The School Bus Doesn’t Have To Be So Hair-Raising Anymore

(I’m a trans guy in high school. This means that I was raised as a girl but I’m really a boy. I’ve only started coming out to people this past year, and I usually try to make it as casual as possible without mentioning words like “trans,” as those tend to make people uncomfortable. At this point, I’ve been introducing myself as my new name and leaving it at that. We’ve changed bus drivers a few times this year for various reasons, but the latest one should be here to stay for a while. He knows me by a shortened form of my new name, which is somewhat gender neutral, so I’m always afraid that he thinks I’m a girl. I try to use my full new name around him or call myself a guy to make sure he knows, but I’m always a bit insecure. I also have waist-length hair. I’ve never had it cut, though, so I’m fairly attached to it. I compensate by hiding it under hoodies or shirts and keeping it in a ponytail. This takes place on a bus ride home after the driver and I have been talking for a while.)

Bus Driver: “Hey, can I ask you something?”

Me: “Sure.”

Bus Driver: “I don’t want you to get mad or anything, but have you ever cut your hair?”

Me: “Nope.”

Bus Driver: “Really? Cool! I like it.”

Me: “Really? I usually get, ‘are you Indian or something where guys can’t cut their hair?'” *I don’t look Indian in the slightest*

Bus Driver: “Seriously? I really like it. I used to have hair down to here.” *gestures* “I looked like some biker dude. I really like your hair, though. I don’t know why you keep it covered all the time.”

(I don’t know if he knows how great that made me feel. That may be the boost I needed to wear it down once in a while! Bus Driver, if you’re reading this, thank you so much!)