"Ha," laughs Mitchell, "Callum is an inflatable husky."
"Pretty cute. Not gonna lie," says a female classmates named Hannah.
"Yeah," replies Mitchell, "Those big cartoon eyes. Hard to believe there's a living being in there."
"Shut up!" Snaps Brayden.
"Sorry man. But surely you feel the same way."
"Maybe. But I know Callum's in there."
"Yeah. He is."
From my extremely limited eye movement. I look down to see white PVC. I can vaguely see the inflatable paws reaching out in front of me. Little round stubs with black lines mean to represent paws. I feel so light and airy, then again. I am basically 99% air.
"He needs a collar," says Hannah.
"Who says it needs to be a he," replies another girl named Abbey, "It's inner ears are pink after all."
"He's Callum," Brayden retaliates.
"Before. But now we can make him whatever we want it to be."
The conversation of changing my gender terrifies me. I mean, I'm technically a genderless object now, but still. That'd be another step towards losing recognition of my humanity.
Mr Jackson walks up to me and lifts me up with ease. "Callum will be put away for now. The class can decide their gender in a vote. I'll buy an appropriate collar during lunch depending."
My heart sinks. I am able to take a quick glance at a dejected looking Brayden before being placed under the teachers desk. My now symbolic heart races and fills with butterflies. I hope I don't become female, I hope I don't get one step closer to losing recognition of my humanity.