Kiss Me, Bianca - 1
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His preparation for the role required him
to open doors to parts of himself that he never knew he had!
Author's Note: I would like to thank everyone who has commented on my story of A Boy Named Brook. His adventure has ended - for now, and I shall introduce you to more of my works. Kiss Me, Bianca is one of my more drawn out stories and I believe, more appropriate, for this type of audience. I am down and under the weather, I have more stories in the works, but they take a back burner somewhat to what I am dealing with at the moment.
I would like to ask all of you that read my story to please, possibly leave me a review here? It can be both good or bad.
I would love to hear your thoughts on if I am doing great at writing or maybe messing up somewhere and need to retool my efforts?
I am always willing to learn! ~Clara.
This version of Kiss Me Bianca: 1 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.
THE AUDITION - or - "THE PLAY'S THE THING."
"Hi, mom," John called as he let the front, screened door of their moderately sized, summer cottage close behind him.
Marilyn wiped her hands clean on a dish cloth and stepped away from the kitchen island where she was cleaning up after having just put the apple pie into the oven. She looked into the large living room and smiled at her son. "Hi, honey? How did it go?"
"Good, I think!" He rain his fingers along the Van Dyke beard he'd maintained for three years, since he was a high school junior. "This director seems interesting. I looked her up. She's done some big stuff in New York and LA. Her productions are always different from everyone else and she's won a bunch of awards. We're lucky to have her! I think it'll be a great show, whether I get a lead or not."
"That's the attitude I like to hear," Marilyn gave her son a brisk pat on his shoulder and smiled before she hugged him. "What roles did you read for?"
"Petruchio, Lucentio, Biondello... most of the male roles."
Marilyn nodded.
"She also had all the guys read for women's roles and vice-versa as well."
"Really!?" She laughed at the absurdity of having wasting time at an audition to do what was obviously a theater class exercise.
"Yeah," John laughed, too. "She's definitely quirky, but, like I said, she's got the track record to back it up."
"Did you make it clear that you're a veteran performer with the CCSR?" The Cale Cod Shakespearean Rep was a long standing, semi-professional organization that picked two plays to rehearse and perform in various parks on The Cape every summer. The troupe had been running every summer since 1976. Marilyn's mother had been one of the founding members. Marilyn had grown up performing with them every summer and so had her older daughter before John joined as well. At 20 and a theater performance student at Emerson College, John had become a cornerstone of the group. Since being in the ensemble and having just one line in a production of "The Two Gentlemen Of Verona" when he was twelve, John had been bitten by the Shakespearean-theater-bug. He grew his Van Dyke in the summer following his junior year of high school in order to look more mature as Rosencrantz in "Hamlet" then, last summer, had played Romeo and received rave reviews.
"I gave her my head-shot. I'm sure she saw that I'd been in a lot of CCSR shows."
Marilyn smiled a beam of pride at her little boy. God, time had flown with this one! Twenty years old, already. Her baby. She was so proud of him! He was 'quirky' too, though. The Van Dyke whiskers weren't all that different from other college students, but the boy-bun that he and a lot of his CCSR friends maintained for the summer productions just looked foolish to her. But - you know what? - if that's the worst thing he did, who cares. He was a good boy, a talented actor and extremely dedicated to his art. She knew that he'd go a long way, just like her daughter had.
As Marilyn returned to cleaning up, John's phone sounded and, simultaneously, John's friend, Ed, knocked on the back door.
"Come on in, Ed!" John called. "I gotta take this!"
Ed entered and said hello to Marilyn. His same Van Dyke beard and boybun made her smile, again. 'These boys,' she thought and shook her head.
"How did your audition go, Eddie?" she asked.
"Great!" He smiled. "I got Lucentio! It's my first big role!"
"That's wonderful, Eddie!" Marilyn smiled. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks! How about John? What did he get?"
"I don't know, yet, but I suspect that he's finding out now."
They turned their attention to John who wasn't looking all that happy. "No, no... I understand, Ms Weldon, but I'm just really surprised. I didn't expect this offer.... Oh, I do, Ms Weldon, really, I am very aware of the importance of the role, I just... well, you know, I am just caught off guard... Uh, huh... uh, huh... uh, huh."
"I wonder what she offered him," Ed whispered to Marilyn.
John turned to face them. He had a strange look on his face. Ed held his palms up and raised his shoulders asking John to explain.
John held up a finger and continued talking into the phone, "Thank you, Ms Weldon, but I think I need to think about it... ok... I'll call you back within an hour... ok, a half-hour, then. Thank you. Thank you, I appreciate your confidence in me. I will call you back."
He hung up and a silence fell over the kitchen for a few moments before Ed said, "Well!?"
John sighed and shook his head before sitting. "She offered me Bianca."
"What!?" the other two said together.
"Yeah, Bianca. The sexy, flirty, younger sister of Kate. The one that's got all the suitors after her. Bianca."
"Oh, my goodness!" Marilyn shouted. "Is she nuts!? How could a boy play Bianca? I played Bianca when I was in my teens!"
"She says that she's doing it as a 'gender-blind' casting. She says that Bianca is usually a caricature of the pretty girl and she wants to explore the character differently."
Ed was too excited to see John's stress. "I'm playing Lucentio! So, if you play Bianca, you'll be my wife at the end of the show!"
"Oh, my God!" John slammed his head onto the table in a show of frustration. I'd at least hoped that Lucentio would be a girl!"
"Are you taking the role?" Marilyn knew that John was in shock, but she also knew that he'd be miserable all summer if he didn't participate in a show.
"Should I?"
"Of course, you should!" Ed shouted, confused as to how John could even consider saying no. "It'll be great, buddy! We'll be partners, just like when we were Rosencratnz and Guilderstein!"
"Ed!" John shook his head at his friend's obliviousness, "we'd be husband and wife! I'd have to kiss you! I wanted to play Petrucchio or any other guy-part! This is a lot to think about! My teachers spend the summer at The Cape. So do some of my classmates! They'll see this! What if I'm a joke! I'll never get cast in anything at Emerson, again!"
"But, if you nail it, honey," Marilyn said, "then they'll cast you in EVERYTHING!"
That stopped John and he rubbed his whiskers as he pondered that. "Hmm... I'd have to shave my beard."
"It'll grow back," Ed grinned.
John nodded and rubbed some more.
"Mom? What do you think?"
"Well," Marilyn struggled to see all sides of the issues. "Obviously, she has faith in you and you said that she's got a great resume... it won't be easy, honey, but I think that you should consider doing it. I mean, can you think of a bigger challenge? It's not Stanley Kowalski or Jean Valjean, but it is a big role. And, in the age of 'Me Too,' with women challenging the norms of societal roles, you might learn a lot by playing a woman who is, for all intents and purposes, being treated as a property by her father. I think you should do it."
"Come on, bud! I need you there to help me!" Ed rubbed his hands in excitement.
John put his hands in his pockets and paced the far wall a few times while he considered all of the possibilities and finally shrugged and said, "What the hell... I'll do it!"
Marilyn clapped her hands and Ed ran to his smaller friend and lifted him off the floor, spinning him around while he shouted, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is going to be awesome!"
After three turns, Ed dropped John to the ground and gave him a big hug. When the hug broke, he leaned John backwards in the classic 'damsel' pose and planted a long kiss on his lips.
"What the fuck!" John shouted as Ed raised him back to a standing position.
"Now, it won't be awkward when we have to do it in rehearsal!" Ed laughed as he shouted goodnight and ran out the door before his friend could wallop him.
THE SHAVE - OR - "YOU HAD MORE BEARD WHEN I LAST SAW YOU."
An hour later, John was staring at his cherished Van Dyke in the mirror with the clipper attachment on his shaver buzzing in his hand. "Goodbye, old friend," he mumbled at the reflection. Then he sighed and went to work. Five minutes later, his lip and chin were smoothly shaved.
He stepped out of the bathroom and found his mother waiting to see him. "Wow! You look five years younger!"
"Great! I look fifteen!"
"Oh, stop it. You know what I mean!" She inspected his face more, then said, "You need to get rid of the sideburns, too, honey. I know that they're just short strips, but you need to get rid of those. Come on back in. I'll help you."
They reentered and Marilyn grabbed the razor and leaned his head to the side.
"I can do it myself, mom."
"Not if you can't see it, Bianca," she teased, causing John to laugh. "I used to trim your father's facial hair, you know. This isn't new to me."
John went limp and let her go at it.
"Just before we divorced," he giggled, "I took my frustration out on his mustache and 'accidentally' cut off a third of it with one stroke of the razor." She laughed at the memory. "That sounds immature, I'm sure, but I did it."
John had no memories of his father. He left when John was two and he'd had any contact with him since. The story made him laugh in spite of the fact that he had to agree that it was an immature way to behave.
When she'd finished both sides, she inspected his face more closely. It looked good - young, smooth and just the slightest bit feminine. "Do you need to shave anywhere else? Pits? Legs? Bikini area?"
John shook his head and laughed at her teasing. "Just the face, mom. That's all."
Marilyn turned him towards the mirror and pulled his boy-bun loose, letting his hair fall to the middle of his back. She grabbed a brush and gave him a quick brushing. "I think you can do this, honey. Look, you look pretty already. Get some sleep, now. What time is your read-through ?"
"Nine. We're all having breakfast together to hear her concept and then doing the read through with all of her edits." He sighed.
"You'll be great! Good night, honey."
"Good night, mom."
THE READ THROUGH -or- "THE PLAY'S THE THING"
The buffet was great! Bagels, eggs, bacon, fruit, croissants, waffles - everything that young, hungry actors love to eat, or wrap in napkins and tuck in their bags for later. Ed had gone up three times and was well into his third bagel when Corinna Weldon stepped up onto a podium and called everyone to attention.
"Good morning, my brilliant cast!" she called out cheerfully.
"Good morning!" They all called back.
"Alright, boys and girls, we have two weeks to put this all together. We've got two plays to mount, "The Taming Of The Shrew" and "Henry V," and very little time to do it. In both shows, I have cast the best actors into the roles - regardless of whether or not that person is the same gender as the role. I think that Master Shakespeare would approve of this, don't you?"
The actors all chuckled at that.
"So, let me introduce the casts. First, 'Henry V'..." she went on to introduce each actor. Ed and John knew a lot of the actors from previous CCSR productions, but there were new faces, too. John couldn't help but notice that the only gender reversals in that production were a few smaller men's roles being filled by women. That wasn't even an odd thing. They always ran short of male actors for the smaller, unpaid roles.
"Now, for 'The Taming Of The Shrew.' Let's start with our Kate, Rose Bennington."
The actress stood and John felt his heart sink to the floor. 'Oh, no,' he thought, 'not Rose.' Rose was a tall, elegant girl he knew and lusted after from Emerson. She was a year ahead of John and had never given him the time of day, even when they'd shared the boards in a production of 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' two years ago. Granted, John had played a very small role, but he still had felt that she'd shunned him.
"Stand up, stupid." Ed was shaking John's shoulder, reviving him from his thoughts. "She called your name, stupid. Stand up!"
John could hear the applause and stood and waved to everyone.
"Just to clarify," Ms Weldon explained, "I cast John as Bianca to make a point. Bianca is usually played as a frivolous and pretty little airhead and I'd like John to play the role exactly as written to emphasize that this type of character is not strictly a female, airhead archetype, but rather, she is a bold and intelligent woman who has limited channels through which to express her intellect and intelligence. John will be in full, female costume, but we will not disguise the fact that he is a male in the program. I want to challenge the audience's ability to see a male in this role. Maybe then they'll understand the frustrations of a young, attractive female."
Everyone applauded while John blushed and looked over at Rose, who waved back at him. Well, at least something good came from this! Rose finally smiled at him. He waved back.
At 10:30, the two casts broke apart and went into two different rooms to begin the process of reading through their plays. Each was handed a script contains Ms Weldon's edits and they began reading. John was not overly comfortable with the flirting scenes that introduced Bianca to the audience, but as the play went on, he began to admire her spirit and conviction. He grew to like her.
He was also pretty excited to see how many times Bianca and Kate shared the stage together. That meant that he'd be sharing rehearsal time with Rose! He seemed to be more comfortable speaking to her than to the suitors, except for Ed, of course.
When he reached the line,
"Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself,
To make a bondmaid and a slave of me.
That I disdain. But for these other goods--
Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself"
He delivered it with a controlled, feminine vehemence that even surprised himself. Rose watched him as the character overtook him and he spit the words at her and she saw his proficiency as an actor shining through.
"Wow," she said quietly before directing her gaze back to the script and continuing the play.
When they'd finished, Ms Weldon, who'd been splitting her time between both rehearsals, encouraged them all to take a break, have a good lunch and be back in forty-five minutes, ready to start blocking the scenes with her assistant director and to get measured by the costumer.
"Want to split a pizza?" Ed asked as the stood and stretched their backs.
"Can't," John laughed, "I'm broke till we start getting paid. Sorry. I brought a salad."
"A salad!?" Ed was incredulous. "Since when do you eat salads?"
"Since my Theater Methods Professor told me I was getting pudgy."
"Hi. It's John, right?" John turned to see who was behind him and found Rose with a smile beaming at him. "I guess we're going to be sisters, huh?"
John glanced at Ed, who raised his eye brows a couple of times before excusing himself and heading to the door. John turned back to Rose and smiled. "Umm, Yeah, I'm John... and you're Rose, right? You probably don't remember me..."
"You're at Emerson, too, right. I think we did a show together, didn't we?"
"Yeah, we were in..."
"Tin Roof, right?"
"Yeah. That's right! I was just a stand in , but I got to watch you every night."
Rose looked at him for a moment with an odd smile on her face.
"Oh," John started to correct himself, "I don't mean like a stalker or anything. I just mean that I was in the wings and... well..."
"I know what you mean, don't worry."
Oh, my God, that smile. She was absolutely gorgeous!
"Wanna eat together?" Rose asked. "I don't know anyone else here."
It took a moment for the words to register before he shook the cobwebs out of his head and said, "Umm, well, yeah, that would be... great!"
They chatted about school and plays and people that they both knew. It was easy conversation and and the most relaxed meal John had ever shared with a woman. In fact, John had never really ever dated anyone. He'd gone to the prom with friends who were girls, but none were truly 'girlfriends.'
At one point, Rose told a story about a classmate who was known to have had a big ego, but lacked the talent to back that ego up. The story ended with the classmate's bravado being so broad that an audience member called out a remark that brought down the house. The story was hilarious and struck John in just the right way, making him guffaw with a mouth full of water, which ended up exploding out of his nostrils and causing them both to laugh even harder.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" John waved his hands while he continued to laugh. "Oh, what a mess!" He grabbed a napkin and began wiping up, still laughing.
As they gained control of themselves, Rose said, "You have an absolutely beautiful smile, did you know that?"
The statement embarrassed him a bit, but it also thrilled him and his smile grew even wider. "Really?"
"Yeah. Your teeth are big and bright and straight and you've amazing cheek bones. Have you auditioned for TV at all?"
Rose's gaze was taking in John's face with great detail and, suddenly, John felt a bit self conscious. His hand shot up to his mouth, covering it from Rose's scrutiny and his fingers traced the area which, until last night, he'd had whiskers.
"You had a goatee!" Rosie snapped her fingers an smiled at her realization. "That's what's different."
"Actually," John corrected, "I had a Van Dyke. A Van Dyke is a mustache and chin whiskers that are connected. A goatee is just the chin whiskers, like a goat..." he realized he was man-splaining. "Of course, I could have just acknowledged that I had had a beard and said 'yes' instead of being an asshole and prattling on and on..."
Rose laughed. "Prattling!? Did you say prattling!? That's adorable!" She laughed even harder as he blushed.
Before things got more awkward, a woman in her late twenties who was carrying a clipboard appeared at their table. "Kate and Bianca, right?"
They confirmed that they were.
"Are you ready to get measured? The costumer wants to start with you two. She's in that office, over there."
THE COSTUMER - or - FOR THE APPAREL OFT PROCLAIMS THE MAN
"Oh, the sisters!" The costumer, who's name was Jan, and, who was also responsible for hair and makeup as well, glanced up over the reading glasses that she was wearing halfway down her nose. Like all costumers, her own clothing was elaborate and Bohemian, gypsy-esque and flowing. "Up on the platform, big sister. Let's get you measured first. Ms Weldon is going to want you in costume ASAP so you can get used to them and you have the most costume changes." Then she turned to John and glanced over those glasses, again, saying, "And you have the most elaborate."
"Cool!" Rose clapped her hands in excitement and beamed with excitement at John. John, for his part, just pondered what 'most elaborate' constituted.
"What are you, five-six?" Jan asked.
"Five-seven."
Jan began measuring and calling numbers to her assistant. "Bust 35. Waist 27. Hips 36. Halfway between four and a six, I'd say."
"Yep. Frustrating, too. I can't just assume anything that will fit me."
"Don't worry," Jan continued as she wrote down a couple of notes on her own, "you'll be dressed beautifully. What size cup do you wear, 'B'?"
"Depends on the bra. I alternate between 'B' and 'C' depending on the style and my cycle. If I'm retaining water, then I'm definitely in a 'C'."
Jan wrote a few more notes. "Ok. Tomorrow, bring a push up bra with you. Obviously, I want you to look sexy, so your costumes will be a bit revealing. We want Petrucchio to have a reason, other than the bet, to lust after you. All set."
John had been measured for costumes dozens of times and he'd never heard a conversation like this one. Typically, it was quick and silent. Rose seemed pretty used to discussing things like bra cup sizes with this total stranger. As she stepped off the platform, she bounced to the floor and gave several excited claps, obviously excited by the prospect of wearing pretty clothes.
"And now, little sister, please hop up here." Jan indicated the platform.
John was still looking at Rose and the words 'little sister' did not rouse him from his revery.
"Your turn, John," Rose smiled at him. "Or, I suppose I should start calling you Bianca so that we get used to being sisters. You can call me 'Kate.'"
Jan appraised John for a moment, then said, "Well, you're about five-six, right?"
John thought about agreeing, but figured it may impact his costume, so he glanced at Rose before quietly saying, "Five-five."
"Boy, I'm not on my A-game today, am I?" Jan joked. "He's five-five," she said loudly to her assistant who wrote it down.
"Bust, 32. Waist, 26, that's good. Hips, 28. Don't worry about that, the skirts will have petticoats to fill them out. Ms Weldon may ask you to wear some padding during rehearsals until the costumes are ready, though. You should get some. You need a bra, too. I'll talk to her about some forms, but you can start by buying a push-up, Victoria's Secret has a good selection, and we need to talk about hair and make up, too."
She looked at John's confused face for at least ten seconds before he stuttered, "W... What?"
She laughed quietly and shook her head. "I'll make a list for you. You'll need to do some shopping. Tonight would be best so that I can get better measurements tomorrow."
"...ok..."
"Don't worry," Rose was giggling, "I'll go with you and help you get what you need. It'll be a nice to have some sister-time together."
"Excellent," Jan smiled. "We need to make this little fellow into a sixteenth century Kim Kardashian so the audience believes that men are drooling every time she walks past."
Then she had John come off the platform and had them stand next to each other.
"Hmm..." Jan appraised them. "Sisters, huh? I can see it, I guess." Then she spoke to her assistant, "They have similar eyes and cheeks. Luckily, Bianca's are a little plumper. That way we can make Kate a little more severe and Bianca more cherubic. Both of them need to have their hair colored, though. Call Stacy in Osterville and see if she can take them after 3 this afternoon. I'll speak to Ms Weldon about colors and style and send Stacy a list."
She inspected both of them carefully. Rose's hair was in a perky, high, rehearsal ponytail and John's was in his perennial boy-bun. "Let your hair down, please, girls. Let me see what I have to work with."
John pulled his hair loose and let it fall. It fell just below his shoulders and was very full, although a bit limp and lifeless. Rose's was much healthier looking and, despite the fact that they were both naturally dirty-blondes Rose's artificial highlights made her hair much prettier.
"I think I'd like to make you two contrast each other a bit, if you don't mind. Kate, I'd like to lighten you up a few shades and Bianca, I'd like to take you a really dark - black, with a few highlights to make it pop and look more natural. I'll send Stacy some ideas about what I want. She'll know what to do when you get there."
"Excuse me..." John interrupted.
"Yes?"
"Umm... I mean... I've done a lot of shows with the CCSR and... well... what I mean is, couldn't I just wear a wig instead of having my hair colored and all...?"
Jan folded her arms and thrust a hip out as she considered her response. "Listen, Bianca, I understand that a lot of us are new here, but the board of directors at the CCSR hired Ms Weldon and her team, which includes me, to come to Cape Cod and raise the level of your already excellent ensemble to the same level of professionalism as our productions in New York City. We don't do wigs unless we have to to do wigs and you know why? Because wigs don't look like hair - they look like wigs."
"John," Rose said quietly, "I don't think this is a fight you should take on. I mean, we're just students. Ms Weldon is a real pro! I think you should just go with their plan this summer. I don't know about you, but I'm here to learn from her. I'm coloring my hair, too. Come on. We'll do it together. It'll be fun."
John wanted to stand his ground and insist that a wig was suitable, but, much, much more than that, he wanted to be with Rose as much as possible in the hopes that she might see him as a suitable, if somewhat small, boyfriend.
He thought for a moment, then turned to Jan and said, "I'm sorry, Jan. I was just caught by surprised. I'm a bit overwhelmed, I guess. I'll do whatever you say. I promise."
Jan's anger melted immediately. "That's more like it, Bianca. Thank you. Now, you two scoot back to rehearsal and I'll speak to Ms Weldon. When you get a break, come see me. I'll have the address for Stacy's salon and a list of what Bianca needs to purchase ready for you. Save your receipts. We'll reimburse you for anything we need for the show. Oh, by the way, I watched a little of the read-through, this morning. You two are going to be great!"
PREPARING - or - ALL THINGS ARE READY IF OUR MINDS BE SO
The fifteen minute ride from Hyannis to Osterville took about forty-five minutes. Because they didn't leave until 4:00, the traffic on Rt 28 was heavy and slow. John would have felt more comfortable had he driven, but, since Ed had driven him to rehearsal that morning, he had no choice but to occupy the passenger seat of Rose's very cool Tesla. John had never ridden in something this quiet, or expensive, before. Rose had found his enthusiasm adorable, but she did have to admit that it was not 'her' car. Her parents had let her drive it down for the summer, rationalizing that the electric car would be nearly cost-free for the season.
'Stacy's Hair House' was right on Rt 28. It was a standard cape-style house that had been converted to a reasonably sized, full service salon. The sign that hung in front of the location read, 'Stacy's Hair House. Life may not be perfect, but your hair can be.'
"Hi! Hi!" the owner called as John and Rose entered. Stacy was a tall, lean, beautiful, African-American woman with a brilliant, infectious smile.
"Hi," Rose smiled, taking the lead, leaving John bewildered by his unfamiliar surroundings. "I'm Rose and this is John," he waved, "and Jan sent us over."
"Oh," Stacy seemed a bit surprised. "I was expecting," she grabbed her notes and checked the names, "a Kate and a Bianca."
"That's us!" Rose beamed. "I'm playing Kate and John is playing Bianca."
"Oh, I see." Stacy suddenly looked very serious. "Is that true, John? Are you 'playing' Bianca?"
John smiled, finding comfort in something familiar. His teachers a Emerson played these mind games all the time. "No, ma'am. I am not 'playing' Bianca. I am 'becoming' Bianca. I am 'inhabiting' Bianca. I 'am' Bianca."
Stacy's attitude relaxed and her dazzling smile returned. "Good, because I don't help people 'play.' I help people act. I help them find comfort in their roles. You understand that, too, Kate, correct?"
Rose smiled. She'd been duped by a pro. "I certainly do, Ms...?"
"Just call me Stacy and before I became a hair and makeup artist, I trod the boards for a decade or so. I retired to The Cape three years ago, but I know what Ms Weldon expects. Now, come on. We've got some work to do."
She worked alone, but quickly. She began with a shampoo and body treatment for each of them, applied the hair dye to each. After that came highlights.
At this point, they'd been there nearly and hour and a half. John had not been to a barber shop in years, but he did recall that his visits were usually limited to ten or fifteen minutes in the chair. No wonder his mother disappeared on Thursday evenings when she had her hair done.
Finally, the chemical bombardment of his scalp ended and his dirty blonde hair was a deep, dark black and Rose had golden blonde. Stacy said, "I'm going to do a light body-perm on you, Kate, but, Bianca, I'm going to show you how to straighten yours every morning.
John was relieved that he didn't need to get a perm, his hair was pretty curly, anyway, but... every morning? She must mean every show morning.
Stacy finished rolling curlers into Rose's hair, then she packed the front of her hairline with a big wad of cotton, applied perm solution to the curlers and told Rose to just sit and wait for a little while. John watched the whole process in rapt fascination. Rose just took it all in stride, chatting with Stacy the entire time.
Then, Stacy turned to John. "Well, my pretty," she imitated Margaret Hamilton as The Wicked Witch Of The West in 'The Wizard Of Oz,' "lets get you all ready." She produced a tool from her arsenal of hair dryers and other paraphernalia. "This is a flat iron and it's your new best friend. Every morning, before you leave the house, from now until the show closes, you need to spend a few minutes ironing it flat with this."
The machine had two arms that joined at the base and a cord running out from that, resembling a pair of electric salad prongs. The tips were paddle shaped to smooth the hair.
"This model steams as it irons adding hydration to your hair, which it needs, badly. You've been living in a boys world of salt water, salt air and too much sun with no consequences. Well, you're in a women's world now, young lady, and if you're to be believable, then hair-care is a priority. Clear?"
Stacy's speech had been well rehearsed and pretty intimidating. John nodded and whispered, "Yes."
"Good," Stacy plugged the device in.
"Everyday?"
"Everyday."
"Not just show days?"
"Everyday, Bianca. Are they paying you to become Bianca?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then do as I tell you and no more second guessing me. Everyday means everyday. End of story."
"Yes, ma'am."
Rose giggled at the exchange and pointed out some things to Stacy. "I was noticing John's cheek bones earlier. It's hard to tell, now, because he's not smiling, but when he laughs, those cheeks light up like a bride's. They're very attractive. He's got a gorgeous smile, too."
"Excellent," Stacy smiled as she checked that the iron was ready. "Ok, Bianca, it's very simple. You take a small amount of hair, like this," she separated a smallish strip of hair from the rest of his head using a pointed handled comb, then placed the open end of the iron near the base of the hair, "then close the iron around the hair. Pinch it lightly and push the 'steam' button and pull the iron, slowly, to the ends of your hair."
John saw that, where the iron had been used, his hair was a bit straighter, but not too much. Mostly, it just took out his frizzes. He could live with this.
Then, Stacy continued, "Then bring the iron back to your scalp and do it again, only this time, don't use the steam and squeeze the iron closed."
This time, the hair was perfectly straight. He'd never seen any part of his hair that straight.
"And when you get to the end, before you release it, roll the hair under for one full rotation. Hold it there and count to ten. Then release it. Isn't that pretty?"
John saw his now black, messy birds nest of curly hair with one straight section with a flip under at the end. It just looked odd to him, but to be sociable, he said, "Yeah... I guess."
Rose and Stacy exchanged knowing glances. "Men...!" the looks conveyed.
"Well I like it," Rose laughed. "I like the under flip, too."
Stacy nodded. "When I brush her out, that will give her the illusion of more thickness than she has. Although, she does have a lot of hair. That's going to help a lot."
'Her...? She...?' He hadn't signed up for this kind of silliness, but he'd let it run its course tonight. If he needed to talk to Ms Weldon in the morning, he would.
Once his hair was completely straightened, Stacy combed it so that it fell in front of his face. In a heartbeat, she'd trimmed a section so that he now had bangs that came to his eyebrows. She picked up the iron once again and gathered that section and rolled it just a bit. "Just turn your bangs about half way and hold them for five or six seconds. That gives them some body without being too rounded."
John sighed. "Ok."
"Oh, that's cute!" Rose smiled. "I love this look. It'll play beautifully from the stage."
"Thanks. I think it will, too," Stacy smiled as she finished up with a final brushing of John's hair.
He glanced in the mirror and thought he looked foolish. Like an actor in an old TV show making fun of early rock bands. Having been straightened, his hair was much longer than he'd expected, reaching to his shoulder blades, but Ms Weldon would never go for this. Come tomorrow, she'd see how silly he looked and let him off the hook. Even if he lost his summer job, it was still only June 23rd. He could still get a retail job before the tourists showed up. He'd miss his usual time at the CCSR, but, oh, well.
"I'm laying you back, again," Stacy said as she lowered John. "I need to clean up your brows, just a little bit. You're a little bushy for a woman."
She took a moment to outline his eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil, then turned to the counter, took what looked like and ice pack from an under counter fridge, did something he couldn't see, them turned back with a popsicle stick that had a small mound of warm wax on it. She quickly spread the wax around the area outside of her outline, then placed a small piece cotton on each.
The wax felt warm and relaxing and John said as much.
"Hold that thought," Stacy teased as she ripped the material from his face, taking the unwanted hair with it.
"Holy mother of pearl!" John screamed as his hands shot to his wounded brows. He'd never felt a pain quite like that before. The ongoing stinging was making his eyes water. "What the hell was that?"
Both Stacy and Rose were laughing at his discomfort.
Seeing his watery eyes, Rose tried to offer comfort, but the giggles wouldn't stop. "Aww, sweetie, I know it hurts, but we all go through it. I have eyes, pits, legs and even my most sensitive parts waxed every month. My mom has her upper lip done every week. You'll get used to it."
"Let me look at them," Stacy smiled as she pushed his hands away from his face. Then, she grabbed a pair of tweezers and plucked a few strays. "There we go. That's much nicer, now. Here," she handed him the ice pack. "Hold this on your forehead while I deal with your big sister."
For the next half-hour, Stacy removed Rose's perm-rods, washed and cut her hair and completed her makeup.
"Wow!" Rose exclaimed as she looked in the mirror, "I can't believe how good you made me look! I look like a movie star!"
John sat up to see. "Wow! You're even more beautiful than before!" Oops! How could he have said that out loud?
"Aww, you're so sweet!" She smiled at him and put her hand on his cheek. "Ohh, my little sister has some stubble on her cheek." She smiled again. "Your eyebrows are perfect, by the way. You're going to look so good!" Her enthusiasm was genuine and John was, once again, under her spell.
"Yeah?"
Rose nodded and smiled so sweetly, but Stacy interrupted. "Sit up for a moment, sweetheart."
He did and Stacy spread a sweet smelling lotion over the lower part of his face.
"What's this?"
"It's called 'Veet.' It's like Nair, But it works faster and lasts longer."
"Wait! How long does it work?"
"It should last about a month, but I'm going to suggest that you use it every two to three weeks all summer to stay smooth. You'll need to use it on your whole body, too. Do that tonight. Just rub it on and let it work for three minutes or so, then rinse it off. Easy as pie."
Alright - a month or two without a beard was ok. He could deal with that.
Stacy used a plastic paddle to scrap his face smooth, then wiped his face with a damp cloth. As she arranged her cosmetics, Rose rubbed his cheeks. "Very nice, sis." She leaned over and whispered into his ear, "I like you much better like this."
John smiled, but couldn't form words. He was glad that she was looking at his face and not his lap.
"Ok, Bianca. Almost done. Just let me do your makeup and take a few shots to send to Jan and Ms Weldon and you'll be good to go."
The end was in sight.
"Why don't you take note of what I'm doing to her," Stacy said to Rose. "I'm sure she'll need some help for a few days."
'Great!' John thought. 'This is not going to help her see me as a datable guy.'
Rose, however, was thrilled!
"Just a nice, slightly pale base to even her out. 'Bianca' means 'white' in Italian, so it makes sense to start our pallet a bit paler than the base I used on you. Make sure to bring it all the way down to her chest. Sun tans are a problem this time of year. Bianca is meant to be small and pale and vulnerable as well as sexual and manipulative. We need to draw attention to her breasts without being too overt about it."
Rose nodded and made mental notes as she watched.
"For her eyes, I want them to be big and round. So, we'll start with this light shadow and cover the whole eye. Then, a medium shadow and outline the shape of her upper eye. Nice and round, see? Then, blend it with your finger. See?"
"Wow, what a difference already."
"Yes, but here's the real trick. Take a good mascara - not some cheap garbage, but a real good mascara. I'll include a tube of this. You should use it, too. Close your eyes, Bianca. Start by brushing the top lashes down and getting them well coated. Now, look up, honey. Then, take your time and really coat the bottom lashes well, too. Most girls hardly touch those and they make all the difference."
"Oh, Johnny," Rose rubbed his shoulder as he was still reclined, "you're actually becoming Bianca, right before my eyes! You're going to love it when you see it!"
John doubted that.
"Finally, the lips," Stacy announced, "and this may sound weird, but watch. Take a little olive oil and add a few pinches of cinnamon. Mix it into a paste and use a Q-tip to apply it to her lips."
Why were they talking as if he were not even there?
"Let is sit for a couple of minutes, then add a little more, dry cinnamon and give it another two minutes. This all creates blood flow to the lips and makes them plumper and more full." She wiped the paste off. "See? That should last a good eight to ten hours."
"That's amazing. They really fattened up! They look very kissable, now." Rose ran her fingers across his mouth. Involuntary, he kissed her finger. She patted his lips, smiled and winked at him.
"Now, just a subtle outline with a red pencil and then, high gloss, rose-red lipstick."
"My favorite shade of red!" Rose giggled.
"Et voila!" Stacy helped John return to an upright position and he could, at last, see himself in the mirror. The problem was, there was no reflection of John. There was, however, the reflection of his 26 year old sister, Nancy, when she was in high school. There she was - black hair, bangs, big, pretty eyes, bright read lips, lovely facial structure. It was Nancy.
"Shit," John mumbled. "Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit!" Each got a bit louder.
"Well," Stacy grabbed her phone and moved in front of the chair, "you may not like it, but I need to send Jan and Ms Weldon pictures of today's little experiment, so stand together, please, girls and let me take a few shots."
"Oh, my goodness," Rose gushed, "I actually watched you go from being John to being Bianca. It was almost miraculous!"
"Yeah," John tried to regain his bearings, "miraculous."
As Stacy finished her pictures, packed them a bag of products and warned them both to wear hair nets to bed every night this summer, John's phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a text from mom.
'Coming home for dinner?'
Damn! It was nearly seven and he'd not told her he was going out.
'Sorry. Still working. I'll grab a salad somewhere.'
'Ok. Love you. See you tonight.'
'Love you, too.'
Then they said their Thank yous to Stacy and headed out to the waiting Tesla.
"Can you drop me at my house in Hyannis?" John asked.
"Sure," Rose smiled, "but we need to stop at the mall and deal with this list, first. Luckily, the mall is in Hyannis, too."
THE MALL -or- "It's Capulets like you that make blood in the marketplace."
"Are you nuts!? I can't go to the mall looking like this!" John was horrified by the very thought of it, but Rose's car seemed to be unwavering in its direction.
"Why?"
"Why!?" Why!? I look like a clown!"
"Does your sister look like a clown?"
"What!? No! My sister is a beautiful woman, but I am not! Except for my face and hair, I still look like a boy. I'm flat-chested and I've got no curves. Besides, my sister, Nancy, doesn't look like this, now. She's a doctor and she's got shorter hair and looks more professional. I look more like she did in a family portrait we have at home that we had done when she was about fifteen of sixteen. Even then, though, she had boobs and hips!"
"And so will you after we visit a couple of stores. Women's lingerie is designed to make curves where none exist, if necessary."
"Well..." John wracked his brain for another reason to not go in the mall, which now loomed in front of him. "... I... I..." then, suddenly, a real reason appeared in his mind, "I don't have any money! So, there's no reason to go in."
Rose's Tesla rolled silently into a space near the main entrance to The Cape Cod Mall. She slipped the transmission into Park, shut off the motor, grabbed her purse and smiled at John. "Well, luckily, I have plenty of money and credit cards. Jan said she'd reimburse me for anything I spent on either you or me. So, come on, sis, let's go shopping! I really want to do this with you and I know that you will appreciate it - maybe not today, but eventually, you'll appreciate it."
John looked at the mall entrance as if it were the gateway to hell. She could see he was petrified.
She tried a new tact. "Listen, Johnny, I spoke to a lot of people at rehearsal today and everyone of them told me what a great actor you are. They all admire you and each one was convinced that you would be great in any role - including Bianca. You don't want to let them down, do you?"
She'd done it. Acting - that was his kryptonite. He loved acting and he loved the Cape Cod Shakespearean Rep for being his theatrical home. "Damnit," he muttered, "you've got to help me, though."
Her smile was so sweet and satisfied that he nearly melted. God, she was gorgeous before, but now, with the makeup and new hair color, he wanted to be with her more than he could even comprehend.
She reached into the back seat and grabbed her rehearsal bag and set it on her lap. She looked through it for a moment, then produced a shirt. "Here. Put this on. It's loose and it doesn't show a lot of curves, even when you have them."
Grateful for any camouflage, John took off his polo shirt, careful of his hair, as Stacy had instructed, and pulled the tank-top tunic over his head. It definitely fit more loosely, but there were issues with it. It was a soft, white garment that was fairly shapeless, but from the shoulders and crew-neck opening to just above where his breasts should be, there was a very pretty and feminine lace panel. It was not overstated or fancy in any way - just pretty and feminine. This panel of lace was repeated in the form of a three inch hem that hung loosely at the bottom of the blouse. It was longer than his own shirt, so he knew that, when he exited the car, the bottom would hang at his hips or slightly lower. Combine this design with the fact that it was a slightly larger size than he'd usually wear and he was sure that no one would be able to tell if he had breasts or not.
"There," Rose cooed in a tone that was patient, supportive and sisterly, "that's better, isn't it? And you look so pretty in it. What do you think?"
John looked at it and shrugged. "It'll work, I guess.. just... don't leave me alone in there, ok?"
"Of course not, honey. Your big sister is here to protect you." She opened her door and exited the Tesla. John was still contemplating all the possible disastrous scenarios of being dressed like this in public when his door opened and Rose offered her hand. He sighed and took it.
When he stood, the feathery-soft top he was wearing fell loosely about him. The cooler June evening air felt lovely on his bare arms, but the garment flowed in a disturbingly wonderful way in the breeze, making it feel even more alien to him.
"Oh, that's nice on you," she encouraged him as they moved towards the mall entrance. You should wear that to rehearsal tomorrow."
John did not acknowledge that statement at all, in fact, he barely registered it. He'd noticed something amazing about the blouse. It not only felt soft and pretty, it made him feel small and soft and pretty. He took Rose's offered hand as they walked and he realized that his shirt was emanating a magic spell and he was falling under its power. It felt wonderful to be wearing clothes that he knew Rose had worn, too. Strong, confident, beautiful Rose.
It even smelled of lavender and vanilla, just like her.
It made him feel closer to her. 'Go along with this,' he thought, 'and your bound to get closer to her. This is all going to work out perfectly for you.'
When the entered, Rose made a bee-line for the Victorians Secret store with her list of items from Jan with John's measurements written across the top of the paper.
As they entered the store, John caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror and, as Rose spoke to a salesgirl, John looked at the reflection of a very cute, If somewhat flat chested, teenaged girl. Not earth-shakingly beautiful. Not what he'd describe as 'hot,' but definitely cute. This girl was that little girl down the street who was a few years younger and was always thought of as a child, but then, one day, out of the blue, she'd grown into this perfect little cutie. Not quiet a girl and not quite a women, which was an apt description because John was not quite either of those, either.
"May I help, you?" The young woman asked Rose.
"Yes," Rose spoke quietly, "my little sister here is, well, as you can see, flat. She doesn't usually even wear a training bra. Anyway, we have an event coming up in a couple of weeks and we found a really pretty dress, but we want it to hang a little nicer. We're hoping we can get her cup size up to a 'B' without embarrassing her. Do you think you can help us?"
The girl, who's name tag indicated was named Becky, glanced at John, smiled sympathetically, nodded and said, "Of course. I'd suggest a pretty, padded push-up. That will give her the illusion of cleavage, then you can pick up some breast enhancement pads - there's an accessories store down the hall that sells both the inexpensive foam forms and the simple 'chicken cutlet' style, silicone ones. Between the push-up style, the padding already in the bra and the inserts, she'll be up to a 'B' cup without a problem."
"Oh, that's wonderful, but, please, be as discreet as possible. This is an embarrassing subject for her."
"Of course."
John was still taking in his new face when a woman, taller than him - about the same height as Rose -put her arm around his shoulders. "Hi, Bianca. My name is Becky. Your sister tells me that you've got a big event coming and you need some new bras and panties. I'm here to help you."
"Umm," John looked to Rose, then back to the salesgirl, "I think, just bras."
"Oh, don't be silly, baby," Becky lead John to the changing rooms, "a girl needs to look AND FEEL her best for a big occasion." Now, she opened a door and guided John inside, "take off your top and I'll hand a bra in, in just a moment."
Rose stuck her head in, too, and said, "Don't worry, Bianca, I'll help you." She smiled and closed the door behind her, leaving John wondering if he could ever find a way out of this.
"Since this is a special event, are you looking for 'pretty' or just functional?" Becky asked as she surveyed the rather vast selection of push up bras.
"Oh, the prettier, the better, I think!" Rose was starting to enjoy her participation in her stage-sister's new persona. He was a nice guy and she saw some big potential in him as a performer. He'd make a great Bianca. He just needed some help to get there.
"She's kind of a tomboy, isn't she?" Becky was laying bras and matching panties out for Rose to peruse.
Rose laughed. "Kind of. She's trying to find herself, you know? Years of playing boy's games and roughhousing around the neighborhood, but now she needs to be a girl for the first time."
"Oh, I understand. I was the same way at fifteen or sixteen. My mom wouldn't let me out without shaving my legs, though, but kids are different, now."
"I'll need to mention that to her."
"What do you think?" Becky presented the lingerie with a wave of her hand. All of her bra selections were designed to provide the appropriate lift and augmentation to a less-endowed young woman and all were dripping in lace, as were the panties. "How could anyone wear something like these without feeling like a princess. I'd bet that you could dress a boy in these and he'd feel the same way."
"Well, then," Rose laughed, "they're perfect!"
"These are all from the same collection, so if one fits, they all will. What color do you like?"
"Hmmm... I think we'll take a six bras, white, red, Oh, I love that emerald green, a beige one, the baby blue and a black one. Let's get two pairs of panties in each of those colors, too."
"Oh, my!" Becky smiled, "I thought this was just a special event. Your buying her a whole wardrobe!"
"Well, it's a special event, but it's going to last several weeks, so she'll need to dress up a lot."
"Wonderful. Let's try these on her."
"Umm..., Becky, she's really nervous about this. Do you mind if I just help her into one and, if it fits, we'll take the whole lot?"
"I understand. You go right ahead. I'll pull everything together."
"Knock, knock!" Rose sang as she opened the door to the fitting room and entered with the bra behind her back.
John stood, looking incongruous with his long, black hair, bangs, pretty cheekbones, big eyes and flat chest. "Rose, can we just go, please? I think I'm hyperventilating."
"Alright, now, stop. You're an actor and you have a role to play. These are just costume pieces for that role. Let's just do what we need to do and get on with our lives, ok?"
John took a deep breath and both shivered and sighed as he looked at his strange image in the mirror. "Ok, I guess. Let's just get it over with, then."
"Good, now, turn around so I can get your bra on you."
John turned away from the mirror, to face Rose. Without any comment, she ran the bra past his fingers, over his arms and up to his shoulders. Then, she pulled him close as she reached behind him and fastened the hooks into the eyes.
Oh, God, she smelled so good!
She hugged him tightly and planted a sisterly kiss on his temple. "Thank you for letting me share this with you, Bianca. It's like you're really my little sister."
Oh, Lord, should Kate's little sister have a penis expanding and growing in her shorts!? Probably, not, but she just kissed him!!! He was in heaven! There had to be a way to build on this! Who cared if he had to be a girl forever, as long as she paid attention to him, he could be happy forever!
When Rose pulled back, she wasn't looking at his face, but staring at his 'breasts.' "That's a really pretty bra and it looks nice on you, too."
John shook off his stupor and smiled uncomfortably. "Thanks, I guess..."
"You guess? Come one, Bianca, get into the spirit of all this! I'm having fun and you could, too, if you'd just lighten up and enjoy yourself! Now, look in the mirror."
She turned John so that he was facing the mirror. The bra seemed to match his face and hair, but it looked wrong with his olive colored cargo shorts. He also noticed that there was hair on his legs. Maybe no one would notice, though. His natural hair was pretty light.
Rose pulled the tag from the bra, then helped John pull the top she'd loaned him back on.
"There," she said in a decidedly maternal tone, "doesn't that look prettier, now?"
There unmistakably female shape was visible through the tunic, but, unlike before, the light, off-white fabric hung gently from his shoulders to his bosom, and then hung loosely from there. It was definitely prettier than before, he could not deny that, so he just nodded.
"Can we go home now?"
"Not just yet, I'm afraid. I have a list of things we need. I need to go to the accessories store, the shoe store and the drug store, but then I'll take you home. You have a little homework to do tonight, too, so we really should be as quick as we can. I think, though, before we leave, I need to grab one more thing. Just wait here."
"Ok, but, please, hurry!"
Moments later, Rose returned with a pair of denim shorts. They looked like any other jean-shorts except the inseam couldn't ha e been more than two inches long. "These will look much better. Your shorts scream 'boy.'"
John just sighed and pulled down his own shorts.
"Oops," Rose made a face when she saw his undergarments. "I didn't realize you'd be wearing boxers. I'll just go grab a pair of the briefs I picked out for you. I'll just be a minute."
John stood in stunned, disbelieving silence till Rose came back with a beige panty that matched his bra perfectly. It had a front, lace panel which was surrounded by strips of satin. The hips repeated the lacy strips and the rear was just a field of satin.
He stared at them for a moment, then turned to Rose, agog. "Do you need help getting them on?" She asked.
He just shook his head and, without any thought, he began lowering his boxers.
"Oh," Rose made that same 'oops' face, again, "don't forget to tuck that under. Girls' shorts are kinda tight."
TELLING MOM -or- THOU ART THY MOTHER'S GLASS, AND SHE IN THEE CALLS BACK THE LOVELY APRIL OF HER PRIME
It was nearly 8:30 when they pulled up in front of the cottage that John and his mother shared.
"Do you live here year-round?" Rose asked as she unloaded the bags from the trunk, refusing to to let John carry anything.
"No. We live in Worcester the rest of the year and just come here for the summer. My grandparents bought this place a long time ago. We couldn't afford it in today's market."
"What does your mom do?"
"She's a medieval history professor at The College Of The Holy Cross, in Worcester."
"No kidding!? That may be helpful!"
John opened and held the front door, but Rose insisted that he enter first. As they entered the breezeway, Rose noticed that there were daybed style bunks built in on each side - clever way to maximize the sleeping space when there were guests.
The living room was large with two sofas and two comfortable chairs, all of which, she assumed correctly, were easily converted into beds. There were five rooms off the sides and rear of the largest room. Three were obviously bedrooms, one was a lavatory and the last was a small kitchen.
John looked into the kitchen and could see a light on in the good sized, screened in room beyond.
"Mom," he called, "I'm home."
"Hi, honey!" His mother called back. "I'm in the back."
"Could you come to the living room for a minute?"
John sighed as he moved to stand by Rose. "This should be interesting," he mumbled.
A sporty looking woman in her early fifties, John's mother cut an impression of confidence and contentment as she entered the twilight lit living room.
"What is it, honey... Nancy! I thought it was John! I didn't expect you till next weekend." She moved to hug her daughter, but John moved towards the light switch and illuminated the room.
"It's not Nancy, mom. It's me."
His mother fought with logic for a moment. The person before her was obviously Nancy, but just as obviously not and, even if she were Nancy, she looked like Nancy from ten or twelve years ago. That left only one explanation. "John?"
"Yeah. It's me."
Her thoughts fought to figure this out. John had never once expressed an interest in cross dressing before. He wouldn't do all this just for a summer job, would he? Wait - where did the pretty top come from? And breasts! He had breasts! Those were short-shorts that barely peeked out from underneath the lacy hem of the top...!
Why did all of these questions distract from the fact that her youngest child, her only son, had left the house just twelve hours ago with scraggly, somewhat curly, dirty blonde hair and a little stubble and had returned with long, rich, shining black hair cut into adorable bangs and wearing makeup worthy of a model?
"What's all this for? Certainly not just for the play, right? I mean, I know your playing a girl's role, but this is... a lot... I guess... and it's just the first day of rehearsal..."
Suddenly a thought hit her. 'He's coming out! He's coming out as a transgendered woman and I'm not dealing with this correctly! Come on, Marilyn! Get your shit together! That's your son! Support him!'
She cleared her throat, then continued, "I mean, well, John, if there's something that you'd like to tell me, then," she sat on a sofa and, by way of invitation, patted the seat beside her, "I'm here for you. I'm your mother and I will support you and your decisions."
"Mom..."
"No, please, Johnny, come sit with me." She was seated on the edge of the sofa, bolt upright as if she was awaiting news from a surgeon who may be bringing bad news. "Whatever you need to say, I'll help you to get through it."
John did not move to the sofa, but stood where he was and stared at a spot on the floor. "Mom, it's for the show. I swear, I didn't know that Ms Weldon would require me to do so much, but it's all for the show. Honestly."
"I see..." she breathed a sigh of relief, about which she felt immediate embarrassment. She'd had many transgendered students through the years - many more in recent years, of course - so why did the possibility of her son being transgendered scare her so much? "... and are you ok with all of this?"
" I really don't know, mom. It all happened pretty quick and you know how much I love acting and Shakespeare and the CCSR... and I need the job... and like you said - it's an acting challenge. I'm almost as shocked by all this as you are and I watched it happen."
There was a solid thirty seconds of silence as mother and son stared at each-other before someone cleared her throat and said, "I think I should get going. I'll see you tomorrow, Bianca - Umm - John."
John's mother looked to as if noticing her for the first time. "I'm sorry! I didn't even... never mind. I'm Marilyn, John's mother." She stood and offered the attractive stranger her hand.
"I'm Rose. I go to Emerson with John and we're playing sisters in the play." Rose shook Marilyn's hand.
"Oh, I see. You're playing Kate? My, you are beautiful!"
"Well," Rose blushed, "you're very nice, but I didn't look like this this morning. John and I both got 'the works' at the beauty parlor, this afternoon."
"And are you responsible for John's attire, too?" Marilyn laughed a bit as she turned to inspect her son more closely.
"Yes and no," Rose wasn't sure if Marilyn was accusing her of something or not, but she sure wasn't going to leave that house with this woman thinking that she was the villain in this scenario. "Ms Weldon and our hair-and-makeup-slash-costume person gave John a big list of things to deal with after we visited the beauty parlor. Since most of the items would have been difficult or embarrassing for him to buy on his own, and since he didn't have a car, I volunteered to help my new little sister. I'm not really 'responsible' for anything. I was just helping out."
Marilyn smiled at the younger woman's defensiveness. "You did a lovely job, Rose, thank you. I appreciate your help and I'm sure that you made all of this much easier for my little ingénue."
"Mom," John pulled away and flopped on the couch as his mother admired his hair and ran her fingers through it, "come on, knock it off. This is embarrassing enough as is."
"Oh, don't be embarrassed, sweetheart," his mother smiled. "You're an actor and actors need to take on different personas. This one just happens to be a woman."
"A girl, actually" Rose tossed in. "According to Ms Weldon's character notes, Kate is meant to be approximately twenty years old and, since men looked for younger brides in the sixteenth century, Bianca should be fourteen to sixteen years old."
"Thanks," John sat put his head in his hands, "that helps a lot."
"Knees together, there, young lady," Marilyn teased as she bent and put them together.
"I really should go, now," Rose moved towards the door, "I have to get back to Harwich."
"Harwich? Do you have a home there?" Marilyn asked. Geographically, the small towns that comprised Cape Cod were all fairly close to each other, but there were not a lot of ways to move from east to west. Harwich was several towns east of Hyannis, but the only major road that connected it, without traveling north to get to the only limited access highway, was Rt 28 and it was a narrow, old road with an infinite number of red lights between any given point 'A' and any given point 'B.' It was a bad commuting road in February, but now, with the summer coming and Fourth of July just a week and a half away, it was about to turn into parking lot of angry tourists.
"No," Rose smiled as she took the handle of the door, "I rented a room at the Beachwood Motor Inn.
Marilyn knew the place. It was old and right on the main road, so it was noisy, too. "Oh, Rose, no! I bet they're charging you a fortune to stay there!"
"It's not horrible, but I am looking for another part time job to supplement my income this summer. As you know, the CCSR doesn't pay an awful lot to those of us who aren't in the unions, yet. Well, good night."
She headed out through the breezeway and closed the screen door to it behind her.
Moments later, Marilyn was calling behind her and jogged effortlessly over to speak to her. "Listen, Rose, I just had a thought. I have raised one daughter already, but I don't know a lot about how a fourteen or fifteen year old girl behaves, today."
Rose nodded.
"So, I was thinking, you'd be doing be and Johnny a great service if you would come and stay with us this summer. I'll provide you room and board and you can help coach Johnny to be a better woman. What do you say?"
Rose was flabbergasted! "I don't know, I mean, you're saying I will be living here and not paying rent? That would mean that I could save... Oh, my heavens, yes! I'll do it, Marilyn! Do you think that Bianca... I mean, John will be ok with this?"
"He'll be thrilled!"
THE ACTING COACH -or- COME, SIT DOWN, EVERY MOTHER'S SON, AND REHEARSE YOUR PART
Ed was beeping his horn in front of the cottage while Marilyn was knocking on the door to the bathroom. "John, for crying out loud, you can't stay in there all day! You agreed to do this job and Ed is waiting for you outside! Man up and get your butt out of that room!"
"I look like a freak!" He shouted through the door.
"You know, I spent over an hour on your hair and makeup this morning, young man. You could be more grateful!"
"Mom, you're missing the point..."
"No, I'm not. You took on a job that has certain requirements and you are have been properly prepared to go to work. Now, go!"
The door imploded open and John appeared. His dark hair was straight and pretty from his scalp to the under flip at the bottom. His makeup was not quite as perfect as yesterday, but very pretty. He was wearing the same tunic and shorts that he'd worn home, but, aside from the clean pair of panties, there were some changes - his body was hairless and his skin smelled of flowers because of the lotion his mother had insisted he'd put on after he'd been denuded.
He gathered his things into his rehearsal tote bag with a great deal of bluster as Ed's horn sounded again.
"I can't believe my own mother is forcing me to do this!"
"Now, you listen to me, John Frances," that got John's attention. It was rare that she used his middle name and when she did, he knew that he damned well better pay attention, "you agreed to play this role, not me. You allowed yourself to have your hair and makeup done, not me. And you're the one who is going to get paid and take the bows, not me. Are we on the same page, now?"
He kept his attention focused on packing his bag, but nodded.
"Last night I googled this Ms Weldon and do you know what I found?"
He shook his head.
"This woman has been nominated for seven Tony Awards, won three, has six Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. She is the best of the best and she seems to see some kind of talent in you, enough so that she's giving you this challenge. Of course, I'm just a humdrum old college professor, but if I had ambitions to be an actor, I'd get my act together and I'd do it quickly so that I impressed this woman with my ability, rather than have her think I wasn't up to the challenge."
He nodded and threw his lunch into his bag. "Ok, mom. You're right, but, GOD, I just don't want to look like an idiot in front of everyone!"
Ed's horn beeped again, and John could hear Ed shouting, "Dude! Come on!"
"Then don't act like an idiot, Bianca!" Marilyn smiled. It was the first time she'd used the name and it amused her a bit to think of John with that new moniker. It seemed to suit him, now. "Go and be an actor. Be the best fifteen year old, flirtatious, little girl that you can be. Now, go show them who you really are."
He sighed and threw the bag over his shoulder. "Alright, mom. I'm sorry, but it's a lot to deal with. I love you."
She kissed his smooth, pretty cheek. "I love you, too, dear. Good luck."
"Dude," Ed complained as the passenger door opened, "you're gonna make us late. If we hit any traffic, we're going to be..." he looked at the girl sitting next to him. It took him a few moments to recognize her face, but when he did, it made no sense. "... John?"
"'Fraid so. Can we, maybe just get going and talk about this later?"
Ed glanced at the time and nodded. He put the car in gear and pulled out.
There were both silent for a solid five minutes before Ed said, "Soooooo.... Are you going to tell me about this?"
"Ed... I'm Bianca. This is how Ms Weldon and Jan see Bianca. There isn't anything more to be said."
"I'm pretty sure that there's a lot more to be said, but I'll let it go at that for now."
There was another, prolonged silence until John finally muttered, "Thanks, pal."
The remainder of the trip was in silence, until Ed had put the car in park. Neither made a move to exit the vehicle. John stared at the entrance to the rehearsal hall and Ed, for the most part, stared at John for well over a minute. As the clock on the dashboard turned to 8:57am, Ed exited the car and came around to the passenger door, opened it and offered his hand to John. "Come on. We have to go in, now, or we'll be late."
John grunted in frustration, then took Ed's hand and pulled himself out. Ed closed the door and took John's hand to lead him inside. "Don't worry," he whispered to his nervous friend, "once they're past the initial shock, they'll all be blown away, just like I am."
They stopped for a moment and Ed looked his friend up and down. "You look great." Then, from his five-foot-ten inch height, leaned forward and kissed John's cheek. It was a strange gesture, but it was kind and friendly and reassuring and it filled John with a warmth and confidence. John smiled at Ed and nodded.
Then, as Ed lead him up the stairs, Ed added, "You smell great, too."
After they'd signed in, they checked the rehearsal board to see where to report. 'The three suitors' had to report to the Acting Coach for the first half hour, while John had to report to costuming. The 'women' from both plays, which John assumed, correctly, included him, had to report to the Acting Coach at 9:30. At 10:00, everyone involved in Act 1, Scene 1 had to report to the Assistant Director to block the scene.
"Ok, dude, I guess I'll see you in an hour. You going to be ok?" Ed asked as he walked John towards the makeup room.
"I guess."
"Come on, dude, enjoy yourself. You know most of the girls and they'll be cool. Besides, in an hour we're doing scene 1 and remember how the play starts - Kate has Bianca tied up and is demanding information about her boyfriends. Think about it, dude. One of the prettiest girls you've ever met is going to tie you up! How cool is that!?"
John couldn't help but smile at Ed's excitement. As they reached the costume/makeup room, Ed realized that he was still holding John's hand. "You all set?" Ed asked and John nodded in response. Ed smiled and John found that comforting, too.
Ed held John's hand for longer than expected and he smiled, ruefully, as he rubbed John's smaller hand in both of his larger mitts. For a second, John felt like Ed was about to kiss his hand, or his cheek, again, or...
"Hi!" Suddenly, Rose was standing beside them. "Whew! Traffic was awful this morning! I thought I'd be very late," she giggled with a little nervousness, realizing that she may have barged in on something, but Ed just returned her greeting and smiled.
Then he winked at John and walked away.
Rose took John's hand and led him into the room. All the other women, all of whom were, of course, actual women, were seated around the edges of the room. Gloria, who played 'The Widow,' the third and only other female role in 'Shrew,' waved them over to sit with her. John had known Gloria through her work at the CCSR for several years. She was in her mid thirties and she smiled at them both. "Well, don't you two clean up, nicely? Johnny, I can see that you're nervous, but there's no need. Just sit here and relax."
"Can I have your attention, please, ladies?" Jan took over the room and everyone focused on her. "I just want to make sure we're all on the same page when it comes to what we are providing and what you'll need to provide." The women all nodded and grabbed either notebooks or phones to take notes.
"First, let's talk style." Jan walked to a dress hanging from a rack nearby. "We're not going for actual Elizabethan style, but more of an implied-Shakespearean look. The dresses will imply the era, but be more comfortable for you to wear. They are made of linen, so they will breathe well, but they'll wrinkle easily, too, so please treat them delicately."
Several women took note of what was being said. John saw no need, at this point.
"Let's see," Jan looked at a label in the dress, "this is one of Kate's dresses. Rose, will you come up here, please?"
The dress, which was emerald green, with lots of embroidery around the front of the bodice, long sleeves that puffed at the top and laced tightly around the forearm and wrist. The back of the dress was open and would need to be laced.
When Rose was in the center of the studio-room with her, Jan said, "Ok, Rose, would you mind stripping to your bra and panties so that we can demonstrate what all the girls will be wearing?"
"Sure," Rose said completely unfazed and she pulled the straps on her flowered sundress to the side and dropped it to the floor so should could step out of it.
"Because you'll frequently be performing outside where it will most likely be hot, I'm not going to ask you to dress with all the layers of the Elizabethan era. No bloomers, for instance. You can wear your own panties."
John was having a hard time listening to Jan. He was entirely focused on Rose's body and the bra and panties that barely covered it. She was fit and firm and shapely, all at once. He struggled to not overreact, or breathe more quickly, but he could feel his manly equipment growing uncomfortable in its tucked position. It didn't help at all that, as his organ grew and expanded, it slide smoothly along the silky material of his own panties, which, to his erotic horror, were identical to Rose's. His bra and hers were identical, as well, save for the fact that his was slightly smaller.
"You will all be wearing a smock, though," she held up a shapeless, white, nightgown-like garment and helped Rose to put it on. "I made these out of a very light cotton so that they'll be as cool as possible."
That was greeted by sounds of appreciation from the other women.
"That's great," an older woman said. "Last year, our costumer had us in linen bloomers and smocks. We were sweaty messes before we were out of the dressing room." Other women agreed and nodded. John just wished he could go back to wearing his breeches and doublet like the other men.
"You know what," Jan paused, "you girls are all going to have to trained to dress each other, so let's kill two birds with one stone. Gloria and Bianca, come up here and you two can get your training in by helping me to dress Rose."
At first, John didn't move. Gloria stood and waited a moment for John to stand. When he didn't, she tapped his shoulder and he realized that when Jan said Bianca, she meant him.
When they were in the center of the room with Rose, John noticed that both Rose and Gloria were smiling and excited by the costume. John tried to relax, or more importantly, to LOOK relaxed and fit in.
Jan handed Gloria an unadorned garment, obviously a corset of some kind. Then she smiled at John and said, "Oh, let's take a look at you, young lady."
John smiled, nervously, but one of the actresses started clapping and within a moment, they were all standing and clapping for his new look. That really caught him off guard. "You're adorable," he heard. "So cute!" "Johnny, you look so pretty!"
Jan smiled, then threw her arms around him, hugged him and whispered into his ear, "I know that yesterday was rough, but it's all going to be worth it. You'll see."
The sense of relief that washed over John was huge. He'd expected condescension and criticism. He'd never expected support and acceptance. His eyes watered as he breathed easily for the first time that morning. That was it! He'd crossed the Rubicon and conquered this part of the challenge. Thank God. He suddenly felt like he could do this.
"Back to business, now," Jan took over again. "Gloria, please wrap that around Rose. Bianca, help hold it in place so Gloria can lace it up."
John and Gloria did as they were instructed and soon the back of Rose's corset resembled the same lacing pattern as a high top sneaker.
"These are only lightly boned, but you do need the corset for the shape of the costume and to help your posture. Are you comfortable, Rose?"
Rose nodded, "Yes. Very."
"Good," Jan smiled as if she knew the punchline to a joke, "let's fix that. Bianca, stand in front of Rose and old her hands while Gloria tightens the laces as much as possible."
He faced Rose and took her soft hands in his. She made a face of comic horror as, following Jan's instructions, Gloria began to pull the laces as tightly as she could. When she was done, Rose's already perfect shape was even more perfect and her ample breasts were bursting from the cups of the corset and the bra.
"Hold your hands up high, like you're trying to touch the ceiling," Jan instructed. "This will pull your boobs as high as possible. Now, Gloria and Bianca, pull her cups as high as possible."
John focused on what Gloria was doing, but the backs of his fingers had no choice but to graze the underside of Rose's bra as he lifted.
"Now, drop your arms," Jan instructed and suddenly John's fingers were stuck between the cups of the bra and corset. He pulled them out as quickly as possible and, once again, his groin was straining in its restraints.
The result of this exercise was that Rose's bosom was proudly presented to all. The women ahh-ed at this and John just marveled.
"To wrap up, quickly, next comes the hoop skirt, or farthingale." She presented John with a skirt made of flexible, horizontal bands that hung together by vertical, linen bands. He held it down so that Rose could step into it and he and Gloria raised it to her waist and tied it off.
"A frilly crinoline on top of that," John and Gloria repeated the process.
"And the dress." They held the beautiful piece of femininity open so that Rose could place her upper body into it and slide her arms into the sleeves. They spent the next minutes lacing the back and sleeves of the dress. When they stepped aside, all the actresses applauded. It was beautiful and Rose looked amazing in it.
John looked at his own outfit, the off-white, lacy tank-top-tunic that hung so nicely from his breasts and nearly covered his tiny shorts, and, strangely, he wondered how he would look in a dress like this, and, even more strangely, he wanted to try one on.
"Rose, I'm going to let you keep that on for this morning," Jan said, causing Rose to beam with contentment, "and I'm going to put the rest of you in your farthingales and crinolines so that you start working with the size of it. So, Bianca, you first."
THE WOOING -or- THOU AND I ARE TOO WISE TO WOO PEACEABLY
"Good morning, suitors," Randy, the Acting Coach shook their hands and asked their names and character names.
"Ok, Ed, Jim and Harry," I asked you in here to help me with a stage exercise that I think is going to help you guys to have a better show."
They all nodded.
"Each of you take one of these," he handed them each a Visa gift card worth $50 dollars. "Now, as you know, you'll be wooing Bianca, who, in this production, is a young woman, but is being played by a young man."
"Yeah," Harry said, "but have you seen him, today? Yowsir! He looks nice!"
"Hey, Hey, Hey," Ed said, slightly bothered, "John's working hard. Show him some respect."
"There's a good place to start. Ed," Randy said. "You will show Bianca respect - for the run of this production, there is no John. Bianca is a she - end of story. Are we all on the same page?"
They all nodded.
"Now, girls, especially girls as pretty as Bianca, grow up getting used to male attention. Our Bianca did not, so we need to dote on her. I've given you these cards and I want you to use them to purchase small things, a few bucks a piece, to give Bianca as presents throughout the next few weeks. I want you to woo her in real life as well as on stage. Don't try to date her, just try to win her attention. Got it?"
They nodded again.
"Good. Go pick out something for her. At some point during the day, stop by and give it to her. Smile and flirt as much as you can and, above all, forget that she is anything other than Bianca - a beautiful girl who you'd be thrilled to take to dinner."
THE WOMEN ARE COACHED -or- HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, BEAUTIFUL BIANCA, AND HER WITHHOLDS FROM ME AND OTHER MORE.
As the actresses entered the rehearsal room to work with Randy, they were all giddy with the silliness of trying to maneuver through the narrow doorways with the large hoops skirts and crinoline covering. John was laughing as well, happy to find himself accepted by the women in the productions. He was also strangely enthusiastic about the fact that his crinoline was the fanciest and spread the widest. Jan explained that he was meant to be the most elegant and attractive woman, therefore his dress would be the prettiest of all. He found himself strangely elated at the prospect of being prettier than all of these gorgeous women.
He was also wearing the black character shoes that Rose had bought him last night, which he'd adapted to quite easily, but the hoops and crinolines offered an unusual problem for John - where to keep his hands. Whether hanging at his sides or folded in front of him, his hands were always touching material. It was very odd. He also needed to constantly guide the skirt while walking of sitting. It was odd that there was ever a fashion which left the wearer so subservient to the garment, but he was beginning to really enjoy how everything felt and hung.
Randy gave a quick rundown of things that the women needed to remember about the behavior of sixteenth century women, having them practice proper curtsying and smiling demurely. "The most important thing to remember, ladies is that women of that time were 100% subservient to their husbands and they were not supposed to even look at the men with a challenging expression. Women's heads were typically tilted slightly forward and, when they spoke to a man, their heads remained in that position and they would raise they're eyes ONLY to interact with the men. This, very distinctive, gesture will bring a good deal of historic femininity to your roles.'
'Kate, of course, this doesn't apply to you except in the final scene. You should confront men as an equal. Bianca, this applies to you times a thousand. The only person that you should speak directly to is Kate and even she is, in a way, your superior. Whenever you're interacting with anyone from this show, whether on stage or not, I want you to remember this behavior. The more you sell this demeanor, the better Bianca you'll be. Understood?"
John nodded as he took notes.
"Excuse me?" Randy asked, perturbed.
John looked up, surprised by the tone of the man's voice. "Yes. I understand."
Randy took on an offended attitude and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I just spoke to you, little girl, and I want an answer."
John looked to the other women, most of whom looked away. Rose, however was gesturing towards Randy with her eyes. John returned his glance to Randy. "I'm sorry... I mean... I said..."
"I said a proper answer. Now," he was yelling in a threatening tone, "stand up when a man is speaking to you, little girl, and address me with the proper respect."
John rose, very slowly and looked at Randy, afraid to speak.
"Are you Looking me directly in the eye, young lady!" His voice boomed with anger! "Next time you look me directly in the eye, I swear, I will take you across my knee and spank the rebellion out of you!"
John knew that this kind of language mirrored the dialog between Petrucchio and Kate, but it was frightening to have the vehemence aimed at him. He lowered his eyes, tilting his head in a submissive manner, then raised his eyes and looked at him through his well groomed eyebrows. "I am sorry, Randy..."
"Sir."
John took a deep breath, closed his lovely eyes, then raised the lids, again, and tried to look as unthreatening as possible. "I am sorry, sir. I meant no offense. I am but a silly woman. I will do better in the future."
Randy shifted hie weight on his feet and smiled a bit. "I accept your apology, Bianca, but I cannot accept that you are a woman. You are a child yet, Bianca. A mere girl of fourteen or fifteen and as a young girl, you must know your place. Do you understand me, child?"
John had experienced these kinds of theatrical training sessions before and he knew that it was a useful exercise, but he was feeling a bit more victimized than he wanted. His fingers ran across the smooth, soft material of the crinoline and he felt small and weak. He knew that Randy would never actually assault him, but he was equally frightened that he would. "Yes, sir," he said in the most demure position he could muster, "I understand you. I don't know what came over me. I understand my place, sir. I will never assert myself again, sir."
"What are you, Bianca."
"I am a child, sir."
"Yes, you are, Bianca. You are just a pretty little thing without a thought in your head, aren't you?"
"Yes, sir, I am."
"Then say it."
John took a deep breath. Man, this guy was taking this to an extreme. "I am a pretty little thing without a thought in my head, sir, and I am sorry to have challenged your authority. It will never happen, again."
"Come here," John moved to stand in front of Randy who stared down at him for several moments before saying, "See that it doesn't."
"Yes, sir." John's response was barely a whisper.
Suddenly, Randy burst into a big grin and, without warning, he pulled John into a massive bear hug, lifting him right off the floor, swinging him around and causing his skirts to billow and wave about him.
All the other women applauded, both because in this improvised scene, John had found a way to behave correctly, and because they were relieved that Randy had chosen John and not them to prove his point.
"You were great, Bianca!" Randy whispered as he dropped him back to the floor and kissed his cheek. "Just remember what we did here and you'll be fine."
John returned to his seat, but Rose stood to hug him when he arrived. She kissed his cheek and patted his hair. "You ok?"
John smiled, but was on the verge of crying. "They're always tougher on the women then the men. They want us to be emotional, you know?"
He nodded and wiped a tear that threatened to fall from his right eye. She kissed his cheek, again. "If you need a good cry, I'm here for you. That's what sisters are for," she whispered.
He nodded once more. "Maybe later," he said as he sat bolt upright in his folding chair.
They blocked the first scene in which Kate ties up Bianca and demands to know about all of her boyfriends. Bianca's stinging personal attacks on her sister matched Kate's physical attacks on her. It is a wonderfully vicious and playful scene and both Rose and John had enjoyed reading the scene together the day before, but today, with the movement added, they had a blast!
Playing with the crinoline and hoops came as second nature to John as he began to bury himself in the role. When they took a quick break, Randy gave him some suggestions for lightening his already slightly higher pitched voice to make it just a bit more feminine.
When they reran the scene, John was completely engulfed in the role and was convincing as the conniving younger sister, the flirtatious ingénue and the sweeter than sugar daughter. By the time they broke for lunch, everyone in the cast had forgotten that the actress portraying Bianca was really a boy.
John's mood had completely changed as he sat with Rose, Gloria and Ed and ate his salad. He'd, reluctantly, surrendered his hoop skirts and crinolines and was reduced to his tunic and shorts, again. He was still wearing his character shoes, though and was enjoying the feeling of the moderately high heels. His morning, which had started so miserably, had become one of the best days of his life. He was so grateful to Ms Weldon for offering him such a unique role for a man, but he'd not seen her, yet, today.
As they sat there chatting, Rose couldn't help but notice that Ed seemed fascinated by John. She knew that they'd been friends for a long time, but she could only smile at the attention that Ed was paying to John's - or, more likely, Bianca's - every word.
Gloria was in the middle of a story about her husband when Harry interrupted, politely. "Excuse me, ladies, Ed. Ms Minola," He said, using Bianca's last name in the play. "I... well, I just thought you may enjoy this for dessert." He presented John with a small box from a local bakery. John opened it to find a small, vanilla cupcake with 'unicorn' frosting.
"Oh!" John was really taken aback. Why would someone, a guy, in particular, give him a gift like this? "Well, thank you, Harry. That's very nice of you. Would you like to sit and share this with us?"
"No, thank you, Ms Minola. This is just for you." And he smiled and walked away.
John turned back to the table with a look of confusion on his face. Then, he and the women burst into a nervous laugh while Ed just smiled. "That was weird." John said with an amused scowl on his face.
"You may need to get used to that," Gloria teased. "A pretty girl like you..."
Rose watched John's reaction. He'd definitely enjoyed the attention.
"You guys want to share?"
The girls did, but Ed said, "No, thanks."
Within minutes, Jim showed up with an iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. "Hi, Ms Minola," he said in a formal manner. "I wasn't sure what kind of a coffee you liked, so I got you an iced Carmel Swirl with a little cream."
John looked up in shock. "Well, thank you, Jim! That's my favorite - just like that. What do I owe you?"
"Oh, don't be silly, my dear. It's my pleasure." And he walked away.
"Ok, what's going on?"
"I think they're just being nice, sis," Rose smiled at the flustered boy across from her. "You know, just one cast member being nice to another. Boys buy me treats all the time. Enjoy it."
"Yeah, but..."
"Don't say it!" Gloria stopped him. "You know what will happen if Randy hears you say that sentence."
"She's right, Bianca," Ed said. "No one here thinks of you as anything but a beautiful, young woman."
"Girl," Rose blurted out. "Sorry, but Bianca's only about fifteen. Girl."
"Well, I don't see a girl," Ed stated flatly.
"Thank you!" John smiled.
"I see a beautiful woman."
"What...!?"
Before he could pursue that thought, Ed produced a small, hastily wrapped present. "This is for you."
John opened it. It was a pair of pretty, little hair clips with three sparkly-white flowers on each side. He was stunned into silence. "Ed... I don't know... Why?"
Ed smiled, he was made a little nervous by John's reaction. "Like Rose said... just one cast member to another. Do you like them? I thought they'd look pretty with your new, black hair."
"They're beautiful, Ed," Rose said. "I think that Bianca's just a bit overwhelmed. Come here, honey."
John stood and crossed to Rose's chair. Rose pulled the box with the hair clips across the table, then stood and snapped them into John's hair on either side of his forehead. They were charming little clips, although they were probably meant for a younger girl, but it was sweet of Ed to pick them out for John.
She turned John to face Ed. "Aren't they pretty, Ed."
Ed smiled, nervously. He was very pleased with the result. "Very pretty." He looked at his friend for a a moment more, then said, "I need to... Umm... use the men's room before we start up, again." And he walked away, too.
"This is really weird," John said. "I mean Jim and Harry... but, Ed?"
"Just enjoy the attention, Bianca. It doesn't last forever," Gloria said. She thought the whole situation was wonderful, but Rose had the feeling that something was up.
John glanced at the clock. "Geez! We'd better get back."
He went to remove the clips, but Rose stopped him. "Leave them in. They're adorable."
The Assistant Director was blocking a scene that didn't include Ed or John, so they sat on the side and watched as Kate and Petruchio argued through their scene. The actor playing Petruchio was new to the CCSR and John didn't like him much - mostly because he was a big, handsome guy and he got to kiss Rose in the play. As he watched, in his pretty little outfit that Rose had provided for him, John fumed with jealousy that he'd not been born with the physique to play a role like Petruchio. He'd been lucky to play Romeo last year, and that was only because the girl who played Juliette was tiny.
At one point, a woman who was rehearsing for 'Henry V' walked by and noticed the hair clips. "Oh, those are just precious," she said, shaking John from his stupor of jealousy.
"Oh, Umm... thanks." He sputtered as the woman moved on.
Ed leaned over and said quietly, "I hope you like them."
"Thank you, Ed. They're very nice." John whispered back.
They watched for a few more minutes, then John whispered, "Ed... why?"
Ed shrugged. He was a handsome kid, but awkward off of the stage and nervous around girls. Ed and John had been close friends for five years or more and neither had so much as dated a girl. "Because you're pretty, I guess. I just sorta thought you'd like to wear pretty things in your hair, now that you're a girl, I mean."
Ed's response, like Ed himself, was awkward, but sweet and thoughtful. John didn't want to hurt his feelings, but felt he needed to make something very clear. "But I'm not a girl, Ed. It's just for the show."
"Well, you're doing a helluva job, d... I can't even call you 'dude' any more."
"Excuse me," one of Jan's assistants interrupted. "Bianca, if you're not being blocked, right now, Jan needs to see you."
John excused himself and followed the Assistant to Jan's room.
"Here's my favorite girl," Jan teased. "Strip to your panties for me, please."
Reluctantly, John did as he was told.
"Bra, too, honey," Jan smiled as she helped him out of the item. Then she tapped a table in the center of the room. "Hop up here."
Once he was seated, Jan pulled over a tall stool and started examining John's makeup and hair. "Stacy did a nice job, don't you think?"
"Yes," John spoke with his head slightly lowered and his eyes raised to meet Jan's. "When I got home, my mom thought I was my sister."
Jan laughed at that. "You're doing really well, John. I've spoken to Randy and the A.D. and they are both very impressed with you. I watched you and Rose running the first scene earlier, too, and you seemed really comfortable with your skirts, and you new look."
Just then, from behind Jan, a voice said, "I saw some of it, too, Bianca. Very impressive!" It was Ms Weldon, dressed in a very expensive business suit. The maroon jacket and pencil skirt off set the tailored, white blouse. John knew nothing about women's shoes, but he knew that the ones that she wore had to cost at least several hundred dollars.
"Thank you, ma'am." John's posture remained in the submissive attitude that Randy had taught him.
"What do you think, Jan?"
"Stacy did a great job, Ms Weldon. She brought out his cheeks and eyes beautifully. I think he's the perfect Bianca."
The director nodded. "Anything you'd change?"
"Well... he really should have his ears pierced. I'd like to use some nice jewelry and the clip-ons will be an uncomfortable distraction."
"Would you be willing to do that, John?"
John pondered before nodding. "I guess that would be a pretty small concession considering what I've already done."
The women let out little laughs.
"I'd like to use breast forms, too. That would make it easier to show some cleavage."
Ms Weldon nodded, again. "Would you consent to us attaching breast forms, too, John?"
He shrugged, "Sure."
"Excellent," Jan said. "Just sit here and I'll get them."
She returned a moment later with a tray of items and piece of paper. She handed the paper to John and asked him to sign at the bottom. He glanced at it, noticed it was a waiver of some type and the phrases 'pierce ears' and 'apply breast forms' were hand written into it. It seemed simple enough, so he signed it and handed it back to Jan.
She handed to form to Ms Weldon who placed it in a portfolio she carried with her.
Jan swabbed his ear lobes with alcohol and picked up what looked like the frame of a pistol. Then she picked up two very pretty, stud earrings with what looked like pearls in them. "These will look lovely and be very for rehearsal, maybe even for the show." She loaded an earring into the gun and placed it on his left earlobe. There was a small 'pop' and she repeated the process on his right earlobe.
"There. I like those. Pearls have a sophisticated, yet innocent look on a young lady. They also really stand out against her black hair. Those will work very well."
As she put the gun away, John reached up to feel his new jewelry. The gesture itself had a very feminine quality to it.
"Try to find some time to do her nails before she leaves today, too, please," Ms Weldon said. "Nothing drastic. Maybe just dainty extensions, you know? Something natural for the color. Although I love her fire engine red lips, I don't want to overdo the 'scarlet-ness" of her look."
"I agree," while she inspected John's hands. "They're already slender and delicate. They'll play well. Now, lay back, please, Bianca."
He did.
While Jan prepared things, Ms Weldon looked over John's nearly naked body. "Her hips are actually wide enough, I think," she spoke to Jan. Then to John she said, "You picked very pretty panties, John. I think that's important. It helps a girl feel pretty. Thank you for tucking, too. That really helps the illusion. Are you familiar with a gaffe?"
"No," he'd heard the word used in reference to a mistake, but that was all.
"Well," Ms Weldon chuckled, "my guess is that you'll know a lot about them before the summer is over."
He could think of no response, but luckily, Jan interrupted with a tape measure. She took a few measurements and made a few marks on his chest. Then she spread a cool fluid over his chest. "We'll give that a minute or two to set up." Then, she used the same fluid on something that he could not see.
"Ms Weldon," John said timidly as he lay on the table in just his panties. "I just wanted to say thank you for your faith in me in this role. I was very apprehensive about it at first, but, now I think I can do it."
"I know that you can, John. I see great things in your future. This is just one in a long line of challenges that I intend to give you."
That seemed like an odd remark, but he was distracted when, at that moment, Jan held what looked like a moderately sized, disembodied, women's breast. "What do you think?" She asked. Very realistic, isn't it?"
"Yes," he said, noting the very real looking nipple and areola.
Before he had a chance to process how natural the breast looked, Jan leaned over him and pressed it to his chest, smoothing the seams as it bonded to his skin.
In seconds, she'd grabbed another, nearly identical breast and done the same on the other side of his chest.
She fussed with them for a few moments before saying, "Just lay there for a couple of minutes while the adhesive dries."
John glanced down at his torso and was more than surprised by the view. They were by no means large breasts, but they were certainly a new addition.
"Wow..." he muttered.
"Top of the line, my sweet," Ms Weldon smiled. "Nothing but the best for our sweet, little Bianca. Besides, since you'll be wearing them all summer, Jan and I both agreed that they should look natural when your out with your friends and family."
His eyes shot from his breasts to Ms Weldon's eyes. "Wait! This don't come off at the end of the day?"
The woman gave each other somewhat confused looks before returning their gaze to John. "Well, no, of course not," Jan scoffed a bit. "That's surgical adhesive that I used. It could last much longer than just the summer, if you wanted, but the solvent is pretty abrasive to the skin. I wouldn't want to remove them more than once."
"I'm sorry, John," Ms Weldon shook her head. "I just assumed that, well, since you are a theater student, you understood what I was asking. I mean, you read and signed the waiver. You are ok with this, right."
Jan helped him to sit up and he felt the heft of the additional mass on his chest. It felt odd, but endurable. There was a full length mirror near by, so he walked to that and looked at the reflected image of a small, denuded person in lace and satin panties and character pumps, with lovely, perky, young breasts and charming hair and makeup. "I guess they just complete the picture," he said with a melancholy smile.
When he returned to rehearsal, they were blocking a scene in which Bianca encounters two of her tutor/suitors, Lutencio and Hortensio.
"Oh, good," the Assistant director said, "here's Bianca. We're on page seventy-nine, honey."
Ed and Harry, turned to see John, expecting him to be wearing the hoop skirt and crinoline. Instead, he was wearing a long, burgundy, gown with white lace protruding in waves from his newly acquired bosom. He grabbed his script and hustled to the center of the room as quickly as his character pumps would allow.
"I'm sorry, sir," he said with his head slightly bowed and his eyes raise as coquettishly as possible. "Ms Weldon had me involved in wardrobe."
"So I see. Very impressive, Bianca," the AD smiled. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to continue. From your entrance, please."
"Yes, sir." He glanced at his script and read, "What, master, read you? First resolve me that."
Ed was supposed to respond, but just stared at John.
John cleared his throat and again said, "What, master, read you? First resolve me that."
Ed's eyes were focused on John's new and modestly exposed breasts - Harry's were as well.
"Geez, John..." Ed finally muttered. "Holy cow! You've got boobs... I mean... I'm sorry, but... holy cow!"
"...yeah," muttered Harry.
"Bianca," the Assistant Director stressed the character's name, "has delivered her line twice, Ed. Don't you think you should respond!"
Shaken from his amazement, Ed shook himself back to reality. "Sorry!" he said to the AD. Then, he turned to John and more quietly said, "Sorry."
John repeated once again, "What, master, read you? First resolve me that."
Ed got back into character and recited, "I read that I profess, The Art of Love."
"And may you prove, sir, master of the art." John read the line with such coquettish, sexual playfulness that, I spit of himself, Ed felt a stirring that made him warm and a bit lightheaded.
Ed crossed to John. The hair with the cute little hair clips was just so cute and the makeup so young and sweet, while the expanse of burgundy material that hung from John's shoulder and so perfectly led the eye to the lace around the bodice and the modest, but tempting bit of cleavage peeking out, that Ed's playful attitude as Lucentio became more flirtatious than he'd intended. "And you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart." He took John's hand and noticed the newly acquired finger nail extensions that held a lovely pearl-toned color. He thought to kiss the hand for a moment, but was interrupted by the AD who said, "And Bianca exits."
John daintily lifted his skirts just a few inches and left, but both Ed and Harry's gazes followed him.
Once to the side of the room, John turned and saw that Ed was still watching him. He smiled at Ed. This was such a weird way to spend the summer. He was truly enjoying all these new experiences and Ed seemed to be coming into his own as an actor in this role.
For his part, Ed knew that the lovely, feminine thing he was looking at was his best friend, but it didn't really matter. When Bianca smiled at him, his heart melted. He let his gaze linger.
"Quick proceeders, marry. Now, tell me, I pray, you that durst swear that your mistress Bianca, loved none in the world so well as Lucentio." Harry called out his line with just the right sense of jealousy.
"O despiteful love, inconstant womankind!" Ed recited his line, but his gaze remained upon Bianca, "I tell thee, Litio, this is wonderful!"
At 4:45, the actors were excused for the day. John hated the idea of surrendering his beautiful gown for his top and shorts, but it was unavoidable. So, he headed back Jan's studio, once again lifting the material of his skirts to allow himself to move correctly.
"Hey, dude!" Ed called to him. John turned and waited for his friend. "So... how did you grow breasts this afternoon?"
John laughed, "They're prosthetics. They look pretty good, though, don't they?"
"More than 'pretty good.' They are amazing. Do you need to wear them everyday?"
John sighed, "Day and night." He explained how he'd misunderstood when Ms Weldon asked if he'd wear them.
"So you're a girl for the summer?"
"Kind of, I guess. I can't imagine what my mom is going to say. You know, I'm really enjoying being Bianca here, but these changes to my body are going to be a lot to adapt to. It kind of sucks."
"Maybe it sucks for you," Ed said, almost accidentally, "but it's pretty cool for those of us who get to look at you."
There was an awkward silence during which John smiled and blushed. Ed broke the tension by asking, "Am I driving you home?"
"Oh," John hadn't thought about that. "I think that Rose is driving me. She's going to be staying with us for the summer."
"Oh..." Ed was noticeably deflated. "So... will she be driving you back and forth?"
"I really haven't had the time to talk to her about it, but I suppose so. Maybe we could all drive together."
Ed smiled a bit and nodded as he pondered. "Starting the day with two beautiful girls... I could think of worse ways to start."
"I'll text you later, after I've talked to Rose." John looked about for a moment. "Have you seen her?"
"Not since she and that guy playing Petruchio went to work with Randy. She's still here, though. I can see her Tesla out there in the parking lot."
John followed Ed's gaze through the window and I to the lot. Her car was definitely still here.
Before John had even had the chance to turn back around, Ed said, "Well, I should go then. See you in the morning." Then, with no warning at all, Ed's hands touched John's small shoulders and he turned John towards him, while simultaneously bending his head down. Before John knew what was happening, Ed placed a small, tender kiss on John's soft, crimson lips.
Then, just as suddenly, he released John and walked away, towards the doors.
John stood in shook until Ed was through the doors and gone. He didn't turn and wave or smile or anything. He'd just kissed him and left. "What the hell was that?" John whispered to himself, before shaking his head in confusion and continuing his trip to Jan's studio.
Rose was in Jan's studio, waiting to be undressed, when John entered. At first, Rose just glanced at the beautiful dress, then her eyes wandered up to me John's. "Oh, my God, John! You look amazing! And you've got breasts! You look so great!"
She hugged him and he enjoyed it, wholeheartedly.
"Come on," she took his hand and led him to the dressing room. "We'll help each other change."
First, Rose loosened the lacing going up John's back and helped him take off his dress. Then, John did the same for her. They each undid their own crinolines and hoop skirts and stepped out of those. Then, Rose turned John away from her and undid the lacing on his corset. He did the same for her.
They both stood in their nightgown-like smocks and Rose took note of the added lace on John's smock. "What a nice touch," she said. "I bet it feels prettier than mine."
John just shrugged.
"Tell you what," Rose said, "you get everything on hangers and I'll run and grab both of our bags so we can change.
John agreed and began with Rose's clothes. They were still warm and smelled nicer than his. She wore such pretty fragrances. As he was finishing hanging the last of his own clothes, Rose returned.
"Take off your smock," she grinned. "I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes and raise your arms."
He was slightly self conscious as he removed his smock. The breasts contained in his bra were fake and all, but the idea of Rose seeing him with breasts still had an impact on his male-pride - not to mention the fact that he was well tucked in his panties, so, with no visible bulge, would Rose ever really think of him as a man after seeing him like this?
He did it, anyway, and he held up his arms. As expected, a garment was dropped over his head and adjusted over his body. "Keep your eyes closed," Rose repeated several times as she went about dressing him. He felt a zipper being pulled up his back and then a belt being attached, loosely, about him in a slightly higher location than he'd have expected.
"Ok," Rose was finally satisfied, "you can open them, now."
He did and, as he'd suspected, he was wearing a girl's dress. It was a sleeveless, crew neck top that sat lightly on his modest breasts, exposing an acceptable amount of cleavage - certainly less than his costume did - then tapered back to the belted waist before falling prettily to a flared skirt that hung to his mid-thigh. The background material of the dress was an off-white over which there was a design, that John could not at first make out. It seemed to be a series of small pen-and-ink sketches with some pink highlights here and there.
"You like it?" Rose asked, excited.
Knowing that he really did need to embrace women's apparel for the foreseeable future AND wanting to please Rose, he nodded and said, "I do. Thank you for letting me borrow it."
"Oh, it's not a loan, honey. It's a gift to my little sister for letting me stay at your house. I stopped on the way home, last night, and picked this up for you. Look in the mirror."
John looked at the reflection and realized what the pattern on the dress actually was. The pen and ink drawings were of sketched hearts and heart-shaped boxes of candy with pink covers and champagne flutes with pink champagne and the occasional pink bow thrown in for good measure, all were in a seemingly random pattern around the material. He also noticed that the thin and purely decorative belt that sat at the top of the skirt, had a little bow at its center. The entire reflection was adorable, young and pretty. Not the young, manly image he wanted to present to Rose, but it was certainly one to which she seemed to enjoy contributing.
"It's... very... nice," John stumbled for the words.
"Nice!?" Rose teased. "We're going to have to work on your girly vocabulary, Bianca. You don't look 'nice' at all!"
"I don't?"
"Oh, my goodness, no. You look adorable! It's such a great 'little lady' dress. Don't you think?"
He shrugged, not really knowing what to say, but Rose seemed so satisfied with the dress that he smiled and said, "I love it, Rose. Thank you."
She clapped her hands and bounced on the balls of her feet. "I'm so glad!"
MOM MEETS JOHN'S BREASTS -or- GO TO YOUR BOSOM. KNOCK THERE, AND ASK YOUR HEART WHAT IT DOTH KNOW
Marilyn had been busy for the last few hours. She'd had a morning of shopping and lunch with 'The Girls,' before coming home and cleaning the guest room for Rose to use as her's for the summer. There was a lasagna in the oven and antipasto for a starter. This girl, Rose, seemed nice and John was obviously smitten with her. She certainly could see why, too. The girl was beautiful, plain and simple. She was one of those young women who made older women envious of her youth and beauty. Marilyn had been a cute young woman, but Rose had those ripe, perky breasts that Marilyn had always desired. Hopefully, this housing set up may lead to something between John and Rose.
John had always been a bit on the small-side, which was surprising, because Nancy was a little on the tall-side, and, although he preferred artistic endeavors, he did have certain manly skills. He was a competent carpenter and enjoyed working up a sweat on occasion. Marilyn thought that she might devise some projects to showcase John's manly skills this summer. Maybe Rose would be impressed. Who knew?
She smoothed the bed spread on the comfortable, full-sized bed and fluffed the pillows. Fresh sheets and pillow cases to welcome their guest.
Just as she exited the room, she heard the screech of the spring on the back-screened-door and some voices in the screened in room. "Hi, guys!" She called through the kitchen. "I'm in the big-room."
She pushed the vacuum cleaner she'd been using earlier into the closet and turned as she heard Rose and John greeting her - however, when she turned, she realized that it was not John at all. It was Bianca and she looked absolutely precious in a lovely summer dress that looked far too young for any of the college students she saw on the campus at Holy Cross. If this girl was a high school student, she was definitely an underclassman.
This image of girlhood did not fit her plan to play matchmaker for these two.
"Well," She stuttered for just a moment as she struggled to be keep her words supportive, "don't you just look adorable!?"
John smiled, embarrassed, then he shrugged and, with his eyes, he indicated Rose. "You like it? Rose," he stressed her name just a little bit, "bought this for me as a thank you gift for having her stay with us."
Marilyn smiled at Rose. "That... was very thoughtful of you, Rose. Thank you."
Rose, who'd insisted on carrying her own, large duffle bag in from the car, produced a nicely wrapped present and presented it to Marilyn with a huge smile. "No problem at all, and I didn't forget about you."
Marilyn, caught off guard, accepted the gift, "Why... thank you, Rose. That's very kind of you."
"I hope you like it."
She ripped the paper to reveal a yellow, folded garment. It was a lovely, light silk material and was obvious a high quality, high end item. "Oh, my," Marilyn whispered as she shook the item free of the paper and let it hang from her fingertips. It was a beautiful, summer weight night gown. It was nicer than anything that Marilyn owned. "Oh, my." She whispered again.
She looked at Rose. "I... I don't know what to say, dear..." Marilyn stuttered. "It's simply lovely. Thank you, but it's too much."
"Oh, don't be silly. You're saving me a fortune. I can afford a gift to say thank you to you."
It looked richer and more elegant than anything John had ever seen his mother wear before. He touched it to feel the fabric. "It's so soft. It'll look pretty on you, mom."
"I'd offer to let you borrow it, but it would be too big on you," she teased, but then, something struck her and she became agitated. "Johnny! You have breasts! What the hell!?"
"They're prosthetic, mom. Long story, but I agreed to have them attached, thinking they'd be taken off before I left."
"So, how long do they have to stay on?"
"Until the run ends, I'm afraid."
Marilyn laid her new, precious night gown over the back or the couch and sat. So, you're a woman - well, a girl - all summer?"
John nodded.
"John," for a women who always seemed to know what to say, Marilyn was having a very hard time expressing herself today. Eventually, she continued, "Do you have any idea how this may impact your life? I mean, it could do huge damage to you, psychologically. And just from a practical perspective, you don't have any ID that will match this new... persona of yours. You can't even drive a car, John! Do you realize that you won't be living the life of a twenty year old man, John? You'll be Bianca. A fifteen year old girl, John. A child, for heaven's sake! Are you sure you can cope with something this big!?"
John sat next to his mother. "Mom... I don't know for sure, but... yeah... I think I can. I've been dealing with a lot, today, and by the end of the day, I felt like I was really getting a handle on things. Really, I did! And, you know, I'll have Ed and Rose to help me. I think I can do it."
Marilyn shook her head, then the shake turned into a nod. "What does Ed think of this?"
"He's cool, I guess."
"He bought her these," Rose interjected, showing Marilyn the lovely hair clips.
"Her," Marilyn lamented.
Neither John nor Rose understood what she meant.
"Her. You said, 'He bought HER these.' Ed's been your friend for years and he never bought you so much as a bottle of water. Then, you get boobs and he's buying you gifts. Don't you find that odd?"
"I didn't have boobs yet, when he gave them to me." John was trying to keep the facts straight, but Rose shook her head.
"And you, Rose. You know he's a man, right? Do you plan to make him your doll for the summer?"
Rose was taken aback by the question. "No. Of course not. I was just trying to... I don't know... be a good sister. It sounds silly, saying it out loud, but I never had a sister before and I'm just trying to be nice to her."
Marilyn sighed. "Is this some sort of 'method-acting' exercise!? I mean, when you played Romeo, you didn't spend the entire summer in a doublet."
The two young people looked confused as they searched for an answer. Again, Marilyn realized that she may not be taking the right parental tract. She steadied herself and shook off her frustration. "Well, I guess things will work themselves out." Her son was not exactly excelling as the man's-man she was hoping to present, but she had to admit, he was pretty damned cute as he was.
"Let's go have some dinner and then, later, we'll discuss how this new lifestyle of yours is going to impact our day to day life around here."
John and Rose nodded.
Marilyn stood and looked at John once more. He was her baby and she loved him. Lately, with him living in Boston for school, she'd felt like she was loosing him. Now, in a weird way, she felt like maybe she could have him back for a little while. He seemed different beyond the clothing. He seemed softer, more vulnerable and he looked so much younger. Like her baby was back - just back as her baby girl. It made her smile, just a bit.
"Ok. Everyone to the table. John, please take the lasagne out of the oven, and be careful of your dress. Your not wearing jeans, you know. These are beautiful clothes and need to be treated with care."
"Yes, Mom."
"Rose, there's tea in the refrigerator and glasses on the table. Would you please pour?"
"Of course," Rose smiled and headed to the kitchen to help.
Dinner was delicious with rich, sweet, New England ice cream for dessert. Dinner conversation was frequently interrupted by either Rose or Marilyn correcting John's behavior. "Sit Up straighter, dear. Don't lean back in your seat." "Cross your legs at the knee, sis, and angle your legs to the side." "Smaller bites, sweetheart. Chew with your mouth closed." There was a lot of correction going on.
When the dishes were washed and put away, Rose asked if she could unpack.
"Of course, dear," Marilyn escorted her to her room, the. Turned to John and said, "why don't you take your shower, now, sweetheart."
"Mom," John laughed. "It's only 6:30."
"I know, love, but there's three women living here, now, and we all need showers - and Rose and I know how to do our evening beauty regime. You have to learn yours."
He nodded. There was a lot more to this girl-stuff than he'd ever really considered.
He grabbed his gym shorts and a tee-shirt and headed to the bathroom.
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa," Marilyn stopped him on the way. "Hang up your dress and wear a robe to the bathroom."
"Why?" John asked with genuine confusion. "What difference does it make?"
"John," Marilyn seemed slightly irritated by her son's thickheadedness, "I don't know what Rose paid for that dress, but I know it wasn't cheap. That is a very light cotton. If you're going to be a girl, you need to respect your clothing. Go back to your room and strip off everything, but your panties. Hang up the dress. Put away your bra and, when you take off your panties, put them in the hamper in the bathroom. Now, scoot, young lady!!"
John's head fell backwards as he let out a frustrated groan and as he returned to his room. It was a gesture of frustration that he'd made a million times when given correction as a teenager - but not recently. That alone would have made Marilyn chuckle, but doing it in the guise of a girl made it so much more adorable.
Rose was just stepping out of her room when John stormed past. "Is something wrong?" She asked Marilyn.
"Just a temper tantrum because I made him go back and hang up his dress before showering." Marilyn grinned at his behavior.
Rose nodded and smiled, too.
Minutes later, John emerged from his room in a tattered, old, green and black checked robe. It was incongruous with his new image. "Oh, well, that will never do." Marilyn enjoyed goading him some more. "Just a second."
Marilyn disappeared into Nancy's room and returned a moment later with a silky, lavender, kimono-length robe. "Here. This is much more appropriate."
John rolled his eyes and attempted to take the robe, but Marilyn pulled it away. "Let's go into the bathroom so that I can tell you what to do." He grunted and they walked down the hall.
John was given a quick tutorial about the new shampoo, conditioner and body wash that his mother had procured for him that morning. He was also instructed to use a bottle of skin lotion and powder before coming back out. He assured her that he would follow all of her instructions.
"See that you do," she said with mock authority. "Now," her eyes narrowed, "let's see them."
"See what?"
"Your breasts. Let me see them."
Slightly shocked, he said, "Mom...," but he couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Don't 'mom' me, sweetheart. I have a pair of breasts of my own, so I know what they look like. You're wearing panties and I know that you're tucked, so I'm not going to see anything embarrassing. Now, someone has attached fake boobs to my son's chest and I don't have any idea how physically or mentally healthy that may be, so I want to know what's attached to your chest and I want to know, now. Show me."
John let out a frustrated sigh and opened his threadbare, old robe that had inhabited the closet of his vacation bedroom for at least five years, and revealed to his mother the second most feminine body feature a person could possess. The modest, yet perfectly shaped mammaries looked natural in every detail, including the pronounced nipples and tender-looking areolas.
"Holy moly," Marilyn muttered as her hand reached, uncontrollably, up to feel the prosthetic. "They feel... real... and warm..." she said as much to herself as to John.
She poked the side of the breast. "Can you feel that?"
"I can feel that you're touching them because they're moving, but that's about all. They do bounce and jiggle a lot, though. I definitely feel that."
"Wow," she whispered. "They're... impressive."
"Thanks, I guess."
Marilyn glanced at the clothes that John had brought into the bathroom with him. It was his typical bed clothes - a cheap pair of Walmart gym shorts and a recreated Jimi Hendrix concert tee shirt that was faded and had several holes worn into it. She picked them up. "Take your shower, use the Veet again to make sure your hairless, especially on your fave, shampoo and condition before you get out and use lotion and powder when you've dried off." She hanged his newly acquired kimono on a hook on the back of the door. "I'll come back in while you shower and I'll leave something appropriate for you to wear to bed. Remember, we have a guest staying with us. You can't just be a slob, this summer."
"Mom, we've had actors stay with us, before..."
"You were a child, then... and a boy. Now, you're not. You need to dress appropriately. This is a cultured young woman, staying with us. You need to make a good impression. Even if that is the impression of a teenaged girl." And she closed the door behind her as she left.
John's usual ten minute shower routine had become much more involved in the last two days. The typical quick shampoo and wash had become two thorough shampooing, followed by a conditioning treatment that took ten minutes on its own! Soap was forsaken for moisturizing body wash and, while his conditioner worked its magic, he searched his body for the few stray hairs that had escaped yesterday's denuding procedures and reapplied the Veet to ensure that he was smooth everywhere. None of this was bad, necessarily, just time consuming and there was the fact that everything his mother had purchased for him, EVERYTHING, smelled heavily of strawberries. There hadn't been things scented this strongly since Nancy had moved out.
As he rinsed, he noticed how the water ran across his new breasts, then cascaded off of the nipple. It was mesmerizing to watch, but it led his vision down to his groin, where his sad, little penis sat limp and hairless. It was confusing, he had to admit. He was at once a grown man and a little boy, while also a nymph shaped, young, teenaged girl. He played with himself, just a little, to check that the plumbing was still working, and his equipment sprang to life, immediately. Good. The way that all of this was playing with his head, he wasn't really sure if it would.
He thought about Rose and stroked himself some more. He imagined kissing her. He was strong and manly at first, but then Rose seemed to grow so that she was taller than him, as she was in real life. Her imagined lips were soft and tasted of lipstick. He could feel her tongue invade his mouth as he stroked with more enthusiasm. His hairless organ was more sensitive than he'd ever remembered and he was in heaven as his imagination stoked his passion.
Now, in his fantasy, he could feel his breasts, real breasts, pressing against Rose's. It was a wonderful feeling. Everything was firm and soft and wonderful. His member grew, but he was a woman - her woman - and she was in charge. He would follow her to the ends of the earth and wear the softest, prettiest, daintiest clothes that he could find if that pleased her. He wouldn't be her woman - he'd be her girl. Her sweet, compliant, little girl. That's what she wanted.
He felt her tongue bury deep into his throat and in his fantasy, he closed his eyes and surrendered himself fully to her will and her power.
His orgasm splattered against the shower wall and he let out a quiet, girlish moan as his knees buckled. He held one hand to the wall to steady himself and he worked his way through the torrent of fluid that squirted in ropes from the center of his being. It was ecstasy. His imagined that Rose, who now, in his dream, felt even taller, had brought him to this ecstasy.
He sighed, both in his fantasy and in the shower, then his dream-self opened his eyes and looked down to see the hand that had just brought him such joy. The hand was not holding a penis though. The fingers of the hand were just pulling free of a vagina. His vagina.
He moved his own imagined hand to his lover's soft hand and pushed the fingers back in. He smiled as he ran his hand up the strong arm and felt the hairs and broad shoulders, then to the rough stubble of his lover's face.
Stubble!?
John's dream self shocked itself awake when it saw not Rose's face, but Ed's. Ed's strong, confident face was attached to the arm and hand that had just entered his most sacred, feminine self.
In reality, John shook with a start. The hot water still flowing down his body and the wall of the shower, washing away the seed that he'd just expelled. "What the fuck?" He whispered in a voice that was full of fear and confusion.
Meanwhile, Marilyn and Rose sat in the living room and got acquainted. They laughed as they told Theater stories and spoke about their respective colleges. They heard the water in the shower stop and Marilyn had just commented to Rose that John was taking an
uncharacteristically long time to get out of the shower when a tentative call came from the bathroom.
"Mom?" John's voice was strangely self conscious.
"Yes, honey?"
"Umm... can you come here? I need your help."
With raised eyebrows, Marilyn left Rose and hustled to the lavatory. John had the door ajar and was peeking out of the opening. He opened it as Marilyn entered and she found him with a towel wrapped around his waist and his new breasts exposed, wet hair hanging down his back.
"Oh, for crying out loud, John, wrap the towel around your chest - not your waist."
He looked down and realized what she was saying, but that was not why he'd called her. "Mom," he whispered, "what did you give me to wear to bed? I can't figure out how to even put it on."
Marilyn rolled her eyes at his confusion. "Oh, John... sometimes you're such a child. It's a sleep-romper. There's an elastic waist. Just fold the top down to the waist, step in and pull it up to your waist. Then pull the top up and put your arms through the spaghetti straps and you're all set."
He considered this for a moment, then, "How do you go to the bathroom in that?"
"You take it off. Come on. Both Rose and I need to shower. I'll help you put it on, but first, put your hair in a towel-turban so your nightie stays dry."
He felt his hair. It was still very wet. Normally, he just put it into a ponytail and went to bed. "I don't know how..."
"Oh, for crying out loud," Marilyn had had enough and just took control. She snatched the towel from his waist and shook it out.
"Mom!" John's screech was loud and girlish.
"That's enough, young lady! Do you want my help or not?"
"Yes," John mumbled as he covered his genitals with both hands, "I do."
"Then knock it off and let me help you. I don't want to be showering at midnight. Besides, I've seen your boy parts, before, you know. Turn around so I can make a turban on you and you won't have to be embarrassed."
John turned and allowed his mother to wrap the towel into a turban around his wet hair.
Once that was dealt with, she coated his body with strawberry scented powder, then grabbed the romper and was about to have John step into it when she realized that the material was a bit thinner than she'd thought. "I think it would be safer if your wore panties with this." She muttered, expecting no response.
Without missing a beat, Marilyn pulled the door open and called out, "Rose, dear, there's a bag on small table by the front door. Could you reach into that and grab a new pair of panties for Johnny, please!"
"Sure!" the answer came back.
John felt like he should be mortified, but, what the hell - Rose already knew he wore panties.
Rose handed a pair of light blue panties to Marilyn, who thanked her.
"Put these on," Marilyn handed them to John who complied. "Now, step into this." She held open the bottom half of the aqua sleep-romper. John stepped in and his mother pulled it to his waist. Then she raised the upper part of the romper up and settled it on his shoulders. It was cute and he looked cute in it. The aqua background was decorated with little pink and green bouquets that were each tied with a pink bow. The drawstring at the waist was a pink ribbon as were the spaghetti straps and there was pretty, pink lace all around the leg openings, the V-ed bodice and the top of the back, which ran along his shoulder blades.
She tied the drawstring at his waist to a delicate, little bow.
The thin, cotton material was very thin and light. To John, it was the softest piece of clothing he could ever remember touching, let alone wearing.
"Do you like it?" Marilyn asked.
"I guess," John touched the fabric. "It's really soft."
"Mmm," his mom adjusted it on him, just slightly. "It must feel nice on your soft skin. See, there's a benefit to losing your body hair. Put this on, too." She handed him then lilac kimono as he looked at his reflection.
The turban looked stupid, but they always looked stupid when women used towels in this manner. The romper, though, was nice. It felt wonderful and it hung strangely on his body. It fell along his breasts, then hung loosely to the drawstring before ending in shorts - which, truth be told, looked a lot like bloomers. The cut of the bodice had the affect of simultaneously minimizing his breasts and accentuating the feminine shape he now had. When he pulled the silky kimono on, it did the same thing. He found it interesting how his recently acquired feminine form was enhanced by these loose, lovely items. If a man wore them, they would lay flat and ugly on his form, but with his new shape, they made him look amazing.
Marilyn grabbed the hair dryer and a couple of different style brushes, then too John's hand and led him to the kitchen by way of the living room. "The shower is all yours, now, dear. Sorry we held you up!"
"No problem, at all," Rose put down her script and pencil, grabbed her pile a clothing and a plastic basket of bathing notions and headed for the bathroom. She smiled as she saw John in his turban and little kimono wrap. "Aww. You look adorable."
"Thanks," John mumbled as he followed his purposeful mother into the kitchen and sat in a kitchen chair when she pointed at it.
While seated, he noticed that the romper and kimono were so short as to allow the backs of his thighs to come in contact with the surface of the chair. It was sticky and a very uncomfortable feeling, so he moved forward on the chair to remedy that situation, resulting in him sitting away from the back of the chair and supporting himself by gripping the seat at the sides of his hips. The position pushed his shoulders slightly higher and gave him a very vulnerable appearance.
Marilyn smiled and shook her head as she plugged in the blow dryer and pulled the turban from his head, letting his wet, ebony hair fall.
"Listen, John," Marilyn brushed the wet hair, "if you want to live as a girl, then you can't just go to bed after a shower. Your hair needs to be dried. If you'd prefer a bonnet-dryer, I have one in the storage room, but I prefer a blow drier."
She went to work drying his thick, long hair, using both a regular brush and a round one to separate the hair and get everything dry. When she was done, his hair was much thicker and wavier than he'd ever worn it.
His mother handed him a mirror and said, "I'll help you to iron it flat in the morning, but you really do have lovely curls. When they're blown out, like this, you have amazing body. See how nice you can look with just a little effort." She unplugged the dryer and left the kitchen.
John continued to look at his face. He'd just scrubbed it - first with makeup remover, then with soap and body wash, but his eye lashes remained long, dark and curled, the residual color from his long lasting lipstick kept his lips looking plump and rose red. All of that combined with his trimmed eyebrows and bangs made his reflection that of a young woman. His mother had said, 'If you want to live as a girl...' but he'd never WANTED to do anything other than act. Now that he'd become so fully immersed in the role, both on and off the stage, he was finding it all somewhat fascinating and, if he was truly honest, exciting. After just a couple of days, he was glorying in the softness of his skin and his new clothes and the pretty, wonderful smells and the and the attention he was receiving from everyone - even Ed. Just now, as his mother fussed with his hair, he felt a bit like a toddler with no ability to care for himself, but he also felt just a bit more special than he'd felt before. He loved every second of being girly, but it also scared him a great deal.
He was awakened from his reverie by his mother's hands coming into view in the reflection. She was fastening something around his neck. He lowered the mirror to see a simple string of pearls being clasped to him.
"What's this for?" He asked.
Marilyn kissed the part at the top of his head and said, "They're not real, honey, don't worry, but they do look real, don't they?"
John nodded, "But why did you put it on me?"
"Look in the mirror."
As he did, his mother moved his hair so that it was held back by his ears, which, of course, bore the faux-pearl earrings that had been installed earlier that day.
Marilyn petted his head affectionately as she spoke. "Pearls are lovely on a girl. They make her look both grown up and childlike
simultaneously. Virginal, I would say. I don't know exactly what's happening to you, Johnny - I mean, I don't know if this is really all for the show or if you've opened up a part of you that you'll be exploring beyond the show - but you are remarkably... lovely, I guess. You look so much like my Nancy, and still so much like my Johnny that I am baffled as to who you are becoming."
"Mom..." John was trying to organize his thoughts, but couldn't figure out what to say.
"Don't worry, baby. I'll be here to help and support you, no matter what. For now, though, if you don't mind, I think it will be a lot easier for all of us if we don't think about you as either Johnny or Nancy, but rather as Bianca. Is that ok?"
He nodded and she kissed the top of his head, again.
"And, as Bianca, who is supposed to be fourteen or fifteen, your world is going to change a bit."
"What do you mean?" John asked, Looking at his mother in the mirror.
"Well, dear, for one thing, fourteen and fifteen year olds aren't allowed to drive in Massachusetts, so you'll be dependent on me, Ed and Rose this summer."
He nodded, knowing that if he did drive and were to be pulled over, his license photo would make things a bit odd.
"Also, since your usual chores, mowing the lawn, taking care of the car, etc, are not really appropriate for a young lady, I will ask Ed if he can take care of that for us and you will need to deal with more... feminine chores - cooking, cleaning, laundry, ironing, etc. I think that would assist with your Bianca-training, too."
"Ok." He could handle that. He was never a fan of mowing the lawn, anyway.
"Finally - I am going to insist on a ten o'clock curfew and eleven o'clock bed time for the summer, unless you have a performance or you ask for permission to stay out and I grant it. Understood?"
He shrugged. That seemed weird, but, ok.
She kissed his head once more and said, "That's my girl."
"I'm all done, Marilyn," Rose called as she exited the bathroom and flopped herself back down on the couch and picked up her script once again.
"Alright, honey! Thank you!" Marilyn called back.
Then she turned to John and said, "Go work on your lines, now, Bianca... oh, that's so formal... May I call you Bebe? That seems more like what I'd call my daughter."
Again, John shrugged and watched his mother as she walked into the living room saying, "Bebe will be right in to work on her lines, too." Then the door to the bath room clicked closed.
When John did enter, Rose smiled up at him. She was wearing a pink and white, spaghetti strapped sleep top with a matching, and very short, pair of sleep shorts. When John moved to sit in a chair, Rose tapped the seat next to her and said, "Sit by me, Bebe. We'll work the scenes, together."
When he sat at the far end of the couch, Rose sighed and moved next to him and they worked their way through the scenes they shared.
Rose was very easy to be with and she seemed very comfortable touching John. Within ten minutes, she had her arm around him and he was leaning on her shoulder and reading from her script. They laughed and talked freely.
Suddenly, but quietly and without coming across as in any way interfering, Rose said, "Its nice, isn't it?"
John looked up from the script. "What's nice?"
"Being a girl. It's nice, isn't it?"
"I guess. I just... didn't really expect to be one."
Rose laid her head on his. "Let me tell you something, sis. When I was fourteen, I was skinny and flat chested and I hated anything feminine. I played baseball and basketball with the boys in my neighborhood and I played soccer on a mixed team. I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to be a girl. I just wanted to be with my friends - the boys. I wore my hair short and tried to be as boyish as I could."
"One day, I noticed that my nipples were sore and that I was developing breasts. I did everything I could to avoid telling my mother, but, eventually she noticed. When I watched you try on your first bra, yesterday, I completely understood how you felt. I felt the same way when I tried on mine. I thought of myself as one of the guys and my mother was putting this girly, lacy thing on me. I hated it and we fought about it every morning until I really needed to wear it."
John was confused as to how this gorgeous woman had ever not wanted to look like she did. "Do you like it now?"
"I love it, now, Bebe. As time went on and I realized that I was developing into a real, honest to goodness woman AND I realized that the guys I played with liked how I looked, I began to embrace it. I joined the Drama Club to find other people who were trying to find themselves, too, and, eventually, I became who I am now. And I love who I am now."
"I do, too." John whispered, accidentally.
She giggled and kissed his temple. "I know you do, Bebe. I can see that, but I like to go slow, ok."
He nodded, embarrassed. "Sorry."
"Don't be. I'm flattered. Let's put away the scripts and watch some TV."
Rose grabbed the remote and scanned the channels before settling on an old episode of 'Friends'.
When Marilyn returned to the living room, she found her son in his frilly little loungewear, sitting with his legs folded demurely beside him with his head resting on Rose's lap. His eyes were closed and he was breathing deeply. Rose had her arm around him and she was lazily running her fingers through his wavy, dark hair.
"I'm afraid that I wore out my little sister." Rose smiled and continued playing with his hair.
"She's had a long couple of days," Marilyn smiled at the pair. "I told him that, if he needed to act like a fifteen year old girl, then I wanted him in bed early, so it's just as well that she fell asleep. I wasn't looking forward to arguing at bedtime."
Rose smiled and said, "You have raised a remarkable boy, Marilyn. He's very talented and, if you don't mind me saying, he's absolutely adorable."
"He really is," Marilyn laughed. "I just hope he's strong enough to be a good, little girl for us."
To Be Continued...
Kiss Me, Bianca - 2
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Author's Note: To everyone who messaged me, asking me to get this chapter online ASAP, thank you, so much, for your support and encouragement, but it does take me 10 - 14 Days to get these written. I apologize for the delay, and I hope that it's worth the wait!
I would love to hear your thoughts on if I am doing great at writing or maybe messing up somewhere and need to retool my efforts?
Please, leave me a review? ~Clara.
This version of Kiss Me Bianca: 2 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.
BUILDING A WARDROBE -or- KNOW'ST ME NOT BY MY CLOTHES?
John could hear laughter in another room as he struggled to open his eyes. His blurry surroundings were a bit off. He was in the living room, on the couch and the sun was shining in the east facing windows.
He sat up, wiped the spittle from his cheek and pulled the crocheted blanket off. When he could think more clearly, he recognized the laughter was coming from his mother and Rose and, someone else - a guy.... It was Ed's voice. What time was it?
He checked the cable box. It was 6:10. Why was Ed here? They weren't leaving till 8:30.
He stood and gathered his bearings. The thin, soft romper that seemed so awkward last night, was a wonderfully comfortable thing to wake up in, but his hair was everywhere! And there was so much of it! Shit! He was supposed to wear a hair net every night! Damnit! Jan would kill him if she found out.
But - first things first: Go find out why Ed was here so early.
They were in the screened-in room, sitting around the large, round table that sat in the center of the room, drinking coffee and eating pieces of a large, Swedish coffee ring that was oozing raspberry and lemon fillings.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" Marilyn said as she saw her unkempt son wandering barefoot and zombie-like into the room. "I was going to let you sleep till 7:00."
Ed jumped up and pulled a chair out and guided John to it. As Ed pushed the chair in for him, John squinted through the hair that fell in his face. He was confused, both by his struggle to become fully awake and Ed's gallantry. When Ed casually kissed John's hand before taking his own seat, John squinted at his mother and Rose who both replied with raised eyebrows and smirks. What the heck!?
"Aren't you a sight, this morning?" Marilyn teased as John struggled to keep his untamed hair away from his face.
"I fell asleep without my hairnet, last night. If I don't have it Looking right for rehearsal, Jan will be mad."
"If Stacy ever finds out," Rose giggled, "she'll murder you - literally." She, of course, looked radiant, even at this ungodly hour.
John smiled at the joke and made a show of pushing the hair to the back of his head. "It's like I have a rat's nest on my head. What a mess."
Marilyn and Rose giggled, but Ed just smiled and said, "I think you look great," then he blushed, just a bit, at his brazenness.
Marilyn looked from her son's oddly-behaving friend to her similarly oddly-behaving son and leaned, so that she could speak to the latter, quietly. "Close your robe," she whispered.
John, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, glanced down to see that his rumpled, lavender kimono was wide open, revealing the sheer, aqua sleep romper beneath. He wasn't sure if Ed could, or not, but John could see plainly, the impression of his nipples sitting perkily beneath. At first, he gave an amused scoff and smiled in Rose's direction, but then he glanced at Ed and he noticed that Ed's attention was alternating between John's chest and his face. In spite of the fact that John knew he'd done the same thing a million times and that it was, more than likely, just harmless, human nature, it made him just slightly uncomfortable and, without any comment or commotion, he shifted himself in the chair and pulled the kimono closed.
Marilyn cut a piece of the coffee ring and served it to John, and Rose poured him a cup of coffee.
"Oh, my God, this is delicious!" John exclaimed as he took a delicate nibble of the coffee ring. "Where did this come from?" The pastry was fresh and rich with butter and sugar.
"I went to Anderson's and picked it up, this morning." Ed was obviously pleased by John's reaction.
"Anderson's? In Harwichport?" That was a pretty good distance from Hyannis. You went there this morning? Why?"
Ed seemed confused. The reason seemed obvious. "Because I thought you'd like it," he shrugged. "I was there when they opened at 5:30 so it would be nice and fresh for you."
"Oh, Ed," Rose patted his shoulder, "that's so sweet. Isn't that sweet, Bebe?"
"Who's 'Bebe'?" Ed asked.
"It's short for Bianca," Marilyn said.
John, however, was perplexed by his friend's behavior. "Umm... thanks, Ed. That was very nice of you."
"I'll go lay out your clothes for today, honey," Marilyn said as she rose.
"Oh, don't forget," Ed said, "we're going to see 'Jaws' at the Showcase in Falmouth after rehearsal."
John had, in fact, forgotten that he and Ed had planned to go see the classic Spielberg film that was filmed on Martha's Vineyard on the big screen that night.
Marilyn stopped. "What's this, then?"
"Oh," John looked at his mother, then at Rose. "Ed and I made plans to go see 'Jaws' tonight."
"Oh," Marilyn said, "I'm not sure about that, dear. Falmouth is a long ride, it's late on a work night and, to be honest, Ed is an older man..."
John was confused. "Mom - Ed's about six months older than me. So what?"
"Ed," Marilyn shook her head, "I'm sorry to have to have this conversation in front of you." She turned back to John, "First - Ed is six months older than John - who is gone, for now. He is twenty one, which makes him six of, possibly, seven years older than you, Bianca. Second - last night, we agreed to an early bedtime and, third - you did not ask permission, and that is now a requirement."
"Oh..." John was shocked by his mother's forcefulness. She hadn't been this firm with him since he was, well, fourteen or fifteen. "I'm sorry. Mom, may I go with Ed to see 'Jaws' tonight? We should be home by ten or so."
Marilyn sighed, "Well... I just don't know, Bebe. I wish you had asked me in advance so that I had a time to consider it."
Ed stood. "Mrs Foley, if I could just say... I am an excellent driver, I will be a perfect gentleman and I will bring Bebe home directly as soon as the movie has ended. She will be in excellent hands with me."
"That's exactly what concerns me, Edward," Marilyn shook her head.
"Marilyn," Rose joined the conversation, "I will be happy to chaperone, if you'd like. I'll be sure that my little sister's virtue remains in tact."
Marilyn pondered for a moment. "Would that be acceptable to you, Ed?"
"Of course," Ed smiled. "I will be happy to have Rose join us as a chaperone."
"Oh, for crying out loud," John muttered, annoyed that he was being treated this way. "Rose, I'm happy to have you with us, but, mom, I don't need... I'm a grown man, for crying out loud!"
"Of course you are, Bianca," Marilyn smirked and nodded. "I'll go lay out your bra, panties and dress for the day and I will be back to do your hair and makeup in a moment. Good thing my big, strong son has his mommy to help him look like a pretty, adolescent girl before he goes to work."
John had had his makeup done by Rose, while Marilyn prepared his clothing for the day, which turned out to be a rather simple peach dress with a sleeveless, crew neck top with well defined, curved, vertical seams along the front of the bodice, with a high-waisted, heavily pleated skirt attached. It was pretty and it looked cute on him, but it seemed a bit out of fashion. Strangely enough, the string of faux pearls his mother had given him last night, seemed to make the dress look absolutely perfect, though.
"That's cute," Rose gushed as he was led, by his strangely flustered mother, back into the screened in room. "Where did you find that?"
"I drove over to a big secondhand store in Buzzard's Bay yesterday and I picked up a lot of items for my little starlet. I like this one. It's pretty." Marilyn went to work straightening John's hair with his flat iron. "I'm going to another second hand store in Buzzard's Bay, today."
Meanwhile, Ed sat at the table drinking coffee, nibbling coffee ring and watching his friend's new morning regime.
"You don't have any shoes for this outfit, though, so I'll pick up something cute this morning and drop it off during your lunch. You'll have to wear flip flops this morning." Marilyn sprayed his hair heavily with sticky, strawberry scented hairspray, which matched a body spray his mother had applied before she got him dressed. His whole body had become infused with the sweet smell of the fruit. It was an intoxicating smell and, if he'd been an adolescent boy, he would have loved to have had the opportunity to sit near a girl that smelled as pretty as he did. It was a young and pretty and feminine scent.
"Ok, mom," John said, quietly.
Rose reappeared, dresses and makeup beautifully. She was wearing a stretchy, yellow sheath dress that clung to her amazing body deliciously.
"Wow!" John said.
"Wow! Is right," Marilyn agreed. "You're awfully well dressed, this morning."
"Well, thank you," Rose gave a theatrical little curtsy, her right toe moved behind her left heel and quickly bent her knees down, then right back up. Then she said, "Marilyn, may I speak to you in private for a moment."
"Of course, dear," Marilyn said, as she escorted Rose through the kitchen and into the large room beyond.
John turned his seat to face the table and, in so doing, he came face to face with his closest friend, and for the first time in all of the thousands of hours he'd spent with him, John felt self conscious. Ed's reassuring smile was disconcerting under the circumstances.
Yesterday, when they'd sat and talked at rehearsal, it was different. Yes, they were alone, but John had been wearing a costume then. He was playing a role in a play and it required that he wear a very elaborate costume that just happened to be a dress. It all made perfect sense.
Now, any pretense that this outfit was just a costume that would help him become Bianca was easily dismissed by the fact that John had appeared before his friend in a pretty, playful, cute nightie and robe. Even Daniel Day Lewis didn't commit this fully to a role. Both young men knew that there was no reasonable explanation for John being dressed this way other than...
"Do you like it?" Ed asked quietly.
John, who's eyes had been avoiding Ed's for quite sometime, seemed to find a tiny spot on the table top to focus on while he contemplated the question before replying, "What do you mean?"
Ed sighed at John's avoidance. "You know what I mean... the makeup, the hair, the dress, the smells... Do you like it?"
His gaze remained fixed on that spot as John shrugged his shoulders and muttered, "I don't know... it's just... different."
"I'll say," Ed whispered. "You sure look different."
"Stupid?"
"Not at all." Ed couldn't believe that John could even think that. "Haven't you looked in a mirror? You're as cute as any girl I've ever met. You're beautiful. I think so, anyway."
This comment made John feel somewhat small and objectified, but also it felt nice. Ed sounded sincere.
John's head barely moved, but his eyes, his big wide eyes with their long, dark lashes and oh-so-pretty makeup, Rose to meet Ed's. "Really?"
"Really. Like... REALLY really."
If John was confused by what he was feeling, the strange contractions he felt in the gusset of his panties, the warmth that was making the butterflies in his stomach flutter, and flushed feeling he felt spreading across his plump cheeks, Ed knew exactly what he was feeling. He'd felt it a million times before when he'd been in the presence of a girl he'd found desirable and most of the those times, he never acted on those feelings. Now - now, when he knew full well that this adorable, fertile looking woman-child was, in fact, his buddy who had never once before looked either fertile or adorable - he really wanted, more than anything, to act on those feelings.
"Thanks," John whispered as he sipped his lukewarm coffee and avoided acknowledging how awkward everything was becoming. Ed did the same.
"How far do you want me to take this?" Rose asked Marilyn, when they had moved out of earshot of the boys.
"Honestly, I don't know what to tell you, Rose," Marilyn crossed her arms and shook her head. "What is your director trying to accomplish by turning John into cute, little, high school coed? I am totally confused, myself. I bought the clothes to try to help and I set the parameters I would set for my daughter if she was a freshman in high school because I'm concerned about having her... um, him... out and alone looking like that at night. Imagine what would happen if he was attacked - or worse! I'd love to know what this woman wants of my son."
Rose nodded, slightly surprised by Marilyn's frustration. She thought that Marilyn had been encouraging this transition for some reason. The new clothes, the nightie, etc - what else would she have thought?
"Ok," Rose said, "I'll see if I can have a couple of minutes with Ms Weldon today and maybe I can get some insight. Would that help?"
Marilyn relaxed her attitude slightly and turned to look to her left. There were several walls between her and her little, confused, boy, but she knew that he was right there, in her sight line. She nodded. "That would be good. Thank you. And... I don't want to interfere or get into a fight, or anything, but... if she wouldn't mind just meeting with me for a couple of minutes when I come by with his shoes... well, it would make me feel much better."
Rose nodded. "I'll see what I can do,"
When the three thespians walked out the front, screened door of the cottage, Ed tried to steer them all towards his car; a 1996 Oldsmobile Delta 88 in light blue which had obviously belonged to a grandparent at some point. Rose, interrupted Ed, though, by saying, "Have you ever driven a Tesla?"
Ed stopped in his tracks and shook his head, looking at the sleek, shiny, space-age vehicle.
"Want to?"
"Oh, Yeah!" Ed was thrilled and caught the keys when Rose threw them.
The sporty Tesla that Rose's Dad had loaned her this summer was a two door model. Ed went to the driver's side, while John and Rose went to the passenger side.
"My skirt is too tight for me to climb in the back. You don't mind, do you?" Rose asked, John.
"No," it made sense. "I don't mind."
With a bit more difficulty than he'd expected, John was able to lower himself into the back seat, smoothing his dress as he went. Rose lowered the front seat back into place and sat, turning and asking, "All set, back there?"
John replied, "Yes," as the car's satellite radio began playing show tunes and John put the otherwise silent vehicle into gear.
As they started their ride, with the speakers in the rear of the car carrying the bulk of the radio's volume, John could hear nothing of the conversation taking place in the front seat. Suddenly, instead of being part of a trio of young adult friends, he felt trapped by the lack of escape options, isolated by the physical separation and the volume of the music and more like a child than he'd felt since he was one.
Uninterested in carrying a purse, Rose even had his phone.
There was laughter and some singing from the front, but he could hear none of it, so he could participate in none of it. Once, Rose glanced back at him and smiled, but he was unable to ask her to turn down the music before she turned around, again.
With no interaction possible, he sulked in the corner and looked at his legs as they extended from the pleated, peach skirt of his little dress. His legs were smooth and thin and feminine. So were his arms and fingers and toes. It was all just - weird.
He looked up as he heard the sound of the gravel and seashells that paved the driveway of the rehearsal hall, and that was the moment that he felt a tear drip onto his left cheek and he realized that his vision was blurred. He blinked to clear his sight, but that just seemed to cause more tears to fall. What the hell was happening!?!? He didn't cry! He couldn't remember the last time he had, but it was definitely when he was very young.
Hastily, he rubbed his eyes to clear them and he tried to steady his breathing, but the panic he felt at being discovered by Rose - beautiful, mature, Rose - crying like the child he appeared to be made gaining control of himself impossible. He was just getting worse and worse by the second and he could feel himself falling to pieces.
"Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit," he breathed. "Not here. Not now. Not in front of Rose!"
But he could do anything to stop it and by the time Rose moved the seat forward and offered him her hand, he was sobbing uncontrollably and covering his face with his hands to avoid her gaze.
"Oh, baby, what's wrong?" She asked with genuine concern.
'Baby.' She sure had that right. That was exactly how he felt - like a baby. Could it just be the clothes doing all of this to him? It wasn't like he was taking hormones or anything. Why was this playing mind games on him?
When he didn't reply, Rose stood straight and looked over the roof of the car and spoke to Ed. John could hear the conversation.
"I think we need a few minutes, Ed. We'll see you inside."
"Everything ok?"
"Umm... yeah, I think so. She just needs a couple of minutes, ok?"
"Oh... ok. I'll see you inside."
When Ed had left the car, Rose bent back in and offered John a hand. "Come on, baby. Sit up front and I'll take of you. Come on, now, these things happen to a girl - we get caught up in our emotions and all, but I'll help you. Come on. Sit up front for me."
Her voice was unintentionally condescending and maternal, but he was acting so childishly that he supposed she was using the appropriate tone for the situation, so, eventually, he took her hand and she helped him re-situate himself in the passenger seat.
"What's wrong, baby," Rose asked as she patted his soft cheek her warm hand. "You can tell me."
"Nothing." It came out more petulant than he'd expected. "There's nothing wrong. I'm just... I don't know... overwhelmed, I guess. I feel so much different than I did on Monday morning. It all just feels so... different. I can't explain it, Rose, and look at me! I'm crying like a child and you..."
"Me?" Rose asked. "Did I hurt you somehow, baby? I'm sorry, if I did. I didn't mean to."
"No, you didn't... it's just... Rose, I like you... I mean... you know what I mean... and you don't even see me as a guy. To you, I'm just a little girl. A little sister."
"Oh, honey, that's just not so." She continued patting him, consoling him as if he were a child. "I know you're a boy. I think you're a very wonderful guy to do all of this for your art. Honestly, I do."
He managed to slow things down and catch his breath. He nodded as he stemmed the flow of tears.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, embarrassed and ashamed. "I'm sorry."
"No reason to be, baby," she sang to him. "Here, though," she pulled a makeup wipe from her purse, "you have raccoon eyes from crying. Let me help you."
She wiped off the mess he'd made and started his face, again, from scratch. Within minutes, he looked fresh and pretty, again - just a redness around his eyes indicated that he'd ever been upset.
At 11:30, Rose got a text:
MARILYN: It's Marilyn. I'm in the parking lot. John's not responding. Can I leave his shoes with you? I can wait till you break for lunch
ROSE: Hi. I'm on break already. John's with Randy. Come on in. Ms Weldon wants to meet you.
MARILYN: Ok. John won't know, right? Who's Randy?
ROSE: No, John won't know. We'll meet in her office. Randy is the acting coach. John's due back in the rehearsal hall in five minutes. I'll meet you at the door.
Marilyn entered with a garment bag and a shoebox.
Rose took the garment bag from her. "What's all this? I thought you were just getting shoes."
"I got him, like, six pairs of shoes. God, it's as if I adopted a fourteen year old. He's got nothing and needs everything."
"I'll put this in my costume slot, for now. Why did you get him a new dress, though. The one he was wearing was perfect."
Marilyn smiled. "This is more perfect. It's a little longer, but it looks a lot less formal. I like what he wore this morning, but it was a bit formal to wear to a screening of 'Jaws,' don't you think?"
She couldn't help it, Rose opened the garment bag and looked. "Oh! It's so pretty!"
"Isn't it?" Marilyn was happy that Rose, who was very fashionable, approved.
Rose moved the bag so that the dress hung freely in front of it. The cotton dress was not new, but it was timeless. It was a beautiful, royal blue with patches of white popping out of a subtle, geometric pattern. It had a modest, v-neck and there was a bit of elastic between the breasts to create a lovely effect when it was worn. The sleeves ended at the elbow with large cuffs, then blossomed out into modestly puffy shoulders. The top looked like it would blouse out loosely and comfortably and the skirt, longer than usual, looked as if it was meant to just cover the knee and it had yards of extra material that would allow the skirts to billow as he walks.
"When you told me that he had a break down," Marilyn said, "I thought that it would make sense go a little more conservative for tonight."
"Oh, Marilyn, he'll love it. I love it! I wish I could wear it! And his pearls, oh, Marilyn, it'll all be just so perfect!"
Very pleased by Roses's approval, they closed the garment bag, left it in Rose's area, then knocked on Ms Weldon's door. They were invited in and Ms Weldon shook John's mother's hand.
"Marilyn! Very nice to meet you. Let me start by saying that I am very, very impressed by John's dedication and the work that he has done so far. You have a remarkably talented son. You should be very proud."
"Oh, I am, Ms Weldon, I truly am, and I'm very impressed by your achievements, as well, and, please believe me, I won't normally even consider interfering, but..." she searched for diplomatic words.
"But," Ms Weldon too, over her train of thought, "your twenty year old son is suddenly looking like a fifteen year old girl?"
"Not just looking like one, Ms Weldon - behaving like one, too. It's as if he's become Bianca full time and I'm not sure that he's behaving like he's fifteen. He just seems befuddled by the littlest chore - shower, drying his hair, everything. I'm so worried about him that I've started treating him like one, too. I've set a curfew, for crying out loud. He had plans to go out with his friend, Ed, tonight and I'm so nervous about something happening to him, that I said 'no' until Rose, here, agreed to go as a chaperone."
"I understand, Marilyn, and I apologize if I've upset things, but I promise you, from long experience, I guarantee that the first week of an actor's adoption of a role this foreign to him, is always the worst. A week from now, everything will be more relaxed, again."
"That's reassuring, Ms Weldon, but, a week from now, he will still be wearing dresses. I am very concerned, Ms Weldon. I have seen DRASTIC changes in that boy over the last three days and I am very frightened that, if he continues down this road, he'll become a... a... a..."
"A freak?" Ms Weldon's harsh word shocked both Marilyn and Rose.
"I beg your pardon!?" Marilyn was defensive.
"A freak? Are you afraid that your son may become some kind of freak, then I have news for you, Marilyn - he already is. Look."
Ms Weldon pointed to a moderately sized flat screen mounted on the wall behind Rose and Marilyn. As they watched, John, in an incredibly adorable, purple gown was flirting with three young men in doublets and tights. Ms Weldon used a remote from her seat and raised the volume.
"What do you see, Marilyn?"
"I see John," Marilyn watched the screen, "dressed like a sixteenth century woman, flirting with Ed and two other men."
"Rose, do you see anything odd?" Ms Weldon asked.
"No. I don't think so."
"Well, ladies," Ms Weldon walked to the monitor, "you're missing the true freakish nature of young John. What are the suitors carrying?"
"Scripts," they said together.
"And What is John carrying?"
"Nothing," they both said.
"Exactly. This is day three of rehearsals and that young man has memorized every scene he is in and he is not blocking or marking the scene - he is acting and acting well. That little boy has a freakish ability to inhabit a character. This is Shakespeare, ladies! He is a secondary lead and he is off-book on day three!"
She returned to her desk chair and muted the monitor and waited for the women to direct their attention back to her. "Marilyn - I am a very good director. A VERY good director and I have seen, literally, thousands of young actors and that little boy in the purple dress is, without question, the most naturally talented actor I have ever met. He should not be college, he should be on stages or screens playing juvenile roles while he still looks young and, please believe me, it is my intention to find that child a role in a professional theater or in a video project as soon as I can. Bear with me, Marilyn. I want to work his muscles and see how much he can handle. He's going to be a star, Marilyn. I can feel it."
Marilyn was shocked. She knew that John was talented, but this... this was a lot to take in. "What do you mean by juvenile roles?"
"Well, Ms Weldon settled a bit. "John is twenty, now, but he comes across as younger. To be honest, I think that with the proper preparation and slightly smaller breasts, he could easily play a twelve year old. Eleven as a boy!"
"Now think about the great juveniles of TV and movies," she continued. "Mickey Rooney played a teenager well into his twenties. So did Michael J Fox and even Jennifer Love Hewitt! These are long careers and John is talented enough to do the same. I'd like to push him in that direction, if you don't mind."
Rose sat beside Gloria and opposite Ed and John while they ate lunch. She was feeling just a little bit guilty about the wave of jealousy that washed over her when Ms Weldon explained her interest in John. The more she thought about, the more she understood her own pettiness. John was very talented, there was no doubt about that, and there was no reason to be jealous of John's gifts. Heck, maybe she could learn from him.
Ed had already gone to the counter and picked up a bottle of water for John, before jumping up again, when John mentioned that he needed salad dressing.
"Excuse me, Miss Minola," it was Harry standing by the table. Jim had already brought John some iced tea this morning. John was beginning to grow appreciative of these men and their willingness to please him.
"Harry! Would you like to join us?" Rose was very welcoming and Harry couldn't resist.
"If you don't mind..." he turned and grabbed an empty chair from a nearby table, then sat at the end, between Ed and and Gloria.
"I thought that you might enjoy something sweet to nibble on this afternoon, Miss Minola." Harry pulled a wrapped package from his satchel and handed it to John.
After a very successful morning of rehearsals, John's mood had improved tremendously. He had shed his purple gown and hoops for lunch, but was still wearing his corset over his lacy smock, so he was still being very careful while eating his salad.
"Oh, Harry," John was just as surprised by Harry's thoughtfulness as he had been by Jim and Ed's. "You're so nice. You don't need to buy me things."
"It's my pleasure, Bianca. I hope you like it."
As John ripped the paper, Ed sat back and folded his arms. Had anyone glanced at him, they would have noticed that he was definitely getting miffed.
"Oh! Salt water taffy from Cabot's! This stuff is amazing? When did you go to Provincetown?" The small, artistic community located at the far eastern point of The Cape was known for its nightlife, artistic shops and long standing LGBTQIA community.
"I'm staying in P-town with my cousin. I thought you'd enjoy something sweet and who makes better taffy or fudge than Cabot's?"
John opened the modestly sized box and offered some to everyone at the table. Even Ed couldn't resist tasting the delicious candy.
"Oh, my God, that's so good!" John moaned and bounced in his seat - a new habit that he'd developed since his breasts had been attached. The feeling of the breasts bouncing was becoming addictive to him and he found himself bouncing more and more. "Thank you, Harry! These are amazing!" John placed his hand over Harry's as he spoke.
Harry flipped his hand and took John's hand in his, rubbing it gently as he said, "You are more than welcome, Mistress Minola." Then he lifted John's hand, gently, to his lips and gave the back of it a soft, warm, slow kiss. Then he smiled and excused himself.
John's hand remained frozen where Harry had released it. He stared at the invisible imprint of Harry's lips on his hand for a moment, before glancing at Rose and Gloria who were both smiling. Then, he turned to Ed for his reaction, but Ed was busy unwrapping another taffy petulantly.
John sat back in his chair, bit the knuckle of his left forefinger while the fingertips of his right hand gently ran along the lace that ran along the bust line of his smock while he thought. He made a very pretty picture.
"He's just being nice, honey," Gloria said.
John looked quickly to Ed, who seemed to no be paying much attention to anything but getting the sticky candy separated from the waxed paper wrapper, and said to Gloria, "This is the third time today that a boy has been nice to me."
"It probably won't be the last," Gloria laughed.
"But," John whispered, "they all know I'm a boy."
"Doesn't make a bit of difference," Rose giggled. "You look like a duck and quack like a duck, so - to boys - you must be a duck." She looked at Ed, still fumbling with the wrapper and appeared to be paying no attention. "Right, Ed?"
Ed smiled as he crumpled the paper. "Duck or drake - makes no difference. I like the way she looks. I like the way she moves. I like the way she talks. I like the way she smells. I just want to spend time with her." He beamed a sincere smile at Rose. The smile said, 'I know what I'm doing.'
"That's very sweet, Ed." Rose smiled.
"I'm a very sweet guy, Rose. Tell her, Bianca." He put his arm around John and gave him a shake. He'd done this many times before - as the smaller member of their long time Mutt-and-Jeff friendship, John was used to be 'manhandled' from time to time - but this was a bit gentler. It still felt comfortable and playful, though and made John laugh. He appreciated it and he smiled at Ed.
"He really is a sweet guy, Rose. Thanks, Ed."
Ed smiled at everyone, then piled both his trash and John's onto his tray and stood to throw it away. "I'll see you all in a few." He bent before leaving and kissed John's cheek. "I need to make a pit stop," and he walked away leaving Gloria and John smiling, but Rose was pondering something.
"Can I ask you something?" Rose asked.
"Sure," John was running his hands across his corset and smock to be sure that no crumbs had fallen onto his clothing.
"Are you attracted to Ed?"
John looked up in surprise. "Attracted? No. He's my friend, but... I'm not gay." He did recall his shower-fantasy from last night, but he didn't think that was really all that important.
"Uh huh," Rose nodded. "So, last summer, when you guys finished your lunch, did Ed kiss you goodbye?"
"Well, no, but, last summer, that would not have looked appropriate. We have to kiss in the show, so, he's just trying to make me comfortable. He kissed me last Friday when I accepted the part, too, and I had a beard at that time."
"So... you're into girls, then?" Gloria asked.
When John nodded, Gloria continued, "Wow. I think I'd love for my husband to be like you; soft, pretty, little... What do you think, Rose. Less sweat and body-odor, more perfume and powder."
Rose smiled, but didn't say anything. In fact, she'd been think the same thing all week.
Gloria continued, "Tasting his lipstick and having his sweet smelling hair fall on you while you're making love. Oh, and the silk and satin nighties! Oh, that would be wonderful! Hoo! I'm getting myself all worked up!" She laughed.
John blushed a bit, but Rose was a bit flushed with excitement. She smiled and stood. "I'll see you guys. I need to make a pit stop, too."
It had been a great day of rehearsals. They'd ended the day by running the show from the beginning to the end without stopping. Everyone was doing so well that John was shocked when he realized that it was nearly five o'clock. He loved it when plays came together like this and he wanted to continue, but when they stopped for notes, he started to feel the exhaustion set in.
Tomorrow, they'd be running the show for Ms Weldon for the first time. She'd walked though and checked on things many times, but tomorrow they'd be getting her notes. That should be interesting.
Gloria, Rose and John helped each other remove their costumes and undergarments. It felt good to lose the corset!
John hung up Gloria and Rose's gowns for them, while they removed their smocks. By the time he was removing his own smock, Gloria was wearing her jean shorts and Jimmy Buffet tee shirt and Rose was wearing her tight fitting dress. Once John's costume pieces were all hung and put away, he found himself dressed only in his bra and panties while the two women were fully dressed. Not only that, but his peach colored dress was gone.
"Hey!" He said with a lot of concern. "My dress is gone."
Rose pulled out the garment bag from her cubby and held it out for John. "Your mom bought you a more comfortable dress to wear to the movies."
John unzipped the bag and pulled it off of the hanger, then put the hanger over the rod in his cubby. He stared at it. Obviously, all dresses are feminine and all, but this was a special dress. It had an extra dose of femininity to it. It just looked... lovely on the hanger.
"Wow!" Said Gloria.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" Rose asked both of them.
"Let's get it on you," Rose reached for the hanger and turned the dress to find the zipper, but what she found was a series of tiny buttons that ran from the shoulders to the rear end of the dress. Unusual!
As she started to unbutton the dress, she realized that there was a very beautiful, black, lace slip hanging on the hanger as well. When she'd unbuttoned enough buttons to remove the hanger, she handed the slip to Gloria. "Can you help him with this?"
"Sure."
She lowered the wonderfully smooth garment over his body and he shivered. He'd never felt anything so soft and smooth and wonderful before. It hugged his breasts and torso so pleasantly, then hung so amazingly close to his body's without really touching him. It just tickled him as it played 'I'm Not Touching You' with him. The bosom was a series of lace rosettes that stretched just enough to hug him and always remind him that he was wearing something pretty. Just above his belly button, it expanded enough to float around him.
Curious, Gloria lifted the skirt of the slip to see the tag that she'd noticed as she'd dressed him. She read aloud, "'Custom made, one of a kind, 'House Of Alaura' Newberry Street, Boston.' Holy smokes, this slip set somebody back a few bucks."
Rose showed Gloria a matching tag in the dress. "This too. Geez, Marilyn really hit pay dirt at her second hand store."
With about half the buttons undone, Rose determined that John could get into it, so she and Gloria lowered it onto him as he threaded his arms into the half-sleeves. He stood straight and allowed Rose to button up the line of tiny, pearlescent buttons on the back. As the dress closed around him, he and Gloria and Rose were all amazed as to how charming the dress was.
"That's lovely!" Came a voice from the doorway. Jan entered and came forward to inspect his new dress. "Where did you get this? Who made it?"
"My mom bought it at a second hand store," John said timidly.
"The tag on both the dress and slip say that it was made by 'House of Alaura.'" Gloria told her.
"Wow, Bianca," Jan fingered the garment, "Alaura passed away at least a decade ago. She was an interesting designer - moderately high-end and she specialized in day-wear - office attire, casual, stuff like that. This is just lovely."
Rose finished fastening the last button and played with his loose hanging skirt. "It's adorable on you, sweetie, and it fits perfectly. How does it feel?"
What he said was, "Fine."
What he wanted to say was, "Wonderful! Look at how pretty I look in this!" He swayed from side to side to watch the waves of light fabric. It was perfect.
"Go ahead. We know you want to." Rose teased. The other women giggled, too.
"Do what?" He asked.
"Spin, silly. We can tell that you want to see how it flares when you spin. There's nothing wrong with that. We all do it. Go ahead!"
He did. He twirled and he smiled at the look and feel of the dress as it collapsed around him, hugged him and released him. It was wonderful! Delightful! So different than anything he'd ever felt before. It was so pleasant that he did it again in the other direction.
Suddenly, for the first time in days, he was truly smiling. A big, broad, sincere smile.
"There are those cheek bones," Rose whispered to Jan and Gloria. "I told you he was beautiful!"
"Aw," Gloria placed her right hand on her heart, "so much pretty wasted on a boy."
"Wasted, Nothing," Jan shook her head. "Those cheeks are going to be the key to that little lady's future. I guarantee it."
GOING OUT -or- GOD GIVES YOU ONE FACE, AND YOU MAKE YOURSELF ANOTHER
The navy blue, two inch, open-toed heals and faux-pearl necklace, both provided by his mother, completed John's outfit to a tee. After two days of exploring girl's clothing, enjoying it all, but frequently feeling awkward and stupid, he was finding his current clothing wonderful, soft, unusual and perfect. The puffy sleeves that ended at his elbows were constantly visible in his peripheral vision.
The ride to Falmouth was fine. He didn't mind being in the backseat at all. When Rose would turn to speak to him, he was always smiling. She thought he looked adorable - the dress, the hair, the pearls and, oh, those pretty cheeks. He was the perfect 'girl next door,' or, in this case, 'the perfect little sister.
When Ed glanced in the mirror, he saw a beautiful, little friend; someone he really wanted to spend time with. He didn't mind that Rose was with them at all. She was mature and gorgeous. He wanted to spend time with her, too. Who wouldn't!?
They ate at a Panera Bread restaurant in the same strip of stores where the cinema was located. John received three compliments on his dress while he was in line to order his food. He was flattered and enjoyed the attention. He was proud of the way he looked in the dress, too!
While Ed ate his soup-in-a-bread-bowl and Rose ate her turkey sandwich, John ate his salad and listened as Rose told her story about the first time she'd seen 'Jaws' as a child and how she'd refused to get into the water, other than a pool, for the entire summer.
"Excuse me," a woman tapped John's shoulder lightly. "May I ask, where did you get that lovely dress, dear?"
John wiped his mouth, smiled and said, "Um, I'm not sure. My mom bought If for me at a second hand store, but I'm not sure where." He nervously brushed his hands across the tops of his knees and felt the movement of the soft cotton against the pure silk of the slip beneath, and when he looked down at his legs, he noticed how the ample skirt hung beautifully down the side of the wooden chair in which he sat. It even made that look lovely. These new revelations, combined with the compliment from this woman, made him smile even more broadly.
The forty-ish woman touched the puffed sleeve nearest her. "I hate to interrupt your meal, but could you, just for a moment, stand so that I can see the way it hangs. I don't mean to be a bother, but I make a lot of my daughters' clothes and I'd just like a photo, if you don't mind, so that I can keep this design in mind for them. You don't mind, do you, dear?"
"Of course she doesn't mind, do you Bianca?" Rose beamed at him.
"Not at all," John replied, and he didn't.
He stood and the woman looked over the dress with a hypercritical eye. "Oh, my, that is just lovely, dear. May I take a few pictures?"
"Of course," he shrugged his shoulders with honest, girlish glee and stood.
The woman pulled out her phone and opened the camera app. She took a step back, but did not have much room, so, John took a step back, standing beside Ed.
"That truly is lovely, thank you. Would you mind turning your back to me so that I can get a shot of the back?"
He did and he twirled as he did so, not only flaring the skirt out, but making it swing up against Ed and showering him with scent of strawberries that John had embedded in his skin and hair. Ed breathed deeply of the sweet smells. The heady smells did not go unnoticed.
Just as she was finishing taking pictures of the dress, John noticed two young women with several shopping bags enter and head towards them.
"Mom," the oldest said to the woman, "are you disturbing these people?" She turned to Rose and Ed, "I'm sorry. When my mom sees a dress she wants to copy, she forgets about her manners, don't you, mom?"
The woman laughed. "I'm afraid she's right. I'm Connie and this is my oldest, Cassie, and my youngest, Annie."
Both girls waved and said 'Hi.' They were dressed for a cool, early summer evening. Both in jeans with stretchy, low-cut, black, spaghetti strap shirts with open flannel shirts to act as jackets. The oldest wore a classic red and black, buffalo plaid, while the youngest wore a pink and white flannel in the same pattern.
"Did you get anything good?" Connie asked them.
They both replied excitedly that they had.
"Isn't this young lady's dress beautiful?" Connie asked her daughters and they agreed that it was.
"Girls, this is... I'm sorry, I never asked your name," Connie chuckled. "I was so taken by your dress..."
"Bianca," John said, but Rose jumped in quickly.
"You can call her, Bebe," she told them.
"Oh, that suits you, Bebe. And how old are you, dear?"
Again, Rose leapt in and answered, "Bebe is fourteen. I'm Bebe's older sister, Rose, and this is my boyfriend, Ed. It's nice to meet you, girls."
John was a little shocked that Rose stated that he was quite that young, but what difference did it make? He'd just go with the flow and it would be over in a few minutes.
"Fourteen and so beautiful!" Connie said. "Annie is fourteen as well." Connie's youngest was an exceptionally beautiful girl. Taller than John and a little bigger all over, especially in the chest, all three women were well endowed. The young lady smiled and acknowledged that her mother was correct. "Cassie, here, is sixteen." The older daughter smiled.
"And why are you ladies so dressed up tonight?" Connie continued dominate the conversation.
"We're on our way to see 'Jaws' on the big screen at the cinema next door," Ed finally joined the conversation.
"Oh," Connie teased, "date night for you two and you're kind enough to take your little sister along. That's sweet."
"Something like that," Rose giggled. "Actually, our mom wouldn't let Bebe see 'Jaws' before. She's kind of a scaredy cat when it comes to scary movies. So, now that she's old enough, she begged us to take her, right, Beebs?"
Man, Rose could really make this stuff up on the fly! John just went with it and smiled and nodded.
"Oh, you must be so excited," Connie teased. "You're all dressed up and you're being escorted by your sister's handsome boyfriend. You must feel so grownup."
"I really do," John said - if nothing else, he definitely felt more grown up than a fourteen year old.
"Annie and Cassie are going to see the movie, too. I'm more like you, though Bebe. I can't watch that stuff. They're going on their own." The girls smiled.
"Oh, well, why don't you girls join us!?" Rose was being a very enthusiastic hostess at the moment and John was feeling a bit more vulnerable that he had a few minutes ago.
"That would be wonderful, if it's not a problem," Connie was truly happy. "The girls and I are staying at 'The Schooner Inn' down the street and I think they're a little sick of hanging around with their mom, aren't you girls?"
The girls chuckled and said that they kinda were.
"Can you give us just a few minutes to organize things," Connie asked. "I won't be more than a moment or two. Girls, let's step over here. I'll take your bags and let me give you some cash for the movies."
They stepped over to a nearby, empty table.
"What are you doing?" John whispered to Rose.
"Johnny," she whispered back, "you've never spent time with a fourteen year old girl before and, as Bianca, you need to be one. Use this as research. See how those girls behave. Emulate them. Become one of them. It'll be great practice. It's just for a few hours."
The girls were coming back and they had big smiles on their faces. "Thank you for letting us go with you. Hi, Bianca. I'm Cassie." She gave a shy wave.
"I'm Annie," said the younger sister.
"I'll walk back over around 9:00 and wait for you, girls." Connie was picking up the girls' bags and preparing to leave.
"Oh, don't be silly," Rose said. "We'll walk them back after the movie. It's not a long walk and it's going to be a lovely night. Besides, we're responsible adults. We'll take care of them."
Connie smiled, a bit nervous, but happy for some free time. "How old are you, dear?" She asked.
"Ed and I are twenty-one. We'll take good care of Cassie and Annie." She jotted down something on a napkin and handed it to Connie. "This is my cell number. Call me if you get worried."
The five of them left the restaurant together and walked through the parking lot towards the cinema. Much to his delight, Rose took Ed's hand and whispered, "Remember, we're on a date."
Ed smiled. Rose was a truly breathtaking woman, although, not exactly his ideal. He was attracted to smaller, perkier women and,
preferably, with darker hair, but since he'd never really been on an bona-fide date before, he would enjoy this evening. Besides, he knew that John had a thing for Rose and he wouldn't want to interfere with that.
Cassie and Annie walked on either side of John and they talked with great enthusiasm about everything from where they were from - Manchester, New Hampshire, what they liked at at school - both loved their English classes, and their favorite hobby - musical theater. There was a subject that Jon could join in on! He'd done a number of musicals along the way and his phone was loaded with musical theater selections.
The girls loved 'Hamilton: An American Musical' and John was well aware of the piece, too. He saw the show during his previous spring break when he'd taken the train down to New York City and paid a ludicrous amount of money for a single ticket, but it had been worth it.
"Hey!" Annie suddenly yipped. "There's three of us! You know what that means!"
Then the two of them screamed, "The Schuyler Sisters!" And they assumed the position that the sisters take in the play and started singing -
Together they sang, "Work! Work!"
Cassie sang, "Angelica"
Then, together again, "Work! Work!"
Annie sang, "Eliza!"
Once more, together, they sang "Work! Work!"
Finally, and with great excitement, John assumed the sister's position and sang, "And Peggy!"
They continued through the song, mimicking the dance moves as best as they could remember. When the Aaron Burr rap section in the middle of the song came along, Rose and Ed shouted out those lyrics for them while John and the girls did the iconic movements of the Schuyler sisters from the show. John used the copious material of his skirts in the manner of the actresses in the show and when they'd reached the end of the song, John and the girls struck the correct pose while Ed and Rose clapped and cheered.
The girls hugged John and leapt around shouting, "That was sooooo good!"
"You were wonderful, girls!" Rose clapped and whooped, as did some of the people in the parking lot who had stopped to watch their impromptu performance.
Rose grabbed John and pulled him into a tight hug. "You are so good! Keep it up, little girl! You're doing great!"
John smiled and took Cassie's proffered hand as they climbed the stairs to the cinema. The stairs and porch were built, like so many other other business' entrances on The Cape, to look like a wharf, complete with fishing nets and large, decorative, wooden bobbers. It was kitschy and tacky, but ubiquitous throughout the area and had been such a common sight through all of John's summers, that he barely even noticed.
Ed went to the exterior ticket window to buy the tickets while John and the girls waited. When he returned with the tickets, they all went to enter the building, but John squealed, "Hey! I'm stuck!" The heel to the pump on his right foot had wedged itself into a crack between the weathered planking.
They all laughed at his dilemma, but it was Rose who bent down, removed his foot from the shoe, then the shoe from the crack and then replaced the shoe on his foot. "Very lady like, little sister," she teased.
At the concession stand, John bought what the girls bought - a small, buttered popcorn, a bag of Swedish Fish and a cherry Icee and they sat dead center of the cinema - John in the middle, Cassie to his right and Annie to his left with Ed and Rose sitting side by side in the row behind them.
The excited girls told stories about their lives and their friends and John joined in, editing the details of his stories in order to be appropriate to his new identity.
"Bebe," Cassie said, "are you on Instagram, or SnapChat, or what?"
John thought for a moment. "None. My mom won't let me use social media until I'm sixteen." He gave an exaggerated sigh, "She treats me like a child. It's so frustrating!"
"I know," Cassie empathized. "It's so frustrating!"
"Yeah," Annie joined in, "but you have a real cool older sister! She's beautiful. I bet she's popular."
John thought about Rose and her social circle at Emerson. "She is. She's really popular." He rolled his eyes. "It's not easy being her little sister in our neighborhood, that's for sure. She's, like, perfect, you know? But she's really nice to me, though."
"Yeah," Cassie smiled at him and then at Annie, "sisters are the best! I bet it sucks to be a guy."
"Yeah," was John's only reply.
'Jaws' was one of John's favorite movies and he loved it on the big screen. He had an even better time than usual this time watching it with the girls. He screamed with them and cowered, and covered his eyes and participated in the film as he'd never done before. He had a great time and so did the girls. Maybe it was some sort of a magic spell that this wonderful dress had cast on him or maybe it was the girls' joy just taking over him, but he'd enjoyed every moment of the last three hours with them.
When the movie ended, Rose and the girls went to the Ladies Room. John could have used a rest stop himself, but he felt that the Ladies Room in a public location with two underaged girls was a bad idea, so he went out to wait with Ed.
It was a beautiful night with just a slight chill in the air. Ed wandered to the far end of the dock-style porch that wrapped around the cinema and called back to John. "Hey, you can see the Sagamore Bridge from here and it looks awesome in the moonlight."
John walked to Ed's vantage point and looked towards the large, arched-top, silver, iron bridge that spans the southern end of The Cape Cod Canal. There were only two ways onto The Cape by car and that's either the Sagamore Bridge or the Bourne Bridge further north. They were both beautiful structures.
The nearly full moon cast an unusually romantic glow on the bridge this night. The silver-painted iron reflected the orange-yellow of the moon in a surreal way. "Wow," John agreed, "it is beautiful."
Ed put his arm around his small friend and pulled him close. John let him do it - they did it in rehearsal all day, anyway. They stayed that way for a solid minute or more before Ed said, "We need to get back out front. They'll be out soon."
They turned to go, but as John began to turn, his heel, once again, slipped between two piece of decking, only this time he had some momentum, so he began to stumble, his foot caught in the shoe that was caught in the crack.
"Ahh!" John cried as he lost his balance, but Ed was right there and he turned and caught John, mid fall, with John's back inches from the decking, Looking right back up into Ed's face.
There was a pause as Ed looked deeply into John's eyes. Then, without warning, Ed planted a big, deep kiss on the smaller man's lips. At first, John submitted, but then realized what was happening and tried, to push Ed off, but, quickly, submitted, again.
When the kiss ended, John was a bundle of electric goose bumps and confusion. "I'm sorry," Ed whispered. "I couldn't help myself." He stood and righted John before helping him to free his open-toed pump.
"It's ok," John smiled a little smile. "I liked it."
"Yeah?" Ed asked, surprised.
John shrugged and grinned, "Yeah. It was nice." It was nice, but he also felt... odd. The tingling he'd felt in his groin was different from when he'd been excited by a woman. He felt... small and safe and loved. It definitely had been 'nice.'
Ed smiled and they walked back to the front of the building, just as the three women exited the building.
"Bebe!" Annie called through her laughter as she ran to the railing. "Who am I?" She stood at attention and raised her arms straight out from her shoulders, then keeping her elbows bent at a perfect 90 degree angle. She held her forearms up at a right angle and sang, "Don't cry for me Argentina..."
John laughed, both because it was expected of him and because it was pretty funny.
They all moved towards the sidewalk that led to the girls' hotel, while John and the girls sang, "Take Me or Leave Me" from 'Rent' followed by "Waving Through A Window" from 'Dear Evan Hansen.' As they sang the last note of this some, they arrived at The Schooner Inn and Connie was standing on the balcony of their room,
simultaneously smiling and laughing at their joyful-ness and 'shhing' them to avoid waking the neighbors.
"I guess you guys had a good time, then?" She asked in a loud whisper.
"We had a great time, mom!" Annie shouted. "Bebe is the coolest girl I've ever met!"
"She knows all the songs we know!" Cassie chimed in, nearly drunk with enthusiasm.
"That's wonderful, girls. Now, come on in. It's getting late." Connie chided.
Each girl hugged John before thanking Ed and Rose. Then, as they headed into the door, they shouted back, "Bye, Bebe! I love you!"
John knew that it was just hyperbole, but he smiled, nonetheless.
On the walk back to the car, John's pumps got the better of him, so he pulled them off and walked barefoot on the sandy grass surrounding the parking lot. Now, being two inches shorter without his heels, and Rose, already two inches taller than him AND wearing VERY high heels, John found himself substantially smaller than either of his companions.
Rose threw her arm around his shoulders, emphasizing her superior height. "You had fun, didn't you?"
He nodded.
"Being a girl isn't so bad, is it?"
"No. I never had guy friends who knew all those songs before. They knew them backwards and forwards. It was fun singing with them."
Rose chuckled thinking about this guy, who'd been a very masculine guy just a few days ago, having so much fun pretending to be a female, high school freshman. It was adorable. He was adorable. His dress and hair and makeup and pearls and his walk and the way he played with his skirts - it was all adorable.
She continued to evaluate him as he sat in the back seat, looked out the window, sang along with the song on the satellite radio and his fingers continuously played with the material of his skirts. How could a man, a regular man, who was actually kind of handsome, in a boyish way, have so quickly been transformed into this little girl - completely indistinguishable from the fourteen year old girl he'd been playing with? It was miraculous! Plain and simple.
What would it be like to be with a man like this? To have a soft, feminine lover who she could dress up like a real, live doll, but who, somewhere under that dress and slip and hidden in those pretty panties, had a nice, rock hard penis. She imagined him in a frilly nightgown, shear and sexy, under her. His arms held down by her as she spread his legs and took him into her, devouring what manhood he had with her powerful, beautiful womanhood. That would be very different from the few sexual experiences she'd already had. Not a big, sweaty pig thrusting himself into her, but a sweet, little thing that she could take and claim as her own. Yes. Seeing John on his back, submitting to her - that would be bliss. Or on his knees, licking her, worshiping her, enthralled by her power and strength. Yes. That would be even better.
When they got back to John's family cottage, they parked the Tesla and Ed handed Rose the keys. "Good night, Rose. It was nice to be your boyfriend for the evening." He smiled.
"Good night, Ed," Rose smiled, too, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for the movie."
"My pleasure. I hope you liked it." Then he turned to John. "Good night, Bebe. I hope you had a good time, too."
"I had the best time!" John replied, still in his adolescent mode. "Thank you for everything, Ed." Then he kissed Ed's cheek, pulled back and stared into Ed's eyes for a moment too long.
'Hmm. What have we here?' Rose thought. The plot thickens.
Once Rose and John were inside and Ed had safely driven away, Rose said, "Your mom sent me a text. She's at a friend's house until midnight or so. I'm just going to take a quick shower. Then I'll help you get out of your dress and into a nightie."
John agreed and sat on a sofa to see what was on TV.
As Rose headed to the bathroom, she glanced into John's room and noticed that his mother had laid out his clothes for tomorrow. She looked back down the hall to be sure that John wasn't following her. When she was sure that the coast was clear, she entered his room and saw a little, yellow dress - a silk, yellow underdress covered by yellow, flowery lace with five black buttons from the neck to the high waist. There was black piping around the edges of the Peter Pan collar, as well as two, vertical parallel lines of piping straight down the bodice on either side of the buttons. The same pattern of two parallel lines, this time in a horizontal pattern around the edges of both, just slightly puffy sleeves and around the waist to form a belted-effect. The dress also had two pockets cut into the lacy outer dress. Each of these also has a line of piping sewn in at an angle to make the pockets obvious. It was a delicate, feminine, almost childish confection of a dress.
Suddenly, her excitement was back. There was no doubt about it. She was hot and bothered by this little girl with a grown man's penis and she'd have to do something about it at some point.
She also glanced at the open closet and saw that Marilyn had been a very busy shopper, indeed. Pretty lace and bright colors poured out of the closet. No pants. No shorts. No skirts. No blouses. Just dresses. Lots and lots and lots of dresses
While Rose showered, John thought about the dress he'd worn this evening and in which he was still, essentially trapped. This beautiful, enchanting piece of clothing. He felt so wonderful in it, as if it had been made specifically for him. It made him feel so nice. So pretty. So feminine. He could definitely live happily in clothes like this.
Fifteen minutes later, Rose returned to the big room wearing a pair of sleep shorts that resembled very short basketball shorts and a spaghetti-strap sleep top that gathered between her breasts and clung to her like a second skin.
John, who'd been watching an old episode of The Big Bang Theory, looked up and smiled at this vision of beauty. Her lean legs led to a pert rump that filled the shorts beautifully and the 'cups' of the sleep shirt contained her somewhat modest, but perfect breasts, who's nipples pressed hard against the flimsy material.
"Wow," John breathed, not meaning to make a sound.
"What?" Rose said. "You like this?"
"You look..." sexy seemed like the wrong thing to say, so he looked for a synonym, but came up empty, so settled on, "... amazing."
"Yeah? Thanks. Maybe, when you're a little older, you can get something like this for yourself, but, for now, I have a nightie for you." She smiled down at him, a little condescending, but more than that, seductive. She offered him a hand and helped him stand. "But for now, turn around and I'll unbutton you and get you out of the dress."
John turned, but instead of unbuttoning him, Rose ran her hands down his back, slowly, kissed the back of his neck and whispered in his ear. "This feels so nice, doesn't it, Bebe? So soft. So pretty. You like it, don't you, Bebe?"
John was more than a little shocked by Rose's attention, not to mention her aggression, but he nodded and tried to control his breathing.
"So, so pretty. So, so girly. You're just a girl, aren't you? Just a little girl and I'm your big, strong woman."
She ran her finger along the middle of the rear of his panties, toying with the opening. "Tell me that you like it."
"I like it," he shivered.
"How does it make you feel?"
"Pretty."
"Pretty, and..."
"...and desired."
She bit his earlobe where the pearl earrings had been installed. "Desired as a man..." she bit his neck,"... or as a girl.?"
"A girl."
"What kind of girl?"
"A pretty girl."
"What other kind of girl?"
He knew what she wanted him to say and when her tongue entered his ear, he closed his eyes and muttered, "A little girl. A pretty, little girl."
With that, Rose started pulling up his skirts by the handful until her hands reached the smooth, soft skin of his legs. From there, she found his silky panties and ran her hands over the lacy pattern as she thrust her own pelvis in his backside.
"That's what a little girl should feel like," she whispered in a husky voice. "Smooth. Soft and no ugly bulges in her panties." She thrust her hand under the gusset of his panties and grasped his swollen organ encased inside. "Come for me, Bianca. Come on. I know you want to. I can feel it growing. Lose all that nasty boy stuff you're trying to hold back. Let it go. Come for me, baby. Come for me."
He was delirious with excitement and when he came, the position of his organ held his orgasm at bay even longer and he shivered and shook as his knees collapsed and he ended up on his knees, panting and still spewing shots of cum into his previously virginal panties.
She considered taking this opportunity to teach him the finer points of cunnilingus, but he looked so helpless and little on the floor that she just wanted to have him remember this experience. How she brought him to his knees and gave him pleasure like he'd never known before.
Finally, he caught his breath and raised his eyes demurely to see Rose's smiling face. "Did you like that, baby girl?" She asked in a sing-song voice.
He nodded and smiled.
"Good. Now, let's get those wet panties off of you and get you into the shower. Look what I have for you to wear to bed." She held up a very pretty, soft pink, cotton nightie that had small, silk bands over the shoulders, a gathered bodice a loose skirt that was covered in little eyelets and ended in two rows of ruffles at the bottom. "Isn't it adorable?"
John kept his demure attitude as he nodded and smiled.
Rose offered him her hand and helped him to stand. "Ok. Now, let's get those wet panties into the hamper and I'll get you into the shower so that you can be in bed before your mommy gets home."
Her tone was sugary sweet and a bit condescending, but she had just given him something he had wanted for ages. If that's what it took to get a hand job from a goddess, then so be it!
When his buttons were unbuttoned and the dress and slip removed, John pulled his wet panties down his legs and off. He wondered if he should soak them or something, but Rose just dropped them into the hamper.
This time, John made no attempt to hide is tool from Rose, not after what had just happened.
Rose looked at him. A fit body, but not toned. Thin, but far from waif-like. The breasts blended perfect onto his body without a hint of seam, anywhere. Moving down to a flat belly and long, shapely legs, separated from each other by a respectably sized male organ. However, in its hairless state, it made him look very boyish down there.
"You're so pretty, she smiled and drew his hair behind his ears. You know what? I'm a pretty lucky woman to have a baby sister like you." John smiled, still worn from the evening's events.
By the time he was in the shower, John's Head was spinning. Ed had kissed him so sweetly and Rose had given him so much and he'd liked being 'just a girl' with Annie and Cassie.
What was happening?
Who was he?
Who was he becoming?
To Be Continued...
Kiss Me, Bianca - 3
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Author's Note: Once again, I adore your reviews and emails of encouragement. I am writing and editing as quickly as I can. Please let me know how you feel about this chapter, too!
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I am always willing to learn! ~Clara.
This version of Kiss Me Bianca: 3 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.
BUILDING A WARDROBE -or- KNOW'ST ME NOT BY MY CLOTHES? CONTINUED
"Good news, everyone," the Assistant Director stood in front of the cast and held up a text on his cell phone to show everyone, "the air conditioning will be back on tomorrow. I'm sorry for the heat today, but you all did a great job, regardless. Ms Weldon is giving notes to the other cast, but she'll be in to talk to you all as soon as she's done in there. Having said that, I have a few notes of my own..."
John, Rose and Gloria shared a bench in the parking lot. They'd all moved outside for notes due to the extreme temperatures in the rehearsal halls. The three of them were wearing just their smocks. The rest of the cast, all male, were in various degrees of undress, cooling off in the shade of the trees. Not for the first time, John envied them.
Typically, John was very attentive to notes, but the heat had really gotten to him today and, as a result, he was only half listening for his name. Until that happened, he was sitting next to Rose, who was in the center, trying to just get rid of the heat headache that was ringing in his head.
Lord, his bra was so damp! The Lycra seemed to not breathe at all. His chest could not sweat, of course, due to the breasts that were glued to it, but every other part of his body seemed to be making up for that. At Jan's insistence, he'd applied antiperspirant to his arm pits four time through the day. If it had helped, he couldn't tell.
"... and Kate and Bianca..." the Assistant Director said and John's eyes shot open, "Your last scene together," he put all of his fingertips together and kissed them in the manner of a cartooned Italian chef, "just perfect, girls. Bianca, your reaction to Kate's submission to her husband... it's just a perfect reflection of what the audience will be thinking. I love it ladies! Keep it up."
There was some supportive applause from the cast. John waved his appreciation and closed his eyes, again.
Finally, Ms Weldon arrived and she did not look happy, which surprised John, since everything seemed to be going very well.
"First of all, I want everyone's attention on me. I know it was hot, but that's life. I have a lot of notes and I expect that anything I criticize here today will be fixed tomorrow and remain fixed forever. Am I understood?"
They all indicated that she was.
"Good. First - the suitors..." she wasn't mean or brutal, but she was demanding and the three suitors were called to task on a lot of things - all of them small things, but all of them important.
"Petruchio..." same thing - lots of little things.
This went on for quite a while. Gloria was relieved to just get, "make your delivery and gestures bigger at that point. You're doing a great job, but that moment needs to be much bigger."
"Yes, ma'm. Thank you," Gloria relaxed.
She was nearly done and had said nothing about Bianca or Kate. John hoped that was a good thing.
"And Kate," John could feel Rose tense next to him, "in the end, do you actually 'love' Petruchio?"
"Yes, ma'am," she replied tentatively.
"Good. Then show it. What I saw was a woman who was - I don't know if respectful is the right word, but at least indulgent of her husband's nonsense and I saw some playfulness between you two, but I need to see actual, complete love between you two and, since Petruchio has to be this pompous character in that scene, it all falls down on you, sweetheart. Make me believe it. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am"
Rose smiled. That was pretty good, actually.
"And Bianca-" It was a cold and angry voice that had just said his character's name. John wanted to dig a hole and hide. "I don't know where to start." She sighed and shook her head.
"Sometimes," she went on, "a director overreaches and makes mistakes when casting a character. When you auditioned, I saw that you read for the role, say, this well." She held her hand at about breast height. "I'd hope that, after some work with an AD and a coach, that you might get this good." She held her hand at shoulder height. "But I was wrong about you, John, and I should have known better."
John was ready to cry. The whole cast was glancing at him with confusion. As she shook her head and looked at him with disgust, John just wanted to die. He'd never worked this hard or gone through so much for a role. What had he done wrong!?
"John, I am going to suggest that you consider leaving that fancy school up in Boston, because I'm not sure that they have ANYTHING that they could teach you."
Rose held his hand, surreptitiously, and she could feel him shaking.
"You do not belong on this stage, John and that is all there is to it."
There was a stunned silence through the cast. It was broken by Harry, "Ms Weldon, I think that I speak for the entire cast, when I say..."
"Let me finish what I have to say, Harry. Then you can speak."
She returned her harsh, judgmental stare to John. "I say this as a truth, John. You do not belong here. This cast of amazingly talented people, this staff with years of experience and truck loads of talent... John... they... and I... and we... are holding you back."
Suddenly everyone breathed again - just a little.
"John, if I expected you to get to here," she held her hand at shoulder height again, "you have blasted right past that and I cannot even reach the level or performance that I am seeing from you."
John was shaking nearly uncontrollably, now. The fear and shame he'd been feeling had gotten his emotions off balance and he couldn't quite put his head around what she was saying. He didn't even notice the tears falling down his face.
"I've been doing this for over thirty years, John," finally Ms Weldon was smiling, "and I have never seen anything like you! John... No... I think John is gone, forever... Bianca, on behalf of the cast and staff, thank you for elevating this production of this amazing piece to the level of true 'art.' Keep it up, young lady! Keep it up!"
The shaking had become so bad, that Rose held him as the cast rose and faced him with a huge ovation. His smile seemed incongruous considering the tears.
Each member of the cast gave him a peck on the cheek on the way by. John just sat on the bench with Rose until just them, Ed and Ms Weldon remained.
"I'm sorry I put you through that, darling," Ms Weldon rubbed his back, "I guess I didn't realize I'd upset you, this much. Do you forgive me? I was just having some fun."
John had gained control of himself by this time and he smiled as he fluttered his eyes in an attempt to free the remaining tears in his long eye lashes. "I'm sorry, Ms Weldon. I don't know what came over me. I honestly thought that I was about to not only be fired, but told to quit school."
"May I have a few moments with my young friend?" Ms Weldon asked. Ed and Rose nodded and walked away.
She sat beside him, the petite little guy in the lacy smock, and she looked him over. "John," she spoke earnestly and with some concern in her voice, "I was serious when I said you should leave school. I'm not saying that you should stop studying acting, but if you really want to perform, believe me, I know that you're ready to move onto a real stage or, possibly, into film or television. Honestly, with the number of television shows on networks and streaming services these days, someone with your talent could easily find work within a few weeks. You're a very talented young actor, John and you should not be locked up in some school in Boston. The work is in New York and L.A. That's where you should be. And, I know that you grew up in this theater, but it's time to leave the nest, honey."
John was flattered by her compliments, but they scared him, too. Leave!? That was something he'd considered in a couple of years, when he'd graduated. This was a lot to take in.
He nodded, but she could see he was concerned by what she said.
"I'll tell you, what," she rubbed his upper arm in a comforting manner, "I know a lot of people in the casting business. Would it be ok if I invited some to meet you?"
This is what he'd wanted his whole life, why would not want that, but the prospect of success scared him, too.
He gave her a tentative nod and said, "Thank you, Ms Weldon. That's very kind of you. I really, really appreciate your support."
She moved her hand to his face and cupped his cheek in her hand and, for the first time since he'd met her, she gave him a warm, almost maternal, smile and said, "It's my pleasure, sweetheart."
She worked his hair behind his ear and admired his face. "You know, John, I was afraid that you'd bock at this role, but you've really become Bianca. We all say that an actor 'becomes' the role, but its rare that an actor truly does. I know that you've been inflicted with a lot of alien depilatories, and cleansers, and makeup and heaven knows what else, but I cannot believe how extreme your transformation has been. Do you think you'll ever go back to being a boy?"
The question caught John off guard. "Well, yeah, of course I will," he sputtered. "I just did this for the role - you know that. I never even considered this before last Friday."
She nodded and continued to visually inspect his skin and eyes and hair. "Hmmm, if you say so, but, John, I've asked men to do similar things for my shows before, but I see something very different when I look at you."
She left that remark hanging in the air until John finally asked, "What? What do you see?"
"I see a girl, John. A young, beautiful, adolescent girl who enjoys her satin and silk and lace and makeup. I see a little girl who is, slowly, becoming a woman and who, even though she doesn't want to admit it, really... really......really enjoys it."
John's eyes were downcast in thought while Ms Weldon continued to adjust his hair, competing with the breeze to get it framing his face just so. She knew that she'd given him a lot to think about, but he looked so much like a child, so sweet and vulnerable, she had to just go a tiny bit further. "You do enjoy it, don't you, John?"
He paused for a moment, but then nodded. "I do, I guess."
She smiled and pet his cheek once more. "That's a good, girl. Now, go get changed and check the call sheet. I don't need either you or Rose until after lunch tomorrow. Get some rest and I'll see you then."
John stood and smiled at her and before he started back to the dressing room, he said, "Ms Weldon... why me? Why did you pick me for all of this?"
She stood, took his hand and walked him towards the building, his small hand in her larger one as she led him in his smock Looking to all the world like a grandmother leading her nightie-wearing granddaughter. "Because you showed me Bianca when I asked you to, John. And now that Bianca has been set free, I don't know if John will ever be the same, again."
Rose was driving today, Ed had to get home quickly today, so he'd taken his own car. John sat on the passenger side in the of the Tesla in the yellow dress with the black piping that had been laid out for him the night before, the one that had so excited Rose when she saw it. Rose was listening to some middle of the road pop music on an oldies station. ABBA's 'Take a Chance On Me' was playing its nearly-polka sound out of the speakers while John sang along quietly and looked out the window as they passed the public beach. It had gotten very warm in the last few days and today, in that oven of a rehearsal hall, the heat had gotten to him. He'd never minded the heat in the past, but the sheer number of garments he wore as Bianca made the high temperatures difficult to deal with. A quick swim would have been nice, but probably wasn't possible.
So, he was very surprised when Rose turned into the parking lot of the public beach.
"Where are we going?"
Rose had a Cheshire grin when she turned to speak to him. "You, young lady, have a play-date with Cassie and Annie."
John looked at the beach. Being the week prior to The Fourth of July, the crowds were not nearly as big as they'd be next weekend, but there were still lots people and he couldn't exactly wear a girls swimsuit without showing a bulge of some kind.
"Rose..."
"Uh, Uh, Uh," Rose waggled a finger at him, "Connie sent me a text earlier and I spoke to your mom. Everything is all set. Your mom bought you the perfect swimsuit and dropped it off."
"Rose! I'll show!"
"Trust me, little sister. Your mom and I are watching out for you."
He felt a familiar mix of excitement and fear rising in his belly.
"I don't know about this, Rose. What if someone sees my... you know..."
"Trust me, honey. You're in good hands." She pulled into a parking space and got out of the car. She opened the trunk, grabbing a plaid gym bag and locking her purse in. She took John's hand and headed towards the beach house.
"We'll use the handicapped stall. It's unisex and I can help you get into your suit."
John nodded as he scanned the beach, looking, specifically, at the crotches of women and girls. There was just no room for disguise there.
"Rose?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Why didn't you tell me about this? Why is everything a surprise all the time?"
"Because you wouldn't have wanted to come." She stopped and turned and faced him, putting her hand under his chin and raising it until he looked her in their eye. "Remember, Bebe, you are a fourteen year old child. Your mom and big sisters make decisions for you all the time. Connie text me without talking to the girls. This is a surprise for them, too. They don't even know you're coming."
She was right. John had not chosen his own food, clothes, agenda, bedtime or anything else since Monday morning. He looked and acted like Bianca and he was being treated like Bianca. A pretty, little thing who needed to have decisions made for her.
When they were in the changing room, which was approximately eight foot long and six foot wide, plenty of room for two people, Rose removed a bright, one piece swimsuit from the gym bag. It was a combination of many colors and lots of triangular shapes creating the pattern. The pattern changed color in bands. The breast area was a series of small, down-facing, pink triangle, separated by up facing white ones. The torso was comprised of a larger version of the pattern with the down-facing triangles in aqua and the up-facing in pink. At the hips, the pattern became smaller again and the triangles were a series of black and white shapes.
It was pretty, but the crotch... it was definitely not designed to contain a penis.
"I can't wear that," John looked at it.
"But wait," Rose teased. "There is a secret in this suit to help a girl like you who has her own secret to keep. Look."
She showed him the gusset of the suit where Jan had sewn in a small, stretchy pouch, creating a gaff that would hold all of his masculine assets in place for him.
"I'll help you," Rose smiled as she took off his dress and bra.
When she reached for his panties, John was a bit nervous. This was probably not the right time for a hard-on, but, you never knew...
Rose squatted down in front of him and pulled his panties down and tapped one foot and then the other to guide him as she pulled them past his feet. Then, she held open the swim suit. He stepped in and she pulled it up his legs. When she reached the tops of his legs, his organ was growing stiff. Rose gave it a well placed flick on the underside, causing John to let out a startled 'eek' followed by an immediate softening.
"Now, knock that off," she smiled up at him. "You're only thinking little-girly-thoughts this evening." In a fluid motion, she pulled the suit up tight to his crotch, then reached in and tucked his flaccid, traumatized manhood into the 'gaff' in the gusset, then pulled the suit up even higher causing an uncomfortable moment when, John had to assume, his testicles were forced into their cavities.
Rose stood and pulled the suit onto his shoulders adjusted it, quickly, around his breasts and arm pits.
"Look in the mirror, Bebe," Rose unbuttoned her blouse while she turned him towards the mirror.
The suit was appropriate for a girl of fourteen or fifteen and it made him look cute and, possibly just a little, sexy. Certainly, he would give a girl that looked like this a second look, but he would have turned away after seeing her age.
"Cute, huh?" Rose removed her yoga pants.
"Sure," John replied as he looked at the geometric pattern that spread across his modest breasts, down his flat stomach and even flatter lower abdomen and shaped the top of his leg, making them look round and feminine. His hips were a bit narrow, but he was supposed to just be a few years into female puberty, so he guessed that was appropriate. He twisted to see his rear end as well and sighed that it was not a round and firm as the ones he found so exciting as a guy. Oh, well. Maybe puberty would make that grow a bit more luscious, too... wait...
He turned to Rose to tell her how his thoughts were betraying him, but ALL of his thoughts disappeared when he saw Rose, naked and bent to retrieve her suit from the gym bag. His breath caught as he realized that this was what puberty actually did to little girls. Her rear end was smooth and round and perfect. Her skin was smooth and white and flawless. Her breasts were modest, but perfect and her nipples beautiful and inviting. If he'd been able to speak at all, he couldn't possibly have remembered what he'd wanted to say.
Rose stood and turned to see an adorable brunette-banged adolescent staring at her with her jaw hanging agog.
She giggled at the impact her body had on the little-girl-man in front of her. Honestly, had he wet himself, she would not have been shocked. "You like?" She asked playfully.
John's mouth moved, but nothing came out. His eyes wandered from her nipples to the neatly trimmed 'V' that led to her even more inviting sex.
She kissed his forehead. "Aww. You're so sweet," she pulled him into a hug, letting his head settle on her shoulder with those luscious breasts so very, very close to his lips. "Are you horny or envious, baby?"
John finally closed his eyes to catch his breath and find his voice. "A little of both, I guess," he whispered, "but I don't think that I could do much about being horny with my dick trapped in this thing."
"Oh, don't use such vulgar words," she teased, knowing full well that she was torturing him. "Say 'hoo-hoo,' or 'dinky.' That's it, say 'dinky.' I like that the best."
She released him and stepped back, stepping into the bottom part of her blue, two-piece suit, which barely covered her pubic hair. If anything, the job it did providing her modesty made the treasures contained within even more enticing to John. The top was an equally skimpy bra-style garment that had a narrow band of material that went around her neck in the style of a halter-top and fastened in the middle of her back. Again, the effect of the bra-thing was to make John's knowledge of the nipples beneath even more enticing.
"Let me take care of your hair, for you," Rose turned him away from her, again, and began brushing his hair. Her original plan had been to use a hair-tie to pull his hair up into a loose bun, more feminine than his typical boy-bun, but seeing him looking a little girlish, she changed her mind. When she'd finished with his hair, he had two, long pigtails, one on either side of his head. They weren't overly done in a fetishistic way, but just two, simple, pretty, young, feminine pigtails. What she liked the most about it was how they allowed his little, faux-pearl, stud earrings to be seen. That made her smile. He looked like a little girl trying to look like a grownup. How cute was that?
"One last thing." She produced a can of spray-on sun screen from the gym bag. "We'll both be in big trouble if we show up at rehearsal tomorrow with sunburns." She applied it liberally. So liberally in fact that John felt slimy.
Once their clothes were folded neatly and put back into the gym bag, Rose sent a text to Connie, who replied with her location on the sandy beach. "Alright, Bebe. This is a surprise for the girls. Remember, this is research for you, but also have some fun with them. Get into the experience, ok?"
He nodded and took her hand. As they stepped out onto the sand, John realized that this was the first time all week that he'd stepped out in public without wearing a dress and, although he could not complain about the comfort of the swimsuit, it felt so much like a second skin that he did, in fact, feel naked.
Within a moment or two, Rose saw Cassie and Annie running towards them. Both were wearing cute two piece suits that better displayed their more-developed femininity than a one-piece would have. "Here come your little friends," she whispered to John. "Go on, now. Have fun."
John waved and jogged over to them, feeling the shifting heft of his own, modest breasts as he did.
Annie reached him first and pulled him into a big hug. "Bebe! We didn't think we'd see you again before we left!"
Cassie joined the hug, "I'm so glad to see you!" Then she turned to Rose and said, "Can Bebe come with us? Mom gave us money for ice cream cones from the store across the street. Can she come with?"
"Ok," rose grinned at their enthusiasm, "but let me get some money for Bebe." She dug into her gym bag for a moment and pulled out a ten dollar bill. She handed it to John saying, "Go have fun, sweetie, but remember to bring me back the change."
'Hahaha,' John thought sarcastically, a little ticked at the remark, but on the other hand, an ice cream sounded pretty darned good, right now, so he replied, "Ok, sis. Thanks!"
As they headed off, Rose caught sight of Connie waving about sixty feet away. Rose waved and hurried across the hot sand to Connie. They said their hellos and gave each other a kiss on the cheek before sitting in a couple of chairs that Connie had waiting for them.
"I think my girls were pretty surprised when they saw your little sister, don't you?" Connie laughed. "I watched them slogging through the sand and then they were running like deer once they spotted you guys." She laughed at her own words.
Rose laughed, too. "They definitely were. They were like three puppies when they headed to the ice cream shop."
"I know. I wish they could stay young forever, though. I'm thinking that this may be our last vacation together if Cassie gets a job next year." She sighed.
"I know," Rose empathized, "but they'll always be your little girls, just like Bianca will always be my baby sister."
Connie smiled and pulled a small cooler forward. "Can I offer you a soda, or water, or iced tea?"
"Iced tea sounds perfect," Rose accepted the bottle, opened it and sipped while looking out at Narragansett Bay and engaging in some relaxed, beach conversation.
Typically, John enjoyed either chocolate or vanilla ice cream, occasionally a mix of both, but this ice cream parlor offered 'mix ins' and, as part of his research, he figured he'd do what Annie was doing and that involved getting some mix-ins. He ended up with cake batter ice cream with gummy bears mixed in. It was A LOT sweeter than his usual choice, but it tasted pretty darned good and seemed somehow appropriate.
As they walked back to the beach, John glanced at the girls. They were wearing substantially less than he was, but he felt absolutely naked. How did they do this. It was all just natural to them. He became determined to relax and try to be like them.
"Come on," Cassie said, pointing a little way down the street, "let's go watch those boys playing volleyball."
They hustled along, maneuvering their cones to keep the ice cream from dripping down their fingers, and quickly came to the boys. They sat on a short wooden knee-wall that separated the sand from the paved parking lot and watched the very tall, fit, very handsome, college-aged boys play their game with the typical aggression found in nineteen and twenty year old men. Even though John knew that Cassie and Annie were a different sex than him, as he looked at the young men, who were his age, playing their game, he thought, and not for the first time, that he could not possibly be the same gender as the Adonises.
"I'll take the red head with the black and yellow board shorts," Cassie teased.
"Not me," Annie drooled. "I'll take the one with the shaved head and scruffy beard wearing the blue Speedo."
"Really?" Cassie looked at her sister's choice. "He's not even that cute."
"Who cares about his face," Annie was already giggling nervously in anticipation of what she was about to say, "look at the size of the package he has in that banana hammock he's wearing!!!"
All three of them burst into fits laughter at this child's bawdy joke. John's hand shot to his mouth to keep the ice cream he'd been eating from coming out.
"Oh, you little tramp!" Cassie teased. "Bebe, I apologize for my sister. I didn't know she was so nasty!"
The laughter continued until they were all doubling over as they sat on the wooden wall.
"Hi," the voice broke into their hysteria and they realized that, while they were laughing, one of the college boys had come over to them. He was speaking directly to Cassie.
"Hi," she was still laughing.
John estimated the boy to be twenty or twenty one and, although not particularly handsome in the usual way, he had a very fit body and he had to be at least six foot two. "I saw you watching us. You girls like what you see." His tone was smug and demeaning.
This was getting crude pretty quickly, John's sense of chivalry began to kick in and his laughter ended quickly.
"We haven't seen much," Cassie said. "We just sat here to eat our ice cream." She wasn't happy with this boy's attitude, either.
"Come on," the boy was dismissive. "Why don't you girls come with us and we'll have some fun."
"Knock it off, doofus," Annie stood and pushed the boy as hard as she could. He barely noticed her. "Go back to your stupid game. Come on, Cassie. Let's go."
"Shut up, little girl," the boy gave her a sharp look, "I'm talking to this nice piece of tush, right here." Again, he turned to Cassie.
"Eww," Cassie uttered. "Let's go, girls."
John didn't know what to do. He could never take this guy in a fight, but things were escalating, quickly.
As Cassie turned to leave, the boy grabbed her arm, "Where you going, bitch. I'm talking to you."
John noticed the other boys were watching from the net. It looked as if they were waiting for the asshole who'd come over to either score or fail to pick up the three of them. This was not good.
"That's enough, asshole!" John heard the words coming out of his mouth, but he couldn't believe he'd said them. What the hell did he think he was doing!? It didn't matter. His mouth was saying more, "leave her alone. She's only sixteen."
"That's old enough for me!" He pulled her closer in a rough manner.
John had had enough and his need to protect the young woman took over. The little girl in the cute one-piece suit and pigtails with the little pearl earrings leapt into action. His arm cocked back and he intended to land a direct punch to the assailant's stomach, but he slipped in the sand and the punch landed low - very low - right in the boy's family jewels. And it landed pretty firmly, for a little girl.
The boy howled in shock and pain as John and Annie grabbed Cassie's hands and ran as fast as they could in the other direction.
The other boys were laughing hysterically, now! "Oh, man! Did you see that!?" One shouted. "The littlest one nailed him! The kid with the pigtails!"
"You little cunts!" The wounded boy yelled. "You'd better run!" He fell to his knees.
When they were clear of danger, Annie said, "Are you guys alright? We should tell a cop."
Now, John was REALLY scared! If they told the cops, then he'd have to give a statement - using his real name - in front of the girls! Connie would have him arrested in a heartbeat! He was shaking, hard.
"Bebe, are you ok?" Cassie asked, noticing.
"Yeah... I think..." His shaking became full blown shivering. His adrenaline was in overdrive and he was feeling faint.
Cassie grabbed him and threw her arm over his shoulder, leading him to another section of the low, wooden wall and sat him down. "Annie! Go get mom and Bebe's sister! Quick! Run!" Annie took off running full out towards where her mother was seated.
"Bebe... Bebe..." Cassie struggled to think of anything that might help her friend. "Breathe, Bebe. Come on. Take a deep breath and let it out. That's it, Bebe. Do it again. That's it. Calm down. Those dip-shit's are gone. Calm down."
Eventually, John gained control, again. This kind of thing was happening too often. He was loosing control of himself. It was very unmanly. He needed to get a handle on himself.
Suddenly, Rose was in front of him. "John, are you alright!?" Immediately, she realized what she'd said, but she hoped that Cassie hadn't noticed. "Bianca, sweetie, are you ok?"
"She's better, now," Cassie said. "She was really shaking hard, before."
Rose hugged him hard and that helped. A few moments later, when Annie and Connie arrived, out of breath, he was pretty much calmed down. Now, he was just embarrassed about losing control and concerned about getting the police involved.
"Is she ok?" Connie's voice was filled with concern.
"She will be, I think." Rose released her hug and smiled at him. "She was just shaken up. You're ok, now, aren't you, baby?"
John nodded.
"Those boys are long gone, now," Connie and Annie had gone to see if they were still there. Had they been, Connie had every intention of calling the police.
"Mom," Annie was overly stimulated, too, "you should have seen Bebe! She was like a super hero, you know!? That guy didn't stand a chance! Pow! Right in the nuts! She was awesome!"
"Annie!" Connie scolded, "watch your language, young lady!"
"Sorry, mom, but you should have seen her! Pow! Right in his soft spot!!!"
"Are you ok, now?" Cassie asked John.
He nodded. "I'm fine. Sorry to get everyone riled up."
"Oh, don't be silly, Bianca," Connie soothed. "You didn't do anything except what needed to be done. Without you, who knows what those boys would have done. Oh, well. I guess we should go pack up and get going."
"No, mom, no!" Annie pleaded. "Bebe just got here! We haven't had any time at all with her. Please, mom!"
"Yeah, mom," Cassie joined in. "We're going home tomorrow. Can't we spend a little more time at the beach. We can't let those assholes ruin everything."
"Cassie!" Connie was truly shocked. "You're as bad as your sister! Where did these potty mouths come from?"
"Can we talk for a moment?" Rose asked Connie. They stepped aside and chatted for less than a minute, then Rose said, "Ok, girls, this is what we're going to do. I'm going back to our cottage. I'll stop on the way and get something simple to make for dinner. Bebe, you can stay with your friends. I'll see you all at the cottage at around 7:00 and we'll have a farewell dinner together. How does that sound."
John was happy to stay at the beach, but concerned that Rose was leaving him. He decided that it didn't matter. He'd have a good time with these girls, who he really did like, and do a little research, too. It was all good.
Everyone was on board. Rose kissed John goodbye with a warning to not punch anyone else and she said goodbye.
Their ordeals forgotten, John joined Cassie and Annie as they ran to the water's edge. Still cool, this early in the season, they waded in to their waists and splashed about, raising on their toes to avoid having waves of cold, North Atlantic water splash on their sensitive breasts.
When they exited the water, they did that running, too. They ran to the swings near the beach house and jumped onto three, low seats and started swinging as high as they could, then they leapt off of the swings, flying through the air, briefly, before landing and holding up their arms like gymnasts before running back to the swings and doing it all again.
They ran to the dunes and watched the people flying kites in the ocean breeze, then they ran to large rocks that formed the breakwater at both ends of the long, sandy beach. They ran and they sang and they ran and they ran and they laughed and they ran and they ran and they ran. They expressed nothing but joy in their running and laughter and singing. They were, as Rose had described, like puppies and John enjoyed it all so much that he no longer thought of himself as anything other than a friend of these two wonderful girls.
Finally, they collapsed on blankets in front of Connie's chair and listened to show tunes using Cassie's phone and a Bluetooth speaker as the rest of the beach goers packed up and called it a day.
BRINGING HOME COMPANY -or- THAT IS MY HOME OF LOVE
When Rose arrived at the cottage with bags full of pasta and jarred sauce, she informed Marilyn of the company that was coming to the house at 7:00 - just over an hour from then. Before they began cooking, they set about making the room acceptable for their visitors. On a bookshelf, Marilyn kept two picture frames, one with Nancy's graduation picture and one with John's. Within the frame, there was also a print of the school portrait from each year that each child had been in school. It just took a moment for Marilyn to open the back of Nancy's picture, find her eight grade portrait and put that up front. It looked uncannily like John as Bianca. Rose grabbed her computer, downloaded a copy of her senior year picture from her Facebook page and printed it out in high quality and put it in John's frame. Now there were family pictures of both of them on display.
By 6:30, there was water boiling for the pasta, sauce, which Marilyn insisted upon doctoring a bit, warming and garlic bread ready to go into the oven. Lots of starch, but a hardy meal for all.
"Was it you that put his hair into braids and pigtails?" Marilyn asked as she peeked out the window and saw John in his swimsuit, getting out of Connie's car.
Rose peeked out, too, and smiled. "I did the pigtails. My guess is that the girls did the braids."
Marilyn shook her head. "Honest to God, Rose, I don't know where this will all end." She smiled, "But I do like having a little girl around, again."
Marilyn moved to the door to welcome everyone. Just before she swung the door open though, she turned to Rose one last time and said, "I have to admit, I didn't think it was possible for my son to be so damned adorable." Then she opened the door and called out, "Hi! You must be Connie! I'm Marilyn. I've heard so much about you and your girls."
Dinner was filling and filled with the noise of young, excited voices. Both Marilyn and Rose noticed that John had become more naturally young and expressive with these girls. His laughter was big and unguarded, now. He joked with them and sang songs at the spur of the moment. As he sat at the table, still in his swim suit, covered with just a flowered tee shirt provided by Rose, and daintily devoured his pasta, he was indistinguishable from any other female high school freshman. If he'd needed to excuse himself to change his tampon, neither his mother nor Rose would have been surprised.
After dinner, 'the girls' went into the big room and watched 'Mean Girls' on dvd. Nancy had loved that movie when it came out, so John was very familiar with it. The girls knew it, too, and they all knew the songs from the Broadway musical version of it. So, when the moment came in the film when they'd inserted a song for the musical version, of course, they all sang along at the top of their lungs and acted out the songs as they imagined it would have been done on Broadway.
Marilyn and Connie washed up after dinner, while Rose excused herself to take a phone call.
"My girls are nuts about Bebe," Connie said as she loaded the dish washer. "Running into Rose and her boyfriend last night turned their mediocre trip into one of the best vacations they've ever had. I wish that they could stay in touch. You know, Worcester and Manchester are not all that far away. Maybe we could get them together from time to time."
Marilyn considered saying 'that's a great idea' and making John spend some weekends as Bianca just because he was putting her through so much this summer, but, instead, she said, "Oh, I'd like that, but I'm not sure if Bebe will be home a lot. I'm considering several boarding schools in The Berkshires for her high school years. But, let's keep in touch and see how things work out." She hoped that would get John off the hook without sounding suspicious.
"Really!?" Connie wiped her hands. "What schools are you
considering? I could never afford something like that, of course, but, how exciting!"
"Ummm..." Marilyn sputtered a bit, but she was saved when Rose reentered the room.
"Mom, can I see you in my room for a moment?"
Once she'd done all she could do in the kitchen, Connie joined the 'girls' in the big room. By now, the movie was off and they were using karaoke tracks from the internet to sing more Broadway show tunes. "It's getting late, ladies," she said in a classic 'mom voice.' "It's nearly 10:30. We need to leave here in about fifteen minutes."
"Aww, mom, come on!" Annie pleaded.
"I'm sorry, baby. I wish we'd met Bebe earlier in the week, but we didn't and that's that. We have packing to do before we go to bed. Fifteen minutes. End of story."
"Ok," Cassie said. "We have fifteen minutes, so let's each do our best solos for mom and then we'll do 'Seasons of Love' all together. Ok?"
They all agreed. They used the 'Smart TV' to call up Karaoke tracks on YouTube and performed. At first Connie was the only audience, but before Cassie had finished her rendition of 'What I Did For Love,' Rose and Marilyn had taken seats on a couch as well.
Annie followed up with her interpretation of 'On My Own' and John closed out the solos with 'There's A Fine, Fine Line,' singing in such a natural female range that both Rose and Marilyn were even more impressed that they were able to show.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you," Cassie acted as the Mistress of Ceremonies. "And for our final number, we shall be singing 'Seasons of Love,' from the Broadway smash, 'Rent.'"
As they started singing, Annie stood next to John and rested her head on his his as she sang. Soon Cassie was doing the same.
They'd obviously rehearsed this song earlier in the evening because they knew the two and three part harmony sections beautifully. By the time they were done, Cassie and Annie had ran running down their cheeks. When he realized that they were crying because they had to say goodbye - probably forever - John felt a few tears falling, too.
They all hugged, said their goodbyes and Rose, Marilyn and John waved from the door as the car pulled away.
"Well, young lady," Marilyn smiled at her petite son, "I don't think you were even acting, tonight. I think you had a great time with those girls, didn't you?"
John had a big smile on his face. "I did, mom. I had a great time. I wish that I had friends my age that were as much fun."
Marilyn laughed. He looked so young and bright eyed and, well, with the swim suit peeking out from under that adorable, flowered tee shirt, and the braided pigtails, he was just as cute as can be.
Marilyn hugged him. She'd always been taller than him, but he usually had some type of shoe on his feet. Now, with her in her comfortable wedges and John barefooted, his head nestled so nicely on her breast. That was nice. She missed having someone to baby like this. "Ok, now, I want you to go to the bathroom, give your face a good washing, then put on your yellow nightie, it's under your pillow, and climb into bed. Leave the braids in for tonight. You'll have time to shower in the morning and I can do your hair, then. Hurry, now. Rose and I will be in in a few minutes. We have something to discuss.
John didn't question it, he just scurried off to the bathroom.
"I hope he's ready for this," Marilyn huffed.
"Me too," Rose sighed. "It's his own damned fault, though. If he weren't so talented, he wouldn't be in this mess."
After his face was scrubbed, John hustled into his bedroom. He took off the tee shirt Rose had loaned him. As he pulled it over his head, he inhaled her wonderful vanilla and floral perfume. He pulled the shirt off, then held it to his nose and inhaled the scent again and again. It smelled like her. Like beauty and strength and confidence. It was a glorious smell. Today, he'd seen her naked for the first time and he knew that there was nothing unnatural about her appearance - no prosthetics, no padded bra, no tucking. She was beautiful and perfect and so wonderfully grownup.
He turned to look at himself in the mirror on the back of the door to his bedroom. There he was. Small. Slender. Feminine. Young. The bangs. The braids. The cleanly washed face. The pretty cheeks. The smooth skin. The tiny, pretty, one piece swim suit. He knew that Rose had feelings for him, but what kind of feelings? Was he a potential boyfriend? Or just a friend? Or a little sister? Or just a pretty doll to play with? He knew he wanted to be with her, but he wasn't even sure what he wanted anymore. Part of him wanted to take her to bed and make her moan as he entered her, but another part of him was perfectly content to just be beside her. To hold her hand. Let her brush his hair and buy him dresses and earrings and bows for his hair. He was so confused.
He pulled the swimsuit from his shoulders and rolled it down his torso, pausing before removing it to gaze, yet again, at the perfect, female smoothness of his crotch. He'd always loved the look of that one perfect spot on a girl wearing a swimsuit. That spot that said, 'I am a girl.' He had that, now, too.
He continued the suit's descent and eventually something popped free and hung limp, flaccid and ugly on his hairless abdomen. He'd never considered being a boy - or a man - much before. It was what he was. There was no changing that, so why think about it. Sure, he knew that other guys were bigger and stronger and hairier; so what. He was a guy, too. Just smaller.
Now, though, his sex organ looked wrong and ugly and more fake than these new, modest breasts glued to his chest. He looked more closely at the breasts. They looked real and natural and he liked them more than his penis.
What would it be like to be a women - or maybe just a girl? Except for that one encounter with the creeps on the beach, he really liked how people treated him when he was a girl. They praised his beauty. They praised his clothes. They watched out for him and took care of him. It was very different and he really liked it. He felt less strain as a girl. He laughed more easily and cried more easily. He smiled more broadly and let himself be loved more easily. His mother had just hugged him like she'd never hugged him before and he accepted that hug more willingly and appreciatively than he ever could have before.
He had always been fine with being John, but he was beginning to adore being Bianca. Ms Weldon was right - How could he ever go back? Rose was right - part of him envied her body and wanted to look just like her. The strangest thing though was how much he envied the youth and happiness he'd felt with Annie and Cassie. He couldn't remember ever having that much fun before. Sadly, he realized that he wished, more than anything, right now, at this moment, that he could start his life over again and this time he wanted to be Bianca - for real. To be a real fourteen year old girl who was excited about everything - especially the prospect of being a beautiful woman someday.
His eyes returned to his limp, flaccid, ugly penis.
No. It was no use. He was what he was. He caught the sadness rising in his throat. He shook his head as he walked away from the mirror and pulled another, clean, brightly colored, pretty, little nightie from under his pillow. It was so cute that he could only smile sadly at it. Oh, well. Might as well enjoy these wonderful, feminine things while he could. He'd been happy being Bianca at rehearsal and Bebe at the beach and at home with the girls. All in all, even with the broken air conditioner and the jackasses at the beach, it had been a pretty great day. He held the nightie up to himself and looked at the mirror once more. He loved it. He loved his pretty braids and his pearl earrings. He was done thinking for today. He thought back to a book he'd read in high school and he decided that he was going to follow Daisy Buchanan's advice and be 'a beautiful little fool' and enjoy every minute of girlhood that the world would allow him.
At 11:30, John was sitting up in his bed. The pretty, yellow nightie his mother had left for him was another sleep-romper. This time, the top was very bloused out and just two, very narrow, spaghetti straps held the top to his shoulders.
Rose entered the room first and passed the bed to sit on the far side. Marilyn sat on the side closest to the door.
Each took a hand and looked at him as they searched for words. After such a fun day and his recent soul searching, their serious gazes made him wary. Had John had a pet dog, these faces would be what he would have expected if the needed to tell him that the dog had been hit by a car.
"Listen, baby," Marilyn started, "ummm, Rosie got a call earlier and... well... Ms Weldon says..." she was stuck. "Rosie?" She gave the younger woman an opportunity to speak.
"Ok, now, listen, Ms Weldon called," John was immediately concerned, "and she got you an audition for a new drama/comedy one hour show in LA."
John's eyes were wide open with interest. "Holy cow! When?"
"Well," she continued, "that's kind of the issue. See, they already shot the pilot and ABC has picked it up. They're adding a family aspect to the main character's story line. You'll be auditioning for the oldest son. He's supposed to be sixteen."
Almost shocked that it was a role for a boy, John asked, "When?"
"Well, that's the thing," Marilyn said. "It's Saturday morning. You'll have to take a late flight tomorrow evening and then take another back on Saturday evening."
"Wow!" John was very excited, now. "Mom, I'm sorry to ask this, but is there anyway that I could borrow the money for the flights until I start getting paid, next week?"
"The flight's not an issue, dear. Ms Weldon says that the production company is putting up all the money for a flight, a car service in LA... that's not an issue. The issue is, honey... well... Ms Weldon says that you're going to have to... well... go as Bianca."
"What!?!?" Yes, he loved being Bianca, but he also wanted to pursue his dream of being an actor. How could he look like a fourteen year old girl and audition for the role of a sixteen year old boy?
Rose jumped in, "Don't worry, honey. Ms Weldon already told the casting director that you're in prosthetics for the play. They've seen your headshot and they know what you look like. They're fine with it. You'll do great! I know you will!"
"Ok," John looked from one woman to the other. "Will either of you be coming with me? I mean, what about the airport? Security? TSA? How do I get through that?"
"No, baby, you'll be going alone. You show them your license and explain that you're transitioning, sweetie," Marilyn said.
"According to Ms Weldon, people do it everyday. Just calm down, honey. You know that this is what you want. Just imagine, years from now, when you're a famous star, you can tell the story of the adventure you had getting from Hyannis to LA for your first audition."
NO RISK, NO REWARD -or- WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE, BUT NOT WHAT WE MAY BE
The sun was rising over the ocean before John got any sleep that night. Luckily, he wasn't called in for rehearsal until afternoon, so he got a good three hours of rest before getting up. Marilyn had laid out a comfortable dress for him to wear both for the rehearsal and for the flight. She'd also packed a pair of new yoga pants and a yellow polo shirt for him to wear at the audition. It wasn't exactly a macho look, but time was short.
His mother did his hair and had him do his makeup to be sure he knew the basics. She touched it up for him and told him to just do a simple reconstruction job before his audition.
The plan, which, of course, John had had no say in, was to have Rose drive him to T.F. Green Airport outside of Providence, R.I. It was an easier ride than Logan in Boston. He'd fly to L.A. where a car would meet him and take him to the home of a friend of Ms Weldon's. He'd have a few hours to rest, shower and have breakfast before the car took him to the audition at 11:00. After that, it was straight back to the airport where his mother would meet him and drive him home. Q.E.D.
The only problem was - he looked like a child and he'd be all by himself.
He was petrified and the audition was the least of his worries.
They ran the entire play one time on Friday afternoon. John felt tired and out of the zone for Bianca's first few lines, but by the time they'd turned two pages in the script, he was back to being his own, impetuous, spoilt, flirtatious, Bianca self and his concerns about the trip and audition were closed off and put on hold for the time being.
"John," Ms Weldon said to him in her office before he left for the day, "This is just the first of many, many auditions before you land an actual job. Please, don't get your hopes up too high. Just do your best, answer their questions, take their direction and thank them when you're done. The chances of lightning striking on your first audition are astronomical, so don't expect too much."
"Will they tell me if I get the role or not before I leave?"
"Probably not. The casting director usually sends videos of their selections along to actual director. They make the final decision."
The traffic was heavy, but not ridiculous at TF Green. Rose pulled up the the Southwest Airline door and handed John a small shoulder purse that she'd prepared for him.
"You're going to do great, Bebe," she said with a smile. She took his left hand in her right, lifted it to her lips and gave it a soft kiss. "Show them what you can do."
John nodded and gave a sad smile. "I almost wish Bebe were doing this audition instead of John. At least I'd look right."
She hugged him and said, "We're all pulling for you. We love you, Beebs."
"Thanks," and he opened the door, but didn't put his foot out. "Remember in Jaws when Richard Dreyfus was about to go down in the shark cage and he was just staring at his goggles? They asked him what was wrong and he said, "I don't have any spit."
"I remember, honey. Why?"
"Because I don't have any spit, either," he said with tears fighting to fall from his eyes before pushing himself out of the Tesla, grabbing his carry-on from the back seat and running to the airport door. When he stopped, just inside, to wave, Rose's heart nearly broke. He was petrified and alone and, despite what the calendar said, he'd become such a little girl.
She wanted to run after him and bring him home to his mother, but the 'whoop' from a Rhode Island State Trooper's siren in the car behind her told her that her time was up and she needed to leave and leave now.
TSA barely noticed that he looked nothing like his ID and in no time at all. He was sitting in the aisle seat in the fifth row from the front of the plane. There was an unoccupied seat in the middle of his section and a very pretty woman of about forty-five sat in the window seat. John and she acknowledged each other, then the plane took off and John closed his eyes.
He was awoken five hours into their seven and a half hour flight when they had to land in Phoenix and take on more passengers.
"Feel better?" the lady two seats over laughed.
John shook the sleep from his head. "I beg your pardon?"
"After your nap?" The lady asked. "Feel any better?"
In fact he did, so he smiled and nodded.
"You were really zonked out. You were snoring like a truck driver."
John's hand covered his mouth and he smiled, embarrassed. "Oh, I'm so sorry."
"Oh, don't be silly. Where are you headed, honey?"
"I'm going to LA, but I'm going home again, tomorrow."
"Tomorrow!?" She guffawed. "Wow, that's rough. Why are you headed back so quickly?"
"I'm just here for an audition. Then, I have to get back to The Cape. I'm in a play. It opens next Friday, so I have to be back and rested for rehearsal on Monday."
The woman became very interested in his story and was amazed that a child his age would be traveling all alone like this.
"Your mom and dad are ok with this?"
"My Dad is... well, you know... not in the picture, and my mom supports what I want to do. The production company only bought us one ticket, so mom had no choice but to let me come on my own."
When the plan landed, the woman gave John her card. It read 'Rita Gonzales, Talent Agent.' Listen, Bianca," she was being very serious and maternal, "if you need anything - anything at all - while you're out here, I want to to call me, ok? I know that you and your mom worked out a plan and all, but plans sometimes fall apart and I don't want a naïve fourteen year old child to get hurt or worse out here. Do you have any luggage?"
"No ma'am," John put the card in his purse. "Just my carryon."
"Good. Me too. I want you to stay with me until we find your driver, ok?"
That sounded good to John since the only airports he'd ever been in were Logan in Boston, TF Green in Providence and Orlando
International when he'd gone to Disney World. He was very grateful for a well traveled guide through LAX.
They maneuvered their way to the entrance where there were several people dressed in dark suits holding signs with the names of the people they'd been sent to pick up. To John's horror, he spotted a man holding up his name, "John Foley."
"I don't see anyone here for you, Bianca. Are you sure they were sending a car?"
What to do? What to do? He thought about saying he needed to use the ladies room and telling her to just go on without him, but he knew that wouldn't work. She would insist on waiting for him. So, as scary as it was, he opted to tell the truth.
"Ms Gonzales..."
"Rita, dear. I wish your driver was here."
"Well... Rita... he kind of is. That man with the red sign. He's here for me."
She glanced at the sign. "Oh, don't be silly. He's here for a John..."
She stopped and looked at John.
"I'm sorry," John whispered. "It was just easier than telling the truth."
He eyes widen and she grinned, "You're kidding me. I never would have known. Tell me, how old are you? Sixteen? Seventeen?"
"Twenty," he said, confused by her reaction.
"Oh, good lord! You're amazing!"
She looked at the driver and asked, "Is your audition for Jim Sheldon at ABC?"
John nodded. "How did you know?"
"He always uses that car service. Where are you staying?"
John showed her the address. "A friend of the director of the play I'm in."
"Who's the director?"
"Ms Weldon..."
"Ms Weldon!? Maureen Weldon set this all up for you!?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Oh, my God!" Rita laughed. "You have Maureen Weldon, one of the most important director's alive, setting up an audition for you with Jim Sheldon, one of the best casting directors in California... Bianca, you must be one helluva commodity to have these big wigs interested in you. Do you have representation?"
He shook his head.
"Well, you do now. I live very near that address. Give me a ride home and I'll go to the audition with you in the morning. If you like what I do for you, then we'll work out a deal. If not, I'll buy you lunch at the airport before your flight. Deal?"
John had heard that it was very difficult to find an agent and this one seemed to know what she was talking about. "Ok," he said and they stepped over to the chauffeur and then moved on to the town car.
As they sat in the back seat, Rita asked, "What role are you playing for Maureen?" but before John could answer she interrupted, "Oh, don't tell me you're playing Bianca in Shrew?"
John nodded and smiled.
"Oh, good lord!" She laughed out loud. "Maureen Weldon is either brilliant or insane - or maybe a little of both!"
When the car arrived at the apartment complex where Ms Weldon's friend lived, the driver pulled out a key and explained that the 'friend' was out of town and John was to just let himself in, but Rita would not hear of that. "Imagine - letting a fourteen year old child stay on her own in LA! You'll stay with me for the night." She gave the driver her address and he proceeded to her condo.
"I'm not really fourteen, Rita," John mumbled, afraid the driver would hear.
"Well you know that and I know that, but do you suppose that the sex maniac watching for a vulnerable, pretty child knows that? Of course not and you'll have a hard time explaining it to him while he raping you."
That seemed very harsh to John, but she had made her point.
Rita's condo was nicer than John had expected. The Spanish stucco on the exterior of all the units looked and felt correct for John's image of Southern California. On the inside, the open floor plan, subtle colors and shiny appliances spoke of a successful owner with an eye for the most recent trends.
"My husband is in Asia for a month, so it's just us for tonight. The guest room is through there. It has an attached lavatory, so make yourself at home and get some rest." She rubbed his upper arm reassuringly. "You'll do fine, tomorrow. You'll see. How could you not? You have Maureen Weldon and me in your corner! Sleep well."
When he'd changed into a comfortable nightie and brushed his teeth, John laid in the most comfortable bed he'd ever felt and sent texts to his mother, Rose, Ms Weldon and Ed telling them that he'd landed safely and was safely in bed. He was just too tired to explain about Rita. He turned on a white noise generator on his phone and immediately fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
Once Rita was in her silk pajamas, she sat on her bed and wrote a text:
RITA: Hi, Maureen. Long time, no see. Funny story. I just flew from Providence to LAX and, long story short, I have a pretty little girl staying with me tonight before her big audition tomorrow. Small world, huh?
Moments later, a text came back:
MS WELDON: Rita, it is a small world. Are you interested in representing him? No nonsense, now. He's a very special kid. He's got a big future ahead of him.
RITA: No nonsense is right. I like what I've seen so far. He had me fooled till he had no choice but to tell me. Too tired to talk now. I'll call you at 6:30 my time. We'll chat. You can tell me how you made him so cute.
Moments later, John received a text:
MS WELDON: I hear you met Rita Gonzales. She knows her stuff, but be careful of her. She's known for taking advantage of young actors. Follow the game plan and get your butt back to Hyannis ASAP!
PREPARING FOR THE AUDITION -or- COME, SIT, EVERY MOTHER'S SON AND REHEARSE YOUR PARTS
John pulled on the yoga pants, the first pants he'd worn in five days, slipped on the black flats his mother had provided and pulled the yellow polo shirt over his head. He'd brushed his hair, but it was wavier than usual because he did not have a flat iron with him. He felt he'd done an admirable job on his makeup.
He stepped back from the bureau-mirror and looked at himself. He thought he looked too casual and way too female to be auditioning for the role of a boy. He'd never get it, but that wasn't the point, was it? It would still be a learning experience.
When he opened the door and ventured into Rita's apartment, he could hear voices. As he entered the kitchen and the open area beyond, he spotted Rita, dressed more expensively than he'd ever seen anyone dress before, in a tight fitting dress that stopped at least eight inches above her knees and clung to every curve of her body. Her makeup and hair looked as if a stylist had just walked out of the room.
She was sipping coffee while an iPhone laid face up on the table. There was a voice coming out of the phone. "Just be sure that he looks presentable and that you have him there at lease a half hour before his audition time."
"Maureen, sweetie," Rita's voice was exaggerated and cloying. "You have nothing to worry about. Rita is here! She'll take care of everything." She noticed John entering and continued speaking to the person on the phone, "Oh, and here's your little protégé, now."
To John she said, "Say 'hi' to Auntie Maureen, sweetie."
Rita was obviously in 'schmooze' mode. John opted to not comment on that, but instead spoke to the phone. "Hi, Ms Weldon."
"Good morning, John. How are you feeling. Are you all set?"
"Yes, ma'am, I think I am."
"No, you're not," Rita interrupted, slapping a pile of papers on the table.
"What's this?" John asked.
"Well," Rita gloated, "it seems that the miraculous Ms Weldon isn't the only one with connections. These are the sides you'll be reading from."
The sides were scripts with limited sections viewable. Typically, it gave just the character's lines and the line that preceded it. These had a little more than that, but not much. It did have several character outlines, as well.
"Holy cow!" John grabbed the papers and read:
CHARACTER NAME: Matt
SEX: Male
AGE: 17
OCCUPATION: Student. High School Senior
SYNOPSIS: Very Smart. Good student. Not athletic, but not a nerd, either. Very motivated. Very artistic. Stands up for himself and his younger brother, Alex.
Ms Weldon's voice came from the phone, "Rita really came through for you, John. Don't squander this extra information. Read the
descriptions and lines for each of the children. You never know what they may ask you to do."
"Yes, ma'am," John nodded as if she could see him.
"Now, John," her voice was similar to that of a teacher, "no matter what happens, sign NOTHING until Rita and I have had time to review everything. Understood?"
"Understood." He confirmed.
"Good. How does he look, Rita?"
"Like an unmade bed, honestly. Did you approve this ensemble? Yoga pants and a cheap, pull- over shirt?
"Yes, Rita. I wanted him to look as babyish as possible. He can't take off the breasts for weeks, yet. You don't approve?"
"I certainly do not," Rita scoffed. "They know he's a boy. I'd rather he look his best - with the breasts, obviously, I mean as a girl - than this Walmart getup."
"Ok. I'll leave that to you. John, do whatever Rita suggests. You should get going, ladies. John, break a leg! Don't get your hopes too high, but show the confidence you showed me."
"I will, Ms Weldon. Thank you."
"Bye, Bye, Maureen. We'll talk soon."
She turned to John. "What else do you have to wear?"
"Just this and what I wore yesterday."
"Seriously!? Well, that's the first thing I've heard you say that didn't sound like a girl. Any girl flying three thousand miles to an audition would have brought at least a few choices. Come on. I'll buy you a muffin on the way. We have some shopping to do."
As they drove, John read and reread the sides, mumbling the lines with different inflections.
"Look at the younger brother's lines, too, John. They may ask you to read for that role, too."
"Yes, ma'am."
He read:
CHARACTER NAME: Alex
SEX: Male
AGE: 13-14
OCCUPATION: Student. High School/Middle School
SYNOPSIS: Very Smart, but held back by shyness. Not a leader, but not a follower, either. Always tries to do the right thing. Likes to cook.
"I doubt that I could pass for someone this young on TV, Rita," John laughed. "From the stage, sure, but up close? I don't think so."
"You sure fooled me, John, but it doesn't matter. These are just outlines. They may like an actor and change the age. Just be ready for both."
When the car stopped, they were in front of a store called, simply, 'Frocks.' It was clearly a high end shop.
"Rita," John looked at the window and knew that he couldn't afford anything in there, "I cant afford..."
"Hush, Bianca," she smiled and took his hand. "I'm pretty sure that I'll be able to get the money back from you soon. If I'm wrong, then you get a free dress. Come on. Let's go."
As they entered, Ms Weldon called out, "Bonjour, Paulette! C'est moi! Rita!"
A beautiful woman, who stood at least five foot ten inches tall, materialized from the racks. Her French accent seemed put on and theatrical to John. "Bonjour, Madame Rita!" They made a show of air-kissing each other's cheeks. "Oh, is this the little garçon you told me about?" She jerked John forward and appraised his figure. "Small hips, modest breasts, pretty face... I have just the thing! Go take off your clothes, Cheri."
Rita pointed John to the dressing rooms where he disrobed and waited. He heard Paulette return to the sales floor and heard Rita say, "Oh, Paulette, that's perfect! It'll make an impact without being ostentatious."
Suddenly, the door burst open and Rita entered with the dress. John didn't even catch a glimpse of it, before Rita turned him toward the mirror and said, "Oh, what a body you have! I wish I was young again, but you probably see me as an old lady, don't you?"
Remembering Ms Weldon's warning, John searched for a noncommittal response. "You're a very beautiful woman, Rita. Honestly, if I were interested in women..."
She laughed. "Don't lie to me, little girl. You love women and I would love to take you right here, right now, but... tick, tock..." John blushed, both flattered and a bit scared.
Rita opened a small bag and handed him a very sheer, nylon stocking. Not only had he never worn anything like it before, he'd never even seen anything like it before. His mom wore pantyhose to work, of course and his sister used to leave the bathroom full of hers when she lived at home, but this was just a single, nude toned leg with a wide silicone band of lace at the top.
He stared at it for a moment, not knowing how to begin to wear it.
"Seriously," Rita said, just a bit frustrated and just a bit amused, you don't know how to put on stockings? How long have you been a girl, anyway?"
"Six days, or so."
Her eyes bulged. "Six days?" Was that even possible?
She rolled the nylon stocking correctly and knelt in front of him. "Lean against the wall and put your foot on my knee. I'll put them on you."
He did as instructed and Rita ran the silky material, slowly, up his smooth, slender leg, rolling and smoothing the stocking to within inches of his manhood, limp with nervousness and trapped in the gusset of his black, lace covered panties.
Sensing his nervousness, Rita smiled and lingered longer than she needed. She ran a finger around the inside of the top of the silicone band that topped the stocking. "You have such slender legs, Bianca." She raised her hand and gave a brief, gentle pat to the silk, lace paneled front of his panties. "And they'll never be ruined by pregnancy or menopause. Aren't you a lucky girl?"
She took the other stocking, rolled it correctly and brought it up his other leg. She took an abnormal amount of time with her ministrations, caressing, rather than smoothing, the stockings onto his legs.
When she'd finished, she stood, turned him away from her and slipped the lined dress smoothly over his head. It fell neatly in place and it felt so nice that he knew, before seeing it, that he'd love it.
It was, essentially a sheath dress with a narrow skirt, the hint of a slender waist and a top that sat comfortably on his limited curves. It had a white background with large, blue flowers printed here and there about the dress. There was a slit-neck that revealed very little, but had black piping starting at the waist line and traveling up and around the neck, creating the illusion of a plunging neckline. It had scalloped, cap sleeves that also had piping following the pattern of the scallops. It was very pretty, mature-yet-young, and fitted his body just perfectly.
"Perfect, don't you think?" Rita asked.
John nodded. It probably wasn't perfect for the occasion - i.e. auditioning for a male role, but Ms Weldon said to do what Rita said. Besides, he'd auditioned for Ms Weldon dressed as a guy and now, we'll, now... here he was trying on yet another dress...
"Good. Now, leave your clothes, Paulette can burn them for us. Let's go grab a pair of shoes and a purse."
Fifteen minutes after entering the store, John and Rita exited. Instead of the 'Walmart' look he'd had going in, John looked like a model. The perfect little dress set off by a pair of black, pointed toed, kitten heeled shoes and a small, black clutch purse. "Ok, Juan," Rita called to the driver, "get us to the audition, please."
They pulled up to the front of the office building and Rita gave Juan a few instructions regarding when they'd be out and where he should wait. Then, she put her arm around John's shoulder and led him into the building. "Let me do the talking - you can do the acting, ok? Now, I'm going to encourage them to let you read for both parts. I agree that you may be a little too old for the younger brother, but if they let you read for it, do it as well as you can. Ok?"
Rita spoke nonstop from the street, into the lobby, into the elevator, up sixteen flights, out the door of the elevator, down the hall and into the casting director's office.
"Rita Gonzales to see Jim Sheldon," she said to the receptionist.
"Umm, I'm sorry, Ms Gonzales, but I don't have you scheduled..." the poor girl stuttered. She'd encountered Rita before and didn't want to upset her."
"Oh, I'm sorry... Rita Gonzales and John Foley to see Jim Sheldon."
The receptionist was relieved when she saw John's name on her clipboard, but when she looked at Rita and John, she was confused. "Is Mr Foley with you?"
"Don't be impertinent," Rita scoffed. "This is Mr Foley."
The receptionist looked at her list again and shrugged. She'd seen stranger than this, that was for sure. "Please take a seat. Mr Sheldon will be with you very soon."
Ten minutes crawled by. Then twenty. Then an hour. John's leg had started bouncing up and down about thirty minutes into the waiting. Rita had to keep reminding him to stop. Finally, Rita rose and was about to lay into the receptionist, when Jim Sheldon stepped out of a conference room.
"Rita!?" He called as he saw hear. "I didn't know you had a client auditioning!"
Rita gave a smile that simultaneously conveyed her joy at seeing him and her annoyance at being forced to wait for over an hour. "Jim! How very nice to see you. I do have a client, John Foley. He was recommended by Maureen Weldon. He flew out from Massachusetts, just for this and I am about to walk him out the door if you can't see him."
Jim Sheldon glanced at the pretty little thing in the dress with the big flowers. "Rita, may I speak with you in private for a moment?"
Rita followed him down the hall, out of John's earshot.
"First, Rita," he began, "Let me be clear. When I agreed to see 'John,' I knew that he'd have prosthetics on, but... I mean, come on, Rita... that's not a boy in there. That's a little girl. I can't use him. In fact, I was just coming out to tell him that we'd cast the part and send him home."
"Wait a minute," Rita was a bit peeved. "How did you see him before you came out?"
"We have camera's, Rita. It is the twenty-first century. I didn't notice you were here, because I was focused on him. We've been discussing whether to bring him in or not for the last half hour."
"Jim, according to Maureen Weldon, a week ago, that little girl was an average twenty year old guy. What does that tell you about his ability to disappear into a character, huh? And, besides, you already paid to bring him out here. Give him ten minutes, for chrissake. I'm pretty sure that you'll be impressed."
"Rita, come on, it's been a long, tough morning..."
"I don't care about that, Jim, and you know it. Just hear the kid read. Come, on! It's your job for crying out loud!"
With that, a young man stuck his head out of an office door. "Are we all done, then?"
Jim looked from the young man to Rita, then rubbed his hands across his balding head in frustration and mumbled, "Oh, for crying out loud, Rita. You owe me! Understand?l
"Not if he's good, I don't!" She hustled back to the waiting area and waved for John to follow her. "And read him for both parts, Jim. He's been patiently waiting for over an hour."
Jim was waiting by the door, fully composed and seemingly happy to see him when Rita lead John around the Conor and introduced them to each other "Mr Foley! How nice to meet you!"
He held the door for John to enter. When he did, all the talking ceased and everyone did their best not to stare at him, but failed miserably.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Jim said with fake bravado, "This is MISTER John Foley. John is playing Bianca in Shrew at the moment, so he's wearing prosthetics."
"Oh!" A female camera operator let out as John walked past. "I love your dress!"
"Oh, thank you," John smiled, lighting up the room as only he could.
"It's sooo cute! I just LOVE IT! And it'll play beautifully on the camera."
"Thank you, Joanne," Jim said with obvious annoyance, "but we're reading for the BOYS parts today."
Joanne gave John a comic grimace and swung her camera around to face the audition area. "Camera one running!" She called out.
Jim read from his script, "Please state your name and age."
"John Foley. I'm twenty."
A slight murmur ran through the people assembled.
"Tell us a little about yourself, John."
"Well," he stuttered as he began. "I'm from Worcester, Massachusetts and I don't usually look like I do right now. I am about to start my junior year at Emerson College as a performance major and I hope to make my living as an actor." John's voice remained high and feminine.
Jim took notes as he spoke and listened. "Tell me a little about this recent cross dressing thing you're doing, John."
"Well, I'm in a production of 'Taming of the Shrew' and..."
"No, John," Mr Sheldon interrupted. "Lots of actors look different on stage. Why are you dressed like this, now?"
John thought for just a moment before answering, "Because my director requested - or, in fact, demanded - that I live Bianca's life while I am playing Bianca."
Jim nodded. "And you always do as your director tells you?"
"Within reason," he chortled.
"And giving up your life as a man and becoming this... female child? That's reasonable?"
John shrugged. There was no good answer. "I got in a little over my head, I guess." He smoothed his skirts and tried to smile.
"I guess..." Jim wrote some more. "Cindy," Jim said to a script girl. "Will you read the part of the father? John, look at page seven. Please read Matt's part for us."
The script girl read with no inflection of emotion at all. It took John a minute to find his footing, but once he was able to ignore her delivery, his instincts kicked in and he bit into the role. The character was angry about an incident that had happened in the family and John's anger was so real that it felt as if he would throttle the script girl.
While the scene proceeded, Jim wrote on a scrap of paper and showed it to his assistant. 'Kid's good. Too small though, I think.'
The assistant wrote back. 'Have him read for Alex.'
Jim stopped the reading and said, "John, please turn to page fifteen and read for Alex."
This time, John was ready for the bland reading from his cohort. He looked at the page, quickly. Matt was upset about the same issue, but he didn't have the same tools as his brother, to whom he was speaking. At the bottom of the page, the stage direction said, 'Matt cries.'
They started reading and John's demeanor was completely different than it had been as Matt. He reacted as if each line the script girl read, tore him apart. When the tears came, they poured down his face, but he kept right on talking, the same as someone would in real life. By the time the scene ended, half the people in the room wanted to hug him and comfort him.
They complimented and praised him as he left, but once the door was closed, Jim said, "Shame we can't use him."
His assistant said, "I think we need to encourage the director to take a risk on this kid. I think he's unbelievable and that he's just what this show needs."
"How'd it go!." Rita asked as he returned to the waiting area.
"They seemed to like me, at least they said they did, but I when I was leaving, I heard the casting director say that they couldn't use me."
"Really?" Rita had had clients read for parts hundreds - more likely, thousands - of times and only very rarely did they receive compliments - and each of those auditions led to a part. "Well, we'll just have to see what happens. For now, though, I need to get you to the airport and I owe you lunch."
GOING HOME -or- WHEN I WAS AT HOME, I WAS IN A BETTER PLACE, BUT TRAVELERS MUST BE CONTENT
Traffic was horrendous and, by the time they reached the airport, there was no time for a sit down meal. While John checked in, Rita bought him a boxed salad. He thanked her, but he really wasn't all that interested in eating. All the way to the airport, he kept thinking that, had he looked like himself, he would have gotten a part. He'd left the audition feeling a little let down, but he had grown sadder as they drove - and the traffic had just depressed him more.
"Bianca," Rita said as they approached the TSA line, "this is just the first of many auditions. Remember, they complimented you. That's not typical. I'll let you know if I hear anything, but, no matter what, I want you to stay in touch with me. I think we're going to find some work for you sooner rather than later."
He nodded and smiled a little. "Thanks, Rita. I'll stay in touch, for sure. It was great meeting you. Thank you for everything."
She kissed his cheek. "Have a good flight, Bianca. Take care of yourself."
The flight was more crowded, this time. On the first leg to Phoenix, John was crammed against the wall by two very hefty women in the other two seats in his row. The women smelled of very musky perfume and neither appeared to speak English, so they ignored him until they disembarked.
In Phoenix, a young man, in his early twenties, sat in the seat next to John. When it became obvious that the aisle seat was going to be empty, the young man moved to allow John some extra room. John closed his eyes and tried to just become unconscious, but the best he could do was doze for a few minutes at a time.
His phone buzzed as they flew over New York City. It was Rita.
"Hello?"
"John. Good news. You've got a callback! They want to have you to read for the roles again. This time for the director."
"Wow!" John shouted louder than expected. The young man two seats away smiled indulgently at the young, excited girl in his row. "When?"
"I'm working on that, now. I probably won't know until, Monday, though. I just wanted to let you know."
"Oh, Rita! Thank you so much! This is wonderful! Thank you!"
"Excuse me, miss," an attendant interrupted John. "You'll need to hang up, now. We're starting our final descent."
John nodded. "Rita, I have to hang up. We're landing. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" He disconnected the call.
"Good news?" The young man asked.
"Very!" John was incredibly happy. "I got a call back for a TV show."
"Wow!" The young man smiled. "I hope you get it."
John beamed. "Thank you."
They landed and the young man helped John with his carry-on. John nearly skipped to the front of the airport, desperate to tell his mother or Rose or both about his call back. It was all coming together.
He exited to the pickup/drop off area with a huge grin on his face. He didn't see either his mother's car or Rose's so he rose up on the toes of his kitten heeled shoes to try to get a better view as a brand new Honda CR-V pulled up right next to him, lowered the window and the driver shouted it at him.
"Mom told me that you looked like me, but, Jesus Christ, John! What the hell are you playing at!?"
It was Nancy.
To Be Continued...
Kiss Me, Bianca - 4
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Author's Note: I have received so many wonderful and supportive emails about this story! Thank you to everyone! As always, I love to hear your critiques! Thank you, again, for all of your support! Please, leave me a review?
I am always willing to learn! ~Clara.
This version of Kiss Me Bianca: 4 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.
TIME FOR EXPLANATIONS -or- IF SO, BE PATIENT, SISTER
John put his carry-on bag in the back of Nancy's CR-V. He glanced at her before he closed the back door. She was obviously angry with him and he couldn't understand why. He was an adult. If he wanted to wear a dress, what difference did it make to her? This was going to be a long ride home. He closed the back door, opened the front and climbed into the vehicle.
"Well," she put the car in gear and pulled out into the flow of traffic, "do you want to tell me just what the hell is going on here, or am I just supposed to guess?"
John started his explanation, "Look, Nancy, I'm doing a play, you know, with The CCSR and..."
Nancy was impatient, "Oh, don't give me that. I did plenty of plays with The CCSR when I was a kid. I never once heard of a boy having to live as girl for a role!"
"Yeah, I know, but this director the board hired, she's really good and she..."
"She what!? Did she say, 'John, I want you to stop living your life and start living your sister's life, only you need to be her when she was...' what? Eleven? Twelve?"
"Fourteen..." John mumbled defensively.
"Seriously!? She wanted you to look like me!? John, that's the creepiest thing I've ever heard!"
"No, of course not, Nan. She doesn't know what you..." he groaned in frustration. "They sent me to a beautician and after they dyed my hair, I just ended up looking like you."
"And where did you get that dress you're wearing, anyway, Johnny? My God, it must have cost a thousand dollars!"
John looked at the dress and adjusted the hem on his thigh. "I don't know what it cost. My agent bought it for me."
"YOUR AGENT!? Jesus, John... how many people are involved in turning you into a girl?"
"Look, Nan, I'm an actor, ok? Actors do unusual things for roles, ok? Now, come on, give me a break. It's been a long week."
"Oh, well, I'm sorry if you've had a long week, missy, but in case you didn't know it, I'm doing my residency right now. I've been working eighteen hour days for months, but my mother called me about two hours ago and said that she was stuck behind an accident on Rt 6, couldn't get across the bridge and that my baby brother needed a ride home from the airport. So, instead of getting into my nice, comfy bed, I drove from Worcester to Providence and, NOW, I have to schlep you back to Hyannis. So, if you think that I'm feeling any sympathy for you because you're tired... forget it!!"
There was silence in the car for a few minutes, until John said, "Thanks for picking me up, Nan, but if it was going to be this big of a deal..."
"It's only a big deal because, when I got to the airport, I found my nineteen year old brother dressed like a ten year old princess."
"Alright, first, I'm not nineteen; I'm twenty. Second, I don't look anything like a ten year old and you know it. I have breasts, for crying out loud..."
Without asking permission, or taking her eyes from the highway, Nancy's right hand shot over and groped John's chest. "Holy shit, Johnny! You DO have breasts! Oh, my God, do you still have your dick?" Her hand lunged for his crotch.
"Nan!" He pushed her hand away. "Knock it off! Those are silicone, for crying out loud and, yes, I still have my... penis."
"I swear to God, Johnny, I can not believe this. How could you have let this happen to you?"
"LET this happen to me?" Suddenly, John realized something. He hadn't fought anybody at any time as these changes took place. He could have said, 'No,' and walked away at any point. He could have demanded that the breasts be removed before going to LA. He could have walked out of Stacy's salon. He could have turned down the role."Nan, I didn't LET anything happen to me. I am an actor and I was given the opportunity to play a role that most men would never get to play and I dove into it with everything I had. In this case, that means living, experiencing and participating in every aspect of being a girl. Maybe you don't approve of that, but it got me my first audition for a TV show, so I think it may be worth it."
"Oh, Yeah... 'I'm an actor!' 'I'm an actor!' Nancy mocked John's words. "I swear to god, Johnny, I do not have time for this kind of stupidity right now..."
"Then pull off here, before we get to the bridge, and drop me off at the McDonald's. I'll call mom, or Ed to come get me and I'll wait there."
"Shut up, John, you know I can't do that, I told mom..."
"I don't give a shit what you told mom," John shouted. "I'm not your fucking problem. I'm your brother, for crying out loud. Mom asked you to help me. If you don't want to help me, then pull the fuck over and let me me the fuck out!"
Nancy was shocked. She had never heard John say anything more profane than 'damnit' before. He had definitely gotten her attention. She jerked the wheel and pulled across the traffic to make it to the off ramp in time, then slowed her vehicle as she pulled onto the road beyond.
There was a McDonald's visible about a hundred yards down the road, but Nancy pulled into the parking lot of a Home Depot and pulled her car away from the other cars and slammed her new car into 'park.'
John pulled the handle to open the door, but Nancy had locked the doors with the parental control button and he could not exit the vehicle without her unlocking the door.
"Let me out." He looked at the floor and waited. Nothing happened. "Let me out." He said, again.
"No. I think we need to talk." She shut off the engine and sighed. John crossed his arms and looked out his window. It was early, the store was just opening. Not a lot of people milling about.
"Look, Johnny," she said with a heavy voice, "I just want to understand..."
"No you don't," he kept his attention focused on the main entrance of the store. "Every thing you've said and every question you've asked has been an insult. You don't want to understand; you want to attack me and I'm not interested in hearing any more of it. Let me out."
Nancy sighed and calmed down. He was right. She was angry and confused and was attacking him instead of talking to him. She considered how she should proceed. The car was silent.
"I got a callback, by the way," John finally said, quietly.
"What?"
"Not that you'd care, but... the TV show... I got a call back. They say it never happens at your first audition... but I got one."
His sister nodded. She'd done enough shows to have known plenty of kids who had taken a chance and tried to make it on Broadway, or in LA or even in regional theater. She knew it was a big deal.
"That's great, Johnny," she muttered. Now, something outside her window was keeping her from looking at her little brother. "That's great."
More silence.
"Nan," John still looked out the window, "what if you'd found out that, instead of me looking this way because of a role, I was dressing this way because I was transgendered? Would you have reacted the same way? With anger?"
She raised her hands in an 'I don't know' attitude and let them fall noisily back down onto her thighs.
"Cause, if I found out that you were intending to live as a guy, I don't think I would have attacked you. I think I would have tried to let you know that I loved you, no matter what." Now, he turned and looked at her. "Cause I do, Nan. I love you... no matter what."
"Jesus," she couldn't look at him, yet, "Johnny, I just don't know. I mean..." she gestured to his dress, "this is a lot to take in."
"Why? I'm still your brother. I'm just wearing a dress."
"And make up. And earrings. And heels. And your hair is the same color as mine and it's styled like mine was when I was a kid... You're not my brother anymore, you're me, fifteen years ago. it's a lot to take in, Johnny."
He nodded. "So... what? You don't love me any more because I look different?"
"I never said that, Johnny."
"You sure sounded like that's what you meant." He wiped a tear from his eye.
"Johnny," she finally looked towards him, "I'm sorry I yelled, but... Johnny, is this something you've been thinking about doing for a long time?"
He shook his head. "Till last Friday, it never occurred to me. I only started doing it 'cause I had to do it to play Bianca."
"Why did you ever agree to play Bianca, though? Didn't that sound odd to you?"
John ran through a list of Ms Weldon's accomplishments. "She's a bona fide big-deal, Nan, and I wanted to be in her cast."
Nancy nodded.
"And now?" Nancy asked. "Do you want to go on wearing these clothes after the show closes?"
"I don't know. I like a lot of it. Everything's so soft and... pretty... and comfortable. You wouldn't understand. You've always been able to choose what you wanted to wear. I couldn't. I never wore clothes like these before."
Nancy scoffed, "Yeah. I've never worn clothes like that, either. I'm telling you, Johnny, that dress is... well, it's kind of magnificent and it fits you like it was made for you. Did they tailor it for you?"
"No. The lady who ran the shop grabbed it and handed it to me. We weren't in the store more than fifteen minutes."
Nancy shook her head. "Unbelievable. I've never walked in off the street and walked out of the store with the first dress I tried on. Now, I know why. It's because the dresses are designed for my brother."
He laughed, quietly.
Finally, they were looking at each other. They both bore sad smiles.
"You know," John broke the silence, "when the stylist was done and I got to see myself for the first time... I realized that I looked like you and... well... as weird as that may sound... it made me happy."
Nancy screwed up her face. "Why would that make you happy?"
"Why!? Because you're beautiful and smart and because I love you. I've always wanted to be like you - maybe not quite this literally, but... you know what I mean."
Nancy smiled, then looked at the ceiling of the SUV and groaned as she ran her fingers through her bobbed hair. "Arrrggghhh, Johnny, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know... I'm sorry I yelled at you. You're right - I was out of line. I love you, too, honey."
She reached over and took his small hand in hers, then she held it to her lips and kissed it, then inspected it. "Nice nails, bro." She smiled at him. That was nice.
"Thanks."
"So... what happens after you've been a little girl for, what, eight or nine weeks?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I get the breasts taken off and that's that. No more Bianca."
She raised her eyebrows. "Seriously? Just like that, this cute little teeny-bopper will just disappear and John Foley with the messy boybun and the goatee reappears?"
"It's a Van Dyke, not a goatee... and, yeah, I guess. I mean, the breasts aren't mine and they're wicked expensive, so... I thought about a lot about it on the plane. Ms Weldon says I should leave school and go to New York or LA. I'm thinking about that. Who knows, if this TV show pans out, all these decisions may be made for me. The role is for a seventeen year old boy."
"Then why did you go dressed like this?"
"'Shrew' opens on The Fourth and if they remove the breasts, they can't put them back on for ten days or so. The solvent irritates the skin, I guess. I was originally dressed in yoga pants and a polo, but my agent said I looked like an unmade bed and dressed me this way. She made me leave the yoga pants and polo at the store. I had to wear this."
She nodded. "And you enjoy dressing like this, don't you?"
"Wouldn't anyone?"
"No, Johnny." She thought for a few moments. "So, obviously, no matter what, this 'Bianca' person is going to stick around through the whole summer and, it seems to me, she'll probably be around, at least occasionally, after that, right?"
John shrugged, again. "I don't know, Nan. Maybe... probably... I just don't know."
She nodded. "Look, Johnny, I'm sorry I came on so strong. You were just much more... 'me'... than I expected and it freaked me out, ok? Now, I love you, but it's going to take me a while to get used to this. That's my issue, not yours, but I want you to be aware that I'm trying."
"Ok, Nan."
"Alright." She started the engine and took one last look at her pretty little brother and smiled. There was very little sign of the boy she knew, but he was definitely in there when they spoke. "So, tell me about this other 'new' sister I have. Mom tells me her name is Rose. Mom thinks that you have 'a thing' for her."
John smiled and blushed as they headed for the Sagamore Bridge.
A CONVERSATION -or- TELL ME - BUT TRULY - BUT THEN SPEAK THE TRUTH - DO YOU NOT LOVE MY SISTER?
Both John and Nancy were exhausted by the time they reached the cottage in Hyannis. John gave an excited synopsis of his eighteen hours in LA and everyone was thrilled that he'd gotten a callback. Both Marilyn and Rose gushed over John's new dress, which Nancy found somewhat odd, but she'd learned her lesson with John, so she didn't say anything.
By 11:45 that Sunday Morning, both brother and sister were looking for a pillow to conk-out on. Marilyn had not yet changed the sheets in Nancy's room and, not wanting to inconvenience Rose, Nancy crawled into John's double bed with him. Both wearing little blue nighties that made them look even more like sisters than before.
Just after noon, Marilyn checked on them and found them both laying on their left sides with Nancy spooning her little bother, her arm hanging loosely over his stomach. Marilyn chuckled at the mess of black hair and blue nylon and satin. She was lucky. Two good kids who loved each other. It was nice to have them back together.
She poured herself a mug of coffee and joined Ed and Rose at the table in the screened room. "I don't think we'll be hearing from either of them for quite a while," she laughed. "They are out like lights."
They were awake by 6:00 that evening, though, and Rose and Ed helped Marilyn serve a delicious meal of steamed clams and halibut, a great meal for a warm, early summer night at The Cape. Nancy decided to stay the night and get an early start back to Worcester the next morning. "Rose," she asked as the dishes were being packed away, "I'm going to take a walk down to the beach. Will you join me? It'll give me a chance to get to know my new sister."
"Sure!" Rose was very happy to join her, so the two walked the block and a half to the moon lite beach.
They'd had their chit chat about their lives and ambitions all along the walk. Once on the beach, they sat in the cool sand and Nancy finally asked the question, "So, what's your opinion about this whole 'Johnny/Bianca' thing?"
Rose shrugged and played with a piece of seaweed. "I don't know. I hadn't really felt that I needed to form an opinion. John is a grownup and an actor and he was offered a great role. He took it and now he has to do what needs to be done to play the role. He seems to be having a good time, though, so what difference does it make?"
Nancy's forehead pinched, "I should think it would make a great deal of difference, but I seem to be in the minority there. My mother and you and Eddie all seem to be supporting this. It's a very confusing thing for an outsider to walk into."
Rose sensed a challenge coming, "Nancy, I'm not a member of the family or anything, so I know that my opinion is not really valid, but I wouldn't say we're 'supporting THIS' as much as 'supporting HIM.' He needs help to do this well and Marilyn and I are helping him. You should see him in rehearsal, though, Nancy - he's amazing. I've never seen anyone 'become' a character the way that he becomes Bianca. Even if he were really a girl, I'd be blown away by him. He's consistent and in-the-moment and the words mean so much to him! Wait till you see him!"
Nancy listened and tried to imagine her little brother being that amazing. She just couldn't do it. He would always just be her goofy kid brother.
"You said he enjoys it," Nancy finally said. "You mean the clothes, right?"
"Well, yeah, but everything else, too! I mean he likes being treated like a girl - the pampering and compliments - and you should have seen him with Cassie and Annie, he was just like them! Like a real fourteen year old girl..."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Nancy was suddenly very concerned. "He actually 'played' with other girls? Don't you people realize how dangerous that is!? What if they found out? He could be arrested for that! Are you people out of your minds!?"
"It wasn't like that, honest," Rose tried to calm her. "We met them before we saw Jaws so they sat with us. Then we met them at the beach for a couple of hours and they came to dinner. Mostly, John sang show tunes with them. Nothing sketchy happened. He was really into it..."
"Jesus, what is wrong with you people!?" Nancy wasn't yelling, but she was obviously very perturbed. She bolted to a standing position and ran her fingers through her hair, grunting to keep her anger back. "This is ridiculous. I thought I could handle it, but, come on, Rose, you must see how crazy this is. He's going to end up either in jail or get himself beaten up by some gang of idiots if he keeps this up. At the very least, this is all playing head games with him."
Rose stood and took Nancy's hand. "I know how this looks, Nancy. Just walking into it must be weird, but this all moved in a pretty logical way throughout the week. Honestly, your mom has been keeping tabs on him the whole time. She spoke to Ms Weldon, the director, and you have to believe me, Nancy, she is only doing what's good for his career. Ms Weldon says that he's one of the best actors she's ever seen, and I think she plans to make him her protégé - for real! This role may be the best thing that could possibly happen to him, careerwise. Please, don't ruin it for him."
Nancy was perplex. "Damnit, Rose, I never expected this to happen. I truly love my baby brother, you have to believe me, but... this is all so freaking crazy!"
"I know you love him, Nancy, and he adores you, too. Please, don't make this any harder on him. He's doing great! He really is!"
Nancy eyed Rose suspiciously. "And what do you get out of this?"
"Me!? I don't get anything out of this except to be in the play."
"Uh-huh," Nancy crossed her arms and her eyes narrowed. "Johnny's nuts about you, you know that, right?"
Rose smiled, "Well, I know that he's... well, you're a pretty girl... you know how it is. Boys, just... you know... get crushes..."
"No, Rose. I mean that he's, like, head over heels, crazy in love with you. In fact, I think that he's doing a lot of this just to be with you."
Rose thought about that. She had feelings for John, sure, but 'love?' That's a pretty big word...
"So," Nancy persisted, "how do you view Johnny? A friend? A potential boyfriend? A potential lover? A little sister? A doll?"
The truth was that Rose viewed John as all of these things, but she couldn't say that to his sister. "Look, Nancy, I like John a lot. He's really sweet and so talented, but... well, we hardly knew each other at school. We really only met on Monday. I don't think he actually 'loves' me per se. I think he's just infatuated. I mean, I like spending time with him and I'd like to get to know him better and I'm not saying that there isn't the possibility of something coming from that, but... well, I guess that I don't know how to answer your question beyond that."
John's sister nodded her head and thought for a moment. "I hope you understand that I'm not ticked off about this cross dressing stuff just because I think it's odd. I'm afraid that Johnny is going to get hurt. Do you understand that?"
"Yes, of course I do."
Nancy nodded. "Then I hope that you'll understand that I'm concerned about you for the same reason. I don't want my brother hurt by you."
Rose smiled. "He won't be. Besides, he's a grown man, Nancy..."
"No. No he's not. He's always been... fragile. You need to remember that. He's much more like the little girl he's pretending to be than you imagine. That's probably why he's such a good actor. Don't hurt him. Please."
"I won't."
When they returned to the cottage, Rose and Nancy found Marilyn sitting on one end of the coach watching the Red Sox game with John cuddled up next to her, his head in her lap as she ran her fingers through his hair. His eyes were closed and his breathing was steady with the very occasional snore coming forth from his slack-jawed mouth. Marilyn held up her finger to her lips to indicate that the women should not be loud.
BACK TO THE REHEARSAL HALL -or- A POOR PLAYER STRUTS AND FRETS HIS HOUR UPON THE STAGE
Monday's rehearsal was going well until mid afternoon, when an intern came into the hall with the message that Ms Weldon wanted to see John immediately. John, in full Bianca makeup and his forest green gown hurried to the office. When he entered, he hustled to the area in front of the desk and then, through sheer habit and rehearsal, he gripped his skirts and curtsied. "Yes, Ms Weldon."
She smiled, realizing that he hadn't even noticed what he'd done. "Thank you for coming, John. Rita has been trying to call you, but, of course, she couldn't reach you during rehearsal. So, she called me."
He'd hoped that this was why she'd summoned him. "Is there news about the callback?"
"Yes, John, there is. They wanted you to fly back out to LA tomorrow for a callback on Wednesday, but, since we open on Saturday, I made it clear that I could not spare you or have you get worn out with a lot of extra traveling."
John was concerned. He really wanted to do the callback.
"So, I have convinced the director to come to The Cape to do your callback here on Wednesday afternoon. Is that ok with you?"
John's heart was fluttering. He put his hand to his breast and let out a relieved sigh. "Ok!? Oh, my goodness! I can't believe they're coming HERE!" Tears of excitement began to flow. "Oh, thank you, Ms Weldon! Thank you, so much!"
She came around the desk and shook his hand. "My pleasure, John. You've earned it."
Overcome with excitement and girlish impulsiveness, John pulled his director into a huge hug. "I can't believe that they're coming here! That's a good sign, right!?"
Ms Weldon pulled the boy's arms from around her neck. "Yes, dear. That's a very good sign. Now, please return to rehearsal and let's do a great job on this show before moving on to the callback."
The lipstick made John's smile even more pronounced and prettier. He skipped to the door, then turned and curtsied once again. "Thank you, ma'am," he bowed his head in medieval subservience and backed out of the door, leaving Maureen to wonder if he'd done it to be funny, or was he so engrossed in the role that he wasn't even aware of his gestures.
By the time he'd returned to the rehearsal hall, thanks to an overly excited intern, everyone was already aware that the audition would be taking place on The Cape. Most were excited for John, a few were jealous and some were hoping that the director and casting director may watch a rehearsal at The CCSR facility and discover them as well. Regardless of their feelings, everyone applauded when John reentered. He beamed and curtsied. He couldn't wait to tell his mother.
Out of nowhere, Ed came up behind him and pulled John into a backwards bear-hug, lifting him high off the ground, kicking and screaming. When he returned him to terra firma, Ed leaned down, kissing John's cheek and saying, "Aren't you glad I talked you into playing Bianca!? They're going to love you! You'll be a star before Christmas!"
Suddenly, Rose was there, too, pulling both Ed and John tightly to her, nearly smothering the diminutive John against her supple breasts. "Oh, I'm so happy for you, Johnny! You're going to be so famous!!!" She kissed his cheek, too.
"That's what I said!" Ed laughed and kissed him again. Rose followed suit and within seconds, John was being drown in kisses. Some soft and covered in lipstick, some scratchy and aggressive, but all wonderful and welcome!
When Marilyn heard the news, she insisted on taking them all, John, Rose and Ed, out to dinner at John's favorite restaurant, The West End - one of the nicer restaurants in Hyannis. Rose insisted that this was an occasion for a new dress. Something cute and fun so they'd both feel playful and happy.
They agreed to meet Marilyn at 6:15 at the restaurant. So, when rehearsal ended, Ed took his own car to run home to change and Rose took John to a boutique she'd heard about.
Marilyn arrived at the restaurant just after 6:00 and met Ed in the parking lot. The maître d' sat them at a table near the far end of the restaurant, as Marilyn had requested. The vaulted ceilings and pristine, white table clothes always made dinner at The West Side an auspicious event.
"I've never been here," Ed said as he took in the grandeur of the restaurant, which looked quite unimpressive from the outside.
"We only come for special occasions," Marilyn smiled as she tucked her purse under her chair. "Graduations, important birthdays... that kind of thing. It's far to fancy for a typical Monday night dinner."
Within moments, Rose entered and waved as she crossed to the table. Ed smiled and stood to pull out a chair for her.
"Where's the star of the evening?" Marilyn looked beyond Rose, but only saw an empty doorway.
"He's on the phone with his agent. Evidentially, she's coming out for the audition, too. She wants everything to be perfect. I left my phone with him so he could use it to take notes. He said to go ahead and order drinks and he'd be right along. He wanted a glass of champagne, but I told him that was impossible, so he'd like a Shirley Temple instead." She grinned at the sweetness of the name of the drink. "Honestly, he's so high on adrenaline right now that I think he could run right up the walls!"
"HE'S excited!?" Marilyn joked. "Good lord, in the past few hours, I think I called everybody I ever met to tell them about John! This is all so amazing, I mean, they must see something very special in him to be coming all this way for a callback, right?"
"Oh, I think so," Rose agreed. "I called a friend of mine who has been in a couple of things, nothing recurring, just one time appearances, and she says that she's never heard of an executive doing this. She says that, usually, if an actor can't make it to a callback..."
"Holy shit..." Ed muttered, interrupting Rose's story.
The women turned to see what he saw and Marilyn reiterated Ed's thoughts. "'Holy shit' is right."
Entering the door was not John, nor Bianca, but Bebe. Perfect, beautiful, bubbly, fourteen year old Bebe. Her dark hair had been curled just enough to give it some body and her bright red lips were more youthful and playful than Bianca's. She strode on the balls of her feet, the three inch heels on her nude, open toed pumps hardly touching the ground. Her makeup was much more modern and natural than Bianca's and her dress - Oh, my goodness, that dress - was
magnificent.
The pure white dress was strapless and clung playfully to Bebe's bosom, then pinched in, just a little, at a high waist before hanging in a pretty and moderately wide, tulle lined circle, six inches above the knee. Above that lay an embroidered confection of startling, navy blue lace. The neck line of the overdress was a series of arched scollops that rose in delicate sweeps that drew attention to Bebe's dainty, white shoulders. That pattern continued around the back to make the wearer's shoulders look even more luscious from the back.
The pattern thinned and ended at the waist, but from the hem of the skirt, a similar pattern repeated itself, yet, this time, it was upside down - thinning as it climbed, and leaving long, delicate tendrils of lace reaching towards the waist.
This perfect combination of woman-child and dress floated across the restaurant with a grace and dignity and confidence that John had never exhibited. The tiny clutch-purse that hung from his left shoulder on a delicate, silver chain bounced playfully on his hip and occasionally disappeared into the flouncy skirt.
Every customer, every employee, every person stopped and took in this beautiful child as she passed. Women gasped while men grew hard at the thought of a creature this beautiful passing so closely.
Bebe was... a vision.
Ed was standing and pulling out the remaining chair at their table before John was halfway across the room.
"Oh, darling," Marilyn's hands were pressed together, as if in prayer, and the tips of her index fingers were pressed against her lips. "You are just breathtaking."
John placed the tip of the toe of his right shoe just behind the heel of his left and, with his arms held out to the side, gave a sweet, delicate, slightly bouncy curtsy. These gestures had become so ubiquitous in his role as Bianca that he was hardly aware of his use of them in real life.
He accepted the chair that Ed offered, smoothing his skirts under him as he sat and Ed pushed in his chair. Before returning to his own seat, Ed leaned over and inhaled the sweet, heady, fruity perfume of his friend's hair before kissing his cheek and whispering, "You're gorgeous, Beebs. I can't believe it. I really can't."
John smiled up at the handsome man who'd been so polite. "Thank you, Ed."
He sat with his legs crossed at the knees, his back straight and unsupported, looking regal and confident, but still young and vulnerable.
"So," Rose was inquisitive, "Tell us about the call. What's going on."
John fidgeted with the chain on his purse. Hung it from the back of his chair, then explained. "Well, Rita is coming back east for the callback. She says that I shouldn't be talking to anyone without her there to negotiate. The casting director, the head of the production company and the director-slash-show runner are all coming, too. She says that they want me to read for both of the sons, again, but that she can't get a hold of the sides in advance this time. The whole thing is going to be cold readings."
"You must be so excited!" Marilyn gushed.
"Well, yeah," John acknowledged, "but like Little Red Riding Hood said, 'Excited and Scared,'" he referred to the song from 'Into The Woods.'
Ed leaned back and chuckled. "What do you have to be scared of? I mean, they're coming all this way to see you... I'd say you're already a shoe-in."
"I agree," Rose sipped her water. "I think you just need to do what you do and they'll love you."
John nodded, then looked at his dress. "Tell me the truth, though, do I still look like I could be anybody's brother or son? I mean, I love this dress and all, but... that's my biggest concern."
"No, you don't," Ed blurted out.
"Ed," Marilyn scolded.
"No, I mean it," Ed went right on. "Look, Bebe... man, it's getting harder and harder for me to even remember that you used to be John... but that's a good thing, right? I mean, when you first told me that you were playing Bianca, well, I thought you'd, maybe, look like a funny looking girl, but you don't. You're freaking beautiful and watching you act - and even playing with those girls the other night... well... I think John is gone, now... but that's what you wanted, right? That's what actors do. And I'm sure that you can become one of those characters, too. All you have to do is prove that to these guys and you'll be all set."
Then, unexpectedly, Ed reached over, took John's hand and kissed it. "I have confidence in you, Bebe. You can do this."
"Well," Marilyn folded her arms, "I swear, Edward, in all the years that I have known you, I've hardly heard three words in a row coming out of your mouth. And now this! I am impressed, I must say!"
"That was really nice, Ed," Rose said.
"Thanks, Ed," John smiled as he retracted his hand.
Ed just smiled as the waiter brought their drinks to the table. "Three champagnes and a Shirley Temple for the young lady," he said as he served.
John's mouth hung open in shock. With each glass of champagne placed on the table, he glowered at the person sitting behind the glass. Champagne was, after all, what he'd wanted to order for himself. When the waiter turned to put his tray down, John whispered "You all suck, you know that, right?"
"Now, you just watch your mouth, young lady," his mother chided, "or I'll pull you across my lap and spank you, right here in this restaurant."
They all giggled.
"May I take your orders?" The waiter asked. He started with Marilyn, then Rose and Ed, finally, instead of asking John, he turned to Marilyn and said, "And for the young lady?"
John was very surprised. It seemed to him that, even when he really was fourteen, the wait staff would speak to him directly. "What do you say, sweetie?" Marilyn asked John. "Do you want a hamburger with fries or would you prefer something more grown up."
In fact, John had planned on getting a burger. The burgers at The West End were the best he'd ever had and he'd eaten so much salad and seafood lately that he really wanted a good burger - AND - his mother knew that, full well. He wished she hadn't phrased the question as she had, and he could see by the smirk on her face that she was enjoying this.
"I'll have the burger, please, mother."
Marilyn turned back to the waiter, "My daughter will have the burger, but I think it's best to hold the fries. She's not going to be that young and slender forever."
When the waiter departed, they all snickered at John's expense. "You are a frigging riot, mom, you know that?!"
Marilyn did.
REALIZATIONS -or- WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE
As the meal wound down, Ed excused himself. He needed to pick up his younger brother from a lifeguard training class. Marilyn and Rose enjoyed a cup of rich coffee while John finished a glass of cold milk. He'd already had a couple of cups of coffee throughout the day, anyway. He probably would have had a glass of milk with his dessert, anyway, but his mother had taken that decision out of his hands and ordered him the glass of milk. Just another aspect of reliving his childhood - well - 'A' childhood, anyway.
"Well, ladies," Marilyn announced as they stepped into the parking lot, "I need to make a stop before I head home. My cousin Joan is staying in Dennis Port and I promised I'd come by after dinner."
"Mom, it's nearly eight o'clock and you don't like driving at night. Can't you go see her tomorrow?"
"Well, yes, I could, but if I go during the daytime, I'll be there all afternoon. This way I can come home in a couple of hours or so. Besides, this is all your fault."
"My fault?" John was surprised to receive the blame. "How is this my fault?"
"Because I called Joan to tell her your big news and she invited me over. If you hadn't gotten a callback, I wouldn't have called and I would be headed home to my comfy bed and a good book. So - it's your fault. Good night, Bebe." She kissed her son's smooth, soft cheek. "Good night, Rose." She did the same to Rose.
PASSION -or- GRAZE ON MY LIPS; AND IF THOSE HILLS BE DRY, STRAY LOWER, WHERE THE PLEASANT FOUNTAINS LIE.
As Rose held the car door open for John, she contemplated the conversation she'd had with Nancy the night before. Marilyn had asked her similar questions before, too, but Nancy seemed to hit a nerve. How did she really feel about John?
He definitely was her little sister, no question about that.
He definitely was her little doll, too, that was obvious, just look at how she'd dressed him tonight.
As a possible boyfriend, though - there was the real question.
She loved spending time with him and he was one of the sweetest boys she'd ever met - even sweeter as a girl. He was beautiful and talented and determined and funny - nearly everything she ever wanted in a boyfriend. He was smaller than her, which was not a feature she normally desired in a relationship, but that wasn't his fault. There was no doubt that he was attractive, just not in the normal 'manly' concept of attractiveness.
God knows, some of the guys she'd dated could use a little
feminization, though. They smelled sweaty and felt hard and scratchy. John was the opposite, though. He smelled pretty and fresh, and felt soft and silky smooth.
They shared a lot of interests - acting, of course, musicals, clothes, makeup, hair, jewelry... well, those last four were all new to him, but he certainly was taking to them.
She kinda thought of him as girl, though - BUT - she had seen, and even handled, his equipment and he had nothing to be embarrassed about there.
So how was she supposed to feel about him?
She was, unquestionably, very attracted to him in every way possible and she knew, because Marilyn, Nancy, Ed and Gloria had all confirmed it, that John was more than attracted to her. 'Smitten' one might say. So, why not give it a shot? This pretty, little, teenaged girl may just turn out to be the man of her dreams!
She got into the Tesla and the started the silent motor. As she drove away, she glanced at her petite, potential-boyfriend and saw that he was examining the navy blue lace that decorated his stunning little frock. "It's pretty, isn't it?" She asked, suddenly feeling a little awkward about initiating a conversation in the hopes of bringing up some discussion of romance.
He smiled back at her, those young eyes, so bright and happy, those young cheeks, so round and those lips, so plump and red. "It's beautiful, Rose. Thank you, so much. I must owe you a fortune! You've bought me so many pretty things. Ed, too! Harry and Jim have been so nice, too. What a weird couple of weeks it's been."
"Weird, but good, right?"
"Yeah, I guess. I mean... yeah, it's been very good! I met you and then the audition and the callback and, we'll, yeah, it's been unbelievable in so many ways!"
She giggled at his enthusiasm. She hadn't known him all that well before, but he'd seemed to be a reserved young man. Now, he was a giddy little girl and she found that much more endearing.
"I like you like this." She reached over and patted his knee. It was small and warm and smooth. Hairless, young and feminine.
"Like what?"
"Happy. You didn't seem as happy before. I'm glad you're happy, now, and I'd like to see you stay that way."
He smiled even more broadly and shrugged. "Thank you, Rose. That's very sweet of you."
She smiled back. "You like being a girl, don't you?"
He blushed and shrugged. "I guess. I like the attention and the way everything is so soft and pretty. It's very different from being a guy. I mean, it's like, as a guy, you wear the same clothes everyday - shirts and jeans or a suit and every now and then a tux, but they're pretty much all the same thing. As a girl, every day is like a new costume, different hair, different jewelry... I haven't worn the same thing twice outside of rehearsal and even there, I have more costume's then I've ever worn and each is more beautiful than the last!"
"I never even thought about my hair before," he continued, "and now I think about it a lot! And makeup and accessories! Everything is so important, now. I feel like I'm connected to women in a whole new way. It's been an eye opener for me and I'm so glad that I'm spending the summer like this and with you."
She liked that response.
She turned the car down their street and into the driveway. When the car was parked, she turned to John and in the dim twilight finally got to her point. "Johnny... have you ever gone out with anyone - I mean, seriously?"
"Not really." Dating had never been easy for John. Being smaller than most of the girls in his class made him a kind of romantic-nonentity. He'd taken a different, younger Theater student to each his proms, but they weren't interested in him beyond the excitement of the dance.
Rose assumed that would be his answer. "And... Wow, this is awkward, but, well, between me and Ed... who would you rather date, 'cause I'm pretty sure that Ed is interested."
The nervous laugh and pause spoke volumes. "I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that these clothes and living this way... its all given me some fantasies that I've never had before, but I'm pretty sure that they're just fantasies." He took a deep breath before spitting out what he needed to say. "Rose... I'm not sure I would have followed through with all of this to this extent if it weren't for you. What I mean is... I kind of went all the way with this because it meant that I got to be with you. I think about you all the time and I wake up everyday dreading the end of summer when you won't be here with me. I'm... kinda crazy about you, I guess. I really don't care if you want me as your sister or your girlfriend or your boyfriend... I just want to be with you - forever."
Rose smiled as her hand moved up his slender, smooth thigh and caressed his inner thigh, tenderly. "Oh, Johnny... or Bebe... I don't care... that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Wait there. Let me get your door for you."
She got out and hustled to the passenger door, opened it and offered John her hand. She took great pride in how pretty she kept her hands. Her nails were always perfect and she used cream on her hands every night to be sure that they remained soft, but when John's soft, tiny hand with the baby-pink nails landed in hers, she felt so much bigger, so much stronger and so much more masculine than the child she was helping out of the car. She loved everything about being the beautiful woman that she was, but she felt a sense of power and control she'd never felt with a man before. She doubted that she'd ever need to 'submit' to John, but she knew that Bebe would 'submit' to her at any time. In fact, she was sure that both John and Bebe both would submit to her just as women had been subservient to their men since time immemorial. She would 'love and cherish' him and he would 'love, honor and obey' her.
John stepped out and stood. Even with his heels, Rose, who was wearing much higher and more mature heels than he, still towered over him.
She pulled him in close and felt the crush of their breasts. Then she kissed him and felt him giving himself to her, his soft, lipsticked lips offering no resistance to her tongue.
These were all new sensations for her. Typically, at this point, she would be surrendering to the man. She'd smell his musk and feel his stubble on her face and his erection pressing against her. Now, she smelled strawberry shampoo and floral hairspray. She felt soft cheeks and bare legs parting without resistance as her left foot pushed his feet apart, her own naked leg touching his.
Her prize was just inches away, separated from her knee by just a little air and a fraction-of-a-fraction of an inch of virginal, white lace silk, tucked between his legs; chaste and waiting to be taken.
She broke the kiss and stood tall, holding his head to her shoulder, his chin touching her breast.
"Let's get inside before we get carried away,"she smiled at him. He nodded and took her hand, allowing himself to be led into his own home.
John was deep in a state of bliss. He could feel himself stirring in the gusset of his panties, but the excitement he felt was different than he'd felt when he masturbated. He felt flushed and his belly tickled.
He wanted.
He wanted to be hers.
He had a deep, insatiable 'want' building in the very center of his being.
Rose led him into the house, through the big room and into her bedroom. Once she'd closed the door, she turned her back to him. "Unzip me and take my dress off, baby."
He did as he was told and lowered the dress, kneeling to allow her to step out of the garment. Before he could stand, she turned and held him in his submissive kneel. "Now, my panties, please."
From his knees, with his skirt spread about him, she was a tower. Strong, powerful and beautiful. His hands shook slightly as he slipped his fingers through the waistband and lowered her panties to the floor then guided them past her platform heels.
"Kiss me here," she pointed to a spot on the front of her upper thigh. John kissed it.
"Now here," she pointed to a corresponding spot on her other leg. He kissed that spot as well.
"Here," she pointed back to the first leg, but the spot was much closer to the well trimmed area that defined her sex. He kissed it languorously and she shivered at the softness of his lips.
"And here," again, the corresponding spot on her other thigh.
John knew where this was headed and the butterflies in his tummy were fluttering uncontrollably. He could smell her scent and it was like nothing he'd ever inhaled before. It was as beautiful as she was.
After he kissed where she asked, he kissed her, just above her perfect, womanly mound. When Rose shivered and let out an involuntary 'ahh,' he knew he was on the right path, but, being a virgin, he looked up at Rose to be sure he was doing what she wanted.
Although not quite a Virgin, Rose had only had limited experience in sexual matters. She was a popular, but good girl. Her experience with penetration was limited to a little vibrator she kept in her nightstand and the middle finger of one long-time boyfriend who'd found her opening during a few, passionate make-out sessions. She was about to take a big step, one she had avoided taking for twenty-one years, but one she wanted to take right now with this pretty little supplicant kneeling before her.
She looked down and saw his big, beautiful eyes looking up at her for guidance. "It's ok, baby," her whisper was hoarse and needy. "Go ahead. Use your tongue."
Tentatively at first, partly due to his inexperience and partly due to his gentleness, John tongued her opening. Each stoke elicited a grunt or a moan or a shiver from the goddess before him. When his tongue swept slowly across the little nub at the top of her cleft, her knees nearly gave out and she reached, involuntarily, for the back of his head and pushed his face firmly into her slit.
She let out a full throated scream of joy as he continued to tongue that spot. Soon she was convulsing, slamming his tongue deeper and deeper within her.
To John, her taste was pungent yet familiar. It tasted of her being. He could do this forever.
When she could take no more, she stepped back and pulled John's face away from her. He was nearly as flushed as she. "Oh, my God!" She muttered, over and over. "Oh, my God! Oh, my God!"
John sat back on his heels, his face sweaty and otherwise dampened, but still adorable and adolescent.
Knowing that he was not a child made this game so much more exciting than just a sexual encounter would have and Rose had no intention of letting it end here. "Stand up, baby," she whispered, offering him her hand. When he stood, she said, "Take off your shoes." When he did, he found his eye-line was now below the level of her shoulders, putting his mouth at exactly the right height to suckle on her nipple.
Rose moved his head to her breast and he kissed her beautiful nipple through her silky bra. Within a moment, Rose had pulled the bra cup to the side, allowing access to John. Without hesitation, he began kissing and licking her as he'd done to her down below before.
Rose's breathing was heavy. She buried her nose in his sweet smelling hair and whispered, "Oh, baby. Babies need to nurse on their mommies' breasts. Nurse on me, baby. Be my little girl."
If Rose's words were kinky, John didn't even notice. Still in his white dress with the navy-blue lace and still barefoot, he suckled on Rose and wished that she had milk to share with him, while Rose struggled to breath and ran her fingers through his soft, wavy hair.
On the verge of losing her wits, Rose fantasized about taking John, right here, right now. With no protection at all. As he slurped and suckled at her breasts, she imagined him in that dress, laying prone and helpless on the bed. She could picture herself mounting him and taking his organ in hers, thrusting and thrusting and thrusting till he screamed and moaned.
The vision in her mind's eye ended with Rose having a massive organism that shot ropes of cum into her little lover and seeing him shaking to try to milk her of every ounce of juice she could muster.
When she realized that her fantasy-self now possessed a large, proud penis, she smiled and wished that it could be so. It excited her so much that, without warning, she turned John so that his back was towards the bed, put her hands under his hairless armpits and lifted him completely off the floor, throwing him into the center of the bed.
He let out a thrilled, girlish giggle and, when he landed, his skirt bounced up, revealing the sewn-in tulle petticoat and the adorable, silk, lace panties below.
She had never been so turned on in her life. Is this what it was like to be a man? To know that you owned your lover and you could do whatever you wanted to her? To feel your desire so distinctly centered in your groin that your need for relief was nearly unbearable?
It must be.
John smoothed his skirt back down and smiled at the ravenous being who, he sensed, wanted to devour him. He'd never felt so vulnerable or so excited before. Rose, wearing only her bra, platform heels and earrings, was evaluating every inch of his body. Her look spoke of hunger, desire and need. A need he wanted to satisfy.
Before he'd had a moment to even consider what he was doing, he reached under his petticoat and raised his bottom so that he could slide his panties down his smooth, soft legs. The grin that crossed Rose's face, let him know he'd done what she wanted.
"Raise your skirt, little girl," Rose grunted, passionately. "Let me see what my baby was hiding in those pretty panties."
She'd seen it before, of course, but it was never quite this turgid. She wanted to mount him and to take it from him, but she knew that could lead to some very complicated results, so she opted to take a safer route and she crawled onto the bed and looked at the appendage between his legs.
"Do you think it could get harder?" She asked.
He nodded.
She smiled a Cheshire grin. "Make it harder."
John squirmed beneath her in an attempt to make himself harder.
"No, baby," she smiled. "Mama wants her baby to use his hand. Take your little toy and play with it. Make it as hard as you can. Mama wants a nice, firm dinky when she bites into it."
John took his right hand and gripped himself, rubbing gently to further stimulate himself. With his left hand, he pulled his skirts and petticoats away from the area that may be contaminated by his discharge.
Rose grinned at him. She loved that, in the heat of the moment, he was concerned about soiling his pretty, little dress.
His tool had grown long and stiff. It was a very reasonably proportioned organ and Rose was pleased to see her little charge so willingly masturbating himself for her.
"Oh, what a good little girl you are," she cooed as she spread his legs, lowered her head and licked his ball sack.
Her tongue sent a thrill up John's spine and he let out a whispered moan.
"Does that feel nice?" Rose giggled as she licked again. "Then let go of your dinky and let mommy lick it, too."
When he let go of his penis, Rose ran her tongue slowly up and down the shaft causing John to arch his back, thrusting his hips upward and staggering his breathing.
Rose kissed around the base of the shaft and pondered aloud, "I wonder if I could just bite that off and make you a girl for real. Wouldn't that be be nice?"
John just painted.
Rose smiled at his silence, then took the entire shaft into her mouth and gently allowed her teeth to grip his manhood, ever so slightly. Then she growled and shook her head like a dog trying to rip off a piece of meat. John shook with stimulation like he'd never
experienced and both wished that it were just that simple for him to actually to become a girl.
Finally, Rose made sure that she left his penis well lubricated with her saliva and she moved to lay behind him in the same spooning position she'd seen his sister adopt. With her right hand, she took his and guided it back to his groin. The she whispered, "I want to watch you do it yourself."
She laced her fingers through his and gripped him. Then she started the motion and whispered, "Come on, little girl, cum for mommy. Get rid of all that nasty boy juice and be mommy's good girl. That's what your really want, isn't it? To be my good, little girl?"
John grunted his agreement and she let go of his hand so he could work himself into a frenzy and while he did, Rose wet the middle finger of her right hand and slipped it under his skirts. When she sensed that the moment was about to arrive, she did what her former boyfriend had done to her and pushed her finger gently, but firmly deep into his anus and wiggled it furiously, pushing John further over the edge of ecstasy. She held it there as he squeezed out every bit of semen and she nibbled his ear as he shivered and shook and jerked and moaned.
While he panted, Rose whispered, "What a good little girl you are. Now, go clean yourself off, put on your nightie and get into bed before your real mommy gets home."
As he started to rise, he turned and looked at Rose's face. He was smiling and seemed to want to say something.
"What?" Rose asked.
"I love you," he finally said, quietly.
She pulled his face to hers and planted a long, gently kiss on his lips. "I love you, too, baby."
He pulled his head back and smiled a crooked smile, looking at her more closely than he'd ever done before. He cocked his head to one side and pushed all of his hair behind his head so that it all fell to one side, and he considered her face and hair and skin. She was, truly, everything he'd imagined she would be. With his makeup slightly mussed and his hair hanging as it was, still wearing his adorable little dress, he looked to Rose to be even more bright eyed and innocent than before they'd started.
He leaned down and planted another soft, chaste kiss on her lips, before standing, looking around for a moment to gather his shoes and panties. When he reached the door, he turned to her and gazed at her for another moment or two.
"Good night, Rose."
"Sleep tight, Bebe," she smiled back at him.
He smiled at the name. He was happy. "See you in the morning," and he went to his own room.
Tuesday's morning run-through went very well and Ms Weldon was there to take notes. At some point during Act 5, John noticed Rita was sitting behind Ms Weldon. She was dressed much more casually than he'd seen her before, but she too was taking notes and turning a very critical eye on the cast.
When he was not on stage, John felt just a bit awkward about Rita being there. It was kind of like having your mom watching you work. Once he was in a scene, though, he was oblivious to anything outside of the environment of the performance.
Before lunch, Ms Weldon gave notes, but she asked the cast to sit and wait for a moment before she started, then she turned and discussed a few things with the Assistant Director and, strangely enough, Rita.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen," Ms Weldon said with a lot of enthusiasm, "let's get these notes over with so that you can all get to lunch." A few people clapped at that.
"First and foremost, let me just say that I am very... VERY impressed with this cast. You people have so far exceeded my expectations that, for the first time in my life, I only have a couple of pages of notes. Very, very good work! Give yourselves a big round of applause!"
They all applauded.
Ms Weldon walked them all through a list of minor, yet important, things that she'd written down throughout the run. Everyone took notice of any changes or improvements. Most were just minor changes in blocking or set-piece placement to make things work more smoothly.
Finally, though, she said, "Katie and Bianca - act 5, scene 2, at the wedding dinner, I'm looking for something just a little bit more extreme in the scene to indicate that things have changed for you two. Kate, when you leave with the widow, I'm going to have you change into a different dress. It's similar to your maroon dress, but a little more feminine. Less... shrewish, I guess. Jan put something nice together for you. Jan, could you show us, please?"
Jan, who had come in at some point during the notes, pulled a sheet off of a sewing form. The dress was also maroon, but much more feminine. There was a lace trim around the neck line that offered Rose as 'married-Kate' a bit more modesty and a lot more femininity than her other costumes. There was also a series of lace patterns circling the waist of the dress and, like all of John's costumes, a little bit of lace peeking out from under the hem.
"It's beautiful," John whispered to Rose. She nodded in excited agreement.
"I think that will make your acquiescence to Petruchio's requests a bit more logical. You'll be wearing it through that long speech at the end, too, so you'll look even more beautiful than ever."
Rose nodded, then called to Jan, "Thank you, Jan! It's beautiful!"
Jan smiled, please to be appreciated.
"And Bianca," Ms Weldon continued, "in the same scene. I think it's important that you look as if you are making a lot of financial demands on your husband, right off the bat. I know it's not necessarily historically accurate to have an actual 'wedding dress,' but I asked Jan to go way over the top so that it would be obvious that Lucentio is definitely not in charge of the purse strings now that you're married. Jan, can we see that one?"
Even the men gasped when Jan pulled the sheet to reveal the dress. It was amazing. Primarily white and baby blue, it sat off the shoulder with two puffy balls of material on the bicep of each arm, each separated by a a band of baby blue that matched the the trim at the top of the bodice. At the elbow, the sleeve blossomed out into three, loose hanging cones of alternating color - blue, white, blue.
The inserts that covered the sides of the bodice and skirt were a pattern of baby-blue, light-blue and white plaid, with the center panels white with oversized wild flowers seemingly hand painted onto the fabric.
"Oh, my goodness," John was nearly breathless at the sight of the garment.
"I can't wait to see you in that," Rose whispered. "You're going to look amazing."
Everyone applauded for the dresses and Jan, once again, enjoyed the appreciation.
"Alright, Ladies and gentlemen," Ms Weldon announced, "you finished early, so you get an hour and fifteen for lunch - EXCEPT - Lucentio, Kate and Bianca! Bianca, go see Jan. Lucentio and Kate, in my office for a few moments, please. Thank you all, again, for your hard work!"
As Jan laced up the back of the dress, John stood and stared at himself in the mirror. Being a girl was SOOOO different than being a guy when it came to clothes. He'd worn at least a hundred costumes as an actor, and some had been fun, but most had been pretty run of the mill. Every dress that Bianca wore - or even the ones that Bebe wore - was a new and exciting adventure. Every single one gave him goosebumps. Why was this so? Why couldn't men wear beautiful clothes, too?
"What do you think, honey?" Jan asked.
"Oh, Jan..." he fluffed the skirt and swayed them from side to side in adolescent excitement, "it is so beautiful. You're spoiling me! Thank you, so much!" He bounced to watch the skirt move, then turned and kissed Jan's cheek before giving her a big hug.
"You're very welcome, dear." Jan was a bit surprised by the girlishness of his behavior, but she accepted the hug. "You deserve it. You know, I have worked with Ms Weldon for over a decade and, I have to tell you, I have NEVER, seen her take an interest in anyone the way that she has it you. This whole TV show thing, John... I swear, she is more nervous and excited about it than you are. Did you know that they're bringing Don Ferry, the lead actor, out to read with you?"
John was startled and shook his head. "No! Really?"
"They are and they're sending out a costume assistant to take a look at you, too. Honestly, John, I think you're really, really close to getting this. Wait and see!"
John's Heart was fluttering and he held his hand to his breast to catch his breath. "Oh, my, Jan. I can't even think that way, right now. Holy cow."
He'd gotten a bit pale, so Jan led him to a stool to catch his breath when Rita entered with Rose and Ed following. All had huge grins on their faces.
"There's my angel!" Rita gushed. "Are you ready for tomorrow?" She turned to Jan, "Did you tell her the good news?"
Jan nodded.
"Alright, sweetie," Rita was in her 'Show Business' persona, "tomorrow's the big day. Maureen has decided that the three of you will be leaving at three o'clock, today. You are all to go straight home, have a good meal and get into bed as early as you can. Do I make myself abundantly clear?"
"Yes, ma'am," John replied.
Finally, Rose could not contain herself any longer, "Bebe, do you understand what Rita just said? We ALL have to get to bed, early. Baby! Ed and I are getting screen tested tomorrow, too! Isn't that amazing!?"
"Oh, my God!" John leapt up and grabbed them both, together, in a group hug. "But how? Who are you reading for?"
"I'll answer that," Rita said with a little smugness. "I now represent these two budding thespians and, to tell you the truth, I liked the chemistry I saw between the three of you. I liked it a lot. So, I called the casting director and, since they're going to be here anyway, he's going to read you all. There are lots of un-cast parts on the show. I think he should consider all of you for whatever he needs."
"Rita, you're unbelievable!" It was her turn to receive a baby-bear hug from John.
"I know I am, honey. That's why I make the big bucks!"
To Be Continued...
Kiss Me, Bianca - 5
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How will they all handle the pressure? Are they looking for someone like John or someone like Bebe?
Installment six is well underway. I hope that I don't make you wait too long.
Author's Note: I have received so many wonderful and supportive emails about this story! Thank you to everyone! As always, I love to hear your critiques! Thank you, again, for all of your support! Please? Leave me a review?
I am always willing to learn! ~Clara.
This version of Kiss Me Bianca: 5 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.
THE LONG NIGHT -or- TO SLEEP, PERCHANCE TO DREAM
"I don't know how much sounds like a lot of money to you, Mrs Foley..."
"DOCTOR Foley," Marilyn interrupted Rita. She usually let the prefix alone when not on campus, but when dealing with people in other professions, it didn't hurt to remind them that her full name was 'Dr. Marilyn Foley, Ph.D.' "I'm sorry, you were saying?" Rita was in business mode, which Marilyn found a bit phony and she didn't love having people giving off the 'Let Me Tell You Something,' vibe in her own house.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Foley," Rita was unperturbed. "My point was, what seems like an exorbitant amount of money in Massachusetts is not enough to survive on for an actor in LA. When an actor is working, she needs to make as much money as she can because (A) she never knows how long the job will last or when the next one will come along and (B) the cost of living in a nice, clean, safe area of LA is extremely high! If they make John an offer, I want to be there to drive the price as high as I can."
"So, you need Johnny to sign this agreement before you can advocate for him at the callback tomorrow, is that correct?"
"Yes, it is. John and Rose and Edward. All three stand the chance of a very nice payday and, in all honesty, Mrs... Dr. Foley, I am their best chance to get that payday."
Marilyn sighed. What the hell did she know about entertainment contracts? She knew that lots of people got screwed in academia, of course, and she'd heard a lot about musicians signing away their rights, but... who the heck could she talk to about this? She only had about twenty one hours before the kids had to do whatever they had to do.
"Look, Ms Gomez..."
"Rita, please, Dr Foley."
Marilyn nodded. "Look, Rita, you may write contracts like this everyday, but this is all new to me and the kids. I don't know what Rose's parents do for a living, but I know Ed's dad is an electrician and his mom works as a medical billing clerk. I know that the kids are all 'adults' in the eyes of the law, but I am not going to advise Johnny to sign anything unless it has been looked at by someone I trust - or at least someone who has no 'horse in the race.' I just don't know who to turn to with so little time."
"I understand, Dr Foley, but I don't know who you could talk to, other than your family lawyer. Maybe he'd know someone."
Marilyn shook her head. In fact, the lawyer she'd used for years had passed away recently. She hadn't searched out anyone new. She sipped her coffee and asked, "Realistically, Rita, how much money are we talking about?"
Rita thought for a moment. "I don't want to make any promises, you understand, but this production company is a partnership with ABC, which is, of course, owned by Disney, so, this is a very well funded show. Now, John is an unknown entity, but I have made it clear that I'm going to be shopping him around to everyone, so I suspect that they'll make a good offer - and - as I said, it's my responsibility to try to get a lot more than that. Now, I'll do what I can for Edward and Rose, but John will be the key to anyone getting on the show. Realistically, with no credits and not being the primary focus of the show, I think that they would probably make an offer of somewhere in the area of fifteen to twenty thousand dollars per show..."
Marilyn's jaw dropped. "Per SHOW!?"
"Yes, Doctor, but I think I can PROBABLY do considerably better than that. I think he could end up making as much as thirty thousand dollars per episode if things go as well as I hope they will."
With her heart racing at the thought of making a mistake on her son's behalf, Marilyn suddenly had a thought. "Rita, will you excuse me for a few moments? I think I know who to call."
"Of course," Rita knew that John's mom was hooked.
Marilyn still had concerns, but she turned to the only advisors she could think of. She hit a saved contact on her phone. When a voice came through it said, "Thank you for calling Emerson College. How may I direct your call?"
"Hello," Marilyn said as cheerily as she could. "I wonder if you might help me figure out who I need to speak to." She went on to summarize her situation, then waited while the receptionist connected her to someone in the Vocational Assistance Office.
"Hi, kids!"
"Rita!" Rose smiled as she placed her rehearsal bag near one of the couches. "I didn't know you'd be here!"
"Well, I'm here for two reasons. Number one - to check that you all came straight home after rehearsal, which, I see, you and John, obviously did, but you, Edward," she teased, "did not go straight home, so you're in trouble."
"Actually," Ed smiled, "I did. I'm actually home. I'm sleeping here tonight. My brothers are all at my parents' place and, if I want to get a good night's sleep, I'll be better off here."
"Good thinking, Edward," Rita smiled.
"What's the second reason?" John asked.
"We have to talk some business if I'm going to represent the bunch of you, tomorrow. I need you to sign representative contracts or I can't negotiate on your behalf."
"Ok," Ed clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Where do I sign?"
"Ed," Rose touched Ed's arm to get his attention. "Umm, I think we should talk to our parents about this. My dad will kill me if I sign something without checking with him, first."
"Yeah, ok," Ed continued rubbing his hands, "I understand what you're saying, but it's different for me. You guys are real actors. I'm not. I'm an engineering student, remember? I never even considered ever doing something like this. Without Rita, I'd never even consider doing it, so... where so I sign?"
Rita laughed. "That's nice, Edward, but Rose is right. You need to talk to your parents before you sign."
"Speaking of parents," John was looking past Rita, "where's my mom?"
"She's in her room, I think. She's calling someone to ask advice about these contracts."
"Who's she calling?"
"I called that School in Boston where my son and my money go," Marilyn said as she pushed past John heading towards the kitchen. "Come on, kids," she flashed a look at Rita, "let's all go sit around the big table in the screened room. We have a lot to talk about."
They all sat, with Rita sitting opposite Marilyn, who was trying to rub the stress out of her eyes. "Geez, kids, there's a lot to think about here. Essentially, these contracts sign you to be represented exclusively by Rita until such time as SHE opts to terminate the contract. Isn't that so, Rita?"
"It is," Rita nodded. "It's my standard agreement with my clients. I'm not an amateur, Dr Foley. My clients are all good and my clients all work unless THEY mess up their careers."
Marilyn nodded. "Well, the man I spoke to in Boston said that he didn't 'love' that clause, but he'd heard of you, Rita, and he said that he'd recommend that the kids take a chance on you because, well, as for the rest of the contract, he said it seemed almost too generous for unknown actors."
"There you go," Rita held her palms up. "I told you. I'm here to look out for their best interests - that's what's best for my best interests, too."
Marilyn leaned back and crossed her arms. "Rita... I want to be honest. I've never won a lottery or a raffle or anything else. You seem too good to be true, so, I'm wondering... are you?"
Rita smiled. "I may well be, Dr Foley, but I'm for real. One hundred percent for real. If these kids sign with me, I cannot promise they'll get these roles, but I guarantee that they'll be working and making a damned good living as actors. Maybe in TV. Maybe in film. Maybe on stage, but they'll be working. That's what I do, Dr Foley - I get my clients work and lots of it."
Marilyn looked at Rose. "Honey, What do your parents do for work?"
"My dad's an oral surgeon and my mom is a stay at home mom. Why?"
"I'd like to talk to your dad as soon as I can, honey. I'd like to talk to him about this contract."
Rose nodded. "He's not available until after five, but I'll call him, then."
"Great. Ed - I already talked to your dad."
"Yeah?" Ed asked. "What did he have to say?"
"After he got over the shock of hearing that you were auditioning for a TV show, he said that it sounded like a great opportunity, but he'd like you to call him to talk before you sign."
"Well, ok!" He stood. "If you'll all excuse me, I'll go give my dad a call."
When Ed was done talking, he returned to the kitchen and once again said, "Where do I sign?"
"Your dad's ok with everything?" John asked.
"Hunky Dory! He said that if I wanted to give it a try, he was fine with it."
Rose stood. "I'm going to give my mom a call. See what she thinks."
While Ed and Rita spoke about the contract, John said, "What do you think, mom?"
She shrugged. "Johnny... I don't know. I just wish I had a day or two so I could see a few lawyers to be sure you weren't being taken. I mean, you're an adult, so, ultimately, the decision is yours, but... I just don't want to make any mistakes. This all seems so important to you."
He nodded. "It is, mom. It's very important."
She looked at the little girl her son had become. He was wearing a very simple, yellow, cotton, sleeveless dress she'd bought him at a thrift store. His eyes were so big and innocent, that it nearly broke her heart to even consider disappointing him. Had he always been this pretty little child and she'd just never seen it? Just a few weeks ago, he seemed like a confident guy. Now...
"Johnny," Marilyn searched for the right words. "Do you remember that story I read you when you were about thirteen or fourteen? The one by Kurt Vonnegut?"
He thought for a moment. "I remember reading 'Slaughterhouse Five' in high school..."
"No. This was a short story about a young man. He had no personality at all, but he he was a great actor for the local community theater. Remember? When he played Stanley Kowlaski he became passionate and abusive. When he played Romeo, he became obsessed with his costar. Etc. Do you remember that story?"
He thought for a moment before the story occurred to him. "I do remember! The girl bought him a whole bunch of scripts of romantic plays until he proposed. I remember it, now. It was called, 'Who Am I This Time,' right?"
"That's the one, yes! Now, think about that story. Is that what's happening to you?"
He shook his head. "Mom, it's just for a role..."
"No, Johnny, it's not. Ed said it last night. It's hard to remember John's still in there, now. You're different. You're really Bebe, now, Johnny. You're not twenty any more - you're a child. You're frailer. You're more emotional. I swear you're even smaller than you used to be! These contracts, Johnny... if you were still Johnny - still a man - I'd tell you to sign it in a second, but you're not, baby. You're a child, Johnny, a little girl. If I advise you to sign this, I'm sending my little girl out on her own and I'm scared. I look at you and I see someone who needs to be protected - to be cared for. How can I possibly let you go to LA on your own? Ever since Rita showed up with these contracts, this has all become far too real! I don't think I can do it. I really don't!"
"Mom, come on, you need to be rational. I'm not a child. I'm an adult. I'm a man..."
Marilyn was nearly hyperventilating and she was starting to cry. "No you're not Johnny. You WERE a man, but, like that guy in the book, you've become your character in real life. Johnny, you're a little girl. You can't take care of yourself. You are dependent on older women - Rose, Ms Weldon, Rita, me - for everything! We guide you. We dress you. We feed you. We care for all of your needs. Johnny, please don't ask me if you should sign those papers. I don't know what to tell you!"
"Mom..."
"I was talking to Nancy yesterday, honey, and she made some good points."
"Oh, mom, come on. Nancy doesn't support my choice to be an actor at all. You wouldn't believe the conversation we had on the way home from the air port."
"Johnny, it's not that I'm not proud of you, I am, I really am, but... Johnny, Nancy is right, you've actually become this little girl. I admit, I was so proud of you until I spoke to Rita and I realized that you are going to be leaving - not just for a night, but forever and, look at you , Johnny... you're a... child."
Both of them were shaking and tears were gathering in their eyes.
"Mom," John whispered. "I love you more than I can explain, but..." he slid a copy of the contract to himself, grabbed a pen and signed it. "I'm doing the callback tomorrow and, if Rita can help me, then..."
There was silence as Marilyn realized that Ed and Rita had been listening to their conversation. They were both watching in stunned silence.
"Johnny," she finally took her son's petite hand and kissed it. "I'm sorry. I'm just not as strong as I thought I was." She kissed his hand again, then left the table. "I'm going to take a walk," she called over her shoulder as she passed Rose on the way out the door.
Rose looked at the shocked faces of the people surrounding the table. "What's going on?"
John got up and hurried out of the room before he lost control.
"Is he ok?" She asked.
Ed gave a long, slow exhale. "I don't know. His mom is... scared, I guess. They kinda had a fight. She's gone for a walk."
"What did your mom say, Rose?" Rita asked.
"Oh," Rose came back to the matter at hand. "She's on the phone. Can she speak to you?"
"Sure, dear. Give me your phone."
John had stayed in his room all evening. Rose made grilled cheese sandwiches for Ed and Marilyn for dinner. It was a subdued
conversation. Marilyn tried to smile and be normal for the kids, but she felt awful. She'd never had to speak to anyone the way she'd spoken to John earlier and Nancy's warnings about his mental stability gnawed at her tremendously.
Finally, after the kitchen was cleaned and the trash had been taken out, everyone headed to their beds early. By nine o'clock, the house was silent. Rose was tossing in her room, Marilyn was trying in vain to read in hers and Ed had taken one of the day beds in the breezeway where he was staring at the ceiling. No one had heard from John since his door had closed earlier.
It was nearly two in the morning while Ed was watching a super hero movie on his iPad that he sensed someone standing near him. He looked to his right, towards the door to the big room and he spotted John standing in the doorway.
He pulled his ear buds out and said, "Hi," very quietly.
"Hi," John whispered in return. He was wearing a simple, sheer, lavender nightgown that hung sleeveless from his shoulders and ended mid thigh. There was nothing overly feminine about the night gown, but the simplicity of it made it look all the more feminine and natural for a young teenaged girl to wear.
"You ok?"
John shrugged. "I guess. Can't sleep."
Ed laughed. "Me neither. I can't believe I have an audition for a TV show in a few hours. You must be a wreck."
John sat on the day bed on the opposite wall. "I guess. It's more to do with my mom, though. I never really challenged her before. I just... Well, I feel bad, I guess. I can't believe that Nancy tried to undermine me like that. You saw mom Monday. She was a hundred percent behind this. A few words from Nancy, though..."
Ed could see the tears twinkling in John's eyes. "Hey, John..." that just didn't feel like the right name for this pretty girl. "... I know your mom and sister and no matter what, I know that they love you. They're just concerned, you know? They'll get past it. I know that they will."
John shrugged and shivered in the cool, night air. There were no blankets on the day bed on which he sat, but Ed, who was wearing sweat pants and a Boston Bruins hockey shirt had grabbed a blanket from the linen closet before going to bed. He sat up and grabbed it from the foot of the bed and put it over John's shoulders. Then he hugged his friend and kissed the part on the top of his head. "Better?"
John nodded.
Ed sat back on his bed, with his back up against the wall that acted as the head board of the bed.
"Ed," John asked, tentatively. "Do you see me as a guy any more?"
Not wanting to hurt his friend, but wanting to be honest, he said, "Not really. Sorry."
John shrugged again. "It's ok. How do you see me then?"
"Wow," Ed rolled his eyes at the enormity of the question. "I guess - when we're at rehearsal, I kind of see you as a beautiful woman. To tell you the truth - when you're Bianca, you're kinda my dream woman. You're beautiful and smart and you like video games..."
He let that linger.
"How about when we're not at rehearsal?"
"That's complicated." Ed thought a little. "At first, honestly, I wanted to date you. You're just so pretty. Honest, John, you're unbelievable. But - after I saw you with those girls, well, you kinda became 'Bebe' instead of 'Bianca' and I see 'Bebe' more as like a little sister or a younger cousin than a potential girlfriend. Does that make sense?"
John contemplated that. "Ok. I get it." Then he was silent.
"I didn't upset you, did I?" Ed was truly confused by what he should say in this bizarre situation.
"I don't know," half way through the sentence, the water works let loose.
"John... Johnny... Bebe," Ed searched for the words. Finally, the right words occurred to him. "Come here."
John nearly fell onto the bed next to Ed and buried his head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. Maybe my mom's right. Maybe I'll never be a man again..."
Ed put his arm around John and hugged him. "John... Bebe... man, what should I call you?"
"I don't care. Whatever you want to call me."
Ed took a breath. This heart-to-heart stuff was very tough for him. "Beebs... ever since we were kids, you have always been the best actor I knew and I get it - you needed to be Bianca all the time and that just led you to being Bebe... but I swear, I KNOW that if you needed to play a role like Liam Neeson in one of those 'Taken' movies, within an hour, you'd be the toughest, 'I'm not taking any shit from anyone,' guy in the world! Acting is who you are, so, for now, that means that you need to be Bebe - or Bianca - or - whatever... you know what I mean?"
John appreciated the kindness that Ed was extending and the warmth he was stealing from Ed's body. "Thanks, Ed. You're really a great friend, you know, that, right?"
"Johnny... I'm not great at this, but you know that I love you, right. Like... you're my only real friend and you're, like, my brother... or sister... or... you know..."
"I know." John kissed his big friend's cheek. "Do you mind if I stay here a while?"
Ed moved to the side and laid with his back against the windowed wall, pulling John tightly up against him. "Stay as long as you want." He kissed the back of John's head and whispered, "And remember - we all love you. Even Nancy and your mom. We all love you."
Sometime after four-thirty that morning, Ed's eyes opened again. This time, it was Marilyn sitting on the opposite daybed. She was looking at her little son, wrapped up in a warm blanket and being held by Ed who was uncovered.
"Hi," Ed whispered.
"Hi," Marilyn whispered back.
After a few minutes of silence, Marilyn whispered, "You need to pass this audition, Ed. You and Rose, both."
Ed screwed up his tired eyes. "I'll do my best, Mrs... um... Dr Foley."
Marilyn snorted. "'Mrs.' is fine. Ed... I'm very concerned about him. I know he's leaving and I want to be happy for him."
"You should be, Mrs. F. Wait till you see him on stage, he's..."
"He's amazing... he's incredible... he's the best... yeah, I've heard that... but he's my baby, Ed and he's more my baby now than ever. You need to get onto this show with him, Ed. I need you to take care of him."
Ed smiled. "Like Samwise Gamgee in 'The Lord of the Rings.' Like he took care of Frodo."
Marilyn shook her head. She'd read all the Tolkien books to the boys when they were tiny. It was one of her favorite ways to pass a cool, rainy, summer evening. "Like a big brother, Ed. Make sure nothing happens her."
Ed nodded. "Her?"
She stood and moved the hair from John's face, planting a soft kiss on his smooth, soft, scented cheek. "I think so."
JUDGEMENT DAY -or- ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD
Breakfast was quiet. Ed ran to a local bakery, not all the way to the one in Harwich Port, and got some cinnamon rolls. They all pulled and poked at them, but no one really dug into them. Even Ed only ate two thirds of one. Usually, he was good for two or three rolls.
"Aren't you all excited?" Marilyn asked, trying to lighten the mood, but acutely aware that the reason for the tension was her outburst the night before.
"I thought I would be," Rose folded her arms and leaned back in frustration, "but I'm just petrified."
"Me too," hissed Ed, as he wiped his hands on a napkin. "Petrified."
"Well..." Marilyn couldn't imagine the pressure they were feeling and the added pressure she'd laid on Ed earlier. "Do your best, right? I mean, that's all you can do."
She got up and left the room for a moment, returning with a brush and John's flat iron and she went to work on his hair.
"I can do it, mom."
"I know you can, honey... but... I'd like to do it for you today. I know you find it relaxing and, to be honest, I like to do it for you."
John sat tensely while Marilyn ran the brush gently through his long, thick hair.
Ed smiled. He knew that Marilyn was trying to thaw the iciness of last night. Rose saw Ed's smile and realized it, too.
"Umm... Ed?" She said. "What do you say you and I go out into the breezeway and we can talk some more about the techniques I've been taught for acting on camera?"
"Oh, that'd be great!" Ed said with way too much enthusiasm.
Marilyn continued brushing and looking for the right words to say. As she went to work with the flat iron, John broke the silence. "Mom..."
"Yes, dear?" Marilyn hoped that this would be a positive
conversation, but she wasn't sure if John was ready to talk or lash out.
"Mom..." he stuttered again. "About last night... I'm really sorry that we fought. I feel really bad about it."
Marilyn stopped her work, closed her eyes and took a moment to thank God for such a wonderful child. Then she held her head next to his in a kind of hug and kissed his temple, still warm from the flat iron. "Honey... I shouldn't have said... look, I know how important all of this is to you and... I'm just frightened for you, Johnny."
"I know, mom, but, please, don't listen to Nancy. She just doesn't understand..."
"Johnny, I want you to know that Nancy is only being... well, let's say 'bossy' for lack of a better word, because she adores you, baby. You are her baby brother and she's afraid that you'll be hurt and she doesn't want that to happen. To be honest, that's why the things she said resonated with me. I don't want you to be hurt, either."
"I know, mom, but..."
"No, please, let me finish, baby. I didn't sleep a wink last night, Johnny. All I wanted to do was go into your room and hold you. I hated how I behaved last night, but I need you to know that I take Nancy's concerns seriously - BUT - I am done being a bitch, honey. I don't want you to hate me and I don't want to hold you back, either. So, go to rehearsal and then knock 'em dead at the callback, ok?"
"Mommy." John was becoming a little emotional and the word just popped out of his mouth without him noticing, Marilyn noticed though and her heart leapt in her chest. "I could never hate you. Or Nancy. I know this has all gotten really weird, but... it's what I need to do right now. Maybe things will change after the run of 'Shrew,' but right now, this is who I am. Ok?"
She hugged him from behind and kissed him again. "Ok. I love you."
"Love you, too, mom."
The run through went well, but John didn't feel like he was in 'the zone' because he kept checking the clock. Rose felt the same way and so did Ed, but they all kept their heads in the game well enough to support the rest of the cast. All in all, the show felt ready!
At 11:30, Ms Weldon addressed both casts.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she announced, "I know that you're all interested in the process that is going to be taking place here, today, and I know that you all want to support the three cast members who will be reading for the crew, but I can't allow you to be in THIS ROOM during the auditions." There were several disappointed groans. "Now, of course, you're all welcome to take the afternoon off and go home, if you'd like, but if you'd like to stay, I have set up a seventy-inch monitor in the other rehearsal hall. If you'd like to watch, you can do so in there. It'll just be a static feed from that camera," she pointed at a camera on the wall, "and the sound will be as good as we can get it. Ok? So, go have some lunch, and if you want to watch the process, please be in the other studio no later than 1:00. They will start at 1:30 on the dot and I need the hallways to be clear and silent. So, don't be late. Any questions?"
There were none.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and enjoy your lunch."
It took quite a while for everyone to exit the hall. They all wanted to wish the trio good luck and said things like, "Don't forget us when you're famous," and "Maybe we should get your autograph, now, before the crowds get too big." It was all very flattering, but somewhat odd to be congratulated BEFORE they'd even auditioned. It was all meant to be friendly, but resulted in more pressure.
"Alright, my beautiful ladies," Jan appeared at the end of the line, "come with me and I'll make you even more beautiful. Ed, get your suit coat on and I'll make it look like it was tailored at Armani. Let's go, people!"
In minutes, Rose and John were in their bras and panties in Jan's studio. John was going to wear the same white dress with navy-blue lace that he'd worn to dinner two days earlier. Rose, following Jan's advice, planned to wear a less formal dress than she usually wore - something flattering, but less form fitting than her usual choices.
Jan started with Rose, she pinned up the bodice just a bit, then handed the dress to one of her team of seamstresses to sew it up.
Then she turned to John who was stepping into his dress. "Oh, yes, that's adorable. I like that. It's young and pretty. Just perfect."
"Jan," John asked, "are you sure I should be wearing a dress? I mean, I went through this with Rita in LA, too, but I'm supposed to be auditioning for the role of a boy."
"I know, sweetie," Jan nodded, "but Ms Weldon and Rita both agree that, since you're going to be looking like a girl, no matter what, you should be as pretty as possible."
"Ok," he agreed.
Rose's dress, which looked great before, looked unbelievable after the alterations.
A few tucks and stitches, and Ed's suit coat from JC Penny's looked just as classy as one from Brooks Brothers.
"They're here," Ms Weldon told them. "They need about fifteen minutes to set up and then, you're on, kids."
All three went just a little pale.
"Now, look," Ms Weldon smiled, "This is just one audition. It is not the be-all-and-end-all of your careers. I hope that it all goes great, but if it doesn't, there will be more opportunities down the road. Ok?"
They all smiled and nodded, but that wasn't how they felt. They all felt like it was now-or-never.
They were allowed to all enter together. Rita introduced them to everyone. John recognized the casting director, Jim Sheldon, and the camera operator from LA. Some of the other faces looked familiar, too, but the most familiar was Don Ferry, the star of the show who flown out to read against John.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen," the casting director said to both the people in the room and people watching in the neighboring room. "We're going to be as quick as we can, today, but I think we'll be here for at least an hour and a half to do what we need to do. We're going to start by reading for some of the smaller roles, first, so..." He pulled some papers from a folder and organized them on the table in front of him. "... Ed? Looks like you're up!"
"Shit," Ed whispered as he stood and shook hands with the people at the desk and took the script pages they wanted him to look at.
"Ok, Ed. You're looking at the part of Ronnie. He's a twenty something guy, a rookie cop and a bit of a smart ass. Take a minute to look at it and try to hit the humor where you can. Ok?"
"Ok," Ed replied. His hands shook slightly as he looked over the pages.
"You can do this, Buddy," John whispered through clenched teeth. The only person to hear him, though was Rose. She let out a nervous breath, herself.
"All set?" The Jim asked, but it wasn't a question. It was time for Ed to start. "This is Sven and he will be reading the other parts. You just read Ronnie for us. Ok?"
Sven began. There was no sign of emotion of interest in Sven's delivery. He simply spoke the words. "Are you nuts, Ron? That building has to be ten stories high. You'd be isolated up there. I can't let you do it."
Ed was thrown off by the mechanical delivery of the production assistant and stuttered as he began to read - not act - read. "Look, Jacobs, you and I both know that there's no alternative. Besides, it's only eight stories. I could jump to the building next door if I need to."
"No. It's my call and I'm saying no." Sven's delivery remained robotic.
"Well, then you explain that to the mother of the next kid he kills. This is our only chance to nail him and I'm the hammer that's going to drive that nail home." If anything, Ed was getting more robotic as things went on. He was matching the delivery Sven was giving him.
John could see the subtle head shakes coming from the production table. Ed was going down in flames.
"Umm," the casting director interrupted. "I think that's fine for now, Ed. Thank you."
John saw the devastation of Ed's face and his heart broke. He wanted to run to Ed and hug him, but instead, from somewhere in the room someone shouted, "No! Let me read with him!"
John turned to see who had spoken, only to see everyone's eyes trained on him. It was only then that he realized that the person who had shouted was, in fact, himself.
Shocked by his own brashness, he stood and walked daintily to the table, trying not to look as frightened as he felt. In his head was a frantic loop of condemnation at having just ruined his own chances. 'You idiot. You idiot. You idiot. You idiot..."
"No," the actual director spoke up, "I think we've see enough."
John reached the table, a child in a pretty dress and a pretty face. "Please," he whispered, his back to Ed, "you've come all this way. He's really, really good. He's just inexperienced. Let me read the same scene with him. You'll love him. I promise."
They all exchanged glances before shrugging and nodding. 'Why not?' seemed to be the final decision.
John thanked Sven as he took the pages from him. He walked to Ed and whispered to him, "Forget about them. It's just you and me and we've done this a million times, right?"
"I don't know, Johnny," Ed whispered his reply. "I shouldn't be here. I suck at this. I think I need to puke."
"Hey!" John said a bit louder, but still in a whisper. "Don't wimp out on me, now! I need you." He landed a gentle, but poignant punch to Ed's stomach, getting his attention and making him smile just a bit at the feebleness of John's punch. "There's no one here but you and me. Close your eyes, take a breath and do this right. Ready?"
Ed nodded.
"All set," John called back to the desk.
"Ok," the casting director acknowledged. "Role camera."
Suddenly, out of the mouth of this pretty little girl came the voice of a seasoned police officer. The voice barked at the young man opposite her, "Are you nuts, Ron? That building has to be ten stories high. You'd be isolated up there. I can't let you do it."
"Look, Jacobs, you and I both know that there's no alternative. Besides, it's only eight stories. I could jump to the building next door if I need to." This time, Ed's delivery was animated and expressive, making it actually exciting.
"No. It's my call and I'm saying no." John turned, as if to walk away, but Ed ran in front of him and took a demanding, but uncertain stand, perfect for a brave, rookie cop.
"Well, then you explain that to the mother of the next kid he kills." Ed barked back into John's face. His delivery was righteous, but not hokey. "This is our only chance to nail him and I'm the hammer that's going to drive that nail home."
This time the director didn't stop Ed. He let the scene continue and, four pages later, he finally shouted, "That'll do! Great job!"
The room erupted into applause. John took Ed's hand. Ed bowed and John curtsied. They returned the pages and took their seats.
The production team compared notes for a moment or two, then the casting director called out, "Rose, if you would, please take a moment to look over these two scenes. John, please take a look at them, too."
The first scene was between the older son, Matt, and his girlfriend. Nothing earth shaking, just a conversation about something that happened at school. Mostly, the girlfriend was complaining about someone spilling chocolate milk on her dress while the boyfriend tried to change the subject. There wasn't much meat to the scene, but Rose did an admirable job.
The second scene was one John recognized. It involved the two brothers and how they were coping with an tragedy in the family. "Rose," the director said, "please please the role of Matt and ignore the gender of your character. Read it as if you were the other character's sister. Ok?"
"Yes, sir," she smiled her most radiant smile and turned to John.
As the younger sibling, Alex, John's character, was supposed to be having trouble coping with the situation. He did his best and, if you closed your eyes, it sounded just like a fourteen year old boy was struggling with an issue. If you opened them, though, that boy looked a lot like a fourteen year old girl.
"Excellent," the director said when they'd finished. "Now, just humor me. I'm curious about how differently you'd do this. Please, do the scene again, only this time, John, please read the scene as if Alex was a girl. I keep hearing how amazing you are as Bianca and now I'm just curious."
"Ok."
They started again, but it was entirely different this time. This time, John's delivery was much more plaintive and vulnerable, while Rose's was much more empathetic and nurturing. They both flicked different switches and their characters took on whole new dimensions. When they'd finished, Ed heard the Casting Director's Assistant mutter, "Well, ho-ly shit," under his breath. Right then and there, he knew that John had nailed it. He felt good about Rose's chances, too, but he thought that he'd just be driving them to the airport to wave goodbye when they left.
Unexpectedly, the star of the show, Don Ferry, stood and walked out onto the floor where Rose and John were awaiting instructions. "Wow!" He said with exaggerated encouragement, "I must say that I am humbled to be in the presence of such great actors." He touched each of them and threw a hand towards Ed to indicate that he was included in his evaluation, too. Ed just mobbed his thanks.
"Ok, do you know the plot of the show, yet?" He asked. They both shook their heads that they did not.
"Alright. So, in the first episode, the father, that's me, is trying to keep a group of gangsters out of the town. Corny, right? But the script writes it really well. Anyway, the gangsters take revenge on the father, who is, obviously, a cop, and they set his house on fire, killing his wife and the mother of his children. Without a wife to raise his children, the father moves back in with his own mother, the children's grandmother, and they struggle to make a new life and, since the show takes place in the early 1960s, that gives us a lot to deal with, too. Civil rights. The JFK assassination, The Beatles, if the show lasts long enough, there's Vietnam, the moon landing, and the drug culture. All kinds of fuel for the script. Sound good?"
"Yeah!" Both John and Rose agreed. It's sounded very exciting.
"Great!" He handed them more scenes. "Ok, so in this scene, I'm explaining why we need to move in with my mother. You guys don't want to move out of your neighborhood, especially you, Rose, since you're a senior in high school. Where it says 'football,' just say something else - like field hockey or softball. Whatever you want."
The scene was very well written and had a lot of emotional levels in it. John had never been a big fan of Don Ferry's, but his delivery was very natural and calculated to pace the scene perfectly. He was impressed and he felt really good about the reading.
In the final lines, the father asked if everyone was ok. The 'kids' replied that they were. "That's great," the father said and the actor ran a finger along Rose's face and patted John on the shoulder. "See, being a family is what it's all about."
"Wonderful," the director said, "but, again, just to humor me, can we do the scene once again, and John, please do it as a girl. Thank you."
John nodded, but was a bit surprised that they'd ask this again. "Don't worry," Don said, "he just wants to see what kind of 'chops' you have. You know how directors are."
John nodded, having very little knowledge of how Hollywood directors were.
This time, of course, the scene had a completely different 'vibe' to it. The younger child, Alex, being a girl, seemed to have much more of a connection to the recently departed mother and the father had to be more gentle with her. When the scene was drawing to a close, the actor, instead of running a finger along Rose's cheek and patting John's shoulder, pulled Rose in for a big paternal hug, then did the same to John. Then he put a hand on each of their outer shoulders and said, "My girls. How could any guy be lucky enough to have daughters this wonderful." Then he turned and wiped his hand across the base of his nose to keep from crying.
Even John was chocked up by the performance!
"Fantastic!" The director shouted. "So," he turned to everyone, "we need to talk, but for now... Julia!?" He shouted and a woman appeared with Jan at her side. "Everyone, this is our costumer, Julia. Julia, see what you can do with these three, please?"
"Yes, sir," Julia nodded.
"Me too?" Ed asked, shocked.
"Well, yes," the director smiled, "unless you've changed your mind about auditioning"
"No, no, no. Not at all," Ed enthused. As he jumped out of his chair to join the others, you could hear a cheer from the actors in the other room.
In Jan's studio, Julia had laid out several different looks. First she had Ed try on a 60's era police uniform. It fit quite well and he looked very smart in it. "Very nice," Julia proclaimed. "Just keep that on and don't get it wrinkled. We're going to camera test it to see how it works on screen."
"Yes, ma'am," Ed gave a brisk, excited salute to Julia.
"You look great, Ed," Jan whispered.
Next, Rose was put into a blue, buttoned down top with a Peter Pan collar, a mustard colored sweater that only buttoned at the top button, a matching, mustard skirt with dark blue strips forming a wide criss-cross pattern, blue knee socks and penny loafers.
"Oh!" Julia exclaimed. "Adorable!" She truly was. The style was very dated, but looked right for the period.
"You're a bit a problem, though," Julia looked at John in the button up white shirt and old style denim jeans. "Your boobs make the shirt gap and your hips seem wide for a boy.
The second criticism surprised John. His hips hadn't actually gotten wider, had they?
"Let's see what the camera says, people," Julia clapped her hands and guided them back into the hall.
The director was talking to the casting director when the returned. "Ok, this is just to see how you play on camera in a costume. It's as much about the costume as it is about you. Ed, I'll start with you. Go to the middle of the floor, I'll ask you a bunch of questions and you just answer them as casually as you can and we'll see what happens."
Ed took center stage and he was asked to pantomime several poses and positions. He did very well. He was serious when asked to be and goofy and charming when asked to be. He answered about twenty questions as well, some serious, mostly just conversations. He told several funny stories and smiled handsomely into the camera.
When they reached the end of the questions, the Director asked just one more. "How do those clothes make you feel?"
"Like a cop!" Ed replied. "Like a big shot, you know. I like them."
Next, it was Rose's turn. She did the same thing, posing and answering questions. When she laughed, she looked gorgeous - just the kind of face a camera loves.
When they reached the end of the questions, once again, the Director asked, "How do those clothes make you feel?"
"I like them," Rose smiled. "They're different, but they're comfy. The sweater is very soft. The longer skirt makes me move a little differently. It's cool."
Finally, John was called up. He moved to the center of the floor, very self conscious about the ill fitting clothes and he did his best to smile and act cool. It didn't work.
And then, the final question was posed. "How do those clothes make you feel?"
"Like a hobo," he replied too quickly.
"Why's that?"
"Well, they don't really fit me. The pants are really uncomfortable and the I can't keep the shirt from opening here in the middle of my boobs."
"Julia, is there anything we can do about this?"
Julia stepped up next to John. Not really. Not if you want him in boy's clothes. If I go bigger on the shirt, it'll hang funny around the neck. If I tailor a larger one back, I'll need to put in darts to accommodate his breasts. With the fake boobs and his naturally big hips, he's just not built for this kind of costume."
The director nodded and made notes.
"The boobs come off and I can exercise to make my hips smaller," John said. He sounded a little desperate. "One of my teachers put me on a pretty strict diet back in March. It's going well. I'm sure that I can drop more weight and if I go to a trainer, I can reduce the size of my hips."
"Don't worry, honey," Julia said. "We have lots more to choose from. This look just doesn't work for you."
"Julia, can you try him in the red outfit, please?"
"Sure," then she turned to John. "Come on with me."
When John returned, he was wearing a red and black, plaid shirt dress. It was very much a style of the early 1960s, but not exactly what John had expected to be asked to wear as a costume. The pattern was uniform across the whole dress, but the fitted bodice was off set by the blossoming skirt that puffed out below it. On his feet were little, one inch high, kitten heeled pumps. Julia had removed his earrings, saying that in 1960-63 - they'd yet to actually pin down the year in which they'd begin - girls as young as John was playing didn't have pierced ears. She also had redone his makeup to reflect the proper age and time period. She'd used Bobbi pins to pull his hair back from his face just a bit which also recalled the time period just a bit more realistically.
Following Julia's instructions, John took dainty steps and bounced just a little, to look a little younger.
"Without makeup, he looks like a baby," Rose whispered to Ed.
"Are they seriously thinking of casting him as a girl?" Ed whispered back.
"That's much better," the director said with a smile. "Do you feel less like a hobo, now?" He asked.
Again, reverting to his Bianca training, John gripped the sides of his somewhat spacious skirts and gave a shallow curtsy. "Yes, sir. Thank you."
"What do they call you off stage when you look like this?"
"Bebe, sir." Again, just the hint of a curtsy. The gesture was not out of context for a young girl of that time period speaking to a powerful man.
"Bebe? Very nice. Ok, Bebe, I'd like to do the whole conversation over and, please, this time answer as Bebe world - and think about being Bebe in 1060."
"Yes, sir." Another curtsy. The director liked it. This kid was getting into the role.
"So, Bebe, tell me about yourself."
"Well, I'm fourteen years old, I live in Worcester, Massachusetts and I'm going to be going into my freshman year of high school in the fall. I like to read and draw. I love horses. I have an older sister named Nancy who is a doctor and my mother is a college professor and my best friend..."
It went on from there. John never stumbled on an answer. He seemed completely locked into the culture of the early 1960s, too. He spoke about his favorite music by Elvis, The Four Seasons, Frankie Avalon and Del Shanon. He talked about The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Flintstones and Leave It To Beaver. He giggled where appropriate and he was shy when the questions seemed a bit too 'grown up' to be asked of a fourteen year old.
Finally, "How do those clothes make you feel?"
Still in character, John replied, "I like this dress a lot. It's pretty, don't you think?"
"I do," the Director chuckled.
"My mom bought it for me for my school pictures in the fall. We got it on sale. She always knows a bargain."
"Well, it's very pretty, Bebe. I think you look lovely in it. I think we're done for now."
"Thank you, sir. It's been very nice speaking with you, too." And another curtsy.
The Director and his crew all left the room.
Rose ran up to John and hugged him. "Holy shit, Johnny! Where did that all come from. You were amazing!"
"No kidding," Ed hugged him, too, "it was like you actually were living in 1960!"
John shook as if coming out of a trance. "It was ok?"
"It was great!" Julia joined in.
"It really was," Jan assured him, too.
They were told that they team needed to have a discussion. It was already nearly five o'clock and none of them had eaten much all day. Rita advised them all to go have a good meal and 'IF' she heard anything, she'd call, they were told not to expect anything that night, though.
Ed and Rose got changed and returned their costumes. John was going to change into the white dress with the navy-blue lace, but Jan said it was too much for a casual meal. She handed him a simple, baby blue sundress that she had hanging around. Instead of his pretty heels, he used the flip flops he kept in his bag for use in the dressing room.
He looked at himself in the mirror and was about to redo his makeup, but Jan said, "Don't put on any makeup, sweetheart. Let your mom see you like this. It's really natural. I think she'll like it."
"Ok," and he headed out to join Ed and Rose.
Not wanting to do anything fancy, they went to reasonably priced, family owned sandwich shop on the main drag. Both Ed and Rose had burgers, but John, very aware of the 'wide hips' remark earlier, stuck to a salad with low calorie dressing.
Rose kept looking at John with a look of fascination.
"What, do I have some dressing on my cheek?"
"No," Rose laughed. "You know, I thought that I knew a lot about makeup and I know people who do amazing things with stage makeup, but it's amazing what Julia did to you by making everything look so natural."
"Is it? I thought it looked really plain. Like I wasn't wearing any makeup."
"That's what I mean." She smiled.
"It makes you look even younger," Ed offered.
John scoffed. "Great! Just what I need."
"Do you think they'll offer you a girl's role?" Ed asked.
"There is no girl's role. It's written for two brothers."
Ed shrugged. "I think that they might offer Rose the older brother role. They'll probably just make the older brother an older sister. What if they offer you the role of the younger sister?"
"I don't think they'd do that, do you?"
Rose shrugged. "I think that they might, honey. You kinda blew everyone away as Bebe."
"I was just trying to do my best!" John put down his napkin and thought about it. "I don't know how I could accept a girl's role."
"I do," Ed laughed. "You just say 'yes' if they offer it to you."
"But... my mom..."
"Your mom will be ok, Johnny," Rose said.
"Nancy will come around, too," Ed said through a mouthful of burger.
"But, there's no way to maintain this forever. I can't do a long term part."
"What if they told everyone that you were a boy, up front. Then you wouldn't have to hide it."
John let out a big sigh. "Wow. I hope that doesn't happen. I mean, I like being Bebe and all, but... I don't know if I can do it forever."
"I don't know if you'll have a choice," Rose took a bit of her own burger.
Suddenly, Ed's phone rang. "Hello?"
"Hello, Edward!" It was Rita.
"Hi, Rita," when he said that name, John and Rose sat bolt upright.
"I have some good news for you, my friend. You have been offered the role of Ronnie. It's a weekly, recurring role. Right now, it's written as just a work-friend/comic-relief role, but, after today, they're talking about developing it into a bigger character. As for your pay check - it's pretty generous, Edward. How does thirteenthousand per episode, sound!?"
"Oh, my God!"
"What?" Asked both Rose and John.
"I got the part! I'm playing Ronnie!"
"Who's with you?" Rita asked.
"John and Rose."
"Let me talk to Rose."
"She wants to talk to you."
While Rose talked to Rita, John congratulated Ed. "I owe it all to you, man!" Ed said. "I was going down fast! You saved me!"
"Nah. You were great!"
"Oh, my God!" Rose shrieked! She covered the phone and said to the boys, "They're changing the oldest son to a daughter! I got the part! I can't believe it!"
The boys congratulated her.
"What's that?" She said into the phone. "Uh huh. Oh, I see. No. I'll tell him. Thank you, Rita." And she ended the call.
"She didn't want to talk to me?" John asked, very excited.
"Umm, no, honey. She said that they were still deciding on the younger brother. She said she'd call when she heard back."
This couldn't be good, John knew that. If they had already decided on the other two major character openings and had not decided to take him, then they probably weren't going to take him. "Oh," he muttered, the disappointment obvious in his voice, "well.. they'll be other auditions I guess. Hey, maybe I could come out to LA after you guys are set up and I could, maybe, hang out while I go on auditions."
"Johnny, I'm sure..." Rose started saying, but John stopped her.
"No, Rose, you don't have to feel bad for me. It just isn't my time. But you guys....! Holy cow! Congratulations! I can't believe it!"
"I can't either, man," Ed said. "This is bull. If they don't take you, I'm not going."
"Ed, don't be stupid," Rose said, but then she realized that Ed and John had always been together. Staying with John was probably Ed's primary reason for auditioning.
"Rose is right, Ed. You won the role fair and square. It just wasn't meant to be for me."
"Are you ok?" Ed asked.
John shrugged and nodded. "I guess. Just disappointed. Tell you what, you guys go out and have a celebration. I'll call my mom for a ride home, ok? She won't mind coming out to get me and I don't want to bring you guys down."
"No, no, baby..." Rose tried, but John was adamant. He took his phone from his purse and called his mother.
"She should be here in less than ten minutes. You guys go have a great time. I'll see you in the morning." He walked out to the parking lot to wait for his mother to come and drive him home.
"Bebe!" Ed called after him.
"Let him go, Ed. Being near us right now is probably awful for him. I can't believe things turned out this way."
When Marilyn pulled into the parking lot, she was startled by John's new look. The inexpensive sundress, the flip-flops and the new 'natural look' makeup made him look even younger than usual. He explained the change of appearance and the reason he'd called her to pick him up.
"I'm so sorry, baby," she said with real sympathy, but also with a slight sense of relief - and maybe just a hint of guilt.
He shrugged, on the verge of tears. "It's ok. That's how auditions go. I just figured that, you know, since they came all this way to see me... and I know it's petty, but I didn't think they'd be leaving me behind."
More to break the awkward silence that followed that last sentence, she asked, "So what now? Are you going back to school in September?"
"Maybe... I don't know... I need to think. Maybe I'll take Ms Weldon's advice and start auditioning. Rita says I stand a good chance, but... I don't know if I'm really ready for this or not. It really hurts to fail this big, mommy. It really hurts."
Back home, he put on his yellow nightie and joined his mother in front of the TV. She was watching a Smithsonian Channel documentary about the pharaohs of Egypt, but John had no interest.
"Lay down, sweetie. Here, put your head in my lap. Let me pet your hair."
At first, he cried quietly as he lay there, but within five minutes, he was sound asleep. Marilyn's hand continued to run through his hair, eventually settling on his small, naked, smooth, girlish shoulder. What would become of her little boy? Would he ever be ready to return to college? Was he destined to remain a little girl forever? Would he have to go through his teen years again just to truly regain adulthood and even then, would he be a man or a women? This summer was going to play terrible tricks on his psyche and the worst part of all of this was she had contributed to this insanity.
To Be Continued...
Kiss Me, Bianca - 6
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Author's Note: Thank you to everyone! I always love to hear your critiques! Thank you, again, for all of your support!
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I am always willing to learn! ~Clara.
This version of Kiss Me Bianca: 6 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.
COPING -or- I COUNT MYSELF IN NOTHING ELSE SO HAPPY AS IN A SOUL REMEMBERING MY FRIENDS
John woke up a bit late the next day. He remembered falling asleep on the couch with his head in his mother's lap, but he woke up tucked snuggly in his bed. He couldn't remember being moved.
Before he reached the kitchen, he could hear his mother talking to Rose and Ed in the screened-in room. He couldn't hear the words, but the tone was full of pity. That was worse than sympathy. He hated being pitied. He really felt like he'd done a great job the day before, and that his readings had helped Rose and Ed land their roles. Now, he had to go back to rehearsal, back to the one place where he excelled more than anyone, and everyone would ask if he got a role. What could he say? 'I haven't heard?'
No.
He'd heard the silence just fine.
They didn't want him.
He thought about how many people had told him that this was not the be-all-and-end-all of auditions - that there were plenty of auditions ahead of him, but, by coming to The Cape, the production team had made this audition infinitely more important. It was the most important day of his life so far and he'd messed it up, royally. Even though he wanted to happy for Ed and Rose, it was hard because their success made his failure look so, so, so much worse.
"Hi, honey," Marilyn called with false cheeriness as John entered the screened room. "Did you sleep well?"
Rose and Ed were silent and looked as if they were ashamed of something. John forced a smile for their sake and, after greeting everyone, he said, "So, did you guys go out to celebrate, last night?"
Ed looked to Rose, who was somewhat sheepish, and then said to John, "Well... not really... I mean... kinda. We went to a hotel and had a couple of drinks at the bar."
"Cool." John poured a few ounces of orange juice into a small tumbler.
Rose felt very uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, Johnny. We probably shouldn't have..."
"Don't be crazy," John interrupted. "I'm glad you went out. You couldn't have done it if I was with you, anyway. John's still a few months from being legal and Bebe's way too young and doesn't look like John's ID."
The silence was burning into everyone's head. Marilyn couldn't stand it any more and said, "Last day of rehearsal right?"
John nodded. "We open in Brewster tomorrow evening before their fireworks. There's a food truck festival going on, too. Not the best crowd for Shakespeare, but they'll have been drinking all day, so they won't be the worst, either."
They all snickered a little at his joke.
More silence.
Finally, Rose said, "Listen, Johnny, we need to talk..."
"No we don't." John had not lost his smile. "There's nothing to say. They chose you, and not me, that's all that there is to it. Of course, I'm disappointed, but that's ok. You guys deserve to be happy, so - be happy. Today will be tough, but I'll get over it. I'm a big boy... sort of."
That joke did not get a laugh.
"Maybe you should go in late today," Ed suggested. "Let everyone hear the news and then, by the time you show up, they'll have had time to digest it and you'll feel more comfortable."
John shook his head. "No. We have final dress today. I can't be late today."
When they did arrive at rehearsal, everyone wanted to know if they'd heard anything. Rose and Ed tried not to appear to be overly excited about their news, but everyone was thrilled for them. They were all taken aback with the news that John had not been hired, though. Almost everyone had watched the auditions and they all knew that Ed probably would not have been hired had John not intervened. It just seemed so unfair.
Whenever anyone tried to offer John sympathy, though, he deflected it with a grin and said he was just happy for for his friends. He'd get his chance another time.
At lunch, Ms Weldon summoned him to her office. He was still dressed in his new costume - the blue plaid gown with the large flowers on the bodice, when he entered. Still in Bianca-mode, he hustled to the front of her desk and gave his little curtsy. "Yes, ma'am?"
She smirked at this. "John... I know that you're struggling today..."
"Not at all, Ms Weldon. Honestly, I'm fine."
She shook her head. "No you're not, honey. I've been watching the run and I can tell that you're not one hundred percent here, today. I know this is tough, but I need you to get back into the show this afternoon. Kate and Petruchio can work around you, but you are the heart and soul of the rest of the ensemble."
He curtsied again. "I'm sorry, Ms Weldon. I'll do better."
She sat back in her desk chair and appraised him. "May I tell you something I've never told anyone before?"
"Of course, ma'am. I promise I won't tell a soul."
"Well," she chuckled, "it's not really anything personal, it just... relates to you, I guess. You see, when I was even younger than you, I was already making my living as an actress. Mostly on the stage, but I'd take anything. One day, a friend of mine and I went to an audition for a daily serial - a soap opera - called 'The Days of Our Lives.' It wasn't high art, or anything, but it paid well and I needed the work. Anyway, Of the two of us, I went in first. When I came out, my friend said she'd heard the whole thing and that I'd nailed it. Then she went in. She was right - I could hear the whole thing. When she was done, they asked her a few questions and one of them was, 'Why should we cast you and not your friend?' She responded that we were not friends. In fact she claimed that we'd only met in the waiting room. Then she told them how rude I had been to the other people who'd been waiting to read and, oh, she went on and on about how disruptive and ignorantly I had behaved. None of it was true, of course, but the fact is that she was cast in the role and I was not. I was, however, heart broken and I cried for hours."
"That's terrible," John said quietly.
"It was, but it wasn't the fact that she'd gotten the role that hurt me - it was what she said. I thought that she was my friend and she'd stabbed me in the back."
"Ms Weldon, I think I see where this is headed and I just want to say that Ed and Rose never stabbed me in the back. They just got lucky and I didn't."
"That was, in fact my point, John. Those two people are thrilled to have this opportunity, but they're also sick that you won't be doing it with them. Do you know that they called me last night?"
"No." John was very surprised to hear that. "Why?"
"To ask me to intercede for you. Ed was nearly in tears on the phone. I don't think that he has any idea how to deal with all the emotions that are churning away in him right now."
John nodded. "I'm trying not to bring them down, Ms Weldon, I really am. I am very happy for them. I'm just... very unhappy for me."
She smiled. "I know. Trust me, though, your day is coming."
"Thank you, Ms Weldon and... well... thank you for sharing that with me."
"Go have lunch, John, then come back and be Bianca for everyone. Remember, we open tomorrow night."
"Yes, ma'am" He curtsied again and left the office.
The afternoon run went much better and they all received high praise from the production team. They had 'call' at 6:30pm the next day, in Brewster, a town further out on the Cape Cod Peninsula. They packed all of their garment bags and props into the troupe's trucks, then headed home at 4:15.
John was purposefully less sullen and was even singing along with the satellite radio as they pulled into the driveway and he spotted his sister, Nancy, pulling her overnight bag out of the back of her car.
"Great," he muttered. "Can this day get any better?"
"Want me to drive by and we can get something to eat someplace else?" Rose offered.
"No." John shook his head. "I might as well get it over with."
He scooted out of the Tesla with a big smile on his face. He was wearing a very casual, loose fitting, tank-top-style dress that was very popular amongst young women who wore their swimsuits all summer long and just liked to have something cute to throw on over it. His was a Hawaiian pattern of hibiscus and leaves with a deep red background. It was VERY cute.
"Hi, Nan." He hurried to give his sister a peck on her cheek.
"Hi, Johnny. Rose." Nancy was a bit cool to them both.
'Great,' John thought, 'what did I do to tick her off already!?'
"I'll take this for you." Rose grabbed the overnight bag from Nancy and headed into the house.
"I can take..." Nancy tried to protest.
"No trouble at all," Rose called back as she moved quickly towards the house, leaving John and Nancy alone in the driveway.
"Sooo," John started. "You feeling ok?"
Nancy folded her arms and leaned against her SUV. "I'm... ok, Johnny. You?"
"To tell you the truth, I've had better days."
She nodded. "Mom told me. That's rough, Johnny."
He shrugged. "Listen, 'Shrew' opens tomorrow night. Do you think that, maybe, you might be able to come?"
"Come here." She opened her arms and invited him in for a hug. He accepted, gladly. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
She smelled nice. Not like strawberries and flowers like him, but like soap and... Nancy.
"Johnny," she rubbed her cheek on his soft hair, "I'm really sorry. I mean - about everything. About the other day and what I said to mom and the auditions... I'm just so sorry. I really just want you to be happy. You know I love you, right?"
He nodded, still in her embrace.
"Are we friends, again?" she asked.
"Yeah. We're friends, Nan. I'm sorry, too." He pulled his head free and looked up into his older sister's eyes. "Do you forgive me for looking like you?"
She smiled. "Johnny, I've been thinking about this since I left. I surprised by all of this, but I was also an asshole. I shouldn't have judged you like I did."
He shrugged. "Ok."
"Ok? Isn't this where you're supposed to say, 'No, Nancy, you weren't being an asshole?'"
He shrugged again, "Mom told me never to lie."
Rose was surprised to see Nancy being so upbeat around John and Marilyn. Marilyn, however still seemed to be overly focused on John, as if she was waiting for him to breakdown and cry. Rose watched John, too. He was smiling and he looked adorable in his sporty little dress, but she suspected that his smile wasn't completely sincere.
"Hey, Nancy," John helped, suddenly realizing something, "you need to congratulate Rosie! She's going to be on the show! Isn't that awesome?"
Nancy's smile was strained, but as sincere as she could be, "Oh, yeah, that's right. Rose, I'm sorry. Of course, congratulations! That's amazing! You must be so excited."
Rose smiled and tried not to look overly self-satisfied. "Thank you, Nancy. That's very nice of you."
"Mom," John looked at the clock, "do you mind if Rose and I go for a quick walk?"
"Sure, honey. We're just having burgers and corn on the cob. I can start it when you get home."
"Great." He practically skipped over to Rose and took her hand. "Come on!"
He pulled her out the door, quickly. He was in a rush to get her someplace, fast. Outside, Ed was just pulling up to the curb. "Am I late?"
"Right on time." John took one of Ed's hands as well and he hustled them towards the beach. He was out in front, trying to run and pull them along behind him. "Come on, you guys, hurry!"
Eventually, Rose and Ed were half walking, half running behind their little guide.
When they reached the beach, they saw a group of people gathered near the shoreline. They were dressed oddly for a July evening. Poodle skirts and leather jackets. There was something flickering in the middle of all of them. John pulled the couple towards them, and suddenly, they recognized Gloria, Harry and the whole rest of the cast of 'Taming of the Shrew' and they were holding a huge, sheet cake that was covered in flickering candles. They all shouted the same word that was written on the cake, "CONGRATULATIONS!!!"
Rose and Ed were frozen in shock, looking at their friends, all dressed as if they were in a production of 'Grease.' John was bouncing up and down and clapping his hands. "Congratulations, guys!"
"We know that the show takes place in the early 60s," Gloria laughed, "but we didn't have costumes or that. I knew where we could borrow 'Grease' costumes, though, so this is what we could get in a hurry."
"Oh, you're all so wonderful!" Rose clapped her hands. "Thank you all, so much!"
"You didn't have to do this, Johnny," Ed said, but his smile said that he was thrilled.
"Of course, I did. What kind of a friend would I be if I didn't?"
"Thanks, pal."
"Johnny," Rose grabbed him and hugged him. "You're unbelievable. Thanks you."
Of course, inside, John was torn. He was still smarting from the disappointment and he was incredibly sad that Ed and Rose would be taking this step together, but without him - but what kind of a friend would he be if he didn't show them that he was happy for them - which, he was. In fact, Gloria had done the heavy lifting on this get-together. John had just mentioned that he should do 'something' for them. From there, she had done all the work.
Out of nowhere, John was suddenly hoisted into the air and swung playfully in a series of circles. Disoriented and screaming and laughing, he was finally dropped back to earth by Ed, who's infectious grin made John laugh even more.
"I love you, buddy," Ed laughed as he planted a big, happy kiss on John's lips. "You're the best! I thought you'd hate us for... well... you know. Thanks, pal!"
John smiled and hugged Ed in return. "I love you, too, Ed."
"Hey, can I get in on all this hugging?" Rose giggled as she wrapped her arms around John, pulled him to her breasts and rested her head on his. "Oh, my wonderful little sister," she giggled. "Thank you, so much. I love you."
"I know. I love you, too."
A little over an hour later, they were back home eating burgers after finishing some delicious corn on the cob. Rose had been on the phone with her very excited parents, who were coming to Brewster for the opening tomorrow.
"Knock, knock," called a voice from the doorway. It was Rita, who John had figured had already flown back to LA. "May I come in?"
She opened the door without waiting for an answer, and made a beeline for John. "Oh, I'm sorry, baby." She hugged him. "I've been trying all day to get these jackasses to hire you. They know how good you are and they know you can play the younger brother without looking at all like Bebe, but this is how things go, sometimes. They decided on going with that boy who was in that Dwayne Johnson movie last year. He's already part of the Disney family and he's got a little bit of cache, already. Can you forgive me?"
John pulled away from the hug and gave her a sad smile. "Sure, Rita. I forgive you."
"But I do have some good news for you. I have an audition for you to read for a part in a film. It's a small part and you'll have to fly to Vancouver for the audition."
"When?" John asked, not overly excited about going to Vancouver.
"A week from tomorrow at nine a.m. it's a long flight there and an even longer flight back, I'm afraid, and you'll have to pay your own way, this time. What do you say?"
John snickered as he sat at the table. "I say, 'no,' I guess."
"No!?" Nearly everyone said at once.
"John, are you crazy?" Ed asked. "It's an audition."
"It's a Show night, Ed. I'd have to miss two performances to get there and back. I can't do that."
"Bebe," Rose said, catching Nancy by surprise, "you have an understudy. Just talk to Ms Weldon."
John shook his head. "Nope. I'm Bianca - no one else. I will do every performance of this run. That's what I agreed to do, so that's what I'm going to do. Besides, I can't afford to fly to Vancouver for an audition and I haven't really recovered from yesterday, yet. I need a break before I do this again."
Rita shrugged and sat at the table. "So that's it, then? You're just giving up just because one audition didn't work out?"
John folded his arms on the table in front of him and slammed his head onto them, his hair splaying around him. "Arrrrrgh!" He called into the cavern formed by his position. "I never said I was giving up! I just said that I'm not doing THIS audition!" He pulled his head up, shook his hair from his face and lashed out, "I never would have met you if I wasn't playing Bianca. I never would have been cast as Bianca if I wasn't willing to commit to playing Bianca at each performance. I CAN'T GO TO VANCOUVER NEXT SATURDAY BECAUSE (A) I CAN'T AFFORD IT AND (B) I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BE HERE, PLAYING BIANCA IN THE SHOW THAT STARTED ALL OF THIS!"
"I see," Rita folded her arms under her breasts and nodded. "Would anyone else like to say anything? Maybe help me get our little diva back on track?"
"I would," Nancy said, as she reached behind her chair and produced her pocketbook. She pulled a checkbook out and quickly filled in the check. She tore it from the spline and slapped it on the table.
Rita picked it up. "A thousand dollars? What's this for?"
"That will cover the cost of the dress that you bought my little brother last week. Now, leave him alone and get out of his life."
Rita scoffed, tore up the check, stood and headed for the door. She stopped before exiting, turned and said, "Listen, John, I understand you don't want to do this particular audition - that's fine - but, if you need me, just call. I'll give you a little time to get yourself under control, then I'll be in touch - see if there's anything we can do."
He nodded.
"And you... John's sister. I didn't catch your name."
"Nancy," his sister said.
"Well, Nancy - I know that you think you're looking out for your little brother's best interests, but just think about this. You wrote me a check for a thousand dollars without even blinking, but you could have bought your brother a round trip flight to and from Vancouver for under seven-fifty. Wouldn't writing a check for the tickets have been more generous and helped him more? Maybe you need to rethink what his best interests really are."
They all sat in silence as the screen door slapped closed.
"What a bitch!" Nancy finally said. "Who does she think she is?"
"No," Marilyn said quietly. "I think she's right, but she should have said that to me."
The Fourth of July started with its traditional Cape Cod total gridlock. All the major streets were clogged with tourists and cottage owners, all trying to get to their cottages at the same time. None of that was unexpected, of course. Every year, on The Fourth, the major streets and highways of this peninsula of Massachusetts was a solid mass of cars from the bridges to Race Point, out past ProvinceTown.
Ed had stayed the night, again, and he and Rose had been up since dawn talking and planning. It was starting off as a very hot day. They were both in pajamas, relaxing before opening night.
"Well, if you and I are getting a place together," Rose was Looking at some potential apartments in LA on her phone, "and we'll be making plenty of money, then it just makes sense to have Johnny come live with us, right? I mean, neither of us would have gotten this opportunity if it weren't for him, so why shouldn't he benefit from our good fortune?"
"Fine with me," Ed said, "but he seems a little out of it, right now. Maybe the best thing to do would be to get a three bedroom place and let him come out when he's ready."
"John, you mean?" Nancy was entering the room, well dress and groomed and ready for the day.
"Yeah," Rose nodded.
"He's seemed a little out of it for a while, now, if you ask me," Nancy said, a bit harshly.
"Knock it off, Nancy." Ed didn't bother looking at her. Theirs had always been a difficult relationship. "No offense, but you're not helping much. Rose said that you and John made up yesterday, but undermining him behind his back isn't helping anyone."
"Well, no offense, Ed, but he's my brother and I'm worried about him."
"We know that, Nancy," Rose intervened, "Ed and I love him, too, but arguing with each other isn't going to help anyone. I don't know how you or your mom feel, but Ed and I think it'd be best if he came to LA with us, started auditioning out there, and we could support him for as long as needed. After all, we'll be making plenty of money."
Nancy shrugged. "That's very generous of you, but if I have any say in it, I think he should stay here, see a psychologist and deal with these gender issues he's struggling with."
"Geez, you're narrow minded." Ed shook his head. "What kind of a Doctor are you studying to be, anyway?"
"An endocrinologist. Why?"
"That's hormones and stuff, right?" Ed scoffed. "You're gonna have to work on your bedside manner, then, because a lot of people struggling with gender issues will be coming to see you and if you're as dismissive of them as you are of your brother, you'll have a hard time keeping your office open."
Nancy folded her arms and leaned back in her chair. "How did I become the bad guy in my own house!? I just don't want Johnny to get hurt. To do something that he'll regret later."
"Like not follow his dream?" Ed was staring her down, now.
"Like confusing somebody else's idea of his dream with his own. Johnny's dream never involved being a little girl until two weeks ago, so don't get all high and mighty with me, Ed. I know I haven't been here, but maybe not being here kept me from drinking the same KoolAide that you all have. I love Johnny. Don't ever question me about that."
"Nancy," Rose said calmly, "just so you know - when Johnny was the most angry with you, Ed was the one who kept telling him that you loved him. So, maybe we should all try to calm down. It's opening night, after all, and I don't want to show up all frazzled."
Ed stood and headed to the kitchen. "I brought eggs and bacon. Can I make any for either of you."
"Just a piece of bacon for me, Ed. I'll make myself some toast when you're done."
"Nancy?" Ed asked.
She sighed. Nancy was a born scrapper and she hated losing an argument, but Ed had his points and he was trying to be kind. "Thank you, Ed. I'd love a couple of scrambled eggs and bacon."
While Ed cooked and Rose continued to apartment shop, Nancy answered some emails. Soon, Marilyn joined them at the table. Ed made sure that everyone had what they needed before he sat down, too.
"There are three pieces of bacon on a plate on the counter for John when he gets up," he smiled at everyone. "Enjoy!"
When they had finished, Marilyn got up to get John out of bed. It was getting late.
"He's gone!" She ran back into the screened room, panicked.
"Gone!?" The rest replied.
"I just went to get him and he's gone! Ed - see if he's in the yard somewhere! Rose, check the cars! Nancy, help me check everywhere around here!"
They all hurried and looked everywhere. There was no John to be found. "I'm calling the police," Marilyn announced.
"And tell them what, mom? That your twenty year old son who thinks he's a twelve year old girl is missing?"
"Fourteen," all three responded in unison.
Marilyn put her phone down. What could she do? Where could he be?"
Just then, John came in through the breezeway. He was wearing the same swim suit he'd worn with Cassie and Annie last week. His hair was wet and he smelled of salt water.
"Hi," he whispered as everyone looked at him in shock.
"Hi?" Marilyn said too loudly. "Is that all you have to say? Hi? You nearly gave each of us a heart attack! Where have you been!?"
"Mom," he was a bit shocked by their concern, "it's the Fourth of July. I always go to the beach to take a dip on The Fourth. What's the big deal?"
Marilyn let herself breathe normally, again, before answering. "What's the big deal? He asks. What's the big deal? You could have been kidnapped, or taken or raped, Johnny. You can't just leave like that."
"Mom, I've been going to the beach alone since I was twelve years old..."
"Since you were a twelve year old BOY, John! A BOY!! You're not a boy any more and you know that! Young ladies, especially young ladies as attractive as you, can't just wander away, John. Things happen to them. BAD things."
John realized that he'd upset everyone. "I'm sorry, mom. I really am. I won't do it, again."
Marilyn and the other women sat back down at the table. "I'll make you some eggs," Ed said as he headed for the kitchen.
As John put down his towel and headed for a seat, Nancy eyed him closely. "Come here, Johnny," she beckoned.
When he was standing near her she had him turn around and face away from her. "Johnny, I'm only asking these questions as a doctor, ok?"
"Sure."
She ran her hand along his rear end and squeezed it just a bit. "Johnny, are you taking any hormones or anything like that?" She gripped his hips and turned him towards her.
"No, nothing like that. Why?"
She was seated, he was standing, his sight line was only just over the top of her head. She ran her hands along his hips and thighs. Then she patted the front, bottom of the swimsuit. "I assume that your little guy is tucked away in here?" She asked.
He nodded.
"Hmm."
"What's the problem?" Marilyn asked.
Nancy turned to speak to her mother and used John to illustrate what she was saying. "Nothing, probably, but, right here, his hips seem broader than a boy's hips should be. And his thighs seem a tiny bit plumper than they should be."
"Come on, Nancy, knock it off..." John wasn't seeing the humor in this, but his mother interrupted.
"You're not teasing, are you, Nancy?"
"No, I'm serious. Honestly, mom, I'm concerned about his development. I now he's small, but..." she turned to her brother and asked, "Do you have any problems attaining or retaining an erection, John?"
"Umm, excuse me," Rose said, rising from the table, "I should probably leave the room."
John nearly asked her to stay to testify that he had, in fact, no problems in that department, but that didn't seem appropriate at all. "No, if you must know, I don't have any problems. Everything works quite well, thank you."
"Spread your legs, just a bit for me."
"No!"
"Johnny, do what your sister says. She is a doctor, you know." Marilyn demanded.
He heaved a sigh and did as he was told. Nancy reached between his legs and investigated.
"Are you wearing a gaff?"
He couldn't believe his mother was sitting there watching his sister prod him like this. "Kinda. The costumer sewed a pouch in the crotch. I'm tucked in that."
"What about your testicles? I can't feel them."
"Nancy, please, can we..."
"Oh, my goodness!" Marilyn gasped. "You didn't do something to yourself, did you?"
"When would I have done that, mom!? I've been with you or Ed or Rose every moment since all this began! Of course not! They're..." he sighed again, "...they're... up, inside. I have to push them back up into me."
"Well, that's not all that healthy for your sperm, but, honestly, I think you should see a doctor, Johnny. I'm wondering if you're producing enough testosterone. I mean, that may explain why you're so small, too, but seeing you in this tight, little outfit, I'm not seeing a lot of secondary male development for a twenty year old."
"And you're being completely serious, right, honey," Marilyn was a bit concerned.
"I wouldn't kid about this, mom. Johnny, you might need a little hormone therapy to kick start the second part of your puberty."
"But... I mean, I had a mustache and all..."
"John," Nancy laughed, "I have black hair, too. If I didn't have my lip waxed every few weeks, I'd have a mustache, too, and it would probably be as wispy as yours was. Just do this for me, ok? Just to be safe."
"Ok," he agreed. "I'll do it."
THE PLAY -or- A TALE TOLD BY AN IDIOT, FULL OF SOUND AND FURY AND SIGNIFYING NOTHING
"Hi, we're in the show, tonight. Can we park here?" Ed was driving Rose's Tesla.
The attendant called someone on a walkie-talkie then said, "You can park all the way down at the end. See those trucks down there? You can park by those."
The trucks were actually the property of the Cape Cod Shakespearean Rep. The crew was setting up the limited lighting they'd be using that evening. There was still a few hours before call, but John always liked to get to the show early, then have dinner and relax till the call time. It was a tradition for him and Ed. They were always the first actors on set. This time, though, there was a food-truck festival going on around the town Common where the play was being staged, so - bonus!
They left their show bags in the trunk and headed up the parking lot towards the stage. Each venue was different and John liked to know exactly what the stage would look like so there'd be no surprises.
"My, my, my! Looks like my three favorite actors are here bright and early!" Jan was pushing a rolling wardrobe out of one of the trucks.
They all exchanged pleasantries, then Jan said, "I saw a friend of yours wandering around here a few minutes ago."
"Who?" Rose was Looking around, but didn't immediately notice any familiar faces.
"Remember Julia, the costumer you met the other day? She decided to stay on The Cape for the weekend. She saw our schedule on the wall and she came to see the show. Probably to criticize my costumes, if I know anything about how a costumer's brain works." She giggled at her own little joke while the others smiled.
"Cool." Ed nodded. "We'll keep our eyes open for her. We're going to see what the food trucks have to offer. Want anything?"
"Not right now, thanks. I'll grab something after everyone's all set to go. Have fun, kids."
They did.
With Ed and Rose in shorts and tees shirts, and John in a very cute, sheer, cotton sheath, he once again looked like the little sister who tagged along on an older sibling's date as they sampled a little from each of the food trucks. Shawarma, fried dough, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches... they sampled everything and split each entrée amongst themselves.
As they were waiting for their dessert - New England bread pudding with vanilla ice cream from a local dairy - John said, "Ugg, I'm full!" He thrust his hips forward and extended his belly as far as he could, then he rubbed his belly.
"You have a food baby!" Rose giggled. "I hope you didn't eat so much that you'll get sick!"
"Nah," he laughed as he returned to his normal posture, "there's always more room in my belly!"
Rose laughed, again. John was so excited tonight. She'd only known him a short time, but she'd never seen him this hyper. He was, obviously enjoying the food trucks, but he was very worked up about opening night, too. She knew he enjoyed acting, but he was nearly giddy for the show.
When they'd gotten their dessert, they headed for the crowded picnic table area where they could eat and enjoy the local band that had started playing old rock songs. They found a table that had two seats available. "You girls sit down and I'll stand." Ed smiled.
John shook his head, though. "You sit. I'm too wound up to sit, anyway."
Everyone was having a great time, eating tasty food and singing along to the oldies. While the band played "Old Time Rock and Roll," John joined the crowd around him in singing the refrain, which was the only part he knew. He also started moving, dancing to the music. Since he'd started wearing short skirted dresses, he'd become enamored by the feel of the material moving around his thighs while he swayed and danced to music. He loved the feeling. What a shame that most men never experienced how wonderful that felt. Ed and Rose were thoroughly amused by his little performance, as were some of the people seated nearby.
When the band started playing Journey's "Don't Stop Believin,'" John joined the crowd and sang every note along with the band. Soon, a group of forty-something ladies who were walking past, joined John's dance and they became the center of attention in the audience. Soon, more than twenty people, mostly girls and women, were dancing along with him.
When the song ended, Ed and Rose led the crowd in a standing ovation - not for the band, but for John and the rest of the people who'd danced with him.
One of the band members called out through the PA system, "We'll, alright! What's that girl's name?" He asked, pointing at John.
"Bebe!" called back Ed and Rose.
"Alright, Bebe! Let's have a big round of applause for Bebe, everyone!"
Ed gripped John by his narrow waist and lifted him so he was standing on the picnic table. John gave First the band, then the audience, a quick series of curtsies as he beamed with joy and the crowd clapped and chanted "Be-be! Be-be! Be-be...!"
"Let's keep this going," the band member called out, again. "This is a Fleetwood Mac song called 'Monday Morning!'"
John was in his element. He would have been way too self conscious to have done what he just did when he was John, but Bebe just seemed to love life too much to not enjoy it. This was the best part of being Bebe.
As Ed helped him down from the table, they heard two young, familiar voices calling through the din of the band and the crowd. "Bebe! Bebe!" The voices called out as the two, bouncing, excited girls pushed through the crowd.
"Annie! Cassie!" John, still in full Bebe mode, ran to hug his friends. "What are you guys doing here!?"
"We're here with our dad!" Annie said excitedly.
"We're only here overnight to see the play they're doing here and then see the fireworks, and our dad said that we wouldn't have time to get together with you. So, he wouldn't let us call you." Cassie hugged him, too.
The play! John realized that would make things a bit difficult. "You guys are staying for the play?"
"Yeah!" Cassie enthused. "Aren't you? I love Shakespeare, don't you?"
"I do, actually..." John began, but was interrupted by Rose.
"Hi, girls! What a surprise, huh, Bebe?"
John nodded. "They're here to see the play, Rose." He tried not to show his concern to the girls.
"Oh, how wonderful!" Rose clapped her hands. "You came to support Bebe?"
"What?" Annie was perplexed.
"Oh, Wow! This is the play you were rehearsing!? Wow, this is awesome!" Cassie caught on more quickly.
"You're in THIS play!?" Annie finally caught on. "Bebe, we're going to get to see you act! I'm so excited!"
"Not just Bebe, but Ed and me, too." Rose smiled.
"Really?" Cassie was intrigued. "Who are you all playing?"
"I'm Kate, Bebe is my sister, Bianca, and Ed is..."
Cassie cut her off. "Petruchio?"
Rose laughed. "No. Ed is Lucentio."
"Wait," Cassie giggled. "Doesn't Lucentio end up married to Bianca?"
"Yes, he does," Ed arrived after taking a phone call.
"Oh, you end up with your real-life sister's boyfriend in the play," Annie smirked. "That's not weird at all!"
'You have no idea how weird,' John thought as he tried to figure out how to keep them from discovering that he was a guy. There'd be programs, or introductions, or something. He had to talk to Ms Weldon, quickly.
"That's so cool, Bebe! Your full name is Bianca and you're playing Bianca in the play!" Annie smiled.
"Yes." Rose smiled at the child. "Bebe was actually named after the character in this play. How perfect is that?"
"I used to hope that I would get to be Annie in that musical when I was younger," Annie joked. "I'm too old, now, though."
"Listen, Beebs," Rose patted John's back, gently, "why don't you go spend some time with your little friends and Ed and I will take care of everything that needs to be done before the show. Now, remember, you have 'call' at 6:30, so make sure that you're in the dressing room by at least 6:15. That gives you over an hour to be with you friends. Now, go have fun."
John would have been thrilled to have had more time with the girls, but he wanted to be sure that he could keep the cast from giving his secret away. He leaned towards Rose to tell her about his concerns, but she just smiled and said, "Don't be such a worrywart, Bebe. Big sister will take care of everything. I promise." She laced her arm through Ed's, "Leave everything to the grown ups. We'll take care of it."
"Ok," John said with some trepidation. "I'll see you at 6:15."
After the teenagers had left, Rose said to Ed, "What did Rita want?"
"Looks like we're going to have to be in LA sooner than expected."
"No kidding? Tell me about it on the way. We've got to speak to Ms Weldon about John."
John had already eaten more than he usually would have before a show, but Cassie and Annie had not yet indulged in the treats offered by the food trucks. So, John took them back along the route he'd already followed, encouraging them to try all of his favorites. Within a few minutes, the girls' good mood and enthusiasm had infected him, too and he trusted that Ed and Rose would have everything taken care of when he arrived.
As six o'clock passed, John headed to the dressing rooms with the girls in tow. When he reached an area just before the trailers, he said, "I'll meet you here after the show. This is where we do the 'meet and greets' and see our families and friends."
"That's so cool!" Cassie grabbed John and hugged him. "Break a leg Beebs! I can't wait to see the show!"
"Me neither." Annie joined the hug.
"Looks like someone brought her own cheering section," came a voice from behind John.
"Hi, Mrs Foley!" Both girls chirped.
"Hi, girls," she turned to John, "Bebe, you didn't tell me you'd invited your friends to the show."
"I didn't know, mom." John wasn't thrilled with the look on her face. Marilyn was obviously wondering how John planned to pull this off without the girls finding out that he was a man.
"We didn't even know she was in it!" Annie said with big grin.
"Yeah, we just came with our dad," Cassie offered.
"Well, how nice." Marilyn shot John a knowing glance.
John nodded as casually as he could, but a shiver ran down his back when he heard Nancy's voice, "Well, who have we hear? Bebe, aren't you going to introduce me to your little friends?"
All of John's excitement about opening night was fading quickly. The girls may find out that he's a guy, Nancy may say something inappropriate in front of them - she'd definitely have something to say about all of this later. He was envisioning a 'no win' evening ahead of him.
"Cassie and Annie, this is my oldest sister, Nancy. She's a doctor."
"How do you do, YOUNG ladies?" She emphasized the word 'young' and glared at John. Then she turned to the girls with a fake smile plastered to her face.
"Wow!" Cassie remarked. "You two look so much alike! How did Rose end up being a blonde?"
Nancy smiled at the sixteen year old. "We always tell her that she's adopted."
Everyone one laughed.
"I really have to go dress for the show," John said. "I'll see everyone after, though."
"Give mommy a kiss." Nancy stopped him as he started to head to the trailers. "You know that good girls always kiss their mommies goodbye." He did as he was told and headed off to get ready.
Ms Weldon greeted him with a big smile. "Here she is! You've got nothing to worry about, honey. The programs never showed up, anyway, so the audience won't know your name."
"Thank you, Ms Weldon." John's demeanor indicated that there was something else wrong.
"What's the matter, John? You seem distracted."
He raised his eyebrows and sighed. "I guess you know about Cassie and Annie, right?"
She nodded. "A little, but we've dealt with that. We just won't introduce the cast by name."
"Yes, well, my sister and mother saw me with them. I can tell that my mom is concerned that they'll find out, but my sister is really not supportive of all of this 'Bianca' stuff, let alone 'Bebe' stuff, so I'm pretty sure that I'm going to get an ear full when I get home."
"Oh, I see."
"And not only that, but Rose's parents are here, too and the girls think Rose and I are sisters... I just feel like it's all going to blow up on me, tonight."
"Hmm," she pondered. "As Sir Walter Scott said, 'Oh, what a tangled web we weave,' huh?"
John nodded.
"Look, John, I'm very sorry that I got you into this mess. I'd really hoped that you'd be in a better position - career-wise, I mean - by doing this role. I know that it's been a tough few days, but I'll help you with everything tonight. I'll have Rose text her parents and have them meet her on the other side of the trucks, ok? Will that help?"
"Yes, Ms Weldon. Thank you. That will help a lot."
"Good, now give me hug and get your head into being Bianca." She hugged him. "This is a big night for you, John. Keep the rest of the world out of your head and just be Bianca until the curtain falls. You can do it, and you know it. Just block everything else out and be Bianca."
John took a deep breath and found his inner Bianca. He broke the hug, slowly, stepped back and curtsied as he said, "Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am." Then he smiled and headed for his dressing area.
"Bianca's back," the director said quietly to herself as she watched him walk away.
"Good sister, wrong me not, nor wrong yourself, To make a bondmaid and a slave of me." John was completely in Bianca mode. Everything beyond the stage apron was forgotten.
"That I disdain: but for these other gawds, Unbind my hands, I'll pull them off myself, Yea, all my raiment, to my petticoat; Or what you will command me will I do, So well I know my duty to my elders."
"Of all thy suitors, here I charge thee, tell, Whom thou lovest best: see thou dissemble not." Rose was as focused as John and the audience was eating up every second of the fight between the two sisters.
"Believe me, sister," John pulled on the 'ropes' that bound him, "of all the men alive I never yet beheld that special face, Which I could fancy more than any other."
"Minion, thou liest. Is't not Hortensio?" Rose spat at him. Torturing Bianca in the play.
"If you affect him, sister, here I swear, I'll plead for you myself, but you shall have him." John, as Bianca, pled for mercy.
Rose, as Kate, was relentless. "O then, belike, you fancy riches more: You will have Gremio to keep you fair."
"Is it for him you do envy me so? Nay then you jest, and now I well perceive You have but jested with me all this while:I prithee, sister Kate, untie my hands," Bianca begged.
"If that be jest, then all the rest was so." Kate finished with a fire in her eyes.
Both actors were fully immersed in the scene and the audience was riveted to their performance. By scene 2, the audience was accepting the truth of the characters and their behavior to such a level that the strangeness of the language was forgotten.
When John entered in the final scene, his blue, plaid dress was first received with 'ahhs' from the women, then a round of applause for the garment. The scene, which is primarily between Petruchio and Kate, went beautifully and at the close of the act, the audience erupted with applause.
As each actor came out for a bow, the audience responded
affectionately, but when John came out, the standing ovation began. He curtsied politely, smiled and took his place next to Ed as Rose and the actor playing Petruchio took their bow. Then they all came together at center stage for the company bow. They indicated the crew for their bow, then took one more all together. Then another. And another.
Suddenly the applause grew even louder and the audience's attention was all drawn stage left where Don Ferry, the star of the TV show that had just hired Ed and Rose appeared and crossed to stage center with a microphone in his hand. He waved for the crowd to quiet, then he spoke.
"Hi, everyone. I'm Don Ferry..." the crowd erupted again. "... thank you, you're very kind. Anyway, I just want to congratulate this amazing cast! Can we have another round of applause for these people? Wow!"
There was a crescendo of applause and everyone was smiling.
"The reason that I'm really here tonight is to congratulate two of these amazing actors. Rose? Ed? Would you come forward."
The crowd applauded again.
"You see, these two talented individuals were just cast in my new TV show, 'Civil Disobedience,' which will air on ABC starting in November. Ed, here, will play my partner on the police force and Rose, here, will be playing my oldest child."
"So, come Sunday morning, these two will be flying to Los Angeles with me to begin shooting the series, but they'll be back next weekend to perform 'The Taming Of The Shrew' at..." he partially covered the mic and turned to Rose and asked where they were performing next weekend. She answered and he continued, "... at 'The Heritage Museum' in Sandwich. I hope you'll all come see them again at that venue and, of course, they'll be here again tomorrow night for one more performance in Brewster. And don't forget to watch 'Civil Disobedience' on ABC starting late this fall. Alright, everyone, have a great night! Drive safely!"
The crowd went crazy with enthusiasm. Ed stole a sideways glance at John who was, obviously, in shock that they'd be leaving so soon and they hadn't told him about it. When their eyes met, Ed shrugged and looked a little sad and a little guilty - but only a little. The excitement of going to LA was too much to ignore.
Then Don Ferry shook hands with Ed and gave Rose a peck on the cheek, in both cases saying, "A car will pick you up at seven on Sunday morning."
As John headed for the wings, Don Ferry grabbed his arm and turned him, pulling him into a huge hug leaving his beautiful skirts flailing. Then he spoke softly into John's ear, "I'm so sorry, honey. We all know that you read the best, but you have to understand that ABC is owned by Disney and, even though they're very progressive with their employees, having a boy playing a completely female role on a weekly TV series is a challenge they're not quite ready to take on, yet. I'm sorry."
John was a bit surprised that he even acknowledged him, let alone that he'd say something like this. "Couldn't I play the role as a boy?" John asked a bit desperately.
The actor smiled down at him, paternally, "Sweetheart, you just weren't as good as a boy. I'm sorry, but that's the truth of the situation. If it's between you and another boy who's already got a following, they're going to go with a known money maker. It's just the way the business works."
John nodded and attempted to smile, he gave Don a kiss on the cheek and a 'thank you' before completing his exit.
Rose and Ed were waiting at the foot of the stairs. Ed offered a hand, but John used the railing instead.
When he reached the ground, they heard Julia raving about the costumes to Janice. "Oh, and that blue plaid dress you put him in, Oh, my God, it was beautiful. Oh, here he comes, now! Bianca, you are just precious in that! Congratulations, darling, you were marvelous!"
John smiled and waved an acknowledgement of the compliment as they all headed for the dressing areas.
"So... Sunday?" John finally said.
"Oh, Beebs." Rose rubbed his shoulder and tried to pull him into a hug, but John kept moving forward. "We only found out about an hour before call. I was planning on telling you right after the show, but I didn't get the chance..."
"Seriously, John," Ed said, "I was going to tell you the minute we got off stage. When I saw Don... well, I couldn't believe it. I'm wicked sorry. I didn't want you to find out this way."
"No need to apologize just because you guys are successful and I'm not. I'll just miss you guys, is all. I thought we had all summer and I really hoped that we'd all go to LA to be on that show together, but... damn, what a jerk I'm being. I'm sorry, guys. Congratulations. I just... I just need to change..."
As he headed into the changing area, Rose asked, "What did Don say to you?"
John turned and said, "He said that I wasn't good enough to get the role as a boy and, even though I was very good as a girl, ABC is owned by Disney and they're not prepared to cast a freaky little sissy in a dress to play a girl's role. So - essentially, I suck at being a guy, which, of course, everyone already knew."
He sulked away to change.
"Shit, shit, shit," Ed whispered. "Rose, I never would have done this except I like hanging with John - and now, you - but this is all so unfair. He should be going with us."
Rose shook her head sadly. "It's a business, Ed. Just a business and it seems like they made their decisions based on business instead of talent. Either we do it or we don't and if we do it, maybe we can find him some work, you know? Maybe even get him into a small part on the show."
From a short distance away, they heard the voice of Don Ferry calling Rose's name. She turned and saw the TV star walking towards her with one arm around Rose's mom and the other around her dad. "Look who I found," he called as he smiled. "I offered to take them out to dinner. You and Ed, too, unless you'd rather chill with your cast mates."
"What? Are you kidding?" she stammered. "Just give me five minutes to change!"
"How about you, Ed? Are your folks here, too?"
"No, sir, Mr Ferry...." Ed began.
"Uh, Uh, Uh!" The actor interrupted.
"Sorry... Don... but I'd love to join you, too, if that's ok?"
"Excellent, and little Bianca, too, if she'd like."
They both ran to change. Rose found John, already back in his little shift dress, headed out to see Cassie and Annie. "Bebe!" She stopped him in his tracks. "Don invited all of us to dinner. You, me, Ed, my folks! I bet he'd spring for Marilyn and Nancy, too. What do you say?"
He shrugged, "Nah, I don't think so. I'd just be a fifth wheel. I'll thank him on the way to see the girls. I'll get a ride home with my mom, or something. Have fun."
"Johnny, please...!" But he was already out the door.
"I don't believe it! Don Ferry just kissed you. He did it on the stage and he did it again just now! He actually kissed you!" Annie was very star struck and over tired to the point of giddiness. "You actually know a star! That's the coolest thing I ever heard of!"
John was giggling. Why did these girls always make him so happy!? "I don't know him. I auditioned with Ed and Rose, but I didn't get a part. He's just being nice."
"Can we meet him?"
"Annie, stop," Cassie was getting a tad irked with her sister. "Bebe, you were SO GOOD! I can't believe that they didn't take you on that show. You KILLED this play. You were so, so, so, 'f-ing' good! Congratulations!"
They all hugged and bounced, "Aww, thanks guys. And thanks for coming. It really meant a lot to me."
"Maybe they can see another performance before the summer's over." Marilyn appeared out of the crowd. She was smiling and seemed very happy with the play. "But if you do, you make darned sure that your mom sends me a text so I know you're coming and you guys will come to our house for dinner. Deal?"
"Deal!" the sisters said in unison.
Nancy joined them and said to the girls, "Well, girls, what did you think of my little sister? Wasn't she great?"
The girls agreed, but John was left wondering what Nancy's angle was.
"Cassie! Annie! Let's go! It's late! We need to get to the fireworks!" a man called from farther down the walkway.
"Coming, Dad!" they called. "Sorry, we have to go. Bebe, you were awesome! I'll text your mom, or something... gotta run! Love you!"
"Love you, too!" John called as he waved to them.
"You were WONDERFUL, sweetheart." Marilyn hugged his head to her breast. I have seen at least seven or eight productions of this show and I have never seen a Bianca who dominated the stage like you did! Congratulations, honey!"
"You really were incredible, Johnny," Nancy confirmed. "I'm blown away, if I didn't know you were my brother, I never would have suspected that you were a guy."
"I guess this makes it all worth while, huh?" Marilyn beamed.
He shrugged. "I guess. Mom, can you give me a ride home?"
Marilyn's smile shrank a bit. "Well, yes, of course you can, honey, but don't you want to go out with your friends? I heard that there was going to be a bonfire on the beach tonight."
Another shrug. "Ed and Rose are going to dinner with Don Ferry."
"And they didn't invite you?" Nancy seemed peeved.
"No, they invited me, I just... I'd just be in the way and Rose's mom and dad - I don't know what they know, so I think I'd just rather go home."
"Oh, ok, honey, if you're sure..."
"I'm sure, mom, and could I, maybe, not talk about it?"
"Sure, baby. Let's go."
The ride home was lonely. Sitting alone in the backseat of his mom's minivan seemed extremely childish under the circumstances. A car seat wouldn't have seemed out of place at the moment. He wasn't mad or irritated at all. He just felt sad and left out.
"I can't believe how good this production was, Johnny," Nancy offered, seemly trying to both make him feel better and make amends for previous conflicts.
"Thanks, Nan," John replied as he watched the dark scenery out his window. The fireworks in Brewster could be seen popping up over the trees in the distance from time to time.
The quiet continued.
"I saw that Mr Ferry spoke to you," Marilyn said as she glanced at him in the rear view mirror. "Did he say anything encouraging?"
"Kinda. He said that it was just business and that I was really good at the audition."
"Well, that's nice," Marilyn said, looking at Nancy to get her to keep the momentum going.
"That's great, Johnny. He wouldn't have said that if it weren't true."
"I suppose," John nodded.
The silence continued.
"He also said that I was better as Bebe than as John."
Neither Nancy nor Marilyn could think of a replay to that.
Eventually, "Well, honey..." Marilyn searched for the words, "... you created Bebe, so, in a sense, that was a great compliment."
"Ok, mom," he knew she meant well, but there wasn't much of a silver lining to be found right now. "Regardless, my best friends are going to LA without me in about thirty six hours and I'm going to be twiddling my thumbs and wearing dresses until the summer is over. You guys were right; I'm just a fuck-up."
"John!" Marilyn said in shock. "I never, not once in my entire life, said anything like that!"
"Me neither!" said Nancy.
"Yeah, but you implied it. I gave up everything for this role, mom. Like you said, I'm not even a man anymore. I'm just a boy who likes looking like a little girl. Even Nancy said I should go to jail."
Nancy let out a frustrated grunt. "John, I did NOT say that. I said that I was concerned that, if those little girls' parents found out... oh, what's the use. You're in a foul mood and you'll just twist whatever I say to make me look like the bad guy. Have it your way."
"Nancy, please," Marilyn said quietly, knowing her daughter's propensity for drama and her ability to make any issue 'about her.' "Your brother is having a rough time. Be sympathetic, please."
"Ok. Sorry. Johnny... we love you and you stole that show tonight. You're a great actor and it will happen for you. I know it will. Honestly, I thought this acting idea was just a pipe dream until tonight, but now that I've seen what you can do... You're going to make it Johnny. I just know that you will."
John was feeling a bit ashamed at having baited his sister as he had. "Thanks, Nan. Sorry. I'm just... kinda lost at the moment. I'll get over it. Sorry."
It was not the opening night that John had envisioned. The food-truck festival was a blast, singing and dancing along with the band was fun, too. Meeting up with the girls was both exciting and nerve wracking. In fact, he loved being with them. They were so bright and happy that a big part of him lamented the fact that he wasn't able to really be a fourteen year old girl so he could be with them all the time. The show was incredible, the crowd was great, but everything since then had just sucked.
It was not even 11:15pm on an opening night and John was in bed. He knew that he was just feeling sorry for himself, but there wasn't a lot more he could do. He just felt bad.
"Hi, baby." Marilyn peeked into the room. "Can I come in?"
"Sure, mom."
She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the boy in the virginal white nightgown with the lace shoulder straps as he laid in bed. "You ok, sweetie?"
"I'm ok, mom."
She nodded and thought. "Johnny, I know that this is not the best time to talk about this, but I need to speak with you about something. So, please, try not to get mad at me."
"All right."
"Good. Now, over the past two weeks, I have watched you change from John to Bianca to Bebe back to Bianca, back to Bebe... and I have gone from being amused to being supportive to being confused, to being scared to being incredibly proud of you that performance, tonight. Everything that Ms Weldon, Rita, Rose and Ed have been telling me is true: you are one of the most talented people I have ever seen."
"Thanks, mom, but you don't have to try to make me feel better."
"That's not what I'm doing, John. I'm not done. Throughout all of this, I have been fascinated by how well you've adapted to being so much younger and to being a girl. Not only did you become a little girl, though, Johnny, you have thrived as a little girl. Everybody loves you this way. It's unbelievable. I never would have thought that this kind of transformation was possible, but I watched it happen with my own eyes. So, I have a few questions. May I ask them?"
"Ok."
"Do you like being a girl?"
"Well, yes, mom, I do, I guess, but I liked being a guy, too. Being a girl is kinda new and exciting for me, you know? The clothes and the makeup and the way people treat me as Bebe... it's entirely different than being a guy. There's a part of me that finds it all a little exciting and fun, but there's a big part of me that finds it all - every bit of it - right."
"Uh, huh. And if you had to choose, would you choose to be a boy or a girl?"
"I don't know, mom. I still like girls... I guess I wish I could be kind of how I am. A guy and a girl at the same time."
"So, you don't want to have your... parts... removed."
"No, mom. I'd really like to keep that. I kinda like it."
Both of them gave nervous giggles at that remark.
"And what about your boobs? Do you want to keep those?"
"Oh, boy... that is a big question. If I have to be honest, mom, I'm really fascinated by them. I love having them, but I wish they were real so I could feel them, you know? I'm sorry. I know that makes me seem weird, but that's the truth."
"Why would that be weird? I like my boobs. Why shouldn't you like yours."
That made some sense.
"Ok," Marilyn smiled as supportively as she could, "So we agree that you're at least considering making some changes to your body, right?"
"Well, fantasizing more than considering, but, yes."
"Ok, good. Now, sweetie, do you think that, under these circumstances, we could, maybe schedule an appointment with a gender councilor? You know, a therapist who's had some experience with these things so that you can get some guidance to figure all this out?"
John thought for a few moments. He wasn't necessarily opposed to seeing a therapist, but was it really necessary, now. Maybe - maybe not, but his mother was obviously concerned, so why not help her ease her mind. "Ok, mom. I'll look for doctors online tomorrow and we can talk about it after that. Is that ok?"
"That's perfect, sweetie. Thank you." She smiled at him and he smiled back. It was an innocent, feminine smile that belonged to a little girl. "You make a beautiful child, baby."
"Thanks, mom. You make a beautiful woman. I hope that I'm half the woman you are someday."
Her first reaction was to be flattered, but then she realized that John was being funny. He was talking about being a woman on top and a man on the bottom. 'Half the woman...'
John giggled at her realization.
"Oh, you!" She laughed and hugged her pretty little son.
To Be Continued...
Kiss Me, Bianca - 7
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Author's Note: Once again, so many wonderful supportive emails and reviews from my readers! I am so, so grateful to each and every one of you. To Lucy Perkins, Suzi Auchentiber, EllieJo Jayne, D. Eden, Kymmie Lorain, Stacy, Angharad, Tina Mouse, Jerry B, Joanne Barbarella, Dee Sylvan, Starhawk55, Michelle SidheElf Amaianna, Will Shepard, Robyn Hoode, Andrea Lena, Intrigue75, NoName1, I say thank you all, so much for your support! I love you all!
If you read my story, Please? Leave me a review?
I am always willing to learn! ~Clara.
This version of Kiss Me Bianca: 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.
SAYING GOODBYE TO FRIENDS -or- PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW
"The Pancake Man? This is the best place to have breakfast on The Cape?" Rose was not convinced as she and John walked up to the entrance of the decidedly unfashionable looking restaurant. It was painted a shade of nearly-black-brown that could only have been considered appropriate for a commercial venue in the 1970s. Immediately behind the fairly small building, an enormous water tower rose up and dwarfed both it and the parking lot. It looked like something from a bad science fiction film.
"Wait till you try it! I promise you, you have never had pancakes like this before!" John had, at first, not been overly keen on taking Rose up on her offer to take him out to breakfast for some 'Sister Time,' but when she said that he could pick the restaurant, he got excited about returning to a place he hadn't been for over a year.
"I don't really like pancakes." Rose shrugged as she held the door for him and they entered.
The interior décor did not disappoint. The linoleum floor was shades of grey and yellow that had hundred of layers of wax build-up on it. The booths and chairs were all made from two-inch thick wood and stained what was probably meant to be mahogany, but was just as black as black could be and, even though smoking in restaurants had been forbidden in Massachusetts for more than a couple of decades, the ceiling was yellowed from old cigarette smoke and there were dust covered 'smoke eaters' still hanging derelict on dusty chains. Beneath those, all the way around the raftered ceiling, hung well over a hundred colorful, yet dusty, tee shirts bearing the name of the establishment and the slogan, 'Have a pancake, man!' The tee shirts offered the only real color to the otherwise dismal room.
"Nice," Rose murmured sardonically as a college aged hostess led them to their booth, which had mustard yellow, vinyl seats that had been repaired in several spots with duct tape. "Seriously? This is your favorite place for breakfast?"
John smiled and nodded. "Just wait till you've tried the food! You'll love it!"
A much older waitress came to the table and looked at the 'sisters' with a look that said, 'I'm unimpressed.' "What can I get you to drink, ladies?"
"I'll have a coffee, please, and my sister will have a small orange juice." Rose automatically ordered for John as if he was still a child. He didn't mind. This was the first time he'd been alone with Rose in days and he was enjoying every second of her attention.
"I think I'm getting the half-stack of peanut butter cup pancakes." John was exploring the menu as they waited for the waitress to return.
"Really? That would sit like concrete in my stomach for a week. How are their eggs, here?"
"I don't know, Rose," John said with a playful petulance. "This isn't 'The Egg Man,' it's 'The Pancake Man.' I never had 'eggs' here. I always have 'pancakes' here. Hence, the name. Get it?"
"Yeah, I get it. Maybe they should change the sign to 'The-StarchBatter -Cooked-In-Butter-And-Grease-That'll-Remain-In-Your-IntestinesFor -Months Man' in the interest of truth in advertising. Honestly, Bebe, you should consider a lighter breakfast. Pancakes will make you sleepy. You have a show tonight, remember."
"Maybe you're right. I'll get the Silver Dollar Pancakes, instead. They're smaller."
Rose read the menu. "They're smaller, but you get twelve of them!!!"
John just smiled.
"Mark my words, little girl," Rose chided, "you wont have the digestive system of a child forever. Eating like this will catch up with you!"
"Come on, Rose. I eat salad for lunch every single day and I only eat reasonable helpings for dinner."
"Oh, really? And what about last night at the food trucks? You put away plenty of unhealthy food then! You better watch yourself or you'll be needing maternity dresses to accommodate your 'food baby.'"
John laughed.
"What'll it be, ladies?" The waitress placed their drinks
unceremoniously on their table and pulled out a notepad.
"I'll have the 'Garden Veggie Egg White Omelette,' please and my sister will have," she let out a dramatically large, exasperated sigh, "will have the half-stack of peanut butter cup pancakes. She'll have a glass of milk with that, too."
"Ok," the waitress said and departed.
"Yay!" John cheered and clapped his hands quietly.
Rose smiled at his adolescent gesture. "So, listen, Beebs, can we talk about what's happening this week?"
"Rose, I'm not really a child. I know what's happening this week. Tomorrow morning, you and Ed are going to LA and you'll be back on Friday around noon. I'm happy for you, I really am. You guys need to just accept that!"
"I know, honey," Rose kept her smile steady, "but we want you to consider something."
"What?"
"Well, Ed and I are going to try to find an apartment while we're there this week. Thanks to Rita's negotiation skills, the production company is giving us a housing allowance, so we can put down a down payment and get everything ready for when we move."
John nodded. "That sounds good. I guess Rita really knows her stuff." He was about to add a snarky remark about how, if Rita is that good, then it must have been his fault that he wasn't cast in the show, but that would have been rude.
"I guess, but Ed and I were talking and we're going to get a three bedroom place so that you can move out there, too. Does that sound good to you."
"It sounds very nice and very generous, Rose... but it sounds a lot like charity, too. I don't think I can do that. Thank you, though. And thank Ed, too, but I think that's just... too generous."
"Look, baby," her voice was becoming a bit more maternal as she tried to explain. As if she were explaining to a child. "Ed and I both understand that we would not be in this position if it weren't for you. The producers came out here to see YOU. They only even considered auditioning us because Rita felt that we worked well with YOU. Ed was done. His audition was a disaster and the only thing that saved him was YOU. This wouldn't be charity, Beebs. This would be our feeble attempt to pay you back for making all of this possible for us. You helped us, now we can help you."
John sipped his orange juice and looked around the restaurant. "I need to think about it, Rose. I mean... I appreciate it and all, but right now... I'm kind of scared to go out there without a job and I'm kind of scared to go looking for a job, too. Right now, I'm not sure that I'll ever be a real actor."
She looked at John more closely. His hair was pulled back into a crystal barrette that sat high at the back of his head. She'd brushed his hair and put it in for him. His makeup was very light, today. Just some base, very little on the eyes and young looking pink lipstick. The nearly shapeless white lace sundress that he wore was playful and lovely on his pale, weak shoulders. He was wearing white flip flops as well. His feet did not touch the ground and he was swinging his legs as he looked around the room. He looked perfect.
"Beebs... every time I have ever been a show, I always felt like I was just a little bit better at acting than everyone else in the play. With you, though... I have no idea where your talent comes from. You just 'become' your character. It's almost scary. So, if you're not going to make it as an actor, what chance do I have?"
The food arrived and they dug into it. "What do you think of the food?" John asked.
"I hate to admit it," Rose laughed, "but it's delicious. Evidently mold and mildew adds something to the food."
John laughed and continued eating his pancakes. When he was about half done, he slowed down, took a drink of milk and said, "You're going to be a huge star, Rose. I know it."
"Really?" She rolled her eyes. "I get a part on a show and I'm already a 'star?' How do you figure?"
"Because you're beautiful."
She looked up at him and a smile moved across her lips. "There's lots of beautiful women in Hollywood, Beebs and I'm not 'Hollywood' beautiful."
He shook his head. "No, you're not, and that why you're going to be a star. You're actually beautiful. You weren't created, you just ARE. You're beautiful. Combine that with the fact that you really are a brilliant actress and, ipso facto, you are going to be a star. I know now that I am not."
"What? How can you say that?"
"I've been thinking about what Mr Ferry said to me. He said I was better as a girl. The problem is... I'm not a girl. If they're not willing to hire me as a boy because I'm only average as a boy, but they won't hire me as a girl because I'm not really a girl, then that's it. I'm not going anywhere as an actor.
"Bebe... Johnny, do the run of Shrew and then come to LA and audition. I'm sure that you'll find a good role soon enough. Rita has a lot of confidence in you, you know. She'll find you work, I'm sure of it!"
He smiled at her as he thought of a way to change the subject. He just wasn't ready to think about them leaving, or him auditioning or anything else right now. "Since this is kind of our last day together, let's do something fun."
"Such as?"
He shrugged. "It's Cape Cod! There's tons of stuff to do. Let's start by shopping at the cheap places along Rt 28 and go from there."
So, that's what they did. They went into dozens of tee shirt and dress shops all along the main drag. They both tried on dozens and dozens of very casual dresses. All cute and all less than $30. John used his first paycheck of the summer to buy himself six dresses while Rose bought herself three and two more for John as well!
All the dresses were typical beach-fare. Thin, light cotton, somewhat shapeless, comfortable and cute as hell on John's petite frame.
They were home to shower and change by early afternoon, and they returned to Brewster that evening for another excellent performance before another appreciative crowd.
Janice had company backstage again with Julia joining her and complimenting every costume. They really seemed to have hit it off. John wondered if their relationship was just collegial or if they may have struck up a bit of a romance. Either way, Jan seemed thrilled to have her there!
"Mind if I crash at your house again, tonight?" Ed asked as they headed for the car.
"Of course not. I'm glad that I'll be able to see you in the morning before you leave." John hugged his big friend as they walked.
"You're ok with us going, then?"
"Of course I am. Obviously, I'd prefer to be going with you, but I'm not mad about anything. I'm more... disappointed in myself, I guess."
Ed hugged him tightly as they reached the car. "Listen, John, I know that the ONLY reason they took me was because you saved my ass at the audition. Whether or not this becomes a career for me... well, we'll see, but whatever happens, I'll owe you forever for this chance. I love you, pal, and I really want you to come live with us. Will you do that?"
John kissed Ed's cheek. "I'll think about it, Ed. Thanks!"
None of the three of them slept that night - they didn't even try. They watched three Don Ferry movies and a three episodes of 'Law And Order' on which he played a sophisticated killer. They all were becoming fans of his, John more than anyone.
"I never really noticed it before, but after reading with him, I'm really impressed by his timing. He really controls the pace of the scenes he's in. You guys will have a lot to work off of when you're in scenes with him," John said. He was wearing short, spaghetti strapped, purple satin nightie as he sat between Rose and Ed and they cuddled him.
Rose was wearing a white sleep shirt with black pin stripes and black piping around the collar. It was oversized and ended on her upper thighs. Other than that, she just wore white nylon panties that, in keeping with the design of the shirt, peeked out from underneath the shirt on a pretty regular basis. "You're right, Bebe. If I hadn't been reading along with you, I would have tried to control the timing when I read with him, but I felt you relax into his tempo and I did the same."
"Can you guys explain what you're talking about?" Ed was mentally taking notes.
John smiled. He knew that Ed was better at this than he let on, but why not help him out. "When you're working with him, Ed, just relax and react and respond to him as naturally as you can. Don't try to control anything. That's what he's good at."
"Think about Johnny Dept in the first 'Pirates' movie," Rose offered. "He sets the tempo in every scene that he's in. Everyone lets him create the feeling and they compliment his interpretation."
"Huh," Ed nodded. "I get it. Michael J Fox did that too, right?"
"Yeah, that's right," John grinned. "Not all actors can, but he does. Watch some Cary Grant movies, or Al Pacino or Paul Newman. When he's really owning the movie, Tom Hanks, too."
"Oh, Yeah! 'Captain Phillips' is a great example," Rose agreed.
"Is this what college is like at Emerson?" Ed laughed. "Because that's not what's it's like at Wentworth!"
John and Rose giggled. "A little," John said. "This is more like the conversations in the cafeteria."
They continued to critique the movies and, before they knew it, a big, black Lincoln Town Car pulled into the driveway.
"Damn!" Rose stood quickly. "The car is here. I need to change real quickly!"
As she ran to her bedroom, Ed teased, "I've never met a woman who could get changed 'real quick.' I'll tell the guy it'll be an hour."
John punched Ed in the arm. "Behave."
Ed hugged him tightly and buried his nose in John's hair. "Ohhh, man... I'm going to miss you. I wish you were going to be there to tell me how to do this."
John enjoyed the hug. Ed always smelled nice - John had never really noticed how nice before. "Just relax and be yourself," John advised, "you'll be great."
"'Be yourself,' huh? That's weird advice coming from you." Ed smiled and kissed him on the cheek as he rose.
"I don't know. Maybe I am being myself. I've kinda lost track." John stood and walked behind his friend. Ed smiled at the remark, but John wasn't sure if he had actually been kidding or not. He had a lot to consider while his friends were away.
Ed grabbed his sport-duffle from his bed in the breezeway, then called back towards the bedrooms, "How long should I tell the driver it'll be?"
Rose emerged from her room pulling a rolling suitcase. "Is that all you're taking?" She asked Ed.
"Yeah. Why? We'll be back in a week."
What if we have to go to a nice restaurant or something?"
"I have nice things."
She shook her head with exasperation, then she looked at John and said, "Men just don't have a clue, do they?"
John smiled. "I'll take your suitcase." He rolled it out the door with more difficulty than he expected.
"Johnny, be careful," he heard his mother scold him from the doorway. She must have woken when Ed called to Rose. "You're only wearing a nightie, for crying out loud. Don't let people see everything."
"Ok, mom," he said and hustled to catch up with his friends, but his mother, discreetly in her robe, caught up and helped him.
"Bye Mrs Foley," Ed kissed her cheek. "Thanks for everything!"
"You're very welcome, Ed. Take care of yourself."
"I will." Then he turned to John, hugged him and gave him a more than friendly kiss on his lips. "Bye, Beebs. I'll see you Friday afternoon."
"Bye, bud. Just be yourself, ok? They'll love you."
"Ok"
"Bye, Marilyn, and thank you so much for everything," Rose hugged Marilyn and offered a kiss on her cheek.
"Goodbye, Rosie. Be very careful out there."
"I will. I promise." Then she turned to John, kissed him and whispered, "I wish we'd had some time last night, Beebs. I'm going to miss you, so much."
John smiled, but his eyes were getting watery. "No, you won't. You'll be busy, doing exciting things. You won't have time to miss me, but I'll see you on Friday, though. I love you."
She smiled sadly. "I love you, too, little girl. See you on Friday."
The door to the Town Car closed, the car pulled out and Ed and Rose were gone. They'd been his whole world for two solid weeks, but now they were gone, leaving John standing in front of his home watching the car getting smaller in the early morning sun.
Marilyn stared at John's back for a long while before she asked, "Are you ok?"
When he turned, he was wearing a brave smile, but his face was wet with tears. "Yeah, I'm ok."
"Come on. I'll make you some breakfast." She wrapped her arm around his naked shoulder and led him into the house where Nancy was waiting and watching from the breezeway. She opened her arms to hug him, but John fell into her arms completely and he sobbed and sobbed until he needed to breath again.
He woke up at about three that afternoon. When Marilyn heard him stirring she called in from the hallway.
"Are you up, honey?"
"Yeah, mom. I'm up."
"Good. Take a shower and get changed, baby. We have a reservation at Cicero's for five-thirty, then we're going to see a movie."
John sighed. "Mom, I don't really feel like..."
"I know, I know, you feel like sitting around and feeling sorry for yourself, but that's not what you need right now. Right now, you need to take a shower, put on your makeup, do your hair nicely, put on a nice dress and pretty jewelry and go out and face the world. So, come on, little girl, get your pretty little butt in gear because your mother is hungry."
He groaned a resigned groan. She was right. All he wanted to do was wallow in self pity for awhile. There was nothing wrong with that under the circumstances, was there? Evidently there was because his mother wasn't going to let him do it.
A half hour later, when he re-emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his torso and another wrapped turban style around his head, he was surprised to find a pretty, pink, lace bra and panty set on his bed next to a magenta, sleeveless, fit-and-flare dress. The dress was unadorned, but the color was very pretty and he could tell by looking at it that the bodice would fit him nicely and that the skirt would have a playful quality to it.
He liked it. "Nice choice, mom," he called out.
"I'm glad you like it, but I didn't pick it out." Marilyn came in to the room and picked up the panties, holding them out so he could step into them.
Keeping his modesty with the towel, he stepped into the panties, although he might just as well have been standing there naked, because, when the panties reached his crotch, his mother reached in and placed his penis in the gusset of the panties. After he got past the shock of that, he asked, "Where did the dress come from, then."
Marilyn smiled. "Your sister went out this morning while you were sleeping and she came back with it. She had to leave earlier than expected to take care of a few things."
She stood to help him put on his bra.
"Really? Nancy bought that for me?" John was a bit confused by the gift.
"Yep." She fastened the bra. "There's a card, too. Why don't you read the card, put on your dress and come see me in my room and I'll do your hair and makeup." She left him alone.
John saw the corner of the card sticking out from under the dress. Gingerly, he pulled it out, sat beside the dress on his bed and looked at the address on the card. 'To: My wonderful brother and my beautiful sister. From: Your idiotic sister.'
John read it several times and each time he felt worse that things were weird between him and Nancy. He'd always looked up to her. He loved her in a very special way and he wanted things between them to be normal, again.
Eventually, he opened the card, which was actually a piece of printer paper folded twice to create a small booklet. On the front was a drawing that Nancy had done. It was a somewhat anime-ish drawing of two girls standing in a field, holding hands. It made him smile.
He opened it. Nancy's handwriting was very small and crisp, easy to read. The note filled the page.
'Johnny - my wonderful little brother.
I don't know why, but I have always had a hard time dealing with my feelings. I tend to either shut them out or get angry. That's just how I am and I know that it's not fair to the people I love. I'll try to be better - to be more like you, Johnny. I never meant to hurt you or show you disrespect, but I did. This morning, when I held you and you cried, my heart broke into a million pieces and I realized that I didn't care if you were John or Bianca or anyone else, that I loved you more than I will ever love anyone. You have been like my own child since the day you were born and mom let me hold you. You mean absolutely everything to me, Johnny, and I nearly threw all of that away because I was unwilling to let you be who you are and who you are becoming. From now on, I promise to try to be better - to be more like you. To show my love more freely and to be more deserving of your love. I will always be here for the brother I love, and the little sister I am just meeting. I will cherish you both forever. I am leaving this note for John, my wonderful brother, and this dress for Bebe, my beautiful sister. I will be back as soon as I can. Until them, remember I love you, I love you, I love you. Nancy'
The tears that clouded John's vision were warm and loving. He wished that Nancy was still staying at the cottage so he could hug her and tell her everything her was feeling. Eventually, he picked up his phone and sent sister a text. 'I love, too. I really do. I'm so sorry and thank you.'
Moments later a response came. 'You have nothing to be sorry for. I love you. Enjoy your dinner with mom. Send me a picture of you in the dress.'
"It is an adorable dress, isn't it, Bebe?" Marilyn had done John's make up and was now working on his hair. She'd put some curl into it and was fastening the bejeweled flower hair clip she was using to pull some hair back away from her son 's face.
John looked at his mother in the mirror and said, "Mom, that's the first time you ever called me Bebe when we were alone."
Marilyn looked back into the mirror to meet John's gaze. "Nancy and I talked for a long time before she left today, baby. We decided that it was probably best to refer to you as Bebe for as long as you appear to be Bebe. That's ok, isn't it?"
He nodded. The look his mother had chosen for him was similar to the look he'd come home with after the call back. It was very young and innocent. His makeup was simple and barely visible. His lips were a sweet pink instead of Bianca-red. He liked the way his hair looked with a little curl in it and pulling the sides of the front back made his bangs more prominent which also looked a bit more juvenile. She fluffed and fussed with his hair a bit longer, then checked the clock and said, "We need to go if we're going to make it to the restaurant in time."
John stood and Marilyn guided him to the full length mirror on her closet door. With his mother in reasonable heels and him in gel-flats, his forehead was at the height of her shoulder. He leaned his head back, resting it on her shoulder and he looked at the mother and daughter reflected in the mirror. They seemed happy.
"Come on, baby," Marilyn put her arm around his narrow shoulders. "Let's go to dinner."
Cicero's was across the bridge in Buzzard's Bay, so their drive was fairly long. It was one of Marilyn's favorite places to eat. Even in the off season, every now and then, she'd make the ninety minute drive from Worcester to enjoy this restaurant's menu.
When they pulled into the parking lot, John immediately noticed a familiar vehicle parked away from the road. "Hey, isn't that Nancy's car over there?"
"Huh? Where?" Marilyn feigned.
"Over there, in the corner. I'm sure that's her car. I can see the Umass Medical School parking sticker on the back window. I thought she left."
"Huh! I thought so, too. What a surprise. Wait till she sees us. Won't she be shocked!?"
John cocked an eye at his mother. She was a lousy liar. "What's going on, mom?"
"Nothing's 'going on,' honey. Heavens, what an imagination you have."
"Yeah, well, you start talking like a British woman in an old movie when you try to be coy and right now you sound just like Julie Andrews in 'Mary Poppins.'"
"Oh, push-tosh," she teased as she put the car in park. "Alright, come now, Bebe. Spit spot." She laughed at her own imitation of the fantastical nanny.
As they entered the restaurant, Nancy was headed out the door. "Well, hi, guys!" Nancy said. "I didn't think I'd meet you here! What a coincidence!" She kissed her mother's cheek and whispered, "I'll put everything into your car before I leave."
Then she looked at John. "Oh, Bebe, that dress is just adorable on you!" She kissed his cheek.
"Um, thanks, Nan, and thanks for buying it for me. Look, about your note..."
She hugged him. "I'd really rather not talk about it, Bebe. Just know that I love you, ok?"
She released him and he looked confused as he said, "Ok... I love you, too... but... what's going on? This isn't a coincidence, really, is it?"
She smiled a little too slyly and said, "Love you, Bebe! I have to run. I have a shift starting at eleven o'clock." She kissed him again and said, "Bye, honey," as she headed out the door as John watched, confused.
"Come on, honey," Marilyn said as a hostess waited to lead them to a table. John followed his mother's guidance as she prompted him to follow the hostess and she followed him. She also waved across the room at some people she knew who also seemed to move towards the same table.
"I love your dress," the hostess said to John as they walked. "I love the color! It's so bright! You're so lucky to have dark hair. I've got this mousy-brown color that just doesn't seem to look good with any bright colors. Alright, here we go." She placed four menus on the table and stepped back to allow John and Marilyn to sit in the booth. "Marco will be your waiter. Have a wonderful evening. Oh, and I guess this is the rest of your party."
John looked in the direction that the hostess had indicated and was shocked to see Annie and Cassie bounding over to their table. John's smile was huge and sincere. "Oh, my God! What are you guys doing here!?"
Cassie leaned over and kissed him as Annie insinuated herself into the seat beside him and hugged him tightly.
"Your mom said that you were feeling sad and lonely after Rose left," Cassie said, with an equally huge grin, "so she invited us to come down for a few days."
"A few days? How long?"
"Till Thursday afternoon," Annie giggled. "Then our mom is coming down to get us."
John was still trying to get his thoughts in order, "But... how did you get here?"
"Your sister Nancy drove up to Manchester and picked us up!" Annie was beaming. In her entire fourteen years and seven months of life, she'd never done anything as exciting as going on an impromptu vacation and surprising a friend in this manner.
"Nancy?... but... that's, like, two and a half hours both ways! Nancy drove five hours... for me?"
"She did," Marilyn smiled.
"Why?" John was still processing everything.
"Because she loves you, Bebe. Haven't you figured that out, yet?"
"Yeah... of course, I have, but... I'm just... Holy cow! I can't believe you guys are back! Again!!!"
There was nothing but grins all around.
"Alright, ladies," Marilyn opened her menu, "let's order soon. We have a movie to get to!"
The movie, as it turned out, was at a public beach back in Hyannis where a large screen was set up in the parking lot to create a drivein theater.
"Did you see that sign?" Annie asked as they pulled in past the concession stand. "They're showing 'Grease' first, the 'The Greatest Showman!' BEST DOUBLE FEATURE, EVER!!!"
"Awesome!" Cassie agreed.
"Wow, mom! Great choice!" John said.
Of course, John and the girls knew every song and movement in both movies. While Marilyn camped out in her comfortable, captain's seat behind the wheel of her Toyota RAV4, John and the girls, with the assistance of a Bose Bluetooth speaker, were outside of the vehicle throughout both movies. They sang. They danced. They recited lines from the films. They were joined by other girls, from ages seven to sixteen, who also knew every second of each film. By the time 'Grease' had ended, the area in front and around Marilyn's vehicle was the social center of the makeshift theater.
There was something about being Bebe that just brought John to life. The more he indulged in his little girl persona, the more outgoing he became and being with Annie and Cassie, well, that just brought out the little girl even more. By the time 'The Greatest Showman' reached the song 'Never Enough,' John and about thirty other preteen and teen girls were standing straight and tall, facing the screen with the same attitude that Rebecca Ferguson assumed as Jenny Lind in the movie and they all were singing at the top of their lungs.
'Never Enough! Never! Never!
Never Enough! Never! Never!
Never Enough! For me! For me! For me!'
Each of them, with John in front of them, stood straight and still, with arms out stretched and imploring as they sang the plaintive lyrics. They aimed their heads and voices high and distant as if they were singing to the back row of an opera house, just as Jenny Lind did in the film.
Marilyn used her phone to record the scene and she sent it to both Nancy and Rose. Part of her was amazed by her talented son and his uncanny ability to lead a crowd, but part of her was sure that her son was, in fact, gone forever. Bebe was too strong for him to resist. Hell, Bebe seemed to be too strong for anyone to resist. John was a good kid, but he went unnoticed most of the time. Bebe was a force of nature and she had taken over John, heart, soul, spirit and being.
TIME WITH THE GIRLS -or- IF WE ARE TRUE TO OURSELVES, WE CAN NOT BE FALSE TO ANYONE
On the ride home, it finally occurred to John to ask his mother, "Have you heard from Ed and Rose?"
Marilyn pulled out her phone, opened up the text message app and handed it to John. "They arrived around seven o'clock our time. Here are pictures of the hotel and the pool."
"Can we see?" Annie leaned forward, curious.
John shared the pictures of the hotel and some shots of the meal they shared with the other stars of 'Civil Disobedience.'
"I can't believe that they are going to be friends with Don Ferry," Annie said, still star struck. "He's so handsome!"
"He is a babe, don't you think, Bebe?" Cassie asked.
Marilyn smiled as her once girl-obsessed son was put on the spot.
"...yeah... yeah, he's a fox!"
The girls laughed.
"A fox!?" Cassie laughed. "What are you, like, fifty years old!?"
John laughed, too. "He's cute," he recovered.
"That's an understatement!" Cassie handed the phone back to John. "He's gorgeous!"
The next three days were a blur of fun and excitement for John and the girls. They all slept on the sleep-sofas in the big room. They would sleep late, then go to the beach for a few hours. They rode bikes and shot baskets in the driveway. They shared clothes and did each other's hair and makeup.
On Wednesday morning, John had a brush-up rehearsal and Cassie and Annie came along. John had sent an email to everyone asking that they refer to him only as Bianca or Bebe in front of the girls. The cast treated the girls like princesses and Jan even let them try on several costumes each. They even got to wear John's 'Bianca' costumes. They were in heaven!
Throughout it all, Marilyn and John received many pictures from Rose and Ed. Pictures of the limousines that picked them up and the drivers in their dark suits. Pictures of the set and Don Ferry acting with cast mates. The one thing that seemed to be upsetting them both, though, was that Christian William Harris, the young actor who had gotten the role for which John had auditioned, had thus far been a no-show on the set. The cast had been told that his absence had been due to an extension of the filming schedule on another project. The only real impact this seemed to be having on the show was that Rose had only filmed a few scenes so far, since many of her's were meant to be with him.
Wednesday evening, John was in the kitchen helping Marilyn by making brownies for dessert, something he seemed to know how to do, now, even though he'd never made them before, when Cassie called in from the big room. "Bebe! You have to see this!"
"I'll be right there," he called back.
"No! You need to come, NOW!"
As he headed into the room, his mother's cell phone rang. Seconds after she picked hers up, John's rang, too, but he was already in the other room.
"Look!" Annie grabbed his arm and pulled him to the couch while Cassie rewound the digital cable transmission. It was a gossip broadcast on the TMZ network. When she'd reached the right location, she pressed 'play.'
"Trouble on the set of veteran actor Don Ferry's new show today." The handsome host of the salacious broadcast smiled as he spoke. "Shooting, which began on Monday, has been delayed as they waited for the arrival of teen heart-throb, Christian William Harris who has been AWOL all week, supposedly due to a conflict on another project. Today, however, TMZ learned that the young actor has, in fact been fighting an addiction problem..."
"Bebe," Marilyn came into the room, "you need to take this call."
"Just a second, mom."
The man on the TV continued, "... According to our sources, young Mr Harris has been battling an addiction to heroine for quite some time. Earlier this afternoon, he was hospitalized after a severe overdose. According to a spokeswoman from the show 'Civil Disobedience,' the show will be shutting down briefly to retool in the wake of this news..."
"Bebe," Marilyn was more forceful, "you NEED to take this call. It's Rita." But John was still riveted to the broadcast.
Another TV host spoke to the first. "Looks like another bad turn for the once successful Don Ferry, to me, Blake."
"I don't know, Shayne, but not many shows ever recover from 'retooling.' This sounds like the death knell for 'Civil
Disobedience.'"
"BIANCA!" Marilyn shook John's shoulder, "TAKE THIS CALL!!!"
John's thoughts were far away – in LA. Poor Ed and Rose! This must be awful for them! But he heard his mother’s voice and felt her shake his shoulder. “What?”
“It’s Rita, honey. She’s on the phone and needs to talk to you.”
John was in a daze, but he took the phone and said, “Hello?” He wandered towards the kitchen.
Marilyn sat between Annie and Cassie and watched the TV. “Oh, Lord,” she muttered.
“I’m sure that everything will work out, Mrs Foley,” Cassie said and she touched Marilyn’s shoulder.
“Yeah,” Annie add, mimicking Cassie’s gesture on the other shoulder.
Marilyn reached out with both hands and shook the girls’ knees. “I know, girls. It’s just scary, having the kids so far from home when things aren’t going well.”
“I can imagine,” Cassie said, as she hugged the older woman. “They’ll fix this, I’m sure.”
Marilyn nodded and smiled at the support the girls were offering.
John was dazed as he returned. “Mom... Rita needs to speak to you.” He handed the phone to his mother.
John sat on the couch opposite the one the sisters were sitting on. He was lost in thought.
“Are you ok, Bebe?” Annie asked.
He nodded and looked frightened.
“Beebs, what’s wrong?” Cassie asked. “Who’s Rita?”
He looked up. “Rita is my agent...”
“You have AN AGENT!?” Both sister shouted.
“I... I have another shot at that part. The one that they were just talking about. I... I have to go to California... I have another audition... tomorrow...”
The girls let out screams of joy and ran to hug John.
John felt a tidal wave of fear wash over him. When he went to the first audition, he felt pretty confident. At the call back, he felt like Superman because, basically, the entire production crew had come all the way to The Cape to see him, but that had turned out to be such a massive failure that he was petrified that he’d go all the way to LA, again, and this time he’d fail even worse. He’d never felt this frightened of anything in his life.
“You’re going to California!?” Cassie clapped her hands in excitement.
John nodded.
“By yourself!?” Annie asked.
“Probably. I went out by myself a couple of weeks ago.” He told them the story of meeting Rita on the plane.
“Wow!” Annie fell back onto the couch and banged her hands against the cushions. “You are the coolest girl I have ever met!!!”
“Aren’t you excited, Bebe?” She asked.
He shrugged. “To tell you the truth, I’m kind of terrified.”
“Why?” Annie sat up. “We saw you act last weekend. You’re amazing. Why would you be scared?”
“Joh... Umm... Bebe... Can I talk to you privately for a moment?”
“Ok,” John headed into the kitchen.
“Here’s the deal that Rita worked out. The Disney people are not going to know that they auditioned you already. As far as anyone knows, you’ll just be a girl that Rita represents and who she’s bringing in for an audition. There’ll be a bunch of other boys and girls there for the audition, too, so you won’t stand out, necessarily. You won’t see the pages ahead of time, but someone named ‘Julia’ wants to meet you before the audition to prep you.”
He nodded and listened. “So I’m auditioning as girl, only?”
“I’m afraid so, honey. Is that ok?”
He thought for a moment. “I guess it’ll have to be. I’d rather be there with Ed and Rose, dressed as a girl, than back here with out them. So, am I leaving tomorrow morning?”
“No, baby. They need you TO BE THERE tomorrow morning. You’re leaving at eleven-forty-five tonight. You’re taking a red-eye flight to LAX. Rose has hired a car to meet you. You’ll be back on Friday in time for your show.”
“But, what about the girls?”
“Hey, girls,” Marilyn called out. “Bebe has to fly out to California tonight. How would you like to help her pack and drive her to the airport with me?”
“Cool!” They Both yelled as they scampered into John’s bedroom to pick out clothes to make him look as cute as possible.
“Well,” Marilyn grinned at her son, “what are you waiting for? Go get ready, cutie.” She kissed his cheek. He smiled, then ran off to help the girls pick out his clothes.
The ride to the airport was loud and exciting with Annie and Cassie asking all kinds of questions and making all kinds of predictions about how the audition process would proceed and how his destined success would impact his life. John may have found it annoying if he wasn’t extremely grateful for the distraction. He knew that he’d be stressed and ‘in his head’ too much while he was on the plane, so talking to the girls was much better than obsessing.
The girls were in charge of picking the dress he would wear on the plane. Their first pick was the beautiful dress that Rita had bought him for his first reading. He explained why he couldn’t wear that again, so they picked a little floral print dress with a hint of a sleeve and a drawstring at the waist. It was one of the cheapest dresses he owned. Rose had picked it up on their little farewell shopping -spree on Saturday. It fit the bill perfectly, though. Mid-thigh, off white background and long stems with blue and red flowers adorning the very light, cotton fabric.
Marilyn had done his hair similarly to the way she had on Sunday, with the hair on either side of his face pulled to the back of his head and clipped together there. This time, though, she had incorporated the little butterfly hair clips that Ed had given John the first week of rehearsal and the ornamental clip at the rear of his head was also a white butterfly that Marilyn had purchased to match Ed’s gift.
They parked the car and hustled into the terminal with Annie pulling John’s carry-on case as quickly as she could. She beat them all to the entrance by a solid minute.
This time, following Rita’s instructions, Marilyn spoke to the woman at the Southwest Airline counter and explained that John was a minor traveling alone. The woman gave him a document to hand to the TSA desk to allow him to pass through without an ID.
Just as John was headed to the TSA gate entrance, they heard a shout from the entrance, “Bebe! Bebe, honey! Wait!”
He stopped and turned to the voice and found Nancy bounding towards him as quickly as she could. She grabbed him into a hug panting, “Oh thank God I made it before you left!” She kissed his cheek and held him as tightly as she could for a good ten seconds or more. “Good luck, baby! I hope it all goes great.” Then she forced a small role of bills into his hand and whispered, “Just in case you need anything while you’re there.” She kissed him one last time and he kissed her cheek, too, and she stepped back as he told her he loved her, too.
Then, he waved one last time and disappeared into the hallway that lead to the security checkpoint.
THE LONG, STRANGE TRIP -or- THERE IS A WORLD ELSEWHERE
Rose and Ed were waiting by the disembarking area. It was not quite five o’clock am and LAX was a busy hive of activity already. Both of his friends wore excited, anxious smiles. Ed hugged and kissed him first, then grabbed his carry-on and headed for the door as Rose hugged and kissed him and filled him in on the plan for the day. “The audition is at 9:00 in Century City. Rita has already signed you in, but she wants you there by 8:00, so we’re on a tight schedule.”
As they half jogged to the exit, John said, “It’s not even 5:00. We have enough time, don’t we?”
“Not really. Traffic here is awful, especially in Century City, so we’re going to go directly to the building where the auditions are and Julia is going to get you ready.”
“Ok,” they reached to Town Car and the driver was holding the door for them. John jumped in and scooted over, next to Ed as Rose took the seat by the door.
“So,” Ed took over, “everyone, and I mean everyone, Rose and me, the director, Don, the whole production team, want you to play the younger child, but they’re nervous that the big shots at Disney may not go for it, so we are not discussing the fact that you are really a guy, right now. As far as anyone knows, you’re Bianca Foley from Worcester, Massachusetts.”
“If they cast you, then we’ll discuss that you’re a guy afterwards,” Rose said.
“Well...” Ed corrected. “We’ll discuss it if we can, but it’s entirely possible that you may have be a girl twenty-four-seven if you are cast in the show and keep doing that for as long as the show runs.”
John nodded, thinking that being a girl twenty-four-seven is just fine, BUT what would happen once his secondary male sexual features began appearing? Oh, well. He’d cross that bridge when he got to it.
Ed went through all the plans, the schedule and the contingency plans several times as they headed towards Century City.
As the sun began to light the city, a lull appeared in the
conversation, so John finally had a moment to say, “I really missed you guys.”
Rose put her arms around him and pulled him so that he was half-laying across her lap. She nuzzled his neck and kissed it. “We missed you, too.” She squeezed him tightly and he giggled. “Didn’t we, Ed?”
Ed smiled at his two feminine companions. “Dude, we missed you like crazy. Man, Monday morning, I had my first scenes and I was like, ‘What Would Johnny Do,’ all day. I really need you out here, buddy.”
John smiled. He was about to point out that he missed them emotionally – not just because of the job, but Rose cut him off by saying, “I missed the way you feel when I hold you– the way you talk – the way you smile – the way you smell... I missed you every second of the day. I’m so glad you’re here!”
They arrived at the office building and John was rushed into an office-suite which Julia had commandeered for the day. The office suite was on the second floor, the audition would be taking place on the fifteenth floor.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Julia said in her larger-than-life manner. “Long time, no see. Are you excited?”
“Petrified is more like it,” John joked.
“Oh, please,” she waved off his concern, “What have you got to worry about? You blew everyone away, last time. Just do that again. No big deal!”
Yeah, no big deal. Just wow everyone like last time when you ended up alone. John was so concerned about doing a good job, that he wasn’t sure he’d be able to do ANYTHING.
“There’s a janitor’s closet down the hall where I set up a chair with a reclining back. Let’s start with a shampooing and we’ll go from there, ok?”
John nodded.
“Why don’t you take off that dress, sweetie? I forgot to bring a plastic cape and the towels will probably allow some wetness through. This way your dress won’t get wet.”
As he started removing the little, flowered dress, Julia said to Ed, “Perhaps it would be best if you left. We should give our little lady some privacy.”
Ed stood there as he processed what she had said. “Umm, you know that I’m a guy and Johnny’s a guy, right? I mean, we’ve been skinny dipping together before. We’ve been to the gym, together. I’ve seen him naked. I think I’m ok to stay, right John?”
“Sure,” John dropped the dress lower so he could step out.
“Ok,” Julia said, “but I’m not getting anyone named ‘John’ ready, so if Bianca gets to feeling embarrassed, out the door you go. Got it?”
“Yep.”
He turned to make a joke about how silly Julia was bending to John, but he was struck dumb by what he saw. Instead of a guy, who was just a little younger than him, wearing boxers and a padded bra, as he kind of expected, there was a young woman – a girl, really – in very feminine lingerie with no discernible indication of a male ‘package’ and very real looking breasts, that were being supported by the soft, white lace of a high-end bra. Ed had always assumed that it was just the clothes making John look like a girl, but as far as Ed’s hormones were concerned, John was a girl – every single, beautiful inch of him.
Rose glanced at Ed, then, instinctively, at his groin, and she saw his tool expanding in his pants. Her first impulse was to giggle, but she knew that would be wholly inappropriate at the moment so she cleared her throat, “Ah hmm.”
Ed gave her a double take, then realized that she was indicating that he was having a problem down below. He glanced down there and said, “Oh, Umm... if anyone needs me, I’ll be out at the reception area,” and he got out of the hallway as quickly as he could.
Julia scrubbed his head with the efficiency of a seasoned hairdresser. It both hurt and felt wonderful to have her nails scraping his scalp. When she’d finished at the sink, she had him stand and walk into an office where she’d set up her hair and makeup station.
“I’m not really a hair dresser, but I know my way around a salon. Obviously, I’m not cutting anything that would interfere with your ‘Bianca’ look, but I’m going to give your hair some loose curls. That will look less like it’s been done professionally and make you look a little younger. Sound good?”
Rose agreed immediately, but John asked, “How young? I mean, most people think I’m fourteen or so, now. How young to you plan on making me?”
Julia laughed, “Don’t worry, honey. You won’t need diapers or anything. I’m talking about keeping you looking like an early teen, but less like one who’s been made over by a professional, if that makes sense.”
“I guess...” John had absolutely no idea what she meant, but saw no reason to argue.
She brushed out his hair and wound some rather large curlers into it, all the while, Rose filled him in on how things had been going on the set of ‘Civil Disobedience.’ “Don’s been great and he rehearses Ed a lot before they shoot a scene. Ed has really come a long way in just a few days. I’ve only shot two scenes, so far, because I’m supposed to be helping my younger brother - or now, I guess, it’s possibly my younger sister - through our mother’s death, so... not much could be shot there.”
“The actress that plays Don’s mother is awesome, too. She’s been in, like, a million things. I looked her up on IMDB and she’s got over a hundred and fifty credits. I haven’t had a scene with her, yet, but she makes me call her Nana all the time, like my character calls her. She’s not a method actress, or anything like that, she’s just really sweet and thinks it’s nice that I call her that.”
At that moment, Rita entered. “Sweet, my ass. I’ve told you, that bitch has a reputation for back-biting, so you be careful what you do or say near her. Keep her at arms-length and you’ll be fine.”
Then she looked at John who sat in his pretty undies, half of his head in curlers. “You know, I never had to deal with things like this when I represented Bruce Willis.”
“What, you mean Bruce doesn’t wear a lace bra and panty set?” John teased.
“No, of course he does,” Rita didn’t miss a beat, “but he’s bald, so I never had to have his hair curled. Bradley Cooper, though, we’ll, there’s another story...”
Everyone snickered at that.
Rita pulled over a seat and indicated for Rose to do the same. “Alright, ladies, here’s where we stand. Other than the people in these offices, there are nine people who know that little Bebe, here, is a boy. All of them have a stake in the show being successful, so none of them are ever going to talk about it. The problem is that the ‘suits’ at Disney know that we auditioned a boy and that we wanted to cast him as a girl. The bad news is – they are not in favor of that. The good news is – they are so ‘not in favor of that’ that they didn’t even want to see the recording of the audition. So, chances are, the ‘suits’ that’ll be here today won’t have any idea who John Foley is or what he looks like. If they do, then our gooses are cooked.”
Rose nodded while John just listened and got more stressed.
Rita looked at John with a very serious expression. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
John smiled and lightened the quality of his voice as much as he could without sounding cartoonish. “Bianca Angela Foley.”
“How old are you Bianca?”
“I’m fourteen, ma'am.”
“And when’s your birthday?”
“September twelfth.”
“Where are you from, Bianca?”
“Worcester, Massachusetts.”
“And how did you happen to end up in Los Angeles, today.”
“I flew out from Providence, this morning.”
“How did you hear about today’s auditions?”
“My step sister, Rose, told me about it. She’s already in the show.”
“And do have a lot of experience acting, Bianca?”
“Yes, ma'am. I’ve been in, like, twenty plays in community theater plays near Worcester.”
Rita sat back and looked around at everyone. “I doubt that they’ll be more in-depth than that with their questioning. I’ve created a good resume for Bianca and they usually only really ask questions to hear your speaking voice. I think that we may have a chance, girls. If they don’t connect Bianca to the boy the crew auditioned in Hyannis, and they don’t ask for a physical immediately, and they don’t ask you anything too personal... we might just stand a chance of pulling this off!”
Rose took John’s hand and kissed it. “If anyone can do it, my little sister can!”
John smiled, feeling just a bit nauseated with anxiety, as Julia sprayed something called ‘Lotta Body Hair Setting Lotion’ all over his rollers.
A very modern looking, soft-bonnet hair dryer was placed on his head and he was told that he needed to ‘cook’ for about forty minutes. Meanwhile, Julia removed the polish from his fingers and toes, replacing the strong red color with a soft pink. She even added decals of little white butterflies, to match his hair clips, to the little finger of each hand.
She pulled out a frozen gel mask and put it on his face, stretching the strap over the bonnet, letting it rest on John’s eye area for about ten minutes before she went to work on his eye brows. When she was done, they were no longer ‘just neatened up. They were very thin. Not so much so that they’d look odd on a young girl, but he’d certainly look odd if he tried to be a man again any time soon.
She did his makeup as she’d done it before, so that, when she was done, he didn’t look like he was wearing any makeup at all. His face just looked cherubic and youthful. She also removed the little faux pearl earrings he’d been wearing for the past few weeks and replaced them with little white butterflies that Ed had gone out and bought on Julia’s instructions.
Finally, the bonnet was removed, as were the curlers, and Julia began brushing out his hair. When she’d finished, John was astounded at how much hair he had. Just a few weeks ago, he’d had a fairly straggly mane that was usually in a straggly bun. For the last few weeks, he’d had very beautiful, glossy, straight hair. Now, it puffed off of his face and over his head, beautifully. Julia had followed his mother’s cue and pulled some of the hair from the sides of his temple back on either side and clipped them in the back as she had done. He had white butterflies on his little, pink fingernails, white butterflies at the sides of his face clipping his hair back, a big white butterfly holding the hair on the rear of his head and an inexpensive, white butterfly hanging on a necklace on his chest.
His lingerie was, perhaps, just a bit mature for him, but other than that, the image that Julia had created was that of a very pretty, twelve to fifteen year old child, who’s step sister had done her best to get her ready for an audition.
“Alright,” Julia surveyed her own work, “let’s try on some dresses.”
John had no say in the matter, whatsoever, but Julia, Rita and Rose finally settled on a dress and they all agreed that this was a dress that a girl might have in her closet ready to grab at a moment’s notice.
It was sleeveless, with a scooped neckline, creating an effect of an almost ‘athletic’ top, but the bodice was made of a very luxurious, stretchy, black velvet that clung to his perky, modest breasts beautifully. At the high waist was a sequined waistband that transitioned half way around to black velvet and tied into a big, floppy bow in the back. The skirt was a traditional, red plaid with white and black intersecting lines creating the plaid pattern. The front of the skirt ended just above his knees , but the rear of it fell about three inches lower, allowing the skirt to billow with his movements. To further enhance the skirt’s structure, there was a tulle lining that created extra volume and structure for the skirt.
John looked in the mirror. All was going to plan, but, DANG he looked younger than ever! Just so sweet and innocent and so damned cute! Just as he was beginning to despair that he’d never, ever be considered a grown up, again, Rose hugged him from behind and whispered, “Damn, little girl, what I wouldn’t give to have an hour alone with you, right now.”
Well, John needed no further encouragement. He wanted this role more than anything because he wanted to be with Rose more than anything.
“Here, try these on,” Julia handed him a pair of nice shoes. They were silver grey, round toed pumps with the words ‘Pump Up The Pretty’ written in the shape of a heart on inside of the heel. They had a chunky, supportive, two inch heel and a slender strap that buckled around his ankle. When he stood, he found them remarkably easy to walk in.
“Well,” Julia asked Rita, “what do you think? Rather than have him stand out with your designer dress, he’ll blend in with the other girls. His hair looks pretty, but not outlandishly coiffed, makeup is subtle, light and young and he’s wearing a forty dollar dress and thirty five dollar shoes. Dressed up, but simple and the same as everyone else.”
Rita shook her head. “You’re like a wizard, Julia, I swear it! I mean, I didn’t think he was a guy when I first met him, but this... this is a masterpiece, my dear. Thank the nice lady, Bebe. She may have just created the newest character on ‘Civil Disobedience.’
John reverted to his Bianca training and gave a modest curtsy as he said, “Thank you, Ms Julia. You made me very pretty.”
“Oh,” Julia placed her finger tips on her chest, just above her cleavage, as she crossed to John and hugged him to her warm, ample, perfumed breasts, “aren’t you just the most adorable thing!? Now, I need you to go upstairs and get this part, little girl. I need a steady paycheck and the only way I’m going to get that is if this show gets going!” She kissed him on the forehead as she released him. “Now, go make momma proud.” She turned him and patted his butt as she sent him to Rose, who escorted him out to the reception area.
Ed was napping, but woke when he heard them coming. He stood, stretched and said, “Did everything go ok? We need to be upstairs in about forty-five...” When he saw John he stopped and stared. This was definitely not his friend. This was a child. A real child. A kid who had somehow ended up in Julia’s office and made friends with Rose, but this was not John. Although – she did look alot like John. Well... Bebe, anyway.
“Go Show Uncle Ed your dress, Bebe,” Rose toyed.
John, however, was entering his ‘Bebe Zone.’ He half skipped away from Rose, did a spin for Ed and ended with another, modest little curtsy.
“Holy shit, Johnny,” Ed muttered. “You’re so... so... girly... and... young looking. Holy shit! What did they do to you.”
“Julia just took the beauty that God gave him, Ed,” Rose said, with her eyebrows raised in a way that said ‘Don’t mess this up! He’s ready to go, so shut the hell up!’ without saying a word, “and enhanced John until Bebe emerged.”
“Boy, did she ever!” Ed had been trying to disguise his Massachusetts accent all week, so Rose knew that he was really shocked when the word ‘ever’ came out as ‘ev-ahh.’
At last, Rita joined them, dressed in a freshly cleaned and pressed skirt-suit and said, “Well, children... let’s go.”
To Be Continued...
Kiss Me, Bianca - 8
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He also gets some news that completely changes his view
of himself and his plans for the future.
Author's Note: Thank you all so much for your support! I love you all! If I make a mistake or write something wrong, I am always willing to learn.
If you read my story, Please? Leave me a review? ~Clara.
This version of Kiss Me Bianca: 8 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.
TRYING AGAIN -or- PERSEVERANCE KEEPS HONOR BRIGHT
"Please, just take this form and fill it out, then go see the lady at the end of the Hall for a number. Thank you." The plastered-on smile of the pretty, young woman sitting at the reception desk was anything but welcoming. She handed Rose the form, obviously unaware that she was part of the existing cast, and turned her attention to the next person in line. She had never even glanced at John.
The questionnaire was on bright pink paper indicating that John was a girl. The boys all had blue forms. Rose sat on a love seat in the waiting area and had John sit with her. Together, with Rose writing, they completed the form and, using a paper clip, attached a head shot and resume that Rita had mocked up for him, and brought the paperwork to the lady at the end of the hall, as instructed.
She looked at the form and said, "Welcome, Bianca. Please step over to the wall by the tape measure and let me take a picture of you."
He did. They took a photo with John standing in front of a tape measure that was mounted to the wall so that they could check his height later if they needed that information when casting.
"Thank you. You're number twenty-six. Please go into the conference room and wait to be called. Are you her mother?"
Rose nearly shouted at the girl, but, instead, just responded peevishly, "I am not. I am her sister."
The woman was not about to apologize. "I see, well, family members can wait in the other conference room at the other end of the hall."
Wow, this woman had no social skills whatsoever! "Ok. Thank you." She turned to John and said, "Good luck, Bebe. I love you."
"Love you, too," John said quietly as Rose kissed his cheek and walked away, leaving him to join twenty-five other potential 'younger siblings' for Rose, all of which waited in the nearest conference room. Some of the fifteen and sixteen year old kids, especially the boys, looked much more mature than the younger kids, like John, but there were lots even younger than him who looked scared to death. John could see that one girl in particular, number twelve, was shaking like a leaf. She was going to freak out. John could sense it. He'd seen it happen at auditions before. He needed to help her.
"Hi," he said to the girl in the very pretty yellow dress. "My name is Bebe. I like your dress."
The girl took a few seconds to focus on his face. "Oh...hi... I'm Kylie. Umm... thank you... I like your dress, too."
John smiled as prettily as he could. "You want to sit and talk while we wait? It's going to be a while, I think."
"Oh, sure, I guess..."
Within a few minutes, John had gotten Kylie to relax and, pretty soon, she was laughing along with John and telling him stories about her life. She was from Pasadena. Her mom was a chef at a local restaurant. Her step father ran a business renting dressing room trailers to the entertainment industry. She was fifteen and would be entering her sophomore year of high school that fall. Etc.
John pointed out other kids who were stressing, too, and they invited those kids to join them and chit chat until they were called. Some refused, nicely, others, not so nicely, but most joined their group. By the time 'Auditioner Number One' was called, there were forty-five kids, the maximum that the casting director was going to see today, in the room and at least thirty of them were chatting with John and Kylie.
As each group member was called, John and Kylie would lead their new friends in calls of 'good luck' and applause. Soon, they got a rhythm for how long each child-actor would be in the audition room. When Kylie was about to be called, she said to John, "You know, Bebe, this is, like, my twenty-something-eth audition and you have made it so much more fun than all the rest of them. Thank you."
"Number Twelve," a Production Assistant called from the door.
"Break a leg, Kylie!" John shouted and everyone else did the same. They all applauded as the pretty red-headed girl disappeared into the office.
John and the kids who were with him continued talking about their lives and families and movies and TV, etc, until John heard them call out number twenty-five. The highest audition number in their group was number forty-one, so John said, "I'm next, guys, so I'm going to ask Darrin, who's our highest number to keep this conversation going till the end. Will you do that, Darrin?"
Darrin, who was one of the older boys, but was, obviously,
inexperienced at auditioning, said he would.
"Great!" John smiled at the boy, making him smile, too. "Alright, since Darrin's not going to have anyone to cheer for him when he goes in, let's hear it for Darrin! Break a leg, Darrin!"
They all repeated the shouts of 'break a leg' and applauded for Darrin, who gave a very shy, "Thanks, guys. Thanks, Bebe."
Suddenly, the moment came, "Number Twenty-Six."
John felt a pit open up in his gut as he stood and his new friends all applauded for him. He felt like the walk to where the PA waited was endless, while at the same time, he felt like he got there way too fast.
"This way," the PA said as he led John into the office. "Just stand on the 'X' and do what the director tells you."
John nodded.
The director was reading the resume attached to John's audition sheet. When he looked up, it took a moment, but a flash of recognition went across his face and he smiled, just a little bit.
"So... Bianca, is it?" he asked.
"Yes, sir." John gave a slight, involuntary curtsy as he answered.
John was asked a series of questions similar to those he was asked before and those that Rita had prepped him with, earlier. The first one to throw him a little off balance came from a woman who had been introduced as a programming executive at Disney. "That's a lovely dress, Bianca. Did your mother buy that for you for your audition, today?"
"Oh, thank you, ma'am," John said and curtsied as he thought of an answer. "No, my sister bought me this for my middle school graduation ceremony." He actually really did like his dress with the stretchy velvet bodice and flowing, red-plaid skirt.
"Oh, how lovely. When was that, Bianca?"
"That was last month, ma'am. In June."
"And did you do well on middle school, Bianca?"
"Yes, ma'am. I was in the National Junior Honor Society, and the drama club." Both of those were true of John's middle school career, which ended six years ago.
"Well, congratulations, Bianca. By the way, your sister has excellent fashion sense. Your dress is absolutely adorable."
"Thank you, ma'am." Again, a little curtsy.
"Bianca," the director said, with mock interest. "That's a very fancy name. Do you you have a nickname?"
"Yes, sir. They call me Bebe."
The Disney executive looked up quickly. "Bebe? Are you the Bebe that we've been hearing about? The one who got everyone out in the waiting area supporting each other."
"Umm, I probably am, ma'am. I think I'm the only Bebe here, today."
"Well, tell me, Bebe," the director continued his questions, "how is it that you seem to have managed to get everyone out there to support each other instead of being at each other's throats, as people usually are at an audition?"
"Well, it wasn't EVERYONE, sir." John giggled appropriately. "Some kids are too stressed to join us, but... see, I didn't come here today to beat them. I came here to do my best and if it's what you're looking for, then great. If it's not, then one of them may have what your looking for. They're not my enemies; they're my... I can't quite think of the word. I'm sorry."
"Colleagues?" the Disney woman asked.
"Yes! We're colleagues; not enemies. We should be helping each other."
The director held his eye brows high on his forehead. "Interesting, Bebe. That is a very refreshing attitude. You are a very wise young lady. Are you ready to read, now?"
"Yes, sir." Another little curtsy.
A PA handed him a copy of a script. "Starting on page sixteen," she said. "You read the part of Alex. I'm reading the part of your father. Ready?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Knock it off, Alex. I didn't move here to punish you." The PA's delivery was as bland and lifeless as always. "Your grandmother and I are doing everything we can to make life normal for you."
At this point, each of the other actors/actresses who'd read up to this point had lashed out at the father, but John remembered a quote from Lawrence Olivier that one of his teachers repeated over and over. 'When they expect you to shout - whisper' and that's what he did. Instead of exploding at the PA/father, he shrank back a bit and said, quietly, "I know, but it's just not fair. I don't know anyone her and..."
"And what, buddy?" The script was obviously written for a father and son.
"... I miss her."
"Who?" the PA asked with no emotion.
There was silence in the room as John drew them all in. Then he whispered, "Mom. I miss mom. I want her to come back." Quiet, sincere tears began to flow, un-beckoned. "I mean... I'm not stupid... I know she's gone, but... I don't want her to be gone." That's where the script ended, but John added, "I want her to hold me... just once more, Daddy. I miss her."
There was a long silence. The the director spoke quietly, "Keep going."
The PA looked surprised. "That's all there is."
"Not you," the director scoffed. "Bebe. Keep going."
John's head sagged and he looked as if he was broken with grief. Before he could speak, though, a man, who he'd later learn was the head writer, whispered, "Baby... I know. I'd give the world to hold your mom just one more time, too. But..."
"I'm sorry, daddy. I know you miss her, too, but..." again, the most natural looking tears flowed down his cheeks, "we're all missing her so much that we're not even talking about it. I want to talk about her, daddy. I want to remember everything about her and I'm afraid that, if I don't talk about her, I'm going to forget about her and then... she'll forget about me."
"Oh, no, no, baby," the writer was improvising and loving this girl, "that'll never happen. Your mom will always be here. She's a part of you... and a part of me... and your sister and your grandmother... and everyone else she ever loved, baby. And you'll always be a part of her."
"I need her, daddy," John looked as if he was imploding with sobs and grief. "I need you."
"Alright, enough is enough!" The Disney woman shouted as she ran around her table to hug John. "What are you trying to do to this child? You've seen enough." She held him tightly. "Are you ok, honey?"
John smiled. "Yes, ma'am. I'm fine. Thank you."
The director stood and applauded and the rest of the room joined him.
The Disney woman wiped her eyes. "Oh, dear lord, I think forget you were acting." She stepped back and laughed at herself. "You're very good, my dear. You're VERY good."
John smiled and gave another little curtsy. "Thank you, ma'am."
The director came around his table, too, and threw his arms around John, squeezing and shaking him. "That's was a first for me, young lady. Ray," he said to the head writer, "how 'bout you. Did you ever have anyone riff on your script like that, before?"
"Never in my life." He reached across the table and shook John's hand. "Ray Manning. I'm the head writer and you, young lady, are a force of nature."
"Thank you, sir." John couldn't curtsy this time, though, because the director was still squeezing him.
"According to your CV," the casting director said, knowing full well the answer, "Rita Gomez is your agent. Is she here with you?"
"Yes, sir. She's here and so is my sister."
"Holy cow," the casting director was flexing his acting-muscles, "I just realized! You're Rose's sister. If we cast you, we'd have reallife sisters on the show. Isn't that amazing?"
"Really?" the Disney lady said. "Well, That is an interesting proposition. Tell you what, Bebe. We need to see the rest of the kids, but we've asked one other young lady to stay wait until we're done so that we can talk to her. I think we'd like you to do the same." She looked around the room. "Am I correct?"
"Yes, absolutely." The director smiled and returned to his chair. "Thank you, Bebe. You were great."
"Thank you, sir, ma'am. Thank you everyone!" He curtsied once more, And another PA led him down the hall to where Rose and Rita were waiting.
"Ladies," the PA said, "would you come with me?"
He led the three of them to another large office with four-foot high walls defining cubical areas for office workers, but no workers were there. Just empty chairs and desks.
"We use this space as a set for a show that's not working here, today. Make yourself at home."
"Thank you," Rita said with a businesslike coldness.
"Bebe!? They asked you to stay, too?" The red haired girl hurried to hug her new friend.
"Kylie! Wow! Congratulations!" He hustled down the aisle to meet her.
A woman of, perhaps, forty-five appeared behind Kylie. "Mom," Kylie said, "this is Bebe. The one I was telling you about."
The older woman extended her hand. "How do you do, Bebe. I understand that you helped my Kylie before the audition. Thank you, very much. This is the first time that she's ever had to wait alone before an audition. I think that the anxiety got to her a bit."
John smiled. "My pleasure, ma'am." He gave another little curtsy.
"Oh, my," Kylie's mother said, "such manners." She looked at Rita. "Your daughter is extremely well behaved."
Rita sauntered forward with a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin on her face. "Thank you, but Bebe is my client; not my daughter. Speaking of which, who is representing your daughter?"
John had not had much sleep on the plane and he had lost track of the time that they'd been waiting, as his fatigue took over. Eventually, he fell asleep on the floor with his head in Rose's lap. Ed had been texting them throughout the afternoon, as had Marilyn and Cassie, but there was nothing to tell them, yet. When the last of the readings was done, Rita had gone into the office with the production team, but she'd never come out.
Finally, Ed sent a text that read, 'We have to get to the airport pretty soon. Our flight leaves at 7:30. We'll be cutting close as is. We really need to go.'
Not being at all sure that she was doing the right thing, Rose knocked on the door of the room where Rita and the production team was working. A PA opened the door.
"I'm sorry," Rose smiled, "but I need to speak to Ms Gomez for just a moment."
Rita heard her and called over to the door. "Go ahead, honey, I know that you have a flight. I'll call if I have any news."
"Ok," Rose called back and the door closed on her.
"I guess we can go," she said to John, Kylie and her mom. "Rita says she'll call when she hears anything."
Everyone nodded and stood, shaking off the stiffness of sitting around for so long.
"Hey, Bebe," Kylie said, "what's your cell number? I'll let you know if I hear anything and you can do the same."
They traded numbers and the four of them headed to the elevators.
In the lobby, Ed was pacing. Having been relegated to the job of 'waiting' all day, he was extremely anxious to hear what happened. So, he was briefed all the way to the airport.
"Rita said that they way we found out was very unusual," Rose told Ed. "She said that these things can take days, or weeks to resolve. So, she says we should be patient."
"Patient!?" Ed had thrown his gym-duffle over his shoulder and was pulling both Rose and John's roller-carryons towards the entrance of LAX. "We don't have days or weeks, for crying out loud. They'll cancel the show if they don't replace the younger sibling. Everyone wants him, we all know we need him, so, what's the hold up? Hire him, already!"
"Calm down, Ed," Rose said in a quieter voice. "You're going to upset him if you keep this up."
Ed just let out an exasperated sigh as he headed for the Southwest Airlines desk.
John was walking a few paces behind them, but he came to a dead stop when his text-alert sounded.
"Oh, son of a bitch!" he hissed as he read Kylie's message.
Neither Ed nor Rose had heard exactly what he said, but they stopped to see what the matter was. He handed them his phone and stepped aside a railing overlooking a staircase to be alone for a moment.
The text was from Kylie and it read: RITA JUST CALLED! I GOT THE ROLE OF NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S DAUGHTER! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AND FOR INTRODUCING ME TO RITA. HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING YET?
"Well, it's not a 'no' anyway!" Ed said, trying to stay upbeat.
"It's not a 'yes' either, Ed." Rose shook her head. "Oh, I wish they'd just cast him?"
They walked over to where John was leaning on the railing. "Want me to call Rita?" Rose asked.
He shook his head. "It's bad enough that I'm actually desperate. I probably shouldn't COME OFF as desperate to everyone else, if I can avoid it."
She nodded and rubbed his shoulder. "Want me to reply to her text?"
"I'll do it." He took the phone back and wrote: CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'LL BE GREAT! NO NEWS HERE."
He turned around and wiped a tear from his eye. "I seem to be really good at getting other people into roles, but I can't seem to get myself arrested. Geez... I really thought they liked me..."
While Ed checked them in, Rose sent a text to Rita: ANY NEWS? JOHN HEARD GOOD NEWS FROM KYLIE.
NOTHING GOOD OR BAD, Rita replied. THEY'RE STILL NOT SURE IF THEY WANT ALEX TO BE A BOY OR A GIRL. IM HAVING BREAKFAST WITH DIRECTOR AND CASTING DIRECTOR TOMORROW MORNING. I'LL BE IN TOUCH.
Rose sighed and showed the text to John who shook his head. "It's just not going to happen, Rose. Twice now, all the stars were aligned, and then... nothing. I'm not getting my hopes up, anymore."
"All set," Ed called.
John, still in his black velvet and red plaid dress, sulked to the counter where he joined Ed, who threw an arm around him and spoke softly. "It'll be ok, man. I know it will. Let's get you on the plane so that you can get some sleep. You need to rest up for the show tomorrow night."
John nodded, but just walked where he was guided without any real consciousness. Instead, his mind was sorting through the details of the audition. Maybe he shouldn't have improvised, but they seemed to like it at the time. Maybe he should have yelled when he whispered. Maybe he shouldn't have helped all those kids... but they needed help. Damnit, when would he learn to just look out for himself and say 'to hell' to everyone else?
The flight was boarding when they arrived, but, because their tickets had been purchased at different times, Ed and Rose sat near the front, while John was in the very last row, next to a very pleasant, but heavy man who took up all of his own seat and an awful lot of John's, too. The man apologized for crowding John, but John just shrugged, closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless, despairing sleep.
He woke as the plane began its decent. His head was resting on the upper arm of the big man next to her.
"Sorry," John muttered and offered a smile.
The big man smiled back and said, "Your sister came back a couple of times. She said to check your texts when you woke up."
For a brief moment, John thought that he'd find a text from Rita with good news, but, instead, there were just a few from a group text with Rose and his mother. The gist of the texts was that Marilyn didn't feel comfortable driving to the the airport the next morning because heavy rain and high winds were expected. Marilyn hated crossing The Cape Canal in bad weather, the bridges are very high, so she'd arranged for an Uber driver to pick them up.
"Anything important?" the man asked.
"Not at all." John shook his head.
The man watched John then asked, "Are you on, dear? You look upset."
"I've had a rough couple of days." John attempted to smile. "Hopefully things will be better tonight."
"Hopefully," the man nodded. Then he shocked John by saying, "I saw you in The Taming Of The Shrew last weekend in Brewster. You were great. I just wanted to tell you that."
"Oh, well, thank you," John sputtered. "I can't believe you recognized me."
The big guy chuckled. "Actually, I just thought you looked familiar when we sat down, when your sister came down the aisle, it all sort of clicked. I really enjoyed the show, though. You were VERY impressive. I didn't realize you were quite this young, though."
"I'm older than I look." John sat up straighter and shook off the sleep.
"Yes, your sister said you are fourteen. You looked older than that on stage, but you seem much younger than that up close."
John smiled.
It was seven in the morning when they landed in Providence. The Uber was waiting and they were back in Hyannis by 8:30 where Marilyn had a lovely breakfast waiting for them. "So, no one's been cast as the younger brother or sister, yet?"
Both Ed and Rose said that she was correct, but John pointed out that they didn't know if anyone had been cast. They only knew that John had not been.
"I'm sorry, honey." Marilyn stood behind her son as he ate his eggs. She kissed his head and rubbed his slender shoulders. "That is a very pretty dress that your friend Julia gave you, though. It certainly does make you look right for the role."
"Girly, you mean?" John asked. "I've been wearing dresses for three weeks, mom. I think I've got the girly part down pat."
"Younger," Marilyn said.
"Oh."
"Your hair, too. I love the way she curled it. It's a shame we have to straighten it for tonight." She checked her watch.
"I hate to rush you, baby," she started clearing dishes, "but we do have an appointment to see that friend of Nancy's this morning. Your appointment's at eleven, so we should start getting ready, especially if you want to shower."
"Oh, mom, please, let's cancel. I just got here and I have a show, tonight... this just isn't a good day for this."
Marilyn put her hands on her hips and spoke with a distinct sense of being perturbed. "Bebe, you promised me... Nancy went to a lot of trouble to get this appointment set up so quickly. We are going. If you want to rinse off in the shower before we go, then you'd better do it, now, because we are leaving here in forty-five minutes."
"Yes, ma'am," he sighed as he nibbled the last of his eggs and headed into the bathroom for a quick shower.
THE DOCTOR -or- WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE, BUT KNOW NOT WHAT WE MAY BE
"John Foley," the nurse called from the door of the waiting area. John and Marilyn stood and went in that direction. The nurse didn't react at all to John looking the way he did, but a few of the patience who were waiting raised their eyebrows. "Hi, John. This must be mom? Follow me."
"Hi, John. It's very nice to meet you." Dr. Schwartz was a very attractive woman in her mid-to-late-thirties. A nurse swabbed John's arm and drew some blood as the doctor reviewed his medical record. When the nurse had everything she needed, the doctor said to her, "Tell the lab that I need the results as quickly as I can get them. Within an hour if possible." The nurse nodded and left.
She ran through a series of routine examinations with John, then handed him two moderately small sample-cups. "Now," the doctor smiled reassuringly, "I know that this can be a bit embarrassing, but I need you to give me two samples. One urine sample and one sperm sample. On our questionnaire, you stated that you had no trouble getting or maintaining an erection. I assume you masturbate, correct?"
He glanced at his mother, a little shocked to have to answer this question. "Yes. Sometimes."
"Good. Use the lavatory down the hall on the left. There's some 'stimulation material' in there, in case you need it."
The little beige sundress with embroidered flowers that he was wearing could not cover up the reddening of John's skin as he took the cups.
"No need to be embarrassed, honey," Marilyn offered. "Masturbation is just a fact of life. Everyone does it."
That made matters so much worse!
When the door was closed, Dr Schwartz turned to Marilyn. "May I ask you a few questions, Dr Foley?"
"Of course."
"Has Johnny been small all of his life?"
"Actually, his pediatrician thought that he'd been in the eightieth percentile for height when he was little, but by second grade, the other kids started out growing him."
The doctor took notes. "And, did anyone look into why he wasn't maintaining his predicted growth pattern?"
"Well, no..."
"I see."
She wrote some more. "Before he removed his hair, do you happen to know the approximate size and shape of his patch of public hair?"
"Umm... no. I can't say that I ever looked at it..."
"That's ok. Umm... how long has John been living as a woman?"
"Just three weeks, I guess. He's in a show and..."
"Yes, Nancy explained that. And, to your knowledge, is John sexually active?"
Marilyn sighed and shrugged. "I don't think he's a virgin, if that's what your asking, but I'm not sure that it's a common thing for him to be sleeping with someone. How's that?"
"Perfect, thank you, Dr Foley."
John had no problem filling the cup with urine, but he was having a heck of a time with the other one. When he thought of Rose, he stiffened quickly, but the idea that he was doing this just a few feet from his mother, WHO KNEW THAT HE WAS DOING THIS, was very off-putting and it distracted him from the task at hand, so to speak. He looked at the magazines and the selection of videos that were available, but they just seemed vulgar. There were several lingerie catalogs, too, but he found himself more intrigued by how the items would fit and feel than aroused.
Finally, he took out his phone and did a google search for 'lesbian erotica.' He didn't know if it would work or not, but it seemed as if he was more of a lesbian than anything else, right now.
Nothing.
But - a suggested search seemed interesting. It listed 'Transformation boyfriend to girl.' He clicked on it and a vast number of images appeared on the screen. Each seem fairly ordinary, but there were captions that told the stories of trans-gender fantasies in which women wanted their men to be small and weak and feminine. He read a few, and soon he was in a new fantasy - He was smaller and Rose could pick him up and carry him on her hip. She was speaking to him in a motherly lilt with sing-song inflections. When she asked questions, he just nodded answers.
And she dressed him.
She dressed him in lace and silk and puffy sleeves.
She dressed him in ribbons and bows and sparkly jewels.
She dressed him in gowns and flowers and baby doll nighties.
When she'd dressed him in the frilliest dress he could imagine, she carried him on her hip and carried him through a house where Ed was coming I. The door. "Look, daddy. Look how pretty she is." Rose cooed.
Ed kissed his cheek and said, "How's daddy's angel?" Causing John's imaginary self to giggle.
"Prose moved on an continued with the childish inflection, "What a good girl. What a pretty, little girl. Did my little girl wet herself? Did she? Did she?"
Then she laid him on a changing table and lifted his skirts. "Let me get you out of that icky diaper." And he felt her raising his feet with one hand as she removed a wet diaper and replaced it with a dry one. Just as she fastened it in place, John shot a massive amount of ejaculate into the little cup.
When he regained his wits, he was panting and sweating. His skirts were up around his stomach and his panties around his ankles. "Shit," he whispered, "I just get more messed up, every single day."
"I've been fighting with them all day," Rita was talking to Rose who had her on speaker phone so Ed could hear, too, "but the studio is adamant that the younger child needs to be a boy."
"That makes no sense, though," Ed said. "They changed the older brother to a girl without hesitation. What difference does it make?"
"Look, kids, I want John to play the role as much or more than you do, but I'm not making the decisions, here. Disney is a huge corporation and they make decisions like a huge corporation. I'm doing everything that I can."
"Well," Rose jumped in, "why couldn't John play the younger brother, then? I know that Don says that Johnny's better as a girl, but he's still probably as good as, or better than, any of the boys who auditioned."
"I've told them that I have another boy if they want to see him but.... Ok, here's a little lesson in the Entertainment Business. 'The squeaky wheel gets cancelled.' Right now, your show is in trouble it's not making any money, yet and it is requiring the big-wigs to pay attention to it. That's a bad position to be in, so it is in the best interests of the show to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and to do that with no more controversy. I can only offer a good option to them. I can't cast it for them. Last night, I was in that office till nearly midnight, pleading Johnny's case. This morning, I have spoken to the director, the casting director, several producers... they need to make a decision in the next day or so or that decision will be made for them by the network and you can all go back to enjoying the beach in Hyannis and hoping that a Kennedy wanders by. Are we all on the same page?"
"Yes," they both said.
"Good. I have to run, but don't give up hope. I'll be in touch."
"Before I begin, let me say that you are not ill and nothing that I am going to say is going to change who you are. Had you not come here, today, then you would have just continued to live your life, perfectly happy, without a problem, BUT, with what we've learned from the tests, you may have a few options available to you that you didn't have before."
John and Marilyn were nervous. Obviously, Dr Schwartz had found something and she was couching her words. That couldn't be good. Marilyn linked her fingers through her son's and took a deep breath as they awaited the doctor's findings.
"Well, the tests are not one hundred percent conclusive, but I am wondering if any of your previous doctors ever mentioned a condition called Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome or AIS?"
John and Marilyn shook their heads as the both began to tense up.
"How about Klinefelter's Syndrome?" the Doctor asked.
"No," Marilyn gripped her son's hand firmly in hers. "I'm not familiar with either term. Is... is Johnny... sick?"
The doctor smiled sympathetically. "No, Dr Foley. Not sick, but I suspect that John was born with one, or possibly both, of these genetic conditions, to one degree or another."
John turned pale. "Genetic condition?"
"Yes," the doctor tried to be gently, but patients were always stressed during these kinds of meetings. "We all live with genetic conditions, Johnny. Some are just more unusual than others."
Her smile did nothing to relax the Foleys.
"Let's start with the obvious. John is smaller than an average man of his age and he has not developed the musculature of an adult male. He does not have a pronounced Adam's apple and still retains a bit more body fat, or what we might call, baby fat, than we would expect in a twenty year old man. We're all aware of these things, correct?"
Marilyn nodded her agreement, but John actually found the statement odd. Why hadn't anyone ever discussed this with him before?
The doctor continued, "I will need to run a lot more tests to confirm everything, but I suspect that John was born with Androgen
Insensitivity Syndrome, which, given that his is not an extreme case, would not, necessarily, have been diagnosed when he was a child, but should have been identified as puberty approached."
"Ok," Marilyn glanced at John with a mixture of concern and guilt, then returned her attention to the doctor, "what, exactly, is Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome?"
"If a child is entirely 'AIS,' then the baby would have normal, female genitalia, but would lack female reproductive organs. In John's case, it appears that his level of AIS is not that extreme, so he did develop his male genitalia, and that has developed to a point, however, his body has resisted testosterone enough so that there are issues with his secondary male development."
"Such as?" Marilyn didn't notice the tear running down her cheek, but John did and it upset him that something about him was upsetting his mother. He sat there and listened. Scared.
"Well, as your daughter, Nancy, already observed, John's hips are substantially fuller and rounder than would be expected in a man his age, or even in a boy. Also, look at John's cheeks and chin - they are much rounder than you would find in a man who experienced a normal puberty."
They digested this.
"And, I do have one bit of news that may be... upsetting."
They waited.
"John's testicular development is in keeping with a boy with AIS. They did form, but they are uncharacteristically hard and, I am sorry to say, unproductive. So, although John is able to gain an erection and maintain it through to orgasm, I am afraid that he has very few sperm in his ejaculate and those are not healthy specimen. I am sorry to inform you that John will not be able to father a child."
Marilyn kissed her son's hand and looked at him with tears glistening on her cheeks. "Oh, Johnny, I'm so sorry."
John was too overwhelmed to process any of this. He thought that he was a healthy guy until a few minutes ago. Sure, he was small and weaker than most, but he still thought of himself as a guy. Now...
"I also suspect that, were I able to examine the area underneath his breast forms, that I would find that he started developing breasts. Delayed breast development is common in males with this level of AIS developmental issues. There are some things we can do about that, though. We can either delay or enhance the development of those if you'd like to take any action at all."
John let go of his mother's hand and stood suddenly and walked to the window. He needed to leave, right now. The longer he stayed, the worse it was becoming.
"I don't understand, though, Doctor," Marilyn said. "John had enough male hormones in him to grow a scruffy beard. He always looked like a boy until... well, until he started dressing as Bianca. We never saw any issues before."
"That's not unusual, Doctor Foley. John has very dark hair, so any facial hair would be noticeable and you watched John develop slowly over the last two decades, so I'm sure his development looked fine to you. I am surprised that his pediatrician didn't notice anything, though..."
John suddenly interrupted, "Alright, Alright! Please, just stop! We all know that I'm fucked-up, but can you answer me one vital question so that I know how I can deal with any of this?"
"Of course." The Doctor was calm and smiled. "What would you like to know?"
"Am I a man or a woman?"
The doctor did flinch a little at this. "Technically, you are neither, John. You are, what is now known as, 'intersexed.' Your body has attributes of both sexes. It is a genetic disposition found in one out of approximately twenty-thousand people."
"Geez..." He shook his head. "So, I'm not a man and I'm not a woman, but my breasts my be developing like, what, like I'm a twelve year old girl? I guess that I'm at least dressing appropriately for my biological freakishness."
"Johnny..."
"Mom, I need to go..."
"Johnny, please..."
"No, mom, now, I need to..." But before he could say another word, he vomited onto the doctor's floor.
"Johnny!" Marilyn and the doctor both shot up to their feet and rushed to him, but John wretched and vomited, again, and he began crying like he'd never cried before.
Marilyn guided him to the couch while the doctor grabbed a towel from an attached lavatory.
When John had been cleaned up with just a few damp spots showing on his embroidered dress, the doctor and Marilyn agreed that it would be a good idea to put this conversation on hold until Monday, when, it was agreed, they would return to doctor's office at eight-thirty in the morning to complete their talk. Marilyn and John left with a handful of literature and a list of websites with information regarding AIS.
The ride began in silence, then Marilyn spoke quietly, "I guess the doctor is right. You've lived with this condition for twenty years, so just knowing what to call it doesn't really change anything."
John looked at her with sad eyes. "It changes EVERYTHING, mom. I'm not who I thought I was and I'll never be who I expected to be. I'll never be an actor, mom, because I'll never be a man or a woman. I'll never find a girl and get married, because I'm not man enough for a straight woman or woman enough for a lesbian. I'm done, mom, I'm just done. I need to go find a job as a cleaning lady at a hotel and get myself a cat to love me, because no one else on this shitty planet will ever love me."
"Now, that's enough of that, John. Plenty of people love you..."
"Because they don't know that I'm a freak, mom, but they'll find out eventually. I love, Rose, mom. I mean I LOVE her, like I've never loved anyone before. It's been hard enough to try to have her see me as a guy when I'm dressed like this. Imagine how it will be when she finds out that, not only can I never give her a child, I'm probably going to grow breasts over the next few years!"
"John, just the other day, you told me that you were considering getter no breasts, so..."
"Considering, mom! Thinking about it! Fantasizing! I didn't expect them to be thrown at me like this, mom! Mom, look, I used to be a man. Then I was a man playing a woman in a play. Then I was a man living as a girl in order to play a role in a play. Now... I'm not acting, mom, and I am not who or what I thought I was. Now, I don't want to be 'difficult,' but this is friggin' HUGE, mom, and I'm not really capable of processing it right now. So, please, just let me be, ok?"
They drove for a few minutes more before Marilyn asked quietly, "Would you like me to call Ms Weldon and tell her that you won't be there tonight?"
"No, I'm going. At least when I'm Bianca, I'm in control. I'm sick of being John or Bebe or anyone else that I can't control. At least tonight, for two and a half hours, I'll be able to control who I am."
When they reached the cottage, the Tesla was gone as were Rose and Ed. John went straight into the bathroom to shower and get ready for the show. Marilyn found a note on the table. 'We went to say hello to Ed's family. We'll be back by 5:00.' Marilyn read the note through the bathroom door so that John could hear.
At four-fourth-five, there was a beep outside the house and John called to his mother. "My Uber is here, mom. Bye."
By the time Marilyn made it into the big room, John was in the car. As the car pulled up the street, it passed the Tesla as it pulled into her driveway.
Ed and Rose got to The Heritage Plantation Museum in Sandwich as quickly as they could, but there was no sign of John, anywhere. Ed knew that John's favorite exhibit was the antique car hall, so he went there first, while Rose looked around the scenic walks. Nothing.
By six-fifteen Rose and Ed were desperate, but they needed to check in for the show. As they approached the changing area, Jan and Julia were hustling out to meet them. They were only slightly surprised that Julia had made the trip east, again.
"What's wrong with Bebe?" Julia asked as she reached them. "Is this all about the show? Because they haven't made a decision yet, you know."
"No," Rose was very worried. "We don't know exactly what's going on, but he went to see a doctor today and his mom says he's been wound up, ever since. She's pretty shaken, too. We were out when they got back and he left before we could talk to him. He's here, though, right?"
"Yes," Jan said, but she was wringing her hands. "He's here, but he's absolutely not himself. He showed up with his hair and makeup undone and I could tell he'd been crying."
"Where is he?" Ed asked.
"He's in the big trailer, but he asked to be left alone until 'places.' I think it might be a good idea to let him pull himself together before the show."
"Ok," Ed was disappointed. He wanted to talk to his friend, to make sure he was ok.
"Places, please!" the stage manager called.
"Thank you, places!" Rose and Gloria called back in unison.
"Do you think he'll be ok?" Gloria asked.
"I don't know," Rose was flushed with concern. Ms Weldon had suggested that the understudy put on a costume and be prepared, just in case.
When they reached the stage-wings, John was standing alone and quiet. Rose hustled over to him and attempted to hug him. "Oh, honey, I'm so glad you're ok."
John evaded the hug. "I'm ok, Rose, I'm just not... let's just do the show, ok? I need to do the show and not talk, right now. I'm sorry."
"Ok, honey. Whatever you need. Can we talk on the way home, though?"
"I don't know, Rose. I'm not sure what I'm doing after the show. I'm a little... never mind. Let's just do the show."
The music track and announcements came over the PA system as Rose kissed his cheek and whispered "Break a leg."
It was a different show. John's energy was very different, a bit more angry than usual, but still potent and engaging. Everyone in scenes with John, which was, primarily, Rose and Ed, had a lot to work off of and audience was still enthralled. Another standing ovation at the end made them all feel good.
The way that the bows had been staged, Ed and John were side by side, so when the stage went dark and everyone headed into the wings, Ed held tightly to John's hand, in spite of John's struggles to wrest it loose.
"Let me go, Ed," John insisted, when they reached the backstage area.
"Not on your life, pal," Ed countered as he pulled John aside. "What the hell is going on with you, buddy? Why are you so mad at me? Is this about the TV thing, 'cause I'm trying my best..."
"Oh, just shut up, will you, please!?" John's tone was sharper than Ed had ever heard before. "This isn't about you, Ed. It has nothing to do with you, or Rose, of 'Shrew,' or 'Civil Disobedience,' or anything else. It's about me, this time. It's about me and how the heck I'm supposed to cope with my life now that I know what I really am!"
"What you really are?..."
"Come on, Ed! Let go of me and leave me alone!"
"Bebe... um... Johnny, come on, talk to me..."
John stopped struggling and looked his friend right in the eye. "I can't, Ed. You won't want to be with me anymore, so... just... please... let me go."
Ed frowned sadly and nodded, but before letting him go, he pulled John into a warm and gentle hug. "I'm sorry that you're hurting, buddy. I'm just a phone call away when you're ready, ok?"
He released his petite friend who nodded and muttered, "Thanks." Then turned and walked to the changing area.
"I love you," Ed called after him.
"Let me help you with that," Julia came up behind John and started unlacing the back of his gown. "Are you ok, honey?"
John shrugged out of the dress. "I guess. Thanks, Julia."
"Listen, sweetie, they still haven't made up their minds about the TV part, you know. As far as I know, everyone is still pulling for you."
"That's nice, Julia, but that's not really what's got me messed up, right now. Sorry if I'm a pain, today, but I've got a lot going on."
"Maybe we could help, if you'd tell us what's wrong." Rose's voice surprised John. He'd assumed that she'd already gotten dressed and left, but she was just stepping out of her dressing area wearing tight, faded jeans and a loose fitting, button up, sleeveless, white, lace top.
John pulled off the nightgown like undergarment, revealing his lacy, white bra and panty set. "You want to know. Ok, look at me. What do you see?"
Julia moved aside and left the room quietly, as Rose moved closer. "I see a beautiful guy who I love."
"Wrong." John shook his head. "I found out today that I am not a guy. Seems that my whole life has been a lie."
"What?" Rose was confused. "Your not really a girl, Bebe... so you're a guy who's dressing like..."
"No, I'm not, Rose. The doctor told me that I've never really been a guy. It seems that my body won't ever get more guy-ish than I am right now. In fact, my hormones are working against me ever becoming a man. She told me that, over the next couple of years, my hips and butt will get bigger and I'll be growing my own set of breasts. Nice, huh?"
"Well, what's wrong with that?"
"What!?!? How can you say that? Rose... I love you! I want to be with you! Like, as a guy and a girl, but now, I can't. I'm always going to look like a girl!"
"So what, baby? I look like a girl and I really like it! You've enjoyed looking like a girl so far... what difference does it make? I didn't fall for a buff, muscle-bound guy... I fell in love with you - Johnny - Bebe - the pretty, feminine guy who likes being my little sister on stage. What difference does it make if you stay this way?"
John fell into a chair and held his head in his hands. "Rose... do you think that, maybe, we could be alone for a little while, tonight? I really need to talk to someone and my mom... well, she's my mom, you know and Ed... you know..."
"Sure, baby. Let me go talk to Ed. I'll be right back."
Ed, of course, was understanding and asked another cast member for a ride back to Hyannis. Before John came out, Rose sent Marilyn a text reading, 'Johnny wants to talk. We'll be a while. Maybe all night. Don't wait up. If there's a problem, I'll text.'
Marilyn text back, immediately. 'Thank you. Love you all. I'm here if you need me. I don't expect to sleep much, tonight.'
They ended up at The Beachcomber, a family style resort with a restaurant that stayed open late. John gave Rose a summary of the doctor's diagnosis along the way. So, as they nibbled on a shared French-dip sandwich, Rose spoke quietly and gently. She couldn't imagine how earth shaking it would be to find out that she was not entirely a woman. She understood why John was so upset, but she needed to get across to him that none of it mattered.
"Listen, baby, have you enjoyed the time we've spent together?"
John dunked a small part of the roast beef sandwich into the gravy cup. "More than anything! This could have been a really tough summer, but you made it great." He put the piece of dampened sandwich in his mouth and chewed.
"But you haven't been a boy with me all summer, honey, so what difference does it make?"
"The difference is that we were playing out a game, Rose. I was a guy who looked like a girl. Now, I'm not a guy at all and I'm going to be more of a girl. My only options are to not do anything and I'll grow small breast, so I look like a weak little man with breasts, or take female hormones and have my breasts develop more fully and I look like a woman, but I have a guy's equipment, or I take even more hormones and have the equipment removed. What would you do?"
"I'd do the second one," Rose said, without hesitation.
"Really? Why?"
"Because it offers the most satisfactory life. Look, you like women and don't want to lose your 'dinky,' right?"
"Right."
"So, option three is off the table. You don't want to look like a guy with boobies, right?"
"Right."
"So, option one is off the table. So, unless there's a fourth option on the table that I am unaware of, option two seems to be the best to me.l
"Well, I wish that I could be as glib as you, but there's also the matter of my sterility, Rose. I always envisioned being a dad. I can't father a child, now."
"No, baby, you KNOW NOW that you can't father a child. You couldn't before, either. You just didn't know that. I understand how earth shaking this must be for you, honey, but I think that some of your decisions are a bit more obvious than you think. Now, if you will excuse me for a minute, I need to use the ladies room. I'll be right back."
John sat there, alone, thinking about what Rose had said. If this wasn't freaking her out as much as he expected, then maybe he might be able to get on with his life. He nibbled on a French fry as he thought about what life would be like if he had actual breasts. Other than the fact that there'd be no going back to being a man, EVER, it wouldn't be all that different than the life he was living, now.
"Excuse, me, young lady, can I get you, anything else?" The waiter, a handsome man in his early twenties, surprised John, waking him from his reverie.
"Umm... no... no thank you. I think we're all set." He was strangely uncertain of himself in these situations, lately. When he was with kids, or doing theater-related things, he was even better than he used to be, but when dealing with grownups... adults... people his own actual age... he was increasingly unsure of himself. He thought back to the meeting with Dr Schwartz. They had spoken about him as if he wasn't even there, and he did nothing to remedy that. His biggest contribution to that meeting was to vomit. At least that did end it.
"All set, Bebe." Rose appeared and offered John a hand, which he took. "I've paid the bill. Let's go to our room."
"Room!? We have a room?"
"We do, now. I went to the front desk instead of the ladies room. Your mom knows that we're not coming home till tomorrow."
It was a typical, efficiency style hotel room on the third floor, but it did have a nice view of the ocean. As soon as they entered it, Rose undid the zipper on John's inexpensive, sage green sundress and pulled it, gently, over his head. She ran her hands over his smooth, scented skin, then kissed him aggressively. John accepted the kiss and the tongue that invaded his mouth, submissively.
"I'm going to show you that there are some great things about being a girl and great things about being a boy, too, and you are lucky enough to be a little of both. You know, I was never with someone this small, before you came along. It's nice to be taken, isn't it? To let someone else be in control?" Again, she kissed him and prodded his mouth with her tongue.
When the kiss broke, John smiled at her. "It is nice, but wouldn't you prefer to be the one being taken?"
She smiled and shook her head just slightly. "No. Maybe there's a little bit of 'man' in me, but I like to be in control."
She kissed him, again, but this time, one of her hands wandered down to his rear end and squeezed his buttock cheek. He let out a slightly surprised 'Ahh!' as her finger traced the line of his butt crack through the silk panties.
Rise moved her attention to the nape of his neck and her lips and tongue went to work, sending shivers down his spine and causing him to rub the flat, front panel of his panties against her thigh.
"Calm down, my sweet little girl," she breathed into his ear. "We have a long way to go." She undid the back strap of his bra and guided it free of his arms. His breasts heaved as she played with the area around and below the prosthetic.
To Rose, there was nothing artificial about what she was seeing. She just saw a boy that she loved and his nipples were erect and enticing. She bent low and mouthed the nipple. He couldn't feel her lips, but the sight of her attentions excited him further.
"So, underneath these, you're actually growing breasts?"
"That's what the doctor tells me."
"I can't wait to get my lips on your real nipples, then. You have no idea how wonderful that feels."
"It feels pretty nice, now."
"Yummmm." Rose looked him straight in the eye and whispered, "I wonder if you'll be able to nurse a baby? Wouldn't that be amazing? To actually produce milk for a child that you love? I child we adopt? You'd be such a good little mommy for a baby."
That thought had briefly passed through John's mind earlier and had been one of the most frightening of all of his thoughts since visiting the doctor, but now that Rose was whispering it to him, it seemed erotic and wonderful. He smiled and blushed femininely at the thought of lactation. It was a new and exciting possibility.
"I need you to be my little girl, right now." She ran her finger more forcefully along his bottom. "Can you do that for me?"
He nodded.
"Kneel down, baby."
He knelt before her, his bottom on his ankles, she in her strappy, heeled sandals, jeans and tee shirt, him in just his panties.
"Undo my belt and pull down my pants and panties."
He knelt taller and did as she instructed, leaving him face to face with her beautifully trimmed womanhood.
"Go ahead, baby. You know what to do."
He began by kissing, then tonguing it, sending waves of excitement through Rose. There it was again; that feeling of power, of control, of masculinity that she felt holding his head to her as he serviced her like no man she'd ever been with. Her little man. Her little boy. Her little girl. It was all so wonderful. He looked so vulnerable and delicate in his panties and she felt so strong and powerful as she approached orgasm.
"Ohhh..." she groaned as the feeling went beyond goodness and approached ecstasy.
When she could take no more, she released his head and stepped back. She patted the bed, "Up here, young lady. Come on."
John smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, his legs hanging freely, not reaching the floor.
Rose stood in front of him and guided his back down to the mattress, leaving his legs hanging. She slipped his panties down his smooth, little legs, then ran her fingers back up to feel how silky they were.
"You're so soft. So pretty. You like being pretty for me, don't you?"
He smiled and nodded, excited and a bit frightened of what was about to happen. It was a big step for both of them, but the doctor had already told him that there was no way that he could get her pregnant, so... why not?
She gripped his penis with one hand and began manipulating it. It rose to the occasion and soon the appendage that was so frequently tucked down and backwards in his panties, was standing excited and upright. She kissed everywhere around it, but never the penis, itself. Then she stood straight and raised his legs so that one foot rested on each of her shoulders.
"Are you ready to do this?" she asked in an excited whisper.
He nodded and smiled. "Are you?"
She smiled and gently manipulated him into herself. Both of them let out sighs of surprise and anticipation. Rose had explored this area before using a vibrator, but this was very, very different. This was warm and soft and hard and wonderful. As she worked her way to the end of the shaft, she didn't feel, in any way, as if she'd been penetrated, but rather as if she were absorbing him. Taking him. Controlling him.
For John's part, the warm, velvety feel surrounding him was new and comforting and extraordinarily exciting. He felt connect to Rose as he'd never been to anyone before. It was an overwhelming sense of 'belonging' to her. He lost track of where he ended and she began. It was soft and gentle and perfect. He looked up at her, still wearing the loose, sleeveless, button down, white lace shirt, and he whispered, "I love you."
"I love you, too, little girl." She smiled as she began to move her pelvis back and forward, again. He was now, and he would always be, her little girl. If they married and had a hundred children, she would always see him as hers. He would always be her little, pretty girl, and now she was about to lay claim to him.
Gradually, the movements became thrusts and the thrusts came faster and faster and more and more forcefully. John's eyes closed as he ran his hands down his breast, the feel of the nipples exciting him through his fingertips.
"Does that feel nice, Bebe?"
He nodded.
"See, being a girl with a 'dinky' is pretty awesome, isn't it?"
He nodded.
"Then you'll be my little girl, then?"
"I will."
"You will, what?"
His voice was shaking as her thrusts became urgent, making his breasts bounce on his chest. "I will be your little girl!" His voice was strained and partially grunted as his eyes opened up and he exploded into the beautiful, partially dressed woman who had conquered him.
Rose was red faced and thrusting with as much speed and clamping with as pressure as she could muster. She milked every drop he had to give her, and she continued to grip him tightly when she'd stilled her movements, cherishing each involuntary twitch that still tickled deep within her.
When they were each able to control their breathing and heart rate, Rose released him and took a moment in the bathroom before removing her blouse and bra and climbing into bed beside him. She extended her left arm and John cuddled into the space she'd created next to her. He rested his head on her shoulder, his left hand gently caressing her perfect, natural breasts. If he was truly honest with himself, he really did envy her breasts. They were real and warm. His... weren't.
Yes, now that he'd had time to consider it, he would like to having a pair just like hers.
He would be her pretty little girl.
Forever.
To Be Continued...
Kiss Me, Bianca - 9 Final
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Author's Note: Thank you all so much for your support! I love you all! If I make a mistake or write something wrong, I am always willing to learn.
If you read my story, Please? Leave me a review? ~Clara.
This version of Kiss Me Bianca: 9 Final 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.
FIGURING IT ALL OUT -or- THE WEB OF OUR LIFE IS OF A MINGLED YARN
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Marilyn teased as John and Rose entered the screened room of the cottage. "Did you two have a good talk?" She had a strong suspicion that these two had not spent the evening just talking, but if, after the revelations of the day before, Rose had been able to do anything to make Johnny feel sexually adequate, then that was a good thing.
John kissed his mother. "We did, mom. I'm sorry that I reacted like I did."
"No need to be sorry, baby. It was a lot to take in. I'm sorry, too. I should have taken you to other doctors years ago. Maybe all of this could have been avoided."
"No, mom. We just would have known this stuff sooner. It wouldn't have changed anything."
She reached up and ran her hand along her son's soft cheek. "I'm glad you're feeling better, baby. Do me a favor and call Ed and tell him you're ok. He came by last night and sat with me until he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore. Then he fell asleep in the recliner. He left about an hour ago to visit his grandmother while she's on The Cape. He's very worried about you."
"Ok, mom." He kissed her, again, then headed off to the big room with his phone.
"He looks better." Marilyn smiled at Rose.
"I think he's ok, now. He just needed to know that none of it really matters. We all still love him."
Marilyn nodded. "Do you think that this will really impact his chance of making it as an actor?"
Rose shrugged, "I guess. If he's not a conventional looking guy, then he's not going to get a lot of conventional roles, but if he's a conventional looking woman... who knows. He's already proved he's a striking actress. Maybe that's the route he should follow. I don't know."
"I spoke to his sister, last night. She's very concerned. She wants to come to our meeting with the doctor on Monday. I'm not sure that's a great idea, though. I'll need to talk to Johnny."
"Bebe," Rose corrected.
"Oh, we're back to 'Bebe' again, are we? After the doctor's visit, yesterday, I kind of thought that 'Bebe' might have been gone forever."
"Well," Rose poured herself a cup of coffee, "I think that 'Bebe' might actually be here to stay."
They pulled into an A&W Root Beer drive-in restaurant on the way to Sandwich for another performance on Saturday night. The 1950s themed drive-in was a favorite of Ed's. Ed and Rose had burgers, but John only wanted a root beer float.
"Ahhh," he let out after his first long pull on the vanilla flavored root beer, "that's good stuff."
Rose and Ed were eating in the front seat of the car, but the doors were open. John was bouncing around, talking to each of them and blowing off excess energy.
"He seems a lot better," Ed said, quietly, to Rose. "I guess that he's ok with what's happening to him. It'd freak-me-the-hell-out me if it was happening to me, I'll tell you. When I asked him to take the role of Bianca, I never thought he'd end up like this."
"He'll probably start living as a girl, Ed. It'd be easier that way, but he'll always still be a guy and he'll always be your pal."
John came over to Ed's door, "Want a taste? It's definitely the best root beer float on The Cape!"
"Sure! Thanks!" As Ed took the cup to take a sip, John reached in and grabbed a handful of French fries off of his plate.
"Hey!" Ed tried to grab him to retrieve the fries, but John jumped away, laughing. "Well, I'm keeping your float, then." He put John's cup on the dashboard in a location that John couldn't possibly reach.
After eating the few fries he'd managed to grab, John bounced back to the car door. "Hey, come on, give it back."
"No." Ed held his food away from the door. "If you're going to act like a brat, then you don't get your drink."
With John looking adorable in a loose hanging, soft pink, sundress, Ed was finding that the role of 'boyfriend of the older sister,' and teasing John as if he really were a child, just seemed natural.
"Please, Ed," John pleaded. "That's all I have for dinner."
"Yeah, that and my food, which you stole!" Ed held his cardboard tray forward to illustrate, and when he did, John grabbed it and ran. In a moment, Ed was up and chasing him. "You little brat!"
In a few big strides, Ed came up behind John, threw his arm around John's waist and lifted the insanely giggling man dressed as a girl into the air, kicking and screaming, while simultaneously grabbing the tray of food and rescuing it from being dropped.
Ed threw the younger man into the crook of his arm and carried him back towards the car, feet and arms flailing as he hollered through his giggles, "Put me down! Ed, I'm wearing a dress, for crying out loud, put me down! People can see up my skirts! Ed! Put me down!"
When he reached the driver's door, Ed reached in, put his tray down, then took the root beer float out and carried it and the still laughing, but also protesting, John to a picnic table. First he put the drink on the table, then planted John on the seat. "Now, sit here and finish your drink. We need to leave in about ten minutes."
As Ed headed back to the car, John stuck out his tongue, theatrically, then returned his attention to the float.
"He's playful, this evening," Rose laughed as Ed climbed back into the Tesla.
"It's like he's on a sugar high or something," he chortled. "Honest to God, sometimes I'd swear he really was a kid."
"Yeah, but that's when Bebe is the strongest and I think that Bebe is his best bet for happiness."
"Yeah?"
"Ed, he's never going to look like a man and he's going to be growing breasts. I think that Bebe is his only chance of a normal life and that we should support that. Don't you?"
"I guess."
John couldn't hear what they were saying but he could see that they were still talking about him, so he waved at the vehicle.
"So who plucked your eyebrows so thin?"A voice came from John's right side.
"Stacy!" John leapt up to hug the hairdresser who'd first transformed him into a younger clone of Nancy.
"How are you, angel?" She looked him over, carefully. "Hmmm, you know, you should come back for another moisturizing treatment and a little maintenance, but you're looking just about perfect. Good job, honey."
"I'm good, Stacy. What brings you up to Sandwich?"
"Actually, I'm going to see your show, tonight. I'm meeting Jan and her new 'lady friend' for dinner after the show."
"'Her new lady friend?' Oh! Julia! She's the one who plucked my eyebrows like this."
"Well, they're adorable, but you'll have a hard time covering the fact that they've been plucked when you go back to being a boy."
"Well," John snickered, "things have changed a little. I doubt that I'll be going back to being a boy any time soon."
"Really? Huh." Stacy remembered how adamant he was that this was just a short term thing when he'd visited her. Something had changed.
"Stacy! Hi!" Rose came over and hugged the hairdresser. "Have you been talking to this naughty little girl?"
Ed joined them and they all chatted until Ed said it was time to go.
"Tough crowd tonight!" Harry was shaking his head as he exited the stage. Something was going on with the sound tonight. Petruchio's mic, in particular, was cutting in and out like crazy, making it hard for the audience to hear what was happening on the stage.
"The sound guy says that there are ships from Mass Maritime Academy doing maneuvers in the canal and their communications equipment is screwing up ours," Ed shook his head.
Harry looked around, then whispered, "Can I ask you something, Ed?"
"Sure."
"What's with John? I mean, at first he seemed pretty normal, but now... I mean he has turned into a pretty hot, little thing, you know."
Ed was not real comfortable with this conversation, but decided to just let Harry continue for now. "Yeah. I guess."
After a pause, Harry said, "Are you guys... you know... a couple?"
Ed just shook his head.
"How about you and Rose?"
"No, Harry. We're all just buds, you know."
"Yeah, but you and Rose are moving in together in LA, right?"
"As room mates. That's all."
Harry looked around a little, then whispered, "So, as far as John... or Bebe is concerned...?"
"What?"
"Would it be ok if I hit that while you're out of town."
Ed looked around to be sure no one was watching. "Tell you what, Harry... if I hear that you 'hit' on Bebe while I'm out of town, I'll hit you so hard your grandmother will feel it."
"What?" Harry was truly surprised by Ed's reaction. "Come on, Ed..."
"I'm not kidding, Harry. Leave Bebe alone. She's only been a girl for a few weeks and she's really confused. So are you, obviously. Trust me, I understand. I wish she was really a girl, too, but, regardless, if you go near her, I'll hit you so hard, I'll knock you from here to Hell and back again. That's a promise. Come on. We're on."
Ed walked out on stage and started delivering a line directed at Harry's character, but Harry was late getting onto the stage, so Ed delivered his line to no one. Moments later, Harry appeared and continued the scene, but there was a palpable tension between the two young actors on the stage.
When Bianca entered, John felt the tension immediately and began working towards normalizing the performance, but it wasn't easy. The scene involved Ed and Harry, as suitors for Bianca's hand, arguing and competing to gain her attention. John, as Bianca, quickly began flirting with the two suitors and made each of them relax into their roles. Soon, everyone was ok on stage, but there was still a lot of tension in the wings.
"What's going on with them?" Rose asked when she and John were waiting stage left and they could see Harry and Ed in a heated discussion on stage right.
"I don't know. Maybe all the tech stuff going wrong is getting to them."
Rose nodded, but warned him, "You know, this could be about you."
"Me!?"
"Yes, you. We know that Ed has a thing for you and I think Harry does, too. So... Maybe it's about you..."
"I don't think so."
"Well, just to be sure, I think you'd better go make it clear that your on 'Team Ed,' just in case."
"Ok." For the remainder of that evening's performance, when he wasn't on stage, John was hanging with Ed, letting him put his arm around him, holding his hand, just being his 'little sister.' It seemed manipulative, but the show definitely ran more smoothly after he did it.
"Oh, you were wonderful!" Stacy embraced John as he exited the wing area and headed for the dressing rooms. "I knew that Ms Weldon saw something in you, but, holy cow! You blew me away."
Stacy linked arms with John as they strolled. John thanked her and Rose joined them as they passed into the tent that acted as a dressing room. Jan introduced Julia to Stacy and they all discussed the costume design of the show while John, Rose and Gloria got changed into their 'civilian clothes.'
While they spoke, Julia mentioned that Ed and Rose had gotten parts on the show that she was working on.
"Wow! How awesome is that!?" Stacy cheered as she hugged Rose. "You must be so excited!"
"Oh, I really am!" But the conversation soon turned to John's amazing auditions and how he was still not cast in the show.
"I don't know what's wrong with these people," Julia said. "They rave about his audition, then don't hire him. They've got me vexed, I'll tell you!"
"Maybe he looks too old?" Stacy offered as she hugged John in sympathy. Still in just his bra and panties, he accepted her friendly hug, but smiled to say that sympathy wasn't necessary.
"No way," Julia snorted. "I had him in light makeup and a little dress from Target. He looked like a fourteen year old, trust me. Maybe even younger."
"Take a seat, baby. Let Stacy try something," Stacy guided John to a chair, then went to work on his hair.
"What did you do to him that day?"
Julia came over to John and manipulated his hair to illustrate the curls that she'd put in. "He was cute as a button with the curls."
"I bet he was. Let me try something."
Stacy began braiding John's hair, starting in the front on one side, following the upper line of his temple all the way to the rear, then following the line of his skull, then down his back to the end of the hair. Then she did the same on the other side. When she'd finished, John's black hair was beautifully braided in perfect symmetry, ending just above his shoulder blades. She took a moment to brush and curl his bangs just enough to make him look even cuter.
"I like it," Julia said. Let me show you how I did his makeup.
His 'Bianca' makeup was removed and Julia went to work. Again, his look was young and pretty and fresh. Jan helped him get his little, pink dress on without messing up the braids, then turned to Rose. "What do you think?"
"Aww," Rose spoke in that strange voice that women use when they speak to, or about, puppies, kittens or babies, "he's so cute!" She squeezed his cheeks between her hands. "I could just eat you up!"
"If you just walked in off the street," Stacy asked, "how old would you guess he was?"
Rose let out a long exhale. "I don't know. Certainly no more than fourteen, but maybe even younger. Twelve? Thirteen? You made his cheeks so plump and those braids... they're just so adorable."
Jan produced some pink ribbon and tied two large bows to the ends of the braids. "If you like wearing curls," she instructed, "Just leave these in until tomorrow morning and you'll have beautiful curly hair all day."
"Ok," John smiled as he looked in the mirror. He was REALLY impressed with the work they'd done. He definitely looked young. He thought that twelve was reaching a bit, but he could agree on thirteen or fourteen."
"Hello! May I come in?" A voice asked from outside the tent flap.
"Just a second," Jan called, then she crossed to the tent flap and said, "Can I help you?"
The others couldn't see who was there, but they heard a woman's voice saying, "My name is Madeline Crenshaw and I need to speak to Ms Foley, please."
"Ms Foley?" Jan asked. "What is this about?"
"It's about business and I guarantee that Ms Foley will want to see me. We met recently."
"Just a moment." Jan turned to them and whispered, "Madelyn Crenshaw? Do you want to see her?"
Rose wrapped her arm around John's shoulder as he nodded that he would see the guest, although he was baffled as to who she was.
"Do you know who she is?" Rose asked him.
"No clue," he replied.
Through the flap came a woman dressed in expensive, yet casual attire - as if she had bought her vacation clothes from a more expensive version of Lands End or L.L. Bean. She wore very little makeup and her hair was tucked into a baseball cap. She was so casual, in fact, that it took John a few seconds to recognize her. "Hello, Bebe," the woman smiled as she crossed the canvas floor to shake his hand. "Maddie Crenshaw. We met a couple of days ago..."
When the realization of who this woman was dawned upon John, he actually jumped just a little and shouted, "Oh, my goodness! You're 'The Disney Lady' from the audition!"
She laughed, "Yes, I am 'The Disney Lady.' I have to tell you, young lady, you completely shocked me on that stage tonight. What a great performance."
"Thank you, ma'am," his little Bianca curtsy followed the sentence. Everyone, John, Rose, Gloria, Jan, Julia and Stacy, was suddenly electrified by the prospect of something wonderful and exciting happening, right here and right now.
"I'm Bebe's sister," Rose interrupted. "May I ask, what brings you all the way to Cape Cod, Ms Crenshaw?"
"I know who you are, Rose, and I know that..." she stopped and looked around the room before continuing. "May I speak freely? What I mean is, does everyone in here know about John Foley?"
Everyone slumped with disappointment. John tried to keep a bit of a smile on his face. "Yes, ma'am. I'm John and my friends all know about it."
Ms Crenshaw reached out and ran her hand along John's braids. "Well, I must say, Mr Foley... you certainly do get into character."
"Yes, ma'am," again, a little curtsy. "I'm sorry to have deceived you, ma'am. You didn't need to come all this way, though. You could have balled me out over the phone."
"'Balled you out?' I don't 'ball people out,' Mr Foley. That's not why I am here."
"Then what can we do for you?" Rose asked.
"I'm here to discuss the death of John Foley." She said glibly.
"What!?!?" The others were shocked.
"And the birth of Bianca Foley, if you'll consider it."
Everyone looked at each other, confused.
"Ms Crenshaw," John stuttered as he formed his thoughts, "I have two questions. One - how did you find out about John and, two - what do you mean by the birth of Bianca Foley?"
"I found out by asking a lot of questions, Bebe. That's part of my job. And as for the birth of Bebe Foley, I am proposing that you cease to be John Foley in every way possible and become, legally, Bianca Foley. And that you become this perky, pretty little girl that you've created and that you accept the role of Alex on 'Civil Disobedience.' What do you say?"
There was stunned silence until Rose said, "Ms Crenshaw, as exciting as this is, I think we should talk to our mom about this before..."
"Oh, and you can knock off that 'sister' stuff, too. I know that's not true, but I think it's a great story. I'm not sure it'll work long term, though. The press checks everything, nowadays."
Rose and John looked each other again before Rose continued. "You are very well informed, Ms Crenshaw, but I still think that we need to discuss this all with Bebe's mom and her agent. Maybe we could get together tomorrow morning before Ed and I fly back to LA..."
"Perfect, but no one is going to LA until I get to bottom of the whole Bebe affair. Besides, as of last night, 'Civil Disobedience' is officially being retooled. So, call the airline and cancel your tickets. I will be at your house at 10:15 tomorrow morning. Please have something good for breakfast. It doesn't have to be fancy - just tasty." She pulled out a card and handed it to Rose. "Here's my number. Please text me the address."
She turned and headed towards the door. "Good night, ladies! See a some of you in the morning!"
"Shit," John whispered, "did I just get you guys fired?"
Rose was pale. Did she still have a job? She looked at Julia, who also was a bit concerned, but she shook her head as she said, "No. I don't think so. I think she just wants to make sure that everyone is on the same page before anyone goes back to LA."
"Can I come in?" Ed called from the tent flap.
"Yes, Of course," Jan called.
"Look," Stacy said, "I don't really know what's going on, so I think I'd better leave you guys to talk."
"Me too," said Gloria. "I'm sorry, guys, but I just don't have much to offer right now. Good luck."
They left and Jan went about closing down her wardrobe room.
"We just had a visitor from the show..." Rose began, but Ed cut her off.
"I know. I met her outside. She was pretty blunt about the whole Bebe situation and the show being on hiatus."
"I think I should probably show up for breakfast tomorrow, too, if you don't mind," Julia said. "After all, she knows that I work for the show, so I have a pretty big stake in this. Besides, if I make Bebe look young and weak and vulnerable, maybe she'll take pity on us all."
"Ok," Ed nodded, "but what does all this mean? Do you think we're going to be responsible for shutting down the entire show? I mean, there's hundreds of people involved. I don't want to be the guy everyone points to and says 'It's his fault.'"
"No," Julia shook her head. "I think that the fact that Ms Crenshaw came all this way is an indicator that she's supporting the show. I think that she wants to know exactly what she can expect if she decides to hire Bebe. I may be wrong, but I think we should look at this as a good sign."
Rose let out a long breath. "Alright, then, I'll look at it that way, too, and I'll hold off on saying anything to my parents until this is all worked out."
"I'm sorry, guys," John shook his head in disgust. "Every time I get involved in this show, things go badly for you guys. I shouldn't have been so persistent."
"Look, sunshine," Julia hugged him and kissed his forehead, "We all know you're the right choice. So, stop being a martyr." Then she slapped his bottom and said, "Don't worry so much. You'll get wrinkles and we don't want that pretty, little face to look a day older than it has to." Then she went to help Jan pack up everything.
THE DAY OF RECKONING -or- TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE
"My goodness, they are certainly making him jump through a lot hoops, aren't they?" Marilyn was cutting up a variety of melons and berries to make a fruit salad for breakfast. She'd already gotten the waffle iron out and set Ed to work making a stack of waffles, which were then put into the warm oven until needed. So far, there were twelve waffles in there, but Marilyn insisted that there should be at least sixteen - twenty, if the mix held out.
"I don't know, Mrs Foley," Ed poured more batter on the waffle iron and flipped it over, "I can't tell if they're trying to do a great job on the show or cancel it. But, you know what? Even if they cancel it, I've already gotten further in acting than I ever expected, so... that's pretty cool, I guess."
Marilyn stopped cutting long enough to rub his shoulder and kiss his cheek. "You've done very, very well, Edward. I'm sure that you have a big career ahead of you."
"Thanks, Mrs Foley."
Just then, Julia appeared in the doorway, started a drumroll on the door frame and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the one, the only, Bebe Foley!"
John appeared in the doorway, his hair still looking adorable in braids with new, baby blue ribbons tied to the ends, makeup to make him look as young as possible and wearing the flowered dress that Rita had bought him for his first audition. John and Marilyn applauded as he entered with Rose right behind him.
He smiled and curtsied. "She'll be here any minute, mom. Do you need me to do anything?"
"Just sit there and look pretty," Marilyn teased.
Rose was typing on her computer at the table. They all quieted as they heard the sound of Skype connecting, then the sound of Rita's voice, "She'd better mean business. It's too early in the morning to have my makeup on. I'm never up a 6:30 on a Sunday morning."
"Sorry, Rita," Rose giggled. "She didn't give us much information last night. She just said to have breakfast ready for her."
"Well, I've been thinking about this since you called," Rita nodded. "I can't imagine that she'd actually come to your house to beat up on you, so, my guess is that she has an offer in mind, but she wants to be sure that there's no chance that casting Bebe will come back to bite her in the ass."
Rose agreed.
"So, Where is my little princess?" Rita teased.
"Right here," John turned the computer to face him.
"Oh, aren't you just precious!? Turn your head so I can see your braids." He did as he was told. "Aww, those are adorable. Did Rose do that?"
"Nope," Julia pushed her face into the camera. "I did. How are you, Rita?"
"Julia!? What the hell are you doing on Cape Cod?"
Julia smiled. "True romance, Rita. I'll tell you about it another time."
"Congratulations," Rita smiled.
The conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"That's her, now," John was suddenly tensing up.
"Relax, honey," Rose, Marilyn and Rita all said at once.
"I'll get the door," Ed left to answer the door. Moments later, he returned with Ms Crenshaw.
"Good morning, ladies," she greeted everyone. "Hello, Rita. Nice of you to get up this early to join us."
"Good morning, Maddie." Rita's voice came through the computer. "I certainly hope that it's worth my while."
Ms Crenshaw smiled at Rita's catty remark. "I certainly hope so, too. Let's see what we can do. But first, I'm famished. What are we having for breakfast?"
They ate their fruit salad and waffles and scrambled eggs and toast in Hyannis, while Rita drank a couple of cups of coffee in Los Angeles. Conversation was limited to the performances of the actors in 'The Taming Of The Shrew' the previous evening and a quality comparison of beaches on the east and west coasts. 'The Disney Woman' preferred the beaches on Caribbean islands to either. None of the people around the table had the experience of vacationing in the Caribbean, so the conversation faultered.
Finally, after coffee and hot chocolate had been served in Hyannis, Ms Crenshaw said, "So, let's get down to business. We, The Disney Corporation and Fielding Productions, the producers of 'Civil Disobedience,' would like to offer the role of Alex to young Miss Bebe Foley, HOWEVER, we don't want any problems with Ms Foley suddenly wanting to become a man a few years down the road. We need to agree that, for as long as 'Civil Disobedience' is on the air, Ms Foley remains 'Ms Foley.' If, after the production of this show ends, Ms Foley decides to become Mr Foley, again, then she needs to work with The Disney Corporation to do so in an appropriate way that serves not only her best interests, but those of The Disney Corporation as well. Do we understand each other, so far."
Everyone agreed that they did.
"Now, if Bebe Foley takes this role, then she has to live the life of Bebe as well. That means private high school, on set tutors, curfews, clothing... the whole nine yards. Is that understood?"
"Wait?" John seemed a bit troubled. "I have to go back to high school?"
"That's the deal, young lady," Ms Crenshaw nodded. "The other kids on the show will be going to the same school and using the same tutorial service. I believe that you met Kylie, who will be playing your best friend and neighbor. We've already enrolled her in a very cooperative, private school. They allow their girls to be on set when needed and they work well with the tutors. It's an excellent school and you'll receive an excellent education."
"But I already had an excellent high school education."
"Then you'll get another - possibly a better one, but, regardless, for the next four years, you will be attending Notre Dame Academy. That is non-negotiable."
"That's absurd," Rita announce from the computer screen. "Maybe Disney hasn't heard, Maddie, but the studio system is dead. You can't control an actor's personal life!"
"Oh, we'll make it worth your while, financially speaking, but remember, Rita, Disney is a family brand. We need to protect that brand. Now, to be honest, what we really want is to leave here today with Bebe Foley signed to a contract, HOWEVER, if there's one thing that Disney has, it's a stable of young actresses. So, if little Ms Foley and her management decide to play hard ball, then we have the resumes of several thousand other little girls who will do whatever we ask them to do. Are we clear?"
"Johnny," Marilyn whispered to her son, "be very sure that this is what you want before you accept this offer. If you do this, then to everyone in the world, except for the people involved in this meeting, you will be a high school freshman and a girl, at that. That means no freedom, no driving, no dating, no drinking, nothing adult at all for years. Is it worth it for a TV role?"
Ms Crenshaw overheard a bit of what Marilyn said, so she wrote something on a piece of notebook paper, folded it and slide it to Marilyn. "In light of what we are asking, this would be Bebe's pay-per episode for the first two seasons. If the show is successful, then we can revisit that amount before the third season begins."
Marilyn peeked at the paper and gasped. She showed it to John who looked up at her in shock. "I think it's worth it, mom."
"May I be included in this conversation?" Rita asked. Marilyn held the paper up so that the number was visible to the Skype camera. Rita nodded, then said, "It's a very good offer, Maddie, but what about some back-end things."
"Such as?"
"I'd like to see 'pay-for-play' added in as well as a merchandise percentage..."
"If you want a merchandise codicil, that's fine. It's a show for adults, Rita. I doubt there'll be much merchandise. As for 'pay for play,' I can't authorize that, right now, but we could meet during the week to iron that out."
It was quiet for a few moments before Rita asked, "Bebe... what do you think?"
John slumped and sighed and looked to everyone without anyone offering a single word of advice. It was all on him, now. "Well... before we do anything, I should tell you something... I found out on Friday that I... well... I'm what the doctor called 'intersexed.'"
Ms Crenshaw looked to the others at the table, all of whom just nodded. "Meaning what, exactly?"
"Meaning," Rose came to John's aid when he couldn't find the words, "Bebe has a number of female characteristics as well as male..."
"... and now, it seems," Marilyn explained, "she is about to go through another round of puberty... this time, though, he will be displaying female sexual characteristics."
Maddie took that information in and processed it. "So, Bebe will... what? Be growing beasts?"
"Yes," John said, still a little embarrassed to discuss it. "That's what they mean. I'll be growing breasts. The doctor couldn't examine my chest because of the breast forms, but she thinks that I've probably already started developing and I've decided to not try to inhibit them. In fact, I'm going to encourage their growth."
"So," Ms Crenshaw pondered, "let me get this straight. Right now, you've got developing breasts - like a little girl?"
John nodded.
"Huh," she smiled. "This may work out just perfectly, then."
"How's that?"Rita asked.
"Well, actually, in our re-tooling meetings, we had discussed making Alex a little younger. A girl in training bras may work even better for us. Then we can watch you grow into womanhood through the seasons. I kind of like that this could happen naturally."
John looked at Marilyn. "Training bra?" It seemed like something for a child. Almost like referring to him wearing a diaper.
"You'll probably need one, honey. I hadn't really thought about it, but..."
"Most thirteen or fourteen year old girls are out of training bras, Maddie," Rita said. "How young do you plan to make her?"
Ms Crenshaw looked to Julia. "How young do you think we could make her?"
Julia sighed as she evaluated John. "Well... when you talk about training bras, it makes me think of a girl a little younger than Bebe can go. I think that most girls start wearing them by age eleven, some as early as eight. I had a friend in school who was so small that she didn't start wearing one till fifteen." She sighed again. "Honestly, no matter what I do, Bebe would look a little odd as an eleven year old. On stage, we could do ten or eleven, but on TV, I think twelve would be pushing it. I think thirteen or fourteen is as young as we can do on TV."
Ms Crenshaw shrugged. "Ok. We can work with that. So - let's recap. I've offered an absurd amount of money as well as merchandise on the backend and I will work on a 'pay-for-play' accommodation. In return, John Foley agrees to (A) legally change his name to Bianca (aka Bebe) Foley, (B) sign a five year contract (C) live as a very well taken care of fourteen year old princess and (D) never disclose that she was a ever a man - TO ANYONE. Are we agreed?"
Everyone looked at John, who remained quiet and thoughtful.
"I'll add one more thing," The Disney Woman said when John took too long to respond. "We have several Disney Channel movies in development and I know that, once they see your work, the directors of these projects will be interested in you, too. How about I guarantee you at least one Disney Channel movie this season and I get you in to read for live-action Disney theatrical release films through the first two years of your contract. Does that sweeten the pot a bit?"
Again, John was pensive.
"What do you say, Bebe?" Ed asked.
"I guess I say... yes." John was hesitant, but the moment he said the word 'yes,' he felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Marilyn felt it, too, but she worried about her son's future. "I hope you know what you're doing, honey."
John sat a bit taller. "I do, too, mom. I don't think I stand a chance of a career as a guy. I think I'm going to be Bebe for ever, now."
His mother nodded, but then she thought of something, "Wait a minute... I can't send a fourteen year child to live on her own in Los Angeles and I certainly can't just walk away from my job at Holy Cross. How is Bebe's guardianship going to work?"
"I could be her guardian," Ed said, with a smile.
"Well, I could, too. After all, we're sisters, right?" Rose offered.
"Actually," Ms Crenshaw interrupted, "I've already told you that the 'sister' thing isn't going to work. Maybe we could say that you're cousins who were raised as sisters or something like that, but actual sisters is just too easy to check on."
"So," Marilyn asked, "Can the kids do a joint custody guardianship?"
"Of course," Ms Crenshaw smiled and reached over and held John's hand. "We have lawyers who can take care of everything, princess. I'm sure you'll be very happy with your new mommy and daddy."
This was a bit different than the fantasy John had had at the doctor's office, but it was pretty odd that such a thing had come to pass.
The deal was made. John would, from here on out, be known as Bianca 'Bebe' Foley. His name would be listed in the cast as Bebe Foley. Guardianship of fourteen year old Bebe would fall to her cousin, who was more like a sister than a cousin, Rose, and family friend, Edward.
The retooling of 'Civil Disobedience' would feature Don Ferry's two children, both daughters, one seventeen years old and the other thirteen. Rather than the widower father and two daughters living with HIS mother, they would now be living with THE DECEASED WIFE'S mother to allow discussions of how the girls' mother was at their ages. The same actress who had been hired to play the father's mother would now play his mother-in-law.
The show would be on hiatus for two more weeks while the scripts could be adapted and other arrangements could be made. Then, Ed and Rose would travel to LA when needed. Most of Ed's character's screen time was with the 'work' cast, so he would be traveling more frequently. Rose and Bebe were considered to be part of the 'family' cast. The decision was made to put off filming a lot of the 'family' scenes until 'The Taming Of The Shrew' had finished its run so that John's prosthetics could be removed before filming began.
After meeting with Doctor Schwartz again, John began the hormone treatments which would allow his breasts to develop correctly. After speaking with the doctor, even Nancy agreed that this was the best choice for a normal life.
The Sunday of Labor Day weekend, the prosthetic breasts were removed and John was shocked by the amount his nipples had developed. The small protrusions were much bigger and browner than the nearly flat, beige things that had been there when the prosthetic breasts were applied, back in June. There was also a distinct swelling beneath them; 'Buds,' the doctor, and every woman in his life, called them.
When he put his dress back on after the fake breasts were taken off, he was surprised by a couple of things. He looked so much younger and less feminine without his 'B' cup breasts and his nipples were definitely visible against the thin material of the dress.
He looked so thin without breasts. Just a lanky little thing. His grownup make up looked foolish and Halloween-ish on this child in the mirror. Jan saw how odd he appeared and helped him. "For a while, honey, you should just stick to a little, simple eye makeup and, maybe just a little blush. Here is some baby-pink lip stick. That'll work much better for a girl your age. Ok?"
He nodded and accepted the lipstick, feeling very odd and very young, indeed.
Marilyn had come with him to the rehearsal area for the removal and she saw his surprise and embarrassment, especially at the way his newly developed nipples and buds peaked through the soft, sheer material of his dress. "Don't worry, baby," she whispered to him, "we'll go get a nice training bra, right away. Something with a little padding to give you a little more figure, if you want."
He hadn't been this embarrassed about the 'B' cup breasts since the first day he'd worn them. Now, he felt strange and little boyish without them. His thin arms, that looked feminine before, now looked childish. The breasts had defined him as a young woman. Now, the lack of them and the evidence of his natural breast just beginning, defined him as an insignificant child. A pretty little girl. Nothing more.
"Well, John," Ms Weldon said as they shook hands to say goodbye, "it has been a pretty amazing summer for you, hasn't it? From a little, regional Shakespeare production to a show on a major network."
"Not to mention some other pretty drastic changes," Marilyn laughed.
Ms Weldon giggled at that. "Are you ok with all of this, then, John?"
"I am, Ms Weldon. Thank you." He gave he another of those cute curtsies. "And thank you for everything you've done for me. Helping me find myself and a job. I'll owe you forever."
"Tell you what," the director smiled. "How about you give me a hug and we'll call it even."
"Sure." He hugged her hard and long, then kissed her cheek as they separated.
"Oh, my goodness, you smell good," Ms Weldon laughed, "but I miss those breasts, now, don't you? You look so young."
He nodded and looked a bit sad.
"Don't worry," Marilyn smiled, "they'll be back, soon enough! We're on our way to get Bebe her first training bra, now."
"Ooo," Ms Weldon smiled. "Are you excited? I can see that your mom is. The day she buys her first training bra is a big day for a little girl, Bebe. Take your time and pick out a very pretty one. Try to enjoy these feminine experiences."
"Yes, ma'am," another curtsy.
At the mall, Marilyn bought John several different styles of bras, and even found a couple of padded ones for special occasions. His eyes and smile beamed as he looked at himself in the mirror at the store, happy to have these, small trappings of femininity back. Just the little bit of support offered by the training bras made him look that much more like a girl and Marilyn could tell that he liked that. Not only that, but the sales lady, who was probably in her mid sixties, doted over him and told him how pretty and grownup the bras made him look. He relished every second of it, and because he was happy, Marilyn was happy, too.
A few days later, a car pulled up to the front door of their home in Worcester. The driver held the door for Rose who hustled to the door of the house to hug Marilyn and John. "Oh, I've missed you both, so much!"
"We've missed you, too, dear," Marilyn hugged her tightly.
"And look at you, with real little boobies of your own!" Rose teased. "Such a little lady!" John smiled and blushed. "Are you all set?" He was.
With tears all around, John kissed his mother goodbye and Rose carried his bag to the car.
Finally, he was on his way.
A new city.
A new name.
A new age.
A new high school.
A new sex.
A new relationship with Rose and Ed.
A new world.
THE END
For now.
Bebe will return soon in 'Bebe in LaLa Land'
Bebe in Lala Land - 1
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Twenty year old John travels to Los Angeles to pursue his new life as a fourteen year old actress.
Author's Note: I really hope you all are doing great and staying safe. If you read my story, please, leave me a review. Good or Bad, I read them all. ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 1 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.
STARTING OVER -or- I CAN'T GO BACK TO YESTERDAY, BECAUSE I WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON THEN
"Ladies." The Drama teacher clapped her hands to call the class to order. The girls had all been working in small groups to this point. "Ladies, please!" She clapped again and the girls all became quiet and turned their attention towards the teacher. "Thank you, ladies. I want to introduce a new student who has just moved here from Worcester, Massachusetts. This is Miss Bianca Foley."
The girls applauded politely.
"We usually do a little Q&A when a new student arrives, Miss Bianca," the teacher explained. "Do you mind if the girls ask you a few questions to get to know you?"
"Not at all, Miss Stephanie," John smiled, "but, please, call me Bebe." The girls all seemed to like that better.
John was dressed exactly the same as every other freshman girl in the class - every other girl in the school, in fact. A light blue, short sleeved, Oxford-style blouse tucked into a grey, wrap-around skirt that ended just above the knee, a pair of white knee socks and a pair of comfortable, black shoes with one inch block heels. That was the uniform and the Head Mistress made it very clear that no student could deviate from that uniform for any reason.
A girl raised her hand. "Miss Ella?" the teacher prompted.
"Thank you, Miss Stephanie. Hi, Bebe. I'm Ella. Welcome to Notre Dame. Did they have boys at your old high school?" The girls all laughed and jostled Ella for bringing up boys.
John smiled. "Yes. I went to a regular, old, public high school. Boys and girls."
"Oh, Miss Stephanie!" Another girl raised her hand.
"Mary-Katherine," the teacher acknowledged the girl.
"Thank you, Miss Stephanie. Hi, Bebe. I'm Mary-Katherine, but I go by MK. Anyway, why did you move to Beverly Hills?"
"I don't actually live in Beverly Hills," John said with a shrug, not knowing if this admission might make him a social pariah. "I moved here because of a TV show. Right now, I'm living with my cousin and a friend an apartment in Los Angeles. We're looking for a house, or a condo, or something."
At the mention of a TV show, some of the girls became more interested, while others figured that there'd be no point in getting to know this new girl. She'd be gone in a month, anyway.
"So, your cousin is going to be on a TV show?" a girl asked without raising her hand.
"Yes, but so am I." John smiled at the reaction that got. Even the aloof girls were interested, now.
"What show?"
"Who's in it?"
"Network?"
"Cable?"
"Streaming?"
"Girls! Girls!" Miss Stephanie calmed them. "Miss Bebe, why don't you tell us about the show."
"Oh, ok. Well, it's a new show on ABC. I think it starts airing in November. My cousin, Rose, and our family friend, Ed and I are going to be on it. It's called 'Civil Disobedience' and I play Don Ferry's youngest daughter. My cousin plays my older sister."
"Oh, Wow!" the girl named Ella shouted. "There's a sophomore girl named Kylie who goes to school here. She's going to be on that show, too!"
"Have you met Miss Kylie, Miss Bebe?" Miss Stephanie asked.
"Yes, ma'am," John replied with just a hint of the Bianca curtsy. Rose had been telling him to tone that down if he could, but it had become a habit over the summer. "I meet Kylie at auditions. We've been texting since then."
The teacher gave a somewhat sympathetic smile as she corrected her new student. "'ma'am' is very polite, Miss Bebe, but at Notre Dame, we always address our teachers as 'Miss' or 'Miss' and the teacher's name. So, I am Miss Stephanie at all times, do you understand?"
"I do, Miss Stephanie. Sorry, Miss."
"That's fine, Miss Bianca. It's just a sign of respect that we insist on."
"Yes, Miss." He gave her another quasi-curtsy causing the teacher to smile again.
The questions continued for a few minutes more. Mostly, the girls wanted to know if Don Ferry was as handsome in real life as he was on TV. Was he nice? Was there anyone else famous on the show? How did she get the job?
Finally, Ms Stephanie stopped the Q&A session and said, "Right now, Miss Bebe, the girls are all working on a project involving a play and a movie. Are you familiar with the movie 'Ten Things I Hate About You?'"
John nearly laughed. "Very familiar, Miss. It's based on 'The Taming Of The Shrew' by William Shakespeare. The reason I'm a little late starting the school year here is because I just finished playing Bianca in a production of Shrew."
"Oh, my! A children's theater production of 'Taming Of The Shrew!' That's pretty ambitious."
"No, Miss. It was a regional theater production. It was directed by Maureen Weldon. That's how I ended up auditioning for 'Civil Disobedience.' Ms Weldon recommended me for it."
The teacher gave a double take. "Maureen Weldon!? THE Maureen Weldon!?"
"Yes, Miss."
"Oh... well... anyway, the girls are looking at different Shakespearean plays and trying to adapt them into modern formats. Miss Ella, what play is your group working on?"
"Hamlet, Miss Stephanie."
"Oh, good. Your group is small, so, I'm going to have Miss Bebe join you, ok?"
"Yes, Miss Stephanie," Ella replied.
"Now, go join the girls." She indicated that John should walk past her, but as he did, she cautioned, "Oh, and Miss Bebe. I encourage you to take this class seriously. Regardless of your theater experience and your TV job, you'll need to do all of your work in this class to receive a good grade."
"Yes, Miss." John curtsied his little curtsy and nodded, but he realized that his resume had made this teacher a bit uncomfortable. He'd have to win her over.
The project was an easy one for John. He'd done dozens of exercises like this before in high school and college. The girls had already decided to set their version of the play in a family owned business with Hamlet's father being a CEO of the company. John coyly guided them through some improv exercises to work out their presentation, while simultaneously trying not to attract the attention of Miss Stephanie. They were the first group done and they presented before the end of the period.
Despite the ease of the classwork, John had a great time with the girls. As he'd found with Annie and Cassie, these girls had boundless energy and enthusiasm when they were doing what they loved. When the bell rang and the girls guided him to his next class, he was completely drunk on youth and the female hormones emitted by the young population.
Ella and MK became his guides. They were both charming, pretty girls. Ella was small, like him, and MK was a little taller and more developed. Both were blonde, as was the majority of the school, and had perfect teeth and noses, as did the majority of the school, too.
He had a Math Class and then a World Religions Class before they went to lunch. The entire time that they were together, MK and Ella spoke pretty much continually, bringing John up to speed on the other girls in their class. One was the daughter of a record producer, another the daughter of famous designer, still another the daughter of an actress from a classic TV series. Everything was interesting and exciting to these girls. John loved their energy.
At lunch, which provided much better food than his public school had, fresh salads, sushi, a variety of sandwiches, Ella said, "So this weekend is Home Coming at St Matthew's. Are you going?"
"Going? Going to what? The football game?" John was a bit confused.
"Well, no, not the football game. The dance."
"Dance?"
The girls looked at each other and giggled. "Yeah," MK said, "The Homecoming Dance. Didn't they have those at your other school?"
"No," John's high school had a policy against dances. Not for the highminded 'Footloose' reasons, but to avoid litigation. Frankly, when he thought about it, the entire school system he'd attended before seemed to be set up to avoid litigation rather than provide education. "Is it a big deal?"
"Yeah," the girls laughed at John's naiveté.
"It's a really big deal." Ella was shocked that this question could ever have been uttered. "It's like prom! Pretty dresses and hunky boys in suits. They have a live band, a photo booth, a sit down meal and everything! You have to come."
"Oh..." John stuttered as he searched for an excuse to not attend, "... but doesn't a boy have to ask me to the dance? I mean, I just arrived. I don't know anyone in this school, except you guys and I don't know anyone at all at St Matthews."
"No problem," MK said, "we know a ton of boys at St Matthews. Most of them went to middle school with us. We'll set you up."
John felt a frightened warmth crawling over his body. Less than half a day into this deception and he was already in a bit of a free fall. He had only expected to do his time at the school and go home. Maybe make a few friends and since it was an all girls school, everything would be fine. He hadn't considered the social aspects of high school - maybe because he hadn't really participated in them the first time he'd gone through.
"Ummm.... Well, I think I need to talk to my cousin about this, 'cause... see, I've never really dated before..."
"What!?" The girls were incredulous.
"You're shitting me, right?" MK asked, wide eyed.
"I'm what...?"
"You're kidding," Ella clarified. "I mean, you're pretty luscious. Why haven't you dated?"
John glanced at his small, developing breasts in confusion. When he thought of a 'luscious' woman, it was a well developed woman with big breasts. Obviously, the girls didn't mean that. Both Ella and MK looked much more developed than he did and he knew that most of his appearance was the padding in his pretty training bra. "Luscious? What do you mean by 'luscious?'"
"She means 'cute,' silly," MK giggled. "I thought that you came from Massachusetts. Don't they speak English there?"
He giggled with the girls, this time.
"You don't say 'luscious' in Massachusetts?" Ella smiled sweetly as she asked.
"Well, yeah, we do, but it means..." He gestured to indicate large breasts. "So... I'm not 'luscious,' that's for sure!"
MK almost spit out the Fiji Water she was drinking. "O-M-G!! No!! It just means 'cute,' or 'datable,' not 'boob-a-licious.'"
Ella laughed, "No. You are cute, though, and you have a different look, too. We don't have a lot of dark haired girls here."
"I've noticed that," John giggled. "Does everyone in Beverly Hills have blonde hair?"
"Eventually," Ella laughed.
As their last class ended and MK and Ella lead John to the 'pickup area,' their conversation returned to the St Matthew's Homecoming Dance that weekend.
"You have to come!"
"Talk to your cousin!"
"If she says 'no,' call your mom and ask!"
"Oh, you know who'd be a perfect date for her!?" MK announced with a burst of excitement. "Blaine Hazelton! He's really cute, a little shy, he's not dating anyone, and I saw him the night before last and he was planning on going stag."
Ella agreed. "Great idea! Oh, Bebe, he's a sophomore and he's about six feet, maybe six foot one, really nice hair and his dad is super rich."
"Ok, ok, ok!" John laughed at their persistence. He had finally figured that, if he could just get through the day and get home, he could make up an excuse to not go to the dance and they'd be fine with that. "I'll talk to my cousin and let you know."
Just then, a town car with a placard reading 'Fielding Productions' pulled up to the loading area. "That's my ride. I have to go." He started to go, but each girl grabbed him in turn and hugged and kissed his cheek. He smiled. "Bye."
As he grabbed for the handle, a voice said, "Oh, sorry, but I think that's my ride." John turned to see Kylie, the stressed out, red headed girl from the last audition. "Bebe!!! When did you get here!?"
Shocked, John accepted her hug. "Kylie! I just got here, today!" He was thrilled to see another familiar face.
"Just a second," Kylie pulled away from John and ducked her head into the town car. "Who are you picking up?"
"I think I'm picking up both of you, Miss," the driver said. He held up a clipboard. "See, I'm supposed to bring Kylie and Bianca to a wardrobe fitting."
"Great! Please pull up and wait over there for us. I need a minute."
"Yes, Miss."
Kylie took John's hand and guided him back towards the school building. "He's here for both of us," She told him, "but I have to introduce you to someone."
Gathered by a shady overhang was a group of teachers, several of whom John had met through the day. Kylie made a beeline for Miss Stephanie, the Theatre teacher.
"Excuse me, Miss Stephanie," she said.
The teacher turned and looked at the girls. "Hello, Miss Kylie, Miss Bebe. What can I do for you?"
"Oh, you've met?" Kylie beamed. "This is the girl I was talking about in class, Miss Stephanie. The one who got me through the audition for the TV show."
"Oh, my," Miss Stephanie smiled. "Miss Kylie has told us all about what you did, Miss Bebe. What a remarkably generous thing to do. I'm very impressed by that behavior, Miss Bebe. I hope that you continue to show that kind of camaraderie to the girls at Notre Dame." She smiled and patted John's cheek. "Thank you for showing a kind spirit, Miss Bebe. You may have changed Miss Kylie's life by doing so."
"Thank you. Miss Stephanie." John gave her one of his modified curtsies. "I'll do my best at Notre Dame."
"I'm sure you will." John noticed a strange, dismissive smirk from the teacher, which irked him, just a bit.
John followed Kylie to the town car wondering if Miss Stephanie was truly impressed or if she was even more leery of John than before.
Kylie spoke nonstop as the car proceeded towards the TV studio. She told John about her friends at her old school and how they'd reacted to her getting the part and then having to go to Norte Dame, about her visits to the set to meet the cast and anything else that came into her head.
"You know, Bebe, I met your sister and her friend, Ed. They said that they never would have gotten cast if it weren't for you, and that goes for me, too. I am really happy that they finally cast you, too. I'm really looking forward to working with you."
John smiled. "Thanks, Kylie, but I think you're all exaggerating a bit. I'm sure that you'd all have been cast without me. And, just so you know, Rose isn't really my sister. We just call each other sisters. She's my cousin, but she's as close to me as my real sister."
"Oh, that's so nice. And is she your guardian while you're out here?"
"Yes, Rose and Ed are both my guardians."
"That must be cool! They're so young. I still live with my mom, of course..."
"Excuse me, ladies." The voice of the driver came through a hidden speaker, surprising John, but Kylie was obviously used to it. She pushed a small button on the wall.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Just checking, Miss. My instructions are to take you to wardrobe for four o'clock, but we will be arriving well before that. Would you like to make any stops along the way?"
Kylie flashed a smile at John. "Have you ever had an In-N-Out Burger?"
"No..." John had heard about this West Coast chain of fast food restaurants, but he'd never been to one.
Kylie pushed the button, again. "I'm sorry. What is your name?"
"I'm Oscar, Miss," the driver said.
"Well, tell me, Oscar, if we make a quick stop at In-N-Out Burger and I treat you to lunch, would anyone at the studio need to know?"
The driver chuckled. "No, Miss. No one will find out."
"Excellent, Oscar. Let's go get some dinner, then!"
They arrived at wardrobe ten minutes early and full of 'Combo Number 1: Double-Double, Coke and fries.' The burger was so big, that John barely ate a third of it. The same with the fries, but Oscar helped out by eating most of those for him. Oscar, as it turned out, was a man in his late thirties or early forties who was at least six-foot-five, pale, blonde and balding. He had obviously been athletic, but not for a while, and by the time they arrived at the studio, the girls knew that Oscar was divorced and had three daughters aged thirteen, fourteen and sixteen who he only saw on the weekends. Kylie whispered that he was probably being so nice to them because they were the same age as his own girls.
Julia was waiting for them as they entered. "There are my girls!" She greeted Kylie with a friendly kiss, but hugged John tightly. "At long last, huh? I'm so glad that things worked out for you, Bebe."
"Thanks, Julia."
"Alright, ladies, the year is 1962 so get used to dresses, dresses and more dresses. I've chosen a slew of things for you to try on, so get into your skivvies and let's see what looks pretty!"
The next hour consisted of trying on one dress after another. Everyday dresses, dresses with matching cardigan sweaters, plaid dresses, solid dresses, shirt dresses, party dresses, dresses, dresses, dresses and each required its own set of antiquated undergarments. Kylie, being a bigger girl than John, needed more foundation garments than he did, Julia did provide John with some very interesting and somewhat pointy bras for some of his outfits.
Pictures were taken and comments were made and the next dress was buttoned up his back and the process was repeated.
"Alright, girls," Julia smiled as the girls put their school uniforms back on, "I think we're done for today. They've got another hour or so on the set. Would you like to watch and see what the process looks like?"
John and Kylie did, so Julia accompanied them to the soundstage.
It was brightly lit and exciting. There was a mock up of a living room in one area, a kitchen in another and the interior of a police station in another. All the activity was in the area of the police station set, so they headed in that direction. They passed a young woman with her hair flipped out who was wearing a straight, white skirt with a green lines circling it and a light weight, white sweater over her shoulders. As John and Kylie passed the woman, she whispered, "Bebe!"
When he looked at her, it took John a moment to realize that the woman was, in fact, Rose. She looked very different in makeup and her 1962 era shoes gave her a different posture. He hugged her and could feel the unnatural shape of the somewhat pointed bra under her stretchy top. "You're pointy," he whispered and smiled.
"I know!" She giggled. "Be grateful that you're too young to be dressed like this. It's not all that comfortable. Hi, Kylie."
Kylie waved and smiled. It was nice that Bebe's cousin cared so much for her. Rose held her arm around Bebe's shoulder and Bebe leaned on Rose's shoulder and breast. Being an only child and older than her cousins, she didn't have an 'older sister' in her life. It must be nice.
"Ed's in this scene. He's rehearsing with Don in his dressing room. They're still setting the lights and sound. How was school?"
"It was school," Kylie said. "Different day, same stuff."
Rose smiled and patted John's head. "How about you, Bebe? Did the first day go well?l
"It was fine. The girls were nice, I guess and the teachers were ok."
"Did you make some friends?"
He shrugged. "I think so. I met a girl named Ella and another named Mary-Katherine. They showed me around and seem like nice girls."
"Good, good. Are the teachers nice?"
"I guess. You have to call them 'Miss' all the time. They're pretty formal. The call me Miss Bianca or Miss Bebe and I have to call them 'Miss Evelyn' or 'Miss Stephanie.' There's a lot of 'Miss-ing' going on."
Rose giggled. "'Miss Bianca,' huh? I like that. From now on, I want you to call me 'Miss Rose,' ok?"
Now John giggled. "In your dreams."
Rose smiled and kissed the top of his head. He'd been letting her braid his hair at night so that it was wavy during the day. She liked it this way. It was young and pretty and kind of playful.
"Anything else happen?"
John snickered, "Ella and MK, that's what Mary Katherine calls herself, want me to go to the Homecoming Dance at St Matthew's this Saturday night. They wanted to set me up on a date and everything."
"Oh," Rose said surprised. This aspect of high school life hadn't occurred to her. "What did you say?"
"I told them that I never dated or went to a dance before, so I didn't think I'd be able to go."
"What!?" Kylie said. "You've got to go! These girls have certain events that are really important throughout the school year. Homecoming at St Matthew's is the first big one of the year. It took me two weeks to find a date! If you don't go, you'll be a social leper for the rest of the year!"
Rose looked at John and raised her eyebrows in concern. "A social leper, Bebe. That's pretty bad. I don't think you should risk being a leper, do you?"
He shrugged and spoke to Kylie. "I'm sure they'll be other things that I can attend, right? It's just that... well... I'm not even settled in, yet, and I've never been to a dance - I hardly even know how to dance - and I don't know the boy..."
"You've never been to a dance!?" Kylie was shocked. In truth, John had been to two proms, but he definitely didn't know much about dancing, other than those dances in which he'd been choreographed for a play or two. "Bebe, I guess that everything I've heard about how repressed everyone is in Massachusetts is true, but out here a high school dance is EVERYTHING to a girl! I'm not kidding, Bebe. You NEED to go!"
"What do you say, Beebs? A nice night out in a pretty dress, or social leprosy? It's your choice." John looked at Rose. Not only was she serious, but dressed as she was in those 1960s clothes, she looked almost motherly. Suddenly, he realized that she wasn't just playing along with Kylie; she was seriously encouraging him to go to a dance - with a boy.
"Umm... I don't know. Could we, maybe, put this on hold and talk about it at home, with Ed?"
"Sure, sweetheart." Rose smiled, but John didn't feel comforted by it. "Oh, here come Don and Ed, now."
The stage area went silent and Ed and Don Ferry performed a scene that lasted less than four minutes. Them they did it two more times for camera-shot coverage. Then Ed and Rose were released for the day.
"I don't think we should force him to go to a dance if he doesn't want to go," Ed was on John's side. The conversation was taking place around the dinner table at the rented condo they were all staying in. They'd picked up Korean take-out on the way home and were sitting around the way-too-big table in their dining room.
"Listen, Ed, there is no 'he' involved in this conversation. We all agreed that 'John' is not part of this conversation anymore. We are talking about Bebe, now, and I don't need you to be thinking like 'John's Pal,' I need you to be thinking like Bebe's guardian - like you were her 'Uncle Ed.' She is in a new school and needs to be a part of that school's social scene. She is going to that dance with that boy because it is the logical thing for a girl in her position to do! Heck, I went to dozens of dances when I was her age and many of them were with blind dates. It's part of growing up as a girl."
"Rose, I'm nearly the same age as you, remember?" John was frustrated with being left out of this conversation.
"Argh... Bebe's age, then!" Rose snapped. "Come on, now. You agreed to this arrangement. I'm just trying to make you follow through on your promises. Don't make me into the bad guy here!"
There was an aggravated and frustrated silence.
Finally, Ed said, "I think your cousin is right, Bebe."
"Ed! She's not my cousin! You know that!"
Suddenly, Ed became much more stern than John had ever seen. "According to the agreement we all signed, Bianca, she is and she and I are your guardians. We are responsible for not only your safety, but insuring that you adhere to the terms of your agreement. You agreed to live the life of a fourteen year old girl, Bianca, so that's what you are going to do. Now, this is just the first of many social obligations that you will need to fulfill, so I think that you should text those two girls, what were their names?"
"Ella and MK," John sulked angrily in his chair.
"Ok, Ella and MK," Ed continued in a decidedly paternal attitude, "and tell them that your guardians have agreed to allow you to attend the dance and could they, please, contact that boy and set up a date."
"Thank you, Ed," Rose smiled at Ed's decision to support her.
"No need to thank me, Rose. You were right. I was thinking like John's pal instead of Bebe's guardian."
"Well, I won't do it," John folded his arms and stared at the table.
Rose stood and started clearing the table. "Alright, missy, you listen to me. If this is going to work, then there are going to be some rules that we all need to follow around here. RULE NUMBER ONE, Ed and I are the adults and you are a child. You will do what we say, when we say it, or we will send you right back to Worcester. A lot of people bent over backwards to get you on the show and we are not going to sacrifice our careers because you are having second thoughts. Is that understood?"
John remained silent.
"Answer your cousin," Ed said as he drummed his fingers on the table. "This isn't a joke, Bebe. You dragged us into this charade with you. We all have to live up to the agreement that YOU made."
It took a moment, but John finally nodded. "Yes. I understand."
"Good," Rose calmed a bit, but continued. RULE NUMBER TWO, when we get home at night, no matter what time it is, the first thing you do is change out of your school uniform and you hang it up so that it is neat and ready for the next day. You're slouching in that chair, wrinkling your skirt and blouse. You're not going to school looking like an unmade bed. Understood?"
"Yes."
RULE NUMBER THREE, If you have homework, I want it done as soon as possible. If you're on set and you're not getting ready for a shot, then you're doing you're homework. High school isn't like college. You need to get up early and be prepared. You can't blow off the work you agreed to do. Work and School share the highest priority. And no matter what, you're in bed by 10:00 on week nights. Understood?"
"Yes, Yes, Yes. I understand."
"Good. Now, first I want you to text your little friends and set up that date, then, go change and hang up your uniform, then I want that World Religion homework done by 8:30."
"May I ask a question?" John sighed as he picked up his phone to type the message to Ella and MK.
"Of course, you may ask a question," Ed said. "A little less attitude would be appreciated, though."
John nodded, "Won't I still be an outcast if I go to the dance and have no idea how to dance? I only slow danced at my proms and I just kind of clung to my date. I don't know how a girl dances at all, but I know that they dance in groups. I can't do that."
"We'll teach you," Ed said, surprising both John and Rose.
"You know how to dance?" John asked, sounding more doubtful than he intended.
"Yes, I can dance," Ed said with some defense. "I took two semesters of Ballroom Dance for PE credit in high school. Now, go get changed and do your homework. It's almost 7:30. Your cousin wants you done with your homework in an hour."
By 9:15, John was done with his homework and he'd showered and was coming back out into the living room to watch a little TV with Rose and Ed, but before he entered the room, instead of hearing a television show playing, he heard music. It was a song that he knew because his mother liked awful songs from the 1970s. It was a schmaltzy song by the band Chicago called 'Color My World.' Wearing a simple, white cotton nightie with tiny bouquets of blue flowers scattered all over it, he peeked around the corner and spied Rose and Ed slow dancing, quite well. It surprised him, and the fact that they looked nice together, made him a little jealous.
When Rose spotted him, she slowly separated from Ed. She smiled at John. "That nightie fits you nicely. I'm glad. Between your diet and the hormones, you've lost so much weight, lately. I wasn't sure of your size, but I really liked it in the store."
"It does fit well and it's very comfortable. Thank you for getting it for me," John was trying to put the awkwardness of the early evening behind him.
"Good news!" Rose smiled and indicated that John should come to her. "Your Uncle Ed really IS a good dancer. Come here. He'll teach you how to slow dance. I'll teach you to fast dance tomorrow night after we go dress shopping."
John stood facing Ed with his back to Rose. "UNCLE Ed?" He asked.
"I think it's probably for the best, baby," Rose rubbed his shoulders as she guided him into Ed's arms. "Now, just follow his lead."
'Color my World' ended and Elvis' 'I Can't Help Falling In Love With You' started playing. Ed took the little man into his embrace and smiled down at him. "Ready?"
"Yes, UNCLE Ed," John rolled his eyes.
Ed started guiding John around the room. "Now, don't fight me, Beebs. Just follow me. Let me do all the work."
It wasn't easy at first. What little experience John had had with dancing involved him being the leader, but, eventually, he began to enjoy giving up the lead and allowing himself to be manipulated by his bigger, stronger partner.
"Most little girls learn how to follow a man around a dance floor when their small enough to stand on their daddy's feet." Rose watched and spoke from the side of the 'dance floor.'
"Even if my dad had been around, I doubt that he would have taught me to dance." John laughed.
"Just put your head on Ed's chest and close your eyes. Let Uncle Ed lead you around the floor"
John placed his head on Ed's chest and closed his eyes and surrendered his will to Ed's movements. It was nice. He could feel Ed breathing, his heart beating and then Ed started singing, quietly, "Take my hand. Take my whole life, too. 'Cause I can't help falling in love with you." It all seemed so warm and intimate. It was nice.
When the song ended, Ed stopped swaying and kissed John's damp hair. "See, you can do it. Just be a girl and let the boy lead you and you'll be fine. Ok?"
John nodded and smiled. "Ok."
Ed kissed his cheek. "Good. Now go with Rose and she'll get your hair ready for bed."
"Ok."
"I love you. 'Night."
Rose took his hand and led him towards her bedroom and her vanity. "Tell your Uncle Ed you love him, too."
"Love you, too," he called back.
She sat him in her vanity chair and took a moment to separate his hair into three sections and she braided it, using a scrunchie to secure the end. Then she led him to her bed and told him to sit for a minute. "We need to have a little chat," she said. "I'm sorry about being a little pushy, Beebs, but you do understand that this is all necessary, right?"
John nodded. "I do. I just never considered having to date a boy or anything like that."
"I know," she ran her finger along his smooth arm. "I'm sorry, but it is what we all signed on to do. Please, don't be mad at me, ok?"
He nodded. "Ok."
"Now, tomorrow is Wednesday and I'm called to the set at 7:00am. So, the studio is sending a car for you to take you to school. I'm done by 1:00-1:30, so I'll be in the car that picks you up. Since Kylie is going to be in the car with us, you probably should invite her to go shopping with us. I'm sure she'd have a good time and it's kind of the girly thing to do - you know, inviting your girlfriend to go shopping with you."
Just then, John's phone buzzed, indicating a text. He picked it up and shook his head in resignation.
"What?" Asked Rose.
"It's from MK. That boy, Blaine, he's excited to be taking me to homecoming. She him sent a picture, of me and she says that he says that I'm pretty. She sent me a picture, too. ." He held up his phone with the image of a handsome boy, with olive colored skin and spiked hair with bleached tips. He was alone in the selfie, but by the height of the photos on the wall behind him, she could tell that he was pretty tall and he obviously had an athletic build.
"Oh, he's cute!" Rose put her arm around him. "You'll have a nice time with him, I'm sure!"
John just shrugged, but when he did, the front of his loose nightie hung a little lower, revealing a glimpse of his developing 'buds' to Rose. She smiled. She liked him this way - small and feminine - and she was looking forward to him developing over the next couple of years. She adjusted the nightie for him, but let her hand linger.
"You're becoming quite the little lady, aren't you?" She smiled mischievously.
He glanced from Rose's hands to her face, wondering what she really thought about him. He didn't need to wonder for long. Rose let one of her fingers wander down to one of his nipples and softly fingered it, causing him to suck in a deep shiver of breath.
"Feels nice, doesn't it?"
"Yes," he whispered.
"It'll only get better, sweetheart, so learn to enjoy it."
He leaned his head on her shoulder, offering no resistance to her finger. So, she took the initiative and became more aggressive, rolling the nipple between her fingers, then kissing and licking his neck and ear.
"You smell nice, baby. And you're so soft. I'm so glad that you're finally here with us, to be our little girl. You like that, too, don't you?"
John was too focused on this new sensation to really focus on anything that Rose was saying. He just grunted in agreement.
Rose giggled, then whispered, "If you liked a nice, gentle nipple rub, then wait till you feel this."
Suddenly, Rose's hand was working at an amazingly quick speed, shaking, rubbing, pulling, groping his little, young nipple, and sending sensations he'd never felt all through his body. His breath caught in his throat and his eyes rolled back in his head. If he'd not been seated, his pelvis would have been thrusting wildly. Instead, though, within seconds, his body stiffened and then shook violently and Rose knew that she'd accomplished something she hadn't ever thought possible - she'd brought a boy to orgasm without touching his sex organ at all.
When his body relaxed, again, Rose pulled her head back, smiling. "Good, right?"
He nodded and smiled as he reoriented himself to reality.
"Good," she kissed his cheek. "Why don't you go take off those dirty panties, wash your 'dinky' really well so that you don't smell naughty at school tomorrow, and get into bed. I'll be in in ten minutes to tuck you in."
He did as he was told and he was fresh smelling, wearing clean panties and climbing into bed when Rose and Ed came in. Rose tucked in the covers and sat on one side of the bed, Ed sat on the other.
"You're going to be ok as Bebe, right?" Ed asked as he patted John's shoulder.
"Yeah, I'll be ok."
"Good," Ed smiled. "I don't want to be the jerk all the time, you know. I'm not really built for it."
John smiled at that. Ed was one of the sweetest people he knew. Being 'The Man Of the House' couldn't be an easy role for him.
"I need to be on set real early tomorrow," the big guy continued, "so I won't see you in the morning. I guess you'll be on your own till the car comes. If you need anything, just call. Have fun at school and enjoy your shopping trip with Rosie. I hope you find what you need, because Thursday is your first day of work. Are you excited?"
"Very," John said with a big smile. "That's what all of this is about, right?"
Ed smiled. "That's right, Bebe. Sleep well." He kissed John's cheek.
"Good night, E..." corrected himself "... Uncle Ed."
Ed smiled. "Atta girl." He stood and headed for the door.
"Good night, Angel," Rose kissed his other cheek. "Sleep well."
John's school day started with English class, which was a breeze - just some discussion of 'To Kill A Mockingbird,' a book he'd read twice and loved both times. He participated at a lower level than he wanted to, but he didn't want to be a showoff or make the teacher suspicious.
Second period was his science class. He had never loved Biology, but his Bio teacher, Miss Karen, was very pleasant.
Theater was third period. The groups that hadn't presented on his first day, presented today and the girls in the audience had to offer constructive criticism. Still feeling as if Miss Stephanie saw him as a threat, John just enjoyed the presentations and took copious notes. He kept quiet in the hopes of not antagonizing his teacher.
When the last group had completed their presentation, Miss Stephanie said, "Thank you for your input, girls, but, Miss Bebe, I noticed that you did not offer any critiques. A good deal of your grade is class participation. I expect input from everyone."
"Yes, Miss Stephanie. I'm sorry, Miss, I didn't realize. I was just trying to... get the feel of the class."
The teacher nodded. "I noticed that you were writing quite a bit during the presentations. Would you like to share some of that with us, Miss Bebe?"
John looked around at the other girls. Some were sympathetic that he'd been put on the spot. Others seemed to wonder what he'd written about them.
"I'd rather not, Miss. This is all a little new for me."
The teacher smirked. "Miss Bebe, please pass your notebook to Miss Amanda in front of you."
He did.
"Miss Amanda, please find Miss Bebe's notes on 'The Tempest.'"
The girl flipped a page, then looked up at the teacher.
"Are there any notes, Miss Amanda, or just doodles?"
"There are notes, Miss."
"Then, please, read them for us, Miss Amanda." Miss Stephanie's eyes never left John as she spoke.
It was plain to all that Amanda felt very much 'put on the spot.' She glanced at John sympathetically, then started reading. "The Tempest. Setting: In a closed Rocky Mountain resort. Offers nice options for Shakespeare plot.
Characters are well developed. Some Shakespearean English is mistranslated, but they're usually pretty close. Nice projection and diction..."
"That's enough, Miss Amanda. Pass that to me, please." The teacher took the notebook and looked through the pages as the bell rang.
"Class dismissed," Miss Stephanie said without looking up, "except you, Miss Bianca. Please stay. I'll write you a pass."
"Yes, Miss," John sat and watched her read his notes while the other students left.
"We'll see you in World Religions," MK whispered.
After a couple of uncomfortable moments, Miss Stephanie looked at John with a suspicious eye. "How old are you, Miss Bianca?"
"Fourteen, Miss."
"And what do your parents do for work?"
"My mother is a college professor, Miss. I don't know my father."
"Hmm. That might explain it. Your writing is very advanced for a fourteen year old, Bebe, and your insight is... well, impressive to say the least."
"Thank you, Miss."
"I'm going to be honest with you, Miss Bianca. I find you to be a bit of an 'odd duck,' if you catch my meaning."
John was at first taken aback by her bluntness, then a little insulted. He sat and contemplated an appropriate response, but Miss Stephanie closed his notebook and handed it back to him.
"I'm keeping my eye on you, young lady. You're obviously a very talented writer and the fact that you're here because you're an actress tells me that you're gifted at acting, too. Just because ABC hired you, though, doesn't mean that you're getting a free ride in my class."
"No, Miss, Stephanie. I never expected that I would. I'll participate more, Miss. I promise."
"I understand that you're not going to be in class tomorrow, correct?"
"Yes, Miss. It's my first day of filming."
"Well, make sure that you're signed into my class website so you don't fall behind. If you're out for work, you are still responsible for your school work. I am uncompromising on that, Miss Bianca, just ask Miss Kylie. She's been out for work three times already. I don't care if you win an Emmy on that show, you'll fail my class if you don't keep up with the work."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss. I meant, 'Yes, Miss Stephanie.'"
The teacher wrote on a small piece of paper, then handed it to John. "Here's your pass, now go straight to World Religions. I'll see you on Friday."
"Yes, Miss. Thank you, Miss."
"So, What did Miss Stephanie want?" Ella asked as they sat at the dinning tables in the cafeteria.
"She wants me to participate more," John said as he put his little purse back into his backpack.
"Whew!" MK wiped her forehead, dramatically. "I thought you were in real trouble."
"Me too," John spread the dressing on his salad. "She doesn't seem to like the fact that I'm going to be out tomorrow because of the show."
Ella nodded. "She's funny about girls who have acting jobs. She's envious, I guess."
John had had the same thought.
"So, about Saturday," MK said. "Are you excited?"
"Kinda, I guess. To tell you the truth, I'm a little scared, too."
"Don't be," MK waved him off, "Blaine is really sweet."
"And he's a hottie, too," Ella laughed with a mouthful of sushi.
"Do you have a dress?" MK pulled out her phone and showed John a picture of a very pretty, very short, pink dress. The picture was obviously taken in a dressing room at a retail store. "This is my dress. My mom and I bought it last weekend."
"Very pretty," John acknowledged. "My cousin and I are going shopping after school. I think that Kylie maybe coming with us."
Both of the girls became wide eyed. "Can we come, too!? Oh, we know all the right stores and what Blaine likes, too! We can help a lot!"
John was a bit surprised by the question. He wasn't sure how to respond. "Oh... well... I'd have to talk to my cousin, Rose..."
"Well, text her!" Ella nearly jumped out of her skin with excitement. "I'll text my mom."
"Me too!" MK grabbed her phone.
"Oh... ok..." John sent Rose a text - LOOKS LIKE MY FRIENDS ELLA AND MK WILL BE JOINING US TO GO SHOPPING. I CANT SEEM TO DISSUADE THEM FROM COMING.
Moments later, a text came back - ISN'T THAT SWEET!? THEY WANT TO HELP MAKE YOU PRETTY. THAT'S GREAT. ILL REQUEST A BIGGER CAR.
"My mom says, 'Yes!'" Ella shouted.
"So does mine," yelled MK.
It was all set, then.
The Beverly Hills boutique that the girls insisted was 'THE ONLY' place to go dress shopping, looked more like a coffee shop than a dress shop. There were no dresses on display. It was a moderately large space done in very pretty Patel's.
The proprietress was a bit annoyed that Rose had not called ahead for an appointment and also because the dance was just three days away, making any necessary alterations difficult to schedule. Luckily, Ella had several older sisters, so she and her mom were frequent customers of the boutique, so, when the proprietress saw her, her attitude changed considerably.
"Do you have any ideas? Colors? Styles? For the young lady?"
"As for styles," Rose thought, "nothing too revealing. She's not all that well developed yet." John was mortified to hear her saying this to a total stranger! What was the point of wearing a padded bra if everyone knew he was flat-chested? But the other girls didn't seem to take any notice. "She'll definitely need to wear a bra, so something that masks the straps. She always looks pretty with a little bit of a petticoat-style. Girls, is there a color code for the dance?"
"No," Ella announced, "but I just text Blaine and asked him what his favorite color is. He says it's red."
"Well, then, let's start with red," Rose smiled.
The sales lady spoke to another woman and within minutes, a rack of red dresses appeared at the other end of the room. Each was a work of art. Silks and laces and every shade of red from burgundy to pink.
Everyone oohed and ahhed, even John and Rose. Very quickly, though, John honed in on the one he liked the best. He pulled out the hanger and showed the dress to every one. "I really like this one."
"What an excellent choice," the saleswoman said. "That's a beautiful dress and it has a short, built-in petticoat, too! You'll need some help lacing up the back, I'm sure. Would you like me to help you?"
John looked to Rose.
"Each of the girls shouted in unison, "I'll help her!"
Rose smiled at them, remembering how exciting shopping for a special dress was at that age. "That's ok, girls. She's shy. I'll help her. We'll be right out."
The red, lace dress was covered in different styles of lace and brocade, with a scalloped, V-neck, tiny cap sleeves, a fitted top and a skirt that blossomed in layers of lace and extra fabric. In the back, his skin was visible to the shoulder blades, then a V-shaped panel allowed the dress to be laced tightly to him. With his padded training bra, it snuggled him tightly when laced and the skirt, which ended couple of inches above his knees in the front and mid-calf in the back, tickled his legs delightfully. From the moment he put the dress on, he adored it.
"You like it?" Rose asked.
"I do. I think it's perfect."
"I do, too, but you're no fun. A girl is supposed to spend hours trying on dresses. You're buying the first one."
"I have a good eye, I guess." He smiled as he swayed in the mirror. This was one of the best things about being a girl. The pretty dresses. He loved them when they were like this - pretty, lacy, designed to dazzle. "I like the little pearls sewn into the fabric." He ran his hands along the fabric, feeling the textures of the laces and the decorations.
"Let's go show your friends."
The girls praised him as he entered the sales floor. Their fingers immediately touching and caressing the material. He really enjoyed their appreciation of the dress and the way it fit him.
"An excellent choice, Miss," the sales lady praised John.
"How much is that?" Rose asked, expecting it to be in the area of a couple of hundred dollars.
"One thousand, four hundred and sixty two dollars, madam." The woman didn't even flinch!
They certainly could afford it, but the price still shocked Rose. She nodded as she regained the use of her tongue. "We'll take it. Do you sell shoes?"
"No, madam, we don't, but there is an excellent shop, two doors down. I'm not absolutely sure, but I think that there is still enough time to have a pair of shoes dyed to match the dress, if you'd like."
"Excellent," Rose smiled as she pulled out a credit card.
They picked out the shoes just as quickly as they'd picked out the dress, and they were equally over priced. Since it was still early, Rose told the girls that she'd treat them to supper. They dropped the garment bag with the dress off at the limo and invited Oscar, the driver, to join them for dinner. He agreed, happily.
She phoned Ed and told him she'd bring him something, but he said not to worry, so they headed for a shopping mall and for what Rose hoped would be a quiet meal.
It wasn't.
The girls headed straight for the Dave and Buster's and it's banks of arcades and pub-grub. Just a tad disappointed, Rose and Oscar sat and took charge of the girls' discarded backpacks.
"This is a wonderful age for girls," Oscar smiled as he watched them playing the video games.
"How so?" Asked Rose.
"Oh, they're still children, but young women, too. So bright and beautiful. My daughters are this age, as well. It is a wonderful thing to watch them become women."
She certainly couldn't argue with that, so she just smiled and watched the girls.
"But you're still young yourself," Oscar said. "You'll see when you're older. One day they're little girls and the next... they're all grown up."
Rose thought of last night, John's little breast-buds and how small he felt next to her. "No, Oscar. I do love them at this age, too."
ACTING ON TV -or- THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
"They need you on set, Ms Foley," the production assistant waited till the hairdresser let John out of the chair, then accompanied him to the set, where a mock up of a kitchen was well lit and waiting for actors to arrive. "Is this your first time acting on TV?" She asked John.
"It is," John was more than a little stressed. He was feeling a bit lightheaded with anticipation.
The PA smiled comfortingly, "Well, Don't worry. Everybody here wants you to do a great job, so just relax and do what you do best. Ok?"
"Ok," John smiled back at the woman.
"Here's your chair." She showed him to a 'director's chair' that had the words 'Civil Disobedience' written across the top of the back and the name 'Bebe' printed below that.
"Wow," John ran his fingers along the embroidery.
"Cool, huh?" The PA smiled at John's reaction.
"Very cool."
He smoothed the skirts of his dress as he sat. The dress, a classic, young girl's shirt-dress of the early 1960s, was dark blue plaid with squares of darker blue beneath the white and black intertwining lines. It had short sleeves that came well down his upper arms and it had silver buttons up the front that buttoned all the way up to a very small collar. The skirt had enough material to flounce out a bit, but also had deep pockets on either side, which John liked quite a bit. Instead of the padded bras that he'd tried on when he'd visited the set on Tuesday, John had been given a basic, training bra from the period. With his hair curled and his makeup almost nonexistent, he looked young, indeed. 'Like a dark haired Patty Duke,' Julia had said. He was uncertain as to who Patty Duke was.
The one item that he did not care for was the nylon slip he'd been given to wear. The skirt of the slip was narrow and ended at his knees, creating a slightly hobbled gait when he tried to hurry. He also found it just a bit binding and cutting where it fit below his armpits.
"Bebe!" The director appeared beside John, surprising him. "Are we all set to start?"
John stood and gave the director a small curtsy, "Yes, sir, I am."
"Good, Good. Come with me." He called out to the dark area, "Can I have props in the kitchen and can someone find Marion? I want to rehearse this scene."
The props woman appeared and handed John a dish rag and placed a pile of wet dishes on a dish rack. She smiled at John and the director and asked, "Anything else?"
"I think we're good," the director nodded. "Where's Marion?"
"I'm right here," and older woman who John had seen in literally dozens of TV shows stepped into the kitchen set. "Hi, darling," she smiled at John, "Are you playing Alex?"
John said he was. "It's an honor to meet you, Mrs Reynolds. I admire your work."
The woman chuckled at the precocious child. "Just call me Marion, honey. We're all pretty relaxed on a TV set. How old are you, dear?"
"I'm fourteen, ma'am."
"Really, dear? Is this your first job?"
"On television, yes, ma'am."
"Oh, that's wonderful. Congratulations, dear. I had my first television role when I was just your age, too. Of course, mine was just a small role. I played a patient on a show called 'Marcus Welby, M.D.' I died of a rare cancer forty minutes into the episode, but I got to meet James Brolin - Oh, he was so handsome, back then."
John smiled at her reminiscing. "He is still a very handsome man, ma'am."
"Alright, child, let's knock off the 'ma'am' stuff, ok? I'm old enough without you making me feel ancient. Just call me Marion, or Nana, if that's easier, dear."
"Yes, m... Nana," John smiled apologetically as he adjusted his dress.
"Is you dress uncomfortable, dear?" She asked. "If it is, I'll call the costumer over."
"Not the dress, really. I like the dress, but the slip is a little... binding... I guess."
Marion smiled knowingly. "Oh, they've given you a period piece, huh. I remember those slips. They squeeze your boobs down to nothing and pull on you every time you move."
"Yeah," John adjusted everything once again.
"Don't worry, honey," Marion laughed at his fruitless efforts to make himself comfortable, "you'll get used to it. We all did, back in my day." She reached out and adjusted John's little collar and smiled at him, maternally. "You're a very pretty young lady, Bianca..."
"Bebe," John interrupted, involuntarily.
Marion smiled even more broadly. "Ok, Bebe... you are a very pretty thing, Bebe. If you need anything while we're working together - if someone is bothering you, if you don't know where the ladies room is, if you have a question about the scripts - anything at all... you come see Nana and I'll help you with it. Ok?"
"Ok," John beamed. "Thank you, Nana."
"Ok. Ladies," the director focused them. "Alex is helping her grandmother cleaning up after dinner. Nana, you're chastising Alex for acting up in school and being a tomboy, playing ball with the boys, getting dirty... that kind of thing. Alex, throughout the scene, you're wiping dishes and putting them into this cabinet and getting frustrated with your grandmother. Easy-peas-y, right? Ok, let's run it."
They rehearsed the scene twice with the director giving John some very technical direction about turning this way, or that, in order to keep the scene lit correctly.
Then they called in the camera, light and sound people to record it. They ran the scene twice with the cameras in a wide focus, then they ran it twice more doing closeups on the actresses.
"Ok," the director said, "I want to try one more thing. Let's do the scene once more, but this time, forget the script. Alex, I want to see more of a desire to be an independent person and Marion, I'd like you to try to encourage her to just be a good girl and do what's expected of her. Ok? This is going to be the primary focus of Alex's character throughout our first arch. She's mourning her mother's death and trying to figure out who she is in a male dominated world. Get it? Here we go, people. Action!"
The scene started as before, then Marion took a turn off of the page, "Its just disgraceful, Alexandra. You're a girl, and you need to take on the responsibilities of being a girl. Someday, you're going to need to know how to be a good homemaker. A good mother. Your father is going through a lot right now, and he needs you to be a good girl. So, knock off this nonsense"
"Nana," John picked up the flow, "I am a good girl. I just don't always want to do 'girl' things. I'm not perfect and pretty like my sister. I'm just an ugly little thing. I like to play ball and run with the boys. Why can't I keep doing that? There's nothing wrong with it."
"There is, though, Alex. Girls don't behave that way - playing baseball and running around in a dress... Boys aren't going to respect you if you're dirty and sweaty." Suddenly the actress was playing with John's curled hair. "And you're not ugly, Alex. How can you say that. My heavens, girl, you look exactly like... your mom at this age. She was... unconventional, too. But we don't have that luxury right now, sweetheart. From now on, I need you to think before you go running around a ball field. Think about your father and what he needs you to be. Think about me and what I am asking you to do, and think about your mother and what she would have wanted you to do - to help your father. Be a pretty little girl, Alex, please. That's what your mother would have wanted."
John clung to a plate while the character processed this demand, then he turned to the grandmother, rage and hurt blazing on his face and said, "My mother loved me as I am, Nana. She never made me feel guilty about being me and I miss her, Nana, I miss her like crazy and I miss daddy, too and he's never here, Nana. He's never here!" Then he dropped the plate back into the sink and he stormed out of the kitchen, leaving the grandmother watching him leave, blinking in confusion.
"And cut!" The director called. "That was great, ladies!"
He turned to the assistant director and whispered, "This kid, I'm telling you, she's a complete game changer. We've got something very special going on here. Wait till she works with Don. He's going to love her."
After lunch, John did some scenes with Kylie, who had been in school until noon. Several scenes took place on a back porch, so they filmed it on a set on the back lot. Kylie did great while they were on script, but the director wanted to try a little more improv. Kylie couldn't do it, though. It was all new to her, so they stuck with the script for the remainder of the afternoon.
"Is your homework all done?" Rose asked as she and John loaded the dishwasher.
"Yes. I only had Bio and Theater. The Bio was a chapter summary. I did it during a break on the set. Theater was to compare two versions of the same character in different versions of the story. I did Tom Buchanan from 'The Great Gatsby' - Bruce Dean in the 1974 version and Joel Edgerton in 2013. I passed it in on the website on the way home.
Rose giggled, "Isn't 'The Great Gatsby' a little sophisticated for a high school freshman? Shouldn't you have chosen, I don't know, maybe two different version of Spider-Man or something like that?"
"Oh, maybe. Sorry."
She kissed his head. "No need to be sorry, honey. I just made a suggestion. You'll impress your teacher, anyway."
"Maybe, but I don't think she likes me much."
"Really? Why?"
"I don't know. I just don't think so."
As they spoke, music started coming from the next room. It was Christina Perri this time.
"Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to brave
How can I love when I'm
Afraid to fall..."
Ed appeared in the doorway. "Is my dance partner ready?" He bowed as he had in his Shakespearean role and offered John his hand.
John rolled his eyes.
"Go on, now. Dance with Uncle Ed." Rose smiled at the two of them. "I'll finish up in here and join you. We'll do some fast dancing, too. Before you go to this homecoming dance, you'll be a pro. I promise."
Christina Perri led to Fleetwood Mac to Frank Sinatra to Sam Smith to Barry Manilow. Then Rose took over with Beyoncé which led to The Supremes to Amy Winehouse to The Beatles to Bob Seger to The Black Eyed Peas to Lady GaGa and, finally, to bedtime.
As Rose braided his hair for bed, she asked, "Have you spoken to your mystery date, yet?"
"Just texts."
"Does he seem nice?"
"I guess."
"Do I need to arrange a car to get you there?"
"I don't know. MK and Ella were talking about all of us going together, but I wasn't in school today, so... I don't know what's going on."
Rose fastened a scrunchie to the end of the braid and kissed his cheek from behind. "How about I arrange for a limo for the three of you? How does that sound? Maybe Kylie could join you, too. Maybe I could even get Oscar to drive, that way I'd know that someone's watching out for you."
John smiled. The girls would definitely enjoy a limo - not that a limo was all that unusual for them. They did live in Beverly Hills, after all. "That sounds good."
"Ok," Rose kissed him again, then guided him to lay down so that she could tuck him in. "You talk to the girls and I'll take care of everything else. Love you."
"Love you, too."
"Cool!" Ella shouted at lunch when John made her aware of Rose's plan to arrange a limo. "I'll text my mom and tell her that we don't need her to drive."
"It'll be much cooler showing up a limo than in a Toyota Sienna," MK joked.
"MK and I are getting our hair done tomorrow morning at 10:00 at the salon my mom goes to. You want to come, too?" Ella was enthusiastic.
"Oh, I can't," John was actually disappointed. He would have liked to spend the morning with the girls. "I have to work in the morning. We're filming a baseball game scene at some high school. I am slated to be working till 2:00."
"2:00!?" Both girls exclaimed.
"When will you get your hair, nails and makeup done!?" Ella was astounded at John's lack of planning.
"I... I don't know... I guess I'll have to ask my cousin for help."
"Bebe," MK took a very serious tone, "this is a big deal for you, you know. It's kind of like your 'coming out' into Notre Dame and St Matthews society. If you come looking like your hair was done at home, then, for the rest of your life, you'll be THAT girl! The one who didn't have her hair and makeup done for homecoming!"
John was a little amused by their belief that this was really all that important, but a part of him did believe that, if he didn't look perfect, then he'd have to deal with it for the next four years. "I'll... I'll text Rose. She'll figure it out for me."
"I hope so," Ella said.
"Don't be mad that I said those things, Bebe," MK said. "I only said them for your own good."
"I understand," John said as he sent Rose a text that read 'S.O.S. THE GIRLS SAY I NEED MY HAIR, NAILS AND MAKEUP DONE PROFESSIONALLY, BUT THERE'S NO TIME BECAUSE OF THE BALL GAME SHOOT. HELP!'
Moments later, a photo came through with a text. The photo was of Julia and four other people all holding tools used for hair, nails and makeup. The text read, 'DON'T WORRY. JULIA AND HER STAFF ARE EXCITED TO GET YOU AND KYLIE READY! JUST WORRY ABOUT SCHOOL. LET ROSIE WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.'
John showed the girls the text and picture.
"Oh, thank God!" The girls said.
"Are you Bianca Foley," a girl from the senior class interrupted their conversation.
"Yes," John replied, wondering how the girl knew his name.
"Are you done with lunch, because Miss Gabriella wants to see you in her office."
"Umm... Yes, I'm done." He gathered his trash on his tray and followed the senior class girl out, dumping his trash on the way.
John had met Miss Gabriella only briefly on his first day. She was the Head Mistress of the school and seemed like a pleasant lady at the time. He wondered why he was being summoned, though. In the four years he'd spent in high school the first time, he'd never even met the principal until the day he graduated.
"You're new, right?" the girl tried to make conversation. "I mean, you just started here this week, right?"
John acknowledge that she was correct.
"Your accent is north eastern, right? New Hampshire? Maine?"
"Massachusetts."
"No kidding!? I'm from northern Connecticut, one town south of Sturbridge, Massachusetts! My name is Autumn - stupid name, I know, but my parents think it's cute. How did you end up in Beverly Hills,"
John told her about his job, etc.
As they reached the Head Mistress' Office, Autumn turned and told John to stop. "Turn slowly for me."
"Ok," John said, confused. He turned slowly as Autumn inspected him.
"Ok. You look good. Miss Gabriella is really picky about the uniform. When you go in, she'll probably have you spin around for her, too. Just look confident and you'll be fine."
"Oh, Thanks. Do you know why I was called down?"
"No idea, sorry, but we better get you in, quickly. She's impatient."
Autumn knocked on the door.
"Come in," came a voice from inside.
"Good luck," Autumn whispered as she held the door open for John to enter.
"Ah, Miss Foley, please come in." The Head Mistress was in her late fifties or early sixties, it was a little difficult for John to gage the age of women in California. Most had had some cosmetic surgery and the Head Mistress was no exception. She wore business suits and when she stood as John entered, he saw that she was wearing a startling sage-green suit, today. "Turn around slowly for me, please, Miss Foley." He did as she instructed and when he'd completed the turn, she said, "Very good. The first step to being a successful young woman is being well dressed and presentable."
"Yes, Miss Gabriella,. I'll remember that, Miss." John did wonder if, in fact, that was the correct first step. It sounded suspiciously old fashioned, like the scene he'd done with Marion the day before.
Miss Gabriella took a deep breath, then spoke with a serious tone, "I have just had a conversation with Miss Stephanie, Miss Bianca, and I have to say, I am a bit concerned. For a girl that has only been in this school for four days, you have made a rather profound, negative impression upon one of my most trusted educators."
Unaware of any problems with Miss Stephanie since their conversations on Wednesday, John was confused. He stifled the impulse to say that the only problem that Miss Stephanie had was jealousy, and instead said, "I don't understand, Miss Gabriella. I promised Miss Stephanie that I would participate more when we give critiques. I was just nervous to criticize girls that I didn't know. That is the only problem I was aware of. Did I do something else that upset her?"
"I should say you did." She picked up a note from her desk and showed it to John. "Does this look familiar?"
It didn't. It was a note written on a piece of small notebook paper. In big letters it read, 'Miss Stephanie is a cunt. Fuck her.'
"No, Miss Gabriella. I have never seen that before."
"Oh, really, because it was given to Miss Stephanie by a girl in your class and she said that you had written the note. Are you denying that you wrote it, Miss Bianca?"
John was pale. This was bad! In the real world, this would be a stupid prank, but in this world, the world in which fourteen year old girls had no power at all and a world in which he WAS a fourteen year old girl, this was very, very bad!
"Miss, Gabriella, I swear that I did not write that. I spent all of second period working on the scene that Miss Stephanie assigned. You can check with the other girls in my group."
"Oh, I intend to, young lady, believe me. I intend to."
"Besides, Miss, here is my binder and you can check my locker - I don't have a notebook that size and I only have two pens with me. One is black and the other is a red one that is required for Miss Kary's class. That's written in purple."
The Head Mistress took his binder and looked through it. "Hmmm, well, either you used someone else's notebook and pen or you're telling the truth. For now, Miss Bianca, I want you to report to the nurse's office and wait there till I call for you. I will interview the other girls in your group and check your locker. If you're innocent, then we'll go back to the way things were, but if you're guilty, then I promise you, young lady, you will be looking for another school to attend and you can forget about that homecoming dance tomorrow night."
John just stood there feeling desperate and weak. He'd forgotten how awful grownups could be to children. She wasn't even listening to him.
"Now, go see the nurse and wait there till you are called."
She pushed a button on her desk and, within seconds, the nurse appeared and scowled at John as she guided him to her office.
As she closed the door to her little clinic and pointed to a chair in which she wanted John to sit, she grunted, "You should be ashamed of yourself."
"I didn't do anything, Miss," John tried to defend himself, but she closed the door, leaving him alone.
He wanted to yell and go back to the Head Mistress' Office and take control of the situation, but he knew that no fourteen year old girl would do that, so he sat. Then, he wanted to cry, but he didn't want anyone to see him cry. He was too angry to let that happen. He wished he had his phone, but that had been in his pencil bag which was inside his binder and Miss Gabriella had that. Then he noticed that there was a phone on the desk next to him. He had no idea what Rose's phone number was, but he'd known Ed's for years. So, he picked up the phone and dialed, but a busy signal began part way through the number. Then he remembered using the phone at his mother's office at Holy Cross. You always had to dial '9' to get an outside line, there. So, he tried again, dialing '9' first.
It worked! 'Hi, this is Ed. I can't come to the phone right now. Please leave a message and I'll call you back as soon as I can. Thanks!'
The tone sounded, and John whispered, "Ed, it's... Bebe. I'm in trouble at school, I didn't do anything, but I'm being blamed for writing a note about a teacher. They're making a huge deal out of it and threatening to throw me out. Right now, I'm locked up in the nurse's office until they've talked to everyone. I could really use some help. If you could call and stick up for me, that would be great. Oh, don't call my phone. The Head Mistress has it. I'm using the nurse's land line right now. Gotta hang up. Sorry and thanks."
Then, he sat and waited.
According to the clock on the nurse's phone, he'd been waiting fiftyfour minutes when the door swung open and John could hear the nurse's voice saying, "I'm sorry, sir, but we take these kinds of things very seriously at Norte Dame..."
"So seriously that you lock my innocent niece up like a common criminal?" Ed's head stuck into the office and John could see how annoyed he was. "Come on, Bebe. Are you ok?"
Relieved, John walked over to Ed, who hugged him, tightly. Despite his efforts, feeling Ed comfort him lead to some tears - not a lot, but more than John wanted.
They walked to the Head Mistress' Office where Miss Gabriella and Miss Stephanie were standing and talking while a student sat with her head down. John didn't recognize the student, but he assumed that she was responsible for the note.
"Well, Miss Bianca," the Head Mistress said, "it appears that we were misinformed as to who wrote the note. You can return to class, now. Thank you for coming in, sir, but, as you can see, it was unnecessary. We have everything under control here and..."
"Alright, just stop," Ed demanded.
"I beg your pardon?" Miss Gabriella was surprised by his tone.
"I said, 'just stop.' You accused my niece of something vile and threatened to throw her out of school. You locked her up, left her unsupervised and didn't allow her to call me, her mother or her cousin. What the hell kind of a school are you running here!? The studio is paying you more than eighty thousand dollars a year to educate my niece in a safe and supportive environment. Does any of this seem safe or supportive to you!?"
Who was this guy? Ed? Ed had never spoken to anyone like this in his entire life! Now, here he was - John's knight in shining armor, standing up for him and protecting him! Where the heck do that come from?
"I'm sorry, Mr Foley..."
"McNeal." Ed spoke with authority.
"I'm sorry?"
"My name is McNeal. Ed McNeal and I share custody of Bebe with her cousin Rose, and I swear that if anything like this happens again, you will have a very expensive, very public law suit on your hands."
"Umm, Mr. McNeal," Miss Gabriella spoke. "Perhaps we could send Miss Bianca back to class and have this conversation in private."
Ed looked from her to Miss Stephanie to John, then he squatted down so that his head was lower than John's and he said, "What do you want to do, Beebs? Do you want to go back to class or call it a day and go home with me?" He held both of John's hands as he spoke. John found it comforting.
"If it's ok, I'd rather go back to class." John refused to look at the Head Mistress.
"Ok, then," he kissed John's cheek, "you go ahead back to class and I'll make sure that you're ok here before I leave." He kissed him, again, then picked up his binder and passed it to John, giving him one more hug and a wink of his eye before he headed back to class.
Holy cow! Ed really did love him as an uncle. Life had certainly changed.
Ella and MK had been talking nonstop since he'd returned to class. There'd been questions about the note and they knew that John, or Bebe, hadn't written it, but they were sure that he was going to be punished. They'd even sent a text to Blaine, just in case he needed to get another date. They'd also sent a text later, telling him to relax - everything was ok.
They were outside, waiting for their rides, when John's phone sounded. He glanced at it and was shocked to see that it was Blaine. Ella and MK saw it too. John just stared at it for a few moments before Ella grabbed his phone and pushed the 'answer' button. "Hi, Blaine! It's Ella!.... Yeah, she's right here... No, she's all set. They found the girl who did it... Ok, she's just a little shy. Here she is."
John shook his head 'no.' He knew that he'd have to talk to the boy at some point, but he was hoping to do so when he was alone. Not in front of these two, excitable girls who seemed to have his future with Blaine planned right down to the names of their seven children.
"Just say 'hi,'" MK whispered as she pushed the phone into his hands.
"Hi." John's voice was tentative.
"Hi. This is Blaine. I just thought I should at least say 'hello' before tomorrow night." His voice was lower than John expected and he had a strangely hypnotic drawl to his voice. He was obviously not from the LA area, either. "I'm excited to meet you tomorrow."
John smiled. He could tell that the boy was feeling just as awkward as he was. "I'm looking forward to meeting you, too. Thank you for inviting me. Oh... and for calling... that was very sweet."
MK and Ella were bouncing around, excited. "Tell him his voice is sexy." "Tell him he sounds older." "Tell him you think he's handsome."
"I can hear your friends. They're pretty excited about the dance, I guess."
"They're pretty annoying, actually."
Ella slapped his arm. "Hey! We set this up! We have a right to be annoying!"
"Yeah!" MK joined. "She's got pretty lips, Blaine! Practice kissing before tomorrow night!"
"Oh, my God! Shut up!" John was horrified!
"Haha, I'll let you get going," Blaine was very polite. "Have a great night and I'll see you tomorrow. Text me when you're arriving. I'll be there early, setting up. I play Lacrosse, so I'm not playing in the football game. I'll come out when I get your text."
"Ok. Thanks for calling, Blaine. I'll see you tomorrow." He hit the 'end' button and turned to the girls. "You're both horrible, you know that!?"
The girls were almost uncontrollable with laughter. "Oh, we're going to have so much fun!" MK chortled.
"Bebe!" Kylie shouted from the door to a town car. "Time to go!"
"Ok!" John shouted, then turned to his friends and said, "Gotta go. We'll be picking you up at around 5:30 tomorrow."
"Ok!" Ella and MK said in unison, followed by another unison chorus of "Love you, Bebe!"
"Love you guys, too!" John smiled as he hustled to the car.
"Hi, girls," Oscar looked over the back seat and smiled. "Buckle up. Hope you had a good day at school."
"Actually," Kylie whispered to John, "I heard your's was pretty tough."
He shrugged. "It's over, now and, thanks to Uncle Ed, I don't think that Miss Stephanie is going to accuse me of anything else. I don't think she likes me."
"I think she envies you," Kylie said. "I mean, you're fourteen and you've played a major role in a Shakespearean play directed by a major director and you have a TV show."
"It was just summer stock."
"Yeah, summer stock with Maureen Weldon! Anyway, I'm glad it worked out. I would have hated for you to miss homecoming. I'm really excited about it, aren't you?"
"I guess. Mostly, I'm just excited about wearing my dress. I really like it. I kinda wish that we could just get all dressed up and have a dance without the boys."
"Haha, you're just nervous 'cause it's your first boy-girl party. You'll love it."
"Are you ladies talking about the homecoming dance?" Oscar called over his shoulder. "Big night, huh? I'm going to driving you, you know. I'm going to be wearing my best suit!"
Kylie smiled and laughed. "You're always the most handsome man in my life, Oscar."
"Yeah, well see that it stays that way!" He teased. "Two little beauties like you will make those St Matthew's boys faint. Make sure that I'm the only man in your life when I take you home tomorrow night, too."
"Don't worry, Oscar," Kylie giggled. "You're our guy."
Per John's request, Rose made bacon and egg sandwiches for dinner that night. That was followed by two hours of dancing lessons with Rose and Uncle Ed. Finally, at ten o'clock, Rose said, "Well, I think it's time for our little lady to get to bed. You have a car scheduled to pick you up at seven o'clock tomorrow morning, then a very big day before the dance. Go put on your nightie and I'll be in to braid your hair in a few minutes. Kiss Uncle Ed goodnight."
He hugged Ed tightly. "You were great today, Uncle Ed. Thank you for coming to my rescue."
"It's what I'm here for, little girl. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, so, whenever you need me, I'll come running."
John kissed his cheek and hugged him tightly. "I love you."
"I know you do, honey. I love you, too."
"Things aren't... weird for us, now, are they?"
"Not at all. You've always been my best friend and my favorite person in the world. Now... I just get to show you. That's not weird, at all - just different. That's love. Now, go to bed before Rose gets upset with us."
John turned to see Rose tapping her foot and pointing at her watch. He smiled at her and bounced off to his bedroom.
When Rose entered, John was dressed just in his plain white panties. His nightie was spread , face down on his bed and she watched he slipped his arms carefully under the hem and slipped the pretty little item over his head.
She stood in the doorway with a hand behind her back and she watched him and she smiled. He was the perfect little girl, which made him, for her, the perfect little boyfriend.
John pulled up the covers and laid down on the mattress, pulling the covers back over himself.
Rose sat on the side of the bed and smiled at him. "You had a tough day, today, huh?"
John shrugged. "It wasn't great, but Ed... he was unbelievable. He really stood up for me."
"He loves you, Bebe, just like I do. We'd do anything for you, just like a real mom and dad."
He smiled. "Thanks."
Rose took her hand out from behind her back. "I was saving these for tomorrow, but... since you had a bad day, I'll give them to you, now."
She placed two small pieces of clothing in his hand. They were both red. A very pretty, very lacy, padded bra, and a matching pair of panties.
"A pretty girl in a pretty dress needs pretty undies to make her feel beautiful."
John smiled. Just looking at them was a little exciting. He couldn't wait to wear them tomorrow. It was awfully nice of her, but unnecessary.
"Thanks, Rose. They're beautiful, but no one will see my panties tomorrow night.
"Well, see that no one does!" She laughed as she scolded him. "They're just to complete your outfit, baby, and look..." she turned the panties inside out and showed him the gusset. "Julia sewed a gaff in so that your 'dinky' doesn't rub up against your boyfriend while you're dancing."
John smiled and blushed. "That would only happen if I was dancing with you."
"Oh, you'll see. A handsome boy holding tight... you'll love it." She took the lingerie from him. "I'll put these on your dresser. Time for you to get some sleep."
She tucked him in and kissed his forehead. As she shut off the light she said, "Sleep tight, baby. I love you."
"I love you, too, Rose. Sleep tight."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 2
Author:
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of work on the TV, show. There are complications of the set and Bebe
begins to assert herself in a familiar way. The child-actresses demands are,
ultimately, met and, as a result, his role on Civil Disobedience may become
a bigger one than he'd expected. Then, he's off to meet his date, Blaine,
at Homecoming with Ella, MK and Kylie!
Author's Note: Hope you like it! Please let me know!
Please, leave me a review. Good or Bad, I read them all. ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 2 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.
DEALING WITH REALITY -or- HER MIND HAD GONE DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
"Ok," the assistant director called through a megaphone, "I need all the background performers to report to desk by the entrance to the school to check that your paperwork is all in order. Actors with unnamed characters, that includes boys numbers one through twelve, I need you to report to my assistant who is waving, over to your left, and I need the characters of Pitcher, Catcher, Umpire, Ronny, David, Peter and Alex to all come see me. Right now, please, people! The clock is ticking, let's get moving!"
John was wearing the same blue plaid dress he'd worn in the scene with Marion several days earlier. This scene would actually precede that one when the show was assembled. Doing scenes out of order was new to him, but Ed told him that it actually was easy once you got used to it. You just had to review the full script to remind yourself of where things occurred.
"Alright, boys... and Bebe," the AD said, "we're going to start with a bunch of staged movements - pitcher on the mound, staging some outfield catches, some of you running the bases, a few staged slides - stuff like that, ok. Bebe, Alex needs to do a lot of these things, too, are you ok with that?"
John's first reaction was to call the AD a condescending chauvinist, but instead just said, "Yeah, of course."
Some of the boys snickered, but a couple of more serious boys made the others knock it off. 'Seriously,' John thought, 'this far into the twenty-first century and boys still think that girls can't play sports!?'
"Great! Then let's get started." The AD began with the outfielders. The three camera men worked with him to film a variety of differently staged catches with the boys just catching the ball, or running after it and diving, or throwing it towards the infield.
"Hi." A boy came up to John while he leaned on the fence behind home plate and watched the process.
"Hi." John smiled at him.
"You don't remember me, do you?" The boy was at least sixteen or seventeen, with short-cropped hair, wearing a standard, grey-heather, pull over sweat shirt, jeans from the early 1960s and a generic baseball cap.
"You do look familiar, but, I'm sorry, I can't place you." John, who was usually good with faces, couldn't place this one at all.
"I'm Darrin," the boy smiled and laughed, a bit embarrassed. "We met at auditions a few months ago. I was..."
"Oh, Darrin!" John flashed back to the last audition. Darrin was the last to go in and he was petrified. John had made everyone clap for him and encourage him before going in for his own audition. "You look so different! You had longer hair, and it was darker, wasn't it? I'm sorry that I didn't recognize you! You got a part! Congratulations!"
"Yeah..." Darrin seemed nervous to even be speaking to John. John wondered if it was because Darrin was just nervous near him, or nervous around girls, or just nervous on set, or just nervous all the time. "Umm... I just found out the day before yesterday. I'm playing Peter. I guess, I'm your friend, Cora's, older brother. I don't know how often I'll be on, but I'm really happy to be here."
"That's awesome!" John smiled and gave the tall boy a friendly hug. "I'm really happy for you."
"Ummm... Yeah... well, me too... for you, I mean. Ummm... anyway... well... thank you for helping me... well and everyone else... that day. Without you, ummm... Bianca..."
"Bebe." John smiled at the sweet boy struggling to get the words out. "Everyone calls me Bebe. I'm not really a 'Bianca' kind of girl, you know?"
"Umm... Yeah," he laughed at the joke. "Anyway... Bebe... thanks. I mean it. And I'm really sorry, but... well... I have to say some pretty mean things to you in this scene. I'm... well, my character, Pete, that is... well, he's kind of a bully, I guess, and it kinda looks like he picks on you and Cora... like, a lot."
John laughed at his apology. "Darrin, you don't need to apologize for things in the script. Don't worry about it, ok?"
"Yeah... ok, thanks."
"So, Kylie is playing your sister? That's cool, huh?"
"Kylie?"
"Yeah, remember Kylie? Red hair. Pretty face. She was with us that day. She was number twelve, I think."
"Oh, yeah! I do remember her! That's cool! I didn't know that. Wow... cool... Ok, well, anyway... thanks, again, I mean, you know, for everything."
"You're very welcome, Darrin, and congrats, again!"
"Yeah... thanks... I should...." He looked around the infield. "I should, you know, go over my lines, I guess and, well, sorry for what I have to say in the show."
"That's ok. I'm a big girl. I can take it. Bye, now, Darrin."
"Bye." The boy was handsome and seemed bright, but he was very clumsy when it came to talking to John. John just hoped that he could overcome that when it was time to act, or this was going to be a very long morning.
Eventually the AD had John run some bases and catch some tossed balls, which he did without much effort, but after a couple of takes of John running, he asked to speak to the AD alone for a minute.
"Umm, I have a little problem with running in this costume."
"What kind of problem?" The AD seemed more focused on the shoot than the actress.
"Well, see, they have me wearing a slip under this and it's kind of narrow in the skirt. I can't really run full out while I'm wearing it. Could I, maybe, take it off and just wear the dress?"
The AD looked at the young girl, confused. "Did the costumer Tell you to wear the slip?"
"Yeah, but she..."
"Then you wear the slip unless she says otherwise. Now, let's get this done."
The AD walked away, leaving John huffing in frustration.
Around eleven o'clock, a car pulled up and Marion and Rose, both in costume, got out and waved to John. He was just about to start taking swings and hitting the ball for some shots. John waved back, then got into the batter's box. Darrin was on the pitcher's mound and had already performed a whole series of throws and glances and catches for the AD.
"Ok," the AD said, "we need a couple of strikes and look frustrated, Bebe, ok? Here we go! Just toss it in nice and slow, Pete," he called to Darrin. "We don't need any fast balls right now."
Although he had never played baseball in an organized league, John used to play in the school yard all the time and did very well amongst his friends, some of whom were very athletic, so he was not inexperienced at swinging a bat, but swinging a bat in a dress turned out to be a bit of a chore. The dress was swinging high on his thighs when he swung with any power and it was a distraction that threw him off, a bit. Added to that was the way that the slip would cut into his torso whenever he made the movements required for hitting a baseball. So, not only was the swing difficult and potentially embarrassing, but following each swing, he found himself trying to readjust the slip, which required a lot of shifting of the clothing around his bra in very awkward way. Each attempt to swing like a 'tomboy' made him more and more self conscious.
"Alright, let's hold up," the Assistant Director finally called. Then, he called the pitcher in to meet him at home plate, where in front of Darrin, the boy playing the catcher and the man playing the umpire, he said, "Ok, Bebe, this just isn't working. We'll have to bring in a double who can play baseball to reshoot these shots. We'll just move on to the part where your sister, Susan, and your grandmother come to take you home..."
"Wait!" John's voice was louder and more frustrated than he'd intended it to be. "I am perfectly capable of swinging a stupid baseball bat, I just need to take off this slip. It's so uncomfortable..."
"Of course you are," he dismissed, "but I can't spend all morning here while you play with your underwear..."
"Excuse me!?" John was insulted on almost every level imaginable. He was insulted as an actor who was talking to an Assistant Director who wasn't listening to reason. He was insulted as human being who was hearing someone insulting someone else - in this case, him - but mostly, he was insulted as a young girl being forced to wear impractical clothing and being condescended to by some idiot who never had to deal with a stupid, uncomfortable slip!
"Don't worry, Bebe, not everyone can play sports. We'll find someone who can..."
"Play sports!?" John was embarrassed and outraged. "You're not asking me to play sports! Your asking me to pretend to play sports! I can do both, if you'll let me just take off this stupid..." embarrassed to shout it in front of the boys, he lowered his voice, "... slip."
"Uh huh," he nodded, "Well, regardless, this conversation is over..."
"No, it's not," Marion was suddenly standing with the rest of them. "Just because you went to film school and have relatives in the industry doesn't make you our boss, Jason." She spoke sternly to the AD. "I suggest that you give the cast and crew a ten minute break while I call your uncle, who is the actual director, and we talk this over with him."
The AD tried to maintain a smile as he scoffed at the older actress. "Look, Marion, Mr Rutherford..."
"Or your Uncle Phil, as I call him..." Marion interrupted.
The AD's eyes narrowed. "... be that as it may, Mr Rutherford gave me this assignment to complete and that's what I intend to do. I am not going to interrupt his Saturday morning..."
"Fine." Marion held up her phone with the contact name 'Phil Rutherford' displayed. "I will." She pushed the 'Call' button and the 'speaker' option.
The phone rang twice before a voice answered. "Hi, Marion. What can I do for you?"
"Hi, Phil," her voice was sweet and didn't indicate any stress at all, "I'm out here at the ball field with your Assistant and he is having a little difficulty with the shoot."
"Oh? What's the problem?"
"Well, you know how it is, Phil, young guy and all... well, Bebe is having a hard time playing baseball because of the slip that wardrobe gave her is uncomfortable."
"Slip?" the Director's voice asked. "Slip - as in underwear? That's holding up a shoot?"
"Yes. Silly, I know, but he won't even let the poor child talk to wardrobe about it. Would it be ok if she just took it off and filmed the scene without it?"
"Well, yes, of course it would be fine. Is Bebe with you?"
"Yes, she is Phil. Would you like to speak to her?"
"Yes. Take me off speaker phone and hand the phone to her."
Marion handed John the phone and he put it to his ear. "Hi, Mr Rutherford. I'm sorry that we had to bother you..."
He listened for a few moments, then said, "It might be visible, sir. I'm not sure. I think that it showed when I took swings before."
He listened again. "I think that's a great idea, Mr Rutherford. Yes. I can do that. No, it wouldn't bother me at all. Yes, sir, he's here, too. Yes, I will. Thank you, sir."
John looked at the AD and said, "He wants to talk to you."
The younger man took the phone. "Hi." He listened and eyed John as the director explained what he wanted. "Ok, but are you sure? I mean, she's pretty young..." He looked at Marion. "Yes, she's here. So is Rose who plays Susan. Ok. Ok, if you say so. No, if she can actually swing the bat and hit the ball after that, then I'm sure we can finish in a few hours. Ok. Yes. Goodbye."
Twenty minutes later, a new set up was ready to be filmed. John and Darrin had worked out some dialog and they were ready for the first sequence.
"Everyone ready?" a production assistant called. Everyone on the crew nodded.
"Alright, then," the AD called out, a bit skeptical. "Let's do it. Action!"
Darrin, in character as 'Pete,' wound up and threw the ball across the plate with a reasonable amount of force. John swung and missed.
'Pete' chuckled, "Ha! You used to be a big shot, huh? I told you that things would change. Wait till those little things on your chest get bigger. Your days of being a ball player are over, baby!"
"Shut up and pitch," John as 'Alex' replied, hurt and angry.
"Oh, what's the matter? Is the little lady on her period?"
'Alex' threw the bat and charged the mound, but the boy playing the catcher caught him and carried him back to home plate. "Maybe you should just go home, Alex," the catcher whispered. "Maybe Pete's right. You know, guys and girls... they're built different."
'Alex' turned to the umpire and said, "Can I have three minutes?"
The umpire rolled his eyes and said, "Two. Then you're out."
And 'Alex' ran away.
"Ok," the Assistant Director called. "Cut! 'Alex' go get changed and get back here ASAP."
About four minutes later, John was back in the batter's box, swinging the bat. Except for the fact that the sun showed through his spread legs when he took the batter's stance, he looked almost exactly the same - that is until he took a swing and no slip was visible.. The Assistant Director made sure to capture all of these things in his filming, too.
Then 'Pete' called from the mound, "Is the spoilt little princess ready?"
"That's enough!" The Umpire called. "Play ball!"
This time, Darrin threw a medium speed pitch right straight across the plate and John swung, connected and sent it sailing deep into the outfield. Then he ran the bases, enjoying the feeling of the breeze through his dress.
As planned, when he approached home plate, running full speed, 'Pete' ran forward and knocked him out of the baseline and onto the ground, causing 'Nana' and 'Susan' to come running to help 'Alex' out. Then 'Pete' caught a throw in from the outfield, tagged the downed girl and the umpire shouted, "Out!"
'Nana' and 'Susan' then ran to him and argued his call, until the AD called, "Cut! Great work, everyone! Let's see - Rose and Marion and the umpire, stay put and we'll film the argument. Outfielders, we need to get some coverage on you guys. Pitcher, I just need to get a shot of you running in from the mound and, Bebe, after I do the argument and 'Pete' running in from the mound, we'll shoot your 'behind the tree' moment, then I think we can call it a day. Ok, let's get this done. Quiet, everyone! Grandmother, sister and umpire, you're up first!"
After they'd finished with the argument and Darrin's run in from the mound, they set up by a wooded area. First, they filmed John running into the woods, then they staged a series of short shots in which he first removed his dress, then pulled down the tiny zipper on the side of his slip. Then the slip was removed and left it in a heap on the ground. He pulled the shirt dress back over his head and ran back to home plate, buttoning as he ran.
Finally, as it was approaching 2:30, the Assistant Director told Rose that she, Marion and John could leave, so Rose grabbed John by the hand and pulled him towards the car in which she and Marion had arrived.
"Come on, Beebs! Julia is sending me very panicked texts. We need to go, now!"
But, before he was able to get into the car, Darrin called to him and ran to them.
"Look, Umm.. Bebe... I'm really sorry about, you know, what the AD said and about what I had to say in the script. I mean, we still have to do the part in the dug out where I really talk some sh... Umm... trash about you. It's kinda mean, really and, well.. I'm just sorry, is all."
John smiled and gave the sweet boy a little, friendly hug. "No need, Darrin. It's just a script. I gotta run. See you soon, I'm sure."
"Umm, Yeah, sure, but... um... could I, maybe, get your number? Just in case, you know... for the show?"
"Of course!" John gave him his number, which Darrin immediately used to call him so that Bebe would have his number, too. Then, a quick peck-on-the-cheek and John was in the car and on his way to be made beautiful.
"Well it's about time!" Julia shouted, not altogether playfully, as Rose, Marion and John entered the makeup studio at the studio. "I thought that you'd be here before 2:00! It's after 3:00, now! Where have you been?"
"Oh, that idiot AD," Marion cursed. "He couldn't find his way out of a paper bag and they put him in charge of a Saturday morning shoot when everyone has someplace else to be. I didn't think we'd ever finish."
"Sorry, Julia," Rose had John facing her and was already unbuttoning his dress. "Take this off, Beebs. You'll have to wear your undies for this. Your own dress is on its way, but you need to get started."
"Can't I just keep this on for now?"
"No, sweetheart," Julia helped pull the dress over his head. "Once your hair is done, we don't want to pull a dress over your head."
"Ok," John said, but then he saw Kylie sitting in a chair having her hair worked on. "Umm, isn't there a robe or something I could wear? This training bra is really..." he left that hanging. He glanced towards Kylie.
Rose understood what he meant. She suppressed her amusement and said to Julia, "She's just concerned because Kylie hasn't seen her without either a padded bra or a top on."
Julia suppressed her giggle, too. "Well, well, well," she said so that only John and Rose could hear, "we have certainly developed a sense of maidenly pride, haven't we. Why, I bet at this time last year, you were comparing the size of your manliness to the boys in the gym. Now, your self conscious about how your boobs compare with another girl. Not so very different, is it?"
John didn't answer, but he turned fully away from Kylie so that she couldn't see his underdeveloped breasts.
"Beebs," Rose grinned, "what's the big deal? You just took off your dress in front of a whole camera crew. Kylie doesn't care."
"They only filmed me from behind, Rose. They saw my bra strap and my butt in a pair of white cotton panties. They didn't see that I've got the breasts of an eight year old. Please, Rose. Isn't there a robe around here somewhere?"
"Tell you what," Julia patted his head, "I'll get a hairdresser's cape and put it on you. We won't take it off until your padded bra arrives. Is that ok?"
He nodded, but kept his arm strategically placed across his chest until the cape was on and secured.
"Better?" Rose asked.
He nodded, very embarrassed.
Marion, who had been waiting nearby, said, "Bianca, there is no need to be ashamed of your body. They'll come in, I promise. You're already beautiful. They'll just make you more so. Until then, who cares?"
He nodded and shrugged. "I'm really... small there, Nana. That's all."
"Oh, who cares. Walk proudly, little girl. No one will even notice." She kissed his cheek and said, "I'm going to hang around to see you girls in your dresses for the dance. Is that alright?"
Everyone agreed that it was and Julia dragged him over to a small bathroom with a shower. "Be quick, little girl! Get your hair good and wet, wash your body well, put your bra and panties back on, then call me when you're done. I'll have another cape ready for you." She kissed his head and slapped his bottom, hard, a said, "Now, go! Go! Go!"
"Oh, I love it!" Kylie gushed as she looked at her hair in the mirror. John, freshly washed, and then powdered by Rose, agreed. Julia was just starting to comb his hair out while one of her partners worked on John's pedicure in the hopes of getting him ready in time.
"You look beautiful, dear." Julia smiled at the girl. "It's going to be at least forty-five minutes before Bebe's ready. If you'd like a snack or something before you dress, this is the time." She began rolling hot curlers into John's long hair.
"No thanks, I'm good." Kylie sat in the chair next to John so she could watch and talk. "Did your shoot go well, today? I heard that you were shooting the baseball game that we talked about in that scene we did on the porch this week."
John told her about the shoot, leaving out how frustrating the AD had been to work with, and he told her about Darrin being cast as her brother.
"I didn't know that they planned for Cora to have a brother. That's cool. I don't really remember him, though. I was pretty stressed that day. I'm sure I'll know him when I see him, though."
Just as Julia completed rolling John's hair in curlers, a woman appeared in his field of vision. "So," the woman smiled, "is this the little girl who's making my job so much more interesting?" She was Looking directly at John, who didn't know quite what to say.
Julia laughed. "Probably! She seems to cause extra work for everyone, everywhere she goes! Just look at me and my team. We should be home, enjoying a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Instead, here we are getting her ready for a homecoming dance."
The woman glanced at Kylie and said, "My, don't you look pretty. Are you going to the dance as well?"
"Thank you. Yes, I am," Kylie smiled.
"That's Kylie," Julie continued working on John's hair, placing a bonnet dryer over his head, allowing his ears to remain free to hear the conversation. "Kylie plays Cora on the show. This one, here, is Bebe. She's the real troublemaker."
"Very nice to meet you, girls." The woman shook hands with each of them. "My name is Barbara Gravel and I am one of the writers on the show. Now, it seems that the character of Alex, which would be you, I believe, took a turn off of the page today due to a wardrobe issue, correct?"
John nodded.
"What wardrobe issue!?!?" Julia was concerned that no one told her about any problems.
John explained the problems caused by the oddly clingy slip and the solution they came up with.
"Well, it was a more creative and more involved story than I would have come up with," Barbara spoke as she leaned against the wall in the makeup area, "but it has created some new possibilities for our first arch and, guess what, I am now your character's supervisor. So, I will be working with the head writer and director to feature your character more prominently. How does that sound?"
John was in shock. "Wow!" he said.
"Wow is right!" Kylie joined. "This is great Bebe! If your character is featured more, mine will be too! Wow!" She was thrilled.
"Well," Barbara smiled, "I can't promise anything to anyone, right now, but I need to follow through on the scenario you created today. I'll be working with the team this weekend and I'll be sending you some new pages on Monday. The director would like me to get feed back from you as we construct this story, ok? So, let me know what you think."
"Oh, believe me," Rose giggled, "you will know what 'The Beebs' thinks! She doesn't keep her opinion to herself when it comes to acting!"
Barbara smiled. "Excellent. Well, have a great time, girls. I'm going home to see my husband for the first time in a week. Bye, bye."
By the time Julia removed the bonnet, John's makeup was complete and his fingernails were drying. Oscar had shown up and he'd brought Ed with him, who, in turn, had brought the garment bag with all of John's clothes for the evening.
Kylie was sent to change while Julia fussed over the sculpting of John's hair. "I'm going to keep her a bit young, still," she told Rose, conscious of the people present who did not know John's secret. "See, her lips are a little thinner than I'd do for an older girl, and her makeup is less severe. I'm just going to create a little 'poof' here on top, so that we can put a tiara there, then bring all of these curls in the back into a high pony tail that will 'poof' out a bit, too. Pretty, but sweet and young. It's actually kind of important that we maintain this kind of a 'young' look. We can't have a picture appear in the press where she looks older. That's not the image the studio wants."
Rose nodded and watched as Julia did her magic.
Ed wandered over to watch, too. "Well, she looks pretty grown up, to me," he teased. "Make sure that you don't make her too pretty. I don't want to have to hire an armed guard to protect my niece 24/7." He smiled a friendly, loving, paternal smile at his friend. "If you ask me, she's already, too pretty. Make her look more... normal, will you?"
"Oh, get out of here, you!" Rose scolded as she smiled and pushed him away from the chair.
When Kylie emerged from the dressing room, she looked stunning in a simple, aqua dress - An A-line skirt and a tight bodice with tiny, spaghetti straps. Her well developed figure looked perfect and the color of the dress made her gorgeous red hair pop.
"Oh, Kylie," John was very impressed, "you look so pretty!"
"Thanks. Could some one take a picture so that I can send it to my mom? She's really bummed that she couldn't be here to help get me ready."
"Sure." Ed took the picture for her, gave her back her phone and said, "You look like you're twenty five years old! Your date is going to pass out when he sees you."
"Thanks, Ed." She was glowing with young beauty and excitement.
Then Ed turned to the team working of John and said, "Nothing like this for Bebe, though! I don't want a bunch of boys drooling over my niece!"
"You just stop it, or I'll call security!" Julia teased. "She can't help but be beautiful!" To John and Kylie she said, "Now, you both have my cell number. I want to see pictures. Lots and lots of pictures! You hear me?"
They both swore that they would.
Finally John was done. There were small, springy curls atop of his head, a glimmering tiara pinned securely into those curls, several curled tendrils helping his curled bangs to frame his face, then his curled and wavy hair was all pulled to the back of his head, where it was gathered and pinned before falling in a thick, glamorous arrangement to just below his shoulders.
His standard 'young and fresh' makeup was enhanced with a little more color on his eyes. A little eye liner, curled and heavily mascaraed eyelashes and bright red lips - not too lush, but not thin, either.
He was gorgeous without being gaudy. Girlish without pretending to be womanly.
Rose hustled him into the changing room where, first, he donned his new, lacy, bright red bra, then the matching panties and shoes. "My mom would have made me wear pantyhose for an event like this," Rose reminisced, "but you're wearing open toed shoes, so the pantyhose wouldn't look right."
Once the shoes and undergarments were all on and secure, Rose called out to Ed to help with the dress.
"I'm not very experienced at this - no sisters at home. What so I have to do?" he asked when Rose handed him the left shoulder of the dress.
"We are going to lower it to the floor. She'll step into it and we'll raise it up her body. Once it's on her shoulders, I'll need you to hold the top of the back nice and tight so that I can lace it up and tie it off."
"Ok."
They lowered it and John stepped in. As they raised it up his body, Ed took note of the shape of John's hips and buttocks. They were definitely girly - young girly, not womanly, but seductive in their own, young way.
Once the dress was on John's shoulders, Ed tried to hold the back of the dress tight by standing behind John and pulling the panels towards the center, but he was in Rose's way. So, she scooted him around to John's front so that she could work.
Ed stood facing John, his arms over john's shoulders, holding the fragile material tightly while Rose worked on the laces of the dress.
There was nowhere for either John or Ed to look except at each other.
"This is a little weird, huh?" John chuckled. "You helping me put on a dress so I can go to a dance with a boy?"
"No, not really," Ed replied with a warm smile. "You need help. I'm helping you. We've been friends for more than ten years and we always help each other out, right?"
John smiled and nodded. He noticed that his lipstick tasted a little different than usual. He mentioned that to Rose who said that it was because the stuff he was wearing today was really expensive. "We can't have your little freshman friends judging you for wearing cheap lipstick, now can we."
"Your lips are very pretty," Ed said.
"Thanks." John still had nowhere to look. Ed was much bigger than him and his arms were blocking his peripheral vision.
"Am I embarrassing you by saying that?" Ed was watching John blush.
"Maybe... I guess... a little."
"Sorry," he smiled at John. This young, beautiful girl, his niece, was so far removed from his best friend, that young man with the with the scraggly beard and the greasy boy-bun, that it was hard to believe that they were the same person. At one point, when Bianca was just appearing, Ed was so attracted to the woman his friend had become that he almost asked her out. And why not? She was sexy and beautiful!
But now... now she wasn't John or Bianca to him at all. Now, she was Bebe and she depended on him to be the grownup. Uncle Ed. He'd miss John and he'd probably fantasize about Bianca from time to time, but he would love Bebe as if she was his own child. He would do everything he could to help her be safe, happy and healthy.
He loved John as a friend.
He lusted after Bianca as a sexual partner.
He would love Bebe as if he were her her father and she was his daughter.
FIRST DATE -or- EVERY ADVENTURE REQUIRES A FIRST STEP
After the pictures, a quick Skype conversation with his mother in Worcester and kisses from everyone, Oscar was finally able to herd both John and Kylie into the limo and, with a text to Ella to tell her they'd be picking them up in about a half hour, they were on their way.
There were a couple of dozen photos at Ella's house - mansion would be a better description - with Ella and MK's moms posing the four of them all around the house and yard.
The next text was sent to Blaine as the limo approached the school's entrance. 'HI. ITS BEBE. WE'RE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THERE'S A LINE OF CARS DROPPING GIRLS OFF BEFORE WE GET TO THE DOOR.'
The reply came, 'GREAT. I'LL BE THERE. WHAT KIND OF CAR?'
'BENTLY LIMO.'
'REALLY!? WOW! ILL DEFINITELY BE THERE! I WANT TO SEE IT.'
John laughed. "Blaine wants to see the limo."
"So does Oliver," Kylie said.
"So does Rutger," MK said.
"So does Craig," Ella said.
That made them all laugh hysterically.
As the limo came to a stop, Oscar lowered the privacy panel and spoke to John and the girls. "Ok, ladies, we're here. Now, you all have my number. If you have any problems, just call me and I'll come in and get you. Now, be careful and remember that boys are all dangerous. Keep them at arms length."
The grins on the kids' faces could not have been bigger and hearing Oscar stating that they were tempting to boys only made them that much more excited to get out and get started.
John, however, had nothing but butterflies in his stomach.
"But Oscar," MK teased, "you were a boy once, right? Were you only interested in sex, too?"
The girls all giggled.
"Yeah, ok, laugh if you want," Oscar smiled at their teasing, "but just know that, if you need any help, Oscar is just a phone call away. Ok?"
"Ok," they giggled together. Then, a boy working as a valet, opened the door to the limo and invited the girls to exit the vehicle.
There were four boys, Blaine, Oliver, Rutger and Craig, all waiting. The girls all knew their dates, so they received quick hugs before the boys ducked their heads into the limo to look at the interior of the vehicle. The girls were left staring at the boys' bottoms while the boys exclaimed, "Whoa! This is gorgeous."
Blaine, who was as tall and handsome as his picture indicted, stood back a few steps until John noticed him. He smiled warmly, his hands tucked deep into his pockets, his dark, burgundy suit jacket hanging over his pocketed arms.
John held his little, red clutch purse in front of him with both hands and smiled back at the boy. "Hi." John took several steps towards him and his smile grew.
"Hi, Bebe," he said, then took his right hand out his pocket and offered it to John. "I'm Blaine. You look... beautiful..."
John felt a warmth in his belly. Blaine was handsome and polite. John liked his compliment, too. They shook hands. "Thank you. You look... very nice, too." They smiled at each other for a moment, then John said, "Do you want to see the inside of the car?"
Blaine, snickered and shook his head. "Nah. It can't be as beautiful as you. Let's just go in and get our picture taken."
Blaine offered his arm and John wrapped his around it. Blaine walked slowly but decisively towards the entrance, and John could hear Ella shouting at her date, "Hey, come on! We want to go in!"
The photographer had a beautiful array of flowers set up for the students and their dates to use as a background for the portraits. There was also a monitor facing the couple so that they could proof their portrait after it was taken. Thinking back to his own proms, when he and his date wore rented clothes and stood in front of a mottled grey piece of vinyl to have a picture hastily taken, this all seemed so very elegant. Not only did he like it - he really appreciated it.
They took their picture in the traditional position, with John standing in front of Blaine, Blaine's arms around John, the couple slightly askew, heads turned and smiling towards the camera. Blaine approved it and they proceeded into the hall to meet other students and their dates.
Eventually, Blaine led John to the buffet table and they made their selections. Again, thinking of his own proms with baked chicken, mashed potatoes and green-bean-almandine, while this feast of everything from elaborate tofu dishes to African cuisine to prime rib, seemed amazingly elaborate.
When they sat, it was with Blaine's friends and their dates. Kylie sat at the next table with her date and Ella and MK were across the dance floor. With Blaine on one side of him and another athletic young, handsome boy on the other, John felt very small in his beautiful, red dress.
"Your school is beautiful," John said very sincerely. "Norte Dame kinda looks like an old church, or something. This school looks like a fancy hotel."
Blaine smiled and looked around. "It is nice, I guess. I'm kinda used to it, now. I don't really notice it much."
"You're not from here, are you?" John tasted his egg roll. It was amazing!
"No. I'm from the Florida pan-handle. My mom married a TV executive who used to work out of Atlanta. He had an opportunity out here, so I got dragged along. It's nice, though. These are good guys. I'm happy enough."
John smiled at his date and took another taste of egg roll. Just as he took a bite, Blaine said, "Ella says that you're from Boston?"
With a mouth full of egg roll, John could only laugh and hold a dainty hand in front of his mouth until he was able to swallow. Blaine laughed at his predicament.
"Hey, don't laugh at me!" John giggled, adorably, "that was your fault. But, no, I'm from Worcester. It's in the middle of
Massachusetts. Like forty miles or so from Boston."
"Oh, Sorry."
They chatted about their lives and got to know each other.
"So," Blaine said as he returned to the table with their desserts, "did the girls mention why I'm not dating anyone, at the moment?"
"No, not really. They said you were shy."
He laughed at that. "I guess I kinda am a little shy, but that's not the reason, and besides, you're really easy to talk to."
John smiled. "That's nice of you to say. You're easy to talk to, too."
Blaine smiled. He found Bebe, not just pretty, but very, very cute. She had a genuine, honest smile and laugh that didn't take into account how a boy would respond to her. He really liked that. "Thanks. Anyway, well, there's a girl back in Florida and, until I moved away last spring, we'd been going together since seventh grade. She comes out here when she can, too, so... you know, I just wanted to let you know that, even though I really, really like you, I kinda already have a girlfriend."
John was actually very relieved. "Don't worry about it, Blaine. I'm having a great time and I'm not really looking to date anyone, either. I'm not going to be looking for you to call me, or anything..."
"No, no... see, what I was going to say is, I know you're new and all and as long as you're not seeing anyone... you know... maybe... if you need an escort or something... I'd be happy to..." the handsome young man looked around the room for a moment, trying to regain his swagger and find the right words. "Oh, man, what I mean is, I think you're really nice and I would love to be friends... if you'd like that, too."
John smiled and placed his petite hand on Blaine's larger, stronger one. "I'd like that a lot, Blaine. To tell you the truth, this is the first time I've gone on a date with a boy and this... event... is NOTHING like anything we did at my old school. I was really scared about coming and you have made it an awesome night. Thank you, and I hope that we'll be friends."
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," a very handsome man with dark skin and a beautiful, bright red tuxedo, spoke into the microphone on the bandstand. "My name is JC and these are The Decades!" The man indicated the other ten or twelve people on the bandstand. There was the typical rhythm section as well as five horn players and a slew of singers, both male and female. The first thing that occurred to John was, 'The band alone must have cost thousands of dollars!'
"Now that you've got full bellies," the man continued, "let's get you up and dancing! We have to work off some of those calories. We're going to kick things off with a song from The Beatles! One! Two! One, two, three...
'Well, she was just seventeen.
And you know what I mean...'"
"Want to dance?" Blaine asked as he was rising.
"Sure, but I'm not a very good dancer," John took his hand and rushed to the dance floor as Blaine pulled him along. He was used to wearing character shoes, but these heels, as expensive and well made as they were, were a different story!
Self conscious, at first, he began moving the way that Rose had instructed, swaying and swinging his hips and arms. Looking around, he realized that most of the other people on the dance floor - male and female - were also self conscious and that made him relax a bit.
By the end of 'I Saw Her Standing There,' he felt good and he was having fun. He forgot about the nervousness and just enjoyed moving to the music and feeling his beautiful dress sway around him, caressing his body. Suddenly, he LOVED dancing! It wasn't stupid or silly - it was wonderful!
Next came, 'Papa's Got A Brand New Bag,' and John and Blaine stayed to dance for that one, too! Soon, MK and her date were dancing nearby. Neither Kylie's nor Ella's dates seemed interested in fast dancing, so they came out together and joined the throng.
The music slowed for the third song, 'When I Was Your Man,' and Blaine opened his arms in an invitation for John, which he accepted.
"I thought you couldn't dance," he whispered to John, as they moved around the floor.
"I didn't think I could," John smiled up at the handsome boy. "You make it easy, though."
Blaine actually did dance quite well. It was obvious that he'd had some experience.
"You really are a flirt, aren't you?" Blaine laughed.
Actually, John would never have described himself as one and was surprised to hear Blaine say it. The cockeyed smile that crossed John's face was meant to read as 'I'm innocent,' but came across as even more flirtatious than before. "I am not!" He laughed.
Blaine loved this silly grin on his date's face and drew her closer to his chest. "Yeah... you are. You just don't know it, yet, and that makes you even cuter."
By 9:30, they were preparing to choose the 'Homecoming Court,' a popularity competition amongst the football players. As it turned out, Kylie's boyfriend, who was a junior, was a big deal on the team. He wasn't voted 'King,' but he was chosen as a member of the King's court, so Kylie joined the Queen's. There was a lot of applause for the boy, but, because she was new, there was less for Kylie. John bounced up and down and hooted and hollered and applauded as loud as he could, even running to the edge of the stage to throw his friend a kiss. Kylie definitely appreciated it and blew a kiss back to her friend.
Each member of the court was given a sash and a crown to wear for the remainder of the evening. John waited at the foot of the stairs to the bandstand to congratulate Kylie and hug her when she descended. Blaine joined them and shook hands with Kylie's date. Ella and Kylie ran over to congratulate Kylie, too.
There were a series of awards given to the student athletes who had competed in the homecoming game earlier in the day and a reminder that, when the dance ended at 10:30, everyone was expected to leave the school and behave as excellent student representatives of their schools. Everyone needed to get home safely and soberly.
That remark got some whispered, sarcastic remarks from some of the older kids, but everyone seemed very happy to just enjoy the rest of the evening.
As the band kicked off their last set, Blaine asked, "I'm getting a drink of soda. Want one?"
"Sure," John said, "thanks."
"Ok, stay right here." Then, he bent gave John a soft, slow kiss on his cheek. "I'll be right back."
John smiled as he watched Blaine disappear into the crowd.
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" Ella was bouncing out of her skin.
"What?" John asked, genuinely confused.
"He kissed you!" MK said in a whispered shriek.
"Just on the cheek..." John began to protest.
"Yeah," Kylie added, "but he still kissed you. He likes you!"
"No he doesn't," John scoffed. "He told me he has a girlfriend."
"Yeah, like in Ohio!" Ella shook her head, disgusted with John's words.
"Florida," John corrected.
"Whatever... he LIKES you!" Ella was insistent.
"No..."
"Yes," now Kylie was getting into it, "he does, Bebe. You can tell? No one JUST KISSES a girl on a first date! He LIKES you!"
"Well, I think you're wrong. He's just a nice boy who's being polite..."
"Who are you talking about?" Blaine appeared with two paper cups baring the logo of the school and containing clear soda. "You can't be talking about me. You said that boy was polite."
He handed John a cup and smiled. "Are you having a good time?" He asked.
"I am having a wonderful time, yes, and thank you for the drink. I don't think I've ever danced this much in my life. Whew!"
Blaine smiled. "Well, drink up. We can get a few more dances in before it's over." He downed his soda and burped playfully.
John drank a little more, then put his drink on a table. Then he took Blaine's hand with one hand, and with the other, he took Ella's, who, in turn took Kylie's who took MK's and they made a train to the dance floor whilst the band played Prince's 'Raspberry Beret.'
Then, they changed it up with 'Havana' which led to 'Uptown Funk.'
The girls were glowing with a light sheen of excited sweat, when the singer announced, "This is it, ladies and gentlemen! Grab your partners and let's finish the night with a slow dance!"
The band kicked into an updated version of 'Unchained Melody.' Again, Blaine opened his arms as an invitation to John, who nearly collapsed into the bigger boy's arms and allowed himself to be guided, gracefully around the floor.
"I wish we could dance a little longer," Blaine whispered into John's ear.
"Me too." John rested his head on Blaine's chest and enjoyed the movement while it lasted.
When the song ended, they held hands, walked to the table to get John's purse, then each girl claimed a small gift bag with expensive lips balm, body wash and bath salts from an exclusive boutique. When they finally exited the building, Blaine stopped John before they reached the limo.
He turned, so that they were facing each other. Blaine placed his hands on John's hips and smiled down on the beautiful girl that he'd spent the evening with. "I had a great time, tonight, Bebe. Thanks for coming."
John smiled up at the handsome boy who'd worked so hard to show him a nice time. "Thank you for taking me. I had a great time, too. It was a lot more fun than I expected it to be."
"To tell you the truth, these things aren't usually all that much fun for me. Every girl I've gone with before was kind of... I don't know... aloof, maybe? More interested in her dress and makeup and how the other girls looked at her than having fun."
"Wait? You didn't like my dress?" John teased and giggled. His coy smile made Blaine snicker, too.
"No, your dress is beautiful and you look beautiful in it, it's just that... well, you're not an 'it's about the dress' kind of girl. You're smart and easy to talk to. Anyway, I was just thinking, if you'd like to, maybe, see a movie or something, maybe Friday night...? Not a date - just two friends, you know? Just... a movie..."
He left the invitation hanging.
"Oh, that's nice, Blaine," John said, honestly, but also hoping that Blaine wasn't looking for more than they'd already discussed, "but I need to check my 'call' schedule for the show and talk to my cousin and Uncle. Can you, maybe, call or text me after I get my 'call sheet' on Monday?"
"Oh, Yeah, sure," Blaine smiled. "I forgot that you have a job. I'll text you Monday. You can tell your Uncle that we'd just be going as friends, right? Not like... dating... or anything."
John smiled, then glanced towards the limo where he saw six eyes, belonging to three nosy girls watching his conversation. "I should probably go. I think they're all waiting for me."
Blaine nodded, but then realized that his hands were still on John's girlish hips. 'What the hell?' he thought and abruptly leaned in and kissed John on the lips. It wasn't long and smoldering, it was gentle and a bit inexperienced, but it sent chills through John's confused body nonetheless. He closed his eyes and both accepted and enjoyed the kiss.
It only lasted seconds, but when the kiss broke, John was flushed and blushing and he felt a strange warmth coursing through his body. The kiss was... nice and... sweet. He looked away from Blaine, but then looked back and smiled at the boy. "I... I really have to go... Text me. I get my 'call sheet' for the end of the week on Monday."
John moved past Blaine and headed towards the limo, where the three girls were watching, their mouths agape. Then, as one, they began an 'ohh' sound that started low and rose in pitch and volume, getting higher and higher until John got close and they all erupted in giggles.
Embarrassed, both that he'd done something that would warrant the girls' teasing and that the teasing took place in front of Blaine, John stopped for just a moment, to wave to the boy, roll his eyes at the behavior of his friends, then climbed into the limo as quickly as he could, leaving the girls to tease Blaine by blowing him kisses.
"Looks like you had a good time, Miss Bebe." Oscar looked at John in the rear view mirror. "Nice boy?"
"Yes, Oscar, he's a very nice boy, thank you," John said to Oscar's reflection, but then he turned to the door and said in a somewhat loud, very frustrated voice, "Would you three PLEASE GET IN THIS CAR!?!?"
They did, but not without more kisses being blown and calls of, "Bye, Blaine! Don't worry, we'll take good care of her for you!"
They fell into the car in fits of giggles. The beautiful young women of the party, replaced by the playful little girls in the limo.
John put his elbow on the knee of his crossed leg, then his forehead in the palm of that hand. "Ugg! I'll never be able to show my face around here again after that! You guys are horrible!"
"Oh, lighten up," MK giggled. "He knew we were kidding. Besides, he knows us. He knows how immature we are."
"Yeah," Ella laughed, "and Blaine is definitely not going to let us get in the way of seeing you!" Then she made kissy noises before the giggles took over, again.
Kylie threw her arm around John's shoulders. "Hey, you're not really mad are you?"
At last, John lifted his head from his hand. He was a little red faced with embarrassment and the blush he retained from the kiss, but his smile was big and his eyes were wide.
"I knew she wasn't mad!" Ella hollered.
"Are we buckled in, ladies?" Oscar called back as the car approached the road. "I want to get you all home in one, piece.
They all buckled their seat belts, but they didn't settle down a bit. "Oscar, you should have seen it! It was beautiful in there and, guess what! Kylie was made part of The Homecoming Court!"
"All the boys looked so handsome and the girls dresses - oh! They were so pretty!"
"And then, he just kissed her, Oscar! Just like that! He just kissed her, can you believe it!?"
"And he kissed her goodnight, too!"
"Yep, they'll be going steady in a week, I guarantee it!" The last remark came from Kylie.
"No, we won't." John smiled, but shook his head. "Rose and Uncle Ed, will never let me go steady at this age, you know that. Besides, HE ALREADY HAS A GIRLFRIEND!!! He told me all about her!"
"Yeah, like, five thousand miles away...!" MK teased. "She might as well be on Mars!"
John let out an exasperated, yet playful breath. "First off, the country isn't five thousand miles wide, doofus, and second, she's only a few hours away by plane. So, if we go out Friday night, it'll just be as friends."
"Oh, my God! He asked you out!?" Ella couldn't believe that John had withheld this important information from her.
"Just as friends. Not on a date," John said as casually as he could.
"Yeah, right!" Ella scoffed.
"You're going, right!?" both MK and Kylie asked in unison.
"Well... I don't know..." John shrugged.
"YES! YOU! ARE! GOING!" Kylie stated emphatically. "He's handsome, he's smart, he's rich and he's into you! Of course you're going." As the eldest of the girls, she took on a matronly demeanor. "You don't say no to a boy like that. You're going and that's the end of the discussion!"
"Look, guys," John tried to explain, "I haven't even seen my call sheet for the weekend yet..."
"YOU'RE GOING!" the three said in unison and all discussion on that subject ended.
It was past midnight when Oscar pulled up to the front of the complex where Rose and Ed had rented an apartment. He put the car in park, then hustled to the passenger side to open the door for John. He extended a hand to assist the child dealing with the cumbersome dress, just as he'd done for the other three, but instead of waiting by the car door until his passenger got inside, as he'd done with the others, he offered John an arm and escorted him towards to entrance to his building.
"You don't need to walk me home." John smiled. "I'll be fine."
"That's not a problem, Miss," he continued up the path and smiled, paternally.
"But you didn't do this for the other girls." John didn't mind the company, but Oscar hadn't really paid much attention to the other girls.
"They live in houses, Miss. I knew that they were ok as soon as they entered their homes. I'll walk you to your apartment door, if you don't mind."
"No, I don't mind at all, Oscar. Thank you. That's very kind of you."
As they waited for the elevator, Oscar asked, "First date?"
John was a bit embarrassed. "Kinda, yeah."
"And you had fun?"
John nodded.
"First kiss from a boy?"
John rolled his eyes and shrank just a bit. "Yeah, it definitely was that." He shrugged and smiled.
Oscar smiled at the reaction. "Well, looking at you in that beautiful dress, I understand why the boy couldn't resist."
"Thank you, Oscar."
It was strange. For twenty years, John was an ok-looking guy. No one was going to put him on a calendar, but he wasn't ugly. Now, yeah, he was definitely a cute girl, but it just seemed so commonplace for people to tell girls that they were beautiful.
John liked being called beautiful.
He liked it a lot.
When they reached the correct floor, Oscar stepped out first, then offered John his arm and walked him to his apartment door. John opened his purse to get his key, but Oscar knocked on the door. "I'm sure that they've stayed up awaiting your return, Miss."
The door opened within seconds and Rose appeared. She was still fully dressed and relieved to see the people in the hall. "Bebe! Oscar! Is everything ok?"
"Just fine, Miss," Oscar smiled his friendly smile. "Just fine."
"Oscar walked me up." John entered and hugged Rose.
"Mmm," she hugged him tightly and kissed his forehead, "it was getting late and I was getting worried." She smiled at Oscar. "Thank you for taking care of her, Oscar. Would you like a coffee?"
"Another time, I would love one, Miss, but I'm going to let you both talk and get some rest. Your little girl, here, had a pretty big night. I'm sure she has a lot to tell you. 'Night!"
"Good night, Oscar and thank you again. Say 'thank you' to Oscar, Beebs."
"Good night, Oscar. Thank you, very much."
"Good night, Miss. Good night, Little Miss."
"So?" Rose guided John into her bedroom where she sat beside him on the bed. Ed, she'd explained, was still working on a night-shoot on location and wasn't expected home till morning.
"I had a nice time," John admitted, as Rose leaned back against the headboard and raised her arm, allowing him to cuddle next to her.
"And the boy?"
"He was very sweet. He danced well. I'm glad you and Ed taught me a little before the dance. I really enjoyed dancing."
"Did the other girls like your dress?"
Just a few weeks ago, the phrase 'other girls' would have made John react, at least a little bit, but tonight he didn't even notice it.
"I guess. Some of them had REALLY elaborate gowns. They were beautiful, but didn't seem real comfortable. They were all dressed better than the best dressed girl at my proms, though! Everyone was dressed nicely - girls and boys."
"And your boy? Was he dressed nicely, too?"
John pulled his phone out and showed her photos of the evening, explaining who people were and who they were dating. He showed her a picture of Kylie on the bandstand wearing the sash and crown. She showed her the meals and desserts and lots of pictures of Blaine and even some of Blaine with Bebe.
Occasionally, a picture popped up that John had not taken. Usually he could tell that Ella had taken it and he'd giggle. Several were just of Ella and MK making faces into the camera on his phone.
Unexpectedly, though, a photo popped up of him slow dancing with Blaine. His head was resting on Blaine's chest and his eyes were closed. Under the picture, the photographer had written the words 'Young Love.'
John tried to pull the camera away quickly, before Rose had a chance to really examine it, but she was stronger and pulled it from his hand. "Aww, how cute! I told you that when a big, strong, handsome boy held you, you'd enjoy it!"
"Ok, you were right. It was nice to just close my eyes and let him be in control. You know, just listen to the music, you know what I mean."
"Uh Huh," she teased, "and feel his heart beat and feel his warmth and the sway of your dress and and you breasts pressed against his flat chest... I know exactly what you mean. Ooo! Look at this one!"
She held up a photo of Blaine kissing the top of John's head as they danced. John was not even aware that this had happened, let alone that a picture was taken. He thought about the kiss near the bandstand and the other one in the parking lot. He was sure that no one had their phones out at the bandstand, but in the parking lot...? He knew that he had his phone in his clutch at that point, but each of the other three girls may have taken several pictures!
"What's the matter, sweetheart? There's nothing wrong with enjoying it."
"Honestly, Rose. I had no idea that he kissed me, then!"
"Then!? You mean he kissed you other times, too?"
"No... well, yes.... but I mean..."
"Really!? He kissed you? Oh, my goodness, that's awesome!? Did you enjoy it?"
He knew that he was in a no-win situation with Rose, now. She was going to tease him mercilessly, no matter what he said, so he let his head land firmly on her breast and sulked a little.
"Oh, stop it," she teased as she looked through more pictures. "I think it's adorable. And I think you're adorable. And I think your dress is adorable. And, more than anything on this earth, I want to make a nasty little girl out of you, right here on this bed. Will you let me do that?" With that, she reached under the skirt of his dress and patted the flat front of John's new, red, lace panties.
"What if I said that I wasn't that kind of girl?"
Her finger traced the outline of his tucked-in penis. She smiled and said, "Don't fool yourself, you pretty little thing. We're all that kind of girl."
Ed returned at 8:15 the next morning and peeked in to make sure that Bebe had made it home alright, but her bed was empty. A moment of panic passed through him and he hurried to Rose's room to see if she'd heard from him. When he opened that room, he saw Rose soundly asleep with her arm wrapped around Ed's little niece. Both were naked and uncovered from the waist up. Rose's plump, womanly breasts and beautiful nipples made Bebe look very small and young, but the little mounds that were developing on his chest made it clear that Bebe was going to be undeniably female, very soon.
He smiled at the sight, then whispered, "My girls."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 3
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twenty year old John continues his life as a high school freshman and his career
as an actress on a TV show with a major star in the lead.
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who wrote to ask about the delay in getting this installment posted. The business of this time of year, combined with a car accident I had and the need to buy a new car made it a challenge for me to find the time to finish. I apologize and am sorry for the delay.
I hope you enjoy it and, as always, comments and critiques are always welcome! ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 3 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.
THE WORK OF BEING A STUDENT AND AN ACTRESS -or- ONLY THE INSANE EQUATE PAIN WITH SUCCESS
All three of them slept throughout most of Sunday. Ed was exhausted because he had been at the shoot all night, Rose was exhausted from waiting up for John and John was exhausted from a long morning of shooting and a long night of dancing and romance. Rose turned on a RomCom in the afternoon and they all slept in front of it. Dinner was a call to Uber and an order from Chic-Fil-A in the TV room, then back to bed.
As they all ate breakfast on Monday morning, Rose reviewed the call sheet for Monday and Tuesday. "Looks like you have to be in at 10:00 both today
and tomorrow, Ed. I'm going in for noon today and 2:00 tomorrow and Bebe, it looks like you're called for 4:00 till 'finished' both days. I hope they don't keep you too late on a school night. I figured that you'd be on the set during the day with a tutor more than you are."
"Me, too," John sipped his strawberry-banana smoothie and worked hurriedly to finish some history homework that he'd promised Rose he'd have finished on Sunday.
"They can't keep her too late," Ed said. "I think that they have to let her go by 10:00 if she's under sixteen."
"That means she won't be home till 11:00, though. I'll talk to the producers and see if we can get her out by 9:00."
"Don't you think you're being a little pushy?" John asked. "I mean, I'm not really fourteen and some of them know that. What difference does it make?"
"The difference is that you have to maintain your grades, Bebe. Yes, you have a career, but you also have a full time job as a student. Let Rosie take care of these things for you. That's why your mom made us your guardians, we can't have you burning the candle at both ends."
John's phone chimed and he glanced at it. "Oscar's here to pick me up."
He rinsed out his glass and left it in the sink, then opened the utility closet in the kitchen to check himself in the tall mirror on the back of the door. His dark hair was held back with a white headband, his makeup looked nice and fresh, his blue, Oxford blouse was well pressed as was his soft, grey, wrap-around skirt was equally crisp. His knee socks and shoes were just right, too.
Satisfied, he grabbed his backpack, kissed Rose and Ed, then hustled out the door.
Rose had been watching him the whole time and she marveled at how natural his feminine proclivities had become. Checking everything before he left the apartment, looking just right. Even the bounce of his wavy hair had increased as he became more comfortable with his feminine movements.
She liked it. She liked it a lot. Why couldn't all men behave that way?
John climbed into the town car, where Kylie was already waiting, typing up a paper on her laptop. The privacy divider was up, so John pushed the button and said, "'Morning, Oscar."
"'Morning, Miss. Buckle up."
When his seat belt was on, Kylie closed her laptop and looked at John, expectantly. "So?"
John looked around for a clue to the context of that question. "So, What?"
Kylie let out a frustrated sigh, "So... did he call you?"
"Blaine? No, of course not."
"Really? Not even a text?"
"Well... we did text a little, but it was just stuff like, you know, 'I had
a great time,' stuff. Nothing big."
"Ok, well, that's still a good sign! What did Rose say about Friday?"
"Nothing. I haven't talked to her about it. I haven't even gotten a call sheet, yet."
"Speaking of which, did you get an email about today's call?"
"No. I'm called at 4:00. You?"
"I am, now. I wasn't before, but I haven't gotten any pages."
"Huh. Now that you mention it, neither have I."
"I wonder what we're doing, then?"
The morning at school was filled with questions about Blaine. Did he call? Did he text? What was the kiss like? Did he say anything about going steady? And these questions weren't just from Ella and MK. They were from everyone! Lord, girls were so interested in this relationship stuff! Guys would have forgotten about a kiss after a couple of days. These girls were fixated on it.
To be honest, though, John didn't dislike the attention.
"Who can tell me about the acting technique of Practical Aesthetics?" Miss Stephanie asked in Theater Class.
Several girls in the front put their hands up, but the teacher looked beyond them, surveying the class for a victim. When she settled on a vulnerable student, she called on the girl, "Miss Joanne."
The poor girl was shy and quiet. She was Asian and, if possible, was even less developed than John. She almost always looked like a deer caught in the headlights. John had seen her struggle with social interactions since
he arrived. It was obvious that she had no idea how to answer and that Miss Stephanie had called on her specifically to drive that point home. "I'm sorry, Miss Stephanie, but I don't know," was the child's eventual response.
"Hmm," the teacher registered disgust without saying anything. "Miss Tianna?"
Another quiet girl responded, "I don't know Miss. Sorry."
When her eyes landed on John, he knew that he was the next victim. "Miss Bianca?"
John considered taking the 'I don't know route' to allow this woman to feel more superior, which is what she wanted, but he just couldn't do it - not after she'd already embarrassed two other students just because she could.
"Act before you think and think before you act, Miss Stephanie."
The teacher's eyes narrowed and she said, "Meaning what, Miss Bianca, and please stand so that everyone can hear what you're saying."
"Bitch," MK whispered as he stood. "She knows that no one knows what that is."
"Umm," John stalled just a bit, but eventually spoke, "I think it means to do all of your work ahead of time, like memorize every thing and create a strong backstory, so that, when you're acting, you don't have to think about how your character would react - you just do it. Am I close, Miss Stephanie?"
The teacher seemed almost irritated that John's answer was correct. "Well, Miss Bianca, you are correct, but there is certainly a lot more to it than just that. Have you worked with a teacher who encouraged the use of Practical Aesthetics, Miss Bianca?"
The only two staff members who still called him Miss Bianca instead of Miss Bebe, were Miss Stephanie and Miss Gabriella and John wasn't nuts about it. It seemed so stuffy. Bebe seemed younger and more girlish. It helped him feel like he fit in better.
"Yes, Miss, I have. I took a youth class last summer at Emerson College in Boston and one of my teachers there was very dedicated to Practical Aesthetics. He made us write long backstories for each character we played. Even if was just a supporting role."
"And did it help you as an actress, Miss Bianca?"
"Yes, Miss, it did, but I did overdo it a few times, though."
"Oh, really," the teacher scoffed. How on earth could someone overdo this system? "How, pray tell, could you 'overdo' your preparation for a role, Miss Bianca?" she let out a little huff of amusement. "I mean, Miss Bianca, the better prepared for a role an actress is, the better her performance, correct?"
"Yes, Miss."
"Then, if you're writing a backstory, how could you possibly 'over prepare' for a role?"
Now, several of Miss Stephanie's favorites in the front of the class were turned and looking smugly at John. Maybe this new girl was pretty and got
kissed at Homecoming, but Miss Stephanie was about to put her in her place! Good!
"Well. Miss," John looked at the smug faces of the girls looking at him. What the heck, he didn't want to just be average. He knew more than them and he wasn't going to pretend that he didn't any more. In fact he'd used this method a million times with great success, but he'd seen others bog themselves down in the backstories, so he drew from their mistakes. "Sometimes, the backstories got so... in depth... that they created a new character that was different than the one that the author had created. So, when I drew on my backstory, I disrupted the flow of the scene."
The teacher liked this answer. "So, the method was sound, but you, Miss Bianca, misused it. Is that correct?"
Again, MK whispered, "F-ing Bitch."
"I guess so, yes, Miss."
Miss Stephanie grinned. She'd put that little shit, Bianca, in her place and she was pleased. "Well, we can hardly blame a technique for your misuse of it, now can we. Thank you, Miss Bianca. You may be seated."
Were teachers always like this? Had they always demeaned everything he'd done before? John didn't think so. There was something about this teacher that he definitely disliked and she obviously felt the same way about him
- or Bebe - or Bianca - or... whomever....
Ella reached over and gripped his knee and gave it a supportive shake. "Good job."
John shrugged. "She didn't seem to think so." He whispered, but he was obviously louder than he'd expected to be.
"Excuse me, Miss Bianca?" Miss Stephanie said, rather dramatically.
John stood, again and awaited his fate.
"What did you say?"
"I'm sorry, Miss, but I said that you didn't seem to like my answer. I had hoped that you would, but I seemed to disappoint you and I didn't want to do that. I'm sorry."
Miss Stephanie looked at the other girls. She had two options - explode at the girl who'd just apologized for disappointing her or look like a good teacher and defuse the moment. She knew what she wanted to do, but she opted to do the other.
"You didn't disappoint me, Miss Bianca. Your answer was very concise. Thank you. I'm sorry if you felt that I didn't appreciate your input. I certainly do."
There was an awkward silence before Miss Stephanie continued. "So, if we are all on the same page, now, you may sit, Miss Bianca."
"Thank you, Miss Stephanie." John sat and let out a relieved sigh. Theater class had always been his safe place when he was in school. Now, he felt like a mouse and Miss Stephanie was a hungry cat. He needed to figure out a way to win her over, if he could.
A few hours, a test in World Religions and whole lot of conversations regarding the pros and cons (although the other girls could see no cons) of dating Blaine later and John and Kylie were climbing back into the town car. Oscar wasn't driving though, so Kylie's hopes of stopping at In-N-Out Burger were dashed. This driver was a non-nonsense woman named Loraine who looked like she worked for the Secret Service, rather than the studio.
"No way, girls," the storm-trooper of a chauffeur said through the speaker. "The studio pays me to get you from point A to point B. No stops in between."
"Thanks a million," Kylie sighed as she sat back and sulked in her seat. "Jerk," she muttered.
"We can stop at the commissary or get something from the snack table at the studio," John tried to cheer up his co-star.
"Yeah, but it won't be an In-N-Out Burger, though." She sighed. "What scenes are you doing, today?"
"I don't know. I know that it's with Don, but I wasn't sent any pages. I guess I'll find out when I get there? You?"
"I got pages, but I only have a few lines. It's with 'Peter,' 'Cora's' brother. Looks like we're arguing over something. That's all I can make out."
"Oh, 'Peter' is played by Darrin from the audition. You'll like him. He was very good at the ball field!"
"Cool. I'm looking forward to getting this going. I've only been on set four times so far. I really like it and I'd love to do more. I hope this show works out. My mom keeps saying not to get my hopes up."
John sighed, now, too. "I know. My mom's the same. 'It's not an easy life, John! Think twice about not having a back up!'"
Kylie laughed. "You're mom calls you JOHN!? Why?"
Suddenly, John realized what he'd said. "Oh, that's just my mom. She calls me John, my sister Sam and Rose Harry. She's just weird that way."
"Yeah, I guess!" Kylie giggled. "Maybe I'll start calling you 'John,' too."
"No, please! Don't!" John felt something close to panic. Rose would kill him if she found out he'd slipped up like this! "I really don't like it and I don't want the girls calling me that at school. I hate being called John or even Bianca! Please, just call me Bebe."
"Ok. Ok. Calm down! I'll call you Bebe, ok? Wow! I guess that's a raw nerve or something, huh? Does Rose mind being called 'Harry'?"
"Not really, but if you call her that, she'll start calling me 'John' to tease me, so... if you don't mind..."
Kylie sighed. This was a less fun trip than she'd expected. "Alright. Have it your way."
"Am I ever going to wear a different costume?" John asked as Julia buttoned up the front of the same blue-plaid dress he'd worn each time he'd filmed a scene so far.
"Oh, hush, you little brat," Julia teased. You're not wearing the slip are you? Be grateful. Besides the change in storyline is all your fault, so grin and bear it."
"I still haven't gotten any script pages to look at though. Is this unusual?" John asked.
"Beats me," Julia shrugged. "I have no idea how actors work. I just play a supporting role." She giggled at herself.
"Bebe, Bebe, Bebe," Barbara Gravel, 'Alex's' character supervisor burst into the room with great flair and drama. "Forgive me, baby, but there wasn't any time to forward pages to you. Don is on the set waiting and he and the director want to try something different in this scene. If it works, great. If not, then we do it over again with new pages. Sound good? Good! Now, let's get you on set."
"Wait!" Julia was irked. "Her hair isn't right, yet! Give me five more minutes. She isn't due on set for ten, for crying out loud!"
"I'm sorry," Barbara let go of John and smiled. "I'm just very excited to try this. You'll love it, Bebe! I promise!"
"What are we doing?"
"Just wait! It's going to be massive."
Finally, properly brushed out, John was nearly dragged by Barbara to the set. Don was talking to the director and both looked pleased with themselves.
"Here she is, boys! All set to get started." Barbara was wound up, which made John a little nervous.
"There she is!" Don Ferry grinned and gave John a big bear hug, pulling him right off of the ground. "We're going to make history here today, Bebe! Are you excited?"
"Confused, is a better word." John looked at the expectant faces. "What's going on?"
Let me explain," the director laughed. "Remember when you and Don improvised for us at the audition?"
John nodded.
"Well, I got to thinking. After the whole wardrobe issue at the ball field and our ideas to change the plot, I spoke to the writers and asked them to just give me a scenario for you and Don to improvise. Maybe it'll work. Maybe it won't, but I really want to try it. What do you think?"
"What does she think!?" Don put his arm around John and shook him, hard. "She thinks it's brilliant! Don't you, Bebe! This is going to be great!"
"Oh... ok." John was in no position to argue. "I'll do my best."
"And that will be amazing, I'm sure!" Don grinned. "Trust me, Bebe! I've never been this excited about a filming before!"
"Great," the director said, "but before you get the scenario, have you ever been hit on camera before?"
John shook his head.
"Ok. I'd like Don to be able to give you a backhanded slap near the end of the scene. Now, he's a pro at this. His fingers will be loose and we'll put the sound of the slap in later. All we need for you to do is to hit your mark on the floor and react like he hit you hard. Ok?"
"Ok." John moved to the little blue 'X' on the floor and Don moved to his. Unexpectedly, Don suddenly spun around and his fingers hit John's cheek. It wasn't hard at all. Just his fingers on John's face."
"Now, react. He just slapped you." The director was surprised that John hadn't done anything.
"Oh! That was it?" John grabbed his cheek and pulled to the side, his face wincing.
"Great!" The director said. "Let's try that three more times."
Each time Don barely touched John and each time, John acted as if it really hurt.
"Excellent!" The director clapped his hands. "Now, when the time comes, just hit that mark and everything will be perfect! Ready to read the scenario?"
John took the page. It was less than a quarter of a page of scene synopsis, but it was a lot to take in.
"Wow," John whispered. ""Wow."
"Wow, is right," Don Ferry grinned. "Think you can do it?"
"I can try," John shrugged.
The three of them discussed a few things about camera placement, where to look, what happened at the end of the scene, etc, until Don finally grabbed John and hugged him again, then kissed the top of his head. "Let's do this, Bebe!" He grinned. "Just be 'Alex' and think of me as 'Daddy,' and we'll be great."
"Ok." John swallowed and shook his head. "I'm going to let you set the tone, though, ok?"
"Ok, sweetheart." Don kissed his head, again, and John noticed that nearly the entire cast and crew was standing and watching. "And remember, no matter what I say, I love you, right? Both as Don and as Daddy - I love you."
John nodded. He noticed that Rose and Ed were watching along with Marion, Kylie and Darrin. John grimaced in their direction, then shrugged and laid chest down on the bed, his torso held up by his elbows, and began to act as if he was doing homework. The room was decorated as any teen girls
would have been in 1961, with teddy dears, dolls, a small record player, a rack of 45rpm records and a collection of books, including some Nancy Drew Mysteries.
"Here we go, ladies and gentlemen," the director shouted. "I need this set dead silent until I call 'cut!' Is that clear?"
Everyone nodded.
"Alright, then... Action!"
John laid on his bed and did homework. It seemed like he'd been doing homework for a very long time before the door suddenly burst open, surprising him.
"What the hell were you doing behind the school today?" Don's character grunted through gritted teeth.
"What?" John sat up and looked as frightened as any child would in this situation.
"What? Did you say 'What!?' I come home to find this on my front porch with this note!" Don produced Alex's slip with a note written in large letters reading 'SLUT.' "And your grandmother tells me that she had to come and get you at the ball field, this afternoon."
"Daddy, I just..."
"Just what? Did a striptease for the boys? Maybe let them see your underwear? Maybe something worse... a whole lot worse? Did they touch you!?
Did anyone... touch you!?"
"Daddy, I swear all I did was play baseball!"
"In your panties!? How on earth did some boy end up with your slip? You had to have taken it off!"
"I did, daddy, but not like that! I just needed to take it off because..."
"Because, why? Because you really are a slut?"
Even though they were just acting a scene, the word hit John like a ton of bricks and his eyes watered.
"Daddy...?" Don turned his back to John and John rose to go to him and reason with him, but, as planned, Don turned and backhanded him across the face.
Unfortunately, John had overstepped his mark and instead of a strategically precise stage slap, Don connected a mighty slap with the back of his hand on the small actor, sending him first to the edge of the bed, then to the floor where he sobbed.
"My daughter!" Don raged. "My little girl! Taking off her underwear for a group of boys. Do you have any idea how bad this is, Alex! You've destroyed your name - and probably mine as as well!"
He raised his hand to deal another blow, but from the doorway, 'Nana' shouted, "Jason!"
He stopped and took in the sight of his mother-in-law. He controlled his rage for a moment before throwing the slip at his 'daughter.' "I'm glad your mother didn't live to see this." He grunted as he pushed out the doorway past Nana and 'Susan' who ran in to hold 'Alex' as she sobbed.
"And cut!" The director yelled. "HOLY SHIT!" He shouted and clapped. "HOLY GOD DAMNED SHIT, DON! That was unbelievable!" He held out a fist for Don to bump, but Don pushed right past and hurried to the young actress who was sobbing on the floor.
"Bebe. Bebe. Bebe, honey," Don pushed through the crew, Marion and Rose and grabbed John under the arms, lifting him off the floor and he hugged him tightly as he said, "I'm sorry , baby. Did I hurt you? I'm so sorry."
He couldn't stop the sobbing, but John said, "I'm ok."
"Don," Marion was suddenly very concerned, "did you actually hit her!?"
Don nodded. "Pretty hard, too. One of us must have missed our mark."
John pulled his head away from Don's shoulder, but the hug was too tight to pull completely away. "I'm ok. Honestly, I am, it's just that... that was amazing! That was the best thing I ever did!"
"Bebe!" Rose looked at John's face, "you've got a shiner coming in on your right eye."
"Shit," Don hissed. "We need an ice pack for this girl, RIGHT NOW!"
A dozen people scrambled to get the star what he wanted, while Ed ran forward and pulled John away from Don's chest.
"You hit her for real!? What the hell is wrong with you?"
"It was my fault, Uncle Ed," John said. "I missed my mark."
"No, it was my fault," Don ran his thumb gently across John's bruised eye. "I've been doing this for decades. You're a baby. I should have been more careful, but, honest to God, Bebe, your reactions where just perfect. You kept me so 'in the moment' that I wasn't even sure I'd hit you until I left the room. If Marion hadn't stopped me, I probably would have hit you again. I'm sorry, baby. Can you forgive me?"
A PA arrived and handed him an ice pack, which Don placed gently on John's eye.
"Jesus, Don," Ed said as he watched his costar help his 'niece.' "You really tagged her. Holy cow, Beebs, are you going to be ok?"
John just nodded and smiled. "I'd do that again in a heart beat! Don, you're so good! I thought you were really going to kill me! I was petrified!"
The star kissed the novice's cheek. "I'll never hurt you, again, baby! I swear. I feel just awful about this."
The director finally spoke up. "You're ok, then Bebe?"
John smiled and nodded, again.
"Good, then let me just tell you guys, that was one of the best scenes I ever filmed! I checked the recordings and we got nothing but great stuff! You two are like lightning in a bottle, I swear. We are going to have a huge hit on our hands when this is released. I can feel it!"
"That's the best I can do, honey," Rose was doing her best to work the makeup around John's eye, but it was a bit sensitive and when she tried to spread it closer, he'd flinch. "I think you'll just have to explain what happened to the other girls."
John looked in the mirror. It wasn't horrible. On a guy, it would be just a passing joke, and if John were still a guy, he wouldn't mind going out with a bit of a black eye at all, but he wasn't a guy any more and he dreaded having to appear at school like this.
"Please, Rose, can't I just stay home today. Maybe it'll look better tomorrow."
Rose smiled at his girlish vanity. "Oh, don't be a baby. Just tell them you were doing a stunt on the show and it went a little wrong. I bet they'll think it's cool. Annie and Cassie thought it was awesome last night when you were Skyping with them, didn't they?"
"Yeah, but they don't go to Notre Dame. These are snotty, rich, California girls. They evaluate EVERYTHING and being from Massachusetts does NOT make it easy to be cool here!"
John's phone chimed and he looked at it and groaned.
"Who text you?" Rose put his headband on and brushed the hair behind it. She adored this look for him! So sweet and innocent.
"Blaine."
"So... are you going out with him on Friday or not? The boy deserves an answer."
"Even if I wanted to, how could I possibly go now? I mean, just look at me! I'm a quarter-raccoon, for crying out loud!"
Rose smiled even more at this answer. Not, 'I'm not going on a date with a boy,' but, essentially, 'I don't want him to see me unless I'm beautiful.'
"I'm sure that Blaine will understand and, besides, it may be gone by Friday night, anyway. You're not on the Friday call sheet at all. You should go."
John heaved a heavy sigh. "I don't know."
"You should go."
"But, what if..."
"Alright. I've made your decision for you. You're going. End of conversation. Text him and say 'yes' so that you can finish getting ready for school."
"Arrrggggh! Fine!" John said with frustration, "but I HATE not having any say in ANYTHING any more!"
"It was your decision, young lady," Rose looked into her vanity mirror at the frustrated child who was having his hair brushed out for him. "Children have no say, Bebe. You knew that when you signed on."
"Yeah, but I didn't think I'd have to, you know..."
"What? Date boys? Yeah, well, to be honest, I never really thought about that either, but now that I think about what life was like when I was a freshman in high school, yeah, boys were a huge part of my life, so, guess what, sweet-cheeks, they're going to be a big part of yours, too. So, put on your big-girl panties and toughen up. Maybe you were a mature boy once, but not any more. You're a little girl - and until you are LEGALLY eighteen again, you're MY little girl, so I will be making your decisions for you. Am I understood?"
"What's going on in here?" Ed appeared in the doorway, wet from the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist. Since his first trip to LA back in July, he'd been following a strict exercise regime that the studio's trainer had suggested. He was up to running ten miles a day on a treadmill as well as working two hours a day with weights. When John and Rose turned to look towards him, each was stunned by how well toned he'd become in such a brief time. Rose, certainly, had noticed his biceps, but this was the first glimpse of his chest and abs. He had become quite impressive.
John looked from Ed to himself. There could not have been a more stark difference between him and his friend. As Ed had grown and toned and become more masculine, John had actually lost a good deal of mass and muscle and the hormones and the lotions he was using had made his skin softer and more beautiful.
"She's just being difficult this morning," Rose shook her head and put the brush down. "You know how kids are."
John wanted to scream that he was not a kid, but the evidence of what a man and woman looked like stood before him. Rose had always been a goddess, but now Ed was almost a god, himself.
They were tall and beautiful and fit.
John was small and weak and vulnerable.
There really was no denying it. He was a child. He wasn't just acting as a child, anymore, he'd reverted to being one.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, then he grabbed his phone and ran past Ed to the kitchen.
Ed watched him, then turned to Rose with a questioning look.
"I don't know?" she shrugged. "Kids."
Ed took a moment to wrap a robe around him, then went to the kitchen, where John was mixing some fruit into a bowl of plain yogurt. Certainly, one of the best things about living in California was the taste of the fruit.
John plopped himself onto a high stool by the counter and began eating, ignoring Ed who was watching.
Ed pulled out the stool next to his friend and sat and waited while John ate.
Finally, Ed said, "The plums are great, aren't they? I diced them up so we could have them for breakfast."
John nodded. "Thanks." He kept his attention focused on his bowl, though.
"You know, honey," Ed took on a paternal attitude, "we don't want to be in opposition to you, all the time, but this is the life that you chose."
John nodded, but kept eating.
"Now, Rose and I love you and want to do right by you. We also know how talented you are and we want to help you to succeed, just like you helped us, but, Bebe... you've got to meet us halfway, right? What's going on today?"
John shrugged and remained focused on his yogurt. Ed waited patiently as tears formed in John's eyes.
A couple of minutes ticked by in silence before John said, "I'm not trying to cause any trouble, you know."
"I know," Ed's tone remained patient and paternal. He rubbed John's shoulder.
"It's just... well, yesterday afternoon on the set, I felt... right. I felt
like I knew what I was doing. I was an actor, you know?"
"I know, Bebe, I know."
"And now... I'm going to a school where 'pretty' counts for a lot more than
'smart' or 'talented' and I look... awful!" The tears broke free of John's
eyes.
"No, you don't, baby. You look like a beautiful girl. You just have a black eye. I'm sure that you're not the first girl to go to Notre Dame who had a black eye. I mean, there's a basketball team and a field hockey team... those girls must get bruised occasionally, right?"
"Well, I'm the first one that I've seen since I got there! I'll never REALLY be one of them, Uncle Ed, and now they're going to pick on me for being beat up - and beat up by a movie star, no less! Even though it was my fault."
Ed glanced to the door where Rose stood, arms folded, leaning against the opening, watching Ed and John. She raised her eye brows, encouraging Ed to do what needed to be done. He nodded and turned back to John.
"Ok, so here's the situation," Ed said calmly. "You're going to school today, there is no question about that. You're going to be missing days later on, so you can't miss, now. That's the situation, now how can I help to make it easier for you to do that? That's the only real question."
John groaned, "Come on..."
"No. This is not a discussion. You're going to school. That's not up for discussion. So. What can I do to make it easier."
John shrugged. "Could you, maybe, call the school and tell the office what happened so that Miss Gabriella doesn't get on my case."
"I can do better than that." Ed smiled. "I'll get dressed and ride to school with you. We'll go into the office together and talk to that battle-axe together. How's that."
John nodded, then hugged his uncle/friend. "That's good. Thank you."
Ed hugged him and smiled. "That's what I'm here for, honey. Remember that. I'll go get changed and I'll text Oscar to make sure he can take me to the studio." He stopped before leaving the kitchen. "One other thing. This boy, Blaine, that's taking you to a movie... I'd like to meet him. I
think I should have a talk with him before your date."
"It's not a date..."
"Of course it is, Bebe, and I want to have a word with him before you go out. And, like I said before, this is not open for discussion. It would seem odd if I let my niece go out with a boy without talking to him first. Tell him that he needs to pick you up here before the movie and that I want to meet him."
"Ed..."
"Uncle Ed, Bebe. I know that you might not agree with me, right now, but I am only doing this for your own good."
Ed walked away and John groaned and stared at his phone's screen.
Once in his room, Ed pulled on his boxers, then took off his robe. As he turned to his dresser, he spotted Rose standing near his bed with a quirky smile on her face. He stopped and faced her.
"You know," she said as she sauntered towards him, "most guys your age aren't as patient as you are."
Ed smiled, let out a little laugh and said, "Most guys my age don't have a best friend that needs them to be their uncle."
Rose hugged him, then kissed his cheek. "You're a good man, 'Uncle' Ed. She's really lucky to have you."
Ed put his arms around Rose. She could feel the firmness of his newly toned muscles and it was impossible not to feel the shape of his member through the material of his boxers. "He's lucky to have you, too. In fact, we're all lucky to have each other. Let's never forget that."
"Ed McNeal to see Miss Gabriella, please." Ed said to the secretary working the front desk at Notre Dame.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr McNeal, but Miss Gabriella is busy this morning and won't be able to speak with you." She turned and walked away from the counter.
Ed looked at the woman and felt his anger rise, but he pushed it down and said, "Excuse me, ma'am, but Miss Gabriella has a meeting with me. I called over an hour ago and set up the meeting. I changed my schedule to be here and I need to speak to her, now, please."
"I understand, Mr McNeal. I made the appointment for you, but I didn't realize that Miss Gabriella had a meeting this morning."
Ed weighed his options. If he barged into the office, they could call the police and throw John out of school - no good. If he made a ruckus at the
desk, they could call the police, as well - no good. Finally, he decided on diplomacy.
"Excuse me, ma'am," he said, pleasantly, "What is your name?"
"I'm Miss Dorothy, Mr McNeal."
"Well, Miss, Dorothy, I followed the rules as laid out in the school handbook. I called ahead and a meeting was set up. I arrived in time for the meeting and with every intention of speaking to the headmistress regarding a matter that I feel is urgent, so, please, call Miss Gabriella and tell her that Mr McNeal is here and he will remain here for as long as it takes for her to live up to her obligations. Also, please make her aware that the studio is making out the checks for both the school's services and my time and if my time at the studio is interrupted due to Miss Gabriella's inability to live up to her obligations, then the studio will be billing Notre Dame for every minute that I am late. Thank you."
The woman gave a snarky smirk and walked to her desk, picked up the phone and made a call. After a few minutes of whispering, she hung up and walked back to the counter.
"Miss Gabriella will just be another moment, Mr McNeal."
"Thank you." Ed smiled pleasantly at the woman.
Eventuality, the door to Miss Gabriella's office opened and she appeared, smiling as if she was pleased to find Ed and John waiting.
"Mr McNeal! I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting! Please, do come in, and good morning Miss Bianca, how are..." she stopped mid sentence. "... Miss
Bianca, what happened to your face!? It looks awful!"
"That is why I wanted to meet with you, Miss Gabriella," Ed said. "May we speak in your office?"
They were ushered in.
"Oh, my dear, let me look at that!" John was uncomfortable with Miss Gabriella's close proximity as well as her faux concern for his injury. "Well that is just terrible!"
Then she looked at Ed, "You do realize, Mr McNeal, that we are obligated to report any incidences of domestic abuse, don't you?" she moved around the desk to her chair
As Ed took a seat, he stopped and looked at the headmistress. "Are you suggesting that I hit my niece, Miss Gabriella?"
"I am suggesting nothing, Mr McNeal, just pointing out my obligations."
Ed took out his phone and pressed a preset number, then the 'speaker' option.
"Hey, Ed!" The cheery voice came through the phone. "What's up? I'm almost to the studio."
"Hi, Don," Ed said. "Sorry to bother you, but I'm at Bebe's school and the headmistress is very concerned about Bebe's black eye. Would you mind explaining what happened."
"Sure. Am I on speaker?"
"You are."
"Ok. Good morning, headmistress. My name is Don Ferry and I am both Ed and Bebe's costar on 'Civil Disobedience.'"
At the mention of his name, the headmistress looked up at Ed with a touch of disbelief in her eyes, but Ed just nodded and pointed back at the phone.
"Well, yesterday," Don continued, "Bebe and I were improvising a scene together and in that scene, I needed to slap her. Well, one of us missed our mark and instead of my fingers grazing her cheek, I hit her square in the eye. The studios has filed an accident report. I can forward a copy to you, if you'd like."
Miss Gabriella was used to dealing with wealthy people, of course, but the name Don Ferry was a big one. A decade ago, Don had been an action hero star of the highest order, but he interrupted his own career in order to focus on more substantial movie and theater roles. He'd one a Tony Award for his role in a revival of 'A View From The Bridge' just a few months earlier. Now, the buzz around his return to the small screen was everywhere in the trade publications. The headmistress could not have been more impressed by the name of the man on the other end of the phone if he'd said he was Tom Hanks or Robert DiNero.
"Oh... I see... well, thank you, Mr Ferry. Ummm... I don't think that a copy
the accident report is necessary, at least not at this time, but I will let Mr McNeal know if one is needed down the road." Miss Gabriella was slightly flushed from just speaking to Don.
"My pleasure, headmistress," Don was charming and warm on the other end of the phone. "I'm available, anytime."
Then, the voice from the phone asked, "All Set, Ed?"
"All set, Don. Thanks! I'll see you in about an hour. Bye." The call ended.
Miss Gabriella smiled at Ed. "Well, Mr McNeal, I believe that we are all set, now. Miss Bianca, you can get to first period class."
Ed stood and extended his hand to the woman. She smiled and shook it, but Ed held it tightly and said, "Miss Gabriella, I don't know quite why, but
I do not feel very welcome in your office. What I mean is, after our first meeting, following your mistreatment of Bebe, combined with today's difficulty in getting in to see you, I feel as if my presence is an inconvenience to you. I hope that we might be able to meet in a more friendly manner the next time. I know that I am young, but I am very responsible and I have been given the job of watching out for Bebe's best interests. Let's try to meet in a more equitable manner next time. What do you say."
Miss Gabriella feigned shock at this statement. "Well, Mr McNeal, I have no idea what you mean. I don't treat you any differently than I do any other guardian of one of my girls."
"Hmm," Ed grunted, "well, I suppose that might be so." He released her hand and left, thanking her as he did.
"Wow!" Ella said, way too loudly since they were entering their Theatre Class. "Don Ferry gave you a black eye! That's awesome!"
"You're gonna be famous when this gets out!" MK added.
"It's not getting out," John laughed. "We're just moving on as if it's makeup."
"Does Blaine know about this?" Ella was examining his eye, closely.
"No. Why?"
"Well, if he's taking you out on Friday and you're going to be looking like you've just lost a kick-boxing match, you should probably let him know."
"I'm sure it'll be better by then," John found the girls at Notre Dame, especially these two, to have been remarkably sympathetic about his black eye. As the bell that began period two sounded, John settled into a seat in the auditorium.
"Ok, ladies," Miss Stephanie called them to order, "you've got your scripts and you know what I expect you..." she stopped and stared at John.
Her eyes narrowed as she examined the bruise on his face from several rows away. "Miss Bebe, please wait in my office."
John looked around. The logical thing to do at the moment would be to explain what happened to the teacher, but this was not a very logical teacher. Instead, he stood and said, "Yes, Miss," and went to wait for her in the theater office, while the teacher continued her instructions to the class.
A few minutes later, Miss Stephanie joined him. "Well, Miss Bianca... that
is quite a bruise you're sporting on your eye. What happened?
John stood as the teacher sat, "I was hit in the eye on the set, Miss Stephanie. My Uncle Ed and I met with Miss Gabriella this morning and explained everything to her. It was just an accident."
"Hmm," Miss Stephanie seemed genuinely concerned, which John found a bit off putting, for some reason. "I don't mean to pry, Miss Bianca, but, as a teacher, it is my responsibility to ask questions when I see a child has been hurt. How did this 'accident' happen?"
John explained as briefly as possible.
"So, Don Ferry gave you your first black eye? That's not a bad story for your memoirs, I suppose."
Miss Stephanie was surprisingly cordial. She glanced out the window of her office, which opened to the auditorium, to be sure that the other class members were doing what they were supposed to be doing before returning her gaze to John and saying, "Your injury is only part of the reason that I called you in here, today, Miss Bianca. Do you have your phone with you?"
Perplexed, John answered that he did, but hadn't checked it recently. "Please look at it, now. I'm sure you've gotten some interesting messages."
When he looked, John had several surprising emails and texts.
ALL CAST AND CREW REPORT TO SOUND STAGE 8 FOR A MEETING. 4PM.
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE CHANGED. ALL CAST ON CALL 8:00AM TO 9:00PM EVERY DAY
JUVENILE ACTORS: TUTORS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON SET
DEBUT EPISODE PUSHED FORWARD TO OCTOBER 28. FIRST EPISODE - TWO HOUR TV-MOVIE
"Wow!" John said in a loud whisper.
"Indeed," Miss Stephanie turned back to him.
"Ummm, Miss, if you don't mind me asking, how did you know about my schedule change?"
"Well," Miss Stephanie sat behind her desk, "that is the reason I called you in." She let that hang in the air for a moment as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. "You see, since you and Kylie will be on set for a long time every day next week, you'll need several tutors and..."
John felt a wave of anxiety wash over him.
"... since I am the only one here who has both of you as students, I will be your afternoon/evening tutor. I worked for the tutorial service for years before coming to Norte Dame, so, it seems that I am the logical choice."
She stared at John, daring him to say something.
Finally, he nodded and said, "Oh, I see. Ummm... thank you, Miss Stephanie.
It'll be good to have someone I know..."
"You don't have to pretend to be happy, Bianca," it was the first time that Miss Stephanie had not used the word 'Miss' before his adopted name and he found it shocking and a bit disrespectful. "I know that you don't like me and you probably know that I feel the same way about you."
"I don't dislike you, Miss. Honestly, I don't. I'm just a bit... scared, I
guess, of you."
The teacher smirked. "Hmmm. Well, I must tell you, Bianca, there is something about you that bothers me. Something... dishonest."
John blinked in confusion, which made his wounded eye hurt. Involuntarily, he touched it. "Dishonest, Miss? I... I'm... not..."
"Yes, well, we'll see." She stood and walked to the door, opening it and indicating that John should leave. "We'll be spending a lot of time together, so, I warn you, watch your step, little girl, or you'll regret it. Am I understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," John stood and started towards the door, but stopped and spoke again. "Miss Stephanie... I don't know what I ever did to make you hate me, but I'm sorry. Truly... I'm sorry."
She snickered. "I don't think you are, Bianca, but I promise you, if you don't watch yourself, you will be sorry, young lady. Very, very sorry, indeed. Now, go join your class."
"Oh! Look, we found the perfect dress for you to wear Friday, night!" Ella held her phone-screen facing John so that he could see the yellow, peasant dress. He barely glanced at it. He went back to eating his bowl of Italian wedding soup and glanced around the cafeteria to see if there were any teachers around listening to their conversation.
"I don't need a new dress to go to a movie. It's not even a date."
"Of course it is," Ella didn't even look up, "and of course you do."
John just shook his head and concentrated on his soup.
"What's the matter with you?" MK asked. "You've been weird since Miss Stephanie called you into her office. What happened?"
John shrugged and looked at the picture on Ella's phone. "It's pretty, but it's seven hundred dollars. I'm not buying a seven hundred dollar dress to go to a movie. Besides..." he pointed to his eye.
Undeterred, Ella went back to her phone to search some more, but MK persisted. "What did she say to you?"
John put down his spoon and shook his head. "She's going to be my on-set tutor after school next week and she basically threatened to destroy me if I wasn't 'a perfect little girl' when she was around. She even came right out and said she didn't like me." He sighed. "I'm screwed."
"Ah, man, that sucks," Ella said, but she immediately turned the tables and showed John a similar dress to the one she'd picked out. "Look! Almost the same dress and only $24 on this site. If you order it today, you'll have it by Friday!"
"Yeah, and that's another thing," John sighed again. "My uncle wants to have 'the talk' with Blaine before we go out Friday. It's not even a date..."
"Yes it is," the girls said in unison, neither looking up from Ella's screen.
"Besides, I don't know if I have to work, now. I don't know what to tell him."
"Tell him your uncle is being weird and wants to talk to him before you go out." KM said, still focused on the phone screen.
"Well," John was uncomfortable with Ed being called weird, "he's not being 'weird,' I don't think... just protective, I guess. My mom put him in
charge of me and he's just trying to be... like a dad, I guess."
"Then tell him that," MK seemed bored by John's trepidation. "Both my Dad and my step dad embarrass me like that all the time. I think it's just some kind of a 'macho guy' thing. You know, 'I'm the alpha male around here.' They all do it."
"Text him, though," Ella looked up. "Let him know what's going on so he doesn't think you're blowing him off. What size are you, a four?"
"Ummm, I think I'm down to a two, now," John looked at his phone and thought. Finally, he began to text.
'HI. ABOUT FRIDAY. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT MY SCHEDULE IS. SORRY. THEY CALLED A MEETING FOR THIS AFTERNOON. I'LL LET YOU KNOW AFTER THAT.'
The reply came quickly. 'KEWL. I HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT. THERE'S A NEW MARVEL MOVIE OPENING. SHOULD BE GOOD.'
John text again, 'ANOTHER THING. I'M SORRY, BUT MY UNCLE ED WANTS TO MEET YOU BEFORE WE GO TO THE MOVIE. WOULD THAT BE OK?'
The reply surprised John. 'HAHAHA. HE WANTS TO GIVE ME THE 'I HAVE A GUN AND I KNOW HOW TO USE IT SPEECH,' HUH? THAT'S FINE. LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN GO AND THEN WHAT TIME HE WANTS TO THREATEN ME. IF FRIDAY DOESN'T WORK, I'M AROUND ALL WEEKEND. JUST LET ME KNOW.'
'GREAT! THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING!' John was relieved.
'DA NADA,' Blaine replied.
Ella heard John's sigh of relieve and grabbed his phone and read the the texts. "See. I told you. I ordered the dress. It'll be at my house Thursday. I'll get it to you for Friday night. It's cute. You'll look cute in it, too."
"Oh... ummm... thanks. What do I owe you?"
"Seriously? My mom is wealthy and my dad is filthy, stinking rich and they both have guilty consciences because of the divorce. I could have bought you the other dress and they'd never even notice it on my credit card statement."
"You're fourteen and you have a credit card?" John was shocked. Back when he was twenty, he still only had a debit card.
Ella smiled. "I'm fifteen and I have a stack of credit cards. Life in Beverly Hills is different, Bebe. Now, Friday, after school, let's all go get a facial and have our nails done. That way you'll look perfect for Friday night!"
"Yes!" MK thrust her hand up in a triumphant fist! "Sounds awesome!"
"Wait, Wait, Wait..." John tried to dissuade them. "I don't even know what
my work schedule is. Besides, I've never had a facial..."
MK's eyes bulged. "Are you sure that you're really a girl?"
John flushed a bit. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're in high school and you've never had a facial? What kind of primitive, inhuman place is Massachusetts, anyway!?"
John giggled at her joke. "I mean, people had facials, but... well, my mom
is a college professor and my sister is a kinda 'all business' woman, so...
facials weren't really on the menu, you know."
"Wow," MK lamented, "that's so sad."
"Yeah," Ella agreed distractedly as she held up her phone again and showed John a picture of some very pretty, flat, yellow and jeweled sandals. "Sad. I bought you these, too, so you'll need to have your nails done."
John snickered and nodded, "Ok, but I still need to find out if I have to work."
The sound stage was well lite and there were a lot of people gathering and sitting in the chairs for the meeting. Some wore suits and others street clothes, but John had been costumed in dark blue, short sleeved dress that hugged his modest breasts nicely and blossomed out into a pleated skirt that ended just below his knees. The dress had very tiny white polka dots all over it and on his feet were some very cute, dark blue and white saddle shoes.
The only others in costume were Ed, Marion, Don and Rose, who all entered together. Like John, they were all dressed as if going to a special occasion of some sort. Rose leaned over and kissed John's cheek before taking the seat next to him. "Hi, honey," she whispered. "You look adorable in that dress." Her smile was warm and loving.
John smiled in response. "Thanks."
"May I have your attention, please," a voice came from the speakers near the front. "We'd like to get started. We have a lot to do."
The people settled into chairs to hear what was going on.
"Good afternoon, everyone," the man at the podium said. "My name is Edwin Sanchez and I am a programming director at ABC television and I am here with good news and bad news, today."
There were a few mumbles around the room.
"Obviously, when we first signed Don Ferry to a TV show, we knew that there would be a lot of interest in the project, but now that this show has been in production for a few months, things are getting a little, shall we say, 'crazy' around this show and we need to put out a product very quickly."
A hand was raised in the area where all the writers were congregated and the man at the podium pointed and said, "Yes?"
"What precipitated this rush to the production? I mean, we've been writing and rewriting this series since March, but why the sudden need to get it up and on the air in, what, two and a half weeks?"
"Good question," Mr Sanchez said. "In fact, the blame falls firmly on all of you. The scenes you all filmed of Don and," he checked his notes, "is it 'Ed McNeal' who's playing your partner, Don?"
Don slapped Ed's back, "It Sure is! Here's my partner, right here."
The man nodded and continued, "Well, those scenes are testing very well, and the scenes filmed recently, the ones on the ball field and between the youngest daughter and Don, Well, those are testing off the charts! The truth is, the buzz around this show is getting out of control and we need to capitalize on that ASAP."
There was a general murmur amongst the cast and crew and Rose threw her arm around John's shoulders and kissed his cheek. "Wow!" She whispered as she shook him. "How cool is that!?"
John nodded, but, in fact, he was a little overwhelmed with how the show was moving forward. He felt as if he'd hardly even spent any time on the set. It was a lot to take in. "Cool, I guess."
The director took the podium and said, "Ok, listen, people, I have a schedule that will let us pull this all together. We have, essentially, three storylines. One - Don and his partner at work and the upheaval of civil disobedience in the early sixties. Two - Don and his youngest daughter and the accusations that he's made about her and, three, Don's oldest daughter and her relationship with Don's character, her little sister and the developing romance between her and Don's partner."
John shot Rose a look at the mention of a romance between her character and Ed's. She made a comical smile and whispered, "We only found out about it this morning."
The director continued, "So, the plan is to concentrate on the 'Don and Alex' relationship for the next few afternoons, the 'Young Lovers' story for the next few mornings and finishing up the holes in the 'Workplace' story for the rest of this week. That should wrap up the two-hour debut movie. Then, next week, we kick ass and make some inroads on the rest of this season. Sound good, everyone?"
Everyone applauded. There was a somewhat stunned enthusiasm flowing through the room and there were a lot of murmurs from cast and crew members who'd worked on dozens of shows that had never gotten a chance to succeed. Suddenly, this show seemed special and looked like it had the possibility to actually become a big hit.
They began the afternoon shoot on the back lot, where John, Marion and Rose were passengers in a beautiful, 1959 Oldsmobile Super 88. It was candy-apple red, two HUGE doors and bright white interior. John and Rose climbed into the backseat, while Marion rode in the passenger seat, next to Don.
On cue, they drove up to a small church on the lot, where Ed, who was supposed to be entering the church, turned and waved, then walked to the car.
"'Morning, 'Jason,'" Ed, in character as Sargent Bob Partridge, greeted Don. "Is this the family?"
'Jason' exited the car, a little less than happy to see his partner at church. 'Bob' helped Marion out of the car with a Cheshire grin on his face. As the storyline had progressed, 'Jason' was slowly accepting 'Bob' as his new partner, but there was still friction. 'Bob' offered Marion a hand.
"Well, thank you," Marion grinned, then turned to 'Jason.' "'Jason,' who is this charming, young man"
'Jason shook his head as he helped John as 'Alex' out of the backseat. "'Nana,' this is my new partner, 'Bob Partridge.'"
'Bob' reached in and helped 'Susan' out the backseat. When their eyes met, 'Bob' grinned. "Hi," He half-whispered.
"Hi," 'Susan' replied with a sweet smile, as she moved her hair behind her ears. The chemistry between the two was obvious.
"So," Jason walked around the car with his youngest daughter, 'Alex' following, "what brings you to my church on this lovely morning, huh?" His attitude indicated he was a bit annoyed.
"I just needed to get myself back to church, is all. So, this must be 'Susan,' then." He smiled as he shook her hand.
"And this young lady must be 'Alex.'" He shook John's hand as well. "I've heard a lot about you, young lady." His smile grew just a bit serious.
"Nice to meet you, sir," 'Alex' replied.
"That's quite a shiner you've got there, little lady. Looks like you've gone a few rounds with Floyd Patterson." 'Bob' smiled warmly, but the confused, little girl covered the bruise with her hand and hurried to her grandmother's side.
'Bob' turned to the family and said, "Umm, would you ladies mind going into the church without your dad for just a few minutes? I have a little something to discuss with him."
The girls and Marion looked towards 'Jason,' who nodded for them to go on without him.
"And cut!" The director called. "Great! Let's set up for the closeups. Did you guys catch Rose's face over Ed's shoulder?"
"Yep!" The director of photography called back. "We caught Bebe over Don's shoulder, too. We just need to do closeups for Don and Ed."
"Perfect! Ladies, you have a thirty-minute break. Then we'll do the church interior and Don and Bebe in the parking lot."
John sat next to Rose and said, "This is really weird. I had a teacher at at Emerson who told us that TV and film could be very disorienting, but he never told us that you'd just be set decoration in a lot of your scenes."
"I know," Rose smiled at him. "You know, it's getting harder and harder for me to remember that we went to college together. You're a whole different person, now, and you look absolutely adorable in that dress."
John smiled. Any attention from Rose was always welcome, even if it was, just a little, condescending. "I know. I guess I'll never be John again, huh?"
Rose took his hand in hers. "Is that so bad? I mean, I liked 'John' just fine, but I love Bebe. I really, do."
"As a boyfriend, or a niece?"
She smiled. The clothes that she wore, a sleeveless, white turtle neck top that clung to her amazing shape and a narrow, black skirt that reached just below her knees, and the way they'd done her hair, made her look like a teenager from 1961, but as he looked at her with twenty-first century eyes, she looked a lot older than him. She really could be his aunt. "As both, Beebs. I love you as both. And in that dress, I wish I could take you for myself, right here, right now."
"Here's the synopsis," the head writer handed a page to Don and John.
"No script?" John asked.
The writer smiled. "Hey, you created this scenario - you find your way out of it. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how you do it." He laughed at his own teasing remark.
Dan laughed, too, then said, "Don't worry, honey. You'll do great. We just have to resolve what happened in the scene in your bedroom. Remember the scene we did at the audition? Use some of that. You'll be great."
John nodded. They discussed the scene for a few minutes. The director gave them some parameters to follow. Their space was limited and they needed to face specific directions for the cameras. Other than that, they had a lot of leeway.
John was told that there would be a scene inserted in which Don, Ed as well as the catcher and the umpire from the baseball game would have a conversation in the parking lot and the catcher would tell Don how 'Alex's' slip really ended up in hands of Cora's brother, Pete, etc, etc. He also explained that they hadn't yet written that scene. The head writer wanted to see how this resolution scene panned out, then he would create the parking lot scene as a link between their arrival and this conversation.
"You about ready?" The director asked them.
"I think so," Don said, then patted John on the shoulder and said, "Let's have some fun, ok?"
John nodded, nervously, and glanced at the cast and crew, all of whom were watching them very closely, almost as if all of their futures were riding on what he and Don did in the next few minutes, which, of course, they were.
The Assistant Director called for the camera, light, sound and every other kind of crew imaginable to be ready, then the Director said, in a quiet and measured voice, "Action."
Don, as 'Jason,' exited the church first and John, as ''Alex,' followed. 'Jason' looked irritated and 'Alex' looked scared. They walked to the front of 'Jason's' Oldsmobile where he paced for a moment before speaking.
"Alex... I just spoke to Ricky Pendergast and Coach Hassett."
'Alex' folded her arms across her stomach and looked away from her father.
'Jason' continued. "Look, Alex... they told me about what happened on the ball field the other day. How the boys... treated you because you're... developing... you know, becoming a woman."
A tear rolled down 'Alex's' cheek.
"They told me that the the reason that Cora's brother ended up with your slip was because Nana and Sue took you home. That the only reason you took it off was to play ball better. Is that true?"
'Alex' nodded, but didn't look at her father. He reached for her to turn her face to him, but she flinched. He moved more gently this time and turned her face so he could see the black eye that he'd given his daughter. A look of shame crossed his face.
"Baby," he whispered, "I'm sorry. It was a bad day at work and... honey, I'll never forgive myself. I wish you'd told me..."
Suddenly the young girl's temperament changed violently, "TOLD YOU!? How, daddy? I barely got a word out of my mouth before you slapped me. How could I have told you anything!?"
'Jason' pulled his hand away, hung his head and leaned against the front of his massive car, pushed his hands into his pockets and, for a moment, hung his head. When he looked up, again, he looked sad and broken, "I wish your mother was here, baby. I've always been a rotten parent to you girls."
"No, daddy..."
"Yes, baby, I have been. I relied on your mom to do everything. This job I have, Alex... it eats you up. That little jerk, Peter... he set me off, Ali, and I just took it all out on you." He stood straighter and looked at the weak child. "I'll never do it again, baby. I swear. I'll be better."
He opened his arms to invite the child in for a hug, but she looked away for a moment.
"I miss her daddy."
"I know, honey. I miss her, too."
"But its more than that, Dad. Sometimes... I hate her. I hate her for leaving. I hate her for leaving me alone. And I hate myself for hating her. I feel like I'm falling apart, daddy. I hate everything, now. I hate Nana, I hate Sue, and I hate you because I don't know how to feel anything else. I just want to go back to last year."
When 'Alex' looked at her father, her brokenness was a perfect reflection of his. When he tried to hug her, she pulled away, but he was bigger and stronger and he pulled her tightly to his broad, strong chest. She struggled, weakly, as he rested his head on hers and whispered, "I'm sorry, baby. I'm so, so sorry. I love you, Alex. I'm so, so, sorry."
Eventually, the child relaxed into her father's embrace and cried uncontrollably.
After ten seconds or more, the Director called, "And cut!"
The normal sound of the camera and sound crews relaxing didn't occur. No one moved. Don continued to hold John tightly. Very gradually , he loosened his hold on him and he sniffed back his own tears as he whispered, "Are you ok?"
John nodded. "I think so."
He kissed John's smooth cheek as he stepped back. "Be careful with your emotions, Bebe. You gave me an awful lot. Make sure there's some left for Bebe when she needs it."
Ed and Rose had walked over to them and waited quietly as Don kissed John, again. "Are you sure you're ok? You're shaking pretty hard."
John nodded, but his face screwed up into a confused ball as he began crying even harder than he'd done in the scene. His shaking became uncontrollable. Ed stepped forward and swept him up into his arms.
"Beebs!" Ed lifted John into the air and hurried towards a chair in the camera area. "Beebs, honey, are you ok?"
John concentrated on his breathing as he struggled to gain control of himself. He was oblivious of what was happening until he was already seated in the chair. When his vision cleared, he saw Ed's concerned face and Rose's tear drenched face looking at him.
"What happened?" he asked in a confused whisper.
"I think you might have passed out," Ed said with a sigh of relief. "Do you feel ok, now?"
Rose pushed past Ed and hugged John's head to her breasts. Her breathing indicated relief.
"Passed out?" John was confused. "From acting?"
"From your emotions, baby," Rose rocked him gently in her embrace. "You're a girl, now, Bebe. Right down to the hormones and girls need to learn how to control their emotions." She closed her eyes and laid her head on his.
"Is she ok?" The Director asked.
"I think so," Ed said.
"Well, if it's any consolation," The Director patted Ed's shoulder, "I think that your little niece, here, may have just won herself an Emmy Award."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 4
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Twenty year old John keeps facing the challenges of being a fourteen year girl.
Author's Note: Insurance, police reports, blah blah blah! Car wrecks are never fun. Especially when you have to buy a new car. I know this piece was done some time ago but year end business has kept me occupied. I do apologize! And again, Merry Christmas to everyone!
I hope you find Bebe having a great time and may you have one as well too! Please, toss me a review, good or bad? ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 4 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.
FINDING HIS WAY -or- WHO, IN THE WORLD, AM I?
When his alarm went off on Thursday morning, John had a hard time opening his eyes. He'd been on the set till 10:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday night and the schedule was catching up with him. He kicked the blankets off of himself, trying to make the morning coolness wake him, but it wasn't happening. His eyes just didn't want to open.
The work on the set had been very rewarding. Since the exteriors on Tuesday, everything he'd worked on had been interiors on the set. Several scenes with Kylie, which all went well, eventually, but always took several takes due to Kylie's inexperience and
nervousness, and lots of small scenes with Marion and Rose. Everything could be classified as 'girl talk.' Some scenes were more important to the story than others, but all propelled the storylines and needed to be done as well as possible,
John rolled over, took a deep breath, welcoming more rest, but moments later, Ed's voice shattered his coma. "Hey! What are you doing? Your alarm went off. Come on, Lazy Lucy, Oscar will be here in an hour and it takes you that long to get ready."
"Can't," John mumbled. "Too tired."
Suddenly, John felt Ed's arms pushing underneath him and lifting him off the bed.
"No!" John pleaded and giggled as Ed threw him over his shoulder as if he were carrying a stack of lumber. "Please! Let me sleep!"
Ed carried him into the bathroom off of John's bedroom exerting no effort whatsoever. When he flipped on the lights, John let out a dramatic scream. "Oh! No! You're just cruel! It hurts!"
When Ed turned towards the mirrors, he couldn't help but notice John's purple, silky panties peeking out from under his short nightie. "Did you shower last night?"
"No," John replied as he hung, limp, over Ed's shoulder. "I was too tired."
Ed reached into the walk-in shower and turned the temperature valve three quarters of the way around and the water began flowing. "A shower will help you wake up and it'll wash the stink off of you."
As Ed lowered John to the floor, John argued, "I don't stink!"
"You were on set, sweating under hot lights. You stink, just like the rest of us."
"I'm a girl, I don't sweat! I glow!"
"Well, your 'glow' stinks, so take a shower and get ready for school." Ed walked out of the bathroom and into John's closet where he pulled out a clean uniform shirt and skirt, grabbing a clean pair of white panties and a white bra from his bureau. He walked back into the bathroom as John was pulling his nightie over his head. "Hey! I'm nearly naked in here!" He placed his arm across his little breasts to hide them. "Don't you know how to knock?"
"If you want privacy, then get your lazy butt out of bed in the morning," Ed gave John a playful slap on his bottom as he headed back out of the lavatory.
"Ouch!" John grabbed is disrespected bottom and called after his friend, "You're a very mean man, Edward McNeal!"
"But I'm a good Uncle, Bianca Foley, so, unless you want me to come in there and scrub you clean, get your ass in gear!"
Knowing full well that Ed was strong enough to do it, John hurried into the shower.
"Look," John was dressed in his school uniform and drinking his breakfast smoothie, "Kylie's not going to school today. She says she's too tired. See! Her mother loves her and is concerned about her health."
Ed looked at the message. Rose had already left for the studio. "Yeah, well, I'm sure your mother loves you, too, but she put me in charge, so you're going to school. I'd like to end this discussion, now, and talk to you about tomorrow night."
John sat back in his high stool at the counter, crossed his legs at the knees and his arms across his stomach and waited for Ed to continue.
"Have you told this boy that I want to meet him before your date?"
John let out a big sigh. "Yes, I have told him that you want to meet him, but it is NOT a date. We are going to a movie together. I am paying for my own ticket."
"Uh-huh. How old is he?"
"He's fifteen. He'll be sixteen in November."
"So, How is he getting here?"
John shrugged. "Uber? Lyft? A parent? I didn't ask."
"Well, I'd like you to ask because I'd like to know how you'll be getting to and from the movie theater."
"Seriously?"
"Yes, 'Seriously!' I want to know, so ask him, please."
"Ok," John nodded.
Ed watched as John waited for him to continue. "Now," Ed finally said.
"Now? Text him, now?"
"Yes. Now. I want to know."
John grunted his frustration as he typed and hit send. When he was done he tossed his phone onto the counter and folded his arms, again. "Are you doing this JUST to embarrass me?"
"Honey," Ed refused to be goaded into an argument, so he spoke slowly, deliberately and with parental authority. "You, above all girls, should know why I'm doing this. Remember what fifteen year old boys are like, Bebe. They are all coming of age, too, and they are VERY interested in being with a girl."
"Oh, my God..." John could not believe what Ed was saying.
"Now, knock it off and think, Bebe. You are a very pretty, little thing and I don't blame this boy for being attracted to you, but his intentions may be... shall we say, suspect. Both you and I know that if he got into your panties he'd have a pretty big surprise, so I don't have to worry about you going too far, but what if he got that surprise? What then? Do you think that ABC/Disney is going to put up with a scandal? Demi Lovato was huge with that company, then her drug problem became public. How many shows have you seen her in, lately? Huh? Not many. To them, you're a product and they'll drop you like a hot turd if someone finds out about what's hiding between your legs. You do see that, right?"
Reluctantly, John nodded.
"I, on the other hand, love you and want to keep you safe and that's turning out to be a much more complicated job than I expected. You're not exactly a low profile kind of personality, Bebe, and Rose and I are going to do whatever it takes to make sure that you're kept safe. Understood?"
John's phone chimed and he picked it up. "His friend, Matt, is driving us."
Ed shook his head. "Oh, no he's not."
"What!?"
"You heard me. Number one, you are not going anywhere in a car with a teenaged driver. You are too young and too important to me.
"Too young...!?"
"Number two, I am not allowing you to be put in a situation with two older boys and you in an unsupervised situation."
"Ed!"
"Uncle Ed, Bebe. We've been through this. If that boy wants to go out with you then here are the rules. I want him here by 4:00 tomorrow night and I want him here alone. He will have dinner with your cousin and me and I will have a conversation with him before I drive you to the movies. After the movies, I will pick you up. If he wants to walk around the mall with you or go for ice cream, that's fine - just let me know when you want to leave. I will be happy to drive him back to Beverly Hills, too, but that's up to him. Those are the ground rules, Bebe. They are not open to discussion. Now, text him and tell him that or I will." Ed left the room to gather his pages for today's shooting schedule.
John wanted to fight. He was tired and irritable, but he knew that, if he challenged Ed, it would be a losing battle. Instead, he let out a huge grunt of frustration, grabbed his phone and typed:
'I'M SORRY, BUT MY UNCLE'S BEING A JERK. I WAS JUST TOLD THAT IM NOT ALLOWED TO TRAVEL IN A CAR WITH A TEENAGED DRIVER. HE SAYS THAT IF WE GO TO THE MOVIE, HE WANTS YOU TO COME HERE FOR DINNER AT 4:00 SO THAT HE CAN MEET YOU AND HAVE THE TALK. THEN HE'LL DRIVE US TO THE MOVIE. AFTER THAT, WE CAN HANG TOGETHER FOR AWHILE, IF YOU WANT, BUT HE WANTS TO DRIVE ME HOME. HE'LL DRIVE YOU, TOO, IF YOU WANT. IF THIS IS TOO MUCH TO DEAL WITH, WE CAN CANCEL. SORRY. SORRY. SORRY.'
It took a couple of minutes before a reply came.
'NO PROB. HES NOT BEING A JERK - JUST PROTECTIVE. I CAN HANDLE THAT. ILL BE THERE AT 4. I'LL USE UBER. IF HE DOESN'T MIND DRIVING ME HOME, THAT WOULD BE COOL. SEE YOU TOMORROW HOW'S YOUR EYE?'
John was relieved by the response. Being so vulnerable to the whims of his guardians was really getting to him.
'YOU'RE THE BEST EVA,' John text back. 'THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING. I REALLY AM SORRY. MY EYE IS FINE. YOU CAN BARELY SEE THE BRUISE NOW. SEE YOU TOMORROW'
"Well?" Ed asked as he reentered the kitchen with his postal-sack style satchel open and he stuffed the pages in.
"He'll be here at 4:00. If you don't mind driving him home, that would be good, too."
"No problem."
"So, should I talk to Oscar about scheduling a car for tomorrow night?"
"Nope," Ed smiled. "I leased a brand new Tesla, like the one Rose had during the summer, only mine is red. I'm picking it up today. We can't rely on the studio for everything." He smiled. John knew that the car Ed had been driving since he got his license was a 1999, champagne colored, Ford Taurus that he'd inherited from a great aunt when she passed away. It wasn't 'nice' by any measure and Ed had loved driving the Tesla all summer.
"Wow," John said quietly. "That's great, Uncle Ed. Does that mean that we've had more money deposited in our accounts?"
"Well, yes and no. Rose and I have access to our latest paychecks, but you'll need to talk to your mom about yours. She's holding yours in-trust until you're legally eighteen, remember. Rose and I made arrangements with her for your share of the rent, but you'll need to ask her for money."
John rolled his eyes.
"Oh, come on, Beebs. What would you spend it on, anyway? Clothes? She'll help you out with that. I'll give you money for the movies. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal," John huffed, "is that I EARNED that money! I should have access to it!" He put his elbow on the counter and rested his chin in his hand. "It's all just... unfair."
Ed bent at the waist and mimicked John's posture, Looking him directly in the face. "No, baby, it isn't. It's the deal you made." He leaned forward and kissed John on the end of his nose. "Now, please, don't keep complaining about a situation you created. It's not my fault, or Rose's or anyone else's except yours. You agreed to be a child. Now, be a child, Bebe. Please, don't fight with me all the time. I love you too much to be your enemy." He kissed his nose, again.
They remained face to face, but John nodded as much as his position would allow. "Ok. Sorry."
"No problem. Now, tell me you love me, too."
The request amused John just a little. Of course he loved Ed. He always had. He smiled and Ed mimicked the smile, too.
"Come on," Ed teased. "I say it all the time. It's time for you to say it back to me."
John laughed at Ed's teasing. "You know I love you."
"Then say it. Don't be a little brat. I'm doing everything I can to help you. All I ask in return is to hear you say three little words."
John controlled his giggles long enough to say it. "I love you, Ed."
"Uncle."
"I love you, UNCLE Ed."
"Thank you. That makes a world of difference."
John's phone chimed again. Without looking at it, Ed kissed his nose once more and stood back to his full height. "That's got to be Oscar. Get your backpack and get going."
John hustled to the mirror on the back of the door to the kitchen closet, checked himself, then ran back to the counter and grabbed his bag. He was headed for the door, but he stopped and turned to look at Ed, who was leaning on the counter by the sink, sipping his coffee. John ran back and hugged Ed as hard as he could. Surprised, Ed put down his coffee and hugged the little boy in the girl's body.
For his part, John marveled at the size and firmness of Ed's chest, while Ed considered how small and weak his former friend had become.
"Thanks, Uncle Ed. I really do love you."
"I know you do, Bebe. I love you, too. So does Rosie."
John let go and ran to the door without looking back. Ed watched, then looked at his tee shirt. Where John's eyes had been, there was a damp spot.
It was Lab-Day in science class and John had been paired with a girl he'd never spoken to before. She was a sophomore and John didn't know, nor particularly care, why she was in this Science class with a bunch of freshman. The girl's name was Glimmer, which definitely would have raised eyebrows on the east coast and probably have destined the girl to a career as a stripper, but here in the land of indulgence, no one seemed to find it at all odd. She was very beautiful and John found her intimidating. She was the kind of girl that held her breasts, and they were substantial breasts, out in front of her like they were weapons. She didn't seem all that bright, though. Just pretty - and strangely sexual for a girl in a school filled with other girls. John didn't like nor dislike her, per se, but he didn't like the way that she insisted that John do all the lab work while she read the instructions.
"Miss Bebe!" The teacher called from her desk. There was an older student standing next to her.
John stood. "Yes, Miss?"
"Miss Gabriella wants to see you in her office, immediately. Please go with Ann, here. Take your things, please."
"Yes, Miss," John gathered his books quickly.
"What about the lab?" Glimmer asked in an annoying whine.
"You'll have to complete that yourself, Glimmer," the teacher shook her head.
John made eye contact with both Ella and MK as he hurried to join the messenger. Both looked concerned, but neither looked as concerned as John felt. 'What did I do now!?' Kept running through his brain.
The student-messenger remained quiet and stoic all the way to the main office, where John was handed over to Miss Dorothy who told him to sit on the bench and wait.
Eventually, Miss Gabriella entered the main office from the front of the desk. She was moving quickly, as if she'd been hurrying to complete several things at once. "Ahh, Miss Bianca," she smiled at John and indicated the entrance to her office, "please go in and have a seat. I'll just be a moment."
John sat in the center one of the three chairs in front of Miss Gabriella's desk.
She came in shortly, closing the door behind her and stopped at John's side bent to take a look at his eye. "Well, that seems to be healing well, hmmm? You'll be as pretty as ever in a day or so, I should think?" She continued on to her desk chair.
"Thank you, Miss." John said, a bit worried about why he was here.
Miss Gabriella sat and opened a manilla folder and perused it for a moment before speaking. "The reason I called you in here, today, Miss Bianca, is because I noticed that you are missing a Physical Education credit. Were you aware of that?"
"No ma'am. This is the first I've heard of it."
"Hmm," the Head Mistress looked over the file again. "At the time of your admission to Notre Dame, I discussed this situation with the studio representative. You see, we have no in-school Physical Education Program at Notre Dame, but the State of California requires that each student fulfill one credit of PE every school year. So, all of our young ladies are required to fulfill her Phys-Ed requirement on her own. Many play on our after school sport teams, or they take gymnastics, or dance, or horse back riding, or even logging her own running schedule. Regardless, of how, each young lady MUST fulfill this credit obligation on her own and, thus far, you have not done so,"
John was speechless. "Miss Gabriella... I... I... I..."
The Head Mistress smiled at John's confusion. "I've tried to reach both of your guardians, this morning, Miss Bianca, but they do not appear to be available right now. I felt that this was too urgent a matter to not call you in to discuss it. You see, we are well into our first marking period and you will not be in class next week because of your shooting schedule, so I need to hear from your guardians by the end of the day tomorrow to set up whatever program they feel is most appropriate for you."
She handed John a sheet of paper. "This is our Physical Education waver form. Please pass it along to your cousin or Uncle and have them return it to me by the end of the school day tomorrow."
John glanced at the form, overwhelmed. "Umm, Miss, between school and filming the show, I'm already..."
"This is a state requirement, Miss Bianca. I made it clear to the studio representative that you'd need to do this. Now, I know that your Uncle Edward seems to feel that I am persecuting you, but talk to your friends and you'll see that they all have some kind of athletic program after school. Now, I have things to do and you need to get to lunch, so please take that form home and have them get it back to me tomorrow. They can email it or fax it if that's more convenient."
John just stared dumbly. How could he possibly take on more, right now?
"That'll be all, Miss Bianca. Thank you."
John stood and said, "Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am," and he left the Head Mistress' Office.
"Yeah, I take an aerobics class three nights a week and MK takes karate. We all have to do something. It's no big deal." Ella had met John outside the main office door, concerned that he was being expelled. MK, who thought that Ella was nuts, had gone to the cafeteria to reserve their usual table. "At least it's nothing big."
"Ella, I'm already at school or on the set, like, eighteen hours a day! How do I add something like this?"
"I don't know, but if it were me, I'd let my mom handle it. Just tell your cousin. Let her deal with it."
That wasn't a bad idea. What could he do from school other than send a text? That made sense. After they grabbed their lunches, John pulled out his phone and typed, 'HATE TO BOTHER YOU, BUT I JUST HAD A MEETING WITH THE HEAD MISTRESS. I NEED TO GET A PHYS-ED CREDIT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AND I NEED TO BE SIGNED UP FOR SOMETHING BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY TOMORROW. I'LL TAKE A PIC OF THE FORM AND SEND IT TO YOU.' He took a photo and sent that as well.
"What did she say?" Ella, who'd been giving MK a briefing on why John had been summoned, asked.
"Nothing, yet. She's probably working."
"Ok, enough of that crap, look what I have!" Ella nearly sang the last part of that sentence as she was pulling a small, clear plastic bag with a yellow garment inside, out of her backpack and handing it to John. "Your dress arrived!"
"Ohh! Let's see it!" MK stopped looking at her phone and turned her full attention to the bag.
John smiled at their enthusiasm. He couldn't deny that the idea of a new dress excited him, too. "Ok!" He giggle as he opened the bag and pulled the dress out.
All three of them inhaled noisily as the dress pulled free.
"Oh! It's beautiful!" MK nearly cried.
"It really is!" John agreed, but then he said, "Hey! This isn't the cheap one! You bought the $700 dress!? Ella! I don't have $700 to pay you back!" He was genuinely scared to even hold the dress. If he told his mom he needed $700 for a dress, she'd kill him!
Ella smiled, "Oh, my God, Bebe, calm down! I don't want you to pay me back. It's only $700! Like I said, my parents won't even notice! I spend more than that on clothes and shoes all the time!"
MK patted John's shoulder. "She's telling the truth, Bebe. Her parents are stinking rich and Ella has bathing suits that cost more than my mom's car."
"Yeah, but I look cuter in my bathing suits than your mom does in her car," Ella smirked as she tossed a crouton into her mouth.
"It is awfully cute," John conceded. He hugged it to him, the very soft feel of the material making him want, more than anything, to go try it on. "Thank you, Ella. It's absolutely lovely."
"Let's put that away, young lady," Señorita Linda, a Spanish teacher who John only knew by name, said. "You know that you shouldn't have non-uniform clothes in school except in your locker."
"I'm sorry, Señorita," John folded the dress, carefully and slipped it back into the small, clear bag. He smiled at Ella and MK and thanked them both.
"The sandals are coming today," Ella assured him. "You'll look hot for your date."
"It's not..." John started, but his friends said in unison.
"Yes it is."
John's phone buzzed and he looked at the screen. It was a text from Rose. 'NO PROBLEM. I SET UP A CLASS THROUGH THE STUDIO. PAPERWORK ALREADY ON IT'S WAY BACK TO MISS GABRIELLA."
John told the girls that Rose had taken care of it.
"What kind of class?" MK asked.
"She didn't say. I assume it's aerobics or maybe just a trainer like she and Ed have. I'll find out this afternoon."
"You've got to be kidding me!?" John was wearing a simple, light brown, short sleeved, shirt-dress with a little red belt and a subtle petticoat beneath. Julia was buttoning up the back of the dress for him and fluffing his hair to make it lay correctly. This kind of shirt-dress seemed to fill his wardrobe area and they all made him feel a little old fashioned and very young.
Rose stood opposite him in a form flattering, dark grey sheath and spiky, pointed toed pumps. She'd just completed a scene in which her character and Ed's had gone on their first date together and her shoes made her tall and makeup made her look very grown up. She folded her arms across her abdomen and frowned at John in a disturbingly maternal manner. "Seriously? You're going to fight me on this, too? Your Uncle Ed told me that you'd had a talk this morning and you agreed to be more cooperative. Do I need to get him involved in this conversation?"
"No, but Rose..."
"Look, Bebe, you sent me a text asking for help with a problem and I solved the problem for you. QED. This is an easy fix and you can do it during your down time on set. Three or four hours a week to start and we'll see where it goes from there."
Julia guided him to the mirror to see himself in the dress. It was childish, so was his hair and makeup. He was childish and the petulance in his face made him look even more childish. He couldn't help it, though. There had to be another solution.
"I don't know why you're so upset," Julia said as she fussed with a few stray hairs. "It's just a dance class. I took dance from the time that I was a toddler right through college. It's a great way to stay in shape and the Disney has the best teachers and choreographers in the world! You'll love it."
"Listen, Bebe," Rose joined Julia's line of thought, "I took dance class most of my life, too. Most girls, especially actresses, have had a solid dance background. From a purely professional stand point, you should, too."
"I know, Rose, but it's just... well, isn't there something less... girly..."
"Oh, Lord, Bebe, not this AGAIN!" Rose shook her head. "Julia, may I have a moment alone with my cousin?"
Julia smiled and walked out of the room.
When the door was closed, Rose turned to John and in a scolding voice she said, "Alright, young lady, I have had just about enough of this crap from you. I'm at work and so are you. This is not the place for you to act like a spoilt little brat, am I making myself very clear?"
John nodded, genuinely frightened by her demeanor. "Yeah, but..."
"No 'buts' and no 'ifs' or 'ands' either. From now on, if I make a decision, you just say, 'Yes, Rose.' Is that perfectly clear, or do I need to get Ed in here to spank your argumentative little backside?"
Would she do that? John wasn't sure, but he knew that he'd never seen her this angry and it seemed that he'd been making her angry a lot recently.
"Well? Should I go get Uncle Ed?" Rose tapped he toe noisily.
John thought for just another second. "No."
"No, what?"
"No, Rose."
"And are you going to take the dance classes?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And are you going to continue to challenge me at every turn?"
"No, ma'am."
"Alright, then." Rose paused, happy by the result of the
conversation, but still filled with adrenaline. "Now, let's have no more of this nonsense, ok?"
John nodded.
Rose opened her arms wide and invited John in for a hug, an invitation he gladly accepted. He was so confused and upset by everything, absolutely EVERYTHING, lately that he longed for some solace and Rose was his favorite place to get some. He felt like crying, but he choked that back and he just accepted her hug.
But something odd happened, too. Unexpectedly, John felt a twitch in his panties and that twitch grew and resulted in a full blown orgasm right there. He did his best not to broadcast what was happening to him, hoping Rose won't notice, but there was no denying what had just happened. Something about the way that Rose had treated him had overwhelmed him to the point of cumming in his panties. This was mortifying and he had to change them and clean himself before leaving the dressing room.
"So, let's get our heads back in the game, now, ok?"
John nodded and rose released him from her embrace. There was a knock on the door and Julia called in, "Rose! Bebe! You're both wanted on set!"
Rose headed for the door, but John held back, pretending to look in the mirror for a second.
Rose opened the door and looked back at John. "Come on, then."
"Umm," he searched for a reason to stay behind. "I'll be right there. I just need to talk to Julia for a moment. My hair looks funny."
"Ok. I'll wait."
"NO!" He didn't want her to know what he'd done. "I'll be right along. You go ahead."
As Julia pushed past Rose to get into the room, Rose shrugged and nodded, then departed.
"What's the matter, honey?" Julia asked as she closed the door. Obviously, there was something bothering this child.
There was no way to not tell her what he needed, so... "Umm... I kind of... ejaculated in my panties. Do you have some clean ones I could wear."
Julia didn't quite laugh, but she came very close. "Of course, baby. Here." She pulled out a fresh pair. "I forget that you're different down there, you know." She grabbed a baby wipe from the makeup table and knelt in front of John. Hold up your skirts, baby. I'll clean you up."
Thank goodness, Oscar was driving on Friday! It was an early release day for the students, so he picked them up at 11:30 and he agreed to bring John, Kylie, MK and Ella all to a nail salon that the girls of Notre Dame frequented.
"Have fun, girls!" Oscar said as he let them out at the salon. "I'll meet you down the street at Roni's." Roni's was one of Oscar's favorite places for take out food. This worked out great, for him! An order of Ronni's Asian Salmon Dinner was in his very near future.
The girls waved as John reached in and grabbed the garment bag containing his dress and sandals. "Thanks, Oscar. I know this is an imposition..."
"Don't be silly, honey," he smiled as he watched the young woman being as careful as possible with her treasured dress. "As far as the studio knows, you were in school all day." He gave John a cheerful wink and said, "Go have some girly fun with your friends. You take things too seriously for a girl your age. Go relax and enjoy yourself."
The girls and John were ushered into a small alcove at the salon and they were seated in a row of seats. Soon, each had a woman working on their toe nails. John had had his nails done by Stacy at her studio back on Cape Cod and Rose had polished them a few times since, but this... this was HEAVENLY! The technicians worked their tools around the edges of his nails as they shaped and colored them for him. Soon, his eyes were closed as he enjoyed the sensations of being pampered by a pro. It was wonderful!
"Girls' night out tonight, ladies?" The proprietress asked as she walked over to greet the young, rich clients.
"Just a girl's afternoon. One of us has a hot date tonight! The rest of us are watching Netflix at my house," Ella teased.
"Oh, who's the lucky girl?"
All three girls pointed at John who blushed a bit.
"She has to be home by 4:00, too, so that her date can meet her uncle," MK offered.
She smiled and asked John, "First date, honey?"
"Kinda," John shrugged. "We went to homecoming at his school together, but this is our first time out alone. It's not a date, though. We're going Dutch."
"Oh, shut up," Kylie threw a hand towel at John. "A date is a date is a date and you're going on one with Blaine, tonight."
"Ooh, Blaine, huh? Is he handsome?" The woman sat next to John and prodded him for information.
"He's gorgeous!" MK said. "Ella, show her his picture."
Ella held up her phone with a picture of both Blaine and John taken at the homecoming dance.
"Oh, my, he is gorgeous and look at how pretty you were in that dress! No wonder he asked you out, again! What color are you wearing tonight."
"Yellow," John said, shocked that this would interest anyone, let alone a total stranger.
"I bought it for her!" Ella enthused. "It's in that garment bag." She pointed to the pink bag hung behind John's chair.
The owner unzipped the bag and moved the zippers around the hanger so the pretty, little, yellow, peasant dress was completely exposed. "Oh, yes, this is just perfect for you! I'm sorry, what is your name, dear."
"Bebe, ma'am."
The woman chuckled. "This isn't Notre Dame, Bebe. You can call me Jess. What color were you planning to do your nails, honey?"
John looked blankly at the girls who all giggled. "You'll have to excuse her," MK said. "She's from Massachusetts. Believe it or not, this is her very first time having her nails done in a salon."
"Really!?" Jess feigned shock. "Well, then I guess we need to make this a special event."
She spoke to the nail technician, "Yuki, when her nails are filled and filed, find a red that matches these little red lines in the dress. Ok?"
The technician nodded.
"Tell you what, Bebe," she hung the dress on a nearby hook, "since this is such a special day for you, I'm going to have my best beautician, Andrew, do your makeup for you at no charge."
The other girls seemed much more excited about this than John, who just smiled and said, "Oh, thank you, Jess. That's very, very kind of you."
"You're very welcome, Bebe. Enjoy your mani-pedi." She walked away.
"Bebe," Ella was very wound up. "Andrew is the best beautician in the shop! My mom books appointments with him three months in advance! He's amazing!"
"He really is, Bebe," MK said. "He did my makeup for homecoming! I booked it in August, before I even had a date!"
The makeover was as luxurious as the mani-pedi and Andrew spoke nonstop through the entire procedure. He talked about the importance of making a good impression on a boy and about skin care and poise. He was meticulous and gentle, but not at all effeminate. When he'd finished, he made John put on the dress before he could look at himself in the mirror. When he saw himself he was very, very pleased. The makeup somehow complimented both him and the dress perfectly. His cheeks were plump and round and his eyes were big and curious. He still looked young and innocent, but there was a roundness of womanhood present, too.
"Wow, I look..." he stuttered.
"Beautiful is the word you're looking for," Andrew said with a deep, gentle voice. "You look beautiful because you are beautiful, Bebe. Young. Smart. Talented and beautiful. Now, I want you to to remember that forever. You will always be beautiful if you carry yourself beautifully." He kissed the side of John's head. "Always be beautiful, Bebe."
In the last few months, John had felt beautiful many times, but this was different. He wasn't 'Bianca' beautiful or 'Nancy' beautiful. He was just beautiful. He was 'Bebe' beautiful and he really loved it.
"Thank you, Andrew. Thank you." Was all he could say.
Oscar dropped John off at 3:50 and all the girls wished him luck before he ran as quickly as he could into the lobby of his building. Rose had been sending him texts for the last half hour.
'WHERE ARE YOU!?"
"ITS GETTING LATE AND YOUR FRIEND WILL BE HERE, SOON!"
"DAMN IT, BEBE WHERE ARE YOU? IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR SORRY ASS BACK HERE IN TEN MINUTES, YOU WILL NOT BE GOING OUT TONIGHT!"
John had responded to each text with apologies, but it was obvious that Rose was displeased that he had not been at home to help her prepare dinner. The last text had come three minutes ago and John had replied 'I'M IN THE PARKING LOT! I'LL BE THERE IN A FEW MINUTES. I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!!!!!!!'
When he burst into the condo, Rose was standing in the kitchen with a handful of knives and forks in her hand. "Well, it's about time!" She said with a great deal of irritation present in her voice. "Do you know what I have been doing all afternoon while you've been getting pampered at a Beverly Hills Spa? I've been cooking and cleaning and getting this place ready for your friend!"
"I'm sorry, Rose, really, I am so sorry! I didn't know it would take this long!"
"Oh, please, you knew I'd take care of all of this for you, so you didn't put in any effort."
"Alright!" Ed entered and put his arms on Rose's shoulders. "We're all stressed. This is new to all of us. Let's just take a breath and move on from here. Bebe, tell your cousin you're sorry."
John nodded, "Honestly, Rose, I am so, so sorry. I've never been to a spa before and I completely lost track of time."
"Apology accepted?" Ed asked Rose.
Rose nodded.
"Ok, now, Rose, think about what it was like when you were fourteen and had a date. Can you understand how she could have lost track of time?"
Rose took in a deep, purging breath and let it out slowly. "Alright, Alright, Alright. I get it. Jesus, Ed, you can be exasperating, the way that you never get mad."
He kissed the back of Rose's head and said, "It's my superpower."
Rose handed John the silverware. "Here, put these out and grab some napkins out of the linen closet. When you're done, fill the water glasses. There's a gallon jug of spring water in the fridge."
When he was putting the water jug back, Rose took him by the shoulders and turned him to face her. "Let me take a look at you, baby"
She looked at him with loving, maternal eyes. "Ok, well, you look absolutely perfect, I must say. I'm sorry that I got mad, it's just, I don't know, I'm really stressed about having my little girl dating... and I kind of wanted to help you get ready. I know that's foolish, but... God, I'm going to be a lousy mom, huh?" She gave a tired chuckle at that.
John hugged her. "I'm sorry, Rose. Really I am. You're being great. I just lost track of time. Thank you for making dinner. It smells great. What is it?"
"Roast chicken and stuffing. I figured it was a good, New England dinner and besides, it's all I really know how to cook."
The intercom buzzed. "I'll take care of that," Ed said. He pushed the button on the intercom. Blaine's Image appeared on the screen. "Yes?"
"Hi, Mr Foley. I'm Blaine. Bebe's friend. I'm here to meet you."
"Come on up," Ed pushed the buzzer and finished tying his tie. "Why don't you guys wait in the kitchen so it doesn't look like we're just standing here, waiting for him."
Moments later, there was a knock at the door. Ed answered and Blaine entered.
"Hello, Mr Foley. My name is Blaine." He extended a hand to Ed. "Very nice to meet you."
Ed took the younger man's hand and shook it. "My name is McNeal, Blaine, but you can call me Ed. It is very nice to meet you. Come right in."
"Thank you, sir. You're younger than I expected. When Bebe said I'd be meeting her uncle, I pictured an older person."
Ed nodded. "Happens all the time." He looked towards the kitchen and called, "Beebs! Your friend is here."
John stepped out of the kitchen and waved. "Hi, Blaine. How're you doing?"
"Great, but... wow! You look amazing, Bebe!"
John's grin could not have been bigger. "Oh, well, thanks, I guess."
They looked at each other awkwardly until Rose pushed past John, carrying a covered platter, and said, "Hi, Blaine. I'm Bebe's cousin, Rose. Let's all sit down and get started. I hope you like roast chicken."
He did.
Blaine did his best to keep up with Ed as the chicken, stuffing, potatoes, corn and peas were shoveled onto their plates and into their mouths. Rose kept the conversation going, asking Blaine about his family, school, interests, etc.
"Bebe," Rose stood and started piling plates to take into the kitchen, "why don't you help me clear the table and we'll leave the men to talk, so that you and Blaine can get to your movie on time."
John stood and started picking up plates. Blaine smiled a smile that said, 'Don't worry. I've got this.' Then he turned to Rose and said, "Thank you, Mrs McNeal. It was a delicious meal."
Rose giggled and looked at Ed with a grin. "We're not married, Blaine. Just call me Rose."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I mean, Bebe said that Mr McNeal was her uncle and you're her cousin..."
"Don't worry about it, Blaine," Ed said. "I'm not actually related to Bebe or Rose. I'm just a family friend and we all got onto the same show, so Rose and I are Bebe's guardians. Her mom is back east."
"Oh... ok. I get it."
John smiled at Blaine. It wasn't a big deal, but he could see that, just this little misstep had unnerved the pretty confident boy a bit. He hoped that Ed wouldn't leave him a complete mess.
John cleared his place and Blaine's, then brought that load to the kitchen. Blaine watched as the loose fitting peasant dress flowed around Bebe's upper thighs. Everything about Bebe was just... cute. He really liked her. Maybe, if things between him and his girlfriend in Florida were different...
Suddenly, he realized he was staring. He hoped that Bebe's uncle didn't notice. The boy glanced at the older man, who seemed oblivious to Blaine's faux pas. Whew!
John and Rose returned to grab the rest of the table setting. Blaine felt that he should probably occupy himself rather than just stare, so he initiated the conversation with Ed. "Umm, Mr McNeal, about my date with Bebe, tonight..."
Ed placed his hand on the younger boy's arm and shook his head. "Let's wait till the girls have finished clearing the dishes."
Rose smiled at Ed. He'd become such a good father-figure lately. What a great guy.
John rolled his eyes at Blaine and grabbed the last of the setting that needed to be cleared. He mouthed the words 'Good Luck' to him as he disappeared into the kitchen.
Ed waited a moment, until the sounds of water running and dishes being rinsed could be heard.
"Blaine," Ed said, "I want you to understand something. Bebe's mom put me in charge of her well being and I take that very seriously. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir."
Ed nodded. "Good. Now, you probably aren't aware of it, but that girl is one of the most talented young actors in this town right now, so as seriously as I take my responsibilities to Bebe's mom, I take my responsibilities to the studio nearly as seriously."
This time, Blaine just nodded.
"So, if you want to take my niece out, there are a few rules. No drinking. No drugs. No riding in cars with inexperienced drivers. No sex - at all. And I want to know where she is at all times, so - if you say you're going to the movies, you'd damned well better be at the movies. If you're going to the mall - same thing. Violate these rules and you will be very, very sorry. Do we understand each other?"
"We do, Mr McNeal." Blaine smiled and extended a hand, which Ed accepted and shook.
"So, having said all of that, what EXACTLY are your plans for tonight?"
"Well, the plan is to go to see the new Marvel movie at the AMC Theater over at the Century City Mall on Santa Monica Boulevard, then, maybe, go into the mall and have an ice cream at Halo's or Rori's or Smitten... something like that. I was thinking, maybe, a little window shopping, you know... stuff like that."
Ed nodded. "And will it just be the two of you?"
"Um, well, no... We're supposed to meet my friend Matt and his girlfriend at the movies. I don't know if they'll hang in the mall with us. Sorry... I wasn't keeping that from you. I just didn't think it was all that important."
Ed raised his eyebrows. "It is. This guy Matt, he drives, right?"
"Yes, sir. He's nearly eighteen."
"And what are the rules about Bebe getting into a car?"
"No inexperienced drivers, sir. Don't worry, though. I didn't plan on doing anything other than walk around the mall."
Ed nodded.
"He is really cute," Rose was saying as she and John rinsed the dishes. "Is he a nice boy?"
John nodded, "Yeah, he is. He seems to know a lot about literature and movies." John bent over to load the dishwasher and Rose watched and listened. "His theater knowledge has a lot of holes in it and he doesn't know much about classic rock, but that can be fixed."
When he stood, he saw Rose grinning back at him.
"You like him."
John shrugged. "Of course I LIKE him. I wouldn't be going to the movies with him if I didn't LIKE him."
Rose shook her head and spoke is a hushed, teasing voice. "No. I mean you REALLY like him. Like, you 'LIKE' like him. Like, you've got a crush on him." Her grin had grown huge as she tease him.
John was blushing. He looked towards the dining room and shook his head before looking back to Rose. "No I don't..."
"Yes, you do, little girl." Then she sang quietly "You liiiiiike him. You think he's seeeeexy. You liiiiiike him. You think he's
dreeeeaaaamy."
John couldn't help but laugh at the way Rose was behaving. "Rose, come on! I'm not gay! I want to be with you!"
Rose giggled, "I've got news for you, cutie-pie. Whether you're with me or with Blaine, you're kind of, a little bit, gay. There's no way around it, honey. You're part boy and part girl. If you're with me, your upper parts are gay and, if you're with him, your lower parts are. Enjoy it, though, baby. You'll be able to experience sex in ways that men and women have only dreamed about."
"Sex!?" John was shocked. "Rose, the boy is fifteen years old. He's not thinking about sex!"
"Oh, Yeah?" She giggled at John's protestations. "I've never met a fifteen year old boy who wasn't thinking about sex and, seeing you in that cute, little dress... trust me Beebs... he's thinking about it. And to be perfectly honest, so am I."
"Yeah?" John cuddled up to her.
"Yeah," she breathed and kissed his lips, slowly, her hands creeping around to squeeze his bottom through the shear material of the soft dress. I don't know why it is, but the cuter you look, the more I want you. I swear, if I were to dress you in a diaper and a onesie, I'd have a heart attack and die."
John squinted and smirked at her. "You're just weird, you know that, right?" He kissed her again, slowly and lingeringly.
"I know," she whispered when the kiss ended, "but I can't help it. I've never felt this way about another girl, Bebe. There's something very, very sexy about a guy with a nice sized thing and a cute pair of boobs. Especially when he's such a little cutie, like you."
She kissed his neck, then pulled back, "But, before we get carried away out here, you've got a date with that stud-ly young fella in there, tonight. So, go fix your lips and get ready to go. Uncle Ed will be done soon, I'm sure, and he'll be thrilled to go for a ride in his new Tesla."
Since it was a good long ride to the mall, Rose came along. She was happy to drag Ed around the mall to do some shopping for the three of them while John and Blaine went to the movie.
"Thank you, sir. I like your car, a lot. Congratulations," Blaine said as he got out of the car.
Ed slipped three, folded, twenty dollar bills into John's hand as John leaned in the window for a kiss, and Rose whispered "Be a good girl," when John leaned in to kiss her.
Blaine took John's petite hand in his larger one and they headed towards the entrance.
"You guys are close, huh?" He asked as they entered.
"I guess. We love each other, if that's what you mean."
Blaine snickered. "I love my mom and my brother and sister, but I don't kiss them goodbye before I go to a movie for a couple of hours."
"Is that weird?" John asked, actually a bit confused.
"Maybe. Who knows. Maybe my family is the weird one. Now that I think of it, we probably are."
They both laughed at that.
At the ticket counter, Blaine refused to let John buy his ticket. Same at the concessions. All John wanted was a Frozen Coke, but Blaine bought a huge tub of pop corn and some candy as well.
"Dude, we're up here," someone shouted as they entered the theater.
Blaine waved to the boy in the back of the theater. "That's my friend, Matt," he explained as they walked towards the back of the theater - a seating location that John hated. He preferred to be in the center of the theater - better sound - but he chose not complain.
"Dude, she's cute!" The boy said as Blaine and John approached. He sounded a little drunk or high. Not wasted, but feeling his oats.
Blaine made the introductions, "Bebe, this is my friend, Matt, and his girlfriend, Meg."
"Hi," John waved from his position behind Blaine.
"Bebe?" Meg said as she laughed too hard. "What kind of a name is that?" She showed signs of intoxication, too. John knew that rudeness and drinking or getting high went hand and hand and that was one of the many reasons he'd avoided it when he was a man. It was a little more awkward tonight, though. He was the youngest person here.
"It's a Knick name for Bianca," John said, politely.
"Bianca!" Meg laughed as if John had just delivered a joke with the precision of a seasoned standup comic. "Fancy, huh? BIANCA! Oh, my God."
Blaine looked back at John, a little embarrassed and a little confused. John just shook his head and sat down. Blaine sat between John and Meg and Matt sat beyond her.
"So, Dude," Matt leaned across Meg and whispered, loudly, "I got some stuff to make the movie better. Here."
He held his hand out and tried to pass something to Blaine, but Blaine just shook his head. "No thanks man. I'm fine."
"Well, what about your friend. Maybe she'd like some."
Blaine just looked forward and said, "We're Cool, Thanks."
"What's the matter," Meg's nasal voice cut through the entire theater like a laser, "you guys too good to party with us?"
Blaine turned to John and started talking about anything other than what was happening.
"I thought you said he was cool," Meg said loudly to Matt.
"I thought he was," Matt scoffed. "I figured if he was going out with a Notre Dame bitch, he'd need a little something."
John leaned forward, "Did you just call me a bitch?" John couldn't believe someone would call him that. He always tried to be polite to everyone. Why would this jerk call him a bitch!?
Matt just chuckled and shrugged.
"Come on, Blaine, let's sit somewhere else." John was gathering his purse, but Blaine held up his hands, asking John to hold on.
"Look, Matt," he said, calmly, "we just came to see the movie. If you guys want to hang with us, fine, but you gotta stop this stuff."
There was a silence in the back row while they all looked at the trivia questions flashing across the screen until Meg said in a stage whisper, "What is she, like a nun or something? What's Notre Dame, a convent?"
"Matt..." Blaine started, but Matt interrupted.
"Naw, but all those girls are synced up together, you know. It's like, if one's on the rag, they all are, and you'd better stay away from them when they are. Must be that time of the month."
"HEY!" Blaine yelled as he turned towards his friend.
"That's it," John said, "I'm leaving." He grabbed his purse and stormed down the stairs, leaving the drinks, pop corn and candy behind.
Blaine stood, "Bebe, Wait!" Then he turned to his friend and said in ambushed, angry voice, "You're a fucking asshole, Matt, you know that?" He grabbed the food and hustled after John, who was already down the stairs and headed for the exit.
Lacking any filters due to the drugs, Matt called after him, using his outside voice, "You're the fucking asshole, dude! What? Your leaving 'cause of some frigid cunt? What's wrong with you?"
Meg joined in, yelling, "Bitch! She's not giving you a blow job tonight, moron! Mousy little bitches like that never do!"
By now, the other patrons had had enough and were shouting at the back row. As Blaine exited, an usher was running into the theater and another was running for a manager.
By the time Blaine caught up with him, John was entering the main lobby and his phone was out.
"Bebe! Bebe, please, I'm sorry! I've never seen him like that. I'm sorry! I really am! Please, let's go see something else! Or, if you want, there's another showing of that movie in like a half hour. Look, I'm sorry. I really am!"
John held his phone by his side and considered what to do. When he turned to face Blaine, Blaine was surprised to see that his date was crying.
"Bebe... I'm so sorry. Honest. Please... don't leave." She looked so hurt and so sad, that Blaine's heart nearly broke. He stepped closer, uncertain as to what to do. A space remained between them. "He's an idiot. Guys are like that."
"No they're not, Blaine," John was trying as hard as possible to stop himself from breaking down. "I know lots of guys. He's a pig. I'm not a bitch, Blaine. I'm a nice person. I don't deserve to be treated like that."
"I know." He waited for Bebe to say something else, but she just stood there and waited for him to say something. "I'll make it up to you. Honest. I'll never let something like that happen, again. I promise. I'll take care of you. Please. Let's not end the night like this. I really like you, Bebe. I really want to be friends."
John nodded and sniffled back his tears.
"Come on," Blaine tried to smile. "Let's see when the next showing is."
He took John's hand and they headed towards the ticket counter when, from the side of the lobby, Matt's voice could be heard shouting, "Yeah, big deal, you're going to call the police! Well, up yours, asshole, we're leaving, so screw you."
They looked and saw a group of ushers and managers leading Matt and Meg out the side door. At the same time, blue lights could be seen flashing in the parking lot.
"I don't think I have to worry about Matt driving home under the influence tonight. I think he'll be sleeping it off with the police."
John nodded and watched the commotion, too.
"Want to go back into that theater and see the movie we bought tickets for?"
John shrugged. "Sure."
Ed had already walked a huge collection of bags of clothes back to the trunk of the Tesla, twice, by the time Rose suggested that they stop and have a coffee and dessert. Both enjoyed a cup of bitter coffee and a selection of small pastries.
"You did very well with that boy, Ed," Rose smiled. "You're a good guy, you know. To be honest, you surprise me. I kind of thought that I'd be the mature one, but I find myself acting like my mother did when I was Bebe's age."
Ed laughed at that. "I don't know, I think you're doing great in an odd situation. I mean, not many women your age have a boyfriend that's a fourteen year old girl." He thought for a moment before he asked, "You don't think we pushed him too hard to go out with this boy, do you?"
"I don't know," Rose shrugged, "but it would seem odd if a pretty girl wasn't interested in dating a handsome boy. I don't think there really was a choice. I do wonder, though, if this goes on too long, how far he'll go with a boy."
Ed looked confused, "What do you mean? He can't, you know, go all the way without letting the boy know that he's a boy, too."
"Well, Yeah, but, you know, if a girl dates a boy long enough, she's going to find herself on her knees at some point. It's kind of inevitable."
"Geez," Ed shook his head, "I hope he's ready for that if it comes to it. To tell you the truth, Rosie, sometimes I wish he really was just Bebe. You know, like Bebe was really... Bebe. I worry about him, a lot. He's not the guy I used to hang out with. He's a lot different, now. He's... well, he's not a he at all... she is a such a baby, now. The worst part about it is, even though I worry about her, I really like being her uncle. I feel like I'm a dad and I really enjoy it."
"I know, Ed, and believe me, she knows it, too. When I first met you guys in June, John was kind of the leader, you know? You even told me that you only stuck with theater to hang out with him. Now, he'd be lost without you. She's turned into your little girl. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Do you have a 'thing' for her?"
He smiled and shook his head. "No. I had a thing for Bianca, once, I guess, but... Can I tell you something? Something I need you to keep just between us?"
"Of course."
"For a long time... well... I kind of had a thing for... John."
"Really? Huh? That does surprise me a little, but, now that I think about it... it shouldn't. I can see it. Did you ever tell him?"
He scoffed. "No. Of course, not. I mean... I'm not really, a hundred percent, sure of where I fall on the sexuality scale, but John's the only guy I ever felt that way about. Usually, I'm attracted to girls, but... well, John definitely pushed some buttons for me and when he became Bianca... he was kind of my perfect partner for a little while."
"And now?"
"Now? No. Never, now. John's gone and so is Bianca and Bebe's just...d my little girl. I can't think of her any other way. It still love her with all my heart, just... not like that."
Rose reached across the table and rubbed her hand along the back of Ed's. "Thank you for sharing that with me, Ed. I know it wasn't easy."
"It's easy if you trust someone. I trust you, Rosie. We make a good team."
"We do. Thank you, Ed."
"Thank you, Rosie."
The movie had been a lot of fun. Typical of the Marvel Movie Universe, the action, humor, spectacle and human drama were perfectly parsed out throughout the film. They'd both enjoyed it.
'JUST GETTING SOME ICE CREAM AT HALO'S' John had text to Ed and Rose when they'd left the theater. Now, as they threw away their napkins and headed back into the mall, John text, 'ALL DONE. WHERE SHOULD WE MEET YOU?'
'MAIN ENTRANCE. 15 MINUTES.' Rose had replied.
"I had a nice time," Blaine said as they walked hand in hand. "I'm really sorry about Matt..."
"I had a good time, too," John interrupted. "I'm glad Matt and Meg had to leave. They were..."
"Pigs," Blaine finished the thought. "Yeah. I'm sorry." He hesitated, obviously considering how to say something. "Hey, ummm, could I, maybe, kiss you goodnight before we meet your family?"
John stopped walking and turned to look at the boy who had been his escort for the evening. Blaine was tall, strong and handsome. Truly the opposite of John, who was small, weak and cute. Maybe Rose was right. He was just as different from Blaine as he was from her. Shy of finding a flat chested person with a vagina, John would always find himself in 'gay' situation, whether he was with a man or a woman - or, in this case, a boy. His smile grew as he considered how nicely Blaine had kissed him at the homecoming dance. That had been lovely. Why not, then. "Sure. If you want to."
"If I want to!?" Blaine laughed. "I've wanted to all night, but between Matt messing everything up and my fear that your uncle, who is much younger and stronger than I expected, by the way, was somewhere in the theater behind me, I was afraid to do it."
That made John giggle. "Well, am I scaring you, now?"
"Kinda," the boy teased. "Can I, then?"
John nodded.
Blaine moved in, slowly and gently, and wrapped his arms around the adorable image of a teenaged girl that stood before him. God, he had such a thing for her! Just her touch and her smell was intoxicating. He savored every second as his embrace brought her closer. And she never closed her eyes! She looked right at him. She wasn't imagining someone else. She was kissing him and thinking about him.
Slowly, their lips touched. She was warm and tasted of lipstick and vanilla ice cream. He felt her arms wrap under his, so that her arms reached up the back of each of his and her hands rested, small and dainty, on his upper back, unable to clasp each other.
The kiss lasted several seconds and when it ended, they didn't break their embrace. They didn't even separate. They held each other, their lips centimeters from each other.
"I had a really nice time with you," Bebe said quietly. "Thank you for taking me."
"Thanks for coming," Blaine replied, just as quietly. It was as if they were alone in this giant mall. All he could see, feel or sense, was her. "You look beautiful. Did you buy that dress just for tonight?"
Bebe smiled and giggled a little. "Ella bought it for me. I'm glad you like it, though."
The boy hugged her, just a little more tightly. "Ella wouldn't have looked half as pretty in it as you."
Something about that remark stirred a girlish part of John. It was the nicest thing a boy could have said to him. He was lost in all things feminine, now. 'Just be soft and pretty for this boy. Be what he wants you to be.'
Slowly, again, Blaine's lips closed the gap between them and their lips met even more gently than before. This time, the kiss lasted longer and felt even more right. Blaine was losing track of time, of place and of himself, lost in the feeling of holding this amazing girl in his arms, when his new reality was interrupted by the sound of someone, someone very close by, clearing his throat.
"Ah Hmm," the nearby person said, again, and much louder.
John peeked out of one eye to see who it was and the sight scared the daylights out of hi. "Oh, shit," he muttered, causing John's eyes to fly open.
"Uncle Ed!" They separated quickly. "We were just..."
"Yeah. I know what 'you were just...'" Ed's expression seemed more bemused than angry. "Come on, you two. Let's get going." He threw his arm around Blaine's shoulders and led him towards the exit.
"I'm sorry, sir," Blaine said, as he looked over his shoulder to check that Bebe and Rose were following. The last thing he wanted was to be alone with Bebe's uncle, right now. Thank goodness, the girls were following, arm and arm, behind.
"It's ok, son," Ed said kindly. "Maybe you could be a little more discreet - a little less... public, in the future. I guarantee, a month from now, a picture of you two kissing will be captured by TMZ. Let's avoid making that possible, ok?"
"Ok. Yes, sir. Thank you for not killing me."
Ed laughed as he shook the boy's shoulders.
"You've got to be more careful than that once the show starts airing, Beebs," Rose whispered as she linked her arm into John's and they followed the men towards the exit. "You can't let photographers catch you kissing a boy in the mall."
"Ok," John whispered. He was both enthralled in romance and horrified with the shame of being caught kissing a boy.
They walked in silence for a moment, before Rose whispered, "Did you like it, though?"
John smiled, giggled a little and shrugged.
"Ooh, you little slut." She kissed his cheek as he blushed.
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 5
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the fourteen year old girl he agreed to become. Blaine has some news and an offer, too.
Author's Note: As always, I adore your reviews! Please, toss me a review, good or bad? ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 5 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.
FINDING A NEW PATH -or- SHE GENERALLY GAVE HERSELF GOOD ADVICE
"Oh, my God! He's gorgeous!" Annie's voice came through the FaceTime connection on John's phone.
"You dated that guy!?" Cassie was incredulous! "You're not even a star, yet!" She teased. "You shouldn't be able to get a guy like that until you're a mega-star! Like Jennifer Lawrence, or something!"
John giggled. "I didn't 'get' him! We just went to the movies together."
"And homecoming!" Cassie corrected.
"Yeah," Annie interrupted, "and you hung up on us to take his call and it took, like, an hour for you to call back."
John giggled, blushed and shrugged. "What can I say? He's very nice."
"And gorgeous!" Annie repeated.
"Ok, ok, ok," John gave in, "he is gorgeous. Anyway, I called tonight because I'm going to be on set all day, everyday this week and I wanted to let you know that I wasn't blowing you off, or anything. I'll call or text when I can."
"Cool, and we'll do the same," Cassie smiled. "So, when are you going to be on Ellen?"
"Ummm," John looked at his calendar. "Looks like October twenty-eight. The whole cast is on to promote the two-hour, debut episode."
"Get outta town," Cassie's jaw had literally dropped. "I was just kidding. You're actually going to be on Ellen!?!?"
"Yeah, I guess. We're going to be on a bunch of shows that week. You know, to promote the series."
Annie shook her head. "Wow. You really are becoming a star, aren't you?"
"I don't know. I'm just lucky enough to be on the series. We'll see what happens from there. Listen, I gotta go. Rose just stuck her head in and said that dinner was ready. Love you guys!"
"Love you, too," the sisters said in unison.
"Oh!" John stopped before terminating the call. "When are you coming out? I know it's Veteran's Day weekend, but what day are you getting here?"
"Umm," Cassie checked her calendar, "we arrive on Thursday, the tenth, and we leave on Sunday the thirteenth. Wow! Your show will have been on for two weeks by then!"
"And you'll be a star!" Annie giggled. "When we go to Disneyland, people will recognize you! That'll be amazing!"
"I doubt it," John laughed. "I look a little younger on the show. Besides, with streaming and everything else, people don't all watch the same shows, anymore. No one will know who I am."
"Bebe!" Rose's voice cut into his room. "We're waiting and supper's getting cold!"
"Oops," Cassie made a face. "You'd better go!"
"Yep!" John got up from his bed and headed to the dinning room. "Love ya!" He sent them an air-kiss. "Bye!"
"Bye, Bebe!" The sisters returned the kiss and John hit the 'end' button, just as he reached the table.
"Sorry."
"How are the girls?" Ed asked.
"Good. Excited about visiting next month."
"I bet they are," Rose laughed. "Those girls are just a pile of joy and energy molded into girls' bodies. They were excited to spend time at your house at The Cape. This will be incredible for them! Traveling across country by themselves, spending time with their TV star friend. I bet their crawling out of their skin, already."
"Huh," Ed was looking at his tablet. "Look what my aunt just sent me." He turned the screen to show Rose and John a photo of all three of them as well Don and Marion. It was taken on the church-parkinglot -set on the day that they'd filmed there.
"Where did that come from?" Rose asked.
"According to my aunt, she went to the dentist's office today and picked up Entertainment Magazine and there was a story about the show. This picture was captioned, 'Don Ferry's TV family prepares for the inevitable explosion when this show hits the airways.'"
"Wow!" Rose pulled out her tablet and did a google search for Entertainment Magazine. "This is getting pretty real, huh?"
She found the article on the site. "It's a critic's choice for upcoming shows." She read the short article out loud.
'One time Action Star, Don Ferry, returns to the small screen for the first time in twenty years with next week's debut of his new series, 'Civil Disobedience' on ABC. Ferry's last TV appearance was as a murder suspect on 'Law and Order.' Since then, he has started his own theater company in Palm Springs and he has appeared in three highly praised Broadway plays, including last seasons 'The View From The Bridge' for which he won a Tony Award.'
'His new series, set in the early 1960s, follows the life of a Los Angeles policeman who recently lost his wife, his rookie partner (new comer Edward McNeal), his mother-in-law (TV staple Marion Holt) and his two daughters (newcomers Rose Carlson and Bebe Foley). '
'Buzz around this show and these unknown actors, particularly fourteen year old, Bebe Foley, has been intense around Hollywood, recently. Although I can reveal nothing about the show at this time, I have seen the rough cut of the debut, two-hour long episode and I will confirm that the hype is well deserved. I highly recommend that you set your recorder to catch this show.'
"Look," she turned her tablet towards the others. "There's two more pictures."
One was of Don looking intense and speaking into an old style, black phone. The caption read, 'Ferry's character, Jason Richmond'
The other was a candid shot taken on the soundstage of Ed sitting on a bench with his arms stretched across the back. On one side, Rose had her head laid on Ed's shoulder. On the other, John had his head resting on Ed's chest. The caption read, 'Long time friends, now cast mates, Carlson and her real-life cousin, Foley, rest on costar MacNeal during a break in shooting.'
"Wow." John was both excited and shocked that his image appeared in a national magazine. "I should call my mom and Nancy. They'll want to see this."
He started to rise, but Rose stopped him. "Beebs, honey. Eat first, then call your mom."
"Oh, please, Rose. If she hears about it from someone else, she'll get mad at me."
"Let her call her mom, Rose. She can heat up her dinner in the microwave, later." Ed smiled at Rose.
Rose shook her head in frustration. "Oh, Alright, but you should thank your Uncle Ed for having that sweet smile, or I would have said, 'no.'"
"Thanks. And thanks, Uncle Ed." The last part was called over his shoulder as John ran back into his bedroom to start making a series of phone calls.
"And cut," the director called. "Don and Rose, I need you for a few closeups. Bebe, you're free for a couple of hours. See a PA to check, but I think you're on set again at about 6:30. That's about two hours from now. Thanks, sweetheart."
A woman with a clipboard came over to John and said, "That's right. You're due back on set at 6:30. See Julia at 6:10 to check your hair and make up. Right now, you're scheduled to take an American History test with your tutor. The classroom is in room 'H' at the end on the dressing room hallway. Do you need anything?"
It had been a grueling week and it was only Thursday. When he wasn't required on set, John was working with a tutor, or running lines with the younger cast. Everyone else was remarking on the amount of downtime they had, but John's schedule didn't give him time to think. Add to that the director's penchant to have John and Don improvise their scenes together, and John was finding himself dragging his butt around the soundstage.
He was also getting texts from his mother, Ella, MK, Cassie and Annie all complaining that he was not answering their communications. It was a lot to deal with. When he was acting, he was exhilarated and energized, but, as soon as the cameras stopped, his energy level plummeted and he could barely think straight.
John sighed. He really would rather just look at the script for next scene or, better yet, sleep, rather than take a History test. "Do you know which tutor is here, now?"
The PA flipped through her pages. "Umm... Oh, it's Stephanie."
John nodded. 'Of course it is,' he thought. "I really need to take a nap," John told the woman. "Do you think that I could have a rest before I take the test?"
The PA smiled and said, "Of course you can..." but a familiar voice cut her off.
"No. You can take a nap AFTER the test, if there is time, but your school work comes first." Miss Stephanie stood with her arms folded, waiting for John to join her.
John looked to the PA for help, but the twenty-something woman just gave him a sympathetic smile and a shrug.
He followed Miss Stephanie to room 'H' which was set up to be a makeshift classroom. The tutor on duty had a desk in the front of the room and there were a half-dozen two-foot-by-four-foot tables acting as desks. Sometimes, John was in here with other members of the younger cast, but, more often than not, it was just him and one of the tutors.
Attempting to be friendly, he asked, "Are you enjoying the show, Miss Stephanie?"
"Well, to tell you the truth," Miss Stephanie looked thoughtful, "even though this kind of story is far from my cup of tea, I am very impressed by Don's professionalism."
John had noticed Miss Stephanie's moon-eyed behavior whenever she was in the vicinity of the famous actor. He was amused that she called him 'Don' when he wasn't around, but she always called him 'Mr Ferry' when speaking to him.
"I do think that it's a shame that the production company chose to hire less experienced actors for the ensemble, rather than surround Don with an appropriate cast. I guess they just wanted to save money."
"Yeah... I guess," John mumbled, not surprised, but still slightly hurt, by the remark.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean you, Bianca. Of course, a young actress is always going to be an unknown, but your aunt and uncle... I, mean, you must see it, too."
Not quite knowing which part of that statement to respond to, since it was all designed to provoke him, John took the safest subject. "Rose is my cousin. Not my aunt."
"Well," she purred, happy to have been rude to her student, "be that as it may, I stand by my critique."
John nodded, resigned that Miss Stephanie was looking for ways to hurt him at all times, sat where he was instructed and Miss Stephanie pulled out a multi-paged document and placed it in front of him, face down.
The test did not come as a surprise to John. He knew that he would have to take it either today or tomorrow and he was prepared, but except for a one hour lunch break, he'd been on set since 8:00 that morning and he was tired. Oh, well, he knew the unit from the history book, 'Road To Revolution,' backwards and forwards. Between having already taken the subject six years earlier and growing up in Massachusetts, where the heroes of The American Revolution lived on as part of everyday life AND having a college professor/history buff for a mom, he was well steeped in the subject.
"You have forty-five minutes to take the test. Section one is multiple choice. Section two is short answers and section three has three prompts for essays. Pick two of them and write a minimum of a five hundred word essay in reply to each of those two prompts. Any questions?"
"No, Miss,"
She pulled out her phone and set the timer. "You may begin."
Section one was easy. Fifty multiple choice questions. He flew through it.
Section two required just a little more thought. Each of the fifty questions required a one sentence answer. Still, not a big challenge.
When he turned to the essay prompts, he'd only used up seventeen minutes of his allotted forty-five, but then he spotted a problem. The essay prompts in his 'Road To Revolution' unit test had nothing to do with the American Revolution. The prompts read
Explain the Harding administration's responsibility in the Teapot Dome Scandal.
Explain how the practice of instant credit contributed to the stock market crash of 1929.
What lasting impact did the judgement in the Sacco and Vanzetti trial have on American society?
John raised his hand and waited until Miss Stephanie chose to acknowledge him. "Yes?"
"Miss, I think the last page is from another test."
"I'm sorry, Bianca," she smirked like a cat who'd just swallowed the last morsel of a canary, "but are you accusing me of something?"
What a strange response. "No, Miss, but the questions aren't about the Revolutionary War."
"Huh? Well, that's the test I was given, so that's the text you will take."
"But, Miss..."
"Tick-tock, Bianca. When this alarm goes off, I am taking your paper. If you're trying to waste time until the clock runs out, and then asking for more time, it won't work."
"No, Miss, I'm not, but if I could just show you..."
"That's enough talking, Bianca!" She was staring John down. "You have twenty minutes and twenty-three seconds to finish that test. I strongly suggest that you stop talking and get to work."
John's face was flushed with frustration. What was wrong with this woman? He controlled his breathing and determined to wipe that smug look off of her face and he went to work on the essays.
"What do you think, Alex?" Don as 'Jason' asked as the character and his daughter sat at a table in a darkened kitchen, eating brownie batter from spatulas.
'Alex' shrugged. "He seems like a nice guy and Susan's not stupid, daddy. As long as he treats her nice and she's happy, what difference does it make?"
"Well, Susie's still in high school and he's my partner. I'm afraid people will talk."
'Alex' shrugged. "He's only five years older than her and he is a nice guy... and you were five years older than mom..."
'Jason' licked the last of the batter from the bowl. "It's all gone."
"Want me to make some more."
The policeman smiled at his daughter. "Why not. I'm not going anywhere." He smiled as his youngest daughter, clad in a pink, chenille bathrobe, rose, took the mixing bowl with her and began working at the counter behind him. He licked the spatula, again, and gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
"And... cut!" The director called. "Great work, everyone! That's a wrap for today! Everyone's called back here at 8:00 tomorrow morning. Get some rest!"
Conversations broke out everywhere. Don put his arm around John's shoulders and they headed towards the dressing rooms. "Nice work, angel." Don kissed his temple. "I love acting with you, honey, and I rarely say that to anyone. The three of you are just great for an old fart like me."
John smiled and giggled at the remark. "Thanks, Don. I think you're amazing. Thanks for taking a chance on us."
They turned the corner and saw Ed and Rose speaking to Miss Stephanie. "Uh, Oh." Don laughed. "What did you do to the wicked witch of the west?"
John sighed. He knew that this had to be about the test. He didn't want to deal with it, though. He just wanted to go to bed. "I think I might have passed a test and made her mad."
"Alright. That makes perfect sense, I guess." As they approached the teacher and John's guardians, Don smiled. "Why the long faces, folks? Why, Miss Stephanie, you are looking quite lovely today."
Miss Stephanie blushed. "Well, thank you, Mr Ferry, but I am discussing a concern with Bianca's guardians. I think we have a big problem."
"Really," Don looked shocked. "What kind of a problem?"
"Well, if you must know," she stared directly at John, "I believe that Bianca cheated on her History test. I think she must have brought a cell phone into the classroom and, somehow, used it to look up information to write her essays."
"Huh?" Don took the essays and looked at them.
"Bebe," Ed asked, "do you have anything to say?"
"I didn't cheat." John said flatly.
"Oh, really?" Miss Stephanie crossed her arms. "Well, then, you're one of the smartest fourteen year olds I've ever met. I've been teaching for more than a decade and I've never seen a high school freshman write like this and, besides, how would you know anything about either The Teapot Dome Scandal or the Sacco and Vanzetti Trial?"
"Miss Stephanie, my mom is a college professor and a history buff. We talked about history at home the way that other people talk about sports or movies. The lady across the street from us is a direct descendent of Calvin Coolidge and she told us stories about how her grandfather struggled to put Teapot Dome behind him when he became President. I know this stuff because I know this stuff - not because I cheated."
"Well," Ed nodded, "what she's saying is certainly true. I never once left the Foley house without learning at least a dozen new things."
"You're right," Rose agreed. "My Aunt Marilyn was always discussing books and history. I think that you have to accept that Bebe is just very knowledgeable about history, Miss Stephanie."
"Even if I did believe that," the tutor was angry, "what about her level of writing....?"
"What about her level of acting?" Don interrupted.
"What?"
"I said, 'What about her level of acting?' Miss Stephanie."
"What about it?"
"Miss Stephanie," Don handed the test back to her, "Bebe is the most gifted actress I have ever worked with and, as you pointed out, she's only fourteen. If she's that gifted as an actress, why should we be shocked that she's able to write well, too? I mean, they're both creative activities, right? I see no reason to doubt her abilities."
"Well," Miss Stephanie chuckled condescendingly, "I think that you and I may have drastically different opinions of Bianca's abilities, Mr Ferry..."
"Perhaps," Don nodded, "but I have taught theater, too, Miss Stephanie, and I have worked, professionally with more actors than you've ever met, so, my opinion carries more weight in this discussion. Regardless, though, Miss Stephanie, why was my little girl, here, given a test on events of the 1920s when she was taking a test titled 'Road To Revolution?'"
"Well, obviously, those pages were attached to the test
mistakenly..."
Don reached for the test, again, and tore off the last few pages. "Then I'll just throw these away," he said as he tore the pages off, folded them and tossed them into a nearby waste basket. "Miss Stephanie, we are all tired and want to go home. None of us want to stand here and discuss a test that should never have been given. So, ask Bebe's History teacher to provide the correct essay questions to you and Bebe will take that part of the test tomorrow. Until then, if you need me to speak to either the tutorial company or your Head Mistress, I would be more than happy to do so - IN THE MORNING. Right now, we are all going home. Good night Ms Stephanie."
He put his arm around John's shoulders again and led him towards his dressing room.
"Mr Ferry, I am not happy about this..."
"I truly do not care," Don called back. "GOOD NIGHT, Miss Stephanie. We can discuss this further when you arrive back on set tomorrow afternoon."
When they were in John's dressing room, Rose said, "What were you thinking, Bebe? You should have just told her that you'd been given the wrong test."
"I did! She wouldn't listen. She put those pages there on purpose. She thinks she's so smart! I just couldn't let her get away with it!"
"Still, you need to be smarter about things like this."
"No, she shouldn't," Don sighed. "That woman is a meddling pain in the ass and Bebe did nothing wrong. Leave the child alone and go get some rest. We're all exhausted and on edge. Don't let that woman get to you. Bebe," he kissed John's cheek, " never let someone like that beat you." He winked at him. "Go get some rest, Beebs. Remember, you're my favorite daughter."
As he hugged John, Rose shouted, "Hey! What do you mean SHE'S youR 'favorite' daughter!? What about me?"
"I stand by what I said. Just don't tell Amanda," he opened the door to leave.
"Who's Amanda?" Ed asked.
Don smiled. "My real daughter." He laughed and closed the door behind him.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," Rose's voice and the kiss she planted on John's cheek cut into his deep sleep. The entire week had been a blur of work and he was exhausted. He'd managed to avoid Miss Stephanie on Friday, but that day had ended with a rehearsal of the next week's incredible schedule of running from one promotional interview to another. Don and Marion had done these dozens of times, but the idea of speaking as themselves on television was very nerve wracking for the three younger actors. Tuesday and Wednesday would focus on the morning shows. Marion would do The Today Show on Tuesday while Rose, John and Ed did Good Morning America and Don would do Fox. On Wednesday, the trio of newbies would switch with Marion who'd switch with Don, then they'd all be on The View. On Thursday, show day, they were all appearing on Ellen, which was an NBC show, but the buzz around Don and 'Civil Disobedience' was so big, that she was dedicating the entire episode to this cast. Don would handle all the late night line up - Fallon, Colbert, Kimmel and Corden.
The prep rehearsals were primarily a series of questions that the actors would answer, then receive corrections as well as dozens of camera tests to see how clothing and makeup played on camera. John found it a thousand times more exhausting than doing the actual show.
He grunted from the covers he'd pulled over his head to dissuade Rose from waking him. "What time is it?"
"10:30. You've been in bed for twelve hours."
"Still sleepy. Need sleep."
Rose pulled the covers off of him with one quick pull, eliciting a screech of Nooooo!!!" from the little figure in the baby-blue sheath nightie who had pulled itself into the fetal position when the cool air of the bedroom had hit its skin.
"Come on. You made a date with your little school friends. They're coming over at noon and, to be perfectly honest, you are a smelly mess. So, get up and get going. I'm making you bacon and eggs."
He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat with his hair hanging in a tangled mess on either side. "I'm not supposed to eat bacon or eggs, any more. I'm on a strict diet."
"Yeah, well, you need some protein, too. You're walking around like a zombie. Tofu's not going to give you what you need. One day of Bacon and eggs isn't going to kill you and maybe it'll kickstart your motor. Now, come." She took his hands in hers and pulled him upright. She turned him towards the lavatory off of his bed room and slapped his bottom. "Get in there and get cleaned up."
"Ouch! Why does everyone like to slap my butt?"
Rose giggled at him as he walked away, rubbing his rear end. "Because it's such a cute, little butt. You'd like it if you could see it, too."
Just after noon, while John was rinsing off his plate, Rose answered the door security buzzer. Moments later, there was a knock on their door.
"Hi! You must be Ella and Mary Kate," Rose greeted them with a welcoming grin. "I'm Bebe's cousin, Rose. Come on in. Beebs' is in the kitchen. Go ahead, through." She pointed the way and the girls bounded in to see their friend, leaving a beautifully dressed woman standing in the doorway.
"Hi, I'm Rose. Come on in," she invited.
As woman entered, Rose noticed the woman's clothes were casual, in a California-rich sort of way, and, obviously, VERY expensive. Even the baby carrier suspended from her left hand looked expensive. The baby within the carrier was shielded by a blue and gold cloth cover.
"Hi," the woman sang, "I'm Joy Keller, Ella's mom." She extended her hand. "I hope I'm not intruding. I just wanted to say 'hi' and meet you."
Rose offered the woman a seat, which she accepted, and a beverage, which she politely declined.
"I'm sorry that I had to bring Ella's little brother, but the nanny has Saturdays off."
"No problem at all," Rose assured her. "He's very quiet."
"For now. Anyway, I just wanted to meet you. You're quite a bit younger than I expected. How long have you been Bianca's guardian?"
"Just a few weeks, actually. It's because we're on the same TV show and her mom wanted Bebe's Uncle Ed and I to be able to make decisions for her. She's a very good girl, though. Usually, it's pretty easy."
"And will you be driving the girls to the rock-wall center, today?" Ella, apparently, loved to climb rock walls and John and MK were being introduced to the sport, today.
"Well, no, actually, Bebe's Uncle Ed will be driving, but I'll be going, too. You know, just to help keep an eye on the girls."
"Oh. I see. I don't mean to sound patronizing, it's just that your age surprised me, and Ella's safety is very important to me."
"Oh, no, I understand, completely. Honestly. Ed and I are the same way with Bebe."
Just then the infant in the carrier made himself known with a series of unhappy noises. "Oh, dear, I'm sorry," said the child's mother. Someone woke up wet and messy. Excuse me for just a second."
Before Rose could explain to the woman where the lavatory was, the woman shouted, "Ella! Ella, honey, come here, please. Ronnie needs to be changed."
'Of course,' thought Rose. 'This woman has probably never changed a diaper in her life.'
"Did you call me, mom?" Ella asked as she entered the room, followed by her two friends.
"Yes, honey. I need to finish my conversation with Rose. Would you mind changing your brother's diaper?"
The resigned smirk that crossed the child's face made it clear to Rose that this was her mother's modus operandi. "Sure. No problem." She lifted her sibling - half sibling, in fact, as all of hers were - from the carrier, cooing to him all the way, "Are you a messy, boy? Huh? Are you a messy boy?" Once the baby was safely resting against her shoulder, Ella reached for her mother's large bag, which Rose had assumed was just a pocket book, and headed out of the room.
"Where do you want to change him?" John asked. Being the youngest in his family and, until recently, male, he had no experience with babies at all.
"If you can grab me a towel, I can change him on the floor, anywhere."
"Ok. Come on into my room."
John's room was fairly sparsely decorated. Besides the short time since he'd lived in Los Angeles, he didn't have a lot of items at home that would appear appropriate in the room of a young woman. Rose had decorated the room with lavender bed clothes and curtains, but the rest of the room's decor consisted of just a white, wrought iron, queen sized bed, a white dresser and a two white night stands. Nothing overtly feminine.
John grabbed a towel from the lavatory and spread it on the floor for Ella. He watched as she laid the three month old down and undid his onesie to reveal his soiled, diaper.
"You need to decorate your room," MK said as she looked at the collection of cosmetics, hair sprays and beauty tools neatly assembled on top of the white dresser. "Even hotels have pictures."
John laughed at the remark. "I know, but I came in a rush and we're still not sure how long we're going to be in this condo. If things go well, we'll look for a house. If they don't, we'll have to get something cheaper or move back to Massachusetts. So, decorating hasn't been part of the plan, so far." He watched as MK moved around the room, casually inspecting what little evidence there was of John's personal life.
"We need to go shopping, Bebe. Like - stat! This room is just sad. You need stuff."
He laughed, then looked back at Ella, who was removing the diaper and using it as a wipe, still cooing to her brother. "That's my good boy," she sang over and over again.
John became fascinated with the easy and natural way that Ella handled the baby. She seemed to be very comfortable caring for him, whereas John would have been petrified to even hold something that small and human.
Without even thinking, he muttered, "He's beautiful."
Ella smiled up at him, surprised by his fascination. "What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a baby before?"
John shrugged. "Not really. I'm the youngest in my family."
"Didn't you ever babysit?" MK asked, giggling a little.
"Nope," John's eyes remained focused on the baby.
"Kneel down and help me," Ella laughed. "It's not hard. I've already gotten rid of the poop. Here, take a baby wipe and clean his whole diaper area in front."
He took the wipe and wiped, carefully.
"Not like that," Ella laughed at his ineptness. "Like this." She took another wipe and demonstrated as she took a thorough approach to the matter at hand. "Make sure he's good and clean."
MK watched and laughed. "Get his wee-wee good and clean, too." She was very surprised that a girl her own age was this skittish near a baby.
John did his best, but Ella was a pro. She had her brother spic and span in moments. "See, just make sure that you get everywhere. No big deal. You get used to the poop and baby pee is nothing. You're lucky he didn't let go while you were cleaning him. Boys do that, you know. They really can't control it."
"I hear that they can't control it when they're older, either," MK teased, making John blush.
"Hey, don't be fresh in front of the baby," Ella laughed and threw a used, but not badly soiled, baby wipe at MK. Then, she lifted the baby's legs and slid the fresh diaper in, dropped his legs and finished the job at hand. In seconds, the onesie was snapped shut and she was picking up a happy, gurgling baby. "Here, hold him while I clean all this up," she said as she casually laid the child on John's shoulder and walked away.
The baby was warm and happy and he smelled, well, he smelled like heaven. Baby powder and that scent that a baby has. Hmmm, it was a beautiful smell.
He looked up at John and smiled. His eyes were big, blue orbs that just melted John's heart and he slammed his wobbling head against John's sensitive chest, but it didn't hurt. It felt nice. Without thinking he started a little bounce and cooed a little song of his own to the child. "What a good boy you are. Yes you are."
"Uh Oh," MK giggled. "Someone's got mommy eyes." She came behind John and put her hands on his shoulders. "Don't start thinking about being a mommy, too soon, Bebe, but, you know what? You and Blaine would sure make beautiful babies."
That brought a little pang of sadness to him. Right now, as he held this child, more than anything, he wanted to be a mom. A true mom. To carry a child and give it life and birth it and nourish it from his own self, but he knew that he'd never be able to do that.
Ella returned from the lav and looked at her happy little brother who was being held by her new friend. "Someone's got a new friend, doesn't she? Are you Bebe's friend, huh?"
She smiled at John, then her eyes screwed up in concern. "Are you crying?"
John shook his head and hugged the baby. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I just never held a baby before..."
"Ok, this is getting really weird," MK said. "Are you seriously trying to tell me that there are no babies in Massachusetts?"
"Don't be stupid," Ella chided, with a big laugh. "She's just never held one before. She's probably just hormonal. You get that way, too."
MK nodded. That made sense. "Is it nearly time for your 'ladies' week?'"
"My what?" John bounced the baby and smiled at MK, not understanding the question.
"Your time of the month?" MK restated the question.
"Oh!" John thought for a moment before responding. "No. Not for about ten days, I think." That seemed like a safe response.
"You THINK?" MK was horrified. "You don't know EXACTLY when it's coming?"
John shook his head. Should he?
"Relax, Bebe," Ella smiled. "MK has very hard periods. I usually just go by when I start feeling bloated. She's like a twenty-eight day clock, though. Once you get used to her, you'll know when she's about to go onto her 'ladies' week,' too. She gets weepy and grumpy and hungry and short tempered... she's a blast to be around."
To John, this would have seemed like a horrible thing to say to a friend, but MK just laughed it off. "So, consider yourself warned, Bebe! Mark your calendar and steer clear!"
"It's really the cramps that get to her. I don't really get them. How about you?"
John didn't know what the appropriate answer to this question should be. Geez, why wasn't there a class covering all of this in college!? "Not really, at least not often. I'm sorry that you do, MK."
"Hey," she laughed, "it's just the price you have to pay to be this beautiful!"
They all giggled at that, and Ella led them back to where her mother and Rose were just finishing up their conversation.
"Aww, Beebs," Rose teased. "You make such a perfect little mommy. I think he likes you."
"I like him, a lot," John kissed the baby's nearly bald head. He felt very warm and smelled wonderful. "We need to get one of these, Rose."
Rose laughed. "Well, not too soon, please. You're only fourteen, honey. You're the only baby I want to see in this house."
"Maybe you could look into it, then," he smiled wickedly at his 'cousin.'
Her eyes narrowed and she smirked at him. "You sound an awful lot like my mother, right now, Beebs. Maybe we should change the subject."
Instead on antagonizing her any further, he turned to Ella's mother and said, "Can we keep this one? I really like him." He smiled sillily at the wealthy woman.
"I'll tell you, Bebe, there have been plenty of nights when I would have taken you up on that offer, but, for now, I'm afraid I need to take him with me. It'd be too hard to explain his disappearance to his father."
She extended her arms and John exercised a huge amount of care in transferring the little parcel to its mother. Once the child was safely back in his seat, Ella's mom headed out the door with the child in tow. John watched as the elevator door closed and he felt a little sad and somewhat wanting for his new friend.
Rose stood behind him, robbing his bared arms. "Someday, baby. I'm sure you'll be a great mommy, someday."
Just as before, he felt a pang of sadness that he could never really be a mom - fully and completely. There were three other people in the room and they could all do things that he never could. They could give birth and nurse and nurture. Who knew if, when the hormones had all taken hold of his body, if he'd even be able to father a child. How could he have never truly considered having children in his life? He needed to give this aspect of femininity some sincere
consideration and he needed to talk to some people - doctors, his mom, Rose, Nancy - about all of this.
"We need to get ready to go," Rose said. "Go see if Uncle Ed is out of the shower."
"Oh!" MK raised her hand. "Can I go? I saw him at Notre Dame once. He's a hunk!"
"Ewww," John made a face. "That's my Uncle you're talking about!" He hurried down the hallway, giggling to himself, and knocked on Ed's door.
Ed stuck his head out. He was freshly shaven and wearing a smart looking, red polo shirt. "Hey, Beebs. Almost ready?"
"Yeah, Ella's mom just left."
"Ok." Ed hesitated before he said, "Can you come in for a just a second?"
"Sure."
Once inside, Ed indicated that John should sit on the bed. "Umm," Ed vacillated for a moment of two, "I just got a text and I'm not sure how I should answer it."
"Oh? About what?"
"Well, you, actually."
"About me? Who sent it?"
"Blaine."
This perpetual state of confusion in which John kept finding himself was getting tiring. "Blaine? Why would he send you a text."
Ed knelt in front of his 'niece' and looked John in the eye. "Bebe... Blaine has broken up with his Florida girlfriend."
"Oh. Well, that's not all that surprising, I suppose. I mean, even adults can't maintain a real long distance relationship. It was bound to happen. Do you think he's ok?"
"He's more than ok, Beebs. He's on the move. He sent me a text asking if it would be ok with me if he was to ask you to go steady."
John stared at Ed, unable to answer. This was supposed to be a complication-free friendship. Now, what?
"It's a really sweet text, Beebs. I bet he spent a long time writing and rewriting it before he hit 'send.' He says that he thinks you're smart and beautiful and talented and he thinks he might be falling in love with you. He said that he wouldn't ask you to go steady, though, unless I approved. I think he's a little scared of me. What do you want me to tell him?"
"I don't know," John said. "My first impulse is to say 'no,' but that would probably hurt him. I mean, he's a nice boy, good looking, polite... there's nothing wrong with HIM at all. The problems are all ME. Rose said that, no matter who my partner is, I've got to get used to the fact that I'm always going to be, kind of, in a gay
relationship, but going steady with a boy... I just don't know."
Ed reached across and moved some strands of hair from John's face. "Well, if there is even a little interest in this boy, maybe I should just tell him I need to think it over so that you and Rosie and I can discuss it. How does that sound?"
John nodded. "I guess."
"Ok, baby." He kissed John's forehead. "It'd probably be best if we just put this on hold until after your play date with your friends today. What do you say?"
John nodded again. He did take note of Ed's use of the term 'play date,' though.
"Alright. Go on, then, I'll be right out."
John left in a daze, but MK, Rose and Ella called to him as he passed his room. He turned to find the three of them looking into his dresser and closet.
"Houston, we have a problem," Ella announced.
Rose said, "You have no leggings or pants. We need to get you some to go climbing. We'll stop on the way."
John nodded. If only all of his problems were this easy to solve.
They settled on a pair of black yoga pants from a sporting supply store that was near the wall-climbing center. John had not worn any pants in months, but these were remarkably soft and comfortable. He understood why women wore them outside of yoga classes. Ed and Rose left John and the girls to have fun, while they went off to buy John dance-wear at a nearby dance-center.
A somewhat creepy twenty-something man who's stutter was nearly crippling, helped them all on with their safety rigging and walked them, slowly, due to the stutter, through the process of climbing the walls. John did find the strap that ran under his crotch extremely uncomfortable. He imagined that it would have been uncomfortable for any male, but having his equipment gaffed under him made it even more so. He did get used to it, though and had a great time.
Ella was like a mountain goat, climbing up and across the wall effortlessly, while John and MK struggled behind her, making fun of both her and themselves.
In the ninety minutes that they were at the center, they climbed several different structures and finished their time in a trampoline center which was available to the climbers. Bouncing with his, albeit modest, breasts was an interesting experience.
When they all climbed into Ed's Tesla, they were flushed with exertion and joy.
Ed drove them back to Beverly Hills.
"So, you're not going to be in school next week either?" MK asked.
"No, but I should be back the following week. Our shooting schedule is slowing down, so I'll be able to do most of my scenes after school." John would be genuinely happy to be spending more time with his friends.
"Do you have any afternoons free this week?" Ella was looking at her schedule on her phone.
"I don't know," John said, honestly. "We're not really shooting a lot this week, but we have a lot of promotional things going on."
"Like what?" Ella looked up.
"Like interviews. We have some morning shows to do this week, then we're all on Ellen on Thursday to promote the show's premier that night."
"Are you recording Ellen on Thursday?" MK asked.
"Yes."
"Cool. I'm going to ask my dad if he can get us some tickets. He knows the producer really well. They go to the same AA meeting."
"Cool!" Ella agreed.
"Let me know if you're coming so I can wave to you," John smiled. It would be great to have them there.
"My house is just up here on the right, Mr McNeal," Ella leaned forward and pointed between the front, bucket seats.
"Holy Moses!" Ed said as they turned into the driveway. "This is your HOUSE? It looks like a resort."
"Yeah," Ella laughed. "It's pretty gaudy, I know. My step dad has a lot more money than taste."
"I think it's beautiful, Ella," Rose said.
"I guess. Thanks for the ride." She leaned over and kissed John's cheek. "Good luck with everything. Maybe we'll see you Thursday."
MK did the same. "Love you, Bebe! Be great on the shows!"
"Thanks guys!" John called as they exited the car. "I'll do my best."
They waved as they disappeared into the mansion.
"Wow!" Rose looked around the property as they drove back down the driveway. "Kinda makes Hearst Castle look like a lakeside cottage, doesn't it?"
Ed laughed at the remark. "It is pretty elaborate."
"Is it nice inside?" Rose called back to John.
"Yeah, in a cold and impersonal kind of way "
There a few moments of silence before Rose looked at Ed, nodded and then said, "So... I think we need to talk about this 'going steady' thing, don't you?"
John sighed. "I really don't know what to do about it, Rose. He's a nice boy, but... well, you know."
Ed and Rose glanced at each other, again. To John, it was obvious that they'd already discussed this and reached a decision.
"Why don't we consider the pros and cons of this situation," Ed said, with practiced rationality.
"Why?" John asked.
Rose looked over the seat at him. "What?"
"I asked 'why,' as in 'Why make a list of pros and cons?' I mean, I can tell by the way you guys looked at each other that this has been discussed and a decision has been made for me. Am I wrong?"
They glanced at each other again and Ed shrugged. "No. You're not wrong."
"Honey, we spoke to your mom about this, too." Rose had turned her body nearly around in her seat. "Now, we know you like Blaine, we caught you kissing him and kissing him, well, passionately, I guess is a good word. We also know that Blaine really likes you, he told Ed that in his text. We really see no harm in creating an image of a happy school girl in a happy relationship. It'll play well as proof that you're just like every other girl."
John looked out the window. He nodded, slightly, then said, "And my mom likes this idea?"
"She agrees with the idea," Ed said.
"You need to keep up appearances, baby," Rose said. "You're an anomaly, honey and you know it. We're just helping you to fit in."
"An 'anomaly,' huh? You may want to use smaller words when talking to me. Remember, I'm just a child." He crossed his arms, leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Ok, fight us if you want, but you'll enjoy going steady. I guarantee it."
"I'm not going to fight you," John said in a frustrated mumble. He let out a big sigh, "I'll do it if you want me to."
"We each get four tickets to the viewing. That's twelve seats. Rosie and I don't really know anyone out here, so, if you want to invite more kids from school, you certainly can." Ed ran his hand along the hair that hung behind John's Head. Things had been a little cool since last night's discussion in the car. So, as John sat at the kitchen island and drank his fruit and yogurt smoothie, Ed tried to be as pleasant as possible.
"I only really know Ella and MK, though."
"Hmmm, how many girls are in your Theater Class?"
John thought for a moment. "Sixteen including me, I guess."
"So if we can get three more tickets, we could invite the whole class. That'd be nice, wouldn't it?"
"I guess. I don't know, though, Uncle Ed. I'm not real popular with those girls. It might be weird to make the offer. Especially with Miss Stephanie..."
"Miss Stephanie is already coming," Ed sat on the stool next to him. "She's an employee of the show, so she's already been given tickets."
"Of course she's coming," John mumbled.
Changing tacts and trying to keep the conversation moving, Ed asked, "So, what's on the agenda for today?"
John looked at his phone. "I wasn't planning on anything, but I got a text from Blaine awhile ago. He wants to take me to lunch at the taco place down the block from here. He says his mom can drop him and pick him up. He wants to walk to and from the taco place. Gee... I wonder what this is all about, huh?"
"Look, Bebe," Ed put his elbow on the counter and rested his temple in his hand, "you can't deny that you like the boy. You enjoyed going out with him... what difference does it make if he wants to go steady with you?"
"I don't know... I guess I just wish that I had a choice." He leaned his head on Ed's shoulder as he spoke.
Ed put his arm around the tiny person beside him. John cuddled into the embrace. "You know," Ed massaged his friend's shoulder, "it really isn't all that weird for you to date this boy. Actors and actresses... well, there's a history of them needing to hide their personal lives behind relationships. You're not really doing anything different."
"No," John sighed, "it's different. I've given up everything I knew to get my shot as an actor... well, an actress... and everyday, something new and unexpected comes along and I need to face it, and face it alone."
"Bebe," Ed shook his head, "you're not alone. We're with you, every step of the way."
"Look, I really, really appreciate the way you've kinda become, like, my dad or something, lately, but you won't be with me when we're dating some night in a year or two, and his hand wanders down and finds something 'unusual' in my panties."
Ed nodded. "I know."
He sat straighter and pulled John into an affectionate embrace. "I do love you, you know."
"I know. I love you, too."
"We don't have a lot of choices, you know. I don't think we can just go home, at this point. The show starts running on Thursday and people are already talking about you. You need to have a life like any other girl your age if you don't want the press hounding you every minute. Blaine could be part of your 'normal' life. What do you want to do?"
John smiled at his friend's concern. He hugged him, tightly. "I don't know, but it's getting late. I have a 'gentleman caller' coming soon. I need to make myself pretty."
Blaine could not have been nicer on the walk to 'Paco's Tacos.' They held hands and chatted about friends, told funny stories and talked about music. John invited Blaine to use one of his tickets to see the first viewing of 'Civil Disobedience' on Monday evening and Blaine was thrilled to be asked.
John wore a prairie-influenced dress, white with little bouquets of roses printed prettily about it. It had tiny, cap sleeves and a matching belt that hugged his high waist and allowed the dress to blossom out below, paired with a pair of pretty, little, red and white flats, a thin gold necklace with a faux pearl drop and matching earrings. The dress also had pockets, which had now become a welcome luxury for John and made it possible for him to carry his house key and phone without taking a purse. He'd chosen the outfit because, with its soft, cotton material and knee length hem, it was modest and comfortable, but if he'd been trying to seduce a high school boy, he could not have picked a more perfect outfit. To Blaine, the outfit screamed, 'I am a weak, beautiful girl and I need you to love me and care for me.' He was already infatuated with Bebe. Now, seeing her dressed so prettily and femininely, he was down right smitten.
Blaine ordered four tacos, one chicken taco for Bebe and three regular tacos for himself. John ate nearly half of his, the entire time worrying about what his dietician would say if she knew. John gobbled his down and could easily have ordered a couple more, but he had other things to do.
"So," he said, and his demeanor suddenly becoming more serious, "I've had a few things happen this week that... well, I'd like to talk to you about."
"Oh?" John braced himself for what he assumed was coming. "Is everything alright?"
"Oh, yeah, I mean, I'm not sick or anything... it's just... Well, last Sunday, I got a call from my girlfriend in Florida and... well... long story short, she broke up with me."
"Oh, Blaine. I'm so sorry." John placed his hand on Blaine's. "It wasn't because of me, was it?"
"No, no. It was because of the distance. She just got tired of going to movies and parties by herself, you know? I understand. It was kind of bound to happen, I guess. Honestly, except for having to call or Skype with her every night, it really isn't that different."
John nodded.
"Anyway... if she hadn't broken up with me on Sunday... well... I was kind of thinking that I was going to break up with her, because..." he struggled for the words.
"Because, why, Blaine. The distance?"
"Yeah, sure, the distance was the biggest problem, but there were other problems, too?"
"Oh? Like what?"
He took a deep breath and let it out. "Like you."
"Like me?"
"Yeah." He smiled.
"I'm A PROBLEM!?'"John knew the boy was flustered, but the word hurt, anyway.
"Oh, no, no, no, that's not what I meant! What I meant was, I mean... there's you... and I... I... I like you. I like you a lot, Bebe and, well, I guess that kinda was a problem."
John took his hand back, somewhat relieved, and yet disappointed in a way, too, that Blaine wasn't headed where John had expected. This sounded more like a breakup. That might be easier, actually. "Oh, ok... I understand. Well, I like you, too, Blaine, but I certainly don't want to be a 'problem' for you. You didn't have to take me to lunch to say that you didn't want to go out any more. I mean, it is sweet, but you could have sent a text, or something."
"No, Bebe, I don't want to stop seeing... Oh, geez, I'm not saying this right. What I mean is... I 'LIKE' you. Oh, man, I'm no good at this at all. Here," he took a small box out of his pocket and placed it on the table. "I bought you this."
John took the little box. It was nicely wrapped, obviously by a store clerk, not a teenaged boy, in pink paper and a silver ribbon and bow. "It's very pretty."
"Open it."
Carefully, John opened the bow, and then the paper, revealing a box with the name of a jeweler embossed in gold on the dark green cardboard.
"It reminded me of you" Blaine said, with a bit of excitement. It was obvious that he wanted the girl he was crushing on to like the present.
John smiled across the table and freed the box of the wrapping. Then he opened it to find a silver chain with a tiny, silver, ball-shaped decoration. It was simple and pretty without being at all
ostentatious. It was plain. John considered Blaine's words and he did wonder how the jewelry remained the boy of him. Maybe Blaine thought that he was 'plain,' too.
"It's very pretty, Blaine, thank you." He examined it more closely. "It reminded you of me?"
"Yeah!"
"How so? Don't get me wrong, it's very pretty a necklace, but how does it remind you of me?"
"Really? You don't get it?" Blaine was smiling but he was on the verge of being crestfallen. Obviously, this was important to him, but John just didn't get it.
John smiled sillily and shook his head. "Sorry. No, I don't."
Blaine sighed. "It's you. Your name is Bebe and the necklace is a silver ball. A BB. Get it. It's a 'BB' and you're a Bebe!"
Suddenly, it all dawned on John. The boy had put a lot of thought into this gift. It was a silly thing for the boy to find romantic, but he obviously did, so the present was, obviously, the most romantic gesture he could make. "Oh, my God, Blaine! That's so sweet! Thank you, so much!"
Caught up in the moment, John pulled the necklace from the box and held it up in front of him. It truly was beautiful in its simplicity. He opened the clasp and was about to put it on, but Blaine hurried behind him and said, "Here. Let me help you." He took the necklace. John reached back and held his long, wavy, black hair clear of his neck, allowing Blaine to gently reach around and run the jewelry around and closing it behind John's neck.
"Can you take off my other necklace, please?" John asked.
Blaine opened the clasp on the faux pearl necklace John had been wearing. It was a simple procedure. Just a matter of opening a clasp and pulling a piece of inexpensive jewelry free, but to both Blaine and John, it seemed extremely intimate and romantic. Especially since it was being done in front of the other people at the restaurant.
Blaine removed the chain and secured the clasp, handing it to John, who wrapped it neatly, placed it into the box that Blaine had given him, and placing that box into one of the pockets of his dress. Then he held up his phone, turned on the camera, put it into 'selfie' mode and admired the BB necklace that Blaine had given him.
"Blaine, it's beautiful. Thank you, so much."
"You like it, then?"
"Like it!? I love it! It's perfect, Blaine. Thank you!" John was truly overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of the gift. "It's a BB! I love it!"
Blaine beamed with satisfaction. He'd gone out with his mom to find just the perfect gift and, when he found this one, he just knew that Bebe would love it. His mother tried to dissuade him and guide him towards something more expensive and eye catching, but Blaine insisted that Bebe wasn't the kind of girl who'd want something too fancy. She was too pretty to wear anything that would distract from her beauty. A simple, silver ball was perfect. Blaine's mother thought her son was crazy, but she let him buy the piece, anyway, and suggested that, if the girl was disappointed, he could always return it and get something fancier.
"I'm glad," the boy smiled. "Listen, I have something to ask you."
John was very caught up in the emotions of the moment. He knew what was coming and, although he'd been apprehensive about it up until now, at this moment, he was almost excited for Blaine to say the words.
"Yes?" John asked, innocently. He put his phone down and looked into Blaine's soft, green eyes.
God, she was beautiful! Not like the other girls he knew. She wasn't wearing too much makeup or a dress that showed too much skin... she was just beautiful in a sweet and pretty and very natural way. She made him feel comfortable and nervous at the same time. She gave him goose bumps when she smiled. She smelled like vanilla and flowers and she made him trip over his words in a way that made him feel giddy and foolish, but he liked that feeling all the same.
"Ok... so, like I said, I'm kinda 'single' now, since my girlfriend broke up with me and, like I said, I've been thinking about you a lot... an awful lot, you know? And... Well... I mean, I like spending time with you and you like spending time with me, don't you?"
"Well, yes, sure, of course I do."
"Ok, good, then..." the boy mustered all of his grit to spit out the main topic of the thesis he'd been babbling through so far. "...I guess, it would make sense for us to, you know, go steady. You know, like not date other people and just, like, hang out together on weekends and stuff. What do you say?"
To be honest, John was still deciphering what Blaine had said, but he did realize that the boy had just asked him to go steady and, since this seemed to be what Ed and Rose wanted, anyway, and, since Blaine really was a nice and thoughtful boy... why not?
"Go steady?" John asked. "Really? You want to go steady with me!?"
"Yeah! What do you say?" Blaine already looked a little surprised that Bebe hadn't just melted when he'd asked the question.
"Well... sure, I mean, I'd be honored to, but I need to ask Rose and Uncle Ed first."
"No you don't!" Blaine's smile was huge and excited. "I already asked your uncle."
"You asked my uncle!? Blaine, this isn't the Middle Ages! A girl can make up her own mind, you know!"
"Oh, I know, but I didn't want him to get mad at me. He looks pretty strong, you know? He said that if you said 'yes,' then it was ok with him and your cousin. And you said yes! So, he's ok with it."
John smiled. The boy's enthusiasm was infectious. He was like a happy golden-retriever. He was nearly bouncing with enthusiasm. Without any warning, he came around the small, round table and took John by his bare upper arms and lifted him right out of his chair, then planted a soft, yet passionate kiss on John's lips. Shocked by his
aggressiveness at first, John pulled back just a little, but soon just let himself be taken by the passion of the bigger boy. It was a nice kiss and it made every butterfly in his stomach take wing. Some of those butterflies flew up into his chest and others flew lower and excited other parts of his body. Suddenly, he felt his own skin turn to goose flesh. He closed his eyes and let all those feeling wash over him.
From somewhere in the sparsely populated restaurant, John began hearing noises. People making 'Aww' sounds and someone giggling about being young and in love.
When the kiss broke, John's eyes opened slowly and he raised his gaze to Blaine's. Slowly, John began to blush and smile. This was ok. Why had he been scared of this? This boy, this handsome, kind boy, wanted to be his boyfriend. That was something to be happy about, right? Sure it was.
"I really think I do, you know?" Blaine smiled.
"Do what?" John was having a very hard time even thinking straight right now, let alone deciphering Blaine's half-statements.
"I really do think I love you."
John's eyes teared up with emotion and he threw his arms around Blaine's neck, burying his face in the bigger boy's shirt. "Oh, Blaine," he wept.
Blaine pulled John's face back, so that he could see it more clearly. "Are you ok?"
The dichotomy of John's tear stained face and huge, sincere smile was confusing to the older boy. "I'm ok." John laughed as he cried, "I'm just... happy."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 6
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has begun going steady with Blaine, he has to examine his feelings more closely,
as well as dealing with the opinions of others..
Author's Note: As always, I love to read your comments. ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 6 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.
A MORE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND -or- I WONDER IF THE SNOW LOVES THE TREES AND THE FIELDS THAT IT KISSES THEM SO GENTLY?
"Ok, let's hold up for a few minutes, guys," one of the panel of publicity people from the production company, ABC headquarters and The Disney Company stopped the mock interview. "Ed, you have to make your stories more concise. If you make them long, you'll be interrupted by the host. You've heard how Don tells a story, right? Quick, funny, short? That's what you need to do, too."
"Ok, got it." Ed nodded
"And Rose," he continued, "make sure you smile at all times. I know we've put a lot of pressure on you guys, but you have to remember to smile. When you smile, you're gorgeous. Let's be gorgeous at all times, ok?"
"Sure. Sorry." Realizing she wasn't smiling, Rose immediately assumed a more congenial posture and smiled. "I think we're a little over tired and overwhelmed right now, is all."
"I understand," he turned to John, "and Bebe..." John felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. He knew he wasn't doing well at this. He just didn't know how to open up as himself. As a character, Sure! You couldn't shut him up, then - but as himself, he just kept drawing blanks. "You have to say something other 'yes' and 'no,' honey. This is your introduction to the world. You look petrified and we're still in your home studio. Relax, sweetheart. Just talk. Ok."
"Yes, sir." John hated not achieving, but he felt so awkward doing this. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll do better."
"Of course you will, honey. Just relax. My name is Bill, honey, not 'sir.' We're just having a conversation here. Relax and join the conversation."
They were sitting in three high, director-style chairs. Ed on one side, Rose on the other and John in the middle. Both Ed and Rose gave John's hand a supportive squeeze. "You can do this, baby," Ed whispered. "You're better at this than any of us. Just be Bebe - like she's your character. Just be her and tell her story."
John nodded. "Ok."
"Alright, next question," Bill said.
A woman on the panel read from a card. "Rose, I've heard that you and Bebe are real-life cousins. What's it like to share the stage with your cousin?"
Rose smiled, turned towards John, flipped her hair in a casual way that John envied, and said, "It's just wonderful, Jean. You know, we're second cousins and we only met each other fairly recently, when we played sisters in a production of 'The Taming Of The Shrew.' I was so impressed with her abilities - and she's so young! Anyway, I ended up moving in with Bebe and her mom and, not only did I get to know a great acting-colleague, I got connected to a part of my family that I didn't even know existed."
John smiled. What a great answer!
"And Bebe," the woman asked a follow up, "it must be wonderful for you to share the stage with a woman who is not only beautiful, but a member of your family."
Drawing on Ed's advice, John considered how Bebe would answer. "Oh, it really is wonderful," he said, "and, I don't know if you know it or not, but Uncle Ed has been a friend of the family since I was little. It's like I'm on stage with my own family everyday."
"That's better, Bebe!" the man named Bill shouted. "Keep that up."
The woman continued her questions. "Ed is that true? You're Bebe's uncle?"
Ed chuckled. "Well, not really but I've been involved with Bebe's family for more than a decade, so I have seen her develop into this amazing girl you see here, today. I'm very happy to be called her uncle."
"Excellent," Bill murmured.
"And you and Rose are taking care of Bebe together?"
"Yes," Ed snickered. "She's a good Kid, but any fourteen year old can be a handful!"
There were giggles from several people.
"And are you and Rose romantically involved?"
Ed looked at Rose and smiled. "No, we're not romantically involved at all. That's just on the show. We're more like best friends."
Bill stopped the questions. "Wait! You guys AREN'T involved in real life?"
Both Rose and Ed shook their heads.
"Hmm, it might play better for the press if you said you were." Bill stared at the two of them.
"Well..." Rose was perplexed.
"No." Ed said it flatly. "My personal life is my personal life and that's that. I've seen what you can do to other people and I'm not letting that happen to me or Rosie. We are just good friends and that's what we'll say."
John hung his head, saddened by Ed's words, but understanding exactly what he meant. By 'other people,' he obviously meant John.
Bill leaned back in his chair and waited for more explanations, but none came. Finally, he said, "Your personal life may not be yours much long, Ed. This could be a way to steer clear of speculations."
"Speculate all you want," Ed was calm and forceful, "but I'm not going to pretend that I'm involved with Rose. The ultimate outcome will be that she gets hurt and I won't allow that. End of story."
"Ok," Bill said, "but don't say I didn't warn you."
The questions continued for another hour or more.
As they ate their lunches in Rose's dressing room, John moped through his salad. "What's the matter, honey?" Rose asked. "Are you nervous about the preview of the show tonight?"
John shrugged. "I guess."
Ed sat back and looked at the child sitting opposite him, next to Rose. "No. She's upset about what I said about keeping my personal life private. Aren't you?"
John glanced up, then returned to his salad.
"Look, Bebe," Ed said as patiently as he could, "I meant every word that I said. I know that this was your only way to be on this show and all, but, sweetheart, you're a different person then you were in July and you know it. You agreed to do that and I got sucked into it, but I'm not going to allow myself to be sucked in any further. I'll be your uncle forever, now, but the rest of my personal life is going to remain mine."
"So," John put his fork down and looked up at his friend who now was much bigger, stronger and, apparently, older than he was, "you two can force me to date a boy, against my will, and then refuse to pretend to date each other? Doesn't that seem a bit hypocritical to you?"
"Not at all," Ed shrugged. "As I said, you agreed to your
circumstances. I'm not willing to do the same thing. They can fire me if they want, but I'm going to live my own life. Bebe, just because you were willing to give up everything for your shot doesn't mean that we have to, too."
"Besides," Rose continued eating her salad, "we may have forced you to go steady with this 'Blaine' boy, but I don't believe that we're forcing you to do anything that you don't want to, now. I mean, I saw how excited you were when you showed me the little BB necklace he gave you, Beebs. You're taken with this boy, there's no denying that."
John folded his arms and pouted. "Arrrgggh! You have no idea how frustrating all of this is for me! You guys can make all your own decisions and I just have to do as I'm told."
"Because we're adults," Rose put down her fork and plate of salad.
"I'm an adult, too!"
"No, you're not!" Ed slammed the table. He gathered himself together, quickly, though and resumed his paternal tone. "You are not an adult, Bebe. John was an adult, but he is gone. Just look in the mirror if you don't believe me. You are no closer to being who John Foley was in July than Rose is. In fact, she's probably closer. Bebe, you're a girl, now. A young girl. Rose and I will make your decisions for you for as long as we need to - which appears to be for about another three and a half years, until you're legally eighteen, again. Am I making myself perfectly clear?"
John hugged himself and turned away, but they all turned quickly when they heard a voice say, "She's a young girl, now?"
They turned to see Miss Stephanie standing in the doorway with a text book in her hand.
"I beg your pardon?" Ed asked, very irritated that this woman had imposed on their conversation. He stood.
"You said she's 'a young girl, NOW.' What did you mean by that?"
"He meant that she's not a child anymore, if you must know," Rose stood and put her arm around Ed's waist, effectively creating a wall between Miss Stephanie and John. "How may we help you, Stephanie?"
The teacher huffed. Something wasn't right here. "I just came to drop off this book for Bianca's English class. She needs to read a short story for her work tomorrow. I've marked the page. The story is 'Araby' by James Joyce. There's a series of questions to answer as she proceeds through the story." She handed the book to Rose.
"In the future, Stephanie," Ed said with a certain amount of restraint, "please knock before entering any of our dressing rooms. Thank you."
"Well," the teacher stood taller, "I would have, but I heard someone slamming things around in here and I was afraid for my student's safety."
"Well," Ed's nod acknowledged that he had slammed his hand on the table, "be that as it may, we were in the middle of a family discussion. Thank you for the book. Was there anything else?"
"Yes," Miss Stephanie folded her arms and took on her teacher-pose. "How is it that all three of you ended up on the same show?"
"I beg your pardon?" Rose said indignantly.
"I mean, who got hired first? How did this whole thing end up as a family-affair. It is a bit odd, isn't it?"
"I was hired first," Ed said. "Rose and Bebe were in a production of The Taming Of The Shrew with me and when Don came to see the show, he fell in love with them."
"Uh, huh, and is this the production that was directed by Maureen Weldon. The one that Bianca told me about when she first arrived?"
"Yes. Why?" Ed was getting very defensive.
"Well, because I had a friend named Randy Weiss who worked as an acting coach on that production. Did you know him?"
"Of course," Ed said. "Why?"
"Well, it's just that Randy sent me some pictures of the show and I have to say, the girl that played Bianca did look like your niece, but she also looked substantially older and better endowed than your niece. How is that possible?"
"Seriously?" Rose scoffed. "Bebe wore breast forms and we did her make up in a more grownup manner. Does it surprise you that a theatrical production might do something like that, Stephanie?" Rose refused to use the title 'Miss' when speaking to this pest.
"I guess not, but she sure looked believable."
"That's because my niece is very talented, Miss Stephanie. Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to get ready for tonight's preview. Are you coming?" Ed reached behind the woman and opened the door.
"Oh, I wouldn't miss it for the world, Mr McNeal."
"Excellent, Miss Stephanie. I look forward to seeing you there."
She exited, but looked back at John one last time.
"Alright," Ed sat and calmed himself, "that could have gone very badly, Bebe. You need to knock this off and live up to your obligations or go home and start a new life. Don says that they have the first half of the season in the can, so if you want out, then you need to do it before we start the second half. Maybe they could kill off your character or something, but I am not - I repeat, I AM NOT - going to have the same discussion with you every other day. If you want to be a grownup, then go home. If you want to be on this show, then you're Bebe. You're fourteen. You're a good student and you're dating Blaine. You have ten seconds to make up your mind. Are you John or Bebe?"
John let a tear of two fall. "I'm Bebe. I'm sorry. I'll be good."
"That's my good girl," Ed hugged him. "Let's finish this up, then we can go to wardrobe and you two can have your hair and makeup done for tonight."
Rose looked beautiful in a gold lame dress that hung across her pert breasts in a very inticing way. It fell to just above her knees and shone lusciously with every movement.
Ed wore an Armani, double breasted tuxedo that made him look like the next James Bond.
John wore a white, sleeveless dress that hung loosely to his knees. It had a modest, but low neckline that had a middle eastern style design in a thin band along the edge of the neckline. That pattern turned in a pretty way around the bottom of his breasts and joined a wider, similar pattern that formed a belt-pattern around his high waist. His hair was curled and his makeup was more mature than he'd worn since 'Shrew' had closed. His finger and toe nails were painted a sweet, but bright pink and he wore silver, two inch heels with a series of small straps across them, just before his toes. He felt very elegant and pretty and, standing between Ed and Rose, he felt like a very special girl.
"I didn't know that they made such a big deal over showing a TV show to a group of critics and friends." John said, as Rose fussed with getting his moderately large, silver medallion earrings to hang just right.
"Me neither," Rose chortled, "but it's nice to get all dressed up, isn't it? And to be able to wear clothes this pretty and not have to pay for them... well, you can't beat that!"
"Are we nearly ready?" Ed asked. "Oscar is picking us up. I was told that I shouldn't drive to this. I guess there's a sort of red carpet entrance for the cast and the execs. To tell you the truth, this whole thing has me a little nervous."
"Oh, you'll be great." Rose stood straight from adjusting John's earrings and gave Ed a little peck on the lips."
Ed wiped his lips. "Holy cow, woman, how many layers of lipstick are you wearing? You left half a tube on me!"
She laughed. "As many as it takes to look this pretty."She grabbed her matching clutch and announced, "We're ready."
Ed's phone buzzed right at that moment. "Excellent! Oscar just arrived. Let's go!"
Oscar held the door for Rose and assisted as she got into the car. "You all look lovely, this evening," Oscar beamed at the trio. "A very big night for all of you, indeed!"
As John approached the door to the car, Oscar took his hand and kissed in a very chivalrous manner. "And you, beautiful girl, after tonight, I understand that you will be a star."
John flushed at the intimate greeting and the kiss on the back of his hands sent a shiver down his spine. "I don't know Oscar. Who knows, if things go badly, you might be driving me to the airport tomorrow." He giggled at his own joke.
"I don't think so, señorita. I drive a lot of different people and the one thing they all have in common is what they are saying about you. You will be here a long, long time." Oscar kissed his hand, again, and helped him into the back seat, next to Rose.
He shook Ed's hand and slapped his shoulder. "Enjoy your evening, sir. I'm sure it'll be a great success."
Ed returned his smile. "I hope so, Oscar. Thank you for coming to get us. It means a lot to Bebe to have you with us."
"My pleasure, sir."
"And you got the ticket I left for you, right?"
"I did, Mr McNeil, thank you. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all in the show."
"Great!" Ed climbed into the limo.
When they were moving, Ed asked, "Are these kinds of things always this big a deal, Oscar?" He had his arm around John and his hand was resting on Rose's shoulder.
"No, sir. It's actually kind of unusual, in my experience. I've been working for the studio for quite a while and I've only seen it a couple of times before. I think it's because Mr Ferry has been keeping a low profile for a while and this is a pretty big deal for ABC/Disney."
"Well, I guess we're just lucky enough to be riding Don's coattails," Rose said with a big smile on her face.
"Thank goodness," John agreed.
As they approached the theater that the studio had rented for the preview, Oscar explained, "I'll leave you off here for the red carpet entrance. I'll park and come in with the rest of the hoi-poloi. After the preview, you'll have at least an hour or so with the press and I'll be back out here to pick you up."
The car pulled to a stop. Oscar jumped out and opened the door next to where Rose was seated. She stepped out to a barrage of photographers shooting picture after picture of the young, beautiful ingenue who was making her debut. Rose smiled and moved slightly to the side, allowing Oscar to assist John from the vehicle. The photographers, once again, took dozens of pictures of the child actress. Rose put her arm around her ward and they made room for Ed to step out and experience the same cacophony of shutter noise. Ed waved as casually as he could until a woman with a clipboard appeared and and said, "Please follow me."
Soon, they were behind a wall of curtains where the rest of the cast was waiting. John hugged Kylie and Darren after getting hugged by Don and Marion.
"Oh, my God, this is so exciting!" Kylie was shaking with excitement. It made John smile.
"Are you excited, too, Darren?" John asked.
"Petrified is a better word, I think," he joked.
"Oh," John reached up and hugged the young man, "you'll do great."
The clipboard lady interrupted everyone's conversation, "Ok, folks, here's the plan. There are two stops on the carpet. At the first station, each of you will stop for a photo. This is the 'What are they wearing?' stop and you'll each wait there about thirty seconds before moving on. This is Victor," a dark skinned man with a gold jacket raised his hand and waved, "and he is the official time keeper at the each stop. When he gives you the signal, just move on. Questions? Good."
"Then, we'll regroup behind the mid-way curtains and we'll send out Marion first, and you can do a quick interview on the carpet, then the daughters, Susan and Alex, that's you, Rose and Bebe, then Don and his partner will join you guys for a quick photo op and a couple of questions, then you guys move on and we bring out the neighbor kids to finish up. Questions? Good. I think we're ready, then. Let's start with Marion."
Ever the seasoned veteran, Marion walked out to the mark on the red carpet area. She exuded confidence and she smiled broadly. Her Ralph Lauren pantsuit was mauve and hung beautifully on her well maintained, older, full figure. The number of cameras and the brightness of the lights was very daunting to everyone else, except Don, of course.
"Edward," the woman with the clipboard said. "It's your turn."
"Here goes," Ed said, as he kissed both Rose and John's cheeks. He looked petrified till he stepped out, then he looked as cool as a cucumber. He waved and smiled and stood at the spot until Victor waved him on.
"Rose," the clipboard lady said. "You're up."
Rose started to go, but stopped. She looked overwhelmed, as if she may faint. "Come with me," she whispered to John. I don't think I can do this alone. There's too many people out there."
"Ok," John said.
As they started forward, the clipboard lady tried to stop John from going. "Bebe! Not yet."
John looked at the woman and shrugged. "Change of plans, I guess." Rose was holding his hand tightly and led him to the mark. She smiled and looked calm, but John could feel how clammy her hand was. She was definitely stressed.
They stopped at the mark and looked towards the photographers. "Who are you wearing?" One of the reporters shouted.
The question made no sense at all to John, but rose shouted back, "Stella McCartney."
"And the young lady?" the reported called again.
John shrugged. Rose smiled at his naiveté. "We don't know!" Rose called back, making everyone, including herself, laugh. She felt much more confident after that.
Victor waved them on and the press went crazy when Don Ferry emerged from behind the curtain. John watched him. He was so cool and relaxed, even more so than Marion. His smile showed appreciation for the attention and joy for being able to come back after a decade away from the spotlight.
Victor waved him on, but he stayed a little longer. What could they do to him? He was a bonafide star and he could do what he wanted.
When, at last, he did move on, he was followed by Kylie. She was obviously thrilled to be there, but the press had really come to see Don. Most of them wandered away while she stood on her mark. She maintained her smile, but John could see that she was crushed. Victor waved her on very quickly and when she entered the curtained area where the others were waiting, John hugged her. "Oh, you did so good!" He said.
"Thanks." Kylie smiled, but she was obviously hurt by the experience.
By the time Darrin hit the mark, there were very few members of the press still watching. He seemed almost relieved, though.
"Ok, guys," it was clipboard lady, again. "Victor is going to be near the mark again and you're all going to walk to the mark, take some softball questions from the press, then move on on his cue. Questions?"
"Yes," John asked.
The woman was surprised. No one ever asked a question. "Can we all go out together?"
The woman was flummoxed. "Ummm, no," She stuttered. "Why?"
"Well, we're an ensemble, right? So, shouldn't we go out as an ensemble?"
"I think it's a great idea!" Don said as he stepped out before Victor had even had a chance to get to the mark.
Don waved and smiled. "Ladies and gentlemen," he called out in his commanding voice, "let me introduce my new TV family. First, my mother-in-law!"
The press and assembled crowd were all excited for Marion's appearance.
"How's it feel to be back?" Someone shouted.
"You're not really old enough to be his mother-in-law, are you?" Someone else asked.
Marion managed the questions like the pro that she was.
"My new partner on the LA Police Force!" Don shouted. "Ed, come one out!"
Ed smiled and fielded a few questions before joining Don and Marion.
John grabbed Kylie and Darrin and pushed them to the opening in the curtain. "You're next," he told them.
Don looked to the curtain, expecting to introduce his stage-children, but he saw the faces of the young actors waiting. John stood behind Kylie and pointed to them, indicating that Don should introduce them next.
Don nodded and smiled. "Next, two very talented young actors who play the children of my next door neighbor. Kylie and Darrin! Come on out!"
They received a huge round of applause.
"That was nice,' Rose whispered and kissed John's cheek. "You're a good girl, Bebe."
"And my two daughters on the show! Rosie and Bebe, come on and join us!"
The applause turned to thunder and questions came from everywhere. The questions were about everything and neither Rose nor John could hear them all, but they answered them as well as they could.
"No, we're not sisters. We're cousins."
"It's great to work with family."
"I'm fourteen."
"I'm twenty-one."
"I'm not dating anyone."
"Yes, I have a boyfriend."
Etc.
Don finally came forward and rescued them for the press. "Aren't they great? Let's hear it for my girls!"
The applause came in a huge wave. Don turned to everyone and indicated it was time to go into the theater. They all waved graciously and entered the lobby, where there was a mob of young women waiting. It took John and Kylie a few moments to recognize their classmates, since no one was in uniform. The girls were all smiling and applauding and, of course, staring at Don.
There were a lot more girls than just John's drama class. It was almost the entire school. Ed had arranged it for both John and Kylie so that they would know people in the audience. All the girls were trying to get pictures of Don, so he started organizing things. "Ok, girls, let's get a picture of all of you with the cast. First, let's get the cast up here on the stairs. Then, let's have seniors on this step, juniors the next one down, etc, and so on. Victor, can you take a picture? Kylie, give Victor your phone. You can send the picture to everyone."
As they were about to take the photo, Don said, "Wait! Wait! Wait! Miss Stephanie, jump up here with us! We can't take the picture with out you!"
The teacher had just entered the lobby and was waving to her students when Don called her up with them. She did seem genuinely happy to be a part of the photo and as she worked her way through the throng of teenaged girls, Don whispered to John, "You can catch more flies with honey..."
"I wish I had a fly swatter," John whispered back, making Don laugh out loud.
The picture was taken and Ella yelled out, "Hey, girls! Let's have a round of applause for Mr McNeil who got us all tickets!"
All the girls applauded and shouted thanks to Ed, who smiled in return.
As they headed into the theater, Blaine waved and bounded over to John. The boy was well dressed in a stylish suit and a bright tie."Wow," he said, a bit breathless, "you look amazing!" He hugged John and planted a quick kiss on his lips.
"Thanks, so do you," John smiled.
"This is a really big deal, huh?"
"I guess. I'm kind of... overwhelmed, I guess. There's so much going on for just a TV show."
"It's not JUST a TV, show," Rose said, overhearing the couple's conversation. "This is a show with Don Ferry."
"No," Blaine smiled at John, "I think this is all for you."
Suddenly, a hand tapped Blaine on the shoulder. "Do you suppose I could break in on you and get a hug from my baby sister?" The woman asked.
Blaine turned and looked at the woman who was almost an exact replica of Bebe, just a bit older and not as well turned out.
"NANCY!" John screamed as he threw his arms around her neck. "What are you doing here!?"
"Rose told us this was happening, so we flew out to see it." Nancy kissed her younger sibling's cheek and squeezed him tight. "Oh, I've missed you. Even though I don't live at home, I miss seeing you when I come by."
"Wait! Did you say we?"
"Of course," Nancy laughed. "You don't think that mom would ever miss one of your performances, do you!?"
John released his sister and looked around the lobby. "Where is she?"
"Over by the concession stand. She had to make a call and I saw you with all those girls."
"They're from my school," John said, distractedly. Then, suddenly, he spotted his mother. "Mommy!" he shouted as he ran to her and threw his arms around her, nearly knocking her down in his excitement.
"I'm Blaine," a handsome young man said to Nancy as he accompanied her towards the concession stand. "Your sister and I are going steady."
"Really?" Nancy said with raised eyebrows. "I guess my sister works pretty fast, huh?"
"I beg your pardon?" Blaine had only caught part of what she'd said and didn't understand that.
"Nothing," Nancy laughed.
"Oh, mom, I can't believe you came all this way! And on a weeknight! How long are you here?"
"Oh, baby, you look so thin. What's happened to you?" Marilyn held him at arms' length to assess his wellbeing.
"Oh," John laughed, "diet and hormones, I guess. I'm down to a hundred and eighteen pounds."
"A hundred and eighteen, honey! That's awfully thin! Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, mommy. How long are you staying?"
"We leave in the morning, I'm afraid, baby, but we really wanted to be here for this."
John hugged her hard, again. "Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it."
"We wouldn't have missed it for the world, baby."
"So," Nancy said as she reached them, "this is Bianca's boyfriend, Blaine."
"Oh, Blaine," Marilyn smiled, "I've heard a lot about you, how nice to meet you."
"Johnny," Nancy said with out thinking, "that dress is amazing! Did you pick it out?"
Not phased at all by Nancy's faux pas, John said, "No. Everything was picked out for all of us by the costume department. It is pretty, though, isn't it? I have been lectured to death about not letting it get wrinkled. 'Cotton is a fragile fabric!' I must have heard that a thousand times today."
His mother and sister laughed at his story. They'd been brought up knowing about fabrics, but John was just learning the things they'd learned at age five or six. "It is lovely and really compliments your figure." Nancy was being surprisingly supportive.
"Have you seen what Rose is wearing!?" John asked, enthusiastically. "Oh, my God, she's gorgeous!" He pointed towards Rose and both his mother and sister let out breaths of approval.
Ed called to them all. "It's about to start! We need to get inside."
They all nodded and headed in that direction. Blaine took John's hand and asked, "Johnny? Why did she call you Johnny?"
"What?" John asked, oblivious.
"Your sister called you 'Johnny' back there. Why did she call you that?"
"Well," he said loudly enough so that his mother and sister could hear, "That's an annoying nickname that they saddle me with when I was little. I didn't like dolls or other girly things when I was really little and all my friends were boys, so my mom started calling me 'Johnny' and it stuck."
Both women turned and smiled at the young couple. "I guess we should stop doing that," his mother said. "I think that 'Johnny' is long gone."
They all laughed at that.
"Wow, you've really changed since then, I guess," Blaine laughed.
"Why?" John asked.
"Because you're about the most feminine girl I know." It was said in all sincerity and it was meant to be a compliment, but it made John laugh, anyway.
"Really?" he asked.
"Absolutely!" Blaine confirmed.
Ed had his arm around Rose's shoulders and, when the others joined them, John took Ed's free hand, while he continued to hold Blaine's hand in his other, and said, "Thanks, Uncle Ed and Rose. This is all so amazing!"
"Our pleasure, sweetheart," Ed smiled, happy to have pleased his 'niece.'
"Now, if the show is good," Rose joked, "this will be a great night!"
"Seriously!?" Blaine scoffed. "Everyone's so excited about it! How could it not be great!?"
Ed laughed and muttered, "Episode One: The Phantom Menace."
"What?" Blaine asked, but Rose and Ed were laughing too hard to respond.
John looked at his boyfriend and shrugged. "Grownups. They're so weird!"
The show was, in fact, good. Very good. Very, very, very good!
John let out a little scoff when he saw the title of the first episode was 'One Little Slip.' Since the whole story line about his slip was in this first episode, it seemed a little 'on the nose' to him, but, as it turned out, it dealt with mistakes that Don's character, Ed's character and John's character all made.
The dramatic sections, particularly the slap that had given John a black eye, were powerful and impacted the audience very well. The scenes between John and Rose or John and Kylie were all handled with a light touch and had just the right amount of humor in them.
The scenes with Ed and Don doing police work were exciting and the scene between Don and John in the church parking lot brought the house to tears.
When the two hour presentation ended, the audience leapt to their feet and applauded and applauded and applauded until Don grabbed the entire cast and dragged them onto the stage, in front of the screen.
When the audience quieted, Don took a microphone from a stage hand and said, "Well, I have to say, even I was impressed with that. Just goes to show you that an old fart like me can still be made to look good with a good director and a good ensemble cast!"
That brought more applause and some laughter from the audience. Then he introduced Ed, then Rose, then Marion, then Darrin, then Kylie and each received a huge round of applause.
Then, Don held up his hands to ask for quiet. "Now, I know we've promised to take some questions and we need to talk to the press for a few minutes, too, but I need to acknowledge a member of our cast who has made me a passionate actor, once again. Ladies and Gentlemen, when I first met this actress, she was wowing audiences with her portrayal of of Bianca in a regional production of 'The Taming Of The Shrew,' and it was a great production, too. Both Ed and Rose were in that production, as well. I, essentially, hijacked the bunch of them to come do this show. But this girl... fourteen years old and so ridiculously talented... She improvises with me like an old pro and has, on more than one occasion, made me cry on camera. She is a powerhouse of talent, energy and happiness. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you... Bebe Foley!"
Everyone leapt to their feet again! The applause was so loud that it actually pushed John backwards.
And it didn't stop.
It kept going and going. The girls from Notre Dame started clapping and chanting in time and the others joined in. "Be-be! Be-be! Be-be! Be-be! Be-be!"
On and on it went and John could not keep his emotions in check any longer. He was smiling, broadly, but his face was covered in tears and he needed to hold on to someone. Don, eventually, realized that John was overcome and threw his arm around the his 'on-screen-daughter' to offer support. Soon, though, John was being held by the star and he was balling tears of joy.
Once he'd composed himself, John stepped back and waved and bowed in the theatrical way that he'd been taught to do the previous summer.
Don handed him the microphone and John said, in a loud clear voice, "Thank you all, so very much!" Then handed it back to Don.
Several chairs were brought onto the stage and they all sat in a semicircle. Each actor was handed a microphone and a line of guests with questions was formed on the floor with Victor ushering the next questioner forward.
Most of the questions were either asking Don about his career or were, really, just comments about the quality of the show they'd just watched.
One woman asked Ed if he was available, which made him laugh, but he did say that he was open to a relationship.
Rose was told several times that she was beautiful.
One of the senior class girls from Notre Dame made it to the mic and asked, "Bebe, did I hear that you're going steady with a boy from St Mark's?"
The entire student body of Notre Dame applauded, but John just melted into his chair.
Kylie and Rose, though, weren't going to let this go by without a response.
"She is!" Kylie answered for her costar. "And he's gorgeous."
Rose stood and shielded her eyes then spoke into her microphone, "Blaine!? Blaine, where are you? Stand up and take a bow."
Blaine was also melting into his seat, but Marilyn and Nancy stood and raised the boy to his feet. "Here he is!" They shouted and the audience applauded.
"Wait a minute!" Don stood and walked to the edge of the stage, "that woman looks just like you, Bebe. Who is that?"
John finally spoke into his microphone, "The one with brown hair is my mom, Marilyn, and the one that looks like me is my big sister, Nancy."
"Wow!" Don led a round of applause for John's family. "You and your sister are like twins who are separated by... well, how many years is there between you too?"
"Twelve," John said.
"Twelve years!? Wow, Mrs Foley, I guess that Nancy must have been a handful, huh?"
Marilyn and Nancy laughed.
"What's your boyfriend's name, Bebe?" Don asked.
"Blaine."
"Well, Blaine, you know exactly what your girlfriend is going to look like in twelve years, I guess!"
That got some laughs.
"You've got two beautiful girls there, Mrs Foley! Congratulations!"
More applause.
Another question. "I heard that both of your daughters on the show are actually sisters. Is that so?"
"No," Rose fielded it. "We're cousins, but very close."
"How did you end up on the same show?"
"Well," Rose said, "they were actually interested in Bebe, first, but Alex was supposed to be a boy," Rose related the rest of the story.
"And do you take care of her while you're on the west coast?"
"Oh, yes, we both do. Ed and I."
"But he's not related, is he?"
"Uncle Ed?" Rose teased. "No, but he's been a friend of Bebe's family for a long time."
Finally, the questions ended, but they still had to speak to the press. As the crowds started exiting, John ran down and thanked his school mates for coming. All of them seemed thrilled to have been there. There were a few teachers, too. Of course, Miss Stephanie was there, but she offered no comments. No sign of Miss Gabriella, though. He kissed Ella and MK, both of whom raved about the show, then ran to where his mother and sister were waiting with Blaine.
"I gotta go, Bebe," Blaine apologized as he wrapped his arms around John's small waist and held him close, "but you totally rocked that show!" Without warning, he planted a long hard kiss on John before letting go. "Man! I am so proud of you!" He ran off, leaving John shocked, flushed and breathless.
"Well, he seems to like you," Nancy teased.
John smiled and shrugged, a bit embarrassed.
"He seems like a good boy, baby," Marilyn said. "He doesn't know, does he?"
"No," John was very embarrassed now. How could she say something like that where people could hear her? Did his mom and sister approve of this? He couldn't tell.
"You're going to have to tell him at some point, Johnny." She shook her head at her son.
"We'll see. Did you like the show?"
"We loved it, honey," Nancy opened her arms and gave him a hug. "You were SO GOOD! And I can't believe that you're so friendly with Don Ferry!"
"Oh, he's really nice. Want to meet him?"
"Oh, no," Marilyn said. "You're too busy. Another time. We need to go, baby. We'll see you tomorrow before we leave."
She hugged her son. "You feel so small, Johnny. You feel, and even smell, like a girl. It really is amazing. And I really do love that dress on you. Oh, I miss you baby." She hugged him, again.
"I miss you, too, mommy, but you have to call me Bebe all the time, ok? We can't have any slip ups."
He hugged both women, then, just as he was headed back to the stage, he heard a woman say, "Aren't you going to introduce me to your family, Bianca?"
Suddenly, the plastic smile of John's theater teacher was present.
"Oh... I'm sorry... I didn't know you were here," John stuttered. "Umm..., mom, Nancy... this is Miss Stephanie. She's my theater teacher at Notre Dame."
"And her tutor on set, sometimes," Miss Stephanie purred. "So nice to meet you."
"Bebe, we need you on stage," Don called through the sound system.
'Damnit,' John thought. Then he said, "Mommy, I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye-bye, baby. I'll see you for lunch, tomorrow. Rose has a reservation somewhere."
"Ok." He kissed her and his sister, then ran back to the stage.
"May I buy you ladies a drink?" Miss Stephanie asked as she ushered her new acquaintances towards the exit.
By the time they were done with the press conference, it was well past midnight. Everyone was tired, but John couldn't even keep his eyes open. Ed held him close as they headed to the waiting limo and Oscar.
"Oh, my goodness," Oscar smiled, "too big a night for the little one, huh?" He smiled his caring smile and helped Rose into the car.
"Ok, honey, in you go," Ed whispered to John.
"Here, let me help you," Oscar took John's hand and guided him into the limo where he collapsed on the seat.
"I'll ride up front with you, Oscar, if that's ok," Ed said.
"Sure, sure," Oscar said as he closed the back door.
"Well," Oscar said as they drove along, "it's close to two o'clock, now and you're scheduled to be in the studio for a remote interview at five. Do you want to go home, or just nap in the limo and I'll wake you."
"What do you think?" Ed called over the seat.
Rose shrugged. "I suppose that going home is a waste, but I can't let Beebs sleep in that dress. She'll look terrible in the morning."
"There's some tee shirts in the compartment back there," Oscar said. "Maybe one will work as a night gown for her."
Rose reached over and raised the privacy screen.
"Did you like the show, Oscar?" Ed asked.
"I really did, sir. I enjoyed everything about the evening. Thank you."
"Good," Ed said.
"Your niece, sir," Oscar shook his head. "Wow."
"Yeah. I know." Ed chuckled. She's something, isn't she?"
"You did very well on the morning shows," Marilyn said as she cut into a piece of beautifully grilled salmon. "You all looked like old pros."
John smiled. "Thanks, mom."
"That's another pretty dress, Johnny," Nancy smiled, but immediately put her hand to her mouth. "Oops, Sorry. Bebe."
"You guys really need to get a handle on that," Ed said. "It's always got to be Bebe."
Marilyn nodded. "It's hard, though. Twenty years of Johnny, you know."
Ed became very serious and leaned forward. "Nancy, Mrs Foley, that has to be the last mention of that name. We have worked very, very hard to create this new life for Bebe. Please don't mess that up."
"Of course, Edward," Marilyn smiled. "My goodness, this salmon is delicious."
"Back to your dress... little sister, where did you get it?" Nancy was admiring the cotton dress that John had worn to lunch with Blaine a few days earlier. "It's really precious."
"Thanks," John smiled. "Rose bought it for me. I love this dress. Look! It even has pockets." John smiled. "I miss pockets."
Marilyn looked at Nancy and smiled. "That's a pretty little pendent you're wearing. Did Rose buy that, too?"
"That," Rose smiled, "was a 'going steady' gift from Bebe's boyfriend. Isn't it cute? See. It's a BB. Blaine is a surprisingly romantic boy." Rise fondled the necklace and smiled supportively at John.
Marilyn stopped and put down her fork. "Ok. I didn't want to bring this up, but I can't go home without saying something about this 'boyfriend' situation."
John looked up from his salad and put down his own fork, crossed his legs at the knees. Folded his hands in his laps and said, "What about it?"
Marilyn thought about her next words before she spoke. "Now, you know that I'm very open minded, baby, but, well, even when you began living as Bebe, well, I never suspected that you were gay. That is, until now. I mean, I saw how you behaved with Blaine and, well... are you gay?"
"I am," came back the answer, but not from John. The response came from Ed, who was sitting in a relaxed position, his arm around Rose.
Everyone, except Rose, shot a shocked glance at Ed. "Edward?" Marilyn asked. "When did his happen?"
Ed smiled. "It didn't 'happen,' Mrs Foley. "I've always been confused about things, but when Bianca appeared this summer, well, I guess that made me face my sexuality, because I was very, very attracted to her - knowing that she was John."
John put his hand on Ed's. "Ed... I... I didn't know..."
Ed smiled at the beautiful child. "Don't worry, Bebe. Bianca just opened a door for me. From there... things just became more obvious to me."
There was silence until Rose leaned her head towards Ed and used it to give him a hug. She looked up at him and said, "Feel better?"
Ed smiled at her and nodded.
"And the world didn't end." She hugged him again. "We love you, Ed. No one cares about your sexually. We just want you to be happy."
"Of course we do," Nancy said sympathetically.
"Thank you for sharing with us, Ed." Marilyn smiled.
Eventually, all eyes turned back towards John. "What?" He asked with an incredulous look. "You all just told Ed that it didn't matter, but you're all still curious about my sexuality? Isn't that just a little hypocritical?"
"Joh... Bebe," Nancy said, "we're not trying to be nosy, we just want to be sure that you're ok, honey. You've been through a lot, and, well... to be perfectly honest, it was pretty shocking to mom and me when we saw that boy latch on to you the way he did. He's obviously in love with you, honey, and, well, that has us a bit concerned."
"Concerned? Or jealous?" John snapped back, obviously uncomfortable with this conversation.
"John," Marilyn reacted with defensive press and surprise. "That's not very nice. Nancy and I just want the best for you..."
"Oh, for crying out loud, would you, please call me Bebe!" John's voice was an aggregated, hoarse whisper. "And I don't want to talk about Blaine!"
"Well, why on earth not?" Nancy persisted.
"Because..." John searched for the words. "... because I like him... and... that confuses me... and..., well... it's none of your business!"
"Beebs," Rose interrupted, "That's no way to talk to your mother, or any other adult."
John was immediately cowed.
"Now, apologize," she added.
He was silent for a moment, until Ed added, in a firm voice, "Now, Bebe."
John looked at his mother and sister, all anger gone. He just looked disappointed in himself to have upset Rose and Ed. "Sorry, mom. Sorry, Nancy."
Marilyn and Nancy stared, astonished, at the apparent adolescent sitting across from them.
Smiling like a conscientious mother who'd just displayed how well she could discipline her child, Rose said, "Marilyn and Nancy, we understand your concern, but think of things this way..." She went on to explain her concept of how John, with aspects of both sexes, would always be in a relationship that could be construed as both gay and straight, simultaneously.
"So," she continued, "it only makes sense that, as a high school girl, Bebe has experiences with a high school boy. She'd be drawing more attention to herself if she didn't, and she knows that she needs to keep things innocent. I really don't think that you have anything to worry about."
Marilyn snickered at that. "Obviously, you've never been a parent, Rose. Parents worry about everything."
"That's where you're wrong, Mrs Foley," Ed said. "Rosie and I are, for all intents and purposes, parents and we worry about Bebe every single minute of every single day. Granted, she's your daughter, but Rosie and I are the ones who are fighting with her to do her homework. Running to the school when something goes wrong. Making sure that she's eating well and getting her from 'point A' to 'point B' three, four, or five times a day. We understand exactly why you're worried about your twenty year old son, because we feel the same way about our fourteen year old ward."
Marilyn looked at child, who's head was still hung low. He appeared to have shed a few tears, too. This wasn't her son, anymore. She needed to accept that, fully and without question. She no longer had a son. Just two daughters; Nancy and Bebe.
"Listen, ED," Nancy over pronounced his name to give evidence to her fury without raising her voice above an angry whisper, "this weird game that you three are playing..."
But Marilyn interrupted, "No, Nancy. They're right."
Nancy followed her mother's gaze to the child who sat, recovering from the reprimands of her guardians and, after a few breaths to squelch her emotions, she had the same epiphany as her mother. John was no more.
"Oh, my goodness, child, your hands! What are you doing with your hands!?" John's first dance lesson was going well, but the forty-ish teacher whose name was Chloe, kept harping on how John used his hands. "A dancer's hands must be strong when needed, or elegant, or flirtatious, but you, child, my goodness, your hands are just balls of stress! You look like a boy, about to get into a fight. Please, relax those fingers and concentrate on making them elegant extensions of your long, feminine arm."
"Yes, Miss Chloe. I'm sorry, Miss, it's just that this is all new to me." Dressed in the traditional, black dancer's leotard, with flesh toned tights and tan colored, split sole, jazz shoes, John felt exposed and clumsy next to the statuesque, elegant dance tutor.
"I know that, dear, she said, without a lot of patience in her voice, "but still... Didn't your mother ever instill any lady-like hand gestures in you?"
"I guess not, Miss. Sorry."
The woman's countenance softened just a bit. "I do apologize, Bianca. I am used to working with more advanced students." A soft smile appeared on the teacher's face, but it didn't look very welcome there. John knew that dance teachers had a reputation for being pretty hardcore, but this one definitely scared him a bit. Not in the way that Miss Stephanie scared him, he didn't sense any malevolence, she just seemed perpetually disappointed and John REALLY didn't like disappointing people.
"I'll learn quickly, Miss Chloe, I promise." John grabbed a small towel to wipe his brow. He'd been doing flexibility exercises or dancing for nearly three hours now.
"Well," Miss Chloe touched John's face with surprising softness, "I guess I've worked you hard enough for today. We can call it a day. I expect to see you back here on Wednesday at 1:30, unless the shooting schedule changes.
"Yes, Miss."
As if she'd been 'on-duty' before and was required to maintain a stern artifice, Miss Chloe's face softened and she took John's chin in her hand. "You're a beautiful child, Bianca. You'll enjoy dancing and you'll look lovely when you dance. Keep up the work you did today and we'll be fine."
The door to the dance studio opened and Miss Stephanie entered with a pile of folders being held in the crook of her elbow. "Well, what have we here? The newly crowned queen of teen actresses is taking on dancing!? Oh, I think this is a perfect Phys Ed credit for you, Bianca. Hi, Chloe. Nice to see you."
Chloe leaned forward and air-kissed Miss Stephanie's cheek. "You, too, Stephanie. What brings you to the studio, today?"
"I just need to drop off these time sheets for you. We need Bianca's Phys Ed hours submitted every week. Bianca, you can go. I need to talk to Miss Chloe."
"Yes, Miss," John said, as he pulled on a little, black, dancer's skirt and started to go, but Miss Chloe called to him.
"Actually, Bianca, I need to go through our schedule before you leave, so, please leave your bag here and just go take a break in the hall. I'll only be a few minutes."
John waited in the hall for a few minutes, trying to hear the conversation in the dance studio, but all he could make out were some muffled conversation - no real words.
Finally, the door opened and Miss Stephanie stepped into the hallway. "Well," she smirked, "you had quite a big night last night, didn't you?"
"Yes, Miss Stephanie," John replied, eyes flickering from the woman's face to anywhere else as he spoke. "I hope you enjoyed yourself."
"Oh, I did, actually, Bianca. I enjoyed the show much more than I expected. It's amazing how much the editors and music can add to a show, isn't it?"
"Yes, I guess, Miss."
"Also, I had a lovely and revealing chat with your mother and sister. Did they mention it?"
"No, Miss, they didn't." John was suddenly very worried. What had they said. They'd insisted on calling him John a hundred times in the few hours they'd all spent together. Had they slipped up and told her stories about him being a boy? "How was it 'revealing,' Miss?" He couldn't help but ask.
"Well, for instance, you told me that you took 'A' class at Emerson. Your mom told me that you'd been taking classes there for three years and your sister mentioned that you'd even done a semester of dual enrollment there last year."
Why hadn't they told him these things!? Emerson didn't even have dual enrollment for high school students! Nancy had done that her junior and senior years at Worcester State University, but it would just take one phone call or a glance at his transcripts to find out that this was a lie. "Umm," John stuttered to find a response, "It wasn't a true dual enrollment, Miss. I took some classes at my school and some classes on line, then I'd go to Boston and take classes in the evening."
"Oh," Miss Stephanie seemed a tad deflated. "Well... that is somewhat different than what I understood, but, still it is an impressive resume for a fourteen year old."
"Thank you, Miss."
"Your performance in the show..."
"Yes, Miss?"
"It was... impressive, but... well... I'd like to give you some notes."
"I would appreciate that, Miss," John nodded. He really would rather discuss acting with her than anything else.
"Alright..." Miss Stephanie nodded. "We'll do that."
"Bianca," Miss Chloe appeared in the doorway, "please come in. I need to go through this with you before you leave."
"Yes, Miss." John moved past the two women and reentered the studio.
"It was nice seeing you," Chloe said in a very stiff manner, to Miss Stephanie. "I'm sure that we'll see you around, now that we're both working with Bianca."
"Yes, I'm sure we will," Miss Stephanie walked away.
"Come with me, Bianca." The dance teacher hurried to a desk on the other side of the studio. She was obviously upset about something.
"Miss?" John asked, "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, Bianca, thank you."
She sat and pulled out a piece of paper and started scanning it, but then, suddenly, she was crying. Loudly, sobbing-ly crying. It threw John and made him very concerned.
"Miss? Miss? Are you ok?" He didn't know what he should do. He barely knew this woman and she kind of scared him. Touching her didn't seem right.
A moment later, though, she waved him off and took deep breaths to get herself under control. "I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm sorry." She sat back and breathed deeply, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry, Bianca."
"No need to apologize, Miss. Are you ok."
"I am," she nodded and breathed herself under control. "May I ask you a question, Bianca?"
John nodded.
"Are you close with Stephanie?"
John looked towards the door where Miss Stephanie had been. She was gone. "No ma'am. Not at all. In fact... well... not at all."
"Good," the teacher said. "I'd recommend that you keep it that way."
"We've got a big treat for you, today," Ellen DeGeneres said from her comfortable chair, one leg folded under the upper thigh of her other. "It's been quite a while since we've been joined by Don Ferry," the audience erupted into applause. When the ovation subsided, she continued, "Well, he's got a new show premiering on a rival network, ABC, tonight and he's here, today, along with some of the primary members of the cast, to talk about how the show came about, what he's been doing for the last few years, etc. So, let's kick things off with the man, himself, Don Ferry!"
Don entered the space between the stage-right side of the stage and the small interview-set that Ellen used and, as the club music thumped, he began the required dancing that all of her guests performed. The audience stood and applauded and Don's dancing got broader and more ridiculous. Ellen joined him and they both made wonderful fools of themselves to the delight of the audience.
When, at last, he was seated, his smile was warm and inviting and he answered Ellen's questions effortlessly. He was so charming! He exuded confidence while simultaneously transmitting a sense of humbleness. John watched from the wings in amazement. He didn't think he'd ever be that comfortable at an interview. There were too many things to hide about his life. He needed to be more cautious than everyone else.
The plan was to keep Don on stage alone for 30 to 40 minutes before, Marion, Ed, Rose and, finally, John would join them on stage. Don was talking about his theater work until, just about ten minutes into the interview, when they went to commercial.
While Don took a drink of water, on stage, while John and the others sat in the green room.
"Oh, what a lovely dress." Marion came up behind John and fussed with the dress that wardrobe had given him. It was a modern version of a shirt-dress, like those that 'Alex' wore on the show. This one was sleeveless and ended mid-thigh and was a very pleasant shade of yellow. "Every girl needs a pretty, yellow dress," she kissed the back of John's head. Just relax, baby. Everything will be fine."
John turned and hugged the older woman. "Thanks, Nana."
"What did he just say?" Ed asked. He and Rose were watching the monitor. Don and Ellen were still chatting during the commercial break. Their mics were muted in the studio, but they could still be heard in the green room.
"I think he said that he wants to bring us out, now!" Rose hustled to the mirror to check herself, once more.
Marion said to john, "Turn around, dear," and she straightened out the large, yellow bow that held some of his hair into a high ponytail at the rear of his head. "Remember, you're not being yourself; you're being Bebe Foley, the actress. She's a character unto herself, so just be that character and you'll be fine."
"Ok," John breathed a deep breath and smiled. "I think I'm ready."
"That's my girl." Marion's smile was warm and reassuring.
Just as the show on the monitor was coming back from the commercial break, a woman with a headset hurried into the room and said, in a very harried voice, "Change of plans, everyone. You're all going out together, NOW! I need you in the on-deck area, immediately! Please, hurry!"
Ed stood and said, in his deep, confident voice, "Are we ready, ladies?"
"We're always ready, Edward," Marion said with a relaxed quality, while taking John's hand.
"One sec," Rose finished applying a little lip gloss before stepping back and straightening out her simple, sage-green, sheath dress, which looked breathtaking on her. Once she approved of herself, she said, "Ready," and ran to take Ed's hand and they all walked to the offstage area to wait to be called out.
They didn't wait long. As they arrived, they heard Don saying, "...but this is an ensemble show and I have been blest with one of the best ensembles I've ever worked with and I'd really like them to come out and talk about the show so you can all get to know them."
"Sounds good!" Ellen stood and called out, "Lets have a big round of applause for the cast of 'Civil Disobedience!' Come on out, everyone!"
Marion took the lead, followed by Ed, who held Rose's hand in one of his and John's in the other. When it came time for them all to dance, John was handed off to Marion, who took him in her arms and mock swing -danced with him, allowing him to twirl his skirts and look involved without looking like an idiot. He was grateful.
Just as they were all about to take their seats, from the audience came a shout from several people, " BEBE! BEBE!"
John turned and a smile spread across his face when he saw Ella and MK shouting and waving from the front row, with Blaine sitting right beside them, embarrassed. John waved, grateful for the friendly faces.
"Friends of yours?" Ellen asked, amused.
John nodded. "We go to school together."
"Oh, where's that?" Ellen continued as she looked at the group. The camera also captured the cheering section.
"Notre Dame Academy for Young Women."
"Really!?" Ellen looked closer. "It seems that one of those people is not a young woman, but a very handsome young guy. Does he go to your school, too?"
"That's her boyfriend, I believe," Don chuckled.
"Really?" Ellen stood, hustled to the first row, grabbing a wireless microphone along the way. "Stand up, stand up," she said, and the girls did.
"What are your names?" She asked.
"I'm Mary Kate."
"I'm Ella."
"And you go to school with..." not having spoken to John, yet, Ellen drew a blank on his name.
"Bebe," Ella offered. "Yes, we are friends from school.
"And this fellow, here?" She pointed to Blaine. "Where do you go to school?"
Blaine remained seated, and looked even more embarrassed. "I go to St Marks."
"And are you dating, Bebe?" She offered her hand and pulled the boy to his feet. When he didn't respond to her question, she asked again. "Well, are you?"
"Yes," he grinned. "We're dating."
"How long?"
Blaine looked embarrassed. "Just a few days."
"Really!?" Ellen pretended to be shocked. "Just a minute." Ellen ran back to the interview area and grabbed John's hand, pulling him across to the front row of the audience. John had to bounce on the balls of his feet to keep up with Ellen's sneakered jog.
"So, Bebe," she asked, as she reached Blaine, again, "is it true that you and this young man are involved?"
MK and Ella were laughing hysterically at John and Blaine's discomfort. Laughing with embarrassment, John nodded, "Yes, we are.... Well, dating."
"And what are your prospects, young man?" Ellen had taken on the role of a parent. She pushed the mic into Blaine's face.
He laughed. "I have none."
"Oh, well, I don't know if I can allow this, then... What do you think, girls?" Ellen pushed the mic back at John' s friends.
"Oh, you should," MK said.
"He gave her that necklace when he asked her to go steady! Isn't that romantic?" Ella giggled.
Ellen inspected the piece of jewelry. "Oooooh, that's sweet."
"Ask him what it is!" Ella persisted.
"What is it?" Ellen asked Blaine, who shook his head and smiled apologetically at John.
"It's..." he mumbled.
"What is it?" Ellen pushed.
"It's... a BB," he finally said causing the audience to break into shouts of 'Aww' and applause.
'So much for keeping MY personal life to myself,' John thought as Ellen pushed him into Blaine's arms. "Let's take a selfie of this, girls, jump in here, too." Ellen produced a cell phone and took a photo of her and the four young people, a photo which was immediately posted to her website.
Finally, Ellen grabbed John's hand and, once again, dragged him across the studio with him bouncing on the balls of his feet. "That was fun," Ellen announced as Ed put his arm around Bebe. "Now, about this show of yours..."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 7
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A successful debute of the TV show, a conniving teacher, meeting his boyfriend's mother,
shopping with girlfriends and a Halloween party at St Mark's Boy's School.
Oh, the busy schedule of a pretty girl!
Author's Note: As always, I love to read your comments. ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 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.
MEETING EVERYONE'S EXPECTATIONS-or- I KNEW WHO I WAS THIS MORNING, BUT IVE CHANGED A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN
"We're with Don Ferry's party," Ed told the Maitre'd at the posh country club. Ed was looking dashing in his dark blue suit, crisp white shirt and red tie. Behind him, in pretty, flowered dresses, Rose and John looked lovely.
"Ah, yes, this way, sir, ladies." The thin, dapper, middle aged man said as he led them into the elaborately decorated dinning room. Dark wood, coffered ceilings and photos of presidents and celebrities who'd golfed or eaten there decorating the walls. Don felt that this was the perfect place for a 'Decompression Brunch;' the opportunity to sit and talk and reflect after a week of travel and promotion - a chance to relax and prepare for a new round of filming.
Don was sitting with a stunningly pretty woman at a table in an alcove which overlooked the deep green golf course - which, considering this area of the world had been in a horrible drought for more than a decade, seemed awfully indulgent against the dull brown hills beyond. A man was talking to Don and shaking his hand, while Don smiled his best 'I'm your buddy' smile, when they arrived at the table.
"Ah! Excuse me, Larry, but the kids are here!" Don stood and patted Larry on the shoulder. "Kids, this is my good friend, Larry Rosen. He is, among other things, President of this club. He also runs everything else in LA, Beverly Hills, Palm Springs and anywhere else that matters in California." Don winked at Larry, who smiled and chuckled. "You ever need anything, you call Larry. If he can't help you, he knows who can."
Larry shook Ed's hand, "A pleasure to meet you," he grinned. He kissed the hands of both Rose and John. "I was just telling Don that I saw your show last night and I enjoyed it tremendously. Congratulations. As a matter of fact, your brunch, today, is on me."
"Now, That is a true miracle!" Don teased.
He patted Larry's shoulders once more and the man departed, but on his way by, he stopped and took one of John's hands and cupped it in both of his. "You, young lady," he kissed John's cheek, "are a revelation. Congratulations."
John smiled. "Thank you, sir."
"I'm not a 'sir,'" he smiled. "I'm just 'Larry.' Enjoy your breakfast." He left.
Don clapped his hands, "Ok, kids, take a seat. This is my lovely wife, Vivian. Viv, this is Ed, Rose and, of course, Bebe."
Each said hello to her and took their seats.
"So, have you read any of the overnight reviews?" Don asked.
"Nope," Ed poured three glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice into the glasses that were waiting in front of the place-settings where John, Rose and he had taken seats. "We didn't watch the show at all, either. We went to bed early and came straight here, this morning."
"We have gotten texts and emails from family and friends, though," Rose said. "They all seemed to love it!"
Don snickered. "Of course they did. They love you. What you really need to hear is the brutal truth from an unbiased view. That's why I invited you to breakfast and why Viv is here. Viv is not just my wife, she's my worst critic."
"But she is your wife, Don, and, no offense, Vivian, but as his wife, you're hardly an unbiased viewer." Ed smiled at the older woman.
"You're right, Ed," she smiled back. "I'm much worse than an unbiased viewer. I hate to see Don in anything in which he gives less than his all. I'm really the reason he took a hiatus from film and TV."
"Are you guys ready? She's pretty brutal." Don winked at them.
"Sure," Ed finished his juice and crossed his arms. "Have at us, Mrs Ferry."
Vivian smiled and considered her words. "Ok, well, first, I think that the scripts and storylines are all pretty great for a TV show. They're not predictable and the dialog, that dialog which is actually written, I mean, is strong and doesn't pander to the audience. It's definitely too early to make true comparisons, but the way that I immediately locked in to the characters really reminded me of The Sopranos or Boardwalk Empire."
"Wow," Rose raised her eyebrows. "That's pretty auspicious company to be in."
"Now, as for each of you," Vivian continued. "Ed, I love the way that you and Don interact. You guys have a really nice chemistry and you don't just nod at everything Don says. You have a real range of emotions and Don has to work a bit harder than he usually does to get you on board. I like that. I also like how you melt when you see Rose. That's really sweet."
Ed smiled at Rose. "It's easy. Just look at her."
Vivian did, "Rose, your scenes with Ed are tremendous, but you kind of disappear in scenes with Marion, Don or Bebe. I think you need to be a little less accepting of every word that comes out of the mouth of your father or grandmother. With Bebe, though, there's something almost motherly about how you treat her. I really like that, but you need to do more of it. You guys need to touch each other more. Hug. Kiss each other's cheeks. Little touches will make a big difference. Just be more sisterly while your being motherly. Know what I mean?"
"I do," Rose smiled. "Thanks."
Then, Vivian looked at John, crossed her arms and shook her head. "Bebe... what can I say?"
John looked at her, then glanced at the rest of the party. No one said anything. "Well?" He finally asked. "Did I do anything right?"
Vivian leaned back and thought for a moment. "It's Bianca, right?"
"Well, yes, but I prefer Bebe."
"Honestly, Bebe, I think that you need to go with Bianca. See... I have been an acting and dialect coach for nearly thirty years and when I first met Don, I couldn't believe he was throwing away his talent on foolish action films. He was one of the most naturally talented guys I ever met and I convinced him to give up film and TV to become a real actor. Over the last decade, he has become one of the most respected stage actors in America and I was not in favor of him coming back to TV."
Don laughed. "That's an understatement! We nearly divorced over this."
Now, Vivian laughed. "Well, that's not true, but I wasn't happy."
She continued, "My biggest concern with Don and TV was that no one would stand up to him and challenge him, emotionally. I was afraid he'd look too broad, emotionally, and come off as staid or overbearing, but, you, young lady... I see a depth in your character that is
overwhelming. When he's on screen with you, he has to fight to gain the attention of the audience - even me, Bianca. I couldn't keep my eyes off of you. And the scenes that two of you improvised... dear God, Bianca, your dialog was better than the writers'! That scene when you said you hated your mother for dying... I've watched that scene at least a dozen times since last night and I can't see a hint of anything but sincerity on your face or in your body language, Bianca. Honestly, you are the first leading lady who has ever offered Don an emotional challenge. Whatever you're doing, you're doing it right, dear. Please, honey, never, never stop doing it."
There was silence around the table, till Ed put his arm around John and kissed his cheek. "What do you say to Vivian, Beebs?"
John breathed for the first time in what seemed like an hour. "Wow, Mrs Ferry..."
"Viv, honey."
"... Viv... I'm speechless, I think. Thank you. That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."
"She's right, Bebe," Don leaned back and took in the group he referred to as 'The Massachusetts Mafia.' "The three of you are amazing individually, and as a group, the four of us can be a sensation. And Bebe, no matter what happens, you're destined to do huge things. Just stay clear of drugs, sex and scandals and remain true to your art and I promise you, you will own this town in less than a decade."
Although he enjoyed the compliments, these predictions scared the heck out of John. There was a lot to consider and he didn't really have the means to process all of this. "Thanks, Don." John huffed a little air, then shook his head. "I really don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything, angel," Don reached over and took John's hand in his, "just let us ride your coattails for awhile, ok?"
John shrugged. "Ok, I guess."
"Alright," Don clapped his hands and pulled an iPad out. "We've heard from the harshest critic, now let's see what the press has to say about out little show."
For the most part, all of the reviews were positive and in every case, the newcomers were given warm welcomes. Don got hit hard by a few reviewers who felt that he was just an action-star that was trying to become a legit-actor. None of that seemed to phase him, though. In fact, he seemed amused by them.
The brunch stretched to over three hours of relaxed conversation and discussions about where the show should be headed, until, finally, as 1:30 rolled around, Ed said, "Well, Don, Vivian, I'm afraid that we need to get going. Bebe has a dance lesson at the studio in a half an hour."
Don stood and shook Ed's hand, "Ed, congratulations on your first big hit. You have a big future in this business, buddy. Are you happy you decided to give it a shot?"
"More than I can say," he laughed and gave Vivian, who had also stood to say goodbye, a kiss on the cheek. "It was nice to finally meet you, Viv."
"Rosie, Rosie, Rosie," Don said as he gave her a hug, "my grownup girl. Congratulations to you, too. Oh, you're going to be such a big star! So pretty! So talented."
"Thanks, Don. Thanks for everything, including brunch! Thank you, too, Viv. I really appreciate the constructive criticism." They embraced as well.
"And Bebe." He squeezed John in a crushing hug. "I swear, you are an answer to my prayers, sweetheart! You elevated this show more than you can understand."
John's New England humbleness was making him feel a bit embarrassed by the amount of compliments he'd been receiving, lately, but Don seemed very sincere. "Thanks, Don. I can't tell you how much I'm learning from you."
"Oh, pfft," Don scoffed. "I'm just an old hack, baby. You're the future. Stay focused, angel, and you'll be the next Meryl. I can feel it."
John laughed at that as he turned to Vivian. "Thank you for lunch, Mrs Ferry."
Viv laughed. "I guess I'm not going to get you to call me by my first name, am I?"
John smiled and shrugged.
"Think about what I said, Bebe," Vivian examined John's face and moved some stray hairs in a very maternal manner. "Bebe is almost too-cute for an actress of your abilities. Bianca is a good, strong name. Consider using it."
John giggled a bit, "I hate that name. It seems so... old lady-ish."
"Really?" Vivian laughed. "See, I think it's exotic and sexy. Makes me think of Bianca Jagger."
Don laughed. "Honey, Bianca Jagger IS an old lady, now! Besides, I doubt that Bebe has any idea who Mick Jagger is, let alone Bianca. They've been divorced for, what, forty years!? I think 'Bebe' suits her just fine."
Vivian completed her examination of John's face. "I suppose it does," she smiled. "You're almost too cute to be as talented as you are. Cute girls usually just rely on being cute. You're something very different."
"You've said a mouthful," Don joked as he put a hand on John's shoulder and guided him towards Ed. They said their final goodbyes.
"No, no, no!" Chloe stopped dance routine. "I swear to God, Bianca, I am going to cut those hands off of your arms if you can't make them move more delicately!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" John took deep breaths. Chloe had been running him ragged for over three hours and she had not smiled once. John felt miserable. He hated failing and that's what he was doing now.
He was surprised when he looked up and saw his instructor with a bemused smile on her face. "Alright, honey, let's call it a day. You've actually done quite well, today. I can tell you've been practicing the exercises I gave you, which is a good thing, and your foot work is very good, considering this is only your third lesson, but, honey, PLEASE go onto YouTube and look at some of the dancers I listed for you. Look at their arms and hands, and try to emulate their actions."
"Yes, ma'm," John nodded and reached for a towel to wipe his face.
"By the way, Bebe," Chloe said as she moved to her desk, "I watched your show."
John pulled on the little dance skirt. "Oh? Thank you for watching it, Miss. I hope you enjoyed it."
The teacher smiled and indicated that John should sit. "Bebe, I enjoyed every second of it. It was wonderful! Don Ferry was wonderful and you, young lady, were absolutely wonderful! Bebe, I am so impressed with you! You were just... well, wonderful."
John smiled humbly and blushed. "Thank you, Miss. That's very nice of you to say."
"And it is true, dear," the teacher smiled, but, suddenly, a cloud came over her face. "Bebe... I probably shouldn't say this to you, but... well... I was in your position once and I... well, to be honest, I threw it all away because I was stupid and, well... maybe if I tell you this, you can avoid the same problems."
John sat silently and waited.
"Bianca... Bebe... I came out here from Arkansas when I was eighteen. Besides being a very good dancer, I could sing and act, a little - certainly not as well as you, but as well as most people. Anyway, I got a few walk-ons and some commercials and, after about a year, I got onto an established sitcom. I was a weekly-recurring character and I thought that I'd made it. From here on out, I was living on Easy Street. You see where I'm headed with this?"
John nodded. "Yes, Miss. I think I do. You're saying that, even though I lucked into this show, that can go away and maintaining a career is hard."
Chloe shook her head and smiled. "No, honey, although you are correct, my career ended because I'm an idiot. I was in my early twenties, making, if you'll excuse the expression, a shit-ton of money playing a hardworking college student in a top rated show, but I also started spending more than I made, drinking and taking drugs... lots of drugs. I got pregnant and got thrown off the show. I went from making more every week than my father made in a year, to selling everything I had just to stay alive."
John gasped. "Miss... I'm so sorry."
She scoffed, "Don't be, Bebe. I did it to myself, and I've reconciled to that. I'm clean and sober, now, but it's a struggle and we don't all have a redemptive second act, like Robert Downey Jr did. Some of us just disappear and that's hard."
There was silence.
"Bebe, about two, two and a half years ago, I fell off the wagon and I fell hard. Really hard. I lost my son, who has developmental problems, for a while and I nearly lost my job here. If they'd found out, they definitely would have fired me - they'd probably fire me, still. It was a really bad time for me. There were police and courts involved, Bebe. It was a real nightmare and I hope it's all behind me."
Oh, Miss... I don't know what to say... I'm... well, if I can help in any way..."
"Bebe, Bebe," the teacher laughed sadly at the misunderstanding, "I am not asking for help. I'm offering some. See, when you have a secret, someone is, eventually, going to find out what it is and that's what happened to me. Your Theater teacher at Notre Dame, in fact, knows that I had a relapse and this has given her some power over me, but it's time to put an end to all that. Later today, I'm going to my supervisor and I'm going to tell her everything and I'll see what happens from there. Maybe they'll understand... probably, they won't, but, at least, it'll all be over."
She looked sad and nervous as she finished. "I'm sorry, Bianca, I shouldn't have told you all of this. Please, forgive me, but I just hope that you may be able to learn how to protect yourself. It's a tough, tough business, Bianca, and you need to always have a defense plan."
"Miss Chloe," John said, "I don't know exactly what to say, but... well... does you decision to talk to your supervisor have anything to do with me and Miss Stephanie."
Chloe breathed a heavy sigh, "Well, yes and no. What I mean is, Stephanie seems to have it in for you, dear. I don't know why, but she's out to get you and, yes, she tried to enlist me in dredging up information she could use against you, and, to be perfectly honest, I considered it. I know how that sounds, Bianca, but I have a son with special needs to consider..." tears gathered in Chloe's eyes and emotion choked her voice. "Oh, Bebe, I have made a mess of my life and my son's, but I can't help her to destroy yours, too, so... I've made up my mind - This all ends, today." She stood, but the fit, strong dancer looked broken and frail.
John came around the desk, slowly, and, tentatively embraced his dance teacher. "No, Miss, please. Let me talk to Don. He's been in the business for decades. He'll know what to do."
Chloe hugged him tightly. "I don't think so, Bebe. Why would Don Ferry help me. I've never even met him, and he's known to be squeaky-clean. I'm just a junky who can't keep her life together."
"No, that's not true. Don's a sympathetic guy and you're a person who's lived a tough life and, I don't know, stumbled, I guess, along the way. Don will help you if I ask him. I know he will. Let me call him."
An hour and a half later, Don, Ed, Rose and a woman named Kim had joined John and Chloe in the studio. Kim, who was Chloe's immediate supervisor in the Talent Development Department, said, "So, let me get this straight... this woman," she checked her notes, "Stephanie, from the tutorial service, has threatened to tell us that you had a relapse, what, three years ago?"
"Nearly, yes," Chloe said.
"And in return for her silence she wanted you to do what?"
"Well, pass on any information I could find out about Bebe, or her uncle or cousin, and she even suggested that I offer her pain killers if she complained about any soreness from dancing."
Kim wrote a few notes, then she looked at John. "And why, exactly, would this woman want to get information about you, Bianca?"
"I don't know," John said. "I don't know why, but she has never liked me."
"I think I may have an answer for you," a voice came from the other side of the room. The man who'd spoken the words was a fifty-ish man in a smart, dark blue suit.
"This is Hank Miller," Don stood and shook the man's hand. "Thanks for coming, Hank. Hank is probably the best private investigator in LA. I asked him to take a look at Miss Stephanie's life to see if he could fine out anything."
"And you've found something this quickly?" Rose asked.
"Well, to be honest, your 'Miss Stephanie' is not a very skilled criminal - she has been prolific, but she's pretty sloppy." Hank explained. "Evidently, she's been making a nice extra-income blackmailing a number of people, most of whom are second and third tier actors working regularly in television. Judging by the buzz around Bianca, here, if she could have gotten her hooks into her, this early in her career, then she could have had a very long and profitable payday. Here's a list of the people we currently know of who are paying her hush money." He handed the list to Kim.
"Good God!" She said as she read the list, "at least a third of these people are under contract to this studio! Why is this the first I've heard of this!?"
"Blackmail's a very personal crime," Hank shrugged. "Most people would rather pay than explain that they have something to hide."
"Well, Chloe, you did the right thing, letting me know," Kim took out her cell phone and called the studio's attorney.
After she spoke for a good five minutes of more, she turned to Hank and said, "Our legal department is going to look into all of this. What do you suggest we do, now?"
Hank shrugged. "I'd suggest that we get LAPD involved and then, we wait."
"Wait for what?" Ed asked.
"For them to move forward or for Miss Stephanie to make a mistake. One way or another, though, I expect that she will be taking to a policeman pretty damned soon."
"Try this one. Blue looks nice on you," MK handed yet another dress into the fitting room. This one had an Asian design. Very tight with a notched collar and high slits on the side.
"I can't wear this," John handed the dress back out, "I don't have the boobs, butt or hips for this style."
"I have a dress like this and I look fine in it," MK pushed it back towards him.
"She's right," Ella took the dress away. "She'd look like a little boy in that. You've got, like, the third biggest boobs in our grade. Besides, that's way too formal to wear to a lacrosse game."
"I'd wear it to a game," MK considered the dress on the hanger.
"You'd wear a prom dress to burger joint. The rest of us dress appropriately." Ella laughed at her friend.
"I like the second one I tried on. I'm going to try that one, again." John called out. "Besides, the debit card my mom gave me will only let me spend three hundred dollars a day. Most of these dresses are really pricey and I still need to get shoes and a bag. The second one I tried on is only eighty-five dollars."
"No," MK protested from outside the fitting room, "you look like a child in that. You need to look sexy. You're going steady, now! You don't want him to lose interest!"
"I'm meeting his mother for the first time, MK! I don't want her to think I'm trying to seduce her son!"
"But you are, Bebe, and he needs to know it! You're not even planning on wearing a sexy costume to the St Matthew's Halloween party!"
"She's got a point there, Bebe," Ella contributed. "I've never heard of the boy's mother picking out the costumes before. She might have you dressed like a nun."
"Argh!" John growled from the fitting room. "You guys aren't helping!"
"Come on, girl," MK persisted, "at least try this one on. The slits are nice and high. He'll love it."
"Are you having any problems, girls?" Rose asked as she approached with a small bag in her hand.
"Kinda," Ella shook her head. "MK wants Bebe to dress like a Rodeo Drive hooker and Bebe wants to dress like Holly Hobbie. That's all."
"Besides," MK said, looking at the dress John had just rejected, "she needs to be sexy at the lacrosse game. She has no idea what costumes his mother picked out for the Halloween Dance, but she know HIS MOTHER picked them out, so... there's that to consider."
Rose laughed. "I'm sure that she's picked out lovely costumes. She wouldn't want Blaine to be embarrassed." Then, knocking on the door, she said, "Honey, I'm coming in, ok?"
As she opened the door, John called back, "Ok."
He was standing in his purple bra and panty set, fussing with the second dress he'd tried on. It was an off white, Rose called it 'tea stained,' cotton sheath that had little, beige polka dots on it and a small, braided, leather belt sat at its high waist.
"Ok, honey," Rose said, "I got you something to wear underneath." She held out a new bra, with less padding than what he'd normally worn.
"What's this for?" John asked.
The bra had soft, molded cups, but no extra padding. "I noticed last night, that your breasts are coming in nicely. I think you're up to at least an 'A' cup now. Let's try it on and see. It's going to be more comfortable and natural looking than the padded one."
It had been months since John had felt anything erotic about wearing women's clothing. At this point, they weren't 'women's clothes' at all; they were just 'clothes,' but something about this particular change in bra style was giving him butterflies in his tummy.
Rose must have seen it and said, "Here. Let me help you."
She undid the hook and eyes at the back of the bra he was wearing and slid it down his arms, then turned him towards the mirror. "A girl's first grown up bra is a big day for her, honey. Look, you're becoming a real young woman."
John looked at himself in the mirror. He'd become very used to the budding growths on his chest, but had not paid an awful lot of attention to them, lately. Now, there was no denying that he had breasts. Actual, unavoidably noticeable breasts that sat pert and pretty on his chest.
Rose held the new bra open for him and he slid his arms in and she pulled it up and into place. She fastened it in the rear, then reached into the cups to settle them in correctly. The bra held him firmly and shaped him perfectly. His breasts were still smaller than the prosthetics he'd worn as Bianca, but this was different - very different. These were his. He could feel the softness and lovely, hugging support of the garment and it created a very modest, but very real cleavage that he found extraordinary. Obviously, he knew that this would eventually happen, but it was quite a surprise that it'd happened so quickly.
Then something odd happened. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a reflection in a mirror on the side wall of the fitting room. It was just the soft curve of the underside of his breast as it curved back towards his chest. The bra held it so perfectly and the breast filled the bra so femininely. It was a sight he'd glimpsed through gapped shirts a million times before, but this was different. Incredibly different.
"Bebe," Rose whispered worriedly, waking him from his trance, "You're not wearing your gaff."
"Huh? What? No. It's not always comfortable, so I don't wear it when I don't have too."
"Well, I've got news for you, little girl... you have to!"
John followed her gaze to see his purple panties with the pretty lace on them being stretched in a very unfeminine manner.
"Oh, shit!" He whispered.
"Well, push it down, or something! Quickly!"
"Hey guys," Ella I knocked on the door.
John's hand slapped over his mouth, "Oh, shit! Oh, shit! Oh, shit!" He whispered in a total panic.
Rose held up her hands indicating that he should relax.
"What is it, Ella?" Rose called out.
"Are you going with the Holly Hobbie dress, 'cause if you are, MK and I will go look for a nice bag to go with it."
"Um, yes," Rose sounded relieved. "She's taking the tea-stained one. See if you can find a bag that is brown and has some braiding on it, like the belt on the dress, ok?"
"Ok. We're going to Crawford's. It's a few doors down, on the left. We'll meet you there."
"Perfect. Thanks, hon!"
She returned her gaze to John, who's erection had, if anything, gotten even more noticeable. Now, there was a gap at the waistband and his penis could be see in the silky panties.
"Can't you, you know, soften it, again?"
John shook his head. "I'm sorry, but... no."
"Oh, geez," Rose shook her head like a disgusted mother, then reached into her pocketbook and pulled out a small poach of tissues. "I never thought I'd need theses for this... especially in a fitting room. Thank God these are full sized doors, but you're going to need to be quiet, do you understand me?"
John nodded.
"Then, take off your panties. I don't want you to mess those up."
He stepped out of the panties, a blossoming woman on top, a grown man on the bottom. "I swear to God, Bebe, if you ever leave the house without a gaff on again, I'll pull you over my knee and spank you till you can't sit for a month."
That just made matters worse.
Rose began to run her hand up and down his shaft, but the noises from the store were startling and frightening John. The fear of getting caught was very exciting, but it was a very real and palpable fear that interrupted his concentration.
"Come on, sweetheart," Rose whispered, "we need to do this quickly."
"I know," he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate, "but the noise is distracting me."
Rose moved closer and kissed his cheek while she continued to stroke him. "Just listen to my voice," she cooed into his ear. "Just be a good girl and cum for Rosie."
It was no use, though. He was excited and wanted to explode, but each time he came close, he was distracted by a cough, or laugh, or a loud voice, just outside the door to the fitting room.
"I can't," John whispered through his heavy breathing.
Rose moved even closer, enveloping him in her presence. "Yes, you can, my little one. Don't listen to anything, but me. There's no sound, but my voice. Concentrate on how big and strong my hand feels on your dinky." She gave his shaft a quick, slightly more aggressive, pull to get his attention. "Doesn't my big, strong, soft hand feel nice on you?"
He panted and nodded.
"You've gotten so small, Bebe. So, so small. Do I feel bigger to you?"
"Yes," his voice barely audible.
"Yeah?" She felt him stiffen a bit. "You like being a pretty, little thing, though, don't you? You like being Blaine's little girlfriend."
He stiffened more and she thought she felt a twitch as well.
"That's right. Think about Blaine. Imagine my hand is his hand. Imaging how much bigger his tool would be than your dinky. Being such a pretty, little girl, you'd love to be with a big, handsome boy like Blaine, wouldn't you?"
John's breaths became deeper and more strained.
"Have him hold you and play with your nipples and dinky."
His round, new breasts heaved in his pretty, lacy, new bra.
"Then you'd kneel in front of him; get down on your knees and lick your lips and you'd see his big, young, powerful tool, staring at you."
He pumped his hips to increase the friction from her hand.
"Then you'd be a really good girl, wouldn't you, and good girls make their men happy, don't they?"
John's skin was hot, damp and reddening.
"What do good girls do to make their men happy? Huh? What do they do?"
He could not have spoken a coherent word if he'd wanted to.
"They open their mouths and accept the gift the man offers. Open your mouth, little girl. Open wide."
Eyes closed and hips bucking, John let his mouth fall open, allowing Rose access. She leaned down and used her tongue to penetrate past John's lips, filling his mouth with herself.
Suddenly, John's hips slammed against Roses hand one last time and he came with so much force that he nearly passed out. Had his mouth not been filled with Rose's tongue, he would have shrieked like a woman in a thrill of sexual rapture.
Slowly, Rose withdrew from him and, as she loosened her grip and John sank onto the bench, she straightened herself and looked down at the spent child in front of her. Bebe's eyes were closed and she was struggling to gain control of her breathing.
And SHE was definitely Bebe.
Despite the very masculine discharge, John was gone - forever. Rose knew that the fame that had already been showered on them because of their work on a show, which had already gained a following, a real relationship with John was going to be difficult, but now she knew that John was gone. At one time, she could bring John nearly to orgasm with a smile. Now, she had to indulge his girlish fantasies about his boyfriend to get him off.
The whole event hadn't been a girlfriend giving her boyfriend a hand-job. It had been an older cousin helping her younger, female, cousin with an embarrassing, female-problem.
She was sad that John was gone, but happy that she had the relationship she had with her little cousin and that made her smile. She stilled loved this little girl. Just differently.
The door bell rang at EXACTLY 11:00 on Saturday morning. Ed checked the video monitor and saw Blaine's image Looking back at him.
"Morning, Blaine. Come on up."
"Is she almost ready?" He asked Rose.
Rose shrugged and laughed, "I think so. Honestly, I've never seen her so nervous. I mean, she's been through auditions, opening, going to school, homecoming dances, but meeting his mom seems to have her ready to cry."
Ed laughed in sympathy. "Do you suppose that's partially the hormones?"
"I'm sure, but she needs to tone it down or she'll make herself sick. Believe me, I know. I've been there. I've met several boyfriend-mothers and each has been a horror show."
There was a knock on the door.
"Blaine," Ed smiled as he opened the door, "Good to see you! You must be Joanne." He extended his hand as the woman entered the room.
"Oh, yes, hi, I'm Blaine's mom, Joanne, and I know who you are! Hi, Mr. McNeal. I just loved your show the other night. Oh, you were so good."
"Oh, well, thank you... and this is Bebe's cousin, Rose."
"Hi, Joanne, nice to meet you," Rose extended her hand as well, but Joanne hugged her instead.
"Oh, my, you are even more beautiful in real life."
"Well..." both the hug and the compliment threw Rose a bit off balance. "Thank you."
"Sorry, guys," Blaine grinned, "but my mom is a little star-struck. I recorded your show and she's watched it, like, a dozen times. She really loved it."
"Oh, I did, I did." Joanne laughed and smiled.
"Well, that's very nice of you," Ed chuckled. This really was the first time anyone had ever been star-struck to see them. "Won't you have a seat? I'll go see how our girl is doing."
"Yes, please relax, but, Ed, why don't you get them a drink and I'll check on Beebs." She looked at Joanne, "She's a little stressed about meeting you. You know how it is - meeting the boyfriend's mom. I'll be right back."
Oh, please," Joanne laughed. "She's a star, for crying out loud. I'm nervous about meeting her!" She laughed louder.
"All set, Beebs?" Rose asked as she looked into the bedroom, but John was not ready. His dress was laid neatly on his bed and his shoes sitting below it. "Beebs?" She called as she closed the door behind her.
"In here," John called from the bathroom.
Rose looked in to see him sitting on the toilet seat cover. "Honey, Blaine and his mom are here. What are you doing?"
"My hair looks awful and the girls were right, my dress makes me look like Holly Hobbie." His eyes were red-rimmed. He'd obviously been crying.
Rose leaned against the sink and waited for John to say more, but he just looked at the floor.
"Honey," Rose said as soothingly as possible, "what's wrong?"
"I don't know. I guess I'm just feeling... off. And to make matters worse, I have a pimple."
Rose chocked back the giggle she felt. "Well, as for feeling 'off,' the doctor said that you might have days like that because of your hormone treatments. Believe me, baby, I feel 'off' for a bunch of days every month. She says that the best thing to do on those days is to look your best and carry on. She says you'll feel better later in the day. And as for the pimple, where is it."
"Right here. It's huge." John pointed to his hair line on the right side of his face.
Rose inspected and found a moderately small, white-head. "This is nothing. I'll pop it for you."
"No, you'll make it all red and... OUCH!!!"
"Oh, hush, you big baby. It's all gone, now. Come on, let's get you ready."
Rose took his hand and led him back into the bedroom, then held the tea-stained, polka-dot dress open so John could insert his arms and head. Then she buttoned the small buttons up his back. "I think this is an adorable dress, and you look very pretty in in. Don't let the girls get into your head."
"Rose?" John sounded concerned.
"Yes, baby?"
"What if the costume is, like, too 'womanly' for me?"
"'Womanly?' What do you mean by that?"
"You know... too... busty or revealing... too... womanly."
This time she couldn't hold back the giggle. "Honey, Blaine's mom didn't pick out a 'sexy nurse' costume for you. She picked out something that you and Blaine will look nice in, together. And as for being 'womanly,' honey, you have the same curves as any other girl your age."
John looked at her and rolled his eyes.
"You know what I mean. The same curves as any other fourteen year old. You are wearing a gaff, though, right?"
John nodded.
Rose ran his hair through a beige head band and grabbed a brush and began brushing his wavy, black hair down his neck and back. "Good. Now, look in the mirror. You know what I see? I see a very pretty girl, who's smart and talented and ready to go out and meet her boyfriend's mom." She finished brushing and kissed his cheek. "Ready?"
"I guess," he huffed.
"Joanne," Rose said as she entered the living room with John in tow, "this is my cousin, Bebe."
"Hi," John waved and smiled, a bit embarrassed.
"Oh, my dear," Blaine's mother stood and crossed to John, "You're even more beautiful in real life than you are on TV!" She hugged John tightly. "Oh, I've heard so much about you from Blaine! No wonder he's so taken with you!"
"Mom! Come on!" Blaine protested.
"Oh, stop it, Blaine." She waved him off and took a step back to take in John completely, but she held each of his hands in each of hers and spread his arms so she could complete her inspection. "All I've heard since homecoming is 'Bebe this,' and 'Bebe that...' I'm telling you, dear, that boy is in love with you!"
"Mom!" Blaine put on elbow on the arm of the chair he was sitting in and dropped his forehead down in the classic, teenager body language for, 'I can't believe my mother is saying these things.'
Ed patted his shoulder, "Tough it out, big guy. Moms are moms. Mine was the same way."
Blaine sighed and, on Ed's cue, stood and followed him to where his mother was praising John.
"She's just perfect, Blaine," Joanne said, never taking her eyes off of John. "Treat her well. This one's a keeper."
Finally she released John's hands. Blaine, immediately, took John's left hand in his right and whispered, "Sorry."
John just shrugged and smiled. He'd met Blaine's mom and she seemed to like him, so - phase one was complete.
The ride to Blaine's game was a bit awkward. Joanne, and she insisted that John call her Joanne, asked John a million questions about home and school and the TV show and Ed and Rose, while Blaine, strong, confident Blaine sat in the back seat with John and just smiled and shook his head at his mom's exuberance.
"Not Boston, ma'm, Worcester. It's about 35 miles west of Boston. Right in the middle of the state."
"I'm a freshman."
"I've been acting my whole life. There's lots of theater troupes in Massachusetts."
"Ed's a family friend, not my real uncle."
"Don's very nice. I don't know if I could arrange for you to meet him, though. I'll see what I can do."
"We all got really lucky. We were all in the same production and Don saw it."
Blaine just rolled his eyes.
Finally, when there was a break in the questioning, Blaine said, "Look, Bebe, when we get to the field, I gotta grab my stuff and get into the locker room. You're going to be ok with my mom, though, right?"
"Of course she'll be ok with me, Blaine." His mother answered for John. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to your precious girl." She 'tsk-ed' at him and shook her head.
Again, he just rolled his eyes.
"I'll be fine," John smiled. "Your mom's very nice."
"Thank you, Bebe!" Joanne laughed.
"Yeah? Wait till you get to know her, better," Blaine said, very loudly.
"Oh, you!"
John had never seen a lacrosse game before. It was really just for prep school guys back in Massachusetts. Well, of course, Blaine was a prep school boy, but John wasn't really a part of the preppie life back home. It didn't take long to figure out the rules, though, and it was very clear that Blaine played very well - better than most, in fact. John soon found himself engrossed with the game and impressed with Blaine's abilities.
During a break in the action, John and Joanne walked down to the concession stand and got bottles of water and hot dogs.
"Oh, this hotdog is SO GOOD!" John said, a bit too enthusiastically.
Joanne laughed. "It's ok, I guess."
"Oh, but I haven't had a hotdog in months."
"On a diet for the show?"
"On a diet for life, I think."
"But you're so small, dear. Are they really that strict?"
"Not them as much as me. I was bigger. I feel better when I'm smaller."
Joanne had no response, so they walked along.
"Blaine's really good at lacrosse," John made small talk.
"He is, but he's showing off a little for you, today, too," Joanne confided. "I'm not kidding, Bebe, I think that Blaine is head-over-heels in love with you. You've stolen that boy's heart. Have you had a lot of boyfriends?"
"No," he said, honestly, "Blaine is the first boy I ever dated."
"Oh, my. That does surprise me."
"Really? Why?"
"Well, because you're so pretty, I guess. I assumed you'd had boyfriends back home, too."
John blushed. "You're very nice, but I'm not nearly as pretty as Rose or my sister, Nancy. As a matter of fact, until last summer, I don't think anyone ever called be pretty. I was just a plain tomboy. Things changed fast, though."
"Well, they musty have," Joanne guided John back to his seat, "because you are gorgeous, Bebe. I mean it. Now, later, when I show you my costume choices for you, I hope that you'll let me fuss over you a little. I never had a girl to help get ready."
John smiled. He remembered how his mother had enjoyed being able to fawn all over him when he'd first become Bianca. Must be a mother thing. "I'll be very grateful for any help you can give me, Mrs... I mean, Joanne. Thank you."
Joanne noticed the little round ball hanging from the chain around John's neck and she smiled. "Do you like the necklace that Blaine gave you?"
"Oh," John held the chain, allowing the ball to be displayed, "I love it! I haven't had it off since he gave it to me. There's even a scene in the first episode where you can see it."
Joanne took a nibble of her hotdog. "I tried to talk him into something bigger, but the moment he saw that, he said, "No. This is what Bebe likes.' I guess he's right."
"Yeah," John shrugged. "I guess he is."
St Marks won by several points. Honestly, John had lost track, but he'd enjoyed watching Blaine play and seeing his muscular legs in the uniform shorts had been exciting, too. More than once, he'd found himself concentrating on Blaine's legs and rear end, rather than the game.
When the game ended, Joanne and John waited by the locker room entrance until Blaine came out. Then, they both applauded for their favorite player, but Blaine surprised John when, without any warning, he picked him up, swung him around and planted a long, passionate kiss on his lips."
"Blaine! You mom!" John chastised the boy even as he giggled at Blaine's impetuousness.
"Don't worry, I'll kiss her, too," Blaine smiled that big, handsome smile. "Did you like the game?"
"I did," John laughed, his boyfriend's arms still wrapped tightly around his upper legs, supporting him in the air.
"And did you watch me play?"
"Yes, of course I did, Blaine. Please put me down."
"Nope. Not until I get another kiss."
"Blaine..."
"Nope. No kiss, no walking. I'll carry you everywhere." He started running around the area, recklessly.
"Alright, Alright!" John leaned down and kissed Blaine, full on the lips. It was a nice kiss. It made him shiver.
"Nice game, dude!" Another player called, as Blaine was lowering John to the ground.
"Thanks, Deke!" Blaine waved. "Hey, this is her. The girl I told you about."
"She's hot, dude. See ya at the dance!"
"Cool!" Blaine waved to his friend.
"I'm hot?" John asked as he straightened his dress
"You are," Blaine beamed with pride. "I hope that didn't embarrass you."
"I guess not," John shrugged.
"Good, cause I have to kiss my mom, now."
Blaine turned to his mother and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"You played very well, Blaine, but don't tease Bebe. It's rude." Joanne scolded.
"Oh, she likes it," he smiled. He had one of those smiles that God gave to some people to keep them from ever getting into trouble, and Blaine obviously used it on his mother every day. She knew it, but what could she do. He was a good boy and had a good heart.
They drove to the home that Blaine and his mother shared with Joanne's husband. It was a very opulent home. As nice as Ella's House, possibly nicer, certainly more tasteful.
"I'm going to take a quick swim before I shower," Blaine smiled as he led John into the house, "wanna join me?"
"Oh," John stuttered over his words for a moment, "Umm... I wish you'd told me. I would have brought a swim suit, but..."
"There's plenty of bathing suits, come on," Blaine grabbed John's hand and started jogging towards the pool, with John in tow.
The pool enclosure was as opulent as the house. It was, essentially, a large oval comprised of sliding doors and a steeply pitched roof. Inside, there was a huge pool with at least fifteen feet of patio area surrounding it on all sides. At one end, there was a restroom with changing rooms on each side and a huge bar with a well stocked, locked liquor cabinet mounted on the wall.
"Wow!" John gasped as he entered. He knew that Blaine was rich, but... wow!
"Here," Blaine showed John the chest of drawers in one of the dressing rooms. "Just pick one that fits. I'll get changed in the next room and I'll meet you in the pool!" He kissed John's cheek and bounced out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"Wait!" John pulled the door open and called after him. "I need your help."
Blaine came back, "Sure. What can I do?"
John turned, then pulled his long, wavy, dark hair to the side. "I... um... could you... would you mind unbuttoning the buttons? I can't really do it myself. Well... I could, but it'd take forever..."
"Oh..." Blaine muttered. "Sure, I guess."
He was as gentle as he could be with the delicate, little buttons, but he was slower than Rose would have been. John could feel the boy's hands begin to shake as he worked the buttons through the holes and more of John's pale, perfumed skin appeared.
When he'd reached the seventh or eighth button, John said, "Thanks. I can manage from there."
He turned and looked at Blaine, who stood still with his face flushed and a little bit sweaty. "Oh... ok... Are you sure?"
John smiled and looked more coquettish than he could have ever imagined that he could, as he said, "I'm sure. I'm a big girl. I can undress myself. I just couldn't work the buttons that high. They're very small."
"Yeah... and flowers."
"What?" John asked.
"Oh, Umm... they're shaped like flowers. The buttons, I mean. They're... very... pretty."
"Oh," john waited for a moment, but Blaine didn't budge. "I think, maybe, you should go, now, so that I can get changed."
"Oh... sure... yeah, ok." Blaine laughed as he moved clumsily to the door, not quite sure what to do or say. He'd just touched Bebe in a more intimate way than he'd ever touched her before and his stomach was suddenly filled with butterflies. More than anything, he wanted to touch her more. To unbutton more of those cute little buttons. To completely undress her and worship her beautiful little body. "Ok..." he muttered again. "I'll be be taking my clothes off... Oh!... I mean getting changed in... umm... in that room over there, if you need any... Well, you won't need... umm... yeah... I'll just go now." And he turned and walked to the other changing room in the most awkward manner imaginable.
John smiled as he watched Blaine close the door to the other room. He'd never had this kind of impact on another person, before, and he found it... appealing. He liked that Blaine found him attractive. It made him feel... pretty.
John had gone swimming with Annie and Cassie back on the Cape, but that suit had a gaff sewn into it. He figured he'd have to wear his gaff under the suit, but that didn't work. When he tried on a nice, pink and blue one piece suit, he could see the outline of the undergarment through the thin material of the suit. No good.
When he tried the suit without the gaff, it looked like he had a massive camel-toe happening. No good, either.
In desperation, he returned to the drawer and pulled out another one piece suit he'd not seen before. This one was pink and white, but it also had a little swim-skirt sewn onto it. Nothing overly noticeable, but enough to cover his groin. Perfect!
He pulled it on and checked himself in the mirror. The suit was more revealing around the bust than John would have preferred, but, upon inspection, he liked the way that he looked, there. Son of a gun, he actually had pretty breasts!
When Blaine saw him walking out into the pool area, he stopped and looked at him. God, Bebe was a pretty girl. Her thighs were thin and shapely, her rear end was small, but tight and nicely curved, but her breasts, small and perfect, made his heart leap!
"You look... amazing," Blaine said.
"So do you," John smiled. Blaine's fit body looked very striking in his board shorts.
Blaine took John's hand and led him to the large, beautiful pool, but, just before they reached the steps, Blaine bent, quickly and pulled John up in the classic carrying-a-bride-across-the-threshold manner, causing John to let out a giggled squeal and to throw his arms around Blaine's neck to keep from falling.
"Holy cow, Blaine!" John giggled. "You were so quiet earlier. What's gotten into you?"
He smiled. "I know, sorry. I'm always wound up tight before a game, but I really get a buzz from winning! It makes me feel... powerful." He started down the stairs into the warm water of the pool.
Once John's bottom half was covered in water, he expected to be let go, but Blaine held him tight and continued to move him through the water. It was nice. John enjoyed it.
"Do you mind getting your hair wet?" Blaine asked.
"Do you have a hair dryer?"
"Of course."
"Then I don't mind."
Then, without warning, Blaine plunged the two of them under water. When they resurfaced, both were gasping and laughing.
"I like carrying you," Blaine smiled. "You're very light."
"I like being carried," and he did. It was nice to surrender to Blaine's strength. To be, in a way, taken.
They looked into each other's eyes for a long moment, until Blaine leaned forward and planted a very warm, gentle kiss on John's lips. Again, he felt a shiver run down his spine.
"I love you, you know," Blaine said, very quietly.
It made John smile. "I know." The soft, passionate statement of Blaine's affection made John feel warm and loved, but there was an undercurrent of guilt mixed in, too. John liked this boy - REALLY liked this boy - and that meant that, at some point, he needed to tell him some things.
Everything, in fact.
He felt a churning in his stomach. Now was as good a time as any.
"Blaine..."
"Yes?"
"There's somethings that... well... I think we should probably talk about..."
"I know, Bebe. You're only fourteen and maybe I'm rushing things on you, but it's true - I really do love you."
John searched for the right words. "I know, and I really feel strongly about you, too. I've never really dated a boy before and I've certainly never felt this way about a boy before and, well, it's all, just a lot for someone like me."
"I know, Bebe. I'm sorry. I'll back off - give you some space. I don't expect you to say it just because I do. I'm sorry. I'll be patient."
"Oh, Blaine," John sighed. "You're great, you know that, right? A girl couldn't ask for a nicer or more handsome guy. This is all just a lot for me to take in and process, though, because..."
John was interrupted by another soft kiss. This time it lingered and he felt himself melting in Blaine's arms.
"Alright, you two," Joanne's voice echoed in the pool enclosure. "Come on out and have some lunch. It's getting late. You won't have dinner till after eight. Come on." She placed a platter of cold meat, whole grain breads and salad fixings on a patio table near the pool, then took a seat herself, as John and Blaine climbed out of the pool.
"This looks great, mom. Thanks." Blaine grabbed some bread and meat, created a turkey sandwich in seconds and took a big, healthy bit of it.
"Thank you, Joanne. It looks delicious." John placed some romaine lettuce, spinach and some tomatoes on his plate and took small bites.
"Oh, that's a cute suit on you, Bebe," Joanne complimented. "I'm surprised you picked one with a skirt. Usually girls choose the skirt to cover up a little belly fat, but you certainly don't have to worry about that!"
John smiled and blushed a little. He glanced at Blaine who was shining a big smile back at him.
"I'm very excited to get to see you two in your costumes, later. I hope you like them. I have a friend who works in a costume supply house and she helped me pick out a couples-costume that I think is just perfect for you two."
"So when do we get to see what you've picked out?" Blaine asked through a bite of turkey sandwich.
"After lunch, you two dry off and then you can get into them. I'm so excited!" Joanne clapped her hands.
After lunch, John returned to the changing room where there was a shower. He rinsed off, then changed back into his gaff, panties and bra and began brushing hair, using a blow dryer and a barrel-brush to dry his hair.
"Excuse me, Bebe," John jumped when he heard Joanne's voice as she peaked in through the doorway.
"Oh! You scared me!" He laughed. He was so used to being in front of Rose or members of the costume department while he was just wearing his under things, that he didn't even feel the need to be shy.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I brought you a robe." She handed him a short, white, nylon robe. "No need to get dressed, dear. You don't have to get your hair perfect, either. I have a wig for you."
He pulled on the robe and tied the belt. "Ok. I guess I'm ready, then."
"Wonderful," Joanne smiled. "Come with me." She took John's hand and led him through the house, stopping at photos of Blaine, or at trophies to explain the significance of each. She was very proud of her son and she enjoyed showing off his accomplishments.
When Joanne reached her bed room, she guided John to the chair in front of the vanity. "Just sit, dear. I'll tell you what, why don't you do your eyes? Your dress is blue, so keep that in mind."
While John did his eye makeup, Joanne twisted his hair and pinned it to his head as tightly as she could. She slipped a white wig-cap onto his head and smoothed it out.
Then, Joanne worked on his face for a while. "I'm not a pro, like you're used to," she said as she worked, "but I can do something simple, like this."
The end result was a nearly un-made-up Look with a good deal of girlish, pink blush on his cheeks. With his hair up under the wig-cap, he looked very young.
"Now, let's get this wig onto you," she said as she brought out a wighead bearing a human-hair wig with a similar cut to the style that John wore, but the wig was a honey-blonde. Joanne bobby-pinned the wig into place and said, "isn't that pretty? Now, you know how you'd look as a blonde."
John smiled. "I look like I could be Rose's sister instead of her cousin." He examined himself in the mirror. He definitely looked different, probably a little more of a classic-beauty, but he still preferred his dark hair. It made him more distinctive.
"Mom!" Blaine said as he walked into the open door of the bedroom. He was wearing a Victorian style maroon suit with a large, matching top hat. "I'm not sure I get what your concept is..."
He spotted John as a blonde and stopped dead. "Oh, Wow..." he mumbled.
"Isn't she pretty this way? Maybe you should consider changing to blonde hair, Bebe."
Just as John started to say, "No, the studio wouldn't allow it," he heard Blaine say, "No, she's much pretty with dark hair."
John smiled broadly. What a sweet thing to have said.
"You think so?" Joanne asked.
"Yes," Blaine answered, "but I see what your concept is, now. Good choice. I'll go finish getting ready."
As he left, Joanne looked at John again and said, "I don't know. I think you make a cure blonde. Stand up, angel."
Joanne held a pair of white tights open and guided them on to John's feet, then assisted as they worked them up John's body to sit just below his breasts. "Step over here, sweetheart."
John followed her instructions and she laid a full, but fairly short petticoat slip on the bed. "Here, honey, step into this so it doesn't ruin your hair."
Again, he followed directions and Joanne helped him into the garment, which sat with narrow, lacy straps on his shoulders and ended just at his knees. "Oh, that's perfect," Joanne smiled as she adjusted the slip on his body.
Next came a pair of ankle high, high heeled, white, Victorian boots. The two inch heel was very manageable and they were surprisingly comfortable. "Thank goodness those fit. They were my only concern." Joanne said.
"They fit fine. They're very comfortable."
"Excellent."
Next came a baby blue, cotton dress with a white satin, Peter-Pancollar. Joanne lowered it carefully over John and smoothed it over the petticoat slip. It sat just below his knees, about two inches lower than the petticoats. "Oh, perfect!" The puffy sleeves were trimmed in a very feminine, white lace and came just above his elbows. She buttoned the row of tiny buttons up his back.
"One last item," Joanne moved around to John's front and raised a very beautiful, pinafore style apron up his arms, then returned to behind him and tied a big, floppy knot in the back.
"There," Joanne pronounced him done. "Now, let's look in the mirror."
She walked him to the mirrored door of her closet and let him take it all in. The classic costume of a blue dress with a spreading skirt, the puffy, childish sleeves, the pristine white pinafore apron and little boots. He was perfect, but no matter where he put his hands, they were engulfed in skirts, so he folded them daintily in front of him.
He felt oddly little and little-girlish, too - but not in a bad way. In a very, very pleasant way.
"What do you think?" Joanne asked as she fussed with every detail.
"Oh, Joanne, it's just beautiful."
"Oh, I'm so happy that you like it. Alice has always been one of my favorite characters. I've always wanted to have a daughter that I could dress up like this and I cannot imagine a more beautiful Alice than you are, my dear."
John stared at himself. He really was Alice. Just a pretty, silly, little girl.
"Come on, Alice," Joanne put her arm around John's tiny shoulders, "let's go see if your Mad Hatter is ready."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 8
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but he has a nagging feeling of guilt because he's keeping secrets from Blaine.
Miss Stephanie makes several more appearances, too.
Author's Note: As always, I LOVE TO READ YOUR REVIEWS! ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 8 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.
THE PRETTY LITTLE GIRLFRIEND -or- 'TIS LOVE, 'TIS LOVE, THAT MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND!
"Are you ready to see your 'Alice,' Mr Mad Hatter?" Joanne called down the hall to Blaine.
"I'll be right out!" he called back. "I'll meet you in the living room."
"Ok," Joanne was in heaven. Having a girl to fuss over seemed to be a source of absolute joy for her. "Come on, dear, just down the hall, to the right."
As they entered the large room with the sectional sofa and what had to be a one-hundred inch television mounted on the wall. John caught his reflection in the huge, black screen of the titanic television and swayed just a little to see the petticoated skirt sway. The dress was truly beautiful and well made and, unlike the petticoats he'd worn as Bianca, these were wide and playful - almost 'frothy' in the way that the dress played over them. It hung in such a lovely way and made him look absolutely adorable.
"It's very pretty, isn't it, dear?"
"It really is," John replied.
"I knew that it would be."
Probably due to the old fashioned design of the dress, he reverted to his Bianca curtsy.
"Oh, sweetie," Joanne clapped her hands together and held them near her chin, "that curtsy is just perfect for Alice. You must do that throughout the night!"
Before John, who was oblivious to the fact that he'd curtsied at all, could ask what she meant, Blaine entered in his meticulously made suit with the oversized top hat, which now bore a tag reading, "In this style 10/6."
"Wow," he said breathlessly. "You look... amazing. I mean it, Bebe, you look absolutely beautiful. Like Alice come to life."
Again, with no thought to it at all, John responded first with a curtsy. "Thank you. You look really cool, Blaine."
"Oh... thanks. It's pretty comfortable, too. Thanks mom. But I don't know if anyone will even recognize you, Bebe. You just look so... young and beautiful. Almost like a little girl."
"Is that a good thing?" John giggled.
"It's... a great thing."
"Ok, you two, let's get some pictures before you go!" Joanne grabbed her phone and guided the two young people towards the fireplace.
"Oh!" John said as a thought occurred to him. "I need my phone! Rose and Ed will want a picture."
"I'll grab your purse, dear," Joanne said. "Where did you leave it?"
"In the changing room, by the pool."
"Ok. I'll be right back. You two stay right where you are."
Joanne left. John looked at Blaine's costume - slightly comical, but very nicely cut and sewn. "You look very handsome." He smiled in that innocent way that Blaine adored.
"Yeah? I feel a little goofy next to you. You look... just amazing, Bebe."
"I look like a little girl in this. You even said so." He laughed. "It is pretty, though, isn't it?"
"I guess, but it's only pretty to me because you're wearing it." He bent down and kissed John with a soft, loving kiss. "Every time I see you, you're more beautiful. I don't know how you do it."
John felt a rush of warmth flow through his body. He smiled, again. "You're so sweet." Once again, he felt just a little pang of guilt. He knew he had to tell Blaine, but he wasn't going to ruin tonight. Tonight, he'd be Blaine's pretty, little girlfriend. That was all he needed to be.
"Here, sweetheart," Joanne handed John his purse. He fished in it for a moment, produced his phone, turned it on and handed it back to Joanne.
Joanne arranged them in front of the fireplace and stepped back. "Oh, you two are just adorable, together. Ok, now smile." She took several pictures with John's phone, then did the same with her own.
When she'd finished, she handed John his phone. "There's a pocket in the pinafore so you can carry a phone or a wallet with you, if you'd rather leave your purse at home," she told John. That made the costume even more perfect for John.
"I know it's not very elegant, but I will be your chauffeur this evening. We'll take the Mercedes, though, so you won't have to look this pretty and travel in my SUV." Joanne laughed at her own teasing. She was enjoying this evening even more than Blaine and John.
Getting into the back seat of the Mercedes sedan was a challenge unto itself. John's petticoats were so bounteous that he had difficulty sliding into the seat without creating an uncomfortable mound of fabric below him. Then, once he was seated, he had to pull his skirts in and hold them tightly so that the door could be closed. When Blaine got in beside him, he had to push the skirts to the side to make room for himself.
"Sorry," John smiled. "Almost as bad as a wedding dress, I guess."
"No problem," Blaine smiled.
When they arrived at Blaine's school, there were boys dressed as skeletons acting as doormen. One opened John's door, the rear door on the passenger side, while another ran around to help John. The skeleton offered John a hand as he rose daintily from the back seat. "M'lady," the skeleton said. It made John giggle.
John took Blaine's offered arm and they entered the school's function hall, which was amazingly well decorated with black and orange drapes, upshot, purple lights and projections of Halloween images high up on the wall.
"Wow!" John said to his escort. "You guys don't do anything halfway, do you?"
Blaine laughed. "I guess not. It's very different than back east. There's a lot of money in this school."
"Obviously," John laughed.
They sat at a table with Blaine's friends and their dates, some of whom John recognized from either the homecoming dance or from Notre Dame. All of the girls were juniors and seniors and all were dressed as sexy witches, as were many, many other upper class girls. Pointed hats and fishnet stockings were everywhere.
The girls all complimented John on his costume.
"Oh, you look so cute!"
"Your dress is adorable!"
"I love Alice in Wonderland! You look so sweet!"
"I could never look that cute!"
Blaine and his friends went to the bar area to get themselves and the girls soft drinks. On his way back, he ran into Ella, dressed as a 1920s flapper, and MK, dressed as Marilyn Monroe in a skin tight, silver sequined dress.
"Hi, Blaine!" Ella bounced up to him. "Where's Bebe?"
"Hey, Ella!" He smiled. "You look great! And MK... Wow! That's quite a dress!"
MK looked at John's costume. "So what are you supposed to be? The Greatest Showman?"
He laughed. "No. I'm The Mad Hatter." He continued his walk back to his table with both girls following.
"Oh, my God," Ella gasped. "Don't tell me she came as a rabbit!?"
"Not quite," he laughed. "There she she is." He gestured to the table.
"Where?" MK asked, not recognizing her friend with the blonde wig.
"Oh, no," Ella said, dramatically, "she actually came as Hollie Hobbie."
"What?" Blaine laughed. "No. She's Alice. I'm The Mad Hatter and she's Alice."
"She looks like an eight year old," MK said to Ella in a loud voice.
"I know," Ella replied.
"She looks absolutely perfect," Blaine said a bit defensively.
Both girls took double-takes from John, back to Blaine and back to John again. "Seriously?" MK asked. "You think she looks 'perfect' like that?"
Blaine's smile was sincere. "I do. You guys look sexy and all, but for me, Bebe is perfect, no matter what."
"Ok...?" Ella said, her voice trailing higher in an audible question mark. "If you like her that way, then... great!"
"Come on," MK grabber her friend's hand and they hustled, as quickly as their very high heels would allow, over to the table, where John stood to greet them with a big smile.
"You guys look amazing!" John said, honestly. "You both look so tall in those heels! And MK, you look... well, I know that Rose and Ed would never let me dress like that! Not that I have the equipment to pull it off." They all laughed at that.
"I got it, so I might as well show it off," MK teased. In their platform heels, they were each a couple of inches taller than John.
Ella circled John. "This is quite a get-up you're wearing, Bebe. I think it's interesting that your boyfriend's mother made you look like a child to go to a party with her son."
"Maybe we could discuss this in our 'Psych' class," MK joined.
"Very funny," John laughed. "I like it. I think it's a beautiful dress and I like the Alice stories."
"I like it, too." Blaine put the drinks down and put his arm around John's shoulder.
"Hmm." Ella walked around John, inspecting the costume. "It is beautiful, in its own way, but let's figure out why Blaine might find this costume appealing."
"Incredibly feminine," MK said, with feigned seriousness.
"An apron, indicating servitude." Ella took the same tone.
"Age reduction, indicting a need for dependence on a stronger, more mature male."
"Childish, virginal appearance."
"Alright, Alright!" Blaine held up his hand. "How about this? I think Bebe is beautiful, no matter what, and I think that she's beautiful in this costume. She is a beautiful, intelligent, talented young woman who doesn't need to dress provocatively to keep my attention. She could have come in dirty sweat pants and I'd still be staring at her and wondering how I could be so lucky as to hold her hand. How does that sound?"
John leaned in to hug Blaine.
"Kinda sickly-sweet, if you ask me." MK smiled.
"Oh, I think it's romantic," Ella said. "I knew you two would be perfect together when I set you up for the homecoming dance. Neither of you ever thanked me for that, by the way."
"Oh, well, thank you." John smiled.
"Yes, Ella." Blaine used his free hand to tip his hat. "Thank you for introducing me to Bebe. I'll owe you forever." Then he looked down at his date and said, "Let's get something to eat, Bebe."
"Ok." John smiled. "Nothing messy for me, though. Your mom will kill me if I get red sauce or anything else on this pinafore."
"Hmm," MK said, disapprovingly. "By the way, I do like that you finally got your hair dyed blonde."
"It's just a wig." John giggled.
"Too bad," MK said. "I thought it was a big improvement."
"Bite your tongue." Blaine started heading towards buffet table. "I like her hair black. She couldn't be more beautiful than she is."
"Yeah, sure," MK said.
"That boy is twitterpated." Ella shook her head.
"Uh Huh," MK agreed.
The dinner was delicious and the band was great. This band had a very powerful female singer who sang the new songs as well as she sang the old ones. John, Ella and MK danced nearly every dance, and they were joined by one date or another every now and then. Blaine was more interested in dancing than the other dates, but he much preferred the slow dances. When, on occasion, a boy would try to insert himself into the group of John and the girls, Blaine seemed to appear out of no where to make his claim on Bebe known to everyone.
Later in the evening, John excused himself to go to the ladies' room. Ella went with him. "Are you going to need any help with all those petticoats?" Ella asked as they entered.
"Umm." John looked down at the dress that puffed out everywhere. "No. I think I can manage. I'll call for you if I need help."
The lavatory was quite large, with sinks and mirrors by the entry area, then, around the corner, several rows of stalls. John proceeded to a handicapped stall to allow him the room he needed to deal with the petticoats. It was in the second row of stalls, nearly the furthest from the entry.
It was, actually, a bigger challenge than he'd expected. Just pulling down his tights and panties was difficult enough, but holding the layers and layers of silky material that comprised the petticoat out of the way while he sat on the open seat was quite an achievement. He took longer than Ella, who knocked on the stall door to check on him.
"You ok, Bebe?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute."
"Ok. I'll be by the sinks."
When, at last, he'd gotten his panties and tights back up and he was sure that his petticoats, dress and apron were all hanging correctly, he made his way to the sinks where Ella was waiting, but talking to a woman dressed as a fairy. John was washing his hands when the person turned to face him.
"Well, well, well," Miss Stephanie said with an air of superiority about her that would have annoyed John, even if he didn't know what he now knew about her. "If it isn't little Miss Alice in Wonderland. How very apropos for our little transplant from the east coast."
John smiled as best he could. "Hello, Miss Stephanie. I didn't know you were chaperoning."
"Well, if you spent more time at school, you'd have known I would be here."
He nodded. "Yes, I know, Miss Stephanie, but I do have a job, too. I'll be in school all next week, though."
"Oh, good." Her attitude became noticeably snarky. "I'll tell the office to hang a banner to welcome you back." She folded her arms and took in John in a very uncomfortable manner.
"So, tell me, Miss Bianca, are you enjoying your fame and riches?" Her stare cut right through John. He felt very small and vulnerable.
"I'm not famous, Miss, and I'm certainly not rich. My mother is putting almost all of my money into a trust for me. Even if I was getting my pay checks, I'd still be poorer than almost anyone else at Notre Dame."
"True. True," the teacher pondered, "but that can change. Especially if you're willing to sacrifice the art of acting to be on a TV show." She waited for a response.
John shook his hands to remove excess water, then stepped to the hand dryer, but before he hit the button, which would start the noisy blower, he said, "I'm sorry that you don't like the show, Miss. I did my best. I'd hoped you'd be pleased." He hit the button and drown out the sound of the teacher's voice.
By the time his hands were dry, Miss Stephanie had stormed out.
"Are you nuts!?" Ella asked. "She could fail you!"
"I didn't do anything to make her mad. She just doesn't like me."
"Wow." Ella looked at him with actual admiration. "You've got some pretty big balls for such a little girl."
That made John laugh.
When John returned to the dance floor, Blaine was waiting. They danced through the entire last set. The last dance was Dolly Parton's version of 'I Will Always Love You.' Blaine held him close and swayed him to the gentle country beat of the song, so different from the Whitney Houston version that was much more familiar to John. The singer's voice was very beautiful and, as he rested his head on Blaine's chest and closed his eyes, John couldn't help but sing along. "And I-I-I will always love you-oo-oo-oo."
"And she sings, too," Blaine whispered to John.
"She croaks a bit," John laughed back.
"No. She sings."
There was no dissuading this boy.
The lights came up to find Blaine and John locked in a soft, loving kiss. "I think it's time to go," John said when the kiss broke.
"Damn." Blaine smiled. "I was just starting to enjoy myself.
Joanne was waiting outside, driving the Mercedes with a garment bag containing John's dress, etc, in the trunk. Once again, John fussed to pull of the frothing petticoats into the vehicle without catching in the door. "We'll take you home, honey, and you can get changed there. Ok?" Joanne said, looking into the rear view mirror.
"Are you sure?" John asked. "It's very late. I'm sure my Uncle would be happy to come get me. He's up at all hours, anyway."
"Oh, don't be silly," Joanne scoffed. "We don't mind at all, do he, Blaine?"
Blaine slipped his hand over to where John's was buried in his skirts and took it. "We don't mind at all."
It was nice to continue the evening with Blaine. With the exception of the encounter with Miss Stephanie in the ladies' room, it had been a wonderful, romantic evening. John still felt the nagging guilt that he needed to tell Blaine some things and tell him soon, but Looking over at him, as the traffic lit his handsome face, John knew that he needed to find a kind and gentle way to tell him everything.
"I bet your cousin will be thrilled to see you in your Alice dress," Joanne called from the front seat.
"She probably will be." John laughed. "She loved the picture I sent her. She said that, with blonde hair, we looked more like cousins."
"Oh, Sorry," Ed met them at the door, "I don't have any candy for trick or treaters here." He closed the door in their faces.
When he didn't open it again, John pounded on the door. "Come one, Uncle Ed. Open up."
Nothing
John huffed and reached into the garment bag to get put his purse. He was fumbling for the key when they heard Rose saying, "Honest to God, Ed, your worse than the kids!" and the door flew open to Rose smiling out at them. She took one look at John and her hands immediately flew up to her mouth. "Oh, my goodness, look at you! You look adorable! Ed, come see your niece."
Ed and his big grin came out of the kitchen. "Hi, sweetie. You look very nice. You too, Blaine."
"Thank you, Mr McNeal."
"'Nice!?'" Rose said. "She looks perfect! Oh, Joanne, you made her look so young. I love it! You look like a tall ten-year-old, Beebs! Just adorable!"
"Thanks, I guess." John laughed.
"Did you send pictures to your mom and Nancy?"
"I did, and to Annie and Cassie, too. I even sent one to Ms Weldon and one to Rita. I told her she could start booking me as a blonde, now. She got real mad. She thought I was being serious."
"Oh, I wish I could keep you dressed like this all the time," Rose gushed. "You look so... feminine and young."
"That's funny," Blaine said.
"What's that?" asked Rose.
"Oh, you said she looked 'so feminine.' I was just saying to Bebe the other day that I've never met a girl as feminine as her, before. I mean, yeah, this is all frilly and everything, but I've never seen Bebe wear anything that made her look like anything other than 'feminine.' I mean, she's, like, one hundred percent girl, through and through."
"Yeah, I guess she is," Ed chuckled. "She wasn't always, but there's no denying it, now, that's for sure."
"Alright," Rose elbowed Ed, "enough teasing. Come on, Beebs. I'll help you get changed and we can give your costume back to Joanne. It's getting late."
Once in his room, John took one last look at himself as Alice before he started untying the back of the pinafore.
"I tell you, honey," Rose came in to help, "when I think back to last summer... I could never have imagined you looking like this. I don't think I've ever worn anything as frilly and feminine as this and I've been a girl my whole life."
John shrugged. "I really like this dress. It's very pretty, don't you think?"
Rose began unbuttoning the long row of buttons that went up and down John's back. "I think it's beautiful and I can see why Blaine loved you in it, too. It made you look so young that he felt even more grown up and powerful. Boys like that. That boy is nuts about you, you know?"
John sighed. "I know."
"And I think you're nuts about him, too, aren't you?"
He shrugged. "I guess... I'm really having a hard time sorting through all of this Rose. I mean... I like him a lot, but I never had thoughts of boys before."
Rose pulled the dress off, exposing the petticoat slip. "You were never a girl before, Bebe. Just be a girl and be happy with your boyfriend. That's all you need to be."
John, still facing the mirror, looked at himself in the incredibly frilly petticoat slip and nodded. "I really am a girl, I guess."
"There's my best girl-friend!" Oscar greeted John on Monday morning. When John reached him, Oscar reached out and gave a big, paternal hug. "I've missed you, Bebe! I might have to slash the tires on your uncle's car so that I get to see you more."
John chuckled at that. Oscar had a big personality and it certainly woke him up on a Monday morning. "I missed you, too, Oscar. How are you?"
"I am excellent, my dear. And the reason that I am excellent is because I have been watching your show all weekend with my friends and it gets better every single time."
John laughed at that as Oscar held the door for him. "That's very nice of you, Oscar. Thank you." As he sat and the door closed, he noticed that it was nice to be back into the routine of school, then work. It was also nice to be back in his blue, Oxford shirt and grey, soft, wool skirt. Yes, it was a uniform, but it was the closest thing to 'casual' clothing that he got to wear, these days.
After Oscar had jumped into the front seat and put the town car in gear, he called back, "It's just you and me, this morning, Miss."
"Oh,?" John was surprised. "No Kylie, today?"
"No, Miss. She's got some kind of an appointment, today. An audition, I think. So, you're stuck with just me."
"Wow!" John said. "She didn't tell me about an audition. That's great!" John took out his phone and sent a text to Kylie reading 'OSCAR JUST TOLD ME ABOUT YOUR AUDITION. BREAK A LEG! I HOPE IT GOES GREAT!'
Minutes later. 'THANKS! IT'S FOR AN AD CAMPAIGN. I WISH YOU WERE COMING. YOU REALLY HELPED ME LAST TIME.'
He wrote back, 'YOU GOT THIS! REMEMBER, YOU'RE ON A HIT TV SHOW, NOW. YOU'RE A BIG DEAL. JUST RELAX AND BE GREAT!'
'WILL DO! LOVE YOU!'
'LOVE YOU, TOO!'
"So," Oscar asked, "how does it feel to be a star?"
John laughed. "About the same as before. Nothing much has changed."
"Really? No one has asked for your autograph or anything?"
"Nope. It's all the same as it was before."
"Oh. That's disappointing," Oscar said thoughtfully.
"Not really. I just want to act. I can do without the other stuff."
"Uh Huh," Oscar chuckled. "So, having a studio supplied driver and car at your disposal and getting paid obscene amounts of money... all of that is no big deal?"
"Well, I'm not seeing any of the money until I'm twenty-one, the car is because they're taking me out of school a lot and as for you - you're not my driver; you're my friend."
Oscar reached his arm behind the front seat and took John's hand in his. "I am that, my princess. I am that."
School was fine all week. Miss Stephanie was typically cold, but he expected that. Most teachers went out of their way to tell John how much they'd enjoyed the premier of the show and he appreciated their compliments.
Ella and MK were, as usual, a lot of fun to be around, too. Ella had become obsessed with the idea of getting her belly button pierced and was furious that her mother said, 'No.' MK promised to have hers pierced with Ella when they were eighteen, which brought about the question of Bebe's birthday.
"When is your birthday?" Ella asked as they ate lunch on Friday.
"November 17," John replied.
"Oh, my God! That's coming up! Why didn't you tell us!?"
"I didn't think it mattered..."
"Does Blaine know?" MK asked.
"I don't know," John shrugged. "I don't remember my birthday ever coming up."
"Well, we've got to do something for your birthday!" Ella slapped the lunch table emphatically.
"But we are," John said. "We're going to to Disneyland with my friends from Massachusetts. That's what my mom, Rose and Uncle Ed are giving me."
"But you didn't tell us that was for your birthday! We need to plan." Ella was busy looking up something on her phone.
"Guys," John said, "my mom and sister and I, we never really celebrated in a big way. We just had a cake together. Going to Disney with you guys is a HUGE thing for me. That's all I want is a day with you guys. Ok?"
"Well... it's a start." MK sounded dismissive. "We have big parties out here, though, Bebe. People expect to be invited to your birthday party."
"People expect? So, somehow, my birthday is about everyone else? Does that make sense?"
"Yeah," both girls said together.
Before John could say anything else, Kylie popped herself down into the seat next to him. "Hey, girl, guess what!"
John's eyes opened wide, "You got the ad campaign!?!?"
"I did! Isn't that amazing!?"
"Oh, Kylie, congratulations! I'm so happy for you!" He threw his arms around her and hugged her.
"Thanks! I'm really excited!"
"What is the campaign for?" Ella asked.
"It's for a new line of cosmetics designed for teenagers. It's supposed to be healthier for your skin, have stuff in it to stop acne... you know, stuff like that. I'm the 'knowledgable friend' who guides girls to the products. I'm really psyched about it!"
"Wow, you should be," MK said. "My Mom has a friend that knows that girl from the Progressive Insurance commercials and she's doing really well. If this goes well, you could be making mucho-bucks."
"Cool," Ella smiled, "can you get us some samples?"
Kylie laughed. "I don't know. Maybe! I'll let you know."
John was genuinely happy for his 'Civil Disobedience' colleague, but his joy for his friend wained later in the day, as he and Kylie waited for Oscar's car to move forward in the pick-up-line. Kylie was standing with John, Ella and MK, just discussing homework, etc, when Kylie was called over to the area where the teachers waited.
John watched as Kylie was congratulated by several teachers, but he grew concerned when Miss Stephanie put her arm around the young actress. This couldn't be good. Kylie was a good girl and had probably never done anything that Miss Stephanie could exploit, but what about her parents? John knew very little about them, but he knew that they had struggled for a long time, they were divorced and Kylie always seemed embarrassed when her father was mentioned.
All in all - this wasn't good.
When Oscar was in the 'on-deck' position, John called over to his friend, "Kylie! We're next!"
"Coming!" Kylie said her goodbyes to the teachers and hurried back to John.
"Afternoon, ladies!" Oscar said, gleefully, from the front seat. "Miss Bebe, my schedule says you're due at the Studio at 4:00. Miss Kylie, I think you're going home, correct?"
"I am, Oscar," Kylie had been grinning so broadly all day that her cheeks hurt, "but, before we go home, can you swing into In-N-Out Burger? I want to celebrate a little."
"Of course, Miss. What's the occasion?"
Kylie explained her triumph and Oscar congratulated her.
They pulled into the burger joint and John and Kylie ran in to order. Kylie got a full meal for herself and another for Oscar. John just ordered a vanilla shake, which Kylie insisted upon paying for.
Back in the car, Oscar thanked them for his meal. "I'm going to get fat driving you girls around. Well, fatter, anyway."
Both students laughed. "This was all a gift from Kylie," John said. "She's feeling pretty rich, today!"
Kylie laughed. "You must be feeling pretty rich, too, right? I mean, you're making more than me on the show, so..."
"Yeah, but I don't get much of it. My mom has it going into a trust. She finally agreed to get me a debit card, but I can't spend more than three hundred dollars a day and she's keeping the balance in that account at no more than six hundred so that I can't spend a lot without her knowing. She gets alerts on her phone every time I use my card, too."
"Oh, man, that sucks!" Kylie laughed. "All my money is my own account. My mom just says to be careful."
Another bad sign, John thought. If Miss Stephanie found out that Kylie had access to her income, then she'd know that Kylie was an easy target. He'd need to tell Don about this.
"Everyone set?" the Assistant Director called through his headset. He waited for replies, then looked at the director and nodded. "All set."
"Ok," the Director said loudly, "let's go. Action."
Don and John were in a set that looked like a girl's clothing store. "Ok, Alex, get what you need and... let's get out of here." Don, as 'Jason,' said.
"Ok, daddy," John, as 'Alex,' replied. Then he picked up a bra and started looking at it, causing 'Jason to blush.
"Oh, geez," Jason mumbled under his breath. "Come on, Alex, just grab one. Come on."
"Umm, dad, I'm not really sure what size I need..."
"May I help you?" a woman playing a clerk interrupted. "Oh, Jason! I didn't recognize you. Is this your daughter?"
"Oh, hi, Pam," 'Jason' looked trapped. "Oh, um, yes, this is my youngest, Alexandra. Alex, this is Pam."
"Your 'youngest!?!?' Jason, I didn't know that you even had children! How many more of you is he hiding?"
"Just my sister and me." 'Alex' smiled.
"Yeah," 'Jason' nodded. "Anyway, Pam, Alex, here, is having some trouble... I mean... some difficulty with... these."
"It's a bra, Jason," the clerk laughed. "What's the problem, dear?"
"Well," Alex looked from the woman to her father and back, "I've gotten a bit bigger, up here, and I'm not really sure what I need to get..."
"... and daddy is of no use in these matters, am I right?" The clerk said. "Come with me, dear. I'll measure you. Jason, go get a cup of coffee and come back in fifteen minutes. I'll take care of your baby."
The clerk guided 'Alex' through the racks. "Why isn't your mother shopping with you, dear?" The woman asked.
"Oh, Umm, my mom passed away a few months ago..."
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry,"
As they walked away, 'Jason' heard the conversation, realized he'd fallen short of being an ideal parent, looked as if he was struggling with something inside himself, but was surprised when he heard his partner's voice from behind him. "Do you think this bra makes me look chubby?" He asked.
'Jason' jumped in surprise, "God almighty! What are you doing here?"
Ed was holding up a very large bra in front of himself. "Looking for a bra, same as you." He smiled.
"I swear, someday I'm just going to shoot you!" 'Jason' scowled. "Put that Down and let's get out of here."
They exited.
"And cut!" The director shouted. "I liked it! Don, how do you feel?"
"I'm good." Don replied.
"Bebe?" the director shouted.
John stuck his head out from between the prop-racks, surprised that he'd been asked how he felt - that was usually reserved for Don, exclusively.
"Oh... I'm fine," he smiled and waved at the director.
"Than we are 'wrapped' for the week. Have a good weekend, everyone!" The Director smiled and waved at everyone.
"Jesus, Ed," Don laughed, "the look on your face when you were holding that bra - priceless. It was all I could do to keep a straight face." He pat Ed on the back.
"Excuse me, Uncle Ed," John interrupted, "Don, could I talk to you for a few minutes."
"Sure, sweetheart," he smiled and draped his arm around John's shoulders. "Nice to do a light-weight scene together for a change, huh?" They walked towards the dressing rooms.
"Yeah," John agreed. "I don't get a lot of funny stuff. I guess I'm the drama-queen of the show."
Don laughed and they reached John's dressing room. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Umm," John looked around, "could we talk in my dressing room. It's kind of... sensitive."
"Oh." Don's eyes opened wide, then blinked a few times. "Should I ask your Uncle or cousin to join us? I mean... well, a man in a fourteen year old's dressing room... proprieties and all..."
"Oh." John shrugged. "Sure, I guess. I mean, it's something I plan to talk to them about, anyway."
"Ok." Don knocked on Rose's door and invited her to come next door. Ed walked down the hall and followed Don in.
"What's the matter, Beebs?" Rose asked.
"Well, it's about Miss Stephanie, my Theater teacher."
"Oh, God." Ed shook his head. "Did she find out something?"
"Well, I don't know and this isn't really about me. It's about Kylie."
"Kylie?" Don asked.
"You know, the girl who plays 'Cora' on the show," John said.
"Oh! Oops! I think I've been calling her 'Karen.' My bad! What about her, Bebe?"
"It might be nothing, but Kylie just landed this big ad campaign and she claims that she's getting paid a lot of money."
"She probably is, if it's for a full campaign," Don said. "If I wasn't married to Viv, I probably would have ruined my career doing ad campaigns, but this girl a small part of the show, Bebe. I don't think you should consider doing work like that. You're too recognizable."
"No, no, that's not the point. The thing is, Kylie has access to all of her money..."
"Ooo, bad idea." Don shook his head.
"... and at the end of the day, today, Miss Stephanie was really sucking up to her. Like, really obviously. I'm afraid she's fishing for stuff to blackmail her. I was wondering if you'd heard from your friend, Hank, about finding out anything more about Miss Stephanie before she gets her hooks into Kylie."
"Umm, Beebs, did you tell Kylie about what we know about Miss Stephanie?" Ed asked.
"No, of course not. Kylie really likes Miss Stephanie. She's never believe me, anyway."
"Ok, good-" Don nodded. "I'll give Hank a call and see what he might know. I'll tell him that another cast member may be susceptible to her blackmail, too. Sound good?"
They all agreed that was the best place to start.
"And If Karen says anything to you, Bebe," Don said, "let us know, right away."
"I will... and her name is 'Kylie.'"
"Kylie? Kylie - right. I'll remember that. On a happier note - any big plans for the weekend? Viv and I are going to fire up the barbecue tomorrow afternoon and we'd love for you guys to come."
"Oh, we'd love to," Rose smiled, "but Beebs has a late afternoon date and we have to drive her."
"The boy from the preview!? Bring him along! I need to meet him. You shouldn't be dating someone without your father's approval, anyway."
"Well. He's got Uncle Ed's approval," Rose laughed. "That's almost the same thing."
"Great! Why don't you touch base with your boyfriend, sweetheart, then, Ed, you can send me a text if you're all coming and we can figure out a time from there. Sound good? Ok! Have a great evening, gang." Don kissed Rose and John's cheeks and left them to change their clothes.
"In one-half mile, your destination is on the right," the navigation system in Ed's Tesla said.
"Oh, this is so exciting." Joanne was nearly vibrating with excitement.
When John had invited Blaine to change their plans for a Saturday date and come up to Don Ferry's home for a barbecue, Joanne had nearly passed out. Hearing about her excitement, Ed had called Don and asked if it would be ok if Blaine's mom had come along. "Sure," Don laughed. "We've got to get to know the in-laws, don't we?" he kidded.
Now, Joanne sat on the passenger side of the backseat, with Blaine on the other side and John in the middle.
It was a warm day for early November, with the temperatures in the high seventies, and a very warm sun. Ed and Blaine both wore khaki shorts and polo shirts, Ed in grey and Blaine in blue. Rose wore a very pretty, fringed top with short-shorts, Joanne, a fancy, V-necked Tee-shirt with a loose skirt and John wore a very pretty, red romper that had very loose, very short sleeves, a comfortably revealing, button front and was decorated with white flowers and green stems and leaves.
"I should have dressed fancier," Joanne said quietly. "I'm going to Don Ferry's house dressed like a bum."
"Oh, stop," John giggled. "You look lovely. I love your skirt."
"Ha, this old thing! I didn't have time to go shopping. My SON," she said that word louder to make sure Blaine had heard her, "wanted to surprise me and didn't tell me where we were going. I look like I shop at Goodwill sitting next to you in that outfit. Oh, Lord, you are a beautiful girl, Bebe. I don't know what you see in Blaine, but I'm glad you're willing to put up with him."
John smiled at Blaine and gave his hand a squeeze. Then he said to Joanne, "To tell you the truth, I love shopping at Goodwill. I used to go there all the time, until Rose moved in with us and she made me dress better."
"Damned right I did." Rose turned in her seat and looked over the back. "If it weren't for me, Beebs would be running around in dirty jeans, with greasy hair and no makeup. I taught her how to dress, how to walk, how to do her makeup. I was her Svengali and she was my Trilby. I made her the beauty she is today." Rose smiled smugly.
"Well," Blaine laughed, "I guess I owe you, then. I'm very glad that you taught her so well, but - who are Svengali and Trilby?"
Rose laughed. "They're characters in a book and a movie. Svengali taught Trilby every thing and she, of course, left him. Just like the girls in Phantom of The Opera and Pygmalion, or My Fair Lady. It's kind of a literary trope, I guess."
Blaine nodded and pretended to understand.
"I thought that a 'Trilby' was a kind of hat," Joanne laughed.
"Your destination is on the right," the navigation system said.
"We're here," Ed said as he turned into the long driveway and followed it up the hill towards the massive 'Arts & Crafts' style mansion on the top of the hill.
"Wow! It's beautiful," Joanne enthused as she gazed out the window. "It's exactly the type of house I'd expect Don Ferry to live in. Classic. Beautiful. Masculine. Oh, Bebe, it must be so wonderful to spend time with him."
"It really is," John agreed. "He is very talented and he has taught me so much about acting. He's very generous with his art."
"Well... I really just meant because he's so handsome." Joanne laughed.
"She's got Blaine and her Uncle Ed with her all the time, Joanne." Rose smiled. "She's surrounded by handsome men all. Don's just another pretty face in Bebe's world." She smiled at Blaine and rubbed Ed's shoulder.
"Oh, look! There he is!" Joanne was bouncing in her seat as Don waved from the end of the driveway and pointed Ed towards a parking space."I can't believe I'm about to meet Don Ferry! Don Ferry!!"
They parked the car and and Don was at the passenger door within seconds, offering Rose a hand to assist her in getting out of the car. He kissed her hand and said, "Welcome to La Casa de Ferry, my dear!"
"Thank you, Don." Rose looked around. "It's beautiful, Don. Absolutely beautiful."
"Thank you, my love," he opened the back door and offered Joanne a hand as well. "And this must be Joanne, my baby's boyfriend's mother." He kissed her hand, as well.
Joanne giggled, nearly uncontrollably. "Oh, Mr Ferry... thank you so much for including Blaine and me... your house... it's just as I would have imagined your house would be."
Don laughed. He'd been a star long enough to be used to fans losing their cool when they met him. "Well, Joanne, I'm glad that I didn't disappoint you! Please, make yourself at home while you're here."
Joanne stepped forward to allow John to get out and she continued to take in the view and the beauty of the estate.
John took Don's hand and pulled himself out of the back seat. "And here's my baby," Don laughed as he pulled John into a bear hug and he planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Thanks, Don," John smiled. "You've met Joanne." He turned and pointed over the top of the Tesla. "And this is Blaine. My boyfriend."
Don kept one arm around John's shoulders and they moved around the car. "Blaine!" He grabbed the boy's hand and shook it heartily. "So nice to finally meet you. I've heard nothing but good things about you from my little girl, here."
"Oh, Umm, thank you, sir," Blaine found himself stuttering a bit in the presence of the star. "Very nice to meet you, sir. You have... umm... a beautiful home, sir. Thank you for inviting my mom and me."
"My pleasure, son, and, please, no more 'sirs.' Just call me 'Don.' Ok?"
"Oh, umm, yes, sir," Blaine was still staring at the star in disbelief.
That made Don laugh, again. "Ok, everyone, let's go into the house. How are you doing, buddy?" Don asked Ed.
"Great, Don. You?"
"Couldn't be better, my friend. Couldn't be better."
After a quick tour of the first floor of the estate and introductions to Vivian, they all settled into oversized, padded, wicker chairs on the roofed part of a stone patio which overlooked a dry brook and the valley below. Rose, Vivian and Joanne had glasses of a very expensive, Napa Valley wine, while Ed and Don had beer from a nearby micro-brewery, Blaine had a Coke and John, an unsweetened iced tea.
The chat was mostly about the house and the surrounding lands, changes Vivian had overseen at the estate, the horses in the barn on the far side of the grounds and other non-show-related subjects.
Eventually, Don took the seat next to Vivian and looked at Blaine. "So, young fellow, how did you meet my little girl?"
Blaine gave a nervous laugh before saying, "Oh... for real... ok... we were set up together for the Homecoming Dance at my school and we, sort of, hit it off, I guess."
"And what do you do with your free time, Blaine?"
"Well, I, umm, play lacrosse and I workout and do homework... read... you know... stuff."
"Lacrosse? That's impressive. My school didn't have any sports as fancy as lacrosse. We were strictly middle class. I played baseball and ran track, myself. Ed, how about you?"
Ed laughed. "Just pick up games of baseball and basketball for me. I was really into swimming, though. Not competitive, mind you, unless you count beating your own times as competitive. I just liked to dive and swim laps."
"Not competitive!?" John laughed. "You were certainly competitive with me! Who could dive from the highest board? Who could swim the most laps? You were always competitive with me."
John had been serious. Ed had always been very competitive with him, but the rest of the party didn't see Ed and Bebe as athletic equals. They all chuckled at the story.
"I'm sure he was just trying to push you to be better, dear," Vivian chuckled. "Weren't you, Ed."
"Yeah." Ed recovered from the surprise of hearing John being so honest. "Rosie is your 'girly' Sven-garlic and I am your physical fitness one."
That made everyone laugh.
"Svengali, pal," Don laughed. "Do you guys like old movies? 'Svengali' is one of my favorites! John Barrymore and Marian Marsh... Barrymore is astounding in the film. There's a 1914 version, too, called 'Trilby,' after the novel. Herbert Beerbohm Tree plays Svengali in that one. He's brilliant, too."
"Don, Don," Vivian interrupted. "No shop-talk, remember."
"Oh, Sorry." Don smiled. "I get carried away. Well, let's get the grill going, boys. Come on, Ed. Blaine. It's around the corner where there's no roof."
Blaine gave John a peck on the cheek and said, "I'll be back."
"Oh, don't worry, slugger," Don pat the boy's shoulder. "She'll be fine without you."
When the men had left, Vivian said, "Your son is very handsome, Joanne. You've chosen well, Bianca."
John blushed a little. "Thank you."
"He's a good kid," Joanne said. "I do have to say, though, that he is always on his best behavior around Bebe. Incidentally, Bebe, I didn't realize until just now that your name is Bianca. Why do you go by Bebe?"
"I don't know. It's what Rose has always called me, so... I guess I just prefer it to Bianca. That just seems stuffy, you know?" He pulled his legs up, under himself and settled in on the love seat on which he was seated.
"Oh, I think that Bianca is a beautiful name!" Joanne said.
"See," Vivian chimed in, "I told you - Bebe is childish. Bianca is timeless. You need to change your name."
"What about Bebe Neuwirth or Bebe Rexha?" Rose asked. "They've done well with that name. I can't think of a famous actress named Bianca."
"Even more reason to make the change. I'm telling you, young lady, you should consider making the change. It'll be good for your career."
"I'll think about it," John shrugged, "but isn't this shop-talk? I didn't think that we were allowed any shop-talk today."
Vivian stood and poured herself some more wine, then topped off the other women's glasses. "Hmm. Don told me that you were brilliant, but he didn't tell me that you were a smart ass."
Around the corner, Ed stood in awe at the sight of Don's barbecue set up. It was a stone counter with a gas grill in the top, a refrigerator underneath as well as a cabinet with every barbecuing accouterment imaginable inside. Next to the grill top was a large pizza oven and beyond that was a smoker.
Don started the grill and threw some mesquite chips under the grill top to add flavor to the meat.
"Don," Ed said in amazement, "up to this point, I knew that you were successful - nice car, nice clothes - and when I pulled up to your house, I realized you were incredibly rich, but Don... this grill set up... this is success, pal! THIS is success!"
Don laughed. "I guess it's a little extravagant, huh?"
"Extravagant!? Don, this is heaven! This is what I want! I want a grill like this when I grow up!"
Don laughed again. "How about you, Blaine. What do you want to do when you grow up?"
"I'm not sure, Mr Ferry. I'm thinking, maybe, of being a doctor, but I'm not sure, yet."
"A doctor," Don said with admiration. "Very noble. I like that. What do you think, Ed, would you let our little girl marry a doctor?"
Ed drained the last of the beer in his glass and gave a thoughtful sigh. "I guess that depends on what kind of a doctor. I mean, a brain surgeon or a heart specialist? Sure. But a dermatologist or a podiatrist? I'm not sure if that would be good enough for Bebe, Don."
Feeling very much as if he was on-the-spot, Blaine smiled and said, "Ok. Brain surgeon it is, then."
The older men laughed.
"You're a good kid, Blaine," Don said.
"Didn't I tell you?" Ed smiled.
"Thanks," Blaine smiled, happy to be accepted by the older men.
"Just remember, though," Don said, his hand on Blaine's shoulder, "Ed and I both love that child as if she were our own daughter. Treat her well, Blaine, and we'll get alone great. Treat her badly..." he let it hang there.
"Don't worry, Mr Ferry, Mr McNeal. I'll take good care of her. I promise."
"See that you do," Don gave him a pat on the shoulder and a smile.
Dinner was amazing! Fresh salad. Good wine for the adults. Chilled gazpacho. Perfectly seasoned and grilled, fresh steak. Everything was just perfect.
After dinner, the women and Blaine walked over to the stables to see the horses. Vivian and Rose were fearless near the animals. Rose had grown up in a fairly rural part of Massachusetts and she'd taken riding lessons when she was younger. Joanne was not frightened, per se, but she mostly limited herself to just patting the animals on the haunches. John, however, was not at all familiar with animals this big and found them very intimidating. He kept his distance.
"Come on, Beebs," Rose encouraged. "Just pat her right here. She won't mind."
"Thanks, anyway," John said as he backed up into Blaine's embrace.
"They're pretty big, huh?" Blaine said.
"Too big for me," John said.
"Want to take a walk?"
"Sure." John took Blaine's hand. "Rose," he said, "Blaine and I are taking a little walk around the estate. Ok?"
"Sure, Beebs," Rose smiled at the young couple. "We'll meet you back at the house."
As they walked away, hand in hand, Vivian said to Joanne, "Those two are made for each other. They're adorable together."
"I know," Joanne beamed. "I've never seen Blaine so happy. Honestly, I think if he could, he'd ask her to marry him right now."
"Isn't that wonderful. To find your soulmate so young. They could have a beautiful life together."
"And imagine how beautiful their babies would be," Joanne smiled. "I hope that they stay together forever. Don't you Rose?"
Rose forced a smile. This conversation was fraught with complications that these women didn't understand. "I hope so," she finally said.
"Do you think we could ever live in a place like this?" Blaine asked as they roamed the perfectly landscaped grounds of the estate.
"I wouldn't mind trying it for a few decades," John laughed. "Imagine sitting on that porch, eating breakfast, every day. It must be heaven."
"I can see you living like that. A nice dog at your feet, a nice bowl of fruit, a pretty dress. It's a nice dream."
John looked at Blaine and smiled. "It is, but who knows... maybe, one day, if things go well, we might be able to afford something like this, too."
Blaine's grin widened. Bebe was talking about a future - with him. "You think so? Just you and me and a place like this?"
John was caught up in the beauty of the estate and the possibility of happiness with Blaine. "That'd be nice."
"And maybe a few kids, too," Blaine added, but Bebe became quiet.
"I'm sorry," he said contrite. "I pushed it too far, didn't I? I'm sorry."
"No, Blaine." John shook his head. "It's not you. It's me. I'm not... well, children may not be possible for me..."
"Oh, I know. Your career and all. I get it, but other actresses manage to have..."
"No, it's not that... Blaine... I'm not really, physically able to carry children..."
"Oh, my God, Bebe." Blaine was horrified that he'd tread into a subject that was upsetting to Bebe. "I'm so, so, sorry. I didn't know. That's really not a big deal, I mean, we could, you know, adopt or something..."
"Look, Blaine." John's head was down. He couldn't look Blaine in the eye. "There's a lot we need to talk about. Things about me that I need to tell you, but... well... not here. Not today, ok? Can we just put that all on hold for now and maybe, next weekend we can talk about it? For now, can I just be with you? Would that be ok?"
Blaine had gone ashen with concern. How could he have upset Bebe this way? "Sure, Bebe. Sure. I'm really sorry. I didn't know..."
"I know, Blaine, but please, just... just let it go for today. Ok?"
"Yeah. Ok. Let's... Umm... let's walk down by that stream down there and follow it back to the house, ok?"
John smiled and it melted Blaine's heart. Thank God she still liked him!
They threw rocks into the dry riverbed. Sniffed wildflowers and held hands again. Blaine's mind was working overtime, though. He knew that a lot of girls had reproductive problems, but he didn't know much about them. He never needed to know about these things before. He kept looking at this girl - this beautiful, feminine girl and wondered what kind of horrible health issues she might be contending with. He wanted to know what was wrong and, more than anything, he wanted to help. He wanted to be her protector and make everything right for her. For the time being, though, he felt helpless and worried. He loved Bebe. He wanted to be with her forever. Oh, God, please don't let it be something so serious that it could take her away from him. Please, don't let it be cancer, or something like that! He was enjoying every second he was with her, but he was petrified as well. How could he hold out until next weekend to find out what was wrong?
When they reached the front porch, again, they climbed up the steep banking and Blaine lifted John up and onto the porch before pulling himself up.
"There they are!" Vivian announced to everyone. "We were getting worried about you two! Did you enjoy your walk?"
"Oh, yes, Vivian." John smiled. "Your yard is amazing. We walked all the way around it."
"That's wonderful, dear." Vivian led him towards a table where a selection of desserts had been setup.
Blaine just watched as Bebe walked away.
Joanne watched her son and she knew something had changed. "Is everything ok, Blaine?"
"Huh? What?" Blaine had not even noticed that his mother was there. "Oh, Yeah, Mom. Everything is... well, it's fine. I'll tell you about it later, ok? Tonight. When we're at home."
Now, Joanne was concerned. "Oh. Ok, honey. Ok."
They drove home as they had come, with John in the middle of the backseat. Everyone was tired and John rested his head on Blaine as the Tesla rode silently through the night.
When they reached Blaine and Joanne's house, Joanne got out and thanked Ed for driving them. Blaine just leaned over and hugged John as tightly as he could. He held him like he'd never be able to hold him again.
Joanne watched with concern.
When he finally let go, Blaine whispered as quietly as he could, "I love you, Bebe. I really do. I'll call you tomorrow, ok?"
"Ok," John smiled as reassuringly as he could.
Blaine got out of the car, but never took his eyes off of Bebe until he'd closed the door and the car rolled away.
"Blaine, honey," Joanne asked, "what's wrong?"
Blaine looked at his mother and asked, "Mom, what do you know about women not being able to have babies? You know - infertility?"
Joanne took a deep breath. Why did something like this have to complicate a beautiful relationship for Blaine? "Oh, honey, is that what's got you upset? Does Bebe have problems with her...? Well, honey, there's a lot of reasons a woman can't have a baby. Come on in, sweetheart. Let's talk about this."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 9
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A visit from friends from back east. Homework. A TV show to be made... just another
week in the life of an average fourteen year old girl.
Bebe's got a lot on her plate!
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has commented or emailed me about this story. I am so glad you're enjoying it!
As always, I LOVE TO READ YOUR REVIEWS AND COMMENTS! ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 9 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.
STRUGGLING -or- IT WOULD BE SO NICE IF SOMETHING MADE SENSE FOR A CHANGE
"No, Blaine, I'm not 'sick,'" John sighed as he spoke into his phone to a very concerned young man several miles away. "Please, I really don't want to talk about this over the phone. We have the long weekend coming up, so let's meet for breakfast on Friday morning - my treat. After breakfast, we can have a long conversation. Then we can go to the airport to pick up my friends from Massachusetts that afternoon. Is that ok?"
"Ok, I guess," Blaine's voice came back through the earpiece of the phone. "I just wish I knew what the problem is. You seemed so upset yesterday."
"Blaine... these things are really... personal... and I need to prepare before we talk, ok? I'm really tired from yesterday and I have a lot of homework for both school AND work to get finished this afternoon. Sundays are my only day to do these things. Let's just be normal people for a few more days, ok? Then, on Friday - AFTER breakfast - I'll tell you everything I want to say."
"Alright, Bebe," the boy sighed and it kind of broke John's heart. "I'm sorry. I'll wait until Friday."
"Thank you," now, John sighed, relieved that the conversation was ending. "I'm really sorry, but I have to get this stuff done, ok?"
"Sure, Bebe. I'll call you tomorrow."
"Ok. Oh, after six, though. I'm working from two till six. I'll be leaving school at one." John was shuffling the books around on his bed, while also fussing with his computer to find his assignments in the online classrooms.
"Ok. After six. I love love," Blaine said, immediately realizing he'd told Bebe that he'd hold off saying that until she was ready.
He was about to apologize for saying it when Bebe's voice came through his phone, "Yep, I love you, too."
John froze. He was so used to saying that to his girlfriends - Ella, MK, Kylie, Annie and Cassie - that it had just popped out of his mouth. Shit! He definitely had strong feelings for Blaine, but to say those three words before telling him the truth... bad idea. A VERY bad idea!
There was silence on the phone for at least thirty seconds before John finally had to see if Blaine had heard him. "Blaine?"
"Yeah, I'm here. I'm just... Thanks Bebe."
Shit! Shit! Shit! What should he do? Explain? Laugh it off? Deny it?
"I..." John started to speak, but he couldn't find the words.
"You just made my day," Blaine sounded very emotional on the other end.
John waited a moment. "Blaine?" He asked. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah. I'm good," He stifled, just a little bit. "I'll let you do your work, Bebe. I'll call you tomorrow. Bye."
"Bye," John whispered into the phone as it disconnected.
Damnit! That wasn't going to make Friday any easier. He was really stressing about how much he should tell him and how. When this all began, he never anticipated dating as a fourteen year old and certainly not dating a boy - and now that he was dating a boy, he'd never anticipated falling for him - which he definitely had. He had envisioned a life with Blaine. A life in which he was Blaine's loving wife. That could be nice - if it were only possible.
He sighed and slammed his Civics textbook down on the bed in frustration. Then, he took a cleansing breath and opened the book he'd just abused, while also checking his assignment in his online classroom.
He'd only just started reading the assignment when that annoying, under-water-ish sound that indicated a Skype call was coming in came through his computer speakers.
"Arrrgh!" He grunted as he hit the 'accept' button before even looking at who was Skyping. "Hello?" He said in a grumpy sort of voice.
"Hi, Bebe!" came the chipper voice and face of Cassie. "Are you ok? You look awful!"
"Oh, sorry. I'm just tired and I'm in the middle of homework and... never mind.... I just have a lot of homework."
"Oh, that's cool. Call me back when you're not busy, ok?"
"No, no, no! I need to talk to you. I'm feeling a lot of pressure here and I need to talk to a friend."
"Sure, Bebe. What's going on?" At sixteen years old, Cassie had actually offered John a lot of good 'female' advice along the way, but, obviously, John could not be completely honest with her about what was bothering him.
"Oh, you know... school and work are really catching up to me. I could use a clone to help me get all of these things done and I'd still be stressed. I guess I'm just being a diva. I'm sorry. I was in a foul mood when you called."
"That's ok, Bebe. Are you ok, now? I mean, I can wait if you've got other things going on."
"Listen, Cass, have you ever dated a guy, you know, seriously dated?"
Cassie's smile faded a little and she took on a more serious expression. "Oh... that explains the bad mood. What did he do?"
John laughed. "Nothing. He's great. I'm the problem."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Blaine is absolutely great. I mean, I know he loves me, he keeps telling me that he does, and I'm... I really like him. I don't know if it's love, or not, but... you know."
In the glow of the computer screen, John didn't notice that Rose had started to enter the room, but stopped when she heard that John was talking to Cassie. When she accidentally over heard the subject of the conversation, she stopped and listened. Not to be nosy, but to be a good cousin/parent. If Bebe was having a problem with Blaine, then Rose knew that she could probably offer better advice than Cassie.
"Ok," Cassie prodded, "so, he loves you and you're falling in love with him. What's the problem?"
John let out a nervous laugh. "I don't know, really... I guess, it's just all moving kind of fast."
"I get it," Cassie smiled. "How many boys have you dated, Beebs?"
Rose smiled when she heard Cassie call John 'Beebs.' That was Rose's nickname for John. She thought it was an adorable name. She loved that someone else was using it besides her and Ed.
"Let's see," John feigned counting on his fingers. "There was that boy in Algiers, they one in Paris, a whole bunch in Moscow, then there was that wild weekend in Tokyo... that comes out to... let's see... ONE, CASS! I'VE ONLY EVER DATED BLAINE!"
"Ok, ok, sorry." Cassie was laughing hard. "I think you need to be honest with him and tell him that you need him to go a little slower."
"Yeah, well, here's the thing... I told him that and he agreed to slow down, but... today, I made a big mistake."
"What?" Cassie asked and Rose grew curious, too.
"Well... a few minutes before you called, I was talking to Blaine on the phone and I was trying to get my homework started, so I was distracted, and... well, you know how when you we say goodbye, or you say goodbye to any girlfriend, you just automatically say, 'I love you?"
"Oh! My! God! You didn't?" Cassie was being dramatic, but even Rose's eyes were wide open, waiting to hear what John would say next.
"I did. I was trying to get onto my Civics classroom page and I was thinking of something else and... well, he just very casually said, 'I love you,' as we were hanging up and I blurted out, 'I love you, too.' Oh, Cassie, what am I going to do?"
Rose's hand shot up to cover her mouth to prevent her from letting out a loud 'Awww' at this sweet story of young love blooming.
Cassie groaned and said, "Did you tell him it was a mistake or anything?"
"No, of course not! What could I possibly say after saying 'I love you' that could take that back? 'Just kidding?'"
"Oh, you have done it, now! You have a love sick puppy following you around and you just threw him a bone. I don't know what to tell you. Have you talked to Rose?"
"Are you kidding?" John said more excitedly, but also more quietly. "She'd just think it was 'cute.' She thinks that everything that I do with Blaine is 'cute.'"
Rose was momentarily offended, until she realized that she really did think that it was cute. Hell, she thought it was adorable. A twenty-one year old man becomes a fourteen year old girl and falls in love with a fifteen year old boy... what could possibly be more precious? And she helped to orchestrate the whole thing!!!
Cassie was actually giggling a bit, now. "To tell you the truth, Beebs, I really have to agree with her, this time. I have no idea idea how you tell someone that you said 'I love you' by mistake."
"Ooooooohhhhhhh!" John looked at the ceiling and bounced on the bed in frustration as he moaned. "I am so screwed!!!"
"Well, not if you actually love him..."
"Cassie! I do, I think, but I wasn't ready to say it!" He hung his head and shook it from side to side. After a reasonable display of drama, he raised his head and looked at the computer through strands of his dark hair. "Are you guys exited about coming out here?"
Cassie blinked in confusion at the abrupt change of topic. "Oh... Yeah! We're super psyched! Annie and my mom are out shopping for new clothes, now. Annie talks about it, nonstop. I doubt she'll sleep at all this week."
John smiled and moved the hair from his face. "I'm glad. I can't wait to see you guys. I need to get some New England back onto my life. It's really nice here, but I miss home."
"You mean you miss your mom, or you miss Worcester?"
"I mean I miss The Cape. I always thought of The Cape as Home and the house in Worcester was just 'The Other House,' you know what I mean?"
"I do. I saw how much you loved being there. And you had that theater group that you worked with and all that. I get it."
John sighed. "Oh, well. I guess that sums up my life at the moment. I miss The Cape, I put my foot in my mouth with my boyfriend and I have a truckload of homework to finish." He sighed again. "I should probably go. Rose and I will be at the airport when you land on Friday - twothirty, right?"
"Right. Hey, did you have a lot of jet lag when you flew out there?"
"No. You might feel that when you fly home, at least that's what they tell me, but it's not so bad in this direction."
"Ok," Cassie laughed. "I'll explain that to Annie. She's sure that she'll be a mess from the time change."
John smiled. "She's so sweet. I hope you like my new friends."
"We will, Beebs. I'm sure we will. I'll let you go."
Hearing this, Rose stood straight and entered the room as if she'd just been passing. "Who are you talking to, Beebs?"
John looked up, then turned the computer to face Rose. "Cassie."
Rose sat on the end of the bed. "Hi, Cassie! Are you excited?"
"Oh, Yeah! I was just talking to Bebe about next weekend. We can't wait."
"Great!" Rose waved as John turned the computer back towards him. "We'll see you at LAX on Friday."
"Bye, Cass," John said and smiled.
"Bye, Beebs. Love you."
"Love you too," John said, then rolled his eyes at how easily it came out. "See you Friday," and the call ended.
Rose smiled at him. "Still in your nightie, I see. It's almost one o'clock."
"I know." John shrugged, a little guiltily. "I just don't have any casual clothes and I need to do this school work and look at the scripts for this week."
Rose smiled. "You're only called Monday and Tuesday and not for too long tomorrow, right?"
He nodded. "I know, but I like to know the whole script before we start shooting."
"I know," Rose reached out and moved his hair out of his face and tucked it behind his ears. "Is everything ok, Beebs? When you guys went for your walk, yesterday, you both seemed happy, but when you got back, Blaine seemed concerned about something."
"I know," John kept his head down. "Rose... what am I going to do?"
"About what, sweetheart?"
"About Blaine. He told me he loves me. What if he knew I was a guy?"
"Bebe, your no more a guy than I am."
"I am where it counts, Rose. I don't like lying to him."
Rose nodded. "If you ever wanted, you could change what's down there, you know."
John's head shot up. He'd never really considered that, let alone speak about it. He went ashen.
"I'm only saying that it is an option, Bebe. I'm not telling you to do anything. I love you just the way you are and I'm sure that, years from now, when you find the right guy, whether that's Blaine or another guy, he'll love you just the way you are, too."
"How?" John's gazed remained lowered. "I was a guy, Rose. I know how guys think. If I found out that a girl I was dating had a penis, I'd freak out."
"I know, baby, but you do. So, we either need to think about how to tell Mr Right, when he comes along, or make a change. You know what I mean."
John nodded.
"Does that help?" Rose asked.
John shook his head to indicate 'no.'
"I'm sorry, baby. We'll figure it out, though. I promise."
He nodded again, and opened his Civics book without looking up.
"Alright, baby, I'll let you do your work."
Rose stood and headed out of the room, but she was stopped by a quiet, sad voice. "Rose... could you just sit on the bed with me for a while?"
"Sure, baby," she crossed to the other side and sat with her legs extended down the bed and her back against the headboard.
John grabbed his book and laptop and snuggled in under Rose's arm.
"What are you studying?" Rose asked.
"It's a paper on the Dred Scott decision."
"Oh," Rose took the book from John and held it so he could see it, still. "The fugitive slave laws, right?"
John nodded and started typing.
Rose watched as the pretty girl in the silky, lace covered nightie who was snuggled in, next to her, worked and she felt nothing but love for the child. She pulled her just a bit closer, kissed the child's temple and rested her head on hers.
"I love you, Beebs."
"I know. I love you, too."
"Miss Bebe," Miss Karen hung up the classroom-phone and turned to the girls who were working on a Biology lab.
"Yes, Miss Karen?"
"Please take your things with you and report to the main office for dismissal."
John checked the clock. It was only 12:15. He didn't expect to be dismissed for another forty-five minutes. "Yes, Miss," he said and gathered his things. He blew a kiss to Ella and MK and hustled to his locker. He grabbed his backpack, stuffed his books into it and was in the main office within five minutes of the phone ringing.
"Yes?" the secretary asked as he arrived at the counter.
"Excuse me, Miss. I'm Bianca Foley. I'm being dismissed."
The secretary checked her clipboard. "Yes, but Miss Gabriella wants to see you before you leave."
John felt a flush of warm fear pass through his body. "Oh?"
The woman knocked on the Headmistress' door. "Excuse me, Miss Gabriella, but Bianca Foley is here." She waited a moment, then turned to John and said, "You can come in, Bianca."
John came around the counter, passed through the outer office and entered the Headmistress' office. As he did so, the secretary closed the door behind him. Miss Gabriella looked up from her computer, gazing at John over her reading glasses. "Please be seated, Miss Bianca. I'll just be a moment."
John sat and waited, looking around the office and wondering why he was here. Miss Gabriella continued typing and ignoring him for more than five minutes before she finally acknowledged his presence.
Finally, she pushed the keyboard aside and looked at John, her arms folded, the reading glasses staying in place like a theatrical prop.
"Well, Miss Bianca, here we are, again."
"Yes, Miss," John said. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Well, I should say so, Miss Bianca," the older woman said. She reached for a pink slip and looked at it for a few moments before continuing. "I have seen your TV show, Miss Bianca, and I have to say, I was very impressed, but I find myself wondering how a young woman who does such a good job on that show is receiving an F-warning in her Theater Arts class."
She placed the pink slip in front of John. He looked it and was shocked to see the words 'insolent to teacher' and 'incomplete work' and 'grade average: 36' written on the right hand column.
"Miss," John stuttered, "I was never insolent to Miss Stephanie and I thought I'd completed all of my work. I checked on the classroom page on the Internet last night and I thought that I'd turned in everything. I don't understand this."
"Well, neither do I, young lady. You may think that this is the kind of school that you can just sail through without doing any work, but I assure you, it is not! Now, I have had just about enough of your nonsense, Miss Bianca, and I am giving you an ultimatum - if this grade isn't at least a seventy-five by the time this quarter grades close in three weeks, you will no longer be a student at Notre Dame Academy. Am I making myself perfectly clear?"
John nearly cried. How could this have happened!? He'd done all of his work! "Miss... I didn't..."
"AM I MAKING MYSELF PERFECTLY CLEAR, BIANCA?" The Headmistress was turning red in the face.
"Yes, Miss," he said in a quiet voice.
"Now, you will report to my office at seven thirty tomorrow morning and you will have both of your guardians with you so we can discuss this."
"Yes, Miss," he nodded.
"No excuses, Bianca. I am serious. Both of them. Here. Seven thirty."
"Yes, Miss."
Miss Gabriella checked her watch. "Good. Now, your car should be here any minute. Take that warning, show it to your guardians and I will see you in the morning. Good bye, Bianca." She went back to her computer.
John rose, took his backpack and headed to the door. "Miss?" John made one final effort to plead his case, but the Headmistress would hear none of it.
"Tomorrow morning, Miss Bianca. Seven thirty."
John walked through the office, past the secretary and out to the front entrance where there was a town car waiting. He hurried to it, surprised that Oscar had not gotten out to open the door for him, but when he opened the door, Oscar was not driving. It was a young, Asian man who looked up from his phone as John dropped onto the seat.
The driver glanced up into the mirror. "Bianca Foley?"
John nodded, and as he did, he felt all of his will power fade away and his face melted into tears. What the hell was Miss Stephanie's game and why was she doing this to him? Besides upsetting him, this was going to get Ed and Rose mad at him. They already thought of him as a child. Now, they'd be mad because he couldn't maintain his grades. His grades in a Theater class, for crying out loud!
The driver glanced in the mirror, again and saw that his passenger was upset. "Hey. Hey. Girl. Umm... Bianca? Are you ok?"
John just nodded and looked out the window.
"Ok..." It wasn't his fault. He was only about twenty years old himself. He didn't know how to deal with a high-strong, teenaged girl. Probably just PMS-ing, anyway.
"Jesus, honey," the makeup woman said to John, "your whole face is swollen. Have you been crying?"
John just shrugged and looked at his lap.
"Oh, crap, honey," the woman, who John had only worked with once before and he could not recall her name, said. "I can't cover this. We're going to need to ice your face to get that swelling out."
"Miss Foley," a production assistant stuck her head into the room, "we need you on set right now."
The makeup woman straightened up and turned to the PA. "She won't be ready for an hour or so. You'd better tell the director."
"Oh, shit," the PA muttered. "Is she ok?"
"I don't know. Just tell him."
Within moments, the Director, Ed, Rose and Don were all running down the hallway.
"Beebs, honey," Rose knelt by the makeup station, "what happened?"
John put his hand on his forehead, his thumb and forefinger just above his eyebrows, hiding his face. "I'm sorry, Rose, but I just can't take it, any more. Miss Stephanie, she..." he started shaking with his sobs.
"Hey, guys," Don said in a very rational voice, "why don't you all clear put for a few minutes and let us talk to Bebe. Ok?"
Everyone nodded and filed out. The Director was last and he spoke quietly to Don. "Listen, Don, we're kind of up against the schedule, here. Do you think she'll be able to work today?"
Don patted the man's shoulder. "Frank, you know how it is with kids. You have to deal with these things as they come along. Now, Bebe has been a work horse for you since she arrived and you know, full well, that she's one of the reasons that this show got off on a good footing. So, I suggest that you give us a little time to talk to her and see what's happening. I'll let you know what's going on when I can."
The Director heaved a sigh and nodded. "Oh, for Christ's sake, Don... figure it out quickly, will ya?"
"I'll do my best, Frank." And with that, Don guided him out the door and closed it behind him.
Ed was now kneeling on the opposite side of the chair from Rose. He had one hand on John's head and he was speaking in a quiet, patient tone. "Bebe, baby. What happened with Miss Stephanie?"
John struggled to gain his composure, but he just couldn't. He felt overwhelmed.
Rose looked at Don, who's face was a map of concern, "The hormones make her more emotional. The doctor told us she may have reactions like this from time to time."
"They're essentially pushing her through puberty at a very quick rate," Ed explained. "It takes a toll on her."
Don nodded.
"Come on, baby," Ed held his head to John's. "Take some deep breaths and tell us what happened. No matter what, we're here for you."
"We love you, Beebs," Rose kissed his cheek. "We're not going to be upset with you."
What was happening to him, John wondered? He used to be a self sufficient adult. He lived at college in Boston and dealt with everything on his own. This was a problem with a talentless, high school, theater teacher. Why was it such a crisis for him? Was it just the hormones or had he completely forgotten how to be an adult?
"She... She... She..." he tried, but he couldn't get the words out. Finally, he reached into his bra and took out a piece of pink paper that had been folded neatly into a small square.
Rose took it and read it.
"What is it?" Ed asked, while still hugging his head to his niece's.
"It's a failure warning from Miss Stephanie. It cites missing work and insolence to the teacher."
Ed stood tall and took the paper from Rose to read it himself.
Don breathed a heavy breath. "That's all it is, then? A failure warning?"
"It says," Ed continued to read, "that she has three weeks to get her grade up to a seventy five or she'll be expelled. That's probably what's got her so revved up."
John shook his head.
"That's not it, baby?" Rose asked. "What is it, then?"
Finally able to breath, again, John explained that both Ed and Rose needed to be at the school at seven thirty the next morning. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to upset you."
"Bebe," Ed laughed, "why would this upset me?" Ed crumpled the pink piece of paper in frustration "You know how I feel about that teacher and that Headmistress. They're both a couple of petty functionaries with this much power," he held up his thumb and forefinger, separated by a fraction of an inch to illustrate, "that they wield over vulnerable, little girls."
"Ed," Rose interrupted him before he could get carried away, "relax. We'll discuss this tonight - after Bebe's gone to bed. We'll present a united front tomorrow and we'll get this straightened out. Ok?"
"Yeah," Ed nodded. "Ok."
Don moved in front of John and looked him in the eye. "Hey, sweetheart," his voice was soft and paternal as me stroked John's cheek. "See, no one is upset with you. Do you think you can work today, or would you rather go home? Because, if you need a day off, no one is going to be upset with you."
John looked at the three supportive faces and steadied his breathing. "I'd really rather work, if that's ok."
"Of course it is, angel," Don kissed his forehead. "They're going to have to ice your face down a little though, to take care of the swelling. While they do that, I'm going to suggest that you don't look at your phone, ok? I don't think you're in the right frame of mind to be dealing with any more teenaged angst, today. We'll just put on some music that you like and you can concentrate on that. Alright?"
John nodded.
Don called the makeup woman in and gave her instructions. She nodded and said, "Alexa - play 'Disney Mix.'"
Louis Prima's voice came out of the six inch tall speaker, "Well, I'm the king of the swingers, Oh, the jungle VIP.
"Is this music ok, Miss Foley?" The makeup woman asked.
John nodded. "Please don't call me 'Miss' anything though. I've kinda heard enough of that, lately. Please, just call me Bebe."
"We're here for a meeting with Miss Gabriella," Ed told the secretary at Notre Dame. It was seven-twenty-eight am. Classes didn't start until eight, so the hallways were pretty much empty.
"Oh, yes. I'm afraid she's with another parent, right now. She'll be about fifteen minutes."
Ed checked his watch. "Our meeting was scheduled by Miss Gabriella for seven-thirty. It is now seven-twenty-eight. I expect that we will be in her office in no more than two minutes. In seven minutes, if we are not in there, we will be contacting our lawyer to deal with Miss Gabriella. Please make sure that she receives that message."
Ed sat on a bench with John to his left and Rose just beyond.
"Just stay calm," Rose whispered to him. "Remember what we discussed. We listen and we nod, then we respond, Ed. Remember - RESPOND. Don't react."
Ed checked his watch and nodded. "That's how the meeting will go, but if she's not out here in six minutes, we're leaving."
John could feel his heart pounding out the seconds in his chest. He hated being stuck in the middle like this. He hadn't done anything wrong. This was just a power play by Miss Stephanie.
Ed sighed and looked at Rose. "One minute."
Rose rolled her eyes just as the secretary picked up the phone receiver, muttered a few words, then called to them, "Mr McNeal, Miss Gabriella will see you, now."
He stood and buttoned his suit coat. "Thank you." Then he turned to Rose and John and indicated they should precede him. Rose went first, but as John passed, he reached out and took Ed's hand in his. That is how they entered the Headmistress' office.
Miss Gabriella was standing behind her desk. "Good morning, Miss Bianca," she said, coolly. She shook hands with Ed. Then said, "And you are?" To Rose.
"I'm Bebe's cousin, Rose. I share guardianship of Bebe hit Ed."
"Oh, my, yes, I recognize you from your TV show, now. You look much older on TV. How old are you, dear?"
"I'm twenty-two."
"Oh, my, you are very young to have the responsibilities of raising Bianca, aren't you?"
"Obviously, my aunt did not think so. I assure you, Mrs Gabriella, we are very focused on Bebe's well being."
"Well, that's good to know, but I regret to have to tell you that it appears that Miss Bianca has been pulling the wool over your eyes, I'm afraid. She has neglected her work in her Theater Arts class, and she has been belligerent to her teacher in that class, as well."
At that moment, there was a knock on the door and Miss Stephanie stuck her head in. "I'm sorry I'm late, Headmistress. Traffic was terrible, this morning."
"Understandable, Miss Stephanie. Thank you for coming in early. Please come in. This is Miss Stephanie, Miss Bianca's Theater Arts teacher."
Ed and Rose nodded to her. "We know Miss Stephanie," Rose said. "She works on the set with our younger actors."
"Oh, of course. Miss Stephanie, could you, please, give them a summary of the situation in which we find ourselves, today."
"Yes, Miss Gabriella. Well, regarding her classwork and homework, Bianca has neglected to pass in seven assignments, to date. A summary of three different plays; 'The Man Who Came To Dinner,' 'Marty' and 'Lady Windermere's Fan.' She has also not completed four installments in her online acting journal. These installments are due every Friday and Bianca has only submitted one installment."
"Let's address these items, first." Miss Gabriella said. "Miss Bianca? What have you got to say for yourself?"
Before John could say anything, Ed said, "Miss Gabriella, I will speak for Bebe on these matters. I reviewed Bebe's online classroom work, last night and I found that she had submitted her summary of 'Lady Windermere's Fan,' but that Miss Stephanie had requested revisions to this work. The thing is though, she submitted this request at 5:00pm YESTERDAY - after Bebe received the Failure Warning. As for the summaries of the other two plays, both of those were assigned before Bebe was a student at Notre Dame and, again, according to the online classroom which is managed by Miss Stephanie, Bebe was not required to do these assignments."
"Well, Mr. McNeal," Miss Stephanie smiled a malicious and condescending smirk, "I may not have written that specifically into the classroom, but I told Miss Bianca - verbally - that she needed to get caught up on those."
"Did she?" Ed asked John.
"No," John responded, quietly.
Ed returned his gaze to Miss Stephanie. "Evidently, you are mistaken, Miss Stephanie. Bebe is an excellent student and Theater has always been her favorite class. She was not aware that these assignments were due, but she is willing to have that work into you within a week. Is that satisfactory?"
"For those assignments, yes."
"Now," Ed continued, "regarding these journal entries, Bebe has screen shots indicating that she submitted fairly large entries into her journals on the dates requested, however, only her first entry is still posted In your online classroom. How is that possible?" He placed printouts of the 'Assignment Completed' notifications on the desk for the Headmistress to see.
"Hmm, these do seem like the correct dates, Miss Stephanie." She passed them over to the teacher.
"May I ask, Miss Bianca," Miss Gabriella said, "why you would take screen shots of these notices?"
John looked to Ed who nodded, giving John permission to speak.
"When I took online classes at Emerson, Miss Gabriella, they told us to always take a screen shot of our submission receipt just in case the Professor lost track of it. I just continued to do it when I started here."
She nodded. "That is a good practice, obviously, Miss Bianca. Miss Stephanie, can you explain these receipts."
"No, Miss Gabriella," she shook her head. "I am baffled. Do you have copies of the work, Miss Bianca?"
John shook his head and looked to Ed for permission, again. Ed nodded.
"No, Miss. The journals are all done online, and I didn't think I needed to print out the work - I'm not even sure I could."
"But the point is," Ed said, firmly, "that she did submit the work and, since it could only have been deleted by the classroom administrator, which is you, Miss Stephanie, only you could have deleted it."
The teacher looked indigent. "I beg your pardon, Mr McNeal, are you accusing me of something?"
"No, Miss Stephanie," he shook his head. "You are the only one making accusations. I am just here in defense of my niece."
"Alright, everyone," the Headmistress said, "let's remain composed. I believe that the matter of the outstanding work has been addressed and resolved. Now, Miss Stephanie, please relate the story you told me about your encounter with Miss Bianca at last weekend's Halloween Dance at St Mark's."
She explained how she'd volunteered to chaperone the event and how she ran into John in the Ladies' Room. "I complemented her on her costume and the success of the TV show. Then, as I asked about her schedule at school next week - Well, this week, now - she stuck her middle finger up at me and said, 'Fuck you.' Well, I was absolutely shocked and I walked straight out of that room! I've been teaching for many years, now, but I have NEVER been treated like that by a student!"
The Headmistress looked at the family before her. "Well, Bianca?"
Rose spoke, this time. "Miss Gabriella and Miss Stephanie, both Ed and I have spent an awful lot of time with Bebe and neither of us has ever heard her use language like that. I am, truly, not able to believe that she said anything like that."
"Well, believe it, or not," Miss Stephanie said, "it did happen."
"Bebe?" Ed asked, "Did this happen?"
"No. Not like that. I was talking to Miss Stephanie and she was being kind of mean to me about the show and about being out of school because of my job, and, eventually, I did turn my back on her and put my hands under the hand dryer, and she was gone when my hands were dry. I never said anything like that to her."
"What do you mean when you say that Miss Stephanie was being 'mean' about the show?" Miss Gabriella asked.
John shrugged. "I don't know. Like it was no big deal and that we were all just riding Don Ferry's coattails. Stuff like that. She's always been kind of mean about the show."
"Oh, what a little liar you are, Miss Bianca," Miss Stephanie acted appalled.
"I'd watch my language if I were you, Miss Stephanie," Ed said, calmly, still holding John's hand. "So far, almost everything that you've told us has been untruthful."
"Alright, everyone,"the Headmistress said. "Here is what is going to happen. One of my teachers has made an allegation and that is a serious matter. So, since we are in a 'she said, she said' situation, I am going to take Miss Stephanie's side in this matter. I am going to leave the resolution of this matter to her. I will not proceed towards Miss Bianca's expulsion at this time. Miss Stephanie can set up a community service project of some sort for Miss Bianca to serve as an abject lesson about being respectful to others. Is that acceptable to everyone."
"No," Rose said. "Bebe did nothing wrong."
"Then the lesson will be about helping others. There is no downside to community service." She was obviously done with this discussion. "Miss Stephanie, please send an outline of a community service project to Miss Bianca's guardians. I think a project that lasts between fifteen and twenty hours Over several days or weekends should serve our purposes. I think this will settle the matter, nicely. Are we in Agreement?"
Miss Stephanie nodded.
"I am not happy about this," Ed said, flatly. "I don't believe that Bebe did anything wrong, but, if this will put an end to all of this nonsense, then... fine."
"Well, school is about to start, so, thank you for coming in this morning. Miss Stephanie will be in touch."
"That's it" Ed seemed shocked. "No apology for 'losing' Bebe's work? Or for making her upset?"
"No, Mr McNeal," Miss Gabriella acted exhausted by the question. "These things happen. Let's just move on."
He shook his head in disgust, but Rose stood quickly and shook hands with the two educators. "Thank you for your time. I'm sure that noting like this will ever happen again."
Ed just stood and walked out of the office with John in tow.
Once in the hallway, he turned to Rose and said, "I hate these women. I don't understand this 'screw the children' attitude. Maybe we should look at another school for her."
Rose shrugged. "Maybe we should. What do you think Beebs?"
John looked as if he was going to cry, again. "I mean... except for those two women, I really like it here. I have friends, too. I'm kinda lonely like this, you know. I only really have Ella and MK for friends."
"What about Kylie and Darrin and the other kids on the show?" Rose suggested.
"Kylie and I are friends because we both go here and Darrin and I are friendly, but we're not really friends..." a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Alright, Alright, Alright," Ed couldn't face another day of crying. "We'll work it out."
"So, Hank says," Don was speaking quietly to Ed and Rose. John was filming a scene with Kylie and he felt more comfortable discussing the private detective's findings without John present, "this Miss Stephanie has more than a dozen people paying her off at the moment and that he's passed that information along to the police. The problem is that no one wants to testify in court about whatever it is that she has on them. Blackmail is a tough crime to get witnesses for."
Ed nodded. "But the police are still investigating, though, right?"
"Oh, yeah, of course. It may take awhile, but they'll get to her, eventually."
Ed folded his arms and looked at Rose. "I guess that's all we can do for now, then."
"I guess," Rose stood from her makeup mirror chair. "You told him about our meeting this morning, though, right?"
"I did. Other than suggesting that you record any meetings or phone calls, he said we just have to sit and wait for her to make a mistake."
"Ok. Thanks, Don," Ed shook his hand. "Let's hope that she makes a mistake before she gets her hooks into either Bebe or Kylie."
"Did you come up with a schedule for our girl to do her community service?" Don asked.
"Of course, not," Rose sighed. "She keeps demanding that Bebe stays after school, which, of course, she can't do because of the show."
Just then, Ed's text-tone sounded. He read the text and said, "Huh. I think we may have found how she's going to get her hooks into Bebe. Listen to this. 'MR. MCNEAL. SINCE NONE OF MY SUGGESTED TIMES WORKS FOR YOUR NIECE, PERHAPS WE COULD WORK OUT A SCHEDULE WHICH WOULD INVOLVE MEETNG WITH HER ON THE WEEKEND. THAT, OF COURSE, WOULD REQUIRE THAT I BILL YOU FOR MY TIME, WHICH WOULD BE PRICEY, BUT IT WOULD BE A WAY TO PUT ALL OF THIS UNPLEASANTNESS BEHIND US. IF YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS OPTION, I CAN MEET YOU TOMORROW EVENING AT THE STARBUCKS NEAR NOTRE DAME TO DISCUSS THE COST. PLEASE LET ME KNOW.'"
"This sounds promising," Don said. "I'll let Hank know, but be sure that you record the meeting on your phone. If Hank wants to do something more technologically advanced, I'll let you know."
"Ok," Ed sent a text back. 'I THINK THAT THE WEEKEND OPTION MAY BE THE BEST. I KNOW WHERE THE STARBUCKS IS. IS 6:45 TOMORROW EVENING A GOOD TIME?'
Within seconds, the reply came, 'PERFECT. SEE YOU THEN.'
"Excellent!" Don clapped his hands. "I wouldn't bring Bebe, though."
"No, I agree," Ed tucked his phone into the breast pocket of his shirt.
"I'll take her shopping," Rose said. "She wants to get a new dress to go to breakfast with Blaine on Friday."
"Another new dress!?" Ed pretended to be outraged. "She is becoming quite the clothes-horse."
"You know," Rose teased , as she helped John into the fifth dress that he had tried on that afternoon, "at some point, Blaine is going to have to see you wear the same dress more than once."
"I know," John fussed, "but I want something special to wear to the airport to meet the girls, Friday, too. Breakfast with Blaine is just part of why I need a new dress. Besides, I really don't own all that many clothes. None of my 'Bianca Clothes' fit any more and, certainly, none of John's do."
"I know, sweetie," Rose kissed John's cheek as she pulled the dress over his arms and head. "I just like to tease you."
She spun him around and pulled the tiny zipper up his back.
"Oh, I like this one,"John said as he looked at himself in the peachy-pink, crepe, fit and flare dress with the V-neck and sleeves that puffed, just a tiny bit, on top and hung loosely to his elbows and the full, flowing skirt that ended just at his knees. It was simple and perfect and just as feminine as Blaine liked.
"Well, I have to say," Rose fussed with the skirt and then his hair in a decidedly maternal way, "you do have wonderful taste in dresses, Beebs."
John swayed to make sure that the skirt swung correctly. It did. "Do you think we might be able to find a comfortable, heeled sandal to go with this?"
Rose giggled. "I'm sure we can find the perfect shoes to go with it, baby." She kissed the back of his head.
She pulled the zipper down and helped him out of the pretty garment.
Hank was already at the Starbucks when Ed arrived. He was seated at a table in the center of the restaurant with a laptop opened. He looked like every other business person who might have stopped for an overpriced, bitter coffee on the way home from work. There were only a couple of other people in the coffee shop. A pretty woman of forty-five or more years sitting in the far corner, looking at her phone, and a good looking guy in his twenties sitting near the counter. The guy was playing an online video game and sipping his iced coffee through a straw. He was wearing a sleeveless, black tee shirt with the logo of the band Aerosmith on the front and a list of tour dates on the back. More notable than the shirt, though, was the size and definition of the man's upper arms. He looked strong enough to be a professional athlete - probably an actor, though, since this was LA. He was handsome enough to be one.
Hank had told Ed not to worry about recording the meeting. He'd be there and he'd have the appropriate microphone and recording equipment to capture everything that was said.
Ed ordered a black coffee and headed over to sit at a table by the window, as Miss Stephanie had instructed.
Within minutes, she arrived, placed her order, waved to Ed, then, after receiving a cup of soy latte, she took the seat opposite Ed.
"Hello, Mr McNeal, thank you for meeting me here. It's right on my way home from school."
"My pleasure, Miss Stephanie," Ed smiled as friendly as he could.
"Oh, I hope you don't mind," the teacher pulled out her phone and shut it off, placing it on the table, "but would you mind shutting off your phone whilst we talk. I hate being interrupted by cell phones, don't you?"
"Sure." Ed pulled out his phone and held down the button to shut it off. When the Apple logo was displayed, he put it on the table next to Miss Stephanie's. 'Pretty clever way to keep from being recorded,' he thought.
Miss Stephanie then explained a plan for a series of Saturday mornings in which she would meet with Bianca and set up community service work for each of those days. Bianca would be required to do things like park clean-up, removing graffiti, food bank distribution... things like that.
"Well," Ed was making notes on the back of his receipt, "that sounds like a reasonable compromise. Thank you, Miss Stephanie."
"Now, of course, if I am giving up my free time, then I will need to be compensated."
"Of course," Ed stayed casual. "What do you think is a fair amount?"
"Well, I hate to just throw out numbers, but I have given this a lot of thought. Bianca did behave appallingly towards me and I am being gracious enough to spend this extra time with her, so..."
Ed stopped writing and looked at the teacher, waiting for the ax to fall. "So...?" Ed mimicked her intonation.
"Well... let me just write down a number on my napkin and pass it over to you." She scribbled on the napkin, folded it, smiled and passed it across the table.
Ed opened it, then looked up at the woman and he smiled. "This is your 'per-hour' rate?"
She nodded, her smile never fading. "This is my final offer, Mr McNeal. Either you accept this offer, or I tell the Headmistress that you were uncooperative and your niece is out of Notre Dame by the end of the day, tomorrow. Oh, and if you decide to mention this fee to the Headmistress, I'll deny it and tell her that you threatened me with physical harm. Won't that play nicely on the cover of People Magazine?" Her smile broadened.
Ed remained calm. "So, you think that your time, the time that you're willing to spend helping Bianca to do community service, is worth five thousand dollars per hour?"
"Yes, Mr McNeal, I do."
"So, for twenty hours of work, you will expect to receive one-hundredthousand dollars?" He pronounced the words slowly and clearly, both to avoid screaming and to be sure that Hank hear it, loud and clear.
"I do, Mr McNeal. In fact, I think it's a bargain for you to keep your precious, little money maker in this school and out of the papers and off of TMZ. Don't you agree?"
"You're a thief, Miss Stephanie." Ed took a deep breath. "What if I were to call the police right now?"
"Do what you like, Mr McNeal. You have no evidence, and besides, no money has exchanged hands, so no crime has occurred."
Ed folded the paper and put it in his pocket. "I'll think about it."
"Think quick, Mr McNeal. This offer is only available for the next two minutes. Then... Bye, Bye Bianca."
"You're a piece of shit," Ed said in a loud whisper.
"Oh, now, now, Mr McNeal, if you use language like that again, then I'm afraid that the price will go up up, substantially."
Ed crossed his arms. "How long do I have to get the money?"
"See, now, that's much better. Let's say, twenty-four hours. You can come back here tomorrow - same time - and we'll make everything official. No receipts. No contracts. Just a simple promise."
Ed just nodded.
"See the rather large fellow in the corner?" She indicated the man in the Aerosmith shirt that Ed had noted earlier.
Ed nodded without looking.
"You'll be dealing with him, tomorrow, not me. He'll be my Insurance today, too. I'll leave first, then you can go, but don't be surprised if he follows you, just to be sure that you don't do something... regrettable."
She stood and kissed his cheek as if they were old friends. "Until tomorrow, Mr McNeal," and she exited. Ed watched her go, then his eyes strayed to the Aerosmith guy, who was leaning back in his chair. When their eyes met, Aerosmith nodded, then his attention returned to his computer game.
Ed picked up his phone and turned it back on. When it had booted up, there was a text message from Rose. Ed opened it and found a picture of John in a peachy-pink, crepe dress, with matching, strapped sandals with a low heel. It was a lovely outfit. He returned a text, 'VERY PRETTY.'
He stood and headed for the door. Hank never even glanced up at him. Aerosmith-man watched him the whole way, though. As Ed passed him, he glanced down at the screen of the man's computer where he saw the words 'VERY PRETTY,' written on the screen.
"Son of an bitch!" Ed mumbled.
"You know it," the man grinned.
On the way home, Ed pulled into a Verizon store and bought a new phone and calling plan. He didn't know if Aerosmith needed to be close to him in order to eavesdrop, but he wasn't going to give him a chance to try.
The next night, Ed pulled into the parking lot of the Starbucks and was headed into the coffee shop, when he was stopped by Miss Stephanie's henchman, this time wearing a 'Rush' tee shirt, again with the arms cut off. "I'll take the envelope, Mr McNeal," he said quietly, yet somewhat threateningly.
Ed looked the tough guy in the eye and slowly removed the envelope from the interior pocket of the sports coat he was wearing, stopping with the edge of the envelope visible to the blackmailer. "Tell me something," Ed said before turning over the one-hundred-thousand dollars, "are you and Stephanie proud of yourselves? Do you sleep well? Ripping off little girls - does that make you feel like a real tough guy?"
"Give me the money, now, ass-wipe, or I'll show you how tough a guy I can be."
Ed pulled the envelope free of his jacket and held it between his first and second fingers above his right shoulder. "Tell the woman who holds the end of your leash that this is the first, last and only time she will get a penny from us."
The man in the Rush tee shirt grabbed the envelope and smirked at Ed. "We'll see, pussy. I wouldn't be surprised to see you in this same parking lot in six months. Know what I mean?" He turned and walked away, laughing loudly.
Ed stood and watched as the guy got into an old Toyota sedan and drove away. Moments later, Hank and Don walked up behind Ed.
"Did you get all that?" Ed asked.
"We did," Hank said. "LAPD already has it. There's two detectives following him, now. As soon as they can link him to Stephanie, they'll grab them both."
Ed nodded.
Don patted him on the back. "Way to go, tough guy! You've got balls of steel, my friend. I couldn't have been that cool."
Ed shrugged. "Bebe needs me to take care of her. That's all I was doing."
"You're a good guy, Ed. Let's go get a drink."
The steam from the shower had clouded the mirror in John's bathroom. He brushed his teeth and towel dried his hair before picking up his blow dryer and went to work on his hair. Using a barrel brush to separate his hair, he did his best to get it mostly dry before opening up the door to the bedroom and proceeding to gather his undergarments for the day. After the mirrors had cleared, he'd return to finish his hair.
He pulled out a peach colored bra and panty set and laid them on the bed, then he took the hanger holding his new dress out and hung it on the hook on the back of the hallway door.
It was still early, not quite 7:00. He'd had a hard time sleeping. He kept thinking about what he should tell Blaine and how he should tell him. He wanted to talk to Rose and Ed, but they'd just tell him not to say anything and John couldn't do that.
He looked out the window at the sprawling valley below. In many ways, this was everything he'd dreamed of, but then again - it wasn't.
He headed back to his bed, but stopped at the mirror to look at his hair. Not horrible for having done it in front of a steamed-up mirror. He'd have to do more to it, though - curl it with the curling iron, then loosen the curls with a brush. Blaine liked it wavy. Not straight. Not curly. Wavy. If that's what Blaine liked, then why not give it to him?
As he looked at his hair, he noticed his face. It's features had softened a great deal since June, when he first became Bianca for 'The Taming Of The Shrew.' God, that seemed like a lifetime ago. Now, his nose and chin looked softer. His cheeks, a little plumper. His eyebrows were plucked to a moderate point, with an arch implied. They were much like most of his classmates at Notre Dame. Not a high arch, just neat and pretty.
He touched his cheek. He hadn't shaved in months and he assumed he'd probably never shave again. No big loss there. He never really had much facial or body hair. It never really bothered him. The Van Dyke he wore until late May took months to grow and was always scrawny and unattractive.
His shoulders looked smaller than before. Granted, he'd lost a lot of weight since this all started. He was 151 pounds in June. He was 117, now.
His gaze moved to his breasts. They were more than just the puffy beginnings of female puberty. They were breasts. Real breasts. They had a darkened areola surrounding a firm, erect nipple. They were well shaped and, even though they were modest, they stood out prominently on his small frame. He touched them and they felt warm, nice, right.
Maybe Don was right. Way back when he'd first auditioned for 'Civil Disobedience,' Don said, "You're better as a girl." Maybe he was right. Thinking back to high school, the only friend that John ever had was Ed, who didn't even go to the same school as him. Almost everyone seemed to like Bebe, though. Why? Maybe Bebe just seemed right to everyone and John had been a little... off?... Weird? Well... Something.
When he went to high school in Worcester, some of the less intellectual guys called him 'gay,' or a 'fag' because he knew nothing about sports and loved theater. Ha. What would they say now!? Was he gay? Maybe. He wasn't sure. He knew that he'd been smitten with Rose, that was for sure, but he felt different with Blaine. Very different. He worshipped Rose, but he... longed for Blaine. He missed him terribly when they weren't together. He thought about him during classes and at night when he was in bed. He wanted to to be pretty for Blaine. To cheer him on and tell him how much he... he loved him... but he couldn't do that until he told Blaine the truth. Maybe not about his age, after all, a lot of girls fibbed about their ages - maybe not about six years, but still... legally and as far as everyone in his life was concerned, John was Bebe and Bebe was fourteen until next week when she turned fifteen. That could wait till another day.
But what about today? What should he tell Blaine?
Blaine.
John glanced at his breasts. Just thinking about Blaine made his nipples grow hard and more erect. That had to mean that he liked boys, right? But was he even a boy, anymore.
He returned his gaze to his reflection. No makeup and hair not done, but that was definitely not a boy looking back at him.
He stepped back and looked at his hips. They'd rounded and plumped and he'd hardly noticed. He turned and looked at his rear end. Same thing there. Pumper, rounder, more feminine. Nice.
Then his eyes wandered to his genitals. Shaved and naked, they looked as if they belonged to a little boy. Is that what he was? A little boy pretending to be a girl?
No.
He knew what it felt like to be a boy and he felt awkward and wrong like that. He'd searched his heart since arriving in California and he knew that his life before had been a mistake. What if the doctors had discovered that he was intersexed when he was an infant? Would he have been raised as a girl?
Who knew?
He was what he was. He was where he was. He could only deal with life as he understood it and he understood that, despite how odd it may be to accept, he loved Blaine.
He looked at the limp organ that hung where his legs met. He really liked it at times. Yeah, it was a liability for Bebe, but was he ready to make the decision to remove it?
No. He wasn't. It was part of who he was. If he could have it removed and then be a biological woman, have children and everything, he'd have it removed in a heartbeat, but... as things stood, now, he wanted to keep it, even if it had to be tucked away.
But what would Blaine think?
Would he freak out? Maybe. Probably.
Would he hit John? Probably not, but he might be justified if he did. After all, John had not been honest with him... No. Blaine would never hit him. He was sure of that.
Would he leave? Maybe. That was the worse thing that John could think of. He needed Blaine. He needed to be Blaine's girl. That meant as much as being on the show...
... the show...
What if Blaine freaked out or just walked away?
What would happen to the show?
Would Blaine tell everyone that Bebe was a freak? Maybe. Probably. But it was a chance that John needed to take.
He had to.
He had to.
"Fifty percent a boy, fifty percent a girl," John muttered into the mirror, quietly, "and one hundred percent in love." His lip quivered and his eyes watered. "I hope he understands."
He hung his head and wiped his eyes, then returned his gaze to the mirror. "I love you Blaine. Please, please, please understand that I never meant to be dishonest with you."
He heard a shower turn on and it made him jump. He checked the clock. Nearly 7:30. That would be Ed. He had a 10:30 call this morning. He was getting ready.
Ed.
John loved Ed like he loved no one else in his life. He'd loved him as a friend, he'd loved him as a colleague and, now, he loved him as a father figure. Ed's metamorphosis was almost as extreme as John's.
No matter what happened with Blaine, today, Ed was going to be mad at Him. No question about that.
Why had things become so complicated? It wasn't fair!
It wasn't fair!? If that didn't sound like the rankings of a fourteen year old girl, nothing did.
Ok. Today's order of business.
1. Get dressed.
2. Do hair and makeup
3. Make sure you look as pretty as possible.
4. Spend time with Ed before he left.
5. Tell Ed how much you love him.
6. Stay calm.
7. Have breakfast with Blaine.
8. Tell Blaine.
"Ok," John sighed. "Easy peasy."
"Hey, honey," Ed said as he entered the kitchen. "Look at you, all dressed up on a day you could be sleeping in. New dress? It's very pretty."
John beamed at the attention Ed offered. "I'm taking Blaine to breakfast this morning."
"You're taking Blaine? You mean you're going to go to his house and get him?"
"No," John laughed. "He's taking an Uber here. We're going to walk to Max's Place."
"Where's that?"
"Umm... a block and a half down and one over. Not far."
"Sounds romantic," Ed teased as he kissed John's head. "I wish I could stay and talk, but I have a breakfast meeting to get to. Remember, Oscar is picking you and Rosie up at 11:15 to go to the airport and meet the girls."
"Oh!?" John had not heard this. "I thought that Rose was driving the Tesla."
"Nope. Change of plans. When this meeting came up and you mentioned that Blaine might go with you, we figured that you guys needed a bigger car. I hired a full sized limo. That should impress the girls, don't you think?"
"For sure!" John laughed.
"Ok, baby, I have to go." He kissed John, again and headed for the door.
""Uncle Ed?" John said, just as Ed opened the door. Ed turned and waited. "Umm, I just wanted to say thank you."
"For?"
"For everything," John shrugged. "For being there for me. I couldn't do all this without you, and... well... I really appreciate it."
Ed walked back into the room and hugged his niece. "Bebe. You don't need to thank me. I'm happy to be here for you. And do you know why?"
"Because you love me," John giggled as he snuggled into Ed's chest. He smelled like Ivory soap and shaving cream. "I love you, too, Uncle Ed. I really do. I just need you to know that."
"You just need...? Hey..." Ed pulled Bebe away from him and looked at her face. "Is everything ok?"
"Everything's great. I just... Well, I know I don't always make things easy for you. I just need you to know that - I love you. I really do."
"I know, Beebs, I know, but I really need to run." He hugged the child tightly one more time. "Have fun with Blaine and the girls. Rosie will probably sleep a little late. She was up past midnight getting things ready for your guests. Tell her I love her, when she wakes up." He waved and the door closed behind him.
John stared at the closed door. He took a deep, shaky breath and whispered, "Please don't be mad at me."
At 9:03, Blaine's text appeared on John's phone. 'HERE.'
John replied, 'BE RIGHT DOWN. ROSE IS STILL ASLEEP.'
Outside, John skipped out of the door and hugged Blaine.
"Good morning, Bebe!" Blaine was surprise by how happy Bebe was to see him. "How can you look this pretty this early in the morning!?"
John laughed. "Lots of hard work. I got up at 6:00 to get ready."
"Why!?" Blaine laughed, shocked that she would do this.
"Because I want to be pretty for you."
They walked hand and hand to the restaurant, talking about school, Blaine's team and the show all the way. Blaine told funny stories about how his mom kept telling people that she'd been to Don Ferry's house; she was still riding high about that.
The restaurant was busy, but they didn't have to wait long. Their waitress made a big deal out of the fact that this was 'the kids' first breakfast-date. Blaine had the 'Three Egg Western Omelet' while John had a Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream.
Both enjoyed the food, the waitress and each other.
When they were finished, the waitress kissed them both goodbye at the door and told them that they'd better be back soon, or they were in trouble!
They started walking back, but the conversation became sparse, then Blaine finally said, "Bebe? Are you going to tell me what's going on?"
John sighed. It was the last thing he wanted to do, but he knew that he had to. He nodded.
"Blaine," he stared. "I... well, you know how I feel about you, right?"
The boy smiled. "I do."
"Ok... well, I... Oh geez..." he spotted a bench just ahead. "Let's sit down for a few minutes."
They sat and looked at each other.
Finally John said, "Blaine... do you love me?"
"Of course I do, Bebe."
John sighed and a tear rolled down his cheek. "Ok... please... after I tell you this... please... still love me..."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 10
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What will happen to Miss Stephanie? And the girls arrive from New Hampshire! How much can
one twenty-one-year-old-man-living-as-a-fourteen-year-old-girl take?
A lot happens in one day! I hope you all enjoy the story!
Author's Note: As always, thank you to everyone who has written comments and emails. I am so glad that you enjoy Bebe's exploits as much as I do! Please leave comments if you can. They really inspire me! ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 10 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.
ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS -or- NOTHING WOULD BE WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WOULD BE WHAT IT ISN'T
"LAPD is ready to make their move," Hank told Ed as they ate their breakfast in a luxurious restaurant near the studio. "If they just had the video from the other night, she'd be getting arrested. With the evidence we sent them, she's facing a long, long sentence."
Ed nodded. "Good. Maybe the girls at that school will be safe now." Ed used his fork to separate a section of his egg white Denver omelette. "When do they plan on arresting her? I hope they're not planning on doing it at the school. That could be upsetting to a lot of the girls."
"No, they won't do that." Hank bit into his steak and eggs. "My guess is that it'll happen sometime today. I know that the teachers have a professional development day till one o'clock. They'll probably wait until after that, then do it when she gets home."
Don took a swig of a very vile looking breakfast drink. Despite his insistence that it tasted good, he winced at the flavor. "I have to say, I've played a cop at least a dozen times, but this is the first time that I've ever been involved in an actual arrest. To tell you the truth, I don't like it all that much. The thought of someone losing their freedom is... sobering, I guess. I mean, I'm glad that she's being taken away from her victims, but can you imagine what actually being locked up for years and years is really and truly like? It must be terrible."
"It is," Hank laughed, "and that's the point."
"Yeah, I know." Don laughed, too. "But I'm not usually part of the process."
"Me neither," Ed swallowed a mouthful, "but since she targeted Bebe, I'm having a hard time finding any sympathy for her."
"Yeah... agreed," Don took another swig of the drink and, once again, winced at the taste.
"Good stuff?" Ed teased.
"Ok, I admit, it's terrible, but I'm a middle aged action star. I have to stay in shape. Have you looked at Tom Cruise lately? He's ten years older than me and he looks fifteen years younger. I hate to sound vain, but..." He held up the glass filled with brownish-greenish gunk and said, "... cheers!"
John breathed a very deep breath, then let it out before beginning. "Ok... Blaine..., I know you're concerned about my health, but you really don't need to be. There's nothing 'wrong' with me. I mean - nothing like a disease or anything."
"Oh, thank God." Blaine gave a nervous laugh and he held his hand to his heart. "I mean, all week I've been thinking about the worst possible reasons that you couldn't have a baby. I've been reading things online and everything seemed so serious. I kept thinking that it must be cancer or something and that I was going to lose you. Oh, man, that sounded so creepy, didn't it? I didn't mean that..."
"Blaine, Blaine," John interrupted Blaine's monologue. "I'm not going to die - Well, not for a long time, I hope - but... like so many things in my life... there are complications."
"Such as?"
John inhaled again. "Ok, look... when I was born, I had a condition that wasn't diagnosed until, like, six or seven months ago. See, I was always smaller than other people in my classes and... well, there were other things, too, that we really never noticed, but I just thought that I was, I don't know, normal, but small."
Blaine, again nervous, nodded. "You're not THAT small, Bebe. I mean, it's not like you're a little-person of anything."
John thought for a moment, then continued. "Yeah. I know, but I didn't... develop... the way that other kids did. So, I just went on with my life. I was just sort of... stupid about it because I didn't know about it. My mom kept saying that I'd get a growth spurt and that I'd catch up."
"Anyway... remember how I told you that my sister is a doctor?" John said.
Blaine nodded.
"Well, last summer she noticed something about me that made her concerned and, even though I didn't want to, she talked my mother into taking me to this specialist doctor to get checked out. He's an endocrinologist. Do you know what that kind of a doctor does?"
Blaine shook his head.
"Well, he deals with things like hormones and stuff."
"Oh, I get it!" Blaine breathed a sigh of relief. "So, your body didn't produce enough hormones, so you didn't grow as much as your friends and your puberty was delayed. See, I'm not dumb!" He smiled, sure that he'd figured out the whole thing.
"Kinda, but, like I said... it's complicated. See..." he took a deep breath, then said, "... Blaine... there's more than just two kinds of people in the world. You know? I mean, there's men and there's women and there's people in-between. People who are called 'intersexed.' Like... they're bodies develop... wrong, I guess."
Blaine grew nervous. "Soooo.... You didn't develop a uterus?"
John nodded. "I didn't."
"I see." Blaine shifted a bit uncomfortably. "And... is there more?"
John looked away as a tear rolled down his cheek. "Yeah. There's more..."
Blaine waited.
"See... when they took blood tests and all that, they realized that I wasn't developing the way that they expected me to because I was not what they had always told me I was."
Blaine tried to figure this all out. "Well... what did they tell you you were?"
John's shoulders slumped. How could he say what needed to be said? "They said I was..."
"Wait..." Blaine stopped him. "When she was here... you're mom... she called you John."
John nodded.
"So.... What? They thought that you were... a guy?" Blaine made a face of incredulity and he let out a scoffing laugh as he waited for John to deny the remark. That was ridiculous.
John just nodded.
"Why? I mean, look at you! You're..." Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. "Wait a minute... you're not saying that you have... a dick, are you?"
John's tears flowed freely, but he didn't even notice. "I wish you hadn't used that word," he said sadly.
"What!? You do!? You actually have a dick!? A cock!? How is that possible!? Look at you!"
"I don't have a 'cock,'" John couldn't look at him. "But, yes, I do have a penis."
"Oh, Jesus!" Blaine turned away from John and leaned back against the bench. After a few moments, he looked at him as if John were nonhuman. Like he was a monster. A horrible, disgusting... thing. "So you're a guy?"
"No, Blaine." John shook his head, but still looked away. "I'm not a guy."
"Oh, really." Blaine folded his arms and shook his head. "Well, how can you have a dick and not be a guy?"
Finally, John faced him. "How can I have breasts and not be a girl?"
"Implants?"
John shook his head. "No. They're mine."
"Hormone shots, then."
John nodded. "I have had some shots, but not because I am a transgendered person, or anything like that. I'm intersexed, Blaine. I have aspects of both sexes. My body fooled me, and the doctors, into think I was a boy, but then it made it clear that I was meant to be a girl. I didn't ask for this. I didn't want this! I never even tried on girls' clothes until I had to. This isn't a choice! This is who I am!"
Blaine sat silently for at least a minute. "Wow," he muttered, at last.
"I know." John looked away.
"I... I don't even know what to say... I mean... look at you! You don't look anything like a guy!"
"Because I am not A GUY, Blaine. I am... a girl, but I'm kinda still in the process of becoming a girl."
"None of this makes sense!"
"I KNOW! Believe me... I know..."
They were both silent for a few moments, until Blaine asked, "So... who knows about this? I mean, your cousin and uncle must know, right, but how about Ella and MaryKate? Did they know that they were setting me up with... a guy?"
John's head hung lower. He turned his sight in Blaine's direction, but he looked no higher than Blaine's feet. "Uncle Ed and Rose know, of course. So do Don and a few people in the production company. When I auditioned for the show, I was just finding all of this out, so some of them were introduced to me as a boy. Ella and MK don't know anything about this."
"Why?"
"Why!? Because I'm not playing a game, Blaine. I didn't wake up one day and decide that I was going to give up the life and knew and become a girl. This is a physical condition. I never discussed it with anyone outside of my family before. It's a deeply personal and very embarrassing thing for me to talk about at all. The only reason I told you is because..." he slumped again.
"'Because...' why?"
Finally, John made eye contact, but only briefly. "Because I... Because you mean a lot to me, Blaine. An awful lot, and I wanted to be honest with you."
Blaine laughed and shook his head. "A little late for that, don't you think? I mean, Christ almighty, I really liked you. You should have told me that first night!" Suddenly, Blaine seemed a lot more angry.
"Blaine, this isn't the type of thing you discuss right off the bat. I don't get introduced to people and say, 'Hi. My name is Bianca. I like old movies, Broadway shows and, although my primary sexual identifiers are those of a male, my secondary sexual identifiers are those of a female.' I'm sorry, but I needed to get to know you before I could say anything. Before I knew I could trust you. As things are, Rose and Uncle Ed are going to kill me when they find out that I did this!"
"Well, maybe that would be appropriate, huh?"
"What?"
"If they killed you." Blaine stood and paced for a moment. "Part of me would like for me to kill you myself!" He was letting his emotions take over. He was hurt and the only recourse he could muster was to lash out and hurt someone else. Maybe not physically, but he could damned well hurt her emotionally! "You really are a great actor, aren't you?"
John's focus had been on the sidewalk as Blaine's anger rose. Now, it snapped back to Blaine. "What?"
"I mean... you fooled me, didn't you. You're probably pretty proud of that, aren't you? The great actor fooled the big dummy into saying that he loved you. That's pretty shitty, you know."
"Blaine..." What could John say to make him see the truth? "Blaine, I never lied about anything, I just didn't... I mean... how could I tell you right from the beginning that I was... complicated?"
"Just like that, John! You say, 'I'm complicated, and by the way, I have a dick as big as yours under this dress!'" Blaine was obviously hurt and angry.
"Please, stop calling it that..."
"Why? Am I in the presence of a lady, JOHN?"
"My names not 'John.' My name is 'Bebe.' I never thought that I would end up as a girl named Bebe, but that's who I am, Blaine... I'm Bebe... now and forever."
Silence.
Pacing.
Silence.
Pacing.
Silence.
Pacing.
Blaine took out his phone and fiddled with it for a moment or two.
"I'm still the same person I was an hour ago, Blaine." John said, quietly. "Can you... live with this?"
Blaine nodded. "Live with this!?!?!? I can live with the fact that I made a HUGE mistake, I guess. Believe me, I'll never make that mistake, again. I can live with the fact that I fell for a lying, scheming tranny..."
"Blaine!"
"... who didn't care how many people she hurt as long as she had her fun in her pretty dresses!"
"Blaine! Please sit and let me..."
"I can even live with the fact that I was attracted to a guy, but what I can't live with is you, JOHN! I can't live with YOU!"
John nodded, too sad to speak, too sad to sob, but with the tears still flowing. He reached behind his neck to undo the clasp on the necklace Blaine had given him.
"Oh, for crying out loud, don't bother," Blaine said when he realized what John was doing. "I have no use for it. You can keep it... or throw it out... whatever. I don't care."
John nodded and started shaking with disappointment. It was over. It was all over. Blaine was over and he was going to tell people, so Ella was over. MK was over. The show was over - for him, anyway. It was all over. Ed would be furious and never speak to him again. Rose... same thing. Ed was over. Rose was over. It was all over because John had become Bebe and Bebe was a stupid, love sick, little girl.
All over.
All gone.
As he shook and tried to keep himself from completely falling apart, a late model, black Acura sedan pulled up to the curb. The passenger side window rolled down and the driver shouted out, "Hey! Did one of you hail an Uber?"
Blaine waved his hand. "Yeah. I did."
Blaine opened the back seat, passenger side door, but stopped and looked at John once more. "I thought... I thought that I knew you. I thought that I loved you. Now, I don't know what to think."
"Blaine... I'm...really, really sorry. I never meant to..."
"Yeah, well, I don't think I can care about that, right now." Blaine was nearly as close to tears as John was. He was holding it together, but not for long. He needed to get away from Bebe before he cried himself. There was one lingering concern though. Leaving her alone. He wanted to swear at her and call her more horrible things, but it just wasn't in him to do it. He knew he should be a gentleman, like his mother had taught him, but he just couldn't do that either. Instead he said, "You know your way home, right?"
John nodded and Blaine climbed into the back seat.
"Hey! Hey! Girl!" The driver called to John, who's face was contorting to keep from crumbling into girlish sobs. "Hey! You ok!?"
John held up a hand and nodded.
"Hey! Do I know you?"
John shook his head.
"Yeah! Yeah, I do! You're on that show! That new one!"
John hung his head, his elbows on his knees, he laced his fingers behind his head and used his hair to hide himself from the rest of the world.
"That's you, right!?"
"Just go," Blaine said, desperately from the back seat. If he stayed he'd cry or forgive her or something else weak and unmanly. He needed to go home and to go home now.
"Hey! That's who she is, right? The girl from the show, right?"
"Yeah," Blaine said, Looking out of the street-side window, unable to look at the love of his life any more.
"Hey, is she ok?"
Blaine looked once more at the person who'd just broken his heart. "She's fine. Just go." He buried his face in his hands to avoid the driver's gaze.
"Ok. You're the boss." The confused driver shrugged.
The window rode up in its track until it closed tightly, then the car slipped into gear and the driver pulled out, leaving John alone on a city bench.
He stayed as he was until the shaking became unbearable and then he burst into uncontrollable, desperate sobs that lasted for more than twenty minutes.
No one stopped to help.
No asked if he was ok.
No one cared.
No one.
Not even Blaine.
Ed went to pay for the breakfast, but Don stopped him. "I'll take care of that, buddy," he smiled. "After all, you're out one-hundred-thousand dollars until they don't need it for evidence anymore."
Ed smirked and raised his eyebrows. "Yeah, about that, Hank. How long do you think they'll be holding onto to that?"
Hank shrugged. "If she cops a plea, maybe a month. If it goes to trial, it could be a couple of years."
Ed shook his head. "I guess I need to find a part time job for a while. I wonder if Walmart is looking for greeters?"
Don laughed. "You're a little young for that, pal."
"I know, but I don't have any other skills. I quit college before I finished, so, I can't get a real job! Walmart greeter may be the best I'll ever do!"
Hank laughed, too. "If you need help, I can talk to the courts. They might be able to help out if we ask."
Ed shook his head. "No. As long as I'm working, I'm fine. Thanks."
"No problem. Let me know if you need it, though. I know a lot of people."
"YOU TOLD HIM WHAT!?" Rose was irate. "Are you out of your mind!? After all the planning, the conversations, the legal paperwork... how the hell could you have told anyone? Especially a teenaged boy!? How long do you think that he'll keep his mouth shut, Bebe!? He's probably already told your friends! Jesus Christ! How could you do something so absolutely stupid!? What about the show!? What about your career!? Did it ever occur to you that you may have just put, like, a hundred people out of work!? What about Don!? What about Marion!? What about Ed and Me!? We've killed ourselves for you!? Did you even think about us!? How could you be so selfish!? How could you be so stupid!?"
John sat on the end of the couch, his forehead in his hands, muttering, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Over and over and over.
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God!" Rose was pacing, now. "I need to talk to Ed."
She grabbed her phone and saw the texts from Oscar. The first one read, 'I'M HERE WHENEVER YOU'RE READY."
The second was sent twelve minutes late, five minutes before she saw it. "DO YOU NEED HELP WITH ANYTHING? I CAN COME UP, IF YOU DO."
"Oh, well, that's just goddamned wonderful," she spat at the phone. "Oscar's here. Look at you. You're a mess and you've just destroyed everything and what are we going to do instead of deal with this matter? We're going to the airport to pick up your little friends from New Hampshire. What perfect, freaking, timing!! ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!! I'll text Oscar that we need ten minutes. You get your ass into that bathroom and wash your face. We'll deal with makeup at the airport."
"Can't we just..." John started, but then realized that they couldn't cancel the girls' visit because they were already in the air and would be arriving at LAX in a few hours. He got up and headed to the lavatory while Rose sent Oscar a text. 'SORRY. RUNNING LATE. BE DOWN IN TEN.'
"Goddamnit, Bebe... or I suppose that calling you Bebe is stupid at this point... I can't believe you did this! Hurry up in there, for crying out loud! Oh, God, this is going to be a long, rough weekend. You have great timing!!"
John came out of the lavatory, keeping his eyes diverted from Rose. "I said I'm sorry."
"Well, that's not much help right now, now is it? You're hair looks terrible. Give me a brush."
John reached into his purse and handed Rose a brush.
She went to work with a bit too much force. "You are a piece of work, I have to say. Honest to God, I have no idea where this will end, now. Ed is going to flip his lid when we tell him. You certainly have complicated our lives."
"I'm sorry, Rose," his voice was weak and sad, "I really am."
"That'll have to do," she said, stepping back and looking at John's hair and face. "Come on. Let's go."
They both grabbed their purses. John was closing his as Rose opened the door and said, "Oh, God."
John looked up, shocked to see Blaine standing in the doorway. "Hi," he said quietly. "Um, a lady was leaving and let me into the lobby. I'm, Umm... is Bebe here?"
"I'm right here." John's voice was equally sad and quiet.
"Oh, hi, Umm... Yeah, sorry, Rose," he stepped in past her and walked over to John. "I, umm... look, I thought about it and I'm... well, my mom called me an ass and asked me if I loved you before I knew everything and... I said I did... and she said, 'Then get your but over to her place and tell her.' So, Umm... here I am."
"Blaine," John had not looked Blaine directly in the eye, yet, "I'm sorry. I'm so, so, so, sorry. I just needed to tell..." He began weeping, again.
"Oh, Lord," Rose mumbled, Looking at her watch.
"No, I know... I mean... well, like my mom pointed out, we've really only gone out a few times and I should have realized how hard it was for you to tell me everything."
John nodded.
"If it helps at all," Rose said, "she actually violated her legally binding contract with the studio by telling you about her condition. Even if you and your mom don't tell anyone, she could still lose her job."
Blaine squinted as he considered this. "Why would you take a chance like that?"
"Because... I needed to say something to you and I needed to tell you everything before I said it."
"What did you want to tell me?"
"Well, the other day, it kind of slipped out, but I wanted to say it for real. So that you knew that I meant it."
"Say what?"
Finally, John looked up and looked directly into Blaine’s eyes. “I love you, Blaine. I really... really... love you. I never thought that I’d feel this way about a boy, but I do.”
Blaine smiled as his eyes filled with water. “I’m sorry Bebe. I was such a dick before.”
John smiled and teared up, too, “Blaine you’ve got to stop using that word.” He laughed at himself.
Blaine laughed, too.
“I’m sorry, anyway, though,” Blaine shook his head as he spoke. “Can you forgive me?”
John took three quick steps and threw his arms around Blaine and buried his head in the boy’s chest. “I’m so sorry, Blaine. Can you forgive ME?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Like you said, you just are who and what you are. I love you, too, Bebe.” He bent and rested his cheek on John’s head. “My Mom was right. I am an ass.”
Rose sighed. “Guys, as much as I hate to interrupt, there are going to be two teenaged girls stranded at LAX if we don’t get going, RIGHT NOW! Blaine, I am thrilled that you’ve decided to stick around, I really am, but I think that the studio may ask both you and your mom to sign a nondisclosure contact or something along those lines, we’ll have to find out. Will your mom keep Bebe’s secret?”
“Are you kidding? She told me that, even if I didn’t accept Bebe for who she is, if I told anyone about her, that I should find someplace else to live. I think she loves Bebe as much as I do!” He smiled then looked back at the girl who was still wrapped around his torso. “Well, nearly as much as I do.”
“Well, that is certainly a relief, but we still have to get going. There’s room in the limo of you want to come with us, but we need to leave, NOW. Oscar’s been waiting for nearly a half hour, as is.”
Blaine looked at John. “Do you mind if I come?”
John stood on his tiptoes and kissed Blaine – just a peck on the lips. “I would love, love, love you to come.”
“Ok, then,” Rose clapped her hands and made motions to guide them into the hall. “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!!!”
They hustled into the elevator and rushed out on the ground level, then hurried to the limo.
Rose opened the front seat, passenger door and said, “Oscar, I’m so sorry! Bebe has had a tough morning.”
Oscar turned and looked over the back of his seat. “What’s the matter, princess?”
John smiled. “Nothing, Oscar. Everything is fine, now.”
“Was it this guy?” Oscar teased, assuming that this was Bebe’s boyfriend. “Do I need to have a word with him?”
“Actually...” Rose teased.
“Oscar, this is Blaine. My boyfriend.” John smiled and blushed, just a bit.
“Boyfriend, Huh?” Oscar played the tough-guy-Father role, very well. “Then we’re going to need to have a little talk.” He winked at Rose.
“Geez,” Blaine said. “I’ve already had ‘the talk’ with your Uncle Ed and your TV dad. How many times am I going to have to have this ‘talk?’”
“Beebs,” Rose said from the front seat of the limo, which was parked in the limousine waiting area at Terminal One at LAX Airport, “how long is this going to take? The plane has landed. It should be at the terminal in a minute of two. We need to get to baggage claim.”
Having just finished doing his eyes in the vanity mirror in the back of the limo, John was working on his lips. “I ave ooo ake e-ery ing erect, ” he replied as he carefully spread lipstick across his lips.
“Did you get any of that?” Rose asked Blaine.
He laughed. “I think she said, ‘I have to make everything perfect,’ but I’m not sure because she seems to have given up on using consonances.”
That made John laugh. He pulled the lipstick away from his lips and looked at Blaine, then slapped his thigh. “Hey! I’m doing this to look pretty for you, so don’t make me laugh.”
“Bebe!” Rose was getting frustrated with her little cousin, “The girls! We have to get going!”
“One sec,” he returned to the mirror, finished spreading the lips stick, blotted them against each other, checked the result and smiled as he closed the mirror, raised the visor and said, “All set!”
Oscar looked into the review mirror and said, “And well worth the wait, princess. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr Blaine?”
“I do,” Blaine nodded. “And you don’t need to call me ‘Mister,’ Oscar. Just ‘Blaine’ is fine.”
John thought for a moment about the number of times in the course of a day he was called ‘Miss,’ now. It was odd.
“Thank you Mr. Blaine,” Oscar smiled. “That’s very nice of you.”
Blaine shook his head.
“Don’t they call you ‘Mister’ at school?” John asked.
“Nope. Just last names.”
“Oh, how rude.” John smiled.
“BEBE! NOW!” Rose opened her door and stood outside the car, then bent and looked back in at the kids in the backseat. “Now, you little brat! Let’s go!”
Blaine opened the door and got out, then turned and offered his hand to John who scooted across the seat, took his hand and got out.
“Blaine,” Rose said, “would you mind just running ahead and checking the arrivals board to see what carousel the flight from Boston will be using? I need a minute with Beebs.”
“Oh, Yeah, sure.” He ran ahead.
Rose checked John’s face. “Well, you did clean up pretty well. An hour ago, I would have thought that you’d look like a mugging victim when the girls arrived.”
John smiled and let Rose fuss with him for a few moments.
“I’m glad that you and Blaine are still together. He’s a good boy.”
“Me too,” John glanced in the direction Blaine had gone. “I didn’t think he’d come back.”
Rose nodded. “You know that there’s still going to be Hell to pay when your Uncle Ed gets home, right?”
“I know.”
Rose nodded. “I’ll talk to him in the hall and then, maybe, you could ‘run an errand’ with him, or something. That way, you could talk in private. Maybe in the car or something.”
“Ok.”
“But you can’t come back in looking like you’ve been crying, so toughen up and be a big girl, ok?”
He nodded.
“Alright. Let’s go see the girls.”
“BEBE!!!!” Annie shouted as she ran past the luggage carousels and threw her arms around her friend. Slightly taller and much for womanly than John, she pulled him into a hug so tight that John actually could not breathe.
Cassie was right behind her, but she was running more to keep up with her sister than due to excitement. When she reached John and Annie, she threw her arms around John from the back.
They both squeezed until John thought he’d pass out.
When they released him, John took a big breath and rolled his eyes. “Wow! Hey, guys! Oh, man, it’s good to see you! Annie, you highlighted your hair! It looks cute! I love it. Cassie, you’ve cut your hair since we Skyped the other day! It’s perfect!”
“Oh, it’s so good to see you, Beebs.” Cassie kissed his cheek. “We’ve been watching the show and you’re amazing! We wanted so much to watch it with you and hear all about how it was made and what it’s like to be on camera.”
“Hi, girls,” Rose interrupted.
The girls replied with big greetings and thank-yous and hugs.
“We should probably get to the luggage carousel and grab your bags, ok?”
“Oh, we just have these,” Cassie said, indicating the large Dooney and Bourke weekender bags they’d dropped when they’d greeted John.
“I’ll grab those for you.” Blaine stepped forward and picked up the luggage.
Both Cassie and Annie, stopped and stared at Blaine.
“Wow!” Annie whispered.
“Is that him? The guy who... you know... the one you told me about?” Cassie said, too loudly.
“Oh, Yeah, that’s Him. I mean... Blaine, this is Annie and Cassie.”
Blaine nodded as he stood straight with the heavily packed weekender bags in each of his hands. “Hi. Nice to meet you.” He smiled and nodded at the sisters.
“Hubba, hubba, hubba,” Annie said under her breath. “He’s even more gorgeous than his picture.”
Blaine laughed. “Thanks, I guess.” He turned and walked towards the exit next to Rose.
“That’s the guy that you ‘accidentally’ said ‘I love you’ to?” Cassie asked.
John smiled and nodded.
“You wanted to take things slowly with HIM?”
John nodded again.
“You’re nuts, Bebe. I take back everything I said. Go fast. Tell him you love him. Ask him to marry you.”
John laughed. “I’m definitely not ready for that,” his voice dropped to a whisper, “but I did tell him I loved him – just a couple of hours ago.”
Cassie’s mouth opened in shock before she burst into laughter.
“Excuse me,” a woman’s voice interrupted their conversation. John turned and saw a middle aged woman with an odd look on her face.
“Yes?” John didn’t recognize the woman and wasn’t sure if she was speaking to him.
“I’m sorry, but aren’t you that girl? The one from Don Ferry’s TV show?”
John was taken aback. This was still new to him. “Umm, yes, I am.”
“See, Veronica,” the woman shouted over John’s head, “I told you it was her! Oh, honey, you are SO GOOD on that show! We’ve watched every episode so far!”
“Oh, well, thank you, so much.” John smiled at the woman, genuinely delighted that she enjoyed the show.
By now, Rose and Blaine had stopped and saw a small, but growing group of people assembling around John. “What’s going on?” Blaine asked.
“I don’t know.” Rose hurried back to see if anyone had fallen or passed out or gotten sick. Why else would a crowd be forming around the girls.
When she finally pushed her way into the center, she heard the first woman saying, “Would you mind if I just took a couple of pictures? Here, Veronica, take one of me with my arm around her.”
John was smiling, but it was a pasted on smile and Rose could see that the growing crowd was becoming a threat to him.
“Excuse me.” Rose pushed her way all the way to John’s side. “Are you ok, Beebs?”
“I guess.” John took her hand. “These people just want pictures, but they’re pushing in pretty close.”
Rose stood tall and spoke in a loud voice. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’d be delighted to let you have your picture taken with Bebe, but, please, everyone PLEASE TAKE A STEP BACK so that she has room to breathe.”
“Hey,” the woman answering to Veronica said, “you’re on that show, too, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am, and I’m very happy to accommodate all of you, but please, take a step back.”
Annie and Cassie stepped to the side and stood by Blaine as Rose moved John to a more suitable picture taking location. Now he had a wall to his back so he couldn’t be approached from that direction. Within moments, police assigned to the airport had come to see what the commotion was. They were used to celebrity sightings and the crowds those created, so they were able to organize people so as to not pose a threat to the celebrity and allow airport business to be conducted as usual.
Cassie looked at Blaine and asked, “Is this a common thing? Being mobbed like this.” In fact, calling it a mob was a bit of a stretch. There were, perhaps, forty people in total and they were now moving quickly and in an orderly manner.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen it!” Blaine shook his head in amazement. “I doubt it’ll be the last, though.”
Don and Ed were seated in director’s chairs on the set, mumbling through their lines for the next scene, when one of the three production assistants assigned to Don, a small, dark skinned girl from Argentina, hurried over to them.
“Excuse me, Mr Ferry.”
“Hmm? What is it, Tillie?”
“I’m sorry to bother you on the set, but a Mr Hank Miller called your cell phone. He says it’s very important.”
“That’s ok, Tillie. I’ll take it.” He glanced at Ed and raised his eyebrows in a questioning method.
The girl handed Don his cell phone. “Hi, Hank. What’s going on?”
He sat silently while he listened to the phone for several minutes and his expression turned serious. Ed watched with growing concern.
“Really?” Don finally said into the phone. “I thought you said that they’d do it at her home.”
He listened some more.
“Yeah, I understand, Hank, thanks. Let me know if you hear anything. Yeah, thanks, pal. Talk to you soon.” He pushed the ‘end’ button, then turned to the assistant and said, “Thank you, Tillie,” and he handed her the phone, then he sat quietly until Tillie had walked away.
He looked at Ed.
“So?” Ed asked calmly.
“Well,” Don stayed as cool as a cucumber. No one would have suspected that anything was wrong. “LAPD is ready to make the arrest, but there’s been a change of plans.”
“They’re not arresting her at the school, are they?”
Don sighed. “They are, but... they have a reason.”
“So if we incorporate the data from the PARCC Test,” Miss Karen was finishing her PowerPoint presentation to the other teachers, “we can extrapolate an expected academic achievement for the student.”
The teachers applauded the work of their colleague. Some, like Miss Karen, were very data-driven educators, while others were having a hard time staying awake. There were twenty-seven women and three men in the large cafeteria space, drinking coffee and nibbling on donuts and muffins.
“Thank you, Karen.” Miss Gabriella returned to the microphone at the podium. “Ok, well, it looks like we are nearly done for today. I’d just like to take the time to thank you all for the hard work and dedication that you have brought to your classrooms, this year. As always, I am impressed by the high level of achievement our girls display. This year has been an unusually productive year for our girls with the success of the basketball team and the math-letics championship...”
Her voice trailed off as four men in suits entered the cafeteria from the main entrance. They were accompanied by four uniformed police officers as well.
When the men said nothing, but just stood there, Miss Gabriella finally asked, “May I help you, gentlemen?”
One man stepped forward and held up a badge. “Yes, ma’m. My name is Detective Lieutenant Dan Fugleman and I am here about a very serious matter.”
There was a concerned murmur in the room.
“I see.” Miss Gabriella shifted uncomfortably at the podium. “Perhaps we should speak in my office first.”
She started to move to the men, but Detective Lieutenant Fugleman interrupted. “No thank you, ma’m.” He glanced around the cafeteria and moved to a table with three women and one man. He circled the table until he stood behind the prettiest woman of the group. “Miss Stephanie Wallace?” He asked.
“Yes?” the woman replied.
The Detective summoned a female police officer who joined him. “Please stand up.”
She did, while asking, “What is this all about?”
The officer pulled her arms behind her back and locked a pair of handcuffs on the pretty woman. “You are under arrest.”
“For what!?” she screamed as the woman all let out shocked vocal expressions.
“We will discuss that in the foyer, Miss Wallace,” the Detective said.
The man seated at the table wore a blue, sleeveless tee shirt with a Led Zeppelin logo on the front. He stood and tried to intervene on behalf of his colleague. “Wait a minute, Detective, this is absolutely ridiculous. I’m sure you’ve got the wrong person.” The man tried to sound level headed and reasonable, but the detective just smiled.
“Mr William Crawford?” the Detective asked.
“Yes?” The man said, confused.
In a second, a male officer was behind the sleeveless man, locking his hands into handcuffs, too.”
“Officer?” Miss Gabriella stormed across the room to the Detective who had dared to invade her school. “What is going on, here?”
The man grinned confidently. “Detective, ma’m. Perhaps this would be a good time for us to step into your office.”
Nearly an hour later, John and Rose and Blaine and Cassie and Annie and Oscar were on their way out of LAX and the back seat of the limo was as noisy as it could possibly be. John and the girls were singing along to Broadway show tunes at the top of their lungs. Oscar had allowed John to plug his phone into the sound system. He had a pretty extensive show tunes playlist.
“I don’t have the time to waste on you, anymore,” they sang. “I don’t think that you even know what you’re looking for.
For my own sanity, I’ve got to close the door and walk away Oh oh.”
Just as they finish the bridge from the song from ‘Avenue Q,’ John’s phone rang. Rose looked at the screen. “Beebs, it’s Rita. Want me to answer it?”
“I can put it through the sound system, if you want,” Oscar said.
“That’ll be good, Oscar. Thanks.”
Rose tried to intervene to stop that, but Oscar pushed the button too quickly. Rose just prayed that this wasn’t about John revealing his secret to Blaine. If Rita found out, Rita would be angry!
“Shh, Shh, Shh,” John said to everyone. “Hi, Rita. Just so you know, you’re on speaker phone and I have some friends with me.”
“Hi, sweetie,” Rita said in her sickly-sweet, ‘I’m your best friend’ voice. “I have news, angel!” As always, she half-spoke, half-sang when she had good things to talk about.
“Oh! What kind of news, Rita?” Blaine looked interested. Annie and Cassie were very excited. Imagine! An actual Hollywood agent! How cool!
“You have an audition, my dear! Ten days from now, at Disney Studios in Burbank, and it’s big, Bebe. Really big.”
John felt a rush of excitement course through his body. “What do you mean, Rita?”
“How about an audition for a live action musical written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez?”
Annie and Cassie gasped.
John glanced at them, surprised by their reaction. “Is that a big deal?” he asked Rita.
“You’re kidding me? You never heard of Robert Lopez?”
Cassie whispered, “Beebs...” but John shook his head and held up a finger.
“Oh, Wait,” John said. “Robert Lopez! We were just singing one of his songs from ‘Avenue Q!’ Now I know who you’re talking about. ‘Avenue Q’ and ‘Book of Mormon.’ I know who he is.”
“Beebs...” Cassie and Annie hissed together.
“Is Kristen his wife?”
Rita laughed. “Bebe, baby, yes, she is his wife, but think about those names for a minute. You must have heard of them!”
“Beebs...” the girls said slightly louder.
“What?” he mouthed to them.
“Frozen,” they said.
John shook his head, not realizing what they were saying. He looked to Blaine who shrugged. Then he looked to Rose who nodded and mouthed the same word. “Frozen.”
John shook his head again, still not getting it, but then the lights came on in his brain. “Frozen!? They wrote FROZEN!?!?” His heart felt as if it stopped beating for a moment.
“Bingo!” Rita laughed through the phone. “Pretty big deal, huh?”
“Oh, my God, Rita!!! This is unbelievable!!!”
“I know, baby, now listen. I’m going to email you all the information, then I want you to call me on Monday morning. By then, I will have set up a good vocal coach for you. You can sing, I assume. We’ll get a good coach and she’ll help you get ready for the singing part of the audition. Sound good?”
“Sounds... amazing... and frightening. Rita, I’m... overwhelmed!”
“I know, sweetie. Call me Monday. Bye, bye.” And the call was disengaged before John could say ‘Goodbye.’
“Holy shit!” Cassie shouted at the top of her lungs.
“Language,” Rose said, more out of maternal instinct than any real concern. Frankly, she wanted to yell the same thing and do it even louder.
“This seems really big,” Blaine said.
John smiled at him. “It is. It’s really big. But it’s just an audition.”
“For the Lopez’s!!!” Cassie scream. “The mother-f-ing Lopez’s!!”
That made Rose Actually laugh, until she realized she needed to say something. “Cassie!” It was no good, though. Rose was laughing too hard to sound like a disciplinarian.
“Congratulations, princess!” Oscar called back.
“Thanks, Oscar.” John was nearly numb with excitement. Blaine put his arm around John’s shoulder and gave him a congratulatory hug. Everyone was riding high, when John’s phone rang again.
“It’s Ella,” Rose said. “Speaker phone?”
John nodded.
“Hi, Ella...” John said, ready to give her the same warning about the speaker phone he’d given Rita, but Ella was too quick.
“Bebe, you’re never going to believe it! It’s unbelievable!”
For just a moment, John thought that Ella had, somehow, heard about his audition, but then he realized how concerned she sounded. “Ella... what’s wrong?”
The whole car got quiet.
“You know Rachel Quint? She’s a junior. She’s Miss Karen’s daughter. You know who I mean?”
“Yeah,” John said. “Is she ok?”
“She’s fine, but she was at the school today during the teachers’ meeting. She was helping out her mother with some kind of a presentation and all of a sudden the police showed up.”
“The police?” John sat up straight and looked at Rose. She was as shocked as John was.
“Yeah! You’re not going to believe it! They arrested Miss Stephanie! They pulled her out of the meeting and arrested her in front of everyone.”
“Oh my God!” John said in shock.
“But then,” Ella continued and John felt the skin crawl all over his body, “they arrested Mr Crawford, the track coach, and, this is the weirdest part, they arrested Miss Gabriella, too!!!”
John and Rose stared at each other in shock. Neither of them knew for sure, but they both had a feeling that Ed had made this happen.
“Bebe? Are you there?” Ella asked.
“I’m here,” John whispered, “but I don’t know what to say.”
“I know. It’s weird, right?” Ella was slowing down, now that she’d delivered her news.
“Yeah. Really weird.”
There was a stunned silence from Blaine, Rose and John. Cassie and Annie were just confused. They had no idea who any of the people were who’d been arrested.
Finally Ella said, “Hey, I gotta call a few more girls, ok?”
“Yeah, ok...” John didn’t know what to say. He was a little relieved and a he felt a little guilt, too. One way or another, this probably had to do with him.
“So, we’ll be at your place by 8:00, ok?”
“Yeah. Yeah. See you guys at 8:00 tonight.”
“Ok. Love you.”
John paused. “Ella...”
“Yeah?”
“Ella... I’m sorry that this happened. I know you like Miss Stephanie.”
Oh, umm... thanks, but... well, I’ve seen a different side of her lately, you know, I think that she might have actually done something. Something really bad.”
John nodded and looked at Rose. He wanted to shed a tear for his teachers and his friends, but he couldn’t. Besides being all cried out, he was having a hard time feeling any sympathy for the teachers involved.
“Ok...” he just couldn’t think of anything else to say. “See you at eight. Love you.”
Ella hung up.
The weekend long slumber party was well underway when Ed got home at a little after 8:30. He’d had a long and stressful day. He’d been distracted since Hank’s call and it made the work they did that afternoon difficult.
Rose had been waiting for him to return, anxious about how to tell him about John’s I’ll advised confession to Blaine. She was nervous. She knew he wouldn’t hurt John, but she wanted to handle it delicately. Ed could handle anything, but he did have a temper.
Ella, MK and Kylie had arrived just before 8:00. Blaine was still at the condo, hanging out with the girls. They were watching ‘The Princess Bride’ and the girls were reciting all of the lines in sync with the movie, which shocked Blaine, since he’d never even heard of it.
Rose was in the kitchen making popcorn when Ed walked through the door. He put his courier-bag-satchel by the coat rack and was about to go find Rose when Blaine was suddenly next to him.
“Good evening, sir,” Blaine said and offered Ed his hand to shake.
Ed was momentarily confused by the boy’s formality, but shook his hand. “Hi, Blaine. How are you doing?” He sounded a little confused.
“I’m fine, sir, but could I have a word with you in the hallway?” Blaine was acting... oddly. He was being very formal, almost like a soldier about to deliver bad news to a family.
“Umm,” Ed shook off his confusion. “Maybe in a few minutes, ok? I’d like to get something to drink and maybe have a sandwich...”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Blaine persisted, “but it’s very important.”
Ed shrugged and shook his head. “Well, ok. If it’s that important...” and he opened the door so that he and Blaine could speak in private. “What can I do for you, Blaine?” Ed asked as brightly as he could. Blaine cleared his throat, “Well, sir,” he considered his words carefully. His goals were (1) to inform Ed without upsetting him, (2) to make sure that Ed didn’t get mad at Bebe and (3) to make sure that Ed didn’t hit him. Ok, these were all, more or less the same goal, but Blaine was going to do his very best.
“You see,” he continued, “Bebe and I had a long talk after breakfast this morning and, well, I just wanted to let you know that I know all about her condition and, even though I was shocked at first, I have come to terms with everything she told me and I will never, under any circumstances, tell anyone, other than my mother, what she told me.”
Ed just stared at Blaine while he processed what the boy had said. When it had all worked it’s way into his consciousness, Ed crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, thinking before he spoke. Blaine could tell that the man was upset, which, since Ed was very, very fit, scared him, a lot.
“Blaine... you’re a good kid, I know that, but there’s a lot more to Bebe’s ‘condition’ than you may understand – from a legal stand point, I mean.” Ed thought for another moment before he continued, “Suppose you tell me what Bebe told you.”
“Well,” Blaine spoke as confidently as he could as he recapped the conversation.
“And you’re ok with all of this?” Ed was tense. He couldn’t believe that John had been this reckless with information.
“I am, sir. I mean, I was pretty upset at first, but after I spoke to my mom, I realized that I really loved her and I came right back here.”
Ed nodded and considered everything. “Alright,” he muttered as his posture relaxed a bit. “I’m not quite sure how this will all play out, Blaine, but you and your mom may be asked to sign some forms. Do you think your mom would agree to that?”
“Oh, yes, sir, I know she would. She worked in the medical field for a long time. She understands about all of these things.”
Ed nodded, then gave Blaine a pat on the shoulder. “Like I said, you’re a good kid, Blaine. I’m sorry that life with Bebe is so complicated. You’ll get used to it, I’m sure, but the thing to remember is – She’s really worth it.”
“I know she is, sir. Thank you.”
They reentered the apartment, Blaine showing relief and Ed a bit more stressed than he had been when he’d first come in. This time, John spotted them coming in and he saw Ed hold up his right index finger and indicate that John should come join him – immediately.
“I’ll be right back,” he told the girls and headed for the door where Ed waited.
When they were alone in the hallway, Ed, once again folded his arms and leaned against the wall. John stood in front of him, his head down.
“Well?” Ed finally said.
John looked up, still avoiding eye contact, went to speak, but could not find the words, so he hung his head, again.
“You know,” Ed took over, “when I left here this morning, I knew that something was up. For a few minutes, I thought you were thinking about leaving. You really had me scared.”
“I’m sorry,” John whispered.
“But I never, not in a million years, would have guessed that you would do something like this. I am in awe of how selfish and careless you can be.”
“I’m sorry, Ed...”
“Uncle,” Ed interrupted, rather loudly and rather firmly. “Uncle, damnit, Bebe, I don’t know why you took this huge step backwards today, but damnit all to Hell, you are getting all your ducks in a row now, or so help me God, I will not allow you to take Rosie and me down with you. I know that we owe you a lot, but, Jesus, Bebe, you have made this process so much harder than it should be that I am about to give up on you completely. I swear, I’ll love you forever, but if you’re not going to keep your life in order, I’m not going to let you ruin mine and Rosie’s. Are you understanding me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Alright, then tell me why? Why did you feel the need to jeopardize everything we’ve accomplished and tell Blaine about your... ‘condition?’”
John stared at the floor and mumbled something.
“What!?”
John spoke a bit louder, but is was still a sad whisper. “Because I love him and I couldn’t tell him that without him knowing who... what... I am.”
Ed scoffed. “You ‘love’ him? Bebe, how on earth do you even know what love is? He’s your first boyfriend, for crying out loud, and now he knows something that he can hold over your head for the rest of your life.”
John’s eyes never met Ed’s. “I may look like a child, and people may treat me like a child, but I’m not a child. I know how I feel. I love Blaine and I love him differently than loved Rose. I want to be with him. I miss him something awful when he’s gone and, even more than a career or the show, I want to have a life with him. That’s why I took a risk – for love. I’m sorry if I put you or Rose in jeopardy, but I had to, and I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d forbid me from doing it... and I had to do it. I’m sorry.”
Ed exhaled his frustration. ‘I did it for love,’ Bebe had said. How the heck could he condemn her for that? “Alright, but this has got to be the end, Bebe. No one else – ever! Understood?”
John gave a sad nod.
“Did you hear about Miss Stephanie?”
John nodded, “And Miss Gabriella and Mr Crawford, the coach.”
Ed nodded. “Yeah. I wish it hadn’t happened the way that it did, but it looks like they were all in it together. Do the girls know?”
“Yeah. Ella called me and told me.”
Ed nodded again. “Tough day, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, at least things worked out with Blaine.”
John nodded. “Oh, and I have an audition at Disney studios for a live action musical written by the people who wrote ‘Frozen.’” This was the first time that John made eye contact with Ed.
“Wow.” Ed blinked at John. “That’s... awesome.”
John smiled.
“Ok, new rule - You start acting like a good kid who knows right from wrong. Agreed?”
John nodded and smiled.
“Ok. Back to your friends.”
When they walked back in, Rose was giving the girls and Blaine a big bowl of freshly popped popcorn. She saw Ed and hustled over to him. “We need to talk in the hall.”
“Geez.” Ed shook his head. “I’ve tried to get into this place three times and I haven’t made it past the entrance, yet.”
Rose looked confused. “Sorry, But I need to talk to you about something Bebe did this morning.”
“You mean that she told Blaine everything? I’ve already spoken to Blaine and then to Bebe. Please, can I go into the kitchen and have something to eat and a drink?”
It took a moment for Rose to realize that the huge conflict she’d anticipated had been resolved without her involvement at all. She looked at Bebe hanging out with her friends, Looking so happy, cuddled up next to her boyfriend, then back to Ed. How had it all gone so smoothly? How? Well, obviously - Ed. Ed was a good guy and a good uncle. “Come on.” She smiled as she took his hand. “I’ll make you an omelet.”
Ed glanced back at the girls and Blaine watching the movie. “Is Blaine spending the night, too?”
Rose shook her head. “No. He’s leaving when the movie’s over, but he’ll be back by 7:30 tomorrow morning so they can all go to Disneyland together for Bebe’s birthday celebration.”
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 11
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friends and they enjoy a weekend of teenaged girl fun.
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, lots going here and I wrote as quickly as I could.
As always, I adore reading your comments and reviews! ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 11 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.
SETTLING INTO A NEW LIFE -or- IF I HAD A WORKED OF MY OWN, EVERYTHING WOULD BE NONSENSE
"Wake-y, wake-y, eggs and bac-y!!" Ed laughed as he clapped his hands loudly to wake up the five girls and John who were sprawled on inflatable beds in the living room.
"What time is it?" Annie groaned. She'd had a long day the day before - the excitement of her first time traveling without her mother, the hustle and bustle of the airport, the time change and the excitement of being in California - and was in a deep sleep when Ed began his noisy start to the day.
"6:00 am. Rise and shine!"
"6:00!?!? Why are we getting up at 6:00?"
"To go to Disneyland!" Ed said with exaggerated enthusiasm, but that was all it took. Suddenly, all of the kids were moving quickly. "There's toilets and showers in all three bedrooms and the lav in the hallway, too. Hustle, ladies! Rosie is making pancakes, eggs and bacon. Big day! Big day!"
Within a half hour, there were five teenaged girls and John with wet hair and the sound of hair dryers and the smell of singed hair, hairspray and body wash filled the apartment. Ed had never seen so much preparation-business going on simultaneously. There was makeup being applied, hair being brushed and braided and fluffed and small backpacks being loaded with wallets, cosmetics and feminine hygiene products.
"How's it going out there?" Rose asked as he entered the kitchen.
"It's like nothing I've never seen! They're all so focused and hardworking. It's pretty odd!"
Rose chuckled. "They're still girls, Ed. They're focused. They're excited about going to Disneyland and they want to look as cute as possible. You never know who you'll meet there. Maybe a celebrity or, maybe just a cute guy that looks at you and makes your heart flutter."
Ed smirked. "I'd like to meet a guy that looks at me and makes my heart flutter. I've noticed that my social life is no better as a gay man than it was a straight one."
Rose smiled and kissed his cheek. "You'll always have me, big guy."
Ed smiled. "Thanks, Rosie. That means a lot to me."
"Want a couple of pancakes?"
"No. They smell great, but I'll wait for the girls to eat before I have some."
Rose put the platter of flapjacks on the table and shook her head. "There may not be any left after they have their way with them."
"Rosie," Ed shook his head, "I doubt that any of them will eat more than one. You must have made twenty."
"Twenty four, actually, but, I warn you, they won't last."
The entry bell had sounded several times, but Ed had assumed that one of the girls would answer it. It sounded again and Ed shook his head. "Don't they hear that?"
"Probably not."
Ed hurried to the video screen and pushed the button. "Hi, Blaine. Sorry for the wait. Come on up."
Minutes later, Blaine and his mother, Joanne, were coming into the condo. All the girls called out 'hellos' to the handsome boy, who smiled and waved.
Ella grabbed Blaine's hand and pulled him into the madness of young, females preparing for a day together. There was makeup and hair products and tools of all kinds scattered everywhere around the room.
When Blaine reached him, John looked as if he was trying to push a scissor into his eye. "Bebe, what are you doing?"
John smiled and looked at his boyfriend. "I'm curling my eyelashes."
Blaine shook his head. "Why? They're beautiful as is."
"You're only saying that because they're always curled when you see me." John laughed. "If you want me to look cute, then I have to do a lot of work before I see you." He smiled as he pulled the device away from his eye and kissed Blaine's cheek.
Joanne put her bag down and laughed, "Oh, my goodness, Ed. Look at the mess they've made here. You get them all into the kitchen to eat. I'll take care of this."
"Don't worry about it, Joanne." Ed looked at the wasteland that Bebe and company had created in his living room. "We are not even looking at that mess until everyone goes home on Monday night."
"Ed!" She sounded horrified. "You'll have rats by Monday night! I'll just fold the clothes and pick up the trash. I've had breakfast. You deal with the kids."
He shrugged. "Ok, ladies and Blaine, let's go have breakfast." He clapped his hands and ushered them into the kitchen. They all filed in, talking and giggling the whole way.
Joanne went to work in the living room, folding blankets, folding discarded clothes, picking up stray pieces of popcorn, putting dirty glasses on an end table to bring into the kitchen when she'd finished picking up.
"Can I help you, Joanne?"
She turned to see Bebe standing behind her, looking radiant in her light blue, half-sleeved sundress with the lace edging on the ends of the sleeve, around the scooped neck and the mid-thigh hem.
"Bebe?" Joanne was surprised. The kids had only been in the kitchen for a three or four minutes. "You look lovely, darlin'." That last word was the first time that John had heard any trace of Joanne's Florida Panhandle heritage. It was pretty - lilting - sweet.
"Thank you." John blushed. He looked behind him to be sure they were alone. Then he moved a step closer and looked as if he were about to speak, but nothing came out.
Joanne saw him struggling. "What is it, dear?" She took John's hands in hers. "What is it, dear?" she asked again when nothing was forthcoming.
"I... I just wanted to say... thank you," John spoke quietly.
Joanne smiled. "There's no need to thank me, dear. You're a beautiful young woman and my son loves you. I just reminded him of that."
John smiled, but he needed to say some more. "Joanne... I know I'm not..."
Joanne stopped him. "Where's your room, Bebe? I'd like to see it."
Surprised by her change of topic, John pointed down the hall. "Umm... down the hall. Second door on the left. Here, I'll show you."
John led the woman into his room. "I know it's not very fancy." He indicated the scarcity of furniture in the room. "We don't know how long we'll be here, so..." he heard the click of the bedroom door closing. When he turned, Joanne's hand was just leaving the door nob.
"Come, sit on the bed with me for a moment, dear."
Joanne sat and pat the bed next to her. John joined her and sat where she'd pat the bed. Again, Joanne took his hands in hers. She smiled at him, then said, "Bebe, you never, ever, need to apologize for who you are."
John smiled. Joanne released one hand and ran her finger around his ear, tucking his hair behind it.
"But," John started to say, "I know that you're disappointed with me..."
"No, Bebe," she sounded more stern than John expected. "Didn't you hear me. You never, ever apologize for who you are. You could never disappoint me just by being yourself."
John smiled, both relieved and surprised by such acceptance from Blaine's mom. "Thank you, Joanne."
"Have you had conversations with your mom or your sister about all of this?"
John shrugged a little. "Yes and no. We were living in our house on Cale Cod when we, well, when I found out. I think my mom was just hoping I could cope with everything. I think she kinda felt guilty. Like it was her fault or something. And Nancy, my sister, she's the one who noticed that my hips and chest didn't look right, well, she didn't stay with us last summer because she was working. So... I guess Rose and Ed were the only ones I could really talk to."
"No therapy or anything?"
"Oh, Yeah, I spoke to a therapist a couple of times, but, to be honest, I usually felt worse after speaking to her. She always talked about 'accepting myself,' which wasn't really the problem. I was just stuck with all these changes - I accepted that."
"Stuck?" Joanne looked horrified that he'd used that word. "You don't mean that, do you, Bebe?"
He shrugged, again. "Yeah, I think I do."
"Bebe," Joanne smiled and held his hands tightly, "if you look at what makes up our genetic material, all the millions and millions of atoms that we are made of, then we are all nearly exactly the same, but there is a teeny, tiny bit out of all those millions of atoms that makes us different, too - and what makes us different, makes us us."
John nodded and considered what she was saying.
"Look at my eyes, baby. What color are they?"
"They're brown," John replied.
"And yours are green. Does that make us different?"
John smiled. "No."
"Well, my love, it's the same kind of little changes in our DNA makeup that give us different eye colors that also give us our other characteristics and that is what makes us us. Are you proud of your beautiful green eyes."
"I don't know if 'proud' is exactly the right word. I mean, I think they're ok..."
"Ok!? Bebe, they're gorgeous, and you can't fool me. Your eyes are always made up beautifully. You're proud of them, aren't you?"
John smiled. "I guess I am."
"Good. You should be. I'm proud of my eyes, too, darling." There was that touch of that sweet, southern drawl, again. John liked that.
"And you know what else I'm proud of, my beautiful, beautiful child?" She waggled her head and brought her nose close to John's.
John giggled at her sweetness. "What?" The word was broken by quiet laughter.
"I'm proud of my boobs," she whispered and grinned.
John's mouth hung open in amused shock, then morphed into a huge grin.
"And my butt, and my thighs and my hips..."
By now, Joanne's forehead was pressed against John and they were both laughing.
"I'm serious," Joanne grinned. "My genetics gave me a good body and I exercise and diet and work hard to look good and I'm proud of that. You told me that you recently lost a lot of weight and you're, obviously, proud of that. You wear flattering clothes and always have your hair and makeup looking 'just so.' Now, I know that a year ago you never would have expected that this is where your life would have taken you, but this is where you are, right?"
John nodded.
Joanne gently tweaked John's nose, "Then be proud of all of you, Bebe. You are a beautiful, talented, intelligent young woman. Be proud of who you are. 'All' of 'who you are.' Ok?"
John's smile could not be bigger. "Ok. Thank you, Joanne."
"Don't be silly, Bebe."
John looked a bit more serious. "But, Joanne..."
"What, dear?"
"I know we're still young and all, but..." he couldn't think of a comfortable way of saying what he wanted to say.
"You're concerned about marriage and children and all that, right?" Joanne's smile was so natural and calming.
"I am... I mean, I know that's a long way off, but..."
"...but you love Blaine, right?"
John nodded.
"Well, I have news for you, my dear, he loves you, too. So, I don't think that a life together is out of the question. Bebe, there are a lot of women who can't have children. That doesn't make them any less of a woman. And it doesn't make you any less of a woman, either. If you should end up married to Blaine, and you decide that you want children, then you can adopt. You can offer a child facing a difficult life, the opportunity to live a life full of love with a beautiful, gentle, loving mother. That's not so bad, is it?"
John's eyes watered with love and appreciation for this woman. "Joanne... your so... kind. Thank you. Thank you, so much."
Suddenly, the door swung open. "There you are!" Rose smiled, then she became concerned when she saw that she'd interrupted a discussion. "Is everything ok?"
"Everything is perfect, right Bebe?" Joanne looked from Rose to John.
John smiled and the hugged Joanne tightly. "Yes. Everything is perfect. Thank you."
Rose smiled, still a bit confused. "Ok, then. It's time to go."
Ed had said he'd hired a van to get them all to Disneyland.
"Good morning, everyone," Oscar said as they all exited the lobby. He was dressed casually and waiting as if he was going to join them in the park. Of course, everyone knew him and greeted him warmly.
"Oscar!" John bounded to him and gave him a hug. "I've never seen you out of uniform! Are you joining us?"
"I am, princess," he smiled, "but I am also driving the bus."
"Bus?" John was confused. "Uncle Ed," he called. "I thought you ordered a van? Oscar said he's driving the bus."
Ed was standing near the corner of the building, smiling. "Come look," he said. All the kids ran to see. John was the last to arrive. Around the corner was a black bus that had been reworked to be a 'party bus.' Usually designed to take people to Las Vegas for bachelor/bachelorette parties or long weekends of drinking, this particular one was owned by the studio and was used for bringing bigwigs to sets. It was fully equipped with a refrigerator, which was currently filled with water and sports drinks for the kids, WiFi, a seventy-five inch TV and a selection of Disney films as well as a Netflix account.
"Oh, Wow!" Annie and Cassie were the most impressed.
"You guys must be zillionaires, now, huh?" Annie asked.
Rose laughed. "Now, Annie, we certainly are not and if Ed doesn't stop spoiling his niece," she said that part loudly to get his attention, "we never will be."
Ed laughed. "It's the studio's bus. Oscar got me a great deal."
"Yay, Oscar!" Joanne yelled and lead a round of applause for the driver.
Oscar took a bow and said, "Thank you! Thank you!" He grinned. "Now I see why you actors like applause!" He joked.
They opted to watch 'Tangled' on the way - again, a film that the girls knew every line of, but Blaine had never seen. The girls loved the romantic parts. Blaine liked the villains at 'The Snuggly Duck' Tavern who sang the 'I Have A Dream' song and the constant use of frying pans as a weapon.
When they arrived at the parking lot at Disneyland, Oscar dropped them as close as he could with the promise to meet them all inside the park. Ed passed out the passes and they headed for the lines.
He got them all lined up and told them to get through the gate, then wait inside by Mickey face made of flowers, but before they reached the turnstiles, a girl in the next line yelled, "That's her!" She yelled so loudly that everyone turned to see, including everyone in Bebe's party.
Suddenly, the girl was on top of John. "You're 'Alex,' right?"
John looked at her blankly for a moment, then the girl said, "On 'Civil Disobedience!' You're 'Alex,' right!"
"Oh, Yeah." John smiled and offered her his hand, but the girl turned and said, "It's her! I told you! It's 'Alex,' from 'Civil
Disobedience!'"
Suddenly a murmur ran through the crowd and grew louder and louder as people got out of line and started crowding around John. Ed moved forward and put his arm around his niece. "Kids," he said to John's friends, "move forward and go through the turnstiles. We'll be in as soon as we can. Joanne, Rosie, go with them, I'll meet you inside."
They all moved forward, but Rose was waylaid by a man who looked her right in the face and wouldn't allow her to pass. "You're on that show, too!" He pulled out his phone and started photographing her. "Hey, that guy is, too! And that other kid!"
Now, John, Ed, Rose and Kylie were all being overwhelmed by autograph seekers and picture takers. Ed was trying to get a handle on the situation, but things were becoming more and more frightening by the second, until a group of Disney Guest Relation people showed up with several Disneyland Police Officers, who escorted the four of them through the gates and into an office just beyond.
"Well," the highest ranking police officer said, "that was quite a scene you people created out there." Kylie couldn't help but smile. It was scary, but it was also kind of cool that all those people knew who she was. "Could one of you explain what that was all about?" The police officer asked.
"Ok," Ed shook his head, "well, we're all on a TV show called 'Civil Disobedience' and..."
"...and they recognized you, huh? I see." The policeman sat and waved a member of guest services over. "Well, you know, Mr..."
"McNeil."
"...Mr McNeil, that we offer celebrity escorts to keep things like this from happening." The policeman seemed annoyed by Ed's ignorance.
"Well, no," Ed was a bit defensive, "I didn't know that you offered that kind of a service and, to tell the truth, until about fifteen minutes ago, I didn't know that we qualified as celebrities."
"That's ok," the woman from guest services entered to defuse the situation. "We can deal with this for you. By the way, I love your show. I'm not sure that I would have recognized all of you, but you," she pointed at John, "I'd recognize anywhere."
John looked around and shrugged.
"Ok," the woman said, here's what we're going to do. First, we'll provide everyone in your party with ball caps and sunglasses to make you less recognizable. Then, we'll provide you with a couple of our celebrity escorts. Since your show is on ABC, we'll make sure that you all get the best of everything. You'll go right to the front of the lines; everything."
"Ok," Rose said. "Great. Thank you."
Once they'd discussed the size of their party, etc, Ed and Rose decided that the kids would go with the escort and the adults would take it easy on their own. They'd trust their safety to the dark glasses and ball caps.
When they came out of the office to join the others, those who had waited outside all looked concerned. Blaine walked over to meet John and hugged him.
"Are you ok, Bebe?" He asked while he squeezed tightly.
"Oh, yeah," John laughed. "We're fine. We just caused a commotion so they took us in there to calm the crowd down."
"Whew, what a relief," Oscar said. "We were afraid they'd arrested you or something."
Ed laughed and explained what happened.
"See," Joanne said to the kids, "I told you they were fine."
"What's with the hats and dark glasses?" MK asked.
"That's just so we won't be recognized," Kylie said with a big smile. "Cool, Huh?"
"They would be, if you wore them right!" Ella nudged MK and the two of them went to work - MK on Kylie and Ella on John. Soon, their hair had been pulled into pony tails and which popped out through the hole in the back of the Mickey baseball caps.
"What do you think?" Ella asked Cassie and Annie.
"Better!" Annie smiled.
"Much better, and you'll be cooler," Cassie added.
"Ok, kids," Ed took over, after consulting with Joanne and Oscar, "this is Maelee and Richard," he introduced the Guest Services employees wearing the plaid vests. "They are escorting you around the parks to make sure that you stay out of trouble, ok?"
Every one said hi to the two college students.
"You have all of my number, so if you need anything - anything at all - just call or text and I'll come running, ok?"
They all nodded.
"Excellent! Now, we 'old folks' are going to have a relaxing day of wandering around and eating and drinking. Thank you, Maelee and Richard! Be good, kids and have a great time!" With that, he sent the seven kids off with two Guest Relations escorts. "We'll meet you at six for dinner!" Ed called to them as they left.
By the time Ed, Rose, Joanne and Oscar had meandered to the end of Main St USA, the kids were already on board Big Thunder Railroad, Blaine's favorite ride. Maelee and Richard made sure that the entire party made it on to any ride they wanted as they bounded excitedly through the parks.
By 1:30, Ed and Rose were eating salads while Oscar and Joanne sat opposite them, enjoying burgers at the Galactic Grill.
"Oh, look," Rose turned her phone screen and showed the others. "They all got into one log on Splash Mountain. Isn't that a precious picture?"
It was a photo of a screen at the exit point. On the screen was the picture that was taken that the log descended the ride's waterfall. They all had their hands in the air, mouths frozen in screams.
"Oooohhh," Joanne looked at the picture. "They look like they're having a great time!"
"Now, look at this one." Rose brought up the next photo. All the kids were standing near the ride's exit. They were all soaked to the skin from the ride.
They all laughed. "Now, YOU KNOW they're having a good time," Oscar said.
"Looks like they've done a lot of rides." Ed was checking the texts on his phone. Scrolling through picture after picture of happy, smiling faces.
"You can get a lot done when you don't have to wait in lines," Joanne chuckled.
"Do you think we're spoiling them?" Rose asked with a smile.
"No." Ed shook his head. "It's just a perk of working for Disney."
Just at that moment, a girl of perhaps twelve came up to Rose and asked for an autograph.
"Of course, sweetheart," Rose said and signed the child's book. Rose noticed that the autograph on the previous page read 'Goofy.' At least she was in good company.
"Does that get bothersome, at all?" Joanne asked.
"Not really," Rose smiled. "It's still pretty new. Kind of exciting, too. Who knows how I'll feel in a year?
"Bebe's our only concern," Ed said. "She seems to attract big crowds. People really seem to like her. I bet if she and Don went out on the street together, they'd stop traffic!"
The others laughed.
"She's lucky to have you two," Joanne smiled. "You make a beautiful couple."
Rose had cuddled into Ed's side to show him some of the pictures she'd been sent. She smiled at the compliment, but corrected Joanne, "Oh, we're not a couple. Not a 'romantic' couple, anyway. We're just... buddies."
Joanne smiled at the woman who was so comfortably nestled in her 'buddy's' embrace. "Uh Huh. I have a lot of buddies, but you two look more like... well, a couple than just buddies. As a matter of fact, I've heard you two tell each other that you love each other more than I've said it to my husband in a month."
"That's just us," Ed laughed.
"I see." Joanne let the matter drop, but she suspected there was more to these two than even they realized.
"Beebs says that they're heading over to California Adventure."
They all met at Carnation Café for dinner. Not the most elegant restaurant at Disneyland, but John had never had chicken and waffles before and it was on their menu. Since it was his birthday weekend...
"Come on." He'd pleaded with Rose when she'd been shocked that he was asking for this high calorie meal, or what she referred to as, a 'carbohydrate overload' after all his dieting. "It's my birthday dinner. I just want something fun for just one meal."
Eventually, Rose had given in and made the reservation.
Rose and the other adults had arrived before the kids and they were seated at a large table, slightly away from the others.
"Oh, my goodness," Joanne's said as the kids entered. Blaine was wearing a pair of Mickey Mouse ear with his name embroidered onto it. This purchase had, obviously, not been made by Blaine, so she had to assume that it had been forced on him by Bebe. He looked goofy and adorable, but that was not what had caused her utterance. As the girls and John entered, each was wearing an elaborate tiara and each wore a huge, self satisfied grin. John and Kylie had removed their ball caps, but with their hair still in pony tails and the dark glasses, they looked like any of the other teenage girls, if just a bit sunburned from roaming around the sunny parks.
The adults began applauding as the kids crossed the restaurant, which was dark enough to demand that Kylie and John remove their glasses.
Ed stood as he applauded, "Here come the princesses," he said, probably too loudly for a quiet restaurant. In fact, he attracted enough attention that people took note of the kids who were crossing the room.
A teenaged girl, probably seventeen or so, stood and hurried to John. "Excuse me," she said politely, but firmly, "You're Bebe Foley, right?"
"Oh." John was a bit startled. "Yes, I am."
"Oh, I love your show!" she said. "My theater teacher makes us watch it because he says that you're the next big actor!"
"Oh." John laughed a little. "Tell your teacher I said 'thank you' for his confidence. I'm not sure if he's right, or not, but that's nice of him to say."
By now, Richard from Guest Services, was hurrying to John's side.
"May I take a picture to send to him?" the girl asked.
"Sure," John said, but Richard intervened.
"No pictures, I'm afraid!" he announced.
The girl stepped back, surprised. "Oh..."
John stepped around Richard. "You can take one, ok?" he told her with a friendly smile.
"No, I'm sorry, but..." Richard tried to take charge, but John cut him off.
"I already said she could take a picture, Richard. It's ok." Then he looked at the girl. "Just one, ok? We don't want to interfere with the other people's meals." He winked at the girl, and posed with his cheek against her's. "Go ahead. Take a quick one."
The girl did, and Richard kept the rest of the restaurant patrons at bay, although his diligence far exceeded the patron's motivation to get to the TV actors.
Once the kids were seated, Richard whispered to Ed, "Sir, you really shouldn't be eating in a family-level restaurant without warning the cast members that you were coming. It could cause problems for both you and the other guests."
Ed looked around at the calm dinners. "Firstly, Richard, when I booked this meal, we were not people who were likely to be recognized. Secondly, we paid our entrance fees, etc, just like every other customer, so we have a right to be here. Thirdly, What 'cast members' should I have notified?"
Richard heaved a sigh at this Disney neophyte. "'The Cast' who work at this restaurant, sir."
Ed looked around, confused. "Cast?"
Rose leaned in and whispered, "The staff at any Disney Park is always referred to as 'the cast.'"
Still confused, Ed asked Rose, "Why?"
She shrugged. "They just are."
Now, Ed shrugged, then turned to Richard. "Ok, Richard. Go have some dinner on me. I'll tell you when we're leaving."
Richard looked shocked. "Oh, no, sir, I need to stay here while you..."
"Go, Richard." Ed laughed at the foolish level of Richard's commitment. "Leonardo DiCaprio isn't joining us. We don't need a guard to celebrate my niece's birthday. Thank you."
"Yes, sir." He left, reluctantly, and stood near the doorway. Soon, he was joined by his partner, Maelee. They looked like plaid bookends as the stood at attention by the door.
They all eat their fill, including Maelee and Richard, who, reluctantly, ate the meals that Ed ordered for them.
"So, what's the verdict?" Rose asked John as they finished their entrees. "Was it worth coming here for the chicken and waffles?
"Yeah, it was good!" John smiled, contented.
"It must have been," Ed smiled. "You cleaned your plate."
"Well," Blaine laughed, "to be perfectly honest, I ate a lot more of that than Bebe did." He smiled sheepishly.
Ed laughed.
"Who's the birthday girl, then?" Interrupted a server with a big grin and a cake.
"The one with the tiara!" Oscar teased, causing everyone to laugh.
"This one," Joanne pointed to John, "with the beautiful, dark hair."
John blushed as the servers and everyone at the table, and several at other tables, too, started singing 'Happy Birthday' to him.
It was a beautiful, big cake, white Italian cream with bright pink flowers and the words 'Happy Birthday, Bebe' written, also in pink, on the top. The cake was a two layer, yellow cake, John's favorite. The cake was cut and everyone got a piece that was way too big for anyone to finish, except Blaine. Blaine had his piece, most of John's and a little of his mom's, too.
Suddenly, all the girls, except for John, nodded to each other and Ella reached down into her backpack and pulled out an envelope with a card in it. "Ok, Bebe," she smiled as she looked around at the others, "the girls and I all chipped in for this birthday present."
"Happy birthday," they all shouted, together.
John opened the envelope to find a computer printout with an itinerary for the next day at Renee's Day Spa in Beverly Hills. The list of things to do included mani/pedis, mud baths, jacuzzi baths, make overs, a new outfit from their exclusive boutique, massages, etc. John's eyes were wide open as he passed the sheet to Rose. "This must have cost you a fortune!" He said to the girls. "Thank you, but I can pay for my own admission."
"Not with the debit card limit your mom keeps on you," MK teased.
Rose showed the sheet to Ed, too. "Don't worry, Beebs. It's all taken care of. Joanne and I have our own spa day planned, too. You won't even see us, but, since I had to arrange the car and you're all under age, so I have to be there, too, I figured I'd have a little luxury, too."
John smiled, just a little concerned that he may have an issue if he need to completely undress, but he'd talk to Rose about, later.
"And while you girls are getting all soft and pretty," Ed reached his arm around Blaine and gave him a shake, Blaine and Oscar and I are going to go fishing with Don on his boat, right buddy?"
Blaine smiled broadly. "Yeah, Cool, Huh? Fishing with a couple of movie stars on a private boat." He looked at Oscar and exchange a 'thumbs ups' sign with him.
"Well," Ed laughed, "one movie star and one guy who hopes his show and career lasts a couple of seasons."
"Guys, though," John was trying to figure out how much it would cost for even one person to go to this spa, "this is an amazing gift! I'm just... please, let me pay you back."
"No way," Cassie smiled. "Ever since Ella got in touch with us, we've been looking forward to tomorrow."
"Yeah," Annie was ecstatic, "besides, I've never been to a spa before. I can't wait!"
"Geez," MK groaned, "you can tell you guys are from Massachusetts!"
"We're from New Hampshire," Annie said, seriously.
"Yeah, like there's a difference," MK scoffed.
"There is," Cassie laughed, "but what's your point?"
Well," MK shook her head in disbelief, "it's like when we first met Bebe. It's like she lived in the Stone Age. Never been to Homecoming, never been to a spa, never dated... it's like, instead of coming on a plane, you guys came here through a time machine."
Cassie laughed, "Well, I have dated, but Annie hasn't..."
"I working on it, though!" Annie interjected.
"... and I've never been to a spa or a homecoming dance because we just don't have those in Manchester, which, just an FYI, is A LOT different than Massachusetts."
"Ok," MK rolled her eyes, "if you say so." Then she turned to Blaine, held up her plate with half a piece of cake still sitting on it. "Want the rest of mine?"
Blaine was about to grab the plate when Joanne intercepted it. "No, he certainly does not. He'll be throwing up on The Matterhorn if he shoves any more into his mouth."
Their hair in towel-turbans and wearing fluffy, white bathrobes with their swimsuits beneath, the six pretty, young girls were led into a warm room where six pure white tubs sat on pure white tiles, surrounded by pure white, tiled walls. It was like a humid temple built to the worship of leisure and opulence - an almost holy place. In each of the tubs was a mixture of therapeutic muds and oils. It smelled like a temple as well.
"Welcome, ladies," the spa employee said. "I understand this is a birthday celebration for one of you, correct?"
"It's for her birthday." Cassie pointed to John who was looking about the room in awe! Did men ever experience anything like this!? Not that head ever heard, that was for sure!
"Excellent!" The employee put her arm around John's shoulder and guided him towards a gleaming tub.
"Before you get in the tub, ladies," she instructed, "take one of these shower caps and tuck all of your hair into it. No point in getting a head full of mud, right."
The girls all nodded and laughed quietly and excitedly as they watched the woman tuck John's hair into a white, plastic shower cap.
"Now, kick off your flip-flops and take off your robe, you can hang it right there by the chair. Then, climb into the tub."
John did as he was told. When his toes touched the mud, he realized that it was an absolutely perfect temperature and there was a gentle circulation going on under the surface, as well. The substance hugged and messaged his legs as he lowered himself in. Just having the mud touching his thighs made him feel as if he was in heaven. As it crossed his tummy, his eyes rolled to the back of his head. As it embraced his breasts, his nipples hardened and he felt butterflies fluttering throughout his abdomen.
"Awwwwww...." He sighed as he sank into the fragrant mire.
"Nice, Huh?" the attendant asked.
"Yeah," he sighed, then, just trying to be funny, he said, "Better than sex." Causing peals of laughter from his friends.
Even the attendant giggled at the child's precocious remark. "I'm sure," she laughed. Then she continued, "Now, just lay back, enjoy the warmth and I'll be back to rinse you all off on an hour. The meditation music will keep playing, but you are the only people in this part of the spa, so feel free to chat while you relax."
Within minutes, they were all unwinding in the warm goo. For a few minutes, it was silent except for the music, but fifteen and sixteen year old girls being what they are, the silence soon ended.
"Oh, my God, this is amazing," Annie whispered.
"Isn't it?" Kylie said. "I love mud baths."
"Me too," said MK.
"I wish I could do this every week," Ella sighed.
"Ahhh," Cassie sighed. "I think this mud bath just made me pregnant." She joked.
The laugher was just as relaxing as the mud bath.
"Bebe?" Ella finally said, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," John said with his eyes closed.
"How serious are you about Blaine?"
He exhaled and thought. "Very serious, I guess."
"She told him she loved him," Cassie said, causing John to smile guiltily.
"No, you didn't!?" MK said, shocked!
"She did," Cassie smiled. She kind of loved to be the one who was able to spill these beans.
"Wait," Ella said, eyes wide with astonishment, "who said it first? You or Blaine?"
John sighed again, enjoying both the mud bath and the girl talk. "He did. He said it to me a lot before I told him. The first time I said it by accident..."
"How the heck do you say THAT by accident!?!?" Kylie was incredulous.
We were ending a phone call and I was distracted... he said it and it just came out, you know?"
MK laughed loudly. "Holy cow! How embarrassing!"
"Did you tell him it was a mistake?" Annie asked.
Eyes still closed, John shook his head and smiled, causing everyone else to laugh. "I've told him for real, since then, though. I'm sure of it, now."
"Aww," Cassie smiled. "How sweet. Young love in Beverly Hills! It's like a soap opera."
John kept his eyes closed, but joined the laughter as he gloried in the warmth of the mud and the sisterhood he felt with these girls.
"Whoa! You got a big one there, Blaine!" Don laughed as Blaine struggled to bring a large sea bass on board the beautiful, but moderately sized fishing boat that Don owned.
"I'll help you land it," Oscar laughed as he grabbed a net that sat at the end of a long handle. It was obvious to everyone that Blaine had very little experience with sports fishing.
Once the fish was on board, Ed slapped Blaine's shoulder in paternal encouragement. "Way to go, buddy! That's got to be a thirty pounder!"
Blaine beamed.
"We'll be eating well for lunch, gentlemen!" Don was really enjoying the day on the sea.
He sat on the side of the boat and said, "I have to you, Ed, this is really unusual for me. I never connect with cast members like I have with you and your family. I'm usually kind of a dick on set, but you guys make it all so easy. And now I know Oscar and Blaine, too! This is turning into a really amazing show, pal. Let's keep things like this, ok? Open and friendly, ok?"
Ed shrugged. "Sure. I'm having a great time, Don, and you've taught me so much! I'll owe you forever, but I'm even happier that we're friends. I'm enjoying getting to know you and Vivian, too. To tell you the truth, I couldn't have ever anticipated things would go this well."
Oscar laughed at the two men. "Mr Ferry, I just want to say 'thank you' for including me, today. I've never spent time with the actors until Miss Bebe showed up."
Don leaned forward and slapped Oscar's knee. "How long have you driven for the studio, Oscar?"
"Fourteen years, Mr Ferry."
"I'm going to be honest, Oscar, I hardly ever even talk to my drivers. I'm so embarrassed about that, now. You're a good guy! Have I ever been in your car, before?"
"No sir."
"Good," Don laughed. "Then I never insulted you by being sullen in the backseat."
Don looked Blaine. "And you, Blaine. Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Oh, yes, sir."
"Jesus Christ, guys," Don laughed, "can we drop the 'sir' and 'Mister' stuff? I'm Don, ok? Just call me Don!"
"Ok, Don!" Blaine said a little too quickly and a little too loudly, causing the others to laugh heartily.
"Oh, this is the life!" Joanne simmered in her mud bath, a few dozen feet down the hall from the room that Bebe and the girls were in. She and Rose were the only two in this room. They were far enough away from the girls so that the girls could feel independent, but close enough in case of emergency.
"Ahhhhh..." Rose relaxed every muscle in her body and felt the warmth of the muck. "It truly is! This is just wonderful."
They wallowed in their individual baths in silent relaxation for a few minutes, until Joanne said, "It's very good of you to be taking care of Bebe the way that you are. Most girls your age would be thrilled to be out here, making lots of money and enjoying the life of a starlet."
Rose laughed. "Well, none of us would be here if it weren't for Bebe."
Joanne was intrigued. "How so?"
"Well," Rose explained the audition process, etc. "So, even though she was the last one hired, none of us would be here if it weren't for Bebe."
"Wow." Joanne was even more impressed with the talented child. "But she's not your child, Rose. You and Ed aren't really her parents. You shouldn't give up your lives to take care of her. You're awfully young to have that kind of responsibility."
"Oh, I don't mind. I love the little squirt. What can I say? I don't think of myself as her mom, but I love being her older cousin... or, more like a sister. Honestly, I think it's keeping both Ed and me grounded."
Following the mud bath came the hot tub for the girls. There were two, each big enough to hold four people, so they had three in each.
"I think we should all quit school and do this every day," Ella said as she enjoyed the bubbles.
"Oh, I need this!" Cassie sighed.
"To get rid of your stress?" John asked.
"No," Cassie laughed, "to get the mud out of my hoo-hoo."
They all laughed, but MK said, "Your 'hoo-hoo!?' You call you vagina a hoo-hoo!?"
"Yeah. What do you call it?"
"A vagina!" MK laughed.
"Or a 'va-jay-jay,'" Ella laughed.
"Man," MK continued to laugh, "that New England Puritanical upbringing really shines with you guys! Loosen up your corsets, girls. California is a liberated state!"
"Just curious," Ella teased, "what do you call a boy's penis?"
"A ding dong," Annie said, innocently, causing everyone to break into hysterics.
"Do you have a boyfriend, Cassie?" Kylie asked.
"I do," Cassie said.
"His name is Kevin," Annie teased, "and he's on the football team. Very cute and very dumb."
"Annie!" Cassie laughed.
"Come on, Cass," Annie said, "he's as cute as they come, but he's not going to ever get into a college. He's a straight 'D' student who loves stupid video games."
"Yeah," Kylie giggled, "but how does he kiss?"
"He's a little sloppy, actually," Cassie shrugged, causing peels of girlish laughter from the others.
When it came time for their massages, the girls were told to just strip off their swim suits and wrap a sheet around themselves, but, fearing exposure, John said, "Umm... I think I need to keep a panty on. That time of the month, you know?" He grabbed his gaff-panty and ducked into a changing room to pull them on and tuck himself in.
Not being overly comfortable with being completely naked, either, Annie and Cassie both also pulled on a pair of panties.
"Geez," MK began to make a sarcastic remark about the girls from New England, but Kylie cut her off...
"...yeah, yeah, they've never had a massage before because their from the east coast. We get it."
Within a few minutes, they were all laying facedown on massage tables while six, strong masseuses dug wonderfully-painfully into them and loosened any tension that still remained.
Lunch was a selection of 'California Cuisine' served in buffet style. The café was filled with women and girls wearing oversized, fluffy, white, towel robes. Some had just had makeovers, but most were sporting no makeup and somewhat wet hair. They were enjoying the freedom of female company and casualness.
"Hi, Rose." John stopped at the table where Rose and Joanne were eating. "Enjoying yourself?"
Rose reached up and rubbed his back through the thick terry-cloth. "I'm in heaven, baby. How about you?"
"Yeah, it's great." He smiled and looked at Joanne. "Are you having fun?"
"I think that I've died and gone to heaven, darling."
"What are you eating for lunch?" Rose asked.
"Oh, Umm..." John looked at his plate. "Some salad, a couple of pieces of California roll, and little bowl of fruit."
Rose smiled. "Good girl. You had a lot of things that aren't on your diet, yesterday. Stick with the healthy choices."
He nodded.
"Ok," Rose gave John's rear end a playful swat, "go join your friends. Enjoy your lunch and we'll see you around three."
"Ouch!" he said as he walked away.
"God, she is a cutie," Joanne said as she watched him walk away. "Have you known her her whole life?"
"No," Rose smiled. "We had met a while back, but I didn't know we were related until we were cast as sisters in 'Shrew,' last summer."
"So..." Joanne paused, then spoke very quietly, "... did you know her... before?"
Rose also checked that no one was in earshot. "I did."
"What was she like?"
Rose shrugged, "Well... cute, but... confused, I guess. She didn't have a lot of friends. Honestly, she was always with Ed. I don't think she really related to a lot do other people. That's probably why acting was such a big outlet for her."
"Really? No friends!? She seems to love being with the girls, now."
"I know. I guess she needed to... find herself. It's been fascinating to watch her become who she is, now."
Joanne smiled. "You sure sound like her mom to me."
Rose laughed. "I don't know. I definitely love her to death, but... you know, even when she was still living... you know... as a boy... she was kind of my hero. When Ed was tanking his audition, she jumped in and saved him. She arranged my audition, too, even though she had already auditioned and wasn't cast in the show. She's strangely generous, that girl. Even Kylie was having problems with stress at her audition and Bebe jumped in and helped her, and every other kid that came to auditions that day. I don't know where it comes from, but she's fearless when she sees unfairness, but she's not as likely to stand up for herself as she is to stand up for others. She's really a remarkable kid."
"She certainly is," Joanne smiled. "To have adjusted so well, too..."
"To be honest," Rose said, "I think moving out here helped. A whole new life, you know? She has definitely had her moments, though. She knows how to push my buttons when she wants to. Ed, though... he's unbelievable. I swear, he was born to be a dad - her dad, in fact. Nothing seems to phase him and, honest to God, nothing bothers Bebe more than disappointing Ed. It's like he's really her dad and she's really his daughter."
"Aww, that so sweet." Joanne watched John sit, eat and interact with his friends. There was nothing to indicate that he hadn't been raised to be this precious, beautiful jewel of a girl. It was meant to be.
"Ready to meet the 'new you,' ladies!?" The lead stylist, whose name was Erin, clapped her hands as the girls and John took seats and said that they were, indeed, ready.
"Before we start," Kylie said, "Bebe and I can't do anything drastic. The studio is very strict about that."
"'The Studio,' Huh?" Erin smiled, assuming that the young woman was making a big deal out of nothing. "You're an actress, then?"
"Yes, Bebe and me," Kylie said. "We both are."
"And who is Bebe?" The woman looked about.
"I am," said the smallest of the girls.
Erin took a double take. "Oh, my goodness!" she said. "You're 'Alex' on that TV show with Don Ferry, aren't you?"
John blushed. "I am and Kylie," he directed her attention back to his friend, "is 'Cora.'"
"I'm sorry." The woman was getting a bit excited. "I didn't recognize you, girls. Well, we can still have some fun with your hair and makeup without doing anything that can't be reversed, ok?"
"Excellent!" shouted Kylie. "I want to look like I'm twenty-five and sexy!"
This caused everyone to laugh.
"Anyone up for a new hair color?" Erin asked as she began writing on a pad of paper.
"I'd like some bronze highlights!" MK announced.
"Cool!" said Ella. "Some gold highlights for me, please."
"Anyone else?"
No one said anything for a moment, but Annie said, a bit tentatively, "l... I'd like to lighten my hair, please. Not, like, a platinum blonde, but... like a gold or yellow, you know what I mean?"
"Sure, honey." Erin smiled. She handed Annie a book. "Take a look at this book and pick the color you'd like."
Cassie was laughing. "Oh, man, Annie, mom is going to have a conniption when she sees you've dyed your hair!"
John looked concerned. "Annie, I don't want you to get into any trouble over this."
Annie waved him off. "Don't worry. I asked her if it was ok. She said to be sure that I didn't go crazy, but if I wanted to lighten it, that was ok. It just has to look natural."
"Ok," Cassie seemed dubious, "but it's you're butt if she gets mad!"
A whole crew of stylists arrived to get to work on John and the girls.
After his hair was washed and conditioned, John's stylist massaged in some styling gel and took her time rolling medium sized, pink curlers into his hair. "I'm going to do a pretty, but casual, updo for you, is that ok?"
"Sure," John smiled. "I guess... as long as you don't cut or perm it, it'll be fine."
"No worries, honey," she smiled. "I'm going to make you look like a princess. You have beautiful hair. We'll just make it more luxurious. Then we'll do your makeup to make your eyes and lips just pop off of your face. Then we can pick out a pretty, new dress from our boutique; I think I know the perfect one for you. Do you have a boyfriend, angel?"
John nodded.
"Well, he is just going to adore you when he sees you tonight!"
Ella laughed. "He already adores her!"
"He follows her around like a puppy!" MK teased.
"He is definitely smitten with our starlet!" Kylie teased.
"Really!?" The stylist said, wide-eyed and smirking. "Is he cute?"
"Oh, my God!" Cassie said, too loudly, "he's absolutely gorgeous!"
"Cassie!" John laughed.
"She's right!" Annie joined the conversation. "He's like a model or something!"
"Wow!" The stylist was amused by the girls, and her words were just a little condescending, but John was enjoying the 'girl time' so much that it didn't bother him at all. "Sounds like a dreamboat, huh? Well, if he's that crazy about you, then he's going to melt when he sees you, tonight."
Once the curlers were in place, John was placed under a dryer for a twenty minute heat session. While he sat and cooked, the stylist did his toe and finger nails in a beautiful, dark blue with a thick, shiny sealer that made them look more solid and elegant than his nails had ever looked. "This will match the dress I have in mind for you, just perfectly," The stylist shouted over the noise of the dryer.
John smiled, curious as to what kind of dress she had in mind.
Out from under the dryer, but still in curlers, the stylist worked on John's eyes. Deep, blues and light pinks adorned his lids, while a thick line of eye liner went along the edge of his lid and ended slightly beyond the end of his actual eye.
When the curlers were removed, his hair hung in long fat curls, which the stylist separated and brushed out and created thickness that he didn't think was possible. Then, she pulled sections of his hair up and pinned them into, what looked like, careless ringlets that were pinned to the back of his head. When all of his hair had been pinned in this manner, it created a bounteous puff of delicately constructed, beautifully interwoven strands of dark, brunette hair. It was luxurious without being overly formal or stuffy.
"What do you think, honey?" She asked as she turned John to face the mirrors and he surveyed the work she had done.
"Wow!" John whispered. "That's... beautiful!"
"What do you guys think?" Cassie grinned as she appeared from the boutique. Her moderate length, brown hair had been sculpted into a classic, but interesting bob-style and she was wearing a tight, light grey, stretch dress that clung to her beautiful form.
"Geez, Cassie," MK was just getting out of her chair to go try on a dress, "you actually dolook like your twenty-five years old!"
"And sexy!" Kylie added as she came back in through the same door. Kylie's red hair was full and wavy and her makeup softened the youthful look of her natural freckles. She was also wearing a tight, stretch dress. Hers was a light, sage green, similar to Cassie's, but not quite as revealing in the cleavage, but where Cassie's dress had tiny capped sleeves, Kylie's was sleeveless, displaying her delicate shoulders.
MK entered the boutique, while the stylist fussed over a few details on John.
Seconds later, Ella and Annie appeared together. "Huh? What do you think? Total babes, right?" Ella joked as she and Annie posed in strained model-poses. Ella was in a beautiful, halter-top, silver dress that showed off her smaller, but luscious form, while Annie wore a silky, fit-and-flare, floral dress with a yellow back ground.
John's hands shot up to his mouth as he took in the two girls, particularly Annie. Both also looked to have somehow aged into their twenties, but as cute and flirtatious as Ella looked, Annie, silly, mousy, little Annie, was drop dead gorgeous with her gold-blonde hair, high heels and newly, permed hair style.
"Total babes!" Kylie and Cassie clapped.
"Oh, Annie!" John finally managed. "Your Mom isn't going to even recognize you!"
"I know, right!?" Annie's grin was huge and it was obvious that the girl was thrilled to have this opportunity to tryout womanhood.
"Ta-da!" MK burst back into the room wearing a fire engine red, lace, bodycon dress. Narrow shoulder straps connected to inverted-V shaped cups that showed the large, firm, natural shape of her large breasts. The form fitting stretch garment clung to every millimeter of her body from her breasts to her thighs and ended just inches below the spot where her legs met her torso. It transformed her fit body from pretty to voluptuous. She was the embodiment of teenaged sexy.
""Holy shit!" Ella said, way too loudly. "Mary-Kate, your mom is going to blow her top when she sees you!" She, and all the others, were looking at MK with both awe and respect.
MK laughed. "Naw. She'll just borrow the dress."
"She won't look like that in it, though!" Kylie was not being funny at all. She meant it sincerely. "You look like a freaking goddess!"
"Your turn," the stylist told John as she offered a hand and led him to the boutique entrance.
"Yeah, and remember," MK called, "no 'Holly Hobbie,' no 'I Love Lucy' and no 'Little House On The Pairie!'"
John smiled as the stylist responded, "Don't worry! I'll take good care of her."
Once in the boutique, John looked around at rack after rack of form fitting dresses. Spandex and Lycra was everywhere.
"Are you excited?" the stylist asked.
"Yes, but..." John stared, but the stylist interrupted.
"... but you don't want to wear something as form fitting as your friends, right?"
"Yeah..." John was surprised. "How did you know."
The stylist smiled. "I was small when I was your age, too. I don't want to make you uncomfortable, but I was an 'A' cup till I was nearly twenty. Even now, I'm only a 'B.' I would have been very self conscious in a dress like those. Here. Try this on. I think it'll be perfect on you."
"Here she is," the stylist introduced John. When he entered, the girls' breath caught in their throats. Below John's elegant hair and more mature makeup, and the long, crystal earrings that dangled playfully against his neck, was a dress with a dark blue background and a pattern of groups of tulips with stems headed in different directions. The deep round neck of bodice was sweet and innocent, revealing tantalizing skin without displaying a hint of cleavage. The very short sleeves revealed the thin, delicate, femininity of his arms. The bodice was loose and just a little blousy. It showed no shape of his breasts, but hinted that there were perfect, little breasts just underneath. The chiffon material blossomed at the high waist and billowed around his legs in yards and yards and yards or extra, diaphanous folds that ended just at his ankles, where a pair of three inch, black, toeless heels were held to his feet by just one thin, elegant strap.
It was a look that was entirely different than all of the other girls, but was absolutely perfect for Bebe. He looked older than usual, but no more than eighteen or so and, even with the more mature makeup and hairdo, he still looked sweet and virginal.
"Well?" John asked when no one said anything.
"Beebs..." Cassie said, "...you're breathtaking."
John smiled, relieved. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." Cassie hugged him.
"I'm so glad you like her look," the stylist said. "I tried to spruce up her jewelry a little, but she wouldn't wear a different necklace."
"Of course not," Ella laughed. "That's her B.B. necklace. Blaine, her boyfriend, gave that to her. She even wears it on TV."
John touched the little ball of silver on his chest and smiled.
"Oh, ok. Now I get it." The stylist hugged John and gave him an air-kiss. "I believe your sister is waiting for you."
John didn't bother to correct the stylist. He just smiled and took the little, box-shaped, clutch-purse that the stylist had chosen for him. "Thank you." He smiled.
"Oh, dear God," Joanne said as John and the girls approached. "Who are these beautiful women? What happened to the little girls we came with?"
Joanne and Rose had both chosen versions of the classic 'little black dress' for themselves. Rose's clung perfectly to her upper body and hung beautifully over her firm rear and thighs. Joanne's was looser and perfectly appropriate for her age. Both looked amazing.
"I don't believe this!" Rose said amazed. "You girls look... unbelievable!"
Then she caught sight of John. "Oh, Beebs... Beebs, your just... Oh, my goodness, just wait till your Uncle Ed sees you. He won't believe it."
"Just wait until my son sees you," Joanne marveled at how John looked and at the beauty of his dress. "He's going to pass out!"
Rose checked the time on her phone. "Well, we're meeting the boys at Don's Country Club at four-thirty for drinks and appetizers before dinner and our car is here. It'll take us a while to get there, but let's take the long way to the car and we can look at the ocean from the scenic walk."
"And show off the new us!" Joanne added.
"The breeze was refreshing and blew through John's skirts so softly and sensuously that he wished he could stay there for the rest of the day. Passing women, also clients of the spa, stopped and complimented each of them and they did the same in return. Everything was soft and beautiful and female, and John was in heaven as he enjoyed every moment of it. He knew that he would never, ever have been able to experience something this wonderful as a boy, and then a thought struck him - He now, unquestionably, identified himself as a female, but even if someone were to think of him as a boy in drag, he was no more 'in drag' than any of these other women. It was all just costumes and makeup and he had never been so happy that these things were available to him as he was right now.
"Ed!" Rose greeted he roommate with a friendly hug. She was feeling very feminine and needed to hug a strong male body. "Look at that sunburn! The makeup department will have to work overtime on you and Don until that fades!"
Ed smiled. "Haha, I know, but we had a great day! And look at you! You look amazing! And smell pretty wonderful, too."
Oscar had chosen not to take Ed up on the invitation to diner. He excused himself, saying that he had to pick up his daughters. Don and Ed and Blaine were wearing lightweight pants, buttoned shirts and sports coats. "I think we might be a little underdressed to have dinner with you guys." Ed kissed Rose's cheek.
"If you think we look good," Joanne teased, "wait till you see the girls."
"Where are they?" Ed asked.
Rose glanced over his shoulder and said, "They were walking around the gardens. Here they come, now, though."
Ed turned and his smile melted into astonishment. "Those aren't the girls, really? Are they?"
"Whoa," Blaine whispered. Joanne watched him closely.
"Hi!"
"Hi, Mr McNeal!"
"Hi, Blaine!"
"Hi, Mr Ferry!"
The girls said as they arrived. The final two to enter were Annie and John. Ed looked right past them, not recognizing them and wondering were John was.
"Bebe!?" Blaine gasped, wide eyed. "You look so... so..."
John smiled hugged the boy.
They were all escorted into a private dinning room, which Don had reserved, for drinks and appetizers. Ed, Don and all the kids, except John, piled their plates with delectable, bite sized, 'finger' food - small quiches, sushi, shellfish wrapped in bacon, etc, etc.
Rose led John to the vegetable selection and reminded him of his responsibilities to the show and his need to remain thin. Joanne joined them, explaining that, although she'd love to indulge in the beautiful selection of high calorie delights, if she was going to be spending time with Rose and Bebe, she needed to get herself back into better shape so she didn't look like a 'fat old lady' when she stood next to them. Rose laughed and assured Joanne that she was just lovely as she was.
The view of the golf course and the surrounding hills was beautiful and romantic. John stood in the huge window near the end of the room, where a bride and groom would sit at a wedding, and nibbled carrots and celery as he looked at the beauty of the view while he considered what the last months had brought him. A new way of life. Back to school, a school which, if he was honest, was much more challenging than even his college had been. A new career. Success. Blaine. Love. And friends. He'd never really had friends before. Not friends who invested in his happiness the way that the people with him now did. Sure, Ed had always been there, and he was still here, now, thank goodness - what would he do without Ed? - but these girls, all of them, they seemed to really want to help him be happy and he wanted to do the same for them. They were his friends. His actual friends.
And then there was Blaine.
Tall, handsome, sweet and forgiving Blaine. When John had arrived in LA, just a couple of months ago, he never would have believed he'd fall for a guy, let alone a boy, but Blaine... he truly, madly, deeply loved Blaine.
As if on cue, Blaine arrived next to him and he slipped his arm around John's back, resting his hand on John's hip. He pulled him slightly closer and said, in a quiet, intimate voice, "Hey."
John smiled and rested his head on the tall boy's sport coat covered upper arm. "Hey, yourself."
"You look like a movie star, you know."
John giggled at that. "What?"
"Yeah. Your hair, your makeup, that dress... everything about you. I looked over here, saw you standing and looking out at the valley and, the way you look and the way you're holding yourself... just like a movie star."
John loved the compliment, but he giggled again. "Which one? Bruce Willis? Arnold? Stallone?"
"No. A beautiful movie star. One from one of those old movies my mom makes me watch. Ingrid Bergman... or Ginger Rogers. You know? Beautiful and elegant and perfect. That's the kind of movie star you are."
It could not have been a sweeter, more perfect compliment. John looked up at the boy who'd captured his heart and smiled. Blaine smiled back, then lowered his head and placed his lips softly on John's. It felt like it was meant to be just a little, loving kiss, but it lasted a long, long time.
When the kiss ended, Blaine took the plate of vegetables from John and placed it on a nearby table. Then he turned to face John and locked eyes with him as he wrapped the love of his life into his arms. Again, he started with a soft kiss, but this one was more heated, more intense. John let his head roll back and Blaine's kiss followed him. For the first time, Blaine's tongue entered John's mouth. He was tentative and patient as John accepted him, but he was strong and determined as well. He needed to kiss Bebe this way. To take her in the only way that he could, right now.
John accepted it. He submitted to being taken in this manner. It's what he wanted. In fact, he wanted more. Much, much more, but that was years off. As much as he wanted to be a woman for this man, he was just a girl who would be turning fifteen in a few days and Blaine was just a boy. For now, this was enough.
The thin, delicate chiffon of the dress rubbed elegantly against John's skin as Blaine's hands caressed John's lower back, occasionally playing across the top of his buttocks. Then, he felt it. John felt Blaine's manhood pressing against his belly. The boy was excited and John needed to slow things down - that was the girl's job, to control things like this, but the problem was, John couldn't think of anything, but the boy who held him.
"Ah hmm," a voice cut into their consciousnesses and the each felt Rose's hands caressing their backs. "I think you'd better go have a drink of soda, Blaine," she whispered with a bemused smile on her face.
Blaine stood straighter and looked from Bebe to Rose and back again as a guilty smile spread across his face.
"Now, Blaine," Rose inserted an arm between the two young lovers, separated them, turned Blaine around and sent him on his way with a little push.
Then she turned to John. Her bemused smile faded a bit and took on a look of more maternal concern. "You're lucky that Joanne and I saw you before anyone else did, Beebs. You two were going at it pretty hot and heavy."
"I'm sorry," John said, but his impish smile remained.
"He's still a baby, Beebs, and dressed like you are, I understand that he couldn't control himself, but Beebs..." she shook her head, "... if I hadn't interrupted, you would have been on your knees pulling down his zipper in five minutes. You've got to control yourself - and him, Beebs. I know that the hormones are playing games with you, but you have to control yourself. Do you understand?"
John took a deep breath and let his heart start beating at its normal pace again. "I do. I'm sorry."
"Ok, then. Let's go join the others."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 12
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she starts preparing for yet another audition when a health crisis suddenly impacts our young star
to be. Thank you to everybody who who has stuck with me and Bebe throughout this adventure!
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, lots going here and I wrote as quickly as I could.
As always, I adore reading your comments and reviews! ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 12 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.
JUST BEING BEBE -or- HOW DO YOU RUN FROM WHAT'S INSIDE YOUR HEAD?
Monday morning and Rose, Ed, Kylie and Bebe all had to be on set for 8:30am. It was the last day that Cassie and Annie would be in LA. The early call was to make use of Kylie and John's day off from school. The plan was to shoot just one scene involving all of them, as well as Marion and Don. That should be done by 11:00 or 11:30. All the girls and Blaine were coming to the set to watch, Ed had cleared it with the director. When they finished the morning shoot, the plan was for Ed to remain and continue working, while Oscar drove Rose, Blaine and the girls to LAX where they'd say goodbye to Cassie and Annie.
"Oh, my, we have an audience, today!" Marion said in her sweetest grandmother voice when she spotted Blaine and the four girls sitting in director chairs, off to the side. "Are you all friends of Bebe and Kylie?"
They all nodded and Marion shook hands with each, asking each their names and how they knew her 'granddaughter' and her 'granddaughter's friend.' When she reached Blaine, she said, "Oh, I know who you are, Mr. Blaine! I've seen plenty of pictures of you, my handsome, young fellow."
Blaine blushed. "Thank you, ma'am. I know who you are too. You're amazing on the show, ma'am."
"Oh, that's very sweet of you, young man, but we need to find a few minutes together to have a talk. I want to be sure that my
'granddaughter' is in good hands."
"Yes, ma'am," Blaine smiled and, as she walked away, he muttered, "Great! ANOTHER talk!"
When Don came out, the girls nearly melted. Even though they'd all met him the night before, he was still Don Ferry: movie star. He was wearing a brown blazer that had several tears and dirty marks on it and his face was made up to look sweaty.
"Hey, Blaine, buddy!" He jogged over and shook his hand. "Come to watch your little girl make some magic?"
"Yes, I guess, sir."
"Good morning, ladies!" He greeted the girls "and why aren't you all in school, today?"
"Veterans' Day," they all replied.
"Oh, my gosh, it's November eleventh already!?" Don pretended to be shocked. "Christmas will be here before we know it!"
As Ed, Rose, John and Kylie came into the sound stage, the stage manager called everyone to the set.
"Ok, everyone," she announced in a very strong voice, "a quick review of where we are in the arch. 'Jason,'" she said, pointing to Don, "you're going to break the news to 'Alex' and 'Cora,'" she pointed to John and Kylie, respectively, "that a girl from their school was killed in a robbery. 'Cora,' you knew the victim and you turn to 'Sue,'" she pointed to Rose, "for consolation. 'Nana,'" she pointed to Marion, "you notice that 'Alex' doesn't react and you ask if everything is ok. 'Alex' says 'Yes, I didn't know her,' and 'Jason' waits a moment, makes eye contact with 'Nana,' then nods and leaves. That's the whole scene. Questions?"
There were none.
"Ok, then, places."
They all moved into the kitchen set and took their places.
"Oh," the stage manager snapped her fingers, "I forgot to mention, the director had a dental emergency this morning. The Assistant Director is overseeing today's shoot."
The AD! That was just great! John had avoided him since the incident with his uncomfortable slip in the park, but now, with his friends here to watch, the AD was in charge. He really didn't like this man and he felt an upset stomach coming on - but that would have to wait. John needed to forget about that and just do his job the way he knew how.
The AD entered and headed towards the set with a fiery determination - he was an upstart with a command of his own. He stopped briefly to look at a group of young people sitting quietly and watching. He turned to a PA and said, not too quietly, "What is this? A school field trip?"
The PA shrugged and said, "Friends of Bebe and Kylie's. The director gave them permission to come in today. The girls only have this one scene and they're done."
He nodded. "Well, make sure that they stay the fuck out of my way."
The PA looked at the kids, who had obviously heard what was said and then back to the Assistant Director. "They're not doing anything..."
"I didn't ask your opinion. Just do your job and babysit them. Understand?"
"Yes sir." The PA nodded and shrugged at his behavior. As the Assistant Director walked away, the PA turned and looked at the kids. She shrugged and smiled at them.
The scene was set and lit. John and Kylie sat at the table peeling potatoes. Marion and Rose were organizing things elsewhere in the kitchen.
"All ready," the stage manager said to the AD.
"Action," the AD called out.
"... and we need to set out an extra plate for your dad's partner, in case he comes to dinner, too..." 'Nana' said, but she stopped as 'Jason' entered, disheveled and preoccupied. His partner followed, Looking down trodden, as well. "'Jason?' What is it?"
"Oh, umm..." 'Jason' organized his thoughts. "Hi, 'Nana.' Listen, girls..." he looked around and realized that 'Cora' was seated at the table with his youngest daughter. It caused him to regroup for a moment. "Girls... do any of you know a girl from your school named Barbara Green?"
'Susan' shook her head and looked to her sister, who said, "I don't really 'know' her, but I know who she is. She's a junior, I think..."
"I know her," 'Cora' said. "She's a great kid. Pretty, smart... we used to..." Something wasn't right. She stood. She knew that something was wrong. That bad news was coming.
'Jason' crossed to the table. "I'm sorry, 'Cora,'" he said. "I just came from her family's house..."
"Oh, dear God," 'Nana' whispered as she held a dishrag to her breasts.
'Sue' ran to her neighbor and stood behind her, her hands on the child's shoulders.
'Jason' continued, "She was working in her father's drug store, and there was a robbery..."
"Oh, no," 'Cora' uttered, suddenly frightened. "She's dead, isn't she?"
'Jason' looked around the room, hoping to avoid confirming the statement. "I wish you hadn't put it quite that way, 'Cora,' but... yes. I'm afraid she is."
'Cora's' hand flew to her mouth as she turned to 'Sue' and wept into she shoulder.
'Jason' looked to his mother-in-law with broken eyes. He hated the idea of his work invading his home like this, but it had.
He looked back to 'Sue,' uncertain as to what to say.
"Come on, 'Cora,'" 'Sue' said with sadness in her voice. "I think we should go talk to your mom." She ushered the child out of the kitchen. 'Jason's' partner, who was also Sue's boyfriend followed.
"Oh, 'Jason,'" 'Nana' said, "What happened to the poor child?"
'Jason' walked back to the older woman. He leaned against the sink, his back to the table. He spoke softly to her. "The robber... he locked the front door and took her into the back room. He... He hurt her... badly. He cut her, while he..."
"Oh, 'Jason,' no." 'Nana' indicated that 'Alex' was sitting at the table, silent.
'Jason' watched as his mother-in-law crossed to his youngest daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you ok?" Nana asked.
She nodded.
'Jason' waited, trying to think of something to say, but nothing came. He turned and headed to door, leaving 'Alex' with a very concerned 'Nana.'
"Daddy?" The child asked, but the magic of the scene was broken by the shout of the Assistant Director.
"Cut! That's good. We need a couple of coverages, but..."
John shook himself out of the character. "But... I was going..." He was used to The Director giving him a moment to improvise. The writers had come to expect him to do so, too.
"Did you have more, honey?" Don asked.
John was still a bit dazed from being in character. "Umm, Yes, I was going to say..."
"Don't tell me," Don said, knowing that he'd improvise with Bebe better if he didn't know what she had in mind.
He turned to the AD and said, "Excuse me, but you cut us off. Bebe had more to say."
The AD smirked. "Not according to my script, she didn't." He turned away.
The set was suddenly quiet and tense. The crew knew how the shoots went and they had anticipated Bebe's improvisations.
"Look," Don said with rational calmness, "you know how we do things on this show. Bebe is ready to go on. You need to let her. That's what makes this show different from all the other things on TV."
"Umm, Mr Ferry," the AD took a confrontational tone, "you may be a star, but you do not run this show. Right now, I do..."
Suddenly, the Director Of Photography was between Don and the AD. "Maybe you should take a break," he said to the AD. "I'll take care of this shoot."
"What?" The AD was in shock.
"Yeah," the Stage Manager agreed. "Everyone back to one! We'll do this again."
"Like Hell you will!" The AD shouted, but the crew was already moving to reshoot the scene.
"Seriously," The DP said. "Take a break."
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" The AD raged, but no one paid attention, except the security guard who was on set every day. The big man loved this show and he loved the way that this cast all knew his name and spoke kindly to him. He also knew that the young girl sitting at the kitchen table was the reason everyone was nice to him. They followed her lead. Congeniality was not typical on these sets. He stepped in front of the AD and indicated that he should leave the sound stage. "You're all going to be unemployed tomorrow!" The AD yelled as he was escorted to the exit.
No one paid attention. They all had a job to do.
"I have an idea," the DP said to Don. "We'll do it all the same way, but this time, I'm going to set a stationary camera here that captures Bebe at the table. It'll take in the entire kitchen behind her, too. We may be able to capture the whole scene in that shot with her in the foreground. It could make a real interesting shot to cut to and from. We'll do the rest of the coverage the same. Sound good?"
"Sounds great!" Don slapped his shoulder as they heard the call to, 'places.'
They ran the scene exactly the same way, until -
"Oh, 'Jason,' no." 'Nana' indicated that 'Alex' was sitting at the table, silent.
'Jason' watched as his mother-in-law crossed to his youngest daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you ok?" Nana asked.
She nodded.
'Jason' waited, trying to think of something to say, but nothing came. He turned and headed to door, leaving 'Alex.'
"Daddy?" 'Alex' whispered.
"What is it, 'Alex?'" He asked as he returned to stand beside her.
"Did she... was it really bad for her?"
"It was, honey. It was bad."
"So... she suffered? A lot?"
'Nana' and 'Jason' sat on either side of 'Alex.' 'Nana' took her hand. "Don't think about that, child. Just pray for her."
"But, 'Nana,' she was alone and scared. "When mom died, we were there... with her. She knew we loved her. Barbara was a nice girl. I didn't know her real well, but she was friendly and pretty... She had a lot of friends. She never hurt anyone. It's not right that she should be alone and scared. Why would someone hurt her like that?"
'Jason' and 'Nana' exchanged looks.
"Baby," Jason took a deep breath. "He didn't just hurt her to hurt her..." he thought for a moment. "He... he did things to her..."
"Jason," 'Nana' interrupted and shook her head at her son-in-law. "Another time, Jason,' she whispered.
The father sat and stared at his child and thought about the corpse he'd just left. That bloody mess who had so recently been someone else's beautiful daughter.
He could think of nothing to say.
Finally, 'Jason' laid his forehead against the side of his daughter's head and whispered, "The world is not a fair place, baby. It's filled with good people and there are a few awful, evil people. I'm sorry that Barbara met one of them, baby, but she did. I'm sorry that I couldn't keep it from happening, baby, I really am. I'll find him, though. I promise."
'Alex' nodded. "I just feel... so bad, daddy... and I barely knew her. I just feel so bad." She was on the verge of tears.
"I know, baby." He kissed her head, again. "I know."
The set was silent for a solid minute before the DP called, "Aaaand Cut!"
The set remained quiet for another ten seconds or more before people started moving about to set up the next scene.
Don hugged John and Marion did the same. "Wonderful, dear," she said as she kissed the young actress's cheek which was wet with tears.
"But you need to keep some emotion for yourself," Don whispered. He'd told her this before. He'd seen actors lose themselves because they gave too much away to their characters. They were left as empty husks. "Always keep some for yourself, baby." He kissed her head as he rose.
When John looked to his friends, he saw Blaine and the girls all looking as if what they'd just watched was real. They looked traumatized and shell shocked. When he reached them, he said, "You guys ok?"
They all nodded, shocked that 'Alex' was gone and 'Bebe' was back.
At Kylie's insistence and much to Rose's consternation, Oscar pulled the luxurious van into an In-N-Out Burger on the way to the airport. "They can't leave California without tasting In-N-Out!" The red head insisted.
"Please don't over eat and don't spill!" Rose said in her 'worried mom' voice. "God, all I need is for Cassie or Annie to get sick on the plane! Your mom will kill me!" This caused the girls to laugh at the young worrier-mom.
One half-hour and one burger, medium fry and milk shake (each) later and they were back on their way to the airport. Blaine, Ella and MK sat in the second row seats while John sat in the middle of the rear seat with Cassie to his right and Annie to his left.
"I'm only going to be in Worcester for a couple of days at
Thanksgiving," John explained, "but we're on hiatus from December fifteenth through January twentieth. Let's do something when I'm home. Maybe we could all meet up in Boston and go to a museum or see a play. Have you guys been to the Gardner Museum? It's beautiful and you can walk from there to the MFA and look at everything they have, too."
"That sounds like fun," Cassie said.
"But how are you going to survive for five weeks without your Prince Charming?" Annie teased.
"I don't know," John admitted. "I won't leave for home till school gets out on the twentieth, but it doesn't start up again until the twenty-third. I hear that lots of families go skiing, so they have a big break in January and then a two week break in March to accommodate those trips. So... I don't know how I will get by without him..."
"Aww..." Cassie gave his thigh a pat, "you'll survive, Beebs. You're a strong girl."
John smiled at that. "I'm going to miss you guys, though. You were there right at the beginning of all this and I don't think that I could have done any of this without having you guys to talk to."
"The beginning of 'all what?'" Annie asked.
Realizing that, while he was lost in thought, he'd nearly talked about his transition, John covered with, "At the beginning of all of the auditions and everything. I didn't have any friends until I met you guys. You really mean a lot to me."
The two sisters both planted big, wet kisses on John's cheeks and the three of them laughed. "Thanks for having us out here, Beebs," Cassie said as she took John's hand and gave it a big kiss, too. "It's been the best weekend of our lives."
"It really has," Annie agreed. "I'm not really an actress or anything like that, but I was talking to one of the girls who worked in production design and I think I know what I want to do when I grow up, now."
As the van pulled passed the huge letters 'LAX' and headed towards the terminal, John felt a great deal of sadness at the thought of his friends leaving. He was finding it more and more difficult to keep his emotions in check recently. He used to smile and laugh at things, or feel bad if something was going wrong, but now, every emotion - joy, happiness, sadness, despair, fear, courage, panic - they all seemed to have been amplified by the introduction of estrogen into his system. He was overwhelmed easily and that was evident now, as a tear rolled down each of his cheeks.
"Beebs? Are you crying?" Cassie asked, surprised.
John laughed at himself as a few tears continued to trail down his face. "I'm sorry. I just wish that you guys could stay."
"Oh, we do, too," Cassie rubbed his shoulder. "We'll Skype tomorrow night, though, ok?"
John nodded. "Ok. I really love you guys."
"We love you, too, Beebs. We'll see you in six weeks or so, though, ok?"
"Ok."
The van stopped and Oscar jumped out to retrieve the luggage from the back of the van. Blaine opened the slider and everyone got out to give the girls a big hug before they headed into the terminal.
When the automatic doors had closed, they all climbed back into the van with John and Blaine in the third row and Ella and MK in the second, but turned so everyone could chat. Inevitably, the subject of tomorrow's arraignment of the headmistress, theater teacher and coach came up, causing John to feel pangs of guilt and concern over that entire procedure. He joined in the conversation as much as he could, but mostly he leaned against Blaine to feel his strength. It felt good, until Oscar pulled up in front of the boy's house and they had to say goodbye. Again, the end of a beautiful weekend and the concerns of a dramatic week drew a few tears from John as he kissed Blaine goodbye. He joined the girls in the second row until each of them were dropped off, too. Then he leaned on the window and closed his eyes and listened to Rose and Oscar in the front row talking about 'grownup things' that seemed to offer no interest to him, anymore.
"The State Of California versus Gabriella Montez," the Clerk Of Court called out.
The, now former, Headmistress was led into a booth in the courtroom. She wore a nice dress, but her hair and makeup were no where near the level or beauty that it had been when Ed had seen her before. As he sat a few rows from the back of the courtroom and watched, he couldn't help but feel just a little bit sorry for the woman who'd always looked so perfectly turned-out before.
"The defendant is charged with 'being an accessory to grand larceny,' your honor."
The judge looked up from her paperwork and looked over her half-glasses towards the booth.
"I will be representing Ms Montez, Your Honor," a man in a very expensive suit stood and crossed to the front of the booth.
"Please, state your name for the record," the judge said with tired routine. It was only 10:00am and she'd already had a full day of revoking parole, hearing pleas and issuing restraining orders.
"My name is Roland Montez, Your Honor. I've already registered my credentials with the Clerk's Office."
The judge jotted down the man's name and asked, "Are you related to the defendant, Mr Montez?"
"Yes, Your Honor. The defendant is my wife."
The judge looked a bit surprised, but she sat back and folded her arms. "Well, Mr. Montez, I can't tell you what to do, but I can't say that I approve of a husband representing his wife in court."
"I understand, Your Honor. I am only representing Ms Montez for the purposes of entering a plea. We will find other representation if we need to return to court."
"What is your plea, then?"
"Well, Your Honor, we have been in discussions with the District Attorney's Office to try to work out a deal, but, unfortunately, our contact at that office does not appear to be in court today."
"That is unfortunate, Mr Montez, but not really pertinent. For now, please enter your plea and you can work with the DA on your own. We have a full docket today."
"Yes, Your Honor. Ms Montez pleads 'Not Guilty,' Your Honor."
"Thank you, Mr Montez."
She turned to the attending Assistant District Attorney. "Ms Whitehall, bail?"
"The people request that bail not be any less than one hundred thousand dollars, Your Honor."
"That's absurd, Your Honor," Mr Montez shouted. "Ms Montez has no previous history of criminal behavior and..."
The judge banged a gavel on her desk. "Enough, Mr Montez. I agree with the defense, Ms Whitehall. Bail is set at ten thousand dollars. Mr Montez, please see the Assistant District Attorney to work out a date to enter a plea agreement." She gaveled again and they moved on to the next case.
By noon, Ed was leaving the courthouse, angry and unsatisfied. All three defendants had been represented by Ms Gabriella's husband and all had received a low bail amount. Ed was sure that they would be out before he got back to the studio. They had come after him and his family, as well as many other families, and they were going to be able to sleep in their own beds tonight. What bullshit!
"Well," Veronica Pearl, a well known voice teacher in the movie-musical world, smiled and petted John's back. "you have excellent pitch and intonation, but you are definitely an alto and the audition lists calls for a soprano. They've also specifically requested you to read for the role, so let's see if we can open up your head voice as much as we can, ok?"
"Yes, ma'am," John breathed deeply and nervously. Since Veronica had mentioned that the role was for a soprano, he'd been a bit crestfallen. He'd always had a higher voice for a guy, and he found a comfortably high placement for his new speaking voice, which was definitely assisted by the hormones, but he doubted that he'd ever be a real soprano. He'd heard about men who could access that high female voice, like the actor who'd played 'Mary Sunshine' on the original cast recording of 'Chicago,' but he didn't know if it was possible for him.
It had been a hard school day, too. Theater Class didn't have a new teacher, so they'd just used it as a study period, today. The new Headmistress was actually a Headmaster named Mr Carlin, who was an assistant principal at St Mark's until that morning. He went out of his way to speak to everyone, in person, during the first couple of periods of the day, and he'd called a few girls, including John, into his office throughout the morning to talk to them about the arrests that had taken place on Friday. He seemed like a very nice guy, but John noticed that he spoke to the students as if he were speaking to boys, instead of girls. He was just a bit colder in his delivery than most of the teachers at Notre Dame. Maybe the girls hadn't noticed, but John certainly had.
"Your cousin told me that you never really sang in front of an audience before, is that true?" Veronica asked.
"Umm, I did a few musicals at school, but I never sang a solo. Is that a problem?"
Veronica laughed. She had a lovely, lyrical laugh and her eyes lit up when she did so. "No, honey, that's not a problem. We'll work on opening up your head voice this week. The producers are sending the audition piece over next week. Hopefully, by then, you'll have opened up a bit and we can make you comfortable with the song before the audition. Sound good?"
"Yes, ma'am," John nodded.
"Sweetheart," the voice teacher took her student's chin into her hand. "I love how polite you are, but, please, call me Veronica. All of the 'ma'am' stuff is making me feel very, very old."
There was nothing 'old' looking about this woman. She had strawberry blonde hair that she wore long and full and she wore lovely, youthful clothes that fitted her fit body quite beautifully. Her shirt, skirt and knee high boots were very striking and made John jealous. She was tall and shapely, while John was small and only just beginning to develop. He hoped that, someday, he might be able to wear something as comfortable and beautiful as Veronica.
"Ok," Veronica stood and had John stand in front of the mirror, again. "Feet spaced a bit apart, relax your knees, stand straight, not stiff, and shake the stress from your shoulder. Now, let's do three sirens and see if we can find your 'real' voice, ok? Here we go."
It had been the longest week that John could ever remember - and Monday had been a holiday! Friday night, he'd had to work till 10:00pm, so he didn't get home till midnight. On Saturday morning, he'd joined Ella and MK for some rock-wall-climbing time and he'd barely been able to keep up with his friends.
By the time he'd gotten back to the condo, he was feeling very tired.
"What's the matter, Beebs," Rose sat next to him on the coach and felt his head. "You feel a little warm. Do you feel sick?"
John shrugged. "I don't know. I just feel tired."
"Hmm," Rose grabbed a blanket and covered him. "Maybe you should stay in tonight. You want me to call Blaine's mom and tell her you're not feeling well enough to go out tonight?"
"Nooo," John moaned. "I haven't seen him since Monday."
"I know, but if you're not feeling well..."
Just then, the entry bell sounded. "Looks like it's too late. I think Blaine is here." Rose shook her head. She checked the entry screen and, sure enough, Blaine was waiting to be let in. She pressed the button. "Come on up, Blaine."
When she turned, John was getting up. "Where are you going?"
"I need to get changed. We're going out."
"No, Beebs, you're not going out. You're sick and you need to get some rest. You and Blaine can watch some NetFlix and I'll order some Asian take out food, but you are not going out tonight. So, park your pretty little butt back on that couch and I'll explain everything to Blaine."
"Ok," John sighed as he continued to walk down the hall.
"Where are you going?" Rose asked, confused.
"To get changed. I can’t let him see me like this. I’m sweaty and I’m wearing yoga pants. He’s only ever seen me in dresses and that’s the way it’s going to stay.”
A moment later, as Blaine knocked on the door, Rose heard the sound of the shower in John’s lavatory.
When John emerged from his room, a half an hour later, Blaine was seated at the kitchen table with Ed and Rose and there was a selection of Japanese and Korean takeout food in various styles of containers spread out in front of them. Rose had called Ed, who was out running errands, and he had taken care of picking up dinner.
“Hey!” Blaine waived as John walked passed. John waived back and smiled and crossed to pour himself a glass of iced tea.
Rose was beside him, quickly,. “You look cute,” she smiled and put her arm around him, giving his bicep a rub. He did look cute in a loose fitting, light blue, sleeveless shirt dress with a delicate lace collar. “How do you feel?”
John shrugged. “Ok. Just tired, I guess.”
Rose nodded, hoping that he was just exhausted and not coming down with something. “You’ve had a long week, Beebs. You’re probably just wiped out. Take it easy tonight and stay in bed tomorrow. Ok?”
He nodded and they joined the others.
“Blaine tells me that he’s joined the track team,” Ed said, by way of recapping their conversation.
“Oh, you made the cut?” John asked with a sense of admiration and pride in his boyfriend. “That’s wonderful! Congratulations!”
“Thanks,” Blaine grinned; happy both to have made the team and that Bebe seemed so impressed. “It’s ‘indoor’ track, but if I like it, I may try out for Cross-Country in the spring.”
“That’s awesome, Blaine!” John beamed.
John had just a cup or so of white rice and said he was full.
“Are you sure, honey?” Ed asked, concerned. “Rosie says that you haven’t had much to eat today. You shouldn’t starve yourself.”
John snickered at that. Typically, Rose was warning him about eating too much. “I know. I’m just not hungry at all.”
“Ok,” Ed shot a concerned look to Rose. “Maybe later.”
“How was your week?” Blaine asked John.
“Not bad. Lots of uproar at school because of Miss Gabriella and the others being arrested and all that. Mr Carlin from your school seems nice. Kylie and I had a late shoot last night and I went to the Rockwall place with Ella and MK this morning, so I’m a little burned out. Sorry about that. Rose says that I need to stay in bed all day tomorrow to catch up. You don’t mind just chilling here tonight, do you?”
“Of course not,” Blaine smiled and took another mouthful of Korean barbecue as he looked at the beautiful girl across from him. All of a sudden, though, Bebe didn’t look right. Her eyes squinted and she turned pale. “Bebe?” He spoke with more concern than usual. “Bebe? Are you ok!?” She was leaning towards her left side and seemed dazed and confused about her surroundings. “Bebe!?”
This last acclamation caught Ed’s attention and he leapt up to catch John as he fell to the side. “Bebe!!??” Ed was nearly panicked. “Bebe, honey, what’s wrong!?”
He lifted the child and carried her towards the coach, but part way there, John said, “Bathroom. Please, I need the bathroom... quickly!”
Rose was right beside Ed and she ran ahead to the hallway lavatory, turned on the light and lifted the seat of the toilet, expecting John to need to vomit, when Ed arrived, John, who was slightly more cogent than before, but still pale as a sheet, said, “I need to sit on it.”
Rose dropped the seat and Ed helped John to stand while Rose pulled down his panties and guided him towards the seat. Instinctively, Rose turned and pushed Ed towards the door, closing it behind him.
“Is she ok?” A very frightened Blaine asked from the end of the hall.
Ed hurried past him saying, “I’m not sure, bud. I think I’d better call a doctor.”
Ed grabbed his briefcase and pulled out a business card he’d been given months ago, when John had first joined them in LA. On the front was the name ‘Dr Richard Roman’ and a phone number. The doctor specialized in, among other things, transgender issues and he was closely affiliated with the studio. Ed pulled out his phone and dialed the number. Within a few moments, Ed was running back to the lavatory and knocking on the door.
“Is she ok?” He asked when Rose opened the door halfway.
“Ed, no, she is definitely not Ok. She’s going – you know, ‘going’ - like crazy, Ed, and there’s a lot of blood in there. I’m really scared, Ed. She needs to go to the hospital.”
“There’s an ambulance on the way...” Ed started.
Rose interrupted, though. “... but Ed, she can’t just go to a hospital. The staff will see...”
“It’s ok. I called the doctor from the studio. He’s sending the ambulance and their taking her to a private hospital. It’s near by. He’ll meet us there.” As he spoke, he heard the sound of John letting out a quiet moan followed by the sound of a loose, watery discharge hitting the water in the toilet. For the first time, he realized that the smell was nearly overwhelming.
“Is Blaine ok?” Rose asked.
“What?” Ed was surprised by the question. “Oh... Yeah, I guess.”
“Well, check on him and have him call his mom. Bebe’s definitely going to the hospital.”
“Oh, ok...” Ed was not used to being this flustered. What if something happened to Bebe? He couldn’t face that.
Rose closed the lavatory door and Ed walked back down the hall. “Hey, ummm, Blaine, buddy,” he said as he approached the nervous boy. “You’d better call your mom and ask her to come pick you up. I think Bebe is going to the hospital.”
“What’s wrong with her!.” Blaine had gone a bit pale, too.
“I’m not sure, but we have an ambulance on it’s way. You should call your mom.”
“I want to go to the hospital with her.” Blaine was scared and wanted to be sure that Bebe was ok. He had no intention of going home.
“I don’t think that would be a great idea...” Ed started to explain, but Blaine cut him off.
“Look, Ed, I know she’s your niece and your responsibility, but I love her, too. If I can’t ride with you, I’ll just call an Uber and be there a few minutes later. Besides, I’m only like six or seven years younger than you and Rose. I can handle this. Please, let me come with you.”
Ed wanted to be the decisive adult he’d become lately, but he was really confused, right now.
“Ed!” Rose called from the lavatory. “Put the food in the fridge so it doesn’t spoil!”
That really shook Ed out of his thoughts. Food? What food? Oh! The food!
Just then, the entry buzzer sounded.
“I’ll get the door,” Ed said. “You throw the food in the fridge and the dishes in the sink.” He ran to the video screen, pushed the button and said, “Eighth floor. Straight ahead of the elevator.” He opened the door and waited while he heard Blaine in the kitchen and the toilet in the lavatory flushing again.
It seemed to take forever before the elevator doors opened and two EMTs emerged with a stretcher that carried a large toolbox-like equipment box.
Ed led them down the hall where Rose was waiting. She stepped out of the way to let the EMTs in.
“How is she?” Ed asked again.
Rose shrugged and shook her head. “She says her stomach hurts really bad and... she’s lost a lot of blood, Ed. I’m really scared.”
Ed put his arm around Rose’s shoulder and hugged her. “She’ll be ok, Rosie. She has to be.”
“Ok, Marilyn,” Rose said into the phone, as she paced in the waiting room. “I’ll call you as soon as we know anything. Ok. Ok. I’ll tell her you love her, of course. Ok. Goodbye.”
“Is she ok?” Joanne, who had driven to the hospital when Blaine called, asked Rose.
“I don’t know.” Rose shrugged and shook her head. “I don’t even know what to tell her. She says that Nancy is going to call the hospital and ask for updates.”
“Is Nancy Bebe’s sister?”
Rose nodded. “She’s a Doctor.”
Joanne nodded. Rose looked so disconsolate that Joanne had no option but to hug her tightly. “I’m sorry, Rose. She’ll be ok. I’m sure she will.”
When Joanne released her, Rose had to wipe a few tears from her eyes and snorted back some more. “I can’t cry. If I do, Ed will lose it completely.”
They both looked over at Ed, who was standing and looking out a window, biting his bent thumb as he spoke to Don through his phone. Only Blaine was seated and he was holding his head in his hands, scared to death.
“I’d better see to my guy,” Joanne said. She rubbed Rose’s shoulder. “Are you ok?”
She nodded.
Joanne sat next to Blaine, took one hand away from his head and held it tightly, offering as much encouragement as she could muster.
When Ed finished his call, he continued to look out the window and bite his thumb.
“Hey,” Rose said, in a quiet voice. “Are you ok?”
He nodded. “Rosie... Rosie, I don’t know what I’ll do if she...”
“She’s in good hands, Ed,” Rose hugged him. “Don’t even think about that.”
Ed looked towards the door that lead to the interior of the hospital. “I know how stupid this all sounds, Rosie, but I really do love her like she’s my own daughter. I can’t lose her, Rosie. I can’t lose either of you – ever. You guys are everything to me. You’re my girls. I can’t lose you, I just can’t.”
Rose hugged him tightly, but kept her head down so Ed wouldn’t see her cry.
“Mr McNeal?” The doctor asked as he entered the waiting area. It had been nearly three hours and no one had given them any information.
Ed stood and nodded. “Yes. Is she ok?”
The doctor nodded and gave a tired smile. “She will be, Mr McNeal. The worst is over.”
“Oh, thank God,” Rose sighed as she breathed for the first time in hours.
“What happened,” asked Joanne.
“She had several severely ruptured duodenal ulcers,” the doctor said. “She lost a lot of blood. We were able to cauterize the ruptures and stop the bleeding. We’ve given her three units of blood and sedated her. She should be ok after a day or two of rest.”
Ed nodded and his hands shook as he rubbed his forehead and took a few, shaky breaths. “Ok, ok, ok, ok...” he muttered.
“Are you ok, Mr McNeal?” The doctor asked, concerned. “Maybe you should sit down.”
Ed looked around and shook his head. “No. I’ll be ok. What caused this?”
“That’s a little hard to determine at the moment. Obviously, she has a propensity towards ulcers, but she is awfully young to have them manifest in such a severe form. They can be exacerbated by several factors; stress, alcohol consumption...”
“She certainly doesn’t drink,” Rose said, “but stress? She’s had a lot of stress, though, that’s for sure.”
The doctor nodded. “We’ll need to discuss that when she’s awake. The important thing, though, is that she’s going to be ok, so you can all relax. She won’t be awake till mid morning, so, if you want to go home and get some rest, that will be fine. If you want to see her before you go, you’ll be able to do that in an hour or so.” The doctor shook Ed’s hand and walked away.
Joanne hugged Ed. “See. She’s going to be fine. Take a breath and relax.”
Ed nodded and sat. The others joined him.
“I’d like to see her before we leave,” Ed said and Rose agreed. “You should probably get Blaine home, Joanne.”
Joanne nodded. “All set, honey?”
Blaine shook his head, though. “No, mom. I’m not going home. You can, but I can’t leave until she’s awake and I can apologize.”
“Apologize for what?” Rose asked.
“This is all my fault,” Blaine said. “I was so mean to her when I broke up with her... That’s what caused this, mom. I made her sick.”
“Blaine, honey,” Joanne rubbed his knee, “it’s not your fault. People get sick. That’s all there is to it.”
“Blaine, buddy,” Ed smiled, “your mom is right. Bebe is under a lot of stress on the show and at school and this whole thing with her teachers getting arrested, too... Believe me, bud, you are the best part of her life. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”
“He’s right,” Rose agreed.
“I don’t care.” Blaine shook his head, unconvinced. “I’m not leaving till I talk to her. You can go home, mom. I’ll call you later for a ride, or take an Uber.”
“I’ll wait with you, honey,” Joanne smiled at her son.
“You’re a good boy,” Rose smiled. She leaned and kissed his head. “She’s very lucky to have you, Blaine. We all are lucky to have you.”
“Welcome back, sweetie.” Rose smiled down at John as he blinked awake. “You gave us quite a scare.”
John blinked some more. “Where am l? What happened?”
“You’re in a hospital, Beebs,” Rose smiled as she ran her hand gently across John’s soft face. “You’re ok, now. I’ll explain everything soon, but look who’s here.”
Blaine’s face came into John’s view. The boy looked both concerned and relived. “Hi,” his voice was quiet and loving.
“Hi,” John smiled up at him.
“Ed and Joanne went home to get us all some clean clothes,” Rose spoke very maternally, as if speaking to a child. “They’ll be back in an hour or so. They waited until the doctors said that you were ok.”
“Clean clothes? What day is it?” John squinted to see more of the room. It was a very nice room, for a hospital room. Peach colored walls with pretty, flowered prints on the wall. It looked more like a hotel room than a hospital room. Even the bed was nicer – a full sized, comfortable bed, instead of the typical cot-style.
“It’s Sunday, baby,” Rose kissed his forehead. “We called the ambulance at 6:30 last night. It’s nearly 2:00 in the afternoon, now.”
John felt weak. He raised a weak arm up to push his hair from his face. Immediately, he realized that his hair was a mess. He felt his face and realized it bore no makeup. He clapped his hands to his face. “Oh, my God, I must look awful! Don’t look at me, Blaine!” He laughed at his own vanity.
Rose and Blaine smiled at each other. Rose pulled his hand away and pinned them to his pillow, wrestling-style. “Don’t be silly. You look beautiful. Tell her, Blaine.”
“You do, Beebs,” Blaine smiled. Hearing him saying ‘Beebs’ made both John and Rose smile. “You look, just... perfect. I’m so happy to see you smile, again. You had me so scared.”
“I’m sorry,” John whispered, feeling guilty for upsetting everyone.
“No need to be sorry,” Rose smiled and let go of John’s wrists, releasing him from the ‘pinned’ position she’d been keeping him in. “I’m going to go tell the doctor you’re awake. I’ll give you two a little alone time.”
Once Rose had left, John moved to the far side of the bed, patted the mattress and said, “Sit with me.”
Blaine climbed onto the bed, his back against the headboard and John cuddle next to him as well as he could. It felt good to have Blaine’s arm around him again.
“So, do you feel better?” The boy asked.
“I do. I’m just tired and I wish you hadn’t seen me like this.”
“Don’t be silly. You look great,” Blaine scoffed.
“No I don’t. I never wanted you to see me without my makeup.”
“Really? Why?”
“Cause, without my makeup, I look like... like a boy.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Blaine shifted enough so that he could look into the eyes of the girl he was holding. “Bebe, with or without makeup, you’re still the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met! And I’m not saying that to be nice. I really mean it.”
“Thank you for saying it, I feel like a grunge, though. Could you turn on the TV?”
Blaine picked up the remote and scrolled through the channels until he came to a station showing the first of the Marvel’s The Avengers movie. They both agreed to watch that and for a few minutes, they watched in silence.
“I need to tell you something,” John said, quietly.
“What’s that?” Blaine asked as he watched the screen.
John sighed. “I have another secret.”
“You mean that you’re really a few years older?” Blaine just kept looking at the screen.
John raised his head and looked at Blaine in surprise. “How did you know that?”
“I heard the doctor talking to your uncle, this morning and it came up – but he also said that your development as a woman makes you more like a thirteen year old. So, the way I figure it, if you look a few years younger and you’re really a few years older, then when you balance it all out, you really are, kinda like a real fifteen year old.” He just continued watching the TV.
John looked at him and tried to read his face to see if he was upset, but he couldn’t tell. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
Blaine smiled down at him. “Beebs, I was awake all night thinking about you – Who you are. What you’ve gone through. How you’ve become the girl that I love and you know what I realized?”
John shook his head.
“I don’t care. I don’t care if you were a boy or a girl or Martian. None of it matters. The only thing that matters is who you are right now and I love who you are right now. That’s it. Nothing else matters, except that I love you and you love me and you’re going to be ok.”
John leaned up and kissed Blaine’s slightly stubbly cheek. “I love you, too. I really, really, really do.”
Ed smiled, sighed and shook his head. “I’m not sure you understand exactly what you’re asking us to do, Doctor. Acting is everything to Bebe. It always has been. And now she’s just found real success. I can’t ask her to cut back at this point. No matter what I say, she’s probably going to that audition and she’ll do her best. That’s just her nature.”
The doctor leaned back in his chair. “That is a decision that you and your partner,” he looked to Rose, “will need to make, Mr McNeal, but I can’t recommend that she takes on any more responsibilities at the moment. I mean, as you lay out her schedule, Bianca has school five days a week, she’s on call for the studio’s shooting schedule everyday, which seems pretty demanding, she’s taking dance classes three days a week and she’s currently taking singing lessons every evening. That’s a hell of a schedule for anyone. Pile on the stress of transitioning, the hormone therapy and her unwillingness to stick with her therapy, then pile a fairly active social life on top of that... Mr McNeal, I am surprised that she’s as healthy as she is. She needs to cut back. That is all there is to it.”
Ed looked at Rose. She shrugged. “I don’t know, Ed. I hate to call her mother about this, but...”
“Are you kidding!?” Ed scoffed. “That’s a Sure Fire way to insure that she’s under more stress. Look, Rosie, John was Marilyn’s son, but Bebe is ours. We need to figure all of this out... you and me.”
“I could suggest some medication – antidepressants – to take the edge off of her stress,” the doctor said, “but that would be contingent on her returning to therapy.”
“Well,” Ed nodded, “I think that therapy is a given. We’ll find someone she can work with. Rosie and I will make sure that she’s there for every appointment. I am hesitant to start her on antidepressants without giving therapy a try, first.”
“Ok. That’s a good start,” the doctor nodded, “but increasing her stress with a movie project... honestly, it concerns me. Now, I’m saying that and Disney/ABC is my biggest client. It’s my job to keep their staff of talent healthy. Please consider giving this opportunity a pass.”
Rose and Ed exchanged another look. Rose turned back to the doctor and said, “Doctor, I honestly don’t think that we can stop her from auditioning, even if we tried. We will recommend that she not do it, but we are going to support her decisions regarding her career. We really don’t have any choice about that.”
The doctor held out his hands, palms up. “It’s your decision.”
Ed stood and extended a hand. “Thank you doctor. Can we take our girl home, now?”
The doctor shook Ed’s hand. “It’ll take about an hour or so to finish her paperwork and get her ready. She can go back to school tomorrow if she feels up to it, but keep her to mild foods – yogurt, milk shakes, maybe some low fat ice cream – for a few days and make sure gets to bed and GETS TO SLEEP early for a week or so and she should be in good shape in a few days.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Rose shook his hand, too and they exited into the hallway. “Well?” Rose asked as they headed to John’s room. “How do you think she’ll react when we tell her what the doctor said?”
Ed heaved a big breath. “I don’t know, Rosie, but I do know that she needs therapy. I should have put my foot down about that a long time ago. Heck, I wouldn’t mind seeing a therapist, myself. I have somd things of my own that I’d like to work out.
“Ok, I agree with that. Maybe we should look for a family therapist who could help all of us. What about the audition?”
“Rosie, you and I both know that we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Bebe, and she worked harder than any of us to get here. Now that she’s about to really break out and become an actual, real life star... if we stand in her way, she will resent us for doing that and she’ll pull away from us. I just don’t think we can do that to her.”
Rose hugged Ed. “She’ll never pull away from you, Ed. She loves you more than you realize.”
Ed smiled at that. “Ok. I need to see my niece. I need to be sure she’s ok and I need to hug her so hard that I break her ribs.”
Rose laughed.
“Can I ask you a question?” Blaine asked tentatively, as he sat on the hospital bed.
“Sure,” John was laying on his side with his head on Blaine’s chest.
“When you were... well, a boy... did you like boys?”
“No.” John’s answer wasn’t angry or evasive. Just true.
“So you liked girls?”
“Yeah, I guess,” it was a confusing and complicated question. John wasn’t really sure how to answer it.
“So... do you think you like boys because of the hormones?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
John lifted his head and looked at Blaine. “Don’t like boys, Blaine. I love you. Just you.”
Blaine smiled and gave John a little hug. “Good answer.”
“Hey,” Ed burst into the hospital room with great bravado, “there’s my girl! How are you feeling, baby? Off the bed, Blaine, I want to hug my niece.”
Blaine smiled and pulled himself free of John and got off the bed. “She’s all yours.”
Ed climbed on and assumed the same position In which Blaine had been sitting. John laid his head on Ed’s chest and Ed put his arm around John. “You scared the crap out of me, baby” Ed murmured as he laid his head on John’s. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“I’m sorry,” John whispered with a smile. Ed smelled good and felt warm and strong, but John was surprised to feel Ed shaking slightly. Then he realized that Ed wasn’t just shaking, he was softly crying. John had known Ed since they were little boys together and Ed had never once cried, even when he was hurt. This was not right.
John pulled his head away from Ed’s chest and shook the hair from his face. “Are you ok?”
“I am, now, honey,” Ed smiled, his eyes brimming with tears. “You really scared me. Like – really, really, really scared me. For a while, I was afraid we might lose you. I guess I’m just so happy that you’re ok. Rosie and I really love you, Bebe. Almost like you’re our own girl, you know what I mean?”
John rested his head back on his Uncle’s chest. He could feel the warmth and hear his heart and he felt more than love – he felt home and family. “I love you, too, Uncle Ed.”
“Thank you, Bebe.”
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 13
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An old nemesis reappears and threatens to upset the delicate balance of John's life as a teenaged girl.
Author's Note: I'm sorry for the delay. Again - RL can be time consuming! Thank you to everyone who to everyone
who is sticking with me and Bebe! We both appreciate it! As always, I adore reading your reviews! Thank you, all! ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 13 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.
COMING TO TERMS -or- MY REALITY IS DIFFERENT THAN YOURS
"This is all the information that the studio is releasing at this point." Rita sat at the kitchen table with John seated opposite her and Rose and Ed sitting at the ends of the table. "They're using the writing team from the new Mary Poppins movie for the script, the Lopez's are writing the music and Rob Marshall, who has directed a ton of musicals, is directing. There is no story outline, but Lily James is playing the one of the leads and you'll be auditioning for the role of her younger sister. I forwarded the sheet music to Veronica and I have a copy here for you, too. At this point, that's all I know. So, can someone please explain to me why we are discussing this instead of preparing for this audition?"
"Because we care about Bebe's health, Rita," Rose said. "The doctor said very specifically that she needed to rest."
"Oh, for crying out loud, kids," Rita shook her head, "we can negotiate a shooting schedule that won't add to her work week for the show. This is all negotiable! Come on, this is a once in a life time opportunity! I've handled big names for years and I've never had anyone generating the kind of buzz that this little girl is generating. It's too early in her career to be overly picky. You can't just turn your back on this offer!"
Ed crossed his arms. "Look, Rita, I hear every word that you are saying, but I don't think you're hearing us. You didn't see her Saturday night when they took her out of here in an ambulance! Her lower body was covered in blood! We are very scared that too much work could actually kill her until she learns to deal with stress."
"Ed, I hear every thing you've said and I understand, but right now we are just talking about an audition! If she is offered the part, we negotiate for limited work hours, etc, and we make the environment appropriate for her health. This is the business, guys! It's tough and it's stressful, but that's how it is! We need to strike now, while the iron is hot or opportunities like this will pass on to other people!"
Ed looked at Rose and she looked as concerned and confused as him.
"Think about this," Rita continued, "there was a time when Emma Stone was only getting roles that Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Byrnes turned down. Then, Lindsay and Amanda, both of whom are immensely talented women, developed health issues - mental health, drug abuse, whatever, but health issues. How often do you hear about a movie starring Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Byrnes today, huh? Never! And don't you think that both of those actresses want to scream when they see Emma Stone in prestige films like 'The Help' or 'The Favorite?' Of course they do! They didn't capitalize on their momentum and their careers dried up and disappeared. Now, I can't predict the future, but I'm not brave enough to throw away this opportunity. If you decide to, then I don't want to hear any crap from any of you when a new pretty face starts getting the big pictures while 'Bebe Foley' moves to the 'Where is she now' section of the entertainment page."
There was silence while Ed and Rose digested this.
Rita looked at John. "You've been uncharacteristically quiet, young lady. What do you think about all of this?"
John folded his arms, just under his breasts, and looked from Rose to Ed. He shrugged and said, "I mean... I heard what the doctor said and all that, and I don't want to upset anybody, but..." He let it hang there while he considered his words.
"But what?" Rita looked around, trying to assess the family dynamic that had developed among these three.
"...but... I really, really, really... REALLY... think I should at least do this audition. I probably won't get it, anyway - they want a soprano and I can't sing nearly that high - but I really want to at least try to get the part. If I don't get it, then we don't have a problem, right? If I do get it, then Rita can work things out so that everything fits my schedule, right? I don't see a down side." Throughout this explanation, John avoided making eye contact with any of the other people at the table. Now his eyes were staring at the table.
"Alright." Ed looked at Rose, who nodded. "IF you are cast in the movie and IF we let you do this, then here are the rules. Rule one: You can ONLY do it if your shooting schedule for the movie doesn't coincide with the shooting schedule for the show."
John nodded.
"Rule two: You agree to work with us to find a therapist that you can help you with your stress problem."
Again, John nodded.
"Rule three," Rose said, "you come to a family therapist with Uncle Ed and me."
Ed looked at Rose and smirked. They hadn't discussed this, but he really didn't see a problem with it.
John just nodded.
"Rule four: IF you're cast and IF we can work everything out," Ed continued, "then you have to realize that your health comes first. If you feel sick, or stressed, or even if you have a hang nail, you tell us and let us take you to the doctor. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," John said sadly.
"Alright. Those are the rules and they are non-negotiable. If you violate and of those rules, then I'll pull you out of the movie in a heartbeat. I don't care if there's a penalty or how embarrassing it might be. If you violate our rules, it's over. Agreed."
John nodded.
"You need to say it," Rose said tersely.
"Agreed," John said quietly.
Rita was more than a little shocked by what she had witnessed. She'd seen scenes just like this before, but in all of those cases, the young actress was, in fact, a YOUNG ACTRESS. Despite their similar ages, she'd always seen John as younger than Ed, but it seemed that John had actually regressed to a teenaged girl and Ed seemed to have added fifteen years to his age. He acted like a nervous father, afraid that his baby girl might get hurt out in the world for the first time. It was sweet, but it was odd.
"Sooo..........?" Rita waited for confirmation.
Rose looked to Ed, who nodded, "She can do the audition, Rita, but her health comes first. After the audition, we're cutting back on her dance to twice a week until the show wraps and we'll figure out how the vocal lessons will fit into her schedule, BUT at the first sign of any physical problems or if she neglects her school or her therapy... that's it. It's over. Is that ok with you?"
"That's fine with me, kids," Rita smiled and organized her papers, "but let's keep this between ourselves, ok? The insurance companies don't like any hint of problems and if there is a chance that Bebe might have any condition that would cause her to pull out of the project, it would give them conniptions."
They all nodded.
"Wow." Veronica looked at the materials from the studio. "It looks like they're going all out on this. I didn't know that Lily James could sing, but she has a very pretty smile that I find very engaging."
"She was in 'Mama Mia, Here We Go, Again,'" John pointed out. "She did a good job in that."
"Oh, I'll have to watch that, then." Veronica returned her gaze to the sheet music. "We do have a problem, though. This song has a couple of high notes. I mean, you're rock solid up to a Bb4, but that is definitely your break-spot. Your head-voice-mix will get you up to an Eb5, but above that... I mean, we could probably get you there in a couple of months, but not in a week, and the audition is next Monday."
"So..." John sounded dejected. After all the negotiating with Ed and Rose, it all seemed a little worthless, now. "I shouldn't audition, then?"
"Oh, don't be silly." Veronica smiled at the small, young girl in her private school uniform. She'd seen 'Civil Disobedience' and she knew that this little package was a powerhouse, but she was still a vulnerable, little girl who needed reinforcement. "We'll learn it two ways. First, we'll drop the song down a major third so the notes are accessible to you. That way, you'll have a well prepared version song to present. Second, we'll work on it in the original key and we'll see if we can open up these few high notes for you. If we show them that you can really sell the song in the lower key, then they'll have a good idea of what we can give them, eventually. Ok?"
The young actress smiled. "Ok."
"So, you willingly agreed to live this life... to change your sex and lower your age... give up all the freedoms of adulthood... for a career in acting?" Dr Shapiro was in her mid thirties, very attractive, with long, gold hair. She dressed comfortably, but very attractively in a nicely fitting, sleeveless, beige, sheath dress with a scoop neck. Her office was very comfortable as well, done is pastels, with a variety of manipulative Knick-knacks, Rubrics cubes, Slinkys, things like that, designed to relax the patient.
John nodded, but looked at the floor. For some reason, this seemed a bit shameful to say out loud, but Ed had told him to be honest with the doctor.
"Do you have any remorse, or regret surrounding this decision?" The doctor watched John carefully.
He thought for a moment. "No. I don't. I'm happier now than I have ever been."
"And what about your relationship with Rose? Obviously, that has changed dramatically. You were lovers, but now she's more of a mother figure to you. How does that make you feel?"
John sighed as he pulled his legs up under himself and reconfigured himself on the couch. He didn't like this conversation. "I love Rose. I want to be with Rose, but not like I used to. It's all different now."
"And how is it different?"
"Well, I mean... I used to want to be with her, like be her boyfriend, but now... I guess it's like you said. She takes care of me, but I don't think of her as a mother... I have a mother... I think of her as... Rose. Like, she's my big sister, or something."
"But you have a big sister, too."
"I know, and I love Nancy, but... I'm closer to Rose than I ever was to Nancy. When I'm with Ed or Rose... I feel safe... loved... you know. Like... like we are a better family together than my real family is. My mother and sister... well, they judge me when I'm with them. With Rose and Ed... well, they don't. I just feel loved when I'm with them."
"And how do you think Rose feels about this? Or Ed for that matter?"
He played with the B.B. necklace and looked out the window at the sprawl of downtown Los Angeles. "I don't know. I hope they feel the same. I just... I don't know."
The doctor watched John closely. "I like your necklace. Did Rose or Ed give you that?"
John shook his head.
"May I see it?"
John stopped fingering it and allowed Dr Shapiro to see it more closely. "Is it silver?"
He nodded.
"Does it symbolize something?"
"It's a B.B.," he stated simply and his hand returned to the ornament.
"Oh, I see. A B.B. for Bebe. That is sweet. Who gave you that?"
John sighed. He really didn't want to get into a conversation about Blaine. He knew that she'd ask him questions he didn't want to answer. He just looked at the view some more.
"Bianca? Who gave..."
"I hate 'Bianca.' I really, really, hate it. I'm Bebe. Please, just call me Bebe."
The doctor was surprised by the vehemence of John's reaction. "You 'hate' Bianca? Didn't you choose that name?"
"No. It was the character's name and I... well... it just sort of happened and that became my name. They say it at school all the time and... I just don't like the name. I only really hear it when I'm being scolded and I hate being scolded. I'm not Bianca. I'm Bebe. Ok?"
"Ok. I'm sorry, Bebe." The doctor made a note. "Getting back to the necklace... was it a gift?"
John nodded.
"From someone special?"
He nodded, again.
"A boy?"
John took a deep breath, then let it out slowly as he nodded, again.
"Your boyfriend?"
He nodded, again.
"How Old is he?"
"He'll turn sixteen in a few weeks."
The doctor thought for a moment. "Are you... sexually active with this boy?"
John shook his head.
"Does he know about..."
John interrupted, "He knows everything. He knows I'm a freakish little boy-girl. He knows I'm pretending to be something I'm not. He knows EVERYTHING! Ok? I know what you think of me! That I'm... weird and a liar, but it's not like that! I'm not really a boy! I never was! I thought I was! Everyone told me I was! But I wasn't! I've always been something else and it hasn't been easy to figure out what that was! Now that I know who I am and what I'm meant to do, I have to justify that to you for some reason and I just don't get it! I finally know who I am and what I am and I don't know why I have to keep talking about it! Do people make you talk about the most personal things in your life all the time? No, I bet they don't! You were lucky enough to be born as a woman - that's simple - you're just a woman! Not a woman who finds out twenty years later that she's a man! Not a woman with a penis! Just a woman! Good for you!
Look how lucky you are!"
The doctor was about to respond, but John went on, "How would you like it if one day, without any warning, you found out that you weren't what you thought you were. That you weren't even the opposite of what you thought you were? That you were some kind of in-between freak? That, if you stayed as you were, a woman, you'd start looking like a guy, anyway, and if you took the drugs that helped you develop as a guy, you'd never fully be one of those, either!? How would that make you feel? Huh? Like a freak, I bet! Well, that's what happened to me! And I came out here to start over. Why can't I just do that and forget about the mistake that I used to be!? I'm happy now! I have Rose and Ed and Blaine... can't I just be left alone!?"
It was at this point that John realized that his face was wet with tears. This was the worst part of being a girl - the emotions! He loved that he laughed harder than he'd ever laughed before, but he hated that he hurt so much more. He cried so easily, now, that he never felt as 'in control' as he should. Suddenly, he realized that his out burst must have sounded like a spoilt adolescent and that made him feel embarrassed. He looked away from the doctor. "I'm sorry," he muttered.
"Why?" the doctor asked.
"For yelling." John grabbed a tissue and dabbed his eyes.
"Bebe-" The doctor stood and crossed to her desk. "You're allowed to yell. You're allowed to cry. You're allowed to be angry with me or anyone else. That's what we're here for. Don't try to keep it in - just let it out. You're doing great. Honestly."
John blinked at the doctor. THIS was ok? THIS was doing great?
"I think we may have gone as far as we can for now, so, I'll tell you what; why don't you take a few minutes in the lav to clean yourself up, then we'll continue with Ed and Rose, ok?"
John nodded, a little exhausted and a little confused, but he stood and moved towards the door to the small powder room off of the doctor's office. He stopped before entering, though, and turned to the doctor and said, "I was confused. I didn't mean to get so angry. I'm sorry. I was just, confused by all these questions. That was all, ok?"
"That was great, Bebe. Doesn't it feel better to get all of that off of your chest?"
"I guess," he shrugged.
"That's what this is all about, Bebe. Getting it out so it doesn't eat you up inside - literally eat you up inside, in your case. Now, clean yourself up, fix your makeup and let's continue with Uncle Ed and Rose, ok?"
"And, how do you view your relationship with Bebe?"
Rose smiled and looked at John. "My relationship? Whew, well, I guess I see her as my colleague... my roommate... my little sister... my friend... my... responsibility, I guess? She's my... Bebe. My little Beebs." She reached over and ran her fingers through John's hair and she smiled.
The doctor nodded and smiled. "And how do you feel about your little 'family unit,' the one you share with Bebe and Ed?"
Now, she looked to Ed. "I know it must seem odd to people on the outside, but I couldn't be happier! And I'm not just saying that to be agreeable. When I moved out here, I was just a selfish, pretty girl who got her own way and only really thought about herself. Now, I'm part of a wonderful family and we have an extended family with our friends, Don and Vivian and Blaine and Joanne. Even our friend Oscar is wonderful. So far, it's all been great, Doctor. Honestly!"
The doctor looked at Ed. "And you, Ed? How do you feel about your current life?"
Ed took Rose's hand and smiled. "Honestly, I couldn't be happier."
"Really!?" The doctor looked surprised. "I noticed on the questionnaire that you filled out, that you have never had a long term, romantic relationship. Wouldn't that make you happier?"
"I suppose," Ed shrugged, "but I have Rosie and Bebe. They're pretty great."
"Yes," The doctor smiled, "but physical intimacy is an important part of a young person's life. Neither of you seems to be considering that. Do you rely on each other for that?"
"No," he replied a bit hastily. "To tell you the truth, doctor, I kind of came to terms with my attraction to men recently, so... I guess I'm still looking for Mr Right."
The doctor pondered this for a few minutes before she asked, "Rose, if Ed were to start dating someone, how would you feel about it?"
"I'd be happy for him, I guess."
"And Ed, if Rose were to start dating, how would you feel about it?"
"I'd be thrilled. All I want is for my girls to be happy. What are you getting at?"
"Nothing," The doctor made an innocent face. "I'm just reading a lot of intimacy in your body language with each other. You've been holding hands since you sat down, you smile at each other constantly... to tell you the truth, if I weren't asking you these questions, I'd just assume that you were romantically involved. In fact, I think that on an emotional level, you probably are. In all aspects of your relationships that I've observed today, I would classify you as a couple."
Ed laughed. "But I'm gay, Doctor."
"Yes, Ed, but are you truly gay, or are you just slightly left of normal on the 'sexuality scale?' I would think that anyone who lives with Bebe would have had to examine his or her sexuality, but I do think that you two need to consider how deep your relationship truly runs. Are you friends? Lovers? Supporters? Enablers? Parents? I'd like you to give this some thought this week, ok? When I see you next week, maybe we could delve a bit deeper into this. What do you, say?"
Ed and Rose looked at each other and shrugged. "Ok, sure," they said in unison.
"Ok, well, Bebe and I had a great session today and I think that the four of us have had a great first session, as well. Let's get back together next week and continue, ok? Feel free to call anytime if you have any questions and I'll be happy to chat. Sound good?"
They all acknowledged that it did sound good, shook hands and left.
When they were traveling down in the elevator, Ed noticed that Rose sniffled just a bit.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
Rose gave a quick short intake through her nose and blinked her watery eyes. "I'm fine," she said and gave his hand a squeeze as she fixed a brave smile to her face.
"Excuse me, Mr McNeal." Someone was knocking on the door to Ed's car as he sat and waited for John to come out of his voice lesson with Veronica. Ed had been considering what the doctor had said a few days earlier and was lost in thought until the knock and voice roused him.
Ed pushed the button to lower the window. "What is it?"
"Would you mind stepping out of the car, sir? We'd just like to ask you a few questions."
At first, Ed had thought that the man, who wore mirrored sunglasses, was a fan, but now he realized that the man wearing wearing an LAPD uniform. He shook his head to clear it, then stepped out of the car and stepped to the rear of the car as the officer indicated.
"What is this about?" Ed asked as he reached the space between his car and the car behind him, which bore no police department markings. He looked around at the quiet side street. There was no one around but him and the officer.
"Put your hands on the back of your car, please." The policeman took an aggressive stance, his mirrored sunglasses reflecting Ed's own image back at him.
"What?" Ed was confused. "Why?"
The police office took his baton in hand and pressed a button so that the truncheon telescoped to its full length. "Do as I tell you, sir."
Ed looked from the man's right hand and the baton to his own reflection in the man's glasses. "Not until you tell me what this is all about."
Suddenly, the policeman's right arm swung towards Ed. It was a strong, but imprecise swing and, after months of working out and training in screen-combat, Ed sidestepped easily and, instead of hitting Ed, the swing landed on Ed's Tesla, breaking the rear window.
"What the hell is wrong with you!?" Ed called out as the officer recovered.
"Shut the fuck up, you prick!" the police officer hissed, causing Ed to take a closer look at man's uniform. Something wasn't correct about it. It looked more like a costume than a uniform.
Again, the officer made a powerful, but inaccurate swing at Ed, but, again, Ed stepped out of the way and moved to the side of the vehicle causing the officer to over reach and stumble.
"Bebe! Come back!" Ed heard a call from behind him, but he didn't dare look away from his attacker.
The officer, however, glanced over Ed's shoulder and saw a woman running after a teenager. "Shit," he spat, as he brought his attention back to Ed just in time to see Ed's right fist as it came in contact with the left side of his chin.
He stumbled back, but didn't fall down. He steadied himself on the rear of the car and squared himself off opposite Ed, once again.
That was when he was slammed in the gut with the head of a small, teenaged girl, who tried, to no avail to knock him down. "Get off of me," he shouted as he pushed the girl to the ground. When he looked back to Ed, his first sight was Ed's knuckles as they crashed into his left eye socket, knocking the mirrored sunglasses from his face and knocking him to his knees.
Ed looked to his niece, but Veronica was already helping her to her feet. When he turned back to the man in the police uniform, two things occurred to him. 1) He recognized this face from the Starbucks parking lot. He was the scumbag that had taken the money for Ms Stephanie and 2) This sonofabitch had just hurt Bebe.
With his left hand, he grabbed the man by the collar, then he landed six powerful punches, in rapid succession, to his face, until his knuckles and the man's face were both covered in blood.
The man held up his hands and cried, "Enough! Enough! I give up!"
As Ed pulled him to his feet, he could hear Veronica's voice speaking into a phone, giving the address and explaining that a parent of one her students had been attacked by a man dressed as a police officer. Ed spotted the hand cuffs that were tucked into the man's belt. He grabbed them and cuffed the man's wrists behind his back, then sat him on the curb while he checked on John and Veronica.
"Are you ok?" he asked the teacher first.
She nodded. "Yes. I'm fine."
Ed turned his attention to John. "Are you ok, Bebe?" He offered a hand.
"I cut my leg," he said as he stood. Below the hem of the grey, uniform skirt, John's knee was bloodied with a broad, but shallow abrasion that was dirty with gravel from the street.
"Oh, Bebe," Veronica put her arm around John's waist, "come with me and I'll clean that for you and put some disinfectant on it. It doesn't look too bad."
Just then, a police car pulled up and two actual police officers got out and took in the scene.
"I'll talk to the police," Ed said. "Thank you for taking care of her." He turned away from Veronica and John to talk to the officers.
Veronica sat John on a wooden chair near the front door while she hurried to the lavatory to retrieve some first aid supplies. When she returned, she knelt in front of John and began to carefully clean the scrape. "Oh, that's not too bad," she cooed, as if speaking to someone considerably younger. She wiped the abrasion lightly with an alcohol covered cloth, causing John to wince slightly.
When the wound was clean, she applied a disinfectant gel and taped a gauze pad over the knee to keep it clean. "That should do it." She smiled and stood.
"Thank you." John stood and received a supportive hug from his vocal teacher.
"You're very welcome, sweetie," she smiled. "Now, let's go see how your uncle is doing with the..." Veronica had been leading John to the door, but she stopped as she saw what was happening outside. She expected to see the assailant in a police car and Bebe's uncle giving a statement, but instead, she saw the assailant being loaded into into an ambulance with several attendants seeing to his well being, while Bebe's uncle was bent over the rear of his own car and hand cuffs were being clasped onto his wrists. "What the hell?" she muttered.
John looked past her and saw what was happening. "Uncle Ed!" he yelled as he tried to push past the older woman.
"Just Wait here, Bebe," the teacher restrained her student as she went out the door to speak to the police.
"Officer!" She called as she hustled down the path to the street. "Officer! I think you may have the wrong idea about what happened here."
The officer held up his hand, indicating that she should stop. "Please stay back, ma'am. We're handling this."
"But he's done nothing wrong! He was the victim! What are you arresting you for!?"
Ed looked over his shoulder and called back to Veronica, "I'm being arrested for aggravated assault, Veronica. Do me a favor, call Rosie and tell her to come get Bebe, then have Rosie call Don and have him meet me at the courthouse with a lawyer, ok? Thanks!" He seemed angry, but controlled.
"Uncle Ed!" John came running out of the house as quickly as he could with his bandaged knee. "You can't arrest him! He was attacked!"
"And he beat the crap out of that guy!" the police officer said, pointing to the departing ambulance.
The police ushered Ed into the back seat of a cruiser and pulled out
It was past 8:30 when Ed finally opened the door to the condo. Rose ran to him and hugged him. "Oh, Ed, I was so worried!"
Don followed him in the door and closed it behind him.
Ed said, "I'm sorry, Rosie, I couldn't call you until we left. Don brought his lawyer and after a few hours, he straightened everything out."
"But what the hell did they arrest you for?" Rose gave Don a hug, allowing John to move in next to Ed for a hug. He remained under Ed's arm as they all proceeded into the kitchen.
"According to the police," Don explained, "our boy, here, used excessive force to subdue his assailant and they were trying to push things a bit further by stating that, when Ed used that jackass's own handcuffs against him, he was holding the man against his will, meaning - kidnapping."
"Don's lawyer was great, though," Ed said. "He called the guy who arrested me a 'Barney Fife,' and he had me out within an hour."
Don looked at his phone. "Uh Oh," he murmured, "Viv says that we need to watch the episode of TMZ that's coming on right now."
"Oh, shit," Ed muttered as he hustled back into the living room and grabbed the remote.
When he found the right station, he sat and watched the end of a commercial until the unsavory host of this sleazy show appeared. They ran a piece on a comic who had been arrested for drugs and then the announcer said, "The young stars of the hit series, 'Civil
Disobedience,' had a big day today. Here is a photo of Ed McNeal, who plays the partner of the show's star, Don Ferry, who was pulled over by a police officer. It appears that McNeal didn't care for the officer's tone and, as this picture shows, he resisted arrest and eventually punched the officer in the face. When the officer tried to fight back, McNeal's niece and costar, Bebe Foley, tried to come to his aid, but was easily subdued by the officer. Eventually, McNeal was arrested and the officer was taken away in an ambulance. My guess is that McNeal's career is about to be put on hiatus, what do you think, Frank?"
Don took the remote and shut off the TV. "Jesus, there's never a dull moment with you guys!" He shook his head as he let out a frustrated laugh.
"Those are all lies!" Ed raged. "My family is going to see that! All I did was defend myself! How could they just lie like that!?"
"Welcome to the fame-monster, buddy." Don patted Ed's back. "Relax, people will believe what they want to believe and these vultures love to feed the frenzies. You can go on talk shows and set the record straight, but I think you're missing the big picture, here."
"What's that?" Rose asked.
"Someone has a video of the whole event," Don smiled. This looks like it came from someone's home security camera. My lawyer will track them down and get a copy. If either the slime-ball who attacked you or the idiot cop who arrested you want to pursue anything, we'll have proof of what really happened."
"How did this get on TV so fast?" John asked, still nestled beside Ed. "I mean, shouldn't this have been sent to the police, not TMZ?"
"The police don't pay for the footage, angel," Don laughed at the naivety of the question. I bet TMZ gave them a few thousand dollars for that. It has nothing to do with morality - it's all about profit."
"What's wrong with these people?" Rose shook her head.
"Again," Don sat, "I think we may be missing something here." He gave Ed's knee a slap. "You can survive some bad press, Ed. We can get this straightened out and you can tell your side of the story. Our big problem is Bebe."
John perked up. "What did I do?"
"You got yourself into the sights of the vultures at TMZ. Not intentionally, of course, but the last thing any of us want is for anyone at that place to be digging into 'The Life of Bianca 'Bebe' Foley.' Catch my drift?"
"Good God, Almighty, Don." Rose sat and put her head in her hands. "Is this ever going to stop? I mean, Ed is sitting on the side of the road, minding his own business and this piece of crap, who should be in jail awaiting trial, shows up and tries to beat him up, Ed defends himself and now, because these jackasses make their money with these salacious stories, everything we've done could get destroyed! What the hell is the point of trying if everything is this easy to ruin?"
"Ok, Rose," Don smiled, "it's not time to despair, yet, but we need to organize some damage control to keep things. The studio lawyers have created a document trail that the paparazzi will scrutinize and they'll decide that they believe them or not, but we need to be sure that we're ready if one of them stumbles onto the truth."
"Ok," Ed nodded. "So, we just stay cool for now, right?"
"Right," Don smiled and turned to John, "and if anyone from TMZ or any other paparazzi tries to engage you, you just smile and walk away as dignified as you possibly can. Understood?"
John nodded.
"So, tomorrow's the big auditions huh?" Ella asked as she sipped on an ice cream soda. MK, Ella, Blaine and John had gone to see the new Anne Hathaway movie on Sunday afternoon. After the movie, they'd had a light dinner at a salad place in the food court of the mall and now were having dessert together.
John nodded as he swallowed his spoonful of strawberry gelato. "Yeah. I'm leaving school at eleven. My audition is at two."
"Nervous?" MK asked.
"Oh, Yeah!" John giggled. "Nervous doesn't come close to describing how I'm feeling!"
"Why?" Blaine asked.
"Why!? Are you serious!?" MK laughed. "She's auditioning for a movie, Blaine! Wouldn't you be nervous?"
"Well, Yeah, Of course, but I'm not Bebe Foley. She is. She's done this before, obviously, and she's already a TV star and you guys all saw her on the set of the show. Not only did she do a great job, the whole cast and crew deferred to her. I mean, if I were as talented as her and had the track record she has, I'd be pretty relaxed about auditioning."
"Blaine," John wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin, "I auditioned and auditioned and auditioned for 'Civil Disobedience' and they didn't cast me. Rose and Ed were cast after just one audition each. Getting this movie would be huge!"
"Yeah," Blaine smiled, "but you're amazing! Either you'll get it and you'll be amazing or you won't get it and you'll be amazing in the next thing that comes along. You know how I know? Because YOU'RE AMAZING! End of story!"
John looked at Blaine and blinked at how simply he put everything. He looked to his girlfriends and shrugged. "Well, I guess that settles that."
"He's kinda right, though Beebsm" Ella slurped on her straw. "You know that people love you on the show, so things are going to happen for you. Maybe this is the right thing, maybe it's not."
"Yeah," MK joined in, "I mean, it's good that you're ambitious and all, but I don't think you need to worry an awful lot. All you can do is your best and they'll make their decisions based on what they need."
"That's how show business works, right?" Ella nodded at MK's statement. "So, Blaine's right and there's no reason to get stressed about it."
Suddenly a light bulb went on on John's Head. "Wait a minute," he laughed and looked at Blaine, "did Rose or Uncle Ed tell you to talk to me about being stressed?"
MK and Ella looked to Blaine, who smiled and shrugged. "Yeah, but Bebe..."
John took a spoonful of gelato and smudged it into Blaine's cheek. "But, Nothing! You guys are supposed to be my friends, not the minions of my guardians." He smiled and shook his head. "Oh, I am going to throw such a temper-tantrum when I get home!"
Blaine wiped the pink gelato from his cheek and laughed quietly. "Look, Bebe, you really scared the bejeezus out of me... well, all of us, last week and, well, we're all worried about you."
"We'd like you to get old enough to at least get into Club 27," MK teased.
"Club 27?" John asked. "Is that that really exclusive club at Disneyland?"
The three Californians laughed. "Seriously?" MK was, as always, amazed at how little people from New England actually knew about the real world.
"The club at Disneyland," Blaine explained, "is Club 33. Club 27 isn't a club you want to be a member of."
"What is it?" John looked around for an answer.
"Its what they call all the famous, talented people who died at 27," Ella said. "You know, like Amy Winehouse, and that fat guy from Tommy Boy..."
"Chris Farley," Blaine interjected.
"...and Janis Joplin..."
"... Jimi Hendrix..." MK added.
"...Kurt Cobain..."
"...Jim Morrison..."
"...The Rolling Stones' first lead guitar player..."
"Alright, Alright, Alright." John looked around in shock. "You guys want me to live long enough to die at twenty-seven years old!" He smiled a cockeyed smile, "Well, that's awfully sweet of you, but I'd kinda like to live a little longer than that, if you don't mind."
"Well, right now," Ella said with uncharacteristic seriousness, "we just want to make sure that you get through this week, ok?"
John smiled at her maternal sound. "Ok."
"Seriously, Bebe," Blaine reached around John's shoulders and rubbed John's arm, "we're all worried about you. Please take care of yourself."
"Aww," John leaned into his boyfriend and pressed his head against Blaine's chest, "you guys are all so nice. Thank you. Hey! Did you guys see Kylie's first ad this weekend?"
"I did!" MK smiled.
Neither Blaine not Ella had.
"You've got to see it," John smiled, thinking back to how scared his redheaded costar had been at her audition for 'Civil Disobedience.' "She's so good!!! Her smile is beautiful and she has such great presence on the screen. It was really impressive! I don't think I could do something like that."
"Really!?" Ella said surprised. "You mean there's something that the great actress can't do!?" She assumed a stereotypical acting pose and giggled at her own teasing.
"Oh, Yeah, The 'great actress.'" John laughed, too. "Kylie's so much prettier than I am! I bet she'll be a big star, someday. Mark my words!"
They all laughed, happy for their friend's success.
"Well, I certainly don't think that she's prettier than you." Blaine kissed the side of John's head.
"That's because you're blinded by love," MK scoffed and threw a crumpled up napkin at Blaine.
"True. True." Blaine smiled.
"Excuse me," they were interrupted by a woman in her mid thirties, "you're that girl from that TV show, right? Bianca Foley?"
John smiled, then looked around at his friends as a bit of an apology for the interruption, then smiled at at the woman, again. "Hi. Yes, I am, but please, call me Bebe." He extended his hand to shake the woman's hand, but instead, the woman placed an envelope in his hand.
"Consider yourself served, little girl. Make sure that you give that to your mommy." The woman turned and walked away.
"Served?" MK looked around the table. "What does she mean by 'served?'"
John tore open the envelope and looked at the papers within. "Oh, my God!" he said in near hysterics. "I'm getting sued by Mr Crawford!"
"The coach?" Ella asked, surprised. "The one they arrested for blackmailing your uncle?
"Yeah! It says that he's suing me for hurting him when he attacked Uncle Ed!"
Blaine leaned in and the girls ran around behind John and they all read the legalese that comprised the legal notices. Very little of it made sense to them, but it was obvious that Bebe was correct.
"How can he do that?" Ella looked to Blaine as if he could offer an explanation.
"Yeah," MK did the same. "I mean, that douche-bag attacked your Uncle, right!? He can't really sue you just because you tried to defend your uncle, can he!?"
"He can try, I guess," Blaine was as flummoxed as the girls, but he was trying to sound confident, "but I don't think he can really win. It's probably just to try to get some money out of you."
"But I don't have any money!" John said. "My mom has all my money in a trust... That's what she meant by 'Make sure you give it to your mommy!' She must have known that!"
"I think we'd better go," Blaine said. "You need to talk to Ed and Rose about this."
As John gathered his purse and trash together and prepared to leave, a man in his early fifties appeared. He had a microphone and he was accompanied by another man of comparable age who was aiming a video camera at John and his friends.
"Bebe Foley," the first man said, "do you have a statement regarding this law suit?"
"What!?" John asked, the others were all frozen in confusion.
"I'm Austin Meadows from TMZ. Do you have a statement regarding this law suit?"
Blaine began to move forward in a defensive posture, but John stopped him. "No, Mr Meadows, I have no statement. Good night." He looked strangely dignified as he spoke to reporter. He shook his hair from his face and straightened the fall of his pretty little dress, then said to his friends, "Come on. We need to go."
They headed towards the mall entrance, but Austin Meadows was in front of them before they reached the exits. "Come on, Bebe, tell, your fans - After your little encounter with Mr William Crawford in broad daylight on the streets of Los Angeles, do you consider yourself a threat to the community at large?"
Since beginning his work on 'Civil Disobedience,' John had been warned about TMZ and the paparazzi in general, but his conversation with Don was still fresh in his memory. He'd been instructed, over and over, to not engage with them - to just walk away with a smile and a wave. He knew that's what he was supposed to do. He understood why he needed to do it, but this Meadows guy was relentless. He was walking backwards in front of John with a microphone shoved in his face. It was irritating - infuriating and embarrassing. It was drawing attention to him and his friends and the accusation was not only ludicrous, it was laughable. At the very worst, John had distracted Ed's assailant - he certainly never injured him.
All of these things churned in John's belly. This was just not right. He needed to confront this jackass and he needed to do it in a polite, businesslike way that couldn't be taken out of context.
He stopped abruptly and asked his friends to excuse him for a moment.
"Umm, Bebe..." Blaine tried to keep John from talking to the 'reporter,' but John held up his hand.
"It'll be fine. Don't worry." He indicated that his friends should step to the side.
John brightened his eyes and pasted on his sweetest smile. "What can I help you with, Mr Meadows?"
"Well, thank you for taking the time to talk to me, Bebe," Meadows began, a little surprised that the actress was talking to him so freely. "It has come to our attention that you are being sued by the man you assaulted last week. Do you have any statement to make regarding the event or the law suit?"
John feigned a look of total surprise, but remained flirtatious with the reporter and the camera. "I think you may have me confused with someone else. I have not been accused of assaulting anyone." His sweet smile broadened.
"That may be, Bebe," the man continued, "but TMZ has obtained a surveillance film in which you attacked a man dressed as a police officer."
"Oooohhhh!" John chuckled and gave the reporter a sympathetic look. "I understand what you're talking about now, Mr Meadows..."
"Hi, Bebe," a passing fan called and John waved as he continued.
"... you're referring to the man who attacked my Uncle. Yes, you are correct, I did, foolishly, try to defend my uncle, but all I did was get myself knocked down. I scraped my knee pretty badly, too. I've been wearing tights ever since. It's so uncomfortable..."
"Yes, Yes," Meadows interrupted. "But you attacked a police officer..."
"Oh, now, Mr Meadows," John's flirting tone sounded almost like a kindergarten teacher speaking to a student, "you and I both know that that man was not a police officer. He was just a very bad man trying to hurt a very good man. Like I said, I was trying to help, but I just got myself hurt."
Throughout this interview, a small crowd of people began to gather around Bebe and Meadows. They were interested in the novelty of something being recorded right there in the mall, but they also recognized Bebe and they wanted to say hello and maybe take a picture.
"Yes," Meadows tried to regain the upper hand, "but about the law suit..."
"Law suit?" The perfect look of confusion crossed John's face. "What law suit?"
Now, Meadows looked a bit confused. "Come on, Bebe, you were just served papers. You know you're being sued."
"I am!?" John looked at the envelope in his hand. "Is that what these are all about?" He shrugged and made a comical grimace. "Wow. I didn't realize that."
Some of the crowd of fans giggled at that.
"What!?" The reporter wasn't thrilled with the gathering crowd. "You read the papers. How could you not know...?"
"Mr Meadows! I just turned fifteen! I read the papers, but I didn't understand a word of it. Have you ever read a legal document? I mean... there's a lot of words in there that I never heard before." He gave an innocent laugh, self-effacing and youthfully ignorant.
The crowd gave a big laugh at that. Of course she didn't understand the document - she was just a kid! Most of the adults there wouldn't have understood the documents.
The reporter huffed and waved to his cameraman to stop recording.
John knew he'd won this round, but he had another point to make. "Oh, hi, everyone!" He said to the crowd, as if noticing them for the first time. "I'm sorry, I've been keeping Mr Meadows all to myself and you're all waiting to meet him, aren't you?" John linked his arm through Meadows' and turned him to face the crowd.
There was a murmur amongst the gathered people. "No, 'Alex,'" a woman smiled as she came forward with a pen and a piece of paper. She was using John's character name on the show. "We're waiting for you. May I just get an autograph for my daughter?"
"Me!?!?" John looked shocked. Really!? But I've only been on TV for a few weeks! How long have you been on TV, Mr Meadows?"
He knew that this child was making a point. "Fifteen years," he admitted.
"Fifteen years!?!? Wow! See, everyone, Mr Meadows is a much bigger star than I am. He's been on TV since the year I was born! Come on. I'll pose with Mr Meadows for as many pictures as you'd like." He turned and smiled at the reporter. "You don't mind if I share a little of your fame, Mr Meadows, do you?" John was already signing autographs and posing with his arm still linked into the reporter's.
The reporter stood and allowed Bebe to use him as a prop for a good few minutes, until he realized that his own cameraman had resumed recording. He knew he was being made to look foolish and he didn't like it. There was no respectable way to exit the scene, so he just shook himself free of the actress and stormed off.
Most of the crowd didn't even notice.
Monday, John went to school in his usual uniform, blue, Oxford shirt and grey, pleated skirt, but his makeup was unusually well done. Rose had taken a great deal of care with his look that morning. His lips, which usually had just a soft pink finish, were lined and had a deep, velvety red finish. His eyes, which usually had just a hint of blue, today were done with a thin line of mascara and a blending of several colors, making them pop more than usual.
"Well, Miss Bebe," his history teacher pretended to be taken aback by his sultry look, "aren't we looking a bit more beautiful than usual, today!?"
John blushed. "Thank you, Miss."
"Are you going to tell us what the occasion is that has inspired this look?"
He sighed. "I have an audition this afternoon, Miss. I think that my cousin went a bit overboard this morning."
"Not at all, Miss Bebe, or should we be more formal and refer to you as Miss Bianca, today?"
"No, Miss. Bebe is just fine, please."
"Well, I think you look just lovely, Miss Bebe. Take a seat and we'll get started." She patted John on the back and he headed to his seat.
"Ooh," MK teased. "Look who's a pretty girl today!"
"Knock it off," Ella warned MK as she hugged John. "You got this audition, babe, right?"
"Babe?" John laughed. "Did you just call me, babe?"
"She's working on her street-cred," MK joined the hug, "but her heart's in the right place. Good luck, Bebe."
"Thanks, guys." John was truly touched by their support. The bell rang and they broke their group hug so that they could take their seats.
A history test, followed by a series of rather silly improv exercises with the new Theater teacher, Miss Amy, then a World Religions quiz and a Math class that, as always, left John's head spinning, and it was time to leave.
"Bianca Foley," the announcement came through the speaker in Math class, "report to the office for dismissal."
Many of the girls wished him luck as he headed down the hall. When he reached the office, both Rose and Rita were waiting. Rita was carrying a garment bag.
"Hi," John greeted them. "Rita, I didn't expect you to be here."
"I didn't expect to be here, either, sweetheart," she kissed John's cheek, "but I just couldn't stay away."
"Is there a ladies' room where Bebe can change?" Rose asked the surly secretary.
"Just across the hall," she replied, barely looking up.
"Come on, Beebs," Rose took him by the hand and they left Rita waiting in the office.
The small lavatory was a tight fit, but they'd be able to deal with it. Rose hung the bag on the door to the stall and pulled the zipper. "Rita didn't like what I'd picked out. She said it was too little-girly, so we went shopping this morning. I hope this all fits."
John stripped to his bra and panties. Rose handed him a pair of opaque, black tights and told him to sit on the toilet seat and put them on.
"Tights?" John followed the instructions, but questioned the choice. "I never wear tights, except for dance class."
"I know, sweetie, and I hope they're comfortable, but Rita was concerned about the scrape on your knee. The tights will cover that."
John stood and pulled the waistband over his hips.
Rose handed him a small, black, sleeveless, knit top with a V-neck. He pulled it on and it hugged his form nicely, accentuating his modest breasts.
Next came a little, circle skirt. It was black, with bright red roses printed on it. Rose held it open so John could step in. She pulled it up and zipped it up in the back.
"You like it?" Rose asked.
The skirt billowed around his thighs, ending at least four inches above his knees. "I do. It's really pretty. And soft."
"Yeah, it's real silk. Rita doesn't believe in going to an audition in bargain basement clothing, I guess. This skirt cost more than all of my prom gowns put together."
"Should I be wearing a slip with this?"
"The sales lady said, 'No.' she said that it needs to hang on its own, without a slip."
"Ok. It is very pretty and it kind of tickles through the tights."
Rose smiled at that - he'd become such a girl. She pulled a pair of kitten heals out of the bag and helped him get them on. "Ok, princess," she smiled, "let me touch up your makeup."
John assumed the prone position that he always took when someone went to work on his face. It just took a minute or so before Rose said, "Ok. I think you're all set!"
John relaxed and checked himself in the mirror. He looked cute. He liked that. "Thanks, Rose." He kissed her cheek.
"Your welcome, Beebs. Oh, my goodness, you are adorable. Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be!"
They returned to the office where Rita was laughing flirtatiously as she spoke to Mr Carlin, the new headmaster.
"Oh," Mr Carlin said, "here's the beautiful Miss Bianca, now! My goodness, you look absolutely beautiful, today, Miss Bianca!"
John smiled, flattered by the remark. "Thank you, Mr Carlin."
"I won't hold you up, ladies," he said as he shuffled some papers he had in his hands. "I wish you luck, Miss Bianca. I hope that it all goes well!"
"Thank you, sir," he smiled as Rose and Rita led him out of the building.
"Bebe Foley, right?" a gregarious man jogged down the hall with his hand extended.
John took his hand, but Rita spoke for him. "Yes, this is Bebe Foley," she explained to the man who beamed at John. "We have an audition appointment in fifteen minutes. Are you a production assistant?"
The man chuckled. "No, I'm the composer. I'm Robert Lopez."
John's eyes went wide as he stuttered to say something.
"She's a big fan of yours," Rose smiled, "and your wife, too, of course."
"Of course," the man's grin was infectious. "And we are both big fans of you, young lady." He took John's arm in his and led him down the hall. "I'm afraid that Kristen couldn't be here today, one of our girls is home sick from school, but we are both very excited to have you audition for our project. What do you know about this script?"
"Nothing," John finally formed a word. "I was told that I was auditioning to play Lily James' sister, though."
"That is true," he chuckled. "Are you a fan of hers?"
"Well, Yeah!" John giggled. "I mean, Cinderella, Baby Driver, Mama Mia Two... she's amazing!"
"Excellent, Excellent!" he continued. "There are actually three sisters, you will, obviously, be auditioning for the youngest sibling, and just today we locked in Anna Kendrick as the second sister."
John stopped in his tracks.
"What's the matter?" The man seemed concerned. "Are you familiar with Anna's work?"
"Ummm?" John was completely taken aback by what he'd just heard. "Into The Woods? Pitch Perfect? I mean, yeah, I know her work and..." he looked at Rita and Rose. "Maybe this isn't the best idea. I mean, they are so far out of my league..."
"Are you kidding me?" Robert Lopez guffawed. "Anna is waiting to meet you because she's such a big fan of yours."
John went pale.
"Beebs." Rose touched his shoulder. "Are you ok, baby?"
"I think I'm going to throw up," he muttered.
Robert Lopez gave out a big, hearty laugh this time. "I know what you mean, Bebe. I've only been working at this level for a few years, too. It can be overwhelming, I know, but she's just another actress. She's really sweet, I promise. Come on down the hall. She's very excited to meet you."
John's cute little pumps felt like they were made of lead as he allowed Robert Lopez to lead him down the hallway and into the audition room.
The door opened and there were two women sitting at a table with their backs to the door.
"Anna?" Robert said, causing the smaller of the two to turn and smile, "This is Bebe Foley."
"Oh, my goodness," the woman stood and hustled over to John. "I am so happy to meet you!" She hugged him and stepped back. It was her! It was really her! The narrow eyes! The huge smile! It was really her! It was really Anna Kendrick. As John stood dumbfounded, Anna looked beyond John to Rose. "Oh, my, I recognize you, too. Anna Kendrick."
She shook Rose's hand. "I'm Rose," Rose smiled. "It is truly an honor to meet you. I think my cousin is a bit... surprised, I guess... to meet you."
"Aww, that's nice," Anna said, Looking at the smile and a few tears that dominated John's face. "I love your skirt!" Anna she continued, trying to relax the younger actress.
"Thank you," John replied, as he noticed that this amazing star was wearing nearly the same thing - a sleeveless, black top, black tights and pumps and a skirt, but hers was grey wool and fit more snuggly. "I like yours, too."
"Why, thank you," she smiled and adjusted the skirt. "Come on over to the table and let's look at the sides. I'm going to be reading with you."
John looked at Rose and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Anna Kendrick took his hand and pulled him towards the table.
"We'll wait outside," Rita said.
"Oh, don't be silly," Robert Lopez smiled. "You can stay. I'm hoping that this is just a formality."
Rita and Rose joined the others at the table.
"I'm from New England, too, Bebe," Anna Kendrick was trying to relax John. "Portland, Maine. Where are you from?"
"Worcester," John said, knowing she'd know that Worcester was in Massachusetts.
"Wiss-tah, Huh?" The star teased, pronouncing the city's name with the horribly course accent that the natives of the city used. "I've been through there. Lots of colleges, right? What's the name of the one that the highway curves around, you know, the one I mean? Lots of brick buildings."
"That's Holy Cross," John beamed. "My mom teaches there!"
"Oh, how cool!" She put her hands on his shoulders and guided him into a seat. "Diane, this is Bebe Foley." She introduced John to the woman at the table as she took a seat herself.
"Oh, I know who Bebe is," the other woman at the table smiled and extended a hand. "I'm a big fan of Civil Disobedience. It must be great working with Don Ferry, huh?"
"Oh, it is." John was still finding his voice.
"Diane is our accompanist today, Bebe. I worked with her on Into The Woods. She's amazing."
"Awesome," John took a big breath. "I'm sorry, Ms Kendrick, I must look like an idiot, I just... Well, I'm kinda shocked to see you here. I didn't know that you were attached to this project."
"Well, I wasn't until about an hour ago." She smiled that beautiful, big, toothy smile of hers. As she smiled, two Disney executives entered and took their seats around the table as well.
"Gentlemen," Robert Lopez smiled at everyone, "this is Bebe Foley and, of course, you know Anna Kendrick. Bebe will be auditioning for us in a few minutes.
The men nodded and opened their tablets to start taking notes.
Anna Kendrick turned her smile back to John and asked, "What would you like to do first, Bebe? Read or sing?"
"Oh, read, please!"
"Ok. Then, when you're relaxed, we can do the song together."
"Holy shit," John whispered, but everyone heard it and laughed.
Rose took note of how Anna Kendrick was working with John - helping him to relax and allowing him to act instead of just reading. She'd only ever seen one person behave this way at an audition before and that person was John. He'd helped Ed, he'd helped Kylie and all those other kids and he'd helped her. 'How wonderful,' Rose thought, 'that someone is doing the same for him. Maybe Karma is real!"
They read the scene a couple of times times and Robert Lopez offered critiques and guidance. It was a playful argument about what Bebe's character should wear on a date. There was the mention of a 'bustle,' so John assumed that the story had to take place sometime on the late nineteenth or early twentieth centuries. He didn't question that though, it just didn't seem to matter.
"Excellent!" Robert Lopez clapped when they'd read the scene for the last time. Everyone applauded them.
"That was great, Bebe." Anna Kendrick hugged him.
"No, YOU were great. Thank you." John hugged back.
"Ready to sing?" Diane asked as she stood and headed to a digital piano at the side of the room.
"Well, not really." John stood, as did Anna. "Umm, my voice teacher told me to ask you this. Is it possible to try the song in the key of Bb, first?"
"Fine with me," Diane said, "is it ok with you, Mr Lopez?"
"Yeah, sure, Bebe, but I want to hear it in D, as well. Ok?"
"Ok," John nodded. "She tells me I'm an alto, but I'll do my best."
Anna offered John a fist bump. "Altos rock, sister!" She said, then, as they bumped fists, she said, "I really do love that skirt! We're about the same size. Maybe I could borrow it, some time."
It was meant as a joke to relax him, but John was so mesmerized just being near her that he replied, "Sure! Any time!"
Diane pushed a couple of buttons on the keyboard, transposing the instrument down a major third, then began playing the introduction.
"Mind if I sing along the first time through?" Anna asked.
"No, please do," John let out a relieved laugh. "And, please, sing loudly!"
She laughed.
They sang it through together and Anna did sing it loudly, which offered John a bit of a shield so that he could sing out loudly, too.
"I think your teacher's right, Bebe," Anna said when they were done. "I love it in that key! So much easier to sing!"
"Yeah, well it's supposed to be dramatic, not easy." Robert Lopez smiled and shook his head. "By yourself, now, Bebe, please."
"You'll be great," Anna Kendrick said. "Just close your eyes, listen to the music and sing."
He nodded, closed his eyes and listened. When he sang, it all seemed to flow out of him effortlessly. He even felt comfortable throwing in some ornamentation he'd practiced at home.
"Alright!" Robert Lopez applauded and Anna Kendrick hugged him. "Can I hear it in D, now, please, Diane?"
She reset the tuning on the keyboard and played it again. Again, Anna Kendrick sang along the first time through. She stopped him once at the start of the second verse and offered some advice to support his breath better and produce a stronger note. He nodded and did as she told him and it really helped.
"Ready to do it by yourself, now, Bebe?" Anna asked as they finished.
He shrugged and grimaced.
"Oh, come on. Do it just like you did it before. Close your eyes, listen to the music and just let it come out. It's just long, sustained dialog. Just be awesome."
"Ok," John looked to Diane who started playing. He closed his eyes and started just a bit tentatively, but it didn't feel quite right. He stopped and held up his hand. When Diane stopped, he said, "Could I please start again? I'm sorry, I messed up the words."
"Of course." Diane smiled and started again.
This time, he let the music surround him. He felt every note as it bounced around the room, and when he opened his mouth to sing, it was as if he'd been a singer all of his life. His tone was round and beautiful and his pronunciation was clear and natural. He could feel his voice as it mixed with the sound of the piano in a way he'd never heard it before. There was a perfect symbiosis between the two and he sensed that Diane was working with him, building when he did, falling back when he did. It felt so good. So natural. Perfect.
As he reached the end of the last note, he nearly fell over because Anna Kendrick hugged him while his eyes were still closed. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" She said as she hugged him and kissed his cheek. "What do you think, Bob?" she asked Robert Lopez.
He looked to the two executives, who nodded. He looked back to Anna at his heart and the piano and said, "I think I need to talk to her agent," he grinned.
"Well, then," Rita leaned across the desk and handed him a card, "you are in luck!"
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 14
Author:
Audience Rating:
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for our heroine, but when she gets home, things are very different than when she left. Can she use the benefits of
her fame to help make things right, or will she just make things worse? Thank you to everyone who is sticking
with Bebe and me, I really appreciate your support.
Author's Note: Please comment??? It means the world to me to hear from everyone. ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 14 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.
GOING HOME -or- MY REALITY IS JUST DIFFERENT THAN YOURS
"And going home for the holidays makes you feel...?" Dr Shapiro prodded.
John was feeling very stressed. He'd be headed back to Massachusetts for Thanksgiving in a couple of days. It was a short visit, but there was a longer one coming up in a few weeks.
"I guess 'apprehensive' would be the best way to describe how I feel."
"Because?"
"Because, when they came out here for the premier, they acted a little weird."
"Weird, How?"
"Like, they acted surprised that I was strange because of how I'm living."
"And don't you think that might be a logical reaction to your choice to live this way?"
"No. Not for them. They knew from the start. Heck, my mother helped at first. She even encouraged me. My sister was the first to notice my condition. They knew and then they came out here and acted all superior and snotty."
"I see. How did their attitude make you feel?"
"Awful. Like I was doing something wrong. Like I was a freak. I hated it."
"I see. Bebe, do you think that, maybe, you're giving them too much power? That maybe - just maybe - you're ALLOWING them to have power over you?"
John thought for a moment. "How would you feel if you were suddenly more successful than you ever expected, but the two people who had always been most important to you acted like you were trash?"
"I'd be hurt," Dr Shapiro confirmed. "Is that how you felt?"
John nodded.
"So, how are we going to keep this from happening this weekend?" The Doctor asked.
John sighed. "By not letting them get to me."
"How."
"By staying confident about who I am, why I'm here and why I'm doing what I'm doing."
"Excellent, Bebe," the doctor stood and walked to the window where John had been staring out at the city below. She hugged him. "Stick to our plan and you'll be fine. If you need me, call. Ok?"
John nodded. "Thank you."
"That's a good girl," she let go of him. "I think you've done some great work over the past couple of weeks, Bebe. Right now, though, I think I'd like to see your cousin and uncle and talk to them without you in the room. Would that be ok with you?"
John shrugged. "Sure. I guess."
"Thank you, Bebe. I'll ask you back in in a little while, ok?"
"Ok," John said as she led him to the door.
"Rose? Ed?" The doctor called out as John exited. When they were seated on the couch, the doctor sat in a comfortable chair and asked, "So, how have you been since we last spoke?"
"Good," Ed replied, heartily.
"Oh, Umm, fine, I guess," Rose smiled and nodded.
"Problems? Concerns?"
"Well," Ed cleared his throat, "from what Rose tells me, Bebe had a very good audition for a film this week. We're waiting to see if her agent can work out acceptable terms for her to do it. She came home very excited about..."
The doctor interrupted. "Ed. I know about Bebe's audition. I just spoke to her. I mean, any problems or concerns for either of you, or between you two?"
Ed looked from the doctor to Rose and back and shook his head. "No. I don't think so."
Dr Shapiro nodded. "Rose?"
Rose started to speak, then looked at Ed, smiled and said, "No. I guess not."
The doctor waited a moment, then continued, "Alright, then I'd like to explore your parental obligations regarding Bebe and how she..."
"Umm... well..." Rose looked at Ed, again.
The doctor stopped and waited, but Rose just looked at Ed.
"Rose?" She asked. "Would you like to say something?"
"Umm..." she bit her lip. "I... I... I don't know, exactly, but..." she sputtered.
"What is it, Rosie?" Ed asked, patiently. "You can say anything in here."
"Yeah... Yeah..., but..." she looked anywhere but at Ed or the doctor for a few moments. "Ed... I do need to say something."
Ed glanced at the doctor and then back to Rose. "Rosie," he took her hand, "say what you need to say."
She took a deep breath, then looked into Ed's eyes. "Ed, I've been thinking. There's a condo available in our building and, well, like I said, I've been thinking that maybe I, well, maybe I might lease it."
Ed looked confused. "Why?"
She sighed. "Ed... I don't know if I can keep this up."
"What? Keep what up?"
"Ed," the doctor spoke quietly, "let her speak."
"Look, Ed," she took a deep, shaky breath, "I love you, but... I live in the same condo as you and Bebe and I love you both, but... I'm lonely. Every night, I go to bed by myself and I'm just... alone, Ed. Everyone thinks we're a couple, and we are, but we're not. I just don't know if living this way is the right thing for me to do. The more I think about it, the more the future scares me. I don't want to be alone, Ed. I know this awful and selfish, but... Oh, God, I wish I hadn't even said that, I'm sorry... never mind." She grew quiet.
Ed looked like he was about to vomit. "Geez, Rosie... I don't know what to say..."
"Don't say anything, Ed. I had no right to say that. I'm sorry. Forget I ever said anything. I'm sorry." She wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"Rose," the doctor said, "if that's how you feel, then you absolutely should have said it. Ed, do you have a response?"
He was pale and hurt. "Rosie..." Ed's eyelashes flicked a tear from his eye. "... Rosie... I'm so sorry. I thought I knew... I mean... I thought that things were ok. I mean, do you have to leave?"
Rose nodded. "I think I do, Ed. It's too hard to be around you as much as I am."
She might just as well have stabbed Ed in the heart. "Why? What did I do to make you hate me?"
"Hate you!?!?" Rose's voice sounded angry for the first time.
"Ed," the doctor said, "don't read into what Rose is saying. Let her explain what..."
"Ed, I don't hate you!" Rose cut the doctor off. "Ed... I love you and being near you all day and all night and knowing that you'll never, ever be interested in me... every night, Ed, every single night I lay in my big, cold bed and I cry because I love you. I need some space, now. I'm twenty two years old, Ed, and I have a make believe fifteen year old daughter and a make believe husband, but it's like we've been married for twenty years and the romance is over. My heart is absolutely broken, Ed, and not because you don't love me, but because I feel this way. Because I am so selfish and petty, but, goddamnit, Ed, I am. I'm so, so sorry, but I am."
She sobbed and Dr Shapiro handed both of them a few tissues.
It was cold and quiet in the office.
Finally, the doctor asked, "Rose, how long have you felt this way?"
She sniffed and shrugged for a few moments as she thought. "I think..., no I KNOW the exact moment that I fell in love with you, Ed," she said as she sniffed. "Then, I didn't know you were gay, I don't think that you even did, but, I was still involved with John, then and... oh God, I sound like such an idiot and a tramp."
"No, Rosie," Ed spoke quietly, "tell me."
"It was a Saturday night. We were going to a performance of 'Shrew' and we stopped at an A&W Root Beer Drive-In Restaurant. John was very antsy before the show and he was bouncing around outside of the car, like he always did before a show, you know? Anyway, this time, he grabbed your food and you chased him and picked him up like he was a bag of potatoes and you carried him back to the car. Do you remember?"
Ed nodded. "Rosie... why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, like I said, I was involved with John and I wasn't sure if you were into him, too."
"I guess I kinda was, but..." Ed scoffed, but couldn't find the words to continue.
There was a very uncomfortable silence.
"May I ask a question?" The doctor asked. They both nodded. "When you talk about 'John,' are you talking about Bebe?"
Ed sighed. "Well, yes and no. I mean, John was a guy and he was my friend. Then he became Bianca because of the play and, for a while, he was still an adult, but once he became Bebe... well, everything changed."
"How?"
Rose took a deep breath. "All of a sudden, John was gone - like, completely gone. He was a completely different person. Young and dependent. Within a couple of weeks, he went from being our friend to being our little girl. I know that sounds weird, but that's how it happened, and the more Bebe needed a Dad, the more of a Dad Ed became."
"I see," the doctor took note of that.
"Ed," she took a moment to word her next question, "how many men have you slept with?"
Ed chuckled. "None. To tell you the truth, I've flirted a little, but I've never really felt connected enough to ask them out."
The doctor nodded. "How about women?"
This chuckle was very uncomfortable. "None. I know - a twenty one year old virgin. What a loser."
"Ed, stop." Rose squeezed his hand.
"And you, Rose?" The doctor asked.
Rose gave an uncomfortable smile. "Well, I've fooled around a lot - you know, hand jobs and a few blow jobs, but as for going all the way... just once."
"And have you ever had a lesbian relationship?"
"Well... I guess that my relationship with John... or Bianca... had lesbian qualities, but it was more of a kinky thing than an actual lesbian thing."
The doctor nodded. "Ed, have you ever had met a man you were truly attracted to?"
Ed shrugged. "Just John, I guess. I was very attracted to John."
"As John, or as Bianca?"
Ed smiled. "Bianca."
"I see." The doctor waited for them to say something.
"So..." Ed spoke slowly, "are you suggesting that I'm not gay?"
"Not at all," the doctor said, "but sexuality is not all one way or another. It's a spectrum, Ed, and we all have own preferences. It's like a cafeteria. All the food is good, but we each pick what fits our tastes."
The doctor thought for a moment, then continued. "You know what's funny about cafeterias? I never considered trying sushi. I mean, I'd heard of it, but I never tried it. Then, one day while I was getting my lunch, my friend got sushi and it looked good, so I tried it and I liked it. I didn't give up my other foods, but I grew to appreciate sushi, too."
Ed nodded.
"I think," the doctor finally reached her point, "that, perhaps, when you found yourself attracted to John when he became Bianca, that you became more open to the prospect of another aspect of your sexuality."
"So, What? I'm bisexual?" Ed asked.
"Possibly," The doctor shrugged. "Maybe you are gay, but I wouldn't recommend shutting off your attraction to women just because you found your feelings for John - or Bianca - confusing. Does that make sense?"
Ed nodded. "Look, I think I need to say something."
"Of course."
Ed turned to Rose. "Look, Rosie, I love you. You know that right?"
Rose nodded. "Yeah, Ed, but not the way I need you to love me."
"Well, I don't know, Rosie. I mean... Jesus, this is so damned hard for me to find the right words!? The thing is... I've thought about men lately, but... I've thought about you more. A lot more, but... I mean... What if I did ask you out. Huh? What if I did ask you out and then things went wrong? I mean, I love you, but I live with you and I work with you and... Well, then there's Bebe. What if things went wrong? I didn't even know how to talk to you about this until now, but... Rosie, I don't want to lose you. When you say you're lonely... I am, too, but despite that... and I know it sounds weird, but I have never... never... never been happier than I am now. I wake up in the morning happy to know that I have you and Bebe in my life. I come home from work happy to know that I'll see you and Bebe. I go to bed happy that we've made it through another day together, but then, like you, I'm lonely, too."
Rose had looked away from Ed and was looking at the knuckles of the hand she was biting. Her face was wet with tears and she was shaking.
"Rose?" The doctor asked. "Do you have anything to say to Ed?"
Rose's chin quivered uncontrollably and her face screwed up into an expression of emotional confusion.
"Take a breath, dear," the doctor said.
Rose breathed deeply and nodded. After five deep, cleansing breaths, she said, "Ed, I feel exactly the same way, but where does that leave us?"
"How about this?" Ed thought carefully. "While we're home for Thanksgiving and Bebe is with her other family, could I, maybe, take you out? You know, dinner and a movie? Then, maybe, we could see how things go from there? Maybe talk a bit? Figure things out? What do you say?"
Rose smiled, took Ed's hand in hers, then pulled it to her lips and kissed it. "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."
"Have you said goodbye to Blaine, yet?" Ella asked. "I bet he's going to miss you."
"His Mom is driving me to the airport, later. We'll say goodbye, then. Besides," John used a napkin to wipe a little bit of yogurt from his lips. "I'll only be gone for a few days. We're taking 'the red eye' tonight, so we'll get back to Massachusetts tomorrow morning. That's Wednesday. Then we're coming home early on Sunday. So that's only five days. We can Skype and text the whole time. I won't give him time to miss me." He smiled.
"Aren't your cousin and uncle coming with you?" Ella popped a piece of pineapple into her mouth.
"They're taking Uncle Ed's car. We'll follow them."
"Why on earth," MK was chewing a French fry, "would anyone take two cars to the airport?"
"Because Blaine wanted to come, too, and there isn't enough room in Uncle Ed's car, and he'd still needed a ride home. So, his mom is driving us. She's wicked nice."
MK laughed out loud. "'Wicked nice!' I love that! 'Wicked!' Makes me laugh, every time."
John laughed, too.
"I thought you'd outgrown all those New England-isms," Ella teased. "Now, you're going back and you'll relapse."
"Probably, not," John giggled. "I'm just seeing my mom and sister. Mom's an academic and Nancy's a doctor. They don't talk like that."
"Excuse me, ladies," Mr Carlin, the Headmaster, stood by their table. "Miss Foley, may I speak to you in my office for a few moments, please."
John and his two friends looked concerned.
"No need to worry, girls," Mr Carlin smiled. "I just need to talk to Miss Bianca about her tutoring services. I have to fill out some forms for the state D.O.E."
John stood and grabbed his books and followed the Headmaster down the hallway.
"So, how did your audition go the other day?" Mr Carlin asked.
"Real well," John smiled. "If they can make things work with my schedule, then I think I'll be in the movie."
"No kidding!?" He seemed genuinely enthusiastic for the young girl. "Well, that's wonderful, Bianca! Congratulations! I'm very happy for you."
"Thank you, Mr Carlin."
They entered the office and John took a seat in front of the desk as Mr Carlin sat behind it. He went through the forms, asking about the names of tutors and what work they'd gone through with him, etc.
When he'd finished, he sat back and crossed his legs with right ankle on top of his left knee. He folded his arms and took a second before saying, "Look, Bianca," his face took on a serious expression, "I know that you've had a hard time here, with Miss Gabriella and Miss Stephanie, but I hope that things are better for you, now."
"They are, sir. Thank you."
"You know, I am not real comfortable with my new position, here at Notre Dame. I'm the only male in the building. I've never really dealt with this many women and girls, before, and then there's you and Kylie to deal with. It's a lot."
"Me and Kylie, sir? You mean the tutoring and needing to be on set?"
"Well, yes, that and... well, are you aware of how many phone calls we get every week requesting information about you two? Most you, of course, but Kylie, too."
"No, sir. I didn't know anything about that." John felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Oh, don't worry, Bianca, we never release information, but they are persistent."
John nodded and thought. He considered what the Headmaster said, then said, "Sir, maybe I should mention that I've had a bad time with the people at TMZ, lately."
"Oh?"
John explained the situation, the attack on Uncle Ed and the confrontation at the mall.
The Headmaster nodded and took it all in. "Well, thank you for telling me about that, Bianca. I'll make the staff aware, as well. If you need us to know anything else, just come by the office and let me know. We're not just here to educate you, we're here to protect you and provide a safe place for you. Do you understand that?"
"Well, yes, sir, I do, but you do know that I was a target for Miss Gabriella, Miss Stephanie and Mr Crawford. So, I'm not really sure how 'safe' Notre Dame really is for me."
He smiled. "You're very bright, Bianca. I'm very impressed with you."
"Thank you, sir, but could I ask you a big favor?"
"Of course."
"Could you please call me Bebe? I hate being called Bianca."
He stood and extended his hand. "You got it, Bebe."
Blaine gave a big sigh as they traveled past the big letters L.A.X. At the gate of the airport. He was not happy about saying goodbye to Bebe - even just for a few days.
"I'm going to circle the airport a few times," Joanne said from the front seat. "Rose said she'd text me when she and Ed get to the terminal. It'll take a few minutes to park the car and take the shuttle."
"Don't rush, mom," Blaine said.
She snickered at her son's voice. He sounded a little desperate. "Don't worry, honey. She'll be back Sunday night. You'll both be busy with the holiday. You won't even have a chance to miss each other."
Blaine sighed and shook his head as he leaned over and whispered to John, "She's wrong. I'm going to miss you every minute. In fact, I miss you already." He leaned back and smiled.
"I'll miss you, too. I'll send a text when I land and we can talk tomorrow. Ok?" John smiled and Blaine's heart melted.
John's phone chimed, indicating a text. He glanced at it and snorted. He held up the phone and showed it to Blaine. It was from MK. 'HOW'S IT GOING? AT THE AIRPORT, YET? IS ROMEO CRYING?'
Blaine smirked and took out his phone. He sent a text to MK. 'ROMEO ISN'T CRYING, BUT HE'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU'D MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND LET HIM SAY GOODBYE TO JULIET.'
John giggled at the text and his phone chimed, again. 'UH OH. I THINK ROMEO'S GETTING SEXUALLY FRUSTRATED ALREADY.' John's hand flew to his mouth as he giggled uncontrollably.
Blaine took the phone and read the text. He dropped his hands to his side and shook his head. "Argh! I'm going to need to start hanging out with guys, again. Your girlfriends suck."
"Hey," John couldn't stop laughing at Blaine's expression, "they were your friends, first. And besides, I've met a few of your friends and they DO SUCK. You know that's true."
He sighed and nodded. "True and they don't smell as good as you guys."
"Tell you what," Joanne called over from the front seat, "I'll drop you two off so you can say goodbye without me eavesdropping. I'll keep circling and I'll pick you up after Bebe gets into the TSA line."
"Thanks, mom."
"Thanks, Joanne." The SUV came to a stop in front of the terminal. John leaned over the seat and kissed Joanne's cheek. "Happy Thanksgiving, Joanne. Thanks you for driving me."
Joanne raised her right hand and pulled John's soft cheek against her own in a quasi-hug. "Stay safe, Bebe. Your boyfriend will count the hours until you come back."
John kissed her cheek, again. "So will I!"
Blaine took John's hand and helped him from the SUV. He wheeled the small carry-on bag through the automatic doors while holding John's hand. "Have you heard back from Rita, yet?"
"No. She said it'd be a week or more before she knew if they'd agree to everything and the holiday will probably slow things down a little, too. But, you know what's funny? I'm really happy with my audition. It's like you guys all said at the mall. I'm really ok, no matter what. I did better than I expected and they really liked it. I hope that I get the role, but if I don't, it's not because of anything I did or didn't do and I'm ok with that."
Blane smiled. "I hope that's true." He stopped walking and turned to face John. He let go of the carry-on and he smiled at John while he ran his hands up and down his smooth arms. "Listen, Bebe, I'm going to miss you, but I'm going to worry about you even more than I miss you."
John hugged his boyfriend's chest. "I'll be fine. I promise."
"Yeah? I saw how stressed you were when your mom and sister came out here for the premier. Please don't get all wound up, ok? Stay cool. Don't let them get to you. Ok?"
"Ok. I'll do my best."
"I love you, Beebs."
John laughed at his use of the nickname. "I love you to, Blaine. I'll miss you."
"Hey, you two!" Rose called as they entered the terminal.
"Come on, honey," Ed said, heading to the ticket counter. "We're running a little late. Let's go."
"I'll miss you so much more." He hugged John and gave him a soft, quick, passionate kiss. "See you on Sunday."
"See you Sunday," and John hustled to join Rose and Ed at the counter.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the voice came through the loudspeaker as the plane taxied to the terminal, "welcome to Logan Airport in Boston Massachusetts. Local time is 4:25am and the local temperature is thirty three degrees." Everyone on the plane groaned at the cold temperature.
"Did you pack a winter coat?" Rose asked Ed.
"I have a polar fleece jacket," he said. "You?"
"Yeah, I have one."
"How about you, Bebe?" Ed asked as the plane came to a stop.
"I don't own a winter coat, anymore. I have a sweat shirt."
"A sweat shirt? Bebe, it's cold out. Why didn't you buy one?"
"We looked for a nice coat for her," Rose said as she stretched, "but we couldn't find anything nice. We figured that she'd find one at a good price here. Her mom can bring her to Burlington Coat Factory this afternoon and get her something nice.
Ed stood and shrugged. "Ok, but don't go getting sick on us." He pulled their carry-ons down from the overhead bin and they joined the line to exit the plane.
They checked their phones as they reached the terminal exit. "My limo ride is here," Rose said. "I ordered a car from a service to drive me home. How about you two?"
"My sister says she's two minutes away," John typed a text to his sister to confirm he'd be looking for her.
"My dad is outside. You go ahead, Rosie. I'll wait with Bebe until Nancy arrives."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, go ahead. I'll see you Friday night," he kissed her cheek.
Rose smile and returned the kiss, then turned to John and kissed his cheek as he asked, "Friday night? What are we doing Friday night?"
"'We' aren't doing anything, Beebs. Your uncle and I are going out on a date."
John did a double take at both his cousin and his uncle. Then, with a big smile he said, "What!? A date? When did this come up?"
"None of your business, young lady," Rose poked his nose. "It's a night for grownups." She blew them each another kiss and walked to the exit, her carry-on trailing behind her.
John turned to Ed, his eyes wide open. "A date?"
"Knock it off, Bebe, we're just trying to figure things out."
"I thought you were gay!?"
"And I thought you were a guy. Things change."
"Ooo, touché!"
As he giggled at the embarrassment he was causing Ed, a blue Dodge Journey pulled up by the crosswalk in the second driveway in front of the terminal exit. The passenger door opened and Nancy appeared. John let out a long breath. "There's Nancy. Oh, well. Here goes nothing. Happy anniversary, Uncle Ed." He hugged him and Ed bowed his head to receive and deliver kisses.
"Happy Thanksgiving, sweetheart. Remember, I'm just a phone call away."
Nancy entered the terminal, obviously irritated that John had not come running fast enough. "All set?" She asked.
"Yep," John started for the door.
Nancy looked at John's uncle, a bit of contempt in her eyes. "Ed," she nodded, coolly.
"Nancy," Ed smirked and nodded. "Happy Thanksgiving." He watched them head out the door.
"Did I just see you kiss Ed, goodbye?" Nancy's voice was smug and superior.
"Don't start on me, Nancy."
"'Don't start on me...'" Nancy smirked and mimicked him. "I'm here in the middle of the night to pick up my little brother who's now my little sister and I see him kissing his childhood friend, who's also his guardian, and the first thing I get is 'Don't start on me'? Come on, Johnny..."
John came to a dead stop at the sound of his old name.
"What's the matter?" Nancy asked, perturbed.
"Never mind," John turned and headed back to the terminal. "I'll call for an Uber."
Nancy fumed for a moment, then turned to the driver of the Journey and held up her open palms in an expression of extreme frustration. Then, she ran after her brother.
When she stepped in front of him, she said, "Ok, ok, I'm sorry. I'm just tired, ok?" She sighed. "Oh, why does it always have to be like this with us, Johnny?"
John leaned his head back and shook it, then headed towards the door, again.
Nancy grabbed his arm. "Alright, Alright... BIANCA!" She said, pronouncing the name with great exaggeration.
John stepped close and in an angry whisper said, "Nancy, we are in a public place, for crying out loud. Anyone can hear you. My name is Bebe and you know it. Why are you being like this?"
Nancy shook her head in frustration. "Oh, for crying out loud. Ok, BEBE," again she over pronounced the name, "I apologize. I've been working for twenty-six hours and I'm tired, ok? I don't live in this fantasy world that you live in, BEBE, I work long, hard hours with very sick people. I'm sorry if I don't live up to your expectations, that I'm not acting like part of your entourage..."
"Entourage!?" John was shocked.
"... but I just want to get out of Boston, get back to Worcester and take a long shower before falling asleep for a few hours. Do you understand me?"
"That's an apology?" John was livid. "Nancy, I didn't ask you to come here. I could have hired a car. Mom said you volunteered for this. Now, just go home and I'll call an Uber." He headed into the terminal again.
As John looked through his phone, searching for the Uber app, a tall, man with a heavy beard walked up, next to him and extended his hand. "Hi, Bebe, I'm Walter."
John looked up, knowing that the man wanted a picture. "Hi, Walter," he said with a distracted smile. "I'm sorry, but this is really not a good time. If you don't mind..."
"No, Bebe, I'm not a fan," the man interrupted. "Well, I am a fan, but... I'm also dating your sister."
John looked confused.
"I drove her here," he said.
"Oh," John began to realize that the man had witnessed the whole confrontation. "Oh, Umm, Walter, umm, I'm sorry that you had to see that. I'm just... well, I'm going to call for a ride, ok?"
The man shook his head and took the handle of John's carry-on. "No, you're not. I'm sorry, Bebe. Nancy was tired and wound up before we even left the hospital. To tell you the truth, I think she's pretty jealous." John noticed that the man was missing several teeth on the right side of his smile.
"Jealous? Of what?"
"Of what!? Bebe, you're her fifteen year old sister and you're a major star in Hollywood. She's worked her ass off - school, med school, long hours as a resident - while you rocketed to the top while you should be in high school! Can't you see how that might make her, at least a little bit, jealous?"
Suddenly, John felt bad for his sister. He looked out through the plate glass and saw his sister sitting in the light blue SUV - not even a nice SUV; a five or six year old, not particularly well maintained, mid priced vehicle. Nancy's face was turned away from the window, but her head was leaning on her hand. She was, obviously, upset.
"Come on, Bebe," the man said. "Let's go, ok? It'll be ok?"
John sighed. "Ok."
As they walked towards the door, John asked, "Do you work at the hospital with Nancy?"
The man smiled and chuckled at that. "No, no, no, I don't work work with Nancy. I work for the town of Newton. I drive a truck. Street repair. Snow Plowing. Stuff like that. We met at a coffee shop. We started dating back in August."
Back in August? Why hadn't Nancy or his mother mentioned it?
As Walter opened the back hatch of the vehicle and put the small suitcase in, John took a good look at Walter. He was older than Nancy by a few years, anyway. Maybe even over thirty or thirty-five. He was not very well dressed and smelled a bit of cigarette smoke. Nancy had never been serious about anyone before, why would she settle for someone like this? Maybe he was a nice guy, but he wasn't Nancy's intellectual equal by a long shot and he seemed... coarser than someone that Nancy would be attracted to. This seemed very un-Nancy-like. What was going on?
"Why don't you jump in behind Nancy," he said as he went to get in the driver's side.
As he opened the car, it occurred to John that this was the first time that he'd opened his own car door in months. Maybe he was living in a fantasy world of a sort! But then he noticed the empty food containers on the floor of the Dodge and the smell of cigarettes, pot and beer. Now, instead of being angry with Nancy, he was worried about her. He tossed the Chinese food boxes and empty cups from McDonalds, Burger King and Wahlburgers to the other side of the car, then climbed in. Before he had a chance to buckle his seat belt, Walter was zooming out of the passenger pickup area and headed for the Mass Pike.
John watched the familiar scenery flying by, but he didn't feel at all nostalgic for it. He liked Boston a lot, but this was John's past. It wasn't part of Bebe's life. That began in September in Los Angeles.
The radio blared out classic rock as they passed through Watertown and Newton and headed out into the Metro-West area. John could hear Walter and Nancy talking, but the music was loud enough to keep him from understanding what was being said. Pretty soon, Nancy seemed to drift off.
"Did you hear what I said?" Walter called back. He turned down the radio enough so that he could speak to John.
"No. I'm sorry, I didn't," John replied.
"I said, 'What's it like to live in LA?'"
"Oh, I like just fine," John said.
"Is it like Boston? I mean, noisy and lots of traffic?"
"Kinda," John shrugged. "I mean, it's a lot bigger than Boston, and more confusing, too. The traffic is much worse, too, but the sun shines a lot more and it's a lot warmer."
"Cool," Walter nodded and drove on. "Have you been to the Chateau Marmont?"
"The what?" John hadn't even heard of the infamous place.
"The Chateau Marmont! You know, Hunter S Thompson lived there in his heyday and John Belushi died there. I think Johnny Depp lives there, too. It's a very cool place."
"No. I've never been there."
"Really!? I'd love to go there."
John just shrugged.
"Not up your alley, huh?"
"I don't know, Walter." John wasn't really enjoying the conversation. "I only just turned fifteen. I don't really travel around the city. I just go to school and work."
"Oh, man. That sucks. No sight seeing?"
"I went to Disneyland, once, for my birthday," he admitted, "and I went to Disney Studios for an audition, but that's about it. Mostly, I just hang out with my friends."
Walter was about to ask another question when his phone rang. "Tony! What's up?"
John looked out the window and watched the world fly by for a few moments before a thought hit him. Who was calling Walter at 4:15 in the morning?
"Yeah, sure, man," Walter continued, "I can get it to you in a few hours. No can do, dude, I'm taking my girl to Worcester to drop her and her kid sister off."
'Kid?' Thought John.
"About 10:00, I think," Walter spoke into the phone. "Sure thing, dude. Meet me at the Dunkin' Donuts on Washington. Cool. See you then."
When he disconnected the call, Walter turned to John and said, "Sorry. Business, you know?"
"I thought you drove a truck."
"I do a lot of things, Bebe. Gotta pay the bills, you know. We're not all movie stars."
John sighed. "Neither am I."
When they reached his mother's street, John leaned forward and shook Nancy's shoulder. She woke up with a grunt. "We're home," John said.
"Oh," she sat up and blinked her eyes.
The brakes squealed as Walter stopped in front of the house. The sky was just brightening. "I gotta run, babe," Walter said. He leaned over and gave Nancy an aggressive kiss on the lips and, John noticed, a squeeze on her left breast.
"Yeah, ok," Nancy said dispassionately. She opened the door and stepped out.
John tried to open his door, but it wouldn't open. "Oh, Yeah," Walter said. "That handle's broken. Nancy, you have to open her door from the outside."
Nancy shook her head and opened the door. "Hey," she said, quietly, as if greeting John for the first time that morning. She hugged John as he stepped out of the SUV.
She led her very confused brother around to the back of the vehicle where she opened the hatch and pulled out his carry-on. Then she put her arm around John as they headed into the house. Without a word, Walter pulled out.
As they entered the house, Nancy said, "Welcome, home, hon. You should get yourself to bed."
John stood confused. "Nancy?"
She turned with a questioning look.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"What?" Nancy squinted.
"At the airport...? You were such a bitch. Now... what's going on?"
Nancy rolled her eyes. "Was I? I'm sorry, Johnny... sorry, Bebe. I was just wiped from a long shift. We do twelve hour shifts at Tufts, you know."
"Tufts? Since when do you work at Tufts? You were at Mass General."
"Yeah. I had to move to Tufts. Long story."
"But you were so happy there before... and what about Walter? Are you serious about him?"
"Walter?" She thought for a couple of seconds. "No, we're not really serious. Why?"
John tried to think of a way of saying, 'Because he's a creep,' but his thoughts were interrupted when his mother came down the stairs.
"Well, what a great way to wake up - with both of my kids in my living room!"
She hugged and kissed each of them.
"I'm going to upstairs and take a real quick shower before I go to bed. Love you, mom. Love you, Bebe."
"Do you want to go bed, too, or will you join me in the kitchen and talk for a few minutes," Marilyn asked.
"I'd like to talk," John followed his mother into the kitchen.
"How was your flight?" She asked.
"It was fine. I slept most of the way. Mom, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, honey. What is it?"
"Is Nancy ok?"
"Well, sure, I think so. Why?"
He explained the differences between Nancy's behavior at the air port and then how she behaved after she slept.
"Oh, I imagine she's just over tired. She's been going all out since she started at Tufts."
"Yeah, and about that, why did she leave Mass General?"
Marilyn sighed as she sat and John sat across from her. "To tell you the truth, honey, your sister has been going through a lot recently. She didn't want me to tell you, but she lost her job at Boston General and she had a hard time finding a new one. She lost her car because she couldn't make the payments. She's had it rough, honey, but her new job has been a life saver."
"Mom!" John was shocked. Nancy was always the responsible one. This didn't make sense. "How could you have let her lose her car!? I would have helped! I have all that money in my trust fund. She didn't need to lose her car!"
"Well, to tell you the truth, honey," Marilyn patted his hand, "I didn't know about that or her job until we were on the plane to visit you. We had a pretty tense few days. I'm sorry if we seemed out of sorts while we were out there. We had a lot to work out, but she made me promise not to tell you. It's all over now, though, but please, don't mention any of it to her."
Marilyn got up and put a K-Cup into her Keurig coffee maker and pushed a button.
John digested what his mother had told him. He'd kind of hated both his mother and sister since that visit. Now, he felt confused. He considered everything he'd been told and he was concerned. Still, Nancy's behavior was more confusing than this explanation could justify.
"What do you think of Walter," John asked.
Marilyn turned, folded her arms and leaned back against the counter. "I don't know, honey," she said. "You can't control who your kids fall in love with. He doesn't make a great first impression, that's for sure, but Nancy seems to like him. What do you think of him?"
John scoffed. "What's not to like? I got to spend an hour and a half with him in his filthy, smelly car while he blasted Led Zeppelin and Def Leppard and my sister snored. It was a perfect opportunity to get to know him."
Marilyn snickered. "Sorry, honey. I was going to pick you up, but Nancy really wanted to. I thought she wanted to make amends with you."
John nodded. "Should I be worried about her?"
"I don't know, baby," she said. "People go through phases in their lives. It's too bad that you entered a very positive phase just as Nancy entered a negative one. That may have exacerbated her depression, but I think she's getting over it. Maybe having some sister time with you will be good for her."
It was nearly 1:00 that afternoon when John woke up. He came down stairs to an empty house and a note from his mother that read, 'Hi, Honey. Nancy and I went to do some shopping. I'll pick up a coat for you. If you don't love it, we can go out together on Friday or Saturday and get another. Love you.'
He looked through the cupboards and the refrigerator, but he couldn't find anything inspiring to make for breakfast. He'd need to ask his mom to pick up some fruit and yogurt. So, he went upstairs to change. He put on a fresh bra and panty, then pulled out his cosmetics to get ready. Of course, since this was John's room, Bebe couldn't really do his hair and makeup there. He looked into Nancy's room and noticed that her vanity was, for the most part, vacant, so he decided to use it.
He spread his makeup and applicators and began his morning regime, even though it was early afternoon. When his face was done, he began working on his hair. It just wasn't coming together for him, though. He plugged in his curling iron and waited a few moments for it to heat up.
He looked around the room. Nancy had only lived here part time for the last eight-plus years, so it still resembled a high school girl's room. It was cute and neat, but then something incongruous leapt out at him. On her night stand, he spotted an open pill bottle. It was larger than he'd normally seen around the house. It made him wonder what it was for, so he reached over and picked it up.
There was no label, but it was about half filled with white, oval shaped pills with the numbers '10/325' impressed on them. He wondered what they were. He picked up his phone and googled the description of the pills. He read the description and he felt a warm wash of fear cross over his body.
He opened up Goggle again and this time entered the name of the drug and the word 'symptoms of abuse." He read article after article and took note of everything.
Finally, he called up his 'contacts' app and pressed the proper name. It rang three times before someone picked up. "Hi, Dr. Shapiro? This is Bebe. I need some advice."
It was nearly 6:30 before John returned home. "Is that you honey?" Marilyn called from the kitchen.
"Yeah, it's me, mom," John entered and pulled off the sweatshirt he was wearing.
"Where have you been, honey?"
"Oh, I had to run a few errands. I called an Uber and took care of it. I also picked up a few groceries. I'm sorry, but I'm on a pretty strict diet. I picked up what I needed."
Marilyn took the bag from John and put the fruit and yogurt into the fridge. "That's fine, baby. You were gone a long time, though. The store is just around the corner."
"I had to deal with a few other things, too."
"You didn't buy a coat, did you? Because I bought you the cutest coat! Come here."
Marilyn lead John into her office, where she picked up a white, cloth coat, with a fluffy, faux-fur collar and big, black buttons that formed a double breasted silhouette. There was a white belt and the bottom flared out and landed just at his knees. It was warm and comfy and absolutely adorable.
John pulled it on, buttoned it up and looked at his reflection in the mirror. "Oh, mom, it's beautiful! I love it! Thank you, so much!"
"You're welcome, dear," she beamed at his reaction. "I enjoyed buying younger clothes for a change. Nancy's a bit more conservative than this coat, now."
"How is Nancy, today?" John asked, sounding concerned.
"Oh, ok, I guess, honey. She's been very moody for the last few months. I am a little concerned. Hopefully, she'll feel better when her residency is over. Becoming a doctor is very challenging. I think it's taking its toll on her."
John nodded and sighed. "I hope she's ok."
"I'm sure she is, baby," his mother hugged him in his pretty little coat. "Nancy's a smart girl. She'll be ok."
At 2:00pm, on the dot, on Thanksgiving afternoon, as was Marilyn's tradition, dinner was served in the dining room, a room that was reserved to three or four meals a year. Everything smelled amazing!
Marilyn wore a comfortable, but pretty, mid-length blue skirt with a beige, button down top and black flats. Simple and pretty.
Nancy wore a pair of clean jeans, a white, button down shirt and an old pair of flip flops. Not sloppy, but not dressy. She did look pretty, but tired.
They were already seated when John entered. He'd spent a good deal of time on his hair and makeup. His lips were darker than his usual, young pink, and his hair was full and shiny. He wore a mauve, fit and flare, knee length dress - the stretchy top had a V-neck and sleeves that ended just where his elbows bent. There was a hidden zipper up his back and, something John always looked for in a dress, pockets. His feet looked beautiful in two-inch heals that had just a thin strap across the 'vamp' and an even thinner strap around his ankles. The shoes were the same color as the dress, as were his finger and toenails. His earrings were pearl studs and, of course, the ubiquitous silver B.B. hung from from the dainty chain around his neck.
"Holy moly!" Marilyn laughed. "Ladies and gentlemen, the movie start has arrived!"
John smiled, but stopped before sitting. "I'm sorry, am I over dressed?"
"Yes," said Nancy
But Marilyn laughed her off with a big, "No! You look absolutely beautiful, dear. Nancy and I will have to try to rise to your level for Christmas, that's all." She beamed at the beauty that he son presented as he smoothed his skirts and sat at the table.
"Before we begin," Marilyn said, "I just want to say that I am incredibly thankful to have my girls with me today and to know that they are both beautiful, confident women who are doing so well."
"Thanks, mom," Nancy said, but her smile was fleeting and she didn't retain a lot of eye contact.
"Thanks, mom," John smiled at his mother, then at his sister.
They devoured turkey and potatoes and yams and celery and cranberry sauce. John's eyes were bigger than his stomach and he quickly ran out of space. Within a half-hour, he was sitting back with his hand on his abdomen. "Ug," he groaned, "as my friend Ella says, 'I think I'm having a food-baby.'"
Marilyn laughed, but things were interrupted when Nancy's phone rang. "I have to take this. It's work."
Marilyn nodded, a little disappointed that she hadn't left her phone out of the dining room, as was their Thanksgiving rule. She returned to finishing her meal.
John sipped water, but strained to hear what Nancy was saying.
"Hi. - No, I haven't had a chance to ask her, yet. - Wally, this is embarrassing for me, you know. - Yeah, well, you're not a doctor, Wally. I am." She let out a very frustrated sigh. "No. I only have enough for myself, right now. I can try to get some on my next shift. - I can't guarantee anything, Wally. It all depends on who my supervisor is."
"That must be delicious water," Marilyn said, rousing John from his listening.
"Huh? What?"
"Don't eavesdrop on Nancy, honey. It's not polite."
"I'm not eaves... mom, I'm really worried about Nancy. I think she might be in trouble."
Marilyn looked from her youngest child to the doorway where her oldest could be heard mumbling into her phone, then back again. "I am, too, Bebe." John noticed that this was this first time since he arrived that his mother had used his new name. They both heard Nancy saying goodbye. "We'll talk when we have some privacy, ok?"
John nodded.
They cleared the table and laid out the dessert, apple pie with vanilla ice cream and slices of cheddar cheese. They all enjoyed the combination of flavors. Marilyn and Nancy each had two slices. John couldn't finish his first slice, but did indulge in a second helping of the ice cream, which came from a local dairy and had a flavor that you could only find in ice cream made in New England.
When they were all about to enter a food coma, they sat back in their chairs and smiled at each other. At this point, John figured that now was as good a time as any to say what he wanted to say.
"Mom?"
"Yes, honey?"
"I know that this is Thanksgiving and we don't usually exchange gifts, but I got something for you." Out of one of the pockets of his skirts, he pulled a small box wrapped in silver foil and bearing a small silver bow.
"Oh, well, thank you, dear," she accepted the gift and smiled at her pretty, little son.
She unwrapped the present to find what was, obviously, a jeweler's box which contained a ring. She opened it to find a beautiful, silver ring with two stones, one a small, but beautiful diamond, the other a bright blue topaz. Marilyn had always preferred silver jewelry to gold and the setting was simple, but elegant. "Oh, my, oh, my," she gasped. "Bebe... its just beautiful."
She handed the box to Nancy to see.
"It's a mother's ring," John explained. "The diamond is for April, Nancy's month, and the topaz is for November, my month. I hope it fits."
Nancy handed it back to her mother who removed the ring and tried it on. "It fits beautifully, baby," there was a tear in her eye. "Thank you. How did they size it correctly?"
"I took a ring out of your jewelry box and had them match that." He made a playfully guilty face. "I hope you don't mind."
"Oh, don't be silly. It's just beautiful, dear. Thank you."
John smiled, then turned to his sister. "Nancy, I got you this." He handed her an envelope.
She took the envelope and gave an expectant chuckle. "You got me an envelope! Oh, you shouldn't have!" She teased.
But when she opened it, she turned pale. She looked up quickly and stared at her little brother.
"What is it, dear?" Marilyn asked.
She looked at her mother, then back at her brother. "Johnny... I can't accept this."
John didn't even blink. "Yes, you can. You need it."
"What is it?" Marilyn snatched the envelope and looked at what it contained. It took her breath away as well. There was a cashier's check with a 'Post-It Note' adhered to it. The note read, "Nancy, use this to buy a new car. I love you. Bebe." The cashier's check read "Pay to: Nancy Foley. Amount: Thirty Thousand Dollars." Marilyn finally took a shaky breath and said, "Honey, this is very generous, but, I think that Nancy may be right..."
John's Eyes never left his sister. They remained soft and loving. "Nancy, I love you and you need it. I won't take it back. It's yours. Please, use it for a car. I know you can't buy anything too fancy, but thirty thousand should be able to get you something nice and reliable. It's yours. End of story."
Suddenly, John looked much more confident and secure than he'd looked in months.
"Johnny..." Nancy sputtered, "...I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything," John smiled some more, "but before we're done, I got you something else, too."
He handed her another envelope. Nancy opened it and looked at it, confused. "Mountain View? Assisted detox? John, what the hell is this?" Her voice had an edge to it.
John could tell she was getting angry. Yesterday, before taking any steps, he'd talked to Dr Shapiro and she'd warned him to remain perfectly calm and not let Nancy draw him into a conflict. "I talked to my therapist, Nancy, and she says this is the best clinic in New England for drug problems."
"Drug problems!?" Marilyn was confused.
John continued in his soft, even tone. "They specialize in doctors and nurses who get hooked on things like Percocet."
"What!?" Marilyn's Eyes shout wide open as Nancy's hand shot to her mouth and her eyes narrowed. "Nancy!?" Marilyn was pale. "Are you taking drugs!? Percocet!?"
"Who the fuck do you think you are!?" Nancy glared at John. "You waltz in here with more money than brains and think you can help 'save' me!?"
"I just want to help you, Nancy."
"HOW!?" Nancy screamed, now. "By telling my mother I'm a drug addict!?"
"Nancy!?" Marilyn was falling apart. "Nancy, are you...?"
Nancy stood and threw the envelopes at John. "You cocky little faggot!" She screamed. "Coming to dinner in a dress that cost more than I make in a week and acting like your shit doesn't stink. Who the FUCK do you think you are, you little fairy!?"
Now, Marilyn stood and slammed her hands down on the table. "Nancy! Sit down and..."
"Oh, shut the fuck up, mom!" Marilyn was stunned into silence. "You and your little princess think you can sit in judgement over me!? Well, fuck you, both!"
She turned and headed towards the stairway, but John jumped up and hurried to get in front of her. "Nancy, please, let me help you. It's twenty-eight Days. If you go by Monday, you'll be back home by Christmas. Please, give it a try. I can't stand to think of you with this kind of..."
He was silenced when Nancy's right hand came in contact with his left cheek. The slap was loud, hard and painful to both of them.
"LEAVE ME ALONE, GODDAMNIT!" Nancy's voice had become an unnatural shriek. She slapped him again, this time making him stumble backwards. "I'll mess up your pretty, little, faggy face so bad that the great Bebe Foley will never appear on TV again. How would you like that? Then you'd lose your handsome boyfriend, too. Oh, wouldn't that be a shame, little girl?" Her volume remained loud and her tone became mocking. "Poor little Bianca lost her boyfriend because she wasn't pretty anymore. Now, she has to find some other little boy to jam his dick up her ass. Poor little thing!"
"Nancy! Stop it!" Marilyn didn't know what to do. She'd never been in a situation like this before. She'd never heard Nancy use language like this before.
"Oh, just shut up and leave me alone!" She ran up the stairs.
Marilyn ran to John. "Are you ok?"
He nodded.
"Is Nancy really...? Is she taking drugs?"
John nodded as he rubbed his cheek. "I think she's taking a lot of them, mom. I found the bottle of Percocet in her room. It was big and it was two-thirds empty."
Nancy came running down the stairs, her coat, purse and a small bag in her hand. "I'm out of here," she said as she pushed past them. She stopped at the door and turned to shout, "Happy Fucking Thanksgiving!" before she slammed the door.
Marilyn ran to the door and struggled with it for a moment before opening it just in time to see her own car speeding out of the driveway and down the street.
She came back in and ran to the phone.
"Mom, don't call the police," John begged.
"John," Marilyn spoke firmly, "Nancy has my car and a supply of Percocet! I'm not going to let her hurt herself! What if she has an accident!?"
"Mom, if you report the car stolen, she'll be arrested and then she'll never come back. And she doesn't have any Percocet. I took them all and replaced them with Tylenol."
Marilyn put the phone down. She rubbed her forehead, then looked at John. She took a few steps toward him and hugged him. "Are you ok?"
He nodded. "I'm sorry, mom. I had to do it. She could die." He'd didn't mean to, but he started sobbing.
Marilyn sobbed, too. "I know, baby. I know. Maybe there was a better way to handle this, but you're right - it had to be done. I just wish you'd told me about it."
"I couldn't mom. You never would have let me spent the money for the rehab center."
She leaned back and looked at him, concerned. "Why? How much did the rehab place cost?"
"It doesn't matter, mom..."
"Yes it does, John, and I'm going to see the statement, anyway. What did the rehab place cost?"
John looked around, avoiding making eye contact, until he finally said, "Nineteen Thousand, five hundred dollars."
Marilyn's eyes grew wide. "John Robert Foley!" She wasn't being mean, she was just revved up and that was the name she always used to scold this particular child. "You spent twenty-thousand dollars and then handed her thirty thousand dollars!? That's fifty thousand dollars in one day!? You can't spend money like that, you know that! How did you even access that much money?"
"I went to the bank. The five hundred dollar limit you put on my account only applies to my debit card. I can take money out at the counter."
Marilyn sagged. "Good God, Almighty, John... fifty thousand dollars!!! That's a fortune!"
"Mom, I have a fortune, or at least a lot of money. Fifty thousand dollars is nothing. The show is going to be renewed and Rita is negotiating my salary for a film... I can afford to spend fifty thousand dollars - hell, I can afford to spend five hundred thousand dollars if it helps my sister! Mom, this guy she's with... he's a drug dealer. I think she's stealing Oxycodone and selling it. She needs help and I can help her!"
"Oxycodone!? I thought you said she was taking Percocet." Marilyn held up her hands.
"Same thing, mom. Percocet is just a brand name."
There was silence.
"Well, What do we do now?" Marilyn asked as she collapsed into a chair.
"Wait, I guess." John sat on the couch and tucked his legs under him. "Hopefully, she'll come back."
It was 10:06pm. The house had gone dark, but neither John nor Marilyn had moved since Nancy stormed out. Occasionally, one or the other sighed or said something, but for the most part, it was quiet.
Marilyn's phone chimed. She looked at the screen. It was a text from Nancy. 'MOM. I REALLY MESSED UP. I NEED TO TALK TO YOU. CAN I COME HOME?'
She read the text to John, then replied, 'OF COURSE. PLEASE COME HOME. I LOVE YOU.'
'I LOVE YOU, TOO.'
The second that the text came through, the front door opened and Nancy entered. She came and sat on the coach, near John.
"Should I leave?" John asked.
"Why?" Nancy asked. "You already seem to know everything."
John leaned back and waited for Nancy to speak. She put her elbows on her knees and her forehead in her hand. She sat that way for a long, long time. Finally, she said, "I've really fucked things up, mom. I need some help."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 15
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For John, too, but his discoveries are more difficult to deal with. This chapter is a series of contrasts between
one of the best Thanksgivings ever and one of the worst. It's a slightly different approach for me.
Thank you all for sticking with Bebe and me!
Author's Note: Please let me know your thoughts and critiques on this chapter?? ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 15 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.
GOING HOME -or- IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING, ANY ROAD WILL GET YOU THERE
"Hi." The woman smiled as she opened the front door of the charming, colonial farm house. "You must be Ed. I've heard so much about you. I'm Eileen, Rosemary's mother. Come right is."
"Thank you, Eileen." Ed came in and handed the woman a bottle of rather expensive wine. "Here, I brought this for you."
"Oh, well, that's awfully nice of you, Ed. That was t necessary, though, I mean, you and Rosemary are headed out for dinner, anyway. But thank you."
Ed smiled. "I know, but Rosie said that you liked wine. I don't know much about it, actually, but the guy at the store recommended this. I hope you like it."
She read the label and was impressed by the name of the winery. "Oh, I'm sure I will. Umm, did you just refer to Rosemary as Rosie?"
Ed nodded. "Yes."
"Huh," the woman smiled. "I have never once heard anyone refer to her as Rosie. She has always been Rosemary or Rose."
Ed laughed. "See, I didn't know her real name was Rosemary, or I would have called her that."
The woman smiled, but went to the foot of the beautiful, two hundred year old staircase and called up, "Oh, Rosie! Rosie! Your little friend is here." She looked at Ed with a smirk on her face. "She'll be right down. I'm sorry that my husband isn't here. I know he'd like to meet you, but he always flies to Florida for the weekend after Thanksgiving to golf with his brother. Do you golf, Ed?"
"Oh, um, no ma'am." Ed shook his head. "I never learned how."
"Well, despite the many hours that my husband spends trying to get better at it, I believe that the game is essentially just about getting a little ball into a hole. I'm sure you could learn. If you'd ever like to get to know Rosemary's father, you should probably learn how to play."
Ed smiled and nodded.
"Ed," Rose said from the stairway. "I didn't know that you were here. I'm sorry I made you wait. You're a little early." She kissed his cheek.
"Hey, Rosemary." Ed grinned as he kissed he back. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too," Rose replied as she immediately got caught up in Ed's beautiful eyes, "but if you ever call me 'Rosemary' again, I'll kick you from here to hell and back again." She smiled and kissed him, again.
"Ed tells me that he calls you Rosie," her mother teased. "As I recall, that name was forbidden in this house."
Rose smiled. "It still is."
"Then you need to explain that to your gentleman caller."
Rose smirked. "He has my permission. No one else, though. No one! Never!" Rose kissed her mother and took Ed's arm. "We'll be home late. Love you, mom."
As they walked to Ed's rented car, a Mercedes SL, Ed took her hand and teased, "You never told me that you didn't like to be called Rosie."
"Yuck! It's an awful name, isn't it? It sounds like a maid's name. Or a waitress in a greasy dinner?"
Ed chuckled. "No. I think it sounds beautiful and musical. Like the start of a beautiful, rosy day."
"See?" She hugged him as he opened the door for her. "That's why I love it when YOU say it."
He smiled and, before she could insert herself into the luxury sedan, he kissed her, but not like he'd not a thousand times before. This time he kissed her on her lips and the kiss was soft and warm and lingering. When, at last, they parted, she smiled at him and looked as if she'd just heard a very funny joke.
"What?" Ed asked with a nervous chuckle.
"I've been waiting five months for that kiss."
"And?"
"And... you did not disappoint, Mr McNeal." She gave him a brief, affection, second kiss, then pulled herself into the car.
Ed closed the door gently, then proceeded to let himself into the driver's side. "Your Mom was watching through the window." He said as he pushed the ignition button.
Rose grinned and took Ed's hand. "She's jealous. She loves you on the show. I think she's crushing on you."
"Want me to go back in and kiss her, then?"
Rose laughed. "You'd make her night, I can tell you that."
He put the car in gear and pulled out into the street. "I'll catch her when I drop you off."
As they drove through the early evening gloom of a November evening in rural Massachusetts, they chatted. Mostly, about how strange it was to come home after living on their own for months. It was different than college. Coming home from college was like... well... coming home. This was more like leaving home. They missed each other, and Bebe.
"Where are we going?" Rose asked. Ed had taken a route that she did not recognize.
"Well, since your family decided to live in the middle of nowhere, Boston was out of the question. I found a little five-star place up in Barre, though. It's a B&B, but Yelp says that their food is amazing."
"Well, aren't you something?" Rose chuckled.
"When you're taking a television star out to dinner, you have to prepare."
Marilyn's minivan was noisier than anything John had traveled in for months, except, of course, for Walter's beat up Dodge Journey. John sat in the back seat behind his mother. Nancy rode in the front passenger seat. It was dark and the unfamiliar, dark, two lane highway that was Rt 2 was getting smaller and more winding as they worked their way further and further into The Berkshire Mountains.
"Maybe we should do this in the daytime," Nancy murmured, a bit disconsolate.
"No, they said that we could check in at any time. Besides, we've been on the road for almost three hours. We're pretty close now. Honestly, I didn't know that you could drive this far and still be in
Massachusetts."
Nancy nodded. She looked into the back seat at her brother who was huddled in a sweatshirt and wrapped up in a New England Patriots' fleece blanket. "Why didn't you wear the coat we picked out for you?"
John took his attention away from the darkened window and said, "It seemed too nice to wear in the car for so long."
Nancy smiled. Her grungy little brother didn't want to mess up his pretty new coat. It was funny, but until now she'd been able to disassociate the little girl on Civil Disobedience from her brother. She knew it was John, but it really wasn't. It was just a girl on TV. Bebe was real though and she needed to come to terms with that.
"Johnny," she said, quietly, "I'm sorry."
John shrugged. "I know."
"No, Johnny, you don't. I should have been... better."
"Nan... it wasn't your fault."
She snickered. "But it was, Johnny. It was all my fault. I stole the drugs. I took them. And worst of all... I treated you like shit... and I'm sorry."
"In two miles," the voice of Google Maps said through the radio, "take the exit."
"We're nearly there," Marilyn said. "Ten minutes."
Nancy nodded. She was dreading this. She'd heard about the rigors of detox and she wasn't looking forward to it. She hadn't admitted it to her mother or brother, but she'd been taking the drugs for well over a year. She'd been able to go unnoticed for a long time, then Walter came into her life and things got a lot more complicated. She'd lost her position at Mass General and barely avoided an arrest. When the drugs weren't available as easily anymore, she became reliant upon Walter - that made things an awful lot worse.
"Johnny," Nancy said, again, "I'm very... well... thank you, Johnny. And I know that Johnny doesn't exist anymore, but.." her voice became a little shaky. "... no matter what... I never stopped loving you. I know that it didn't look like it, but..." a tear rolled down her cheek. "...I'm just so, so, sorry that I've been such a crappy, bitch of a sister when you needed me."
"Nancy," John was having a hard time controlling his own emotions, "who knows where I'd be if you hadn't diagnosed what was happening to me. I guess I was just too wrapped up in everything that was happening to me that I didn't pay attention to what you needed."
Nancy reached back and squeezed his hand. "Never again, Johnny, ok?"
He nodded.
"And Johnny," she smiled, "I'll never call you anything other than Bebe, again, but you'll always be my little Johnny."
"We're here," Marilyn said flatly as she turned into the driveway. She'd remained uncharacteristically quiet through most of the trip. She pulled the van to a stop in front of the stairs to the building. It was 9:45pm, it was dark and it was windy. How could she leave her child here? Didn't she need to be at home where her mother could help her heal? This wasn't right. These strangers... they didn't know Nancy. Was this the right thing. She undid her seatbelt and reached for the door handle, but Nancy stopped her.
"No, mom, I'll go in by myself. It's time that I started acting like a grownup."
Marilyn nodded and stared at her daughter. Her chin quivered as she watched her daughter pull her coat more tightly around herself and prepared to leave her.
"I'll see you on the twenty-third, I guess." Nancy was having a hard time speaking. "Mom... I'm so sorry I let you down."
"Nancy..." Marilyn's voice was filled with tears, even as she refused to cry. "You couldn't... Oh, honey, just get through this, baby. I love you."
Nancy nodded, then smiled at her mother, then at her brother, then, in a very quiet voice, she said, "Bye," and got out of the car, closed the door and walked up the stairs and into the building.
Marilyn watched until she was gone, then put the mini van in gear and drove to the end of the parking lot where she stopped, put the van in park, took a deep breath and let everything out, with deep sorrow filled moans and self deprecating shouts of, "You stupid, stupid woman! How could you not have seen that she needed you!? Stupid, stupid idiot!"
The the driver's door opened and a little girl appeared before her. A girl she recognized, but was unsure that she could never really claim as her own child, but the child wrapped her arms around her and held her tightly. "I'm so sorry mom. I'm so sorry." Then the child wept as well.
"Oh, my this all looks so beautiful," Rose said as her plate was placed before her.
"Is everything ok?" The proprietor of the elegant B&B appeared by the table. His smile was big and welcoming.
"Everything looks delicious." Ed smiled and spread his napkin across his lap.
"Wonderful," the man said. "And, by the way, I'm a huge fan of your show."
"Oh, thank you," Rose sang to him.
"I was just curious," the man looked about to be sure he wouldn't be over heard. "I saw your interview on Ellen and, well... I didn't think you two were... involved. If you don't mind me asking... is this a date?"
Ed and Rose exchanged smiles.
"First date, in fact," Ed said.
The man clapped once, then realized that he may attract unwanted attention. "I'm so happy for you both!" He left with a huge smile on his face. What a story this would make for years to come
"Oh, this is amazing!" Rose said as she sampled her trout. "How is yours?"
"It's delicious." Ed put down his knife and fork. "Rosie," he sounded more like a young man in love than he'd ever sounded before, "I know that this is our first 'official' date, but you know how I feel about you, don't you."
Rose took another small bite and looked around the charming dining room. "I do, Ed, and you know how I feel about you, too."
He held his palms open. "So? What do you say we give this whole 'being a couple' thing a shot, then?"
Rose smiled at his sudden boyishness. "Ed... You and I both know that there's a lot more to this than just 'going steady' or something like that. We live together, we work together and we are both responsible for someone else. Put that all together and it's already a mess. Then add in the fact that we have suddenly become some kind of celebrities and our lives, well, your life, anyway, seems to be the subject of a paparazzi frenzy, and I just don't know how we are meant to move forward."
"Move forward? As what?"
"As friends, Ed. As partners. As... lovers... whatever. It's all so damned complicated."
Ed nodded and thought, "How about this, then."
God, that smile and those eyes. She was melting.
"How about, for the foreseeable future, I'll love you and you'll love me and that will be how we live. Screw the press and the paparazzi. Everyday, I will love you with all of my heart and every night I will hold you until you're asleep and kiss you when you wake up. I'll be your friend and your boyfriend and when we're ready, I'll be your lover and, hopefully, someday, I'll be your husband. I've been thinking about this for a long time and that's the best plan I can come up with." He laughed.
Rose beamed at him, but once again looked as if she was about to laugh at some kind of a joke. "You are amazing, Ed McNeal." She looked around and no one was listening. She took a sip of water, put her glass down and leaned back. "I'm at a loss. I have nothing to say."
"Well, say 'yes,'" Ed smiled.
She took him in for a few more moments. So handsome. So smart. Such a good father to Bebe. He was, undoubtedly, a great guy. Probably the best she'd ever met or was ever likely to meet.
"Ok, Ed," she laughed, just a little, now. "Ok. I say, 'yes,' and I will do the same for you. Let's... be together."
"Excellent." Ed smiled. "I really do love you, Rosemary."
"I love you, too, Edward."
He laughed at that, then picked up his knife and fork and cut himself a slice of the prime rib on his plate. He put a bite into his mouth and grimaced.
"What's wrong?" Rose asked.
"It got cold," he laughed.
Rose laughed, too. "Mine's fine. Here. Take a bite."
"Are you going to be ok, mom?" John asked as his mother headed for the ladies room. They'd stopped about two thirds of the way back home to have a coffee. Marilyn had had a tough time after Nancy left the van.
"I'm ok, honey. I'll be right back."
John sat and sipped his hot chocolate, hoping he'd done the right thing.
"Hey, you're Alex, aren't you?" a man sitting at the counter of the Denny's restaurant called out rather loudly.
John smiled and gave a modest wave, hoping to dissuade the man from engaging, but it didn't work. He walked over to John's table and said in a very loud, probably tipsy, voice, "You are! You're that girl, Alex, on that TV show. I just said to my buddy, 'Look over there. That's that girl from the TV show, Civil Disagreements' or whatever. And you are."
"Hi," John said quietly.
"Well, geez, Alex." The man sat down opposite John as if he'd been invited. "What are you doing in Leominster, Massachusetts?" He remained loud and John could see other people taking note of him.
He smiled at the lout and said, "I'm from Massachusetts. I'm here to celebrate the holiday with my family."
"No shit?" The man was being overly friendly and ignorantly rude.
John forced a smile and nodded.
"Hey, Hey, Hey." The man had obviously had an idea. "Let's get a picture with you and everyone in the restaurant. Ok? Hey, everyone, let's get a picture with Alex, here, what do ya say!?"
The people, unused to a celebrity, applauded and started moving towards John's booth. He sighed. There was no way to avert this, now. Luckily, there were only about fifteen people in the restaurant at the moment.
"You stand on the bench and we'll all stand around you," the man instructed.
John took a second to grab his mother's coat and purse and put it near him before he stood on the bench. The people gathered around and one waitress took the first picture, she changed places with another waitress who took another picture. Then, phone after phone was passed forward so patrons would have a souvenir of meeting 'Alex' from 'Civil Whatever.'
They all thanked John, but as he got down from the bench, the original lout of a patron said, "Here," to a waitress. "Now, take one of just me and Alex."
John did his best to smile as they looked into the camera-phone, but at the last second, the man turned and planted a big, sloppy kiss on John's lips. As John tried to push him off, his buddies hooted and howled and applauded from behind the waitress-photographer. Everyone seemed to think that this was just good natured fun, but John was horrified and petrified by the man's aggression and lack of respect.
When he finally pushed himself loose, he grabbed the coats and purses at his table and hurried to the ladies room to the applause of the ignorant morons who were populating the restaurant.
"God," he whispered to himself, "I can't wait to get back to LA."
He pushed open the ladies room door to find his mother dabbing her puffy eyes in a mirror. "Mom, we have to go."
"Ok, honey, I just need to fix my face. Oh, you have my purse. Thank you." She took the pocketbook and began looking for her cosmetics.
"Mom... I really need to leave. I kind of had a situation out there. A drunk guy recognized me and... well, he kissed me and there was a lot other drunks applauding. I really need to go."
Marilyn gave a tired snicker as she touched up her lipstick. "Welcome to the downside of being a pretty girl, Bebe." She sounded very tired. "It's not all pretty dresses and makeup, my dear. It's also dealing with handsy drunks and their stupid friends. It's not a nice feeling, is it?"
"No," John said as he considered that, probably in a more private way, his mom had had similar experiences to this. "It isn't."
"Being a girl is different when you're not sheltered by a studio, dear. We are targets and objects for these jerks. You'll learn how to deal with it."
John felt nauseated by the idea of just living with people like this. Ed had called him a brat and Don had called him a princess, but John had just thought they were teasing. Maybe he actually was being overly-pampered in Los Angeles, who knew, but he knew that he didn't like being treated this way and wanted to get back to the safety of his new world.
"Come on, sweetheart," Marilyn patted his shoulder. "Stand straight and tall and let's walk out to the car. Don't even look at them. Just be yourself and keep to yourself. Ok?"
"Ok," John said and walked out the door with his mother behind him, offering him some protection.
"The stars are so bright when the air gets cool, aren't they?" Rose said as they drove down the narrow state road the led back to her town.
Ed tried to sneak a peak at the sky through the landscape that was cluttered with trees, but gave up, quickly. "If you say so. I'm afraid I'll hit a tree or a turkey or a deer. Do you have any idea how much this car costs?"
She smiled. Ed: The Pragmatic Romantic.
"Ed," Rose said thoughtfully. "What would you be doing right now if the show hadn't worked out?"
"I'd be a junior at Wentworth training to become an engineer. You?"
She nodded. "I'd be a senior at Emerson with almost no chance of being a successful actress. If it weren't for Bebe being so damned good in 'Shrew' and elevating all of us, I probably wouldn't ever have had a shot."
After a few moments of silence, she asked, "Do you think we'd be dating?"
Ed thought. "Probably not. You were pretty unattainable in my book. You still are, as a matter of fact."
"Ed! Stop it! I am not! Look, we're together. You ATTAINED me."
"Yeah, but I'm a lot different now than I was then."
"You mean your body? Well, yeah, but I thought you were cute before, too."
He laughed. "You would never have even noticed me if it weren't for 'Shrew.' I'd still be afraid to talk to you if we hadn't become friends first."
She smiled.
"And yeah," he teased, "I'm a lot more ripped now than I was last summer. Does that make you hot?"
She laughed out loud.
So did he.
He turned on to her road and slowed. "I had a great time, Rosie."
"Me too, Ed."
He pulled into the driveway and parked, got out and came around to open her door. He walked her to the doors the house and said, "Good night."
"Good night, Ed."
"I love you Rosie." He kissed her. It was tender and loving and warm and it gave them both chills.
"I love you, too, Edward," she smiled. "I'll see you at the airport."
She started to open the door, but Ed stopped her. "Oh, did you want me to come in and make-out with your mom? You said she had a thing for me..."
She laughed and slapped his arm. "Go home, Ed. Get some sleep."
"Ok. Love you!" He blew her a kiss and jogged to the Mercedes. The car purred and disappeared into the night.
"Mom?" John was staring out the windshield from the passenger seat as they drove down I-190 towards Worcester.
"Yes, baby?"
"Do you think that you'd ever consider moving to LA?"
She smiled. "Oh, I don't know, baby. I have a life here. I'm happy at Holy Cross and the house is paid for and, of course, there's the house at The Cape... I think I'm a Worcester girl till my dying day, baby."
John nodded.
"Are you happy there?" she asked.
He though for a moment. "I am. The weather is nicer. I know that it lacks the history and tradition that's part of the day to day here, but I like the food and the people. After meeting Walter and those people tonight... well, let's just say that my opinion of the people, of Massachusetts has dropped considerably."
Marilyn nodded. "Honey, there are people like that everywhere, it's just that in LA, you don't have to see them because your position keeps you sheltered. How many Denny's have you been in since you left?"
John nodded. "I see your point. But, I would love to be a part of the family, mom, and I just don't feel that way, now. I mean, look how much Nancy had changed and I didn't know anything about it."
Marilyn nodded. "I know, honey, and that's probably my fault, but can I make two points?"
John nodded.
Ok. Point number one - Although I knew that Nancy had been dismissed from Mass General, I had no idea that the changes in her personality were due to taking drugs. I know that sounds like a cop-out, but it's true. I only saw Nancy a few times this fall and I was working and had responsibilities there AS WELL AS being very concerned about sending my baby away under very odd circumstances AND being very, very proud of her achievements. So, to summarize," Marilyn's professorial-educator demeanor was on full display, "I had a lot on my plate. Ok?"
"Ok. That's a valid point." John nodded, used to his mother's logical mind.
"Thank you. Now, point number two - I find myself confused about how much I should tell you. See, if you were John, my twenty-one year old son, then I would have felt that you needed to know that Nancy was having trouble, but, you're not John. You're Bebe. How old is Bebe? Fourteen or fifteen years old? Should I burden a fifteen year old who is trying to find her own way in the world with the problems of her twenty six year old sister? No, I don't think so. Especially since Bebe isn't even being raised by me. I signed away my rights to Bebe. She's being raised by Ed and Rose and, believe me, honey, that point was driven home to me when I got the call that you were in the hospital. Ed made all of the decisions about your care - and they were all good decisions - and I was informed about them after the fact. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
John sighed and nodded. "I do, mom. I put you in a tough position. I don't really have the right to complain about that, now."
Marilyn took his hand. "You have the right to complain, baby, and so do I. I think that this just makes a few things very clear. I think we need to improve our lines of communication for one thing, but for another, I think we need to talk about what's really important and do that more frequently, don't you?"
John held his mother's hand to his cheek. "I do and we will."
The ringing phone woke Rose from her deep sleep. She glanced at the clock. It was 9:01am. She grabbed the phone and looked at the caller ID. 'Ed' it read. She pushed the 'accept' button and mumbled, "Ed? Is everything ok?"
"No, it is not?" he replied.
"What's wrong!?" A coldness seized her chest. What had happened!?
"I miss you," he whispered this sentence in a soft, intimate tone. "I don't like waking up in a house that you're not in as well."
"Aww." She sat up. "You're a sweetie, Ed, but it's a little early to be romantic."
"No," Ed's tone became playful, "calling you at 5:30, when I first woke up and missed you, would have been too early. I waited until a decent hour to call you. How about lunch?"
"Ed, you're almost an hour away."
"Perfect, then!" He pretended not to hear any protests, "I'll pick you up at 12:15 and we'll find someplace to get something light. Sound good?"
Rose pushed the bulk of her luxurious hair from her face and laughed, "Ed, I have to pack and get ready to go back..."
"Excellent! See you at 12:15!" He disconnected.
"Ed?" Rose said to the dead phone. She laughed as she shook her head and bounced out of bed. "He's like a puppy."
"And, after Nancy entered the facility, how did that make you feel?" Dr Shapiro was on the screen of John's old, desk top computer as they Skyped.
"A little relieved, I guess, but when my mom broke down, I felt a lot of guilt. Like, this was all my fault and maybe I should just mind my own business."
"Well, Bebe, you certainly could do that, but let's look at the big picture. If you hadn't helped her, would Nancy have sought help on her own?"
"Probably not."
"So, if her health and well being degraded, would that impact your mom?"
"Definitely, Yes."
"And if your mom was impacted, how would that make you feel."
"Bad."
"So?"
"So... I guess I did the right thing." It sounded more like a question than a statement.
"I certainly think you did, Bebe. I think you owe yourself a big pat on the back."
"Ok." John nodded.
"So, are you enjoying your time back home?"
He laughed. "No."
"Ok, I'm sorry. Are you looking forward to coming back?"
"Dr. Shapiro, I cannot WAIT to get back to LA! I miss everyone so much - and I hope this doesn't sound stupid, but as much as I miss everyone, I miss working even more."
"Ok, honey. Relax. You'll be back here before you know it. Umm, I need to ask you a very important question, though."
"Yes?"
"What did you do with Nancy's stash of Oxycodone?"
"I flushed it down the toilet."
"Really?"
"Yes. Why?"
"It's my job to be concerned about you, Bebe. Lots of young actresses get hooked on Oxy. I'm just asking to be sure. You understand, don't you?"
"I do, doctor. Thank you."
"Ok, Bebe, call me if you need me."
"Thank you, Doctor. I will."
There was a knock on the door. Rose's mother peeked out and saw the handsome suitor waiting. It was a cool, noon time and he wore a brown, leather bomber-jacket, a lilac shit, a shiny, green tie and pressed jeans. He struck a very handsome figure. "Rosemary," she hollered as she unlocked the door and opened it, "Ed is here."
Ed entered carrying what appeared to be a large bouquet of roses, but as he entered, he separated the two wrappers at the base of the flowers and handed one bouquet to Rose's mom. "These are for you, Eileen. I hope you like them."
"Oh, gracious," she cooed, "that's so nice of you, Ed!" Rose appeared at the foot of the stairs and her mother turned to her and displayed the long-stemmed roses to her daughter. "Look, Rosemary. Ed brought me flowers!"
Rose smiled. "He's working you, mom."
"I am, Eileen," Ed grinned, "but I'm working your daughter, too. These are for you."
He handed her the second bouquet. She smelled their rich fragrance. "That's very sweet, Ed. Thank you, but, mom," she handed the flowers to her, "these really are for you, too. I can't take them back to LA."
"Oh, how nice!" She said, then she stretched up and kissed Ed's cheek. "Thank you, so much, Edward. You're very kind."
"You're welcome, Eileen," he grinned, then looked at Rose. "All set?"
"I am," she smiled as she zipped up a warm jacket.
"Are you all packed?" Eileen asked.
"Nope. Not even close. I won't be long, mom." She kissed her mother's cheek. "Bye, bye."
There was a loud banging on the door. "Nancy! Come on, Nancy!" Walter screamed in the bright, cool midday, causing neighbors in this nice, middle class neighborhood to pull back curtains and look out to see what was causing the ruckus.
John came hustling down the stairs, but Marilyn beat him to the door. As he reached the bottom step, Marilyn held up her hand. "Stay right there. I'll handle this."
"Mom..."
"Stay RIGHT THERE. I mean it."
John stayed put. He was wearing a chocolate brown, warm, wool skirt Marilyn had bought him, and comfortable, baby-blue sweater she'd pulled out of Nancy's closet. It was a little big, but comfortable and the extra material helped create a very young, sweet look for John.
"Walter," Marilyn scolded as she opened the door, "just stop all of this racket!" She kept her left hand on the door and her right hand on the door frame, not giving Walter an invitation to enter.
"Where is she?" he demanded.
"She's not here, Walter. We had an argument and she stormed out."
"Yeah, well, where did she go? She lost her place, she didn't come to mine and she's not answering her phone. So where the fuck is she?"
"I told you, Walter, I don't know. I found her stash of pills and we had a huge fight. She's gone. That's all I know, and quite frankly, until she gets her act together, I'm not interested in seeing her back her."
"Yeah, sure," he was dismissive as he tried to push past her, but Marilyn held firmly.
"Walter, you need to leave, now."
"Nancy!" He yelled past her. "Nancy, what the fuck is going on?"
"Walter, please leave!" Marilyn was more scared than she let on.
"Nancy! Nancy! You can't hide forever, you bitch!" he yelled some more. "Nancy!"
"Hey, you," Mr McManus, their neighbor from across the street was coming up the walk. "You need to leave. Come on."
Anxious for a fight and artificially confident due to the drugs, Walter turned and confronted the silver haired man. "Back off, old man," he threatened. "This is None of your business."
"It's ok, Joe," Marilyn said. "He was just leaving."
"Bull shit," Walter spat. "I'm not going anywhere."
"You should go, buddy," Mr McManus said, "you're getting yourself into trouble here. I called the police. They are on their way."
Walter pushed Mr McManus on the shoulders, but the older moved very little. Despite the silver hair, Mr McManus was only a few years older than Walter. A life long athlete, he worked out with weights nearly every morning and he was not only a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, he taught the marshal art several evenings a week and was, in fact, at that moment, just returning from teaching a weekly self defense class at the YMCA.
"Oh, 'The police are on their way!'" Walter mocked. "Well, in that case, I'm going to beat you to a pulp nice and quick. How does that sound." He threw a wild, adrenaline fueled punch at McManus' face, but the other man side stepped it easily, then tripped the man to the ground and dropped a knee on his back just as a Worcester Police Department car pulled into the driveway.
McManus explained everything to the officer, who cuffed Walter and put him into the squad car. Walter screamed and swore the whole time. Within moments, another police car pulled up. After consulting with the first officer for a few moments, officer number two asked Mr McManus to come into the Foley house so he could take statements.
As they entered, Marilyn turned to John and said, "Bebe, please go to the kitchen and get some coffee for these gentlemen."
"Ok," he answered as he stepped down and turned to the kitchen.
As Mr McManus came in, he made eye contact with John. He smiled and nodded, but stopped and looked again. John turned and went quickly into the kitchen.
Marilyn and Mr McManus gave their statements to the police officer, who suggested that Marilyn take out a restraining order to keep Walter away from her property. With Mr McManus' prodding, she agreed to go to the courthouse on Monday to request it. The policeman said that he'd give her the appropriate paperwork. He pulled a form from his binder and began filling it in.
John entered with three mugs of coffee and some milk and sweeteners on a tray. He placed them on the coffee table and sat on the couch near his mother.
The policeman had been writing and explaining, but he glanced up to say 'thank you' and he came to an abrupt stop. "Oh, my..." he muttered, "...you're that girl... Alex, right?"
John smiled and nodded.
"Officer, this is my daughter, Bebe."
"Of course," the officer said. "Bebe Foley! I love your show!"
Mr McManus looked confused. "Show?"
"Yeah, Yeah," the police officer said, "it's called... oh, geez... Don Ferry is in it and it's great. What's it called?"
"Civil..." John started but the officer interrupted.
"That's it! Civil Disobedience! I love that show and you're great on it. Congratulations!" Then he turned to Mr McManus and said, "You haven't seen it?"
Mr McManus looked confused as he glanced from John to the officer. "Oh, Umm, no, I haven't. I don't have a lot of time to watch TV."
"Well, you should make time for this one," he smiled at John.
"Thank you," John smiled humbly.
When the officer completed his work, Marilyn escorted the officer to the door and thanked him for his help. Once he was gone, she turned to Mr McManus and thanked him, as well.
As McManus was headed out the door, he stopped and said, "Listen, Marilyn, can I ask... well, what I mean is, I've lived across the street from you for four years and... well... how is it that I never met your daughter before?"
Marilyn smiled and said as sweetly as possible, "Bebe was at a private school, Joe. She's a very talented girl. She needed to go to a special school."
"Oh." Joe smiled. "I see. She sure does look like a younger version of Nancy. I hope Nancy is going to be ok."
"Thank you, Joe. I hope so, too. This all kind of came to a head this weekend. We'll have to ride it out and see what happens."
"Look, Marilyn, I'm sorry about all of this, today. If you need help...well, just call, ok?"
"Thanks, Joe. Thanks for everything." She closed the door as he walked down the path.
"So, I'll pick you up at 4:30 tomorrow morning. We'll be at the airport in plenty of time and we'll be on our way home." Ed leaned across the car and kissed Rose for possibly the hundredth time since they'd had lunch at a country store that Rose had heard served sandwiches.
"That's just stupid, Ed. You'll have to leave your house by 3:00 to pick me up. I'll call a car."
"You will not." He kissed her again. "I'll sleep in your mom's driveway and I'll be waiting for you."
"Oh, you certainly will not! Go home, Ed. It's nearly 9:00 and I haven't finished packing.mi told my mom I'd be back early. She's probably having a conniption as is! If I don't get started..."
Ed cut her off with a kiss. She surrender to it and when their lips parted, she said, "Ok. You win. I'll see you here at 4:30."
He smiled.
"I called for a car to pick me up in the morning, mom," John said. He was in a short, pink nightie that offered very little warmth on a chilly November night in Worcester, Massachusetts.
"Don't be silly. I'll drive you, honey." Marilyn was hanging up her clothes.
"No, mom. I've already made your weekend too complicated. I'll take the hired car. Besides, you have things to do."
She touched her son's soft cheek. "Don't be so sad, baby. Everything will work out. You're helping Nancy a lot. This will be a fresh start for her."
John nodded. "I love you, mom. I'm sorry this weekend sucked."
"Don't worry, baby. Things can only get better."
Ed kissed Eileen's cheek as he grabbed Rose's carry-on. "Don't worry, Eileen, I'll take very good care of Rosemary."
Eileen smiled in the light of the entryway. She was a beautiful woman, too. Closer to fifty than forty and must have looked a lot like Rose when she was younger. Even a little disheveled from sleep and in a robe, she was striking. As Ed kissed her, she could smell the scents of fresh soap, shaving cream and a clean shampoo. He had obviously gotten up early and prepared to greet Rose. What a great guy! "I know you will, Edward - I know that you already have been." She looked at Rose as she arrived at the door. "Oh, you two are gorgeous together. Take care of each other, ok?"
Rose kissed her mother and fastened a belt around her coat. "We will, mom. I'll miss you. See you in a few weeks for Christmas." They exited the house and hurried to the warmth of the Mercedes.
John snuck quietly into his mother's room and left a note on her nightstand. He considered kissing her, but was afraid he'd wake her, so she snuck back out again and slowly and quietly descended the stairs. He'd spent six-and-a-half hours staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep as he reviewed the weekend. If he'd done the right thing by confronting Nancy, then why did he feel so bad? Why did his mother cry so hard when they'd dropped her off at the rehab center if he'd done the right thing? Was his mother safe with Walter knowing where she lived? It sure seemed like he'd screwed up his family's lives a lot more than he'd helped.
He waited at the door until a black, Lincoln Town Car pulled into the driveway. John pulled an old Boston Red Sox cap on to cover his hastily brushed and pony-tailed hair and hurried out into the cold, dark morning so the driver wouldn't beep the horn. He tossed his carry on into the backseat and climbed in beside it.
"Mmm, chai tea!" Rose sipped at the warm beverage that Ed had supplied.
"There are cranberry-orange muffins in that thermal bag. They should still be warm. The bag is plugged into the outlet in the dashboard. There's butter and marmalade in the bag on the back seat." Ed beamed at Rose. He had planned everything out so that even their ride back to the airport would be romantic.
Rose opened the thermal bag and found several muffins a paper plates. "Ooo," she cooed as she pulled the muffin onto a plate. "Better than warm. They're actually kind of hot. They'll melt the butter. Would you like one?"
Ed shook his head. "No. I don't want to get crumbs in the car. God knows what they'll charge to vacuum out a few crumbs." He grabbed his coffee and sipped it, making a smacking sound when he put it back down. "I love to be out and about when the sun rises, especially down The Cape. Watching the sunrise over the ocean is one of the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. You can't see that in LA."
Rose sipped the fragrant tea. "Nope. If you were inclined to go to the beach, you could watch the sun set, though. Today, we'll be lucky if the sun's up by the time we get to Boston. Watching the sun rise over the city can be beautiful, too."
Ed looked at Rose. "Not as beautiful as you and I get to see you here, in Boston and in LA. How great is that?"
Rose laughed at his silliness. "Oh, Ed... you're incorrigible. The on ramp for the pike is just ahead, here. Keep your eyes on the road."
"I'm just going to pull into this McDonald's to get a coffee, if you don't mind," the middle aged woman driving the town car called back to John.
"That's fine." John was focused on nothing beyond the window.
"You want anything?"
John reached into his purse and passed a twenty over the seat to the driver. "No, but here. Get yourself a full breakfast, if you want."
"Oh... thank you," she said.
Once she had the coffee and greasy bag of food in the car, the driver tried to hand John the change, but he held up his hand and shook his head. "Thanks," the Driver said.
She sipped her bitter coffee and watched the young woman in the mirror. "Where are you going so early in the morning, honey?" She asked.
Still staring into space, John replied, "Home, I guess."
"Where's that?"
"Los Angeles."
"Nice," the woman sipped more coffee and took a bite of the bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. "Have you every met a movie star out there?"
John gave a soft, ironic chuckle. "Yeah. A few."
"Really!" The woman was very interested, now. "Like who?"
John looked out the window, again. "Oh, Don Ferry and Anna Kendrick."
"Oh, my God! You met Don Ferry?"
John nodded. He didn't go so far as to tell her that he'd been to Don's house and he'd been to dinner with him several times.
"How about Tom Cruise? Have you ever met Tom Cruise?"
"Nope." John shook his head.
The driver watched the passenger carefully. She felt as if something was wrong. "Are you ok?"
John shrugged. "I will be... once I get home."
"How old are you, sweetie?"
"Fifteen."
"And you're traveling alone?"
At first John nodded, then said, "Well, no, I'm meeting my uncle and cousin at Logan."
"Good." The driver seemed genuinely relieved. "A pretty thing like you shouldn't be traveling alone. It's too dangerous for a young girl to go anywhere on her own, these days."
John nodded. He just seemed to lack the energy to continue remained engaged in conversation.
"Ok, sweetie," the woman said. She took another bite of her industrial tasting bacon, egg and biscuit sandwich and watched the young woman. "Why don't you try to get some sleep, honey?"
John nodded and closed his eyes for a few minutes, but to no avail. He was so anxious about everything that had happened this weekend that he could not rest.
"I'll take the car, Mr McNeal," the man in the red car-rental-company uniform shirt said when Ed pulled up to the curb.
"Great!" Ed pulled the luggage out of the trunk and handed the man a fifty dollar bill. "I loved the car. Just give us a moment to grab the empty coffee cups."
"No need, sir," the man assured him. "I'll deal with that. You're all set."
Ed took Rose's hand and they each used their free hand to tow their carry-on bags. They were both very young, very beautiful, very well dressed and very much in love. There weren't many people in the terminal at that time of morning, but those who were took note of the gorgeous couple and the joy that they seemed to radiate. Even if they didn't recognize them from TV, they noticed their smiles.
"I don't see Bebe," Rose looked around.
"She isn't here yet," Ed said.
"How do you know," Rose checked her phone, but saw no texts.
"If she were here, there'd be a crowd around her," Ed laughed.
Rose sent a text, 'UNCLE ED AND I ARE AT LOGAN. LET US KNOW WHEN YOUR MOM DROPS YOU OFF.'
'I'M HERE. I ALREADY WENT THROUGH TSA. I'M WAITING BY THE GATE.'
"She's already inside," Rose said.
Ed shook his head. "I told her to meet us here."
"What difference does it make?" Rose shrugged. She could tell that Ed was perturbed.
"The difference is I told her to do one thing and she did another. I thought that we were beyond that at this point. One weekend away and she's doing her own thing, again. That's dangerous, Rosie."
"Maybe there were too many fans out here, Ed. Don't go getting mad at her till you know what's going on."
He nodded and they moved to the the VIP line at their airline. Then, they moved quickly and smoothly through the TSA's VIP security line and they wandered to their gate where they half expected to see a mod of Bebe-maniacs swarming, but there were very few people there. They looked around and couldn't see Bebe anywhere.
Rose sent another text. 'WE'RE AT GATE 46. WHERE ARE YOU?"
They heard a chime and the girl sitting just in front of them, her back to them, checked her phone, then she turned around. Her hair was tucked into a baseball cap which was covered by the hood of her 'Boston' sweatshirt. She turned and saw Ed and Rose taking seats behind her. She stood and pulled her little bag around to join them. "Hi," she mumbled as she say next to Ed.
Ed nodded at the stranger, then looked again. "Bebe!?"
The child nodded.
Rose leaned over and pushed the hood off of the face of the person next to Ed. "Beebs? Is this a disguise or something? Are you even wearing makeup?"
John shrugged. "Makeup? No. Sorry. I left in the dark. I didn't think to do my makeup."
"Is something wrong?" Rose asked, suddenly very concerned.
"Just a tough weekend."
Ed, his irritation replaced with concern, turned in his seat. "Why? What happened?"
"Let's see." John took a derp breath, then began. "First, my sister and her drug dealing boyfriend picked me up at the airport and we had an argument in public, then I found out my sister was hooked on Percocet, then my mother hit the roof because I took fifty thousand dollars out of my trust fund, then Nancy slapped me and called me a faggot because I registered her for a rehab center, then she stole my mother's car, but came back then I made my mother cry like I've never seen before because Nancy actually went into rehab, then the drug dealer boyfriend threatened my mother... all in all, it wasn't a great Thanksgiving for the Foley family."
"Oh, my God," Rose said in a loud whisper, "is your sister ok?"
Ed's eyes were wide, too, but his response was, "You spent fifty thousand dollars in one weekend?"
John clarified the story to them both.
Rose checked the clock. They still had a little time before they boarded the plane. "Come on, Beebs," she stood and took John's hand. "Let's go to the ladies' room and get you cleaned up. You'll feel better."
John allowed himself to be led to the restroom.
"I can't believe your mother let you out of the house looking like this," Rose tsk-ed as she pulled off his cap, removed the hair tie and let his hair fall free over the hoodie so it could be brushed.
"I didn't wake her."
"How did you get here?"
"I hired a town car."
"Oh, for crying out loud, Bebe, you should have called us."
It's was just enough scolding to send John over the edge and he began crying and crying and crying. He held tight to Rose who held tight to him and tried, with little success, to offer solace.
Resting his head on her shoulder and breast was a comfort that he felt he'd missed forever. Her smell and her touch felt like home in a way that his mother's house never could.
They remained that way for a long time till Ed called in, "Rosie, they're boarding. Are you guys ok?"
"We'll be right out," Rose called back. Then to John she said, "Here. At least let me brush out your hair." She pulled a brush from her purse and did her best to make John more presentable. Then she handed him a piece of toilet paper. "Wipe your eyes, baby, and blow your nose. We'll do your makeup in Los Angeles, ok?"
He nodded and they left to board the plane.
"I told you not to panic, Blaine," Joanne chided. "Their plane just landed. She'll be another five or ten minutes before she's even off the plane. We're here in plenty of time!"
"Sorry, mom," the boy was anxious, "it's just that Bebe seemed really different all weekend. Like she was upset about something. I just wanted to be sure she was ok."
Joanne shook her head. "Relax, honey. I'm sure she's fine."
Ed was waiting for Rose to finish up with John in the ladies' room at LAX. A few people stopped to tell him that they loved the show and Ed was gracious, but he was concerned about Bebe. On the flight, there had been empty seats across the aisle so Bebe sat there and was uncharacteristically quiet for the whole trip. Rose told him that she'd been very emotional in the ladies' room, too.
As much as Ed wanted Bebe to be healthy, he definitely did not want to be the guy that had to say 'no' to her movie career, but if these things that happened at home had taken a toll on her health, well, then what choice would he have?
"All set." Rose emerged from the lavatory with John in tow. His makeup was fresh and his hair looked quite nice. His eyes were still redrimmed and puffy, but Rose had managed to get some color and mascara on them, so he looked much, much better.
"Where are they?" Blaine was getting very stressed. "The plane landed a half-hour ago."
Joanne was seated and had given up on trying to calm her son down.
"She's not answering her texts, she's not answering her calls..." Blaine turned to his mother. "I bet they never got on the plane in Boston."
"Blaine," she huffed, "Bebe is here. She's probably just in the ladies' room, or dealing with something with the airline. Maybe she left her phone on the plane, or something like that. Please, just relax."
His phone buzzed. It was a text. 'SORRY. LADIES ROOM WITH ROSE. LEFT MY PHONE WITH ED. ON OUR WAY. JUST A FEW MINS.'
Joanne watched him read. "Bebe?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"Ladies' room?"
He put his phone away. "I'd rather not say."
Joanne smiled. "She's fine, honey."
"She's sick, mom. Don't you remember that night at the hospital?"
"Of course I do, honey, but... oh, here she comes, now."
Blaine turned and saw Ed and Rose coming out of the hallway into the terminal lobby. A few seconds later, Bebe appeared. Blaine started jogging towards them.
John was still looking at his phone as they entered the lobby. He sensed someone moving quickly toward him. He looked up and saw Blaine hustling across the open area. John felt something he'd never felt before - his heart leapt. It literally felt as if his heart jumped and came back to life in his chest.
John gasped, dropped the handle of his carry on and ran, full out, towards Blaine. He wasn't thinking, he wasn't aware of anything except Blaine and his need to get to him.
They were just a few steps apart when John leapt into the air, arms and legs splayed. Blaine caught him and John's arms and legs wrapped tightly around the tall, handsome boy. His face buried in Blaine's shoulder, John's voice was muffled by Blaine's light coat, "I don't think I ever missed anyone as much as I missed you this weekend. I love you, so much!"
"I love you, too," Blaine grunted as he held Bebe tightly. He could feel her shaking and weeping as he tightened his grip and swung from side to side.
Joanne met Ed and Rose and they all stood about ten feet away from the desperate young couple.
"Looks like someone was homesick for the west coast," Joanne grinned. "Everything ok?"
"Everything's great with us." Rose indicated Ed and herself. "Bebe had a rough weekend."
"She looks pretty happy, now," Ed chuckled.
"Well, Blaine needed a good dose of 'vitamin Bebe' himself. He was a wreck. 'She sounds sad. Her texts have me worried.' I've never seen him so concerned."
Ed nodded. "The hormones make Bebe a little emotionally unstable. What's Blaine's excuse?"
Joanne chuckled at his joke. "Bebe makes him emotionally unstable."
Finally, John unwrapped himself from Blaine and Blaine lowered him to the floor. John's face was, once again, covered in tears. There was freshly applied mascara flowing along with the salty tears. Rose laughed, "Oh, good God!" She threw her hands in the air. "No matter what I do, that child is going to look like a raccoon today!"
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 16
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and learns to cope with her successes and struggles. This one is a tad different, a bit self-referential and
may be a just a little confusing to readers unfamiliar with some of my previous stories and characters.
Author's Note: Please, please, please... I beg of you, let me know what you think of the story and this installment???
I love reading your comments and critiques. I truly do. ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 16 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.
EXAMINING LIFE -or- CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER
"Have you heard from Nancy since her rehab began?" Dr Shapiro had moved two comfortable chairs over to the window out of which John liked to look during his sessions. She was sitting in one and John sat in the other.
"No. They took her phone away. She can't make any calls until the last week."
"Are you worried about her?"
"Very. Nancy was always so smart and so driven. I never would have thought it was possible for this to happen to her. I was always the one who screwed up."
"How?"
"What do you mean?"
"How did you screw up?"
"Well, I was always smaller than the other guys. I was never good at sports. I chose to study acting instead of medicine. That kind of thing."
The doctor nodded. "Do you think that being short means that you didn't achieved in some way?"
John thought about that. "No, I guess not. I mean, now that I know that it's because of a medical condition... I don't know if I'm responsible for it or anything, but I've always been kind of ashamed of it, anyway. I mean, I wasn't very manly."
"I see. And is being short and 'not very manly' the only way you 'screwed up?'"
"Well, no, I mean, Nancy went to med school - I studied acting."
"And how is that 'screwing up?'"
"Are you kidding?"
"No. I went to med school. Anyone can go to med school. You're an artist."
"Yeah, but..."
"Who makes more money, you or Nancy?"
"Me, I guess..."
"Who has a thriving career, you or Nancy?"
"Well, Me, But..."
"Then how can you consider yourself a screw up, Bebe? I just don't understand."
John folded his legs underneath himself. He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I'm not such a screw up."
"You know what? That's the first thing you've said today that makes any sense at all,"
John smiled. "Thank you. I'm still worried about my sister, though,"
"And you should be, Bebe. She's going through a very bad time, right now. She needs you to be worried about her. If you weren't, where would she be right now?"
He nodded.
"Ok, I think we need to wrap this up for today, dear. Keep thinking positive thoughts, Bebe. You're a great kid and a great actress. You need to accept that and embrace it. Ok?"
"I'll try doctor."
While Ed and Rose worked with Dr Shapiro, John needed to get to the studio for an afternoon shoot. He sent a text to Oscar to tell him he was through. Oscar replied, 'I'M ON MY WAY. BAD TRAFFIC. SHOULDN'T BE MORE THAN TEN MINUTES OR SO.'
John stood in the large, bustling, glass enclosed lobby of the building and watched out the window, waiting for Oscar to arrive.
As he thumbed through the messages on his phone, a voice from behind him started speaking. At first, John didn't think the voice was speaking to him, but then something caught his attention. It was the name 'Maureen Weldon.' John turned and came face to face with TMZ's own Austin Meadows. No microphone or camera man, this time - just the slimy face of superiority and self righteousness that made John nauseated every time he saw it.
"Oh, Mr Meadows," John plastered on a smile. "So nice to see you. What a coincidence meeting you here."
"No coincidence, Bebe. I followed you from school."
"Oh, well, that's not creepy at all, Mr Meadows, and probably not legal."
Meadows' smile was as creepy as everything else about him. "I assure you, it is. You're a news maker, now, Bebe. Get used to seeing a lot of me."
John smirked and returned his attention to the street outside.
"I hope that you had a happy Thanksgiving, Ms Foley," the ass continued.
"Just fine, thank you," John never took his attention from the street.
"Nice time to relax and see the family, huh?"
John nodded.
"And maybe have your sister locked up in a rehab clinic against her will."
John turned quickly, but had enough wits about him to stop himself from saying anything.
"It's funny how people come looking for me when I start offering financial incentives for information, Bebe," Meadows was nearly salivating. "For instance, I had a very interesting conversation with a fellow named Walter this morning. Charming fellow. Didn't seem to love you, much though. And like I was saying before, when you were pretending not to be listening, I spoke to an acting coach named Randy who says that he knew you when you worked with Maureen Weldon last summer. Either of these names mean anything to you?"
The chill that John felt was much colder than anything he'd felt during his early winter visit to Massachusetts. He stared at Meadows, his mouth hanging open, unable to form words.
"Is there something you'd like to tell me, Bebe?" He stunk of smugness.
"What's the matter, Bianca," Meadows could sense a victory, "cat got your tongue?"
"Listen, Mr Meadows..." John struggled to find the right words, but they wouldn't come. What did he know? What should John deny?
"I'm all ears, young lady." He looked like a wolf from a Tex Avery cartoon. He was hungry and close to a kill.
"Everything ok here?" The familiar voice startled John who'd nearly forgotten there were other people in the world. Oscar moved himself to stand beside his young charge and presented a very formidable challenge to Meadows.
Meadows laughed at Oscar's body language. "Everything is cool, ese."
Oscar, who was of Mexican descent, had lived in the US his whole life and identified as an American with Mexican traditions. Meadow's use of the word, 'ese,' was not only meant to emphasize his status as a mover and shaker, while Oscar was a mere driver, it was also meant to imply that Oscar was or had been a member of a gang, when, in fact, Oscar had been gainfully employed since he was sixteen and was damned proud of his achievements.
John felt Oscar tense and sensed trouble ahead. "Oscar, let's just go, please," he whispered.
Oscar moved John towards the exit, while maintaining eye contact with Meadows.
Meadows radiated condescension and it irked Oscar. "Watch yourself, Jack," Oscar threatened. "She's off limits to you. Got it?"
Meadows scoffed. "We'll see."
Just as they headed out the door, John stopped and looked back at the slimeball. "Mr Meadows. Please, leave my sister out of this."
That's when he knew that he had her. "Sure," he grinned, "just give me something better and I forget that your sister's a junkie."
"She's not..."
John started to engage, but Oscar pushed him into the revolving door. Then he gave Meadows one more warning. "Off limits," and he followed John out.
"So, you've reached a new starting point in your relationship?" Dr Shapiro asked.
"I think so." Rose smiled. "He's been wonderful since we met, but these last few days, he's been, just... well, wonderful!" She laughed.
"I'm very glad to hear that, Rose." The Dr smiled. "Ed seems happy, too."
"Excuse me, Mr Ferry, May I have a word with you?" Oscar asked from the door to Don's dressing room.
"Oscar!" Don said, with genuine joy at seeing his fishing buddy. "Come on in, and it's 'Don.' You know that."
Oscar smiled and took a seat to which Don had gestured.
"What can I do for you?" Don asked.
"Well, Don, it's not really about me, it's about Bianca." He relayed the events of earlier and told Don how upset Bebe had become.
Don, of course, knowing everything that he knew about Bebe, was more concerned than Oscar. He nodded and listened. Finally, he said, "Listen, Oscar, you and I know what sleaze-balls these guys are. I'm not sure that Bebe, or any of them, really understand how bad things could get if these guys get their claws into them. I'll tell you what, I'll take Bebe home tonight and I'll talk to all of them - make them aware of the dangers, etc. Thanks, Oscar. You saved the day for Bebe. I'll try to keep it from happening, again."
The call for Don to report to the set came over the intercom, so both men stood, shook hands and left together.
"Great job as usual." Don hugged John as they walked back to the dressing rooms. "Meet me out here when you're ready to go."
It had been a good shoot. John had been edgy when they started and Don had made everything work for him.
"Ok," John said. "Is anything wrong?"
Don feigned surprise. "Wrong!? No. Why?"
"No reason," John said. "It's just that we usually say goodbye BEFORE we change."
"Oh." Don smiled. "Oscar had a family thing to attend, so I'm driving you home."
John was very surprised. "Don, you live in the exact opposite direction. I'll call Uncle Ed, or Uber."
Don's smile waned a bit, "Well, the truth is, Bebe... Oscar told me about Meadows accosting you. I think we need to talk. All of us - you, me, Uncle Ed and Rose."
John felt a little scared. He'd planned to talk to Ed and Rose when he got home, but now it looked as if he was trying to hide something. "Umm, Don, I was going to talk to them tonight..."
"I know, honey," Don kissed his head reassuringly, "but I've been through the mill with these jerks a million times. Don't be mad at Oscar. He did the right thing by telling me."
"Oh, look at the happy couple!" Meadows was waiting when Ed and Rose exited the elevator. "It's like Prince Harry and Megan Markle have descended from on high."
Ed recognized Meadows from the TV report about the man who'd attacked Ed. This is the guy who kept referring to the assailant as a 'police officer.'
Ed veered Rose away from him and continued on.
"Oh, come on, Ed! Don't be that way! Let's have a chat."
"Who is that?" Rose asked.
"Ignore him," Ed warned. "We'll talk in the car."
"Yeah," Meadows shouted, "talk in the car. Talk about your future and kids and all that stuff! Oh! And while you're at it, talk about that rehab center where the princess' sister is staying."
Ed stopped for just a moment. He glanced at Rose, then shook his head and continued on.
"Ok. I tried!" Meadows hollered, then he laughed much louder than anyone should in a building lobby, but Ed and Rose continued on.
"I think that Mr Meadows must have waited until Rose and Uncle Ed left the therapist's office," John said, looking at his phone as Don drove.
Don nodded, "Are they driving right now?"
"I think so."
Don pushed a button on his steering wheel. A chime sounded and he said, "Call Ed McNeal."
"Calling Ed McNeal - mobile," the radio said.
It rang twice before Ed said, "Hi, Don. What's up?"
"Hey, Ed. Look, Bebe is with me. I know about that TMZ idiot. I was planning on meeting up with you at your place, but instead, let's meet at Rudy's Bistro. I'll call ahead and reserve one of their backrooms. We can talk in private and we'll have some dinner. My treat."
By the time Ed and Rose arrived, the table was covered with family style servings of far too many foods. There was spaghetti with red sauce, linguine with clams, antipasto, chicken piccata, chicken gnocchi soup in a big terrine, sautéed veal and several items that neither Ed nor Rose could identify.
"Hey, kids," Don said. "Let's sit and eat, first. Then, we'll talk about this issue."
"Are you ok?" Rose went straight to John and hugged him tightly. "Did that asshole do anything to you?"
John shook his head and submitted to the hug.
"What did you tell him?" Ed was confused as to how TMZ had heard about Nancy's rehab.
"She didn't tell him anything." Don patted Ed's arm to offer a bit of calm. "TMZ offers money for tips. Nancy's boyfriend called it in."
"Shit," Ed whispered.
"Ok, now, relax." Don moved to the table. "Let's have a good meal and THEN we'll come up with a plan. Viv will be here in a few minutes. She's really skilled at derailing these situations."
"Viv's here now." Don's beautiful wife entered dressed as if she was about to take tea with the queen; a skin tight, sleeveless, dark green, silk dress with a hobble-style skirt. Her hair and makeup was shockingly perfect considering this was an impromptu dinner. She was pulling matching opera gloves and she took small steps as she closed the door behind her. "What's the big problem?" She then spotted the food on the table and shook her head, "Donald Ferry," she scolded, "how many different kinds of carbs can you pile onto a table without considering that not everyone can eat that stuff?"
"Loosen up, sweetheart." Don kissed her cheek. "Live a little. It's delicious."
"Delicious or not, I can't eat that. If I do, I'll split my dress. Bebe and Rose shouldn't be eating this, either. No one hires a fat leading lady."
Vivian exited and ordered some more appropriate food for herself and 'the girls,' then came back in and sat at the table with the others.
"You look gorgeous," Rose said.
Vivian looked at her dress and smiled. "It is beautiful, isn't it. It's an Alexander McQueen. I just came from a fundraiser for a charitable. Their doing a big even Friday night and we had some planning to do. I do like the way it looks, I just wish that it was comfortable." She smiled and looked at John sitting comfortably in his school uniform. "Enjoy comfortable clothes while you can, Bebe. Soon enough, you'll be forced to wear horribly uncomfortable, but beautiful clothes, am I right Rose?"
Rose looked surprised by the remark. "I guess I've just been lucky, so far. I've been able to wear comfortable clothes most of the time."
Vivian sighed. "I keep forgetting how young you are, too. Believe me, ladies, it will happen to you, too. You'll get to look amazing, but you'll be uncomfortable the entire time."
They ate, but the food on the table didn't seem to disappear. Ed's usual insatiable appetite was lacking, tonight.
When they'd eaten their fill, the table was cleared, coffee was served to the adults, John was restricted to water, and Don asked the waiter to put a 'do not disturb' sign on the door to their dinning room.
"So," Don began, "from what I understand, Austin Meadows knows that Bebe's sister has a drug problem. How much damage can this do to us?"
"No offense, Don," Rose said, rubbing John's shoulder, "I don't think that Beebs is as concerned about how this will damage us as she is about how this could damage Nancy."
"Of course, of course," Don agreed. "But we do have to consider the show, too."
"Ok," Ed said. "Are there publicity people at the studio we can talk to?"
"Well, yes," Vivian started to advise, "but they are not aware of Bebe's... circumstances."
Rose looked surprised. "Viv, I didn't know that you were aware."
"Oh, don't be silly," Vivian chuckled. "Don and I discuss everything regarding his career. In many ways, his career is my career. I knew about Bebe after the first audition."
"Alright, then," Ed said. "Where do we start?"
They began by discussing what they thought Meadows knew. Rose had Randy's phone number, so she gave him a call. It turned out that no one had spoken to him. He said that he got a call from TMZ offering him cash for information, but he didn't return it. "So, they're just using his name to make you think that he knows something," Vivian said.
They moved on to Walter. John had spoken to his mother and, although they could not be one hundred percent certain, neither thought that Nancy had told him about John's actual sex.
"So, all they seem to know about is Nancy," Don said.
"This could work in our favor," Vivian said. "If it comes out that Bebe Foley, up and coming starlet, is helping her older sister to get sober, that may make Bebe look like a saint."
"So, What? We do nothing, then?" Ed seemed concerned by this decision.
"That may be our best course," Vivian said. "Maybe it's just a quick, fifteen minutes of trending on the internet and it goes away. That's our best outcome, of course, but if things go awry, then we play up the 'Bebe is helping her to get clean' angle. Agreed?"
Don looked at his colleagues. "What do you think?"
"Ok." Ed raised his eyebrows, obviously finding the decision a bit unsatisfactory.
"I guess." Rose shrugged. "If you think that's the best route."
John sat quietly, staring at the table.
"Bebe?" Don asked.
John looked up. "Yes?"
"What do you think, baby?"
John looked back down at the table, again, then looked back up and made eye contact with everyone at the table before saying, "No."
"No?" Don looked to Ed as if asking him to talk some sense into the child.
"Do you have a better idea, honey?" Ed asked.
"No." John sounded sad an a bit defeated.
"Then," Rose was trying to sound as supportive as possible, "what do you want to do?"
John shrugged. "I don't know, but... Do you know who Monica Lewinski is?
Rose shook her head at this abrupt change of topic. "Umm, Yeah... I mean... sort of. I know she was in a scandal or something."
John looked at Ed, who shrugged and said, "Yeah, I know her name."
John looked at Don. "Wow, you guys are really, really young. She gave Bill Clinton oral sex and he lied about it. He was impeached and nearly removed from office. He would have been the first president to be removed and it was all because of a blowjob. What's your point?"
John took a breath. "Look, Monica Lewinski was just a nobody and then she did something stupid. It was something that thousands of girls her age did every day, but she did it with the president and she got caught. Now, because she had the misfortune of doing it with Bill Clinton, that's all we know about her. We know that Bill Clinton did lots of things since then, but Monica Lewinski? She's just the blowjob girl."
"I still don't get it," Vivian said.
"Look," John tried to clarify, "Nancy is a smart, talented woman and she did something stupid. Something that thousands of other people have done, stupidly, as well. I really think that she can overcome this, you know? She just needs to get through this and she can start over. That's the same chance that all those other people in the same situation get to do, too."
"Ok..." Don, wasn't seeing a connection. "... but what does this have to do with this situation?"
"It's not Nancy's fault that she's my sister. It's not her fault that I'm famous all of a sudden. It's not her fault that Austin Meadows wants to get his teeth into me for some reason. If she gets herself sober, she deserves a new start and that's what I want for her, but if she comes out of rehab and finds out that instead of being a doctor who's had some problems, she's become the punchline to late night jokes, then she's just like Monica Lewinski. No matter what else she does, for the rest of her life, she's going to be Bebe Foley's sister - the junkie. That's not fair and I won't do that to her."
Vivian sighed and looked at Don. "For Christ's sake, Don, you didn't tell me that she had a sense of morality. That makes all of this much more difficult."
"I did tell you that she was amazing, Viv." Don shook his head.
"Yeah, but this complicates things a lot. Typically, the best way to end a Hollywood scandal is to throw somebody under a bus. This morality stuff... well, this is going to be a lot harder to deal with."
"I'm sorry."
John looked back at the table. Rose pulled him close and laid her head on his. "Don't be, Beebs. You're right."
"You know, sweetheart," Don said as he shook his head, "if it were one of my siblings we were discussing, I don't think I'd have a problem letting them take a little fall so I could avoid taking a big one. I'd rationalize it and say I'd help them out financially or something along those lines, but not you. You have more integrity than all the rest of us, Bebe. I still don't know where the hell you came from."
"I think I might have an idea." Ed snapped his fingers and smiled.
"Actually," Kylie leaned into the lunch table and whispered. "He's really sweet and he's got an amazing car! It's an old Austin-Martin like James Bond used to drive." She'd gone out with him twice now, the son of a legendary Hollywood producer. He was nineteen, ripped, gorgeous and ludicrously wealthy with money that had been earned over four generations in the film industry.
"Wow!" MK, who tended to not be impressed by anything, knew of this boy's family and their assets and was, indeed, impressed with him. "Do you think you might get serious about this guy?"
Kylie sat back gave a 'cat that ate the mouse' smile. "I think I already am."
"That's so cool." Ella smiled.
John had heard of her new boyfriend. He had a reputation that played well in the sleazier tabloids. He was very handsome, very rich and very interested in seeing his own face on TV and in print. "That's great, Kylie," John presented a genuine smile. "I hope it all works out. He seems really..." He could quite find an appropriate adjective, so he went with, "...handsome."
That was fine with Kylie, though. "Oh, He is! And he smells so good! I don't know what cologne he wears, but it makes me crazy."
MK laughed at that. "Well, keep yourself under control, Ky. No one wants to see an episode of Civil Disobedience about how the girl who lives next door has to go visit relatives for nine months."
That made Ella and Kyle laugh more than John. He didn't really understand why they found it so funny. It was a very real risk, after all. Back when John went through high school the first time, he heard plenty of boys bragging about 'getting laid,' and sometimes he even envied them, but he also knew a girl, a really smart, funny girl, who got pregnant and it made her life really hard. No one labeled her or anything, she just had all these new, grownup responsibilities, all of a sudden.
"Yeah, be careful," John contributed.
Kylie giggled. "Oh, come on. You and Blaine have been going together for a couple of months, now. You must have done... something, right?"
John looked surprised. "No. Just, you know, kissing..."
"Really? Have you... you know... touched it?"
He blushed. "No, of course, not!" He didn't mention that he hardly 'touched' his own any more because, thanks to the hormones, it took forever to finish the job once he started.
"Really? Huh..." Kylie let that hang in the air for a few minutes, leaving John feeling just a little... inferior, in a way.
"Bebe's a good Catholic girl," MK teased. "She and Ella are all sugar and spice."
"Oh, and you're the girl with all the experience!?" Ella replied.
"Let's see, including homecoming, you've been on... ummm... add the right column... carry the three to the left column and add all that up..... THREE dates! Don't act like you some kind of worldly woman, MK. You're just as scared as Bebe or me - and probably Kylie, too - of doing anything that could lead to... well, going all the way. I don't know about you, but I don't plan on getting pregnant any time soon!"
MK shook her head. "Elle, you don't get pregnant just by touching it - come on!"
Ella let out an exasperated huff and waved her friend off.
"Someday, though," Kylie said, "I'd love to have a baby, though."
"Yeah!?" MK seemed surprised.
"Yeah." Kylie seemed surprised by MK's surprise. "I love babies. The way they feel. The way they smell. I love them."
"Yuck," Ella chimed in. "That's because you don't have one to deal with. I have my little brother and, let me tell you, he's a lot to deal with. The crying, the feedings, the long nights when nobody sleeps. The ever present smell of poop. No thanks!"
"Yeah!" MK said and high-fived her friend, making everyone laugh.
"Bebe?" My. Kylie asked. "How about you? Babies or no."
He smiled. "Oh, I'd love to be a mom, but not for awhile and... well, I'm not sure I can have a baby myself. I might have to adopt."
"See!" MK slammed the table. "I told you she was a boy!"
For a moment, John thought that she was serious, but then realized that everyone was laughing and it was just a playful tease.
"Why can't you have a baby, Beebs?" Ella asked with concern.
"Oh, I have... some problems... you know?"
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry!" Ella took his hand and she showed genuine concern. So did the others.
"Don't worry, Bebe." Kylie petted his arm. "If you want to have one, I'm sure that there's a way. You just have to find the right doctor."
"And besides," MK smiled, "I'm adopted and I'm ok with that."
"Really?" Kylie asked. She'd never heard this. Nor had John.
"Sure. My mom had cervical cancer real young, so they had to adopt. Good thing for me, too, wouldn't you say?"
"You definitely hit the jackpot." Ella laughed. "Really nice parents, filthy rich, big, beautiful house. A girl could do a lot worse."
"So, if it comes to it, Bebe, adoption is great. Besides, who really wants to get pregnant?" MK said a bit too loudly.
"Who's pregnant!?" Mr Carlin was walking by and overheard just a few words and he was Immediately concerned!
"Oh, no one, sir," MK laughed. "Just talking about having kids."
"In the future!" Ella laughed as she clarified the conversation. "In the future, Mr Carlin. I promise!"
"Well-" The flustered man regained his composure. "Alright, then, but... let's put that off for a long, long times, ladies. Ok?"
"Yes, sir," they all said in unison.
When Mr Carlin had taken a few steps away, they all burst out laughing.
"And here's our corespondent, Austin Meadows, coming to us from the set of the new hit series, 'Civil Disobedience,' with a TMZ exclusive. Austin?"
They were all in Don's dressing room, watching the big flat screen on the wall.
"Thanks, Frank. Yes, I'm here on the set where young love seems to be blooming between two young 'Civil Disobedience' costars."
The story went on to interview Ed and Rose and show both candid and staged footage of them walking together, talking, kissing, etc.
"We've known each other for what? Six of seven months?" Ed said, offhandedly.
"Just about." Rose smiled and rested her head on Ed's arm. "And eventually, we just sort of... fell for each other."
The story went on to discuss their dedication to each other and how lucky they were to have both ended up on the show, etc. Finally, Meadows asked, "And what about the third member of your family. Is there romance in Bebe's future?"
"Well-" Ed laughed a well acted, but insincere laugh. "Bebe's been with her boyfriend for awhile now, but she's still just a baby, you know. She's concentrating on school and the show for the time being."
They all smiled and chuckled at that. It was a a perfectly schmaltzy ending to a puff piece.
"Back to you, Frank."
Don pushed the button on the remote to shut off the show. "Well, That should hold them for a while," he slapped Ed on the back. "If you guys just continue to be the 'Luke and Laura' of the new millennium, we'll be fine."
"Who are 'Luke and Laura?'" Ed asked.
"Seriously?" Don was both amused and shocked.
"Oh," Rose held up her phone, "they were a soap opera couple in the eighties."
"Thank God someone knows their pop culture," Don said dramatically.
"I Googled it." Rose showed him.
Don just shook his head. "Ok, so Meadows is happy for the time being. If we can keep feeding him positive exclusives, I think we can keep him from being a nuisance. Good work, kids!"
Friday afternoon at 4:30, Blaine was buzzed into the condo building. He was well dressed in a long sleeved, light blue shirt, yellow tie and beige, dress pants.
"Blaine!" Ed said as he shook the boy's hand and invited him into the condo. "You look sharp! So, where are you guys going, tonight?"
"Honestly, I have no idea," he smiled. "My mom just said that is an early Christmas present for both Bebe and me. She's pretty wound up about it, though."
"Wow, that's exciting," Ed said, as he looked down the corridor and called, "Bebe! Blaine's here, honey!"
"She'll be out in a minute!" Rose called back.
When John did emerge from the bedroom, he looked absolutely stunning. His hair was thick and curled, his makeup was sensual and provocative with bright red lips that popped all the way down the hallway.
And then there was the dress!
It was a pale blue, off the shoulder design with sheer material forming sleeves that ended at the bend of his elbows. The straight neckline cut straight across his pale and developing chest, revealing little, but promising much. Along the neckline, the falling lace icicles, were delicate, inserts of lace and flowers, one between his breasts and one near each arm, those were sewn into the same sheer material that covered the satin underdress. At the waist was a matching, narrow, satin belt with a tiny bow at the front. The skirt flared out femininely and ended just at his knees, but if truth be told, the flare was so extreme that the material barely touched his thighs at all. The back of the dress was just as enticing. The underdress was zipped up, but hiding that was a braid of interwoven, wide, satin laces that were tied into another to hold the outer dress closed with a more elaborate bow at the base of his back.
It turned John from a pretty little girl into a teenaged goddess.
His shoes were high for John, three inch heels with just two, incredibly thin straps of light blue leather, one just behind the toes and one at the ankle. Even his finger and toenails were painted the same, soft shade of pale blue as the dress.
And, of course, the little silver 'B.B.' was hanging from his slender throat and simple, little pearl studs on his ears.
He was not just 'breathtaking' in the conventional sense of the phrase - in fact Blaine's breath was literally taken away for a few moments by the beauty of his girlfriend.
"Holy cow," Blaine muttered as John approached. "You look... amazing!"
John kissed the boy's cheek, which was not enough for Blaine, but as he tried to maneuver himself into a position to kiss Bebe's lips, Rose interrupted his with an abrupt, "Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh!"
"What?" Blaine looked to her.
"I spent a half an hour on those lips! Let them set up for a while before you start slobbering all over them!"
Blaine controlled his urges and smiled at Rose, then at John. He'd be patient. They had a long evening ahead of them.
"Have fun, you two." Rose kissed each of their cheeks goodbye.
Ed kissed John and shook Blaine's hand. "Be careful. Have a great night."
The young couple left and got into the elevator. When the door closed, Blaine said, "Wow, Bebe... you just look, amazing!"
"Thanks. You look very handsome, Blaine."
"Naw," he blushed. "I'm just wearing a shirt and tie. You... you're like, I don't know, a model or something. Maybe I should stop and rent a tux!" They both laughed.
Joanne drove them for a few blocks before handing them each a sleeping mask. "Put those on for me, ok?"
The kids both laughed. "Really, mom? We have to put these on?"
"Yes, and do it before this light turns green. I don't want you to see where we're going until we're there."
John and Blaine looked at each other and shrugged, then put the satin masks onto their eyes.
They rode on in the darkness of the masks, chatting and laughing. Eventually, Joanne came to a stop, but warned them not to remove the masks until she said they could.
They heard a conversation. Marilyn said, "Hi. VIP passes and underground parking."
They heard papers shuffle. "Ok. Pull through the overhead door, then follow the arrows to the right. I'll call ahead and have someone meet you. They'll have a green vest on."
"Thanks!"
The car moved more slowly, now. "Keep those masks on back there," Joanne warned.
She rolled to a stop and spoke to the attendant who said, "You can just leave the car here, ma'am."
"Great!" They could hear the smile in Joanne's voice.
"Can we take off the masks, yet?" Blaine asked.
"NO!" Joanne was adamant.
In a moment or two, the two back seat doors opened and John and Blaine both felt hands reaching in for them and guidance being given. "This way, please. Just let me guide you to the seat. Ok, now, just lower yourself. Very good."
It didn't take much intellect to realize that they were in wheelchairs, but it also was obvious that they were definitely not in a hospital. It didn't smell like a hospital at all. In fact, it smelled like popcorn and hot dogs and beer and burgers. There was also a lot of commotion going on around them and people were speaking into two-way radios.
"All set?" John's attendant asked.
"I guess," he giggled. "I mean, I'm not being kidnapped, am I?"
The young woman moving his wheelchair laughed. "I don't think so. By the way, I just love your dress."
"Oh," John was truly flattered. "Thank you!"
"Bebe."
He heard Blaine's voice close by, to his right. He reached out and felt his arm. He followed that to his hand. "Blaine?"
He gave her hand a squeeze. "I'm sorry that I neglected to mention that my mother is completely and totally insane, sometimes."
Joanne was nearby, too, and chided, "You Just watch yourself, Blaine, or you'll wait outside while Bebe and I have a good time."
"Doing what, mom? Floating in a sensory deprivation tank? If that's your plan, then why did we have to get so dressed up?"
"You can wait in here," John's attendant said. "They'll just be a minute."
"Thank you so much," Joanne said, graciously and John was sure that he heard her count out some money and hand it to the attendant.
"Oh, thank you, ma'am. That's very kind of you."
John heard Blaine, "Mom, is there a reason for all of this, or have you just finally gone off the deep end?"
"Oh, hush, you!" Joanne sounded stern, but there was an excitement in her voice.
John sensed that someone, or, in fact, several someone's had entered the room. Joanne was whispering and there were several giggles.
"Hello, there," somebody whispered just inches from John's face. The voice was a woman, no doubt about it.
"Hi...?" John said tentatively.
"And hello, there," a different woman said to Blaine.
"Ok..." Blaine said, "... hello."
Then there voices behind them, teasing them making them guess where they were. There was one in front of John and one behind, the same with Blaine. The playful teasing went on and on.
Suddenly, there was a new voice in between and in front of the wheel chairs. "This a big honor for us, Bebe." The voice said. "We love your show."
"Oh, well, thank you," John said.
"Blaine," the voice said, "can you guess where you are?"
"No," Blaine said honestly.
"You're at The Staple Center."
"Oh? Ok, if you say so." Blaine had never been to The Staple Center before. He knew it was a sports arena, but not much more.
"Maybe this will help," The voice said. "Ok, girls. Introduce yourselves."
"I'm Grace and I play guitar," the voice behind Blaine went first.
"I'm Gina and I play drums," said the voice behind John.
"I'm Margo and I play bass," said the voice in front of John.
"I'm Terry and I play guitar, too."
"Any guesses," the voice in the middle asked.
"I'm going to guess that Terry has a twin sister named Chrissy." Blaine sounded very excited.
John was as well. He certainly knew who these women were. You couldn't turn on a radio for the last three years without hearing their music.
"In fact I do," Terry said. "Say 'Hi' Chrissy."
The voice in the middle said, "Take off the masks."
And there they were. Chrissy, Terry, Margo, Grace and Gina. The powerhouse, hit making machine that was known all over the world as Dusty Rose.
"NO SHIT!" The words burst out of Blaine's mouth before he could stop them.
"Blaine!" Joanne said horrified.
"Oh, Sorry, Mom," he said. Then, to the women in the room, "Sorry, I'm just so excited!" He leapt up and hugged Terry. "I love you guys!" He then went to each of the other performers and gave and received hugs and kisses. Finally, he landed at his mother who got the biggest hug of all. "Thanks, mom! This is amazing!"
"Oh, my God, your dress!" Grace said as she helped John to stand. "It's absolutely gorgeous!"
"Yeah," Margo scoffed, "it's the dress that's gorgeous. Ignore her, honey," she patted John's shoulder. "The dress is a nice choice, but you're the gorgeous one."
"Thank you, so much," John said to both women, then as he turned, he came face to face with Chrissy, the amazing dynamo that had guided this band to success.
"Hi, I'm Chris," the beautiful woman said.
"Oh, I know who you are." John stumbled over his words, suddenly as star struck as he had been when he met Anna Kendrick. "I'm such a big fan."
Chrissy chuckled at that. "Thank you, Bebe, but the truth is, we really are big fans of yours. We love the show! It's so good!" Chris hugged John and kissed his cheek.
John gave Chris a gently, friendly kiss on her cheek as well, but when he pulled back, John said, "Oops," he reached over and rubbed Chris' cheek, "I left some lipstick on your face."
"That's ok," Chrissy replied. "I haven't done my makeup, yet." This surprised John because, frankly, Chrissy was beautiful just as is.
"Alright, everyone," a tall man with a deep southern drawl called from the door, "if you're going to have dinner, it's got to be now!"
Chrissy linked her arm with John and they all walked down the hall to a room where a veritable banquet had been set up. They sat with John to Chrissy's right, then Blaine, then Terry, then Joanne, and the rest of the band around the circular table. The girls in the band were wearing just jeans and flannel shirts, except Chrissy, who wore a simple, beige dress. John looked around and said, "I feel like I'm horribly over dressed."
"Don't be silly," Terry said. "You look absolutely beautiful."
"And in a couple of hours," Margo volunteered, "Chrissy will be dressed up like a human disco-ball, so don't worry about it."
"I've been reading about you," Chris said, which made John wonder where he could possibly find anything written about himself. "You're very lucky to have your Uncle and your cousin to share your success with you. You know, we all left New Jersey together. We had each other to celebrate the good times and support each other through the bad times. It's really a tremendous blessing."
"I suppose it is." John smiled. "It has been a little overwhelming. It all happened so quickly."
"That's how it happens," Margo chuckled as she started passing plates and silverware to everyone. "One minute, we were just trying to get things together in Terry and Chris' basement, then, all of sudden, we were in a Nashville recording studio, then, just as suddenly, we were headlining our own tour. We still look at each other before we go out on stage and think about how lucky we are to be where we are and be who we're with."
"But you've got your family with you, and this guy, too." Terry slapped Blaine's shoulder.
"I read," Gina said, "that George Harrison said that being a part of a group was the only thing that kept him sane during Beatlemania. He said that he didn't know how Elvis had survived all alone. I think he was right. Thank goodness we have each other."
Grace stood to serve the family style meal. "We knew you were from Massachusetts, so we went with a New England menu for our dinner, tonight. Ham, turkey and roast beef with mashed potato, butternut squash, corn, green beans, corn bread and, of course, gravy for the turkey and roast beef and a raisin sauce for the ham. Oh, and we had Ocean Spray cranberry sauce brought in for you, too. Both the jellied and whole berry kinds."
John looked at the feast before him and, although he adored each item, he considered how difficult it would be to keep those gravies and sauces off of his light blue dress, and one word screamed in his mind - CARBS! Viv's warning rang in his head as he searched for something to each that wouldn't haunt him with cellulite.
"Wow!" John's eyes were wide. "It all looks amazing! Thank you!"
Everyone dug in. Blaine and Gina filled their plates several times. Joanne and most of the rest of the band had moderate helpings, but John was very relieved to see that Chrissy ate only a very small helping. It made him feel better when he did the same.
Chrissy asked John about his old school and his school back in Massachusetts and how he was handling working and school here in LA. "Be sure to finish high school," Chrissy said. "I left to record the first album. I got a GED after the first tour, but it's not the same."
"Oh, I will," John assured him.
"We're a lot alike." Chrissy smiled. "Both kinda misfits until we found our true callings. It's a new life, but satisfying in a much different way, right?"
John agreed, but thought that his former life was probably very much different than hers.
Strangely enough, Chrissy thought the same.
As they finished, Terry said, "Well, Bebe, I hope you enjoyed the meal, but we do have a favor to ask of you."
"Oh?" John was surprised.
"Well," Gina smiled, "we don't usually set up banquets like this, even for VIPs, but this all kinda worked out perfectly, so we fed you well to butter you up for this favor."
"We're not the most sociable band. In fact, we even try to avoid meet-and-greets." Margo laughed.
"So, when Joanne called and asked if she could set up a meet-and-greet for her son, at first we said 'no,'" Chrissy explained, "but when we found out you'd be here, we hoped that we might impose on you to help raise money for our charity."
"What charity is that?" John asked, already willing to be involved in nearly anything."
"The Dusty Rose Foundation," Blaine offered. "It's a charity to help kids dealing with LGBTQ issues."
"Very good, Blaine!" Terry congratulated him.
"That's right." Chrissy smiled. "Do you think you could help us?"
"Sure! How?"
"Do you sing?" Gloria asked.
"Not really..." John started to respond, but Blaine interrupted.
"Sure she does. She just auditioned for a Disney musical. She takes singing lessons, too!"
"Great!" Chrissy pushed forward, not allowing John the opportunity to protest. "How about this, near the end of the show, we'll invite you out and you can give a spiel for the foundation, and then you can join us for a song. The audience will love it."
"Well-" John was very concerned about singing something he hadn't prepared. "I'll be glad to come out and speak, but I'm not real familiar with all the lyrics..."
"That's ok," Gina laughed, "neither is Chrissy. There are Teleprompter's all over the place during the show so she can check her lyrics if she forgets them."
The others laughed, but Chrissy rolled her eyes. "I don't forget the lyrics, but the production company insists that we use the promoters, just in case. Anyway, the lyrics will scroll by, just like Karaoke. Do you know any of our songs?"
"Well, sure." John smiled. "I did 'One Less Set Of Footsteps' at a karaoke thing one time. I know it pretty well."
"Perfect!" Chrissy clapped her hands. "That's a cover, too, so the audience will love having you sing it with us!"
"Here's the script. It's only a few paragraphs, but we can put it on the promoters if you want." Margo handed him a page printed from a computer printer.
John read it through and nodded. "Ok. I guess. What do you think, Blaine?"
Blaine had been grinning since the masks had been removed. "Are you kidding!? Of course I think you should do it! My favorite band and my girlfriend all singing together!?!?!? This is the greatest night of my life!"
John looked to Joanne, who nodded. "It's up to you, honey, but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I wish I had the talent to have ever been asked to do something so amazing."
John shrugged. "Ok. I'll do it."
Chrissy hugged him. "Great!"
The tall man with the pronounced drawl appeared again. "Sorry to interrupt, but it's forty-five minutes to showtime."
John looked around at the casually dressed, casually made-up women. "Forty-five minutes? Do you have enough time to get ready?"
"Why?" Gina made a mock-angry expression. "Are we that ugly?"
For a moment, John thought he'd offended them. "Oh, no, no..." then he realized they were kidding him. "I meant, well, it takes at least an hour for them to do my hair and makeup and costumes for the show."
Chrissy laughed. "We have plenty of time. There's a warmup band doing a half hour set first and we don't need to look as pretty as you do. We just throw on the war-paint and curl and brush out each other's hair. We can do it in fifteen minutes."
"But we SHOULD get going." Terry stood.
"This is Will," Chrissy introduced the tall man with the drawl. "He'll take care of getting you to your seats and he'll come get you before you need to go out on stage, ok?"
"Sure." John smiled, butterflies filling his insides.
Everyone was standing, now, and they had Will take a picture of all of them on Blaine's phone. There were kisses and hugs all around and John, Blaine and Joanne were escorted to their front row seats.
The concert as amazing. The band was so good! Gloria was on fire on every instrument that she played. Chrissy was everywhere at once, spurring the audience on, getting them singing and cheering and working them into a frenzy.
About an hour into the concert, Will appeared and signaled that John should follow him. Blaine didn't plan to follow, but his hand was being gripped so tightly that he had no choice. He looked back to his mother and waved for her to follow, but she shook her head and indicated that she'd stay put and take pictures.
Will led them backstage and told John he'd tell him when to go out. "Have you ever been in front of an audience this large?"
John shook his head. The auditorium at his high school sat a thousand people, but a show typically drew two to three hundred, so it always looked empty. In college, he'd only been in the small stage productions, and those theaters only seated about two hundred and the shows were never sold out. This crowd was well over twenty thousand people
"Just relax," Will instructed him. "The lights will blind you a little and, believe it or not, that will probably help. It'll keep you from seeing the crowd. Just focus on walking to the microphone, acknowledge the applause and say what you need to say. Chris will guide you through the song. You'll do fine."
John nodded, then looked at the short script he'd been given. He read through it and nodded, then took a deep breath and tried to get into performance-mode. He glanced out into the monumental space that was filled with people and he felt a tingle of fear sweep through him. Lord, that was a lot of people!
He turned to Blaine and shouted above the volume of the band. "I need a hug!"
Blaine wrapped his arms around him and shouted back, "Any time."
Suddenly, John felt more exposed and vulnerable than ever. His off-the-shoulder dress suddenly seemed to reveal far too much of his upper body. The just-above-the-knee length of the dress' skirt, with its wide silhouette and the way that it hardly ever touched his legs, seemed to expose far too much of his lower body. He looked at Chrissy, who's dress was far more revealing and realized that his fears were foolish, but they remained, none the less.
He could not put aside the thought that the only thing separating his privates from more than twenty-thousand people was a thin, nylon panty, a thin, silk skirt and the sheer outer dress. No pants, no tights, no stockings - just a few, very thin, pieces of fabric.
He shook in Blaine's arms.
"Nervous?" he asked above the noise.
"Petrified," John replied.
"Why?"
"Are you kidding? Look at all those people!"
"So what? Millions of people see you on TV all the time."
"Yeah, but I can't see them! And I'm not singing in front of them."
"You'll be great!" John was about to express his doubts about that, but Blaine planted a soft, warm kiss on his mouth and, for a moment, everything else was forgotten.
The kiss didn't last long enough, though.
"I hate to interrupt, kids," Will called above the din of applause, "but Chris is about to introduce you. Are you all set?"
John shook his head. "I don't know."
"It's now or never." Will shrugged. "Want me to wave her off?"
"Do it, Bebe," Blaine said. "They're going to love you."
John looked stressed, but he looked from Blaine to Will and nodded. "I'm good."
Will gave the 'ok' sign to Chrissy who said, "Well, Alright, L.A!!! Hey, we have a surprise for you, tonight."
The crowd cheered.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our new friend, the star of ABC's 'Civil Disobedience..."
John chuckled at that. Don was the star of 'Civil Disobedience.' There was no question about that. He was just an upstart.
"... Miss Bebe Foley!!!!"
The crowd's volume increased as Will gave John a soft push towards the stage. "Go get 'em!" He said.
That was the last thing that John could hear for a few moments because the crowd's screaming overwhelmed his hearing.
He looked at the audience. Will had lied. He could see every single face. He swore he could see the eye color of the people in the very last row. He could feel their cheers even more than he could hear them.
But there was something more than noise.
There was love. There was acceptance. There was belonging.
And then, just has he if he felt that he needed to run back off the stage, something exploded within him. His weak legs suddenly found great strength and the blood that was pounding in his temples began to flow smoothly and with a new found force. At that moment, the euphoria that overcame him made him realize that he was exactly where he was meant to be. His eyes brightened, his posture straightened, his demeanor became more accessible and suddenly, where a frightened ingenue had been walking, a strong confident star strode to the microphone, waving and smiling to the adoring crowd.
"HELLO, L.A.!" She hollered and the crowd responded with screams. "Hey, just so you know," he continued, completely off the script, but still delivering the correct message, "you guys are helping a lot of people, right here, in Los Angeles, tonight! For each and every ticket you purchased for the show, tonight, ten dollars has been donated to the Dusty Rose Foundation to help LGBTQ kids who are struggling to find themselves. And for every Dusty Rose tee shirt sold tonight, an additional dollar has been donated as well. So, just by being here and listening to these amazing girls, you have raised more than TWENTY- FIVE-THOUSAND DOLLARS!"
The crowd went nuts, screaming and whistling and applauding.
Chrissy took over the mic again. "Hey! Let's hear it for Bebe!!!" Chrissy was now sporting her famous dusty-rose-colored Taylor acoustic electric guitar.
The cacophony continued, but somehow, Chrissy controlled it and was able to speak over the chaos. "Would you like to here Bebe, sing!?"
Miraculously, the cheering got even louder.
"Come on! Let her know that you want her to sing with us!"
Even louder, still.
"Well, Alright! Bebe, sing this one with us!"
Gina clicked her sticks and called out, "One, two, three, four!"
The introduction began and Chris said into John's ear, "I'll sing the first phrase. You come in on the second. If you need help, I'll jump in."
John nodded. Suddenly, he was looking forward to this!
Chrissy started,
"We've been running away from
Something we both know
We've long run out of things to say
And I think I'd better go."
Chrissy nodded to John who moved to the mic and sang,
"So don't be getting excited
when you hear that slamming door
'Cause there'll be one less set of footsteps
On your floor, in the morning."
He glanced at Chrissy who flashed a supportive grin and gestured with her chin that John should continue.
"And we've been hidin' from somethin'
That should have never gone this far
But after all it's what we've done
That makes us what we are
And you been talkin' in silence
But if it's silence you adore
Oh there'll be one less set of footsteps
On your floor in the mornin'"
Then Chrissy joined John at the microphone and all the girls joined in on the famous Dusty Rose harmonies
"Well, there'll be one less set of footsteps on your floor
One less man to walk in
One less pair of jeans upon your door
One less voice a'talkin'"
The feeling of all the instruments and voices being so perfectly coordinated was new and exciting and uplifting. John was exhilarated beyond any feeling he'd ever had before.
He continued singing the lead vocal,
"But tomorrow's a dream away
Today has turned to dust
Your silver tongue has turned to clay
And your golden rule to rust
If that's the way that you want it
That's the way I want it more
There'll be one less set of footsteps
On your floor in the mornin'"
They reached the bridge, again, and this time, except for the drum beat, the girls were singing their harmonies with him in an a cappella style.
"Well there'll be one less set of footsteps on your floor
One less man to walk in
One less pair of jeans upon your door
One less voice a'talkin'"
The band kicked in once again and the audience screamed with excitement.
"Oh, But tomorrow's a dream away
When today has turned to dust
Your silver tongue has turned to clay
And your golden rule to rust
If that's the way that you want it
That's the way I want it more
There'll be one less set of footsteps
On your floor in the mornin'
There'll be one less set of footsteps
On your floor in the mornin'"
The audience went insane with applause. Chrissy slid her guitar around her back and hugged John. "You were amazing, Bebe!" She turned to the microphone and called out to the audience, "Bebe Foley, ladies and gentlemen! Bebe Foley!"
John waved to the audience, gave Chrissy a kiss on the cheek and ran as quickly as his pretty, little heels would carry him until he leapt up into Blaine's embrace and felt himself being swung in a circle. "Bebe," Blaine shouted, "you were unbelievable!!"
When the concert ended, Joanne accompanied the kids backstage where they kissed each member of the band goodbye, exchanged contact information, jumped into the car and they headed back to the condo.
"I've sent Rose all the pictures I took, tonight, Bebe. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see them."
John was still high on the experience. "That's was all so great! Joanne, thank you so much for setting all of that up!"
"Yeah, mom," Blaine held John close. He was every bit as excited as John. "This was the best night of my life!"
"Has Rose said anything about the pictures?" John was dying to tell Rose and Ed everything that had happened.
"Nothing yet, honey," Joanne said. "She could be in the shower or something. I'm sure she'll be blown away when she sees them."
Joanne pulled into the parking lot at the condo.
"I'll just ride the elevator up with Bebe, mom." Blaine jumped out and turned to help John. "I'll be right back."
"Thanks for tonight, Joanne! I love you!" John leaned over the seat and kissed her cheek before bouncing out of the car.
"I love you, too, honey!" Joanne called back.
They entered the lobby and the elevator opened the moment Blaine pushed the button. They boarded and Blaine pushed the button for Bebe's floor, but then he pushed two more.
"What are you doing?" John asked.
"This is the first time I've been alone with you all night. I need a couple of extra minutes." He pulled John in tightly and kissed his forehead while running his hand up and down John's soft, slender arms. "You were unbelievable on that stage, Bebe," he whispered. "I can't believe how much I love you."
"I love you, too, Blaine. I really, really do."
They kissed, a long, soft, passionate kiss, as Blaine's hands continued to caress John's arms. On one pass up the soft flesh of his girlfriend's body, Blaine's hand inadvertently brushed the side of John's breast. It was an innocent graze, but they both felt an electric surge when it happened. The soft yielding of the dress, the bra and the developing flesh was both loving and forbidden. They both shivered and Blaine kissed John just a bit more forcefully.
Just when they both wanted their time alone to continue, the elevator opened on John's floor. "I have to go," John said reluctantly and he smiled at the big boy.
Blaine sighed. "Good night, my love," he whispered.
"Goodnight, my love," John whispered back, as he stepped out of the elevator and watched the door close. God, it was hard to end an evening with Blaine.
He unlocked the door and entered the apartment. All the lights were off. It was after midnight, but it was a Friday night. Ed and Rose were usually up late on Friday. They must have been tired and turned in early.
John moved quietly through the twilight of the apartment and he entered his room for a moment, but he was just too wound up to even consider going to bed without telling Rose about everything that had happened. What the heck, she wouldn't mind if he woke her up.
He stepped back out into the hall, then continued on the Rose's room. He turned the handle and opened it and was surprised to hear Rose shout, "Oh, my God! Bebe!"
John's eyes focused in the dim light as he saw two bodies scrambling about and heard Ed's voice, "Jesus, Bebe!" as he jumped out of bed and wrapped a sheet around his naked lower half.
"Oh, geez!" John half yelled, half giggled as he ran out the door, swinging it closed behind him. He stopped for a moment, laughing at having caught 'his parents' in a compromising position. Then he ran on the tip-toes of his sandalled feet to his bedroom, and he closed the door, laughing with adrenaline.
Moments later, there was a knock on the door and Ed's voice came through. "Bebe? Bebe? Can I talk to you?"
John opened the door, his face fixed in a silly, childish smile. When he spoke, he spoke in a very proper manner, as he'd heard in old movies. "Well, hello, Uncle Edward. How was your evening?" The impish smile threatened to burst into a laugh at any point.
Ed stood there wrapped in his sheet, embarrassed that Bebe had seen him in the midst of... well... with Rose... that way. After a moment, his embarrassed face also morphed into a smile. "Not bad, actually. In fact, I think it was probably the best Friday night of my life."
To Be Continued...
Bebe in Lala Land - 17 Final
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This section of the Bebe epic comes to an end. While her television career is in high gear and her movie
career is blossoming, things at home in Massachusetts are in flux as John returns home to celebrate
Christmas. Thank you, everyone who has stuck with Bebe and me to this point. We may take a brief
break, but we'll be back soon to explore Bebe's next phase of life.
Author's Note: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE... I am begging you here... PLEASE LEAVE ME SOME COMMENTS AND CRITIQUES!!!
It's the only reward us author's get for writing here. :*( It really isn't much to ask. ~Clara.
This version of Bebe in LaLa Land: 17 Final 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.
FAMILY -or- WE'RE ALL MAD HERE
"Here is footage of the young star as she joined the band Dusty Rose on stage this weekend at the Staples Center," Austin Meadows spoke under the footage on TMZ's Monday night broadcast. "The starlet wowed the audience when, after thanking the audience for their contributions to The Dusty Rose Foundation, she joined the band to perform the band's first big hit, a cover of Jim Croce's 1973 song, 'One Less Set Of Footsteps.'"
They played a ten second snippet of John performing and the anchorman said, "Holy Moses, Austin, that girl has some pipes, doesn't she!?"
"She really does," Meadows was thrilled to have such great access to the the lives of John, Ed and Rose, and he was playing up their successes and their importance in the entertainment world to the hilt. "You know, she's recently auditioned for a role in an upcoming Disney musical featuring Anna Kendrick and Lily James. After seeing this performance, I think Disney would be crazy to not sign her today!"
"I gotta agree, Austin," the anchorman smiled, then turned his gaze to the camera. "Next up, what Australian singer is finding herself in hot water after getting arrested for driving under the influence? Find out after this."
As a commercial for Twix candy came on the screen, Don pushed the mute button on the remote at the condo. "I think you guys may have just been the first people to find a way to keep Austin Meadows on a leash." He smiled and stood.
As he pulled on a zip-up sweatshirt, he said, "it looks like we'll be wrapping up the shooting a few days ahead of schedule. When are you guys headed back east for Christmas?"
"Bebe's in school until the twentieth, so we can't leave until at least then," Rose stood and gathered the empty coffee mugs.
"Good," Don nodded. "Viv and I would like to have you guys over for a Christmas celebration before you go. Nothing fancy, just dinner. Just you guys, Bebe and Blaine, Blaine's mom if she'd like to join us. I'll talk to Marion, too - see if she's available, but I know she has a place in Vail and she like to spend as much time skiing as possible."
"Sounds great," Ed said as the meandered towards the door.
"So, where is the princess on this chilly Monday evening?" Dan asked.
"She's out with her friends. There's a cinema that shows 'classic' movies for five bucks on Monday nights. She conned her friends into seeing something she heard was good." Ed shook his head. "Imagine, a bunch of teenaged girls, and Blaine, of course, going to see an old movie."
"That's great. She can learn a lot from the 'classic' films." Don admired Bebe's desire to get better at her craft. "What movie?"
"Umm, I think it's called 'What's Up, Doc.' I never heard of it," Rose put the mugs into the sink.
Don made a grunting, confused sound. "'What's Up, Doc!? Ok, that's not a classic! A classic is Brando, Bogart, Cagney, Lombard, Astaire, Hepburn... 'What's Up, Doc' is a comedy with Ryan O'Neal and Barbara Streisand. Great film - great cast - great script, but not a 'classic.' There's only a handful of films that came out after 1970 that can be considered 'classics.'"
Ed laughed. "How about 'Jaws,' or 'Taxi Driver,' or 'Schindler's List?'"
"All 'classics,' but they're not like the real CLASSICS! James Cagney losing it in the prison cafeteria after he hears his mother died in 'White Heat...' that's a classic. Ingrid Bergman in 'Casablanca' or 'Notorious' - classics."
"You'd be surprised what Bebe and Blaine watch when they're hanging around," Rose said. "They love that old stuff."
"Old stuff," Don huffed. "I better leave before I get angry." He kissed Rose's cheek. "Good night, sweetheart."
"'Night," Rose replied.
"Hey, how are you two going to survive away from each other, now that you're really a couple?"
Ed chuckled. "Not to worry. I rented a house about halfway between my parents and Rose's parent's houses. We'll deal with Christmas like an old married couple. Christmas Eve at one house, Christmas morning at another."
"Excellent!" Don shook his hand and left.
"Should we tell Bebe that we're staying together for Christmas?" Rose asked.
"I don't know," Ed shrugged. "Let's talk about it before we tell her. She's a good girl. She should be able understand."
"We need to head home, soon," John said as he nibbled on carrot sticks at the food court. "Uncle Ed will kill me if I'm a minute later than 10:30." John was wearing a cute, light weight, long-sleeved-bellsleeved, white sweater with a scooped neck, over which he wore a tan New-England-plaid jumper-dress, complete with a bib and shoulder straps.
"You know," MK ate a fry and sipped on her strawberry shake, "when I imagine what it's like to be a star on a TV show, it's never anything like your life. Shouldn't you be living it up, or living on the edge? You know, all that kind of stuff? Instead, you hang around with us, go to Catholic school, dress like a nun and follow every rule that your young, hunky uncle makes. If I realized that being a star was as boring as being a nobody, I don't think I would have been envying all those Disney Channel kids my whole life."
John shrugged. "This is how it is for me, anyway. And besides, I love hanging with you guys."
"Oh, that's sweet." Ella slurped the last of her mocha shake, "but sometimes I wonder if we're just chaperones for you and Blaine."
Blaine laughed at that. "Great chaperones you guys would make. 'You guys need to fool around more! You guys need to take it to the next level!' If we followed your advice, we'd be pushing a baby carriage down the street before school started next fall."
"Funny you should mention kids!" MK teased.
"Shhh." John looked irritated, yet coy.
"Huh? What did I miss?"
"Oh, nothing." MK gave a sly grin. "It's just that, the other day, we were talking about kids and, how many did you say you wanted, Bebe? Was it six? No, twelve? No, eighteen. Yes, I'm sure that was it. You said you wanted eighteen kids!"
John and Ella laughed, Blaine just looked shocked.
"Excuse me, kids," an older man interrupted. "Hi, Bebe. We met a few weeks ago at my country club. I just wanted to say, 'Hi.'"
John looked up and immediately recognized the man from the brunch at Don's club the morning after 'Civil Disobedience' premiered. "Mr Rosen." John smiled and shook the man's hand, "how nice to see you." He turned to his friends. "Guys, this is Mr Rosen. Mr. Rosen, these are my friends, Mary Kate and Ella and my boyfriend, Blaine."
"Nice to meet you, kids," the man said pleasantly. "Call me 'Larry.' I don't want to interrupt. I just wanted to say hi and tell you that I am still very impressed by your work, Bebe. I even saw some footage of you singing at The Staples Center on TV this afternoon. You sounded great! Keep up the great work!"
John smiled. "Thank you, Larry, that's very nice of you."
"Not at all. Well, I must get going, so, goodnight, ladies. Blaine."
They all said goodbye and returned to their chatter, but after a moment or two, John jumped up and looked in the direction the man had gone.
"What's wrong?" Blaine asked.
"What? Oh, nothing. I just thought of something. I need to talk to Larry before he leaves. I'll be right back."
John hurried as quickly as his slightly slippery flats would allow. When he reached a side corridor, he saw Larry approaching the exit. "Larry!" He called, but the man didn't respond. "Larry! Mr Rosen" he yelled louder and ran as fast as he could.
Larry heard something and turned, surprised to suddenly have to catch Bebe Foley as she slid on the soles of her flats into his arms.
"Bebe? What's the matter?"
John huffed to catch his breath. "Oh, Nothing..." Big breath. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Bebe. What's up?"
John looked around for a moment. "Is it true that you run everything in L.A.?"
He chuckled. "That is a bit of a Don Ferry over statement, but I am very well connected. Why? Do you need help with something."
John nodded. "As a matter of fact, I do."
"That's a wrap!" the director called out. "We are closed for business until next year! We have food and beverages - adult beverages and some for the kids, too - in the studio next door. So, happy holidays, everyone and let's go get drunk!"
There was a big round of applause from everyone.
People hugged and kissed each other as they wrapped up cables and shut down computers, peeled off wigs and wiped off makeup.
Marion stepped up beside John and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. "Merry Christmas, Bebe. I hope that next year is even more exciting than this year has been for you." She planted a wet sloppy kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you, Nana." John giggled and kissed the older woman, back. "And thank you for all of your advice on the show. I really appreciate all of you patience and wisdom."
"Oh, poo!" Marion laughed. "I don't have any 'wisdom' for you, Bebe. I'm just a work-a-day actress. I've been lucky enough to hitch my wagon to a few winners along the way, but I've never been as lucky as I have been lately. Between you and Don, this show has become a phenomenon. Thank you, sweetheart." She kissed him again.
As they reached the dressing rooms, John asked, "Are you going to stick around for the party?"
She smiled and shook her head. "No, Bebe. There's something you should know about your Nana. Once upon a time, your Nana partied way too much. So much, in fact, that she partied herself right out of a marriage and a nice steady job on a detective series. And, well, to cut a long story short, twelve steps later, I stay away from parties like this one. I'm meeting my friend at the airport and we are headed to my place in Vale where we shall ski and eat well for the next six weeks."
"That sounds lovely," John smiled.
"It is, sweetness. As you go through life, dear, remember that the perks of this business can kill you if you're not careful. Ok?" She kissed him once more.
"Ok." John kissed her again. "Merry Christmas, Nana."
"Bebe!" John turned to see Kylie coming down the hallway. She had not been called for shooting that day, but had come just for the party.
"Hi, Ky!" John smiled. "Merry Christmas!"
"I got you something," Kylie smiled and handed John a pretty little gift bag.
"Oh, thank you." John kissed her cheek. "Come one in. I have something for you, too."
In the dressing room, John handed her a small box, wrapped in red foil.
"You first," Kylie insisted.
John opened the bag and found a complete cosmetics kit manufactured by the company for which Kylie had become the spokesperson. "Oh, Wow," John giggled. "Thanks! This is great!"
"I know it's a little cheesy - giving you a present that I got at a discount - but it's really good stuff. My skin has gotten a lot better since I started using it."
"Oh, don't be silly." John looked at the selection of applications and colors in the kit. "I love it. Open yours."
Kylie opened the box to find a little necklace with a small, circular medallion attached. On one side was Kylie's name, beautifully inscribed into the silver circle. "Oh, how nice!"
"Turn it over." John was grinning.
On the back, Kylie found another inscription. 'My favorite neighbor. Love, Bebe'
"Oh!" Kylie sighed as she blinked back a few happy tears. "That's so nice, Bebe. Thank you! And I only got you some makeup."
They hugged.
"Don't be silly. I love it!" John assured her. "Help me change and we can go to the party."
Kylie unbuttoned the back of John's dress and helped him step out of it. As John stepped into a sleeveless, black dress with a generously flared skirt and a print that featured little Santas and fancily wrapped gifts all about it, Kylie gushed, "Oh, That is absolutely adorable, Beebs!"
John looked in the mirror while Kyle zipped up the back and hooked the hook and eye at the top of the zipper. "Thanks. I thought so, too." He pulled the little, silver B.B. and chain out from under the dress and made sure that hung perfectly.
"You can pull off 'cute' much better than I can," Kylie brushed the hairspray out of John's hair. "I think I'm just too busty to be 'cute.'"
John laughed. "Oh, Poor you. Maybe we should start a charitable foundation for gorgeous redheads with perky C-cups." Kylie and MK were both very well stacked young women and, when he'd first met them, they made him feel a bit inadequate. Even Ella, who was a full B-cup, could be a little intimidating when they all really dressed up, but Blaine seemed to like John just as he was, so what difference did it make?
There was a knock on the door and Rose stuck her head in. "Oh, hi, Kylie. Do you girls need any help in here?"
"No, thanks." John slipped his feet into little, kitten heeled sandals, "Kylie got me dressed. We're all set."
Rose opened the door all the way. Kylie and John joined her in the hallway and they proceeded to the party.
"There's my girls!" Don shouted loudly as they entered. He ran to them and swept Rose right off of her feet and into a traditional carryingover -the-threshold hold and he kissed her cheek with great
theatricality. "My beautiful first-born!"
He returned Rose to her feet, then grabbed Kylie, who let out a surprised squeal as Don lowered her into a dramatic tango-dip as he kissed her cheek. "My baby's best friend and neighbor."
He let Kylie stand and he looked at John and his eyes narrowed. "And you!" John took a confused step backwards, but Don closed the space between them in a flash and scooped up John as he had Rose, then made a run for the small stage at the other end of the studio where a DJ had set up to play some dance music, later.
John was both thrilled and scared by the sensation of being carried like this. He felt weightless and protected, and he loved the way that his skirts billowed as Don ran, but the feeling of potentially falling was always present and made the experience more exciting.
When they reached the stage area, Don did not put him down, but continued to support him, effortlessly.
"Excuse me, my friends," Don said into the microphone and the members of the cast and crew grew quiet.
"My friends... my very good friends," he began, very excited, "I believe that you all know my youngest child, Bianca-Bebe-Alexandra." Everyone applauded politely while Don kissed John's cheek. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, this little girl has just given us all a very great Christmas present."
Now, there was a murmur of interest amongst the guests.
John turned and looked at Don, shocked. "Don, I didn't get them anything."
"Oh, But you did, sweetness. You did." He grinned. He turned his attention back to the guests. "I just got a call from the network and they told me that Bebe's on-screen time has been testing off the charts with audiences of all ages and, because of her popularity, and all the hard work that you have all put into making this show something different and special, Civil Disobedience has been the number one network television show on TV since our premier, AND..." he paused for dramatic impact, "it has just been picked up for an additional two seasons with an option to renew for years to come! Congratulations, everyone! It looks like we're all going to be employed for a long, long time!"
Everyone cheered and hugged each other. Most of the people in attendance, all of whom were very talented, had worked their tales off on failed project after failed project, but they all knew that this show was different. And now, thank heavens, they could rely on a steady income for the next few years. This meant more than just extra cash. This meant nice homes and good schools. The ability to afford to get married. To have kids. To live without worrying about foreclosure or repossessions. At least for a while.
"Oh, my God! That's fantastic!" John screamed and threw his arms around Don's neck as he lowered John to his feet.
"And not only that," Don smiled as he spoke into John's ear, "I made sure that you and Uncle Ed and Cousin Rosie and Nana Marion all had extension bonuses built into our contracts. Because we've been picked up, you get a pretty impressive bonus."
John was gobsmacked. "How impressive?"
"Would you find five million impressive?"
John's eyes went wide. "Five millio... you mean we each get a million dollars?"
Don laughed hard. "No, Bebe. We each get five million and believe me - you are worth every penny, my love. To me and to the network."
John's mouth had been hanging open while Don spoke. "Five? Each?" Was all he could muster as Don hugged him tightly.
"How does it feel to be rich, angel?"
John was finding it hard to breath. "I thought I was already rich." He mumbled, overwhelmed.
"You were comfortable, before, honey. NOW, your rich!"
John stood stunned for a moment, then said, "I need to make a phone call," and he hustled towards his dressing room, his skirts flowing as he ran.
Don walked down from the stage and accepted hugs and handshakes of congratulations until he met Ed who asked, "Is everything ok with Bebe? She left in a rush."
"I think so," Don laughed. "She said she had to make a phone call. Probably calling her mom."
"Or Rita," Ed chuckled. "Hey, getting off the subject, just a bit, I just got a call from your friend, Hank Miller."
Don looked a little more serious at the mention of the private detective's name. "Is anything wrong?"
"I don't think so, but it looks like I'm going to have to go to court tomorrow. All three of teachers from Notre Dame have worked out a deal with the district attorney and their entering their pleas to the judge. He said that the judge MAY allow me to make a victim-statement, if I want to."
"Do you want to?" Don shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess," Ed shrugged as well. "I guess I'll see what they say and I'll make a decision then."
"Ok, but take Rosie with you," Don advised.
"Why? I'm the only named victim."
"True," Don winked, "but she's a lot cuter than you are. The judge will like that."
Ed shook his head. "That's a little cynical, isn't it? Maybe even a bit sexist."
"It is," Don smiled, "but it's all theater, my friend. Dress the set correctly and the audience will be drawn in."
Ed saw his point and nodded. "Wait," he pointed out, "what if the judge is a woman? Or gay?"
Don laughed. "Wear a nice suit."
"Are you sitting down, darling?" Rita asked through the phone.
"I am," John fibbed. Actually, he was standing in front of Notre Dame, waiting for a car to pick him up.
"We got them to concede to everything, Bebe. You'll be finishing up Civil Disobedience the first week of May and you'll start recording vocal tracks for the Disney project on May 15th. Then, you have a six week shooting schedule and you'll be back to your precious Cape Cod by mid-July. How does that sound?"
John let out a big breath. "That sounds AMAZING, Rita!"
"What? What? What sounds amazing?" Kylie asked, with Ella and MK getting excited, as well. "Did you book the movie?"
John nodded, but plugged his free ear to hear Rita over his friends' squealing.
"And you're clearing a really nice chunk of change for this one, too!"
"Really? How much?" John knew that the question sounded mercenary, but he needed to ask it, none the less.
"How does three and a half million sound for your first movie, PLUS a little taste of the back end?"
Again, John breathed a huge sigh. His mother had been a professional educator at the top of her field her entire life. She'd publish five books and was considered an expert in her field, and if she worked until she was a hundred and fifty, she wouldn't make three and a half million dollars and, if you combined this with the bonus he'd earned yesterday, John had earned over eight million dollars in two days! Was that even possible!? "Thank you, Rita!" John's voice was shaking. He wasn't sure if he was laughing or crying, but he was definitely shaking. "Thank you, so much!"
"You're welcome, baby." Rita giggled at the excitement in her client's voice. "We'll talk soon. Congratulations!"
The girls were pushing hard for information and John did his best to relate what limited information he had.
Who was in the movie? Lily James and Anna Kendrick.
What was it about? He only knew he was the youngest of three sisters.
When would it be released? No idea.
Suddenly, something occurred to John. "Guys, I need to just send a couple of texts."
The first was to his mother. The next to Ed, Rose and Don. Then he wondered if he should send another. He needed some advice, but he wasn't sure if he should impose on someone he barely knew. Oh, well, it was worth a try. If he offended the recipient, he'd apologize and that would be that.
Resolved to take the chance, John typed, 'HI, CHRISSY. THIS IS BEBE FOLEY FROM CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER ME. WE MET AT THE STAPLES CENTER. I DON'T MEAN TO IMPOSE ON YOU, BUT I NEED SOME ADVICE. WOULD YOU MIND IF I ASKED YOU A FEW QUESTIONS?'
When he read the text, it seemed a little odd, but the only other person he knew with lots of money was Don and if he asked Don about this, he'd definitely tell Ed and Rose and they'd say 'no' to his plans. He needed to talk to someone who wouldn't tattle on him to anyone and Chrissy was the only person he knew who might understand.
Finally, he pushed the 'send' icon.
He took a deep breath, knowing that, even if Chrissy was willing to respond, she was very busy, so it would take hours or even days to get a response, but, within seconds, his phone vibrated in his hand. It was a response. 'HI, BEBE! DID YOU REALLY THINK I DIDN'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE? SO GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU! WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? IF I CAN HELP YOU AT ALL, I WILL.'
John felt great relief. 'THANKS. IS THERE SOMETIME THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO CALL YOU AND ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS?'
'HOW ABOUT RIGHT NOW?' Chris replied. 'THEY'RE STILL SETTING UP OUR SOUND SYSTEM. SOUND CHECK IS AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HOURS AWAY.'
John was shocked that someone as famous as Chrissy was being so nice to him. He pressed the number under Chris' name. It only rang once before he heard a voice on the other end of the connection. "Hi, Bebe? How are you? How's Blaine and Joanne?"
John stumbled over his words. "They're both good, and I am too, I guess, but could you give me a little guidance about something?"
"Of course, honey," the voice was very friendly. "What can I help you with?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Ed said. "I would like to say a few things."
"Step up to the podium, then, please, Mr McNeal," the Judge, a handsome man in his fifties, indicated a wooden desk with a microphone that was at the railing of the courtroom. All three defendants had spoken from the same location.
When he reached the microphone, he said, "Thank you, Your Honor. Your Honor, I am more than a little shocked to have heard what was said here today. These people, Your Honor, they're asking for no jail time and I can't imagine how that could be appropriate. They targeted my niece, Your Honor. At the time, a fourteen year old child who was a student at the school that employed them. That should have been a safe place, Your Honor. Instead, it was a place that they used to extort money from the families of their students. And this man threatened me on one occasion and, on another, he attacked me while I waited outside my niece's voice teacher's house. He dressed as a police officer and attacked me. I have no idea why he's not in prison for that, let alone the extortion charges."
"May I ask a question," the judge interrupted.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"How old are you, Mr McNeal?"
"I'm twenty-one, Your Honor."
"And how is it that you are taking care of your niece?"
Ed sighed. "Bebe is not really my niece, Your Honor. I am a close friend of her family and she has always called me Uncle Ed, so I have always referred to her as my niece. Since moving out here to work on a TV show, I have shared custody of Bebe with my girlfriend." He indicated Rose who was sitting in the courtroom.
"And who is on the TV show, Mr McNeal?" The judge was writing notes. "You or your girlfriend or the child?"
"All of us, Your Honor."
The judge looked up. "Really? That is unusual."
"Yes, Your Honor."
"You do understand, Mr McNeal, that, if I grant these people a suspended sentence, as they are requesting, that is not letting them off the hook. They will be on a very short leash. If they make any mistakes, they will find themselves thrown into jail in a heartbeat."
Ed nodded. "I do understand, Your Honor."
"All of these defendants are first time criminals, Mr McNeal. The court needs to take that into consideration.”
“They are also people who were charged with protecting young girls, but instead, they preyed upon them and their families. I turned to the police for help and got none, so I turned to a private investigator. Had I not, there’s no telling how many more children and families would have been abused by these vultures. In fact, when that man attacked me, I was arrested by the police for defending myself and my good name was smeared in the press. These are bad people, Your Honor. Very, very bad people. They may deserve a second chance, but not until after they have served a sentence. Until they’ve had their freedom taken away from them, had their sense of security and well being taken away from them as they have taken it away from my family and many others.”
The judge nodded. “The court will be in recess for one hour, at which time I will share my decision with all parties. Mr District Attorney, I’d like to see you in my chambers in fifteen minutes. Thank you, everyone. Court is at recess.”
The judge stood and the court officer called out, “All rise!” Everyone stood until the judge had exited.
“So, I gave my guy a call and he said he’d be in his office for the next hour or so,” Chrissy’s voice came through the phone. “He can talk to your bank and work everything out for you. You’ll just need to have an adult sign the papers for you.”
“Ok,” John replied. “Thanks, so much. I’ll talk to my cousin. I don’t think my uncle would allow me to do this.”
“Why?”
“He’s just very cautious, you know? Rose is a little more
understanding.”
“Alright, Bebe. Let me know if you need any more help.”
“I will, Chrissy. Thank you so much for all of your help!”
“All rise. Court is now back in session,” the officer called. Everyone stood, then sat back down.
“The defendants will, please, step to the rail,” the judge instructed.
Ms Stephanie, Mr Carlin and Ms Gabriella stood with Ms Gabriella’s husband, who was still acting as the attorney for all three, stood beside his wife.
“It appears,” the judge began, “that not all of the information required for sentencing was presented prior to Mr McNeal’s testimony. After reviewing the arrest records and the evidence as well as a conversation with our esteemed District Attorney, I find that I cannot accept the terms agreed upon between the defendants and the District Attorney’s Office. I will, however, accept the guilty pleas entered previously.”
“Your Honor!” Ma Gabriella’s husband nearly shouted. “I must object strenuously! We had a deal...”
“You had a deal with the District Attorney’s Office, Mr Montez, not with me. Before your clients entered their pleas, I made it clear that the agreement was only tentative. The final sentencing is up to me and, quite frankly, Mr Montez, after hearing from Mr McNeal and reading the background of this case, I am disgusted with the agreement between your clients and the ADA. These people abused the trust of the people who were put into their care and I was not made aware of the pending prosecution of Mr. Carlin for the attack on Mr McNeal’s person. In fact, Mr. Montez, I am inclined to punish your clients to the fullest extent of the law and to report you and the ADA assigned to the case to the California Bar Association. Neither of you deserve to be practicing law in this state. Am I making myself clear, Mr Montez?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” the lawyer stuttered, “But...”
“The conversation is over, Mr. Montez!” The judge’s anger was obvious. “One more word and I will hold you in contempt. Now, I am going to ask you a question, Mr. Montez, and your answer will be either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and no other words will be uttered. The question is, do you understand me, Mr. Montez?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” the lawyer said, “but...”
“That’s three words too many, Mr. Montez,” the judge gaveled and surprised everyone in the courtroom. “Mr. Montez, you are in contempt of this court. Officer Casey, please remove the attorney to a holding cell. I will deal with him, later.”
The big, ruddy faced court officer grabbed the lawyer’s upper arm and lead him away, shouting all the way.
“To continue...” the judge started, it Ms Stephanie interrupted.
“Your Honor, we need to have an attorney.”
“Silence!” The judge gaveled, again. “You have already entered a guilty plea with the assistance of your attorney. You do not need an attorney present for me to pass sentence.”
The three of them looked at each other in a panic. For a moment, Rose felt bad for them, but then she recalled what they’d done to her family and she got over that.
“Having entered individual guilty pleas, it is the judgement of this court that all three of you shall serve a sentence of no more than five years for the crime of extortion and theft in the amount of more than five thousand dollars.”
The three defendants looked as if they’d been hit with hammers.
“Your sentences shall be served in a minimum security prison and, if you all behave, you may be eligible for parole in thirty two months. You shall be escorted from this court to a prison to begin your incarceration.”
“Your Honor, please!” Ms Stephanie was panicked. “I have to deal with some personal issues - closing up my apartment, finding someone to care for my cats, storing my car...”
“I apologize if the State of California is inconveniencing you, but you will have to deal with all of these issues by making collect phone calls from the prison.”
Ms Stephanie looked as if she was about to burst, but the judge stopped her by saying, “And before anything else is said, I see that there are several more extortion cases pending for the bunch of you. I cannot guarantee that I will be the presiding judge, but I can guarantee there will be little or no sympathy for you when those cases are presented – AND – Mr Carlin, you still have a criminal assault charge to face. I would recommend that you forget about looking for someone to babysit your cats and find someone to adopt them. You may not be out of prison in time to ever see them again.”
Everyone in the courtroom was stunned by the vehemence of the judge’s words.
“Please remove the prisoners,” the judge said to the court officers.
As they were escorted out, it hit Ed and Rose both that these people, once pillars of the community, were no longer citizens, but prisoners. Everything had been resolved so strangely quickly and instead of filling them with a sense of righteous justice, it left them feeling empty and sympathetic. It was an awful feeling and one that they never hoped to experience again.
“Well. I don’t know about anyone else.” Don chuckled as he pushed back from the table and folded his napkin, “but I can’t eat another bite!”
The dinner had been excellent. It was catered by a restaurant in Brentwood in which Vivian was a silent partner. It was a primarily sea food banquet in the ‘Spanish Cuisine’ tradition. John had grown up with a lot of Puerto Rican school friends, sharing their food traditions in class and in the cafeteria, and since coming to LA, he’d had a lot of Mexican food, but this tasted like nothing he’d ever eaten before and he’d enjoyed every morsel he’d eaten. Judging by the other plates around the table, everyone else had, too.
“Let’s go into the great room and open some presents.” Vivian stood and invited everyone. They had also hired a wait staff for the evening, so they would attend to clearing the table.
Back home, John had had some friends with ‘great rooms’ – large rooms that would usually have a TV, a sectional sofa and, maybe, a pool table or a foosball table, but Don’s was more like a ‘great hall’ from a castle. It had to be well over fifteen hundred square feet, with eighteen foot high ceilings that featured beautiful beams and artistic tiles, as well as a fireplace tall enough for Ed to have walked straight into without bowing his head.
There was a Christmas tree in the center of the room that was big enough to have looked good in the court yard at Rockefeller Center. Wreaths made of boughs of holly with deep green needles and bright red berries hung everywhere, as did balls of mistletoe and huge, shiny, silver balls.
“Oh, Vivian, it’s just so beautiful!” Joanne said, not for the first time, as the entered.
“Thank you, but to be honest, I hired a decorating company this year. I could never have found the time to do all of this myself. I did pick the theme, though. Can anyone guess what it is?”
“Other than Christmas?” Ed asked playfully.
Rose gave him a shot in the ribs, as she giggled at his dad-joke, The she said, “Well, I have a guess. I see a lot of bright silver balls that remind me a lot of a certain necklace that I see constantly hanging from my cousin’s neck. Might the theme of this year’s party be ‘Bebe?’”
“Well, yes, I suppose,” Vivian laughed, “but the necklace was actually my inspiration. Did you know that necklaces with silver balls on them are one of the hottest jewelry items being sold this holiday season? How do you like that, little Miss Popular? You’re a trendsetter!”
John smiled and hugged Blaine around the waist. “Not me. Blaine bought it.”
“But it’s how it looks on you,” Don teased as he pulled her away from Blaine, “that makes it popular.”
John blushed. He was wearing the same Christmas themed dress he’d worn to the studio party.
Don led John to a side table where champagne had been poured. “Help me pass these out, sweetheart.”
When all of the adults had flutes of champagne, Don handed John and Blaine flutes with sparkling grape juice. Then he held his glass high and said, “A toast! To new friends! May we all become old, old friends together! Merry Christmas, everyone!”
“Merry Christmas!” everyone called back, in response. Then they all clinked their glasses together.
There were sounds of ‘mmm’ when they tasted the very pricy champagne.
“And one more toast. To our own personal unicorn, Bebe! She’s barely begun her TV career an she’s already embarking on a film career. Let’s all hope that next year brings her as much success as this year has! To Bebe!”
“To Bebe!” They all replied.
The phone chimed early on a Sunday morning. John was cuddled in his bed when he heard it. He grabbed his phone and after noting that the time was 5:23am, he saw that he’d received a text from Nancy.
This could be good or it could be bad.
He took a moment before opening the text.
‘HI, BEBE. I JUST GOT MY PHONE BACK AND I WANTED MY FIRST TEXT TO BE TO YOU. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS – I’M SORRY. I WAS A PIG TO YOU FROM THE MOMENT I PICKED YOU UP AT THE AIRPORT IN PROVIDENCE LAST JUNE. I SHOULD HAVE SUPPORTED YOU, BUT, INSTEAD, I JUST ATTACKED. I’D LIKE TO SAY THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE PERCOCET, BUT THAT WAS ONLY PART OF IT. IT WAS ME. I HAD TURNED INTO A SELFISH PERSON AND I TOOK OUT ALL MY FRUSTRATION ON YOU EVERY YIME I SAW YOU. PLEASE FORGIVE ME. ALSO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. I FEEL BETTER THAN I HAVE IN TWO YEARS. I FEEL LIKE MYSELF. IT’S NICE TO BE ABLE TO THINK STRAIGHT AGAIN. SOME HOW, I WILL PAY YOU BACK. I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU. I’LL SEE YOU IN A WEEK OR SO.’
John read the text three times before he started to type a response.
‘I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, NAN. PLEASE, DON’T EVER LEAVE ME AGAIN. I NEED YOU TO BE OK. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW I FEEL JUST READING YOUR TEXT. I MISS HAVING MY SISTER.’
A minute passed and then three texts came through, ‘I’M BACK TO STAY, JOHNNY’
‘OOPS’
‘BEBE’
John smiled, then typed, ‘JOHNNY IS FINE.’
“All packed?” Ed asked. He’d been watching his favorite holiday movie, ‘Elf,’ on the coach when John climbed on and cuddle next to him.
“Yep. All set.” He watched the silliness on the screen for a few minutes, enjoying Ed’s warmth and knowing he’d be missing it while they were back home.
“And you’re ok with me and Rosie staying together during the holidays?”
“I think it’s great. Really, I do.”
Ed kissed the crown of John’s head. “Thanks, honey. I didn’t know how you’d react to all this.”
John shrugged. “Two people I love are in love with each other. Why would that bother me?”
Ed kissed his head, again. “Did you say goodbye to Blaine?”
“Yes,” the single word was drawn out and frustrated. “He’s already on his way back to Florida to spend the holidays at his grandparents’ house. They’re stopping off in St Louis to see his aunt on the way.”
Ed smiled at the petulance in John’s voice. He patted his head, gently. “I know you’ll miss him, but is just for a few weeks.”
“I know.”
On the screen, Zooey Deschanel began singing a Christmas carol while on the coach, John’s breathing slowed and became more steady until he drifted off to sleep with his head on Ed’s chest.
“Don’t worry about it, Marilyn. Ed and I will drop her off. It’s really not a big deal.” Rose was talking on her cell phone as the plane flew over Indiana. “We’re staying in Boylston, so a quick spin to Worcester isn’t that big a deal. You take care of Nancy and we’ll take care of Bebe.”
Rose listened for a few minutes, then said, “Ok, well, you send us a text when you’re a half an hour from home and we’ll head to your place. That way, she’s not alone. Ok? Alright, Marilyn. No, it’s no trouble at all, honestly.”
She disconnected the call and looked over the sleeping form of John to speak to Ed. “Marilyn’s picking up Nancy. They’re letting her put a couple of days early because of the holiday. So, why don’t we just go find our place and make sure everything is ok, then we can take Bebe home when Marilyn gets back?”
Ed nodded. “Ok, but I’m sure she’d be ok for a few hours by herself if we brought her home first.”
“Marilyn asked us to keep her with us until she was home. She said that she didn’t want her coming home to an empty house.”
Ed shrugged. “Ok. Seems a little weird, though.”
“She’s just trying to keep both of her girls safe and happy, Ed. I think she’s very concerned about Christmas turning into a battle like Thanksgiving did.”
That made sense.
“When are you delivering Bebe’s present?” Rose asked, quietly.
Ed smiled. “I’m picking it up from the shop tomorrow morning. I talked to Marilyn. She’s taking them all to midnight Mass and she’s leaving a key taped behind the wreath on the door for me to use to get in. I’ll sneak in, drop it off and sneak out again.”
“Just like Santa Claus,” Rose smiled.
“Do you think we could stop at a McDonald’s and get a vanilla shake on the way home?” Nancy asked as they pulled out of the rehab center’s parking lot.
“Sure, honey,” Marilyn smiled. “Anything you want.” It was nice to see Nancy looking so rested and relaxed. Her skin looked better than it had in a couple of years and her eyes were clear.
“I’ve been craving one for, like, two weeks.”
“We could stop someplace nice and get a milkshake, too, you know.”
“I know, mom, but the thing is, I’m craving that strange, unnatural stuff that goes into a McDonald’s vanilla shake. Real ice cream just won’t do it.”
Marilyn laughed.
They rode in silence for a few minutes, until Marilyn asked, “How was it?”
“How was what?”
“How was it... in there?”
“In rehab?” Nancy smiled. “Not as bad as you’d expect. I mean, I had some withdrawals, but nothing like some of the others people. There was a girl dealing with a heroine issue and she really had a tough time. I kinda became her personal attendant for a couple of weeks. It was really rough for her. Lots of vomiting, cold sweats... stuff like that.”
Marilyn listened. Nancy’s voice was clear and even. It wasn’t until this moment that she realized that her voice had sounded edgy and anxious for a long time before she went into rehab. Then something that Nancy said hit her. “What do you mean, you became her attendant?”
Nancy smiled. “Well, we were all assigned jobs and if we had medical training and if we felt like we could handle it, we helped out with other guests.”
Marilyn seemed surprised. “Really!? Is that ethical?”
“Oh, I think so,” Nancy nodded. “It was good for me, too.”
“How so?”
“Well, when I first went there, I thought that my medical career was over. I figured I’d be getting a real estate license or going back to school to teach middle school science or something, but they let me jump right back into my field – with supervision, of course. Anyway, it clarified things for me. I mean, I know that it’s not going to be easy to get back into a hospital, but I’m going to do it. No matter what I have to do, I’m going to put this behind me and be the best doctor I can be.”
Marilyn reached across the dark cabin of the minivan and took her daughter’s hand in hers, then pulled it back across and kissed the fingers that were intertwined with hers. “That’s wonderful, dear. I’m so proud of you. I know it’s been tough, but I hope that you can make a new start, now.”
“That’s the plan, mom.”
They drove a while longer before Marilyn spoke again. “What about Walter?”
Nancy rolled her eyes. “Yeah,” she sighed. “What about Walter?”
Marilyn waited patiently. Eventually, Nancy continued.
“There was a time that I actually did have feelings for Walter, but now I see that he was just using me. I need to stay clear of him, obviously, but I imagine that, if I stay in New England, he’ll eventually catch up with me.”
Marilyn agreed. “As much as I hate to even think about it, honey... maybe you should consider relocating.”
“Yeah, mom,” she pulled her coat a little more tightly around her, “but where would I go? I thought about asking my friend, Ginger, if I could crash with her down in Atlanta, or Ellen from med school, she lives in Oregon, but they’re both still residents themselves, so they really can’t afford to have a rehabilitated junkie living with them.”
“Oh, Nancy, don’t describe yourself like that!”
“Why, mom? I’m reconciled to it, but the point is, if their employers find out, then they’ll lose their jobs, I can’t ask them to take that chance.”
Marilyn drove on for a few minutes before stating the obvious. “You could, maybe, ask your sister if you could move in with her for awhile.”
Nancy shook her head. “I think she’s sacrificed enough for me, mom. I’m not going to ask for that kind of help after she’s given me a second chance.”
Marilyn nodded, but after a few minutes of silence, she said, “Well... think about it, anyway. I think she may be open to it if we frame things the right way.”
Nancy nodded halfheartedly, but suddenly brightened up and pointed to an oncoming sign. “Look! There’s a McDonald’s at this exit. Could you pull off?”
“Sure,” Marilyn said as she turned on her right-turn blinker.
“This is nice!” Rose said as they entered their rented house. “Good job, Uncle Ed!” She teased. “What do you think, Beebs?”
John looked out the window at the view of the reservoir below. “This is really gorgeous! Congratulations, guys! It’s kind of perfect!”
Ed flopped onto the huge, soft sofa with a sigh. “Any place would be perfect as long as I had my girls with me,” he laughed.
“Oh,” Rose giggled, “such a romantic!”
She jumped and landed on top of Ed, who let out a big groan. “Ooooooh!” He over-played the impact her landing. “Did you gain weight?”
She sat back, eyes wide and a smile playing on her lips. “Gained weight? Well, that’s it! I’m going to go stay with Bebe!”
She pretended to be offended and started to stand, but Ed stopped her and pulled her close. “Ok, but Bebe’s house doesn’t have an indoor pool!”
Rose stopped and pretended to consider things for a moment. “Ok. I’ll stay.”
It was after 4:30 when Ed pulled into Marilyn’s driveway. The sun hadn’t quite set yet. Marilyn’s minivan was in the driveway, but there were only a couple of lights on and the outside of the house was cast in that strange, oppressive, December twilight that only seemed to engulf New England in the days leading up to Christmas.
“I hope that you have a better time at Christmas than you did at Thanksgiving, Beebs,” Rose said, as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Ed was already out of the car and headed to the passenger side of the car to help Rose and John to get out. When Ed opened John’s door, he swung his legs out, but then said, “Maybe it would be best if I just went in alone.”
Ed and Rose exchanged concerned glances.
“Are you sure, Beebs?” Rose asked.
John nodded. “Yeah, I think so. I haven’t seen Nancy since she... Well, you know... and I don’t want to put any pressure on her if she’s not feeling great, or, well, if she’s self conscious about anything, I guess.”
“Ok,” Rose smiled. “I love you sweetheart. Take good care of yourself and call if you need me, ok?”
John leaned over the seat and kissed Rose’s cheek. “I love you, too, Rose. See you soon.”
Rose touched his cheek as he pulled away. “Yeah. See you soon.”
Ed had pulled John’s bag from the trunk and pulled the handle up so it could roll easily. “I’ll walk you to the door,” Ed said.
When they reached the stoop, Ed shrugged and handed the bag’s handle to John. “Well, I guess this is goodbye for a couple of weeks.”
John hugged the bigger man and said, “I guess. I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too, Bebe. Geez, it seems like I’ve been your Uncle Ed for forever. I’m really going to miss you.” He squeezed John more tightly and lowered his head to kiss the side of John’s head.
When they separated, John stood on his toes and kissed Ed’s cheek. “I love you. See you in a couple of weeks. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” Ed hesitated before walking away. When he turned his back and headed towards the car, John turned and entered the house.
When Ed pulled himself into the car, Rose could see that his eyes were watery. “You going to be ok?”
He nodded and laughed at himself. “I’m fine. That was just harder than I thought.”
John could hear his mother and sister speaking to each other upstairs. Everything sounded calm and normal. He took off the lovely, white coat with the white faux-fur collar his mother had bought him in November and hung it in the entry closet. Then, he took off his shoes and walked softly up the stairs. He didn’t know exactly why he as was sneaking around, but he felt like he needed to get a feel for the chemistry between his mom and Nancy before getting involved, himself.
When he reached the upstairs landing, he waited and listened. The conversation seemed light and somewhat mundane.
“I’m going to have to either drop fifteen pounds pretty quickly or go buy some bigger clothes. I ate better in rehab than I have since I moved out for college,” Nancy said, with a little laugh.
“I’ll help you buy some new clothes,” Marilyn said. “You look good at this weight. Your face looked very thin before.”
“Gee, Thanks, Mom,” Nancy retorted.
“You know what I mean, honey...”
Nothing seemed out of sorts, so John moved closer to the door to Nancy’s room. He peeked around the door frame just in time to see Marilyn take a seat on the bed next to Nancy. She put her arm around her daughter and her daughter let her head rest on her mother’s shoulder. “Welcome home, baby,” Marilyn sniffled a few happy tears back.
“I’m sorry I put you through all of this, mom. I don’t know how I got so deeply into everything. I thought I had it all under control and then... I didn’t.”
They sat in silence for a moment, then Nancy asked, “Do you think I can ever make things right with Johnny? I was pretty hard on him on Thanksgiving.”
“Nancy,” Marilyn laid her head on her daughter’s, “I think that he understands that everything you said was said out of shame and fear. He knows you love him.”
“I do, you know mom. And I’ll never be able to thank him for his help.”
“You don’t have to,” John said from the doorway.
The two women turned and saw him. They both smiled.
“Merry Christmas,” he said as he came to the bed and joined them.
Nancy wrapped her arms around him. “Merry Christmas, Johnny.”
On Christmas morning, John and Nancy were both awakened by the smell of Marilyn’s ham-strata, a baked omelet which she only made on Christmas morning and which smelled glorious. They both rolled out of their beds and pulled on new, warm chenille robes that Marilyn had bought them as Christmas presents and had insisted they open them before going to bed. They met on the landing, Nancy in blue, John in white, and walked down the stairs together.
Just as when they were kids, Marilyn had piled gift upon gift upon gift under the tree. It looked like a picture from a catalog. Most of the gifts, they knew, would be inexpensive, practical gifts – gloves, scarfs, socks, things like that – but there would be one or two special ones for both of them.
“There are my babies!” Marilyn was grinning far too brightly for someone who’d been out late to attend Midnight Mass at St John’s Church on Temple Street. It wasn’t their usual parish, but St John’s was the oldest Catholic Church in the US and Marilyn wanted this Christmas to be a special one.
“Merry Christmas, mom,” John and Nancy said together.
“Come on and sit down. We’ll have our Christmas breakfast, then open the presents!” Marilyn’s smile was sincere and reflected her relief that all the drama of the past few months seemed to be behind them all.
“Oh, my God, mom.” Nancy covered her mouth as she chewed a bite of hot strata. “This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted!”
“It is delicious, mom,” John agreed.
“Oh, thank you,” Marilyn tasted it herself. “Oh, That is good! Mmmm!”
Just at that moment, there was a knock at the door. “Come in!” Marilyn called, causing John and Nancy to exchange confused glances. Who would visit on Christmas morning and why didn’t their mother seem surprised that someone was knocking on the door?
“I hope I’m not too late for breakfast!” Mr McManus said, as he took off his hat and coat. “Hi, girls. I hope you don’t mind me joining you. Your mom invited me, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to make it.”
“Not at all.” Nancy smiled as she stood. “I’ll get you a plate and silverware. Would you like some coffee?”
“Just orange juice, if you have it,” he bent and kissed Marilyn on the lips. “Merry Christmas,” he said, quietly.
John smiled and looked at Nancy who was putting Mr McManus’ silverware on the table. “Well, well, Well,” Nancy smiled. “It looks like there’s a story to be told here.”
“Don’t be fresh,” Marilyn blushed just a little. “Joe and I have been... seeing each other for a couple of weeks. Nothing more.”
“Nothing more – yet,” Mc Manus smiled.
They finished the meal and left the dishes for later.
They opened the mundane presents first. All lovely, but practical. Then Marilyn presented her ‘special presents.’ “Here you go, girls,” she handed each a small, beautifully wrapped box.
They opened them together. Inside was a silver ring for each of them. They were beautifully simple bands. On each one, though, was inscribed, ‘I am stronger because my sister loves me.’
“Oh, mom.” John wiped a tear from his eye. “They’re just... perfect.”
Nancy couldn’t hold back her tears. She hugged John, then stood and hugged her mother. “Thank you, mom. I love it, so much.”
Mr. McManus smiled and pulled out a small box of his own. “Well, I guess that rings are all the rage this Christmas.” He handed it to a very confused Marilyn.
“Joe?” she stammered. “I didn’t think we were exchanging presents.”
“We’re not,” he smiled, “but I’m giving one to you.”
Marilyn trembled slightly. No. He couldn’t be asking me that.
Everyone watched and waited as Marilyn removed the wrapping paper. When she cracked open the jeweler’s box, she gasped. “Oh, Joe!” She sputtered. “Oh, my God! Oh, Joe!”
John and Nancy leapt up to see the ring. It was beautiful. A delicate, gold band with a very substantial, princess cut diamond at the center. John and Nancy ooo-ed and ahh-ed at it, but Marilyn just held the box in her left hand, her right hand splayed on the flat of her chest, just below her throat.
Finally, Joe, stood and took the box from her. He removed the ring, then took Marilyn’s hand and slide the ring onto her ring-finger. “I know we’ve only been dating a few weeks, but we’ve known each other a good long while. What do you say, Marilyn?”
“Oh, Joe,” she almost swooned before saying, “I say ‘yes,’ Joe.”
There was joy and there were hugs and kisses and congratulations. Everyone was happy.
“Oh, look,” Nancy pointed to the side of the tree, “there’s a big green box that has Bebe’s name on it.”
John bent, held his hair back and read the label. ‘For Bebe from Rose and Uncle Ed.”
“Huh,” John said as he took the large box and placed it in the middle of the floor, then sat cross-legged beside it and ripped the paper. In the plain cardboard box were several small parcels wrapped in white tissue paper. He pulled the largest parcel out and opened it, revealing an elaborately carved canopy bed, that was painted white and was approximately the right size for a Barbie Doll to use.
John blinked. “Huh,” he said again.
“They got you a doll house?” Nancy asked, amused.
“I don’t know.” John pulled out another parcel and found a chest of drawers that matched the bed.
When he was done, he had added two night stands and a blanket chest to the set of matching furniture.
Confused, he looked into the box once more and found an envelope with the name ‘Bebe’ written on it. He opened it and read, ‘Merry Christmas, Bebe. Uncle Ed and I wanted to get you something special for Christmas, so we decided that the best thing we could buy you was a pretty and feminine bedroom set. Right now, the furniture in your bedroom at home has been replaced with full sized versions of miniature set in this box. From now on, our little princess will have a bedroom that is fit for a princess. We love you. Rose.’
John read the letter to everyone, a bit chocked up as he read it.
“Isn’t that sweet?” Marilyn said, Looking at the miniature chest of drawers.
“They sound like very nice people,” Joe said with a smile. “It’s a beautiful set.”
Nancy inspected the miniatures, too, and then felt a twinge of guilt. “I’m sorry, everyone, but I haven’t been able to do any shopping this year. I’ll try to make it up to you on another Christmas.”
“Don’t be silly,” Marilyn laughed. “Just having you at home, happy and healthy is enough for me and your sister, isn’t it?” She looked to John.
“It is,” John smiled, but then he stood and moved to a side table and opened a drawer. He pulled out a few envelopes and handed one to his mother and two to his sister. “Merry Christmas,” he said.
“Umm, Johnny...” Nancy started, but stopped and looked at McManus. “Oh... um... I call Bebe ‘Johnny’ sometimes. I have since she was a baby.”
“It’s ok, honey,” Marilyn explained. “Joe figured it all out that day that he helped us to get rid of Walter.”
“Don’t worry,” Mr McManus waved his hand in a dismissive manner. “Even if I weren’t dating your mother, I’d never tell anyone about your secret.”
Nancy seemed relieved, then returned her attention to John. “Johnny, you’ve already given me the rehab stay and money for a car. I think that’s plenty.”
John nodded. “Ok, but it’s Christmas, so just accept what I’ve given you, please. Mom, why don’t you go first.”
She shrugged and opened the envelope. She gasped when she saw tickets and paperwork. “Johnny!? A Baltic Cruise!? Oh, my heavens! I can’t accept this! It’s got to cost more than ten thousand dollars!”
“Don’t worry, mom,” he smiled and pulled his comfy robe tighter around him. “I told you, I got the Disney movie. I can afford it.”
Marilyn looked at McManus. “Joe? How would you like to take a Baltic cruise for our honeymoon?”
He chuckled. “Well, that’s much nicer than the weekend at Lake Winnipesaukee that I had planned!”
“Thank you, baby,” Marilyn leaned back and cuddled into Joe McManus’ embrace.
“Now you,” John said to Nancy. “Make sure you open them in order.”
Nancy noticed that each envelope had a small number in the upper left hand corner. “Ok.”
She opened the first and smiled. “Oh,” Nancy was pleasantly surprised and showed the others. “It’s a ticket to visit Johnny in L.A. in two weeks. That’s really nice, Johnny, thank you, but I can’t confirm that I can go, yet. I need to look for a job.”
“Ok,” John nodded. “Open the next one.”
Nancy did, and this time, she removed a letter. She eyed her brother suspiciously, then read the text and looked a bit shocked.
“What is it, honey?” Marilyn asked.
Nancy looked at John and shook her head, baffled, then looked at her mother, unable to speak.
“Just read it,” Marilyn was a bit confused.
“Ok,” Nancy sighed, then read aloud, "Dear Dr Nancy Foley. After speaking to my colleagues and with the consideration of a
recommendation from one of our hospital board of directors, Mr Lawrence Rosen, we are very happy to offer you a position in residency at the Holmes Clinic. Due to your recent substance abound issues, you’re your appointment will be accompanied by a one year probationary period which will require biweekly blood and/or urine analysis. Should these tests result in a positive test for unprescribed, regulates substances, your position will be terminated, however, upon the successful completion of one year of employment, no further testing will be required. Your yearly salary and the fifty-two week breakdown of payroll is below. Should you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me using the contact information in the letter head. I look forward to meeting you. Sincerely. James A. Rudick, Clinic Administrator.”
There was silence in the room until Marilyn asked, “Who is Larry Rosen?”
“A friend of mine,” John shrugged. “Well, a friend of Don Ferry’s, actually, but he’s doing this favor for me and in return, I am appearing at a fundraiser for his country club in February.”
Nancy was dazed, but she mutter, “Johnny, I really appreciate this, but... I just don’t know, I mean, moving clear across the country where I don’t know anyone...”
“Nancy,” Marilyn said, “don’t discard this chance too quickly.”
“And besides, you know me,” John said, a bit hurt that the same thing hadn’t occurred to his sister.
“Well, Yeah, I know you, but... I mean, where would I live? I can’t just move in with you and your crew. I’d upset things there.”
“Open up the third envelope,” John smiled.
Nancy’s hands were shaking as she ripped the envelope open. “Oh, my God,” she whispered as she read the contents.
“What is it?” Marilyn asked. Nancy held the sheet of paper up. Marilyn stood and took it from her daughter.
“Well?” Joe asked from the loveseat.
Marilyn shook her head. “It’s a lease to sublet a condo. It’s made out to ‘The Foley Family Trust.’”
“It’s just downstairs from where I live,” John beamed. “Close enough so I can still be there for you, but far enough away that you can have as much privacy as you want.”
John was surprised by the silence in the room. “Did I do something wrong?” He asked and pulled his soft, white robe more closely around himself.
“Not at all, baby.” Marilyn shook her head. “It’s just... Johnny, it’s a lot to take in. I mean... Johnny, you can’t keep spending like this.”
“And I won’t have to, now, mom. Everything will be back to normal. I’m just trying to help.”
“And you have, baby, but...”
Nancy interrupted. “Johnny... thank you. I mean that sincerely – thank you, and even though this is happening way too fast and it’s kind of scaring the living crap out of me... I’m going to do it.”
John relaxed.
“Are you sure, honey?” Marilyn was concerned. Nancy had made the decision her mother had wanted her to make, but was it the right one? “You’ve been through a lot, you know...”
“Mom,” Nancy stood and hugged her. “This is exactly what we were talking about. A new start in a new city, far away from Walter and my reputation in Boston. This will be good for me.”
Then she turned to John and held her arms wide. “Come here.”
He did and Nancy hugged him and rocked him from side to side. Then she laid a big, smacking kiss on his soft cheek. “My little sister taking such good care of me. Unbelievable! Thank you, Bebe.”
John wiped a tear from his eye. “You’re welcome, Nancy. Merry Christmas.”
Marilyn perused the documents that John had given Nancy. She showed the plane ticket to Joe and smirked. “No return flight. “ she shook her head.
Joe took the ticket and looked at it, laughing. “Pretty sure of herself.”
As Marilyn looked at the other papers, she said more loudly, “May I ask a question?”
John and Nancy separated and John said, “Sure.”
“What, exactly, is ‘The Foley Family Trust?’”
“Oh,” John smiled. “I was speaking to a friend who has both a personal and a charitable trust and she told me how they work and got me in touch with a lawyer to set this one up. I’m putting any money I get from movies into that trust and it can be accessed by any of the three officers, any time and for any reason. The good part is that we don’t pay any taxes on that money unless we take it out of the trust.”
“I see,” Marilyn folded her arms. “And I suppose that the three officers are you, Rose and Ed?”
“No,” John laughed. “You and Nancy and me. That’s why I did this. So you guys would always have money if you need it. You can get it any time you want, for any reason and never need to tell me why.”
Everyone stared at him, numb.
“Of course, you’ll have to sign the paperwork. I have it in my bags. We’ll need to see a lawyer to act as a witness when you sign.”
“Alright, Alright, Alright,” Marilyn tried to gather her thoughts. “Three questions. One – how did you manage all of this when you’re a minor? Two – who is your friend who told you how to do this? And three – how much money is in there?”
“Well, there’s not an awful lot of money in there, just the money from the Disney movie, so... in the neighborhood of three million dollars.”
“Oh, good God,” Marilyn muttered as both she and Nancy sat on the couch in shock.
“Obviously, since I’m legally a minor, I couldn’t sign any legal papers, so Rose signed it for me and as for my friend who set me up with a lawyer, you know the band Dusty Rose?”
“Yes,” they all replied, with a leery intonation.
“Well, Chrissy, the lead singer helped me.”
“Oh,” Nancy said, with a laugh. “Chrissy from Dusty Rose, the most successful band of the last decade, is your friend. That makes perfect sense.”
Marilyn leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees and shook her head and looked at Joe with an exhausted look. “I’m sorry, Joe. I’d like to say that things aren’t normally this surprising, but that would be a lie.”
He shook his head. “Honestly, after spending a couple of hours with you people, nothing would surprise me.”
Marilyn smiled and shook her head.
“As a matter of fact,” Joe joked, “if Bebe had said that her friend was Paul McCartney, I would have just accepted it.”
Marilyn reached over and took his hand, kissing the back of it. “You’re going to do fine around here, Joe. Just fine.”
THE END
BUT
Look for more from these characters in ‘Bebe Goes To Hollywood’ coming soon!
Bebe Goes to Hollywood - 1
Author:
Audience Rating:
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road to movie stardom.
PLEASE NOTE, this is not a stand alone story, but a continuation of Kiss Me Bianca and Bebe in LaLa Land.
Author's Note:
Hi, everyone. I know it's been a good long while since I last posted a Bebe story, but, to be perfectly
honest, the delay is all your fault. See, I'm not a cross-dresser or gender-fluid or anything else. I
just fantasize and write stories for fun. The problem is, you all have embraced Bebe so lovingly that
I am scared to death of ruining one of my favorite characters or your image of Bebe. You have all been
so generous with your comments and emails that I want to do my very best for you. I am also petrified
that, as I explore Bebe's intersex life, that I may insult those of you with gender nonconforming
identities.
Honestly, I love and support you all and I never, ever want to hurt your feelings. As I prepared to
take on this next phase of Bebe's life, I spoke to a number of gender-fluid, and gender nonconforming
friends and asked a lot of questions about their experiences and feelings. This type of research is
not typical of how I usually write (ie. Fantasy), but, again, I wanted to be as honest in my writing
as I could. So, I know that by making this more of a real-life story than many of the other works on
this site, that I am treading on dangerous ground, but I hope that I am telling the story well and
with the appropriate amount of sensitivity.
Please, if I should write anything insulting or just plain wrong, let me know. I want to do my best
for Bebe and for all of you.
With all of my love and respect,
Clara.
This version of Bebe Goes To Hollywood: 1 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.
Chapter 1
"PEOPLE ARE FUNNY. THEY WORK SO HARD AT LIVING THAT THEY FORGET HOW TO LIVE"
~ Gary Cooper as Longfellow Deeds in 'Mr Deeds Goes To Town' ~ 1936
"That's the last of them," Ed said as he put a box down in the living room of Nancy's apartment, two floors below their own. "Put that one in Bebe's bedroom for me, will you, Blaine?" He looked at the mess he and Blaine had created and shook his head. "Where are the girls, for crying out loud? They knew that we had to get this all moved before five o'clock."
Blaine came back down the hall and shrugged. "My mom said they were going curtain shopping."
"And how long does that take?"
Blaine chuckled. "For most people, probably an hour or so, but my mom is pretty particular, as you've probably noticed. This could be an all day event for her."
Ed nodded. "She does have great taste, though, and it's nice that she's helping to make Bebe's room down here nice for her. Everything in our condo still looks like an efficiency apartment. None of us have had time to do anything about the place. Maybe, when Rosie and I come back in August, we'll leave enough time to do some decorating."
"If you ask my mom, she'll have it all done for you when you get back."
Ed laughed at that.
"I'm serious, Ed. Decorating is, like, her favorite thing to do. She's good at it, too."
Ed patted Blaine's shoulder. "Ok. I'll think about it." He looked around the condo, which was almost exactly the same as his, and shook his head. "Blaine," he sounded suddenly serious, "call me if anything goes wrong here, ok? If you notice anything odd happening, call or text immediately and I can be back here in five or six hours."
"Everything will be fine, Ed. Nancy's been fine for five months, now, and Bebe is doing great. She's got me and my mom, Ella, MJ, Don... you're not leaving her alone, out here. She's in good hands. Go back to Cape Cod and relax in your new house. Enjoy yourself."
Ed was really looking forward to getting back to The Cape. They'd wrapped the shooting on 'Civil Disobedience' more than two months ago and both he and Rose were anxious to get out of Los Angeles. It had been an amazing and turbulent year since he and his best friend, John, had been cast as lovers in 'The Taming Of The Shrew.' No one could have ever guessed how things would have turned out just a year later. He definitely needed a rest. So did Rose. So did Bebe, but she'd gotten so damned popular because of the show that she had to stay to film the movie she'd signed on to and, to be honest, that worried him - a lot.
"We're back!" Rose sang from the doorway. She kissed Ed and continued, "Don't hate us for taking so long, but we found the cutest curtains, bed-set, towels - everything for Bebe's room down here. Honestly, Ed, before we start shooting again, we have to do something about our place."
Ed laughed. "Yeah, Rosie. I know. We'll plan some time."
"I'll do it for you, if you'd like," Joanne said, happily. "I'd be thrilled to do it."
Ed looked at Blaine and laughed.
"Told you," Blaine chuckled as Bebe slipped under his arm and hugged him.
Ed checked his watch. "Alright, everyone, we need to get ready. We're meeting Don and Viv at their club in an hour for our farewell dinner. Beebs, you're going to have to deal with this mess in the morning, ok? You'll probably need to sleep at our place, tonight. I hope that you don't need anything that we brought down here, because it's all a mess.
"Nope, I left my dress hanging on the back of your bedroom door so it wouldn't get wrinkled or brought down." John smiled at his own resourcefulness. "And I left a set of sheets and my pillow in Nancy's linen closet so I could stay down here. That way, I won't be in your way in the morning."
"Ok," Ed looked at Nancy. "We'll all go up and get changed. Is fifteen minutes enough time for you to get ready?"
Nancy rolled her eyes. "Ed. I know that this is all run-of-the-mill for you, but I'm going to go out to dinner with Don Ferry at his club. Don frigging -Ferry, Ed. I can be ready in fifteen seconds if you want to get going, now."
Ed smiled as friendly as he could. He still didn't trust Nancy and he was very nervous about leaving Bebe in her care. Yeah, yeah, he knew that John was really an adult, but... well... Bebe wasn't and he worried about her all the time. "Ok, then. We'll meet you in the lobby in fifteen."
"There's my beautiful little lady!" Larry Rosen, the manager of the country club said as he embraced John and kissed his cheek. "Welcome back, sweetheart. Tell me, how is your sister doing at the clinic. Is it working out for her?"
John kissed the man's cheek in return and smiled. This was one of the nicest and most obliging men he'd ever met, but others had told him that Larry could be dangerous if he was crossed. 'Stay on his good side' was the most frequently given advice when his name came up. So far, that had not been a problem. He seemed to adore John, well, Bebe, anyway, and John liked him as well. "She's doing great, thanks for asking." He turned and grabbed his sister's hand, pulling her forward.
"This is Nancy. Nancy, this is Larry Rosen. He's the man who put in a good word for you at the clinic."
Nancy smiled, but she was a bit uncomfortable with the situation. She owed this man a lot, but had never actually met him. It was a bit awkward. "Oh," Nancy extended her hand to shake his, "thank you so much, sir. I really appreciate your help."
"Of course you do, my dear," Larry took her hand, but instead of shaking it, he kissed it and held it a little longer than necessary. "I hear that things are going very well at the clinic. Let's keep it that way, ok? And if you need anything to help out your little sister, you just call here and ask for me. I'll do anything for her."
The word 'her' was stressed just enough to let Nancy know that her job had been procured as a favor for Bebe, not Nancy, and she needed to remember that. In fact, since Nancy had arrived in LA in January, it had become increasingly clear to her that in the Venn Diagram that displayed normal life in the LA/Hollywood world, and the world of wealth and fame, there was only a very thin overlap that included Nancy - and that was only due to the generosity of Johnny. As a sister, she was thrilled to be included in the wonderfully interesting life that Johnny had found here, but as a recovering addict, a part of her resented the privilege that Johnny experienced and she fought to keep those thoughts down.
"Well, thank you for everything. I love being out here with Bebe."
"Ed!" Don's booming voice came from the entrance to the private dining room. He pulled Ed into a tight hug and beat his shoulder firmly. "Man, I can't tell you how much I've missed you guys!" Everyone got a hug and a kiss as he guided them into the dining room. "It's going to be a very long summer with you and Rosie back on Cape Cod," Don said as his wife, Vivian, made her greetings and everyone took their seats.
"Then come visit us," Rose said as Ed pushed her seat in for her. "You enjoyed your time on The Cape last summer. Come stay with us for a while."
"I just might," Don smiled. "I just might."
They all enjoyed their meal and the conversation that went on around it. As coffee was being poured, Vivian said, "Are you out of school for the summer, Bebe?"
"Since Tuesday," John smiled.
"Any plans for the summer, then?"
Don laughed. "Yeah, She has plans, Viv. Eighteen hour days while they shoot that movie at Disney, right Bebe?"
John shrugged "I guess. Its all pretty daunting, though."
"You'll do great, sweetness," Don threw his arm around him and squeezed his shoulders supportively. "You're a natural. Look at how you took over the set on the show. The movie will be no different."
John sipped his mango juice. "Rita says I shouldn't improvise anything on the movie set. She says that their schedule won't allow it."
"Yeah, well, Rita's wrong," Don laughed. "Do What feels right, sweetheart, and if the director is worth his salt, he'll use what works best - whether it was in the script or not. They hired Bebe Foley because they've seen what Bebe Foley can do. Don't stop doing what you do, baby. That's why you're there."
"When do you start?" Vivian asked.
"Next Wednesday..." John said, but Rose interrupted.
"...but she's got her first costume fitting tomorrow. I am desperate to go with her, but we need to get back to The Cape to sign the papers on our house, so... ugh!...It's just so frustrating."
"Well, do you need someone to go with you?" Vivian asked. "I have a meeting for one of my charities, but if you're nervous..."
"That's ok," Joanne smiled. "I'm going with Bebe. If you'd like to come, too, that's fine with us, though."
"No, no. As long as she's not going alone." Vivian seemed a bit relieved to not have to change her plans. "A fifteen year old shouldn't be out alone in this part of the world, even at Disney Studios."
"We'll have to leave early, of course," Joanne looked to John to remind him to be up early. "LA traffic and all. Ohh," she let out an exaggerated exclamation, "I hate driving across town at that time of day." She gave a little, nervous laugh while she turned to Nancy. "Will you be able to join us?"
As Nancy replied, Don grabbed his phone and typed.
"No," Nancy sipped her water. "I have to work. God, I would love to see what a Hollywood costumer does, though. Maybe next time I will be able to work it out."
"I'm excited to see it, too," Joanne Agreed. "I've never been to anything like this, before! My life has become so much more fun since Bebe came into it."
"All set!" Don said as he slipped his phone back into his shirt pocket. "Joanne, just get to Bebe's place by 7:30 and Oscar will pick you both up there."
"Oscar!?" John was surprised. "But, he works for ABC."
"Which is owned by Disney. He'll work out the billing and, besides, Angel, he adores you. He'd do it for nothing if you asked him."
"That's right," Rose teased, "Oscar was your first fan. Well... after your Uncle Ed."
That made everyone chuckle.
"So," Vivian returned her attention to John, "Are you excited to get started?"
"I guess," John shrugged, "but 'petrified' may be a better word."
"Oh, stop it," Ed took John's tiny hand in his big mitt. "You're the bravest person I know. None of us would be here, now, if you hadn't stood up to the producers back on Cape Cod."
"Not just the producers," Don laughed, "she stood up to me, for crying out loud. Imagine that! Me, a big movie star and this fourteen year old girl in a local production of The Taming Of The Shrew starts telling me what's-what! Right after I met you, I got in the car and called Viv and I said, 'Viv, you are not going to believe it, but this little Massachusetts spit-fire just put me in my place.' I couldn't believe it!"
"It's true," Vivian said to the laughter of everyone at the table. "He said, 'Mark my words, Viv, a year from now this girl is either going to be star or in jail.'"
"I stand by that statement!" Don said.
"So?" Vivian continued. "What are you going to wear?"
Blaine threw down his napkin, dramatically. "Seriously!? Does it really matter? I mean, they've already cast her in the movie, right? She's bought, like, twenty dresses and tried on, like, three hundred! That's all she's done for the last three weeks!"
Everyone stared at Blaine in amused astonishment. "You went dress shopping with her?" Don chuckled.
Blaine looked around at everyone's faces. "Yeah. Of course. I mean, I wanted to spend time with my girlfriend."
"Ahh," Don nodded, knowingly, then he turned to Ed and said. "Poor kid. He's smitten," causing everyone to laugh.
"He sure is," Ed slapped Blaine's shoulder. "'twitterpated,' as they say in Bambi."
"Oh, stop," Joanne tried to defend her son, "he enjoyed every minute of it." This made Don and Ed laugh all the harder. "Seriously, he did. And why wouldn't he enjoy seeing a beautiful girl dressed in a beautiful dress."
"Forget it, Joanne," Rose smiled along with everyone else, "they're Neanderthal's. They'll never understand. Anyway, Viv, Bebe is sticking with her trademark fit and flare style. It's a beautiful, knee length dress with a really full skirt."
"It's gorgeous," Nancy took over. "Really soft, cotton, sleeveless, bright purple with a faded pattern on it. Shows just a little of 'the girls.' So pretty! I'm telling you guys, if you knew this child growing up the way that I did, this change towards everything feminine would shock you as much as it shocks me."
"It's true," Ed offered. "A year ago, I'd have never believed she'd be this girly."
"Get used to it, Blaine," Rose laughed. "You may just end up with an All-American-1950s-Housewife if you marry this one."
"It's not just the dress, though," Blaine continued to complain. "After she'd finally picked out the right dress, Rose took her shopping for underwear. UNDERWEAR! For crying out loud! It's under the dress! What difference does it make what color her underwear is!?"
"A white bra showed through the fabric," Rose explained, causing the women to nod, knowingly. "Besides, she's starting her movie career. She needs to look and feel like a movie star. Cotton underwear doesn't do that. My Bebe needed silk and lace and that's what she got."
They all laughed, again, and Vivian held up a glass of champagne. "Alright, everyone," she said with a commanding voice. "A toast!" Everyone held up a champagne glass, except Blaine and John, who were too young, and Nancy, who was now living a straight-edge life. "To Bebe! The girl who's bringing back femininity!"
"To Bebe!" They all clinked glasses and took a drink.
Dinner was served and devoured and as coffee was served and as the dessert was being prepared, John whispered to Don and asked if they could speak in private for a few minutes.
Nodding, Don stood and said, "If you'll all excuse me for a moment, I'd like to have a few words with my beautiful, youngest and favorite daughter before we eat dessert."
"Hey!" Rose feigned being hurt. "I'm right here!"
"Sorry, Rosie," Don teased. "The truth hurts, sometimes."
Rose laughed, but Vivian added, "It's a joke for you, but I'm pretty sure that he actually feels more like a father to Bebe than he does to our own daughter."
"Now, that's just not true," Don laughed. "Come on, Bianca," he spoke to John as if he was scolding him, "it's time for a father-daughter conversation."
John pretended to be surprised at Don's request as he took his hand and accompanied him out onto the balcony. The others just continued talking and paid no particular attention to the accomplished movie star giving advice to the up-and-comer.
"What's up, Princess?" Don asked when they were alone. "Nervous about tomorrow?"
"Well, yeah, of course," John nodded, "but there's something else and I need to talk to you about it."
Don sat on a bench and patted the seat beside him. "What is it, honey. You can tell me anything."
John sat, nodded and took a deep breath, but said nothing.
After a few moments, Don said, "Sounds serious, baby. What is it?"
He took another big breath, then finally, John blurted out, "Ok. See, Don..." he bounced a little and turned away, "I think it's time."
"Time for what, baby?" Don asked, suspecting what John was speaking of.
"You know... time to go all the way."
"With Blaine?" Don chuckled as he said this.
"What?" John was momentarily confused. "No! God, no! We're too young... well, you know what I mean. No. I mean," he indicated his lap, "you know. All the way."
Don waited patiently, but John didn't continue. "If it's time to go all the way, Beebs, then it's time to say it out loud."
John nodded. "Yeah. Ok. It's time to... become a girl. Like, completely. To have the surgery and... be a real woman."
Don leaned over and kissed John's temple. "That's great, as long as you're one hundred percent sure, Beebs. Are you? You seem nervous."
John nodded. "Of course I'm nervous, Don. Once I do it, I can't undo it. I just think, it's time."
Don nodded. "Have you talked to anyone about this?"
"Just my therapist. I think I knew this was where I was headed since I was diagnosed as intersexed last summer. It seems inevitable."
"It isn't, baby. It's a decision and one that you need to be responsible for. Is this what you really want?"
"I think so. Yeah."
"Why?"
John looked shocked. "Why? I mean... I've been living this way for a year, now?"
"Yeah, but that was for work, at least at first. Is this for work?"
"Yes, of course, but..."
Don waited.
"I want to be a woman, Don. For real. I mean... if I could become a complete woman, you know, reproductive system and all, I would. I'm tired of pretending. I want to be a real woman. I need your help, though. I want to do it as quietly as possible and with the movie schedule going almost till the show starts shooting again... well, I'm not sure how to do what needs to be done in the time that I have, you know?"
Don pulled him close, then pulled John's head to his shoulder and rested his own head on John's. He sighed and said quietly, "I'll help you, sweetheart, but you're going to have to talk to the rest of your family about this, too. Your mom, sister, Uncle Ed, Rosie... not to mention Blaine and Joanne. As personal as this is for you, it will impact them as well."
John nodded, rubbing his smooth cheek on Don's rough one. "I know, but... I just don't want to ruin their summer. And I really don't want them to get mad at me."
That made Don chuckle. He straightened his head and looked at his young protégé. "Mad at you? You realize that your our own, personal Mary Lennox, don't you?"
John looked confused. "Mary Lennox?"
Don smiled. "Mary Lennox. You don't know The Secret Garden?'"
John shrugged. "I've heard some of the songs..."
Don laughed. "Not the musical, Bebe. Before it was a musical, it was a book. In the book, this little girl named Mary Lennox loses her parents and has to move in with her Uncle Archie and, just by being her own, stubborn self, Mary makes everybody's lives better. She teaches her Uncle how to love again, saves her cousin from an imagined disease, makes all of the servants feel good about themselves... all kinds of good things."
John shrugged, again. "That doesn't sound like me. I seem to upset everyone, no matter what I do."
"And so did Mary Lennox, baby. That's my point. You do what you think is right and everyone gets mad at you, but what happens as a result? Let's see - Ed and Rose have careers that they never expected, Nancy is recovering from addiction and getting her career back on track, your mother is finding new happiness with a new man, Blaine and Joanne have found you to love and care for and my career is doing better than it has in years AND I've found a whole new family to add to my own. So, yes, Mary Lennox, you are a bit of a tornado that churns up everybody's lives, but you are also the person that makes us all whole and we all love you for that."
John laid his head on Don's chest and let a few tears fall. "Thank you, Don."
"No, baby, thank you. You've done wonderful things for all of us. Now, it's time for you to do something for yourself. Something to make yourself 'more whole.' I know that it's a very personal thing and that makes it hard to talk about it, but believe me, baby - even if they need to ask some questions, everyone is going to understand and support you. I promise." He kissed the fragrant hair of the young woman he was holding. Then he raised her damp face to look into her eyes. "I promise."
John threw his arms around Don's neck and held tightly. "Thank you, daddy," and Don's heart melted.
"I'm serious," Blaine was saying as Don and John returned. "I was dragged along to A MILLION stores and looked at A BILLION dresses! I told Bebe which one I liked. She buys it and takes it home and shows you three," he indicated his mother, Rose and Nancy, "and you tell her it's awful! What's the point in having me involved?"
"Wait!" Nancy held up her hand. "Are you talking about the red dress?"
Rose's eyes popped as she remembered the dress. "The one with the white polka dots?"
"Yeah!" Blaine nodded as he sipped his Coke.
"Blaine, honey," Joanne laughed. "She looked like she was wearing Minnie Mouse's dress! She can't wear that to a studio - particularly not to Disney!" The women all laughed.
"Honestly, Viv," Rose explained. "It was an adorable dress, but it kinda screamed 'Minnie Mouse."
Ed threw his arm around Blaine's shoulder. "It's ok, Blaine. I like Minnie Mouse, too."
"What's so funny?" John asked.
"My taste in dresses, apparently," Blaine complained, with a touch of humor.
John sat and kissed the boy's cheek. "Not to me."
"See?" Blaine said to everyone at the table.
"Everything ok?" Vivian asked her husband, quietly.
"Everything's fine. She's just nervous." He smiled.
"Hey, Nancy," John stepped into his sister's bedroom where she was watching a rerun of 'Friends' as she sat in bed, checking her email on her tablet. "Can I talk to you for a few minutes?"
Her little brother looked adorable in his baby blue nightie, but something was obviously upsetting him. "Sure, Johnny," she smiled and patted the bed beside her. "Come sit."
John sat on the bed, his legs tucked under his bottom. He watched the old sitcom for a few moments. "I like this one. This is the one where the college kids all make out in the area where the paleontology books are stored and Ross' thesis is there, right?"
"Yeah," Nancy smiled. "It's one of my favorites, too." She looked at John. He looked so much younger than he used to. So much more feminine. So much more vulnerable and frightened. Yet, he was her savior, in a way. Something was wrong, now, though. Nancy smiled as sweetly as she could. "What's the matter, Johnny?"
He took a deep breath."Look, Nance," he looked at the mattress as he chose his words. "I know that you've got a lot on you plate right now and I don't want to add any stress to it, but... I need to tell you something."
"Sure, Johnny. What is it, baby?"
"I think... no, I know that it's time for me to move forward with... you know... things."
Nancy felt a bit sick in the pit of her stomach. She'd been pretty bad at handling important things in her own life. Now, it seemed like Johnny needed her support and advice. What the Hell did she know about what he was going through?
"You mean you're considering having complete reassignment surgery?"
"Yeah. I am. It's time, I think."
"You think?"
He shook his head. "No. I'm sure. It's the right thing to do and the right time to do it."
Nancy nodded. He seemed pretty sure, but she felt the need to offer him the opportunity to talk it out some more. "You're sure...? Ok. I guess I'm not real surprised that you're doing it, just a little surprised that you'd do it now, when things are so busy for you."
He nodded. "Don's going to help me schedule it. He'll deal with the show and he has connections at your clinic. He's calling them to set up everything. I'm hoping to have the first procedure in August, when the movie wraps."
"August? Wow. That's quick. What does your therapist think about this?"
"She supports it. I hope you will too."
Nancy hugged her fragile, little brother. "Of course I will, Johnny. I'm here for whatever you need."
"Thanks," John said as he left her hug and smiled at her.
"It's a big step, Johnny. You're sure that you're ready?" Nancy's concern was genuine.
"I am. I'm sure. I need to do it - soon, too. I just.. I don't know... I just don't want to be in flux like this anymore. Half-boy-half-girl all confused and scared, you know?
Nancy nodded. "I understand, Johnny. But... being a woman isn't always easy, you know. It's not just pretty dresses and a cute boyfriend, Johnny. It's dealing with jerks, not making as much as men, social prejudices... it's a whole package and you've been shielded from a lot of it because of your school, your friends and your job. That could all change later in your life and there's no going back."
"I know. I'm ready, though."
Nancy gave him a sad, but supportive smile. "And Rose and Ed and mom are all ok with this?"
John shrugged. "I don't know. I've only told you and Don and I only told Don tonight when we went out onto the porch."
"Wow!" Nancy's eyes shot open. "You need to talk to them, too, Johnny..." then something occurred to her. "Wait! You told me before you told Ed and Rose?"
John nodded.
Nancy leaned over and hugged him tightly. "Johnny... I can't tell you how much that means to me, but... you still need to talk to them before they leave."
John shook his head. "I'll email them."
"Like Hell you will!" Nancy laughed as she stood and grabbed her robe. "Go get your robe. We're going upstairs and talk to them."
"What? Now?"
"Right now, little lady! Let's go." She swatted his butt as she pushed him out of the room. "I am not getting blamed for letting them leave before you talk to them."
"Well, that's a lot to process," Ed shook his sleepy head and looked to Rose, who was sitting on one side of John, with Nancy on the other. "What do you think, Rosie?"
"What do I think?" She smiled at John and took his hand. "It's not my place to think anything, except maybe that I'm thrilled that you're made this decision, Beebs. I'm so happy for you!" She kissed his cheek. "And don't worry, sweetie. Uncle Ed is happy for you, too."
Rose's reaction actually surprised Ed a bit. He looked at John and made sure that he held eye contact with with his former-friend-current-ward and spoke seriously. "You do realize that this is a one way street, Bebe, right? Once they snip it off, they can't sew it back on."
"Oh, God, Ed!" Rose scolded her lover as she ran her fingers over John's soft, long hair. "Don't be so crass! You knew this day was coming. Now, support your niece. She doesn't need any naysayers around her right now."
Ed looked at the two women and the person he considered more as a daughter than a friend and he realized that Rose was right. This conversation really began in John's mother's Cape Cod kitchen a year ago. Maybe, if John had not played Bianca, things may have been delayed a few years, but this was preordained. It was going to happen one day or another. John was long gone. It was time to make Bebe a complete girl so that she could someday become a complete woman.
Ed stood and crossed the few feet that separated him from the women and he took John's hand and pulled him to his feet, wrapping him in a huge, loving hug. "Ok, Beebs, but I do have one stipulation."
"What's that?" John asked, his voice muffled by the hug.
"You have to keep us updated every step of the way and UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will any surgery take place unless I am with you. Do you understand? I will be the last person to kiss you as they roll you out of your hospital room and I will be the first person to kiss you when open your eyes. Understood?"
John nodded as he softly cried into Ed's chest.
"You may have to fight Blaine for that," Rose stood, crossed her arms and smiled at her little family.
"I can take a Blaine," Ed joked.
"Well," Rose stood and joined Ed in hugging John, "we really should get to bed. We have a flight in five hours and Beebs has a big day tomorrow." She kissed the back of John's head. "Good night, baby."
Ed slowly released John and kissed his cheek. "I mean it, now. NOTHING happens unless I'm with you, ok?"
John nodded and wiped the tears from his cheek. "I promise."
"Alright, ladies," Oscar smiled as he pulled open the backdoor to the limo he'd acquired for the day. "I will be on the lot all day." He helped John out of the car and looked at the pretty purple dress he was wearing. "You look amazing today, Princess. So grown up and beautiful."
John accepted a hug from the stocky man as Joanne got out of the car behind him.
"You have a good day today, Princess," Oscar smiled. "I remember the first day that I drove you from school to the studio. I had an inkling that you would be a star on that show, but now... now you're on the verge of being a movie star. I am so proud of you."
"Thank you, Oscar," John kissed his cheek. "I'll do my best."
"I know you will, Princess. Now, have a good first day."
John smiled as he stepped aside to allow Joanne space to pass. "I'll send a text when she's all done, Oscar. Thank you."
"My pleasure, ma'am. I'll be waiting."
Joanne took John's arm and led him towards the wardrobe signs. "Oh, this is so exciting, Bebe! Isn't it?" Just being on a Disney lot was enough to make Joanne bubbly.
"I feel like I'm going to pass out," John said, slightly breathless.
"Oh, don't be silly," Joanne laughed. "You're as big a star as either of those other girls."
"You're kidding, right?" John shook his head. "I mean, I'm about to start working with Lily James and Anna Kendrick. That's Cinderella and Beca Mitchell. I am not even close to being in their league, Joanne." For a moment, he stopped to think. "Maybe I should just go home, now, and save myself the embarrassment of looking stupid next to them."
Joanne nudged him forward, again. "Oh, my Lord, are you serious? You're the star of the most popular show in the world right now and you've been working with Don Ferry for nearly a year. He never made you nervous."
"Well," John shrugged, "to be quite honest, I thought that Don's career was pretty much over when I met him. I didn't realize he'd taken a sabbatical from acting. So, I was never intimidated by him, really. And besides, Don's name comes first on the show, then Ed, then Marion, then Rose, then me - So, I'm not really 'the star' of the show. That's kinda comforting."
"Well, your name won't be first on this film, either, so relax."
They reached the door with the words "Wardrobe Building 7" written on it and Joanne stopped and turned John to face her. "Ok, Bebe, this is it. Are you ready?"
John nodded. "Yeah. I'm ready."
"Good." She looked at the young woman with her. "You look beautiful, you know."
"Thank you," John blushed.
"That color purple is just gorgeous on you." Joanne smoothed the full skirt of the bright purple, fit and flare dress that John wore. It's scooped neck line revealed just a hint of his developing cleavage and his ever present 'BB' necklace, while the dress's skirt ended just at his knees. The faded-tapestry-print of the dress made it perfectly elegant without being overly dressy for a warm, early summer morning and the low heeled pumps that had been dyed to match tied everything together for Bebe's ensemble. Simple, fresh makeup and silver studs in his ears made him look just as mature as any other fifteen year old without making him look like he was trying to look older.
"Here we go," Joanne nearly giggled as she pushed the door open and led John into the cool, air conditioned air.
"May I help you?" A woman asked at a desk, just inside the door.
"Yes, thank you," Joanne smiled. "This is Bebe Foley. She's here for a wardrobe fitting. Are we in the right place?"
The woman checked her tablet's screen and smiled at them. "Yes, you are. Hi, Bebe, I'm Ashley. Welcome. I'll take you to the right fitting room. Are you her mother?"
Joanne was about to say that she was not Bebe's mother, but John, still very nervous and not wanting to be left alone jumped in, "Yes. This is my mom."
Joanne did a quick double take, then, seeing the pleading in John's eyes, turned to Ashley and said. "Yes. I am her mother."
"Well, very nice to meet you both," Ashley smiled. "Right this way."
As they walked down the long hallway, Joanne took John’s hand in hers. "Relax," She whispered.
John nodded. "Okay, mom."
That made Joanne smile. She liked the sound of that.
Ashley opened up the door to the fitting room and indicated that John and Joanne should enter. "Come on in and make yourself at home, ladies," she said. "There’s coffee, fresh fruit and pastry to the left. The costumers will be in in a few minutes and..." Ashley looked around the room. "... Ms Kendrick? Are you in here?"
With that, one of John’s favorite actresses, Anna Kendrick, stepped out from behind a rack of costumes. "I’m here, Ashley, and I told you to call me ‘Anna.’"
Ashley smiled. "Of course, Ms Kendrick. This is Ms..."
"Bebe!" Anna said with great familiarity as she hustled over to John and gave him a warm hug. "You look beautiful! Welcome to your first movie."
John realized that he and the star of Pitch Perfect were nearly exactly the same size. Small, thin, small breasted with dark hair – they really did look like sisters.
Anna stood back and held John’s hands as she spread his arms wide. "Wow, Bebe! You look... amazing! Look at me – leggings, a tunic and flip flops – and look at you, all dressed up like a princess. Wow! I feel like a scrub."
John laughed. "Thanks, Ms Kendrick."
"And that is the last time you every say that, Bebe!" Anna slapped his arm, lightly. "We are going to be working together for the next eight weeks or so. I am ‘Anna,’ and you and I are sisters."
John smiled at the star’s familiarity. "Thanks, Anna. This is my mom, Joanne."
Anna shook her hand. "Hi, Joanne. Very nice to meet you."
"Oh, hello," Joanne beamed as she shook her hand. "I just love your movies, Anna. You’re amazing."
"Oh, that’s sweet," Anna smiled.
Just then, the door opened again and Ashley entered with a woman wearing a floppy hat, leggings, a loose blouse and sun glasses to hide her identity, but her curly, dirty blonde hair told everyone that this was, in fact, Cinderella herself – Lily James.
"Ladies," Ashley said. "May I introduce your third sister, Lily James."
The British actress removed her hat and sun glasses revealing the trademark, crooked smile and beautiful eyes that had helped contribute to her stardom. "Hi!" She said. "I’m Lily."
Anna strode comfortably to the other actress and hugged her. "Hi, Lily. You may not remember me, but we met at the Oscars a few years ago."
Lily laughed. "Don’t remember you!?" She looked shocked. "You’re Beca f-ing Mitchell," she teased, quoting the Character of Fat Amy from Pitch Perfect 2. "Of course I remember you!" They hugged, again.
"And," Anna acted as hostess, "this is our little sister, Bebe."
"Oh, my God, Bebe!" Lily smiled as she crossed the distance between them and hugged John with surprising strength. "I’ve heard so much about you and I just binge-watched ‘Civil Disobedience’ on the plane. You’re amazing, sweetheart! I’m so happy to meet you!"
Very taken aback by the effusiveness of Lily James’ greeting, John smiled and said, "Um, thank you, Ms..."
"Uh, Uh, Uh," She interrupted. "I’m Lily or Lil. Is this your mom?"
"Yes," John tried to gain control of his overwrought emotions. Lily James knows who he is! How is that possible!?
Before he could speak, though, Lily was off to meet Joanne. "I’m Lily, and your name is?"
"Oh, I’m Joanne, Ms... Lily. I’m so honored to meet you. I mean, to meet both of you. I’m such a big fan of both of you."
"Oh, don’t be silly," Lily brushed away the compliment. "The Honor is all mine. Now, I could kill for a strong, hot cup of coffee. I smell it, but I don’t see it."
"It’s right over here," Ashley said, leading all of them to the back corner where the service tables was set up.
After nearly an hour of chatting and getting to know each other, they heard a call from the front of the room. "Ladies!? Ladies!? If I could interrupt, would you mind coming this way so that we can get started?"
"Oops," Lily giggled. "Time to start earning our money."
As they stood, John straightened his dress and said, "Well, we don’t have any acting or singing until next Wednesday, right?"
"I have some recording time scheduled tomorrow," Anna said with a shrug, "but Lily’s right – actresses get paid for looking nice in clothing. You look pretty in your costumes on the show, right? But the actress that plays your sister on the show is, essentially, a model for the costumers. As you get older, that will become more important for your career."
"Oh," this gave John pause. His costumes for ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’ were beautiful, but the acting was the focus of the production. His clothes on series were pretty run of the mill for the early 1960s, But Anna was right, Rose was always dressed to the nines and was anybody’s wet dream at all times.
"I think I should probably get out of the way, honey," Joanne said, interrupting his thoughts. "They probably don’t want me to be here."
As she kissed John’s cheek and prepared to go, Anna said, "Oh, don’t be silly. You’re fine here. My mom used to always be at fittings and rehearsals when I was doing Broadway shows – even during my first few movies. No one will mind – and if they do, I’ll say something to them."
"Oh," Joanne looked to John. "Do you want me to stay, Beebs?"
"Yes, mom," John breathed a sigh of relief. "I’d feel much better if you stayed."
"Ok, honey. I’ll sit to the side, though. If you want me to leave, just let me know, ok?"
John nodded.
"Did your mom just call you ‘Beebs?’" Anna asked with a big smile.
"Yeah. My friends and family all call me Beebs."
"Oh, that’s adorable!" Anna laughed, as she hurried ahead to tell Lily about their little sister’s nickname.
Ashley was waiting up front with three women who were all in their thirties and wearing bib-aprons with lots of pockets, all of which were filled with tailoring tools.
"Good morning, ladies," the woman in the center said. "I’m Doreen, I’m an assistant costumer here at Disney and these are my colleagues, Jane and Aubrey, and we’ll be doing your primary fittings today. We’ve got a lot to do, so, if you don’t mind, please strip and stand up here on the platforms so we can get started."
John looked confused and he glanced at his co-stars who were both kicking off their shoes and pulling down the waist-bands of their leggings. "Oh...um..." he stuttered. "We just... undress? Right here?"
Anna and Lily looked at each other with knowing smiles, each remembering their first movie fitting.
"Don’t worry about it, love," Lily giggled. "We’re all girls here. You’ll get used to it."
Joanne put her hand on John’s shoulder. "It’s ok, Beebs. You’ll be fine." She knew that John had been in his skivvies in front of Ella, MK and Kylie without any problems. "Want me to unzip you?"
A bit nervously, John said, "Yes. Thanks, mom."
Joanne lowered the zipper, then pulled the dress free of his shoulders and lowered it to the floor, revealing the expensive and elegant, silk, purple bra and panty set that Rose had insisted John needed to complete his ensemble.
"Oh, that’s pretty, but..." Anna said and at that moment, John realized that his co-stars were both wearing flesh-toned teddy-style one piece undergarments that allowed them both to appear nearly naked.
"Oh, Bebe," Lily interrupted, "you should always wear a tan, one-piece for fittings. They like to see how the colors look on us and they get upset when your underwear bleeds through."
John looked down. "Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know..."
"Well, of course you didn’t," Anna said, "but we can fix that." She turned to the woman in charge and said, "Um, Doreen. This is Bebe’s first studio fitting and... well... do you think you could get her something more... appropriate? Just for today."
Doreen turned and looked at the young actress. "Oh," she laughed, just a little, "darling you look adorable, but... of course. Ashley, could you go over to ‘Wardrobe 1’ and get a size two one-piece for our little up and comer, here?"
"Of course," Ashley smiled and hustled off to get the garment.
"In the meantime," Doreen clapped her hands, "let’s start with bloomers, ladies. We shouldn’t have any big problems with those."
Each actress took their place on the three-foot-wide circles that stood in front of the mirrors and waited as the costumers gathered the elaborate bloomers that they’d be wearing under their costumes. John stood on the middle platform, with Anna to his left and Lily to his right.
"By the way," Anna said to Lily, "I loved all the denim outfits that you wore in that Beatles movie. Each one was adorable."
Lily laughed. "Thanks. You know, Danny Boyle directed that and he only used a costumer for Himesh Patel, who played ‘Jack.’ He gave me and the other secondaries a budget and sent us out to buy clothes that fit our characters. I figured, you know, an underpaid school teacher who wanted to look cool... denim, right?" She laughed, again.
"Well, I loved it! It looked great on the screen."
As the chit-chat and shop-talk continued, they each stepped into their bloomers and the costumers fussed with every aspect of the garment. The older actresses barely noticed as the additional pieces of clothing as they were added.
Occasionally, Doreen, who was working on John’s costume pieces, would sigh or huff and mutter that the purple of his panties was ruining the look of the bloomers, or the color of his bra was ruining the look of the chemise. John felt awkward and kept muttering apologies, which Doreen ignored.
Finally, Ashley returned with a small package containing a flesh colored item, which John assumed was his ‘onesie.’ Thank God! Now, Doreen wouldn’t complain and he’d look more like Anna and Lily.
Doreen held up a finger, indicating that Ashley should wait a moment, and she finished pinning John’s chemise.
"Ok," Doreen finally said. "I’m done with this. Let’s take these off and you can put on the teddy."
John nodded as Doreen dropped the bloomers to the floor and he stepped out. Then she helped him remove the chemise.
"Open that for her," Doreen instructed Ashley, who opened the bag containing the new one-piece garment and she shook it loose to so the garment unfolded and relaxed.
"Let’s get you out of your fancy panties and into something more appropriate."
Ashley handed John the onesie and smiled as she walked away to throw away the wrapping.
Then, without warning, Doreen slipped her fingers under the waist band of John’s purple silk panties and pulled them down, exposing... everything.
John screamed, dropped the one-piece and slammed his hands over his groin to hide his secret, but it was too late. It had been seen by two sets of astounded eyes.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Lily screamed at Doreen.
"Leave her alone!" Joanne pulled Doreen aside, then hurried John towards the clothes racks.
"Get out!" Anna screamed as she and Lily pushed all three costumers towards and out the door.
"What’s going on!?" Ashley called out, confused, as she emerged from a different row of costumes.
Joanne left John in the safety of the costumes and grabbed Ashley, perhaps too firmly, by the arm and led her to the door as well. As she ushered the confused, young woman into the hallway, she said, "Do not come into this room until I invite you back in!"
She slammed the door in the faces of the three baffled costumers and receptionist, but the door reopened immediately and Joanne reappeared, looking directly at Doreen. "I don’t care who you work for, if you EVER do something like that to my daughter again, I will pound you into dust and throw that dust into the wastebasket."
The door slammed again, but this time the sound of the lock being turned in the handle was very obvious.
Turning from the door, Joanne grabbed the one-piece garment from the floor and ran back to John, who had pulled his panties back up and was seated in the food services area, weeping with embarrassment.
"Is she ok?" Anna asked Joanne.
Joanne stopped and looked from Anna to Lily and back again. "Yeah... I don’t know, but..."
"It’s ok," Lily said. "We saw, but I don’t think anyone else did. It’s not a big deal."
Joanne’s eyes opened wide. "Not a big deal!?" She looked back towards John and said. "Please. Give us a few minutes."
"Of course." Both women said in unison.
"Bebe? Bebe, baby, are you ok?" Joanne asked as she rubbed John’s back.
"Ok!?" John said in a nearly hysterical whisper. "I want to go home. Please. Just take me home."
Joanne sat beside him and whispered as well. "It’ll be ok, baby. I’m sure that it will."
"No. I want to go. Please. Just call Oscar. I can’t face them, now. I need to leave."
"Well..." Joanne was uncertain as to what to do at this point. If they left, not only could it be the end of Bebe’s participation in this movie, it may be the end of her entire career. "If that’s what you want... I guess we could leave, but, Bebe... you know that there could be legal and financial consequences..."
"Please, mom, please. Just take me home."
Oh, God. She called her ‘mom’ again. What to do?
"Could I, maybe, talk to you both for a few minutes?" Joanne’s thoughts had been interrupted by Anna Kendrick’s voice.
John didn’t even look up, but Joanne nodded and moved over a seat so Anna could sit between John and herself. Anna fidgeted for a moment as Lily moved into the chair on the other side of John, who kept his tear filled eyes focused on the floor.
"Bebe," Anna spoke haltingly, choosing her words carefully. "First, you have to know that this doesn’t matter to me, or Lily." She looked at lily and raised her eye brows, asking Lily for help.
"That’s right, love," Lily was as careful with her words as Anna. "Your secret is safe with us. They didn’t see, I’m sure of it."
"I think she’s right, Bebe," Joanne confirmed. "I was screaming so loudly and so quickly... I think they just thought I’d gone nuts because they’d pulled off your panties."
"And we joined in when we saw what was happening," Anna said.
"May I ask you a question?" Lily asked.
John, still in his purple bra and panties, nodded.
"Why keep it a secret?"
John’s eyes moved slowly from the floor to Lily’s eyes. "Why? Because I don’t want anyone to know."
"Honey," Lily continued, "it’s the twenty-first century. People change gender. It’s not as big a deal as it used to be."
"But I’m not just... this wasn’t a choice... it..." John choked back another crying jag while he recounted a thumb-nail summary of his life since his audition for The Taming Of The Shrew and ended by saying, "and the worst thing is, I just decided this week to complete everything. I just spoke to my sister, cousin and uncle about it last night."
Had anyone been looking at Joanne, they would have noticed the blood draining from her face. "Oh, my," she gasped. "Bebe... you’re going to... baby... you never told me... or Blaine."
"I’m sorry, mom," John weeped a bit more. "I was going to... this weekend... I’m so sorry."
"I understand, Bebe," Joanne looked embarrassed. "I’m just... a bit surprised, I guess."
"Of course you are," Anna comforted Joanne. "I’m sure that Bebe had intended... wait... did you say you told your cousin and uncle, but you hadn’t told your mother? Bebe? Oh, Joanne, no wonder you were upset."
Joanne looked at John, then cleared her throat. "Yes, well... to be perfectly honest... I’m not exactly Bebe’s mother, although I do think of her as a daughter. She’s... well... kind of like my daughter-in-law. See, she and my son, Blaine, have been dating for quite some time. Bebe’s mom is back in Massachusetts, so..."
"Well, thank goodness you were here, today," Lily patted Joanne’s shoulder. "Here, come sit with Bebe." She stood and switched seats with Joanne.
Joanne sat next to John and placed her arm around his shoulder and pulled his head to her shoulder, an offer that John accepted, gratefully.
"Alright," Anna sighed. "Back to the matter at hand. Bebe, your secret is safe with us and we are just as thrilled as we could be to have you as our little sister in this movie. Right, Lily?"
"That’s right, Bebe," Lily confirmed.
"Or, Beebs," Anna teased as she ran her hand along John’s cheek. "I still love that nickname, but, right now, I think we need to get the costumers back in here so we can get this project moving. Why don’t you get dressed in that one-piece and then we’ll get back to work. Ok?"
John nodded and stood.
A few moments later, the three costumers and Ashley, who were still waiting in the hall, heard the lock, the door handle being undone and then the door swung open, allowing them to see the, now somewhat imposing, figure of young Bebe Foley’s mother in the doorway. Someone who’d become, to them, in the past hour, the most formidable of all stage mothers.
Joanne folded her arms and stared at the costumers. When no one spoke for the first few moments, a confused Ashley finally asked, "Is everything ok in there?"
Joanne glanced at the young woman and said, "Why don’t you go ahead back in, Ashley. I need to have a word with these ladies."
Ashley squeezed by Joanne and disappeared into the fitting room.
Finally, Doreen felt the need to move things along. "Look, Mrs Foley, I don’t know quite what happened in there..."
"That’s not my name," Joanne interrupted without moving a muscle.
"What?" The confused costumer asked.
"My name is ‘Joanne,’ not ‘Mrs Foley,’ and I’ll tell you what happened in there – My daughter... my FIF-TEEN-YEAR-OLD daughter, had her panties yanked off of her in front of a room of strangers without a second of warning. She was shocked and embarrassed as was I. Do you understand what happened, now?"
Doreen looked to her colleagues for support, but neither said anything. "Ok, I understand, Mrs... Joanne, but that’s just how things work around here. She’ll get used to it, I’m sure." Doreen tried to smile reassuringly.
"Oh, I’m sure that she won’t, Doreen, and you know why I’m sure it won’t? Because if it ever does happen again, my daughter and I will be out this door, off of this lot and onto The Today Show as quickly as humanly possible. Wouldn’t they love to hear how Disney treated this young, beautiful, star? You bet they would. So. Do we understand each other?"
"We do," Doreen said, contritely, but without every actually apologizing.
"Good. Now, let’s start all of this over, shall we? My daughter – one of the most notable actresses in the world today – the young woman who you are here TO SUPPORT, not harass - is waiting."
Doreen sighed heavily. "Yes, ma’m."
To Be Continued...
Bebe Goes to Hollywood - 2
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Author's Note: Hope you all are doing well and keeping the fire lit for Bebe. As always, I really would like to hear
from everyone who is reading this story. It would kind of help me to craft things along for you all!
I read every review!! ~Clara.
This version of Bebe Goes To Hollywood: 2 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.
Chapter 2
"I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too."
~ Jimmy Stewart as Jefferson Smith from 'Mr Smith Goes to Washington'
"Oscar," Joanne asked politely, as she and John settled into the backseat of the tow car, "would you mind if I close the privacy partition for a few minutes? I am sorry, but I need to talk to Bebe for a moment."
"Not at all, ma'm," Oscar smiled into the rear view mirror and raised the divider for her.
John sat on the back seat with Joanne and looked at his phone where there was a slew of texts.
From Ella - HEY MOVIE STAR! HOW'D IT GO?
- IS ANNA KENDRICK AS CUTE IN PERSON?
- CALL WHEN YOU'RE OUT
- LOVE YA
From MK - IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER STAR, I'M AVAILABLE
- GOOD LUCK LOVE
- IF YOU SEE A JONAS BROTHER (PREFERABLY NICK) GIVE HIM MY INFO!!!
- DYING TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR DAY. WANNA DO SOMETHING TONIGHT? LMK
From Blaine - LOVE YOU
- EVERYTHING OK? I'M THINKING OF YOU. HOPE ALL IS GOING GREAT
- LOVE YOU. BE A SUPERSTAR
John sighed as he shut off his screen and looked to Joanne.
"Well, That didn't exactly go to plan, did it?" Joanne said.
John shook his head. "Thank you, mom. I really appreciate your help."
Joanne smirked. "Look, Bebe, you know I love you and nothing would make me happier than to have you call me 'mom,' but if you're doing it because you don't want me to talk to you about what happened or if you're just going to try to manipulate me, then it won't work."
"I'm not," John said, quietly. "You and Rose are kinda like my moms, now. I talk to my mom and all, but between her new life with Mr McManus and the fact that I don't think she really understands any of my life out here, I really need some moms. Do you mind if I just keep calling you 'mom?'"
"Of course not, then, honey." Joanne touched John's smooth face. "Now... about this surgery..."
"I'm sorry that you found out that way. I really did intend to talk to you and Blaine this weekend."
"That's fine, but, listen - you know that I worked in the medical field and I'm aware that the this is a very personal decision, but... well, I'm only trying to watch out for your health, so do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"No. You can ask me anything."
"Thank you, Bebe. First, does your therapist approve of you doing this?"
"Absolutely. If you'd like to come to my next session, I'd be fine with that."
"No, Bebe, that's ok. I just... I just worry. You understand, right? I mean, you're out here, pretty much by yourself. Ed and Rose are great and all, but they're barely adults themselves. The same goes for Nancy and she...well, she's doing well, now... but you understand why I'm concerned?"
"I do, and thank you, mom. To tell you the truth, as much as I love Ed and Rose, I realized recently that I look to you and Don as parents more and more. Your opinion is more important to me than you could possibly understand. I'm sorry if I disappointed you, today."
"Disappoint me!? Bebe, I am constantly and continually in awe of you - your courage as a young man caught in a medical conundrum, your courage to become a young woman, your courage to come out here so young, and your courage an actress when you take over a set and do what you feel is right instead of just saying the lines - and now, the courage you're displaying as you head into a life changing surgery... Bebe - you are, truly, unbelievable. You could not possibly disappoint me." She reached over and hugged the child next to her. "I love you, Bebe, and I always will."
"I love you, too, mom," John was relieved, "but... how do you think Blaine will take the news?"
"I think he'll be confused, honey. He's a teenaged boy. Teenaged boys live in a world of confusion. I doubt that he's given much thought to you even having a penis for a long time, but he'll need to face that fact, now, so - Yeah, he'll be confused, but he'll be ok."
John nodded. "Ok. Maybe we should go to your place first, then, so I can tell him right now."
Joanne shrugged. "Sure, honey. If that's what you want, but... you've had a hell of day already. Are you sure that you're up for this today? I mean, talking to a teenaged boy about removing a penis is bound to be difficult. Blaine's penis is pretty much his best friend." She chuckled at that and John smiled.
"Mine used to be my best friend, too, but... I guess my friend betrayed me."
Joanne nodded. "Ok." She pushed the button to lower the privacy panel and said, "Thank you, Oscar. I'm sorry about that."
"Not at all, Ma'm," Oscar smiled.
"Change of plan, Oscar. We're going to stop by my house for a few minutes. Then, I'll still need a ride back to Bebe's to pick up my car. Is that ok?"
"I'm all yours, ma'm. Whatever you want."
Joanne poured lemonade for John and Blaine and looked at the two of them sitting at the kitchen table. So cute, together. Why couldn't they just be a normal boy and girl? Why did everything have to be so damned complicated?
"Alright," Joanne put the pitcher back into the refrigerator. "I'll leave you two alone."
She touched Blaine's shoulder as she headed to the door. The boy was obviously concerned about why they were having this conversation. She'd intended that her touch would offer some support, but, instead, she just made him more concerned. She nodded to John, smiled and left.
Once in the living room, Joanne picked up her tablet, opened her Kindle app and continued reading a book she'd started about a week ago. It was a detective story. Not bad, not great. Drugs, kidnapping, guns and sex, nothing out of the ordinary for this kind of thing. Easy to read.
As she turned a page, she heard some noises that sounded like concerned voices coming from the kitchen. Obviously, Bebe had told him. Joanne stopped reading and listened. The tone stayed the same for a few sentences, but eventually she could make out words that sounded more excited and most of those words came from Blaine.
"I'm not saying it's wrong," her son said, "I'm saying that you don't have to do it. We're fine the way we are."
This was not what she'd expected Blaine to say. She rose and listened at the doorway.
"Blaine," Bebe was saying, "please, try to understand. I need to do this."
"No, Bebe, you don't 'need' to do it, you 'want' to do it and you don't have to. I love you just like you are."
"And I love you, too, Blaine, and I want to, someday, be able to be with you - like a man and a woman. I'm not meant to have this... THING between my legs. I have to get rid of it."
"No!" Blaine was more scared than anything else.
"No!? Are you trying to forbid me from doing this, Blaine?"
"No, I'm not but... please... don't do it. Please."
Feeling it was time to become a mediator, Joanne entered the kitchen where Blaine was leaning against one counter and Bebe was leaning against another at the polar opposite end of the large kitchen. "Blaine?" Joanne's voice was quiet and confident. "Are you ok, honey? What's going on?"
"You know what's going on, mom," he said, on the verge of tears. "She wants to have a surgery that she doesn't need. You know about these things. Please, tell her not to do it."
"Blaine, honey," Joanne made the classic adult mistake of chuckling at the rampant emotions of her son, "you're over reacting..."
"Over reacting!? Mom! People die in surgery! No! I don't want to loose her! Make her see some reason, please!"
John looked from Blaine to Joanne and back again, confused and a little frightened by Blaine's reaction. After all, after John, the person who stood to benefit the most from this surgery was Blaine, not Immediately, of course, but some day.
"Honey," Joanne tried to get Blaine to see reason, "calm down..."
"Calm down!? Mom! I've read that, like, thirty-percent of people die from the anesthesia, alone!"
"Blaine, that's a pretty big exaggeration..."
"I don't care, mom! If there is a zero-point-zero-zero-zero-zero-one percent chance that something bad can happen to her, then it's not worth the risk! I don't want to lose her mom!"
Joanne was speechless.
Blaine looked to John. "Please. Please, don't do this."
John could not figure out what to do or say, so he turned and ran for the door, not knowing where he'd go, just needing to think.
"Bebe!" Joanne ran after John, but stopped at the door and turned to Blaine. "Aren't you going after her!?"
"Aaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh!" Blaine groaned, frustrated and frightened, he slammed his fists on the marble countertop and ran out the door behind his mother.
They caught up with Bebe as she turned the corner and was headed for Oscar and the town car. Joanne passed him, grabbed hold of him and pulled him into a big hug. John sobbed and shook, not certain of the the reasons for Blaine's stubbornness. "Oh, momma," he cried. "Oh, momma, I don't know what to do."
"Shh, Shh, baby," Joanne whispered. "It'll be ok. Just come back inside."
"Is everything ok?" Oscar asked as he came closer to the group. "Ms Bebe, are you ok?"
"She's fine, Oscar," Blaine said, dismissively. "It's a family issue. Just wait in the car."
"Blaine!" Joanne yelled at her son's insensitivity.
Oscar understood, more than anyone, that he was from a different class than his clientele, and he understood that the younger the person was, the more untitled he was. Even though he had shared a good deal of offwork time with the young man, this dismissive behavior did not surprise him.
"No offense, Mr Blaine," Oscar said as he moved to stand beside Joanne as she embraced Bebe, "I don't work for you. I work for Ms Bebe and she seems pretty upset. Now, I don't know what exactly happened here, but I think it might be a good idea if you gave Ms Bebe a few minutes. Maybe you should go back in the house until she calms down."
Blaine couldn't believe he was being spoken to in this manner by anyone, let alone by a driver. Before he could speak, though, Joanne said, "That's a very good idea, Oscar. Blaine, give us a few minutes. We'll meet you in the kitchen when we're ready."
Blaine couldn't believe it! What the heck was wrong with everybody!? Why couldn't anyone see how wrong everything was!? "Fine!" Blaine finally said with frustrated rage and he turned and stormed back into the house.
"I'll leave you to it, ma'm," Oscar said with a deep, warm voice. "If you need me, I'll be in the car."
"Wait," Joanne stopped him. "Could you...?" She indicated John's sobbing form.
"Of course," he smiled and took the child to his chest as Joanne hurried back into the house.
She found Blaine sulking in the kitchen.
"Mom, " He was still revved up, "you've got to talk to her..."
"Now, just stop, right now," Joanne interrupted him. "That girl is desperate and you just made her feel worse."
"But mom!"
"But nothing, Blaine! We've been through this before. You behaved horribly when Bebe first told you about her condition and you're behaving horribly, now, too. How would you feel if you thought that you were one kind of person, then found out that you weren't? That you were something, not completely different from what you thought, but partway in between one sex and another? How would you feel? Haven't you ever thought about how difficult this is for her?"
Blaine remained quiet and looked everywhere except into his mother's eyes.
"Well, please, Blaine, put yourself in her place. You were confused, frightened, alone, in a new city when you found a boy who loved you and made you feel whole. Wouldn't that make you feel better?"
Blaine still didn't talk.
"But you knew that you could never be with that boy the way that you wanted to be. Kinda sucks, Blaine, doesn't it?"
"I guess."
"Look, Blaine," she took a deep breath, "Bebe is an amazing girl and I understand why you love her, but, Blaine, she's not... complete... and that is a big problem, honey. She's not talking about unnecessary surgery. She's talking about corrective surgery, baby. If she had a leaky valve in her heart, she'd have to have it fixed. If she had a bone spur in her foot, she'd have to have it fixed. Blaine... she has a penis where she's supposed to have a vagina. It makes her feel incomplete, honey. She needs to be made complete and this, very safe, tried and true procedure is what she NEEDS to do. Can't you understand that?"
Blaine wiped a tear from his cheek. "Mom." He still could not look directly at his mother. "Last year, this kid from my class, Eric Heffernan... he went into the hospital for a simple hernia operation and, once they had him under sedation and started working on him... everything went wrong and... he was a healthy fifteen year old kid, mom, and he was... gone. Dead. Fifteen, mom, and dead. Everyone said it was a 'routine operation' but he died, mom. He died! How old is Bebe?"
Joanne felt everything drain from her. The poor boy. He'd never told her about this. Well... maybe he had. Before Bebe came into the picture, she and Blaine had been drifting apart for several years - really since she'd remarried. Now, mostly because Bebe included Joanne in almost everything they did, Joanne and her son were closer than ever. She crossed the room and touched his face. "She's fifteen, honey, but that's not going to happen to her."
"How do you know?"
"I know, Blaine. I know where the procedure will be done and I know the doctors who will do it. She'll be in the most capable hands in the world, honey. I promise you. She will be fine."
Blaine looked out the window where Oscar was still holding Bebe. "I love her, mom. I love her so.. much. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost her."
Joanne moved closer and stroked his arms. "You're not going to lose her, Blaine. She's going to be fine and you're going to have a long, happy life together."
Blaine chocked back his emotion. "Yeah?"
"Yeah, honey. You guys are going to grow old, fat and happy together and you're going to adopt and raise up beautiful babies that I can spoil rotten. I promise."
He nodded and she hugged him. "Now, go talk to her. You really gave her a pretty big scare."
He looked out the window a moment longer and he realized that he'd have to face more than just Bebe. "Mom. What do I say to Oscar. I was such an asshole."
"Well," Joanne smiled, "I'd usually say, 'Watch your language,' but you're right, you were an asshole. So, go out there. Apologize to Oscar. Shake his hand and, if he allows you to get near Bebe, hug her and bring her back in here so you can tell her how much you love her, how much you want for her to be happy, and how you're going to support her as she goes through this procedure. Sound good?"
Blaine let his arms unfold. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Sounds good."
Nancy's condo was empty when John got back at 6:30 that night. Joanne had wanted to come up and sit with him, but he said he was too tired, and he was, but when his phone rang and the ID said 'MK' he was happy she'd called.
He pressed the green button. "Hey, MK. What's up?"
"'What's up,' she asks," his friend's flippant voice came through loud and clear. "What do you mean by sending me a text that says 'worst day ever' and then not responding to my questions?"
"Sorry," John made a face as he realized that he'd never gotten back to her after they'd left the studio.
"Sorry, my ass, young lady," MK scolded. "Now, push the button and open the freaking door to this building. We're coming up."
"We?"
"Yeah. Ella and me. We brought sushi. Open the door."
John almost shook with happiness. These girls knew he was hurting and had come all the way from Beverly Hills to comfort him. He wanted to be alone and just have a good cry, but this was so much better. He pushed the button on the security panel, opened the door and waited for the elevator to arrive on his floor.
When Nancy arrived home at eight thirty that night, she found her little brother sprawled on the floor with his two closest girl-friends, empty carry-out food boxes on her coffee table, red Solo cups halffilled with soda and 'A Walk To Remember' playing on the television. It didn't take a great detective to know that this was an estrogen-fueledpity -party.
After saying her hellos to Ella and MK, Nancy invited John into the kitchen for a moment.
"Something go wrong, today?" She asked.
"Nothing went right," John scoffed. "Everything was a mess. The fitting session... Blaine... everything. I hope you don't mind that the girls are here. They came to cheer me up. I didn't even invite them. I saved you some sushi in the fridge."
Nancy pushed a few stray hairs behind John's ears. "Do you want to tell me about it, Johnny?"
John glanced back to the girls. "Could were, maybe talk tomorrow? I kinda had to edit a lot when I talked to them, and..." he let it hang there.
"Oh," Nancy's eyes opened wide. "Oh! They didn't... see it, did they?"
John shrugged. "It's a long story, but everything's alright for now."
"Soooo," Nancy looked at John with a questioning expression, "you're still doing the movie, right?"
"Oh, yeah, nothing's changed. It was Anna and Lily who saw... it, and they say that they're fine with it. I don't think they'll say anything."
Nancy acknowledged that. "Was Joanne with you?"
John chuckled. "Nan, you should have seen her. She was like a lioness defending her cub. I think the costumers are actually petrified of her. She took good care of me."
Nancy joined his chuckle at the thought of sweet, quiet Joanne not just protecting Johnny, but scaring the costumers. "That's good, Johnny. Now, give me hug."
They hugged tightly, two dark haired peas in a pod. One a younger version of the other.
When the hug ended, Nancy ran her hand through John's soft, shiny hair and smiled. "You'll let me know if you need anything, right, Johnny?"
He smiled back at his sister. "I'm fine, Nan. Honestly, I am. I promise."
She smiled and nodded, accepting the response. "And the girls? Are they spending the night?"
John looked over his shoulder, then back to Nancy. "Would you mind?"
Nancy's smile grew wide. "They're good girls, Johnny. I'm glad you have them. They're always welcome here. There's blankets in the linen closet."
John smiled and hugged her again. "Thanks, Nan. Love you." He hustled off to tell the girls.
As Nancy pulled a plate of sushi out of the refrigerator, she heard a cheer rise from the living room, followed by shouts of, "Thanks, Nancy! You're the best! Woo hoo!"
At 9:45 the next morning, John's phone began to vibrate on the floor next to where he was sleeping.
"Bebe," Ella shook his shoulder. "Bebe. Your phone is ringing."
John snorted himself awake and looked around as he tried to shake the late night of teen-angst-movies and female camaraderie out of his brain. He grabbed his phone and saw that it was an 'unknown' number, but he accepted the call, anyway. "Hello?"
"Bebe?" The voice came through the speaker. It was a familiar voice, but John couldn't imagine it was who he thought it was.
"This is Bebe."
By now, MK and Ella were both sitting up and rubbing the sleep from their eyes.
"Hi, Bebe," the voice cheered up as it spoke. "This is Anna. I'm just calling to see if you're ok."
Suddenly wide awake, John sat bolt upright, the straps of yellow camisole he was wearing as a pajama top slipping from his shoulders. "Anna! Umm... hi. Umm, yeah, I'm ok, thanks. I mean... yeah... I'm fine, thanks."
"Anna!?" Ella jumped closer to hear and giggled.
"As in Anna Kendrick!?" MK moved in tightly on the other side.
John nodded.
"Look, Bebe, I feel really bad about everything that happened yesterday and, well, I was thinking... if you're free this afternoon, maybe you'd like to come over to a little restaurant by the studio and have some lunch. I mean, I'm recording here today and we could, you know, get to know each other a little."
John glanced at the clock and at his friends. "Oh, well, you know, I'd love to but, my friends came over last night to cheer me up and they're still here, and..."
"Well, bring them along," Anna said. "I'd love to meet them."
"Seriously?" John asked as Ella and MK made silent cheering motions.
"Sure," Anna said. "And bring your mom if she's available. I liked her. Your boyfriend, too if he wants to spend an afternoon with a bunch of girls."
"Oh, Umm, Wow, ok, thanks. Ummm, what time and where?"
"There's a little Armenian place, just down the street from the studios, called 'The Gentle Lentil.' How about one thirty? Sound good?"
Before he answered, he thought of something. "Oh, ooo, I just thought... can I bring my sister, too?"
Anna laughed. "Of course. Now, is she your real sister or is she your sister like your mom is your mom?"
John let out a nervous giggle. "No. She's my real sister. I'm living with her right now and I don't think she's working, today. You wouldn't mind?"
The smile in Anna's voice was obvious. "Bring anyone you'd like, Bebe. I'll see you and your whole crew at The Gentle Lentil at one thirty. Bye."
"Bye," John hit the 'end' button and there was an instant scream of joy from Ella and MK.
"We're having lunch with Anna Kendrick!" MK yelled.
"With Beca Mitchell!!" Ella joined in as they both erupted into shouts and dances.
"What's going on in here?" A disheveled, tired and recently awakened Nancy asked from the entrance to the hallway.
"Get dressed," John said as he and his friends rocketed past her and headed for his bedroom. "We're all having lunch with Anna Kendrick!"
"Can I borrow a dress?" Ella yelled to John as MK skidded to a stop.
"Yeah! Of course," John yelled. "Come on MK!"
"What? Me too?" Nancy yelled down the hall, as MK skidded to a stop and turned to face Nancy.
"Yeah, you too!" John called back from inside his room. "And can you call Joanne and Blaine and tell them to get dressed and meet us here by twelve thirty? I'll call Oscar and see if he can drive us."
Nancy shook the sleep from her head. "Oh, ok." Then she spotted MK standing in the hall, waiting to say something. "MK? Do you need something?"
"Um, yeah, Nancy. Could I, maybe borrow a dress from you? Those two are a lot more flat chested than me and even though you're... well... you're closer to my size."
"Yeah, yeah, of course," Nancy nodded and smiled, happy to be included in the girls' fun. "Come on in. I'll show you what I have."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
The Gentle Lentil was a small place, set just off the main road near Disney's recording studios. The Hagopian family had been serving good food from the Armenian tradition for nearly a century and they didn't need to advertise. They catered to the Hollywood elite and kept a very low profile. The sign on the door to the restaurant was no bigger than an index card and without knowing it's location, people would pass it by without a second thought. Luckily, Oscar knew where it was.
Anna Kendrick was speaking to the proprietors as a parade of people entered, led by her young costar, Bebe Foley.
"Hi, Beebs," she called out, as she came over to hung John. "Bebe, you have got to stop dressing so beautifully! I always feel like bum next to you. This dress is beautiful!" She fingered the soft material of the skirt of the pale, blue sundress with tiny with flowers. It hung loose and pretty from John's shoulders, blousing at his breasts and contracting again at his waist before blossoming out again into a flowing, feminine, umbrella of a skirt that ended just at his knees.
"Oh, thank you, Anna," John smiled broadly as he made the
introductions, "this is my friend, Ella, my friend, MK, my boyfriend, Blaine."
"Whoa," Anna stopped at Blaine for a moment and looked him over. "You ARE a good looking guy. No wonder she's crazy about you."
Blaine blushed and said, "I'm crazy about her, too."
Anna laughed and smiled that big, trade mark smile of hers. "I'm glad to hear it." She moved on in the line, "Oh, and here's momma," she said to Blaine's mom. "Good to see you again, Joanne."
"You, too, Anna, and thank you for having us all."
"This is my good friend, Oscar," John continued.
"Oscar? We've meet before, haven't we?" Anna asked.
"Yes, Ms Kendrick. I'm a driver. I've driven you several times. I'm, kinda, Ms Bebe's personal driver, now." Oscar shook her hand and acted almost apologetic that he'd been invited in for lunch.
"You're not my driver, you're my friend, Oscar," John said. "You just happen to have access to big cars."
Oscar laughed.
"And this is my sister, Nancy."
"Oh, my goodness," Anna laughed. "Talk about family resemblances! You two look like you were made in the same mold! My brother and I look a little similar, but... wow! Hi, Nancy. I'm Anna."
"Oh, I know," Nancy said, nervously. "We hear that we look alike all the time. Thank you, so much, for including us all. It means so much to the kids to get to meet you. Oh, well, it means a lot to me, too!"
Anna laughed, "Well. It means a lot to me to get to know all of you, too. Let's sit down and get things started."
There was a large, round table set up towards the left side of the small restaurant. They all took their seats around it with John and Nancy set like bookends on either side of Anna Kendrick. There were a couple of other, small parties of diners in the restaurant as well. Most were hidden in small alcoves with drapes drawn to offer privacy. John had brought so many people with him that their party could not fit into one of those little cubby holes, so they were in the larger, open part of the room.
"Are you ever mistaken for Bebe?" Anna asked Nancy as things settled in.
"Just from a distance. Once they get close and see that I'm a lot older, they usually just smile and move on."
"You do look uncannily alike," Anna looked from one side to the other. "Well, Bebe, at least you know that you'll be gorgeous when you're in your twenties. Nancy, have you done any acting?"
"Just a little when I was in high school," Nancy was enjoying the conversation with and compliments from this movie star. "I did a few plays in school and I was in a few of the Shakespearean plays with a rep-company on Cape Cod. That's the same theater troupe that Johnny, Rose and Ed were all working for when they were cast in 'Civil Disobedience.'"
"Johnny?" Anna asked. "Was That Bebe's name before..."
John and Nancy both held their breath, realizing that Nancy's faux pas had indicated to Anna that John's secret was common knowledge with everyone around the table. Thankfully, Joanne had her wits about her and interrupted the star. "Oh, Anna," she laughed, casually, "you should have known Bebe a year ago when we all met her. An awkward tomboy who hated all things girly. Nancy always called her 'Johnny' as a bit of a sisterly tease."
"It's true," Ella joined the conversation. "When Bebe first came to our school, she only had her school uniform skirt and a few, uninteresting pieces of clothes." She indicated herself and MK. "Mary Katherine and I had a heck of a time turning her into this fetching creature, here."
Anna laughed at the overly-mature manner in which Ella had spoken, and use of the word 'fetching' was adorable. She also realized that the girls were oblivious to Bebe's gender history.
"That's the truth," MK laughed. "When we fixed her up with Blaine, she was actually mad that we made her buy a new dress to go out on a date. Can you believe that?"
"Oh, Bebe," Anna teased, "buying a new dress is the best part of a date! I certainly hope that you've learned your lesson."
"Oh, she's learned it, and then some," Blaine shook his head and looked to Oscar for support, who just smiled. "I can't tell you the last time I saw her in anything other than a dress and she must have four hundred in her closet. Not to mention the shoes and jewelry and everything else."
"It was like she was brought up by wolves," MK laughed at her friend.
"Or like she was brought up as a boy," Ella added.
Anna laughed at the roasting of her young costar. "But now, you're a perfect young lady, Bebe?" She squeezed his soft hand.
"I try," John laughed, relieved that Anna seemed to understand the situation.
"Well, believe me," Nancy spoke to the girls, "she certainly didn't get all this girly-girl stuff from me or my mother. She gets all of that from you guys and Cousin Rose. I'd much rather wear jeans and sneakers."
By this time, the waitresses had delivered pitchers of lemonade and iced tea for the kids and Oscar, who couldn't drink while working, and glasses of surprisingly delicious Armenian pomegranate wine for the older women. Anna held up a glass and offered a toast. "To all of you, who took Bebe from Tom-boyhood to womanhood. Great job, everyone!"
They all clinked glasses and laughed.
The meal was delicious - Hummus, cheese and olives for appetizers, lamb, beef and chicken kebabs with rice for the main course and sweet, sticky Baklava for dessert. Everything was amazing and very different from the 'California Cuisine' that they all tended to eat.
As the meal was wrapping up, Anna called for a check.
"Oh, let me pay for it," John tried to insist. "I brought too many people."
"Don't be silly," Anna smiled. "You're all my guests and I haven't had this much at lunch in ages."
Then the waitress said, "The bill has already been taken care of, Ms Kendrick."
Both Anna and John were surprised. "By who?" Anna asked.
"By me," Don Ferry clapped his hands as he approached the table. He leaned over and kissed John's cheek. "How are you, sweetness?"
"Don!?" John said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I might ask you the same thing, my dear. I was having lunch with Bruce Willis and Kurt Russell about a charity event next week, but I was surprised to see all of you here. The Gentle Lentil is one of LA's best kept secrets. I assume that this lovely lady introduced you to it." He turned and offered his hand to Anna Kendrick. "Hello, Anna. Nice to see you, again."
"Don, how nice!" Anna stood and shook his hand as she air-kissed his cheek. "It's been a while."
Don's money-making smile was beaming to everyone at the table. "It has, Anna. The fundraiser for the governor's re-election, I believe. Now, I need you to take good care of my little girl here on that set of that movie, ok?"
"I promise, Don," Anna smiled at John. "She's in good hands with Lily and me."
Don looked around the table, "Blaine, Oscar, how we doing boys?"
They both smiled and responded that they were fine.
"Nancy, Joanne," he continued, "looking as beautiful as always."
They both thanked him.
"And the rest of the wreaking-crew," he smiled at the young women. "It's Ella and Mary Katherine, right?"
Flattered that a star of Don's stature would remember their names, the both glowed with joy. MK didn't even bother to correct him - she HATED being called Mary Katherine and it had already happened twice during this meal.
"May I steal my favorite child for a moment, Anna," Don smiled as he helped John move his chair away from the table.
"You certainly may, but bring her back quickly, please," Anna laughed.
Don escorted John to the other side of the restaurant and he indicated that he should sit. When they were settled, Don leaned forward and spoke quietly. "I have spoken to the production company and with the clinic. We've worked out a schedule for the filming the shiow, your surgery and a recovery period. Barring any complications, you should be all set. I'll text everything to you later. Ok?"
John took a deep breath and gave Don a worried smile. "Thanks, Don."
"Huh," Don sat back a bit. "You look worried, Angel. I thought that this is what you wanted."
John shrugged. "It is, but it's just... scary, I guess. I mean, it's surgery and all. Anyway, I'll let Rose and Ed know the schedule, if Ed says it's ok, then we'll do it."
Don laughed quietly at that. Uncle Ed protecting his young charge.
Don watched him as John glanced at the table where Anna and his friends and family were sitting.
"Tell me, baby, how many of them know?"
"Everyone except Oscar, Ella and MK."
"Anna, too?"
"Anna and Lily. There was... an incident... at the fitting. They saw."
"The costumers?"
John shook his head.
Don looked at the happy group across the room. "Let me ask you something." He paused as he thought. "Aside from Rose, Ed, Blaine and Joanne - who have been your closest friends since you moved out here?"
John glance at the table across the room where his friends were in heaven, dining with one of their movie-star idols. "You think I should tell them?"
"Yeah, sweetheart, I do. I mean, forget about the studios and the publicity machine. Forget about the no-disclosure agreements and all the other bullshit. Those two girls, and Kylie, too, they have been with you every step of the way. They have loved you and helped you become a beautiful, happy, young woman. How do you think they'd feel if they heard about it later? It'd break their hearts, sweetie."
John nodded.
"You don't have to do it now, but don't wait too long, ok?"
He nodded, again. "What about Oscar? You think he'll understand?"
"Of course he will. Why?"
John shrugged. "Well, Ed and Blaine were kinda freaked out at first and they're family. Do you think Oscar will be ok?"
Don considered this. "I think so. He's older than Ed and Blaine and he's a father with daughters and I think he already thinks of you as a daughter of sorts. He very protective of you. I think he'll be fine."
Suddenly, a burst of laughter came from the group and Oscar starting singing,
"Don't you forget about me
As you walk on by."
Then the girls joined in, singing the Barton Bellas' finale from the movie Pitch Perfect.
"Will you call my name
As you walk on by
Will you call my name
As you walk on by
Will you call my name
I say..."
Now everyone was singing and making a Breakfast Club fist pump into the air
"La
La, la, la, la-a
La, la, la, la-a
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la"
At which point their laughter took over the singing.
"I hate to bring them down," John sighed.
"Hey," Don said as he took John's hand and kissed it. "Better now than later and better from you than from someone else."
John nodded. "Ok. I'll do it."
"Attagirl," Don stood and offered a hand. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's get you back to your friends. Call me if you need anything. Ok? And I mean anything."
It was eight o'clock that evening when Blaine kissed his girlfriend good night. "Do you want me to stay? I mean, I know I overreacted when you told me, but I'm cool with it, now."
John stood on the toes of his bare feet and kissed Blaine, gently. "I know you are, but... this is kind of a girl thing, you know?"
He smiled and kissed John once more. "Ok. Love you."
"Love you, too." And he left the apartment.
When she heard the door close, Nancy peeked into the foyer. "Everything ok?"
John nodded. "Blaine just left."
She glanced into the living room. Nancy had never been much for housecleaning, but the mess generated by having teenagers staying with her was a bit overwhelming. She knew that this was not the appropriate time to address that issue, though.
She looked at John, again. "You can wait until tomorrow if you want. You don't have to tell them right now."
"Better to get it over with, though, Nan. I'm going to do it, now."
Nancy kissed him. "Ok. I'll be in my room if you need me." She smiled, squeezed his hand and walked away.
MK was flipping through Netflix options as John reentered. "What do you guys want to watch? Action? Animated? Romcom? Teen angst?"
"Hey," John pulled an ottoman over and sat in front of the girls. "Do you guys think that, maybe, we could talk for a bit."
"Talk?" Ella sat up. "That's the one thing MK is qualified to do."
"Damned straight," MK sat up and shut off the TV. "Listening, though, that's another story altogether. I'm not so good at that."
John smiled at his friends. "I kinda need you to listen, too. This is kinda important."
"Ok, Beebs," Ella suddenly took on a serious tone to match John's. "What's up?"
"Well," he sighed, "I'm going to be having some surgery in a couple of months and I just thought I should talk to you about it."
"Wow," MK's smile diminished. "Sounds serious. It's not, like, cancer or anything, is it?"
John looked at her, confused, but Ella spoke first. "Just stop, MK. Let her talk."
John looked from one to the other, trying to figure out what they thought they knew.
"Ok, look, this is kind of a weird thing to say, but..." MK started.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up," Ella muttered through clenched teeth.
"No," MK said, then looked back at John, "Are you trying to tell us that you are really a boy?"
John's eyes shot wide and his mouth hung open. "What?"
"Shit!" Ella said. "I told you to shut up. She was only kidding, Beebs. What were you going to say?"
John sat, still dumbfounded, and stared at his friends in disbelief. A moment passed and then another until MK finally said, "Oh, my God it's true." Her voice was quiet, but full of wonder.
Ella looked from MK to John. "Is it? Are you really a boy?"
The look on John's face spoke volumes.
"No, really!?" MK was amazed. "I mean, I was like eighty percent joking."
"It is true," Ella finally said with both shock and a bit of annoyance. "Damnit." She reached for her pocketbook and pulled out her wallet. She opened the wallet and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to MK. "Here. I guess you get this back."
MK laughed. "Ha! Come to mama!" She folded the bill and placed it in her bra.
"Wait, Wait," John stuttered. "What's going on?"
"Well," MK was very full of herself. "Back on the first day you came to school, I bet Ella twenty dollars that you were a boy."
"A couple of months later, when we went to the spa, we saw your breasts and your swimsuit was flat in front, so I figured that you were a girl and made her pay-up."
"But I was right, all along!" MK clapped her hands. "Seriously, though, you had us fooled until you admitted it."
John was baffled by what was happening around him. He had been petrified of hurting his friends and now he felt a little hurt himself.
Ella realized he wasn't joining in their fun. "Hey, Beebs... it doesn't matter. We love you, no matter what. You know that right?" She touched his arm.
"I don't know what I know," John said. "I didn't think you even suspected... I mean... did anyone else know?" He was beginning to look and sound desperate.
"Oh, honey, no," Ella soothed. "It was really just because you were so, well, awkward, I guess is the right word. You didn't know anything about being a girl. Your makeup was really basic, your clothes outside of school all looked as if someone else chose them for you, things like that. No one else got to know you like we did."
"She's right," MK agreed. "Honestly, I was just teasing. I figured you were just a tomboy, or maybe homeschooled- awkward. Something like that."
John buried his face in his hands and shook his head for a moment before lifting his head up again and looking at the ceiling, sighing. "Argh, why does everything have to be so difficult!?" He said in frustration. Then he looked at the floor to his left as he thought for a moment. "I'm sorry I lied, guys. I just couldn't really tell you the truth."
"No probs," MK smiled a sisterly smile, then planted a gentle punch on John's upper arm, "bro."
John nodded, "Very funny."
They sat in silence for a moment or two until MK couldn't keep quiet any more. "Soooooooo... is your really name Johnny?"
John nodded. "Well, John. Only Nancy ever called me Johnny."
"And what?" MK persisted. "You just always knew that you were a girl in a boy's body?"
"No. I never really thought about it until last year." He gave them a quick synopsis of his gender issues and how he'd come to terms with everything.
"Soooooo..." MK said, again, but this time she has a mischievous smile, "Do you have penis, now?"
John nodded, a little ashamed that he did.
"How come we never saw it in your panties or bathing suit?" Ella finally felt comfortable enough to ask a question.
"I keep it tucked and I use a gaff," John explained. "To tell you the truth, with the amount of hormones I've been on, it's always soft, now and it's even gotten a little smaller."
"Can we see?" MK asked, mostly in jest, but still curious.
"No!" John shouted, hoping she was kidding.
"Does Blaine know?" Ella pushed MK to the side in mock frustration.
"Yeah. I told him a long time ago. Right after he gave me this necklace."
"And he's ok with it?" MK was skeptical.
"It took a few hours, but he said he loved me, so - yeah, he was ok with it."
They both smiled at that for a moment. Then Ella asked, "What's it like?"
"What?"
"Being a boy."
"Well..." John contemplated. "I don't know. I mean... it was just how I was."
"What was it like to become a girl?" MK asked.
"Ummm.... You know... it started just for a play, but since I had to kinda live that way due to the breast forms, I guess it was kind of like a game for a few weeks. Rose had fun dressing me up like a doll and I think she kind of enjoyed freaking Ed out."
"Did it make you feel different?" Ella asked, delicately.
"Yeah. A lot different. I felt... kind of naughty, at first, I guess, and then... I wouldn't admit it at first, but I just felt... right, after a while."
The girls just nodded. That made sense to them.
"When I started auditioning for the show, it was for a boy's part, so I was really clumsy, looking like a girl and acting like a boy. It was Don's idea to try it is a girl. Then Nancy was concerned and made me go see a doctor who diagnosed me as intersexed, so it looked like I was suppose to be a girl all along. And now, I can't imagine not being one."
"Well," MK smiled, "you're pretty damned good at it, young fellow," making them all chuckle a little.
"Well, 'Johnny,'" Ella teased, "I cannot tell you how happy I am that MK and I taught you how to be a pretty, little thing and helped you to get a handsome stud as a boyfriend."
MK smirked at Ella and said, with glib pride, "We are freaking awesome," and they high-fived each other.
Eventually, they settled in to watch the Broadway version of 'Newsies' on TV and as they all stared at the screen, they girls started asking playful questions. John answered them all, but none of them ever took their eyes from the screen.
"Did you like girls before?"
"I guess."
"Were you ever in love with a girl?"
"I thought I was once, but it was nothing like how I feel about Blaine."
"Did you ever have 'the hots' for either of us?"
"No."
"Can you pee standing up?"
"I can, but I don't."
"Why?"
"I want to be a girl."
"Were you hairy as a boy?"
"Not really."
"Do you think Jeremy Jordan is cute?"
"Yes."
Do you think Kara Lindsay is cute?"
"I think she's adorable, but I'm not attracted to her. I love her costumes, though."
"Will you tell people about your operation!"
"No. Just my friends and family."
"Why not?"
"It's nobody's business."
"You could be a role model."
"I don't want to be. I just want to be me."
"Will you have vagina?"
"Yes."
"Will you have a period?"
"No. I won't have a uterus."
"Unfair. Will you be able to have sex?"
"Yes."
"Will you be able to get pregnant?"
"No. I just told you, I won't have a uterus."
"Unfair, again. Do you want to be a mom?"
Finally, John sighed and looked away from the TV. "More than anything."
MK put her arm around him. "You will be. My mom couldn't get pregnant, either, and she got stuck with me. We yell at each other all the time, just like she gave birth to me. Someday, you'll be looking at your own obnoxious, fifteen year old daughter and, in the midst of a huge, knockdown, drag-out argument over the length of her skirt, you'll suddenly find yourself screaming, 'Oh, my God! You're just like your Auntie MK!'" she pulled his head to her shoulder and Ella leaned into John from the other side.
"You're an awesome girl, Beebs. You're gonna be an amazing woman." Ella whispered.
"Just like us," MK said as she gave him a squeeze.
"Thanks. I love you guys."
Oscar sipped his soda through a straw and nibbled on his In-N-Out Burger meal as he looked at John's worried face across the table from him in front of the fast food restaurant. He'd listened to the child's story without saying a word. Now, as he watched her, she seemed uncharacteristically uncertain of herself. Smaller than usual. More scared. More vulnerable.
"So?" Oscar asked.
The child looked confused. "What do you mean 'so?'"
"Well," Oscar shrugged, "you said you wanted to talk to me about something really important, but all you told me was that your life is complicated. So's mine. See that guy over there in the expensive suit? So's his. See that guy begging for money down the street? So's his."
John nodded. "Ok, but I'm sorry that I lied to you."
"When did you lie to me?"
"Well, every day since I got here."
"No you didn't."
"But I..."
Oscar held up his hand to silence the teenager. "Did I ever ask you if you were ever a boy?"
"Well, no, but..."
"Did I ever ask you if you were genetically a girl?"
"No, but..."
"Did you ever tell me that you had lady-parts down below?"
"No, of course not, but..."
"Listen, Bebe, my best friend is a guy named Rafael. I've known him since we were about twenty years old and we have done some crazy things together, but I have never seen him naked, I never want to see him naked and I have never asked him about his genitalia. It's none of my business. I like the guy. He makes me laugh. End of story."
John nodded. "But my name..."
"Is Bianca Foley. You told me that you had it legally changed. Bebe is your nickname. I could not care less what it was before I met you, I could not care less if you change it later. People change their names all the time, especially out here. Someday, if you get married, you may decide to change it again. Is that any of my business? Nope, and it's nobody else's either, Bebe."
"Now," Oscar continued, "I'm not a fool, Bebe. I know that this is a special time for me. I'm just a schlub who drives a car for important people. Right now, I've been lucky enough to strike up a friendship with a very talented young actress and her family. It may last forever, but in this town, it may only last a little while, but no matter what, you will always be a very special person to me. That nervous little girl from someplace in Massachusetts with a name I can't pronounce who took the whole industry, Hell, the whole country by storm and she still was a sweet, kind girl who is nice to my little girls in real life and makes the whole world take notice on her show. You're one of a kind, Bebe. My little princess. And you always will be. Now, do we understand each other?"
"Not quite," John said, seriously.
"Oh?" Oscar wiped his lips and folded his arms. "Well, then, allow me to clarify any confusion. What do you not understand?"
"Well," John looked down as he thought, "you see, I have this friend - more than a friend, really. Kind of a role model - you might even say he's kind of my hero - and he's a really smart guy, and really nice, too. A great father, excellent at his job, protective of the people he loves and he always knows the right thing to say, but..."
Oscar smiled at Bebe's story. "'But' what?"
"'But' just a few minutes ago, I heard him call himself 'a schlub,' whatever that is, and I can't figure something out."
Oscar's smile was as broad as it could be. "And what is that?"
"Well, you see, this guy keeps telling me that I'm something special. He even calls me 'his little princess.' So, what I can't understand is, if I'm so special, why would my hero be some 'schlub?' I mean, if I'm so special and I think he's wonderful, well, then, doesn't that mean that he is really something, well, extra special?"
Oscar reached across the table and took John's hand in his. "No, Bebe. It just means that your heart is bigger than most. You're right, I love my girls and I take my job seriously, but the only thing special about me is you. I've driven thousands of celebrities, honey, and I have only ever connected with one. You make me special, sweetheart. You make your Uncle Ed and Cousin Rose, special. You make the show special, you make Blaine and Joanne special. You need to face facts, Bebe. You have been blessed, you're something very, very special and we all love you, but the reason that we are all here, together, making each other better, is because of you, Angel."
John shook his head. "No, Oscar. The only reason I've had any success is because of you and Rose and Uncle Ed and Blaine and Joanne and Ella and MK and Kylie and Nancy. I wake up every day, petrified that I'm going to mess up and ruin everything and I've never been more scared of anything than I am of what I'm doing in order to become a woman. I need your support, Oscar. Thank you for giving it to me."
"You never need to ask, princess."
They cleaned up their waste and dropped it into a bin, then Oscar held open the front passenger-side door and let John in before closing it behind him. He ambled to the driver's side and got in. They were listening to some show tunes on the satellite radio when John's phone sounded a chime indicating that he received a text. He dug into his purse and pulled out his phone and said, "Shit."
"Hey," Oscar said, very seriously. "Language. We don't swear in this car."
John didn't answer, though. He stared at his phone and then, quieter this time, he said, "Shit," again.
Realizing that John was very upset, Oscar asked, "What's up, Princess? Is something wrong?"
"Yeah," John said. When he looked at Oscar, John was pale and shaking."I got a text."
"What does it say?"
"It says, 'Call me right away. Very important.'"
"Sounds serious," Oscar was concerned, now, too. "Who's it from?"
"It's from Austin Meadows."
"That guy from TMZ?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, shit," Oscar agreed.
To Be Continued...
Bebe Goes To Hollywood - 3
Author:
Audience Rating:
Publication:
Genre:
Character Age:
TG Themes:
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Permission:
a complete girl forever, but TMZ has evidence of John's true biological sex, obtained from an
unknown source. How can Bebe and friends persuade them not to make that evidence public?
As always, our heroine is in pretty deep and troubled waters.
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has continued to offer critiques of these stories.
Please keep your comments and criticisms coming! It's the only way I'll get better at writing these stories.
Thank you so much! TTFN. ~Clara.
This version of Bebe Goes To Hollywood: 3 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.
Chapter 3
"It's like I'm out in a big boat, and I see one fellow in a rowboat who's tired of rowing and wants a free ride, and another fellow who's drowning. Who would you expect me to rescue? The man who's just tired of rowing and wants a free ride? Or those men out there who are drowning? Any ten year old child will give you the answer to that."
~ Gary Cooper in 'Mr Deeds Goes To Town.'
"So, what did the message say?" Don asked as he handed John and Oscar soft drinks on the porch.
John held up his phone and showed Don the text. 'CALL ME RIGHT AWAY. VERY IMPORTANT.' The name at the top of the screen indicated that the text was from Austin Meadows, the reporter from TMZ who John had been able to keep on a short leash for the last few months.
"Who do you think told him?" Don asked, very concerned.
"I have no idea." John's eyes were heavy with tears, but he hadn't cried, yet.
"Well, I guess the first thing to do is find out what he knows and then, maybe after that, we can find out who told him." Don pulled the cap off of a bottle of micro-brewery beer and sat facing them. "Did anyone get upset about the conversations you had with them? Did anyone suggest going to the press?"
John shook his head. "Blaine was upset at first, but he calmed down and MK suggested that I could be a role model if I spoke out about trans issues, but Blaine would never do something like this and, to be honest, MK's not smart enough to get in touch with Meadows."
"So," Don sipped his beer, "getting away from family and friends, you're sure none of the costumers saw anything."
"I don't think so," John thought carefully. "No. Even if they caught a glance, they couldn't have seen enough to be sure."
Don nodded. "Ok, well, I think it's best to keep the studio's publicity out of this as long as possible, so maybe the best thing to do is start by calling Mr Meadows and see what he thinks he knows."
"I don't know, Don," Oscar said. "Won't the studio publicity department be ticked off if this blows up into something big and they didn't have a chance to handle it from the get-go?"
Don let out a sardonic chuckle. "You have a lot more faith in the Studios than I do, my friend. In my opinion, the only people working in publicity for the studios are the idiot sons and daughters of the idiots who did the same jobs a generation ago. No, I believe, in these cases, it's better to do something and apologize than to turn something this sensitive over to those people."
"Ok," Oscar shrugged. "I'm sure going to miss you guys though."
He smiled at the joke he'd made, but Don took a deep breath and grimaced, "Yeah. Well, here goes nothing." He took John's phone, pushed the correct contact, turned on the 'speaker' function and waited while it rang.
"Bebe." Meadows' voice was excited and overly friendly.
"Hi, Austin," Don said. "This is Don Ferry on Bebe's phone. Bebe's here with me, too."
"Hi, Austin," John said in as friendly a voice as he could.
"Well, well," the reporter said, sure that he was on to something, now. If Don Ferry was involved, then something was definitely up. "The gang's all here, I guess. Are we circling the wagons, or what?"
Don laughed convivially. "What? No, no. Bebe is at my place for a cookout and and she got your message. I'm just acting as her guardian, for the time being. You know, with Ed and Rose back east for the summer, I'm just being a protective dad."
"Yeah, sure," Meadows snickered. "Ok, this is why I contacted her - I got a tip that little Miss Bebe is having a pretty shocking surgery at the end of August. I'm sure my audience would be very interested in this."
Don held up his hand to keep John for responding. He could see his TV daughter' s temper rise. "Shocking!?" Don sounded dismissive. "I don't think there's anything shocking about it, Austin. Just corrective surgery for a congenital condition that she's been dealing with for most of her life. Nothing too interesting, and, of course, she is only fifteen years old, Austin. We'd really rather that her privacy was respected during her surgery and recovery."
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," the reporter laughed through the speaker. "'Congenital condition' my left nut. You and I both know that this is something very different than that and, as for her privacy, DON," he stressed the actor's name to indicate that, despite Don's manner, he and Meadows were not friends, "if she wanted privacy, she got into the wrong business. So, do I get the scoop from her, or do I just move forward with what I have?"
"Mr Meadows," John was feeling panicked and trapped, "I really am..."
Don interrupted. "Look, Austin, you and Bebe have had a great relationship up to this point and we certainly don't want to mess that up, so how about this? I'll arrange for you to meet with me, Bebe and her doctor and you can have all the facts of the case. How does that sound?"
Both John and Oscar were staring at Don in disbelief and tried to wave him off.
"Sounds good," Meadows said, they could almost hear him salivating through the phone. "When and where?"
"Tell you what - I'll call Bebe's doctor and see when he's available. I'll have Bebe send you a text when I know his availability. Is that ok?"
"It's ok as long as we meet tomorrow or the next day. I'm not waiting any longer than that."
"Understood." Don had a casual smile in his voice. "I'll text ASAP. Take it easy, Austin." He disconnected the call.
"Well," Oscar shook his head, "it looks like the world is going to find out about everything in a couple of days."
"Don?" John asked. "How could you have done that?"
Don shrugged. "I just bought us some time. I'll call your doctor and we'll figure all of this out. We'll give him something, but not the truth."
"A congenital health issue?" John slapped his hands into his lap. "What do we tell him, now."
"Well," Don said, "that part's not a lie. Let me talk to Dr. Shapiro and Dr. Martinez, he's your surgeon. Relax, Bebe. We'll work this out."
"Isn't there someway that you could just tell this guy to piss off and mind his own business?" MK asked. They were all sitting in the glassedin enclosure around Blaine's pool eating ice cream and enjoying the breezes coming through the patio doors that lined the bottom of the two story high sunroom.
"I guess not," John shrugged. He was uncharacteristically nervous about this whole situation. "I don't know," he thought out loud, "it probably wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen if I HAD to tell everyone. It's just... personal, you know? I mean, I know that I'm on a popular TV show and all, but I didn't even want to talk about all this stuff with you guys. I certainly don't want to go on to James Corden or Jimmy Fallon and tell the whole world about my messed up genitals. I mean, how much more personal can you get?"
"I say ignore them," Blaine offered. "If you don't reply, then all they have is what someone else is saying and they can't report that without evidence, right?"
"Blaine," Ella stirred her chocolate ice cream into a soup as she worried along with her friends, "TMZ is known for saying whatever they want to say, no matter who it hurts. They don't care if it's true or not or who it hurts. They're scumbags."
"Great, So they get to make all the decisions that will affect Bebe's life?" Blaine put his arm around John's shoulders. "That's ridiculous."
"Not Just Bebe's life," MK corrected, "all of ours. I mean, it's not a big deal for Ella and me, but you'll have to deal with a bunch of testosterone-fueled morons at school who are going to make a big deal out of the fact that you've been dating a girl with a dick for the last ten months."
"MK," Ella shook her head, "could you PLEASE try to have some manners? Call it penis if that's what you're talking about, but don't call it that."
"Oh, Sorry," MK said, surprised that she'd caused any upset.
"Oh, what difference does it make what she calls it?" John was getting frustrated with the whole conversation. "I'll be the punch line on every late night talk show and every comedy special for the rest of my life."
"That's not true..." Ella tried to calm him down.
"Oh, Yeah!?" John was getting heated, now. "What about Caitlyn Jenner, Huh? Have they ever let up on her? No! It's been years since she came out and they still make jokes about her. I'm on the top rated show in the country, right now. They'll tear me and it apart. It's all over, just because I was stupid enough to think I could have this stupid operation!! I just... Oh, damnit, I'm going to put like a hundred and fifty people out of work on the show, they're going to fire me from the movie...it's all over, anyway. I'll have to move back home and focus on something else to study in college. Geez... I'm really going to miss you guys."
Now, John's tears flowed freely.
"You're not going anywhere," Blaine assured him. "You're staying here, with me."
"Yeah," John sobbed. "I doubt you'll want me around when the talk shows all want to talk to you about the little faggot who fooled you into thinking he was girl. You'll be better off without me. You'll all be better off without me. I never should have done this. I should have just stayed at home, been a nobody and I never, EVER should have tried to be happy."
Before they could stop him, John was up and running from the pool enclosure into the house. He grabbed his clothes bag as he passed it and headed towards the door, figuring he could just start for home and have Oscar pick him up. He just needed to leave. He'd messed up everything so badly for everyone. He'd always known that he would do it, too. God, he was such a screw up.
"Bebe!" Joanne wasn't looking for John or anyone else as she was passing from the kitchen into the hallway, but when John ran directly into her, she grabbed a hold of him to keep either of them from falling. "Bebe! Calm down! What's the matter?"
Of course she knew what the matter was, but when she'd left ice cream with the kids by the pool, everything had seemed fine.
"It's all over, mom," John wailed. "The show, my career, the movie, my life, it's all over. I let everyone down and now everyone's going to hate me for it."
"Oh, baby, no," Joanne hugged him tightly, his face buried in her bosom. "Don will figure something out, I'm sure of it. He's been in this business a long time, Angel. He'll know what to do."
Blaine and the girls had arrived while Joanne spoke. "It will be ok, Beebs," Ella patted his shoulder. "You'll see."
"Yeah," MK patted his other arm. "Like they say, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger."
"I don't want to leave, mom," John whispered into Joanne's chest.
"You're not going anywhere, little girl. You're staying right here with Blaine and MK and Ella and me. This is not going to beat you. Do you hear me?"
"I hear you, mom, but I don't know how it can possibly be worked out. If I lose my job then I'll have to move home and no one will ever hire me again after a scandal like this."
"Oh, Bull," Joanne scoffed.
"Bebe," Blaine interrupted. "You left your phone and I grabbed it. It's ringing. It's Don."
He held it out and John took it from him, pushed the answer button and leaned his head to the right so he could fit the phone between his hair and his ear. "Hi, Don."
"Hi, sweetheart. How you holding up?"
"Not very well, to be honest."
"Well, cheer up, my dear, because I think we have this all worked out. Oscar is picking you up at Blaine's house in an hour. Wear a pretty dress, do your makeup, brush your hair and don't look upset. We're going to push Mr Meadows back on his heals, ok?"
"An hour!? Don, I need more time..."
"Can't have it, baby. The longer we procrastinate, the more it seems like we're trying to hide something. We're meeting Meadows and your surgeon at Blacksmith's Restaurant At 7:00. Ready or not, sweetheart, here we go!"
"But... Don... what are we telling him?"
"It's better that you don't know until the surgeon tells Meadows. It's better that way."
"Ok..."
"One hour, baby. Get your butt in gear."
"Ok... oh, Don!"
"Yes, honey?"
"Um... can I bring Joanne with me? I'd feel better if she was there."
"Of course, honey. See you there." He disconnected the call.
"It's this it?" Joanne asked. "The moment of truth?"
John nodded, frightened beyond reason. "Yeah. Will you come with me? We're going to a restaurant called 'Blacksmith's.'"
"Of course, I will. Holy cow, Blacksmith's is very fancy. Blaine, take the girls, my car and my credit card. Run down to the boutique on Canyon. Girls, get Bebe something to wear, but be quick. I want you back here in a half hour with a dress and shoes."
"Ok," Blaine said. "Come on, guys. Let's go."
"Half an hour?" MK grabbed her purse. "Is it even possible to pick out a dress in half an hour?"
"It'll have to be," Ella shrugged, "but it won't be any fun."
"Something that Bebe would wear, girls!" Joanne called after them. "And don't bring her those stilts that you wear for shoes! Something reasonable with a low or medium heal! AND BE QUICK!!"
Then she turned to John. "Ok, you use the shower in the guest room. I'll use mine. Be quick, but wash your hair. I'll help you dry it when you get out. Now, hurry."
She pushed him towards the stairway, but he stopped at the bottom step. "Mom... if things don't go well... I just want to say 'thank you...'"
"Everything's going to go perfectly, Bebe. Now," she slapped his rear end rather hard, "move that pretty little ass of yours. The clock is ticking!"
They pulled up in front of Blacksmith's Restaurant on Winston Street at 6:57. The brick front of the building and the somewhat dilapidated condition of the neighborhood worried John as Don stepped up to open his door and help him out of the town car.
"This is it?" John asked as he looked around.
Don laughed. "Just wait till you get inside. I was afraid that you wouldn't have time to get dressed up, but, wow, sweetheart, you look amazing!"
He really did, too. The girls had gotten John a pale blue dress, well, gown was more like it. It was in the fit-and-flare style that he enjoyed, but the top was a halter top that left his back and arms fully exposed and the plummeting neckline would have been embarrassing to wear had his feminine assets been more developed than they were. The skirt of the dress did flare out, but in diaphanous layers of chiffon that came to his ankles and barely exposed the silver, two inch heeled sandals that he wore beneath.
As always, the small silver ball that Blaine had given him hung from his neck and two, round, matching silver studs adorned his ears. He truly did look like a movie star, as did Don in his five thousand dollar suit, but the neighborhood did not seem to warrant this kind of clothing.
When Oscar helped Joanne from the other side of the car, she was dressed beautifully in a simple little-black-dress with gold jewelry. "I've never been here before," she said as she surveyed the very unassuming face of the restaurant. "Have you, Oscar?"
"Many times, ma'am, but I've only ever seen it from the outside. I understand it's quite beautiful inside.
"Joanne!" Don took her hand as she came around the car. "You look lovely, as always."
He thanked Oscar and was about to lead them into the restaurant when he spotted a car pulling up and he recognized the face of Dr Jorge Martinez in the passenger seat. "Hang on," he told John and Joanne. They waited for the car to stop and the very distinguished, forty-something year old man to exit the vehicle carrying a leather bound portfolio style briefcase. They exchanged a few words before he looked past Don to see Joanne and John.
"Jorge, this is Joanne and Bebe. Bebe, this is Doctor Jorge Martinez, a leader in sex reassignment surgery as well as a noted gynecological surgeon. He will be performing your surgery. You have an appointment with him next Thursday, by the way."
The doctor shook both their hands, kissed each of their cheeks and gave them both a very reassuring smile. His mocha colored skin, chiseled face and salt and pepper hair gave him the appearance of a movie star, himself. "So nice to meet you, Bebe. I am sorry that it has to be under these circumstances, though."
He looked to Don. "Has the reporter arrived? I only have about an hour and a half. My husband is not thrilled that I made him take me here before we fly to Vegas for the weekend for his class reunion."
"I am sorry, Jorge." Don looked to where the doctor's husband had pulled into a parking lot. "Would he like to join us?"
"Oh, no, thank you. He's aware of the reason for the detour, and I already invited him to sit with us, but he says that he'd rather have a drink at the bar and watch from a distance. He's finding the whole thing rather fascinating and amusing."
"Amusing?" John thought that was an odd choice of words.
"Just the stupidity of it, Bebe, I assure you. We understand how important this is to you and, I promise you, everything will be fine."
Joanne rubbed John's back.
Don checked his phone, "Well, to answer your question, Meadows is inside and waiting impatiently. He says that he can see us through the windows. Let's go in."
When they entered, the amazing opulence of the restaurant shocked John. From the humble neighborhood outside, they entered into a room fit for a Czar. High ceilings and crystal chandeliers with men and women dressed in expensive, elegant clothing. It was breathtaking.
Don spoke to the maitre'd who guided them to a table to the side of the main room. There were restaurant patrons sitting nearby, causing John to wonder why they'd chosen this location for a meeting, but Don seemed to know what he was doing.
Both Don and John were stopped several times on the way to the table. Happy and gracious fans asked for autographs or selfies and they happily obliged, while Austin Meadows fumed at being kept waiting.
When they finally arrived at the table, Don made the introductions and they all sat and waited until their drinks order was taken. Finally, Don broke the ice. "Well, Austin, we understand that you've heard about Bebe's upcoming surgery and we're here to be completely honest with you in the hopes that you will understand how personal and frightening something like this can be to a child of fifteen. I mean, it'll change her whole life, her future - everything - and we hope that, in consideration of how much access Bebe has offered you to 'Civil Disobedience' and her own life, that you'll show some respect, some restraint and some decorum for our little girl's situation."
"Yeah," Meadows shook his head. "Look, Ferry, if you're making Mooney in the public eye, then your life is public domain. Now, I appreciate all the access that I've been given to your show, but this is too big to not talk about. I'm sorry, Bebe, but this is huge. This is how I make my living - reporting on the challenges that celebrities face, and, let's face it, Bebe had everyone fooled."
"Well, that is true, Mr Meadows." Dr Martinez crossed his legs and took on a very professional demeanor. "Over the last few months, as Bianca's condition developed and worsened, she found herself in nearly constant pain and when she was menstruating, that pain was amplified to the point that, when she was not on set, she was spending most of her time in bed with a heating pad on her lower abdominal region. This procedure, although extreme, will provide her the relief she deserves."
Confused, John glanced to Joanne who, like him, was pretending that this was all old news. She surreptitiously winked at him and they both continued to listen and wait.
"After the tests that we've run so far, we are fairly confident that this procedure can be done laparoscopically without leaving any scars and keeping Bianca's recovery time to a minimum..."
"Wait, Wait, Wait, Wait," Meadows held up his hand and gave a dismissive chuckle. "I don't know what you're getting at, doc, but I know what's really going on. Little Bianca here is getting sex reassignment surgery and I want to have the whole story, including pictures from the hospital room - the operating room, if possible."
Don and Dr Martinez exchanged well practiced, confused looks. Don glanced at John, then back at Meadows. "Austin," he spoke quietly, but he seemed extremely sincere, "did someone tell you that Bebe would be transitioning to being a boy?"
Meadows made an incredulous face and shook his head. "No. Obviously, she, well - he, is getting surgery to transition to become a woman, well, a girl. So stop the bullshit and let's get down to the truth, ok?"
Don pointed to John in his gorgeous, pale blue evening dress, makeup perfectly applied, small, but developing breasts presented in a lovely manner beneath the flowing material and smirked as his gaze returned to Meadows. "You think that's a boy?" He asked it flatly and with disbelief evident in his tone.
"Yeah, I do," Meadows replied, a little less confident, now.
"Mr Meadows," the doctor opened the portfolio case and presented a very well documented case study of, apparently, Bebe Foley's illness. "I don't know where you heard that story, but the truth is much more shocking. This seemingly healthy, fifteen year old girl is about to undergo a radical hysterectomy due to an abundance of uterine fibroids, benign tumors, that have devastated her internal, female organs. It's not an uncommon condition in women in their thirties or older, but nearly unheard of in a child of this age. This procedure will remove her uterus and ovaries. Do you understand what that means, Mr Meadows? Just as she is about to enter womanhood, Bebe will lose the ability to procreate. She will never mother a child, Mr Meadows. This is a devastating situation for any woman, but imagine how difficult it is for a teenager. That is why we are hoping for your discretion when dealing with this matter."
John realized that Joanne had taken his hand and that both of them had watery eyes. Neither was acting. Neither was pretending. They were both just caught up in the situation being presented.
When Meadows glanced in their direction and saw the older woman clutching Bebe's hand and the look of concern on her face, his confidence in his story faded even more. Had he been given a bad lead?
"You probably aren't aware of this, Mr Meadows," Don spoke now, "but Bebe was hospitalized several months ago due to massive bleeding. She nearly died."
"Yeah," Meadows checked his notes. "Yeah, I have that. It says that was caused by ulcers, though."
Both Don and Jorge nodded at that. "That's what the official report stated, yes," the Doctor agreed, "but that was really just for the production company's insurance binder. A health issue of this magnitude would have shut down production and cost a fortune. Here is my actual report of the event."
He shuffled some papers and showed Meadows a medical record that indicated John's previous hospital was due, according to the records, to gynecological issues. Everything was dated and stamped and official.
"This is a very serious matter, Austin," Don said, his voice awash with friendship and paternal concern. "I mean, if I have a problem with my plumbing at my age, it's kind of a normal thing and if it gets on TMZ I'll just be the butt of a few jokes, but Bebe's still young, a child really, Austin. Please, be as discrete as possible. This is a frustrating, embarrassing and, ultimately, tragic issue for a child who has shown incredible bravery since she arrived."
Meadows was examining all of the medical records. Each was stamped and dated. It seemed as if he'd paid five hundred dollars for a bad lead. Goddamnit! Regardless, he looked at Don with disdain. "Courage? Seriously, courage? She isn't a political refugee, Ferry, she moved out here to be very well paid on a TV series. 'Courage' doesn't really come into it."
"Of course, Austin, you're correct. I mean, what were you doing at fourteen years old? Playing baseball? Basketball? Soccer? Riding a bike?"
"Your point?"
"My point is that while most kids, like you and me, were just being kids at fourteen, Bebe was in a Shakespearean production directed by a world renown director and she did so well in that play that she got onto a TV show. That meant leaving her home, her mother, her friends - everything she knew - and moving to a strange city, a new school and she took on the pressures of a job that most adults find grueling."
Meadows glanced at John and considered what had been said.
"And you know what, Meadows?" Don reached across the table and took John's free hand in his. "If 'Civil Disobedience' was just my show, it probably would still be a minor hit, but because of the power of Bebe's talent and her determination on the set, it's the number one show in the world right now. If that could be done by anyone, then you and your slimy company wouldn't give a crap about her, but it's her hard work and, yes, COURAGE, that makes that show brilliant. Now that fate has thrown her a bad pitch, try to go easy on her and remember that Bebe is the only person in this city who has ever been nice to you."
Meadows put down the file and chuckled at Don Ferry's 'slimy company' jibe, but even he would have to admit, there was some truth to it. And Bebe had been more friendly to him than most other celebrities. Still... he needed to prod. That was his nature.
He looked at Bebe and Joanne for a moment, then to Don. "And who's this holding her hand? It's not her mother, I know what she looks like. Is this some actress you hired to play the concerned mommy?"
Joanne let go of John's hand and leaned across the table offering her hand to Meadows. "My name is Joanne Larkin, Mr Meadows. My son and Bebe have been dating. I believe you've met him when you interrupted a few of their dates."
Meadows looked at the proffered hand, but did not shake it. "And you're here... why? As a prop?"
"No. I'm here because a child I care a great deal for is being harassed by a piece of shit and she was afraid to come without me."
John was shocked at Joanne's language. She was always so prim and proper. Well, that is until the incident with the costumers.
"Alright. Alright," Don held up his hands to calm things down, but even he was amused by Joanne's ferocity. "We're all friends here, right?"
"If I may return to the matter at hand, Mr Meadows," the doctor interrupted. "Here are the facts:
Bianca is a very sick young woman and I am her surgeon.
Her illness does not invoke sex reassignment surgery.
Her privacy and dignity are important to us.
What else needs to be discussed?"
"This," Meadows held up his phone on which there was a photo of a piece of paper with lots of scattered notes written on it including the words 'Bianca Foley - SRS. August 24.' "Care to explain, Doctor?"
Jorge smiled. "That's a piece of paper from my notebook, Mr Meadows. Not a hospital record." Dr Martinez looked at the paper on the screen, then pointed to some of his notes in the paperwork he'd handed Meadows. "What does that say, right there, Mr Meadows?"
Meadows looked at the page and muttered as he read, "'Severe Reaction to Sedatives.' Are you saying that's what 'SRS' means in your notes? You're kidding, right? I mean, 'SRS' means 'Sex Reassignment Surgery.' Everyone knows that."
"No, Mr Meadows. In medical terms, it can mean 'Sex Reassignment Surgery,' it can also be a procedure called 'Static Radiosurgery,' or 'Silver-Roberts Syndrome,' which is a growth disorder, or even 'Slow Reacting Substance,' however, when I take notes on a new patient, you will frequently find the notations 'NRS' or 'SRS' next to the patient's name. It is important that my team knows how a patient will respond to sedatives, Mr Meadows. 'NRS' means 'No Reaction to Sedatives,' and 'SRS' means 'Severe Reaction to Sedatives.' Nothing more and nothing less."
"This is all bull shit," Meadows mumbled as he stood, but then he thought better of storming out of the restaurant and ruining his relationship with the young star at the table.
Instead, he extended his hand to her and said, "Bebe, I'm sorry that I wasted your time. I won't report anything more than a hospital stay unless you want to come forward with more information."
John shook his hand and said the first words he'd said since they entered the posh restaurant. "Thank you, Mr Meadows. I really appreciate it."
He nodded to Joanne. "Nice to meet you, Mrs Larkin." Then he turned and nodded to Jorge and Don. "Ferry. Doctor Martinez. Thanks for the meeting." He turned and left without making a scene.
"So," Don said when he was sure that Meadows wasn't returning, "the tip came from the clinic."
"That is concerning," Jorge said. "We treat a lot of celebrities for things that they'd like to keep private. We're going to need to fine our informant."
Don gave Joanne a concerned look, which John saw.
"It wasn't Nancy," John muttered, his head bowed a bit, his eyes fixed on the flowing material of the skirt of his dress.
"Bebe," Joanne touched his arm, "we never suggested..."
"But you thought it," John was fighting back tears, but he lost the battle and one flowed down his cheek. "You all did. And I did, too and I hate that I did. It wasn't her."
"Beebs," Don started to say, but John shook his head and looked away.
"It wasn't her, Don. End of story. I love her and she loves me and it didn't happen that way. Please... don't ever even ask her if she did it."
Don and Joanne looked at each other wondering how to proceed.
"Bebe," Joanne tried, "we won't just go up and ask her anything, but we need to rule her out..."
"Why? Because she's a recovering addict? I know what your thinking. I'm not stupid. But she did not do this, mom. I don't need to ask her because I already know the answer. She didn't do it. Ok?"
"Ok," Don shrugged.
"Who is Nancy, besides being Bebe's sister?" Dr Martinez asked.
"She's doing her residency at your clinic," Don explained. "She had a drug issue back in Massachusetts, but Bebe used her newfound money to get her into rehab and her newfound influence to get her a job at your clinic."
"Wow!" Jorge was truly impressed. "You're a one in a million, Bianca. I'm looking forward to getting to know you."
John didn't respond. He just kept looking at the skirt of his dress and he watched the fine material move in the breeze created by the air conditioner.
"Do you mind if my husband joins us?" Dr Martinez asked, looking at his phone.
"No, no," Don said. "Can I buy you dinner, or at least a drink?"
Before he could answer a tall, slender, handsome man with striking red hair and beard appeared at the table. He too, wore an expensive suit and looked like he belonged in Blacksmith's palatial environment.
Jorge stood and said, "Everyone, this is my husband, Ben. Ben this is Joanne, Don and, of course, Bebe."
"Hi, everyone," the man said, as he leaned to shake hands with Joanne and Don. John was obviously distraught, so the man just said, "Bebe - I'm a big fan." Then, a bit self-consciously, he said, "Oh, and Don, too. I mean, I'm a big fan of yours, too, but... never mind - I have something to tell you."
Ben took the chair that Meadows had been sitting in and leaned in so he could lower his voice. "Listen. I stepped out as I saw that reporter headed for the door and I was waiting near the valet station while they got his car. I pretended to be on hold on my phone and listened while he was on his. And he was mad as a hornet."
"What did he say?" Jorge asked.
"Well, first he was yelling about the person on the other end of the call being an asshole and giving him bad information. That continued for a while and he told the person that he owed him, big time. That this was an embarrassing mess, etc, but then there was an issue with his credit card at the valet station, so he told the person on the phone to hold on while he talked to the valet. He put his phone down so he could pull out his wallet and, I got a look at the contact name."
Both Don and Jorge looked up in shocked surprise. "You're kidding?" Jorge asked.
"Hey, I wouldn't kid about this."
"What's the name?" Don couldn't believe they could be this lucky.
Joanne looked at John, though and she could see fear written all over his face. He knew that it wasn't Nancy. It couldn't be Nancy. It absolutely wasn't Nancy and he knew that, but a small part of him was still petrified that it was.
"It'll be ok, Bebe," Joanne whispered as she put her arm around him.
"The name was 'Crawford.' 'James Crawford,'" Ben said.
"Does that ring a bell with you, Don?" Jorge asked.
"Not with me," he answered. "Bebe?"
He looked to John and was surprised to see he was crying. "Bebe?"
"She'll be fine," Joanne explained, quietly. "She's just relieved."
When Don looked back to Jorge, he had out his phone and was holding up a finger. "Hi, Jan," he said into the phone. "This is Dr Martinez. You know Jimmy, the new maintenance guy? Yeah. What's his full name?" He waited. "Great. Thanks, Jan."
"Well," he said to everyone at table, "it came from our new maintenance guy. What a creep. I'll see that he's fired immediately."
"So, it was just for money, then," Don said. "At least we know it wasn't a vendetta against Bebe. You don't know that name do you, Joanne?"
"No," Joanne confirmed. "Bebe, you never heard of him did you?"
John wiped the mascara from his cheek. "I'm sorry. I just..." he sniffles and got control of himself. "I only heard that it wasn't Nancy. What was the name?"
"James Crawford," Don repeated the name and John went white.
"I do know him. He used to be a coach at my school. Uncle Ed was arrested for defending both me and himself when Mr Crawford attacked us dressed as a policeman. He worked with Ms Stephanie to try to blackmail us."
Don sat back in his chair, shook his head and said, "Great. Here we go again. Jorge, don't have him fired, just yet. I'll call Hank Miller and have him look into this creep, again, and find out what's going on before we do anything else. Why isn't that son of a bitch in jail?"
The flight hadn't been bad, the traffic hadn't been bad and the house on the beach in Falmouth was everything they'd hoped it would be. The private road and private drive lead to the huge, grey and white, gambrel roofed house with six gables and a wrap-around farmer's porch, an exterior kitchen, a hot tub and several reclining deck chairs and in two of those chairs is where Ed and Rose found themselves at the end of their first day as home owners on Cape Cod.
"I could get used to this." Rose sipped her glass of celebratory champagne. "What a view." She held up her glass towards the beach front of their property and said, "Here's to you, Old Cape Cod! It's good to be back!" Then she sipped from her champagne-flute and looked to her right where Ed was smiling at her. "I love you, Mr McNeal."
Ed smiled and clinked his glass against Rose's. "I love you, too, Rosie. Congratulations on your first day as a home owner."
They looked around in disbelief that they'd actually bought this piece of heaven. Then, as the quiet set in, Rose said, "You know what's really funny?"
Ed smiled. "Yeah. You miss her."
"I do. I mean I thought that it would be great to not have to be a 'mom' for the summer, but I gotta tell you, I'm really having some separation anxiety right now. She'll be ok, right?"
Ed squeezed her hand. "She'll be great and if she has any problem at all, she knows to call us."
To Be Continued...
Bebe Goes to Hollywood - 4
Author:
Audience Rating:
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Filming begins and John has more and more anxiety. Working with famous composers,
famous costars and a famous director adds new pressures and concerns. Meanwhile,
Ed and Rose are back in Massachusetts, blissfully ignorant of what has been going
on in LA - but even they have a few surprises.
Author's Note:I hope you enjoy this installment. Please, please, please feel free to comment.
I love reading your thoughts and critiques! ~Clara.
This version of Bebe Goes To Hollywood: 4 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.
Chapter 4
"It's like I'm out in a big boat, and I see one fellow in a rowboat who's tired of rowing and wants a free ride, and another fellow who's drowning. Who would you expect me to rescue? The man who's just tired of rowing and wants a free ride? Or those men out there who are drowning? Any ten year old child will give you the answer to that."
~ Gary Cooper in 'Mr Deeds Goes To Town.'
"Relax, don't do it, When you want to go to it
Relax, don't do it, When you want to come" ~ Frankie Goes To Hollywood
"He's not a good guy, Don," Hank Miller sipped his single malt scotch and let out a grateful sigh as it burned his throat and warmed him to his core. "His father is State Representative Richard Crawford from up in Fresno. After young James was arrested for the ninth time - drugs, theft, extortion, you name it - State Representative Crawford washed his hands of his youngest. After all, with four other sons, all of whom were successful and making him look good, Jim-bo was just an embarrassment. His arrest for 'extortion,' 'Impersonating a Police Officer' and 'Assault and Battery Upon Mr Edward McNeal' was his tenth arrest. Unfortunately, daddy didn't know about this one, so Jim-bo went to prison this time."
"Ok," Don nodded, "but why is he out? I mean, he should have been in for at least a few years, right?"
"Right, but dad was out doing a political event when a reporter asked him about his youngest son being in prison. So, daddy made some calls and made a deal with the parole board and got his baby boy a job to help him straighten himself out."
"Well that didn't work out very well, did it?" Don sipped his beer.
"It never does." Hank took another sip of his scotch. "The more daddy helps a messed up kid, the more messed up the kid becomes. It's like a scientific rule, but the Representative hasn't heard about it, I guess. So, how do you want to handle this, Don. I can call a friend at LAPD and they can pay him a visit and threaten to revoke his parole. That might scare him into leaving the clinic on his own."
"No," Don said. "Let's leave him alone for now - give him enough rope and see if he hangs himself. Just keep an eye on him for me, ok, Hank?"
"Will do. What about the woman?"
"What woman?"
"His girlfriend. The one who used to teach at Bianca's school."
Don rubbed his stressed forehead. "He got her out, too?"
"Apparently."
Don thought for a few minutes. "I just don't know right now, Hank. Let's give this some thought before we do anything."
The early summer water of the North Atlantic was still very cool. Falmouth, nestled into the north east corner of Narragansett Bay, was at least a bit warmer than it would be in the waters on the beaches further east on the flexed-arm of land that made up Cape Cod.
"Just jump in," Ed said, chilled, but happy on this early summer day. What could be better than owning this beautiful house, enjoying this beautiful day and sharing it all with the beautiful woman he was falling deeper and deeper in love with everyday.
"Do you want me to go into shock!?" Rose laughed and splashed water towards Ed. "It's cold, for crying out loud."
"Yeah, but you're torturing yourself by going so slow. You're already up to your hips. Just jump in, or just sit down. It's great, once you get into it."
"See these, Ed?" She held her hands beneath her shapely breasts. "These are sensitive. I can't just throw them into cold water. Be patient."
"Oh, Geez," Ed said, as, in one quick motion, he stood, grabbed Rose into his strong arms and fell backwards back into the chilly water, with Rose screaming all the way.
When they resurfaced, Rose was bouncing in playful rage. "You're a jerk, McNeal! You know that? A jerk!" She couldn't maintain her anger though and broke into laughter. "I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack."
Ed just laughed, then hugged her tightly. "Better?"
"No," Rose teased. "I'm cold, I'm salty, I'm shivering and I'm in love with a jerk! I am not 'better!' You big goofball!" She punched him, playfully, in the chest, causing Ed to let out a deep groan of pretend pain and he fell backwards, back into the cool water, once again pulling Rose with him.
This time, when they surfaced, she just laughed and enjoyed the feel of the cool, salt water on her skin and the warmth of Ed's body heat against her back. The two of them floated in their own private world, looking at the beautiful home, perched just off the sandy beach, that they'd been able to buy. It was truly unbelievable, barely into their twenties and they already owned something like... this. It was theirs and it was beautiful.
"We're really lucky, Ed," Rose said with a satisfied sigh.
"I'm lucky, Rosie," Ed laughed. "You're talented. If it hadn't been for 'Civil Disobedience,' you would have found another show sooner or later. I just lucked into all of this because of Bebe."
Rose chuckled. "I don't know about that, Ed. I'm at this point in my life because of Bebe, too. Maybe I would have made it big without her... maybe not... but all of this is because Bebe stood up for me - and for you." She turned and kissed him. The kiss was long, soft and warm. "Even being with you... I'd never have known you if it weren't for Bebe."
They floated a little longer.
"Maybe we could call her tonight," Rose said. "I miss her. I'm a little worried about her being out there without us."
"Sure," Ed said, "but we'll have to go into town to get some reception. The cable company is coming tomorrow afternoon to install our modem and our cell phone reception extender. After that, we'll be in good shape here. I'm really enjoying our alone-time. Can we wait to call her tomorrow?"
"Sure. I'm sure she is fine." Rose kissed him, again. "I love you, you know."
"Yeah," Ed smiled. "You mentioned that."
John wiped the condensation from the mirror in his bathroom. The hot shower felt good, but didn't eliminate the anxiety he was feeling about today - the first day of shooting for a movie he knew nothing about. He hadn't seen a script, hadn't gotten a synopsis and didn't even know his character's name. His schedule had been changed yesterday. Instead of starting in the recording studio, he was starting with filming. Don said it was not unusual for changes like this to occur, but it was definitely scary.
He looked at himself in the mirror. His face, smooth, plump and feminine. His hair reached to his shoulder blades and then some. His shoulders, narrow and rounded. His arms, small and smooth, no sign of muscle. His breasts becoming quite respectable, pert and girlish. His hips round and wider than before.
But then...
There it was. Small and limp and useless and ugly. Why was this a part of his life? Why couldn't he be either one thing or the other? Why was he stuck, like this, in between? It wasn't fair. When he was a boy, he knew he wasn't really adequate. He was small and weak and unable to compete with the other boys. Now, as a girl, he was happy, and pretty and in love. Maybe God, if there was a God, enjoyed playing games like this - like in Greek mythology. It just wasn't fair, though, that he had to be a pawn in this stupid game. He hated his situation and that little piece of skin so, so much. It just wasn't fair.
Why couldn't it just fall off? Lately, he'd been reading stories, fantasies, in which a man would lose his penis and somehow, magically, he'd be a woman. Fully functioning and beautiful. Why couldn't something like that happen to him?
"Johnny?" Nancy knocked on the door. "Are you all set? I'm sorry, but I have to run to get to work on time."
"I'm fine, Nan. Thanks," John said without enthusiasm. "Have a good day."
"You, too... umm..., could you open the door for a minute?"
"I'm naked, Nancy."
"Johnny, I used to change your diapers and I'm a Doctor. Please, can I just talk to you face to face for a minute."
John opened the door and reached for a towel, but Nancy stopped him. "You're fine, honey. Just... give me a hug."
He let his sister pull him in tightly to her chest. He listened to her heart thump as she spoke. "You're not scared, are you?"
"Not scared," John said, quietly, "petrified."
"I'm sorry I can't be there for you, honey. I'm still being watched pretty closely at work and I'm afraid that any thing could draw attention to me. It's like I'm on probation or something. I wish I could go with you."
"I know. I'll be fine. Joanne will be there."
She kissed his cheek. "Be good, be careful and be wonderful."
"Ok." John smiled as she released him.
"Call if you need me. Love you."
"Love you, too."
She left.
Dressed and waiting for Joanne and Oscar to arrive, he sent yet another text to Ed and Rose. 'MISS YOU GUYS. HOPE THE HOUSE IS GREAT. PLEASE CALL WHEN YOU CAN. I COULD USE SOME ADVICE. DON'T GET SUNBURNED. LOVE YOU BOTH.'
He pushed send and watched as the message turned blue. It was the fifth text he'd sent in three days. He missed them more than he expected and he wanted Uncle Ed to be here to make everything all right.
How did this happen?
He'd always been timid unless he was acting, but Ed used to hang around with him, not the other way around. Now, he needed Ed's approval of everything he did and he didn't know why.
He looked at his phone and snickered.
Exactly one year ago today, he was standing in the kitchen of his mother's cottage on Cape Cod when his phone rang.
Ed was there, and his mom.
That was the day that changed his life.
Maureen Weldon offered him an opportunity he'd never expected, to play a secondary lead in a play he loved.
To play Bianca.
It was just a play.
A stupid, local production.
Then Ed kissed him and everything has been messed up ever since.
And now...
Were things better or worse?
Better, of course.
He was rich.
He was working.
He was famous, although that wasn't always 'better' than being anonymous.
Mom was happy with Mr McManus.
Nancy was sober and working.
He had friends, real friends. He loved Ella and MK like sisters - Cassie and Annie like cousins. Kylie was great, too. Her career as a spokesperson was taking off, so he didn't see her as much, but he felt very close to her, too.
And then there was Blaine.
How could a boy make him feel so... complete. Without him, he felt small and alone. With him... he felt beautiful and loved and happy. He didn't just date Blaine, he craved Blaine. He needed to be near Blaine like an addict needed a fix.
That was what was wrong, right now. He needed Blaine.
The entry panel rang. He pushed the video feed and saw Joanne waiting. "Good morning, Bebe. I'm a little early, sorry."
"No problem, mom. Come on up," his voice sounded sad. He pushed the button, opened the door and waited for the elevator. When it opened, Joanne stepped out, but so did the answer to his prayers.
"Blaine!" He ran to him and clung to him tightly.
"Well..." Joanne stepped aside. "Good morning, Mom. How are you? Oh, I'm fine, Bebe, thank you for asking?" She smiled at the young lovers. "Come on, you two," she took her son by the arm and guided them towards the apartment. "Let's go inside until Oscar gets here."
For now, at least, John felt less scared.
"Alright, So," Robert Lopez, one of the composers for the film was on the set, along with his wife and co-writer, Kristen as well as Rob Marshall, the director, "we're trying to get all the kitchen-interior scenes done before moving on to the next set."
John had just met Colin Mulbry, the young man who'd be playing his character's friend in the film. He seemed like a nice kid, but his Scottish accent made him difficult to understand. Luckily, when acting, he had a huge assortment of accents from which to choose.
Rob Marshall came over to where John and Colin were seated and motioned for a PA to bring their 'sides,' the scripts for just the scene they were filming. "I'm sorry for all the secrecy, but Disney is very concerned about this project, so it's very hush-hush at the moment. Has anyone told you anything about your characters?"
Colin said, yes, but John shook his head. "I have no idea what's happening, other than this is the most uncomfortable dress I have ever worn in my life."
The dress was truly a work of art - various shade of feminine blue, a modest, scooped neck that revealed some shoulder, large, puffed sleeves with ruffles all about them, a tight bodice that displayed his narrow, corseted upper body, then a vast, white skirt that dropped with layer after layer of beautiful lace and ribbons. Beneath that, layer after layer of petticoats made the whole ensemble weigh a ton and it had a bustle that made his rear-end stick out lick a side-table. The bustle made sitting with his back against a chair-back impossible.
The director smiled and nodded. "Well, we all have to suffer for our art."
John glanced at the actor next to him in a well fitting suit of the 1890s and wondered how much he was suffering.
"So," Rob Marshall continued, "we're looking at a very short scene, here. You're both supposed to be at a party up stairs, but you've snuck down here to take a peak into the Cook's office and see if she is hiding stolen money in there. You only have fifteen lines or so. Take a look at your sides and we'll block the scene, then get a shot. Ok?"
John looked at his lines. Nothing very exciting, just basic stuff. These lines certainly didn't give him any insight into his character.
"Ready?" Mr Marshall asked.
"Umm." John was uncertain as to whether he should ask a question or not. Finally, he decided to give it a shot. "Can I ask a question?"
"Sure." The director smiled, a bit too condescendingly.
"I don't know anything about the story or the character... I haven't even heard the music. I don't know the tone of the film or anything else. To be honest, I don't know how to play the scene. I don't want to be difficult, but could I please either see a full script or at least get a summary so I know what to do?"
The actor beside John crossed his legs and leaned away, separating himself from the young actress.
"I see." The director smiled, but, again, there was some condescension in that smile. "And how many movies have you made, Ms Foley?"
"None," John said, "but I'd like to do a good job for you, Mr Marshall, and I can't do that if I'm meant to act blindly." As timid and quiet as John had become off set, acting was still his home turf and he knew what he needed to do a good job.
"Ok, look," Robert Lopez interrupted. "We made a decision to only release plot information on a need-to-know basis. I know that's inconvenient, Bebe, but it's how things are for this movie."
"Well, I'd say that she needs to know," came a British-accented voice from behind John. He turned and saw Lily James standing behind him, her arms folded. "I saw the whole script, Rob. Why can't she?"
Both men looked at each other with uncomfortable expressions.
"To be honest, Lily," Robert Lopez said, "Bebe is a bit of an unknown commodity. She is very young, we can't really hold her to a nondisclosure deal and we really want this all kept under wraps. So, Lily..."
"It's our decision, Lily," The director snapped his words. "End of story. So, Bebe, let's go walk through the blocking."
Lily was a bit put out. "Look, Rob..."
"End of story." He looked away from Lily and back to the younger actors. "Let's go."
Bebe took the pages of her side and she and Colin walked onto the kitchen set and Rob Marshall walked them through the scene, explaining their positions and what his expectations were. "It's meant to be a bit comic, a bit serious, but, mostly, it just moves the story along. Ok? Let's try it."
Colin and John moved to what looked like a doorway to a staircase and waited instructions.
"Ok," the director called. "Aaaand, let's see what it looks like. Go."
John and Colin came out of the 'stairwell' looking around and moving stealthily. "Good," the director said. "Now, find your way into the kitchen, and..."
As the young actors did as they were told, John saw a pot on the counter and acted as if he was pulling himself up to explore that area, but, instead, he grabbed the handle on the pot and intentionally pulled it down, sending it crashing to the floor. The crash was very noisy and scared Colin, but John was trying to make the scene funnier, so he made a big deal of hushing his costar.
Rob Marshall yelled, "Stop, Stop, Stop! Bebe... what are you doing? It's a simple scene! Don't make more of it than what I am asking!"
"I don't KNOW what I am doing or what you're asking!" John stood firmly by the counter and folded his arms. "You said it was supposed to be a little funny, so I tried to be funny. You don't want that?"
"No!" The director stood, frustrated that his first day with this young actress had gotten off on the wrong foot.
"Actually, Rob," Robert Lopez said, "I kinda liked it."
"Bob," The director stood and headed to where the songwriter was standing, "not now. This is my set, remember."
By now, Joanne had come closer, standing by Lily James. Lily put her hand on Joanne's arm, though and said, "Give her a minute. She's doing fine. Let her set her own rules. Rob's a good director, but he's a bit of a know-it-all and he likes to talk down to women on set. Let her take charge."
Reluctantly, Joanne waited and watched.
Rob got closer to the younger actors and Colin moved aside. "I'm sorry, Mr Marshall. I had nothing to do with this." The director ignored him.
"Alright, young lady, lets get something straight. This is my set and you will do as I say or we will be saying goodbye very quickly."
"All I'm asking for is to see a script so I know what the heck I'm doing..."
"Give her a script, Rob," a new voice joined the fray, it was Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the other half of the song writing team. She'd been working on some lyrics to the side of the studio, but came over to try to calm things down. "She knows not to share anything with anyone, right Bebe?"
John nodded, but he didn't get a word out before Rob Marshall said, "No. She has the smallest part of the three sisters and I'll provide all the information she needs."
"I need to see a script..." John started saying, but was again interrupted.
"No. Now, I know that you're doing well on that TV show, but that's mostly due to Don Ferry's star power. Now, I have a wall full of awards in my office that indicate that I know what the hell I am doing, so suppose you start listening to what I'm saying and we get this small, little, insignificant scene filmed and we move on!?"
John wanted to back down. He wanted to just be a good girl and do what the director wanted, but he couldn't. Acting meant too much to him and he didn't want to do a mediocre job - or worse. This was a big opportunity, but he needed to do things his way. Not only that, he knew that Rob Marshall was behaving this way because he saw Bebe as a helpless little piece of set-dressing and he was not going to be treated that way by Rob Marshall or anyone else.
He folded his arms and stared down the director. "I need a script or every single scene is going to be this difficult. I'm sorry, Mr Marshall, but I need to know what I'm doing or I can't do what you want me to do."
Now, Rob Marshall leaned back and folded his arms. "No." He stared at the young actress who showed no sign of backing down. "This is not my first rodeo, Bebe..."
"I know, Mr Marshall." John had hardly blinked. "I have watched all of your movies a dozen times. I know what you can do and I wish you knew what I can do."
"Well, if you know what I do, then you know that I know what I'm doing..."
"I know that you knew what you were doing on 'Chicago' and 'Mary Poppins Returns.'"
Now, the whole studio grew quiet as everyone listened to see how far this child would push the well established, but bossy director.
"Meaning?" he asked.
"Mr Marshall, I respect you and I admire much of your work, but as much as I like 'Chicago' and 'Mary Poppins Returns,' I don't think 'Nine' works very well at all and I think you made a big mistake by reducing the role of The Mysterious Man/Narrator in 'Into The Woods.'"
The silence was palpable as the two stared at each other. Everyone expected the little girl in the elaborate costume to back down, but she didn't budge an inch. As the tension grew, they expected that the director would just fire the girl and move on, but nothing happened.
Finally, Rob Marshal spoke first. His eyes remained locked on Bebe's and spoke loudly. "Bob?" he said to Robert Lopez.
"Yeah, Rob?"
"Can we get this kid a script?"
The entire room breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
"Sure," Robert Lopez called the script girl over and took a copy from her. As he handed it to John, he whispered, "you better live up to the challenge you just set forth for yourself."
John breathed for the first time in what seemed like a week. "I'll do my best," he whispered back. He took the script and looked at Colin, who shook his head, held up his hands as if to say, 'good luck,' and walked away.
"Well, aren't you the courageous one?" Kristen Anderson-Lopez said. "I'm Kristen." She shook John's hand. "Very nice to meet you. I love your show." She was a slightly heavy, but very attractive, dark haired woman with a friendly smile. "Do me a favor, though - If you have a problem with a lyric, let's talk about it in private, ok?"
"Ok." John nodded. "Do you think I went too far? Should I apologize?"
"Are kidding?" Kristen said. "You just set the parameters of your relationship with Rob. Don't back down, now, or he'll think he won. Just do what you were hired to do. He'll be fine."
"Is she in trouble?" Joanne asked Lily.
"I don't think so." The beautiful woman giggled as she spoke. "If she does a good job from here, he should get over it."
"Thank goodness," Joanne sighed. "I guess that Disney Studios isn't much like Disneyland."
"Not by a long shot." Lily giggled some more.
"Well, that was an interesting way to start her movie career," Rob Marshall spoke quietly to Robert Lopez.
"She seems to know what she wants." Lopez laughed, a little nervous about the mood on the set.
"She sure does," Marshall chuckled. "I think I'm going to like this kid." He looked around and called out, "Everyone be ready to start shooting in one hour! One hour! Ok?" Then he sat in his tall, director's chair held his hands, palms up, towards John. "One hour, Ms Foley. Enjoy your reading."
"You would not believe this kid, Oscar!" Joanne was beaming with joy and pride. "First she puts a famous director in his place, then she does such an amazing job, that at the end of the day, he hugged her and told her how great she was."
"Doesn't surprise me one bit, ma'm." Oscar smiled as he looked into his rear view mirror to see the faces of his passengers. "I could have told you that she would know what to do in there."
Joanne looked at John and shook her head. "Oh, Bebe, you had me so scared, but you were so amazing! And that boy, Colin, he didn't know what to make of you, at all! He thought you were just some pretty, little thing. He didn't expect you to stand up to Rob Marshall the way you did! My God, Bebe, I'm so impressed. No Don, no Rosie, no Ed and you just took over that set!"
John smiled at all the praise from Joanne. "Thanks, mom. Now I have to live up to the level that my big mouth set."
As they pulled out of the studio parking lot, John turned on his phone. As soon as the screen lit up, he saw a text from Blaine that read 'MOM SAYS YOU KICKED ASS TODAY. GOOD. LOVE YOU.'
Then another from Don that read, 'JOANNE SAYS YOU HAD A ROCKY START TO FILMING. JUST LIKE AT OUR SHOW, HUH? GOOD FOR YOU. ITS NICE TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF A CAMERA WHERE YOU BELONG, ISN'T IT?'
It really was, too. Who knew why, but on a stage was the one place that he felt at home. It didn't matter if it was a theater stage or a sound stage, something inside him guided him when he was there.
The sound of a car traveling over the unpaved driveway to the 'cottage' in Falmouth was the only indication that Rose was pulling up to the house. Ed had leased another Tesla for the summer. The electric vehicle was perfect for trips around The Cape. She'd left before he'd gotten up and they had no cell phone reception, anyway, so the note she'd left reading 'I'll be back with breakfast,' didn't give Ed a lot of information.
"Morning, beautiful!" Ed called from the porch where he'd set the outside table with plates and glasses for whatever Rose brought home for breakfast.
She hurried up the porch with two bags, one in each hand, stopping on her way to the table to kiss Ed. "Good morning. I bought bagels, cream cheese, a couple of jams and some lox, which I find disgusting, but I know you like them."
"Wow!" Ed smiled. "Carbs galore! We really must be on vacation!"
Rose smiled as she placed items from her bags onto the table.
"The cable guy called. He'll be here by one o'clock. He's running a little late, but we'll have cable, Internet and the cell reception extender installed this afternoon."
"Great." Rose smiled as she placed the last item, a small box, on Ed's plate. "I admit, though, I've kind of enjoyed being off-the-grid for a few days." She kissed Ed again as she moved towards her chair.
"Me too." He smiled at how much he enjoyed their relaxed intimacy. Then, he noticed the little box on his plate. "What's this?"
Rose smiled a playful, innocent smile. "A present."
"It's not my birthday, Rosie. What's the occasion?"
"The occasion," rather than sitting, she returned to Ed and hugged him, looking up into his rugged, handsome face, "is that I hate being called 'Rosie' - it sounds like the name of a maid in a 1930s movie - but I am madly, deeply in love with a man that makes me melt every time he says it. I just wanted to acknowledge that."
Ed smiled. "Thanks, Rosie, but I didn't get you anything."
"Ed, you did all of the work to find this house and buy it. This house is a huge commitment for us. This gift is just a token of what all that means to me. Now, open it."
He picked up the small box and shook it, but nothing rattled inside. "I don't suppose it's a necklace with a silver BB on it, is it?"
"Oh, heaven forbid!" Rose teased. "How embarrassing would it be to be seen out in public wearing the same jewelry as your niece!?"
They both chuckled at that. Finally, Ed took his arm from around Rose and opened the small package. After removing the wrapping paper, he saw a small, red box with a gold, saw toothed design running around the edge and the word 'Cartier' written in the center. That word caused Ed to stop and look at Rose with a surprised expression.
"Go ahead," she encouraged, "open it."
When he flipped the cover open, the ring inside took his breath away. It was a rather large circle of white gold with six, black enameled circles around it. Each circle was separated by a pattern of small, but beautifully cut diamonds. The diamonds filled that space between the circles with three horizontal rows in each section, four on the top, three in the middle and four on the bottom. Each diamond sparkled and created an elegant, yet masculine pattern.
Ed didn't know much about jewelry, but he knew that this was a very expensive ring - like, in-excess-of-ten-thousand-dollars expensive.
When, at last, he could breath again, he said, "Rosie, this is... too much..."
But Rose just smiled at him as she sunk to one knee and took one of his hands in hers. "It's not nearly enough, Ed. I know this is a bit different and may seem a little silly, but will you, Ed McNeal, marry me and call me 'Rosie' for the rest of your life?"
Caught completely off guard, Ed stuttered over his reply. "Rosie... I mean... Rose... I wanted to... Oh, shit, YES, ROSIE... I will be honored, delighted, thrilled, and ecstatic to marry you."
He helped her up and they embraced and kissed and smiled, broadly.
"I'm sorry to steal your thunder, but I couldn't wait."
"I don't care about that, but you've got to let me buy you a ring later today."
She smiled. "Let you? I planned on making you buy me one the moment that the cable guy leaves."
"Sounds like a plan," Ed smiled as he kissed her more firmly, more tenderly, more lovingly, more sincerely than ever before.
"Glenmorangie twenty-five - double - neat," Hank Miller told the bartender as he planted himself on a stool.
The bartender poured and placed the drink in front of Hank. "That'll be sixty-five dollars."
Hank threw eighty dollars on the bar and said, "Keep the change."
As he sipped the whiskey, the woman next to him considered what she'd just seen. "Excuse me," she asked, interested, "Did you just pay eighty dollars for a drink?"
Hank laughed. "No. I paid sixty five for the best single malt on the planet. I don't usually indulge, but I've had a really good day and I want to celebrate. What are you drinking?"
"I'm drinking 'Jack' and I thought IT was overpriced."
"Bourbon!?" Hank feigned being shocked. "That's not whiskey! Hell, they even spell the WORD 'whiskey' wrong on the label. That'll destroy your taste buds. Quick, we have to get you something worth drinking before you can't tell the difference between heaven and garbage." He held up his hand to get the bartender's attention then indicated his own drink. "Another one of these for this lovely lady, please."
The bartender served the drink and Hank handed him his credit card. "Why don't you just put this on file." He smiled at the woman, then winked at the bartender. "We'll be having a few more before the night is done."
He turned his gaze to the woman who was sniffing the glass of whiskey. "It doesn't smell very strong."
"Well, it is," Hank laughed. "You need to sip it slowly or you'll find yourself falling off the stool before that glass is done. Now, just take a little sip."
She did.
"And?" Hank smiled at her.
"It's nice. I can taste something different... flowers, almost."
"Very good." Hank sipped his. "There is a floral quality to it compared to most other Scottish distilleries."
She sipped again. "I taste fruit, too. Apricots, maybe? Or... is that lemon? Mmm... It's got a nice feel going down, too."
"It's the best," Hank smiled. "Better than sex."
She sipped again. "Close, but not better." She smiled. "Maybe you've just been having sex with the wrong person."
"Maybe." He smiled flirtatiously.
"So, what's the occasion?" The woman moved slightly closer, her smile warmer than before.
He gave her a very self satisfied look. "Well, if you must know - first, my divorce papers were finalized this morning, so I'm a free man for the first time in six years, and then I closed one of the biggest deals of my career this afternoon. So, I'll be making millions and, because I closed the deal AFTER my papers came through, I will not have to share a penny with my ex."
"Well," the woman said, holding up her glass, "that calls for a toast. To a great day!"
Hank clinked his glass on hers. "A great day, indeed!"
They both sipped.
"So," the woman asked, very interested, "what do you do that makes you millions of dollars?"
He laughed. "I broker deals between the US government and foreign companies. I also broker deals with US companies and foreign governments. It's tough and it's aggravating, but when it comes together, it's like winning a football game. Right now, I feel like spiking the ball and doing a victory dance in the end zone."
"Well, good for you." The woman smiled at his enthusiasm and held up her glass in another toast.
"And, what do you do?" Hank asked.
"A little of this and a little of that. I've been an actress and I've taught acting... I've been a waitress and a temp... right now, I'm kind of between jobs. I had an interview here, at the hotel, earlier and I had nothing else to do, so I stopped for a drink. Nice place, isn't it?"
Hank looked around and nodded. "It is." He sipped some more, then acted a bit more sly and said, "So, you're here alone, then?"
"All by my lonesome," the woman flirted.
Hank looked around. "Say, how would you like to take these drinks into the restaurant and have a nice big meal? Steak? Lobster? Whatever?"
"That sounds great," she smiled.
She grabbed her purse and stood and took his arm as they headed for the door. "I guess if we're going to continue this relationship, we should get to know each other. My name is Stephanie. What's yours?"
Hank smiled at her. "My name is Dave."
"I'm so jealous!" Kylie smiled across the table at John. The five of them, John, Kylie, Blaine, MK and Ella were sitting at the circular table in the picnic area at the food-truck-court with huge portions of all kinds of food spread out in front of them. There were nachos, cheese fries, pork fried rice, pot stickers, portions of shawarma... you name it, they'd bought it. "Working with Lily James and Anna Kendrick! It must be amazing!"
John smiled. "I haven't actually had scenes with them, yet, but they're really nice to me. The work isn't as much fun as the show, though. Everyone is really stressed and the makeup room isn't even any fun. They just work on me. No chatting or gossip or anything."
Kylie shrugged. "Do people hang out on the set?"
"Hardly at all," John explained. "Every one camps out in their trailers until they're called to places. Then, there's just a little 'How are doing' kind of chat, but that's it. It's really lonely. I spend more time with mom... well, Blaine's mom... than anyone else. I can see why so many actors get hooked on drugs and alcohol. It's just plain boring."
"Oh, my heart breaks for you," MK smiled.
"Yeah," Ella laughed. "You live a rough life."
"I know." John gave a small chuckle. "It's just not what I expected."
"Maybe it's because you're making a movie that will be less than a couple of hours long," Blaine had been thinking about this. "I mean, you filmed sixteen tv shows for your first season. That's sixteen hours of show. Now, you're doing like two hours in twelve or sixteen weeks. They can take their time and make everything perfect, right?"
"Good point," Kylie agreed. "By the way, what's the movie about, anyway?"
John sighed. "I can't tell you. It's all got to be kept a secret. I had to fight to find out for myself."
"And how are the songs?"
"I don't know. I haven't recorded anything, yet. Anna and Lily say the songs are great, but I haven't heard any of them. My schedule keeps changing."
"Hey," MK was getting tired of the 'shop talk' between Bebe and Kylie, "you guys want to go see that new horror movie tomorrow afternoon? I hear it's really scary."
"I do!" Ella enthused. "I have to baby sit my little brother on Friday, but I can do tomorrow."
"I'll go, too," Kylie said. "I'm dying to see it!"
"Sounds like fun." Blaine smiled at Bebe, who made a 'sorry' face.
"You guys go and see it. I'm not really interested in horror movies. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon. It'll probably be a long one. Blood work and check up and all that."
"Ooo," Kylie grimaced. "Sounds serious. Are you ok?"
"You don't know?" MK was shocked.
"She's been out of town, stupid." Ella slapped MK's arm.
"Why? What did I miss?" Kylie looked at the others.
John was about to launch into an explanation, but MK and Ella pulled Kylie in close and started telling her the whole, somewhat elaborated, story.
"I'll go to the doctors with you," Blaine whispered. "Sorry. I didn't forget. I just wasn't thinking."
"No," John insisted, "have fun. You don't need to sit around a doctor's office all day."
"I know I don't NEED to, but I'm going to, anyway."
John kissed Blaine's cheek. "Thanks."
John's phone rang. The number was not familiar, but the exchange looked like a Disney Studios number so he answered it, assuming that his schedule was changing again.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is this Bebe?" the woman's voice asked.
"Yes. This is Bebe."
"Hi, Bebe. Kristen Anderson-Lopez, here. Hey, Bob and I have an idea. Can you come to our place tomorrow morning for a few hours?"
John shook his head in shock. "Umm, Yes, I suppose so, but... umm... I have a doctor's appointment at one o'clock, so I'd need to leave in time to get there."
"Oh, hang on." Kristen covered her phone and John could hear muffled conversation until she returned to speaking to him. "Are you free tonight? Say, in an hour and a half or so? We'll only be a couple of hours, but we live up in Brentwood, so it's a bit of a haul. We don't want to make you late for your appointment tomorrow."
"Umm... Yeah... sure, I guess. I'll need to get a ride, but, yeah. I'll be there in an hour and a half. What's the address?"
"I'll grab my cell and I'll text you the address. It's not hard to find. We'll see you soon." She hung up the phone.
"Where are you going to be in an hour and a half?" Blaine asked.
"The Lopez' house in Brentwood." John was grabbing his purse and tidying up his food mess.
"Brentwood!?"
"Yeah. Can you drive me?"
"I... I don't know. I'll call mom and ask. I don't know Brentwood at all."
"Ok. Call mom and ask. I'm going to run to the ladies' room. If mom says 'no' can you see if Oscar is around, or call an Uber or Lyft? Nancy's working till seven. I'll text her. I gotta get there, though."
"Ok," Blaine said, confused as to why he was being asked to do all this so urgently, but understanding that Bebe was excited about it, so he grabbed his phone and pressed his mom's contact button.
"Sorry," John said to the girls. "I gotta run. I'll call you guys tomorrow."
Kylie grabbed John's arm as he was passing, though, "Wait a minute, Bebe. Just hold up a minute."
Excited and hurried, John swung his head around and said, "What? What's up?"
Kylie spoke with quiet surprise. "You have a dick?"
John showed no surprise, insult or concern. In a very matter of fact voice, he said, "Yeah. So?"
"So!?" Kylie was shocked both by the new information as well as the casual attitude Bebe was displaying. "So... how did you keep this a secret from me for a whole year?"
John looked to the girls and then back to Kylie. This wasn't in any way pertinent to the matters on which he was focused at the moment, so he gave Kylie a response designed to answer her question honestly as well as allow him to move on and get to Brentwood. He shrugged and said, "It's not a very big one."
"What would you think about a Christmas wedding?" Rose asked. They we're looking out at the ocean and enjoying the breeze.
"Whatever you want, Rosie," Ed smiled at her happiness. "Would we get married here or in LA?"
"Huh." Rose looked at him. "I was just assuming we'd get married here, but maybe LA would be better."
"Well, I don't think it matters, really. If we get married here, our LA friends have travel. If we get married there, our Massachusetts family and friends will have to travel. Maybe we should get married at Disney World so that everyone has to travel."
Rose sat up taller. "Disney World! I love that idea!"
Ed laughed. "I was only kidding, but whatever you want is great."
"Ok, Mr McNeal," the man from Spectral Cable Company came out onto the farmers porch that wrapped around the Falmouth house, carrying a stack of paperwork, "I need a few signatures and you'll be all set to go."
Ed signed everything and chatted with the workman.
"You have cable access in every room and the picture looks great. Your internet access is going to appear on your devices as 'Disobedience 1' and your password is 'best-show-on-television,' all one word, no hyphens."
Ed laughed as he continued to sign the papers. "That's funny, Joe, thank you."
Rose sat at the table as well and she grabbed her iPad and started entering the password.
"Your cell phones should work in a few minutes, too. I just need to program the expander to the Verizon towers. I'll do that while you sign everything and make sure that everything works."
"Sounds great," Ed said.
He finished the paperwork as Rose announced that she was online.
"Perfect," Joe said. "I'll go program the cell phone expander while you connect all your devices."
Ed grabbed his phone as the cable guy walked away. He was about to open his 'settings' app, but his attention was drawn to Rose as she sat bolt upright. "Oh, my God," she muttered.
"What!?" Ed was suddenly concerned.
Rose looked at him, pale. "Ed... Bebe... Ed, something's happened in LA. We need to call her."
Ed grabbed Rose's phone and read a series of texts from his bestfriend -turned-niece. "Goddamnit!" he handed the phone back to Rose and stood.
"I'm sorry," Joe, the cable guy, said as he stepped back out onto the porch. "Is everything working ok?"
Ed was flush with adrenaline. "Everything you've done is great, Joe, thanks. I just need... are you all done?"
"Yeah," the confused man confirmed as he gathered his paperwork. "All done. I'll get out of your way. I hope everything's ok."
"Everything's fine," Rose assured him. "Thank you for everything."
"My pleasure," Joe said. "And, I really do love your show."
"Thank you, Joe." Rose gave him her best smile. "I'm sorry, but we really need to make some calls right now."
"Yeah, I understand," he nodded and exited.
"Call her," Rose said to Ed.
"Calm down, Ed," Don said into his phone. "We're dealing with it."
Vivian could only hear the words from Don's end of the conversation, but the tone of the voice speaking into his ear was very agitated.
"Ed, you know that we couldn't reach you. I called Hank. He's on it."
Vivian, who had been ready to leave for a late-luncheon/early-dinner, sighed as she sat on the settee and crossed her legs in a way that told Don that she was not happy with being made to wait.
"Ed, Buddy. I need to go, but I'll call you tonight, ok? I promise, Bebe is fine and we're on top of this."
He glanced at Viv, who pointed at her watch.
"No," Don continued to talk to Ed, while holding a hand up to Vivian to indicate that he understood that she wanted to leave, "you don't need to fly back. I promise, I'll keep you in the loop. We just couldn't reach you for the last few days. I don't know why she's not answering her phone now, Buddy, but I'm sure that she's fine. She knows to reach out if she's in trouble. You taught her well."
Don listened for a few more moments.
"Ed, Ed, Ed... I understand, but everything is fine and if I don't get going right now, my wife is going to stab me... Understood. Talk soon. Give my love to Rose. Bye." He disconnected.
Vivian stood, shaking her head. "You know that this is never going to end, right?"
"It'll be fine, Viv." Don grabbed his suit coat and they headed to the door.
"Even after the surgery," Vivian pointed out, "she'll still have a secret and secrets make life difficult. You can't always protect her, Don."
"I'm not protecting HER, dear. I'm protecting our little golden-calf. Now, let's get going or we'll be late."
"We're already late."
Don kissed her cheek to clam her down. "Only just a little, dear. Fashionably late, as they say. Come on. Let's go."
"I'm sorry we're late," Blaine said, as he and Bebe were led into the sprawling mansion Robert Lopez shared with his wife, Kristen AndersonLopez. "The GPS on my phone took us to 'Atherton Boulevard' instead of 'Atherton Court.' I don't really know Brentwood very well. Sorry."
"No problem." Robert Lopez smiled. "Happens all the time. We should have warned you. You're here now and that's all that counts."
"Your home is gorgeous." John smiled as he looked about the beautiful home.
"Thank you," Kristen said as she met them in the 'music room.' "I'm sorry.mi was upstairs helping the girls with homework. Come on over to the piano, Bebe. I'd like to play you something."
They gathered by the piano, Blaine hanging back, just a bit, so as not to be in the way.
"Bob and I have been looking at your dailies and, even though you only have completed a few scenes, we saw a... oh, I guess you'd call it a sad-mischievousness in your character that we didn't expect to see and it got us thinking."
"Originally," Bob Lopez said, "your character didn't have a solo number. Just a duet with Lily and a trio for all three sisters, but we really like what you're doing and we want to enlarge your part, a bit."
"Substantially, actually," Kristen corrected. She unfolded a piece of notebook paper and placed it on the music stand of their huge, Yamaha grand piano. "We wrote this earlier today and we played it for Rob Marshall. He likes it a lot. If you can sing it, we'll add it in and change the script as needed to accommodate it."
"Wow!" Blaine let out, involuntarily. "Sorry," he said when everyone turned to look at him.
"Don't be," Bob said and he waved for Blaine to join them at the piano. "Your girlfriend is a very impressive talent. If things go well, everyone's going to be saying, 'Wow!'"
"Except Mr Marshall," John said, uncertainly. "I don't think he likes me very much."
Kristen and Bob exchanged smiles. "He likes you, fine, Bebe. It's just that, once you stood up to him, he wanted to push you as far as you'd go to see if you'd back down," Bob explained.
"And you didn't," Kristen smiled. "He was very impressed, Bebe. He's on your side, now. I promise."
John smiled, relieved. "Really? Oh, thank goodness."
"Ok," Bob smiled. "Listen to this."
Kristen started playing a simple, but engaging piano line in a minor key. When she started singing, John was surprised by how well she could sing. He'd always assumed song writers couldn't sing, for some reason, but her voice was lovely.
She sang,
'Where am I going?
Not where they plan
Why does life seem so determined
To make me settle on a man?
Who am I really?
I'm not like them
Not a thing of beauty
Not a shining gem
I'll never be like like her
I'll never find my way
I'll never be the princess
In a beautiful play.'
Bob joined her for the refrain
'I just want to be the girl
Who no one ever sees
The one who no one bothers
The one who is just... me.'
Kristen stopped playing and looked at John. "Are you ok?"
John realized he was crying and wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry. It's beautiful. I love it."
"The idea is," Bob explained, "that by the end of the song you've realized that being you is ok. You're not the pretty woman-doll that Lily's character is and you're not the brilliant, analytical-woman that Anna's character is. You're just - you - and you're happy to be that way. Almost defiantly happy to be that way. What do you think?"
"I can't believe you wrote this for me." The weeping continued. "It's not just how my character feels. It's how I feel. All the time. I'm always afraid that I'm not what I'm supposed to be."
Kristen reached up and took his hand. "That's because you're a girl, honey. We all feel that way."
To Be Continued...
Bebe Goes to Hollywood - 5
Author:
Audience Rating:
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Genre:
Character Age:
TG Themes:
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filming for the movie is underway, John faces the horrors of swim-suit shopping, Ed is
searching for the perfect engagement ring for Rose, John has a rare day away from
adults when he and his friends travel to the beach and, through all of this, it seems as
though John's relationship with his sister has not only healed thoroughly, but they have
grown much closer. That's a lot.
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone for your very kind and constructive critiques. Please leave reviews!
*I love to know if I'm on the right path or not.
*ps: I mean anything other than my usage of the name John for now.~Clara.
This version of Bebe Goes To Hollywood: 5 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.
Chapter 5
"He's got goodness. Do you know what that is?... No, of course you don't. We've forgotten. We're too busy being smart-aleck's. Too busy in a crazy competition for nothing."
~ Jean Arthur as 'Babe' in 'Mr Deeds Goes To Town.'
"Blood work looks good, blood pressure looks excellent, your therapist says you're very well adjusted..." Dr Jorge Martinez looked through all the paperwork in front of him, then at John. "So, the big question is, Bianca... are you really ready to bury John Foley forever?"
John's eyes were watery and he didn't know why. He gripped Nancy's hand with his right hand and Joanne's with his left. He tried to speak, but nothing came out, so he nodded.
Dr Martinez was patient, but eventually he said, "I need you to actually say the words, Bianca."
John sighed. "I'm ready, Doctor. I swear that I am."
"Alright, then, let's talk about what's going to happen as we approach the day of surgery. Of course, Dr Shapiro and I will be monitoring your health and hormonal balance as the date approaches and making sure that your health remains excellent. You'll be admitted to the hospital the day before surgery so we can extract blood, both for testing and for replacement if it's required."
John was shivering a little as specifics of the actual event were discussed. Nancy and Joanne, both medical professionals who had heard these kinds of conversations many times before, both were feeling very stressed, too, though. This wasn't just another patient. This was Johnny. This was Bebe. This was scary.
"We'll be able to do the removal and reconstructive surgeries in the same day. The removal of your testes and penis is a very simple procedure, less than an hour or so. The formation of your female genitals is a longer job and we take our time doing that. We want it to not only be esthetically pleasing, but also we want to be sure that none of the nerves are damaged. This will give you a more pleasurable sex life later."
He reached into a draw and pulled out a tube, similar to tooth-brush carrying case, but a little thicker.
"For the first two to three days, depending on your healing, this kind of a dilation tool will be inside your vaginal opening. It will allow you to heal correctly. You will also need to use this, or something approximating the same size and shape of this, at least three times a day for the next year. We will give you a schedule and a chart on which to record your sessions. Do you understand?"
"Not really," John looked at the clinical looking item, his brow furrowed, confused.
Nancy sighed, "What the Doctor is saying, Johnny, is that, after your surgery, you are going to need to masturbate at least three times a day for at least a year."
"Oh!" John's eyes popped open. This was a bit unexpected.
"He's also saying," Joanne took over, "that, if you'd like to find a tool... a phallus... that was more... lifelike, you may be able to enjoy the process a bit more than you would using something as... artificially shaped as this tool."
"More lifelike?" John wanted to clarify. "You mean..." he let that hang for a moment, but Nancy finished the sentence for him.
"A dildo, Johnny. A dildo."
"Oh, Wow." John looked to his right and his left. "A little embarrassing to talk about this in front of my sister and my boyfriend's mom."
Nancy chuckled. "Well, I never thought I'd have to discuss dildos with my little brother, so I guess we're even."
Joanne was more uncomfortable with this topic than anyone else in the room, at the moment, so she changed the subject. "And what is her recovery timeline expected to be, Dr Martinez?"
"Well, barring any complications, she should be back to one hundred percent in four to six weeks."
Then he looked at John. "Of course, you'll probably feel well enough to be on set and do SOME acting before that. Nothing strenuous. No running bases and getting in fights with boys like in season one - scenes that have you seated or standing still should be comfortable very quickly, though. I want you to pace yourself, Bianca. If they ask you to over exert yourself before you're ready, the answer is..."
He waited for John to complete the sentence.
"No," John said, after a pregnant pause.
"That's right. You need to learn to say 'no' when you are healing. Remember that word and use it frequently. Understood?"
"Understood," John smiled. Don must have been talking to the Doctor about John and telling him how rambunctious he could be on a set.
"One last thing," the doctor said. "And this may be none of my business, but... could we, at this point, stop calling Bianca 'John?' I know it's just between the two of you, but it is an issue that needs to be addressed. After all we went through with that reporter last week, I think that we may have reached a point where Bianca is called Bianca and only Bianca from now on."
John smiled and looked at his sister before speaking. "That's my fault, Doctor. I said it was ok. It's just between us."
"I realize that," the doctor was closing the file-folder and preparing to end the meeting, "but today is the first time that I have spent any real time with you two - neither of you know me very well - I could even be recording this meeting - yet I have heard Nancy refer to you as 'Johnny' well over a dozen times. I realize that the existence of 'John Foley' is difficult to verify, now, but nothing disappears forever and it makes no sense at all to be offering people your old name. Start getting used to it, now. John is dead - long live Bianca. Ok?"
John looked at Nancy. "Ok," they said together.
"So, provided everything continues the way everything's been going," John's voice came through the phone's speaker as Rose and Ed listened, "I'll be having the surgery in nine weeks."
"That's great, Beebs," Rose smiled at Ed who seemed more concerned than she.
"And you're sure this is the right thing for you to do?" He asked.
Rose slapped his arm and pointed a scolding finger at him while mouthing the words, 'Stop it!'
He whispered back, "I just want to be sure."
"I am, Uncle Ed. I'm very sure. I am Bebe forever, now, and I want to be her - completely."
"Ok," Ed still looked worried, but he nodded, "as long as it's the right thing to do, then I'll sign all the papers and send them back to you."
"Thanks, Uncle Ed," they could hear the relief in John's voice.
"We have some news, too," Rose was back to being excited.
"Oh?" John seemed happy to move on to other things. "News about the house?"
"Kinda," Rose giggled. "As of December twenty first of this year, a real family will own this house. A husband and a wife."
"You're selling it so quickly!?" John sounded confused.
Rose laughed. "Of course not, Bebe. Don't be silly."
"Then what?" John asked.
Rose smiled at Ed until he broke the news to John. "Your cousin, Rose, proposed to me."
"What!?" John's voice rose with excitement. "SHE proposed to you!? That's so cool!"
"I know, right!?" Ed laughed "She gave me an engagement ring, got down on one knee... the whole bit. I wish we'd recorded it."
Before John could react, Rose said, "And guess who my Maid-of-Honor is going to be?"
Genuinely overwhelmed by the news of an upcoming wedding, John had no idea, so he said, "Who?"
"Well, you, silly!" Rose laughed. "Who else?"
"But I'm... that's... I mean..." John could barely think in his excitement. "That's unbelievable! Congratulations! And, thank you, Rose... I'm so honored."
"Well, who else would I pick, Beebs. You're like our own little girl." Rose realized that at some point, either she had taken Ed's hand or he had taken her's, but they were holding hands and smiling big, silly, stupid smiles of joy at one and other.
God, they were cute! Just two, beautiful, young, rich kids in love!
"So..." John's voice through the phone's speaker intruded on their reverie, "since Rose proposed... who's wearing the wedding gown?"
They all laughed.
"I am, you goofball," Rose said, "although, in this family, I suppose that's a fair question."
They all laughed.
"Congratulations, you guys!" John was still giggling when he spoke. "I love you both, so much! And I miss you, too."
"We love you, too, honey," Rose was aglow with joy at the prospect of a wedding.
"Just one thing before we say goodbye, though, Bebe," Ed's voice went from smiling to serious as he spoke that sentence. "About all of this business with Crawford..."
The giggling stopped and all three became quiet.
"I want you to be careful, baby, ok?"
John was not surprised that Ed had mentioned Mr Crawford, but this was probably the first time Ed had ever called him 'baby' and his tone was warmer and more paternal than ever.
"I will. I promise."
"I mean..." Ed looked at Rose, who's smile had faded a bit. "... well, we owe everything to you, honey, but... if anything were ever to happen to you..." Ed struggled to say what he wanted to say. "... well, Bebe... I don't want you to think that this is only ever about the show... I mean.. we love you, you know..."
"I know, Uncle Ed. I love you guys, too."
"No, honey, I mean... we're not just your guardians anymore, you know... it's more... I mean... we're more than that..."
Rose was shocked to see a tear running down her lover's face. She could also hear a chocking in his voice, and she knew that the big man was about to lose it, emotionally.
"What Uncle Ed is trying to say, Bebe," Rose rescued him, "is that we're a family, now. The three of us. We have our other families, too, but the three of us... we're as real a family as any of those and if you need us, we'll be there for you."
"I know, Rose," John's tone was serious and tender, too. "I love you guys, too, and I wish I could be there with you. I'll call if there's any more trouble. I promise."
Ed cleared his throat. "Good. We love you a lot, baby. And we miss you. Call us again tomorrow."
"I will."
"Bye, Beebs," Rose said and she disconnected the call.
She reached across the table and took Ed's hand in hers. "She'll be fine, Ed. She has Don and Blaine and Joanne... everything is going to be ok."
Ed nodded. "I know. I just wish we were there... or she was here."
"I know. Have you heard from Hank?"
"No. If he doesn't call by tonight, I'll call him."
"Ok," Rob Marshall called the rehearsal to order. "Bebe, you're at the piano with Lily. Anna, you come in announce that you're all moving to Manhattan. Remember - it's 1901. Keep your speech and mannerisms as idiomatic as possible. Lily!"
"Yes, Rob?"
"Try to remember that you're American, please!" Many crew members chuckled at this.
"Of course, Rob. No problem." Lily replied, innocently.
"What was that all about?" John asked.
"We had a very long night, last night, and Rob kept having me do the same four lines, over and over and over." She looked at the director and rolled her eyes.
"Why."
"He was just proving a point, just because I questioned something he wanted me to do in a scene the day before."
"What a jerk," John commiserated.
"Par for the course, little sister," Lily laughed. "He's not even as bad as most. It's no big deal. Anyway, the more he pushed, the more my American accent disappeared. Also to prove a point."
"What was your point?"
"That I understood his, but I wasn't intimidated by his tactics." She smiled. "Movie sets are the most childish places on earth, Bebe. Testosterone is flowing like crazy and making every man into a moron. You'll get used to it."
"Alright, ladies!" Rob called from 'video village,' where he could watch the scene through the cameras. "Let's go."
"April!" Anna called as she came into the sitting room set, acting agitated. "April! We've received a letter from father."
Lily turned and faced her 'sister' in the scene. "May, May, calm down. What does he say?"
"It says, 'Dear girls. I have had a stroke of luck and come into a great deal of money. Pack your bags, girls and come as soon as possible. I've bought a grand home for us all on Park Avenue in New York City. Come at once. Just shut up the old place and come I have arranged for June's education as well. Love, Your Father."
Lily jumped up and took the letter. "Oh, my! May, this is the answer to our prayers! New York City! Can you imagine. So many men to chose from! How soon can we leave?"
"Well," Anna looked around, "we'll need to sell the house and ship the furniture..."
"No," Lily pointed to the letter, "Father says to just shut up the house and come."
"Then we can leave tomorrow morning!" Anna said, turning and flipping the hem of her somewhat thread-worn, turn of the twentieth century dress and looked into the mirror. "I have to admit, I would enjoy some new clothes. This dress was second hand when you wore it, April."
"And June's clothes are even more worn than yours. Oh, just imagine it, May! The men!"
"The libraries!" Anna said.
"The clothes!" Lily shouted.
"The opportunities!" Anna turned, smiling.
"The future!" They called out, together.
Then the playback started and Lilly and Anna began singing with the recording, alternating at first, then singing together. They continued acting as they mouthed the words -
" The Street Cars! The buildings! The autos! The men!
The opera!
The theater!
The excitement!
The lights!"
Finally, John, as the youngest sister, June, joined in.
"Electricity is coursing through us
Lighting up our world
The power of our future
Our lives are in a whirl!"
"And that's that," Rob Marshall called from 'video village.' "From there, we need to move to the 'packing and moving' montage. The choreographer will work with you girls, tomorrow. Do we all feel good about the scene up to this point?"
Everyone agreed that they were ready to light and record the scene.
"Alright, then," Marshall clapped his hands. "Everyone back to 'one,' please! Let's get this recorded."
They went back to the top of the scene.
"Nice, job," John said quietly to Lily. "I liked how you squealed when you said, 'the clothes.' It was really cute."
"Thanks," lily smiled. "I loved the look on your face when you jumped up to join us. You were adorable."
"Thanks," John smiled. "I didn't really have much else to do."
"Sometimes, acting is being in the background, then coming in strong when the time comes." Lily smiled. "You did great."
They ran the scene, again and recorded it. They did it once more with a few tweaks, then one last time to ensure coverage.
Then, as Rob Marshall was about to dismiss everyone for a break and to set up a new set, he stopped and looked at John.
"You have an idea that you didn't act on, don't you, Miss Foley?"
John looked at the director. "I didn't say anything, Mr Marshall."
"I know," he smiled, "but I can see it on your face. I spoke to a few of the production staff members over at 'Civil Disobedience' and they asked me if I was letting you 'riff' on the script. I said, 'No,' and they told me I was crazy. So - is it worth my while to do the scene once more?"
"I'd kinda like to try something, sir," he smiled, "but I know that we got off to a shaky start and I don't want to upset you."
"Ok." The director called out to everyone. "Once more, ladies and gentlemen, and this time, be prepared for whatever Ms Foley does. Back to 'one,' again! Let's do this, people."
John glanced off stage left to where Joanne was standing, her fingers laced together, and bouncing against her chin. She smiled at John and nodded her support and pride.
Lily sat back down next to John and whispered, "Take it easy on me, Bebe. I'm not a good improviser." She smiled and hugged him.
"All set, ladies!?" Rob called.
They each held up a thumbs up.
"Then, ACTION!" He yelled and the scene started again.
This time, when Anna said they could leave tomorrow, John stood and said, "Tomorrow!?"
"Yes, June," Anna smiled. "We can leave in the morning."
"But," John said, "what about our friends? Our animals? Our lives, here?"
"We'll have a new life in New York," Lily said, stroking his hair. "A new, beautiful life."
"I can't wait," Anna said. "We can have anything we want, June!"
"Can I bring my dog?" John asked.
"Of course, Honey," Lily smiled.
"It's going to be great, June, " Anna said, and then she returned to the script. "I have to admit, I would enjoy some new clothes. This dress was second hand when you wore it, April."
"And June's clothes are even more worn than yours." Lily followed Anna's lead and stuck with the script, "Oh, just imagine it, May! The men!"
That was all that changed, just a few lines, but the director was smart enough to know that it had made the scene better. More real. It was a big improvement. This kid... she's really something.
The door to the hotel suite closed and Hank opened his eyes. He'd been listening while Stephanie had been bustling about, trying not to wake him. He listened as the elevator outside his room opened and closed. He waited another minute before climbing out of the bed. He grabbed his locked briefcase and opened it, removing his MacBook and turning it on, to review the recording of the night before that he'd made with nine hidden cameras throughout the suite.
He rewound to the beginning of the recording and reviewed what he'd recorded. Hmm... not the best sex he'd ever had, by a long shot. She was obviously just going through the motions, but so was he, though, so...
He fast forwarded through the dirty deed, then slowed down when things calmed down. He listened to their 'pillow talk' as they each congratulated the other on the quality of the sex, then they shut off the light and the cameras switched to the odd green color of the night vision recording. He watched at 2X speed until, about forty-five minutes after the lights had been shut off, Stephanie carefully moved out from under the covers.
He watched carefully now as Stephanie tip toed around the suite and pulled 'Dave's' wallet from his pants and took it to the vanity area outside of the lavatory. She took the time to look carefully through all of the credit cards and identification that she found, all of which indicated that the owner's name was Dave Rothman, a representative of OLC - the Olson International Corporation. She saw his personal credit card and his company credit card as well. She saw a few of his business cards from business contacts and several cards from international companies.
Then she saw the four thousand one hundred and twenty dollars in cash in the wallet. Hank watched as she pulled the money out, counted it, recounted it, this time in two piles, one of three thousand dollars, one of one thousand one hundred and twenty dollars. She put the small stack back into the wallet and took the rest.
'Pretty bright,' Hank thought. Leaving a substantial amount in the wallet would probably cause the owner to not count the money immediately.
He watched as she put the wallet back into his pants, then she took his phone from its charger and looked at his emails, forwarding several to a dummy gmail account she had created for just such an occasion..
"Gotcha," Hank laughed. He knew he had her for the theft of the money, but taking the emails, he knew, would eventually lead to him being contacted with a blackmail demand. The bait had been taken - soon, he'd be reeling in his prize.
"Try the lavender one on, again," Ella told MK. "Your boobs are going to pop out of that one."
"That's what I want," MK smiled as she checked herself out in the mirror. Ella was right, her breasts were definitely in danger of popping right out of this swimsuit, DAMN, she liked how it looked, though. Fifteen years of growth and development had been kinder to MK than most of her classmates and she was very pleased with her current physique.
"You want to get arrested for exposing your breasts at the beach?" Ella asked. "Ok, but I'm not bailing you out."
"Hmm," MK pondered her sexy, young figure in the mirror. My mom would kill me if I wore this, but admit it - I am smokin' hot."
Ella snickered. "And modest."
"Does this look ok?" John came to the mirror and looked at himself. Honest to God, was there anything more stressful than shopping for a new swimsuit? He had his own issues, of course, but he felt the stress that Ella felt, too. Her breasts were slightly bigger than John's, but he was catching up, and her best friend, MK, was built like a supermodel - plump, shapely breasts and hips, long, elegant legs - everything that bathing suits were designed to enhance. Next to MK, both John and Ella looked like they were just entering puberty.
John looked in the mirror at the simple, blue one-piece he'd chose, checked his crotch - nice and smooth - then he twisted to see his butt - it was nicely curved and round. Even his hips looked pretty good.
Unexpectedly, MK gave his rear a playful, but firm slap. "Looking good there, slugger," she teased, causing Ella to laugh out loud.
"Ow!" John was shocked and his bottom smarted. He rubbed it. "That hurt, you know."
"Oh, man-up," MK laughed, but their playful friendliness was interrupted by a man's voice behind them.
"Looking good, ladies," The voice said, causing them all to turn to face two older men. One with an expensive camera around his neck, the other with a familiar smirk on his face.
"Get out of here, you creeps," MK snapped.
"Security!" Ella yelled, but John just pushed forward and stood face to face with the smirking face.
"Mr Meadows." He shook his head. "I thought we had a deal. I give you as much access to 'Civil Disobedience' as I can and you leave my personal life alone."
Meadows took a step back and looked at the young woman in front of him. "Very pretty, Bebe. It shows off your body, very nicely. Keeps you nicely tucked, too?"
John feigned confusion. "Tucked...? You don't still think that I'm... do you!? Look, Mr Meadows, this is as close as you're ever going to come to seeing me naked. Do you see anything that makes you think I'm a boy?"
Meadows smiled. "I'm only kidding, Bebe. Honest. I'm here for something else, today. I just saw you and your friends as I passed. I just wanted to apologize for last week. I had some bad information."
John knew that the apology was insincere, but it was still an apology. "Thank you, Mr Meadows. That means a lot to me." He knew that this apology would cost him at some point.
"Well, I mean it, Bebe. We're friends and I feel bad about all that business. I should have known that the information was ridiculous."
"Well, Mr Meadows," John wanted to go back and be with his friends, "have a nice evening."
"You too, Bebe." Meadows turned to walk away, then stopped, pretending to think of something. “Oh! By the way. I hear that there’s a wedding being planned.”
There is was. It certainly didn’t take long.
Meadows continued, “I think it’s wonderful, don’t you? Young love blooming between two cast members. Pretty romantic.”
John wanted to look irritated and angry, but in the little, blue one piece, he knew he’d just look petulant. So, he smiled. “It is, Mr Meadows. I’m very happy for them.”
“Yeah,” Meadows returned the grin. “What are the chances of me being your ‘plus one’ for the event?”
“I already have a ‘plus one,’ Mr Meadows. You know that.”
“Yeah, I do. Well, maybe you might be able to arrange a few interviews with the happy couple and maybe an invite for me and my friend, here.” Meadows indicated his photographer.
John smirked at the man’s audacity. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks, Bebe,” Meadows winked. “You’re the best. Have a good time swimming.” He and the photographer walked away.
“Who was that?” Ella asked as they watched the men disappear into the store.
“A TMZ reporter,” John replied. “And a massive pain in my tush.”
“And what a cute tush it is, too,” MK teased. She was about to slap it again, but John turn himself away from her and frowned at her attempt. “Wait!” She suddenly seemed very serious. “That guy was a photographer for TMZ!?”
“Yes,” John seemed confused.
“Well,” MK smiled, “get him back here to take my picture in this suit! If they show a picture of me looking like this on TV tonight, I’ll be a superstar tomorrow.”
“You know who you look like?” The custodian asked Nancy.
“Bebe Foley?” Nancy asked with a smirk.
“If that’s that girl on ‘Civil Disobedience,’ then, yeah. You look just like her.”
“I get that a lot,” Nancy continued typing on the standing computer station that rolled from room to room. “She’s my little sister.”
“Cool!” The custodian smiled.
“Yeah, very cool. Look, I have to get a move on, here, so...”
“Oh, Yeah, of course. Sorry,” the custodian was handsome and had a lovely smile.
Nancy pushed her computer cart towards the room that housed her next patient. “Umm, hey,” the man called to her. “Maybe, sometime, we could have coffee or something?”
Nancy looked at her watch and said, “Umm, yeah, maybe sometime, but I can’t today. Sorry.”
“Oh, yeah, I know, I didn’t mean right now, but maybe another time?”
Nancy smiled. “Ok. Sure, but I gotta go.”
“Great!” The custodian looked very pleased. “By the way, I’m Jim.”
“Nancy,” she smiled. He returned her smile, then turned and headed off in the other direction.
When she was sure that he was well around the corner, Nancy pulled out her phone and sent a text to Hank Miller. ‘I’VE BEEN APPROACHED BY CRAWFORD. WANTS TO MEET FOR COFFEE SOMETIME.”
‘GREAT.’ Hank responded. ‘KEEP HIM INTERESTED, BUT KEEP MAKING EXCUSES FOR A FEW DAYS. DON’T WANT TO APPEAR ANXIOUS. GOOD WORK.’
Nancy put her phone away.
“This one. The one with the white setting and the oddly cut diamond,” Ed was beaming as he stared into the glass counter cases at Dorfman Jewelers, one of the most prestigious jewelry stores in Boston.
“An excellent choice, sir,” the lanky man with thinning hair smiled. “This was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, himself, for Mrs Oliver HP Belmont of New York and New Port. It’s a dazzling piece, isn’t it?”
“It is,” said Ed, who was wearing a nicely pressed, but comfortable polo shirt and a pair of beige shorts.
“Yes, Tiffany’s jewelry is often overlooked due to his glasswork, but this is a lovely piece. A platinum band and setting with a two carat, uniquely cut diamond. Just exquisite.”
“How Old is it?” Ed asked.
“It was commissioned by the second Mrs. Belmont, Elva Erskine Smith Vanderbilt Belmont, the wife of Congressman Oliver HP Belmont, who came from a very wealth New York family himself, in 1906, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their marriage. Representative Belmont’s father founded the Boston Stock Exchange and Oliver took over that enterprise. The Belmont’s always kept a home on Beacon Hill.” The salesman was a font of historic information, but Ed really liked the ring and hearing its history just made it that much more enticing to him. If he was going to give Rose a ring, it was going to be a ring with some real history and class.
“So It wasn’t an engagement ring at all?” Ed asked, encouraging the salesman to provide more background.
“Oh, no. Her engagement ring was MUCH more elaborate. This was just a bauble to be worn at their summer home in New Port, Rhode Island – Belcourt, it’s called.”
“A bauble,” Ed laughed. “A pricey little bauble, I bet.”
“Indeed, It is, sir,” The man smiled, knowingly.
“May I see it?”
The man sighed as he assessed Ed’s age and appearance, “Perhaps sir would prefer something a bit less... costly. This is a very notable piece, and as such, it is very... prized... by jewelry experts and collectors.”
Ed stood straight. His hands in his pockets. He glanced across the shop to where Rose was looking in a different case and chatting with a sales woman. “I asked to see this one, please, and I’d like to do it without any fuss so that my fiancé doesn’t see it until I decide on the perfect ring. Thank you.”
“Yes, sir, but as I said...”
“How much?” Ed cut him off.
“It is quite expensive, sir, and I have no wish to embarrass you...”
“Tell me the price.”
The man sighed, again, and leaned forward so that he could speak quietly. “One hundred and twenty two thousand dollars. So, if sir would take a look at...”
“I really like this one,” Ed smiled. “Please, may I see it?”
The man sighed, again. “I’m afraid, sir, that, since you are not a customer who is known to our establishment, if you would like to see this particular ring, then I will need to authorize your credit card for the full one hundred and twenty two thousand dollars before I open the case. No funds will be deducted unless you decide to purchase the ring, of course...”
Ed nodded and reached for his wallet.
“Or, if sir’s card cannot be authorized for that amount, I will need to call sir’s bank to confirm that the funds are available.” He was a bit dismissive in his tone, which irritated Ed, a great deal, but he did understand the concerns of allowing ‘just anyone’ to handle such an expense item.
Ed produced his MasterCard ‘Black Card,’ surprising the man.
“I’m sure there won’t be an issue with the card,” Ed smiled.
The man took the card and sputtered, “Yes, of course. Let me just have my manager run your card for you.” He gave a confused, yet slightly impressed smile, then disappeared into the back room for a moment.
Ed looked over at Rose, who held up a very conservative string of pearls. “Do you think Bebe would like these for her birthday or Christmas?” She called across the open space.
Ed smiled, “I do. They’re very pretty. Classic. Just like Bebe.”
Rose smiled and handed them back to the sales woman. “I’ll take those,” she smiled.
Then she turned back to Ed and said, “Can I come over, yet?”
“Nope,” he laughed, “but I think I found it!”
“Really?” Rose laughed. “Don’t rush, now, this is only our seventh jewelry store we’ve been to in the last two days...”
Rose had seen well over a dozen rings that she would have been very happy to wear as an engagement ring, but Ed hadn’t approved of any. He wanted to find ‘the perfect’ ring for Rose.
A moment later, the salesman returned with his manager.
“All set, Mr McNeal,” the man smiled as he unlocked the door to the case.
“Holy cow,” the manager said in a very unbusinesslike manner, which immediately clued Ed that the man had recognized him. “I know you. You’re on that show. The one on Thursday nights, right?”
Ed nodded. “I am, yeah,” he smiled at the man.
“Oh, I love that show! My girlfriend and I never miss it! You’ve seen it, haven’t you, Geoffrey?” He prodded his subordinate.
“What show is that, Mr Cramer?” The salesman stood and held the ring in his gloved hand. “I don’t see much television.”
The manager snapped his fingers. “Oh, man, I’m sorry, Mr McNeal. I’m drawing a blank on the title.”
Before Ed could answer, the salesman, Geoffrey, said, “The only show I watch religiously in that show ‘Civil Disobedience,’ and that’s only because I love that Bebe Foley. She’s so talented. The rest of the cast though... I don’t know anything about them. They’re riding her coattails, anyway. That girl is amazing.”
The manage froze and looked at Ed, embarrassed, and he searched for something to say.
“You know what’s funny,” Ed said with a chuckle, enjoying the upper hand he had in this conversation. “Bebe Foley is my niece.”
Suddenly, Geoffrey became much more excited. “Oh, my God!” he squealed, “you must be so proud of her.”
“Geoffrey,” the manager tried to intervene, but Ed persisted, playfully, enjoying this quite a bit.
“Oh, I am. And look over there at my fiancé. She plays Bebe’s sister on the show.”
Suddenly, the man grew nearly breathless in the presence of someone famous. “Oh, my goodness,” he whispered. “I didn’t recognize her. Oh, she’s so beautiful! You’re a very lucky...” Geoffrey turned and looked at Ed. “You’re him, aren’t you? The younger cop on that show, right?”
Ed smiled, thoroughly enjoying the man’s discomfort. “I am. Now, may I see the ring?”
“I’m so, so, so, so sorry, sir.”
Ed smiled, put on and offered, cotton glove and took the ring to examine it. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “A work of art. Just like my Rose. I’d like to buy it, but let’s talk price.”
“Argh,” MK stretched and groaned as she emerged from Blaine’s mother’s Mercedes-Benz GLE sports utility vehicle. “I thought it was only a two and a half hour ride to Coronado Beach. We were on the road FOREVER!”
“We were on the road for exactly two hours and fourth four minutes,” Ella sounded disgusted. “I timed it because I knew you’d complain about it.”
John laughed at his friends. They were like an old married couple. He looked around and realized that Blaine was still in the car texting Joanne that they’d arrived safely. He smiled. Blaine wasn’t just handsome and loving, he was a nice guy who respected his mother. He liked that.
He thought about the first time his mother let him drive from Worcester to Cape Cod without her. It was a shorter ride than today’s by about an hour and he knew the route by heart AND he was almost a year older than Blaine. John was allowed to drive down in his mother’s nine year old Ford Focus, which was technically Nancy’s car at the time. Blaine drove them all in a one year old SUV that probably cost more than ninety thousand dollars. God, he had really entered a different world when he moved out here. A world of unbelievable privilege. He was grateful to be a part of it, but he needed to remember that the rest of the world didn’t live like this. He was pretty sure that, given the chance to visit his mother’s beloved cottage on Cape Cod, his friends would recoil at the perceived poverty of the lovely little house.
When Blaine had finished, he climbed out of the car and opened the hatchback where their beach bag and small cooler of soft drinks and lunches was waiting.
Ella looked at John and smiled. “That’s a pretty coverup, Bebe.”
It was a thin, red, dress-like garment, covered in graphics of hibiscus blooms that sat low on his shoulders, revealing his pale skin and the bright blouse straps of his suit, and high on his shapely legs. Both Ella and MK were wearing running shorts and tee shirts over their suits, while Blaine just wore his swim suit as shorts with a tee shirt above that.
“Thanks,” John smiled. “I like it, too. I don’t wear much red.”
“I think you look pretty in red,” Blaine smiled as he handed John a tube of sunblock. “And remember that your agent warned you not to get sunburned today. So, put this on.”
“Yes, Father,” John joked, but he dutifully began spreading the lotion across his skin.
“Here, we’ll help,” Ella offered, as she and MK squirted some into their hands and rubbed it into the backs of John’s legs, neck and shoulders.
“Now, you,” MK said to Ella, who turned her back to her friends so they could do her back while she did her front. “You burn like toast in about an hour.”
“Now you,” John said to MK when Ella was appropriately slathered.
“Nope,” MK laughed. “My skin is darker than you two. I’m fine.”
Blaine squeezed a little into his own hands and rubbed it into his face. “It’s still skin, Mary Kate, and it will burn. Besides, you’re only like the color of a Starbucks soy latte. You need protection, too.”
“Well, well, well,” MK laughed. “Who died and put you in charge?”
Blaine smiled. “My mom put me in charge, and she insists that we ALL wear sunblock. So... if you don’t mind...?” He handed her the sunblock.
“Well, in that case... I’ll wear it for your mom – not for you.” MK smiled her goofy smile as she took the tube as if it would sting her and applied as little as she could get away with, but John and Ella, eventually had her just as slathered as they were.
“Ok,” Blaine put the sunblock back into the beach bag and smiled. “Ella and MK, why don’t you guys go to the beach and find a place to set up the chairs. I’ll bring the cooler down later. Right now, I want to bring Bebe over to the hotel. There’s something that I want to show her.”
“Alright, stud,” MK looked suspicious. “You may be in charge, but you’re not bringing that little girl anywhere near a hotel to show here ‘something’ unless I know what you’re showing her.” She said the word ‘something’ with a great deal of innuendo.
Blaine laughed. “Just the hotel. She’ll get a kick out of it.”
“Oh, really? Why’s that?” MK crossed her arms, lips pursed, and waited for an answer, which Blaine whispered to her. “Seriously? Why would that interest anyone?”
Blaine rolled his eyes. “We’ll see you on the beach in a little while.”
Everyone pulled out their individual, long, nylon bags with their collapsible chairs within. Blaine pushed the button to close the hatch and each couple went in opposite directions. John pulled on a large, floppy, straw hat to further protect his delicate skin from the sun, held Blaine’s hand and followed his lead.
As they walked along the walkway, Blaine kept John occupied by pointing out points of interest towards the beach and asking questions that required thoughtful answers to keep John from looking towards the hotel.
“So, your meeting the surgeon went well?”
“Yeah. I think so. He says I’m ready, so... I guess I’m ready.”
“Are you going to miss it?”
John smiled. If things had remained the same as they had been a year ago, he too would have been very confused by anyone who chose to have his penis removed, but if anything, this year of living in a disguise had taught him that a lot of people aren’t what they appeared to be – even to themselves.
“I suppose it’s going to be odd not having it for a while, but... do you really understand why I’m doing it?”
“I mean... yeah... but I can’t imagine ever doing something like that, myself.”
“Of course, not, Blaine. You’re a guy. You’re happy to be a guy and someday, I hope, you’ll be happy that I’m not a guy.”
“Yeah, but you are a guy, too.”
“Hardly. I mean, I was KINDA a guy, but you know the story... my body never should have been a boy’s body. I just wish I’d been born a girl and all of this crap didn’t have to happen.”
They stopped walking and Blaine stood with his back towards the Pacific Ocean and turned the love of his life towards him. “I don’t, because if you had been born any different, then you wouldn’t be who you are and I couldn’t love anyone as much as I love you.” He kissed John softly and lovingly.
“Thank you, Blaine,” John smiled, then kissed him, again. “That’s means so much to me.”
Blaine smiled. “Are you ready for your surprise?”
John shrugged. “I guess.”
“Then close your eyes, keep them closed and turn around.”
John did as he was told.
“Are they still closed?”
John nodded.
“Ok. Open them.”
John opened his eyes, looked at the sprawling hotel and gasped in shock.
“Oh, my God! Is that really the same place?” He looked at the huge, red, rambling roofs of the hotel, the distinctive and unusual, rounded dormers in the rounded-pyramid shape on the section furthest to their right, the bright white siding and the beautiful, white rocking chairs on the expansive porch and recognized it at once.
“It is,” Blaine knew that Bebe would love this as much as he did. They both shared a love of great old movies and this had been used in one of the greatest comedies of all time. It was kind of ironic that this particular film was one of their favorites, but it was. “It’s ‘The Hotel Del Coronado. Built in 1888 and it’s still amazingly beautiful, isn’t it?”
“It is, but I thought it was in Florida. In the movie, they’re supposed to be in Miami.”
Blaine laughed. “There’s a smaller replica of it at Disney World, but this is the original and this is where they filmed the movie. They used it because it looked exotic enough to be a Florida resort in 1929. “He pointed to the porch. That’s where Joe E Brown sat as Jack Lemon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe passed him...”
“Zowwie!” John laughed as he quoted Joe E Brown’s lecherous old character in the movie.
“That’s the balcony that Tony Curtis climbed to get back into his room, aaaaand....” He turned John around to face the beach and pointed to the cabana chairs, “that’s where Marilyn said that she played ‘jazz... real hot.’ Remember?”
“Of course I do!” John loved all of this. This was a part of movie history. He could not be happier to see it all. “Tony Curtis told her that he owned Shell Oil...”
“He implied it.”
“And when she said that she played jazz ‘real hot,’ he said...”
They recited the titular line of the film together.
“Well, I suppose ‘SOME LIKE IT HOT.’ I personally prefer classical music.”
They both laughed.
“Come on,” Blaine smiled. “I want to take your picture on the porch.”
They held hands and hurried to the hotel, quoting the scene that leads to one of the greatest last-lines in movie history.
“Osgood, I’m going to level with you,” John quoted, “We can’t get married at all.”
“Why not?” Ed played along.
“Well, for one thing, I’m not a natural blonde.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Well, I smoke. I smoke all the time.”
“I don’t care.”
“Well, I have a terrible past. For three years now, I’ve been living with a saxophone player.”
“I forgive you.”
“I can never have children.”
“We can adopt some.”
“Oh! You don’t understand, Osgood... argh... I’m a man.”
“Well, nobody’s perfect.”
They both laughed out loud, both at the brilliance of the film, as well as the ironic nature of the juxtaposition between the film and their lives.
When they reached the porch, still laughing, John ran up the stairs, turned and smiled a huge, sincere smile, while Blaine took his picture. Then they switched places and John took pictures of Blaine. They asked a kindly looking couple to take pictures of them together and the couple happily complied.
As they were thanking the couple, John heard the distinctive shutter sound of someone else taking a picture. He glanced to the side and saw a man with a familiar face taking pictures of John and Blaine with a very expensive camera. The face was familiar because the man bearing the camera had been at Bloomingdale's yesterday with Austen Meadows.
This couldn’t be a coincidence. They had traveled too far to just accidentally run into this man.
“Now, what?” John muttered as they headed for the beach.
It had been a very long shift, but Nancy really felt the need to stop and pick up a present for Johnny – no – Bebe. She had to get used to that. She walked into the shop, embarrassed, but confident that no one would know her here, anyway.
“Can I help you?” The girl behind the counter asked. She had more piercings than anyone Nancy had ever encountered before, a lot more, in fact, as well as tattoos crawling up her neck and onto her cheeks. Her arms were complete sleeves of color and design, most of which were quite lovely flowers. Nancy appreciated those, but the ones that imposed on the woman’s face gave her the creeps. She seemed friendly, though, and to each her own, right?
Nancy held her phone forward, the screen facing the clerk. “Hi. I did a little research online and I want to buy one of these.”
The woman nodded. “I have those. I have others that have more options if you’re interested.”
Nancy smiled and blushed a bit. “No thanks. It’s for my younger sister. Her first, you know? I don’t want to overwhelm her.”
The woman’s smile spread. “Aww, how nice. I’m sure she’ll love it. How old is she?”
“Fifteen,”Nancy smiled, relaxing a bit.
“Wow!” The woman giggled, but was impressed. “I wish I’d had a sister like you when I was fifteen!” She reached down and grabbed an item, then stood again and said. “Gift wrapped?”
A little surprised, Nancy said, “Oh, well, yeah. That would be great!”
The two chatted as the woman wrapped the box. Nancy was a bit surprised that she had become so comfortable in this strange surrounding. The woman behind the counter had a very friendly persona and Nancy enjoyed talking dealing with her.
Just as Nancy was about to leave, the woman said, “You know who you remind me of?”
Assuming that it would be better to not admit to being Bebe’s sister at the moment, in this particular environment, Nancy said, “No. who?”
“Zooey Deschanel,” The woman smiled. “The dark hair, the bangs, the apple-cheeks... you really have a ‘New Girl’ vibe.”
Nancy laughed. “Wow! No one ever said that to me before. Thanks!”
“Sure,” The woman smiled. “Come back soon!”
“I definitely will,” Nancy said as she slipped out the door. Wow! Zooey Deschanel! She loved Zooey Deschanel. That was pretty cool.
“Congressman Crawford will see you, now,” The well dressed woman said with a businesslike smile. “Come this way.”
Hank walked behind the woman and straightened his tie as he gauged the words he’d use to convey the importance of what he needed to say.
“Mr Miller,” the Congressman stood and offered his hand.
Hank took the hand and smiled. “Thank you for seeing me, Congressman.”
“Not at all, Mr Miller. Always happy to meet a constituent.”
“Yes, well, you see, Congressman, I’m not exactly a constituent. I’m not from your district. I live down in Los Angeles. I’m afraid I’m here on some very serious business, though.”
The Congressman’s expression became more concerned. Whether spontaneous or rehearsed, the politician’s face was very engaging. “Well, please, Mr Miller, have a seat. How can I help you?”
“Actually, sir,” Hank opened his briefcase, removed a large Manila envelope and passed it to the politician, “after I explain the contents of this envelope to you, I think we’re going to need to discuss how ‘I’ can help ‘you.’”
John was asleep on the couch when Nancy came in. The trip to the beach the day before had tired him out more than he would have expected. Nancy sat on the couch, just above his head, and ran her fingers through his soft hair, removing it from his pretty face.
John’s eyes flickered open. “Hey,” he whispered in a tired voice.
“Hey,” Nancy replied in a childishly maternal manner. “Sleepy?”
“Yeah,” he smiled and sat up. “I don’t know why, though. I mean, I slept late, went to a voice lesson, had dinner and fell back to sleep before the second rerun of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ was half over.”
Nancy smiled. “Yesterday was a big day for you. A day off ... going away with your friends...”
John smiled. “Come on, Nan. You know I’ve had plenty of beach days with friends, before.”
“Not like yesterday, though, I’ll bet. Rather than throwing a Frisbee around and eating fried food from the snack shack, I bet you did a lot more talking, and laughing, and talking, and laughing, and talking, and laughing... didn’t you?”
John smiled. “I did. We had a great time. I doubt poor Blaine has even woken up, yet, though. Between the girl talk and the driving, I think we wore him out completely.”
Nancy smiled. She remembered being with her friends as a teenager. It was always exciting and exhilarating to be free and young. Johnny - no Bebe - was lucky to have this opportunity to relive his teen years. Other than Ed, he really never had any close friends at all the first time around. Now, he was part of a really lovely group of friends. They were all really good kids who cared a lot about each other.
She put her arm around his shoulders and laid her head on his. “I’m so glad you had a good day off, Bebe. You deserve it.” She pulled the beautifully wrapped present from her purse and held it out in front of John.
“What’s this?”
“A gift,” Nancy smiled.
John looked at his sister with playful suspicion. “What’s the occasion? It’s not my birthday or anything.”
Nancy kissed his forehead. “I owe you everything, honey. You believed in me when not even I believed in me. You gave me my life back, Beebs, and I just wanted to say a little ‘thank you.’ It’s just a little something from a big sister to welcome her little sister to womanhood. I know I’m a little late to the party, but... Open it.”
Now interested in what was in the present, John took the box and looked at it. He shook it, but couldn’t figure out what was in it. He gave her a mischievous smile, then tore apart the paper revealing the name of the shop. “Romantix?” John asked. “Interesting name for a store...”
“Keep going,” Nancy prodded. She was enjoying this.
John pulled the top off, revealing tissue paper. When he spread the tissue paper, his eyes opened as wide as they possibly could and his hand shot to his mouth as he exploded into uncontrollable laughter. “Oh, my God! Oh, my God, Nancy!!” He squealed. “I can’t believe you got me this!” He laughed more powerfully as he looked at the gift.
Nancy laughed as well. “Well, you’re going to need one. This is just a basic one, but I guarantee you’ll enjoy it!”
John reached in the box and retrieved the lifelike phallus from the box. “It’s kinda big, isn’t it?” His laughter continued.
“No,” now Nancy was laughing hard at her little brother’s naïveté. “No, sweetie, it’s pretty much average sized.”
John shook his head at the very thought of using it. “This is going to... fit... in me?” He marveled at the very thought.
“It is, baby,” she giggled. “And, trust me... it’s going to feel WONDERFUL. I promise.” She kissed his forehead, again. “I figured that, if someone was going to give you a dildo, it should come from your big sister.”
John bit his lip, then laughed some more. Obviously, something had tickled his sense of humor again.
“What’s so funny?” Nancy laughed.
“It’s just...” he blushed as he tried to speak through the giggles. “... it’s got... veins! Why would a nylon dildo need to have veins.”
Nancy’s eyebrows raised as she spoke in her best Red-Riding hood Grandmother ’s voice. “All the better to feel it with, my dear!”
John’s jaw dropped in shock! His sister! His up-tight, professional sister had actually just said THAT! He couldn’t believe it! Then, as his face contorted into joyful laughter, he looked at Nancy and shouted, “Nancy Foley!!! I can’t believe it! You’re a slut!!!”
They threw their arms around each other and hugged each other tightly as they fell back onto the couch, laughing and content. Sisters. Really sisters. For the first time, ever.
To Be Continued...
Bebe Goes to Hollywood - 6
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expected of him and self doubt becomes a huge problem for our young actress.
Also, the day of his SRS approaches and that fills him with apprehension as well.
This is not the easy, happy-go-lightly life of a young, successful actress that
he had expected.
Author's Note: As always, I adore your comments and critiques. *Please let me know how you feel about Bebe and her story.
*ps: I mean anything other than my usage of the name John for now.~Clara.
This version of Bebe Goes To Hollywood: 6 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.
Chapter 6
"Live those dreams, scheme those schemes."
~ Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
"I don't know, Bob." Rob Marshall sat in the booth at the recording studio and shook his head. "She's really not selling this song. It's just... flat and uninteresting. Is there anything you or the music director can do to make her sing it any better?"
"Such as?" Bob Lopez, the co-composer of the music for the movie. "Her pitch is fine. Her timing is fine. Everything is... fine. She's just not bringing the emotion we need to the song. This is a first for me. I'm at a loss."
"So... we bring in a singer to do the song and she lip syncs for the film. End of story."
"Let's see if we can get more out of her," Bob's wife and writing partner, Kristen, said. "She's nearly there. She's great in the trios she's already recorded..."
"Because those are just playful things and she's not featured," Rob shook his head. "She's a great little actress, but we're running out of time. The song came into the script late in the process and we have a drop-dead-date with this kid. She's having some kind of surgery on Monday. That only leaves three days to get this all done. Call that kid who you used on that Christmas special last year. I liked her. Bebe will lip sync to her voice. Agreed?"
"Yeah." Bob nodded his head, resigned to the situation.
"No," Kristen demanded. "No, no, no. She can do it. She's just never done it before. She's still a kid, guys. This is her first musical EVER. We can get it out of her. Bob, you know I'm right."
"I do, Kris, but the clock is against us. She's got four scenes to finish this week and one of them features this song." Rob shook his head. "As far as I can tell, either we dub her voice or we cut the song."
"We can't cut the song, Rob." Bob Lopez was surprised by the suggestion. "We rewrote the whole movie to lead to this song."
"Then we dub?" Rob was done with the conversation.
"Then we dub," Bob agreed.
"Kris?" Rob waited.
Kristen thought for a moment. "Give me till the day after tomorrow, please."
"Ok," Rob said. "Then we put it to bed. Ok? We film the scene with that song in it the day after tomorrow. She can lip sync to her own track, but if it doesn't work, we use the other singer to dub the voice in post production."
Bob nodded, but Kristen stood and headed for the door. "She'll do it. I guarantee it."
When the door had closed, the two men looked at each other and shrugged.
When he heard the gold iPhone ring, Hank hit the record button on his memo app on his silver version of the same model. Then he hit the speaker button on the gold one.
"This is Dave Rothman," Hank said into the phone. The phone had not rung for nearly six weeks. He was beginning to think it wouldn't. Six weeks ago, he'd had a second date with Miss Stephanie. This time he'd brought her back to 'his place,' a dummy apartment he'd set up to establish an home for Dave Rothman.
"Dave!" a cheery, man's voice came through the speaker.
"Yes. Who's this?"
"My name's Jim, Dave. We have a mutual friend named 'Stephanie.' Ring a bell?"
"Yeah, sure, I know Stephanie. What can I do for you."
"The question is, Dave, 'What can I do for YOU?'"
I don't understand." Hank pretended to be confused.
"Here's what I can do for you, Dave." The voice remained upbeat. "I can make sure that the emails, the spread sheets and the other documents that Stephanie took off of your phone and tablet don't find their way to your superiors or the authorities. How does that sound, Dave?"
Hank paused as if to process the offer. "Hang on. Let me close the door to my office." He left the phone on speaker, while he stood and closed the door to his office. "Umm," he sounded very nervous when he sat back down, "What, exactly, are we talking about here? Ransom? Blackmail? What?"
"Oh, Dave, Dave, Dave, those are such nasty words. I'm just a friend who wants to help you out."
"How much?"
"Wow! You're the kind of guy who gets right to the point, aren't you. You don't ask about the files or which ones we have. That makes me think that maybe you have a lot to hide, Dave."
"How much, goddamnit. I don't have time to play games."
"Well, that's too bad, Dave, because I have all the time in the world. I think we need to meet. Let's say eleven o'clock tomorrow morning at your place. Sound good? Don't bother answering. We're coming, no matter what. Nice talking to you, pal."
The line went dead.
Hank smiled and nodded. "Keep it up, smart ass," he muttered as he shut down both phones. "You're going back to jail for good this time and, if daddy knows what's good for him, he'll let you rot there."
"It's a lovely home, Edward." Marilyn smiled at the tasteful opulence that Rose and Ed had created on the coast of Falmouth. It was a far cry from the little cottage that she had in Hyannis. "I wish you both many years of happiness here."
"Thank you, Marilyn." Rose loved showing off the house to people. They'd been trying to get Marilyn and her new boyfriend, Joe McManus, to stop by the house all summer. They finally came by today - just a few days before Ed and Rose were scheduled to return to Los Angeles. "I'm so glad you guys could come by. And it's so wonderful to finally meet you, Joe."
The pleasant man who lived across from Marilyn in Worcester and had proposed to her on Christmas smiled. "It's a very impressive place, kids. Congratulations."
"And congratulations to you, two." Ed smiled as he handed everyone a fluted glass of champagne. "Have you set a date, yet?"
"Next spring, some time, I think." Marilyn smiled at Joe. "We're taking it slow."
"Not like you two, huh?" Joe teased. "Can't wait for married life, I guess?"
Ed put his arm around Rose and blushed a little. "Well, when you find the right woman, why wait, right?"
They laughed and Ed raised his glass. "A toast! To Marilyn and Joe. May you be happy forever."
They clinked glasses and sipped the expensive drink.
"And to Ed and Rose," Marilyn said. "May you also find happiness... and take good care of my baby."
Both Ed and Rose looked at each other confused by the remark. Before they could clink glasses, Marilyn put hers down and turned to face the ocean, obviously upset.
Joe gave Ed and Rose an uncomfortable look, then put down his glass and put his arm around Marilyn. "We agreed not to discuss this, today, honey. He rubbed her back. "Come on, now. What's done is done. Let's just be civilized and wish them well."
"Oh..." Marilyn was suddenly very angry. "... to hell with being civilized. My son is having his penis cut off and I wasn't even involved in the discussion. I'm tired of being civilized."
Joe looked over his shoulder at the younger couple, obviously embarrassed and uncertain as to how to proceed from here.
"Marilyn," Rose said, softly, as she stepped in front of the distraught woman. "Sit down, please. I think we need to discuss this, now, before we leave for California."
"Now!? NOW, we need to discuss this! It's Tuesday, Rose. My son is having himself castrated and reshaped on Monday, but NOW we need to discuss this? You two signed all of the forms. I guess that makes it all ok. No one asked for my opinion?" She was crying hard, now, and Joe guided her to one of the chairs that surrounded the table on the porch.
Ed took a seat opposite John's mother with Rose to his left and Joe to his right.
Rose took the older woman's hand in hers. "Marilyn... I'm sorry that you're upset. I wish you'd told us you were upset earlier. You knew about John's diagnosis and that he wanted to become a full woman, right?"
"Of course I knew," Marilyn sniffled back tears and tried to gain her composure, "but I was never brought into the conversation about this surgery. I'm his mother, for God's sake. I should have been consulted"
"You're HER mother," Ed said with patience, but a little more coolness than Rose expected, "and you turned HER care over to Rose and me. I asked Bebe if she told you and she said that you had a long conversation. Is that untrue?"
"No, we talked," Marilyn sat straighter, now, "but I was more than a little surprised that all of the hospital forms were signed by you two and not by me. I should have some say in this, shouldn't I?"
"Well, yes... of course..." Rose smiled and tried to comfort Marilyn. After all, Marilyn had been very gracious to her last summer and even invited her into her family.
Ed, though, was not going to be quite. "Marilyn, you made Rose and me Bebe's guardians. From the moment that we took on that responsibility, we have not, not one time, thought of Bebe as anything other than a little girl who needed our help, our guidance and our protection."
Rose chose not to correct that statement, since, when they first moved to Los Angeles, Rose and John were still involved in an affair. Ed was right, though - John didn't exist anymore. Just Bebe.
Ed continued in a businesslike manner. "I was the one who fought with her when she didn't want to go back to school. I was the one who dealt with the school when she was in trouble. I was the one who took her to the hospital when her ulcers burst. The terms of our guardianship indicate that Rose and I are the sole guardians of Bebe Foley for as long as she lives in Los Angeles or until she turns twenty-one according to her new birth certificate. Legally, she is a fifteen year old girl who lives in LA and needs an operation. Legally, the signatures on the hospital form HAD TO BE either mine or Rosie's and I signed them knowing that you were aware of the surgery. Why is this suddenly a problem?"
"Because I have been pushed out of my son's life, Edward! You... you... you usurped my role as a parent... both of you. It's unfair!"
"Marilyn," Rose was still holding her hand, "we were only doing what you asked us to do. We never meant to hurt you."
"And you do not have a son, Marilyn," Ed was firm, but patient in his tone. "You agreed to everything and no one forced you. I think it's very apparent that Bebe was always meant to be a girl, but nature has a funny way of screwing around with people. I could never do what she's doing. Honestly, she's a lot braver than I am. We acted on your behalf and in Bebe's best interest. I'm sorry if that's somehow upsetting you, but we acted as we felt we should. If you didn't think we were doing the right thing, I really wish that you had contacted us sooner."
"And Marilyn," Rose's tone was much kinder and patient than Ed's, "Bebe is not being 'castrated.' Bebe's hormones were out of whack and would have caused her big problems later on. The hormone treatments and the surgery are one hundred percent corrective. She is going to be a much happier, a much healthier and a more complete girl after the surgery. We all need to support her, ok?"
"Look," Joe said, "this has been a very hard time for Marilyn - with both the kids in Los Angeles, Nancy being in recovery and John..."
"Bebe, Joe. Her name is Bebe and only Bebe," Ed sighed at having to repeat this very basic concept.
"... ok, Bebe is having sex reassignment surgery. A year ago, both of her kids were close by. Now... they're a continent away and their lives are... complicated... and independent.. of hers. It's been tough for her. Do you understand that?"
"Of course we do, Marilyn... Joe," Rose tried to be soothing. "Is this why your not coming out to the coast for the surgery?"
Marilyn nodded as new tears appeared in her eyes.
"Well, then," Ed said, "now that we've aired all that out, you should come out and stay with us. You should be there."
"Oh, I don't know," Marilyn wiped her eyes. "Maybe he'd be better off without me."
Before Ed could correct her, Joe interrupted. "'She,' yeah we know that Bebe is a 'she.' What do you say, Marilyn? Let's go to California for the surgery. It's the right thing to do and I know it's what you want to do."
Marilyn looked defeated, but she knew, deep down, that she wanted to be there when her baby went into surgery and when he came back out, too.
"Thank you," she said as she nodded. "I'll go."
"I'm so scared, Cassie," John confided in his friend back east in New Hampshire. "This is supposed to be a big opportunity and I'm blowing it. If they dub my singing voice, everyone will know and I'll be a laughing stock."
"I really don't get you, sometimes, Beebs." Cassie shook her head on the computer screen as they Skyped. "I saw the footage of you on stage with Dusty Rose. You were unbelievable. Why can't you do that for the movie?"
John shrugged. "I don't know, Cass. It's just... really different in the recording studio. I keep trying, but I either push too hard or I crack on the higher notes... I just suck at singing this song. AND ITS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SONG, too! I just wish I'd never agreed to do this movie. It's going to end my career."
Cassie shook her head. "What do your other friends say?"
"You know - 'You can do it. You're so good at this. You got this.' - the same stuff. It doesn't help."
"Alright, then," Cassie shrugged, "then I won't say the same thing, but Bebe, you're more talented than anyone I know. If you asked me, I'd say that you're panicking for no reason. You need to calm the heck down and do your freakin' job."
John stared at the screen for a moment. "Was that supposed to help me, somehow?"
Cassie shrugged again. "Yeah. It was supposed to be a pep talk, I guess."
"Well, then you really suck at pep talks," John gave a weary laugh. "Thanks, though. I gotta go to bed. I have to be in makeup at six o'clock tomorrow morning. So... say hi to Annie for me. I love you guys."
"We love you, too, Bebe. Let me know how it goes, ok? Good luck."
"Thanks, Cass. 'Night."
"Night, Beebs."
"More wine?" Jim asked Nancy. This was their second date and Jim was trying to be as suave as he could be.
"No," Nancy smiled. "I need to limit myself to just one drink. I'm back on the ward in the morning."
Jim smiled. "Are you having a good time?"
"I am," Nancy said, following the script that Hank had created for her. "I don't get out much."
"It must be tough being your little sister's babysitter all the time."
Nancy thought about that for a second. "We take care of each other."
"Nice," Jim smiled. "Did you know that I know your sister? I mean, not from the show, but in real life?"
Nancy looked surprised."You do? How?"
He bounced his head from side to side in thought. "I used to be the coach at Notre Dame. In fact, I went to jail briefly because of your sister."
Nancy sat up straighter. "Hey, Umm... What's this all about, Jim?"
"Well, Nancy," he smiled a sleezy smile, "it's about money. Here's the thing - yesterday, I discovered that there were a whole bunch of Percocet missing from the dispensary on your ward. Now, no one has noticed that the drugs are missing, yet, but come tomorrow, I may have to tell someone about the missing drugs unless you give meeee... let's say... two hundred thousand dollars. That's what this is all about."
Nancy looked surprised and hurt. "I... I don't have that kind of money, Jim..."
"I know, Nancy, but I bet that your little sister does, doesn't she. Here's a thought - get the money from her before six o'clock tomorrow night or the hospital is getting an anonymous phone call indicating that the young, brunette doctor with the history of drug problems is having a relapse. Sound good?"
Even though she'd expected something like this, the brazenness of the man opposite her was shocking and the threat touched an exposed nerve. "But..."
"No, no. No 'buts,' Nancy. Have the money by six pm or you're going to have a lot of explaining to do. We clear?"
Nancy just stared at him. "But... I thought you liked me, Jim. I really liked you."
"Oh, poor baby," he grinned as he placed his napkin beside his plate and stood. "Two hundred thousand by six pm. Thanks for dinner? It's been a ball, babe. See ya," and he walked out the door.
Nancy watched him go, then looked around, feigning embarrassment until she was sure no one was watching. Then, she paid the bill and left the restaurant texting to Hank as she walked. 'TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND BY SIX TOMORROW OR THEY ACCUSE ME OF STEALING PERCOCET.'
Hank text back, 'OK. I HAVE A MEETING WITH HIM TOMORROW MORNING. THEY MUST BE PLANNING ON LEAVING THE COUNTRY SOON. DID YOU KEEP THE RECORDER ON YOUR PHONE GOING?'
'YES.'
'GOOD JOB, NANCY. AFTER OUR MEETINGS WITH THEM TOMORROW, I THINK WE GOT THEM.'
"It's going to be fine, Bebe," Joanne assured him as they headed into makeup. "I have a good feeling about today."
The makeup artist worked her art on John's face. She barely chatted as she worked. John missed the constant chatter from the makeup artists on the TV show crew.
Kristen Anderson Lopez entered and sat beside John. "Morning, Bebe. Morning, Bebe's mom. How are we doing this morning?"
"Ok, I guess," John said without moving much.
"She's very nervous," Joanne said. "She can do it, you know. It's just new to her."
"Alright," Kristen nodded in agreement, "we're going to finish your scene with Anna, then you and I are going to work this song to death. Sound good?"
John shrugged. "I don't know, Kristen. I'm beginning to think that I can't do it. I'm sorry."
"Oh, for crying out loud," the makeup artist said, "don't start crying. I don't have time to do your eyes again."
"Sorry," John sniffled.
"Relax, Bebe," Kristen said as if that was all that needed to be said. "You can do this if you just relax and act while you're singing."
"Ok," John sighed.
"You sure you don't need any more backup, Hank?" Don asked, concerned. They were in the living room of Dave Rothman's apartment. Jim and Stephanie were due at nine, but another couple of guests would be joining Don in the next room in just a few minutes.
"The room has cameras everywhere, Don, and there are microphones behind every lamp shade and picture. We'll have everything we need. I promise. Just relax and be a gracious host for our guests."
"Ok," Don nodded, nervously. "You're the pro."
A knock came on the door. Don went to the door and opened it, surprising the guests.
"Don Ferry!?" The older man said. "I'm confused."
Don smiled. "Come next door with me, Congressman. I'll explain everything. Good to see you Detective Brady."
Don extended his hand to each man. "Good to see you, too, Don. Let's get ready."
The rehearsal studio was becoming stuffy - maybe not really, but between the constricting, Edwardian costume that John had to continue to wear in case he was called to the set and the amount of frustration and failure that filled the room, John was ready to melt into resignation and tears.
"I don't understand what's going on in your head, Bebe," Kristen Anderson Lopez shook her head. "You're perfectly capable of opening up and doing a great job on this song, but you don't. We rewrote the whole movie to provide you with this showcase piece and you seem determined to not sing it. Why?"
"I don't know how to explain it, Kristen... I really don't. I'm trying my best, but I just can't seem to find the... I don't know what I even mean. If I were acting, I guess I would say that I can't find my character. I kind of feel the same way when I sing the song. I feel like I'm too loud or too soft at all the wrong times and that I'm not in character. It's like I'm all over the place and not anywhere near where I want to be."
"To be perfectly honest, Bebe, that's exactly what it sounds like, too. Take a break and think about what you want to get out of the song and we'll get back to it in ten minutes. Ok?"
John nodded as Kristen headed to the ladies room.
Joanne, who had silently been wishing she knew how to help, stood and crossed to Bebe and rubbed her back. "You ok?"
"No, mom. I'm really not. I'm scared. I never felt this...
inadequate... before. Like I'm in so far over my head that I know that I'm going to drown. I can't do this. I really can't. They're just going to have to dub my voice."
Joanne bent so that her lips were next to John's ear and she whispered, "That's enough of that, young lady. The Bebe that I know doesn't give up. The Bebe that I know is a fighter. She has fought with every director she's ever worked with and she's won every battle. Who are you fighting right now, Bebe?"
"Myself," he whispered.
"Then figure out how to beat yourself, Bebe. Being a star isn't easy, but you are one. Now, put on your big-girl panties and be the woman you know you can be. No more tears. No more self pity. It's time for Bebe Foley to grow up. Right here. Right now. Think it through, Bebe. Be 'June' in the movie. You know her. You know who she is. Now, be her."
John stood and nodded. "I will," he said as Joanne's phone buzzed and Kristen reentered the rehearsal studio at the same time.
"Ready to get back at it?" Kristen asked.
John nodded and kissed Joanne's cheek. "I am." He said.
"I need to step out for a moment," Joanne said. "I'll be back in five minutes."
John nodded.
"Will you be ok?" Joanne asked, quietly.
"I'm good," he smiled.
The knock on Dave's apartment door came at exactly 11:00. Hank opened it, looking just disheveled enough to look like a guy who'd had trouble sleeping, but was trying not to show it.
"Hi, Dave," Stephanie said as she entered with Jim following behind her. "Long time, no see. How're you doing?"
"Steph," Hank sneered. "Jim, I assume?"
"You got that right," said the slime ball behind her. "Nice place, Dave. I think we may be able to work out a deal that allows you to keep it, if you're cooperative. What do you say we get right down to brass tacks and make this as undramatic and painless as possible?"
"Sure," Hank indicated the dinning room table and they sat around it.
Over the next twenty minutes, Stephanie and Jim showed Hank an assortment of emails and paperwork that Stephanie had managed to take off of his cell phone and tablet. All of it was very incriminating for Dave Rothman.
"Jesus Christ," Hank muttered as he buried his face in his hands and grunted in frustration. "You two are pieces of work, I'll tell ya. Jesus, Steph, I thought we really clicked, you know? I mean... what the fuck!?"
She smiled, "Sorry, Dave. You're a little old and pudgy for me, but don't worry. We're going to be seeing a lot of each other from now on."
Hank looked confused. "What do you mean? Why?"
Jim stood and patted Hank's shoulder. "Dave, my friend. You don't think that we're going to tell anyone about these papers, do you?"
"You're not?" Hank looked surprised and relieved.
"Of course not, Dave. I mean, if you go to jail, then I don't make any money and Steph doesn't make any money and, of course, you don't make any money. So, here's what's going to happen. We want a hundred grand when we come back here at nine-thirty tomorrow morning. Then, we'll take ten grand a week for... let's see... the rest of your life. Sound good?"
"What!? Ten thousand dollars a week!? Are you nuts?"
"Nope, and neither are you, pal. You're a smart guy. You can figure something out, I'm sure."
"There's no way..."
"It's nonnegotiable, Davy," Stephanie teased.
"We'll be back at nine thirty tomorrow morning, my friend," Jim took Stephanie's hand and headed for the door. "See you then."
When they closed the door, they heard the sound of something heavy hitting the door from the inside and the sound of Dave Rothman shouting, "Fuck! You fucking assholes! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!..." it continued until the elevator doors closed and they descended.
When he was sure they were gone, Hank stopped, then looked at the closest camera and said, "Congratulations, Congressman. You must be very proud."
"Well, of course she needs a party," MK shook her head and rolled her eyes at Blaine's ignorance. "We want to welcome her to womanhood."
"Yeah, ok, but," Blaine was concerned, "we can't invite a lot of people. This is all supposed to be a secret, remember?"
"We remember, Blaine," Ella looked a bit offended. "We're not idiots, you know? We're planning on inviting Bebe's sister, her cousin, her uncle, you, your mom, Don Ferry and his wife. That's about it."
"The theme," MK explained, "is womanhood. Makeup, pretty dresses, lingerie... stuff like that."
"And where do you plan to hold this event?" Blaine crossed his arms and looked from one girl to the other. "If you have it at a country club or an event hall, people will find out about the operation."
"We know," the girls said together, with very mischievous smiles.
"Then, where to you plan on having the party?"
"Your place." MK smiled.
"My place?" Blaine was surprised. "I don't think we've EVER had a party at my house. We always go out. I don't know what my mom would say about that."
"Seriously!?" MK laughed at his statement. "I don't know if you've noticed, Blaine, but your mom is spending more time with Bebe than she is with you. She's nuts about her. She won't say no to Bebe."
Blaine shrugged. "That's probably true, but you guys should probably ask her about it. She has no problem saying no to me."
"Well, that's better, Bebe, but I need you to open up more. I need more emotion. Do you understand what I'm getting at?"
John hung his head and shook it. "I know, but... see... I feel like I'm giving more, but it doesn't ever seem to come out on the recording. I don't know how to do what I want to do. I know that doesn't make sense..."
Kristen nodded. "Actually... it makes perfect sense. There's a reason that Bob and I don't sing professionally, Bebe. We know what we want to do, too, Bebe, but... we can't make it happen, either. Maybe we're all in the same boat."
John's nod was sad and resigned. He'd tried. He'd tried his best, but... he'd failed.
Joanne opened the door to the studio and stuck her head in. "Excuse me, Ms Anderson Lopez. Could I see you out here for just a moment?"
"Sure," Kristen sighed stood from the piano. "Take a break, Bebe. We'll talk when I come back."
John watched her leave and caught Joanne's eye as the door began to shut. Strangely, Joanne winked at him as she turned and looked out into the hallway. The door didn't close all the way and John could hear voices outside. He couldn't make out who was speaking, but there were at least two people and they were complementing each other. He could only hear snippets, but he heard the words 'Big fan' and 'Love your work' several times. Then the conversation turned a bit more serious, but it got too quiet for him to hear.
Finally, Joanne turned back towards John and she smiled as she said, "I think I found some people who might be able to help you."
Joanne's smile was huge as she pushed the door open all the way, revealing two of the most famous faces in the world.
"Chrissie!" John shouted. "Terry!" He leapt to his feet and ran to them as quickly as his Edwardian dress would allow.
The two country music superstars from the band Dusty Roads spread their arms as the young actress approached and embraced them both into a three way hug.
Abruptly, John pulled back and looked at the two superstars. "What are you doing here!?"
"We hear you're having some problems, Bebe," Chrissie smiled.
"We're here to help you, sweetheart," Terry said.
Nancy sat in the coffee shop and kneaded her hands nervously. She knew that Hank and Don were watching on a camera they'd hidden in the restaurant, but she didn't like being in this position at all. She'd do it to protect Bebe, but she didn't feel at all comfortable being here.
Unexpectedly, a very attractive woman in her early thirties slid into the bench on the other side of her booth.
"You must be Nancy," the woman smiled. "You really do look just like your sister, but I'm sure you're told that all the time."
"Actually," Nancy took on a smug tone, "I'm usually told that I look like Zooey Deschanel."
"Really?" The woman looked more closely. "Yeah, I can see that, too."
"Is there something I can help you with?" Nancy asked.
"There is, actually," the woman smiled a bit to friendly. "I'm here about some money that you owe my friend, Jim. Do you have it?"
Nancy nodded.
"I'll take it."
"No." Nancy looked around, feeling real fear. She knew that she needed to get Jim into the payoff video in order to have them both charged with the crime of extortion, but she wasn't comfortable doing this. "I'll only give it to Jim. I need to talk to him. He owes me an explanation."
Stephanie smiled. "Well, I suppose he actually does owe you some sort of explanation, doesn't he?"
She pulled out her phone and pressed a number. "Hi. Yeah. She has the money, but she wants to talk to you, first. Ok."
She disconnected the call and said, "He'll be right in."
Within seconds, James Crawford stormed into the café and sat next to Stephanie. "Hey, girls," he sneered. "What's up?"
"Your girlfriend feels you owe her and explanation," Stephanie laughed.
"Oh. Ok. I'll explain. I was nice to you so I could take your sister's money." He looked at Nancy for a moment before adding, "Any questions?"
Nancy just shook her head. "You're an asshole, you know that?"
"I do, yes, but in a moment, I'm going to be an asshole with a lot more money. Give it to me, now."
Nancy reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope. Jim opened it and looked at the bills inside.
"I'll go out to the car and count it." He said. "I'll call if it's all there."
"It is," Nancy said.
"Then I'll only be a minute," Jim smiled and headed for the door, but he came to a dead stop when he ran into a man coming into the café with several other men. "Dad!?" Jim said.
The congressman just shook his head at his son as another man stepped forward and produced a pair of handcuffs. "James Crawford, I'm Detective Brady of the LAPD and you're under arrest."
Hank looked to the booth where Stephanie sat with Nancy and smiled. "Just stay put, Steph. We'll be right with you."
The next day on the set started much the same way that the previous day had. Makeup for an hour then John was squeezed into another beautiful, elaborate dress. This time, though, John felt much better about things.
As he and Joanne walked onto the soundstage, Kristen, Bob and Rob were all talking near video village.
"Come on, Rob," Bob was saying. "We have the time, it's the same set, she's in the right costume... what have we got to lose?"
"I'm not sure," Rob Marshall shook his head. "I really hated the way this worked in 'Les Misérables'."
Kristen rolled her eyes. "I hated the way everything worked in 'Les Misérables', but think about Evita, Rob. They did it in just one scene. Jonathan Price didn't like his studio recording in the 'But on the other hand, she's slowing down,' scene, so they just used a piano player in the studio and mic-ed him. He walked through the scene and acted as he sang and it worked great! Then they added the orchestration later. Give Bebe just one more chance. Try doing it live and I think she'll do great."
Rob shrugged. "Ok, but if it doesn't come together, we're done with all this nonsense and we dub her voice."
"Thanks, Rob," Bob shook the director's hand.
"Which one of you is playing the accompaniment?" Rob asked as he moved to a control panel.
"Neither," Kristen smiled. "We brought in the big guns."
Rob looked to where she was pointed and his eyes bugged out of his head. "That's not really...? The twins? The ones from Dusty Rose?" He could only have been more surprised if Paul McCartney or Mick Jagger had been sitting there.
"It is," Kristen laughed, "and they got more out of her than I could ever have expected. You're gonna love it what you hear it. It's like a whole different song."
Chrissie sat at the piano, just out of the camera shot, and Terry sat close by with an acoustic guitar.
"Any time you're ready, Rob," Bob patted his friend's shoulder.
Rob Marshall shook his head. "Unbelievable," he muttered. Then he spoke into a microphone. "Good morning, everyone. Can I have everyone at 'one' please? Everyone at 'one.'" Crew people scurried to their position and when everyone was ready, Rob said, "Ms Foley... if you would, please."
John held his skirts clear of his steps and moved to his first mark. He glanced at Chrissie and Terry who each blew him a kiss. Then he looked at Joanne who mouthed, 'I love you,' and held two thumbs up.
'I love you, too,' John mouthed back and he smiled.
"Lights, please," an assistant director called. "Sound are you ready?" The tech with headphones nodded and gave a thumbs up.
A female PA stood in front of John and held a digital mark-board in front of her face. "'Our Father's House.' Scene thirty nine. Act three. Take 'one.'" She clapped the board and stepped to the side.
"Action!" Rob Marshall called.
"Go, Music," The assistant director cued Terry and Chris and they began playing. It was different than it had been before. Less driving, more relaxed and thoughtful. It encompassed a feeling of sadness that the previously recorded accompaniment had only hinted at and it immediately enfolded everyone on the soundstage in its magic spell of deep and anguished sorrow.
And then John started singing. It was quiet at first, not tentative - sad. Sad and lonely. Sad and lonely and, somehow... defiant.
'Where am I going?
Not where they plan
Why does life seem so determined
To make me settle on a man?
Who am I really?
I'm not like them
Not a thing of beauty
Not a shining gem
I'll never be like like her
I'll never find my way
I'll never be the princess
In a beautiful play.
I just want to be the girl
Who no one ever sees
The one who no one bothers
The one who is just... me.'
Sensing that something unusual was happening on the soundstage, Anna Kendrick and Lily James both appeared from the makeup area, their hair still in curlers and their makeup half done. When they felt the energy of the performance, they stopped and stared at their younger 'sister' and they, too, became enthralled by the performance.
'Why don't they know me?
Why can't they see,
That I don't belong on a pedestal?
That I need to be free?
Do they think I'd be happy
Just to be swept aside?
With no say in my life,
Just along for the ride?'
As the song moved into its refrain, Bob looked around the studio and saw an entire crew of more than a hundred men and women standing still, enraptured with the emotion generated by the young woman at center stage. As he smiled, Kristen elbowed him gently. When he turned towards her, she used her chin to gesture to Bob's right. When he turned, he saw Rob Marshall, arms folded, walking slowly out of the video village area, moving towards the brightly lit stage area with his jaw hanging open, just a bit. As John’s voice grew in intensity and determination, the director continued to wander forward until he was at the edge of the lighted area.
‘But I...
I am electric and alive
I will call lightning from the sky
No one will hear me if I cry
And I...
I will not wait, I will not slow
I will I will not stay if I should go
I’m not the simple girl you know’
Joanne shivered with emotion as she watched this child who’d always been so quiet and polite suddenly burst out of herself and become this powerhouse in front of her. She looked around at the mesmerized crew and the smiles on the faces of the composers and the joy on the faces of the amazing musicians she’d finally gotten in touch with and who’d allowed Bebe to find the song within her, and she smiled and she cried and she knew that Bebe had done what she needed to do.
The song continued,
‘Don’t condescend to me, don’t preach like I’m a child
The world is new and bright, untamable and wild
So, look and see my sparks of life as you watch me pass
I’m not the girl you knew, my moment’s come at last!
‘Cause I...
I am electric and alive
I will call lightning from the sky
No one will hear me if I cry
And I...
I will not wait I will not slow
I will I will not stay if I should go
I’m not the simple girl you know’
The song ended and John froze in place, waiting to hear the director’s call that the scene was over, as he’d been taught.
But nothing happened.
The sound stage remained quiet.
No one moved, or spoke, or even seemed to breathe for what seemed like an eternity.
Finally, Robert Lopez prodded the director by quietly saying, "Rob... Rob..."
As if being shaken awake, the director looked to his left and said, "What...?"
Bob indicted the whole sound stage.
Rob Marshall looked about and suddenly realized what was happening. "Oh, geez," he muttered. "Cut!" He yelled. "Cut! Cut! Cut! Everyone!"
Then he turned back to the techs in video village and yelled, "Please, tell me you got that!"
The techs all held their thumbs up and smiled.
Rob turned to the set and spread his arms as he approached the sole actress on the stage. "Bebe! God almighty, Bebe! Where the hell did THAT come from!? That was the single greatest performance I have ever seen in my entire career!"
Finally, the sound stage came to life with whistles and applause and John was swamped by people running up to hug and congratulate him.
Joanne, still not aware of her tears, hurried to where Chris and Terry we’re preparing to leave. "How can I ever thank you?"
"Don’t be silly," Chrissie smiled. "We are happy to have been able to help. I really love this kid. She is amazing."
Just then, Bebe appeared at Joanne’s side, "Mom! Mom! Oh, my God, I did it! I can’t believe it!"
"You sure did, Bebe!" Joanne hugged John harder than she’d ever hugged him before. "You were incredible, baby! I’m so proud of you!"
John turned to Chris and Terry and smiled as he hugged each of them. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, so, so much! I never could have done it without you!"
"Oh, don’t be silly," Terry said. "We just played for you." She pointed to John’s heart. "It was all right here, inside of you."
"You really did a great job, Bebe," Chris smiled and kissed John’s cheek. "We’re very happy for you. If we can ever help you out again, just let us know."
"Actually," John made a ‘you’re going to hate me for asking this’ face, but continued, "Can I call you tonight or tomorrow? I do have a favor to ask."
"Of course," both of the twins said in unison.
Before they could say anything else, John heard the director calling his name. "Bebe! Bebe! Come over here. I want a picture of you with me, Bob, Kristen, Lily and Anna! We want to preserve this moment! Then, we’re going to watch the rough playback."
"Gotta go," John said to Chrissie, Terry and Joanne, "but thank you all, so, so much!"
At least a dozen pictures were taken and the whole crew stopped to watch the playback. Even John, Who was typically embarrassed by his own performances enjoyed watching the scene. What a great way to wrap up his shooting schedule on the film!
"What do you mean ‘there’s a twelve to twenty four hour delay!’" Ed was not a happy man. They had planned to fly to LA overnight on Saturday in order to be at the hospital in plenty of time to spend Sunday afternoon with Bebe before her surgery on Monday. "It’s August! There’s no snow out there, there are no tornados or hurricanes causing issues... Why is there a delay!?"
"There was an attempted terrorist attack at O’Hare Airport in Chicago, Mr MacNeal," the serious young woman at the airline help desk explained. This was news to Ed and Rose. They’d been listening to music on the way to the airport. "They successfully blew up a power station," she continued, "so there’s no power at the airport. They found a bomb hidden in one of terminals and they are searching for more as quickly as they can, but, until they clear O’Hare of any bomb threat and reopen the airport, I’m afraid that everyone is grounded – the entire United States’ commercial fleet. Just like in the days following Nine Eleven. ’"
The news seemed to drain Ed. He was a big, strong guy and he could be very imposing if he was riled, and he was very riled right now, but he knew that no amount of strong-arming or money was going to fix this problem. This was more than a travel issue. This was an attack on the country.
"So, we suggest that people return home..." the young clerk tried to explain, but Ed interrupted her.
"How long ago did this happen?" Ed asked, surprising the clerk.
"Fifteen minutes ago, or so. Maybe not even that long. They shut us down just before you arrived at the counter."
Ed looked around the crowded airport. It was filled with frustrated, angry and scared people, but his major concern was still getting to Los Angeles as quickly as he could. "If it just happened, then there should be hotel rooms available near by. Come on," he took Rose’s hand and headed into the crowd, "let’s see if we can find a room at The Airport Sheraton. When the airport opens, I want to be on the very next plane to LA."
"Alright, everyone," the nurse said as she came into John’s suite at the hospital, "it’s nearly nine o’clock and time for this young lady to get some sleep. She has a big day tomorrow." Don and Vivian had left about a half an hour earlier, but there was still a gaggle of people loitering in John’s suite.
"Oh, damn," Ella said. "I wanted to see the end of the movie."
"It’s ‘Mean Girls,’ Ella. You’ve seen it a billion times before," MK scoffed. Then she turned to John and smiled. "You’re going to be ok, Bebe, right? I mean... I’ll see you tomorrow evening when I come back, right?"
John gave his sarcastic friend a tired smile, touched by her concern. "I’ll be here, don’t worry." It seemed like they’d taken gallons of blood from him over the last six hours and he felt very tired because of it.
"Ok," MK smiled and kissed his cheek. "Please be ok," she whispered.
Ella was equally concerned. "Be ok, Beebs, ok?" She kissed him, too.
"Don’t worry," John smiled. "I’ll be fine."
"Of course she will," Joanne smiled and kissed him as well. "See you tomorrow, sweetheart. Love you."
"Love you, too, mom," John smiled and waved to them as they left the room, leaving just Blaine behind.
John smiled at him, seeing his concern.
"Are you scared?" He asked.
John shook his head. "No, not at all. In fact, I’m kind of excited." He did feel a little excitement at the prospect of becoming fully a woman, but he also was very concerned about the operation – especially since Ed and Rose had been delayed. He knew that they could do nothing to help him through this, but just having them nearby and knowing that they’d be there when he woke up would have been a bit comforting. "Are you ok?"
Blaine smiled. "I’m fine, I guess. I’m just worried, just like everyone else. You’ll be fine, though. I know it."
John squeezed Blaine’s hand and smiled. "I know it, too."
Just then, the door opened and Nancy entered. "I’m here to throw you out, Blaine. Sorry. Bebe’s nurse is getting antsy out there." She smiled at him and indicated the door with her thumb.
"Ok," he kissed John on the lips. It was a slow and tender and loving kiss. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"See you tomorrow afternoon,"
"Ok." John let go of his hand and waved as he left.
"How are you holding up?" Nancy asked with a smile.
"I’m really tired."
"You should be," Nancy laughed. "Between the blood they took and the drugs they gave you, you’re going to sleep well."
He smiled.
"Scared?" Nancy sat on the bed.
"A little... Well... yeah... I’m pretty scared."
Nancy checked her watch. "I’m off in about twenty five minutes. I’ll sneak back in then. How would you like it if I slept on the sofa over there for tonight?"
"I’d really like that," John smiled at his sister.
She kissed his forehead. "Ok. I’ll go finish up and I’ll be back as soon as possible."
Nancy left with a small wave. When she returned, John was breathing softly and sleeping soundly.
"What’s your name?" Yet another nurse asked as she prepared some kind of medication.
"Bianca Foley," John repeated once again, for the umpteenth time.
"And you’re here for what procedure?"
"Sex reassignment surgery," he said, again.
"And your birthday is?"
The questions went on and on and John kept repeating the same answers, over and over again.
When the nurse left, Nancy moved back beside his gurney and smiled at him. "You’re doing great, baby. I know those questions are frustrating, but they just want to be sure that there are no mistakes."
John nodded. He’d only been awake for three hours, but he was already exhausted from the procedures that preceded the actual surgery.
"Don called and said to tell you that he loves you and he’ll see you here tomorrow."
"That’s nice," John gave a tired smile.
"Blaine and Joanne are in the waiting room already. Unfortunately, hospital rules won’t allow them to come in, though."
He laughed at Blaine and Joanne being so devoted to him. They should still be at home in bed. There was no reason for them to be here already. "When you go back out, tell them I love them, ok?"
"Sure."
"And kiss Blaine for me."
Nancy laughed at that. "No, I don’t think I’ll do that. I think you’re already dopey and they haven’t even given you any anesthesia."
Now, John laughed at Nancy.
Just then, Dr Martinez came in followed by Dr Shapiro.
"Well, look who’s hiding in here," Dr Martinez had a big, infectious smile. "Morning, Bebe. Morning, Dr Foley. Is everyone feeling GREAT this morning?"
Nancy smiled and said, "She’s pretty tired, already, Doctor."
Dr Shapiro was looking at the chart that had been assembled for the surgery. "Probably due to all the blood they drew yesterday. I bet you feel like a pin cushion, don’t you?"
"I do," John smiled at the joke, but the same joke had already been made by several doctors and nurses.
"Ok," Jorge Martinez moved to the other side of John’s gurney. "In a few minutes, some one is going to come in and give you drink. There’s a dye in it that helps us during surgery. It’s very sweet and you probably won’t like it very much, and that’s too bad for you, because we need you to drink it. Swallow it down in one or two swigs. Don’t prolong the taste any more than you need to."
"Ok," John nodded.
"Then, someone will give you a shot that will relax you a lot. With your weight being a hundred and seven pounds, it may even knock you out. After that, if you’re still conscious, they’ll offer you some headphones to listen to some music while you wait to be rolled into the operating room. Any questions?"
John shook his head ‘no,’ but Nancy saw fear forming in his eyes. So, she moved to the top of the gurney and put a gentle, supportive hand on his shoulder. He appreciated that.
"You’ll probably be asleep before you go into the operating room, but even if you’re still awake, I doubt that you’ll have any memory of going in there. The anesthesia usually wipes out your memory from about a half an hour before it administered until you’re completely awake after surgery. Ok?"
"Ok," John responded.
"Alright, then," Dr Shapiro squeezed John’s forearm and smiled, "I guess the next time I see you will be in the recovery room. Good luck, Bianca. You’re in the most capable hands in the world."
Dr Martinez smiled down at John and laughed, "I’d love to be humble and tell you that Dr Shapiro is just being nice, but I can’t. He’s right. I’m the best there is, Bebe. Relax. You have nothing to worry about."
The two men left the suite, leaving just Nancy and John.
"Nancy?" John asked.
"Yes, honey," Nancy moved to his side.
"Just in case... you know what I mean? Just in case... please tell Blaine and Joanne that I love them, and tell mom too, and... tell Ed and Rose that I’m sorry for everything I put them through. I didn’t mean to be such a brat to them... ok?"
"Bebe," Nancy smiled as sweetly as she could, "stop worrying. You’re going to be fine."
But she could see that John was really getting nervous, now.
"And tell Cassie and Annie that I’m sorry I lied to them, but I couldn’t tell them the truth. I wanted to, but I couldn’t." Now, he was beginning to cry and cry hard.
"Honey, shhh."
"And Don and Viv and Oscar... tell them I love them, too. And Ella and MK... tell them that they were better friends than I ever deserved to have. I love them, too."
"Bebe, honey," Nancy was getting emotional now. "And Nan... I’m so sorry about how I treated you at Thanksgiving. I was such an asshole. I’m sorry."
"Baby, baby," Nancy kissed his head. "Please stop. You’re getting yourself all worked up for nothing. I love you with all my heart, sweetheart, and I’m going to be here when you wake up this afternoon. Please, just calm down."
Mercifully, at that moment, a doctor who identified himself as surgical assistant entered and produced the drink that Dr Martinez had warned him of. "Drink it in one gulp if you can," he instructed, "and resist the urge to vomit if makes you nauseated."
With the help of the Doctor and Nancy, John sat a little taller and downed the drink in one gulp. "Ugg!" He groaned. "That was horrid."
The doctor laughed. "I warned you. Do you feel ok, though? No feelings of vomiting?"
John shook his head. "No. I’m fine."
Nancy was at least grateful that the intrusion of the Doctor had gotten John’s thoughts away from his fears.
As that doctor exited, another entered. "Good morning, Bebe," she was very cheery. "I’m part of your anesthesiology team. I’m going to give you a shot that will make you very relaxed, ok?"
John nodded as the doctor took his left hand and injected the IV line that was already installed there. "You may feel a little discomfort here as the drug disperses through your body."
"Ow," John cringed. "My hand really hurts. My wrist, too."
"That’s normal, dear," the doctor told him.
"Then you should have warned her BEFORE you injected her," Nancy growled. "Relax, baby. It’ll pass."
Unperturbed by Nancy’s remark, the doctor disposed of the needle, then turned to John, again. "I have an MP3 player for you. We have found that concentrating on music helps our patients to relax. What kind of music would you like?"
He thought for a moment, then asked for show tunes.
The doctor scrolled through the playlists. "Hmmm, I’m sorry, but I don’t have a show tunes play list. Something else?"
"Do you have any Dusty Rose?" Nancy asked.
"Sure," The doctor smiled. "I have a country music play list and there’s plenty of Dusty Rose on there. Sound good?"
John nodded.
The doctor put the ear buds into John’s ears and pushed the ‘play’ button. Dusty Rose didn’t come through his ears, but a song he really liked by The Eagles did.
‘There's talk on the street; it sounds so familiar.
Great expectations, everybody's watching you...’
Glenn Fry’s voice was very comforting. John could see Nancy and the other doctor talking, but he couldn’t hear them anymore. Nancy was nodding, occasionally glancing at John, smiling and looking supportive.
‘Johnny come lately, the new kid in town.
Everybody loves you, so don't let them down...’ the guitars were so peaceful...
John’s mind began to float. He saw another person come in and felt the gurney start to move. Nancy kissed his forehead and smiled. Part of him felt peaceful and part of him was terrified.
‘You look in her eyes; the music begins to play.
Hopeless romantics, here we go again...’ the harmonies were so pretty.
He watched the ceiling go by above him and the door frame passed. He knew he was in the hallway, but had no idea which way he was headed.
‘There's so many things you should have told her,
But night after night you're willing to hold her, just hold her. Tears on your shoulder...’ Those lyrics were sadder than he remembered.
He caught a glimpse of sign that had the words ‘Surgery 3’ written on it.
He felt his gurney being turned to the left, and saw a door opening, but then there was a commotion. He didn’t know what caused them to stop, but he didn’t care much, either.
Then, there was something in his line of sight.
Then two somethings and they were talking to him.
It seemed important. He struggled to think. To focus.
He knew them.
They loved him.
He loved them.
‘There's talk on the street; it's there to remind you...’ The song was confusing his thoughts.
He finally knew them.
"Uncle Ed. Rose." John tried to sound happy, but his voice sounded drunk and slurred.
"That’s right, baby," Ed said, breathless from running down the hall. "I told you you couldn’t have the surgery unless my face was the last thing you saw before you went in. Remember?"
John’s thoughts reeling in drug induced confusion. "You guys came..." He slurred and smiled a silly smile.
"We did, baby," Rose said. "We’ll be here when you come out."
"We really need to get her in, now," the doctor said.
Ed nodded and kissed John’s cheek. So did Rose.
"I love you guys," John muttered in a barely understandable voice.
"We love you, too, baby," Ed smiled as he shook with nervousness. "We love you, too."
The ceiling began to move above John’s head, again.
‘There's a new kid in town. I don't want to hear it.
There's a new kid in town. I don't want to hear it,
Ahh, ooh...’
What a nice song.
He loved this song.
Then his vision began to fade.
There was a doctor that he recognized... Jorge was his name... Dr Jorge...that was a funny name.
Then the bright lights of the room faded into darkness.
Then the sound of The Eagles faded into silence.
To Be Continued...
Bebe Goes to Hollywood - 7
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Author's Note: I have ceased to use the name ‘John’ for the main character in this story. The character
is no longer a male. John is gone. Long live Bianca ‘Bebe’ Foley!
Please leave your comments and critiques. I promise you, I really do read them!!! ~Clara
This version of Bebe Goes To Hollywood: 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.
Chapter 7
'A point is all that you can score.'
~ from Two Tribes by Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
There was something.
Something in the distance.
Something calling her name.
Something that wanted her attention.
Something she wanted to respond to.
Something she knew.
Something she loved.
Could she open her eyes?
She tried.
No.
She tried again and there was a flicker of light and a blur of color.
She tried again.
This time she got them open, but couldn't make out anything.
She worked to clear her vision.
Her eyes fluttered and fluttered and, slowly, cleared and then the voices in the distance became closer and more understandable.
Then she was awake.
"There she is." Ed smiled at her. "How are you feeling?"
Good question. How was she feeling?
"I don't know," she muttered as she tried to clear the cobwebs from her consciousness.
Then she felt the dull soreness between her legs. "Ooo. It hurts a bit."
Nancy appeared opposite Ed. "It will hurt for a few days, baby. Use your morphine button for now. If it starts to ache, push this button so you don't feel any pain. It'll be better in a day or so."
Fingers were pushing her hair from her face. She couldn't see who it was, but she knew that touch. It was Rose. She looked to the left of her head and saw Rose's beautiful face. She was smiling. "Hi, Beebs," she smiled and giggled at her as if she was a child. "You're a woman now. Really and truly a woman. How does it feel?"
She smiled at Rose. "It hurts a little, I guess."
"Haha," Nancy laughed as she smiled at Rose. "That's the understatement of the century. You'll feel much better very soon, honey. I promise."
Ed picked up her hand and kissed it. "We almost didn't get here in time. Do you remember talking to us on the way into surgery."
Bebe thought for a few moments, then smiled. "I do. At the door to the operating room, right? I thought it was dream."
Rose laughed. "Not a dream, Bebe. Your Uncle Ed performed a miracle and got us here on an Air Force plane."
Bebe blinked and processed that. "How?"
Ed laughed. "My cousin is a senior officer in the Air Force. I called her and explained the situation. She called a superior and, as it turns out, that person is a big fan of yours, and we got on a plane and got here just in time."
A moment later, Dr Martinez entered. "How's she doing?" He smiled.
"Good, Doctor," Nancy smiled. "She's a little dopey, but she's coherent."
"Excellent!" The doctor smiled as he looked at Bebe. He felt her forehead and looked at the monitors behind the bed. "Feeling a little beat up right now, Bebe?"
She smiled and nodded.
"You will for a day or so, but I think that you'll find that it's all worth it. Everything went perfectly and the construction of your vagina is, if I say so myself, a work of art. You just need to A) Give yourself time to heal and B) Follow the guidelines we'll be sending home with you, and you'll be feeling great in a couple of weeks. Ok?"
Bebe nodded.
"And don't be brave. Do you understand me? Any discomfort at all and I want you to push that morphine button. It will monitor your intake and we're not going to give you enough to do hurt you. It'll just numb the pain and let you rest. Ok?"
She nodded again.
"Good girl," he smiled. Then he leaned down and whispered, "Isn't it nice to think that you really are a girl, now? Congratulations, Bebe. Today is your Second-Birth-Day."
Bebe nodded, again, feeling very tired already.
The doctor stood and smiled. "I guess that it's ok to bring the rest of the family in, then. There's a couple of beautiful young women, and a handsome young man and his charming mother going a bit crazy out there. I understand that they have some news for you. I'll show them in."
After he had turned to leave, the doctor handed Bebe's chart to Nancy and said, quietly, "You're doing a very good job, Dr Foley. Let me know if she needs anything. I'll be on the floor most of the morning and in my office this afternoon."
"Thank you, Doctor," Nancy smiled. Praise on the hospital floor was rare and made her fell very good.
Ed ran the back of his finger along Bebe's cheek and he smiled. "We missed you, Bebe. Rose and I talked about you every, single day."
Bebe smiled again. Her thinking was clearing. "I was worried that you wouldn't make it before I went into surgery. I felt better when I saw you guys. Thanks."
Rose leaned over and kissed Bebe's cheek. "Your Uncle Ed is a superhero, Bebe. I think he's going to replace Tony Stark as the new Avenger." She smiled at her fiancé.
"Can we come in?" Joanne said from the door. Nancy held it open and waved them all in.
Blaine made a bee-line for the bed. "Hi," he said breathlessly.
"Hi," Bebe smiled. The smile spread and she looked at the boy with mischief in her eyes. Her smile brightened as she bit her lower lip. Everyone in the room knew what she was thinking. Things were different, now. She was really a girl and he was every inch a boy. She could be with him as his actual girlfriend and someday as his wife. In a way, it was very romantic. It was a private moment, but they were all sharing it.
"Feel ok?" Blaine asked.
"I'm fine. Or at least I will be in a few days."
Blaine leaned in and planted his lips on the beautiful little woman in the bed. He kissed her softLy, tenderly and long, until Ed put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "That's enough for now, lover boy. Let her up for air."
Ella and MK kissed Bebe's cheeks and told her how happy they were she was ok.
Finally, Joanne said, "We have some news."
Bebe and her friends quieted and everyone looked to Joanne. Something was going on. Everyone except Rose, Ed and Bebe seemed to know something.
Ed looked at the coy faces and said, "What's going on?"
"Don called mom a few minutes ago," Blaine smiled. "Guess what?"
Rose looked around and smiled at their face. "What?" She giggled.
MK smiled. "The Emmy Award nominations have been announced."
"And?" Ed asked.
"Go ahead, Ella," Joanne smiled.
Ella unfolded a piece of paper and read, "'Outstanding Writing on a Dramatic series,'" she paused and smiled, "'Civil Disobedience,' including Will Crocker, Larry Franks, Max Webber and Bianca Foley."
Bebe's jaw dropped.
"Bebe!" Rose shouted. "They gave you a writer-credit for all of your improves!"
"Well," Ed was equally surprised, "you certainly helped to shape the show and pointed it in a different direction! Congratulations, baby!"
"Wow!" Bebe muttered.
"That's not all," Ella continued. "'Outstanding Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series, Don Ferry in 'Civil Disobedience.'"
"Alright, Don!" Ed clapped his hands.
"'Outstanding Featured Actress in a Dramatic Series,' Marion Foreman, Civil Disobedience."
Ed and Rose and Bebe all looked to each other and smiled at Marion's good fortune. After all these years, she deserved some recognition.
"'Outstanding Dramatic Series,' Civil Disobedience."
"Oh, My God!" Ed hugged and kissed both Rose and Bebe.
Ella handed the list to MK, who cleared her throat and smiled. "'Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series,' Rose Mason, Civil Disobedience."
Rose's face went white as her hand shot to her mouth. "Oh, God!" she uttered.
"Rosie!" Ed lifted her right off the floor and spun her around.
Bebe held open her arms and hugged Rose. "Oh, Rose! Congratulations!!"
"I can't believe this," Rose could hardly breath. "I'll have to call my parents."
"I'm not done," MK said with mock irritation. "'Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Series,' Edward McNeal, Civil Disobedience."
Now, Ed stood slack-jawed in shock. "That can't be right..." he breathed.
"Of course it's right, Uncle Ed!" Bebe said as she hugged his arm and kissed his hand. "This is amazing! We all got a nomination!"
MK handed the paper to Blaine, who said, "There's one more."
Everyone got quiet and waited.
Blaine couldn't contain his grin as he spoke. "'Outstanding LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMATIC SERIES..."
"Lead actress," Ed, Rose and Bebe all whispered at the same time.
"... Bianca Foley, Civil Disobedience."
"OH, MY GOD!" Rose was shouting, her voice a fifth higher than usual, without realizing it, "BEBE! LEAD ACTRESS! Lead, baby! They're calling you 'The Female Lead!' Can you believe it!?"
Ed was speechless for a few moments. "I wish I could pick you up and hug you, baby! I can't believe this! I'm so proud of you!"
The others all congratulated her as well. Bebe was nearly as high from the news as she was from the morphine. "Nan," Bebe called to her sister, "can you call mom so I can tell her?"
Nancy looked at her phone. "You can tell her when she gets here, Beebs. The planes were allowed to take off this morning. Mom and Joe are on their way here from the airport right now."
"Next question, please," the moderator of the press conference called. The studio had set this up the moment the Emmy Awards were announce. Don and Marion were handling the questions. "Yes, the woman with the purple top over there."
"Hi," the woman stood. "Your show received an astounding number of nominations - five for acting, three for writing, two for directing, Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Episode... the list goes on. How is the cast feeling about all of this positive feedback?"
Don indicted that Marion should speak first. "I think we all knew that we had something very special happening, even before the premiere. The show is so beautifully written, week after week, after week, and the show runner leaves us room to actually act - not just read the lines... it's a very positive and supportive set. We're very proud of our work and thrilled to have that work acknowledged."
She looked at Don, who's million-dollar-smile was shining brightly. "We keep telling the kids to enjoy this time," he chuckled. "Shows don't last forever and shows like this one don't come around very often. All the stars aligned for 'Civil Disobedience.' The right producers, directors and writers..."
"And Bebe!" Someone called from the audience, causing everyone to laugh.
"... and, of course, Bebe and that whole Massachusetts contingent. They are all great kids who work so well together. It wouldn't be the same show without them - and I mean that quite literally. The original script called for me to have two sons. We completely switched gears when we met Rose and Bebe. My partner was supposed to be a burned out guy, about to retire, and then I read with Ed and his energy was so infectious that I suddenly became the older cop. See, that's the kind of insight and creativity that our team is open to. We're really lucky to have all found each other. We really are just like a family."
"And where's the rest of the 'Civil Disobedience' family today?" A reporter called out.
"To tell you the truth," Don turned just a bit serious, "they're all at the hospital. Bebe had some surgery, nothing too serious, this morning, so Uncle Ed and Cousin Rose are with her."
"What's the surgery for, Don?" Asked another reporter.
"It's private, Frank, but nothing very serious. She'll be back on the set when we need her, you can count on that."
"Were you surprised," a familiar face from TMZ asked, "that Bebe received a nomination for Outstanding LEAD Actress in a Drama? I mean, she was never meant to be the 'lead' actress, was she? She's billed fifth in the opening crawl her role isn't what you'd call a typical 'lead' on a TV show."
Don laughed, "Well, Austen, you're absolutely correct. Bebe was meant to play 'Alex' who was expected to be a secondary character, but you've seen the show, I assume. She is anything but secondary to this show. I'm going to be very honest with you - if I'm lucky enough to be remembered for anything as an actor, it'll probably be for helping to discover Bebe Foley. This kid... I don't think I can explain how talented she is, can you Marion?"
Marion thought for a moment, then shook her head. "You really need to be on the set with her to understand how gifted she is, Austen. She's always prepared and motivated, which, of course, is what we expect from all of our colleagues, but frequently don't get. But... when the camera starts to roll, she's a completely different animal than anyone else I've ever met."
Don nodded. "That's a great way to say it, Marion. Bebe's instincts are always perfect and never what we expect. She's not the 'lead' of this show - she's the heart, the soul, the circulatory system, the consciousness... she is the show, Austen, and everyone seems to know that, except for Bebe. She's never the 'ball hog' on the team - she passes the ball. She waits for reactions. She's always thinking, but never calculating. None of this probably makes any sense, but it's the truth."
"So..." Meadows smirked, "do you feel you owe your nominations to Bebe's acting?"
That million-dollar-smile came back. "I do, Austen. Marion?"
"Mr Meadows," the older actress smiled, "I've been doing this for nearly forty years without any recognition whatsoever. Most years, I was just thrilled if I worked enough to keep my health insurance. Now... well, let's just say that she's revitalized my career. I can be in a scene with two lines and I feel like I'm playing Lady Macbeth as long as Bianca is with me."
Don nodded and looked back towards the reporters. "In short, Austen..." he winked at the reporter, "Life is good."
"Oh, baby, I'm so sorry that we weren't here for the surgery," Marilyn hugged her new daughter. "Do you feel ok?"
"A little achy and very tired, mom, but other than that, I'm ok. Thanks for coming, you too Joe. I didn't think you'd be able to make it."
"Our plans changed, honey, and Ed and Rose invited us to come. So, we wanted to surprise you before you went into surgery, but that stupid terrorist attacking Chicago messed us all up."
Despite the abundant size of the room, it was getting a little crowded with so many people coming by to wish Bebe well. Even Oscar and his daughters had been there for an hour or so, but they'd left just as Marilyn and Joe arrived.
"Mom," Bebe smiled, "I want you to meet my other mom. This is Joanne. Blaine's mom. She's been my 'Studio Mom' while we were filming the movie."
The two women said hello and were exchanging pleasantries when the door opened again and, even though she could not see the entry, Bebe could quite distinctly hear Don's voice as he kidded, "What is going on here!? Has anyone seen Bebe Foley in this room? I just wanted to see my favorite daughter for a moment, please."
"She's over here, Don," Joanne laughed. "Just push your way through!"
"Well, I would," Don pretended to shout, "but I have two other people with me who want to say 'hello!' as well. I don't think that we can all fit."
Joanne looked around and said, "Alright, kids. You all come with me and I'll buy you some lunch across the street and we'll come back later, ok?"
Ed spoke to Rose for a second, then said, "We'll join you guys. We haven't eaten since last night and we could use some protein."
Blaine peeked through the crowd and said to Bebe, "We'll be back. Love you."
Bebe's smile was broad and loving. "Ok. Love you, too."
As people headed out, Bebe could hear people talking out in the hall. Don must have brought a surprise. Maybe he'd brought Vivian or Marion.
Nancy kissed her mother and said, "I'm going to go down stairs and take care of a few things. You guys enjoy your visit and I'll be back in a half an hour or so."
As she reached the door, Don said, "I think you need to stay for a moment, Nancy. I held on to these two, as well." Ed and Rose stepped back in with big smiles on their faces.
"Ok," she laughed and stepped back to allow Don to enter with Chrissie and Terry in tow. Nancy covered the huge smile on her face. "Oh, my God!" She laughed. "You're... you're the Dusty Rose girls! I can't believe you're here."
Terry and Chris smiled. "Judging by the resemblance," Terry said, "my guess is that you must be Nancy, right?"
Nancy was completely taken off guard. "Umm... well... yes... I am... how... did you know my name?"
Chris smiled and looked at Bebe. "Bebe told us all about you. How you are taking care of her this summer and how you're doing your residency here. It was very nice of you to relocate your life just to help out your sister."
Nancy looked at Bebe and said, "Well, we take care of each other. Just like you and your sister do, right?"
Joe could tell that Marilyn was very touched by this remark. When he'd first started dating Marilyn, Nancy was struggling with her addiction and she resented brother-now-sister for interfering in her life. Now, it was clear that Marilyn's girls had a very healthy and loving relationship. He put his hand on his fiancé's shoulder.
"How are you feeling, Bebe?" Chris asked, coming to the side of the bed and kissing the young actress.
"Pretty good, under the circumstances," Bebe was thrilled to see the two musicians who'd so graciously helped him out last week.
"This is my mom and her fiancé, Joe."
They all exchanged pleasantries and talked a little about how Terry and Chris had saved Bebe on the set, a story which Chris and Terry insisted was overblown. Finally, Chrissie leaned down and whispered something to Bebe.
"You're kidding," Bebe's eyes were wide and her smile was huge.
"Nope. Everything worked out perfectly." Chris smiled, then looked at the other people in the room. "So, do you want to tell them or should Terry and I?"
"You can start."
"Ok," Chris smiled. "Terry?"
Theresa looked around the room and smiled. "Well, I understand that there are a couple of weddings coming up for this family."
The two couples took each other's hands and smiled.
"Well, we don't tour at Christmas time and we're taking a few months off in the spring because we're recording and album and, Margo, our bass player, is expecting a child and will be delivering right around that time, so..."
She let it hang there, but Bebe jumped in, "So... Dusty Rose is my wedding present to each of you."
There was confusion in the room.
"What do mean?" Rose asked first. "Like autographed albums or something?"
"No," Bebe giggled hilariously. "Dusty Rose is playing the receptions for your weddings."
"OH, MY GOD!" Rose shrieked, then hugged the person nearest her, who happened to be Terry. "I can't believe this!"
"Well," Chris smiled at everyone, "it's been a long time since any of us played a wedding, but I bet we can figure out how to play ‘The Bride Cuts The Cake,’ by December."
"And don’t worry," Terry smiled at the older couple. "If you’d just like some acoustic music, we can do that, too."
"Oh, no," Joe laughed. "We’re planning on having a really good time!"
Terry and Chris hugged everyone in the room, including a smiling Nancy.
"Nan," Bebe’s smile was even more mischievous than before. "When do you finish you residency, here?"
"Provided everything goes well," Nancy thought, "I guess I’ll be done in June of next year."
Chris looked at Bebe. "Perfect timing."
Bebe nodded as Nancy asked, "For what?"
"See," Chris took Nancy’s hand, "we’ve set up a charitable fund that has developed very, very well, and we have been working with a whole lot of other foundations, including ‘The Don Ferry, Civil Disobedience Foundation,’ to fund and build a hospital over near The Staples Center."
"We’re modeling it after The Mayo Center and St Jude’s Hospital," Terry explained. "No patient will pay for services."
"It will specialize in two fields, Childhood Cancer and LGBTQ issues – counseling services, health services, etc. We’ve talked to some of the most reputable health professionals in the world and we’re putting together one of the best medical staffs anywhere," Chris smiled.
"My Doctor, Dr Martinez, will be on staff there as well as here," Bebe offered.
"Anyway," Terry continued, "Bebe told us all about you, how dedicated you are and how well you’ve done since over coming your problems..."
"We also met with Dr Martinez and all of your immediate supervisors," Chris smiled.
"And, well, "Terry smiled at Nancy, "we’d like to offer you a position there when we open in July. If you say yes, you can join Dr Martinez’s team here so that you can move into the new hospital with a senior position – which, of course also would include the salary of a senior team member."
The room was quiet as everyone waited for Nancy’s response.
"Oh, my..." she muttered uncertainly. "... I don’t know..."
"What!?" Marilyn was shocked. "Nancy! This is the opportunity of a lifetime! A chance to pay off all those student loans and live well with a great job!"
"I know, mom..." Nancy considered her words, "... but I can’t just keep taking advantage of Bebe. I need to... I don’t know... do things on my own. Not rely on my baby sister. Thank you, Beebs, but..."
Bebe nodded, but looked disappointed.
Ed cleared his throat. "Look, Nancy, I know that we have never really gotten along all that well, but... think about this – None of us would be here if it weren’t for Bebe. She’s like a good luck charm. Rose and I wouldn’t know each other, I’d be packing for my senior year at Wentworth, Rose would be an Emerson grade, waiting tables in New York City while she looked for an acting gig, you’d still be living with that guy in Massachusetts... Even your mom and Joe might never have gotten together. Just being near her gives you an advantage. I wouldn’t just throw this chance away."
"And I never would have gotten through the movie shoot if it weren’t for Chris and Terry, Nancy. We all help each other out." Bebe tried to reason with his sister.
"Think it over, Nancy," Chris handed her a cell phone, "but look at these emails. There’s at least a dozen from your supervisors here and at the hospitals in Boston. They are all very frank about the problems you ran into when you got hooked on Percocet, but they all indicated that, when you are sober, you are one of the most promising young doctors they’ve ever seen."
"We would not be making this offer," Terry touched Nancy’s arm, "if we didn’t believe you could do it, Nancy. What really made us take notice was Bebe’s story about how you diagnosed her condition in your mom’s kitchen. That is an amazing story. You changed her life for the better."
"If you think about it," Bebe smiled, "none of us would be here if it weren’t for You, Nan. Please consider the job."
Nancy smiled. "It’s a very generous offer, Terry, Chris, and I appreciate it. Would you mind if I talked to Dr Martinez first?"
"Of course not," both replied.
"I know this may be an awkward thing to say at this moment," Ed chuckled, "but if I don’t get something to eat soon, I’m going to pass out, so...."
"Ed’s right," Rose agreed. "I’m starving. We’ll go meet the others."
"You know," Nancy smiled and patted Bebe’s hair, "she really should get some rest. Maybe we should all leave for a little while so she can sleep."
Everyone said their goodbyes, except for Chrissie, who said to Nancy, "May I speak to Bebe for just a few minutes? I promise I won’t be long?"
Nancy smiled at her sister. "I guess she’s not THAT tired. Sure." She bent and kissed Bebe’s forehead. "You get some sleep after Chrissie leaves. Understood?"
Bebe saluted, "Yes, sir."
Nancy laughed and left.
Chrissie pulled a rolling chair up next to the bed and said, "How do you feel?"
Bebe smiled, took a deep breath and sighed. "It’s hard to explain, but I feel... right... different. It doesn’t feel real, yet, but I know somethings have changed."
Chris smiled and took Bebe’s hand. She thought for a few moments, then said, "You know, Bebe... from the moment I met you, months ago, at The Staples Center, I felt a connection to you. I didn’t know why until last week when you told me about your surgery, but I knew that you were special... different."
Bebe smiled. "I’m glad, Chrissie. I feel the same way and after what you did for me last week... well, your friendship means the world to me."
Chrissie nodded. "Me too." She looked around the room and Bebe could tell that Chris was nervous about something. Whatever she was going to say, was obviously important. "Oh, Boy, this is harder than I thought it would be, but... I need to confess something to you, Bebe. Something you need to know."
Bebe waited, uncertain of what to say.
"See... I haven’t talked to anyone about this in, like, five years or so and... well, under the circumstances... well, it seems like I should talk to you about it."
"Of course, Chrissie. You’ve helped me so much, I’d love to return the favor, if I can. What can I do for you?"
Chris laughed. "Well, Nothing, really. It’s just... well, you know how I said that Margot would be having a child in the spring?"
"Yes."
"Well... see... I’m the father."
Bebe stared in disbelief. "You!? You mean... you’re a... you, too!?
Chris nodded and gave a guilty smile. "Me, too, but... well... I’m keeping my little secret in my panties. I don’t have a desire to be a real woman, but... I’m very happy this way. I should say, Margot and I are very happy with me this way."
Bebe looked at the beautiful young woman sitting beside him and he suddenly understood how everyone felt when he told them he was a boy. "But... how? Why are you living as a woman?"
Chris chuckled. "It’s a long story, Bebe. Would you like to hear it?"
"More than anything!"
"You’ve got ten minutes before I have to throw you out," Nancy smiled at Blaine, who, she knew, had been desperate all day to have a few minutes alone with Bebe. "So, I’ll leave the room, but when I knock, I expect you to come out immediately. Deal?"
"Deal!" Blaine smiled, then he kissed Nancy’s cheek to thank her. As far as Nancy could remember, Blaine had never even shaken her hand before. So, when he kissed her, what he really did was just shock her into standing still for another moment or two before leaving.
"Hi," Blaine smiled as he sat on the rolling stool and smiled at his girlfriend. Once he’d heard that Bebe had gone through the surgery with no complications and that she was fine, he’d felt a wave of joy and relief flow through him that had continued throughout the day.
"Hi," Bebe smiled and looked extremely pleased with herself. Her smile was nearly bubbling with happiness.
"So... how do you feel?"
"I’m good, I guess. Just sore."
"No..." Blaine chucked at the awkwardness of the situation. "... I mean... do you feel... like a girl?"
Now, Bebe laughed. "I do. I know it’s weird, because I haven’t felt like a boy for a long time, but... I feel really different. I can feel things I didn’t feel before and it feels good."
Blaine bent low, kissed her cheek, then remained very close to her. "I’m so glad you’re ok, Bebe. I hardly breathed during your surgery. My mom said I was driving her crazy, but... well, I’m just glad that you’re ok."
"I’m good, Blaine. I’m better than I’ve ever been. By the time school starts, I’ll be moving around just fine and I’ll be just like every other girl."
Blaine smiled even wider. "I’ve got news for you, Bebe. You will NEVER be like every other girl. That’s why I love you so much."
He leaned in closer and kissed Bebe with a soft, sweet, passionate kiss that lingered and lingered and lingered. Bebe’s arms didn’t wrap around his head tightly, but rather hung loosely on his shoulders as he softly inserted his tongue into her mouth and gently insinuated himself into her the only way he could, for now. The kiss lasted for a minute, then two, but then a knock came on the door.
Blaine pulled back just a few inches and Bebe, who tried to follow his lips, eventually fell backwards against her pillows.
"Gotta go," Blaine smiled, "but I’ll miss you. Love you."
"Blaine," Bebe said as Blaine headed to the door. He stopped and looked back at her, just as Nancy stuck her head in to see if he was coming. Bebe continued, "I love you. I love you more than anyone in the world and I am so happy that I did this. Not just for me... but for us."
Blaine glanced at Nancy for a moment, then back to Bebe. He smiled and said, "Me too, Beebs. I’m glad, too."
As Blaine passed her, Nancy stopped him and said, "Blaine..." she looked at the joy on the boy’s face. It was plain to anyone who looked at him that he was truly, madly, deeply in love. "... you’re a good kid, Blaine. Thanks for loving Bebe."
Blaine smiled at her, then he looked back at Bebe and said, "Like I have any choice."
The brief retrospective of the stunning, but, to date, brief career of Bianca ‘Bebe’ Foley flashed across the large screen in the editing room at the studios of TMZ. Austen Meadows, his producer, his photographer, his camera man and the editor all watched the presentation, complete with some video from ‘Civil Disobedience," many still photos and a few interviews, and they listened to Austen’s voiceover as it praised the talent of the young actress.
"That’s some good work, guys," the producer complimented them.
"Thanks," said the photographer, camera man and editor.
"You, too, Austen," the producer added. "It’s going to be a nice piece."
"It’s going to be a fluff piece," Meadows complained. "This isn’t what I do and you know it. I should be putting together a piece about how she abused a cashier or something. I don’t like playing-nice with anyone – especially successful people. But it’s like this kid is a nun, or something. She just works, goes to school and hangs out with the same three or four kids. It’s disgusting. I had her trailed by photographers for a month and all they got was one precious picture after another." He laughed at that. "If I keep my relationship going with that show, I’m going to get diabetes from all of the sweetness."
The producer chuckled. "You’ve got a good thing going over at that show, Austen. Keep it up. It’s going to be running for a long time. And besides... you’re going to be the only reporter allowed into ‘The Royal Wedding’ at Disney World in December. Everyone’s going to want your footage. It’s going to be a big, profitable story."
"Yeah, but I miss the drama of drug addicts, prostitutes and infidelity. Maybe they could get Charlie Sheen to play a recurring character or something, just to keep me going."
The producer slapped his shoulder. "I know it’s rough, pal, but you’ll survive. Alright, team. Let’s get this ready to air tonight."
"It’s a brand new school year, Ms Bebe. Are you ready?" Oscar seemed much more excited about the first day of school than Bebe did. It had been three weeks since her surgery, and she’d been barred from the first week of work on the set, but, somehow, everyone felt going to school was just fine. It’s not that she didn’t like school, she did, but between the movie and the surgery, she hadn’t had much time off and she craved the beach, the sunshine and freedom.
"I guess," she whined. "I miss having Kylie riding with us, though."
"Well, in a year or so, you can get your license and drive yourself to school, too."
"Why would I want a license when I have you?"
Oscar laughed. "We’ll see. We’ll see."
MK and Ella were waiting at the front door and greeted Bebe with excited hugs and kisses.
"Sophomore year!" MK said in an oddly triumphant manner. "We’re not the peons anymore. Let’s find some freshmen and beat them up."
"How about we just get to homeroom, big shot?" Emma looked at her schedule. "We’re all in Civics with Miss Roberta, right? That’s in C-21. Come on,"
Their route to homeroom brought them past the auditorium. "I wonder who they got to teach Theater this year?" Bebe said with genuine curiosity. "I hope she’s good."
"And not a criminal mastermind," Ella shook her head.
"Some mastermind," MK laughed. "Sent to jail twice in six months."
"Well, let’s at least hope that she’s not a criminal." Ella laughed.
The incoming freshmen had all been sent to the auditorium to attend a welcoming assembly and receive their schedules, so there were quite a few young faces in that area. As Bebe and her friends approached, the faces of the freshmen girls turned towards them. They began to stare, as amazed voices started to whisper, "That’s her. That’s Bebe. That’s the girl from the show. That’s her. That’s her. It’s her."
Bebe tried to be as bright and cheery as possible as she passed, but the crowd started moving in her direction, slowing their progress.
"It’s a like a zombie hoard," MK teased. "Back, you mindless freshmen!" She was joking, but the crowd continued to close around them.
"Bebe!" The girls were calling to her now.
"Um, this is an issue," Ella was suddenly concerned.
"Hi," a pretty little girl in pigtails was suddenly in Bebe’s face. "I love you. I actually came to Notre Dame just because you go here. Could I, maybe, get an autograph?"
Bebe looked around for a teacher, but none were present. "Well," she said to the child, "maybe when it’s not quite so crowded..."
"Please," another, nearly identical, freshman girl insinuated herself into Bebe’s personal space. "My mom told me I’d see you here. Please, can I take a selfie with you?"
"Ok, little people," MK called out in a very authoritative voice, "move! Go into the auditorium or something, but let us get passed. Go on! Move!"
But the crowd grew bigger. Now, there were well over a hundred freshmen girls in the small lobby of the auditorium, pushing towards Ella, MK and Bebe.
"Ok," Ella was getting genuinely frightened, "this isn’t funny, any more. Let us through! Right now!" Her shouts were ignored, though.
It just got worse. More girls gathered and the crush towards Bebe got tighter.
On the outskirts of the crowd, some upperclassmen tried to move the freshmen into the auditorium, but the freshmen were not paying attention.
"Karen!" MK called to one of the seniors who was trying to gain control of the situation. "Go get a teacher, PLEASE!" It was getting very scary.
Finally, a man’s voice boomed over the crowd. "What’s going on here?" Mr Carlin, the headmaster hollered. "All of you freshmen – into the auditorium, NOW, and take a seat in the first twenty rows, or you’ll begin your tenure at Notre Dame with a three day suspension!"
Immediately, the crowd began to move into the wide doors of the auditorium, disappointed grumbling could be heard as they moved.
"Are you guys ok?" The girl named Karen asked. The three girls nodded. "That was nuts!"
"It certainly, was," Mr Carlin agreed. "You two," he indicated MK and Ella, "get to homeroom. Ms Foley," he looked at Bebe, "to my office immediately."
Bebe was shocked, but MK spoke first. "Mr Carlin, this wasn’t Bebe’s fault. All she did was walk down the hallway."
Mr Carlin turned his furrowed brow towards her. "I am aware of that, thank you, but I’m not going to have this happen every time Ms Foley needs to move from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’. Go wait in my office, Ms Foley. We need to work out something that will maintain your safety and allow this school to function without the kind of upset we just witnessed. Now... all of you... get going."
"What a great way to start the school year!" MK said loud enough for the headmaster to hear.
"Do you want to challenge me, young lady?" Mr Carlin turned to face her. "Because my day has already been a difficult one. If you’d like me to take out all of my frustration on you, then I’m perfectly willing to do so."
"No, sir," MK sounded contrite. "Sorry, sir."
The headmaster spun on his heels and stormed into the auditorium, leaving just the three girls, a few helpful seniors and an older woman in the lobby.
The seniors dispersed, Ella and MK kissed Bebe goodbye and wished her good luck, and as Bebe turned to head to the office, the older woman stepped into her way.
"Bebe?" The woman said.
"Yes?" Bebe replied.
"I’m Miss Alexandra. I’m the new theater teacher. I just wanted to say, ‘hello.’"
"Oh," Bebe was relieved. "Very nice to meet you, Miss."
"I have to admit," the teacher smiled, "when I found out that you were a student here, I did feel a bit intimidated at the prospect of having you in class."
Bebe squinted as she considered this. "Why, Miss? I’m not going to be a problem."
Miss Alexandra laughed at that. "I didn’t think you would be, Bebe, but if you were to take a look at my resume and yours, I’m sure that mine would pale in comparison. I have a PhD in Dramaturgy from Harvard and I’ve worked behind the scenes at some impressive theaters, but... Bebe... I had the privilege of seeing you playing Bianca on The Cape last year and I’ve seen your work on ‘Civil Disobedience.’ You’re a Force Of Nature, Bebe. I’m not sure that I have much to teach you."
Bebe blushed, flattered. "Thank you, Miss... Umm... Oh, you’re a doctor, right. Should we call you ‘Doctor?’"
"‘Miss’ is fine," the teacher smiled. "You’d best be headed to the office before Mr Carlin comes back out. It was lovely to meet you, Bebe. I’ll see you sixth period."
"Nice to meet you, too, Miss."
Bebe headed to the office, where the secretary was waiting. "Starting the year off with a bang, I see," she shook her head in disgust. "You’re not a star here, Bianca. You’re just one of eight hundred students in a blue shirt and grey skirt. Get used to it." That statement actually resonated with Bebe for some reason. The secretary indicated a chair and snarled with contempt at the successful young woman. Bebe took the seat and waited.
"Thank you for seeing me, Dr Martinez," Nancy took a seat and smiled at the accomplished man across the desk.
"Always a pleasure, Dr Foley," he smiled. "Have you come to a decision?"
"Well..." Nancy was a bit uncomfortable in this position. "... yes and no, I guess."
Jorge laughed. "Meaning what, exactly?"
Nancy took a deep breath. "May I be very frank with you, Doctor?"
"I’d prefer it if you were."
"Ok..." Nancy thought for a moment. "I’ve spoken to my family, my sponsor from my support group and my therapist and... see... everyone thinks I’d be crazy to pass up this opportunity."
Jorge waited, but Nancy remained quiet, her eyes on the desk. "I sense that there is a ‘but’ in that sentence."
She nodded. "There is. Dr Martinez... I love my sister."
"Ok," he folded his arms and waited.
"And... well, when I has high... I treated her very badly. Worse than you can imagine. I knew that she was intersexed and I knew what she was going through and I threw all of it right in her face to make myself feel better."
"Understood," he said. "I’ve heard this from Bebe, too, you know? But, as you said, you were addicted to Percocet. You’re doing well in recovery, now, aren’t you?"
"Yeah, I am," she smiled, "and I want to continue doing well, but... Look, Dr Martinez, the reason I started taking Percocet was because I was over tired and over stressed and I hated who I became. I never want to be that woman, again, and... Jesus, I hate saying this out loud... I’m afraid that I may relapse some day. Not now, or even soon, but... what if I do and I’m in a high profile position like the one you and the Dusty Rose girls are offering me? It’d be bad enough to fail, but to be a public disgrace and to be an embarrassment to my sister... after all she’s done for me... I... I just couldn’t handle it."
He nodded and considered what Nancy had said. "So, what’s the plan? Complete your residency and retreat into a backwoods hospital in Appalachia where no one will notice if you fall off the wagon, or get hooked on alcohol, or opioids? Create a situation in which you’ll never find happiness just to punish yourself for a mistake? Or, maybe, just give up and prove everyone who doubted you right?"
She shrugged and kept her eyes down.
"Look, Dr Foley, What you did was wrong and you knew it was wrong. You abused your position, you consumed prescription drugs knowing their addictive qualities, you got involved with a drug dealer... I know all about all of this..., but you’re a good doctor who may just have a bright future if she makes good decisions about her life AND her career from now on. Running away and hiding is a sure-fire way to fail. If you want to stay out of sight and fumble along, hoping that you don’t fall on your face again, fine – I can’t talk you out of that – but if you want to be a good doctor, then grow up, accept the fact that you’re human and you’re going to have problems in the future, but if you remain in therapy and take jobs that allow you to live a lifestyle that makes you happy and proud... well, it seems to me that that could lead to some actual happiness in your future."
Nancy nodded. "So... I knew that you knew I took drugs, but you knew about Walter, my boyfriend-slash-drug-dealing-partner, too?"
He nodded. "It wasn’t hard to find out about him."
"And you still think you can trust me?"
"I’ll tell you something, Nancy... I could not possibly put more pressure on you than you are putting on yourself, so... yeah... I trust you – BUT – I expect you to stay sober, keep your support systems in tact and, above all, do your job and do it well. Can you do that?"
Nancy thought for a moment, then raised her head and looked at Jorge. "Yes. I can." The statement may have lacked the gusto of a ‘Hollywood Moment,’ but Nancy said it with enough confidence to convince Mr Martinez.
"Then you’ll take the job?"
"I will, Dr Martinez. Thank you. I won’t let you down."
"You’re damned right you won’t," Martinez laughed. "These are people’s lives that we deal with every single day. I’ll be watching you like a hawk – the same way I’ll be watching everyone else on my team."
He stood and extended his hand. "Welcome to the team, Dr. Foley."
The secretary fussed over papers, answered phone calls, sent parents in the right direction and, occasionally, made dismissive remarks about Bebe while she sat in the office and heard the bell that began homeroom.
Then the bell that began period one.
Then the bell that ended period two.
Then the bell that began period three.
"How long will Mr Carlin be?" Bebe asked.
"He’ll be as long as he’ll be," the secretary sneered, seeming to amuse herself with her disdain for the child currently in her care. "You’ll just have to sit and wait."
Finally, fifteen minutes into period two, Bebe stood and picked up her backpack and pocketbook.
"Sit back down, there!" The secretary snapped. "Where do you think you’re going?"
"To see Mr Carlin and resolve all of this," Bebe said and she headed around the counter and towards the auditorium.
The secretary ran to the counter and called down the hall, "This is not a good way to begin the year, Ms Foley! Your uncle is not going to be happy when he receives a call from the headmaster!"
But Bebe ignored her and kept walking.
"How’s my eldest doing?" Don teased as he met Rose on the set.
"Happy to be back to work, I guess," she smiled and accepted a kiss on her cheek.
"So, what do your folks think about your EMMY Award nomination?"
Rose laughed. "I think their excited – maybe even proud – but it doesn’t mean an awful lot to them. To them, acting isn’t a real job. It’s something their daughter does and happens to make money doing it, you know?"
"I do, and thank heavens we can get away with it!" He laughed at his own joke. "I’ve haven’t had a REAL job since I was sixteen. I got a small part as a waiter in a weird little comedy that got a little bit of critical notice when I was seventeen. I didn’t even audition for it – the director came into the store where I was bagging groceries, thought I looked right and offered me a job. I took it more seriously than anyone expected me to and... cut to twenty eight years later and I still don’t have a REAL job."
Rose liked the story and smiled. "They don’t like that Ed and I bought a house on The Cape, either, so there’s a little friction there, too."
"Why?"
"Well, because we bought it before we got married for one thing, but also because it cost more than three times what they paid for their house. We’re too young, we’re not married, we have no concept of what money really is... stuff like that."
"Ok, tell you what you need to do," Don smiled. "Buy a stupidly expensive dress and sinfully high heeled shoes. Get some jewelry store to let you wear a diamond necklace that costs more than the national budget and walk down the red carpet a week from Sunday looking like the biggest star on television, because that’s who you are. I guarantee that they’ll take notice."
This made Rose laugh out loud. "Oh, Yeah. The biggest star on television!"
"That’s who you are, sweetheart."
"No, that’s who Bebe is. I’m just set-dressing compared to Beebs."
"No, Rosie. We’re a team. You, me, Ed, Marion and Bebe. If we keep an ‘all for one and one for all’ attitude, this show could run long enough to make us all obscenely rich and embarrassingly famous. You are just as big a deal as Bebe."
She kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Don, but I’d rather be a supporting actress, like the nomination says. I’ll let Bebe be my leader."
Don considered that and heaved a big sigh. "Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should do the same thing."
"Regarding after school activities, including sports, dances and performances, if you are not in school on the day of the sporting event, dance or performance, you are not eligible to participate in that evening’s event. The only exception to this rule is if you are out of school on school business, such as representing the school in the community..." Mr Carlin droned on and on as the girls in the audience glazed over in boredom. They’d been in the auditorium for over two hours, now, and they were having a hard time focusing.
First, Mr Carlin had laid into them about what had happened in the foyer when Bebe Foley had appeared. Then, they’d gotten their schedules and were grouped into their home rooms within the auditorium, and, for the last half an hour, the headmaster had been reading them the school handbook.
They were done with listening. It was all so boring.
Finally, Mr Carlin seemed to wrapping up his presentation. Maybe they’d be able to stand up and stretch a little, soon.
"Alright, ladies," Mr Carlin spoke into the microphone, "in a couple of moments, I’m going to let you go to your classes and get to know your teachers..."
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the audience and people started applauding. Uncertain of what was going on, Mr Carlin looked around and was shocked to see Bianca Foley stepping out of the curtains on stage right and headed towards him at the podium. His first reaction was to take a stand and send the sophomore back to his office, but she wore a very confident smile that belayed him shouting. Then he noticed that the other young woman from Bebe’s show, Kylie ‘Something,’ was with her.
The girls in the audience began applauding for the celebrities, as Mr Carlin covered the microphone with his left hand and he said to the two girls on stage, "What is going on, here?"
Bebe smiled at him and said, quietly, "I’m going to be sure that what happened before never happens again."
"How?" He asked.
"May just use the microphone?"
The headmaster shrugged and stepped back, allowing Bebe to pull the cordless microphone from its holder. Once it was free, she grabbed a chair that was on the stage and moved it to the apron. Kylie did the same thing.
"Hi, girls," Bebe said as she and Kylie sat. "Welcome to Notre Dame!"
The girls applauded wildly while they hooted and hollered.
"Ok, ok," Bebe smiled at them. "Let’s all sit down and talk, ok?"
Gradually, the girls sat and quieted.
From the side of the stage, Mr Carlin appeared and handed Kylie another wireless microphone.
"Ok," Bebe smiled, "so, my name is Bebe."
The girls cheered.
"And I’m Kylie," Kylie said and the girls cheered, again.
"Listen, girls," Bebe continued, "I want you all to take a look at what you’re wearing. See? Kylie and I are wearing the same thing, too, right? See? When we’re here, at Notre Dame, we’re not Kylie and Bebe from ‘Civil Disobedience.’ We’re just Kylie and Bebe – your classmates – and we’d like to get to know you. Kylie, why don’t you tell them about yourself."
Kylie smiled and said, "Well, ok. My name is Kylie and I’m from LA." The girls applauded for Los Angeles. "I met Bebe at an audition for ‘Civil Disobedience,’ and she really helped me out. I was cast as the daughter of the next door neighbors and it’s been a lot of fun."
The girls applauded.
"And now she’s the spokeswoman for a line of cosmetics for teenagers." Bebe threw in and the girls applauded more.
When it had quieted, again, Bebe said, "And I’m Bianca Foley and I’m from Worcester, Massachusetts." When that didn’t get a response, Bebe smiled and said, "Well, that didn’t get the same response as LA did." That generated a giggle.
"Alright, girls, now, this morning, out in the foyer, my friends and I got a little scared when we got crowded by so many people. So, I’d like to get to know you all so that we don’t have that happen again. Ok? So, as you know, we’re both actresses, but so are a lot of you, I’m sure. So, we’re nothing special while we’re here and we can’t block the hallway to take selfies, or anything like that. So, let’s make it so that we’re all just friends."
For the next few minutes, Kylie and Bebe talked about themselves and joked about working together. Then Bebe turned to the girls in the audience and asked, "Do you guys have any questions for us?"
And they did.
"What’s it like to be famous?" Asked one girl.
"I’ll let Bebe take that question," Kylie laughed. "I’m ‘recognizable. She’s ‘famous.’"
Bebe smiled. "Well, there’s a lot of great things that come from being famous. I mean, I have money and nice things and stuff like that, but there’s some things that are kind of hard to deal with, too. Like, when I go somewhere... don’t get me wrong, I appreciate how much people love the show and all, but... when I go somewhere, everyone knows who I am. I have to always be on my best behavior. There’s always someone with a phone or a camera ready to catch me getting upset about something, or looking sloppy, or getting into an argument with my boyfriend... Unless I’m at home, with the blinds drawn, I don’t really have any privacy anymore. I’m not complaining, I’m just saying how it is."
"And then," Bebe looked at the girls in the audience with a more serious expression, "there’s things like what happened this morning. That was scary. I know that you guys were just excited – first day, new school, stuff like that – but my friends and I got pretty freaked out. I mean, there were an awful lot of you guys and just three of us."
"That’s, kinda, why we’re talking to you, today," Kylie added. "We’d love to get to know you as the year goes along, but, please understand, we are all just students here. You’re here to learn. I’m here to learn. Bebe’s here to learn. So, please, treat us like your friends or your classmates and everything will be great, ok?"
From the wings, Miss Alexandra appeared and took the microphone from Bebe. "Hi, girls. I’m Miss Alexandra, your new Theater teacher. I hope that a lot of you will be in my classes this year. I’ll tell you what - I’m going to talk to these two lovely ladies and I’m going to ask them to come and visit our freshman classes from time to time to discuss their experiences on the set of their TV show. How does that sound?"
The girls cheered.
"Excellent," Mr Carlin took the microphone from Kylie and spoke to the assembled girls. "I’m going to have you all exit with your teachers. Welcome to Notre Dame, girls. I hope that you make the most of your time at our school." He smiled. "Teachers, thank you."
As the girls rose to follow their teachers, Bebe and Kylie waved and turned to leave, but Mr Carlin held out his arm in front of them. "No, no. Just wait here. We need to talk." His smile remained plastered onto his face and he watched the freshmen all file out of the room.
When the auditorium was empty, Mr Carlin took the microphones, shut them off and walked to stage left to put them away. "You were supposed to wait in my office, Bianca. Did I say anything that would have confused you regarding that?"
"No, Mr Carlin, sir," Bebe replied.
He closed the AV cabinet and turned. "And you, Kylie? Why are you here?"
Kylie glance at Bebe for a moment. "Because Bebe came to my classroom and asked me to come."
He folded his arms and looked at Kylie, appraisingly. "At the risk of sounding like a teacher from the nineteen fifties, ‘If Bianca jumped off a bridge, would you?’"
Kylie glanced to her right, again, smiled and nodded. "Yes, Mr Carlin, I would. Bebe helped me when I needed her help and now I’m helping her."
He nodded and turned to Bebe with his best schoolmaster’s scolding expression. "Explain yourself before I call your Uncle."
Bebe didn’t flinch, but didn’t look very confident, either. "I had been sitting in the office waiting for you for an hour and a half and I figured that the best way too keep something like what happened this morning from happening was to just tell the freshmen that we’re all just students here and to point out how dangerous it was and just have Kylie and me introduce ourselves. So, I went to Kylie’s class and got her then came here."
Mr Carlin nodded. "And did it occur to you, Ms Foley, that you are not the headmaster of this school, but I am? Don’t you think I may have had a plan to deal with this morning’s incident?"
"I’m not trying to be a brat or a diva, Mr Carlin, but I figured that, since your were busy with the freshmen, you probably hadn’t had much time to think about a solution. I wasn’t trying to make you mad, sir, I was just trying to help you out."
He nodded and looked both girls in the eye. "What would you say if I decided to start your new school years with three days of suspension, young ladies."
"You’ve got to be kidding!" Kylie nearly shouted.
"I beg your pardon!?" Mr Carlin asked firmly.
"Oh," Kylie sputtered, "I’m sorry. You’ve got to be kidding... sir," she said with much more control.
Carlin shook his head. "Day one, year two, Ms Foley. Is this how the entirety of the next three years is going to be? Daily challenges from you and upheaval around you?"
"I sincerely hope not, Mr Carlin, sir, and that is the truth. I was only trying to help." Bebe looked a bit concerned about the consequences of her actions at the moment.
Slowly, the headmaster’s angry demeanor grew warmer until it became a smile. "Honest to God, Bianca, you are going to take a decade off of my life. Please, Bianca... please don’t... HELP... me anymore, ok? It doesn’t look good to have a student running the school. I’m sure my secretary will be giving me an earful when I get back to the office."
Bebe and Kylie looked at each other and smiled, relieved.
"Now, both of you, get back to your classes and let’s move on from here."
"Thank you, Mr Carlin," Bebe said.
"Thank you," Kylie agreed.
As they headed towards the stage doors, the headmaster called, "Oh, and Bebe. You’ve come a long way. Just a few months ago, you would have just stayed in my office and cried until your Uncle got here, but, this time, you handled everything by yourself. Well done. I’m very proud of you."
Bebe smiled and blushed a bit. "Thank you, Mr Carlin, sir. That means a lot to me."
The girls exited through the double doors backstage and headed down the hallway. "Well, well, well," Kylie teased. "Look who grew a pair."
Bebe laughed out loud.
"What about something like this one?" Rose asked as she turned the screen of her iPad towards Bebe. "It’s designed by ‘Eve of Milady.’ Do you like it?"
Bebe cuddled close to her ‘cousin’ as the lay on the bed in the darkened bedroom that Rose and Ed shared and looked at the glorious bridal gown on the tablet. "I love it, Rose. You’d look beautiful in it. You’d look beautiful in any of them."
Ed was working late. They were filming a lot of the ‘work’ segments of the show while Bebe recovered.
Rose smiled and kissed Bebe’s head. "You’re sweet. You’re ok with all of this, right?"
"Of course," Bebe smiled. "Why?"
"Because... well, because of us... before."
Bebe laid her head on Rose’s shoulder. "I couldn’t be happier for you, Rose. I love you both and I’m glad you’re happy... and I want to wear that dress." She pointed to a Maid of Honor dress that was extravagant in the extreme. Long red, silk that clung to the model’s upper body and flowed down into elegant, billowing skirts.
Rose chuckled. "That’s too grown up for you."
"I could make it work," Bebe said.
Rose smiled, enjoying being with her little charge once again.
"Have you... you know..." Rose always found this conversation silly and embarrassing, "... taken care of things, today."
Bebe laughed and bit her lip. "You mean, have I masturbated with my dildo?" She laughed harder and leaned harder against Rose.
Rose chuckled, too, "Yes. That’s what I mean, you little wiseass. Have you?"
"I have."
"Good girl," Rose smiled as she scrolled through the pictures of gowns on the screen. She pushed the button to load a new page and she thought for a moment about Bebe and how she’d changed. "Is everything healing ok?" She asked.
Bebe nodded.
"How does it feel?"
"How does what feel? My new vagina?"
"Yeah. And how does it feel when you use your... thing?"
My dildo?" Bebe laughed.
"Oh, you’re such a little pain in the ass," Rose laughed. "Yes. Does it feel... nice?... good?... when you use your... dildo?"
"It feels..." Bebe kissed Rose’s cheek. "It feels... wonderful and... good."
Rose could not contain either her humor at this weird conversation. "Good?"
"It feels great, Rose. It’s...exciting and it feels... amazing. And I don’t even have as many nerve endings as you have! I can’t imagine what it feels like when you do it with Uncle Ed!"
"Oh, my God!" Rose laughed with shock. "You had better NOT ever imagine ANYTHING about what your Uncle and I do!"
She their laughter subsided, Rose asked, "So, you’re happy you did it?"
"I’ve never been happier about anything I’ve ever done."
"Good," Rose said as she buried her nose in Bebe’s dark, soft, fragrant hair. "I’m glad. You know... we both love you, Beebs. We love you like crazy. Like you’re my little sister, or my own daughter. I can barely remember what life was like before we were all together. I think we were meant to be together. You and me and Ed."
"And Blaine," Bebe agreed.
"And Blaine," Rose kissed the soft hair. "We should get to bed, soon. Tomorrow’s a big day. Our first award show."
To Be Continued...
Bebe Goes to Hollywood - 8 Final
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The story, sadly, comes to an End for now, but I have a small continuation in mind!
Author's Note: I really love reading your critiques and comments.
Please let me know what you think of Bebe's life. Thanks! ~Clara
This version of Bebe Goes To Hollywood: 8 Final 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.
Chapter 8 Final
"All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them."
~ Walt Disney.
Oscar was waiting outside of the condo building at 6:30 Sunday morning. Rose and Bebe has to be at the studio my 8:00 at the latest to be ready for The Emmy Award Show that evening, which began its red-carpet events at 3:00 in the afternoon in order to be edited and ready to go 5:00 West Coast Time - 8:00 Eastern Time.
"Good morning, ladies," Oscar said with a great deal of joy in his voice. "A beautiful day for an exciting event! Will Mr MacNeal be joining us this morning?"
Rose laughed at Oscar's formality while working. Ed and Oscar were actually very friendly. They'd gone fishing together on several occasions and whenever a new action film came out, you can be sure that Ed and Oscar were going to be at an opening-day viewing, but while he was working, Oscar was always all business.
"He'll be driving himself to to the studio around noon, Oscar," Rose smiled from under her large, floppy hat. She and Bebe had been told to shower and comb out their hair this morning, but no makeup or hair work. That would all be taken care of in the hair and makeup room at the studio. "He didn't get home until after three this morning. He needs a little sleep."
Oscar held open the door as Rose slid into the large limousine, sliding across the seat in her tight fitting Jeans.
"You look sleepy this morning, Ms Bebe," Oscar laughed, "or is that just because you're not wearing any makeup?"
Bebe stopped and leaned her face on the stout man's chest. "I don't think I sleep more than an hour all night, Oscar. This whole thing has me so nervous."
Oscar patted the young actress's shoulder. "There's no reason to be nervous. You got the nomination, that was the hard part. Now, you just get dressed up, sit back, look beautiful and enjoy the day. If you win, you have to make a speech. If you don't win, all you have to do is smile and applaud for the other woman. Now that I think of it, it's actually easier if you don't win."
Bebe smiled at Oscar's chiding. "To tell you the truth," Bebe said quietly, "I'd kinda rather not win for just that reason. I can say lines, but giving a sincere speech.... I'd rather not, you know?"
Oscar kissed her head. "I know, honey, but I also know how talented you are. If I were you, I'd have a speech ready." He helped her into the limo and off they went to the studio.
Within a half an hour of the their arrival at the studio, Rose and Bebe had had their hair shampooed, again, and conditioned, again, and rolled into curlers - Rose into small curlers so that she could give the effect of a perm to add body, Bebe into larger curlers so that her hair could hang nicely with some fullness.
The last few weeks had been a blur of beautification for Bebe and Rose. Skin care, hair coloring, discussions of Botox and minor surgeries, both of which Rose and Bebe refused, dietary restrictions imposed both by the studio's stylist and themselves, and dress fittings after dress fittings after dress fittings. Now, their bodies were being inspected for stray hairs from top to bottom by women they didn't know who were armed with razors and tweezers. The two actresses stood in just their bras and panties and tried to make the day seem less awkward than it really was.
"Good morning, my goddesses," a very flamboyant sounding, male voice came from the doorway. "Is it safe to come in?"
"Come on in Cameron," Rose sighed. The studio's style-esthetician, which meant he was the man charged with insuring that all of the studio's stars appeared superhuman when they strode the red carpet, had become a constant presence over the last week. He was an infinitely upbeat personality with the ability to say horrible, hurtful things and make them sound like compliments, while simultaneously giving compliments that had a strangely insulting quality to them.
Rose found him exhausting, but Bebe liked him.
"Oh, I see we've started down the road to hideousness that eventually leads to beauty," he laughed as he took in the sight of the two women in their undies and curlers. Rose shook her head, but Bebe laughed. Cameron continued "And when will the rest of the team be arriving?"
"Turn around," one of the women inspecting the Bebe grunted.
"Don and Viv will be coming around 1:30, Blaine, Joanne, Nancy and Ed will be here around noon." Each nominee got a ticket for themselves and a 'plus one.' Vivian was Don's 'Plus One,' Blaine was Bebe's and, since no one from the east coast was able to fly out for the event, Joanne was Ed's 'Plus One' and Nancy was Rose's.
Bebe had used her new found influence to wrangle five tickets for the balcony as well. One each for Ella and MK, another for Oscar and two for Oscar's little girls. When the logistics of getting his girls to the theater began to worry Oscar, Bebe had laughed. "They can ride with us, Oscar. We'd love to have them with us." She'd said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world to have a driver's family join a group of stars as they went to one of the most important award ceremonies of the year. Oscar knew better, but if Bebe said it was ok, then it was ok. She was changing all the rules for everyone.
"Well, Don and Ed are easy, just throw them into a tux, but young Mr Blaine will need to have his hair trimmed at the very least," Cameron took notes. "I hope that his acne isn't acting up."
He made a note to check on his skin, then continued down his list. "Vivian has her own stylist," he huffed at that, obviously not happy that he was not dressing her, "so she'll be all set. Now, I've seen Joanne's dress - just a little black number, nothing too challenging and it'll look good on her, but I am concerned about your sister Nancy, Bebe. Have you seen her dress?"
"No," Bebe replied.
"Me neither and that's concerning," Cameron put his clipboard under his arm and fretted. "Once the press sees how much alike you look, they're sure to want to take pictures of you together. Granted, you are supposed to be the one who's shinning, but we don't want her looking scruffy."
"I'm sure she'll look lovely, Cameron," Rose assured him.
"Well, let's hope so," he smirked as he picked up the white and navy blue gown that hung on a hanger nearby and held it to Bebe's near-naked body. "You, my dear, will be looking like a princess. We can't have your sister looking like a poor relation."
"Don't worry, Cam," Bebe laughed. "Nancy didn't show me her dress because she wanted it to be a surprise, but I'm sure she'll look gorgeous. She always does."
"My name is 'Cameron,' not 'Cam' and you know it," he said, as if he'd just received the greatest insult of all time. He hung the gown back up and said, in his queen-y-est voice, "You're just lucky that I love you, you little pain in the ass. I know that your sister isn't walking the red carpet, but she'll be in plenty of pictures. Let's make sure she shines, ok? She just doesn't have to shine as brightly as you two. You two need to explode through every screen in the world, tonight." He started to walk away, but called over his shoulder, "Glamour, ladies! That's the name of today's game! Glamour! That's 'glamour' with a 'U' - because that makes it that much more glamorous."
"You can put your robes on now, girls," Meg, the head of hair and makeup said as she came in. "You've passed inspection. We can start your makeup, now. You've got at least a couple of hours in the chair ahead of you. Hopefully, when we're all done with you, you'll look like you never touched any makeup this morning."
Rose rolled her eyes. "We'll look like manikins, you mean. Perfect, painted manikins."
"Don't go becoming a hardcore feminist on me, today, Rose," Meg laughed. "The studios all want their stars to be beautiful at these events. That's just the way the things are. So, let's make you beautiful."
Once their robes were on, they spent the next hour and a half being made up and 'finished' in every way possible, except their lips.
At eleven thirty, they took a break and had a light lunch, salads and water.
"Well, look at you two," Ed said with a laugh as he entered with Blaine, Joanne and Nancy. "Sitting around in your robes and curlers. You make a very pretty picture." He pulled out his phone to take a picture.
"Put that thing away, Edward MacNeal," Rose scolded. "I don't want a picture of me in curlers floating around waiting for TMZ to find it." She looked in her mirror and shook her head. "I look like my grandmother with all of these things in my hair."
Ed laughed. "Not to me you don't." He kissed her cheek. "Yikes! That's a lot of makeup you're sporting, there."
She gave him a playful slap and shooed him away.
Blaine smiled a silly smile at Bebe.
"What?" She asked with a giggle.
"Nothing," he chuckled. "You just look... funny."
"Yeah, well, this is what it takes to look beautiful, apparently."
He laughed, bent and kissed her cheek. "All you have to do is smile to look beautiful."
"To you, I guess," Bebe laughed, now, too. "I'm told that the natural light of day and the cameras don't get along, so I have to go through all of this."
"And you'll be gorgeous, I'm sure," Joanne kissed Bebe's other cheek, now. "I'm so excited, Bebe. Aren't you?"
"I guess," Bebe shrugged. "It's a bit overwhelming right now. It's my first nomination, so I'm fine if I don't win."
"Atta girl," Rose reaches over and squeezed her hand. "I feel the same way."
Nancy hung her garment bag on the costume rack nearby and looked around the room. She too kissed Bebe's cheek, then said, "So, this is what your office looks like? Fancier than mine, that's for sure."
Bebe smiled. "You'd better watch out for Cameron, Nan. He wants to see your dress."
Nancy shook her head. "Cameron can suck it. I'm wearing what I picked out and he'll have to be happy with it. I don't work for ABC or Disney. I'm going to be comfortable."
Just then, a bustle of talking and excited movement came from the entrance. Everyone turned and saw Oscar entering holding hands with seven year old Mia and nine year old Sofía, his daughters.
"Is it ok if the girls come by for a visit?" He asked, looking around to be sure he wasn't interrupting anything. "They're pretty excited and their going crazy in the limo."
"Sofía! Mia!" Bebe spun in her chair and opened her arms wide to invite them to her. "My favorite little girls! Come give me a hug!"
Oscar released the girls, who dashed to Bebe to get their hugs in.
"I didn't get them all dressed up, yet," Oscar explained to Joanne. "I'm hoping I can use a dressing room here to get them changed before we leave. If that's an issue, I'll take them to the Birger King around the corner and change them there."
"We'll make sure that they get changed here, Oscar," Rose smiled at the girls. "They are NOT going to get changed in a filthy Burger King restroom."
"What are you wearing," little Mia asked, touching the curlers in Rose's hair.
"These are called 'curlers,' honey," Rose explained. "Bebe and I don't have pretty curls in our hair like you two do, so we have to use these to curl our hair."
"Do they hurt?" The child asked.
"Actually, they do hurt, a little," Rose laughed. "Here, come sit in our laps."
Rose took Mia in her lap and Bebe took Sofía.
Meg returned and clapped her hands. "Lunch time is over, ladies... oh, my... we have quite the crowd, don't we?"
Ed waved, "Hi, Meg. We can all get out of your way, if you want."
Meg smiled and shook her head, "Don't be silly. Why don't you and Blaine go get changed into your tux shirts, then I can brush and spray your hair so that you'll be presentable. Oscar, you crop your hair so close that there's not much I can help you with there."
Oscar laughed. "I'm good, thanks. The girls and I aren't going to be downstairs, anyway. We'll be in the balcony. No one will be photographing us."
Meg nodded and turned to Nancy and Joanne. "Why don't you ladies sit in these chairs, here and I'll brush you out and see if I can do anything for you."
Joanne took a seat, eager for some pointers. Nancy looked into the mirror and said, "I think I'm good."
Meg smiled and grabbed a tube of lipstick. She walked to Nancy and looked into the mirror with her. "Here. Try this color. I think you'll like it."
"Thanks," Nancy said, a bit intrigued. She knew how to be pretty and how to 'do herself up' for a night out, but she did enjoy trying new things. She spread the lipstick across her lips and smiled. "Wow! I like that. It makes my lips look fuller."
"It does," Meg smiled. "Here, seal it with this."
Nancy tried the sealer as well. "That's great! Thanks!"
"My pleasure," Meg was pleased with Nancy's response. "Why don't you sit in a chair and I give you just a few 'extras' to make your hair pop, too."
Pleased with the lipstick, Nancy joined the crowd.
The next ninety minutes were a blur of hair brushes, mascara brushes, hairspray, hairpins and chatter.
The little girls were amazed by it all.
"Your eyes look so big and pretty," Mia said to Rose.
"Your lips are so shiny," Sofia said to Bebe.
Meg made sure that the little girls were included in the feminine regime as well. The girls remained on Bebe and Rose's laps as Meg straightened their hair, then used curlers to put waves back into it, but the waves were more controlled and flattering. Bebe used her little finger to spread very pale pink lip gloss on their lips, too and Meg found each of them an inexpensive, but glittery tiara-headpiece. Just a little rouge was put on their cheeks, but mostly their faces were just tickled by the large blending and powder brushes.
"Oh, you both look so beautiful!" Bebe said with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Oh, my goodness, you're so pretty that you're going to make Rose and me look bad!"
The girls loved that.
"You're very good with the girls," Nancy said, quietly. She'd been watching her little sister, fascinated, not just by her ability to endure the rather severe beauty regime that had been inflicted upon her, but also by how she engaged so naturally and in such a nurturing way with Oscar's girls.
Bebe smiled and shrugged. "I like being 'the big sister' for a change. You were my big sister and took care of me when I was little. Then, Rose was kinda my big sister and taught me how to be a girl... I really like being the big girl for a change."
Nancy smiled and kissed Bebe's hair. "Don't grow up too quickly, Bebe. The world really likes you just like this."
When it was time to dress, Rose was the first target of the costumers. Rose was wearing clothing by an important designer, but the studio costumers had last say on all of her choices and they were going to do the final fittings before the event. Bebe's gown had been designed by the studio costumers as a tribute to an iconic actress from long ago.
As Rose stepped into her pale, rose colored, mermaid style gown, Nancy and Joanne both opened their garment bags and began changing and Bebe knelt down and asked Oscar's girls, "How would you like me to help you get dressed?"
Thrilled to be doing the same thing as the grownups, they each took one of Bebe's hands and bounced with her to the garment bag that Oscar had carried in.
"Oh, my goodness!" Bebe exclaimed as she removed a very pretty, little dress from the bag. It was obviously Mia's, judging by the size, but Bebe made a big deal out of deciding who would wear it.
"Who's beautiful dress could this be?"
Mia giggled and bounced. "It's mine!"
"No this can't be yours! This is a dress for a grown up lady. You're still a little girl. This must be someone else's."
"No, it's mine!" Mia was laughing so hard at the teasing and flattery that she could barely speak.
Bebe held it up and showed it to the other women. "Nancy," she teased, "I think you put your dress in the wrong bag. Look at this beautiful dress. Mia says it's her's, but I think it's much too grown up for her. What do you think."
Nancy smiled and considered the dress. "You know, that dress is much too pretty for me. The only person I know pretty enough to wear that is Mia. Maybe you should try it on her and see if it fits."
"Ok," Bebe shook her head theatrically, "if you say so."
Still in her robe, Bebe squatted daintily in front of the smallest child. "Here, let's take this off." She lifted the tee shirt style dress off of Mia, warning her to be careful of her hair, then lowered the lovely silver-grey dress onto the little girl.
The dress was, essentially, a little silver-grey shift with a thin, nearly transparent over-dress. It had a round collar with little pearlescent buttons along its opening, belled sleeves that reached to her elbows, a wide, elastic waist that caused the top to blouse and a wide skirt that reached her knees, about an inch past the underdress. The outer dress was dotted with the same pearlescent buttons, seemingly in randomly places, and embroidered pink flowers and grey vines. The dress probably cost less than fifty dollars and looked perfect on the beautiful child.
Bebe oohed and Ahh-ed over how pretty it was, then asked Sofia to help zip Mia up, praising her for being such a good big sister as she did so.
Sofia's dress was next, and Bebe pulled it out slowly, letting the long, flowing skirts appear dramatically, while she sounded breathless. "Mom," she said to Joanne, "just look at this beautiful dress! Can you imagine how beautiful Sofia will look wearing this!?"
"Oh my," Joanne, still in a black slip, came over and inspected the dress, fingering the soft material. "This is a very special dress, Sofia. You're a very lucky lady."
"I know," Sofia bounced and bit her thumbnail. "I picked it out with my abuela."
"Oh," Joanne smiled, "I love Blaine, but I always wished I'd had a little girl that I could dress in pretty clothes like this." Then she smiled at Bebe. "But I have you, now, baby."
Bebe smiled and squatted down, again, helping Sofia to remove her dress, again cautioning to be careful of her hair.
The peach colored dress was a soft chiffon with a scooped neck, softly ruffled sleeves, and empire waist and just yards and yards of soft, flowing skirts below. The chiffon top was plain and pretty, but the skirt was sparsely decorated with little bouquets of roses, each tied with a pink ribbon.
Sofia's long hair had been shaped into gently falling ringlets that perfectly imitated the flow of the skirts. When Meg saw the dress, she said, "You know what would go great with that?"
Everyone waited while she grabbed some flowers from a vase and wove them into a perfect little head band that popped out of Sofia's dark, hair. She quickly made another with baby's breath for Mia as well.
Between the tiaras and the flowers, the girls felt like movie stars and Bebe's constant praise of them made them feel even more special.
"Ok, Bebe," the costumer called across the room. "Your turn."
Bebe stood and took the girls' hands. "Come on. Let's go see if my dress is as pretty as yours."
When they caught sight of Rose, Bebe's breath caught in her throat. Rose was stunning. Her soft, Rose colored gown didn't come anywhere near her shoulders. There were very small sleeves that sat on her biceps and were attached to the bodice that sat just at the top of her breasts. The neckline plunged between her breasts and ended at the sash that formed the waistline. From there, the skirt hung loosely and flowed around her hips in a very sexy way. There was a slit up the front that allowed her shapely legs to protrude from the dress with each step. The dress was a study in seduction. Her pale skin and soft hair was the main focus, but whatever material there was was designed to amplify, rather than cover, the curves beneath.
"Wow," Bebe breathed.
"You look pretty," Mia said.
"Well, thank you," Rose bent to the child. "And look at you! You're gorgeous!" Then she turned to Sofia, "And so are you!"
By now, Joanne and Nancy were dressed, too. Joanne in a lovely, little black dress that looked perfect for any fancy occasion and Nancy in a black, halter top gown that made her look statuesque and elegant. Bebe, still in her robe turned the girls around and said, "Wow, girls. Look at how pretty everyone is! Don't you feel special to be here with so many pretty girls. I know that I do!"
"You need to get pretty, now, too, Bebe," Sofia said. "Then we'll all be like princesses."
Bebe smiled, "Ok, but I'm going to need your help to get dressed up, ok? Come on over to the mirrors."
The costumer was smiling at the girls. "Are you my helpers to get Bebe ready?"
The girls smiled and looked excited.
"Here," the costumer held the gown, "we have to spread this on the floor so that Bianca can step into it, ok?"
"Why did she call you 'Bianca?'" Mia asked.
"Because that's my name," Bebe laughed. "Bebe is just my nickname."
The girls nodded and eagerly helped to spread the yards of fabric across the floor. They were entranced by the softness of the Pearl-White material with the navy-blue flowers embroidered sparingly around the bodice and on the lower part of the skirt. The embroidery also incorporated tiny jet beads and the hem of the dress was trimmed with a black tulle ruffle. The abundant amount of material was due to the luxurious train that was designed to trail behind her on the red carpet.
"It's so soft," Sofia was charmed by the confection of cloth.
"Isn't it wonderful?" The costumer asked. "It's real silk organdy. We want Bianca to feel like a princess when she walks down the red carpet tonight. She's a star, now, you know?"
"She is?" The girls asked in unison.
"Yes, she is," the costumer smiled, and gave Bebe a glance as well. "So we designed this gown after a gown that another big movie star wore. Her name was Audrey Hepburn and she wore a dress just like this in a movie called 'Sabrina.' You probably never saw that movie, though, have you?"
"I've seen it," Sofia said. "The girl's a witch and her cat can talk."
Bebe laughed. "That's a different 'Sabrina,' sweetheart, but I like that one better."
While they maneuvered the material, Bebe put on a pair of very classic looking, three inch, black pumps with a very narrow, pointed toe and very slender heel.
When the dress was all been spread out, the costumer folded one section under, allowing Bebe to get close enough to the center of the gown to step into it. An assistant costumer offered a hand which Bebe accepted and, as delicately as possible, she stepped into the garment.
"Ok," the costumer explained, quietly, "you're going to take off your robe and we're going to raise the dress up onto you. Now, the dress has a built in bustier, so you won't be wearing a bra. Once I have the bodice up to your chest, I want you to hold the top against your belly and breasts. I'll undo your bra and we can slip it off of you while you hold up the dress and maintain your modesty."
The costumer gave Bebe a sweet, protective smile and Bebe nodded that she understood.
The costumer and her assistant, with the aid of Mia and Sofia, raised the top of the dress to Bebe's chest. She held it in place while the costumer undid the back of her bra and they maneuvered the bra off of her while still maintaining her modesty in front of the little girls.
"Keep holding that while we lace up the back." costumer and her assistant worked together to pull the laces as tight as possible, causing Bebe to grunt quietly with each tug.
"Why are you tying her in like that?" Sofia asked. "Can't you just use a zipper?"
The costumer chuckled at that. "No, honey, we can't. See, this dress has to fit nice and tight so that it always stays up on Bianca's chest. See how her back is all showing? She won't have her shoulders to hold up the dress, so these laces need to be very tight."
The girl nodded, but then asked Bebe, "Does it hurt?"
Bebe shook her head, but then considered her answer. "To be honest, Sof, it is very tight, but I'd rather be certain that it stays up and I don't have an accident."
"An accident." Mia asked. "Like a potty accident?"
"No, silly," her older sister scolded. "Like having the dress fall down and having everyone see her boobies."
That made Bebe, the costumer and her assistant all laugh.
When the laces were secured, the costumer told her assistant to get the needle and thread.
Once they had started stitching up the back of the dress, Sofia made a very obvious observation. "You're sewing her into the dress?"
"Yes, we are, sweetie," the costumer smiled. "This is a very big night for Bianca and we don't want people seeing any zippers of buttons on her dress, so we are sewing her into it."
"How will she get out!?"
"After the show and the reception, we'll use a seam puller to undo all the stitches I'm putting in, now. Then we'll undo the laces and take the dress off."
"What if she has to pee?" Mia asked, again causing the women to chuckle, this time at the apparent one-track-mindedness of the little girls.
"Well, let's hope she doesn't," the costumer laughed, but she gave Bebe a sideways glance as well, "because if she does, she's going to need a lot of help from people to hold this dress aside."
"See, girls," Bebe spoke. "Tonight, this dress is the star and I'm just wearing it."
"Oh," the girls said in unison.
When the sewing was done, everyone stepped aside so that the costumer could appraise her work.
The dress and Bianca had truly become one entity. Bebe's small, elegant shoulders and thin arms led to small, but apparent breasts that were hugged by the gown's top, which swooped elegantly down to Bebe's lower back, then gently nipped her waist before exploding into a waterfall of material that hung straight to the floor in front, but trailed beautifully for eight feet behind. When the great costumer, Edith Head, had designed Audrey Hepburn's original gown, the skirt had been a pencil skirt and the rest of the gownskirt had been added for effect, but this 'homage' to the original was just one large, flowing confection of soft, femininity.
"How do you feel?" The costumer asked.
Bebe shrugged. "Kinda trapped, but everything is so soft and beautiful... I guess it's ok."
"Ok?" The costumer laughed. "This dress cost nearly twenty five thousand dollars. 'Ok' is not what we were going for. You look gorgeous, honey, and I mean that. Does it feel heavy?"
"A little."
"It'll feel heavier when you walk, of course, because of the train, but the impact it'll have will be amazing, I guarantee it. You and this dress will be on every fashion website and in every fashion magazine for months. Next spring, when girls are buying their prom dresses, their going to be carrying pictures of you in this dress with them to tell their mothers, 'this is what I want.'"
Bebe smiled and looked at herself in all of the mirrors. "It is beautiful, Tina. Thank you."
"Just doing my job, Angel. Now, let Meg finish up with you and you can be on your way. I'll see you after the reception. Good luck."
Bebe held up the front of her skirts in order to be able to walk. The little girls, seeing the train dragging behind, each grabbed a bit of material and held it and walked behind Bebe as if they were attendants to a Royal Princess.
Meg finished off Bebe's look with a small, rhinestone headband that added sparkle to her jet black hair. Her bangs were full and curled, her hair shone with life and body and the ends were curled under to give a full body look.
Lastly, Meg touched up Bebe's eyes to make sure that all of the colors complimented the dress, then, the final touch, Bebe's lips received several layers of classic, rich red lipstick and a glossy sealer. "From here on out, no food, as little drink as possible, don't lick your lips, don't wipe your lips and avoid actually making contact with people when kissing them. Before the 'Outstanding Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series' award is given, you'll be escorted to makeup for a one last touch up and I'll make sure that you're ready. Any questions?"
"Doesn't sounds like much fun," Bebe smiled.
"It's not supposed to be fun, Bebe. It's only a party on TV. In real life, you're working. Have fun and all, but remember, tonight you are representing ABC and Disney. You need to be perfect throughout the evening. Answer the questions on the red carpet with a big smile and lots of enthusiasm, meet other actors and new directors, and all of that, but remember your appearance and your dress are the focus of the evening. You're both perfect right now. It's up to you to keep everything perfect all night. Understood?"
Bebe took a deep breath and smiled.
Meg smiled back and relaxed a bit. She sputtered for a moment, then said, "I know it doesn't count for much Bebe, but I can't tell you how proud I am of you. I mean, it was less than a year ago that you first sat in that chair and I tried to figure out how to make you look like a tomboy in 1961. Now, just look at you. You're a bonafide star, you look like a princess and you're nominated for the most important award in your field. I know it's silly for me to say this, but it's true - every single person on this crew thinks of you as daughter or a niece. We have all watched you grow so much... well, look what I've done. I've gone and made myself cry."
Bebe squeezed Meg's hand in hers and smiled. "Thank you, Meg. That means so much to me. Oh, geez, now I 'm going to cry, too."
"Oh, God, NO!" Meg was genuinely concerned, and her voice raised in pitch and emotion. "You need to leave in like five minutes. I don't have time to redo everything!"
That made Bebe laugh. "It's ok, Meg. Sorry. I'm ok." She smiled as she dabbed the corners of her eyes.
Meg hugged her tightly. It was the first time she'd ever done that. "We all love you, honey. We believe in you and we all want you to win tonight, but if that doesn't happen, remember that we're all here to help you get ready for next season starting Tuesday morning. Ok?"
Bebe nodded. "Thank you, Meg."
"Oh, good heavens, DO NOT WRINKLE THAT DRESS OR MY ACTRESS!" The overly dramatic screech came from the doorway, where Cameron was entering with Blaine, Don and Ed following close behind.
As he passed Joanne and Nancy, he waved his hand up and down in an appraising manner. "Oh, yes, very nice." When he reached Rose, he stopped for a moment, "Oh, yes, just perfect. Sex on toast. I love it!"
"Hey!" Ed yelled, genuinely irritated. "Watch yourself, Cameron. That's my fiancé, you're talking about."
Unperturbed, Cameron moved on and spotted Mia and Sofia. "And who, precisely, do these... two... belong?"
Bebe pulled up the front of her gown and hustled over to the two adorable, but confused girls. She took on in each hand. "This is Sofia and Mia and they are with me."
"Well, not on the carpet, they're not, but you look ravenous, my dear."
Bebe ignored Cameron's remark and looked at the girls. "Sofia. Mia. This, very rude man, is Cameron. Say 'hello' to him, please." She was hoping that Cameron would pick up on the 'rude' comment and improve his behavior.
"Hello, sir," Sofia said.
Mia said, "Hi."
"Alright, now," Cameron started clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "I want a picture outside in front of the studio sign before we go..."
"Cameron," Bebe interrupted. "Two, very polite young ladies just said 'hello' to you. Don't you have something to say?"
He laughed. "Not now, love. Too much to do. Like I was saying, everyone..."
"Cameron," Bebe's stubborn streak was starting to show. "While everyone else associated with this show has been dismissing you as an egotistical no talent, I have stood up for you and have always been nice to you. Now, as I was saying... these two, lovely ladies just said 'hello' to you. Don't you have something to say to them?"
Cameron crossed his arms and purses his lips. For a moment, he looked as if he was sucking on a very sour candy. He tried to stare down Bebe for a few moments, then , realizing that the reason he was even in the room at this particular moment was due to Bebe's talent, he plastered on a fake smile and bent slightly. He looked at each of the girls and said, "I'm sorry, ladies. It's very nice to meet you." When he stood he raised an eyebrow at Bebe and made a face that said, 'Good enough?' Bebe nodded and they continued on.
"You look amazing," Blaine said as he laced his arm around her waist.
She smiled at him. "Thanks, but you probably shouldn't touch me right now. If the dress doesn't look perfect, I'm in big trouble."
He laughed, but then realized she might actually mean it.
"I'm serious, Blaine. This dress costs as much as my mom makes in a year. I love you with all my heart, you know that, but please, be careful."
"Oh..." he said, a bit stunned, "... ok." He leaned over to kiss her cheek, but she pulled away.
"No, Blaine. No kisses until later, either. Geez."
"Why?"
"Blaine, honey," Joanne smiled at her son, "Bebe's not Bebe tonight. She's been given very strict orders. Give her some space until the show starts. She'll be fine, then."
He nodded, still a little hurt. He fell back a bit in the procession.
Bebe noticed he was lagging behind and she stopped, each hand still clinging to a child. "Blaine, I'm sorry... I love you. You look so handsome in that tux... please forgive me. I'm a wreck."
That made him smile. "You're the most beautiful wreck I've ever seen," he smiled, again. Then he kissed his hand and touched her arm with the kiss.
She smiled at him. "You know, I think a kiss on my shoulder may be ok."
Blaine moved closer, but Mia stopped him with, "Don't step on the dress!" He smiled more broadly, then, carefully, leaned in and kissed Bebe's small, soft shoulder. It was a soft, lingering kiss and they both wanted more, but... work, work, work...
The coordination that it took to have limousines arrive at precisely the right moment and for the traffic to not become snarled and for everything to be timed in such a way that the press could move smoothly from one distinguished person to the next without anyone having to wait more than a few second and for all of this to look unplanned and spontaneous was massive. Each limo driver had a specific time to arrive in a lot about a mile away, then to line up in their proper place and then proceed to each of the waiting areas along the way until, finally, they opened the doors and let the celebrities and their guests out of the vehicles. It was a long process and each driver was receiving messages via cell phones and two way radios almost continually. It was very similar to the work being done by air traffic controllers over at LAX at the same time.
There were four limousines for the performance-nominees from 'Civil Disobedience.' Don and Vivian we're in the first vehicle, Marion and her girlfriend in the second, Ed and Rose in the third and In the forth, and largest, Nancy and Joanne sat looking towards the rear of the car while Bebe and Blaine sat facing the front. Between Blaine and Bebe were Mia and Sofia, both talking pretty much nonstop in a haze of excitement and boredom.
As they waited in the last waiting area, Oscar looked over the seat and said, "I think it's time for you two to join me up here, girls. We're going to be letting the ladies and Mr Blaine out at the next stop."
"Noooo," the girls groaned in unison. "We want to stay with Bebe."
"I know, girls, but you can't do that. Ms Bebe and Mr Blaine have work to do on the red carpet and they can't have you with them."
"Oh, please," they sang again in that plaintive tune that all little girls seem to know. "We'll be good."
"I can stay with the girls," Joanne smiled. "You can sit back here with me until the car is parked."
The girls looked crestfallen.
"You have to get out when we do, mom," Blaine explained. "If you go through the side entrance, you have to sit in the balcony. Your seats are on the floor."
"Oh," Joanne realized her son was correct. "Sorry, girls."
"Tell you what," Bebe's eyes lit up as she spoke to the girls. "If you both promise to be very good girls and always hold onto our hands, you can walk down the red carpet with Blaine and me. How does that sound?"
"Yes!" The girls shouted in unison.
"Oh, I don't think that's a great idea," Nancy said.
"She's right, Bebe," Joanne said. "They were pretty specific about what they wanted you to do."
"I agree, Ms Bebe," Oscar actually looked scared. "I appreciate you getting us tickets and everything, but it's pretty unusual for a driver to be attending something like this, let alone his children. This might not be the best idea."
Bebe looked at Blaine who shrugged, "I kinda gotta agree with them, Beebs. The studio wants things to go a very specific way..."
Bebe looked at the girls, then back at everyone else in the limo. "Look, my hair is perfect, my makeup is perfect, my dress isn't wrinkled... I'm doing everything that the studio wants me to do. They didn't tell me that I had to be mean to little girls, though. Look how beautiful they are! They're all dressed up for the red carpet. I think it would be criminal not to include them. Oscar, I can have an usher bring them up to you before the event starts, ok? Please say it's ok."
"Yeah, daddy, please!" Sofia begged, causing Mia to join in as well.
Oscar looked at Bebe. He knew that arguing with her was pointless. He shrugged and sighed, "Oh, alright, but you two better do exactly as they say, do you understand me?"
"Yay!" The girls yelled. "We'll be good! We promise!"
There was a knock on the side window, Oscar turned and saw a man waving him forward, so he rolled forward and joined the procession on final approach to the disembarkment point. They had clear instructions regarding how to get out of the car. If it was a male celebrity, he should get out first. If it was a female celebrity, a male escort should get out first to help the female celebrity to get out of the vehicle as gracefully as possible. Blaine was seated on the far left in order to be able to perform his role. When the limo stopped, he waited for the uniformed attendant to open the door, then he got out and briefly looked at the vast crowd of people. When he turned and offered a hand, he was surprise that Nancy was the next guest to exit.
Nancy smiled at Blaine's confused look. "Bebe's orders," she whispered as she waved at the crowd, many of whom assumed that she was Bebe Foley.
Next, Joanne emerged. "Thank you, sweetheart," she said as she joined Nancy to the side.
Next came Sofia, beaming at the confused, but enthusiastic crowd.
Blaine was relieved when he felt Bebe's hand take his. When she exited the limo, the crowd went crazy, hooting and applauding wildly, causing Mia to be frightened of getting out of the vehicle, so Bebe turned and picked her up, holding the child on her hip, her head on her shoulder, nose buried in Bebe's neck.
Bebe rubbed the child's back for a few moments, then waved at the crowd.
Once again, Joanne offered to take the girls, but Bebe shook her head 'no.' Then she spoke into Blaine's ear. He nodded and took the five year old from a Bebe and held her the same way that Bebe had. Bebe then took Sofia by one hand, Blaine by the other and she moved towards the first interview spot as if there was nothing at all unusual about what was currently happening. A huge smile on her face and an occasional big wave of the hand that she used to hold on to Blaine, and all was fine with this young starlet.
Each stop along the red carpet was a variation of the same questions -
- Are you excited? - Yes, and I'm very honored to have been recognized.
- Who are you wearing? - This was designed by the studio costume
department. It's inspired by Edith Head's creation for Audrey Hepburn. - Who is your handsome escort tonight? - This is my boyfriend, Blaine.
- And who are these charming little girls? - These are my friends Mia and
Sofia. Aren't they beautiful?
By the third stop, Mia was enjoying the attention. She was no longer clinging to a Blaine, but she was standing on her own and smiling for pictures.
As they reached the last stop on the carpet, Don, Marion, Ed and Rose were all waiting for them. It was the TMZ stop and, of course, it was manned by TMZ's 'Friend of The Show,' Austen Meadows.
"And here she is," Meadows gushed as Bebe and company approached, "and she seems to have brought her whole family with her. Bebe, did you get married and have a family over the summer!?"
Bebe laughed, "Of course not, Mr Meadows. You know my boyfriend, Blaine, and these are my friends, Sofia and Mia."
"Well, hello, girls," Meadows tried to be friendly, but it came off as a bit creepy. "And how do you know Bebe?"
"Our daddy drives her," Sofia offered.
Meadows looked surprised, "These are your chauffeur's children?"
"These are my friend's children," Bebe smiled, "and they looked so beautiful that I wanted them to walk the red carpet with me so that everyone could see them."
Don leaned toward's Ed's ear and whispered, "Does she think these things through, or just do them? Because, whether we win or lose, every single news show is going to lead with shots of Bebe Foley and her two little friends. You can't BUY publicity like this!"
Ed chuckled. "I don't think she's ever though about anything except being nice to people. She hates to disappoint. I'm sure that she took the girls because the girls wanted to go with her."
"Well, thank God she's on our team."
"So, Bebe," Meadows was all smiles, "I can't remember an Emmy Award nomination quite like yours in the past. Nominated for a 'writers' credit without ever being listed as a writer on the show and nominated as 'Outstanding Lead Actress' despite being billed fifth in the credits. Do you have anything to say about that?"
"Not really, Mr Meadows," Bebe smiled that huge, beautiful, girlish smile of hers. "I mean, I kinda felt like the show would be nominated because it's so popular and I knew that the others all deserved their nominations, but I was pretty shocked when I heard that I was nominated."
"May I say something, Austen?" Don interrupted.
"Of course," Meadows moved the microphone to Don.
"Everyone has seen 'Civil Disobedience' and I think that they are aware of how important Bebe is to the show. By the fourth episode, the producers approached us about changing the billing on the show to have Bebe appear second, or maybe even first, but she refused to let them do that. She is, unquestionably, the lead on our show. She sets the tone, she drives the story, she sets the performance bar at a stupidly high mark."
He put his arm around Bebe and hugged her closer. "I always tease Rose that Bebe is my favorite daughter, but I'll tell you the truth - without her, all of us, Marion, Ed, Rose and I would all be doing something else tonight. We certainly wouldn't be here, at the Emmys. So - believe me, she deserves not just that nomination, but that award."
As he squeezed her again, Bebe looked up and said, "Thanks, Don."
"I mean it, my love. I really do."
A little tired of this love-fest, Meadows said, "Tell me, Don, what do you have to say to the critiques who say that 'Civil Disobedience' is a little to goody-goody. That the cops are a little to perfect, that the grandmother is too kind, that the love affair between Ed and Rose is a little too sweet and that Bebe is too smart for a girl her age. One critic even said that the show was nothing more than a combination of 'Hill Street Blues' and 'Leave it to Beaver?'"
Don smiled, "I believe that that critic was you, Austen, and that's fine. We're not looking to please everyone, we're just making the best show that we can, and, besides, I loved 'Hill Street Blues' and I can't think of any other show that was made in 1957 that people still watch today other than 'Leave it to Beaver,' so I guess if we have to be compared to two other shows, at least we're being compared to two great shows."
Meadows gave up and faced the camera, "Well, ladies and gentlemen, that's the cast of 'Civil Disobedience' headed in to see what the evening holds for them. Good luck, everyone." As they moved into the theater, Meadows was saying, "And here we have Gracie Mae Trainer, star of the hit series 'Middleton' coming down the carpet..."
As they entered the theater, the first person waiting for them was Cameron. His arms were crossed, his foot was tapping and his lips were pursed. He was not happy.
"Well, well, well," he snapped, "I thought I made it very clear what was expected of you tonight, Bianca, yet I find you can't follow simple instructions." Don whispered to Vivian and handed her his cell phone as the little man's tirade continued. "I said, 'protect the dress,' instead you first appear on the carpet with a sticky child on your hip. Do you have any idea how much that dress cost? Do you have any idea how important it is to project the right image on the red carpet? Do you have any idea..."
"Cameron, Cameron, Cameron," Don interrupted and put his arm around the man's shoulder. "Please, step over here and let me have a word with you." He led him to the side of the lobby.
"Don't try to calm me down, Don. She had specific instructions..."
"Understood, Cameron, but let's take a breath and consider a couple of things. For instance, we all know that Bebe never sticks to the script, right? So the fact that she went off script tonight shouldn't be a big surprise to anyone."
"Yes, but..."
"Also, your job is to SUPPORT the cast tonight. You did a great job getting her ready, but she is always a loose cannon, Cameron, so relax and let her do things the way she always does things - her own way."
Cameron was about to protest some more, but Vivian handed back Don's cell phone. He glanced at the phone and smiled. Then he held up the phone so Cameron could see. "Look, Cameron. When you call up this year's 'Emmy Awards Red Carpet,' every major outlet has the same first photo - Bianca 'Bebe' Foley walking the red carpet with her handsome boyfriend and two beautiful, little girls. Look - Vogue, British Vogue, 'E' Entertainment, even NBC - a competing network. Do you think that all of those outlets would have had Bebe on the site just because of a dress, no matter how beautiful it is?"
Cameron took the phone and looked at the photos. "You mean... she planned this?"
Don laughed. "She never plans these things, Cameron. She's just... magical." Don took his phone back and called to the others, "Come on, kids. Let's get inside."
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the Television Industry's biggest night of the year! The Emmy Awards!" James Corden's boyish smile welcomed everyone to the event. "I'm afraid that I may not get the attention I deserve as tonight's host, so I'm going to follow Bebe Foley's lead and accessorize appropriately for tonight's show."
With that, a very good looking young actor appeared on the stage with a little girl holding each of his hands. While the audience was looking at the actors entering, Corden put on a 'Bebe' wig and joined the others. Corden took one child by the hand and began waving and walking until he came to another actor, his back to the audience and a microphone in his hand.
The new actor asked, "So, tell me, Bebe, why have you brought these two, adorable children with you, tonight?"
When the actor turned to face James Corden, the audience immediately recognized him as Stephen Colbert and they cheered.
"Oh, I'm just being the sweetest, most adorable child actor in the history of television," Corden replied as the television feed settled on a shot of Bebe, Blaine and the rest of the cast laughing at the presentation. Bebe's mouth was wide open in joy and surprise. Her expression became even more shocked and happy as the two late night talk show hosts began singing to the tune of 'Let It Go.'
'The lights shine bright in the valley tonight
Not a critic to be seen
A kingdom of entertainment
And it looks like I'm the queen
My charm is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I've tried
Invite them in, and let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, the feel, don't let them know
Well, now they know
I'm the show. I'm the show
Can't hold me back anymore
I'm the show. I'm the show
Watch Don Ferry slam the door
I don't care what he's going to say
Let the show rage on
The script never bothered me anyway"
The number ended and the audience exploded in applause as they rose for an ovation. Obviously, the number had been worked out before, but because of Bebe's insistence that Sofia and Mia come with her on the red carpet, the child actors had been added. The camera returned to Bebe who was blowing kisses to the actors on stage as she bounced up and down in appreciation. It was a great way to start the evening off.
The evening kicked off with a series of writing awards. The episode of 'Civil Disobedience" entitled 'One Little Slip' for which Bebe had been included in the credits, lost to another episode of 'Civil Disobedience' entitled 'Crazy From The Heat' about a riot. Bebe smiled through the loss, happy that the show had won, regardless.
When the winner of the 'Outstanding Featured Actress' award was announced and that the winner was Marion, Bebe found herself leaping into the aisle to hug her older costar. Marion was obviously very moved by the award and when she took the stage, she wiped a tear from her eye and thanked her life partner, the writers and directors, but then ended with, "And I would be remiss if I didn't take a moment to thank the young actress who brought life back into my career. The girl who brings so much energy and emotion to every scene I share with her and makes an old lady like me look fresh and new on camera. Bebe, this is as much your award as it is mine, baby. Thank you."
The camera cut to Bebe as she waved and wept with joy, both for her friend and for her words.
The awards went on and the next of the 'Civil Disobedience' crew to be in contention was Rose in the category of 'Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series.' "And the winner is," Christina Hendricks read from the podium. She opened the envelope and smiled. "Rose Mason, 'Civil Disobedience.'"
Rose stood, a bit in shock, and hugged Bebe to her left, then moved to the aisle, hugging Ed along the way. Don met her in the aisle to hug her as well, and by the time she reached the stage, she was having a very hard time focusing on what she needed to do and say. Luckily, there was an usher waiting at the stairs to guide her towards the podium.
Christina Hendricks hugged her, too, then she turned and faced the audience.
"Wow.... I've completely forgotten what I had rehearsed... so, I apologize to everyone I'm going to miss. Umm... mom and dad, of course, thank you for your love and support. Don Ferry and the production staff at ABC, thank you for taking a chance on three unknown, inexperienced actors from Massachusetts... umm... my wonderful costar and fiancé, Ed MacNeal. You're my rock, baby. Thank you so much for everything... oh, and of course, my wonderful younger cousin, my BFF, the girl who taught me how to act... Bebe... thank you, my love."
When she returned to her seat, she hugged a weepy Bebe hard and kissed her cheeks and forehead several times before sitting.
Next, came Ed's category. Karl Urban was the presenter. He read the nominees and Ed smiled and looked cool as he waited for the winner to be announced. "And the winner is," he pulled the card out of the envelope, "big surprise," he smiled, "Ed MacNeal for 'Civil Disobedience.'"
Ed smiled as he stood and turned to kiss Rose. Then he reached across her to hug Bebe. Don shook his hand as he hustled down the aisle to the stairs and then straight to the podium. He accepted the trophy and smiled, holding it up to the audience.
Ed remained cool and well prepared. "Well, gee, thank you everyone. This is quite an honor. Thank you to my family back in Massachusetts and everyone who has been involved with the show - you're all amazing. Don, thank you for teaching me so much and Rosie, thank you for making my life worthwhile."
He took a breath and continued, "You know, a lot of casts say that they are a family, but we really are and I mean, Rose and I met because I had a family friend whom I referred to as my niece and Rose had a cousin and we all ended up in a little Shakespearean production last summer on Cape Cod. When my 'niece,' Bianca, became noticed, Don Ferry came to see her on stage and, somehow, she managed to arrange auditions for Rose and me. Rose, of course, did great. I didn't and when I was really failing, my little niece jumped into my audition and saved me. I know you've already heard a lot about her tonight, but I would not be here if it weren't for Bebe. Bebe, honey, I thank you for everything and I will love you forever. And, because of that, I cannot accept this award. It doesn't belong to me. It belongs to you. So, met me in the aisle, baby. I want you to have this."
The crowd stood and applauded as Ed hustled back down the stairs and Bebe maneuvered her voluptuous gown into the aisle. Once she was free, she held up the front of her skirts and ran down the aisle to Ed. She threw her arm around his chest and hugged him. When she released Ed, he handed her his trophy, but Bebe made sure that he held on, too, and she raised her hand as high as she could, forcing Ed to do so as well, and they held the trophy aloft as the audience continued to applaud and photographers took endless numbers of pictures of this very unusual Emmy Award moment.
"We're at commercial," someone yelled and an usher took Bebe by the arm, saying, "Ms Foley, I'm supposed to bring you to your makeup artist so you can be ready for your category."
"Ok," Bebe smiled, then turned to Ed, stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "I don't even care if I win, anymore. This was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."
Ed kissed her back, "You deserve it, baby. I still want you to win, though. Now, go get yourself all beautiful, again. Your eyes seem to keep leaking and messing up your makeup."
Bebe smiled and went with the usher.
"Good God, Bianca," Meg laughed. "What did you do? Did someone point a hose at your face? You're a mess!"
"It's been a more emotional night than I expected, I guess," she laughed, too.
"I know. I was watching on the monitor. We've got fifteen minutes to get your face reassembled, so let's get started."
Meg used makeup wipes to clean off the wreckage around her eyes. Then began the process of coloring and lining her eyes again. "Are you enjoying yourself?" Meg made small talk as she worked.
"It's amazing, Meg. I met so many people - Laura Linney, Bill Hader, Ellen Page, Bruce Campbell... it's unbelievable!"
Meg smiled at the youthful enthusiasm of the starlet. "I think they're all excited to meet you, too, Bebe."
That made Bebe giggle. "No. I don't think so."
"Hmm... that opening number wasn't about Ellen Page or any of those other people, Bebe. It was about you. Now, your category is coming up in a few minutes. If you win, then you know what to do, right?"
"Yes. I go to the podium and recite my speech."
"And if you don't win?"
"Then I stay put."
"No, Bebe. If you don't win, you applaud the winner and cheer her on. The camera stays on the runner ups, as well as the winner. Up until now, it's been your night. Everyone has been praising you and the cameras have loved you and the way that you've been over emotional about everyone else's win. If you win, try to keep it together, but if you lose... you absolutely MUST hold it together. Do you understand?"
"I do," Bebe said very soberly as she took a deep breath. "I'll... be a pro."
"That's my girl," Meg smiled and looked over her work. "Your makeup's ready, honey. Are you?"
Bebe's smile came back in full force. "I am."
"Than go get 'em, baby."
"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer said, "please welcome Tina Fey." The audience applauded wildly for the brilliant writer/actress.
"The nominees for 'Outstanding Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series' are -
- Emma Roberts, Nighttown."
There was applause.
- "Megan Boone, Who Can Say?"
More applause.
- "Laurie Metcalf, Riversong"
More applause.
Bebe leaned towards Blaine and whispered, "I can't beat these women. This is nuts."
Blaine shrugged. "I don't know... I think you're as good as any of them."
Bebe scoffed. "Yeah, sure."
Tina Fey continued, "Mary Steenburgen, My Neighbor's Keeper."
More applause.
"And Bianca Foley," the applause nearly drown out the title of the show, "Civil Disobedience."
Bebe looked around at trying to make sense of the din. Had someone important entered during the introduction? The cameras caught her looking confused.
Tina Fey opened the envelope and and smiled, holding it to her chest as she waited for the noise to subside.
When, at last she felt she could be heard, she spoke, "And the winner is - and I'm sure this is no surprise," the cheering started to build again. "BIANCA FOLEY!" She shouted as loudly as she could, causing the audience to leap to their feet.
Bebe hadn't been able to hear the winner's name, though. She looked to Blaine and asked, "Who won?"
"You!" He laughed.
She looked to Rose. "Did I win?"
Rose laughed out loud, "Yes, Beebs, you won. Go on up."
Shocked, she pulled up her skirts and worked her way out to the aisle where Ed hugged her and kissed her cheek, then handed her off to Don, who did the same.
The cheers were deafening as she climbed the stairs, all of the noise was becoming disorienting. Suddenly, the podium seemed miles away, the lights seemed blinding, her dress seemed to get heavier and heavier, she began to feel light headed and purple clouds began to interfere with her vision.
At the podium, Tina Fey was smiling and applauding, but she saw that the young actress was struggling. So, she hurried over to her and hugged her in order to offer support without making it too obvious that the young woman was about to pass out.
"Breathe with me, Bianca," she said as kindly as she could. "Take a nice deep breath and lean on me so we can make it to the podium, ok?"
Bebe did as she was told and her sight began to clear.
"Do you think you can walk to the podium with me?" Tina asked.
She nodded and took the five unsteady steps it took to reach the podium where a model stood waiting with the iconic Emmy Award. She smiled and handed it to Bebe, who took it and stared at it, blankly as her brain processed the fact that she'd not only just won her first Emmy, but that she'd won it in a contest against Emma Roberts, Laurie Metcalf, Megan Boone and Mary Steenburgen.
Suddenly, it was all too overwhelming. She felt herself shake and as much as she tried not to, the tears began to flow, which, oddly, caused the applause to increase. Tina Fey put her arm around her and she spoke into her ear. "Can you make your acceptance speech, honey? If not, I can walk you off the stage."
Bebe turned her head and spoke into Tina Fey's ear. "I can do it. Thank you, but, please, stay with me."
Tina smiled and guided her forward to the podium and encouraged her to put the trophy on the podium so she could hold on to the podium for support.
When the sound finally ebbed and she could start her speech, Bebe took a deep breath and said, "I'm pretty sure that I knew what I was going to say, but now I can't think of what that was. Thank you to my real mom in Massachusetts and Joanne, my mom out here. Thank you Don Ferry for taking a chance on me. Thank you Uncle Ed and Rose for everything you have done for me. Thank you Nancy for being the most courageous woman and best sister I could ask for. Thank you Oscar and your girls, you're the best. Thank you, Ella and MaryKate, Cassie and Annie, all of you are my very best friends and I couldn't get through life without you. Thank you to my agent Vera for everything you've done for me. Thank you to the staff and crew at 'Civil Disobedience' for putting up with me. Thank all of you for all of this amazing support and, most of all... thank you, Blaine. Blaine... I love you so, so much and I've put you through so much this year. I'm so sorry for all of that, but thank you for still loving me."
The audience began to applaud, again, but Bebe spoke once more. "Oh... and thank you, Tina Fey, for not letting me pass out on the way up here."
What Bebe intended to be a sincere thank you, was received as a witty end to her speech by the audience, so the applause increased even more.
As Bebe was ushered stage right, the announcer's voice rang out, "To present the award for 'Outstanding Actor in a Dramatic Series,' please welcome Henry Winkler." Bebe felt the older man squeeze her arm and say 'congratulations' on the way past, but things were still unfocused.
In the wings, someone handed her a small cup of water, which helped her tremendously. Just the touch of the fluid to her lips helped revive her and turn her brain back on.
"The nominees for 'Outstanding Actor in a Dramatic Series' are..."
She turned to listen, but someone told her that she needed to move to a press area. Whoever it was started to pull her arm, but she stopped and said in a loud whisper, "No. I want to see if Don wins." The usher in charge of her sighed heavily.
- "Jim Parsons, Tango in the Morning"
There was applause.
- "Don Ferry, Civil Disobedience"
Huge applause
- "Andrew Lincoln, The Walking Dead."
More applause
- "Mark Harmon, NCIS."
More applause
- "and Anthony LaPaglia, Homeward"
"And the winner is..." he opened the envelope and looked at the card... "Don Ferry, Civil Disobedience."
The crowd went nuts before the title of the show could be announced.
Don kissed Vivian, then stood, turned and hugged Ed and Rose in the row behind him, then blew a kiss to Marion before moving quickly down the aisle and up the stairs, onto the stage.
As he crossed towards the podium, he spotted Bebe applauding from the wings, so he walked straight past Henry Winkler, holding up his index finger indicating he needed a moment, and he continued till he reached Bebe. Then he took her hand and led her back to the podium, where he shook Winkler's hand and accepted the statue.
"Thank you," he said in a clear, confident voice, "Thank you, all, very, very much. This is quite an honor. You know, we all like to say that the awards don't really matter, yet, here we all are, so... they do. I've been in this business a long, long time and I'm touched to receive this recognition. Viv, thank you for being my guide, my voice of reason, my everything for so long. Ed, Rose, Marion, all the writers, crew, everyone at 'Civil Disobedience,' thank you for being the best of the best. I have never felt as much a part of a team as I do on this show."
He stopped and looked at Bebe, then pulled her closer.
"About sixteen months ago, I was asked to go to Cape Cod to see a young actress who had auditioned for the part of 'Alex' on the show, which was odd, since 'Alex' was meant to be my youngest son. I watched these three amazing, young actors on stage and I knew that Ed was perfect to play my partner and that if we changed my oldest 'son' to my oldest 'daughter,' then Rose was perfect, too..."
"...but that younger kid...there was something odd about her. She was quirky and impetuous on stage - not always the best combination for TV. We did another screen test with her and the producers and I kept scratching our heads. She was cute, yeah, and she had a great presence, but she couldn't stick to the script."
Everyone chuckled at that.
"So, we decided not to cast her, that is, until her third screen test was seen by my wife who said I was an idiot. Since she says that a lot, I had to ask her what idiocy in particular she was referring to. It was Viv who said that Bebe was the right choice and because of her, my costars and I are all here tonight receiving these awards. Bebe," he hugged her tighter, "all of these awards tonight are yours. Thank you for everything you do on that set everyday. You truly are my favorite child, but... I'm keeping my Emmy."
He kissed her cheek and the audience stood to applaud as Don led Bebe back to the wings, with Henry Winkler congratulating them both as they walked.
"To present the award for Outstanding Dramatic Series," the announcer was saying, but Bebe's attention was taken by Meg, the makeup artist, who was waiting in the twilight-lit wings to fix her, once again, wet face, "please welcome Edie Falco."
"Honest to God, Bianca," Meg scolded, playfully, "I have never had to work so hard on one face in my whole life!"
"Sorry," Bebe said, sincerely, but her face could not get rid of the grin she was wearing.
As Meg worked quickly, Bebe could hear the nominations.
"Riversong, Nighttown, Civil Disobedience, Tango in the Morning and Who Can Say?"
"Here we go, Bebe," Don whispered, uncharacteristically excited.
"And the winner is," she opened the envelope and shook her head. "I don't think that this is going to surprise anyone," she chuckled. "The winner is... 'Civil Disobedience!'"
As the audience erupted, Meg made one last correction to Bebe's makeup before Don grabbed her and actually raised her high up into the air, then swung her around, her skirts and train flowing in the breeze he created. "We did it, Bebe! We did it!" He shouted. "Come on!"
He put her feet back on the ground and took her hand, nearly running onto the stage, with Bebe struggling to keep up.
On stage, Ed, Marion, Rose and the whole production crew were climbing the stairs, huge smiles on all of their faces. Don released Bebe's hand so that he could lift Rose high in the air the way he had done to Bebe. Then, in a rush of adrenaline, he lifted Ed up, too. Finally, he enfolded Marion in a big hug. "Can you believe it, Mar?" He said into her ear. "How long have we worked to get here?"
When he released his costar, they both had tears in their eyes.
Finally, the whole team assembled by the podium and the producer spent a moment thanking everyone at ABC and Disney before saying, "I think that, once again, we need to hear from the young lady of the evening. Bianca? Do you have something to say?"
The audience applauded as Bebe moved to the microphone and smiled. "I guess I've thanked everyone already, so... well, let me talk to the kids out there who want to be actors, or singers, or whatever, and are being told that they can't do it for some reason - please - don't listen to the people who say you can't. They're wrong. You can. We can all change and grow and become who we want to be. I am not the same person I was a year ago when I arrived in California. I never could have imagined that my life would become what it is or that so many people would support what I do. Believe in yourselves and be who you want to be. Just for a moment, let me talk to every single person who is in this room and making a living in show business... if anyone ever told, you when you were young that you shouldn't do this, or that you weren't good enough, or if you didn't have the right body type... whatever they said to discourage you... if anyone ever heard any of those things, would you please stand up?"
Nearly every person in the lower part of the theater and a lot of people up above stood up.
"See!?" Bebe shouted, "If we can do it, you can too. It'll take years of hard work and lots of tears, but if you believe in yourself, you can do anything you want and be anyone you want to be. So, right now, stand up in your living room, or your bedroom, or wherever you are and say to the world, 'I CAN DO IT!'"
Unexpectedly, the audience all started chanting, "I CAN DO IT! I CAN DO IT! I CAN DO IT!" Until they all erupted into cheers and applause.
"A most unusual Emmy Awards presentation tonight," the anchor woman for the CNN News Report read from the prompter. "Bianca 'Bebe' Foley, star of the ABC hit drama series 'Civil Disobedience' seemed to have started some kind of revolution on the floor of the theater. The young star who won the Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series,' was thanked by each of her cast mates and her producers as the show won twelve Emmys, including Outstanding Lead Actress, Supporting Actress, Featured Actress, Supporting Actor, Lead Actor, a handful of writing and directing awards and 'Outstanding Dramatic Series' at tonight's event. She spoke to any of her fans who may be afraid to follow their dreams and encouraged them to stand up and say, 'I can do it,' prompting this reaction from the audience."
They showed a clips of the chanting crowd.
"Wow, Gail," the coanchor said when the clip ended, "looks like that little girl has a lot of power in her. A kid like that could actually change peoples' lives."
"I think she may already have, Joyce."
The other news outlets all featured similar stories.
THE END
BUT
Please Follow Bebe's last Adventure soon in Bebe: A Disney Wedding!
Bebe: A Disney Wedding - Day 1
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It's the day before Rose and Ed get married. The whole gang is at Disney World to
celebrate the big event. Everything has been planned to the smallest of details,
so it's bound to go smoothly, right? Hmmm... do things ever go smoothly for Bebe?
This is a continuation of my other Bebe stories and you should be familiar with the
characters to enjoy this story.
Author's Note: Please leave a comment for this continuation?
I always love hearing your critiques! ~Clara
This version of Bebe: A Disney Wedding - Day 1 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.
Day 1
"There's nothing like planning a wedding to make you want to punch everyone you've ever met in the throat."
~ Anonymous.
"I wonder if other mothers feel a pain in their insides, watching their daughters growing up to be the people that they wanted so badly to be."
~ Judy Picoult, 'Keeping Faith.'
It was a beautiful, cool December morning in Lake Buena Vista, Florida as Bebe woke up in her suite at The Grand Floridian, the Walt Disney World resort that had been designed to look like the hotel that had been featured in 'Some Like It Hot' - The Hotel Del Coronado, the same hotel to which Blaine had taken her this summer. She would need a light jacket this morning to go out, but this morning's breakfast was downstairs at '1900 Park Fare' with Rose, Nancy, Joanne, Bebe's mom and Rose's mom. It was the start of a 'Girls' Day' at Disney World. After breakfast, they'd head to Magic Kingdom via the monorail, then, in the afternoon, they'd head over to EPCOT for a late lunch/early dinner at Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion, Rose's favorite steakhouse.
"Are you up?" Nancy called in from the other side of the door. She was staying in the other bedroom in the suite.
Bebe opened the door, "I am. I'm just going to take a quick shower before we go."
Nancy checked her watch. "Ok. We need to be downstairs in forty minutes. Can you do that? You don't have your makeup team with you today."
Bebe laughed at the joke. "I can do it. I'll be out in a half hour at the latest."
"Ok." Nancy smiled and started to walk away, but stopped. "Um, Beebs... what are you wearing? I don't want to be underdressed. Well... I'm always kind of underdressed when I'm with you."
"Rose said that we should dress comfortably. I have a warm dress and tights. I think jeans and nice top are fine too."
"Ok," Nancy nodded, then said, "You know... I can't remember the last time I saw you wearing jeans, or any pants other than yoga pants when you work out or go to dance class."
Bebe shook her messy, onyx hair from her face. "Nope. I seem to have an aversion to pants, now. I had to wear jeans on the show, last week. I ended up wearing pantyhose under them because I found the pants so scratchy."
Nancy shrugged. "To each her own."
Thirty five minutes later, Nancy and Bebe met Marilyn at her room, they took the elevator to the lobby and they walked into the restaurant where Rose, her mom and Joanne were all waiting at a table. Following instructions from Disney Guest relations, Rose and Bebe both wore their hair in uncharacteristically high ponytails, ball caps and prop eye glasses with clear glass. They looked like any other wealthy guest at The Grand Floridian, one of the more expensive resorts at Disney World.
They ordered their juices and coffees and went to the buffet, returning with a variety of fruits, Mickey-waffles, eggs, omelets and pastries.
"You'd better watch yourself," Rose's mom teased, "or you're not going to fit into that gown tomorrow."
Rose laughed. "My trainer was been working me to death lately, mom. Honestly, I could probably eat everything over there and be fine, my metabolism is like a hummingbird's right now. I could eat half my body weight in sugar and still be fine."
"So, no hen's night before your wedding?" Marilyn asked teasingly.
"No," Rose laughed. "I mean, some of the girls from the show took me out last Saturday, but... well, my maid of honor isn't old enough to go clubbing," she smiled and reached across the table and took Bebe's hand in hers, "so we'll have to keep it to 'family friendly' partying until later. Ed and I and a few people are going to House of Blues, tonight."
Rose's smile told everyone that she didn't feel as if she was missing out on anything by eliminating an overly developed dancer dressed as a police officer showing off his abs and tush from her prenuptial activities.
"Damn," Nancy teased, "and I brought a case of penis shaped lollipops for everyone to eat as we walk around Magic a Kingdom."
Everyone laughed, but before they could pursue that line of conversation further, they were interrupted by the amusing, but somewhat strained, voice of a Disney 'Cast Member' who was doing her best to imitate the posh British voice of Julie Andrews, "Good morning, ladies," the faux Mary Poppins grinned, "and how are we all this morning."
"Good," they all replied in unison.
"Oh, my," the 'actress' exaggerated. "I believe that one of us is going to be a bride very soon. Now, whom might that be?"
Everyone smiled and pointed as Rose. "That would be me," she smiled.
"Oh, and what a beautiful bride you will be!" She smiled, then, almost caught off guard, said, "You know who you look like?" Before she continued, she looked at Bebe and, again, there was a flash of recognition followed by a bit of doubt. Then she looked at Nancy and, seeing how closely she resembled that actress, Bebe Foley, she was certain as to who was in front of her. "Oh, my!" she sputtered. "I... I think you should have an official escort while you're here."
"No," Rose said quite calmly, yet firmly. "We'll be discreet, but I want a normal day in the parks, ok?"
Mary Poppins bit her lip as she thought for a moment, "Then," she was back in character, "May I suggest that this young lady," she pointed at Nancy, "also wear a bit of a disguise? Perhaps that will keep people from noticing. Even just a ponytail and hat would be fine."
"Good idea," Rose smiled. "We'll take care of it after breakfast."
"Well," Mary Poppins smiled, "enjoy your breakfast, then, and," she bent low and whispered, "I am a big fan."
They went back to eating their breakfasts and talking about important things.
"You should see Rose's gown, Mrs Mason," Bebe said with a voice that sounded excited and a bit envious. "It's gorgeous. The designer says she based it on Cinderella's gown, but it's so much more beautiful!"
Eileen Mason, Rose's mom, smiled. "Oh, I've seen lots of pictures, but she won't show me the actual gown until tomorrow."
"It's a surprise," Rose smiled. She was obviously excited and enjoying the anticipation. "You'll see it when the time comes."
Eileen just laughed and shook her head. "Always such a showman."
"Are your friends here, yet?" Marilyn asked Bebe.
Bebe nodded as she swallowed the food in her mouth. "Ella and MK got here yesterday and are staying at the Polynesian."
Joanne said, "They traveled with Blaine and me."
"And Cassie and Annie," Bebe continued, "are staying at The French Quarter. They're all going to 'Star Wars: Galaxy's End' today."
"You know, Beebs," Rose said, maternally, "if you'd rather be having fun with your friends, that's fine with me."
"Are you kidding!?" Bebe said with exaggerated indignation. "I wouldn't miss a minute of this weekend with you! After the wedding, I'll have two full days with them."
"It was nice of you to invite them all," Marilyn said to Rose.
Rose laughed, "I kinda had to. Ella and MK wake up on my couch more often than in their own beds and Cassie and Annie were Bebe's first real girlfriends. They're all very special to Ed and me."
Suddenly, they were surprised by a six foot tall Tigger at their table. He was miming his excitement at being alive and in the restaurant.
They all said hello to him and Marilyn stood, handing her camera to Nancy. "Oh! Nancy! Take my picture! I love Tigger!"
Laughing, Nancy used her mother's phone to take a picture of the costumed 'cast member' and her mother, who was smiling like a child.
"Thank you, Tigger," Marilyn kissed his snout.
He pretended to blush, then, from behind his back, he produced a Disney World ball cap and a hair tie, presenting it to Nancy.
"For me?" Nancy laughed.
He nodded and held the items closer to her.
"Well, thank you, Tigger," she laughed as she accepted the disguise.
She took a few moments to pull her black hair back and into a ponytail, securing it with the fabric covered hair tie.
"How's that?"
Tigger nodded, but held up his paws in the shape of glasses and held them in front of his eyes.
"Oh! Ok," Nancy laughed as she looked into her bag and pulled out a pair of oversized sunglasses. She put them on and looked at the gigantic, plush animal. "How's this."
He nodded and patted her shoulder with his big paws, before moving on to the next table.
"He's right," Marilyn smiled as she nibbled her toast. "No one could recognize you, now."
"Not even Bruce," Bebe teased.
"Bruce?" Eileen asked. "Who's Bruce?"
"Bruce," Marilyn said with playful frustration, "is my oldest daughter's new flame, who, it would seem, she kept a secret from me until I arrived yesterday. I still haven't met him, yet."
"Ooo," Eileen smirked. "Tell us about him."
Nancy gave a guilty smile, but was still characteristically uncomfortable talking about herself. With a big sigh, she explained, "Bruce is a guy I work with on Dr Martinez' team. He's an anesthesiologist. He's a little older than me, thirty five, he's been a widower for four years and he has a six year old daughter named Cora."
"Wow, two doctors in the family!" Eileen sounded impressed.
"Three," Bebe corrected. "Mom's a Doctor, too."
"Really?" Eileen was surprised. "What's your specialty."
"Renaissance Literature," Marilyn smiled. "I'm a PhD. Not a physician."
"Well," Joanne smiled. "I've met Bruce and Cora and they are both lovely people. I'm sure you'll like him, Marilyn."
"We'll see," Marilyn smiled.
"Cora's just beautiful," Bebe said.
"And she loves Auntie Bebe," Rose laughed.
"Of course she loves Auntie Bebe," Nancy said. "Auntie Bebe spoils her rotten. We left her with Bebe and Blaine last weekend and she went home with, like, a dozen new dresses, two new Barbies, and a tiara."
"She's a Princess. She needs a tiara." Bebe said with playful petulance. "I got one for each of Oscar's girls that day, too. We were at Disneyland. They're all princesses and they all need tiaras."
"How many does she need, though?" Nancy shook her head. "You bought her another one yesterday as soon as they arrived."
"She's a Princess, Nan," Bebe sounded as if she were stating the obvious to her sister. "Princesses need crowns for different occasions, Nan. She can't walk around Disney World with a tiara from Disneyland, Nan. Have some common sense, for crying out loud."
"I rest my case. She's spoiling her." Nancy looked to the others for support.
"Auntie Bebe is going to run out of money if she's not careful," Marilyn said with a warning tone.
"No, Auntie Bebe is more aware of her money than you give her credit," Bebe was emphatic, but playful. "Auntie Bebe is doing better than fine, financially, and Auntie Bebe wants to be the 'fun aunt.' Besides, Auntie Bebe likes being 'Auntie Bebe,' and she wants to continue to be 'Auntie Bebe' forever, so Nancy can never break up with Bruce."
"Wow," Rose laughed. "No pressure, huh?"
"Is Oscar coming to the wedding, too," Marilyn asked. She was confused by her daughter's relationship with this much older man, but knew better than to question it.
"He arrives later today," Rose said. "He and his daughters are traveling with Don and Vivian."
"How can a driver afford to travel all the way across the country just to go to a wedding?" Marilyn asked.
"Auntie Bebe," Rose, Joanne and Nancy all said in unison.
Marilyn gave her youngest a stern look. "You'd better be careful, honey."
"Mom," Bebe shook her head. "Want a new house? Want seven new houses? Want a mansion? I can afford it, but I'm not spending that kind of money. Most of my money is in a trust, anyway! I'm spending 'upper middle class' money. When I show up with a yacht that has a helicopter landing pad and a staff of sixty, then you can worry. Until then, though... Auntie Bebe is buying dresses, dolls and tiaras. End of story."
They started with a ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, then next door to Splash Mountain, then, to Rose's favorite, Pirates of The Caribbean, then a Dole Whip as they headed back to the front of the park to catch the monorail to EPCOT. They were soggy from the water rides and having a blast.
At EPCOT, they made their way to The Earth for a ride on Soarin', then they hit the World Showcase, walking clockwise from Mexico around the circle towards Canada on the other end of the walkway.
"Excuse me," a woman said, very quietly, to Rose while they waited in line at the Norway Pavilion, "but I think I recognize you."
Rose smiled. "Oh?"
"Yes. I'm pretty sure that you and that girl are both on TV, aren't you?"
Rose was gracious and smiled. "Yes, we are. I'm Rose."
"Oh, of course! 'Civil Disobedience,' right?"
"Yes, that's right." Rose smiled, staying quiet.
She was about to ask the woman to not make a scene when the woman spoke, still in a quiet voice. "I don't want to ruin your day. I just wanted to tell you how much I love your work."
"Well, thank you, so much," Rose was grateful.
By the time they reached Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion, the last pavilion before the exit back into EPCOT, they had bought themselves and their friends lots of collectibles, clothing and crafts, and they were all ready for a big meal.
The dim, cavernous design of the restaurant provided additional privacy for the party. They were able to relax and prepared to enjoy their meals.
All of the women ordered steaks that the menu described as tender and juicy. Bebe settled on a bowl of potato and leek soup.
"May I ask you a question?" Eileen whispered to Bebe.
"Of course," Bebe wiped a trace of breadcrumbs left behind from breadsticks from the premeal breadbasket .
"You were a boy, right?"
Bebe's face went ashen and her jaw dropped for a moment before snapping back into a very nervous smile. "A b... boy? Why... why would you ask that?"
"Because, last year, when my husband and I went to Cape Cod to see Rosemary in 'The Taming of The Shrew,' her costar was named 'John,' but he was playing Bianca. He looked like you. Maybe a little heavier, he looked a little older... certainly not as old as Nancy, and your mother doesn't have any other children. That leaves you."
Bebe shifted uncomfortably, uncertain as to how to proceed. Should she deny it? Ask Rose for help?
"I... umm... I am a girl... I mean... I am... fully... a girl... now."
Eileen leaned closer. "I'm glad, dear, if that's what you wanted, I'm just curious..."
"About?"
"Well... all or it, dear, and my daughter's role in it."
Bebe glanced at Rose, but she was enthralled in a conversation with Joanne, Marilyn and Nancy about tomorrow's events.
"You're daughter's role...? I don't understand...?"
"Ok," Eileen smiled, but Bebe was still very concerned about the situation. "Let's start at the beginning. You were born a boy, correct?"
What did she know? How much had Rose told her? Where was this going? Friendly conversation or extortion?
No point in denying it. Rose was family. Eileen was going to hear it all eventually.
"Yes," Bebe said, quietly, in an ashamed whisper.
"And you've had sex reassignment surgery?"
"I've had 'corrective' surgery. I was... intersexed."
"Intersexed?" Eileen mulled that word over. "That's a new one for me. So, when was your surgery?"
On the verge of a panic attack, Bebe whispered, "This is all pretty personal, Mrs Mason, and I really shouldn't be talking about it, especially not in public."
"I'd really like you to answer these questions, Bianca. I have some concerns about your... situation and your relationship with my daughter."
"But... I can't discuss..."
"Why? If it was 'corrective' surgery, then why keep it a secret?"
"Well..." she was at a loss.
"Are you ashamed of what you did?"
"Ashamed? No, I'm not..."
"Then why not talk about it?"
Bebe's stomach was becoming a big knot and her head was pounding. This was dangerous to discuss ever, let alone in a public space. "Why are you... I mean... what do you want from me, Mrs Mason?"
"I want the truth. Why are you hiding the truth?"
"Because... I don't understand why you'd ask me this? Do you want money from me? I can only access so much until I turn twenty one, but..."
Eileen suddenly looked insulted. "Do you think I'm trying to extort money from you!?" Her voice was slightly louder than a whisper, but definitely loud enough to catch Rose's ear. She turned and looked to where Bebe and Eileen were seated as Eileen said, "Well, that's just about the most insulting thing I've ever heard!"
"Mom?" Rose asked as Eileen stood, grabbed her bag and headed towards the exit.
Rose looked at Bebe, who was a bit shaken and off balance. "I don't... she was asking a lot of questions... about me... and my surgery..."
"What!?" Rose stood and worked her way around the table. "How did she know?"
"I don't know!" Bebe said. "Rose, I'm sorry... I thought she was going to tell people... I was scared."
"What did you say?"
"I offered her money..."
"Oh, my God!" Rose increased her speed as she headed to the exit to try to catch her mother.
Bebe looked around at the confused faces of her family. Joanne took her hand. "It's ok, baby. Rose will straighten it out."
"Why on earth did you offer her money?" Marilyn asked, a bit shocked at the idea.
"I thought she was going to tell."
"Tell who?" Marilyn persisted. Her tone was decidedly unsympathetic.
"Who!? The news. TMZ. Her next door neighbor. Does it matter? Why ask would she ask?"
"Because she was curious, honey," Nancy moved into the seat that Eileen had vacated and put her arm around Bebe. "There's always going to be someone who knows a little, Beebs, and I'm sure that she was just interested."
"I asked her not to discuss it here, though, but she kept on asking." She looked toward the door where Rose had just disappeared. Had she ruined Rose's weekend?
"You see how offering her 'hush money' might be a bit insulting, right?" Joanne asked, calmly.
"Yeah, but... I mean... what could possibly be more private than that?"
"I think you should go apologize to that woman, right now, John," Marilyn scolded, causing all three women on the other side of the table to look up in shock.
"Mom," Nancy tried you be diplomatic and keep a lid on things. "First - there is no 'John.' You know that. Second - No, Bebe, you should NOT go after Eileen. Let Rose talk to her and you two can work things out later."
"Well," Marilyn was shocked by Nancy's tone. "I thought that you were on my side. Now, you've teamed up with your brother against me?"
Nancy's eyes were wide, astonished that her mother could be behaving this way, on this weekend, in this venue with so many people nearby. "Your side? Mom... there are no sides. Just right and wrong. Yeah, it was probably insulting to Eileen that Bebe offered her money, but come on... And I haven't teamed up with 'MY SISTER,' mom, I'm trying to remind my MOTHER that her youngest daughter has certain rights to privacy."
"Oh, SHE'S got rights. I see." Marilyn was getting wound up. She was speaking quietly, but it wasn't a whisper. It was an angry hiss. "And when my son decided to mutilate himself, where were my rights? Did anyone call me and ask my opinion? And you, Nancy. I haven't even met this man that you say you're 'serious' about. I'm not even a part of my children's lives any more. Where are my rights as a mother. How can you say that you're not teaming up against me?"
Joanne and Bebe were paralyzed in astonishment.
"Mom!" Nancy's voice was an angry, shockingly protective growl. "That is enough. Our lives are three thousand miles away from yours, now, and we both need to make decisions together and on our own, every single day. You have a new life with Joe, mom. We'll always be one family, but we can't be picking at each other like this. We'd love to have you come out and live with us, if you'd like..."
"Oh, sure," Marilyn scoffed. "Just pick up and move to California. I have a career, you know? I can't just move."
"We have careers, too, mom," Nancy was fit to be tied. Her teeth were clenched and she kept her voice low, but she was emphatic. "I have opportunities in LA that I never would have had in Worcester or Boston, and, in case you missed The Emmy Awards or if you haven't turned on a television on a Thursday night for the last year, Bebe's career is doing pretty damned well. No one is taking sides against you, mom, and no one is shutting you out. We're just trying to get our lives together and, as my history demonstrates, I am not real good at keeping things together, all the time. Thank God I have Bebe's support."
Bebe had been shocked by her mother's untimely attack, but now she was even more shocked by her sister's vehement defense.
"Ladies," Joanne spoke tentatively, "if I may... Obviously, there is a lot to talk about, here, but this is supposed to Rose's weekend. Today is Friday. Do you think that, maybe, we could put all of this on hold until, maybe, Sunday afternoon when the newlyweds are off on their own, enjoying their honeymoon. Then, maybe, you could have a nice lunch in your suite and say everything that need to be said - IN PRIVATE?"
Bebe looked at her mother, pleading that this didn't become a bigger scene than it already had become. Marilyn took a deep breath and looked around, realizing that they were, in fact, in a very public place. "You're right, of course, Joanne. I apologize... Joanne, girls... I'm just being overly emotional. It must be because of the wedding. You know how weddings make me. Forget all of this. I'll be good."
"No," Nancy shook her head, "we will not be forgetting this. Joanne is right. Sunday, we'll have breakfast together in the suite, then we will sit on the balcony, look at the lake and we will get all of this out in the open so that it never happens, again. Agreed?"
Marilyn nodded. "Ok."
"Bebe?" Nancy asked.
"Yes, of course. Mom... I never meant to..."
"On Sunday, honey," Joanne patted his hand. "Wait till Sunday."
Rose ran up the ramp, past the gardens in front of the pavilion looking for her mother. When she reached the main walkway, there was no sign of her to the right or the left, but since the left led to the front gate, she ran that way. She caught up with her on the pathway to the Land and Sea area.
"Mom! Mom, stop! Please! Mom!"
Finally, Eileen stopped and turned, her face a picture of anger and frustration. "What?"
"Mom, please, let's talk."
"Talk? Seriously, you want to talk, now? You've allied yourself with these people who your father and I don't know. You buy a house against our wishes with a man you are not married to, and now, this little... tramp... accuses me of trying to extort money from her? But NOW you want to talk? Oh, I don't think so, Rosemary."
"Mom, please," Rose was looking around at the passing crowds, hoping that they were not paying attention to her mother's tantrum, but knowing that they were, "could we, maybe, find a private place to have this discussion."
"There is nothing to discuss, Rosemary. I am going to my room and when your father gets back from his golf game, we are going home. You've been living with this man for months and now we're supposed to pretend we're giving away our 'virgin' daughter? It's all a farce, Rosemary. A fantasy. It belongs here in make-believe-land."
"Mom..." Rose was interrupted by a pretty teenaged girl.
"Excuse me," the girl smiled, "could I just get a selfie with you?"
"...oh, umm... I'm sorry, dear," Rose sputtered, "this just isn't a good time. I'm sorry."
The girl left, politely, but Rose could sense that the photo was being taken.
Rose looked around and spotted a Disney cast member approaching. She waved to the young woman wearing the white top with all of the world's flags on it, the EPCOT uniform shirt, and called her close.
"Hi," Rose smiled. "I hate to ask this, but do you know who it am?"
The girl started to shake her head, 'no,' but suddenly recognized her. "Oh! Yes, of course. How can I help you?"
"Well, you see, my mother and I... well, we just need a quiet place for a minutes. Can you help us?"
"Oh," the girl looked around. "Yes, come with me."
She walked them to a building, just inside the Earth and Sea area. The building was being used, occasionally, to show Pixar shorts, now, but had previously been the domain of the 'Figment' exhibit. She opened a door in the back and turned on a light. "You can talk privately here. I'll wait outside to be sure no one disturbs you."
Rose thanked her and she and Eileen entered the hallway. It was a utility hallway that had mops, brooms, and other cleaning implements leaning on the walls.
"Well, this is lovely," Eileen looked around.
To Rose, it looked like the off stage area of any sound stage, but that wasn't worth arguing. She crossed her arms and looked at her mother. "Why are you doing this? Why today of all days?"
A look of self righteousness formed on the older woman's face. "When could I have brought it up before, Rosemary? We haven't seen you at home since Christmas and Ed was with you, then. I couldn't exactly speak freely in front of him, could I?"
"No, but you could have come to Falmouth any time this summer. We invited you several times and finally left it as an open invitation."
"You know how we felt about that. You should never have bought a house with a man who wasn't your husband."
"By this time tomorrow, he'll be my husband, mom. I knew that we were getting married. Could we, maybe, just for the sake of time, not discuss everything I ever did to disappoint you, and instead discuss why you seem bound and determined to make my wedding a miserable experience?"
"Argh," Eileen shook her head. "That... girl... or whatever she is... she accused me of being dishonest. I did nothing, Rosemary, but she accused me of being an extortionist. Do I deserve that?"
"Yes." Her answer was flat and emotionless.
"I beg your pardon!?" Eileen was shocked.
"Mom. You had absolutely no reason to have asked her anything about her sex. That is off limits when talking to anyone - ESPECIALLY when it's someone who has been through as much as Bebe has and someone who has as much to lose as Bebe. Your question was rude, uncalled for way out of bounds. Why did you even ask it and what the hell did you think her reaction would be?"
"Oh, really? I'm the rude one, am I? Listen, Rosemary, you have shut me out of your life and I was just trying to find out what the hell was going on!"
"Going on!? Mom! I'm living a charmed life! I'm successful. I'm happy. I'm in love. What more could a parent want for their child?"
"To be included, Rosemary. That's all I want!"
"Ok, mom. I'm sorry, but the planes fly in both directions, you know. Yes, I haven't been home, but I've been very busy. You're retired, mom. I invited you to LA, I invited you to Falmouth and, except for coming here, you've always said 'no.' How do you think that makes me feel, huh?"
"Well, Rosemary, to tell you then truth, your father and I are not very comfortable with all of... this..."
"'all of this,' what?" Rose was working hard to not get angry, but it wasn't easy.
"This... life, Rosemary. The excess. Living with a man. Bebe. All of it. We always knew you were talented, honey, but we never really thought you'd end up living three thousand miles away and that your life would be this.. odd."
"How is my life ODD!? I'm in bed by nine o'clock most nights, unless I'm working. I have dated a grand total of one guy since I left - a guy, who, by the way, I am about to marry, and I'm worth several million dollars, but live in a nice, middle class condo and I'm half owner of a home on Cape Cod that's nice, but hardly extravagant considering how much money I've made. None of that seems ODD to me!"
"Well, in my day, we didn't just start living with a man. We got married, first."
"Ok, I get that, but I'm getting married tomorrow, mom. I lived with the man I'm marrying before the ceremony. That's not usual today and it doesn't exactly make me a tramp."
Eileen breathed deeply. "And then there's the whole... Bebe thing."
Rose turned cool and stood straighter. "What about Bebe?"
"Oh, come on, Rosemary. I mean... this all so... unnatural. A young man pretending to be a girl. Come on, now. Are you seriously telling me that if your daughter was involved in something like this that you wouldn't be concerned?"
"Mother," Rose took a deep breath, "when I first met Bebe, yes, she was biologically male in that she had a penis, but she was not really a boy. She had the hormonal levels of a ten year old girl and she was starting to develop the hips to prove it. She was born with an intersexed condition which she has faced bravely and recently had the surgery needed to correct it. Biologically, now, she has the body and hormonal levels of a fifteen year old girl."
"Oh, that's just ridiculous," Eileen scoffed. "People are born male or female."
Rose was suddenly very quiet. "I cannot believe I'm hearing this from my own mother. I thought that you were an empathetic person, mom. If Bebe had been born with some other kind of genetic condition, something that medical science could fix - say a cleft pallet, or if she was hard of hearing - should she not have had the surgery to repair the cleft pallet so she could speak clearly, or not gotten a cochlear implant so she could hear? This is no different."
Eileen shook her head and started to say something, but Rose held up her hand and spoke first. "There's something that you need to understand, mom. Over the past year or so, I've gotten very close to Bebe, and not in a sexual way. Ed and I have had to take care of her as if she was our own child. We are her legal guardians while she is in Los Angeles and she relies on us for everything. I think of her as if she were my own, mom. My own daughter or my own little sister - I don't know exactly - but as my own. She has been through hell, mom. Stress ulcers, adjusting to a new life, a new sex... it's been really tough for her, but all anyone sees is how brilliant she is on camera - and she is, mom. She's absolutely brilliant. She is one of the most courageous people I have ever met as well as one of the most talented and she is mine, mom. I don't know if she's my sister or my daughter, but she is MINE. Do you understand that."
Eileen remained silent.
"Now, I will love you and daddy forever, but I will protect Bebe from anyone who tries to treat her badly, and that includes you. I never intended to create a rift between us, mom, and I'm sorry if I've disappointed you somehow by finding happiness and becoming successful, and I want to just put this all aside and move on from here, but if your acceptance of me is somehow dependent of me rejecting my Bebe, then... well, I'm sorry, mom, but that is NOT going to happen."
Eileen gave it one more try. "Rosemary. I was brought up a certain way - to believe certain things. That men are men and women are women. That's how God intended things to be..."
"Spare me, mom," Rose interrupted. "I haven't seen you in a church since my confirmation, so don't get all high and mighty with me. I don't know a lot about the Bible, but I know that it says that where two or more are gathered in love, then God is there, too and Ed and I love each other and we both love Bebe. I also know that it says that we shouldn't judge one and other, so I'm not going to judge you, mom. I'm just going to ask you to reconsider everything that you just said to me. I am truly, truly sorry that this distance exists between us and I want things to go back to the way they were, but... I just don't know what to say, mom. I guess... if you want to leave and shut me out of your life, then that's your decision, but it's not what I want."
Eileen wiped a tear from her cheek. "I don't know what to say, Rosemary. I need a little time to think."
Rose nodded. "Ok. Ed and I are going to go to Disney Springs tonight. I'll come by your room at The Polynesian at seven and see if you've had time to think things over. If you decide to leave... well... I guess I'll understand."
There was nothing left to say, so Rose opened the door and let the bright sunshine in. She stopped before leaving, though, and said to her mother, "I love you." Then she let the door close and walked away.
"Well," Nancy shook her head as she and Bebe caught Rose up on what had happened between them and Marilyn while Rose was dealing with Eileen, "it seems like we all got blindsided by our moms. I'm really sorry, Rose. Weddings are always stressful, but you shouldn't have to deal with crap like this."
They had left their delicious meals uneaten at Le Cellier and they were now having ham and cheese croissants at the bakery in the France pavilion. It certainly wasn't as scrumptious as the meal they'd been prepared to eat, but it was very tasty, none the less.
"Are we really rotten daughters?" Rose was feeling particularly down. The thought of her parents not coming to her wedding was bringing her close to tears.
"No," Bebe sighed. "You're both great daughters. It's all because of me, just like always. My mom feels like I left her out of the biggest decision of my life and your mom thinks I'm a freak. I guess that I kinda am."
"Alright, Bebe," Rose scolded. "Enough of that. I don't want to ever hear you say things like that."
"I don't mean it in a bad way, Rose," she shrugged. "I mean I'm freakish because I'm different than almost everyone else in the world. I'm not talking myself down or anything, I just wonder if I would understand if I hadn't gone through all of this and I knew someone else who did. Anyway, I'm really sorry."
"Honey," Rose patted Bebe's cheek, "it's not your fault. My parents are just being... awful."
"Mom, too, Bebe," Nancy agreed as she tossed the half uneaten remains of her croissant onto her plate and covered it in a napkin.
"Auntie Bebe!" A voice shouted from the doorway.
Bebe spotted the little, mocha skinned girl wearing a Lilo and Stitch sweat shirt and an elaborate tiara waving from the doorway next to a good looking man in a handsome, leather coat. "Cora!" Bebe's mood was suddenly much more upbeat. She opened her arms wide and invited the child run to her. Bebe wrapped the child is a tight hug and inhaled her hair. "Oh, you just made my day so much better!"
The child giggled and smiled. "I met Sleeping Beauty!" She said with excitement.
"Hey," the handsome man leaned down and kissed Nancy's cheek. "Sorry to interrupt. I didn't know you'd be in here. I just wanted to get Cora something to eat and sit for a few minutes. "
"Hi, Bruce," Nancy accepted the kiss, gratefully. "Don't worry. We've had a rough day. We were just looking for a place to hide."
"But you've had a great day, haven't you?" Bebe asked Cora.
"Yes!" She said excitedly.
"Do you want something to eat?"
"Yes!"
"Ok, come on." Bebe stood and took her hand.
As they headed to the counter, Bruce called to Bebe, "Something healthy, please! Something with at least a little protein!"
"You know she's coming back with a cream horn or something like that, don't you?" Nancy said.
"I know," he smiled, "but I have to try."
He looked at the exhausted faces of the women sitting with him. "Well, you two look awfully depressed considering there's a wedding in about eighteen hours. What happened?"
They explained what had happened to Bruce and felt even worse when they were done.
"So, where are your moms and Joanne, now?" Bruce asked.
"Our moms are back at the hotels," Nancy said. "I think Joanne really needed to get some distance between herself and all of this. I don't blame her. I think she thought my mom was about to attack her."
"Wow. Sorry," Bruce shrugged. "I hope it all works out."
Just then, Bebe returned with a tray of food in one hand and holding Cora's hand with the other. Bruce looked at the tray and saw a sandwich of some kind, a drink and a pile of napkins covering something.
"So, what have we gotten for a meal?" He asked.
"It's apple slices, cranberries and brie on whole grain bread, with apple juice to drink."
"Very good, Bianca," Bruce teased. "And what else did you get?"
"Just a little dessert," Bebe smiled.
Bruce reached across the table and removed the napkins revealing a flantart with cherries, and puff-pastry layered with cream. "She's not to eat all of that sugar, Bebe."
Bebe smiled, sadly. "Actually, it's been a really bad day, Bruce. I plan on eating a lot of that myself."
"They're both really good girls, Marilyn," Joanne was sitting on the couch in Marilyn's suite. "I know that they're crushed to think that they have upset you. Is there anyway that we can rectify this situation?"
"I was shut out, Joanne. Completely shut out when my son made a decision that changed his life, and now my daughter doesn't tell me that she's in a serious relationship until she is in a situation that makes it impossible for me not to find out. How would you feel if your child alienated you, Joanne?"
Joanne nodded. "I understand, I really do, and I hope that you don't think that I ever wanted to interfere in your relationship with Bebe. I was only trying to help. But I do understand what it's like to be alienated by your child. Not long ago, my son and I barely spoke. We lived in the same house, but I had my responsibilities and he was drifting away from me. My husband, Blaine's stepfather... well, he's a good man, but he travels a lot and he isn't... involved, if you know what I mean. He takes good care of us and he loves us in his own way, but..."
Joanne realized that she was wandering. "Anyway, Blaine did his own thing and I did mine until one day when he came home excited about meeting a girl. He couldn't stop talking about her - how pretty she was, how smart she was, how funny she was... he was smitten, plain and simple."
Joanne chuckled at the memory of Blaine's infatuation. "Since Bebe entered our life, Marilyn, Blaine and I have grown closer and closer. She's a magical girl, Marilyn. She makes the world better, just by being in it. I understand why you're upset that you have to share her with us... with the world. But there are a few things that you should always remember - Even before she was Bebe, she was ALWAYS a Bebe waiting to bloom and that she will love you forever and she would never have done anything to upset you."
Marilyn shifted in the overstuffed chair and sighed. "You think I'm a selfish woman, don't you, Joanne?"
"Not at all. I think you're a loving mother whose children have both had challenging years. I think you're frightened for them and that you want to hold them close and make sure they're ok, but... you can't because they're thousands of miles from home. I think you're scared for them. That's all."
Marilyn sighed again, but this time the sigh was filled with a tremor of emotion. "I've done a terrible thing, Marilyn. I accused my own children of being horrible people. I made my youngest feel like something less because she was different." A tear rolled down her cheek. "I accused them of shutting me out, but I was the one who slammed the door on them." Now she cried freely. "Oh, I'm such an idiot. They'll never come back, now."
Joanne leaned forward and took her hand. "I think you're right, Marilyn. They're never going to come back to Massachusetts full time. They have new and successful lives in California, but that doesn't mean that you can't share their new lives with them. I know that's what they want. Is that what you want, too?"
"Well, of course it is, but... I just miss them, so much, Joanne."
"I know, dear. I'm sorry, but isn't it better to be a part of their lives than to be excluded?"
Marilyn nodded. "Thank you, Joanne. I'll talk to them tonight and... I think that... I guess a good long talk after the wedding is a good idea."
The door opened and Joe McManus entered the room. He was smiling, but immediately realized that something was wrong. "Is everything ok?"
Joanne stood. "I should go." She touched Marilyn's shoulder in friendship. "You must be Joe. I'm Joanne. Nice to meet you."
"Are you sure that you don't mind having Cora with you, tonight?" Nancy asked as she slid the post of her earring into the piercing of her ear. She was wearing a lovely red dress that hugged her curves sexily. "I mean, Bruce and I don't have to go out tonight."
"I'm thrilled to have her with me," Bebe grinned as she loaded a few water bottles into her backpack. "We're taking Mia and Sofia with us, too. Blaine and the girls are meeting Oscar to get them so Oscar can go out with you guys and then we're meeting them in front of Cinderella's Castle at eight. I love the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. I'm sure they'll love them, too."
There was a knock on the door. Nancy looked towards the entrance in surprise. "Oh, gosh, they're early. I need to finish my makeup. Just let them in, will you?"
"Sure," Bebe smiled as she headed to the door and Nancy disappeared into her room of the suite.
"Nancy's not quite ready," Bebe grinned as she opened the door, but there were two unexpected faces waiting on the other side. "Mom? Joe?"
"Hi, Bebe," Joe said. "Umm... May we come in and talk for a few minutes?"
"Oh, Umm... yeah... of course." Bebe turned and led them into the suite. "Umm... have a seat. I'll... I'll tell Nan that you're here."
She knocked on the door and cracked it open. "Nan... mom and Joe are here. They want to talk."
Nancy came out as her mother and Joe were taking their seats. "Hi."
"Oh," Joe looked at how beautiful Nancy looked, "is this a bad time?"
"No," Nancy sat opposite them. "Bruce won't be here for fifteen minutes or so."
By the time Bruce and Cora showed up, Nancy, Bebe and Marilyn were all dabbing their eyes, but a lot of air had been cleared.
"Mom, Joe," Nancy said. "This is Bruce."
"Hi," Bruce smiled and gave a nervous wave.
"And this," Bebe said, lifting Cora into the air, "is Princess Cora. The most beautiful girl in all the land."
Cora giggled and smiled as she was spun around and hugged.
"Are you sure you want to do this tonight?" Ed asked as he and Rose walked down the hallway of The Polynesian Resort to Rose's parents' room. "I mean, tomorrow's your wedding day I don't want you to be upset."
"If I don't talk this out with her, I will be upset. Now, could you do me a favor and just be there to support me? I know you and your righteous indignation. Only help me if I'm losing, ok?"
Ed could see that Rose was very stressed. "Sure, Rosie. Whatever you want."
They knocked on the door to her parents room and almost immediately it popped open and Mike Mason's sunburned face appeared. "Oh! Hi, kids!" He seemed surprised to see them. "Hey, Eileen, the kids are here."
They followed him into the hotel room. "Did Ed tell you how I kicked his butt on the golf course this afternoon?" He laughed. Mike was the kind of guy who judged everyone by their golf skills. Obviously, Ed had done well enough to get a teasing, rather than just scorn, so that was a good thing. "He could learn a lot from that Don Ferry, fellow, though. That guy could go pro. And that kid, Blake is it? He was something, too."
"It's Blaine, daddy," Rose corrected, but Mike didn't pay attention.
"This guy, though," Mike continued with a chuckle in his voice, "he did not get along with that ball at all. Hey, that Oscar guy is a card, though. He didn't golf, but we met him for lunch. Funny guy. And he's met, like, every star in Hollywood..."
"Mike," Eileen interrupted, "the kids have to meet their friends for drinks. We need to talk about things, first. Have a seat."
There were two pull out couches on either side of the moderately sized room. Eileen was sitting on one and she offered the other to Rose and Ed. As they sat, Mike sighed, "Do we really need to do this, Eileen?"
"Sit down, Mike." He did.
"I've thought a lot about what you said this afternoon, Rosemary," Eileen began, "and you're right. I had no right to ask Bianca or anyone else about their personal decisions. I was out of line and I apologize."
Rose relaxed a little. This had started better than she'd expected. "Thank you, mom, but that apology really should be made to Bebe, not me."
Eileen glanced at Mike, who had looked more and more uncomfortable. "If the opportunity presents itself, I will apologize to her, too, but we need to discuss how Bebe fits into... the picture."
Rose could sense Ed tensing up and she squeezed his hand to make him relax. "No, we don't, mom. I made it clear this afternoon - Bebe is mine... ours. Think of her as your granddaughter or your niece or as a total stranger, I don't care, but that is the end of our conversation about Bebe - forever."
"Rose," Mike said, quietly and with tenderness in his voice, "just think about things from our point of view. We worked hard to give you everything - a wholesome upbringing, a good education and, to tell you the truth, we never REALLY expected you to become an successful actress. We figured you'd give it a shot, then, maybe, come back home and find a good job teaching drama at a high school. We were really taken by surprise when you got that show and moved away. It all just happened too fast, honey."
Rose furrowed her brow as she considered this. "Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, I guess."
"Now, no offense, Ed," Mike continued and shifted his attention back to Rose, "but we always thought that you were... well... a virgin. We were pretty surprised when you and Ed went from roommates to... well, lovers."
Rose was torn as to whether of not she should dispel her parents' delusions about her sexual activities, but she felt it would derail the reasons she'd come, so she just listened.
"We can't help but feel that, maybe, being out there, with all those show business -types might not be the healthiest environment - morally, I mean."
"Dad," Rose sighed, "if you were to look through my high school yearbook and call the girls I went to school with, I would bet that at least half of them are living with boyfriends and I'm marrying mine. Why is this a big deal?"
Mike shrugged. "Rose... we're concerned about... well, Goddamnit, had you ever even met a tranny before?"
"Alright." Ed's ire was awakened, now, "just hold up a moment..."
"I don't mean to be rude," Mike held up both hands. "I'm just asking? I mean, I never met one before? I know that these show-biz types are unusual - you know, Michael Jackson and people like that..."
Ed stood, his face red with rage. "Come on Rosie, let's go."
Rose stood, resigned, and was about to leave with Ed, but Mike blocked their path. "Wait. What did I say to upset you?"
Ed looked at Rose, completely baffled as to how to respond.
"Daddy," Rose shook her head, "do you really think that what you just said is acceptable?"
"Yes. Why?"
She looked at Ed and rolled her eyes. "Sit down, dad. I think that we may have to lay down some very important ground rules right now." She took a big breath. "Alright, Mom, Dad... I know that you live in a small town and all, but... it's time that you entered the twenty-first century. I'm going to help you become a bit more... 'woke,' ok? Now listen..."
An hour later, Ed and Rose walked into The House of Blues in Disney Springs to the hoots and shouts from Oscar, Nancy, Bruce and Joanne.
"You're late," Nancy smiled, hoping that the 'happy couple' were ok. "Is everything alright?"
"It is, now," Rose smiled.
Bebe sat on the pavement in front of Cinderella's Castle, her legs tucked under her, Cora on her lap. To her left, Sofia was tucked under her arm with MK and Cassie sitting beyond. To her right, Ed sat, cross legged, with Mia on his lap, with Ella and Annie beyond. They watched the beautiful projections changing the castle from a medieval edifice into amazing visualizations of various Disney films as it told a story that wound all the other stories together. The music played and the fireworks exploded overhead. She felt the precious little girls touching her body and looked around. There were thousands of people within a few dozen feet of her and most of them probably knew who she was, but right here, within just three or four feet, were eight people who she loved and who loved her. She leaned to the left and kissed Sofia's head, then did the same to Cora, then to Mia. Then she smiled at Blaine and kissed him, softly and passionately.
"Happy?" he whispered.
"Of course," she smiled. "My life is just like a fairy tale."
To Be Continued...
Bebe: A Disney Wedding - Day 2 / Epilogue
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Author's Note: About fourteen months ago, Bianca Foley arrived in my life and now, after thirty six installments
and nearly a thousand pages, I think I have finally reached the end of this amazing girl's story.
It's the big day for Ed and Rose and Bebe is the maid of honor. Fantasy carriage rides and a
wedding in the Disney Wedding Pavilion as well as a serious conversation with mom, it's a very
busy weekend for Bebe.
I may be AWOL for a little while so I can work on some other things, try to come up with some new
ideas, and get over saying goodbye to Bebe. Thank you, everyone for all of your support throughout
this long story! I couldn't have done it without you!
As always, I live for your comments and critiques! ~Clara
This version of Bebe: A Disney Wedding - Day 2 / Epilogue 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.
Day 2
"Familiarity breeds contempt - and children."
~ Mark Twain.
"Hey, Siri," Nancy spoke to her phone, "what is today's weather going to be like?"
"The weather in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, today, calls for clear skies and sunshine with a low of fifty-six degrees and a high of seventy-seven degrees."
"Sounds just about perfect." She smiled at Bebe, both in their prettiest undies as they nibbled some toast and sipped tea. Their dresses were upstairs in The Bridal Suite with Rose. In fifteen minutes, they'd don their robes and head up to help Rose and then Mia, Sofia and Cora get ready for the big day. It was 6:08am and the sun was not yet up, but they needed to be ready so that they could be taken by horse drawn carriage, Cinderella's carriage, in fact, to Magic Kingdom to take wedding party pictures before 'rope drop,' the Disney World Term for opening the park for the day.
"Do think that you and Bruce will get married at some point?" Bebe asked, a smile playing of her face.
Nancy shrugged and considered that. "I don't know, Beebs. We've only been dating a couple of months. I mean, I like him... I like him a lot... I'm pretty sure that I actually love him, which would be a first for me, but I'm not sure that I'd be a great mom for Cora."
"Why?"
"Well... Bruce and I both work long hours and... I don't know... I never thought of myself as 'mom material.' Cora is the first child I ever dealt with, other than you, of course, but we were both children, then."
"And you don't like being with Cora?"
"Oh, no, no, I LOVE being with Cora, but she is different with me than she is with Bruce, or even you. She smiles and hugs me and all, but she worships you. How did you get so good with kids?"
Bebe thought about that. "I don't know. When I was a camp councilor at that YMCA camp for a summer, I had a good time with the kids, but... When I started taking hormones and thinking about living life as a woman... I guess that kids just seemed like a logical part of that life and I began wanting to take care of them. Whenever I could, I started holding Ella's little brother and playing with him and any other babies I could get my hands on. It's like I crave them. I love being 'the big girl' when I'm with Sofia or Mia, and It's like I'm addicted to Cora."
"Do you want to be a mom?"
"Oh... more than anything. I mean, I'm not stupid, I know that I can't 'HAVE' a child, like give birth, but I want a family, Nan. Little dresses and glitter and tiaras..."
Nancy smiled. She never in a million years would have thought a conversation like this would happen with her younger sibling. "No boys?"
"Oh, of course, boys. Little ball caps and bow ties... I'll take a dozen of each, thank you."
"Two dozen, kids!? You'd better get a grip, there, Bebe. One or two will be a lot to handle. Don't go crazy."
Bebe laughed. "I'm just fantasizing."
"Yeah, well, I know you. Fantasies become obsessions for you. Make sure that you keep some perspective. Even Angelina Jolie doesn't have twenty four kids. And I suppose that Blaine would be the father of this brood?"
Bebe sat and nodded. "Of course. Can I be honest about something, Nan?"
"Of course, sweetheart."
"I know that I've been obsessed with Blaine for a long time, and recently, my therapist asked me to evaluate our relationship. She gave me a sheet and had me write down the good things and the bad. I spent an entire, two hour session doing it and, when I was done, the whole left side was filled with good things and the only thing I'd written on the right side was, 'He makes me scared to lose him.' She thinks I'm emotionally dependent on him. Do you?"
Nancy exhaled and shook her head. "Wow, Bebe. I don't know exactly how to respond to that. I mean, and I'm just being honest, you've always be pretty dependent on Ed, even before he was your caretaker, and once Rose came on the scene, you became attached to her, too. I think that emotional dependence is a big part of your personality, BUT - you always pick great people to attach yourself to. So, yeah, I do think that you're emotionally dependent on Blaine, but I can't imagine a better guy for you, so what difference does it make?"
The bridal suite smelled of singed hair and hairspray when Bebe and Nancy arrived. Meg, the hair and makeup coordinator from 'Civil Disobedience,' was not only a guest at the wedding, but she was on the job this morning. "Hi!" Bebe called from the doorway. "Rose?"
"We're in the bedroom," Meg called out. "The bride can't speak. I'm doing her lips."
When they entered the bedroom, they found Mia and Sophia sitting on the bed, their mouths open, just like Rose's, watching the process of creating a bridal-princess intently.
"She's got a few more coats to go," Meg said without looking up. When she finished Rose's lips, she grabbed a tube of very pale pink lip gloss and applied it to each of the little girls' lips. Both Nancy and Bebe knew that the application of the lip gloss was a simple procedure and didn't need this much attention, but it was sweet that Meg had made them feel like they were a part of the preparations.
Rose's hair was done both high on her head as well as down her back. She had a lot of hair, but some of this had to be extensions or just additional pieces, but they all matched her own hair, perfectly.
"Oh, Rose," Bebe gushed. "Your hair... you look incredible."
"Anks," Rose uttered without moving her lips.
"Oh, but Meg," Bebe teased, looking at Oscar's girls, "I think you messed up. The bride is supposed to be the most beautiful girl at the wedding and look at these two! They're gorgeous!"
The little girls grunted their 'anks' as well, keeping their lips still, just like Rose, and they both giggled.
Nancy watched Bebe's natural interaction with the children and smiled. She'd make a great mother. No doubt about it.
"Maybe I should go get Cora," Nancy said. "I'll text Bruce and see if he's bringing her up."
"I have a plan for you, two, as well," Meg smiled at Bebe and Nancy. "Nancy, I'm going to do yours in the same kid of bob that you usually wear, but add a little texture to it, if you don't mind."
"Sure," Nancy said as she completed the text. When Rose had asked Nancy to be a bridesmaid, Nancy was both surprised and flattered. When she found out that her participation would also require her to submit to Meg's skills, she was a bit less enthusiastic, but Meg had done a nice job on her for The Emmy Awards, so she hoped that she wouldn't go nuts on her today.
"Bebe, I'm going to do something a little more elaborate for you, but still comfortable and easy to wear. Could you plug in my hot-curlers, please?"
As Bebe did that, Nancy read the reply to her text. "Oh, they're on the elevator right now."
"Cool!" Bebe shouted as she ran out of the bedroom and out of the bridal suite.
"What's that all about?" Meg asked.
Nancy shrugged. "Who knows."
When the elevator door opened, Bruce and Cora were greeted with the sight of Bebe standing at the end of the hall, her arms swinging wide. "Cora!" She shouted with greatly exaggerated enthusiasm.
Cora let go of her father's hand and ran as fast as she could to her favorite person in the world, giggling all the way. She let out an ecstatic shriek as Bebe caught her and swung her in a circle, hugging her tightly.
"I missed you, so much," Bebe laughed as she kissed Cora's head, the fits of giggling continuing.
"You know," Bruce sighed, "before she met you, I never would have seen my daughter running full blast through a hotel hallway."
"Oh, it's good for her." Bebe grinned as she swooped the child around in her arms.
"Bebe," Bruce smiled, "she used to have manners. She very impetuous when she's around you."
"And I'm impetuous when I'm around her," she smiled at Nancy's handsome boyfriend. "You've got a great little girl, Bruce, and I love her to death. If I'm really being a bad influence, just say so."
He looked at his daughter, so happy in Bebe's arms, and shook his head. "That's ok, Bebe. She's happy when she's with you and that means a lot." Suddenly, he looked away, looking a little embarrassed. "Umm... your robe, Bebe..."
She looked down and realized that, while playing with Cora, her robe had come untied and her bra and panties were exposed. "Oops," she laughed, pulling it closed. "I didn't mean to flash you, but you were in the operating room when I had surgery, so, you've definitely seen worse."
"Yeah, but that's different. That was a professional situation and I wasn't dating your big sister at the time."
Bebe smiled at his discomfort. She'd never made someone blush like that before. "Sorry."
Bruce kissed Cora's cheek, "Now, you be a good girl for Bebe and I'll see you at the wedding, ok?"
"Ok, daddy," she smiled and hugged Bebe tightly.
Then he kissed Bebe's cheek and said, "Goodbye," leaving Bebe shocked that Bruce had just kissed her.
When she brought Cora into the bedroom, Nancy said 'hi' to the child, then looked at Bebe. "Everything ok?"
"Yeah, fine," she smiled, "except your boyfriend just kissed me goodbye."
"Really!?" Nancy laughed. "Lips?"
"Cheek, but I was surprised anyway."
"Well," Nancy laughed, "I guess it's all in the family. I'll give Blaine a kiss, later."
The next few hours were a blur of hairspray and lingerie. They dressed the girls, first. Their little dresses were white, sleeveless confections with scoop necks, plain tops that ended in wide red sashes with little splashes of mistletoe scattered around them. The girls wore petticoatslips that were wide and feminine, but the dresses also had petticoats sewn in, so the result was a wide expanse of feminine fluff.
"Thank you for including Cora," Nancy whispered to Rose. "She's so happy to be a part of this. I know she wasn't part of your original plan."
Rose smiled. "My pleasure, but, to tell you the God's honest truth, I never really planned on having Oscar's girls involved. It was all Bebe's idea. I said we were getting married and, suddenly, I had flower girls. When you started dating Bruce and we met Cora, how could we not include her?"
"I have something for each of you," Bebe told the children as she produced three, small boxes from the pocket of her robe.
When they opened the little gifts, the girls all let out a quiet, "Whoa."
Each contained a delicate, gold necklace with a small, gold Mickey Mouse hanging on it. Bebe helped each put their's on then fussed over each, telling each how beautiful she looked.
Nancy was the first to get her gown on. Her's was a tribute to the clothing of Princess Jasmine. As she always preferred, it was simple, but elegant. It was a deep green gown, sleeveless, with a plunging neckline. The halter top was resplendent with green beads of various sizes, while the skirt was comprised of layer after layer of sheer, green material that flowed around her legs, elegantly. Meg had given Nancy's hair wonderful fullness and done her makeup to be enhanced by the green of the gown. It all worked together in such a way as to make Nancy's already beautiful body, breathtaking.
Once Bebe had helped Nancy into her dress, Nancy turned to help her.
Bebe's dress was a tribute to Belle's ball gown. It was an off-the shoulder gown made from soft, deep red material. The bodice fit tightly and cuddled her breasts over her strapless bra. It narrowed to a triangular waist, then spread wide in a bell shaped skirt that kept its shape with the largest petticoat any of the women had ever seen. When the dress was all in place, Bebe's feet were in the center of a circle of soft, noisy fabric, eight feet around. It was all that she could do to get her feet into her three inch sandals.
Finally, Nancy and Bebe turned to Rose to help her into her gown. It was a masterpiece of fashion design, based on Cinderella's gown, but fit for a bride. Spaghetti straps supported the white bodice, that scooped low and exposed her perfect cleavage and supported dozens of diamond shaped crystals. It stretched gorgeously around Rose's slender, athletic chest, showcasing the perfect breasts beneath. The high waist domed out in layer after layer of sheer fabric, similar to Nancy's dress, but was supported by wide and voluptuous petticoats, similar to Bebe's. The outer layer of the skirt was also adorned with crystals and there was a Christmas-red fringe exposed at the bottom of the elegant creation.
The style combined elements of both Bebe and Nancy's gowns, was in perfect harmony with the idea of the traditional bride's gown and made Rose sparkle like the star that she was. She was beautiful, gorgeous, unique, precious and startling.
The little girls were mesmerized by the beauty of the women's dresses, especially Rose's, and when each of them, girls and women alike, all had tiaras made of Swarovski Crystals pinned into their hair, each of them felt like real royalty.
Then came a knock on the door. Bebe opened it to find a man dressed in an elaborate costume. A powdered wig with horizontal curls on the sides, a gold tail-coat, long, gold vest, gold knickers, white tights and wearing pattern leather shoes.
"Milady," the man bowed, "I am your coachman and I am here to escort the bridal party to their coach."
Bebe curtsied, a skill she'd mastered in 'The Taming of the Shrew.' It had become such a habit that she'd had to work hard to not curtsy when spoken to after the show closed. This time, though, with the elegant gown and elaborately dressed gentleman and the magical atmosphere, it not only felt right, it was fun.
"Just a moment, kind sir," Bebe spoke in her posh, Bianca accent, "and I shall gather my mistress and her retinue and we shall depart with thee, anon."
The 'cast member' smiled, happy to have such a cooperative guest. "I shall be waiting, milady."
Bebe held up the hem of her skirt so she could walk, then said, in her same Bianca accent, to the women and girls, "Our escort has arrived, mistresses. Shall we depart?"
Rose was amused and used a much more pretentious accent when she replied, "Yes, let's shall."
Each woman took the hand of a little girl as they headed to the hallway and each felt more special than they'd ever felt before.
Despite their attempts to keep the date of the wedding a secret and keep low profiles while at the parks, they caused quite a stir in the lobby of The Grand Floridian. Any bridal party would have, of course, but the opulence of the dresses caught the attention of everyone in the lobby. Then, as recognition kicked in, they stopped for a good number of photos until Disney handlers moved them along. Even Nancy enjoyed the attention.
"You're not nervous, are you?" Don patted Ed's shoulder.
"Me? Naw. I love Rosie and she loves me. Why would I be nervous?" Ed shrugged.
"Because there's enough food to feed a small village in Bangladesh on your plate, but I don't think you've eaten a bite."
Ed looked at his plate. "Oh, yeah." He shrugged. "I'm not nervous, really. I'm just not hungry. Anyone want some of this?"
Don, Oscar and Blaine all shook their heads and patted their very full bellies.
"I guess," Ed explained, "that I'm not really worried about being with Rosie, it's just that I'm a little freaked out by the idea of actually being married. I mean, I was fine with it before, but now that the day is here... I'm kinda freaked out by it."
Don and Oscar laughed at that, but Blaine shrugged. "I can't wait to married," he said a bit shyly.
"Really?" Oscar laughed. "You just want to settle down? No wild oats to sew or anything?"
He shrugged again. "I don't know... I mean, I'm happier when I'm with Bebe than when I'm not... so why not just get married?"
"So, Bebe's the one, then?" Don asked, his arm around the boy's shoulder.
"Yeah."
"No question about that?"
"No. None. I want to be with Bebe, you know, forever."
Oscar reached over and slapped Blaine on the back. "Atta boy. Know what you want and go get it."
Blaine blushed a little.
"But not for a good long while, yet, though," Ed smirked. "Finish high school, then college, then get a good job, then get married. Ok? Maybe when you're, like, twenty-five or so, get married."
Blaine nodded. "Ok."
"So, Don," Oscar smiled, "what college did you graduate from?"
Don smiled back. "I didn't graduate, Oscar as you well know. Two years at Juilliard, but I did not graduate. I got a part in a movie and one thing led to another, so... I never finished."
"And you're married, right?"
Don smiled and nodded.
"And you, Ed?" Oscar was enjoying this. "You graduated from what college, now?"
Ed looked from Oscar to Blaine and back. "Two years at Wentworth, but then things changed."
"No diploma?" Oscar teased.
"No."
"But you're getting married, today. Hmm."
Don and Ed smirked at Oscar as Oscar went on, "And you, Oscar?" Oscar interviewed himself. "Oh, I graduated from Pasadena City College with an associate's degree in Communication Sciences - graduated second in my class, as a matter of fact. Oh, that's wonderful Oscar and are you married? Nope, not at the moment - married once at nineteen and a second time at twenty six. Both ended in divorce. And do you have a good job, Oscar? Not bad, actually. I bring in about eighty-five grand a year, but with two girls and an elderly mother to care for, that doesn't go very far. So, yeah," he smiled at Blaine, "make sure you get that degree and a good job before you get married."
The table sat silent for a moment, until Oscar asked Ed, "And exactly how old are you, Mr MacNeal? Twenty-five or so?"
Ed started at Oscar for a good ten seconds before turning his gaze to Blaine. "We will discuss this at another, more private, time, but DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PROPOSE TO MY NIECE TODAY. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?"
Blaine smiled and sipped his grapefruit juice. "Got it."
The little girls stared out the carriage windows in amazement as the replica of Cinderella's carriage drove bumpily through a nearly deserted Magic Kingdom. Word had gotten out that the bride involved in today's photoshoot was Rose Menard from 'Civil Disobedience' and that Bebe Foley would be there, too, so there were quite a few 'cast members' reporting to duty well ahead of schedule, and oddly, many of them had their phones with them.
Nancy disembarked from the carriage and when the 'cast members' caught sight of her exotic gown, there was an audible gasp from the onlookers. There were 'awws' when the saw the little girls in their charming little outfits, and when the coachmen helped Bebe down, there was applause, probably more for the dress than the fact that Bebe Foley was there.
But when Rose stepped out, the onlookers nearly cried at the bridal beauty of the woman and the dress. She was, truly, a sight to behold.
Bebe and Rose waved to the small crowd of employees that had gathered.
"Wave to them," Bebe told the girls. "You're princesses."
The girls smiled and waved and loved the reaction.
"Come on, Nan," Bebe scolded. "You're a Princess, too. Wave."
Nancy's first reaction was to retain her professional demeanor and just smile, but then she looked at the little girls, particularly Cora, and she knew that this was an opportunity to show Cora that her father's girlfriend was not a stick-in-the-mud. So, Nancy joined in the waving and found that it was quite a nice thing to do - especially when Cora grinned at her.
"Everyone just stay there and let us take some pictures!" Bebe called to the assembling crowd. "After we're done with our pictures, we'll take one with all of you in it."
"Umm, Ms Foley," one of the footmen said, nervously, "I don't think we're allowed to do that."
"Oh, I understand," Bebe smiled. "You aren't, but I am. Don't worry about it. You won't get into trouble."
The young man rolled his eyes. "Ok..."
The photographer had done these shots hundreds of times before, although he typically did them with less auspicious clients. He set up each shot quickly and and executed each one without fanfare, but kept things personal and fun.
When all the pictures were taken, the photographer thanked them, but Bebe stopped him from leaving. "Could we put all those people on the steps of the castle, so we can stand in front of them and take a picture?"
"Umm..." now it was the photographer's opportunity to be concerned. "Actually, Miss, we're not supposed to do anything like that. We're just supposed to take the pictures you chose and get you back to the Grand Floridian. It's only a half an hour to rope-drop and they all have jobs to do."
"I see," Bebe smiled. "Well, if they have jobs to do, then let's get this done quickly so that they can get back to their own jobs." She raised the hem of her skirts and headed towards the crowd to tell them how to organize themselves.
"Yes, but... Miss...." The photographer tried to stop her.
Rose laid her hand on the photographer's shoulder. "She's going to do this, regardless of what anyone does to try to stop her, so there's no point in arguing about it." Rose smiled, then took the hands of both of Oscar's girls, Nancy took Cora's, and they walked toward the castle steps to be ready for Bebe.
The man shook his head and shrugged.
"Hi, everyone!" Bebe called to the crowd, which had grown to at least two hundred people at this point. "As you have probably figured out, Rose is getting married to my Uncle Ed, today." The crowd cheered, but quieted quickly so they could hear Bebe continue. "We'd love to take an individual selfie with each and every one of you, but that's not possible. So, if you'll all just put your phones and cameras away, we'd love it if you could all move quickly and carefully onto the stairs of the castle and we'll have the photographer take one picture of all of us. Just follow me on Instagram and I'll post it there so you can capture it for yourself. Do you guys want to do that?"
They all cheered, then moved quickly towards the stairs.
"She's a born actress," Nancy laughed, marveling at her younger sibling's ability to be charming and friendly as she and the other people moved towards the stairs.
"No," Rose shook her head, "she's a born superstar."
At nine thirty that morning, Rose and her party were waiting in the bride's room at the Disney Wedding Pavilion, while Oscar and Blaine greeted guests and guided them to their seats.
"You look very handsome, honey," Joanne kissed Blaine's cheek, then unconsciously fussed with his black bow tie.
"Thanks, mom," he smiled.
"Oh, this is just breathtaking!" Joanne looked about the Disney Wedding Pavilion Chapel in awe. The light colored, hard wood floor led to an alter with a ten foot, arched window behind it and through the window, Cinderella's Castle, which resided at Magic Kingdom, just across the lake, was perfectly framed. The white pews and silver-grey walls led upward to a white ceiling, arched, and the whole room spoke of a feminine dream of a wedding.
"The whole place is just beautiful, don't you think?" She asked Blaine.
Blaine looked around, impressed, certainly, but not as deeply affected as his mother. "Sure. Yeah, I guess. Umm, mom, Mrs Foley said she wanted to talk to you when you got here."
"Oh?" She looked around. "Where is she?"
"She's in the 'Groom's Room' waiting. Ed and Don are already in the room down front with the priest."
"Ok," she smiled and walked away, but the smile faded quickly as she wondered what this woman could possibly want to talk to her about just minutes before a wedding. Was she really that self centered, or was it really important?
She knocked on the door to 'The Groom's Room.' "Hello? Marilyn? It's me, Joanne."
The door opened and Marilyn looked lovely in a lavender dress. "Hi, Joanne," she smiled, then hugged Joanne as she ushered her into the room. "I'm sorry to have this conversation right now, Joanne, but I'm afraid that we won't have another opportunity." Marilyn offered Joanne one end of the couch and she sat on the other. "May I ask you a question that has been bothering me all night?"
"Ok," Joanne replied, hoping that this didn't turn into a 'big thing.'
"Well... let me start by just saying that I'm only trying to get my head around everything that has happened out in California since John moved away."
"Bebe."
"Oh... I'm sorry, force of habit. Bebe."
"Ok."
"So," Marilyn took a deep breath, "when Nancy and I flew out for the premier of the show, John... sorry... Bebe told me that Blaine didn't know... well about John, I guess is one way to put it."
Marilyn thought for a moment. "That's probably correct. Why?"
"Well, may I ask when Blaine did find out."
Joanne sighed and thought. "Oh, my... well... huh, you'd think that I would have that date burned into my head, but I'm really not sure. It wasn't all that much later, I'm sure of that. Why?"
Marilyn nodded. "And how did Blaine handle that?"
"Oh, well, of course, I wasn't there when the conversation took place, but when he got home... well. He was crushed. He was angry and, to tell you the truth, he really couldn't believe it."
"And you?"
Joanne thought about this for a moment. "Well... for some reason, I wasn't all that surprised. I mean, I really liked Bebe, right from the moment that I met her, but at first she wasn't very comfortable with herself. It's as if her friends, Ella and MK, were pushing her into being the kind of girl that they were and she was almost... frightened, I guess. I definitely felt that, at times, I was 'teaching' her about things that any girl should already know. When I found out that she was not born a girl, well, that kind of explained a lot."
"I see. Were you shocked, though?"
"Oh, I don't think that 'shocked' is the right word, exactly. Why?"
"Well, to tell you the truth, every time I see her... I am shocked. I can't believe that this is the little boy that I raised and I'm really trying to wrap my head around it. It's not easy, Joanne. It's a lot harder than everyone else seems to think."
Joanne nodded and considered that. Yes, it had to be hard, especially when you don't see the development - just the results, and having those results broadcast on network TV every week, too...
"Did Blaine and Bebe break up?" Marilyn obviously had been thinking a lot about how things must have gone.
"Oh, sure."
"For how long?"
"Oh... a couple of hours, I guess."
"A COUPLE OF HOURS!?" Marilyn was shocked. "Blaine found out that his girlfriend was a boy and they only broke up for A COUPLE OF HOURS!?"
"Yes," Joanne was calm and smiled. "Marilyn, Bebe told Blaine against the wishes of Ed and Rose. She put herself on the line to do the right thing. That's what she always seems to be doing. You raised her very, very well. When Blaine came home, he was devastated, and, of course, I was surprised, but, as I said, it did make a bit more sense to me."
Joanne continued, "After Blaine slammed his bedroom door, my first inclination was to let him be, but... before Bebe, there was a gap between Blaine and me and I didn't want that to happen again, so... I did what Bebe would do - I did the right thing. I comforted my son and I asked him how he felt about Bebe before she told him her secret. He told me he loved her and that's why it hurt so bad."
"I bet it did," Marilyn shook her head in sympathy.
"Then I asked him how he felt about her after she told him, and he said he hated her."
Marilyn nodded. That made sense to her.
"So, then I asked him what exactly had changed."
Joanne waited until Marilyn answered that question. "She told him the truth."
"Exactly. She told him the truth. So, I asked him if Bebe would be a better person if she hadn't told him the truth. He struggled with that, but eventually conceded that she was a better person for having told him the truth, so the real problem wasn't that Bebe had once been a boy, the problem was that Blaine couldn't handle the truth."
Marilyn's eyes were moist, but she was determined not to cry.
"As we spoke, Blaine finally reached the realization that he had been much happier with Bebe than he had been without her and that he was hating her because she had actually done the right thing and told him the truth. He asked me what he should do, and I couldn't answer that for him. He was quiet for awhile and just thought things through while we held hands. Honestly, Marilyn, those five or ten minutes were the most painful and, ultimately, the most wonderful minutes of my life. I felt more connected to my son than I'd ever felt in my life."
Marilyn couldn't help let a tear fall, now.
"Finally, Blaine asked me, 'Mom... if I love Bebe... does that make me gay?'"
"Well, it would have, wouldn't it?" Marilyn asked sincerely.
"Marilyn... the fact that I love a man doesn't make me better than a woman who loves a woman, so why label ourselves? I told him that it just made him someone who loved Bebe, unless he chose to view himself some other way."
Marilyn just nodded.
"He stood up and he said that he did love Bebe and that he wanted to be with her, so I drove him back to Ed and Rose's and I never heard him mention Bebe's sex until Bebe announced her surgery, but that's another story."
Marilyn dabbed her eyes, careful to not mess up her makeup. "So... I'm the only one who is having a problem with all of this, then. Joe keeps telling me to just leave it alone, but, Joanne... it's so strange to think of your son cutting off his penis. I just wonder if I should have done something to stop him."
"To what end, Marilyn? To leave him a sterile man who probably would have developed breasts at some point, anyway? Marilyn, I never knew John, but... honey, Bebe is the most lovely young woman I have ever met. Maybe you didn't think that you were raising a daughter, but somehow you did and she is amazing. I am truly sorry that you lost your little boy, Marilyn, but... if you can accept your daughter for who she is, you'll be very proud of her. I promise."
Marilyn stood and sniffled back her tears. "Thank you, Joanne. I can't tell you how much you have helped me."
Joanne stood, too, and hugged Marilyn. "I'm glad. Are you going to be ok?"
She nodded and sniffed again. "I'm going to be fine."
"Here we go, big guy," Don said quietly into Ed's ear as Pachelbel's 'Canon in D' was played on the organ, but Ed's attention was focused on trying to catch a glimpse of Rose. He knew that he'd feel better as soon as he saw her.
First down the aisle was Nancy with Oscar escorting her. Ed was shocked at how beautiful she looked. Nancy was always 'pretty,' but she looked as beautiful as any actress Ed had met since arriving in LA. And she moved so beautifully. She was obviously growing more accustomed to being dressed up and in the public eye, but when he noticed that she gave Bruce a shy smile, Ed knew that there was a new sensuality in her life, now, too.
She was followed by Bebe accompanied by Blaine. The dress showed she had grown a lot in the last year. In fact, it showed so much shoulder that it made her look too much like a beautiful, grownup woman than Ed would have liked.
"Your little girl is growing up, Ed," Don whispered, aware that the younger man was shocked by his niece's gown up persona. "She's sixteen, now, but she's a good girl, Ed. Be proud of her."
Ed shot his friend a smirk. "She's growing up too fast," he chuckled quietly. "So's Blaine, and that's my concern."
Don laughed, but their attention returned to the aisle as everyone oohed as Sophia walked down with a silk pillow with two rings on it and she was followed by Mia and Cora who strewn rose petals in preparation for the bride's entrance.
Suddenly, the music changed to a 'Hornpipe' by George Frederick Handel and Ed's breathing ceased as his attention was riveted to the entrance. What if she had second thoughts? What if she suddenly realized how much better she could do than him? What if she just decided not to go through with it? What if...
But there she was. Breathtakingly beautiful. Her smile shining and her father looking nervous at her side.
Ed took his first breath in what seemed an eternity and his heart beat firmly in his chest.
Rose walked straight and elegantly down the aisle, smiling at the guests and, finally at Ed. How could life possibly be as wonderful as it had become? He didn't deserve any of it, especially not Rose, but thank God and fate that he had her. Rose. Rosie. God, she was gorgeous.
As they reached the front pew, Rose's father stopped, turned to his daughter and raised her veil. He placed a kiss on her cheek, then offered her hand to Ed, who stepped forward and took it with a big smile on his face.
"Take good care of her," Mr Menard whispered to Ed.
"I will," Ed whispered back, but his eyes never left Rose's eyes as he escorted her to the alter.
Bebe handed her small bouquet of roses to Nancy, then she bent at her knees and adjusted Rose's long, wide veil and train, adjusting it until it presented itself perfectly.
It was not a full Catholic Mass, but rather a twenty minute long service, throughout which, the bridal party did not sit.
Finally, the priest turned to Ed, "Edward, I believe that you have written your own vows."
Ed nodded and turned to face Rose. He spoke in a strong voice, "Rosie," she smiled, knowing that the members of her family in attendance would know how much she hated that name, "sometimes I look at you and I can't believe that I could ever be so lucky as to have met you, let alone have you in my life. I didn't know it, but before you, I didn't know how to be happy. I didn't know how to love someone else and I didn't know how to live. I will love you now and forever and I will be there with you in joy and in sadness, in good health and bad and I will be true to you all day, every day, from now until we are parted by death. And even then, I will find you and love you throughout all eternity. Thank you for asking me to be your husband and thank you for becoming my wife."
The priest smiled at him, then turned to Rose. "Rosemary?"
Rose smiled at the priest, then at Ed. "Ed, when I first met you, I thought you were a funny and goofy guy with the sweetest smile I'd ever seen. I watched how you took care of Bebe and, later, how you took care of me, and then, one day, out of the blue, I suddenly realized that I loved you. That I loved you like no else had ever loved anyone else before. You are my heartbeat, my breath, my light, my darkness, my waking, my sleeping, my everything. Ed, I will love you and be true to you every moment of everyday of my life."
"Edward and Rosemary, " the priest smiled, "do you take each other as your lawfully wedded spouses from this day forth and until death do you part?"
"We do," they responded.
"May I have the rings?" The priest asked.
Don stepped forward and motioned for Sofia to come to him. He untied the laces on the pillow, released the jewelry and held the rings in front of the priest to receive the blessing. The priest handed the smaller ring to Ed, who held the ring just above the tip of Rose's ring finger on her left hand.
"With this ring, I do thee wed," he smiled as he slide the ring onto her finger.
Rose repeated the process, placing the larger ring on Ed's left hand.
"I now pronounce you man and wife," the priest said, the window behind him framing Cinderella's castle across the lake at Magic Kingdom. "You may kiss the bride."
The hundred and fifty assembled friends and family stood and applauded as Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March' sounded from the organ and the couple kissed, then exited down the aisle.
They assembled a receiving line on the walkway that led back to The Grand Floridian, with Rose and Ed at the start, followed by Don, Bebe and Blaine, Nancy with Cora, and Oscar with Sofia and Mia. Many of the guests were mutual friends from the show, but there were also family members who wondered at the relationships between Ed and Bebe or Rose and Bebe.
"So, if Rose is your cousin," several people said to Bebe, "then we must be related somehow, too, right?"
"I would imagine so," Bebe replied with a big smile and a kiss on the cheek. "We'll have to figure that out." Then she'd move smoothly to the next guest.
"How come we never met you before," one of Ed's younger brothers asked. "I met John Foley, but never Bebe Foley. Are you guys related?"
"Yes," Bebe smiled, then looked to the next guest.
Maureen Weldon, the director of 'The Taming of The Shrew' suddenly was the next in line.
"Maureen!" Bebe shouted.
"Oh, Bebe, Bebe, Bebe! Look what you've become! I'm so proud of you!" She hugged Bebe hard, surprising her. Maureen had always been a bit cold and distant.
"Maureen, this is my boyfriend, Blaine. Blaine, Maureen is the director who cast me as Bianca."
Maureen smiled and shook Blaine's hand. She was surprised when Blaine said, "Well, I guess that I have a lot to thank you for, then."
Maureen smiled, glanced back at the smiling sixteen year old girl with the modest, but tastefully displayed cleavage and she smiled, then leaned back and whispered in Bebe's ear, "Would I be correct in assuming that you are one hundred percent female, now?"
"You would be," Bebe giggled.
"And are you happy?"
"Happier than I could ever have been before." Her smile was huge and sincere.
"I'm so happy for you, then," Maureen stood back and took in the vision of femininity in the elaborate red dress. "Oh, Bebe, you are a very lucky girl." Then she took Blaine's chin in her hand and shook his head from side to side. "And you are probably the luckiest boy on earth."
"And don't I know it!" Blaine laughed.
The guests boarded luxury bus coaches to be transported to The American Pavilion at Epcot for the reception. The rotunda of the hall, which had been built in beautiful tribute to the Georgian architecture of the rich colonists in The Virginia Colonies, was even more ornate than usual, with white buntings hung among the white columns beneath the vast, domed, white ceiling.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the 'cast member' costumed as a butler from the eighteenth century, with an elaborately embroidered long coat and a powdered wig called out, "pray thee cast your attention to entrance as we greet the wedding party. First, may I introduce the flower girls and ring bearers - Mistresses Sofia, Mia and Cora!"
The crowd applauded as the slightly confused little girls crossed the dance floor to the head table, where Joanne was waiting and waving them forward.
"Next, may I introduce the bridesmaid and groomsmen - Mistress Nancy, accompanied by Master Oscar and Master Blaine."
Again, the crowd applauded as Nancy entered with Oscar on her right arm and Blaine on her left. They, too, crossed the dance floor and took their places at the head table.
"Good sirs and madams, I give you the Best Man and the Maid of Honor - Master Donald Ferry and Mistress Bianca Foley."
The applause this time was huge. Don smiled and waved to the crowd as he escorted Bebe to the head table. Bebe waved, too, but when she caught sight of her mother and saw how she smiled at her, she waved a little harder and smiled even more broadly. The smile seemed oddly... accepting and loving.
"Pray thee, good sirs and madams, please stand as the bride and groom enter. For the first time, please welcome Mr Edward McNeal and his wife, Mrs Rosemary Menard-McNeal."
The crowd applauded and hooted and hollered as the handsome young husband and his beautiful young wife crossed the floor and stopped at the center of the dance floor.
"For the newlywed's first dance," the 'butler' called out, "the happy couple has chosen to dance to the song 'Beauty and the Beast.'" He nodded to the costumed conductor of the small orchestra that was set to the side of the room, and the familiar music began.
The singer was a 'cast member' as well and she sang the first verse, beautifully,
"Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly..."
As the second verse began, the sound of the singer changed to a more pop oriented sound and then the sound of anothe band came from the other side of the room.
"Just a little change
Small to say the least..."
The people who had been watching the dancing, turned and saw Chrissie and the rest of the girls from Dusty Rose playing along with the small orchestra. When they recognized who was singing, they applauded, wildly, but Chrissie held up a hand to quiet them and keep the attention on the bride and groom.
"Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast."
"At this time," the 'butler' called out, "would the rest of the wedding party join the bride and groom on the dance floor!?"
Blaine and Nancy came out onto the floor with Cora, who they held against Nancy while they danced. Oscar escorted Sofia, with whom he danced, while she struggled to follow his lead, and Don and Bebe had Mia with them. Bebe held Mia while Don embraced them both and led them through the dance.
"Ever just the same," the 'cast member' singer stepped forward with a wireless microphone in hand from one side of the room, while Chrissie did the same from the other. They met in the middle, near the edge of the dance floor and sang together, Chrissie taking the harmony where appropriate.
"Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise."
By now, the onlookers were wiping tears from their eyes. How perfect could a wedding be? The bride and her court dressed as princesses, the groom and his court looking sophisticated in their tuxedos, a beautiful orchestra playing a beautiful song and the most popular band in the world playing along. Add to that, the beautiful little girls being included in the dance and it was all just too beautiful to take in.
Finally, the song came to an end.
'Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast.'
When the music had finished reverberating through the room, the guests applauded and the dancers began to leave the floor, until the tinkling of champagne glasses compelled the new couple to stop and kiss each other for the amusement of the guests.
"Those dance lessons definitely paid off," Don said to Bebe, as he pushed her seat in for her. "Even with your little friend clinging to you." He kissed her cheek.
"Thank you, Don," she smiled.
"You look amazing," Blaine said as he sat next to Bebe.
"So do you," she bit her lower lip as she looked him up and down. "You should always wear a tuxedo."
Blaine put his arm around her. "Will you dance with me when the party music starts?"
"There's music playing, now," Bebe said. The small orchestra was playing 'Fly Me To The Moon.'
"No. I mean when Dusty Rose is playing." He kissed Bebe's naked shoulder sending shivers through his girlfriend.
"Of course," she smiled as he kissed her, again, this time right at the spot where her shoulder met her neck.
Bebe leaned back a bit and kissed Blaine. His lips were soft and yielding and so were hers. "I can't believe how beautiful you look in that dress," Blaine kissed her again. "Like an Angel." Another kiss. "Or a Princess." One more kiss.
"Alright, you two," Nancy came up from behind them, "enough of that."
"Yeah," Cora said in her little voice, "enough of that." She maneuvered her way between the two of them and pulled herself onto Bebe's lap.
Blaine chuckled. "Oh, good. A chaperone."
"Well, it seems that you may need one," Nancy chided. "Besides, your friend is here." She indicated a man approaching from the dance floor. "You don't want pictures of the two of you playing tonsil-hockey on TMZ tonight, do you?"
"Nancy, Blaine, Bebe," the man said with a bit of his ever present anxiety in his voice.
"Mr. Meadows," Bebe smiled. "Are you enjoying yourself? I understand the bacon-wrapped-scallops are delicious."
"I don't care for scallops," he said, dismissively, "thanks. I would like to bring my photographer in, now, if that's ok, though."
Before Bebe could say that it was really Rose and Ed's call, Don reappeared and slapped the reporter too firmly on the shoulder. "Austen, my friend. What a coincidence. What brings you to Disney World? Hoping to try out the Avatar ride? Or maybe the new Star Wars ride?"
Meadows scowled. "You're a riot, Ferry. You know why I'm here."
"I do, and did you enjoy the ceremony?"
"Yeah, it was very nice. I just wish that I could have had my photographer in there, too."
"Oh, come now, Austen. You know the rules as well as I do. No cameras allowed in the chapel. Not our rule - Disney's. Besides, Disney has hidden cameras taking video and photos throughout the ceremony. You'll be the only one getting copies - I promise."
"Great," Austen Meadows was clearly uncomfortable being in and amongst the friends and family of the celebrities upon whose reputations he made his living, but he was getting a huge exclusive, so he was willing to be a little uncomfortable.
"Tell you what," Don smiled his friendliest smile, "have your photographer come on in and have a little food, maybe a drink or two, and when it's time to take pictures, I'll let you know, ok."
"Listen, Ferry, I didn't travel three thousand miles to have the chicken with green bean almandine, ok. I have deadlines to meet."
Don put his arm around Meadows' shoulder and led him away from the head table. "Bebe looks pretty amazing in that dress, Austen, doesn't she?"
Meadows glanced back at the startlingly beautiful young woman in the red gown. "Yeah, I guess."
"Still think she's a boy?" Don laughed.
"You can be a real jackass, sometimes, Ferry, you know that?"
"Alright, everybody!" Chrissie shouted into the microphone. "Let's get this party started! One! Two! One! Two! Three! Four!"
After two hours of swing and adult contemporary music from the small orchestra, everyone expected Dusty Rose to kick things off with one of their mega-hits, but, instead, they kicked into a slightly countrified version of The Beatles classic, 'I Saw Her Standing There."
'Well she was just seventeen
And you know what I mean
And the way she looked
Was way beyond compare
Well, I'll never dance with another
Since I saw her standing there...'
The floor was immediately filled with dancers, young and old alike. Bebe grabbed Blaine's hand and ran him to the dance floor where they were greeted by Cassie, Annie, Ella and MK. With arms over their heads, big smiles and total disregard for their hair or the integrity of their strapless gowns and dresses, they shouted and they danced and sang at the top of their lungs.
"Mom," Nancy touched her mother's shoulder to get her attention. "Could you come out into the hall for a few minutes. I'd like you to meet a couple of people."
"Sure, honey," Marilyn stood, then touched Joe's shoulder. "Come on, Joe. Family stuff. This is important."
Nancy led them into a quiet corner where Bruce and Cora were waiting.
"Mom... Joe... I want to introduce you to some people who are very special to me. This is Bruce and his daughter, Cora."
"How do you do, ma'am," Bruce shook her hand, then turned to Joe, "sir."
"Well, it is nice to finally meet you, Bruce, and you too, Cora," Marilyn smiled. "I understand that you two work together. Is that right?"
"Yes, Mrs Foley," Bruce smiled.
"Dr Foley," Nancy whispered to Bruce.
"Oh, I'm sorry... Dr Foley. I am sorry. Nancy told me that you were a professor. I guess, I'm just a little nervous."
"Mom," Nancy interrupted, "Bruce and I have been dating, off and on, for a couple of months, now, and I thought that you should get to know each other."
"Oh, well, that's lovely, dear. Is this something serious?"
"Mom," Nancy was uncharacteristically nervous during this meeting and she had hoped that her mother would be tactful and pleasant. So far, she'd been very pleasant, but that was a less than tactful question. "It's only been a couple of months..."
"Well, dear, Joe and I were only dating a couple of months before he..."
"Mom..." Nancy was getting more uncomfortable by the second.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Nancy," Marilyn smirked, playfully. "I'm just asking..."
"Well," Bruce interrupted, "since you brought it up..."
He looked at his daughter and nodded. Cora stepped over to Nancy and held up a small package. "This is for you - from both of us."
"Oh, how nice," Nancy smiled and stooped to kiss Cora's cheek. "Thank you, so much."
She tore the paper and found a red, jewelry box, the size that would normally contain a necklace. "Ooh," Nancy teased, "I wonder what's in this?"
Bruce raised his eyebrows in a 'I don't know' fashion and waited for Nancy to open it.
When she did, she sputtered and took a step backwards in shock, her face going white with surprise. "Oh, my God!"
Marilyn reached out, concerned. "Nancy! Are you ok?"
Nancy began breathing again and placed a hand on her bejeweled breasts as she struggled to not hyperventilate. She turned the box to show her mother.
"Oh, my," Marilyn breathed as she made room for Joe to see the lovely diamond ring in the platinum setting that the box contained.
Bruce got on one knee and took Nancy's hand in his. "Nancy Foley, I know that it's only been a few months, but I know what I'm feeling and I hope that you're feeling the same way..." he smiled as he organized his words, but Cora couldn't wait any longer.
"Will you marry us?" she blurted out, a big smile on her face. Then she put her hands together in a begging fashion and pleaded,
"Pleeeeaaaasssse?"
Nancy's head was racing. This all happened much quicker than she'd expected, but Bruce was handsome and smart and successful... "Of course, I'll marry you," she blurted as the tears started. "Both of you!"
She picked Cora up and hugged her tightly and, when Bruce stood, he joined in the hug.
"Geez, Bruce," Joe laughed. "You should have done that on the dance floor where everyone could have seen."
Bruce laughed. "Obviously, you have not spent a lot of time with Nancy. She would have killed me if I'd done it there."
"Well, congratulations kids," Joe put his arm around Marilyn's shoulder. "Looks like there's going to be another wedding to plan!"
"Oh, lord," Bruce laughed, "I hope you're not expecting Dusty Rose to play at our wedding, Nancy. I'm a simple anesthesiologist. I don't have my own TV show."
"I don't need a big wedding, Bruce," Nancy held Cora and held her on her hip, "but I do want to go show my sister my ring!"
"Oh, my God!" Bebe yelled from the dance floor, then she showed her sister's left hand to all of her friends, before grabbing Nancy and pulling her to the bandstand, arriving just at Dusty Rose completed playing Lady Antebellum's 'Need You, Now.'
Chrissie saw Bebe and handed her a microphone. "Look, everyone!" She shouted, excitedly. "Bruce proposed to my sister, Nancy, and she said 'yes!'" She held Nancy's left hand up for all to see the ring. The crowd applauded and Ed pushed Bruce up onto the bandstand as well. Cora climbed up behind him.
Ed took the microphone from Bebe and held his arm towards the newly engaged couple and said, "Let's hear it for the happy couple!"
More applause and Bebe picked up a Cora so she could see what was happening.
"Do you know what this means?" Bebe asked the little girl.
Cora shook her head, a bit overwhelmed by the volume of the applause.
"It means that my sister, Nancy, is going to be your new mommy and I will be your Auntie Bebe forever!"
"Yay!" Cora shouted as she hugged Bebe's neck
It was well past midnight when Nancy and Bebe finally made it back to their suite at The Grand Floridian. Both were exhausted, but filled with joy and expectations.
"Oh, Nancy, what an unbelievable day! Ed and Rose married and you and Bruce engaged! This has been the most romantic day, ever!! MY SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED!!! Have you set a date?"
"Beebs, we've only been engaged six hours," Nancy smiled, both at her sister's exuberance and at the pretty ring on her hand. "We'll probably wait until the new hospital is opened and things are settled. Turn around, I'll unzip you, then you can get me."
Bebe turned and Nancy lowered the zipper. As the dress was lowered to the floor, Bebe asked, "Are you moving in with Bruce?"
Nancy held out her hand and helped Bebe step over the massive skirt. "Well, actually, that is something we have discussed." She turned and allowed Bebe to lower her zipper. "After his first wife died, Bruce sold the condo they lived in. He said it was too big and expensive. He lives in a pretty small place, right now. So... I know that the condo is in your name, but would you mind if Bruce and Cora moved in with me?"
Nancy stepped out of her gown, as well.
"Are you kidding!?" Bebe's eyes were wide. "You'll still just be two floors away AND Cora will be there, too!? That's perfect! Oh, my god! I can babysit! I mean, I can babysit all the time! Like, after school, or when you and Bruce are working! I can stay on the couch down there, or we could make Rose's old bedroom into a guest room for Cora and she could be upstairs with me! This is awesome!"
The younger sister hugged the older tightly. Both women in their best bras and panties and their heels. Their breasts pushed together in sisterly affection.
"Oh, I am so glad that you're my sister!" Bebe said in a voice muffled by the soft skin of her sister's shoulder.
Nancy kissed Bebe's hair, then raised a hand to hold that head tightly. "Bebe... I am so, so, so blessed to have you as my sister. Without you, who knows where I'd be? A drug addict? In jail? Maybe even dead. I never expected my life to be like this, Bebe. You make everything wonderful."
Bebe looked up at her sister's face. "Nan... remember that night that you picked me up at the airport in Providence? That first time that you saw me dressed as a girl?"
Nancy winced at the memory. "I do. I wasn't very understanding, was I?"
"I thought you hated me. That you'd hate me forever. I don't think I've ever been that sad before."
"I'm sorry, baby. I was overworked, overtired, overstressed and over medicated. I shouldn't have been the way that I was."
"Nan... I think that today, knowing that you're happy and healthy and clean... I think that today may actually be the happiest day of my life."
Nancy smiled. "Argh... I love you you death, Bebe. I really do."
Bebe gave one last, overly forceful hug. "I love you, too, Nan. I really do."
The door to the suite opened and a waiter pushing a tray-cart was waiting. "Your brunch, Ms Foley," he smiled. "May I bring it in?"
Bebe was still in a robe, despite the fact that it was nearly noon, her hair was wet and she'd not put on any makeup. Yesterday, she'd looked like a twenty-something princess. Today, she looked like a sixteen year old girl-next-door who'd just gotten out of the shower.
"Yes, please come in. Just put it over there, by the table."
"Yes, Miss," the man complied, then headed for the door.
Bebe grabbed her purse and handed the man a twenty dollar bill. "Thank you."
"Oh, THANK YOU, Ms Foley," the man smiled as he left.
"Nan!" Bebe called down the hall, as she broke a small piece of bacon off and nibbled it. "The food is here!"
There was a knock on the door. Bebe opened it and found her mother in the hallway looking fresh and ready to face the world.
"Hi, mom."
"Hi, baby," Marilyn entered and kissed Bebe's cheek. "Well, you certainly look a lot more relaxed than you did yesterday. Oh, you looked absolutely gorgeous in that dress, honey. Absolutely gorgeous!"
A little surprised that her mother was being so complimentary, Bebe smiled. "Thanks, mom. You look like you're ready to go out to dinner. I love that dress."
"Oh, well, thank you, Bebe. In fact, Joe and I are going to make a day of it before we go home tonight. Dinner at Ohana and drinks with Joanne, then we're off to the airport for a midnight flight home."
"Hi, mom. You look nice," Nancy kissed her mother. "Oh, brunch is all set up. Let's eat before it gets cold."
"I'm starving," Bebe said.
Nancy laughed. "You'll eat three mouthfuls and be full. You should see her eat, now, mom. She eats like a bird."
"But I look sexy!" Bebe teased as they all took their seats.
"Look, kids," Marilyn held up both hands in a 'wait' motion, "before we do anything else, I have something to say."
Both Bebe and Nancy paused and waited, hoping that this was not going to be another scene like the one at Le Cellier.
"I love you, both," Marilyn started, "and I have done a pretty poor job of showing you that, lately, and for that... I am very sorry. I have been selfish and self centered and I behaved as if I didn't think you loved me back. But... I know that you do... both of you."
"I don't know exactly when I started feeling sorry for my self, but at some point, I began to resent the fact that you were both young and happy and successful... and I guess that I was jealous that you had each other while I was alone... and I took all of that out on you two this weekend and... I'm very sorry."
"Oh, mom..." Nancy started to speak, but Marilyn continued.
"No, Nancy... what you said to me at that restaurant on Friday... well, that really hurt, but it hurt because it was true. I'm so sorry. I really am."
"Nancy," Marilyn took Nancy's hand, "I'm so sorry that I never saw how hard you were working or how much you were struggling. I should have. I'm so happy that you are past that, now, and that you've found happiness with Bruce. He seems like a great guy and that little girl of his is just precious."
"Thanks, mom." Nancy smiled.
"And you," Marilyn took Bebe's hand in her other hand. "My beautiful little boy. Thank goodness you've found someone like Joanne to help you. She is a wonderful woman... but... Oh, Bebe... I looked at you yesterday... how beautiful you looked in that dress... how you interacted with your friends... how you are with Blaine and how you mothered those little girls... oh, baby... you are just a perfect young woman and I am so very, very proud to be your mother."
"Oh, mom," Bebe leaned over hugged her mother tightly. "I love you."
"I know, baby, and I love you, too. Both of you." She squeezed their hands and smiled at them in a way that she'd not done in a long, long time.
"We love you, too, mom," Nancy smiled.
"So, from here on out, I promise that I will cherish every second I spend with my two, beautiful girls and that I will show the world how proud I am of each of you. Now, if either of you has anything to add, then let's get it out. If not... let's eat."
"I vote for eating," Bebe smiled.
"Me, too," Nancy smiled as well.
"Are we all set?" Austen Meadows asked his crew. "Come on, guys, the clock is ticking here. Let's get things together. This has to be edited and ready for five o'clock."
The men bustled around the large living-room of the palatial estate on the California Coast. "I think we're ready, now," the producer said. "We just need to mic her and we're ready to go."
"Great," Meadows walked you the doorway and called down the hall. "All set, any time you are, Bianca."
The actress hustled down the hall and smiled at her long time TMZ connection. "Sorry. We had a bit of a mess in there." She laughed at the unglamorous pre-recording issues. "Cora's helping me out with them, today, though."
Meadows nodded and indicated a chair near glass doors that overlooked a beautiful view of the ocean. "No, problem. Is this good for you?"
"Sure," Bebe said nonchalantly and sat, then remained still while the sound tech attached a microphone to the side of her head, hidden by her hair.
"Could you just say a few things for me, Ms Foley?" The tech asked.
"Testing, testing," Bebe said in a flat, experienced tone. "One, two, three, four, five, testing, testing."
"That's great," the man smiled and backed out of the interview area.
Meadows sat in the chair opposite Bebe and looked to his producer. "Ok. Let's get this done."
"Ok," the producer nodded. "Recording in five, four, three..." she held up her fingers for 'two and one.'
Suddenly, Meadows' demeanor was that of a charming interviewer, rather than an anxious reporter. "Thank you, Dan," he started with the link to the studio anchor who'd be introducing the segment. "I'm here with... well, I guess calling you 'America's Sweetheart' is kind of a cliché at this point, but still seems very appropriate."
Bebe laughed. "I'll never get tired of it."
Meadows smiled. "Of course, I'm with Bebe Foley. Bebe - the last episode of 'Civil Disobedience' airs tonight, it must be a very emotional experience for you, and everyone in the cast. Twenty years, more than five hundred episodes spanning the tumultuous years from nineteen sixty one to nineteen eighty one, more than fifty Emmy Awards for the show and its cast, seventeen for you, alone - not to mention your other accolades along the way, two Grammy Awards, two Oscars for Best Supporting Actress, one for Best Actress, and two years ago, a Tony Award for your work in a revival of 'City of Angels'... that's a hell of a track record for that little fourteen year old girl from Massachusetts that I met way back when."
Bebe smiled and blushed a little at the praise. "I think that little girl would be pretty shocked to find herself in this position twenty years later, too, Austen."
"So, why, Bebe? Why is one of the most popular shows in the history of broadcasting calling quits while it's still so popular?"
Bebe laughed and thought about it. "Well, it's certainly not because we're tired of doing it. The writing and directing have remained top notch all the way through the series and we certainly all love each other... I think it's got more to do with just... life, Austen. I mean, we lost Marion to cancer a few years back and that made us all consider how we'd like to live our lives from then on. Don's character has gone from being a beat cop to being a captain and even the character would have to consider retiring pretty soon... Uncle Ed's character is a Detective Lieutenant, at this point, Rose's is a politician... they've all had long, interesting paths, but we all just felt that it was time to put the show to rest."
Meadows nodded, "And will it be hard to say 'goodbye' to your character, Alex, after all these years?"
"Oh, harder than I would have thought, Austen. We wrapped the final episode two weeks ago and it was like we were saying goodbye to family members. 'Alex' has been very good to me and I'm going to miss her, terribly."
The interview went on to thank the fans and production staff, then eventually settled on Bebe's personal life.
"And how are things at home, Bebe?"
"Things are great, as always, Austen. My husband, Blaine is doing great things as a research scientist in an institute connected with The Dusty Rose Foundation, and all three of my children are doing great! My oldest daughter is in first grade, my son is starting preschool and my youngest is turning one tomorrow."
"Three kids under six years old sounds like a handful," Meadows laughed.
"Well, they can be, but I'd be fibbing if I said that I was doing it all by myself. My husband is always involved with the kids and I have some professional help with them as well. Oh, and my wonderful niece, Cora, is a great help. She's earning her PhD in Renaissance Literature at Stamford, just like her grandmother, but during her off months, like now, she's staying with us."
"So," Meadows headed for the conclusion of his segment, "I guess this is 'goodbye' to 'Alex' and all of her 'Civil Disobedience' family, but certainly not to Bebe Foley. We'll be seeing you in several films, next year, and I understand there is talk of another TV series, as well."
"It's just talk right now," she smiled, "but I've got my fingers crossed."
"I think we all do, Bebe," Meadows smiled. "And back to you, Dan."
"Aaaannnnd we're clear," the producer called.
"Thank you, Mr Meadows," Bebe stood and took off her mic. "It was a pleasure, as always."
Meadows thanked her and said his goodbyes, then Bebe turned to the entrance to the room where Cora stood holding little Alison, Bebe's youngest adopted child. Cora had become a striking woman, taller than Bebe, slender and athletic, a volleyball star in high school and college, her smooth, mocha skin and exotic face, not to mention her beautiful smile, all combined to make her one of the prettiest women Bebe had ever met, and, just as she had adored Bebe, Bebe's children adored Cousin Cora.
"Here she is, all cleaned up," Cora smiled and bounced the child.
"Aww," Bebe reaches out and took the child, "did you spill all over yourself? Yes, you did," she teased Alison, getting a big smile in return. "We can't have you being dirty today. Not with Grandma Marilyn and Grandpa Joe coming all the way from Massachusetts for your party."
"And to watch mommy's last performance on 'Civil Disobedience,'" Cora said in the same sing-song voice.
"Oh, no one cares about that. We only care about Ali's birthday day, huh?"
"We're here," Joanne called from the door.
"Hi, mom!" Bebe kissed her mother-in-law, who was a fixture in there home most days. Then to her mother and her husband, she said, "Hi, Mom. Hi, Joe," and there were kisses all around. Nan and Bruce will be over in an hour or so. So will the girls," which meant Annie, MK and Ella. Cassie was in Canada for a conference on meteorology, her chosen field. She'd miss the show, but be back in time for the party. "Uncle Ed, Rose, Don and Viv will be here before the show."
"Hi, baby," Marilyn kissed Bebe, squeezed Alison's cheek, then moved along to Cora to hug her. "How are you, honey? How's your thesis coming?"
"I'm good, Grandma. The thesis is going great, but I'd like to have you go through it with me while you're here, if you don't mind. It's so good to see you." Cora kissed her grandmother.
"You'll be joining us at The Cape this summer, won't you?" Joe asked.
"I wouldn't miss it, Grandpa," Cora smiled and kissed Joe. "It's my favorite part of the summer."
"Daddy's home," Blaine called from the garage entrance. He had little Valerie and Jonathan in tow. "Look kids! Grandma and Grandpa are here!" The kids ran to greet all three of their grandparents and their favorite aunt.
"How'd it go?" Blaine asked Bebe, then gave her a kiss.
"Oh, fine. You Know Austen. He plays softball with me."
"Good. Big night tonight, though. I'm glad everyone's coming over."
"Me too." She linked her arm through her husband's and looked around at the faces in the room. So many people that she loved were here and more would be here tonight. This probably wasn't the life that destiny had intended for little John Foley, but it was a truly amazing life and Bebe Foley often had a hard time believing it was her's.
She took a deep breath, smiled and kissed Blaine's cheek.
"What was that for?"
"Because I love you." Bebe smiled. "I'm a very lucky girl."
The End
MUSIC LINK:
Beauty and the Beast: A Tale As Old As Time HD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDUhINW3SPs