Picture is AI, story is mine.

The cloudburst had caught Carl completely by surprise.

Desperate to get out of the rain, he had ducked into the nearest Charity Shop to shelter, as well as to find something to wear so he could get home without getting drenched.

He couldn’t shelter in the shop long, as it was going to close, so he asked the woman behind the counter if she had any ideas.

“If we have anything, it’ll be on the shelf over there”, she said, with a smile. “Most raincoats are unisex, so anything on there should look ok. I’m Jennie, by the way.”

Carl rooted through the clothes. For some reason, he paused on a particular raincoat.

This raincoat was semi-transparent, with a pearlescent sheen. It looked a little ‘girly’, but was good quality and long, reaching down to his ankles.

Deciding, he bought the coat, put it on, and went back out into the rain to head home.

However, when he left the shop, he turned in the opposite direction, and started walking up the road, instead of down.

He also hadn’t realised Jennie had locked up behind him, and was now walking with him, holding his hand.

“It’s Ok, sweetie”, she says, “I understand your confusion. Just come with me…”

Carl, still trying to turn back, looks at her, trying to speak.

Jennie, still smiling, lent over and kissed him.

“Calm down, little one”, she said, trying to reassure him all the time. “It’s ok. You’re just where you need to be…”

After some walking, the pair got back to Jennie’s flat.

“Now”, Jennie said, after they had got in, “Let’s see how you’ve turned out, shall we?”

Jennie undid Carl’s raincoat, took it off, and looped it over the banister.

She then steered Carl into the bathroom, and parked him in front of the mirror…

A woman stared back. A short, brunette woman, with a cute face and smile.

“Hello, Carla…”, said Jennie…