As asked, I filled out the form and returned it early the next morning. The whole day passed in me taking notes, talking with a friend and catching up with the newest drama. You know your average school day. Around mid-afternoon, a student who belonged to the 4H club returned saying the Benton PTA Board had approved my request and informed me to wear a nice dress, but not too nice. Again the rumor mill started to turn, this time the rumor centered on the going ones at the old Lomond Farm. Something about strange lights appearing around the front of the many limestone caves that can found at the edge of the property.

Not that strange events are anything new to the old Lomond Farm. The whole area has been crawling with paranormal activity it seems since the Lomond’s carved the land out of the hard wooden bottoms in the late fifties. But those stories are for another day. All in all, there was nothing to report. One could say, as the old German Newspaper once quipped ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’. And so it was.

Once the final bell rang, signaling an end to the school day. I made my way to the bike rack and mounted my bike and started to peddle to the downtown area. I need to unwind and relax. The stress of taking notes and stressing about exams where taxing my spirit and my sanity. Soon the road changed from asphalt to cobblestones that paved the whole mains street area.

As cruised up and down the main street, I took note of all the shops. There of course of Sunflower, Benton’s number one place to buy groceries and stop and get a plate lunch. Beside Sunflower, there was the local Post Office and beside the Post Office, there was the local post of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign War). Across from the post there’s the old Benton Middle School, now that doubles as a local community center. Also here one can take ballet classes and attend local theater productions.

Across from the old Benton Middle School there sit’s the Albert Sidney Johnston Memorial Liberal, the place I spent so many hours over the summer holidays doing nothing but reading teen supernatural-drama books. I stood there a paused as I peered toward the building. That had been my private retreat from the world, back when I just coming to terms with being Madeline and coping with my mother's death. A sniffed and felt a little fall down my cheeks. Things seemed so simple back then. Back when nobody questioned, and everybody just thought I was a tomboy.

Collecting my thoughts, I started to peddle down main street proper. Both sides of the street where lined with shops. I passed the Methodist Market, a charity shop sponsored by Benton First Methodist, the first Methodist Church was located beside the shop. Beside the Methodist church there stood Benton Baptist, the church where Mrs. Arnold attended services. Across the street, one would find local Stone Cutters Hall. To the side of that across from the Methodist Market, you will see an H.R Block Tax Return Office.

Here one stopped for a four-lane crossing, this marked the boundary between “South Main” and “North Main”. As I peered down at the road I noticed the iron rails bedded down in there. A small smile crossed my face, Benton was one of the very few remaining towns to still own and operate a trolley line. The company that maintained the line was fitting called “Benton Street Car LLC”, it operated and maintained the original twelve and a half miles of rail that connected “South Main” to “North Main” And from there spit off into the neighborhoods of “Wilson Creek” a solidly middle-class neighborhood. And “Townson Creek”An area where the elite of the town lived.

Shaking those thoughts from my head, I passed through the crossing and started down the “North Main” the first building too my left I passed as a handsome brick church called “All Saints Roman Catholic Church” the sign out in front informed me that Sunday Mass held three times that day the times being. “Sunday 8:30 AM, Sunday 10:30 AM and finally at Sunday evening at 4:00 PM.” And through the week Masses where held every day at noon.

Across from church, there was one of the few remaining “Blockbusters” the last remaining relic of the one powerful chain of movie rental places. To the side was the local “Fred’s Dollar Store” a dollar store that had everything one might need. And Benton main source of electronics. In fact, it was Benton’s only source.

I kept moving down the road, passing other landmarks as I did. I passed the wooden Episcopal Church, the boards of the church where painted bright pink and trimmed in white. My sister and I sometimes attend services there from the time the time. Given is pink color and white trimming the church was named “Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church” the church was a very “Anglo-Catholic” in Liturgy worship. For example, they use the “Anglican Missal” instead of the “Book of Common Prayer”.

I passed several other businesses before I stopped in front of a sweet shop. The awning covering the door was bright neon pink. And in the display window, lettering spelling out the word “Ginger Evens Bakery”. The sign in the door says “Open”. so parking my bike, I walk up and pull upon the brass door handle and step inside. The minute I step inside I’m hit with the smell of freshly baked bread, fresh donuts, warm cookies and the bitter almost savory smell of freshly ground and brewed coffee.

The inside is nice and clean, the wooden floors shine and gleam. A display case and cash register can be seen toward the back. With a stand-up fridge holding small bottles of milk and stuff can be seen beside the cash register. A woman with flaming red hair looks up and smiles toward me. She has stunning blue eyes and smells of flour and cotton candy.

“Hey there. You must be Madeline. I’ve heard so much about you. Its good to finally meet the girl making waves in this small little town.” She said smiling as she stepped out from behind the counter and offered me her hand. “I’m Ginger Evens, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I reached down and shook her head and offered her a small smile. “it’s a pleasure to meet you too. I’m flattered you know my name.” I said blushing deeply as I pushed a few stray hairs from my face and tucked them behind my ear.

“Of course. You're going to be Robin’s and Lily’s first student. And Mrs. Fox seems to think highly of you. You took the dunking booth in Discover Benton ‘18 and the dunking stool at Halloween thing. Those events make the paper dear heart. People read the paper, you're more popular than you think. Trust me on that.” She said smiling as she walked behind the bar.

“Do you like coffee?” She said as she poured herself a small cup of coffee. “And would you like some?” She said with a small smile.

“Please and thank you,” I said reaching down and playing with the edge of my skirt.

“Good manners, that always a plus when you work with the public.” She said smiling as she placed the first cup of coffee down. She went to fix another one. “Any crème or sugar?” She asked.

“One cream please ma’am,” I said looking table where Ginger had set the first cup of coffee.

She smiled and added one small cream to the coffee and stirred it up and sat it down.

“So how’s school.” She said sitting down at the table. She motioned for me to sit down in front of her. “I’ve heard you ran into a little trouble sighing up for the charity event.”

I blushed and eased down upon the chair and peered at her. At her. She smiled and handed the cup of coffee told me. “Please be careful. It's kind of hot.” She said smiling softly as she peered at me.

“Thank you, ma’am,” I said blowing upon the cup and after a few seconds of letting it cool, I took a sip and nodded my head and eased the cup down upon the table and sighed.

“I did..” I don’t know why, but there something motherly about Ginger. I felt could open up. “Mrs. Arnold was a real prick about it. You know she in charge of the Benton PTA. And the whole PTA does not like the fact there a trans student attending school. She wrote like really scolding letter to my sister, who is my legal guarding now that my mom is dead and such. Like saying I needed to send to Chamberlin-Hunt or Whitfield.”

Ginger nodded her head.

“I mean my other teachers are cool with it. But she the way she treated me... It left a bad impression on me. I mean I know before we left she called me ‘Madeline’ but the way she said the name. It was like a joke you know. I can’t help but feel she not done with me yet... She just strikes me as that kind of women.”

Ginger nodded her head and took another sip of coffee.

“I have a real personal question. One I’m sure you’ve heard before. But one I need to ask.” Ginger said setting her cup down. She then folded her hands in her lap and peered toward me. It seemed like all the air had been sucked out of the room at that very moment. “Are you prepared to work hard to be Madeline?”

I paused and looked down at the ground.

“it’s a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ question. But one that leads down two very different paths. If you say ‘No’ then we’ll you can try to resume your old life. If you say ‘Yes’ then are you prepared to keep going down the path you set for yourself. Meaning, are you willing to live within the laws of the state regarding people like you, and live with the consequences and rewards.” She said in a matter of fact tone of voice.

I swallowed hard. I never expected this to come up. After a few minutes, I took a deep breath and nodded my head.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said and I braced myself for her response.

“Then you have passed your final test.” She said smiling a little. “Congratulations, and welcome aboard.” She said giggling as she reached over and offered her hand. “I’m sure Mrs. Fox and the others will be glad to hear about this.” She said.

I blinked and blinked again.

“Honey.” Ginger said. “There checks and balances to everything. And that all I can say for now” She smiled and reached over and ruffled my hair. “You just need to know, there people in this town that are willing to fight for you and you have powerful allies. So go out and become the best ‘Madeline’ there ever was.”

And so another episode ends.