Becoming Her (Trans)

Chapter 8

"Ugh," Kelly groans in annoyance. She falls face-down on my bed, her arms splayed out. "I can't believe how stupid people are," she muffles. "If I hear one person asking if Pocahontas lead Lewis and Clark, I'm going to explode."

"As long as you do it outside of my room," I say, turning a page in my math book. "I don't want any of your grey matter on the textbooks." I turn to see Kelly stick her tongue out at me. Laughing, I return to my homework. "Glad you're feeling better."

My sister sits up on her knees and puts her hands behind her head. "I can't believe I went through the 11 circles of hell and fucking survived," she says. "I can go do something mind-melting this weekend, and forget for 2 days straight that I'm supposed to be a proud Cougar."

"There are 9." Kelly gives me a confused look. "Dante's Inferno. He mentioned 9 circles of hell, not 11."

"Of course you have to correct me." Glaring at me, Kelly takes out her phone and starts texting. Minutes later, her shoulders slump. "None of my friends can go to the mall with me tomorrow or Sunday." She angrily puts her phone away. "And I sure as hell ain't going to spend them here, where Mom will act all psychotic if she finds out I stayed in my room instead of doing chores."  

"Cut her some slack," I defend. "In case you haven't realized, we're one family member shorter." Kelly scowls at me, and I glare back. "It's not fair of you to say anything bad to her."

"Puh-leeze, what kind of guy says that? 'Not fair of you to say anything bad to her,'" my sister mocks. 

I shrug and write down the last question on my homework assignment. "I was going to ask you if you wanted to go to the mall you were bitching about with a couple of girls at the high school," I start. Kelly perks up and looks at me expectantly. "But, you know, I think I'll have to tell them no."

"You better not be fucking kidding about that," Kelly says. "Do you have either of their numbers?" 

I nod, and take my phone out. I switched the Hello Kitty phone case with the 2012 version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There's no way I'm going to let anyone else see the pink one. Going to Gwen's number, I ask, "I'll take it you do want to go?"

Instead of answering like a normal human being, Kelly grabs my phone and starts typing out her answer. She hands it over after she's done. "I saved you from having to awkwardly talk to the poor girl," she says. When I don't say anything, Kelly adds, "This is the part where you thank me."

"I think I'll pass on that," I reply, resulting a smack on the arm from my sister. "OK, geez! Thank you, O Royal Pain in the Ass!" 

Kelly smiles with pride. "You're welcome, lowly peasant." Before I can shoot back, my sister leaps off my bed and leaves the room. "Tell me when she replies!" she calls out, slamming her bedroom door. 

I shake my head in annoyance, putting my phone on my desk. I finish the math, and put it away in my backpack. I then look for the book I have to read for English. When I find it, my phone buzzes. Placing the paperback on the desk, I pick it up. 

OK cool! Joey and I'll pick you guys up tomorrow at 9!

Great, I think out of both dread and excitement. I put the phone away and continue with the analysis. I don't understand why it's important on what the old man feels about the sea he lives nearby. This is just another reason high school is trying to screw us over before they send us out to the "real world". 

About an hour later, I finish English (by that, I mean rage-quitting) with another thought telling me exactly how dumb I am. Sighing, I stand up and walk out of my room and down to the living room. Mom's occupying the couch, reading one of her beloved Stephen King novels. She takes a minute before turning to the next page and marking it. "Did you finish your homework?" she asks.

"Yeah," I lie. "Hey, Kelly and I are spending tomorrow at the mall." I wait for her to reply.

Taking off her reading glasses, Mom puts on her thinking face. Finally, she opens her mouth. "Are you two going to be with other people?"

"A couple of girls," I say. 

"Do I know them?"

"No." I don't say anything else. "We'll only be hanging out, I guess."

Mom looks at me pointedly. "You guess?" she echoes. 

"Mom, I think it'll be good for Kelly," I say. "She's constantly angry and, well, Kelly. The girls can help her get out of the trouble you were worried about. Besides," I add when Mom tries to speak up. "I'll be there to supervise."

After the longest minute of my whole life, Mom gives in. "I want you two home by 4," she says. "After you're home, I expect a couple chores to be done."

Well, better than nothing. "Thanks, Mom," I say. I turn back to Kelly's room. I wait for the loud music in her room to pause before I barge in. "Hey, Kelly, I--"

"Hey!" my sister shouts out. "Haven't you hear of knocking?" She scrambles to put on her jean jacket and covers a ridiculously small top she was trying on. 

Averting my eyes, I wait patiently for Kelly to stop freaking out. "As I was saying, Mom's OK with us going to the mall tomorrow."

"Really? You needed to ask Mom for permission?" Kelly picks up the very large pair of red pumps I just now notice on her bed. "Just, wow."

I ignore her pissiness. I point at the shoes. "Where did you get those?" I question.

Kelly places them in her trash can. "Some bitch left them in my locker with a note saying she took a long time finding them in 'my size' because not a lot of heels come in size 11." She mutters under her breath, "As if it's even considered an insult." She proceeds to put a pile of crumpled up papers on top of the shoes. 

"Maybe she's scared because she knows you'd kick her ass if she confronted you," I offer. My sister smirks. I quickly change the subject. "So, you think you'd be ready to go by 9 tomorrow?" 

"Of course, Matthew. A girl must always be prepared for a shopping trip." I file that piece of advice away in my thoughts, "What I Need to Know About Girls". Kelly smiles at me. "I can't wait to meet those friends of yours."

I cringe at the thought of considering Joey as a "friend". "Um, yeah," I say, feeling uncomfortable now.

My sister rifle through her backpack. She curses under her breath and marches out of her room, scooting me out. I wait for her to go downstairs to get what she needs before I go back in. I look inside her trash can and shuffle through the paper. Lifting up the pumps, I examine the kind of velvety look, and I can tell it's brand new. Smiling to myself, I sneak the pair out of Kelly's room before she comes back. 

When I'm safe in my room, I go down on my knees in front of my bed and lift up the blanket. I shove the pumps under it and quickly cover the entrance. I sit by it, feeling something weird but glad. Hey, if Kelly can't appreciate a rare treasure, she should at least ask around before throwing them away.