Christmas Extensions

"Come on sister!" Lisa cried, barging into Sammy's room.

"What is it?" Sammy asked, even though she was already warmed by Lisa calling her "sister." Up until this last year, Sammy had been "Sam," Lisa's brother. But she'd finally begun to work up the courage to try some social transitioning, and had come out to Lisa, her younger sister.

"Let's get extensions!" Lisa said with a big smile.

"I don't think the hairdresser is open today, but I'd be happy to take you tomorrow though," Sammy said. She was assuming Lisa didn't want just the cheap clip-on extensions, although those could be fun too.

"Kristi's on 4th Avenue is doing a Christmas Special today!" Lisa said. "See!" She opened her phone and showed the display. "Come on, Sammy, aren't you tired of looking like a stupid old boy?"

Sammy was, indeed, tired of looking like a boy... but it was scary to begin doing anything more than social transitioning. She still had her big 'boy' frame, she was tall, she still pretty much just looked like a guy. It was really only in her heart that she was a woman. She'd even been afraid to grow out her hair, for fear of bullying on campus (even though there were a lot of hippies and no one really seemed to care about hair length). Actually, Sammy had been wondering what extensions would be like.

"So come on!" Lisa cried. "What are we waiting for?"

"You're right," Sammy said. "What are we waiting for? Actually, first--" and Sammy set up her phone so they could do a 'before' photo.

**

That night, Sammy and Lisa set up the phone again, so she could see the 'after' effect.

Lisa's extensions, of course, looked fantastic--it looked like she'd really grown out a ton of hair. She couldn't look happier. And if she got sick of the length later, they could always cut it off.

Sammy, though, couldn't help but criticize her extensions. With her face, with her body, she still just looked like a guy with long hair.

But... maybe? Maybe if she looked at it right, someone would think she was just a tall woman? Maybe if someone saw her from behind?

"Sammy you're so cute!" Lisa cried as she looked at the picture. She hugged her. "You're the best sister in the whole world!"

Sammy couldn't hold back a tear. While she was sitting there stuck in thinking no one would ever see her as a girl, Lisa already did.

"No, Lisa," Sammy said. "You're the best sister in the world."

"Aww!" Lisa said, giggling. "Merry Christmas, Sammy."

"Merry Christmas, Lisa."