12:05 PM

S walked into the café and looked around.

Where was she? Did he come to the wrong place? There was another place with the same name as this, wasn't there?

He glanced from table to table, looking for the woman he was supposed to meet. Then, he saw her-- attractive and outrageously dressed, with black hair. When she saw him, she waved and called out, “S, there you are!”

Several people turned to look in S’s direction. He blushed and hurried over to the table and sat down at the table.

“Well, S, it’s certainly a pleasure to be on this date with you,” the woman giggled.

“Tacita, I thought you said you had to baby-sit today,” S said softly.

“I found a replacement,” Tacita replied. She thought to herself, “Man, oh man, Charise would kill me if she knew I blew off the babysitting job to go on a date with S!”


“Replacement, huh?” S responded, raising an eyebrow. “Would it have to do with the phone call Charise got this morning?”

“Maybe,” Tacita replied with a wink. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“It’s about Charise.”

“I thought so,” Tacita sighed. “So, what’s up?”



“Dang it, Michaela, can you at least sit down while you eat?” Charise cried out impatiently.

“How come? Mommy doesn’t care what I do while I eat, as long as I eat,” Michaela argued.

“I know very well that your mom does no such thing, Michaela. Now sit your butt down!”

“Ooh, you said butt!” Michaela giggled, pointing at Charise.

“Yes, I did,” Charise responded, “And if you keep it up, it’s gonna be smacked.”

“You can’t do nothing to me,” Michaela smirked.

“But your parents can, and guess what, kiddo. You act up, and I spill all to your parents. And you know what? You’ll get in trouble. I might not be able to spank you, but your mom and dad can and will.”



Emily sat outside her house, waiting. Her parents were at work, and her brother was playing video games at his friend Kenny’s house. She looked left and right, looking to see if Ophelia was coming.

“They’re late,” she muttered.

What if she and Cy, whoever that was, didn’t show up? What would she do then? She looked over and saw them turning the corner.


Ophelia was wearing a loose-fitting and rather short dress that did not match her Goth persona at school, and Cy… so this was Cy! A tall woman with long red hair, casually but tastefully dressed. As they came closer, something struck Emily as being “off” about the redhead. When the pair came within three feet of her, Emily realized that the “woman” was a man… with a rather womanly figure.


The redhead’s eyes widened upon seeing Emily’s confused expression, and lightly poked Ophelia’s shoulder. Ophelia scurried a short distance away.

“You didn’t tell her, I take it! You leave me to do all the dirty work, don’t you, Lia? You’re lucky you’re so cute. Okay, hi,” the redhead said finally addressing Emily. “I’m Cy Cloud, age 18, close friend of Ophelia. And pre-op, not post, just in case you were wondering. As for the pronoun question you’re probably pondering, I would prefer to be referred to in the feminine tense. Any comments, statements, questions?”


Emily finally spoke. “You’re… so pretty. I love your outfit! And your hair is so beautiful!”

Cy smiled gently. “I like this one, Lia. Good vibes from this one, definitely.”

Ophelia sighed with relief and grinned at Emily. “Well, shall we?”


The trio began the trip to Ophelia’s house.

“Sorry for not giving an advanced warning, Emily,” Ophelia said, “but I wasn’t sure how to word things.”

“You’re forgiven,” Emily responded. “Just don’t pull that kind of thing again.”

“Ooh, a bit fiery. I think we'll get along just fine, Em,” Cy laughed.