Interlude 2 - Keira’s Story

Keith sat on the couch in his and his mother’s small rented apartment. He struggled to hold back his anger as he watched the TV. 

He was watching a podcast where Timothy Green, popular conservative pundit, was addressing a crowd of people. He was dressed in an expensive suit, with a small metal American flag pinned to his lapel.

“They are eroding the very foundations of American life!” Timothy announced to a chorus of jeers. “We must protect our children from this mental illness, this — this delusion of gender non-conformity. It is a social contagion, an attack on traditional values, and we must stand firm against the alphabet-soup radicals who propagate this destructive ideology!”

The crowd launched to their feet, screaming and cheering.

Keith sighed and paused the TV, trying not to cry.

“I don’t know why you’re watching that garbage,” Keith’s mom rebuked, coming into the living room.

“Because it’s Dad.”

“Keith, you know that’s not really your father.”

“I know.”

“Besides, you’re going to be spending the next two days with him. It’s best to remember the real him and not the person on the TV.”

Just then there was a knock on the door.

Keith’s mom opened the door and Tim Green walked into the apartment.

The real Tim Green — not the public persona of him — dressed in a T-shirt and cargo pants.

“Hey son!” he announced. “Ready to go?” He turned to his ex-wife. “Hey, Tina.”

“Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?” Tina questioned.

He lowered his voice. “Our child is hurting. I have the money. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to help.”

“How about stopping that stupid podcast?” she smirked.

“Don’t ask me to quit my job. A job, I might add, that pays for child support — and alimony.”

“But this trip — can’t you just… I dunno, pay for HRT or something?”

“Why pay for that and force him- her to endure years of hardship when it can be instantaneous?"

Tina shrugged. She didn’t have a good reason. 

Keith came out to his parents a year ago. He told them he was a transwoman. He was having thoughts of transitioning. Neither parent knew how to handle it, so they told Keith he could do whatever he wanted when he turned 18. As such, Keith held off on his social transition until he got his parents blessing, thus keeping his name and pronouns. He knew he shouldn’t remain in the closet for his parents' benefit, but considering his dad’s toxic day job, he felt it was safer that way.

Keith’s eighteenth birthday was last week, and Tim revealed he got Keith a big birthday surprise. A vacation - just the two of them to help Keith transition.

“Look, Dad…” Keith walked over to his parents. “Are you sure about this? About the trip?”

“Sure I am. I already got the passes!” he replied. “You’re eighteen. You’ve been waiting for this. I said I would do this for you, and I am. No expense spared.”

“But what about you?” Keith asked, gesturing at the frozen picture on the TV.

“Listen to me, Keith. That man on TV? He’s a brand. He’s what makes the money. But you are my son. Soon, you’ll be my daughter. And I love you. The least I can do with all of that money is spend it on this gift for you.”

“OK.”

“Do you have your bags packed?”

“Yes, I do,” Keith replied, wheeling over his rollerboard suitcase and backpack.

Tim picked up Keith’s bags. “Now, let’s go to Bikini Beach.”

* * *

They arrived at the water park and Tim parked the car. He put on a baseball cap and a pair of aviator sunglasses. This wasn’t Tim’s normal style, but being a popular podcaster meant that he was easily recognizable. Bikini Beach was the last place he wanted to be recognized.

They grabbed their backpacks and Tim led Keith to the water park entrance gate.

Above the gate was a large banner that read “Bikini Beach 25 Year Anniversary. 1999–2024.” Next to the gate was a guest counter, where an attractive woman gave them a welcoming smile.

“Hi,” Tim said. “I have these passes. One for me and one for my…” He looked at Keith and smiled. “...my daughter.”

The girl at the counter raised her eyebrows. She took the passes and looked them over. “One twenty-four-hour guest pass for you,” she announced, handing Tim his pass with a slight scowl. 

Tim wondered if she had recognized him? 

Holding out the second pass she smiled warmly at Keith and beamed, “And one lifetime pass for you.”

Keith turned red, unable to control his excitement.

“Is this your first time here?” she asked them.

“Yes,” Keith quickly answered.

“You’re going to have so much fun,” she replied. “Feel free to go on in. Since you’re new here: Please enter through the men’s locker room. You must shower before entering. Health regulations. The men’s locker room is to the right.” She then winked at Keith.

Tim and Keith walked through the turnstile and headed towards the men’s locker room.

Keith was brimming with excitement, and he could hardly contain himself. “It’s really happening,” he kept whispering.

They each picked their own stall and got changed out of their street clothes and into their swim trunks.

Keith wasted no time, turning on his shower and stepping under the warm water.

Tim, however, was initially hesitant. He knew what this place was. He’d heard the dubious stories. He even managed to acquire the two passes — Keith’s at a very substantial sum compared to his own. If anyone found out who he really was, it would certainly create complications for his business. On the other hand, knowing who had ultimately paid for his son’s transition put a wry smile on his face.

Keith closed his eyes, relishing the moment, knowing exactly why he was here. He wanted this. No more Keith. He even had a name picked out already. He wondered how he’d look like as a girl. The stories said that the males-turned-females were based on the male’s fantasy. What if the male in question was really a trans woman? Would she be Keith’s ideal form?

As the water ran over him, a faint, sweet-smelling pink steam began to fill the shower stall.

The tingling started in his chest. Of course, why wouldn’t it start there? This was Bikini Beach after all.

He cupped his chest as his breasts slowly expanded. As they filled his hands, he let out a laugh that quickly became a feminine giggle.

His wet hair started growing and came to a stop around his butt.

He looked down and watched his lower legs thin out, while his thighs and hips widened.

Then he felt his sex shrink up into him and re-form.

His blue swim trunks started changing shape. Like watching wax melt, the fabric shrunk and reshaped itself into red bikini bottoms. As the material retracted, it settled snugly on his waist and new feminine mound. 

Keith left the shower stall and paused at the floor-to-ceiling mirror.

Keith was no more.

Instead, smiling broadly back from the mirror was his fantasy. How he looked in his dreams. Keira.

Keira gasped as she struggled to catch her breath, “Dad! Look!” 

From the next stall, Tim slowly stepped out — however, he was now a busty blonde, an inch shorter than Keira, but still older. She looked to be in her late 20s.

“Oh, Keira, you’re so beautiful," she gushed. As the words left her mouth she frowned. Keira? Why did she suddenly call her Keira? How’d she know that was her name?

Keira giggled. “So are you… Mom.”

“Is that your name? Keira?”

“Yes, it is. I was saving it until now. I was going to tell you after we left the showers. I guess Bikini Beach just… knew!”

Tim stared at the mirror. At both her new daughter and herself. Her first thought was that he felt awkward standing there topless. Though she couldn’t help but admire her new form. Her body was perfect. Her second thought was Keira had called her Mom. “You don’t have to call me Mom, sweety,” she giggled. “I’m not your mother.”

“Well, she’s not here — and technically for the next 24 hours I have two moms. Do you still want me to call you Dad?”

Tim shrugged. “For now.”

The two women opened the door, and in the vestibule stood the girl from earlier holding bikini tops. “Greetings, ladies! Our park is not topless. Here is one for Keira—”

Keira eagerly took the matching bikini top and pulled it over her head.

“And one for Melissa.”

“Melissa?” Tim asked. “I… I think I like that.”

“I know,” the woman smiled. “Here, turn around and I'll tie that for you. The first time can be a challenge.”

Melissa turned her back as the woman tied the bikini strings. When she was done, she stood out of the way and gestured towards the park. “Keira, Melissa, welcome to Bikini Beach!”

Melissa and Keira stepped out of the men’s dressing room and into the water park, instantly blending into the crowd of other bikini-clad women.

“First, we need to check into our Airbnb,” Melissa explained. “I’m renting a condo across the street. The condo, like the park, is women only, so we had to check in here first, to get transformed, before checking into our room. Then we’ll have all day to enjoy the park. I also booked us dinner reservations. There’s even a boutique nearby where we can rent evening gowns.”

Keira couldn’t stop from tearing up. This was everything she’d dreamed of.

Melissa hugged her daughter. “I love you, Keira.”

“I love you too… Mom.”

* * *

“This is the best gift ever, Mom,” Keira said, lying back on a chaise, poolside. After a day of enjoying the various water rides, the pair were ready to relax.

“You’re very welcome, Keira,” Melissa replied. “You know I’d do anything for you, right?”

“Yeah,” Keira replied, biting her lip. She privately wondered if she should ask Melissa — or rather Tim — to stop the podcast. It was doing so much damage to the transgender community. And it personally hurt Keira to have a father who spewed that hateful rhetoric. Sure, she knew it was all an act, but people watched it and believed it.

Melissa sat up. “I’m going to run up to the room. I have to check some emails and make a few calls. But when I return I’ll get us a couple of those frozen drinks with the tiny umbrellas.”

Keira frowned. She was enjoying spending time with her new mom. It was the most time they’d spent together in years. She felt like she was finally connecting with her. 

Melissa saw the frown. “I won’t be long,” she promised.

Keira sighed at the revelation Melissa had brought her work with her. It only served as a harsh reminder that all of this wasn’t real, and when they left the park tomorrow, everything would go back to normal. Well, almost everything. Keira smiled at the knowledge that her new lifetime pass meant she never needed to go back to being Keith.

“Keira?” Melissa asked.

“Sure, Mom,” Keira sighed. She leaned back, and closed her eyes.

The white noise of running water, mixed with the giggles and murmurs of other park visitors, helped lull a tired Keira into a peaceful nap.

BANG!

It was the unmistakable sound of a gunshot.

Keira sat up and looked around in confusion as the echo of the gunshot reverberated around the park. Then she heard screams coming from near the condos.