Josie's Story

Despite moving to many different cities, Joey had never been able to make any true friends. Always, before long, everyone would seem to turn against him and, by the time his mother announced they were again moving, he was eager to go. As they drove to their new neighborhood just after he had turned nine, Joey hoped 'This time, maybe it will be different.'

He got his wish; it was different, but not in any way that Joey had wanted. The boys all called him 'Josie', and treated him like a girl! Fortunately their stay in that city was even briefer than most.

He was so thankful that he would no longer be treated like a girl, and, against his long history of failures, prayed he would this time make a friend at last. And, to his great delight, on his very first day in his new neighborhood, his prayer was answered. But, the friend was a girl, and he soon discovered, to his dismay, that she had mistaken him for also being a girl. Afraid that she would no longer like him if she knew the truth, he decided to not tell her. After all, being treated like a girl by girls who believed he was a girl was completely different than being treated like one by boys who knew he was a boy.

And, after a while, he discovered that being a girl wasn't so bad.