Over the next week, you allow yourself to be driven on autopilot as you silently scheme and think of ways to get the note back, each idea as impossible and not likely to succeed as the next. When it comes time for your detention, you make your way to the designated area of the school, but find yourself bulking at what is expected.
"You must wear it," Roselita McFinneus demanded, waving the maids outfit before you. "It's the rules and you are to be punished. Punishment is that you are to help me with the cleaning. All those under me that are to clean must wear the proper attire."
Looking at the maid's outfit, you once again pose the question, "But why can I not wear what I am wearing?"
"Because," McFinneus stated. "You'd get your school uniform filthy and it would set a bad example for the school if somebody from outside saw you cleaning in your uniform rather than a proper maid's outfit."
Looking at the dress, you state your position, "Then I am not helping," glaring at the head of the cleaning staffe defiantly.
Taking your arm, Roselita McFinneus announced, "Then I have no choice but to report you to the headmistress," as she marched you down the hall, the maid's outfit still clutched tightly in her other hand as she mutters about your punishment and her hopes that it is the treatment.
------
You are floating in a cloud of unknown substance. You remember that you were taken to Mistress Yu's office and made to sit on the couch once again. She did something and you felt a sharp prick as a voice cried out, "What have I told you. You cannot administer it this early. You have to wait at least a week between injections or else there could be side-effects," but you really did not care about any of this as you float along, wherever you are.
A voice squealed out, "You look so pretty," and blinking, you watch as a room slowly comes into view.
Off to your left was Jackie, holding a brush and beaming at you in a look of admiration. As you blink again, you asked, "Do you really think so," without giving it another thought as you looked down at the dress you are wearing.
"I do," Jackie gushed. "And I think mother will also."
Looking back up, you suddenly feel nervous and after a moment, you suddenly realise that this was your first time dressing as a girl and that you and your sister understand that you were born male.
Moving across the room, stopping before the mirror, you asked, "Does she really have to be made aware?" as you took in the five year old boy reflected back; that your hair was medium to light shade of brown and fell just past your shoulders; and that the dress, a pink affair with black dots speckled across the fabric, really makes you look like a little girl.
"I think she should be a part of this," Jackie explained as she stepped up behind you, which you noted she was about eight years old.
Shifting about, liking the way the dress looked and felt, you asked instead, "Why?" and after a moment added, "And why does the torso section not go all the way down? What does it stop just above my belly button?"
Jackie shrugged and commented, "That's just the way girl's clothes are made," failing to understand that you were also asking why mother had to be involved.
Playing with the skirt section of the dress, you let it fall in place, liking the way it softly lies against your thighs, wishing it could just be a bit longer and that it came down past your knees, you reach up and shift the shoulder straps and then explained, "I suppose," as you turned to look at Jackie.
You sister squealed once again in delight and taking your hand, she asked, "So what shall we call you?" as she guided you out of her room.
------
Hours passed and you and Jackie managed to finally convince your mother that you were meant to be a girl and that this in fact what you want. Sitting in your room, playing with a couple of Jackie's dolls, you adjust yourself, still getting used to the idea of wearing girl's underwear, wondering if Jackie had any more pink panties and whether you would be allowed to wear them as well.
A sharp pain, just below your waist and situated at the base of your spine distracts you and for a moment everything swam out of view and you could hear a woman saying, "She is having an adverse effect to the treatment. Her body is resisting and I am detecting mutations forming," but then it fades and your fide yourself sitting back in your room.
Confused, you put aside the doll, suddenly aware that something was definitely off and it somehow revolved around you. Moving across the room, you think for a moment about removing the dress, but then you spy a piece of paper you are sure was not there a moment ago.
Squatting down, you pick up the bit of paper and unfolding, tearing it on one of the folded lines, you see that somebody has written on it.
Attempting to read it, knowing you won’t start school for another three months, you struggle with that which written on the paper, a feeling of familiarity flooding over you. Before you can get to far in understanding what was being conveyed, a voice called out, "Saphira. Where are you? We are leaving soon."
Refolding the note, suddenly remembering that your mother wanted to take you clothes shopping and to visit a friend of hers, you answered back, "I'm here," as you place the note on your dresser and after a minute, raced downstairs, eagerly looking forward to the time you would get to spend with your mother, the feeling of something being off slowly disappearing as you moved away from the note.