Becoming A High School Girl - Chapter 39

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I did manage some sleep, but I was up at 5:30. I decided I needed a run and changed into my shorts, sports bra, t-shirt, and shoes. I was doing my stretches when I heard a knocking at my door.

"I'm up; come on in!" I was sitting on the floor, stretching out my legs.

Sam popped his head inside. "Good, I was hoping you'd be up early. I thought you'd be going for a run. You want some company?"

"Sure. You think you can keep up?" I said with a laugh. Actually, I knew that Sam was in pretty good shape. Mom said that he often went for runs during his lunch break.

"I'll try," he replied.

We started out and headed towards the school. We kept a nice pace so we could talk.

"How're you feeling about today?" he asked.

"Not too bad. I'll be glad when it's over, though."

"It'll be over today." There was a sense of finality in his voice.

I knew something was up, but I also knew he wouldn't be telling me right now. We continued at our pace. It was warm and pleasant. There were a few other runners out that morning, including a few with their dogs.

We made the turn and headed down the long road that headed out of town.

"So, how long is this route?" asked Sam.

"Only six miles," I answered. I looked over and saw that he was barely breathing hard.

"Oh, okay. Nothing too hard then."

"You really think that it will be over today?" I asked.

"Yes, I do." He turned and smiled at me.

So much for getting him to give out any information; I guessed I'd have to wait until later to know what he was working on.

We made the turn back towards our neighborhood. As we passed the wooded area, there were several does and fawns on the edge of the woods. I pointed them out to Sam.

"Look, it's Bambi!"

"Venison," he answered.

I punched him in the arm for that comment. "So, do you hunt?" I asked.

"No. I've had plenty of offers to go since I moved here, but it's never interested me. I like venison, but I don't see the fun in freezing my butt off in a deer stand all day to get some. Besides, I get plenty of venison from friends. I'll make you some Bambi chili this fall."

"You're awful." I was really enjoying this run.

We made our way down our street and reached our driveway. We were both sweaty and feeling very good. As I did my cool-down period, I walked around the yard. I noticed something on the side of the house. I walked over and saw a big bush in a pot. Sam walked up and told me that Mom had picked it up yesterday and wanted to plant it in the spot where Jason attacked me.

"So when will we plant it?" I asked.

"How 'bout Monday morning?" said Sam.

"Sounds good. By the way, you and Mom are invited over to a party Monday." I went on to tell him about Alex's parents' invitation.

"That sounds like fun. I've met Alex's father a few times; he always seemed like a nice guy," noted Sam.

I went in to shower and change. Mom was up and reading the paper in the kitchen. I yelled good morning to her on my way up the stairs. I took a nice long hot shower. The sensation of the water felt very good on my nipples, and that made the shower last even longer.

I decided to wear a long, dark green cotton skirt, a lighter green sleeveless top, and my sandals. I just knew I looked pretty! Mom made scrambled eggs for breakfast which really hit the spot.

I looked in the paper and saw that they already had responses to the articles in yesterday's paper. They were all e-mail responses. The comments about my article were mostly favorable. A few felt I was too young to transition. One person thought that I should have been required to get more counseling before being allowed to transition, but that was the closest thing to a negative comment.

The same couldn't be said for Rev's interview. The negative ones accused him of being a homophobe. Another attacked him for his comments about Mrs. Lee. The author felt he was making a racist/sexist attack on her. A few others thought he was just plain nuts.

However, he did have his supporters. One blessed him for having the strength, to tell the truth. Another called for an investigation of the school and recommended appealing Jason's case to the Supreme Court. I seriously doubted that these people would listen to a logical discussion.

I then noticed a rebuttal to Tuesday's letter concerning the trial. The letter refuted each point that the writer had made. They even included quotes from the trial. I then saw who wrote it - Cat and Laura. There was a note from the editor stating that the letter was signed by what appeared to be the entire senior class of Central High. I immediately felt my eyes tearing up.

Soon it was time to head over to the rally. Cat and Laura arrived and joined us in the car. I hugged and thanked them for the letter.

As we headed towards the park, I had the same feeling that I experienced just before a cross-country meet.

Marlene met us at the park. Sam took the car and drove it into the secure parking area behind the stage. A security guard directed us to a parking spot. The stage was all decorated with streamers and balloons. I looked down the street and could see the opposition. In some ways, this was like those old Civil War battles as we were close enough to hear and see the enemy forces preparing.

Once Sam joined us, Marlene gave us a tour of the site. There was a fence running up from the river to the road to keep us separated. I also noticed a lot of police around. Behind the stage was an RV that would act as our headquarters. As we walked around, we could hear them testing the PA system. In front of the stage was a gentle hill. The stage was set up perfectly to take advantage of this natural amphitheater. At the top of the hill was an area set up with the porta-potties and a first aid station. I was also surprised to see vendors setting up food and drink trailers. I asked Marlene about them.

"Actually, they showed up on their own. But I don't mind as it makes it seem even more like a festival. Besides, we're only allowing food and drink sales," said Marlene.

"Are there any down at the Rev's camp?" I asked.

"He wouldn't allow it, as it would compete with his group. Apparently, his followers sell food and drink to the crowds, and the Rev keeps the revenue," informed Marlene.

We walked back to the stage area. In addition to the RV, there was an area behind the stage with chairs and tables. Marlene wanted to go over the schedule of events with all the speakers. She hoped that most of the speakers would be here soon. I looked over the list, and it was impressive. Marlene was the mistress of ceremonies, and she would introduce the speakers. The mayor was going to open up the event, followed by Mrs. Lee, the president of Dewey College, and then a local minister. After he spoke, there would be several speakers talking about how the scholarship program had had a positive effect on their lives. These included previous contestants, including Sandra. Then there would be a few more civic and business leaders. I would be the last speaker. Marlene wanted to keep it moving quickly and avoid dead time. Additionally, she insisted that the speeches stay short.

She said that she'd also coordinate any interview requests. Marlene had sent out a press release, and she expected us to get some TV coverage. I was very impressed by Marlene's organization. They seemed to have everything covered. She even had someone watching the Rev's group and giving us updates on what they were doing.

Around 11:00, people began to arrive. Some brought blankets and spread them out on the grass. I watched from the stage. I saw many friends from school, and I waved to them. To keep the atmosphere in a festive mood, the sound engineer put some music on the PA system. Looking out from the stage, it looked more like a concert crowd than a social rally. There were even some beach balls bouncing through the people on the lawn.

"So, what do you think?" asked Marlene.

"I wasn't sure that anyone would show up. What sort of crowd is the Rev getting?" I asked.

"The last word I got, he had around 50 people there," said Marlene, "His rally is due to start at noon, just like ours, so he still has around 45 minutes to get a bigger crowd."

"What do you think our numbers are?" I asked.

"I'd estimate almost 800 right now, but I expect that to at least double before we start. It's hard to say, being this is a holiday weekend."

"Wow!" I exclaimed. "Just in case I forget, later on, I want to thank you for everything you've done for me."

"You're welcome. It's been great working with you," she smiled.

We walked back to the rest area and sat down. I looked over my speech and prayed that I wouldn't mess it up!

By the time the event was ready to start, Marlene had guessed that the crowd was almost 1,500 people. She told me that maybe 200 people were down at the Rev's group, and many of them were there out of curiosity.

Marlene went up on the stage and welcomed everyone to the rally. She thanked them all for taking time out of their busy weekend to come down and show that hate and intolerance have no place in Golden Hill. She was getting a good response from the crowd. She then introduced the mayor, and he started his little speech. I really didn't pay that much attention to his speech, as I was distracted by Sam's actions. He was talking to Officer Tom Bell and two men in suits. I had no idea who they were, but they really looked out of place. Sam then got in the police car with Tom and the two guys in the suits, and they drove away. They were followed by two more squad cars. The mystery deepened!

Mrs. Lee was up next, and she spoke on all the good things that happened at Central High and how the scholarship program was part of it. She gave quite a passionate speech and asked the community to continue to support the school and the program.

The minister who spoke said that while we don't have to agree with everyone's ideas, we do need to be tolerant of differences. He said that hate and intimidation were not family values. He also vented a bit on hate mongers who wrap themselves falsely around the bible to get followers. That got a lot of applause and cheering.

Sandra led a group of previous contestants up on stage. She talked about how the program had given her a chance to come out and live the life she was meant to. The other three were all guys who had won the scholarship in previous years. All were regular heterosexual guys. Two were married, and one was in the military. They all talked about how the program taught them tolerance, acceptance, and the ability to look at things from more than one view. Additionally, they said that without the scholarship, they wouldn't have gone to college. They all got lots of applause.

The next group up where the business leaders. I was caught slightly off guard by seeing Mrs. Lincoln lead them up onto the stage. I hadn't seen her name on the list, and to be honest, I didn't even see her arrive. She gave a very eloquent speech on how the town had changed for the better in the past eighteen years. She went on to say that it would be ridiculous for us to step back just because of a few bigots and fanatics. The cheering was very loud after her speech. The next person had to wait until it was quiet enough to start talking again. I was very proud of her, and I went over and gave her a big hug.

"Thank you so much."

"You are quite welcome, my dear. The nerve of that man coming in here and harassing one of my girls."

I was about to walk back up on stage when I heard police sirens in the direction of the Rev's rally. I looked over that way but couldn't make out what was happening. I sat down behind the stage and waited for my turn to speak. Mom came over and sat next to me.

"Where did Sam go?" I asked.

"He said he had some urgent business to attend to," explained Mom. "I have no idea either!"

"Who were those two guys in the suits?" I asked.

"No idea, but Sam seemed to be expecting them," answered Mom.

I took a drink from my water bottle. I looked around but didn't see Cat or Laura.

"If you're looking for your friends, they're working the crowd collecting signatures for their petition to make this an annual event. I think Terri and several more of your friends are helping them," explained Mom.

I got a bit choked up thinking about what good friends I had here. I looked up at the stage and saw Marlene waving me up. I got up, and Mom gave me a hug, and I walked up to the stage. The steps suddenly looked like mountains, but I was able to make it up to them. I stood next to Marlene as the last speaker finished up her speech.

When she was done, Marlene went up to the microphone and made a short introduction. I tried to act calm as I walked out to meet Marlene. I was blown away by the applause and cheering that greeted me. It was very heartwarming as I felt their support. I had to wait until they calmed down before I began to talk.

"I want to thank all of you for coming out here today. It means so much to see so many people out here stand up against hate. It's very frightening to know that you have been singled out for harassment for something beyond your control. So I really appreciate that you could see through the lies of this small group of misguided people who have selected me as the focal point for their intolerance. We all know that this gathering has nothing to do with the assault on me or the trial of my attacker. It's all about tolerance, acceptance, and equality for everyone."

I paused for a second and caught my breath. I waited until the clapping stopped.

"Thanks to the trial and the events of the past few weeks, my life has been made very public, so there is no need for me to tell you my story. Yes, I am a transsexual. No, the scholarship program didn't convert me; I was born this way."

I had to pause again due to clapping.

"I am not doing this to make a point or to shock anyone; all I want to do is to feel whole and complete. Gender is something that most of us just accept as a given; that if a person is born in one gender, then that's the way they should live their life. But as you can see, it isn't always so simple. However, I really do appreciate that you all came out and are here today to support the school, the town, and me... even if you do not agree with my personal decision to transition."

I took a drink of water and continued.

"I think that we can get along even if we don't agree about everything. I think that the very fact that we have so many people here today proves that. Thank you all, and have a wonderful day!"

I felt Marlene's hand on my shoulder, and we stood there as people clapped and cheered. I looked around and waved to friends in the crowd. I glanced over at the side of the stage and saw Sam being talked to by a TV reporter.

I was about to walk off the stage, but Marlene asked me to stay with her. When the noise decreased, Marlene made one last announcement. Actually, it was more like a request.

"There are petitions going around the crowds to make this an annual event. Imagine a yearly festival to celebrate diversity in the individual and to show that society doesn't just survive diversity but thrives and grows! So please sign them," she asked. "Before you leave, take the time to talk to the people around you. Look around and try to meet at least one or two new people. You need to take the ideals of this rally and apply them to your everyday lives. Thank you all again, and have a great weekend."

With that, the official part of the rally was over. We watched as people began to greet each other and talk. We walked off the stage, and I was immediately met by Mom, who gave me a long hug. That was just the first of many hugs and kisses from friends. Laura threw in a long kiss too! Marlene told me that there were several interviews set up for me. I guessed this was my fifteen minutes of fame and willingly became a media star!

During the last interview, the TV reporter asked me what I thought about the arrest of the Rev. I was shocked and said that I knew nothing about that. The camera was turned off, and the reporter told me that the FBI had just arrested the Rev on several outstanding warrants. I was stunned and couldn't help but smile about it.

After she left, I was able to track down Sam. I walked over, and he gave me a huge hug.

"So, can you tell me now what happened?" I asked.

"First off, you were wonderful up there; I'm so proud of you," beamed Sam. "When I saw the photo of him and read the article, something in my mind clicked. I went in and check the computers. There was something familiar about him from when I was on the Philly PD."

"What did he do?" I asked.

"He was into armed robbery then. I never arrested him, but I remembered his case. He moved away from that kind of crime, and he was wanted for a variety of scams and financial fraud. He was wanted in six different states. I figured the Feds would want him first, as he had also violated several federal laws," Sam explained.

"So, everything he did was all a scam?" I asked.

"No, he really is a religious nut; he got his mail-order divinity degree during his first stay in prison. Since then, he has used it as part of his criminal activities. He felt that he was doing God's work by robbing and stealing from people. His interview answers are what really tipped me off. I remember the other guys talking about his rants during his trial, and something sounded familiar. Several of his followers also had outstanding warrants for a variety of offenses. They're sitting in our jail awaiting their rides," continued Sam.

"Okay, why would a wanted felon seek publicity? It doesn't make sense!"

"The man has a huge ego. I think he thought that we were a small town, far from any big media center, and that no one would know who he was. He was wrong," said Sam with a big smile on his face.

I could see a sense of satisfaction on his face.

"You miss it, don't you?" I asked.

"You mean making arrests? Yes, I do a little. I love being a prosecutor and putting them away, but there is a certain sense of accomplishment when you arrest someone like the Rev," explained Sam.

"Thank you again, Dad!" I exclaimed. We hugged again, and then I went out in the crowd with Cat and Laura.

Cat showed me a big stack of petitions - all signed. We saw Ms. B, and we handed them to her. I was zoning out about then and was kinda in a fog, so the details are pretty fuzzy. I was just so relieved that it was over, and I could relax for now. The stress of the past few weeks had blown away.

We stayed around the park for a couple of hours. It was nice just talking to people and being outside on a beautiful day. I ran into several people from Spencer's. They all said that it was a great event. I lost track of everyone I saw there that day. I was pleasantly surprised to see Dana there. I hadn't seen her in months. She seemed much more relaxed and less angry than before. I hoped she had turned her life around.

Cat, Laura, and I headed back to the stage area. Mom and Terri were talking to Jenny and Coach Chambers. Sam and Marlene were drinking beer and sitting at the back of the stage. Ms. B came up and joined them. It's a bit strange seeing your teachers socialize and drink with your parents. Still, there was a feeling of celebration in the air. I grabbed a diet cola and sat down next to Sam. Laura came up and joined me. She put her arm around my waist. Cat grabbed a bottle of water and stood in front of Sam. She was very interested in the arrest of the Rev, and Sam was more than happy to tell her about it.

The area soon became a magnet for my friends. Paul and Caroline soon showed up, as did Alex and Kristen. Mike and Tracey showed up a few minutes later. I was pleased to see Mel and Cliff come over. Mel came over to me and held out her hand, and showed me her engagement ring.

I jumped off the stage and hugged her, and then I gave Cliff a big hug, "Congratulations! I'm so happy for you!" I exclaimed.

"He proposed last night. We may be engaged for a while, as we both want to wait until after we graduate next year, but at least it's official now!" explained Mel.

I introduced them to everyone. After they walked away, Mom asked me where I knew Mel's fiance. "He's the one I punched in the nose at the mall," I answered with a laugh.

Coach looked at me. "I'd like to hear that story."

So I told them about Cliff and his 'joke' in the hallway. I also told them that he was one of the people who'd helped me when I had my collapse.

It was that sort of afternoon. It was a time to relax and sit around and tell stories. Our little gathering slowly grew. Kristen's parents came over, as did Alex's parents. I sat there and soaked it all in. It was the kind of day that you wanted to bottle and save for another time. You'd then open it up on some dreary day when everything was going wrong and pour out a glass of good feelings and to brighten up the day. I sat back down next to Laura and rested my head on her shoulder. The storm had passed.

The post-rally party moved over to our house. Sam suggested that we hold a barbecue and it sort of snowballed from there. We didn't have enough food for everyone, but that problem was soon solved. Mom and Terri gave out assignments for food and drink, and we scattered to the four winds like a scavenger hunt.

Within an hour, we had reassembled, and the grill was heating up. Of course, open-flame cooking was Sam's domain, but he was getting plenty of help from the other fathers. It's amazing how much guys get into grilling food. It must be something out of our prehistoric past.

Alex brought out a Frisbee, and soon we had a game of Frisbee football going on in the backyard. I went upstairs to change. You really can't run in a long skirt very well!

My Team was Alex, Laura, Kristen, Marlene, Coach Chambers, Jenny, Sandra, and Tom Bell. The other team was made up of Cat, Mike, Rachael, Tracey, Cliff, Mel, Ms. B, Paul, and Caroline. We had better overall speed on our team, but they had better hands.

The final score was in dispute, and both sides claimed victory. Alex said there'd be a rematch, with a scorekeeper, at the party on Monday. Luckily the food was ready, and we forgot about the game.

Soon everyone was sitting around eating and talking. These sorts of parties at my house were a new experience. Back in San Diego, we didn't entertain a lot. Part of it was due to the fact that Mom worked a lot. There was also the fact our family wasn't very close, but enough of that.

Later on, that evening, after everyone left, Mom, Sam, and I were sitting out on the deck. They were drinking coffee, and I had a mug of tea. I looked over and saw that Sam had his arm around Mom, and she was cuddling up next to him. They both looked so happy and content. I couldn't help but smile.

"What are you so happy about?" asked Sam.

"Everything, I guess, but at the moment, I'm happy for you two."

"We do make a pretty nice family!"

"I think so," added Mom.

"So, do you think that this is the end of the protests?" I asked Sam.

"Well, it should be. The newspaper will have a big article on the unsavory past of the Rev and his followers. Marlene expects that his website will be closed down, and any groups that gave him support will be pulling away quickly. I imagine that they'll do anything to avoid being associated with him."

"So anyone who picked up his torch on this issue would face guilt by association?" asked Mom.

"Pretty much. They'll have to find some new issue to attack," stated Sam.

"I hope he gets a cell near Jason," I quipped.

"From what I heard from the Feds, there's a real scramble for him. They think that Texas has the best shot at him, no pun intended," smiled Sam. He was proud of that one.

A few minutes later, they said goodnight and headed inside. I decided to stay out for a few more minutes. I liked the fact that I was totally comfortable being alone, outside at night. I also liked looking at the lightning bugs. We didn't have those back in San Diego. Sam said this was the first time he'd seen them this year.