‘Uh…. I’m Sam. Sam Collard. We have just moved here 3 weeks ago. Umm I like computer games and swimming……….. Uhh……….I’ve been put in Kennedy house………… Uhh………’
‘Thanks Sam’ Mr Johnson put me out of my misery. ‘Mary would you like to say a few words’
‘Sure. Thanks everyone for making me feel so welcome. I’m Mary Collard, Sam’s twin. We moved from Chicago. We are not identical’ The room snickered ‘Sam’s actually a very good swimmer, holder of multiple age records at our old school. I’m a cheerleader, already part of the team so I’ve met Maria and Laura already. I’ll be mainly doing arts subjects and look forward to getting to know you all’ she finished with her best and biggest smile. The room gave her a round of applause.
The rest of the newbies introduced themselves. No-one made a fool of themselves as I had. Gracie made it clear that she did not want to be at school but had been forced here as part of criminal sentence. Mr Johnson cut her short. There were 7 of us in total. Two black guys Conrad and Mark as well as Ricky, Laura, Gracie, Mary and myself.
Someone had bought in pizzas and we shared them around. Mary, Laura and Ricky were the centre of attention. No-one wanted to know myself or Gracie.
When the pizzas were finished Angela took me and Gracie to Miss Perkins’ room. Gracie was in my care group. This was in a different building and was where I had to be at 7.30 each school day. Angela left us in an empty room.
2 minutes of awkward silence followed until a 30’ish mousey teacher in glasses came in. ‘Sorry I’m a bit late’ she apologised. ‘I’m Miss Perkins. You have been assigned to my care group’
She went on to explain how the care group system worked. There were evidently half a dozen students from each age group in every care group. As seniors we were expected to mentor the younger students and set a good example. She was quite direct with Gracie. She must have been privy to whatever crime Gracie had committed to be sentenced to attend school. She told Gracie that it was imperative that she be at school every day or her sentencing conditions would be broken. It sounded as though Gracie could end up in a detention centre if she mucked up.
Finally she addressed me ‘Sam, I’m afraid you were switched to my group at the last minute so I have not had the opportunity to look at your file. I gather there is nothing untoward about you that I should know about?’
‘Uh, No’ I certainly wasn’t going to tell her that my sister had turned me into a girl.
We spent the next hour discussing subjects and the teachers we would be having. Miss Perkins had no qualms about discussing the idiosyncrasies of some of her colleagues. It sounded as if my chemistry teacher was quite weird. She also discussed the schools gender equality and anti-bullying policies.
‘Very well. I expect you both here 7.30 every school day. I look forward to getting to know you better’
…….
So that was our orientation day. I went home as soon as I could. Mary met up with the other cheerleaders and stayed behind, not that I cared. I was home early afternoon and made the most of Mum being out by completing my own and Mary’s chores. I wasn’t out to let Mary have any excuse to prolong my torture. I had just finished hanging out the washing, (which was one of Mary’s chores) including Mary's cleaned skirt, when she arrived home.
‘Wow! What a great bunch of students don’t you think? And my Care group teacher was really nice. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’ was Mary’s summation of the morning. I can’t say I shared her enthusiasm. I was somewhat relieved that no-one had questioned my sexuality, but this was only an orientation morning. Tomorrow would be the real thing. I was scared shitless. What would happen when we had PE? How could I dodge it?
I had to ask Mary one more time ‘Please change me back. I’ll do anything’
‘No! I don’t think so’ was her reply. ‘I’ve got you by the balls - actually I’ve got your balls. (Giggle) I’m really enjoying the situation. Suffer little Sister!’
I avoided Mary for the rest of the day, mostly by hiding in my room, playing computer games. I had to cook dinner as Mum would be taking her meal at the restaurant. I don’t think Mary suspected that I had spat into the stew before serving it to her. I ate my own dinner back in my room.