Okay then. I have some work. If you need me, all you need to do is open the door.”

“Thank you,” Danny replied and then watched the lady exit the room and close the door.

Danny kept eying the large pink bag that was in the corner but purposely waited before going in it in case someone came back. Instead she walked around the room, looking at the large bookshelf filled with brown leather books that had a small red stripe at the same location and in the red stripe, gold numbers going in order from 1 to 999 and then starting over several times. Danny ran her hand over the mahogany desk as she walked around it and then she sat in the large black leather chair and tried to make it spin.

Satisfied that no one was going to walk in on her, the child gravitated to the pink bag. Carefully she pulled back the plastic and revealed the long flowing white dress that sparkled even in the florescent lights of the Judge’s chamber. The dress was brand new and Danny knew that Carol had purchased it especially for her. Folded in the bag was all the accessories that the child would need. Danny suddenly felt how uncomfortable the suit was more sharply and couldn’t stand one more moment wearing it. She took off the shoes she was wearing and placed them neatly in the corner. The socks came next and they were balled together and stuffed into the right shoe. The dress pants and shirt came off in succession and each was folded neatly with care. Finally the boys’ underwear came off and at that exact moment Danny felt free from the shackles of forced masculinity.

A pair of soft pink panties were pulled from the bag. Danny slowly slid them up her legs, savoring the feel of the material as it traveled up her skin and finally covered the only part of her that wasn’t all girl, “yet,” she thought. Danny let out a sigh of contentment. Next, the pair of white lace stockings were rolled up her legs and they felt even more luxurious than the panties as they clung to her thigh. After that, Danny slid her feet into a pair of shiny white Mary Jane’s which she found much more delightful than the shoes she walked into the room with. The small locket, which Danny was sad that she didn’t have with her at the orphanage, was at the bottom of the bag. With extreme joy, Danny clasped it around her neck. Finally the white dress that glittered was put on. Danny slid her arms through the long sheer sleeves that came to her wrist and was held into place by an elastic band. Even the neck was sheer to just above her chest where the solid white material began. At the bottom, the skirt flared out and came a few inches below the child’s knees. Danny reached back and zipped up the dress, the tiara that Carol brought from the ballet store and two heart shaped earrings provided the finishing touches.

“Finally,” Danny said out loud as she happily spun around the room feeling the skirt of the dress dance around her thighs.

A moment later Sandra walked in. She stared in wonder at the child as she held a tray with milk and cookies. “I see you’ve changed.”

“Yeah!” Danny was all smiles. “Aunt Carol dropped it off, isn’t it cute.” The child once again twirled causing the skirt to flare out.

Sandra chuckled. “It most certainly is. To tell you the truth, I was wondering why such a pretty little girl was doing in a suit. This looks much better.”

“I was in the suit because Mr. Pritchard picked out my outfit,” Danny explained. “Boys don’t know anything about what a girl should wear.”

“I know, my dad was like that too. I thought you would like some milk and cookies, be careful not to ruin your pretty dress.”

“I will be very, very careful and thank you,” Danny said happily.

“You’re welcome. Do you think you need anything else?”

“What’s going on in the courtroom,” Danny asked impulsively.

“Right now everyone is just talking to each other. It should be a little while longer before Judge Stevens comes back.”

“Okay,” Danny said, losing some enthusiasm as he sat at the Judge’s desk.

In the courtroom there was a lot of discussion, most of it heated. The doctor testified about Danny’s condition, which the state said was a fabrication despite the medical evidence of its existence. Mr. Pritchard openly and often accused Mrs. Adams and Peter of being pedophiles and perverts. In retaliation Carol accused Mr. Pritchard of being closed minded and out of touch with reality. The big shocker, however, was that Carol was originally known as Carl Davis until she was 18 and underwent surgery in a foreign country. It was Mr. Pritchard’s contention that Mrs. Adams sole objective in getting a male child was to impose the same sentence on the child that she so willingly placed on herself.

“There is a lot of evidence to weigh,” the judge said after four and a half hours. “If there are no further arguments, I will have a little chat with Danny and return with my verdict. Court is adjourned for one hour for lunch.”

The judge climbed from the bench and went to his chambers.

Danny was sitting in the judge’s chair sound asleep when the door opened. The Judge looked at the child and remembered his own daughters at the age Danny looked. “Perhaps not that difficult of a decision after all,” Judge Stevens thought. He coughed loudly to wake the child. “I hope I didn’t interrupt a good dream.”

“No sir,” Danny replied quickly. “I’m sorry for sitting in your chair, sir.”

Judge Stevens smiled. “It’s quite alright. I believe that it’s time for you and I to have a brief chat.”

“Yes sir. About where I want to live?”

“That’s right. What would you like me to choose,” the judge asked as he sat in the chair in front of the desk.

“That’s easy. I want to live with Aunt Carol. I like her lots and I like being part of a real home and I miss my room,” Danny blabbered.

“And you like it when Aunt Carol makes you dress like a girl,” the judge added.

“Oh, no sir,” Danny said as she leaned forward on the chair.

“I thought you liked dressing like a girl, you did it on your own while I was away.”

“Oh, I love dressing like a girl,” Danny admitted. “But Aunt Carol never made me do it, not once. I like that she let’s me dress like a girl though.”

“I see. Danny I have an interesting question for you. What are you?”

“You mean if I’m a boy or a girl, don’t you?” Danny rephrased the question.

“That’s exactly what I mean.”

“I’m a girl sir, all the way to my bones and out the other end. I felt so ever since I was little, but I had to pretend I was a boy and everyone believed me cause I have a wee-wee.”

After a few moments of silence the judge spoke. “Danny you’ve helped me make my decision, it’s time to tell the others.”

Danny walked with Judge Stevens to the court room. He stood in front of the judge’s bench, equal distance between a shocked and angered Mr. Pritchard and a very pleased, but worried looking Carol Adams.

“This case has a lot of elements that one doesn’t normally find in such a proceeding,” the judge started. “But the core issue is the same. It is a rarity that an older child finds an adult willing to take them in and care for them. Some of those people do not have the child’s best interest at heart and the court must be careful not to place a child in such a situation. On reviewing the testimony and talking to the minor I have come to the conclusion that this in not such a case and I grant Mrs. Adams petition to adopt the minor. Case closed.”

Danny mistook the gavel banging for a starter’s pistol and bolted into Carol’s waiting arms. Mr. Pritchard turned red, slammed the file on Danny to the floor and stormed out of the courtroom.

“Is it really true,” Danny said excitedly. “I’m really your little girl.”

“That you are, now give Aunt Carol the biggest kiss you can,” the woman demanded.

Danny kissed the woman on the cheek. “Ma’am do I have to call you Aunt Carol?”

“You don’t have too, but I think Mrs. Adams is a bit formal, don’t you?”

“I do,” Danny crinkled her nose. “But since I’m your little girl now, can’t I just call you mommy like all baby girls are suppose to?”

Carol let a tear fall. “Yes, baby. Yes you can.”

Danny realized in that instant that during the past month, not only did she find a family, but she also discovered her true self. That made her happy and her life, for the first time, seemed so full of wonderful possibilities.”

-FIN-