So You Want To Be A Girl, Do You
by Barbara Lynn Terry
Chapter 1.
Part 1 - We Begin The Beguine
"So, you want to be a girl, do you." It was a statement rather than a question. My name is Stephen Jean Kelly, I am eleven years old, and I am shorter than my mother's five foot, six inches, but not by much. Maybe an inch if that. My hair is a little long, because I never used the money for haircuts, and my mother had asked me several times why not.
I just simply told her that girls don't have short hair like guys do. That is what led up to this particular day when mom had blown a fuse. She had known that I was in to her clothes both in her closet and her dresser. She also knew that some of my girl friends were giving me cast off clothes they didn't wear any more. She finally figured that if I wanted to be a girl, she was going to give me the chance to see what it was like. But she didn't ask me if this is what I wanted or not, she just took on herself to start everything moving so I could be a girl.
"Let's get your hair set, since you won't get it cut." She took me by the arm and sat me down at the kitchen table. "You sit right there until I get everything ready." I was in no position to argue, and I really didn't want to. But I made one last effort to "try" and squeeze out of this.
"But mom, you can't set my hair, I have school tomorrow."
"You should have thought of that before you used your haricut money for other things than getting your hair cut. Since you say that girls don't get their hair cut, I assume you are talking about that you want to be a girl. So now I am going to set your hair, like I do for the ladies that come to the salon."
Mother was a licensed cosmetologist, and she did hair and makeup, and even counseled the ladies she did hair and makeup for.
"Alright, I am going to slip this around your neck. Usually, for what I am going to do, you would put a protective paper gown over your clothes, but this will work just as good." She moved a kitchen chair over by the sink, with the back of it up against it. "Sit here, and tilt your head as far back as you can."
I did what she had said, and she started rinsing my hair with warm water. Then she started putting shampoo in my hair and washed it, twice, and then she conditioned it twice. She didn't dry it completely dry, she just dabbed it with a towel to get most of the dripping water out. Then she started putting rollers in my hair, first at the top, then the sides and back. She put some kind of smelly something or other on, and said it would hold the curl better. She just called it a setting solution.
After she was finished putting the rollers in, she then took her portable hair dryer and put the plastic cap over my head and turned it on. While my hair was drying she started filing and shaping my finger nails. She then put something on she said was a base coat, and two coats of burgundy nail polish. After my finger nails had dried, she put on what she called a top coat. While my hair was still drying, she started on my toe nails. She cut them, buffed them, filed them, and polished them the same way she did my fingers. The only difference was that my toe nails were cut straight across rather than shaped to a rounded tip. After thirty minutes were up, she checked my hair to see if it was dry, and it was. She took the hair dryer cap off of my head, but left the curlers in.
"Tomorrow morning, you will be getting up a little bit earlier because I have to get your hair brushed and looking pretty for the boys at school. And don't think you can wiggle out of this. This has been coming for a long time. I have your clothes all picked out for tomorrow, and the principal said you can dress like a girl for however long it takes for you to realize that you are a boy and boys don't wear dresses. Do you understand what I just said?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good! Now, I am not in favor of you doing this, but I am at my wits end. You have to learn that you have to act the way society says you must, and that is, you have to act like a boy. Anyway, You will be going to school like this until I say it is alright for you to return to being a boy. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am."
I certainly did understand, and most of the guys at school left me alone because they thought I was a girl, albeit a tomboy, but nevertheless still a girl. When they see me tomorrow, they will think their suspicions were confirmed. But, there were a couple of the girls in my class that said I would make a much prettier girl than an ugly, stupid boy. I agreed with them. The problem I was going to have though would be with the teachers. But that is for tomorrow, so let's just enjoy the night, before the battle of wits begins.
"Stephanie, come up here to my room, please." I went upstairs to her room, and she was holding a lilac, full lentgh nightgown, that had imprinted violets on it. She told me to undress, and put the night gown on. I took off all my clothes, except for my undershorts. She handed me the nightgown, which I had put on. Then she handed me a pair of lilac panties, and told me to go in the bathroom, and take off my boy's underwear, and put on the panties. I did as she said, and when I returned to her bedroom, she told me to sit on her bed.
"Stephanie, I want you to know that you look very beautiful, but you are a boy, and you should be lucky that you are, because girls are treated as non-entities, women are treated as second class citizens. Women get paid less than a man for the same job and performance, and are beaten and cheated on by men. Women just will not amount to anything in a man's world."
"Mother, where are you? Are you in the 1960's or are you still in the 1930's?"
"What do you mean by that? Of course I am in the 1960's."
"But where is your mind? Mother, this is not the same time that when you were young. This is a different time, and even when you were eleven years old it was a different eleven than it is today. John F. Kennedy is president, not FDR, and it is a totally different time. Mother, if I have to go through school as a girl, then I will go through school as a girl, because I am not getting my hair cut like a boy would, and I am not going to stop wearing my friends clothes that they give me. I am also not going to stop acting like a girl either.
"You may punish me by making me go to school dressed as a girl, but I will be the best girl I can be. Mother, I can never be the son you so badly need, but I can be a wonderful daughter. If you will let me, that is."
"Well, whatever, I have to work tomorrow, and the school is right on the way. I am going to make sure you go in the school in your dress. We will see what kind of a day you have. If these boys beat you up, I hope that it will teach you a lesson. If that does happen don't look at me to do anything about it. This is your doing, not mine."
"Yes, ma'am."
When mother got like this, it was no use in arguing with her about it. Just take what she dishes out, and hope for the best. Yes I was very afraid for tomorrow, because not all the boys thought I was a tomboy. There were some guys that called me a faggot and other dirty names, and there were guys that told me I needed a good solid beating. I was hoping to get to my girl friends before any of these violent boys got a hold of me. This way I could get their boyfriends to look out for me. Some of them knew I was a guy, a very feminine looking guy, but still a guy. But they said that I should be dressed in nice dresses and have my hair done. They agreed with their girlfriends that I looked better as a girl than an ugly, stupid guy. Like I said, I had agreed with them.
These were my protectors, and I needed to get to them before the ones with no brains got a hold of me.
"Alright Stephanie, it is time for you to be in bed. I will wake you up in the morning and brush your hair out. Since it is only the beginning of school, you can wear pantyhose on your legs, which don't seem to have any hair on them. Well, that will come, but right for now, you are lucky you don't have to shave them. I will show you how to properly put on pantyhose in the morning. Now you pay attention to what I do, because you are going to be doing this yourself."
I didn't want to rain on her parade, but what she didn't know was, that I knew how to put makeup on, I knew how to fasten a bra behind my back, and I knew how to put on pantyhose. But I was going to let her think I didn't. I can be a good actress when I have to be.
I got in bed, and mother tucked me in, something she hasn't done in the last last two years. She kissed me on my forehead and said, "good night, darling." Then she left, turning off my room light, but only closing the door, so the hall light didn't keep me awake. She used to do that when I was younger. That was so she could hear me in the night, if I was crying or had a nightmare. I laid on my side, because the rollers were very prickly. What we girls go through to look pretty.
Part 2 - Stephanie At School
The next morning, she came in fully dressed, and said it was time for me to get up. She said she had to get me ready for school. Of course, if I had had an alarm clock, I could have gotten up by myself and gotten myself ready for school. I mean, I knew how to do everything she was going to do, except the hair part. So, I let her think I was a dunce when it came to being a girl, and let her work her magic.
My hair wasn't really all that long, but it was long enough to put into a girl's style. My hair was just past my ears, and instead of an outward flip, my hair curled to the inside, and my bangs covered my forehead. For the first time since I had been dressing in my friends clothes, I noticed that my hair shimmered in the light. Mother noticed it too and said I had beautiful natural highlights. I smiled when she said that, because it was the first real compliment she gave me. As a girl, that is. After she had done my makeup and brushed out my hair, she said it was time to get dressed. She wanted me to show her what I knew about dressing as a girl. I was delighted to show her.
The first thing I did was put on the bra, fastening it behind me, like I had been doing it all of my life. Then I stepped in to the white half slip, and then put on my blouse. The blouse was supposed to be tucked in the waistband of the skirt. Then I stepped in to the plain, lilac skirt. I sat on the bed, and took the pantyhose from its wrapper, and slid them up my legs as far as my knees. Then I stood up and wiggled the pantyhose up to my waist. I made sure the waisteband of the skirt covered the waistband of the pantyhose, but I could do that while wearing the skirt. After making sure everything was on, straight and firm, I posed this way and that, and smiled. Mother wasn't too happy about me smiling, because I mean, this was supposed to be a punishment. Yeah, right!
Mother then looked me over, and said she had to do one more thing. She fished around in her purse, and took out a tweezers. "Now hold very still. Don't move until I say I am finished." I sat there motionless, and then I felt her take the tweezers and start yanking hair from my eyebrows. This would add another look to me that I didn't have before. Mother thought she was punishing me, and I will let her think that. After she was done with both eyebrows, she then put some mascara on my lashes, and said that girls would kill for my lashes because they were long and thick. I looked in her compact mirror, and I smiled.
"You may be smiling now, young lady, but you won't be smiling long. This is going to be a very crucial week for you. If you can survive this week, we will talk about you remaining as a girl. But right for now, this week is going to be a lessons learned week."
I thought to myself that yes this was going to be a lessons learned week alright, but it was going to be her and my teachers that was going to do the learning. Alright, so what do I know about teaching an adult something? Not much, but I think that if I stick to being as feminine as possible, which for me isn't hard to do, and if I can get one of the boys to be my "boyfriend", then maybe I won't have any problems at all. Maybe. We will see.
We didn't have a car yet, so we had to take the bus whereever we went. The bus I had to take had most of the kids from my classes on it. So this would be the first test to see what they thought of me in a dress. Last semester I wore clothes that both a boy and a girl could wear. The teachers didn't tell me to go home and change in to a skirt, but they did keep an eye on me, and when I used the girls restroom, nobody said anything, either.
But this semester, after the staff sees me in my skirt, I will never be able to get away with wearing pants again. So, we went outside and waited for the number 27 to take us to Wells street. Normally I just walked from the bus stop at north 27th street, and west Wells street, and walked the few blocks to north 19th street, where Wells Street Junior High School was. (Author's note: Today the building is now the Milwaukee Rescue Mission.)
As we got off of the bus at north 27th and west Wisconsin Avenue, we walked across the street and waited for whatever bus came. A number 10 came along, and we got on. The bus took us to north 18th street and west Wisconsin Avenue where children's hospital was located. We walked the one block back to Wells street, and to the school entrance right there on 19th street.
When the bell rang, mother gave me a hug and said be good, and to meet her at the salon when I got out of school. The others thought it was funny that "mommy" had to take me to school. But I just ignored them. I found Sally Langston and Michelle Dearborn at their lockers.
"Hey girls."
"Hey Stephanie. OMG girl! I just love your outfit."
"What these old rags, oh I've had them for a while," I said casually, like it was nothing. Of course they knew better. "We have to get everybody together, because we need to talk. Look, as long as I stay with you and the guys, I will be alright through lunch, but we must talk though. I think my biggest problem is going to be the teachers because they still have Stephen down for my legal name."
"Don't worry, girlfriend. We can handle these teachers. Last semester we were still at Cass Street, and this is the first time in junior high school."
"Yes, Sally, but dinglebutt saw me come in dressed like this. It is going to be hard for me to come to school wearing any kind of pants, even if they are androgynous."
"Don't worry, when it gets really cold outside, we can wear pants under our dresses and skirts to keep our legs warm. We will be there for you, girl. That's what friends are for."
"I'm also worried about those boys that called me faggot and worse last semester. Some of them will be going here, and if they see me, they may hurt me."
"You don't have to worry about that either. Let me see your schedule." I showed her my schedule, not knowing what she was looking for. "Well girlfriend, you don't have to worry about the teachers. Your schedule says Stephanie J. Kelly on it, and you are listed for girls gym right after lunch."
"OMG! What will I do about showering? The other girls will be in there and while they don't bother me, what will they think about a naked male body in their shower, let alone their locker room?"
"Leave that to us. You know something. You look really cute when you get worried, because your cheeks turn a really nice rose shade. I think it's cute."
"Well, I'm worried is all. I have never had to take gym before. I can't take boys gym because of the guys that want to beat me up."
"Girlfriend, don't worry. I also see something else on your schedule too. You also have home economics. So do I and so does Michelle. I bet there are others that know you that have these same classes. We will see, but you leave the locker room up to us. We will run interference for you. I don't think the other girls will much care as long as you act as the girl you are. See we know who you are inside, but some of them don't. So we will talk to them. Look, today is the second day. You just tell the teacher you don't have any gym clothes yet. She will let you slide. Michelle and I will work on the other girls."
"Okay, you guys are so wonderful."
"Hey, no crying, you'll mess up that beautiful makeup job. Who did that for you?"
"My mother did. She thinks she is punishing me by making me dress as a girl and going to school."
"Didn't you tell her you already knew how to put makeup on?"
"No. I just let her think she was teaching me something. She even came with me to school to make sure I actually went in the building. I did tell her that I was not going to stop being a girl, and she said we will see. I'm not really afraid of the teachers, well, maybe a little, but it's the guys that want to beat me up."
"Well, you stick with us, girlfriend, and we will be the female three musketeers. We will see who is in our classes. The only class I don't have with you is study hall. But Dan does. So, tell you what. I will talk to Dan and tell him that Stephanie finally decided to stop being a tomeboy."
"Hey look at this. The faggot came to school dressed like a fag."
"Jimmy Henderson, maybe I should tell Dan you called me a faggot. What do you think he will do to you?"
"No, not you, that thing next to you there."
"Oh no he didn't."
"So you called Michelle a faggot? That is interesting. I'm sure George will want to have a talk with you. Won't you George?"
"You bet, I would."
"Hi, hi Geor, George."
"Still up to your tricks hey Jimmy? What did you father tell you on the last day we were at Cass Street?"
"You can't always protect that faggot. We will get it no matter how long we have to wait."
"Don't hold your breath. Stephanie let me see your schedule." I handed my schedule to George. "I see that all of your classes are with Sally and Michelle, as well as Karen Osborn and Sally's sister, Janet. There is safety in numbers, especially where Jimmy Henderson and his two friends are concerned. Nobody pays them any mind, and the other boys just ignore those three. You also have study hall with me and Dan. That's good because we can all keep an eye on you. Stephanie, I told you at Cass Street you would make a better girl than a guy. I wasn't kidding, you're a knockout." Michelle nudged him a little, and we all laughed.
Now I knew I had my same protectors that I had at our last school. It wasn't that I couldn't protect myself, but all I knew about fighting was kicking, biting, clawing, and pulling hair. Like the girls do. I never could fight like the guys do, and I don't want to learn, either. But with my girl friends all here, and their boyfriends, I can look forward to a good time here.
Sally and Janet were the ones that first showed me how I looked dressed as a girl. That first day at their house, while their parents were still at work, they had me dress up in one of Sally's outfits from the skin out. After I was dressed, and had my hair brushed out a little, I posed in front of her mother's full length mirror. I was smiling because I loved the way I looked. It was Sally and Janet that taught me how to apply makeup, and how to fasten a bra behind my back. I had done it so many times now, that it just came natural.
This went on for about a month, before their mother came home one day, unexpectedly, and caught us doing a fashion show. We don't know how long she stood at the door watching us, but it had to be a while, before she made herslef known.
"You look really pretty, Stephanie."
"Thank you, ma'am," I said, smiling at myself in the mirror.
After that day, she didn't care if I wore Sally's clothes or not. It was Sally's idea to give me her cast offs instead of just giving them to the second hand store. These were the clothes mother had found in different hiding paces around the house. At first she just threw them out, but she kept finding skirts in boxes here and there, and dresses hanging in the back of my closet, she just snapped, and now here I am in school fully dressed as the girl I should really be.
We all went in to our first class and homeroom, and waited for the second bell to ring, which it did a second later. The teacher called our names from her grade book, and when she got to my name she just said: "Stephanie Kelly?" I said here, and she marked it down. Then she told all of us that the seats we were in was going to be our seats for the semester. Then she got right down to the first lesson of the year.
This was English class, and all I knew about English was that it was the language we spoke and understood. As far as writing it, well that was nother matter. I did write a poem about safety crossing the street when I was at Cass Street, but Mr. Knuth kept it. I did get an A+ extra credit for it though. But beyond that I understood nothing about participles, pronouns, adjectives, and the like. But I guess I was going to learn. I had giggled silently to myself, but Mrs. Richards, our teacher heard that.
"Is something funny, Miss Kelly?"
"No ma'am. It was just something I had thought to myself."
"Well then, just giggle in your thoughts from now on."
"Yes, ma'am."
I looked over at Sally and she just smiled. From that moment on, the kids in class said she had supersonic hearing. So we just gave her the name of superwoman. The class today was about writing, and to make sure we knew how to write in proper English, she told us to write a one page essay of our choice, but not to copy it from any book. It could be on any subject, but only from our minds. This was not as easy as it sounded, because what she wanted us to do was write in proper sentences. So, well, here goes nothing. I wrote about how my mother had shown me how to apply makeup, leaving out that my being dressed the way I was, was a punishment, or so my mother thought. Why is it adults never listen to children? Well someday we just may find out.
The bell had rung for the end of class, and Mrs. Richards told us to leave our essays on her desk on the way out. We joined up with Karen and Janet, and we walked to our next class. Jimmy Henderson and his cronies were in the hallway.
"See guys, I told you they were all lesbians."
We just giggled and kept walking. We didn't have any classes with either of them, so we just ignored them. When we got to math class, Mr. Jenkins was the teacher, but he was young looking, and a stud. I had mentioned that to the girls, and they all agreed. He wasn't wearing a suit like the other teachers, but was in jeans and a long sleeved, solid blue shirt. He was clean shaven, and had a full head or rich, dark brown hair.
When he called the roll, he said the same thing that Mrs. Richards had said about our seats. Then he started the lesson. He gave us problems to do that were written on the board, then told us to hand them in at the end of class. As I was doing my numbers, I had to sneak looks at him, and I found the other girls were doing the same. When a man can catch the eye of all the girls in class, then yes, he is definitely a stud. It seemed we had just sat down, when the bell rang. As we left the room, we left our papers on his desk.
Our next class was geography. I knew where some of the places in Wisconsin were, like Wisconsin Dells and the Cave of the Mounds. But when it came to geography in other places, I knew hardly anything. I guess I knew the capitols of each state and of the United States, but everybody knows that. I knew where each state was, but that was about it. I was about to learn where Mount Rushmore was, Old Faithful, and more.
Mr. James L. Johnston, Esq., was our teacher. I wondered what the Esq. meant, and was to find out it stood for Esquire. What was an Esquire? I will have to look that up. But, for right now, we were going to learn about places and things. This was really something, because this was more than what we had studied in our last school. Mr. Johnston wanted to know if we knew anything about any of the geography of where we lived. We all raised our hands. Everybody talked about that they knew where the zoo was and where the library was, and museum. When Mr. Johnston asked us if we knew on what longitude and latitude Milwaukee was located, nobody knew. We were to find out that longitude was the north south lines we saw on the globe and latitude was the east/west lines we saw. He said that Milwaukee was located on an intersecting line of 42 degrees, 57 minutes, 0 seconds north by 87 degrees, 54 minutes, 0 seconds west, at William Mitchell Field (better known as Billy Mitchell Field). Of course, I am really going to use this when I grow up. I giggled to myself, and Mr. Johnston didn't hear it. The bell rang for the end of class, and we all filed out.
Our next room was the lunch room located in the basement. We put our books in our lockers, and headed down to see what the school was serving. Our experience with school food was not the best in the world, but it kept us from starving until dinner. I giggled to myself again. Junior high school sure was a funny place to be at. Anyway, I am not going to describe the "food" because we have all been through the cafeteria lines more than once. So you can use your imaginations. After we had what we wanted on our trays, we all sat down together. Jimmy Henderson came over and asked me for a date.
"I'm sorry Jimmy, but I am all out of dates. I may have a few prunes or artichokes left, though."
"I should kick your a.." He didn't get to finish the last word before Mr. Crew, the boys gym teacher grabbed him by the collar.
"Why are you being profane to these ladies?"
"This one here is a fag, and deserves to get his a.. uhm rear end beaten."
"May I see your schedule, please?" I showed him my schedule. "Well, apparently you just don't like this young lady for some reason. But I will say this. We don't assign girls gym to homosexual boys, if that is what you were referring to by using that "F" word. Now, If I hear of you bothering this young lady at all, whether here or away from school, I am just calling your parents and let them know you like picking on girls. You had better walk the line. What is your name?"
"Nunya. That's my name. It's none of your business what goes on between the students."
"Is that so. Just where did you hear that from?"
"I ain't sayin'."
"Well, are you just going to stand there?"
"I'm waiting for you to go so I can kick this faggot's ass."
"Mr. Crew, his name is Jimmy Henderson," Michelle said, with a satisfied smile.
"I'm gonna get you bitch. You can't protect this faggot forever."
"Maybe they can't, but we can have you expelled from MPS. That means you would have to either move, or go to an institution to finish school. I think you had better come with me."
Mr. Crew took Jimmy out of the cafeteria, and later on we were told that he was suspended for a week. We all agreed that when he does come back, we had better be very aware of the threats he made against Michelle and myself. Jimmy and his two friends seemed to be the only ones that bothered me. Everybody else left my friends and I alone. Well, unless we were talking about one thing or another in class. But Jimmy's two friends seemed to be followers instead of leaders. So maybe without Jimmy they would settle down. Maybe. I guess we will see.
As the first bell rang for the end of lunch, we all went back to our lockers and got our books for this afternoon. We girls went to the gym, and Sally and Michelle immediately went over to where the girls we flocking around the first row of lockers. They were talking in hushed tones, so I couldn't hear what they were saying. After they were finished talking, Kathy Nesbitt came over by me and assured me that as long as I behaved as the girl I am dressed as, there would be no problems from the rest of the girls.
Kathy Nesbitt was kind of like the queen bee, and what she said almost all of the girls followed. Of course there were those of us that Kathy didn't impress, but if she said it was alright for me to be in the shower with the other girls, then it was alright. But I was still going to give them this one day, because I really didn't have any gym clothes. That was one of the things mother had forgotten. I will have to remind her of that when I meet her after school.
The next two classes were home economics and history. We didn't really do anything in these two classes except talk. Miss Jameson in home ec talked about sewing, cooking, and child care, and said it was important for girls to know these skills. She said since there were no boys in our class, we could concentrate on what a woman's place in the home is all about, and what we need to do to keep the house and the family from falling apart.
In history class, Mr. Davis said that we would be learning American history. That is what the United States is all about and how it came to being the United States. "You boys especially will be interested in American history because it has war, fighting, arguing, and more. Things boys like." We talked until the bell rang, and then we all went to our lockers and put our books away. We didn't have any homework, so we didn't need to take our books home with us.
"Hey guys, I gotta meet my mom at the beauty shop. I will see you all tomorrow. We hugged and said cya tomorrow, and I left to walk down to twelfth street to catch the number 12 or 23 and head over to Vliet Street. My mother worked in the beauty shop in the Schuster's department store right at the corner or North 12th and West Vliet streets. (Author's note: This building is now the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Servcies.)
Part 3 - Shopping
I got to twelfth street and got on the number 12 bus. I got off at Vliet street, and went in the store. I took the escalator to the second floor and sat down in a chair at the salon and waited for mom to finish. When she came over to me, she said I had an appointment to get my hair done, on Saturday at one o'clock in the afternoon.
"Hi Stephanie. You look very pretty today."
"Thank you, Gina."
Regina Smock was the receptionsist and also a beautician. She was younger than mom, and had nice sandy blonde hair. She always had a smile, and whenever I would come in and wait for mom, we would talk.
Mother and I went over to the juniors section, and mother was looking at dresses. Mother said I needed my own clothes, instead of my friends hand me downs. So as we looked at the dresses, mother looked at me, and finally said.
"Since these are going to be for you, you pick them out. But nothing too short now." I giggled.
As I looked through the racks of dresses for fall, I saw several that I would like to have. One was just what I had always wanted. It was a cream colored dress that had three quarter sleeves, a back zipper, and it came to about two inches above my knees. As I was wearing it, mother said it would do, because that is what young girls are wearing these days. She said that was as short as I was allowed to get. I picked another nice dress that was caramel in color, had a scoop neck, and had long sleeves right down to my wrists. It buttoned in the front and was actually a shirt dress. This one also was two inches above my knees, so I put it with the other one. Then the next dress I tried on was soft, and felt like nylon. It in fact had a nylon/tricot lining in the skirt. I put it on and stepped out for mom's approval. All of the dresses were two inches above my knees, and I was happy mom was letting me wear something that the rest of the girls were wearing. This after all was 1961, and styles were changing. I just wonder how short a dress or a skirt could really get. Well, I wasn't going to dwell on it. The next clothes we looked at were skirts. Okay I wondered. Just how long is mom going to keep me dressed as a girl? I hope forever, but I'm not that sure. I saw a caramel colored skirt, I just had to try on. When I found it fit, I needed to find a caramel top for it. I found one way toward the end by the wall where they had the junior tops. I took it in the changing booth and tried it on with the skirt. It fit perfectly, and you could hardly see the bra straps through the shirt. That was one set I had. Now to find another one.
"Honey, why don't you try on several at a time?"
"Because mother, if the skirt fits, I want a matching top for it." For the first time, I saw mother give a resigned look. "Mom, are you alright?"
"Yes honey, I just figured out who you really are."
That was when I knew she was keeping me in skirts forever, because she saw a girl instead of a boy. Only a girl would want to match her skirts immediately with a top and try both of them on. It was this day that Stephanie Jean Kelly was really born. I gave mom a big hug, and went in search of a skirt and top. I found a blue, A-line skirt that fanned out some, and a lighter blue top. I tried both of them on, and they fit like they were made for me. Then I went out and picked out a really nice rose skirt, and went in search of a top. I found one in exactly the same color, and went to try them on. I now had three dresses, three skirts and three tops. Mom paid for them, and then said we should get something for lunch, and then come back. She said she wanted to talk to me anyway.
We took the bus to Wisconsin Avenue, then changed buses for further down Wisconsin Avenue. This bus let us off almost rigth in front of the door to Woolworth's. We sat down in a booth. The waitress came over and asked us if we were ready to order, and mom said not yet. She left the water but took our drink orders. Mother ordered coffee for her and milk for me.
"Honey, we need to talk. After we get our orders, we will talk about a few things." The waitress came back over and took our orders. Mom ordered a roast beef sandwich for her and me, no gravy, with a side salad. She went to put our orders in, and mom asked me a question that exploded inside my head. "Would you like to be my daughter, forever?"
"OMG! Mom. If you only knew how long I had dreamed of that. Yes, I want to be your daughter forever."
"You know, that I will have to make an appointment with you to see a psychiatrist. That is just to make sure this is what you want. Now, most psychiatrists are going to tell you that you have something wrong with you, because they won't be ready to say that you are a female inside. But maybe we can find a woman psychiatrist, if there is one."
"Mother, there isn't a psycho that can tell me who I am."
"Psycho?"
"It's what we kids today call psychiatrists. Either that or a head shrinker, you know, like from Borneo."
"Just don't say that to them when you are in their office, though."
"I think we can get your birth certificate changed too. We will see if a doctor can give you a physical and then give us something to change your birth certificate with. We will see. But first, I want you to see this psycho." I giggled. The waitress brought us our orders, and we talked about doing more shopping after we were done.
When we left after mom paid the cashier, we went to Gimbels just a few blocks down. Nobody on the street gave me a second look and older ladies just smiled at me. When we got in Gimbels, we looked around, and they also had a bargain basement where you could get nice clothes cheaper than on the upper floors. This is where they resold all the clothing returns that people bought but brought them back.
This time we were looking at lingerie, as mother said I needed bras, panties and slips. I didn't argue, and set about looking at what I could get away with. Mom wanted me to have just plain briefs in different colors, and they had to be nylon. I picked out ten pair, in different colors and we then looked at the slips. I only wanted half slips, but mom said alright but I needed at least three full slips. so I got five half slips all in different vibrant colors, and three full slips in basic white. Then mother said I needed shoes, so we went to the shoe department, where mother had me try on penny loafers, Mary Jane's, high heels with two inch heels. and then she had me try on a pair of high heels that was almost a caramel color that would go with my caramel colored skirt outfit. Mom paid for these, and we left the store, and got on the number 10 bus again, and went to 27th and Wisconsin Avenue, the transferred to the number 27 and went home. When we got off at Galena, we waited for the traffic to stop coming, and we crossed the street. As we entered the house, mom told me to go upstairs and put my things away. She said she knew I knew how to put them away nicely. I said thank you, and went to put my clothes away.
So You Want To Be A Girl, Do You
by Barbara Lynn Terry
Chapter 2 - Talking with mom
After I had put my new clothes away, I went back downstairs and poured myself a glass of apple juice. I sat at the table and looked at mom.
"Mom, when we were at the store, why did you all of a sudden start treating me like your daughter?"
"Because honey, when I had asked you why didn't you have several skirts to try on, you all of a sudden got really feminine in your body movements, hand gestures, and speech. You said that if the skirt fits a girl needs to find a matching top right away. That is the way a woman shops honey. This all started out as a punishment because I was beside myself that my son wore dresses.
"But when I saw you at the store, you were like other girls, enjoying what you were doing. I was just there in case you needed help, and except for needing me to pay for everything, you didn't need any help at all. You were in your element dear, as we say. I saw right then and there that you were my daughter. But I do have one question, though. Where did you learn to shop like that, and where did you learn to coordinate your clothes?"
"Mom, I have watched you, and my friends. I learned quite a bit. When you were putting my makeup on this morning, I let you think I didn't know how. Mom, you are a beautician, and I have learned a lot by watching you. I learned a lot from my friends about how to act when I am away from the house, and how to do things only a girl would do. I mean, the guys I go to school with, think because I am shorter than they are, and I have very girlish ways and look very girlish, that I am a girl. I have never said I wasn't a girl, because to be honest mom, I want to be a girl. When you called the school and told them this was a punishment for me, I never told my teachers it wasn't. But all of the guys thought it was about time I started dressing like a girl instead of a tomboy, and my girl friends all knew I would accept this, because this is what I wanted any way. Oh! That reminds me, we have to get me some gym clothes for school too. But mom, I need girls gym clothes."
"Why do you need girls gym clothes? Aren't you in boys gym?"
"No mother, I'm in girls gym, and I need a girl's gym set."
"Let me see your schedule." I showed it to her. "How did you get into girls classes like this?"
"Mom, today was the second day of school. When you called the prinicpal and told him what you were going to do, he just assumed you knew what you were doing, and set my schedule up like this."
"Well, home economics I can see where that would be good for you, but girls gym. What are you going to do about showering?"
"That has been all worked out, mom. Sally and Michelle talked to the rest of the girls in my gym class, and they have no objection, as long as I act like the girl I say I am. I may have a problem with Mr. Donaldson. He is always standing out in the hallway, and as soon as the second bell rings, he starts handing out tardy passes, even if you were in line before the bell rang."
"I will call the school and see what we can do about that."
"Also mom, he saw me come in this morning in this lilac skirt and I am not going to be able to get away with wearing jeans or any other kind of pants at school, any more. He is such a prude, though. If he knew I was actually male, he would suspend me until I changed clothes, and that would be wrong. Mom, when are people going to stop telling other people how to live?"
"Well, up until we went shopping, I always thought females were natural girls who grew up to be women, and natural males grew up to be men. I remember nine years ago a lady came back from Denmark, after having surgery to become a woman. Her name is Christine Jorgensen, and she was a guy who was in the army. But he went to Copenhagen, Denmark to become a woman. I thought she was the only one. I didn't think there could be any more like her, especially in my son."
"Mom, we are the first generation to stand up and say, 'no more, we will take being dictated to, no more'. This is something that is coming up. I hear it from some of the kids at school when I pass them in the hall. Like one of the boys said to a few of his friends; 'there is a storm coming, and I hope the adults are ready to for it'.
"It is like President Kennedy. He has been a leader all of his life, practically, and he doesn't act like other presidents. They all hid behind their office, but Presdient Kennedy is out there in front and he isn't hiding. We can't hide either, mom. I have my life to live, and I must live that life regardless of what comes with it. You taught me that; grandma Dolly taught me that; aunt Hazel taught me that; my friends and their parents, taught me that. If I can't live as the girl I am, then what everybody taught me is wrong. Right? Am I right?"
She just gave that resigned look, and just hugged me. I have gotten away with my bluff, now let's see how far she will take this. Well, until she says I can be a boy again, which I don't want to be, I guess I will see just how far the school is willing to go, also. I decided to see just how much she is willing to accept me as her daughter, when I took out the pans for making macaroni and cheese and brown down some hamburger meat to go with it.
I got out the noodles, the cheese, the milk, and butter, and put everything on the table. Mother just sat there watching me. She didn't move to help me, either. I think she wanted to see if I knew what I was doing.
I boiled the noodles like I always did for seven minutes, then I drained them. I took and put in about four small chunks of cheese, and a little milk and butter. I mixed everything together until the cheese was completely melted, and then I mixed in the hamburger meat, and served it to mom on a small saucer to see what she thought.
"This is good, sweetie. Where did you learn how to do this?"
"From grandma Dolly, mom. I watched her cook, and I learned a lot from her."
"Well, you certainly did. What else do you know how to cook?"
"I know how to cook real Italian spaghetti, I know how to cook a roast at three hundred and seventy five degrees. The time for cooking a roast depends on how big it is. Sometimes it can take two to three hours to cook a roast completely. I know how to cook chicken, turkey, pheasant, and a whole lot more."
"But you are only eleven years old. How did you learn all of this?"
"Mother, usually a girl helps her mother in the kitchen, but since you never saw me as your daughter before today, I had to learn all of this from grandma Dolly and my friends parents. This may be a surprise for you, but when I said I was spending the night, or a weekend at one of my friends houses, I wasn't lying. Sally and Michelle are very close friends of mine. I have been to more than one of their sleepovers.
"Mother, I really hated all of that sneaking around, but if you knew I was at a girl's sleepover, you would have lectured me until cows came home, as grandpa always says. Tomorrow is Thursday and I need to go and get my clothes out for tomorrow. I have gym again on Friday, so can we get my gym clothes tomorrow?"
"Yes, dear, we can," she said, giving me a weak smile.
I could tell she was in deep thought, and was thinking about what I had just told her. I knew about Christine Jorgensen for quite a while now, and mother was surprised to learn there were others like her. It is too bad that they don't have anything in the library about people like us. Well maybe this doctor she wants me to see can tell me something.
I put a cover over the macaroni and cheese, and went to my room to get my clothes out for tomorrow. I thought that since the weather was still good yet, I would wear my burgundy skirt, white, back-buttoned, three quarter length sleeve top. My lingerie would be burgundy as well. I will get my stockings out tomorrow after my bath.
I went back downstairs, and joined mom in the kitchen. I sat there watching her, and she was still deep in thought.
"Mom, what are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about you, sweetie, and where your life is going to go from here. Do you remember what I told you about how women are treated in this world?"
"Yes."
"Well, I just want what is best for you. You would make it a lot better if you were a man, instead of a woman."
"Mother, I am willing to take whatever comes with being a girl growing into a woman. I don't have boy feelings mom. I have the feelings and emotions like my girl friends have. When we talk, we talk about girl things; we talk about guys and how handsome some of them are; we talk about periods that some of my friends are starting to have. We talk about clothes, and shopping, and sleepovers, and we talk about makeup, and we do each other's hair, and nails, and we talk about going to the salon to get ready for a date or something very special like a party. Guys that I know of, mother, don't talk about things like that."
"Well, I am not going to change my mind, dear. You are my daughter for as long as you want to be. And you know, just now, when you were telling me what you and your friends talk about, you were very animated. Most guys that I have seen and know are not that animated, only girls are." She gave me a big hug, and smiled at me. "What outfit did you get out for tomorrow?"
"My burgundy skirt with the white top that has the back buttons. I picked burgundy lingerie too. My stockings I will get out tomorrow after my bath. I thought I'd wear my burgundy Mary Jane's as well."
"That sounds like a very pretty ensemble. Can you brush your hair out tomorrow, by yourself?"
"Yes, mother."
"Alright. Tomorrow, I have to work at the restaurant after I get off from the salon. So I will leave the house key with you, so you can get in, because I will be gone by the time you get home. I work four til midnight at the restaurant."
Tomorrow is Thursday, and mother would be working at Mader's German Restaurant on the corner of north 3rd street, and west Highland avenue, downtown. Maybe I will stop in. I know that when mom is working there, that I need to go in through the kitchen entrance. We will see. My school bus pass is only good until 4:45pm. Well, I would see if I had enough time. Mrs. Mader who ran the kitchen, always liked it when I came there, even when mom was working. The other Mrs. Mader, ran the dining room–they were both sisters-in-law. Whenever I went there while mom was working, I wasn't allowed in the dining room.
But tomorrow is school again, and if she has to work til midnight, that means I can't get my gym clothes until Saturday, because she doesn't work at the salon on the weekends. I'm sure the Gym teacher will be okay with it. But she is going to want me dressed for gym on Monday though. I need to make sure I get the right colors, since that is how they want us dressed. My gym shorts are supposed to be a light blue, satin-like material and white t-shirt with the school name. The shoes were girls tennis shoes and had to be white of course.
"Mother, if you have to work til midnight, then we can't get my gym clothes until Saturday. I will just have to tell the gym teacher that my mother doesn't have the time to take me, because she is working."
"Honey, if I give you the money, do you think you can get your gym clothes by yourself?"
"Yes, mother, I can."
"Good. So, let's heat up that marvelous macaroni and cheese and have a little something before bed."
I heated the macaroni and cheese and made sure to put a little milk in it so it wouldn't burn. When it was hot enough, I served it and mother and I had a nice talk.
"Honey, you will be careful though with the money. Keep it in this purse, and make sure you carry it close to your body, so somebody doesn't come along and take it from you. Now I will give you enough for you to stop and have something to eat, but bring your gym clothes home first."
"Alright, mother, I will."
I kissed and hugged mom good night and went to take my bath. Girls have to be cleaner than boys, and should never go to bed with a day's perspiration on her. After I filled the tub with the rose blossoms bubble bath, I undressed and sat in the tub. Mom is letting me get my own gym clothes tomorrow, and I am hoping I can find the right ones.
After my bath, I dried off and wrapped the towel around me and went to get my nightgown out. I said my prayers, and got in bed. Mom came in and tucked me in, and gave me a kiss on my forehead.
"Do you have your handkerchief under your pillow?"
"Yes, mom."
That night I had dreamed I was in the store just trying on one outfit after another, when this boy came over and told me how pretty I was. I think I blushed but since it was a dream, I couldn't tell. After I bought what I had wanted, the boy and I left the store, and he rode the bus with me, and walked me to my door. Just as he was about to kiss me, boys will do that you know, mom woke me up.
"Time to get up Stephanie. I am leaving the key on the kitchen table, with the money for your gym clothes, and something to eat. Like I said last night, I will be gone by the time you get home, so make sure you carry your purse as close to your body as possible. Now I gotta run, sweetie. You be good now."
"Yes, mom, and thanks."
She just smiled at me, and then left to go to the salon. The beauty salon opened at seven in the morning, and closed when the store did. I got up, and took another rose scented bubble bath, and then got dressed. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I liked what I saw. I put my hair in a neat pony tail, and went to the kitchen for my breakfast.
There were times when I made my own breakfast, because mom had to leave early. This also gave me more cooking experience too. I didn't really have a lot of time, so I just rinsed my dishes, put the key and the money in the purse mom gave me, and headed out the door.
The bus stop was right on the corner, and we only lived a few houses away. Just as I got to the bus stop, the bus pulled up. There weren't any seats, and it was standing room only, but that was okay because I was in the step well by the front door. This bus wouldn't be picking up any more passengers until we all got off at Wisconsin Avenue. The number 31 was just coming, and all buses stopped at north 18th and west Wisconsin Avenue, and then it was just a two block walk to the entrance I had to use.
Sally saw me coming up to the door, well as close as I could get anyway.
"Hey Steph, I see you finally brought your purse. It's about time too. I was wondering if you were going to sew pockets on your skirts and dresses and put all your things in them." We giggled. "I do love your outfit though."
"Yeah, it looks like she's bleeding."
"Listen Davey Hicks, I have news for you. No, on second thought, I wonder how you would look in a dress. Hmmm, that is something to think about. You think his mom would go along with that, Steph?"
"Me, in a dress. You're outta your head."
Davey Hicks was the class clown. He was always making snide comments about people and the way they were dressed. This was my day for him to pick on me. He was an eighth grader, and would be going into high school next semester. He wasn't really that strong though. I had seen a few girls beat him in arm wrestling when he challenged them. His bark was worse than his bite.
"Maybe, but I wonder, just wonder, what your mother would think about you always teasing the girls the way you do. I wonder what she would do about it."
"You will never be able to tell her, because I am not telling you where I live."
"You live two blocks down the street. Yes Davey Hicks, we all know where you live. I think we should tell his mother after school today."
"Sounds good to me," I said, with a kind of evil grin.
Davey decided that arguing with us wasn't getting him anywhere, so he turned back to talk with his friends. They were just like him, but some of them were not ones you wanted to cross. Anyway, the first bell rang, and we all went in and to our lockers. I got out my English, Math, and Geogrpahy books.
As we took our seats, Mrs. Richards decided to tell us the grades of our essays from yesterday.
"Now class, everybody did very well on their essays yesterday, and the few mistakes that were actually made is what we are going to be learning to correct. I am going to have you write more essays throughout the school year, so I want you all to pay attention."
She went through the lesson, and then asked if we had any questions. When nobody raised their hands, she called on a few of us randomly. After we had answered a few questions, the first bell ending class rang. We all headed to math class. I just wonder how many adults actually use algebra today. We did more problem solving from problems he had written on the board, and then told us to leave our papers on his desk after class. OMG! He is such a stud for an older man. I giggled softly. Mr. Jenkins looked around the room, and saw everybody was working. Then the bell ending class rang.
"Steph, did you see how tight those jeans were, Mr. Jenkins is wearing. OMG girl! If he was our age I'd take him in a second."
"That's all of us, Sally. He is a real stud, isn't he?"
"Yes."
I guess there comes an age when girls start to notice boys, even older ones like Mr. Jenkins. I guess I'm at that age. But what is drawing me to them? I will have to talk to mom about that.
The next class was geography and Mr. Johnston, Esq., was writing something on the board as we all came in the room. After he had taken the roll call, he asked any of us if we knew of any landmarks that was well known. I raised my hand and he called on me.
"This last summer we took a trip to the Cave of the Mounds, near Madison. It was really beautiful inside. You had to watch where you were walking because you could bump your head on one of the stalactites because some of them hung almost to the floor of the cave." The Cave of the Mounds is in Dane County, Wisconsin, southwest of Madison, the state capitol. "The cave is actually five miles east of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. The cave is actually natural limestone that was formed about 488 million years ago. The cave itself began forming about a million or maybe a million and a half years ago. The cave was accidentally discovered when workers blasting in the limestone quarry uncovered the entrance to the cave in 1939. The cave was sealed off and then reopened in 1940 and has been open to visitors and curio seekers since. Thank you."
"That was remarkable, Miss Kelly. Did you learn that from your visit?"
"Yes, I and a few others asked questions when the guide was explaining the origin of the cave."
"That is remarkable. Thank you, Miss Kelly. You may be seated. Class, does anybody else know of any natural landmarks?"
Danny Richards, who was in most of my classes, raised his hand. Mr. Johnston, Esq., called on him.
"We went on vacation to Los Angeles, and when we were there, we saw the La Brea Tar Pits, or as it is properly called the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits. Rancho La Brea was a district from the Mexican land grant, but is now part of urban Los Angeles. Brea in spanish means either asphalt or tar. We learned while we were there, that the oil seeps along the Sixth Street Fault from the Salt Lake Oil Field. Water forms on the top of the oil and has trapped a lot of animals looking for water. Insects, as well as leaves and other things too get trapped in the tar, and these are known as microfossils. When the animals sink in the tar, it holds their bones and they become fossils. The Rancho La Brea Tar Pits are located in Hancock Park near the Miracle Mile district in Los Angeles. Thank you."
"Danny that was remarkable too. Yes, I have seen the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits, and they are a spectacle to see if you are in Los Angeles. Thank you, Danny, you may sit down. Is there anybody else?" He didn't get to call on anyone else because the bell rang ending the class. "Tomorrow we will continue our discussion of natural landmarks. This was a very interesting class, today."
We went to our lockers and put our books away. Then we went to the cafeteria. Dan and George were there waiting for us. Then we all got in line. They had what looked like chicken, but it was burnt. Sorry kitchen people but I don't like burnt chicken, or burnt anything. I got a thing of milk, and paid my twenty cents and we went and sat down. It is a good thing I know how to cook. I don't know what is required to be a cook in a school, but I bet all you have to know is how to fry an egg and they hire you.
Jimmy Henderson and company came over and told me I was getting my butt, only he didn't say butt, kicked after school. Then as he turned he saw Mr. Crew standing there.
"Mr. Henderson, I believe you were suspended for a week. What are you doing here?"
Now, I don't know much about gym class except for what we were told yesterday, but Mr. Crew was really serious this time, and took Jimmy and his ... friends to the office. After lunch was over, I was called in to the office. Everybody went with me. When the secretary saw all of us, she immediately went in to Mr. Stevens office. I was called in first.
"Miss Kelly, I know what your mother and I agreed on, but since you have been here you have shown us nothing but a young lady. If you are a boy, would you care to explain why you act like a girl so well?"
"Yes, sir. I am like Christine Jorgensen, and I have known about her for quite a while. When I had heard that she became the woman she always was, I thought to myself that there is hope for me. I just have to act like the girl I am, and maybe I will be accepted as a girl."
"I see. Why does Jimmy Henderson think you're a boy?"
"I don't know. He has seen me dressed in jeans and shirts that both boys and girls can wear, and he just started calling me nasty names and threatening me. He won't leave me alone, and he told me in the cafeteria that after school was out today he was beating me up."
"Well, he was taken to the detention home, so he will not be bothering you today. We also called his father and told him he was threatening to beat up a girl after school. It is a rule here too, that if a student threatens another student with bodily harm, that student is to be expelled. I have to tell the school board about this, and he will have a hearing there. If the board votes to expel him, he will either have to move or go to an institution. He just may go to an institution anyway, after his court hearing. Anyway, his two friends were told that if anything happened to you or any other student in this school, they would be expelled also. Right now they are still on suspension for the remainder of their week. If they cause any more trouble, they will be expelled. I don't need to see the others with you, but just know that I know that they are on your side. Here are excuses for all of you for your next class so you aren't marked tardy or absent."
We all left the office and we girls headed for study hall and the boys to their gym. After study hall was over we would have home ec again. I love that class. Oh well, since I didn't have any studying to do from my books, I took a book off of the shelf and began reading it, taking notes as I read. This is very interesting.
_________________________________________________________________________
If you want to know more about:
The Cave of the Mounds, Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, here is the wikipedia condensed history of the Cave of the Mounds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Mounds
The Rancho La Brea Tar Pits @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Brea_Tar_Pits
So You Want To Be A Girl, Do You
by Barbara Lynn Terry
(Author's Note:) According to the Merriam-WebsterOnline dictionary, the word dysphoria was first used in 1842 and the word transsexual was first used in 1957. I was told by my psychiatrist in 1960 that being transsexual was not considered a mental disease or defect, and that I had a right to be who I am. This chapter deals with Stephanie's life as the girl she is, and the loving support of her mother. Remember this is fiction, but I incorporate a lot of personal experiences.
Chapter 3
As I sat there reading this book, I heard the whispers from some of the boys, daring another boy to ask me for a date. I was ready for this, because mom and I had had talks about this and what I should do. The boy being dared was very shy around girls. With his friends, he was just as outgoing as he could be, but with girls he stumbled and stuttered to get the words out. I saw him from the corner of my eye get up and start walking towards me. I acted like I didn't know what he was up to, and continued reading.
"Ex...excuse...excuse me."
I looked up from my book, "yes, Darren, did you want something?"
"N...n...no," and he walked back to his friends who called him chicken. Darren Bates was a nice boy, and he was very polite too. But I think the boys wanted him around because he knew how to shoot baskets. Then Donny Baird got up and came over by me, after telling Darren he will show him how it's done. I did everything I could to keep from laughing or even smiling. Donny sat down by me, and looked at the book I was reading.
"Nice book. Stephanie, there is a dance coming up next week Friday, and I was wondering if you would be my date."
"Oh Donny, that is so sweet, but I was already asked. I'm going with one of George's friends."
"Well, I just thought I would ask. You know, I am always available if you want me to..." I cut him off.
"Want you to what, Donny? If you are implying I would go out with you for sex, I think you have the wrong girl. Why are you guys always talking about sex? There are a lot of things in life that don't have anything to do with sex."
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Well, shopping, going to the movies, having a burger, fries and coke, talking with your parents, being in school, playing basketball, or any other sports. There are many, many things in life that are not about sex."
"Yeah, well, that's for squares. I'm a man, and I will have my fun while I can."
"You're a boy, and a filthy minded boy too."
"Mr. Baird, please return to your seat."
"I was just getting a book."
"Which just happens to be on the table by Miss Kelly? Return to your seat, now, mister Baird."
"Yes, ma'am." He winked at me and left me a folded piece of paper, which I promptly threw in the waste basket.
I mean, they are only boys, and I can't blame them for trying, but you would think they could clean up their manners a little before trying to pick up girls. The bell rang, and we all headed out to our next classes. Home economics is a nice class, and we don't have to worry about the boys. Miss Jameson assigned us each to a sewing machine, and then told us to remember which one was ours. She then had us sit in a "round table" discussion of child care.
"Now ladies, I am going to pass out dolls for you. I want you give your dolls names. These dolls are to be taken care of just like they were your real children. You will have to feed them, change them, burp them, put them to sleep, carry them with you, and talk to them like you love them as your child. This is important that you know how to do this, so that when you have children of your own, you will be good mothers."
She passed out the dolls, and these dolls cried, wet, and even had a hole in the mouth for a small bottle. Okay, so I am going to learn how to care for a child, albeit a doll, but I have to treat it like it was my child. I wonder if mom can give me some tips. I will ask her tonight. Miss Jameson also said we were going to concentrate on mending clothes that had rips in them, without putting patches on. She said nothing looks worse than a patch on the seat end of a dress. We all giggled.
One of the girls, Cindy Markham, said her mother just cut up the old worn out clothes for cleaning rags. Cindy is a nice girl, and she is kind of shy around boys, but oh boy, is she ever a chatterbox with us. Miss Jameson said that worn out clothes can be beyond repair, and it is good that Cindy's mother didn't just throw them away. But, Miss Jameson also said that there are times when a dress may be torn other than on the seam. She said that is what we were going to learn, is how to repair that rip. She looked at the clock and cautioned us to be sure and take care of our babies, and then the bell rang for ending class.
When we got in Mr. Davis' class, he was sitting at his desk looking at a book that wasn't a school book. It said something about the American Revolution on the cover. He looked up as the second bell rang and took roll call.
"I was just reading something here about the American Revolution. Does anybody know anything about the Thirteen Colonies?" Nobody raised their hand. "Can anybody tell me what the Tea Act was?" Nobody raised their hand. "The Tea Act was enacted by the British Parliament in 1773, to tax tea from the British East India Company being sent to the Thirteen Colonies. Even though a few colonies had sent the tea back to King George, there were a few protestors that were dressed as American indians, and they boarded the ships in Boston harbor and threw the tea overboard. This was one of the most important protests that had led to the American Revolution. In 1774, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, which closed commerce to and from Boston until the colony paid the British East India Company for the tea they threw overboard. The colonists kept protesting, and even convened the First Continental Congress, but Britain did not sit by and accept these protests. In 1775 near Boston the American Revolution began. I hope you all wrote that down, because it is important that you know this. I mean, it may not be something you need for a job unless you are going to be a teacher, but it is important to know how this country was started, and what fired up the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence.
"I hear many say they don't want to know history, because it is dull and boring. But I can make it interesting. In history there are wars to learn about, hate, murder, treachery; but there is also love, sex," The boys laughed while we giggled. "You may think that is funny, but many of the things that happened in history are based on one romantic liason or another. History is what you can make of it. You can learn all about how Hitler became the leader of Germany and the Nazi Party. Or you may want to know why Queen Isabella of Spain sent Christopher Columbus on his historic adventure to find new lands. But this is American history and we will learn the history of our country. Like why did Sir Francis Scott Key write the Star Spangled Banner? These are all the things history has in it, and we will learn all of them. Now for the bad news. I want each of you to write an essay on the Tea and Coercive Acts, in your own words. You may study in groups if you want, but I want this essay by next week Friday. I also," the bell rang ending class and the school day, "want you to read about the Stamp Act and do the exercises at the end of the chapter. Thank you, have a good day."
We went to our lockers to put our books away, and take only the ones we had homework for. The only book we needed was our history book. Sally, Michelle and I left the school and saw Jimmy Henderson's two friends waiting by the playground fence. We immediately went back in like we had forgotten something, and told Mr. Stevens that Jimmy's two friends were waiting by the school fence. His office looked out over the playground area that was only used for basketball and jump rope mainly, and he saw the two boys. Mr. Stevens is a strong man, and young for a principal. He told us to wait inside. He went out to the fence and talked with the two boys. They came in with him.
"Sit down, and don't try to leave or I will send the police to your houses. What were you two doing by the school fence?"
"Waiting for that faggot so we can beat it's a...rear end."
"You were told to stay away from the school during your suspension. Now, I have no idea who you are even talking about, but since you and your leader are on a violent spree and nothing anyone can say will stop you, you will suffer the consequences. Now, who are you talking about?"
"That, that thing that dresses like a girl."
"What is the person's name?"
"We don't know the person's name, we only know what it looks like."
"You keep saying it, but don't know the person's name. That is interesting. Wait right here." Mr. Stevens came in the other office and told us what they had said, but it didn't bother me that they would say that. He told us he was calling the police, and that these two were going to the detention home. "Stephanie, I can keep this charade up for only so long, before they find out you're not a genetic female."
"Mr. Stevens, if they force me to have a physical, I can handle whatever comes after that. I have told my mother that I am going to live my life as a girl forever. It doesn't matter what they say about me or have me do to find out what my body is like. Kathy Nesbitt has even told me that if I act like the girl I say I am, there won't be any problems with being in the girls gym and there won't be any problems in the girls restrooms either. Mr. Stevens, I am eleven years old, and I know who I am."
"Will you face these two boys when the police get here?"
"Yes, Mr. Stevens, I will."
Mr. Stevens picked up the phone and called the police. When the police came to the school, Sally, Michelle and I, were called in to the other office. When we sat down, the two boys who were on the other side of the desk tried to get up, but the police stopped them.
"You two were suspended yesterday because of violent behavior toward another student. You were told to stay away from the school during school hours. School hours ends at five in the afternoon. You were here at three thirty. I am turning you both over to the police, and I am calling your parents. We will not tolerate violent behavior of any kind here whether from a student or a faculty member. Miss Kelly, are these the boys who keep threatening you?"
"Yes, Mr. Stevens, they are. They were with Jimmy Henderson when they started their threats."
"Thank you, Miss Kelly. Officers, please take them out of here." When the officers left with the two boys, Mr. Stevens talked to us a little more. "Miss Kelly, this started as a punishment, or so your mother told me. Now you tell me you intend to live your life as a girl. Did this punishment have anything to do with that decision?"
"No, sir. I have been a girl all of my life, and that is how I will live my life. Sally and Michelle can tell you of the sleepovers we have had, and the outfits they let me wear, or gave me to keep. See, Mr. Stevens, mother has already accepted me as her daughter, but if you don't want me to go to school as a girl, I am sure my mother can find one that will let me."
"No, Miss Kelly. This has been the third day of school, and I have received very favorable reports about you. Your teachers are impressed by what you have learned."
"I retain about eighty per cent of what I read, hear, or see. Sometimes, I have to look up big words to see what their meaning was in something I either read or heard. But I can retain quite a bit."
"Alright then, you may continue to attend school here as Stephanie, but, behave yourself like a young lady."
"Thank you, Mr. Stevens, I will."
"You're welcome. See you tomorrow."
We left to go to the bus stop. Our school bus passes were still good yet, because it wasn't four forty-five. All three of us lived in the same neighborhood, so we used the same stop to get on and off the bus. We all hugged at my house and Sally and Michelle walked to their houses. I went in and up to my room, and set my books on my dresser. I went back downstairs to the kitchen.
"Hi dear. I got a call from Mr. Stevens that two of the bullies that were picking on you were taken away by the police. He said he had a nice talk with you, and told me that you have been nothing but a decent young lady in his school, so he said he told you you can continue to go to school as Stephanie. I am proud of the way you have acted in school. Well, as long as Mr. Stevens will let you go to school as Stephanie, I see no reason to end this being my daughter bit. I am going to love having a daughter. Do you have any homework?"
"Yes, ma'am, I have history. Mr. Davis wants us to write an essay about the Tea and Coercive Acts, and do the exercises about the Stamp Act. Mom, why do people have to start wars?"
"When you find out, you let the rest of us know, because as God is my judge, I have absolutely no idea. But all the wars that have been started and fought, were started by men, sweetie. It seems men are not happy unless they are shooting someone dead, or hitting someone with their fists. Not all men are like that though, but most of them are. If you talk to anybody in the military, all he or she knows is war and fighting and being in the military. It seems that whatever they learned, knew, or did before that is all of a sudden forgotten. It would have been good if we had learned our lesson that war only gets people killed. I feel that we can all live without war."
"I'm with you, mom. I feel the same way. What are we having for dinner?"
"Well, I was thinking that maybe we could make dinner together, or go out to eat, or order dinner and have it delivered. What do you think we should do?"
"I would love to help you make dinner."
"Good girl," she said smiling while giving me a hug. "So, what should we make?"
"Spaghetti."
"Alright, do you want to make the sauce home made, or do you want it from a can?"
"Home made."
"Look and see how many tomatoes we have."
I looked in the fridge, and saw three tomatoes, and I told her that. I took them out and set them on the table. I got out one celery stalk, and the ground beef for making the meatballs. I got out the breakfast sausage and we were going to make them into balls. Then I went in the pantry and got out two onions, and one clove of garlic. I went to the spice rack and got out the Italian seasoning, oregano, ground cloves, and a few other spices mom put in her Italian spaghetti. I also got out two cans of tomato puree.I cut up the vegetables, and set them aside. I opened the cans of tomato puree. I got out a four quart sauce pan, and set it on the stove. I poured the tomato puree in the pan, and turned the burner on a low heat. I waited for the tomato puree to boil. I got out another four quart sauce pan, and put water in it for boiling the spaghetti noodles.
Mom had gotten the spaghetti noodles out, and was breaking them in half. As soon as the water boiled for the noodles, mom would put them in the pan. She also made the meat into balls, so we could cook them, and put them in the sauce. When the tomato puree started to boil, I put everything I had cut up into the sauce. Then I put a little of the spices in for flavor. I stirred the the sauce, and when it was ready, I took a teaspoon and tasted it. I took another spoon and had mom taste it too, and it was perfect. When the meat was fully cooked, mom put it all in the sauce.
I stirred the sauce, and mom did the noodles. By the time the noodles were done, the sauce was just about finished. A few more minutes. When the sauce was done, mom had drained the spaghetti noodles, and put them in a collander over a dinner plate. I poured the sauce in a large serving bowl, and then we sat down. Oh! Mom had also made the garlic bread. So we had Italian spaghetti the way grandma Dolly had made it.
"Dear, this sauce is really good. I guess you do know how to cook."
"I told you I did," I said, smiling that mom had noticed.
"Well, I can see that my little girl will never starve to death. Honey, if you get a good boyfriend, hang on to him, and he may just become your husband. I know it is maybe too early to talk about that now, but in time what we talk about now, will come in handy when you need to use it. We girls learn about life and how we are supposed to deal with it when we are little. Then, when we grow up to be women, we know what to do. Boys don't seem to care about life the way women do. Boys just go on for the day and take it as it comes. When they grow up to be men, they think their boyish manners are the way life is supposed to be lived.
"See honey, while not all men are like that, we have to be careful in who we choose as a mate. There are many women who are battered wives, because their husbands beat them up, thinking that is the way it supposed to be. These kind of men don't seem to want to learn a different way because they have authority and strength over everything, and feel threatened by their wives, if the wives show any kind of independence. These types of men are very violent and dangerous. So when we are looking for a man, we must be very careful.
"There are couples that have been friends ever since grade school that have gotten married and made it work. So, when you are looking for a boyfriend, be very careful you pick the right one. Now, mostly high school boys are only out for sex, but occasionally you will find one that just wants you, and not just your body. I am telling you this just like I would any girl who is my daughter. This is so you know that there are men out there we must be very careful of, and then there are men that really care. So picking the right one may take a little time, but it is worth it."
"Mother, are there boys that will accept me for me, even though I am not a genetic girl?"
"Yes, dear, there are. At Least, I think there are. There are boys who will even take a stray puppy or kitten home. So, if you are looking for a boyfriend, dear, be very careful. When you do find a boyfriend, bring him over so I can meet him. This way, too, if he does anything against you, I will know who he is. But I have faith that my girl will pick the right boy for her."
"Thank you, mother," I said giving her a hug.
"Well, let's clean this place up. You wash and I will dry and we can put them away together."
"Sounds good to me," I said, smiling as I put my apron on.
After we cleaned up the kitchen, and put the leftovers away, we went to watch tv. Since this was Thursday, there wasn't asnything really good on. I gave mom a hug and told her I was going to start on my homework for tomorrow and my essay for next week. I went to my room, and took out my history book. I turned to the chapter about the Stamp Act, and began reading.
It seemed that everything was taxed under the Stamp Act and not just printing or postage stamps. The Stamp Act was the first real action by the British Parliament directed at the colonies. The Stamp Act was passed and signed into law by King George on March 22, 1765. As I answered the chapter questions, I thought that all King George had to do was be fair about what he was doing, and levy those taxes against all British people, not just the American colonies. It had also said that the Seven Years War had increased the British national debt from £72,289,673 in 1755 to £129,586,789 in 1764. That is quite a jump in nine years. After I had finished the chapter and answering the questions, I took my doll and went downstairs. Mom was still sitting in front of the tv.
"Where did you get the doll from, honey?"
"From school. Miss Jameson said we had to take care of it like it was our baby."
"I had to do that somewhat when I was in school, only with us it was an egg, and we had to care for it and not break it. Did you give your baby a name?"
"Not yet, mother. I was waiting to talk to you, to see if you had any ideas about how I should care for my baby, and maybe talk about a name."
"Yes, this would be new to you. Alright, we can talk about that, and I can show you too. Let me see, you are going to need diapers, plastic pants, doll dresses, and doll shoes, if we can find them. Maybe we can find a doll hair brush too. I will tell you what we will do. Let's think of a good name for your baby, and tomorrow we will look around and see if we can find your baby some clothes. How long do you have to care for your baby?"
"I'm not sure. Miss Jameson didn't tell us."
"Well, find out tomorrow then, that way I will know how many doll clothes to get. You know, Stephanie, it wouldn't hurt you to have a few of your own dolls. Because then you could practice being a mother when you are not in school, or when this part of home economics ends. Now, let me show you how to fold a diaper and put it on a baby."
Mom had taken a handkerchief and folded it into a triangle shape, and then showed me how to put it under the doll as though it were a real baby. Then she brought the pointed end up to cover the groin, and then folded over the sides.
"This is how you put a diaper on a real baby. Then the plastic pants go over the diaper, and then you can put your baby in her day clothes. All done. But if this were a real baby though, you would have to make sure you cleaned her up really good, so that she was clean all over between the legs and the butt. Dear, would you like to baby sit? Maybe by taking care of a few babies, you will get the experience we get as we are growing up. Baby sitting is just one of those experiences every girl goes through."
"I would love to baby sit."
"Let's see if there is anyone wanting a baby sitter in the want ads."
We looked through the paper, and we found a few, so I called them, and come to find out the lady living next door to Sally was looking for a sitter. I called and talked to her, and then I told her she could talk to Sally because we were very close friends. The lady said she would and would get back to me.
"Mom, when do I see the doctor?"
"Next week, Wednesday, at four o'clock. His office is out at county and we can take the number 10 right there. His name is Dr. Johnston."
"Did you talk to him?"
"No, sweetie, I didn't. I just made the appointment for you. Just remember though, be yourself and don't let him try to tell you who you can be. When all this started, I wasn't in favor of it either, but I finally got to see my daughter in action at the mall. So when you see him, you just be yourself."
"I guess if I can stand up to you, I can stand up to him. I hope."
"You will do fine. As for standing up to me, only a girl could have done it the way you did. You didn't swear, or cuss, or get loud or threatening. You just flatly stated that girls don't have short hair like guys do and you weren't getting your hair cut and you weren't going to stop wearing dresses or acting like a girl. A boy who is any kind of a boy would have gotten loud and either swore, cussed or got real threatening. That is a guy thing, honey. Whenever a guy starts teasing you, you just walk away and show him it doesn't bother you. After a while he will get the message that he can't get an emotion out of you, and he will go and pick on someone else."
"But, why do guys do things like that though, in the first place?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, sweetie. The only thing I know is there are decent men out there, but we have to be careful and make sure we choose wisely. If we find that we have the wrong guy, we can always divorce him, or before we get maried, break up with him. Just be careful, because there are no guarantees in life, and the world is full of two legged wild animals. Namely, men. I have an idea. Let's go out to eat. I really don't feel like cooking, and besides we haven't been out for a while. Where would you like to go?"
"Let's go to Big Boy's."
"Alrighty, Big Boy's it is. Get your coat and purse dear, and we will be on our way."
Mom and I went to the bus stop and waited for the number 27. It came a few minutes later, and it took us to north 27th street, and west Wisocnsin avenue. Then we took the bus downtown, and got off at half of a block from Marc's Big Boy on north 5th street and west Wisconsin avenue. We went in and the hostess seated us near the Wisconsin avenue side. Mom ordered a Big Boy burger, fries and two sodas. Since the Big Boy burger was kind of huge, mom and I split that and the fries.
We just talked about my day at school, and if I had any problems.
"No mom, I did have any problems. Mr. Stevens took care of the last of the problems today. Jimmy Henderson's two friends thought they were getting away with something, when they were waiting just outside of the school fence. Mr. Stevens brought them in the school and called the police. These two boys were still suspended though, but they just couldn't stay away. Now they're in the detention home with Jimmy."
"Well, you certainly did have a remarkable day, didn't you. Do you think you will have any more problems with these boys?"
"Not with Jimmy, at least. He was always a troublemaker. His two friends I think will stop bothering me if they get out of this one. We will see."
"Do you have ... oh that's right, you said you have history homework."
"Yes, mom. I already did it. We just had to read about the Stamp Act and do the chapter questions. I was looking in our chapters on the Revolutionary War and all the acts that were put in to law against the thirteen colonies. King George certainly was not a fair king."
"No he wasn't. To put it mildly, what the original colonists were against was being taxed for this and that without representation. The colonists were not allowed to sit in Parliament, so they had no voice, no one to represent them. When King George signed the Tea Act, that was, as they say, the straw that broke the camel's back. If he would have done right by the colonists, we maybe, would still be a part of the British empire like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, British Guiana, and the Falkland Islands off the coast of Argentina. So you see, dear, King George really did us a favor. He made our original settlers fight to establish our own country. Even the way things are today, I'd say we did pretty darn good." We both giggled.
When we were finished with our meal, mom paid the cashier, and we walked down to Gimbel's only four blocks away. When we got in the store, we headed for the Bargain basement. You could get a lot of good clothes there for next to nothing. We looked through the skirts, tops and dresses, and I found a grass green skirt, with a matching top. I just had to have this, so mom let me get it. That is what I like about on the spur of the moment shopping. You never know what you will find. I also got more panties with a lot of lace in varying rainbow colors, and in nylon. I also got a few more slips, and bras. By the time we were finished, or I should say, I was finished, shopping, it was almost closing time. My how time flies when you are in your natural element. I giggled.
Mom paid for everything, and we went to wait for the bus. On the ride back home, mom had complimented me on being able to shop by myself for things she was just a tad too old for. We made it home, and I took my new clothes to my room and put them away. I took a quick shower, and got my baby doll nightie on. I stepped in to my slippers, and went out to the kitchen.
"Mom, when I see this doctor, are you going to be in there with me?"
"No dear. It will be just you and the doctor. You can ask him that I be present, and he has to honor that. If he doesn't, we can file a complaint with the hospital. But let's just see what this doctor does."
"You just remember, that when you have homework, do it the night you have it."
"Well, this homework isn't due til next Friday anyway. I did the questions on the Stamp Act. The rest I can do tomorrow. I do have an essay to write about the Tea and Coercive Acts, due next week Friday. I have to look that up in the library during study hall. Mr. Davis said we could study in groups. I want to see if Sally and Michelle and their boyfriends can come over and we can study together."
"Oh, uhm boys. Yes, well, if you are going to invite boys over for a study group, they are not allowed in your room, young lady. That is only proper."
"Sally and Michelle have already told me that quite a long time ago. I will ask them when I see them tomorrow. Tomorrow is Friday, and I have a lot of homework to do and study. When I was doing my homework on the Stamp Act, I noticed that everything the colonists had, bought, or were given was taxed by the Stamp Act."
"That is true, dear. Those were very hard times, both economically and physically. Everything that was done, was done by physical labor. They didn't have automobiles, or television. What they had was a town crier that went through the town announcing the time and the news of the hour. But look what we have accomplished in one hundred and eighty five years is remarkable. And most of what we have today like penicillin, and other antibiotics, x-ray machines, blood testing, and otehr medical marvels have only come about in the 20th century. Before that, if you dabbled in any kind of science and you did not go to, graduate, or work at a school of some kind, you were accused of withcraft, and they stoned you for that. Today witchcraft is laughed off as a joke and most people don't believe in it.
"Now, what say we have a girls night in tomorrow night.
"Yes, mother, it does. then we can talk some more, and I can even do your hair and your nails."
"And I can do yours, too. Plus we can girl talk all night if we want to, or until our eyes start to close. I remember when I was your age and we had our sleepovers, and girls nights in. We always got into discussions we wouldn't talk about anywhere else, or with anyone else, either. We would talk about periods, boyfriends, boys in general, what we did, or he tried to do on a date, but we wouldn't let him. Boys and men, honey, talk matter of factly. But we women talk about the sun is red not yellow and that sparks a conversation among the girls. The guys just say we're crazy, but we know what we mean, because we can understand each other. Men have to have things spelled out for them, or they just don't understand. And OMG! A man's memory is the worst on the whole earth.
"You tell them you want them to pick something up from the store, or to pick up the dress you had dry cleaned, or make sure you get the kids from school. Whatever we ask them to do, they forget more than they actually do what we ask. It is sad though, because I would like to know what goes through a man's mind when he forgets the simple things we ask him to do.
"Well, let's see. What do you want to do now? I know what we can do. We can go to a movie since you already did your homework for tomorrow. Let's see what's playing."
Mom looked in the paper to see what was playing. She said there was a new movie called The Time Machine by H. G. Wells. She said it was playing at the Uptown Theater at north 50th street and west Lisbon avenue. (Today that area is the 3rd district police station and telecommunications center.) Showing time was 7 pm, and we just had dinner, so we weren't hungry. Now mom was always one for saving money, believe it or not, and she made some popcorn for us to take with us. Now a lot of the theraters didn't allow you to bring snacks in, because that took revenue away from the concession stand. So, we got ourselves ready for a night at the movies, and with our popcorn, coats and purses, we left for the Uptown. We were lucky to get seats in the far back center, just under the projection booth. Mom never did like sitting way up front and I didn't either. I mean, you could see the screen just as good from the back as from the front, maybe even better.
I asked mom who H.G. Wells was, and she said he was a science fiction writer that wrote about fantastic science fiction stories. She said he was from England, and wrote his stories in the late 1800's. Just as she said that, the lights went dim, and the movie started. The beginning had all these different clocks ticking and revolving around the screen. It starred Rod Taylor as the inventor time traveler, and Yvette Mimieux as Weena who lived with her people, the Eloi. But they had a terrible demon that controlled them called the Morlocks who were cannibalistic monsters who lived underground. Rod Taylor fought the Morlocks, and then some of the Eloi helped him overcome the underground cannibals. Then he went back to his time to tell his friends, who, except for one, disbelieved him. After his friends had left, Rod Taylor took two books and went back to help the Eloi, probably to start a new life for them. The movie was really nice. A time traveling love story of two people from different times.
We left the theater and walked to the bus stop. The number 57 came, and we rode it to north 27th street and west Lisbon avenue, and then walked the block and a half to our house on north 27th street that was just three buildings south of west Galena street. When we got in the house, I kissed and hugged mom good night, and went to get ready for bed. Tomorrow was the last day of the first week of school. Thank God it's Friday. After I removed what makeup I had one, I took a quick shower, and got into my turquoise baby doll nightie. I got under the covers, and mom came in and kissed my forehead and said good night. She turned off my light, and left my door open just a bit so the hall light wouldn't keep me awake.
Mom has sure been treating me different since I told her I was going to stay Stephanie. I was thinking aobut that when I fell asleep, but I do hate mornings. They come way too quickly. didn't I just close my eyes. Somebody turn off that big bright yellow ball for a few hours. I was really serious. With school, shopping, and doing this and that, this week has made me so tired. Well, Saturday and Sunday I can sleep in. I got up, and ran my bubble bath. I figured a nice rose scent would do for today. I did my toiletries as the tub filled, and when I was finished brushing my teeth, I turned off the water, and slowly lowered myself in the tub. Mom came in and kissed me on the forehead and told me to let her know when I was done.
I didn't have time to daydream this morning, because I wanted to look especially nice today. After washing and patting myself dry, I went in my bedroom, and got my lingerie on. Then I sat down to do my makeup. Today I wanted soft tones, because my clothes were going to be a soft blue. I penciled in black eye liner, a tan eye shadow, a tan face powder, and then I also darkened my eye lashes too. The final element of my morning makeover was the mascara. I made sure my lashes were dark, giving me a mysterious woman look. My makeup was soft, and my blouse was also a light blue, and so was my skirt. I put my nylons on, and then stepped into my light blue, two inch heeled pumps, with the slightly thicker width of the heels. I was ready after putting my hair in a pony tail, and I went in for breakfast. Mom was sitting at the table.
"Good morning, sweetie. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, mom, I did. I'm only going to have a slice of jelly toast. I'm not really hungry." I made the toast, and then put a little jelly on it, and sat down with my o.j., milk, and toast. I took my time, and when I finished my milk, it was time for me to leave for school. Mom didn't have to go in tothe shop until nine, because Gimbel's was open til nine tonight. TGIF.
"Bye mom, I love you," I said kissing her cheek. "TTFN."
I saw Sally, Michelle, Janet and Karen at the stop. I went over and pushed my through so I could be next to them. This way we could get seats. We talked a bit about nothing until the bus came, and then we sat down on the side seats. You know the ones at the front of the bus that face each other. We talked about my makeup job being really soft, like I wasn't wearing any. Janet asked if my mom did it for me, and I told her no, I did. I said that my mom is letting me get myself ready for school, now that she knows I know how to do everything. I still have to practice with my hair, so I can do more than just a pony tail. But, that will come.
We got off the bus at Wisconsin avenue and got on the number 31. This bus was SRO, and I was again standing in the door well. We got off at north 18th and west Wisconsin avenue, and walked over to the school. When the boys saw us coming, they made jokes that les squad was coming. We paid them no mind, because none of them had a mind. The first bell rang and we all filed in to our lockers to get our books for the morning classes. Simple routine, dull humdrum part of school. We repeat this same ritual three times a day. TGIF. That's all I can say. TGIF.
Now, I know I paid attention in class, because my notes are evidence of that. But, I don't think I heard a word my teachers said. I had to do home ec though, because that was a hands on class. But the rest of the teachers sounded like in the movies when they slow the voice down and you can't understand it. When the last bell rang ending the day and the first week of school, I was very happy that I didn't have to repeat this tomorrow. Sally, Michelle, Janet and Karen came with me to the salon towait for mom to get off of work. When four o'clock came, she was still working on one lady, and then after her, she would be done. Mom finished with the lady, and said she would see her next month. Mom came over by us.
"Hello girls. It's nice to see all of you together for a change."
"For a change, mom? We're together all the time at school, and when we can be on the weekends. It's just you and I have been busy on the weekends. Michelle has something she owuld like to ask you, mom."
"Mrs. Kelly, I'm having a weekend long slumber party at my house, next weekend. Would it be alright if Stephanie came and joined us?"
"I don't see why not. You know, you girls have been friends since kindergarten, and it is nice that you can have loving and lasting friends. That is what being a true friend really is. Someone you can depend on. Yes, Michelle, Stephanie can go to your slumber party. So, do you girls have to go right home?"
They all said no, as long as they called their parents to let them know where they were going to be.
"Well then, why don't you all come home with Stephanie and me, and stay for dinner. Your parents can come too if they want."
The girls were very animated saying they needed to use a phone. Gina said they could use the shop's phone to call their parents. Michelle and Janet's mom and even Karen's mom too, were regular customers of this salon. So a few privieleges go with that. After they had called their parents, everybody said their parents were coming over. Karen said her mother let out a sigh saying now she didn't have to cook. Everybody giggled, and we went down to the bus stop.
We were home maybe five minutes, when the girls parents came. The men stayed in the living room talking about their latest wins or losses of their favorite football teams, and we women were all in the kitchen. Now, the kitchen is not that big, but it was big enough for all of us. When mom I are home home by ourselves, we never close the kitchen door. But today we did, because the guys were talking guy talk and we were talking our usual girl talk.
Mom and I made the dinner, and we all put it on the dining room table. Roast beef, with gravy, mashed potatoes and butter, and green beans. For dessert, we had Mrs. Langston's peach cobbler. After the dinner was over, and we girls did the dishes, the guys went in the front room to talk about more sports. Then with everything clean and tidy, we went in the living room and sat down to talk.
"Mrs. Dearborn, I gave Stephanie permission to go to Michelle's slumber party next weekend. She hasn't been to one in a while."
"She is more than welcome. Dan is going to out of town that weekend, so I told Michelle she could have her friends over for a weekend slumber party. It will be just us girls. No men, thank God."
Hearing that, Michelle's father jerked his head straight up. "What was that? Did you just thank God for no men next weekend?"
"Yes, dear, I did. You have your meetings to go to, and we are having man time off. Which means it is just us girls and we can wear what we like without embarrassing the men. I have to figure out what to plan for meals, since it is just us girls.
___________________________________________________________________________
School, the psychiatrist, the slumber party in chapter 4.
So You Want To Be A Girl, Do You?
by Barbara Lynn Terry
Chapter 4 - Home, Shopping, Girls Night In.
(Author's Note:) I have three stories that need to be completed. This is one of them. Now I write my stories from how I was accepted in the 1950's in a small, redneck town, in the American upper midwest. The so-called rednecks stayed to their drinking at the taverns with their buddies. The things I put in my stories is what I actually had. Yes, I had pantyhose instead of tights because I wanted to be a big girl.
Part I - Home.
This weekend however, mom and I were going to go to a movie, and do a little shopping. Next weekend I have to remember that I am invited to Michelle's slumber party. Better write that down in my notebook. Everybody decided to stay a while after dinner, because it was Friday evening. Karen, Sally, Janet, Michelle and I went up to my room, and I showed them everything mother had bought me. Sally loved my caramel skirt outfit.
"Oh My Gawd, Steph, you just have to let me borrow this sometime. This is simply gorgeous."
"I have a pair of heels that same color, too."
"Oh My Gawd! Really! I just have to borrow this."
"Of course, that's what sisters are for."
I started calling my friends sisters, because I am an only child, and it is nice to have sisters. I mean, they are my best friends, but being my sisters as well, well, that is just precious. Besides, sisters share things...right? So anyway, as they looked through the things that mom had bought for me, we sat down and talked a little more seriously.
"Steph, why is your mom all of a sudden buying you these clothes, if this is supposed to be a punishment?"
"Because, when we were at the stores, buying my outfits and under things, she saw who I was. I mean, I was just having fun getting the skirts to match the tops, and making sure I had the right look. When she saw that my shopping habits were the same as the way she shopped, and how excited I was in getting things to match, she said she finally saw a girl. That was when she said I could be her daughter forever."
"That is just too cool. I mean, I know you told Mr. Stevens that you are staying a girl, but what you just said, that is priceless. It is too bad you had to do all that sneaking around by coming by us so you could be you."
"I know, but you know what though? I won't have to sneak around any more. This weekend, mom is taking me shopping again, because she said the outfits I have are a good start, but I need a lot more clothes, and I need at least one or two party dresses. I think I am going to impress her a little more, though. A party dress should be bought just before the party. Hey! I have an idea. Why don't you three come with us? That way we can kinda discuss outfits, and what looks or doesn't look good on me."
"That's a great idea. Let's ask our parents."
We went back downstairs and into the kitchen. I gave mom a hug, and she hugged me back.
"What was that for?"
"Just because."
"Well, it is always nice to get hugs. Now what is it you want?"
Nope, can't fool mom for one second.
"We were talking and I said that the girls should come with us when we go shopping. That way we could discuss outfits."
"See, that is exactly what I said. You shop like a girl, and now you want your friends along to say which outfits are good and which ones aren't. Honey, that is the way a girl does things. You know what though? You should win the Academy Award for best actress, because you were definitely very convincing in your role as a boy. But, now that show is over, and a new one starring Stephanie Jean Kelly is taking its place. Yes, dear, your friends can come along."
"Oh thank you, mother!" I exclaimed, giving her the biggest hug I could. "We're going back upstairs and talk a little more."
"You mean conspire a little more. Don't think you can pull the wool over these eyes, young lady. I was a young girl once too, you know." We all giggled, and went back to my room.
"Alright, now we have to make our plans. I need more skirts and dresses, and definitely more lingerie. I also need more stockings, and makeup. I think for now though I should just have mascara, face powder, and blush."
"You know, Steph, just looking at you, you don't need any makeup. For eleven years old, you are pretty as you are."
"Yes, but mom told me she has been wearing makeup since she was fifteen and look at how young she looks, and she is twenty years older than me."
"She looks young enough to be your older sister."
"I know, people have told me that. Even Mrs. Mader has said that, too. But you know, Sally, the one thing I like about mom, is that she has accepted me for who I have always been. That makes me very happy."
"You know, girlfriend, it makes us happy, too, because we can talk about and do girl things."
"I don't know about anyone, else, but how about listening to records?"
"Sounds good to me," Michelle agreed.
I put on Ricky Nelson's Be-Bop Baby and we started doing our dance steps. It wasn't long before our parents were at my door, watching us just being girls. Then mom had to spoil it by telling me to please turn that noise down. Sally, Michelle and I just giggled. But it was time for them to leave, and we all hugged and said cya tomorrow.
The nicest thing I think about being a girl is, the friends you can make, the things we can talk about that boys can't, and the clothing choices we have are just simply divine. I mean, we can wear skirts, dresses, shorts, dress pants, jeans, short shorts, boy cut shirts, only made for us, blouses, camis, nightgowns, baby dolls, and the choice of lingerie is without end, and don't even mention shoes. We can wear everything from flats to high heels and everything in between. We can act as silly as we want and nobody says anything, we can hug and kiss each other on the cheek, we can dance with each other too. Being a girl is having more freedom to do more things boys can't, or wouldn't do. What was it they say about boys? Oh yes! What are little boys made of? Snips and snails and puppy dog tails, that's what little boys are made of. What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and all things nice, that's what little girls are made of. I giggled to myself. Yep, that descibes boys and girls alright. I wonder who said that. I will have to see if I can find out. It was getting late, and tomorrow we were going shopping.
I took my lavender boy cut pajama set to the bathroom, and a pair of lavender panties. I ran my bath water, and put in a cap full of lavender scent. I just live for bubble baths. I used the big sponge to cascade the water all over me, including my hair. After I sat there just soaking, I washed all over, and then rinsed off. I patted myself dry, and then got in to my pajama set. I dried my hair as well as I could, and it was still damp when I went downstairs.
"Oh honey, your hair is still damp. You know what. I think I will set it again, only this time a little different."
Mom got her rollers and bobby pin case, and began setting my hair. Then she put that awful smelling solution in my hair again, and then set my hair. This time though, she put the curlers on the side length wise so that I would have bouncy curls on the sides and back. Then she left the curlers in for over night. She tweezed a few errant hairs, as she called them, out of my eyebrows, and then put a scarf over my head.
"In the morning, dear, I will brush it out for you, and you will see a whole different look. It is wonderful to have a daughter I can actually do girl things with. You know Stephanie, before you said you were going to stay Stephanie, I never realized how pretty you really are. You are starting to get a nice figure. But you are only eleven years old. Let's see what the next couple of years bring."
We watched the Saturday night late show, which was the movie Dracula with Bela Lugosi. I saw this several times, and I loved it each time I saw it. I always wondered what would happen if one of his girl victims actually made him a vicitm. Well, that was for Van Helsing who was after Dracula to put him away for good. When the movie was over, we said our good nights and I love yous, then we hugged and I went to bed. It was one o'clock in the morning.
Part II - Shopping.
Mom came in my room and woke me up, saying I needed to get my bath. She said the water was already for me. so I took my lingerie to the bathroom, and got out of my pajama set. I set the pajama set in hamper, and then got in the tub. I just sat there letting the fragrance just relax me, then I washed, and got out andpatted myslef dry. I put some lotion on and a little body powder and then my lingerie. I wrapped the towel around me and went back in to my room.
Mother had laid my clothes out for me, and I got dressed. But first I put on a little face powder, and mascara. Then I put on my turquoise A-line skirt on, and then my cami top. When I was dressed, I called for mom that I was ready for her to do my hair. She came in my room followed by Karen, Sally, Michelle and Janet.
"Well it's about time, girlfriend, we thought you were going to sleep all day." We all giggled.
"I was thinking about it. I had this wonderful dream about this...me and this boy out on a Saturday night, and we were kissing, and just having a great time. I thought I would sleep until something better happened." Of course I had no dream, but silly statements sometimes get silly come backs.
"OMG! You are only eleven years old, young lady. What are you doing having dreams like that?" I giggled.
"Well, mother, I have been noticing the boys at school more and more, and even my male teachers. OMG! Mother, you just have to see Mr. Jenkins, mom. He is so gorgeous."
"It is not unusual for a young girl to have a crush on an older man. You say this man is 'so gorgeous'. Like how 'so gorgeous'?"
"He is young looking, always clean shaven, and wears regular jeans and a shirt. His hair is rich and dark brown and he has muscles. I can see them through his shirt." The other four girls agreed. "When he talks to us in class he talks to us like we're people instead of as a whole class. He is our math teacher."
"Well, it seems my little girl is starting go grow up on schedule. I was eleven too, when I noticed my first beau. A few months later, we were going steady. Of course, 'the old folks' as we called our parents, said it was only puppy love, but it sure didn't feel like it. It felt as though we were on a rocket to the moon and we just had fun. But, young lady, in saying that, we also knew our boundaries of what we could, should, and couldn't and shouldn't ever do. I hope when you get a boyfriend, you remember what I just said. We need to talk anyway, when we are alone together. Alright now, you are dressed, your hair is done, and we should get going before everybody else buys out the whole shopping center."
The girls brought their own money with them, because they told their parents they were going to be with us, and they wanted to buy a few things for themselves. As we left and made sure the door was locked, we saw the bus was coming a few blocks away. Mom waved at the bus driver, who pulled up to the stop and waited for us to get there. After we thanked him for waiting, we all sat down and we were just jabbering away, when all of a sudden, one of Jimmy Henderson's friends saw me, and came over by us.
"Well, looky who is on the bus by itself. The little faggot. I think it's time you got your ass kicked."
"Did you mumble something, Richard Atworth?" Mom was going to say something, but I just shook my head no a little.
"Yeah, I said you are getting your ass kicked."
"Oh? What makes you think I am going to let you?"
"You, you couldn't fight your way out of a wet paper bag. Let me tell how painful this going to ..." I kicked him right between his legs, and he doubled over. "You bitch! Don't you know that hurts?"
"Oh I am so sorry Richard, my foot kind of had a spasm. Now get out of here spas, before I kick you to the front of the bus. And you can tell Jimmy Henderson too, that from now on, we will take care of whatever trouble comes our way from you three. By the way, I thought you were in the detention home."
"I was, but my old man got me out."
"You know Richard, you talk like you're sixteen or older. But you are nothing but a very stupid, insecure little boy that has to act and talk tough so you think you can impress others. Jimmy now, well that's a different story. But you, Richard Atworth, are not Jimmy, and you could be a decent boy, if you stopped following that trash mouth Jimmy Henderson."
"What do I do when he says he will kick my ass?"
"Hit him back. You're a boy, hit Jimmy once, and I bet he will leave you alone."
"What about you, though. You're a boy too. How come you don't fight like a guy?"
I pointed to my heart and said, "in here Richard, I'm a girl and I am going to act like a girl for the rest of my life. Fighting with boys is not a proper thing for girls to do. That is what we have boyfriends for. By the way, Richard, this is my mother, and she wanted to say something, but I shooed her off, because I knew I could handle you. But you see, my way of fighting is to use words. After I was through talking, you settled down. Didn't you?"
"Yes, it's just that I'm afraid of Jimmy. He has a nasty streak, and you know his dad used to be a sergeant in the army in world war two. So Jimmy may talk big, but he can back it up too."
"Yes, but you see Richard, Jimmy is heading for Green Bay if he keeps it up."
"Maybe. But for now, he is only waiting to see the judge. His dad tried to get him out, but the sheriff said there was a court hold on him, so he can't get out until he sees the judge. If he does get out, he will come back to school and there will really be trouble."
As we were talking, mom said this was our stop and she pulled the buzzer cord to tell the driver we wanted off. Richard followed us in to the Southgate Shopping Center at South 27th Street and West Dakota Avenue. They have an F.W. Woolworth's there, a Gimbels and Boston Store department stores, and a few other smaller stores too.
"Richard, may I ask why you are following us?"
"Because I want to be with you."
"Richard, if you want to be with me and my friends, you have to stop hanging around with Jimmy Henderson, and you need to stop picking on and calling people names. But what I don't understand is this. You have never seen me without my clothes off, and yet you have been calling me the filthiest names you could think of. May I ask why?"
"Because we thought Jimmy knew you, and knew about you. So we just figured..."
"I see. Cya around Richard."
"But..."
"No buts, just go."
All the while I was talking with Richard, mom was watching me. Put another garter on my stocking, because mom was impressed I could stand up to Richard like that. Well, this wasn't school, and if things would have gotten rough, mom and my friends would have gotten into it with me and poor Richard would be out numbered. I saw a pair of cute earrings in the jewelry store window and I just had to look at them. I even held them up to my ears to see what they would look like, and I just had to have them. They were blue cubic zirconia but they looked like sapphires. They dangled off of a small chain and had a French hook. That's the one that looks like a bent fish hook. They were only three dollars, so mom got them for me. Then we decided to try Gimbels and see what they had that I liked. When we got in the store, a lady with a perfume bottle asked me if I wanted to try it. So I said sure. It smelled really good, so I asked mom if I could have that. She got it for me.
We looked around the junior department for quite some times, just looking. I remembered where all the things I liked were, and when we were done looking, I started collecting the dresses and skirts and tops I had seen while we were looking around. I took them in the dressing room, and tried them all on. Two of the dresses were just plain every day dresses that were soft blue and cream color, and the third one was for catching a boy's eye. It was made of poplin and had a lace neckline, puffed sleeves, and had a back zipper. It fit me like a glove. So I got all three dresses. Then I tried on the skirts. All three were A-line but in different colors. The first one was a simply white pleated, the second one was just your basic black with a crinkle material that made it look like it was always wrinkled. The third one was pink, and had a black border near the hem with different flowers. This one zipped on the side while the others were back zip. Now the tops were different. They were pink, yellow, and soft green. All of them had spaghetti shoulder straps.
You guys are lucky you are color blind, because you don't have to worry about matching your ensembles like we do. You guys don't have to shave your legs, arm pits, or pubic area. You don't have to set your hair or wear makeup. But we do so we can look pretty for you.
After we were finished in Gimbels, we decided to go to Woolworth's and have a little something for lunch. Mom wanted to know if I was finished shopping.
"Are you kidding, mom, we just got here." She smiled and didn't say a word. "Besides, I need lingerie and more shoes, and I need more stockings, and..."
"Slow down, my goodness young lady. Alright we will shop a little more. This trip is for you, you know." She smiled and hugged me.
I thought to myself that if I got any more clothes I would need a whole house just to keep them in. We went to the lingerie section of the ladies department in Boston Store. I got more slips, panties, and stockings. The lingerie was in all the colors of the rainbow and some that even weren't in the rainbow. My stockings were mainly tan, but I got some that were kinda black too to wear with my black ensemble. Then we went to the shoe deaprtment. Now the shoes you buy here are higher priced than they are at Gimbels, but they seem to last longer too. I tried on at least a thousand pair, well that's what it seemed like, anyway. But I finally got a pair of black flats, a pair of brown penny loafers, a pair of three inch heeled sandals, and a pair of knee high boots.
We took my things and went to the bus stop. When the number 10 came, we got on and took that 27th Street, and waited for the number 27 to take us to Galena. The next stop after Galena going north was Lisbon Avenue. Lisbon Avenue is an angle street that starts where Walnut leaves off at about North 23 Street, and goes all the way in to Waukesha county.
Part III - Girls Night In.
When we got home, The girls and I took everything up to my room, and put everything away. After everything was put away, we went back downstairs for something to drink. We had iced tea so everybody had a glass of that. Mom and I made iced tea and very, sour lemonade in the summer.
"Well girls, how did you like our little shopping trip?"
"It was nice. I got a few pair of earrings for myself," Janet had said. "My mother gave me a little money to spend." All of sudden the kitchen was just buzzing with girls talking all at once.
"Girls! Girls! Please, one at a time. I'm sure there is enough time for you all to say what you want to say." We all giggled, because mom was right.
Anyway, we all had a wonderful day, ande verybody agreed that we should this again sometime soon. The girls made their excuses that they needed to get their things that they bought, to their houses. We all hugged and said cya later, and the girls left. That left just me and mom.
"Well dear, alone at last. We went shopping today, and tomorrow just you and I will go to the show. I don't know what's on, so we will have to look and see what's in the Journal tomorrow." The Milwaukee Journal was our evening and Sunday newspaper, and the Milwaukee Sentinel was the morning edition Monday through Friday. We only had the Journal delivered on Sunday. It was actually cheaper than buying it at the store for fifity cents.
Anyway, since we weren't going anywhere else today, mom and I decided to go and change in to something more comfortable and get out of these heavy street clothes. I went to my room, and got out my rose baby doll. When I was compeltely undressed, I looked at myself sideways in my mirror. I kind stuck out my chest as little, and there were slight bumps forming there. Must be my imagination, or wishful thinking. I poked my head out of my bedroom door and called for mom.
"What is it, dear?"
"Mom, you told me I am getting a nice figure, and I just looked at my chest in the mirror. Tell me what you see."
"I see a young girl develop...Oh my gosh! Honey," mom said smiling at me, "you're starting to develop breasts. I think Monday I will take you to Dr. Joan and have her give you a physical and run a few tests. I think maybe I will ask her to do a sonograph too just to make sure things inside are proper. Besides, you need a physical for school anyway, and I forgot to get you to Dr. Joan so she could give you one, and you need your booster shots too. So, we will do that Monday immediately after school."
"My friends are not going to believe this. Sally, Michelle, Karen and Janet might, and they will be so happy to hear about it. But my other friends will be like, huh. They won't understand how this could happen. Mom, if Dr. Joan says that I am a female, what are we going to do?"
"We will cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now, young lady, we are having a girls night in. No men, no friends, no anybody except you and me. Let me see your nails." I showed her my nails. "Very good, no chips. Would you like me to do them in a different color?" I said yes, and she just smiled.
She went to get her nail kit, and when she came back, she took out this large emory board and started filing, and reshapingmy nails. She put on a base coat, then two coats of lilac polish, and when that dried, she out on a top coat. She said that was because the nail polish was cold. We both giggled. When she was done with my fingernails, she started on my toes.
It was fun with just the two of us here. Mom and I were bonding as mother and daughter, and that was a very good feeling. When mother was finished with my toes, I started doing hers but I started with her toes. If I made a mistake, she corrected me by simply telling me the right way. When I was done, we had matching toes and fingers. Then we decided that since this was a girls night in, we were going to watch the late show, the late, late show and the late, late, late show. They usually had scary monster movies or science fiction movies on these late shows. Saturday night was the only night they had these three in a row. Mom said we would have a bit of a snack, because she had ordered dinner to be delivered at seven. We sat there and talked. Mom was concerned by what she saw in my bedroom.
"Honey, I think I will have more of that talk we started a while back. It is too bad I don't have my high school anatomy book any more, or I could show you what I was talking about."
Mom went on about the inside anatomy of a female, and how important it was for girls to stay clean, or they might get what she called a yeast infection and other things too. She described the woman's reproductive system in vivid detail so it would never leave my mind. She was telling me about periods, about giving birth, about how to make sure you will become pregnant if you want to have a child. She told me there were things called prophylactics that are to be used by the boy or man if you don't wish to become pregnant. She said these were commonly referred to as "rubbers". Oh I knew about "rubbers" because all the boys in school joked about them. It wasn't really funny what the boys said, and some of the jokes were just sick.
Mom told me about how doctors examine women, and she giggled when she said she couldn't wait to see my feet in the stirrups.
"Stirrups?"
"Yes dear. When we have a complete physical, we have to put our feet in these metal stirrups and then the doctors uses what we laughingly, although it really isn't funny, call the jaws of death. That's because that is what they feel like. They keep the vaginal lips open so the doctor can examine the inside of the vagina. This is usually only during a complete physical, or unless we complain about feeling "yucky" then they have to see if we have what is called a yeast infecton. When we have our examinations, it is usually by an ob/gyn. the ob stands for obstetrics, and that has to do with when women are pregnant. the gyn stands for gynecology and that is the doctor we see for our examnations. Never go to a man for a gyn exam, he just doesn't understand. Women understand about women, and you should always have a female ob/gyn. Just as mom finished her "talk", the doorbell rang.
I went to answer it, and it was the delivery boy with our dinner. Mom paid him, and gave him a two dollar tip. We took the food in the kitchen, and I was going get out regular dishes out, but mom said to use paper plates and the plastic. So, I got out the paper plates, plastic flatware and pastic cups. After we had everything dished up, mom put up the tv tray stands, and we set our dinner of spare ribs, mashed potatoes, peas, a dinner roll, and it came with all the condiments as well. The clock said it was 6:58 when he brought our dinner. He was two minutes early.
We sat down to watch the eight o'clock movie. Tonight they were showing Tammy and the Bachelor, with Debbie Reynolds, Leslie Nielsen, Walter Brennan and Fay Wray who plays Leslie Nielsen's character's mother. This movie went off at ten o'clock and we went right into the late show, because channel 18 didn't show news at eleven. The movie on the late show was The Creature From The Black Lagoon with Julie Adams and Richard Carlson. This movie for some reason always gave me real chills. I snuggled closer to mother, and just watched the tv with wide eyes.
The late, late, show and the late, late, late show? I have no idea, because I woke up sleeping on the couch. Mom must have let me sleep where I was. Take my advice girls, never sleep on a couch when you have a bed. Anyway, today is church, and I need to get my bath in and my clothes out.
I got off of the couch, and saw mother sleeping in the padded easy chair we had. I quietly went to my room, and got out my cream dress with the lace across the "V" and on the edge of the arms. I got out simple white lingerie, cream colored tights, and my cream Mary Jane's, with the one inch heels. I ranmy bath and since my clothes were creram colored, I decided on lavender scent for my bubble bath. I used the facilities before getting the tub. Taking off my baby doll and putting it aside (it had to be hand washed), I got in the tub and just soaked. I washed myself after about ten minutes in the tub, and then patted dry. I wrapped the towel around me, and went to get dressed. I passed mom going toward the bathroom.
"Morning, sweetie. Did you sleep well?"
"Well, mother, from now on I am sleeping in my bed." We both just giggled, as she rubbed her lower back.
"I totally agree."
I put an apron on over my dress, and started making breakfast. I made eggs and sausage with milk and juice for me, and coffee and juice for mom. When mom came in fully dressed in her pale blue dress that came to her knees, she looked like Jackie Kennedy. I gave her a hug and motioned for her to sit down. After breakfast and cleaning up the dishes, we decided it was time to get to church. We were kind of late getting there, and as we walked in, we heard pastor Dean saying...
"So if a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine and got out to seek the one who went astray?" Then he saw us come in. He smiled and then continued. "I say that if you look around you, you will see that some of our sheep have gone astray, but that others have found themselves in the time they have been astray. Never discount any being for whom you think them to be, but rather welcome them in to the fold with open arms and a warm smile. Care for them like you would your own family, and make sure that when you are invited, you break bread with them in friendship. Like the young lady inour midst who was gone astray but now has been found and you all know who she is. Let us welcome her to our fold as the young lady she has always been, without judgement and with without concern for what or how others may view us. If you are concerned solely about appearances, then your heart and mind are shallow indeed, and you will have a lot to atone for when it comes time to give your final accounting. Thank you everyone for coming."
As everybody left, I saw Mr. Stevens coming out after we had gotten on the sidewalk. He came over by us.
"Hello Stephanie, Mrs. Kelly. I would like to talk to you both, if you have the time."
"Why, yes, of course, Mr. Stevens."
"Mrs. Kelly, you know that I have an open mind, but I can't hold Stephanie's records open as female much longer without something to show that she is female. Was she born here in this state?"
"Yes, she was."
"Then you just need to go to the county she was born in and get her birth cwertificate, and if it says male for birth sex, you can produce a letter from a doctor that says Stephanie is indeed female. Stephanie has behaved like a very nice young lady in our school, and as long as she does, I have no objection to her attending school as Stephanie. Even our girl's ring leader has welcomed Stephanie as one of the girls. If Kathy Nesbitt says she has no problem with Stephanie, then neither do I."
"Kathy Nesbitt, Roland Nesbitt's daughter?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And she doesn't have a problem with Stephanie?"
"No, ma'am, she doesn't, erm, we don't," a man's voice behind us said."
"Mr. Nesbitt, this is Stephanie Kelly and her mother."
"It is nice to meet you both. Kathy has told me about you young lady, and all I can say is, if you can impress my daughter the way you have, you will have no problem with me. I am having a social at our home this weekend. Do you think you could come? I would like to introduce you as one of Kathy's friends."
"I really ... don't ... know ... sir. I ..."
"It's alright Stephanie, it's alright. There won't be anyone there that will embarrass you, and none of the young men will make fun of you. If you say you will come, I will have Kathy's mother pick you up."
Let me tell you about Roland Nesbitt and company. Roland Nesbitt was thirty seven years old, and owns two tanneries, four foundaries, three manufactuaring plants and a chain of supermarkets. He is rich beyond his wildest dreams, and if Kathy quit school now, she would never have to worry about money the rest of her life. But I guess her father wants her to take over some day, so an education is a must. When Roland Nesbitt said something about things, people usually listened. Like I said before, there were some of us the Nesbitts didn't impress. I had a decision to make. Do I hob nob with the rich and powerful on snob hill, or do I just go about my everyday business?
"Mr. Nesbitt, sir, may I think it over and tell Kathy tomorrow at school?"
"Why yes, young lady, you certainly may." He went to his car and then drove away.
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The Wisconsin State Reformatory is located in De Pere, Wisconsin, a suburb of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and is simply called Green Bay. Today the north wall of the Wisconsin State Reformatory is right along the off ramp from highway US 41 North.
So You Want To Be A Girl, Do You? - Chapter 5
by Barbara Lynn Terry
After we had gotten home from church, we sat down to a light informal lunch. That is everybody pretty got what they wanted from the fridge themselves. Then we sat down and talked about Kathy's upcoming get together at her house. Mom was so impressed that Mr. Nesbitt had asked me to his house as one of Kathy's friends. I wonder just how many more of Kathy's friends will be there. Anyway, I wasn't sure I should go because I was never impressed by how much money a person has or how big their house is. People impressed me by the way they treated others.
"I didn't know Kathy Nesbitt went to public school."
"I didn't know she was that rich. I mean, maybe she wants to go to public school.
"Maybe, dear, but I was surprised that Mr. Nesbitt asked you to attend one of his parties."
"I know, mom. But you know though, Kathy Nesbitt has been very nice to me. I mean she knows of my wishes and that I am not physically a girl, but she accepts me as I am. She was the one who told the other girls in gym class that as long as I behaved like a girl, who cared what kind of a body I had. She said to just view me as a girl with a birth defect."
"How is it you kids today know all of that?"
"Mom, we know how to read, we know how to learn. That is what being a person is all about. We learn what we read, even if we have to read it more than once. I think that part you call studying." I giggled.
"Well, you certainly know a lot more about this than when I was eleven."
"Mom, when you were Eleven, you didn't have anybody like Christine Jorgensen to learn about. You didn't know about transgender then. If you saw a male who acted feminine, you ignored him and didn't talk about those things. Today, we are open about who we are, and we voice and show who we are everyday. What did they say in the papers last month? Oh yes, they said we are the enlightened generation. Maybe we are. But we don't hold our feelings in. If we have a question that needs to be asked, we ask it.
"Mom, our parents are still our advisors that we go to for advice. But you have to understand, that today is a different day. There is no depression, and we don't have criminals shooting people down in the streets for something to do. Al Capone, Pretty Boy Floyd, Legs Diamond, Machine Gun Kelly are all gone. They are a part of infamous history that was a part of the Great Depression. But right now, mom, there is no depression.
"We are the luckiest generation because we are free for the first time to voice our feelings. We don't have the stigmas attached to us that you had when you were eleven. So, even though Kathy Nesbitt is a cheer leader, and the most popular girl in school, she is still a friend, until she proves she isn't."
"Well, I am glad you have found a good friend anyway. You should go to her social. It will do you good to see how the rich and not so famous live." We both giggled, because even though Kathy's family was rich, they weren't part of the rich and famous. They were just local.
Anyway, mom made up my mind for me. I will go to Kathy's social and try to have a good time. But ... omg! I need a dress, and shoes, and lingerie, and my hair and nails done. That also means I have to cancel going to Michelle's sleepover too. Well, there wil always be sleepovers, but how many times does a girl like me get invited on the spur of the moment to a social thrown by a rich family? Not many I wager, and especially not me. But maybe if I play my cards right, there will be other invitations. Well, let's see how this one goes, first, then we can make up our mind about others.
"Mom, I will need a new dress, shoes, lingerie, and my hair and nails done. I can't go to Kathy Nesbitt's social looking like a tramp."
"No dear, you can't. Tomorrow we will go shopping for that special dress every girl looks for, for her special event. I know just the place to go, too."
"I need to call Michelle and tell her the gossip, I mean, the good news." We both giggled.
I called Michelle and told her what had happened after church, and about my being invited to Kathy Nesbitt's social at her house by her father. She screamed in my ear.
"You are so lucky, girlfriend. By all means, go to Kathy's social. Her father must be really impressed with what Kathy said about you to invite you on the spur of the moment."
"But that means I miss your sleepover."
"Sleepover, schmeepover. Go to Kathy's. Beisdes, then you will have enough gossip to tell us at the next sleepover."
"Well, alright, if you think I should. I was a little unsure of how you would take it, because of me being invited to snob hill to hob nob."
"Hob nob, girlfriend, hob nob. You can meet alot of influential people at those socials. Those are the people who count, girlfriend, because they are the ones with the money and the power to hire you for a job when you're old enough."
"You know something, Mish, I just might do that. The nighborhood gossip reporter at large in the Nesbitt mansion on snob hill." We both giggled. "I just wonder what the supermarket tabloid headlines would be."
"That is the sixty four thousand dollar question. But you will have fun, because Kathy's friends are not stuck up like you hear about the rich. In fact, they are so outgoing, they may just invite you to some of their sleepovers."
"But, what about your sleepovers? I mean, even though it may be exciting to hob nob with the rich and not so famous here, I don't want to lose my friends."
"Girlfriend, you could never lose us as your friends. But this is an exciting time for you. You know the saying about being in the right place at the right time? Well girlfriend, you were definitely in the right place at the right time. Remember that opportunity knocks only once. So take advantage of this and go to Kathy's social."
"Well, alright, I suppose. I mean, when Kathy's father asked me outside of the church, I was surprised. I mean, yes, I know Kathy, and she is nice, but I don't know anything about her other than her father is rich and even if Kathy quit school now, she would never hurt for money. But I guess her father wants her to take over someday."
"Kathy ... Let me give you the 411 on Kathy. She went to St. Anne's School For Girls. She was doing pretty good, until she got in to junior high school. That was when she started rebelling you could say. She started asking questions about boys, and the sisters there could only give her anatomy lessons. They had no clue what it was like to have a romantic affiar with a man. At least not that they will admit to.
"Kathy started wearing makeup too, and at first the sisters didn't say anything because it was only face powder and mascara. But then she started wearing bright red lipstick, bright red nail polish on her fingers and toes. She wore low cut tops, and in the winter time, wore capris under her uniform skirt. She even began wearing eye shadow and eye liner. Finally after so many warnings that she looked like a prostitute, they expelled her from the diocese schools. She had no other choice but to go to public school or be tutored.
"Her father thought she could learn a few lessons in humility from being in a public school, and she has been here since."
"Wow, you mean her father wanted her in public school instead of being tutored? That is something."
"Yes, it is. But Kathy doesn't act stuck up, like everyone thought she would be. For her to make friends with you and invite you to one of her parties, really shows she likes you. So, girlfriend, go to the party, have fun, hob nob with the the rich and not so famous. But above all, have fun."
"Thanks, Mish, I really needed to hear that from a friend."
"Kathy is one of your friends now too."
"I'm going to give her a call and tell her I'm coming to the party. I think this will be a whole new world that is opening up for me. With Roland Nesbitt's recommendation, I could get any job. But that being said, I don't want to start at the top, I want to work my way up."
"Well, you call her, and let me know what she said."
I called Kathy's house, and when a man answered, I said I wanted to speak with Kathy Nesbitt. I was told to wait a bit, and then I heard her voice.
"Hello? This is Kathy Nesbitt."
"Kathy, it's Stephanie. Tell your dad I will come to the social. I talked it over, and I will come."
I heard a shrill scream on the other end of the phone. "Thank you, Steph, thank you. Daddy isn't home right now, but I will add your name to the invitation list. We are going to have so much fun. By the way, girlfriend, have you given any thought about having a boyfriend?"
"Me? A boyfriend? What boy would have me for a girlfriend?"
"The kind of boys that come to my socials. This isn't a party party, it is called a social for a reason. There will be people of all ages there. Our group will be separated from the adults and little children. Then later on in the evening, we all get together and sing songs at the piano in the study. But before that, the different age groups get to have fun in their own age group."
"Alright, Kathy, I will be there. My mom said we are going shopping for a dress, shoes, and get my hair and nails done. I will be there, and the dress I am not telling you about until I get to the house."
"That sounds fair to me. Besides, I like surprises, anyway. Anyway, the social is this coming Saturday and it starts at eleven in the morning. It goes until ten at night. This way, we girls have our own little social. Then, at about dinner time, we girls are announed one by one as we enter the dining room. Our dining room is very spacious, and has a round dining table for the adults, a straight dining table with chairs on both sides, for the children and is the length of the wall between the two doors. One door leads to the kitchen and the other to the hallway we will be coming from. The girls will sit on the outside of the table, and the boys on the inner side. We are going to have so much fun, girlfriend."
"Thank your dad for asking me. This is the first time I will be at one of these ... socials."
"It's alright, Steph, it isn't like you see in the movies or on television. But we do dress nice, though."
""It will be fun, you'll see. My dad is telling me to finish my homework. I will talk to you at school, Steph. Good night and have sweet dreams about the social. Who knows, you might even meet a nice boy there."
I giggled. "Good night, Kathy, and you have sweet dreams about the fun we are going to have."
After we each had hung up, I sat there and thought about what she had said. Is it time I had my first boyfriend? Maybe. I went in the kitchen, poured myself an orange juice, and sat at the table.
"Mother, do you think I am too young to have a boyfriend?"
"Well, there are married couples that are like a few years apart. Why do you ask?"
"Because Kathy said I might meet a nice boy at her social and might get to have a boyfriend."
"I see. Well, you are going on twelve, and I had my first boyfriend when I was thirteen. No, I don't think you are too young, but at your age, there are certain rules you have to follow. I think it is time you and I had a mother/daughter talk."
While mother sat there and gave me "the talk", I listened intently. Even though some of the physical things won't ever apply to me, I still listened, because I may need this information when I am out with other girls. When mother was finished giving me "the talk", she asked if I understood what she had just told me.
"Yes, mother, I understand."
"What I just told you, is what every girl reaching puberty knows from their mothers. Even though some of this will never apply to you, you should know it anyway, because girls talk about their periods, the cramps, the mood swings and the bloating. This will come in handy, if you are ever with girls that are discussing this. Especially if a girl has her first period, and she tells her friends, and they ask you about your first period. I am going to give you three sanitary pads to carry in your purse. Every girl and woman that goes through a monthly cycle, carries pads with them in case they need to change them during the day. Also, carry an extra pair of panties or two in your purse, because sometimes, if a girl or a woman has a heavy blood flow, it can damage the panties. In that case, you just clean yourself up, and throw the panties away. So what I have told is necessary for every girl to know, and since you are a girl, you need to know this too."
"I understand, mother. So, when can we get my dress and shoes, and get my hair and nails done?"
"This coming Friday, I will make an appointment at my salon."
"Will you be there with me?"
"No, dear, I will stay at home. Kathy's mother is picking you up. You go and have fun with your friends. This will be your first solo as a girl. I know you will be alright because Roland Nesbitt keeps his house in order. There was an article about him in Cosmopolitan last month. They even had a family picture, and Kathy looks really pretty."
"She's a cheerleader, but isn't stuck up. I was surprised that first day in girls gym when she said as long as I behaved like a girl, there wouldn't be any problems. When Kathy Nesbitt says she is someone's friend, the other girls just follow along. She is like, every girl's fantasy of who they all either want to be, or be like."
"Well, I am glad that you found a good friend who has a following. By the way, did Kathy say if this was a formal or semi formal?"
"I think it is semi formal, because all she said is that they dress nice. She didn't say anything to me about wearing a gown. A semi formal dress will do."
"Alright, dear. Have you finished your homework?"
"Yes, mother."
"Then let's see what's on television."
Quarterback Princess was on so we watched that. The true story of Tami Maida who came from Canada with her father while he studied for his PhD. It is a funny story about a high school girl who becomes quarterback for an all boys football team.
When the movie was over, I kissed and hugged mom good night, and after saying I love you, I went to take a quick shower and head off to bed.
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Continued in Chapter 6.
So You Want To Be A Girl, Do You? - Chapter 6
by Barbara Lynn Terry
Part 1 - Hob nobbing at the social.
That night I dreamed about what it would be like at the social. I was going to live every girl's dream and attend a social on snob hill. I was introduced by the butler, and I was immediately surrounded by a pack of boys. They all wanted to know who I was, why haven't they ever seen me before. I was like, petrified, until this boy came and rescued me. We danced all day, and all I could see was approving smiles from Kathy.
Since mom was now calling me her daughter, she came in and woke me up, saying she had just run my bath water. She said go and get the sleep out of my eyes and she will lay out my clothes. When we had gone shopping, I had picked out dresses and skirts that were like two inches above my knees. Mom did not like that, but I convinced her that was how all the girls today were wearing their skirts. The days of wearing floor lentgh dresses, or dresses and skirts that covered the knees was over. Then she saw one of my friends in the store, and decided it was okay for me to look like the rest of the girls.
Well, anyway, I have been safe so far. We will see if it stays that way. After my bath, I went to get dressed. My lingerie consisted of a white training bra, white panties with a pink bow in the center of the waistband and a full slip. I put these on, then sat down to put on a little mascara and face powder. Even though mom and my friends tell me I don't need makeup, I put some on anyway. The dress she laid out for me was teal and had a scoop neckline. I put on my double knit, knee high, white socks, and then my teal boots with the one inch heels. Mother brushed out my hair in to a high pony tail with a teal, silk ribbon to tie it in place. I was ready for school.
I went down with mother and had a slice of jelly toast, a glass of orange juice and a glass of milk. I rinsed off my dishes, put on my teal fall coat and went out to catch the bus.
As I got off of the bus at North 27th Street and West Wisconsin Avenue, I crossed the street to wait for any of the buses that came, because they all stopped at North 18th Street. When the number 31 came by I got on it and was actually able to sit down.
When I got off at North 18th and West Wisconsin Avenue, I walked one block to West Wells Street and then another block to North 19th Street. The door I went in at was near Wells Street on the 19th Street side. As the first bell rang, we all went in the building. Dinglebutt wasn't in the hallway as usual. I looked for him, but didn't see him. Anyway, after the second bell rang, all the doors, except the main doors, were locked. The main doors were right by the office, and anybody coming in late would be given a tardy pass. We called them "tickets", you know, like you would get from a policeman.
I went in to homeroom to listen to the announcements and have attendance taken. This way the school knew who was on time and who was late. After the announcements ended, the first bell for the first period, rang. Everybody got up and went to their first hour classes. The rest of us just sat in our seats, because our first hour English class was right where we were.
Even though Mrs. Richards was a very firm teacher, she was fair. She said if she didn't keep on us about proper English, we wouldn't know to write a decent letter. That is our English teacher, alright. So, anyway, today she wanted to talk about nouns and what did a noun start with. A noun describes a person, place, or thing, according to Mrs. Richards. She said the word "can" is a noun because it is a thing, or a verb because it describes action. But today she said, we were studying nouns. She asked us if we knew of other nouns, and everybody raised their hands. She called on us, one by one.
Some said school, or train, or bus, car, house, name, ball. The girls said that a dress or skirt were nouns as was blouse, shoes, and other things not mentionable. The idiot boys just laughed at that. We were told that a noun could also describe action, as in the following sentence. "Running is my favorite pastime".
She said in this instance, "running" is used as a noun.
"Students, I want you all to write a paragraph for tomorrow, using a noun as an action. I want a full paragraph. A prargraph is a set of sentences with a complete thought. In other words, you will write three or four lines all following the same thought using a noun as an action. Does everybody understand what I am saying?" I raised my hand.
"Yes, Stephanie?"
"In your last question 'everybody' is a pronoun, while 'understand' is the transitive verb and 'saying' is an idiom."
Mrs. Richards looked at me with her hand over her mouth.
"Ye...yes, Stephanie, that is correct. May...may I ask how you know that?"
"Well, when I get bored and I have nothing to do, I read a lot. I study things like history, geography, English, which the word English is a noun."
"And you are how old again, Stephanie?"
"I'm eleven years old, Mrs. Richards."
"Hmmm, eleven going on thirty." Everybody laughed.
"Thank you, Mrs. Richards. That is the best compliment I have had all year."
I sat back down and Sally and Michelle just gave an approving smile. Some of the boys gave me the thumbs up, and poor Mrs. Richards was standing there looking awestruck.
"So, Stephanie, is there anything else in English that you know?"
"I know about verbs, participles, adjectives, nouns of course, pronouns, and a lot of other parts of speech that people use everyday but have no idea why they use the words like they do."
"You're not a child, you're a...a...uhm, a, uhm...body snatching alien. Yes, that's what it is, you're an alien."
"You're right, Mrs. Richards. Junior high school is very alien to me, so in that context, I am an alien."
"Young lady, you are way too smart for this class. But we will see when you turn your paragraph in tomorrow when you come to class.
The bell rang ending class for the day. Our next class was math with Mr. Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins didn't act like a teacher, because one, he didn't dress like a teacher, two, he didn't berate any of us, three, he had a good sense of humor and four, he was absolutely gorgeous. I mean, if I was twenty years older, I would definitely date him.
I stopped and thought to myself, that these thoughts were just coming. Mom said I think like a girl. I guess I do, at that. I'm starting to notice guys a lot more, looking at their handsome faces and muscles some of the boys are getting. My chest is starting to itch more, and my voice is the same pitch as the other girls.
Some of the boys are starting to get deep voices, while my voice sounds like it is getting higher. I will have to talk to mom about this. I mean, shouldn't my voice start to get like the boys? I guess we will see.
Mrs. Richards called me smart today. I couldn't help but think, if I really applied myself, just what I could do. I know who I am, but I don't. I know what feelings I have, or do I? All of a sudden, I am questioning my whole being. I wonder why? I will talk to mom when I get home.
Before I knew it, the bell rang for the end of class. I must have been in a daze, because Sally even had to tap me on the shoulder.
"What? Oh! Hi Sally."
"Hi my foot. I was talking to you and you seemed far away."
"I need to talk to my mom after school today. I was thinking about things while we were in Mr. Jenkins class."
"Like what?"
"I was thinking how my voice is still high and seems to be getting higher, my chest has been itching a lot and I am getting a figure. I know I said I want to live as a girl for the rest of my life. So, am I a boy going through this, or am I really a girl underneath all of this?"
"That is a lot to think about, Stepahnie. What brought this on?"
"I was thinking about how handsome Mr. Jenkins is and thought that I have been noticing boys a lot more. How handsome their faces are, their muscles, their gruff voices. My voice is still high. I need to talk to my mom after school about all of this."
"I see your point. Come on, or we will be late for Mr. Johnston's class."
We made in to the classroom just as the second bell rang.
"Well, ladies, I am happy you could join us. Now the last time we were here, we were talking about points of interest. Does anybody know where Old Faithful is?" He waited for an answer, then Bobby Reese raised his hand. "Yes, Bobby."
"Isn't it in Jellystone National Park?" Everybody giggled because everybody knew there was no such place, except in the Yogi Bear cartoons.
"No Bobby. Alright class, does anybody know?" He waited for an answer. "Alright, Old Faithful is located in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It attracts thousands of visitors each year. Here's a hard one. Does anybody know where the Washington Monument is?"
Bobby raised his hand again.
"Bobby?"
"Is that in Washington, D.C.?"
"Yes, it is, Bobby. Thank you."
"Can anybody tell me other points of interest that people visit each year?" I raised my hand. "Stephanie."
"The Grand Canyon in Arizona is a famous landmark people visit each year. It actually took millions of years for the Colorado River to dig the Grand Canyon as deep as it is now."
"You are right, Stephanie. However, there are arguments going on about the Grand Canyon's development. It seems the geologists, that's people who study rocks and things, can't agree on any certain time frame. But you are right Stephanie. Anybody else know of any points of interest?" Janey Richards raised her hand.
"Yes, Janey?"
"I have been to the Statute of Liberty in New York. We got to climb to the top by the torch and look around. You can see quite a lot of things from up there."
"Yes, thank you, Janey. Anybody else?" The bell rang for ending class. "See you tomorrow. There is no homework for tonight."
We went to our lockers to put our books away for the lunch period. When we got to the cafeteria, I saw they were having a sort of stroganoff...mmm looks like more gravy than anything else. I got a chocolate milk and a raspberry danish. I paid my thirty five cents and we all went to sit down.
"Stephanie, how much reading do you do?"
"I like to read, Sally. I learn a lot by reading. I read about history, places to visit, geography. Now that I am in junior high school, I should start reading up on math." We all giggled.
"What are you doing this weekend, Steph?"
"I'm going to Kathy's sleepover."
"I just wanted to see what you would say."
"Sally, has anybody ever told you are a..."
"All the time." We all giggled.
The bell rang ending lunch and we went to get our books for the second half of the day.
"Well, study hall is next. Are we ready?"
"I think so. I really don't have any homework, but there are books I can read. Well, it is a good thing we sit near each other. Do you think Donny will come over and ask you for a date, again."
"I doubt it. I mentioned George and he started to get filthy. Now that I know where he is with a girl, he can go over to thirty first and Wisconsin Avenue." All the girls giggled.
When we got to our table in study hall, Donny Baird was looking over at me. He had that, 'I will get you on a date, yet', look. I just ignored him. I found a book on the American Revolution and sat down and started reading. Sure enough, here comes Donny Baird, walking like a rooster in a hen house.
"Stephanie, why don't you tell that friend of George's to fly a kite and go to the dance with me?"
"Because, Donny, you have the manners of a goat. Now..."
"Mr. Baird, return to your seat, right now."
"Yes, ma'am. I still want to take you to the dance," Donny stated, as he got up to leave.
George came over and was pretending to look for a book on the shelf behind me.
"Don't worry, Steph," George whispered. "I will make sure that Fred takes you to the dance. See you after class." George went back to his seat.
George was one of my protectors at Cass Street, but I didn't have to worry about protectors then. But it was nice to have friends that were looking out for me. Now, I am eleven years old, in the seventh grade, and wishing I was still at Cass Street.
I was also told by Sally and the other girls, that girls mature faster than boys. I was wondering about that, because Donny asking me to the dance, didn't seem to bother me. I will talk to Sally and the others, later.
I was reading up on the Coercive Acts that the British Parliament set against the colonies, especially Massachusetts, when the bell rang ending class. Our next class was American History. I wonder just what Mr. Davis has in mind for us today.
After we were all seated and Mr. Davis took roll call, he said were going to review what we have been studying about the Acts that were enacted by the British Paliament against the Thirteen Colonies.
"Does anybody know any of the Coercvie Acts?" I raised my hand. "Yes, Stephanie."
"There are five Coercvie Acts or Intolerable Acts that were set against the Thirteen Colonies by the British Parliament. One of those acts was the Boston Port Act which closed the city of Boston to all trade both in and out of the colony of Massachusetts. This act was because the British Parliament demanded that Massachusetts pay the East India Tea Company for the 342 crates of tea some of the colonists dumped in to Boston Harbor dressed as Mohawk Indians. This was one of the straws that broke the camel's back and led to the American Revolution."
"Thank you, Stephanie, that was really insightful. You are correct. Does anybody know any of the other Coercive or Intolerable Acts?" Nobody raised their hand. "Another Act was the Massachusetts Government Act, which restricted government in Massachusetts and limited town meetings and the governor's council was no longer elected, but appointed either by Parliament or the British governor.
"You should all read about these Acts and other reasons that led to the 'shot heard round the world' at Lexington Green. Does anybody know anything about the Revolutionary War?"
"John Michaels."
"Yes, Mr. Davis. I read about a man named Francis Marion who went up through the ranks to brigadier general and lived in a swamp area. From there he and his men, who were poorly equipped to fight a war, would raid British encampments and then go back to the swamp. He was also known as The Swamp Fox."
"Thank you, John. That is also correct. Brigadier General Francis "The Swamp Fox" Marion was quite the soldier. He stood in defense of the farms and the countryside that would become a nation. He actually died of natural causes when he was 63, which was considered ancient in those days."
"Anybody else know anything about the Revolutionary War?" Billy Ames raised his hand. "Yes, Billy."
"I was reading about Paul Revere's ride, and I found out that he was sent to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming to arrest them. There were three riders that night that set out to warn the people of Middlesex, Lexington, Concord and the farms and houses, that the British were coming. I was told there was a poem about Paul Revere's ride, but I have never read it. The three riders were William Dawes, Paul Revere and Dr. Samuel Prescott. They alerted the towns and farms and houses in time to prepare for the battle of Concord."
"Well, it seems there are some of you who have been reading about how our country was actually started and who some of the heroes of the American Revolutionary War were. Class, Paul Revere was a dispatch rider for the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence and the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. His job was to carry news, resolutions, and messages to as far away as New York and Philadelphia. That is why he was chosen for this memorable ride, because he knew the countryside. Because of his duties as a dispatch rider, he was asked to spy on British movements as well as their encampments. Paul Revere was a true patriot in that he believed that the British Parliament was wrong in passing the Coercive or the Intolerable Acts as they were know." The bell rang ending class. "Tomorrow we are having a quiz on this, so you had better be prepared. Class dismissed."
Timothy Davis sat down at his desk, and took out a book of poems. He turned to the page and read the poem that started;
"Listen my children and you shall hear
of the midnight ride of Paul Revere..."
As he read, he remembered what Billy had said. He was proud of his class, because it seemed that they actually wanted to learn. He sat back and read the rest of the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
So You Want To Be A Girl, Do You - Chapter 7
By Barbara Lynn Terry
As I left the school with Sally and Michelle, Donny Baird decided to come up to me.
“Say, beautiful, what say I walk you home?”
“Mr. Baird, why don’t you go flt a kite?”
“Awww, now look, Stephanie, all I want is one date with you. Is that too much to ask?”
“Yes, Mr. Baird, it is. I don’t like you. Because you have the manners of a … a … uhm … ogre. Yes, that’s it, you’re an ogre with the manners of one. So, don’t think I am going to cross that bridge so you can have me for dinner. Another thing, too, is, I am not infatuated with you, like you are with me.”
“Stephanie, I am not infatuated with you. I just want to take you to the dance.”
“Mr. Baird, I have told you and told you, Fred is taking me to the dance. If you keep bothering me, I will tell George, and we will see who takes who to where. Quit bothering me, Mr. Baird. I mean that.”
“But, Stephanie, I just …”
“I know what you just … Mr. Baird. Now leave me alone. If you follow me home, I will have my parents call the police and tell them what you have been up to.”
Donny decided it wasn’t worth his time to keep asking me. After he left, we went to the next bus stop and waited for the bus. When we got to 27th street, we got off and went to the north bound bus. We all lived in the same neighborhood, so we got off of the bus at the same stop.
Sally, Michelle and I went in my house. Sally and Michelle called their house to let their parents know where they were at. Then we went in the kitchen where mother was sitting having a cup of coffee. I got out three glasses, and poured a grape juice for me, Sally and Michelle.
“Mom, after school today, Donny Baird was bothering me, to let him take me to the school dance. Another boy already asked me, and this other boy, Fred, is already taking me to the dance. Donny Baird refuses to leave me alone. I have tried and tried to tell him to leave me alone, but he won’t. Can you call the school tomorrow and ask that something be done?”
“Yes, dear, I will. Mom, can Sally and Michelle stay for dinner. I’m sure if they call their moms they would say they could.”
“Alright, sweetie. Sally, Michelle, you call your parents and see if you can stay for dinner, and a study group afterwards.”
“Mom, how did you know that is what we were going to do?”
“I wasn’t always a mom, dear. I had friends who stayed for dinner, too, and we had a study group afterwards. If it is all right with their parents, it is all right with me.”
Sally and Michelle went to call their parents. They came back a few minutes later.
“My mom said it would be all right,” Sally told my mom. Michelle said the same thing.
“Alright, girls, dinner won’t be started for another hour, yet. Go and do what you want before then.”
“Mom, we will be in my room. We are studying about the different points of interest people visit each year.”
“Well, that is interesting. Don’t forget about Mount Rushmore, it was sculpted by Gutzon Borglum, and it has the faces of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Tomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt. The sculptor stands 5,725 above sea level. It is one of America’s shrines of democracy. I have a book about it, I got from there when I visited it several years ago. That was about three years before you were born, Stephanie. Some day in the summer we will go there. I think you will the experience worth the trip.”
“May I borrow the book, mom? I want to write down the information it has in it. This sounds like a place I would like to visit.”
“Yes, dear, I will get the book out, right after dinner.”
I gave mom a hug and Sally, Michelle, and I went up to my room. We opened our geography books to the chapter we were studying.
“Sally, after dinner, I will mom’s book about Mount Rushmore, and maybe we can do a group essay. I will ask Mr. Davis tomorrow. I think he was about the midnight of Paul Revere. I’m not certain, but, he took out a book of poems as we were leaving.”
“A group essay,” Michelle started to say. “Would be great. Then we could all get one grade for all of us.”
“That would great. Then we could tell Mr. Davis that great minds think alike,” Michelle stated facetiously.
“Wait a minute,” I said thinking about what I said earlier. “I said I was going to Kathy’s sleepover. Duh. She isn’t having a sleepover, she is having a social, of which Mr. Nesbitt invited me right after church was over. I have to remember, I am going to a social, not a sleepover.”
“Yes, Steph, but it could turn out to be a sleepoever.”
“I think,” Said Michelle, “that what Sally just could be true. It just might turn out to be a sleepover.”
“I think,” I started to say. “That I should invite Kathy to a sleepover first for a weekend. That way, we get to know Kathy a little bit better, and she gets to know us.”
“That is a wonderful idea, girlfriend. Talk to your mom, then talk to Kathy when you get there. Find out what she is doing on a given weekend, because we want her on a weekend when she isn’t doing anything. If she has homework, she can bring it with her, and we will have a study group.”
“That sounds great, Michelle. I will definitely ask her when I get there.”
The next thing the girls knew, was that Stephanie’s mother was calling them for dinner. They went in the bathroom and washed their hands, then went downstairs.
As they stood around the table, Stephanie’s mother asked Sally to say grace.
“Lord, thank you for this food, our study group, and maybe a sleepover. Bless our houses and families, and may Stephanie enjoy herself at Kathy’s social. Amen.”
“That was good, Sally. Alright, everyone, pass the meat around first, then the potatoes, the vegetables, and I will get the dessert when are all finished.”
They passed around the corned beef, then the baked potatoes, the heated sauerkraut, the cooked carrots, and then the girls poured their own milk, while Stephanie’s mother had coffee.
“You know, girls, that if you put corned beef and sauerkraut on rye bread, they call that a reuben sandwich.”
“I have had a reuben sandwich before. Sometimes, the corned beef can be tough. You have to know how long to cook it, so that it is tender and moist. Then it tastes good.”
“You are right, Michelle. Cooking meat the proper way and at the right temperature for the right length of time, makes it tastes really good. There are some delis that over cook their corned beef, and that is what makes it tough; almost like a rubbery leather. It is almost impossible to eat, unless you have sharp teeth.”
“Mrs. Kelly, do you make reuben sanwiches?”
“Yes, Sally, I do. My reubens are tender and moist. Not hard and dry like in a deli. You can also make reubens with pastrami, swiss cheese and sauerkraut. Put that on pumpernickel rye, and you have a very delicious sandwich. Just remember that no matter what style of reuben you make, drain the sauerkraut. There are many ways to make a reuben.
“The next time we stay for dinner, you have to make reubens with potato chips on the side,” Michelle said, with a wide grin.
“You know, Michelle, that isn’t a bad idea. Would you like any vegetables with that?”
“Mrs. Kelly, I would be so full, I don’t think I would have room for dessert.”
“I know what you mean, Sally, I would be full, too. I don’t even think I could eat any chips. A Reuben is a meal by itself.”
“I agree, mom,” Stephanie said, holding her tummy. “I feel full just talking about it.”
Before they knew it, they had finished their dinner. The girls all chipped in to help with the clean up. When the kitchen table was washed, the dishes washed, rinsed, dried and put away, plus the kitchen floor was swept and mopped, they all went in to the living room to watch a little television. The girls said they had better get to their homework.
The girls went to Stephanie’s room, while her mother sat and watched t.v. When the girls got to Stephanie’s room, they got out their American history books. Then Stephanie remembered to ask her mother for the book she had on Mount Rushmore. So, she went downstairs to ask her mother for the book.
“Mom, May we use your book on Mount Rushmore?”
“Of course, sweetie. I will get it and bring it to your room.” Stephanie returned to her room.
“My mom said she will get it and bring it in here.”
About five minutes later, Stephanie’s mother brought in her book about Mount Rushmore.
“Here is the book I got fromMount Rushmore, when I was there before you were born, Stephanie. It has a lot of information you girls can use for your essays.”
“Mom, we’re going to ask Mr. Davis, if we can submit a joint essay. That way we all get the same grade, because we all helped write the essay.”
“Why, that sounds really good. I would definitely ask him. If you get the essay done before bed, may I see it?”
“Yes, mom. It always helps to get another opinion besides that of the teacher.”
“Yes, it certainly does, dear. By the way, Sally, Michelle, your mothers called and I told them what you were doing. They both said you can s[end the night. It is Friday, and you don’t have class again until Monday. So, you have all weekend to master your essay.”
“Thank you, mom, for letting us use the book, and thank you for calling Sally and Michelle’s mothers to ask if they could spend the night.”
“I can’t fool my little girl for a moment. Can I?”
“At least nothis time, mom.”
They all giggled, because Stephanie’s mom had a wonderful sense of humor. She has joined the girls in more than one of Stephanie’s sleepovers and actually turned it in to a girls night in. They had more fun as a girls night in, than they would have had with just a sleepover.
However, tonight, Stephanie’s mother needed to get the wash done, and the girls all said they would help fold them. She accepted their help. This way, of course, the laundry could get put away faster, too.
In the meantime, the girls were doing their homework, and discussing the various points of interest at Mount Rushmore, of which the sculpture of the heads of the four Presidents, was only one. There were other things to get involved in at Mount Rushmore. There was the Mount Rushmore Memorial, and the Mount Rushmore gift shop. There was a lot that people could do and see at the Mount Rushmore Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
“You know, Sally, if we put a lot of this information in our essay, it would take more than just one page.”
“I know, Steph,” Sally answered back. “I am thinking more like maybe four or five pages.”
“I agree,” Michelle said, with a serious look on her face. “We all will have something to write in the essay.”
“So, let’s see what we can come up with.”
As the girls started to write, they looked through the book. They found a lot of interesting things to write about Mount Rushmore. Below is the body of the essay they hope to turn in as a study group.
“Mount Rushmore, near Keystone, South Dakota, in the
Black Hills is dedicated to 150 of Democracy by Gutzon
Borglum. However, the Mount Rushmore we know today,
is much different than its original concept. In 1923, his-
torian Doan Robinson had the idea of having Indian lead-
ers and key early American explorers who helped discov-
er the American frontier. Mr. Borglum wanted to start car-
ving in granite pillars known as the Needles. But he real-
ized that the Needles were too thin, so he couldn’t sculpt
his masterpiece of the four presidents we know and love
today. So, he chose Mount Rushmore, named in 1885
after New York attorney Charles Rushmore, because the
stone was suitable for carving and faced southwest so
that the sculpture would have maximum exposure to the
sun. When Mr. Borglum saw Mount Rushmore, he is
quoted as saying, “America will march across that sky-
line”. 85% Of the funding for Mount Rushmore was
funded by Congress because of the efforts of Doan
Robinson, Senator Peter Norbeck, Congressman
William Williamson, and businessman John Boland.
Each of the faces on Mount Rushmore were dedicated
as follows: George Washington, July 4, 1930; Thomas
Jefferson, August 30, 1939; Abraham Lincoln, September
17, 1937; and the Teddy Roosevelt face on July 2, 1939.
The actual cost of the construction of Mount Rushmore
was $989,992.32. Today that figure would be multiplied
many times more. Probably in the millions. Each year,
about 3 million people visit Mount Rushmore from all over
the world.
Submitted by,
Stephanie J. Kelly
Sally Langston
Michelle Dearborn
September 7, 1961”*
They took their essay down to Stephanie’s mother, and had her read through it. She read it with interest.
“This is good, girls. I mean, without writing a book, this gives a lot of information. There could be more, but at the risk of writing too much, and there is such a thing, this essay is good as group essay. You did good, girls. Stephanie, put this in your geography folder, so that you have it for Monday.”
“Yes, mother, and thank you for reading our essay, and giving us your opinion.”
“Oh, Stephanie, you know I will always do that. Well, I think you girls should take a break and watch a little television? I will make some popcorn for us to share.”
They looked through the TV Guide to see what movies were on. There was only one good movie, but that didn’t come on until ten o’clock, and that was Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman with Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, Jr.
“It doesn’t matter how many times I have seen this movie, it always makes me laugh. Maybe someday they will make a movie that is a really, realy scary horror movie. You know, one that is nail biting, sitting on the edge of your seat type. Well, maybe someday.”
“Well, for its time, this movie was considered actual horror. We know better today, because we know it is just a movie. Something to entertain us with. But, you are right, Sally, this isn’t as horrific as it could or should be. There are some dramatic moments, but not that many. Anyway, that is for later. Let’s what’s on now, if anything.”
They looked through the TV Guide again, and found one movie they all said was a good one. This one didn’t come on until eight o’clock, and it was only seven, now. The movie they all agreed on was, The Long, Long Trailer with Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball and Marjorie Main. It was made in 1953. They had an hour to spare, so they talked for a bit.
“Mom,” Stephanie was saying. “Were Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball married when this movie was made?”
“Yes, they were. They were married in 1940. But, their life together was not a happy one. They were finally divorced last year. I think you would do nicely, if you even did an essay on Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. The library downtown has back issues of the paper, and you could find out a lot about them.”
“So, is The Long, Long Trailer a comedy, like I Love Lucy is?”
“Yes, but instead of an apartment, their misadventures happen in a trailer while they are on their honeymoon. I can’t tell you any more, or it will spoil the whole movie. It is getting on time for the movie to come on. I will pop some popcorn for us to share.”
Stephanie’s mother went to the kitchen to pop the popcorn. It would be another fifteen minutes for the movie to come on. After ten minutes went by, Mrs. Kelly came back in the living room and set a large bowl on the coffee table, filled with buttered popcorn. She brought the salt along, just in case the girls want some on their popcorn. Which they didn’t.
The movie started, and they watched with interest and laughed all the way through the movie. It was very hilarious, especially the antics of Lucille Ball. The girls picked at the popcorn, and there was still some left over when the movie had ended. Mrs. Kelly put the popcorn, which was cool by this time, in to a plastic freezer bag. She then put the popcorn in the cupboard.
Yawn, the night was still young, yet, but, not the bodies of three little girls. Stephanie hugged and kissed her mother good night, saying “I love you”, as she walked up the stairs. Sally and Michelle did the same and thanked Stephanie’s mother for having them over. Mrs. Anne Jeannette Kelly, then set about straightening up the living room, and washed the popcorn pan and bowl. Then she went to bed, also.
The next morning, the girls all slept in. Stephanie’s mother woke them all up at ten in the morning.
“Wake up, sleepy heads, half the day is gone already.” Stephanie yawned and looked at the clock on her bed stand.
“Mom, it’s only ten o’clock.”
“Yes, it is. In two hours it will be noon. We have a lot to do today. First we’re going shopping at the mall, then we’re coming back here and polish each other’s nails, and then set each other’s hair, then go out to eat.”
“Mrs. Kelly,” Sally said, yawning. “If we did all of that, would it still be a girls night in?”
“Well, technically speaking. I thought we would just have a nice weekend. Just us girls. Besides, as you get older, you will find out that the mall is a girls second home.”
“Don’t you mean first home?” Stephanie said, facetiously.
“Well, yes, since you put it that way. Anyway, girls, get done in the bathroom, and when you are dressed, come downstairs, and we can go. We can get breakfast on the way.”
DENNY’S!!!!!! The girls all shouted together.
“Well, I guess it’s Denny’s, then.” They all giggled.
Sometimes, the problem with shopping isn’t how much time you have in the shopping day, but rather, what outfits to get for what occasion. The girls, all clean and dressed for the day, went downstairs, and off they went to Southridge. Southridge is a mall, two stories high, with countless number of stores. They had everything from Boston Store to Sears, and everything in between. There was even a Macy’s.
There was even a piercing pagoda, where you got your ears pierced for free when you bought the … whatever style of earrings you wanted. It was a good place to buy earrings, too, because these earrings were hypoallergenic. Stephanie thought what she wanted at Denny’s.
‘We didn’t have to worry about parking, because we took the bus everywhere. The bus that said Southridge in the little window above the windshield, was the one we had to take, because it left you off right in front of the mall. But, first, we were going to Denny’s for breakfast. I wanted the new strawberries and cream breakfast. That had two buttermilk pancakes, with a vanilla cream topping and strawberries. I ordered bacon with my sunny side up eggs. I also ordered orange juice and milk’.
As they entered Denny’s on South 27th Street, there was a hostess that seated them in a booth. They were lucky, because it was the only booth available. They all ordered the same thing as Stephanie. They talked about what they were going to get at the mall. Stephanie wanted to get a nice skirt and blouse, or shirt, a pair of shoes, and tan nylons.
Sally said she wanted to get a set or two of ‘bumming around’ clothes. Michelle wanted to get two pairs of earrings. A girl just doesn’t seem to have enough earrings.
They were finished with their breakfast, and went to take the bus back toward Forest Home Avenue, and take that bus all the way to Southridge. However, when you took the Forest Home bus, you had to make sure it said Southridge in the destination window. They got to South 27th Street and West Forest Home Avenue, and waited for the bus going to Southridge. There was alos a Forest Home bus that went all the way to the Boerner Botanical Gardens and the Wehr Nature Center. But, today, the ladies were going to Southridge shopping mall.
When the bus came, they got on and there was room for two on the front bench seat, and the seat facing it was empty. They were able to sit together, which everybody who has taken a city bus, knows is next to impossible. As they rode toward Southridge, they talked about their adventures, but left out that Stephanie was transgender. As they were talking, two teenage boys stood in front of the seat that Sally and Stephanie were sitting in.
“Hey, babes, wanna go get a coke and fries?”
“Excuse me, gentlemen, but do you have a problem with my daughters?” Asked Stephanie’s mom.
“Erm, no, no, ma’am.” Upon which the two hurridely got off of the bus.
“I guess they won’t bother any young ladies on the bus, because they won’t know if the lady sitting next to them or around them, is their mother,” remarked Sally.
“Yes, Sally. But, as you get older, you know how to put a fright into mashers like that. Maybe their intentions were honorable, and maybe not. It is best not to wait until it is too late to find out.”
“I agree, … mom … we are very vulnerable when we are around teenage boys or even men.”
“Yes, Michelle, that is a good way to look at it. When young girls finally get that through their heads, they will be a lot safer. Alright, girls, we’re here. Now stay together and don’t go wandering off by yourselves.
______________________________________________________________________________
*I don’t have a 1961 calendar, so, the date I have set as the date the essay was submitted by the girls, is purely guess work. But, since this is fiction, I guess it really doesn’t matter.
Next Chapter: The girls are at the mall
______________________________________________________
So You Want To Be A Girl, Do You? - Chapter 8
By Barbara Lynn Terry
If you have not read “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, you should. It is a good poem to read. Stephanie read in study hall about how Francis Scott Key wrote the poem The Star Spangled Banner while a prisoner aboard a British vessel. She also found out that it is the first stanza of that poem that is our national anthem.*
As she walked inside of her home, she mused to herself just how much the boys in her class have really learned. Or, did they already have the study ability, even at Cass? Oh, well, might as well get a glass of juice.
“Mom, I was thinking about Donny Baird again. What if he forces me to dance with him when we get to the dance? I mean, if he would have a decent attitude, then maybe I might have said yes. But, the way he is now, he is just a jerk.”
“I will take care of Mr. Baird. I have been asked if I would like to be a chaperone at the dance. A lot of the PTA members have been asked. So, with the members of the PTA and the teachers that will be there, we will be able watch everybody more closely. If Donny Baird tries to cut in on a dance between you and Fred, I and a teacher will stop it.”
“Alright, mom. I got a book from the school library about the Revolutionary War. I found what is in it, very interesting. After ncfdinner, I am going to start to read it. Mr. Davis said we will be studying the Revolutionary War for another two weeks, because it was the war that actually founded a nation.”
“Yes, dear. The Revolutionary War was the most important of all of the wars we have had within the US borders, even though our country wasn’t called that at the time. There is a really good movie coming on tonight called North By Northwest starring Cary Grant. I think you will find this movie interesting, because it shows Mount Rushmore in it.”
“I will go and start reading my book. I really don’t have any homework. Most of what we did today was all done in class.”
“Alright, dear. I am going to figure out what to have for dinner.”
Stephanie went to the refrigerator and looked to see if they had ground beef, onions, tomatoes, taco sauce, and sharp cheddar cheese. Then she went to the cupboard to look for tortilla shells, and taco seasoning. Then she looked at her mother with her idea for dinner.
“Mom, we have all of the things for tacos.** We could have tacos for dinner.”
“That sounds like a plan. Thank you, dear.”
“Would you like me to help you?” Stephanie asked her mother.
“Why thank you, dear. Yes, you could shred the lettuce and cut the onions. Did you notice if we have black olives?” Stephanie looked and said yes. But since it only takes a few minutes to prepare the ground beef and cut the onions, they could wait a little longer before they had to start getting the ground beef and onions ready.
So, Stephanie went to read her book on the Revolutionary War. She read about all of the taxation that King George imposed on the thirteen colonies. She read about brigadier general Francis “the Swamp Fox” Marion. She read about Paul Revere. She put the book down and looked at her clock on her night stand. It was time to start dinner.
As she came in the kitchen, her mother was already browning the ground beef. Stephanie got out the lettuce and the onions, and began dicing the onions. When she was finished with the onions, she got out the cheese, and used the bell shaped cheese shredder and shredded the cheese, she got out the black olives, which she sliced, then got out the taco sauce. She put the diced onions in a small bowl, as well as the black olives and cheese.
By the time she was finished with her tasks, the ground beef was ready. Stephanie’s mother spread taco sauce on to the tortilla shells and then put the ground beef, taco sauce, cheese, black olives and tomatoes on to the tortilla shells and wrapped them around the ingredients.
As they ate, Stephanie told her mother about her school day, and that Mr. Davis was still a hunk.
“A hunk, huh. Well, I suppose he may be, but, he is way too old for you.”
“A girl can dream, can’t she?”
“Yes, dear.”
Stephanie ate two tacos, and had a glass of milk. She excused herself from the table, and went to read her book on the Revolutionary War.
“Dear, you could write an essay on the Revolutionary War and ask your teacher if you can get extra credit for it.”
“Thank you, mother, I will do that.”
“Stephanie, there is a lot you can write about the Revolutionary War. There are British as well as Continental army people you could write about. Such as, there are British governors appointed by King George III, to oversee the colonies. You could even write about King III himself. You know, Stephanie, King George III was a very highly educated man. It is too bad he let that education go to waste.”
“How did he let his education go to waste, mother?” Inquired Stephanie.
“You find out, dear. That is what research is all about. To find out things. Besides, I will not do your essay for you.” Both ladies giggled.
“Alright, mom, I will look everything up, when I have study hall.”
Stephanie went back to her room to read about the Revolutionary War. She read how it started, and what “the shot heard ‘round the world” really meant.
When she was in history class she heard John Michaels relate about he had read about brigadier general Francis Marion. John also said that he was known as the Swamp Fox. She would have to see if this book mentioned him. Right for now, this book started out with a history of hpw the Revolutionary War started. Taxation without representation was only one of the various reasons, the American colonists declared and fought for their independence from King George III.
She figured if she asked Mr. Davis first, then she knew she would get extra credit for her Revolutionary War essay. So, she laid on her bed and read. The book even had paintings of the likenesses of King George III, Lord Conwallis, George Washington, and other key figures of the that time. Photography was a long ways off yet.
After about an hour, Stephanie took a break from reading. She went downstairs and joined her mother in watching television. The movie had just started, so Stephanie didn’t miss anything. The movie they were watching was The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It starred Charles Laughton as the hunchback.** For two and half hours they watched the movie, with Mrs. Kelly making popcorn during the first set of commercials. She filled the small mixing bowl with popcorn and they sat and nibbled while they watched how Quasimodo went through the movie trying to save Esmeralda from certain death.
As the movie was coming to an end, Stephanie laid her head on her mother’s lap, and was promptly sound asleep. Of course, she had a very tiring day. She went to school, came home, read for a bit, helped with dinner, read som more. Then went down to watch television. All of that can put a drain on a eleven year old child.
Mrs. Kelly didn’t wake her, knowing that if Stephanie got up in the middle of the night, she would find herself to her own bed. Stephanie’s mother turned off the tv, placed the popcorn bowl in the sink, and went to her own bedroom to get ready for and get in bed.
The next morning, being a Friday, Mrs. Kelly woke Stephanie and told her it was the last day of school for two and half whole days. Stephanie smiled, and swung her feet from under the covers.
“Good morning, mother,” Stephanie said through a yawn.
“Good morning, dear. Get your bath going and then get dressed. I’m making pancakes, sausage patties, and pouring the milk and orange juice.”
“Alright, mother. I will be down in a few minutes.”
On school days, Stephanie didn’t linger in the bath tub, taking a bubble bath. She just used her perfumed soap and took a shower. It was cold outside, so she would wait until tomorrow to wash her hair.
Her shower completed, she patted herself dry, and went to her bedroom to get dressed. She figured today was the day for a plaid skirt, long sleeved blouse, knee high, double knit socks. She figured her black flats with the one quarter inch heels would complete the outfit. She put her hair in a pony tail, and went downstairs to have breakfast.
“I see you’re all dressed up. Going on a secret date?”
“Oh! Mother,” Stephanie uttered in mock exasperation, with a sigh. “I will just have two pancakes, one sausage patty, milk and juice.”
“All right, dear. I squeezed oranges with the orange juicer.*** So, it is home made orange juice.”
“I read where they said anything home made is better for you than if you bought the same item in the store.”
“Yes, it is. It is also healthier, too. In the packaging, they put what are called preservatives. This, they claim, protects the freshness of the product, like cereals, pancake mix, and many, many other items. So, if you can make it home made, then do it. Besides being healthier, it also tastes better, too.
“Mother, I am eleven years old. Would you teach me how to cook?”
“Of course, Stephanie, I would be only too glad to help you learn how to cook. But, you don’t have time right now. You need to go and catch your bus and get to school. When you get home, I will teach you. We will start with something simple.”
“Alright, mom, see you after school.”
Stephanie grabbed her coat, the book on the Revolutionary War that she was reading, and went out to catch the number 27 going toward Wisconsin Avenue. Once she got to Wisconsin Avenue, she could take any bus going east, because they all stopped at North 19th Street and West Wisconsin Avenue.
The bus came right on time, for a change, and she go on. But, she had to stand in the stairwell, because this bus was overfilled. Legally, they weren’t allowed to have students standing in the stairwell, because of safety concerns. So, being in the stairwell, and not being able to reach the fare box, she didn’t have to show her school bus pass.
The bus let almost all of the students off at North 27th and West Wisconsin Avenue. The number 10 from county hospital was just pulling up to the eastbound bus stop. Stephanie waved her hand indicating that she needed to get on that bus. The bus driver waited for the students, and they all thanked him. This bus wasn’t crowded, and Stephanie was actually able to sit down.
When the bus was nearing North 19th Street, Stephanie pulled the buzzer cord, indicating that she wanted to get off. The bus stopped at North 19th Street, and several students got off. Donny Baird knew what bus stop she got off at, and he was waiting by the bus stop.
“Hey, Steph, where’re our books. I only see one. Would like me to carry that for you?”
“Donald Adam Baird, you are a … uhm … troll. Yes, a troll, now go back under your bridge.”
“Aww c’mon Steph. All I want is for you to let me take you to the dance.”
“Donald Adam Baird, we have been over this time and time again. I keep saying no, and you keep asking. I think George is right; you took the train instead of waiting for brains. Now, get away from me, or I will tell George and Fred that you are bothering me, again, to go to the dance with you.”
“But, all I want is one dance, then.”
Stephanie kept walking toward the school, where she saw George and Fred talking. She went up to them, and told them what Donny was up to. George and Fred went over by Donny Baird.
“Hey, Fred, it’s Donny Baird. You know him, he’s the one that keeps bothering Stephanie.”
“Is that so, George? What do you think should be done with Donald Baird?”
“I think,” George told Fred. “That maybe he should get his ass kicked a few times. Then maybe he will get the message that Stephanie Kelly is off limits to him.”
“So, who will kick my ass?” Inquired Donald (Donny) Adam Baird.
“Fred, let’s flip for it. Heads I will be only too happy to do the dirty work. Tails, you get the honors.”
“What? You think Fred can take me?”
“Don’t sell Fred short, Donny. Just because Fred is quiet and minds his own business, doesn’t mean he can’t fight. If I were you Donny, I would leave Stephanie alone, from now on.”
“All I said, George, was that she should dump frumpy here, and go to the dance with a real man.”
Fred became angry and gave Donny Baird a lesson he soon will not forget. This is how it happened.
“Donny,” said Fred, as he was talking to Donny. “Let’s go across the street. The bell won’t ring for another five minutes, yet.”
“That is enough time for me to kick your ass,” Donny told Fred.
They went in the alley across the street and all you could hear
was “no, Fred, no”, coming from Donny Baird.
“Now, Mr. Baird, if you ever tell anyone again, about how you’re a real man, and you should be the one to take this or that girl anywhere, you better be prepared to get the ass whipping of your life.”
“Donny, one other thing. If you tell the nurse I kicked your ass remember that I have Stephanie, George and the others out there by the door, to tell principal Stevens about you constantly bothering Stephanie. I thought that we got away from the bullies when Jimmy Henderson and his two friends were expelled. I guess I was wrong.”
“Fred, I’m…I’m not…a bully. I was just asking Stephanie if she wanted to go the dance with me, instead of you.”
“Well, now you know who she is going with. Besides, she needs someone who will treat her with respect. You, Donny, on the other hand, don’t even know what respect is. Now, this is the end of you bothering Stephanie for any reason.”
“Sure, Fred, sure”
They went back across the street, and just in time for the first bell. Everybody filed in to the school, and right to their lockers. Stephanie got out her English, math, and geography books, as well as her notebooks for each class. They proceeded to their first English class.
“I don’t think Donny will bother you any more, Steph,” Michelle said, on the way to class.
“Don’t bet on it, Mish.Donny Baird is so egotistical, he will tell others that he beat up Fred. He is one boy that just will not learn and may be headed for the school of hard knocks, as my mother calls prison.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised, Steph. He just might join Jimmy Henderson and his two friends there.”
“I would be willing to bet on it.”
Mrs. Richards was writing sentences on the blackboard, and when she was done, we had all taken our seats.
“Class, on the blackboard are five sentences. I want you all to copy them as they are written. Then we are going to discuss the parts of speech in each sentence.”
We opened our English books, then we got out our notebooks. We copied the five sentences, and each of them were written differently. Mrs. Richards busied herself at her desk. When she thought that we had had enough time to copy the sentences, she stood up and spoke to the class.
“Alright class, we are now going to discuss the parts of speech in each sentence. Who would like to go first. Michelle raised her hand. “Michelle, would you please read the first sentence.”
“If the hound chased the rabbit, where did the hound go?”
“Now, Michelle, tells us what the parts of speech are in this sentence.”
“Yes, Mrs. Richards. If is a conjunction, the is a definite adverb, Hound is a noun, chased is a verb, rabbit is a noun, where is an adverb. I couldn’t find what part of speech ‘go’ was, even though some books I looked in, said ‘go’ was a verb, because it described action.”
“Alright, Michelle, thank you. Johnny Foster, will you please read the second sentence? Then give us the parts of speech in that sentence.”
Johnny read the second sentence and gave the parts of speech that he recognized. After he was through, Mrs. Richards thanked him, and then the bell rang. We left the classroom and went to our math class.
Mr. Jenkins was sitting at his desk, looking at some papers. I couldn’t see what was on those papers, but, I had a sneaky suspicion in the back of my mind. Mr. Jenkins put the papers down and looked over the class.
“I can see by looking at the class that everybody is here. That is good, because today, we are having our first pop quiz of the year. I will give these papers to the first desk in each row, and they are to pass them back to the person behind them.” He passed out the papers. “Alright, class, you may begin.”
He sat back down and busied himself with paper work. Every now and then, he would look up, and look around the class. The alarm clock he had on his desk rang.
“Alright, class, put your pencils down, and please pass your papers forward.”
He took the papers and began grading them, after telling us to do the exercises at the end of chapter three. While we wee doing the exercises, Mr. Jenkins graded the quiz papers. When we were finished with the exercises, the bell rang ending class. We were told to leave our exercise papers on his desk. We did that as we left the classroom, not giving Mr. Jenkins a chance to give us homework. Michelle, Sally, Janet, Dan, and George all had our lockers near each other. So, guess who comes up to me, at my locker. Uh huh. Donny Baird.
“You listen to me, I am taking you to the dance, whether Fred, or George, or anyone else doesn’t like it.”
George came over and stood right behind Donny Baird.
“Do you have a problem, Donald Adam Baird?”
“Mind your own business, George. This doesn’t concern you.”
“Maybe not, but it concerns me,” Mr. Jenkins said. “Leave her alone, Mr. Baird. Now, leave her alone, or, we can go to Mr. Stevens office and find out what your problem really is.”
“Man, you teachers are all alike. All I asked her is would she go to the dance with me.”
“That isn’t what I heard, Mr. Baird. I heard you order her to go to the school dance with you. Didn’t you learn your lesson this morning. Oh! Yes! I know all about it. But, I will tell you what I will do, the next time you bother her. I will have the boxing ring put up in the gym, and you and Fred can go to it. How does that sound, Mr. Baird?”
“Go to hell, Jenkins.”
“Come with me, Mr. Baird,” whereupon Mr. Jenkins grabbed his shirt collar and walked Donny to Mr. Stevens office.
“I don’t think he will cause anymore trouble at this school. He has been trouble ever since Jimmy Henderson and his two so-called friends were expelled.”
“I know, George, But, I did everything I could think of to make him stop. He just wouldn’t.”
We entered Mr. Johnson’s class. I was ready for geography. We were talking last time about points of interest. He said yesterday, that we would continue talking about these points of interests.
“Class, I have taken roll call as you were coming in. Everyone is all here. Yesterday, we talked about points if interests that people visit each year. Does anyone have any other points of interest that we didn’t talk about yesterday?” Nobody raised their hand. “What about Monument Valley, where they make western movies? What about Pier 39 in San Francisco? There are many points of interest we haven’t talked about, yet.”
Jimmy raised his hand. “Yes, Jimmy.”
“Many people visit the USS Arizona monument in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
“That is a very good point of interest, Jimmy. Thank you.” Sally raised her hand. “Yes, Sally.”
“What about Sea World*** in Orlando, Florida? A lot of people visit there every year, too.”
“Yes, Sally, they certainly do. Anybody else?”
Just then, the bell ending class rang.
“There is no homework for tonight. I want to go over some other points of interests on Monday. There are several we haven’t covered, yet. Have a good weekend.”
We left Mr. Johnston’s class and went to put our books away. Then we headed for the cafeteria.
We talked as we walked to the cafeteria. We were having beef stroganoff for lunch, with carrots, and bread. The problem with the bread was, it was ten cents a slice. We got our lunch and sat down to eat. Donny Baird just happened in to the cafeteria.
“Now, either you go to the school dance with me, or …” He didn’t get to finish. Mr. Jenkins must have followed him.
“Mr. Baird, you were just suspended. What are you doing here?”
“It is really none of your business.”
“Okay. Let’s go young man. I’m sure the police will be interested in what you have been up to.”
Mr. Jenkins took Donny Baird back to Mr. Stevens office. We kind of knew that he was on his way to being expelled. It seems that we get rid of one bully and someone else steps up to take his place. The bell rang for the end of lunch, and we put our garbage in the container for that purpose, and we set our trays on the stand by the door, as well as, dropping our flatware in the stock pot filled three quarters of the way with water.
After we got our afternoon books, we headed to study hall. Since I didn’t have any work to do, I looked for a book on the American Revolution. The book I have, is good, but there are other books by other authors. There was a book I hadn’t read. It is called Johnny Tremaine. I’m going to read this book and see who Johnny Tremaine was.
I had just finished chapter one of Johnny Tremaine, when the bell rang ending class. We left study hall and headed to Mr. Davis’ class and American History. I was enjoying this class, because it taught me things about America I had never known before. As we were all seated, Mr. Davis took roll call. Mr. Davis also did not dress or act like other teachers.
“Class, the last time we met, we were talking about the Coercive or Intolerable Acts, set against the colonies by the English Parliament. I thought today, we would have a short quiz on what we have learned.” Mr. Davis passed out the quiz papers. “Alright class, you may begin.”
As we were doing our quiz, I finally saw the title of the book of poems he was reading from. It is called “Tales of a Wayside Inn”.**** He seemed very interested in this book, because, I guess, it contained poems from the time of the American Revolution. I will have to look for that book. Maybe the school library may have it.
By the time we were through with our quiz, the bell ending class had rung.
“Class, leave your quiz papers on my desk and have a good weekend.”
This was the end of the school day, because we didn’t have home ec. Our teacher was out with a cold. Maybe it is only the twenty four hour kind. Anyway, we went to our lockers and put our books away. We have been lucky, so far, on these first few days of school. So, we started out of the door, and we saw the police put Donny Baird in the back seat of a police car. Well, it looks like Donny Baird, jimmy Henderson and his two friends, will have a lot to talk about when Donny gets to the detention center. I just hope that where ever they go, they will learn not to pick on others weaker than they are.
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*famousliteraryworks.com/key_star_spangled_banner.htm
**The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) RKO Radio Pictures 1hr.57min - Starring Charles Laughton, Maureen O’Hara, Edmond O’Brien.
***SeaWorld Amusement Park, 7007 Sea World Dr., Orlando, FL
32821
****Tales of a Wayside Inn, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, first published in 1863. This book may be purchased from all reputable book sellers and Amazon.com