Previously: Ms. Briggs officially welcomed them to Demetri’s Italian Steakhouse after Sienna’s finish at the Pageant. Ms. Briggs had congratulated Sienna and complimented her. “If you are the winner or one of the five finalists, please come here for your reception after your program ends tomorrow night…
Sienna was happy when her name was called as the second Runner Up…

Now: Sienna went backstage, where her mother told her, “Select one of your festive dresses. We’re going to Princess Stephanie Mitchell’s reception as the Princess of the Springfield Beauty Pageant.

“Ms. Briggs of Demetri’s Italian Steakhouse has called us and is hosting your reception as the second runner-up of the Springfield Beauty Pageant.”

Sienna quickly said, “I might not be ready to celebrate quite yet.”

Her Father interrupted her, “Not only have you done fantastically, but we might never have all your family and friends who worked so hard for you.” Mother inserted, “We couldn’t be prouder of all you’ve achieved, please don’t stop us from celebrating with you!”

Amy, Sheila, Staci, and brother Jake were pleading with their eyes. When a smile first cracked on Sienna’s face, everyone exploded with appreciation. Hugs and warm thoughts surrounded her.

Without thinking, Sienna selected her dress from when she was at the piano and sang as one of her talents. It was a very festive and appropriate choice. She selected her lingerie, put on her dress, and was changing her hairstyle and makeup, without waiting for the help of others. Amy giggled, “Wow, you’ve become very proficient in being my little sister, choosing and selecting things on your own. It shows how far you have come.” Sienna stood up, turned to Amy, and gave her a big hug. Amy said, “Is this an indication you’re going to be a contestant next year?” Sienna didn’t answer.

There was now a contingent of forty-five people: family, her friends, and admirers from the Pageant who were going to celebrate with her at Demetri’s.

First, there was Princess Stephanie Mitchell’s reception as the Princess of the Springfield Beauty Pageant, which was well attended. It brought many wonderful memories of the Pageant for all the girls. Sienna giggles, “Sienna couldn’t help but think in terms of being a girl the last few days.” Sienna was thankful that she was not the focus of the media.

It was a great time, but it belonged to Stephanie, so the other contestants and Sienna excused themselves.

Mom and Dad communicated with Maria Briggs at Demetri’s that our group was now on the way.

The group was divided in front of Sienna as she entered Demetri’s until she finally saw Maria Briggs standing there, opening her arms to receive Sienna. “I saw you at the Pageant on TV. When you were named as the second Runner-up, I hoped you would remember to come to us. Come, we have a special seat for you.” There were now two banquet tables along with others to receive Sienna and her well-wishers.

Maria suggested that the group be seated first, and drinks orders could be given. Demetri’s was offering three menu items served smorgasbord style. There were Sirloin tips and pasta, Lasagna, and Chicken Alfredo. Sienna ordered the sirloin tips with pasta alfredo.

It allowed everyone to serve themselves, enjoy the food, and, more importantly, celebrate with Sienna and one another.

Sienna’s Mother and Father sat to her right, Amy, Sheila, and Staci sat to her left. The rest of that table and the other table were filled with Sienna’s girlfriends and their moms, and there were other reserved tables enough to fit in everyone.

Sienna hadn’t known that Grandma Haynes was coming today. She and Aunt Gloria were seated near her Father in the audience.

Now, once Grandma and Aunt Gloria had their food, Sienna went and knelt between them. Grandma faked a stern face and then broke into a warm smile as she opened her arms. “You make a wonderful granddaughter. I do hope I will not lose Sammy, but you can come and visit sometime.” Aunt Gloria added, “With all these girlfriends, I can’t understand why you became one yourself?”

Sienna joked, “If I knew becoming a girl could attract their attention and we’d be friends, I might have done it sooner.” Everyone laughed.

The party lasted a little over an hour, since it was already well into the night.

A funny thing happened during their traveling with her parents; she was visiting with them using Scotty’s voice. When she needed them to stop because he needed to use a restroom. Dressed as Sienna, he went with his Mom to the women's restroom. Soon after, she was inside a carload of her friends stopped, and teased him, as Sienna, for being inside the women’s room.

Inside the restroom, another person confronted the other girls, “She’s the prettiest one among you, why are you giving her a difficult time?” The woman stood there, kind of demanding an answer. No one spoke up until Mrs. Haynes explained, “The pretty one is my son, who was just in a beauty pageant. I am sorry if you feel intruded upon.

The woman introduced herself, Gladys Miller. “I will forgive you if we can go outside when she is ready and I can have a picture taken with her.”

It was Monday morning, about 11, when they arrived at home. They attracted a few neighbors as Sienna helped to carry luggage and the dresses she wore in the pageant. Most neighbors knew about Scotty being in the contest, but they were interested to see Sienna and hear if she had placed well in the pageant.

Instead of being able to go upstairs to shower and change back to Scotty, Sienna sat in the living room with her mother, talking to some neighbor women. One neighbor woman stopped Amy as she was bringing in the longer gowns. Ms. Stihl asked, “Can you stop and show us one of the gowns?”

Amy stopped and put the gowns on the dining room table and opened the dress bag on top. It happened to be the gown that Sienna wore at the end of the show.

Ms. Stihl joyfully said, “Wow, young lady, isn’t that too luxurious for a boy, as well as being too long for you?” Amy was quick to tell them, “It wasn’t too long when she wore four-inch heels. Nor was it like Sienna wore it for a long time, but she did very well when she wore it.” Sienna blushed as some of the women did.

The following days weren’t easy as the need to change over from Sienna to Scotty was taking place. Scotty chose not to allow the earring holes to close, but bought an inexpensive black onyx look-alike to wear. It was the second weekend back that Sienna was with her new girlfriends. Mrs. Hayes allowed Tiffany to host a sleepover with Sienna as a guest. While Mom and Dad didn’t encourage the sleepover, neither did they insist she couldn’t go.

There were not many, but there were several more opportunities for Sienna to come back to life. One such time was when Grandma Haynes hosted Sienna for a weekend at her home, to show off her grandson-granddaughter to her friends. One of Grandma’s friends brought her granddaughter, Lisa. Lisa, being three years older and with a driver’s license, scooted Sienna away after the noon gathering. Sienna and Lisa became friends for the rest of the day. The time included shopping for a new outfit, dinner, and a lot of girl-talk. She was back at Grandma’s by eight.

Scotty didn’t go back to participate in the beauty pageant the next year. However, first secretly and more in high school, it became known that Sienna remained part of Scotty’s life.

Scotty and Tiffany became boyfriend and girlfriend in high school. Tiffany nominated Scotty to be a candidate for homecoming queen in September of his junior year. Scotty soon had numerous students demanding that Sienna resurface and run.

Scotty was now 5’ 6”, still slender, and with a cute face like his sisters. Sienna didn’t work hard to win, but she enjoyed looking for a fall wardrobe. She had her mother’s blessing and, importantly, her credit card. Sienna was selected Queen by popular vote. Travis Runnels, the Quarterback, was elected the King. They did share the throne, pictures, and one dance. Tiffany enjoyed her girlfriend the rest of the Homecoming weekend. Sienna did not give up her many girl friends, the rest of her time in high school. Sammy/Sienna has been seeing a psychologist since that time in high school.

With her parents’ blessing, it was Sienna who went off to University the September after high school graduation. Sienna and Scotty continued to wrestle with the future.

The End, Likely…
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