The elderly woman, Mrs. Evelyn Parker, entered the grand house with a sense of hope and nervous excitement. She wore her best light pink maid uniform with white accents, complemented by spotless white tights and a neatly pressed hat. Her small handbag was clutched in one hand, and she adjusted her posture to exude confidence as she was ushered into the formal living room where the interview would take place.

The employer, a young and sharply dressed man named Mr. Thomas Everett, greeted her with a polite smile and gestured for her to sit on a pristine cream-colored couch. Evelyn perched delicately on the edge, taking in her surroundings---gleaming floors, artfully arranged furniture, and a scent of fresh flowers.

"Mrs. Parker," Mr. Everett began, sitting across from her with a clipboard in hand. "Your resume is impressive. You've been working as a housekeeper for over three decades?"

"Yes, sir," Evelyn replied warmly. "I started young, mostly part-time after my children were grown. I've worked in many private homes, ensuring they were spotless and well-maintained."

Mr. Everett nodded. "I see. And your experience with larger properties?"

"Well," she said thoughtfully, "I've worked in a few homes of considerable size, though not as large as this one. I pride myself on attention to detail, no matter the scale."

As Mr. Everett jotted notes, Evelyn's heart swelled with pride. She felt the interview was off to a good start.

"What about meal preparation?" he continued, looking up from his clipboard. "Do you have experience with specific dietary requirements?"

Evelyn hesitated. "I've cooked simple meals, mostly comfort foods. If there are particular requirements, I'm willing to learn."

Mr. Everett's lips tightened slightly, though his smile remained. "And technology? This home uses a smart system for scheduling, cleaning, and inventory. Are you comfortable with devices like tablets and apps?"

Evelyn's confidence faltered. "I...I'm not very familiar with those, sir. But I'm eager to learn and can adapt quickly."

Mr. Everett nodded politely but made another note. Evelyn couldn't read his expression, but she felt the shift in the room. She reminded herself to focus and pressed on.

"I noticed you've had part-time roles," he said. "What makes you interested in transitioning to a full-time position now?"

Evelyn offered a kind smile. "My children are all grown, and I'd like to dedicate myself fully to one household. I believe I can offer consistency and a warm presence."

During the interview, the Trait Swapper happened by and swapped the lives of Evelyn and Thomas. Thomas found himself sitting on the cream-colored couch being interviewed. Although his body hadn't changed, he was wearing a pink maid uniform with white accents with white tights. Under that, he wore a Playtex 18-hour bra and white full-cut panties. The cups of the bra lay flat against his chest as he didn't have any breasts and there was a bulge in his panties caused by his penis. Although he didn't know anything about his transformation, his life had completely changed...even his name. He had become Mrs. Evelyn Parker.

"That's admirable," Mr. Thomas Everett replied, glancing back at the notes. "How do you handle situations where household members have strict privacy requirements?"

Evelyn's (the former Thomas Everett) mind raced, sensing his growing disinterest. "I've always respected boundaries, sir. Discretion is something I value highly."

The conversation continued with more questions about efficiency, handling emergencies, and managing demanding schedules. Though he answered each to the best of his ability, he noticed how 'Mr. Everett's' gaze drifted occasionally, her tone becoming increasingly formal.

By the time she closed her clipboard, Evelyn's heart sank. "Thank you for coming, Mrs. Parker," she said, standing. "We'll be in touch."

Evelyn forced a smile as he shook her hand, but deep down, he knew. The modern demands of the job, the tech-savvy skills he lacked---they all painted a picture of someone else, not him. As he walked to the door, he kept his head high, determined to leave with dignity.

Outside, the brisk air stung his cheeks as he thought about his answers, replaying the interview in his mind. I gave it my best, he told himself.

As Evelyn walked home from the interview, his thoughts swirled with disappointment and uncertainty. The cool breeze seemed to mock him, carrying whispers of his failed attempt at securing the job. He was so sure that he would get the job. Halfway through the job seemed like it would be his, but something happened in the middle and it was downhill from there. He tightened his grip on his purse, trying to decide who to confide in first. Four names came to mind, each offering a different kind of solace---or complication.

Evelyn felt a pang of guilt as he thought of Paige. His daughter's upcoming wedding was the very reason Evelyn had applied for the job in the first place. Paige had been so excited when Evelyn told her about the opportunity, gushing about how proud she was of her 'mom' for taking on something new. "But how can I tell her I failed?" Evelyn wondered. Paige already had so much on her plate, and Evelyn didn't want to add to her stress---or risk her daughter feeling guilty for Evelyn's struggles.

Yet, there was also a sense of obligation. Paige deserved to know, especially since Evelyn's financial support was tied to her happiness.

Sonya's face came to Evelyn's mind next, bringing a small smile despite his disappointment. They had been friends for nearly fifty years (despite Evelyn now being a thirty-year-old man, at least in body), sharing secrets, joys, and heartbreaks. Sonya would listen without judgment and probably crack a joke to lighten the mood. "She's always been my rock," Evelyn thought, comforted by the idea of his friend's understanding smile and warm hug.

But Evelyn hesitated. Sonya had a knack for digging deeper, and Evelyn wasn't sure he was ready for the inevitable "Why did you even want that job, Ev?" conversation. The truth about Paige's wedding expenses---and the affair with Travis---might slip out if Evelyn wasn't careful.

Evelyn sighed as he thought of Carl. They'd been married for over 30 years, but their relationship had grown distant and strained. Once, he might have shared his disappointment with him, but now the thought felt foreign. "Would he even care?" he wondered bitterly. Lately, Carl seemed more interested in his hobbies than in Evelyn's feelings.

Still, there was a small voice inside him that yearned for his support, for a reminder of the man he fell in love with decades ago. "Maybe this could be a moment to reconnect?" he thought, though he doubted it. Carl wasn't one for emotional conversations, especially when things didn't go as planned.

Finally, Evelyn's thoughts turned to Travis. He was his secret, his escape, the one who made him feel seen and valued in ways Carl no longer did. Travis would undoubtedly listen with patience, offer comforting words, and probably even tell him that he didn't need that job anyway---that he deserved better.

But there was a risk in confiding in him. Every conversation with Travis came with a tinge of guilt, a reminder of the double life he was leading. "Would sharing this failure with him make me feel better, or worse?" he wondered.

As she reached her car, Evelyn stood still, clutching the door handle as his thoughts settled. Each person offered a different kind of comfort but also carried their own complications. Who he chose to tell first would depend on what he truly needed at this moment: unconditional support, practical advice, or simply a listening ear.

Evelyn took a deep breath. "I'll start with Sonya." she thought, stepping inside the car and closing the door behind him. Evelyn gets her phone out of her purse and calls Sonya, asking Sonya to meet her at 'the diner'. Evelyn didn't need to tell her which one, She knew that Sonya would know.

Evelyn sat at a corner table in the cozy diner, stirring his coffee absentmindedly as he waited for Sonya to arrive. He hadn't shared much on the phone, only that he needed to talk. As soon as Sonya walked in, her warm smile lit up the room, and Evelyn felt a bit of the weight on his shoulders lift. Sonya slid into the booth across from him and waved the waitress off, saying, "Just a tea for now, thanks."

"What's going on, Ev?" Sonya asked, leaning in with genuine concern.

Evelyn sighed, pushing his cup aside. "The interview. It didn't go the way I hoped."

Sonya's brow furrowed. "Oh no, what happened? You were so excited."

"I was," Evelyn admitted, his voice wavering. He recounted the morning in detail---the nervous excitement, the way Mr. Everett's questions started feeling more like barriers, and the moment he realized he wouldn't get the job. "I could see it in his eyes, Sonya. I just... I wasn't what he was looking for."

Sonya reached across the table and took Evelyn's hand. "Oh, honey. I'm sorry. That must've been hard."

"It was," Evelyn admitted, fighting back tears. "I thought I had it, you know? I thought I could still prove I'm worth something."

Sonya squeezed his hand. "Hey now, none of this 'worth something' nonsense. You're Evelyn Parker, the strongest person I know. Remember how we used to sit in my parents' living room, dreaming about the future? We didn't think we'd ever get a job, or a man, for that matter." She chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

Evelyn smiled weakly. "Yeah, we thought we were doomed to live with our parents forever."

"And look at you now!" Sonya said with a grin. "You've done more than most people ever dream of. You raised three kids, ran a household, and still managed to look fabulous doing it."

Evelyn chuckled, wiping his eyes. "I don't know about fabulous..."

"Well, I do," Sonya said firmly. "And let me tell you something---you've got perseverance, Ev. You always have. This job wasn't meant to be, but the right one will come along. Maybe it's time to think about something different."

"Different? Like what?" Evelyn asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Like what I do," Sonya said, leaning back in his seat. "Being a nanny. You're great with kids, and you've got all that experience raising your own. Why not give it a shot? I could even put in a good word for you with the agency I work for."

Evelyn tilted his head, considering the idea. "A nanny, huh? I've never thought about it. But I suppose... I mean, I have raised three children."