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Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 12:12:00 -0500

From: C Johnson <ih35w@hotmail.com>

Subject: A Girl's War - TG Fiction

A Girl's War

By Cindi Johnson

October, 2006

(This story contains sex and violence; don't read

it if you're underage or offended by such content.

Please send any comments/critiques to the author

at IH35W@hotmail.com . )

Part 1

------

I recalled something my father told me during one

of his more lucid alcoholic states. "Danny," he

said, "always keep your secrets. Bury them deep.

Hold them down with a strong grip. Strangle them,

violently, when necessary. You let them out, and

they'll come back around and take you down. Trust

me on this, Danny."

That odd memory came back to me as I gazed at

Tania's reflection in the pane glass window. She

looked so helpless there, seated across from me in

the booth at Denny's, my old sweater wrapped

around her small frame. I took another drink of

coffee, and continued.

"So, after a year in Iraq, the last thing I wanted

to do was to go back. Hell, it didn't take me only

a few weeks over there to see the big picture. I

tell you, you won't meet any kids over there named

Bush or Cheney. Those damn bastards just send

other peoples' kids off to war, to die, while they

go around and give themselves huge "patriotic" tax

cuts. Those rich Republicans, they're really great

cheerleaders for starting wars, but you won't ever

see them or their kin go anywhere near a

battlefield."

"Yes," Tania interjected, "that's true. I'm a

Texan, so I really know how sorry a lot those

Republicans are. Down here, they literally get

away with murder. Murder of the poor, the brown,

the black, the gay. But what can a person do? I

try not to think about politics. It's hard enough

just living."

"Things ain't a lot better up in North Dakota,

where I'm from," I said. "Anyway, I wasn't

inclined to go back to fight for Bush's folly, so

I just walked. Didn't go back to my reserve unit

when they shipped out. Instead, I sat in a drunken

stupor in a bar in Plentywood, Montana."

"So how did you end up here in Dallas?" Tania

asked.

"Oh, I just drifted around and about, ending up

here. I had money, you see. Couldn't spend

anything during that year in hell, so I came back

flush with cash. I first went to Saint Paul and

worked for Target, but after a month I got called

to the corporate office. Apparently my SSN was

incorrect, they said. They asked me to bring in my

social security card. Well, you can imagine, it

was high time to leave Minnesota."

Tania sipped her tea. We were alone in the

restaurant, the waitress having retired to the

kitchen. Occasionally a truck would pass by, going

north, kicking up litter which lined the highway.

At three-o-clock on a Tuesday morning, even a city

as large as Dallas slept.

"So, what now? It seems you can't run forever, can

you?"

"No, I suppose not. It's just a matter of time

till I'm caught. Then it's either five years in

the brig or, more likely, back to Iraq. And, when

they send a guy like me back - an AWOL - well,

without doubt I'll be assigned the most dangerous

duty there. That's the punishment. Everyone over

there knows the game. I did, too, so I suppose I

can't complain too much. I'll spend two years

driving around Baghdad or Ramadi unless, of

course, I'm blown to pieces first. Which is damn

likely.

"So, Tania, now that I've spilled my guts to you,

tell me about yourself. Got any secrets?"

A smile came across her young face. "Oh, a few, I

suppose. For example, my name is Inez, not Tania.

And I'm from the valley, not the French Riviera.

The strip clubs, they want to make us dancers seem

exotic, so they assign us sexy names and

backgrounds.

"Oh. Well, I'm not really surprised at that,

Inez. So what valley are you from?"

Inez giggled like a young schoolgirl. "The Valley,

silly! Here in Texas, "The Valley" means the Rio

Grande valley. I'm from the Texas-Mexico

borderlands. And I'm Mexican-American."

"No French at all? Not even a bit?" I asked with a

grin.

"No," she said with her enchanting smile, "not

even a drop of French blood in this body. Pure

mestizo, I am," she said with a smile. After a

pause, Inez continued, "Well, Danny, you're a

wanted man, you're not rich, and judging from your

actions so far, you're not looking to buy sex. So

tell me, why did you slip that $50 bill into my G-

String back at the club? It just seems a bit out

of character for you."

My face reddened. "Well, Inez., you see., it's

been a while., a long while, since I've been able

to, well, to just touch a nice girl. To touch any

girl. I just wanted to touch your skin. It's so

beautiful, you know. So soft. So smooth."

"Why thank you, Danny. You know, for a guy, your

complexion is unusually clear. Baby smooth. You

don't look like a soldier, not at all."

"Yea, I know. I've always been kidded about that.

I'm too thin, too boyish looking. I think that's

probably why my father never accepted me, why he

always seemed to hate me." I had finished my

coffee and hamburger, and Inez had finished her

sandwich.

"Well, Danny, thanks for the meal and for the big

tip. I've gotta go home and get some rest. But.,

ahh., Danny, I do know someone who provides phony

ID's for some of the dancers who come up from

Mexico or Nicaragua. She might be able to help you

get one. That way you'd be able to get a job

without worrying."

"You think? I hadn't considered that possibility.

Maybe I should look into it."

"Sure you should. Her name's Sandy. You can call

her tomorrow. But., well., just be careful. Sandy

can be a bitch. Don't let her take advantage of

you."

Please, Inez," I said with an air of exasperation,

"I can take care of myself! After all, I am a

man."

Part 2

-------

I sat down upon the plush sofa. The room was

richly decorated, the walls painted in faint

pastel colors, the furniture made of fine

hardwoods. Sandy sat beside me, oddly close. Her

long legs and bare feet held my gaze.

I had called her earlier that day, and she'd

provided me directions to a large, old house

located in Oak Cliff, just east of downtown

Dallas. An enormous live oak tree dominated the

large front yard of Sandy's home. I had expected

to meet an older, weathered woman with face lined

by smoking, drinking and whoring, but instead was

confronted by a tall, slender blond woman who

appeared to be about my age. Sandy was beautiful.

"After your call I talked with Tania, who told me

a bit of your background. She insists you're not a

policeman. Are you?"

"No. No, of course not"

"Give me your wallet."

"Why?" I said hesitantly.

"Just give it to me."

I did so. Sandy went through it for a few minutes,

checking all ID's I had, as well as counting the

money in it, then handed it back to me.

"So, Daniel, you need a new identity?"

"That's correct, ma'am. Inez said that you might

be able to help me."

"Yes, so I've been told. Tania must learn to be

less trusting. But OK, Daniel, you seem a

reasonable person. Here's what I have." Sandy set

three manila folders on the coffee table in front

of us. She opened the first and pulled out a

number of documents, including a Texas driver's

license, for a man named Reginald Jackson.

Reginald's photo showed him to be an overweight,

middle-aged black man.

"This surely won't do, will it," Sandy said.

"You're too skinny and far too white."

The next envelope held documents for a hispanic

woman, Josie Garcia, who was just 5 foot 3 inches

tall.

"No good, either," Sandy said, then took up the

third envelope and spread its contents out before

me.

"Hmmm," Sandy said, as if an idea had just

occurred to her. The ID was for a 23 year old

female, brown hair and blue eyes, five foot eight

and 135 pounds. Angela Smith was the name on the

drivers license. Sandy carefully looked over each

document in the folder, including a social

security card, a birth certificate (this imaginary

Angela was born in Des Moines, Iowa), a high

school diploma- class of 2004, immunization

records, a credit card, a library card, everything

except a passport.

"This is it, Daniel. I only have three options,

and the only one which could possibly fit you is

this identity. So, do you feel like becoming.,

Angela Smith?"

"Huh? That'll never work. I need a male ID."

"Suit yourself. It's your choice. $1,000 and you

can have a new identity. Today. Think about it."

"I don't have that much. Not even close. Plus, I

need a male ID. But thanks anyhow, ma'am." As I

began to rise from the sofa Sandy put her hand

upon my thigh, signaling me to remain seated.

"Hear me out. You can become Angela for a little

while. I need some help at the club and here at

the house, a handyman -or handygirl - if you will.

You can easily earn enough to pay off the cost of

the ID."

"But I'm not female, ma'am," I said incredulously.

"What good will that ID do me?"

"Look Daniel," Sandy said. "You are about the same

height as Angela and I'd guess you weigh even less

than her. My dancers are good with makeup; they

can have you looking like a girl in no time. We'll

snap your photo and insert it into the drivers

license, and presto!, you no longer need to worry

about past legal troubles. Think it over, Angela.

If you decide to accept the job, you'll live here

with my dancers and me; there's an extra bed in

the downstairs storeroom. You'll have to work

hard, no doubt about it. But you might enjoy it.

Think it over. Let Tania know if you change your

mind." Sandy got up and led me to the door.

"Goodbye, Angela," she said as I left.

Part 3

---------

A week went by. Then another. Danny didn't give

the offer much thought; when leaving Sandy's home

he thought how odd the encounter was, thinking

that maybe he or Sandy just misunderstood each

other. Did Sandy mean he should try to change the

documents to reflect a male? But Angela? One

could argue that a man might be named Angel, but

not Angela. Regardless, he soon put the strange

encounter out of his mind. Just tolerating the

extreme July heat was trying enough; it reminded

him of Iraq and all that he hoped to forget. But

Danny was going broke; even a cheap hotel taxed

his resources. One night he returned to the strip

club for a beer. Inez asked him for a ride home.

Inez, wearing a very short skirt and three inch

high heels, carefully buckled her seat belt as

Danny exited the parking lot.

"How have you been, Danny?" she asked.

"Oh, not too good, actually. I'm thinking of

turning myself in. It's better than sleeping under

a bridge, which is where I'll soon be."

"Sorry to hear that, Danny. But Sandy said she

offered you work. Why don't you want to work for

her?"

"The only ID she had was a female's. I'm not sure,

but I think she wanted me to pretend to be a girl

or something. Really weird, Inez."

"So, what's wrong with that? You're not big and

fat, Danny. You could fit into Cherise's clothes,

I'm sure. And your face is as smooth as mine.

Besides, then you and I could spend a lot of time

together." Inez giggled as she leaned over and

kissed Danny's cheek, causing him to swerve onto

the curb.

Part 4

--------

My face felt very warm; I could tell I was

blushing. Cherise rifled through a chest of

drawers filled with her underclothes, stopping

every now and then to gently grasp an item by her

thumb and index finger and, after making a comment

of some sort, tossing the item onto her bed.

"Oh, look," she said contemplatively before

tossing them onto the growing pile, "well worn

pink panties. I hope you don't mind a small tear

in the crotch, my dear. Maybe caused by an overly

amorous man."

Cherise looked at me and, seeing me blush, smiled

broadly. Tall and thin, it was obvious why Sandy

had asked Cherise to lend me some clothes. We were

about the same height (5'9'' for me, 5' 8 and

1/2'' for Cherise) and about the same weight. Like

me, Cherise had also been raised in the north -

Wisconsin in her case - and was a recent arrival

to Dallas. She was 23 years old and had long hazel

hair, green eyes, and a bewitchingly beautiful

smile.

"OK, let's go for it," she said as she handed me a

white bra and white panties. "Put these on."

"But., you don't mean right here, do you? I'll use

the bathroom."

"No, Angela, you'll change right here. If you're

gonna live here, you'll be treated just like the

rest of us. Don't be so modest. Besides, you don't

have anything I've not seen before."

I turned my back to Cherise and slipped out of my

jeans and underwear, then removed my t-shirt. My

body was already hairless; Sandy had made it clear

that I was to always be smooth and shaven. She

said she despised body hair, whether it be on a

girl or a guy. She mentioned a friend of hers who

could treat me with a laser. I really had no idea

what she was talking about, so I hadn't protested

when her friend arrived with a machine and

proceeded to painfully jolt me for two hours.

"Come on, Angela, let me help you," Cherise said

in exasperation after having watched me fumble

with her brassiere for some minutes. "Really! You

pretend it's so difficult to put a bra on, but I

know you've done this before."

"I have not!" I exclaimed in protest.

"Never?"

"No, Cherise, never! Why would I wear a bra?

Jesus!"

"So., you maybe have a thing against women? You

think guys are better than girls, perhaps? I just

bet you're full of macho bullshit," Cherise said

in apparent jest as she adjusted the straps on her

-now my - bra.

"No, Cherise, not at all. If I did, surely I

wouldn't be letting you put a bra on me, would I?"

"I suppose not. Besides, you're cute - kind of

cute. In a girlish way, that is."

"Gee thanks," I replied peevishly.

After hooking the white bra onto me, Cherise

placed an artificial breast form into each cup.

"Silicone. A girl's best friend. Better than

diamonds any day," she said with a smile. "But

Sandy says it'll only take a couple of months,

maybe less, for you to grow your own."

"Yea, so she says," I said, blushing. "You know,

Sandy seems rather., well., odd. Maybe perverted."

"This coming from a man wearing my bra," Cherise

said with a giggle.

"Sandy did say that as soon as I stop taking her

medicine, I'll go back to being a normal male.

She's right, isn't she?"

Cherise had me slip into a pair of padded panties.

"How would I know, Angela? Do I look like a

doctor? But it seems to make sense. If you don't

take female hormones, then why would you have

female breasts?"

"I tell you, Cherise, I just can't believe I

accepted Sandy's offer. I wouldn't have, except.."

"Yes? Except what?"

"Well, Cherise, I kinda have a thing for Inez."

"So, you want to grow titties, girl titties,

because you like Inez? Now that really makes a lot

of sense, Angela."

"No, Cherise, that's not what I mean. I want to

work for Sandy because I'll be working alongside

Inez. Besides, the hormones won't affect my

virility. Sandy promised me that. She says I'll be

able to satisfy any woman."

"Well, Miss John Wayne, don't get any ideas! You

definitely won't be satisfying me."

We both laughed. Cherise, so pretty, was also easy

to deal with. Friendly, funny, and outgoing, she

made what I had expected to a difficult and

humiliating ordeal into an enjoyable two hour

escapade. Before long, Cherise had selected

several outfits and had dressed me nicely in a

pair of beige pants - although these were not like

men's pants, as they extended to only a few inches

beneath my knees - and a yellow mock neck short

sleeve pullover top.

While I felt odd, very odd, wearing these clothes,

what most embarrassed - and excited - me was the

realization that these were Cherise's clothes. The

bra I now wore had only recently caressed her sexy

breasts, and my panties had covered her female

treasure!

Having dressed me, Cherise then sat me in front of

a mirror and attempted to teach me the basics of

makeup. Another alien, albeit fascinating subject,

which proved to be far more than I could absorb in

an hour. Cherise soon gave up and proceeded to

simply apply the makeup onto my face, saying that

I would pick up the "art" of beauty over time,

with much practice.

My hair, already long, as I hadn't cut it since

leaving Baghdad, was beyond Cherise's

capabilities. She left the room and soon returned

with a wig. In only a minute, I had stylish, soft

hair, hazel-brown in color, cut in a page boy

style.

"So much prettier, don't you think? Until you get

to the beauty parlor, this wig must do," Cherise

said as she gently brushed my hair. I was

astonished at the difference the wig made. Without

the wig, I looked like a man wearing makeup, but

now, my reflection in the mirror was of a woman, a

young woman!

"Ahh., yes., It does look., cute.," I stammered.

Oddly, unexpectedly, I felt my prick grow hard,

increasing my discomfort.

Cherise then took my hand and led me on a tour of

Sandy's house. It was a large two story home,

originally a mansion for an old-money family, with

a half-dozen bedrooms, three baths, and a finished

basement. The attic was also finished into two

storage areas. We stopped by Inez's room first,

but she wasn't in. Nor were any of the others.

Cherise helped me move into my room, which was

actually just a storage area in the basement with

a small bunk bed in it.

Part 5

-----------

The next month or so passed uneventfully.

Daniel/Angela continued dressing as a female, but

only to a limited extent, never donning a skirt or

dress, and when not working he often reverted to

male form. His work included cleaning the house

and the nightclub, grounds keeping, general

maintenance and, on occasion, female tasks such as

cooking and ironing. But Angela didn't mind,

really, as Daniel remained dominant (he considered

himself a man, as did Inez) while Angela was

little more than an act.

Yet change occurred, subtly, almost unnoticed by

Daniel. The effects of hormones, which he took

twice each day, became more noticeable: a

softening of his skin, fat accumulating on hips

and face, tenderness of nipples and swelling of

breasts. Plus, his sessions with the

electrologist/laser technician had noticeably

thinned his facial and body hair, which had been

thin to begin with.

Inez and Daniel grew ever closer, yet their

relationship remained unconsummated owing

principally to Inez' reserved Catholic upbringing.

Indeed, freed from the worry of returning to Iraq,

Daniel/Angela had become almost cocky in his new

existence. Sandy had noticed his attitude and was

not pleased. Sandy realized she must reassert her

dominant position in the house.

Part 6

------------

After donning pale blue culottes and a white top

and slipping on a pair of sandals, I went up the

stairs to the kitchen to eat breakfast. Sunlight

shone through the window in the breakfast nook. I

was alone, seated at the small table, eating

cereal and drinking coffee, when Sandy and Cherise

sat down opposite me.

"Good morning, Angela," Sandy said in a somewhat

stern voice. She wore a loose silk blouse and

jeans, while Cherise was still wearing her pale

green flannel nightgown.

"Hi," I replied.

"Let me get to the point, Angela," Sandy

continued. "As you know, this is a home for women.

Not men. I made an exception for Daniel but only

if you became Angela."

"And I have, ma'am. Look, I'm wearing a bra," I

said, touching my hand to my breast.

"There's more to being a woman then breasts,

Angela. It's time you learn that, don't you

think?"

I didn't answer.

"So, Angela, here are your new rules, which you

may choose to accept or not. If not, I expect you

to be out of here by noon, and be sure to leave

all your female clothes and your identification

papers here.

"But Sandy, I work hard for you, don't I?"

Ignoring my plea, Sandy continued. "If you decide

to stay, you will be 100% Angela from this moment

forward. Throw out all your male clothes; they do

not belong in this house. And no more pants. I

wear the pants around here, Angela, not you! You

will wear skirts only, no more slacks."

I looked at Cherise, who was staring at me wide-

eyed, apparently surprised by Sandy's ultimatums.

"You will also completely shave all body hair, at

all times. Hopefully the laser and electrolysis

have already cured you of your hair problems,

Angela. And use makeup, for God's sake. Paint your

nails! You're a girl, Angela, not a tomboy. Act

like it.

Sandy turned towards Cherise. "Cherise, you and

the other girls must make certain that Angela is a

girl. All girl."

"OK." Angela replied uncertainly.

"As you probably know, Angela, we females have

periods." She stared at me.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied weakly.

"So, Angela, being a girl and all, wouldn't you

also love to menstruate?"

I swallowed hard, then answered hesitantly, "Yes,

ma'am., yes.., I suppose so."

"Well, Angela, you're in luck. Cherise just

started her period this morning. From this point

on, your period will coincide with hers."

I stared at Sandy, uncomprehendingly. What in the

world was she talking about?

"I don't understand, ma'am," I said. "What., how.,

you know, how can I.., ahh, bleed., like a

female?"

Sandy looked towards Cherise, then continued.

"Honey, will you help Angela with this? From now

on, instead of tossing your dirtied kotex into the

trash, I want you to give it to Angela. Let Angela

wear it. It'll make her feel more like a woman;

it'll make her smell like a female. You know,

Cherise, men have considered us women to be

"unclean" when we menstruate. We surely would not

want Angela to view womankind in that manner,

would we? So let her wear your bloodied kotex.

You'll have to teach her how to use a belt and

all."

"Sandy," Cherise said, making a face, "that's

gross."

"I know it's an inconvenience, dear, but it's for

Angela's own good. Of course, you'll need to let

Angela know each time you change your napkin so

she can change hers, too."

"Does that mean I can't use tampons?" Cherise

asked.

"Not for a while, my dear. But that raises a good

point..., Yes., that's it! Angela, in addition to

wearing Cherise's dirtied napkins, you will also

wear tampons during your period. Of course, since

you don't have the proper plumbing - at this time,

anyhow - you'll need to wear them up your behind."

"But Sandy," I retorted, half in shock, "you can't

really expect me to."

"Angela!" Sandy shot back. "Shut up! Like I told

you, you can leave if you dislike the new rules.

But if you stay, you will henceforth address me as

Mistress. That'll maybe keep you aware of your

status around here, don't you think?"

"But."

"OK then, you'll address all of us here as

Mistress. Now, is that clear enough for you to

understand? You either get to work on throwing

out your man clothes, or move out. I've gotta get

to the club." Sandy rose and, after giving Cherise

a peck on the cheek, left through the front door.

I could hear her car driving off as Cherise poured

herself a cup of coffee.

"My gosh, Angela, what did you do to piss off

Sandy so?" She asked as she sat opposite me,

setting her cup in front of her.

"I have no idea, Cherise! But she can't be

serious, can she?"

"Sandy is always serious."

"But I can't., you know., do that." My face turned

beet red, I was too embarrassed to mention the

subject at hand.

Cherise gently put her hand on mine. "I know,

Angel boy, but you have no choice, do you?"

Part 7

--------

"This must be really embarrassing for you, Angela.

Are you sure you want to go through with it?"

Cherise asked, her voice sounding concerned as she

unzipped her tight jeans, which then fell to the

floor.

"I can't leave here. Cherise. Where would I go?

Not only am I wanted by the military police, but

now I'm also a., a freak! Look at me: I've got

tits, for god's sake!" I cupped my left breast

within my right hand.

"Spoken like a true sissy," Cherise said wit a

laugh. "But yes, Angela, you do have a nice set of

knockers coming along, don't you? They must be "A"

cups already! Who would have thought that a boy

could grow breasts so easily? OK then, if you've

decided to stay here with us, then just calm down

and let's get this over."

We were together in the bathroom for what Cherise

gleefully called "Angela's very first period!" I

had stripped naked, while Angela was now down to

wearing only a pink bra and matching panties. The

bathroom wasn't designed for two, so our bodies

frequently touched as we undressed in preparation

for my period.

"Since you'll be re-using my napkins, I'll let you

purchase them from now on. But remember, get the

regular sized kotex. The large size is for

overweight women, and for girls who've been poked

so often that their holes stretch. I'm not like

that, nor are you - I hope.

"Do you see this belt that holds my kotex in

place?" Cherise continued. "Now you put on your

own belt. There, one is on the counter." I fumbled

with the odd "belt" and, with a little assistance

from Cherise, eventually got it positioned around

my waist and groin. Then Cherise removed her kotex

from where it was attached in front of her bush.

It was red with her blood. She gently used it to

wipe several smudges of blood from her groin, then

wiped the crack of her pussy with it. Finished,

she held the dirtied tampon by a corner, using her

thumb and index finger, as if it was too nasty to

touch.

"Here, girl, the joys of womanhood are yours!"

Cherise giggled nervously as I took the napkin

from her and attached it onto my belt, bloody side

pressed against my groin, against my so-called

manhood. I blushed and my hands trembled. I kept

glancing at our reflection in the large bathroom

mirror, at me, my body hairless, toenails and

fingernails painted bright red, little titties

where only two months earlier was a hairy male

chest. And now I wore the ultimate humiliation.

"Good, it seems securely in place, don't you

think, Angela?" Cherise asked. I was too stunned

to answer. "Now remember, you must leave that on

until I change mine. Only then will you remove

that one and replace it with another of my used

napkins. Sandy's orders, you know. If I change

mine and you're not around, I'll put the dirty one

in one of these kotex bags and set it in your

room, on your bed. OK? And I'll give you a call to

make sure you know that you have to change it."

"What if I forget to change it, Mistress?" I asked

in a whisper, barely able to get any words out.

"Oh, baby, I doubt you'll forget. It's not

comfortable, having a period and all. Plus, I

suppose your kotex will begin to smell. There's

nothing much worse than the smell of a dirty

pussy, especially if the smell is coming from a

boy-girl like you." Cherise pulled on her jeans

and zipped them up, then put on her white blouse.

"Oh, I almost forgot. You're also required to wear

a tampon, aren't you? Gosh, the next few days are

not going to be fun for Angela, are they? Get a

tampon from the medicine cabinet, and I'll give

you one more lesson in being female." Soon I had

removed a tampon from it's wrapping and held it in

my hand, perplexed.

"It's rather like a syringe. You'll stick it into

your vagina, then slowly push against the back of

the tampon. That pushes a wad of cotton into your

vagina to absorb your menstrual discharge. Remove

the applicator and there'll be a little string

extending from your hole. When it's time to

change, pull on the string to remove the tampon,

then replace it with a fresh one. Understand?"

"But., I don't have a vagina, Mistress."

Cherise rolled her eyes. "Yes, girl, I know that!

Sandy said you have to wear it in your asshole.

Now., any other questions before I leave and let

you dress?"

"Cherise, I'm sorry that you have to., do. all of

this.; it's my fault."

"No problem, sis. It's a hassle for me, but not as

much as it is for you."

"How often do you do this," I asked as she opened

the bathroom door.

"You mean, how often do WE do this? It's your

period, too, Angel Girl. OUR cycle is 28 days,

silly. Just like the moon. You see, as a male, you

were nurtured by the sun to be dominant, powerful,

bold. But now, as a female, you are lunar: soft,

quiet, mysterious, subject to the menstrual cycle.

You'll adapt. Well, gotta go, sis!" Cherise left

the bathroom and closed the door, leaving me

alone. I attempted, unsuccessfully, to push the

tampon into my asshole. It hurt too much. Luckily

there was a jar of Vaseline in the medicine

cabinet; after smearing lubricant onto the tampon

I was able to carefully insert it into me.

Finished, I looked at my reflection in the mirror;

a small string hung from my asshole and a kotex

napkin covered my groin. Tears formed in my eyes

as I pulled on my lacy, pale blue panties and then

donned my bra, carefully putting the silicone

inserts into the cups so as to give me a pair of

nice, size C breasts. After peeking out the door

to make sure no one was around, I scurried to my

little room downstairs and, exhausted, climbed

into bed for a nap.

Part 8

-------

Twice each week, on Sunday and Thursday evenings,

all girls living with Sandy were required to eat

dinner at the house. Frequently other invited

guests also attended. Apparently Sandy considered

her employees to be her family, and enjoying

dinner together on a regular basis was one means

of holding this "family" together.

Other than myself, no male was ever invited to

these get togethers, and Sandy apparently didn't

considered me to be "male". While I never felt

comfortable at the dinners, I had tolerated them

so far, mostly by keeping quiet as the girls

discussed all kinds of matters of interest to

females, such as soap operas, clothes, makeup,

and, of course, cute guys and creepy guys. Today,

however, a feeling of dread filled me as I

prepared for Sandy's Thursday evening dinner.

Cherise had suggested I wear a dress as this would

please Sandy. To date, I'd only worn slacks, so

the idea of donning a dress was daunting. Cherise

had selected a white dress with embroidered blue

and red flowers; it had quarter-length sleeves and

the hem fell to midway between my knees and

thighs. I wore a white slip beneath the dress. I

wore open-toed heels, as Cherise had said sandals

would not go with a nice dress. I took extra care

with my makeup, choosing dark mascara and a deep-

red shade of lipstick. Following Cherise's

directions, I'd also painted my toenails and

fingernails a shade of red matching my lipstick.

Prior to this I'd always painted my nails with a

clear coat polish; this was the first time I'd

painted them red.

It was a few minutes after seven when I ascended

the stairs; the butterflies in my stomach were

caused by the erotic feel of the dress caressing

my thighs and the repulsive knowledge that

Cherise's blood-soaked kotex cradled my cock.

The others had all taken their seats; the only

vacant chair was at Sandy's left. I tried to avoid

the girls' eyes as I walked through the dining

room, although I could feel them staring at me.

"Very nice, Angela, very nice indeed," Sandy said

as I reached the table. "Don't sit yet. Model your

pretty dress for us, please."

"Well, ahh., yes, Mistress Sandy. If you like."

"Walk slowly to the fireplace and back. Pretend

you're a beautiful model in Paris," Sandy

instructed.

I blushed as I did this.

"Pretty legs, Angela," said Nicole.

"I'll say," echoed Jenna. "Maybe Angela ought to

dance at the club. She's got the body. Don't you

agree, girls?"

"Does she! You really are pretty, Angel," Terra

said with a tone of sincerity.

"Thank you, Mistress Terra," I said shyly, feeling

very exposed as I stood there.

"Since when am I your Mistress, Angel?" Terra

asked, looking perplexed.

"Well, you see., Mistress Sandy thought that.,

ahh., I should use that title when, ahh, whenever

I address any of you."

"That's correct, Angela," Sandy interjected.

"Girls," she continued after a pause, "Angela has

a deep dark secret she should share with us. Come

on, Angela, tell us what happened today."

"Please, Mistress., I'd rather not. Please?"

"Oh, girl, it's nothing to be ashamed of now, is

it? Tell us, then we'll serve dinner."

My eyes stared down at the floor and I blushed

lividly. "You see," I said hesitantly, "well.,

today I., ahh., I started my, ahh., my period. My

first period."

Everyone was quiet for a minute or so, surprised

by my unexpected revelation. Then Jenna said,

"Well, Angela, congratulations to you! I don't

know how you managed to have a period, or why

you'd even want to have a period," she said with a

giggle. "C'mon everyone, a toast to Angela on the

occasion of her first period!"

I sat down between Sandy and Inez and the seven of

us raised our wine glasses in a toast to me. As I

sat, the tampon pushed uncomfortably a bit further

into my ass.

"Welcome to the dark side of femininity, Angela,"

Terra said as she set her glass down. I glanced

towards Inez; she was quiet, uncomfortable,

apparently embarrassed. All the girls knew that

Inez and I liked each other.

Part 9

---------

"What do you mean, you're on your period? Come on,

Danny! Was this your idea?" Inez's voice trembled

and her lower lip quivered. She was helping me

wash dishes. She wore jeans and an orange t-shirt,

while I wore a frilly pink apron covering my white

dress. In my high heels I stood several inches

higher than Inez, who wore cheap tennis shoes.

Carrie and Terra had left for the club,

accompanied by Sandy. Nicole and Jenna were

watching television in the living room.

"Of course not, Mistress. Sandy made me do it."

"Stop calling me "Mistress"," Inez said

forcefully, her face red with anger.

"I'm sorry, Inez. It's Sandy's orders."

"I don't want to be your mistress! I want to be

your girlfriend. Danny's girlfriend!"

"You are, Inez. Look, this will pass. Sandy is

ticked off about something. I don't know what.

She'll cool down, and we'll get back to normal."

Inez smiled a bit. "Normal being my boyfriend

having little titties and wearing a dress?"

"Yea, I suppose so. But I can be anything you

want, Inez. Give me a month away from here and

I'll be a hairy ape-man, if that's what you want."

"No, Angela, that's not what I want." Inez leaned

over, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed my lips.

She smelled of dish soap and perfume. "I like my

pretty boy with his smooth skin and titties. You

know that."

"And I like you, Inez. I'm in love with you, you

know."

"I guessed as much, Angela." Inez smiled warmly.

"So tell me, how can my boy have a period? Surely

even Sandy couldn't pull off a miracle like that."

My face reddened and I gazed at the floor. "It's

Cherise. I have to wear her, ahh, kotexes, after

she gets them bloody. Plus, Sandy says I have to

wear a tampon in, ahh, my rear end, you know."

Inez let loose of my forearms, and was quiet for a

long minute. She stared into my eyes; I saw her

frown.

"That's nasty, Danny."

I remained quiet. What could I say? Inez was

right. No man, no man should ever do such a thing!

"So., you'll have to do this every month? Whenever

Cherise has a period, you do too?"

"Yes, Inez, I suppose so. It's either that or

leave the house. Cherise says it happens every 28

days."

"I know that, Angela. I am the real girl here,

aren't I?"

"Of course you are. I'm not female. I don't want

to be female. You know that."

"I think I know that. Sometimes I have doubts,

Angela."

I removed the pink apron and took Inez' hand.

"Let's go watch television and have a bit more

wine. OK? Sit together on the couch. Cuddle. Maybe

we can play around a bit."

"OK, Angela, let's go watch TV. But since you're

on your period, we surely won't be playing around.

I'm not gonna let your cock, red with Cherise's

discharge, slip into my body. No way, girl," Inez

said, her cute mouth frozen into a frown,

obviously unhappy with my latest venture into

womanhood.

Part 10

---------

"He's my boyfriend," Inez said, her voice

trembling. "Mine! I won't let you do it! Danny's a

man! Not a girl. A man!" The discussion had, over

the past fifteen minutes, led to flared tempers

and now to tears.

Sandy and Cherise were seated on the couch while

Inez/Tania stood, tears streaming from her angry

dark eyes.

"Yes" Sandy said, "Angela is your man. So be it,

Tania. But he cannot both be a "real man" and live

here with us. You know that."

"But Sandy! You make him call us all "Mistress".

Why? And having to wear Cherise's rags. Why? Why?

It's just not fair. Danny's a nice boy. He likes

me!"

"Look, Tania. He's still yours. But now he's

better. He's improved. Angela will be able to

understand you, to empathize with your issues. How

many guys have you known who ever cared about the

fact that you were on your period? How many?"

"None, I suppose," Inez replied, sheepishly, as

she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"No, none!" Sandy's voice rose. "Guys never care.

Each month we females suffer through our periods,

get depressed, hurt, and all our men want to know

is when they can poke their damn pricks back into

us! Well, Danny will be different. Just give it a

try, OK? If, six months from now, you're still

unhappy with the new Angela, I'll toss out the

hormones and get a male ID for your boyfriend.

OK?"

After a long pause, Inez mumbled softly, "Yes,

Sandy. Six months."

Cherise stood up and warmly hugged the pretty

Hispanic dancer from The Valley, while Sandy

watched, a look of triumph upon her face.

Part 11

---------

It was three a.m. on a Tuesday morning when I

pulled into the park surrounding White Rock Lake.

Inez had finished her night of dancing and I'd

cleaned up the club, took out the trash, and made

sure the money was locked securely in the safe.

Inez had suggested the detour to the park. The

night was clear and warm; across the shimmering

waters, in the far distance, lights from downtown

skyscrapers shown brighter than the stars.

"Are you sure you're not on your period, Angela?

Don't lie." Her wide eyes looked into mine,

seemingly searching for something.

"No, Mistress, I'm not on my period. Cherise's

ended three days ago, and I tossed out my last

kotex yesterday morning.

"What was this," Inez asked as she got out of my

car, "your second?"

"No. This was my third time. I tell you, they're

not pleasant. Not easy to forget."

"I suppose not, particularly for a boy."

"So, you want to walk around the lake, Mistress?"

"Not tonight." Inez looked at me, smiling but

clearly nervous. She took a large beach towel from

the car and spread it out on top of tall grass a

few feet from the shore of the lake. "Let's do

something different. I want to make love to you,

Angela. C'mon, take your dress off. It's time.

You've been living with me now for what? Six

Months? You are my boyfriend, or girlfriend -

whatever -, aren't you? Let's see if that boy-clit

of yours can perform."

"You mean it, Mistress? Right here? Are you sure?"

I looked towards her; she nodded. She unzipped her

shorts and they dropped to the ground, and in less

than a minute she'd also removed her blouse, bra

and panties. Her body was beautiful. I'd seen her

naked before, usually as she went into the shower

(seems I was always having to clean the bathrooms

at Sandy's house!), but never in such an inviting

pose. Inez approached me, naked, went behind me

and unzipped my yellow shift, letting it drop to

the grass. I shivered, standing in my white lacy

slip. Inez proceed to remove my slip, then

unhooked my bra. I wiggled out of it.

"My, Angela," Inez whispered as she stood before

me, "your breasts are beautiful. Nearly as large

as mine!"

"I know, Mistress. It's embarrassing. Each morning

now, when I look in the mirror, I see a girl. Yet

I continue taking the hormones. Why? It's not like

Sandy shoves them down my throat. I could just

toss the pills into the toilet - who would know

the difference? But no, I take them, each morning

and evening. Maybe., maybe I really don't want to

be, you know., Danny. Maybe I want to be Angela?

It's confusing."

"Shush, Angela," Inez said. Like a shadow, she

moved close to me and caressed my breasts with her

mouth and tongue. Soon my cock came to life. Inez

lowered my pink panties, freeing my erect penis.

"Ly down, my dearest. Boy or girl, I don't care.

You're mine, Angela. You're mine. Only mine.

Always mine. Ly down, mi novia."

Soon I was lying on my back as Inez straddled me.

Her hand guided my prick into her pussy. She

continued whispering to me as even as she began to

writhe, moving up and down, up and down. Sweat

covered our bodies. Before long, our love was

mutually consummated, our bond cemented.

Part 12

---------

"Damn it, babe, get up there and dance!" The

grossly overweight, middle-aged man slurred his

words as he reached over and grabbed my skirt,

knocking his nearly empty glass of beer to the

floor.

"Please sir! I'm a waitress. I'm not allowed to

dance here," I said as I gently grasped his hand

until he released his grip on my short skirt. "Let

me get you another beer. OK?"

"Great, you slut. Give me a drink."

I went to the bar and poured him a bottle of near-

bear, hoping that he wouldn't notice the

difference. I'd been waiting on tables for several

months, as Sandy had continued to increase my

responsibilities over time. I had noticed that

Sandy had come to like me; maybe this was because

I'd become more and more female over the year

since I'd begun taking the hormones. And while I'd

become accustomed to patrons trying to get into my

panties, this guy was worse than most.

Inez was on stage dancing seductively as about a

dozen men watched and silently sipped their beers,

their thoughts god knows where. It had been at

least four months since that warm evening when

Inez and I had our first sex, and ever since we'd

been inseparable. I thought to myself, as I looked

at her, so pretty with her dark hair and luscious

full red lips, that for the first time in my

entire life I was happy. I, Daniel Katowski, was

actually content and happy. The very thought

amazed me. Maybe I am unsure of what sex I am or

want to be, but with Inez, I'm happy. And she

loves me.

The situation at Sandy's was also much improved.

Sandy had allowed me to move in with Inez, as

another girl, Kim, moved into my basement

quarters. It was odd, but so very pleasurable,

being loved by Inez. Sometimes her temper would

flare over small things, like when I borrowed a

pair of her panties because all of mine were

dirty. Heck, our room was so full of lingerie,

skirts, blouses, dresses, shoes -lots of shoes!-

that at times it seemed I lived in the Misses

department of Macy's. Eventually we ended up

sharing most everything, including makeup. But

panties were different; because Inez and I now

both had periods, she was not willing to wear my

panties or to allow me to borrow hers.

The drunk sat at the back of the bar, watching me

rather than Inez. The underarms of his shirt were

wet with sweat and his tie hung loosely around his

neck. I walked to his table and set down the full

glass of beer.

"That will be $4.00, sir," I said.

"Well, dance and I'll give you $40," he growled.

"Sorry, sir, but I can't."

"Pussy, don't tell me what you can't do. I'm a

minister here in Dallas. A big shot Baptist

minister! I got lots of girls who want me. Nice

girls. They're not like you. You're a damn slut!"

Before I knew what happened he reached under my

skirt, which was so short it barely covered my

crotch, and firmly grasped my groin.

"Ouch! Let go of me," I said, trying not to yell

as I didn't want to interrupt Inez' dancing.

"Fuck you, bitch! Hey.," he said, feeling the

unexpected, "what the hell! What the hell! Fuck!

You're a faggot, aren't you? A Fucking Queer,

aren't you??!!" I noticed drool leaking from the

edge of his mouth onto his chin. I grabbed his

forearm and my fingernails dug into his flesh

until he released his grip on my balls. I saw

blood puddle on his hairy arm.

"Get out of here, sir," I said matter-of-factly.

"I'm calling the police right now, so please

leave." I tried to remain calm, but my voice

trembled with fear and anger. I turned and headed

to the bar's office.

"Faggot! I wouldn't let you kiss my dick, bitch!"

He cursed again, then stumbled towards the exit.

Part 13

-----------

Two nights after the incident with the minister, I

was again waiting tables as Inez danced. A dozen

customers watched her move; Sandy was in the

office working on the books. Suddenly three police

officers entered; one took up position at the back

door, the other at the front door. The third, a

heavy set, aging cop with a balding head,

approached me.

"Let me see your drivers license, ma'am."

I set the tray of empty bottles down on a table.

The bottles, shaken by my trembling hands, clinked

musically.

"But officer, I didn't do anything."

"Please. Just get your identification, ma'am."

I went to the office to fetch my purse, hoping

that maybe Sandy could help. She stood up and

asked the officer what he was doing in her bar.

"I'm here to check your employee's identification.

We've had an allegation made that your employee is

an illegal alien."

"What? That's crazy!" Sandy exclaimed. "This city

is filled with illegal aliens. At least a million!

You wouldn't come here just for that."

"Ma'am," the officer said, looking down at Sandy,

who was a several inches shorter than he, "a very

respectable citizen reported this. I have no

choice but to follow up on his allegation."

I removed my driver's license from my purse and

handed it the officer. I was scared, more scared

than I'd ever been.

"So, are you really Angela?" he asked me, speaking

quietly, almost regretfully. "I don't think you

are, are you? I'm sorry, young lady., or man.,

whatever... You'll have to come with us now. Take

your purse and your jacket."

I slipped an orange sweater over my nearly sheer

lavender blouse. I would have liked to change into

something different, maybe into pants or at least

into a skirt which covered my knees, but the

policeman refused to allow it. After handcuffing

me with a plastic tie, he led me to the squad car.

Inez, weeping uncontrollably, and Sandy followed.

Even Sandy, who had been unflinchingly strong

throughout the year I'd known her, had tears in

her eyes. The officer did allow Inez and I a

brief, sad kiss before forcing me into the back

seat.

Part 14

---------

I was ushered into a windowless, sparely furnished

room with dull gray walls, and took a seat at a

metal table. I was alone there with my thoughts

for at least a half hour, until two officers

walked in, one a full colonel and the other a

lieutenant. It had been a week since my arrest;

I'd been sent to Fort Hood the day after the

arrest. I quickly rose and saluted; they returned

my gesture and the lieutenant instructed me to

sit.

"Private Katowski," said the lieutenant, "we've

reviewed your file and reached our decision.

Rather than a court martial and lengthy

incarceration, we instead will allow you to

complete your tour of duty, after which you'll

receive a general discharge."

"But sir," I said, pleading. "That will mean

returning to Iraq, won't it?"

"Most likely."

"Sir, please, wouldn't it be possible to be

discharged instead? Even a dishonorable discharge

would be acceptable to me. I ask you. Please."

The colonel, who had not spoken until now,

answered simply, "No. We've made our decision. You

will report to your unit immediately."

"But sir, please. You've read my file. Look at me!

I'm not the same man as I was a year ago. My God,

I've got breasts! My unit will not accept me as

one of them. Surely you see that?"

The lieutenant spoke. "In time, Private Katowski,

you body will return to that of a typical male.

Our physicians have stated such. As Colonel Carson

has indicated, our decision is final." With that

the officers rose from their chairs. I rose too,

and saluted. They left the room and closed the

door behind them. I sat down and hid my face in my

hands, which soon were wet with tears.

Part 15

---------

It was, in a way, both expected and unexpected.

Angela had been in Iraq for three weeks. While the

members of his unit did not talk to him, neither

had they harassed him.

Angela, off duty, wearing male military fatigues,

left his barracks to get a soda at the vending

machine near the mess hall. It was nearly

midnight. A full moon eerily illuminated the

yellow-orange sand that covered everything here.

Suddenly a body blow from behind knocked Angela

forward; she fell to the ground. Surprised, she

felt and tasted sand in her mouth. Her first

thought was that she'd tripped over something. But

within seconds someone grabbed her arms while

someone else shoved a sock into her mouth. Two

soldiers dragged her to an empty truck trailer

parked at the edge of the small army base, forced

her into the trailer, then tore off her uniform. A

large white staff sergeant pulled off Angela's

underwear as two soldiers held him tightly. Angela

didn't fight back - she couldn't. There were a

dozen soldiers in the trailer now. Two bright

flashlights were turned on, focused upon Angela,

adding to the moonlight that entered the trailer

through a jagged hole which an RPG had blown in

its roof. The soldiers shoved Angela to the dirty

floor, where she lay, face up.

"Well, look here, guys. We done got a girl in our

unit. How about that! A girl with a little bitty

cock," said the overweight staff sergeant before

he spit onto Angela's groin.

"Or a guy with tits," added a black private who

stood alongside the sergeant.

"What a cunt!" someone yelled.

"Bitch!" another yelled.

"Faggot!" several yelled at the same time.

"So, men," said the fat staff sergeant, who

apparently was the leader of these thugs, "what

say we show the new girl a good time?"

"Me first," someone yelled.

"No, I get firsts! You get seconds," challenged

another soldier.

Soon they were all laughing and yelling and

cursing. Angela tried to cry out but the sock

prevented it. A soldier took out a deck of cards

and each man drew a card.

"Well, my oh my," exclaimed a stocky Hispanic

private. "The king of spades! Guess I go first." A

chorus of boos and catcalls and laughing followed.

The staff sergeant knelt down and put his mouth

near Angela's ear.

"Look, faggot," he growled, "you try anything

funny and we'll cut your dick off, then kill you.

We'll blame the insurgents, and no one will care.

Now you suck like the good little whore that you

are." He pulled the sock from Angela's mouth; she

gasped, taking in the warm air.

The Hispanic, who the others called Paco, soon

stripped off his trousers and underwear. Two

others grabbed her arms and forced her into a

kneeling position. Paco grasped his cock and,

using it like a blackjack, pummeled Angela's face

with it, to the cheers of the watching crowd. Then

Angela felt it push against her mouth. Opening her

eyes, she could only see the brown cock and Paco's

balls, which were partly covered by black pubic

hair. Tears streamed from her eyes. Angela opened

her mouth and the cock plunged into the opening,

gagging her. She gasped for air. The cock began to

rock, back and forth, in and out, in a rising

frenzy until, after four or five minutes Paco

unexpectedly pulled it out. Angela opened her eyes

to see why; simultaneously Paco came, shooting cum

over her face and into her open mouth. A roar of

laughter filled the trailer.

Next was a black man, a black cock. Then another

brown cock. Fourth was the staff sergeant; Angela

considered biting off his cock, but didn't. The

shadow of his beer belly hid the glare of

flashlights as Angela sucked the sergeant. He came

into Angela's mouth; she nearly vomited.

Angela wanted to get through this. She wasn't

ready to give up on life. Even during the terror

of this night she remembered her happiness, her

joy, her beloved Inez. The memory gave Angela

strength.

An hour or more passed. Angela lost track of the

cocks, the men. Some had come back for seconds.

Some even for thirds. Angela's jaw muscles were

painfully sore. Blood had pored from her nose and

dried thickly on her cheek. Then it ended. Angela

lay face down upon the floor of the truck trailer.

She saw the staff sergeant approach, holding a

shovel. He swung it at her head.

Part 16

-------------

I felt a cool wet towel wiping my face. I thought

it was Inez; I assumed that we were together,

sharing our bed in Dallas. When I opened my eyes I

saw a blond girl wearing a military uniform,

wiping my face gently. She looked so young. Then,

slowly, painfully, I recalled everything.

"That's it, drink some water. Try to sit up."

I looked at her and I began to cry. She looked

troubled, very troubled.

"I heard about what happened. I'm sorry. I'm so

sorry. Things here are just., just insane. But

come on, the sun will be rising soon. Come with me

to the women's barracks. You'll be safe there."

I stood up. She had me slip into a pair of beige

culottes and a rose-colored t-shirt, and sandals.

I was still too stunned to fully comprehend my

situation. She had a wig - short hair with a page

boy - which she put onto me. After wiping some of

the dirt and mud off my arms and legs, she had me

follow her. The base was quiet, although in

another half hour things would come to life.

Luckily, we encountered no military police during

the ten minute walk to the women's barracks.

"I'm Maria," the blond girl said as we entered the

barracks. "What's your name?"

"Angela," I said without thinking, then added,

"Thank you, Maria. Thank you."

"Hey, it's OK. You're one of us, kind of. Over

here, we sisters take care of each other." I

could tell by her voice that she was proud of the

camaraderie the girls shared.

We entered a small dorm room with two cots in it.

"This is my room, Angela. My dorm sister shipped

out two weeks ago - the lucky thing! So this cot

is empty. I think you should stay here, at least

for a while. It'll be OK with the sisters here,

I'm sure." Maria gave me a bowl of oatmeal and

milk. She suggested that, after eating, I should

shower and take a nap.

"Thank you, Maria," I said with heartfelt

gratitude as she left to go on duty. After

showering I laid down on the cot and immediately

fell into a deep sleep.

Part 17

--------

Angela's situation improved. Her physical wounds

healed easily while she buried her psychological

wounds. An accommodation, informal and unspoken,

was allowed her by the base commander: Angela

could remain in the girl's barracks and wear

female attire when not on duty. On duty, however,

Angela wore her male uniform and became Danny.

Even then, however, Danny cheated a bit, as she

often wore panties and a sports bra under his

uniform.

Angela knew the men in his unit would not dare

molest her when she was on duty. When not on duty,

she was always careful. No longer did Angela go

out alone after dark, and always she was alert to

goings on around her. Usually, when off duty, she

carried a small MicroTech switch blade knife,

affixing it to her thigh with a white lacy garter

belt.

She got to know the women assigned to the base.

They numbered about a dozen, and without exception

were young. Very young, many just out of high

school. The girls were scared - who wouldn't be? -

but brave. Angela admired them, yet felt sorry

that they had to abandon one or more of their best

years to this hell-hole which Iraq had become.

Angela became like an older sister to them,

helping them with some of the more physical tasks,

listening to them when they felt down, giving them

money when they needed to send some back to the

states for care of a kid or a parent. The girls,

in turn, helped Angela, getting her clothes,

makeup, and even a supply of hormones.

When on duty, Angela spoke only when necessary. He

didn't trust his comrades, not at all. In fact, he

no longer trusted any males. Men, Angela

concluded, were evil. Each and every one. This

feeling was reinforced during his hours on duty.

He was assigned to the job of "interrogation",

meaning he went out into the Iraqi town to

question and often arrest Iraqi's. During these

trips he often chafed at the way Iraqi society

treated women. It seemed the females worked and

cared for their families while the males stood on

street corners, smoking. Once, on a particularly

hot day, the hummer he rode in came upon the body

of a pretty teenaged girl lying at the side of a

street. Danny questioned many of the men in the

area and was eventually able to piece together a

grim fact: the girl had been killed because she

wore makeup rather than a veil.

Part 18

----------

It was Friday morning. Angela was off duty until

noon. She woke at seven, put on a cute navy blue

skirt and a pale green blouse, spent a few minutes

applying lipstick and mascara, slipped her wig on,

then went to the administration building for mail

call. She received a letter from Inez. Angela went

to the mess hall, got coffee and a roll, and took

a seat, alone, at a table away from everyone else.

Inez had drawn four little hearts, in red ink, on

the envelope. Carefully she opened the letter,

took a sip of coffee, then read the handwritten

letter:

My Dearest Angela,

Hi! I hope you are OK. It's been a week since I

received a letter from you. Please write. I miss

you so, my angel.

We are waiting for you here. Even Sandy misses

you. She put a photo of you on the desk in her

office. You remember the one: you are modeling a

pink one-piece bathing suit, showing off your

skinny thighs! What some of us girls wouldn't give

for such skinny thighs!

Remember the minister who turned you in? I've

enclosed an article from the newspaper. Seems he's

received an award of some type for being such a

true "man of faith". Laura Bush will be in town to

present him a plaque or something.

Where is justice, my love? Where? I cry at night,

sometimes, worrying about you. In fact, almost

every night I cry.

My love, my dearest Angela, I've made a decision.

We'll marry as soon as your tour ends. No, honey,

this is not a proposal - it's an order!!! We'll be

happy. I know this whole situation is so - odd?? -

what with you being kind of a girl, yet also a

man, my man! - but so what? I love you and you

love me. Let's marry and live together. We'll have

a child. Two children! We'll be happy. Isn't that

what really matters, my dearest? Don't we have the

right to be happy like other people? Don't

we??????

We'll get married down in The Valley. A Catholic

wedding. You'll have to wear a tuxedo (no, honey,

I'll be wearing the wedding gown!) and be macho

and all, but just for a weekend. My family will

accept you; they'll love you. You'll see!

Cherise and Sandy send their wishes. Be careful,

my love. Always be careful.

Your girl,

Inez

Angela set the letter on the table. Tears, bitter

tears, flowed from her eyes and down her cheeks,

falling upon the letter, creating wet stains on

the paper which spread outward like cancer.

Part 19

----------

Carefully, using a Q-tip, Angela removed mascara

from around her eyes. Her hands trembled, as she

was still shaken by the letter. Happiness, it

seemed, was within her grasp. Today she chose to

wear beige panties and a matching sports bra under

her uniform. She didn't remove the clear polish

she'd painted her nails with (none of the girls

were allowed to use colored polish). After

dressing she walked with Maria to the motor pool.

Maria was coming today because they were going to

interrogate some women at a school across town.

The Iraqi's didn't like males to question Iraqi

women.

"Maria," Angela said as they hunkered down in the

back of the hummer. "I'm getting married! As soon

as I get back to the states. Inez proposed to me."

"And you accepted?" Maria asked, smiling broadly;

her metal helmet covered her soft blond hair.

"Of course I'll accept. I love her! I'll call her

after this mission, if I can get permission to use

the phone. Jesus, Maria, this is just so, so

great!"

"Well, congratulations, soldier," Maria said

warmly. She reached over and gently touched my

hand with hers.

"You'll come to the wedding, won't you? It'll be

in South Texas. I'll get you a plane ticket.

Please? You can be my bridesmaid., I mean, my best

man., whatever!! You know what I mean."

"I wouldn't miss it. Heck, I'm half Mexican-

American. Maybe I'll meet a cute South Texas boy

at your wedding, maybe have a little "amor" and

all." Maria, beautiful even in combat gear, sweat

drops forming on her forehead, smiled at me as the

driver put the hummer into gear and we drove off

the base and into hell.

Part 20

-----------

The sun glared upon the torn city, one of many

destroyed during Bush's war of liberation. Iraqi

men stood in packs, always watching silently as

our vehicle passed, crashing over debris and

swerving around large potholes. The men didn't

work; there were no jobs. Children stared;

sometimes one would throw a rock, but rarely would

they hit anyone. Women were nowhere to be seen.

About fifteen minutes into the drive, the hummer

turned a corner. Angela was watching the street,

alternating her gaze from left to right. Maria,

clearly afraid, looked straight ahead at the back

of the driver's head.

A glint of light caught Angela's eye. It came from

an alley. He saw a man running towards the road

and another crouched down behind a rusted oil

barrel. The flash had apparently come from the sun

reflecting off the runner's gun. The other man's

RPG had already focused upon the hummer.

It wasn't heroism. No, it was mostly just a

reflex. Maria sat between Angela and the gunmen

who were preparing to fire upon the hummer. Angela

immediately shoved Maria's head down to the floor,

where she would be somewhat protected by the metal

of the hummer's door. Then Angela raised her M-16

and rapidly fired off three shots. The first shot

missed, but the second hit the crouching man. He

fell to the ground, unable to fire the RPG.

The running man stopped and pointed his weapon.

Angela and the man fired simultaneously. The Iraqi

fell to the ground, wounded. He crawled into a

nearby building, trailing blood.

Maria was at first surprised, not knowing why

Angela had shoved her, hurting her neck. Then the

noise of Angela's rifle shots deafened her. Maria

noticed the back of the driver's seat suddenly

change color, turning to red.

Part 21

----------

Crack!!

Crack!!

Crack!!

After each had fired three shots, the seven

grizzled old men set their M-1 carbines down. The

old vets hadn't known Danny. Sure, they were sorry

that another young man had died in Iraq, but they

were happy to send him off to a warrior's grave.

Death, after all, is glorious - if for a worthy

cause. Following the service they would drive to

the Legion Club in Plentywood and enjoy cold beer

as they listened to Rush Limbaugh on the radio and

cussed at blacks and Democrats, which, of course,

were rare to extinct in eastern Montana.

Inez stood alongside Maria at the small cemetery

set in the rolling treeless prairie just outside

the tiny town of Westby, Montana. A cold wind blew

the smoke from the guns towards the two girls. The

acrid smell disgusted Inez and frightened Maria.

Inez wept inconsolably. Maria put her arm gently

around Inez, trying to shelter her, just a bit,

from the cold prairie wind.

Danny's father, who'd been drinking heavily, stood

nearest the grave. Danny's mother, expressionless,

stood alongside him. The priest, old and wrinkled,

sadly took a handful of dirt into his weathered

hand and tossed it upon the pine box, within which

lay Angela's body, now forever still.

Part 22

-----------

The girls were silent during the long drive to the

Minot airport. The day grew colder. Snow began to

fall just as the sun set.

Inez' plane was already boarding when they reached

the terminal. Maria hugged Inez, and both girls

again wept.

"Angela accepted your proposal, Inez," Maria said.

"She was so happy. You made her very happy, you

know."

"It wasn't a proposal," Inez said, smiling

slightly. "It was an order."

After a long pause, Inez looked searchingly into

Maria's eyes.

"Why?" Inez asked, knowing there was no answer.

"So much death. Why?"

Maria and Inez hugged one last time, then Maria

kissed Inez' cheek. Silently, Inez turned and

entered the waiting plane.

The End