Catwalk Confidence - Part 30

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Catwalk Confidence
by Connie Alexander


Copyright  © 2010 Connie Alexander

You spend your entire life thinking you’re just like any other boy, when you suddenly find out you aren’t, trying to adjust can be difficult.

 


 

Part 30

I’m really quiet on the way back home and after assuring Mom that I’m okay, I just stare out the window thinking.

Thank goodness that it’s Friday. Amanda doesn’t have any in-office appointments on Friday afternoons. She likes to keep the time open for emergencies. Hopefully this qualifies.

As soon as we get to the house, I grab the phone and head up to my room. I sure hope Amanda isn’t in the middle of something.

She isn’t and for the next hour we talk things through. It isn’t as good as being in her office, but I’m sure glad I can go over everything with her. She really is good at helping me sort my thoughts out.

A couple of hours later, I hear a soft knocking at my door.

“It’s open.”

Mom sticks her head in and asks, “May I come in?”

“Sure thing. I think I’m finally done.” I put down my sketchbook and pastel chalk that I have been working with.

“You doing okay, honey?” Mom comes over and sits next to me on my bed.

“Yeah, I talked to Amanda for about an hour, and then I needed to do some thinking so I’ve just been doing some art.”

“What are you working on?”

“You know that self-portrait that I’ve been trying to do for the past six months? Well, I’ve completed it. Wanna see it?”

At her nod, I hand her my sketchpad.

“I finally figured out what was causing me the trouble with that, why I could never draw myself. Once I did, I had no trouble completing it. This is who I am, Mom.”

Mom opens up the pad. “Oh, honey. Are you sure, I mean really, really sure?”

“Yes I am, Mom, this is what I am. I know that now.”

“It’s beautiful, honey. I love you so much, baby.”

With that, we embrace and quietly cry in each other’s arms. After a bit, we settle down and are just sitting on the bed, holding each other’s hands.

“So, Mom, do you think everyone will be okay with this?”

“I know they will, honey. May I have this? I want have it framed.”

“Sure thing, Mom. Um, do you think that when I get the operation that they’ll be able to make me, you know, look normal? I guess that’s my biggest worry right now. Well, actually getting an operation is probably number one, but looking normal is a real close second.”

“Yes, honey, I’m sure they can. We’ll make sure that you get the best plastic surgeon we can, honey.”

“Great. Um, when can we tell everyone else?”

“Well, I think we need to tell your father right away, but your announcement to the boys will have to be tomorrow. The boys are out tonight. I suppose you can tell Ellen whenever you want to. Okay?”

“Sure. Is Dad home yet?”

“Yep, want to tell him now?”

“Yeah, I don’t know why, but I’m awful nervous about this.”

“Don’t be, sweetie; he’s going to be just as happy as I am once he’s sure that this is really what you want.”

***

Mom and I go down to Dad’s office and Dad waves us in as he finishes up a phone call. Mom and I go in and sit on the loveseat.

“Well, to what do I owe the honor of this visit? Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”

“Alex has something she needs to tell you, honey.”

Dad turns and looks at me.

“Um, well Dad, I’ve been thinking, you know about the decision that I need to make. Well, I’ve really been thinking on this and I’ve talked to Amanda about it, and well you see Dad, I, um I’m a girl. I know that now. I want to have the doctors fix things so I’m fully a girl, you know, the operation.”

“You sure, sweetheart? This is something that you want, not what you think anyone else wants for you? This is what will make you happy?”

“Oh, Daddy, I don’t know if it will make me happy, I just know that it’s right, that this is who and what I am. It’s so hard to explain, but as a boy, it’s like everything has been slightly out of focus. As a girl, everything is clear and sharp. Will this make me happy? I don’t know, but I do know I can’t BE happy any other way. This will at least give me the chance.”

Dad comes over and pulls me into a hug.

“You haven’t called me ‘Daddy’ since you were little. Okay then, if this is truly what you want and is going to give you the best chance at happiness, then we’ll make arrangements to get things taken care of.

“We’ll talk to Dr. Martin and Dr. Rivera and see what their opinion is and if they can make some recommendations as to some good plastic surgeons and well, we’ll get you all fixed up, honey.”

“Thank you, Dad, thank you so much. I love you guys.”

***

After our little emotional group hug, I go back upstairs feeling better than I have in a very long time. It’s almost like my feet don’t even touch the ground, I feel that good.

Back in my room, I change into my two-piece swimsuit. I figure that I can get in some quality swim time before dinner.

I really love having a pool and even more so, one with a diving board. I’m practicing my diving, doing flips and twists. I move from doing a half gainer up to a one-and-a-half gainer, then start practicing my inward dives. These are a bit more nerve-racking as I always think I’m going to hit the board, but I think they look the best, especially the inward pike.

After doing my diving, I just float back and enjoy the water. At least I am until a large splash almost drowns me. Sputtering from the water that hits my face, I’m twisting around trying to find the offender when someone suddenly grabs my ankles and pulls me under.

I come up sputtering to find Ellen grinning impishly at me. With a growl I’m after her and soon we’re both squealing and laughing as we each try to get the better of the other.

When we’re both exhausted, we climb out and collapse in the loungers.

“Ellen, you’re a brat, but it was fun.”

“Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself.”

“You’re not really sorry, are you?”

“Hmm, nope, not really. Oh before I forget, Monkey called and he’s going to stop by after dinner. He’s put all of the footage he shot on a DVD and wants to show it to us. He says this is the first part of the payment he owes you so there won’t be any editing on this.”

“Cool, I can’t wait. It’ll be neat to see myself doing a run. Um, Ellen?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve decided, I talked to Amanda and I’ve told Mom and Dad. I’m going to get the operation. You’re stuck with having a sister.”

Ellen lets out a squeal and grabs me. She’s jumping up and down with me in her arms saying, “Oh, Alex, I’m so happy for you!”

We end up falling back into the pool and Ellen almost drowns me in her excitement and finally I have to break free just so I can get some air. “So, Ellen, tell me what you really think.”

We both start laughing and after we’ve climbed back out and rested, we go in and get changed for dinner. Tonight is going to be burgers on the grill and corn on the cob. Yummy.

I take a quick shower and after putting on a pair of shorts and a tank top, I go back downstairs to see if I can help with dinner.

Dad’s out grilling the burgers and everything else is done so I help Ellen set the table and am soon munching down on a nice juicy burger and trying to get a piece of corn from between my two front teeth. Does it get any better than this or what?

We’re just finishing up in the kitchen after dinner when Monkey shows up.

Ellen lets him in and I say, “Hey, Monkey, thanks for bringing this over so fast.”

“Always my pleasure to come over to the house of babes. Oh, ah hello, Mr. and Mrs. Conners.”

Ellen and I are laughing at his discomfort, and Mom and Dad are smiling. Mom says, “Always a pleasure to have you over, Monkey.”

“Thanks, Mrs. C. Say, this is some groovy stuff we have here: want to check it out with us? It’s real cool.”

“We’d love to.”

With that, we all go into the family room.

Monkey goes over to load the DVD into the player and is explaining what is on it.

“Well, as I said, this is some really heavy sh... um, stuff. I mean what Alex does is really amazingly cool stuff. I can’t stay long but I did want to get this over here so you can see it. Now keep in mind, nothing has been edited, this is just raw footage. All I did was put all the video in one place. I’ve still got a ton of editing to do to get it to look the way I want it to. Ready?”

At our nods, he presses ‘Play’ and the pictures begin.

The film starts with me stretching and getting ready for the first part of the run, going up the side of the parking garage. When the film changes to another of the cameras, we’re given a side view of Ellen. The camera pans down, then slowly up, pauses at her butt then back up to her face where it zooms in for her full profile.

I start laughing as this is obviously the camera that Walt was using. As soon as Ellen starts to turn in the film, the camera quickly moves to show me.

Ellen is blushing and we’re all chuckling.

The film continues as I start the run and go up the side of the parking garage. It is so cool watching me do this. I’ve never had this perspective before.

Next we’re on top of the garage and I’m running along the top of the rail, then over the side to the next level.

I can hear Mom and Dad give little exclamations as I go through my run. Just wait ’til I get to the jump.

We continue to laugh whenever Walt gets Ellen in the shot. One time there was a very lingering shot of Ellen’s butt. Ellen is blushing and telling us to cut it out. I just say, “Well Ellen, you do have a nice butt, nothing to be ashamed of.”

Ellen just throws a pillow at me in reply.

Next is the alley jump and it’s incredible to watch. I almost do look like I’m flying. I’m busy trying to figure out what all of this reminds me of when I catch Mom and Dad’s quick intake of breath.

I look over and their eyes are riveted to the screen.

“This is so cool, isn’t it, Mom and Dad? Wait until you see the end.”

They don’t even reply and the action continues. Eventually we get to the last scene and I find myself holding my breath.

I’m up on the edge of the rail along the top of the garage and my back is to the camera. The next instant I’m falling straight down. Even knowing how I did it, it still looks like it’s uncontrolled until I reach the last point and I’m suddenly springing back, twisting in my layout position and landing. There’s a great shot of my face as I hold my position. My eyes are alight, I’m breathing heavily and I have a very self-satisfied smile on my face.

Ellen and I are cheering Monkey and slapping him on the back.

“Oh, Monkey, I’m so glad you talked me into letting you film me. This was just so cool. I can’t wait until you have everything all edited together.”

“Me too. I told you this would blow your mind. Well I really do have to split. As soon as the editing is done, I’ll let you know. Later, babes. Later, Mr. and Mrs. C.”

Ellen and I escort Monkey to the door. All three of us are chattering away about the film all at the same time.

When Ellen and I get back to the family room, Mom and Dad are gone, so Ellen and I sit and watch it all again.

“Gosh, Ellen, this is so cool. I never thought it would look like this. I wonder how he’s going to cut it all together. Say, this whole thing is tickling my brain and I just can’t figure it out. What does all of this remind you of?”

“Remind me of? What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure and I’m not sure that I can point to any one thing but it’s just bugging me. Nothing stands out to you?”

“Well…”

“Alex?”

I turn and there’s Mom and Dad. It looks like something is up.

“Yeah, Dad? Say what did you guys think of all of that? Pretty cool don’t cha think?”

“Yes, it was very exciting, in fact it almost gave your mother and I a heart attack. That’s part of what we need to discuss with you.”

They come and sit across from Ellen and me.

“Gee, Dad, Mom, I’m sorry about that. Honest, I didn’t know how it would look on film myself.”

“Well, honey,” said Mom, “It’s not that so much, our concern is you could have been seriously injured doing all of that, or worse.”

“Oh no, really, Mom, it isn’t as bad as it looks like on film. Really it isn’t.”

Dad says, “Alex, honey, this is your Mother’s and my fault. We should have been more aware of exactly what your running entailed. We just assumed that you did all of this on the ground.”

“Wha...what are you saying?”

“What we’re saying, honey, is we don’t think that you should be doing this across rooftops. Your mother and I can’t, as parents and as people who love you so very much, allow you to do this so high that you can get seriously hurt. I’m sorry, honey.”

“Bu...but, Dad…Mom, you don’t understand, I’m really, really careful when I do this. I scope out all of my runs ahead of time and double-check to make sure that there isn’t anything around that would trip me up or hurt me. Really, I’m very careful.”

“We know you are, sweetheart,” says Mom, “it’s just that accidents can and do happen. If you had slipped taking off from that roof for your jump, you’d now be in the hospital at best. The worst is something I can’t even contemplate.”

Tears are running down my face, but I’m trying real hard to be calm about this. I know that throwing a tantrum about this would only make things worse.

“But you saw, everything was fine. No slips or anything. I’m really good at this. Please don’t take this away. Please.”

Dad said, “But accidents do happen, honey. They’re out of your control. But let’s say for the sake of argument that you have a magic pill that means you’d never get hurt. You’re running across private property. Your jumping could cause damage to that property and if that happens, we’re liable.

“The fact of the matter is though, there isn’t a magic pill and your mother and I just can’t let you take the risk. Going forward, you can’t go higher than ten feet and you have to stay off of all rooftops.

“We’re very sorry, honey.”

Looking at my Mom and Dad through my tears I can tell that this upsets them too, that makes it even harder. Crying, I run to my room, mourning something that means so very much to me.

***

I go up to my room and close the door. I just want to be alone. I know I am just feeling sorry for myself. I know that Mom and Dad are right and just don’t want me to get hurt, but losing the Parkour really hurts.

At some point, Mom, Ellen and even Dad come by to see if they can comfort me. I tell them all to go away. I’m not looking to be comforted: I’m looking to be alone.

Eventually I feel the need to do something, if not sure what. I finally decide that a bath might do the trick.

I start the water and add some of the lavender bath oil that Ellen gave me. I strip off my clothes and ease myself into the hot water.

I am just sitting back feeling sorry for myself when I realize that I am staring at the razor blade that’s in there. Picking it up I realize it is the same type I had used on my wrist. I take the blade in my hand and move it along the thin pale line that is along the inside of my forearm.

Shuddering, I quickly throw it into the trashcan. Gods, how could I have ever done that? The memory almost nauseates me. No, that’s not the answer, it never is.

I let the warm water and the scent of lavender relax me until eventually I realize that the water is cooling down. I get up and dry off and slip into my sleep tee shirt and crawl into bed. Sleep is a long time in coming.

***

When morning comes, I can tell that it’s not going to be a good one. I wake up in a bad mood, with a headache and feeling slightly nauseous.

I decide that a run before anything else may help. I may not be able to do the rooftop Parkour anymore, but a run to the marina and back may help things.

I get up and dress and I’m out the front door before anyone knows it. As I round the corner of our block, I hear Ellen calling out to me.

Damn it, I want to be alone. I’m far enough away that I think I can plausibly ignore her so I keep on going.

Despite putting on a bit more speed than what I normally run at, Ellen catches up with me at MLK Park when I pause to drink some water.

“Hey there, I’ve been trying to catch up with you. Didn’t you hear me?”

“Oh, hey, Ellen. Sorry, have a bunch of stuff on my mind this morning. So is it your job to make sure I don’t go leaping across the rooftops?”

At her hurt look, I quickly apologize.

“Oh geeze, Ellen. I’m sorry. I’m in a grumpy mood this morning and I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

“Hey, what are sisters for? So where are you off to this morning?”

“Nowhere in particular. I kinda thought I’d go to the bay then up to the marina then back.”

“Okay if I keep you company?”

“Well, you’ve come this far, you might as well. You already know what a bitch I am this morning, so you can’t say you aren’t warned.”

We smile at each other and off we go. Soon we’re at the pedestrian walkway that goes across the Bayshore Freeway. The ramp down isn’t that far from the roof of a motel and I’m thinking that it would be cool to hop the fence, spring to the roof and go! With a sigh, we make our way down and continue to the bay.

When we reach the bay, we turn north and head to the yacht club. The wind off the water feels nice, but I’m soon regretting not having warmed up prior to running. I am beginning to get a stitch and I’m not able to run it out.

By time we reach the marina, I’m really glad for the chance to slow things to a walk. We just meander down the walkway that leads to the different piers. Most of the boats aren’t real big, but there are a couple of big ones and one that is absolutely huge is down on the end.

I wish we could get a closer look but the entrances to the piers are fenced and have little gate house thingies to keep the riff-raff away. I guess that would be us.

As we walk, Ellen is talking and I’m watching the people on the big yacht down at the end. The boat is heading out and it looks like everyone onboard is having a good time.

As I watch them pull away, I notice a small figure at the back of the boat. It looks like a little blonde girl in a colorful dress. She can’t be more than four or five. As I look, the little girl is suddenly taller, and then she’s falling over the side. I watch horrified as she strikes the small platform that is behind the boat before bouncing off and into the water.

“Oh my god! Ellen, call 911!”

“What!?”

“That little girl, she just fell off and into the water. Call 911 now!”

With that, I’m off. I’m flying down the walkway yelling, trying to get someone’s attention. As I approach the little gatehouse, I know I don’t have any time to waste so I pick up speed just before reaching it. I make my jump and get most of the way up the fence. Grabbing the edge of the roof I pull hard and I go up and over.

I hit the other side and I hardly even break stride as I head down the pier. I can’t see any sign of the little girl and I just pray that I’m not too late.

Just before I reach the end of the pier, I begin to hear yelling from behind me. Not even slowing down I do a racing dive into the water, heading to where I hope to find the girl. There is still no sign of her.

It’s a long dive and when I hit the water, the coldness of it is shocking. I didn’t expect it to be this cold for some reason.

I’m looking frantically around for any sign of the child and I don’t see her. Almost weeping, I take a big breath and dive. The water is so dark and murky. I can barely see anything and am frantically looking in all directions, hoping for any sign. I go deeper and deeper. Just as my lungs feel like they’re about to burst, I catch a glimpse of white.

Kicking frantically, I’m after it and soon see a small white hand and a cloud of blonde hair. I grab the arm and shoot to the surface.

I reach the surface and gasp in a huge lungful of air while pulling the little girl up too. I finally can get a good look at her and see a lot of blood coming from the top of her head and notice that she isn’t breathing.

Oh god, oh god, oh god. I try to calm myself and remember what I was just taught the other day. I’m in a near panic as I try to make sure her airway is clear and keep her afloat. Oh god, with her head like this she’s sure to have a spinal injury. I have no choice, I turn her head and give her the initial breaths and start compressions. I have to press from both sides and keep her head up. I repeat the breaths and compressions. Tears are running down my face. I can’t help but move her head around as I give her mouth-to-mouth and the compressions.

Come on baby, breathe, please honey, breathe. Again and again I do the breaths and compressions. Suddenly there are others in the water with me.

I yell out, “Spinal injury! We need a backboard,” and I continue with the breaths and compressions.

Soon, the EMTs are taking over and I feel two sets of hands under each of my arms, lifting me up and onto the dock.

Someone yells, “She’s breathing!” but I look and if she is, it’s weak and she still isn’t moving. Oh god no, I’ve paralyzed her!

A blanket is thrown around me and I’m led away. Soon I’m with Ellen. We’re both weeping and holding onto each other.

“Oh, Ellen, I tried, I tried so hard! I think I made things worse, she’s not moving. I think I paralyzed her.”

I collapse in tears and Ellen is holding me. All of a sudden it feels like I’m being ripped open. Oh gods I’ve never felt anything like this before.

“Aaaahheeeeee! Ellen, oh god! Ellen!”

“Alex! What’s wrong, what’s happening?”

“Ellen, make it stop, please!”

“Alex, easy, honey, you have to tell me what’s wrong.”

“Oh god, it’s my stomach, call Mom...tell her...call Doctor Garcia. It’s aahhhhh!–” and another wave of pain hits me.

“We need a paramedic over here! Hold on, Alex; hold on, sis, I’m right here with you. Will someone get over here now!? Help’s on the way, Alex. Now tell me, what’s happening?”

“Oh Ellen…call Mom…Mom will...aaiiieeee! Oh please, make it stop!” After that, all I can do is curl up and cry. The pain is such that I’m not even aware of what is going on around me. My total awareness is concentrated on the terrible pain coming from my stomach and groin.

***

A little girl with white blonde hair is lying down in front of me. There’s blood all around her head but she doesn’t seem in any pain as she just lays there looking up at me. Her large blue eyes just stare and slowly a tear forms in one, then slowly rolls down her cheek.

I’m crying as I tell her I’m sorry, that I really tried to help. She just stares at me as darkness forms around us.

***

An incessant beep, beep, beep breaks through to my awareness. The feeling of pain and pressure are in my groin, stomach and face. I begin to cry again as I remember the little girl.

Soon, someone is petting my head and holding my hand.

“Honey, Alex, honey, it’s okay, Daddy’s here.”

I open my eyes and look up. Dad is leaning over me, stroking my hair. It looks like he hasn’t shaved in awhile and he has dark circles under his eyes.

“Oh, Daddy, that poor little girl,” I cry. “I tried so hard, really I did.”

“Hush, baby, it’s okay. You saved her, honey, she’s fine.”

“But I had to keep moving her head and she wasn’t moving. I paralyzed her.”

“No, no, honey. She’s okay. She’s already back home with her family, sweetheart, all because of you. You saved her life, honey.”

“Really? She’s okay?”

“Really, sweetheart.”

At this news I just start crying again, this time in relief. I’m not even aware of when I go back to sleep.

***

The beep, beep, beeping breaks through the darkness again. This time when I open my eyes, I notice that it’s dark in the room. The pain in my groin and stomach is now just a dull throb. My face feels stiff and sore, too.

Looking around I see Mom and Dad curled up together on the bed next to me. As I look at them, Mom’s eyes open and she sees me looking at her. I give her a weak smile and she’s immediately up and at my side. Her sudden movement wakes up Dad.

“Hey, baby. How are you feeling?”

“Hey, Mom. Like someone beat me up. I guess I’m in the hospital.”

“Yeah, sweetie, you’ve given us quite a scare, but everything will be fine now.”

“Dad, the little girl is really okay?”

“Yes, honey, she really is okay.”

“Thank goodness.”

“I’m sooo tired. Mom, Dad, about my Parkour, I’ve been thinking and you’re right, no more jumping off roofs. You see, there’s something you don’t know. When we were in Greece, I was running along the rail when I slipped and fell. I’m sorry. Besides, I think I found something better to do.”

“What’s that, baby?”

“Well, Mom, you know that book you just had me read, The King Must Die? Well I think I’d like to try bull dancing, it might be fun.”

Both of their eyes go wide when they remember the story and what the bull dancers did in it.

“Gotcha,” I say and I smile as I drift off into sleep again.

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Comments

Never step sideways on a ladder

I did and I ended up with a broken shoulder and a broken collarbone. Not much other damage except to the lavender.

As a result, Part 31 might not get out on time.

Luv to all,

Connie

Hope you get

better very soon Connie, We can wait for the next part of this lovely story, But as always, Your health must come first.

Hugs Kirri

Them buckin' ladders, yup. :)

I spent much of my 45+ year working life on ladders and you can make them do all sorts of hops and skips and funny things, but like Alex's Parents were saying, it just takes once. I am quite pleased that you do your cliff hangers in the middle of your chapters. LOL I have really grown to love Alex. She is such a dear.

Please get well soon, and no lingering pain too, OK?

Gwendolyn

What an artist will not do for art!

Reading about your accident had me wondering at first, if you might have gone too far researching Parkour for your story? ;-)

Ah! What will an artist not do for the sake of art?

By the way, your turns of phrase are just golden! Some really stand out, for example, "octopus merit badge" and "Never step sideways on a ladder."

I hope you're all healed up by now!

The Rev. Anam Chara+

Anam Chara

Ladders

I've jumped off a few ladders due to electric shock. Never fun.

Right girl in the right place at the right time.

Andrea Lena's picture

I am just sitting back feeling sorry for myself when I realize that I am staring at the razor blade that's in there. Picking it up I realize it is the same type I had used on my wrist. I take the blade in my hand and move it along the thin pale line that is along the inside of my forearm.

Shuddering, I quickly throw it into the trash can. Gods, how could I have ever done that? The memory almost nauseates me. No, that's not the answer, it never is.
And she's alive and the little girl is alive! Great story as always! Thank you, and be well, dear heart!



Dio vi benedica tutti
Con grande amore e di affetto
Andrea Lena

  

To be alive is to be vulnerable. Madeleine L'Engle
Love, Andrea Lena

i can only agree

I am so glad she chose to turn from self-injury. Fantastic.

DogSig.png

Bull Dancing?

[email protected] Connie you did the same thing to me with Parkour! I was totally stumped til I mentioned it to a co-worker who did free-walking.

This was such a beautiful chapter. Alex's self-portrait really hit home with me since I was a Fine Art major in school. I've envisioned my true-self in so many different ways. They all boil down to the same thing though.

I've always been a girl.

Thanks again for this wonderful story.

And for God's Sake, Stay away from ladders! Leave that to Alex. She's used to the heights.

Get well soon,
And Huge Hugs, (Don't worry, I'll take it easy on your shoulder.)

Love,
Jonelle

I'm really glad that Alex

I'm really glad that Alex was able to put her Parkour training to very good use, being as it was going to be her very last time to use it. Why do I get the impression that Alex is/did experience her first period, and she definitely needed to go the hospital because of it? Jan

A beautiful

ALISON

'story as always,Connie.I just hope that your injuries heal swiftly. As they say in the classics,
it's not the fall that hurts you,just the sudden stop! I'm so glad Alex was able to put her first
aid training to good use,especially the bit about clearing the airway first.Good one.

ALISON

Bulldancing

okay, You've got me again. I've really liked the entire series but this posting was amazing and the best one yet. I'm really starting to like Alex a lot and the range of the way she's feeling is great. She needs a replacement for her parkour, Maybe that BMX stunt biking? I don't see her as a skate boarder. Her trying out different stuff would be cool actually it let you do all sorts of stuff with her.

Bailey Summers

Ouch!

Renee_Heart2's picture

Another great chapter Connie. I'm wondering what the pain was the she was experencing her period? or something more serious? we'll have to read the next chapter to find out. I'm gald that Alix was able to save the little girls life that was an amazing act or heroics I've ever seen (heard of). Alix was brave to put her Parkur to good use in this case it came in handy when she climed the fince to the big ship amazing. On a lighter note I'm glad Alix had decided to become a girl. I think it suits her :). Look foward to next weeks chapter.
Love Samantha Renee Heart

Love Samantha Renee Heart

Alex always was a Girl!

As I understand the story she has all the normal girl parts so was always a girl - some parts got a little twisted!

The doctor warned that when she started her periods she could become quite ill as her body could not discharge the bleeding etc and this would cause major complications requiring immediate surgery.

Please correct me if I'm wrong Connie?

As for the rescue, had she not been into Parkour and swimming the young girl would surely have drowned; fate had prepared her/Alex for this!

I expect, (just an educated guess), to see a bravery award pinned to a new Alex in all her glory as the woman she always was, and possibly a little tweak of her nose and chin done whilst in surgery?

This would appear to me to be a major turning point in Alex's life and career?

Really nice to see Mum and Dad there for her also!

Excellent chapter Connie!

LoL
Rita

Age is an issue of mind over matter.
If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!
(Mark Twain)

LoL
Rita

No correction needed

That is exactly what Alex was told. :)

luv,

Connie

Parkur's not critical...

Parkur's not critical to being able to do what was described. When I was younger, I enjoyed obstacle courses & swimming. I was more than passing decent at both... And many of the skills needed to do well are used by those doing Parkur now. But those same skills would have allowed someone to achieve the rescue. That said... Actually GOING in for the girl is the lifeguard's last resort. Seeing that the kid would be unlikely to help herself, yeah. But going in with no flotation device... Yeah that can happen. (Lucily, I only had to go in once - and the kid was only half in trouble (clowning turned not fun)... I've seen lifeguards risk all. That's what they (I don't classify myself with them any more... I'm not fit enough.). Quick thinking like that. Recognizing where to go, and how to do it. That's not something that's easily taught!

Anne

P.S. Apparently our author isn't quite as adept at recovering from a miss-step as the heroine of the story. This reader, for one, (and for purely selfish reasons, of course) wishes her a quick recovery. For what it's worth, dancing near black ice is also not the best of ideas in the world... Specially if you don't know it's there and step on it while dipping your partner...

Catwalk Confidence - Part 30

Yes, Alexi is all girl and a tomboy in her adventerous streak. When she saved that baby girl, it did something to her body.

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine
    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Thank you all for all of the good wishes and wonderful comments. It really means a lot to me and just goes to show what a wonderful community we have here.

Blessings on you all. :)

luv,

Connie

I am saddened...

...that it took me all weekend to find the time to be able to read this wonderful piece of the story. I so wanted to read it earlier, but life (and school, bleh) have a knack of getting in the way of the enjoyable things.

But it was well worth the wait. Once again Connie you have created a masterpiece. I can't wait to find out what happens next. Even knowing some of what was coming, I still shared the shock and surprise that I'm sure the family in the story did.

Alex is very special, and I wish her, and you, the speediest of recoveries.

Hugs,
Megan

Interesting chapter

I take it that when Robyn showed up and Megan felt like she had somewhere to go is when her heart stopped.I like the way the way you handled that.Keep up the good work I look forward to the next chapter and finding out more about Megan the superhero.
Amy

A time of change

I grinned when I saw Alex's reaction to her parents forbidding her to do Parkour above a certain height. It was the same reaction one expects from small children when their toys are taken away from them. However, she begrudgingly admitted that she could see the reasoning behind the decision, which did show a great deal more maturity.

Things certainly are changing for Alex, typified by the onset of her menstruation. She is a young woman with a lot of courage and much to offer, and Connie, you tell this story so well: thanks for sharing it with us.

Progressing Surely


Bike Resources

From what I can tell from this chapter

Alex and Ellen were at Coyote Point harbor and had the good luck of being brought to Mills Memorial hospital, the new home of Marcie Bowers. How lucky can that be? Arecee