Page 59 of Precise Justice

“All the more reason,” Robbie replied.

Amanda silently looked at this new girl. In her heart, Amanda knew she was right. So did the others.

“I’ll call her and find out if she wants to meet,” Amanda said. “No promises. If she says no then…”

“No, it is,” Robbie said. “She’s dealing with enough. I don’t want to push.”

“Deal,” Amanda said.

The break was over and everyone returned to their seats. Robbie, the new girl, was asked a lot of questions. Was the gender affirmation her idea? Was it a phase she went through? How did the operation go? Is she happy about it?

For the first time, other than speaking at a mirror and more than she did with Dr. Freidman, Robbie found herself opening up. She calmly, politely answered all of their questions. To her delight, three of the girls opened up and admitted they were still having serous second thoughts.

“To be blunt,” a girl named Paula opened up to Robbie, “I’m sorry I did this. I was twelve, almost thirteen. I knew a couple trans people at school. I was confused and caught up in how trendy and cool it was. Especially what I heard from the media.

“I was seeing a psychologist and told her. For weeks we talked about nothing else. She convinced me. Then I brought my mother with me, my dad is not around. Mom thought it was a great idea.

“Here I am, ready for college and I’m more of a mess now than I was before.”

“Have you talked to your mother about it lately?” Robbie asked.

“I tried. She just blows it off. Reminds me the shrink said this would happen and to ignore it. That it will pass. It isn’t and it won’t,” Paula said.

Two more girls told a very similar story. Young and impressionable, trendy and cool, they thought it would make them more popular and their therapist agreed and even pushed it. So did their mothers.

By the time they had finished each had tears down their cheeks. Robbie did as well.

On the drive home, neither Stephanie nor Robbie said a word. Stephanie would occasionally look over at Robbie who was staring out the windshield.

Robbie was deep in thought, quite regretful and disturbed. The last thing Amanda said to them in the parking lot was her assurance to contact Holly. Now, with that reality closing in, Robbie found herself thinking about it.

Why did she open her big mouth and insist? Where did this newly found courage come from? What could they do if they did find the guys who raped Holly?

Stephanie drove into the driveway where Robbie lived. She stopped the car near the front porch. They sat for a few seconds, Stephanie waiting for Robbie.

“You okay?” Stephanie asked Robbie.

“No, not really. What do we do if we find them; the guys who raped Holly?”

“I don’t know. It was your idea. Go to the cops?”

“It’s too late. Without a rape kit we can’t even prove she was raped,” Robbie replied. “The cops won’t touch it.”

“Why don’t we see if we can find them first? That’s not very likely,” Stephanie said.

Robbie nodded three or four times, then said, “You’re right. We’ll see. We probably won’t be able to find them.

“Okay, good night…”

“How did you like the group?” Stephanie asked.

Robbie had her door open and was almost out when Stephanie asked. She paused for a moment before answering then said, “Good. I like it. It’s nice to find out I’m not alone. Good night. See you tomorrow.”

“Good night,” Stephanie replied.

As she sat in the car watching Robbie go into her home, Stephanie realized and admitted to herself she had a huge crush on the tall, pretty Robbie.

TWENTY-FOUR