M Is for Mandi

"Thanks for that. I'm Mandi, by the way, and yes, you can buy me a drink."

"Shit. Sorry, I didn't mean - oh hell, sorry, I'm not really sure why I said that. It wasn't to pick you up, honest."

"Yes. I realise that."

"Hell, no. Mandi, can we start again? I'm Dave by the way."

"Pleased to meet you, Dave."

The conversation was definitely weird and I didn't at the time realise why. I got my first glimpse of the reason when our drinks arrived and Dave had downed half of his scotch in one go. Clearly he was disturbed. I sipped my vodka and smiled at my latest 'escort'. I didn't realise at the time, it wasn't going to be my last!

Dave looked rather deeply into my eyes. I really couldn't read him, I didn't appreciate why until he spoke.
"Look, Mandi. Is this your first time in this club?"

"Yes, why do you ask?"

"I thought so. I meant what I said, Mandi, you are very beautiful and, from the way you're dressed, looking to hook up with someone. I've never seen as sexy a woman in here. But - you need to know - have you heard of the 'L-for-Leather' club?"

I didn't see where this was going.

"No, I haven't. Why do you ask?"

"It's up the road, towards town, about a hundred yards up on the left. Big red illuminated 'L' outside it. I know there's a few in here but most of the lesbians in town go in there. I think you'll .... "

He stopped, tailed off. Why? Because I'd grabbed his hand and stood up, this time I was the one to lead someone across the bar towards the less-public area. I sat him down and turned towards him. I sipped the drink I'd brought me, deciding that I wasn't going to have another.

"Dave. Thanks for the compliment. But I'm not a lesbian."

He looked at me. He still didn't see it and for the first time that night in the company of a man, I didn't mind that he didn't.

I loved it! I totally loved it!!

He'd not 'read' me as a TV. Even dressed as I was and where I was, he'd seen me as a woman, just about the biggest compliment anyone can pay a tranny. Well, a tranny like me anyway. OK so I was going to tell him, I knew that, it wouldn't have been fair otherwise. But not yet. And Dave was clearly embarrassed.