Cindy at Music Camp By Teek © 2019 Chapter 16 The Calls Home

“Then it is settled,” George said to the group. “We, as a group, will do whatever we can to make sure Cindy is protected tomorrow. Yes, Mr. Elks, we will still follow all school rules. Cindy, are you okay with us doing this?”

Cindy sat in thought for a minute, then she suddenly looked down at her lap and slumped her shoulders, “Yeah, I hate that we have to do this, but . . . we have to.”

“I guess I am up first,” Jessica declared. “If we have any chance to make this work, we will need Mommy’s help.”

Marcus handed Jessica his cell phone. After dialing her home number, she put the phone down on the table and pressed the speaker button.

“Hello?”

“Mommy,” Jessica said. “We need your help. Please listen to us before you say anything. We have been trying to figure out how to protect my friend Cindy.”

“One of the girls you are going to give your precious American Girl dolls to?”

“Yeah,” Jessica responded.

“Hi, Jessica’s Mommy,” Cindy shouted out.

“Talk in a normal voice Cindy,” Marcus said. “The person on the other end should be able to hear you fine if you talk in a normal voice. If not, they will let us know.”

“I gather we are on a speaker phone,” Jessica’s Mom inquired.

“Sorry Mom,” Jessica sheepishly replied. “I know you always tell me I need to let people know when I do that.”

“Mr. Elks here. I want you to know who is part of this phone call. There is Jessica, Cindy, Samantha, George, and Marcus. They are all campers here, and part of the little orchestra that Jessica has put together. Then we have myself and my wife Barbara. The kids are attempting to influence the adult world in a way that may be out of their capabilities. They chose to call you first, since you are a judge.”

“I see,” Jessica’s mom said changing her tone a little. “This is a professional call. How can I help?”

“Mommy, you have told me that when a person hurts a kid it is bad, and a person can get in big trouble for that. Can the hurt be something other than hitting? Can their words and action be the bad way they hurt a child?”

“Child Abuse is very serious Jessica. It can be physically hurting a child, but it can also be from neglecting a child, psychological abuse, or even emotional abuse. Has someone hurt Cindy?”

“Mr. Elks again, Cindy is the child that was being bullied here at camp and led to the change of bullying rules. We lost a total of twenty-two campers over incidents and issues connected with Cindy. From what I have managed to piece together, Cindy’s problems started before she got to camp.”

Mr. Elks looked over to Cindy. He had made it very clear that she was the one that would have to tell people she was Transgender, not him.

“Jessica’s Mom,” Cindy said. “Jessica has been calling me Cindy all week, but my real name is Frank. I am a nine-year-old transgender girl. Well, I think I am. No doctor has said it, and Mr. Elks says it is important that no doctor has said that.”

“Cindy,” Jessica’s Mom replied. “Mr. Elks is correct that it is important whether or not a doctor has said you are transgender or not, but more importantly is if a doctor would say it.”

“Hi, Barbara Elks here. Cindy has been staying at our house for the last five days. Once Jessica and Samantha figured out a way to give Cindy access to girl clothes, she started dressing as a girl at camp and we could no longer have her in the boy’s dorm. I am no psychologist, but from what I have seen, she is just one of the girls from likes to emotional reactions.”

“Okay,” Jessica’s Mom said. “So why am I on the phone with the group of you at the moment.”

“Mommy, Cindy needs help. Her Mommy is going to be really mad when she finds out that Cindy has been dressing as a girl for the last week of camp. We have figured out how to delay Cindy’s Mom from finding out, but as soon as Cindy gets on stage to perform my composition, Cindy’s Mom will freak out. Last time Cindy’s Mom freaked out over Cindy wearing girl clothes, Cindy’s braided pigtails were cut off by a barber giving her a bowl cut, and then still wearing a little girl party dress, Cindy was taken to Wal-Mart where her Mom brought her to the boys department and loudly told everyone the kid in the dress next to her was a boy and she needed to buy some boy underwear for the two weeks at Music Camp.”

“Now I understand the initial questions about child abuse,” responded Jessica’s Mom. “I don’t get involved though until someone is actually arrested for a crime.”

“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,” Jessica said. “In-o-sent until proven guilty. We get all that, but if needed can you tell them the law?”

“For you princess, I will refresh myself on the state laws about child abuse. I can, tell the law if needed.”

“Thanks Mom,” Jessica said with a smile. “That is what we needed from you. We have a few other calls to make. I will see you after the concert tomorrow. My little orchestra is performing last, so don’t panic when you don’t see me at the beginning of the concert. I am in one of the other performances, but that is just a big group and nothing special. Bye.”

“Bye Jessica, see you tomorrow.”

Jessica pressed the button to hang up the phone.

“My turn, my turn, my turn,” Samantha said before running out of the room to her old violin case. Returning with a piece of paper flapping around in her hand, “Here is Daddy’s phone number.”

Marcus took the paper and dialed the number.

“Hello,” a guy answered.

“Daddy, Daddy, its Samantha and my friends. We need your help Daddy. Can you help Daddy? Can you?”

“Sammie Pooh,” Samantha’s dad said. “Slow down and explain to me what is going on.”

“Mr. Elks here, we have you on a speaker phone. At the table here we have Samantha, Cindy, Jessica, George, and Marcus who are all campers this summer. Also, we have myself and my wife Barbara. The kids are trying to help one of the kids in this group from some potential abuse by their parents. It is highly felt by the kids that these parents are going to disrupt the concert, pull a kid off the stage, and use verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse in front of the whole camp. From what I have been able to put together, their fears might be valid. The little girl in question is Samantha’s best friend here at camp this summer. They are together every moment they can be. The girl is the one that Samantha has lent her American Girl doll to for the last week.”

“Hi Mr. Samantha Daddy,” Cindy said. “Mr. Elks is talking about me, Cindy. You see, I am a girl on the inside, but my body does not say that on the outside. Samantha helped me trade my clothes this week so I could have girl clothes to wear during the last week of camp.”

“Samantha Jean Ellsworth, you did what?”

“I just set up a clothes swap with the other girls. We traded clothes. Some of the other girls wanted some of Cindy’s boy clothes and Cindy wanted their girl clothes. So, we did some trading. No big deal daddy. Everyone got what they wanted.”

“Okay Samantha Jean, we will talk more about this tomorrow. Putting that aside, I am sorry Cindy. What were you saying?”

“Well my Mommy was Super Duper mad when she found me at a friend’s birthday party in one of my sister’s old party dresses. She brought me straight to the barber shop where she had the mean man cut off my braids. Then still wearing the party dress, she took me to Wal-Mart where she told everyone that I was a boy and she needed to buy me some boy underwear for camp. I was allowed to wear the dress in my bedroom, but never out of my bedroom. When she saw me in the dress next door at my friend’s party, she let me know that I had most definitely left my bedroom when I wasn’t allowed to. When she finds out that I have spent the last week at camp in girl clothes, she will be MAD. Really, really really mad. She dragged me right out of the birthday party not caring what the other Mommies were saying or that kids were crying.”

“Daddy,” Samantha butted in. “You need to make sure Cindy’s Mommy doesn’t mess up our performance or hurt Cindy. You can do that Daddy, can’t you?”

“Mr. Elks,” Samantha’s dad asked? “What are your concerns here? As a State Police Officer, I could talk to my chief about coming in uniform and being their more as an official than as a parent.”

“That is what the kids want you to do,” Mr. Elks stated. “I have already contacted the local police, letting them know that there might be a problem needing their assistance at the concert tomorrow. They will have a plain clothes officer there, with an extra patrol car in the vicinity if needed. I have no right asking you to work on a day I know you had off to watch your daughter’s concert.”

“Yeah, but if I understand this situation, my daughter is going to be in the line of fire if this gets physical.”

“Unfortunately, I believe you are right there. That is one of the reasons I have allowed the kids to bring this issue to your attention. As a State Police Officer, you know very well how fast a domestic dispute can go ugly. I will do everything in my power to keep the kids safe from physical assault, and extra steps have been taken to make sure the parents cannot reach the stage. This little orchestra group your daughter is in will be isolated from the time the first parent shows up until they have to perform on stage. There have been older kids at camp keeping Samantha and Cindy safe all week, but even with that, Samantha has been exposed to the threats of violence. Cindy is showing PTSD effects over everything that has happened to her over the last three weeks. You and I have talked about how it might have impacted Samantha. If Cindy’s parents decide to make a scene, I want to make sure it impacts the kids as little as possible. Samantha views her Daddy as the one person that can protect her from anything. I want you to know what you are walking into. To help control the situation even more, I have decided to have the parents of the top five Best Performers Competitors have assigned seats, putting Cindy’s parents in a position where they can be easily removed from the concert with minimal disruption.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Samantha’s Dad said. “Can I come early tomorrow to get a feel of the layout and maybe make some suggestions.”

“Thank You Daddy.”

“I would appreciate any help you are willing to provide,” Mr. Elks stated.

“I can’t believe I am about to say this, but Sammie Pooh, stay with Cindy. It sounds like everything is going to be in place to keep Cindy safe, so you will be safe if you are with her. Mr. Elks what I really want to do is get up there and take Samantha home, but she would never forgive me for doing that. She also needs to learn to stand with her friends when they are faced with challenges, not run from them. The more people that stand against a bully, the less power they have. Samantha has stood with Cindy for a week now, and she needs to see this through to the end.”

“Now as Samantha’s father, it is my job to make sure she has the support and safety during this process. Sammie Pooh, you do what the grown-ups you trust tell you to do. Even when you do not understand, follow their directions.”

“Yes Daddy.”

“Cindy,” Samantha’s Dad says. “I will be there to help keep you safe if your Mommy and Daddy decide to make some bad choices. I hope they don’t, but no matter what, we will keep you safe during the concert. Remember, your parents do love you, even if they may struggle to show that tomorrow. You have the same directions as Samantha. Listen to the adults you trust and do what they tell you to do, even when it doesn’t make sense.”

“As for the rest of you in this little orchestra,” Samantha’s Dad continued. “From what I have heard, you have worked hard this last week to keep Cindy and Samantha safe. Thank You. Your focus tomorrow needs to be on your performances. You have had to deal with some very big issues over the last week, but tomorrow I want you to be the kids you are. We adults will do everything in our power to give you that chance.”

“Samantha’s Dad,” George said. “I view Samantha and Cindy like a little sister, and I know Marcus does too. Part of being a kid is protecting and standing up for our siblings. I will follow your advice of doing what the adults I trust tell me to do, no matter how strange it might be. I have been through enough A.L.I.C.E. drills to know that I might not have all the knowledge when someone in authority tells me to do something. But sir, understand this, I will do whatever is necessary to make sure Cindy and Samantha are not hurt tomorrow, even if that means putting myself between them and a threat.”
(A.L.I.C.E. = Alert, Lock Down, Inform, Counter, Evacuate - - - - This is the training that children across the United States of America go through as a reaction to the school shootings. A.L.I.C.E. drills are now done in schools, just like fire drills are done. Link to ALICE website )

“That is the same for me sir,” Marcus said.

“You two are the teenagers of the group,” Samantha’s Dad said. “I feel honored that you view my little Samantha as a little sister. Remember though, the A.L.I.C.E. training teaches to avoid contact with the threat. Evacuate the situation when at all possible to do it safely. Tomorrow morning, I will make sure you always have a path away from Cindy’s parents. If you have to leave the stage to keep the girls safe, then do it. The adults can bring you back when things are safe.”

“Okay sir,” Marcus and George said together.

“Mr. Ellsworth,” Mr. Elks said. “The kids have a few more phone calls they want to make. I will call you back once the kids go to bed.”

“Okay Mr. Elks. Samantha, be good now. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“Bye Daddy.”

“Nighty Night Sammie Pooh.”

Samantha pressed the hang up button, “See, I told you my Daddy would help.”

“I didn’t realize he was a State Trooper,” Marcus said. “I thought he was just a small-town Police Officer.”

“Nope, he work all over the state,” Samantha said with pride.

“Okay,” Marcus said. “I guess it is my turn.”

Marcus took his phone and pressed two buttons.

“Hello Marcus,” a lady said.

“Hi Mom,” Marcus replied. “I have you on speaker phone with the little orchestra group I am part of, and Mr. and Mrs. Elks are here too. We need Dad, is he home yet?”

“You mean it really is true you are performing in an orchestra group this summer?”

“Yes, Mom,” Marcus rolled his eyes. “Is Dad home?”

“He got home about thirty minutes ago. Hold on a second,” the line went silent.

A minute later, “What’s up Marcus?”

“Dad,” Marcus took a deep breath. “I need bodyguard protection for my performance tomorrow.”

“I thought your mom said you were doing a classical music performance in a small orchestra. Why do you need bodyguard protection for that?”

“I am Dad, but I also have a Rock’n Roll performance. Don’t tell Mom that please, I want to surprise her.”

“Oh great, you mean you want to give her a heart attack.”

“Okay, Okay,” Marcus said scrunching up his shoulders with a huge smile on his face. “I love seeing her reaction.”

“Marcus, what am I going to do with you?”

“Well, I need bodyguard protection for two little girls; a nine and a seven-year-old. They have become like little sisters for me this week. We have had a protection force in place this last week keeping them safe, but tomorrow the real threat will come. Any chance you and the gang could come and provide some protection for our little orchestra group?”

“Gang, Marcus,” Mr. Elks inquired, raising an eyebrow? “You didn’t say anything about Gang members.”

“Is that you Hunter?” Marcus’ Dad asked.

“Yes John,” Mr. Elks said. “I don’t know if your wife told you, but you are on speaker phone here. At the table we have all five members of the mini orchestra that Marcus is in. Cindy and Samantha are the two Littles in the group. Jessica is a tween, and then we have Marcus and George our teenagers. Marcus is the oldest one in the group. We also have at the table here, my wife Barbara. I hate to admit it, but we could use some bodyguard protection during this year’s concert. Cindy’s parents may do what Marcus has tried to get his Mom to do.”

“The parents of a Little might drag them off the stage and make a big scene?”

“My Mommy will be really really mad when she finds out that I am wearing a dress during the performance.”

“Why would a Mom complain about their little girl wearing a dress during an orchestra performance?” Marcus’ Dad asked.

“You see Marcus Daddy, inside I am a girl, but outside I am a boy. My Mommy doesn’t want others to see me dressed as a girl. Too late for that since I have been wearing girl clothes for the last week at camp.”

“So, a transgender little girl needs protection from her own parents? You really do make some interesting friends Marcus.”

“Yes, John,” Mr. Elks rejoined the conversation. “But first let’s get one thing very clear. We cannot have Gang Members doing security at the concert.”

“No Hunter,” Marcus’ Dad responded. “Marcus’ group of bodyguards are not Gang Members. We just call them the gang. They are a group, all over six feet tall, with the tallest almost seven feet. They can be quite intimidating.”

“Okay then,” Mr. Elks said letting out a breath and sitting back in his chair.

“Marcus, I hadn’t asked any of the gang to come tomorrow, but I know Phillip and Evan are free. That would give us at least three bodyguards for you. Would that be enough?”

“At pure minimum, we were hoping for two. Any we have above that would be a bonus. We have a State Police Officer who will be helping with security, he is the father of Samantha, the seven-year-old of the group. Mr. Elks has also arranged for a plain-clothes local Police Officer to be on the premises. Jessica, our twelve-year-old conductor, has her Mom coming. She is a judge.”

“Marcus and Hunter, this sounds serious.”

“John,” Mr. Elks said. “Honestly, we are expecting a disruption to the concert. I am doing what I can to keep everyone safe, but the kids wanted to tap their own resources to feel more secure.”

“I understand Hunter. We started the Bodyguard Protection Gang when we realized we had a Pre-Teen Rock’n Roll star on our hands, and we needed to make sure he stayed safe. Marcus may be a teenager now, but his popularity has increased. I am constantly worried about his safety when he performs. If we can help you out in pulling off another great end of camp concert, just let me know what I can do. You have been so great to Marcus over the years.”

“Thanks John,” Mr. Elks said. “We have enjoyed having Marcus over the years, even if he generates his own fan group every summer. I know you have a long drive to get here, but if you could get here early, it would help in planning the best security for the kids.”

“We will be there by 10 am. Marcus, don’t do anything stupid. If you view these girls as little sisters, it is your responsibility to keep yourself and them safe. Understand?”

“Yes Dad,” Marcus said sitting up straight in his chair.

“Good. See you tomorrow morning, and Please Marcus, don’t flip your Mom out too much tomorrow.”

The line went dead, and Marcus grabbed his phone to send his Mom a text to let her know that he will be performing a Rock’n Roll and an Orchestra performance tomorrow.

“I guess that leaves the last phone call to me,” George said taking a deep breath. “Cindy, I don’t think you should be here for this phone call.”

“No George,” Cindy said. “I understand and I want to stay.”

“Let’s take a break everyone,” Mrs. Elks stated. “I want to talk to Cindy alone. Hunter, there are brownies in the kitchen. Can you please bring them and some milk out for the kids? Cindy, let’s go talk in the guest room.”

Reality was not always something little nine-year-old Cindy wanted to face, but Mrs. Elks got straight to the reality of the situation, “Time to get changed. You shouldn’t go around too long in a wet Goodnite.”

“How did you know?”

“Cindy, I raised a daughter and have helped with the music camp for many years. I may not know when you wet them, but I could tell when you figured out that you were wet. Your shoulders slumped, and your happy demeanor went away.”

“It is not easy to stay happy when at nine I am wearing and wetting diapers just like a baby. Goodnites are just fancy baby diapers you know. I am not sure which I fear more, Mom finding out that I have been Cindy all week or Mom learning about the accidents. By this time tomorrow, I will be wearing diapers. Not Pull-Ups or Goodnites, she will probably be so mad that she puts me in regular baby diapers full time. If I am wetting the Goodnites without knowing, I guess I belong in diapers, but I am not a baby. I’m not. I will be back in diapers and treated like a baby. A baby boy, never to be a girl again.”

“Oh Cindy,” Barbara said rubbing Cindy’s back. “Such big issues for a little girl to deal with. I am so sorry. The potty problems should go away once the stress in your life does, so hopefully they will stop once you get through tomorrow.

After getting changed, Mrs. Elks again got straight down to business, “Cindy, I really think you should stay in here playing with Samantha while George calls home. There is no reason you need to be there for it.”

“Yes, there is,” Cindy firmly said. “The only reason George has to make the phone call is because of me. George accepted me from the beginning and was there for me all week. It is my turn to be there for him.”

“Cindy,” Barbara got down in front of Cindy and down to her level. She took Cindy’s hand in hers. “George will understand if you stayed in here while he called home.”

“Your right Mrs. Elks. He would. Marcus referred to me as a little sister. Well, him and George are like big brothers to me. We are family and friends. We are going to stand together, and together we are going to get through this. It is all my fault, and I AM going to be involved in trying to fix it.”

“I’m not going to change your mind, am I?”

“Nope,” Cindy determinedly stated.

“Okay then, let’s go rejoin the others and make this phone call.”

Cindy and Barbara walked back to the dining room where the others were still eating the brownies. At Cindy’s seat, there was a plate with two brownies and a glass of milk. Climbing up onto the phone books at her seat, Cindy grabbed a brownie and took a big bite.

“Well,” George started. “Since Cindy came back, I assume Barbara you were unable to convince her to stay in her room and play.”

“Unfortunately,” Barbara said.

“Although I agree with you Barbara,” George responded. “I understand this from Cindy’s point of view and respect her wishes.”

George got out his cell phone and looked at the screen. Taking a deep breath, he typed in his passcode and then his fast dial code for home. Unlike the other calls, he was not starting it out on speaker phone.

“Hi Mom,” George said as he looked around at everyone at the table. “Everything is fine. I need to talk to you and Dad. Can I talk to the two of you so Lucy can’t hear what you are saying? Yeah, it’s important and can’t wait until tomorrow.”

George moved the phone away from his mouth but left it on his ear, “She is going to get Dad and then the two of them will be on the speaker phone in Dad’s office.”

“Yeah, Mom, I’m still here. Hi Dad. I need to talk to the two of you about something very important, but first I am going to put you on speaker phone here. On this end we have Mr. and Mrs. Elks . . .”

“Hi Hunter and Barbara,” George’s Dad said.

“We also have Marcus, Jessica, Cindy, and Samantha. They are the others in the little orchestra group I am part of.”

“Hi everyone,” George’s Mom said. “So, what is so important that it couldn’t wait until tomorrow to tell us. You said everything was okay, but this is quite a collection of people to be on one phone call for everything to be okay.”

“Mom, you remember how I told you there was a little girl here at camp that reminds me a lot about Lucy.”

“Uh-huh, she gets panic attacks like Lucy does. You are so nice to help her with those.”

“Yes, he is,” Cindy said. “He the bestest.”

“That was Cindy,” George said. “She is the nine-year-old who gets the panic attacks. She is also the reason that I am calling you. She is my friend, a prodigy musician like me, and always making me smile. Before we go any further, I need you to remember that she is here in the room listening to this. We also have Samantha who is seven.”

“Almost eight,” Samantha piped in.

“Okay,” George’s Dad said with hesitation.

“I told you that we set up a Protection Squad to make sure Samantha and Cindy were safe this summer. Cindy was being bullied, and we feared Samantha would be too.”

“I remember you telling me about that. You poor little things,” George’s Mom said with compassion.

“We are okay George’s Mommy. Thanks to George, Marcus, and the others on the Protection Squad,” Cindy responded.

“Mom, there is something I didn’t tell you about the bullying. As a group we decided you needed to know before tomorrow. Cindy’s bully initially targeted her because she was so talented. Ariel tried to get Cindy not to compete in the Best Performer Competition. Which, by the way, Cindy won.”

“Congratulation Cindy,” George’s Mom said. “Wait a minute, how do you know she won the competition. That isn’t announced until the end of the concert.”

“This year I was kind of forced to change things. The top five winners of the competition are sitting at this table,” Mr. Elks said. “Well, they impressed some professional musicians so much that the professionals wanted to give each of them a gift. As you know, George is going to get a professional French Horn. Hopefully it will be here before noon, so George can have some practice on it before his performance in the concert tomorrow. The only way to explain these gifts, was to reveal who won the competition.”

“I see,” George’s Mom said.

“Well Mom,” George continued. “Cindy won the competition and has world renowned conductors from around the world trying to get her to perform for them. There is only one problem. Cindy’s parents are going to go ballistic when they find out she has been here at camp. You see . . .”

“I’ll explain George,” Cindy said. “As Mr. Elks said, this is my secret to tell. Mr. and Mrs. George’s Mom and Dad, my Mommy and Daddy sent a kid named Frank to camp, not one named Cindy.”

An audible gasp was heard on the other end of the phone.

“They know about Cindy, but Mommy has always said I can only be a girl in my bedroom at home. I got in big trouble just before camp for going to my best friend’s birthday party all dressed up in a pretty party dress. Mommy is not going to be happy that I have spent half of camp dressed as Cindy. She will be Super Duper Mad. We think she will try to stop the concert and drag me off the stage when she finds out tomorrow.”

“Well it is obvious Cindy,” George’s Mom said. “You just need to do what your Mommy wants and go back to being Frank.”

“Mom,” George declared. “That is not going to happen, and I don’t want to hear any of your religious garbage about how wrong all of this is. Cindy won the Best Performer Competition, not Frank. She is the reason our Little Orchestra is even together. Without her, I definitely wouldn’t be in the coveted final performance of the concert. Before you say it Mom, I have heard you repeatedly say how God does not approve of individuals who are LGBT. But doesn’t the bible also say that we are not to judge others, that is for God to do, not us. We are to love thy neighbor. Even Jesus cared for the lepers, who were shunned in his time. Cindy is just as much of a girl as Lucy is. She watches Sofia the First and Vampirina just like Lucy. She plays with girl toys, and constantly carries around her dolly. He is not a boy in a dress Mom, she is a girl with a birth defect.”

“Bullies, Super Duper mad parents, constantly carrying around a dolly at nine, and panic attacks,” George’s Dad interrupted. “Hunter, what is Cindy’s mental state?”

“I will be honest with you Dr. Dillinger, not great,” Mr. Elks said.

“Okay,” George’s Dad said. “This line of discussion is over. Doctor’s orders! Cindy is Transgender, and we are going to accept that fact with no judgement. George has accepted Cindy as a girl, so I will too. From what George has said, I suspect Lucy would too. If the kids do, I see no reason us adults can’t. And, George is right, God made it very clear that we are to love each other, he is the one to judge. Putting that all aside, I suspect there is more to this call, otherwise Cindy wouldn’t be part of this conversation.”

“We want your help,” George said. “We want both of you in your professional rolls. Mom, the camp has a set up to record the performance, but we also want anything that happens with Cindy’s parents to be recorded. Our little group would like to see the concert too, but we will be in isolation. Is there any way to beam us the live show?”

“I don’t see a problem with either of those requests,” George’s mom said. “They are standard requests by guest celebrities to the morning show. I am always shocked how many of them want to later go back and see how the crowd responded to what they said or did. I’ll pack up what will be needed as soon as I get off the phone.”

“Thanks Mom,” George commented. “I never thought having a mom run the camera crew at a local morning show would come in handy.”

“I am good for more than just making you dinner and doing your laundry.”

“I know Mom,” George said rolling his eyes. “Dad, I have practice bringing Lucy through panic attacks, but Cindy’s attacks are harder to get her through. Is there any way you could be with us to help Cindy get through the day?”

“The camp is willing to pay you Mr. Dillinger, since you would be serving a child who isn’t your own,” Mr. Elks stated.

“I’d do it for free,” George’s Dad said. “But, I suspect to keep you legally covered the camp needs to hire me.”

“That had entered my mind too,” Mr. Elks said. “I have had several talks with the camp lawyer this summer, and plan on calling him again later tonight to make sure I have everything covered for what we are doing tomorrow and what we expect might happen.”

“How bad do you think things will get?” George’s Dad asked.

“The kids are fairly certain that Cindy’s parents are going to flip out. The camp has arranged local police coverage at the concert. Samantha’s Dad is a State Police Officer, and he might be coming in uniform and possibly on duty due to this issue. Marcus’ family will be providing some bodyguards to protect the kids. Several alterations to the concert have already been implemented and I am sure we will make more once our security experts show up tomorrow and give their input.”

“I am glad to hear the camp is doing so much to keep the kids safe physically. I would be happy to help out with the psychological element of the extra coverage and supports put in place. Without parent consent I can’t provide individual counselling, but I can be on hand to provide situational help based upon the release forms you had all us parents sign at the beginning of camp.”

“Thanks Dr. Dillinger,” Mrs. Elks said.

“Why don’t you come over to my house when you get here tomorrow,” Mr. Elks said. “Most of the group will be spending the day here. Bring Lucy along, I am sure Samantha and Cindy will enjoy playing with her.”

“I am not sure abo. . .” George’s Mom started.

“Claire,” George’s Dad interrupted her. “Lucy will go play with Cindy and Samantha while we play our rolls tomorrow.”

“I guess it will be okay,” George’s Mom said.

“It will be fine Mom,” George said. “She will fit right in as one of the girls.”

“Well,” George’s Dad said. “We need to get a little girl to bed, and I suspect it is bedtime for two other little girls. Good Night Samantha and Cindy. Sleep Tight, and don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

“Wait a minute Dad,” George said. “There is one more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“We were wondering if Cindy could borrow Lucy’s black Mary-Jane shoes. You know, the ones she wears to church.”

“Definitely N. . .” George’s Mom said before being interrupted mid word.

“Claire!” George’s dad blurted out. “Cindy, yes, you can borrow Lucy’s shoes for the concert tomorrow. She wears a size 1 shoe, will that fit you?”

“Yes sir. Thank You sir,” Cindy said.

“Okay, night everyone,” George’s dad said before hanging up.

The phone went dead and George looked at Samantha and Cindy, “Sorry about Dad, he says quirky stuff like that.”

Samantha smiled, “My Daddy says that too.”

Cindy Smiled, “So does Mrs. Elks.”

“Mr. Dillinger was right girls,” Mrs. Elks said. “It is time to get ready for bed.”

“Can I have a sleep over?” Samantha pleaded.

“Not tonight Samantha,” Mrs. Elks said. “You need to be in your own room tonight, so you can be in your room tomorrow morning when everyone starts getting ready to go home.”

“Okay,” Samantha reluctantly said. She jumped down out of her booster seat and went to get her two violin cases.

“I’ll take her back,” George said as he went to get his instrument.

“Samantha,” Mr. Elks said. “Leave your new instrument here. We don’t want the rest of camp to know about your new instrument until the concert tomorrow. And Remember, don’t tell anyone Cindy won the Best Performer Competition and you got second place. No one can know until tomorrow at the end of the concert.”

“Not even my roommates,” Samantha inquired?

“Not even little Elizabeth,” Cindy said smiling at Samantha.

“She’s not the best at putting on the cute little girl act,” Samantha explained. “Size means everything with the cuteness manipulators. Ellen is the smallest kid at camp, and she is really good at pulling off the cute little girl, do what I want, act.”

“She is a cute little kid with those pigtails and dimples,” Marcus said. “She is so small she looks like a little baby walking around camp. I can understand how she gets what she wants.”

“She is so small she still wears baby clothes,” Samantha explained. “All her clothes are size 3T. She couldn’t trade clothes with anyone this summer. No one else can wear clothes that small.”

“Well,” Mr. Elks said. “Samantha, Marcus, and George no giving in to cute girls. You need to keep the secret.”

“Okay,” the three said together.

After getting ready for bed, Cindy practiced some more on her new flute. It amazed her how much it was the same as her old, but different too. It was easy to hear the difference in the sound. The music sounded so much better on this one. She couldn’t believe she was playing on a $10,000 flute. Her own professional flute. She played song after song. She took out three of the plugs, on keys she knew she had enough control and reach to manage. Finally, she had to stop, when Mrs. Elks told her it was time for bed.

When Mrs. Elks was tucking Cindy into bed, “Cindy, everything will be okay. You’ll see.”

“I guess,” Cindy glumly said as she gathered Molly and her stuffed panda bear. “I’ll get used to being in baby diapers again. I just don’t know how I will get used to being Frank again. Everyone is worried about the concert tomorrow, but I have to go home with my mom and dad after the concert. That is what I am worried about."