“I don’t wanna be a girl, Mom.” Bobby (Sandra’s oldest) said for probably the 100th time.
“I know, honey, but you did agree to this.” Sandra said for probably the 101st time.
“Yeah, but-“
“Honey, stop. Look at where we are right now, it’s too late to back out now.” Sandra said gesturing around to the onsen and splashing her fingers lightly in the transformative waters they were all now immersed in. “And even if you could go back what would you go back to? Student loan debt? A girlfriend that hates you?”
Bobby blushed and sank into the water up to his chin as a way of ending the conversation.
“I think Bobby will make a cute girl.” Piper (Sandra’s youngest) said trying to be positive as usual for her.
“Piper….” Bobby grumbled tiredly/
“Oh stop it.” Piper giggled,”I bet you’re gonna have big ol’ boobies!”
“Piper….” Sandra now said warningly,”I agree with you he’s going to look cute (all of you are) but he’s going through a lot more than you will be, you’re only experiencing a change in race.”
“Yeah, maybe *you’ll* get real tits instead of mosquito bites, Pipe!” Sarah (Sandra’s oldest daughter) teased her.
“Like your grapefruits?!” Piper taunted her back.
They were all naked and had been ever since the pre-admission room where they had been compelled to strip and walk into the onsen grounds as both a practical, cultural and symbolic gesture. Every one of them had been blushing furiously until they found their assigned pool and sank into its cloudy waters for some modesty.
“Girls, stop! This is maybe the last we’ll ever see of each other!” Sandra said,”I want to remember you all positively.”
“Sorry, Mom.” the girls said.
“Good.” Sandra said and then looked at the only one of them that hadn’t spoken, her youngest son Jake who was looking as anxious as Bobby was. “You doing OK, Jake?” Sandra asked.
“No…… I don’t want to be a girl either, Mom. Can’t I just be turned into a different race instead?” he grumbled.
“Akiki doesn’t have a problem with penises, honey.” Sandra repeated the line from orientation earlier.
“It’s so humiliating.” Jake said scrunching his eyes closed in disgust.
“You won’t think so soon. It’s going to be totally natural to you.” Sandra said.
“That’s what I’m worried about.” Jake said.
“Will we get our pick of husbands?” Piper asked.
“No. But they have all been vetted for any mental or physical issues, so you’ll be fine.” Sandra said. “And as I understood orientation, you’ll more be girlfriends until you decide to marry them.”
Piper nodded.
“When does it start working?” Bobby asked.
“It already has, hon, you were blonde a few minutes ago!” Sandra said and that’s when the rest of them noticed it had indeed begun.