Shelly

Chapter 4: it's about to happen

It had been eight months since I had put on that first dress and I was now twelve and a half. Lorna and I had become very close. Kate was our best friend now. We would chat on our phones all the time, girl stuff of course. I don't think I tried to understand what was happening. I don't think I could. I was in a sense living two lives - one as Shelly, which I loved, and the other as Micky, which was my normal rather dull life. I didn't hate the latter, I didn't hate Micky. I just felt that it was simply the way things were. What neither Lorna or I was aware of, was that our parents were noticing changes.

Then came the most terrifying, bewildering, confusing, awesome, exhilarating, wonderful day in my entire short life. But first I have to say, I will never, never understand how mothers know so much about their children. It is a complete mystery to me.

We had finished dinner and Lorna and I were upstairs sitting cross legged on her bed chattering away about anything that came into our heads - this was something we did a lot - when we heard an unusual noise from downstairs. Lorna jumped up and ran to the bedroom door. She said: "I think Dad just swore . . . and he's still going."

I ran to the door and we both crept out into the corridor. I said, "They're not fighting are they?". They never fought. Disagreements, sure; but they always seem to be able to sit down and sort it out. We heard Dad say: "No, it had better be me," and then Mum say in her smoothing voice: "Try to calm down on the way, love."

"Yep, I'll be right, I'll be right," and we heard him go into the garage and drive away.

"Some major stuff up at the warehouse is my guess."

"Probably," I replied and we went back to our chatting.

About an hour later we heard Mum's phone ring and, of course, we snuck out to eavesdrop.

"Oh, that's good, yeah, yeah, okay, fine, couple hours, right, see you then, love."

"All is well in the world," said Lorna and we went back to our never-ending chat.