F Is for Fiona

"Morning, Jackie."

That was all I usually said. She looked at me, not really unsure, she knew me all right despite the long red hair, the make-up and the outfit. She was just unsure how to react. Understandable really. I mean, it's not every day your boss 'suddenly' becomes a trans-sexual, and walks into work in black stockings and high heels, together with all the other accessories. She really couldn't speak. Luckily there were no customers waiting. Jim at the other end of the counter was dealing with a young woman, he really hadn't noticed. I smiled at Jackie.

"It's all right, Jackie. It's still me, you know."

Which really was a rather pathetic way of 'introducing' the new me. I regretted my choice of words as soon as I'd said them. But Jackie thought quickly, she was good at that, that was why I'd appointed her.

"Good morning, Fiona. Nice to see you. Had a good holiday?"

Which was exactly what she would have said to Fred, just the name change.

"Busy, and a bit different from usual!"

Jackie reached out and handed me - my mints. I always, every morning, took a small pack of mints from stock, manager's perk. I didn't have many vices but that was one. She knew this was in one sense the old 'Fred', albeit in radically different packaging, if you like. And the packet of mints was one thing she knew wasn't going to change. I reached out a hand and watched as, red nails glistening a little in the store's artificial lighting just inside the door there, my hand took them. I almost automatically moved my hand down to my suit pocket, then realised. I smiled. Jackie giggled, she had realised. I opened the gold clasp on my handbag and dropped them in.

"Fiona. You look great. Well done," said Jackie, quietly, in nearly a whisper.

And turned to deal with a customer, exactly as she knew I would want her to do. Social chit-chat is OK in the workplace, but customers have to come first.

I turned towards the staff lifts. I could see Gavin, my Assistant Manager, looking towards me and talking with Mary Hodge. She is the Catering manager, runs the In-Store café. I knew - of course - they were discussing - me. I walked up to them.