The Lucky Charm

Chapter Three: As American as Apple Pie

Feeling better than I had in ages, I stretched again, twisting and popping muscles, feeling them loosen and ease. Reaching
high overhead, my shorts fell down. Well that hasn't happened in a long time now. I pulled them back up and retied the
string on them tighter than before, noticing as I did so that my little pudge belly was gone. I was liking this more and
more all the time.

I went back to my room and grabbed a shirt out of the dresser. Pulling it over my head and over my chest, I noticed that it
felt itchy, and a little looser than normal. But that was a good thing since all my clothes usually fit a little too tight
for my liking.

I dashed into the kitchen for something to eat, I was so hungry by now. Looking over the choices, I reached for my usual go
to, chips and cookies. Before I could even turn around and head for the family room, I decided those were poor choices, I
needed something better. The girls were always telling me that I needed to eat better. Putting the other stuff away, I
decided on a bowl of low fat strawberry yogurt, added some of granola Darla was forever trying to get me to eat, and grabbed
a banana for good measure.

Tasting the yogurt and granola as I sat on the sofa, I couldn't believe how good it was, and add the banana, Oh my god! I
thought I was in heaven. Keara came in through the door, dropping her book bag just inside the door and hopped over the back
of the sofa and landed next to me. "Hey Georgie, feeling better?" Seeing what I had in hand, she laughed and said, "Okay,
who are you and what have you done with Georgie!" Then noticing my hair, "Oh Christ! look at your hair, that's just so
amazing!"

I answered, "Oh, yeah, isn't it nice that it grew back, and I just love the color. I always loved red hair." Then thinking
about the prior question, "You guys are always on me about eating better things, so I figured that I would give it a try." I
thought she looked bigger again, even sitting she usually had to look up at me, now, she still did, but not like before.

Before I could say anything, she grabbed my arm and looked closely, rubbing her hand along my arm. It sent shivers down my
spine. "Look, even your arm hair is back, and the same as the rest, ginger. And so soft too." I felt my arm and she was
right, fine little red hairs, so soft, it almost felt like fur. Then I felt the hair on my head, god it was so soft and
silky.

Keara did the same, and then smelled my hair. That was a bit strange. Then she said, "Nice and soft, and it smells like... "
Sniffing again at my hair, "... apples and cinnamon. Did you shampoo and condition already?"

I shook my head no, pulling a strand of hair and smelling it. She was right, it had the faint scent of fresh apple pie. Just
then, my tummy rumbled, reminding me to finish eating my food as it had gone untouched through our exchange. "Sorry!" As I
started eating again.

Keara left for a moment while I finished eating. I took my now empty bowl to the kitchen and cleaned it, putting it and the
spoon in the drainer tray. Keara finds me there, takes my hand and leads me to the dining table, pushing me down onto a
chair. I see she has her brush and a hair. She says, "If you're going to keep your hair this long, you're going to have to
learn to take care of it. It's very easy."

As she brushed out my hair, it felt nice to spend time with her. As she got older, she spent more time with her friends at
school and her teammates on her softball teams. Thankfully, since I helped with the team, well, I did keep the score book, I
was at every one of her games. All of her friends at least tolerated me, though some were friendly.

She was saying, "Now it's really easy to keep your hair neat this way. The only thing you'll probably want to do is wear it
in a ponytail, I even wear one at bedtime to keep from yanking on my hair with the pillow. For that you want it high on your
head, almost at the top. For daytime, you tie the tail lower depending on your mood." Showing me the difference, "Most guys
wear it low at the base of the neck."

Continuing, "Or, depending on whether you wear a ballcap, if you want the tail below the headband or through the hole in the
back. You know, like us girls do, on the team. You just won't want to wear any ribbons though... unless you want to. Ha,
ha."

I said, "Your very funny, little girl. You're just lucky that you're my favorite niece."

She reached around and gave me a hug, kissing me on the cheek, "Thank you! But as far as I know, I'm your only niece."
Sticking her tongue out at me and laughing. She brushed my hair into a nice middle of the head ponytail, tying it off.

Sitting back to admire her work, "Wow, I think your hair has gotten even longer since I've gotten home."

Now that she mentioned it, with my hair up, it shouldn't touch anything but a little of my neck. But I could clearly feel it
brush against the tops of my shoulders as I turned my head side to side. If it kept growing like this, it would be swishing
my backside by tomorrow morning.

There was more of a scent of apple pie in the hair, whether it was from having my hair grown longer or Keara's brushing, I
had no idea. It almost seemed as I had my very own scent going for me. It's not so bad I suppose, if you have to smell like
something, nothings wrong with apple pie.

*****************************

Soon after that Darla arrived at home from work, where she manages a very large hair salon. Mom followed her into the house
returning from her day of caring for older folk in a retirement home, some people called it a nursing home, mom thought of
it as assisted living, she was an RN.

As they came into the family room, they both noticed my hair. Making such a big deal about it, I was starting to feel a
little self conscious about it. They weren't really teasing me, just kidding me, they knew how much I hated to be bullied
from when I was in school.

Mom went to change out of her work clothes while Darla and Keara got started on dinner. When I asked if they needed any
help, Darla said, "What's with you all of a sudden? It's not like you to help in the kitchen Georgie."

Just as I opened my mouth to answer, Keara broke in with, "Georgie's acting very strange, when I came home from school, I
found him eating a bowl of yogurt with granola and a banana. I said 'Who are... "

Darla finished, "You? And what have you done with my brother?" They were both laughing when mom came into the kitchen and
the two of them went into great detail about what was so funny. Mom joined in the fun.

"Ha, ha, you are all so funny. If you don't need my help, I'll just go watch the TV. I hope you're happy?" I know they were
just happy that I was starting to take better care of myself, and that they meant well. Still, sometimes things like that
hurt a little bit.

I sat down on the sofa, not quite flopping down, kind of in a mood, and started flipping through channels. I settled on the
Food Network channel watching Bobby Flay making some kind of Tapas. For some reason I just started softly crying, I don't
know why. The tears just kept coming.

*****************************

I must have fallen asleep, cause the next thing I knew, I was back in that pretty doctors office. I was still crying just
like before I fell asleep. How did I know this was a dream? Could I even know?

She leaned forward in her chair, concern on her face. She seemed to radiate compassion, just seeing her made me feel better.

She asked, "Oh dear, what's the matter? Don't you like the way your hair came out?"

"What?" Still sniffling, but the tears fading away. "Oh yes, I love my hair now!" Feeling it, I could tell that it came
about the bottom of my shoulder blades, it was still in the ponytail just like Keara had tied it. "It's longer again, I hope
it doesn't get any longer than this." Feeling that if I were a girl, this would be the perfect length.

Sitting back, again with that beautiful smile on her face, "Oh, I'm pretty sure it won't get any longer." Like she hid a
secret from me, but I never noticed. "Last time you were here, you said you wanted to be a ginger, now, if you could change
another small thing about yourself, what would it be?"

Thinking real hard, taking my time, like this was important. Finally, I said, "I always liked green eyes, but not just
green, the most beautiful eyes are a golden hazel green. Just like your eyes, doctor... " You know, I didn't know her name,
"... Doctor."

She smiled that smile again, it made me feel so warm and cared for, "Why, thank you, Georgie! I'm very flattered you like my
eyes. You know what they say? Don't you?"

"That they are the window to the soul?" Hoping I got it right.

"That's exactly right. And I really believe it too! If you look into someone's eyes, you can always tell if they are telling
you the truth. And if they won't look you in the eye, chances are they are hiding something. They shouldn't be trusted. Oh,
you should just call me Dr F."

The look she gave me, made me feel very special.

*****************************

I woke to Keara shaking my shoulder telling me dinner was ready on the table. I mumbled that I would be right there, just
need to use the restroom first.

After flushing, I turned to wash my hands, a quick scrub and I was reaching for the towel. OMG, my eyes, they were now so
different. A sparkling green compared to my old average brown. This was just so wonderful, now, wasn't I just dreaming
something about my eyes, I can't remember.

I headed for dinner wonder who of my family would notice first, my bet was Keara. She was always so attuned to me. And I
wasn't wrong.

Even before I could sit down, Keara was like, "Jesus H. Christ... "

Mom was, "Keara! You weren't raised to act like that, what has got into you?"

She pointed to my eyes, "His eyes have changed color now! Look. They're gorgeous! Absolutely amazing, golden hazel green.
Just amazing!"

They just stared at me while I took my seat next to Keara. Finally, I said, "Well, I guess that electrical shock, I took
yesterday has caused some changes. And I for one am very happy with those changes." A smug look on my face. Between all that
has happened, my hair loss, then coming back in longer and fuller with just the right color, my flatter belly, and now my
eyes, I felt pretty damned good. So what if maybe I was an inch or two shorter, I could live with that.

End of Chapter 3

Thank You for reading!

Mopar

Goddess Blessings!