Surprise Offer 2: is a direct continuation of the story about Lily and her ‘brother’ Lance. Can she find acceptance and her place in the world as Lily instead of Lance? Emotions run high as Lily’s new best friend and ‘adoptive’ family members move things forward at lightning speed. Can she handle it all? How will a surprise just before Thanksgiving change everything? Lily and Sammie are back, ready to take on the world with pigtails and dancing, in a way only ten-year-old little girls can do.

Previously:

“Girls, can you come to the Salon please?”

“Yes, Mommie.”

After they walked into the Salon, “J, you’re first. Do you want the pink or blue cape?”

“Umm, I have no money, Mrs. Berger.”

“Don’t worry. I will take the cost out of Sammie’s allowance,” Mrs. Berger said while winking to her daughter.

“Same cost as Lily, Mommie?”

“Yes, Samantha.”

“Then I will gladly pay for J's trim.”

“You s sure, S Samantha?”

Since Sammie knew that Lily pays nothing for her visits to the Salon, she would gladly ‘pay’ for Jimmy’s visits too, “Yes, J.”

“So, what color cape, J?”

Sammie just gave a shrug to J's stare for her opinion on the question. There was no way the girl was going to voice what it was in front of her Mommie.

Getting no help from either of his two friends, J mentioned, “I am dressed as a girl. Might as well continue the masquerade. The pink one, please.”

After he sat on the chair, the pink cape with a unicorn was fastened around his neck. “Please lean forward, J.” After releasing the back of the chair, “Ok, lean your head into the bowl. My shampoo girl will then wash your hair.”

Almost giggling with excitement, Sammie grabbed her step stool and ran to the sink. She washed the hair twice before putting conditioner on J.

As she was drying the hair, J’s emotions were mixed as they asked, “Sammie, what scent was that shampoo?”

“Lavender.”

Mrs. Berger watched her daughter finish the job and take her step stool away, “OK, sit up, J. Let me see what I can do with your hair.”

“Do I get a choice of what style?”

“Your hairstyle won't change. There isn't much I can do with a few inches long hair. Do you want to keep a masculine hairstyle, or would you like to work to a unisex or feminine style?”

“What is unisex, Ma’am?”

“Not masculine and also not feminine.”

Jimmy looked at his pink ballet shoes, then, with a red face, whispered so Lily and Samantha couldn't hopefully hear, “A unisex style on the feminine side.” Louder, “Miss, you're not going to tell my parents anything I say here?”

“I won't volunteer information, but I won't lie to them, young … “ Looking at the pink cape, “lady. Today I am only going to trim your hair, but that tells me how much to trim.”

After trimming the split ends off all over the head, she combed the bangs over the eyes. They were trimmed just above the eyebrows. “Stay right there a second, J.” Heather Berger walked to a cupboard and opened it. After staring at J with thought, she pulled out a bag. “Close your eyes, J.”

After the eyes were closed, J felt something being placed on his head.

“OK, you may open them, young lady.”

J opened his eyes to discover he … she was wearing a shoulder-length wig. The brown on the reddish side hair had gentle curls in it. Not knowing what to say, he just blushed up. However, he did have a big smile on his face.

“Lily, you're next,” Heather said while removing J's cape and handing it to her daughter. “Oh, hold a second, Lily.” The stylist set the seat booster into the seat. “Now you may sit, my second daughter.”

“You know what to do, Princess.”

Once Lily had replaced J in the seat, Sammie placed the unicorn cape around Lily’s neck.

“Unfortunately, these pigtails have to go, Lily,” Sammie said as she removed the bows and braids.

“Aww shucks.”

“Please lean forward, Bestie.” The back of the chair was released after Lily leaned forward. Lily’s head was then guided into the bowl.

As usual, Lily was soon purring as her hair was washed. Once the conditioner was done, Sammie wrapped the hair with a towel before helping her best friend sit up. She then tried to stand behind her Mommie.

“No, Princess, Lily is being a guinea pig. So, …”

“What!” Lily exclaimed. Sammie, on her part, looked very nervous.

“I want both of you to trust me. Lily, I won't allow her to mess up your hair. Samantha, you've been my assistant for a while, so you can do what I ask. As I was saying, bring your step stool back over next to the chair. Here is a comb, comb all the hair straight down.”

After Sammie did one side, her mom instructed, “Reach down and turn the chair to get various angles so it is all straight.”

When that was done, Mrs. Berger added, “OK, just watch the next steps, Princess.”

Sammie's Mommie then trimmed her adoptive daughter's hair from the other side of the chair, taking special care with the bangs. Once the trimming was done, she handed her actual daughter a blow dryer and a round brush.

“OK, Princess, pick up a bunch of hair with the brush from the bottom and aim the blower at it. Gently brush down, keeping the blower aimed at the brush. Do all the hair like that.”

Slowly and nervously, Sammie dried the hair.

“That was good, sweetie. Do you want to attempt to redo the pigtails and bows?”

“But of course.”

“Here are the hair ties and ribbons.”

Once the braids were done, the cape was removed, and the girls were ushered out of the Salon. They returned to the Nintendo to play Mario Kart.

“Girls, come to the table, it is dinner time.”

As the girls came into the kitchen, “Samantha and Lily, please set the table for five.”

“Can I help you two?” J asked.

“But of course, my friend,” Sammie said.

Once the table was set, Mr. Berger came in with bratwursts from the grill. When dinner was done, the girls helped clean the table before being ushered back to the game system.

“Girls, J's mother expects her home in about 30 minutes. J, please switch that leotard and tights for your clothes. Samantha, show J where the dirty laundry hamper is.”

“What do I do with this wig, Madam?”

“Give it to me, I will put your wig in Lily’s bedroom.”

“My wig? Won't Lily mind?”

“J, it is really the guest room. It is just a place to throw my stuff here. I have never used the bed. I will gladly share a room with you.”

“I can't sell it, J, since you wore it. Besides, you didn’t seem too upset about the hair.”

Jimmy hugged the girls, giving Samantha a longer hug.

Sammie whispered in Jimmy’s ear, “Next time I will get you in a dress, J.”

Jimmy almost ran out of the door after Sammie said that.

“What did you tell him to get him scared, Samantha Allison?”

“I wouldn't say scared. Just nervous about other people. I told her that I will get her in a dress next time.”

“Did you force Jimmy to wear that leotard, young lady?”

“Not forced, strongly encouraged. Besides, his clothes were on my bed all day. Nothing was stopping him from changing. Just like that wig was loosely on his head. Nothing was stopping him from removing it.”

“Don’t look at me, Mrs. Berger. He was already dressed when I got back from Granny's house.”

Heather thought to herself, “He does seem happier as J, but I will have to watch to make sure he doesn't feel like he has to be J.”

Meanwhile, Sammie was thinking, ‘He makes a cute girl. Been too long since I've seen J in a dress. It didn't take much encouragement in the past to get him in a dress. Can I do it again?’

“Now, you two girls, it is time to split up until tomorrow.”

After giving Sammie a hug, Lily said, “OK, Mrs. Berger. Good night, Sammie.”

“Mommie and Daddie, I’m home.”

“There is a large box for you on the table,” Mommie said.

“On a Sunday!?!?”

“The post office delivers packages on Sunday during the Christmas season,” Daddie explained.

“Oh.” … Reading label, “Lily Vanderbilt.” … “Did you order this?”

“I didn't, Princess,” Mommie said, looking at Daddie.

“Why are you looking at me? You are the one with the online account.”

“Can you open it, please. Or do I get to use a knife?”

“Absolutely not!” Daddie exclaimed before taking his pocket knife out to cut the box. “There you go Sweetie.”

Lily opened it to discover a card which said,

“Merry Christmas.
Enjoy this hopefully much-needed early Christmas gift.
To Lily
From Alexis.”

“Mommie, have you been bragging about me to the whole of Fayetteville?”

“Nope, just your relatives. The suspense is killing me. What did your cousin send you?”

Lily opened the box to see another large plain box. “Daddie, this is awkward. I am too short to get the inside box out with it on the table. Can you pull that box out, p l e a s e.”

“You didn't have to lay it so thick.” He pulled out the 50 by ten by four-inch box and set it against a kitchen chair. “There you go, Princess.”

“Adjustable four-foot freestanding twin ballet barre. Black/Natural finish.” Lily read from the box. “That will very much come in handy. What does it mean by black and natural finish?”

Daddie opened the box and pulled some pieces out. “It appears that the metal is black.”

“Is it all metal?”

“Nope, I am assuming these wood pieces are your barres,” Daddie mentioned.

“Can we assemble it?”

“No, it is past your bedtime,” Mommie pointed out. “Up to bed with you.”

As Lily left the room, Daddie said, “I will assemble it tomorrow after work, Princess.”

On Monday, as she changed into a leotard after school, Lily was instructed to write a thank-you letter to her cousin.

“Today?”

“I would prefer you do it today.”

“Can I do it at Sammie’s after ballet practice?”

“Yes, but I want it done today.”

“OK, Mommie.”

True to Daddie’s word, he did assemble the barre while Lily was at the Bergers. It was sitting in the living room, available for the little princess to use in her efforts to be a beautiful ballerina.

“Mommie, here is the thank you note for you to mail,” Lily said as she handed the note over and headed for the barre.”

Smiling at her daughter doing a plie while holding onto the barre, Susan approached, “Very good, Lily. Now off to bed with you. If you and Sammie come here after school tomorrow, you can use your new barre then.”

Tuesday Lily and Sammie basically did the same as Monday, except this time at the Vanderbilts’ house.

Lily thought her new barre looked very nice with its two wood barres held up by two black metal T legs. However, homework had to be done before they were allowed to practice on it. After dinner, the two girls found something to entertain themselves until it was time to split.

On Wednesday, Lily changed into a leotard before heading to the Berger’s house.

Thursday morning, Lily felt funny, and while at school, she just started crying when she received a 90 on a quiz the girl thought she aced.

“You ok, Bestie?” Sammie whispered.

“No, felt off all day and now this.”

“You have pads or tampons in your bag?”

“A couple of pads are in it. I can't use tampons right now. Why?”

“You're going to need one soon, if my hunch is correct.”

Lily just shrugged in reply.

“You ok, my friend?” Jimmy asked after school was done.

“Oh, hi, Jimmy. Nope, I am in pain. Sammie here thinks my monthly visitor is knocking on the door.”

Jimmy opened his mouth and quickly shut it before saying anything.

Sammie looked around to see if anyone was close before going, “So my ballet student, J, you going to practice with us this afternoon?”

“Today?”

“Yes, first we find J, Lily gets some Motrin in her, next homework, then ballet practice for our recital. Finally, if time is left, we will play some video games.”

“Fine with me, Samantha, but I will have to call my parents, so I don’t get grounded.”

Thursday for the two girls was basically a duplication of Tuesday.

Lily put a pad in her panties when she went to bed Thursday evening just to be safe, in case Sammie was correct. When she woke up in the morning, Lily saw that Bestie knew what she was talking about.

Running to the bathroom just before lunch on Friday, Lily discovered her pad was almost soaked. Reaching in her pocket for the replacement pad she put in there earlier led to a horrible discovery, it wasn’t there. It must have fallen out. She felt her face get warm from the thought of that and what she had to do next.

“Does anyone have a pad I can borrow?” Lily asked.

“I have a tampon,” Anna offered.

“I can’t use that with my tube.”

“Why does the freak need a pad? There aren't the internals.” Christy said.

“Obviously, if she needs a pad, there are definitely internals, idiot,” a fourth grader named Noel offered.

“Didn’t you listen to the doctors, stupid? She is intersexual, not transgender.” Anna said.

“Fine, here is a pad, but I will only give it to you if you show me the old one!”

Lily got a great smirk on her face and said, “Ok, you said it. Please can I borrow that pad?”

As soon as Lily got the replacement, she switched pads. Then, with multiple sheets of toilet paper, she took the bloody pad out of the stall.

Hiding the gross pad behind her back, she stated, “Remember, you asked to see this, Christy.”

After Christy saw the pad, she exclaimed, “GROSS! I don’t want to see that.”

Noel said, “You did very much ask to see that pad!”

Christy just ran out of the room.

“If she gives you any problems, my name is Noel Stevenson.”

~

In the classroom after lunch, the teacher called, “Lily?”

“Yes, Mr. Connor.”

“Apparently, Mr. McKenna wants to see you.”

“I expected this,” Lily mumbled to Samantha. Sammie just looked confused.

“Very well, Mr. Connor, can Anna come with me?”

“Why?”

“She is a witness.”

“Ok, you two may go.”

Out in the hall, Anna said, “She knows that she asked to see it.”

“Lily is here to see Mr. McKenna,” Lily said to the secretary.

“Why are you here, Anna?”

“I am a witness.”

Shrugging, Miss Fran went to the Principal’s door and said, “Sir, Lily and a witness, Anna, are here.”

“They can come in,” Mr. McKenna responded.

Closing the door, Mr. McKenna stated, “Bringing a witness confirms that there is more to this Christy Waters story.”

“Anna isn’t the only witness,” Lily stated. “A fourth grader who said her name was Noel Stevens? Stevenson? was also a witness.”

“That would be Stevenson. Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

“I needed to replace my pad, but I had dropped it accidentally in the hall. I found it later by a bench. I asked to borrow a pad.”

“Go on.”

“Anna offered a tampon, which I can’t use with my tube. Noel didn’t offer anything. I really didn’t know anyone was in the bathroom with me. I heard the door open multiple times.” … “Christy said I had no internals, so no need for a pad.”

“She did now? Very interesting.”

“Noel responded by pointing out that obviously if I need a pad, I have internals.”

“I am following you.”

“Christy offered a pad, but only if I showed her the old one. I probably shouldn't have, but I did show her that bloody pad before throwing it away.”

“Anna, is what she said correct?”

“It is Mr. McKenna.”

“You two can return to class.”

As the two were walking out of the office, they heard Mr. McKenna on his phone, “Mrs. Nivara, can you send Noel Stevenson to the office, please?”

Following afternoon recess, Lily walked toward Christy and handed her a clean pad, “Thank you for the pad, here is a replacement for the one you gave me.”

Christy just grabbed it and mumbled under her breath as she walked away.

Back in the classroom, Mr. Connor stated, “Christy, Mr. McKenna wants to see you.”

Christy stomped out of the classroom.

When Christy returned, she stomped back into the classroom and stated loudly, “Great, last day of school for 2015, and I have detention.”

“CHRISTY WATERS, we can make it the first day of 2016, too, for interrupting class.”

“Please, no.”

“Then sit down and be quiet.”