It has been three months and I am a fab-u-lous! dog trainer. Zipho and I are working the obstacle courses with as much flair as any comic book superhero. We are a team. Mama and Tata are even considering adopting Zipho, being their forever-home, once they’ve caught up on their bills. We got a bit behind with Tata having been out of work and then the move, but it’s coming together.

Mostly. Things have not been perfect at school. Some girl crawled up the wall in the toilet stall, looked over and caught a glimpse of my penis. She screamed and started yelling that there was a boy in the bathroom. So now everyone at school knows I’m trans.

But my teacher, Mrs Jacobs, and Mr Visser held an assembly and talked about being respectful to one another and treating each other with dignity. They made it clear that bullying would not be tolerated. I know Mr Visser still thinks there is something wrong with me. I can’t change what is in his heart. But at least he is following the rules, treating me with dignity. If anything, I’ve realised I don’t need everyone to like me.

Sure, now that everybody knows I’m trans, some of the children will not talk to me, at all. If I sit at their table, they’ll get up and leave. I’ve caught some of the parents pointing at me and whispering.

I’m not going to lie, it isn’t nice. I wish people wouldn’t be so mean. But not everybody is bad. I’ve made lots of friends at the local dog shelter. I also made some friends on the girl’s hockey team, and it turns out I’m pretty good.

If I’ve learned anything from all of this, it is that I am lucky to have a team of people who will care about and fight for me: my parents, my friends, Mama Lizeka, Mrs Dala, and Buto. Not everybody has that. But we all need that.

Even Zimbali Jadeite can’t live life alone. She too, needs friends, who now include her intersex dragon, Zipho.

*****

Tell us: What did you think of this story? Do you think South Africans need to do more to help trans-kids feel safer and more accepted at their schools?

Perhaps you have never read anything written from the point of view of a transgender person, and want to know more about this? Be sure to read the Talking Points and follow the interesting links given there.