That evening Christine spoke to Sal on the phone. She invited us round to their apartment. I was surprised when neither Sal nor Marion opened the door. A fresh-faced young man, little more than a boy, opened the door. He was wearing a jalabaya.

He invited us in and asked as usual if we wanted tea. Marion came into join us. Ibrahim served the tea.

I was puzzled about Ibrahim. His skin was quite clear and his voice was high. Christine smiled at me. She said to Marion, ‘I don’t think our guest knows about your domestic arrangements.’

Marion explained, “There are four of us here. In addition to Sal and me, we have Ibrahim and Mustafa. They are eunuchs.’

Ibrahim smiled as he poured the tea. I was curious. ‘I did not know that there were eunuchs still around.’

‘Oh yes,’ said Ibrahim, ‘There are still a number of forced eunuchs. They can be bought in certain select markets. I spot them on the streets from time to time. They are usually servants of women. We do similar errands.’

‘You were not forced?’ I asked.

‘No, both Mustafa and I are voluntary eunuchs. We did not wish to become men and were castrated at puberty.’

‘How did it happen?’

‘We are both orphans, but from relatively rich extended families. Our cousins encouraged us to become eunuchs. We then could not split the inheritance further. They paid for the best medical treatment.

‘We were both late developers and saw what was happening to other boys. We did not want to become hairy with enormous genitals and discharges we could not control. We were friends and discussed the idea together.’

Marion said, ‘I was working as a hospital administrator at the time and the families approached me to arrange discreet medical treatment. I was fascinated and agreed to meet the boys to discuss the matter. They were both certain it would be better for them. To avoid them simply responding to family pressure, I arranged for them to stay with me for the weekend. I had just met Sal then and we talked to them about all the consequences.’

‘We examined them. Both were still pre-pubescent and did not have erections, even when we fondled their penises. Neither had been circumcised; their cocks were really quite pretty. Sal took some pictures, which we still have.’

‘Having discussed the options, the boys wanted complete emasculation. This was more expensive, but the families paid up. I arranged for them to done in a small clinic rather than a hospital. The operation involved some stretching of the skin in the public area to enable them to be ‘smoothies’ and this took some time to heal properly. But they are now smoother than any girl.

‘Show them, Ibrahim!’

Ibrahim lifted his jalabaya above his head and put it on the floor. He really was very pretty. His body was boy like in smoothness, but with a little more musculature. His crotch was a smooth V. There was no interruption of even the beginnings of the labia you see in women. I put my hand out to touch him between the legs. He did not back away. “Is that pleasant.’ I asked.

‘Oh yes, it is nice, but not intense. I think we gave them the idea for modification.’

Sal had come in and she said, ‘Yes, when we saw how calm Ibrahim and Mustafa were, we decided to join them, at least as far as we are able.’