The Lucky Charm

Chapter !!: Let the Games Begin Part 2

Last Time:

They were pointed, like an elf or such. When she cleared her throat to break my staring, "Hi, I'm Ranger Lawrence, but my
friends call me Freya." Then in a whisper, "I can tell you're a very 'special' girl, most people don't see my ears being
different because of a glammer."

I stammered out. "I'm ... Georgie, um, Georgette Lawrence. We have the same last name." Smiling warmly returning hers.

Freya asks, "So Georgie, looking for a career in the great outdoors? To help people? To help Mother" then a pause, "Nature,
to give back for all you have received. Well, look no further Georgie, cause you, Keara and Samantha have found what you're
looking for!"

And Now:

Sammy and Keara had just caught the end of what Freya said, "How could you possibly know our names and who we are?" Looking
confused. Wrapping her arm around me, Sammy asked, "Did you tell her our names?"

I shook my head no. Looking her in the eye, "Just who are you? Are we related at all?"

Freya said with a shake of her head, "No, dear, that's just a happy coincidence. We have a lot to talk about, but before we
get to that, let me introduce my niece and Junior Ranger, Katie," Turning slightly and waving to another pretty red head of
about 22 years old, "Katie!"

Katie came over from talking to some other students, "Yes? Auntie Freya!" Then, looking at us, "Oh, you must be the ones
we're here for," Putting out her hand, "Georgie, nice! Keara, lovely, And Samantha, I can see why Georgie cares for you.
You, all of you, have such beautiful auras."

Freya scolds, "Now, Katie, let's not scare away our charges. Your grandmother wouldn't like it at all." Then to us, "Please,
girls, let's have a seat in the booth and have a chat. We know you have plenty of questions, and a limited amount of time
before your game today. What say, what we can't answer now, we'll do after the game. If you don't mind us staying to watch."

We all nodded ok. The least we could do was, hear them out and see where this led us to.

She started out with, "To begin, I am a Ranger in the Williamette National forest in Eugene, Oregon, Katie as I said is a
Junior Ranger in the park with me. Ok?" We nodded. "Ostensibly, we are here at the Career Day with the other Rangers to
recruit and promote for people looking to join the U.S. Department of Parks and forestry. And from what I already know about
the three of you, I know that you're at least a little interested?"

I said, looking at the others, who seemed to agree, "I was looking for something like this, so, yes I'm interested. But why
the three of us specifically?"

Freya smiled as she took my hands in hers, "You and I share more than just our last names. We both share a common life
history, though I didn't know it was what I wanted, I was something you always dreamed about. Something that you thought you
could never have until you found the charm bracelet that you Keara, that you conveniently found where it was left for you to
find."

This was all happening so fast, and I was being a little dense. I looked at Keara, who was smiling like she knew exactly
what Freya was talking about. Then, looking at Sammy, she seemed to have the same smiling face as Keara. Finally, I asked
Freya, "I don't think I understand, can you be more clear?"

Katie said, "Auntie Freya, just say it. It's not like it's a great secret."

Freya smiled at her like she was coddling a precocious child, "She's right, but it's still only something that my friends
know about me. So, I hope you will be my friend." Waiting for me to make some kind of gesture, I nod to her to go on. "Well,
Georgie, I like you, was born a male. Though, actually I was a female and magic was used to make me male. Later, my mother
having found out what had happened, a long story, found a way to make me female again."

I was shocked, not that Freya had said she had been born a he, but that she had just outed me in front of Sammy, and I was
worried that our 'Spring" had just turned to "Winter". I looked to her to plead my case, when I saw that her smile never
wavered. "Sammy..."

She just says, "Oh, come on now, how dumb do you think I am? Keara's uncle George keeps score for the team and is at every
practice and game. Then, low and behold, a mysterious Aunt shows up, called Georgie. Besides, Keara told me about the magic
of the charm bracelet." She put her arm around me, "Listen, you were a great uncle to Keara and a great person. You're all
girl now. And it's girl you that I love to kiss and make out with. Keara and I will always have your back."

I could barely squeak out, "Really!" Tears running down my face.

"Of course silly," Sammy says, "Besides, you should know, that the rest of the girls on the team know too. Well, all except
the coach, she doesn't have a clue, like most adults. Except for like your sister and mom, and of course Freya here. We're
all here for you. God's honest truth."

Freya and Katie giggled. "That would be Goddess, actually. My mother in all honesty. She's the one responsible for your
change. You know her from your dreams as Dr. Freya. She is actually the Goddess FREYA of mythology. Again, that's part of
the long story for another time."

After a lot of talk about serving with National Parks Department, we find out that today, compared to the past, a Ranger,
needed a college education specializing in a field that benefited their position, with many choices. Animal Management,
Geology, Mechanical Engineering, among the many.

By the time we got that far into our discussion, we were among the last people still in the gym. Those that were left, were
people breaking down their booths and packing for the next stop on their planned route. Freya said, "I think you ladies need
to hit the locker room if you're going to make warm-ups before you're late." Then added, "We'll be there shortly, just need
to organize things here. Run-a-long."

When we got to the locker room, the rest of the team was still suiting up, so all we had to do was change fast. Coach Archer
came out of her office, "LAWRENCE! Beckmyre on second isn't going to make it, so you're taking her place."

Keara asks, "Then who's catching for me if I'm on second?"

The coach says, "Not you Lawrence, the other Lawrence, Georgie, you're starting the game. Play good and we'll see how long
you stay in. You'll be batting second in the line-up, so do your niece and your girlfriend proud and show us something." All
the girls cheered for me. That's when I remembered they all knew I used to George. I guess they did care.

Warm-ups lasted an hour. During which time we took batting practice and fielding, after some calisthenics to loosen up.

Keara warmed up Marti, who was our senior star pitcher. During the time while we warmed up, Darla and mom showed up with
their chairs so they could sit against the fence near the dugout. We also saw that Freya and Katie were sitting in the
bleachers with some other people we didn't recognize, including four children.

I didn't get a chance to tell mom that I was starting, so she was quite surprised to see me taking the field after the
National Anthem. I waved at them, and she and Darla cheered, "Yeah, Georgie!"

After a few practice pitches, Keara yells out, "Balls In, Coming Down!" On the next pitch, Keara fired the ball to me, which
I made a sweeping tag motion, flipping the ball to Sammy behind me, who threw it to first, then on to third. We all closed
in on the pitching circle slapping gloves and getting fired up.

Their first batter stepped up to the plate and made ready. Marti, who had been throwing only fast balls in practice,
delivered the sweetest change-up you ever saw. The girl was so fooled, that she completed her swing before the ball got
close to the plate.

The batter stepped back and point her bat at Marti, saying with her motions, 'Fooled me once, but you better look out, cause
I'm sending this next one straight back to ya'.

Stepping up to the plate, she waits, the pitch, sizzling fast and right down the middle. 'Crack' The ball comes off her bat
like lightning, straight at Marti's head. Marti barely got out of the way, making a stab at the ball. I knew the ball was on
my side of second and if it got passed, it would be their first runner on.

I took a quick leap, diving for the ball. To my shocked mind, I caught it, that's when my mind said, 'This landing is going
to hurt.' When the landing came, it didn't hurt at all, mostly because Sammy had caught me before I could hit the ground. We
fell in a tangle of arms and legs, but I managed to keep a hold of the ball.

Our team and parents cheered. The others helped me off Sammy, and our lips almost touched. I smiled, "Thanks for catching me
hon!"

She said, "I was just falling for you all over again, Babe!" The rest of that half inning was pretty tame by comparison.

We came off the field to the cheers from the stands, while we did our little chant to get psyched up. We got ready to take
our at-bats, Sammy was the lead-off, followed by me and Keara, And Marti batting cleanup.

The pitcher was good, but no where near as Marti, having a rough start, she walked Sammy with four straight pitches. My
turn. I was a little nervous, but knew I could do it. The first pitch was low and outside. I resolve to swing at the first
good pitch, though coach's signals called for taking a strike before swinging.

After five balls in a row, I guess she was bound to get one across the plate. A quick scan of the field showed a large gap
in left-center field. As the pitch came across, I took my swing and made contact, nothing major, but a good solid hit,
advancing Sammy to second with me on first. Mom and Darla stood up cheering along with Freya and Katie. The two children
between them clapping with glee, only like small kids will do.

Keara was next up, pointing and giving me a thumbs up as she approached the plate. The other side took a timeout to settle
their pitcher down. This time, Keara takes the first pitch, called strike. Coach gives her the sign to swing away. The
second pitch was a copy of the first, and she lined it down the third base side.

Bases loaded and Marti was at bat. They took another timeout to calm down their pitcher. When she was ready, she finally got
into a rhythm, but cost her in the pitch count. Marti went full count, fouling off five times between the balls. On the
tenth pitch, Marti connected solid and that ball was gone, clearing the scoreboard in center field by a good twenty feet.

Homerun. Marti's twelth for the year!

The rest of the game went pretty much the same as the first inning. The game was called after the fourth inning because we
were 12 runs ahead. Both teams lined up to shake hands, I was at the end of the line for our team and their team captain was
the last one on their side. She held onto my hand tightly as she said, "If it was for that first great catch you made, this
game might have gone differently, but those are the breaks. Congratulations on the win."

That made me feel really good, she didn't know me, but she had respect for me. And because she was such a gracious loser, I
knew that I could respect her in return.

We did our final cheers, then Coach Archer gave us a little talk as we sat with our families in and around the bleachers.

Sammy and I sat between our two families with arms around each others waists, more companionably than anything else. Coach
praised us for doing a fine job, but not to rest on our laurels.

As the gathering was breaking up and we said our goodbyes, it was then that we remembered about Freya and Katie and how we
still had questions that needed answers. Sammy told her folks that she would be home later cause we had some things to do.

They said goodbye and be safe.

After we were mostly alone, who was left consisted of Sammy, Keara and my family, as well as Freya and Katie and the afore
mentioned others we didn't know. Another beautiful redhead, two men, one younger than the other and four children that all
looked like they were around two years old, a pair of boys and a pair of girls.

The girl with the red hair that matched, was patting Freya on the leg, "Mommy, can we meet your friends now?"

Freya smiled like an indulgent mother, "Yes Nerys, I was, just about to do that before you interupted me. Please remember
that you need to learn to be patient."

She smiled cutely, "Sorry, mommy!"

Freya said to Darla and mom, "We were talking before the game about the girls' future. Were from Eugene for the Career Fair
the school held today. It's a pleasure to meet you ladies." First to mom, "Magdelien," Then to Darla, "Darlene, my name is

Freya Lawrence Blake, and this is my family. Well, most of it."

End of Chapter 11

Thanks for reading!

Mopar

Goddess Blessings!