WereWoman Read Online Free Page A

took Molly inside. “Mom, my friend Molly missed the bus, and I told her—”
    Mom assessed the situation instantly. She had never said so, but I knew she was a bit wary of my close association with Bear, maybe fearing I was going to turn out gay. I was with a girl! “Of course. Get in the car.”
    â€œIt’s so wonderful to meet you and Bear,” Molly confided as we rode in the back seat.
    â€œWe’re glad to meet you too.” That was about all I could say, because of course my Were nature was secret from my parents, as Bear’s was to his folks, and surely Molly’s to hers. We all instinctively knew that we could reveal ourselves only to our own kind.
    We arrived at her house in the suburb. “Thank you so much,” Molly said to Mom. Then she quickly kissed me on the cheek and got out.
    I was eleven, too young to date. Theoretically too young to love. But that kiss electrified me. I had an instant crush on Molly.
    Mom had seen it in the rear view mirror. She said nothing, but did not disapprove. I had a girlfriend. No one teased me about it, maybe because that would annoy Bear. No one teased Molly either, maybe for the same reason. Bear was the toughest boy in school, and girls admired that.
    Both Bear and Molly worked with me to find my Were-form. First I had to find my Name. I struggled, and finally centered on Luv, maybe because I loved Molly and Bear, in different ways. I repeated it endlessly, concentrating on changing, while they urged me on. And finally it happened: I felt the shift beginning. I hastily got out of my clothes, knowing they were an impediment, not caring that Molly could see me naked; she understood absolutely, and had been naked before me when she Changed.
    And I became—a girl. Both Bear and Molly stared. Then they both felt me, thinking there was some mistake. But it was true. I lost some height and got broader across the hips, and my legs filled out somewhat. I did not have breasts, but I had lost my penis and formed a vulva. I was definitely female.
    â€œThat’s why you’re odd!” Bear said. “Maybe a girl is a different kind of creature.”
    â€œIf Were means man, woman means not-man,” Molly said. “You’re a WereWoman.”
    I looked at her with dismay. “Does this finish you and me?”
    She laughed. “Not at all! Some time we’ll go out together in a forest, woman and bitch. Otherwise I know you, Phil. You’re definitely a boy.”
    â€œI definitely am,” I agreed. “I’m in a girl’s body, but I’m still male.”
    â€œJust as I’m still a girl when I’m a bitch,” she agreed.
    â€œAnd I’m a boy when I’m a bear,” Bear said.
    â€œBut I think you need a little help,” Molly said. “I’ll get you one of my old dresses, next time, and show you how to do your hair and makeup.”
    â€œThanks,” I said weakly. Then I spoke my Name backward, Vul, and slowly shifted back to male. I had accomplished my first Change.
    As a male I was Philemon, Phil for short. As a female I was Philomena, Mena for short. I did go for walks in the forest as Mena, with Molly the Wolf. That gave us both practice in the forms. Sometimes Bear joined us, as the bear. It was great.
    In the course of the next few months not only did I become practiced in changing forms, I began to fill out in the female manner. Molly lent me her old training bra, then a fuller one, glad to facilitate my conversion. She taught me how to be a girl. When we went on a three-person date to a movie, Bear with two pretty if rather young girls, and the only stares we got were of envy, I knew I had graduated. I would not have chosen to be female; I would much rather have been an ordinary wolf like Molly. But at least I was getting competent with what I was.
    Next year Molly and I were twelve and Bear was fourteen, in ninth grade. She was forming into a shapely young woman.