I frowned at Larry. “What do you mean, don’t do anything. I have to pack my suitcase and leave, like Dad told me to. Is it okay if I leave the rests of my stuff with you until I can return for it?”

Larry shook his head. “Scotti, you don’t have to leave.”

I sighed. “I can’t disobey my dad. He’s already cutting me off.”

“It doesn’t matter,” said Larry waving for me to be quiet. “Just listen for a second.”

I at on my bed and folded my arms and frowned. “Okay, Larry. I’m listening. Make it quick, because I have to go.”

Amy leaned against my desk as Larry sat on my bed next to me. “You don’t have to go. Just listen. I’m guessing your dad is a bit tight with his money, right?” I nodded. Larry continued, “It’d be stupid to withdraw from college now. And you can tell him that. Everything this semester is paid for. Classes, your room, meals and books are all paid for. No refunds. That ship sailed two weeks ago for even a partial refund. If you leave now, he’s just throwing money away. Text him that. Don’t call him. Hearing his voice will just drag you back into being that good little boy who wants to please his dad. Tell him to go on home without you. You’re going to finish the semester.”

I bit my lower lip and shook my head. “He’ll just kill me later. I still won’t have any money to complete my degree. Face it, Larry. He has me by the balls.”

Larry chuckled and said, “You need to get rid of those. But seriously Scotti. He doesn’t. This will buy us time to find alternate funding. There’re a ton of grants and scholarships available if you qualify. And I bet you would.”

I grinned. “Dad would be so pissed.”

Larry laughed. “After you’re sure he’s left town, send this to your dad to piss him off more.” Larry showed me a picture on his phone of me in a skimpy cheerleader uniform trying to swallow Donny’s tonsils.

I grunted a laugh. “Where the hell did you get that?”

Larry grinned wide as he said, “Donny sent it to me since we’re buds. He was bragging because he knew I liked you.”

I gave Larry a suspicious glance. I asked, “How did he know that?” I paused a moment and asked, “You do?”

Larry flashed me a wry grin. “Well, I told him. Scotti, maybe you don’t realize just how beautiful you are. Everyone I know likes you.”

Amy laughed. “Girl, I told you.”

I just sat on my bed with my hands folded on my lap as I felt my cheeks redden.

“I’m not just saying that,” said Larry. “And Donny told me that the cheerleading coach is very interested in having you become a cheerleader. There is a scholarship for that, which helps even more.”

Amy touched my shoulder. “Girl, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. You don’t need your dad’s money.”

Larry shrugged his shoulders. “You’re past the age of majority. Without his money, he no longer controls you. You’re free.”

I suddenly felt strange. I said, “I… I don’t want to completely sever ties with my family I’d still like to have my Mom’s pumpkin pie and turkey on Thanksgiving.”

Larry raised his eyebrows. “Any severing is on your dad. You have to be who you are. And Scotti, you’re a beautiful and very smart girl with a bright future. You can still have your white picket fence and 2.8 children if you adopt.”

I shook my head at Larry. “I didn’t know you could adopt a fence.”

Joanie gave me a hug when I walked back into Pink Bear. She held me by the shoulders at arms length and said, “I’m so glad you’re not leaving, Scotti. I know it’s not my business, but what did you tell your dad? He almost had a melt down before he left.”

I sighed. “I just told him I wasn’t coming home now as the semester is paid for and I sent him this.” I showed her the picture on my phone of Donny and me. I was almost afraid he’d have a cardiac event, but I sent it anyway. I added, “And I’m officially a cheerleader.”

Joanie grinned. “Well congratulations. We’ll have to create a new schedule for you.” She tapped my back and went back into her office.

I just stood there and stared into space for several minutes.

Amy touched my arm. “Scotti, are you okay?”

I looked back at Amy and shook my head. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness. I sighed. “What have I done, Amy? I have essentially told my dad to go fuck himself.”

“I know it’s hard,” said Amy who has never had to assert she’s a woman. “You knew this moment was coming where you have to choose whose life you’re going to live. Yours or your dad’s? You aren’t the first one to face this. Scotti, you’re a woman. You made the right choice.”

A frowning man standing at the counter growled, “Is there anyone here who can take my order?”

As I climbed into my bed and shut off my light, I thought to myself, God,, what a shitty day! I closed my eyes and my cellphone rang. Well shit. I picked it up and the caller id told me it was Mom calling. Do I really want to talk to her now? Could it be Dad calling with her phone hoping I’d answer her call?

“Hey, Mom.” I said into the phone. “What’s up?”

Mom in her confused voice asked, “Scott. Why are you doing this?”

Angry, I said, “Good night, Mom. Thanks for the chat. I’m going to bed.” I was just about to disconnect the call.

“Scott. Please. Wait,” pleaded my mom. “We need to talk.”

“It’s midnight, Mom. Can’t you belittle me tomorrow?”

Mom cleared her throat. “I had to wait until your father was asleep to make this call…”

Interrupting, I asked, “You’re afraid of him too, aren’t you?”

There was a pause and Mom said, “He can be intense at times. But he really is a good man, Scott.”

I frowned at the phone. “That’s a tough sell, Mom. I really can’t believe that.”

Mom’s voice became cold. “Are you happy, son? You hurt him today.”

Growling, I said, “Really? Did I dislocate his shoulder like what happened to me when I was five and walking in your high heels? Did I give him a black eye like the one I got when I was fifteen and he caught Amy giving me a makeover? Should I go on?”

Mom sighed. “He’s not a monster, Scott. He just doesn’t understand you. Why you reject all his plans he had made when you were first born. He had so many high hopes for you. And you… you…”

“Preferred doing girl stuff?” I asked. “He actually thinks it’s terrible that feel that I should be a girl. Do you find being a girl to be terrible?”

Anger tinged her voice as she said, “Scott! I was born this way!”

“So was I, Mom. So was I.”

There was a long pause. Mom asked, “Are we ever going to see you again? Or are you just going to run off with your boyfriend?”

I knitted my brow for a moment and asked, “Which one? Look, Mom. It’s up to you if and when you see me again. I want to come home for Thanksgiving and see you. But I want to come as me. Scotti.”

Another pause and Mom asked, “If you came home, would you help in the kitchen?”

I chuckled and said, “I certainly will, Mom. I’d be happy to.”

There was another long pause. “Let me speak with your father. I’m sure he’ll say no at first. You’re not planning on bringing home any boys, are you?”

I frowned at the phone again. I said, “I wasn’t planning on it, but keep it up Mom and I’ll come home with a half dozen.”

“Scotti, I’m trying to meet you halfway here,” said Mom sadly. She called me Scotti.

I said, “Mom. I have an early day tomorrow. Let’s talk about this more later.” We said goodnight and disconnected.

To be continued…