"Thankyou!"I was sitting alone in the classroom, in the middle seat of the frontrow, when Mrs. Hall returned. She'd stepped out for a few minutes,say...ng she had something to attend to in the school office. She sat ather desk and started reading through a booklet she'd brought back. Iwas looking through the hand-out on my desk when the bell rang. Ialmost jumped out of my seat. I'd been concentrating so hard, trying topush the fears out of my mind by studying the hand-out. But it was. After my 5th class her family moved to another city as her father got transferred. After that she used to visit her grand parents who lived in my city. Then we both used to meet. After one year her grandparents also shifted to her place. Then she started to remain in her city Hyderabad. I too started to remove her from my thoughts.Then I completed my schooling, plus two and doing my graduation. One day in my college, announced that they are conducting a fest. I took it easy as fests are common. Inside the building, they took an old, noisy elevatorto... wherever. Then she felt waxed hardwood underfoot. Shesmelled cigarette smoke; someone else was there. How many? Heleft her standing, alone. Suddenly he yanked at the plastic,which tore between the holes and settled around her feet, leavingher utterly exposed. Someone clapped softly. He turned her around, to display her. "Bend over. Touchyour shins." She complied, embarrassed, and she felt a finger,wet with lubricant,. Mother was correct ofcourse, I should have been born a girl.Mother had me wait in her bedroom when my sister arrived home. I keptadmiring myself in the mirror during this time, I twirled and I danced, Iloved the rustle my petticoat made when I did this. I became lost in themoments because when I turned around I saw mother and sister standing inthe doorway. I am not sure how long they stood there but they did witnesswhat I had been doing. Mother and sister were both smiling, obviouslyenthused.