Full of hurt and confusion, Jimmy lashes out at a former friend during recess. Bystander Amanda sees more than a careless insult. She sees a friend being hurt and decides it’s her responsibility to act. Confident, protective, and unafraid to take charge, she sets out to make sure Jimmy understands that words matter. Jimmy finds himself facing unexpected consequences from a group of girls determined to defend one of their own. They force Jimmy to confront the impact of his words and face the feelings he’s been trying to ignore.

From Surprise Offer Two - Chapter Twelve:

During morning recess, Lily, Sammie, Tina, and Amanda were talking and sitting beside the school.

Jimmy came up and said, “Hey, hermaphrodite!”

Amanda and Tina jumped up and dragged Jimmy away. It appeared they were saying something, but the two best friends couldn't hear what was being said.

During recess, Jimmy was feeling upset that his friend had ditched him. Lance and he used to do a lot together, but now Lance was Lily and was no longer even talking with Jimmy. The transition from Lance to Lily brought out a bunch of feelings in Jimmy, some he wasn’t willing to admit to, not even to himself. He walked up to the friend with his … wait, that is no longer correct … her new friends and said loudly, “Hey, hermaphrodite!”

Jimmy saw that Lily Vanderbilt and Samantha Berger just looked at him, confused. On the other hand, if looks could kill, he would be dead. That look was coming from Amanda and Tina, who jumped up. He tried to run away, but he was never athletic, and Amanda caught up with him. She grabbed one arm, and Tina grabbed the other arm. They dragged him away from his old friend and her new best friend.

As he was being dragged away, Amanda said, “I am going to kick your ass after school, Jimmy Bowen.”

He was dragged to the other side of the playground and just held until the bell rang. While he was being kept hostage, Tina asked, “Why would you say something like that to sweet little Lily?”

Jimmy said, “I don’t know. I was just upset, and I didn’t think.”

When the bell rang, the girls released his arms and let him go back into the school.

Jimmy tried to hightail it out of the school when the final bell rang. He looked behind him and discovered he was being followed by five of the seven close friends. Missing were Samantha, whom he always got tongue-tied around, and Lily. The five following him elicited different feelings. Anna and Rachel didn’t really scare him. They had played with him since Kindergarten. Jen made him uncomfortable, rarely wanting to hang around him because he wasn’t a girl. On the other hand, Amanda and Tina being upset with him made him extremely nervous. With the five of them together, all mad at him, he was shivering in his boots.

When he got out of the school, he took off running. He didn’t get far when Amanda looped her arm around his arm, “Going somewhere, little boy?”

Jimmy pleaded with her, “Please don’t beat me up, girls.”

On his other side, Tina said, “We have changed our mind. We are not going to beat you up.”

Jimmy realized he was being led somewhere, “Where are we going, Amanda? Tina? Rachel? Anna? Jen?” He tried looking at each girl in turn.

Amanda stated, “You will find out when we get there.”

Looking around, the boy asked, “Where are the other two?”

“Not involved,” Rachel answered.

Anna stared at him, “And you better not tell them about what we are doing to you.”

Jimmy gulped, “I know the word was in poor taste, but is that really a reason to kill me?”

“We are not going to kill you, Jimmy,” Amanda smirked. “We are going to have a lot of fun with you, however.”

The small group headed down the sidewalk while this discussion was going on. They arrived at a mid-sized house. Amanda unlocked and opened the front door. After Tina released the boy, she dragged him into a bedroom. Jimmy looked around the room with pink walls and asked, “What are we doing here?”

He turned around and realized the five girls were blocking the door. Amanda just said, “Strip!” When he didn’t react, she repeated, “I said strip! I could still beat you up if you'd rather have that.”

He removed his shoes, socks, jeans, and t-shirt. Rachel was quick to grab his clothes.

“It all has to come off,” Amanda glared. “Little girl.” Amanda went to a drawer, pulled two things out, and roughly threw them at Jimmy. “We will turn around, so you can put these on in privacy, little girl.”

Jimmy’s head snapped towards Amanda. Little girl? He was so distracted by the comment that he almost missed that clothing was being thrown at him. Catching the bundle, Jimmy looked down to discover the small pile was a pink pantie and a bra that didn’t seem to have any shape to it. He wasn’t sure what he should be feeling at the moment, but knew he had no choice but to do as he was being told. He turned around so his back was to the girls, just in case one of them turned around. Figuring the stamped tag on the panties would be in the back, he stepped into them. “Okay, my bottom is covered. Can I put something else on before you turn around?”

“No,” Rachel said as she faced Jimmy and held her hand out. “We need to make sure you are properly dressed down to your panties.”

Emotions were running wild as Jimmy lost his briefs to Rachel, too. She stashed them wherever she put the other clothes.

The five girls started to giggle at the small bump in the front of the panties.

“Little Julie,” Amanda stopped giggling long enough to say, “Put your measly member between your legs.”

Following directions, Jimmy did as instructed before attempting to figure out the bra. He figured out what the front was before putting it on like a t-shirt. The next thing he knew, he heard lots of clicks, like someone was taking pictures of him. “What are the photos for?”

Rachel said, “That is how blackmail works, little girl.”

Jimmy nervously asked, “You are blackmailing me?!?”

Amanda barked, “Yep. Now, sit on the bed.”

No sooner had he sat down than Anna and Jen grabbed his left hand. Rachel and Tina grabbed the right foot. He watched Anna filing his nails on his left side. The other two girls were doing the same thing to his right foot. Amanda suddenly was in the middle, holding his head up.

“Ouch!” Jimmy exclaimed, feeling a sharp pain in his left eyebrow. “What was that!”

Giggling, Amanda said, “Just the price of beauty, little girl. I am dealing with these bushy eyebrows, Little Julie.”

When they were done filing the nails, the smell of nail polish filled the room. Not that “Little Julie” would know what color, since Amanda was still attacking her eyebrows. After the girls switched sides, Little Julie examined herself to discover she had soft pink fingernails and lavender toenails.

“Does Little Julie know how to put on tights?” Tina asked, but quickly got her answer when she saw the new girl just awkwardly stare in response. “I guess not. We have to teach Little Julie everything.”

The new girl was told to point her toes before being helped into white tights.

Rachel said, “Arms up like a good little girl, Julie.”

When Julie did that with a blush on her face, a very full petticoat was dropped over the new girl’s head. A few more pictures were taken before Amanda went to her closet and pulled out a dress bag. She unzipped the bag to reveal a pink dress. She said, “Juliette?”

Juliette asked, “Yes, Amanda?”

Amanda said with a severe tone, “We will both be in deep doo doo if you damage this dress. You understand?”

Juliette said while nodding, “Yes, Amanda.”

Amanda said with a giggle, “Great, back to our regularly scheduled teasing just for you, Little Julie.”

That just caused the new girl's face to blush up again. As they helped Little Julie into it, Amanda said, “This was my dress when I was a flower girl at my cousin's wedding this summer.”

Julie felt the dress get very tight in the top before someone really pulled on the ribbons at her waist and tied a bow. She looked down at herself with the ever-present blush and thought, ‘This was a view I normally only get to see at Denise's house.’

While fussing with the dress, Amanda said, “Such a nice bow on your sash, Little Julie.” After a few more pictures, she stood back and said, “Just needs a few items.” She returned to the closet and got out a pair of matching pink shiny mary janes with a two-inch heel.

Tina barked, “Sit down, Little Julie.”

Julie quickly sat down. Rachel giggled and said, “Not like that. Slide your hands under you after you sit so your skirt sits nicely.”

Julie did as she was told. Then Rachel said, “Let Mommie have your feet, Little Julie.”

I don’t know if Julie could blush even more, but she did. She stuck her left foot out and found one of the heels put on her foot. The second foot soon matched it. A towel was dropped over the dress. Rachel said, “Stay still for Mommie while I do your makeup, Little Julie.”

As the makeup was put on her … his face, he hoped that he wouldn’t look like a clown. He didn’t even know what they planned once he was dressed. Before he knew it, Rachel stepped back and smiled at the results. Somehow, a wig was acquired, and they put it on his head. He felt them attach it to his natural hair before something was gently set in it.

They stopped being mean once the boy was fully converted to the girl in the flower girl dress, like a switch. Instead, they were being very gentle and encouraging.

Amanda questioned the girls, “Who wants to take Juliette around the block?”

Juliette exclaimed, “Around the block!?!?”

Rachel said she would, and Amanda said, “If anyone questions you, just say she lost a bet. And remember, Juliette is a girl.”

While gently and encouragingly holding the new girl’s hand, Rachel said, “Come on, Juliette, you can do this.”

As they headed to the outside, Juliette spotted herself in the mirror. She had brown wavy hair with a tiara in it. But more importantly, she exclaimed, “Is that really me? I am pretty!”

“Yes, you are Juliette. Come on, unlike in Kindergarten, no one here is going to stop you from going outside in a dress,” Rachel said. “Believe it or not, Amanda does remember Kindergarten. She knows this is not as big of a punishment as it would be for other boys in our class. Enjoy it, my little girl.”

It was a strange sight as they walked down the block. Rachel was in her jeans and t-shirt, and Juliette was in the flower girl dress. When they got to the end of the block, Rachel went to turn the corner. Juliette exclaimed, “Not that way! Please, not that way! Anything but that way!”

Rachel said, “We can cross the street and go around that block. What is wrong with the other way out of curiosity?”

Juliette whispered as if they could hear her, “We would go by my evil, closed-minded Grandma Burroughs if we go that way.”

As they walked around the other block, Rachel said, “I doubt she would recognize you, but this way won’t take you past her. Come on, Juliette, you got this. We did a good job. I doubt anyone is going to recognize you.”

Juliette asked as they walked, “Rachel?”

“Yes, Juliette?”

“You five told me that I was being blackmailed. You, however, did not tell me what I was being blackmailed for.”

Rachel said, “We expect you to treat Lily with respect. Apologizing to her wouldn’t hurt either.”

Juliette commented, “I am not sure why I was even mean to her; pre-Lily used to be a very close friend. I can’t even bring myself to say her old name. Then she just ghosted me.”

“When did ghosting happen?” Rachel wondered.

Juliette answered, “About a week before Halloween.”

“That was when Lily appeared. She was hiding her girl side from you. She was trying to be both Lily and Lance to us girls and not admitting that they were the same person.” Rachel pointed out, “That would have worked if both of them were not connected to Sammie at the hip.”

Juliette commented, “I miss my friend.”

“Have you tried asking to do stuff?” Rachel asked.

Juliette hung her head, “No.”

Rachel pointed out, “She is still the same person. She is just not afraid to do female stuff. Ask her sometime to do something. We can whip you into shape, but we can not do something about meanie, idiotic Christy.”

Juliette asked, “What does Christy do?”

“She considered Lily a freak and will not keep that opinion to herself,” Rachel said.

Juliette wondered, “A birth defect makes someone a freak? We are talking about the girl who looks like a beanpole?”

Rachel smirked, “Yes, that girl.”

Juliette asked, “Will I get in more trouble with you girls if I give my opinion of Christy?”

Rachel shook her head, “No, we do not like her.”

Juliette said, “She is the freak.”

They soon returned to Amanda’s house. Rachel just let them in the house. Amanda’s Mother said, “Is that you, Rachel?”

“Yes, Mrs. Mueller. It is Juliette and me,” Rachel said. At this point, Juliette was trying to blend into the woodwork. Rachel whispered, “Quit it. You are just drawing attention to yourself.”

Mrs. Mueller came over and said, “Juliette, don’t think … ” Turning toward Amanda, she asked sharply, “Why is Juliette in your flower girl dress?”

Amanda said, “She lost a bet, Mommy.”

“The pizza will be here soon,” Mrs. Mueller stated before glaring at her daughter. “Get her out of that dress and into her own clothes.”

Rachel and Amanda dragged Juliette back to Amanda’s bedroom. The two girls helped the new girl out of the dress and heels.

Amanda threw a yellow Girl Scout t-shirt at Juliette, “Put that on, Juliette, and remove your tights.”

Juliette did as she was told before getting a pair of familiar jeans thrown at her. After that was on her, she was handed a pair of pink socks.

While removing the tiara, Rachel commanded, “Do a slow spin, Juliette.”

Amanda said, “You will do. I am hungry. Let’s get pizza.”

As they were leaving the bedroom, Juliette quietly asked, “Am I still getting punished?”

Rachel smiled, “Nope, now you are just one of the girls.”

Back in the family room with the rest of the girls, Amanda suggested they do their homework as a group.

As Juliette sat down on the floor with the other girls, she looked around and then at what she was wearing. She had never expected her dreams of being treated like a girl to become a reality. Now here she was 'just one of the girls.' Julliette knew this might never happen again, but she also knew it felt right.

Mrs. Mueller said, “Girls, pizza is here.”

With two slices of pepperoni pizza, Juliette returned to her homework. After struggling with one of the problems, she threw her pencil down and exclaimed, “I don't understand this homework!”

Rachel scooted next to her and started gently explaining the homework. Juliette asked, “Why didn't he say that in class?”

“I don't know, Juliette. Yep, you got this. I will stay here and watch you do a few more,” Rachel reassured her.

“Why can't math be as easy as reading and English?”

Jen replied, “Each of us learn differently, Julie.”

After the homework was done, they went to play with Amanda’s American Girl Dolls. Juliette was handed a doll and a selection of clothes and expected to dress it. She looked through the pile and found a lovely red dress to put on the doll. She really was enjoying herself.

Amanda’s Mother stuck her head in the room, “It is time for Juliette to become a boy again so I can get four girls and one boy home.”

The six girls looked at each other in shock. Rachel and Amanda dragged Juliette to the bedroom. Amanda then left the room. Rachel requested that Juliette … Jimmy sit down on the bed. The wig and t-shirt were removed. Jimmy was handed his own t-shirt, and he started to put it on himself before Rachel commented, “We don't have a problem with you wearing the bra to your home, but you probably don’t want to.”

Sheepishly, he removed the bra before putting on his t-shirt. Amanda had come back to the room. She gently uttered, “Here is makeup remover, Rachel. I will deal with his fingernails.”

As he was getting scrubbed in multiple locations, he asked, “Where are my socks and underwear?”

Amanda smirked, “You can keep the panties on. You are not getting your briefs back, and I don't want the panties back. Unless you really expect your feet to be checked, you can keep the socks and nail polish.”

Jimmy blushed bright red, “OK, Amanda.” He was handed his shoes.

Amanda said, “If you want to find Juliette again, just ask. It has probably been a long time since you were able to wear a dress or be one of the girls. We won't be so mean next time.”

While blushing, Jimmy said, “I will think about it.”

The children returned to the dining room where they had been doing their homework. Mrs. Mueller looked the boy up and down, “There he is. What is your name?”

“Jimmy Bowen.”

Mrs. Mueller thought for a while and asked, “Your Mother is Bree Bowen? And you live in a yellow house on Maple Street?”

Jimmy blushed, “Yes to both, Ma’am.”

Mrs. Mueller smiled at all the kids except her own, “Anna, Jen, Jimmy, and Rachel get into the car." To Tina, who lived nextdoor she continued, "Tina, I will watch you walk to your house before I leave. Amanda, we are going to have a discussion when I get back.”

When Mrs. Mueller dropped Jimmy off, he said, “Thank you for the ride and the pizza.”

“You are welcome, Jimmy.”

He went into the house, “I am home.”

His Dad said, “Where have you been? We have been distraught. The Vanderbilts said you weren’t there.”

“Sorry, I was at the Mueller house,” Jimmy sheepishly responded.

Mom pointed at the dining room table, “Well, start on your homework so you can get to bed sometime this century.”

“Already done, Mother,” Jimmy stated.

Mom raised an eyebrow, “Suppose you ate too?”

“Yes, Mrs. Mueller got us pizza. And I did remember my manners and thanked her,” the boy got out.

Dad stared at the boy in front of him, “Who are you, and what did you do with my son?”

Jimmy giggled, “Very funny, Dad.”

Dad got serious, “You are grounded for five days for not telling us where you were.”

Jimmy thought it was better to accept it than fight it. If he fought it, they might question him more about where he was and what he did there, “OK, Dad. I understand I am grounded until Sunday evening. Can I go to bed?”

Mom and Dad just looked at each other in shock before Mom said, “Yes, you may.”

Jimmy went to his bedroom and stripped to his pink panties. He almost threw the pink socks in his dirty laundry with the t-shirt. He decided that wasn't the best idea. As he got into bed, he looked at his light purple toes and thought, “I'd better keep my toes hidden for a while.”

Jimmy walked up to Amanda in the hall right before school, ‘Thanks to you, I am grounded. Actually, I admit to being mostly at fault.”

“I got a butt chewing last night, but wasn't grounded,” Amanda said before thinking. ‘I hope he wasn't grounded for being Juliette.’ Eventually, curiosity overtook Amanda, “What were you grounded for?”

Jimmy explained, “Five days for not telling where I was.”

Amanda was shocked, “Why so long?”

Jimmy admitted, “Not my first time. I have done that too many times.”

Amanda said, “Sorry, but you have a task to do right now.”

Jimmy asked, “I do?”

“You need to apologize to Lily.”

Jimmy hit his forehead, “Yes, I do.”

Jimmy walked into the classroom and up to the table Lily was sitting at, with Amanda following him. She motioned for him to do it.

Jimmy said, “Lily, I am extremely sorry for what I said yesterday.”

“Apology accepted, Jimmy,” Lily responded with a smile on her face. She got up and hugged him before sitting down again.

Thursday after school, Mom told Jimmy he had mail. He noticed there was no return address. He opened the large envelope to discover a picture of Juliette entirely made up in the flower girl outfit.

Mom said, “She is cute. Who is she?”

“Her name is Juliette,” he blushed.

He took the picture to his bedroom and set it in his memory box on top of his pink panties.

	Juliette, with help from Rachel and their friends, carefully prepares a borrowed outfit so she can attend Lily and Samantha’s ballet recital. Nervous but excited, she spends the day navigating the event, meeting people, and trying not to draw too much attention while enjoying the performances and time with the girls. The outing strengthens friendships and gives Juliette a rare chance to simply exist among them as one of the group. By the end of the day, however, small hints suggest that keeping everything secret may become more difficult in the future.

From Surprise Offer 2 Chapter 19:

While waiting to get picked up after school, the Girl Scouts and Jimmy were all standing together.

“Lily Ann Vanderbilt,” Sammie glared at her best friend. “What the heck happened today?”

“Christy demanded to see my old pad to prove it was bloody, Bestie.”

Anna added, “I am expecting she lied to McKenna when she complained about Lily showing it to her.”

“Lying, when there were two witnesses, would be something she’d do,” Jimmy suggested.

“Sounds like Christy,” Tina said.

Sammie turned to Jimmy, “You joining us in my mom's car?”

Jimmy glanced down, looking sideways towards another girl, “No, I have to go straight home.”

Jimmy didn’t leave after Sammie and Lily’s ride started to pull away. He just stood there silently watching Jen and Anna walk away after the car left.

“Don’t you have to go, Jimmy?” Amanda inquired.

“No, I lied to Samantha,” Jimmy replied while looking sheepishly at his feet. “Amanda, tomorrow is Samantha and Lily’s recital, right?”

“Yes?” Amanda stated.

“I would like to go but …”

“But?” Tina asked.

“You dress up for that, right?”

“I am going to,” Rachel stated.

“You going?” Jimmy got out, still not looking at the girls.

“I just said that,” Rachel said. “My sister is in the beginner’s class.”

Meekly, Jimmy says, “I don’t have any fitting clothes.” Looking around to see if they are alone, “Juliette was hoping to borrow a nice dress.”

“Say that again,” Rachel commanded. “I don't think I heard you right.”

“I, Juliette, would like to borrow a nice dress.”

Rachel thought for a minute, “I think I have a nice one, Juliette,” she mentioned before turning to Amanda and Tina, “If you will get her wig, we can do our homework before playing dress up doll at my house.”

After Tina and Amanda had walked away, Juliette stated, “I have a better wig at Samantha’s house. I wish I could get it without letting her know.”

Rachel turned to the only other person left in the school yard, “Do I want to know, Juliette?” … “No, I don't want to know.”

“Mommie, I brought a friend. Also, I am expecting Amanda and Tina soon.”

“OK,” came from the direction of a room with a television in the background.

“Can I borrow a phone to call my mother so I don't get grounded like last time?”

“Yes, it is right here.”

… “Hi, Mom. It is Jimmy.” …

“I am doing homework at Rachel Vickers' house.” …

“I am not sure how long I will stay here.” …

Rachel interrupted, “We will feed you.”

“Guess I am eating here.” …

“Yes, be home by eight thirty.” …

“Bye Mommie …. Love you.”

Bree Bowen looked at the phone in her hand in confusion. Did her son just call her Mommie and actually say he loved her? He reminded her of a girl that way. Lily must be rubbing off on him. She smiled at the past memory of her son in a girl’s Halloween costume dresses and had to admit he did make a cute girl. Still smiling, she hung up the phone.

“OK, Rachel, I can stay until eight … that gives me time to get home.”

“Great, let's find Juliette.”

In Rachel's bedroom, the genetic girl handed panties and a bra to the trans girl. “Let's see. Yes, this will do.” A yellow tee with Belle on it joined the pile.

“Are you trying to tell me something, Rachel?”

“What?”

“This tee says start my story.”

“Isn't that what you are doing?” She asked as she handed Juliette a pink Jefferson Elementary sweatshirt.

“I guess.”

Some yellow socks and blue jeans joined the pile.

Ding dong went the doorbell.

“Put those on, and I will let A and T in. ” Rachel smiled.

The three girls returned to a mostly dressed Juliette. She was just putting her sweatshirt on.

Tina walked up to Juliette and hugged her. “Nice to see you again.”

Rachel grabbed the wig from Amanda’s hands. She put the wig on Juliette's head. “Does Juliette or Jimmy want to try on dresses?”

“Juliette does, of course.”

“Let's do homework in the den, and then we can go dress hunting.”

“Hi, Cupcake. Amanda, Tina, and I am not sure of your name,” Mr. Vickers stated as he walked through the Den.

“Her name is Juliette, Daddie.”

“Hello, Mr. Vickers.”

“What are your plans?”

“We are just finishing up homework, then we need to find Juliette an outfit fitting for the recital tomorrow, hopefully with some pizza thrown in.”

“Oh, you're going to watch Jess tomorrow?”

“Juliette has more interest in the intermediates and one private lesson student than the beginners, Daddie.”

Faking hurt and shocked, “There will be more students there than Jess Vickers?!?!”

“Yes, Daddie. You would be an excellent court jester.”

“Don’t roll your eyes at me, young lady.” …. “I will be in the shop if you need me.”

“You will order pizza D a d d i e?”

“Fine, order pizza then the shop.”

Back in Rachel's room, as she opened the closet door, “OK, spill, Julie, why do you have a better wig at Sammie's house?”

“I thought you didn't want to know.”

“Wait, what!?” Tina exclaimed.

“I changed my mind.”

“Sammie is teaching me ballet.”

“So she knows about Juliette?” Amanda asked.

“As Jimmy or Juliette?” Tina asked.

“Did Sammie get it for you?” Rachel asked while getting some dresses out of the closet.

“One at a time, girlfriends. No, she doesn't know what happened at your house, Amanda, nor does she know the Juliette name. Samantha and Lily call the ballet student J. I definitely feel like a girl around Lily and Samantha, even if I have a huge crush on Samantha.”

“Oh, is that so? You didn't answer my question.” Rachel was holding a green dress up to Julie while asking.

“Does Sammie know you have a crush on her?” Amanda asked.

“Yes, she is very much aware. And … “

“You still haven't answered me.”

“Patience, please. As I was saying before I was interrupted, no, Mrs. Berger gave it to me after she trimmed my hair.”

“One question answered, five questions raised. Please try this dress on.”

“Here?”

“We are all girls here, and besides, we have already seen you in just your panties before.”

“Was Jimmy or Juliette getting her hair trimmed?”

“Juliette, using the name J, got her hair trimmed. Can you deal with my back and this ribbon, please?”

“That ribbon is called your sash,” Tina said, fastening the buttons behind Juliette.

“How often have you worn a dress?” Amanda asked.

“Does dress-up count? Does Halloween count?”

“Let's see you,” Tina stepped back to make sure the dress was done up right. “I am not sure if they do.”

“If they don't, this is my second dress ever. Can I see?”

Rachel turned Julie's head back away from the mirror before telling why, “I want to put makeup on you before you look.”

Tina sat down on Rachel’s bed to watch the makeup job, “But if dress-up counts?”

“My Kindergarten and first-grade teachers sent a lot of notes home about how Jimmy would not stay out of the girls' dress-up clothes. … Come to think of it, a certain Vanderbilt was equally in those dresses. I can't bring myself to say her previous name. And if I recall correctly, Rachel, you and Sammie were right there with me and the one now called Lily, recommending what we should dress up as to make play time more fun.”

Blushing, Rachel turned the focus back onto Julie, “What do you wear at Sammie’s house? Have a seat at my desk, please, Julie.”

“Ballet wear, usually. Leotards and dance tights.”

“Now, you girl, try that again. Like we taught you at Amanda’s house.” … “Very good, that is a good girl. I don't remember your brother wearing any girls' Halloween costumes.”

“None of the girls' costumes were actually mine. I got vetoed for quite a few years by my mother. I didn't ask any more two years ago.”

“Look straight ahead,” Rachel stated as she put makeup on Juliette.

“Every year, I convince my cousin to allow me to try on her costumes.”

“Blink your left eye, Juliette.”

“I was trying on her Elsa costume, with her permission, about six or seven weeks ago, when our mothers walked in on us.”

“Blink the other eye.”

“What happened, Juliette?” Tina asked.

“Not much. My aunt basically told me not to damage the dress and told me I had three hours before our fathers would return.” … “My mother just rolled her eyes.” Noticing the makeup was put away, “Can I look in the mirror?”

“Close your eyes. How long were you in the costume?” Rachel asked, leading Juliette backwards to the mirror.

“For how many years have you been wearing her costumes?” Amanda inquired.

“Please, can I look? I have tried on all of her costumes since we were about four.”

“Open your eyes. You didn't say how long you were in the Elsa costume.”

Juliette opened her eyes to see a girl in a green dress with a white peter pan collar. She squinted her eyes, trying to see the evidence of the makeup she knew she was wearing. “I was in it for just under three hours. As a matter of fact, I was pulling on my sweatshirt when I heard Dad’s car returning.” ... “I thought you put make-up on me.”

“PIZZA, Brat!” came a scream from down the hall.

“You’re the brat, Jessica.” … “Less is more, Juliette. Let's go eat, girls.”

Walking into the dining room, “Rachel, why is your friend in your dress?”

“We were trying dresses on so Juliette can wear a nice dress to the recital tomorrow, Mommie.”

“Are you going to my recital?”

“I …”

“You aren't the only one dancing tomorrow, Sis.”

“I want to watch two good friends of mine dance.”

“Well, young lady, don't spill anything on it. Otherwise, you can't wear it tomorrow.”

“Yes, Mrs. Vickers.”

“Speaking about that, Mommie and Daddie, can Juliette hitch a ride with us tomorrow?”

Looking at her husband, who just shrugged, “I don't see a problem. We have to leave at ten. Jess has to be there an hour before the recital, so bring something to keep you occupied.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Vickers, and I will.”

“Arms in front of you, Julie.”

Juliette looked shocked to see an Alice apron placed on top of the dress, “Alice's apron?”

“It does quite look like Alice's pinafore, but it is an apron fashioned in the style of a maid's.”

Juliette just shrugged and followed the horde getting pizza slices.

“So Juliette, are you in Mr. Conner's class?”

“I am, Ma'am.”

“Rachel hasn't mentioned you before.”

Juliette tried not to look nervous.

“Do I mention all of my classmates?”

“No, you must be new like that Lily girl.”

Juliette just discreetly nodded.

“Lily isn't new,” Jessica states.

“She isn't, Sweetie?”

“Noel, from down the road,” Jessica said. “Was saying she had to stand up for Lily in the bathroom today. Something about a dummy that swore there was no way Lily could be actively having her period.”

“Guess we'd better explain,” Rachel states, looking at her friends. “Lily is intersexual. She …”

“You have a trans girl in your class?”

“No, Mr. Vickers, Lily was… key word: was … a boy who suddenly had a period,” Juliette mentioned, while thinking that yes, there is a trans girl in our class, me.

Amanda explained, “She’s the one we visited in the hospital after our Girl Scout meeting. The doctors who visited our class say SHE has all the internals, and her chromosomes are XX.”

Tina continued, “Christy, who is the dummy that Jessica's friend was talking about, can't get it through her mind that Lily isn't trans.”

“There was an incident in the bathroom between Lily and Christy. I don't know the exact details. Lily only said that she had to borrow a pad from Christy.” Rachel explained.

Jessica added, “Noel told me that the idiot demanded to see the used pad and then got upset about being shown a bloody pad.”

“JESSICA!”

“Sorry, Mommie, for my language, but Noel swears she is one.”

Juliette added, “Now that you have pointed it out, Lily also mentioned that.”

“That dress looks nice on you, Juliette,” Mr. Vickers stated. “This wasn't the dress you were planning on wearing, Cupcake?”

“Thank you, Mr. Vickers,” Julie blushed.

“No, Daddie.”

Back in the bedroom, Rachel instructed Juliette to get out of the dress in order to keep the dress clean. After Juliette was down to her panties and bra, she went to grab Jimmy’s clothes.

“Absolutely not, young lady.” Rachel proceeded to hand the girls' clothes that Juliette had previously worn to her. With Juliette back in the pink school sweatshirt, Rachel thought out loud, “Now we need to figure out how you are putting that dress on tomorrow?”

“I will need help, of course.”

“I’ll gladly help you, Julie.”

“So I will just come here tomorrow morning.”

“That is the problem. You, Juliette, need to come here, not your brother, Jimmy.”

“Oh, big problem.”

“What would happen if I sent you home like that?”

“Umm… Daddie is on a business trip this weekend. Mommie might ask way too many questions.”

“You could hide your outfit under your jacket, Juliette,” Tina stated.

“That might work. How am I, Juliette, going to sneak out tomorrow? I can't go down to breakfast in my coat.”

“How about switching sweatshirts outside of the house?” Amanda asked.

Rachel said, “That is actually a good idea.”

Juliette just shrugged at the idea.

“Let's see, you will need clean clothes,” Rachel said, as she turned to her drawers and pulled some panties and socks out. She then started flipping through her shirts.

“What are you looking for, Rachel?”

“Another shirt that I won't mind that you, Juliette, will not return.”

“I will gladly return them, Rachel.”

“You will keep them or else!”

“Else!?!”

“Or Juliette will never get to borrow any more clothes from any of us.”

“Wait! Are you blackmailing me to add clothes to my tiny collection of girls' clothes?!?!”

“So you have more girls' clothes?” Amanda asked.

“I just have the panties and socks you donated to the cause at my house, Amanda.”

“What about at Lily and Samantha’s?”

“I wear Samantha’s leotards and tights. At least, I think they are hers. I don't fit Lily’s clothes.”

“What about panties? Bra?”

“Never worn a bra there. Leotards have bras built in, and I am just handed panties … I'm not sure if they are Samantha’s or mine, personally. … I throw everything in the hamper afterward. I have never discussed what happens to them when I am gone.”

“Don’t forget you own what you are wearing now, Julie.”

Looking down, “I can't accept this, Rachel.”

“You will! Or will your brother be going to the recital tomorrow?”

“Fine! This is the strangest way to be blackmailed.”

“Oh, you are enjoying it. Actually, I do need to take your picture, Juliette.” Rachel set a shirt down and grabbed her camera. “Sit nicely on the bed, Julie.” … “Perfect, say cheese.”

“Swiss.”

“Not kind of cheese, silly girl. I think this shirt is perfect for you tomorrow.” Rachel showed a pink shirt that said ‘I am literally just a girl.’

“Again, you are trying to tell me something.”

“Am I wrong?”

Meekly, “Nope.”

“Now, you can wear those jeans and that bra, but I'd better find you another sweatshirt.”

“How exactly am I getting Jimmy and tomorrow's outfits home?” Juliette asked as she was handed a pink sweatshirt with a cat's face on it to add to the pile.

“Amanda, can you remove her makeup while I grab something?”

Rachel returned with a paper grocery bag. “I put Jimmy’s sweatshirt on top. Amanda, you have to walk past her house to get home. Can you see that she gets home safely?”

“But what about me?” Amanda said with a smirk while hugging Rachel.

While Rachel was hugging Tina, “Fine, all three of you get home safely. Besides, you two live next to each other.” Rachel was pointing at Tina and Amanda while saying that.

While hugging Juliette, Rachel whispered so only she could hear, “It has been a few years since I had my Bowen Dolly.”

Julie just blushed bright red.

Rachel switched back to her normal volume, “You, young lady, try to get here at nine thirty at the latest, preferably earlier.”

“Yes, Mommie.”

“Don’t you forget it!”

“Juliette, we are almost at your house. I think it is time to become Jimmy,” Tina reminded.

As Juliette removed her jacket and sweatshirt, she exclaimed, “Burrrrrrrr!” The gray sweatshirt was quickly put on. He was about to put on the jacket again, but Amanda stopped him.

“Pull your sweatshirt down and do a slow spin,” Amanda requested.

Shrugging, Jimmy did that.

“Good, it hides the flowers on your jeans.”

“Now, may I get my coat back on? It is cold out here.”

“Yes, you may. Gee, someone might think you are a girl with how big of a deal you are making of it,” Tina said, smirking. “You might want to lose the wig too, Jul … Jimmy.”

“I admit to being a girlish wimp,” Jimmy sheepishly stated as they turned onto his street. “Thank you for escorting me home, my friends.” He turned to hug them both.

Walking in the house, “Mom … I am home.”

“Wow, you are forty-five minutes early. Did you get a ride, Sport?”

“No, Amanda and Tina walked with me.”

“In the dark? Where are they now?”

“Yes? They appear to be a few doors down now.”

“Stop them, and I will grab the car.”

Racing out the door, Jimmy caught up to the girls. While panting, “I… am … out … of … shape. … I … need … to … do … more … ballet.”

“You forgot something? Did we forget something?” Amanda asked.

While smirking, Tina expressed, “That wasn’t a very boyish thing to say.”

Sticking out his … her tongue. “Since when were I … or Lily model boys, Tina?”

“Umm, never.”

“I ran here because my mother will not let you walk home by yourself. Here she is with the car.”

As the two girls were getting out of the car, Amanda expressed, “We would have gladly walked home; it was just two blocks.”

“Young Lady, absolutely not in the dark.”

“OK, Ma'am, thanks for the ride.”

“Yes, thanks for the ride, Mrs. Bowen.”

As they were driving home, “Mom, I have plans with Rachel tomorrow. She would like me at her house at nine to nine thirty.”

“Let's see, if you weren't there, you would be at Samantha's or Lily’s houses.”

“No, both of them are busy until mid-afternoon on Saturdays. They have ballet every Saturday.”

Back in the garage, “You going to leave homework until you see Samantha on Sunday? I am not sure why you two usually leave Lily out on Sundays.”

“I did my homework at Rachel's, and Lily goes to her Grandma’s house on Sundays.”

“Very good, this expansion of your friends appears to be rubbing off on you. Not to say that pre-Lily was bad for you, but adding the girls has thrown you into your schoolwork more.”

Blushing, “Thank you, Mom …”

“Hang that jacket up, take your shoes off, put your bag away, then let's watch some TV.”

As Jimmy went in just his socks down the dark hall to his bedroom, Bree did a second look at her son and said to herself, ‘Is he wearing yellow socks?’ She decided she would get a better look when he returned. Bree just shrugged when Jimmy returned with his bare feet in his slippers.

Jimmy jumped on the couch and quickly covered himself up with the blanket that was lying on the sofa.

“Cold?”

“Yes.”

“You could've left your socks on.”

“Probably a better idea.”

After looking at the TV listing, “Junior Masterchef is on FOX. We can watch that until your bedtime.”

“Works for me, Mom.”

Jimmy grabbed his pajamas and tomorrow's panties and headed to the bathroom. Locking the door, he stripped out of the girl's clothes and jumped in the shower. He thought he heard the door rattle before hearing, “I will just use the half bath.”

Looking at the bra sitting on top of the yellow shirt on the counter, he … she was glad she had locked the door. She turned the water off and dried herself before putting on the red polkadot panties. She … he grabbed his pajamas and put them on. Grabbing Juliette’s clothes, he wrapped them inside Jimmy’s sweatshirt before going across the hall to his room.

He dumped the clothes on the bed. The girl's jeans, bra, and Jimmy’s sweatshirt were set on the dresser for tomorrow. The panties, shirt, and socks from earlier were quickly stuffed into his hiding spot. ‘I really have to figure out how to wash these one of these days.’ He dumped the paper bag on his bed.

He put Jimmy’s dirty clothes in his hamper before placing the cat face sweatshirt and wig back in the paper bag. The tee and socks joined the pile of clothes for tomorrow. Finally, he put the Jefferson Elementary sweatshirt in his hiding spot.

Dressed in the girl's clothes hidden by Jimmy’s sweatshirt, he stared at himself in the mirror, trying to make sure the pink tee didn't show. He … she was glad that the socks Rachel had chosen were white, granted white with ruffles. But the ruffles were hidden by her jeans.

‘What book should I bring to keep me occupied?’ She stared at her bookcase for girlish books and found none,

She … he left the room and went to the family bookcase in the den. Staring at that, he was interrupted, “You’re up early, Jimmy. What are you looking for?”

“I have to be at Rachel's before nine thirty, preferably earlier. I need to keep myself occupied for a bit today and was looking for a book to read.”

“How about the ones in your room?”

Reaching for ‘Little House in the Big Woods,’ “Already read those. I will read this.”

“I will cook you breakfast, how about a pancake?” Shaking her head at her son's choice.

“Fine with me, Mom.”

Outside the house with his … her paper bag, she thought, ‘Might as well get the freezing done and switch my sweatshirt. It is freezing out here. I would chicken out if I didn't want to do this so much.’

With her coat back on, she used a car's side mirror to adjust her wig before continuing her block walk.

“Ding dong.”

“Coming,” came from inside the house.

Juliette tried to keep moving in order to stay warm while waiting.

“Oh, it is you, Juliette. You must be freezing. Do come in.”

“Thank you, Mr. Vickers.”

“You're not wearing the dress?”

“No, I left it here to put on today.”

“Let me have your coat, Juliette.” After she handed it over. “Rachel just got out of the shower. She is in her room. You remember how to get there?”

“Yes, Sir.”

A few minutes later, Juliette knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

“Juliette.”

“Come in.”

Juliette walked into the room to discover Rachel in her panties and bra, putting on tights.

“Quickly shut the door.”

“I could wait in the hall.”

“You will do nothing of the sort, young lady.” … Looking at the clock, which said 8:45, “Good, you're early. You might as well strip to your panties and bra, too. We both can get dressed at the same time.”

After Rachel's tights were on, Juliette got her own tights thrown at her. “Do you think you can put that on, my friend?”

“Yes, I have done this enough at Lily’s and Samantha’s houses.”

“Can you zip me up?” Rachel asked, wearing a red plaid dress with black accents.

“Your next.”

Juliette was helped into the green dress before being spun around for Rachel to fasten the buttons and sash.

“Have a seat at the desk so I can do your makeup.”

Juliette felt Rachel messing around with her wig. “What are you doing, Rachel?”

“Besides attaching your wig, you can see when I'm done with you.” Rachel had turned to Juliette’s face. “Now you may look.”

Juliette looked in the mirror to discover she had a green hair bow on her wig. Again, she couldn't see the makeup, but she knew it was there.

“OK, away from the mirror so I can do my own.”

“Here, put these black mary janes on.”

“We are dressed, Mommie,” Rachel said, walking into the dining room where Mrs. Vickers was helping Jess, who was dressed basically as a wooden soldier with a tutu.

“You two look nice.” She paused to look at Juliette. “Juliette, you are Rachel's age, right?”

“Yes, why, Ma'am?”

“Oh, you just look younger than her with that bow in your hair, standing next to Rachel with her in heels and you in flats.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Do you think it's a bad thing?”

“No, should I?”

“Nope, forget I mentioned it. Did you and Rachel eat breakfast? We won't be eating again until after two.”

“My Mommie made me a pancake.”

“I haven't, Mommie,” Rachel answered.

“Have a bowl of cereal.” … “Juliette, your parents know it will be late afternoon, early evening before we are done, right?”

“Daddie is out of town, and I didn't tell Mom when I will be back. She knew I was coming over here for the day.”

“Call her anyway.”

Looking nervously at Rachel, she went to the phone. Dialling her Mommie’s number while hoping she wasn't home, “Hi Mommie, the Vickers want to make sure that you know it might be evening before I am home.” …

“I will ask? They are busy getting Rachel's sister Jess ready.” …

Turning around, “Mommie wants to know if you are feeding me and if so, what she owes for feeding me.”

With bobbie pins in her mouth, “Yes, of course, and tell her not to worry about that.”

“Mommie, she said yes, and don't worry about the cost.” …

“I will be on my best behavior, Mommie.” …

“I will let you know how I am getting home this evening.”

“I love you.”

Bree Bowen hung up the phone, looking at it confused, ‘Mommie? I love you? Out of a ten-year-old boy? That is just not Jimmy. It hasn’t been for years. He’s acting more like ... like his cousin, a girl. Must be because of all the girls he is hanging out with nowadays.’

“How much longer till we have to go, Mommie?”

“Twenty minutes.” Looking at the clock, Mrs. Vickers expressed.

“Come to my room, I want a picture of you, Juliette.” Away from prying ears, “Does Jimmy usually call his Mom, Mommie? You know you called her Mommie multiple times, right?”

“I did? Fiddlesticks!!” Julie thought for a minute. “I have another problem. I don't think your parents are going to let me walk home after dark.”

“You might be right. I got my butt chewed out for you three walking home yesterday.”

“I had to run to stop Tina and Amanda so my Mommie could take them home.”

Once the camera was grabbed, Rachel led Juliette out of the room.

“I thought you were going to take my picture?”

“I am but in front of the tree.” … “Stand like that.” … “Let's see hands like this.” … “Say cheese.”

“Colby.”

“There you are again, being a silly girl.” … “Daddie? Can you take our picture together?”

Mr. Vickers said, “Say cheese, girls.”

“Cheese.” “Cheese.”

“You want a picture of your sister?”

“Yes, but take a picture of me by myself after I call her in here.” … “Jessica, come to the tree for pictures.”

Three more pictures later, the family was heading to the coat closet. Rachel grabbed two coats out of it. “Here, wear this, Juliette.”

“Rachel Joy! Are you trying to make her look younger by giving her last year's coat to wear?!?!”

“Hey, if the shoe fits, wear it, Mommie. Besides, she looks nice.”

Juliette just shrugged and put the puffy pascal tie-dyed coat on. Mentally, she was trying to figure out how to smuggle this coat home.

“I don't mind, Mrs. Vickers. I kinda like this coat.”

Rachel just looked at Juliette with a big smile at that information.

“OK, you three girls in the back seat, try not to crush Jessica's tutu.”

“Sis, you sit in the middle, and Juliette and I will sit on the outside.” … “Juliette put her tutu on your lap like this, that will keep it from being crushed.”

While walking into the theater, Julie pulled her friend aside. “Rach, why does this coat fit me comfortably if it was bought for nine year old you?”

“The correct size wasn’t available last year, so it was purchased oversized to please a bratty girl who threw a fit when Mommie told her to pick another jacket,” Rachel expressed with a red face.

Once at the hall where the recital was happening, Juliette hung her borrowed coat up before heading to the chairs with her book. Rachel sat next to her with her own book. After reading a few pages, Julie looked up and saw Lily dressed in a nice candy cane-like tutu and another girl, a little older, in a gingerbread man outfit. They were walking over towards a brown-haired teenager who had her head in a graphic novel. The girl with Lily looked remarkably like a younger version of the teenager.

Juliette wanted to say hi to Lily, but she was talking with the teenager, even after the younger version of the teenager had walked away. Julie decided not to interrupt their serious discussion. Besides, she wanted to introduce herself to Sammie first. A page more in her book, she noticed that Lily and the brown-haired teenage girl had walked away.

Still more pages in her book, Julie could swear someone was staring at her. Looking up, she spotted Samantha looking over at her, wearing a gingerbread outfit like the one she had spotted earlier on the girl next to Lily. Samantha started to walk to Rachel and her.

“Hello Rachel, and …”

“Sammie!” Rachel interrupted. “Meet my friend, Juliette.”

“Juliette!” Samantha stated.

Samantha was smiling at Juliette.

“I can't stay out here long. I was making sure Lily was OK with Megan before I noticed you two. I was sure I recognized you, Juliette.”

“Well, did you?” Juliette asked, looking at her feet.

“Yes, you and I have much to discuss tomorrow, Juliette.” Samantha lifted Juliette’s face.

“Am I in trouble?”

“Nope. I have to go soon, but you look extremely good. You did very well, Rachel.”

“How did you know it was me?” Rachel inquired.

“You wore that dress last week at church,” Sammie pointed out. “You also look nice, Rachel.”

“Thank you.”

“Make sure you two stay long enough after the recital, so my parents, Lily, and the Vanderbilts can see you, Juliette.” With that, she headed to Lily, who Sammie dragged behind the stage.

“Here are your programs, girls. The recital is going to start soon,” Mrs. Vickers said, handing Juliette two programs. She passed the second one to her friend.

Quickly glancing at it, it appeared that pre-primary ballet was the first group, and the recital ended with some solos. Rachel's sister, Jessica, was in the class performing right before Lily, with Samantha’s class following.

The lights dimmed, and a lady started to play the piano. Juliette smiled at the cute toddlers, some obviously still in diapers, streaming on the stage in their blue costumes with snowflake details. A hint of red just off stage caught her attention, before realizing that Lily apparently was wrangling toddlers.

When the music ended, the toddlers filtered off the stage, or most of them did. The last two tripped over each other, and Lily ran on the stage to help them up. Preschool-age girls in green ballet costumes quickly replaced them.

Jessica's class in their wooden soldier ballet costumes replaced the preschoolers. Juliette made a mental note to tell Jessica she did very well. Lily took the stage when the beginners vacated it. Julie thought her long-time friend was amazing, especially knowing that Lily had only started learning ballet after Halloween. Julie wished she could have been learning ballet in Lily’s class. Sammie was great, but she wasn’t a real ballet teacher.

Samantha and her class of fellow gingerbread girls danced on the stage, ‘chased’ by two cooks. Juliette smiled while really enjoying the dance. They were replaced by dancers whom the program called advanced students. Julie wondered if she would ever be advanced enough to dance in pointe shoes. Shaking her head at that silly idea, Julie continued to watch the show.

“That was very good,” Rachel expressed once the show was over.

Juliette nodded, “Yes, I just hope I am as good as the preschoolers.”

“Juliette Lynn Bowen, you are better than the preschoolers already.”

“Eep, Yes, Miss Samantha.”

“Don’t you forget it,” Sammie stated. “Come, I want you to meet some people.”

Samantha grabbed both girls’ hands and dragged them towards where hers and Lily’s parents were.

“Where’s Lily?” Rachel asked.

Sammie looked to the last place she saw Lily, “Talking to Tina Rose’s family.”

“Mommie, I would like you to meet Juliette.”

Mrs. Berger and Mrs. Vanderbilt turned around. Both moms looked shocked.

“Juliette?!? You look very nice,” Mrs. Berger expressed.

“You do look nice, Sweetie,” Mrs. Vanderbilt agreed. “Does your Mother know you are here?”

“Yes and no, Mrs. Vanderbilt. Mommie knows I am with the Vickers. She doesn't know what I am wearing.”

“Oh,” Rachel said, “Mrs. Vanderbilt and Berger, you might be an answer to an issue we have.”

“Which is what, Rachel?”

“Juliette needs somewhere to become her brother since my parents won't let her walk home once it gets dark.”

“I agree,” Susan Vanderbilt expressed. “Young Lady, you are absolutely not walking home in the dark. Now, . . . Juliette, we have told you multiple times, we will not lie for you. We, however, also will not out you. I do think that you should tell your Mom about who is really playing with Sammie, Lily, and Rachel.”

“Are you two wanting to come over now to spend the afternoon with Sammie and Lily?” Mrs. Berger looked at Rachel.

“No, Mommie and Daddie are taking the two of us, and Jess out to dinner soon. Can we come over at like four or five?”

“Yes,” Mrs. Berger said. “I expect Lily to be at our house this afternoon.”

Samantha had a big grin on her face over this information, “Juliette, I can't wait.”

“Eep!”

Rachel had turned to greet someone, “Hello, Mrs. Kane.”

“Hello Rachel, and who might this be?”

“My name is Juliette.”

“Juliette? I don't remember a Juliette. Are you new to the area?”

“Only new like Lily was right before Halloween,” Samantha explained.

“Is that so?”

Juliette blushed under the scrutiny.

“Sorry to leave, Mrs. Kane,” Sammie interrupted. “But, I want Lily to meet Juliette before she and Rachel have to go.”

Samantha again dragged the two girls towards where Lily was currently talking to her Granny Gilbert.

“Lily and Mrs. Gilbert, if I can interrupt, I would like Lily to meet someone.”

“But I already know Rachel.”

“Not Rachel, silly Bestie, meet Juliette.”

Lily spun around and looked Juliette up and down, “Juliette!”

“You have something to do with this, Bestie?”

“Blame Rachel, not me.”

“Is it a bad thing I am here?”

“Absolutely not, girlfriend,” Samantha said, hugging Juliette,

Jessica walked up and expressed, “There you two are. Daddie wants to get to our reservations.”

“Guess we have to go, my friends,” Rachel stated. “Juliette and I should be at Samantha’s house this evening.”

“Where were you two?” Mrs. Vickers asked.

“We were talking to Samantha and Lily, Mrs. Vickers.”

“Well, grab your coats and head to the car. We have reservations in fifteen minutes.”

“Welcome to The Meadows. How may I help you?”

“We have reservations at two fifteen under Vickers for five.”

“Your table is ready for you. Three children's menus?”

“Yes, please.”

“I notice a tutu sticking out of the coat. I hope a booth with a chair is ok?”

“Yes, that is fine.”

“Juliette and Rachel, you sit on that side. Jessica, you sit on the chair.” Mrs. Vickers instructed.

Juliette scooted towards the wall so Rachel could sit next to her. She opened the children’s Menu and tried to decide what she was having.

“Welcome to The Meadows. My name is Stacy. May I take your drink order?”

“May I have a Coke, Ma'am?” Juliette ordered.

The waitress turned and noticed Jessica, “Oh, were you part of Anastasia’s Ballet School recital today, young lady?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

“I wanted to go, my best friend's daughter danced with the pre-primary group today. I unfortunately couldn't get off work. Did you two dance?”

“I don't dance,” Rachel declared. “I leave that to my sister.”

“I am learning ballet,” Julie said. “But, not at the same ballet school.”

After getting the rest of the drinks orders, the waitress left.

“You're learning ballet, Juliette?” Mrs. Vickers asked.

“My friend Samantha is teaching me. Lily helps, but it is mostly Samantha.”

“Samantha, who is friends with Rachel?”

“One and the same, Mommie. She was one of the gingerbread girls today.”

The conversation was interrupted by the waitress, “I have returned, a sprite for the cute ballerina. … Two Cokes for the other girls. … Here is your root beer, sir. Someone else will deliver your wine, ma'am. Can I take your orders? How about we start with the other ballerina in green?”

“I would like the spaghetti from the children’s menu.”

“Young lady in red?”

“The cheeseburger, please.”

“With fries as it comes?”

“Yes, please.”

“Our wooden soldier?”

“The mac and cheese.”

“Your side?”

“She will have broccoli with it.”

“Mommie!”

“Don’t Mommie me, Jessica.”

“Sir?”

Mr. Vickers gave his order, which was followed by Mrs. Vickers. No sooner had Stacy left than someone else appeared at the table, “I have a glass of Chardonnay for someone at this table.”

“That would be me, Sir,” Mrs. Vickers expressed.

After the waiter had departed, Mrs. Vickers continued questioning Juliette, “Why not take lessons at an actual ballet school?”

“Ummm…” Juliette didn't know how to answer that.

“That is complicated, Mommie.”

“Complicated?” Mrs. Vickers asked before noticing that the young friend of her daughter had turned bright red. Thinking to herself, ‘Better drop the subject. Might be money issues because she also had to borrow that dress.’

Dropping one subject, Mrs. Vickers took another approach to learn more about Rachel’s new friend, “Do you go to Girl Scouts with Rachel and her friends?”

Juliette wished the ground would swallow her, “No, Ma'am.”

“You are in Mr. Conner's class?”

“Yes, Ma'am.”

Jessica opened her mouth to say something and suddenly jumped, “... Ouch.”

“Sorry, Sis, didn't mean to kick you,” … Rachel whispered something into Jessica's ear, which caused the young sister to stare at the older sister and Juliette. The older sister just blinked her eyes.

“Young lady, what did you tell your sister?”

Rachel applied her most effective innocent little girl look, “I was just apologizing to her.”

“That is right, Mommie,” Jessica confirmed.

The waitress happened to take that moment to return with the food, which, much to Juliette’s relief, killed all discussion about her.

Outside, away from the parents, Juliette asked Rachel, “What did you tell your sister?”

“I told her, unless she wanted her dirty secrets revealed to Mommie and Daddie, to keep her mouth shut about you.”

“You have dirt on your sister?”

“Yes, Rachel has dirt on me.”

Juliette jumped. “I didn't hear you come up.”

“Something about you … “ Jess looked around to see where her parents were. “I will look more closely at the fifth graders in January. I don't remember seeing you.”

“Sister, do you want to be grounded? I can tell Mommie and Daddie.”

“You wouldn't, Rachel!”

“I can.”

“Fine!”

Rachel whispered in Juliette’s ear, “Hopefully, she will forget it in two weeks.”

“OK, girls, the car is unlocked,” Mr. Vickers said.

Once in the car, Rachel asked, “After Juliette and I change, can we get a ride to Samantha's house. The Bergers are expecting us.”

“You may, Sweetie.”

“Make sure you call first to be sure they got home.”

“We will, Mommie.”

Back in Rachel's bedroom, the girls help each other strip before hanging the dresses up. As Juliette got into her jeans and pink tee, Rachel teased, “You want to keep the pascal coat, my friend?”

“I wish. It would be too hard to hide. The secret spot inside my dresser is already filled up with things you and Amanda insisted I have.”

Once Rachel and Juliette were both wearing jeans, tees, and sweatshirts, Juliette asked, “What about my makeup?”

“We probably should remove that.”

With that chore done, the girls headed to the phone. “Hello, Mrs. Berger, it is Rachel. My Mommie just wanted to make sure you were home before heading there. We will be there soon.”

“Juliette Lynn Bowen!”

“Samantha Allison Berger!”

“You …”

“Samantha! Let both of them get in the door before you interrogate Juliette.”

“Yes, Mommie.”

“Whose clothes are those, Juliette?” Lily asked when the coat was removed.

“Her own,” Rachel offered.

Juliette countered, “Only because you made me take them.”

Rachel just smirked.

“As I was saying before my Mommie stopped me, you owe me an explanation, Juliette.”

“Am I in trouble, Samantha?’

“Not yet.”

“I think yet is the key word, Julie,” Rachel giggled.

“I will start from the beginning, let me call my Mommie first.”

On the phone, “Mommie, I am at Samantha’s house now.” …

“Let me check.” …

“Mrs. Berger, will you bring me home? Or does my Mommie have to pick me up?”

“I will take you and Rachel home.”

“Thank you.” … “Yes, Mommie, she will bring me home.” …

“I already thanked her, but I will do it again later.” …

“Talk to you later, Mommie.”

Bree looked at the hung-up phone. There was that word again.

When Juliette returned from the phone, Rachel pointed out, “You said Mommie four times, Julie.”

“I did? Not again. Fiddlesticks!”

With everyone sitting in the living room, Juliette told about the notes that her parents had gotten for playing dress up in Kindergarten and first grade. She pointed out that she remembered Lily getting the same notes.

“I did?” Lily inquired, staring at her Mommie.

“You did,” Mrs. Vanderbilt agreed. “I didn't make a big deal of it, though.”

Juliette explained about always trying on her cousin’s Halloween costumes and that her mom would never let her wear one to actually go trick-or-treating in.

The girls nodded.

Juliette continued with telling the event which happened the day she called Lily a hermaphrodite, and who was involved.

Rachel blushed when her part in the day was explained.

Juliette paused and looked over at Rachel before stating, “Before they let me look in a mirror, I was sure Rachel had made me out to be a clown.”

“I would never!”

Juliette continued telling what happened at Amanda’s house, and how, in the end, she was just one of the girls. She finished with the fact that Mrs. Muller knew that she was secretly a boy.

“When I got home, I was grounded for, yet again, not telling my parents where I was.”

She explained about receiving the photo in the mail later that week.

“There were photos taken, Rachel Vickers?!?”

“Yes, Mrs. Vanderbilt. I took multiple photos of Juliette. I also took pictures of Juliette yesterday and today.”

“For what purpose?”

“Some good, some bad. The ones yesterday and today are definitely for good.”

“What about the photo that got sent in the mail?”

“That was for good.”

“Yes, it was a very nice photo of me in the flower girl outfit.”

Rachel frowned, “The rest of the photos were for blackmail purposes.”

“You're blackmailing Juliette, YOUNG LADY?!?”

Juliette laughed, “Does doing what you would have done anyway count?”

The adults looked confused.

“They told me to apologize to Lily and treat her with respect. Something I planned on doing anyway.”

“That is it?!?” Mrs. Berger questioned. “Nothing of value?”

Smirking while gesturing at her outfit, “She threatened to never let me borrow any more girl clothes if I even thought of returning these.”

“Rachel, do you understand what blackmailing is?”

“Yes, and I couldn't do that to Juliette.”

“Whose idea was it for you to go to the recital, Juliette?”

“Mine.”

“As Juliette?”

“Yes, my brother doesn't have any outfit that would work,” Juliette stated before going into the whole explanation of how she actually asked Amanda. Since Rachel was going, it was decided that she would help instead.

Mrs. Vanderbilt looked at Rachel, “Do your parents know about Juliette?”

“Just that she is a classmate from school. Mommie was giving her the third degree at the restaurant, and then she suddenly stopped asking questions.”

“I don't want to know how you pulled that off.”

“That is good, because we don't know either, Mrs. Berger,” Juliette said.

Mrs. Berger expressed, “You four can talk for an hour, then it is time for the three girls to go home. I recommend your brother be here just before we leave.”

“OK, Julie, I want to see this better quality wig which is here.”

Juliette grabbed Rachel's hand and dragged her to the spare bedroom. The other two girls followed behind, smirking.

Once in the bedroom, Julie tried to remove her current wig.

“Stop, Juliette. I need to remove the bobby pins.” Rachel proceeded to help Juliette remove the wig.

Juliette grabbed the other wig off the stand and put it on her head.

“Yes, I agree. That is a better wig.”

“If you four haven't found Jimmy, I recommend doing it now,” Mrs. Berger screamed up the stairs.

After removing her wig, Juliette placed it on the wig stand before removing her pink cat face sweatshirt. She … he grabbed the paper bag. Pulling Jimmy’s sweatshirt out, he put it on. The pink sweatshirt and cheap wig joined the book in the bag.

Samantha blinked at how little Jimmy had to do to hide Juliette. She turned to look at Lily, who was shaking her head.

Back downstairs, Mrs. Berger asked, “There he is. How did you have a complete outfit in that bag? It looked almost empty.”

“I didn't. There was only this sweatshirt and the wig in there. Oh, and a book.”

“Thanks for the ride, Mrs. Berger.”

“You’re welcome. Am I seeing you tomorrow?”

“Yes, I have lessons with Miss Samantha tomorrow.”

Mrs. Berger just shook her head.

Jimmy tried the front door and found it unlocked.

“Mom, I’m home.”

“Great, I am in the kitchen. Do you want ice cream?”

“Yes, please.”

“What did you do today, Sport?”

“Umm … Watch Lily and Samantha’s … recital.”

“Oh? I thought you were at Rachel's for most of the day.”

“Rachel was there, too.”

“There is more to that story, but it is your bedtime soon. Eat that ice cream and get ready for bed.”

Jimmy really hoped that she’d forget by the morning.

Bree Bowen noticed that there was another large envelope in the mail for her son. Like the last one, there was no return address. She considered opening it. Instead, she set it aside for when Jimmy got home from Sammie’s house.

Later that evening, when he was home, he opened it to reveal two pictures of that Juliette girl. In one picture, she was dressed casually on a bed. The other one had her wearing a Christmas dress in front of a tree. From what Bree could see, the girl looked familiar, but she couldn’t place her. Unfortunately, Jimmy took the pictures up to his room too fast for her to get a good look at the girl.

Bree knew she had to figure out what was going on with her son. He’s now getting pictures of a mysterious girl that Jimmy never talks about, and she has never heard of before. Maybe it was time she talked to the moms of the girls Jimmy has been hanging out with.

	Jimmy’s parents have uncovered clues that suggest their child may be living a hidden life. One that seems to bring a surprising amount of happiness. Unsure what it all means, they turn to trusted friends for guidance, leading to a carefully planned dinner meant to shed some light on the situation. Juliette performs in a small ballet recital, where emotions run high and quiet truths begin to surface. As relationships are tested and supported in equal measure, focus turns to identity, trust, and the first steps toward understanding who Juliette really is.

“Bye, Mom and Dad,” Jimmy told his parents Sunday after lunch. “I’m going to Samantha’s house. Mrs. Berger will probably drop me off right before my bedtime.”

Jimmy Bowen hadn't even gotten to the end of the driveway before his mother, Bree, began searching his bedroom. She pulled out the bottom drawer of his nightstand first. It was empty.

“What are you looking for, Bree?” Larry asked.

“I think I am looking for pictures of my daughter, Larry.”

“Daughter?!?! Since when have you had a daughter?”

“I mean, our daughter. You remember I told you that Jimmy always winds up in Denise's Halloween costumes.”

“Yes?”

“Twice in the last month, Jimmy has gotten mysterious pictures of a girl in the mail. I barely see them before they disappear into his room.”

“Okay… what does this mystery girl have to do with Jimmy?”

“I think that girl is Jimmy.”

Turning to his dresser, Bree pulled out the bottom drawers and hit pay dirt. She pulled out a box, two pairs of panties, two pairs of socks, a pair of jeans, two shirts, two sweatshirts, and a bag. Taking a sniff of one of the shirt's underarms, she tried to figure out if the clothes had been worn.

She opened the box and found various awards and medals, plus the three pictures, another pair of panties, and a pair of pink socks.

Bree examined the pictures. The happy, smiling girl reminded her of Denise, except with brown hair instead of dirty blonde. One showed her in a flower girl outfit, another in a Christmas dress in front of a Christmas tree, and the last was just a sweatshirt and jeans on a bed in an obvious girl's room.

Flipping through the two sweatshirts, she went “Eureka!”

“Larry, you want to see your daughter?”

“There's that ‘daughter’ word again.”

Bree showed the pictures to her husband.

“One thing's for sure… she's happy like that. Whose dresses?”

“Don't know. I didn't find any dresses… wait.” Bree ran to the closet and found no girls' clothes there. “Yep, no dresses. I did find some dirty laundry… at least, I think it’s dirty.”

“Whose clothes are they?”

“He's spending a lot of time at Samantha’s and Lily’s. But Lily's so tiny… Maybe Samantha’s.”

Larry just shrugged.

“Let me call Susan.” Bree went to the phone and dialed the Vanderbilts, but there was no answer. She then called Heather Berger. “Hello, Heather.”…

“Nope, not a hair trim this time.”…

“I am hoping to discuss what Jimmy gets up to at your house… and the Vanderbilts’.”…

“I know they’re not home. I tried them first.”…

“A meeting?”…

“With the kids?”…

“A babysitter?”…

“Who?”…

“From your church? How old is she?”…

“When and where?”

“You don't have to cook.”…

“Fine.”…

“Talk to you tomorrow at five, at your house.”

After hanging up the phone, “Larry, we have a dinner meeting at the Bergers tomorrow at five. Heather refused to discuss it over the phone. Apparently, she's getting a babysitter for the three kids during it.”

Larry just shrugged.

“What do you all have in that bag, Bree?” Larry Bowen asked his wife as they got out of the car Monday evening at the Bergers' house.

“Just the pictures… I left the clothes at home. Here, take this pie.”

“Pie? I thought they said they would feed us.”

“I can't come empty-handed,” Bree said as she rang the doorbell.

Ryan Berger opened the door, “Greetings, Bree and Larry. Heather called and said she ran into traffic coming back from Mountain. She's running about fifteen minutes behind.”

“My wife made a pie,” Larry said.

“You didn't need to. You know Susan and Tom Vanderbilt, right?”

“But of course. Nice to see you two again.” Bree said.

“So where are my son and his friends, anyway?”

Susan replied, “Ice skating at the Mountain College ice rink.”

“Sorry that I’m late.” Heather Berger said coming into the house. “If everyone can have a seat, we can start this dinner meeting.”

“Heather, the Bowens brought a pie.”

“Bree, I did say to just bring yourself. But we certainly won't refuse dessert.”

Bree passed around the pictures. “Have you all seen those before?”

Susan looked at the one with the pink dress. “I've never seen this dress.”

“About every girl at Jefferson Elementary has a version of this sweatshirt,” Heather said, looking at the picture of the girl in the pink school sweatshirt. “If it weren’t pink, I’d say every student.”

“Are you familiar with this girl?” Bree asked.

She missed the look Susan and Heather gave each other.

Tom said, “No. Should we?”

“I think this is Jimmy… as my daughter.”

“Oh?” Ryan asked. “Would that be a problem? Bree? Larry?”

“I’m not sure I like him… her sneaking around without talking to us,” Larry said.

“These pictures were found with two complete girls' outfits in a hiding spot in my child's room. I didn’t find these two dresses, though.”

“If this is Jimmy, I can say none of these clothes are Lily’s,” Susan said,

“Yes… I suppose my daughter wouldn't fit in Lily’s clothes.”

“Did you find this sweatshirt?” Heather asked.

Bree answered, “Yes.”

“Can't be Samantha’s,” Heather pointed out. “She’s wearing hers today.”

“Is this Samantha's or Lily’s bedroom?”

“No,” Tom answered.

Ryan added, “No.”

“Suppose this isn't either of your Christmas trees.”

“You can see our tree, Larry.” Ryan pointed towards the tree.

Susan shook her head, “No, but I am interested in your thoughts… what if your son suddenly became your daughter, as Lily did?”

“As long as my daughter's happy, I’m fine with it. This girl has a bigger smile than I've ever seen on Jimmy’s face,” Larry said.

Bree hesitated before adding, “I've seen that smile before. Every Halloween, my child always wears their cousin Denise's costumes. I can't bring myself to say ‘son’ during this discussion.”

“So let me get this straight,” Susan said. “You both would be fine with a daughter.”

“Yes.” Jimmy’s… Juliette's parents both answered.

Heather said, “I can say I have never seen J in a dress at our house.”

“Neither have I,” Susan answered.

Heather asked, “Out of curiosity, if your child were a girl, what would her name be?”

“Elizabeth Rose. As a matter of fact, we actually had dresses embroidered with ‘Elizabeth Rose’ before we were surprised by Jimmy’s arrival,” Bree explained. After a brief pause, she added, “Somewhere in my house, there’s still a picture of Jimmy in one of those dresses.”

“We enjoyed this discussion, even if we didn’t get any answers out of it,” Bree said.

“We’ll do this again tomorrow with a special guest,” Heather responded. “I believe she’ll be able to give you some answers to your questions. I’ll even arrange for some entertainment, too. Do bring those pictures.”

The Bowens acknowledged the instructions and stepped out into the cold.

“We didn’t get any information,” Larry commented.

Bree considered that for a moment, “They were very careful with their words. Maybe they told us more than we think.”

“I thought we went there to ask them questions,” Larry pointed out. “Instead, I felt like we were on trial.”

Heather Berger asked the girls, “Did you enjoy ice skating?”

“We did Mrs. Berger,” Lily answered for the group.

“How about you, Juliette?”

“I had a blast, but my bum hurts,” Juliette said while rubbing her bottom.

“How about you, Laura?”

Smiling at the three young girls, Laura responded, “They were a joy to be around, and we all had a blast.”

“Did they behave themselves?”

“Yes, they did.”

Heather handed some money over to Laura Schneider.

“Mrs. Berger,” Laura said, looking down at her hand. “This is too much.”

“I insist. You took wonderful care of them.” Heather waved it off with a small grin.

On the way home, Heather Berger told the girls behind her, “All three of you need to give a ballet recital for mystery guests tomorrow for dinner.

“M-me too?”

“Yes, even you, Juliette.”

Julie fidgeted with her sweatshirt sleeves. Anxiously, she said, “Oh.”

“Juliette, I want you to trust both the Vanderbilts and Bergers. We have your safety and best interests in mind.”

“Y-yes, Mrs. Berger.”

“Now I thought that Lily could do her recital in her candy cane tutu. Samantha, you can do the recital you did at Pratt in the tutu you wore there.”

“Yes, Mrs. Berger,” Lily smiled.

“Yes, Mommie.”

“Now, Samantha, do you think you can come up with a nice recital that shows off Juliette's knowledge and a tutu for her?”

Samantha sat up straighter in her van seat. “Yeah, I can. She could do the one she did for Rachel after the recital.” Sammie paused, “She might not remember all of it, though.”

“That is fine,” Heather paused, thinking. “Juliette, I think your wig can be put in a bun.”

“A b-bun!?”

“Ballerinas usually wear their hair in buns in ballet outfits.”

“Oh.”

“Now, when we get to my house, Lily, you are to go straight home. Juliette, you are to find Jimmy and come right back to the car. It is past your curfew, but your parents know you are going to be late.”

In Samantha’s room, as one got dressed for bed and the other changed into her boy costume, “Juliette, I want you to come straight here in the morning. We have a lot of practicing to do tomorrow.”

“O-okay. S-Samantha.” She turned to walk out of the room.

“Juliette, you forgot something.”

Juliette … Jimmy looked at themselves in the mirror and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Yep, there was the boy costume staring back at them. “What am I forgetting?”

“Your magazine.”

“Oh, duh.”

“Mom and Dad… I am home. S-sorry for being late.” Thinking to themselves, ‘I hope they don't ground me… not with that recital tomorrow for who knows who.’

“Did you enjoy skating?” Bree asked.

“I did… my bum didn't.”

Larry asked, “What’ve you got?”

“Umm… a model railroad magazine.”

Larry looked at his wife, confused. They thought they had gained a daughter, but here their son was coming home with a railroad magazine.

Bree gave a small, composed nod. “Straight to bed with you.”

	Jimmy’s world is changing fast now that Bree sees her child as Juliette. The day after the big reveal is a wild ride for Julie, and she is not in control. Unsure about where things are going, she is overwhelmed and worried. Mom trying to make up for lost time and Rachel trying to be a good best friend are a force Julie can't slow down. The day's adventures bring her clothes shopping, two photo shoots, and to a Girl Scout meeting. Is it too much for Julie to handle, or meeting her every dream? Could it be both? New questions, nervous moments, and a few truths that can’t stay hidden forever all happen in one day. A day that Juliette will never forget.

Wednesday morning, Rachel's Mom, Marilyn Vickers, walked to where Rachel was, “Phone for you, Sweetie. They didn’t say who it was, but it sounds like your friend Juliette.”

Rachel, who hadn't seen Julie or Jimmy since Saturday, ran to the phone, “Hello, Julie!” …

“Your Mommie wants to talk to me?” …

“Right now?” …

“Alright, see you in a bit.”...

After hanging up the phone, “Mommie, I’m going to Juliette’s house. She lives on Maple Street.”

“I don’t think I got Juliette’s last name on Saturday?”

Rachel hesitated. "It's… Bowen.”

Marilyn opened the phone book and flipped to the Bs. Looking at the options, “Is Larry her father's name?”

“I’m not sure… but I think so.”

Rachel rang the doorbell, and it was opened by Julie, wearing the pink elementary school sweatshirt Rachel had given her. 

“Juliette!”

“Rachel!”

“Why are you wearing that… here?”

Julie glanced down at herself. “What do you mean?”

Rachel leaned in and whispered, “At home? You’re wearing girls’ clothes?”

“You gave them to me to wear. Where did you think I was going to wear them?" Julie tried to keep a straight face.

“Juliette Elizabeth Bowen, invite your friend in and close the door. You’re letting the cold in.”

“What? Did your Mommie just call you Juliette? Since when can you dress like this at home?” Rachel slipped her shoes off. 

“Last night. Mrs. Berger and Mrs. Vanderbilt tricked me into showing Mommie and Daddie my ballet recital.”

“Oh.”

“You must be Rachel Vickers?” Bree said as they walked into the kitchen.

“Yes… ma'am.”

“Have a seat, young lady. I’d like to talk to you privately. Juliette, go back to your bedroom until we come get you.”

Rachel’s stomach flipped as she quickly sat at the table.

“You wanted to talk to me, ma’am?”

“I understand you took some pictures of Juliette… and used them against her.”

“I had them. I deleted them on Sunday.”

“But you did take questionable pictures of my daughter?”

Rachel looked down. “Yes… I took them.”

“What kind of pictures?”

“I took pictures while we were turning Jimmy into Juliette for the flower girl thing.”

“Were any of them… inappropriate?”

“What do you mean?” Rachel hesitated. “I mean… I took pictures from when she was in just panties to when she was fully dressed. We turned around while she put them on.” Rachel swallowed. “I shouldn’t have.”

“Do you have any more photos of Juliette?”

“Just normal ones. I took a few more than the ones I sent her.”

“So nothing inappropriate?”

“No, ma’am. Just pictures of her dressed.”

“You like to take photos?”

“I do.”

“I want… actually, you’d better go get your friend from her bedroom.”

Rachel did as she instructed, knocking on the bedroom door. 

“Coming, Mommie… oh, it’s you, Rachel.”

“What are you doing, Julie?” The girl looked around at the piles sitting on the bed. 

“Mommie wants me to sort my clothes into two keep piles: can be used for Julie, or Jimmy can wear to school. Then two other piles: sell and trash.”

“So… am I going to see you more now, Julie?”

“I’m hoping you will,” Julie looked at Rachel, unsure how she would respond. “Now that S-Sammie won’t be teaching me ballet every day, maybe we could get together after school sometimes.”

“I’d enjoy spending more time with my little girl, but why are you stopping the ballet lessons? I thought you were enjoying them.”

“Daddie wants me to take actual lessons, maybe at the same school that Samantha goes to.” Julie flipped through the pile of clothes on her lap.

“You’re good enough to join Sammie’s class?”

“Are you crazy, best friend?” Juliette looked at Rachel like she'd lost her head. “I’m not on Sammie’s level.”

"Wait! Best friend?” Rachel wanted to follow up, but also needed answers on ballet. “We’ll come back to that. So, you’ll be in the beginner class with my sister?”

“I doubt it. I'm not that good. Maybe I’ll fit in with the class below Jessica’s?”

“No! You are not a preschooler,” Rachel’s brain went into overdrive as she started to think about all the implications of Julie joining the beginner’s ballet class. “Now, as we go back to your Mommie, we’re talking about that ‘best friend’ thing.”

“You don't want me?”

“I didn’t say that. I mean… I’d like that but I just thought Samantha and Lily were your best friends.”

“No, we’re close… but they’re best friends with each other. They have stuff they don’t really share with me.”

“Okay. My best friend,” Rachel said with a huge smile on her face as she took Julie's hand and gently squeezed. “Let’s go see what your Mom wants.”

“You want us, Mommie?”

“Took you two long enough to come back.”

Julie smiled over at Rachel, “We were talking.”

“How about we talk in the car?”

“In the car?” two girls asked together.

“A certain daughter of mine needs more clothes.”

Rachel quickly thought about that, “I need to call Mommie to let her know.”

“Rachel, as I started to say in the kitchen, do you like to take pictures?” Bree asked in the car.

“Yeah?”

“I want pictures of my ballerina in her tutu.”

Julie sank a little in her seat. “Th-that is Samantha’s tutu, not mine, Mommie.”

“Leave it to me, Mrs. Bowen.” Rachel smiled at her new best friend. “I'll do a whole photo shoot with the ballerina.”

Juliette groaned at the thought of the photo shoot as the car came to a stop. Looking around, she realized that they were in front of Gilbert’s Costumes. That at least made things… interesting. “Are we going to Gilbert’s?”

“Nope, the children’s consignment down the street.”

Rachel wondered, “Can we go in there anyway?”

“Why Rachel?” Mrs. Bowen asked.

“I want to ask Mrs. Kane if Julie can go to Girl Scouts later.”

Julie exclaimed, “G-girl… Sc-Scouts!?”

“You don't want to go?” Rachel questioned.

“I… d-didn't say that.”

“Well, what's wrong?”

“N-nothing,” Julie got out.

“Yeah, right. You’re stuttering, so what’s wrong?” Rachel took Julie’s hand.

“Th-they w-won’t accept me?” Julie held her breath.

“If Lily can do it, you can do it.”

“B-but Lily’s… like… actually a girl.”

“Juliette Elizabeth Bowen, you are also a girl. Plus, you have multiple friends who are in Girl Scouts.” Rachel countered. “Besides, Lily was in Girl Scouts for over a month before her surprise showed up.”

“Yes, Mommie Rachel,” Juliette dropped her gaze.

Bree raised an eyebrow to the ‘Mommie Rachel’ comment, but also observed that it was said without a stutter. She held the door to the consignment shop open. “After we’re done in here, we’ll go ask Mrs. Kane about Julie joining Girl Scouts.”

A bell dinged as they walked in, followed by a voice from somewhere in the store, “I'll be there soon.”

Bree guided the girls toward the racks of girls’ clothes.

“Hello there,” Robin Kester said as she approached the group. “How can I help you?”

Bree turned and pointed at Julie, “I’m looking for size ten-twelve clothes for my daughter.”

“You’re in the right area. Any particular item?”

“We really need all of it. She’s changing so fast, we need a whole new wardrobe.”

“Growth spurts bring a lot of parents here. I'll leave you to it. Just call for me, Robin, if you need anything.”

Rachel started holding items up to Julie. 

“Eew!” Rachel said, looking at an out-of-fashion dress.

Not to be outdone, Mrs. Bowen was also holding dresses up to her daughter. 

“Mommie, I am not in kindergarten!” the normally quiet girl spoke up loudly, her voice echoing in the store. “I am not Lily. I can’t get away with the kindergarten look.”

Robin, the owner of the store, almost dropped the dress she was pricing. Rachel looked confused at the first part but nodded in agreement at the second. Bree Bowen shushed her daughter before putting the dress back.

“Score!” Rachel exclaimed, holding up a hanger with a Girl Scout junior uniform: skirt, blouse, hair band, and vest. “I can't believe someone sold their vest! It also comes with a camp T-shirt.”

Bree set that outfit aside on top of the small pile she had been gathering.

“We still need to get a sash. Julie can't use that vest… it already has someone else’s badges,” Rachel explained.

Marilyn Vickers went to her collection of school pictures for her daughters. Flipping through them, she grabbed the first class pictures page she came to.

‘Third grade photos.’ …

‘Bowen’ …

‘There's no Bowen. Strangely, there's no Berger either.’

‘Doh! This is Jessica's class from this year.’

Flipping through the images again, she grabbed one labeled ‘Mr. Conner - Fifth Grade.’

‘Bowen… Jimmy Bowen!’

‘Didn't Juliette say she was in the same class as Amanda, Tina, and Rachel?’

“Jessica? What was the name of your schoolmate who was discovered to be a girl?”

“Lily is her name.”

“You know the last name?”

“Vander something.”

‘Yes, there she is. Lance Vanderbilt.’ 

‘These were taken in late September.’

‘Juliette must be transgender or like Lily. That was no boy in a dress that joined us at the recital.’ 

‘A well-behaved girl with manners that could rub off on Rachel.’

‘Though if this is correct, Rachel did blur the line of no boys in her bedroom. However, is Juliette really a boy?’

‘Also, she technically wasn’t completely truthful about Julie.’

‘I'll set it on Rachel's bed so she knows I know.’

‘We will discuss it after scouts tonight.’ 

Marilyn walked past her youngest daughter on the way to her oldest daughter's room.

“What you got there, Mommie?”

“Rachel's class pictures from this year.”

“Oh, can I see it?”

“Why?”

“I want to look for Rachel's friend Julie.”

“Nope. You won't find her.”

“Rachel's in trouble for lying.”

“That’s for your father and me to determine. If you mention anything to her, I’ll gladly give you four times the punishment she gets. Besides, I have the feeling your sister has dirt on you.”

Jessica clamped her mouth closed.

‘Now, that proves it. Rachel knows something Jessica did.’ Marilyn dropped the pictures on Rachel's bed.

“Robin?” Bree asked as she approached the empty counter. 

Robin Kester stepped out of the back room, “Yes, how may I help you?”

“Can my daughter try this stack on?”

Robin's eyes jumped out of their sockets, looking at the size of the pile, “Yes, you may. The changing room is over there.”

Rachel grabbed her best friend, who had been mostly speechless since they got to the store, and dragged her to the changing room.

Bree set the pile on the bench, “Try the slip and dresses first, Juliette.”

“Y-yes, Mommie,” Julie said to her mother as she grabbed the slip and dresses. 

As she passed Rachel, Juliette faintly whispered, barely loud enough for her best friend to hear. “A-all th-this for me?”

“Come on, fashion show my friend.”

Rachel looked to see if Mrs. Bowen was watching before slipping into the changing room with Juliette. She was glad Julie’s Mommie couldn’t see them from the changing room.

Julie quickly changed in front of Rachel and put on the slip that her friend was holding. She then put on the offered red velvet dress with a cream-colored skirt embroidered with red flowers. Julie moved to go show her Mommie.

Rachel quickly grabbed one of Julie’s sash ends. “No, hold still, little girl. Let me fix it.”

Juliette froze without argument, allowing Rachel to do up the buttons and tied the sash into a bow.

The girls stepped out of the changing room and stood in front of Juliette’s Mommie.

“Spin around slowly, Juliette. … How does it feel?”

“F-fine, Mommie.”

“And the slip?”

“That’s fine too.”

“Well, try the nighties next.” … “Rachel, keep out of the changing room this time.”

Rachel thought to herself, ‘Busted!’

About an hour later, the store owner was totaling up the cost of the clothes, “That’s quite a bit of clothes.”

“Yeah, my daughter needed a whole new wardrobe.”

As Robin continued to total up the purchase, she looked at Julie, “Looks like someone had a bit of a growth spurt. Is this your Christmas gift?”

“I h-hope not,” Julie looked at her Mommie.

Smirking, “There are gifts under the tree with your name on them.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Julie got out, “Th-thank you, Mommie.”

“I applied a fifteen percent discount since you’re buying so much.”

“Thank you, Ma'am,” Bree handed Robin her card and then looked at the two girls. “Juliette and Rachel… go ahead and each take a bag. I’ll take the other two.”

With the bags in the car, the three girls walked into the costume shop.

“Hello, Juliette. You missed Lily and Samantha… they were here a few hours ago. Are you here to try on costumes?”

“Try on costumes?” Bree asked, looking at her daughter with a slight frown.

Juliette didn’t like how her Mommie was looking at her now. “N-not today, Ms. Gilbert.”

Rachel spoke up, “We’re here to ask Mrs. Kane if Juliette can go to Girl Scouts tonight.”

“Hanna, can you come out here? One of your girls wants to talk to you,” Alison said into the intercom.

“My daughter’s been coming here to play dress-up?”

Juliette stayed very still, suddenly unsure if she’d done something wrong.

“Only once. She came in with my granddaughter Lily and her best friend.”

Bree visibly relaxed at the mention of Lily. “I‘m assuming that was with your permission.”

Juliette let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Alison Gilbert agreed, “Yes, ma'am.”

"Rachel!” Hanna said as she walked into the room.

“Mrs. Kane, can Julie go to scouts tonight?”

Hanna looked Julie over, then remembered her returning a Minnie Mouse costume earlier that week. She must be one of Sammie and Lily’s friends. They had all come in together. “I don't see a reason why not.” 

Rachel looked around to see if anyone else was close. “She’s like Lily was at Halloween.”

“Oh, is that so?” Hanna looked Julie over more carefully. 

Juliette wasn’t sure if she should move or stay very still.

“Any friends in scouts besides you and Sammie?” 

“Amanda, Tina, Anna, Jen, Lily, and Sammie.”

“How many of them know Julie's brother?”

Rachel giggled. “Amanda, Tina, Anna, Jen, Lily, and Sammie.”

Julie gave a barely noticeable nod.

“Well, that makes things easy. I don’t see why not.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Kane,” Rachel said, smiling at Julie, who had been silent this whole time.

Hanna turned to who she assumed was the mother. “Make sure she has a uniform, Mrs…?”

“Bowen. We bought a used set at the consignment store today. Rachel says we have to replace the vest.”

“They can choose a vest or a sash, but most of the girls in our troop wear a sash. If you go to the Girl Scout store by the mall, they sell the starter patches as a set. You’ll also need the numbers for troop 5783.”

“We’re headed to the mall next, so I’ll stop there. Rachel, do you know that troop number?”

“Of course.”

“Mrs. Bowen, tonight is the Christmas party, so Julie will need to bring a gift.”

“Any specific requirements?”

“Something a nine to eleven-year-old girl would like that is ten to fifteen dollars in value.”

“I think we can do that.”

“Oh, don’t worry about sewing the patches on the vest or sash for tonight.”

“Yes, Ma'am.”

“Well, I have to get back to what I was doing in the back room. See you tonight, Rachel and Julie.”

“C-can we try on costumes, Mommie?”

“Maybe later, sweetheart. We have more shopping to do.”

“O-ok.”

Alison spoke up. “Before you go, could I get your contact information? I might have a modeling opportunity for Juliette.”

“Modeling?” Bree wondered, looking between Ms. Gilbert and her daughter who suddenly had a bright red face. “Do you want to model, Princess?”

Julie blushed, “Y-yeah, S-Sammie and Lily will be doing it too.”

Ms. Gilbert continued, “The last time Julie was here, a customer suggested I create a web page to show off the dresses. I thought Lily, Sammie, and Julie might make good models.”

“If my best friend’s going to be a model, can I be one too?” Rachel asked with a huge smile and wide eyes as she put her arm around Julie.

Alison chuckled, “I’ll take your information and talk with your mom if I decide to move forward with this.”

As Bree wrote down her contact information, Ms. Gilbert also took down Rachel’s mom’s name and number. Then the girls and Bree returned to the car.

Once everyone was buckled in, Bree looked into the back seat at her daughter. “Modeling, Princess?”

“W-well… Lily was wearing this really cute flower girl dress with a flower crown. It made her look like a kindergartener.” Julie shifted a little in her seat. “And Sammie was in this… I d-don’t know what kind of dress it was, but it came from the costume aisle, not the wedding dresses. It was really fancy, with a skirt that poofed out. I think Mrs. Gilbert called it a Southern Belle costume.” 

“I k-kinda missed my chance to dress up pretty.” Juliette hesitated, then continued, “I was just in a Minnie Mouse costume.”

Julie glanced down at her hands. “W-when Ms. Gilbert suggested the three of us model some of the dresses, I thought it might be fun… to try different girly outfits as Julie.”

After a moment, Julie added more quietly, “Other than Denise’s Halloween costumes, I haven’t really done dress-up like that since first grade.”

Sheepishly, Julie finished, “There are some really beautiful dresses in that shop… I’d like to try them on.”

Author's Note:

Sorry for the delay in posting. I been busy in RL and chapters weren't ready to be posted. If I get off my bum, S02ch25 and J04ch2 should be posted Wednesday. Currently only J04ch2 is ready. The other is mostly ready. Unfortunately, 3, 4, 5, and 26 aren't currently ready and my RL isn't slowing down. There is also the issue that chapters 5 and 26 overlap.

So sorry, expect delays in posting to continue.