My New Identity

The capitol grew rank in the summer heat, the humid streets clogged with sweating tourists and rats.  I made a concoction of orange zest, juniper berries and hibiscus petals which I added to my Tanqueray, as this juniper and hibiscus gin cocktail would help me to face the day.  I felt genuine, authentic, and comfortable about my transgender appearance and I was able to accept my new identity, but it was my duty to civilize all the rest of these barbarians who did not understand.  I have always known that I am a woman, even though I was born as a man.  I was expecting to be met with some acerbic remarks from those people who did not know that I was transitioning into a woman.  I needed to change out of my sweatpants, so I could go to court today and have the sex changed on my birth certificate and driver’s license.  I would also have my name changed from Daniel to Danielle.

I hoped this would be exciting and liberating, but I was prepared for the scary and difficult when I gave my friends and family an explanation about my new identity.  I knew that my brother would grin and make endless jokes about my new body, but deep down he would understand better than most of the others, because he is gay.  Should I dress sexy or demure, there are so many choices when you are a lady and I have all these new outfits to wear.  I would like to show off my new boobs, but I don’t want to look like a stripper.  Before when I was a man, I could just grab something that looks clean, not too wrinkled and out the door I went.  I should have taken a course in time management, as this decision process of choosing the right outfit was already starting to bug me.  I checked the weather report and I found something that I thought was appropriate, provocative and it felt exciting.  I finished off my look wearing a scarlet begonia tucked into the curls of my hair.

Written for Sheryl’s Daily Word Prompt – Civilize, for Roger Shipp’s Daily Addictions prompt – Grin, for the Daily Spur prompt – Explanation, for Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie First Line Friday hosted by Dylan, for FOWC with Fandango – Authentic, for August Monthly Writing Prompts – Juniper and hibiscus, for Nova’s Daily Random Word prompt – Transgender, for Ragtag Community – Acerbic, for Sara’s Closet Full Of Notebooks Prompt 309 – Time management, for Paula’s Three Things Challenge prompt words – Sweatpants Court Begonia and for Word of the Day Challenge Prompt – Endless.