EJ

Chapter 8: the short break

Almost ten weeks, and the mid-sem break (a few days off in the middle of the first semester) was nigh. The Wessex worked their students at least fifty percent harder than a regular high school. Even the mid-year break between the first and second semesters would only be for a week.

Parents were permitted to take their children home during the breaks, or the children could just remain at school. Most of the thirty-two students in our year would be staying at school for the mid-sem.

Eva and I were both going home. Me, to have a medical examination - fair enough, but you're still a bastard, Dad, though perhaps not quite as much - and Eva, so that she could talk to her mother (the bitch) about the Mouse situation.

The Mouse and Dory were staying in school.

My doctors were pleased with the progress of my transition. That was supposed to be good news!

My boobs had grown more and my face and body shape were more feminine. Maybe I'm kidding myself about my face; maybe it had always been girly.

Dad was really nice to me for the few days I was home and we had fun, but occasionally he seemed preoccupied - had he heard from Mum, I wondered, but didn't ask.

Back at school and into the swing of things. Fancy being glad to be back; what's wrong with you, dopey, you've lost the plot.

No, I haven't.

Miss Hewson was different from any music teacher I'd had before. She encouraged me to express myself, to put my feelings into the music. Perhaps my technical development suffered, but I loved what she was helping me to do.

And, of course, there was Eva.

Second mail day after our return, Eva showed me a letter from her mother and pointed to one line:

"Sorted. Enjoyed it."

I kissed her on the cheek, "Well done, you."

We looked over to where the Mouse was sitting on her bed with her two friends who had dropped in. They were all chattering away.

"She's going to be okay," I murmured.