As we put our few remaining clothes back on, Rachel remarked, “Why are we even still wearing clothes at this point?”
“Because we’re just letting the wish take its time,” I said. “As weird as it is.”
“Ready to face the music?” asked Rachel as she took hold of the doorknob. I nodded. Rachel opened the door and we slowly walked back into the living room. We were slightly shocked to find that no one was there. Rachel went into the kitchen and returned shaking her head. “No one,” she said.
“Ooh, boy,” I said. “What have we started?”
“Your brother and Joyce started it!” Rachel reminded me.
The apartment door swung open again and Pam and Carl walked back in. I noticed again that they were holding hands. They sat down next to each other on one of the couches. Rachel and I sat down as well. We just looked at each other for a minute. Then I said, “Sorry if we chased you out of here.”
“What do you mean?” asked Pam.
“Well…weren’t we kind of loud?” I asked.
Pam shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. We left as soon as you two disappeared,” she said. I started to laugh. “What’s so funny?” she asked.
“I would never picture you two getting together,” I said.
Carl chuckled. “What can I say, Joe? Opposites attract,” he said.
“Yea, but you two are complete opposites,” I said. “Like North and South Poles.”
Carl leaned forward. “Joe,” he said. “I know how people perceive me. I don’t blame them, that’s the way I am. But the type of guy I’ve dated is always the type that’s been able to call me on my shit. The kind who sees through me and doesn’t let me get away with being such an ass when we’re alone. Your sister here is the only person who’s done that to me within five minutes of meeting me. I was attracted to her right away.”
Pam just laughed. “I have a way with people,” she said.
“And what about you?” I asked my sister. “The ultimate man-hater falls for a guy who isn’t attracted to women?”
“I never said I hate men, you just always assume that,” she retorted. “Pfft. Goes to show you don’t know me as well as you think. I like outgoing people who aren’t afraid to be themselves all the time. Besides, I like trying to outdo people. You know how competitive I can be. This one will be my ultimate challenge.”
“Have you finally come to terms with being a woman?” I asked Carl.
“Yes. Mostly thanks to your sister. She…well let’s just say I realize how much fun it’s going to be as a woman,” he said. “So I can drop the act now. At this point I can’t wait for the changes to finish.”
“Neither can I,” said Scott. We all turned to see he and Joyce return to the living room. They both had what I could best describe as goofy smiles on their faces. Obviously they just had another good time. Scott continued, “At this point things are just getting in the way.”
“Things?” I asked in a suspicious tone as they sat down again. “Just what things might that be?” I again over emphasized the word “things.”
Scott gave me a look of disdain. “I guess we’re all pretty open right now, so, fine. My shrinking little dick is getting in the way!” Pam and Carl immediately giggled. Then Rachel joined in. Surprisingly Joyce was the next to share the amusement. Finally my brother and I laughed too.
“He’s right,” said Carl. We all looked at him in surprise. “Oh, give me a break already. I just said I can’t wait for the changes to finish.”
“And I know that Joe feels the same way,” agreed Rachel. “So I guess we need to start doing something.”
“What?” asked me, Scott and Carl in unison.
“Start referring to you three as ‘girls,’” she said with a smile.
None of us immediately reacted to that. I didn’t know what Scott and Carl thought, but as much as I did want the changes to finish, being called a “girl” still sounded foreign to me. “Um…maybe you should wait until…well, until we don’t have our ‘manhoods’ anymore,” I said.
Pam laughed again. “Are you sure you want the changes to finish?”
“Yes, I am,” I said. “But I can’t think of myself as a girl as long as that’s still there.”
“OK, then,” said Pam. “As soon as it’s gone, I’m calling you a girl.”
I nodded in agreement. “Fine,” I said.
Pam tilted her head and looked at me. “Looks like it’ll be gone pretty soon, too,” she remarked.
I felt like I should have covered my meager penis and been offended by her comment. But I just nodded and said, “Yep.” I wondered what we would do now.