Jesus Calls O'er The Tumult
By
Recca Anna Coleman
A Daisy Isabella Potter Special
Chapter Two of Thee

The traditional attire for young women, often ages twelve to eighteen who are to be confirmed into the Episcopal Church is a pearl white, floor length gown with long sleeves and white gloves. Their hair is often worn down, and a matching white bridal veil is placed on their forehead. Make-up if allowed is the bare minimum.

And so there I stood, gazing into the full, floor length mirror. The reflection that greeted me was not one that I expected. For the first time since I had quietly accepted the fact to myself that I was indeed transgender and for the first time from the outset of starting my own personal transition. I had to accept the fact that I was indeed beautiful. Now if that sounds vain, I will forgive you for thinking so. But please allow me to explain.

I have been battling gender dysphoria for the better part of three or four years now. Sometimes I won and drove that bastard from the field, other times he won and left me cowarding under my covers. But today I felt like I'd finally beaten him, that from today to the end of my days I could live true to myself.

“Sister.” I heard a voice call out. I could tell by the cadence that the voice did not belong to either Lily or Jamie. But it was a tone of voice I knew since the day I first drew breath. It was my own flesh and blood sister. So, I quickly turned around and there in the doorway stood a brunette girl, around my height.

“Oh hey..” I paused. “Hey Sue.”

Without saying a word the woman walked into my room and then she wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug. She pulled me close to her breast and then she placed her chin atop mine.

“I'm sorry.” She said after holding me for a very long time.

“About?” I asked, confused.

“About us sending you away like this. Daddy and mommy should have kept you in Vicksburg! We could have enrolled at one of the Catholic private schools, we could have even sent you to the public school!It was wrong! It was wrong!”

Susan seemed quite upset.

“Hey! Hey! It's okay.. I mean maybe coming to Benton was for the best you know? I mean if I stayed in Vicksburg, I doubt I could have cracked the egg. I doubt I would have ever met Cerridwen, much less become a cheerleader. Or played Dotty, or gone on any of the misadventures I've had here.”

Susan pulled herself away from me and then looked me in the eyes.

“I was robbed though..” She said at last.

I titled my head to the side.

“I was robbed of the chance of having a little sister! I was robbed of the chance of watching you grow up! I was robbed, I want my little sister back! I want to be part of her life. I want to help you shop for your first prom dress! I want to help you find that perfect debutante gown!” Susan was crying now.

“That's what big sisters are for! Big sisters get to have these moments with their little sisters! I should have been there when you broke your arm! I should have been there to carry you into the bone-yard! I should have been there to hold your hand when you went under!” Susan's voice was slowly rising.

“Hey!” I said blushing as I held my hands up. “Come down sis, I understand, you were in Vicksburg. You were studying for the ACT test. And I heard you passed the thing with flying colors! Like wow a twenty four! That's amazing!” I said smiling

It was at that moment another woman appeared in the doorway. A woman that was slightly older than Susan and I, a woman who had jet black hair, her lavender colored eyes seemed full of remorse. She also seemed like she was walking on egg shells and given her history with the Potter Clan I don't really blame her. Her name was Linda Bell and she had once been best friends with Lily Potter.

“You look beautiful, little sister.” Linda said softly.

I paused.

“Yes, yes she does.” Susan said.

It was at that moment I felt Susan and Linda move a little closer and soon they were holding me tight. I was sandwiched behind Susan on my left and Linda on my right. I felt the warmth of their bodies, and smelled their perfume. How long we hugged I'm not sure, but I guess a full minute passed. Before Linda broke off the hug and smiled as she looked down at the floor of my bedroom.

“We should get going, the others are waiting.” Linda said. And with that she left the room.

As soon as Linda had left the room. Susan turned to me, her eyes met my eyes and then in an airy tone of voice she said.

“You know, we kept your room the way it was. Mom refuse to dad change a thing. It's still your room. They gave Linda the guest room. Which of course became her room and it will forever be her room. Just like your room will forever be your room. Come home, home back to your mothers house. Come back, please to where you will be surrounded by the fellowship of your family.” Susans said as she reached down and took me by the hand.

“You were wronged. You were mistreated. You were misunderstood. Please, dear little sister, give us a chance to right that wrong. To make-up for our past mistakes, to give. To make new memories that will hopefully wash away the old ones.” Susan was near tears at this point.

“I'm afraid..” I said reaching down to take hold of Susan's hands.

“I'm afraid we are past that point. Uncle Robert has made his position clear on my transition. Our grandmother, who still controls the family, has also made her point quite clear. I'm afraid I'll not be allowed to return to our house until the old woman has finally passed from this earth to her reward in the afterlife.” I said, closing my eyes.

“Sisters.” A voice called from the doorway. It was Linda again.

“The whole of the extended Potter Family has gathered in the foray. Mother and Father too await us. And the bell's, no pun intended of St. Francis and All Saint's Catholic Church, are calling the faithful to divine service.” Linda closed her eyes. She looked quite pale. Like a sickly Victorian child. Maybe this was too much for her damaged soul to bear, being in the house of a family who once scolded. And being in a town that once rejected her because of the actions of her misguided Father.

“Thank you dear sister,” I said looking into Sue's eyes.

“It's time.” And with that I left my room.

It was a short walk down the hallway and an even shorter walk down the stairwell. But once I reached the bottom step. I found myself surrounded by people. A sea of people. Linda had not been lying when she said the whole of the extended Potter Family had turned out. But also the Brewers, the Crofts, and last but not least a few of the Fords from Vicksburg had even made the trek here to Benton to see me being confirmed into the Episcopal Church.

“Thank you all.” I said softly.