You’re the first trans-gendered person I’ve known.”“Probably not,” I replied. “They don’t wear badges, you know.”“Sit beside me, dea....” Mae sat beside her on the sofa. Karen put her arm around her shoulders. “I have amends to make and maybe you can help me know how. You see -- you just turned my world upside-down. Len’s dad likes to say I’m a recovering fundie. And, he’s right. You’ve heard of being born again.”“Yes,” Mae replied.“Well, I was un-born again. I had my own revelation ... that what. A call down to the Sales office was to inform me that Cecilia hadn't shown up either. I could get no answer from the home phone, so I figured there had been some delay with the children that morning and the girls would show up soon.What I was not aware of was that my secretary at that time Myra had been worried. I didn't know that Emily normally informed her if she'd been unexpectedly delayed in the mornings, something that can often happen with children in the house. Whilst I was getting on. “But their smiles promised more, I know it.”After a moment Joseph and Will and Richard, the third companion, turned to Gérard. “Your turn, Gérard.”“It’s not what you think,” Gerard began. “Everyone assumes because it’s the tropics and it’s hot and so people must not wear so many clothes that they’re fucking all the time. That’s not true.” Gérard drank from his tankard. “For one thing, people work hard in the tropics. Doubly so, because of the heat, and I’m not even talking about the slaves or. I thanked him, took a swig of the cold drink. The room was pleasantly warm. I took off my coat, and went to throw it over the chair. He took it from me and hung it up in the cupboard. I stood there, in my short leather skirt and lacy top, all gothed up. He smiled at me. "Relax," he said, "I want you to enjoy this as well." I smiled back, despite myself. I sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm going to take a shower," he said. He took off his shirt, revealing a toned body. He stepped out of his.