Missing- A key to the closet

I meant to write this blog months ago when it was fresh in my head, but I had a moral dilemma over it. As much as I have always said no matter how embarrassing the story is I will always write about it. I never mention names so no one can be embarrassed, but this one was really tough. I felt like I was crossing a line. But like everything it has a reason for happening, and in this case I think it serves as a privacy warning to us all. So I will start from the beginning, its only a short story, highly embarrassing all round, but might will make you chuckle- and me blush!

Once upon a time I received a message from a guy online. Lets call him Bob.  I checked out his profile- pictures a little bit grainy, no massive description, but nothing that should raise alarm bells or my excellent spidey powers.  So we started chatting- nothing deep and meaningful just the usual.  He didn't have any children, was not a massive football fan or beer drinking drunk, so when he suggested meeting for coffee on a Sunday lunchtime I thought what the hell I have nothing else planned. So we traded numbers.

That evening I was sofa surfing with my daughter and her boyfriend, watching the tele and just chilling out.  As a seasoned multi-tasker I started scrolling through my contacts on my phones  Facebook messenger.

Here's a tip for anyone who didn't know- the messenger syncs your phone contacts and adds to the list anyone on your phone to the messenger app if they have Facebook. They don't have to be on your friends list, but you can still see their public profile.

So suddenly up pops a name I don't recognise- for privacy sake lets say it said Shirley Temple. So obviously I take a look. I scroll through a few pictures, and can't seem to work out how I would know this person. So I decided to take a closer look at the pictures. It suddenly dawned on me that this woman, was or had been at some stage a man ! At this point my brain started working overtime. I started to scroll back across at the profile pics of Sundays coffee date and compare them to Shirley.
At this point my face was showing signs of confusion. So much so that my daughters boyfriend looked at me and asked if I was okay. I needed a second opinion, so I showed them the photos. They agreed with me that Shirley had to be him- the features matched up. I sat there in shock. Now I'm no prude, but to come across something like this was a bit mind blowing ! So I sent "Bob" a message. I explained I had been scrolling through my contacts and Shirley had popped up. It appeared to be connected to his phone number- how weird.   It took Bob an hour to reply.- actually just checked my phone- correction 2 and a half hours to reply. He said
 "That's strange. I did lend my phone to a friend the other week. They must have added my number to messenger and made a fake profile. Ill have to find out what they have done"
my reply- blunt I know but I was in shock
"Can't be that. This profile page has been running for a fair few years by the looks of it"
Another half hour wait and Bob texts back
"The only thing I can do is be honest and truthful. Yes I do cross dress. Yes I was going to tell you.  Shirley is my alter ego. Never realised that it matches up names and numbers on Facebook messenger.  I try to keep it a secret as family, friends and work don't know. If you feel that now u cant meet me I totally understand. Sorry again for telling a white lie."

At this point I kind of felt sorry for him.Poor bloke , some random woman has stumbled across his big secret.  I told him that as much as I admired his now honesty I didn't think I could handle it. He tried to persuade me that he now only dresses from time to time and he would try to make sure it didn't impact on my life. Thing is in my head I knew if I meet him I wouldn't be able to look at him without wondering or worst still giggling ! Plus how could it not impact on my life- he would have more lovely dresses than me and probably more shoes !


Once I got over the shock I called a very open minded male friend. Told him the story and showed him the pictures. His response -" He looks far better as a woman"  I hate to admit but I started to laugh ! It all suddenly seemed so funny. I have no issues with how anyone chooses to dress, or live or make themselves happy, just I wouldn't like to stumble across anyone's secret like that. It felt like I was invading their privacy.  The moral of this story is that everyone needs to keep a check on what they put out there on line. I am used to coming across peoples profiles of guys who are actually in relationships or have other names in real life to their screen dating profile, but a whole closet of secrets should be kept well hidden.