Doubts 3 - Follow Becky's intimate thoughts as she navigates her day.

Doubts

The following is not story. It is a narrative. It doesn’t start at the beginning, and it is not known where it will end. But it will; everything does. There will be several sequential posts as the author is motivated. Since it is a narrative there is no dialogue and it is always in the present tense. The intent is not to entertain but to inform and to incite understanding, context, perspective. Ideally a reader my gain an appreciation where we are today, and what it will take for a better tomorrow. Enjoy.

(Miri returns to telling her story of discovering her child is different and dealing with it. In this chapter Miri and Don try to make some plans for the future and then break the news about their sibling to their other two children.)

Choices

Chapter 21

(Miriam and Don discover as much about themselves as they do about Jack with Dr. Ellis)

Choices

Chapter 19

“Becky.” Jack said proudly. “My name is Becky. It’s really Rebecca Katherine. But nobody has ever asked me.” He added, beaming with a wide grin.

(Miriam learns that others are noticing her sons, both of them.)

Don returns from his hunting trip and Miri confesses shopping for Jack. After they have words they make a startling discovery.

(In 1972 the insurance company Rich works for has assigned him the task for researching sex reassignment surgery after they received a claim. Will he find anything at Johns Hopkins University?)

(Now married and working in Washington, DC, Rich Bromely’s demon is under control and he is happy, until he is faced with a stark reminder from an unusual source. How will he respond?)

(Private Richard Bromely hasn’t escaped the issue that has always tormented him as much as he thought. Still at DLIWC, the Army language school in Monterey, he looks forward to graduation, getting married and being away from all the demons. Dodging his problem is harder than he thought.)

(Miriam finds strength and discovers a path that might help her son, but some of what she is told scares her.)

Choices

Chapter 10

Interlude: Rich Bromely, the young man from a small Pennsylvania town was abruptly introduced to the world, a man’s world, in 1966 when he lost his student classification that deferred him from the draft just as the Vietnamese War was heating up. Rich graduated from Johnstown High School, attended a small community college for two years and met a girl named Brandi. Rich and Brandi met through a mutual friend and attended separate schools, she in upstate New York. They only saw each other occasionally but they both felt the other was the one they wanted to be with for the rest of their lives. They became engaged shortly before Rich enlisted for four years in a special program, a program that would likely keep him out of Viet Nam.

(Rich deals with his past and meets someone not unlike himself.)

Struggles

Silence

(Note: The author humbly appreciates those who may be following the story of Rich Bromely and his struggles in the 1950’s and later. I am taking a brief hiatus of posting a chapter each day while traveling and intend to use the time to edit and proof the next few chapters. Thanks to all for the kudos. Posting the next chapter of Struggles should resume at the very end of May. Criticism and comments are welcomed.)

Struggles

by

Riding in Cars with Men

Rich couldn’t focus. Everything was spinning. The headlights of the oncoming cars were blurry streaks of light to him and he couldn’t tell where he was. He had no memory of what had happened to him. He knew he was riding in a car and that it was cold and dark. He felt nauseous. The intermittent lights from the passing streetlights showed wet spots on the front of his pants. He must have dozed off, or more accurately, passed out. He didn’t look over at the man driving and tried not to let him know he was awake.

The El Camino came to a stop and Rich realized he was a block from his house. The man reached under the seat and pulled out a handgun. He nudged Rich with the gun.

Struggles

Brotherly Love

Choices

Chapter 5

Chapter 7

Bike Riding

Chapter 6

It’s a Man’s World

“What’s going on with you?” Lia Bromely asked her son the morning after the six boys picked up Phillip Drexel and went for a ride.

Choices

Chapter 2

Reasonable Certitude

By

Miriam Hartman Roberts

(The book within Choices)

Chapter 1

Part 1
Unavoidable Roads

Chapter 4
Girl Friends

Part 1
Unavoidable Roads

Chapter 3
You Better Run, Girl