The Surgeon approaches Brogan, "All's going well, Brigitte. Your father and I are extremely happy with your progress and we're so excited about being grandparents. We can remove the bandages in a few days so you can see your beauty in all its glory," she says, grinning like the psycho she is.
She lowers her head and drops her vocal tone, her attempt at sounding caring, "Regarding your pregnancy, Brigitte: we made the decision to remove the womb during your gender reassignment surgery."
My Father joins in, "We took the advice of our Fertility Consultant. We couldn't risk your body rejecting the organ and thus jeopardize the babies development."
The Surgeon continues, "We've implanted the fertilized embryo and a placenta into your abdominal cavity, under your peritoneum, that's your stomach lining. The duration of your pregnancy will be closely monitored and your child, our grandchild, will be delivered by Cesarean Section." She rubs his head gently, "Rest assured, Brigitte, all will be done to protect the life of this baby."
Brogan's eyes remain wide and fixed on me, they plead: help me.
.......
The Surgeon follows Brogan's horrified gaze and turns her attention to me, "You may leave now – you're disowned. What will come of you, we don't know, nor do we care," she points to the door, "get out! The sight of you makes me feel sick," she says, with a venomous hiss.
I look at my father for any signs of love or empathy. I see nothing, just a detached disappointment: I'm no longer his Princess, nor his pride and joy.
I'm being discarded, hurled into the streets like a used up lab rat.
"I'm sorry for letting you down, Dad," I say this to gauge his reaction rather than believing I did. He looks at me with cold eyes, "You let yourself down!" Then he softens a little, "Look, I've paid for that Hotel room for a month and you have the money you stole from my credit card..." The Surgeon cuts in..."We should have had it incarcerated for that," she spits.
She called me 'It' how charming – Not.
My Father continues, "Go get back and see to Professor Merton; tying up a professional lady like that's beyond low, you're lucky we didn't whip your butt," he says.
An incredulous chuckle escapes me; they knew where we were all the time. I really hope this means I'm free of these people with whom I had the misfortune to be born to.
......
I walk for the door and don't look back.
Free.
I hope?
......
A chill wind smacks me hard; it's a cold reminder of my predicament – I'm all-alone in the windy city; a transgendered girl, with no family and a story no one in authority will believe.
Still, I'm in a whole better place than Brogan.
I am worried for him. You see, Brogan was such a: jock, a dude, a guy – he has only one side: masculine!
For all her academic intelligence, The Surgeon doesn't understand that looking female does not make you feminine.
......
I take shelter from the wind in a small diner just across the road from my parent's secret operational lair.
The warmth eases my racing mind a little. I consider my options. I have seventy thousand dollars; which will provide me with food and shelter in the short term and I guess I could get a job, but for that I will need ID. I'm sure that can be arranged, somehow?
I'm alerted to a familiar figure entering my parent's lair; it's the female officer who duped me. Jeez, they've got good people working for them – that's for sure.
......
I drain my coffee and think: Professor Merton. I guess I better go and release her and start my new life – alone.
......
As I walk back to the hotel a well-dressed guy, about my age, stops me, "Excuse me, I'm doing a survey...what's your name? What's your number and are you free on Saturday?" I'm like, totally confused. "What kinda survey is that?" I ask. He smiles wide, "Jeez, you're so goddamn cute – I'm asking you for a date."
Whoa – like – what? Me, date a guy – no way! I bolt across the road, causing a chorus of car horns. "Hey – am I that ugly? Do I smell?" he hollers after me while smelling his armpit. "I don't date – It's a long story, buddy," I holler back.
......
I slow down and reflect: the last time I walked these streets I was a confident teenage guy. Now, although I still think and feel like that kid, I realize that I identify to the world as a young woman. That guy 'asking me out' has unnerved me.
You see, The Surgeon made me into an exceptionally pretty girl and now I can see the effect of her skill through the actions of that guy – and the others who's smiles I continually catch – and throw away.
It bothers me.
I can't walk with the carefree abandon I once enjoyed as a boy. Now, I have to navigate the unwanted attention a pretty girl gets in a big, bold city.
But, I'll get over it – I have to, I've got bigger things to deal with right now.
......
My head spins with questions and thoughts as I head back to the hotel: where can I get a fake ID? Will I be any good at waiting tables? Will I ever have a relationship?
Do I have a future?
......
My thoughts are interrupted by Professor Merton's cell-phone vibrating in my pocket. I look at the screen – it's Charlotte.
I ignore it. Thumb it off. She can take a hike.
......
I keep stopping to check the cash is still in my backpack.
Yep – it's there.
A rush of security floods me.
......
The phone vibrates.
It's Cousin Charlotte. Again.
I wonder if she's trying to contact Professor Merton or me?
I don't care – she can jump.
......
Why am I rushing back to free that old boot I think to myself; she's probably already been un-tied. I'm sure my parent's people have arranged her release.
I'll return to that hotel, when I'm ready. I go for a nice lunch instead.
.......
The phone beeps: a voice message, from Charlotte.
I delete it without listening. She can sweat.
......
"So, what's the story – you can give me the short version if you like," says a voice next to me while I'm munching a mouthful of pasta.
It's that guy again. I swallow and ask, "You followed me in here?"
"No, I came for lunch and you're here, to. It's called a coincidence," he says, with a friendly smile.
"Yeah, right," I say with a smirk. He seems harmless enough.
"So, you gonna tell me the story?" he asks again.
I wipe my mouth, "Ok. Here goes – I was a guy but my parents turned me into a girl then disowned me cos I refused to accept it. So, they took my best buddy from high-school, turned him into a girl and used his sperm to fertilize my cousin's egg which they implanted inside him along with a placenta... that's the condensed version."
"You're funny," he says.
"It's all true – trust me."
"Sure it is," he says with a disbelieving chuckle and headshake.
I take my last mouthful of pasta, "So, you still want to date a chick that once had a dick?" I ask, getting up to go.
"Wait – where you going," he asks.
"Oh, I forgot to mention – I gotta go and release an old Professor who I kidnapped and held hostage for a while," I say.
He laughs out loud, "You're crazy – but I like crazy. Here, give me a call sometime if you need someone to listen to more of your tall tales," he says, handing me a card.
I glance at it: Kade Kendal.
"Sure thing, Kade. You have yourself a good day."
"What's your name?" he hollers after me.
"Tanya, formerly known as Thomas," I holler, without looking back.
I hear his laughter as I leave the diner.
......
I enjoyed that bit of interaction – humor can offer respite from horror.
......
I walk into the hotel reception. I remain tentative, looking for signs of wrongdoing or entrapment.
Nothing suspicious alerts me.
I take the stairs. I don't trust the elevator.
......
A smiling couple pass me on the landing.
I turn into the hallway, pause and listen.
No sight nor sound alerts me – I walk toward room 300.
......
I stand outside Room 300 with my passkey – ready.
I hastily withdraw it mid-swipe.
A buzzing sound – from within the room.
I knock.
The buzzing sound cuts out; "Hello?" The word comes from inside the room.
"Professor Merton, is that you?" I ask.
"Yes, come on in, Tanya," she says, sounding cheerful.
"What's that noise?"
"I'm done now, I was just getting it ready."
"It? Ready for what?" I ask, my anxiety rising.
The door springs open, a fraction. Professor Merton peers out, "For goodness sake, Tanya, will you come in, I don't want to announce our intention to the whole hallway."
......
Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it sure as hell won't kill me.
I enter room 300.
......
A syringe sits on the side table, droplets of blood seep from its sharp end, pooling onto the glass.
I'm aware of Professor Merton talking, but I'm not listening, I'm looking at the mound of blonde hair that trails the floor.
......
"I told you there would be repercussions for leaving that message, didn't I? It's all your fault," says Professor Merton from behind a screen.
My sense of dread rises as I approach.
"Come and say hello, before I put it under," says Professor Merton.
......
She (not it) lies on an operating table, her hair shorn; eyes sleepy with sedative.
"Charlotte!" I shout.
She registers my presence with a weak hand movement.
"Soon to be Charlie," says Professor Merton.
I'm lost for words, but manage to find four, "Is this for real?"
"Oh yes, very real. We've never done a female to male gender reassignment surgery before, so this is all new." She picks up a syringe and taps it with her finger, "I'm just going to give another shot of testosterone before I put it under – you go and scrub up, Tanya," she says.
"Scrub up, what do you mean?"
"Go and get scrubbed, sterilized – you're here to assist me during its first surgery. I can't operate by myself – hurry up," she says.
I see Charlotte flinch. Professor Merton notices her fear, "Oh, don't you worry – It's only the first of many operations, your subsequent ones will be carried out by the very best in the business – The Surgeon.