Sing a Healing Song, Chapter 9

We arrived back home, came in and greeted my mom who was in the kitchen making homemade taco salad. I looked at what she was making and “asked” a question of the memories the goddess had given me. The answer was, ‘Yes. Mom had started making stuff like this to try and encourage me to eat more greens.’

I tried to not show how nervous I was during dinner, but I think I breathed a sigh of relief when we’d finished and put our dishes into the dishwasher.

Then Dad said to Mom, “Hon, Can I ... talk to you ... in private?”

I said “I’ll go watch some TV ... with the volume loud.”

My mother blushed, then said, “Behave, Fiona.”

I went into the living room and pretended to be interested in what was on television for what felt like an hour before I heard Mom’s voice calling me, “Fiona? Would you come in here?”

I went into my parent’s bedroom, and saw Dad sitting on the bed while Mom was standing in front of him. Then she said, “Fiona, your father has told me a ... remarkable story, and says you can corroborate it for him.”

“Well, Mom, it might be easier if I showed you.”

Then I took her hand, and focused on sharing my old memories with her.

She glowed, then gasped, “I ... I was dead? But I remember ... And you were a boy, who was dying? It just seems so ...”

“Unbelievable? But its true, Mom. Now you understand why we were both so happy to see you come home yesterday.”

“Yes. I see it. You really met a goddess?”

“I really did, Mom. And if she was still with us, I’d give her a big thank-you hug for bringing you back to us.”

“So would I.” Dad added.

Mom grabbed us both, and then we were hugging each other and crying, even Dad. Hugging her was kinda neat, because I was now slightly taller than her, although slightly shorter than Dad. Which meant I fit just perfectly between them during our three-way hug.

After a while, Mom broke the hug and asked, “So what happens now?”

“I think I live my life. Go to a real high school. Maybe even have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Use the gift of healing the goddess gave me where I can. And never stop being grateful to be alive.”

“Even if you have to be a girl?” Mom asked.

“Its not so bad. I have the memories of a girlhood to help me, and honestly, its a big step up from dying before I hit adulthood.”

“It sure is.” Dad agreed.

That comment got him a hug from both Mom and me. I had been a little worried about how Dad would feel about me being a girl, but I was reluctant to approach the subject even after I had shared memories with him. Now I was totally sure he could care less about me switching genders, or if I stayed a tomboy or switched to skirts, or anything other than the fact I was healed, healthy, and happy.

Then Mom said, “I’m so sorry I pushed you into skirts, Fiona. If I had realized you’d been a boy I would have eased you into any feminine stuff instead of pushing you out into the deep end.”

“Its okay, Mom. I liked shopping with you, because you’re here, and I missed you even though I had never gotten to know you before. Adding some skirts to my closet was a small price to pay for watching you smile. Besides, I AM a girl now, its not like I’m crossdressing if I fem up a bit from time to time.”

“As long as it is your choice, Fiona. I watched the girls your age at the mall, and darn few of them were in skirts. I suspect that’s pretty typical, and if they ever wear skirts or a dress, its for a special occasion, or maybe for church.”

“Church!” I exclaimed, “I totally forgot tomorrow’s Sunday.”

“You still want to go? Wont it seem weird to praise the Christian God after being healed by a goddess?” Dad asked.

I thought about that for a moment, then said, “I think its okay, Dad. I think she wouldn’t mind. Its hard to explain, but I just got a ... sense of peace about going, like she approved.”

“I thought you said she died?”

“I thought so, but I’m not an expert on how this works. Can someone as powerful as she obviously was ever be totally gone? And even if she is, maybe she left me that message, the way she gave me my new memories. I know for sure she wanted me to know ... she loved me.”

“She’s not alone in that.” Mom said.

“Anyway, if its okay with you two, I’d like to go.”

Mom and Dad both nodded, and we hugged again. After a while I let go, and said, “I should go to bed early, so I can get up in time to look my best for church.”

“As in you’ll wear that one dress I talked you into?” Mom said.

“Yes, mother. I will be a good girl, and wear a dress to church.”

Mom kissed me on the cheek, and said, “I love you. I would have loved the boy you too, I want you to be sure of that.”

Then Dad kissed me on the forehead, and said, “I’m very proud of you, Fiona. This is a big step you’re taking.”

“But its a step I probably would have to take eventually. I may not ever wear dresses or skirts often, but I don’t want to be afraid to wear them, either.”

Both Mom and Dad smiled.

I squeezed one more hug out of each of them, and then went to my bedroom, where I decided that since I was going to be in a dress tomorrow, I could use tonight as a dry run as it were by wearing a nightgown. I found a nice one in my dresser, put it on, and slipped under the covers, falling asleep within minutes ...