“Hello.” Tina greeted. “Hi, are you Ms. Kennard?” The blonde nodded. “I am.” “You can go in. He is free.” The woman said with kind eyes. Tina felt like she had died and gone to heaven. This woman was gorgeous. Tina gave her a smile. “Okay, thanks.” She said before walking to the door on the side. She knocked and when she heard a male voice calling her in she opened the door. The man stood up and walked over to her while Tina entered.

“Hello, Ms. Kennard. Thanks for coming.” He told her. “Hi, it’s no problem.” She shook his hand and then walked further. “Take a seat and then we can talk.” Mr. Charles said. Tina did what he suggested and looked at him. “What is this about?” Tina wanted to know. “This is about Marie and her behavior. We have noticed she isn’t willing to do anything with the girls and doesn’t want to be referred to as a girl. She has told her teacher to call her Mario and see her as a boy. When the teacher didn’t agree, Marie didn’t want to participate in the lesions anymore. Can you please tell me what is going on?” The man didn’t sound upset or angry, just concerned. Tina sighed. “I’ve noticed this behavior since she was 3 or 4 years old. Since the moment she could express herself, she has told me she feels like a boy and that she is in the wrong body. I am planning to take her to a gender psychiatrist because I think there is a big chance Marie is transgendered. You also have to know I don’t encourage this. Every morning I give her the choice: to dress like a girl or as a boy and she always chooses to dress like a boy. I also still call her Marie. I refer to her as a girl and her sister Tabitha is the most girly girl you’ll ever meet. But she does call Marie Mario.” “I have never been in this situation Ms. Kennard and frankly I don’t know what to do. She isn’t making any friends besides Edward and Justine in her class. I also know she is being bullied. I don’t want to see any of my students unhappy but this isn’t the way she’ll be happy I think. Maybe you could ask her to act like a girl at school and dress in boys clothes at home?” Tina frowned. “Listen, Mr. Charles, I’ve tried that a million times before but then Marie begins to cry. I don’t want my child to be unhappy. I don’t want my child to be forced into something she doesn’t want.” Tina was getting upset. “Ms. Kennard, please calm down. I don’t want this to end in a fight. I’m simply trying to do my best to help Marie. Maybe you should take Marie to the child psychiatrist and if you are told Marie is transgendered than we can see what we will do further.” Mr. Charles said with a smile. Tina exhaled and smiled a little. “Sure but sir, I just want to make sure that if Marie is what I suspect she is; can she come to school as a he? Will the teachers and the staff of this school treat her like a boy and support her?” Mr. Charles smiled. “Yes, Ms. Kennard, we are a free thinking school and if a professional says Marie is transgender than we’ll except that and talk about that. We’ll do our best.” Tina smiled a little smile. “Thank you. I’ll let you know when I have the results, okay?” “That’s fine, Ms.” He said and stood up, they shook hands and Tina walked out.

She passed the receptionist who smiled at her. Tina smiled back, feeling butterflies in her stomach. She could just see the little card that was standing on the desk. ‘Bette Po…’ she couldn’t read the rest but the first name was enough to let it go as a mantra through her head all day. Bette, Bette, Bette, Bette…

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