By Willie B.
williebflorida@gmail.com
Copyright 2026 by Willie B., all rights reserved
[2,366 words]
* * * * *Sexualizing Michelle
A Stripped for Florida story
By Willie B Florida
Williebflorida@gmail.com
Author’s Note: Readers have asked me how I personally view the
Stripped For Florida program; is it a positive or negative thing,
utopian or dystopian, empowering or abusive? As a person I am both
inspired and appalled by human behavior. As an author I focus on
stories that elucidate how ordinary young people navigate the often
contradictory circumstances of life in contemporary Florida. WB
* * *
Chapter 8: Catch me up
I used to say that I stay in touch with my girls, but since working
with Michelle I’ve expanded my practice. I work with girls and boys,
and I also work with kids who fall into all sorts of other gender
conformations. I have to say that the world has gotten much more
interesting and young people are expressing themselves with much
greater nuance. Most kids still identify as a “girl” or a “boy” but in
the next beat they’ll qualify that with what those markers mean for
them, or what they’re unsure about, or still working out. Having worked
as a sexualizer for all these years, this makes total sense to me. A
tween or teen isn’t supposed to have figured it all out yet. This is
the age for looking both inward and at the outer terrain that we’re
asked to navigate in this lifetime.
I stay in touch with the
people I worked with when they were coming of age, as it were. But
there are young people who weren’t my clients, and I don’t have the
same access; I often can’t stay in touch. So it was that I was walking
out of the dental school clinic (why pay more than I need to for
something I hate doing) when someone called out to me.
“Mr. Brad!”
I looked over. A rather tall (statuesque, I believe is the term) young
woman was striding towards me. She had shoulder length honey-colored
curls and was wearing a stylish, flowered dress with an unbuttoned
white linen blouse.
“It’s me, Payton.”
I had hesitated, not entirely sure I’d recognized the person correctly, but also not sure what name they would be using.
“Payton!” I exclaimed. “It is so nice to see you. You look wonderful.”
“Thank you. I just came from my interview and wanted to look my best.
I’ve been working as a dental assistant, but I’ve decided to do the
full training. Become a full-fledged dentist.”
“Amazing,” I
replied. “I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. You weren’t actually my
client and I don’t always know what’s welcome or appropriate. I try not
to overstep.”
“Not at all,” Payton responded. “I could have
reached out to you. I’m still in contact with Michelle, so I know how
to find you!”
“Thanks for the reminder. I haven’t seen Michelle in awhile.”
“She’s probably in this hospital complex somewhere,” Payton laughed.
“At least dental school is easier than medical school. Or, at least I
hope it is!”
“So, catch me up. You’ve been working, planning to go to dental school…”
“Yeah, so I’m still living with my mom. Same property but different
house. After I started working I convinced my mom that if we pooled our
resources we could get one of those houses delivered. Not a doublewide.
Modular, I think they call them. They get built somewhere and the two
halves of the house are delivered. Literally, in the morning there is
just a foundation they’ve poured, and in the evening there’s a house,
all ready to live in. We walked in and everything was there, kitchen,
bathrooms, closets, you name it. Anyway, my mom’s got a boyfriend and
they’ve got their part of the house, and I’ve got my part. We share the
kitchen, which is just fine.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all made.”
“I’m really grateful,” Payton replied. “You met me when I was in a tough place, and it got worse for a little while.”
“I’m sorry if I contributed to that,” I said. “I mean, your mom might
have stripped you anyway, but I feel somewhat responsible.”
“No, no, not at all,” Payton insisted. “It was actually a good thing.
It got me out of the house and…well, I started going to clubs, meeting
boys.” Payton giggled. “I had a very long obsession with boys.”
“Nothing wrong with boys,” I replied.
“I knew, but I didn’t know, if you know what I mean.”
I waited.
“That I was a woman.”
“Mmmm.”
“Being stripped got me out and about and living my life, but it was
also difficult. I don’t think people realize that most trans folks
don’t get surgery.”
“That’s right,” I agreed. “I think it’s mostly top surgery. Otherwise, expense…”
“Or, we just don’t want to,” Payton said. “So, it was always like, when
are you going to cut off your dick? Don’t you wish you had boobs? When
I turned 21 it just got a lot easier. You know, I can dress like I feel
and go into an interview, no questions asked.”
“It’s good you weren’t stripped for life!”
“Like Michelle,” Payton replied.
“She doesn’t seem to mind,” I answered.
“My mom couldn’t have afforded it, thank God,” Payton said.
“So you got a lot of harassment in high school?” I asked.
“No. I didn’t mean it to sound like that. You know, I live in the
rural. It’s not like here in the city. There’s no rainbow flags or cute
signs on people’s lawns. People don’t like the government to tell them
what to do and they don’t like anyone else to tell them what to do
either. Not everyone is going to be your best friend, or tell you they
approve, but they let you go your own way.”
I nodded.
“Like, we don’t want the government telling us what to do with our
water, the springs, wells, all that, but we don’t want them stealing it
either. We don’t want the highway turned into a toll road and steal our
money. I don’t want them telling me what house I can have. I mean,
we’re not stupid. My mom and I knew the trailer wasn’t safe. Hell, we
worried about a hurricane or a flood just carrying it off. But what
else was I supposed to live in growing up? And as soon as I had the
money I improved my situation.”
“Yes, you certainly did that. Still are.”
“That’s how I see it. I don’t blame anyone for how I was raised or for
stripping me or any of that. How was anyone supposed to know if I was a
boy or a girl? I didn’t know myself! But, on my own time I’m improving
my situation.”
“You sound like a very put together young woman,” I declared.
“Thank you Mr. Brad. I always thought you were a good person.”
“That’s very generous of you. I have a thought.”
“Yes?”
“After I worked with Michelle, right after you first met me, I expanded
my practice to include boys. And, now, kids are much more fluid in how
they identify themselves. I’ve got kids who say they are trans, or
gender queer, or non-binary. I’m wondering if you’d be willing to meet
a client of mine, once in awhile, only if you have time. Just to share
your perspective.”
“I’d love to! Kids need as many people in
their lives as possible. I’m a strong believer in helping others. You
might not think of a dentist as being a helping profession, but that’s
partly much why I’m going into it.”
“Having just been to the
dentist,” I jokingly stroked the side of my jaw, “Actually, I’m sure
you will be an excellent dentist, not just the teeth part, but the
person part. We really need that in all the medical professions.”
“It’s been great chatting. I’m so glad I ran into you today. I have
another appointment. Wait,” Payton rummaged in a small white purse and
produced a card. “Here’s my contact info. Give me a call, or text. I’d
love to meet some young person and help out. And I’ll give Michelle
your regards.”
“That would be fine, but I’ll call her myself
as well, try to get together with her. You look stunning, Payton. What
an inspiration. Good luck with everything and I will be in touch.”
We bid our good-byes and I headed toward the parking garage.
***
Michelle and I sat across from one another at the outdoor food court.
It is one of those places that popped up during the pandemic and which
became a staple of the town. Tall pines towered overhead. Kids ran
around playing in and around the empty bus that offered indoor eating
space in case of rain. Michelle had popped over from the hospital
during her break. She wore a stethoscope and a laminated badge on a
lanyard around her neck, and somewhat incongruously had on a white
coat, unbuttoned with her name embroidered on the pocket. Otherwise she
was naked. Her skin was smooth and tanned from years of being exposed
to Florida sunshine. Her breasts protruded as firmly and beautifully as
ever.
“You’re looking good,” I said.
“Thank you. I’m sorry I don’t have much time. It’s been awhile.”
“Too long,” I agreed. “But, I understand. They don’t give you much time off.”
“I knew what I was getting into, but, you are right. Residency makes
the first part of medical school look like a walk in the park. It is
really inhumane. Double shifts, rotating schedules.”
“I mean, how do you even make good decisions after being on your feet for more than 12 hours?” I asked.
Michelle shrugged. “But it’s not all about me. How are you doing, Brad?”
“I ran into Payton! What a surprise.”
“Isn’t Payton great?” Michelle enthused. “I’m so proud of her. Going to dental school. Who would have thought?”
“Have you seen their new house?” I asked.
“No, but Payton says its wonderful. Her mom has a boyfriend, too.”
Payton winked at me. “Remember our first ‘double date’ at their place?”
“I guess it all turned out. I feel like I foisted myself on Brenda.
Pushed to have Payton stripped. Neither of them were my clients, so
I’ve always wondered if I stepped out of line.”
Michelle nodded. “I’m not going to disagree with you. But, somehow things did turn out for both of them.”
“The gray area I still deal with, as you know, is whether my client is
the parents who are paying me, and by Florida law have all the rights;
or the child. I always struggle with the conflict between the
legalities and the ethics.”
“As a doctor I’m going to be confronted with the same dilemmas,” Michelle replied.
“Your dad was completely baffled when you announced you were going to medical school.”
“Baffled is not the word. He was outraged. But he came around. I mean,
he paid for the whole thing. Thank goodness I got the in-state tuition
rate.”
“But, before he came around, he was pretty vindictive, at least in my opinion.”
“He stripped me for life. Thought that would be a sure way to block me
from ever becoming a doctor. ‘Those boobs are going to make your
future, young lady. Flaunt them, use them, they’re your birthright!’”
Michelle did a fairly good imitation of her father’s booming voice, and
then laughed.
“Is it hard to be the ‘naked doctor’?”
“Are you kidding? I’m the most popular resident on the floor! It’s not
just my dad who likes my boobs.” Michelle said. “But, seriously, this
is Florida. It’s still rare, but I’m not the only naked medic in the
hospital. I don’t know what it is about the helicopter crew, but I
swear, like 20% of them are stripped. Super buff, too. They stay in
shape!”
“You do have an eye for buff guys,” I teased. “How many boyfriends do you have?”
“Still the same three. Well, you know me, I sleep around a bit. But, the three.”
“And they all get along?” I wondered.
“They’ve met each other, but they all live in different cities, have
their own lives. I’m not really into classic polyamory, you know, where
everyone is supposed to be all cozy with everyone else, divide up the
tasks, be one big happy family. For me, it’s more like the sea captain
who has a woman in every port. Each of my guys is happy to see me when
I show up. Happy to have their own life when I’m away.”
“And you’re happy?”
“I’m busy. I’ll always be busy. Being a doctor is all consuming. But I
like having friends, and I like having partners, and I like having a
bit of fun on the side.”
“I can’t help thinking that your dad got a little bit of what he was hoping for. You know, all the guys falling for you.”
Michelle shrugged. “I don’t think that is at all what he had in mind.
My dad hasn’t met any of my boyfriends, but he’d be shocked at how
ordinary each of them is. No way am I an influencer or TV personality
or political spokesperson. But, as long as I emcee the Three Queens
event every year my dad’s thrilled.”
“I can’t believe the Three Queens has survived all these years.”
“You started it, but now it is a tradition. Band kids are sort of the
nerds of high school and its nice for them to have something special.
The kids nominate themselves, so no one’s being outed as the sex maniac
or the drag queen. And then I get to show up and crown them! Oh, and
parents have to sign off that if their kid is chosen to be a king or
queen that they’ll have them stripped on the spot, if they aren’t
already. In spite of everything, all these schools participate. It
helps that there’s a nice pay out to each band that participates, and a
big monetary award for the winning band. Basically it all comes down to
the financial incentive, thanks to a very generous anonymous donor.”
“Who wouldn’t happen to be your dad.”
“I can neither confirm nor deny.”
• • •