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.
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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.