Michael's Story (part 1)
Cheryl Marie was a lovely girl I met in Cincinnati a number of years ago. Sadly, her life was cut short when she was hospitalized and died from pneumonia acquired there. This story is exactly as she wrote it, except for a few spelling and grammatical corrections. I publish this in fond memory of her – I only wish she had lived to see it published.
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The every-day sound of the telephone ring-tone heralded the most transformative year of my life.
I was enjoying a quiet and sunny Saturday morning in my apartment. A quiet lazy morning, reading fashion magazines, some fun internet chatting, and a variety of heavenly music from Bach to acoustic blues from Mary Flower.
My kind of morning. No pressure. Casually, but nicely dressed. Light daytime make-up. My cat , Wilbur, curled beside me. Feeling totally feminine and myself (perhaps two ways of saying the same thing?). Trying to decide whether to do my work-out at noon or late afternoon. And what to wear tonight? Decisions! Decisions!
The incoming call broke me from my reverie. Who the hell is that on a Saturday morning? The caller ID destroyed the suspense. Michael, the attorney with whom I worked and whose company I so enjoyed. Perhaps too much. How odd, though! He had never called me at home before. Was this trouble? I took a gulp and picked up the receiver.
His familiar and pleasing voice addressed me by the male name I used at work.
"Hi Carl, Michael here. Sorry to disturb you on a Saturday morning and also for the late notice, but there are some questions I have about the draft brief we have been working on. Could I prevail upon you to join me for lunch to review it? Just to make up for the inconvenience, we can meet at a nice place. "
"Wow, Michael, this is a surprise! I would love to ...uhhhh.........but...."
"But what?", he replied with a simple curiosity.
How was I going to put this? This was catching me totally by surprise!
I went on a bit hestitantly, "Well I do adore the firm's open policy on people like me. And I have shared with you my real sense of being feminine, even though I dress and work as a guy. But right now I don't look very much like Carl. I would have to change and make myself presentable as Carl. After all, although you know all about me, you have never seen me the way I usually am on weekends and evenings."
Most uncharacteristically, Michael seemed equally unsure of himself when he replied, "Well Carl ... I don't want to put you to that trouble. Are you comfortable joining me without being yourself? Whatever is OK with you. After all, you have shared enough of your true feelings with me, I am sorta curious to see you the way you would prefer. But I am not trying to be pushy!"
Two adults and professionals acting like two nervous junior high school kids!
I shot back, "Are you really sure you want to see Cheryl and not Carl?"
"Yes, " He said, without hesitation.
The adults were back!
I pondered the restaurant choices, especially for a person like me, and offered: "Well, do you kno, Andre's? I go there often. They know me there and I would feel comfortable. It does have a very mixed clientele. Would you be comfortable with that? I mean ... you have a gorgeous wife and amazing family! People might see you with me and talk."
He was still responding like an adult, "Don't worry, Carl ... ummmm ... or should I say 'Cheryl'"? I'm a big boy. And I do know of the place. How soon would be convenient for you? After all I am the one imposing on you!"
"Cheryl is it?" I replied with a giggle. I could not hold back a touch of mirth in my voice. It just emerged on its own! "Bad mirth! Naughty, naughty mirth!" I thought to myself smiling at the zany line from Holy Grail! But no spanking for this mirth!
Nor could Michael hide his sense of fun, when he said, "Well sure! Let's get into character! Just because we will be doing some work, doesn't mean we can't have a few laughs too, like we usually do!"
I reflected a moment of how well we worked together and our many pleasant conversations and said "Yes...I'll be there in an hour or so...hmmm....bwtter make that at least 30 minutes of "so' ". Be ready to meet the real me in the flesh, Mr. Mike!"
"I will be quite ready, mystery lady!", he chuckled. "If i know women, I will expect more like 40 to 50 of 'so'. Don't sweat it ... I will have plenty to read."
So like Michael! I was confident that whatever came of this lunch, it would not create any problems in our friendship.
During my gender exploration and partial transition, I had learned that new steps forward often presented themselves, and it was usually best to grab them as they arose. This would be one. And it would be a hoot to see how Michael would react to Cheryl.
There was something slightly different in his voice. More than the usual office banter that we enjoyed so much. That something was grabbing me, even though I tried to force the thoughts out my mind. Something I had dreamt of but dared not expect ever to hear. Or was my imagination playing games with me? Making me hear more than just Michael's usual sense of humor and fun. And what about his wife and family? No time to think about all that now though!
After all my senior attorney suggested a working lunch, and per force (oh so lawyerly, that phrase!) this workin' gal was duty bound to go. Yeah, right!
Now I had to rush about and make myself look professional and ladylike, but a bit more upscale than the cargo pants and pink sweatshirt I had on. Oh, and I had do SOMETHING with my hair! M better have a heap of readin' with him!
Being just a teensy bit late would reinforce my image of being womanly! Wow, what was I really thinking here?
–––––––––––––––––––– To be continued ...
Feel free to contact me with your comments or requests. –Bill (oral_guy_2000@yahoo.com)
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