39
Ianto sat exuding calm confidence, his screaming inner voice well hidden behind a double breasted three piece suit that made him look like he needed a handlebar moustache to finish off the ensemble.
Babbit knew Taddy was so handsome that even the mean old teachers were swallowing with repressed fear, the cane in Taddy's hand more than just a prop as he leaned heavily on it.
Babbit knew Taddy hadn't slept much last night, walking the house as he muttered and swore.
Today was not just about Babbit.
It was about her family too.
They sat at a table facing the school board, all Babbit's lovely friends sat behind them in their pretty dresses and wigs, Angel demanding a better chair for her 'booty' that made Babbit giggle.
"Er, if we can begin …" the head master started to speak, only to falter as the doors to the auditorium slammed open and the Hoodlum Clan poured in with Gene and Idris moving to sit at the table and glare forward at the school board.
"As I was saying" he tried a glare but it didn't fit with his shaking hands, "This is to discuss the continued schooling of Noah Harkness-Jones."
"Babs" Ianto said calmly, "My child prefers Babs as I have told you repeatedly."
"Yes, well … er …"
"We have provided psychologist's reports a psyche assessment, have his doctor sitting here to assure you that my child is neither deranged, playing a game or somehow infectious" Ianto was ramping up and Jack placed a hand on his arm to soothe him.
"Well, there are other matters to be addressed" a member of the board said with a sniff, "Like, where will he go to the bathroom? Which one will he use? I would rather my daughter not see a little boy's willy thank you very much."
Jack removed his hand from Ianto's arm and leaned back as his husband rose from his chair.
"How dare you!" he roared, "How dare you insinuate that my child would be a pervert simply because of a bathroom choice!"
There was now a lot of voices calling out as well and Ianto was on a roll, "Do you think he would go into the girl's room and pee in the fucking hand basin? Perhaps your child does not know to close a stall door but I did teach mine some manners!"
"Now, now Mr Harkness-Jones. I don't think we need to get personal here!" the chairman said with open horror.
"PERSONAL!" Ianto screeched and Idris decided he should say something.
"My Nephews were raised to value life and liberty. They were raised to be whomever they chose to be with the knowledge that their family would support them in any and every endeavor." Idris spoke with authority and Ianto sat back down as he seethed, "If one of my nephews was supposed to be a girl, then it is a terrible mistake that this was not detected earlier. Perhaps his early childhood teachers need to look to themselves and ask why Babs felt the need to hide her true colours. No person should be ashamed of their soul!"
Ianto was breathing heavily and Jack glanced at him to make sure he was OK, Ianto's sharp nod letting him know that he was fine.
"Take a look around this room" Jack rose and squared his shoulders, "Who is the odd one out?"
"I see no person here that is not a person. I see no individual that is less or more than the one next to them," Jack felt Ianto's hand hook onto his jean pocket and he reached for it, squeezing gently, "My child is Trans. My child is beautiful, funny, naughty, spoilt, opinionated, affectionate, intelligent and afraid. Of all these descriptions, it is only the last one I have a problem with. It should be your problem too."
Ianto was so relieved that his baby was playing with his phone, unaware of the way they were degrading him and his hackles were rising again as he watched the board pompously shuffle their papers.
"Is this the official stance of this school?" Connie stood calmly with the cameraman beside her, "Transgender people are not welcome on your school? Do you not support the LGBT community?"
The place descended into chaos as the drag queens in the second row started to yell and throw pink flowers at the board members.
As they drove home Ianto addressed the problem in the only way he knew how.
"I'll home school him until this is sorted, I will not subject him to any more embarrassment" Ianto said and Jack nodded.
"Agreed."
Babbit held the handful of roses he had scooped from the floor and enjoyed their smell.
Glad it was sorted.
