So sorry but after reading (up to now) about half of your stories this is the only one that I didn't fully enjoy. Was it me? Possibly. I just couldn't get into the way we went from person to person.

You had a really great base line and a nicely written tale except for the only fault I could feel in it.

If you could write it as you do in your later stories instead of what, alas, seemed to be a script for a play it would evolve into a beautiful short story.

Once I'd figured out a way to read it I enjoyed it.

E.G.

 Janet... This is one of your best stories yet.  The paragraphs in first person were like they were speaking to me personally with their innermost fears and joys, reaching to me for answers that seemed impossible.

 I must read a few more of your stories, I'm sure you understand why.

A heart-warming phenomenon occurs the moment that I share with another person - who I know will walk away from me rather than physically hurt me - the way it is with me... that I want to be - and be recognized as - a girl, female, woman.
It is from that moment on that I will gather the strength and determination to become OUTSIDE what I have always been INside.
But that moment must come if I am ever to be free; I must risk LOSING everything in order to get ANYthing, which for me became EVERYthing... exactly what Andy did in the story.
Try it; see what happens.
I did.

Great story....I absolutely love these types of stories....hoping for more like this one.

This story is creepily close to how I've been feeling lately, I want to admit a similar dilemna, but haven't been able to work up the nerver to mention it properly...  I don't have school grades to worry about, and am a bit older than the protagonist, maybe that's why it grates on me so.  

Anyways, It was a very well written story, I like that you used first person for some of the other characters so that the reader can better understand what they're going through and what they think about it all.  I always enjoy reading your stories Janet, and this was no exception, I wish you the best of luck in your life.

"We'll talk about this after I think about it some more Andrew, but in the mean time I want this crabby attitude of yours to stop. Understand?"

"And I want the right to be myself and to express who I am, without prejudice, and without harassment! Do YOU understand!? All my life, I've had to stuff down MY feelings for all of YOU, to always be what YOU want me to be. And now you want me to just turn it all off, like a light switch? Maybe if you can think about what _I_ need and how _I_ feel while you're at it, I might be able to stop!"

Whew, I feel better now. Thanks for listening... :)

Janet, I love the way you had Andy's problem and need be resolved. The way each character had a 1st person view was refreshing. Abigail becomes the daughter dad needs and Stan falls for her completely. Even after dad bungles and tells Stan her secret, true love conquers all and dad gets a daughter and heir for the business. Janet, one of your best so far. Keep the stories flowing girl, you have the gift. DON'T WASTE IT!!!!

Andy is like many youg boys, having a perchant to find out what the other gender feels like when dressed and the desire to try it at least once. The thing is that his mother knows only that his grades are not what they should be and with her confrontattion of this Andy finds himself blurting it out and his new life about to start.

When it comes to these tales such as the young Janet has a great ability to put the character many times into a situation that could in all likely hood happen. There may be somethings within the story that would take a leap of imagination but that's what these are all about the readers willingness to imagine the things that are taking place in the story.

With that in mind I find all of this authors stories a bountiful keg of fantasies that bring me many hours of satisfaction.

Diane