Previously: Mom said, “The word should be ‘don’t’, ‘ain’t’ isn’t a word. But I doubt that you really want to study with your Mother?”

“Are you crazy Mother; I need your help and maybe even Grandma’s. Do you think she knows any of the old natural remedies?”

Mother said, “Actually, I think, Grandmother Nora may have her Great Grandmother Bear’s journals.”

“You’re not telling me, that story that one of our ancestors was an Indian?” I was not seated like a big girl listening to a family story. Aaron would have been interested in an Indian story. But as Erin, I knew that I should have said ‘Native American’ and I was excited that this was part of my heritage.

Mother says, “Yes, your Third Great Grandma Bear was both Sioux and Fox. Her father Otter was Fox and traveled to a Pow Wow there where he met his Sioux wife Prairie Fox. He stayed and married her. Their only daughter Lenora married Jonathan LeForge the son of a goods trader. They say she was a powerful and eloquent speaker. She would later become an instructor and finally a professor at a university in upstate New York. Lenora had given one of the journals to the university to study. She stole it back when she found it discarded and packed away.

“She gave it before she died to Grandmother Nora. Grandmother will be excited to find that her granddaughter also has the spirit of a healer. Lenore had told Grandmother she knew another healer would come into the family.”

I said, “Mother before I forget, Princess Ayala wanted me to ask you if her Friend Marpe can stay here. She lives in a mountain cottage. I’ve met her and she’s coming to check Jeni’s wings and to remove the bandages when she is healed.”

“I met her mommy, she first appeared to me as an older and not so pretty woman. But she is really much younger and very attractive.” My mother looked at me like I mixed up the story. “No, mother it is true. She thought I would not listen well to a younger woman. I guess I might have seen her as Aaron did, and not really listened. But she is the one who said I could be a healer.”

Mother asked, “And how long would this Marpe be staying?”

“Ayala said, ‘A week to ten days.’ She probably could move into the cave if it dries out more.”

Mother said, “We are not letting any friend of yours go live in a cave. You can move in with Joselyn if you’re staying with us. Marpe will be very welcomed here.”

I asked, “Mother are you being nice about this because you didn’t believe Ayala?”

Mother smiled, she said, “Maybe in part, but I am better and you are much better. I like the change I see in you.”

“You like me being a girl? She could change me back to Aaron you know.”

She said, “The difference in you is much more than appearance. It has been a long time since you and I have talked together like this. You also appear to be more mature as a person. The idea you would like to be a doctor or nurse, shows you have direction in your life.”

I was able to fly back to Princess Ayala and tell her yes about Marpe staying with my being family. I knew my mother at the house was calling Grandmother Nora with her news about me.

Ayala said, “You may fly to your other home and stay there until you come back with Marpe. …Your mind is thinking you should tell me about a book. What book is that?”

I told her, “Grandmother Nora has a journal written by her Great Grandmother Bear and it supposedly tells of some natural things she used for medicine. She was a medicine woman of some sorts.”

Ayala said, “The Spirit must have been strong in her. Her Sioux tribe would not have taken kindly to her. The Medicine Men did not readily take to a woman in their profession.”

I said, “I am sure I will see my Grandmother soon. I hope she can tell me more; maybe I will even get to see her journal. Do you know if the Sioux had their own language?”

Princess Ayala said, “Maybe Marpe can help you with that, she has a much older spirit that helps her to see and understand things in the past. …For now, I want you to go back to your mother and enjoy your time there. The time for you to live there may be coming soon. …Do you know if you would prefer to remain as Erin or return to being Aaron?”

I was stunned by the question and for a moment just sat there not able to think. I saw Jeni walking and moving her wings. I asked, “Would I still be Isy here?” Ayala preferred I be the same gender in both of my lives. I replied, “I agree. I would like continuing to be Isy and Erin.” Ayala said I would be given a week to visit with both mothers.

I asked about my father and Princess Ayala said, “Someday, we will need to visit with your father and explain to him that you are a faerie.”

I soon flew home and just before my father came home I changed back to being a being.

Once in the door, my dad said, “Good it looks like you’ve gotten your spirit back.” He said, “Some days it seems to be that you’re off in a different world. Then, like now you are alert and your eyes sparkle.” Dad gave me a hug.

Somehow, I knew where I was with my homework and I had to read fifty more pages of a story before school tomorrow. I could almost feel my mind as I was reading the story. It was tutoring my conscious mind on what I had previously read.

Joselyn came up to get me for supper. She also sat down to talk. She asked, “Do you really think you’re a healer? What does it feel like?”

“Josie, I need to thank you. You were the first to hold me responsible. How did it feel for you taking your brother where I was likely to be punished?” I hugged her and cried on her shoulder.

She said, “I felt that. It’s neat to have my big sister cry on my shoulder. …I was more afraid of what Mom was going to say when I did that. I was sure Princess Ayala was going to be more than fair. It could have been a lot worse if Jeni died from her injuries and if she couldn’t fly.”

Josie continued talking, “I am really happy that you were able to help her. But I’m still wondering how you weren’t a healer before. So are you like a doctor, make potions or do things with roots, spider webs, and frog warts?”

I knew I glowed with a happy feeling, and said, “I know, I’m no doctor at least not yet. I thought to bind Jeni’s damaged wings with lily of the valley stems. But it was Marpe who knew the idea came from a healing spirit and she told me the bonding agent I needed to hold the mended areas in place.”

“I am supposed to learn a lot more, especially how to use natural remedies. And I think I’m to learn about medicine and how to summon my healing spirit when needed.”

Joselyn asked, “Do you know if Marpe is an old, old lady or a younger woman? I got confused when Jeni explained it to me.”

I said, “Yes, both!” I let Josie look at me with a bewildered look before I said. “I think she’s a young woman with the gift of healing. But she thinks us beings won’t trust a young looking blonde, so she appeared first to me as an old woman.”

Josie changed the subject and said, “We need to get down for supper.”

I was able to get my reading and my Algebra homework done and get a good night's sleep.

It was nice to back to school and find that I’m a better student as Erin. Heather Tomas and Amy Evers are now my good friends along with Jeff and Bill Robinson.

Mom had given me some money before I went to school. She told me it was for school and everyday clothes, suggesting I go with Heather or Amy if they’d go with me. Heather not only has good taste in fashion but as Jeff’s cousin, she also has stories she tells me. I was happy when she agreed we could shop after school.

I’m envious of Heather and Amy as their breasts are larger than mine. They said they’re envious me because I can wear petite sizes. Heather had gotten a splinter from the old staircase going up to the third floor. She gave me a pointed pair of tweezers to get the splinter if possible.

I looked closely at it and it was already under the skin. I knew how I used to do it. I don’t know why but I stared at it, breathed in and tried pulling it with thought. I knew it was coming out surrounded by a drop of blood. I used the tweezer to grab it and a tissue to dab the blood drop. Mrs. Henley scolded me for what I did. “If Heather gets an infection, I’m going to blame it on you.”

I lifted up Heather’s finger, “Would you like to show me what I did wrong?”

We hurried to go shopping as we were wanting to go watch the high school baseball game beginning at six. I didn’t know what the hurry was as we had three hours. Going through the piles of clothes we chose from it did take time. It took time for Amy to convince me a lace mini dress was for everyday wear. She talked me into that along with a new panty/bra set and several pairs of stockings. I did get two pairs of low-rider jeans. Somehow, they would ride down my but as Aaron’s had a habit of doing.

Finally, we had everything when Heather asked, “Did you get any thong panties? I didn’t remember seeing any.” It just so happened that we were just in front of Victoria’s Secrets and I got pushed in. Ashley, Heather’s sister was there to greet us.

Ashley said, “Erin, what are you sixteen and this is the first time I’ve seen you in here.”

Amy said, “And if you can talk her into a thong, that will also be a first.”

Ashley told Heather, “You take Amy for a walk and we’ll see what we’re comfortable doing in here.” They left and Ashley took a quick look at my new clothes after I gave her permission.

“Erin, you are a perfect candidate for thongs, bikini, hip huggers or even nude intimates. I don’t want you feeling pushed into anything nor quickly closing your mind to consider them. I know your mom is more open since you’ve come out of your shell. And you and I both know she trusts you.”

‘I wanted to ask when she had this nice understanding with my mom.’ What surprised me is that I’m into being a girl. “Ashley, I like the idea of a thong but something a little modest if a thong can be.”

She shows me several thongs all which I like and she also introduces me to bikini panties. Though my tasted wandered to the more lush panties that should have cost a lot more; Ashley and the manager gave me a deal to buy two thong panties and three bikini panties. I tried three on and agreed to the purchase. I got a free nude panty if Heather or Amy couldn’t tell I was wearing one of the thongs. It would cost me only five dollars if they did.

I called Amy and Heather back in and paid for my purchases. It was as we left, Ashley giggled and said, “Have a good time at the game, but the seats might feel cooler than you’re used to.”

Heather stopped quick and looked at my butt as I stepped ahead. “You’re even wearing a thong to the baseball game?” Amy commented, “Maybe you should say it louder, maybe everyone didn’t hear you.” I couldn’t help but giggle. Some women were embarrassed or upset with our behavior. I was wearing not only the thong but my designer low-rider jeans. The others were right, it looks sharp to be petite wearing good fashions.

We would be fashionably late, but Amy called ahead for someone to save us three seats.

The basketball coach didn’t like Jeff playing a different sport where he could get spiked or hit by a baseball. Jeff insisted he be able to play or he’d quit basketball. Jeff had no intention of quitting basketball, but he did get his way.

I had played with Jeff and I knew he was both a natural athlete and was a student of the games he played. I laughed to myself once when he took a running jump to catch a hard hit ball. “Boy, he looks like a young buck jumping out in a field.”

Heather said, “That’s a nice image; where did that come from? I didn’t know you ever went hunting?”

“I didn’t but I have watched nature shows. Tell me you never looked at your guy that way?”

She said, “It’s just that you are blowing up all the images I have of you. “You bought some thongs, learned to wiggle your buns and now you’re describing how you see my cousin as a young buck. I’m surprised you didn’t describe his lean hind legs or how big he is?”

Amy says, “Once again she didn’t have too, you did the job for her. Your cousin will be embarrassed when others start staring at him differently.” That ended us or the crowd from keeping track of the game.

It had been a really good day, but in one short moment, I wasn’t sure if it became terrible or got better. Heather drove me home and helped me carry my new clothes to the house. She had set her bags down, presumably to open the door. Then she said, “You know Cousin Jeff isn’t the only one who has affections for you. I even like your wings.” With that and a gentle touch to my cheek, she leaned forward and we kissed. I hugged her as well and could feel her hands on my back, no gliding down my wings.

One more chapter…