Samantha said, “It would have to be as friends, but I’d like that.”

Thomas asked, “Would it be okay for me to pick you up at your house?

“Give me a chance to ask my parents tonight,” Samantha said, “if that would be good. You’ve been one of my friends my Mom has always liked; it should be good.”

Sam texted Deanne and Roxy that she was coming to tell them something. She got interested in all the spring flowers she saw as she walked the five blocks to their house. There were lilacs, tulips, and smaller flowers she didn’t recognize. She could smell some fragrances like those in her perfume and soaps. She loved the vibrant colors coming out of a drab end of winter.

Roxy saw Samantha distracted by something as she was coming down their street. Roxy asked, “What was distracting you walking down the street?”

Sam said, “I was noticing the abundance of spring flowers.”

“There aren’t any more than usual; there’s like a lot of things you didn’t notice before. I should take you to Mrs. Zupkow; she lives just before you get to the park. She’ll talk to any girl who will stop and listen. She’d likely send you home with some starts for your garden there.”

Roxy invited Samantha into the house and she called for Deanne to come and talk.

Once Deanne was there; Roxy sprung the news that Thomas went to Samantha’s house. Flustered Samantha asked with a tone in her voice, “Where did you get that information?”

Roxy said, “He announced it so plenty could hear it, and I saw his car go the direction of your house. I didn’t think he was going that direction to help your neighbor girl.”

Samantha said, “Thomas is one of my, Bruce’s old friends; he asked to take me to the dance at the Legion. And before you ask, he kissed me as an old friend.”

Roxy giggled, “Did he use to kiss Bruce, what gives?”

Samantha too laughed at the way Roxy said it.

Deanne said, “Thanks for letting us in on your news. How was your morning and afternoon with Allie? I am glad you are making new friends.”

Samantha said, “I’m surprised that I like Allie and being her friend. She and someone you know said it would be good for me to make friends with younger girls.”

Deanne said, “Yes, I did. Samantha, it will give you an insight into what some of us have done when younger girls.” Deanna said, “Before I forget, my Mom and Dad said they would get us tickets to hear the Wildcats in Concert. I read that one of the Wildcats discovered recently that she is intersex. Tasha grew up as a boy named Terry. He’s slowly coming to terms with his gender. Dad thought you might like to know others have things in common with you.”

“Your Dad is the one who thought I’d be interested in that,” asked Samantha. “Wow! Yes, I’d like to see them in concert, but where? They’re an up-and-coming band; I love their music. Hasn’t Terry/Tasha written some of their songs?”

Deanne and Roxy giggle, Deanne said, “The ones we are usually singing!”

Samantha asked, “Are we talking about one of their concerts or going to Allentown? Whatever I’d have to ask my parents if it would be okay. I’m not sure if my Dad will like the idea of me seeing Tasha?”

“Telling him it is a girl band should be enough,” Roxy said.

“You and your parents would need to realize we would be away over a night or two,” said Deanne.

Roxy said, “If we’re done here; let me take you down to Mrs. Zupkow’s.”

Deanne asked, “Why Zupkow’s?

Samantha was distracted looking at spring flowers on her way here.” Deanne smiled and added, “She’ll love introducing you to flowers; she’ll even invite you back when her roses begin to bloom.”

Samantha thought she was safe as Mrs. Zupkow was not outside. Roxy rang the doorbell and Mrs. Zupkow answered the door and heard what the girls wanted. “Great, come inside for tea, while I change into my garden clothes.” They had to have cups of tea before going out into the spring chill. Julie Zupkow said, “How sweet Samantha that you like the spring flowers.” She showed the girls crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and a flowering forsythia. She took an empty feeder and said, “This is for hummingbirds that will soon become. Put some sugar water in it and you’ll begin to attract hummingbirds.”

Samantha said, “We don’t have hummingbirds at our house.”

Julie said, “You do what I say and patiently wait and the hummingbirds will come.” Now pretty girl, take these flowers and plant them where they will get plenty of sun.”

When they left, Deanne said, “Thanks, Mrs. Zupkow, you just converted a new flower lover.” Samantha and Roxy also said thanks and goodbye.

That night at the end of dinner Samantha told her parents about Thomas inviting her to the dance. And like she said, her mother liked Thomas. Her mother said, “If you are going to a dance with a boy, Thomas would be one of the better choices. But what about when he wants to kiss you?”

Samantha said sincerely, “We are going as friends, it’s not a romantic date.”

Her Dad said, “I can go along with that.”

Then Samantha told me about going to Deanne and Roxy’s house. “Deanne said, her parents can get tickets for a Wildcats Concert, and they want me to go with them.”

Dad said, “I bet that made you happy because I wouldn’t buy you concert tickets to go as Samantha.”

Her Mom jumped into the conversation, “That would be very nice of them, but we could pay for your ticket. I’d even consider going if I could get the time off.” Mom thought, “Where would the concert be and where would you be sleeping?”

“The Trembles didn’t say, but I think it would include a stayover. Us girls would be in the next room, and I’d have to change in the bathroom.”

Mom said, “We’ll wait until they formally ask; it is a nice idea, but maybe it’s only an idea.”

Dad said, “You are not a girl yet! And what kind of band is this?”

Mom said, “It’s a girl band that’s growing in popularity.”

Mom wants to talk to Samantha in her room. “We need to talk: one if Thomas came here and invited you to a dance. He likely likes you as a girl. A kiss is not out of the question, whether you plan to kiss or not.”

Mom said, “I read one of your magazines; aren’t the Wildcats the band where one of the girls is really a boy? Do you identify with the band because there’s a boy you might identify with?”

“Mom, it’s not like he and I would be talking.” Samantha said, “He’s a singer, guitar player, and songwriter. Tasha, his wild cat character is a bit crazy, but he’s probably not like that. He has a regular girlfriend.” Samantha knows little of what Terry might be like. “Mom, I’m a girl and it’s a girl band!”

Mom said, “Don’t get all defensive; I’m only trying to let you talk. I want to listen to what’s important to you. I want to suggest that you send an email to Tasha or Terry c/o the Wildcats. Maybe nothing will come of it, but you have nothing to lose.”

“Mom, that’s a crazy idea,” Samantha began saying, “I like it.”

“Samantha. I’m impressed with the friends you’ve made this year. You’ve gotten better academically and are more sociable.”

“Mom, you know the same as I do Deanne helping me with my school learning and then for Crossover Day,” Samantha said. “I’m thankful you didn’t squash my liking her and dressing up as Samantha.”

His Mother said, “We were stunned by how badly you wanted to be involved in Crossover Day. When you enjoyed it and wanted to be in a play as Samantha things kept going. Now I can see your emergence as Samantha. Dr. De Sylvan has indicated this side has been part of you for years. She’s agreed to monitor this phenomenon of Bruce/Samantha. She said, that your estrogen levels are high for a boy; they need to be watched closely.”

“Mom, Dr. De said my levels wouldn’t cause me to become a woman. And if you don’t mind; I’m tired and want to sleep.

Instead of going right to sleep, Samantha wrote and sent an email to Terry.

Terry C/O The Wildcats,
I'm hoping against hope that this will reach you, knowing it probably won't; I need to write anyway. I'm Samantha Sanders, actually Bruce. I have become a great fan and will soon see you in Concert. My friends Deanne and her sister Roxy have invited me to a concert to see you. They helped me to come out for a crossover day at school. I thought it might be neat for you to know I will be at one of your concerts soon. I’ve recently turned fifteen.
A BIG FAN, Samantha Sanders

Come morning, Samantha showered and changed over to Bruce’s identity. His hair was in his regular ponytail and he wore two stainless steel rings in as earrings. His schoolwork was done on his computer.

Dan said, “Woe, I see my brother for a change. Can I ask if your underwear matches your appearance?” Bruce chose not to answer or was at least quiet.

Bruce said, “Mom, I followed through on your suggestion last night and emailed it.”

“You already sent it. I was hoping to see it,” she said.

“Well, I sent you a copy.”

He said, “I’m going to leave a little early to get to Deanne’s before they leave for school. And if Coach Nelson allows me, I will run practice with the girls’ track team.”

“You should take some running clothes you can change into,’ Mom said, “if she says yes.”

“That would be a good idea if I had the time,” he said, “but, it takes longer as Samantha to decide which running outfit. I don’t want to miss walking with my friends.” He quickly gathered a bag of Samantha’s, as his mother insisted. He a text the Trembles that he was on his way, to walk to school with them.

Bruce was excited to share Samantha’s news of sending an email to Terry of the Wildcats. “My Mom suggested the idea.” He showed Roxy and then Deanne the email.

Roxy said, “Anyone want to guess if Samantha gets a general reply, or if it is Terry who reads it and emails back?”

Deanne said, “Too bad we don’t have concert dates yet as they’re to be out soon, but not yet… Does that mean your Mom is open to you going?”

The day went fairly normal, but Thomas turned and went in a different direction when he saw it was Bruce at school. Coach Nelson allowed Bruce to practice would need to change into Samantha’s clothes.

The next two days of school it was Samantha who went to school and on the second day, she got a text asking for confirmation on the dance from Thomas. Samantha informed him that her Dad had a curfew time for Samantha of 10:45. Thomas asked her if the father might change it to 11:00, not a minute later… She would check.

She had two quizzes and a test, and got an A and B on the quizzes, and an A on her test in biology.

When Samantha checked after practice, she saw she had gotten an email from Terry of the Wildcats…

To be continued…