That dream caused Drew to wake up sweating and was so real he even checked that ‘little Andrew' was still there. Of course it was, and he was momentarily reassured, but then began to sob silently. Would he cope if he really did have to become a girl? He didn't know. He could cope for a week or two, sort of. Presumably, a longer period would become easier as it went on, wouldn't it?

“Hell ,” he thought, “I'd have to take those hormone things and grow real tits.” For a moment that was so surreal, he tried to get his head around it. It might be nice having real boobs, he knew they were sensitive and gave pleasurable sensations. Unconsciously, he was stroking the false ones he had attached to his chest. Then he realised what he was doing and stopped, looking around the room to see if anyone had noticed. He felt his face flush and embarrassment flowed over him like a hot shower. There were more tears and eventually some fitful sleep.

At home his father was having an equally difficult night. After speaking to his ‘son', he called Jenny. She was busy and the conversation was brief. “Hello love, I'm a bit worried about Drew.”

“He's okay isn't he?”

“Oh he's fine, except he's got himself stuck as a girl for the whole of his holiday, I'll explain later. He won himself a new bike in a race, and he hit some bully who had hit his boyfriend.”

“What sort of bike is it.”

“A Specialized ladies' road bike.”

“Very nice. What's this about him hitting someone?”

“Apparently he's got himself a boyfriend, who got clobbered defending his honour or something, so Drew as Gaby bashed the bully.”

“I presume it was necessary.”

“I don't know, I wasn't there was I? It's the bit about boyfriends that concerns me.”

“Why?”

“They're kissing each other, that's why.”

“They're teenagers, life is all about exploring these sorts of things.”

“He's supposed to be a boy.”

“I thought you said he was in Gaby mode.”

“She is, I mean he is.”

“Well then, what's the problem, I'm sure she won't go too far, we've taught her well I hope. Besides, it's not as if she could get pregnant is it.”

“You don't seem at all concerned about this.”

“Relax Dave, Gaby has lots of common sense and Maddy is there to keep an eye on her. I don't approve of fighting as you know, but until we know the full story we can't make judgements. As for kissing boys, we have to accept that it might be a preference or a phase she's going through. I'll talk with her when I come home.”

“Don't you mean him? You sound as if we had two daughters.”

“Perhaps we have, if we do, it's Gaby's decision not ours.”

“Yes I know that and we'll stand by her and all that, but I'm concerned about it.”

“Of course you are Dave and so am I, but these things need to run their course. Look I've got to go, we've got a team meeting. I'll call you tomorrow if I can and I'll try and phone Gaby too.”

Drew's first impression of the morning was someone shaking him. As the movement and voice blundered into his consciousness, he recognised it was Maddy. He didn't really want to wake, but something she was calling to him sounded as if he should listen. Reluctantly he opened his eyes.

“Come on Gabs, your mum is on the phone.” Maddy called. “It's your mum, she's on the phone.”

“Yeah, okay.” Then the eyes closed again.

“Gabs, your mother is calling from Germany, she is on the phone, wake up you dummy. It's your mother.”

Mother and Germany seemed to penetrate a little deeper and the eyes opened again. “Mum, my mum is on the phone.”

“At last! Yes, come on, she wants to speak to you.”

“Oh!”

“What's the problem, come on she's calling from Germany.”

“It must have happened.”

“What must have happened?”

“The pictures, they must have got in the papers. She'll kill me.”

“She will if you don't go and speak to her.”

“What will I say.” Tears were flowing freely down the otherwise delicate features.

“Oh Gabs, you are silly.” Said Maddy hugging her cousin, “Go and talk to her.”

The ‘condemned man' slowly descended the stairs, Carol was talking to her cousin and the tone sounded sombre, “I don't know what the outcome will be. Oh here she comes. We'll talk about it later.” With that she handed the phone to the sniffing Gaby.

“I'm sorry mum.” Sniff, sniff.

“What for?”

“For causing a scandal.”

“Are you? I think you had better tell me all about it young lady.” Said Jenny not quite sure what was going on.

Gaby thus related the story of the race and the fight, and its consequences, the shame and the scandal she had brought on her mother's reputation.”

“So, that's why you think I've phoned?”

“Yeah, to tell me it's in all the papers.” Sniff.

“Well as far as I know it isn't. I phoned to say well done in winning yourself a new bike.”

“Wha…. You mean you're not angry with me?”

“Why should I be angry?”

“For hitting someone.”

“I don't approve of fighting as you well know, and I hope you will respect my feelings and not do it again. It certainly isn't how my daughters should behave is it?”

“No mum.”

“So what's this about you getting to ride a prototype?”

Tears continued to flow down Gaby's face, but this time those of relief and happiness as they talked about the pre-production bike and the forthcoming race. Jenny offered advice to her ‘daughter', which the latter accepted nodding agreement and sobbing at the same time.

“As for this boyfriend of yours, what's he like?”

“He isn't really a boyfriend, I just pretended to annoy the bully.”

“Did he kiss you?”

“Yes.” The reply was rather quieter than the previous part of the conversation.

“Did you kiss him?”

“Yes, but I won't do it again, promise.” More tears rolled down flushed cheeks.

“Don't be silly darling, if you're his girlfriend you can kiss him if you want to. He sounds very nice and quite kissable.”

“Yuch. I only did it because he got hurt sticking up for me.”

“Quite right too. Look Gabs you have a lot to learn about being a girl, so I suggest you let Maddy guide you.”

“If I have too.”

“Look I have to go sweetheart, be good and good luck with the new bike and the race, send me a text of the result.”

“ ‘kay mum, love you too.” Gaby put the phone down and Maddy handed her a tissue.

“Is everything cool?” Maddy asked, concerned about the tears.

“No it isn't, she said it was okay for me to kiss Harry.”

Maddy stood open mouthed for several seconds, then a huge grin spread across her face. “She said what?”

“You heard, it's not funny.”

“You wait till I tell Harry, ‘Harry, it's okay for you to kiss Gaby, her mum says so'.”

“Don't you bloody dare.”

“Gaby, language please. Now are you going to have breakfast before you shower or after?” called Carol from the kitchen.

Drew elected for breakfast which meant Maddy got the shower first. The recent trauma had reduced his appetite so he only had a large bowl of cornflakes and half a loaf of toast with marmalade, washed down with a mug of tea. “How can you eat that much and stay as thin as a lath?” asked Carol.

“Cycling, lots of it.” He smiled back, Carol wasn't in any way overweight but she controlled what she ate to make sure of it. Maddy was occasionally food conscious, but she had a lovely figure. It was very similar to his, especially with the breast forms attached, but that was a road he wasn't going to cycle down, even if he knew it in his heart of hearts.

“I have to go and see the garage today, Joyce is going to take me. You can come or do your own thing.”

“What does Maddy want to do?”

“She said she didn't mind. The rain has stopped now and it looks as though it will be nice again.”

“Can we go out on the bikes? I thought I'd like to find out a bit more about this race on Saturday if we're still here.”

“I can't see them doing the car much before then, so I suppose if you want to test the bike you can.”

“Aunt Carol, you are the best.” Drew jumped up and gave her a tight hug.

“Gaby, please show a little restraint. Remember a bit of decorum young lady and no more fighting.”

“I promised dad I'd be the perfect daughter, emulating my mother. It will probably kill me.” This was said in a sotto voce and with eyes tightly fixed on the floor, there were the beginnings of tears forming. “Why does everyone want me to be a girl, Aunt Carol?”

Comforting him with a hug she said softly, “They don't sweetie-pie, but you are stuck in the role for a few more days aren't you?” She felt rather than saw him nod a response. “And lets face it, you are good at pretending to be a girl, and a very pretty one. Apart from your undoubted prowess on a bicycle, which is unusual in a girl, they would hardly be letting a boy test this bike on Saturday would they? It is a ladies' bike isn't it?”

“Yes,” he said, as a tear dripped off his nose and onto Carol's hand.

“As a boy you are a champion, that's been proven. As a girl you can relax and have some fun. It was important to beat that bully boy yesterday, and you did making the humiliation greater. So from now on, all you need to do is have some fun. You don't have to win all the time, being a girl means sometimes allowing other people to have fun too.”

“Do I stop other people from having fun then?” another tear dripped from his nose.

“No of course you don't. I'm not sure what I'm saying really, except to lighten up. You don't have to be Jenny Bond's child unless you are racing. She is big enough to safeguard her own reputation, so just enjoy yourself a bit. Does that make sense?”

“I think so. I'd best go and shower.”

As he showered, the breast forms made him very aware of his temporary role. He washed around them. Maybe having his own wouldn't be so bad; at least he'd be able to feel something other than a distant pressure. Why did his mum say he could kiss Harry? That was really strange. At the same time he had kissed and been kissed and didn't get struck by a thunderbolt. It was nothing like when he'd kissed Maddy, then his heart soared. Kissing James at the conference and since then being kissed by Clive and now Harry, it was different. Partly it was different because he wasn't really there, it was Gaby and Gaby wasn't real. Or was she? At times in the past week he felt as if it was Drew who wasn't real and Gaby was the authentic person. He washed himself faster, showers were dangerous places they caused you to be naked in more ways than one!

He towel dried and was pleased to don the bra and pants he'd left out on the bed. He was getting more like Maddy each day, ooer! Talking of the devil, she strolled into his room. “So what we gonna do today, practise kissing?”

“That's not fair.” He replied, looking in the drawer for a suitable top to wear with the shorts.

“Alright then, don't kiss me!” Pouted Maddy with a twinkle in her eyes.

“I didn't think you mean….., can I change my mind?”

“ I ‘spect so.” They hugged and kissed briefly, and once again his spirits soared above the planet and round the solar system. Maybe he did need to kiss Harry and see if it happened then. That needed further consideration.

“So what we gonna do then?”

“I'd like to go and find out more about this race on Saturday; Aunty Carol has said I can take part in it.”

“Okey-dokey. How we gonna get there?”

“We can cycle or catch the bus.”

“Bike it?”

“Yeah, I'd like that.” As Drew said this, the doorbell rang, it was Joyce for Carol and with her were Harry and William. Drew muttered something under his breath, but continued putting on the makeup at which Maddy had pointed.

The girls descended the stairs, and Maddy with a touch of mischief embraced both boys and pecked them on the cheek. She turned around with twinkling eyes and stepped aside for Gaby to do the same. She did, after giving Maddy one of her looks. She had been practising them for a couple of days now, having watched Maddy more carefully, after all she was a past master at them. Maddy momentarily sniggered, Gaby really was getting the hang of this girly stuff, she would have to be careful or granny would be learning how to suck eggs!

“We heard you were riding into Weymouth, can we tag along?”

“If you want.” Said Gaby shrugging her shoulders. She looked at Harry, the bruise on the first eye was fading but the other was now slightly discoloured. She gently held his chin and touched the bruise, “Does it hurt?”

“Not much,” he lied, she was touching him! “You can kiss it better if you like.” Aware that Maddy was stifling a snigger, Gaby decided to call the bluff and lightly pecked him on the bruised area. “Doesn't hurt at all now,” he triumphed.

“We're off now kids. I don't know how long we shall be. Can you sort out your own lunch?” They all nodded in response. “Have a nice time and be careful on those bikes. See you later then.” With that the two women left in Joyce's car, an old Ford Fiesta.

The teens, having each checked they had some money, left too. Maddy had passed Gaby her little bag with its little purse and her make up inside it. She also was responsible for the key to get back in.

Helmets on, and Gaby added cycle mitts, rarely riding without them, then it was out with the bikes from the garage, Maddy's rented Giant, Gaby's Specialized, and the boys jumped on their bikes too. Half an hour later they coasted into Weymouth, and made their way to Matt's shop.

“Hi Gaby, Maddy, boys,” called Tim. “Come to see the pictures?” He called them up on the computer; the start and finish were in video. The finish was especially good, and he'd also managed to take some single still shots. How they didn't know, but the one of Gaby winning by a wheel, and sprinting between the other two were brilliant. “We're going to use these two for some publicity shots. I'm tempted to get one of your mum and call it ‘Queen Jenny' then I could put these alongside and call them ‘Princess Gaby', what d'you think?”

Gaby was blushing and shaking her head. “Do they need to be labelled at all? I mean, I'm wearing like my name on my shirt, and the name of the bike is clear, so is your logo. Isn't anything more, like excessive?”

“You could be right. That's certainly a thought, if they're big enough people will be able to see all that, and if we use them in any leaflets, we could just name you and the race. I'll talk to Matt.”

“Where is Matt?” Asked Maddy, “I thought we came here to talk about the new bike.”

“That's where he is, he's gone to Southampton airport to get it. So you going to ride it for us?”

“Looks like.” Answered Gaby.

“Thought you might. It is tempting. Usually they give the job to some oik from a cycling mag, but as most of them are men, we managed to pull this one. There will be a chat with someone from Cycling Weekly or Cycle Sport , just to get your opinion of the bike, I hope that's okay.”

“I s'pose so. So when do I get to try it. I'm surely not going to ride it for the first time in the race?”

“No, course not. However, given its value, I think Matt intends to ride with you during some training runs. Is that okay?”

“Sure, maybe Maddy could come too on my bike.”

“I'm sure that would be fine with Matt, having two pretty girls with him, just make sure you don't show him up too much. He's an old fart I know, but leave him a bit of pride.”

“I don't know about that,” Maddy said, “I'm not sure I'm up to riding with those two.”

“Course you are Mad,” chorused the others. “In fact we could come as well.” Added Harry.

“You've seen the wunderkind in action, are you sure you're up to it? I've ridden with her several times and I know I'm not.” Said Maddy, seriously challenging Harry's idea.

“We'll see.” Quipped Gaby trying to pour oil on the troubled waters, but feeling unsure of the outcome. To put the bike through its paces needed a bit of space and time. It was likely to be fast, faster than the bike she was already riding and probably as fast if not faster than Drew's bike at home. Maddy would struggle to keep up, Matt possibly might. However, it wasn't about a race, the tests would be to try it on hills and on the flat, five or ten miles would be enough and the sprint stuff didn't need to go on for very far. So while they would struggle to keep up, it wasn't a race. If it was, they'd be dead in the water.

“I'll do you some copies of the pictures, and if you have your mobile, I'll give you a bell when Matt gets back.”

Maddy had hers, so gave her number. They left the bikes at the shop and wandered the half a mile or so into Weymouth. They stopped at a newsagent's shop when they saw the newsboard outside. ‘ Race won by local team. After race fracas, exclusive pictures.”

“Oh no, it's happened!” exclaimed Gaby, who felt a sudden void in her solar plexus area.

“What has?” asked Harry, then saw the board. “Oh.” The others gathered to see. “I'd better get a copy and see what they've written.” Volunteered Harry.

“Oh God Mad, what am I going to do?” said Gaby starting to tremble.

“It'll be all right, just wait and see.”

“I don't think I can face it, my mother will kill me. Where is Harry? It shouldn't take this long to buy a paper.”

“Relax, there's probably a queue.” Said Maddy trying to comfort her cousin.

“I can't stand it. I feel sick.” Gaby rushed off to a nearby green space and was heard vomiting behind a bush.

“You alright Gabs?” Asked a breathless Maddy from the other side of the bush.

“Ugh let me away from here.”

“What's the matter?”

“There's several old syringes behind there. They could contain all sorts of diseases.”

“Come on Gabs, let's go sit over there on the seat and wait for the boys.”

They saw the boys approaching, Harry had a paper in his hand and William was carrying some drinks. They were laughing and joking as they walked towards the girls. “What are they laughing at? Do you think they know the truth? Oh God this is too much.”

“Stop worrying and wait until you see what it says.”

“It's alright for you; you've got nothing to hide.”

“Neither have you so stop worrying.” Said Maddy through a smile she beamed at the boys.

“You okay Gabs?” asked Harry sitting next to her, William sat alongside Maddy. “Give her a drink Will.”

“Orange or cola?” asked William. Gaby opted for the cola.

“The pictures are brill.” Said Harry.

“Oh no!” thought Gaby.

“Apparently there was a race in Weymouth on Saturday which ended in a big fight. Six people got arrested.” He was laughing. “Silly buggers.”

“Is there any mention of my race?”

“Only this bit entitled, “ Like Mother, like daughter!”

“Lemme see.” Gushed Gaby, grabbing the paper. She scanned the page and there was the headline with a picture of her stood alongside Matt. The logos on the shirt were all easily readable. It said, “ Gaby, daughter of World Champion cyclist Jenny Bond, wants to emulate her mother by becoming a cycling champion. She showed just how she might just do it by winning the Wimbourne 25, despite stiff opposition from local and other invited riders. The nail biting climax, won by Gaby, incidentally the youngest entrant and first female winner, was the most exciting in years.

Speaking to our reporter Ed Cooper, the beautiful teenager modestly regarded her win as a day's work, but was excited to be asked to ride a new pre-production bike from the US manufacturer, Specialized, which bikeshop owner Matt Davis has managed to borrow from its makers.

‘We got Gaby to ride for us in the Wimbourne race because we felt she had the talent to do very well, and to encourage other young women to ride in races. It isn't all for the tough guys like Lance Armstrong, and like her mum she showed that the fairer sex can also do well. I think she handled the race as well as her mother would have done. So we've asked her to try this new bike, which is one of only half a dozen in the world, and to race it on Saturday in the Dorwey 25. I think she will do very well, and she likes to win.”

Does Matt feel she could copy her mother's achievements? ‘Without a doubt we are looking at a future national and possibly world champion.' Praise indeed, why not come and watch this Echo sponsored race, and see Gaby and the new bike taking part.”

“You're a star Gaby Bond.” Said Harry planting a kiss on Gaby's cheek.

“But I told them I didn't know if I would race.” Gasped Gaby.

“Matt knew you wouldn't be able to turn down an opportunity like this, so did I.” quipped Maddy, smiling. “So the nerves about the squabble were unnecessary.”

“I s'pose.” Admitted our heroine.

“It's your guilty conscience.”

“Eh?” Gaby looked puzzled.

“She has a dreadful secret.” Maddy was grinning from ear to ear; surely she wasn't going to blab.

“Tell all.” Urged William.

“Well it's…..” Maddy looked at Gaby who was looking very agitated. “…She's in love with David Millar.”

“Who?” echoed the boys.

“David Millar the world champion time trialist. She has a poster of him by her bed.” Relieved that Maddy was doing a wind up, Gaby started to relax. She felt exhausted, and a few minutes later was leaning against Harry's shoulder and drifting off to sleep. Harry felt honoured to be used as a pillow by his love, and he put an arm around her as she snuggled in tighter and drifted deeper into her slumber. Maddy and William nipped off to get some sandwiches from a local shop while Harry sat smirking at his good fortune, to be alone with the girl of his dreams even if she was fast asleep.

He contemplated her sleeping face; she was very pretty with delicate features and lightly tanned skin. He could see her long shapely legs, which he found hard to believe could power a bike like they did. But then girls always were an enigma to Harry. Maybe that bloke was right when he claimed men were from Mars and women, Venus. They seemed as if they were from different planets.

He looked at the sleeping beauty in his arms. How could she know how he felt, she was a girl and he was a boy, they seemed to be very different in so many ways. Boys seemed to do sport and things girls seemed to do fashion and makeup. Boys had fights, girls did emotions. They even spoke differently, although Gaby didn't seem as different in her speech as Maddy. Maddy was really girly, Gaby had a bit more … what was the word he wanted, spunk. That was it, she had more balls. In the midst of his reverie, the others returned with freshly made rolls.

“Wake up sleeping beauty.” Called Maddy, shaking Drew's arm.

Drew was miles away, Lance Armstrong was nearly at the top of the mountain and Drew was gaining, he put on a spurt and just as Lance was in his sights, Maddy woke him up. “Whassup?” he said rubbing his eyes and smearing mascara all around them.

“You look just like a panda.” Said Maddy, smiling at him.

“Wha?”

“You have just smudged make up all around your face.”

“Oh no. What shall I do?”

The two boys looked on bemused as Maddy took charge. She produced a pack of tissues, then holding one against his mouth said, “Lick.” Gaby did as instructed and Maddy did her best to clean up the mess. After which she handed Gaby her bag, and told her to do repairs.

Harry watched intently as Gaby, with enormous concentration and equal amounts of self consciousness reapplied the mascara. “I don't know how you can put that stuff on your eyes without poking one of them.”

“It's easy, innit Gabs. It just takes years of dedicated practice. That's right isn't Gabs.” Gaby who had her mouth open while trying to avoid damaging her corneas just made a ‘uh-uh' noise, but it could have been anything. “Why do you wanna try some?”

“No thanks.” Said Harry, trying to sound as butch as he could.

At this point, Gaby, who had finished risking serious ophthalmic damage, joined in the boy baiting. “Here let's see what you look like with a bit of massy,” and lunged towards William, who jumped up and ran away pretending to be scared.

Gaby, mascara applicator in hand stepped towards Harry, who sidestepped her, put his arms around her pinning hers to her side, then kissed her on the mouth. Astonished, she stood still while he did it. Something inside fluttered, it wasn't too bad. Or was it?

“It's okay Harry; her mum said she could kiss you.” Called Maddy from a safe distance.

Bewildered, because something bad had happened, or had it? Perhaps confused because something bad hadn't happened, or had it? Was this two boys kissing, or a girl and a boy, or a boy and someone he thought was a girl.

Harry was on cloud nine. He'd got up the courage to kiss a girl on the mouth and it felt so good.

Inside the bear hug, Drew was becoming assertive, “let me go.” He wailed.

“If you give me another kiss.” Said Harry.

“Get stuffed. I never want to see you again, now let me go.” At this tirade Harry's beaming smile rapidly faded. He released the girl and stood back as she stormed off and sat crying on the bench.

“I'm sorry Gabs, I didn't mean to…..”

“Get lost!” she snapped back, turning her shoulder against him.

“Oh damn!” thought Maddy, “ just as it was getting interesting, Drew came back. Now I'll have to calm him down.” “Give us a few minutes.” She said to Harry and William, who did as they were told and wandered off round the block.

“You dickhead!” snapped William, “You've probably blown it for both of us to have a snog now.”

“I thought she was up for it.”

“Well you were wrong, you moron.”

“Okay, okay I'm sorry. I just wanted to kiss her; I hoped she'd want to kiss me.”

“How about asking her next time?” snapped William again.

“So you've had your first kiss as a girl.”

“No I haven't, that was Clive, remember?”

“He was pissed as a newt, so it doesn't count.”

“Oh, I thought it would.”

“So what was it like?”

“Horrid.”

“Really, I thought you were enjoying it.” Continued Maddy.

“I nearly did for a moment, until….”

“You realised who was what, and Drew came back.”

“Something like that.”

“Pity.” She almost sighed at him.

“Why?”

“Because then you might understand what being a girl really feels like.”

“I don't know if I want to.”

“Why not, in few days Drew will be back full time, and the opportunity might never happen again.”

“Why do you seem to want me to kiss a boy, I'm not gay.”

“Gabs, I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do, but you have been like so girly this last week or so, and I thought it would be an opportunity to experience something you might never do again.”

“Too right!”

“I mean, what harm would kissing him do. We're going home in a few days time. He can't go any further, because he can't, or you can't anyway. The biggest danger is you might like it.”

“I don't want to. Okay, I don't want to.”

“All right. But at least accept his apologies. He misinterpreted your body language, that's all.”

“Whadd'ya mean?”

“You were fast asleep cuddled into him, head on his shoulder.”

“What?”

“It's true, so what was he supposed to think? It hardly told him to pee off did it?”

“I was asleep cuddled into him?” Drew said this with almost a glazed look in his eyes.

“Yes, I told you.”

“Geez, I'm gonna have to get back to being a boy soon, or I'm in deep doo doo.”

“What do you mean?”

“I'm turning into a girl. Geez, Maddy! I'm turning into a bloody girl.”

(to be continued)

Angharad ap Gwilym 24.07.05 © 2005
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