Becoming A High School Girl - Chapter 26

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Later that afternoon, we had our friends over dinner. Sam took charge of the grill again, and Terri, Sue, and my Mom worked the kitchen. I bounced back and forth between the kitchen and the deck. Matt was out on the deck talking with Sam and Phil. He was very excited about being able to talk to a real DA.

It was nice sitting around with friends and family and having a small get-together. Cat, Laura, and I talked about the trip I was taking to New York. It would be a busy week. We were leaving at 8:00 AM and would be in the city by late afternoon. I still didn't know the entire schedule, but I knew we'd be back Friday afternoon. I would be working as soon as we got back, even though the store would be closed. We had to get ready for the Saturday morning sale, and then I was scheduled from 9:00 to 3:00 for the sale itself. After that, I was off for the weekend. Mrs. Lincoln didn't want me to work more than that, even though I said I'd be okay.

"So, have you picked out your dress yet?" asked Cat.

"Yes, I reserved a real nice one. I can't wait to show it to you." I had reserved the lavender gown with the spaghetti straps. It was very beautiful, and I also liked the price. I could have gone for something more expensive, but I felt that Mrs. Lincoln had done enough for me as it was.

I then told them about some that they might be interested in. I had my eye on a beautiful red strapless gown for Laura. It was stunning and would look gorgeous on her. I had arranged with Cindy and Mel to set it aside as a surprise.

"So, will Matt be coming up here for the prom?" asked Laura.

"Yes, He said that he skipped his own prom as he graduated six months early from his high school, so he is actually looking forward to going," explained Cat.

Cat then asked me about several styles and colors. I told her that she should be able to get one she liked there. She asked if I could set aside a black strapless one for her. I knew she would look elegant in it. I told her that I would do that Friday when I got back. Cindy wouldn't mind as long as I didn't hold back too many.

It was funny, there were many stores that sold prom dresses, but none had the type that could be found in Mrs. Lincoln's shop. It was THE place to get a dress, and there would be girls from all the area high schools there on Saturday. Cat told me that in the past, Mrs. Lincoln had given some girls special deals, and sometimes she'd surprised one with a designer label dress for the price of a knockoff. It added to the festival atmosphere of the event.

Dinner was really fun. It was great having the house filled with laughter. I was very pleased to see Sam becoming so close to Mom. I hoped that they would take advantage of my absence. I did get a chance to sneak off with Laura for a few quick kisses.

By 9:30, everyone was gone except Sam. I told them I had to finish packing and said goodnight. Actually, I just wanted to give them some privacy. I went on the computer for a while and then to bed. I was so excited about everything in my life. I was surprised that I even fell asleep!

I was up early, eager to start the trip to New York City. Mrs. Lincoln had said that the limo would be picking me up at 8:00 AM. Knowing her attention to detail, I wasn't surprised when it pulled into our driveway exactly on time. I felt slightly sorry for the driver.

I couldn't believe how much clothing I was taking for a five-day trip. However, Mrs. Lincoln had been very explicit about what I had to bring. She'd told me that I'd be representing the store and therefore I needed to be dressed presentably. She also had several outfits for me for more formal events.

I said goodbye to Mom, and we were on the road. I must admit that I was more than a little nervous about being with Mrs. Lincoln for five days, as she could be very intimidating at times. However, I had also seen her softer side.

Around an hour out of town, Mrs. Lincoln reviewed the week's schedule with me. After we arrived, we would be going to dinner at one of her favorite restaurants and turning in early. Tuesday, we'd be going to the garment district for a series of meetings and inspections of products. Lunch would be with one of the wholesalers. The rest of the afternoon would be more meetings. That evening we'd be going to a cocktail party that one of her old friends was throwing for her. Wednesday, we had some more meetings in the morning and afternoon. That evening we would be going to an early dinner then a show. Thursday morning, we'd have a quick meeting. She said that she had personal business to take care of the rest of the day so I could have the rest of the afternoon off. However, there was another party that I'd be required to go to that evening. Friday morning, we were to depart early.

She told me that she'd let me go off for some sightseeing but that I was to use the limo. I could live with that! The driver was named Tony, and he'd been driving Mrs. Lincoln on these trips for years. He said that he'd give me the full 50-cent tour.

The next couple of hours, she reviewed some paperwork. I was content to look out the window. I loved traveling, and I especially loved going to new places. One of my life goals was to go to all fifty states and all seven continents. I would hit two new states this trip, New York and New Jersey.

After a while, Mrs. Lincoln started to talk to me. She asked me if I was excited about the trip, and I said that I'd barely slept the night before. Mrs. Lincoln nodded and smiled as I told her about my love of traveling.

"I can easily relate to those feelings. I remember when I first left Golden Hill to go to New York. I was just a little older than you. I had an offer to be a model, and I took it."

Hoping she was about to tell me about her life, I began to ask her questions. "What did your family say?"

"They were not happy. Father was very upset, and Mother - Mother had a major conniption. But I didn't care. My brothers and sisters told me to take a shot at it, and I did. I was young and full of confidence."

"So what happened?" I asked.

"You really don't want to hear this do you?"

I turned towards her and nodded eagerly. "Yes, I do!"

She smiled back at me. "Very well. When I was in school, I was involved in the drama club. It was the only thing I really liked about school. I was the star of our school plays for three straight years. Someone sent my photo to a talent agent, who then gave it to a modeling agency. The modeling agency sent me a bus ticket and an invitation to audition. I knew that it was one shot in a thousand, but I went anyway. At least it was a free trip to Manhattan," she said.

I noticed that Tony was also listening intently.

"They liked my looks, and I was signed to a contract. I gained some modest success, and soon I had a pretty good career. However, I didn't want to give up acting, and I auditioned for shows in my off time. I ended up in several shows over a three-year period."

"You were on Broadway? That is so cool," I interrupted.

"Well, I wasn't a star, but I did have some lines, and it was a wonderful life. I met my first husband while I was in a play. He was a producer, and we had a short but exciting marriage. He used his influence to get me a few bit parts in some movies too. Unfortunately, he couldn't stop fooling around, and we divorced. He got to chase his starlets, and I got a very nice settlement."

I smiled and heard Tony chuckle a little.

Mrs. Lincoln stared at Tony. "Please, Anthony, I pay you to drive, so keep your attention on the road. Now, where was I? Oh, yes, I had just been divorced and was deciding what to do next with my career. I decided that I'd never been a star, so I gave up acting and went back into modeling. I was only twenty-three, and I was soon traveling all over the world. I then met my second husband while I was in Paris. We were married for twelve years before he had a heart attack."

"I'm sorry."

"Oh, Erika, he had a great life. He loved to travel, and he truly lived his life to its fullest. He simply wore himself out. But he did teach me many things, one of which was how to run a business. I was by then too old to go back to modeling, so I opened a boutique. I found that I was very good at it. I used my connections and friends and soon was quite wealthy. Within a few years, I owned three shops, one in Manhattan, one in Newport, and the other in Beverly Hills."

As I listened to her story, I thought that her story would make a great book or even a movie. She spoke for nearly an hour, and I was spellbound.

"I met my last husband when I was fifty-two. Dr. Lincoln was a college professor, and he been offered the chance to be the college president at Dewey, so we moved back to Golden Hill. It's funny how life goes full circle. I sold the businesses and opened my stores in town. I didn't need the money; it was just something to do. However, the stores took off. When the mall opened, I moved my main store there. I still had all my connections in the business, so I was able to bring in the best. When Dr. Lincoln died, I put myself back into the business. I get a lot of joy out of running it and being a big shot in the community. I was too old to start looking for another man, so my job has become my last love." She had a very satisfied smile on her face.

"May I ask what your maiden name was?" I asked.

"My maiden name? It was Bell."

I sat there silent for a second. "Is Ms. Bell at Central related to you?"

"Yes, dear. Nancy is my niece. Her father was my youngest brother," replied Mrs. Lincoln. "By the way, she speaks very highly of you."

"I don't know how I would have made it through this year without her."

"I just want you to know that I wanted you as an employee on my own. I saw something in you during the Homecoming events that I liked. I asked for her opinion of you before your attack. I just don't want you to think that my hiring you was done out of pity," she reiterated.

"Thank you," I replied. I knew she was telling me the truth.

That explained some of the mystery surrounding Ms. B. I decided to go for broke.

"I know that she has a special interest in me and what I'm going through, but I'm not exactly sure why," I asked innocently.

Mrs. Lincoln sat there silently for a few moments, "We thought that this might topic might come up. I would have preferred that Nancy tell you. However, I think you have the right to know, and since the topic has been broached, I will tell you. You must promise to keep what I am about to tell you confidential."

"I promise," I vowed. I noticed that Tony closed the screen between him and us.

"My youngest brother got married and stayed in Golden Hill. They had two children. Nancy had an older brother, Tom," explained Mrs. Lincoln.

That would be the policeman's father, I thought.

"Tom was a sweet boy. He married right out of school and served in the military. When he got out of the Army, he and his wife moved back to Golden Hill. They had a son, and everything seemed normal. However, he was very troubled. I know this because we talked about it often. He knew that I was more worldly and open-minded than most people in town. Tom was dealing with gender identity problems. Only he couldn't accept it. He saw himself as weak and perverted."

I sat there in silence, soaking in her words.

"You must understand that Golden Hill was a very different town back then. There was no one in town he could talk to about it and very little information available. This was almost twenty years ago, and they're just wasn't the help available here. He was at constant war with himself. I tried to get him to go for help and offered to take him to a therapist in New York. He refused because he was so afraid someone might find out. He died in a single-car accident late at night. The police said that he must have fallen asleep, but I know that it was suicide."

"How are you so sure?" I asked.

"Because Nancy was babysitting for him that night. When the police called about the accident, she found the suicide note. It was a full confession about his feelings and why he had killed himself. Nancy was sixteen at the time, and even then, she was levelheaded. She gave me the note, and we decided for the good of the family that we'd keep it secret. She didn't blame her brother for what he'd done; she was very angry that there was no one he could turn to for help."

"She would have been at Central the first year of the competition?" I remarked.

"Yes, that's right, Erika. Nancy was a senior for the first year of the program. After she graduated, she went to college to become a teacher. When she came back to town, she sought my help to get hired at Central. I believe that she saw the scholarship contest as a way of saving others from a life of pain. She especially watches out over students like you who are starting a voyage of self-discovery. I guess she sees it as sort of a family duty."

Mrs. Lincoln looked over at me and saw that I had tears gently rolling down my cheeks. I tried to speak but I couldn't. It explained so much. I was too overwhelmed by emotions. Part of me felt like I'd just intruded into something very personal, but the rest of me was very glad that I knew what had happened. I had even more respect for Ms. B. I was so proud to know her.

I regained my composure and tried to express what I was thinking to Mrs. Lincoln. I was amazed that she let me ramble on for a while. Ms. B was even more of a role model. Her life had been changed by a tragedy, and she'd tried to turn it into something positive. That was something worth emulating.

"What about his wife? Did she know the truth?" I asked.

"Yes, she knew about Tom. She was confused and blamed herself. Thankfully, I was able to get her help. It's too personal to discuss the exact details, but she eventually recovered from what happened," replied Mrs. Lincoln. "Are there any other questions you have concerning the scholarship?"

"Did you know the woman who set up the scholarship program?" I asked.

"Yes, I knew her. She was a wonderful woman and a dear friend. I would like to say that I had some influence on her idea to set up the competition, but it was strictly her idea. She was years ahead of her time in her thinking. She felt that the program would have long-term effects on Golden Hill and, eventually, the surrounding area. She described it as a stone being thrown into a still pond with the ripples spreading out. I would say that she was right."

"So, is that the main reason for the program?" I asked.

"It is one of the reasons. You'll learn the others later. Now I think that we need to find a place to eat lunch. Freshen yourself up, dear." She pressed a button, and the screen came down. She told Tony to stop at the next town and go to the regular restaurant. We pulled into the parking lot of a small diner. I was a bit surprised that Mrs. Lincoln would eat in a roadside diner, but she told me that you could get the best food at diners.

"These places thrive on the business traveler. Therefore, their reputation is extremely important. I think you'll be quite surprised at the quality of their food," explained Mrs. Lincoln.

Apparently, Mrs. Lincoln ate there often, as the manager made a big fuss over her. The food was excellent.

I had much to think about. Mrs. Lincoln had given me more insight on Ms. B and the scholarship program. I still had questions that I wanted - make that needed - answers to.

We checked into the hotel right on arrival in Manhattan, and the suite was incredible. Mom and I had lived in smaller apartments. There was a large living room area where you first came in. Mrs. Lincoln's bedroom had a side office included. My room was very luxurious. The bathroom had a whirlpool bath and a separate shower stall. The view overlooked Central Park. I kept waiting to wake up from this dream.

I unpacked and hung up my clothes. My evening outfits were labeled by the day they were to be worn. I got a laugh out of this. However, I couldn't argue with what she'd selected for me. I knew from the labels that these were very expensive dresses. She'd selected simple but elegant outfits for me. I held up my dress for dinner. It was a simple black sleeveless dress. This was the dress that Cindy said that every woman needed in her wardrobe, as it was so versatile. It may have been simple in looks, but I recognized the designer label. It undoubtedly cost more than my prom dress!

I looked at my watch and saw that it was only a little after five. Mrs. Lincoln was on the phone. She'd told me to be ready at 7:00 PM sharp. Actually, she didn't need to include "sharp." I had learned that when she said a time, you'd better be ready then. It is a trait that I follow to this day.

I explored the suite a bit more. There was a small kitchen nook. I opened the fridge and found it fully stocked. I knew that for the price this suite cost, all these extras were included. I took out a diet cola and went back to my room. I was fascinated by the view. San Diego is a nice city, but this was New York! I strained to look out both ways to see as much as I could. I was so captivated that I never heard Mrs. Lincoln enter the room.

"It is something, isn't it?" she remarked softly as she joined me at the window. She placed her hand on my shoulder as she stood behind me.

I just nodded.

"I never tire of looking at it," she added.

We went to a very ritzy restaurant for dinner. They obviously knew Mrs. Lincoln and they really sucked up to us. It was really fun being treated as a celebrity. Thankfully, Mom had taught me how to behave in a fine restaurant. I knew that I was under the watchful eye of Mrs. Lincoln, who seemed to approve of my etiquette.

"I see that your mother has brought you up with proper manners," she remarked with a smile.

"Yes, I'm grateful now for what Mom taught me. We went out for good dinners instead of having big gifts for birthdays and major celebrations."

"It is nice to see a young person who was raised properly."

"Mom did her best to raise me by herself. We lived with my grandparents until my grandmother died. From the time I was six, it was just the two of us."

"Your father didn't help?" she asked.

"He had nothing to do with us," I said in a matter-of-fact manner.

"You seem to have accepted this fairly well."

"I guess it helps that I've never met him, and now I have no desire to ever meet him."

A few people came over and talked to Mrs. Lincoln. She introduced them to me as Miss Erika Walters. It was the first time anyone had referred to me as Miss --another of those special moments. I just sat there and soaked it all in.

After dinner, Tony drove us back to the hotel. Mrs. Lincoln briefed me more on my duties for the next day. She gave me a leather folio case for papers or invoices. I was to be responsible for keeping everything in order. I knew that she didn't need me to do this, but I played along.

I sat up for a while with a cup of tea, looking out the window. I wrote out a few postcards, but mostly I looked out the window. I alternated between thinking about everything that had gone on that day and my future. I really wanted to go on to be a teacher now. I almost felt like I was in training so that Ms. B could pass the baton on to me.

We had a simple breakfast in the room. I had tea, croissants, and orange juice. Mrs. Lincoln had a small fruit cup and some tea. I also took my dose of hormones.

"Have you always drunk tea?" she asked.

"Yes, I was introduced to it when I was young. Our neighbor was from London, and she often watched me when Mom worked late. I've never really acquired a taste for coffee. Well, other than a cappuccino!"

Mrs. Lincoln nodded in approval. "Erika, how late did you sit up last night looking out the window?" There was a slight smile on her face.

I smiled. "Late! How'd you know?"

"It's what I did my first night here."

I dressed per Mrs. Lincoln's recommendations. I wore a blue skirt, a white silk blouse, and a matching navy blazer. I also was wearing flats. She said that we would be doing a lot of walking, and heels were too much of a nuisance.

Tony was waiting for us in front of the hotel. I couldn't help but smile at all the stares we got as we got in the limo.

"Enjoying yourself, my dear?" asked Mrs. Lincoln.

"Very much so, thank you! Riding around in a limo is fun!"

We made three stops that morning. I did my job and made sure that all the papers were in the right place. For lunch, we went with an older man to a deli. I was kind of surprised that Mrs. Lincoln would go to a deli, but I was to find that Mrs. Lincoln was full of surprises. The men working behind the counter all seemed to know her, and they made a big deal about her being there.

The man was one of her earliest business partners, and they had known each other for years. The food was, of course, excellent. I'm still searching for a kosher dill pickle as good as the one I had that day.

As we drove to the next stop, I asked her about lunch.

"When I was on the stage, I ate there almost every day. Thankfully I was blessed with a high metabolism. You just can't get good deli food in Golden Hill. Sometimes I think that part of the reason that I come back here is for their food."

There were a few more stops before we went back to the hotel. We had some time to get ready before the cocktail party that evening. The plan was to go to the party around 8:00 and then go to a late dinner.

I wanted to go for a run, but I knew that Mrs. Lincoln would disapprove of me going out of the hotel. Fortunately, there was a fitness center in the hotel, so I went and ran on a jogging machine for a while. While I preferred to run outside, this was better than nothing. I listened to my CD player as I ran. The nice thing about the jogging machine was that it looked outside. I was surprised by how comfortable I felt. I really didn't think about anyone figuring out my true gender. Since I had been in New York, I'd been accepted at face value.

As I ran, I thought about my future. I was sure that I wanted to teach. If I'd win the scholarship, then I could go to school full-time. If not, I'd still go to school on a part-time basis. If I went part-time, then it would take me a few more years. I also debated on whether or not I wanted to start school full-time that fall. Part of me wanted to take some time for the adjustment to being full-time. Yes, I know that I had been living as Erika since the fall, but I wanted time to adjust outside of the safe haven of Central High. I knew that the surgery would be a big deal and would put me out of circulation for a while.

I put my sweats back on and headed back to my room. I looked forward to the day that I could use the locker room like everyone else. I had plenty of time to get ready, so I lingered in the whirlpool bath. I decided that I would have to have one of these someday!

Eventually, I had to get out. I took my time as I got dressed. I put on my bra and panties. I wondered when I would no longer need the boob inserts. It would be nice to get rid of them. I then attached my stockings to my garter belt. The dress was lovely. Again it was basic black, but it still looked great. This one was silk and had a fuller skirt and a slightly scooped neckline. As I checked my makeup, I looked over my scar. It wasn't as prominent, but it was still noticeable. I uttered a silent curse for Jason.

Mrs. Lincoln looked wonderful. She really knew how to dress up. She inspected me and seemed pleased, except with my simple silver chain. Mrs. Lincoln felt that it was too understated. She left and came back with a string of pearls, matching earrings, and a bracelet. She explained these were a loan and not to get too excited as they only looked expensive. I think she told me that so I'd feel more at ease.

I really enjoyed the walk through the lobby of the hotel and out to the limo. The party was really cool. It was thrown by some of her old friends in the fashion industry. I became a little star-struck when I saw several celebrities and famous models there. They all came up and spoke to Mrs. Lincoln. Obviously, she had understated her importance.

After the initial introductions, I was allowed to go off on my own. Apparently, Mrs. Lincoln had put out the word that I was only seventeen, so I was not to be hit on or be allowed to drink. I was getting some very interesting looks from several men there. Yes, I enjoyed every second of the attention. Who wouldn't?

I got into a really nice conversation with an older woman. Her name was Violet, and she said that she had known Sylvia since her earliest modeling days, and they had once shared a loft. I couldn't picture ever calling Mrs. Lincoln Sylvia!

While we were talking, a man joined us. As we talked, he kept staring at my face. I thought it was my imagination at first. He kept shifting his position to get a different view. I was about to say something when he spoke up.

"I didn't mean to be rude, Erika. I was just looking at the scar above your eye. I'm a plastic surgeon, and I was wondering if you'd considered having any work done on it," he inquired.

"I hadn't really thought about it. I was hoping it would fade some more," I replied as my hand went up to touch it.

"I could do a nice job on it. I owe that to Mrs. Lincoln. Do you mind telling me how you got it?" he asked.

"I was attacked. The same person reshaped my nose." I was hoping that I wouldn't have to go into more detail about the attack.

"I see. Well, let me give you my card. I can take care of your nose too. In fact, you should get that done first," he stated. He was looking at my nose now.

"How do you know Mrs. Lincoln?" I asked as I took his card. It read Dr. David Ayres.

"She's an old family friend. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have been able to afford medical school. I take it you work for her back in Pennsylvania?"

"Yes, I do. She's a wonderful employer."

"She's a wonderful person. I'm serious about the offer. It would be an honor to care for one of her loyal employees," he offered with a smile.

"You said that you were attacked. Was it a mugging?" interrupted Violet.

"No, It was an abduction, assault, and rape," I stated. I immediately kicked myself for saying it.

There was instant silence around us.

"I'm so sorry; I didn't mean to pry," Violet apologized.

"It's okay. I'm a bit more comfortable about it now. It happened last fall, and thankfully they caught and convicted him."

The manner in which I talked about it raised my status. I was now seen as more than a teenage girl accompanying the guest of honor, although I didn't want to be just identified as a rape victim.

Jenny had said that, while it wasn't a pleasant topic, there was no reason to feel shame about what happened. She really emphasized that I was not at fault and I had no reason to be afraid of questions. She said that I could use it as an opportunity to educate.

Several other people came over, and I was asked a few more questions about it. Thankfully the topic eventually changed. Dr. Ayres came up to me later and said that he really wanted me to call him. I thanked him and told him I'd think about it.

Anyway, the rest of the evening was far more pleasant. I had my picture taken with several models and a few other famous people. Hey, if they wanted to feel sorry for me, that was their problem. I was happy with the photos.

Afterward, we went to dinner at a little bistro near the hotel. A few of Mrs. Lincoln's friends joined us. I saw several famous people in the restaurant, including several actors and actresses. I tried to act as nonchalant as everyone else, but it was hard. I mean, I was a high school student from Pennsylvania, and it wasn't hard to get excited when the person at the next table was a famous actor. I fought the urge to ask him for an autograph.

On the way back to the hotel, Mrs. Lincoln asked me if I'd enjoyed myself. I figured she would eventually know everything that had gone on that night, so I told her the whole story.

"Violet has always had a bad habit of asking the wrong questions. I'm glad you handled it so well." Judging by the tone of her voice, she approved of the way I handled myself.

"Did you really share a loft with her?" I asked. I tried to picture the two of them living together and I couldn't!

She smiled. "Along with many other things. Those were some wild times. I will have to wait until you are a bit older before I can tell you those stories."

I smiled, thinking about Mrs. Lincoln being a hell-raiser!