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I want to dedicate this book to my perfect editor, and wish him well. Get better soon, Tom

As everyone watched Teri come up on the roof, one at a time, they each approached her to greet her with hugs and kisses. After a while, she realized she’d been standing for a long while yet still felt comfortable greeting all her friends.

In a strange way, Teri recognized that her week in the hospital had been beneficial. She understood that everything she did there accelerated her recovery. She felt strong and in complete control of her body again. While she acknowledged that spending so much time on her back wasn’t her preference, she had enjoyed the naps. Her biggest complaint was being interrupted every couple of hours each night by someone checking on her, which had messed with her body clock. She never had more than three hours of uninterrupted sleep. As a result, she grew tired easily. But that wasn’t the real Teri. The real solution was that she needed to be up and active.

Thank goodness, Teri thought, Julia and Robyn had gotten her up and walking countless times each day. Before she left, a physical therapist visited her several times and discussed exercises and how to gradually increase her activity. The therapist cautioned Teri that her muscles wouldn’t atrophy, and she could take her time returning to pre-surgery standards.

The first couple of days had been rocky until the anesthesia finally left her body, and the dizziness had stopped. The Tylenol she was taking for pain didn’t seem to affect her brain, particularly her balance, and she could have called herself clearheaded.

Her doctor had also told her that the surgical area would itch more than hurt, reminding her that the nerve endings would regrow and connect over time, leading to increased sensitivity. The doctor was more concerned with Teri keeping herself clean. She discussed UTIs, or Urinary Tract Infections, and how to prevent them. The best part was that Jenn was present at all these conferences, and Teri felt reassured that a second set of ears would be there to help.

As she was leaving, Robyn handed her a box containing the same dilators she’d been taught how to use this week. Absentmindedly, one time, Teri looked up the word dilate and discovered that it was a verb: make or become wider, larger, or more open.

As Jenn leaned in and whispered, “Your first sex toy.”

After that, Teri walked around and spotted Phil and Richard. She always thought of the two of them as her uncles. Of course, she gave Phil and Richard big hugs, telling them that she couldn’t wait to play her new vinyl on the stereo she’d installed back at the house. “When I get home to the band house, the first thing that I’m going to do is relax and listen to my Rock Gods! These are the Masters!” She paused for emphasis. “And I really want to record some new material. Having to stay laid up in the hospital for a week was tough; my brain kept coming up with new songs and lyrics for the band and I can’t wait to get back to work.”

Phil glanced at Richard and smiled. Richard turned to Teri. “Uh, just so you know, we had a gentleman’s wager that you’d be writing new material for another album when you were still in recovery. We figured that you could never just sit.”

Teri smiled. “That was the bet? And what did you bet?”

Phil blushed while laughing. “I’m not going to tell you, but I won.”

Richard grinned. “It’s the kind of bet that we both come out winners.”

Teri blushed, too. “This sounds like an X-rated bet that I’m not old enough to visualize. But I do have a question and need your advice. Is it wrong to start developing new material even though the album has only been out for a couple of months? I mean if we start playing new stuff that someone records, will that bother Warner?”

Richard smiled. “No, I think it’s what happens to every band. And back to discussing playing new material before you record it. I believe that the more the band plays the songs, the better they sound. You guys showed it off in the Philly recording studio. The band came rehearsed and ready to record those songs. Your first album was a great example of well practiced material. It’s a work of art!”

Phil laughed aloud. “Ignore the man, he’s all excited about losing the bet.”

Richard was convinced. “But seriously, you recorded songs that the Wildcats had been playing ever since you wrote and sent them along. Some of those hits are a year or two old. I agree that you rearranged some of them, and yes, some of them were new. But everything had been test-driven. Every song had lots of miles on it.”

Phil laughed. “Richard’s new car analogy is a good one. But we don’t need to watch the clock when we release songs or play them live. Introducing new music helps keep the band on its toes, too. Every musician releases their music at their own pace. Taylor Swift released music throughout COVID-19. She put out a record when the spirit moved her. Adele has years between her releases, and she doesn’t seem to be on the clock. We can look at every band’s chronology; they’re all different. Personally I think it’s important to stay out there producing fresh music. As far as sales go, we don’t want the band’s luster to fade from everyone’s mind, and we shouldn’t wait too many years for another album.”

Teri gave each of them a hug. I hope that you’ll hang out. and stick around for the party. “Who knows? Iy could turn into a fun night. You don’t have to leave Philly early? I’m assuming you’ll be staying the night?”

Phil smiled. “Of course. Throughout the time you've had the house in the country, we’ve been renting a condo outside of Allentown, not too far from Bruno. We’ve kept the lease and during the tour used it as a place to change our clothes. And thanks to the Wildcats’ success, we’ve been able to sell our condo in New York and find one that we like better. Neither of us has suffered hanging on to the Wildcat coattails.”

Teri smiled. “It’s crazy! I still can’t believe how everything has happened so fast. I won’t be nineteen until the New Year. It’s still weird to think that last spring I was worried about paying for a semester of music school, and now I could start my own scholarship program.”

Richard smiled. “Your financial advisor should be able to offer you ways to create your own foundation to ensure that the charities you favor will receive some of the profits you make. And if everything is written correctly, you’ll be paying less taxes, too.”

As they walked away, Teri shook her head. So much had changed in such a short time. It was crazy.

“Hey!”

Teri recognized a familiar voice. She turned and hugged Grace. “I love you. I’m so happy to see you. I missed you terribly and just wanted to call and talk on Thursday when we missed our session.”

Grace frowned, “Are you okay?”

Teri laughed and squeezed her tightly. “I am great. But I just wanted to hear your voice, and well, see your smile. I have to tell you about this crazy dream I had when I was in surgery. The doctor wasn’t sure, but she said that if the anesthesiologist had been using certain medications during my surgery, and I could have been dreaming. Well, I found myself living right on top of my imaginary hill. You know, the one that we created to help me with my anxiety. And I had a chance to live in it and explore. I walked through the woods and swam under the ocean. It was amazing, and so realistic. I loved the adventure!”

Grace smiled. “I’m just glad that you made it through the surgery and came out happy on the other side. Seeing you smile is a reward for me.”

Gina stood there grinning from ear to ear. She looked at Grace and started telling a story. “You know, a long time ago, when you first joined the Cats, I asked Grace what she thought was going to happen with you. You know, it was just you disguising yourself as Tasha and working through everything. Back then, we didn’t even know anything about you.”

“Oh, I remember. I was going through so much and then finding out that I was intersex!”

Gina nodded.

“Yeah. My life’s been like one of those video games where things come at you and change you, and you still have to keep exploring and completing the quest. It’s like one huge journey that never ends.”

Gina hugged her. “You got it there. You’re on a never-ending journey.”

“I don’t know.” Teri turned to Grace. “But isn't that kind of what life’s all about? I mean, we try to have control, but sometimes it's like riding a tornado, hanging on for your life.”

“Well, sure. You’ve been through a lot and worked hard to handle it. And besides discovering the mental and physical issues of being intersex, you’ve been dealing with the success of the band. I think you’ve been doing a masterful job of keeping your head above water.”

“Uh-huh. Having the Wildcats blow up so quickly has been something I could have never imagined.”

Gina laughed. “It’s been the opposite for the rest of us. We spent four years touring every dive, bar, and small club playing music every night. We could only dream about what’s happening to us now.”