For those of you who think it would be cruel and unusual punishment to wait for part 2 of this story (Yes I’m looking at both of you!) I’ve decided to post part 2 already today. For those of you unfamiliar with this story a part 2 usually signifies that there is a part 1. Not always but this time it does. You will be less confused if you read part 1 first.

The flight “home” had been pure purgatory for Chrysanthemum Daisy. Why had his parents bought “unaccompanied minor” status for him? For Cripes’ sake he was a high school student. Well, almost anyway. And to add insult to injury he had grown out of his middle school graduation suit (it had been on the small side already before) that he had arrived to camp in so he had had to wear his dress instead. Ok ONE of them. The first one, not the more daring one. So it was Miss Daisy here and Miss Daisy there. They were driving Miss Daisy out of her, sorry, his mind.

“Oh Chris, how you have grown! And your hair is lovely” Eight weeks without cutting had left its traces. “And I love your dress”
“Mo-om stop that!. Let’s get the …. out of here. I want to get home, whatever and wherever that is and get out of this and into some decent clothes,” Chris did make a pause at …
“This is your bag son? Did you bring everything from camp?”
“Yeah, they made me bring EVERYTHING including all the girly stuff. I wasn’t allowed to get rid of anything and they followed me all the way to check-in and to the gate so it’s all in there. Another reason to get home so I can get rid of it before anyone here sees it.”
“I guess you’re hungry so we will have something to eat first.”

They had lunch close to the airport and then set off.

“Dad, why did you turn towards East Ridge? Isn’t it West Ridge that we moved to?”
“We do live in West Ridge but there is something we have to do in East Ridge first. Or rather something you have to do first.”
“What?”
“You’ll see.”

Chris DID see. What he did see was the sign when they pulled up outside a building in East Ridge. Fatimah School of Oriental Dancing it said.

“Mo-om, Da-ad! Why are you doing this to me?!”
“We have been talking with the camp manager and she told us ALL about your time there. How fun you were and how many friends you had. We also talked with Madame Muna and we agreed that it’d be a shame to drop something you love so much.”
“But I’m a BOY. And I have to LIVE here!”
“Not here in East Ridge, in West Ridge. No one from West Ridge would ever be seen in East Ridge and vice versa”
“Except me of course?”
“Well, yes. But nobody will know. You see the mall over there. That’s where the bus to West Ridge departs from. I’m afraid you have to wait for almost two hours after your class but you’ll manage.”
“So NOW I’ll manage to get “back” to a place I’ve never been to by myself but not on the flight?”
“CACO!”
“CACO?”
“Chrysanthemum Always Chickens Out.” We were afraid that you’d dump things and get into boy clothes. Not good at all. You have your phone. Call us when you’re on the bus and we’ll pick you up.”
“But I AM a boy!
“From what we heard is that girly Chris is so much more fun. Most boys would turn inwards when challenged like you were. You blossomed instead so we decided to let you be a girly boy. A fun girly boy.”

Oh, Oh, that didn’t sound good at all. However, Chris was not given any time to protest. He was ushered into the school to meet Fatimah at which point his parents left. And Chris was left standing there with his bag. Since Chris was there in good time for the class he had time to change before the girls arrived, warm up and give Fatimah a brief show of what he could do. She was impressed. Even if Madame Muna was a friend of hers Fatimah had thought she had exaggerated. No boy could progress that much in only six weeks. Fatimah’s opinion about Madame Muna rose significantly. Soon there was time to start the class.

“Welcome girls to a new semester. I’m happy to see new faces here. One new face is Chrysanthemum here. HE prefers to be called Chris. He has danced before and is both talented and very serious. I don’t expect that anyone here will have any problems with him and I take for granted that he will not have any problem with ANYONE here. Understood?”

At that point Fatimah looked severely at the male relatives that had accompanied some of the girls. Was Chris embarrassed standing there in his skimpy belly dance outfit? You bet! Full body blush, unfortunately mostly visible as well.

At first some girls were awkward and the angry and suspicious looks from the male (and female) relatives there unsettled Chris. However, he soon was so absorbed by the dancing that he forgot everything. He did not bother the girls in any way. He really was focused on his own dancing. And he danced better than ever. Yup, Chris had internalized the camp motto “Rising to challenge”. When the other students saw that they started to relax (and relaxing is important in belly dancing). By the end of the session they had accepted that Chris was there. I’m less sure about some of the relatives though, judging from the looks they gave Chris. Of course he didn’t change with the girls. He never had at Camp Las Vagas. Despite his costume Chris actually was a prude, apart from being a moral example. Fatimah let him use her personal shower.

Chris was surprised when some of his fellow students waited for him after the conversation he had had with Fatimah about future classes. By now Chris had yielded to his desires and signed up for classes both on Saturdays and Sundays. Anyway, the girls bore down on him. They were all older than Chris. Practically all his fellow oriental dance students were. The Spanish inquisition started. Stop it couldn’t be the Spanish inquisition since most of them were Muslims, could it? Anyway, questions galore. Was he transgendered? Why was he taking belly dancing then and why was he wearing a dress? Remember, Chris had no other clothes, except the camp lavender t-shirt and short shorts and out of two bad things … Besides the dress was comfortable and it WAS cute. Good thing that all the disapproving relatives had left already. They would have frowned on the hilarity ensuing Chris’ explanation. They also spotted the obvious thing to do with the waiting time for the bus. Chris was in a screaming need of more clothes. He hadn’t even one skirt! So they went off to see the Wizard of Oz, which was the name of the local mall.

Chris’ bag was significantly more stuffed when he got on the bus. He had fought well but he had been vastly outnumbered. However, his capitulation had been honorable. Only two skirts, three tops and one pair of sandals. And those with only a one-inch heel. NO lingerie. No extra dress. He had also changed into a more everyday set of denim skirt and an only moderately girly top. His parents approved when they picked him up. And they were happy that he had made new friends. Chris had some dark thoughts about that that he didn’t share with his parents. Chris was an honorable boy but not stupid. So he had girl friends in East Ridge? Great that’d really help him get friends among the boys in West Ridge. Especially if it got out that he was a belly dancer. Still Monday was another day. An all-boy day. Oh my. Sometimes Chris can be so naïve. Hadn’t he listened to what his parents had said?

Despite his objections Chris spent the rest of the Saturday and Sunday in the outfit he had left East Ridge in. Fine, he only once left the house anyway. Too much to get in order. He didn’t even get the hint when he saw his bedroom. It was not exactly girly but it was definitely not macho either. In is defense Chris was rather busy with helping getting the house in order. However, he DID wonder where the boxes with his old clothes had disappeared but he trusted his parents when they told him not to worry. He most definitely should have worried. Sorry, I forgot that he went to East Ridge for another belly dancing class on Sunday. Fun, but he didn’t like the disapproving stares from those relatives.

Monday morning Chris was greeted with breakfast in bed.

“I laid out one of the skirts and tops that you bought for yourselves in East Ridge. They are nicer than the skirt and top I got for you.”

Yup, there they were, laid out on the desk. Not the denim skirt, the black pleated skirt. The short, pleated skirt and the girlier top. True, technically he’d bought them for himself but he had never meant to wear them, Gratefully the panties were plain white ones and there was NO bra.

So Chris came to the conclusion that his parents had lost their minds. Thankfully high schools and especially high school principals are sane, sensible and firmly grounded in the real world. So Chris skipped away to school early. Well, perhaps not skipped but he didn’t dilly-dally either. Not when wearing a short skirt and a girly top. The shoes were fine though and the socks not too bad. Since it was the first day of the semester the school was busy even if it still was a long before classes started. Fortunately the principal had time to see Chris.

“Sir, have a look at me. I’m wearing a skirt. You should send me home to change.”
“Ah, Chrysanthemum, good you came to see me I had intended call you here anyway. About the skirt … I commend you that you wanted the check with me. Yes, it’s on the short side but I think I can let it slide. With legs like that I understand that you want to show them off. No there was another thing …
“I’m a BOY I shouldn’t wear a skirt! Send me home!”
“Oh, it’s fine. Boys can wear skirts. No problem at all. A bit unusual but as I said I understand that you want to show off your quite amazing legs. I expect that some boys will try to bully you about your very nice skirt. Please remind them that we have a zero tolerance policy here and if necessary talk to one of the teachers.”
Yeah, and what imaginary world was the principal living in?
“No what I wanted to talk about was your PE class. By the way, if you are transgendered I need some paperwork.” Raised eyebrow.
“No, I’m a BOY. Be Oh, Why. Why oh why is this happening to me?”
“Don’t ask me. But now that we have established that you’re boy we have some things we have to talk about. Your parents have contacted me and told me that you don’t like ball games.”
That was true. Chris was not good at playing with balls and had more than once had very painful head-ball encounters. He most definitely didn’t like those lethal weapons.
“At the time I believed that Chrysanthemum Daisy was a girl so I put you in the aerobics class. In hindsight I was a bit surprised your parents didn’t react on the clothing requirements we sent them, shiny brown tights and yellow tank thong high-cut leotard and appropriate shoes.”
No, by now Chris wasn’t surprised, not at all.
“When I learnt that you’re a boy I thought I’d have to change your PE class. While technically not exclusively a girls’ class only girls do take it. The problem is that Coach Weaver is let’s say rather enthusiastic when it comes to team sports. For him team sports means basketball and football. I’m also afraid that he is a bit prejudiced towards boys who are less than enthusiastic about ball games. I’ve had several talks with him about that but I’m not sure that I’ve got through to him. So yes, I was concerned but now things may turn out just fine after all. You stay in the aerobics class. That’s fine with you?”
Rather shocked Chris nodded. Cholera must be better than the plague. Right?
“Good, good. Then that’s settled. Things have a tendency to work out, don’t they? You have your aerobics outfit with you?”
Since his mother had packed Chris had no doubts he had the correct outfit with him. He later found he was right. His mother even had been thoughtful enough to add one of the dance belts from camp. Yes, Chris’ mother was a caring and loving mother. Admittedly she had some unique traits but so do we all.

“Your parents also told me that you’re a keen gymnast. As you understand already Coach Weaver doesn’t do that and as for the gymnastics team …”
At that point Coach Fuller, the girls’ PE teacher burst into the principal’s office.

“Principal Spinner, I heard that you have the student named Chrysanthemum Daisy here. I have to talk to HIM. I just found out that he is a BOY!”
Chris, who was sitting with his back towards the door turned around.
“Ah, Coach Fuller. Please meet Chrysanthemum Daisy, or as he prefers to be called, Chris. A most interesting boy.”
“So have you told him about the changed PE?”
“I haven’t since I decided to let him take the class.”
“Is he transgendered?”
By now Chris was feed-up to be talked about when he was present and, incidentally, by that assumption as well.
“NO, I’m NOT transgendered. I’m a BOY. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Coach Fuller obviously was unsettled. Equally obviously she was not used to that feeling.
“But I can’t let you on to the gymnastics team. I’m so sorry but there is no boy gymnastics team in this school.”

Suddenly the office was hit by a hurricane. A hurricane named Taylor, it was rather late in the Hurricane season.

“O O O CHRIIIIISIE it IS you I was so happy when I heard that you had moved here. “
Chris only barely had time to stand up and brace himself for the physical attack. Good thing he was much stronger after eight weeks at camp Las Vagas.
“Mom, this is Chris the boy I told out about. My BFF! You must have known and you didn’t tell me, You’re a meany!”
“No, I didn’t know. You always referred to him as Chris and your Aunt Mary NEVER uses names when discussing campers with me, No matter how …. eh unusual.”
Turning towards Chris.
“Both Taylor and my sister have told me so much about you. She is the camp manager at Camp Las Vagas. We had no idea that’d you’d turn up here. How, …. Interesting, I think Principal Spinner expressed it. Yes, most definitely interesting. I can’t put you on the gymnastics team no matter how much you’d have liked to but if it’s any consolation I am going to let you train with the girls. Even do some boy coaching. A poor substitute but it’s all I can do. Are you fine with the that?”
“Shure, It’s fine. Just fine. Thank you.”
Chris didn’t really think it was fine, just fine but on the other hand he had no idea WHAT he thought and apparently it was the only answer possible. He had really no idea what he agreed to.
“Good, then I’ll see you in …. twenty-two minutes. Oh that’s right. I’ll show you where boys change for PE. Let’s not bother the guides for new students at the entrance.”
“O O O See you then Chris. Don’t worry, I’ll sign you up for cheerleading. You’re sure to selected. I hope I will as well. “

Taylor left and Coach Fuller looked at Chris.
“Eh, isn’t that skirt a bit short?”
“Ah don’t worry, I think it’s just fine considering those legs. I’ll write a note about that for Chris. Don’t you agree that he has amazing legs?”

Coach Fuller led Chris to the door of the boys’ locker room. Chris expected to be ruthlessly bullied. Well, at least that would kill off the skirt thing when his parent were told. Chris was right, for three minutes. The bikini tan lines and the shiny tights, not to mention the high cut thong leotard didn’t exactly help. Then Taylor stopped it. What? Was Taylor in the boys’ locker room? No, Taylor wasn’t allowed into the boys’ locker room. Not that Taylor, I ‘m talking about a completely different Taylor. Anyway, this other Taylor was the Varsity Nose guard and had just finished the morning training. Don’t ask why the varsity team got the less popular morning slot. Anyway, Taylor was impressed by Chris.

“Hey guys, don’t you realize that this boy is braver than all of us. You aren’t transgender, are you?”
“NOOO!” Chris was more than a bit tired of that question.
“Amazing! Guys, you have just experienced something unique. A boy that is brave enough just to be the one he wants to be. He’s prepared to face all of us even if you are narrow-minded and nasty. To be whoever HE wants to be. To wear whatever HE wants to wear. To do whatever HE wants to do. To disregard the little boxes that we live in and we expect him to live in. I’m surprised and honored to meet a boy like him.”

Taylor went on a bit further and amazingly he managed to get the rest of the varsity football team to see his point and agree. Chris was not bothered further when changing. He felt awkward moving from the boys’ locker room to the girls’ dance studio where aerobic classes were held. Aerobics was yet another experience. Chris came to the conclusion that Coach Fuller was aptly named. Oh, you didn’t know that the name Fuller is derived from the verb to full; To make cloth denser and firmer by soaking, beating and pressing; to wauld or walk (according to Wiktionary). Fortunately Chris was made of tough cloth. He wasn’t the best in class but he was well above average. The boys changing with him before and after class warned the next group of boys not to bother Chris when changing. Pissing off the varsity football team is detrimental to your health. It said so, right there on the wall. The other boys saw the writing on the wall.

In French class he was surprised to find himself the only one wearing a skirt. He was also surprised to find himself the only boy in class. Does that make skirts a typically male garment?

In History class he had to show the teacher the note from the principal. So far so good. Of course he got strange looks everywhere but nothing more.

The trouble came when he was heading for lunch. Three obvious bullies cornered him. Apparently they had studied the Bully Code carefully and had quite rightly identified the boy wearing a skirt as a “must do” bullying. They were rudely interrupted in their rightful process of locating Chris in a locker, without his skirt,

“Hello boys, what are you up to? Don’t tell me that you are so insecure in your masculinity that you have to pick on those braver than you?”

Exit left three bullies at the sight of Taylor and some other football players. Chris re-donned his skirt.

“Come, sit with us for lunch. I’m dying to hear more about you. You fascinate me. I’ve never met anyone as brave as you.”
Who was Chris to contradict him?

Lunch was very animated and Chris had to field numerous questions. All true answers, though he avoided mentioning that he had been tricked at times. At the end of lunch the football players had made him sort of an unofficial mascot for the team. When he mentioned that he was trying out for the JV cheerleading team they were sorry it wasn’t for the varsity team so he could cheer for them. They all had come to share Taylor’s view that he was a very brave boy.

Chris made the JV cheerleading team. So did Taylor but some people suspected some nepotism was involved. Oh, do I confuse you? Right, I’ll refer to the girl Taylor as Taylor since she appeared first and the football player Taylor as Taylor-b (for boy).

With the football team having Chris’ back things settled down. Chris made sure that he never wore a short skirt to school again. He did wear other skirts. His parents absolutely refused to get him any pants. They pointed out that wearing a skirt had made him one of the popular girls eh boys. Of course Chris was aware that he had been very, very lucky but on the other hand he had to admit his parents were right, sort of. He was popular. He was a cheerleader and in the good graces of the football team. Thus he didn’t only have girl friends but also boy friends and once the “weirdness” faded he even got to know some boys in his own class as well.

Saturday and Sunday he had more belly dance classes. Fun, disapproving glances and hitting the mall with the (older) girls. He still was expected to take the bus home.

Monday Taylor-b caught him and brought him to a private corner. To be honest Chris was a bit worried about that.

“Eh Chris, I have a favor to ask of you. Your courage has really inspired me. I have always wanted to dance ballet but been too afraid of what other people would think.. But with your example … Still, I need moral support. Could take classes with me?”
Since Taylor-b had been so nice to Chris he considered it seriously. It would be extra work and he was quite busy already but on the other hand he had liked ballet at camp even if belly dancing was more exciting.
“Sure, I’ll do it. When is the class.”
“I’ve wasted so much time that I want to take more classes. Saturday and Sunday afternoons at four.”
“Oh, I’m sorry I can’t: I don’t get back to West Ridge until half past four.”
“Back to West Ridge? From where and what are doing there?

How was Chris to explain that not only did he go to East Ridge but danced belly dance as well? But this was Taylor-b. Blushing, looking down on the floor and scraping his foot he admitted

“Eh hm I go to East Ridge to take belly dance classes. The bus back doesn’t go until later so I will not be back in time.”
“Wow! You keep impressing me. Not only don’t care about people with think about your hobby but you are above the petty prejudices we have in West Ridge. So if I pick you up after belly dancing you will be in time for ballet with me?”
“Yes, I’d love that.”

That evening Taylor-b and Chris went to the dance shop. West Ridge had good dance shop.

“Hello, we are about to start ballet classes. We need tights, leotards, slippers and dance belts.”
“Right, boys usually buy these tights. Black, rather thick. Boys like that.”
“Eh, is it really necessary with tights?”
“Taylor, it’s you that want to take ballet. Do it properly! The teacher will need to see how your muscles work. As a matter of fact I think these aren’t really that good.” Chris turning to the shop assistant again “Do you have any thinner or grey?”
“No, don’t do that. I’ve changed my mind. Perhaps taking ballet wasn’t such a good idea after all” (Taylor-b).
“Be brave Taylor. You will regret it if you back out now. And you will survive the first classes and then it will be a non-issue. Trust me! Been there, done that. Hey those thin but opaque grey tights looks like just the thing. And Taylor don’t give me any back-talk about a leotard. It’s much better. It stays in place. Go on. Be brave fulfill your dreams and do it properly Taylor.”
Taylor had not expected this reversal of roles by the way he was swept away. He was not comfortable when he tried on the ballet clothing but he was reassured by the shop assistant and Chris. Especially Chris. Taylor had come to respect Chris so much. Neither Chris nor the shop assistant told Taylor he had really nice buns even if they did notice.

Saturday Chris was subjected to those disapproving looks again. That is until Taylor turned up and was there for the last part of the class. He sat with other relatives.

“Who are you and why are you here”
“Oh, I’m here to pick up Chris.” Then Taylor-b realized that it sounded strange so he mendaciously added “I’m his cousin.”
“Ah, you’re his cousin. We have been so concerned about Chris. It was not suitable that he hadn’t a male relative to pick him up. We were worried that he spent too much time with those girls in the mall. Not good company at all. We hope that you will continues to take proper care of Chris.”

Yes, somehow Chris had gone from being a bad boy amongst the girls to a bad girl, sort of. But now proprieties were satisfied. Chris was under the supervision of an older male relative. They could rest easily.

By Monday morning Taylor-b had found out that ballet uses other muscles than football. He also asked Chris to keep quiet about the ballet classes. He had some insights. He liked ballet. He really liked ballet. He also had come to the conclusion that he wasn’t as brave as Chris. The obvious solution was to keep taking classes and ask Chris to keep quiet about them. Chris did. Others didn’t. Taylor-b had gone for an adult beginners’ class to avoid anyone from school. He was right about that. But some of the girls in class had younger sisters/brothers in their school. Ooops!

Chris made sure that Taylor-b made sure that x made sure, no that was one step to many. Anyway Taylor made sure to put a brave face on the whole thing. He liked ballet so what? And besides many football players take ballet. End of matter.

You may think that I’ve forgotten cheerleading and gymnastics. Not at all. It’s only that at gymnastics Chris was just one of the girls, sort of. He still didn’t do the uneven bars but he progressed satisfactorily. As mentioned before Chris wasn’t really a star gymnast. Good but perhaps not great. On the other hand Chris had just had eight weeks of intensive cheerleading training. That showed. Coach Fuller kicked him out of the JV team.

Taylor was sad but Taylor was happy. Oh zut, I forgot. Taylor was sad but Taylor-b was happy. So was the entire varsity football team that had come to know and like Chris. Oh, did I forget that Chris was kicked out of the JV team in order for him to join the varsity cheerleading team? The first freshman ever in the school’s history.

Yup, Chris was a busy boy. And then in October it got worse. Fatimah’s school of oriental dancing got a very prestigious visitor. A retired famous oriental dancer from Egypt that recently had moved to West Ridge. She was impressed and intrigued by Chris. She decided to give him extra classes even if she had had no intention of becoming a teacher. She was retired. But as I said Chris intrigued her. The basement of the Daisy home was transformed into a dance studio and (just call me) Hamda came twice a week to fine tune Chris. She had never taught a boy belly dancer so she thought that’d be interesting. Taylor did use the Daisy studio as well. Which Taylor? Actually, both of them. Taylor for cheerleading and ballet exercises. She and Chris were still BFF even if Chris had changed cheerleading squads. Taylor-b for some extra ballet exercises. His parents were less than understanding of his fascination with ballet even if they didn’t actually stop him. Unfortunately Taylor-b didn’t have that much time because having a girlfriend is high-maintenance. Fortunately Suzy was supportive of his interest in ballet. She danced as well but at a higher level. Coach Weaver was also supportive. He thought Taylor’s improvement on the field had something to do with that and not only Chris’ cheering.

Yes, things got into a rut with a few minor things happening during Spring.

Chris was noticed in West Ridge when he had some fleeting fame from a local East Ridge TV-feature of him that was taken up nationally. How could Chris associate with EAST Ridge? That was the reaction in West Ridge. Fortunately that was as fleeting as Chris’ national fame. Hamda was happy though but not pleased.
“You should have done that and that and that movement more expressively like this and this and this … Now do it properly. Not bad. But you can do better. I know you, you can do better than that. And smile!”
More than the fake coins on Chris’ hips were rattled.

Chris appeared in a girl gymnastics meet. For an exhibition. Just for fun the judges scored him. Had he been a participant the team would have come third instead of fourth.

The Daisy basement became the favorite alpha-male hangout. Coach Weaver believed that the football teams could benefit from ballet just like Taylor-b had. Since Taylor used the Daisy basement to practice other football players gravitated there as well to practice. At first Grant and Joy Daisy were a bit surprised to see all those boys lounging around in their tights. The place became more of a social club. The tights were comfortable, according to the boys. Most black, some gray, a few white and Bill in his bright fuchsia ones that he had dyed himself. His girlfriend just loved them. Some basketball players could be found there as well. Nice legs.

Chris started dating Taylor and Taylor starting Chirs. Zut, now I forgot the -b again. Let’s start from the beginning BFF Taylor and Chris fell in love with each other and started dating. Judging from all the O O Os from Taylor something she liked very much. Dating was something that was recommended but not necessary in freshman social society. At senior level ALL social school-kid contacts were as couples and that was it! (not true as we have seen about the Daisy basement). Taylor-b’s girlfriend was going away for a month.

“Taylor, I don’t want you to hang around with some other girl. I’m your one and only girlfriend.”
“Aw Suzy, I can’t hang out with the guys without a girl. That’d be strange. I’d be frozen out. Can’t I just have fake girlfriend?”
“No, NO girl!”
“So could I have Chris as my fake girlyfriend?”
“What, that skinny boy in the grey tights? He looks good in those. But do you really want to date a BOY”
“Fake date! Just not to be left out and you said no other GIRL!”

And that is how Taylor-b started to date Chris. Well, fake date for a month. Suzy had to extend her absence so Taylor kept dating Chris and then Suzy sent a brief message that she wasn’t coming back at all.

“So, Taylor this is the end of our fake-dating. Now you can get yourself a new girlfriend.”
“Nah, It’s too late. We’re already in April and I will go away to college. Could you please go on as we have? It’s for only just over a month.”

So by inertia they kept fake-dating. That is until there was a big reconciliation party arranged by West Ridge High and East Ridge High. Even if Taylor was there Chris was there as Taylor-b’s date. (mandatory versus recommended, remember?). Across the table sat an East Ridge senior couple. The boy was ruggedly handsome in a typical jock way and the girl amazingly beautiful. The boy was a bit drunk (even though alcohol was strictly forbidden).

“You know that’s a boy? You date a boy! How do you fuck him?”
There was a reason East Ridge had such a bad reputation in West Ridge.
“I don’t fuck him. Chris is a very good friend that I respect and admire. I very much like dating him.”
“He can’t be better than my girlfriend. To begin with she’s a great fuck.”
“Absolutely no competition there.”
“AND she’s a cheerleader.”
“So is Chris.”
“AND she’s an amazing ballet dancer.”
“So is Chris. And I.”
The East Ridge boy looked at Taylor with a strange look.
“What kind of pansy are you?”
“I’m the varsity nose tackle kind of pansy. We have met or rather bumped into each other earlier.”
“Well, my girlfriend is a great gymnast. Very flexible.” Blink, blink,
“Chris is also a great gymnast. And he has been on national TV with his belly dancing.”
“Oh, that’s him?! He was so sexy I just wanted bang him on the spot.” SMACK!

One incensed (ex)girlfriend leaving.

“You have so much to learn. First of all my relationship with Chris is built on mutual respect and admiration. Something that relationships benefit from. At least I hope it’s mutual. Even if it wasn’t Chris is too young to have a sexual relationship. Something that neither him nor I would dream of trespassing. And third don’t ever tell someone that you want to fuck someone who is also present and most certainly isn’t an object. And finally don’t do it in front of your girlfriend. That’s how you make ex-girlfriends. I think you just have left walk-over in your little “penis measuring” competition.”

At that point Taylor-b leaned over and kissed Chris. And it was at that slightly later moment Taylor-b became Chris’ boyfriend. Chris came out of the kiss confused and very ashamed. How could he do this to Taylor? How could he tell her? Unfortunately for him Taylor was standing right behind him.

“I’ve been expecting this for a long time. Stand up! Stand right there!” Then Taylor kissed him passionately. The result was most confusing for Chris.
“O O O Right Chris, I’m still your girlfriend. Your ONLY GIRLfriend. However, I have seen how you and Taylor have grown ever closer. Somehow you have done that without loving me any less. I felt that in the kiss. So go ahead boys. Have fun! You don’t have much time before Taylor goes to college and I will be here next semester as well. Your one and only then.”

There was nothing fake about the prom date. Taylor had made sure Chris looked amazing, especially his, by now, longish golden hair, and before he left she told Chris.
“Have fun, remember your age and take lots of notes!”
“Take notes?”
“Yes stupid! Eventually you will take ME to the prom and Taylor is a great role model.”
Chris took lots of notes. Taylor really WAS a role model to follow.

Chris was there for Taylor-b’s graduation in a stunning dress and that was it.

Chris had managed to talk himself into the same camp as last summer. Coach Fuller laid a good word for him with her sister and Taylor made sad puppy-dog eyes at her aunt and thus was Chrysanthemum Daisy a repeat camper. There were some other aspects as well. Such as that Hamda had made it a condition to be the new camp belly dance, oh scrap that, oriental dance instructor when Muna got an engagement elsewhere for the summer.

So there Chris and Taylor were at camp the first day. Not daisies any longer. They had blossomed into roses and wore fuchsia clothes. (You should have seen Chris in the fuchsia high cut gymnastics leotard)

“Chrysanthemum, as last year you will bunk in Dandelion cabin. This year we have made sure that you don’t stay there alone but have a resident counsellor staying there as well to keep you in line.” (As if that was needed) “He’s the new lifeguard and beach front counsellor. He’s standing behind you.”

Chris and Taylor turned around. Taylor was delighted. Taylor not so much. Zut, I forgot the -b again! Taylor wasn’t exactly thrilled to learn that Chris was going to share a cabin with Taylor-b and nobody else. Taylor-b was. Oh, hadn’t I told you that Taylor-b was also a new staff member?

Chris was conflicted. Alone in the cabin with Taylor-b could be nice but also “complicated”.

“Mrs Dyer, I must tell you that while Taylor is my girlfriend which you already know the other Taylor is my boyfriend. Staying alone in the cabin with him could lead to temptation and I’m not yet 16 years old.”

The camp manager smiled a smile mixed with revenge. She had not liked to be strongarmed into accepting Chris to the camp again. No matter how much she personally liked Chris.

“Oh, no doubt. Consider it as character forming. I know by personal experience that Chrysanthemum Daisy is a morally upright and most honorable boy. Numerous people have confirmed that this is still true. As have the same numerous people confirmed the same about Taylor. The boy Taylor I mean. I’m less certain about girl Taylor.”

At that Chris looked up at the camp motto and sighed when he read

“Rising to the challenge”

As you can see Chris was just an ordinary boy. Well, an ordinary high school boy by now. He was unique in some ways but aren’t all boys and girls?

It may sound strange but I recommend you not to read parts 3 and 4 of this story.
Part 3 is only half decent while part 4 is way too confusing for readers. I had great fun writing these parts though. A classic example of self-indulgence.
I did consider pulling these parts but decided to let them stay as a reminder that I should stick to short stories.
So once again. Unless you actually like to be confused, don’t read parts 3 and 4.

As you can see this is a part 3. Normally that means that there is a part 1 and a part 2 as well. That’s not always true but in this case it happens to be. I think I said something similar before part 2. Still true, as is that you will be much more confused if you read part 3 without having read parts 1 and 2. I had not intended to write a part 3 but here we go (there is a part 4 as well). Oh, before I start. You can blame this on Emma Anne Tate and a comment of hers. I really hadn’t any intention to milk Chrysanthemum more. After all he has no breasts. But Chrysanthemum has got friends.

Just an Ordinary Boy part 3. Now is the Summer of Our Discontent.

The next day the other campers arrived at Camp Las Vagas (roughly Camp Lazy Girls). Most came by the old school buses the camp used from the nearby urban centers. Some came by car. One car arriving in the early morning was filled with four solid members of the species Homo Sapiens. The car was driven by a huge muscular man with a crewcut. What appeared to be the mother of the family was also of a respectable size and well-trained. Very strict female clothing. Another male never exited the car. Having unloaded one big girl looking uncomfortable in a skirt and one not so big bag the car set in motion to fulfill the next off-loading mission at the other side of the lake.

The girl in question was directed to Sunflower cabin. Given the stature of the girl Sunflower was appropriate. The girl was not happy with the yellow outfits that she was provided with. Too bad for her that admin absolutely refused to give her black clothes instead. For one thing black was exclusively for staff. For another Taylor, that was her name, was in the oldest age bracket and that was Sunflower cabin. Sunflowers wore yellow outfits. And that was it. Taylor was not a happy camper. Wait! Now we have another Taylor. So that makes her Taylor-w. W for woman. Taylor-w was after all a high school senior to be.

Taylor-w had arrived so early that she was lucky enough to participate in the morning session. Somehow Taylor-w did not agree with lucky enough part.

Taylor survived the gymnastics session. She was with the older girls but she, together with a small handful of other girls, were absolute beginners. In between exercises Taylor-w observed the more advanced girls. She was intrigued by the girl named Chrysanthemum, or Chris for short. Not that Chris was a great gymnast but she wasn’t bad. So why didn’t she do the uneven bars? When Taylor-w had her first go at the uneven bars she thought she had the answer. The bar snapped. The company that supplied the gymnastic equipment was there already a few hours later with profuse excuses. There must have been a fabrication error. The bars should be able to handle much stronger forces than that. Somehow that didn’t cheer Taylor-w up.

After the various campers had settled into their cabins they gravitated towards the dining hall. Taylor-b was there to help direct the campers to the right tables. Remember, Taylor-b (for boy) was a counselor at the camp. He addressed a girl that was obviously lost.

“Hello, what are you?”
“Oh, hello, I’m Rose.”
“But you wear a lavender t-shirt. Roses wear fuchsia.”
“Oh sorry. I’m Rose but I’m a daisy.”
Strangely enough this made perfect sense to Taylor-b. Perhaps because his boyfriend was a rose even if he was a Daisy. And properly wearing a fuchsia Camp Las Vagas t-shirt. Not that Chris by any stretch of imagination could be called lazy. Rose was directed to the Daisy table.

Some of the girls at the Rose table had been daisies the summer before and cheerfully greeted Chris and Taylor (the original one in this story and thus non-hyphenated. Remember that hyphenated is not hyphenated and non-hyphenated is). Others were surprised to see Chris there once they realized that the girl in long golden locks answering to the name Chrysanthemum really was an unashamed boy. And that Taylor was his girlfriend, apart from also being his BFF. Good thing nobody told them at the time that Chris was also the assistant Oriental Dancing instructor. Or about his boyfriend. Thus no brain damage was caused.

Over at Sunflower table Taylor-w kept grumbling. That’s not the way to make friends at camp. In her defense she had just learnt what her parents had signed her up for. Taylor had no experience and absolutely no interest in gymnastics and cheerleading. To make things worse all the other girls in Sunflower cabin were experienced in at least one of the disciplines. And enthusiastic about the camp. Taylor-w could survive all that but belly-dancing? No self-respecting tomboy would be caught dead in an outfit like that. Good thing Taylor-w was still alive. Not that that fact cheered her up very much.

Strangely enough the cheerleading session did. To Taylor-w’s surprise she was approached by Chris.

“Hello, what’s your name?”
“Taylor. Why are you smiling.”
“In-joke, just an in-joke. I gather you’re not too happy to be here. Nothing you can do about that. What you can do something about is what you do about it. Trust me, been there done that. Are you a team player?”
“Yes”
“Cheerleading is a team sport, whatever you may think about it. If YOU don’t make an effort all the other girls in the team will suffer. Like it or not I believe your sense of duty is too strong to do that.”
Reluctant nod.
“Another thing you will be less miserable if you make an effort. Fake it till you make it and all that.”
Taylor-w didn’t exactly like it but it wasn’t as bad as she had feared. And then came the moment she had dreaded all day. Belly dancing. I will not relate how Taylor-w felt when she looked at herself in her oriental dancing outfit. Despite everything Taylor-w turned up at the belly dancing. She had not expected to see Chrysanthemum, the main teacher kept calling her that, as an assistant. As things turned out Chrysanthemum spent quite a lot of time with Taylor-w. Reluctantly Taylor-w came to find the dancing rather fun. Horribly difficult but fun. Completely different from anything she’d done before and Chrysanthemum’s instruction and encouragement helped immensely. Taylor-w almost forgot to grumble at dinner.

The next day at the lake waterfront a quite busy Chrysanthemum was using a brief break in his busy camp schedule to relax in his fuchsia bikini at the lake beach.

“Hello Chris. The belly dancing was amazing. I never thought I’d like anything so girly but it’s really a challenge. How long have you been doing it? You’re so expressive. And your belly muscles! Trust me I know about muscles and that must have taken hours and hours of training and lots and lots of hard work.”
“Believe it or not but I started here at Camp Las Vagas last summer but I’ve been working really hard. I take lessons from Madame Hamda twice a week back home and another two in a neighboring town. So yes my belly gets some workout.”,
“Who’s that hunk over there? He’s the first boy I’ve seen at Camp Las Vagas.”
“That’s Taylor. Yes, another Taylor. He’s part of the staff. He’s the waterfront counselor. He’s new this year and only the third male in camp history as a counselor. He’s going to university in the fall on a football scholarship. He’s a nose guard. He’s also my boyfriend.”
“Your boyfriend? Aren’t you a bit young for him? And, excuse me, but you don’t really have that much on top, do you”?
Taylor-w looked very intensely at Chris’s very flat bikini top.
“Hey, stop looking at my chest, my face is up here! Our relationship is not sexual so my lack of breast doesn’t matter. And we are both aware that long distance relationships don’t work.”
“So he’s a football player? And he’s named Taylor. That must be fate. That means we have so much in common. I was a wide receiver on the varsity team in my old school. Maybe I should go over there and have a chat with him.”
The looks that Taylor-w (I was wrong. The w obviously stands for wide receiver) gave Taylor-b (remember, b for boy) was predatory.
“If you’re a football player, why are you here? Isn’t it a bit eh too girly for you?”
“You can say that again.”
“If you’re ..”
“I didn’t mean that literally. I hate being here. I’d rather be on the other side of the lake with my brother at the football camp but even if my parents had allowed me they’re strictly a boys only camp. Bummer.”
“Why wouldn’t your parents let you?”
“The think I should be more feminine. That’s why they dumped me here for eight weeks. Our parents are really square. I mean REALLY square. They hate that I play football but I have prevailed so far. Our parents are very socially conservative. With the zeal of converts. They grew up in some whacky hippie commune. They even got married there, or possibly not. Given how the woman officiating was spaced out most of the time it probably wasn’t legal so they later had a big church ceremony. The last non-conformist thing they’ve ever done in their life was naming me and my twin brother Taylor.”
“So what’s your brother’s name, Taylor?”
“I told you, Taylor.”
“So both of you twins are named Taylor?”
“Yup that’s us, the infamous Taylor twins. Taylor Taylor and Taaaylor Taylor. My name should really be pronounced with a long aaa but I never bother about that. It’s spelt the same way anyway.”
“Taylor Taylor? So your family name is Taylor and your brother is also named Taylor?”
“Yeah, weird. Coach in our old school hated that. Just imagine having two Taylor Taylors on the team. Sometimes I think it would’ve been better if my parents hadn’t changed back to their old family name instead of the weird flowery hippy name great-grandfather took.”
“Couldn’t they just have taken your mother’s maiden name?“
“They are cousins and had the same family name. And their given names! My mother’s was bad enough. She was named Serene. Quite funny given how high strung she is. But father was the really unlucky one. Just imagine naming your kid It! Father really hated to be called an it.”
“Cousin It!”
“Yes, exactly that as well! Father always has a crew cut because of that. As soon the hair grows out even a millimeter he has it cut.”
“No, I mean really Cousin It. MY cousin It. We haven’t had any news of him since they left the commune. I’m a Daisy.”
“I thought you were in Rose cabin?”
“Yes, I’m a rose but I’m named Daisy.”
“I thought your name was Chrysanthemum?”
“YES, I’m Chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemum Daisy. If your father is Cousin It then we are second cousins!”
“So you’re really a Taylor?”
At that point a new voice gets involved in the conversation.
“Did someone mention my name?”
“Oh, hi Taylor. Let me introduce Taylor. Taylor, this is my cousin Taylor Taylor . Taylor, please meet Taylor Fuller. She’s my girlfriend.”
The new party in the conversation was Taylor. The original and unhyphenated Taylor. Remember her?
“Your girlfriend? But isn’t Taylor your boyfriend. I mean isn’t THAT Taylor over there your boyfriend? “
“Yes, so what?”
“Isn’t that a bit strange?”
“Remember that Chris is a Daisy.” Taylor said.
“So your really are one of those really weird Daisys my parents have been telling us about but only when they are a bit tipsy?”
“Well, my parents also left the commune and even if they’d liked to keep contact grandma Daisy ostracized them. Too square! Perhaps they are but I think they have pretty rounded corners. Too rounded for my taste to be honest. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
“Why else would Chris be the only boy, eh I forgot about Taylor this year. Why else would he be the only boy camper at a girls only camp?” Taylor interjected.
“Stop confusing me! So Chrysanthemum is a BOY?! That explains the tiny boobs. Are you transgender?”
A question that Chris was getting a bit tired of.
“NO! I’m just an ordinary boy. And I don’t have ANY breasts.”
Unhyphenated Taylor again: “Just an ordinary boy who is a belly dance instructor, who is a cheerleader, who dances ballet, who does exhibitions at girl gymnastics meets, who has both a cute girlfriend and a hunky boyfriend , who has the basement full of hunky boys in tights …”
“Stop Taylor! Now you’re twisting things out of all recognition. And I’m not a belly dance instructor. I’m an ASSISTANT to the oriental dance teacher.”
Taylor-w: “But the rest is true?”
“Technically yes, but my girlfriend makes it sound weird. And it really isn’t.”
“Oh no, absolutely not. Not for a Daisy!” said Taylor-w.
“Hey, we are the square Daisys. Well, squarish.”
“I rest my case.”
At that point Taylor-w shook her head.
“I don’t think my poor head can take any more of this. We must talk more about this but not now. They’d take me away in a straitjacket then.”
Unhyphenated Taylor: “Why? You think this is weird? I see that you don’t know Chris yet.”
Taylor-w shook her head once again and proceeded to do something more normal, like chatting up the hunky waterfront counselor at the camp. So what if he already had a boyfriend? And if Taylor-w was to be honest (not a given in her case) a damned cute boyfriend. But on second thought, he didn’t have a girlfriend and wouldn’t Taylor(-b) be more partial to a well-grown girl than most teenage boys? Even if Chris was smaller than Taylor(-w) he wasn’t petit(e).

That night a counselor caught Chris and Taylor cuddling in Dandelion cabin.

“Stop that immediately! You know it’s not allowed.”
Chris: “Sorry I hadn’t noticed that. Please don’t report us.”
Taylor-b: ”You haven’t done anything wrong. It’s Taylor that’s breaking rules, as usual. You both know it’s not allowed for a campers to be in another cabin than her own. So out you go Taylor. Cuddling? For some reason there’s nothing in the camp rules about cuddling, kissing, PDA or even .. ahem. If you want to cuddle go ahead but first– out you go!”
And out they went. And as kissing was allowed they did indulge in that too. They refrained from “ahem”. Still Taylor was heard to indulge in her signature O O Os.

As curfew was sounded Chris went back into the cabin and proceeded to cuddle with Taylor. Taylor-b of course. No breaking of the rules. I think some kissing was involved as well. For some reason there was nothing in the camp rules about that either. The idea that a counselor would even consider cuddling a camper was apparently unthinkable. Wait. Come to think about it Chris was not just a camper. He was also an assistant instructor. Phew! No problem then. And since Taylor-b lived in Dandelion cabin everything was just fine. Just to be on the safe side and to preserve his virtue Taylor-b locked the door to his room when he went to bed. The main room, where Chris had the choice of 12 beds, each as uncomfortable as the next, wasn’t possible to lock.

The chatting up of the waterfront counselor had only been the start of the Taylor-w campaign to snare him. Taylor-w felt miserable. She was in a place where she didn’t want to be. She had to do things she didn’t want to do. And there was only ONE male in the whole Camp Las Vagas. Not counting Chris. Taylor-w liked Chris but couldn’t really think of him as a him. She felt a bit bad about trying to seduce Chris’ boyfriend but then he had a girlfriend as well and Taylor-w had no one. It wasn’t fair! So according to the Robin Hood principle she was prepared to take from those who have much (that is Chris) and to give to those who have nothing (in particular herself). If only Chris wouldn’t be so nice! Chris had made Taylor-w his special project in Oriental dancing class. Taylor-w enjoyed it but at the same time she felt bad. It had the strange effect that she worked even harder at her belly dancing and tried to be a more happy camper. Both things she understood pleased Chris.

Then as soon as the Oriental dancing class was over she’d head for an evening dip and chat with the waterfront counselor. At that time Chris was busy at the self-defense class. “Aunt Mary” felt she couldn’t make Chris’ parents pay for a class that Chris partially taught so she had allowed Chris to take the self-defense class as well. “Aunt Mary” really was only Taylor’s aunt and should more properly be address as the camp manager. Chris was a very busy boy. Hm “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". Wasn’t Chris supposed to become a less dull boy at camp? Oh, I forgot the late evening cuddles. And remember Chris was an equal opportunity cuddler. Still “Aunt Mary” was right in her assessment. About both Chris and Taylor-b. Unfortunately about her niece Taylor as well but Chris and Taylor-b wouldn’t let her do anything not really considered in a bout of excessive enthusiasm. Taylor had a habit of getting excited. Remember all those O O Os?

One evening as Taylor left Dandelion cabin, or to be more precisely the steps leading up to Dandelion cabin, she was observed. Had the observer not been out on nefarious purposes things could have been sticky for Taylor and Chris. Or perhaps not. “Aunt Mary”, the camp manager, knew very well what went on at Dandelion cabin. She got daily reports from an assistant instructor.

Hm, I got sidetracked. Where was I. Yes, observer with the nefarious intentions. The intruder sneaked into Dandelion cabin. She silently tried to open the door to the resident counselor’s room. Locked! Why would he lock the door? That just wasn’t done at Camp Las Vagas. Foiled, foiled again. The shadow disappeared into the night and Chris, who had been awake all the time, could go back to sleep again.

During the two weeks of the first camp period Taylor-w felt she was making progress with Taylor. The boy Taylor of course. Not as much as she’d have liked but she still had time. She made sure that her brother was Chris’ partner for the dance. That way she could accompany Taylor-b. Sadly she had no idea about how the dance worked. 1) Counselors were chaperons only. 2) ALL participants were paired with someone from the other camp. Taylor-w was paired with a boy that Taylor had become good friends with. Zut, another Taylor, the other half of the Taylor Taylor twins. Hm, his position on the field was full-back so let’s tag him as Taylor-f. So that’s settled then. Let’s get back to the story. The dance was animated as usual. Taylor-f, who had been reluctant to accompany a boy, was charmed by Chris. Chris had brought an absolutely marvelous dress this time.

During the evening Chris was cornered by Phil who managed to guide him into an empty room. Phil insisted to continue the instruction he had started the year before. Progressing from kissing (that Chris had learnt very well) to the inter course. Chris was not interested in further instruction but Phil was quite insistent. Then Chris demonstrated what he had learned in another course. Chris had been a very attentive student in self-defense class. That was when Taylor, Taylor, Taylor and Taylor burst into the room. They had started to suspect that Phil was up to no good. The way that Taylor-b took Chris into his arms made Taylor-w understand that her campaign to seduce him was a non-starter.

The next period was mercifully eventless. Taylor-w had given up hope about Taylor-b but Chris DID have great taste so perhaps it was worth looking into Taylor. The same Robin Hood principle still applied. It was interesting. Taylor-w had never tried to enter a romantic relationship with a girl before. Still, Taylor-w couldn’t shake the feeling that she was doing something bad. She wasn’t, not really. Was she?

The next dance her brother Taylor had a serious talk with her. He even made her apologize to Taylor, Taylor-b and Chris for what she had been trying to do.

Taylor-b to Taylor-f: “Why did you that for? We had a good thing going. Of course we understood what your sister was up to from the early beginning. But it kept her distracted. Not wallowing in self-pity. She was no fun like that. But with the going on and her bad conscience she was more focused and committed to camp activities. She was a happy camper, sort of.”
Taylor to Taylor-w: “And I liked the attention you gave me. You’re nice. You will make some boy, or possibly a girl, very happy in the future. Probably a boy rather than a girl, I think.”
Chris: “So now our grand scheme to keep Taylor happy and busy has been shot down. I had been planning on how to string Taylor along once she’d moved her attention to me. That was bound to happen sooner or later. Oh well. We still like you Taylor, even if not in THAT way.”

Something clicked in Taylor (w). The situation was just too ridiculous. The rest of the summer she WAS a happy camper. Truly a happy camper. She was absolutely hopeless at gymnastics,. At least she didn’t break any more bars (come to think about it she was too young to go into bars and thus no bar fights). She came to be moderately proficient as a cheerleader. What did you say? All right Taylor-w became a not bad cheerleader. Her specialties being base and tossing. She was also an enthusiastic belly dancer. The fact that she was absolutely awful at it didn’t diminish her joy of dancing. And she did find companionship and perhaps even love. Not with the rose Daisy but with the daisy Rose. They were cute together.

Not only the smaller cheerleaders flew when tossed by Taylor-w. So did time. Things were more or less the same every day. Taylor-w and Taylor had the same schedule. Chris switched to first aid instead of self-defense. Time flew by, as mentioned earlier. The campers, or most of them, were happy campers. Early in the morning the day when all campers were to leave camp a minibus came from the camp on the other side of the lake. In it was Taylor-f. His sister squeezed in. To her surprise so did Taylor, Taylor-b and Chris. Well, to be honest so were those three. The minibus was to go the airport. But the Taylor twins had arrived by car.

“Why aren’t your parents picking you up?”
“They don’t live her any longer. They dumped us here and moved to the other side of the country.”
“Ah makes perfect sense. So now you are being flown to a third country?”
“As good as. We are going “home” to a place we’ve never been to. A small place I can’t ever remember the name of. All our friends are a thousand miles away. A new school. And our parents are going to be teachers there. They are good teachers but even I can’t pretend that they are likable. So yes, new kids in the school. Teacher’s children and most likely unpopular teachers’ kids. Yay!”

That they got on the same flight from the airport next to Camp Las Vagas wasn’t surprising. There weren’t that many flights from there. That they got on the same flight on the second leg was more surprising since there weren’t that many flights to that airport. Chris and Taylor understood what was happening. Probably Taylor-b did as well but he was more focused on going to Harvard the next week (he had not managed to get into Broader Reality University).

At West Ridge airport there were many people awaiting the arrivals. No one for Taylor-b. That was expected. He could manage himself. Coach Fuller nodded to an XL couple (and I don’t refer to fat) that were new colleagues to her before Taylor rushed into her arms. The male of the XL couple had a crew cut and the female a very strict and very female suit. The Taylor Twins and Chris came out together. Chris whispered to Taylor-w.

“What happens in Las Vagas stays in Las Vagas”.

They moved towards the XL couple and another that was only L-sized (NO, I’m still not talking about fat).

Chris: “Hi mom and dad. Meet my friends Taylor Taylor and Taylor Taylor. They are like relatives to me. Well, they are relatives. Meet their parents. Well, meet them again It’s been a long time since you last met.”

At that the adults looked at each other. And then (Fra)Grant Daisy burst out with something that would haunt his descendant for the next generation even if it was shouted with obvious joy (no Joy(ful) didn’t shout, I’m referring to Grant’s mood)

“Cousin It!”

It may sound strange but I recommend you not to read parts 3 and 4 of this story.
Part 3 is only half decent while part 4 is way too confusing for readers. I had great fun writing these parts though. A classic example of self-indulgence.
I did consider pulling these parts but decided to let them stay as a reminder that I should stick to short stories.
So once again. Unless you actually like to be confused, don’t read parts 3 and 4.

As you can see this is a part 4. Normally that means that there is a part 1 and a part 2 as well as a part 3. Oh why bother. If you haven’t caught on by now a few words of good advice will not help. Either go back as far as you need or suit yourself. In that case I can’t be held responsible for confusion, separation from reality or anything like that. You have only yourself to blame.
<
I have added a list of Taylors at the bottom of the story.

“Cousin It!”

The whole terminal looked at the Daisys and Taylors. For some reason they didn’t connect the big crewcut man with the label “Cousin It”. Perhaps they had watched too much television.

Cousin It, sorry George Taylor, was not amused. The family reunion was over as soon as it had started. They distanced themselves from those ghosts of communes past and even more importantly from that Daisy boy in a skirt. As usual, well it was the second time out of two possible, the Daisys headed for East Ridge while the Taylor careened off to West Ridge and a new life. After the upset at the airport Chris felt good shaking his hips. The group of censorious relatives at the Fatimah school of Oriental Dancing weren’t happy though. Chris had fallen back into his old bad ways. No older male relative picked him up and he hung out with those troll .. eh older girls of less than wholesome repute at the Wizard of Oz. Have you already forgotten that that’s the name of the East Ridge mall?

Despite everything Chris survived and arrived to his home in West Ridge with all limbs and his chastity intact.

School started again. In a rapidly expanding town (or possibly the rapidly expanding small city) things change. There were many new students in the high school. In the senior year there were for example Taylor, Taylor and Taylor. Yes there was a third Taylor senior as well that had transferred to West Ridge. More about him later. There was a not insignificant number of new students in junior and sophomore years as well. And in freshman year EVERY SINGLE STUDENT WAS A NEW STUDENT! And that included Taylor as well. More about her later.

This was a very bad year to have been a member of the JV football team the year before. Sure there was the usual natural attrition. But some of the varsity players last year had been juniors and thus hadn’t had the good sense to vacate spots for deserving JV football players. And then there were the “carpetbaggers”. The Taylor twins and Taylor were good examples. Fully fledged football players that turned up from nowhere and just because they now were West Ridge High students and very good football players claimed the right to play for the school. Not fair at all. No, the once (and future) JV players wus robbed.

The senior Taylors, the parents I mean, not the Taylor High School seniors, had mixed feelings about the results of the tryouts. They were happy that Taylor-f (remember the male twin who plays full back and thus is tagged -f) made the varsity team. They were less happy that their daughter Taylor-w did. Just a reminder, the -w is for wide receiver and not woman as I erroneously stated at first. See, I told you that you should have read the earlier parts first!

Based on the experience from last year Coach Weaver had made it obligatory for all football team members to take ballet classes. The Taylors, pères, were happy that their tomboy daughter had to take ballet. Presumably that would make her more feminine. Their, equally unfounded, assumption that the same thing would happen to their son was less exhilarating for them. Too bad! The Taylor parents had also in somewhat forceful wordings expressed that they didn’t want to see their offspring associate with that Daisy abomination. That meant that Taylor Taylor and her twin brother Taylor Taylor had to be careful not to be seen with Chrysanthemum Daisy. Not that they stopped associating with him. For example, the male twin took over Taylor-b’s (the boy Taylor that had left for college) task of picking up Chris after belly dance classes in East Ridge. At first the censorious relatives at the Oriental dancing school were suspicious when a new older male “cousin” turned up to pick Chris up. Taylor-f felt pressured to prove that he actually was a relative of Chris’. Fortunately he could prove that. It was equally fortunate that Taylor-b hadn’t had to prove that since he wouldn’t have been able. Anyway, what the censorious relatives didn’t know couldn’t hurt them. And besides it was really none of their business. Anyway, Chris was picked up after classes by an older male relative. Proprieties reestablished and Chris could make his ballet class on time. He could have dropped it now that Taylor-b didn’t need his moral support any longer but Chris liked ballet. Just like he liked belly dancing and cheerleading. Just something former boy nerds are wont to do. Chris was just an ordinary boy after all.

Chris was happy that Taylor (the one and only unhyphenated original one) also made it into the varsity cheerleading squad. He was less happy about two of his new teachers. Mrs Elizabeth Taylor or as she preferred to be called in school Mrs Taylor, never Miss Taylor or Elizabeth was the new French and sewing teacher. As you have forgotten, Chris was the only boy in French class and incidentally the only one wearing a skirt in that class. Not something that endeared him to his new French teacher. Chris was not supposed to take sewing but he did as things turned out. In freshman year the students at West Ridge High didn’t take shop or sewing. An insurance thing. They weren’t so lucky in sophomore year. Chris had chosen shop. The teacher there, Mr Dyer, was an old reprobate. He was also about to retire at the end of the year and he had tenure. That meant he wasn’t amenable to reason or pressure. Tough luck for the boy in the skirt. Chris found himself sitting in the guest chair in the principal’s office.

“Well Chris, I’ve had yet another chat with Mr Dyer. I’m afraid short of killing him I don’t see any way of changing the situation for you in shop. I don’t think I’m prepared to do that, at least not yet. So I decided to put some pressure on you instead.”
“I’m not stopping to wear skirts.”
Even if last year it was Chris’ parents who had insisted that he wear skirt, or possibly a dress, and enforced it by the simple means of not making any pants or shorts available, with time Chris had come to like the swishing of skirt. You know sort of How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Skirt.
“Oh no. that never crossed my mind. I find that I enjoy the way you ruffle feathers too much to do something so unprofessional. Of course it’s every boy’s right to wear a skirt if he wants to. I wouldn’t dream to infringe on that right, as long as the skirt isn’t too short. Admittedly it sometimes causes me some problems. However, things have a way of working out so I suggest that you take sewing instead. Is that fine with you?”
No it wasn’t fine with Chris. He knew very well who the new sewing teacher was. So, was cholera better than the plague? Chris opted for cholera.
“Good, good. As I said, things have a way of working out if you just let them. I will inform Mr Dyer and Mrs Taylor. I’m sure she will be delighted. And if any concerns would unexpectedly pop up don’t hesitate to drop in and have chat with me. I have rather more leverage with Mrs Taylor. And when it’s just the two of us you can call me by my first name, Taylor. Why are you laughing? Too many Taylors?”
Chris, gasping for air, could only nod.
Yes, the principal was having too much fun with all this. Far too much.

Otherwise the sophomore year had started well for Chris. Admittedly he missed his boyfriend who had gone to Harvard. But he had his BFF and girlfriend with him on the varsity cheerleading squad. He had interesting classes. Even Mr and Mrs Taylor couldn’t destroy French and Calculus for him, And Madame Hamda had decided to set up a school for Oriental Dancing in West Ridge encouraged by her experience of teaching Chris and later at Camp Las Vagas. So contrary to the camp saying things didn’t stay at Las Vagas. Madame Hamda set up her own school. She was delighted that Chris wasn’t the only boy student there. Good thing that the studio she rented had both male and female changing rooms. But coming back to the boys. I told you that I’d come back to the new senior named Taylor but wasn’t one of the Taylor twins. Well, Taylor was a cross-dresser and gay. He was also transgender. Which makes him Taylor-t. He was also a varsity wide receiver but I had already used the tag -w so it has to be -t. Despite his short skirts and make up and weakness for girly boys he was definitely male. A proud t-boy. Bill, a leftover from last year’s varsity football team took classes just to be contrary. That was a specialty of his. He was very good at it. Last year his girlfriend had delighted in it. Now? Less certain. And then there was Taylor the benjamin. What? Don’t you understand French? All right, the youngest one then. This Taylor was perhaps the one that delighted Madame Hamda the most. Not only a boy to teach Oriental dancing but one she could work with from a young age. Taylor was in seventh grade and thus a middle school student. Of course that makes him Taylor-m. He was also a very proud femboy. Not transgender. A self-consciously girly boy and happy and proud to be one. His parents were perhaps a bit less happy and proud but no less supportive for that. There weren’t only boys in the school. For an example Taylor Taylor had signed up. Her parents pressured her to do girl things and she liked belly dancing, despite being no good at it. And then of course there was the usual assortment of females but that was just the ordinary run of the mill. Still two cheerleaders and three varsity football players wasn’t bad.

Chris did spend time with the Taylor twins, both of them, despite the anathema placed on him by the Taylor parents. Chris took ballet as did the twins. Sure, Chris was more advanced by now but their ways crossed in the ballet studio. And Chris was quite handsome in his gray tights and white leotard. Worn under the tights. The ballet studio was the one place where Chris was all boy. Contrary to what one might believe given his history that didn’t make him boring. Obviously there was something wrong with the Daisy parents’ reasoning. Not that Chris cared any longer he was enjoying himself too much with his abundance of friends. So Chris danced ballet at a more advanced level than most of the football players. However, Taylor was in the same class as he and they had started to dance pas-de-deux together. Bill, the contrarian, in his bright fuchsia tights, that he had dyed himself, was also in their class. Bill occasionally danced with his more advanced girlfriend. Last spring the Daisy basement studio had become THE hangout for football players. They did some ballet exercises there but to be honest, which most of them were, they just liked to hang out there in their comfortable tights. Taylor-w was one of the few to wear the thicker boy black tights. Most wore the slightly thinner and more flexible and comfortable grey tight that Chris preferred. Still opaque though. Two or three boys preferred white tights and Bill, as we know, swore by his fuchsia tights. Taylor-t and the freshman Taylor I mentioned earlier were the only ones to wear pink semitransparent pink tights. The freshman Taylor was a JV football player. A wide receiver so that makes her, no I’ve already used -w. She’s a freshman so that makes her Zut, I’ve used -f as well. Oh, I give up. Let’s make it -fr.

Of course the Taylor twins avoided using the term Daisy basement at home. There they talked about the football team exercise place.

I’m sorry to tell you that the Taylors were sent to the principal’s office quite often to be, gently, told off. It had really started already before Chris switched to sewing. Already the first day of the semester. Elizabeth Taylor, the new French teacher had taken objection to one of her students wearing a skirt. Actually it was amazing that in a class of almost only girls there was only one student wearing a skirt. Not that Mrs Taylor had anything against skirts as such and she certainly wasn’t a committed feminist. Actually she wasn’t a feminist at all. She was rather traditional-minded. Which is why she sent the only boy in her class, Chris, to see the principal for dressing indecently. The math teacher, Mr Taylor, did the same an hour later. That resulted in two announcements. Each requesting a Taylor to come to the principal’s office. Those with very discerning hearing could hear the irritation in the principal’s voice the second time. Each Taylor was given a reaming, a gentle one as was the principal’s habit, regarding the dress code. A reversal of the situation the Taylor teachers had expected. Both were sent away with some homework to do. To study the school’s dress code. Unfortunately Mr Taylor got an F. The next day he was once again called to the principal’s office. The sendee that Mr Taylor had dispatched a few minutes earlier was sitting in the office, in the comfortable chair, which for those in the know was a bad sign for Mr Taylor. Bill wore his fuchsia ballet tights. Opaque of course since they were boys’ ballet tights. The black buttoned shirt was a nice contrast.

“Ah, Mr Taylor. Kind of you to join us. If I remember correctly I earlier asked you to study the school dress code. A task that shouldn’t be particularly burdensome given the brevity of it. I assume that you remember that we don’t have separate dress codes for our female and male students.”
On the intercom, to the senior student assisting the school secretary.
“Mary, could you please come into my office.”
Enter Mary.
“Mary, could you please slowly turn around a full circle.”
“Good, good, Thank you Mary. That was all.”
Exit Mary.

The principal addressing Mr Taylor.: “I find Mary’s stretch pants most becoming, don’t you? I assume you don’t have any problems with those since you haven’t complained about her wearing them in your class.”
Mr Taylor gritted his teeth and nodded. Given how upright Mr Taylor was the principal wasn’t surprised when Mr Taylor addressed Bill:
“I apologize Bill. I was wrong to send you to the principal. You were not breaking the dress code. I may not like it but that is no excuse. I apologize.”
The principal to Bill. ”It’s perfectly appropriate to wear tights, even in the most exquisite fuchsia. As long as they are opaque of course. Should you prefer less than opaque tights please remember to wear pants, shorts or a skirt.”

The boys who had learnt to like and appreciate the comfort of tights in the Daisy basement took the opportunity to wear those in school once Bill had blazed the way. The girls appreciated the change in clothing – in most cases. Some boys soon stopped coming to school in tights. No pockets. Others resorted to fanny packs. And, sad to say some people can’t handle freedom.

“Ah welcome in young master Marlowe” That actually was the name of the unfortunate, or rather unwise, boy that entered the principals office. “Are those tights comfortable?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Good, good. I’m glad that the students in our school are comfortable. Not too comfortable though.” Using the intercom “Martin could you please come into my office.”
Martin, the senior boy assisting the school secretary that day, entered wearing bright red tights. Opaque bright red tights.
“Young master Marlow please bend over.”
“What!”
“Ah, not facing away from me. Please bend over my desk.”
“Are you some kind of pervert?”
“Please, do as I say. Martin here is our witness. Ah, that’s better. Martin, would you say that young master Marlowe’s tights are opaque?”
“To claim that would be to stretch things even more than those tights.”
“Young master Marlowe. Do you have brought to school thicker tights, pants, shorts or a skirt?”
“No.”
“Then may I suggest that the preferable way forward for you is to loan this skirt rather than to be sent home which would incur an unfortunate note in your record. Don’t forget to return the skirt tomorrow.”
The skirt in question was only barely within the school dress code but since it was offered by the principal it was by definition within the code. As the principal at occasion said; things have a tendency to work out just fine as long as one allows them to do that.

Neither Mr nor Mrs Taylor was liked as a teacher. Or as a person for that matter. They were stiff and remote. They knew their subject extremely well. They even cared immensely about teaching. Something they unfortunately were unable to show. What their students did give them credit for was that they were scrupulously fain, as opposed to Mr Dyer who was unscrupulously unfair. That worked to Chris’ benefit when he switched to sewing. Mrs Taylor didn’t want him in her sewing class. She was unable to hide that she a) didn’t like boys in her class at all, only mitigated by the fact that she acknowledged the need for boys to have some basic skills in the subject. Basic skills that is. b) She most definitely didn’t like a boy wearing a skirt in her class. However, Mrs Taylor was as upright a person as her husband. Not liking Chris didn’t stop her from noticing that Chris applied himself, that he was neat and meticulous and that he always was respectful and most important of all; he wanted to learn. Mrs Taylor, despite herself, found herself allocating considerable time and effort to Chris. She never, ever called him Chrysanthemum. By the end of the semester she agreed on a special project with Chris. A project she’d never have imagined months before. A pity she still was as cold towards him. But that was not only Chris. Mrs Taylor was distant to all students. Equal treatment?

I’m afraid the Taylor twins weren’t liked that much either. Apart from being tarred by association by their parents’ lack of popularity they were also. both considered as a pair of goody two-shoes. Taylor-f was respected as a football player but he really was a bit full of himself. Taylor-w? She was just weird. I know, I know. That shouldn’t have been a problem in a school like West Ridge High School. Sadly it was.

One October Monday morning the principal got an early visit from Coach Fuller and the acting head cheerleader. The principal was at first not aware of that latter circumstance.

Coach Fuller: “Principal Spinner. We have a problem. The Larson triplets have had to leave for a family emergency and aren’t expected to come back until next week. On Friday the boys’ varsity soccer team has an important away match. We should be there and support them but without the Larson triplets we are two cheerleaders short.”
“That’s serious. The soccer team feel unappreciated as it is. And let’s not make it sound grander than it is. We only have ONE soccer team in the school. What about the JV cheerleaders?”
“The JV football team has a home game on Friday.”
Acting head cheerleader: “We think we can solve this but we need your approval. Taylor Taylor, the wide receiver, had some intensive cheerleading training last summer and isn’t bad at all. Training one week with the girls and some choreography changes would make it possible for her to take one position.”
“Taylor Taylor? I can’t really see her as a cheerleader. You say she’s good? And how do you know that. I can’t believe I’ve ever seen her in a skirt let alone a cheerleader skirt.”
“Base and tossing. Really good. The rest, acceptable. We went to the same cheerleader camp last summer.”
“Really? How interesting. How interesting life is. So many surprises. Well, good, good. That’s just fine as long as she agrees. And the other one?”
“That’s more problematic. We, coach Fuller and I think the best solution would be Taylor Swiff.”
“Taylor Swift? You must be joking!”
“No, not Taylor Swift. Even if she could do cheerleading, which I sincerely doubt, we couldn’t afford her. No, I mean Taylor SWIFF.”
“I can’t recall a student by that name in this school. Who is she?”
“He. He’s the middle school head cheerleader.”
“Oh, him! He IS good! Nice legs as well. Sorry but that’s not possible.”
“Why? Because he’s a boy? …”
“No. Not at all. He is NOT a student at this school. I’m really sorry but I can bend the rules THAT much.”
Acting head cheerleader: “Oh botheration. Then I have one last desperate suggestion. Bill Jones.”
“Bill Jones, the Quarterback? Why not? It’s outrageous enough for his liking. Qualifications?”
“Well, it’s a desperate move. He’s not as good as the other two. He has been fooling around around our training. You know how he.is. So we told him to pi … leave or join us training and do it seriously. He stayed. And he did it seriously. He’s not very good but he knows the choreography. It’s desperate but I see no other possibility.”
“Let’s see what they say.”
Activating the announcement system
“Could Bill Jones and Taylor Taylor come the principal’s office at once. The girl Taylor Taylor.”

That caused quite a stir in the school. Not the Bill Jones part. He was a regular. But Taylor Taylor? The goody two-shoes daughter of the strictest and least liked teachers in the entire West Ridge High School?

“Ah, come in Taylor. Good of you to come so quickly. Coach Fuller and the acting head cheerleader have a proposition for you. They need an extra cheerleader on Friday. Your mission, Taylor, should you choose to accept it, is to be that extra cheerleader. That would unfortunately entail missing lessons Friday afternoon and require that you put in extra hours with the cheerleading squad. The varsity squad of course. I’ve been told by a usually reliable source that you are up to it. However, as always, should you or any of your fellow cheerleaders be caught or killed, I will disavow any knowledge of your actions.”

After growing up with her parents Taylor-w was made of stern stuff. Dealing with deranged principals didn’t phase her.

“I accept. On one condition. No one tells my parents.”
“Why? Knowing them, they would be delighted.”
“That’s exactly why I don’t want them to know.”
“Deal. Ah, Bill! How delightful to see you. It’s always a pleasure, for me if not for you. Today is an exception. You will love this. Your school needs you. Not only does your school need you but it means that you can skip lessons on Friday afternoon. Sounds good? And that’s not all. It will be the most outrageous event of the semester. Or perhaps not, we are only in October so I have great hopes. Anyway, as a student devoted to the school I’m sure you want to support all and any school team, even if it’s the soccer team.”
“Soccer team? You can’t be serious. Not those …”
“Ah, you misunderstand me. The varsity cheerleading squad needs another cheerleader for the soccer game. An away game thus the missing lessons bonus. And who better than the varsity football starting QB? School solidarity and all that. But I’m afraid it means that you will ruffle some feathers, something I know that you’re loath to do.”
A smiling Bill: “For the sake of the school I’m prepared to give my last breath or at least my last cheer. I will get my own cheerleading uniform, short skirt and all?”
Coach Fuller. “Of course. You will look eh … stunning in it.”
Acting head cheerleader: “Both of you, five o’clock this afternoon. You know where. I can’t promise you anything but blood, sweat and tears.”
The principal: “Good, good. That settles things. Things tend to work out if we just let them. Chrysanthemum, could you please stay.”
“Sir, you know I prefer Chris.”
“I know but I prefer Chrysanthemum. It’s more fun.”
The superfluous people had by then left the office making it far less crowded. Chris settled into the comfortable visitors’ chair, not the other one. The one Bill usually was told to use.
“Chrysanthemum, you’re a sophomore. That means that you have almost three years left in school. Is that right?”
“Yes, sir. Why?”
“Just wondering, just wondering. There is no risk that you will move away during that time?”
“No, my parents like it here and Dad says he needs at least three more years to get things going the right way at the local office.”
“Good, good. And there is no chance that you will repeat a year?” Said the principal looking hopeful.
“NO, absolutely not!”
“Too bad, too bad.”
“Sir!!!”
“Oh, stop calling me sir when we are alone. And sorry. I should have said that I treasure your presence in my school. I have been a teacher for forty years and a principal for twenty years and I never have had so much FUN! Not only you personally but I think you’re some kind of catalyst. Things HAPPEN around you. Bill has never been AS outrageous as now. And the Taylors. The Taylor family, all four of them are … characters. Then our transgender, gay and crossdressing Taylor and Taylor Andrews, another girl on a football team. And the delightful Taylor Swiff that I will have the pleasure of having as a student next year Yes, things have been so much more fun since you came here. I had planned to announce my retirement for the end of this year at Christmas but you have convinced me that I need to stay another two years. For my sanity. Thank you!”
“Taylor Swiff will not be a student here next year since he’s only in seventh grade but, yeah, lots of Taylors. That makes it nine Taylors just like that book title.”
“Ah, but that’s where you are wrong. We already have passed that bar and more. You know my name is Taylor. I assume that makes me Taylor-p for Principal. By the way Chrysanthemum, please remember to call me by my first name when we are alone. I look forward to many more meetings like this.”
“Ok, that makes it nine Taylors, not more.”
“Have you forgotten your boyfriend already?”
“But he’s gone to college. He’s not longer part of my life.”
“Are you sure? I have seen a multitude of students come and go and I pride myself in reading characters. Admittedly characters are more difficult to read than letters which I learnt studying Chinese. I have been a teacher for forty years. I still teach you know.”
Chris was a polite boy so he said: “Yes, I know. I’m sorry I’m not in one your classes.”
“Ah, that’s easy to remedy. I’ll sign you up for Beginners Mongolian for the Spring semester. Just fine. Yes, things tend to work out if we just let them. I’ll look forward to seeing you in class.”
Chris thought that Taylor, the principal that is, was joking. On the other hand, this was Taylor-p. Anything was apparently possible. And if he wasn’t … Mongolian might be interesting.

Taylor-p had one final comment: “I must make sure to remember to include a mention of Taylor Taylor’s and Bill’s dedication to the school and their “versatility “in their college recommendation letters. Since I will still be the principal when you graduate I’m very curious to find out what I will put in your recommendation letter. Yes, most definitely an interesting letter.”

Contrary to the principal’s hopes there was nothing to top the soccer teams away game that semester. On the other hand that had been quite spectacular. To begin with the administration of the home team school had refused two cheerleaders to change in the girls’ locker room. Bill complained loudly but took it well. Taylor-w was another matter. It took her half an hour and a visit to the school nurse to settle the fact that she was a girl and thus changed in the girls’ locker room. They flatly refused to let Chris change with the boys. That was until Bill told them that Chris was an MtF transexual. Then he was forcefully moved to the boys’ locker room. Chris had conflicting feelings about that. He was not transgender. But on the other hand he was a prude and had no wish to change with the girls, even if one of them was Taylor.

Despite the disadvantage of two rookies on the team without much time to coordinate (the Larson triplets had amazing coordination) the cheering was good. Much better than expected. With two football players on the squad they could do things they couldn’t before. Another thing was that the West Ridge Bumblebees won the game. Not something that happened that often. The players claimed that it was largely thanks to the cheerleading. Not the quality of it or that they themselves became that inspired but their opponents were too distracted to play efficiently.

Coach Fuller: “Great game girls and boys. We did good today. Especially our temps. In view of your performance today Chris and I have decided to offer you permanent spots on the squad.”
Taylor-w: “No! No way! Absolutely not. And remember that you have promised to keep my participation a secret. Especially from my parents.”
General assent. Taylor-w had earned lots of brownie points by taking one for the team, the soccer team that is.
Bill. “I will do it if I can keep the cute uniform.” He looked absolutely ridiculous in it. Which he liked.

Bill dropped out of the squad shortly after. Too much work. He did go on the field once more for a soccer match and he was less prejudiced against soccer afterwards. He also kept the uniform. Later he caused quite a sensation at college with/in it.

There were some romantic entanglements in the course of the Fall semester. Taylor-f kept getting new girlfriends all the time. The girls were attracted to the big handsome football player and repelled by the self-absorbed person. At Madame Hamda’s school t-boy Taylor-t fell for femboy Taylor-m. No surprise there. The two boys were genuinely in low with each other and they competed with who could dance the most sexily. Taylor-w had problems finding a boy that could accept dating a big girl and a football player. Quite silly really. So she found herself a football player. A girl football player. Or perhaps I should have said THE other girl football player at West Ridge High. Coach Weaver had asked Taylor-w to mentor Taylor-fr, the freshman girl JV wide receiver. Taylor-w was always conscientious and took her task seriously. And love ensued. They could be seen together most evenings - tossing a ball.
Chris only had a girlfriend that semester. Boringly enough the same as before. No variation at all. He didn’t even get himself a new boyfriend.

Christmas came and went. The Daisys invited the Taylors to their New Year Party. To the Daisys surprise the Taylors accepted. Over the semester the Taylor parents had started to unbend a little. Just a little. However, the main reason they accepted was that the Daisy invitation was the only one they received. It wasn’t true that the Taylor parents always had a rod stuck up their asses. Occasionally they got, not drunk but tipsy. (Fra)Grant and Joy(ful) Daisy took advantage of them. They knew that logic didn’t work with the Taylors but emotional appeals could slip through the defenses when alcohol had opened breaches in the walls. George and Elizabeth, as they were at the beginning of the next year, had an epiphany, sort of. They were still as strict and in many ways as limited in their thinking but they showed that they cared about their students. Really cared. They never became popular but they did gain respect.

Most of Spring semester just followed the pattern set in the Fall. That is with the exception of a small incident in March.

Chrysanthemum always maintained that he was set up. Possibly by the Principal who once or twice had complained to Chris that he was becoming too boring. And there really were too many coincidences. Chrysanthemum (by that name) had participated in a talent show in East Ridge. He had placed third with his oriental dancing and thus not won a spot on the state talent show. He was disappointed. His mood didn’t improve when he got back to the (men’s) locker room and found that he couldn’t find his clothes. His normal boy clothes that is; knee sock, mid-thigh skirt and soft shirt (actually a blouse but he preferred to call it a shirt). All his money, credit cards, ID cards were there. Very suspicious. Especially as this meant he had to go home on the late bus in his performance clothes and without shoes. Not many people on the bus raised an eye. The driver never bothered about the passengers and there was only one other passenger. It wasn’t like many East Ridgers ever went to West Ridge and vice versa. Chris didn’t come home that night and when he did he was all bloody. Understandably the Daisys were quite upset. For one thing, the expensive performance outfit was a dead loss. Chris was more upset about the media reports. “Boy belly-dancer saves life of bus drive in accident and delivers triplets”. Hill out of a molehill. He only did what he had to do and simply applied his knowledge from the first-aid course at camp. And they didn’t point out that he had made an unforgivable mistake. He had been so distracted by the immediate emergencies, first the driver and then the lady passenger that went into labor, that he forgot to call 911 until AFTER the delivery.

Madame Hamda was delighted. Her school couldn’t get any better advertising. Chrysanthemum performed on national television once again. Madame Hamda was so delighted that she didn’t even tell off Chris for all the mistakes he had done. Only the major ones. But she was disappointed that Chrysanthemum turned down a chance to compete in the state talent show. That boy had too strong ethics and morals. Tsk Tsk. However, Madame Hamda was consoled by the influx of boys to her school. A number of serious young male oriental dancers even moved to West Ridge to be taught by her. Madame Hamda had been a very famous oriental dancer when younger. With her tongue firmly in her cheek she renamed her school “Madame Hamda’s School of Oriental Dancing for Boys (Girls welcome)”.

The principal was happy too. He told Chris that the next time he invited Chris for a cup of coffee and cake in his office. Things HAD been too sedate recently. But as the principal said, things tend to work out just fine if given the chance. Chris also agreed that Mongolian WAS interesting. Of course Bill also took that course.

Talking about Bill there the news was not as good. His long-suffering girlfriend finally had enough of Bill always being outrageous. Uncharacteristically that toned him down. The principal did not approve and quite honestly worried about him. By the prom Bill and the principal had cheered up though.

The principal was looking forward to the prom with great expectations. He had a feeling that it would be a prom to remember. And he was right.

The first notable entrance was almost run-of-the-mill. Chris had taken pity of Taylor-f who had worked his way through the female seniors well before the prom and accepted when Taylor had asked him to be his date, at his sister’s prodding. Mrs Taylor, there as a chaperone, looked at Chris’ dress with approval. It was simple in design but elegant and not in any way indecent. She had spent hours coaching Chris on his special project. She had scorned Chris’ assumption that he’d be invited to the prom (again) but admitted she’d been wrong and felt pride in what her student had achieved. She was happy for her son. At least Chris would give him a memorable prom. She was also happy that Taylor was her daughter’s date. What a change from a year ago. Taylor-fr had broken Taylor-w’s heart when she had dumped her. Too boring and conventional was her verdict. Taylor-w’s mother did not agree. She was very proud of her very unconventional football player daughter who just had won a football scholarship to Broader Reality University. Taylor-w had received confirmation from BRU only the day before. Elizabeth approved of Taylor. Taylor was good for her daughter. She only regretted that Taylor wasn’t her daughter’s girlfriend. She was such a nice girl. But she and Chris was such a cute couple so Elizabeth couldn’t resent that. She liked Chris and so did her husband. He had even smiled when Chris called him Cousin It earlier in the evening.

Chris and Taylor both enjoyed the prom. Chris was happy that Taylor also got the prom experience that he had got last year. He hoped she took notes. Taylor-w was a good role model. They were both going back to Camp Las Vagas that summer even if “Aunt Mary” had declared that there absolutely would be no more boy campers at Las Vagas. And that was final. AND she stuck to it. So Chris wouldn’t’ be a camper this year. A counselor in training was another matter, And Chris was also the oriental dance instructor. What about Madame Hamda. Oh, she’d be there as well and Chris would take her master class but the beginners’ class was all Chris’ this year. Another thing was that Taylor-b would be a counselor again. He and Chris would share Dandelion cabin as last year. This summer Chris would be 16 so not only cuddling and kissing would be possible but “ahem” as well. An interesting possibility but Chris wasn’t sure he was ready yet. But it was nice to have the option. “Aunt Mary” had made perfectly clear that this summer she did not want to hear what went on in Dandelion cabin. A pity though that Taylor wouldn’t turn 16 until after the summer.

Bill, as always, was outrageous. His dress was eye-catching. Too bad his new significant other had snatched it for own use leaving Bill wearing a fuchsia tux. The fact that Bill had invited a freshman was notable but not the same scandal as last year when Chris had attended as a freshman. A football player dating another football player was also noticeable. But no one could deny that Taylor(-fr) was radiant. Well, no one could claim that Bill was boring. However, the real scandal was provided by Taylor-t. Not his dress. It was very tasteful as always when it came to Taylor-t. And the fact that he as a football player dated a cheerleader was traditional. A boy dating a boy was by now nothing to raise eyebrows at West Ridge High School even if one of the boys was a t-boy. No, the scandal was that his date, Taylor-m, was a middle schooler. Oh, the scandal! And he wasn’t even an eighth grader. He wore a very girly and very pretty tux. The principal was happy. Even if this would have been a high to leave West Ridge High School on he was convinced that he had made the right choice not to retire yet. He was looking forward to the next year. He moved over to Miss Carder, a teacher that was new at the school. Not a new teacher in the sense that she was young. She wasn’t. The principal had at times felt that he recognized her and he felt an instinctive liking for her. Why? He couldn’t understand but he had unexplained feelings He never had had much to do with her. But she was quite nice lady. A very nice lady.

“I’m sorry. I know I haven’t had time to talk much with you. That is a serious omission for a principal with a new teacher. But I have a feeling that I’ve met you before.”
“Ah, it took you some time but you finally remembered. Yes, we have met. I was your sergeant during Desert Storm.”
“You’re wrong. I never had a woman sergeant.”
“I was called Peter at the time.”
How fortunate that the principal was single.

If you remember Chris was considered rather boring by his fellow middle school students. And his junior year looks like being boring. It looks like being pretty much like his sophomore year and his senior year looks like being just like his junior year. No great fundamental changes look likely. Rather boring really.

As seen in the more than 21 000 words above, Chrysantemum Daisy was just an ordinary boy doing ordinary boy things. He was unique in some ways but so were the other boys at West Ridge High. Nothing special there. So I think I’ll leave him there sitting under his mental cork oak smelling the flowers, be it daisies or any other flowers.

You might wonder about The Five Red Herrings. Well, they were red herrings.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A tailor-made Taylor List
(Please note that no Taylor is a maid nor a tailor)
Taylor: Girl, sophomore. Former camper at Las Vagas. Chris' girlfriend. Cheerleader at West Ridge High
Taylor-b: A boy as the-b indicates. College student. Football player. Nose guard. Chris' boyfriend. Counselor at Camp Las Vagas last summer.
Tayor-w: Girl. Senior at West Ridge High. Varsity football player. Wide receiver as indicated by the -w. Tomboy. Was a reluctant a camper at Las Vagas. Member of the Taylor family. Second cousin to Chris. Complicated relationships.
Taylor-f: Boy. Senior at West Ridge High. Varsity football player Full back as indicated by -f. Taylor-w's twin brother. Member of the Taylor family. Relationships not complicated since they never last.
Mrs Elizabeth Taylor: Woman. Teacher., French and Sewing. For some reason not given a -x. A born Daisy but has distanced herself from her heritage. Member of the Taylor Family.
Mr George Taylor.: Man. Teacher, Mathematics. For some reason not given a -x. A born Daisy but has distanced himself from his heritage. Member of the Taylor Family. Original given name was “It” thus also known as “Cousin It” by the Daisys.
Principal Taylor Spinner: Principal at West Ridge High School.
Taylor(-m) Swiff: Boy. Proud femboy. 7th grader which explains the -m for middle school. Head cheerleader. Student at Madame Hamda’s Oriental Dancing School for Boys (Girls welcome). Taylor-t’s boyfriend
Taylor-t: Boy (FtM). Senior. Varsity football player, wide receiver. Crossdresser, gay. Taylor-m’s boyfriend.
Taylor(-fr) Andrews: Freshman, which explains the -fr. JV football player. Wide receiver. For a while Taylor-w’s girlfriend

Other persons of note:
Chrysanthemum Daisy a.k.a. Chris: Just an ordinary boy. Son of lapsed hippies (Fra)Grant and Joy(ful). Student at West Ridge High School. Sophomore. Varsity cheerleader, non-competing girl gymnast. Repeat camper at girls’ only Camp Las Vagas. Only wear shorts at camp, otherwise his parents find that he’s more fun when wearing a skirt or a dress. Assistant Oriental dance instructor at Camp Las Vagas. Boyfriend to Taylor and Taylor-b.
And then there are Madame Hamda and Fatimah, Oriental dance teachers, as well as various censorious relatives to students at Fatimah’s School of Oriental Dancing.
Coach Weaver and Coach Fuller.: Boys’ and Girls’ coach respectively at West Ridge High.
Mr Dyer: Shop teacher at West Ridge High.
Miss Carder: Teacher at West Ridge Highe
Martin: Student assistant to the school secretary. Looks good in his red tights.
Mary: Student assistant to the school secretary. Doesn’t wear tights.
Aunt Mary.: Camp Manager at Las Vagas.
And then there is Bill. He’s weird.