She called me in the morning when I was alone at the switchboard.
"May I help you?" I introduced myself and asked.
"I wish to speak to someone in charge of the shelter there."
"Yes, I am the very person. Shoot away!" I said.
"Do you have room in the shelter for one person?"
"Yes, we do."
"What time can I come to take the room in the shelter?"
"What is your name and have you ever stayed in our shelter?"
"Oh, I thought you said you had room for one person? Is that not what you just said?"
"Yes, that is what I said. we have room for men, women, and families." I paused just enough to make the next point, "I did not say you can come in and take the room. I do not know you; I have not seen you to make that promise to you."
I went on, "There are two other shelters in town; have you called them as well? If so, what did they say to you?"
"Yes, I called one of the them and I was told they are full at this point, they cannot take me in."
If you want to come to our shelter the time to check in is 7 pm. I am here through the day. You will find me if you decide to come early."
She hung up; or should I say he hung up.
Two hours later she showed up; or should I say, he showed up. She looked like a woman, but equally looked like a man.
"I am here! I spoke to you an hour about shelter."
"Yes, I remember that you spoke with me."
"Please show me your photo identification document; I will check your shelter records to see when you were last served by us."
I saw the woman's picture on his government issued identification card. His name was on our database too.
"How do you want me to recognize, as female or male?"
"Female. Regard me as a woman."
"Okay. The government recognizes you as a man. How can I do differently?"
"I have both male and female parts; I prefer to be recognized as a woman."
"That is fine with me. Now, allow me to take this to my supervisor so that we can be all on one page. Is that okay?"
"Yes, that is fine."
"As I said already, we have plenty of room for men as well as women; these are dormitories. hat means, if we put a person in the men's dormitory he will share amenities with men. The facilities lack privacy. The same may be true on the women's side. I hope you are following what I am saying."
"Yes, I am." She, he said.
