Life Imitates Art

Part 7 - Calling For Help

Tess_

Max just left my room in his usual jogging bottoms and hoodie. He's likely off to make more edits to Maxine, or draw something else completely new. His mind will be completely past this moment we just spent with him trying on my skirts. I should move on too.

But I can't.

That didn't seem like my brother just there. That seemed like an entirely different and albeit prettier person. Am I reading too much into this? I best open a book, before I let the thoughts win and start looking for answers to a question I've invented.

The last thing I want to do is tell Mum or Dad about it. Neither has revealed themselves as being against that sort of thing before, but I really don't know how they would react if they saw what I just saw. If they heard the words he just said as he was trying them on. The way his mouth formed an uneasy smile as I called him 'sis' and 'Maxine.' 

I need to see if there's an obscure enough contact in my brain that can help me here. Do I know anyone who knows a boy who wears skirts? I know I don't have a single transgender or cross-dressing friend, none that have made themselves known to me, and I don't say that like they have to tell me. Their secrets are theirs to keep. But still...hmmm...

Who was the girl at drama that knew the trans girl? There was a huge stink about it a few months ago where she is. It was pretty much all she could talk about on certain days, given the chance. After a month or so, she seemed to distance herself from that obsession. Oh, who was it? 

Ah, I can't remember. And I don't just want to call any of them up or message them to say they know that trans kid. That just doesn't sound good at all. But she is the same age as me. My stupid memory is failing me. Ask me what happened in the plot of a book I read 4 years ago and I would produce a handy summary with quotes and reference! But ask me someone's name or if I remember a certain face and my answers are as blank as fresh paper. 

What am I even thinking? I can just call my friend in the class and she'll be able to tell me! Thanks, common sense, for eventually showing up!

"Hey, Tess!"

"Hey, how's your Friday?"

"All good, yeah. Just getting ready to head out to a pal's place. He's got a few mates going round. Take it you're not interested?"

"Nah, I'm all good. I'm cosy with a book."

"Of course you are! Well, enjoy that then, party animal!"

"You know I will. By the way, you know the drama club?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Who is the girl who used to talk about her transgender friend?"

"Ah, that's Courtney!" That was it!

"Oh yeah! It was just bugging me. One of those things you just get stuck in your head. The book I'm reading has a trans girl in it, so it got me thinking!"

"You do a lot of that. And not a lot of partying!"

"I'm not going to change that anytime soon! Enjoy, and don't get too drunk!"

"I have until morning to sober up for drama. And if I don't, I can just do it drunk. Wouldn't be the first time." She's a chaotic one.

The call ends with a pleasant goodbye on either side, and I go back to my book. I should speak to Courtney about it tomorrow. But how? I draft a few ideas, but they all seem psychotic. I also see if I can find her on Facebook, which is most definitely a crazy move. Despite my searching, she never shows up even once on my app! She seems quite popular not to have a social media account.