The Camp Of The Willows - Chapter 3
by Barbara Lynn Terry

Part I - After dinner and a new outfit .

"Well, ladies, let's make this kitchen and dining room neat and clean," Cammie Davies told her daughters.

Cammie Davies was wondering what happened to make Rachel admit that she wanted to stay a girl, because she thought this is how she should have been born. Cammie Davies was also thinking that this could be the ultimate prank being played on them by her son, Roger. But, she thought, she isn't acting like Roger, and she definitely has a different air about her. It is almost as if her son left the house dressed as a girl, and came back as a girl named Rachel. Something was definitely amiss, and she thought she would keep an eye on Rachel in the mall, when they went shopping.

Sharon Davies was watching her new sister with caution, just in case this was one of her brother's pranks. Of course, if it was a prank, it was the ultimate prank, because right now, her brother Roger seems to be nowhere around. There is this girl named Rachel with the same last name, but she seems like a stranger; wait! She is a stranger, because until today, nobody, including Rachel, knew that Rachel even existed. It is like when Roger left the house that morning, he walked in to a vapor and at the same time, Rachel walked out of the vapor. It is the only explanation. Since their father was in his den, both Cammie and Sharon Davies sat down in the kitchen after it was cleaned up and talked with Rachel.

"Rachel, honey," Cammie Davies started. "What brought this on? I mean, did your decision to be a girl forever have anything to do with the clothes you have on?"

"No, mother," Rachel Davies answered her. "It was while I was with my friends at the White Tower. When Lou asked me if my name was Rachel, why were my teachers calling me Roger. I told her I didn't know, but it would be taken care of by the start of next semester. Then we made an excuse and went walking on Mitchell Street. We went to Goldman's, but on the way there, we looked at all the bride's gowns in the windows. I thought to myself, if only I could wear something like that at my wedding.

"I found this really nice navy blue a-line skirt and a top to match. But I didn't have enough money to buy it. The skirt was sixteen dollars and the top was only six dollars. I was kinda sad that I couldn't get the outfit."

"Well, young lady, what are we waiting for. Let's go and see if it is still there."

"You mean, you will actually get me my own outfit to wear to the mall? I won't have to wear my sister's hand-me downs? Thanx, mom, I really do love you."

Mother and daughter hugged, and then Cammie said they should be going. From where they lived it didn't take much time to get to Goldman's. Cammie parked in the parking lot, and they all went in the side door on tenth street. That was were the little restaurant in Goldman's was at.

Rachel led her mother and sister over to where she saw the skirt, and as luck would have it, it was still there. Then Rachel looked for the top and found that, too.

"Honey, why don't you try them on. I would like to see how the whole ensemble looks on you."

Rachel went in the changing booth and took off her sister's dress. She put on the shirt, as it was made to be tucked in. Then Rachel stepped in to the skirt, and fastened it around her. She stepped out of the booth to show her mother and sister.

"Oh my gosh! You...you are...are beautiful. While we are here, let's find a couple more skirts, some underthings, and a few more tops. Rachel, when we get home, would you like me to do your nails for you?"

"I would love that, mother."

After paying for the clothes, they went back out the same door to the parking lot. Cammie Davies saw what she needed to see in the store. Rachel was definitely her daughter, but the end of camp would tell her more. Rachel was looking forward to going to this camp. Tomorrow, they will go to Southridge in Greendale, and do their shopping for Rachel's camp clothes. There were a few sporting goods stores in the two story mall. But tonight, Cammie Davies was going to send her husband out of the house, so the girls could have a girls night in. She wanted to show Rachel just how much girls have bonding with each other.

When we are children, a girls night in is called a sleepover; when we are teens, it is a spend the night; and when we are adults it is a girls night in. Cammie Davies was going to start the girls night in by doing Rachel's nails, and telling her exactly what she was doing and why. Cammie wanted Rachel to feel comfortable as one of the girls.

Cammie Davies parked in front of the house, and they took Rachel's new clothes to her room.

"Come girls, we need to get rid of your father for about twelve or fourteen hours, maybe more." Sharon and Rachel giggled. Sharon had seen her mother do this a few times, when she and her mother had a girls night in.

Cammie and the girls went in to the den, and stood there looking at the man behind the easel. Richard Davies looked around the easel.

"May I help you ladies?"

"Yes, dear, you can. Would you go fishing for a day or two. Me and the girls need a little bonding time."

"A little bonding time. For a day, or maybe two. So, when I bring the fish back, which one is going to clean them?"

They all looked at each other, then they looked at Richard Davies.

"You are," The girls said together.

"I was afraid of that. Well, all right then, I suppose I can go fishing. You don't suppose maybe I could take a lunch with me for a couple of days."

"Of course, dear," Cammie Davies answered him I will fill the medium cooler with lunch meat, bread, crackers, a few packets of instant chicken soup broth, and maybe a few snacks. I will fill the small cooler with soda, and give you your thermos with coffee in it. Will there be anything else?"

"How about a young blonde, curvy..." Richard didn't get to finish as Cammie threw one of the couch pillows at him that was on his love seat.

"Come in the kitchen, dear. We will get your food. Better take an extra change of clothes, too. After you clean those fish, I want you to put your dirty laundry down in the basement. Where will you be, in case we need to get a hold of you?"

"At Perch Lake. I thought I'd go fishing for lake perch."

"That sounds good, dear."

Cammie and the girls made up the two coolers and took them out to the car. She kissed her husband, and he drove off to catch his fish. Cammie and the girls waited until he was out of sight before they went back in the house. It was a good thing that Richard Davies kept his tackle box in the back of his Range Rover.

"All right, ladies, the house is ours for at least a day. But I bet that your father will take the whole two days. Perch Lake is his favorite fishing place.

With the man of the house gone, the ladies were free to indulge. Cammie Davies went to get her kaboodle that had all of her nail supplies in it, plus makeup.

"Girls, before we start, Go and change in to something a little more comfy. I'm going to get in to my nightie, slippers and robe, and you both should do the same."

They went to get changed in to their girls night in clothes, and then the fun would begin. Cammie Davies didn't understand what came over Rachel all of a sudden, but if she was serious, then Cammie was going to hep her as much as possible. This girls night in was one of the things that made being a girl, with girls, a way of dealing with an otherwise tedious life.

Not that Cammie Davies had any reservations about being female, she just wished there was a better way for her gender to be able to exist in an otherwise male world. Of course, most men listened to their wives, sweethearts, finacées and female friends, because it was the decent thing to do.

Part II - Girls Night In.

When all three were in their nighties and pajama sets, Cammie told Rachel to come in the living room.

"All right, Rachel, I'm going to do your nails. The first thing I am going to do is give you a manicure and a pedicure. Now, you are not used to having your cuticles pushed back, so it may hurt a bit. But it is a necessary evil, if we want the nail polish to be uniform. I am also going to give you acrylic nails, like you would get when you go to a nail salon." She took out a large emery board. "This is for smoothing and shaping the finger nails. But first, let's push those cuticles back."

Cammie Davies took out a metal thing she called a cuticle pusher. She told Rachel that it will push back the cuticles.

"Honey, since you have never had this done, this may hurt a bit. Don't worry, though, me and Sharon have had this done countless times. So, if you are ready, let's get started."

Cammie Davies took Rachel's right arm and told her to open her hand all the way. Then she took the cuticle pusher and started pushing back Rachel's cuticles.

"Ouch!" Rachel yelled, pulling back her hand.

"Come on! What are you a girl or a mouse?"

"Uhm, a mouse?"

"Nice try, young lady."

"After a few hundred times, you don't even hardly feel it any more. But, dear one, you have to start some time."

"Sis, I did the same thing when mom took me to get my nails done the first time. You are not alone."

"It isn't that I feel alone, it's that it hurts."

"After a few cuticles, you won't even feel it. Besides the finished product will be well worth it."

Cammie Davies was continuing with Rachel's cuticles as she talked.

"This is some of the things we go through to look nice, and even go a little further for our men. Now, I am going to buff your nails, then I am going to glue on these tips. I will smooth those down, and then I will start with the acrylic. I think one quarter inch will be good enough for now. After you have had your nails done a few times, you can pick the length and style you want."

"Sis, when mom is finished with the acrylic, I will polish your fingernails, while mom gives you a pedicure and polishes your toenails. This is all part of a girls night in. Then you have to let the polish dry, and we will tell you when it is dry enough. This polish is fast drying, so it shouldn't be long. By the time mom is finished with your toenails, your fingernails should be dry.

"I am going to teach you how to put makeup on, because mom is just a little old fashioned in what she wears. We girls today, have a whole different look, we can make our eyes seductive without being trashy; we can create a smokey look, that can match certain outfits. The bad thing about that look is, you can't wear it to school, or they will make you wash it off.

"While we are doing all of this, we will watch "chick flicks". We can start with Girls Just Want To Have Fun, and go from there. So, little sister, what should we watch?"

"The Princess Diaries?"

"I love that movie," Cammie said, with enthusiasm. "Sharon, put it in."

Cameron Davies was done pushing back Rachel's cuticles, and smoothing and buffing her nails. Now she was ready to start with the plastic tips. She took each tip and matched it to Rachel's fingers. It was a good thing that Rachel's hands were feminine and her fingers long and slender. After Cammie Davies set the plastic tips in a row, she got out a small bottle of glue. She dabbed a little on each tip, and set them on Rachel's fingers. She got out what looked like a dentist's drill, only smaller.

"Now, Rachel, I'm going to buff the tips, and then I will start putting on the acrylic. Once your nails dry, they will be on there permanently, and the only way they will come off is if you let them grow out, or cut them but the acrylic will stay on. They do have a remover, but it would be a waste to use it after going through so much effort to get them just perfect."

Cameron Davies reached in her kaboodle and took out a plastic tray with indents on it. She place Rachel's fingers in these indents, and began smoothing and buffing the tips. Then she took the acrylic mixture and started on Rachel's fingers.

Rachel watched with fascination at how her mother did this so effortlessly. Cammie Davies put a clear paste like mixture on Rachel's fingers, and then shaped the mixture. After a while, when all ten fingers were completed, Cameron Davies started on Rachel's toes, while Sharon put nail polish on Rachel's fingernails.

Cameron Davies cut Rachel's toenails straight across and buffed them. She placed cotton balls between Rachel's toes, to separate them. Then she put on a clear liquid she called a base coat. When she was done with one foot, she started on the other. Cameron Davies had put on a light pink polish on her toes, like Sharon did with her fingers. When Sharon and her mother were done with Rachel's finger and toe nails, Cammie Davies took out a small fan she had in her kaboodle.

"Now, Hold your hands in front of the fan, like so." Rachel's mother showed her what she meant. "After a few minutes, take your index finger and lightly wipe across the nail. It should be dry on both hands. I will make sure your toes are dry, too.

"Now, ladies, what say we order something to watch our movies with?"

"Sounds good to me," Sharon Davies replied.

"Me, too," replied Rachel. "Pizza!"

"All right. When the pizza gets here, your nails should be dry. I will show you how to pick up a slice of pizza, using the pads of your fingers, instead of your nails."

Cameron Davies called Moretti's Pizza Place just three blocks down the street. They had a pizza special that had three different meats of the customer's choice, as well as onions, mushrooms, sweet banana peppers, green peppers and black olives. She ordered it for delivery, and was told within the hour. As they pretended to watch Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Sharon suggested that she should do Rachel's hair. Rachel said okay, and Sharon went to get her kaboodle that had all her hair things in it. Rollers, clips, bobby pins, barrettes, hair ties, brush, hair dryer, curling iron, flat iron and a cloth to place over Rachel's front, so none of the hair products gets on Rachel's pajamas.

Sharon started brushing Rachel's hair. She spent almost ten minutes brushing Rachel's hair.

"All right, sis, now I am going to roll your hair in these rollers and put some of this gunk on your hair to hold the curl. Are we ready, sis?"

"Yes."

Sharon started with the big rollers for the top of the head and the small rollers for the sides, back and bangs. She had a small mirror that she let Rachel watch, as she did each roller.

"Are you watching me? Because this is all a part of the experience. What you need, besides this kind of pampering, is a day at the spa. You get your hair and nails done, you get waxed and massaged, you get a facial, and then for the coup d'grá¢ce, they do your makeup. This whole experience can last for the whole morning, the whole afternoon, or the whole day. "

The doorbell rang, and Cameron Davies went to answer it. It was the pizza delivery guy. Besides paying for the pizza, she gave the young man a two dollar tip. She took the pizza in the kitchen, and set it on the table. She got out three paper plates, and set two slices on each plate. Then she poured a gin and tonic for herself, a ginger ale for Sharon, and a Dr. Pepper for Rachel. She took two of the pizza plates in to the living room and went back for the other plate and the tray with the drinks on it.

"There we go ladies. Rachel, your nails should be done. Just use you index fingers to wipe lightly across the tops of the fingernails. If it feels smooth, and doesn't smudge or chip, that means it is dry." Rachel followed her mother's instructions, and found that the nails were indeed dry. "Now Rachel, hold out your hands, palms down." Cameron Davies sprayed something across the tops of the nails. "This is a hardner that keeps the polish from chipping.

"Now, let me show you the way to pick up a slice of pizza without ruining the polish or getting grease all over your nails. Slide your fingers under the pizza slice like this," Rachel watched. "Lift up the crust end of the slice up, take your other hand and lift it up. Use both hands to eat it, like this."

"That is a lot better, mom, than I have seen some of the guys do. I mean, they just grab a slice of pizza any old way, and gobble it down like they're starving, or something."

"Yes, dear, most boys and men do that. They think it is the 'manly' way of eating, having no clue that it is disgusting. Well, we missed over half of the movie, want to watch another one?"

"No, mom, let's just sit here and talk. I'm having fun...a lot of fun."

"Well, dear, what would you like to talk about?"

"I'd like Sharon to tell me more about the camp. I have never been to a camp before, girls or boys."

Sharon sat on the floor, cross-legged, and started talking about the camp. She even shared a little camp legend with her mother and sister.

"This girl, that did the rock garden, stayed in the same cabin you will be staying in. On the camp files, it is cabin 3 or as the campers call it, cabin Bambi because it has a deer above the door. Anyway, there is one more opening, and Miss Loretta said she is going to wait for me to call her to say we found someone. Do you know someone who wants to go to camp?"

"Yes, let me call her." Rachel called Louise Stark. "Hey Lou, Rachel, my sister Sharon says there is one more opening at camp. Do you want to go? She's asking her parents."

"Let me talk to them." Rachel handed the phone to Sharon. "Hello? Oh, yes, I'm Rachel's sister Sharon and I was asked by the camp owner if I could find someone who wants to go to camp. Rachel is going, so Lou would have at least one person she knows there. She can? Great. Camp starts July first and goes til the end of the second last week in August. The cost? It is fifteen hundred dollars per camper. That pays for everything, unless maybe you leave her some money in her account so she can get a pop, an ice cream or some other kind of snack. Well, she can leave with us, and she needs to be here by seven thirty in the morning. I have to be there as soon as I can because I am going to be a junior counselor working with Rachel's cabin counselor. You will? Great Mr. Stark and thank you."

"Lou's dad said she can go."

"YIPPPPPEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!"

"Rachel, you aren't excited about Louise going to camp, by any chance. Are you?"

"Not at all, mom." All three giggled.

When Rachel let out her yippee, Cameron Davies smiled to herself, at the feminine way Rachel let out her exuberant response. She thought that if Rachel wasn't a girl before this punishment, she sure is now. Cameron Davies also noticed that she referred to Rachel in the feminine, because it is really difficult to think of her as anything but her sweet, loveable, Rachel.

Sharon put The Princess Diaries in, and they sat back and watched it. But, before the movie was even half way through, Cameron Davies looked at Rachel and noticed that she was asleep. She motioned for Sharon to take a look.

"Mom, you need to use my phone and take a picture. This is definitely a Kodak moment."

Cameron Davies got Sharon's cell phone and took a picture of her youngest daughter sleeping so peacefully on the sofa. After the picture was taken, Cameron Davies went and got a blanket and a pillow. She placed the pillow gently under Rachel's head, and covered her with the blanket. Then she kissed Rachel on the forehead.

"She looks so...peace...ful. Like an...an...gel.

Sharon Davies kissed her sister on the forehead, then went to her bedroom to print out the photo of Rachel. She would have her mother get a frame for this, because it was so cute.