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Pretty, Please!

Chapter Two ~ Baking Cookies

By Sasha Zarya Nexus

How is Rose adjusting to the big change in her life?

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Linda and Julia loved to bake cookies with their Granny. I insisted on having a refrigerator, oven, and pantry. Most kitchens these days consisted only of a replicator on the wall.   It was amazing how many of the modern conveniences that everyone relied on these days were still only Science Fiction when I was a boy or even when I was a girl.

I felt like every girl should have the experience of baking cookies.  I was doing my part to make sure at least my grandchildren would have that experience.  Linda and Julia had cut out and decorated the last pan of chocolate chip cookies.  I put their pan into the oven and told them, "That's the last pan into the oven, Sweeties!  What would you like to do while we wait for them to bake and cool before we can eat some of them?"

"Granny, Could you tell us more about what happened to you, Pretty Please!?" Linda asked and Julia nodded her agreement. 

"Of course, Sweeties!" The twins took their places again at my feet as I once again began to tell my story.  "Where were we when we left off?"

Julia answered, "Rose was going to get to buy a new wardrobe with her mother and sister!"

Linda added, "Rose was also going to stay with her Grandmother for the summer after her mother, sister, aunts and cousins returned home."

"That's right, and I will pick up the story after the shopping and everyone left but Rose and her grandmother.  Ordinarily shopping is fun, I know ,but the things that Rose was interested in were the things in style 140 years ago when I was a girl so they would not be as interesting to you two now."

"Tell us more about, Rose and her Grandmother, Granny , Pretty Please!"

"As you wish, Sweeties!" and I began to tell the story again with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Momma had left Gloria and I and all of my new purchases in the room that she had been staying in which had been hers as a girl.  This was to be my room for the summer, too.  Gloria had volunteered to help me put up my new things.  The others were busy either packing or loading.  Gloria seemed to be the one who charged in when others did not seem to know what to do and amazingly enough got it right. 

Her family was lucky enough to live in Huntsville.  Her father, Mr. Hunter, was a manager for NASA, so she was able to get both the NASA employee discount for Space Camp as well as  the resident discount.  Eager to follow in her daddy's footsteps as a NASA Manager, Gloria had attended Space Camp for the four previous years and had gone thru the entire curriculum available.  She had been selected as a councilor for the current summer's Space Camp which meant this year that she was being paid to go to Space Camp as one of the staff.  

Gloria tackled the task of getting all the purchases out of the bags and into their proper places just like she did any other challenge, with enthusiasm and intelligence.  It wasn't long before the room had not only contained all my new possessions but it became my room with the touches that Gloria added including her contributions which really allowed me to feel at home in my new room.

As we finished up and I was gazing in wonderment on all the touches that she had added to make it my own, I was drawn to her contribution which was a double 8 x 10 frame antique frame which on one side held a picture from the group that had been taken at the Glamour Shots in the mall with the butterfly background and on the other side was beautiful artwork which included my name, Rose and it's meaning and derivations in addition to a kind of fortune describing different aspects of me associated with my name.  This was Gloria's gift to me and I was very proud of it.

"Gloria, you are amazing!  I feel right at home in this room now, thanks to your creativity and organizational skills.  Thank you so much for my present,  I'll treasure it always."  We drew close as we hugged and we kissed each other on the cheek.

"Rose, I'm glad that you like it.   I wish we didn't have to rush off but Mother has to go back to work and I will report for my first session at Space Camp soon."

"Are you excited?  I know that I would be for a new challenge like that."

"I'm thrilled!  It's my dream job!  I hope that you will be able to go soon and I admire you for saving up for it yourself.  Rose, are you happy? Do you have any regrets being changed?"

"Gloria, I am complete and happy.  I'm glad that you had the insight to do exactly the right thing.   I will remember you always for figuring out how to set me free."

"I'm so glad you are happy, Rose!  You know now that you can tell me anything and I will help you.  Even as deep as you buried your gender challenge,  I could tell you were suffering.  If you ever need me for anything I will help you, Rose."

"Thank you, Gloria.   I am sorry for not trusting you but I trust you completely now!  Thank you for being part of my life!"  We hugged and kissed again and then Gloria had to leave.  The cars were all ready to go and we had to go out so I could say my goodbyes to everyone leaving and for Gloria to take her place with her mother and sister in their car.

I stood with my grandmother and waved as the last of the vehicles carrying everyone drove out of sight.  Momma had promised that as soon as she and Daddy could arrange it that all of them would be back to visit.  I had good feelings about this.  I was a great deal better off than most transgirls because I was a real girl now.  I really did not know how to resolve the inconsistency between my new life and my old life but I put my trust in my parents who had always had my best interests at heart.  

Grandmother had a treat for me as a distraction for my parting from my mother and sister.  I had her undivided attention as she taught me personally how to make cookies.  I had always been around when my sister and cousins made cookies before but I merely observed and later on joined in on eating some of the fresh baked cookies.

Now I had on Grandmother's spare apron and I was mixing up the cookie batter as Grandmother told me what to do.  I had such fun with my hands in the dough kneading it and getting it ready to be able to pinch it off into cookie sized portions and dropped on the prepared cookie sheet. 

Once all the cookies were in the oven, Grandmother and I retired to the living room to relax and she put on the DVD of 'Ella Enchanted' for us to watch.  I felt for the teenaged Ella as she was under the burden of the enchantment and her courage to seek the means of being released from it.  It was a little like what I had felt being a transgirl and being released from it to become the girl I was always meant to be.

"Don't go Breaking My Heart" was being performed on the movie while grandmother and I were munching on fresh baked chocolate chip cookies enjoying the movie's happy ending.  The telephone rang and I saw the caller id say it was me so I knew that it was really Daisy who I had lent my cell phone.

"Hi Sis" , Daisy said with worry in her voice, "Can you put me on Speakerphone because I need to tell Grandmother this too and I don't know how long I have to talk."

I told her, "Done! Hi Daisy! What's wrong?" I had flipped the speaker phone on and both Grandmother and I were listening intently."

"I overheard Daddy and Momma arguing.  Daddy was not truthful about accepting you as Rose, sis.  He's so afraid of stigma resulting from you being outed as a transgirl that he called our uncles and together they have agreed that no one is to speak about you as Rose outside the family and to continue to refer to you as Ross as if nothing happened.  Daddy does not believe that your being a transgirl was real and it was just a fantasy.  While he accepts the reality that you are physically a girl now, he sees that as an elaborate mutilation of the boy that you were.  Daddy threatened Momma with revealing that a miracle changed you from a physically normal boy to a physically normal girl which would make you a medical curiosity and a lab animal for the rest of your life if she tried to cross him on this.  He's using the very evidence that momma took to prove to Daddy that you are really a girl now against her to show the miracle to the medical authorities.  Daddy knew that he could not make Momma completely turn against you no matter how much she loved him so Daddy promised to make nice and treat you as though he believed you are Rose when we are together in private so Momma can still have some chance to spend time with you when we visit.  You are to permanently live with Grandmother until you become an adult." said Daisy and took a deep breath as she got that all out as quick as she could.

Grandmother spoke to Daisy, "Daisy, thank you for telling us.  I'll handle it from here.  Please don't get yourself in any more trouble and play along with your father.  You won't help Rose by reaping your father's anger.  I love you, Daisy!  Be good!"

"I love you too, Sis.  Keep out of trouble like Grandmother says, Okay?"

"Okay sis, I will.  I love you both.  Goodbye!" and Daisy hung up the cell phone.  I hoped that she would be good as she promised because I knew that Daddy could be verbally abusive when he felt like he was being challenged.

"Rose I am so sorry that your Daddy is acting this way.  Since your father is so worried about others finding out about you,  I imagine that he will be coming to visit you soon to lay down the law on what he expects out of you.  I know that will be tough for you but I'll see you thru it.  People who act only thru fear can get their way for only so long and there will be a solution found to this situation.  In the meantime, lets get things set up so you can get away from all this for a while.  You are going to Space Camp!"

"But grandmother, even with my birthday presents and what I have saved, I don't have nearly enough yet!"

"Your grandfather and I are a bit more well off than we live.  It will be our pleasure to complete the money that you need to go to Space Camp.  Grandfather and I have another surprise for you.  Grandfather is speaking to our lawyer about establishing a new identity for you, legally.  In view of what your father wants, I believe I can speak for your grandfather in asking if you would like to take our last name and be our daughter at least until your father comes to his senses."

"Oh Grandmother!  You have the talent for making a dark day end up all bright and shining.  I'd love to take your name and be your daughter till my father comes to his senses.  Thank you so much for making it possible for me to go to Space Camp!  I love you and grandfather so much!"  I gave grandmother a great big hug and a kiss.  Inside my heart was breaking over my father's betrayal and forsaking me in my time of need, but it was also joyful that I was loved and that I would have a place to belong!   

It was getting late so grandmother tucked me into bed and I cried myself to sleep.  Even though I am sure grandmother looked in on me and saw me crying, she let me get it all out and I guess I needed to.   Finally the sorrow was gone for the moment and the joy of belonging sustained me and my sleep ceased being fitful and I relaxed and entered dreamland.   

Grandfather was at my bedside to wake me in the morning and he told me himself how sorry he was for my father's behavior and that my parents and sister were flying down to visit and would arrive here this evening.  He also told me how when they had put in for me to go to Space Camp, there had been a cancellation and I would be able to attend the next session so I would be off on my adventure soon.  He told me that he was glad that I had agreed to be adopted by them and that the legalities could be done soon after the visit with my family, in the event after he had a chance to talk with my father that he remained delusional about what was really going on.  I loved Grandfather so much and I was glad that if I couldn't be a real daughter in my family that I would at least be a real daughter in theirs.  

Grandfather was trying to lighten the mood after such serious talk, "Well Rose, when you become our daughter, you'll be part of our family!  You'll have three new sisters, Jessica, Natalie and even Violet (who had been my aunts and mother) and you'll be aunt to a bunch of nieces including Daisy!" 

I just had to giggle over my mother becoming my sister and my sister becoming my niece.  It was as though I had not lost family as much as having it rearranged.   "Thank you, Grandfather. You have a wonderful gift of always finding something to raise my spirits!"

"Now and forever, Rose! Now and forever! You are loved!  Your grandmother and I will be with you to see you thru these hard times and enjoy with you the good times that are sure to follow."

I gave Grandfather a big hug and kiss on his cheek.  He reminded me that Grandmother had breakfast ready for me and it was time to start my day and he left me to get ready.   With the coaching that my sisters and cousins and aunts and mother had given me before they had left, I found it simple to do the ordinary things of getting up and bathing and getting dressed.  It felt right and that helped lots.

That day passed quickly and I don't think about it much since it still hurts.  Daddy arrived with Mother and Daisy and he made nice for a while until the four of us were in private.  Then his venom came out as he laid down the law to me that no one could know about who I used to be.  I realized that Daddy felt like throwing money at something was all that he was required to do for me, which explained the prepaid Visa that he had given to me.  Now that I knew how he really felt about me instead of the gift bringing me joy, it reminded me that was all I would get from him.

He was proud of the fact that I would no longer have his name but he made sure I knew that I would be the one to suffer if I ever revealed my past and that he had no qualms about making sure I was locked away as a medical curiosity for the rest of my life.  I was so glad to be out of that private room and for the rest of my stay I made sure that either grandmother or grandfather was present so he had to play nice to live up to his end of the agreement. 

The next day passed quickly as well not because it was painful in itself, because it was very pleasant.  It was because it would never have been necessary if my father had not been so deluded.  Grandfather, Grandmother and our lawyer gathered in the judge's chambers where the legalities on my adoption and new name were worked on.  The entire proceedings were declared sealed so the only thing that anyone would know from this point on was that I was now legally Rose Leigh Abbott adopted daughter of Vivian and George Abbott.  I called them Momma and Daddy and hugged and kissed them when it was all over. 

The next day was filled with excitement since I had to pack everything up for my flight out to Huntsville AL to go to Space Camp which would be taking off that evening.  I was amazed that my new identification had arrived via messenger while I was packing. I should not have been surprised because everything my new daddy did was first class and so was the work of the people that worked with him.   The sadness in the last few days was overshadowed by the joy of being part of my new family and the adventure of going to Space Camp as I had dreamed. 

My new Daddy had a surprise and a special treat for me.   My ticket into the advanced class in Space Camp was my pilot's license.  There were a number of certifications in different disciplines that would qualify for the advanced training as well.  My new Daddy worked some magic to get my flight hours transferred to a flight school at a general aviation field near the farm. All I had to do is to take a written test and take a check flight and since they were FAA certified, I could get a renewal license issued thru them with my new name.   Like the other paperwork which should have taken much longer to receive ordinarily, a messenger delivered my new pilot's license not too long after everything was completed as though it were already issued before I had done anything.

My new momma and daddy put me on the plane and made me promise to call them when I arrived in Huntsville.  After agreeing, I hugged and kissed them both and eagerly got on the plane.  Next stop, Space Camp!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Instead of being curled up on the floor listening to the story as they started, they were now on each side of me hugging me tight in the big chair where I was sitting.  They had gotten into my lap when the story turned sad for comfort and had stayed by my side as I had completed this part of the story.

"Granny, I can't believe that your Daddy treated you that way!" exclaimed Linda

"Little one each one of us responds to things according to their gifts.  We can not make someone else accept us.  That must be given willingly from the heart."

"You were so sad, Granny!  How did you ever get thru that?" asked Julia.

"Each of us not only has a birth family but a family of choice.  When I was adopted, my grandparents chose me to be their daughter and I became part of my family of choice.  I was lucky that I had some overlap between my old family and new family but even if there is no overlap when there is love it has a way of turning a frown upside down into a smile.  Love no matter where it comes from has a way of giving us joy, Sweetie."

Linda asked, "What was it like when your mother became your sister too?"

"Well she was still my birth mother and always would be so I still respected her in that way.  She made it fun for me being her sister too because she knew how much I missed life the way it used to be.  It brought me closer to her in ways that I might have never known had things not happened that way.  It was nice, Sweetie!"

Julia asked, "Granny, what happened when you got to Space Camp?"

"Sweetie, I guess we will have to save that for another time.  It's time for all of our naps and we all want to feel our best for the rest of the day."

"Granny can we take our nap snuggled next to you?"

"I'd like that a lot girls!"  Lets to to my nice big bed and get comfortable!"  And we all laid down for our afternoon nap and soon the girls and I were fast asleep.