My mama knows me too well. Zimbali Jadeite would ride a Jabberwocky or a Chupacabra if she had to do it to get a job done. So, if meeting the results of a rat mating with a wolf is what I need to do, then I guess that’s what we need to do.

The first animal we approach is black with brown patches and very pointy ears. “Oh, no, no, no,” Mama murmurs.

“Are you alright, Sisi?” Mama Lizeka asks.

“Bad memories,” is all my mother says.

Mama Lizeka sweeps away and takes us around to a few more kennels where none of them resemble the first dog. We meet a small white and yappy dog; we meet a medium sized, sand coloured dog who only has one eye; and we meet a giant dog that has so much fur I’m exclaiming, “I’d have to brush him for hours.”

This makes all the adults laugh. As they enjoy their joke at my expense, I scan around the kennels and notice a dog quietly watching me. I slowly approach the kennel.

“Ah,” Mama Lizeka says. “This is Zipho, a very special dog that some people find alarming.”

“A biter?” my mother says, taking a quick step back, despite the fencing between us and the beast.

Mama Lizeka chuckles. “No, no, this little Staffordshire bull terrier is a gentle soul. But the breeders brought it here when it was apparent that it was born with boy parts and girl parts. Some people think this brings bad luck. But Zipho is nothing but love on four legs.”

My mother’s eyes twinkle. “I think we’ve found the perfect dog, Thando-Joy.”

I think so too, but I am grateful my mama doesn’t say more than she already has. Just because the shelter likes an intersex dog does not mean they’ll necessarily like a trans-girl such as me.

Mama Lizeka introduces me to Zipho. She has me hold out my hand for the dog to sniff.

The dog looks at me curiously, before taking a few tentative sniffs. Then, without any warning, they begin to lick me.

“Aaaah,” I say, leaping back.

The dog barks, and leaps up, giving me a fright.

“Ssssh,” Mama Lizeka says, holding the dog down. “It’s alright Zipho, these people are new to dogs. They’ll learn.”

Zipho sits and stares at me, tongue lolling out of their mouth. Carefully I approach, and give the dog a pat on the head.

Zipho gives me a look that says, ‘Don’t know what you’re doing, do you?’

“Here,” Mama Lizeka says, pointing to behind its ears. “Give Zipho a scratch back here, and you’ll have a friend.”

I reach out and give the dog a scratch. They close their eyes, like they’re in heaven.

“I could use a friend,” I whisper.

The dog wags their tail, as if agreeing.

***

Tell us: Did you know that some people do not identify as ‘him’ or ‘her’ and so prefer to be referred to with pronouns that don’t have a gender, such as ‘they’, ‘them’, and ‘their’? In English, these can be used as singular or plural pronouns, like this: ‘When the person is ready, they call a taxi.’ Do you know of any other pronouns some people use, rather than ‘he’ or ‘she’? (There is a list here.)