"And suddenly, there I was, pouring my story out to this total stranger! How I felt so good about what Lou and Ed were doing to me, how I was going along and letting them think they were tricking me. But I also told her about my fears of never being able to pass because of my size, or worse yet, being able to pass, but only as an ugly woman. Her comment was, 'Been there, done that, hon.' And she told me her story. That she had been an out-of-control rowdy as a boy, destined for juvie or worse, death in a gang war or somesuch. As a last resort, his parents had had him feminized, 'petticoat punishment' they called it. They sent him to live with this woman he referred to as 'Aunt Jane' out East someplace. HE hated it, but SHE left after six months loving it. After that he lived some as HE, some as SHE, finally married as HE and he and his wife had a son. His wife died several years ago, the son was grown and gone, so SHE came back and decided to stay.
"Over the past couple of weeks, we've gotten to be really good friends. When I told her that I would be working for you this week, she suggested that I go all out girl and try out my new look on you before springing it on Lou and Ed. She said that as a medical professional, you could be trusted to answer my questions, and give me an honest critique. Can I really be a girl? A pretty one? Or am I just fooling myself, will my size always make me a freak?
"She helped me put together this outfit, but I did my own hair, nails, and makeup, and here I am, and oh, Dr. Adkins.Joan.I feel sooooo GOOD, like this is how I was meant to be!" Robbie sat up straight, and looked Joan straight in the eye. "Am I a woman? Or is this." she gestured at herself, ".all a big." she verbally underscored 'Big, ".joke?"
The dollar signs were as big as the Hancock building, and glittered like diamonds! 'This is better than Rose!' thought Joan, as she got up and went around the desk. 'This is, finally, my own private island in the Caribbean!' She pulled Robbie up out of her chair, and gave her the biggest hug she was capable of. "Oh, my dear, you are woman with a capital 'W'! Welcome, Robbie, welcome to womanhood. You are going to knock Lou and Ed's socks off!" And the two women cried in each other's arms, one crying from happiness, the other from greed.
