The Gowns - A dream's fulfillment

At Drea's suggestion from Jessica C

Jay had years earlier kissed Billy as they were wrestling as boys often do but without the kiss.

"What did you do that for, yuck" Billy said?

"You're the one who said best friends were way better than making over girls who don't understand," replies Jay.

It was truer in Billy's mind than Jay knew, but Billy wasn't ready to admit it. Billy was at least a year and a half older than Jay. He knew his affection for this tender friend was unusual and not understood by many. Jay was ten then and in fourth grade and Billy was in sixth.

The only contact they had at school was when others tried to pick on or hurt Jay. A number of Jay's friends Lisa, Jane and little Joe knew enough to let Billy know when problems arose.

It wasn't that Jay was naive or ignorant; he knew he was different. But he was ten when Billy seemed to step into his world saying "the love of best friends like them was most special."

Today when Billy's mom asked for help with their garage sale, it was something the Mom liked. Jay had come over from piano practice and his dress pants and nice shirt weren't particularly right for the task. Billy threw him a pair of jeans and a sweat shirt better suited for the task. They were old extras that his sister Jan didn't mind to be used.

Jay's hair was long enough to put into a ponytail, but Jay usually waited until Bllly's mom was tired of it being in his eyes, then she pinned it back. Billy needed Jay's help with a few things that took two people to handle. Then he sent Jay to help his mom get things from the house. She had clothes in boxes to go on the tables and those on hangers to go on a rack. There were household nick knacks, old jewelry and hair accessories, books, and toys galore, including dolls and accessories.

"Jay, you are a god send most boys wouldn't be caught dead putting some of these items out," she said. She caught him as he passed by and brushed his hair out of his eyes and into a ponytail. Neither Jay nor Billy would ever tell her, her ponytails were more appropriate for her daughters than Jay.

"I don't mind, I kind of wish guy's stuff was half as nice. I don't get the idea of soldiers and shooting someone." A settler's life was as exciting as being an astronaut. The challenges are real and it takes a mature man or woman to handle it."

They were about done and the boys were looking around waiting in case Billy's mom wanted something moved or arranged differently.

Jay made his way to the rack of clothes again and again. It was not the jacket he usually grabbed that really had his attention. It was a dress of Billy's twin sister. Billy's mom knew what he was looking at and couldn't let it pass.

"Your Mom makes them better and like you say girl's stuff is much better," she said as though she was reading his mind. She lifted the dress off the rack and held it up to show. "What do you think of it?"

"It's very pretty, if I were a girl I would like it," Jay said.

"If you are up for pretending you could take it to the girls' room and try it on. I think it is close to your size." Jay was quiet way too long and he had started to reach for the hanger before he quickly withdrew his hands back. "If you can't give yourself permission, I will change it to an order. When you're changed let Billy come and tell me so I can see how it looks."

by Jessie C