It's the last days of the British students' stay in Grottoes,
and Gaby has a statement to make!

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Viewing Note: This story should be viewed with the Edwardian Script ITC font installed on your Windows platform in the c:/Windows/Fonts directory. Microsoft Word installs this font automatically.

Photo Credit: Used with her permission....“Let Me In”  © by simpledrama .
 

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Chapter 20
 

“Wake up sleeping beauty ... we’re here!” Erin quietly sang out as she pulled into the Walters’ driveway.

“Huh?”

“We’re home! Ya know … Grottoes? C’mon rise an’ shine. Good Lord, girl! I never could sleep in a car like you can!”

“It’s dark out! What time is it?” Gaby asked as she slowly returned to the living.

“Just after seven. C’mon, I’ll help carry your stuff in,” Erin stated as she got out of the truck.

Opening the back door of the pick-up’s extended cab, she reached in and grabbed the smaller of the two bags and gave it to Gaby when she walked up behind her. Erin grabbed the other bag and after locking up the truck, the two proceeded up the porch steps.

Seeing no other car in the driveway, Erin turned to Gaby. “At least they left the porch light on. Got your keys, hun?”

“Yeah,” Gaby replied as she sat her load down and rummaged through her purse. Finding the keys, the two entered the house where they were greeted by silence.

“Hello? ... Anybody?” Gaby called out.

A couple of minutes later, Erin noticed the glare of headlights coming in through the front windows and sweeping across the opposite wall as a car pulled in the driveway, up behind her truck.

“Someone just pulled in, Gabs.”

Shortly after Erin heard the single ‘beep’ of a locked car, Jocelyn and Donald came in the house.

“We just dropped the girls off at Jack’s Diner. Several of their friends were getting together and we thought we’d be home before you got here ... sorry,” Jocelyn explained. “By the looks of it ... you two just got here, yourselves. Have you eaten yet? I can offer you some pot roast with all the fixin’s.”

“Tell ya the truth Jocelyn, I’d love some! It’s been a while since we had lunch ... right Gabs?” Gaby nodded her agreement before Erin went on, “An’ we’ve been driving ever since. I was hoping to make it back here before dark … but I guess that just wasn’t to be.”

Donald sat down in the living room and began reading the paper while Jocelyn was putting out the plates for the two cyclists.

“Tell me about your weekend. Was it all you expected it to be?” Mrs. Walters inquired of Gaby.

“Uh huh!” Gaby coyly replied.

“What she means is ... we won ... thanks to this 'un here,” Erin proudly announced. Together, they then relived the entire weekend for Jocelyn, focusing on the actual race.

Erin made sure Jocelyn heard about Gaby’s antics with Lance Armstrong, even if she had to explain who Lance was. As she and Gaby continued to eat, Jocelyn kept looking at her young guest, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

“There’s something different about Gaby, but what is it?”

When they both started telling of the Apollinaris reception, Jocelyn interrupted by exclaiming, “That’s what’s different! You’re wearing your hair differently! I guess I never noticed how long it was … but it looks very nice like that, Gaby ... I like it.”

“Well ... now that you’ve finished ... how ‘bout some fresh apple-pie? ... Erin? ... Gaby?”

After hearing a unanimous ‘yes, please’, she gathered up the plates and headed out to the kitchen. While she was serving up the pie, both Erin and Gaby were startled by a loud shriek, followed by an excited Mrs. Walters suddenly appearing at the dining room door.

“Your hair! ... but how?”

“Purdy, isn'y she? Courtesy of her mom,” Erin calmly spoke up for a blushing Gaby.

“Your mom was there?” Jocelyn excitedly asked Gaby after going back and retrieving the pie.

“Uh huh.”

“Both her parents were,” Erin confirmed.

Mrs. Walters listened intently while Gaby and Erin enjoyed the pie. Gaby told her how she met up with her parents and how all the ‘Express’ managed to wind-up at the reception. She wasn’t going to say anything, but Erin made sure Jocelyn heard about how young Gaby was introduced to the international media as the first member of the Apollinaris Youth Project.

When it was clear Jocelyn wasn’t going to let them off without hearing every detail of Gaby’s makeover, Gaby finally relented and spoke of her trip to the salon in detail.

It was a little after nine when Erin finally noted the time and said her “g’nites”. Before she went out the door, she gave Gaby a long hug.

“I’ll see you Tuesday night, Gab ... if not before!”

“Just a mo’, Erin. I think I’ve blocked you in. Let me move the Forester, first. I have to get the girls, anyway.” Mrs. Walters commented.

Turning her attention to the living room, she informed her husband that she was heading back to Jack’s. Gaby declined the offer to tag along saying she still had to unpack and gather her laundry for the next day.

“Mrs. W? Don’t say anything to the others about this, okay?” Gaby playfully asked, as she grabbed the ends of her hair. “Let’s see how long it takes them to notice.”

A wicked smile grew on Jocelyn’s face as she nodded her agreement before walking out the door. It was a bit after 10pm before she managed to return with the girls. Upon entering the house, she found Donald alone in the living room watching the news on the television.

“Where’s Gaby?” Jocelyn inquired.

“Probably fast asleep by now ... I was amazed she was able to keep her eyes opened for as long as she did,” Donald calmly replied.

“Okay, girls ... school night. See you in the morning!” Jocelyn hinted and amid a chorus of “g’nites” the three quickly ran up the stairs to their respective rooms.

When Jules entered the darkened room, she was glad Gaby at least left their bathroom light on. Even if the door was partially closed, it provided enough light to move around.

As she walked by her sister’s bed, she saw a large mass of blonde hair lying there and knew that all the planning she and her mother did had paid off. Unfortunately, she’d have to wait until morning to see her sister’s transformation. In some ways, she felt like a kid on Christmas Eve, anticipating opening her gifts in the morning.

The next morning after she finished her shower, Jules gently rocked her sister’s shoulder to wake her up.

“Time to get up, sis! Last Monday at ol’ Augusta High...” When Gaby mumbled an unknown greeting to her sister, Jules sweetly added, “I love you too ... now ... shower’s free.”

Gaby slowly rolled over and even more slowly, opened her eyes only to be assaulted by the bedroom light. She reluctantly rolled out of bed before shuffling to one of the two bedroom windows and yanking back the curtain.

“Look! It’s still dark out there! Turn out the light and go back to bed!”

“Oh no, sis! You’re getting up! It’s six in the bloody morning and we have school!” Jules exclaimed as she prevented her sister from climbing back under the covers.

“You’ll feel better after a nice shower ... now, c’mon!” Placing her hands upon Gaby’s shoulders, Jules steered her into the now vacant bathroom. “Now turn on the water and I’ll do your hair when you get out ... okay?”

“Mmmmm ... I guess...” Gaby mumbled wearily as she bent down to play with the taps.

“Don’t forget to take off your nightdress...” Jules playfully called out when she heard Gaby start the shower.

“Phtttttttttt!”

Jules was finishing her make-up as Gaby later emerged from the ensuite bathroom.

“Feel better?”

“No! I need a week in bed just to rest up from that race...”

“If I have to tickle you...” Jules sweetly threatened.

“Okay ... I’m awake,” Gaby mumbled.

“I’m awake! ... I’m awake!” Gaby squealed when her sister began moving closer with twitching fingers at the ready.

Dropping the towel that was wrapped around her, she grabbed a matching bra and panty set out of her drawer and then headed back into the bathroom to do her make-up. When she returned, she plopped down on the side of her bed, blankly staring at her sister.

“Crikey ...’ow’d you do that so fast, sis? I’ve been wearing make-up since I was eleven and it still takes me longer!” Jules asked with an envious smile on her face.

“So have I...” Gaby wearily replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

Jules had to stop and think about her sister’s answer for a few minutes.

“You have ... haven’t you?” Jules conceded with a smile.

Gaby removed the towel turban and presented her damp hair to her sister, to brush out. It was the first time that Jules was able to see the full length of the extensions.

“Oooooo ... love the length! Ya know you’re really gonna cause more than a few heads to perk up when you get to school...” Jules suggestively remarked as she plugged in the blow-dryer.

“Which ones?” Gaby flatly asked.

“Gabs! ... You cheeky little...” Jules replied through howls of laughter.

With her hair and make-up done, Gaby playfully asked Jules, “I think it’s about time for the ‘new Gaby’ to declare herself. I know I don’t usually wear a skirt to school ... but I think this is a special occasion.”

Gaby went to her closet and pulled out her denim mini skirt, then walked over to her drawers to get a top and a pair of jeans. Once she had everything, she laid her selections out on her bed.

“What’dya think ... ‘La denim skirt’ or ‘Le tight jeans’ ... with the white poet’s blouse?”

“Hmmmm ... tough call ... hmmmmm ... will Maddy see you?” Jules pondered.

“If she’s at the lockers when we get there,” Gaby replied.

“In that case ... ‘Le tight jeans’, definitely!” Jules firmly stated, quite pleased with her decision. “With your ‘pixie’ boots!”

Jules loved the way they looked when worn on the outside of her jeans.

“Shoulda picked up a pair when I had the chance.”

Gaby proceeded to get dressed, easing on some pantyhose before attempting to get into her jeans. After pulling on her blouse and putting a two inch hoop in each ear, Jules loaned Gaby her cross necklace. Taking a final look at her sister, she pronounced the ‘new Gaby’ ready to face her public and they started to leave their room for her first real debut with Debbie and Britney!

Before they exited their room, Gaby turned to her sister and wrapped her arms around her neck.

“Mum told me what you did an’ I know it must’ve been really hard ... knowing she was so close ... an’ not being able to be there.”

“It was...” Jules whispered.

“I know...” Gaby softly murmured. “A simple ‘thank you’ can never be enough ... but it’s all I have ... thank you, sis ... thank you!”

Gaby gave a final squeeze and a sisterly peck on the cheek, before letting Jules go free. Just before Gaby went out the door, she ran back and picked up her boots off the closet floor.

“Almost forgot them!” She triumphantly announced.

“Ohmygod! ... GABEEEEEE! Turn around ... c’mon ... let’s see!” Britney squealed when she caught site of the two sisters entering the kitchen. “What happened to you, girl?”

Debbie ‘froze’ at the kitchen counter with a plate of toast in her hand and stared in disbelief at the teenage girl standing in front of her. Having heard the whole story the previous evening, Mrs. Walters stood back and took in the reactions of her daughters.

“Geez, Gabs! No offense ... but it's a good thing yer leaving in a couple of days. Brit’s having a hard enough time with boys without having to worry about you,” Debbie smirked after getting over the initial shock.

Both of the Walters girls secretly wondered if this could really be Drew Bond, 'brother' to Juliette Bond.

“You shore yer a boy?” Debby whispered when her mother left the kitchen to answer the phone.

“Maybe,” Gaby coyly replied in a soft voice.

“But why now? … Like … you’re going home in a couple of days,” a confused Britney quietly asked.

“Let’s just say … that Gaby has something to ‘say’ to certain people before she goes back ‘ome,” Gaby softly responded.

“What about Drew? These changes...” Britney whispered while still pondering Gaby’s last statement.

“All will be as it should be when we leave Washington,” a smug Gaby hissed.

Jocelyn returned to the kitchen and started making breakfast for the girls while Gaby was pressured into recounting the weekend’s events to all those now gathered at the kitchen table.

At times, Jules found it a bit hard to listen when Gaby told about meeting her mum and dad. Although her emotions were mixed, she understood what it meant to her sister.

After putting their dishes into the dishwasher, the four girls darted for the front door, pausing only long enough to grab their coats and for Gaby to slip her boots on. Saying their good-byes to Jocelyn, they joined the few other kids standing around at the curb, waiting for the school bus.

Except for the bus driver’s greetings and the odd ‘good morning’ directed at Debbie or Britney, the remainder of the ride to AHS was quiet. When the bus arrived at the school and proceeded to unload its cargo of students, the four girls entered the building under the ever watchful eyes of Maddy and Em.

“Cor! ... Lookit Gabs!” Em excitedly exclaimed. Maddy reluctantly followed her as they quickly threaded their way past the other students in the wide corridor, to join Gaby at her locker.

This was the first time that Maddy had approached her cousin since the Cheerleading Competition and their break-up. She immedately noted Gaby carried herself in a more confident and self-assured manner. As she and Em drew closer to Gaby’s locker, she was able to take in all of her cousin’s new look. When Gaby removed her coat, her hair flowed down her back and framed her face. Fond memories of her girlfriend as Chii-Light immediately flooded Maddy’s mind, only to be dashed by the darker memories of recent days.

From Gaby’s body language, it was obvious that she had seen them coming and her reaction only served to drive home the painful memories of their recent breakup.

“Gaby?...” (sniff)

While working her combination lock, Gaby saw her two antagonists approach out of the corner of her eye, causing her to take a deep breath and swallow the contempt she held for as them. As she rummaged through her locker, she removed her brush and started to brush her hair, deliberately ignoring them as they walked up beside her.

“Umm ... hi ... Gaby? I didn’t see you at the dance,” Em timidly observed.

Without saying a word Gaby quickly passed the brush through her hair a few more times, then picked up her books and slammed her locker closed before securing the lock. After throwing Em an icy glare, she turned on her heel and walked away at a brisk pace.

“Wait! ... Gaby!” Em shouted while both she and Maddy weaved through the crowded hall as they ran to join her.

“WhatdidIdo?” Em innocently questioned as she rushed to Gaby’s side.

Gaby abruptly stopped walking and turned around to face her former friend with a cold stare.

“I thought we're mates … Drew,” Em asked her friend in a hushed tone

“I think you mean we ... were ... mates ... Rhod! Are you totally dense or do you just have selective amnesia for the past five weeks? Did I not make myself clear enough back at the cheer comp? If you really want to know what you’ve done … I suggest that you think real hard ‘bout how you’ve treated me since we arrived!” Gaby angrily hissed. “I do hope you felt all our years of friendship were worth it … because … that’s … what it cost!”

She abruptly spun around and started off for her homeroom, leaving her two former friends standing in the middle of the hall and in shock. After walking several feet, she suddenly stopped and turned back to face Em. Gaby briefly paused in thought and then, with a softer expression on her face, walked back until she was face-to-face with the girl.

“I’ll give you one last bit of friendly advice an’ if yer as smart as you think you are ... you’ll take it,” Gaby quietly began. “You want to be a girl more than anything … right?”

“I’ve told you guys, I do,” Em whispered.

“Then grow-up and lose the prissy, little-girl, bitch attitude ... you’ve had here in Virginia ... ‘cuz unless you do that, you’ll never be pretty ... not where it counts, anyway. Right now you’re nothing more than a shallow caricature of a girl ... cute, maybe ... but still a caricature.”

Briefly pausing to let Em absorb what she just said, Gaby gave her last bit of advice.

“Look, Em ... looks aren’t everything. The Rhod I knew has what Em desperately needs, but fears because he has it … an’ she’s scared of allowing any part of him to surface. Please ... don’t let her shut him out!”

Given Gaby’s anger, Em had braced herself for a scathing verbal onslaught and didn’t expect anything like this. She was even more taken aback when Gaby shifted the weight of her books to one arm and then reached out with her free arm and pulled her into a tender kiss on the lips.

As they parted, Gaby whispered into Em’s ear, “Let Ally learn to love Em like she does Rhod ... don’t turn her away … not like Mad did to me. It’s not too late. Tell her how you feel...”

In a normal speaking voice, Gaby unemotionally suggested, “Better go fix yourself before homeroom, darling!”

Gaby casually turned around and resumed walking back down the congested hall to her homeroom without so much as a wave to Maddy. She couldn’t help but smile to herself, knowing full well that other students had overheard her parting comment as well as seen the two of them openly kissing in the hallway.

“Now maybe she’ll learn a tiny bit of what I went through … shame I didn’t kiss Maddy…”

On the way to Miss Jackson’s room, Gaby was aware of the lustful stares she was getting from some of the boys, many of whom had been quick to condemn her because of her orientation. She also took note of the girls. Some remained indifferent, some stared with renewed suspicion while a few others looked at her in much the same way the boys did. In the back of her mind was the pained expression that was fixed to Maddy’s face the entire time she stood there and looked at her. As much as it hurt her, Gaby knew she had to ignore the feeling and show Maddy that she wasn’t her plaything any longer.

As she approached the classroom, Gaby noticed a few of the same boys she believed had ‘threatened’ her prior to the Valentine’s Dance, gathered near the door. Holding her head up and taking a deep breath, she braced herself to boldly walk through the middle of the group and into the room, rather walk than around them. However, as she neared the door, they pleasantly surprised her by respectfully parting to allow her unhindered passage into the classroom.

“Daaaaamn! If’en she’s a lezzie … I wanna be a girl!” one of the boys quietly exclaimed to his friend as she passed by them.

Overhearing the whispered comment, Gaby couldn’t help but smile in triumph as she strode into the room and up to her desk.

As the final bell rang she sat at her desk, fully aware of the stares and gossip from the kids as the remaining stragglers entered the classroom.

The room’s PA over the chalkboard crackled to life with the morning exercises. While Gaby remained seated during the 'Pledge of Allegiance', she couldn’t help but think how much her change in appearance had seemed to change people’s perception of her.

She was jolted out of her thoughts by the words “Atlanta”, “Grottoes Express” and “race”, only to realize that Principal Roberts was evidently taking a page from Mr. Woods and publically singling out her cycling exploits.

This time, she found it a bit more palatable when she realized that Aidan was being equally embarrassed. She couldn’t help but feel for him as she glanced over and saw his feeble attempts to disappear into his desk in an attempt to escape the stares of his classmates. At least she was somewhat used to it, even if she was more of a target for attention in this relatively small room. Only the bell signalling the first class change saved both kids from the inevitable questions that were etched on the faces of some of their classmates and Miss Jackson, alike. As both of them walked out of her classroom and made their way to their respective first classes, they could feel the other kids looking at them as they passed in the hall.

“Gaby? Come here please?” Miss Bell asked as Gaby was walking past on her way to class.

“See you in Science, Gabs...” Aidan cheerfully remarked as he continued to his first period class.

“Miss?” Gaby turned and approached Miss Bell.

“I see you got your wish and got your hair done. That looks lovely on you! Maddy never said a thing when I saw her, ” Jessica whispered.

“Thanks, Miss … but ... Mad didn’t know until she saw me a few minutes before the bell rang,” Gaby quietly replied.

“Might explain the long face when she came into the classroom,” Jessica quietly mentioned. “This isn’t a wig, is it?”

“No, Miss ... extensions. It was Jules’ idea an’ Mum just executed ‘the plan’!” Gaby admitted in a hushed voice.

“Your mom was at the race?” Jessica inquired.

“An’ Dad!” Gaby enthused.

“You’re going to have to tell me all about it later … both the race … and ‘this plan’ ... okay? Now run along before Bunny shuts the door.”

“...’kay.”

“Before I begin, I’d like to personally congratulate Gaby on her finish in last weekend’s Atlanta Winter Classic, as mentioned in this morning’s announcements,” Bunny stated. Then without missing a beat, she started into the planned lesson, “Now ... if you’ll turn...”

When the bell rang to signify the second period class change, Aidan was waiting in the hall, leaning against the wall opposite the classroom door for Gaby to emerge from Bunny’s class.

“Aidan ... you waited? Why?” a flattered Gaby sweetly asked.

“I wanted to ... is that okay?”

“Of course it is ... but wot will the other kids say?”

“I don’t care! I'm here with the prettiest girl around these parts and they‘re just jealous that they aren’t the one’s walking with you,” Aidan said with a new-found self-confidence.

“...Besides ... anything wrong with me wantin’ to enjoy the company of someone who’s both beautiful an’ a good friend?”

“Ummm … I’m social poison?” Gaby ventured.

“Still don’t care,” Aidan flippantly shot back as he shrugged his shoulder.

“Well, suh … since you put it that way ... how can I refuse the company of such a gallant Southern gentlemun?” a blushing Gaby cooed in her best Southern drawl as she gave Aidan a quick peck on the cheek while offering her hand.

While they walked hand-in-hand to their next class, Gaby couldn’t help but notice the confused looks from some of the students they passed. She totally ignored Em and Maddy when the two passed them on the opposite side of the hallway.

“Looks like Gaby’s found herself a really cute boyfriend,” Em naively observed.

“Em? ... Shut up! ... Just ... shut ... up!” Maddy stomped off in a huff leaving Em standing in the hallway wondering what she did.

Science came and went all too quickly for Gaby. She was really getting into the experiment the class was conducting when the bell signifying the ten minute mid-morning break rang. The two teens quickly made it to their lockers to retrieve the books they needed for their final two classes of the morning. Gaby reminded Aidan of the schedule change for the grade 9’s on the early schedule mentioned in the morning announcements. Shortly after retrieving his books, he returned to Gaby’s locker to walk her to her rescheduled Home Economics class. Soon after Mrs. Pryce had closed the classroom door, she told the class their assignment was to write a report on how their dance ‘experience' was affected by what they wore and to turn it in at the end of class.

“Mrs. Pryce?”

“Yes, Gaby?”

“I can’t do this report. I ... uh ... didn’t go,” Gaby timidly admitted.

“You didn’t go?” a skeptical Mrs. Pryce echoed.

“No ma’am.”

“Anyone else not attend the Valentine’s Day dance?” Mrs. Pryce pointedly asked the class

Britany looked around before slowly raising her hand.

“Hmmm ... it would seem you’re the only two who didn’t go,” she suggestively offered amidst the snickering of some of the other girls in the class, after scanning the room.

“Miss Bell gave Britney the choice to go or stay,” Gaby dryly countered. She clearly didn’t like what Mrs. Pryce was implying.

“I thought Britney told me that you were both going … and that you were quite excited about it.”

“That’s a bunch of…” Gaby thought to herself.

“Umm … things changed … an’ we stayed home with her parents,” a now uncomfortable Gaby offered, aware of all the eyes on her.

“May I ask why you didn’t attend?” Mrs. Pryce pressed.

The two girls exchanged glances before Gaby turned back to Mrs. Pryce. Britney was positive that her friend was digging a deep pit for both of them and yet she was curious to see how this would turn out.

“I can’t say,” Gaby defiantly announced.

The rest of the class could feel the tension in the room quickly rising as Mrs. Pryce stood speechless, glaring at Gaby for several minutes. She finally decided to break the silence with a practised voice clearly meant to intimidate the hapless student.

“You can’t say? Perhaps you’d rather discuss this with Mrs. Jones, in her office?”

“If she asked me that same question ... I’d have to give her the same answer, m’am. Miss Bell told me that if anyone asks, I was to tell ‘em to talk to her...” Gaby stood her ground and replied with an unshakable conviction in her position.

“I see...” Mrs. Pryce quietly conceded her position.

The mere mention of Miss Bell’s name quickly removed any further desire the matronly teacher might have had to continue challenging Gaby’s claim about not attending the dance. She reluctantly had to admit defeat.

“Okay ... I’ll fill out a pass for the two of you and you can head off to the library for the remainder of the class. I’ll let Mrs. Ganger know you’re coming.”

“Thank you m’am,” Gaby replied as she and Britney gathered their books and rose from their desks.

(clap) “If the rest of you are finished your assignments, I’m sure I can find something else for you to do until end of class. Now, get to work!”

Lunchtime, like the rest of the day, was uneventful. Despite a request from Miss Cowlishaw, Gaby declined to attend a post-competition meeting called by Bunny for the three cheer teams, scheduled after final dismissal. Faced with no cheer practice, Gaby easily managed to catch the bus home with Jules and Debbie.

Monday evening at the Walters was relatively quiet with both Jules and Gaby starting in on their packing while Britney and Debbie kept them company.

“Why’re you packing tonight, Gabs?” Britney inquired.

“Miss C suggested that we do a bit tonight and the rest tomorrow but ...” Gaby replied with a smile. “...since I’m having dinner at Erin’s, I don’t know how much time I’ll have tomorrow ... so I’m doing most of it now.”

“I’ll still be here, but ... the more I do now ... the less I’ll have to do later...” Jules playfully added.

Throughout the evening, all four girls talked while the Bond sisters packed. Every piece of clothing that went into their suitcase’s seemed to give reason for someone to re-live another memory of the visit. It was only after the Walter’s girls had retired to their own room for the night, Jules made an observation to Gaby.

“Noticed you didn’t pack the dress you made ... gonna wear it to Erin’s tomorrow?”

“Nope ... not taking it! I may’ve made it for Home Ec, but that doesn’t mean it’s mine. I made it for Maddy ... only she’s hardly gonna take it, now ... is she?” Gaby softly related.

“You nuts? It looks hot on you!” Jules quietly hissed. “Besides … how’ll Mrs. W feel if she finds it after we leave? She paid for all the material an’ spent a lot of time helping you!”

“I know, but what else can I do? It doesn’t exactly radiate warm an’ fuzzy feelings about this trip,” Gaby whispered.

“I dunno. How about taking it to DC ... then if you still feel the same about it ... leave it at the hotel,” Jules suggested.

“Hmmm ... sounds good ... thanks! G’nite...” Gaby yawned as her head hit the pillow. “Turn out the light when you’re finished, sis?”

“Since you asked so nicely ... G’nite, sis.”

Tuesday was just another routine day at school. With no more field trips planned for these last couple of days in Grottoes, the days were spent in the classroom. After school, the girls had the luxury of being picked up by Mrs. Walters rather than suffer yet another ride in the school bus.

Following a shower, Gaby changed into her denim mini, mauve blouse, black tights and her dress pumps. After checking her make-up and throwing on her jacket, she made her way downstairs then after saying her good-byes and grabbing her bag and the borrowed cycling kit, made her way to the side of the house to retrieve Erin’s GT. Even though she was walking to Erin’s Cyclery, Gaby still arrived early.

“Hello? ... Erin?” Gaby called out as she entered the store through the back double doors.

“Oh … hi, Gaby. Lean that up somewhere and c’mon in.” Gaby put down the bag containing the riding kit and propped the bike against the wall, then walked through to Erin’s workshop.

“Yer early!”

“Sorry … if you want I can come back?” Gaby innocently asked.

“Don’t be silly … ya want a cof … (sigh). Don’t mind me Gab, I’m just having a blonde moment … one tea coming up,” Erin joked as she put the kettle on.

“You take just one sugar … right?” Gaby nodded her answer as Erin looked back at her. “After we leave here, I have to run home to change … then we’ll go.”

“I though we’re having dinner at your place,” Gaby mentioned.

“It’s a special night,” Erin replied. “We’ve got reservations.”

“Hi, Gaby!” Don called out as he emerged from a box of bike parts he was sorting. “Don’t y’all look purdy tonight!”

“Thanks,” Gaby replied as her face quickly assumed a deep shade of red.

Two hours later, Erin and Gaby pulled up to a large white farm house just outside of Piedmont.

“Who lives here, Erin?” Gaby asked.

“Frank … we’re having supper here … c’mon,” Erin flatly stated as she got out of her pick-up as gracefully as her skirt would allow.

When they started up the stone walkway, Gaby noticed that some lights in the front of the house went off and the curtains in the living-room moved.

(Ding Dong)

Erin rang the doorbell as Gaby came up the porch steps. The door opened a little too quickly, or so she thought.

“Hi Erin! … Gaby! Glad you could make it! Come on in!” Frank greeted them at the door.

As soon as Gaby entered the darkened house, the lights were immediately turned back on, followed by a loud chorus, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABY!”

A stunned Gaby stood there in silence, looking at the entire Grottoes Express team. Even Hooch and his girlfriend, Manda, showed up.

“Erin did a little digging and found out your birthday’s next week … but since you won't be around then … we thought we’d celebrate it while you’re here,” Diane stepped forward and explained.

“Ummm … I don’t know what to say,” Gaby managed before Erin handed her a much needed tissue.

Once she got over the initial shock, the dinner party got into full swing with Frank’s wife pulling out all the stops on a fried chicken dinner with all the extras! Conversation ranged in topics from cycling in general to Atlanta, Lance, the Express and anything else they could think of. It reminded Gaby of the cycling club events back home. It doesn't matter about your age or anything else about you; everyone gets on with everyone talking about what they love to do.

She never expected any presents but only thought she was having an ordinary dinner with Erin, so Gaby found it quite embarrassing to end up with a small stack of gift boxes and cards. Instead of opening them right away, she asked everyone if it would be okay to keep them until her actual birthday the following week.

“Gaby? Jocelyn made me promise to get you home on time … this time,” Erin told her.

When she got some questioning looks from Diane and Derek, she added with a smile, “My track record with Gaby hasn’t exactly been great!”

“Aww ... we really have to?” Gaby asked with just a bit of a pout.

“Unfortunately … we do!” Erin answered.

“Time we were off folks!” Erin announced to the party in general.

“Erin! Don’t forget...” Diane mentioned.

“Frank?”

Gaby found herself once again blushing in front of all her new friends.

“Gaby … I don't think its any secret that you've made a lot of friends in the time you've been here. You've entertained us … worried us … taught us and even inspired us. In Atlanta you amazed us and through it all you've remained the quiet English rose we've all come to love.” Pausing briefly to gather himself, Frank continued in a solemn voice. “You’ve great things ahead of you … but all of us here … hope … that you’ll remember us and maybe someday come back for a visit. We’re all really going to miss you, Gaby.”

It was obvious to all just how affected Gaby was by Frank's little speech. She wasn’t crying, but she was very close.

“Just to remind you of us … this is from everyone.” Frank then handed Gaby a package.

“Thank you … I … ummm (sniff),” Gaby caught herself before she completely burst into tears.

“Come here, Gabs.” Erin’s hug soon evolved into a series of tearful hugs with all her new friends.

Back at the Walters’, Gaby said her last farewell to Erin and then slowly took her presents upstairs. She was soon joined by Jules and the two Walters’ girls, anxious to learn about her evening. The next day started like any other school day morning at the Walters household with the exception that Jocelyn decided to drive the girls to school.

As Gaby entered her homeroom for the last time, Miss Jackson called her aside.

“Gaby? May I talk with you for a minute?”

“Yes, Miss?” Gaby questioned as she arrived at her teacher’s desk.

“Two things. Miss Bell and I had a chat about your time here and my impressions ... and I just want to say I apologize for not being able to stop these kids from treating you like they did. Believe me … that’s not how the majority of Americans are!” Miss Jackson quietly imparted.

“That’s okay, Miss. You couldn’t very well tell the other kids to like me...” Gaby solemnly replied.

“No, I couldn’t … but I wish I could’ve. Maybe then, some might’ve gotten to know the sweet girl I have standing in front of me … instead of showing the contempt they did because of a label.”

After a brief pause, she quietly posed the question that she was finding so difficult to ask.

“The other thing I have to ask might be a bit harder … but you can always say ‘no’ ... I refuse to just spring it on you.” After she was sure she had Gaby’s attention, Cathy finally asked her.

“The grade 9 and 11 class schedules have been modified today to allow the homerooms that hosted any of the exchange students to remain in place for first period. The reason they’re doing this is to allow those that actually participated in the exchange program to informally share their experiences ... maybe even answer some final questions and say good-bye to their classmates.”

Before Cathy Jackson could ask, Gaby unemotionally responded.

“No!”

“Gaby?”

“If you’re going to ask me to say something, I’d feel like I’d have to say that I’ve enjoyed it here ... an’ I’d only be lying ... so I’d prefer not to say anything.”

“Nothing?”

“I can’t ... sorry, Miss. The few good memories and friends I’ll be leaving are all outside the school ... an’ I’ve already said good-bye to them. At least they were able to accept me for myself!” Gaby felt herself near tears as the emotions of the last few weeks threatened to re-surface.

“I know, honey ... and maybe that’s why you need to say something! Won’t you reconsider?” Miss Jackson pleaded.

“What if I still say ‘no’?” Gaby weakly asked.

“Then it’s ‘no’ ... and that’ll be the end of it.”

“Can I think about it, then?” a somewhat composed Gaby asked.

“Of course you can. I’m not going to force you to do it,” Miss Jackson softly agreed.

“If I say anything ... I’m not gonna lie,” Gaby reiterated.

“After talking with Miss Bell, I certainly won’t stop you from saying what you must be feeling ... but I really do think these kids should hear it,” Cathy whispered.

Following opening exercises, Miss Jackson made her own announcement as several of her students started gathering up their books in preparation to go to their first class.

“Stay where you are, people! Well … we can all see who wasn’t paying attention to this morning’s announcements, can’t we?” she stated with a smile.

“To reiterate ... first period for those grades that had students participating in the exchange program, will be spent in homeroom. That means us!”

“With our British guests preparing to return home, this is a chance for our two students that actually participated in the exchange program, to talk about their experiences and their feelings with the rest of the class. If time permits … we’ll open it to a Q and A session so you may all have the opportunity to ask questions. So ... who wants to go first ... Britney ... Gaby?”

Cathy had already decided who was going first, as she looked expectantly at the two girls.

“Britney? Why don’t you start us off? After all … you visited England first! C’mon up front where we can all hear you. Sit at my desk if you feel more comfortable.”

After she exchanged seats with Miss Jackson, Britney began her account of her British visit with Gaby and the ‘gang’. She mentioned how she thoroughly enjoyed her time with the Bond’s and was gushing about how Mr. Bond had included her and Debbie on many impromptu and interesting outings around the countryside, usually following one of Gaby’s races.

The highlight of her Warsop visit went to her trip with Gaby and her Grandmother, to visit Jenny in Germany at the big bike show in Friedrichshafen. She proudly pointed out that she was the only American student in the exchange program to venture away from Britain’s shores. Not only did she travel to Germany, but she had to go through Switzerland then back into Germany! Britney felt that she had to mention the participation of Gaby and her mother, in the bike show’s fashion show, much to Gaby’s embarrassment.

She also mentioned Gaby’s involvement with competitive cycling and the few time trials and races she attended with her host.

When she finished, several hands went up for questions but Miss Jackson politely asked them to wait until after Gaby was finished, before thanking Britney.

When she returned to her own seat, Miss Jackson walked over to Gaby. As she stood beside her desk, Cathy looked down at her with pleading eyes.

“Gaby? ... Yes? ... No?” she quietly asked.

“I guess it’s ‘yes’,” Gaby unenthusiastically replied.

“You know you don’t have to do it if you’re not comfortable with it and I meant what I said earlier ... I won’t stop you from saying what you really feel,” Cathy quietly repeated as she went to take her place at Gaby’s desk.

“I guess I should say somethin’…” Gaby softly replied as she rose from her seat. “Thank you, Miss...”

After letting Miss Jackson take her desk, Gaby walked to the front and decided to casually lean against Cathy’s desk, rather than sit down. As she stood there waiting for some conversations to die down, Miss Jackson motioned for her to wait.

“I think we should all listen very carefully to Gaby ... you just might learn something! They’re all yours.”

As she was about to start, whispers and snide comments could be heard amongst a few members of the class prompting Cathy to spring to her feet.

“Now ... that ... is ... enough!” Cathy loudly warned as she slapped her hand against the top of Gaby’s desk. Casting a steely gaze around the room, her entire class immediately held its collective breath, as one. “You will all give Gaby the respect she deserves and not... what a few of you apparently think she deserves ... is ... that ... clear? Does anyone have a problem understanding what I just said? ... No? ... Good! Sorry for the interruption, Gaby ... please, carry on.”

As Miss Jackson slowly sat down, the class silently focused all their attention to the front of the room.

Gaby once again leaned against the edge of the large wooden desk and calmly began.

“When Miss Jackson told me about this morning … I told her that if she had me get up an’ talk … I wasn’t going to sugar-coat things ... an’ now that I’m here ... I’m still not goin’ to do it.”

She paused to collect herself for what she was about to unleash and the expected reaction of the class. After that opening statement, all she saw was puzzled expressions on the faces of her classmates trying to anticipate her remarks.

“Out in the real world … the phrase “the Ugly American” is not just the title of an old Hollywood movie ... it describes how many non-Americans see Americans ... loud … obnoxious … demanding … pushy an’ arrogant! All one has to do is go to any European town an’ it’s very easy to pick out the American tourists by how they act. The simple reality is that the world doesn’t always share your over-inflated opinions of yourselves. Many also see America as a place full of wide-spread prejudice an’ bigotry. Maybe Hollywood should share a part of the blame for that, I dunno ... but I do admit ... I shared those views. Quite a lot of what I did know of America an’ Americans ... came from movies an’ the telly ... but … all that changed when Britney an’ the others came over.”

(sigh) “In those few weeks we spent together … many of the impressions I initially had, were broken down … an’ when it came time for us to come over here ... I came here anxious to experience life in America. (sigh) Unfortunately for me, I got my wish.”

Gaby’s voice trailed off as she shuffled her weight against the edge of the desk and then after pausing to get her breath, she continued.

“What I got was all the bigotry an’ prejudice an’ not too much of the good things I hoped to experience.” Gaby briefly paused to allow Miss Johnson to deal with some mumbling within the class.

“Next time I have to speak to anybody, we can continue the conversation after school today ... now, is ... that ... clear? ... Fine! ... Please continue Gaby.”

“Thank you. The problem was ... it wasn’t too long after I got here that you not only confirmed all I once believed about Americans … but you actually strengthened those beliefs! You never gave me a chance to get to know you ... or you to know me. Instead … you were quick to judge an’ turn your backs on me … all because someone got the idea that I liked girls ... even before I got here. So what if I do? You never even tried to get to know me before you decided to condemn me! All it took was for a few of you to decide I wasn’t worth getting to know and the rest of you ... (sigh) or at least … a good many of you ... rather than making up your own minds ... blindly followed the others like sheep ... an’ the rest ... the rest ... were afraid to show anything like friendship out of a fear of being branded an’ hounded by the others ... so they stayed away. Seems the few bigots got what they wanted.”

The emotion in Gaby’s voice started to rise as she got further into her talk.

“You know something? I could live with that. Despite your efforts to ignore me, I was quite happy to make my own friends ... friends outside of Augusta High ... outside of all your ‘petty hang-ups’, as my dad would say. They had no problem seeing past the lesbian ‘thing’ an’ accepted me ... for me!” Gaby steadied herself against Cathy’s desk and took a deep breath, before continuing.

“But … the real damage was ... you destroyed several long-time friendships when … in order for my friends to be accepted by you, (sigh) you forced them to think of me in the same warped way you did!”

Gaby felt as if the dam was about to break.

“Why couldn’t you just accept them as themselves? Why did they have to be as bigoted as you?!!! ... Why?”

Gaby couldn’t hold back any longer. Her voice was that of an extremely hurt girl, on the verge of shouting and pleading while all the time trying very hard not to give the rest of the class the satisfaction of seeing her break down in tears. After another short pause to compose herself, Gaby tried to continue in a somewhat calmer voice.

“Those American kids who came to Warsop ... they got to know me ... an’ they were perfectly fine with me an’ my friends … but here … they also had to lower themselves to the bigoted standards of their friends! Now, it’s those new friendships that I had made, that are among the ones that have been ruined an’ may be lost forever! If that's not enough ... the friendships I had with my friends that came over here with me ... the kids I grew up with ... may also be lost forever ... thanks to you.”

“Just what gives you the bloody right to tell me how I ... or my friends ... should live?” Gaby was once more on the verge of tears.

In a voice dripping with sarcasm, she added as a final thought, “America ... Land of the Free ... not bloody likely!”

As soon as the final words left her lips, she bolted from the classroom and the tears she held back flowed freely once she was out into the hall. Running from the classroom, she quickly took refuge in the nearby girl’s washroom.

Back in the classroom, Miss Jackson was trying to restore a bit of order to the class. Many of the kids were stunned that Gaby would dare to speak about them in that fashion, still others agreed with her and a few others were ready to hunt her down for even daring to think of criticizing them or America.

In the confusion, Aidan and Britney left the classroom after telling Miss Jackson they would go and try to find their classmate.

After a few minutes of wandering the halls, Aidan heard sniffling coming from a girl’s washroom and told Britney to check it out. Walking a short distance inside the door, she saw that except for her friend, the place was empty.

Gaby was leaning over a sink, bracing herself with both arms and blankly staring into the mirror. Her make-up was a mess. Mascara tracks ran down both cheeks, ending in several small black drops on the side of the white sink. For several agonizing minutes, Britney stood silently looking at the girl, unsure of what to do or say.

As she slowly became aware of another presence, Gaby turned to face her host and softly asked through the tears, “Why??”

Casting her eyes downward in a combination of self-guilt and shame, Britney didn’t know how to begin to answer the agony-filled question, or even if she could.

Following a few more minutes of a painfully awkward silence, Britney left Gaby standing in the washroom and slowly went outside. On the verge of tears herself, she pleaded with Aidan to do what she couldn’t.

“She’s my friend too ... but we’re not exactly on good terms right now. I’ll stand guard ... but could you go in an’ talk to her ... please? Britney pleaded. After thinking about it for several seconds, he reluctantly agreed to venture into the forbidden room.

“Gaby? Don’t cry ... you did nothing wrong. After what you were put through ... you had a right to say what you felt in your heart an’ no one with an IQ higher than room temperature could blame you for that,” Aidan softly affirmed as he approached Gaby.

“You’re assuming these kids even have an IQ.” Britney’s voice drifted in from the hallway.

“I could say something about now!” Gaby angrily mumbled in hushed tones. As close as he was, Aidan was surprised by the amount of venom in her comment even though he could barely hear her.

“I thought she was your friend?” he whispered.

“The jury’s still out on that one,” Gaby quietly mumbled.

“Crikey ... look at me ... I’m a right mess!” Gaby exclaimed in a voice that was a somewhere between crying and laughing, as she again faced forward and saw herself in the mirror.

“I still think you’re beautiful,” Aidan calmly stated.

“Iszat supposed to make me feel better?” Gaby laughingly replied as she wiped the tears and the traces of Mascara from her cheeks.

“Do you?” Aidan asked.

“Do I what?” Gaby replied between sniffles.

“Feel better.”

(sniff) ”Yeah ... I guess ... kinda,” Gaby acknowledged as she rubbed off the last of her make-up.

“Fer a shy kid ... you certainly know how to make someone feel better.”

“I find it’s really easy to talk with you,” Aidan quietly admitted.

“But not with other girls?” Gaby wondered.

“Not really...”

“Don’t worry ... she’s still out there ... waiting.”

“Will she be as pretty and down-to-earth, as you are?”

“You’ll think so....”

As Gaby turned to re-check her make-up removal efforts in the mirror, she had a thought cross her mind that she just had to ask.

“Aidan? Do all American boys follow a girl into the loo to chat her up ... or just you?”

Hearing traces of what she thought was laughter, Britney leaned in the door and called out, “You okay, Gabs?”

“Where’s my bag ... erm ... purse?” Gaby quietly asked as she frantically looked around for it.

“Probably back at your desk where you left it ... you ran out without it,” Aidan offered.

“Gaby?” Britany called again when Gaby didn’t answer the first time.

“She needs her purse ... she had to take her make-up off!” Aidan called back while Gaby was still looking in the mirror.

“I’ll get it...” Britney replied as she turned to head off and then briefly stopped short as she realized who she answered.

“Aidan?”

A moment later she ran back to the classroom, leaving him alone with Gaby in the girl’s washroom. Her quick departure was followed by a fresh outbreak of the giggles.

“I’ll ... just ... be outside,” an embarrassed Aidan quickly announced once he realized Britney had left.

Britney slowly opened her homeroom door only to find Miss Jackson presiding over a class full of statues. Seeing one of the boys start to whisper to another as soon as Britney walked into the room, Cathy suddenly snapped at him.

“Greg! ... Sit up and face the front! ... No talking!” then addressing the whole class in a menacing voice, she added “I’ve got lots o’ free time after school ... so anymore of this and the whole class will find themselves keeping me company after final dismissal ... for a week!”

“Miss Jackson?” Britney timidly asked as she walked up to Cathy’s desk after grabbing Gaby’s purse from her desk.

“Yes, Britney?”

“Gabs need’s her purse.”

“Go ahead ... but please don’t take too long getting back.”

“Yes m’am.” With that, Britney was out the door and heading back to her British friend.

Several minutes later, Gaby, looking none the worse for wear and escorted by both Aidan and Brittney, re-entered the classroom.

After the three had silently taken their seats, Cathy, still seated at her desk, slowly started to speak in a quiet, but calm and deliberate voice. Her disappointment with the class was unmistakeable, even to the most un-attentive student.

“For the last five weeks ... I could ... only ... observe ... the treatment given by this class … to a guest of this country ... and what I saw ... disgusted me ... to no end!”

~~~

Gaby’s Address ... On Reflection.... By Karen J. Taylor

At several times during the writing of this chapter and especially the speech given by Gaby at the end, PB consulted with me about the accuracy of Gaby’s comments. He was concerned that these comments did not accurately portray the way Americans are regarded by the citizens of other countries and unfairly criticized the United States.

I want to say that, based on my own experiences as an American living, working and travelling in Western and Northern Europe as well as the United Kingdom, Gaby’s comments accurately reflect the prevailing attitude of many of the people in those areas of the world. Like it or not, most non-Americans have a low opinion of my country and its citizens, an opinion that is sometimes deserved and sometimes isn’t.

It has also been my experience that when meeting these people one on one, we had no problems getting along with each other and I made many friends while living there. It’s the abstract “bogeyman” American, as represented by too many of my fellow citizens, which has earned their contempt. As the saying goes: “You get what you brought.” You are more likely to get respect if you give respect.

As for Gaby’s treatment in the mythical American high school she visited, I experienced much the same thing when I returned to the U.S. after living in Europe for several years. I was different; I was not a member of any of the cliques, or ‘in’ groups, so I was shunned or worse. I imagine many of us have similar tales from high school

 
 
Comments are greatly appreciated

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To Be Continued...