Just my fellow co-worker, who's also my childhood friend

I was half-excited, half-nervous on my first day back to work. I had done some preparations in the days leading up to it. I perfected the makeup routine that my supervisor showed me following the day I presented my female identity to her and the manager. While she'd do a lot more for formal social engagements, when it's for an hourly job at Hot Dog on a Stick, a lightly-applied natural-look foundation and a thin application of eyeliner was the minimum I could do. I also practiced tying my hair in various hairstyles, to avoid having my long hair being a hazard by getting caught in the food machines. I've mastered putting my hair in various buns that don't look too messy in the workplace.

I didn't want to be too early, but I did want to be there close to the time the manager's presentation would start, just in case he needed to do a pep talk with me beforehand. Walking through the mall was not too crazy. Most looks were from the people who were opening other kiosks and stores, wondering who the new person wearing the Hot Dog on a Stick uniform was. They weren't too concerned about finding out who she was right away, though if they did, I'd have a minor conga line of stalkers right behind me.

Upon walking up to Hot Dog on a Stick, I find the manager casually talking with a co-worker of mine. He's actually Raymond, a friend whom I had during my middle school and high school days. He's always here early, even though once I tried to be here earlier than he was. I enter through the small gate next to the counter, where Alexander, the manager, greets me. “Good morning, Charlene,” he says with a nod.

“Good morning,” I return his greeting and enter through the door to the back room. It's awfully quiet, save for shuffling in the bathroom. Exiting out of it, Monique, my supervisor, a black woman who is about five years my senior, appears with her trademark smile. “Where's the AM shift at?” I ask her.

She laughs, the kind of laugh that almost always ends with some grumbling, and then replies, “Turns out they all called in, since it's a damn Monday and you know how the mall is on a Monday.” She puts on her name tag before continuing. “But I'll be here for Alexander's presentation. I'm kinda curious on what kind of reaction your boy Raymond is going to show. Ain't you childhood friends?”

“Yeah,” I confirm. “I'd be okay with it being the workers who called in, but him. Why just him?”

“He's a good worker. Hell, I see him becoming manager one day,” Monique comments.

From the front, Alexander comes through the door that separates the back room with the front counter. “Hey ladies, we'll have the presentation up here, if you don't mind.” Monique nods and presses a comforting hand onto my shoulder. She leaves for the front first. I take a deep breath and follow after her.

The guys are casually leaning against the counters when we come out from the back room. Raymond straightens up while Alexander stays leaning on the counter. I take a position where I'm essentially in the center of the current trio of people. The manager speaks up, “Raymond, if you haven't been introduced yet, this here is Charlene. She isn't a new worker. Heck, she isn't even from another franchise. She has actually been working here for the past year.”

“Wait. You're telling me she isn't a new employee, boss?” Raymond asks. “I've been part of both the early and late shifts and even done the middle shift and stayed late after closing and I have never seen her before.”

Monique chimes in, “You actually know her. You just haven't seen her like this.”

“Sorry. I don't mean to be mean or rude, but is this some kind of joke? I'm not going to see a damn flash mob come in and raid the store with singing and dancing, am I? I have not met her in my life,” he says only to be met with serious faces.

“She was actually here about ten days ago,” Monique adds a little factoid, which doesn't seem to help in letting Raymond know of the situation.

Tired of the stalling, I speak up, silencing the manager and supervisor. I set my gaze on Raymond and with no delay, tell him, “I'm Charles. Raymond.”

Raymond laughs as I glance at Alexander. Seeing all the stern faces, Raymond's laugh subsides to a chuckle. Soon after, it too is silenced. “Are you serious?” he asks, though I'm unsure who his question is directed towards.

“On X-Change, I'm Charlene, but when I'm not, I'm Charles.”

Alexander explains to him the new law that passed to regulate the recreational **** X-Change. I tell him that due to my interests in the ****, it would be best to register my female identity, connecting it with my male identity. The manager and supervisor tell him they are okay with it and are working with me to tell the whole staff so they do not get confused in the future. They just didn't expect Raymond to be there by himself.

“I-I need a minute,” Raymond says, leaving the three of us and going into the back room.

“That went well,” I sarcastically say.

“He'll come around. Whether he commends or criticizes you, I'm not sure,” Alexander adds. “In the meantime, business as usual. Monique? Shall we?”

The manager, the supervisor and I proceed to open up the store, preparing the necessary items and equipment. Only the staff from other stores and the cleaning crew of the mall show up to purchase food, though the ones that regularly come by ask if I'm a new hire. The three of us work together to properly explain to them my situation and for the most part, they are accepting of it.

After 30 minutes or so, Raymond returns, phone in hand. “I told everyone,” he says, alerting us.