Back in September, we partnered with BigCloset TopShelf and All About CD to host the AACD Caption Story Contest — a fun and creative event inviting trans writers and fans of trans fiction to craft a short story about the girl in one of the provided images. The goal? Let the picture spark the story, then let the imagination take over.
The results were incredible. These stories made us laugh, made us think, and most of all, made us feel. Today, we’re excited to share the top 3 winners: “What Am I Doing” by Daring Diane, “The Girl in the Mirror” by Julie D. Cole, and “Manikin? Man, I Can!” by Dorothy Colleen.
Let’s dive in and celebrate these amazing voices 💖
First Place: What Am I Doing? By Daring Diane
“Billy, I let you move in, because I needed someone to cover half the rent and utilities. It’s been months and I’m running out of savings.”
“I spent everything completing my degree.”
“Great. You have a college degree. It’s time to get a job.”
“I apply every day. No one is hiring.”
“You need a job. Work at Starbucks or some restaurant.”
“I’m not working fast food. I checked out 10 restaurants, but they only want waitresses and buff guys.”
“That’s certainly not you,” she said chuckling.
Shaking his head, he sunk back into the couch. A nerd most of his life, he avoided high school sports since he was the smallest boy in the school. Most of the girls were bigger. With good grades, he earned a good scholarship. School loans filled in the rest. Soon, he’d have to start paying on those loans.
Relatives said, he was a late bloomer. 4 years later, the height, body hair and muscles had not shown up. A business degree with emphasis on marketing and art should get me into sales, marketing or advertising. All evidence to the contrary.
“What happened at that sports company?”
Staring at his lap, he shook his head, trying to avoid tears. “Every other candidate looked like a football player. The interviewer appeared shaking the hand of another giant. Glancing at me and laughing, he said that secretary interviews were tomorrow and to come back. As everyone laughed, the secretary called me over. Scanning the office at other women, she quietly recommended a new hairstyle and better makeup or they wouldn’t hire me.”
Mad, Suzy declared, “They can’t do that.” With a sly grin, she added, “Although, your long hair could use a new cut.”
“Sales and marketing job interviewer are all over six feet tall and seem disappointed interviewing me.”
“You need different companies.”
As we scanned job boards, Suzy said, “What about this? Entry level marketing position. Open interviews Monday. They want marketing and art in their background. It’s three blocks away in the business park.”
“What company?”
“AA-Perfection. Let’s pull up the website.”
“Is that a bra?” he exclaimed.
Suzy said, “Interesting. They are focused on selling intimates for the less endowed market. Bras, matching panties and slips. This is a great niche.”
“Bras? You want me selling bras? And panties? They are not going to hire a guy for their marketing?”
“They are not allowed to be biased based on gender. It’s the law.”
“Yeah, just like the men’s companies aren’t allowed to only hire big guys.”
Second Place: The Girl in the Mirror. By Julie D Cole
My greatest wish through college had been to date my heartthrob Rebecca and I had often found myself looking at my image in the mirror reflecting on the numerous occasions I’d tried to date her before finally accepting that she preferred female company; The image was of a slightly built underdeveloped man. short in height .and with a pained expression that seemed to be etched permanently on his face. In all seriousness my chances of developing a relationship with Rebecca were virtually zero.
By now we’d both matured a little but from what I’d learned neither of us were currently dating do I still had a chance. A former classmate had recently tipped me off that she was now working in her fathers company as a Sales Executive and had advertised for a personal assistant with experience of media and advertising. I had the necessary experience and qualifications and was currently seeking a fresh challenge, but the job seemed more suited to a female applicant. But I felt I had to apply.
Tracey was the close friend who told me about her current situation and she knew that I was desperate to make contact with Rebecca but said that my chances of developing a close relationship were slim because since college she’d had several courtships but she’d never disclosed until now that they were all with women.
‘Look Jules let’s be real you don’t tick the right boxes so why don’t you just accept that she is out of your league. I’m not saying that you aren’t a great catch just please find a nice girlfriend who appreciates your nice personality and kindness. You are a great friend and I don’t want to see you get hurt. Most women I know want to find a partner like you who shares their interests and understands their mood swings etc.’
‘Well that’s how I was raised I guess and I never had a male influence at home growing up and it’s not like I have the height and physique to compete with the jocks around here or those from our college days so I was happier hanging around with the girls that you and Rebecca hung around with at college. I’m still in touch with a few of them and I like them all. I don’t have any male friends.’
‘Interesting. So clearly you are not gay then?’
‘No I’m not. Why do I look like I am?’
‘Well you do have soft features and as you say you were raised without any strong masculine influence so if you don’t mind me saying a lot of men would be attracted to you. Have you ever kissed a guy or fancied one and thought about the signals you give out sometimes and the image you project.’
‘No I haven’t at all. I guess you’ve adopted a lot of the mannerisms of the girls we hung around with at college and my sister and cousins.’
‘Do you remember us dressing you up as one of us one night to celebrate Karens birthday and then how easy it was for us to convince the staff on the door at a club that we were all old enough to enter and buy drinks? If you had been in male mode we’d have been challenged I’m sure.’
‘Yes I remember it well but all credit to the girls for the make-up and stuff. Don’t forget we’d all been drinking wine all afternoon and if I remember it was your idea to dress me up’
Third Place: Manikin? Man, I can! By Dorothy Colleen
If you had told me my future, I would have never believed you.
My past was nothing to really talk about. Single child, named Mat Connor, no real friends, a dead-end job, an inability to take care of myself that resulted in me being in pretty bad shape by the time I reached 50.
In fact, while I was celebrating my 50th birthday I keeled over and ended up in the hospital.
Waking up in the hospital would have been the norm after such an event, but where I woke up didn’t look like any hospital I had ever seen, but my location was of secondary consideration to the fact I could not move.
I laid there, wondering if this was due to what had happened last night, had I had a stroke?
Eventually a man came into the room carrying clothes. I would have raised an objection had I been able, since they were clearly womens clothes.
What happened next was life-changing, as the very first item the man put on me – a pair of panties – told me several things. First, he was dressing me with a professional and clinical detachment, like you would putting clothes on a store manikin. Second, even though I could not move, I felt everything as he brought the panties up my legs. And last, I realized I clearly now had lady parts as the panties reached their destination and the sensations confirmed my fears.
The panties were followed by stockings, then heels, and then the man dressed the rest of me.
Two feelings competed for my attention during this process. The first was the dislocation I felt as each piece touched my now clearly female body. The second was simply pleasure, great enough that I can recommend to anyone that if a lady says you can dress her, do it, as if she gets the same feeling I did you will leave her just as breathless as you might have taking her clothes off.
But I could also tell he felt nothing, as if I was nothing more than a doll, and it was his job to make me all dolled up.
But soon he was done, and he signalled to someone outside the door.
Two more men came in. One was older, maybe as old as I was a few hours ago, the other looked like he was in his early twenties.
The older of the two said, “See, son, we have succeeded in building you the perfect girlfriend”
“I have seen machines like this before,” the son replied.
“Not quite like this, son” the old man stated, “there is in fact a human brain inside that artificial body”
“That sounds worse.” the son said, “you are telling me some poor girl is stuck inside there, helpless?”
“Now son, it isn’t like that. She was dying, and we gave her a second chance at life.” the older man stated.
“Prove it,” the son replied.