Gradual Change

Ch. 5

Ryan entered the house with his mom, Jeff, and George.

"Boys, change your uniform, anything causal will do," Jeff said the moment all of them were inside the house.

Heather followed Ryan to his room. He still didn't have the privilege of choosing his own clothes. In his room, Heather chose a white sweater with grey skinny jeans for Ryan and left the room so he could change.

While it was his mom who chose his clothes Ryan didn't mind that much. The only problem with his appearance was being mistaken for a girl. Ever since he was five, he had been mistaken for a girl. That was the reason he decided to let his hair grow. If he's going to be mistaken for a girl he might as well do what he wants.

As far as he could remember he had always liked his mom's hair. Silky beautiful and long with its golden shine. He was happy to have the same hair as his mom and he wanted to have it long just like his mom. Seeing that it didn't matter and he was going to be mistaken for a girl any way, he decided to let it grow.

In fact, short hair caused him more problems. People would give him weird looks. Some people at the salon his mom goes to, especially some old ladies, always asked his mom why she kept her daughter's hair short? Of course, Heather would have none of it. She wouldn't even tell them that Ryan was a boy.

Ryan was her baby and no stranger had the right to make decisions for him. She always made it clear that her child could have his hair as short as he wants to and they should keep to their business. Heather, however, didn't tell them he was a boy as she considered it off the topic and had nothing to do with strangers interfering in her child's life.

Ryan got dressed before putting a pair of black sneakers on. While he was walking out of the room, his hair fell in front of his eyes blocking his view causing him to hit the door. When his chest hit the door he felt like electricity ran through his body. His chest had been a bit sore lately but he hadn't been paying attention to it. But he never felt like this before.

With a sigh, Ryan pulled his hair away from his face and opened his room door. He decided to tell his mom about it maybe she could help him. While at it he also wanted to ask his mom to help him with his hair so it would stop falling as she did before. Walking to his parents' room Ryan knocked on the door.

Once the door was open Ryan could see his mom in a white sweater and gray skirt. She was wearing to match with Ryan only that Ryan's clothes were obviously for boys. Heather knew how he hated being mistaken for a girl so she thought maybe if his clothes were obviously boyish, then people would stop mistaking him for a girl. It didn't work but Ryan never complained. "Something wrong sweetie?" Heather asked.

Ryan nodded. "My chest hurts a bit, and can you do my hair like you did last week?"

Heather caught what he said and started to worry. Heather used to love winter but now she hates winter. Seeing her child in bed, while other children are playing or going to school, was never a good sight for Heather. Ryan would spend most of the winter in bed. Sometimes he would even spend Christmas in bed.

Placing her hand on Ryan's forehead, Heather checked to see if he had a fever but he seems to be ok. "You don't have a fever; do you feel sick?" Heather asked very concernedly about her child.

Ryan simply shook his head a couple of hair strands falling in front of his eyes. Heather couldn't help but chuckle as Ryan adjusted his hair to stop blocking his vision. "Not fair," Ryan pouted as Heather laughed.

"Ok, come inside let me take a look at your chest then I will fix your hair for you," Heather said leading Ryan into the room.

"Alright let me take a look," Heather said as Ryan took off his sweater and undershirt tank top. Taking a look at his chest almost immediately Heather could spot the problem. There seems to be a bit of swelling on his chest and his nipples were getting a bit bigger.