Samantha had enough, “Deanne, you’re my friend, not my babysitter.”

“I just didn’t want your parents to see you like that. I’m the one used to the scrutiny of parents.”

“Thanks for that, but I’m serious about us being friends. You’re Ms. Wonderful to me, and I might not deserve your friendship. But friendship is what I want. I need the responsibility of growing up. Whether it is another date with Thomas or I get the nerve to ask your sister out. I want what happens after that my responsibility?”

Deanne responded quickly, “Are you going to ask out my sister? I thought Tally was the girl you would date?”

Samantha said, “She was but Roxy’s the one I have feelings for; I think Tally is moving on without me… Please don’t say anything to Roxy. It needs to be between her and me.” There was a community dance soon coming. Samantha knew beforehand she needed Roxy to know her feelings for her.

The next morning, she texted Roxy, “I was hoping we could meet sometime today and talk?”

Roxy texted back, “I was hoping to go shopping with Tally. Would you want to go with us and the three of us could talk?”

Sami said, “Do you know when you’d be back; maybe we could meet after that?”

Roxy texts, “You want to pass up a shopping trip; what gives?” There’s a pause, “Does this have something to do with my sister acting strange?”

“It’s nothing to do with Tally or your sister; I want to talk with you, just you and me.” Samantha knew she said it differently than she wanted but she couldn’t take it back.

Roxanne said, “I haven’t talked to Tally about shopping. If you came here we could decide where to walk. Would ten-thirty be okay? I’m used to sharing you with others; it will be nice to have just our time. Do you have something in particular you want to talk about?”

Samantha was tempted to say more, “It’s our friendship, but I rarely get to talk to you alone.”

Before they ended their conversation, Roxy said, “We should go see Mrs. Zupkow when we’re together. She’s been asking about you. She said she has something for you.”

Anxious to see how Roxy would respond to her asking her to the dance; she was fifteen minutes earlier than what they agreed to. She had checked the flower bed where she planted what Mrs. Zupkow had given her. Those plants and the geraniums and petunias she got are all doing well.

Thinking she was too early; she sat on the bench she had sat on the first time she was at their house. Memories came flooding back about how Deanne first helped her. Bruce had been a loner, but Deanne’s friendship and help; touched her. That skirt and blouse had touched something deep inside. She felt warm in her remembering; she hadn’t heard Mrs. Tremble come out.

She commented, “I hope they are fond memories that have you in thought.” She was behind Samantha and had begun rubbing Samantha’s neck and shoulders. “You need to relax more, you carry too many thoughts like heavy concerns that weigh on you.”

Samantha said, “I’ve not been very social, making friends comes with worries if the person would be upset with me.”

“Your friends are happy to have you,” she said. “I know your change has upset some and I suspect that is not easy for you. But you’ve made some precious friends and they should be joys, not grave concerns.”

“But what if I have something new to say, and she doesn’t like me after that? Samantha sighed, letting out a deep breath.

Mrs. Tremble came around and asked if she could sit next to her. She took Samantha’s hand and spoke, “You won’t know unless you tell her. If you think she’s a good friend, you should ask hoping for the best.”

Samantha looked, “Do you already know what I’m talking about?”

“No, I don’t, but I have one anxious daughter who's excitedly getting ready to see you.” Hearing that took a weight off of Samantha. Samantha looked up and gave Mrs. Tremble a warm hug and said thanks.

The house was an elegant old two-story house that was well taken care of; Mrs. Tremble called upstairs, “Roxy, Samantha is here.”

“Send her up Momma.”

“No, you come down and greet her. Weren’t the two of you going to Mrs. Zupkow’s?” her mother asked.

There was the skipping of feet coming down the stairs. Roxy asked, “Why wouldn’t you allow her to come up?”

“I am still used to him being Bruce, and I don’t allow boys up in your room.” Her mother said. “You need to get going if Samantha has time to with you. You know Mrs. Zupkow might keep you there for one reason or another.”

A short walk and they were there and Mrs. Zupkow came out to welcome them. “I have a gift for Samantha. We need to go around to my garden shed.” Once there she said, “I saw where you planted the plants I gave you and I’ve seen what they’re doing.” She showed them two yellow rose bushes; “I’ve gotten one for each of you.”

A tear came to their eyes Samantha, “How did you know; I wanted a yellow rose bush?”

Roxy said, “But why me?”

Mrs. Zupkow said, “If we’re to be friends you must call me Julie. And Roxy one rose bush is yours because you shared your friend with me. And Samantha, you’ve dared to come out to me. I thought that was special; you didn’t treat me light and old fogy.”

Samantha said, “But you are such a beloved fan of our school. Only the prudes don’t like you because you don’t act like they do.” Julie let out a great laugh at that. “Your yard is always too beautiful when fans and opponents come to the events at the park. My family loves your decorations at Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

The girls carried their rose bushes down to the Trembles and went for their walk from there. They walked to the town square, where Samantha had Roxy sit with her. “You don’t have to say yes if you’re uncomfortable with my idea. I am thankful to have you as a friend, but I’ll understand if…”

Roxy stopped Samantha, “Just tell me what you’re thinking; I expect it to be good.”

Samantha said, “But…” and Roxanne stopped her again. “My answer is yes! Now tell me what you’re asking?”

Samantha said, “I want to take you to the dance this Saturday at the country club; it’s open to us in the community. I’d have my driver’s license, though I’d need a licensed driver with me.”

Roxanne said, “Yes! Yes! Deanne is going, I’m sure she’d ride with us.” Roxy threw her arms around Samantha and they both were excited!

“I thought you might be embarrassed to dance and be seen as my date?” Sami said.”

Roxy said, “I think, my Mom knows I’m sweet about you. I was afraid I would always be second to Deanne, Tally, or Thomas.”

Samantha said, “They’re all nice to be friends, but you are special to me. I like doing things with you. Simple things like talking as friends, going for walks. You’re always nice to me.”

“Get real, Samantha,” Roxy said, “You don’t know me and I don’t know you like real friends should. There will be times, I choose to be with Tally because we’ve always been friends. And you need to grow more as a girl and a friend.”

Samantha said, “So you speak your mind like your sister, but different, you’re not the same. For all I know you won’t like the girl I become.” Roxy pulled close and gave Sam a big hug and kiss. Samantha says, “Like that, I am in awe of Deanne, but I feel romance with you.” Sam gives Roxy and they both are passionate. Samantha steps back, “Sorry but I want to take more time to know you.”

They walk past one of the churches, she says, “I believe in God, but I don’t like the judgment from some of the people inside.”

Roxy says, “There are people I know as friends. They’re the reason I can go in.”

They’re back to Roxy’s house so Sam can get her rose bush; Annette Tremble steps and asks, “Samantha, I’d like to invite you to stay for supper?”

“I think my Mom wants me home for supper,” Samantha said. She’s interested in how my walk went with Roxanne.”

Annette said, “We have news about the Wildcats Concert in Atlanta. And I thought the two of you could tell me about your walk as we cook the dinner.” Roxy goes behind Samantha blows on her ear and whispers, “Don’t you want to hear about going to Atlanta, Georgia? Teri will be herself.”

Samantha called her Mom asking, Can I stay here for dinner and they had news of the concert trip. I think it’s next week.”

Samantha’s Mom said, “Yes, but if it’s next week you will need to go and come back as Bruce. We have changed over your passport and ID yet for Samantha.”

“Ha-ha! Samantha laughed, “I’m glad you didn’t discard all my boy clothes.” Roxy and Mrs. Tremble heard part of Samantha’s discussion with her Mom and wondered what was funny. Then Deanne came into the room and wondered what was going on.

Mrs. Tremble was making a pasta dish, while Roxy made a salad and Samantha cut bread for garlic toast. Deanne sat listening to them telling her Mom about their walk. “We want to be closer friends,” Samantha said, “and I’ve asked her to the dance Saturday night at the Country Club.” Roxy quickly asked, “Isn’t that good Mom? You said you and Dad are going.”

“Samantha,’ Mrs. Tremble asked, “Are you planning to go as you or dressed as Bruce?”

“We’re going as girlfriends,” she said.

Deanne quickly spoke, “Adam and I can go to the dance and give moral support. I think most of the people already know about Samantha.”

“How people react could be problematic, but Roxy’s Dad and I have talked about something like this. You have our permission to go together.” Roxy hugged her Mom and Samantha was about ready to.

Mrs. Tremble opened her arms to Samantha, “Come here, you’re becoming a third daughter, I’m happy for the two of you.”

Mr. Tremble talked about the Wildcats Concert; he was amused that Sam would need to be dressed as Bruce going and coming home from Atlanta. He said, “I hope it is going to Terry or Tasha at the concert.”

Deanne said, “Terry has become Teri with an ‘I’ and there is no Tasha anymore. Maybe Roxy could go backstage with Samantha if Teri’s girlfriend Jenn is there.”

“I guess, we’re moving into the 21st Century big time,” Mr. Tremble said as he looked to his wife.

It was after dinner, that Samantha said, “I hope you don’t mind if I go home and tell my folks that Roxy and I are girlfriends and then the concert.”

Samantha was excited and a bit nervous about telling them about the concert. His Dad wanted his son back, and he wouldn’t be happy about Teri of the Wildcats….

Samantha quickly sent an email to Teri.

Hi Teri, this is your fan Samantha from New Jersey.

We heard about your concert in Atlanta and are coming. Mr. Tremble is getting our tickets. But I hope you can give us two or three backstage tickets. My girlfriend Roxy hopes to see your girlfriend Jenn if she’s there.
Your Fan, Samantha Sanders

To be continued…