ROADSIDE ATTRACTION

By Tyrone Slothrop -a High Sierras Story, part of the Angelverse

Terry takes life's challenges in stride, with the help of those around him.

Roadside Attraction

By Tyrone Slothop

Chapter 1: Exit To Nowhere

The Peterbilt cab rolled into the Sunny Serve, over to the diesel section. Another Wal-Mart trailer on its way somewhere else. Betty looked out the window of the café. It had been the only truck today and she bet he would not even stop for coffee. She watched Bobby hobble over from the garage bays and talk to the driver.

It was broiling hot in the high desert and she could not see the Sierras through the haze.

If you’ve driven in the West, in that region between cities of any size, you have seen this place thousands of times. An exit to a minor road, forty miles or more from the last exit and fifty miles from the next one. A large gas station, a motel, a diner or national chain restaurant of questionable profitability, a souvenir shop/convenience store that also sold bait and ammunition along with hunting and fishing licenses. A cluster of mobile homes or manufactured houses, whichever phrase you last heard from the salesman, with some fenced in yards and cars between ten and twenty years old in the driveways. A notary public sign in front of one house, others advertising services like hairdressing or taxidermy.

The unincorporated village of Filler was also undistinguished, unknown and almost uninhabited. Bobby was the sheriff when he wasn’t running the gas pumps and Charlene was the almost self appointed mayor when the motel desk was not busy or the ice machines were working.

Betty removed her apron and walked on her tired feet out the back door of the café. She looked up and put on her sunglasses. Four in the afternoon and you could feel the moisture flow out of your pores. Her home was only a few hundred yards away but always seemed farther at the end of twelve hours of waiting tables. She had to see if Terry was ok. He had been so sick the last few days.

Chapter 2: Teenager Down

Terry Singer had been having a miserable summer. At fifteen he should have been running in the streams, fishing and hitchhiking to the Wal-Mart at the next exit. And finding whatever paying jobs he could. Instead he had been running fevers and unable to hold down much solid food for two weeks. And they were closing his school too, consolidating everyone into a high school ninety miles away. Instead of an hour bus ride each way he could look forward to two hours and all new kids where he and the few he knew would be totally outnumbered about fifty to one.

Mom was doing her best since Dad had rolled his rig over the I-5 guardrail up on the Oregon border, avoiding a skidding Volkswagen. The couple and their baby had lived, Dad was charred beyond recognition. That was eighteen months ago.

The insurance barely covered Dad’s funeral and paying off their debt. Since then all they had was Betty’s job at the café and they now owned a plot of land and single wide home free and clear. The problem was, with no possible buyers they were stuck in Filler. Most of the town was in the same situation. They had no medical coverage and no savings. But Terry was reasonably happy and Betty loved him in the best tradition of mothers.

Terry was at that stage when boys lean out and bulk up, shedding the last juvenile pudginess. He had just started this process, having shot up to a height of five foot ten, finally passing in height the only other kid his age, Joelle, who lived a half mile down the road with her Aunt and Uncle. The one with the hairdressing sign out front of the trailer. Her uncle Richard ran the Filler Super Center, the only store in fifty miles, with the full partnership of Flora, his wife.

Betty opened the door and felt the blast of air conditioning like a cold shower. It was the single luxury they would not do without. She had never adapted to the desert, despite having moved there ten years ago when her husband found the land near his old Marine buddy Bobby. Bobby had tried to take care of them as best he could since the truck accident.

Terry got up off the couch, wearing a sweat soaked tee shirt and shorts. “Hi Mom, I made you ice tea. Are you hungry?”

Betty hugged her son. They were the same height when she wore flats and he was clearly her descendant in looks and coloring. They both had light brown hair, hers in an 80’s curly mass and Terry’s way longer than usual, combed back like a mini mullet. Betty owed way too much to Flora for haircuts and was prideful enough to not want to incur any more credit until she paid her off. Flora kept offering to cut Terry’s for free, but both Terry and Betty would not take charity from neighbors. They were close to the edge financially already and knew they would not use goodwill casually. Terry refused to let Betty cut his hair after two disasters when he was younger. Besides, it was summer and he was not in school to catch crap from his friends. When he got better he would work a shift for Bobby and pay Flora himself. Right now he felt so bad he could care less about that problem.

“Terry, you look awful! Your face is puffy and has blocthes! And you are sweat soaked!” Betty felt his forehead and knew he was running a low grade fever. He looked swollen in his face and neck. His tee shirt was clinging to his chest which also looked puffy.

Betty resolved to take him to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. They had to see him, even without insurance. She had Terry wash up and get dressed while she drank her iced tea with her shoes off. Her rest after her shift was going to last about ten minutes. She decided to get out of her uniform and into jeans.

Chapter 3: The Limits Of Modern Medicine

The waiting room was full, as usual. Betty assumed when they planned hospitals, they figured how many people would be waiting in the emergency room, divided it by two and built the room to fit that. That way they were always ‘crowded’. The gift shop could be ten times larger with one tenth the traffic, but that was not the measure the State used for funds. Terry was sleeping on her shoulder, an amazing feat given the chairs were designed to fit no human anatomy alive since the Neanderthals.

She had borrowed Bobby’s truck and Joelle had come with them, sent by Richard and Flora to provide support. Charlene told her she would ask Thelma to work over so Betty could show up late for work tomorrow morning. Betty felt bad about that, Thelma was getting on and she got so tired by 4 am.

The hospital was seventy miles from Filler.

Fortunately for Terry and Betty, the attending physician was new to the country but had been a very good student in medical school. He was well versed in obscure diseases and conditions and like a lot of immigrants who were professionals, represented the best and smartest of his country. He missed the Philippines at times, especially with this climate so dry in the high desert. Cold and dry in winter, cold at night, hot and dry in summer. A land of extremes except in moisture.

The doctor tried to find a private place with Betty in the bloody circus that was the ER. In between the hunting accidents, the car crashes and victims of general aches and pains, he sat her down on a gurney and gave her the best he had.

“Mrs. Singer your son has a serious condition, but it is not immediately life threatening. He may have what we call an endocrine disorder, which means his body chemistry is not working as planned. He has probably been exhibiting symptoms for a while, but they were not that noticeable. I know you have no insurance and I have no spare rooms to admit him to now. Anyway, I’m sure we don’t have what we need here to really find out what to do. I’ve given him some medication for the fever and his stomach upset. “

“But where can I go? What’s going to happen to him?” Betty asked. Joelle clung to her arm in support.

“I have a friend who works in this specialty. I think he would at least look at Terry and may be able to tell you more. I’ll call him tomorrow and let you know. Until then, let Terry rest and try to get him to eat, preferably bland food.”

“You’ve just described my cooking, Doctor. Thank you. You have my number?” Betty said. She was not one to get all whiny in a crisis. Terry needed her and she would be there for him. Joelle was helping Terry get dressed Betty saw his chest was swollen out, almost like small breasts. Joelle buttoned Terry’s shirt up for him and noticed them too, but kept silent.

Chapter 4: Town Meeting.

The next evening, after Betty’s shift, she made sure Terry was all right, leaving him with Joelle there in case he got worse. They were both watching movies on the VCR, since she could not afford satellite TV. If they wanted to watch TV, they went over to Richard’s or Bobby’s homes, both of whom had dishes on their roofs.

Charlene had invited them all to the bar to discuss what to do about Terry, mostly to support Betty in a tough time. Charlene had owned the motel and café with her husband Fred for twenty years and survived him after cigarettes finally took him down. He went pretty quick, a painful three months after years of a hacking cough. She was Betty’s boss and friend, a feisty woman who did her best to keep two marginal businesses afloat. She and Bobby had that attitude of the two major employers in a very small town, they carried a burden of responsibility beyond simple profit and loss. If either the Sunny Serve or the Highway Inn and Family Restaurant closed, Filler would literally dry up and blow away.

Charlene lit her menthol slim and opened the door for Bobby. With his usual facial wrinkles resembling an off road tire tread , Bobby limped through the door, closing it quick to save the AC. He acquired that limp somewhere at Khe Sahn, and added to it by years of riding rodeo. He was tall and lean, and looking at him you knew there was little moisture in his soul. He was a desert creature, at home in the heat and dry, like a lizard or a coyote. Bobby also had a great heart and small mouth. He loved a few people and would die for them but rarely said much. He mistrusted most institutions larger than the government of Filler. It was well known that he and Charlene were lovers, but neither of them would ever say anything. Bobby nodded to Charlene, dropped his Stetson on the bar and pulled himself a beer from the tap. Not a word spoken but volumes said.

Flora came next, follow by Richard. Flora had left the town, went to school, taught elementary through high school, met Richard and ended up back here with him years later. She had retreated after waging a war of trying to actually educate children versus the school system’s view of existing to acquire state funding and job protection. Flora was formerly pretty and now had settled into ‘good looking older woman’ with grace. She was the town hairstylist, manicurist and school tutor when she was not running the Filler Super Center.

Richard was the outsider. He had only been in Filler for five years, when he brought back Flora and bought the convenience store. He had made money in the dot com boom and got out before the nick of time. Richard was smart and was not compelled to prove it to you. He dealt with people as all having something to say, but most folks deferred to him once they realized how much he knew without rubbing their faces in it. Everyone wondered why a guy like Richard would live in a dead end like Filler, but minded their business. Richard had money and if someone left, he offered to buy their property for twenty percent more than the best other offer they could get, within reasonable limits, of course. He already had picked up two lots from widows who needed to move to nursing homes. What people did not know was he took a bath on the deals, converting the proceeds into trusts supporting their care.

So Betty came in and sat down with her closest friends. She never drank herself, being raised of religious persuasion, plus she had puked real bad the first time she tried it. Her husband was a recovering alcoholic and never strayed when they were married. It had taken years to get his insurance rates back down, and he could only get the minimum coverage.

“Betty, Richard here has done some digging on the internet and talked to some friends in the medical business.” Flora said. The crowd got quiet. Richard the Wizard was about to speak. He was always right about things like this.

“Betty, from the doctor’s name you were given and the symptoms Terry has, I got some guesses on what’s going on.” Richards’s guesses were as good as other people’s sworn statements. “ The doctor is an Endocrinologist, and is a researcher at the Wilder Institute. That’s about two hundred miles south. His papers are on a subject called Gynecomastia and related syndromes. It’s a group of conditions that enlarge the male breast, especially during puberty. Are you with me so far?” Richard never talked down, but always made sure people could ask questions so he did not lose them.

“Is that like a sex change thing?” Betty asked.

“It’s similar partly, but it’s not voluntary or self induced. It occurs frequently enough that there are treatments for some conditions, and surgeries. Sometimes it goes away. Like a lot of these things, they give it a name, but it’s really a group of symptoms. There are at least five know specific diseases with case histories grouped under it and there are probably more. It seems to be focused on the breast, but may also affect the fat distribution and sexual development. Is Terry pretty much grown in down there by now?” Richard asked as politely as he could.

“Oh yes, he’s a man all right. At least he was two weeks ago when I had to wake him up. Living in a small trailer it’s hard to keep total privacy.” Betty said.

“Good, that means it probably won’t affect that much I hope. It’s a good sign for him. He may get larger in the chest. I think you should see this doctor. He looks pretty good. Been doing research in this area and others for a while, solid reputation, Navy surgeon with a Silver Star. If he will see you, it’s probably on his nickel, since he is funded for research in this area. “

“Richard, how big can Terry get up here?” Charlene asked the question she knew everyone wanted to know.

“Most are barely noticeable but some range from woman sized with a few being pretty big. Some guys need to wear bras.” Richard said. Betty was happy that nobody laughed. Terry was well liked by this group and they all felt real bad for him.

So it was decided that Bobby was headed south to negotiate for parts in two days and that was when the doctor would examine Terry. The institute was near the parts distributor and Bobby would take him along in the flatbed cab. He assured Betty that he would be fine and she didn’t need to come. The doctor would not know anything until the tests were done anyway, so she would just waste her time watching them draw blood and stuff.

Chapter 5: When Medical Science Does Not Know, Do Nothing

Dr. Schlange was the opposite of stuffy. He examined Terry himself after all the blood, urine and other samples were drawn. Terry was feeling better, still a slight fever now and then, but he was eating. The doctor spent some time with the mounds of fat pushing out Terry’s nipples and finally decided on a mammogram. Terry found that it was not pleasant, but he had been told to expect ‘some discomfort’, the medical term for ‘I’m glad it’s happening to you and not me’.

Bobby sat with Terry the whole time, a silent reassurance just in his presence.

“Mr. Filler (Yes, Bobby’s Dad had founded the town) that’s quite a limp you’ve got. How did you get it? “ Dr Schlange asked.

“Rodeo” Bobby said, pulling up his boot cut jeans to show the scar.

“Rodeo bullshit. That looks like a grenade fragment. Look at this one.” The doctor rolled up his leg and showed a jagged scar below his knee.

So Terry heard Bobby talk more to the doctor than he had heard him say in ages. He and his Dad used to talk like that. Apparently the “Doc’ was near the same places and times Bobby had been in Vietnam and they swapped a lot of did you sees, remember thats and wow what an assholes. Their talk turned to fishing, one of Bobby’s passions and the next thing you know Doc Schlange is telling Terry he will bring the results up in a week, right to Filler. Along with his flyfishing gear,

So on the drive back while the deuce and a half was slamming Terry’s spine on every expansion joint, Bobby was as quiet as ever.

“Bobby, what’s going on? What’s wrong with me?” Terry asked.

Bobby believed in the truth, having see lies get people killed. “You’re growing tits, Terry. It’s some disease. It’s happened before. Doc Schlange studies it.” Typical Bobby- straight out and short.

Terry sat for a while. “Can they fix it? Before school? Am I going to be a freak?”

“No more than I am for having a bum leg, or holes in my side from a friggin bull. Dammit Terry, we’re all freaks in some way. You didn’t ask for this but you got it. Deal with it. We’ll all help. You’re still Terry and you’re one of us crazy Filler people.”

Terry knew Bobby was now talked out for the rest of the ride. He conserved words like water in the desert. Terry pushed his hair back over his ears and settled in for a long ride home.

Doc Schlange arrived on Saturday in a big Ford SUV, full of gear. Bobby had told Charlene to book him the good room, which was hardly a problem since it had not been occupied for two months.

He found everybody called him Doc, which was how Bobby referred to him. A new visitor to actually see someone in town was a bit of an event, and everybody went out of their way to say hello. Doc met Betty in the café, where she served him the special meatloaf. He had her sit down and told her findings. She started to tear up, but kept her composure. Doc held her hand and did his best to keep her calm.

Later, Doc was in Betty’s home sitting with Terry. Betty was in the kitchen, just home from work.

“Terry, you have a condition that is similar to some like Kleinfelters Syndrome, or Cohns, but is different enough that we need to watch you for a while. Your body chemistry is not stable and we need it to settle down before we can proceed, Also, your immune system is weakened so you are prone to catch colds and viruses, as well as infections.”

Terry put his hands to his budding breasts. “When can you cut these off? Richard says that’s what they do sometimes.”

“When you stop growing and your immune system can handle surgery. Right now I’m afraid we’d be taking too much risk. I’d be afraid an infection from surgery would be likely. We’ll fix them, but you need time.” Doc said.

“How are we gonna pay? Mom doesn’t have any insurance.”

“I think if you participate in a study of mine, I can get a grant to cover your medical expenses. Otherwise, I’m afraid even the state program for the poor would not cover what they would call cosmetic surgery. “

“Can’t you do it? We won’t tell.” Terry pleaded,

Doc smiled in a way that reassured Terry. “If your life were threatened, I would do it right now, lawsuits be damned. But right now, the best thing I can do for your health is to wait and see.”

Chapter 6: Summer Surprise

By the end of July, Terry had developed somewhere around an ‘B’ cup and was really obvious in a tight tee shirt. He still had not gotten a haircut and it was about chin length now. From a distance he looked like a skinny hipped girl whose Mother shouldn’t let her out of the house without a bra.

Doc Schlange was a regular weekend visitor, and sometimes brought two assistants along to examine Terry, draw blood and then go fishing with Bobby. Charlene welcomed the rise in business.

Terry was pretty weak and Betty restricted him to small jobs which kept him near people in case he got sick and did not require real exertion. As a result, he gained some weight, maybe about ten pounds, distributed between his breasts and butt.

He and Joelle became very close. She wanted to mother Terry since he was not in the mood to boyfriend her right now. Flora had told her to give Terry time, growing boobs was a bit of a shot at his male ego.

“Terry, we haven’t been up to the Wal-Mart all summer, or over to the movies. Why don’t we go with Flora tomorrow? She’ll drop us off and pick us up after a few hours. I know you’re not working for either Bobby or Charlene then.” Joelle asked. She wanted to prod Terry to relax.

“Right. I go looking like this and I’ll be pounded into the dirt. You girls don’t have that problem. Those guys will think I’m some kind of city fag or something.” Terry said.

Joelle knew he was right, but she was persistent.

”Ok, so don’t go as a guy! It’s just a movie theatre and with that haircut and a little help, they won’t know what you are for sure, but they’ll leave you alone. At least in a crowd in daylight. I know nobody in Filler has told a soul about you or Bobby and Charlene would kill them, and the few kids you know are never at that place during the day, they all work in the fields.” Joelle made a compelling case.

“Let me think about it. I’ll see you tonight at the café. They have lime sherbet.” Terry was half convinced, driven by the need to get out of Filler for a while, see a real movie and actually go on a sort of date with Joelle. He really liked Joelle and she had been real nice to him.

Terry needed to ask three people, Richard, Mom and Bobby.

Richard was quiet and sorted it out. He asked Terry to stand up, turn around and pull his hair over his ears. “Terry, it’s not a bad plan. It can be done. That does not mean it should be done. I can understand you wanting to get out for some fun, and understand that you don’t want to risk exposure of your condition. Those are reasons. The question to you is, will it bother you? Or is it just a disguise, necessary, like wearing a toupee to cover a bald spot.? You want my opinion, I’d go and see the movie, and if people look at me and think I’m not who I am, too bad. It’s up to you. “

Mom was worried but saw the logic. She thought getting away safely for a little while would be good for him. She assured him it was just a little trick in her mind, a little misdirection.

Bobby was the most positive. “Hell, boy, get out of town and take that nice Joelle to the movies. If it was me, I’d wear a dress to keep those dirt pounders from messing with me. Go have fun. It’s not like you asked for this.”

So Flora and Joelle went to work. They wanted the maximum effect for the minimum change and decided that Terry needed just three things. A sleeveless blouse, a little eye makeup and a bra. Terry balked at the bra but Joelle said why not use what he had to get the maximum effect? Plus, without a bra he was inviting guys to hit on him since it was getting obvious and his enlarged nipples were showing through his shirts.

Flora put an arm around him and said “Terry, even the Doc said you should wear one as you grow. I’ll bet they are a bit sore. Try it on here and if you can’t stand it, we’ll try something else.

Terry relented and had Joelle help him into one of Flora’s, since he was bigger around his chest than Joelle. He found he was a 42 B. And it felt really good compared to the soreness and wobbling he had been feeling.

Flora approved. Terry looked convincing in his jeans, which were a bit tight since he had gained weight, a white top and his hair down to his chin. His breasts were really noticeable but they looked in place, and no one would look at him twice thinking “Is that a guy?”

“Terry, wash your hair tomorrow before we leave and come over here with it wet. I want to fluff it out a bit and then we’ll go.”

“But Mom still hasn’t paid the bill, Flora.” Terry protested.

“Terry, this is a medical emergency, to prevent you getting your face black and blue. That will cost her a lot more. Give me a fifty cents, my special new customer discount and it’ll be fine. Your own account. Fair?”

Terry agreed it was fair. Flora told him to wear the bra home, he should wear them while he was growing.

Chapter 7: See You In September

The trip to Wal-Mart and the movies went fine. Terry drew some looks, but they were ones where he was classed as ‘prey’ by the scanning eyes of the boys at the Cineplex. Joelle made sure she sent out the ‘girls together, off duty’ signals by chatting and keeping her eyes off the boys. Boys took anything as a signal to come over and were notorious for misreading girl’s intentions, but this was offset by the fact that only five to six percent of the time did they have the courage and timing to initiate contact. So Joelle sailed Terry through the radar and they had a great time. She only wished he could put his arm around her in the movies, but she would wait for that.

Terry actually relaxed. Until he realized he had to use the girl’s bathroom. After he could no longer contain the large soda, he told Joelle.

“Ok, Terry, don’t be silly. We’ll go together.” She grabbed her purse, and they went.

Terry got over his fear when he closed the door on the stall and remembered Joelle’s warning to sit down. So he sat and proceeded as quietly as he could. Joelle was waiting for him at the mirror and proceeded to add mascara to his eyes.

“Dammit Terri, next time don’t leave your purse at home.” She said, providing some covering conversation. The sole other woman turned and smiled, with a nod to Joelle.

Terry felt he could finally exhale when they got back to their seats in the darkened theatre. He was real glad his hair didn’t need major work. Flora had opted for a simple low maintenance style, really just trimming some ends and blow drying it.

The only thing Terry felt uncomfortable with was the flowery perfume they had selected.

“Just so there is not room to doubt, Terry.” Flora had said. She was probably right. If he smelled someone wearing it, he sure would not think ‘GUY’.

So they returned and Betty and Charlene were there to greet them. They both fussed over Terry, but did their best to not make him feel humiliated. Charlene offered to help him remove the makeup and he accepted.

Betty and Flora conferred with Joelle. Charlene and Bobby had already hatched a plan and they were deciding on putting it into action.

So Terry came out with Charlene, his face scrubbed but still wearing the top.

“Terry, you’ve been avoiding the best jobs here for you because they all involve seeing the public. Working the pumps or the café or spelling Richard at the Center are where you can do the best and we all need the help, especially on the odd shifts and breaks. You did real good today going out in public, why not do it for the summer, at least until the Doc says you can get your surgery? The town would support you.” Charlene said.

Terry turned to Betty. “Mom? I guess you agree or I wouldn’t be hearing this? Right?”

“It’s up to you Terry. Bobby agrees too. He was hoping you could spell him at the pumps some. He’s lost two part timers this week. Go ask him. And the Doc is getting real insistent that you support your chest somehow, which is going to make them even more noticeable. You know he won’t let you tie them down, he’s afraid of the effect while they’re growing.

Terry, none of us think you’re some little sissy or not a man. But the rest of the world is not us. We just want you to avoid embarrassment and trouble until we can get you help.. And I love you, son.” Betty was crying, under control, but tears were running down her cheeks .

Terry hugged her. “Ok, I just want to talk to Bobby and Richard first.”

Everyone nodded and thought that was right.

Bobby and Richard were supportive for good and selfish reasons, and both admitted it to Terry. They knew he was a better and more reliable worker than they could hire anywhere else and they did not want him embarrassed.

Bobby told him the truckers were decent guys and mostly all talk. They would never think he was anything but a young girl, a niece of his and would treat him right. Plus, He needed him working and Betty needed the money.

Richard basically said the same. He offered to help out ordering clothes and things he needed and Flora would do his hair for a real discount. He told Terry it was his decision and his alone. He then relayed some stories about people who took a handicap and used it to learn something about themselves.

Chapter 8: Fundamentalism To The Rescue

Doc Schlange was examining Terry in his hotel room, which Charlene had given him for a monthly rate. He billed it to his research grant.

“Terry, you’re getting a disease named after you, Singer’s Syndrome. Your chemistry is still unstable and the rate of growth seems to not be slowing down. You’ve gained a small amount of weight in your hips and buttocks, but not a lot. Most of it seems to be right here.” Doc pointed at Terry’s breasts with his pen.

“Are they going to get bigger?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I would not bet against it. What size bra are you wearing now?”

“42 B.”

“Go to a C. Your filling it out too much. My grant will pay for your clothing needs, I’ll set up an arrangement with Richard. I hear you are posing as a girl sometimes. How is that working out?” Doc said, not trace of humor in his voice.

“Not too bad. I got my ass pinched by a guy at the pumps the other day. I belted him and his wife gave him incredible shit. It was kind of funny. I do the pumps, work the store, and cashier at the café. Mom said they’re getting me a waitress uniform so I can do late shifts. Then she can get some sleep.” Terry went on.

“How about school? That’s much harder to pull off. You won’t possibly be ready for breast reduction until at least the spring, assuming you slow down soon.” Doc looked worried.

“I don’t know. Flora said she had something in mind, but I have no idea what. And I have four hours a day just on a bus just to go. Maybe I should drop out.” Terry said, an air of resignation creeping into his voice.

One week before school, Flora came over to Betty and Terry’s house, with Terry and Joelle following behind. His hair was in rollers for the first time. Joelle had been trying to get him to try it for weeks and he had finally given in.

Joelle had told Terry she wanted to be his girl, no matter that his boobs were bigger than hers. She had promised to help him through this and said he was going to be the best damn looking girl she could manage. Plus, he was a great kisser. Terry had even let her feel his breasts in exchange for like favors.

“Betty, my certs came in! We can do it!” Flora was clearly excited.

“Flora, are you sure?” Betty asked.

Flora was sure. She had spent the last month setting herself up to run a “Fundamentalist Academy” to support home schoolers. She was now listed as running a non-profit tutoring service supporting parents who chose to home school their children.

“Flora, why the ‘Fundamentalist’ name? You aren’t very church going as I recall.” Betty said.

“It scares the state education people silly. They think of lawsuits and crazy protestors, so if they can’t nail you on something stupid, they leave you alone. Trust me , I know these people. Plus, who says ‘Fundamenatalism’ is religious? To me it means reading, writing, math skills, history and science, not all the PC crap and twaddle they spew out to get funding and keep their jobs. The stuff kids need to know cold to do anything in life, not ‘how to be sensitive to mixed sexuality devil worshipping druids who are homeless and need all your parents money’ week That’s why I left teaching the last time. So I get to teach Terry and Joelle and they can avoid the four hour bus ride. The other two kids are going to their own Christian Academy anyway, so nobody else from Filler would even be at that school.

Terry and Joelle were surprised and pleased. They thought Flora was a great teacher. She had tutored them through school up to now, just informally. So Terry could go to school without dealing with his pair of ‘problems’.

Chapter 9: Miss Terri At Your Service

Being a tomboy type girl was not that much of a challenge for Terry. He was just careful about overt guy mannerisms, and he bathed a lot more. Bobby was real hard on him when he wasn’t ‘ladylike’.

“Dammit, Terry, I got an image to maintain here. How does it look if I have a niece who scratches her crotch in public?” Bobby said, using up his word allotment for the day.

Terry became familiar, with gentle coaching from everyone when he needed to fix his makeup and hair. Flora and Joelle had been trying to give him survival skills in these areas and he was coming along.. Richard had ordered him a purse and had Joelle fill it with cosmetics, along with some extra hair clips, pins and brushes.

In September, as the sportsmen started rolling through on weekends, his waitress uniform came. He knew what it looked like, it was just like his Mom’s. Short sleeve, a bit low cut and pink, with a hem about at mid thigh. It came with an apron, with ruffles. His first dress.

“Terry, Richard thought this would help a bit. He found it somewhere on the internet.” Betty handed him a padded panty, obviously made to make a man look like he had feminine hips and rear.

Terry was a little stunned, but since he was standing there in a 42 C bra and filling it out, this did not seem that big a deal. Plus, he wanted Mom to get a break. This way she could cut back to fifty five hours a week.

So, now introduced to leg shaving, panty hose, and a full slip, he stood next to his mother in his uniform, wearing the same white flats she had on. Her hair is still considerably longer and still curly from her last perm, but aside from that, they could be mother and daughter.

Betty was astounded at Terry’s appearance. He smiled and hugged her.

“Mom, you can get eight hours sleep at least three days a week. It’ll be fun. I bet I can get some good tips, too.” Terry laughed.

Betty slapped his butt. “You better get used to that too, sweetie. At least you’ve got padding now.”

Terry, with a nametag of Terri, went to work the café with Joelle on the four am to eight shift, three days a week. He then changed into jeans and worked the pumps for Bobby while Joelle went to stock shelves in the Super Center. From noon to four, Flora ran school and they had homework for at least ninety minutes a night. Fortunately for Terry, Flora combined his hairstyling with school to save him time and expected him to handle his hair maintenance at home.

Chapter 10: Personal Growth

November rolled around and Doc Schlange looked up at the girl in the pink waitress uniform entering his motel room.

“I didn’t order any room service…” He began.

“I did, Doc. I’m here for my exam. I just got off my morning shift. “ Terry said.

Doc looked at Terry, his brown hair now longer and arranged in a very curly pageboy. He was wearing a lot of eye makeup and pink lipstick to match his dress. From the cleavage, it was apparent he was still growing. Doc estimated a little less than a ‘D’ cup. Terry had a worn look in his eyes but a smile and positive bearing. Doc bet he made a lot of tips.

“You are looking real good, Terry. How’s being a girl?” Doc asked.

“It’s not bad. I’ve stopped worrying about people ‘catching’ me and I guess being calm makes it easier to act natural. Doc, I was wondering. What’s the record on this kind of Boob growth? Can I get in the Guiness Book or a win a prize?” Terry asked.

Doc stopped short and laughed. “That’s a good question and I don’t know. I do know you are the largest I have ever seen in five years of study of this disorder. I’ll check. Now the last time we were together, you asked me about testosterone shots. I had a team check it out and we came to the same conclusion as our first guess. It won’t help. Singer’s Syndrome is locally destructive of male hormones. Adding more and you’ll end up the Bearded Lady. And very sick.”

“So what do I do now?”

“We believe it is slowing down. At this rate, we can expect you to be stable by early Spring, maybe March even. But that’s a guess. Now I have a question for you. Have you had sex yet? Any prospects? This is a professional question, Terry, I don’t want names.”

“No and yes, there’s a prospect. Ask me after Christmas. “ Terry blushed through his makeup.

“Can you get erect? Do women arouse you?” Doc asked, blushing himself.

“Yes, every damn morning. And yes, sometimes I look in a mirror and arouse myself. That’s a joke, Doc. Yes, I like women. No I don’t want to be gay.” Terry said.

Doc knew some young lady in Filler was going to have a Merry Christmas.

Terry stripped down to his bra and padded panties for the exam. Doc went over him and then had him remove the bra. Terry’s breasts were shapely and firm and his nipples were enlarged beyond any male design.

“Any more leakage, Terry?” Doc asked.

“No, not for a month. Mom gave me some pads and it was pretty sticky for a while, but I’m dry now. I guess I’m not going to be a wet nurse now.”

Terry pulled his panties down and Doc noticed some slight but noticeable increase in fat on the hips and buttocks again. Singer Syndrome had a real breast fixation. He had never seen localized feminization this pronounced. No change to the genitals, slight changes to the lower body, reduction in body hair but there was lots of fertilizer on the melon farm.

Exam complete , Terry thanked Doc and went to change for his pump jockey job. Doc went to chat with Bobby about tying flies.

Chapter 11: Sweet Sixteen

Terry and Joelle’s birthdays were a week apart and three weeks before Christmas, so they shared the mutual suffering Christian kids always have when their big day is close to their other big day.

This year, they exchanged presents of great worth and little price. Joelle decided to force the issue, like so many girls before her and told Terry he was driving her crazy and could he please stop waiting for his little boobie problem to get solved? Terry took at least a minute to get it and then responded just the way Joelle wanted. She even had a condom ready.

Terry began wearing stockings and a garter belt soon after that. He was all for easy access.

Betty asked Terry if he wanted to take his driver’s test now or wait. He decided to go now. So Bobby found a DMV near San Francisco which was more experienced in sexually ambiguous people and Terry passed his driver’s test with flying colors. He could have gone for any commercial license by that time, but chose to put that off.

Terry’s and Flora’s gift to Betty was having Terry copy his Mom’s permed hair style. While not as long as Betty’s, Terry’s hair had achieved enough length to make it work. And Flora had assured him it would be lower maintenance.

Terry loved the look on his Mom’s face when he showed up on Christmas Eve with Flora and his mass of curls. Then he told her he was taking her shift that night. Betty cried.

Richard gave Terry a selection of dresses, skirts and blouses, courtesy of Doc’s grant account. He mentioned that they would mostly fit Betty as well, but she might need a little padding to fill them out. He gave out an obsolete video game console and cartridges for Joelle and Terry to share.

Christmas in Filler, with a few exceptions consisted of little gifts and big thoughts.

Chapter 12: Town Meeting

February brought Doc Schlange back. Terry had achieved a ‘D’ cup. The Doc explained that Terry may be the record holder if Guiness would make a category. He had contacted them and they were interested. Doc made sure that Terry’s name was still unknown.

Terry laughed out loud at the news. Doc could see his breasts jiggle with each gale of laughter. Joelle was giggling uncontrollably. Doc guessed Terry was likely in solid sexual working order, looking at the interaction of the two.

The café was deserted, Filler was in its hard winter doldrums. Business slowed to a crawl. Doc looked at the new winter parkas the teenagers were wearing and was glad Richard had interpreted Doc’s orders on the use of the grant money correctly. Somehow, in little ways, the people in the town were getting a little benefit from his study with Terry. If Joelle got a new ski jacket, or one of the old ladies got some new underwear, he was for it. He knew Richard was a bit of a Robin Hood, and was compelled to quietly help people. Plus, Terry’s blood chemistry was worth untold amounts in scientific knowledge. And his grant was barely five percent utilized. Richard stole small and made sure it was kept that way, with meticulous records and linked justification for everything.

Bobby, Charlene and Richard were having their “Town Council” meeting, which meant they poured a beer each, Charlene lit another cigarette and they sat in the bar. They were totally alone. Joelle was running the pumps and Terry had the café under control. Flora was doing hair and Betty was sound asleep.

“Charlene, it’s been this bad before. Can’t you hang on another six months?” Ricard asked.

“No Richard. You can’t argue with cash flow. We didn’t clear enough during the sports seasons to get through. With the new taxes and Bobby having to revent his tanks, we’re are looking at a meltdown within three months Better we liquidate now before they do it for us.” Charlene looked more haggard than ever before.

“I hate giving up, Richard, but I may not make payroll and I’m behind on my worker’s comp payment, which they just raised another fifteen percent. It’s like pushing a rope.” Bobby said, plain and straight.

“If I can convince you to stick it out, will you work with me to save these people?” Richard smiled.

They looked at him and nodded.

“Let me tell you why I came here.” Richard began a long exposition which held their attention like a stainless steel chain.

After Richard was finished, Bobby stood up. He stuck out his hand and said. “I’m in. Let’s find a way to hang on.”

Charlene agreed.

Chapter 13: Fifteen Minutes Of Fame

It had been decided that Richard would approach Betty and Terry with the proposition.

“You want me to be a freak show, for tourists?” Terry was incredulous. Betty was torn. She knew things were bad financially.

“I won’t lie to you, Terry, yes we want you to be our Sasquatch or UFO. You know other towns have had gimmicks to attract traffic, and this would be no different. If we can hold on for just about six more months then we may make it through. Flora has some ideas to keep your identity private and the Doc has agreed to play along.” Richard said, in his normal calm tones.

Terry looked at Betty. He actually started to cry for the first time since all this started. Betty held him like mothers do. She nodded to Richard and he quietly left.

“Mom, I don’t want to be a freak. Do I have to do this?” Terry pleaded with her.

“No, you don’t. I’m sure we’ll land on our feet. No one in the town thinks you are anything other than a great kid, Terry. They would never have asked this unless they had run out of things to do. Charlene, Bobby, Richard and Flora all love you like their own. Think about what it took for them in pride to have to ask.” Betty was an intensely practical woman, firmly grounded in real things and real people.

“Can I think it over a bit?” Terry asked.

“Of course, honey. Take your time.”

Later that evening, Betty saw Terry walking out to the town graveyard. She knew he was going to ask the one person he respected the most.

Terry looked at the simple headstone marking his Dad’s place. He did not have a loud discussion, just a silent meditation. He got a sense of what to do. Not a plan, not directions, but a sense based in the values he had grown up with. He cried some more.

Bobby spotted him and waited at a respectful distance. When he sensed it was time, he came up and put an arm around Terry.

“Did he tell you?” Bobby asked.

“I think so. He told me to do what I had to do to help my family. My whole family.” Terry said, quietly, almost a whisper.

Bobby nodded and walked back inside with him. The dry snow was flying by sideways, skittering around the little fence and the ten grave markers.

Chapter 14: See The Strange Thing, Buy The Tee Shirt

Doc Schlange had been on TV before and was telling Terry to stay calm. The News van had pulled up along with three other cars in the Highway Motel and Family Restaurant parking lot, and the crew had just finished assembling their satellite uplink dish.

Terry was squirming. He hated the wig, a red haired one which he thought was pretty ugly and way shorter than his own hair. He thought about how much work it would be to get his hair style back in shape for his shift in the café. The phony fat belly was uncomfortable. Flora had told him it was a ’pregnancy simulator’ for men, and Terry thought that sounded like something silly beyond belief. What kind of civilization thought that was an important product? He wished the effort had gone into finding a cure for his real problem.

Flora had darkened his face and simulated a five oclock shadow, as if he had not shaved. Terry had not needed to shave yet in all his life. He had been looking forward to it. So here he sat, wearing a really low cut tank top which not only showed his boobs, unconstrained by a brassiere, but also showed him to be a fat slob with a bulging gut. He had on men’s jeans and he had to agree, he looked nothing like himself. He looked like a fat kid with huge breasts.

So they did their interview with the tabloid television show. Richard had timed it to find a slow news cycle and lined up the sensational media with ‘semi-exclusives’. Doc Schlange lent an air of credibility to the story and he was careful to just verify that he was treating an obscure condition on a young man from the area. He appeared on the first interview show and answered few questions.

They really wanted to pan the cameras on Terry’s chest. They asked him a series of silly questions and Terry made up answers equally silly but drawing from a carefully worked out background story that Richard had devised. He made sure Terry could converse and deal with any trick questions. If a reporter got too aggressive, Terry was to look puzzled, and look around, which made for bad television. The reporter was then taken aside and reminded of their agreement by Richard or Charlene. Bobby was too scary to play that role.

Within two weeks, a trickle of cars rolled through to see “Booby Boy”. Terry did two shows a day, walking from the Super Center to the Sunny Serve on good weather days and always twice through the café, wearing that tight tank top. He never talked to anyone and was ushered back to the privacy of either a motel room or the office.

Richard had souvenirs made up and they sold them at all three retail counters. Pictures with Booby Boy could be negotiated depending on how much they thought the mark would pay. Joelle ended up owning that franchise, she could figure a price just below the ‘forget it’ level.

All photographers and TV crews payed for space and facilities, a normal occurrence. Richard researched the fees and was good at getting the most they could from the media just for parking their trucks.

Booby Boy was hardly a national sensation but like all strange things , it drew a small throng of the interested. For some reason, a part of the transgender crowd adopted Booby Boy as their mascot/idol and he had a fan club. Some obscure manufacturers of ‘special’ clothing for crossdressers wanted product endorsements.

Guiness awarded him a mention as worlds largest naturally occurring male breast development. They took pictures of his beauties, which Richard leaked to the internet through a third party. They were a sensation that kept the buzz going for another two months. They did not show Terry’s face.

Chapter 15: Life Is A Carnival

Terry decided Flora was a genius. For his one hour a day as Booby Boy, he was fat guy with a round bulge in the middle. Everyone was looking for padding on his breasts but nobody suspected padding on his belly.

So when he took off the wig and let down his brown hair, put on a light base makeup, and used the waist cinching girdle with highly padded hips and butt, he became a curvy girl with big breasts and a real waist. From a blimp to an hourglass. No one ever mistook him for Booby Boy. If any reporter thought of the ruse, he would be looking for a fat girl. And Terry was proud of not being fat.

Betty had thought that to make sure, he should dress as ‘girly’ as possible when not doing a show, just to make sure.

“Look at these, Mom. How can I not dress ‘girly’ ?” Terry said, giggling. He was at the high end of the ‘D’ cup scale.

He had slapped a guy who grabbed at them during the show today and Bobby had hustled the jerk off with a threatened arrest. Sheriff Bobby told the offender that a generous amount for the photo with the offended star attraction might prevent charges from being pressed.

Terry and Joelle dated, driving up the interstate to the movies or the Wal-Mart. Joelle could never decide what to wear, since Terry usually wore a dress, following Betty’s advice. Terry had the girl thing down pretty well, since his voice was fairly neutral. Richard said that people heard what they expected. They looked at Terry’s appearance and heard a girl’s voice when he talked.

Joelle decided to make the most of it, which seemed to be the town motto of Filler. She enjoyed snuggling into Terry’s chest after sex, and really liked how Terry responded when she worked his breasts over with her tongue.

Truckers up and down the Interstate stopped by to say hello to Bobby’s niece, that ‘pump jockey with the big rack’. They liked Joelle, too, but went in for coffee if Terri was the waitress. Terry knew them all and developed a friendly style of back and forth banter which made the shift go quickly.

Betty had asked Terry to begin wearing a ‘proper hat’ on Sundays when she ran the church service for the town in the bar of the restaurant. Betty was a natural preacher and had a relaxed brand of religion which soothed the souls of most people in town. Betty never minded when Terry and Joelle held hands during the service, which she kept mercifully short, thus meeting the criteria necessary for true redemption. If you can’t tell them they can save their own souls in ten minutes, then you sure can’t do it in two hours she always said. So Terry borrowed one of Flora’s big hats with flowers and a veil, since Flora only attended on important days, like Bingo.

By the end of spring, several things had developed.

Terry and Joelle placed in the top percentile on the PSAT tests, ranked among the top ten thousand in the state. Flora was proud, especially since they took it a year early.

Terry’s rate of breast growth had almost stopped. He found ‘DD’ bras a little loose but a better fit than his ‘D’s. He was still a little pudgy in his hips and rear, maybe by an extra inch.

Joelle explained to Doc Schlange that Terry was in fine working order. The Doc was interested in Terry’s sexual responses to breast stimulation and Joelle talked for hours, in the interest of science, of course. The Doc was amused and left the recorder on even though he knew the memory chip was removed. Joelle needed someone to talk to.

Bobby, Charlene and Richard compared financials. Filler had made it through the winter and spring.

“Booby Boy” had pretty much become a forgotten fad. Every once in a while, if a group of tourists asked real nice, Charlene or Bobby would ask Terry to consent to a ‘performance’, putting on the wig and belly, darkening his complexion and letting his boobs out of their bra.

Terry found going braless felt very awkward and caused him embarrassment. The desire to feel normal is inherent in the human condition and Terry was rapidly adapting to his current state as ‘normal’. He was respected in his community as performing a difficult and important service, despite the risk of personal humiliation. He was friends with truckers and salesmen , highway patrolmen and women, all the folks who lived between the exit signs, traveling the road. He was treated as an adult doing adult jobs with adult responsibilities, and helping to keep the bills paid. Joelle loved him despite the way he was. And he loved her.

Chapter 16: Surprise Sergeant Carter! Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

A year after it all started, Doc Schlange had news. Terry had finally stabilized his chemistry. His immune system was slowly recovering. Springer Syndrome looked like it did burn out.

Doc was checking his fly rod while Terry was getting back into his slip.

“Terry, what do you want to do now? I can schedule a breast reduction surgery in about six months or so when we are certain you are ok and your immune system could handle it. I would want you to go to San Francisco or Los Angeles and have a very experienced surgeon do the work. I ‘ll help out getting the cost down, but it’s still going to be expensive. And quite a shock to your system.” Doc went, checking his supply of flies. Bobby was going to show him a hidden deep spot that was good this time of year.

“Can’t you do it Doc?” Terry asked, tying his apron.

“I know my limits, Terry. In an emergency, sure I’d do it, but this isn’t one. You are a healthy man with healthy breasts and a somewhat soft ass. And a better girlfriend than most guys ever see. No, Terry, in many ways, you have more of a life here than a lot of people ever get. If you do this, do it without risking what you have. That’s what a doctor is supposed to tell you. Now I’m going fishing.”

“Good luck Doc.” Terry said. Terry walked home to the trailer, determined to get off his feet for awhile. He was real glad he could stop wearing the girdles, they became a pain after a long day. He remembered he was going to wash his hair tonight with Joelle. That would be fun.

Richard had called a town meeting and brought a bottle of champagne. Really good champagne. With a real cork. And from Napa Valley. Richard had a problem with the French which he refused to disclose.

“Al right, Richard the Wizard, why are we here and drinking this fizzy stuff?” Charlene opened. Bobby grinned and sipped his glass. Flora was in attendance too, and pouring the bubbly all around.

“Because our proverbial ship is coming in. Filler is saved!” Richard said, ginning mischievously.

Richard relayed the story. Six years ago he was looking for places to invest his cash out of his IPO when he got a proposal for a resort development based on a water diversion project which was being held up in the courts. It was close to Filler and Filler’s exit would be the key point of entry for the area. So he saw a chance to bring Flora home and build a quiet life while he waited for this to happen. He knew the court delays would take a while but the need to develop was pretty powerful and the case would break through. So he optioned a part of the resort project, the part tied to the development of the highway exit and services. He then moved in to sit on his investment. So while Richard had money, it was tied up in development funds on the option or he would lose the rights. So he lived fairly frugally on the interest and what he could earn from the store. Flora and Richard had adopted Joelle when Flora sister died, prompting Flora’s desire to return home and raise her in the environment she knew.

So now the project was underway, court cases dismissed and the resort was rolling. It would be a huge complex twenty miles down the road in the sierra foothills, with golf courses, restaurants, spas and other luxury features, as well as condos. The hunting and fishing in the area would probably triple.

Most of all, the value of Filler property would skyrocket. From less than zero to actually worth something.

“So, Richard, do we all just sell out?” Bobby asked.

“To be honest, that was my original plan. But then I lived here and you folks became family. No, the current proposal is to rebuild Filler a bit, so it fits with the theme of the resort, but still services the highway travelers and truckers, our current regulars. And maybe we will have secure employment for the people in the town, a school nearby and things like health insurance and dental care, and maybe a swimming pool. Nothing fancy, just a little security. That’s what I offer.” Richard looked at the other three Fillerites.

Bobby stuck out his hand. Richard accepted it. No words needed. Charlene kissed Richard , Flora and Bobby in that order. The one with Bobby took a while.

Chapter 17: Another Few Years Go By

Joelle glanced up at the truck rolling into the Sunny Serve. She called the kitchen and told them to get a chicken fried steak ready. That driver was regular as clockwork. As hostess in the new Trucker’s Rest, she made it a point to anticipate her customers, especially when they were running reefers. She saw the driver wave at Bobby, who was untangling the air hose, and continue on in.

The buildings had been redone in a Spanish stucco façade, the only thing remaining of the old Filler was the tall neon Sunny Serve sign, visible for miles down the road.

Charlene had married Bobby and they formally merged their businesses. They were now a subsidiary of the large resort. The truck stop complex had a new motel, pool, café and family restaurant, and served as a training ground for chefs at the resort, so the food was excellent. If a chef could handle the menu and pace here, he or she was given a shot at the big time, the five star operation down the road. The benefits were great, with paid vacation and even dental.

Flora converted her tutoring operation to an actual private school, and was feared by the State education bureaucrats.

The trailers were demolished for scrap and replaced by a better set of locations in the shade, away from the highway noise. Double wides and better, the best manufactured homes there were. With swimming pools. Richard made sure the cemetery was moved with the consent of everybody, and totally paid for by the resort. The dead did not mind, and the shade made visits easier and the flowers last longer.

Doc Schlange had been dating Betty for a year now. He was a recent widower of six years. Betty was showing him how to really fly fish, like her daddy had taught her.

So the driver came in and Joelle greeted him, asked him how his knee was and seated him at his favorite table.

Terri brought out his chicken fried steak with salsa, and exchanged insults with the driver. The driver thanked him and whistled as Terri walked away.

Terry had put on a few pounds and they seemed to have settled in his butt. It just made his life a bit easier, since he could forego the padding now. He took his apron off in the back, put on his sunglasses, adjusted his bra strap and went over to Joelle at the front. He kissed her on the cheek and told her he would be waiting by the pool. And please get his tip from Bubba.

Terry walked out and got into his car. He kept putting off the surgery, this time because he wanted Betty to have some free time to spend with the Doc and he was covering her shifts. He looked at his long brown hair and decided he would get another perm from Flora soon.

END