A fourth-grader known to the world as George sneaks into the bathroom with a stash of magazines. They are not Playboys or other girlie magazines, however, but girly magazines in the sense of overflowing with articles about to have perfect skin, sassy summer haircuts, and whether a hottie likes you or not. George, however, really lingers over any photographs of girls in their natural living state: dresses, skirts, swimsuits, etc. These are just dreams for the kid, however, because George was born with a penis. Nevertheless, when looking into the mirror, George becomes Melissa: the ultimate dreamgirl. The girl George knows she really is despite any physical evidence which others might forward as the end-all facts of the case.
Fourth grade teacher Ms. Udell is teaching a unit on Charlotte’s Web and as part of the lesson, there will be a class production. George desperately wants to play title character. Ms. Udell, however, reminds George that Charlotte is, after all, a female spider. Instead, she insists that George would make a delightful Wilbur, the male pig. George refuses the “honor” and instead requests to become a part of the stage crew. Transgender dreams die hard, however, and opportunities that arise are never to be dismissed.
Thus, when George’s work backstage just so happens to primarily involve assisting the girl who is playing Charlotte—good friend Kelly—George is able to find a little bit of sunlight and happiness even in the face of teasing and taunting by bullies. Especially the class jerk, Jeff. So incensed is George by Jeff’s behavior that she ruins the bully’s shirt by broadcasting the truth for all the world to read: branding “Some Jerk” on the back. Jeff demands retribution in full bully currency by beating George past the point of vomiting.
Meanwhile, back at home, George’s stash of girly magazines has finally been discovered by mom who has already at some point in the past reacted quite negatively to discovering her “son” wearing one her skirts like a dress. While mom immediately assumes the evidence means only that George is gay, George makes the difficult decision to be honest about being Melissa to her brother, Scott, who accepts what George had feared would be a traumatic announcement with a surprisingly lack of shock and an absolute lack of negative judgment. Scott welcomes Melissa into the family with extraordinary aplomb.
But that is nothing compared to the reaction of Kelly. Kelly is ready and raring to accept Melissa as her best girl friend as well as giving George the inside skinny on everything having to do with wearing feminine clothing. Even more than that, however, is Kelly’s secret master plan for unveiling Melissa to her mother in a way that she will not be able to simply turn away from in another act of denial. There are to be two performances of the Charlotte’s Web play, one in the morning and another after school in the evening. Kelly will play Charlotte in the first performance, but then a switcheroo will take place just before evening performance.
Despite the underhanded sneaky qualities involved, everyone is stunned by George’s—now calling herself Melissa full time—completely convincing portrayal of not just a spider, but a definitely female spider. Even Ms. Udell and the school principal give rave reviews. So, too, does the mother of a son named George. But despite the recognition of what she sees, her review is not raves and accolades, but concern and fear. She accepts that her son George is destined to be her daughter Melissa, but also knows how incredibly difficult and even dangerous that path will be. Melissa responds by asserting that nothing could be more difficult than spending the rest of her life pretending to be George, her son.
The story ends on a delirious high for Melissa as Kelly uses all her experience to dress the friend she once knew as George in clothes she’s never worn in public before . This is all in preparation to a trip to zoo with Kelly’s Uncle Bill whose response to seeing Melissa is simply, “Kelly, who’s your lovely friend?”
