Archive-name: Changes/bates27.txt
Archive-author: 
Archive-title: Joe Bates' Story- 27


                   The 27th entry of the Joe Bates Story.

     When Joe arrived back at Linda's there was no one home.  Linda was still
at work. He wanted to call Jay and find out if he would be able travel to
Minneapolis with him tomorrow. He'd also need to go shopping, since so far he
had nothing but warm weather clothes. It was still chilly in Minnesota, and
Joe would need something to keep warm.

     Joe went straight into his room and kicked off his shoes. Now, he hardly
noticed walking with the heeled pumps, but when he took them off it felt very
good. He rubbed his tired feet through the nylon of his pantyhose.

     He lay back on the bed and grabbed the phone. He punched in Jay's number
at work, and waited for his secretary to answer.  When she did, Joe asked for
Jay and was immediately put through.

     "Hello. What can I do for you, Joe?" Jay asked cheerfully. It was plain
that he was glad to hear from his friend.

     "What are you doing tomorrow, pal?" Joe asked. "Can you get away for a
couple of days?"

     "I might.  It's been a little light around here this week." Jay answered.
"What do you have on your mind?"

     "I just came from work." Joe explained. "I have to go to see the
President of Honeybone tomorrow. He's in Minneapolis.  I'd like you to come
along if you can."

     "Is this professional?" Jay asked. "Or do you just want company?"

     "Well, I would like you to help with advice if I need it." Joe answered.
"Of course, who knows what else might happen." Joe spoke the last sentence as
seductively as he could.

     "Oh yeah?" Jay answered in mock excitement. "I can hardly wait." Even
though he was teasing, it was evident that he really was looking forward to
seeing Joe. 

     As he thought this, Joe began to feel a little tingle he often had as he
thought about Jay.


     "Be at the hanger at 0600 tomorrow." Joe said. "I think we can make
Minneapolis well before noon. We'll have the 425...you can get some turbine
multi."

     Do I need to take anything along?" Jay asked.

     "Well, bring enough clothes for two days." Joe advised. "I don't think
you'll need any of your attorney stuff. If we have any questions in that area,
I think you'll have time to work it out."

     "Ok." Jay said enthusiastically. "What are you doing this evening?"


     "I just gotta go shopping." Joe answered. "It's still kind of cold there,
and I don't have any warm clothes that fit."

     "I was going to invite you to racquetball after while. Just a game of
three sets." Jay continued.

     "Yeah, I know I ought to do that too." Joe replied. "I think my butt is
still getting bigger."

     "It looks pretty nice to me." Jay complimented.

     "No. I mean it." Joe went on. "I really do think my hips...my butt are
getting bigger. God, I really don't want to have big hips and a huge butt."

     "Joe, your butt is fantastic looking." Jay said again. "It's got a long
way to go before its too big. Trust me on that."

     "You don't have to feel it." Joe objected.

     "But I will if you want me to." Jay teased.

     "Aw cut it out." Joe whined. "If you'll just stop teasing me, maybe I'll
actually let you sometime."

     "Promises...Promises." Jay droned. "You probably tell that to all the
guys."

     "No, only two or three." Joe said. "I usually just do it myself."

     "I'll bet you do at that." Jay mused.

     "Anyway...I don't know If I can make it tonight." Joe said, changing the
topic back to the original. "Maybe we can do something tomorrow, at the
Radison Plaza. Just bring your clothes and your racket."

     "Ok, I'll do that." Jay answered. "Its a lot more fun playing with you
now. The scenery's sure better, and now I know I'll win too."

     The last statement was probably true, Joe thought. It bugged him to know
that he was no longer capable of the level of play required to beat Jay at
will. Hell, he'd probably be even worse now than last time. He didn't know
what made his play so mediocre now...sure he probably wasn't as strong, but
why did he have to be so slow too?  It seemed his only ploy could be to
distract Jay by getting in front of him and then trying do something
provocative.  Maybe it might be cheating, but now it was the only chance he
had.

     Joe wondered if the Phoenix area department stores, which he knew were
now filled with summer things, would even have what he needed to buy.  He
guessed that he could probably find a jacket, and maybe a suitable coat, but
what about a cool weather dress, or pants? Maybe what he had on would do in a
pinch, but it really did look a bit sunny.  Of course, everybody there would
know he was from the Southwest anyway, and no matter what he could get, it
would probably look different than the local style in Minnesota, whatever that
was. Suddenly he realized he was becoming much more fashion conscious than he
had ever been before.  Was this part of being a girl too?

     He swung his watch around on his wrist and checked the time.  It was
three in the afternoon. Only two days ago his new watch fit rather tight on
his wrist. Now it felt a little loose.  Just more evidence that he was still
changing...all over. He wondered what he'd end up like...how he'd look...when
it all stopped, assuming that it had to...eventually.  It just had to. Didn't
it?

     Feeling restless, Joe went out into the sunken living area. As he dropped
into one of the overstuffed chairs, he noticed the TV Guide on the table, next
to the remote control. He reached down and gathered both of them to him, and
then tucked his slick nylon covered legs under him. When he did, he could once
again detect the increased flexibility the change had given his body. It was
weird, the feeling was like he had just somehow become younger...more
flexible...over night.


     Joe punched on the TV, and then started paging through the TV Guide.
Afternoon were soap operas or Opra Winfrey.  Joe channeled over to Opra, and
when the commercial spot finished, Joe found himself watching a show about
transsexual couples. Although he knew the subject was a popular one with Opra,
Donohue, and Geraldo, Joe now had a much greater interest in the subject.

     One of Opra's guests was a post-operative male to female who was still
living with his/her ex-wife. Seeing them made Joe think about Dave. This
guy-turned-girl appeared to be in her mid thirties, and was actually quite
attractive.  Her 'wife' was probably about the same age, and was rather plain
looking.  Although they were not with them on the show, this unusual couple
said they had two children, the result of their ten years of marriage before
the father decided to seek help for his life-long gender identity
problem...help which had eventually changed him into a quite attractive
woman...probably even better looking than his former wife.

     Joe began to think about his talk with Linda last night. How would she
react in a situation like this?  Sure, Linda was certainly prettier than this
woman, but Joe also knew that Linda thought she wasn't as good looking as he
had become.

     The interview/discussion was amazingly frank, with the couple discussing
such intimate things as their former and current sex lives. Each said that
though things had changed 'somewhat', they both still enjoyed satisfying sex.
It made Joe wonder about the woman. Was she really happy living with this man
she had married...who could now be nothing but her lesbian lover?  Joe thought
about what Karen had revealed to him about how sex felt since her operation.
Maybe this ex-guy was as sexually satisfied as he/she could be...but his wife,
Joe couldn't help but wonder if she was truly happy now.  Then again, maybe
she really was a lesbian...Joe couldn't even imagine what that was like.  When
he was with Linda, even now, he still thought of them as man and woman, even
if what they did together now might seem homosexual to an outsider.
Homosexuality had to be a state of mind he thought, not the physical
appearance of the body.

     The interesting television show made the time pass quickly, and before
long it was four o'clock. Soon Linda would be pulling into the drive. Joe knew
she'd probably look forward to going shopping. She always did.  Before, he had
hated it, and whenever she suggested a trip to one of the malls, Joe would try
to beg off, and usually succeeded. Now, the thought of spending the evening
looking at clothes seemed far less dreadful.

     Joe looked down and straightened his dress. Only a week, and he was
amazed how natural it felt to dress like this...even to look like this.  Had
he unknowingly been a closet transsexual all along?  He didn't think so.
While he had always considered the whole concept of a person changing gender
intriguing, he had never considered it something he would ever want to do.
But...only a week, and here he was, wearing this dress, not to mention the
things under the dress, and it all felt as natural as the way it fit his new
shape.  And even the new shape was feeling more natural every day too, he
mused.

     Soon Joe heard Linda's car pull into the drive. She came in and seemed
surprized to see Joe home already.

     "Hi." She said, leaning over the back of his chair and giving Joe a peck
on his cheek. "Home already?"

     "Yeah." Joe replied. "There's not much happening that they need me for,
and I have to get ready to go to Minneapolis tomorrow."

     "Minneapolis? What for?" Linda asked.

     "The president of Honeybone wants to see me." Joe answered. "I can only
guess what it's about." He grinned thinly.

     Linda walked around to the front of his chair. She looked at him, and
made a face like a big sister seeing a younger sibling wearing makeup for the
first time.

     "What's wrong?" Joe asked.

     "Nothing." Linda replied. "I was just looking at your hair. It looks
pretty good. Still a little short, but acceptable."

     "It only took Sally fifteen or twenty minutes for her to cut it like
this." Joe said. "So you think it'll be OK?"

     "Oh yeah." Linda said. "It will be much better when it grows out some
more, but it's not that bad now. Actually, except for the lighter color, you
remind me of Maggie O'Connell...that woman on Northern Exposure."

     "Not that bad?" Joe asked. "What are you trying to tell me?" He hadn't
seen the TV show Northern Exposure, so he didn't know who the zany but
attractive female bush pilot O'connell was.

     Linda giggled. "Don't worry about it Joe. It really is OK." She said.

     "You don't spread much confidence when you make that face." Joe objected.

     "God Joe, don't forget, I'm still trying to get accustomed to the idea of
you looking like that. The hair is only a minor part." Linda reminded him.


     "You're telling me." Joe agreed.

     Linda went to him, and gently brushed her hand along his cheek. She would
never have done that before, Joe thought. The relationship is changing for her
too.

     "What do you have planned for this evening?" Joe asked suddenly, breaking
the short silence.

     "Oh, I don't know...nothing I guess." Linda replied.

     "How would you like to go shopping with me?" Joe suggested. "I have to
get some warm clothes for Minneapolis tomorrow."

     "Sure." Linda said immediately. "That would be fun."

     "Now why did I just know you'd say that?" Joe teased.

     "When do you want to go?" Linda asked.

     "Any time." Joe responded. "We can get a bite when we're done." 

     "Yeah." Linda agreed. "Let's see...you'll need a coat, maybe a jacket,
some sweaters...the selection probably won't be too good right now." She
thought as she spoke.

     "Where should we go?" Joe asked. He knew Linda loved to shop...even just
talk about shopping.

     "If we leave soon, we'll have time to check the stores at Woodland."
Linda said enthusiastically. She was serious and didn't realize that Joe was
finding it all slightly hilarious.

     "Then I guess we better go." Joe said.


     "Do you have everything you need?" Linda asked.

     "I don't know." Joe replied. "I think my underwear's clean...what else
do I need?" He teased.

     Finally, Linda realized that Joe was teasing her. She her face reddened
slightly when she saw he was grinning.

     "Do you want me to go, or not?" She asked, acting offended.

     "Sure I do." Joe said. "Of course I want you to go."
 
     "Well lets go then." Linda said. "I don't know about you, but I'm
famished."

     "Just let me get my purse." Joe exclaimed, stopping for a second when he
realized what he said. He was beginning to get accustomed to carrying it with
him.

     Joe went to his room and picked up the bag. He came back out and saw that
Linda stood by the door holding hers, looking very ready to go. Joe wondered
why she was so anxious to go shopping, but decided that she was probably
always like that about shopping, he had just never noticed it before.

     They buckled into Joe's RX-7 and drove to the mall. I a way it seemed
familiar...Linda, his girl...sitting next to him while he drove. But in
reality it was quite different. Now they looked like...and in a sense
were...just two women going shopping.

     They quickly arrived at the mall, and Joe parked where he usually did,
away from most of the other cars, and the door dings which went with them.  As
they walked side by side into the store, Joe had to resist the habit of
reaching out for Linda's hand.

     When it came to shopping, Linda was the expert and Joe decided that his
best move would be to follow her lead. She had good taste, she knew what he
needed better than he did himself, there was no reason to do anything else but
walk along with her and try to act as much like a natural lady as he possibly
could.

     They walked into Bullocks first. Linda went straight to the department
that sold coats. Surprisingly, there was still a fair selection, and they were
on sale.

     Linda removed a gray herringbone topper coat from the rack. She handed it
to Joe and he looked it like it was some kind of foreign object.

     "Go ahead, try it on." Linda suggested.

     Joe swung the coat over his shoulders while putting his arm in the
sleeve.  The coat went to above his knees, and the silky taffeta lining felt
so sensuous.  He had almost forgot that all this was going to be a treat for
the senses...a lot more than just trying to buy some clothes.

     The coat fit quite well, and Joe liked the look just fine.  He figured
he'd just buy it, but Linda wouldn't let it end that easily. She had other
ideas.

     She took a very dark blue long length coat from the rack and gave it to
Joe, who dutifully tried it on. He liked the gray one better and he told her
so. Linda put the coat back and selected another.

     After four tries, Joe started to take coats from the rack himself. He had
given up on the idea of getting it all over quickly, and he liked the gray
one, but remembered where it was while he acted like he wanted to try others
on. He wasn't paying particular attention to what he was choosing to try on,
and some of his selections raised Linda's eyebrows.

     "Do you really like that color?" Linda asked incredulously.  

     He was wearing a bright green...a color that even he could tell didn't go
with his skin tones. He grinned sheepishly and put it back on the rack. Linda
shot him a strange look.

     When they had exhausted all possible choices...it seemed to Joe like it
must have been at least twenty coats...Linda wanted to go to another store.
Joe went back to the herringbone topper. He tried it on again. Again he liked
the feeling of the lining.

     "Don't you like this?" Joe asked. He liked it best of all of them, but he
trusted Linda's opinion and wouldn't buy it unless she agreed with his
selection.

     "Well, I guess it's not too bad." Linda said grudgingly. "Yeah, if you
like it, maybe you should get it."

     "I don't want it if you don't think it's absolutely right." Joe objected.

     "No, I think it's very nice." She said. 

     Women, Joe thought. Am I destined to be like that too?

     They took the coat to the sales desk. The woman who had been assisting
them while they trying on the whole rack accepted Joe's credit card and they
walked out carrying a large package.

     Next, Joe needed a dress. On the way, Linda noticed some sweaters on a
rack on the back wall of a department that sold blouses. Joe decided that she
must have the eyes of an eagle.

     One of the sweaters was quite attractive, and they both liked it. Joe
thought it looked a little small, but Linda thought it would fit him. She
insisted that they go into the dressing room and try it on.

     Since Joe was still wearing the olive dress, to try on the sweater he'd
have to take that off completely. He wished he would have changed to shorts
and a blouse before he left. Linda went in the compartment with him, and
watched as he took the dress off. Standing in his slip, Joe slipped the
pullover sweater on.

     "There. See. That's not too bad." Linda said.

     Joe looked down at his chest. The woolen top fit a lot looser than he had
thought, but it did emphasize his bustline  somewhat. He pulled the lower
edge down, which made the front appear even more snug fitting.

     "Don't do that." Linda admonished. It's supposed to fit kind of
loose...sort of bulky.

     "I know that." Joe objected. I was just checking if it looked too tight."

     "Dolly Parton you're not." Linda teased. "It's not too tight."

     "Hey, these things are still growing..." Joe objected.

     "Yeah, sure." Linda said sarcastically. "You don't have to rub it in."

     "Rub it in?" Joe asked. What did she mean? "Oh, I get it. Now you're
jealous of my boobs."

     "Well, they are a little hard to compete with." Linda teased. "I don't
think I've been that firm since seventh grade."


     "Hey, I can't help it." Joe reminded her. "I didn't ask to be this way
any more than you did."


     "I know. I know." Linda said. "It's just that when I see you...the way
you look...that figure, its hard to not feel just a little inferior."

     "Don't forget, when I had a choice, I chose you." Joe told her. "You have
nothing to be ashamed of. For me, all this is new...its just a week old.  In
some ways, both physical and mental, I'm probably more like an adolescent than
a mature woman."

     "That's not helping, Joe." Linda said with a frown.

     "I think I'll buy this." Joe said, trying to get off the subject of his
new body parts.

     "Its ok. It looks and I think it fits you fine." Linda agreed. "What else
did you have in mind?"

     "I was hoping you'd tell me." Joe said, grinning. "I think I should get a
more casual jacket too. I won't be dressed up all the time. And some longer
pants. Maybe even some jeans. I want something to wear besides shorts and
dresses."

     "Ok. I guess you're right." Linda agreed.  "Let's go down stairs."

     The casual misses things were on the lower level of the same store. Linda
knew where everything was. Joe followed her down and the first thing they came
to were jackets. 

     Linda pulled a jade colored poplin jacket with a stand up collar and a
contrasting sort of hot pink liner and trim. It was nice, looking rather like
a ski-jacket, but without the shiny nylon. Joe tried it on, and as he walked
to the mirror, he spotted a suede leather bomber jacket. It reminded him of
his leather A2 jacket at his apartment. That had been his favorite jacket, and
he realized it was probably way too big now.

     Joe tried the poplin jacket on, and it fit just fine. He decided to buy
it immediately, but also wandered over to the rack where the leathers were.

     Taking the poplin jacket off and handing it to Linda, he pulled the suede
jacket and tried it on. It was too small, and he removed it and checked the
size. It said Juniors 11. He wondered what size he wore by that measurement.
His male size had been 40 regular but, of course that was before his shoulders
got like this, and of course...the boobs. He looked at Linda for advice.  She
pulled grinned knowingly, and pulled another two sizes larger. Joe tried it
on. It was much better, but still didn't fit just right.

     "I really would like a jacket like this." Joe said. "But I want it to fit
just right."

     "Don't rush it." Linda advised. "You have plenty of time."

     "Yeah." Joe agreed, realizing what she meant.

     Joe paid for the poplin jacket, and they continued down the broad aisles
toward the misses clothes.

     It still seemed terribly strange for Joe to be buying clothes for himself
in an area so obviously set up for young women. Of course, Linda didn't give
him any time for introspection.

     She pulled some jeans from the rack and held them up to Joe's waist,
trying to judge length.

     "You're legs are actually quite long." She said.

     "Yeah, but I think they were longer." Joe said matter-of-factly. "But
it's my upper body that seems to have changed the most."  With one major
exception, he thought to himself.

     "Well, I think you should try these on." Linda said. "We'll start with
this length."

     Joe went into the dressing room. Now he'd have to remove his dress and
his slip. The little cubical was too small for Linda to accompany him and she
waited outside the door. Joe removed his outer clothes and the slip. He tried
on the Levi's and was amazed how snug they fit his butt. Compared to his male
jeans, they were tight around his now softer buns, and he could feel them
riding into his crotch. The feeling was strange but not unpleasant. The length
seemed OK to him too, but he figured Linda better check that. He didn't have a
shirt to put on, but Linda was in the little secluded hallway to the cubes,
not in the main store, and fortunately there was a mirror there too. What the
heck, he thought, and opened the door and went out wearing only the jeans and
bra.

     Linda grinned when she saw him. The Levi's fit his still developing
feminine figure acceptably, but she thought the leg length should be a bit
longer.

     "Wait a second." Linda said. 

     She looked at the size numbers on the jeans he wore, and went back out
into the store. In only seconds, she returned with another pair. Everything
was the same but the length and Joe thought they fit OK. For now anyway.

     "What about my butt?" Joe asked. "I think it's still getting bigger.
Won't these be too tight in a few days?"

     "I don't know." Linda said. "I can only fit you now. If you're still
developing, maybe you should to wait till you stop. That's up to you."

     "No. I'll take these anyway." Joe decided. "I'll wait a few days before I
get some more."

     Joe found a table with some turtleneck tops. He stopped and looked them
over. Linda watched him hold one up to his chest.

     "Go ahead. Get it if you want it." She said. "You'll always be able to
wear something like that, especially for layering."

     Joe took a couple in colors he liked.

     Nearby, they came to exercise clothes. Joe had always like that area
when he passed through this store with Linda. Now, he looked for a different
reason. Sure, he still liked the way the shiny, snug fitting spandex looked,
but he knew he liked the way it felt too. He looked at each item carefully.

     "Do you think there's something you need from here?" Linda asked. "I
thought you had some workout gear."

     "I have one." Joe said. "But I just want to look at what they've got. I
might find something else I want."

     Joe came upon a short terrycloth robe. It only went to below his butt,
designed as a cover-up for going to the locker room, or maybe with a swimsuit.
He decided to buy that too.

     "You're going to clean out the store." Linda teased. Usually, Joe just
followed her disinterestedly...if he even went along at all. But now he was
filling as many bags as they both could carry.

     "If I'm going to be like this, I'm going to get what I want, and dress
like I want." Joe said.

     "I can't argue with that." Linda agreed.

     They both had their arms full as they staggered out of Bullocks. As they
walked down the mall walkway, they came to the Victoria's Secret. Joe
immediately lugged his many packages inside, with Linda followed obediently
close behind.

     "Something you need here too?" She asked.

     "Yeah, I think so." Joe said, somewhat embarrassed by what he was after.
He might look a lot like a woman now, and for sure his interests were
certainly changing, but it was still difficult to admit to Linda that he
actually liked to buy...to wear...things like the stuff they sold here.

     "What are you looking for?" She asked. "Something to wear to bed?"

     "Yeah, I guess I could use something." Joe agreed. He did need to get
some pajama's, or something like that. 

     Linda went to the rack with the flowery night shirts and the lacy satins.
Joe liked the silky satins, but he wanted plain solids, without lace.
Victoria's wasn't the best place to find things like that.

     He finally agreed to a cotton knit boxer pajama set, decorated with
delicate rose print and matching satin piping. It was a bit more feminine
looking than he would have hoped, but he did like it. Linda found a matching
knee length robe and talked him into that too.

     When he finally had the night clothes out of the way, Joe tried to
nonchalantly wonder over to the sexier panties and bras. He idly picked at
them, checking the size, and when he found a panty he thought would fit him,
he held it up.

     "I think this would fit." He declared, "Do you like it?"

     He felt weird, as if he was now trying to dress to please Linda.

     "Sure. But do you?" Linda asked, smiling.

     "Yeah, I do." Joe said. "I think I'll get some of this stuff too. I do
kind of like it."

     He selected a few things, but Joe couldn't find the kind of thong back
panties he was wearing. Maybe he'd have get them when he went back to San
Diego. No problem though, he did find some other treasures to bring home.

     When they left Victoria's they were loaded with as much as they could
carry. Joe had never been on such a massive clothes shopping trip before. But
mostly, with only a few exceptions, he had actually needed the things he had
purchased this evening.

     They took their packages to the car, and then went for something to eat
before returning home.

     As they sat at their table eating, Linda began to speak.

     "Do you want to stay like that Joe?" She asked. 

     Joe just looked at her and smiled.

     The idea does seem to get more attractive every day." He said. "But I
don't know.  For now at least, I don't have any choice.

     "You just look like you're so happy...I can't imagine you going back any
more. Does that seem strange to you?" Linda wondered aloud.

     "I don't know." Joe said. "I don't know what I want...I really don't even
know what I am now.  But I guess if I do stay like this, maybe it wouldn't be
all that bad."

     "Do they have that equipment set up at your job yet?" Linda asked. "Can
it do what it did to you...to somebody else?"

     "That's one of the things they want to find out, I think." Joe answered.
"I don't think anybody really knows that."

     "What do you think it would do to a woman?" Linda said quickly, as if
afraid to ask the question.

     "I don't know that." Joe answered, curious as to what she was driving at.
"Why, what did you have in mind.

     "Oh, nothing really...I was just wondering what would happen if I were to
accidently get zapped by that thing somehow...you know...would I suddenly grow
muscles...get a hairy chest...stuff like that." She asked, nervously speaking
with short, clipped words.

     "Is that what you want?" Joe asked in surprize.

     "How would you feel about it?" Linda countered.

     "Oh man." Joe exclaimed. "I'd have to think about that one."

     "Think about it then." Linda said. "If you're going to stay like that, if
that thing will reverse me like it did you...then I want to do it."

     Joe realized that she was being quite serious. He hadn't expected Linda
say anything like this.

     "OK. I'll think it over." Joe agreed. "But I hope you realize what your
saying."

     "Joe, I've been thinking about it. For days now." Linda said. "If you
have to stay like that, and we can't stay together like this, then I'm willing
to try anything."

     "But if it can change you, it should be able to change me, too." Joe
considered.

     "If doctor Krell called you...right now...and said "Get over here, we've
figured out how to change you back." Would you run right over?" Linda asked.

     Joe stared ahead as he thought it over. She was right. He didn't know
what he'd do. A few days ago the decision would have been easy, but
now...whatever was happening to him had changed the whole perspective of what
'normal' was. Although he did long for the familiar, old way, he certainly
didn't look forward to losing all this. And...he also knew the longer it took,
the harder it would be to go back.


     "I don't know." Joe answered. "I guess it's a good thing that he don't
call, cause I don't know what I would do."

     "That's what I mean." Linda said. "I can see what's happening...its
written all over your face.  Joe what ever has happened to you, its done more
than change your body. I'm beginning think its really changed you into a
woman. And if it can do the reverse for me, maybe we still have a chance
together."

     "But what if we don't?" Joe asked. "What if we were to sneak in the lab
tonight...and turn the machine on you...and then found we really couldn't
stand each other?  Then what? Do you really want to spend the rest of your
life as a man?"

     "Would that be so bad?" Linda asked. "Until this happened to you, that
was to be your fate."

     "But, look at you." Joe responded. "You're a beautiful, successful woman.
Why would you want to voluntarily give that up for what would probably be a
genetic crap shoot. Who know's how it would turn out? As you yourself told me,
I was probably lucky that all I lost was my masculinity."

     "I don't know...I think I'd make a pretty good man." Linda said.
"Actually it looks pretty easy."

     "Well, trust me, there is no comparison." Joe said. "But I don't know how
it could even work."

     "I guess we'd just repeat whatever happened to you guys." Linda offered.

     "No. That's not what I mean." Joe said. "For me, my chromosomes were XY,
and now they're changed, damaged to appear to be XX. For you...or me for that
matter, to change to XY, there has to be something to create the Y chromosome.
I don't know how that would happen. If it didn't, heaven knows what it would
do to you. I think I'd let somebody else try it first." He added.

     "Then you don't think it's possible?" Linda asked.

     "Hey, I'm hardly the expert." Joe said grinning. "I've only started
reading on the subject, and new things are being learned everyday. We should
give them some time at the lab. Who knows what's possible till we try? If it
does work, hell...we can take turns if we want. Or, be what we want...when we
want."

     "I can just see that." Linda said, giggling. "Having a closet with twice
as many clothes...in two sizes."

     "Tell me about it!" Joe said. He knew what that was like.

     "What do you think could be caused by chromosome damage?" Linda asked,
genuinely interested in persuing the subject further.

     "I don't know...almost anything...blindness, deafness, I guess you could
even grow an extra arm or leg." Joe teased.

     "That bad?" Linda responded. "I guess you're right...genetics are the
programing of the body. So like you said, almost anything is possible."

     "Maybe we could work on it, and create our own design." Joe continued.
His engineers mind had started to run with the possibilities of genetic
re-engineering.

     "Our own design?" Linda asked innocently. "How do you mean?"

     "Well, if we could break the code...then we could figure out which
chromosomes do what. If we knew that we could shape ourselves however we'd
like. There would be no need to have only two sexes...you could take your pick
of the best parts of each. I know what I'd like to rework if I could." Joe
went on. He was on a roll, and his imaginative mind had taken off.

     "What's that?" Linda asked curiously.

     "Well, why choose to be either all male of all female?" Joe asked
logically. "I can tell you from my personal experience that there are some good
things and some bad about both." He said.

     "What would you keep?" Linda wondered.

     "Well. You mean keep from what I look like now?" Joe answered. "Or
before."

     "Whatever." Linda asked again. "If you could choose, what would you want
to look like...male, female, or what?"

     "Gee, if I could choose...I know I'd keep the skin I have now." Joe said.
"I like the way it makes me feel...every thing is much more sensitive now. And
maybe these boobs...they're kinda neat, once you get used to them being there.
But I wouldn't want them to be too big. The way they are now would be OK
though."

     "Well, I guess so." Linda agreed. "I don't know how anybody could ask for
better breasts than yours. But what else?"

     Joe thought a second, then answered.

     "I guess I'd want to keep my muscles...at least some of them. More than I
have now, anyway. I sure wish my arms were a little stronger". He said.

     "That's all?" Linda asked.

     "Well...if it was possible...I wish I still had a penis...at least sort
of...I don't know." Joe stammered. "I mean...I am starting to get used to
being like this, and I guess I don't really care that much about being able to
have sex with a woman anymore...but it would be useful to have a penis to pee
with. Like this, a zipper is useless. You don't really know what I
mean...you've always been like you are...but...maybe if it could be made
retractable or something." Joe grinned.

     "A retractable penis?" Linda said. "You'd want a retractable penis?"

     "If it was possible...yeah, why not." Joe said. "It might be the best of
both worlds."

     "I don't know." Linda considered. "I think if I had a penis, I'd want it
to be like all the other guy's."

     "I don't know...maybe I would too, but keep an open mind." Joe said,
smiling widely as he watched Linda thinking about what she wanted.

     They finished eating and Joe paid the bill. Joe and Linda left the
restaurant and drove home. They carried the packages into Joe's room and
opened them. Joe tried on some of the items for Linda and she critiqued them
and helped him with witn wearing them. Joe found that he now loved to try on
clothes...so unlike the way he was only a week ago.

     Since he had to leave early in the morning, Joe began to prepare his bag
for the trip. Linda helped him decide what to take, and when Joe packed his
exercise wear and racquetball stuff, she wondered why he was taking that.

     "Jay want's to play racquetball." Joe said matter-of-factly.

     "I thought you couldn't play that well anymore." Linda said. 

     "I can't." Joe said grinning. "But Jay likes it that way...It's the only
time he's been able to beat me."

     "How would you like to go to aerobics with me?" Linda asked. "It wouldn't
be so competitive."

     "Maybe...OK I will sometime." Joe agreed. "After I get back."

     When his bags were all ready, Joe undressed and prepared to shower. He
went into the bathroom removed his underwear and washed it out by hand, then
took a shower. When he finished, he hung the wet lingerie in the glass shower
door handles.

     Naked, Joe went back into his bedroom. He found the new pajamas, and
stepped into them. They fit perfectly, and he looked at his image in the
mirror. As usual, there was that attractive woman looking back. Did he want to
stay like this, or be a guy again?  On the surface, the choice was easy. It
was fantastic to look and feel like this. But...should he...was he destined to
spend the rest of his life as a woman, or return to male...the way he was
born?

     Linda, who had been in her own room showering too, soon came back.  She
was wearing pajama's now too, and as male looking as she could find. She had
tied her hair back, making it as short looking as she could. Joe had to wonder
if she was already trying to act like a man just to please him.

     "You try to imagine me as a guy." Linda said with all seriousness. "And
I'll try my best to act like one."

     "You really don't have to do this." Joe said grinning at her. It was
hardly possible to see Linda as a man just because of the way she wore her
hair, or clothes.

     "But I want to." Linda said. "I wish I could really be a guy for you and
if I ever get the chance, I'll change what ever I must to do it."

     Joe took her into his arms. Maybe Linda wanted to act like a man, but
when he held her, there was no way she could hide her trembling femininity.
They wrapped their arms around each other and just held on tightly. Maybe the
feelings he had for her were not the same as they had been, but he
couldn't deny they each held strong feelings for each other.

     "Let's go to bed." Joe said. "I have to get up pretty early."

     "Ok." Linda agreed. "Let me hold you as if I were a male. Try and forget
what I look like."

     They got into bed and Joe set the alarm for four AM. He turned off the
light and crawled under the sheet. When he did, Linda came to him and wound
her hand under his pajama shirt, fondling his breasts. It was obvious from the
way she acted that she was trying to act like he had to her when he was male.
Since she knew what felt good, her touch made Joe's body respond. Not knowing
what she'd want him to do Joe didn't reciprocate, but just lay there and
enjoyed what Linda did to him. Soon her hand found its way into his pajama
bottoms and she began to gently stroke between Joe's legs. Joe couldn't resist
moving his hips in unison with her knowledgeable touch, and soon felt his
breath come in gasps. Linda pulled the sheet away and quite forcefully pulled
Joe's bottoms down to his knees.

     Joe worked his feet out of the pajama's and then spread his legs apart,
giving in to whatever Linda wanted to do. She went down and gently flicked her
tongue along Joe's aching clitoris. He put his hands on Linda's head and
stroked her hair as she pleasured him. Just as he began to feel the urge to
have something inside his vagina, Linda must have read his mind, because she
reacted by placing first one finger, and then another slowly and gently into
his wet vaginal opening. As she worked on his clitoris with her tongue, she
slowly moved her fingers around, making Joe almost pass out with pleasure. In
what seemed like only moments, Joe felt a now familiar warmth start at his
pelvis and move outwards and upwards. He placed his hands on his breasts,
enjoying the feeling from both sides. Joe's legs stiffened involuntarily and
he could feel his muscles rhythmically contracting on Linda's fingers.  Female
orgasm involves your whole body, he thought, as he writhed in pleasure.

     When the climax was complete, Joe wanted to hold Linda in his arms. She
willingly complied and began kissing him all over. When she kissed his lips
Joe could smell and even taste the scent of his own genitalia on her lips.
The familiar aroma didn't bother him, but he suddenly remembered how erotic
the same odor had been when he was male. Now however, it no longer had the
same arousal effect on him. Not that he needed it anyway.

     Joe held Linda and she held him. Whatever they considered themselves now,
there was no doubt that they could still make each other happy. But would the
                               world let them?

                          *************************
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