This is an unauthorized continuation of Jeremy Chandler’s, “My Summer in Pantyhose,” last added to by Jeremy 04/07/2023. The story line and characters belong to Jeremy Chandler and are used without express permission. What follows is intended as fan fiction with the greatest of admiration for Jeremy and appreciation for the original work.

  Tabitha’s mother was still in a kind of a state of shock. Being rearended and having the air bag explode in her face had shaken her up. If not for her insurance man and the inevitable paramedics that showed up just after the police, she'd have called a taxi or maybe an Uber, if she’d thought of it, and gone straight home. But here she was back out in the waiting room of ER trying to get her thoughts in order. I suppose I should call Trevor, she thought. She took out her phone and punched up his number. It went to voice mail. Probably in a meeting, she thought. She canceled the call and texted him instead.

  Barbara: Call as soon as you can. Important!

  She then used her phone to summon an Uber. She went to stand near the exit, where she could see when it arrived. She had no more than sat in the back of the Uber when her phone rang.

  “Hi hon. Just got out of the last meeting of the day. What’s important?”

  “The Lexus is totaled. I got rearended by one of those big pickups.”

  “Did anyone get hurt? Is Tabitha alright?”

  “No one got hurt, if you don’t count my air bag bruise. Tabitha is over at a friend’s house. His mother says they’ll feed her dinner and see that she that she got home OK.”

  “His mother?”

  “Yes; she went over the Jamie’s house. You know that’s the boy from work she’s always talking about. The one who wears pantyhose.”

  “Oh. Are you sure that was a good idea?”

  “I think it’ll be fine. I took her over and went in with her. I met both Jamie and his mother. He’s a really well-mannered boy. Before I even entertained the idea of her going over there, I called the owner of the Fabric Barn, Lucille . I met her when Tabitha applied for work there. She has a really high regard for him and knows his grandmother quite well.

  “I also had a long conversation with his mother after he and Tabitha rode bikes over to his friend’s house to play one of those computer games the kids are all enamored with. You know how much time she spends on her computer doing that sort of thing. And before you ask Jamie’s mother assured me that his friend, Mike, comes from a good family and can be trusted.”

  “As long as you’ve vetted him and his family.”

  “Frankly, I’m kind of proud of her for befriending him. You know how much I had to study the transgender community for work so that we could convince the board to include gender identity and gender expression in our anti-harassment policy. You know that I found that trans folk often have trouble making or retaining friends.”

  “The way she talks about him you’d think it was her boyfriend.”

  “Truth be known, I think she’s sweet on him.”

  “I suppose that’s safe enough. It’s not like he’ll reciprocate.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. He recently broke up with his girlfriend. So he’s available.”

  “Girlfriend as in a girl? Or was she a transgender as well?”

  “No a girlfriend as in a girl. By all reports a popular girl at school; a cheerleader and she had another boyfriend. That’s why they broke up.”

  “You mean he’s not gay or whatever they would call it. He doesn’t like guys?”

  “No dear. You know, you’re sounding very homophobic and transphobic as well. Really my research says that sexual preference among transgender people runs the same gambit as it does amongst the rest of the population, with the vast majority being heterosexual in accordance with what it says on their birth certificate.”

  “So you’re saying our daughter may just bring home a transgender as a boyfriend.”

  “That’s a real possibility. What’s more, if she’s going to see very much of him, I’d like to have him to dinner so we can see how they interact together.”

  “I suppose that’s a good idea.”

  “My accident may just provide the excuse we need to invite him. She’s having dinner with his family. Good manners dictate that we should extend the invitation.”

  “If you’d like, I’d be glad to take Tabitha home. I’m sure that Jamie would like to ride along and since I’ll be bringing him back I’d enjoy Julie’s company on the ride,” Aaron said.

  “That’s a lot of trouble for you to go through,” Jamie’s mom told him.

  “No trouble at all. Actually I thought I’d treat them to a sundae at Stone Cold. I’d be glad to bring you something as well.”

  Their mother looked around at the group and saw an expectant expression on every face.

  “Oh go ahead. No need to bring me anything. I’ve got pint of Häagen-Dazs® Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle tucked away for some night when both of them are gone. A little adult treat for when they’re having fun and I’m still home.”

  “Bourbon? I didn’t know anyone put booze in ice cream,” Julie said.

  “There’s not enough by volume to add any more alcohol than the vanilla does,” her mom informed her.

  Sitting in the backseat, Jamie wasn’t sure what to do. If it had been Megan he’d have sat close and held hands. That would have been expected; he’d learned that much about having a girlfriend. But Tabitha wasn’t his girlfriend, though everyone seemed to be treating her as if she was. Mike even accused him of that. He wondered what she saw in their relationship. He knew that Mike was right. She’d be a much better match for him that Megan ever was. Megan, by just being there, intimidated him. He felt much more on an even footing with Tabitha. She was easier to talk to and while he respected her, he felt no need to put her on a pedestal.

  “It’s really nice of Aaron to treat us to ice cream at Cold Stone. It’s my favorite place to get ice cream,” Tabitha said.

  “Mine too.”

  Jamie looked at her in the dimming light of early twilight. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time. At work, she was just another coworker who was nice to him. But today she’d been his friend and unexplainably he felt close to her, emotionally. She’d listened to his tale of woe regarding Megan and held him when he cried. He hadn’t expected to cry and she didn’t seem uncomfortable with him crying. What’s more she didn’t push him for more details or want to “explore” his feelings. She was just there for him.

  He thought about just how much it would look to the casual observer like they were on a double date; Aaron and Julie, he and Tabitha. Who would believe any other explanation? It got even more like a date. Jamie ordered a Chocolate Devotion and Tabitha ordered the Peanut Butter Cup Perfection. The tables were small, so Aaron and Julie sat at one and Jamie and Tabitha sat at another.

  “I don’t know which one looks better, yours or mine,” Jamie observed.

  “I know. I was looking at that one myself, but then you said you thought you’d have it. So, I decided on this one; that way we could each try the other’s choice.”

  “That’s a great idea. Next time we’ll discuss it and decide which two we both like.”

  Jamie quickly took a bite of his ice cream to stop his loose lips blabbing something he hadn’t thought through. He had all but committed to asking her on a date. But she took her spoon and helped herself to a bit of his and pushed hers over toward him. He reciprocated. They ended up nearly dividing them equally. The whole while they smiled at each other and made small talk.

  Julie leaned into Aaron and said in a low voice. “Have you noticed those two?” and gently nodded toward Jamie and Tabitha.

  “Yeah. Being the designated chaperone I feel it’s my duty. Besides, young love is fun to watch.”

  “Jamie maintains that she’s just a friend.”

  “I think Tabitha didn’t get the memo. Have you seen the way she smiles at him.”

  “I have and I’ve also seen how Jamie laps it up. Maybe he won’t admit it, but he’s gone on her. He may be interested on the rebound, but I hope it lasts for a while. I like her and I like them together.”

  It was getting dark and she stood intending to turn on the light in the front room. I wonder when they’ll bring Tabitha home, her mother thought as she walked toward the switch by the door. Maybe I should call and tell them I’m home. Just then the headlights of a car shown through the windows as it swung into the driveway. Altering her course, she went to the window and watched through the sheers as Jamie and Tabitha got out of the rear of the car.

  That’s not the outfit he was wearing earlier today, she thought as they walked toward the front door. From what his mother told me, I didn’t think he was up for wearing skirts. But… you know, it does look good on him; a coordinated top too. The kid’s got good taste … and guts too.

  As they reached the front door, they stopped and Jamie turned and she could see it wasn’t a skirt, but a skort. Ah, she thought, a step between shorts and skirts. She couldn’t tell who initiated it, but they had taken each other’s hand as they talked for a moment. Then Tabitha leaned in as if to kiss Jamie, but in the end turned her head to the side and kissed his cheek. Then they hugged. It was almost like watching two girls saying goodbye, but Tabitha’s body language indicated she thought of him as a boyfriend.

  Her mother stepped away from the window as Tabitha reached for the door knob. She turned on the light as Tabitha unlocked the door and opened it.

  “Oh, you’re home. I wasn’t sure you would be,” Tabitha told her.

  “It’s been over three hours since I called to say I’d had an accident.”

  “You’ve got a bruise on your forehead.”

  “Yes, that’s the extent of my injuries. The air bag inflated with a lot of force. The ER doctor said that it wasn’t uncommon for people to get a bruise from them.

  “Did you have a nice time with Jamie today?”

  “Oh yeah, I had lots of fun. His friend, Mike, has a new RPG and the graphics in it are killer. It a lot more realistic and challenging than anything I have.”

  “I noticed that Jamie was wearing a skort. It looked really nice on him.”

  “Yeah, his mother has been trying to get him some good-looking clothes for work. You remember that when I applied, Lucille stressed that we dress professionally. Jamie’s mother bought him some things and while they look professional, they’re not something someone our age would wear. So a week ago, she took him out to another store and bought him three more outfits that are more suited his age. He put on a fashion show for us because his sister hadn’t seen them yet. He wore one on the way here.”

  “The car you came in didn’t look like the one that was in her garage when I dropped you off.”

  “Oh, that was Aaron’s car. His sister, Julie’s boyfriend. He was there when we got back and he barbequed chicken for dinner and then offered to bring me home. He took us out for ice cream on the way.”

  Her mother smiled contentedly.

  “You really like Jamie, don’t you?”

  Tabitha blushed.

  “Does it show that much?”

  She pulled Tabitha into a hug.

  “My little girl is growing up. Just going into high school and already looking for her first boyfriend.”

  “I don’t think Jamie sees himself as my boyfriend. We’re just friends.”

  “But what about you do you see him as your boyfriend? Or would you like to?”

  “Well, he’s the first boy that hasn’t been put off because I’m smart and like playing RPGs.”

  “I kind of like him. He’s courageous. Not many boys would have the courage to express their true nature publicly like he does. And… I think he likes you too. It won’t be long until you two are hanging out together every weekend.”

  “About that. We want to go to that new mall over by the high school and spend some time in the arcade next Saturday.”

  “I was talking to your father after my accident and told him you were with Jamie. We agreed that since you had dinner at his house maybe he should have dinner with us. You could bring him over after your time at the arcade. Your father would like to meet him.”

  Samantha spotted Julie as she walked toward the church with her mother and Jamie. She hadn’t heard boo from Julie all week. They hadn’t had any kind of disagreement, so she was sure that it was that Julie had just been busy.

  “Hi Julie,” Samantha said. “Whacha been up to?”

  “Oh Hi Samantha. If you’re free this afternoon, I’m sure it’ll be alright if you come to lunch at Grandma’s with us so we can catch up. I meant to call you yesterday, but I got up late and had a date with Aaron, and well things got complicated after that”

  Samantha glanced toward Julie’s mom who was standing by the door of the church talking with one of her friends. Convinced she was occupied and far enough away, she decided to ask about the date.

  “What excuse did you use this time.”

  “Actually, none. Aaron and I can date openly.”

  “How’d that happen?”

  “It all started with the Megan debacle. You know that I put Megan on notice that she had to break up with Jamie. And you know all about the email. And that I gave her until Monday and said if she didn’t I’d tell her folks about what happened at the beach party. I decided that there was a chance I’d need to make good on the threat to tell her folks and had Aaron come in and meet mom and told her a story to cover the questions about my involvement in all that. I told her that someone barfed in the pool, so we moved to the beach. I painted Aaron as a knight in shining armor bringing me home when no one else would.”

  Samantha nodded.

  “It was a good idea, but not so much. Mom’s very perceptive and could read the body language and facial expressions. When I told her about the email, I had to confess that Aaron and I had interrupted Josh’s plans and she called me on my relationship with Aaron. She knew something was going on between us and offered amnesty if I confessed all.

  “You didn’t!?

  “I did. Everything. What it boils down to is that mom’s not too happy with my sneaking around about it. But she acknowledges I’ll be eighteen in February and she’ll not have any say over who I date and where I go. So we’re on probation until then. Mom wanted to get to know Aaron and had me invited him to dinner on Saturday if I cooked. Aaron and I caught a matinee before dinner.”

  “Wow, so no more sneaking around. You said it got complicated. What made it complicated.?”

  “Jamie invited a coworker to go to Mike’s on Saturday with him and do their RPG thing. Her mother brought her over and they rode bikes to his house. Her mother was supposed to come pick her up at five, but she had an accident and their car was totaled. The coworker, stayed for dinner with us and Aaron and I took her home and stopped for ice cream on the way.”

  “Wait; you said ‘her’. What her? Did Jamie have a date? Moving on kind of fast wasn’t it?”

  “I’m sure that you’ve heard him mention Tabitha. She one that treats him nice there.”

  “Tabitha… yeah, I may have heard the name. So Jamie took the break up OK and has another girlfriend already?”

  “Not really. Jamie will tell you that she’s just a friend. But I have it on good authority that she’s sweet on him. And Mom’s not the only one that can read body language and faces. After watching them at Cold Stone, even if Jamie doesn’t realize it yet, they are a couple.”

  “Good for him.”