Joe_bates_saga

Joe_Bates_Saga________________________________________________________21__

1. Chapter : Adjustments

As Joe drove to Linda's house, he passed the building which housed the local office of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Seeing the sign made him think of all the paperwork Dr. Krell's attorney had given him. He needed to take a letter he was given by Dr. Krell, along with his old operator's license, and obtain a replacement, one which properly showed his changed status.

He had already passed the entrance when he decided to stop in, and get it over with. He quickly turned around and pulled into the parking lot. There were only three other cars there, maybe they wouldn't be so busy now. He wondered what might be said when they read the letter; what they would think. Nothing he could do about that, he decided.

He removed the manila envelope from his bag and looked through it till he found a smaller envelope containing the letter. He took it out and read it. It was on Dr. Krell's letterhead and was really quite short, only two paragraphs, but it said a lot. He read the first sentence. "I have examined Joel Bates and have determined from the results of that examination that her body is anatomically female, and that all legal records should reflect that status." Joe could feel a rush of blood come to his cheeks as he read those words. It made everything which had happened seem so permanent. It was also perhaps, the only place he had seen himself referred to, in writing as a "she," and it put a lump in his throat when he read it. He carefully folded the paper and put it back into the envelope.

Joe opened the small bag he carried and removed his billfold. He found his driver's license and looked at it. A male image stared back from the photograph under the laminated plastic. It was his old male face. When he thought of his appearance, that face was still how he thought of himself in his mind's eye, but he knew that wasn't really the way he looked anymore. He ran his hand along his soft cheek, feeling its smoothness, and brushed his fingers through the hair of the wig which now covered his ears. No, he certainly wasn't like that anymore.

He placed his things back in the purse. Then, with very weak knees, he got out of the car and entered the building. He found that there was only one other person there doing business, a young mother with two small children. She was not in line, but was sitting in the seats along the wall, probably waiting for her paperwork, or something, Joe thought. He went to the counter where a middle aged woman was standing. He was glad it wouldn't be a man who waited on him. That might be even more embarrassing.

"Can I help you?" the lady asked.

"Yes. I need to change my driver's license." Joe said nervously. He opened his purse, and nervously retrieved his old certificate.

"Just married?" the woman asked, a big smile forming on her face.

"No, not really." He handed her his license, and then took the envelope containing the letter from Dr. Krell.

The woman looked at the old certificate, looked at Joe, then back at the certificate. She had a confused look as Joe handed her the paper. She opened it and read it, then again looked at Joe very carefully.

"My goodness," she remarked,"this is most unusual."

"Yes, ma'am," Joe said simply. He didn't know what to say anyway, and decided that as little as possible might be the best.

"I've read about this kind of thing," the lady went on. "But you're the first person I've actually seen who's had that operation."

She thinks I've had a "sex-change" operation, Joe thought to himself. Then he considered it. Maybe just let her think whatever she wants. He said nothing.

The woman looked at Joe carefully, at his face, and then lower, at his figure. She reread the paper, and then looked at the photograph on his license. Finally she spoke.

"Honey, that doctor sure did a fantastic job on you. I only wish I looked that good."

"Thank you."

"I'll have to check the book on this." The woman reached under the counter and pulled out her dog-eared copy of the regulations.

She went to the index, and then started thumbing through the book, reading a paragraph here, and another there. Finally, she looked back up at Joe, who was so nervous he was almost shaking visibly.

"I can't find anything that says I can't do it, so why not? I can see that you're a woman. There is no reason the state shouldn't correct your certificate," she said, winking.

Joe felt relief spreading throughout his body.

"Please come over here, hon," the woman said, pointing to the Polaroid camera that would take his new picture.

In a few minutes he had his picture taken, filled out the form, and paid the fee. Then he went to the seats by the wall to wait for the new certificate to be prepared. He sat next to the woman, who he decided was probably close to his age, maybe a bit younger. He smiled at her. She smiled back, but her main concern was the two year old boy by her side, who seemed to want to do nothing but squirm around.

Finally, the woman behind the counter called his name, and Joe went up to retrieve his new driver's license. The woman had a big smile on her face as she handed it to Joe. "Welcome to the sorority, darling. I know it took guts to do what you've done, and I just want you to know I'm behind you."

"Thanks. I really appreciate that," Joe said, flashing her a smile.

Great, Joe thought. She probably had just recently watched a segment of Donahue, or maybe even read some article in the "National Enquirer," and now she thinks that I'm like one of the characters on that show. Oh well, at least she's not some kind of female redneck, he decided. He walked out of the DMV office with his new license in his hand, and a big smile on his face.

Joe got in his RX-7 and drove to Linda's, relieved that one major hurdle had been overcome. It was three in the afternoon when Joe drove up the driveway. He hadn't eaten since breakfast, and he was getting hungry. He was a little surprised to see Linda's car sitting in the garage. He took his bag from the car, carried it into the house and put it in his room. Linda was nowhere to be found, so he went to the glass doors and looked out at the pool. He found her there, asleep on a lounge, an open book lying across her chest. Joe opened the sliding doors and went over to the sleeping woman. She heard the clicking of Joe's heels as walked alongside the pool and she opened her eyes.

"Hi, Joe. You're finally back, I see. I was expecting you yesterday."

"We had to stay over until this morning. Another person, a line boy, was also affected by this thing. We only found out about him yesterday, and Jay flew him over in the afternoon. They weren't finished till this morning."

"There's another guy changed like you are? My God, have they found out what's causing this yet?"

"Well, this guy, his name is Tim, he was probably with us when he got it," Joe explained. "He was watching as we calibrated the transmitters."

"And so now he's become female too?" Linda looked amazed.

"Yeah. So it seems."

"You look very nice in that outfit, Joe. It's hard to believe that its really you."

"Yeah. I know. I've been told that." He smiled thinly.

"Are you finished for the day?" Linda asked.

"I don't have to go in till the morning. They have the transmitters set up in a sort of containment cage, and tomorrow we'll be trying them out."

"On you?" Linda asked, showing concern.

"No, not yet anyway. I really don't know what the actual agenda is going to be."

"If you're done for the day, why don't you get into something more comfortable, and then come out here with me for a while?"

"Ok. I guess I can do that. But I have to find something to eat, first."

"You go change clothes, and I'll fix something. What would you like?"

"Oh, I don't know. Do you have any tuna salad?"

"I think I can make some." Linda got up and walked into the house. She was wearing her black one-piece swimsuit, and Joe walked behind her, watching her movements as she walked.

As Linda prepared the sandwiches, Joe went back to his room. He opened his bag and removed all the clothes inside. He took the dirty underwear and piled it on the dresser. He would hand wash those things later, he decided. The other clothes he either piled up to put in the laundry, or hung them on hangers in the closet.

He went back to the dresser and, from his underwear drawer he pulled out the lime green swimsuit Linda had given him. He held up the little green bottom, placing his fingers in the stretchy waist band. It was still difficult to accept that things like this actually fit him now. He looked at the bra-like top. He knew that it fit him even better than it did Linda, and she knew it too. That's why she told him she didn't want it back after she had loaned it to him last Saturday. He shrugged his shoulders, and tossed the two pieces on the bed.

Joe took off the gray suit and satin blouse, then stood there, looking at himself in the mirror over the dresser. Although it had been five days since he had awaked to find himself like this, it was still difficult to believe his own reflection. The feeling was as if he was inside some one else's body. As he gazed at his reflection, he found he just couldn't resist running his hands along the profile of those soft breasts, and then down, feeling the slickness of the satin slip covering his hips. He could feel the very pronounced hump of his protruding hipbones. He wasn't sure...could it be it felt a little more evident than the last time he had examined this part of his anatomy. Could it be that he was still subtly changing? Possible...but he hoped not.

He thought about what Mike said that morning, about how he felt that his breasts might still be developing; getting larger. He touched his breasts, enjoying the feel of the slick softness. Unlike Mike, Joe considered that his new breasts were quite big enough, and it didn't seem that there were getting any bigger. His touch, as well as the thoughts that were going through his mind, made his nipples harden. He could feel them, even through the thin, seamless cups of the little black bra he was wearing. He liked the sensation. Of all the changes his body had undergone, his new breasts, and these sensitive nipples, were probably the most noticeable difference.

Joe stepped out of the slip, and removed his bra. His breasts always felt cool right after they were exposed to open air. He couldn't remember his chest ever feeling like that when he removed his T-shirt. Probably his skin was just more sensitive now. He started to pull down the tiny black G-string. Looking at the tiny underwear caused smile to appear on his face. There was hardly anything to it...the black nylon barely even covered his closely trimmed pubic hair. He slowly pulled it down his hips, watching himself in the mirror as he did so. He inspected the narrow triangle of soft, dark blond hair, trying to decide if he should trim it so that it wouldn't peek out from the hi-cut legs of the suit bottom. Joe could feel some stubble, but decided that it would probably be ok, at least for now.

He went over to the bed and picked up the little suit bottom, then carefully stepped into it and pulled it up his hips. Joe found that just doing that gave him a strangely erotic feeling. The snug fit of the stretch fabric always seemed to emphasize the amazing change his anatomy had undergone, and he was finding that he actually liked the soft, rounded sleekness that accompanied this new gender.

If, before the change, you had asked Joe which part of his body had been most important to him sexually, he likely would have said it was his penis. But now that it was no longer there, he discovered that he didn't really miss it, at least not for sexual purposes anyway. These new genitalia were, he decided, a quite suitable replacement for what had been taken from him, even if they did take some getting used to.

He did miss the convenience of male parts when it was time to urinate, though. For simplifying the task of taking a pee, he had quickly found that having that penis dangling down there had been quite handy. That, and maybe the fact that the (almost identical) sensation of an erection was now also accompanied by the uncomfortable feeling of wetting his underpants. Those were the only things about his changed body that he didn't find to be at least as good as before. Much of the time, he didn't even think about having a vagina. It was so tucked away, down there between his legs, not really visible without a mirror. You almost had to touch it to know it was even there, most of the time anyway, when it wasn't uncomfortably wet from excitement.

He remembered last evening, watching Tim; how the changed young man had been confused by his own body after his brain had been dulled by alcohol. He closed his eyes... it was really true... if you couldn't see what you looked like... and if nothing was touching you down there, the sensations of female genitalia really were not that much different. When he really thought about it, it did feel was somewhat as if his penis was being gently pulled down, sort of tucked in between his legs. Since it now felt like that all the time, he had become used to it. He couldn't even tell, there was no sensation that his balls were no longer there. Of course, that change was likely to make itself known once a month.

He looked at himself as he slowly ran his hand along the gap between his legs, tracing his fingers along the narrow crotch strip of the swimsuit. What he had become, under that sleek suit bottom, looked and felt pretty good. Sometimes... (he thought about Jay, and what they had done the other evening)... being stuck like this might even be interesting.

Joe looked at himself in the mirror again. He put the swimsuit top on, and then wondered if he should remove the wig. It was hot, but he was getting used to the feeling. It might feel cooler without it, but as he checked his appearance, he knew he liked the way the longer hair made him look. I'll leave it on, he decided. I probably won't be getting in the pool anyway. He went to the bathroom and got a beach towel, then went to the kitchen. Wearing only the bikini, he felt self conscious as he walked through the house, so he wrapped the towel around his hips like a sarong.

Linda was standing at the counter, scooping tuna onto slices of bread, and then adding a leaf of lettuce to each sandwich. She made one for Joe, and one for herself, adding a handful of chips to each plate before bringing them to the table. There was already a pitcher of iced tea on the table, and Joe poured a glass for Linda and then one for himself. They sat across the small table from each other.

"Well, how did it go, Joe? Have they come up with anything yet?"

"I don't really think so. I think they're just trying to get us to accept the situation the best we can."

"You mean they still don't have any idea what caused it?"

"Well, I think we have some idea about that, but just knowing that is a long way from knowing how to correct it."

"So then what?"

"I don't know. I guess I better get used to wearing your clothes." Joe grinned, and snapped one of the shoulder straps of the swimsuit.

"But, how can you stand it?" Linda asked. "I mean you look ok, and I know you're healthy, and all that... but... I mean... you're a man. How can you stand it, having to go around looking like a woman?"

"I guess I could ask you the same question, couldn't I?"

"Yeah, but I was always like this, I didn't have a choice."

"Choice? What do you mean by choice?" Joe objected. "I don't have any more choice about this than you do. I certainly didn't ask for this to happen, and I sure am not trying to keep from changing back."

Linda was silent minute or two as she thought about what was said.

"I'm sorry Joe. I shouldn't have said that. I just don't know what to think about this. I just want it to be the way it used to be."

"I know. I do too. I just don't know when, or if, that will ever be possible. Until then, I guess I'm stuck like this."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said. I just don't know what to do to help you."

"You are helping me." Joe said. "You have helped me a lot already, just by being around and teaching me how to live with the changes. I'm sorry I can't be what you need. Sometimes I think it might be worse for you than for me, in some ways."

"I don't see how that could be. You have to live day and night with that body."

"Yeah, but it is MY body. I realize it looks different, a lot different, and believe me, I KNOW that. But its still mine."

"But, you're a man. How can you stand it? Having to go around looking like that...like a woman," Linda questioned.

"But that's just it. I more than just look like a woman. I guess I actually am a woman. Hell, sometimes I believe I'm even beginning to think like a woman, if that's possible. Believe me, it's weird...and I know I can't explain it."

"But... what about us? How do you feel about me?"

"I don't know... I mean... Look at me... Hell, I'm wearing this swimsuit... it's yours... and it fits me." Joe said. "Things just can't be the same between us with me looking like this."

"What are they doing... What do they do at this clinic? Can't they operate...can't they perform surgery, make you a male again?"

"Yeah, they could probably do some things to make me look more masculine than I do, but Dr. Krell says that it wouldn't make me a real male, not like I was anyway, and also, if they did do something, and then found some way to really change me back, I'd be stuck. I don't know what I'd look like if they tried to change me back after cutting on me, some kind of mutilated freak, probably. I don't want to try that, at least not yet." Joe explained carefully.

"So you're going to stay that way, looking like this?" Linda asked.

"I just came from the Department of Motor Vehicles, I'm now legally female. I even have a new driver's license."

"Really?" Linda was amazed. "They gave you that? Just for asking?"

"Well, I do have a letter from the clinic, from Dr. Krell, and it is all I need to change my records, or at least all my civilian ones, anyway."

"So you're a woman now?" Linda asked, looking at him from across the table.

"I think I've been one since last Friday, but I signed the papers yesterday."

Linda just sat there silently, looking at what the man she loved had become. She didn't know what to do, or even what to think about the whole thing. Finally, she spoke again. "So what should we do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know. How do you feel about me? Do you still want to stay here, with me? I... ah... I mean... do you still like women? And how do you feel about men?"

"Do I still like women? "Yes, I guess I do. I mean, I can feel myself changing... changing in all kinds of ways. I don't know what I'll want to do or what I'll feel like wanting next. This whole female thing... I think now I can understand why a guy can't figure women out. Hell, I guess I am one, and I know I can't figure myself out."

"What can I do?" Linda asked. "How can I help?"

"Just be here for me. Don't push me away...not yet anyway."

"I won't do that." Linda said. "I would never do that."

"Why not?" Joe answered. "I mean, what if turns out I'll be like this for the rest of my life? That's entirely possible, you know, maybe even probable. What then? How do YOU feel about women? And what about men? I know you like men. Won't you want... won't you need a man once in a while? I know I can't be one for you now, damn it. Maybe I might even want to find one of my own." He looked at her and grinned.

"Are you serious?" Linda wasn't sure what to think, but it was becoming obvious that anything might be possible.

"Hey, I really don't know, but until I know what's happening to me, I can't rule anything out." Joe didn't want his new feelings to come as a shock to her. He still loved her, but he knew his feelings were changing quickly, and he didn't know what would happen.

"Well..." Linda said. Then she was silent as she considered it all. It was hard for her to accept Joe looking like this, but to think that he might actually want to be with a man... that was really hard to swallow.

When they finished eating, Linda got up and went back out to the pool. Joe quickly washed the plates, and then went to the pool and stretched out next to her. Linda looked at him, and reached her arm out, placing it on his shoulder. "Whatever happens, I'll understand."

Joe looked into her eyes, and could feel the tears welling in his own as he rubbed her arm with his hand. "Linda, I don't know what's going to become of all this, but whatever does happen, it's not your fault. You've been fantastic throughout all this. I don't know if I can ever really be a man again. It doesn't look too promising to me. But no matter what, I know I'll always love you. I just don't know how I'll be able to express it."

"Well, if we can't be lovers, at least we can be best friends, can't we?" Linda smiled.

"At least." Joe answered, a big grin forming. "But maybe we can still try to be lovers too." He winked.

"Yeah. I'd like that." Linda got her finger under the shoulder strap of Joe's top, and teasingly pulled it away from his shoulder.

"Do you?" Joe asked her. "Do you really want that?"

"Of course." Linda said. "I said I do, and I do."

"Are you... do you think we're lesbians?" Joe asked, hoping the question wouldn't offend her.

"I don't know. I guess I was wondering that myself. I mean, I never even considered playing around with another woman. I mean... you're not... I mean we're... Oh, you know. Maybe you really are a woman now, and maybe you even feel like one, but I still think of you as you used to be, no matter what you look like now. Maybe we can't have heterosexual sexual relations anymore, and because of that some people might think we're acting like lesbians. I don't know, and I don't even care. I only know I still like being with you, in every way." Linda tried to explain.

"Yeah. Same for me. The feelings I've been having, I've never had them, never even considered things like this before. But when I was told that I might be this way for the rest of my life... I mean, well... we're both young, and that could a long time..." He didn't know how to put into words, the confusing thoughts going through his mind.

"Let's just let it happen...see how it works out. Ok?"

"Not much else we can do, as I see it." Joe said. He leaned back on the lounge and scratched an itch where the suit was starting to irritate the light stubble beginning to form at his bikini line.

Linda saw what he was doing, and grinned. "Does it itch?"

"Yeah. I guess I'll have to clean it up with the razor again. It sure grows out fast. I guess didn't realize it would itch like this."

"I told you to keep it trimmed, or it would do that," Linda admonished, with a grin. "Either let it grow out, or keep it shaved."

Joe looked over at her. "I guess I'm starting to get used to this, at least a little... but it's so different..."

"I'm amazed at how you've adapted. Less than a week, and you're acting almost like you've been a woman all your life."

"Maybe that's what it looks like," Joe objected, "but it seems a lot different from this side." He grinned.

"What is it like, really? I mean... which way is better... being a male, or female?"

He looked into her eyes. He could tell she really wanted to know. He thought about it. He had been thinking about that question, too... for days.

"Thirty years ago, when I was born, I was a boy and of course, I was raised a boy...an only child. When I discovered girls, the difference between them and me, I was impressed. They had such soft, curvy bodies, they smelled good, and they wore such sexy clothes; I really thought that girls were neat." Joe stared into space as he thought and spoke. "When I was... Oh... seventeen, I finally had sex for the first time. It was pretty good, too. I couldn't believe somebody else's body could make mine feel that good. But we were dumb kids, and I got her pregnant. She gave the baby up. I don't know any more about it." Joe could feel the tears welling.

"Please go on." Linda begged. This was the first Joe had ever told her of this part of his past.

"Well, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I really thought that some day, maybe with you, I'd get another chance, a chance to REALLY be a father. Now it looks like that will never happen. That makes me a little sad, I guess."

"What happened to the girl? Did you love her?"

"Hey, I was seventeen. Yeah, I thought I loved her, but I don't know... If I really did, I guess I would have tried to find her later. We broke up, and I think she moved away. I never even thought about it again until they asked me about it the other day. It's in my military records. I didn't even know it was there."

"So that's what you miss most about being a male?" Linda continued, "the ability to become a father?"

"Gee, I don't really know how to answer the question." Joe considered. "What do you want to know, the physical difference, or the way it's starting to change the way I think?"

"I have plenty of time," Linda said. "Tell me all of it."

"Well, you can see the way I look, and you know what it's like to be a woman. What do you want to know?"

"I don't know. You woke up the other day with your body changed to female. It must feel different. It sure looks different."

"Yeah... sure. It does feel different, but not as much different as you might imagine. Usually, the only things that feel different are these boobs. I can almost always feel them, either bouncing around whenever I walk, or brushing against things, or when my nipples get hard. I didn't realize you could feel that. It feels pretty good, I think." Joe grinned as he spoke.

"My skin... my whole body feels a lot more sensitive. I think the nerves must be closer to the surface, or something. It feels different, but I'm pretty well getting used to that now. I don't notice it very much anymore. I'm more sensitive to temperature changes. I think I get cold easier and at a higher temperature." Joe thought some more.

"I can usually tell I'm a little shorter, too. It's not really that much, but I think its all from my body. My legs are probably almost the same length, because mostly I can tell the difference when I'm sitting. I feel weaker too. I know I'm not nearly as strong as before. My butt feels like it's bigger. I know it doesn't look that big, but... I guess it's my hips, or maybe it's just that now I'm smaller on top, my shoulders that is." He grinned, and cupped his breasts with his hands.

"And of course, this..." He moved his hand down to the tiny bulge at his crotch. "This is a lot different. Especially different looking. It doesn't feel nearly as different as it looks. In fact, a lot of the time it really doesn't feel any different, except when it gets wet. Of course, sometimes that's pretty often, and sometimes not at all. Just whenever something gets me excited." He looked at her and grinned a devilish grin.

"And who... what, gets you excited?" Linda asked. "Males, or females?"

"Women, for sure. Sometimes just like before, it seems, except for the physical difference of course. I can tell it's changing though. It takes longer to get me going. You know what I mean?"

"Yeah, maybe I do. What about orgasm? I know you've had one now, how does it compare to before?"

Joe thought about the difference in the way he experienced climax since the change. "Yeah, it sure was different, a lot different. It was hard to say it was a whole lot better, maybe a little, but mostly just different." It depends. It's a lot different. It takes longer, not much longer, so far, anyway, but then, I guess it lasts longer too. And I suppose it's neat not having to worry about having an erection. I was just starting to notice it was taking me longer to recover after one of our sessions. I guess I was starting to get old." He grinned. "But now, I guess I won't have to worry about that anymore."

"Don't you ever wonder what it would be like to make it with a guy, now that you can probably do that?"

Joe was silent for a moment, considering what he should say. "Yeah, I guess I do wonder what it would be like. How is it?" he asked her, wanting to get the questions way from him.

"Oh, you know... you've made it with me. You've seen how it makes me feel. I guess it's pretty good. I don't know what to say," Linda said, her embarrassment showing.

"And what do you think it's like to make love to a woman... as a man, that is?" Joe continued, giving her a dose of her own medicine.

"I've always wondered about that. I guess everybody does. I mean, what's the guy feeling, what's he thinking? You know."

"Yeah, I do know." Joe said. "He's usually thinking that this person he's with... her body feels fantastic... her vagina like warm silk... her breasts like little warm pillows... or maybe big warm pillows..." He laughed.

"I wish I could change like you did, but maybe only for a day." Linda said quickly. "I think it would be very interesting."

"Yeah, I wish you could, too, " Joe teased. "I'd probably let you go to bed with me on the first date. I'd show YOU just how good it can feel to be a man."

"I'd like that," Linda said, touching Joe's arm again.

They continued to lounge by the pool, taking in the sun, making small talk and just enjoying each others company for another half hour. Then, Linda got up, and started to go inside. Joe followed her and they both went to their own rooms to change.

Joe changed out of the swimsuit, choosing a light top with white shorts. He put the black underwear back on, but then exchanged those for more conservative colors when he saw how easily the outline of his underwear could be seen through the thin fabric. As he deftly slipped into the skin toned seamless underwire, he realized that he had come a long way since that first morning, only a few days ago. Now, he didn't even have to think about it as he snapped the little plastic clasp between the cups. The normal everyday tasks of being a woman were quickly becoming standard practice.

Joe went out to the family living area and sat on the couch. He started thumbing through the magazines on the table. He hadn't paid it much attention before, but now he noticed that Linda's taste in reading material ran from "Vogue" to "Architectural Digest." When he looked at the small pile of magazines, he realized that before, he would disinterestedly have thumbed through the one, and completely ignored the other. He had shown little interest in fashion, especially clothing, when he was male. Now, although he hardly a could be considered wild about things like that, he found he did have a mild interest.

He picked up the "Vogue," examining the face of the model on the cover. She was beautiful, maybe early twenties, with very smooth skin and makeup just right. Joe noticed things like that now. Before, she just would have been pretty, and he might have tried to imagine what she looked like without the little silk top she wore. Now, he found he looked at the details, her makeup, hair, and even the clothes, before he looked at the model. His priorities were changing.

Joe started thumbing through the pages, pausing with new interest to check out the many ads for cosmetics and underwear. He came to an article on birth control methods. He thought about the tape he had seen at the clinic, and about the short briefing on the subject of feminine hygiene they had been given. With considerable interest, he read the article. It discussed the different types, the reliability, ease of use, and drawbacks of each type. He read the three paragraphs about the diaphragm three times. That, he decided is probably what he should ask Dr. Krell about. He knew, from the things Dr. Krell had already said, that they would be discouraged from using chemical means like the pill. Since what had happened to them seemed to be unique, the doctors didn't want any foreign substances introduced into their systems. He agreed with that. Of course, when he had been told about it, he really didn't put birth control very high on his list of priorities. At that time, he was more interested in finding a way to change back to male than going to bed with one. But the first time he had been alone with a guy, and his pal Jay at that, they had been intimate. He wasn't pushed into it, either. He had initiated it, or at least something inside him did. He hadn't felt completely in control as it was happening, and he wasn't sure if something like that would happen again. But if it did, he wanted to be prepared. He had enough things to get accustomed to; he didn't need to add pregnancy to the list.

Linda came into the room and walked over to the couch. She stood behind it and started rubbing Joe's shoulders, as she had done many times before. Joe was engrossed in the article, and kept reading. Linda became curious about what Joe found so interesting and also started reading. When she saw the subject of the article, she spoke.

"Birth control?" She exclaimed. "I thought you were just telling me one of the things you miss most is not being able to be a father."

"Yeah, but I'm SURE not ready to be a mother."

"Well, you know how to keep that from happening, just keep your knees together," Linda teased, "or just sleep with me." She grinned. "I don't think you'll have to worry about me making you a mother."

"I guess that is a benefit, isn't it?" Joe smiled.

He put the magazine on the table, and using all the strength his body could muster, struggled to pull Linda over the back of the couch, and into his arms. She willingly helped him along, or he wouldn't have been able to do it. He was still a little bigger and stronger than Linda, but not much. Their lips met, and they kissed for a long time. As they embraced, Joe could feel his own breasts press against Linda's. He found the sensation strangely pleasurable, and wondered if Linda felt the same way. He moved his chest around, so that he was sure she felt his softness.

"I don't know if I'll ever get used to having these things," Joe said, as their long kiss came to an end.

"Don't you like it? You look so nice. You really have a good figure, you know."

"Yeah, I guess it's ok, and I have to admit it feels pretty good." He bent down slightly, again rubbing his breasts on hers. "But... I don't know... It just feels funny, like I'm swollen there, or something," Joe said, trying to describe the way his new body shape was interpreted by his old body image.

"You'll get used to it." Linda advised. "I feel that way too, just before my period."

"Gee, I hope that's not going to happen very soon. I think I have enough to worry about."

"If you really are a woman, I'm afraid it goes with the territory. But, I think you'll find it really isn't all that bad."

"But blood coming out of me? It's a little hard to accept."

"I had the same concern when I was a kid. I think I was twelve, when I had mine for the first time," Linda confided.

"What was it like, being a little girl and all?"

"What do you mean, what was it like? How do I answer that?"

"You were a little girl, and I'll bet your mom helped you learn about girl things. I was a boy, and now, I have to learn all the things, all the stuff you had years to learn. It scares me."

"I'll help," Linda said, "but just what do you want to know?"

"I don't know. I mean, what was it like, when you got your first period?"

Linda closed her eyes, and was silent. She appeared to be thinking deeply. Finally she spoke. "My mom told me what was going to happen. I guess I thought that blood would just start gushing out. I was really worried, I even thought I might bleed to death or something. She bought me some sanitary pads, and I carried one in my purse for months. I wanted to be ready. Then, one day, I felt kind of funny, I thought I had a tummy ache, or gas, or something. I never guessed it could be that. But when I went to the restroom, there was a little brown stain on my underwear. There was no gushing blood or anything like that, just a little spot. I didn't even realize what it was at first. My mom saw it when she did the laundry, and asked me about it. That's what my first time was like." She looked at him and smiled.

"How long did it take before it came on full strength?"

"I don't know. It was spotty at first, I didn't even have one every month, but finally, after maybe six or eight months, it started to get more regular, and the flow a little heavier. It never does just 'gush out' though. But I guess that can happen. I use tampons most of the time. They're much more convenient. Try them when your time comes. It won't be so bad, don't worry about it," Linda explained with a grin. She had begun to talk to Joe more like a big sister. Joe didn't mind though, he was only interested in what she was saying.

Joe and Linda continued talking, with Joe asking questions, and Linda trying her best to answer each one. By all his questions, Joe was trying to learn, in a short time, the things he figured he would need if he was going to spend the rest of his life with this new body. Finally evening came, and they went to their respective rooms to prepare for bed. Joe removed his makeup, took off the hairpiece, and then showered, remembering to trim up his bikini line while in the shower.

When he came back into his room, Linda was already there, lying in his bed, wearing a satin sleep shirt. Joe was nude, still drying himself with a towel. He dropped the towel, and joined Linda on the bed. They embraced, and then lay back caressing and feeling each other all over. Joe found being with her still enjoyable. She certainly knew what made his new parts feel good. But it seemed that something was missing, and he couldn't describe what was missing. He just did the best he could, reciprocating, taking turns, and doing to Linda all the things that she did to him. Then they both fell asleep, as usual, in each other's arms.