Standard warning and disclaimer: All characters are fictional. If you see yourself, buy a new mirror. Contains subjects some people may find offensive. If you are one of them, why are your reading this? Protect your kids. If you are worried about them reading this sort of material, please censor free speech and use a safe surfing program such as net nanny. Or better yet, teach them early and lovingly to understand and accept different lifestyles. Before they learn from bad experiences.

All constructive comments are welcome. Please e-mail to me: Sam@pobox.alasaka.net or samanthas_michelle@yahoo.com

Finally, this is a piece of adult fiction. If you are underage, or if you find it offensive, please go elsewhere. Quickly.

 

Graduation Day                by: Samantha Michelle                 © 2000

 

Too many years, too many fears faced and conquered. I stared at the list of people to whom I was sending graduation invitations. I had invited everyone. Friends and enemies.

My alarm sounded, reminding me it was time to begin preparations. I was glad that the university had a "gowns optional" policy. Forking out fifty dollars for a piece of cheap nylon was not something I relished.

Years of practice while hiding behind locked doors paid off. I had driven several hundred miles yesterday, to a city where no one knew me. The makeover and waxing was expensive, but I was going to look my best today. Things I wanted to do, but couldn’t during the school year. Like my beautiful new nails, and shaped eyebrows. But now it didn’t matter. When I finally climbed out of the shower, I felt my soft, hairless face. Electrolysis had finally eliminated my oh-so-hated beard.

Lovingly I massaged my breasts. A lot of finagling and finding the right doctoral candidate had paid off. Two years ago I became a test subject for hormone research. Tina’s thesis was nearly finished. She was almost guaranteed her doctorate in biochemistry. But for almost two years I had to dress like a pudgy lump to hide my developing figure. No swimming, no sports. But the end, today, was worth the wait.

On went the special panties to keep things best hidden out of sight. Next, the silk chemise, and the light corset. The corset was more for feeling than anything, but it took two inches off my already trim waist, and helped with my posture and walk. The contrast with my "normal" appearance was startling. I was so incredibly glad to be forever free of the inches of padding I had worn to conceal my secret.

On went the stockings, followed by my knee-high formal dress boots. Then the dark green silk slip. And finally, my graduation formal. Of soft, ankle-length real velvet, it hugged my body, and the neckline left no question I now possessed a proud and very feminine bosom. The long, medieval sleeves helped conceal my slightly-too-muscular arms.

Makeup and jewelry followed. I had taken a lot of guff about my double-pierced ears and the heavy rings I always wore. Today I was wearing geometric bangles the almost reached my shoulders. They matched the silver and agate bracelets and necklace I’d made. Sensuous yet formal. I smiled.

Finally I donned my wig. Of all the adaptations, this was the one that bothered me most. My genetic heritage could not be denied, although hormones had stopped the loss. The hair I had was long and healthy. And way too thin on the top. Ten minutes later, with the help of a crochet hook, several bobby pins, and special clips, the wig was on for the duration.

My mirror told the story well. Gone forever was John. The dumpy, eccentric, reclusive student. Standing five-eleven in her heels was a striking, middle-aged woman. JoAnn. The real me. I pivoted and checked for any flaws. I was no beauty contest winner, too big-boned. A big and shapely woman stared back at me. I shivered with anticipation.

For today was much more than my graduation from the hallowed halls of academe. I was graduating from living a life-long lie. Collecting my shoulder-bag, I made sure that the notarized copies of my court documents were inside. Friday, at the state capital, a superior court judge granted my petition for a change of name and gender. At forty-six I became JoAnn Bethany Richards. John Burton Richards ceased to exist. The death of a tortured soul unnoticed in the stream of existence.

Taking the cap from my dresser, I carefully placed it in a carrier. I drove carefully to the gymnasium, knowing my father would be there, and most of my relatives. As would many of the others who had tormented me for my quiet, gentle ways. It was going to be quite a revelation to them all. I wondered briefly if I would survive the resulting clamor.

Jerry and Betsy were waiting for me when I pulled my Jeep into one of the spots reserved for graduating students. They stared as I gracefully climbed out, nervously clutching my shoulder-bag and hat-carrier. "My god, John, you’re gorgeous!"

I smiled at Betsy. "John died Friday. I’m JoAnn to the world from now on." That got me hugged and kissed by both of them. Betsy pulled a thin nylon cloak from a bag.

"As promised, your disguise." When the cloak on, my face was barely visible, and they agreed that there was no way anyone would guess who I really was. The rehearsals had been two days earlier, so until the ceremony had already started, no one would know that fat old John had metamorphosed. At least this year, undergraduate commencement was separate. So there was room for everyone.

From the side of the stage, I looked over the growing audience. I saw my dad. Julia, the bitch of an aunt who had made my life miserable after my mother died, was with him. I let out an evil chuckle. She had berated me incessantly for being a sissy, a wimp, a disgrace to my mothers’ family name. I hoped she’d left her angina medicine at home. When they announced the two-minute warning, I took my seat at the head of the honors row.

Dean Thomas, looking like a flame-crazed moth, was flitting around making sure everything was in place. When he saw my hooded figure, he looked surprised, but was diverted by yet another emergency. After the national anthem, Dean Thomas presented the obligatory speech honoring today’s graduates, and turned the podium over to the valedictorian. Thaddeus was a wonderful speaker, and yet kept his speech to five minutes.

The announcements and presentations to the Doctoral candidates followed. I promised myself I would return next spring to cheer Tina as she graduated. But all-too-soon that part was over, and I became more and more nervous.

Dean Thomas gave his thanks to all, and the regents conferred the degrees. He then gave the introductory speech for the Master’s candidates. I started to shake as he approached the end.

"We are again proud to have several students this year graduating summa cum laude. As has been our tradition, the student who graduates with the highest academic achievements, selected by the deans from among this group, will present a short speech honoring this years graduating master’s candidates." He turned and looked at where I sat, cloaked. "John Burton Richards has distinguished himself by completing three master’s programs simultaneously, all summa cum laude. This is only the fifth time in the history of this institution that any student has achieved such a lofty goal. So with great honor I present to you John Burton Richards, speaker for the Master’s class of 2000.

I was shaking like a leaf as I slid off the cloak, and approached the podium. Dean Thomas’s eyes were stuck open as I shook his hand, and faced the audience.

"Thank you, Dean Thomas, for the glowing introduction. My soft, low voice carried over the PA system to the shocked audience. "I am JoAnn Bethany Richards. Whom until Friday you knew as John Burton Richards. For today is more than my graduation ftom these hallowed halls. It is my graduation from a lifetime of hiding, of fear of persecution, of being a woman trapped in the body of a man. Dean Thomas was unaware of my transition. I alone have chosen today to announce my true self to the world.

But this ceremony is not my forum. It is the testimonial to all that we, the master’s program graduates of the class of 2000, have surmounted the many hurdles we have faced in the pursuit of our goals. There are no master’s degrees here granted out of sympathy. Graduation conveys to the world that we have succeeded. Designation of honors is but an additional recognition of the success some of us have been fortunate enough to achieve.

And honors only reflect achievement. The efforts put forth by each student cannot be quantified. Only within ourselves can we, individually and collectively, state that we have done our best.

So to each and every graduating student and guest here today, and to the faculty of this honored institution, I leave the following thoughts. Peace and freedom are the loftiest goals that mankind can achieve. And the costs of peace and freedom are high." I paused "But the costs of conflict, and of losing our freedom are ever-so-much higher. So I challenge each and every graduating student to apply their hard-won knowledge to better the lives of others less fortunate, and to fight for peace and freedom for all mankind."

I turned to Dean Thomas. "Sir, I believe there are a number of us anxiously awaiting those scrolls so carefully arranged before you." I pivoted gracefully, shook his hand, and saw he was smiling. I left with a warm, happy feeling as I returned to my seat.

Instead of further speeches, Dean Thomas motioned to his assistants, and began reading off the names from each scroll.

My heart almost stopped when he began. "JoAnn Bethany Richards. Master of Science, Community Planning. Summa Cum Laude, Master of Science, Education, Adult Education. Summa Cum Laude, Master of Arts, Education, Special Subjects, Gender Diversity in Education. Summa Cum Laude. I managed to come forward to collect the scrolls. He stopped me before I was able to leave the spotlight.

"I have an additional announcement. Unbeknownst to JoAnn, yesterday the Board of Regents approved a recommendation made by myself and Dr. Vicente, Dean of the School of Education." He turned to me. "JoAnn, on behalf of the Regents, myself, and Dr. Vicente, I wish to use this fleeting moment to announce to the world that you have been approved to enter the University’s Doctoral program in Education, and have been awarded a full Regents’ Scholarship to assist you in completing this difficult task. Congratulations." He shook my hand again, and I barely made it to my seat before the flood started.

I was not the only one to cry. Anna Lee Naguchi, who graduated second, fainted when she was told she was admitted to the Doctoral Program of the College of Mathematics. I stood and cheered when Becky and then Jerry graduated Cum Laude in Psychology. At the end of the graduation ceremony we were dismissed to a thunderous applause. I tried to escape alone out the back door, but was intercepted by Becky and Jerry.

"JoAnn, you made us promise not to let you run off. So you are coming with us to the reception. No one can take away what you have achieved. Personally or academically. Today you are the butterfly. So prepare to spread your wings." They slowly propelled me back towards the gym floor.

I screeched and thrashed as someone grabbed my waist and lifted me into the air, then spun me around and gave me a rib-cracking hug. My friends were preparing to do battle when my huge assailant set me gently on my feet. "Gunter, don’t scare me like that!" He smiled.

"You’re a lot nicer to look at as JoAnn. And congratulations, in case the rest of the world hasn’t already told you." He looked me over. "Never would have figured you’d be one of them, but you came out really pretty." Jerry and Becky were looking very nervous, and almost panicked when two more mountains of muscle came over and joined Gunter.

"Jerry, Becky, meet Gunter, Adam, and Jimmie." They looked each other over warily. "The three gorillas here," "Eep!" I yipped as Guntor pinched my bottom "have been the unfortunate victims of my tutoring all last year."

Adam smiled "What he..." He looked at my cleavage "Well, I guess he’s now a she, means, is that she’s the sole reason we are all still varsity players." He hugged me. "And we always knew John, er, JoAnn was a little weird, but since she never held our being jocks against us, I guess we better not complain." Jimmie looked scared.

"Jimmie, I’m not contagious."

"I don’t know whether to congratulate you, or ask you for a date." I gave him a hug.

"JoAnn, we need to get you to the reception." Becky was tugging me towards the main gym floor. "And you three are welcome to provide support, ‘cause there are a lot of people out there that are gonna give JoAnn a hard time." The three big guys smiled.

"Lead on." Escorted by my two closest friends, and three who were my friends, and I had never known, I, JoAnn, decided to face the rest of the world with a smile. And a prayer for others to be as tolerant as they.

Finis, and a start on a new and challenging life.

 

© 2000
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