Over the next couple of weeks the family slowly adjusted; Jenny hadn't had much to adjust to, in her eyes, but Mark and Karen were finally becoming comfortable with their new parts. The only thing worrying them was that Benny was probably due for his period, were he to actually have one. He looked essentially the same, at least, if he had changed he hadn't told anyone.
Benny was unaware of this; Karen hadn't figured out how to tell him in a way that could prepare him. They both figured it was best to let him find out on his own, and find out he did. An ear-piercing scream came from the upstairs bathroom that had Karen, Mark and Jenny running up there to see what was wrong.
Benny was in hysterics, even more so than when he'd first realized the change, crying about being sick and dying. Jenny screaming "Eww!" and running out didn't help matters. It took Karen and Mark a good fifteen minutes to calm him down enough to talk to him.
"This is just a natural part of being a girl, Benny. All girls bleed like this once a month. It shows our - their - bodies are ready to have children." Karen calmly explained to him, smiling, and Mark nodded.
"B-but I don't want to have kids!" This only intensified his wailing, and they could only barely speak over him. "It doesn't mean you need to have kids, it means you can if you choose to, dear."
"I finished my period only a few days ago, honey. And I'm not going to have children yet. Maybe not ever, even with your mom. It's just not something I want to do." Mark smiled at him, and Benny almost smiled back. At least he wasn't going through this alone... but had dad called him honey?
So it was just another part of being a girl that he didn't like. Benny was relieved that he wasn't hurt and wouldn't need to have kids, but... "How long does it last?" He asked, looking up at his mom. "It lasts a few days. You'll get used to it, dear. You'll have to. I've already got some pads for you to wear."
She smiled and walked off; dad followed, and for the first time all day, Benny smiled too.
