Life Imitates Art

Part 26 - Spring Into Action

Our friendly duo from Grafton depart after more gawking at shop windows and admiring impractical items. Molly leaves me her number with the usual humorous line. Even though I've only known her for literally just hours now, she strikes me as such a full-on force of presence.

"I doubt this was how you ever expected a girl to give you her number. Don't worry, I'm already taken."

I type it into my phone before she leaves and even test dial it in front of her. Her phone buzzes in her bag to confirm that it's correct.

"Well, this was lovely! Best of luck, Max. And Tess, do let us know what happens with her."

"I will do." And again, they speak like I am not even here. Courtney and Molly turn to walk to the bus, heels drumming the beat to a death metal track as they walk completely out of step with each other. Whenever one's foot is in the air, the other slams into the ground and the rhythm continues to a frantic pace.

Tess turns me around and leads me back towards the yellow hall - back towards the toilets to change.

"Fun's over sadly. Go on, I'll give you your clothes."

I...

"Tess? Can I just go home like this? Please? I'm tired of hiding this from Mum and Dad. I feel bad about it. They need to know."

"I don't know, bro." A real slip from Tess that would normally be correct. "This is something you can't take back. If Mum and Dad see you this way, it's all they're going to see for a while when they see you. Hell. Even when they think of you without you being there, they'll see what and who you are right now. It's a massive step up from just a day out like this under the guise of being a stranger."

I close my eyes. I reflect on the makeup, the clothes, the day as a whole. Am I ready for it to be my full-time role? My permanent place in society, if such a change can take place?

"I think that's what I want. I'm tired of hiding. Even if I'm only like this sometimes, they surely deserve to know it. How else are they going to help me?"

Tess_

The stories I've read online haven't ever favoured the trans one in this situation - maybe I just read pessimistic prose. Parents turfing their own kids out, schools kicking them to the curb, whole support networks folding in on the poor soul.

But again... I can change that. I can make sure everything else holds up around him. I can make sure no one hurts him. I can be there for him. Heck, if he actually did manage to transfer schools, I could keep an eye on him (in a nice way) even easier than I can now.

Am I then doing it for the right reasons?

"Max... please. I need to know something. Is this... you being like this... did I do something wrong? I've wanted to ask you for days. It's now or never if you are planning on telling them and pushing this car down the hill. Have I made you a girl?"

"... yes."

"Huh? I have?"

"You have. You've made me a girl. You made it look so fun that my brain just wants it so badly. Your makeup makes me burn with envy every single day. Your skirts are exactly what I want to wear to school, around the house, to family events and everything else. Your friends are the sort I need in my life. Girls have it so much easier. You have it so, so much better. So yeah... can you blame me for wanting this so badly?"

He's aware enough to watch his volume as we conduct this conversation in an unattended corner of the bathroom corridor.

"Let's go to the car. I need you to explain everything from start to end. We need to know exactly what we're telling them, if that's still what we decide to do." I notice a flaw in my words. "What you decide to do. My decision isn't worth a f*ck right now. You lead your life your way. Max, Maxine, Magenta, I don't care. Decide who you are, and be it."