Secret Office Romance (part 15)
With some large companies adopting a liberal policy toward gender expression, this fictional account is quite possible. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I wish it really happened to me!
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On Saturday we drove to Jessica's family home. How can anyone know what to expect in a situation like this? There was no way to adequately prepare, so I just took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.
When we arrived, Jackie, Jessica's mother greeted us and invited us inside. Jessica's father approached and extended his hand, saying, "You must be Bill – I'm Ron."
"I'm glad to meet you, Mr. Mosely," I replied.
"Ron – please just Ron – my father isn't here," Ron countered, "how about a beer?"
I smiled and quickly agreed, needing something to calm my nerves.
Handing me a beer, Ron sat down and invited me to do the same. He said, "This has got to be awkward for both of us, so let's just cut to the chase. I get the gender change stuff, and ever since Jeff – er, Jessica, was little we knew things weren't quite right. But what I just don't get is this business about being born into the wrong body!"
"I had trouble with that at first," I confessed, "and it doesn't make sense on the surface, so we have to think deeply about it. If you will indulge me, I'd like us to try a gedanken experiment."
"A what?" Ron asked.
"Sorry, gedanken is a German word. It is a thought experiment. Some of the greatest minds in science used them to explore things you could not do physically – Einstein, Schrödinger and Newton, to name a few." I knew Ron was a retired engineer, so he was well educated.
"Ok, go ahead then." Ron replied.
"I'm sure you have seen one of more movies in which people's minds were swapped, so they were then in someone else's bodies," I began.
"Sure, I those can be hilarious," Ron agreed.
"Well, if our minds were swapped, which one would be you?" I asked.
"I suppose it would be based on where the mind was," Ron replied.
"Exactly – now what if you swapped with a woman?" I asked.
"Then I would be a man in a woman's body," agreed Ron, "but it's not quite like that for Jessica – there was no swapping here."
"True, but you can get the picture," I continued, "now what if instead of swapping, your mind would have been born into a female body?"
"I'm not sure – wouldn't I just learn to accept my body and grow up as a woman?" Ron countered.
"Perhaps, and there may be some who do," I said, "but the male and female brains are just not the same."
Ron laughed and interrupted, "you don't have to be an engineer to figure that one out!"
I laughed with him and went on, "The point is, that for some people, like Jessica, they realize early in life that something isn't quite right and act like a girl even though they have the body of a boy."
"Yes, I remember some of those things happening. We took Jeff, er, Jessica to our doctor and he said that he would probably just outgrow it – but he, er, she didn't."
"That is what doctors call gender dysphoria," I explained, "it would be much easier if they just knew from the start that their minds and bodies didn't match, but usually they are just really confused, along with the rest of the family."
"This is all so new to me," Ron said, "I know this has been going on forever, but it has been so hushed up and heaped with shame."
"Are you ashamed of Jessica?" I asked.
Ron was silent for a bit, and his eyes seemed to water. I did not want to embarrass him, so I looked away.
Finally, he said, "I am most ashamed for being so hard-hearted, and rejecting my own child when they most needed my love and understanding."
He called out to Jessica, who what been visiting with the other girls. When she entered the room, Ron stood up, walked to her and put his hands on her shoulders. He looked into her eyes and said he loved her, and was sorry for making it so difficult for her.
He continued, "You are one really beautiful woman Jessica – no wonder Bill is in love with you!"
This seemed like a really good time, so I decided to ask the question I most feared, "Yes, I am in love with her and have asked her to marry me, and would like to ask your permission as well."
"She is a grown woman," Ron said, "why ask me?"
"Because family is important to both of us," I replied, "and I want us to be married with your blessing."
Ron smiled and said, "You might as well marry her – you've been shaking up with her!"
"RON!" shot Jackie, and we all began to laugh.
"There is still a lot I don't understand," said Ron, "but is this going to be one of those 'same sex' marriages?"
Jessica quickly pulled out her new driver's license and handed it to her father. He examined it carefully and declared, "well if the government says you are a girl, so be it!"
Jane had brought a bottle of Champaign, which was cooling in the refrigerator. She retrieved it and handed it to me to open. I never liked opening Champaign, not wanting to make a mess. I took it slow and was able to pop the "cork" without spraying all over. I poured glasses for all of us and we toasted to our united family.
We enjoyed our Champaign, but especially enjoyed the feeling of good-will that had been absent for so long. Finally Jackie asked about our wedding plans and Jessica and I agreed that we would value their help.
Shortly the grim realization hit us that there were precious-few people to invite, which led to another awkward issue – the rest of the family.
After a few thoughtful moments, Ron said, "the grandparents won't be a problem – they've all grown so liberal in their old age they will be just fine with Jessica.
"But what about the aunts, uncles and cousins?" asked Jackie.
"We have such a huge family, that hardly anybody even remembers all of them," Ron replied, "let's just move forward as if Jessica has been Jessica all along – I'll bet half of them will think they remember her being a little girl!"
We all had a good laugh at that, but agreed that it might just work. Ron turned to me and gave me some fatherly advice, "Bill, why don't we let the women work out the details on this?"
I agreed got a couple more beers and we settled down to watch a football game on TV.
We were invited to stay for dinner and delighted to hear that Ron's parents would be joining us.
It felt great to be accepted into the family and could see that Jessica was on cloud nine!
Ron's parents arrived shortly before dinner. Both accepted Jessica and I without question. Ron said he was glad they were so understanding. Ron's mother took us completely by surprise when she said, "You just need to get with the times – this sort of thing happens all the time!"
At dinner we discussed our plan to invite the rest of the family without telling them about Jessica's transition. They agreed that it would probably work out ok that way.
After dinner we said our good-byes and Ron's father came up to me to congratulate me, saying, "You've got one really hot babe there." I smiled and thanked him.
As we drove home Jessica held my hand then entire time. She shared some of the preliminary wedding plans. Jennifer and Jane would be bride's maids and Jessica planned to ask Lynne, her therapist to be maid of honor.
I realized that I had some catching up to do – finding some guys to stand with me. My family situation would be easy though – they would all think that Jessica was just like any other lovely woman.
"I have some phone calls to make," I said, "it's time that you met my family."
"Now it's my turn to be nervous!" Jessica declared.
"Why?" I asked, "my family will be easy!"
"We'll see," she responded, "most mothers don't think that ANY woman is good enough for their sons."
I smiled and kissed her.
That night we both slept well, rejoicing at the family we now had.
–––––––––––––––––––– To be continued ...
Feel free to contact me with your comments or requests. –Bill (oral_guy_2000@yahoo.com)
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