Town Princess

Almost every town probably has its rituals.

You know, the stuff that brings the neighbors together, have a bit of fun, remember the important stuff the past or celebrate the future.

My town’s ritual is a bit ... different.

It all started about ten years ago.

We had two stunning revelations that shook us to the core.

The first was the suicide of a teen named Brett Markson. He’d been popular, involved in local charities, always the first to step up when called upon, so his death came out of the blue to all of us.

Then came the second revelation.

The reason for the suicide was because Brett apparently had always felt like a girl on the inside, and couldn’t cope with what puberty was doing to his body.

We found this out because Brett’s sister found a diary, and there was one other thing the diary mentioned that seemed to stick with people.

Brett had apparently always wanted to be a princess for Halloween, but had always been too scared.

Some discussions later, Princess week was born.

During the last week of October, all the guys in the town put aside being “manly” and slip into dresses and heels.

But it’s more than clothes.

We have games, rides, music, and most importantly, the crowning of the Town Princess.

Whoever wins that crown acts as the town ambassador at all civic functions for a year, while always presenting themselves as the most lovely lady they can be.

And believe it or not, a couple of times, when their year was up, the princess has decided to make a transition to being a girl permanently.

So, come join us this year, if you’re in the neighborhood.

It might just make you learn something ...

End.