I Am A CAR! Part Two.

After I took the huge step of coming out, I decided it was best to let my family, friends and work colleagues know, for it would be best coming from me, instead of them hearing about it second hand.

I called my husband, Daniel and Meghan together and sat them down in the living room. I said, “I have something to tell you all,” They looked at each other and Paul said, “Is everything OK?” I said, “Yes, all is well.” Meghan looked very worried and said, “Are you Ill Mum?” I said, “No Meghan, I am not ill.” I looked in each of their eyes, took a deep breath and said, “I have given it a lot of thought, and have decided from yesterday, to live my life as a Car.” Daniel said, “Mum you have my full support,” Meghan said, “You have mine too Mum, love you always.” Paul looked at me and with a smile said, “I always KNEW you were ‘different,’ I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, and now it makes sense.” He went on, “You have my full support too, let us know how we can all help to support you.” It was a huge relief!

I have worked with my work colleguge, some of them for many decades, and some for a lot less. I wasn’t sure how they were going to take my news.

The following day, I asked my manager if I could, “Have a word in private,” She is a lovely Manager, and has always had, an open-door policy. I have always had a good rapport, with Esme.

I knew that by now the many various genders would have gone up again to about 200+ LGBQ+ I knew I was in the plus group.

Esme, who herself is gay and lives with her partner of 10 years, I said to her, “I have made a transition from Maxine to CARmen,” She looked puzzled and said, “CARmen?” I said, “Yes, from yesterday I now identify as a Car.” She looked at me and burst out laughing! She laughed that much that tears rolled down her face. Over the years that I have known her we have had many belly- laughs together. Today was different, I was not laughing! I was shocked. I said, “Esme, the other five Trans downstairs, I have struggled with my dyslexic mind, to remember the new them.” I went on, “You yourselves have had me in this office, and said, “If you keep on misgendering them, and they make a complaint to me, or to my manager, you Will be sacked!” Those were very sobering words, to think, it made no difference that I wasn’t doing it on purpose, but it was really difficult to be looking at someone, and been told to say something other than what I am looking at. I was genuinely afraid, that I could lose my job, this way. To combat this, I tried NOT to speak, or try to speak slowly and think of each of my words, I did lots of smiles instead. I made sure, I stayed Alert and never relaxed, while any of the Trans were in the room with me. It was stressful, it was a challenge, but I began to ‘cope.’ It was a new world. The second I relaxed; I would slip up. Thankfully, none of the trans people ever reported me.

Esme, who over the years had met many LGBQ+ had met most of the different genders, but to be fair to her, she had never met a Trans-Car before! As always, she stepped up to the mark and said, “What would you like me to do, to support you?” I said, “Can you let the others know?” Esme said, “Yes, I will send them all an email and Head Office too.” She then added, “How else can I Support you?” I said, “I will need a new job role,” I went on, “Can I be the new mini-bus?” Esme, who was still thinking of me as a car, burst out laughing again!! Again, I didn’t think it was funny! The old Maxine had gone, now it was the new me, CARman. Esme said, “I’m really sorry, please forgive me.” I replied, “Forgiven.” I sensed it wasn’t going to be easy, for others to accept the new me, if Esme was struggling, what would it be like, downstairs when Esme was not around, on another site or on her day off?

Like how I was with the other 5 Trans, I knew how the others felt now, there would be silence, as they came near to me, stares with their eyes on my shiny new bonnet. There were whispers of “Transformers” and “Can you take me to the shops?”

I did have down days, when I thought no one understood me, it was on one of those low days that I googled to see if there were other trans-car like myself, and bingo there were two others! Truly there is nothing new under the sun, their names were, CARdi and CARport. We met up in a large car park in London, and bounced ideas from each other. It was good to be with like-minded Cars.

My change to be a trans-car, split the rest of my family down the middle! It seemed that those who had gay family members were more sympathetic. Some showed their true hurtful colours. At work it wasn’t like that, like the other Trans at work I was fully supported. A little garage was built for me, in the large carpark of work. A new post was made for me, and I did the sales part of the job, I also did what I have always loved doing, I did the driving, to various places, I often caught reflection of myself, in the shop windows at traffic lights.

Life was Good! I am now a campaigner to enlighten others, because ignorance is not bliss, there is no excuse for it. xXx