Marlon receives an interesting proposition and makes some life-changing decisions, and the legal process finally grinds to completion.

 
“We have a question for you.” It was the redneck Charles Dubois and two other guys who bore more than a passing resemblance to the hyenas in the Lion King, only without the witty repartee.
“Yeah,” one of them said. “we have a question for you.” As if Charles had been particularly clever in calling what the three of them were about to try to do to me a “question”.
“Are you a girl faggot? Or a boy faggot?”
“Yeah, what kind of faggot are you, faggot?”

Placebo 3 by Lacey Mitchell

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On Saturday morning, Nelson took his second pill then ate his usual breakfast of Cheerios with fruit and milk. This time he added sugar to his cereal, something he wasn't sure he liked.

Placebo 2 by Lacey Mitchell

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Nelson weighed himself before dinner, still just 108, and took his first pill. He drank milk instead of his usual water and ate a large helping of lasagna though he didn't ask for seconds.

 
“I thought the boy scouts were supposed to be better than the girl scouts at that kind of stuff.”
I picked up another piece of Salisbury with my fork. “So did I.”
.

 
I laughed in spite of myself, but to my horror, it wasn’t my usual laugh. It was higher pitched. A girl’s laugh.
“Ha! I knew it! You ARE a girl.”
I felt something twinge inside me when she said that.

I’d like to think I can trust my Dad. He’s always had high integrity and he’s always been there for me. I’ve got to trust somebody.

Picking up my cell phone, I text Dr. Quinn: “Going 4 very short jog @ 7a. Want 2 come? - Kris”

The reply comes back within minutes: “C U @ ur tree - Dr Q”

Chapter 25: Who are the Good Guys?

Marlon attempts to adjust to his strange new surroundings, and finds that the locals can be friendly.

This story is set in an anonymous state in the near future, where surveillance techniques and bureaucracy reign. Could this be what your state will look like then?

 
“Are you okay?” A girl’s voice asked.
I looked around, realized firstly that I had collapsed on a tiled floor, secondly that it was the floor of the women’s restroom.

 
I was having great fun with the cheerleaders. “Look at my pom poms, not my breasts! Yaaaaay breasts! I mean pom poms! Watch me kick and show my panties! Yaaaaaaay PANTIES!” You can tell a number of things from this. First, I had (and have) an odd sense of humor. Second, I was perhaps not as sexually mature as other boys my age.

 
I left the house and began walking toward Rachel's house. Ten minutes later, I was on her front porch getting ready to press the button on the doorbell. It opened suddenly and there stood Rachel with a look of excitement on her face. I made a mental note to myself not to let her have any sugar. The way she was wound up, she would have gone into orbit with very little effort. She asked me if I wanted something to drink and I ask her if she had anything diet. She got us both a drink and we walked upstairs to her room.