The Pale Pink Packet (The Youtube Community Story)

The Pale Pink Packet

Sitting up in my bed, I wince a little as I move.

A week ago I was in a car accident. I broke one of my legs and now I’m trying my best to rest up and heal.

“Mom,” I whine, pointing at my cast. “It’s still hurting! Did you ask the doctor for something to help with it?”

“I sure did Aiden,” she smiles, pulling two boxes from her purse.

She holds them both out towards me but hesitates to give them to me. One of the boxes is pale pink and the other a bright white.

“Well…?” I groan, desperate for pain relief.

Looking a little vacant, mom passes me the pale pink box.

“Here you are!” he grins.

Almost snatching the box from her hands, she frowns. I didn’t have time for that! I peel open the box and swallow some down with water.

“Think you’ll be up and about today or tomorrow Aiden?” mom asks, placing a gentle hand on my knee.

“Maybe…” I reply, huffing in frustration and reaching for my phone.

“You must at least try and get some exercise,” she replies, rubbing my knee. “You’ll get fat if you don’t!”

“O-kay mom,” I groan. “I don’t feel like it right now!”

A week later…

Knocking on my door and then instantly entering, mom is holding a tray of food. She places it next to me on the bed.

“How you feeling sweety?” she asks, passing me the pale pink box with my medication.

Swallowing a few more down, I shake my head. The pain still hasn’t gone away!

“Still not feeling any better,” I complain. “I’ve got an awful itch around my chest and my tighs seem to be swelling. Is that normal?”

Putting the back of her hand against my forehead, she gives me a gentle smile.

“You don’t have a temperature anymore,” she replies. “That’s a good sign.”

I shrug my shoulders as she moves her hand off my head.

“I guess that’s good,” I say, reaching for the glass of drink she’d brought me. “I’m just so itchy on my chest! It’s really annoying.”

“Itch it then sweety!” she answers, standing and walking to my door. “Anything else you need?”

I look over at her and hair falls into my eyes. Frustrated, brush it away and sigh.

“You any good at hair cuts?” I joke, brushing my messy hair back with my hand. “I’m in desperate need of a trim!”

“I can see that,” she giggles. “Well, maybe soon you’ll free ready to go out of the house. Then we can go get you’re hair cut?”

I felt that was a long way off. I grab my phone to ignore the question.

Mom gets the hint and gently closes the door as she leaves.

The week after…

Having ventured downstairs, my sister Phoebe helps me onto the sofa. As I get comfortable and rest my broken leg flat, she grabs the tv remote and sits with me.

Flicking throw the channels, she puts on a fashion program.

“Phee,” I moan, stretching my hand out to take the remote from her. “Please put something else on!”

Phoebe quickly moves the remote away and glares back at me.

“No way!” she replies. “If you want the remote…come get it!”

Gritting my teeth, I hadn’t the energy to fight with her. Although I’d just taken my pain relief, the itching on my chest was getting worse and my swollen backside was making it difficult to move.

“Will do you some good to learn about fashion,” she continues, giving me a mocking expression.

“You serious?” I reply with a long sigh.

“Yes!” she exclaims. “You’re clothes are barely fitting you anymore!”

I look down at myself.

Sadly, she was right. With the lack of exercise recently, I’ve put a lot of weight on around my chest and hips. I could feel my clothes stretching over the weight I’ve been gaining recently.

“You know I’m right,” Pheobe says with sass, as I look up at her. “Maybe some pants that actually fit your backside too. You look like you’re about the bust out of those!”

Shifting uncomfortable, I frown and settle in to watch the fashion program.

After a while, I start to get concerned about my mental state. I engaged in conversation with my sister about dresses. I think she was just as freaked out as I was!

Another week passes….

“Aiden!” mom groans, holding out a pair of my sister's sports shorts. “Look, since you’ve put on so much weight around your hips, you’ll have to wear these for now.”

I turn up my nose at the prospect.

“No way!” I complain, pushing the purple shorts away. “Why can’t we go buy some bigger clothing while I heal. I’m not going to have this weight forever you know!”

Waiting for mom to answer, I scratch at my chest.

It had almost become like a guilty pleasure of mine, scratching underneath the fat I’d gained around my chest.

I don’t like the teasing that I’m getting my own breasts though. Mom and Pheobe are being really mean with that! Offering me bra’s to wear is not funny either!

“Look,” mom replies with a stern expression, shoving the short back at me. “You get your cast-off in about a month. I’m not buying you more clothing that’s just going to get thrown away when you get back into shape.”

Snatching the shorts out of her hand, I huff in frustration at her.

“I’m sorry Aiden,” she says, pulling a disapproving face. “You know we are hard up for cash since your accident”

Turning to look away sharply, knowing that she’s telling me the truth, my long hair annoys me by covering my face and getting in my mouth.

“Argh!” I whine, flicking my head to get it from my face. “Can we just get me a haircut already!”

Replying to my frustration with a shake of her head, mom gives me another disapproving look.

“I booked for you to go to the salon this week,” she moans. “Did you go?….no you did not.”

Brushing the remaining hair from my face, I look up at mom and frown.

“I wasn’t feeling up to it,” I answer.

“What do you want me to do about it then,” mom instantly replies, with a shrug.

“Can you ask Pheobe to come in here and tie my hair up again?” I bashfully ask, picking up my phone to end the conversation.

The week after that….

“What are you two doing?” mom awkwardly questions, staring at us both from the hallway.

Both me and Pheobe look over at her and smile.

“I’m brushing Aiden's hair,” Pheobe then replies, running a soft brush through my hair.

Sitting on the floor, with my legs stretched out, it felt great to have her give my hair so much attention. At first, I hated the idea, but after a few times, I’d really started to enjoy it.

Who knew long hair could be kinda….fun?

Clearly holding back a giggle, mom walks up and looks at the TV program we are watching.

“You guys are really starting to bond watching this…aren’t you,” she comments.

Focusing on the TV, we both causally nod in agreement.

That’s when mom looks down at what I’m wearing.

“Aiden…,” she complains. “Are you wearing you’re sister's tank top?”

I look up at her and shrug

“Yeah…so what?” I flippantly reply. “Pheobe suggested it my help air out my chest and stop it from being so itchy.”

Giving me a confused look, she walks off out of the room.

“I’d never wear those heels with a dress like that,” Pheobe snarks at the TV.”

I couldn’t help but agree with her. The model looks so very silly in those open-toed heels.

“I’d have worn stiletto’s,” I reply, Itching at my chest.

Pheobe instantly stops brushing and leans over my shoulder. I feel her looking down at my body.

“It’s really weird you know,” she says, pointing at me itching myself. “You seem to be putting so much weight around your chest and backside, but nowhere else!”

I look up at her.

“Please don’t tell me to wear a bra again,” I moan.

“I’m not,” she innocently replies. “It’s just very strange.”

“Yeah,” I answer, reaching for my pain relief. “…And I’m still getting pain from my leg.”

The next week…

“Ok,” I say down the phone to my friend. “See you soon.”

As I swipe the call closed, mom comes streaming rolling up behind me

“Pheobe…?” she calls out. “Can I borrow some of your makeup?”

Facing out the window, I turn around to look at her with anger.

“Mom!” I complain. “I’m not Pheobe!”

As I see my mom’s face go bright red, her mouth opens just as wide as her eyes.

“Oh my god!” she replies. “I’m sorry Aiden. I heard you talking on the phone and you sounded just like Pheobe!”

I frown in response.

“I know I’ve put on weight, grown long hair, and been forced to wear her clothing mom,” I complain, looking down at my cast. “Can’t you see the cast on my leg? Is that not a dead giveaway!?”

Bringing her hand up to cover her mouth, I could see she had made a genuine mistake. Still, that didn’t stop me from feeling annoyed.

“I’m sorry Aiden,” mom answers, reaching up to touch my face gently. “I heard her voice and from behind with your hair up like her, you two look so similar.”

“I don’t sound like Pheobe!” I huff in reply.

Watching my mom give me a comforting smile, something my friend just said come to the front of my mind.

Giving my mom a confused look, I shake my head in disbelief.

“Wait, James just said I sounded weird on the phone too…,” I exclaim

“He did?” mom replies. “Maybe you’re coming down with something?”

“…Yeah?” I meekly reply, rubbing at my throat. “I have been up most nights with the itches.””

“There we go then,” mom chirps, giving me a kiss on the forehead. “Do you know where your sister is?”

“In her room,” I answer softly. “I’ve just been in there to borrow some stuff. So she’s deffo in there.”

A week later…

Adjusting the fit of the bra Pheobe had lent me, I’m glad my fatty chest is controlled as we sit waiting for the doctor to arrive.

I’d caved in a few days ago. She’d told me it would be more comfortable and seeing as I’m already wearing some of her clothes, it wouldn’t really make any difference.

“You ok…?” mom asks, touching my leg and giving me a smile. “I know this is the first time you’ve been out of the house and you’re body has changed a lot. Hopefully, the doctor can help!”

“Thanks, mom,” I nervously reply.

“Argh…that voice of yours,” she continues, shifting in her seat. “I thought that would have got better by now. Seems to have got worse. Make sure you tell the doctor.”

As I open my mouth to agree, the Doctor opens the door and greets us both with a worried expression.

“Mrs. River,” he says, greeting my mother and sitting behind his desk. “I have good news and bad news for you.”

We both lean forwards as he flips open his charts.

“Aiden,” he grins, looking at me directly. “That leg of yours is healing very nicely. We’ve got the scans in and I’m happy to report you’ll have that cast-off very soon!”

Turning to grin and my mom, I’m excited to get up and about with freedom.

Mom doesn’t look back with the same sort of excitement. She looks extremely worried.

“What's the bad news…?” she asks, turning to face the doctor, leaving me feeling terrified for the answer.

The doctor flips through his charts some more and then nervously rubs his forehead.

I’m almost leaving brown stains everywhere waiting for him to talk.

“Aiden,” he says softly, clearing his throat. “Your body has gone through some curious changes hasn’t it?”

I look down at the breast-like forms held in by my sister's bra. I then look up and cautiously nod.

“Fat deposits have moved, growths on the chest, softening of your skin and voice…,” he continues, looking down at his charts.

As he folds closed his charts, he takes his glasses from his face and puts them down on his desk. Rubbing his eyes, he frowns.

“I’m not sure how this has happened,” he explains. “Aiden, you are going through a second puberty.”

Instantly, both me and mom stare at each other in shock.

“What!?” I screech, turning to look in his direction.

“Those growths,” he says pointing at my chest. “That’s breasts tissue.”

Feeling the blood drain from my face, I have no words to express my feelings. I’m terrified and confused.

“You’re voice and skin have also softened to be more feminine. Your body has changed your fat stores to around your backside and hips, just like a woman. We’ve found high levels of female hormones in your body. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but the effects are permanent!”

“WHAT!?” mom then yells, thumping her hand on the desk in front of her. “So you’re telling me my son’s going through female puberty!?”

“That’s right,” the doctor calmly replies. “I’m launching an investigation straight away into what’s happened. My colleague has offered to council and look at the next steps for Aiden. Completing gender reassignment is an option if you want it.”