Finale

 
 
 

     With the dance at seven, and my own appointment scheduled tactically at four-thirty, everyone else was just too busy to worry very much about what I was doing. I spent the early afternoon in the tub trying to relax, and trying some of the other little bottles that I'd found in the bags that I'd brought home from various places. They smelled nice, but from what I could tell, most just made the tub really slippery.

By the time I started to leave at three, none of the ladies in the office were any more interested in checking me out than they had been the day before, so with a call I was able to walk out the side door, and directly to the bus. No one else seemed to notice, and this time of year, it would be dark well before I got back.

I still breathed relief as the bus pulled away.

 
 
 
 

"Chris, have a seat." Rachel said. Jessie was there, but she was ‘dealing with’ a girl about my age. It was several minutes before she came over to take me from the magazine I'd just opened.

"The rumpus room, Chris." She said pointing, and once there she gestured to the seat. "Do you know the real difference between you and the girls at Saint Mary's, Chris?"

I could only shake my head.

"You are much nicer." She said flatly, running her fingers through my hair. "Ok, where is the hat?"

"Ma'am?" The hat had been in my pocket since I sat down on the bus.

"Good job not getting beat up. I told you not to, and you didn't, but I want the hat." She held out her hand.

"I'm sorry, I thought…"

"Hat!"

I hurriedly pulled the knit cap out of my pocket.

She took it and threw it into a drawer.

"Good thinking," she said. "You can have it back at the end of the semester."

She ran her fingers through the cut again. "It came out really good, if I do say so myself. I love the color. Thank god you came in yesterday, 'cause now this will be so much easier. Now, watch what I do."

Watching was a waste of time. I had no earthly idea what she did, but once it was styled it really looked very nice. Much like the girl in the picture, and perhaps even just a little better than I'd hoped.

I was admiring it when I noticed the girl from the cosmetics counter at the mall, Donna, watching from the curtain. "Pretty." She said, and pushed in a little cart.

Jessie said, "I believe you've met. Donna, this is Chris. Fortunately he's really easy to work with, because at least three of the last four girls have changed their minds and want your help."

"Jess, I have to go to the store. I can't do three. They'll have to come there, and there is no time left."

"I know. Don't worry about it. I'll pick one…" Jessie said, and was gone.

Donna moved to look at me.

"Donna, if I said anything the other night…" I felt I should try to explain, but I had no idea how exactly, so I shrugged a little and tried at least to look apologetic.

"What do you mean?" She asked, looking between me and her cart, more to look at the colors and things she'd need, than to really consider anything I said.

"Well I just thought you were not happy with me." I finished weakly.

If she even frowned slightly, it wasn't enough for me to see. "Chris, I thought you were great. You looked at one or two things, and then bought just about one of each type you had me pull out. I can see you even listened to what I had to say. You may be the best customer I ever had."

"I didn't want you to think I was rude." I said, as she lifted my chin.

"We were probably rude to you, me because I was tired.” She told me, still not paying much attention to what I said. “Did you do this?" She asked, and I nodded. "It's better than it was when you came into the store."

"I've been practicing." I didn't feel like telling her that Miss Lynn had done the makeup that first night, and that I’d been too nervous to sit still for her.

"It's better. That first night the colors were off, and it looked like you rushed. Hold still…"

She never smiled until the very end when she stepped back to watch my face as I turned back to the mirror and stared... and stared.

 
 

 
 

     I was watching out the partially closed blinds of my window. The lights were shining brightly in the center of the Crystal Hall, with the lights around the walls dimmed. Even so, it reflected on the frost along the ground, looking like glowing silver and gold paths through the trees, leading in every direction.

The kids were filing in, and there were several buses sitting in the long drive adjacent to the reception hall.

It was time.

I was ready. I had been for over half an hour. Little touches of makeup fixes with what I’d bought off the cart to thank Donna were all I felt I needed. I didn’t really need those, because I’d been feeling mostly calm and only a little nervy.

At least five people had seen me outside, but none had been close enough to see me well enough.

I turned and began to release the dress from it's hanger.

Tucked inside, I found a wrap that Anna must have slipped in. It was very sweet of them, but it proved to me how much my hands were shaking as I loosened it from where it had hung inside the dress.

I lifted the dress high, and let it fall quickly to the floor to spread the skirt as much as possible before stepping in, but then the realization hit me that I might not be able to manage the restroom so well in the dress, so I had to do it over again, after a visit and a last spray of perfume in the bathroom.

The gown was much harder to pull up than it had been to drop over my head, and that was only barely possible if I pulled the zipper all the way to the very bottom, but I was too afraid I'd mess myself up, so I struggled, and finally the dress slipped up.

Reaching around behind myself, I felt for the zipper and tugged, only to have it move about an inch and stop. I tried again, and then again, but it was no use. I carefully slid the dress down, and turned to look at it. Using both hands, I was able to hold the sides of the dress together, and with a few tugs the zipper slid to the top.

I lowered the zipper to just above the point where it had stuck, and turned around to lift the dress back into place, but it was too tight, so I lowered the zipper fully once more, and pulled the skirt back over my hips before I reached back and tugged again.

I felt like crying.

I didn't even know why this was so important to me. All I knew was that it was. I wanted to do this, and I needed to go to the dance. Perhaps it was only to prove to myself if the dreams were real. I had to go, because I had to know. I leaned against the desk trying to think, and it was only my frantic thoughts that prevented me from crying right then.

I slipped the dress off and looked at the zipper again. The hole it the tab was too small to put the end of a hanger through.

Despite all the practice I'd had lately, I still hate it when I cry. "Don't cry you goof," I whispered to the mirror as I squinted my eyes, and looked at the reason I did not want to cry. "Think." I breathed.

I opened the desk drawer looking for anything that I might use to help, but office supplies held no hope. A paperclip, maybe, I thought, but I only had three really big ones, and they didn't fit the hole either. I began looking around in my other drawers, until I found a small sewing kit that my mother had included in some care package at some time in the past. At the time, I remember thinking I really had no clue which end of a needle to stick into myself, and that it was the one thing that all boys on their own must surely need.

I picked it up from where it had lain for over a year, apologizing silently for my lack of faith in my mother, before pulling out the small spool of thread. I fully unzipped the dress again to carefully loop the thread through the hole several times, making as many loops as I had thread on that tiny spool before I readjusted the dress to try again.

The zipper seemed to move, as I held the sides of the dress together as best I could with one hand, but it was hard. several times I tried to pull a little harder, even letting the slide down a little before trying again. Of course, the thread finally broke.

I looked around the room, in between glances at my clock, but there was nothing else that might help.

I tried twice more like that, with the white spool and the black spool, looking at the girl in the mirror, but it was no use. I looked again. A hanger just wouldn't fit in the hole, and I had nothing else.

That's where I was, still looking at myself in the mirror and struggling desperately not to cry, when a loud bang from outside my door brought me rushing over to peek.

"Come on, we have to move!" I heard complaining coming from just outside.

"You in a hurry? Twinkle toes?" I was already moving the door, and I quickly cracked it open to look carefully around the edge.

"Girls, you fool. Women! You probably like going to an all boys' school you loser."

Coming down the hall behind the others was the boy from the corner room, Benny Jackson. Unmistakable, because he had the darkest skin of anyone in the school. I called softly "Benny!"

"Chris?" He looked at the door as I pulled it back in front of me. "You better get a move on. I had to show those guys how to do a bow tie, and…"

"Benny, I need your help. Please?" I called softly, from just out of sight.

"Sure, Chris, but one shot at the tie…" I stepped back behind the door, and pulled it fully open. "… and you are on your…" Benny stopped mid stride, but I was between him and the door, which I let go to face him, while holding the front of the dress at the breast. "Chris? What the hell?"

"Benny, I'm so sorry. Please don't freak out on me." I pleaded with him. "I need your help. The dress is old, and I need help to get the zipper up."

"Is this a joke? You don't have time to change!" His mouth moved again, but only soft guttural sounds came out, when his eyes suddenly grew wider. "Hey, now. Look'ie here Lady. I have mace, and I'm not afraid… I'll scream."

"Benny! For God's sake, just pull the zipper up for me, please. We have to go." I turned my back to him, not sure if I was trying to give him access to the zipper, or keep from crying if I looked at him any more.

"Chris, what are you doing?" He said, still standing there, and not moving an inch.

"I don't know, Ben, please. I can't get it up, and I'm going to be late."

"This doesn't mean we are going together, man."

Finally I felt his hands at my back, just as I was sure tears would slip free. Instinctively I tipped my head forward to keep my hair out of the way, even though it was surely too short to get stuck.

He tugged several times.

I tried to help. "You have to hold it together, Ben, but be careful it's very old."

"Yeah, Chris. Thanks. I thought that zippers on dresses worked a different way. Man this one is going to take the… cake" The zipper slid to the top, as the dress conformed itself to hug me firmly from hip to breast.

I gasped out loud in relief. I'm sure my eyes were still dewy when I turned to thank him.

"Thank you, Benny. I owe you big time."

"Chris, what are you doing?"

"Don't freak on me, Ben. Please."

"Look who's talking? Now let me get the hell out of here, but first turn around let me wipe my fingerprints off the zipper. I want no part of this if Pierce decides to dust for prints."

"Don't tell anyone, please?" I had the instinct to reach for his forearm, but I was sure he'd jump out the window if I did. "Everyone will see anyway in a few minutes."

"Tell them what?" He asked. "This is all you baby. I want no part of it, except for the fact that you need to tell me which door you are going to walk in, because I'm going to set up a chair right in front of it, man."

"Thank you, Benny. Thank you, so much."

"No problem, Chris, now let me out."

He walked around me to the door, and pulled it open, only to turn and look at me again. Shaking his head at me, he let the door go without saying anything else.

No sooner had I turned to find the stole, when I heard a loud knock, before the echo of the closing thump had even faded away.

For several seconds I thought it might be Mrs. Pierce or Miss Lynn, even though I had been sure they would be too busy to worry about me. Looking around, I'd never fit in the closet in this dress, and the bathroom was no hiding place at all, so taking a breath, I walked to the door and slowly pulled it open.

"Benny?" I asked, relieved, and surprised he was still there.

"Chris, you Okay?"

"I'm fine now, Benny. I just couldn't get the zipper up. I'm sorry." The frustration still made me want to cry.

"You need a date? As long as you don't expect my pin or anything, I'll walk you across if you need me to."

He actually looked worried.

"No." I said, this time placing my hand on his forearm. "But, thank you, Benny - for everything."

"You sure?"

I nodded, much calmer now as I took a deep breath.

Benny did something then that I just didn't expect. He complimented me.

"You look great, Chris," he said in parting, and chuckled to himself all the way to the stairs.

"Ben?" I called.

He turned.

"I'm using the same side door as the rest of you guys. The one on this side."

I’m pretty sure he chuckled to himself all the way down the stairs as well.

 
 

 
 

     I needed the cold air to help with my jitters. The butterflies were still there too, and the cold on my chest and shoulders and back made me shiver gently despite the wrap that I was using to cover my bare skin for the short walk to the hall, but my head was clearing - a little.

Ahead of me, the lights in the hall grew suddenly brighter in the center of the dance floor, even as the lights over the tables dimmed further. I had to hurry.

One of the caterers was at the door, moving some forgotten item in, and he stopped me and said. "The door for you girls is over near the buses." He was just being nice.

"I know." I said, and just stood there waiting for him to move, not knowing what else to do.

"Have it your way, Miss." He said opening the door further for me. "Enjoy the ball."

I grinned, and thanked him as I walked into the outer hall between the inner and outer glass doors. There was a table that had been placed there for the boys to leave their top hats, gloves, bicycle pumps. I was surprised. There was actually a hat there. I left my stole and a small drawstring bag that held a few cosmetics and tissues beside it.

The inner doors were open, and I stood there for several moments. I took several deep breaths before I realized that people had looked in my direction. No one noticed yet. They would.

My mind was unnaturally quiet, and I took one more deep breath, as I gently lifted my skirts and slowly walked into the brighter light at the end of the line of my classmates, who being generally smaller, were lined up in front of the upperclassmen. I stood there, folding my hands in front of me, I think outwardly calm.

It was done.

The boy beside me, whom I had not even looked at long enough to recognize nudged my arm softly.

"Hey. You're on the wrong side. The girls are lined up over there."

"Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen." Mrs. Pierce's voice rolled from the end of the dance floor, and the end of the hall in front of a small microphone that had been placed there in front of the small orchestra for the conductor.

I took another deep breath, and slowly turned to look the boy beside me in the eye. It was almost two seconds before I saw his eyes widen, and his complexion fade. I was sure mine was doing the same, and I had to force myself to breathe deeply again as I tried to settle the butterflies once more, because I could see several other guys heads turning toward me or worse popping out of line to see.

All I could do was to turn forward, again, letting my eyes rove over the rows of beautifully dressed girls across from me. About half were in more modern gowns, and about half were dressed as I had, but they all looked lovely as my eyes moved slowly over their line. They were doing the same.

"Let me just say how happy I am that so many of you could be here for me to welcome you to your Winter Ball." She paused as several people applauded politely.

I thought I heard the murmur of an earnest conversation off in the darker area near the tables where the adults stood, but I couldn't hear any of the words.

"Thank you. Now let me just say, that the first obligation of all of you here is to have a good time, and enjoy yourselves and each other's dress…"

I glanced at her long enough to see her eyes grow wide as she lost it looking at me.

"God." I whispered, and tried to let my mind go blank. Someone touched the bare skin on my back softly, but I barely noticed them. I was too unnerved over how badly I’d unsettled Mrs. Pierce.

"I'm… Excuse me, each other's hair." She took a deep breath, which everyone heard over the microphone, but I don't know where she was looking at that point. I was too afraid to even glance in her direction, and I couldn't take my eyes off one tall girl who was staring directly at me, as many of the other girls now were.

"I beg your pardon. Your first obligation is to enjoy each other's company. So enjoy yourselves, and if I see too many hiding along the sidelines, both I and my counterpart, Mrs. Lang of Saint Mary's, will be happy to make introductions. So, especially for all you ladies - Welcome to Saint Andrew's."

There was some polite applause, but this time I definitely heard some words off to my left through the noise, but I couldn't look that way either. I had known there was a good chance that I would be escorted out, making this the most expensive ball gown on a per minute basis since Katharine the Great had worn one to an orgy, but I so dearly hoped not.

The noises from the adults came a little louder "… I don't care." "You can't. He can wear what he wants…" "Don't you think I know..." There were shadows of movements to my left, and to my right I could see Mrs. Pierce smiling at everyone else as she made her way calmly but inexorably in my direction. "He'll always be the boy who showed up… dress, for the rest of …"

Mrs. Pierce had nodded to all the ladies across from us, more than one of whom, were nudging their closest companions and nodding in my direction instead. My eyes found several of the girls who were just looking, and the few more who did not seem to notice anything unusual, but most already had.

"Chris?"

I jumped at the voice right behind me, as I was turned by my shoulder.

I found myself staring up at Tom, unable to move or think.

"Did you come to dance?" He asked, glancing repeatedly over my head, but smiling down at me.

I nodded somehow, unable to tell him he didn't have to do this, but he had my hand already, and I still couldn't speak.

He led me toward the dance floor before any other couple had a chance, which signaled the conductor to announce a request for the Rogers and Hammerstein waltz.

The opening bars of the prelude music were already sounding as he led me past Mrs. Pierce.

Tom shifted to be between she and I, and said in passing, "Good evening, Mrs. Pierce."

I couldn't tell if she was frowning or smiling. I could see her in stark relief, but my mind would not process the information my eyes were trying to send it.

Behind her, even the girls who had been nudging, or even pointing, had stopped to watch me being led to the floor. Some smiling, some curious, and some practically expressionless, but all were watching.

Tom took my hip, waiting for the orchestra.

"Someone told me you are supposed to breathe, Chris." He said, smiling down at me. "I can actually see your heart beating in your chest."

I didn't laugh, I couldn't, but the spasm that went through me rekindled the process of moving air in and out of my lungs just the same.

"Tom?" I husked weakly "Why?'

He grinned again. "Are you kidding? We're friends. You're also one of the prettiest girls here, even though I'm going to do most of my dancing with Angie." He grinned broadly down at me as we heard the piece begin to play. "Mostly though, Chris. When I'm eighty I'll still be telling folks: 'What do you think I did? I asked him to dance'."

He laughed at my expression as I stepped into the pull on my hip.

The lights on the side were dimming more, and for several seconds, when I was not looking at Tom, I was conscious of being watched by every eye. We were all the way around the floor before the second couple joined us. I couldn't muster the breath to ask Tom to stop grinning, and I was too overwhelmed by the lights and faces that were sweeping past us anyway.

When he paused and let go of my hip, and I instinctively held out my freed hand as I continued in a circle around him, he laughed again at the cooing noise that rose form the girl’s side.

There were by then at least a half a dozen couples, one of whom was grinning at me more widely than anyone else. Jerry.

As the waltz ended, my heart was still intent on beating its way to freedom, but the butterflies had finally cocooned themselves into a warm tingle that filled my middle.

Tom stopped us at the far end, near the orchestra, and as far away from the adults as possible. I could only look at him in awe and gratitude.

"Thank you, Tom." I said softly but clearly, even though I could have as easily cried as I released my gratitude to him.

"No, Chris. Thank you." He said as he leaned down to peck my cheek! Several folks nearby gave a good-natured chuckle of approval, and there was a softer cooing sound from the girls on my right. It didn't keep my expression from telling him how grateful I was.

"Excuse me?" He asked. I laughed and patted his chest to let him go. He turned toward an amazing looking blond girl, who I assumed was Angie, and who was walking toward us grinning and shaking her head.

I looked away as soon as I could, just as the next waltz was beginning. I tried to stand calmly and watch the couples joining on the floor, but I could not help but glance at the other end of the hall.

I was at first relieved to see that Mrs. Pierce, and Miss Lindsay were standing at the edge of the dance floor with their backs turned toward me, obviously not intending to snatch me right out of the middle of the dance. My relief wavered, though, when I realized that Mrs. Pierce was standing facing one of the governors - one of the important ones. One look at how straight her back was told me all that I needed to know.

Miss Lynn was with the head, talking to another group.

"Wish I'd thought of it too. Could have charged them double."

I laughed, mostly with nerves, before I even turned to face Freddie.

"Chris, may I just say… Wow!"

"Oh, knock it off, Freddie, please? I didn't bring any money with me."

"I'm not kidding, Chris. I almost dropped that first day I saw you in the hall, but this. It's amazing. If my mum and dad had come, I'd be introducing you to them right now."

I grinned painfully. "Oh, Freddie, give it a rest."

"You look absolutely beautiful, Chris."

"Thank you, Fred." I said this while reaching out to brush the silky lapel of his jacket. "You look very handsome too. This is much better than that stupid skirt." I tried to giggle, but couldn't. He did look much more handsome.

"Thank you. Come on." He held out his hand.

I blushed then. "Freddie, knock it off. Okay? I mean it."

"What? I'm not good enough to dance with?"

"I'd rather dance with Mrs. Pierce." I said grinning now.

"Why you stuck up little…" He started to laugh.

"Ass." I said, the giggles finally escaping my tight insides too.

"Tease."

"Jerk."

"Bitch. Come on."

"Freddie, do you remember last year when you jumped into a bed full of peanut butter?" I asked him, sweetly.

"Don't remind me, I still… Hey! That was…? Awe, Chris. No way that was you, man, you wouldn't say boo to Vladimir Putin."

"No, I wouldn't." I admitted. "But I'm not on a scholarship either, and I can buy a whole lot more peanut butter if you keep it up." I smiled as sweetly as I knew how, and looked at the girls again, trying to get up my courage.

"Yes you can,” he said beside me, “but I'm bigger…"

Freddie had somehow moved in front to take my hip, and I instinctively followed his lead easily enough for him to put us back onto the dance floor again.

He grinned at me the whole time, even though he was the only dance partner I had that night who I didn't stare back at. I had to look at the other faces, or anyplace other than Freddie.

However, I had somehow forgotten that he was also one of the best dancers in the school.

Then I could not help but to look at him.

We danced for the rest of that waltz, which was only for a little while, but it was really nice just the same. He was a much better than me, I realized.

As the waltz ended, he grinned again, and said "Thank you, Chris" and did that little peck on the cheek thing making me close my eyes and go more than a little rigid as I gently squirmed from the assault.

"Freddie." I whined softly. I was now giggling and shivering inside and out.

"Thanks, Chris." He grinned broadly, and then stepped over to ask one of the other girls to dance.

Girls!

I turned quickly, but it was already too late. I was a lost gosling, being surrounded and drawn into the center of the flock.

I spun back hissing. "Freddie! You dirty bast…"

"Hi. You must be. Chris." I heard.

I looked back for the girl who had addressed me, and quickly had to look up. She was wearing a modern gown, and was tall. She was the girl who'd been staring fixedly at me. She was also awfully strong looking… It threw me a little. My god, she was pretty, with a pretty shape, but you could still see that she had actual muscles in her arms.

"How…Hi." I stammered.

She laughed, I think because I was completely surrounded and completely cut off at that point.

"How beautiful." I heard whispered just behind me, and: "So pretty for a boy…" "Too pretty, you mean..."

The big girl laughed again, and said simply. "I'm Beth. I ride the bus to our field meets with Tom, who told us about you helping out."

"I. I, he?" I responded boldly, clearly taking charge of the conversation. Oh, God.

Her smile didn’t waver. "When he said you were actually very cute, we teased him something fierce. Now I’ll have to apologize."

"What did he say?" I managed, in English, one of the three languages I thought I could understand.

A girl beside me pulled my shoulder gently. "Do you go to Saint Andrew's?" She asked staring at my eyes and face before she looked down at my gown, where even another girl reached out and whispered to others beside her. "Look. it's hand painted…” “That’s a boy?" "So Beautiful..."

I nodded to the first girl, which caused the cooing sound again, but this time it came from all around me.

Another girl leaned in and asked "Are you the Headmaster's granddaughter or something?" She was staring at me in disbelief. This girl was very pretty, and it made me blush as I struggled to sound normal. I found almost enough air in my lungs to say "No. I just go."

"How long?" Someone else asked.

"Two years." I told her, to softer cooing and louder murmurs.

Suddenly behind me another girl said loudly. "Well enough of this. I need to find a man before they all go poofy on us."

"Jesus Jenny." The pretty girl said to her. "You have to be such a slut all the time? You were already voted most likely three years running." She did not look happy with Jenny.

The rude girl said "Whatever." and kind of stalked off.

Beth took my hand, forcing me to look at her, even though there were still soft comments and questions all around. They all ignored the rude girl too.

"So," Beth asked, "would you like to dance, or did you just plan to dance with all the cute guys so none of us had a chance?"

"What?" I was stammering now "No! I wanted to dance with you guys. Guys?" Oh, god. And I was worried about asking a girl to dance.

"Good." Beth said, and practically pulled me through the rustling of feathers, as she made a path through the center of the flock to the edge of the dance floor.

There were over a dozen couples now, including some of the ones who were far less confident, but no one had run over anyone yet.

Instinctively, I guess, I reached up to put my hand on Beth's shoulder, and she only laughed when I blushed because of it. She wasn't offended, because she grinned and shook her head, as she drew me onto the floor.

Beth wasn't a great dancer, but she was at least nice enough to realize fairly quickly that she had to slow down and take smaller steps to keep me from having to run around the floor after her. She would have been better if she hadn't been asking me so many questions about what Tom had told her on the team's bus.

I myself almost tripped us once, when Freddie flew by grinning, and I mouthed the suggestion explaining his parentage.

She was really nice though. When the dance ended, she and I were back on the girl's side, so she held my hand as she escorted me off the edge there.

"He was right about you being a good dancer too." Beth smiled at me, and then to the chuckles of most of the girls, she did the cheek peck too, and laughed at me as I blushed, resisting the impulse to rub my cheek.

"Hum! Makeup!" Beth grinned making smacking noises. "That's definitely an acquired taste I guess. Thank you for the dance, Chris. Perhaps later?"

I could only nod, too in shock to do more than murmur something polite.

"Well, Thank You, Chris. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd really like to get to some of the boys before Jenny contaminates them all."

I nodded to her, and turning realized that Mrs. Pierce was dancing with her husband. I smiled and nodded as she briefly caught sight of me, but it gave me the instant courage to turn back toward the girls.

That's when I saw her.

I was not surprised that I had not seen her before, because she was small like me. She was quite possibly the prettiest girl I'd ever seen. Not like the blond girl, who looked like a model, but more like a doll.

She had dark eyes, and black curly hair down to her shoulders, in a fine ringlet perm I guess you'd call it. She was wearing a cream gown, of an older style that made me think of it as a vintage gown like mine. It was almost a golden color, and had a little ribbed pattern running up and down the bodice and sleeves. The bodice and skirt were both covered in small colorfully embroidered flowers.

I could only stare.

"Hi, Chris." she said softly, as she smiled politely. "Would you like to dance with me now?"

"Hi." I answered her, not able to take my eyes away. "You know my name?" I asked, sounding rather silly.

She seemed to be staring at me as much as I was staring at her.. "I'm Millie." She reached for my hand.

It was only a couple of steps to the floor, but one of the other girls did manage to say "Oh, Gosh. She caught up with him." Another answered that one with: "Careful Chris."

Millie only smiled and laughed at them before she turned fully to face me.

I guess it was because she was actually a tiny bit smaller than I, that I got a little confused, I reached for her hip, but she just smiled and took my hand, and moved it to her shoulder. "Who do you think taught these behemoths to trot?" She said, smiling broadly now at the look on my face as she took a step on the next beat.

Unlike Freddie, I had no trouble keeping eye contact with Millie.

I danced with her for that entire waltz, and another after, when one of the girls cut in. I danced with Tom again, and he introduced me to Angie, who also asked me to dance, before Millie was back again. Jerry, and the very pretty girl, Deborah... and even Benny. In the short breaks for air, or a sip of water from tiny bottles, several of the girls continued asking about me, but more and more about the handsome boy's I'd been dancing with. It made me laugh to tell them who, and how nice, my friends truly were. It was all so wonderful, but my head was spinning when the chimes sounded that it was coming time for us to start moving toward the tables.

Millie took me by the hand, and I followed. I'd have never gone near the adults had it not been for her leading me to a table. However, I really needed to sit now because we'd both danced almost all the dances so far, and the silk dress was really heavy.

"Chris?" Mrs. Pierce said, as she appeared from nowhere beside us.

Millie surprised me by stepping up to press herself into my side, as if she was afraid that Mrs. Pierce would snatch me right off my feet. I sort of thought she might as well.

Mrs. Pierce actually almost smiled the human smile at her. "Miss Goldman, nice to see you. May I talk to Chris."

Millie squeezed my hand, and said. "Chris and I were just going to get a table, Ma'am. Chris has asked me to eat with him."

It wasn't true but the caterers were now scurrying about the tables, and some of the other couples and kids were drifting up behind us, so it seemed a little truthful.

"Would you step over here with me, Chris? There's someone who wants to say hello." With that, she turned and walked away from the floor.

"It's Okay, Millie.” I sighed. “Mrs. Pierce is… my friend." I tried to reassure her, hoping that the person she wanted me to meet didn't have a net.

I started to walk to follow Mrs. Pierce, but Millie wouldn't let go of my hand. She came along.

Several people were standing back away from the tables, and along the wall, while I approached slowly, because I was so afraid that I was about to be forcibly ejected, or worse.

"Good evening, Headmaster." I said, quietly, while holding Millie's hand more tightly than she had squeezed mine. I was about say something about the nice dance, when another man stepped toward me.

"Hello, Chris."

"Dad!"

He looked a little confused, but I wasn't at all. I just grabbed him.

"Dad." I said more weakly, wanting to laugh, but crying now just the same. "You, came."

He was hugging me back tightly, almost lifting me. "As soon as I could, Chris." Even though he squeezed me like he meant it, he all too quickly pushed me back to look at me.

I had to ask, “How long have you been here?"

"I got here about fifteen minutes ago, as quickly as the limo could make the trip from the airport."

"I'm so glad to see you, Dad... I…" I was going to tell him how happy I was, but the look on his face held me back. He just stared, and there were tears in his eyes.

Oh god, Dad.

"Dad, I didn't mean to upset anyone. I'm sorry. I just wanted…" All I could do was to compare all their shoes for several moments.

"Chris, Would you come back here with me for a moment."

Oh no, I thought suddenly. I had been thrown out of school after all. I took a deep breath, and steadied myself as best I could. I didn't look at any of the men and women who standing near us looking at me. Too few were smiling, anyway. Most just looked worried or confused. They weren't the ones I'd miss.

"Yes, sir." I mumbled very softly, and began to follow him.

Mrs. Pierce and Miss Lynn were standing near the front side door that the girls had come in waiting for us. It looked like they were talking to Saint Mary's headmistress.

When we were close, Dad reached out for the woman’s arm, and she jumped visibly at his touch, and turned...

"Mom?"

My first thought was that she looked older, and so very tired. My second thought was that she felt just like I remembered as we held on to each other.

She didn't push me away to look like Dad had.

I hate it when I cry, usually. This time, I just whispered 'Mom' every time she said she was sorry.

It was several minutes before I felt mom stiffening up suddenly, and when I looked back, Millie was there dewy-eyed, but, so were several of my friends who'd come to make sure they weren’t dragging me away.

"Guys." I said too quickly, having trouble speaking, but holding up my hand for them to stay back.

Poor mom looked like a frightened child.

"Please. You're frightening her. Please move back a little. I'll explain it all to you later. It's Okay, I promise. This is my mom."

The guys didn't understand, but Millie did instinctively, and Miss Lindsay did as well, because they both moved in to pull my friends aside, while Miss Lindsay explain to them exactly why I was crying, and why they had to hang back.

Millie was the only one who returned to me, and stood with Miss Lynn.

Mrs. Pierce spoke up then. "Mister and Mrs. Morgan, may I present Miss Millie Goldman. Her family is Goldman Trust."

My father nodded and said something cordial to Millie, but my mother just smiled absently at her, before she spoke to me again. "You look different Chris."

I lifted the sides of my dress, and let them fall. "I'm so sorry if I've embarrassed you again."

My mother spoke even more softly. "That's not what I meant, Chris. You look… happy."

I didn't know what to say. "How long did you watch, Mom?"

My father answered, because my mom was just staring at me, and tears were flowing from her eyes again.

"Long enough." He tried to smile, as he said. "If you were so unhappy here, Chris, you could have said something."

It was funnier than it sounds, but Mrs. Pierce actually rose up on her toes, and I thought sure she'd swing, but even she quickly realized he was only joking with me, and he probably just didn't know what else to say.

Neither did I, which is why I couldn't really explain any better than I finally did.

"No." I said shaking my head slowly. "That's not it at all. I love it here, and these people are really nice to me every day. Mrs. Pierce, Miss Lynn, and Doctor Pope, they treat me like I'm their family. The guys… Dad they're just the best you can even imagine. They’re more like big brothers."

"You still like it here?" My mother asked, sounding both relieved and confused.

"Yes, I do. Don’t you understand? I just missed you guys, so much. That's all."

My father looked confused, his eyes trying to take all of me in again. "Then what's this all about, Chris?"

I felt the words coming together inside of me, but I couldn't make them move further than my stomach. "I don't know, Dad." I told him, dabbing my eyes with a tissue Millie slipped into my hand.

"It's just…" Looking up at their faces, the words poured out. "I don't think I'm supposed to be in a boy's school."

 
 

 
 

     "…Thus, there are several changes that we had to add as a supplement to the student handbook. The new issue of the student handbook will be issued in a few weeks, and I'll make sure you get one of the first copies."

"Thank you Ma'am"

"One big change is that we have instituted a casual day, which has for the time being been set for the first Friday of the month. It's only temporary, so we can see how it goes, but I expect you girls in particular to read the rules regarding the acceptable modes of casual dress very carefully."

"I will ma'am. I promise."

"I know you will. Just as I know you will make sure that your daily uniform conforms as well.

"Now, you all know where the designated bathrooms are, which you'll share with the ladies on the staff, so that leaves only one other point. I want to make it very clear, because it's a big one. The shuttle van that will take you back to Saint Mary's will be here at various times depending on class schedules, and extra curricular activities. It is your responsibility to keep track of when and where you are supposed to be. I don't expect problems. However, if the unfortunate happens, you are to let me know at once. I can't have one of you girls going missing on me."

"I understand."

She sighed. "I'm sure you girls won't be a problem at all."

"Thank you, ma'am. I know that I speak for all of us when I tell you that we appreciate this opportunity, and all the trouble you've gone through to make it all work."

She smiled. "Not at all. I believe that the decision to allow students to commute from Saint Mary's so that they can take selected classes under the instructors here is a very wise one. We have some of the best teachers anywhere, and Saint Mary's has many students who are second to none. It's a good mix. Besides, five students in ten classes can hardly be considered a logistical nightmare. In any case, it's just the beginning."

"I appreciate the opportunity, ma'am. Very much."

"I'm sure you will make the most of it, just as your record proves you always have, but if there are any problems at all, what should you do?"

I couldn't help grinning. "I come and see you immediately. Neither delays nor excuses to be tolerated."

"I can see we are going to get along just fine. Now, I'd like to walk you to your first class with Doctor Hammond."

"You don't need to do that, ma'am. I'm sure I can find my way." I was still grinning like anything.

"Believe me, it will be my pleasure to make sure you get there on time, and it's only just down the hall." She ushered me out of the chair, and then out of her office.

The girls in the outer office smiled in a friendly way of welcome, making me feel really good as well.

Before we reached the outer door, though, A rather loud distinctive voice sounded behind us in an abrupt tone. "Miss Morgan?"

I turned to face him, to find that his tone not withstanding, he was smiling like everyone else.

"Good morning, Headmaster."

"And, a very good morning to you, Miss Morgan. The Saint Mary's kilt and blazer looks like a nice complement to the usual around here…"

"Thank you, Headmaster."

"… but I wanted to remind you, that I've managed quite well these last thirteen years not having to carry weapons of any kind with me as I walked our hallowed halls."

"Headmaster?" I asked, assuming this was the speech about hormonally challenged teenagers again.

"A ruler, Miss Morgan. It's my understanding that the uniform kilt length is not to be higher than three inches above the knee…"

Mrs. Pierce tiredly said. "Four inches."

"… And I fully expect my girls to show the same sense of restraint and decorum that I expect of all my students; however, if we are given reason, we will be checking to be sure that that two-inch rule is scrupulously adhered too."

"Thank you, Headmaster."

"No. Thank you, Miss Morgan. We've missed you."

"I missed all of you too, sir. Very much"

Mrs. Pierce had me by the shoulders again. "If you'll excuse us, sir. I want to make sure that Chris is not late for Doctor Hammond's class, not to mention, that she's not forced into wearing a bustle skirt for the rest of the year."

“You’re just happy you finally got your own way, Mildred.” The headmaster grinned like one of the guys. "However, tardiness can not be tolerated, and please give my fond respects to Doctor Hammond and, as for you Chris, please do try an remember that the one inch rule only exists to make your stay with us more enjoyable. Besides, knee length skirts can be quite, fetching, that is to say lovely. I even seem to recall that one student here made a most favorable impression in much longer togs."

His concessions to gravity, and the irresistible slide toward my ankles was only halted when Miss Lindsay interrupted him by handing him a message slip.

"Huh? Oh the governors, quite right. Thank you Miss Lindsay. Is that all quite clear, Miss Morgan?"

"Quite clear, sir. My mother is equally concerned, Headmaster. She already has several new rulers at the ready."

"Excellent. A most sensible woman to have raised such a charming daughter. Now if you'll excuse me… important headmaster stuff." he grinned again. "And don't forget you owe Mrs. Pope and me a dinner next week so that we can catch up on developments."

"I very much look forward to it, sir."

Mrs. P. and I were laughing half way down the hall.

"The only things I never thought would change around here were the jokes” She continued to chuckle freely with me. “So, how does it go with your family?" She asked me more quietly in the not quite empty hallway.

"Wonderful, ma'am. Really just wonderful. My parents bought a new house an hour away, so I'll be spending most nights and weekends with them.”

She nodded that she knew the Board of Governors had waived some of the residency requirements for me as well.

“The place is really too huge for just the three of us, and The Third Armored Division, but it really is very nice."

"I heard. I was so glad they will be so much closer. How is your mother doing?" She asked even more softly.

"She's much better, ma'am, thank you. She still gets uncomfortable going out, but as long as my father or I are with her, she seems much better. Her new doctor thinks it's because she and I got to spend so much time together over the Summer. It's made a huge difference in how she was feeling about things with me, and that means she's feeling better all around. We had a blast."

"And Miss Millie?" She grinned at me.

"She's wonderful too." My cheeks burned. "They wouldn't let us be roommates, though." I giggled. "I have a private room with barbed wire, and Millie has one with mines and a burglar alarm outside her door."

We both giggled.

Mrs. Pierce nudged me. "That sounds like something special. I'm so happy for you."

"It is. I can't even describe the feelings. When I think of how things might have gone on feeling so alone... Dad showed me some of the letters, and diagnoses he got from that silly doctor. He had pages of stuff that said that if he tried to get mother and me under the same roof, mom would just collapse in an irreversible catatonia. Really scary stuff."

"I'm sorry about that guy, Chris." She frowned for the first time.

"Me too. The first week we were back here though, all three of us threw them into the fireplace. It was a late family Christmas gift."

"And what did I read about this 'Anna Jessie' Foundation?"

"That's just me getting back at my dad still." I felt so embarrassed.

She smiled too, but pulled me to a stop. ‘Okay, I got the message. No getting away this time.’

"I suppose, I just realized that one big thing I like about having so much, is that sometimes you can actually help." I don't know if my blush was the same color as it usually was, but it felt different. "My mom and dad get the credit really. Their lawyer did all the work setting it up. Donna is going to school. The others, Anna and Jessie, lent their names and time, because it turns out they’ve been helping people all along. Not much to do with me, really."

She patted my shoulder again. "I'm so glad you are back. The picture of you and Millie we hung in the dressing room was a poor substitute. The place was not the same.”

My smile was all the answer she needed as she pulled opened the door to Doctor Hammond's class just before the bell rang.

"Chris!" Millie called out from her seat in the first row where she sat in an identical uniform kilt and blazer. It stood out rather starkly against all the boys, who had fearfully left rows of seats around Millie empty, even though that meant some of them had to share two to a desk, which had obviously given Millie the giggle fits.

Doctor Hammond was watching Mrs. Pierce as if he had been cleaning out the lion's cage at the zoo, and had mistakenly left the screened door unlocked.

I grinned back at Millie. "Hi Millie. I’m so glad you'll be in here too."

"Chris, I'm starting to have serious doubts." She said over her shoulders at her distant classmates. "Are they always like this?" She asked in between giggles.

"No. They're on their best behavior. What can I say? If you ignore them, they calm down pretty well, and then they kind of grow on you." I promised, grinning as much as she was, and all while nodding at a bunch of the guys who were waving and making faces at me behind her.

Just then Freddie strode into the room, causing Mrs. Pierce to loose her cool for the first time ever, covering her mouth with one hand trying to muffle a small shriek. Well, perhaps the second time.

"Oh good God. Freddie." She said, and then she cracked up.

Freddie was wearing a leather mini that was at least three inches above poor Doctor Pope’s minimums. He also had a Hooter's tee with a stuffed animal in it, some weird pink boots, this huge blond wig done up in oversized pigtails and bows, not to mention enough makeup for a whole circus of clowns…

I could only groan. "Oh Freddie…" Then laughed along with everyone else..

Freddie took my hands in his, grinning, and started jumping up and down. "Here you are, Girlfriend. I've been looking all over for you, and I'm so happy we have Home Economics together, and then we have naked volleyball, and then we can like make fudge, and… Oh! Oh! I got the little Mermaid on Blue Ray!"

I couldn't contain myself. "Oh my God, Freddie. You've lost it so bad you don't even know where you saw it last." I giggled helplessly.

"Mister Thomas." Mrs. Pierce tried for stern, and failed miserably.

"Oh, Hello Mrs. Pierce. I didn't see you there! Do you like fudge, too?"

“Do we need a private talk now, Mr. Thomas, or are you going to change in time for your next class?”

"Yes, Ma'am. Gotta go Chris. Bye! See you at the slumber party!" Then, he honest to god, as I was peeking through the fingers of the hand covering my own eyes, skipped out of the room.

One of the boys mumbled "Dumb bastard."

"Yeah, but it was funny." Someone else said.

"You think Mrs. Pierce is going to make him run around the whole school with a pack full of rocks?"

"Yeah. In that outfit."

Everyone, except Professor Hammond was laughing as I looked at Mrs. Pierce, shrugging just as helplessly.

"I'm sorry ma'am." I told her, still laughing. "I hope I won't always be this much trouble for you."

She smiled the human smile, the only one that she ever used with me now.

"Nonsense, Miss Morgan. You've given me something else we needed much more around here than peace and quiet, and I think that's worth much more than a little trouble."

"Ma'am?"

Over her shoulder, she said, "Girls, Miss Morgan. Girls."

 
 

Fin.

 
 

 
 

Thank you for reading. I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading along as much as I’ve enjoyed presenting Boys' School to you.

My very special thanks to Geoff for his invaluable time and advice.

 
 
 
By

Sarah Lynn Morgan

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