Summary

After Dr. Philobosian, now age eighty-eight but still practicing medicine, finally sees what he missed many years ago, and an endocrinologist at Henry Ford Hospital also confirms it, Milton and Tessie take Callie to Dr. Peter Luce in New York City. While Callie’s parents try to keep the atmosphere light, their decrepit accommodations, the Lochmoor Hotel, do not bode well for the visit. But, they all maintain the hope that whatever is “wrong” with Callie must be “fixable.”

Dr. Luce, a preeminent expert in gender identity and sexual disorders, observes Callie’s physical gestures and tics for hints about her gender identification. After a preliminary physical examination of genitals, he tells Milton and Tessie he wants to study Callie for a couple of weeks to determine the best course of action. Milton hears that a solution...