[Pink Basic] Struggles of A Pioneer

I wasn't quitting, that part was made clear. I was just taking some time off so I could settle some matters that pertained to this new law that they passed. I had been on X-Change once before, but the circumstances of my initial transformation had been dubious at best. I had consumed a spiked-alcoholic beverage and spent the next 24 hours after that moment learning to see things from a different perspective. At the end of the day, I grew to enjoy my time as a girl, as Charlene, mostly because I found friends who were already into that sort of thing. When the new law passed, it wasn't a requirement as I had not had an interest in buying X-Change, but I felt that if I was to enjoy being Charlene again, I had to do the right thing and register.

My girlfriend did not want any part of it, so I cut ties with her. I still had my job at Hot Dog on a Stick, but I made sure to tell my manager about my decision. I'd be the first employee at the place to even register for a DIP Card. I'd be the first employee to potentially be two people at once, just one of the two identities at any one time. I'd be a pioneer, a trend-setter. Fortunately, my boss, Alexander seemed fine with it and allowed me all the time I needed to adjust.

I went to my Orientation appointment and the technician at the clinic was very informative. I had a lot of questions and it took him the whole hour I was there to answer them as best as he could. It was my first time willingly taking X-Change, though the technician, Michael, said the pills that they give out is an older formula called X-Change Sample.

After registering, I received my DIP Card in the mail and made sure to keep it in my wallet, along with my other ID Card. A couple days later, I received my package of a bottle of Pink Basics. I told my friends about it and they were ecstatic. I told my parents about it, too, just to inform them. They didn't disown me. They didn't accept it either. They came from a traditional, holistic background and they had their opinions about it. The only good thing they had to say was that, at least I was no longer living with them. That and it was good I ended my relationship with my girlfriend. The good thing to come out of it was that I was now living with my friend who also takes X-Change. He said it was alright to crash in the spare room while he went back to active duty. He's in the Air **** by the way. He was willing to help me in my time of need.

I went to work to inform my manager. He had an open mind about it, though he said he was comfortable enough if no one goaded him to try it himself. He didn't judge his employees based on their religion or sexual orientation. He wouldn't be one to judge them based on their interests in a regulated ****. The mall was not that busy that day, therefore the shop didn't need a full staff to be present. All that was there was my boss, Alexander, one of the female supervisors and myself in the back room. He said I didn't have to pop the pill in front of them. He did have an appropriate-sized uniform to give to me and said I'd have to change in the bathroom before coming out to present my female identity to them.

I popped the pill in the bathroom and became Charlene. Good thing I came with some underwear, a simple lace bra and panty, that I had recently bought for myself. I also purchased a pair of shoes that were sized for my smaller feet. I put on the uniform that was sized for me. It wasn't over-sized or baggy as what the male uniform had been. Once I was dressed, I exited the bathroom and presented myself to the manager and my supervisor. In the least, they were shocked at my new appearance, most especially how much shorter I was compared to my height before entering the bathroom. The manager, who is about 12 years my senior, had but one objective comment. He pointed out my hair, which was long and straight, ending a couple inches above my waistline, was a potential hazard near the food equipment. I'd have to braid it or tie it up somehow, if not cut it outright. If I wasn't comfortable tying it, he'd have to exclusively put me behind the register, which was fine since I had a nice face to look at. The supervisor added that I should have some minimal makeup, which she said she'd gladly show me how to apply, but my manager thought it was something he could overlook in a professional circumstance. Along with the makeup, she'd even show me how to control my hair situation.

While on the job, I'd wear my name tag, clearly read as Charlene. Employees will address me as such, using appropriate gender pronouns 'she' and 'her'. When I'm not on X-Change, I'd wear the male uniform, wear the name tag with my male name, Charles, on it and be addressed as 'he' and 'him'. To avoid confusion, the manager announced to the whole staff to be present on the day I came back to work. He insisted I come as Charlene. He'll present to the staff that I am not a new employee, even though most would think that, as they had never seen my female self before. I would be the first in the staff to register at an X-Change clinic and have on my person, a DIP Card. I'm ready for both the possible praise and flak from my co-workers.