"Katherine."
This name enters my mind as I slowly drift awake. For a moment I don't know who this person is and I have to force myself to concentrate. Then it all comes back to me.
"Katherine was...is my sister. And this is her bedroom I'm sleeping in," I remind myself as mommy comes in.
Seeing me awake she enters the closet and begins to take out some clothes. Seeing that it's a dress and a pair of tights, I whine in the same childish tone my sister sometimes talks in, "Do I half to wear a dress. I don't want to wear a dress."
Mommy looks at me and then says, "Marcus, you will look nice today. Remember that today is the day of class pictures. Now, did you wet the bed young lady?"
This last bit takes me by surprise and I shake my head and mommy replies, "That's a good girl. Now go potty and get dressed. Afterward I'll do up you hair nicely and make you your favorite breakfast." With this said, she leaves and I can hear her walking downstairs.
Rolling out of bed, I briefly wonder why my mother is calling me Marcus, but is also addressing me as 'her little girl' and 'young lady'.
No answer comes as I pad down the hall and into the bathroom. Inside I strip off the nightgown I wore to bed and pull down my Tinkerbell, well there Katherine's not mine, underwear. Looking at the flat and smooth skin were my penis and testicles used to be, I wonder how strange this all could get, shrug like Katherine used to...does sometimes and sit down on the toilet to do my business.
No underwear or nightgown on, I streak back to Katherine's room and from the dresser I select a pair of panties with Angelina Ballerina on them. Next I pull on the white tights and the dress.
Standing in front of the mirror, running my hands down the front of it, I can see how pretty and feminine I look in it. It's white with long sleeves. From the hem up to the waist is a blue swirl pattern that really fascinates me. It is only when my mind starts to slip and I fight it off, that I realize something.
I still look about fifteen, but my frame has changed to something completely feminine and my skin has become softer, like a girl's.
Bothered by this, I head downstairs for breakfast and to get my hair braided. By the time I'm standing outside waiting for the bus, Katherine has once again started to fade from my mind. By the time the bus has arrived, I'm to preoccupied with the idea of facing everyone in a dress, tights, sensible black shoes, a Hello Kitty backpack and a purple and white coat to entertain the notion that mommy is pregnant with my sister.
Instead I wave goodbye to her as she heads to work and I get on the bus.
Surprisenly enough no one says a word and I take a seat. It's not until I get to school and as I'm exiting the bus and heading for the building that a voice hisses at me, "What the fuck! Have you completely lost your mind? Why the fuck are you wearing a dress? Are you some kind of fruit or weirdo?"
Turning toward the voice I see my best friend, Thomas. All I can do is stare, wondering why only he sees me as a male and not a female. And just as I shrug, he grabs me by the arm and says to me, "We need to talk."