Sacculina.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Charlotte. The narrator (and sort of heroine).
Jessica, Charlotte’s Maternal Aunt.
Isobel , Charlotte’s French long term friend.
Franchesca, Charlotte’s Italian long term friend.
Jack, American Gap-year student at the Faculty.
Pete, American high school jock
Bill, Pete’s crony also a macho high school jock.
Terry The supplier of the party music.
Bob, Terry’s friend and owner of the pick-up truck.
Tom Arlott. Jack’s dad.
Sacculina Chapter 1.
Charlotte was staring at the ocean through the large window of her Aunt Jessica’s marine laboratory home. She had just arrived there that afternoon after an exhausting eighteen-hour, two stage flight from her home in England via New York to Costa Rica. The effects of the jet-lag prevented her from settling down to sleep. The sun was setting but Charlotte was restless because back home it was early morning and her body clock was preparing to wake up. The door latch clicked and she turned to smile at her favourite aunt who had appeared with a snack.
“We’ll be having supper about two hours after sunset after I’ve completed todays procedures on the critters darling.”
“Thanks Auntie Jess. I should be tired but the jet lag -. Can I go for a jog around the bay to the headland and back? It might help make me tired and then sleepy.
“By all means darling. The tied is ebbing so you won’t get caught out.”
“I love it out here. You are just so lucky doing marine research. It seems strange though to be here without the rest of my family.”
“Well you’re more than old enough to travel here alone. Didn’t your mum say they’ll be coming over later?”
“Yes, my older brother and younger sister will be coming in a few weeks then mum’s coming out at the end of July. Yet again, Dad is busy, so we’ll only see him briefly at the end of August.”
“Well he’s a busy man darling and thanks for picking up the lab equipment during the stop over in New York. Quite the little courier-girl aren’t you?”
Charlotte secretly preened herself that she had been trusted to fly from London to New York, pick up the expensive equipment her aunt had ordered and then escort it to San Jose before finally accompanying it by van and boat to the Island research station where her aunt lived and worked. She had felt very adult and responsible when her aunt met her at the jetty even though all the transport arrangements had been pre-arranged.
After wolfing down the light snack, Charlotte conscientiously washed the dishes before changing into her jogging clothes and setting off barefoot along the beach. As she reached the headland the sun finally settled below the horizon and she was grateful for the coolness of the evening. She did not stop to linger however and turned to jog back along the water line so that she could savour the bioluminescent splashes her feet made in the plankton rich surf.
Exhilarated by her run she scampered up the concrete steps and along the backs of the laboratories until she reached her aunt’s home.
“Did you enjoy darling?”
“Yes thanks auntie. I see they still have beach parties by the headland?”
“Oh yes, as always it’s the older children of the faculty members and college students who come down during vacations, just like you.
Why d’ you ask?”
“I saw the remains of a couple of beach fires by the rocks at the foot of the headland.”
“Yes, they have the parties there because there’s no chance of the fires spreading. We’ve all agreed to have the fires there only when the tides are right and the flooding tides inundate the fire embers. That way, the local forest is not put at risk. As you know, it’s part of the National park and has many rare and protected species.”
Charlotte nodded as she went for a shower.
“I’ll lay the table after I’ve washed.”
“Good girl, I can get on with my work.”
After dinner, tiredness eventually overtook the girl and she gratefully made her way to bed. As she was drawing the curtains she saw a beach fire at the base of the headland and resolved to ask her aunt’s permission to go to the beach parties later in the week.
Over breakfast she raised the beach party question and smiled as her aunt replied.
“Well you’re sixteen, you’re old enough. It’s mostly high-school kids and college kids anyway. You’ll meet most of them anyway today either on the campus, beach or in the lido. I presume you won’t be doing any studying this summer, your dad said your exam results were good.”
“Yeah, for once I can relax and seriously chill out. I get to choose what A’levels I do when I go back.”
“Any thoughts on those?”
“Well, it’ll be sciences like Michael’s”
“Yes, he did well to make Cambridge. What are your plans?”
“I honestly don’t know auntie. If I could get a research job like yours, it would definitely be marine biology.”
“I don’t have to tell you that competition is stiff and I had to forego Marriage to finally get this professorship.”
“Will you ever get married?”
“Probably not, but I still intend to have a child.”
“Good for you girl! Mum said you were always the unconventional one. Have you met any likely sperm donors?”
“A few.”
Charlotte smiled as she nodded slowly. ‘Auntie Jess had always been adventurous and free-spirited.’ She told herself.
Aunt Jessica smiled enigmatically as she read Charlotte’s mind.
With breakfast over, Charlotte offered to clear away and tidy up to give Jessica a chance at an early start.
“Thanks darling, you’re a trooper. See you tonight at sunset.”
“Don’t you ever use conventional time - like a clock or something?” Charlotte giggled.
Jessica wagged her head and smiled indulgently.
“Behave yourself girl, that’s only for formal occasions and there’s not many of those either in biology or on this island.. Nature has its own schedules and out here, I have to follow those. Tonight, I’m going crabbing cos it’s the full moon.”
“Oooh! Can I come?”
“You’re welcome but these are not for eating girl, I’m looking for particular specimens.”
“Well it would be wouldn’t it,” Charlotte mused pensively. “More research I suppose.”
“Exactly.” Her aunt affirmed.
Once alone, Charlotte quickly finished the few chores then started unpacking her suite-case ready to make her first entrance on the ‘teen-scene’ It was eleven before she was satisfied with her look. She sighed as she noted her stunning good looks handed to her by her mum and shared with Auntie Jessica. It was always tedious trying to get past her looks and already, at the tender age of sixteen, she was sick of boys only interested in her body and her face. Even worse was encountering jealousy from other girls but she was determined not to let others think she was a ‘cheerleader bitch’. Part of her strategy was to always ‘dress down’.
Clothes were rarely a problem because her rich titian hair colouring and violet eye colour more or less dictated greens, blues or turquoise. As far as Charlotte was concerned this made things easy, she wasn’t a fashion victim.
Garbed in a very skimpy teal bikini under a green, boot-lace chemise, bleached denim hot-pants and complementing trainers she made her way to the usual lunch-time hang out; namely the Lido café beside the pool.
Most of the kids were American children of the faculty staff with a smattering of Canadians and some local Costa Ricans. Charlotte was the only Brit who along with a French girl and an Italian girl, were the only Europeans. Fortunately, Charlotte knew both girls from their previous vacations and Charlotte was fluent in French.
When she spied her attractive pair of old friends sitting in their favourite little alcove she purchased a white wine and renewed their acquaintances.
“Bon-matins Isobel, Franchesca. Nice to meet again.” She continued in French.
They exchanged greetings and clinked glasses as Charlotte took a chair with her back to the main crowd and shared a little toast.
A noticeable hush had descended on the café as kids who had spotted Charlotte entering, now commented to their friends about the newcomer. It wasn’t long before a line of male teenagers was queued up at the bar and sneaking glances at Charlotte. The Europeans continued talking French just for devilment.
“That didn’t take long did it?” Grinned Isobel.
Charlotte shrugged resignedly. “Have you guys had a swim yet this morning?”
“Franchesca has, I haven’t.”
Charlotte raised a questioning eyebrow and the other two nodded.
“Let’s not rush, we’ll finish our drinks first,” Franchesca suggested.
Having agreed to this they continued catching up on the previous year’s events before eventually diving into the pool. They were followed almost immediately by a series of heavy splashes as the self-appointed ‘alpha jocks’ imposed their presence.
“Where are you guys from?”
“Pardon monsieur?”
“What country?”
Isobel answered for all three.
“Europe Monsieur.”
“D’ you speak American?”
By tacit agreement Isobel answered again.
“No Monsieur.”
“What - language - you - speak?” He persisted slowly and loudly.
“Fran - caise,” Isobel replied equally loudly and slowly.
An embarrassing silence ensued amongst the jocks until one of the brighter boys who had been standing on the edge realised the girls were winding them up. He called softly to the jock who asked about language.
“Pete! Ask if they speak English?”
“I just did.”
“No, you didn’t; you asked if they spoke American.”
“What’s the difference?” Pete argued.
Charlotte couldn’t resist replying in English.
“About three thousand miles and two hundred years.”
Pete stared open-mouthed at the pretty red-head before finally getting the joke. He grinned before replying with a ‘Homer Simpson’ response.
“Doh! Okay, point taken. So, you’re English!”
“Full marks for observation darling, though Isobel is French while Franchesca is Italian.”
“But we all speak English,” the trio chorused, and laughter broke out.
By this time, the discussion had attracted a large group of girls who had been baiting the alpha jocks all morning. Back home in the
U.S. they would have constituted the ‘Cheer-leader Queens’ and they were not amused that the trio of attractive newcomers had stolen their grip on the jocks’ attentions.
As the larger female group gathered by the shallow end of the pool, Charlotte’s sixth sense immediately sensed the jealousy and her knowing glance caught her friend’s eyes. All three girls had only just arrived in the last two days and they were keen to avoid any trouble. Their longstanding friendship had developed a comradely telepathy and a brief, shared glance conveyed the agreement to shut down the banter with the boys. As one, the three Europeans broke into a crawl stroke and set off down the pool. Their actions conveyed a clear message and the ‘cheer-leader bitches’ quickly entered the pool to recapture the boys’ attentions.
When the trio reached the clearer water at the deep end, they paused then decided to simply swim a series of widths to avoid returning to the shallow end. Only one of the boys was savvy enough to recognise the trio’s tactic but he kept his counsel and remained with the crowd as the ‘cheerleader queens’ suddenly became much more ‘amenable’, so much so that nobody noticed when the trio completed their exercise and returned to their seats in the secluded alcove beside the bar. Their shared bottle of half-finished wine was returned to them by the Costa Rican student who was working at a holiday summer job behind the bar.
They were happily chatting and planning the rest of their holiday when the savvy ‘jock’ spotted them as he was buying some soft drinks.
“Hello again girls, or should I say bonsoire?”
The three smiled and raised their glasses to him so he resumed chatting as he waited for his drinks.
“You’re drinking wine I see. Is that allowed.”
“If parents give permission to the bartender, then yes. Costa Rica is not like America.”
“That’s so unfair. Our parents say twenty-one though some allow at eighteen.”
Franchesca shrugged and grinned.
“Viv la Italia, - and France and Bretagne.”
“But the age in UK is eighteen.” The boy continued.
“My parents are more enlightened than most,” Charlotte explained. “I don’t abuse it.”
“Lucky girls,” the boy sighed then changed the subject. “Are you coming to the beach party this evening?”
Isobel and Franchesca nodded enthusiastically but Charlotte expressed her doubts.
“I’m still getting over the jet lag so if I come I might only stay a couple of hours. Besides I’m helping my relative with her work during the next few nights.”
“Oh which faculty is she with?”
“Marine biology; the crustaceans.”
“Oh is your mum professor Jessica Tomlinson. I thought she wasn’t married.”
“She’s my aunty not my mum.”
“So that’s where you get that stunning hair from, it’s in the family genes I suppose.”
Charlotte gave him a weak understated smile as she recognised his attempts. She spotted the barman waiting to be paid and used it as an excuse to close down the chat.
“Your drinks are ready and your friends will be thirsty.”
“Oh- yes. Well, see you later at the beach party.”
Isobel and Franchesca smiled agreement as Charlotte re-iterated her condition.
“Only for an hour or so, duty calls I’m afraid.”
He smiled, picked up his tray of drinks and re-joined the jock pack. After he had left, Isobel lightly scolded her English friend.
“You were a bit – how do you say it – short with him.”
“I wasn’t going to encourage him, besides for this first week I really am helping my aunt with the crab stuff and I’ll be up all hours during the nights, despite my jet-lag.”
They finished the shared bottle then returned it to the bar with their glasses and handed them to a very appreciative barman. The considerate actions told the Costa Rican student that the three girls were not the usual ‘run-of-the-mill’ spoiled brats.
“Gracious Senioritas.” He smiled as he dropped the empty bottle in the bin and put the glasses in the washer.
As they left the pool area, Charlotte explained, “I’ll go down to the mini-mall with you for a couple of hours but If I’m to help my aunt Jessica tonight I’d best get some shut-eye this afternoon. The flight was a killer especially with all the equipment I had to oversee. This jet-lag has knocked me back.”
Isobel and Franchesca nodded sympathetically and after browsing around the campus ‘mini-mall’ Charlotte left her friends and returned to her Aunty Jessica’s house cum laboratory. She crashed out on the bed and slept until her aunt returned. The noise of a meal being prepared awoke her and she appeared still sleepy at the kitchen door.
“Sorry aunty, I overslept. Is there anything I can do?”
“Yes, finish making these sandwiches and fill the thermos-flasks. We’ll be out most of the night. I’ll finish making dinner.”
Charlotte did as Jessica asked then over the dinner Jessica explained to her niece.
“After midnight the crabs start clambering about the rocks to release their larvae into the surf. We think they choose the surf because the turbulence and agitation oxygenates the sea-water and the larvae get a head start. You’ll be splashing about on the rocks right down at the waterline. Now; there will be female crabs actually releasing their larvae but more importantly, there will be some male crabs also behaving like female crabs and trying to release larvae they don’t have. It’s these infected crabs we are seeking.”
“Infected?” Charlotte wondered.
“Yes,” Jessica went on to explain, “These male crabs have been infected with the Sacculina parasite and the parasite actually castrates the male crabs while causing them to look and act like females.”
Charlottes eyes widened as her brow furrowed with curiosity.
“That’s weird, why would they do that?”
“It’s a variation on the usual parasite-host relationship. The parasites actually cover the male crab’s abdomen thus preventing mating access while destroying their testes and castrating them. This causes the exoskeletal bodies to adopt a female shape during the next moult. Once their newly moulted bodies have been feminised, their abdomens become the right shape to carry eggs, the Sacculina eggs that is. Once they have moulted, the previously male crabs are locked for life into a female form but they are sterile. The futility of their mating behaviour and mating dances is demonstrated by their female invitations to fertile male crabs. Even though male crabs mount their castrated brothers, they cannot impregnate them.”
“So where is the benefit in researching them?” Charlotte persisted.
Jessica finished a mouthful of food before continuing.
“Well, there are several aspects to parasitic infestations but the one we are interested in is the parasite’s ability to control the host’s behaviour with chemicals. In the case of Sacculina Carsini the parasite belongs to the Barnacle family but it looks nothing like other barnacles. It attaches itself to the crab’s outer shell then during the moult it injects itself into the new soft shell and works its chemistry on the infected male crab. It destroys the testes thus feminising the crab then it sends chemicals into the crab’s brain that causes it to behave like a female. The crab behaves like a female in every respect. The mating dance is female, the posture is female, the shape of the shell and the claws are female while the crab nurtures the new parasitic eggs that have attached themselves to the male crab’s now feminised abdomen.
All the while, the once male crab is now nurturing and protecting the parasitic eggs because it thinks it is a pregnant female. It even climbs up onto rocks and tries to release its parasitic eggs while the real females are releasing theirs. The parasitic larvae however only release when there are other vulnerable male crabs close by during the mating periods.”
“So, the parasite sort of zombifies the crabs.”
“Exactly.” Jessica confirmed, “and the best time to find these zombified crabs is when they climb out with the sisters and try waving their abdomens around to release larvae that are not ready to depart. The eggs look like a white growth on the abdomen and it’s easy to spot with ultra-violet light. These are the crabs we are capturing to determine what the zombifying chemical is and how it works. We choose crabs because they are easier to work with than insects and their brains are easier to isolate and work on. Crabs are higher up the chain than simple insects so it’s easier to identify the discreet, parasitic chemicals and determine how they affect the brain.”
“So, this might have some benefits to psychiatry or changing animal behaviour in farm animals.”
“Well done Charlotte. I’m impressed. This is pure research at the moment but you already understand the guiding principles of science. From pure research comes applied research followed by medical or other researches like material improvements or engineering advances..”
Charlotte nodded as she sipped her tea and reasoned that her aunt’s work was extremely interesting not to mention having enormous medical potential.
Having finished dinner, Charlotte begged leave to go to the beach party for a couple of hours and her aunt acceded.
“I can pick you up at the party about tennish, that’s about an hour before the full moon rises. Go and get your boots and a strong pair of jeans so I can put it with all the equipment in the back of the land-rover. You might need a warmer top as well. The ocean breeze can be quite a bit cooler where we are going because it’s quite exposed to the wind but sheltered from the surf.”
After adding her clothes to the equipment Aunt Jessica had stored in the back of her land-rover, Charlotte gave her aunt a hug and set off along the beach to where the beach party fire was already beginning to illuminate the headland. There she met Isobel and Franchesca talking to the boy who had spoken to them at the bar that morning. They were laughing and enjoying themselves as the boy endeared himself to them. He turned and his grin widened appreciably as Charlotte arrived.
“Oh! Hi pretty English lady. I didn’t get your name this morning.”
“Nor I yours,” Charlotte replied. “Mine’s Charlotte, though my friends sometimes call me Charly, that’s with a ‘y’ instead of the male version Charlie. What’s your name?”
“James, though everybody calls me Jack. D’ you want a drink?”
“Only a soft drink. As I said this morning I’m helping my aunt tonight. She’s picking me up at ten.”
Jack gave a puzzled smile as he observed.
“You three girls crack me up. You drink alcohol at the bar in front of adults where we Americans wouldn’t dare to because we’re under-aged; but you won’t drink it on the beach where nobody’s looking.”
Isobel gave a little chuckle as she replied.
“We can trust ourselves with alcohol but we can’t trust boys with alcohol. Don’t forget we Europeans drink wine with our evening meals around the family table. Our parents can trust their daughters with alcohol but they can’t trust their sons with sex!”
Jack nodded somewhat woefully before adding.
“You’re right to be cautious. There are a couple of idiots drunk already. Look at that guy Pete who came onto you in the pool this morning. He and his crony Bill are a right pair of morons. I’d steer clear of them if I were you.”
“Typical all-American jocks I suppose.” Franchesca snapped.
“We’re not all dumb macho twats.” Jack protested softly. “Some of us have got manners.”
Charlotte sensed Jack’s hurt and moved quickly to repair the damage. She knew that sometimes, Franchesca could be a bit of a spitfire and she put it down to her Latin, Mediterranean temperament plus having to deal with Italian men. To make the peace, Charlotte leaned forward and gently kissed Jack on the cheek.
“There, that’s by way of an apology for my friend; but don’t take it as an invitation. It’s just to show I trust you and respect you. Please don’t betray that trust.”
Jack’s demeanour immediately brightened as he grinned and said “thank you. I’ll get you those soft drinks you asked for. What’ll they be?”
“Lemon for me,” Franchesca replied.”
“And you two?” Jack pressed.
“Orange for us please. “Isobel added.”
Charlotte nodded her agreement and Jack returned to the rock where the drink was piled.
The girls watched with resignation as Pete and Bill raucously ribbed Jack about Charlotte’s kiss. They were also impressed at how he casually and easily handled the situation such that neither Bill nor Pete were invited to accompany him back to the girls. Charlotte and Isobel recognised the dynamics of the boy’s group and realised that Jack was something of an ‘alpha male’ but it was done by personality and intelligence, not muscle. When he re-joined the girls, their mood had brightened appreciably as they chose an empty
rock to sit and chat. Soon two other boys arrived with the music and they approached the European girls.
“Can you budge up a bit, guys? We usually set up the kit here. It’s the only level, dry spot safe from the fire and the sea.”
The three girls shuffled their butts along the slab-like rock while Jack helped move the kit from the pick-up. It was obvious to the girls that the newcomers were Jacks friends. Within minutes the party was swinging and Franchesca was immediately swaying provocatively to the music. Charlotte and Isobel noted however that their streetwise friend remained within the well-lit area between the fire and the pick-up’s headlights.
To Charlotte’s eyes, the trio of boys exactly complemented her and her friends numerically and she resolved to stay close to them to avoid any potential for conflict between them and the other girls. Mostly the girls danced as a trio within the pool of light and occasionally the boys joined them between changing music and fetching drinks. Eventually, ten p.m. arrived and Charlotte noted her auntie’s land-rover flashing its lights from further up the beach. As it arrived, Charlotte made her farewells and left.
“Did you enjoy?” Aunt Jessica asked.
“Wish I could have stayed a bit longer, but, well, here I am.”
“Never mind, when this week is over, you’ll have plenty of time to loaf around before the rest of the family come.”
Charlotte turned to her aunt.
“Do you know the boy Jack. I think his father works on the faculty somewhere.”
“Quite a tall boy, with dirty blond, sun-bleached hair?”
“Yes, I think that’s him.”
“He’s probably Tom Arlott’s oldest boy. Tom manages the faculty’s marine division. You know, boats, docks, equipment, engines and stuff. Lots of lab equipment too. Why, have you found somebody to interest you.”
“He’s just a nice guy and he gave us the gypsy’s warning about who to avoid.”
“By ‘us’ I presume you mean Isobel, Franchesca and you?”
Charlotte nodded as Jessica added.
“It’s a small island and everybody knows everybody. The issues only get out of hand when visitors and relatives come down for the summer vacation. Jack’s right to warn you, he’s been taking gap year working with his dad. He probably has a good idea who the arseholes are amongst the younger ones.
The problem is that families bring friends and friends of friends so there’s no knowing who’s okay and who’s not. You’d best put your boots and jeans on, we’re nearly there.”
The rest of the journey passed silently as Charlotte squeezed into her tight jeans and wellingtons. Soon they were clambering over the rocks at the water line and Jessica soon found her first infected male crab. She then caught a female crab and explained what to look for.
This parts the easy part, just shine your ultra violet torch on all the crabs then grab any you see with white spongy packages under their bellies. If we find an entire male crab who shouldn’t really be here unless he’s one of the permanent territory owners, I’ll try and show you how the other poor little darlings have been feminised.
By three o’clock, Jessica and Charlotte had what they needed and they had also found the hoped for uninfected male crab who owned the rock. Jessica held him upside-down as she pointed out the differences large and small.
“See, he’s heavier and more powerful all around while he’s got larger and much more powerful claws. Be careful though, that large pincer could crush your little pinkie. Notice where his abdomen has a different, flatter shape with different claspers to grip the girls.
Now look at the feminised males. See, much smaller claws, hollow, wider abdomen and pathetic vestigial claspers, just like a girl.
Big boy is too old to be affected by the pathogens now, they have to catch them while they’re in the early years. This guy’s about ten years old. I’ll keep him for a year to get some testosterone measurements for reference comparisons. Then, because this is part of the reserve, I’ll put him back.”
“Home to bed now?” Charlotte asked hopefully.
“I’ve got to collect some sea-weed samples for a colleague. Just a few minutes.”
Charlotte sat studying the infected crabs while her aunt poked about amongst some rocks near the end of the splash zone. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor little darlings as she compared them the ‘Big Boy’. It looked as though he could have crushed them easily with his might claws. When Jessica returned, Charlotte asked lots of questions as they drove back.
As they were passing the party beach they noticed some police cars with flashing lights and a crowd of people gathered by an ambulance. Charlotte recognised her friend Franchesca being assisted into the ambulance.
“Stop the car! That’s Franchesca!” Charlotte squealed.
The land-rover scrunched to a halt by the roadside but Charlotte was already tumbling out and pushing through the crowd. A police officer stopped her but she spotted Jack and Isobel.
“What happened?” She cried.
“Some arsehole attacked her and raped her!” Isobel explained. “The campus police are looking for him but Franchesca’s too distressed to give a description yet. She’s going to the hospital to be checked out.”
“What condition is she in?” Aunt Jessica asked as she caught up.
“She’s got cuts and bruises to her face and her bikini bottom was stained with blood. She was definitely raped, she told us so.” Jack explained.
“Shit! Shit! Shit! Charlotte cursed.
Jessica readily recognised her niece’s distress and did something constructive.
“Have you two given statements to the police?”
“We’re just about to. I found her wandering behind the headland amongst the rocks, she could hardly see because her eyes were so swollen shut.” Jack explained.
“Right. You two wait here until the police see you, I’ll take Charlotte to the hospital.”
With arrangements made, Charlotte and her aunt followed the ambulance to the faculty hospital which was the only hospital on the Island. They arrived just as Franchesca’s mother arrived behind the ambulance. For the moment, all the pair could do was wait until the mother emerged from Triage. Her relief was evident but she was still distressed.
“Her physical injuries are not too serious, but there’s heavy bruising around her face and arms. Fortunately there are no bones broken, but her shock – I don’t know!”
“Isobel spoke of blood, about her privates,” Charlotte explained.
The mother broke down in tears. “My daughter was a virgin.” She managed to whisper.
The anger was evident amongst all three women as their jaws clenched tight.
“We’ll get the bastard! It’s a small island and the ferry is not operating until tomorrow morning.” Jessica revealed as the mother whispered again.
“She told me in Italian, she’s sure she will recognise him and besides, the surgeon said he had – he had – you now, samples – taken from her -.”
Both Charlotte and Jessica held the mother tight as she struggled to stay composed.
“If Franchesca’s father catches him, he will be singing castrato. He’s out on the big research boat studying whales but he’s due back on Friday.”
“They’ll probably have him in custody by then. There were only about thirty people at the party.” Charlotte opined.
“We’ll know more after we speak to Isobel and Jack. Are you staying with your daughter overnight?” Jessica asked.
The mother nodded. “Of course. I’ll sit here all night if I have to.”
“You won’t have to, there’s a visitor’s suite, I’ll speak to the department manager.”
Jessica left while Charlotte stayed to comfort Franchesca’s mother. Before long Isobel and Jack turned up with the boys Bob and Terry, who had supplied the music. When Jessica returned, the youngsters gave their accounts of events. Isobel’s account contained the most pertinent and useful information.
“I was dancing with Franchesca while Jack and Terry went to get some more soft drinks and Bob was attending to the music centre. Suddenly Franchesca had a call of nature and told me she was popping around the headland to hide amongst the rocks. She asked if I had any paper tissues and I knew I had some in my beach bag which the boys had locked in their truck for safe-keeping. I asked Bob for the keys and he lent them to me. Franchesca then disappeared around the headland while I returned the keys to Bob. When I turned around Franchesca was already disappearing around the rocks. It was no good calling to her to wait because the music was too loud. I went over to Jack and Terry who were returning with the drinks and I explained the situation. Jack and I went to follow her but she had gone out of sight and when we got to the headland there was no sign.
We called for her and she shouted back to say she wanted privacy. We couldn’t see her so we waited where we where expecting her to eventually reappear. After about ten minutes Jack began to wonder but I told him that if Franchesca had girl problems then it might be a little while longer. He realised what I was alluding to and said he’d take a dip in the sea while we waited. Like most of us he had his swimming speedos on under his shorts in anticipation of just such an event. The beach is quite steep just there and you can swim a little as a few feet from the rocks that extend out to sea. Jack was swimming in sight for another ten minutes before I also became worried. I called out to Franchesca but got no answer so I called to Jack to come ashore. He slipped his denim shorts back on and we started searching for Franchesca.
Suddenly, Franchesca stumbled into view holding her Bikini bottom and torn dress. In the dark we couldn’t see very much but she was in a terrible state and crying that she had been raped. Jack was about to lend her his shorts but I stopped him. Instead I lent her my dress and I stopped Jack from touching Franchesca or her clothes whilst warning him of DNA evidence. He immediately got my jist and stepped back whilst I helped her with my dress. Then we got her back to the bonfire where our mobiles were in Bob’s truck.
She sat in the cab with me while the boys called the police then formed a guard around the truck while Franchesca told me what had happened. I kept her bikini bottom and dress with me all the time to make sure that none of the boy’s DNA contaminated the evidence.”
“How was she attacked?” I asked.”
“There was somebody else amongst the rocks who saw her squatting down and he grabbed his chance while she was exposed. She’s got a good idea who it was and she told me as I helped her back to the truck. Jack overheard her but the police warned us not to tell anybody else. That’s all I’m allowed to say.”
I turned to Jack who nodded. “That’s pretty much how it was, and thanks Isobel, for the DNA thing.”
We all fell silent as we each contemplated the event and dealt with it in our individual ways. Eventually two lady police officers arrived and went straight in to see the surgeon. After a tense half-hour the surgeon emerged with one of the officers. The policewoman spoke softly.
“Obviously I cannot tell you much but I’m just going to announce that my colleagues have just made an arrest.”
Then the surgeon spoke.
“Franchesca’s still talking to the other officer then I think it best to let her rest. You should all go home except of course you Mrs Palmero. The visitor’s room has been prepared. It’s pretty rudimentary I’m afraid; just a bed with en-suite facility but it’s right next to Franchesca’s ward.”
We all heeded his advice and agreed to come back the following day.
It being a small Island, it was not long before the identity of the detainee leaked out. It was the ‘friend’ of a ‘friend’ of one of the jocks but he was locked up and safe from any retribution. Three days later, when confronted with the DNA proof from sperm deposits on Franchesca’s bikini bottom combined with Franchesca’s testimony, the boy confessed and was charged accordingly. He was removed from the Island and remanded in San Jose main prison to await trial. Because he was a visitor to the country, bail had been refused.
For Charlotte the worst aspect was Franchesca’s change of character. From being the vivacious, sharp-tongued, quick-witted Mediterranean Spitfire, she emerged from the hospital as a withdrawn, uncommunicative automaton. Despite Charlotte and Isobel’s every endeavour, the best they could persuade her to do was go to the Lido and sit staring at the sea each day. She wouldn’t enter the pool nor would she go near the beach and every afternoon, the pair had to escort their friend to her door and hand her over to her mother for safe-keeping.
To say our holiday was ruined was something of an understatement but compared with Franchesca’s trauma our concerns were nothing. The cruel part was that Franchesca had to endure several interviews with the police and with her lawyer but we still had a month before a trial date could be set even though the rapist had confessed. Because we and several others from the beach party were material witnesses we also had to remain in the country until the trial was set.
Eventually the trial date came around and we stayed in a hotel less than a city block from the court-house.
Fortunately, the trial was brief because the rapist had confessed but we girls were furious at the leniency of the sentence. Because he was under eighteen and he had confessed, he only got twelve months. The judge deemed him to have shown remorse and unbelievably, considered Franchesca’s having removed her bikini bottom to attend to her needs as being a contributary factor.
Franchesca left the court in a suicidal mood while her mother was cursing bitterly. Isobel, Jack and I fumed impotently as we gathered in the hotel later.
Two days after the trial, my aunt Jessica printed out an online article about a rape back in South Carolina and the name of the perpetrator matched that of Franchesca’s attacker. Some more careful research confirmed that it was the same individual. Seemingly then, he was a serial rapist even before he was eighteen! Somehow, he had also got away with a very lenient sentence in the USA though aunt Jessica could find little more about the case. Jack started quietly checking up on the beast. It transpired, according to the jock who had invited him, that he was a very spoiled rich kid with powerful, political family connections. Worst still, his US victim was black and the case was tried in South Carolina. The girl never got any fair treatment.
In my eyes, that settled the case, but I kept my counsel as we slowly nursed Franchesca back to some sort of normality. My family had come and gone and September was approaching. Franchesca and Isobel were returning home but I had a score to settle.
Revenge however, was a dessert best served cold.
Sacculina.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Charlotte The narrator (and sort of heroine).
Jessica Charlotte’s Maternal Aunt.
Isobel Charlotte’s French long term friend.
Franchesca Charlotte’s Italian long term friend.
Jack American Gap-year student at the Faculty.
Pete American high school jock
Bill Pete’s crony also a macho high school jock.
Terry The supplier of the party music.
Bob Terry’s friend and owner of the pick-up truck.
Tom Arlott Jack’s dad.
I convinced my parents that I needed to take a gap year early and after promising to be careful they agreed that I could stay with Aunt Jessica for half a year then tour the USA for four months before staying with Jack and his family for a couple of months at the end of my gap year.
As I waved goodbye to my friends at the airport I had made up my mind to study biology so I could possibly take a course of study at Aunt Jessica’s faculty whilst picking her and her colleague’s brains. The effects of the Sacculina parasite fascinated me.
The research faculty proved an excellent location for accelerated learning and by the end of the six months after relentlessly studying every spare minute I had, I was ready to take my A’ level exams still only sixteen years of age. A week after my seventeenth birthday, I sat my A’ levels externally back in the UK, then I continued my remaining gap year by visiting the USA.
Naturally I started my visit by calling on Aunt Jessica who had completed the first phase of her crab research and was busy writing up her research back at her college in Florida. On the second night we chatted at length.
“So, you are mainly looking at how the pathogens operate on the hosts brain to modify behaviour?” I asked, “So how does it?”
“We have identified some of the chemicals and we are now determining how they interfere with or alter the synapsis within the relevant neurons. It seems they either block the neurological switches or more cunningly alter the directions.”
“So why have you chosen the sexual aspect?” I pressed, “surely the emotional aspects would be of more use in Psychiatry”
“Emotions are too complex and too numerous. Sexual factors are much simpler. There’re only two sexes and basically four sexualities – that is, if you discard fetishistic behaviours. It keeps the bounds of the research within operable and identifiable limits, especially at this early stage.”
“So, you start with crabs and go onto small mammals next, I suppose.”
“Not necessarily, we’re debating whether to try a species of bird. Any changes to the sexually dimorphic appearance and behaviour are easier to detect at an earlier stage.”
“But birds take longer to mature, usually at least a year if not more, with mice it’s a matter of weeks.”
“Yes, but it’s not just about empirical factors now. We’ve got a couple of useful handles on the specific pathologies and gender dimorphism helps us target the mechanisms associated with those pathologies. It’s like a shot-gun compared to a rifle. Additionally, we can work much more easily on a foetus within a chicken’s egg than we can with a mouse foetus inside it’s mother.”
I nodded thoughtfully and my aunt picked up on my demeanour.
“You seem awfully interested in this stuff. Have I found my next research student?”
I grinned disarmingly.
“Slow down Aunty, I haven’t even gone to Uni yet.”
“When do your a’ level results arrive?”
“Beginning of March. I’ll be in California then but a quick email to mum or dad and I’ll know what options I’ll have.
“Any thoughts yet?”
“What; about which uni, d’ you mean?”
Aunt Jessica nodded as she chewed on some meat. I answered with the only answer available.
“Until I get my grades, I don’t know.”
“Well, keep in touch, I might be able to help you with choices.”
“What, you mean a US College?”
“Not exactly, you’d have to apply for scholarships to do that but there might be some one-year exchange opportunities, if you get into a good British university.”
“Well, I can but wait,” I sighed.
That night we chatted long into the evening and a week later I began my travels.
I had no fixed itinerary except for a few famous events for which the US is famous. Mardi Gras in New Orleans, St Patricks day in New York, Gay Pride in San Francisco and so on. Some I would unfortunately miss if I was hoping to go to Uni in the coming October, but there was always another day. I also had the promised rendezvous with Jack and his family at the end of my gap. With my interest in Marine biology now embedded, thanks to Aunt Jessica I also wanted to witness or even take part in a couple of well documented marine migrations like the whale migrations and the Maine Lobster processions. There would be plenty to occupy my few months. Additionally, these excursions might enhance my interviews for the hoped-for prestigious placement in one of the greater universities.
August found me in Atlanta where Jack and his family lived. He was preparing to commence his first year at college after finishing his gap year in the Costa Rica marine faculty and he had won a position at Stanford so he was happy.
I was treated royally by the family and Jacks mum even tried to match us up but we neither of us were ready yet for any sort of relationship
In September, I learned that the bastard who had raped Franchesca had been released from San Jose prison and that he had returned to his family in South Carolina.
At this time, I was considering which university to attend. I had received several offers, including one from Cambridge but despite the prestige (and opportunities) that Cambridge offered, I was so involved in Marine Biology and my own private researches that the academic kudos associated with a university such as Cambridge meant little to me. What I needed was a course that offered flexibility and all importantly, frequent, (indeed daily,) access to the sea. There were only a couple of options that offered this vital geographic location and access to the sea.
With a compulsory academic three years to complete a degree at any university in Britain I chose a a fairly small university in Wales. Aunt Jessica was in regular contact with the school of marine sciences and her recommendations swung it for me. By the end of
September, I was embarked upon one of the best Marine Biology courses in any British University.
I had learned that it was not the college name that mattered, but the quality of the specialist degree.
The three years in Wales passed quickly. Each summer I joined my Aunt Jessica in Costa Rica where I greedily devoured every paper she wrote about her researches. I also contributed to her lab work whilst secretly duplicating some of it in my single flat when back in my own college. I had an agenda but kept it strictly to myself.
My flat was part of an old farm on the island of ‘Sir Fon’ that had been divided up into a holiday home complex. It was an idyllic setting overlooking the sea and I had been fortunate to spot an advert in the local press where the owner of the complex was looking for a cleaner - cum – caretaker to live on site throughout the closed season when the empty apartments were vulnerable to burglary or vandalism.. It suited my needs perfectly for I had located it at the end of my first term and moved in during the second term. I would be living there for the remainder of my three years. During the high summer season, the owner lived on site with a full-time staff to cater for the holiday-makers so I was free to use the summer vacation to visit Costa Rica.
The owner of the complex also let me use some space in the last remaining unrenovated farm building to work on my dissertation which of course was my own private researches on the Sacculina virus. At the back of this unrenovated barn was a small space that had once served as a dairy parlour and this became my make-shift laboratory. Here I explored my options whilst privately using some of Aunt Jessica’s research to assist my own investigations. I was also fortunate in having the farm close to the sea where I could search for infected crabs. These infected unfortunates provided me with an abundant supply of the Sacculina parasite for the disease had spread to the Irish sea around North Wales.
By dint of sheer hard work, ridiculously long hours and frequent referrals to my aunt’s parallel investigations, after three years at Uni I had secretly managed to develop a strain of Sacculina parasite that chemically castrated and feminised small male mammals. It proved effective on rats, rabbits and even one monkey. – and yes, I did this while still studying for my bachelor’s degree.
I eventually graduated with a first in bio-chemistry and I destroyed all physical evidence of my researches in the dairy. With my tracks therefore well covered I finally departed my Alma Mater to take up a proper research post for a Ph.D. This involved research at a prestigious school of tropical medicine into infectious diseases amongst primates with a view to identifying infection vectors into the human population. This was very relevant at the time because of the prevalence of Ebola fever and AIDS in central Africa. My work involved several visits to a jungle station in central Africa where I had access to higher apes. This involved occasionally treating captive animals and after a year of research I was entrusted with the care of said animals because it complemented my researches. I had finally achieved the perfect opportunity to secretly test my parasite on the closest relative to homo-sapiens.
In Africa an orphaned Bonobo chimp was brought to the research facility and, as the junior researcher, I was delegated to take responsibility for its care.
The capture was not immediately registered and I was able to register the chimp as female when he was in fact male. Nobody else was much interested in the poor little guy because the facility had over fifty other chimps in their established research programme.
The chimp became a virtual pet and I wasted no time in testing my modified Sacculina parasite. To my satisfaction his behaviour quickly became less aggressive and his adolescent testicles quickly atrophied while his penis stopped growing.
A couple of months later, when he was able to hold his own, I introduced him to the behavioural control group of chimps and he immediately associated with the females instead of the more aggressive male gang. His femininity was made quite obvious as he chose to nurture the baby chimps and even attempted to breast feed them. This unusual behaviour was noticed by the director and I was granted permission to test out prolactin medication to see if my pet chimp could actually succeed as a nursing source for several much younger orphaned victims of the bush-meat trade.
To everybody’s amazement, except mine, my pet proved to be a very successful wet nurse insofar as he was not selective about who he nursed. Whilst most female chimps will only nurse their own, my pet was happy to accept several of the orphans and furthermore he had abundant milk.
After five years commuting between the African jungle station and my professorial guide back in the UK, I returned to complete my doctorial research and prepare my thesis. It was successfully reviewed and I finally won my Ph.D. To celebrate this momentous occasion, I took an extended summer vacation to Costa Rica where I luxuriated with my Aunt Jessica before returning with her to Florida in the fall.
One morning as we chatted in the college refectory, we discussed my options. She asked if I had been to visit Jack. I replied.
“To be honest aunt, I’ve been so wrapped up in my work I’ve hardly been involved with anybody on an emotional level. It’s been work, work, work for the past six years. Why do you ask about Jack anyway?”
“Well he comes down to Costa Rica to visit his dad quite often and he always asked after you.”
I shrugged my shoulders and explained.
“He’s never written to me or e-mailed me. If he had come down during the summers when I was doing my Bachelors, we could have easily got together. Once I embarked upon my doctorate, well – you know how hectic it’s been.”
“Well I’ve heard he’s back in Atlanta. You might want to look him up. I’ve got his father’s phone number both for the faculty and his home address.”
I squinted at her suspiciously.
“Why the sudden ‘match-maker’ aunty?”
She smiled enigmatically.
“If you’re taking a sabbatical it’s nice to share it with somebody. Besides, I’m taking a few months off shortly because I’m pregnant.”
My jaw sagged as I fell silent to gather my thoughts before asking.
“Bloody hell Aunty Jess! Congratulations! Do the family know?”
“No, you’re the first.”
“How far along are you?”
“Three months. I’ve got six months of vacation time owing to me plus my statutory maternity leave.”
“So, all together?” I pressed her, - it was like pulling teeth.
“’Bout a year”
“Who’s the sperm donor?”
“Oh, you wouldn’t know him.”
“Which means you’re not telling.”
She smiled again so I shrugged dismissively.
“Well no matter. Do you know the baby’s sex?”
“It looks like a little girl on the scan but it’s a bit early to tell just yet.”
“Are you having her in the UK or here in the US?”
“I haven’t decided yet. If I have it here the baby’ll have dual nationality.”
“D’ you want that?”
“It can’t harm the kid. My medical insurance covers it anyway.”
“Oh well go for it then, as you say, it’s not likely to harm the kid. D’ you want me to be around when your time comes? Babies take a lot of your time.”
“Aren’t you looking for a permanent post?”
“I’ve got some irons in the fire and there’s another matter I need to attend to but it can wait. When will you be stopping work?”
“When I’m about seven or eight months.”
“Well that gives me plenty of time to find a job. Now, I think I’ll take up your suggestion about meeting Jack again.”
The change of subject suited us both and the following morning I made the calls. By mid-morning we were talking during his coffee break. The following Friday we met in Atlanta. He was working but his excited mother met me at the airport. She took me to their home to await Jack’s arrival from work.
“He still talks about you, you know.”
I smiled coyly. “I thought he’d have been long wedded by now.”
“No, like you he’s been wedded to his work. He’s a Ph.D., now you know and he’s lecturing at Georgia State.”
“So, congratulations are truly in order.” I replied as Jacks mother preened herself proudly.
“Yes, he’s the first to make it to university in our family. Some of the family are a bit jealous but not me; fruit of my womb and all that.”
I grinned widely and squeezed her hand.
“You’ve every right to be proud.”
“So enough about Jack, what have you been doing my girl?”
“Uuhm, feeding monkeys amongst other things.”
She looked at me suspiciously.
“Meaning what exactly, you didn’t need a degree to feed monkeys.”
I grinned again and then explained. She wagged her head before laughing aloud just as Jack surprised us by appearing silently in the doorway.
“Now, what are you two laughing about?” He asked as I leapt out of the armchair and hugged him tight.”
His mother put her own spin on my researches as she addressed her son.
“Welcome home Tarzan meet Jane.”
Jack was long used to his mother’s hyperbola so he looked quizzically at me.
“Oh, I’ve been researching diseases in Africa. Like you I’ve been doing a doctorate. Unlike you, I have not found a job yet but I’m in no hurry.”
“Will you be staying in America or going back to England?”
“Don’t know yet. I might even return to Africa. That’s where I’d be most needed. There have been several small, unreported, isolated outbreaks of Ebola fever or something very similar to it. The African governments are afraid to report them sometimes because other countries then impose travel bans.”
“Have you been in any of those areas?” Jack asked as concern wrinkled his brow?”
“Yes, but don’t worry, I’m clean. If fact, I think I might have acquired some degree of immunity. We suspect it’s to do with working with chimps. The lower orders of monkeys are probably one of the infection vectors. Chimps have been hunting these monkeys for millions of years so we think the chimps have immunity but they are sometimes individual carriers, you know, like typhoid Mary. If one of these carriers is killed and eaten for bush meat then bingo!, this mutated strain of Ebola sometimes breaks out if the meat isn’t cooked properly.”
“The solution?” Jack asked.
“Education, education, education.” I replied. We have to show them the dangers of eating chimps; or any other monkeys for that matter.”
“That’s going to be tricky. Don’t they rely on bushmeat.”
“Pretty much. That’s where my research might just help. We’re looking to find an antidote by dint of research. That’s what I was doing.”
“Do you have to go to Africa to research that. Once you’ve isolated the disease can’t you do it in the labs here in America.” His mother asked.
I turned to see disappointment spreading across her countenance and realised she was seeing her hopes of a grandchild fading even as Jack and I still hugged. My reply gave her hope.
“That’s why I’m staying with my auntie. We might just find funding if there’s a large outbreak again in Africa. The odds are quite high with all the political terrorism and wars going on out there.”
“Aren’t you afraid – you know, the terrorism, kidnapping, ransoms and stuff?” Jacks mum asked.
“Yes, but I’d be more afraid for the rest of Africa or the world even, if another Ebola type outbreak got out of hand..”
She nodded but I could see the concern in her face as she turned to her son.
“Try and get her a safe job here in Atlanta.”
“It’s not my department mum,” he confessed. “I’ve got very little pull in the biological sciences faculty. I’m in engineering and electronics.”
I tried reassuring her.
“Don’t worry too much, I’ll only go to Africa if they really need me. There’s already work waiting for me if I want it down in Florida state.
It’s boring repetitive stuff but it has to be done.”
“When will you be starting that?”
“Next month sometime, but I’ve got some stuff to deliver up in the Carolinas. Test results and stuff.” I should be finished in a couple of weeks so I’ll call back when I’m returning to Florida.”
“Aren’t you staying for the weekend?”
“That is the plan, I’ve got a room booked down in Atlanta, the historic area, I’ve been told it’s very pretty.”
“Oh gosh yes. You were lucky to get a room in any hotel down there, it’s very desirable and very expensive.”
“Well I wouldn’t know, my aunt Jessica organised it all. I’ve checked in on-line so I can turn up at any time.”
“We could go for a meal down there” Jack suggested and his mother snapped up the idea. Within half an hour we were on our way.
The evening was a resounding success and I felt like a million dollars as I bid Jack and his mother a good evening with a promise that he would take me around the historic district on the Saturday. I rose early and was the first down to the hotel restaurant but even so Jack appeared in the foyer as I was only just beginning to eat breakfast. He shared some coffee and toast whilst I finished my meal and soon we were strolling along the beautiful streets.
“So, what are you doing up at North Carolina State?” Jack asked.
“I’m not going to North Carolina, I’m going to South Carolina State.”
“That’s a black university. What would you be doing there?”
“Duuh! Let me see darling. Central Africa is a black continent, I’ve got samples of blood to deliver and test for comparative analysis. The best comparative samples would be with black students and other black people from the Carolinas. It’s ongoing work connected to my parasite research. We are looking for resistive genes to some of the tropical diseases that are mutating even as we research them now. We think Aids got started by scientists being careless in the central African jungles like Congo and Cameroon. My samples are connected to other research as well as my own. Once I’ve delivered the samples to other researchers then tested and collected their results, I’ll be emailing the results back to Africa. Their analysis will determine if I’m needed. If I’m not, it’s back to Florida and humdrum boring tests.”
“And you say about a few weeks.”
“Something like that unless we detect problems. I’ve got another small matter to attend to but that’ll only take a week or so, I hope.”
Jack didn’t press any further. Once he’d got a time-line fixed in his head he was satisfied.
“I’ll call you when I’m homeward bound.” I reassured him.
Sacculina.
Chapter 3
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Charlotte The narrator (and sort of, heroine).
Jessica Charlotte’s Maternal Aunt.
Isobel Charlotte’s French long term friend.
Franchesca Charlotte’s Italian long term friend.
Jack American Gap-year student at the Faculty.
Pete American high school jock
Bill Pete’s crony also a macho high school jock.
Terry The supplier of the party music.
Bob Terry’s friend and owner of the pick-up truck.
Tom Arlott Jack’s dad.
We spent a wonderful weekend in Atlanta and I finally made my excuses before driving to South Carolina State University. Once settled into the University’s visitor block I commenced my testing programme and within a few weeks I had sufficient samples to run statistically safe tests. My researches caused considerable interest within the faculty for it dealt extensively with communicable, tropical diseases and their transmission vectors. The professor of the medical faculty even offered me a two-year readership and I was sorely tempted to take it. However, at that juncture, my researches were finished for then and I had a limited time window to attend to my other agenda. I now had a few weeks to seek out and hopefully punish the rapist who had so ruined my friend Franchesca’s life.
I had long ago researched his back-ground and where he now lived.
Because he belonged a powerful political family who maintained a high political profile, it was a formality to locate him. This done, I commenced a brief surveillance mode and by the second week, I had a rough outline of his habits and favourite hang-outs. In addition to the usual hangouts of a typical bored, rich kid; I learned that he also frequented the occasional seedier bars and dives. Maybe I can be accused of profiling but it was exactly what I anticipated.
Using my good looks to my advantage, I strolled into a bar where I expected to find him the following Tuesday afternoon. Lo, there he was, as large as life hugging a beer whilst sitting close to the till so as to easily catch the bartender’s eye.
As I entered, several pairs of eyes latched on to me but I ignored them all as I took a stool at the corner of the counter as far from my target as I could get. This made it obvious that I was not looking for company. Sadly however, a woman on her own is deemed to be fair game by most men, especially those that frequent bars in the mid-afternoon. Of course, this was exactly what I was depending on to carry out my plan as I ordered an unladylike beer.
I ignored the leers and hopeful smirks and stared directly down the bar focusing my attention on the bartender as he delivered my beer then returned to the till to cash the twenty dollar note.
By the time he’d returned with change, lover boy was already sliding off his stool in the time-honoured sleazy, hopeful manner. I waited until he was walking towards me then I stood up and made a beeline for a poorly lit booth at the far end of the bar.
This sudden act caught ‘lover-boy’ off guard and he had to turn about to approach me. As I sat down he loomed over my table.
“I would have bought that for you if you’d asked.”
I looked up and even with the poor lighting illuminating my face, it was obvious he had not recognised me.
“No thanks, I just came in for a cool drink.”
“A beer,” He observed with the suggestion of chauvinist disapproval in his tone.
“Yes, a beer, a long cool beer. It’s hot outside.”
“Are you not used to the heat then, are you not from around here?”
“No, I’m not from around here.”
“You sound English.”
I nodded as I took another slow sip from my glass.
He seemed to think my nod was some sort of ‘come-on’ and he placed his glass on my table as a sort of marker to claim what he seemed to think was his territory. I did not show any disapproval because I wanted to reel him in carefully. In fact, I wanted to befriend him and let Franchesca see what had happened to him after the parasite had altered his mind. To this end I took out my compact and started repairing imaginary damage to my lipstick. As I puckered my lips I gave him a brief little smile which I knew would be interpreted as a clear ‘come on’. He fell into my trap hook, line and sinker.
“D’ you visit these parts often?” He asked.
“No this is my first time but I’ll be visiting here more often now I’ve got some work here. Do you live here?” I added.
“Yes, ma’am born and bred South Carolina.”
“Oh. that’s nice, a real southerner.”
“Yes. indeed ma’am. Which part of England are y’ all from?”
“Oh, it’s just a small town near Birmingham.”
“What, like Birmingham Alabama?”
“Yes, same name, different country.”
“Your country has got a lot of towns with names like ours.” He observed.
I smiled again as I finished my glass.
“No. I think your country has got a lot of towns with names like ours. We had them first.”
His jaw sagged slightly then he smiled as he realised I was teasing him.
“What? Oh! Yes, of course, the old country and all. Here let me refill that for you.”
This was exactly what I had been hoping for. His glass was still pretty full but already he was trying the usual tactic. I protested mildly.
“Oh, you don’t have to. I’ll be leaving shortly. I have an appointment at four and I only stopped by to have a cool drink.”
“But I insist, it just wouldn’t be hospitable for a southern gentleman to deny a lady a drink.”
“Oh, very well then; if you insist but you’d best make it a coke, I don’t want to smell like a brewery for my interview.”
“Okay,” he agreed and while he was getting the drink, I took full advantage of the poorly lit booth and emptied the phyle of tiny, alcohol resistant, mutated parasites into his beer. In the darkness they were invisible under the foam.
“Suck on that you rapist.” I told myself.
When he returned with the one drink I discreetly smelt it and detected the alcohol he had slipped into it. I wondered if he has also possibly drugged it as well.
“They never change,” I thought as I pretended to sip a drop then put it back on the table at my elbow.
“Bottoms up,” he tried to toast but I only raised my glass and took another false, ‘lady-like’ sip. I noticed him checking to see if I had drunk any substantial amount and I concluded he had slipped something else into my drink. Having concluded he had, I put the drink aside and we chatted a little longer whilst agreeing to swap phone numbers. All the time it was obvious by his posturing and barely concealed smirk that he was anticipating some sort of conquest. Be it with or without consent. Finally, at ten minutes to four I made my excuses and left to attend my phoney interview.
On the Friday I telephoned him to say I’d be returning to Atlanta and it would be nice to share a farewell drink. He told me he was feeling a bit ‘under-the-weather and I wondered if it was the after-effects of having swallowed the parasites that I had genetically modified.
“I’m feeling a bit crook,” he advised me, “my head is sore and my groin is a bit swollen not to mention I’ve got a temperature.”
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry to hear that. If your groin is swollen it means you’ve possibly got an infection. Is there any discharge from your – you know – your penis?”
“No, nothing like that.” He sounded slightly offended by my question.
“Well. You’d best stay in bed for a day or so until your better. Do you want me to come around?” I asked pretending concern.
“Gosh no, it might be infectious.”
I was mildly impressed by his solicitousness.
“Okay then, well I’m back in town next Monday or Tuesday, I’ll call again then.”
“Yes. Please do. I should be over it by then.
With arrangements made, I returned to Atlanta for the weekend with Jack and his family.
The weekend stretched into the following Wednesday and it was Thursday before I returned to South Carolina. Once back at my visitor’s apartment in the college, I telephoned ‘Charles, the rapist.’
“Oh gosh! Where have you been?” The voice on the other end squeaked excitedly.
I held the phone away from my ear in surprise at the high-pitched girly response.
“Well I got a bit delayed, work and social stuff got entangled. So, how’s your fever by the way?”
“Oh, it’s much better. I’m just dying to see you, please, please come over.”
Naturally, I jumped at the offer because I was itching to see what changes, if any, had taken place. His responses and vocalisations on the phone intrigued me because they were distinctly feminine. I caught a bus into town and we met at the same bar. As I stepped through the door he rose to meet me and stretched out his arms to hug me with demonstrable affection. I smiled inwardly as I noted a distinct change in his demeanour as he spoke.
Ooh Charlotte, it’s lovely to see you again. What have you done to your hair?”
“I had it styled and some highlights put in. D’ you like it?” I continued to check if what I was hearing and seeing was definitely a feminising trend.
“Ooh yes darling. Those colours really suit your eyes. Where did you get it done?”
“Could this actually be the same vile serial rapist that had ruined at least two women’s lives and possibly more?" I asked myself.
I gave him the name of the hairdressers and he actually made a note of it on his mobile. Then he made a suggestion.
“This bar is a bit seedy, I think I prefer the café on the next block, shall we go there to chat over a coffee or something?”
Now I knew for sure that the Sacculina was affecting his brain. I could hardly believe my eyes or my ears! Gone was the typically crass attempt to get me drunk. I agreed to have a coffee with him and we walked briskly down the block to the café he had described. As we entered he smiled that typically feminine smile that women reserved for their female friends; a warm, open, invitation to share time together, to chat and exchange details.
“Let me get these and they can be the first of many, d’ you want tea or coffee?”
“Uuhm tea please but hot in a pot and with a jug of cold milk.”
“Ah, the English way; down here we usually drink iced tea.”
I smiled again and explained.
“Yes, but it’s our custom and habit to drink it hot. Back home it’s often cool and damp even in the summer. We call a hot cup of tea
‘The cup that cheers. I didn’t get your full name by the way.”
“What? Oh, it’s Charles, Charles David Rampton the third. We say that to distinguish me from my dad and my grand-dad.”
“So, your shortened cypher would be Chuck.”
“We-ell ye-es. But I think I prefer Charlie these days. Let’s take that seat by the window and watch the world go by.”
Now I knew for certain that Charles was becoming feminised, what I had not expected was the speed of the changes. We settled into our seats and he sipped delicately at his coffee while watching me pour the milk in first then add the tea and stir in the sugar.
“That’s fascinating. Almost like a Japanese tea ceremony.” He giggled and I could hardly believe my ears.
I asked myself if he could recognise the changes in his own behaviour but from the evidence before me, I was forced to conclude that somehow, he was blind to them.
‘Could my mutated Sacculina virus actually ‘zombify’ humans?’ I wondered.
As another test, I decided to repair imaginary damage to my lipstick as I had done the first time I had met him in the bar. On that first occasion he had simply watched me briefly before his interest had drifted from my mouth to my cleavage; this time though his interest was obviously concentrated on my lips.
“That colour suits you just perfectly what’s it called?”
I told him and he reached out. I passed it to him and he studied it intently before handing it back then asking somewhat shyly.
“What sort of lipstick would suit somebody with my colouring?”
I was taken aback by his forthright question, furthermore I did not have much of a clue about American brands and shades or colours so I explained whilst also testing his resolve.
“It’s impossible for me to tell here. The best way is to go to a makeup counter and try out some colours. The advisor will be more than willing to help.”
“Shall we do that now? If you’re going back to Atlanta tomorrow this may be the last chance for a while.”
I could not have refused even if I had wanted to. I was so taken aback by the speed of his mental feminisation that I couldn’t wait to find out about any physical developments. We chatted for a while as Charlie made some comments about passers-by, usually about their cloths or hair. After I had squeezed the last drop of the unexpectedly good tea from my teapot, Charlie paid for us and we walked down the street to a rather exclusive looking salon. Charlie paused briefly, then glanced questioningly towards me.
“What d’ you think?”
“It looks a bit expensive.”
“Oh tish! Darling, all the shops on this street are expensive. Come on let’s do it. I’m game if you are.”
I shrugged, smiled and reached for the quaint old door. Charlie almost skipped over the threshold and I caught the proprietor’s amused smile before she recovered her professional demeanour.
“Good afternoon madam, how can I help you?” She addressed me.
I decided to take the bull by the horns and be direct just to test Charlie’s resolve.
“It’s mainly for my friend here, he’s interested in suitable colours for his complexion.”
I had to admire the proprietor’s panache as she flawlessly turned her attention to Charlie.
“Well sir. What sort of make-up had you in mind?”
Without missing a beat, Charlie explained.
“I need advice about lipstick but now we’re here, maybe a few pointers about make-up as well.”
“Very good sir, or would you prefer madam?”
This bold question floored me, but it was obvious that the lady had sussed out Charlie’s feminised nature. I could hardly believe that the proprietor could be so forthright after having just met and exchanged a few short words. After receiving such a blunt question, I fully expected Charlie to falter because it was a direct challenge to his male persona. Instead, he plunged blithely on and I was finally
convinced that his mind at least, had been feminised. I secretly began to wonder about his body but for now it was fascinating just to watch how he relaxed as the proprietor set about testing several foundation creams after first preparing his skin with cleansing creams. Under her skilled administrations there soon began to emerge, a passable female countenance albeit sticking out of a male shirt. Finally, she selected several shades of lipstick and gave Charlie a choice.
“All these shades will suit you so do you want to apply your choice or shall I do it?”
Charlie then turned to me while holding three different brands of lipstick but all in very similar shades. For a moment my jaw worked desperately to recover its and my composure until finally I could speak.
“I, I, think all of them are just perfect darling;” ‘Did I just call him darling?’ I asked myself wonderingly; ‘Was his behaviour having that effect on me?’
I had to confess to myself his mannerisms and speech were just so feminine it was difficult not to respond to him as girl to girl despite the incongruence between his behaviour and his appearance.
Charlie stared undecidedly at the three lipsticks, shrugged and said.
“I might as well take all three and I’ll need some of those foundation creams and blushers. You’re going to have to help me here Charlotte; or if not you, then this lady here.”
He turned to the proprietor and gently touched her wrist in what could only be described as a feminine gesture. Indeed, the gesture was so feminine that the proprietor gently rested her hand on his as she guided him back to the counter. I was so flabbergasted that I just gaped stupidly and wagged my head slowly from side to side. I had to take a seat while Charlie indulged his burgeoning femininity and eventually we left with a complete, and very expensive make-up selection.
Outside I was in a bit of a quandary about what to do next. It was still afternoon and there was still plenty of shopping time but I certainly had no further plans to go shopping. However, that situation was taken from my control as I stood hesitating on the pavement
(sidewalk). Charlie had walked a few yards up the street and turned to look at a mannikin in a shop window. As he stood admiring it, I felt bound to ask his thoughts about it so I joined him. He turned and smiled at me as I stepped alongside him.
“D’ you like that dress?” He asked.
“Well, yes, I do actually but I had no intentions of shopping today.”
Charlie frowned slightly then grinned.
“Uuhm, I wasn’t thinking for you Charlotte, though I think it would suite you;” she blushed a bit self-consciously, “I was thinking for me actually.”
“You,” I responded, slightly hoarse with surprise. “Are you sure Charlie?”
“It’s a nice dress. I think it would work. Will you come in with me?”
I was almost inured to any further weird developments so I nodded because I was by now lost for words. She linked her arm through mine and almost dragged me inside.
For the second time that afternoon, another store proprietor pounced upon us but I had to explain discreetly that we were shopping for my ‘friend’. The proprietor’s eyebrows lifted momentarily before she smiled at me.
“Very well madam. I see your friend is already enamoured of the window dressing.”
I nodded a little self-consciously as the proprietor continued while Charlie had crossed to study the rack that held the same dress in different colours and sizes.
“Is he a transvestite?” She asked sympathetically, “we get several regular ‘girls’ who shop with me. I help with everything you understand, except shoes. Though my colleague across the street covers that department, larger shoes you understand.”
With that Charlie joined us with several variations of the mannikin’s dress and boldly asked.
“Can I try these on?”
“By all means Madam. The changing rooms are behind the sales desk. If your friend needs to help with changing, you’d best use the family cubicle?”
Charlie looked somewhat uncertainly at me before asking. “Would you be a sweet and help me?”
I hesitated before realising that Charlie had actually shrunk slightly during that very afternoon. Her male trousers and shirt were actually a little loose causing me to realise that there were now physical changes actually taking place as we shopped.
“My God!” I berated myself silently, “this parasite doesn’t half act quickly. I thought this stuff would have taken weeks if not months. The weird thing is that she seems to be oblivious to, or unperturbed by the changes. This must be another effect of the parasite affecting the host’s mind and behaviour.”
I followed Charlie into the changing cubicle while the proprietor stood by the sales desk ready to offer further assistance. At first Charlie turned her back to me as she unbuckled her trousers but their looseness caught her by surprise and they simply fell to the floor, but the bigger surprise was how her underpants followed them so easily and unexpectedly. Charlie made a grab for them but they were around her ankles before she had realised she was naked from the waist down.
“Oh!” She squeaked as she reached down to cover her nudity. “Help me!” she pleaded as she tried to cross her legs in what could only be described as the typically vulnerable posture of a woman caught naked.
For a moment I was caught unawares and at first I thought she was trying to set up a rapist trap before I realised hers was a genuinely feminine predicament.
“My God Charlie you’ve lost weight!” I observed whilst recovering my own composure enough to realise that any further remarks about her physical changes might cause her some sort of distress. “Wait here a moment while I talk to the proprietor. You’re going to need some new underwear.”
Charlie smiled somewhat uncertainly as she sat on the seat with her hands covering her genitalia.
“What size am I?” She asked plaintively through the curtain as I stepped outside.
“I’m going to need some help with my friend,” I advised the proprietor as I thought quickly on my feet.
“I think my friend’s hormone treatment has induced some other changes. Have you got some underwear?”
“Of course, my dear. What size is she?”
“That’s the problem, I’m not sure, she’s certainly lost weight.”
“D’ you want me to help?”
“Just a moment.” I replied as I realised I would have to check Charlie out.
I stepped back into the cubicle where Charlie had now removed her shirt and tee. She looked up hopefully as I stared with surprise at the perfectly formed globes on her chest. However, her legs were still crossed modestly so I was none the wiser as to the exact changes ‘down there’.
“My GOD Charlie! You’ve changed enormously since Costa Rica. Are you not worried or confused by it all?”
“I was at first,” she blushed and stared remorsefully at the floor, “I also felt huge guilt but I’ve done my punishment and now I’ve moved on.”
“But the changes, are you not embarrassed by – you know – those little beauties on your chest and any changes – you know – down there? Are you okay for the proprietor checking your size?”
She nodded uncertainly and looked up beseechingly.
“You’ll look out for me won’t you. Honestly, I’ve changed completely now. No more of that awful stuff. It was wrong, wrong, wrong!”
Having ascertained that Charlie was okay with being checked for clothing sizes, I stepped outside the door and invited the proprietor in with her tape measure. As she brushed past me I whispered in her ear.
“She’s more transsexual than transvestite so please don’t be offended by her body.”
The proprietor whispered back.
“I quite understand madam, I’ve got several other transsexuals as regular customers as well. Be assured madam, I’ve helped to measure and dress individuals like her before.”
“Thank goodness,” I reflected silently as the proprietor stepped inside and spoke softly to Charlie.
“Now Miss; may I call you miss?”
“Yes, yes by all means,” Charlie agreed as she visibly relaxed at the proprietor’s easy-going but professional approach.
“Good, now then, stand up Miss and we’ll have a better idea of what your size and shape is.” Your friend says your new to this, is she right?”
Charlie nodded and glanced nervously towards me so I smiled to reassure her.
“It won’t take long girl, just relax.”
As I reassured Charlie the proprietor started to briskly whisk the tape measure around Charlie’s now naked body. I got my first good look at Charlie’s newly changed anatomy and I was surprised yet slightly amused by the vestigial penis that now nestled snugly under Charlie's feminised tummy. It was smaller than the first joint of my forefinger and barely visible in the ‘camel-toe’ where her rounded thighs met a noticeable pair of labia lips. As to testicles, I saw no evidence of anything that could be taken for those primary engines of masculinity.
At this juncture, the proprietor was measuring Charlie’s inside leg and she smiled benignly as Charlie twitched lasciviously when the proprietor’s fingers held the tape against her ambiguous genitalia.
“Are you sensitive down there Miss.”
“Uh-huh!” Charlie almost croaked with lust as her knees sagged.
The proprietor ignored Charlie’s involuntary loss of decorum and quickly finished measuring Charlie’s upper parts.
“Well miss, you’re a nice shape and only slightly above average height. We’ll have no problem fitting you for underwear. Will it be just one set or are you envisaging kitting yourself out.”
“What do you think Charlotte?” Charlie asked me.
“Well it’s up to you darling. There’s some nice stuff here and you’ll have to dress appropriately if you’re going to get out of here.
You’ll also need shoes. I suggest getting a couple of dresses here along with a couple of changes of underwear.”
I could almost hear the proprietor’s lips smacking in anticipation of the sale she would make. Charlie nodded as she opined.
“Yes, let’s get two dresses and three sets of underwear. I like that dress in the window on the mannikin and perhaps the same type in blue.”
“Go for it girl,” I encouraged.
And she did.
After completing her clothing purchases Charlie chose to wear the blue version out into the street and I was forced to admit to myself that she looked okay. Walking bare footed across the street however looked slightly incongruous and she didn’t yet have a handbag either. The previous dress-shop proprietor had phoned ahead to the shoe shop and even as we approached, her friend and associate opened the door.
“Welcome ladies so my friend was right, very much a need for shoes I fancy.”
Charlie gave another beautifully feminine smile while I nodded confirmation.
“Walking out shoes for certain.” I confirmed “and perhaps a few heels for mood’”
The lady smiled as we quietly exchanged names and confidences while Charlie occupied herself with shoe selection.
“My friend across the street assured me that it would be a certain sale so take your pick.”
We exchanged knowing smiles as we watched Charlie trying on just about every shoe in the standard female sizes. It was now abundantly obvious that every aspect of her old male body had been feminised.
“It’s like having a teenaged daughter going to her first prom!” I whispered to the proprietor as the mood took hold of me.
The proprietor nodded agreement as she approached a besotted Charlie who was obviously having selection troubles.
“I love them all!” She squeaked plaintively.
The proprietor knew that Charlie’s purse was obviously a deep one from the advanced intelligence supplied from her dress-shop friend but she did not abuse that knowledge and moved to scale down Charlie’s reckless enthusiasm. For this I had to respect her. In the end, Charlie left with about five different styles plus the flatties for walking – not to mention several expensive matching handbags.
“Thank you so much ladies, do come again.”
I grinned at her as we left and she caught my drift as Charlie and I returned to the little café.
“So, what now?” Charlie asked as we chose a booth deeper inside the café to examine our booty.
“Well I’m bound for Florida darling. I’ve got business to sort out and decisions to make.”
“Are you driving down?” Charlie asked concernedly.
“Uuhm, no, I’m taking a city hopper then I’ll be staying at my aunt’s.”
“Oh. I was hoping you’d stay the weekend.”
I noted the disappointment in her voice but re-iterated the importance of my business with my aunt.
“I’m sorry darling. Next weekend perhaps. It depends on Africa but I don’t expect any results for two weeks so I’ll possibly be free next week.”
“Oh, please do, it’s been so much fun this afternoon.”
Charlie’s hope burned bright in her eyes and I could not refuse her plea. Besides I wanted to see how things were working out because her physical feminisation was almost complete. I was interested to learn how she would be coping as a – by now – attractive female, but with a vestigial penis tucked away between two scrotal folds that had become outer labia lips. Coping with persistent overbearing males would be the real acid test.
During the week, I helped Aunt Jessica collate some research notes and secretly noted where her research was taking her. She seemed to be interested in castrating male cattle whilst inducing them to lactate thus doubling their usefulness as either beef or dairy
animals and subsequently doubling any livestock breeder’s earnings. I chatted at length with her about her work. It seemed she was currently working on neurological behaviour to remove the protective maternal instincts that drove a cow to only accept its own calf.
Strangely this propensity was not to be found in all mammals, indeed, even in lion prides, some females chose to hunt while others protected the cubs and nursed their sister’s young in addition to their own. Rabbits also nursed other related doe’s young if food was abundant. Aunt Jessica was researching the neurological and pathological factors that caused these differences. As I scanned the
notes, I privately made some notes of my own with a view to possibly inducing lactation in Charlie.
Any thoughts in that direction however had to be put on hold for I did not have a laboratory.
On the Wednesday I received a call from South Carolina; it was Charlie and a somewhat distressed Charlie at that.
“What’s wrong petal?” I asked.
“It’s my grandfather. They’ve banned me from visiting my family.”
“Can they do that?” I asked. “Surely it’s the family home and you still live there don’t you?”
“Well, not exactly. I’ve got my own apartment and a private income from my great grandfather’s estate. It’s not massive but it’s enough to keep me comfortable. The trouble is, I don’t get to see my younger sister’s new-born daughters and I had become so fond of them. She has few problems with Charlie but her husband’s a bit of a redneck as well. In fact, every man in the family is against
me now. They’re just not being fair. I’m only being true to myself.”
“But what about your past behaviour, you know the rapes and the prison stuff.”
I heard Charlie give a little sob before she replied.
“But that’s all behind me now. I realise I was a beast and I’ve done my time. It’s all so unfair. The men in my family actually preferred my beastly male persona despite all the awful stuff I did. I’m a reformed person now and a much nicer one but those bloody rednecks don’t see it that way. It’s just so unfair. I love my nieces but if I want to see them, I have to arrange a clandestine meeting with my sister. She’s the only one who accepts me. It’s just crazy. She hated Charles because of what he did but she wants to be best friends with Charlie.”
“Well that figures darling. Women do not like being raped you know and they don’t like the men who rape them.”
“Well obviously,” She sobbed again. “Of course, they don’t but I’ve changed, and changed for the better.”
“I know that, Charlie, and you know that; and obviously your sister knows that. Can’t you meet her outside the family, in a café or something.”
“Yes, I’ve arranged a meeting on Saturday. Can you come to keep me company?”
“I was coming up on Friday anyway. This Ebola type virus has re-erupted and they want me to do preliminary research work at South Carolina state, starting Monday. I need to find a flat.”
“A flat?” What’s that, have you got a puncture or something?”
I realised the word ‘flat’ was not well known across the pond so I corrected myself.
“Sorry, I mean apartment, somewhere to live.”
“I’ve got a spare room with its own bathroom.” Charlie offered.
I was a bit cautious about her offer but decided it was worth a look. Besides I could kill three birds with one stone, check the apartment, meet Charlie’s sister and check out Charlie’s feminisation progress. Friday noon found me stepping off the city hopper and taking the airport bus into town. Charlie met me downtown and drove me directly to her apartment. When we got there, it was obvious that Charlie’s sister and two little nieces had already arrived. We were introduced and it was obvious that the little girls were absolutely besotted with their new aunt. They crawled all over her for a good five minutes before returning to their toys. We three adults spent time chatting and getting acquainted.
“So how did you meet my bro- sorry, sister?” Patricia asked.
“I was a bit embarrassed to reveal at first but she nodded knowingly and answered her own question.”
“Oh, the costa Rica business, was it?”
I was beginning to wonder if this woman actually lived in the real world but I avoided giving it to her with both metaphorical barrels. Instead I tried engaging in a ‘polite conversation.’
“Sadly yes. I’m glad to say things have moved on.”
“Well so am I, Charles was a hateful bully but now – well. You can see for yourself.”
‘Hateful bully!’ I almost choked on the understatement. ‘As a man, Charles had been a bloody rapist; a destroyer of women’s lives!’
I almost had to bite my tongue to prevent myself from flying off the handle and saying something I might regret. It seemed as if Charlie’s sister had been living in some sort of genteel cocoon of wealth and privilege.
I nodded, and implied ignorance with a shrug of incomprehension before turning to Charlie and adding.
“I don’t know what’s happened, but you’re a better girl for it, don’t you agree Charlie?”
She nodded a bit self-consciously as her eyes cast down to the floor.
“There’s no need to be ashamed Charlie,” Patricia observed. “Your friend Charlotte is quite right, Viv-la-change.”
I said no more about Charles’s past and deftly moved the conversation on by asking Patricia about her charity work. She spoke at length about her projects and suggested that Charlie might now be better employed in helping her with the homeless hostels instead of living like a ‘Chelsea Buck’. I felt compelled to agree and to Patricia’s delight, Charlie agreed with certain reservations.
“I’d prefer to be working with the girl’s hostel; I wouldn’t feel safe with men around at night.”
I smiled inwardly as I reflected to myself.
“You’re learning Charlie, you’re learning.”
As I cogitated, Patricia explained.
“Charlie’s already had a nasty experience as a girl. Show Charlotte your arm dear.”
Charlie glanced nervously to the floor again before unbuttoning her loose blouse sleeve and revealing some nasty bruising on her forearm.
“I never realised we girls bruised so easily and the pain! It was unbearable. Fortunately, it was outside the club and the bouncers
rescued me but he’d already nearly paralyzed my arm. It was horrible!” She confessed as tears slowly began to leak.”
I was secretly happy that she had received such a powerful lesson but I kept my counsel and instead, I reached out to give her a hug. Despite having put her in this vulnerable situation I still could not ignore my feelings of empathy for the now feminised woman. She sagged slightly into my arms and the tears began to flow freely. As she pressed her face into my shoulder Patricia caught my eye and nodded knowingly. I grasped the jist of her observation and nodded knowingly back.
‘Charles would never be a danger to women again.’
After a respectable couple of minutes comforting the distraught Charlie I dug out a tissue from my hand-bag and suggested she go and repair her make-up.
She stood back and searched my face whilst declaring.
“I just wonder how girls like you find the courage to travel alone and work in isolation in places like Africa. You must be frightened all the time!”
“It can be frightening sometimes Charlie,” I agreed, “but I keep my wits about me all the time; as you will have to do from this time forward.”
Charlie swallowed fearfully and shuffled despondently into the bathroom to attend to her tearstained make-up. I turned to Patricia.
“She’s learned her lesson I think.”
Patricia frowned thoughtfully before declaring.
“It still puzzles me as to how my brother changed so completely in so short a time. I mean he – or as I am now compelled to say; she has become almost a typical woman except for that single large detail.”
“Do you mean the physical changes, the boy parts?” I asked.
“Well, frankly yes. I haven’t seen it but from what she tells me –.”
I grabbed the bull by the horns and declared with a grin.
“Well, always remember, I had to help her choose her first dress and her new underwear. I have seen ‘it’ as you delicately describe it and I can assure you. ‘it’ is no longer a large detail.”
As I spoke I crooked my little finger and wiggled it in the universal girl sign for a ‘small winkie’. Patricia’s eyes widened with amusement as she almost choked in her endeavours not to burst out laughing.
“Oh! Ha-ha! Good gracious Charlotte! Ha-ha! You’re terrible!” She managed to declare between strangled gasps.
Finally, the dam broke and she slumped helplessly in the armchair as laughter wracked her body. She was still heaving with mirth as Charlie re-emerged with her face repaired.
“What’s the joke?” She asked.
“Oh, nothing you’d appreciate darling,” I reassured her, “just a bit of girl talk.”
“Well you can tell me now, I am a girl.”
‘Are you?’ I asked myself as I decided to reinforce her angst.
“Oh, indeed you are girl, and a very pretty one at that. Just remember that next time, before you choose to walk alone into a lonely parking lot or darkened street.”
Charlie’s expression clouded with fearful realisation as she contemplated her future as a faux-female. Not only would she have to contemplate the every-day risks attached to being a girl, but she would have that dreadful added component of always living ‘on the edge’; wondering if any decent man she met and became attracted to, not to mention any predatory scum, might not take umbrage if or when her true circumstance was revealed.
These dark thoughts must have pre-occupied Charlie’s mind because she did not pursue the question of Patricia’s and my earlier laughter and she remained fairly subdued for the remainder of our meeting.
‘Chew on that!’ I thought to myself as we finally parted ways.
The following morning, I spoke to Franchesca in Italy and listened with a happy heart as she spoke to me whilst scolding her children to behave. It was lovely to once more hear her earthy liberated laughter as I gave her the news about her rapist.
“Are you serious?” She finally managed to choke out between gasps of laughter. “You say he’s a’ changed into a girly boy?”
“Yes. Even his voice has been raised an octave and he’s smaller and lighter. He’s only about one point six five metres tall.”
“What about his dirty bits?” She demanded to know.
“Even better news,” I confirmed, “His testicles have gone and his cock is smaller than a thimble. It’s like a clitoris but exposed outside his labia instead of being tucked away.”
“He must be horrified!” Franchesca opined with a delighted squeal.
“Seemingly not. Despite the enormous changes, his girly mindset seems to have taken it all in her stride.”
“So how did it happen? What caused it?” Franchesca demanded.
“Nobody knows,” I lied. “It all happened within a couple of weeks and he went from macho, rapist pig to giggling, simpering bimbo.”
I had to wait a couple of seconds for Franchesca to recover from another fit of laughing, then we talked at length for ten minutes before Franchesca’s motherly duties dragged her from the phone to separate her squabbling children.
Two days later I was contacted by the world health foundation and asked to attend my old clinic in Central Africa. The outbreak looked as though it might go global. All thoughts about Charlie were put aside as I boarded a plane for Europe where I would change for a flight to Africa. Things looked interesting and uncertain for the immediate future.
Sacculina 4
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Charlotte The narrator (and sort of heroine).
Jessica Charlotte’s Maternal Aunt.
Isobel Charlotte’s French long term friend.
Franchesca Charlotte’s Italian long term friend.
Jack American Gap-year student at the Faculty.
Pete American high school jock
Bill Pete’s crony also a macho high school jock.
Terry The supplier of the party music.
Bob Terry’s friend and owner of the pick-up truck.
Tom Arlott Jack’s dad.
Charlie. Feminised rapist who now has external female genitalia.
I decided to make my flight to Africa via Rome where I could renew acquaintances with my long time Italian friend Franchesca.
After clearing Immigration and baggage at the air-port I was seemingly attacked by a trio of excited and curious children who had escaped their mother’s control. Eventually a heavily pregnant Franchesca appeared huffing and puffing with her brother and old acquaintances were renewed with much hugging, kissing and emotion. I was introduced properly to her children who then promptly received a scolding for running off towards the international arrivals gate while leaving their heavily pregnant mother telling her brother to run after them and make sure they didn’t get into any trouble.
“I brought my brother to help you with the luggage, as you see, I can’t carry anything.”
“My god girl, when are you due?”
“Next week. But I’m okay, you stay with us I hope before flying on.”
“Yes, I planned on two days stopover just to catch up with you. I won’t be a burden.”
“It’s okay, I’m staying with my Nona and Mama here in Roma for the next couple of months, they and my sister-in-law will be helping. Then I go home to Milano and my husband.”
With arrangements settled we drove to her grand-parents small farm located about twenty miles east of Rome. There I learned the very sound reasons for Franchesca’s choice. Her immediate family lived locally so she had an excellent support network for her children. With a constant flow of nieces, aunts and cousins, Franchesca was never short of baby-sitters.
I spent an Idyllic two days on their family farm before finally boarding the chartered flight from London via Paris and Rome to central Africa and the now globally feared outbreak.
“You be Careful now Charlotte. I don’t have to tell you how dangerous this business can be.”
I reassured her for the umpteenth time and finally checked in my own baggage plus all the medical and laboratory Equipment I was overseeing in transit. I also met several other medical colleagues who were similarly burdened with assorted medical supplies and equipment. On the plane we had several hours to get to know each other and exchange ideas about tackling the outbreak. We landed late at night in the inevitable tropical down-pour and it was late the following morning before we were finally on the road to the quarantined area where the outbreak was hopefully contained.
Most of us had our doubts about medical security and were not reassured when we arrived at the medical station and hospital that was serving as a base station in the battle against the disease’s break-out. The biggest factor that seemed to surround the whole camp was fear.
After confirming my quarters, I moved immediately to set up my laboratory station and by the following morning I was studying samples of the disease. One of my first acts of self defence was to take a sample of my own blood and check if I had any sort of immunity to the disease following from my previous years in the area. There was some hope for my blood seemed to show a little bit more resistance than my fellow scientists and this was attributed to my having spent nearly seven years intermittently in the central African Jungles. Unfortunately, short of experimenting with my own body, there could be no certainty.
After checking with my colleagues, I agreed to join the ‘control group’ of local Africans who had similar levels of resistance to mine. My uniquely European heritage would also bring a different genetic marker and reference point for comparative blood tests, sampling and analysis.
I spent a long, arduous year experimenting with preventative vaccines before our team got a lever on the outbreak and we were finally able to reassure the WHO., that this outbreak at least was now under control. The infection rate finally fell to zero and more importantly we had identified and isolated the primary vector which turned out to be a parasite found mostly in the blood of monkeys.
Like most innovative researchers I had been forced to test the vaccine on human guinea-pigs and, like many researchers before me, I felt it was unethical to put others at risk without first taking responsibility for my endeavours,
I secretly used myself as the first human ‘guinea pig’ to be vaccinated and then exposed to the disease. However, I did not do it without first informing my most trusted and discreet associate at the research station. On learning of my intentions, she agreed to supervise my isolation and monitor my condition.
After several days of intense fear combined with considerable disablement I slowly recovered from the infection. I had not succumbed to the disease but it left me sorely weakened. Eventually however, after two months of slow recovery, our team were able to identify and process the resistive elements in my blood to produce the first precious drops of a truly effective vaccine.
Strike one to Charlotte and her team!
Strike two for the success of science over tribal superstitions that had caused the outbreak in the beginning. The primitive and superstitious act of sacrificing monkeys and drinking their blood was quickly eradicated.
Strike three for conservation.
My success in the field quickly brought me several offers from various prestigious institutions and I chose to return to Florida to work alongside my beloved aunt Jessica. I was surprised, pleased and not a little embarrassed by the reception committee she had secretly organised for me when I stepped out of the immigration hall. I hadn’t prepared a speech or anything for I had expected to simply step outside the airport, catch an airport bus into town and book a hotel room before contacting my aunt to advise her of my arrival.
Instead I was suddenly confronted with a barrage of flash cameras and what I had to surmise was half the medical faculty at the institute. For several seconds I just froze and stared stupidly at the flashing cameras before my sight returned.
Fortunately, aunt Jessica took control and the pandemonium gradually subsided. She spoke on my behalf before cajoling me into offering a few words about my work. This proved relatively easy then there followed a barrage of questions before I was finally hustled away. It was only when I was safely ensconced in the university’s ‘minibus’ that I was able to censure her for surprising me.
“Get used to it little niece. Your secret is out, that selfless act of philanthropy by exposing yourself to the disease has made you famous. Besides, fame brings funding, especially in medical research.”
“Well I didn’t come here to be a fund raiser, I just want to carry on with my researches.”
“Oh, don’t worry darling, you’ll get all the research time you’ll need. You know the military are interested in co-opting your services; biological warfare and all that.”
“What!” I almost shrieked, “biological warfare? No way! Spreading diseases is obscene – a crime against humanity!” I protested whilst shuddering inwardly at my own dirty little secret concerning my secret work with the Sacculina parasite and infecting Charlie.
“Don’t jump the gun darling. It’s about preventing infections. Developing vaccines for
other bugs that enemies of the west are developing. More defence than offence. I’ve been reading up on your work out there and you employed some very innovative ideas that seem to have come out of nowhere. Where did you get those ideas and more importantly, where did you get the confidence to progress them? It was singularly intuitive of you as to how you managed to select the most favourable paths or options at several decision points without first wasting months of work eliminating the dead ends.
I’m intrigued, you must have done some earlier research. Where did you get those ideas, those building blocks that turned out to be so successful? Whose work did you build on. I can find nothing in any journals that might have illuminated your path.”
Aunt Jessica was getting too close for comfort. I knew she was clever but not that clever. I decided to feign innocence.
“They were ideas I’d been playing with for years, I just took the opportunity to investigate them while I was out there. Don’t forget, I was researching for my doctorate for nearly seven years in those steaming jungles.”
“That was to do with viruses and bacteria. What about the parasite angle. Where did you get the ground work for that?”
“Du-uh! That was my dissertation for my graduate degree. Remember, three years virtually locked away in Wales. I would have thought you’d have read it.”
“I’ve tried, but your old Alma Mater seems to have lost it; which seems strange for a dissertation that earned you a first.”
“Lost it?!” I squeaked pretending surprise. “Bloody hell that was three years of hard grind.”
“Have you got the other copy, your own original copy?” Aunt Jessica persisted.
I knew exactly where my original notes were and indeed also the college’s copy. Once I had been awarded my degree I had seen fit to ‘borrow’ the college’s copy to check some work that I pretended had been lost from my original notes when going down from university.
Then, like most large academic bureaucratic organisations they had seemingly forgotten my deposition because I had delayed returning the copy until I had deleted a few items that might have suggested some other work not presented in my dissertation. My own, fully complete copy of my dissertation and researches still resided in the attic back home.
I pretended uncertainty towards my aunt Jess.
“It’s somewhere I suppose. Buried with all my notes and stuff back home in the UK. If I remember rightly, Mummy put it all up in the loft – along with a million other pieces of junk.”
“Have you not got an electronic copy?”
Once again, I lied glibly.
“I did have but I’m not sure if it even survived the move. Even if it still exists, it’s not immediately to hand, for it would also be buried up in the attic of my parent’s house in the UK. I can’t be bothered to go all the way back home just for my undergraduate dissertation. Anyway, I should imagine it’s all ‘old-hat’ by now. Research has moved on.”
I shrugged dismissively to reinforce my lie and Aunt Jessica was forced to accept my seeming disinterest. Having hopefully ended her inquisition, we got to talking about future research and my distaste for military work.
“But they pay well Charlotte, which is a blessing if you embark upon pure academic investigations. You’ll be able to fund other, more humanitarian, beneficial work.”
“Like what?”
Aunt Jessica paused momentarily then stepped across to her own private bureau and rooted through a thick wedge of newspaper cuttings.
“Look at this for example. A guy in North Carolina was apparently infected with some chemical agent and it’s supposedly altered his gender according to his doctors. It’s pure claptrap of course but they do have a point. He was certainly once a man, and a very unsavoury one at that. Now-a-day’s apparently, he has somehow become feminised but the doctors don’t know how or why.”
“That sounds crazy, I suppose he’s going around in a mad spin looking for something or somebody to sue.”
“That’s the weird part.” Aunt Jessica continued, “further on it states the guy seems okay with the changes but the family are not and they are offering money to anybody who can find a cure.”
I finished reading the article for I had already recognised it as Charles’s (AKA Charlie’s) case. My thoughtful silence caused Aunt Jessica to mistakenly assume I was not interested but I could immediately see a ‘cash-cow’ placed before me. For, virtually no effort, I could actually appear to ‘discover’ the causes of the man’s changes and present a learned paper. So far, it seemed, nobody had found the root cause or isolated the agent that had precipitated the changes. As I put down the article I asked.
“What are your thoughts about the causes?”
Aunt Jessica returned the bundle of articles to her bureau as she replied.
“I don’t believe it’s a chemical. The man has apparently never worked near any chemicals and medical tests have found nothing to indicate that.”
I made a pretence of thought before offering.
“Could it possibly be a virus or something else biological; you know a plant toxin, insect bite or something.”
Aunt Jessica snorted derisively.
“Do you know of any plant or bug that causes a sudden sex change in humans? I certainly don’t! It’s my opinion that he’s been taking hormones secretly even though apparently he swears he hasn’t.”
“Hold on Aunty Jess.” I found myself protesting mildly. “What about that crab research you were doing in Costa Rica? What was it again? Saccu- Sacculina- I remember now Sacculina carcini, yes that was it, some sort of relative of the barnacle. Didn’t that castrate littoral crabs?”
“Yes, but I said Humans Charlotte, not crabs. In the first place; humans don’t moult.” She added a little sarcastically. “So that sort of parasite could not invade any of the higher order’s anatomies. These parasites can only invade lower orders that pass through suitable incubation or moulting stages.”
“Well if you say so aunty,” I conceded, thereby causing her to reinforce her own convictions.
Auntie Jess shook her head in disbelief that I, as a scientist, could even contemplate such a bizarre hypothesis.
“Well really Charlotte, you of all people should have realised that. The very idea is- well- preposterous.”
I shrugged my pretended acceptance and pouted my capitulation whilst being secretly pleased that my auntie had been so dismissive of my postulation. It seemed the very idea of parasites causing Charlie’s metamorphosis was to be dismissed out of hand. Thus, I let the issue drop. My secret seemed to be safe. The idea of some easy money however was not to be overlooked so I raised this idea with Auntie Jess.
“You know they said in those cuttings that his family were looking for causes to his sex change?”
“Yes.” Auntie Jess answered somewhat dismissively.
“Well I believe I might be able to help solve the issue for the family. The guy doesn’t live far away in North Carolina and I go up that way twice a month to see Jack. I’ll contact the family while I’m up there and ask if they are prepared to sort out some funds for research.”
“Provided it doesn’t incur any cost to this college I have no objections.” Auntie Jess allowed.
Having cleared the decks down in Florida I commenced my plan and within two months my private research programme was up and running parallel to my regular college programme. Although I already had the answers I let the programme stew a whilst exploring other, safe vectors for helping transgendered people. I had begun to realise that there could be some very helpful aspects to the effects of my previous research. These thoughts about possibly helping transgendered people started to occupy my mind extensively after I received a huge shock from my boyfriend Jack..
Some weeks earlier as I had lain on a beach in North Carolina with Jack, I had asked him what he thought about marriage. He had sat up slowly then fallen silent as he stared pensively towards the gathering evening shades out over the ocean. I was beginning to feel the evening chill and I snuggled up to him affectionately as I wrapped my beach towel over both of us. He didn’t respond as he usually did by turning to me and kissing me so I had immediately sensed that something wasn’t right.
“Penny for your thoughts darling.” I had asked as he continued staring.
“Huh, erm what was that babes?”
“I said ‘a penny for your thoughts’.”
“Wha-? Oh! Yes. Well - I.”
He fell silent and could easily tell that he was desperately worried about something and it seemed to surround the word ‘marriage’. I remained silent to allow him to gather his thoughts.
After long moments which left me nervous and Jack tense, he turned to look at me and I noticed the glint of a tear struggling to escape his eye. I realised that there was something really serious bothering my boyfriend but I was fearful of pushing him for an explanation. Eventually he replied hesitantly.
“I’m getting cold here, shall we chat in the car?”
I was also feeling the evening chill so I agreed and we gathered our beach apparel and sought warmth in the Car. Jack switched the engine on and turned to me nervously again.
“Are you serious about marriage? I thought you were wedded to your researches.”
“Well. Yes and no darling, I’d like to start a family one day and - tick - tock - tick ¬- tock, if you understand my meaning. Don’t you want kids?”
He turned again to stare at the ocean and I soon noticed that his shoulders were heaving! To my surprise Jack was crying!
“What’s wrong Babes?” I demanded as I reached out to hug him.
We hugged for nearly a minute before his choking sobs finally subsided.
“Do you really love me?” He asked while softly chewing his lower lip.
“You have to ask.” I replied, annoyed at his doubting me.
“That’s just it,” he frowned, “I do, I really do!”
“Why?” I replied monosyllabically, lost for words.
“I, - I’ve got a problem, I’ve got a huge problem.”
After hesitating amidst the oppressive silence, I plucked up the courage to ask.
“Would it be cruel of me to ask?”
He stared at me tearfully then shook his head.
“If I told you, it could hurt you – no it will hurt you – I’m so sorry!”
All sorts of things raced through my mind until I found the courage to ask –
“What are you trying to say? Are you gay or something?”
He stared at me in perplexion before asking.
“Would you hate me if I was?”
I fell into a thoughtful silence then finally I answered.
“I’d hate if you didn’t tell me then gave me some disease like aids.”
“And what about marriage, children and such like?”
It was my turn to be perplexed before I replied.
“My problem would be your loyalty, or more correctly, the lack of it. I know many gay men are perniciously promiscuous to the point of self-destruction and the last thing any child wants is a self-destructive parent.”
“Well I’m not gay.”
I hesitated before committing myself further then I spoke slowly.
“O-kaaay. So, what’s the problem?”
He stared at me thoughtfully then asked.
“Are you saying you’d be willing to have my children?”
“Hold on! I didn’t say that. I said the last thing ANY child wants is a self-destructive parent. The emphasis there is on the word ‘any’. Are you liable to self-destruct? Are you thinking suicide?”
His face darkened before he almost whispered.
“You’re getting close, many of us do.”
“I’m at something of a loss here,” I confessed, “who’s ‘us’?”
“People like me,” Jack allowed, “transgendered people.”
The last cog in my brain meshed into place with a ‘clunk’ as I finally learned what he was trying to tell me. I stared at him for long seconds as a hundred and one scenarios raced through my brain. Finally, I arrived where my natural compassion would inevitably have brought me by any one of a hundred different emotional routes; sympathy.
“So, this is your secret, the big thing that you were afraid to tell me, to share with me?”
“Share with you?” Jack frowned uncertainly. “Of course, I was afraid to share it with you, it’s a deal buster isn’t it? You don’t want to marry a dickless wonder do you?”
I changed tack as I tried to collect and sort my thoughts.
“Does anybody else know, your parents for instance, your sisters perhaps?
He paused before replying softly.
“My mother knows but not my father.”
“How did she take it?”
“Oh, all the usual issues; what about grandchildren, what about your job, have I seen a psychiatrist, can it be cured? Then she asked if I had told you. I said you were next on my list and she gave me a bit of a row. She told me to tell you immediately so here I am. I only told her this morning.”
I chuckled as I recovered my composure and privately contemplated a marriage to a ‘dickless wonder’.
“Yeah, your mum always struck me as eminently sensible and practical. She was right to order you to tell me. Can I speak to her?”
His face turned grey with fear.
“What are you going to say?”
“You’ll hear right now,” I replied as I took out my mobile.
“Please don’t hurt her feelings, she’s had enough hurt for one day.” Jack begged.
“I’ve no intentions of hurting her. Oh. Hello Carol, it’s me Charlotte.”
“Hello darling has my son explained it all?”
“Yes. He’s just told me.”
“And what where your feelings?”
“Well, of course I was shocked, as you were he tells me.”
“Yes, I was shocked but more hurt than shocked.”
“Why?”
“Why d’ you think?”
“You’ve lost me Carol. You always struck me as sensible and practical.”
“This goes deeper than sensible. If he transitions, I’ll never have grandchildren.”
“You’ve got two daughters, it’s more than probable they’ll give you grandchildren.”
“Yes, but a mother likes all her children to give her grandchildren and besides, I’d fulfil my obligation to Harold to carry on his family name.”
“Oh, let’s not go down the son and heir route Carol. Of course, James can give you grandchildren.
“How?” She demanded.
I tittered provocatively before teasing her.
“My god Carol. Are you telling me you’ve had a son and two daughters and yet you still don’t know how babies are made?”
There was a brief silence before she realised what I was offering.
“Oh my God! Are you saying your prepared to go through with all this, getting married to him and having his children BEFORE he transitions?”
“Sounds like a plan to me future mother-in-law. That is if your side of the family agree.”
“But what about, - you know, - after the op and stuff? Won’t you feel, - you know, - unfulfilled, frustrated and things?”
“That’s between Jack and me ‘future-mother-in-law]. You’re not allowed into our marital bed.”
Carol gave a shriek of joy and asked to speak to her son. I handed Jack the phone as his mother waded into him.
“Did you hear all that, you lucky sod?”
“Jack had to hold the phone a foot from his ear as his mother’s excitement pierced the space between us. “
“Yes mother, I heard it and nobody’s happier than me.”
“Oh yes there is, and that is me! Now you look after that girl, you’ll never find another one like her. D’ you want me to tell your sisters?”
“Okay mother, if you must.”
“Very well but it’s up to you to tell your father, it’s only right. By the way, what do her family think of it. What are they like? Are they a decent family?”
Jack turned to me and wagged his head in disbelief.
“Can you believe that? You’ve just demonstrated that you are the kindest, most understanding and compassionate woman in the world and my mother wonders if you’re ‘from good stock’ What tells me she was originally from Kentucky?”
I smiled enigmatically and reached across to kiss him before explaining.
“You do realise you haven’t even asked me to marry you yet!”
He gaped at me stupidly before bursting into relieved laughter then finally ending up in tears of relief as he double checked again.
“You will marry me won’t you? Despite everything I’ve told you, dickless wonder and all.”
“Darling it’s you I love. I felt for you that very first day when you stopped the jocks tormenting Franchesca and Isobel at the campus lido in Costa Rica. You were with them but obviously not of them. Was that your feminine side surfacing even then?”
“That’s very insightful of you babes, yes, I suppose it was, I’ve always had a sort of empathy for girls and I was never into tormenting them. So, your answer’s yes then?”
“Yes darling, a clear unequivocal yes!”
Suddenly Carol’s voice came through the phone again and we both gulped as we realised we had not shut it off.
“I heard all that my boy and I am not into breeding horses, Kentucky or not! Anyway, congratulations. Are you coming around tonight Charlotte? You Jack might as well face your pop sooner rather than later.”
I confirmed for both of us and within two hours we were scrubbed up from the beach. Jacks sisters came squealing from the house before we’d even parked. Hug and kisses broke out all around before Jack stepped nervously into the house. I joined the womenfolk while he spoke to his dad. Eventually his father emerged and approached me.
“Are you truly happy about this?”
I nodded as he pressed his questions.
“You realise this is North Carolina, not England. I know you people are much more tolerant and liberal than many down here below our bible belt. Are you happy about the situation?”
“If Jack is and your family is then I’m sure I can handle it. It’s what’s between our ears that counts.”
“Well yes but also what’s in your hearts.”
“Are you speaking biblically or patriarchally?” I asked.
“I’m asking as a grandfather who might have to protect his kids if you choose to settle hereabouts. After Jack transitions, he might not be in a position to protect his children.”
“We’ll cross that bridge if or when we come to it.” Jack declared.
Jacks father turned again to me.
“Charlotte, what do your folks think about it?”
“I’ll find out when I tell them. I’m pretty sure they’ll be pretty cool about it. They’ve been expecting us to get hitched for some years now.”
“And the transgender bit?” He pressed.
“It’s the UK, we’re easier on this stuff. I don’t expect any problems. We could even get married there and then North Carolina could not nullify any marriage or birth certificates if the law gets changed by the Carolina state legislature.” I opined.
Jack’s dad’s eyes lit up.
“Now there’s a thought. Anyway, it’s normal to get married in the brides church isn’t it?”
“Well I’m easy about it but if Jack wants some sort of additional protection for our marriage then if he got married in the UK, the State of North Carolina would have no power to nullify the wedding certificate and two people of the same gender can remain married in the UK. The USA is signatory to the international conventions concerning human rights and citizenship rights. As is also the UK.”
“Have you asked your parents about this?” Jack asked.
I turned to him and shrugged.
“I only just learned about your issues this afternoon how can I have spoken to mum and dad? They’re in bed even as we speak. It’s three o’clock in the morning over there!”
“You seem pretty confident though.”
“My mum and dad are pretty liberal and by that I mean the English idea of Liberalism not the American one. They’ll be surprised that I even ask for a wedding let alone a church thing.”
“What d’ you mean by that?” Carol asked.
“Well if you want us to be ‘churched’ as we say back home, then we’ll have to find a vicar who’s prepared to wed us as woman and woman. Unless we get married before Jack transitions. That would make everything simpler. Then we could easily change our wedding certificate after Jack’s operation.”
“That would be after you’ve had children then.” Carol persisted.
“That’s entirely up to Jack, I’m quite prepared to accept AI., if Jack is.”
“Artificial Intelligence!?” What’s that got to do with it?” Jack protested.
“Not that you dope,” I giggled, “artificial insemination.”
Carol let out a snort of laughter as her agricultural roots emerged.
“Ha! Sign of the times eh. How an acronym can change!”
Jack shook his head while his dad just wagged his head in amusement. With that the door opened and Jacks sisters entered after having been sent out for the evening.
“What’s all the merriment about? We thought you were sorting out some serious problems.” They demanded.
“They’ve been sorted girls,” his father explained, “you’ll get your opportunity to be bride’s-maids even yet.”
This caused whoops of excitement as they learned that the wedding might take place in the UK.
The next hurdle was to speak to mine.
Sacculina 5.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Charlotte The narrator (and sort of heroine).
Jessica Charlotte’s Maternal Aunt.
Isobel Charlotte’s French long term friend.
Franchesca Charlotte’s Italian long term friend.
Jack American Gap-year student at the Faculty.
Pete American high school jock
Bill Pete’s crony also a macho high school jock.
Terry The supplier of the party music.
Bob Terry’s friend and owner of the pick-up truck.
Tom Arlott Jack’s dad.
Charlie. Feminised rapist who now has external female genitalia.
The remains of the evening were spent discussing Jack’s prospects after he transitioned. To the best of Jack’s knowledge, the transgender protection laws were not much in evidence in the Carolinas and what few there were, were not much enforced. He had researched them extensively and consequently he was worried about his position at the college. He was beginning to regret his return to the Carolina college instead of remaining at Stanford. It had been a promotion with higher pay but job security was an unknown factor especially for transgendered individuals.
For my part I accompanied Aunt Jessica back to the UK the following spring as we fulfilled several consanguine responsibilities to our family. It was only while discussing things with my parents that Aunty Jess learned of Jack’s issues and my continued intentions to wed him. Later that summer, Jack and his immediate family came over to formally meet mine and the arrangements for our marriage were finalised. I was a virgin still when we got wed as Summer was ending and the first leaves were beginning to turn in the first days of September. I must have conceived on my wedding night.
To his family’s delight I casually let drop the fact that I was pregnant while grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins were gathered around the thanksgiving table with Jack’s immediate family and welcoming me as the newest family member to my first thanksgiving dinner. This was a large family gathering of three generations at the old homestead where Jack’s grandparents still lived with a couple of Jack’s aunts and their families. Jack’s father was the oldest son but he no longer lived at the old homestead. I was fascinated when I turned up with Jack’s family at the thanksgiving dinner.
Jack’s granddad was preparing to ceremonially carve the turkey while Jack’s grandmother and mother were gleefully whispering explanations to me about all their own little, private, family traditions that many American families enjoyed in addition to the national traditions and conventions attached to their nation’s identity.
The old patriarch called for silence and after a brief quiet contemplation he started giving thanks for the blessings the family had enjoyed since the last thanksgiving.
After a general statement of thanks, he then listed a special thanks for each individual’s fortunes and as he came to the end of the list of names his knife hung poised over the turkey for the first ritual slice.
“- - - - and we also give thanks for Jack’s wonderful good fortune in finding a wife prepared to accept his true condition. and Ruth’s good fortune with graduating from college, and Rachel’s good fortune at being accepted for state university, and now finally and especially we give special thanks for and welcome to the new addition to our family Charlotte, who has been so kind and generous as to take Jacks hand in marriage. “
He paused briefly for effect as all eyes turned on me and I deemed it the ideal time to add the bombshell that was another blessing to the family.
“And for the twins - - - - who I believe will be the first great-grand-children. “
I added just for the pleasure of seeing the delight on every face around the table.
At first nobody twigged my words and the grand-father’s lips twitched with irritation at being interrupted during what was to all the family, an important family ritual. An awkward silence descended around the table before Jack’s mother suddenly realised what I had said. She let out a gasp and stared wide eyed as the realisation dawned.
Her squeal of surprise alerted the rest of the women who quickly added their delighted cries as Jacks mother scuttled around the table to hug me. The old patriarch still hadn’t grasped it and he frowned as he spoke.
“Will you sit down woman we are not finished yet!”
“You stupid man! Did you not understand her? She’s pregnant!!! Jack’s going to be a father! You are going to be a great-grandfather!”
“And that Mr Arlott, is the biggest family blessing of all!” Declared Jack’s grandmother as she too rose to come around the table to hug me.”
In short order all the men had joined the womenfolk in grasping what was afoot and a large bottle of finest bourbon was quickly produced. As the women gathered to celebrate the one thing that was entirely theirs, the men sheepishly kept their places whilst filling every glass around the table. Such was the portent of the event that even the youngest children were allowed a tiny sip to toast the occasion.
Eventually old Ma Arlott, the grand matriarch brought order to the table and old man Arlott was able to complete his ritual thanksgiving. The only difference being that I was taken from the ranks of younger women and placed amongst the older women where I was exhaustively pumped for information. Great excitement was occasioned by my conception of twins for whilst there was a regular history of twins in my family, there had never been any in Jacks’. Never was a thanksgiving meal better enjoyed amongst the Arlotts.
As always after the meal, the younger males and children either played a sort of mixed family style football out in the yard or watched the big thanksgiving game on the TV while we women discussed babies and other family concerns in the kitchen. The clearing up became a social mechanism and proved to be anything but a chore. Naturally, as dishes were washed and bowls returned to rightful owners I learned a lot of their family lore. The novelty of my expecting twins was of enormous interest to the whole matriarchy and it elevated me temporarily to the main item of family concern. The baby’s names and genders were discussed especially in the light of Jack’s intended future gender solutions.
It was at this stage as the girly banter rattled back and forth that I first detected the occasional intimations of transphobia from some of the relatives. Eventually, one of the cousins touched upon the issue more specifically.
“D’ you know Charlotte, I think you’re a saint to take on his problems. Do you really think you’ll be able to live with him once he removes all the important bits?”
“I don’t see a problem. Jack obviously doesn’t consider them to be the important bits to his happiness, indeed he considers them to be a block to his happiness.”
“But what about your happiness? I mean, what about satisfaction, what about fulfilment; wont you feel frustrated and don’t you think he’s being selfish?”
“No. He told me about his problem before we finally agreed to marry and he’s been up front about everything ever since he realised his problem. I’ve gone into our marriage with my eyes wide open.”
“But you’ll be sleeping with a woman!”
“I’ll be sleeping with Jack or Jamie as she prefers, once her transition is completed.”
“Is it true, you’re thinking of a second pregnancy before he takes the big step?”
“Yes.”
“Who are you trying to please, the family or yourself?”
“Both?” I answered quite openly.
The cousin raised her eyebrows thoughtfully.
“Well I admire your courage and singlemindedness.”
“Will I have your support?” I asked her bluntly.
She stuttered uncertainly for my unexpected question had caught her off guard.
“Well; I, I would have to ask the opinion of my church.”
I shrugged dismissively as I turned and caught Jack’s mother and grandmother rolling their eyes in disapproval.
Jack’s mother took up the baton on my behalf and replied with ‘tongue-in-cheek’.
“I don’t think Charlotte needs any religious approval, she comes from England and they’re a right bunch of Atheists over there.”
I added a slightly cynical smile to my provocative nod of agreement and the cousin decided she was stepping into dangerous waters. For a moment there was a thoughtful silence around the kitchen table as family members silently debated where they stood on the issue. Fortunately, they had the good grace to remain silent until the grand matriarch weighed in.
“Well, obviously there are going to be differences of opinions amongst us. We are after all a large family. However, many of you are descended from this old body of mine while the others are joined to it by marriage so I shall state here and now. I expect loyalty at least to me and that means no discord or strife around me or this family when you are with me under this roof. What goes on outside this house is nothing to do with me but I ask for tolerance where and when it’s wanted. I support my grandson in this journey he feels he has to take so in this house he is always welcome."
I breathed a silent sigh of relief for at least the rules had been set thus enabling Jack and me to move forwards. Fortunately, the advent of my twins had stymied most of the family’s objections to ‘the oldest grandson’ changing gender. The family line was being perpetuated. Some months later, this was reinforced when tests showed that I was expecting a ‘pidgeon-pair’
This development sealed my acceptance by all the family and left me free to continue with my research work at the university. I gave birth to a healthy son and daughter in the following June
Two years later, I became pregnant again and we decided to keep the news a secret again until the approaching thanksgiving dinner. The last but one thanksgiving had been made so enjoyable by the first arrivals that we decided to use the same formulae. As old man Arlott prepared to slice I dropped the next bombshell.
“It’s more twins everybody!” I declared.
“And I’m starting my hormone regime next week!” Jack added.
Jacks words however were lost in the excitement and emotion of my announcement as his tearful mother hugged me tightly.
“Thank you Charlotte, thank you so much.”
“That goes for me as well,” his grandmother added.
I savoured the pleasure of being the centre of attention again as the womenfolk congratulated me on ‘a-job-well-done’.
“It’s not me you want to congratulate,” I declared, “It’s Jack you should be praising. He delayed his transition just to please the family.”
Once again the cousin who had already marked her card as having a transphobic streak, raised the parenting issue.
“Don’t you think it will affect your children having their father masquerade as a woman?”
I answered bluntly and rather loudly. “No!”
Heads turned at my declaration and the table fell silent so I seized the opportunity to end the controversy once and for all.
“I noticed that none of you heard Jack’s words as I announced my pregnancy. So, I’ll repeat them now I’ve got everybody’s attention. Jack is starting his hormone regime on Monday and starting to live as a girl, or more correctly, a woman. This time next year be prepared for some big changes.”
Jack quickly spoke up.
“It’s okay darling, I can fight my own battles.”
“I know love but now everybody knows you’ve got a staunch ally.”
“Staunch allies, girl, staunch allies!” His mother added forcefully. “Don’t be forgetting our support.”
“Here, here!” His father and sisters chorused.
With the issue of Jack’s transition now brought fully to the table, it was an opportunity for everybody to have their opinion. Old Ma Arlott however, still maintained that Jack was to be treated with respect when under her roof and this stipulation kept any family dissention to a moderate and courteous tenor. We travelled home that weekend feeling much happier and relaxed.
Sacculina 6
Isobel Charlotte’s French long term friend.
Franchesca Charlotte’s Italian long term friend.
Jack now Jamie American Gap-year student at the Faculty.
Pete American high school jock
Bill Pete’s crony also a macho high school jock.
Terry The supplier of the party music.
Bob Terry’s friend and owner of the pick-up truck.
Tom Arlott Jack’s dad.
Charlie. Feminised rapist who now has external female genitalia.
Homecomings in our growing family had long since ceased to be romantic pauses and provocative strips in a slow languorous approach to the bedroom. The logistics of twins demanded a hectic series of portages to and from car to nursery with all sorts of accoutrements. It was nearly midnight before Jack and I were free to snuggle up. We both sighed and quickly fell asleep spooned up to each other.
I awoke to find the bed empty and hearing noises from the nursery as Jack had almost finished preparing the children for our visit to the doctor. He was trying to comb our daughter’s hair whilst preventing our son from trying to tug at it. I smiled gratefully to myself as I enjoyed some peace and privacy in the bathroom before joining him to prepare their food.
“Thanks for doing the twins darling. You’re just so helpful.”
He smiled sheepishly but his motherly pride was writ large for me to see.
We arrived at our doctor’s health centre and the receptionist smiled as we entered.
“Ah Charlotte and James lovely to see you, she’s expecting you and there’s an endocrinologist with her.”
For once, we didn’t have to wait and we entered as a family as the doctor turned to greet us and smiled.
“Good morning Mr and Mrs Arlott, good to see you. This lady is Doctor Williamson your soon to be endocrinologist. Glad to see you’ve brought the twins.”
Jack extended his hand and replied.
“They’re well behaved but if they play up, Charlotte will smuggle them out.”
“Well we all know what we’re here for, your wife will make an excellent chaperone so behind the curtain please and strip off, everything.”
Jack turned and gave me a brief smile then disappeared behind the curtain while we still shared a four-way conversation between the doctor, endocrinologist, patient and wife. After an hour of examination and questions Jack emerged again and we settled at the doctor’s desk to fill in numerous forms. As we came to the questions about marital status post transition, the doctor was fascinated to learn how much easier it was to continue as a married ‘same-sex’ couple on the basis of our UK marriage. We showed her the forms and procedural instructions and she wagged her head in mild amazement.
“So, it’s a simple as that. I and your psychiatrists only have to fill in these forms and you get a licensed civil partnership by return of post?”
“It’s easier still after surgery and there’s even legislation afoot to allow our marriage to continue in the same vein whilst only declaring it to be a ‘same-sex’ marriage.”
“Gosh that seems overly liberal.” The endocrinologist gasped with mild surprise.
“Well it’s in the hands of the courts and parliament as we speak. There are mixed feelings about in several different spheres of influence, I suppose it will all wash out in the courts.” I replied.
“It won’t really matter for us because once I’ve had the surgery, it will be more or less cut and dried. As from today, I commence living as a female and that’s what this visit is partly about. Firstly, the endocrinological aspect and to establish as a matter of fact that as of today, I am living in my new female roll.” Jack added.
The doctor nodded slowly then both physicians went about their examinations and tests with Jack while I entertained our twins. Finally, we had to answer some questions about family objections and we were happy to confirm that there were no serious objections from our parents and siblings.
“And further afield, what about cousins and uncles etc?”
“Not a problem,” I replied, “there are a couple of religious types but nothing to affect any legal context.
We’re free to go forward and all the necessary paperwork is dealt with in my country,” I finished.
“You’re a lucky couple except for Jack’s birth certificate, that’s Carolingian.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t affect the legality of our UK marriage certificate, or Jack’s gender recognition certificate. So, two years from now Jack, or more correctly, Jamie, can transition surgically.”
“So, it’s James to Jamie.” A nice easy change with little opportunity of confusion.” The doctor finalised.
We both nodded as Jack emerged from behind the curtains whilst looping his arms through his tee-shirt.
The doctor and endocrinologist prescribed the first course of hormones and that completed the consultation. With Jack’s name changed on his medical records, Jamie and I left the health centre with our children. The rest of that week was spent attending the Carolingian court hearing and at least
confirming Jamie’s legal name change for the state records. Then after sorting out various official documents as best we could manage, my partner started out upon her new lifestyle pathway. At the beginning of the Spring semester, Jamie started by prior appointment to present her lectures as Doctor Jamie Arlott. That was the first major hurdle from the life-style aspect.
Despite the reputation for the Carolinas for being amongst the more transphobic states in the Union, my partner seemed to be coping quite well. The presence of several ladies in Jamie’s class served to temper the behaviour of the more ‘red-necked’ male students and Jamie seemed to manage the class well. The fact that her lectures were lively, interesting and entertaining also served to concentrate the student’s minds on their work whilst deflecting any unwarranted interest in her transgendered condition. Of course, there were the occasional questions when the mood lightened but by and large the class maintained an even tenor of serious study.
Engineering is not an easy subject for it involves a lot of maths and the solutions have to be RIGHT! That essential academic discipline tends to translate itself into the lifestyle and perspectives of engineers in other aspects of their lives insofar as - provided a colleague can do his or her job and get the maths right - then personalities can be ignored or at least accommodated.
After a few weeks bedding in as Professor Jamie Arlott, her job returned to much as it was when Jamie had been James.
At home however, Jamie was unsettled by the slow progress of her transition. Oft-times once the children were abed, I would catch her staring pensively into nowhere in particular and I knew her well enough to understand her dissatisfaction with the WPATH two-year rule about ‘living-in-the-role’. On these occasions my best tactic was to make us some drinking chocolate and share a girly moment cuddled up on the sofa or in bed. Sometimes however, these frustrations drove her to tears but I was still loath to introduce her to the Sacculina parasite until I could at least see definite feminine developments in her body.
Eventually. She happily bounced (literally) into our bedroom after emitting a happy sigh in the shower. I looked up from my laptop and grinned as she demonstrated.
“Look! Look! They definitely bounce now, there’s no getting away from it. I’ve got boobies! Go on! Feel that! That’s real breast tissue under there.”
I smiled and reached out to gently squeeze the two distinct nodules under her puffy nipples. She gasped and sagged with delight as I recognised her arousal.
“Ooh! Aaah! That’s just so-oo good. It almost makes me come!”
I grinned knowingly.
“Welcome to girlhood darling. Looks like you’ll be using a ‘B’ cup bra soon.”
“Can’t wait!” She giggled as she pressed her breasts against my knowing fingers, and we locked into an intimate embrace. As our silk clad bodies slithered together she whispered about her delight at the sensations her body now lent her.
“Girls are just so-oo lucky! I only wish I didn’t have to wait so bloody long for my lower surgery. It’s driving me insane.” She sighed before finally falling asleep in my embrace.
Morning found us loosely entangled for nobody can comfortably sleep tightly entwined all night. As I slowly emerged from my fitful slumber, I reached over and gently stroked her nipple under the soft satin cup pf her nighty. She immediately stirred, squeaked with arousal then started urgently gyrating her hips against my thigh. I reached down and gently stroked her evanescent cock until she suddenly humped with confusion and orgasmed. I could tell by her low slow moans that her orgasms were already approximating to a female orgasm. Her hip movements were more gyratory than reciprocal and her hands were clenching feverishly at the duvet.
“Hold me,” she begged, so I did until her needs subsided.
As her breathing returned to normal I spooned behind her but she turned to return the favours and I felt soft lips tenderly investigating my nipple while cautious hands reached carefully down my tummy and probed gently for my swollen bud.
“There!” I gasped as I pressed urgently against her fingers. “Just there, gently though.”
As Jamie’s fingers explored my body we shared our pleasures and soon we were moaning softly as Jamie surprised herself with a second modest orgasm as I finally let go. Then we spent a delightful half hour as we whispered our shared thoughts and hopes so as not to wake the children in the bedroom next door. However, the children inside me were now responding to my feelings and I took Jamies hand to rest it on my bump and feel both of them kicking.
“You’re just so lucky,” she sobbed softly. “I would so love to be carrying them inside me.”
“Well, you’ll be feeding them from your breasts if your lucky,” I sympathised. “Then we’ll see what you think when your nipples get cracked, or worse, bitten.”
She shuddered apprehensively and squeezed up to me.
"Uugh! The very thought both terrifies me and yet also delights me! It’s all so confusing.” She squeaked. “That’s when I’ll be weaning them.”
With this thought we spooned together for a few delightful stolen minutes then we reluctantly slid out from under the warm sheets. Fortunately, we were able to share the shower and that luxury compensated for having to leave the bed. However, even these brief pleasures were not to last as infantile noises emitted from the nursery.
Thus, our new life began its new course except that Jamie’s hormone treatment proved to be overly slow and ineffective. The breast development more or less stopped at the ‘B’ cup stage while her body, hair, and beard remained stubbornly masculine. Some months down the pathway I found her one day silently holding the razor as she stared tearfully into the bathroom mirror.
“What’s wrong babes?” I asked as I recognised the glistening moisture in her eyes and staring to shine on her cheeks.
She turned tearfully to me and sobbed.
“They’re just not developing and as for that abomination down there, it’s still refusing to die! Just look at it. Since that first small reduction, it hasn’t shrunk at all.”
I glanced at the organ that distressed her and shrugged helplessly.
“You’ve just got to be patient dear.”
She brandished the razor irritably. “If this was one of the old cut-throat razors, I’d be tempted to hack if off right now.”
“Then you’d bleed out and the children and I would be left destitute. Don’t you dare threaten that again.
I’ll see what else can be done.”
She eyed me curiously.
“What d’ you mean by that?”
“Just that, I’ll search around, to see if there are any more efficacious treatments available.”
“Huh! Good luck with that,” she sighed as she turned to the mirror to finish shaving, “and this beard isn’t helping either, shaving twice and sometimes three times a day is driving me crazy!”
I stepped close behind her and reached around her waist to give her a hug.
“As I said darling, I’ll search around. I’ve got access to more medico-technical web-sites than you babes because of my medical status. I’ll search around on my lab computer at lunch time. Now let’s get ready for work and have the children ready for the baby minder. She’s got them until two pm., and then your mother’s having them because one of the cousins is having a birthday. I’ve got to collect them from your mothers because I’ve got a free afternoon and I’ll be helping with the birthday after four. I probably won’t see you until about seven or eight tonight.”
Jamie sighed wistfully and finished her ablutions as I prepared the children. We separated at his college laboratory and I went to my laboratory early to check out the Sacculina parasites I had still locked safely away in liquid nitrogen in my own secure dark-room. With plenty of time before the first lecture, I carefully extracted a single vial and cautiously re-activated some parasite eggs to commence the brief incubation period before the introducing one of them to my partner’s body.
Four days later the parasites had hatched and I studied them under the microscope to determine the healthiest individual. The other part of my strategy was to get Jamie to agree to taking the parasite under the guise of an experimental medicine.
The first good opportunity to approach her cams as I heard her curse angrily in the bathroom one evening as we were preparing to go to a party at one of Jamie’s colleague’s home. Jamie was shaving particularly carefully with a new style of razor. It was a man’s razor designed to tackle particularly hard stubble and in the process she had nicked her upper lip just under her nose
“Damn! Damn, damn, damn.” She cursed.
As I put my head around the door she was stemming the blood with a tissue.
“How did you do that?” I asked, “surely you know how to shave.”
“It’s my skin, it’s grown softer but my damned bristles are still as hard as they always were. Plus, my upper lip has got slightly thicker and it’s harder to pull the blade down over my upper lip. It’s all very well having fuller, larger lips but they’re a bugger to shave over and the beard line has not receded.”
I took another tissue to dab her lip but it was several minutes before we stemmed the bleeding and I could see the tears of frustration in her eyes.
She caught me staring thoughtfully and quickly realised my mind was ticking over.
“What?” She demanded irritably as she took the umpteenth tissue from the box.
“I think I might have found some sort of accelerant, leastways for beard treatment.”
She looked at me suspiciously.
“Go oo-oon.”
“Well, I’m not certain because it’s only been tested on humans once.” I lied disingenuously.
Jamie continued studying me before asking penetratively.
“So, who has it been tested on and who did the testing?”
“I’d rather not say, just yet, but the patient didn’t die and I’m confident that the treatment isn’t fatal.”
She continued with her piercing stare.
“Did you have any part in this, - so-called trial?”
“Uuhm, yes.” I confessed with a weak grin.
“I thought so. And would you be prepared to Explain further?”
“I’d rather not, well not just yet anyway. It’s all strictly hush-hush and still in the testing stage.”
“So, after testing it on only one person, you’re now asking me to be a guinea pig, a laboratory rat?”
“Did you invent the drug?”
“It’s not exactly a drug.”
“Oh. This gets interestinger and interestinger.”
“Less of the ‘Alice in Wonderland-speak’,” I scolded her. “Believe me, it works!”
“I think I deserve some sort of explanation before I submit to your mad professorial machinations.”
“You would have a hard time believing me, even if I explained everything.”
I swallowed hard before demanding her absolute agreement to secrecy.
“What in writing?” She demanded.
“Yes. Otherwise it’s a none starter. Your choice. Swear that you’ll not reveal the secret and I’ll offer you a chance to accelerate your transition.”
“Are the drugs dangerous?” She asked again.
“I’ve told you, there are no drugs involved, well at least no pharmaceutical ones. I’ll only reveal my secret if you sign to secrecy. Then after I have explained, you can decide if you want to go ahead.”
“So, who else knows this secret?”
“Nobody. It’s no longer a secret when two or more people know is it? Nobody knows about this, just me and me alone!” I re-emphasised.
Jamie fell silent for long seconds as she debated her options. Finally, she reaffirmed.
“And you say it’s not dangerous!”
“Not as far as I know. I wouldn’t knowingly put you at risk. We’ve been through too much together and I love you too much to endanger you.”
“Do you know of any side effects?
“The side effects are equally as beneficial as the primary medicinal application.”
“This all sounds to good to be true.”
I sighed frustratedly then shrugged my shoulders.
“Very well then. We won’t go ahead with it.”
Jamie glared at me.
“Well can you blame me?! You come up with this wonder treatment that’s not a drug as such but you’ve invented it and nobody - but nobody- else knows. It’s a complete secret. What d’ you expect me to do? This is my life we’re talking about.”
I relented slightly but still demanded that she sign a secrecy covenant before I told him anything else.
“If I told you how I tested it, wold you reconsider. I promise you that to the best of my knowledge, the treatment works and it certainly works on all of the higher apes, not to mention, rabbits, sheep, pigs and -of course- guinea pigs.”
“Could I meet the human you tested it on?”
“Provided you promise to keep everything a secret, the identity of the patient a secret and finally you do not ask the patient any questions.”
Jamie snorted. “Something smells here.”
“Indeed it does, but once I explain everything, you’ll understand why.”
After another long silence, Jamie let out a long tedious sigh.
“Oh all right then. Where’s your piece of paper.”
“It’s an affidavit and covenant combined. I’ll get one off my computer.”
So saying, I went to my study and churned one out. It ran to six pages and Jamie squawked when I presented it to her.
“I’ll get my shower while you read it okay?”
“Go ahead, will you explain everything to me, and I mean everything.”
“Only if you sign the secrecy covenant.”
A slight smile twitched her lips as she wagged her head.
“I dunn’o Charlotte sometimes I just don’t understand you and at other times your as open and simple as the smile on your face,”
“Just read it, digest it and then decide.” I admonished her.
She sat on the bed as I stepped into the bathroom and when I emerged she was sat at the little bedroom bureau poised with pen in hand.
“Are you absolutely certain? I double checked.
She nodded, signed the document there and then and handed it to me. I did not need to check then pointed back to the bed.
“Sit with me in the bed while I explain.”
She joined me with our backs propped up on the pillows as I explained the whole story. I had to admire her phlegm as she stayed reasonably silent except for a few gasps and occasional chuckle. As I finished I leaned across and kissed her softly on the lips. The kiss turned into a tight hug that conveyed Jamie’s desperation. Eventually we separated and she whispered hoarsely.
“When can I start the treatment?”
“Now.” I smiled, “well when we breakfast anyway.”
“You say it isn’t a drug, so what is it?”
“Get dressed and I’ll show you, and to prove to you that it’s not poisonous, I’ll take some myself.”
“Well I can’t ask for better proof than that,” she conceded as she slipped on some jeggings and threw a blouse over her ’b’ cup bra.
In the kitchen we savoured a ‘kid-free’ day because Jamie’s sister was baby-sitting. After some porridge and English breakfast tea I went to my sample fridge in my study and returned with the flask containing the parasites.
“Is that it?” Jamie asked.
“Yes, the parasites thrive in warm beer, well cellar temperature anyway.”
I poured the ‘beer’ into two half-pint glasses and waited for the foaming heads to settle. Once the frothing had stopped I pointed to the tiny grubs almost invisible under the head of foam but attracted to the light through the sides of the glasses. Once she saw them she wagged her head in amazement.
“How many drinks do I have to take?”
“I told you in bed. One drink and the first parasite to reach your brain goes to work. It works like other parasites that alter the behaviour of the hosts, I mutated it from Sacculina Canceris because that’s the one that makes boy crabs behave and look like little girl crabs. Once the first of those little ladies (I call her Miss Sacculina,) gets as far as your brain, that’s it. The chemicals and hormones she secretes will turn your brain into a girl’s as far as behaviour is concerned and your testicles will be feminised to function like ovaries whilst they will retract back into your body. More importantly, your skeleton starts to reshape and that part is rather painful. A couple of days of what feels like acute rheumatoid arthritis and you find yourself needing a completely new wardrobe. That’s because the female hormones that your altered testicles or more correctly, regenerated ovaries produce, are mutated and much more effective
than ordinary oestrogen. That’s the big secret I learned with my researches into the parasite.
Miss Sacculina thinks you are a crab but of course, you’re not, so any eggs she lays in your body will pass harmlessly into your faeces and into the drains where they will normally die within about a minute after exposure to air. They only procreate if somebody actually ingests bits of your infested faeces just like the tape-worm eggs. Very poor food hygiene or anal/oral intimacy would be the only available transmission vectors as long as you are carrying the eggs. However once the little lady Miss Sacculina has fulfilled her primary function, she dies but the effects on the host remain permanent.”
Jamie smiled and her eyes sparkled with hope.
“You mean, I’ll actually become a girl!?”
“Well, in all but fact though with modern medicine, there would be far less complications to your receiving a successful womb transplant. Even your hips will be reshaped, that’s how powerful Miss Sacculina is.”
“How can you know all this? I mean, you said yourself the first person you tested, didn’t even know she had been exposed to it.”
“No but through the auspices of some medical colleagues, I used my scientific credentials to test her bloods and various other bodily fluids, and of course, I followed her actual progress from day one, because only I knew she had been dosed. I watched the poor sap as his mannerisms became utterly feminised and his/her body literally changed shape within a couple of days. I won his undying loyalty because I nursed him through the most painful period and he was terrified by what was happening to him. He did not know what was actually happening but his hips and groin particularly hurt like hell.”
“And your going to tell me who it is aren’t you?”
“Yes. I keep my word but you must keep yours..”
“I will, now who was it?”
“Somebody you know.”
“Stop toying with me who was it?”
“You know that disgusting Charles, the one that raped Franchesca -.”
“Oh yes, I know that Bastard. He’s suspected of having raped some other victims as well but somehow he never got charged for his activities in the U.S. I was glad that at least the Costa Rican authorities acted properly. He’s from a powerful political family and I guess some strings were pulled in high places. What’s his name, hold on while I remember. Rampton! That’s it; Charles David Rampton, his maternal uncle is a senator. Are you seriously telling me, he’s the victim?”
I faked a smile of pure innocence causing Jamie to almost choke on her last sip of tea.
“Are you serious?!”
“Absolutely,” I confirmed. “Haven’t you noticed that he has gone very quiet lately; nothing in the red-tops, nothing in the gossip columns, nothing even in the police reports. That’s because Charles David Rampton the third is now Charlie Daveed Rampton, the dedicated charity worker for the transgender community and former abuser of women. Naturally the family were very quiet about her sudden transition what with her uncle being a notorious transphobe activist up on the hill.”
Jamie’s jaw sagged before she gave a squeal of delight.
“Charles David Rampton! Oh such sweet justice! That is just so typical of you babes; ever the justice activist. Does he know it was you?”
“You mean does ‘SHE’ know it was me? Well I have to tell you, no. In fact she now lists me amongst her friends and to tell the truth she’s had such a personality change I find her quite the bon-vivor, though perhaps a little vapid.”
Jamie’s jaw continued to scrape the kitchen floor until her smile slowly spread from ear to ear.
“Can I meet her.”
“Well, only after you’ve taken the medication, otherwise she might try to sleep with you. She’s become something of a bit of a nympho. Nothing outrageous but she’s still got a sexual appetite except it’s now reversed vis -a-vis the gender roles.”
Jamie smirked again and wagged her head as she repeated.
“Sweet justice; oh what sweet justice. Is she embarrassed by her desires, you know; man-eater and the like?”
“To tell the truth I’ve never been affected by her alternative desires. She’s always acted with propriety around me but then she holds me in high regard vis-à-vis my having nursed her and seemingly diagnosed her disorder. She seems to think that I might one day find a cure but I don’t think there is one and I ‘m not looking for one anyway. She’s happy with her new-found condition and she can always find sexual satisfaction so she’s not that concerned about a cure.”
Jamie grinned and wagged her head then a frown wrinkled across her brow.
“It won’t turn me into a nymphomania will it?”
“Basically your levels of sexual appetite are carried over into your new behavioural profile. If you were an insatiable predator, then those excesses will re-emerge in their female equivalence. It’s much the same with behavioural attitudes and your social probity. Basically you become a female version of your previous male persona. This is because the virus simply feminises your personality in line with your old male nature. These are laid down in very early childhood mostly by one’s parents training and those brain patterns are more or less irreversible. It’s the later layers of behavioural inducement that are affected by the parasite, mostly adolescent and teenaged learning.”
Jamie stared thoughtfully down at the ground before replying.
“You’ve done a hell of a lot of research.”
“Over twelve years dear. Three years undergraduate plus six years for my doctorate, not to mention several stints of intensive field-work in Africa.”
“So it’s taken you all this time to avenge Franchesca’s injuries.”
“Yes, but Franchesca does not know how it happened, she thinks it was a fortuitous act of God.”
“Ignorance is bliss,” Jamie observed softly with a knowing smile.
“Exactly,” I concurred. “Now are you going to take this bloody parasite or not?”
“You take yours first. “
“Coward!” I grinned as I tipped back my glass and savoured the pleasantly warm beer.
Jamie watched for a few moments and when there were no obvious signs of my distress she followed suite.
“So what now?” She pressed.
“This evening you’ll feel some unpleasantness as it takes effect in your reproductive organs then by morning you’ll be quite sore in the lower stomach and pelvic area. Then by noon tomorrow, you’ll be very sore for about twenty-four to thirty-six hours tomorrow and the following day. I’ll give you some knock out tablets if it gets too painful.”
I showed her the painkillers and assured her they were not opiate based.
“Don’t worry, you won’t become addicted.”
She smiled wanly and decided to go to bed. After checking that our babies were okay with Jamie’s mother and younger sister, I followed Jamie up to bed. At midnight, she felt the first twinges in her lower bowel and groin so she quickly turned to receive my comforting embrace.
“Be brave darling. It’ll be worth it.” I encouraged.
Jamie gave a nervous little sound and clung tight to me as she whispered.
“You will look after me if anything goes wrong won’t you?”
“Yes,” I reassured her and she curled up inviting me to spoon her protectively.
Sacculina 7
Charlotte (Me.) The narrator (and sort of heroine).
Jessica Charlotte’s Maternal Aunt.
Isobel Charlotte’s French long term friend.
Franchesca Charlotte’s Italian long term friend.
Jack (James now Jamie.) American Gap-year student at the Faculty.
Pete American high school jock
Bill Pete’s crony also a macho high school jock.
Terry The supplier of the party music.
Bob Terry’s friend and owner of the pick-up truck.
Tom Arlott Jack’s dad. (Now Jamie’s dad.)
Charlie. Feminised rapist who now has external female genitalia.
Ruth Jack’s (Jamie’s) 1st younger sister
Rachel Jack’s (Jamie’s) youngest sister
Thomas & Helen My and Jamie’s first twins.
As midnight approached Jamie’s first stomach cramps arrived and I felt her tense then retch as she scrambled out of bed for the en-suite. Soon there were groans and cries as she alternately vomited then defaecated down the lavatory pan.
Between the groans she managed to ask.
“Dammit babes, this hurts! Can I take any pain killers?”
“Best not to while you’re vomiting darling. It lasts for the night until your stomach and system have emptied then you can take them because the retching stops and they will remain in your stomach and remediate the pain when your bones begin to alter. Be brave darling! You can drink water for now if you want.”
Jamie turned her ashen face to me and wagged her head despondently before another heave took hold and she thrust hear head towards the lavatory pan again. I gently rubbed her back and kneeled poised beside her with a bundle of tissue in my hand. After dry-retching uselessly because there was no longer any food to eject, she groaned again and took the proffered tissues gratefully before scrambling weakly to her feet and grabbing the washbasin for support.
“How long did you say?”
“The retching probably until morning but you’d best take some water then get into a warm bath. I’ll keep a plastic bucket handy and stay with you babes.”
She sighed thankfully and I ran a moderately warm bath then helped her to sit in it.
“Thanks babes. Stay with me.” She begged.
“Of course I will darling. Who’s going to help you get back and forth to the loo all night.”
She nodded weakly and lay down in the bath while I prepared several large towels in anticipation of her lunges for the loo, very occasionally vomiting slightly but mostly defaecating as the wasted tissue from her body was accelerated through her digestive system. On each occasion she stepped into the shower to rinse her body off before returning to the welcome comfort of the bath.
The poor girl finally stopped vomiting and eased off from her defaecations at dawn and she decided to risk returning to bed. The cramps slowly eased slightly though the occasional defaecation dragged her out of bed. Essentially though, she remained in bed all the following day until the following evening when her pelvis started to reshape itself along with other parts of her skeleton.
The sharp spasms of pain caused her to shriek partly from surprise and partly from pain as she reached to feel the bones actually re-forming and re-aligning themselves with their joints to create a more feminine structure. Now the painkillers finally proved their worth as her body was numbed while we actually felt the bones moving and altering. Jamie guided my fingers to the moving bones and I actually felt the shifting myself. She managed a wan grin.
“This is bloody crazy! Oow! Oow-ow” She squeaked again, more from surprise than pain as she actually felt the bones changing shape and relocating.
“Hang on in there babes. It should all be settled by tomorrow morning.” I reassured her as I gave her another glass of milk and painkillers.”
“Thanks for staying with me,” she whimpered gratefully. “It must be awful for somebody who doesn’t know what’s happening.”
“That’s when it becomes a punishment darling. It terrifies them”
“Like Charlie and the rape business.”
“Exactly.” I nodded.
Gingerly, Jamie turned carefully onto her side and took up a foetal position then asked me to spoon her.
“I’m glad I’m not alone. Charlie must have had a hell of a rough night.”
“And a terrifying one,” I finished, “but he deserved it. Women detest rapists! Well I do anyway.”
“Amen to that!” Jamie winced and gasped as another spasm twisted her body.
With each spasm she whimpered and cried and I cuddled her gently as she twisted and turned while curling into a tight ball or spasming rigidly to try and ameliorate the discomfort. Throughout her rigours, I continued holding her and stroking her until eventually the worst of her convulsions receded. She reached for my hand and clasped it weakly though gratefully before finally finding her voice.
“The big bones seem to have settled now.” She whispered, “Cuddle me.”
“Yes,” I reassured her again. Mostly now it will be the smaller bones shrinking and reshaping so you’ll even have the size and stature of a girl. When your fingers and toes stop aching and tingling you’ll know it’s over.”
Jamie gazed up at me tearfully and took my fingers to her lips.
“It’ll be worth it,” she reassured herself and me. “When can I look in the mirror?”
“Not until all the sensations in your feet and hands have gone.” I replied. “Don’t forget, until the process is complete, your bones will be slightly soft and any weight on your feet may deform them. I’ll get you some fruit juice, just stay there.”
Jamie nodded, still slightly tearful.
“I’m not going anywhere, it’s still painful.”
“Good girl,” I replied as I returned with the juice and lifted it to her lips before explaining further.
“The nice thing is the parasite endeavours to turn your body into a perfect female for gestation and nursing purposes. So when you’ve finished, you’ll have a beautifully formed body that perfectly mimics a woman’s.”
She finished her fruit juice and invited me to re-join her on the bed so I spooned up to her again as she started asking more questions..
“And what about, you know; my bits? Will they go girly?”
“Totally, both in shape and function.” I reassured her. “Including girly orgasms - really intense ones.”
“Oooh! I can’t wait,” she croaked eagerly as she inveigled her soft rump into my tummy.
As we pressed against each other, I gently cupped her breasts and noted their increased size. She sighed contentedly and we stopped talking as we settled in our embrace. Occasionally she twitched and tensed as shrinking minor bones sent twinges through her body. Several times she had urgent calls to the lavatory as the excess of her remaining male body-mass was expelled by an accelerated digestive process. Naturally I accompanied her to help with cleaning because her mobility was somewhat hampered by altering bones.
At other times she squeaked and sometimes she giggled but mostly she slept fractiously while I lay awake watching her like a hawk
Finally, the second morning arrived and Jamie finally fell into a restful slumber.
Exhausted by my vigil, I slid out from behind her and slipped into the spare bedroom so as not to disturb her. Within moments I fell into an exhausted sleep.
The next thing I remembered was feeling a delicate pair of hands gently stroking my cheek as I woke to find Jamie standing over me and smiling.
“You’re supposed to be looking after me sleepy-head you’ve slept the clock around!”
“What the -!” I stuttered as I came to. “Sorry babes, are you okay?”
Jamie grinned and invited me to stand up.
“I’ve never felt better, and I've shrunk, look.”
I stood up and we compared our heights. Jamie’s grin widened as she added.
“And my bits are exactly like a girls, look! Feel them!”
Without a shred of embarrassment, she lay back on my bed then spread her legs inviting me to check. I blushed slightly before realising that for all practical purposes, Jamie was a sister and to demonstrate this I gently fingered her newly formed bud. She squeaked with pleasure then gasped with delight as I expertly tested her sensitive locations and responses. She groaned in ecstasy as her orgasm overtook her and I stared fascinated at her new vagina as it leached tell-tale juices. To all external appearances, Jamie was a functional woman
It only remained to explain her amazing metamorphosis to her doctor when she went for the next check-up.
I realised I was starving and made a bee-line for the kitchen to already find a partially prepared breakfast. My heart melted to think that Jamie had been so thoughtful.
“Gosh babes how long have you been awake?”
“Only an hour but you were sleeping like a baby. You must have been tired after caring for me.”
I smiled ruefully, for truly, I had been shattered by the time Jamie had eventually settled into a restful, reparative slumber. Now she was recovered and ‘ready for anything’ as she put it. We both pitched into making breakfast.
As we finished our porridge and I put the bowls in the dishwasher, I reflected silently that I had picked a ‘good-un’ when I married this wonderful woman. I self-consciously sat down and tapped my boiled egg while Jamie made some toast and I then poured out the tea.
“Have all the pains gone then?” I asked.
“Absolutely. I tested my feet before trying to stand. Everything’s good.” She smiled and nodded. “I’ll have to buy a complete new wardrobe now.” I’m afraid I had to steal a pack of your unopened knickers. I chose a simple cotton pair but I was tempted by some of your fancy pairs.
I studied her naked breasts and grinned. “Those boobs will need bigger cups than my bras.”
“I know,” she smiled self-consciously, “I tried one of yours but they are too small. Hope you’re not offended.”
“That’s okay darling, bras are not like knickers. Are you okay for an emergency shopping trip?”
“Best we pick up the children first though and let your mum see the new me.”
"No, shopping first, I want you looking your best when we see your mum."
A huge grin spread across Jamie’s countenance.
“I can’t wait to see mum’s face.”
“I’d better phone her and prepare her, even your voice has changed slightly.”
Jamie nodded assent and I dialled her mother’s number. She answered as I could hear our twins squabbling in the background.
“Hello Mumsie, it sounds as though you need some help.”
A frazzled voice replied.
“Don’t I know it darling. If Jamie’s up for it, I’m claiming grandparental rights. You can collect them immediately. Is Jamie with you?”
“Yes, here she is, she’s been practicing voice training.”
“Has it worked?” She asked.
“Listen for yourself,” I replied as I passed the phone to Jamie.
“Hi mummy!” She responded it what had become her normal voice – but not through any intensive voice training, it was another effect of the parasitical alterations.
There was a pregnant silence on the other end before her mother asked uncertainly.
“Is that you Jamie?”
“Yes mummy, what d’ you think of my new voice?”
“Good god girl! I didn’t recognise you.”
“Wait ‘til you see the rest of me mumsy!” Jamie giggled as she returned the phone to me.
“Hello it’s me again.”
“Ahh, I recognise that voice dear. I would never have recognised my daughter.”
“Yes. There have been some considerable changes. We’ll have to go shopping just now cos Jamie needs a new wardrobe, so we’ll be quite
a while before coming over.”
“I’m pleased to hear it. You can stay over here tonight then take the twins home tom
tomorrow.”
“Thanks, I was hoping you’d say that, I wasn’t looking forward to driving back through the night.”
Jamie and her mum exchanged a few more words and then we had to go shopping. At the mall I was pleasantly shocked to see the changes in my partner. From struggling to find clothes that fitted her shape and taste, she now had the pick of the mall to suite her girly shape and size.
Gone was the old, glum, disappointed expression as she flicked through rack after rack to take her pick of deliciously stylish outfits while smiling ecstatically.
Soon we had an adequate wardrobe that would see her through the next week, and we set off to Jamie’s mum to collect our twins while taking up her invitation to sleep over.
Ooo000ooo
“Hello-oo Mumsie, where are you?” Jamie called as we let ourselves in with her key.
“I’m in the kitchen darling and the twins are in the garden. I can’t come through my hands are covered in flour! Come through darling let’s have a look at y-!”
Jamie had already paused at the kitchen door and her mother stood frozen with stunned amazement as her jaw worked silently searching for words. Eventually she found them but only after Jamie had explained.
“We wanted to surprise you so we didn’t phone. What do you think?”
Her mother’s jaw slowly returned to its socket as she found words again as she turned to me with eyes like saucers.
“Oh my goodness Charlotte! You should have warned us! Jamie, you’re beautiful!”
She frantically washed her hands as Jamie removed her coat and they could finally share a tearful hug. As they continued hugging each other I sidled over to the kitchen tap and loaded the coffee percolator.
Eventually they separated and ‘Mumsie’ (That’s what I had started calling my mother in law and somehow the whole of Jamie’s family had adopted it.) held her daughter at arm’s length to check her over for a second time before calling her husband from the garden.
“Tom! To-om!! Come and meet your real daughter! Bring the twins as well, they can meet their new daddy!”
I could not resist a smile that Jamie turned to share with me as we stood together beside Mumsie behind the kitchen table.
The twins burst squealing with joy into the kitchen and scampered around the table to stop hesitantly at our feet. They recognised me and Mumsie but had no idea who the third girl was. I took Helen carefully into my arms while Mumsie took Thomas and we held them up so that they could re-acquaint themselves with their totally feminised father. Fortunately Jamie had been living as a woman since before the twins were born so they were totally at ease with her feminine lifestyle and this made the acceptance of the new, totally feminine and glamorous Jamie, a much easier step. When Jamie’s father Tom finally entered he also paused in shock before stepping around the table to hug her as he observed.
“So, after thirty five years, I finally get to meet my oldest daughter!”
More tears filled Jamie’s eyes as she fell into her father’s arms.
“Yes Daddy! This is the real me, what d’ you think?”
“You’re amazing darling! Wait until your sisters meet you!”
So saying, he took Thomas from Mumsie’s arms and placed him in Jamie’s whilst explaining to his grandson.
“Your daddy’s been to the doctor boy and had some stuff made better, but she’s still your daddy, okay?”
Thomas responded by snuggling closer into Jamie’s arms and groping her newly grown breasts. Mumsie and I could not suppress a smile while Tom averted his eyes and chuckled as he tried to change the subject..
“Are those pies ready yet Mumsie?”
This brought the visit back to it’s regular even tenor and the twins demanded to be let back to the pool in the garden. As I set Helen down, I felt a twinge in my tummy and I grimaced slightly. Ever the sharp-eyed grandmother, Mumsie caught my eye and waited until Tom had joined the twins in the pool while Jamie had gone upstairs to unpack. Then she tackled me.
“I saw you grimace then as you put her down, are you pregnant again?”
I put my fingers to my lips as a warning before whispering.
“Yes, but Only Jamie and I know, we were hoping to reveal all at thanks-giving again.”
Mumsie frowned.
“Weren’t you even going to tell me?”
I sensed her hurt so I told a little white lie.
“Yes, but we wanted to see if Jamie’s treatment was successful. It was, so I was going to tell you today but keep it a secret from the rest of the family. Is that okay?”
“What, not even Tom?”
“Not even Tom.”
Mumsie grinned conspiratorially then reached to hug me.
“Thanks-giving’s a couple of months away, when’s it due?”
“THEY are due in Late March or early April.”
Mumsie almost let out a shriek.
“What! Twins again!?”
“Shhhhh!! Don’t tell the whole world girl.”
“I might not be able to keep it a secret that long.”
I grinned. “Yes you will, If I give you the privilege of declaring it at thanksgiving during grandpa Arlott’s prayer thing.”
Mumsie smiled inquisitively.
“Don’t tell me you’ve got religion!?”
“Gosh no, that’ll never happen, but it’s a nice family thing and even atheists agree, babies are all about family.”
“Have you chosen any names yet?”
“Well, Thomas and Helen are named after you and Tom, so we thought this time to name them after mine.”
“Yeah, that’s fair. It’ll avoid any arguments.”
At that moment, Jamie reappeared in a fabulous one-piece bather with a low-cut back.Mumsie let out a gasp.
“My God girl! Keep an eye on Tom. He’ll likely have a heart attack seeing you in that. Even your skin looks fabulous!”
We both watched her sashaying out to the swimming pool and exchanged chuckles.
“You’re going to have to watch your new wife darling!” Mumsie warned. “Look at Tom’s face and HE’S her father!”
I sighed pleasurably but averted my gaze from my wife’s stunning form and concentrated on our children splashing noisily at the shallow end.
“Never mind the men!” I thought, “I’d have a hard time keeping my hands off her!”
Mumsie glanced knowingly at me and grinned before suggesting.
“Penny for your thoughts Charlotte?”
The end.