That woman got exactly what she deserved for poking her nose into someones business without bothering to check adequately first!!!

Diane M (see next) hit the nail on the cuticle; I can only conclude that the young person lied to Her-self.

The ending of the story did not support the story as a whole; an apparent comedy ended as a tragedy.
Jill, rather than Matt, should have appeared at school the next day just to discover what support (s)he had as a girl.
My guess is that she would have had sufficient support to keep going - even her mother was behind her.

Janet,

Your description and actions of the social worker were wonderful.  Too many social workers beleive they can ignore people's rights and break all the rules in the world to take children away from their parents.  At the same time, they tend to ignore the xerious cases where the social workers themdevles might be in physical danger.  Thanks for exposing them.

JANET, YOU HAVE FINALLY WRITTEN A STORY I TRULY HATE. THERE IS NO HOPE HERE. SHAME ON YOU. COULD YOU NOT HAVE GIVEN HIM SOME HOPE? LET HIS FRIENDS BACK HIM UP? PLEASE, NEVER DO THIS TYPE AGAIN, THIS IS YOUR WORST STORY OF ALL.

I have only one thing to say about this story. Tight!!!

Dear Janet,
    I loved your story! I think that you have captured the very essence of the problems that many of us face every day with transitioning, i.e. family and friends that try to help, government agencies that don't need to be involved, right down to the fear and isolation that many of us end up with because of the lack of understanding in the world.  As to the abrupt ending, isn't that how a lot of Gender Identity Dysphoria individuals end their own stories when reality hits them.  They slam the door on their own feeling and try to maintain the status quo with the world.  I speak of these feeling because I am one of those individuals.  

    The story line about a male, that wants to experience what a woman feels like when she is pregnant, is something that many of us that have lived full time would love to experience.  Pregnancy is the one thing that really allows an individual to express gender without fear of reprisal.  It is the one condition that says to the world, Look at me, I am truly a woman.  It is also the one condition that a lot of women, that I have talked with, live to experience because it makes them feel so complete.

    I hope that you will again write stories like this one that show the true reality of life.  Keep up the good work!    

Janet, I'm one of those who felt you were veering too far into formula though I didn't get pissy about it like that awful Seth person did.  And I must say this is different, but for that I take my flowered hat off to you.  It's a change of pace and I hope you continue trying different ideas like this.  You're a wonderful writer with a magnificent command of the language. Your spectrum can be a lot wider.  This story proves it.

PS. It would be fun to see you do a boss-secretary swap piece, with the boss finding happiness and fulfillment (and less stress) as one of the girls.

This is the first time I can say "I didn't like the story".  I doubt anyone so dedicated to a feeling would turn away from it.  I guess I am shocked by the ending and wished it had an alternative ending, as some do, to choose differently.  Hope you don't do this again.  Sorry.

Janet, another well told story.. I agree with everyone else's comments as to your storyline.. I am just sort of shell shocked at your ending.. actually in my own mind I see Jill writing a suicide note and jumping from the roof of the school.. she figuring that with all the redicule she would get if she went full time.. it was better to just end it all.

Jill is a much nicer name than Debra.  I think the switch half way through the story improved ...everything.  All girls (and many boys!) should be named Jill.

This story has a very interesting premise.  I was a little bothered by the pulsating time changes and the on again, off again plans.  Very realistic (as life is mostly unpredictable), but disconcerting.

The notion to TRY 'being pregnant' could very easily be replaced by the pessimistic idea that 'life is what it is and we can do nothing about our plight'.  The same people that readily decide anything is possible... just as readily decide nothing is possible.

The judge was very unique in that he didn't see the entrapment in what Jill and her mother had done.  

The social worker was true to their ilk.  Quick to assume ...most would say that's due to their 'impossible to handle' caseload.  Personally, I think the social worker was too quick to sek action.  She should have tried personal contact a few more times.  Wouldn't she have asked a neighbor of two about the family?

If Matt was like most high school boys he probably liked the idea of dating a pregnant girl ...as she was proven to be easy.  He would have told all of his friends about his beautiful girlfriend and would have been more than a little angry, when his love was a faux(n).

The ending was abrupt and jarring.  William Sydney Porter (O. Henry) did okay with abrupt and jarring endings.  SO... there's no reason you can't use them to emphasize the finality of the decision to avoid his feminine side.  (Haven't we all made that FINAL decision dozens of times?)

All and all I found the story to be an enjoyable read.

Love to you Janet.  Next time you're pregnant, stop by for a footrub and a cup of herbal tea.

Jill  

WOW.  This certainly is not your usual happy ending story.  Welcome to the dark side.  I would have liked to see him stay as Jill and get together with Gabby instead of Matt; that would be a change, but a less drastic departure from your usual endings.  I do always enjoy your stories.

another enjoyable story though slightly different from what I'm use to reading from you.