A Sweets Life-Chapter 4

This one gets a bit preachy. If this offends you, I apologize. What can I say? It’s how I feel.

Four girls, sitting on a bench eating ice cream, would seem to be no big deal; No one paid them any real attention, with the exception of a few teenage boys, who may have appreciated the four pretty girls all in one place. It was just something you would expect to see in many American middle size towns, and it pleased one of those girls to no end that she could do this.

Candy had been so afraid that everyone would see that she was really a boy. Robin’s plan to ignore the differences seemed to be working perfectly. As long as everyone acted like Candy belonged with the rest of the girls, the world seemed to take little notice.

There was still danger, as there is for any pretty girl, but there was safety in numbers. Hanging out together was fun, and they were enjoying a wonderful summer together. They played and watched the boys, listened to music and had picnics in the park, just acting like a bunch of 13 year old girls. Life was good, and friends made it better.

They met several of their classmates, and Candy was becoming a familiar presence around the town. She knew, though, that as soon as school began, things could change. Candy seemed to be ready for the new school year, and the controversy that she was sure was soon to begin, though.

The plan was to just walk in and act like nothing was unusual. It would be their first year at the high school, which drew students from 3 different Junior High schools. It was a large cluster of buildings, too large for everyone to be familiar with everyone else. The best thing that they could do was just to avoid “standing out”, and simply melt into the confusion of the new school. People would be aware of Candy by then, and really, Andrew had never made a huge impression at his previous schools. There was a good chance they could just wing it through the school for 4 years.

Well, maybe.

Mark Green and Jack Ames, Tina and Robin’s fathers, had volunteered to help smooth Candy’s transition into the school. It was always nice to have a couple of friendly attorneys around. With Karen Bascom’s help, the school system had been notified of Andrew’s transition, and fortunately, there was a pre-existing policy to follow. The school had several video cameras, both inside and outside of the buildings, and the teachers and hall monitors followed a strict policy with regard to bullying.

Janet Ames, Robin’s mother, would allow Candy to come over with Robin until Jenna got home from work. The two girls were rarely apart anyway, so it only made sense. All the preparations that could be made in advance had been made. Still, Jenna was nervous. No one could plan for everything.

Her biggest worry, she knew, was the girls, themselves. They would not lie to anyone, and they were not planning to deceive anyone about Candy. The only thing they would do would be to actively ignore the subject. If it came out, then they would deal with that when it happened. They had gone over their schedules and, with help from Mark and Jack, had done their best to schedule their classes together. Candy would almost always have at least one of the girls with her.

Jenna’s father had a saying, and it kept coming back to her now. Whenever they played a strategy game, he would say “No plan ever survived the first contact with the enemy. Plan ahead for surprises.” This one old chestnut kept Jenna up at night. Finally, she could take it no more. She decided to talk to her friend, Pastor Theresa. They had known each other since elementary school, and Jenna was sure that she could trust Pastor Terri.

“I’m not sure how to react,” Pastor Terri admitted when Jenna met with her. “I don’t agree with some of the conservatives that this is a sin, really. Andrew, or Candy, as she wants to be called, has always been a very good child, and I can see that what the kids are doing is trying to keep her change from being a disruption. I think this is very wise. There’s no sense in asking for trouble, after all.

I’m not sure how much I can help, but help I will, if the opportunity arises. All are welcome into the house of God, without distinction. What I’ll tell you, Jenna, is to leave it in God’s hands. Pray for guidance, perhaps even a bit of protection, but let Him handle it. Considering our location, between the school and your home, you should let the kids know that they are always welcome in here, should they need a refuge, or just to talk. Jenna, you can always come and talk with me, even if it’s just to reminisce, I hope you know that?”

“I do know it,” Jenna said as she smiled and hugged her friend. “That’s why I knew I could come to you. I’ve just been trying to do everything I could to protect Candy. I’ve read so many bad things about how the transgendered have been treated.”

“It’s true that some folks just aren’t very tolerant of this kind of thing. If you remember, though, that Jesus once stated “If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her,” and St. Paul said that “There is no one righteous, not even one”. I take that to mean that no one has the right to judge. Some Churches need to remember that.”

Jenna left the church knowing she had another ally, and another idea to help protect Candy. It’d be hard, but she’d try to take Terri’s advice, and let the Lord take care of things. We never seem to be able to do that, she reflected. We always think we know better than Him.

When she got home, she went to her room and knelt.

“Please, Lord, forgive me. It’s hard to really trust in you, even though I want to be faithful. Please protect my child, keep her safe, and don’t let her be the cause of anyone’s pain. Thank you Lord, Amen.”
It wasn’t much of a prayer, but it was all she had.

School shopping isn’t really fun for anyone, but it didn’t take them a great deal of time. Fortunately, the high school had sent out a list of suggested items that the kids would need, so Candy was pretty well stocked. She felt she was ready for her first day of high school. If she could just keep the butterflies down.

As Candy primped herself nervously in the hallway mirror, Jenna checked out her presentation. Her outfit consisted of a denim skirt, short sleeve blouse and her boat shoes. Jenna helped her put her hair in a ponytail, and made sure her backpack was with her. A quick kiss, and off she went.

Robin and the girls were just coming around the corner, and Candy ran to meet them. Yes, they were all nervous, but they did their best to relax and enjoy the walk. It really was a pretty day, and Tina noted that it was the perfect day NOT to be in a classroom.

“Isn’t that the way it always is?” Jenny asked. “You watch, this weekend will be lousy.”

“What are you complaining about?” Robin asked. “It’s great out here!”

“It could be raining and nasty.” Candy agreed. “This is much better!”

“Okay, I guess.” Tina admitted. “I suppose no day is good for the first day of school.”

“I don’t know,” Robin said. “I’m kinda looking forward to seeing our friends again, and meeting new people. It might not be so bad.”

“A bad day in the park beats a good day at school, every time!” Candy said, smiling.

“Ain't that the truth!” Tina said, laughing.

The conversation continued about schedules and homerooms and many other things, but it was only a few blocks to the school. They were shocked at the number of kids around the school. They checked out the map that they had been sent. Robin, Candy and Jenny had the same homeroom, but Tina was down the hall, about 3 classrooms away. After homeroom, Candy and Tina had Algebra 1, while Robin had Home Economics and Jenny was in Woods. Throughout the day, the faces would change, but Candy always had at least one of the girls in each class, and they all finished together in English 1. For this semester, anyway, the girls wanted to be together with Candy as much as possible.

“Well, time to enter the madhouse.” Robin said. “Everyone ready? Charge!”

End Chapter 4-I know it's a little short. We’re just getting started folks! I'm sorry, but it can’t stay sweet forever!