One boy's Journey - Chapter 7

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We got on our leotards and leggings and went down for breakfast. Aunt V was in full mother mode. She had the teapot hot and ready. We had English muffins, scrambled eggs, and a small slice of ham. We ate and chatted with my Aunt V.

Lexi, did you do your enema this morning? Yes ma'am. How about you, Ree? Yes Ma'am. Did you show Emma how to do it as well? Yes ma'am. We did them last night and this morning. Did you have your coffee enema? Yes, ma'am, all three of us. Good girls.

Emma, You may not know this, but enemas are a great way to stay young-looking and keep weight off. I'm not sure my mom would understand. That's okay, too. Just know we keep each other's secrets here. You girls are always safe here.

We went outside and started the music and our routines. We did the routines backward and forwards. We skipped around in random order. We worked all morning. Emma had to run to the bathroom once, but she made it. We broke for lunch. A small salad and lots of water.

It was just after 2:30 p.m. when we quit. Emma asked if we could help her with an enema before she left. We gave her two quarts of water to flush and three quarts of soap, then a water rinse.

Emma was clean and clear. We all showered and dressed. I told Aunt V that we would do our model routine for Emma's mom. That's great, girls. Go easy on the makeup. Yes Ma'am!!!! We say this in cheerleading unison. Aunt V smiled.

We went upstairs, and I got out skater dresses for each of us. Emma picked it first and grabbed the pink one. Lexi grabbed my black one. I grabbed my purple one. We all had little white lace ankle socks and mules to match our dresses.

We went just a little heavy on the eyeliner, and we all wore our false eyelashes. Emma loved it. She looked so cute. I hoped her mom liked it. We all wore white blouses, matching lace-cuffed ankle socks, and black mules.

We practiced our routine for greeting Emma's mom. When we ran through the routine for over 45 minutes, We were having fun. We added a flaring skirt movement to our routine.

We were trying to be in perfect sync. We refined our routine with similar hip sway and steps. Aunt V coached us. Aunt V loved the idea of us curtsy together.

Aunt V explained to us how much respect a curtsy means to the senior women. It's lost on most people. But most women recognize the respect when young women exercise the gesture of curtsy.

Linda pulled in the driveway right on the dot at 4 p.m. We raced upstairs and waited for Aunt V to call us down. Aunt V welcomed Linda in. Is Emma ready? Linda asked. She should be. Girls, Linda is here! Aunt V called us. Be right there, Mom!

We marched downstairs, across the bridge. Lexi in the lead, Emma in the middle, and me bringing up the rear. Linda and Aunt V were watching from the kitchen.

Aunt V and Linda were sitting on the couch. We centered ourselves on Linda; we stopped, smiled, bowed, curtseyed, and spun left to right. We bowed again, and then Curtsey spun from right to left. We curtsey again, hold it, and say greetings, Lady Linda.

Linda was stunned and silent for a moment. Who did your hair, girls? asked Linda. Lexi did; she showed us how to roll our hair. How did you all get it done together?

Ree has a mini-salon upstairs. Said Lexi. Really? Thanks to Aunt V, I have hot rollers and a hair dryer. We had a blast doing our hair. Well, I love it, girls. Great work. I might have to have Lexi do my hair some time. I'd be delighted too, Lady Linda, said Lexi as she curtseyed again, still playing the role.

Aunt V was smiling with that approving smile I loved. Linda was smiling, and I saw a tear in her eye. She clapped and said, Very lovely girls, very lovely. Thank you, ma'am, we said. We ran upstairs to change.

Linda asked Aunt V, Where did that come from? Ree's aunt, Cathy, is from a traditional family of customs. She was talking to her about how young girls would curtsey and formerly address the more senior women with a curtsey at initial meetings.

Ree wasn't told either. When she met Cathy's mother, she did a curtsey, and May just ate it up. It kind of stuck with her. You must be very proud of her, said Linda.

I am proud and happy with all three of them. Emma is a very nice and respectful young lady. You should also be proud. Thank you, Vanessa.

I hope I will see you both at brunch on Sunday. I think we can manage that. Lexi I'd love to meet your mother as well. Thank you, Lady Linda. I will extend the invitation.

We came downstairs with Emma's bags. We loaded her up and said our goodbyes. See you about 8:30 am, I asked. I'll be there," Emma said, smiling. We waved as they drove off. Aunt V said you girls have good taste in friends. Yeah, we like her too. I like Linda; you girls will have to go to brunch next Sunday. Okay, we said.

We went back inside, and Aunt V's phone rang. Hi Taylor, okay, yeah, sure, we can do that. Okay, see you soon. Guess what, girls? What? Lexi, you're staying overnight tonight. Your mom will be by to drop off some fresh clothes for you. I will take you two to practice in the morning. Okay! We both said we were smiling.

Taylor and I will be going out tonight for a few hours. Will you two be okay by yourselves? Yes, Aunt V., I may be back late, so be in bed by 10 p.m. You have a long day tomorrow. Yes, ma'am, we said.

You girls want takeout? Yes, please. What do you want? Chinese, please. Just then, Taylor arrived with Lexi's clothes. We greeted her at the door with our curtsey and spin routine. Oh Lexi I love your hair. Thanks, Mom. Lexi hugged her.

Aunt V ordered our food, and they left. We changed into our bikinis and hung out by the pool, waiting for the food. We raced to the door when the bell rang. We were in bikinis, wearing our mules. It was John Park. John was dumbfounded when he saw us.

Hi John I said, smiling brightly. I have your order. How much do I owe you? I asked. It's already paid for. Okay, here you go. I handed him a 5-dollar bill for a tip. Thanks, John. You're welcome, Ree! He was blushing big time. Yeah, uh, see you soon, he said.

We walked back into the house. He waited for us to close the door. Wow, Ree! He likes you! No! You think so. Yes, I do. He hardly glanced at me. He's cute, too. He is handsome, I said.

Are you kidding? He's cute and hot. He's the total package. Ree, said Lexi. But he's a junior, I said. So what? Said Lexi. Does he have a girlfriend? Not that I know of. Lots of girls asked him out. But he's never been steady with any for long.

He has a great body, as I said. Have you seen his body? said Lexi. Sure, he's one of my karate instructors. He's lean and has good muscles, but is not bulky. He is super ripped.

But he's never looked at me like that before. Really? Really Lexi. Well, I bet that's about to change. We finished dinner, cleaned up, and ran the washer and dryer.

That's the one thing about being a girl that I'm still adjusting to. All the laundry. Lexi and I arranged our workout outfits for the next day. We were going to be dressed and ready, so all we had to do was warm up and stretch out. We capped our hair and sat in the whirlpool outside until the sunset.

After we went in, we showered and put on our nighties. We finished the laundry and watched a couple episodes of Lexi's favorite Netflix series, "First Kill." I actually like the show. We chatted about John, school, the mean girls, and Kelly. I told her I thought Kelly was genuine, but we both had reservations about her.

Lexi said she understood what I meant. Lexi said we'd both have a better idea after the homecoming game and dance. Lexi asked me about dresses. I showed her what I had, and she loved my dark green floor-length cocktail dress with the spaghetti straps.

I had a royal blue dress that was similar, but it was cut differently in the front and trimmed in silver. Go with the green, she said. I had a pair of black 5" spiked Lou Vuitton heels to go with it. I also have a green wrap with it.

I asked her about the dress she was going to wear. She said it was dark red and similar to mine. All you need now, Ree, is John on your arm. Yeah, right, Lexi! I said it sarcastically. He can have any girl he wants.

That may be true, Ree, but he has eyes for you now! I'd bet on it! We'll see soon enough, Lexi! How so? I have a karate class tomorrow night. He'll be there, and Monday is usually his night to lead class.

I let Lexi shower and do her enema by herself. I wanted some alone time to dilate before bed. I wish I had a bigger dilator. I finished and just slipped on my pants when she walked in.

All yours, babe! Thanks, Lexi. I capped my hair and showered quickly. I started my enema. I just did a water enema, and I was clear. Lexi and I kissed each other's cheeks goodnight and went to bed just before ten.

I was up first and went to the bathroom and did my therapy, coffee enema, and water. Lexi was still sleeping. I woke her up and started getting dressed. When Lexi finished, I was dressed and took my bag downstairs. She was five minutes behind me.

I made us scrambled eggs and English muffins. Aunt V came down all ready to go. She was wearing a black pencil skirt suit and a dark red blouse with black heels. She looked powerful. I hope I look that powerful when I go to work.

I handed her a cup of coffee and some eggs. Aunt V avoids carbs much of the time. I had just started the dishwasher when Martina walked in. Buenos dias, she said. I smiled and answered the same. We said goodbye, and we were on our way to practice.

It was 8:20 a.m. when we got there. Linda and Emma were pulling in as we were walking into the school. The three of us stowed our bags and went out to warm up. Kelly showed up about two minutes later and joined us.

We started our stretching and warm-ups. It was just the four of us until about 8:45, when the majority of the girls showed up and started warming up. Coach Hill and her staff were watching everyone.

Coach Hill barked, Line up ladies! We lined up in formation, all four of us in the front. As you may have noticed, we have a bigger squad of cheerleaders this year. We are going to be doing things a bit differently this year.

We will be adding a few things to the routines and adding a dance routine to them. We expect complete dedication this week, and it would be a good idea to practice a little this coming weekend. Questions? No, ma'am, we all said it in unison. Excellent, let's get started.

Five! We went through the routines as they were randomly called out. For the first hour. We were told to take 5. Everyone went to get water. Coach Hill called Lexi, Emma, and me over quietly.

She handed us each a sheet of paper. It was a list of girls and instructions. Myself and six other girls. Emma and Lexi had the same list with the same instructions, but different girls.

Ladies, when your name is called, line up in front of the person calling your name. Lexi, Emma, and I called out each name one at a time. We formed three squads of seven, including us. We ran through all five routines randomly in each group, doing a different routine.

Our instructions had us make the girls rotate positions in the formation. Lexi, Emma, and I had to walk around them. Studying their techniques and offering corrections. After about 30 minutes, I stopped my group and gathered them together.

I explained what needed to be done and how to improve the timing and movement. Two of my squad were friends of Cheryl. The one girl, Lori, gave me a dirty look. I just looked at her and said, We are all in this together. The better we look, the more fun we can have.

None of you know me. But I can help, and I want to help. Trust me, just for today. If it works out great, if not one of you can take the lead, deal? Deal, said Lori in a very serious manner. Good, and one more thing: smile like you love it. If you don't love this, there's no point in doing it.

We went back to it; the girls were smiling more, and their timing was better. After an hour, we were all pretty much in sync. I was very proud of our progress. Lori was smiling more now. We worked until lunch. When we sat for lunch, my whole squad ate with me, even Lori.

They were trying to get to know me. I was asked, Where are you from? How do you know so much about cheer and choreography? I told them I was from Ohio and I was studying ballet and gymnastics.

I told them I loved being a cheerleader. Lori said you have great endurance. What kind of exercise do you do? I swim a lot, and I do yoga with my aunt. Another girl, Lilly, asked, Do you practice the routines in your free time? Yes, with Lexi and Emma.

In fact, Lexi helped me with the routines and the basics before camp started. Lexi and Emma look great this year, said Lori. You girls are pretty good too.

You may not realize it yet, but since our gathering two hours ago, we have been in sync like a chorus line. Really, Lori? Really. Just remember, if you forget everything else, use the balls of your feet and keep your back straight. Everything else is muscle memory.

I noticed Emma and Lexi had lunch with their squads too. Do you know the new dance routine, Rianna? No Lori I don't. And please call me Ree. What I do know is that we will find out together and work it out together. I never mentioned Cheryl or said anything negative to my squad.

Let's go back and stretch out a bit, I said. We went back to the gym together. I showed my squad how I stretched out. Lori said, You really are a dancer. Yes, I do. I love ballet, and I do a little tap dancing too, but not for a long time.

If anyone is struggling, just ask; I am here to help. I don't know everything; most of you are more experienced than I am. I know we can do this together.

Line up, ladies! We formed up. Okay, girls, I want a formation of two rows! 11 in the first row and 10 in the second. We will run through the routines, shift from front to back, and return back and forth.

We will shift six times per routine. Shoulder width apart. When you shift, walk up, stay in position for 10 seconds, and move back. Understand? Yes Coach! We said.

3! We started, walked back, and walked forward. We ran number 3 six times, then four, then two. On and on for 2 more hours. It wasn't that much extra movement, but my body sure did feel it.

Up next was the dance routine. The assistant coaches showed us the routine. I walked through the routine for half an hour. We started slowly moving into the routine, and after another 30 minutes, we started the dance routine.

We worked strictly on the dance routine until the end. We started our cooldown, and coach Hill said, See you here at 9 a.m., warmed up and ready to go. Coach Hill called Lexi, Emma, and I over.

Nice work, girls; keep it up. That's what I like to see in my co-captains. Get some rest, girls; tomorrow is going to be a long day. Yes, ma'am, we said. The coaches walked away. Lexi, Emma, and I looked at each other. What just happened? I asked.

Well, I think the coaches are thinking of making us captains, said Lexi. I am not counting on it yet. We have a long week ahead of us. Very true, said Emma, but we can do this! Heck yes, we can, says Lexi. I am in too, as I said. See you tomorrow, Em, and you too.

We took a quick shower. We said nothing to any of the girls. Taylor picked up Lexi and me. They dropped me off, and I changed into my karate gui and waited for Aunt V. Aunt V dropped me off at karate class and ran through my forms and routines.

John was there; he was actually pretty shy for a cute boy. Mrs. Park sent him over to me. He coached me through the forms and changed things up for me a bit. I ran through them without much of a problem. He coached me on some small mistakes.

John touched my hand for a little longer than normal. To tell the truth, I liked it. When he realized it, he blushed. It was cute. I blushed too.

Aunt V picked me up, and we picked up a couple salads on the way home. We ate in the kitchen. I went upstairs and soaked in the jacuzzi for a while, just trying to relax. I was excited about the idea of being a cheer captain. I have never been a leader before. I never expected to be a captain.

It was after 3 a.m. when my Aunt V woke me up. I was having a night terror episode. Ree, you're okay; it's just a nightmare. Do you want to talk about it? No, Aunt V., I need to write it down for Saturday. Okay, honey, get back to sleep. Can I sleep with you, Auntie V? Sure, honey, come on.

I cuddled with my Aunt V and went right back to sleep. I woke up just before 6 a.m. and did my morning routine. I was ready when Taylor and Lexi picked me up.

We were at school at 8:15 a.m. We were the first to arrive, besides the coaches. Just as we got out of the car, Emma and Linda rolled in. We walked into the school together.

Just as we got to the door, everyone started rolling in. It made us smile. We stowed our bags and went out to the gym. The football players were already running drills. We decided to wait a few minutes before starting our warm-up.

Within five minutes, every cheerleader was ready to start. I glanced at Coach Hill, and she was smiling. By 8:25 p.m., we were all warming up together. By 8:40, Lori had asked us to practice the dance routine. Lexi started the music, and we started. We used the 11-10 formation.

It was a rough start, but we kept going. None of us were perfect. But we kept at it over and over. The coaches just watched us. They let us run through the routine for over an hour before calling us to formation.

Coach Hill stopped the music. Morning ladies! We all formed up. Nice work this morning. We are very pleased with your dedication this morning. We are going to run through this routine for the better part of the day today.

This will be our halftime show. We are expecting big things from the JV team this year. We have also been invited to do half-time shows at a few junior colleges this year.

You girls need to be dedicated to each other as a team. If our JV football team goes to regionals this year, it will be locally televised. The coaches and I will be pushing you very hard. You stick together as a team. You can expect great things from your school and your team. Now begin!

The music started, and we started our routine as a group. After another hour, we were getting better. Not perfect, but a lot better. At our first break, we were separated into our squads.

I was pleased to see everyone smiling and working hard on the routine. I glanced at Emma's squad, and they were working equally as hard. Lexi was at the far end; I couldn't see them.

We broke for lunch and ate as a squad. I was loving it. Lori seemed to warm up to me a little. Is there anything we should be doing better or differently, Ree? Lori asked. Remember three basic things. Use the balls of your feet, stay straight, and remember that every move is an adjustment. The more we do it, the better we'll be. It's only Tuesday; we'll have it down by Friday.

The football players heard we were doing a dance routine. They started walking through the gym while we practiced. I saw John Park. I saw him watching us. When I looked at him, we locked eyes.

He blushed. Gosh,  he is so cute. His whole body was so toned and firm. He wasn't the tallest guy, but at 5' 11", he was a pretty good-sized boy. I was captivated by him and his shy, polite personality. I just hope no one else sees it.

At 2 p.m., we ran through the regular routines a few times. As we finished up, We were told to take a break and sit down.

The varsity squad came in and showed us their dance routine. These girls were great. I saw Shelly leading them. Shelly had a white C on the left shoulder of her outfit. They ran two dance routines. They sat down and watched us run our routine. We mingled with them for a few minutes.

I said hi to Shelly. Hey, Ree, you looked good out there. Thanks Shelly You girls are great. I thought you weren't going to cheer this year. I wasn't, but a friend of mine was injured, and they asked me to replace her. Will I see you tonight? I'll be there, I said. See you then, honey.

My squad all asked about my knowing Shelly. I take ballet with her. She's my mentor. Everyone was impressed by the thought of me knowing Shelly. As it turns out, Shelly is one of the most popular girls in the school. I never knew that; I just respected her for her knowledge and skills as a ballerina.

We started our cool-down and showered. I went to ballet that night with a new sense of pride. Shelly helped me with my pirouette and pirouette combinations. I see Shelly in a new light now. As popular as she was, she only saw me as a girl and a fellow ballerina.

The coaches told me that you, Emma, and Lexi have your very own squads. Yes, we have been helping them out. That's being a leader, Ree. I'm proud of you. Thanks, Shelly.

When football is over, you and I have lots of work to do for the Christmas recital. Yes, ma'am, I said, smiling. Keep it up, sister; if you have any trouble, let me know first. I heard Cheryl is still very angry with everything.

It's not my fault! I said. You and I know that! But she doesn't. Cheryl's problem is that she's lazy. Her mom gets her out of trouble all the time. Coach Hill laid down the law. The problem is that Cheryl doesn't think the rules don't apply to her. I'll keep an eye out for her. I see that you do. We need you for the recitals.

We finished class, and Aunt V and I headed home. Martina left Taco Salad in the fridge for us. Gosh, I love Martina. After a bath in the jacuzzi and a shower, I did my therapy routine and went to bed. I woke up right at 6 a.m. I started my therapy and found myself thinking of John. I couldn't force the thought of him from my mind. He was in my head now.

Lexi and I got to practice early, and the same as yesterday, we were all warming up at 8:20 a.m. We ran through the dance routine until 9:15 when Coach Hill called us into formation. She and her assistant coaches gave us pointers as a group. We ran the routine over and over.

Everyone was doing much better. I saw Kelly smiling like she loved it. Lori was smiling too. At lunch, everyone mixed it up and was chatting with everyone.

The animosity seemed to disappear a bit. After lunch, we went back to the gym and practiced. The football players kept walking through both gyms, checking out the cheerleaders.

We took a small break. I went to get a drink and ran into John. I was close to falling, and he caught me. Careful, Ree, you don't want to get injured before the first game, he said.

He was beaming a bright smile. Thanks, John! You're welcome. See you in class tonight. Yes. See you then! Lexi and Emma ran up to me. What was that about? I tripped, and he caught me. It looked like a little more than a friendly gesture, said Lexi. I agree, Emma.

He has eyes for you, Ree. No, he doesn't, I said, blushing. What was that about seeing him tonight? I'm in karate class with him. Come on, girls, tone it down. Okay, okay, Emma, Ree has a point.

We were drilled hard with the dance routine over and over. More hips, more kicks, snapping out the arms, flipping the hair. Once we had it down, the coaches wanted more of everything. The coaches were barking instructions. We were shifting lines back and forth.

The coaches rotated us like volleyball players. It was intense. My leotard and leggings were soaked in perspiration. It was then that I noticed that girls don't really stink like boys do when they sweat.

Today killed my curls. When we finished for the day, I rinsed my hair and body in the shower. Lexi never showered at school. Not every girl does. I got dressed and headed home. Taylor dropped me off.

I raced upstairs to shower and fix my hair a bit more. I knew I'd see John, and I did not want to be a mess. I ran the flat iron through my hair and just added a little mascara and pink lipgloss.

I put my hair in a high ponytail and fluffed it out. I put on my GUI, and just as I came down, Aunt V was just rolling up in the driveway. Wow! You look very nice.

What's up with the mascara and lipgloss? Nothing! And your hair is in a high ponytail? Is that perfume I smell? No, Aunt V. Just some secret body spray.

Okay, Ree, what gives? Nothing! Spill it, young lady! Do you know John Park? Yes, I know of John. Why? Well, I ran into him today. Okay, so? When I ran into him, I literally ran into him. I tripped, and he caught me.

Go on, Ree. Well, he was watching us do our dance routine. I went to get some water, and I tripped into him. And? He told me to be careful and asked if I'd be in class tonight.

What did you say? I thanked him for catching me and said I would be at class. And? That was it. Nothing else. Give it up, Ree; you forget I know you. Okay, he smiled at me. And he held me for maybe a couple seconds longer than he should have. But nothing happened, I swear.

How did this make you feel? Protected and secure, it felt very warm and nice. Well, he is a very nice boy. He's really cute, too. Ree!!! Sorry, Aunt V. Ree, you're not even 14 yet, and he's 16. I'm sorry, Aunt V. Don't be, honey; we'll talk about this later. Right now, just enjoy your class. Yes ma'am.

The class was mostly forms and techniques. We didn't spar tonight. John ran the class. Aunt V was talking with Mrs. Park. They kept glancing at the class; I couldn't be sure, but I would bet John and I were the topic of conversation. There wasn't anything to say, except that he was nice to me and smiled at me.

I was having a little trouble with the new form. As I walked through it. I kept making the same mistake. John came up behind me, walked, and talked me through it.

He held my waist and arm a little bit longer than he should have. His touch was gentle, and his words were spoken softly but directly. I liked his touch and his voice. I felt safe with him so close.

I was afraid of most boys, but John was different. He was smart and athletic, but very polite. There was discipline about him. He was a defender, not a bully. I was hoping he would ask me to go to the homecoming dance.

I glanced over at Aunt V and Mrs. Park. I saw them looking my way, and they were smiling. When I glanced back again, Aunt V was on the speakerphone with Mrs. Park. My first thought was that they called my mom. My next thought was that this would be an interesting ride home.

Aunt V stopped at Olive Garden and picked up dinner. I got the chicken fettuccine, Alfredo. After practice and karate, I was craving carbs. I was talking to Mrs. Park tonight. I saw that, I said. She said if you keep up the work, you will be ready for your yellow belt test.

That's great news. What else did you two talk about? I had previously glanced at my phone; I had missed two calls and four texts from my mom that I hadn't read yet.

We talked about you and John. Aunt V!!! Oh my gosh, why? You seem to be interested in each other. I swear, we didn't do anything! He was just nice to me! I started getting red in the face. I was half mad, half embarrassed.

Calm down, sweetie; just listen, please. I can't believe you did that. Just listen, Rianna. Apparently, John likes you. He mentioned you to his mom.

He knows you're a bit young. But he really likes you and wanted to check with his mom and me before asking you out. Why me? John could have almost any girl in school.

John likes you! Most girls are way too snobby for him. He likes you because you're centered and have goals. But he hardly knows me. You have been in class working with him twice a week for three months.

I take it you two were on the phone with my mom. How'd you know that? 2 missed calls and 4 buzzes; now there are 5 unread text messages. Clever girl, very clever. So what did you ladies decide, or should I not ask? We agreed that you could date him. Provide your home by 10:30 p.m..

When will I have the time? I have dance tomorrow night, gymnastics Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon, the girls and I are getting together to practice cheer. About cheer practice. I talked with Linda and Taylor.

The country club is going to allow you girls to use the ballroom this Saturday afternoon. There was nothing on the schedule this Saturday afternoon, so they were going to let the JV cheerleaders practice.

Who's running the practice? You, Lexi, and Emma are. Linda and a few other moms got together and decided they wanted you girls to practice on Saturday. After all, your first game is a week from this Friday at 5:30 p.m. You three can still stay overnight at our place after practice.

Are you coming to my game? Of course, honey, I wouldn't miss it!

So, when does John plan to ask me out? We aren't sure yet. That's up to him. Mrs. Park is talking to him tonight. I was buzzing with all this information.

For the first time since I moved here, I felt like things were out of control. Yes, I liked John, but in the back of my head, I said it was wrong. My heart said yes, go for it. I had some notes to write down.

We got home. We ate, and I hesitated to call Mom for the first time. Just then, my phone rang. Hi mom. Hi Ree, how are things? Now that was a semi-loaded question, I thought to myself. Very busy mom, how are you? I was writing in my therapy notebook when she called.

How is the cheer camp going? Really good, Mom. How are you holding up? I'm really busy at the salon. We are all set to put new flooring in over Labor Day weekend. How are you and Mr. Milford getting along? We are great; he's a real gentleman, Ree.

Any problems with people in town? A few, but nothing I can't handle. I kept asking question after question to avoid the subject of John. Ree, Ree, honey, I kept rambling on. Rianna! What mom? We need to talk! What mom? About what? About, let me guess Boys? Yes, boys.

Mom I already had this conversation with my aunt V. Yes, honey, I know. There is a lot more to it than just what she explained. Mom, I am not sure I am ready to date someone, much less a boy.

What are you saying, honey? Mom, I don't even know! I know I like him, and he's shy and sweet. He's very handsome from the picture Mrs. Park sent me. I am very confused between boys and girls right now.

I know this might be a lousy time, Mom. but I would like to request a bigger dilator if possible. I'll look into it. Now back to the boy subject.

Honey, I want you to be careful. Boys can be fun, but you can't trust them too much. Mom, I can't get pregnant. No, but you can be labeled; that can be even worse. It's better to be labeled as a virgin than a slut.

You have to know that all the rules are different for you as a girl. Guys get away much more. But there are advantages too. Never pay for dinner, drinks, or an event. You have to be careful, honey. Girls are far more vulnerable than boys. We are smarter than boys, but we have to use our smarts to stay safe.

I've heard good things about what John and his mom think of you. Mom? Yes sweetheart? What do I do about mean girls? Besides, avoid them.

The best thing is to think two or three moves ahead. Why are you having a problem with a girl? Kinda! I made the squad, and a girl from the freshman squad didn't and was cut at the end of the first week.

She outright blamed me in front of everyone. She even had her mom come in and talk to the coach. What did the coach tell her? To come back for the basketball and hockey seasons. Are you cheering for basketball, honey? No mom. I want to be part of the ballet recitals and debate club.

You really do want to be a lawyer, don't you? Yes, Mom, more every day. Vanessa tells me your Spanish has improved a lot. Yes, thanks to her housekeeper, Martina.

Martina has been teaching me all the domestic skills and how to cook. I can cook Mexican too. Cathy's mom, May, is Korean, and she said she'd teach me to cook Korean style. That's great, honey.

Mom, when are you moving out west? I miss you. I miss you too, sweetheart. I am hoping for the spring or summer. I have to finish remodeling the salon and the house some more. Mr. Milford has been very helpful.

Are you two together, Mom? Yes honey, Is it serious? I think so, Ree. Will he move with you? I think he will, honey. Is that a problem for you? No, mom, not at all. I want you to be happy.

You're still planning on coming out for Christmas and New Year's, right? Of course, I will not miss your recital. Any word from Cathy on the lawsuit? She's almost settled with the school district. The Newhouse lawsuit is next. Cathy has a lot of irons in the fire right now.

Any word on the boys that went to jail? Bonds and Jeffries are in state prison. They filed an appeal for their sentencing. It's going to be almost impossible due to the deal they signed.

The Newhouse boys are in the juvenile hall. Their mom visits them weekly. Besides seeing Mrs. Newhouse in my salon, she keeps a much lower profile. Mr. Newhouse is rarely seen at all anymore. Their son's actions really shook their social life apart.

Can you keep a secret, Ree? Sure mom. I want to sell the salon to the girls that work for me. I had to add another chair at the salon. We have been so busy. Between the salon and home renovations, I have almost zero free time.

Ree? Would you mind if I brought Mr. Milford out with me for Christmas? No, mom, not at all. He saved my life. He's family now, as far as I'm concerned. He makes you happy. Please bring him.

I hear you made a couple of friends. Yes, Mom Lexi, and Emma are great. Do they know about you? Yes, Lexi is in transition, and we both told Emma. The three of us are very tight. That's great, sweetheart.

Mom, I have to get some sleep. I have a long day tomorrow. Okay, honey, I love you, Ree. I love you too, Mommy. I actually felt a little better after the call. I was dreading the talk, but it wasn't so bad. I did my nightly routines and went downstairs and poured a glass of ice water. Aunt V was watching the news. I kissed her goodnight.

I was up before the 6 a.m. alarm. I did my usual and collected all my laundry and took it downstairs to get washed. I grabbed my bag and left with Taylor and Lexi. At 8:10, we were in the gym warming up. By 8:15, everyone was warming up. Lexi, Emma, and I led them in the dance routine.

Coach Hill just watched us for a while. At 9:15, she barked. Line up! The coaches and I love what we are seeing. We have a full day today. At 2 p.m., we are going to watch the Varsity squad routines.

Afterwards, we will run our routine drills. Just a reminder: there is a voluntary practice at the country club on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. I hope you all can make it.

No practice on Monday. We will practice Tuesday through Thursday, and our game is Friday night at 5:30 p.m. Everyone must be warmed up and ready by 5 p.m. We take the field at 5:15 p.m. As always, you will wear your uniform to school on game days. Pep rally at 2 p.m. on Friday. Cheerleaders must leave class and warm up before the pep rally. Cheerleaders will leave class at 1:30.

Questions? No ma'am!

We ran every drill we had, mixing in the dance routine. At 1:50, we took a small break and got some water, then headed to the varsity gym. The varsity squad was great. They ran every routine and two dance numbers.

Shelly was in front. She was all smiles. I studied her movements and watched as they went seamlessly from one to the next. I was impressed. The boys were the foundation for every toss and throw. They were as good as the girls. The teamwork was incredible.

I found out later that if you wanted to be a varsity cheerleader, you had to be on the JV cheerleading squad. And JV cheerleaders had to go to a cheer camp during the summer. I wanted to cheer for football games so I could pursue my other activities. Maybe Cheryl will be happy that I am only doing football.

We went back and ran our drills until 3:30 cooled down, and I showered quickly. Taylor and Lexi took me home. Martina was there. I hugged her and said hello. She spoke in Spanish, telling me that Aunt V was running late with a patient and that she would take me to dance.

I went upstairs, changed, and grabbed my bag. I'm ready if you want to take me early. You sure? Yes. I'll be fine at the studio. Besides, I'm hoping to run into Shelly. Let's go.

Martina dropped me off; I thanked her and waved goodbye.

I was almost 45 minutes early. I changed and started stretching out and doing some body exercises. Shelly saw me. Hey girl! Hey Shelly. So how are you like cheerleading? You know this is my first year of cheerleading? I know.

I also know you were a boy four months ago. How did you know? I overheard your aunt and mistress chatting. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.

You know it wasn't by choice. I know, and I also see you are making the best of the situation. You know you're a natural girl. You are a hard worker. I wanted to talk to you. I talked to Coach Hill.

She thinks the world of you and your friends Lexi and Emma. She said you were showing real leadership out there. I don't know about that. I'm still learning. When I found out I had no choice except to become a girl, I figured I'd be a real girl and work to do what most girls dream of doing.

I was never into sports. But I loved watching the cheerleaders. So I figured now's my chance. My mom was a cheerleader and a gymnast. It's always been just my mom and me. Aunt V brought me out here to start over.

I saw you chatting with John Park. He likes you. He's very nice. Nice? Girlfriend, he has eyes for you. I have never seen him look at another girl like he does with you.

I want him to ask me out, but I'm also kind of scared too. Don't be Ree; he's a nice guy. He's the kind of guy who sticks up for those who can't.

He's very shy, I said. That isn't a bad thing, Ree. What do you know about Lori and Kelly? Lori can be mean—an outright bitch. But Lori is a hard worker.

She just hangs out with the wrong girls. Kelly is actually pretty nice. Cheryl and Kelly were tight until last year. Kelly loves cheerleading. She will cheer all year.

I only want to cheer for football. I want to perform in our recitals. My mom is coming for Christmas. I can't wait to meet your mother, said Shelly. I want to make her proud. Well, little sister, let's get to work. Yes, ma'am, I said, smiling.