Ladyboys are like hobbits: travels with a ladyboy

Ladyboys are like hobbits; they have big feet. Although, and fortunately, not usually hairy. My dearest and truest friend, my distant confidante and beloved adopted sister, Andie, is sitting on the brown vinyl sofa in my rented condo in Pasig. She has delicately hoisted the hem of her long floral skirt with one hand and with the other she is holding one of her slippers -- flipflops in Filipino -- against her leg. 'Ugh,' she says. 'You see? My feet are longer than half the length of my shin.' She drops the slipper and the hem and takes to regarding her feet with evident distaste, elbow on knee, chin cupped in her hand. She wiggles her toes. 'I could possibly cut them off,' she muses. 'I should cut them off.' She nods decisively. 'I'll cut them off.' 'But I can't.' She seems displeased with herself and scowls. 'You cut them off,' she says, fixing me with her hypnotic gaze. 'What?' I exclaim, unable to stand the suspense. 'Cut what off?' 'My toes. Cut