“Hey, Mom?” I stood in the doorway of her… well we called it an office but really it was just an unused bedroom mom put her stuff in. She was sitting at her desk, typing away. Somehow she managed to get a from home job working for an insurance company covering oddity damages.

“Yes sweetheart?” She kept typing away. My oddity skipped generations, so mom only had enhanced senses and multitasking from grandpa, compared to my full shifting situation.

“So… Mx. Eyes invited us to some formal dinner they’re going to, that they got invited to with their family.” She stopped typing for a second after my reveal. Her eyes wide, her eyebrows raised in surprise, before she quickly relaxed and got back to work.

“And when will this dinner be happening, Andrea?”

“Tomorrow at Seven. They invited me today after class.” This made mom slam her hands on her desk and stand up.

“That Dumbass of a gym teacher! You don’t have jack shit to wear, and no time to get you clothes or fancy you up for your first formal event out. Uuuuuugggghhhh. You never went to any such situations so we didn’t get you a suit to wear either, and I can hear you dying inside at the mention of those.” Mom dragged her hands across her face in frustration. She sighed. “When does school let out tomorrow.”

“I think at like 1 pm?”

“That’s six hours. Okay I’ll pick you up right as school lets out, bring a friend along I don’t know what kids wear, I think you’ll have to shift for this one so I’ll have a juicebox and energy bar prepped for you in the car when you do. Ugh I can’t believe this I was expecting Prom to be your first formal event or like a holidays dance, not a random party. Could you refill my coffee mug for me sweetheart? I’m gonna need all the energy I can after that.”

“Oh yeah of course mom, milk and two spoonfuls of sugar?”

“Yup, thanks hun.” I walked over to mom’s desk to grab her mug, swiftly making my way to the kitchen.

Cynthia patted my shoulder. “Tell me what’s bothering you, Andrea.” Why’d she have to use her puppeteering powers for supporting dangit.

“Mom’s taking me dress shopping after school for the party tonight and said I should bring a friend along but it’s only been like 4 days and I dunno who to invite.” Cynthia let go of my shoulder after the admission. “Are you going to do that to everyone that looks troubled?”

“Maybe. It works and is very useful. And lets me support. So fancy clothing, huh?”

“Yeah formal dress shopping. First time. I have no clue what we’re gonna be doing or what’s in right now.” Cynthia did a raspberry at that reply.

“Screw what’s in, find what you feel powerful wearing. You need to enter the room and eyes have to look at you and be intimidated. I mean look at your gryphon like features you’d be a goddess in ancient times.”

“Uhm, Cynthia, do you… want to go help me with dress shopping?”

“Uh DUH I thought you’d never ask after that reveal. Plus I know shops for folks with extra appendages. Unlike you I can’t pop these babies away.” Cynthia winked at me at that moment. “I’ll wait with you after class for your mom to show up.” She returned to her desk as the bell rang. The Social Studies teacher entered the classroom.

“Alright class, I’m Mrs. Clearglass, your Social Studies teacher, and I like to start off the school year with a little debate session, a discussion, on a hot topic. And considering that our government officials are currently voting on whether gay marriage should be legal, let’s start with that. Come on, who’ll be the first to talk.” You could hear a pin drop in the classroom after she finished. We all looked at eachother, faces having the classic what the hell expression, before Donovan spoke up.

“Raise your hand if you’re a member of the LGBT+ community in some way or another.” Everyone except him raised their hands, including myself of course, after the initial shock. He rested his elbows on his desk as he leaned forward. “I don’t think you’re going to find many differing opinions on such a situation here, teach. Now myself I’m just a straight cis dude. Which means my input right now is from a position of privilege compared to my classmates. What you just did was in effect going ‘I don’t think Andrea should get to transition, discuss’ and sorry to use you for an example there Andrea. This isn’t like a class with one could-someone-say-the-q-word-for-me-please-”

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“Queer”

“Thank you kid in it.” Donovan leaned back after that, resting. He then gestured towards the teacher to show he was finished. Mrs. Clearglass must have been surprised more than I was. I mean who the hell is so lucky to have a whole class of queer classmates, well featuring the token straight dude. She cleared her throat before looking the class over.

“Oh, uhm, well… I never in my years of teaching experienced this. Definitely a culture shock. I guess I know all of your opinions on that topic then. I usually do it as an ice breaker to figure out the class’ opinions and ideas. I guess let’s switch to something you might have differing views on, lethal force-” The rest of the lesson went pretty much like this. Mrs. Clearglass proposed a topic, my classmates generally went for the merciful, kinder, more tolerant position. I truly hoped we’d all graduate, because our small generation of heroes would be great. When Mrs. Clearglass ran out of political stuff she jokingly shot out a debate on pineapple on pizza. Now THAT sparked the powder keg. Both sides shooting reasons why or why not, and me? I just sat back and watched the carnage. Personal opinion? I enjoy it, and won’t force it on people. I mean, Icelanders got that ferment shark meat dish that the rest of the world considers horrifying, but they love it. Let folk eat what they like. When the lesson finished, I proposed my position, and folk shrugged. The rest of the day wasn’t quite as exciting overall classes wise. Although we did have a first aid course right after lunch.

As the last bell rang, I found myself walking outside with Cynthia in tow. Mom’s car having driven round the corner and now waiting as I approached it. Cynthia spoke up first. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Ptakochka, I’m Cynthia, one of Andrea’s classmates.” She extended her hand and mom shook it as we piled into the car.

“Alright Andrea, whenever you’re ready to shift.” Mom handed me the promised food items and I nodded, focusing. It always hurt to go either way. The pain of something shrinking and breaking and entering you is much different from the pain of something growing, however. It took me a long time because I had to keep fighting through the pain. Ringing in my ears, the sharp stabbing in my back, the sensation of the bird scales on my hands growing back in, leaving only skin in their wake. The cracking of feet and toes shifting. I was panting by the time I was done, downing the juicebox in one gulp and the energy bar in one bite. Mom patted the shaved side of me head, as I was sitting in the passenger seat, and Cynthia gulped, audibly.

“Okay… no wonder you don’t do that all the time. Wow that was like watching an american werewolf in london, sheesh. You alright?” Cynthia placed a hand on my shoulder, and I nodded.

“I’m not gonna switch back until tomorrow, but this is better for shopping. Sorry, maybe we’ll use your store when it’s just a trip to the mall to hang and shop?” I placed my hand on hers and she smiled at me.

“Yeah, that sounds nice. You okay for tomorrow after you shift?.” She sat back and buckled up, me following suit.

“Mom?”

“Of course you can go hang out at the mall with friends tomorrow hun, I just need to figure out your budget for it.” Mom drove away from the school right after saying that.

Okay fuck I was overwhelmed even before we went inside. The atmosphere, the people in the mall, the worry they were going to figure out I was a trans girl. The confidence I had of passing on day one of school had been thoroughly shattered by the teachers and the first nurse. Luckily, mom knew this, and Cynthia recognised this. “Hey Andrea if you’re overwhelmed I could like, puppet you through so you just sit back?” She held out her hand for me to grab. I looked down at it and did so, feeling myself lose control of my limbs, standing upright. There was a second of panic there as I adjusted. It was like sleep paralysis, except my limbs were moving. “I’m keeping your head and voice free so just speak up if something catches your eye.” I nodded at her as she lead me down the aisles, mom walking next to us.

“So what you got puppeteering powers?” Mom asked, stopping at a rack and looking through it.

“Yeah, pretty much, either I hold them or I touch them and give simple commands. Like Hug Mom.” Cynthia let go of my hand, and I felt my body quickly walk towards mom to give her a hug. “You need that Andrea, relaaaax, you’re just like any other girl here. Well no your oddity is pretty awesome, your hairstyle too, but you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, yeah I do, thanks Cyn. Hey, that one looks nice.” I let go of the hug and grabbed the dress that had caught my eye. Yes. This one would do. This one would do for sure. I quickly skipped over to the changing room to try it on. Yeah, I was getting this one, no questions asked. “Hey mom, I found what I want to get!” I stepped out of the changing room to an approving nod and a wolf whistle. Succubus Whistle? Gosh Darnit Cynthia. I blushed slightly, before changing out of it and paying for it.

“Well we got about 5 hours left until the party starts, more than enough to practice stuff and style your hair.” Mom petted my head and I hummed. This was going to be fun.