Archie Andrews in “The New Girl”

In a town called Riverdale ...

It was a typical Saturday. Archie Andrews had been talked into helping his mom clean out the basement of their house with the promise of a little extra money for gas for his car, when a moving van drove into the neighborhood.

“Oh good! Someone is finally taking that empty house at the end of the block” Said Archie’s mother.

“It will be nice to have a new neighbor.” Archie’s dad added.

“Archie, once our new neighbors are moved in, I want you to help me take something over to them. To welcome them to Riverdale.”

“Why mom?” Archie asked, thinking he’d rather be out with Betty and Veronica.

“Because its the neighborly thing to do. And you will help me, won't you?”

“Sure mom. I’ll help.”

****

So a hour and a half passed, and the truck went away, and Archie’s mother had put together a simple meal. So she and Archie headed over to the house at the end of the block, and they rang the bell.

A tire-looking woman in her middle thirties answered.

“Yes?” she said.

“I’m Mary Andrews, and this is my son Archie. We thought it would be nice to welcome you to the neighborhood.”

“Well, thank you very much. I’d invite you in, but things are still pretty disorganized. I am Casandra Williams, by the way.”

“Which is why I thought you might appreciate not having to make supper. Nice to meet you, this is my son. Archie.”

“Nice to meet you, and thanks for the food.”

“Is it just you?” Archie asked.

“No, I have my daughter , Diana. She’s upstairs getting her room ready, I’ll call her.”

“Diana!” The woman shouted.

A moment later a teen girl came down the stairs. She was wearing a black skirt that went down below her knees, and a black top that had rhinestones in it. She had reddish blonde hair tied in braids, and freckles that Archie smiled at as they reminded him of his own.

She also looked rather scared when she realized there were guests ...

“Mom ?” the girl said nervously.

“Its okay, honey. This is Mary Andrews, and her son, Archie.”

“He...hello.”

“Hello, dear. Welcome to Riverdale” Mary Andrews said, “Will you be going to Archie’s school?”

The girl nervously nodded. “Ye... yes.”

“Well, then I’ll see you there.” Archie said.

“We should let you enjoy the food. Good night, and welcome to Riverdale” Mary Andrews said.

“Thanks, and good night.” Cassandra said.

Once the Andrews were gone, the girl turned to her mother, and blew out a deep breath. “I guess that was my first test. But there’s still school to worry about.”

“Have faith, Diana.”

****

A few days later, the new school year started, and as had often happened last year, Archie Andrews ended up having to race into the building at the last minute.

“Ah, Mr. Andrews! Just the fellow I was looking for.” Said the principal, Mr. Weatherbee.

“Sorry I’m late, Mr. Weatherbee. I slept in.”

“Well you can make up for it by helping me with something.”

“What?”

“We have a new student who needs someone to show her around. Come here, Diana.”

The young girl Archie had met a few days earlier looked very nervous as she stepped forward.

“We met when she moved into the house down the street for me.” Archie said.

“Then you’ll do fine.” Mr. Weatherbee said.

****

The next hour was frustrating for Archie. He tried to draw the young girl out into a conversation, but she said very little. Then Archie realized that she was scared - not just scared of being a new kid in school, but scared of him in particular.

And Archie couldn’t even imagine why.

Finally, the tour was over, and it was time for lunch, so he invited her to sit with him and his friends, giving him a chance to introduce her to them.

She remained pretty quiet during lunch, except near the end. Kevin Keller came into the lunch room, sat down and apologized for being late saying it was because he had been talking to his boyfriend, who was off sick for the day.

****

That night, Diana came home and talked to her mother about Kevin Keller being so open about his sexuality.

“It gives me hope about coming out myself, mom.” She said.

“Do you really think that’s a good idea? After what happened the last time?” Her mother asked.

“I don’t know, mom. I ... I’m just so tired of having to be afraid”

The two of them hugged.

***

A week later, Archie had all but forgotten about Diana in the rush of his normal routine, until Reggie came over at lunch while Archie was eating with Betty and Veronica with his I-pad out and saying “You gotta see this!”

“What is it?.” Archie asked.

“When you introduced that new kid last week, the last name sounded familiar to me, so I did a search. She’s a he!”

“What are you talking about?” Betty exclaimed.

“She ... he was assaulted at his last school. It made the news, The mainstream media didn’t say the name, but some websites let it out. Its him.”

****

The news spread like wildfire, and finally, Mr. Weatherbee called Diana to his office to ask what she wanted to do.

“The story was probably gonna get out anyway. I might as well tell the truth.”

So an assembly was called, and Mr. Weatherbee stepped forward, and said, “There have been some rumors going around about one of our students. Diana Williams has asked to be given a chance to clear the air.”

Diana came forward, and said, “I really wasn’t sure about doing this. But I guess I have to. By now you’ve probably heard that I was assaulted at my school last year, and maybe you think you know why. But let me tell you the real story.

I am transgender.

That means I was assigned as male at birth, but my mind, my heart, my sense of self, my soul if you will, are all female.

And unfortunately there are people who are not okay with people like me.

People like me are often disowned by their families, bullied, denied opportunities, and some of us are killed or pushed into suicide.

For myself I ended up getting assaulted and spent months in a hospital because a bully couldn't deal with me just being me.

But I’ve heard that Riverdale is a safe place, that you’re open to people who are different, and I know that this school has accepted a gay student. I just hope that openness can apply to me, because I could really use a safe place to go to school.

Thank you for listening.”

Archie Andrews came up to the front, and said, “I was upset when I had to take you for a tour. You were scared of me, and I couldn’t see what I could have done to deserve it. Now, I get it, you were worried I’d turn out to be like the people who hurt you. But I want you to know Riverdale high will be a safe place for you if I have anything to say about it. What do you say, guys and gals? Are we gonna make this a safe place?”

The whole student body shouted, “Safe place! safe place!”

Diana started to weep, and choked out a “Thank you. Thank you all.”

****

That night, Diana sat with her mother, and said, “I can’t believe the support I got at school. Now, I can just concentrate on just being a normal teenage girl.”

****

And so a new story begins ...

In a town called Riverdale.

End.