45th Annual Gala of Tiresias: 7

 

As the Gala approaches, Skyler focuses more and more on what needs to be done,
while outside forces threaten to cancel the event.

---

 
Author's Note:Thank you for all the reviews and comments. I'm really thrilled you are all enjoying
the story. Please continue to post your comments. They mean a lot to me.
PS. And I have asked Sephrena to stagger the stories so they will not be up at the same time. ~Clara.
 
This version of 45th Annual Gala of Tiresias: 7 has been updated with many corrections towards spelling and grammar.~Sephrena.
 
Image Credit: Image created through the use of ai at https://perchance.org/beautiful-people .~Sephrena.

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Chapter 7
 

"Hey, girls," one of the high school's cheerleaders said as she sat down at the cafeteria table opposite Regina and Paula.

"Hi, Ellie," Regina said, not thrilled to see this particular girl sitting with them. Ellie was a social diva at the school. She was popular and she could be very manipulative at times. A 'Mean Girl' in every sense of the word.

"So," Ellie leaned in and whispered, "I heard that Mr. Carney got into a lot of trouble because he accused you of cheating on that test."

Regina shook her head. "I don't think so. He was just being Mr Carney, right? I worked hard last weekend, and I was prepared for that test. I guess he was just surprised."

"Maybe," Ellie said, licking her glossed lips and looking around, "but he's not in school today, the sweater he keeps on the back of his chair is gone and his coffee mug isn't on his desk. I think he may have been fired."

"I sincerely doubt that, Ellie," Paula said, shaking her head.

"We shall see!" The cheerleader rose and strutted away.

"You don't think he was really fired over this, do you?" Paula asked, concerned.

"I don't know," Regina replied, "but I'm going to find out."
 

~^~
 

"Hi, Sky," the voice on his voicemail said. He was playing the message through his phone's speaker so Hanna could hear it. "This is Fawn, your photographer friend. I'm just calling you, Regina and Paula to tell you that the clients loved the pictures we took last weekend. I'd like to book you all again for another session in a month. I have your mother's number, so I'll call her to confirm things, too, but I just wanted to let all three of you know that the session was a huge success! I look forward to seeing you all here again in a few weeks."

"Pretty cool, huh?" Skyler said to Hanna. "Reggie is going to be really thrilled."

"You seem pretty thrilled, too," Hanna grinned. "Look at you, getting all excited over the prospect of putting on more, fancy dresses."

Skyler shrugged. "Like I said, I'm going to enjoy this while it lasts."

"The modeling gig is in a month, Sky. The Gala is in ten days. Have you made up your mind to remain like this after the Gala, then?"

Skyler gave her a little smirk. "I'm considering it."
 

~^~
 

"According to Bea Santos, who is an office aid, Mr Carney didn't quit, but he took a leave of absence until the end of the school year," Regina told Paula. "I guess he had a fight with the principal after my mom left and she gave him the option of taking the leave of absence or she would consider having him fired for insubordination."

"Wow," Paula said. "Is that fair? I mean... you did cheat..."

Regina nodded. "I admit, I'm not happy about it, but he is kinda a dickhead and he called me stupid pretty much everyday." She thought for a moment. "I don't know if it's fair or not, though."
 

~^~
 

"That was excellent, Ladies," Karen, the technical director said after the second rehearsal. Once again, most of the contestants wore jeans and men's shirts, while Skyler was wearing a very pretty outfit that he'd bought himself at the mall. "Now, those of you who have not yet run your talent sections, please sit in the first three rows. The rest of you are free to go. If you want to watch the others rehearse, please sit near the rear of the house."

"Are you playing today, Skyler?" One of the contestants asked, rather loudly, while they all stood in formation on the stage.

"No," Skyler said, surprised by the question. "I played last week."

"I know," the contestant said with a smile. "I wanted to hear you play again, but if you're not playing, then I'm going home."
 

~^~
 

"This really has nothing to do with you, Regina," the principal said. "I can't really discuss it with you, but I will say that Mr Carney's attitude towards many of his students became abundantly clear to me last Monday, and the decisions that were made were inevitable. If your situation hadn't been the straw that broke the camel's back, another situation would have become known in the very near future. Your issue was not his first infraction."

"I just feel bad," Regina said. "Like... it's my fault he's fired."

"He's not fired, Regina. He took a mental health leave and has plenty of sick days to maintain his employment until the fall. So, relax, Regina. He's getting the help he needs to be a better teacher."

"Ok," Regina nodded, feeling better about the situation. "Thank you."
 

~^~
 

"Hello?" Skyler said, answering the call from the unfamiliar number.

"Sky?" the voice asked.

"Yes."

"This is Jenny Jacobs from the pageant."

"Oh... hi," Skyler said, surprised to get a call from last year's winner. "How are you?"

"I'm well, Sky, but I'm calling to be sure that you saw the email that went out about this weekend's rehearsal."

"An email? When did you send it?"

"Just a few minutes ago, but Sky, dear, it is not great news."

Sky opened his iPad and read the email quickly, then touched the link that brought him to a news story. "This is nuts!" he said.

"I agree, dear, but here's the situation. Some jackass who is not on the city council is demanding that The Gala of Tiresias be shut down. They are calling it a 'drag show,' which it isn't, but who cares if it was, and they are threatening to hold protests outside of the Ansonia Mansion during the show. They've even called for the removal of local officials who approved the permits for the event. It's all quite a mess at the moment."

Skyler took all of that in and considered the consequences. "So... what's going to happen? Are you cancelling the Gala? Moving it to a new location?"

"No, dear, not at this time, anyway. No, right now we are moving ahead as planned, but I'm sure this whole mess will escalate over the next few days. We really just want to make all of our contestants aware of the situation and give you all time to process everything. We are also offering to refund all deposits and fees to any contestant who wants to withdraw."

There was an awkward silence that seemed to go on for a very long time.

"You're not considering withdrawing, are you, Sky?" Jenny asked in a concerned tone.

"I... I don't know," he finally answered. "To be honest, I need to think about it. I never considered that things could turn hostile like this. I mean... what if these people want to really hurt us? I can't put my family in danger."

"I know, dear, but we can't let the bullies win, can we? We in the queer-community have to stick up for ourselves and stand up to these holier-than-thou people who want to shove us back into our closets. I hate to say this, Sky, but it's time for gurls like us to man-up and defend who we are. No one ever said that being a trans-girl was going to be easy."

Trans? Was that what he really was? A Tran-girl? He hadn't even considered that he'd fit in that category, but Jenny had just used that term to describe him. Maybe, before he agreed to fight for who he was, he should at least figure out who that really was!

"Jenny, I... I need to think through this, ok? Can I call you back tomorrow morning?"

There was a sad, disappointed sigh from the other end of the conversation. "Ok," Jenny raid, sadly. "Call me tomorrow." Then, in a hurried voice, Jenny said, "But Sky..."

"Yes?"

"Don't withdraw, sweetheart. You're very talented and... I probably shouldn't say this, but... as far as I can tell, you are this year's front runner. If... if you don't do this competition, Sky... well... you'll regret that for the rest of your life."

Skyler didn't know what to say, he was just too confused and scared right then.

"Don't let the bad guys win, honey. These are troubling and dangerous times for people like us. We have to stand up for ourselves and tell the people who want us to go away that we are here to stay."

Silence.

"Are you still there, Sky?"

"I am."

"Ok... call me."

"I will."

"Bye."

"... bye."
 

~^~
 

"Now, wait a minute," Uncle Bill said to Skyler as they sat on opposite sides of the desk in Bill's small office. "You're saying that there is a group of people in this state who think that a bunch of guys who get dressed up as women for a competition are somehow a threat to them? Am I understanding this correctly?"

"Yeah, in short, yeah, but they're claiming that we're a threat to the children of the community, somehow, and that they will do whatever it takes to shut down the gala."

"Well, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," the older man scowled. "I mean, don't these people have jobs or anything else to occupy their time? Where do they find enough hours in the day to develop all this hate and stupidity?"

Skyler was about to say something, but his uncle pushed on.

"This is not the same country I grew up in. Sky, I am forty-eight years old and when I was growing up, all this talk about hate was just in our history books. Policemen turning firehouses on civil rights marchers in the sixties, riots in Boston over school bussing in the seventies... I guess we were just naïve to think it was all over. Or, maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention until recently.'

'Sky, I spent two and a half years in the Persian Gulf doing my duty for this country. My father, your grandfather, spent twenty months in Vietnam doing the same. We didn't question WHY the government asked us to do what we did, we did it BECAUSE our country called on us and we answered the call. We both felt it was the best way to preserve the rights and freedoms of the people back home. But this... this... bull shit, pardon my French, is not what we fought for. This whole country has lost sight of the important things and everyone is just sniping at everyone else. 'I'm right/you're wrong.' It's ridiculous and I'm fed up."

"I get what you're saying, Uncle Bill," Skyler said, "but isn't saying that 'the whole country' is to blame kind of judgmental, too?"

Bill smiled. "You are too smart for your own britches, young... lady. You know that?"

Skyler laughed at his Uncle's use of such an outdated, folksy phrase.

"So..." Bill got serious, again, "what do you plan to do?"

"I don't know, yet. I need to talk to the family and figure everything out. What do you think I should do?"

Bill opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out an envelope. Then, from the envelope, he began extracting laminated tickets to '45th Annual Gala of Tiresias' to take place in a few days at the Ansonia Mansion. He laid each ticket in front of Skyler and commented on each one as he did so. "This one is for your mother. This one is for Kathy. This one is for Amanda. This one is for Regina. This one is for Hanna. And this one is for me. That's six tickets at two hundred dollars each, plus handling fees, whatever those are. I am the most frugal man I know, and I've spent over twelve-hundred dollars to see my nephew win one of the most prestigious competitions in the country. No matter what, I'm going... and I'll be very disappointed if my nephew isn't there to show everyone that he's the most talented and beautiful young woman in New England."

"Wow," Skyler said, looking at the tickets. "This is a whole new level of pressure. What if I don't win?"

Bill smiled. "If you walk out on that stage for even a moment, Sky, then you've already won. The prize is arbitrary. Showing the world who you are and what you can do... that's winning."

"Thanks, Uncle Bill," Skyler smiled. Was this who he really was, though? He still hadn't figured that out completely.

Bill made a show of looking at his watch. "Holy smokes! You're almost three minutes late for your shift. I'd hate to have to fire you after everything we just talked about."

"Ok." Skyler laughed as they both stood.

Skyler turned to leave the office, but Bill stopped him with, "Hey. Come here."

Skyler stepped towards his uncle who enveloped him in a firm, warm hug. As he embraced his nephew, Bill said, "I know I don't say this much, but I love you, you know."

"I know, Uncle Bill. I love you, too."

"I know Sky, but... I should say it more often." He released the younger man but held him at arm's length and looked at him. "Your father would be so proud of you if he were here. I just wish he wasn't so goddamned stupid. Look at what he's missing out on."

Skyler shrugged. "This is how he wanted it, Uncle Bill. He chose to leave. Now... As mom always says - it is what it is, right?"

Bill nodded. "Well... my brother is a moron. He may be gone, but I'll always be close by if you need me, Sky."

"I know. Thanks, Uncle Bill."
 

~^~
 

"We are considering reversing our decision to allow the event to take place," a City Councilor said on the newscast.

"What a sniveling, little coward," Jenny muttered while watching the TV.

"Our constituents have raised their voices and made it very clear to us that this event is not something they want to take place here. There are issues of morality that we had not considered," he continued.

The camera shifted to a reporter. "Let me clarify for our viewers. This city recently hosted something called 'SatanCon' at a convention center that is owned by the city, and you hosted a huge event to celebrate the start of online gambling in the state?"

"Yes, I believe that's true." The councilman nodded.

"So, Satanism and online gambling events can take place in PUBLICLY owned venues, but what is essentially a womanless beauty pageant that has been taking place for nearly half a century and never once caused any public strife, is too amoral to be allowed to take place in a PRIVATE venue - even though the city has already approved all of its permit requests?"

The councilman smirked at the reporter. "Things are more complicated than your obviously slanted question would indicate. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"But councilman..."

"I'm sorry. I need to go."

"What an asshole," Jenny muttered.
 

~^~
 

"If you're asking me if it's worth risking your safety so that you can be in a pageant, then I'd have to say no... I don't." Amanda said, crossing her arms and looking around the room at her mother, sisters, brother and his girlfriend.

"Well, it is a substantially bigger prize than the typical pageant," her mother said, still considering the pros and cons.

"Mom, have you been following the news, lately? Do you know what has been going on in states like Tennessee, Texas and Florida. Even in Montana, people's lives are being destroyed just because they are trans or because they are supporting trans rights." Amanda protested.

"Yes, but we don't live in those states, Amanda," her sister Kathy tried to point out.

"I can't believe you're so relaxed about this!" Amanda said, more riled up to anyone. "I mean, I can understand mom being cavalier about it because the financial stuff falls in her lap, but you and I were more like mothers than sisters to Sky! I remember teaching you how to change his diapers when you were barely out of diapers yourself! I'm not going to stand by and see him hurt over a stupid pageant!"

"I think we all need to calm down a bit," her mother said. "We all know how Kathy and Amanda feel - one in favor of Sky continuing and one opposed. Now, let's move on. Regina? What do you think?"

The fourteen year old sister looked uncomfortable. "I'm not gonna lie, I really prefer Sky like this. It's not that I didn't love you before, Sky. I did, but... we've just gotten so close lately and, to be honest, I'd really miss having my sister Sky around if she went away."

"So... you're in favor of Sky doing the pageant?" Her mother asked.

"I don't know," Regina shrugged and wiped a tear from her eye. "I mean, I don't want Sky to get hurt, so..." She thought for a moment. "Can I ask a question?"

"Of course," her mother said.

Regina looked at Sky and finally asked, "Are you trans?"

"Oh, come on," Amanda snapped, frustrated. "Just look at him! He's as cute as you are, Reggie! Of course, he's trans."

"Well, it's just that..." she tried to organize her thoughts. "See, I know some trans people at school and... well... being trans isn't just wearing the clothes and looking cute. It's a real need to be someone other than who you are. So, maybe we're using the wrong word for Sky." She looked at her brother. "Sky... do you want to be a woman?"

"No," he said, quietly.

"Ok, so if you're just doing this for the money, even if it's a lot of money, it's just not worth the risk," Amanda pointed out.

"So, after the pageant," Kathy asked, "will you just go back to being a boy again?"

"No," he responded just as quietly.

"I don't understand," Kathy said.

Skyler took a deep breath and explained. "Ok... I've spent most of the last twenty-four hours thinking about this and I'm not sure how to explain how I feel." He thought before he spoke. "See... I was never really comfortable in my own skin before, but I kind of thought that everyone felt that way. Now... now I feel... right. Like this is who I'm meant to be, but I need to be THIS me. Me looking like a girl, but Me being a guy, too."

"Is that even possible?" Kathy asked, her face screwed up in confusion.

"Yeah," Amanda, the nurse answered, "but it's not easy."

"Neither is having your junk cut off, I shouldn't think," Kathy said under her breath.

"Now, none of that nonsense," her mother said. "Let's keep things civil and supportive." She looked at her son. "So... you're not attracted to boys, then?"

He did a double take and then looked at Hanna. "How could you ask that, mom? I'm in love with Hanna."

"You could still be in love with Hanna but be a lesbian who is in love with Hanna," Regina posited.

"A...? But I'm not a lesbian! I'm a man... kinda. I guess I'm what you'd call me 'non-binary.' I'm someone who's kind of halfway between being a man or a woman. I don't know how else to explain this."

Hanna touched his shoulder. "You've explained it fine, babe. It's ok."

Amanda cleared her throat. "Let me be very clear here," she said. "I am one hundred percent in favor of Sky living anyway he wants to... I'm sorry... any way he needs to. It's just this pageant that has me concerned. Why risk your safety for something like that?"

"Because it's important to me," Skyler said. "I want to do it and I think I could win."

There was a silence until their mother said. "Hanna? Skyler says he loves you and that makes you part of the family. What do you have to say?"

Hanna looked around at the concerned faces of her boyfriend's family and braced herself before she spoke. "Ok, look, let me start by saying very clearly that I love Sky a lot." She looked at his mother. "I did before you pulled into that custom dress shop's parking lot, and I still do now. Also," she took a breath, "and I know this might sound weird, but... I kind of prefer the way he looks now. Actually, it's not just the way he looks... it's him. It's like he's more self confident, more secure in his own abilities now than he ever was. I find that very appealing. And, let me be clear about this too, I'm not a lesbian, either. Part of the attraction to seeing Sky looking like this is that I know that under all that makeup, hairspray and pretty clothes is a really cute, sweet, passionate guy."

Everyone smiled, relieved to hear that.

"Now, regarding The Gala of Tiresias... I think that he should absolutely do it. He's worked incredibly hard to prepare and the two professors he's been working with at school think he stands a really good chance of winning. So does Jenny, right Sky?"

He nodded.

"Who is Jenny?" Kathy asked.

"She won the Gala last year and she's one of this year's coordinators. Actually, she's kind of running everything this year," Sky explained. "She's the one who called me this morning."

"Alright," Mrs Moynihan said. "So, Kathy, Hanna and Regina are saying 'do the pageant. Amanda says no and I'm still on the fence. I think I have to say that I will support whatever you decide, Sky. So, it's up to you."

"Wait," Amanda interrupted before Skyler could speak. "Sky... this whole thing scares the crap out of me, but... if you decide to do it, then I'm on board, completely. I'll support everything you chose to do and I will never, ever say 'I told you so.' Ok?"

Skyler smiled. "Ok. Thanks, Mandy." He thought for a moment. "I think that I have to do it. I've worked really hard and, like Hanna said, everyone seems to think I could do really well. So... I'm doing it."
 

~^~
 

"It's something new, just to challenge you," Professor Marino said, retrieving music from the printer and handing it to Skyler. "It's not a belting piece like the one you're doing at the Gala. It's a controlled, beautiful piece, but anything in that range will make you more comfortable. Play through it and sing it as you do. It'll be a combined sight-singing and sight-reading exercise."

"Alright," Skyler sighed, uncertain as to the purpose of this exercise.

He glanced at the music. Key of F major - easy enough. Looked pretty straight ahead and he was good at both sight reading and sight singing.

"It says, 'from Jekyll and Hyde.' Is that a musical?" He asked.

"It is."

"Is it good?"

Professor Marino smiled and shrugged. "It's Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse, so it has its moments. And this song is one of those moments."

"How fast is it?"

"It's slow. Say around eighty-six to ninety BPM."

"Ok." Skyler subtly bounced his head to the tempo for a few measures, then began playing. The four bar introduction was pretty. Then he sang the lyrics.

"I peer through windows

Watch life go by

Dream of tomorrow

And wonder why

The past is holding me

Keeping life at bay

I wander lost in yesterday

Wanting to fly

But scared to try

But if someone like you

Found someone like me

Then suddenly

Nothing would ever be the same

My heart would take wing

And I'd feel so alive!

If someone like you

Found me."

He continued to sing and play, getting more involved in the song with every note. As he reached the last refrain, he opened up his newly found high range and let the notes flow out with passion.

"Oh, if someone like you

Found someone like me

Then suddenly

Nothing would ever be the same

My heart would take wing

And I'd feel so alive!

If someone like you

Loved me!

Loved me!

Loved me!"

When he'd finished, he realized that his eyes had closed as he'd held the last note. He opened them, turned and saw Professor Marino and Professor Kramer and Hanna smiling at him.

"That was beautiful, babe," Hanna said, looking as if she was about to cry.

"It really was, Sky," Professor Kramer nodded. "Congratulations, Sky. I think you just crossed some kind of a threshold. You definitely played and sang that song from your soul. I'm very proud of you."
 

~^~
 

"So, what is your decision?" Jenny asked Skyler through the phone.

"I'm going to do the gala," he said, feeling very happy with his decision.

"That's my girl!" Jenny half-cheered through the phone. "It looks like we're only losing five contestants at this point. I'm so glad you're sticking with us, Sky. Now, remember, this weekend is final dress at The Ansonia Mansion - not the hotel. Bring all your costumes and you're Agame. Ok?"

"Ok, Jenny. I'll see you then." He disconnected the phone and pulled the foil top off of his yogurt container.

"Hey," Alan said with a big grin, sitting opposite him. "How are you today?"

"Really good," Skyler smiled. "You?"

"I'm good too. You know that job I told you about? Well, I'm starting it tonight. I'm going to be waiting tables at a wedding at a hotel downtown. I think I'll be making some decent change."

"That's great, Alan!"

"Yeah, and provided I don't screw up royally, I'm booked for the next four weekends. Boy, what a relief. I was running out of pocket money since the store I worked in before went out of business. My parents aren't really able to help me out financially. I feel much better now."

"Hey, that's wonderful," Skyler said with a friendly smile. "I'm really happy for you."

"Thanks," he said, happily.

"Well, don't we all have happy faces," Hanna said, arriving with her tray.

"Alan has some great news," Skyler explained.

"Oh? What's up?"

Alan told Hanna all about his new job and Hanna listened attentively and even asked him about his previous experience in the service industry. He was thrilled to share his stories with the two pretty girls.
 

~^~
 

"I don't know," Skyler's mother said, looking at her son as he modeled the fourth pageant gown that Regina had supplied. This was Regina's favorite, but something about it didn't appeal to their mother.

"What?" Regina asked. "It's a beautiful dress!"

"It is, but... I think, even though you and Skyler look like twins, clothes hang just a little differently on each of you. Honestly, and no offense, Skyler, but I don't think that he has the confidence to pull this gown off. It shows so much skin..."

"I agree," Hanna said. "Reggie, you can wear something like this and you have a kind of 'Look at me, world. I'm beautiful' attitude, but Sky has only been wearing dresses for a couple of weeks. I don't think he has the confidence or experience to wear that."

Regina sighed, frustrated by the situation. For the last couple of weeks, she'd been dressing her big brother in her clothes and there had been no problems. Now... there were problems. Sky had no real experience with this kind of clothing. Yes, he'd been a dress model for fittings she couldn't attend, but that didn't involve moving, or performing.

They'd found a gown for him to wear in the opening. It was a fairly simple, pink silk gown that hung nicely, moved easily and didn't require complicated underthings.

They also found a nice retro-style blouse and skirt set for him to wear while singing his song - which was actually his second talent, so there was no guarantee he'd even need it.

At this moment, they were trying to find a gown he could wear while playing his Chopin piece on piano. It couldn't be restricting because he needed to be able to move. It also needed to fit securely because if he did move while playing, and the last thing anyone wanted was a boob, fake or real, to suddenly pop out of a revealing top. He also needed to be comfortable in it.

"Well, what are you looking for?" Regina asked.

"Oh, I have an idea," Hanna said, pulling out her phone. "This is Khatia Buniatishvili. She's one of the best pianists in the world right now. Take a look at what she wears."

She pushed play and a video played.

"Oh, I think that Sky is too small in the bust to wear something like that," their mother said.

"Ok, look at this one," Hanna said moving to another video.

"Oh! That'll work!" Their mother said.

Regina looked at the phone and said, "Oh. I thought you wanted something more elaborate. I have something similar to that. It's black with little gold squares kind of randomly arranged on it."

"The one you wore to your cousin's wedding last year?" Her mother asked.

"Yes."

"That would be perfect."

Moments later, Regina returned with the dress. Skyler stripped off the gown he was wearing and stepped into the new arrival. Regina pulled it up onto him.

It was designed for a smaller girl than Regina had become. A more modestly breasted girl who was, perhaps, just a little more petite overall. So, it fit Skyler perfectly.

Black spaghetti straps crossed his shoulders to support a princess neckline bodice that may have plunged just a bit more than Skyler had worn before. Below the bust line was a section that appeared to wrap around the upper belly for six inches or so, then the soft chiffon material bloused out into a spacious skirt that hung nicely and provided a loose and easily maneuvered, but formal look. It was black and it did have little gold squares that sparkled and caught the light when the dress moved.

There was a zipper up the lower back that tightened the band around his upper belly and made him look even more slender than he already was. When the zipper was raised, the gown fit perfectly.

It was simple, yet startling and incredibly feminine.

"I love it!" His mother praised, unable to keep herself from touching the soft material.

"I agree," Hanna smiled. She touched her boyfriend's soft, hairless cheek. "You look like an angel, Sky. You're just beautiful."

"You look great, Sky," Regina chimed in, "but wait until James pulls your whole look together for you. You are going to be as hot as hell when you step onto that stage. Every guy there, straight or gay, is going to get a boner when he looks at you."

"Regina Marie!" Her mother half-shouted/half-laughed. "Where on earth did you learn to talk like that?"

"From Kathy and Amanda," the youngest sibling shrugged.

"How does it feel, babe?" Hanna asked Skyler. "Are you comfortable in that gown?"

"Yeah, I guess," Skyler said, but he only said that to avoid having to say that this was the softest material he'd ever felt in his life and that he would LOVE to wear something that felt this nice all the time.

"And all he'll need to wear under it is a strapless bra, a pair of panties and shoes," his mother said, thinking aloud. "I don't think we're going to find anything more comfortable than that." She fussed some more with the dress, brushing the wrinkles out of it.

"You look sexy as hell, Sky," Regina grinned, happy to have helped to find a suitable gown for her brother. "Doesn't he, Hanna?"

"He does to me, Reggie." She winked at the younger girl before saying, "Let's just hope that not too many men end up getting boners as Sky walks by them.

Regina and Hanna laughed, but Mrs Moynihan tried to sound like a responsible parent. "Alright! That's enough from you two. Boners," she laughed, "I haven't heard them called 'boners' since Bill Clinton was President. Don't use that word, Regina. It sounds so... childish. Find another word, please."

"Can I call it an erection?" Regina asked innocently.

"Why are we having this conversation at all?" Her mother winced.

"Because, mom... guys get boners when they look at beautiful woman. And Sky is going to be the most beautiful woman at that all male pageant."
 

~^~
 

"So, that's sixty-eight-fifty from eighty, so that's fifty-cents makes sixty-nine, one dollar makes seventy and ten makes eighty. Thank you for your business. Please, come again." Skyler smiled at the older woman who was in the store pretty much every day at around two thirty.

The woman smiled at him. "I love your dress, Sky."

Skyler glanced at the light green, knee length sundress he was wearing, then grinned at the older woman. "Oh, thank you, Mrs Stoller. That's very kind of you to say."

She picked up her bags and glanced at the other register. "And how are you today, Lynn?"

Lynn, who'd seemed agitated all day, forced a smile. "I'm good, Mrs Stoller. Thank you."

"Well, you two girls have a nice day, now." Mrs Stoller took her bags and left.

"Are you ok?" Skyler asked Lynn.

"Huh? Me? Yeah... I'm ok," Lynn said. "Why?"

"Well, you just look a little pale."

A customer started unloading his groceries at Skyler's station.

"I'm fine," but Skyler could tell that something was bothering her. Maybe it was an upset stomach or something, but she didn't look well.

He needed to do his job for the moment, though, so he grabbed a box of pasta and passed it over the scanner. He moved on to the next item, and the next, and the next, not really looking at the customer. He was aware that the person had finished loading his groceries onto the counter and he'd pushed the shopping cart to the end of the bagging area and now was standing opposite him with the scanner section of the counter between them. The man was fidgeting with something over there, Skyler assumed he was looking for his wallet.

Out of the corner of his eye, Skyler saw something pass him. What was that? A fly? A moth? Oh, well...

Then something bounced off his shoulder. He stopped scanning for a moment and looked up to see if something was falling off the ceiling. While he was looking up, though, something hit his cheek.

What the heck!?

He looked down and saw something he never expected to see sitting on the counter. It was something he had never used himself. Something he recognized because he was the only boy in a house full of women who used these things.

It was a tampon.

A used, dirty tampon on the counter.

Skyler looked around, confused, when another filthy sanitary item bounced off the front of his dress.

He looked at the customer who held in his latex-gloved hand, a plastic freezer-sized bag of dirty, used tampons.

"I thought you might need these to make you feel more like a woman," the customer said.

"What?" Skyler muttered, shocked and confused.

The customer threw another tampon at Skyler. "What's the matter, fairy? Don't you know what a tampon is? Doesn't your fantasy of being a girl include having a period?"

"What?" Skyler muttered again, still unsure of what was happening.

"What are you doing?" The next customer in line, a woman in her late thirties shouted, both uncertain of what was happening and angered by the actions of the other customer.

"This doesn't concern you," the first customer snapped at her. "This is between me and this faggot."

The woman pulled her carriage out of the aisle and stepped towards the man. "I'm calling the police if you don't stop." She tried to grab his arm. "Leave that girl alone."

"He's not a girl, lady. That's why I'm here." He threw another another dirty item at Skyler.

"That's none of your concern," the woman customer stated, pulling out her phone. "I'm calling the police."

"Dad, stop!" Came from the other register, but Skyler was still shocked and confused, so he couldn't process what was happening.

"What's going on here?" Skyler's Uncle Bill shouted, moving quickly and approaching the front of store from the meat counter where he'd been working.

"This asshole is assaulting this girl," the second customer explained. "I'm calling the police."

At that moment, the male customer threw the entire remaining contents of the plastic freezer bag at Skyler, making a mess of soiled menstrual products all over the work area.

"What the hell...?" Bill shouted both as a business person whose store was being violated and as an uncle whose nephew/niece was being assaulted. He hurried around the register area and pulled the man's grocery cart out of the way, then gripped the man by the front of his shirt and pushed him up against the wall. "What is wrong with you?" He screamed at the man.

"Dad!"

Skyler turned and looked at Lynn. "That's your father?"

Lynn was already coming around the back of her cashier station and headed towards her father and Uncle Bill in the hopes of keeping her boss from throttling her father. She looked at Skyler as she passed him, and she looked as if she was going to burst into tears. "I'm so sorry," she said.

Skyler looked around the typically peaceful, neighborhood market that his uncle so loved and took in the mayhem around him. Uncle Bill was screaming and threatening to beat up a customer, Lynn was begging them both her calm down, her father was grinning broadly and spouting Bible verses at Uncle Bill, and the female customer who had called the police was saying, "Yes, at the corner of Claremont and Elliot Streets. Oh, they just pulled up now." Skyler looked out the window and saw two police officers approaching the door: one male, one female.

This was crazy!

What had he done to incite this?

Why was Lynn's dad so angry?

"Alright, now everybody just calm down," the tall, broad, male police officer said as he entered the store. Then, to Uncle Bill he said, "Sir, if you'll please release this man and step back, we'll handle things from here."

Reluctantly, Uncle Bill released Lynn's father and took a step back.

The female police officer, who looked just as powerful as her male partner, spoke to Uncle Bill as the other officer spoke to Lynn's father. "Are you the owner?"

"Yes," he replied.

"Can you tell me what happened here?"

Uncle Bill cleared his throat. "Well... I was working out back when I heard a commotion up front. When I got here, that guy was throwing something... a whole bunch of somethings at the cashier, my... niece... and calling her names. My other cashier was screaming at the man to stop... I think he might be her father... and another customer had called you people. I pulled the guy away from my... niece... and then you two showed up. That's about all I know."

"Had there been an altercation between your niece and the customer prior to the customer assaulting your niece with the soiled tampons?"

"I... I don't know, but... I doubt it. Sky is very polite."

"That's your niece's name? Sky?"

"Yes."

The female police officer turned to Skyler and asked what precipitated the attack.

"I don't know," Skyler said at first, but then he realized he knew the answer to that question. "Actually... I think it's because I'm... not... a girl... and I think he knew. He's a minister at a church that really frowns on... well... people like me."

"So, you're a trans-girl?"

Skyler shrugged. "I... guess." Then he thought for a moment and regrouped, gathering his courage. "Yes. Yes... I am a trans-girl."

The officer let out a sigh, which Uncle Bill interpreted as a judgement of Skyler.

"You're not insinuating by that sigh that Sky is responsible for what that guy did, are you?"

"Not at all, sir," the officer said with calm efficiency. "It's just that, since this may be interpreted as a hate-crime, this could turn into a federal case. I apologize for the sigh, sir. It was more about the amount of paperwork this could result in rather than a judgment of any sort."

"A federal case?" Skyler asked. "What does that mean?"

"It could mean some serious jail time for your assailant - IF he's found guilty on both state and federal charges."

Skyler looked towards the back of the store where Lynn was sobbing as her father was being handcuffed. Was he responsible for any of this?

"Sir," the female officer said to Uncle Bill, "if I could get a statement from you and your niece, please?"

Just then, Skyler heard the male officer say into the microphone that was attached to his shirt front, "This is badge number six-nine-one-seven requesting a unit to transport a detained suspect. Suspect is hand cuffed and cooperative."

"Unit is en route, six-nine-one-seven," came an electronic voice through the small speaker.

The male officer guided Lynn's father past the checkout area, with Lynn trailing behind, weeping uncontrollably. She looked at Skyler with huge, sad, wet eyes. "I'm so sorry, Sky. I..." she couldn't find the right words. "I... I'm... just... so... sorry."

Skyler wanted to reach out and hug her, but he was still frozen in shock at the whole situation.

Lynn took off the vest that she wore at her cashier's station and handed it to Uncle Bill. "Here," she said, sounding even sadder. "Thank you for giving me this job. I'm sorry it all... I'm... I'm just sorry."

Uncle Bill took the vest, uncertain of what to say in this situation.

"Wait," Skyler said, louder than he'd intended. "Does this really have to go this far? I mean... what if I didn't press charges."

"Well, I certainly intend to," Uncle Bill said. "That man not only assaulted you, but he disrupted my business."

"Yeah, but... Uncle Bill... yeah, he's hateful and all, but... he is Lynn's father. If he goes to prison, then... what happens to his family?"

Uncle Bill looked at Lynn with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Lynn, but he broke the law. I have to protect my business and MY family. You understand, don't you?"

The sad girl nodded.

Uncle Bill sighed, upset by the sight of his employee. He looked to the police officers. "What are my options here?"

The male officer answered. "Well, you could press charges. That will mean that this man will appear before a judge, and he will either be found guilty or innocent. If found guilty, then he could be sentenced to anything from community service to several years in prison. Should you choose not to press charges, then he will be released, and you could end this now, or you could still file a restraining order to keep him from entering your store again. It's up to you, sir."

He looked at Skyler. "What would you have me do, Sky? I'd rather take our chances with the courts, but... he attacked you, Sky. It's your decision."

Skyler looked at the man, then at the pleading eyes of his daughter. He took a deep breath and finally said. "Let him go, please."

The officers looked at each other and shrugged. "Ok," the male officer said, pulling out his keys to unlock the handcuffs and speaking to Lynn's father, "but just be aware that we will be filing a report. So, if you decide to pull something like this in the future, there will be a record of your behavior here today. Do you understand?"

"Yeah," Lynn's father replied, seeming to be unfazed by the officer's authority.

"How do I go about filing a restraining order?" Uncle Bill asked.

"It's a simple procedure," the female officer said and then she went on to explain.

"Thank you," Lynn whispered to Skyler.

He shrugged. "Why did he do that?"

"I guess he thought it was the right thing to do," Lynn said, sniffling. "He said it was God's will."

"Is that what you think, too?"

Lynn shook her head. "I don't agree. I used to, but... then I got to know you. I told my father that you were a good person, but..." she looked around the store, thoroughly embarrassed and confused. "I'm just... sorry."

Skyler nodded. "I know."
 

~^~
 

Alan sat down in a chair opposite Skyler, placing a full tray on the table. "Here you go," he said with a big smile, taking a dish of chocolate, soft-serve ice cream from the tray and placing it on the table in front of Skyler.

"What's this?" Skyler asked, surprised.

"I'm celebrating," the big boy smiled. "I got my first paycheck from the catering company, so I bought you an ice cream."

"Oh, Alan, that's so sweet of you, but..."

"I know, I know, you and Hanna are a couple. Don't worry, I'm not trying to seduce you with frozen treats." That made Skyler laugh. "I got one for Hanna and one for me, too." He pointed to his tray.

"That's very generous, Alan, but you shouldn't be spending your money on us."

"Ooh! Ice cream!" Hanna said, joyfully, sliding into the seat beside Skyler and looking longingly at his dish. "Can I have a taste?"

"I got you your own bowl," Alan said triumphantly. "Vanilla or twist?"

"Oh, I love vanilla," Hanna smiled.

"Perfect," Alan grinned, "because I love twist!"

Hanna took the bowl. "Thank you, Alan. What's the occasion?"

"Alan got his first check from his new job," Skyler explained.

"And I thought that a great way to celebrate is to buy ice cream for my two favorite girls!" The boy beamed.

"Ohhhh, how nice," Hanna half-sang in that way that only girls of a certain age can. That sing-song voice that flirts with the boy, infantilizes the boy, and excites the boy, all at exactly the same time.

Alan blushed and Hanna turned to Skyler. "Don't eat too much of that. You need to fit into all those slinky dresses this weekend."

"Slinky dresses, huh?" Alan gave Skyler a playful smirk. "Do you have a performance this weekend? And don't worry - it's fat free frozen yogurt."

"She does have a performance. I pageant, really... for a big scholarship," Hanna said, glancing proudly at her pretty boyfriend.

"A pageant?" Alan's eyes widened in surprise. "I never would have taken you for a pageant girl. You're too... nice."

"It's my first one," Skyler smiled and licked a little ice cream from his spoon.

"I don't think pageant girls get nasty until their third or fourth pageant," Hanna teased.

"Hey," Skyler laughed, "my sisters are all pageant girls and Reggie has done like twenty or so, and she's not nasty."

"Reggie?" Alan joined in, "I met her... right?"

"You did," Hanna grinned, "and she never said she was only fourteen, did she? See? Nasty."

They all laughed.

"So what time is your performance, or pageant thing? Maybe I can come." Alan was genuinely interested and supportive.

"It starts at seven in the evening," Hanna said, sounding helpful, but Skyler wondered why she'd offer any information about the pageant. After all, Alan didn't know the truth about Skyler.

"Oh, damn. Can't make it," Alan said, disappointed. "I'm working that night. Sorry."

"No big deal," Skyler smiled, relieved.

Alan went to stand. "I gotta get a drink. Can I get you girls anything?"

"I'm good," both replied in unison. He walked away.

"Why would you invite him to the pageant?" Skyler asked, a little peeved.

"I thought he'd enjoy it."

"But he doesn't know about me."

"Well," Hanna drew her hand through Skyler's soft, blonde hair, "maybe you should tell him. He is obviously attracted to you."

"To you, too."

Hanna kissed his forehead. "No, baby. He likes me as a classmate, but he's attracted to you. You should tell him."

"After the pageant," he finally said.

"I'm not interrupting, am I?" Alan said, returning. "If you two need some time alone..."

"No," Hanna smiled, "we're good. Sit down."

"There's nothing wrong, is there?"

"No, no, no," Hanna smiled. "Just... you know how girls are. We live on emotional roller coasters."
 

~^~
 

"I don't know what more we can offer by way of security," the police chief said to Jenny. They were in the chief's office with his sergeant standing behind the Chief. "The Ansonia Mansion is a privately owned facility, we will have a detail on duty, but these threats are probably unsubstantiated anyway. I'd advise that you just move forward with your plans."

Jenny sighed and shook her head. They'd fought the battle with the city council and were still able to hold the Gala at The Ansonia Mansion. Now, it was time to make sure that everyone stayed safe. "Chief... are you aware that there have been eighty-six trans people of color violently attacked - thirteen of them killed - in this country since the start of this year and we are barely halfway through the year?"

"Yes, but none of those occurred in this state, ma'am. This is a more open minded and accepting state than many others. You have nothing to worry about."

"Chief... I am a trans-woman of color in a country where eighty-six trans people of color have been violently attacked - thirteen of them killed and you're response is 'You have nothing to worry about.' Well, I disagree. This weekend there will be several dozens of trans-girls in this facility, many of them people of color, and I do not feel safe under the circumstances. Had the City Council just told the 'handful of people' who are trying to disrupt this event that they were just narrow minded bigots and if they decided to act on their small minded pettiness they would be arrested, then I would feel better - but they didn't. They nearly canceled the event and that gives credence to the claims of the bigots. It is entirely possible that they will be cowed by the decision to allow us to move forward, but it's just as likely that they will show up with the intent to disrupt because the City Council was indecisive - and that worries me because their kind of hateful energy frequently leads to violence."

The Police Chief let out a tired breath. "Look, ma'am..."

"Jenny."

"Ok. Look... Jenny... I fully understand your concerns, but I can't arrest people for being small minded, hateful bigots. I can't arrest them for what they are thinking. I can only arrest them for what they've done. So, I will have officers there and visible as a deterrent. Should they sense a threat, or if any situation begins to escalate, I will have more officers here in moments. I have also requested that the State Police stay close at hand. If that isn't enough for you, I'd suggest hiring a private security company. I can give you some recommendations if you'd like."

Jenny shook her head and stood, causing the chief to stand as well. "Alright. Thank you, Chief. I hope you don't think I'm crazy. I just don't want anyone hurt and I certainly don't want people to associate the words 'Gala of Tiresias' with violence." She nodded, uncertain of what else could be said. She cleared her throat, turned and left.

The chief sat and opened a file, while the sergeant walked to the doorway and watched until Jenny disappeared from sight.

"Gawd almighty," the sergeant said, shaking his head, "it's hard to believe that's a man, isn't it, Chief?"

The Chief glanced up and looked down the hallway to where Jenny had disappeared. "I guess. She certainly is an attractive woman."

"Woman?" The sergeant scoffed. "That's no woman, Chief. That's just a perv in an expensive dress."

The chief leaned back in his chair. "I take it that you don't much care for the way that Ms Jacobs chooses to live her life, then?"

"Can't say that I do, Chief. It's just not natural, you know? I just feel that boys should be boys and girls should be girls. My pastor says that these people need to be reformed or removed."

The chief nodded. "You know what? I think this would be a great weekend for you to take a little time off."

"What?" The Sergeant turned and looked at his supervisor.

"Look, Tony... I have to make the safety of the people at the Ansonia my priority this weekend, and if you're going to pass judgement on these people before we even begin working with them, then... just take a few days off. I'd rather you weren't here, just in case things get heated. I need to know I can count on my people and... obviously, I can't count on you."
 

~^~
 

"So," James, Regina's beauty consultant said, "as I understand it, we're looking for four distinct looks on Saturday." It was Wednesday evening, he was sitting at the kitchen table at Skyler's mother's house and he was doodling hairstyle ideas on a paper napkin.

"Four?" Skyler asked, shocked since he had only expected James to do his hair and makeup once at some point on Saturday and then he'd be on his own for the pageant.

"Yeah, four," James nodded. He held up a different finger for each look, starting with his pinky finger. "A formal look for the gown parade, a nineteen-thirties-Secretary look for that 'long line of good girls' song, something sporty for the swimsuit competition and something amazing and elegant for the classical music piece you're playing. Four looks."

"If I might ask," Kathy asked from where she was leaning on the counter, "how much is all of this going to cost?"

James smiled and put his arm around Regina's shoulders. "Normally, for me to actually attend a pageant and work all day, I'd be charging about thirty-five hundred dollars, but," he shook Regina's shoulders a bit, "as a favor for my favorite pageant girl, I'll be working gratis. Besides, turning boys into beautiful girls is a massive challenge and... at the risk of sounding immodest... look how well Skyler turned out with no real preparation. I didn't know what else to do, so I just made Skyler look like this one, here. Now that I know how pretty I can make him without breaking a sweat, I'm kind of excited to see how far we can take him."

"Aww, thanks, James," Regina smiled as she leaned against the beauty specialist, one of the only men in the world she truly trusted.

James grinned at her, then got back on track. "If you only needed one or two looks, I'd suggest a wig for the nineteen-thirties look. That would give me the opportunity to get everything organized well in advance and style that over the top look without a lot of urgency. Then you throw the wig on and run out on stage - no muss, no fuss."

"So, we need to buy Skyler a wig, then?" Sky's mother asked.

"No, I don't think we should go that way this time," he said seriously. "The wig would make his hair sweaty and it's a lot harder to make sweaty hair look pretty than to make over sprayed hair look pretty. Sky has beautiful hair..."

"Thanks to James," Regina complimented.

"...so I don't want to have him in a wig all night." He looked at the feminine young man. "I think the best way to approach this is for me to work backstage and I'll restyle you as needed. Reggie, I'll need your help as my hair assistant."

Regina squealed, thrilled to be a useful member of the 'Make Sky A Pretty Girl' team.

"And you, Hanna," James continued. "I'll need you to help as well. Sky will need a dresser. Will you do that for him?"

"Sure," Hanna smiled, also happy to be included.

"Great. Until this weekend, then, I need the rest of you to help keep Sky's hair soft, clean and shiny, and his skin smooth, hairless and well moisturized." James looked at everyone. "Can I count on you to do that for me."

They all nodded and muttered their assent.
 

~^~
 

"Alright, ladies!" Karen the pageant's technical director, shouted to get everyone's attention. "This is final dress. The competition is tomorrow, so this is your last opportunity to work through everything. Your playback music is all on my computer and I will start it when you are at the microphone, or, if you're not lip syncing, when you're ready for your routine. Now - We are going to send you backstage to your dressing areas. Now, remember, space is limited, so if you have people helping you, make sure that you keep to your own space and be respectful of the other contestants. Questions? No? Good. All contestants with last names A through H, head back to Dressing Room A. Last names I through P, go to Dressing Room B. The rest of you, please go to Dressing Room C."

The rehearsal had been quietly moved from the downtown hotel to the location of the actual performance space at the Ansonia Mansion, a palatial home of the Gilded Age that occupied a couple of acres of grassy land not far from the center of the city. The house had been owned by the Anson family until the mid-nineteen-eighties when they could no longer afford to maintain the property. Since then, it had been owned by a private group of wealthy families and local banks and insurance companies. By moving quietly to this location, the organizers were able to avoid the handful of Anti-Trans/Anti-Gay/Anti-Anything-WeDon' t-Understand demonstrators that had assembled outside of the hotel.

"Ok," James said, patting Skyler's shoulder, "go into the dressing room, hang up your garment bags, find your counter space and lay out the products I gave you. Reggie and Hanna, you help him. I need to talk to Karen for a moment. I'll see you in a few minutes."

Regina led the way into the dressing room, being more used to these sorts of events than the others, she was wholly unconcerned about what needed to be done. As the other contestants mulled around, looking for their name-cards on the counters and clothes rack, Regina seemed to have an innate sense of where she was going. In seconds, the garment bags were hung up and a small makeup case was open on the counter in front of the mirror. Skyler's stake had been claimed.

"Oh, it's the cute little blonde songbird with his twin sister," a sarcastic voice said from behind them.

They turned to find the contestant who called himself 'Pussy Boots.' He was wearing male clothes, but over doing his campy female persona to an extreme.

"Hi, Rodney," Skyler said, trying to be friendly. He had noticed the name tag on the counter to his right had Rodney's name on it. He was trying not to sound disappointed about this. "I guess we're neighbors here." He smiled in as friendly manner as possible.

Rodney rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Neighbors. Just keep your shit and your... team... out of my area, ok?"

"Look, Rodney, there's no reason for us to be hostile to each other. We're all here..."

"I'm here to win, bitch," Rodney said, with a dismissive, backhanded wave of his hand. "As far as I'm concerned, you, and everyone else here, is here to lose. That is all. Now, out of my way and let's do our best to avoid ever having to speak to each other again." He stepped to his area, slamming his shoulder into Hanna's as he passed her. He took a large bag from his shoulder and began laying out his makeup and tools on the counter.

Hanna was considering engaging this person in an argument, but at that moment James leaned into the doorway and called them to them to follow him.

"I spoke to Karen, and as I suspected, they have an extra room where I can set up my work area. It's not exactly a private area. There will be some catering people running in and out with their equipment, but as long as we're set up in the back of the room and don't take up a large amount of space, we should be ok. Here." He had arrived at the room, about thirty steps down the hall from the dressing room. He opened the door and stepped in, the others following. The room looked more like a kitchen prep area than a dressing room, but there was a small alcove in the rear that looked as if it may have housed a large piece of kitchen machinery in some bygone day. It wasn't a big an area but there was plenty of space for their purposes.

"How come we get extra space while nobody else does?" Hanna asked.

"Because I knew enough to ask first," James smiled. "I been through this a million times, Hanna. I knew WHO to ask, WHAT to ask and HOW to ask."

"You're amazing," Regina said, bouncing and clapping.

"Alright," James clapped his hands one time, getting down to business. "Hanna, help Sky get into his pink gown, then come back here and I'll do his hair and makeup. Reggie, I need you to help me get set up." He clapped his hands twice. "Let's get to it."

Hanna hurried down the hall, well ahead of Skyler. She was, after all, wearing a tee shirt, jeans and sneakers, while Skyler wore a loose, pale yellow sundress and moderately high heeled sandals, so there was a difference in their mobility.

When they got into the dressing room again, Hanna went straight to the garment bags and unzipped the longest one, which contained the gowns. "Take off your dress and put on your heels."

Skyler pulled the four inch high, silver shoes that went with the baby pink gown. He took off his dress and sandals, and put on the silver shoes before pulling the sundress carefully over his head. He put that dress on a hanger and hung it in his area, then turned to put on the gown, but he found Rodney standing uncomfortably close, smirking as his eyed Skyler from head to toe.

"What?" Skyler asked, a little frustrated, standing in the heels, baby pink silk panties and a matching, baby-pink, strapless bra.

Rodney shook his head. "Those tits still look too real to be fakes and..." he glanced down to Skyler's crotch, "... you're mighty smooth down there. Of course, you are a white boy, aren't you? Maybe you have so little equipment that it doesn't show. OR - Maybe you're really a white girl."

Skyler shook his head. "We've already discussed this. My breasts aren't real, and my genitals are tucked and taped. Ok?"

Rodney shook his head. "I don't think so." He walked away.

Hanna lowered the pink gown carefully over Skyler's head and shoulders, then guided the arm holes up his arms, finally moving behind him and pulling up the zipper. The low cut, low back silk gown hung just tight enough to enhance the shape of a woman's breasts, then hung loosely down to the floor in the front and continuing onto the floor behind Skyler to form a small train behind him.

"Ok, let's go," Hanna said. "Remember to lift your skirt as you walk."

He'd been practicing moving in this gown for a few days by then, so he'd gotten used to reaching down with his right hand and lifting the skirts of the gown a few inches whenever he walked.

By the time they returned to James' prep area, the space had been organized into a makeshift beauty salon with a banquet chair placed in the center.

"Very pretty," James said with a nod. "Now, sit and let me make you beautiful."

Twenty minutes of curling irons, hairspray, lots and lots of hairspray, and makeup later, and Skyler was standing on the stage in his pink gown for the rehearsal of the opening 'gown parade' in which each contestant would be introduced.

"Excellent!" Karen shouted and clapped.

"Really good work, ladies!" Jenny said, as well, appearing from the audience. "Goodness, you all look so beautiful!" She looked at Karen and then back at the contestants who were all still on their final marks. "I suppose I should make it official - After our problems with our original production team, the other coordinators met with Karen and me and we made a decision." She held an arm up towards Karen. "Our FORMER technical director, Karen, will take over as DIRECTOR for the show. So let's give Karen a big round of applause. I know she's going to do a great job."

The contestants all applauded and Karen blushed a bit as she nodded and thanked everyone. "I'm not doing this alone, though," she said. "I only agreed to do this if Jenny was helping. So, thank you all, and thank you Jenny. Now, before we move on, I just want to point out that THIS part of the performance that we just rehearsed is far and away the most subjective and... shall I say... misogynistic... section of the pageant. I say that knowing that there are three judges and none are male, but still the idea of judging contestants purely on looks has a very misogynistic feel to it. Anyway... The judges will eliminate five contestants on looks alone. I know that's not a very modern approach to these kinds of things, but it is how it works."

"So, I'm probably out at this point, then?" A larger contestant in the back row asked.

"Of course not," Jenny said. "You look lovely - as you all do. I would just suggest that you carry yourselves with as much grace and feminine decorum as possible in the gown parade."

"Good advice," Karen said, anxious to move forward, "So... after those names are announced, and we are down to twenty-five contestants, we will move on to the first of our talent sections. Now, the following five names are our first talent contestants." She read the names and Skyler was relieved that his name was not among the first five. "But remember - we are doing the first talent section in five groups of five, so you may get moved to an earlier group if someone in that earlier group is eliminated. Just... remain flexible, please. Anyway - while the first five are preparing, some of our other contestants will be answering the 'Five Questions' section of the performance. So, for now, these five contestants, please stay for the questions."

This time Skyler's name was called.

"So, those five stay. The first five talent performers, please go get ready, and everyone else, please hang tight. You will see your placement in the performance and question order posted in the dressing rooms. As the first five talent performers return to the stage, the rest of you can change and do your makeup. Questions? Great. Let's move, then!"

Jenny came onto the stage. "Of course, our guest host will be asking you the questions. I'm going to ask you three questions that will also be asked tomorrow night, but the host will have a list of questions that they can refer to for questions four and five. So, you won't know what those questions are until you hear them. Skyler Moynihan - You're first."

Skyler stepped forward apprehensively.

Jenny welcomed him and moved to question one.

"Tell me, Sky," she said officiously, "where do you go to school?" Before he answered, Jenny added, "And try to elaborate a bit. Where the school is and why you chose to go there."

Sky answered with a bit of a story attached.

"And what are you studying and why?"

He answered as well as he could without thinking about it ahead of time.

"And, if you should win the scholarship today, how would you use the money?"

Skyler thought for a moment. "Well, the bulk of the money would be used to complete my education. See... I've got three sisters - two older and one younger - and my mom is taking care of us by herself. My oldest sister graduated last year and is now a nurse. My next oldest sister is graduating this year and she is going to become an elementary school teacher. Then there's my younger sister, Regina. Reggie is only fourteen and will be headed to college in a few years, too. So, my mom has taken out loans against our house to pay for all of this, so I guess that the remainder of the scholarship money, if there is any, would go to my mom to pay down some of that debt."

Jenny nodded. "Very good." She turned to the rest of the contestants on the floor. "I will ask you all the same three questions. As I said, questions four and five will be different for each of you."
 

~^~
 

"You look good," Regina said as she looked at her brother wearing a one piece, ocean blue bathing suit with little anchors printed all over it.

"Pretty damned good!" Hanna said in a whole different tone of voice.

"And now you made it weird," Regina said, shaking her head.

"Let me deal with your hair," James said, attacking him with a brush and hair pins.

A few minutes later, Skyler walked across the stage with as much confidence as he was capable of displaying. He was in the same place in line as he had been for the parade of gowns.

"So," Karen said, "at this point we will lose another five contestants. We started with thirty of you. We lost five at the gowns, five at the questions, five at the talent and five here. So, only the final five will continue from here. Next will be the second talent sections and then we will announce who will win the four smaller scholarships, and finally the winner. Any questions?"

"When they announce my name as the winner, do I have to pretend to be surprised?" Rodney asked, provoking some chuckles, but lots more groans from the others.

Karen gave him a small smile for his joke. "When the winner is announced, she will receive a large bouquet of flowers and then she will proceed to walk down the central stage extension to be celebrated and photographed before returning to this mark by the host."

"I'll act surprised anyway," Rodney said.

"Let's run all of your second talent performances now," Karen said. "It's been a long day and we need to get some rest before tomorrow. If anyone is willing to just do your performance in your bathing suit, you can go first and then leave. Have a seat in the first row of the audience if you don't need to change."

Skyler took his seat in the audience, figuring he could just sing his song to the recorded track and then go home. He was very tired and anything that would get him home fastest seemed like the best choice.

He was seated in the audience for about five minutes before Regina leaned over his shoulder from behind and asked, "What are you doing? James needs to try your nineteen-thirties look out and he has a new costume for you."
 
 
MUSIC LINKS:

Someone Like You from Jekyll & Hyde:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YZtdLOo3XQ
 
 
To Be Continued...