The Swan Chapter One   for Dorothy Colleen   by Andrea Lena DiMaggio ...there once was an ugly duckling with feathers all stubby and brown.

Andy looked out the porch window at the downpour that threatened to ruin the whole weekend. He had planned on a day of exploration as the new cousin in the home wasn't well received by the older boys. Never a big kid, he seemed to fade into the woodwork when Jack and Tommy were around. Even at 15 he was closer in appearance to a middle school kid than a boy on the verge of manhood. Which was alright with him.

"Come on, we're gonna go down to the park and play touch football. You know how to play, don't you, Annie." Tommy teased as he pulled on his spikes.

"Nah, she's better off staying inside. Wouldn't want her hurt or anything." Jack laughed and threw a sweatshirt at his brother.

"That's very cerebral, guys. Take all morning thinking that one up?" Andy half-smiled. "I'll see you later and we can discuss the global implications of the free market approach of emerging third world nations, okay?"

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Tommy twisted around and threw his hands in the air.

"Nothing, Tommy, nothing...just talking to myself." Andy did a lot of that. His mother and father were in Europe on business for her company so he was spending the summer with his cousins.

"Well, if you change your mind? Don't bother. Even the little kids would kick your fucking ass. See you later!" Jack said as he walked out with his brother into the rain.

"Well, that at least leaves me time alone." Andy thought to himself as he grabbed his book and headed into the living room, hoping to sit in the recliner next to the fireplace, which by now had a good fire going. He was disappointed when he heard a voice from behind.

"Are you ready? You know we've got the whole afternoon. Jack and Tommy are going over to Eddie's house to play video games. Don't mind them. They're not too bad...just like to tease. But let's not take any chances, huh?" Dina smiled and pointed to her room.

"I've changed my mind. I'm not sure I want to do this." Andy shook his head even as Dina grabbed his hand and began pulling him into her bedroom.

"Nope...you promised, and I think it would be wrong of me to let you back out." She actually meant that, being that she was helping him and not the other way around.

"We decided...rather...you decided that this was something that had to happen. I may be your cousin, but I think I'm the only one in the world that actually listens to you."

"Well, apart from now...yeah, Dina you are." What began as a whimsical moment quickly degnerated into sadness as he noticed the look in her eyes.

"You'll never be happy unless we start now. I know...believe me." She shook her head and her voice seemed to turn angry, but not at him.

"It needs to be soon....Dani waited too long and it's been a real hell for her." She wiped a tear from her eye and tried to smile.

"Besides, what's the worst that could happen? The boys are away for the day and if you don't like it, it doesn't have to go any further." Andy shook his head again and bit his lip.

"That's the problem...I'm afraid I won't like it. What if I'm just another..."

"Plain Jane? Welcome to the club, cousin. Life isn't like a story. We all don't get to be swans!" She started humming "The Ugly Duckling" as she renewed her efforts to bring her cousin closer to his destiny...from her perspective. She was right...We don't all get to be swans, but neither do we all have to remain ducklngs. Now to whether her cousin was a Pen or a Cob...that was the question at hand.

"So what do you think?" Dina stood behind Andy as he looked into the mirror over her dresser. Staring back at him wasn't the 15 year old teenage geek that had few friends. Standing in his place was a 15 teenage geek...girl. Looking like a cross between Ellen Page and Zach Efron, he was a fairly reasonable approximation of a shy, retiring book worm. His makeover made him look like the girl who wants to be attractive but favors near-Goth instead; in need of the makeover he already received.

"I don't know. She looks....pale." Andy tilted his head and shook his hair. He hadn't had a haircut in a month, and the mousy brown locks seemed to look sorta girlish ...he just didn't know.

"Try this. She pulled off his glasses and put her frames on him. Suddenly he was transformed from geek to semi-geek as her girly frames seemed to bring out the look Dina had done on his eyes.

"No doubt about it...you'd pass in a heartbeat. You'd certainly be the best looking girl in the chess club." Dina laughed as she took a brush to his hair,

"I'd be the only girl in the chess club!" Andy said and shook his head. It was starting to feel very odd. The slight added weight on his chest, coupled with the new sensation of the draft created by the newness of a denim midi skirt made him feel....good.

"Try on the boots. They'll bring the look together." Dina said as she fitted the matching denim jacket over his button down white blouse.

"You look just like you could....meet the world." She chuckled.

"I can meet the world...it's getting found out that I'm concerned about." He looked once again in the mirror, squinting to see if his face would change. It didn't. The final product was perfectly passable, if only for a day. He had thought about this for a long time, and had backed out five times previously. Only the pleading of his cousin got him to relent and follow thru.

"She won't go for it!" He said as he looked over his shoulder at his rear.

"Nonsense. One look at you and it'll be love at first sight."

"Yeah, until she gets a look under the hood. Kicking the tires and playing the radio is one thing, but she won't like the engine at all."

"Well, I'm not so sure about that. From what Colleen says, she sorta ... well it's weird. Let's just say Colleen says she's open minded.

"What? You told her sister? No! I can't do this you know it won't work now...sisters talk."

"As do cousins, my dear. Besides, Colleen isn't just my best friend, silly." Dina tilted her head forward and grinned.

"You know? Not just my best FRIEND?" She smiled as Andy's eyes widened.

"You and Colleen? Wow...I would never have thought that you were her type." He slapped her arm softly and laughed.

"Good...that's just soft enough she'll never guess." Dina laughed enough to snort.

"Funny." He paused and shook his head. Sitting down on the bed he picked up a small pillow that was lying on her comforter and hugged it like a stuffed animal.

"It's so fucked up. Dina...Am I fucked up for wanting this?" He bit his lip.

"Hey...no crying...you'll ruin your makeup and no, you're not fucked up. Lotsa boys like wearing nice things. I read online that most boys who dress up like girls...not all of them...and some even get married and have kids.

"Maureen is a nice girl...I've loved her since I was six. What if she hates me after this. I won't just be the geek in school anymore. I'll be the freak. Everybody will know and I'll be a dead kid as far as anyone is concerned." Andy began to cry despite Dina's warnings. She sat down on the bed and held him in her arms.

"It's okay....shhhh shhhh.... Don't cry.... you're messing your makeup. We're not going for the raccoon look, sweetie." She rocked him in her arms and sang, "....You're a very fine swan indeed...."

"You really think this will work?"

"I'm positive. You'll see. First time...maybe a few times we'll be double dating. Now let's get you repaired okay?"

A few minutes later Annie Mangano was ready for her first date, not just with a girl, with anyone. She shook a bit as she waited for her cousin to get ready.

"Can you hand me that half-slip that's lying on my dresser?

"Sure!”

Annie walked over to the bathroom door. Dina was standing at the sink with a towel wrapped around her, putting her makeup on. Her hair was very short and almost a dirty blond. She accepted the slip from Annie and closed the door. A few moments later she was standing in front of her dresser next to Annie as they checked themselves once more before going out. Black Denim knee-length skirt and an aqua tank top under a beige sweater.

"Geez, what am I thinking. Grab the two raincoats out of the hall closet and the umbrellas, just in case it starts raining again." Dina walked over to her closet and pulled down a large box from the shelf. It was an old Lite-Brite box but inside was her treasure. Opening it up, she pulled out a long auburn wig, not too wavy and not to straight.

"Wow…You look...beautiful." Annie said as she stared at her cousin.

"Maybe next weekend we can go to Pressler's when Mom isn't working? She helps me shop for everything!" Dina said as they walked out of her bedroom, turning the light off. The two walked to the front door, taking a final inventory at the mirror in the hallway before exiting. They got into Dina’s car and drove off.

It might have been overcast with a forecast of frequent showers, but it promised to be a perfect afternoon for Maureen and Colleen, the McKenna twins and their dates, the Mangano cousins, Andy and Dean.

Next: The Dead Kid?