Dinner was amazing. Fresh fried rice, grilled shrimp, grilled scallops, and even a grilled lobster tail. Both Lily and I love our seafood. And so we both ordered the house special, The Geisha Seafood Special. A huge meal that included fried rice, soup, salad, grilled shrimp, grilled scallops and a grilled lobster tail. I ordered double fried rice, because I just love the fried rice from here. And double soup. Lily ordered a double salad because according to her, she was watching her weight. I really think it's just because she is part rabbit.
I mean, I understand being a cheerleader you have to watch what you eat. But cheering is hard work, and it really takes a lot out of you. You need to keep some fuel in the tank if you're going to cheer your heart out. And rabbit food as me and my dad would say, just does not come close to cutting the mustard. And the show, let me tell you about the show.
Getting Hibachi is like going to a circus and getting a gourmet meal at the same time. The Chief does all these wonderful acrobats with his tools. And really neat tricks like tossing the eggs for the fried rice into the air and cracking them in mid flight. It's something alright and for a girl from the sticks like me, it's a real treat. You just can't experience things like that in rural Benton. Not that Benton's rural, it's more like a small, yet thriving village, that is on the verge of becoming a thriving city. But still the closest thing we have to Hibachi in Benton is Chinese One Buffet and Hibachi grill.
Oh and did I mention that everything is prepared table side too! So you know your food is going to be hot and fresh and it tastes amazing too. I've always admired the Japanese and since the age of twelve I've fallen in love with their culture. And of course, I love Japanese animation, often just called anime, and manga too. So my inner Japanophile side was on cloud nine the whole time. Anyway, once our food was fixed. Lily and I muttered a quick prayer, being hard boiled Episcopalian girls that we were neither of us would even consider sitting down to meal without saying the blessing.
Grace said, we attacked our piles of food before it started too cool. A peaceful silence fell between us. Halfway through the meal though the silence was broken. Broken of course by Lily.
“So.” She said between mouthfuls of fried rice. “Somebody is going to have a birthday soon. And a pretty big birthday too. A sweet sixteen birthday.” She said, smiling toward me.
I blushed a little and said nothing, I only kept shoveling that wonderfully seasoned and hot fried rice into my mouth. It felt like I was in heaven. I'd passed the first fifteen years of my life without really giving the anniversary of my birth much thought. Why should my sixteenth matter so much?
“Just another birthday and another day.” I said blushing.
“Oh don't be so cynical Jamie!” Lily scolded. “It's a huge milestone for you. The sixteenth birthday is a big deal for us girls. It marks the passage into womanhood. Like remember a year or so ago about when you were confirmed into Episcopal Church, again with your new name? Its like that.” She said smiling.
I blinked.
“Plus. It means something to me, I'm your older sister, and it means something to me. And plus your also my cheer-sister, that also means something to me.” Lily said blushing.
“Okay..” I paused and placed my fork down. “Then tell me what makes my sixteenth year of cursing this earth with my life so special?”
Lily rolled her eyes. And placed her own fork down.
“Okay first off, it means you've become a young woman. Second it means you can learn how to drive and you can get your learner's permit. And start driving on your own. As your older sister, I'll have a hand in helping you learn that skill. Just like I helped you learn how to dress like a girl, act like a girl and carry yourself like a girl, apply make-up, and plenty of other stuff.” She said smiling.
“Plus it means you'll be invited to the annual Debutante Ball held each spring at the Elk's Club. That's a big thing.” Lily said as she resumed attacking her rice, before pecking off a few fried shrimp and a few chunks of lobster.
“Debutante Ball?” I said blinking.
“Yep. The Potter Family is one of the oldest families in Benton. Not to brag or anything but along with a few other leading families we form something of the aristocracy of Benton. We can trace our lineage all the way back to the founding of the town. Heck Benton was once called Hannah's Landing and it was named after Hannah Potter and the first mayor of the town was her husband. William Potter, that is how we are connected to the Bell family in Vicksburg. Hannah maiden name was Hannah Bell before she married William Potter who was a pretty well to do merchant in Vicksburg.” Lily said, nodding her fork as she talked.
I blinked and blinked again.
“Okay then.. and what does all that gotta do with some fancy ball?”
“It's tradition. The oldest, wealthier families have always celebrated their daughters coming of age with a Debutante ball. And you get to invite all your friends, and their boyfriends too. And your cheerleading friends, you get to wear a fancy gown and get all pampered and just treated like a princess for a night. There is always plenty of food, plenty of music and it always makes the paper.” Lily added.
I nodded my head.
“Kind of reminds me of Homecoming.” I said blushing as I started to recall the events of that night. It was a magical night for me, one that really made me. I mean in one afternoon I went from being a shy little teenage boy named James, whom most of the world had forgotten to the shy, awkward, yet alluring younger sister of Lily Elizabeth Potter, the most popular girl in school.
“Its kind of like Homecoming, only a lot more formal. Like in Homecoming most guys could get away with wearing just a nice pair of slacks, a nice button down shirt, a tie, and a jacket. But here, all the guys are going to be suited up in tuxedos. At Homecoming most of the food was just causal food, I mean baked or broiled chicken parts, seasoned with I guess salt, pepper, and a dab of lemon juice. At the ball it's all super rich like a standing rib roast or something. At Homecoming, we had punch, pops and bottles of water. At this dance, its wine, ice cold champagne, and mineral water.” Lily said, before renewing her assault on the steaming pile of fried rice in front of her.
I nodded my head again and turned my attention toward my own mountain of fried rice.
“Don't worry kiddo.” Lily said, smiling. “Turning sixteen is again a big thing for us girls. It's like the age we can get married and learn how to drive. And all kinds of good stuff. And your birthday party will be a small private affair. Just mom, dad, I, and a few close friends. It means a lot for mom too. You'll understand when you have a daughter of your own someday.”
I dropped my fork and all eyes turned toward me. Swallowing my food I leaned over and whispered into Lily's ears.
“Lily..” I hissed. “You know I can't have children! You know I'm still recovering from that operation.” I said pointing with my index finger to my nether region.
Lily rolled her eyes.
“Oh stop being such a drama queen about that. I know plenty of girls that can't have children. And plenty of them were born females. Not every woman can carry a child and few can carry a child to full term. A lot of women lose their children in the birthing process.” Lily said as she finished off her fried rice and started to scoop up the last few shrimp and bits and pieces of lobster.
“Once you and Ben are married, and settled down. I'm sure you'll adopt a child. Even when you were a boy you had a very kind and caring side about you. Like you played with my old dolls and stuff and even tried to nurse one..” Lily said, blinking. “I think you saw something about breastfeeding on the Discovery Channel and you tried to mimic it. It was weird, I think that's when Mom and Dad first knew you were different.”
“.. LILY!” I shouted at the top of my lungs. The whole table then turned around and peered at me. At that very moment I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole. “You're embarrassing me!” I added in a slightly lower tone of voice.
“The older sister is supposed to embarrass the young one by bringing up stuff they did when they were younger. It's a sacred duty entrusted to all older sisters. One that we've been charged with since Eve bite into that apple in the garden.” Lily said, smiling a mirthless smile.
“Oh?” I said pouting as I started to pick the last few pieces of lobster from my plate. “And younger sisters have also been charged with a sacred duty, entrusted to us since the earth was formed from dust to pester the older sister and make her blush and such!” I said I would do my best to counter her teasing in my own way. I even tried to mimic her mirthless smile.
Lily closed her eyes.
“Lord.” Said closing her eyes. “I hope I get married before you. Because I see you being that little sister who makes my wedding the talk of the town. No telling what kind of trouble you'll get into. Going to scare my poor husband off before the honey moon girl.” She paused. “And I'll just find it amusing. Because if my future husband can't deal with your antics then how in the world can he deal with my future daughters' antics. Mischief you know runs in the Potter blood.”
“But yes, sixteen big. You can finally get to play Ariel in the yearly production of 'The Little Mermaid' since it's considered a pretty big role. Man I still remember twelve year old wanting to play Ariel. It was.. it was cute. And you were almost in tears when Mrs. Shoemaker had to break the news that boys could not play Ariel. Since it was a role only open for girls, and plus you were not old enough yet.”
I took a deep breath.
“I remember that. I kind of tried to block that out. I mean it was..” I paused. “I try not to remember anything that happen before I decided to become Jamie. As I consider those my wasted years.” I added with a hint of bitterness.
Lily closed her eyes and smiled a little.
“No Jamie, those were not wasted years. Those were your growing years. Something tells me you'd wrestled with being Jamie for a long time. A very long time. It was a personal struggle, one that you overcame with your own inner strength. Just remember a person's gender does not define them. A person's character is what defines them.”
And with that we finished our meal. Lily of course paid for everything and then we started toward the cinema.
I'll never stop being amazed at how urban Madison is when compared to Benton. It was an apples to oranges type of thing. The cinema we went to was located in one of the newer sections of town called “Highland Colony '' and it just took my breath away. The floors were marble; the employees all wore these velvet red suits with a row of big, brass buttons going down the middle. In the center there was a fountain that sprayed cool water in all directions. I felt like I was in New York City instead of semi rural Mississippi. I mean I felt like I should be wearing a formal gown instead of just my casual clothing.
“Jamie.” I heard my sister say as she peered over at me as she walked inside. “Try not to act like Susie Sally came to the city for the first time in her life.” And with that we strolled right on in.
End Chapter 2
