The Encounter

By Lauren Renee Hotchkiss
© 1995 Transgender Forum and Lauren Renee Hotchkiss
As far as I know, the following is not a true story. But then again, it may be happening even as I write...

I glanced to my left side casually as I heard Sally seat another woman at the hair dryer beside me. For a moment I was startled; it looked like..., but no, I couldn't be sure, for Sally was standing between us now, fussing with my perm rollers, applying the solution to my hair.

But then the woman spoke.

"How are things going with you and that gorgeous new husband of yours, Sally."

I knew that voice.

Sally's reply was lost on me as I fought to control the panic that hearing that voice again had stirred up.

I always knew that one day I would run into her; had rehearsed again and again how I would handle it, what I'd say. But now that it was really happening, I didn't know what to do.

As if from a distance, I heard Sally speaking once more.

"I've often wondered if you two ladies knew each other or were related, since you have the same last name, but I've never had you both in the shop at the same time to ask before."

The phone at the front of the shop began to ring.

"Well, I'll leave you two to talk while I get that" As my shield left I prayed that she wouldn't recognize me. She looked at me curiously, as if trying to place me, but apparently she couldn't.

"Hi, she said, "My name's Ann, and you're..."

I hesitated a moment before answering.

"I'm Laurie"

"Actually, Cunningham is my ex-husband's name," she went on, "I've been divorced for almost two years."

I fought to control the magazine shaking in my hands as she began to talk about her ex-husband, and the terrible thing he'd done that she could not live with, could not forgive.

"I won't even let my son and daughter go near ...him, now."

I heard Sally hang up the phone, feeling grateful as she came over to stand between us once more.

"Well how are you two getting along."

Not waiting for a reply, she began to fumble in a box on the counter behind us. "Darn, I'm out of #2 rollers. I'll go get some from one of the other stations. I'll be right back."

I'd been thinking about my life during the last two years, while she'd been talking. Before the surgery I'd been required to go through more than a year of preparation. The months of physical and emotional pain and readjustment had been worth it though, I thought, as I caught my reflection in the mirror on the other side of the beauty shop. I looked exactly like I'd always hoped that I might.

I began to feel the tears -- were they of joy or sadness -- form in my eyes and run down my cheeks.

"Did Sally say something about your having been divorced two years ago too."

"Y-yes"

Hearing the tone in my voice Ann turned to me and said, "Don't I know you from somewhere dear."

She was giving me that curious look again, still trying to place me. I just couldn't stand it anymore.

I turned to face her and said quaveringly, "You should, d-dear," how strange to say that word again. "I am your ex... I was your husband....once."


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