A Second Chance

By Dawn Natelle

Tears were involved in the writing of this chapter, so you might want to have tissues ready as you read it: Dawn.

SUNDAY, June 5, 2016

Rachael was first up, barely beating Grandpa, who came to the kitchen to chat with her while she made French Toast for the family. “Sounded like some tomfoolery going on at the end of the hall up there this morning,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. Grandpa’s downstairs bedroom was directly under the master bedroom upstairs. Rachael had also heard the noise as she was coming down.

“I think Mom and Dad have finally gotten enough rest to get frisky,” she said, handing Grandpa his morning coffee. “They were working so long and hard at the bakery I’d be surprised if they had done more than just cuddle. I’m happy. Does it bother you?”

“No. It might if they were just dating, but I consider them married. Living together is Common Law marriage, isn’t it?”

“Well, I think they have to live together for a year for that to count, and before that happens they will really be married. I suspect that they will be married in the church soon.”

Bobby was next down. “I think Mom and Dad are fighting, Rachael,” he said. “I heard noise coming from their room and the door was locked.”

“Oh my,” Rachael said. “I suppose that they stopped when you rattled the door.”

“Momma yelled for me to go downstairs for breakfast,” he said. He looked at what Rachael was putting on a plate for him. “Yippee. French toast.”

Rachael heard the shower going upstairs, and wondered if it was single or double occupancy. She had served Grandpa his French Toast, and Bobby was on his second helping when she heard footsteps on the stairs and got up to start another batch, and get two coffees ready.

Maria and Geoff came in, both with glows on their faces. “Were we noisy?” Maria said sheepishly.

“It doesn’t matter to me. In fact I’m glad,” Rachael said. “But I think that it might be time for Geoff to have a little talk with Bobby. He thought you were fighting in there.”

Geoff blanched, and Maria giggled, saying: “Well, you want to be a Dad. It is your job with the boys. I had to do it with Rachael.”

While Geoff and Maria ate, Rachael took Bobby upstairs to clean the syrup off his face. And hands. And arms. And how did some get onto his shoulders? She then had him get into his church clothes, as she darted into her room to get a nice dress on herself.

As they were heading downstairs, Geoff and Maria were headed up. “Just get dressed,” the young girl ordered. “No time for hanky panky.”

Downstairs Rachael got Grandpa comfortable in his chair, and she popped into his bathroom, knowing that Maria would be at the vanity upstairs. Grandpa had a partial bath next to his downstairs bedroom, with a special shower that had a built in chair. Of course there was a toilet and a vanity as well, and it was the latter that Rachael used to touch up her makeup.

She came out, and Geoff was already downstairs. He really looked handsome in a suit. Rachael was used to seeing him in his baking clothes: a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. “You clean up really nice,” she said, as she heard her mother coming down the stairs.

“You leave him alone,” Maria quipped. “He’s mine.”

“Remember. I found him first,” Rachael retorted, making Geoff go red in the face.

“And this is the kind of talk we have before going to church,” he said in exasperation.

The walk was quite a bit longer than from the old house, and as they got close they noticed that the area around the church was bustling. The entire Hobo Army was out in force, directing traffic and offering a valet service for those who had mobility issues. They helped people out of their cars, writing the owner name on a little tag. Then they drove off to find a parking spot on a side street, writing the address on the tag. Tags and keys were taken back to the church.

Gary was outside the church entrance, directing people into one of two queues. One led into the lobby for people wishing to pray, and it was already halfway down the sidewalk to the road. The other, shorter line was to get into the church itself, and the Barron’s had to wait about five minutes just to get into the building. When they did, they were amazed to find the place was full. The church ushers couldn’t find four seats together, so Maria and Geoff sat near the back, while Rachael sat further up with Bobby, who would soon go down to the Sunday School.

After he left, Rachael would not alone, because the woman sitting next to her was the one who had sold her the Angel Food cake yesterday.

“That cake was delicious,” Rachael told her, and Bobby nodded vigorously. “We ate it in one meal. This little scamp had two pieces.”

“Almost as good as Rachael’s,” Bobby claimed. “Really, really good.”

“Well that makes me feel good,” the woman said. “I made another one last night, and it was really well received at home. It turned out much better.” Her husband nodded, and it seemed that there were two little boys, and a little girl in the family as well.

Helen started the service a little late and explained that the church was not used to so many at a service, and apologized about any inconveniences that might ensue. She said that anyone who used the valet parking should remain in the pews after the service and wait for their car to be picked up. She also announced that the bake sale had been a success and would be repeated in a month, and that Gary was looking for donations of any old materials that might be recycled for the next sale. A truck and men were available for pick-ups, she noted. She then went into a quick description of the Hobo Army, and noted that each of the men had prayed to the painting, and were now trying to turn their lives around. They were available for any kind of home repairs or maintenance, at a small charge if it could be afforded, and free otherwise.

As the pastor said this, Rachael scanned the crowd. She saw delight on the faces of many of the older parishioners, and realized that there were many elderly people who needed a handyman, but could not afford to hire someone.

Helen also noted that she could see many new faces in the crowd, and explained that after a few hymns the youngsters in the audience would head downstairs to the various Sunday School groups.

Her final announcement was that several members of the ladies auxiliary would be giving cooking and baking lessons on Tuesday, and any ladies (or gentlemen) who wished to learn new recipes and cooking tips should meet with the president of the auxiliary, who stood up so she could be recognized.

After two hymns were sung, the youngsters were allowed to go downstairs to Sunday School. “Bobby Barron,” Pastor Helen said. “Could you lead the new children downstairs? Many won’t know the church as well as you do.”

Bobby stood up proudly, and started leading the youngsters downstairs. There were several who had to come down from the balcony, which Rachael just noticed was full. When those were down to the main church, Bobby was long gone, so Rachael stood up, and Pastor Helen identified her and let her lead the others down.

Rachael got all 22 of the kids from the balcony down and into the rooms appropriate to their ages, and then peeked in at the nursery. There were over 50 children, infants and toddlers, and only three women tending. Normally there were only a dozen or two in the room.

“Do you need help,” Rachael asked.

“Please,” a harried woman said, with a crying baby on each arm. Rachael took one baby, who immediately stopped crying and snuggled into her. The other baby soon stopped crying, now that his accompanist had left.

Rachael walked around the nursery, and sat down among a group of about a dozen little girls. She asked them if they wanted her to read to them, and they all clamored yes. Rachael only had one hand free while holding the infant, so she picked one of the oldest girls, who was probably near three, to pick up a book. The little girl held the book so that all the kids could see the pictures, and Rachael read it to them, telling her helper when to turn the page.

One of the other women took a similar tack with a group of boys, and read them a story more male orientated. That left two to look after the eight infants, not counting the one Rachael held. After a half hour, one of those on infant duty came over to Rachael and begged to change places. “You seem to do so well with the babies, and I’ve had enough,” she said.

Rachael moved over to the babies, and found that her little helper came too. She still had the baby in her arms, and put it down in one of the bassinets, some of which had two children. The infant immediately started to cry. “Do you want to help?” she asked the toddler holding onto her skirt. The girl nodded, and Rachael lifted her up into the bassinet. The baby immediately stopped crying.

“My, you are quite the little mother,” Rachael told her, and she lisped back: “This is my sister. We plays alla time.”

Rachael then went around that part of the nursery, quieting the crying babies. The other woman working with her was amazed at how often a crying baby would stop crying the moment Rachael picked them up. There were a lot of diaper changes to do during the 70-minute service, but Rachael didn’t mind that at all.

Finally an usher came down and said the Sunday School was expected back in the church, but of course the infants were not included, so Rachael spent another 10 minutes until church let out and parents came down to pick up their child. Rachael met the mother of her helper and baby sister: a Mrs. Weller.

Rachael also had to give her phone number out to many of the parents, who were looking for baby sitters. Although she told the parents she wouldn’t be free until the end of the school year, she knew that there was going to be more work than she could handle alone. Another Rachael idea started in her brain.

Finally, the last parent came down, followed by Maria, Geoff and Bobby, who had lost track of Rachael. And while Rachael was telling them what she had been doing, parents started coming down from the second service with infants.

Then Helen appeared. “Oh Rachael, I’m so glad to find you. One of our Sunday School teachers didn’t show up for second service. It is for the age 10 to 15 group, so I really can’t have you lead them. But if you could look after one of the younger groups, then maybe I can get their teacher to help with the older kids. Otherwise I will have to take them, and there is so much else that I need to be doing.”

“I have a better idea,” Rachael said, looking at her Mom blissfully cradling an infant who had just been brought down. “I am needed in here, and I think Mom will stay and help.” Maria nodded. “What if Geoff was to look after the bigger kids?”

“Me?” Geoff retorted. “You get me to church for the first time in 20 years and you want me to teach religion to these kids.”

“It isn’t important to teach them any religion at that age,” Helen said. “Most of them tune that out. It is more important that you provide them with a positive male role model. Many of them are from single mother families. Just teach them anything you know.”

“All I know is baking,” Geoff said.

“Perfect,” Helen said. “Take them into the kitchen. It is pretty well stocked for the dinner on Wednesday, and our cooking class on Tuesday. Use what you want.”

“We could do cookies,” Geoff mused.

“Cookies?” Bobby squealed. “Can I help?”

“No Bobby,” Rachael said. “Kids that age might not like a little guy like you there. But I’m sure that Daddy will bring you some of the results. You stay here with Mom and me.”

The second service filled the nursery and all the Sunday School rooms. The exception was the senior class with Geoff, which had five girls and three boys, a manageable number for him to handle in the kitchen. They found all the ingredients to make sugar cookies, and it was a recipe that could be finished in 70 minutes.

In the nursery, there were now 60 babies and toddlers. The addition of Maria in the infant section helped immensely. The three regular carers would not have survived the numbers without the help of the Barrons. Even Bobby was a big help, reading stories to the toddlers, who looked up to him like a hero. One cute little girl sat on his lap several different times, and he seemed to enjoy all the attention.

Finally Geoff came in, with flour all over his trousers after his students had gone back up to church. “How did it go,” Maria asked, handing him the infant she had been cuddling. He reacted as if he had been handed a live hand grenade, but over the next few minutes he softened up, and started cooing to the little one.

“It was pretty good, really,” he said. “They started off pretty testily, but brightened up when I told them we were baking. There were a few disruptions in the kitchen, boys trying to impress the girls, but the troublemakers were sent to time-outs, and after about five minutes they were begging to rejoin so they could get cookies. Next week they want to do cupcakes.”

“So there is going to be a next time?” Rachael asked in surprise.

“Yeah, I think so. They sure want me back as a teacher. I don’t know what the regular teacher will think of me stealing her class. They said she just told them Bible stories and made them discuss them. They preferred me. And I got hugs. From the boys as well as the girls. And you of all people know I can’t tell a young girl no when I am being hugged. So I sorta promised to be here next week.”

“You will have to do both groups,” Rachael warned. “When the other senior class hears that the late group got to do baking, there will be a rebellion unless you help them too.”

“I can do that,” Geoff said. “It was really quite rewarding. I even explained the chemistry of baking to them, and it blew their minds. They didn’t think that Chemistry was anything other than a torture subject devised by their teachers. When I explained reactions and such, some of the older students were amazed that the subject applies to real life.”

By now parents were coming down to pick up their toddlers, and Rachael was again inundated by requests for her phone number, which she gladly handed out, noting that she wouldn’t be available in June.

When the last infant left, Geoff opened his bag of cookies, having taken two from each batch that the seniors had made and gave Bobby and Maria one. Rachael refused, but asked if the other three teachers wanted one. They all accepted happily.

The consensus among the three was that the work was too hard, even with the help that Maria and Rachael had provided. “What if I was to get a bunch of my classmates to come help?” Rachael asked. “When they find out that babysitting jobs might come out of it, I’m sure I can get six or eight to help.”

“Eight girls would be great,” one of the older carers said. “Babies just take so much care. We used to get six to a dozen. That last group was madness.”

“Okay. Don’t any of you quit on me,” Rachael said. “I will promise that there is help for next week.” She turned around and saw Pastor Helen standing at the door.

“Rachael, you are wonderful,” the young cleric said. “I ask you to help out a bit, and you wind up saving my nursery staff from mutiny. Thank you.” She hugged Rachael, and then went to hug her three regular carers. She came back and hugged Maria, and then Geoff and Bobby, who weren’t quite as enthusiastic about being hugged by their Pastor.

The Barron’s went out the side door, not wanting to disturb the service upstairs. By now all the people who used valet parking for the second service had been directed to their cars.

The family walked home. “I actually enjoyed that too,” Maria said. “It has been a long time since I held little babies in my arms like that. It tickles the mommy nerve.”

“When did you have a little baby?” Bobby asked. “I don’t remember any.”

“That is because you were the baby, Bobby,” Rachael said, tousling her brother’s hair. “Tell me about Pastor Helen’s service, I missed it,” she asked her mother.

“She talked about sharing and caring,” Maria said. “She mentioned the Hobo Army, and how those people were giving their time to help others. She said it was a new currency, the currency of Love. Giving to others gives so much more back to you. Of course she said it so much better. It was the best service she had given since coming here. Of course, it was her first completely solo service, and with the place filled to standing room too.”

“She has been a huge asset to the church,” Rachael said. “I wonder if the Lord knew she was special and picked her to come to our town. She is certainly fitting in well. Everyone seems to like her, and I know the ladies auxiliary love her.”

After a quick lunch, Ruby and Darrel came to visit, and went up to Rachael’s room. Inside Darrel shed his boy disguise and became Darla. Ruby had brought her a bra and a few stockings shoved in the cups provided her with a small bustline. She borrowed one of Rachael’s t-shirts. Rachael’s jeans wouldn’t fit her, but she did fit into one of the smaller skirts in the closet. Darla was both thrilled and terrified at the thought of going out in public in a skirt. She didn’t wear hose but her legs were hairless. She easily fit into a pair of Rachael’s sneakers.

Rachael did her makeup, going slowly and explaining every step as she worked, and Ruby was working on her hair, taking a longish boy-cut and transforming it into a short, cute girl cut. It had to be all a matter of hair spray and combing, since Darrel would have to return for school tomorrow.

Finally they were done and went down stairs. Maria gave Darla an inspection and pronounced her as ‘So Cute,’ which really bolstered her confidence. Geoff, who was not aware of the Darrel/Darla situation, just got up and handed Rachael some cash, and said: “have fun girls.”

In the car Rachael was astonished to find that her Dad had given her $120. She had expected $40, but could tell it was more by the feel. She decided that someone deserved a big hug when they got home.

Ruby drove them to the mall, where she and Rachael had a massive job getting Darla to come inside. Finally they got the girl out of the car, and slowly led her into the mall, and then into a store. The further they walked without hearing “It’s a boy in a dress” the more confidence Darla got.

Their first step was a nail salon, where Darla had her ears pierced. They decided Darrel could wear a single hoop, like many other boys, and conceal the hole on the other side with makeup. Darla would now be able to wear nice earrings, and Ruby bought her several pairs, including a set of large hoops that she wore out of the store.

The rest of the afternoon was a shopping trip for all three. Ruby bought a skirt that Rachael claimed would drive JJ wild. And Rachael bought several new tops for herself. She had hoped to get into the lingerie stores, because she really felt she needed a new bra size, but Darla absolutely refused to go in, and the others didn’t want to press her any further today. But Darla was the reason for the trip, and once she had seen the other girls make purchases and try things on, she was more comfortable about getting things for herself. They did wind up buying two nice outfits for her Darla became more and more comfortable shopping. In the ladies washroom Darla slipped into one of the new outfits, and finally they went to the makeup counter and she had her makeup done by the expert. Rachael wasn’t sure that it looked all that much better than what she had done, but it definitely left Darla looking all girl: a girl with an expensive bag of makeup that she would never use if this plan didn’t work.

--- ----- ---

Hank and Donna Watson looked around the church where Ruby had asked them to wait. JJ Jackson was with them, along with their son Chuck. The smallish church had a lineup out to the steps, so they got into the line and slowly moved in.

When Ruby saw them finally go through the doors, she got out of the bakery van that Rachael had borrowed, and the other two girls followed. They walked into the church, using the other main entrance that lead into the church, which had no queue.

As they entered, Donna Watson saw them, and said: “There are Ruby and Rachael and …”

Ruby stopped to talk to her parents, while the other two girls carried on. There was a small wall in the lobby that hid one additional prayer rail from the waiting people. Gary was near it, keeping others away, and he stepped aside as Rachael and Darla kneeled on the rail.

Back in the lobby Hank Watson finally clued in on what he had seen. “Was that Darrel? Wearing a dress?” he raged.

“Of course not, Dad,” Ruby answered. “It is a skirt suit. It is cute on her, isn’t it?”

Hank just got redder and redder, and stepped out of the line and walked after the two girls. Donna followed, hoping that her husband would not cause a scene in the busy church lobby.

Hank was unconcerned about causing a scene or not. He reached the praying girls and was about to put a hand on Darla’s shoulder when Gary stepped forth and said: “Welcome sir. Have you seen our painting of the Lord?”

Hank glanced up, and then tried to get back to the business of dealing with what he thought was his son. But he couldn’t look away, and he finally slumped down next to Darla to pray. Donna looked at her husband’s reactions first, and then glanced at the painting. At that point Rachael stood, and Donna took her place with her husband and daughter. Rachael went back, and high-fived Ruby.

“It worked?” Ruby asked. Rachael nodded.

“What worked,” Chuck said. “And was that Darrel in drag.”

“No, that was your little sister, Darla, out of drag,” Ruby said.

“And Dad didn’t go nuclear?” Chuck said.

“That was what worked. The painting at the end of the lobby, the one everyone is in line for, works miracles. Rachael knows people at this church, and was able to cut to the front of the line. Right now Mom, Dad, and Darla are praying, and their prayers will be answered, at least in part. Darla won’t get everything she wants, but hopefully she will get support and a plan to save herself.”

“Save herself?”

“Chuck, on Friday at the Jackson’s she told me she thinks of killing herself almost every day. She has a girl’s mind in a boy’s body that is soon going to turn into a man’s body, and she is terrified. Can you support her?”

“He would kill himself? He … no, she … can’t do that. It would tear our family apart. It is weird, but I’ll do my part if it keeps him … keeps her alive.”

It was nearly 15 minutes later when all three Watsons got up from the prayer rail and Gary motioned others in the queue into the space. Hank had a blank look on his face, but Donna had her arm around her new daughter, and a smile on her face as they walked back to Ruby and Chuck.

“Let’s all go downstairs into the basement, where we can talk,” Rachael said, leading the family to a table down there. Everyone sat down, with Darla between her parents. Hank still had a stunned look on his face, and Donna still held Darla’s hand.

“I’m sorry for all the subterfuge,” Ruby said, but it is important that we do this for Darla’s fate. In a few months she is going to be hit with a massive dose of male hormones, and start to change in ways she does not want.”

“Weeks,” Donna corrected. “He told me that it is only a few weeks.”

“Anyway,” Ruby continued, “Rachael came up with this plan. I know Dad is very religious and would consider it a sin to have Darrel become Darla. We needed to get you to this church, where the painting would allow you to speak with … well, God.”

“He told me that it was not a sin,” Hank said. “In fact, those who say it is are the sinners. God said he treasures Darla, and that she deserves to live.” He turned to his daughter for the first time. “He showed me something. It was a few years in the future. Darrel looked about 16. Bigger, more manly. But he was in the big barn, hanging from a rafter, wearing a cheap dress. He was dead.” At that point Hank lost it, and started sobbing. “That couldn’t happen, could it?”

“Yes Daddy it could,” Darla said, starting to sob along with her father. “I am only surprised if I could last until 16.”

“I don’t want to lose you,” Hank cried. “We will make this work … Darla.”

“Oh Daddy,” she cried and flung herself into his arms as he sobbed. “I love you so.”

For two minutes, the two sobbed in each other’s arms. Halfway through Donna joined in from the other side. Finally Hank stopped crying. It was unmanly, and there were others watching. He pulled back and said.

“You are beautiful, Darla. Or you were until we started crying,” he said with a chuckle.

I knew that girl in the mall was putting on too much mascara, Rachael thought, as she looked at Darla’s raccoon eyes.

Darla didn’t know why everyone was smiling until Ruby handed her a compact mirror.

“Oh,” she said, looking at Rachael. “Does this happen often?”

“It can if you put too much mascara on, and then cry. I think your Dad’s white shirt is ruined too,” Rachael said. There was a pair of mascara smears on it, where she had sobbed into him.

“Oh Daddy, I am sorry,” Darla said. “Should I fix this?”

“Later,” Ruby said. “What we need to fix now is your life.” But Donna did go into her purse to pull out some wipes, and quickly removed much of the smudging as they talked.

Just then four more people came into the room. Rachael stood, and the smallest of the four propelled herself into a run, jumping on Rachael with a squeal. Darla was amazed. The little girl looked like a younger version of Rachael, with the same hair, the same blue eyes, and the same infectious smile.

Rachael introduced the Watson’s to the Stoners. Andrea, Bob, Mikki, and little Danni, who sat on Rachael’s lap when she sat down.

“I have invited the Stoner’s to this meeting,” Rachael said, “because they have some expertise in these matters. They have a daughter in the same situation as Darla.” The Watson’s all turned to look at Mikki, who reddened.

“Not me,” she said quickly. “Danni, my little sister, was a boy until a few months ago.”

“Nuh, uh,” Danni said. “I was a girl who had to dress as a boy. It is not the same.”

“But you are so pretty,” Darla said.

“You are pretty too,” Danni said. “But your eyes look funny. Were you crying?” Darla nodded. “I used to cry a lot, especially when my Daddy cut my hair. But I am much better now. I like your hair.”

“And I love yours,” Darla said. “It is so cute

“I’m going to let it grow longer. Do you have any dolls or animals?” Danni asked.

“You mean stuffed animals? No. I live on a farm, so we have real animals.”

“I brought you one of mine. Rachael gave me a doll, but she is my best friend. I talk to her when I am upset about something. But I brought you a bunny. You can talk to him when you are upset,” Danni said. Andrea took a stuffed rabbit from a grocery sack, and handed it to Danni, who passed it over to Darla.

“His name is Fred,” Danni said. “And he is a real good listener.”

Darla was sobbing again, and hugged the toy to her chest. “Thank you sweetheart, I don’t think anyone has ever given me a better gift.”

“Well, wait until you hear about the other gift she is giving you,” Rachael said.

“Danni is seeing several doctors right now, and it is very hard to get in to see one for a first consultation. It can take weeks, even months to get in,” Andrea said. “We are going to ask her gender specialist if you can take her place in this Thursday’s session. Hopefully, if you can make it, you can become a regular patient. Then they can get you on blockers before anything changes. You are so pretty now.”

Darla gasped. She could finally see a path to her goal. The sobs intensified. “How can I ever thank you enough,” she said.

“By being yourself, and by loving others. By being you. The young, beautiful woman you can be,” Andrea said.

“What I want to know,” Chuck finally spoke: “is how you have breasts now, and you didn’t this morning at church when you were in your suit.”

Ruby laughed, while Darla just reddened. “It is just a few pairs of panty hose,” Ruby laughed. “But I saw online that small inserts for $400 are much more natural.”

“$400,” Hank choked. But then the vision of a young body hanging from a rafter returned for only a second. “You will get whatever you need, honey.” He caressed Darla’s hair. “I suppose a new wardrobe will be needed too.”

“Not all right away,” Ruby said. “Darrel will have to go to school for the rest of the month, but Darla will change into her real clothes when she gets home, and on weekends.”

“I will still do my chores, Daddy,” Darla said. “But the cows will have to get used to me as a girl.”

“If you are feeding them, they’ll be completely fine with it,” Chuck predicted.

“What about Sundays,” Donna said. “She will have to wear boy clothes to church, won’t she?”

“Not necessarily,” Hank said. “Our family was Presbyterian until the 1920s, when all the churches united. We can move out of the United Church, and start coming to this church. No one knows Darrel here.”

“And even if they did, they would accept Darla,” Rachael said. “We will be glad to see you, although I have to warn you not to be late to services if you want to get a seat.”

“I want Darla to work for me in the new butcher shop this summer,” Ruby said. “And she can be a girl all day long there, once school is out.

“And September is high school for us,” Rachael noted. “I’m sure all the girls will accept you, if you want to tell them. If not then you will just have to get a PE exemption. The kids from your old school probably won’t even notice you, with all the new faces in the school. You’ll just be another girl. Another cute girl.”

The group broke up then, when Rachael saw it was nearing 7 p.m. She rushed home to dinner. Maria wore the chef’s hat on this day, and most of the meal was ready with a strong aroma that Rachael smelled even before opening the door.

There was company too. Mike was there, wearing a dark shirt, for the first time she had seen. Grandma Barron was there too, quietly talking about the old times with Grandpa, while Bobby quietly listened. Rachael immediately went over to kiss Grandpa, and then did the same to Grandma, to the surprise and delight of the older woman.

She then kissed her Dad, and finally went into the kitchen to help her Mother, who also got a quick kiss. “How did it go,” Maria asked, for she had been made aware of the plan, and had approved. Otherwise Darrel would not have been allowed into Rachael’s room with the door closed, while they transformed him.

“Perfectly,” Rachael said, as she strained the water from the potatoes, and started to mash them as Maria loaded other vegetables into serving dishes. “I was worried about Mr. Watson, but he was so good after he had seen the painting. Up till then I was scared. The Stoners came at precisely the right time, and I think they eased the minds of the Watsons a lot.”

She then recounted how Danni had stolen the show, making Maria chuckle when she learned how the little girl gifted Darla with the rabbit. Then it was time for dinner, and Rachael and Maria brought out the bowls and platters. Rachael went and helped Grandpa up and to his chair at one end of the table (Geoff sat at the other end) and Bobby helped Grandma to her chair next to him.

Maria went to the oven and brought out a paper bag of Clouds and put them in a wicker basket to pass around. Grandma had never had one, and was amazed at the taste. Mike merely sat proudly as compliments buzzed around the table while Geoff sliced the roast, which was a little more well-done than Rachael’s. Maria had a fear of trichinosis, and tended to cook things until well done. Rachael was just glad it was not a ham, which her mother tended to make into leather.

The conversation at the meal centered on the bakery at first. Grandma had only gone in rarely of late, and admitted that the busy pace of the place was unnerving to her. She much preferred the early days, when there was seldom more than one person in the shop at a time. Geoff snorted, noting that they weren’t making any money at the time.

Mike discussed the repairs to the molder. Geoff was supposed to stay away, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he had gone over at 3, to find his prized and essential machine in parts, strewn across the floor as Chipper and another member of the Army worked on it. Geoff was surprised that Gary was not there, but Chipper seemed to have things in hand. He said Gary had a chore at the church.

Things started going back together at 4, and the machine was ready for testing at 5. They turned the machine on, and it worked perfectly, although backwards. Chipper didn’t seem upset, noting that this can happen with a three-phase motor, and made a few adjustments to the motor. The second time it was turned on it ran correctly. Mike and Geoff tested that all the settings worked well. The machine was only about a third as loud as it had been, and when Mike tightened the rollers to their max it was so tight that the piece of paper wouldn’t go through. Before a quarter inch was the tightest that the machine would set, good for bread, but not for pies or pastries.

“So what will you be able to make with the machine now,” Rachael asked Mike.

“Pie crusts, for one. No more rolling them out by hand. And look for croissants next week,” Mike said. “They take a lot of work, but my croissants are so tasty.”

“You know, with all the new recipes we are getting from Mike, I think we will have to start having daily specials. We can’t make everything every day,” Maria said.

“Croissants would be good for Thursday or Friday, when we have the boys in to help Geoff while I make the pastries,” Mike suggested.

“Do you have any recipes that use meat?” Rachael asked. “Ruby is opening her meat market next door soon, and it would be nice to feature something from her selection.”

“Well meat pies are a bakery staple we don’t do,” Mike said. “We could do them one day a week. They use cheaper cuts of beef and pork in smallish tins. Does she do sausages? Small breakfast sausages, wrapped in a pie crust, always go over well.”

“Pigs in a blanket,” Rachael said. “I know she does make a sausage, but I don’t know the size. I will ask her on Monday after school, if she is in the new shop.”

“One thing,” Mike said. “There is a used restaurant equipment lot outside of London, and Chipper and I were going to head out there on Tuesday. That is my day off, right?” He looked at Geoff who nodded. “They have lots of display cases and general equipment. Chipper might be able to piece together some things for her at a great savings. Ask her if she wants to come with us.”

“I will,” Rachael said, and then entertained the party telling of her experiences during the day.

“My, this sex change thing is getting so popular these days,” Grandma noted. “It never happened back in my day.”

“Well, Grandma, maybe it did, but you just didn’t hear about it,” Rachael noted. “For a long time there was no way to treat gender dysphoria. And then for many years after it was considered a deviation or perversion, and not an illness to be treated. It must have been hard for them back then, but I suspect that there were just as many people suffering it. They just didn’t say so.”

“You know,” Mrs. Barron said, “when I was in high school there was this thin, short boy. We all assumed he was gay, and the other boys bullied him mercilessly. He committed suicide in Grade 11. Perhaps he was transgendered?”

“He might have been,” Rachael said. “Or he might have just been gay. That was considered just about as bad, back then, although they were a bigger group, and tended to have their own closed communities to support each other.”

Dessert was some new lemon pastries that Mike had made during the afternoon while the men were working on the molder. They too were delicious, and sparked Maria into running to get a pen and paper to start making a list of specials for the shop. Mike, Maria and Geoff huddled together at the table while Rachael did the dishes, with Grandma drying.

“I really enjoyed this,” Grandma said as she spent quality time with Rachael in the kitchen. “Before you came, Bobby sat on my lap and we took time reading to each other. It is so special having a little one snuggled into you. It took me back to when Geoff was that age. But his father and I were always rushing around, and didn’t take the time to enjoy it. Please promise me that when you have children you will take the time to spend with them.”

Rachael wiped her hands, and then wrapped them around the old lady, who went wide-eyed. “Thank you Grandma. It is advice like that can make us all better people. It is probably the greatest gift you can give us.”

Rachael went back to washing, and Mrs. Barron sniffled. “Such a sweet girl. I think I need to find a Kleenex.”

“In the dining room, next to the phone,” Rachael directed as she continued to wash. Soon her grandmother was back, still slightly teary-eyed, and finished the drying.

“Grandma, would you like to live here, with us?” Rachael asked. “We have one spare room.”

“No dear, although you are so sweet for asking,” she said. “But I really like my old house. There are memories around each corner. I get lonely sometimes, but I want to stay there as long as I am able.”

“Fair enough, but I don’t want you being lonely. Sunday dinners here are now going to be a regular thing. And Wednesday our church is having a community supper. You should come to that.”

“But that is not my church, dear.”

“It doesn’t matter. All are welcome. I want you to come, at least this Wednesday. If you don’t like it, that’s fine, but at least you tried. And Bobby and I will have to come over to your house to visit, at least once a week.”

“Oh my, to have little feet … and younger feet … running through that old house. That would be so nice.”

“Well, expect us after school one day soon. Your house is not so far away. We just have to take a different route home.”

The rest of the evening was spent in pleasant conversation. The bakery team had made up their list of specials, including many items that Mike had not yet made for them to test. Grandpa and Grandma were busy chatting, and Rachael and Bobby were reading Harry Potter. She couldn’t believe how far the boy had come in his reading. He could now read Harry Potter to her. It was a slow, halting read, but two months ago the boy could barely sound out words.

Eventually Geoff drove his mother home in the van, and Bobby had a bath to wash off his weekend grime. When Rachael took Grandpa to bed, he noted how much he had enjoyed chatting with Mrs. Barron.

“I think she liked talking with you too,” Rachael said. “I know she loved reading with Bobby. We will have her back every Sunday.”

“That’s good,” the old man said as he got his kiss on the cheek from Rachael. “I know what it was like to be lonely: before a little boy threw an apple core on my lawn, and his sweet sister made him pick it up and apologize. I haven’t been lonely since. If you were not visiting, you were coming, and that left me something to look forward to. And now you live here with me. You have made an old man very happy, Rachael dear.”

“And you have made an entire family happy, Grandpa. Thank you for being you.”

With everyone in bed at the end of a long week, Rachael kneeled next to hers.

Dear Lord

Thank you for a perfect day. We had a busy day at the church, but I really loved looking after the little tots and babies. I guess that will be a regular occurrence, but I don’t mind. In fact, maybe I won’t be a vet when I grow up. My arms are too short, and I am too weak to aid in the birth of a cow or horse anymore. But they fit just perfectly around a baby. Maybe I will look into Early Childcare Education as a career. Imagine getting paid to look after babies.

Thank you also for making Darla’s way a little easier. Having her parents support her should make a lot of difference. I’ll make sure she has friends too. Mikki knows now, and Robert, and surely we can get the rest of the gang onside.

And finally, thank you for giving me such a perfect family. I used to think that with just the three of us it was great. Then we added Grandpa, then Geoff, and finally Grandma, even if she won’t move in with us. Thank you for all you do for us.

Amen