After everyone had finished reading their pamphlets, the Maxwells sat in disbelief for a few minutes processing what they had read. By the end of the month none of them would be human.
Eventually, John, the eldest, broke the silence. “I am becoming a...” His cheeks and ears turned a bright red due to embarrassment. “I am becoming a male skunk.” He prayed that his transformation would not affect how he smelled. How could he ever take himself seriously again?
“Yes, John is becoming a male skunk. I would recommend that everyone share what they are becoming, it will help to calm everyone down.” Explained the doctor.
“I am becoming a female panda.” Announced Mary. A panda wouldn’t be too bad, she thought to herself, at least she wasn’t changing her gender or becoming something fowl like her twin brother John was, and she would still be able to swim.
“Male bunny.” Said Noah, as he looked at a picture in his pamphlet of a boy around his age with white fur, long bunny ears and a small, cotton ball like tail poking out of his pants.
“I am going to be a female mouse.” Jennifer chimed in. Jennifer always liked mice, so the transformation wasn’t so daunting for her.
“I am becoming a male cat” said Lucas. His file showed a cat furry with yellow fur, a tail, and whiskers. Why did I have to be a cat? He thought to himself. He wanted to be a wolf, or a lion.
“I am becoming a male goat.” Said Mrs. Maxwell, looking at the doctor, who was also a goat, and thinking how she would soon look almost exactly like him, and how she would no longer be female. After she spoke their was silence for a few moments before Mr. Maxwell shared
“I will be a... I will be a female cow” muttered Mr. Maxwell. He shuddered as he thought about what he had read in his file. More specifically the part that said he may have to be milked regularly. Mr. Maxwell had always prided his masculinity, and losing it would be a devastating blow to his pride, not to mention becoming a cow.
“Once we change genders, how will we refer to each other?” Inquired an uncomfortable Mrs. Maxwell. She had still not gotten over the shock of learning she would soon be a man. “You can choose to identify as female once you transform, although you will be biologically male” responded the doctor. Mrs. Maxwell sighed.
The next few hours were spent explaining details such as diet (everyone except Jennifer and Lucas were becoming herbivores), clothing, hygiene (Mainly for John, who would be a skunk), how all of them except for Mr. Maxwell would shrink a few inches, and so on.
“You have two options for your transformations.” Said the doctor. “ You can either stay here at the center tonight and change while you are sleeping, or you can let you transformations occur naturally over the course of two to three weeks. We recommend that you all stay here and take the transformation overnight, as there have been a few cases of unforeseen gender changes occurring in patients who chose to let the transformation occur slowly.”
“What are the chances of an unexpected gender change if we choose the natural method?” Asked Mr. Maxwell, who wanted to avoid becoming a woman. “Only 1 in 26000 of observed cases, but there is still a chance.” Answered the doctor. Mr. Maxwell sighed.
“Well, you all have a lot to talk about. I will leave you alone so you can choose how you want to transform. When you have all decided, come get me. I will be in the next room over” Said the doctor as he left the room.